Thursday Links

I’ve been avoiding the Kelly Tilghman issue because plenty of bloggers have been all over it since the story broke and then Al Sharpton has to get involved. But now that the story has mushroomed, I’ll say this.

I was watching Golf Channel on last Friday when I was doing the megalinks. I have to admit, I didn’t hear the comment in question because the volume on my TV was down. I will say that I don’t think Kelly was trying to be vindictive when she made the comment. Was it wrong? Yes. Does it warrant her to be suspended? Probably not, but with the story growing legs, Golf Channel didn’t have a choice. If Tiger Woods doesn’t have a problem with it, then we should not as well. If the comments can lead for some good discussion and discourse, then we’ll have learned, and hopefully we will.

Newsday’s Neil Best who broke the story in his Tuesday column has the report of Kelly’s suspension on his blog and has more on the story in the paper. Pete Dougherty in his Best Seat in My House blog says the comment was supposed to be lighthearted banter between Kelly and analyst Nick Faldo. And Kelly’s suspension is also covered by the Sports Media Watch. The Los Angeles Daily News’ Tom Hoffarth writes in his Farther Off the Wall blog that Kelly doesn’t deserve the venom and I agree.

Moving on to other subjects, Best reports that former Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals announcer Wayne Hagin is a candidate to replace Tom McCarthy in the Mets radio booth. And Neil makes his video debut on Newsday.com and you can get the link here. Neil reacts to a New York Press story by Becca Taylor that the Knicks have employed actors to be fans in ads promoting their games. Best writes that the Yankees and Mets are popular attractions on TV. Finally from Neil, he tells us that Ian Eagle’s father, Jack, a well-known comic and actor has passed away at the age of 81. My condolences to Ian as well who has visited this site a few times.

Back to the Sports Media Watch, Paulsen has the ratings numbers from last weekend.

Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette has comments from CBS Sports’ NFL analysts Dan Dierdorf and Phil Simms on the Patriots.

And here is the CBS Sports’ press release on this weekend’s NFL divisional playoffs.

Joanne C. Gerstner of the Detroit News says Comcast is killing a channel devoted to high school sports in both Michigan and Indiana.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman talks with former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer who has enjoyed working for Fox Sports this season. And Mel has his notebook. Plus, Mel gives us his weekend viewing picks.

I saw this late last night and because I was working on the Amazing Race Asia episode recap, I could not put this in, but I’ll do it today. Fox Sports’ Terry Bradshaw tells Justin Terranova of the New York Post that he’s going to retire from Fox NFL Sunday when his current contract expires.

David Woods of the Indianapolis Star writes that Butler University appears on ESPNU quite often.

Tony Kornheiser returns to XM Satellite Radio after a 7 month hiatus for Monday Night Football.

The Associated Press reports that viewership for the just-completed NFL regular season is up from 2006.

The Washington (GA) News-Reporter says legendary Hall of Fame baseball announcer Ernie Harwell will be honored in his hometown in advance of his induction into the Georgia Hall of Fame next month.

The Topeka (KS) Capital-Journal talks about the new Kansas City Royals TV announcing crew for FSN Midwest.

That’s it for now.