Tuesday Links

I’m dragging a bit today. I’m actually blogging from home today as I had to go to the doctor’s office to check on my ankle which I sprained about 12 days ago. I’ve chucked the crutches, but still need some physical therapy. Anyway, you don’t hear about me. You want links so let’s get to them.

Starting with Richard Sandomir of the New York Times, he says ESPN really didn’t provide much beef in its FavreCenter special on Monday.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says ESPN became FavreSPN on Monday.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call is sick of FavreSPN.

Neil Best of Newsday writes that the Dallas Cowboys are a natural subject for HBO’s Hard Knocks program and Neil gets a comment from Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones who even welcomes the attention throughout the regular season. In his blog, Neil tells us that WFAN and the New York Mets still have not hashed out a contract beyond this season. Neil says ESPN will become FavreSPN again at 2 p.m. ET. Finally, Neil has thoughts from “My Boys” Executive Producer Betsy Thomas about the current season of the series.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand looks at the ratings from various weekend sporting events.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell assures fans that swimmer Michael Phelps will shave off his mustache before the Olympics begin. Phelps arrived in Communist China on Monday with facial hair, shocking many fans. And Darren shares his thoughts about two Olympic facilities, the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube.

Some Skip Caray-related stories from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Furman Bisher says the late Skip Caray defined baseball. Tim Tucker writes Caray died while feeding birds in his backyard, not while napping as originally reported. David O’Brien, traveling with the Braves, says players and broadcasters toasted Caray’s memory while in San Francisco. Carroll Rogers says the Braves broadcasting team had trouble saying goodbye to Skip last night.

Pete Dougherty from the Albany Times Union has ratings news from the YES Network.

Ray Frager from the Baltimore Sun enjoyed an exchange between MASN’s Gary Thorne and Buck Martinez during last night’s Orioles-Angels game.

Andy Tarnoff of OnMilwaukee.com talks with FSN Wisconsin host Craig Coshun.

The Sports Media Watch has some idle notes including the NBA Christmas Day game on ABC. And the SMW also has some ratings news as well.

Courtesy of Boston Sports Media Watch, Pink Hat Hell has a properly snarky review of the season premiere of NESN’s reality show abortion, Sox Appeal.

Deborah Crowe of the Los Angeles Business Journal says ESPN has purchased another website.

Spencer Hall of the Sporting News likes ESPN’s coverage of college football and I have to agree with him.

Bob Scott of the Lafayette (IN) Journal & Courier says the Big Ten Network will debut on Comcast in Indianapolis on August 15.

John Heuser of the Ann Arbor News says the University of Michigan will gain an additional $2 million a year with its new media rights deal with IMG.

I’ll end there for now.