Tuesday Links

Ok, no fooling around. I’ll be live blogging the ESPN/BCS conference call at noon ET so let me provide some linkage now.

A couple of things from USA Today. Reid Cherner goes to NFL Films headquarters in New Jersey and talks with President Steve Sabol.

And USA Today’s great Game On! blog is following the 23 hour ESPN college basketball marathon. Someone has to and Reid Cherner and Tom Weir have been writing since midnight.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand has a look at the ratings of selected events.

Boston Sports Media Watch links to a story from Jessica Heslam of the Boston Herald regarding a WEEI part-time update anchor who was charged with motor vehicle homicide and driving under the influence stemming from a fatal car crash over the weekend.

A couple of things from Newsday. First, Neil Best writes that Giants QB Eli Manning’s no-nonsense style with the media fits him perfectly. Neil also expands on his column in his blog. Neil links to this story in which the New York Times has shut down its quarterly “Play” sports magazine. Every once in a while, I would link to stories from there and Will Leitch contributed to the publication before he left Deadspin. It was a very good magazine.

Over to Newsday NFL writer and frequent Fang’s Bites visitor Bob Glauber who links to a story over at Bob’s Blitz, the great blog headed by Bob Mantz. Bob’s Blitz is reporting that Jets QB Brett Favre is leaning towards a return to the team next season. If you remember two Sundays ago, Fox Sports’ Terry Bradshaw predicted Favre would announce his retirement before the end of this season. We’ll see who’s correct.

The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman feels MSG Network’s Kelly Tripucka is now lockstep with the channel’s directives.

Blogging for CNBC’s Darren Rovell, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Sarah Talalay writes that NASCAR teams are now cutting back in big ways due to the sagging economy.

The Bergen (NJ) Daily Record says 1050 ESPN Radio’s Michael Kay will be live from Jets camp today.

Alan Pergament of the Buffalo News says the only one good thing about last night’s Browns-Bills game was the announcing team.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call says Eagles’ radio broadcasters Merrill Reese and Mike Quick did not sugarcoat the team’s tie with the Bengals.

Bob Smizik of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says this Thursday’s Steelers-Bengals game will be available in a limited area as the NFL Network will be airing the contest.

The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson writing in Pro Football Weekly says the NFL primetime schedule remains static for the next few weeks.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that pregame predictions about the Packers turned out to be very wrong.

Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times talks about Fox refusing to match the ESPN offer for the BCS.
The Sports Media Watch says NASCAR’s final race of the season finished down in the ratings compared to last year. And the SMW has a look at some big names including Dallas Mavericks and HDNet owner Mark Cuban who’s charged with insider trading.

Steve Lepore of the Puck The Media blog goes after Versus for an in-game interview that marred a scoring play during the Toronto-Bruins game last night. Steve also has another round of his NHL Tournament of Announcers (JP Dellacamera vs. Joe Beninati). I’m voting for Joe for his connection to the Providence Bruins. And Steve wonders what’s next for former Tampa Bay Lightning coach Barry Melrose (apparently not Versus).

Lisa van der Pool of the Boston Business Journal says NESN’s Dennis Eckersley has signed a new deal with the network to remain as a studio analyst.

Mark Harden of the Denver Business Journal says the Colorado Rockies and FSN Rocky Mountain have signed a deal to keep the cable channel the exclusive home of the team through 2025.

David Bauder of the Asssociated Press says ESPN is bringing back the motorcycle daredevils on New Year’s Eve.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says CBS College Sports has picked up several up several distribution deals.

Kelly Johnson of the Sacramento Business Journal says the Maloof Brothers have signed with reality TV producer Mark Burnett to create a reality show based on the Kings.

Golf Channel tells us that it’s bringing ESPN’s Scott Walker to its on-air team.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star says TSN misfired during the CFL playoffs.

William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail wishes Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper would speak out about hockey in the way US President-elect Barack Obama spoke out about college football.

That’s it until noon time.