Wednesday Links

On this Wednesday, we take a look around the country for news on the sports networks.

USA Today usually has a Wednesday column from Michael Hiestand. He touches on a few subjects including Jeff Van Gundy’s hiring by ESPN and firing by the Houston Rockets in a span of 24 hours. Also, ESPN announced that Van Gundy will work the NBA Finals for ABC. And he had news from an interview incompetent NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman did regarding the shoveling of Buffalo-Ottawa game to Versus from NBC. Tell me that his explanation is just one big line of bullshit.

One thing about professional athletes, they have a different schedule from regular working people so they have a lot of time to watch afternoon soap operas or what the networks like to call, “Daytime Dramas”. Well, four members of the Milwaukee Brewers are going to appear on CBS’ “The Young and the Restless”. Interesting stuff.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times has a story on Mike & Mike of ESPN Radio who have been doing their show since 1999. Sandomir says the pair’s ratings have been going up in New York and with instability on on rival all-sports radio station WFAN, could see more success.

Continuing with radio, Chicago all-sports radio WSCR morning host Mike North will be filling in the Imus in the Morning spot next week. You may remember North’s on-air swearing incident last week with White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen.

Canadian network CTV and media giant, Rogers Communications have won the rights to televise NFL games in the Great White North. CTV’s TSN, Canada’s equivalent of ESPN, already airs Monday Night Football. CTV is going to the home of CFL games next season.

Hockey fans in Manitoba province in Canada have a little bit of Hockeygate of their own. Instead of seeing Game 6 of Detroit-Anaheim last night, they got coverage of municipal elections on CBC.

Here’s another story on five Big 12 Conference football games being sublicensed from Fox Sports Net to ESPN. It’s a one year deal.

And on network TV news, Fox and CBS are the winners of the just completed season. Fox won the coveted 18-49 demographic. CBS is second with ABC close behind. CBS won the race for overall total viewers.

More links as they’re warranted.