I wasn’t planning on an evening update, but I think I’ll give you some linkage as I stare at the very lovely Kate Walsh on “Private Practice”. I may no longer endorse “Grey’s Anatomy”, but I can support its spinoff. And for those who watched “Private Practice” last season, you’ll know that this season is a whole lot better. One complaint, don’t play Belinda Carlisle’s “Mad About You” in a key scene. But you don’t want my review of “Private Practice”, you want linkage.
Some late breaking news from Multichannel News. Ted Hearn reports that an FCC Administrative Law Judge has thrown the NFL Network for a loss saying he cannot meet a deadline on the NFL Network-Comcast dispute. This means that Comast can keep the NFL Network on a sports tier for the rest of this season.
In the meantime, R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel writes that the MLB Network is looking forward to 2013 when MLB’s current cable deals with ESPN and TBS expire and when it could possibly air more than the 26 games it will show starting next season.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel reports that thanks to college and pro football, ESPN topped the cable primetime ratings last week.
Multichannel says Versus received its highest college football ratings ever last Saturday.
One more from Multichannel, Kent Gibbons writes that Setanta Sports is getting a pickup on Comcast cable systems in Boston.
Neil Best of Newsday says Warren Sapp’s mother thought the big boy came across too harsh on last week’s Inside the NFL and he has apologized to Keyshawn Johnson. And Neil says Warren found out that the Ravens played the wrong defense against the Giants last Sunday.
George Vescey of the New York Times appeals to President-elect Barack Obama not to get involved in the college football postseason debate.
The Chicago Sun-Times’ great columnist Rick Telander writes that ESPN is so big and powerful that no one is around to criticize the network unless it pays someone (Ombudsman Le Anne Schreiber) to do it. Thanks to Deadspin for the link.
ESPN’s Erin Andrews tells The Sporting News’ Chris Littman that she’s not going to be an entertainment reporter.
CNBC sports producer Tom Rotunno, guest blogging for Darren Rovell tells a Red Sox fan to drop her lawsuit against Jordan’s Furniture over a promotion that did not even reach its climax. Tom says despite the sagging economy, Lexus plans to continue with its golf and tennis sponsorships next year. And one more guest blogger for Darren, Kathy Connors, Sports & Entertainment Publicity Consultant tells athletes not to worry about branding, become an identity instead.
Maury Brown of the great Biz of Baseball blog says team owners hope to hash out MLB’s silly territorial blackout rules. Maury points to Las Vegas which is claimed by six, count ’em, six different teams.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has an update on this weekend’s college football TV schedule. And Pete has a look at next week’s college football TV schedule.
Alan Pergament of the Buffalo News writes that ESPN’s Outside the Lines will look at the 50th anniversary of the University of Buffalo’s football team’s refusal to play in the Tangerine Bowl after it was told not to bring two African American players.
Michael C. Lewis of the Salt Lake Tribune says the Mountain West Conference and The Mtn. plan to use the Utah-BYU game as a tool to help market the channel.
Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times says former Tampa Bay Lightning coach Barry Melrose should have named names during his Hockey Night in Canada interview last Saturday.
Steve Lepore’s Puck the Media blog continues his NHL Tournament of Announcers.
Christopher Perez of TV Week says the NHL Network will have a 20 part series on team captains.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says a local sports radio station has premiered a show hosted by a sports psychologist.
Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times has highlights of a Dick Vitale media conference call. By the way, if Diane is the new sports media reporter for the Times, then it’s welcomed at this end because she’s been doing a bang-up job over the last few weeks. The Times has been a bit of flux over the position ever since Larry Stewart left the beat last year.
Lance Pugmire of the LA Times tells us that mixed martial arts is coming to ESPN Deportes.
The LA Times picks up a Bloomberg story that ESPN is facing allegations that its international X Games logo is similar to a clothing trademark. Oops.
Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek writes that CBS College Sports has received pickups in major markets over the last week.
That’s going to do it for tonight. I’ll see you on Thursday.
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