It’s a Friday Megalink Session

Looks like things have cleared up so I can do the Friday megalinks early and actually finish during the day which is a good thing.

Don’t forget to check out the Weekend Viewing Picks for the recommended sports and primetime TV viewing. In addition, there’s the College Football Viewing Picks, NFL Viewing Picks, and the League Division Series Schedule for good measure.

Now to the links.

National

Ross Nethery of the Sports Business Daily writes that the Professional Bull Riders are now weighing in on the DirecTV/Versus dispute.

Ronald Grover and Tom Lowry of BusinessWeek say Comcast’s proposed purchase of NBC might make sense especially for sports.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh is getting support for his bid to buy the St. Louis Rams from the unlikeliest of sources, Keith Olbermann.

Bob Kimball of USA Today writes that despite some miscalls and many “FISTED” references, TBS stands by Chip Caray as its #1 announcer for the MLB Postseason.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell finds the person who put forth his network’s entry to name a new minor league baseball team.

David Tanklefsky of Broadcasting & Cable writes that the first day of the MLB League Division Series was the most watched since 2003.

Glen Dickson of B&C says CBS is conducting HDTV tests at Broncos games this season.

To R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News who says Philadelphia Eagle QB Michael Vick will star in a documentary series for BET.

Chris Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media reviews the new book by legendary Georgia voice Larry Munson.

The Sports Media Watch says NASCAR’s ratings are dropping again.

SMW has some various ratings news and notes.

From the Biz of Baseball, Maury Brown writes that TBS likes how the League Division Series started on its network.

And has the ratings for Thursday’s games.

Maury wonders why TBS had some picture problems during its LDS coverage.

And Maury has the updated LDS schedules through next Wednesday.

East and Mid-Atlantic

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe writes that there might be room for two sports radio stations in Boston after all.

Kristine Leahy has today’s edition of The Five at WEEI.com

John Branch of the New York Times has a fascinating story on some footage of Babe Ruth that has been found and archived by MLB Productions.

And you can see that footage here.

Richard Sandomir of the Times goes after TBS’ Chip Caray.

Newsday’s Neil Best says long-time, but not first time WFAN staffers are a bit melancholy as they leave their original studios.

Neil has more on the ‘FAN move in his blog, and has some video of his conversation with Mike Francesa.

Neil also talks with rookie TBS MLB analyst David Wells.

Back to Neil’s blog, he also has some random ratings news.

Neil likes the earlier start times for the Yankees in the League Division Series.

Neil’s Newsday colleague Mark La Monica has all six covers of ESPN The Magazine’s Body issue.

Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News blames Time Warner Cable for not getting his Yankees in HD this week.

Phil Mushnick of the crosstown New York Post has more complaints about TBS’ Chip Caray.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says ESPNU may help Siena get more TV exposure.

Pete wonders why Dallas-KC is being shown to most of the country in Fox’s regional NFL coverage on Sunday.

Pete says perhaps MLB is embarrassed over TBS’ coverage by syncing Vin Scully’s radio call of last night’s Dodgers comeback to the network’s video.

And in his column, Pete talks with ESPN Radio’s Doug Gottlieb.

Ken McMillan of the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record says Cablevision chose the wrong time for baseball fans to do a software upgrade.

Lance Venta of Radio Insight reports that Philadelphia is getting an FM sports radio station when the ESPN Radio affiliate moves next week.

Doug Miller of MLB.com says Phillies fans are missing the late Harry Kalas right now.

Laura Nachman says Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia’s Michael Barkann will be busy on Sunday.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner talks with NFL Network RedZone host Scott Hanson.

Jim writes that CBS Radio’s new FM sports talk station has upset the apple cart in DC.

And Jim looks at CBS College Sports’ unique Armed Forces college football tripleheader on Saturday.

Eric Prisbell of the Washington Post says the Maryland Terrapins are relegated to ESPN360 for the 4th time this season.

Midwest

Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) Press says the Tigers-Twins one game playoff made for some good ratings.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that Fox is looking to move November 1’s Minnesota-Green Bay game to a later timeslot.

Ed Sherman from Crain’s Chicago Business has his weekly winners and losers in sports business and media.

Ed also provides his thoughts on golf officially getting into the Olympics.

The Chicago Tribune’s Dave Van Dyck says Cubs TV analyst Bob Brenly has talked with one team this season about a managerial position.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that the Cardinals might return to its old radio home, KMOX, albeit for one day.

South

The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reports that for the first time in franchise history, the Florida Panthers won’t have Dennis Potvin as its TV analyst.

Sarah Talalay from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel writes that Kobe Bryant’s jersey is the top selling NBA uni in Communist China.

Ray Buck of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram talks with former NFL QB Warren Moon about his new book and Brett Favre.

Barry Horn from the Dallas Morning News reviews last month’s sports radio ratings.

Barry previews his Saturday column on Troy Aikman having to analyze Tony Romo for Fox.

And Barry acknowledges that the Metroplex is not baseball territory.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle talks with CBS golf analyst David Feherty who will be on the sidelines of the Navy-Rice game for CBS College Sports.

David says Cowboys-Broncos topped last week’s ratings in Houston.

Mel Bracht from the Daily Oklahoman says the NBA’s Thunder will split its sideline reporter position among two people this season.

In his notebook, Mel looks at the next documentary in ESPN’s “30 for 30” project.

Mel writes that Fox Sports Oklahoma will replay the 1989 Red River Shootout that was only seen on TV once on pay per view.

West

Scott D. Pierce of the Deseret (UT) Morning News says ESPN seems to be the fanning the flames of Mountain West conspiracy theorists.

To the North County Times where John Maffei writes about former Chiefs and Jets coach Herman Edwards feeling comfortable working at ESPN.

Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times has her highlights and lowlights of TBS’ production of Game 2 of Cards-Dodgers last night.

Diane says Angels radio voice Rory Markas has good reason to be happy calling the games.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News talks with the author of a new book on Game 6 of the 1975 World Series.

Tom likes how TBS is helping fans to keep score of the game at home.

Tom has his usual news and notes.

Tom reviews ESPN The Magazine’s Body issue.

Josh Weaver of the Gilroy (CA) Dispatch says San Jose Sharks fans still can’t watch the team’s games due to a dispute between Charter Communications and Comcast SportsNet California.

Canada

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail finds that more women are listening to sports radio. I could have told him that.

Ok, those are the Friday megalinks. Have a good weekend.