Kenny Smith - TVNewser

Kobe Bryant Wouldn't Be Caught Dead Doing This

Marcus Vanderberg — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:36:39 +0000

Dancing on Ellen is not helping your image, brah. Not at all.

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NCAA Tournament Ratings Up 17 Percent Through First Week

Marcus Vanderberg — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:41:32 +0000

Through the first week of games, the 2011 NCAA Tournament is tied with 1993 and 1991 as the best overall tournament-to-date average ratings in metered markets since the tournament expanded coverage to all live games.

The overall tournament average-to-date is a 6.2 rating/14 share, up 17 percent from a 5.3 rating/12 share from CBS Sports’ 2010 coverage of March Madness.

Yesterday’s coverage combined for an overnight household rating/share of 7.3/14, up 14 percent from a 6.4/13 from last year. Those numbers ties with a 7.3/17 in 1998 as the highest rating for the first Sunday of the NCAA Tournament in metered markets since a 7.5/19 in 1994.

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March Madness Ratings: Best Thursday Overnight Ratings in 20 years for CBS, Turner

Alex Weprin — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:54:06 +0000

The first full day of March Madness coverage delivered the best Thursday overnight ratings since 1991 for CBS Sports and Turner Sports, the companies say.

Coverage on CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV combined to deliver a 5.7 rating/13 share Thursday, compared to a 4.6 rating/11 share in overnights last year.

The biggest growth was during the day, with the first window (12-4:15PM) up 42% from last year, and the second window (3-6:45PM) up 46%. The evening/primetime windows delivered higher ratings than daytime, but saw slightly less growth, improving by 8% (7-9:45PM) and 12% (9:15PM-12:30AM).

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Mel Kiper Compares Cam Newton To Akili Smith

Marcus Vanderberg — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:07:58 +0000

Most folks are split down the middle on Cam Newton‘s future in the NFL.

But nobody has compared him to former Oregon quarterback and one-year wonder Akili Smith … until now.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper did just that on Wednesday while hosting a conference call with the media.

“He was a one-year wonder. Akili Smith was a one-year wonder,” Kiper said.” “If you hit (on Newton), you could have a sensational quarterback for ten years. (But) if you miss, it sets you back three, four, five years.”

In case you need a refresher on how bad Smith was, the former No. 3 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft was 3-14 as a starting quarterback and his touchdown-to-interception was 5:13.

Jeez, Mel. Tell us how you really feel about Cam.

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English Papers Have Clearly Never Watched An NFL Pregame Show

Noah Davis — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:54:02 +0000

While reading up on our favorite new controversy – England’s sexist broadcast team debacle – we stumbled across a gem in the Guardian. The following comes from a story about how soccer commentators across the pond struggle to say anything intelligent.

In American sport the talking heads who fill the gaps between games are emboldened by their masters to be provocative as well as highly detailed in their technical analysis. The result is entertainment plus enlightenment (plus earache, sometimes). Here, in football, there is no ante-room between the end of a playing career and the start of a life in broadcasting, which is television’s fault.

We are laughing!

And then there’s someone defending Andy Gray and Richard Keys. continued…

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The Chargers Attempt To Address The Blackout Issue

Marcus Vanderberg — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:15:47 +0000

In what could be a sign of things to come, the San Diego Chargers will drop ticket prices on 6,500 seats in 2011.

The Chargers had three blackouts during the 2010 season including their home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Dropping in price are the View Level endzone tickets, which cost $63 last season. Starting in 2011, they will be $54 and make up nearly 10 percent of Qualcomm Stadium’s seating. continued…

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Train Conductor Chooses Family Over NFL

Noah Davis — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:33:26 +0000

Keith Fitzhugh always wanted to play in the NFL. He’s had a taste – spending parts of two training camps with the New York Jets and time with the Baltimore Ravens – but he’s never been able to stick around.

So when the former team called on Tuesday to ask if the safety would join their roster for Sunday’s game to help replace injured Jim Leonhard and James Ihedigbo, he had a decision to make.

He turned them down.

Fitzhugh, who landed a full-time job as a train conductor in Norfolk Southern railroad, told the team thanks but no thanks.

The 24 year old is living at home, helping his parents pay their bills because his father can’t work and his mom can’t bring in enough money.

“I know the Jets have a great opportunity of making the Super Bowl, and that’s one dream that every child has is to play sports and make it to the Super Bowl or get to the World Series,” he said. “But, there’s a time when you have to think, ‘Hey, you’ve only got one Mom and Dad.’ They won’t be here forever, and while they’re here, you’ve got to cherish that time.”

If that doesn’t get you in the Christmas spirit, nothing will.

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21.2 Million Watch Sunday Night Football

Noah Davis — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 12:38:19 +0000

Another week, another series of excellent numbers (and breathless PR emails) about NBC’s Sunday Night Football. More than 21 million people watched the New England Patriots paste the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night, giving the Peacock the night’s most-watched program for the 10th week in a row. The game was the sixth one watched by at least 20 million viewers, the highest number through 10 weeks of the season.

Form the release: “NBC’s 10-week viewership of 21.3 million is 1.5 million more than and eight percent above last year’s 19.8 million, and up 31 percent over 2008 (16.2 million) through the same point in the season.”

It’s not all positive news, however. continued…

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Take mediabistro.com's 'Boot Camp for Journalists'

Alex Weprin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:57:58 +0000

Attention aspiring sportswriters! Have you been published in Sports Illustrated recently? ESPN the Magazine? Do you want to hone your skills and get published in bigger and better magazines and outlets?

Then mediabistro.com has the course for you. In “Boot Camp for Journalists,” you will learn how to create an irresistible pitch, work with editors, and find out which magazines, newspapers and other outlets are the most freelancer-friendly.

For today and today only, you can get 25% off any mediabistro.com course, including the “Boot Camp,” so act quickly.

Hurry, the discount is only for today, and the course starts November 8. More information here.

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Saturday Night Live Mocks Brett Favre

Marcus Vanderberg — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:30:50 +0000

For once, Saturday Night Live had a funny sketch this week, mocking Brett Favre and his alleged nude photos.

Let’s hope we never see these pairs of Wrangler jeans in stores.

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Trying to Solve the NFL's Headhunter Problem

Noah Davis — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 09:43:38 +0000

The fallout from the weekend’s spate of brutal hits continues to hit newspapers around the country. The New York Post‘s Steve Serby offers another outraged column, while The New York Times William C. Rhoden suggests a 30-yard penalty for vicious hits.

Good idea, expect it won’t fix anything.

Former New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison – who delivered big hits that earned him the reputation as a dirty player – spoke with his NBC colleague Peter King about what will actually motivates a player.

“You didn’t get my attention when you fined me five grand, 10 grand, 15 grand,” Harrison said. “You got my attention when I got suspended… You have to suspend these guys. These guys are making millions of dollars. The NFL [has to say], ‘We’re going to really protect our players. We’re going to suspend these guys, not one game, but possibly two or more games.’”

Suspensions speak. Fines, not so much.

Our personal favorite suggestion was offered up by this idea from Reuters correspondent Simon Evans:

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