Media Notes

Faldo, Nantz Open CBS' Coverage Of Farmers Insurance Open Talking About Tiger Woods

CBS golf analyst Nick Faldo Saturday opened the network's coverage of the PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open talking about Tiger Woods, saying, "The number one thing he had was his presence ... can he regain that self-esteem?" YAHOO SPORTS' Brian Murphy awarded Faldo his "broadcast moment of the week" for his "on-point, two-minute long soliloquy." Murphy: "I credit CBS for diving headfirst into the Tiger Thing. This was CBS' first broadcast of the new year, and the broadcast on Saturday wasn't 3 minutes old before [Jim] Nantz introduced the topic of Tiger's absence, and Faldo was off to the races." It was "pretty strong stuff from Faldo" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/30).

LOOKING BACK: ESPN "MNF" analyst Jon Gruden said he "really enjoyed" his first season in the broadcast booth. Gruden: "I have a long way to go before I'm really any good at it. ... It is a little harder than I thought." He said of his decision to sign a contract extension with ESPN during the season, "I really put a lot of time into this broadcasting thing. I look at 'Monday Night Football' as the premier broadcasting job in football. I look at it that highly. I want to take the proper time to see if [I'm] actually any good at it. I just made a major career change going from coaching to broadcasting and I just don't want to jump around right away" (TAMPABAY.com, 1/29).

AFFIL-LING IT UP: Turner is launching two affiliate marketing events around the NBA All-Star Game. It is rolling out TNT Small Stars FIT Challenge with various cable systems operated by Comcast, Time Warner and Cox. As part of the campaign, the groups will help local Boys & Girls Clubs organize a day of fitness programs, with Turner donating $1,000 to each participating club. Turner on Saturday will partner with Time Warner's Dallas system for a day of skills challenges and competitions. Turner will offer tickets to All-Star Weekend events as prizes (John Ourand, THE DAILY).

LOGICAL CHOICE: In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote no NFL team has been selected to star in next edition of HBO's "Hard Knocks," but it would be "stunning" if HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg and NFL Films President Steve Sabol do not have the Jets "on their radar" due to coach Rex Ryan. HBO has aired five seasons of the series since  '01, and the "common denominator for the teams selected is two-fold." The producers "look for a squad on the upswing," and they "want a coach who has a strong presence, a big-time personality." Raissman: "That's Ryan. ... The thought of having cameras following him around behind the scenes at Jets' training camp produces visions of major must-see moments" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/31).