In Dallas, Chuck Carlton reported the Big 12 BOD on Friday officially "approved a recommendation by the league’s athletic directors for a one-year moratorium on high school broadcasts by Big 12 members." The BOD “strongly” requested that the NCAA, which is hosting a summit on the subject Aug. 22, follow suit. The Big 12 did not reveal the vote, but a source said that it "was 9-0 with Texas president Bill Powers abstaining" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/6).
THE BRONX IS EARNING: In N.Y., Daniel Beekman reports Cablevision Owner James Dolan has "finally decided to play ball with the Bronx's public access network." The nine-year deal between Cablevision and Bronxnet, brokered last Friday, follows "more than two years of bitter negotiations over funding for the network." The agreement "includes millions in capital dollars for Bronxnet to open a second studio and training center in the borough." Under the new pact, Bronxnet's "operational funding from Cablevision will triple, from 41.5 cents per subscriber per month to more than $1" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/8).
DEFENDING HIS TEAMMATE: In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote recently retired NFLer Kris Jenkins gave a "stunning performance" on ESPN's "NFL Live" last week, accusing Heat F LeBron James of "choking and being too sensitive." James last week "inserted himself, via Twitter," into a flap between Tim Tebow and ESPN NFL analyst Merril Hoge after Hoge criticized the Broncos QB. Jenkins on "NFL Live" told James that Hoge's critique of Tebow "was part of the job description." He said, "LeBron, we don't care what you think. We're the big boys here. We're allowed to have an opinion. ... Why don't you focus on that and be the best at what you do. That way nobody is criticizing you for your job." Raissman wrote, "Jenkins offered some clear insight when he talked football too. This is a guy with something to say. These early indications tell us Jenkins just might be a man worth watching" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/7).
PARTING SHOTS: Longtime L.A. Times NBA writer Mark Heisler in a special to POYNTER.org reflected on being laid off last month after 32 years. Heisler: "I should point out that, believe it or not, I’m not angry about this. At 67, I was only going to work one more season and they just gave me the whole thing off, with pay, through April. All that notwithstanding, I’m sitting in my car, behind the closed gate, marveling at the company’s efficiency, thinking, ‘If only we were as good at newspapering as we are at dumping people'" (POYNTER.org, 8/5).
