In L.A., Tom Hoffarth notes the MLS Galaxy's "grand plan today to officially announce the details of a 10-year, $55 million media agreement with Time Warner Cable that begins in March 2012 could rock the sport's business foundation almost as much as when the team signed David Beckham to a five-year deal back in '07." Industry insiders "surmise the asking price for the TWC channels, on whatever system they appear on, could cost subscribers between $2.50 and $3 a month." Hoffarth: "Does TWC take it as a business loss for awhile? Can it possibly make it up with advertising dollars? The business plan appears questionable at best." Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket "paid less than $300,000 for the rights to fewer than 20 regular-season games this season." The new TWC deal "pays almost as much per game" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 11/18).
THE BOOK OF DAVID: GOLFWEEK.com's Martin Kaufmann is keeping a running diary of Golf Channel's Presidents Cup coverage and writes David Feherty’s "skills as an analyst -- I’d rank him among the top three in the game -- sometimes get overlooked because people perhaps dismiss him as a jokester." Kaufmann: "I've been particularly impressed with Feherty’s work so far this week. He’s found a pleasing balance between levity and insight. His pre-game explanation of how the wind would affect play on the greens was filled with details about green height (1/10th inch), the impact of the roller, and how that would affect putts and approach shots. He finishes by predicting 'bogeys will win holes.' Later, he calls K.J. Choi, who won his foursomes match with Adam Scott, 'the ideal partner' because he’s so dependable" (GOLFWEEK.com, 11/18).
CHICAGO STYLE: ESPN.com's Brett Okamoto reported the "second UFC live event on the Fox network is expected to take place Jan. 28 at the United Center in Chicago." It will mark "just the second time the Chicago area has played host to a UFC event." The Jan. 28 date will be the "first of four shows contracted for Fox in 2012." Future broadcasts are "expected to air longer than one hour and feature multiple fights" (ESPN.com, 11/17).
PREPARING TO SAY GOODBYE? In Houston, David Barron notes the '12 MLB season for Astros radio announcer Milo Hamilton upcoming "conceivably will be his last." Hamilton, who will be entering his 28th season with the Astros and 57th calling MLB games, said he will "probably not" make the move to the AL with the team in '13. Hamilton said, "It may be that I'll be around in some capacity. We're going to wait and see" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/18).
