In Chicago, David Haugh writes NBC hockey analyst Mike Milbury on Tuesday "polluted the airwaves and the game he represents" by advocating "causing injuries and concussions in the name of toughness." Milbury, analyzing several penalties taken by the Blues late in their Game 2 loss to the Sharks, said, "If you're going to slash him, crack a bone or something. If you're going to hit somebody from behind, give him a slight concussion or whatever. I don't mean that obviously too seriously, but just something!" Milbury's "nervous laughter certainly provided cover NBC used to protect him and softened the blow to some observers." But someone "that experienced behind a mic must be aware of how comments on such an important subject could be interpreted" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/19).
COMING TO AMERICA: In Mississippi, Patrick Magee noted beIN Sports "announced that it has reached a deal with C-USA to air some of the league's football and basketball games this fall." The Qatar-based network has "long focused primarily on soccer (Spain's La Liga and Italy's Serie A) and it is a popular network among the game's fans, but this will mark the first time that it has carried American football." beIN with this move is making an "effort to boost its numbers" in the U.S., "where it has struggled." beIN "averaged just 15,000 total-day viewers" in Q1 of '16 (Biloxi SUN HERALD, 5/18). beIN will "become the fourth TV partner" for C-USA, which has "yet to announce its TV partners or its TV schedule for next year" (Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 5/19).
FINDING THE LEAD: SPORTING NEWS' Michael McCarthy reported The Big Lead Founder Jason McIntyre "is in negotiations to join Fox Sports," and would "be the third person" on the net's new "Speak for Yourself" show featuring Jason Whitlock and Colin Cowherd. If the deal "is finalized, it's expected that McIntyre will continue working on The Big Lead." McIntyre "already has a Fox connection," as he hosts a Saturday-morning show on Fox Sports Radio from 6:00-9:00am ET (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 5/18).
