Univ. of Texas AD DeLoss Dodds Friday said that he and the school “expect to have at least two and possibly three football games broadcast on the Longhorn Network this fall.” A third game “would be an increase from last year, when his office received widespread complaints about fans’ inability to watch two games on LHN.” Dodds said that he is “prepared for mass outrage" if LHN isn’t picked up by most major cable providers in time for the football season. In Houston, Nick Mathews wrote UT “isn’t involved in ESPN’s negotiations with cable and satellite companies, but Dodds said the school understands LHN is less likely to be carried if it doesn’t offer programming viewers covet” (CHRON.com, 5/11).
OFF TRACK: In Toronto, Raju Mudhar wrote when the CBC's Ron MacLean “sticks to the game, he is one of the best hosts and set-up men out there,” which is part of what made his comparison of players in the Rangers-Capitals series to the 9/11 first responders last week "so strange.” MacLean is “supposed to be the source of sober second thought compared to his Coach’s Corner partner in crime -- Don Cherry is the one who constantly sticks his foot in his mouth and is known for jingoistic outbursts.” After being “slightly singed by the uproar here’s hoping MacLean will stick to the business at hand, and like the good announcer he usually is, let the magnitude of the game speak for itself” (TORONTO STAR, 5/13).
YES, DEAR: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes the return of Yankees P Andy Pettitte yesterday “was treated by YES, in its pregame by Bob Lorenz then at the top of the telecast by Michael Kay, as no less significant or dramatic than Gen. MacArthur’s return to the Philippines” (N.Y. POST, 5/14). Also in N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote YES’ David Cone turned in “a masterful performance during the Kansas City series" last week working with Ken Singleton. Cone must “ignore all other baseball analysts because his insights are unique.” And “unlike other YES yakkers he doesn’t repeat the same stories over and over and over again” nor does he “laugh at his own lame jokes” (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 5/12).
NO ROUND TWO: The WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Chris Herring cited a source as saying that the NFL Jets “turned down the opportunity to be on the upcoming season” of HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” The Jets were featured on the show in ’10 and “were interested in having the spotlight again -- especially following the New York Giants’ attention-grabbing Super Bowl win” (WSJ.com, 5/11). The N.Y. Daily News' John Harper said, "Maybe it tells you that Rex Ryan understands he has some issues with this team that he has to work out and the cameras being there wouldn't help the situation. ... It is a good sign that they’re not going to have the ‘Hard Knocks’ show” ("The WheelHouse," SportsNet N.Y., 5/11).
JOINING THE CLUB: NFL Media hired former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah to contribute to NFL.com, NFL Network and NFL Mobile. Jeremiah, who spent eight seasons with the Eagles, Ravens and Browns, will analyze players and trends, and he will be used heavily for the NFL Draft. His first NFL.com column was published this morning and declares that the NFC South has the best QBs (John Ourand, THE DAILY).
