In Buffalo, Mike Harrington wrote NBCSN is finally "getting the hint," as the cable net is "adding a marquee game" to its NHL schedule with Maple Leafs-Oilers on Nov. 29. The net "did not have a single game involving" the Oilers on its schedule prior to the season and had "just one involving" the Maple Leafs. It added the Leafs' home opener Oct. 15 in the wake of rookie C Auston Matthews' four-goal game in the season opener (BUFFALO NEWS, 11/12).
HUMP DAY! GOLF DIGEST's Dave Shedloski notes the Web.com Tour's two opening events in the Bahamas in January will play the "first round on a Sunday and its final round on a Wednesday." The change of pace will give Golf Channel "live early-week programming and provide greater exposure to the developmental tour." The new events "might help golf break its Sunday final-round mold." College football, particularly with teams from non-major conferences, has "received increased exposure and financial gain by scheduling weekday games on ESPN" (GOLFWORLDDIGITAL.com, 11/14).
THE LONE TOSTITO: SI.com's Richard Deitsch noted Brent Musburger on Saturday called the first half of Ole Miss-Texas A&M on SEC Network "by himself in the booth." Musburger last week was given the Vin Scully Award by Fordham Univ. and a group of ESPN and SEC Net execs "thought going solo would be a nice tribute." Musburger agreed, as long as booth partner Jesse Palmer was "still part of it and it would only be the first half." So Palmer "worked the first half on the sidelines (along with Kaylee Hartung)" (SI.com, 11/13).
