In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal wrote the Cubs' YouTube channel is "hitting a weird but resounding chord." There are "indeed traditional up-close-and-personal features," but the "most intriguing offerings on the YouTube channel are the short bits that seem tailor-made for YouTube and antithetical for the passive act of watching TV." It is the "wacky material that carves out new ground and clicks" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/16).
WELCOME TO THE TEAM: In Philadelphia, Rob Tornoe noted former NFLer Ross Tucker will be the "new voice in the Eagles’ preseason booth, where he’ll call all four games" on WCAU-NBC alongside play-by-play announcer Scott Graham and analyst Dave Spadaro. Tucker is "filling the spot vacated" by Raiders GM Mike Mayock. In addition to "airing all four preseason Eagles games," WCAU will also "air two specials" ahead of Falcons-Broncos in the NFL’s HOF Game on Aug. 1 (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/15).
STAYING SILENT: In Tampa, Joey Knight notes AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco during the conference's football Media Days "wouldn’t speculate" how the loss of UConn -- who "represent significant inventory from a men’s and women’s hoops standpoint -- will affect the AAC’s new media-rights deal with ESPN." He said, "The last thing I want to do is put ESPN on the spot" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 7/17).
