Former Patriots Fullback Mosi Tatupu has reportedly passed away at the age of 54.

Here’s rest of the top links from this morning:

Celtics sweat out ‘sure’ win against Knicks - Robert Lee in the Projo gets game story duty this morning.

Marquis Daniels walks softly - The Celtics swingman started in place of Paul Pierce and scored 14 points without having a play called for him. Steve Bulpett looks at the contributions of the low-key (on the court) Daniels.

Being Nate: Knicks offer insight into newest Celtic - Jessica Camerato talks to Al Harrington, Wilson Chandler and Chris Duhon about what their former teammate Nate Robinson can bring to the Celtics.

Rondo/Robinson show promise for the future - A. Sherrod Blakely’s notebook looks at the combination of small, speedy guards which debuted for the Celtics last night, and a number of other topics.

Stephen Gostkowski One of Few Bright Spots From Patriots’ 2006 Draft - Jeff Howe notes that when a kicker is your best pick in a particular draft, that’s not a good sign.

Mailbag: Who’s on Patriots’ radar? - Mike Reiss deals with another mailbag of restless Patriots fans.

The NFL combine: The joke that’s no longer funny - WEEI.com guest columnist - former Patriots linebacker Matt Chatham - tells us why the NFL Combine, which starts today in Indianapolis, is a joke.

Red Sox unlikely to be able to trade Lowell - Sean McAdam’s story here was quoted on sports flashes all afternoon yesterday, with the announcers saying that Lowell would be part of the Red Sox 25-man roster when camp break because the Red Sox aren’t going to be able to trade him. While that might be the situation right now, couldn’t it change at any time? What if another team loses their third baseman tomorrow? Couldn’t things change now? (Something Alex Speier points out this morning.) There’s a long ways to go before opening day, so while the report is accurate today, I think it’s hard to conclusively report that Lowell will be on the 25-man roster on opening day, as those flash guys and announcers were stating as fact. McAdam himself says “in all probability” which is a better way to state the situation.

For first time, Scutaro comes to camp as starting SS - Daniel Barbarisi looks at the last man signed by Theo Epstein to hold down the shortstop position for the Red Sox.

Time running out for Lowell, Wakefield, Ortiz - Mike Fine looks at three Red Sox veterans facing baseball mortality.

A few other thoughts/items this morning:

• Just wondering…where’s all the outrage and sanctimonious outcry over the Steelers violating the spirit of the rules by using their transition tag on a kicker? It was meant for quarterbacks!

• This is awkward. That’s how Dan Shaughnessy’s column this morning. on Mike Lowell’s situation with the Red Sox begins. It’s a fitting phrase to open the column, as Dan, who complained on Sunday for the second straight year that there was no controversy in Red Sox spring training, tries hard to create one.

• At the NFL Combine, which starts today, you’re going to hear the name Jacoby Ford a lot. There is talk that the former Clemson track star and wide receiver will break speed records. Check out his Patriots Daily interview with Chris Warner. Also at the combine will be former TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes, who also was interviewed on PD.

• Joe McDonald, who has covered the Red Sox for the Providence Journal, has been hired by ESPNBoston.com to cover the Red Sox and Bruins.

Celtics Beat Knicks, Mosi Passes Away is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

A sports media frenzy in Boston

I’m quoted toward the end of the article, in regards to whether 98.5 can be a serious competitor to WEEI.

Also, if you see a copy of the 11/25 edition of Patriots Football Weekly on the newsstands this week, be sure to check out my interview and column with CBS broadcaster Lesley Visser, who talked about breaking down barriers as the first female NFL beat writer as a 22-year-old with The Boston Globe in 1976.

Patriot Ledger Piece on WEEI/ESPNBoston/CSN is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

Back where I belong

New England is my home, baseball remains my game, and after being away, I am even more persuaded that there is no better place to talk, write, blog, tweet, text, chat and care about baseball than right here, for this audience. Many of you already know me, from my 12 years of covering the Red Sox for the Boston Globe and from posing as Heidi Watney’s favorite uncle on NESN. I hope to renew acquaintances with you, while introducing myself to many more of you through what we intend to be the go-to site for all things Red Sox. For openers, we have Peter Gammons on our side, which is like spotting us Pedro Martinez.

Good to have you back, Gordo…

Gordon Edes Officially In at ESPNBoston.com is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

Don’t forget to check out the Weekend Viewing Picks for your sports and primetime viewing.

To the links.

National

One story that’s developing this afternoon. Pro Football Talk goes after ESPN Boston’s Patriots blog for plagiarizing word for word one of its articles written by Michael David Smith.

A few stories from USA Today. Michael Hiestand speculates on a combined Comcast/NBC Sports juggernaut.

Hiestand says a NASCAR spokesman took ESPN/ABC to task for its production of last week’s race.

Michael McCarthy writes that if the NCAA opts out of its current contract with CBS, then ESPN would be happy to jump in the bidding for the NCAA Tournament.

The Nielsen rating Wire blog notes that as the World Series’ ratings increased, so did interest in MVP Hideki Matsui of the New York Yankees.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell looks at the last men standing at the World Series of Poker.

Jon Weisman of Variety says the Yankees World Series win turned out to be a huge ratings victory for Fox.

David Tanklefsky from Broadcasting & Cable says Disney and ESPN will re-brand the Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World in Florida early in 2010.

Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek says this year’s World Series was the most viewed since 2004 when the Red Sox swept St. Louis.

Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine says the Series’ high ratings weren’t just due to the Yankees, but there were other factors that contributed as well.

The Sports Media Watch says the Yankees helped to bring a big audience to the World Series.

SMW says the World Series was a big hit in New York and Philadelphia.

SMW has the ratings for the entire 2009 MLB Postseason.

Good article by SMW on the ratings comparison between MLB and the NBA.

And the SMW has some ratings news and notes.

Jim McCable of Golfweek writes that Dottie Pepper is cutting down on her TV schedule.

Joe Favorito says when it comes right down to it, live sports is king.

East and Mid-Atlantic

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe writes that 98.5 The Sports Hub is making a dent in its war with long-time incumbent WEEI.

Jessica Heslam of the Boston Herald reports that Fox 25 has not renewed the contract of Bulworth, Butch Stearns.

Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette writes about a Central Massachusetts native leaving WEEI’s sales department for a position with the Miami Dolphins.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says a new Knicks coach’s show on MSG Network might be turning a new leaf for the organization.

Richard writes the Yankees are a big TV draw across the country.

The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman feels MLB Network analysts and hosts made several errors after the Yankees clinched the World Series.

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick will miss Bill Walton on NBA broadcasts.

Pete Dougherty in the Albany Times Union talks with NBC’s Tiki Barber.

Ken Schott of the Schnectady Gazette writes that NHL Network is picking up a Union College hockey game.

Dave Hughes from DCRTV.com writes in Press Box about ESPN’s Len Bias documentary, the Baltimore Sun not sending a reporter to the World Series and why Anita Marks is the subject of jealousy among her co-workers.

Mark Maske in the Washington Post writes that a down economy is a boon for the NFL’s TV ratings.

Tim Lemke from the Washington Times has the marketing winners and losers from the World Series.

Jim Williams in the Washington Examiner looks at former DC NFL team star John Riggins blasting owner Dan Snyder on Inside the NFL.

South

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald wonders if ESPN has too much power in college sports.

Mike Bianchi from the Orlando Sentinel feels ESPN Radio’s Mike Golic owes an apology to Florida’s Brandon Spikes.

Barry Horn in the Dallas Morning News compares how the World Series did against the Mavericks and Stars.

Barry says Dallas finished near the bottom of the major markets rated for the World Series.

Barry says there’s a clear winner in a three way sports radio ratings race in Dallas.

Barry writes that being the Cowboys flagship station is not helping one sports radio station.

Barry notes that NBC’s Football Night in America analysts aren’t high on the Cowboys.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle also writes about local sports radio and the World Series’ ratings.

In his blog, David adds a few items to his Friday column.

To the Daily Oklahoman where Mel Bracht talks to an unhappy Ron Franklin of ESPN who feels he’s being forced out of the network. I agree. Ron is nothing but class and I feel he’s one of the great college football and basketball announcers of all-time. But ESPN apparently doesn’t feel that way.

In his media notes, Mel writes that the Thunder set a ratings record for Fox Sports Oklahoma this week.

Mel also looks at the best college football games of the week.

Midwest

Bob Wolfley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the Yankees are truly a marquee team as the ratings have shown.

Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business says the Bulls have upgraded their website.

Ed also has his weekly sports business and media winners and losers.

Paul Christian in the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin looks at Fox NFL Sunday heading to Afghanistan this Sunday.

Dan Caesar from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes about one local sports radio station’s personnel move.

Scott Dochterman of the Iowa City Gazette says no matter what one says about the World Series’ ratings, the NFL is still king.

West

Scott D. Pierce in the Deseret (UT) News says high definition is coming to the mtn., but not fast enough for some fans.

Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune says a long-time sports reporter in the market is being let go by the local NBC station.

John Maffei in the North County Times also writes about the local sports reporter.

In the Ventura County Star, Jim Carlisle writes that Bill Walton will be missed.

Jim says Matt Millen is slowly rehabilitating his reputation after his failed GM tenure with the Lions.

Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times warns of being caught on the internet or writing something on a social media site.

Tom Hoffarth in the Los Angeles Daily News discovers that former Dodgers catcher Paul Lo Duca has been handicapping the horses on TVG.

In his blog, Tom has some more with Lo Duca.

Tom also has his usual extensive media notes.

Canada

In the Toronto Globe and Mail, Bruce Dowbiggin writes that a Vancouver sports radio station is ready to launch a spinoff.

The Toronto Star’s Chris Zelkovich says a former broadcast executive is finding a second life in front of the camera.

In the Truth & Rumours blog, William Houston says Phil Kessel’s debut for the Maple Leafs brought record ratings for Rogers Sportsnet Ontario.

And William looks at a sports talk show host’s firing from The Score.

That will conclude the megalinks. Enjoy your weekend.

Another Friday Megalinks Edition is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

Sources have told Fang’s Bites that Edes has already signed with ESPN. More to follow.

Developing: Gordon Edes to ESPN Boston? is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

I had asked Dan Quinn of the ESPN Communications department whether they were still seeking a full outlet in the Boston market so that they could broadcast their full daily schedule, including Mike and Mike in the Morning, The Herd with Colin Cowherd and The Scott Van Pelt Show. The answer was a very quick “Yes,” but there were no details available beyond that at this time.

Now, that outlet could very well end up being 850 AM. Chad Finn mentioned it again this morning, and stated it in terms that make it seem like it is all but a done deal. The WEEI programming will move from 850 AM to a yet-to-be-determined FM signal, and ESPN Radio will take over the 850 AM signal.  This move would take place sometime after the Red Sox finish their season, so that the broadcast will not change frequencies for the third time this season.

The result could be something like what you see with sports radio KNBR out in the San Francisco Bay Area. They run two stations out there, on AM frequencies 680 and 1050, with 680 being local programming, and 1050 being a mix of ESPN radio, (Mike & Mike and Cowherd) plus Dan Patrick, Jim Rome, and local programming.

By having two stations, WEEI/Entercom can sell twice as much advertising space, (and break their ad time offerings into additional tiers) and have two outlets to use when broadcasting sports events that are scheduled for the same time. They’ll have both the local and national presence, and access to the ESPN “talent.”

I don’t forsee any overlap between WEEI.com and ESPNBoston.com – I think both sites will run independently, though don’t be surprised to hear ESPNBoston writers on the airwaves of the two radio stations.

ESPN Radio Still Looking For Full Time Home In Boston is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

Milbury also works as a studio analyst for NBCs NHL coverage, and as part of that will participate in the network’s coverage of the NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on New Year’s Day.

NESN also announced their Red Sox playoff coverage plans, which includes pre and postgame coverage. NESN will have Tom Caron hosting and Jerry Remy and Jim Rice as studio analysts, with Heidi Watney and Dave Roberts reporting from the ballpark for away games and Tony Massarotti for home games.

A few other items:

As he did last season, NESN’s Don Orsillo will also be participating in the postseason, as he will again call one of the League Division Series for TBS, alongside Buck Martinez. Dennis Eckersley will work as a TBS studio analyst with Ernie Johnson, Cal Ripken Jr, and David Wells.

Chris Forsberg is the latest to join ESPNBoston.com. Forsberg had been working at Boston.com, and was a part of their Patriots coverage there. His first post at the new site is already up, as he provides a report from today’s Patriots practice.

Rico Petrocelli is going to be co-hosting with former MLB reliever Mitch Williams a new weekly show on SIRIUS XM Radio.

On Patriots Daily today, I’m Trading Places with the Baltimore blog Right Off Russell.

Joe Donahue has a 2009-10 NHL Preview.

Mike Milbury Signs Extension with NESN is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

Patriots Daily is giving you what you need for Sunday’s Patriots/Falcons game. Weekly features like Worry Wart by Chris Warner, Trading Places - a chat with the Falcoholic blog and First Impressions get you warmed up for Sunday. Later today the Buffet Table and Matchups should be posted.

With an NFC opponent coming into town, FOX has the game on Sunday, however, if you live in certain parts of New England that happen to lie close to New York, you’re going to get the Giants game instead. Check Patriots Daily tomorrow for the weekly media notes feature. Check PatriotsLinks.com for all the stories today in the papers.

FOX also has the Red Sox/Yankees game on Saturday. So it’s a big weekend for Butch Stearns and crew.

One story that was kicking around yesterday was the news (first reported by Sports Business Daily) that the Kraft Sports Group has entered a business relationship with ESPNBoston.com to sell ads on the site. Mike Florio of Profootballtalk.com was apoplectic at the news, calling it “one of the most blatant and obvious conflicts of interest we ever have seen.” A bit of exaggeration there, for sure. This is sports. What kills me about how Florio handled this was his followup post nearly 12 hours later on the subject. He admits that ESPN got back him on his questions in the morning, yet he waited all that time to post the reply…because he didn’t have time. Yet, he had time to personally post15  items in between the two ESPNBoston items.

It seems more likely that Florio let the item sit on his site, knowing it was a hot topic, (83 comments and counting) and wanted to milk it as long as he could before posting the ESPN followup later at night. I can’t really fault him for this…it’s good website business. Keep those pageviews coming in. But Mike, don’t say you didn’t have time to post the followup. That’s lame.

Locally, Jenn Abelson in the Globe writes about potential conflicts of interest in the deal. That’s all well and good, and a legitimate concern to bring up. However, how in the world can the Globe not disclose in that article that they themselves are in a similar conflict, with their (for the moment) parent company also owning 17% of the Red Sox? Inexcusable.

My boy Chad Finn makes the same misstep in his media column today. He starts out with quotes from Tim McCarver on Red Sox/Yankees and Troy Aikman on Patriots/Falcons, and then dives into the ESPNBoston/Kraft Sports Group potential conflict of interest without mentioning the Globe’s situation. He describes the news partnership as starting off on “dubious journalistic ground.”  Sure, I think that most people are by now aware of the 17% but I find it a little hard for the Globe to be critical of ESPNBoston in this instance. 

Elsewhere, in real sports, Sean McAdam breaks the news that Jon Lester, not Josh Beckett, will get the game one start in the postseason. I’m shocked that the Red Sox failed to consult Glenn Ordway on this. He spent hours yesterday telling us it was a no-brainer that Beckett would get that honor.

Dom Amore tells us that this Red Sox/Yankees series is a bit more laid back.  Bill Burt tells us that a Red Sox/Yankees postseason series could come down to Daisuke Matsuzaka and Joba Chamberlain. Check RedSoxLinks.com for all the stories today.

Jessica Camerato has a nice piece on new Celtic Shelden Williams, who is married to WNBA superstar Candace Parker. 

It sounds like Gerry Callahan is going to be making an appearance on the Big Show this afternoon, at least that’s what was stated a number of times on the WEEI morning show today, hosted by Butch Stearns and Greg Dickerson. John Dennis is undergoing surgery this morning, and apparently will be out to at least start next week. At the end of the morning show, Dickerson said that Callahan would be back in the morning on Monday.

If you’re able to, I highly, highly recommend checking out Showtime’s Full Color Football series. It’s a history of the AFL, and is simply tremendous. I can’t say enough good things about it.

Friday Ramblin’s is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

This is the second localized ESPN site that the company has launched, following ESPNChicago.com. Dallas, Los Angeles and New York are planned in the next year.

Regular initial contributors to the Boston site are as follows:

• Mike Reiss – Former Boston Globe NFL writer, who will cover the New England Patriots;
• Tedy Bruschi – Three-time New England Patriots Super Bowl champion will offer his NFL insights and analysis in multiple contributions per week;
• Peter Gammons – Hall of Fame honored ESPN Baseball analyst and Boston-area native who spent nearly 15 years at the Globe will contribute columns on the Red Sox;
• Michael Smith– Sr. Writer for ESPN.com and E:60 correspondent who spent three years covering the Patriots during the recent Super Bowl runs will contribute coverage of Boston sports;
• Howard Bryant – ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine senior writer, Boston native, Western Mass. resident and former Boston Heraldwriter, will contribute reporting and columns on New England Sports;
• Amy K. Nelson – ESPN.com writer, born-and-raised in the Boston area and a graduate of Hampshire college, will cover the Boston Red Sox daily and author a Red Sox blog;
• Matt Kalman – Boston-area journalist and blogger who will author Boston Bruins blog.

Grabbing Reiss as the cornerstone piece of the site was a great move, and it weakens potential competitor Boston.com at the same time. (Really, the only reason I now have to go to Boston.com other than the morning Globe stories is Chad Finn.) Kalman has a great Bruins blog (thebruinsblog.net) and is also a great hire for the site. Interestingly, the Boston Sports Guy, Bill Simmons, will not be doing original columns for the site, though he did do a chat for the launch last night.

Getting original columns from Gammons will be a treat, having the thought-provoking Bryant back on the local radar is a positive, and Michael Smith will be a welcome addition as well, as I haven’t seen too much of him in the ESPN empire. What remains to be seen of course, is how much original content we’re going to get from this trio.

In the weeks ahead, ESPNBoston.com will also add dedicated reporter/blogger coverage of the Boston Celtics, New England Revolution and major collegiate sports programs in the area.  The site will also grow to offer small college and regional high school coverage.

Overseeing the day-to-day editorial operations of ESPNBoston.com are Managing Editor Peter Lawrence-Riddell, a native of Amherst, Mass., graduate of Bates College in Maine and 10-year veteran of ESPN.com, and senior editor David Lefort, a Whitinsville, Mass. native and the former online sports editor for the Boston Globe.

The site is the home of ESPNBoston SportsCenter, hosted by ESPN anchors and produced originally each day.  The video series will provide fans a 3-6 minute roundup of the city and region’s sports news, teams, highlights, figures and stories each day.

 The new site also features a custom Boston video hub, offering a library for the latest highlights, news, analysis and original content from ESPN programs including exclusive, original Boston content from the teams at ESPN programs including Baseball Tonight, NFL Live, College Football Liveand more. The 16×9 video player will be featured on the front page and main index pages delivering an integrated video experience.

The player does auto-start when you load the page, which is a little annoying, especially if you’re working in a quiet office, but in the lower right hand corner of the video screen, you can choose to turn the auto-play on or off.

Last night the site had a chat with Bill Simmons which started at 7:00pm, and ended at 9:20pm. Gammons and Bruschi had also held chats earlier in the day.

The site layout is clean, well laid out, and easy to navigate. There’s a lot of content there without being overly “busy” like some other local sites can be at times.  

While there is a lot of “recycled” content, both from the main ESPN.com site and from wire and AP reports, it’s pretty nice to have all the Boston content in one place. As for the original content, Reiss is the big draw to start with, and he has already picked up on many of his familiar features on his blog, including formation statistics and inactives analysis. Reiss was also on the ESPN pregame show last night, where they pimped the site a little bit.

Overall, the online competition in Boston is heating up. With ESPNBoston.com would seem to impact the sports side of Boston.com the most, but is also a new competitor for WEEI.com…which given some of the rumorsout there, could be an interesting scenario. CSNNE.com plans to relaunch their site sometime in the fourth quarter, harnessing their new content from NECN, and creating a site of local voices, video content and fan interaction.

All of this adds up to plenty of options for Boston sports fans – the real winner of all this competition.

First Impressions – ESPNBoston.com is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

According to multiple industry sources, ESPN is in discussions to air some of its national programming on WEEI-AM 850 during nights and weekends, with WEEI intending to move to an FM station within months. (Entercom Communications, which owns WEEI, also owns two FM stations in Boston: WAAF 97.7/107.3, and Mike 93.7.)

ESPN Radio would then take over the 850 spot on the dial. The new ESPN 850 station would then be affiliated with the ESPN Boston website, which launches Monday.

Now THAT would be a big shuffle, which would just be latest in a series of frenzied moves by WEEI as they take on the new competitor in the market, 98.5 The SportsHub WBZ-FM.

I talked about the possible FM switch for WEEI a few weeks ago:

Will WEEI Add FM Simulcast In Boston?

That post looks at the options for WEEI in the FM market here, and what the possibilities might be. The move suggested above wouldn’t just be a simulcast, it would be a full switch to FM, with ESPN radio taking over 850…which would be sort of interesting. Why would WEEI want another source of sports radio competition in town, one with a signal that they previously occupied? Would WEEI want to hand ESPN’s Mike & Mike in the Morning a spot where they could compete better with Dennis & Callahan? Unless they feel that having two programs locally to compete against WBZ-FM’s Toucher & Rich is the way to go.

Mike & Mike is the one show that ESPN seems to insist on local affiliates airing.

Dan Kennedy doesn’t think this is a smart move for ESPN.

It’s going to be really interesting to see how this all shakes out.

ESPN to 850? WEEI to FM? is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch