Sports coverage overdose - Emerson College journalism professor Mark Leccese writes the “Gatekeeper” blog for Boston.com. He touches on a lot of media items, and today his focus is on the saturation of sports media coverage in this area.

I agree with much of what he has to say. Part of what I try to do here is sift through some of that noise and get you the good stuff.

Robert Lee leaves ProJo sports department - I’m not saying this has anything to do with my blind item in yesterday’s post. Nope. Not saying that. But someone might.

The Enterprise mourns passing of former sports writer Win Bates - Longtime (1973-2008) Brockton Enterprise sports writer Win Bates passed away on Tuesday. Bates had covered the Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins in addition to high school and college sports.

Three Wednesday Afternoon Items is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

• Glenn Ordway shared this pearl of wisdom with listeners today: It will be much harder for the Celtics to win tonight if they fall behind by 15 points early, than if they keep it close the whole game.

• Vito Stellino is an idiot - When NFL writers fight, the kids always lose.

• Swallow the whistle on the ref talk - Steve Bulpett with a midday column on why there is no ref conspiracy in the NBA.

• Reports from Patriots mini-camp today: Christopher Price, Mike Reiss, Albert Breer, Paul Perillo and Ian R. Rapoport.

• Bill Simmons will do another in-game chat on ESPN.com during tonight’s game.

• As before, CSN’s Celtics Pregame Live will start at 7:30 tonight, and Post Game Line will be on immediately after the game.

• Scott A Benson is not happy with Logan Mankins.

• How to Silence Vuvuzela Horns in World Cup Broadcasts - Just in case you were wondering.

Afternoon One-liners is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

Q&A With Patriots LB Tyrone McKenzie - Chris Warner scores an interview with the Patriots third-round pick of a year ago, who was injured in rookie camp, and missed all of 2009. If you’ve forgotten his story, it’s worth reviewing.

No Harm, No Foul With Nomar - My column in the Metro, written yesterday, hoping to get out in front of all the toxic waste spewed this morning.

A Tale of Two Dans - The blog YFSF (YanksFan/SoxFan) weighs in on Shaughnessy.

Do the right thing - ESPN Ombudsman Don Ohlmeyer weighs in on the Tony Kornheiser suspension, and the Tiger Woods coverage.

Afternoon Quicklinks is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

If you thought that the Patriots/Jets circus would simmer down a little after Eric Mangini was fired, think again. Rex Ryan is hear, and he’s not going to kiss Bill Belichick’s rings. Yes, he actually did say that. Check Patriots Daily for the transcript of the new Jets coach’s interview on WFAN yesterday, plus a little commentary.

After getting the NFL Network on board in its digital classic tier, Comcast has now moved NBA TV there as well. According to Sports Business Daily, this will add 8.8 million subs to the channel’s distribution, pushing it to more than 23 million. NBA Commish David Stern has said he hopes to get the channel to more than 40 million eventually.

The Red Sox are playing the Tigers as well speak. All sorts of ways to keep up with the game, from Dan Shaughnessy on the Extra Bases blog, to Amalie Benjamin on Twitter.  

Mike Reiss had a Patriots chat on Boston.com today. Reiss, by the way, is scheduled to be an in-studio guest on NFL Network tomorrow.

Don’t forget, tonight is also the season three premiere of Burn Notice. You can still enter to win a Burn Notice giveaway by leaving a comment on Monday’s post.

06.04.09 Afternoon is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

Curt Schilling goes after Dan Shaughnessy. Again. With great effectiveness.

Gary Andrew Poole with the Columbia Journalism Review has a very interesting piece on how sports writing can recapture its relevance.

Eric Dorval makes the case for Jim Rice’s Hall of Fame candidacy on Examiner.com

And a NESN note:

This Friday is the 30th anniversary of the Bobby Orr Retirement Ceremony when the Bruins raised # 4 to the rafters of the Boston Garden in a pre-game ceremony before an exhibition game against a team from the Soviet Union. The ceremony originally aired on TV 38 on 1/9/1979 and NESN will, for the first time, re-air this half-hour ceremony in its entirety on Saturday, January 10th at 9:00 PM.

Three Lunchtime Quick Links is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

John Molori talks to Pat Kirwin of NFL.com, including quite a bit about the Patriots.

Stephon Marbury to the Celtics? Why Not?

Elsewhere, Bill Simmons looks at the NFL playoffs this week.

Tom E. Curran picks the Chargers and Giants in the Super Bowl.

In Mike Florio vs the Boston Herald, it’s hard to know who to root for.

Tony Massarotti responds to criticism that he hates the Patriots by saying Bill Belichick should’ve won coach of the year.

John Chandler examines whether Boston College’s 12-2 record is for real.

Mid-Day Quick Links is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

Sure, the Seahawks have had a series of devastating injuries this season, but I think the Patriots personnel losses rank right up there with anyone thus far…

First the NFL wrapups from around the ‘net:

Two weeks after declaring the Jets the surefire AFC East winners and the best team in the AFC, Peter King now likes the Dolphins to win the division.

Michael Silver also likes the Dolphins’ chances.

John Clayton learned a few things this weekend.

Albert Breer is big on the Steelers. 

Tom E. Curran assesses the free-for-all that is the AFC East.

Pete Prisco hands out week 14 grades.

Mike Florio has a 10 pack of thoughts from yesterday.

Will there ever be free agent signings this offseason, or is Scott Boras just going to hold the entire sport of baseball hostage until spring?

Tony Massarotti has five things that the Red Sox should do in Vegas.

Gordon Edes has the Tigers eyeing Kerry Wood.

Dayn Perry looks at what movement there might be in the AL East this winter.

It only took a 12 game winning streak for Marty Burns to put the Celtics over the Lakers in his NBA Power rankings. Marc Stein has the Celtics at #1 as well.

Roy S. Johnson says that this season hasn’t been as easy for the Celtics as it has appeared to be.

Monday Wrap is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

Today we get a good example of how the modern information age loves to take things and “re-report” them in the most sensational way possible. On the NBCSports.com’s “Scuttlebutt” they link Finn’s column with the headline If Red Sox get Tex, Big Papi is gone. Sounds pretty definitive. Si.com’s Fannation also ran with the story, as a “hot rumor,” simply citing the Boston Globe as the source.

The fact that these outlets could take Finn’s opinion – the piece was just an opinion column – and turn it into some kind of hot “rumor” is exactly what is wrong with so much of the sports coverage we get today. Finn wasn’t reporting anything, and much of the piece is in fact a tribute to Ortiz, who Finn clearly does not want to see traded.

Bill Simmons says that home field advantage isn’t what it once was. He also has his Week 12 picks.

Eric Wilbur, as he does every week, rounds up the predictions for this weekend’s Patriots game. A surprising majority appear to be picking the Patriots, which runs counter to my own gut feeling. (Which might be a good thing.)

Ronnie Brown is getting ready for an even bigger and better game against the Patriots this time around.

Wes Goldstein has the Bruins putting it all together under Claude Julien.

Tony Massarotti thinks that the Celtics have the East all wrapped up already.

Jessica Camerato says that these Celtics have swagger…and their opponents don’t particularly appreciate it at times.

Tom E. Curran says that Matt Ryan is starting to look Brady-like down in Atlanta. Lawyer Milloy backs him up.

Dave Hollander has an extensive interview with Erin Andrews.

Jason Whitlock goes after the media for their bashing of Donovan McNabb.

Even if you weren’t a fan of Mike Mussina, you’ve got to admire that he had made his mind up before the season that he was going to retire, but didn’t tell anyone, and that even his first ever 20 win season couldn’t change his mind.

Ken Fang’s Megalinks will be up either later tonight or at latest tomorrow morning…

Friday Links and Thoughts is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

Chad Finn has story on Boston.com. Sean McAdam has the story on the Herald website. Alex Speier weighs in on  WEEI.com. Tony Massarotti points to the 18 at-bats when Pedroia stepped into the cleanup role after Manny Ramirez was traded as what tipped the scaled in Pedroia’s favor. That, and the fact that he is 5 foot 8.

Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News left Pedroia off his ballot completely. Before you slam him too badly, his first place vote went to Kevin Youkilis.

Mike Reiss has his Patriots Mailbag for the week.

On the BSMW Full Court Press, we weigh in on the ridiculous Garnett Suspension.

Pedroia Named AL MVP is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

The Patriots got two pieces of good news today, first the news came out that Vince Wilfork will not be suspended by the league and then LaMont Jordan returned to practice.

On the new-look BSMW Full Court Press, we’ve got a look at ESPN’s fascination with crowning the Lakers as NBA champs this season, and their decidedly flimsy reasons for doing so.

Brett Myers is still a scumbag, though I’m sure Dennis and Callahan still feel that Manny Ramirez is more of one.

Sports Media News has Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the Celtics/Cavs game last night. 

Tony Massarotti says that Tony Allen is very happy to put last season behind him.

Wednesday Quicklinks is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch