Some Monday Linkage

Time for some linkage today.

Yesterday, I went to a surprise birthday party for a friend of mine. It was good to see him and there were quite a few people I hadn't seen in a long time. And that included seeing a woman on whom I have had a crush going back to when we worked together. It's interesting how your feelings resurface when you're reminded of someone or something. You don't see or think of that person, your feelings are hidden underneath the surface, but then they flow back when when you're reminded of said person. Anyway, you don't want a tome on my personal life, but it was something that I wanted to get off my chest. Let's get to your links.

As I mentioned very early this morning, USA Today's Michael Hiestand had a tidbit in his column about former CBS college basketball analyst Billy Packer possibly signing with FSN for a show. The main gist of Michael's column was regarding the Sunday NFL pregame shows talking about who else? Terrell Owens.

We have a lot of links from the Sports Business Journal today. First the SBJ has a special section today on the 50 Most Influential People In Sports Business.

Bill King writes that he may not be number one on the list, but the Number One Man in the nation will definitely be influential.

Here's how they stack up.

You can see 1-10 here. Check 11-20 right here. Go to 21-30. Read 31-40. Then 41-50.

Now to some more links from the SBJ. Eric Fisher writes that the MLB Network and MLB Advanced Media are getting closer to collaborating.

Eric also talks with outgoing Toronto Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey about bringing baseball to the Ontario province.

Daniel Kaplan says MLB is trying to restructure some of its debt.

Liz Mullen writes that MLB players saw their share of league revenues jump to 52 percent last season.

Liz says Mark Steinberg, the head of IMG's golf division and agent to Tiger Woods, is close to deal to stay with the company.

Ms. Mullen writes that NFL player fines are up this season.

Liz and Tripp Mickle report that Major League Soccer's agent policy is coming under criticism by labor lawyers.

John Lombardo says new NBA ads that will debut on Christmas Day will take a humorous tone.

Terry Lefton writes that the naming rights to the New Orleans Arena have been sold to Octagon.

Michael Smith reports that Duke basketball will be getting its own website.

The SBJ tells us that mediation has been ordered for the ATP Tour and a tournament in Germany that the tour downgraded for next year.

Tripp Mickle writes that the Winter Dew action sports tour and its sponsors are set to debut this week.

Tripp says snowboarders have to pick and choose their events this winter because of the increased number of tour stops.

Jon Show says LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens got paid less in 2007 compared to the previous year.

And there are your links to the SBJ today. Lots of good reading.

CNBC's Darren Rovell says the dominance by the NBA's Big 3 is not good for the league.

Joe Favorito says the Washington Capitals may have been on to something when it had a website producer suit up as its backup goalie last Friday.

Now to some other links from across the country. Phil Mushnick of the New York Post writes that replays during yesterday's Bills-Jets game interrrupted game action.

Newsday's Neil Best says on second thought, the Arena Football League may not play in 2009 after all.

The next link comes from the great Big Lead blog. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Bob Smizik, who's been linked to from time to time in Fang's Bites, writes his final column as he has chosen to take a buyout.

Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun has some highlights from the Sunday NFL pregame shows. And Ray looks into the quotes from Jim Nantz and Phil Simms from yesterday's controversial Steelers-Ravens game.

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times reviews the weekend in televised sports including the Heisman Trophy presentation.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News reviews the Sunday NFL pregame shows and the Sunday night game between the Giants and Cowboys. Barry writes that a local channel picks up this Saturday's Ravens-Cowboys game.

Dusty Saunders of the Rocky Mountain News writes that he was absorbed by the HBO college football documentary that premieres on Tuesday.

Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times gives praise to ESPN for Jimmy V Week and the Greatest Game documentary.

Christopher Byrne's Eye on Sports Media blog has the broadcast information for the EagleBank Bowl which kick off holiday bowl season on December 20.

The Big Lead has the video of Terrell Owens taking a shot at ESPN's Ed Werder on NBC's Sunday Night Football.

And that's going to be it for now.