Tuesday Late Night Links

After I've watched President Obama's speech, it's time to give you some late linkage.

First, the Nielsen Ratings Wire blog notes that Cleveland is the top rated local market for NBA games and subsequently lists the next 9 markets. It also notes Indianapolis has seen the biggest year-to-year jump.

Peter Sanders and Matthew Futterman of the Wall Street Journal have an excellent article on potential problems for ESPN as it will have to deal with escalating rights fees in a dwindling ad market.

Newsday's Neil Best talks to a New York Yankees official regarding ticket prices for the team's new stadium.

CNBC's Darren Rovell has a word of warning to companies that receive government bailout money and are sponsoring upcoming sporting events. Darren has an interview with House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank of Massachusetts about the sports sponsorships. Darren talks with Nike Golf president Cindy Davis about Tiger Woods' return. Darren says Tiger's not talking about his foundation's relationship with the embattled Stanford Financial institution. And Darren writes that New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury did the absolute mininum for the maximum of his salary.

Cameron Martin of the Wicked Good Sports blog at Comcast SportsNet New England says the Red Sox are accommodating lazy people by pushing back their game start times to 7:10 p.m. Thanks to The Big Lead for the link.

Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette says the ECAC Hockey Tournament will be available online for the second straight year. Ken writes that RPI's hockey announcer from its college station moves to TV this Friday.

Laura Nachman says Phillies flagship radio station WPHT will have a new postgame show this season.

Paul Farhi of the Washington Post breaks news that NBC-owned WRC will become the official TV station of the Redskins and will show the team's exhibition games starting in August.

Mary Schmitt-Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer talks with ESPN's Tom Jackson.

Bill Lubinger of the Plain Dealer says Cavs TV analyst Austin Carr has inspired a drinking game.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says Reds fans will get to hear announcers Marty Brennaman and the late Joe Nuxhall together again on a classic game broadcast to air on Fox Sports Ohio next week. John also mentions that local TV stations are relying on freelancers to cover Reds' Spring Training this year.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News says a local TV poll shows that most respondents disapprove of the job Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is doing.

The Austin American-Statesman's Bevo Blog states that ESPNU will replay Texas' win over Oklahoma from last Saturday.

The Salt Lake Tribune says FSN Rocky Mountain will carry 150 Colorado Rockies games this season.

Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times writes that Fox's NASCAR broadcast improved on its ratings against the Oscars on Sunday.

David Albee of the Marin (CA) Independent Journal profiles Matt Morrison of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.

Gary Washburn of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer talks with NBA TV's Gary Payton about his new analyst role.

The Sports Media Watch has the overnight ratings of last weekend's sports on TV.

Christopher Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media blog notices that PGATour.com forgot to remove a defunct tournament off its website.

Sox & Dawgs has the video of NFL Network's Rich Eisen doing his annual 40 yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Beth Ann Baldry and Gene Yasuda of Golfweek write about the LPGA's new TV deals in the US and South Korea, but also of its dissing of a long time sponsor.

Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News reports that Spike is seeing higher ratings thanks to its UFC and TNA offerings.

Radio Business Report says content from AOL Fanhouse will be made available to NBC local media sites.

And that is going to complete our links for Tuesday.