- In under one week, ABC will begin its seventh season of NBA coverage with a Christmas Day doubleheader. Coverage will feature music from the a cappella group Straight No Chaser, a “holiday-themed open” by Shaquille O’Neal, and the ABC debut of new analyst Magic Johnson. ABC’s NBA broadcast teams remain unchanged from last year, with Mike Tirico and Hubie Brown working Spurs/Suns and Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson calling Celtics/Lakers.
- The Boston-area media apparently cannot talking about former Red Sox player Manny Ramirez. On Christmas night, Comcast SportsNet New England will air a half-hour special entitled Manny Being Manny: The Final Days in Boston. The special will feature “candid comments from noted Boston sports writers and personalities“, and will examine “the key moments that led up to [Ramirez’] departure.”
- MLB Network will officially launch on January 1 at 6 PM, with the debut of the “Hot Stove” studio show, which will air throughout the remainder of the offseason. Immediately following Hot Stove, the network will broadcast a replay of Don Larsen‘s perfect game in the 1956 World Series — the only perfect game in World Series history.
Tomlin reportedly joining NBC as “Football Night in America” analyst
Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is joining NBC Sports to serve as a studio analyst on "Football...
