Here are some sports media news stories to begin your Tuesday…

Richard Sandomir at the NY Times has a story looking at ESPN’s Bill Simmons’ new basketball book…

Bob Raissman at the NY Daily News looks at a Phil Simms flip-flop during Sunday’s Giants/Chargers contest…

Phil Mushnick at the NY Post looks at the double standard in the firing 21 years ago of Jimmy “The Greek” and the lyrics today of rappers like Jay-Z…

Eric Deggans at the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana University tries to explore the reasons for the increase in NFL ratings…

Ed Sherman at Crains Chicago Business says Bears fans are not tuning in as much to watch their team…Ed also has word of a local sports reporter returning to the air…

The Associated Press has a story about a possible local blackout of next Monday’s NFL game in Cleveland

Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner reports on the talk during the NBC SNF pregame show about the future of michael Vick…

Paulsen at Sports Media Watch has a Sports Business Journal story indicating that ABC will be without a NBA Conference Finals playoff series in 2010…

Craig at Waiting for Next Year writes a letter to ESPN Ombudsman Don Ohlmeyer on LeBron and the Cavs……

Jessica Heslam at the Boston Herald talks with a sports anchor recently relieved of his job…

Amanda Day at the Indiana Daily Student previews a visit to campus today by Fox’ Joe Buck...

Another Comcast/NBC deal story…this time fro Ashley Milne-Tyte at Marketplace…

Kristina Knight at Biz Report writes on a study that shows the Internet is the first stop for sports fans to get information…

Mark Sachoff at Web Pro News also has results of the same study…

Poker Listings.com looks at a new poker program set to air on Fox Sports…

Ball State University Athletics has its November and December television schedule…