I hope that many of you are able to take today off in honor of our veterans.  Here are some sports media news items to start your day…

Anthony Crupi at Media Week has the ESPN Monday Night Football ratings numbers…

Bob Nightengale at USA Today reports that MLB will not be expanding instant replay for 2010...

Michael Hiestand at USA Today has the latest “catching-up” story with ESPN’s Matt Millen as he preps for his NFL Network debut…

Ed Sherman at Crains Chicago Business also chimes in on Millen.

Ed also writes that NBC will not flex its schedule beginning next week and will still carry Eagles/Bears…

David Barron at the Houston Chronicle reviews the latest ESPN “30 for 30″ film on Jimmy “The Greek”

Steve Lapore at Puck the Media gives praise for former goalie and hockey analyst John Davidson…

The Sporting News reports that the Cardinals are looking to get Mark McGwire to speak to the media before he takes over as hitting coach in 2010…

Joe Coscarelli at Mediaite looks at the popularity of ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons…

John Tauer at Psychology Today looks at the media’s role in shaping fans beliefs in the teams they root for or against…

Terry Nau at the Woonsocket Call says media coverage of the fight at a Rhode Island Girls Soccer match overshadows the careers of those involved…

At the end of his column, Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the local Packers ratings for this past Sunday..

Bub Poliquin at the Syracuse at the Syracuse Post Standard introduces readers to a new local sports magazine

Editor and Publisher reports on Pittsburgh hockey writer Dave Molinari being recognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame…