The latest trailer from EPIX. Behind-the-scenes series debuts Dec. 16.

Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth probably had to go back into their memory bank to recall how to call a close game. It had been that long.

Dallas’ 31-28 victory over the Giants broke a remarkable nine-game streak of routs (closest victory margin was 18 points) on Sunday night. A compelling game obviously helped the ratings. NBC did a 14 overnight rating, up from the 11.9 final rating for New England’s 42-20 victory over Indianapolis the previous week.

Meanwhile, the highest-rated game of the week was Denver-Miami on CBS. The game did a 17.4 overnight rating, its second best of the season.

Well, apparently Marshawn Lynch has his price. Rather than risk another $100,000 fine for not talking to the media, he made himself available after Sunday’s game.

In the process, the Seattle running back only moved up a few more notches on the jerk meter. As you can see below, he mocked the session by responding “yeah” to almost every question.

I was not familiar with the work of Thad Novak, but many people were. His college basketball blog at Bleacher Report registered more than 10 million page views.

What makes that number extraordinary is that Novak continued to write despite suffering from the debilitating effects of cystic fibrosis. Sadly, the disease recently claimed his life at the age of 34.

Jay Levin of NorthJersey.com writes:

Thad cranked out 1,257 columns — some of them from hospital rooms while he was being treated for complications of cystic fibrosis.

The genetic disorder damages the lungs and is typically fatal within 40 years. “When he was born, it was not expected he’d live too long, but we had our hopes,” Thad’s mother, Janet King, said. “But he did really well with it.”

Cystic fibrosis never defined Thaddeus E. Novak.

“His goal was to live life like he didn’t have cystic fibrosis,” his father, Ralph Novak, said.

“It never held him back,” lifelong pal Richard Ellenson said. “If anything, it may have spurred him on to do more things.”

And…

His mother, father and stepfather, who watched Thad overachieve in the face of adversity, were supportive of his change in course. “The fact is, I wanted him to do what he wanted to do,” his mother said. “I think in some ways science was a great fit for Thad, but in other ways, it wasn’t. I always felt he was more of a humanities person, to tell you the truth.”

Ralph Novak, a retired journalist, said his son was a “born writer” who grew bored with science. “He came to realize that a lot about laboratory science is waiting around for things to happen,” the father said. “Sports is a little more lively.”

Decision made, Thad went back to school — this time, Columbia University — for a master’s in journalism.

In January 2011, while living in Chicago, he started writing for the Bleacher Report. Rather than travel to games, he voraciously studied college basketball and turned out column after column of analysis and predictions.

The Ten Most Polarizing Coaches in College Basketball.

The Top 25 Teams in the History of March Madness.

Big Ten Basketball: Ranking the Top 5 Players at Every Position.

Ellenson set up a Google alert for Thad’s name and was amazed that nearly every day would bring another column.

Elliott Pohnl of Bleacher Report wrote about his memories of Novak:

When the NCAA Tournament tipped off on March 18, he told his editors he wasn’t feeling well, but he wanted assignments. He wanted to chronicle the next Bryce Drew or Shabazz Napier.

He wanted to be a part of the Madness.

Even as he prepared to enter the hospital for a double lung transplant this summer, he kept writing. He apologized for missing deadlines and promised to turn pieces around as soon as possible. He published two articles while laid up in the hospital and even did a radio appearance.

Novak should serve as an inspiration to young writers trying to break into the business. Obstacles don’t matter if you have desire and perseverance.

Nothing is guaranteed in this life.

However, giving the folks at The Game only nine months to establish a new sports station on an obscure FM outlet seems like a why-bother scenario. The Game never had a chance under those circumstances.

Robert Channick of the Tribune talked to WGN honcho Jimmy de Castro on why the plug was pulled abruptly Thursday.

The decision to pull the plug on FM sports talk radio station The Game on Thursday after nine months on the air was not an easy one for WGN-AM 720 president Jimmy de Castro.

It was even harder on staffers, including at least one who found out while on the air, venting his frustration to listeners.

But with Chicago radio revenues declining this year and WGWG-LP 87.7 unable to turn a profit, de Castro said WGN Radio needed to cut its losses.

“The market is way off and the economics won’t support us,” de Castro said. “It’s unfortunate that it’s that way this year and at this time.”

More:

“We’ve tried a lot of things. Some have worked and some haven’t,” de Castro said. “In the case of 87.7 and wgn.fm, the economics haven’t dictated the ability for us to make money, and we’re in the business of making money.”

That’s the reality of the business, but it doesn’t help the people who will be out in the cold. Foremost is Ben Finfer, who gave up a decent gig at WSCR-AM 670 for the opportunity to host a midday show on The Game.

Finfer had the double whammy yesterday of finding out the station was closing while he was on the air. His subsequent rant might have been some of his finest work. It should land him a job somewhere else. He deserves it.

The life of Lyle Alzado is a perfect subject for the “A Football Life” series on NFL Network.

Alzado was a larger-than-life character. Yet he paid a huge price.

Here is a link to the trailer.

The rundown from NFL Network.

******

After a 15-year NFL career and a Super Bowl championship, defensive end Lyle Alzado is still remembered for his incredible talent on the field and larger than life persona off it.

NFL Network’s series A Football Life continues Friday, November 21 at 9:00 PM ET with a profile of Alzado – nicknamed Darth Raider – a three-time Pro Bowl defensive end with the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Raiders, who played with an intimidating style and relentless drive to get after the opposing quarterback. The one-hour, NFL Films-produced documentary focuses on Alzado’s professional football career, but also gives insight to his personal life, commitment to philanthropy and transition into acting. Additionally, the show highlights Alzado’s fight with heavyweight champion boxer,Muhammad Ali. Lyle Alzado: A Football Life also addresses Alzado’s use of steroids and human growth hormone, and how he believed it is what caused him to develop an inoperable brain tumor.

Following the premiere of Lyle Alzado: A Football Life on NFL Network, the episode – along with the entire A Football Lifeseries – will be available on NFL Now, the League’s next-generation video service. Providing fans access to the largest digital library of NFL video anywhere, NFL Now dynamically personalizes each fan’s viewing experience, allowing them to follow their favorite NFL teams and players. Visit NFL.com/now for more information.

Among the topics discussed in Lyle Alzado: A Football Life are:

How his upbringing and relationship with his father affected who he was as a person

The impact he made on the Denver Broncos organization and how he felt the team let him down during their Super Bowl appearance

Being traded to the Cleveland Browns

Alzado’s love of giving back, specifically to children in need

Alzado’s fight with heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali

His trade to the Los Angeles Raiders and Super Bowl XVIII victory

His transition into acting

His attempted comeback and excessive use of steroids in the process, which he initially denied

His diagnosis with an inoperable brain tumor and how he spoke out about the danger of steroids

Emmy-nominated actor Josh Charles narrates.

– “People can portray me anyway they want because I don’t give a damn… But don’t you analyze me and don’t you tell me what I am until you get close enough to understand what I am. Then you can make an analysis of me. But don’t you dare do it until then.” – Lyle Alzado in an interview in 1983

– “Lyle was physically fearless, but I think emotionally he wasn’t.” – Peter Alzado

– “Lyle wanted my father to love him. That is what he wanted more than anything.” – Janice Alzado-Lotz

– “He was relentless. He was all out on every play. He never quit, he was always after the quarterback. It was almost like it was a survival thing for him.” – Billy Thompson on Lyle’s success on the field

– “Take all the things of Lyle Alzado and throw them out the window because here is the one thing that he always was and it was the most consistent thing in his life: Lyle had a good heart.” – Matt Millen

– “The cameras were on and the lights were bright. He looked for an opportunity to pop Ali. He was going to knock him out.” – Claudie Minor on Lyle’s fight with Muhammad Ali

– “Lyle was born to be a Raider.” – Howie Long

– “It was a very rare form of brain cancer. I think he felt that was retribution. He had a lot of guilt attached to doing the steroids and lying about it.” – Peter Alzado

– “He made a deal with the Devil. He got fame and fortune. And it was time for the Devil to collect.” – Mark Lyons

– “How much of Lyle was Lyle? And how much of Lyle was steroids?” – Tom Jackson

Here’s the NFL’s rule on its media policy:

“Star players, or other players with unusually heavy media demands, must be available to the media that regularly cover their teams at least once during the practice week in addition to their required postgame media availability.”

According Ed Werder’s story on ESPN.com, Marshawn Lynch, who doesn’t like dealing with the media, had been warned his wallet could be a bit lighter if he blew off the press again.

Lynch was warned by league officials last week that he was subject to the fine if he didn’t talk to the media after Sunday’s game. It is Lynch’s third fine for violations of the media policy.

And there was this:

Lynch also was asked about the team setting the franchise rushing record two weeks ago (350 yards against the New York Giants), but only responded with statements about rap singers he likes.

Is it really that hard to answer a few questions after a game? Maybe it’s much easier to be a jerk.

Well, I finally received Al Michaels’ new autobiography yesterday. Given all the interviews he’s already done, I feel like I was the last sports media writer to get my copy. Oh well.

The book is officially out for all, and even before reading it, I know it will be good. Few people in the last 50 years have witnessed more sports history than Michaels.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News did a Q/A with Michaels. After being born in Brooklyn, Michaels’ family moved to Los Angeles in his early teens. That exposed the budding broadcaster to one of the all-time greats.

*****

Q: What were the pros and maybe cons about growing up in L.A. listening to Vin Scully? When you finally get your first play-by-play job in Hawaii doing minor-league baseball, you write that all you can think about is: ‘Just sound like Vin Scully.’ How did you mean that? Is there a way to channel him without imitating him?

A: Well, I mean, we all have models. It’s probably the same in a lot of businesses – especially what we would call working the arts, and that includes acting, broadcasting, writing, that kind of discipline. If you start out writing as a kid, you do it like someone you really enjoyed reading. So when I’m starting out at Arizona State and trying to figure out how to do this, you hear the voices in your ear and obviously Vinny was primary at that point. Early on in my career, I’m sure I sounded a lot like Vinny. I sounded somewhat like him by the time I got to Cincinnati. Jim Palmer once told me that he remembers watching the 1972 World Series on NBC and he said, ‘Wow, is that Vin Scully doing the game?’ And it was me. I’m sure I carried it for quite some time. But with experience, you develop, I don’t want to say my own style, but a way of broadcasting. And it’s been so long now that I don’t think I sound like anybody.

This year marks the first time EPIX will air the popular “Road to the Winter Classic” series; previously it had been on HBO. Launched in 2009, EPIX is budding premium entertainment and original programming outlet that is available in 50 million homes. However, it currently isn’t offered on several large systems, including Comcast (my provider).

Since the NHL wants wide distribution, the series also will stream online. Details and trailer below.

*******

EPIX Presents Road To The NHL Winter Classic™ and EPIX Presents Road To The NHL Stadium Series™, a two-part original series from premium TV networkEPIX and the National Hockey League, will bring U.S. viewers onto the ice and behind-the-scenes with the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals as they prepare to compete in the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, and the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks on their road to the 2015 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™.

EPIX Presents Road To The NHL Winter Classic will make its U.S. Television Premiere on EPIXDecember 16 at 10pm ET/PT, 9CT with four weekly episodes following the Blackhawks and the Capitals through regular season games as they get ready to face off in the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® outdoor game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on New Year’s Day, January 1.

EPIX Presents Road To The NHL Stadium Serieswill make its U.S. Television Premiere on EPIXFebruary 3 at 10pm ET/PT, 9CT with four weekly episodes focused on the reigning Stanley Cup® Champion Kings and their division rivals, the Sharks, as they prepare for the 2015 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™ at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on February 21.

The NHL / EPIX partnership will deliver unprecedented reach to the NHL base of almost 60 million U.S. hockey fans with a unique digital all-access free pass to view the entire series.  Fans will be able to stream each episode live as it premieres on EPIX via the following digital platforms:

Online at http://www.epix.com/nhl and NHL.com

·         Via the EPIX and NHL Facebook pages

·         Via the official app of the NHL available on Android and iOS

·         Via the official EPIX App on Android, iOS, XBOX 360, PS3, PS4, Roku and Windows 8

Non EPIX subscribers in the U.S. who wish to stream the series on demand and across their respective devices will have the ability to register for a limited free trial to the service at EPIX.com.

Produced by 52-time Emmy award winner Ross Greenburg, the series will provide viewers an intimate look at these athletes–in their professional and personal settings, capturing all the action, drama, heartaches, and triumphs as they unfold.

Series Schedule:

EPIX PRESENTS ROAD TO THE NHL WINTER CLASSIC

Premiere – Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 10pm ET/PT, 9CT

Episode 2 – Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 10pm ET/PT, 9CT

Episode 3 – Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 10pm ET/PT, 9CT

Episode 4 – Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 10pm ET/PT, 9CT

EPIX PRESENTS ROAD TO THE NHL STADIUM SERIES

Premiere – Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 10pm ET/PT, 9CT

Episode 2 – Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 10pm ET/PT, 9CT

Episode 3 – Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 10pm ET/PT, 9CT

Episode 4- Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 10pm ET/PT, 9CT