Fang's Bites

Some Memorial Day Linkage

On this holiday for those people aren’t working, I wish you the best Memorial Day possible and don’t forget to remember those who have given their lives in service to their country. For those of who worked the entire holiday weekend including myself, I hope you get some time off down the road. I won’t since I don’t take vacations or take days off, but that’s what I bargained for when I joined the family business. No time off. No vacations. No holidays except Thanksgiving and Christmas, but those are the holidays I’d rather work.

Anyway, as I’m stuck at work, I’ll try to give you some linkage.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News writes about Comcast looking to take over the rights for the Houston Astros and Houston Rockets in 2012 from Fox Sports.

Glen Dickson of Broadcasting & Cable writes that programmers are ready for 3-D TV, but do consumers want it?

Sports Illustrated’s Peter King says it looks good for NFL Matchup to return to TV in some form this coming season (scroll to #9). Thanks to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk for the link.

Bonnie D. Ford of ESPN.com writes about Tennis Channel’s Coriana Morariu and Martin Navratilova who not only share tennis as a bond, but something more serious.

NESN says it may experience some signal interruption today.

Claire Atkinson of the New York Post writes that Time Warner Cable and Disney are locked in a fee battle over ESPN that could have subscribers missing out on football. 

Laura Nachman says Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia will re-air Roy Halladay’s perfect game tonight.

Tim Lemke wishes Adidas would stop messing with the design of the soccer ball.

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times has some thoughts on the weekend in television sports.

Chris Wadsworth of the Fort Myers (FL) News-Press says a local sports radio show has fallen by the wayside. 

Earl Austin, Jr. of the St. Louis American profiles a native who will be in charge of what you see during ESPN’s coverage of the World Cup. 

Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post says no matter what you think of Don Cherry, he’s always colorful.

Tom Hoffarth from the Los Angeles Daily News has your SoCal sports calendar for the week.

Bruce Dowbiggin in the Toronto Globe and Mail writes about Canadians deciding to play their hockey south of the border instead of at home.

Paulsen at Sports Media Watch says Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference Finals did decently for TNT, but again fell short of last year’s ratings.

Steve Lepore in Puck The Media reviews NBC’s production of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Joe Favorito explores the value of stadium naming rights.

And ESPN Radio in Los Angeles is conducting a Sports Broadcasting Jobs Seminar this weekend.

Those are your links for today. 

Memorial Day Viewing Picks

College Baseball
College World Series Selection Show – ESPN, 12:30 p.m.

College Lacrosse
Men’s Division I Championship
Duke vs. Notre Dame – ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

College Softball
Women’s Division II Championship
Valdosta State vs. Hawai’i Pacific – CBS College Sports, 3 p.m.

MLB
American League
Cleveland at New York Yankees – STO/YES, 1 p.m.
Oakland at Detroit – Comcast SportsNet California/Fox Sports Detroit, 1 p.m.
Anaheim Angels at Kansas City – Fox Sports West/Fox Sports Kansas City, 2 p.m.
Tampa Bay Rays at Toronto – Sun Sports/Rogers Sportsnet, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Seattle – Fox Sports North/FSN Northwest, 10 p.m.

National League
Milwaukee at Florida – Fox Sports Wisconsin/Fox Sports Florida, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia at Atlanta – Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/SportSouth, 1 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh – WGN America/FSN Pittsburgh, 1:30 p.m.
Washington at Houston – MASN/Fox Sports Houston, 2 p.m.
Cincinnati at St. Louis – Fox Sports Ohio/Fox Sports Midwest, 4 p.m.
Colorado at San Francisco – MLB Network/FSN Rocky Mountain/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 4 p.m.
Arizona at Los Angeles Dodgers – MLB Network/Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 9 p.m.
New York Mets at San Diego – SNY/Cox 4, 10 p.m.

MLB Tonight Live – MLB Network, 7 p.m.
Baseball Tonight – ESPN, 10 p.m.
Quick Pitch Live – MLB Network, midnight

NHL Stanley Cup Final
NHL On The Fly at the Stanley Cup Final: Game 2 Pregame Show – NHL Network, 6 p.m.

Game 2/Philadelphia at Chicago – NBC/CBC/RDS, 8 p.m.

Hockey Central – Versus, 11 p.m.
NHL On The Fly: Game 2 Postgame Show – NHL Network, 11 p.m.

Tennis
French Open, Round of 16 – Tennis Channel, 6 a.m./ESPN2, noon

French Open Tonight – Tennis Channel, 6:30 p.m.

Entertainment
Band of Brothers Marathon – Spike TV, 9 a.m. until 12:51 a.m.
Deadliest Catch Marathon – Discovery, 9 a.m. until 3 a.m.
The Pacific, Parts 6-10 – HBO2, 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Food(ography): Ice Cream – Fine Living, 8 p.m.
The Haney Project: Ray Romano: Back to the Beginnings – Golf Channel, 9 p.m.
America the Story of Us: Millennium – History Channel, 9 p.m.
Nurse Jackie – Showtime, 10 p.m.
United States of Tara – Showtime, 10:30 p.m.

Sunday Linkage

I’ll do some Sunday links for you on this middle day of the three day weekend. Let’s get to them.

First, Mike Reynolds at Multichannel News writes that Versus is getting an outdoor NHL game next season when the Heritage Classic returns to Canada.

Mike also discusses Comcast SportsNet affiliates in Chicago and Philadelphia placing wagers on their respective NHL teams over the Stanley Cup Finals.

Bob Raissman at the New York Daily News wonders why WFAN’s Mike Francesa suddenly chose to talk about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last week.

And Phil Mushnick of the New York Post bashes Francesa over his anti-World Cup rant.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union writes that a local sports talk show finally gets a substitute host.

Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette says NBC got a decent rating for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Saturday.

Pamela Scott Johnson in the Williamson (WV) Daily News writes that one of ESPN’s original employees is suing the network over wrongful termination.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is surprised Doug Collins would leave his cushy TNT analyst job to become coach of the Philadelphia 76ers next season.

Artie Gigantino in the San Francisco Chronicle feels that New Jersey is the perfect site for Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014.

The Sports Media Watch has its usual weekend ratings predictions.

Steve Lepore of Puck The Media has the ratings breakdown per half hour of last night’s Stanley Cup Final Game 1.

I’ll check for more linkage later.

NBC Scores With Stanley Cup Final Game 1

Overnights are in for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks and they are good.

They are the best ratings since 1999 when Dallas and Buffalo squared off on Fox.

Take a look.

BEST STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 1 OVERNIGHT IN 11 YEARS

NBC Wins Night

Game 1 Up 12% Over Last Year

NEW YORK – May 30, 2010 — Last night’s Game 1 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final produced the best overnight rating for a Game 1 in 11 years. The 2.8 overnight rating and 6 share for the Philadelphia Flyers-Chicago Blackhawks Game 1 is the best since 1999 (Buffalo vs. Dallas, 3.7 on Fox). NBC also won the night finishing No. 1 in primetime (1.7, A18-49).

The game — broadcast by NBC Sports on the Saturday night of Memorial Day weekend — also saw a 12-percent increase over last year’s Game 1 (Pittsburgh vs. Detroit, 2.5 on NBC), which was also on a Saturday night but not played during Memorial Day Weekend and was between the then-defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins, featuring Sidney Crosby.

The 2.8 overnight rating also ranks as the highest overnight rating for a Game 1 played on a Saturday in 13 years (since 1997 Detroit- Philadelphia, 5.1 on Fox).

Chicago led all markets with a 16.8 rating and 35 share. Philadelphia followed with a 13.2 rating and 25 share.

Very good ratings for the NHL. I’m sure we’ll hear more when the final ratings are released.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Videos of the Week – Best Sports Themes, Part IV

This is the fourth and last part of Best Sports Themes. Today, we’re focusing on sports anthologies such as ABC’s Wide World of Sports, CBS Sports Spectacular, NBC SportsWorld and the like.

We’ll start this with the original sports anthology program, Wide World of Sports. It’s cut off, but it’s pretty cool to see iconic athletes such as Franz Klammer, Pele, Mario Andretti and of course, representing the Agony of Defeat, Vinko Bogataj the ski jumper on the intro.This is from 1978 and the quality isn’t very good.

By 1996, Wide World was appearing less frequently as ESPN was taking over ABC Sports, but we did get a short version of the intro.

Going back to 1983, here’s the ending of Wide World and you have the theme played in full.

And here’s an intro which is a little longer, but again the theme plays out.

Finally, here’s a promo for Wide World of Sports dating back to the 1970′s. I wish they used this music for the show.

In 1973, CBS decided to create its own anthology called the CBS Sports Spectacular. It still runs today, but not really in the same format as back then. Anyway, here’s the theme from 1979 and I like this version. This is Emerson, Lake and Palmer. For 1977-1978, they used Electric Light Orchestra’s Fire on High.

NBC tried a couple of anthologies, one called Grandstand in 1975, but it didn’t work. Then it tried again in 1977 with SportsWorld and that through the late 1980′s. This is the theme for the program.

And one which you probably didn’t see unless you lived in the UK. This is BBC Grandstand which ran from 1958 until 2007. This theme is very familiar to British sports fans. This person loved the theme so much, he tacked four different openings during the period of 1993 through 1998.

Because I can, I’ll post the final BBC Grandstand opens. This is the last Grandstand Saturday open with Hazel Irvine as the host.

Finally, this is the final BBC Sport Grandstand as presented by Claire Balding. Kind of interesting to see how BBC presented their programs.

So that does it for the Best Sport Themes. For past versions, you can check out my original effort which featured NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and college football and a follow-up on the same day. Part II had NFL pregame shows, college basketball and soccer. And Part III focused on golf and tennis.

Next week, I’ll focus on the Worst Sports Themes and there are quite a few.

ESPN2 To Continue Carrying MMA Live

Received a press release today from ESPN that ESPN2 will continue carrying the ESPN.com-produced “MMA Live” through August. The network started airing the series this month and judging from this release, feels comfortable taking more shows through the summer.

Here’s the release.

ESPN2 to Continue Televising ESPN.com’s MMA Live Show

After airing episodes for the first time this May, ESPN2 will continue to televise ESPN.com’s produced and distributed weekly MMA Live series dedicated to news, highlights and analysis from the sport of mixed martial arts through August, 2010. ESPN2 will continue to provide the first airing of the weekly MMA Live series Fridays at 1 a.m. ET (Thursday at 10 p.m. PT) with the ESPN.com version, featuring additional content, available shortly after the ESPN2 telecast.

As previously scheduled, ESPN2 will simulcast ESPN.com’s MMA Live at UFC 114 Sunday, May 30, at 1 a.m. (Saturday at 10 p.m. PT). Future simulcasts of MMA Live specials originating from event sites are to be determined. MMA Live host Jon Anik, analysts Kenny Florian and Randy Couture, ESPN.com MMA Insider Franklin McNeil, and correspondent Molly Qerim will work the telecasts. Couture is an analyst in place of Rashad Evans who will compete in the UFC 114 event.

MMA Live launched on ESPN.com in 2008 and ESPN2 first began televising the popular series in May 2010 with four episodes of the weekly news and highlights program, on-site pre- and post-event specials surrounding UFC 113 on May 8 and May 9, and the post-event show following UFC 114.

In addition to ESPN.com, ESPN has offered mixed martial arts news, interviews, highlights, stories, discussion and weigh-ins across multiple platforms, including ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Radio, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN International, SportsCenter, E:60, SportsNation, First Take and more.

So MMA fans continue to have a weekly destination for the next few months.

TV Coverage of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals

I’ll throw two press releases here, one from NBC Sports and the other from Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, regarding their coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals which begin tonight. Let’s go with NBC Sports’ coverage plans first.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS HOST PHILADELPHIA FLYERS IN GAME 1 OF STANLEY CUP FINAL THIS SATURDAY AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBC SPORTS

 “This is going to be a whole lot of nasty.” – NBC Sports’ Pierre McGuire on the Stanley Cup Final

 Olympic MVP Ryan Miller To Serve As Guest Analyst For Game 1; Game 2 on NBC Sports Monday at 8 p.m. ET

NEW YORK – May 27, 2010 – The 2010 Stanley Cup Final begins this Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports when the Chicago Blackhawks, champions of the Western Conference, host the Philadelphia Flyers, champions of the Eastern Conference, at United Center.

Mike “Doc” Emrick (play-by-play), who will call his 12^th Stanley Cup Final, Eddie Olczyk (analyst), and Pierre McGuire (inside-the-glass reporter) call the action. McGuire will pull double duty, hosting NBC’s studio show alongside analyst Mike Milbury and Olympic MVP and Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, who will serve as a guest analyst for Game 1. Analyst Jeremy Roenick will join McGuire and Milbury for the remainder of the series beginning with Game 2.

SCHEDULE: NBC Sports’ coverage of the Stanley Cup Final continues with Game 2 from United Center on Monday, May 31 at 8 p.m. ET. Games 3 and 4 will be played at Philadelphia’s Wachovia Center and will air on VERSUS Wednesday, June 2 and Friday, June 4, respectively. NBC Sports resumes coverage for Games 5-7, if necessary. Following is the Stanley Cup Final television schedule (all times ET):

Game 1                Sat. May 29        NBC                   8 p.m.

Game 2                Mon. May 31      NBC                   8 p.m.

Game 3                Wed. June 2        VERSUS             8 p.m.

Game 4                Fri. June 4           VERSUS             8 p.m.

Game 5                Sun. June 6          NBC                   8 p.m.

Game 6                Wed. June 9        NBC                   8 p.m.

Game 7                Fri. June 11         NBC                   8 p.m.

VIEWERSHIP: NBC Sports is averaging 1.89 million viewers for its NHL playoff coverage, the most for broadcast TV in the U.S. through three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2002 (2.31 million on ABC) and up five percent over last year. Sunday’s game featuring the Blackhawks’ series-clinching win over the San Jose Sharks averaged 2.5 million viewers, up 19 percent from last year’s comparable game (2.1 million).

STANLEY CUP HISTORY: The Blackhawks, the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, are making their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final since 1992 when they were swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Chicago has not won the Stanley Cup since 1961 and their 49 years without a title is the longest active drought in the league.

The Flyers, the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, are back in the Final for the first time since they were swept by the Detroit Red Wings in 1997. Philadelphia has not won the Stanley Cup championship since they were repeat champs in 1974-75.

Both teams have lost their last five Final appearances. The Flyers are 2-5 all time in the Final, while Chicago is 3-7.

OLYMPIANS COMPETING FOR THE CUP: Ten players on the rosters of the Blackhawks (six) and Flyers (four) competed in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. Of the 10, five won gold for Canada, one claimed silver for Team USA, one earned bronze for Finland, and two competed for bronze with Slovakia but lost to Finland. One player competed for Latvia.

GOLD – CANADA

Blackhawks: Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook & Jonathan Toews

Flyers: Chris Pronger & Mike Richards

SILVER – USA

Blackhawks: Patrick Kane

BRONZE – FINLAND

Flyers: Kimmo Timonen

SLOVAKIA

Blackhawks: Marian Hossa & Tomas Kopecky

LATVIA

Flyers: Oskars Bartulis

ON NBC SPORTS: Chicago is 4-2 on NBC Sports this season, including last weekend’s series-clinching Game 4 win over San Jose. Philadelphia is 2-3 on NBC Sports in 2010, including Saturday’s 3-0 win over Montreal in Game 4 of their series, which gave the Flyers a three-games-to-one lead.

NBC SPORTS’ 2010 STANLEY CUP COVERAGE BY THE NUMBERS:

1                      Office Trailer

2                      Net Cams

4                      Production Trucks

5                      Commentators

12                    Number of Finals called by Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, including 2010

24                    Cameras

35                    Pounds (weight of Stanley Cup)

81                    On-Site Personnel

15,840             Feet of Cable (approx)

NBCSPORTS.COM: “Star-cam” continues for the Stanley Cup Final. “Star-cam” tracks a player(s) from both teams throughout each of their shifts. Following the game, NBCSports.com will present bonus material, including “Star-cam” and “Net-cam” and bonus analysis from NBC Sports commentators.

CONFERENCE CALL: The NHL today conducted a media conference call with, among others, Emrick, McGuire and Milbury to preview the Final. Highlights follow:

MCGUIRE ON THE MATCHUP: “This is going to be a whole lot of nasty…It’s going to be great hockey. It’s everything you want. You’ve got two sizzling cauldrons here in Chicago and back in Philadelphia. It’s going to be a ton of fun to watch.”

MILBURY ON THE MATCHUP: “(Chicago is) a quick, puck-moving group in contrast with a bigger, stronger Philadelphia group. They match up pretty well. It’s going to be a longer series, more than people realize.” 

EMRICK ON PHILADELPHIA: “The fact that they could rally and still be able to have some skin left on their teeth by the time they got through the last game is a real achievement.”

EMRICK ON CHICAGO’S ORGANIZATION: “This team is very progressive in terms of getting out there, showing the quality products that it has…When you start winning games and start having 100-point seasons like they have in the past two years, that shows they are really tremendous.”

MCGUIRE ON PHILADEPHIA’S MIKE RICHARDS: “He’s the ultimate leader.”

MILBURY ON CHICAGO: “The one fact that’s in the favor of Chicago is their team speed. It was outstanding throughout the playoffs.”

MCGUIRE ON PHILADELPHIA’S DANNY BRIERE: “This playoff season, he’s been phenomenal. He’s been a major reason why — a lot like Mike Richards — they’ve been able to survive.”

MCGUIRE: “Jonathan Toews is a no-nonsense kind of leader.” 
EMRICK ON TOEWS: “There’s no panic in his game whatsoever. He’s a terrific player.”
MCGUIRE ON DEFENSE: “A big part of what allowed these goalies to prosper is the fact that both these teams have unbelievable defensemen in front of them.”

And after the jump, I’ll give you Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia’s coverage.

Here is what you’ll see in Philadelphia if you Comcast SportsNet Philly on your cable system.

COMCAST SPORTSNET PROVIDES LIVE PRE AND POSTGAME PROGRAMS, PLUS EXCLUSIVE ONLINE FEATURES FOR STANLEY CUP FINALS

PHILADELPHIA (May 26, 2010) –  Comcast SportsNet, together with The Comcast Network, ushers in the most comprehensive Flyers’ Stanley Cup Finals coverage with live pre and post game shows, The Ultimate Goal playoff specials, live game chats and exclusive on-air and online coverage. In addition to the Stanley Cup specials, Comcast SportsNet will provide extensive Flyers reports in Daily News Live, SportsNite and SportsRise.

The Ultimate Goal

Comcast SportsNet continues to provide the most local Stanley Cup playoff coverage with The Ultimate Goal. Local hockey experts including Rick Tocchet, Bill Clement, Al Morganti, Steve Coates and John Boruk break down the game and offer their analysis on the set. The Ultimate Goal will air Friday, May 28 at 10:30 p.m.; Sunday, May 30 at 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; Tuesday, June 1 at 10:30 p.m.; Thursday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 5 at 10:30 p.m.*; Tuesday, June 8 at 10:30 p.m.*; and Thursday, June 10 at 10:30 p.m.*. (*If necessary)

Behind Enemy Lines

Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia taps into Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s Blackhawks experts to get the Windy City’s pulse on the Flyers-Blackhawks matchup in the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals. Fans can check out what they are saying in Chicago on Daily News Live, SportsNite and online at CSNPhilly.com.

Live Online Exclusives

During every Stanley Cup game, Comcast SportsNet’s panel of hockey experts will be chatting with fans on CSNPhilly.com throughout the game, plus Flyers Pregame Live and Flyers Postgame Live. Fans watching the pre and postgame shows on CSNPhilly.com will have the opportunity to watch exclusive behind-the-scenes footage. CSNPhilly.com will also have exclusive live intermission reports between each period of every Flyers Stanley Cup game.

That’s it.

Lazy Saturday Afternoon Links

I’ve been actually busy doing some errands at home as I don’t have a car due to the accident last Friday, but lazy to blog. Time to give you some linkage now.

Stuart Levine from Variety asks if the Super Bowl will ever appear on cable. 

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says Fox Soccer Channel has issued an iPhone/iPod Touch app for the World Cup. 

Mike tells us that Tennis Channel is marketing its French Open coverage at selected US French restaurants. Really.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell has his choice for Sports Toy of the Year.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times reports that the Giants and Jets are trying to lure international companies to sell naming rights to their new stadium.

Paul Post in The Saratogian (NY) speaks with ESPN NHL analyst Barry Melrose.

Greg Connors of the Buffalo News lists some podcasts you can listen to while running.

Don B. Burke of the Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger profiles the best NHL play-by-play man, Mike Emrick who will call the Stanley Cup Finals for NBC tonight. 

The Delaware News-Journal says the Blue Hens will appear four times on TV as part of the Colonial Athletic Association football package on Comcast SportsNet.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says tennis fans will be covered all weekend with three networks airing the French Open.

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times talks with former New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams who will be performing in the local area this weekend.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News writes about ESPN’s Jon Miller who got to sow his broadcasting oats with the Texas Rangers.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News looks at some of interesting stories from this week.

Deadspin notes that Access Hollywood’s and noted Celtics fan Maria Menounos was taunting Orlando’s Vince Carter on Friday.

John Daly of the Daly Planet says NASCAR is sending a mixed message by recruiting the polarizing Reverend James Dobson to deliver an invocation before tomorrow’s Coca-Cola 600 and trying to be edgy on Showtime’s Inside NASCAR program.

Paulsen at the Sports Media Watch says the final rating for the UEFA Champions League was a slight improvement over last year.

SMW says Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference Finals finished strongly for TNT.

SMW has the overnight ratings from Friday’s clincher of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. 

SMW notes that entering its final race of the season, NASCAR on Fox is down from last year.

SMW has the Stanley Cup Finals ratings dating back to the late 20th Century.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says the legendary voice of the Edmonton Oilers will be turning off his mic for good.

And we’ll finish it there.

NBC Sports To Butcher, I Mean, Air French Open This Weekend

NBC starts its French Open coverage this weekend and after being able to see matches live all this week online thanks to Tennis Channel and ESPN2, my fear is that NBC will pull shenanigans like it did last year with calling exclusivity of certain matches then tape delaying them. The network has been doing this ever since it started airing the French Open back in 1983, but it seems to be getting worse with each year. Anyway, enough of me railing against NBC right now. But if the network pulls the dreaded tape delay during this year’s French Open and Wimbledon, get ready for me to publish illegal websites where you can watch the action live. You deserve it as tennis fans.

Anyway, here’s the press release from NBC touting the coverage.

FEDERER, NADAL, AND THE WILLIAMS SISTERS HEADLINE NBC SPORTS’ FRENCH OPEN COVERAGE BEGINNING THIS SATURDAY

“I am giving Rafa the edge to win this one.” – NBC Sports’ Mary Carillo

“The best clay court player of her generation.” – Carillo on Justine Henin

NEW YORK – May 27, 2010 – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena and Venus Williams, and Justine Henin headline an impressive lineup at the 2010 French Open from Roland Garros in Paris beginning Saturday at Noon ET on NBC Sports.  Coverage concludes next Saturday and Sunday, June 5-6 with the Women and Men’s Finals live at 9 a.m. ET both days.

Host Ted Robinson anchors NBC Sports’ broadcast, joined by analysts John McEnroe and Mary Carillo. McEnroe and Carillo teamed to win the mixed doubles title at the 1977 French Open.  This is NBC Sports’ 28th consecutive year televising the event.

Roger Federer is the world’s No. 1 ranked player. Federer held that position for a record 237 consecutive weeks from February 2004 – August 2008 before being passed by Nadal and has since reclaimed it.  Last year, he won the French Open for the first time and has now won 16 Grand Slam singles titles, more than any other male player.

His chief rival Rafael Nadal, a four-time champion at Roland Garros, will compete this year in hopes of reclaiming his title as the “King of Clay,” after his early exit in last year’s tournament. Nadal is currently the world’s No. 2 ranked men’s tennis player.

Serena and Venus Williams, who are currently ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the world respectively, will compete and could potentially face one of the biggest threats in this year’s tournament, Justine Henin, a four-time French Open winner. Henin returns to her first French Open tournament since retiring in 2008.

CARILLO ON FEDERER AND NADAL: “The hardest thing to do in tennis is to win the French Open and then a few weeks later, Wimbledon. Both Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal can do that. In fact, they both have done it already. Roger did it for the first time last year when he won his French Open title, and Rafa has done it. They are both playing very, very well.”

ON THE AMERICAN COMPETITORS: “Andy Roddick, John Isner and Sam Querrey are playing really well. The Williams sisters are seeded No. 1 and No. 2 here. Serena can win this title. If the weather continues to hold, it is very good for American clay court tennis.”

ON FEDERER AND NADAL IN THE MEN’S FINAL: “A classic final right there between those two.  I am giving Rafa the edge to win this one.”

ON THE WOMEN’S FINAL: “It’s either Serena’s or Justine’s to win.  Serena looks very good.  She is in form, and she has only won this once. She has won every other major in tennis at least three times.  She wants to win this again.”

ON HENIN RETURNING FROM RETIREMENT: “She is a four-time winner here; she clearly is the best clay court player of her generation. But, she is in Serena’s quarters. It’s a very front loaded draw. A lot of the best players are on top including Serena, Sharapova and Justine. That’s nasty.”

ON THE DARK HORSE ARAVANE REZAI OF FRANCE:  “She won a big title in Madrid beating Venus along the way among others, and she played a first round match that was very snappy. She seems to like the pressure. She likes being the woman of the moment.”

COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS: Following is the schedule for NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2010 French Open, which culminates with live HD coverage of the Women’s (June 5) and Men’s (June 6) Finals next weekend: 

Saturday, May 29, Noon-3 p.m. ET – Third Round

Sunday, May 30, Noon-3 p.m. ET –Fourth Round  

Friday, June 4, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (all time zones) – Men’s Semifinals

Saturday, June 5, 9 a.m.-Noon ET – Women’s Final (Live)

Sunday, June 6, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. ET – Men’s Final (Live)

FRENCH OPEN ON NBCSPORTS.COM: Tennis fans can go online to view daily video highlights; “Star Cam” streaming during the Men’s and Women’s Finals, which features live online coverage of the players throughout the broadcast; and “Ask the Expert” segments where users can submit questions to the NBC on-air talent with the chance of them answering them live on television. 

FRENCH OPEN GOES MOBILE: Tennis fans that are on the go can once again watch the French Open live on their mobile phones through NBC 2Go and NBC Sports Mobile.  Fans can also get live news, scores, videos and photos on their mobile devices through the NBC Sports Mobile site (http://m.NBCSports.com) or by texting “TENNIS” to 51515 to sign-up for NBC Sports Mobile tennis alerts.

NBC AND THE FRENCH OPEN: In 1975, NBC became the first American television network to provide coverage of the French Open when the network signed a three-year deal with the French Tennis Federation.The tournament was covered by CBS from 1980-82 and returned to NBC in 1983, where it has remained since.

That’s it for now.

NHL "No Words" Ad

This ad debuts during the Stanley Cup Finals on NBC and CBC. It’s a great ad and is part of a great  “History Will Be Made” campaign by the National Hockey League. This one is called “No Words” and it’s perfect. As much as I love the NHL, I’ve also been critical of its marketing, but it’s stepping up big time this year. Great stuff here. Great stars of the past and present just speechless after winning the Cup.

More stuff to follow soon.

The Last NASCAR on Fox Race of 2010

The last of Fox’s Sprint Cup season ends on Sunday with the Coca Cola 600. Here’s the press release.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

NASCAR on FOX Races Final Lap of ’10 Campaign With Coca-Cola 600 Sunday

 

NASCAR ON FOX’S 2010 FINALE AT CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY – The NASCAR on FOX 2010 Sprint Cup Series returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 30 (5:00 PM ET) for the networks’ final race of the season. Everyone is chasing Kevin Harvick as the NASCAR Sprint Cup season approaches its midway point. With merely a 150-point gap separating the top-five of Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin, there’s sure to be exciting racing ahead before the 2010 Sprint Cup champion is crowned. Coverage starts with FOX NASCAR SUNDAY host Chris Myers, along with analysts Waltrip and Jeff Hammond from the Hollywood Hotel, FOX Sports’ traveling prerace set providing live interviews with drivers, crewmen and officials shaping the day’s action. Once the green flag drops, race announcer Mike Joy will be alongside analysts Waltrip and Larry McReynolds to call all the twists and turns on the track while Dick Berggren, Steve Byrnes, Krista Voda and Matt Yocum patrol the pits for up-to-the-second news and notes.

For instant updates throughout the week and during the race from the entire NASCAR on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NASCARONFOX.

SUNDAY, MAY 30 – COCA-COLA 600, 5:00 PM ET

LARRY MCREYNOLDS: “DRIVERS RETURN TO FAMILIAR CHARLOTTE, HAVE NEW FACTORS TO CONSIDER” – This weekend, FOX Sports signs off on its 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup campaign by presenting the Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte Motor Speedway with a twist – new left-side tires.  Former crew chief and current NASCAR on FOX analyst Larry McReynolds believes sensitivity of the track, coupled with temperatures cooling from start to finish will be a challenge.  “This new left-side tire has a lot of grip,” said McReynolds.  “The grip factor will really come into play this Sunday after the track cools down as the race progresses into evening hours. This tire doesn’t give up a lot and traditionally there is no track more temperature-sensitive than Charlotte Motor Speedway which makes for exciting racing this Sunday!”

For more from Larry Mac click here: http://tinyurl.com/37htzo6

More releases coming up.

Golf on Network TV

Both CBS and NBC will have coverage of golf this weekend. CBS continues its stretch of PGA Tournaments while NBC airs the Senior PGA Championship.

The Texas Swing continues in Fort Worth with the Colonial Invitational. CBS Sports has third and final round coverage.

MICKELSON, STRICKER, FURYK, CLARK, POULTER, CASEY AND PERRY TEE IT UP IN FINAL LEG OF PGA TOUR’S TEXAS SWING AT “COLONIAL INVITATIONAL” MAY 29-30 ON CBS SPORTS

For the 37th straight year, CBS Sports returns to historic Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, with third- and final-round coverage of the COLONIAL INVITATIONAL on Saturday, May 29 and Sunday, May 30 (3:00-6:00 PM, ET, both days), live on the CBS Television Network. The World’s No. 2 player and two-time Colonial champion Phil Mickelson returns to the Colonial for the third and last tournament on the “Texas Swing.”  

Jim Nantz, the 2009 Emmy Award Winner for “Outstanding Sports Personality – Play-by-Play” and 2009 National Sportscaster of the Year, serves as anchor of CBS Sports’ golf coverage. Sir Nick Faldo, winner of six major championships and more than 40 tournaments worldwide, serves as lead analyst. Ian Baker-Finch calls the action at the 17^th hole and Gary McCord at the 16^th hole. David Feherty and Peter Kostis serve as on-course reporters.

Defending champion Steve Stricker returns from an injury to compete at the Colonial for first time since the Masters. Last year Stricker came from two-strokes behind to force a playoff against Tim Clark where he won the second extra hole. Stricker, Mickelson and Clark tee it up against a field which includes two-time Colonial champion Kenny Perry, Jim Furyk, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Geoff Ogilvy, Hunter Mahan, Lucas Glover, Rickie Fowler, Y.E. Yang, Vijay Singh, Sean O’Hair, Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink, David Duval, K.J. Choi, Matt Kuchar, Nick Watney, Chad Campbell, Davis Love III, Paul Goydos, Angel Cabrera, Fredrik Jacobson, Steve Marino, and past Colonial winners Rory Sabbatini, Tim Herron and Corey Pavin. Dallas native Justin Leonard looks for his first win here after never missing a cut at the Colonial in 16 career starts with five top-10 finishes.

Lance Barrow is Coordinating Producer and Steve Milton is Director of CBS Sports’ golf coverage. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

And NBC Sports as mentioned, has the Senior PGA Championship.

FRED COUPLES, TOM WATSON & DEFENDING CHAMPION MICHAEL ALLEN HIGHLIGHT FIELD AT 2010 SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP THIS WEEKEND ON NBC SPORTS

“This course will test every aspect of everybody’s game.” – NBC Sports’ Mark Rolfing

“It adds another layer to the shot process.” – NBC Sports’ Gary Koch on the elevation and severe winds

NEW YORK – May 26, 2010 – Fred Couples, Tom Watson and defending champion Michael Allen lead an impressive field at the oldest and most prestigious event in senior golf, the 71st Senior PGA Championship from Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Colo. this Saturday and Sunday from 3-6 p.m. ET on NBC Sports.

Host Dan Hicks and analyst Gary Koch anchor the coverage from the 18th hole tower. They are joined by tower reporter Mark Rolfing; course reporters Roger Maltbie and Dottie Pepper; and interviewer/essayist Jimmy Roberts.

Couples has three victories this year on the 50-and-over circuit and took sixth at the Masters. Joining him is Watson, who won the Mitsubishi Electric Championship season opener in Hawaii and finished 18th at Augusta National. The field of senior professionals is comprised of numerous additional familiar names, including Bernhard Langer, Jay Haas, and Loren Roberts.

In addition to a competitive field, golfers will also compete with a unique combination of elements — elevation, wind and heat. The “mile high” Colorado Golf Club has experienced severe winds this week and temperatures are expected to exceed 80 degrees.

KOCH ON FITNESS: “Fitness is going to be a key factor this week. This was designed as a walking course but there are some severe uphill walks. Throw in the altitude plus high temperatures, and fitness will become more of an issue than usual.”

ROLFING ON THE COURSE: “I love Ben Crenshaw-designed courses. It’s a great course. Everything will be dictated by the wind because it’s a wide-open place. This course will test every aspect of everybody’s game.”

KOCH ON THE WIND AND ELEVATION: “It adds another layer of the shot process. Normally, it’s a two-part process: yardage and wind. Now, it’s yardage, elevation adjustment, up or down hill, and wind, possibly severe wind. It’s going to be a fun process to watch.”

ROLFING ON THE WIND: “Fewer players have a chance to win when it’s windy. The best players will get to the top. Tom Watson has been in the wind so much – he won five British Opens – you can’t replace that experience. It’s also the first major of the year so there’s a different buzz and a big-event feel. That’s important, too.”

More releases coming up.

Baseball on TV For Memorial Day Weekend

Let’s go over the baseball fare on TV this Memorial Day weekend. Plenty of games to see as well.

Starting with Fox and again, Joe Buck is back on the case as he’ll call the Cardinals-Cubs game from Wrigley Field. This makes six games out of possible eight that Buck will have worked. We’re keeping track this season. Here’s the Fox press release.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

Cardinals/Cubs Renew Rivalry on FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK

Rosenthal:  Questions Prevent Cardinals From Being Dominant Force In NL Central

MIDWEST BATTLE ROYALE IN CHICAGO – The FOX Saturday Baseball Game of the Week returns to afternoon coverage this Saturday, May 29 at 4:00 PM ET with three exciting matchups. One of baseball’s greatest rivalries is renewed when Derek Lee and the Cubs host Albert Pujols and the NL Central leading Cardinals at Wrigley. In Minneapolis, two division leaders face off when Vladimir Guerrero and the Rangers visit Joe Mauer and the Twins at new Target Field. Also, out west the Angels host the Mariners.  This week, the pregame show originates live from Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA with host Chris Rose.  Once game action begins, Rose joins the game crew including Kenny Albert and Eric Karros as a field reporter.

For instant updates throughout the week and during games from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX.  Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.myspace.com/foxsports.

ROSENTHAL: QUESTIONS PREVENT CARDINALS FROM BEING DOMINANT FORCE IN NL CENTRAL — “What makes the NL Central so interesting is that the Cardinals were supposed to dominate the division, but to this point that hasn’t happened and I don’t see how they will,” MLB on FOX Insider Ken Rosenthal offered. “For starters, there are some real questions with their offense. Holliday and Pujols have yet to get hot at the same time. Pujols, in particular, has been un-Albert-like of late. Beyond all that, they now face the potential loss of Kyle Lohse. Brad Penny also is hurt, but it’s still not clear how much time he’ll miss. Regardless, there are some pitching issues surfacing that weren’t there before. Are the Cardinals still the best team in the division? Yes, but to this point Cincinnati has been a surprise and the Cubs finally are playing better. It looks like the NL Central will be a real race this season.”

St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs, Joe Buck, Tim McCarver & Ken Rosenthal, going to 77% of USA

Wrigley Field – Chicago, IL

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Albuquerque, Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Denver, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, St. Louis, Tampa, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm Beach

Probable Pitchers: TBA vs. Carlos Silva, RHP (6-0, 3.52 ERA)

Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins, Josh Lewin & Mark Grace, going to 12% of USA

Target Field – Minneapolis, MN

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Austin, Dallas, Detroit, Fort Myers, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, San Antonio

Probable Pitchers: C.J. Wilson, LHP (3-2, 3.07 ERA) vs. Carl Pavano, RHP (4-5, 4.17 ERA)

Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Angels, Kenny Albert & Eric Karros, going to 10% of USA

Angel Stadium – Anaheim, CA

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle

Probable Pitchers: Ian Snell, RHP (0-3, 4.32 ERA) vs. Jered Weaver, RHP (4-2, 3.36 ERA)

MLB Network will carry games on Saturday and again on Memorial Day. We have the games it’ll air this weekend.

May 29         8:00 p.m.      Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado

                   7:00 p.m.      New York Mets at Milwaukee (Only in LA & Denver markets)

May 31         4:00 p.m.      Colorado at San Francisco

                    9:00 p.m.      Arizona at Los Angeles Dodgers

                   10:00 p.m.     Minnesota at Seattle (Only in Arizona & LA markets)

The rest of the schedule comes after the jump.  
TBS has its usual Sunday afternoon game and it’ll be Cards-Cubs.

“Sunday MLB on TBS” Continues on Memorial Day Weekend with Cardinals @ Cubs

“Sunday MLB on TBS” continues on May 23 with a National League Central match-up featuring Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals visiting Derrek Lee and the Chicago Cubs at 2:15 p.m. (ET). Adam Wainwright is scheduled to start for the Cardinals against the Cubs’ probable starter Ryan Dempster. Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Buck Martinez (analyst) will call the action.

“Sunday MLB on TBS” includes match-ups on TBS every Sunday afternoon throughout the regular season. The network will also exclusively televise the MLB All-Star Selection Show on Sunday, July 4. Additionally, beginning in October TBS will once again provide exclusive coverage of the Division Series and the American League Championship Series (ALCS). 

TBS has broadcast MLB coverage for more than 30 years serving as the exclusive home of the MLB Division Series (DS) and one League Championship Series (LCS) since 2007 and home of Atlanta Braves coverage from 1977 to 2007. 

SUNDAY MLB ON TBS SCHEDULE:

Sun., May 30

2:15 p.m.           St. Louis Cardinals @ Chicago Cubs

Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Buck Martinez (analyst)

SUNDAY MLB ON TBS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Sun., June 6

1 p.m.                 New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays

Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Dennis Eckersley (analyst)

Sun., June 13

1:30 p.m.           Philadelphia Phillies @ Boston Red Sox

Announcers: Dick Stockton (play-by-play) and Buck Martinez (analyst)

And here’s a quick blurb from ESPN on its Sunday Night Baseball matchup and a mention on its special game on Tuesday.

Twins Host Rangers on Sunday Night Baseball

 

The Minnesota Twins will host the Texas Rangers at new Target Field as part of Sunday Night Baseball May 30 at 8 p.m. on ESPN2 (Sunday Night Baseball moves to ESPN if Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals is not necessary). Twins/Rangers will also be available via ESPN Radio (Jon Sciambi and Dave Campbell), ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV.  

ESPN will also televise Philadelphia at Atlanta on Tuesday, June 1, at 7 p.m.  The game will be a full national telecast.

That’s it.

Time For The Friday Not-so-Mega Links

Let’s give you the Friday megalinks while I can. Not as many links as the usual Friday, but the Memorial Day weekend has a lot to do with that. I’ll give you what I can.

Getting ready for the three day weekend and you can find the sports and the entertainment viewing for Saturday and Sunday right here.

On to the links.

National

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand and Michael McCarthy debate the pros and cons of holding Super Bowl XLVIII in New Jersey.

William Cooper of Sports Business Daily says the first ad promoting the US World Cup bid for the 2018 or 2022 games will air Saturday. 

Neil Hayes writing for NBC Sports.com says the Stanley Cup Finals could be a ratings boon for the NHL. Don’t forget NBC is a rightsholder for the NHL.

Michael Lombardi of the National Football Post announces that he’s leaving to join NFL Network and NFL.com full-time.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell writes that sports apparel brand Crons is entering the nutrition game.

Milton Kent of Fanhouse says Danica Patrick may have lost some fans in IndyCar.

The Sports Media Watch says Thursday’s thrilling Game 5 between the Lakers and Suns got its highest ratings of the NBA Western Conference Finals, but they’re still down from last year.

SMW also has news and notes on various sports TV personalities.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media discovers that Dan Patrick will not host NBC’s coverage of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals from the beginning.

Steve also has NHL Network’s coverage plans for the Stanley Cup Finals.

Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo’s Puck Daddy tells NHL fans what they can do to help increase the ratings for the Stanley Cup Finals. 

World Cup Buzz critiques ESPN’s practice run for the World Cup.

World Cup Buzz shows us ESPN’s World Cup murals.

Deadspin has the video of YES reporter Kimberly Jones having her pork chop eaten by an overzealous and extremely creepy Yankees fan in Minnesota.

Emmett Jones at Sports Business Digest asks if an outdoors cold weather Super Bowl makes sense.

East and Mid-Atlantic

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe profiles ESPN/ABC main NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy.

Bob Raissman in the New York Daily News wants the New Jersey Super Bowl talk to stop now.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post puts his vitriol aside for one day and remembers a former New York Football Giant who fought bravely for his country in Iwo Jima during World War II.

Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union wonders if ESPN/ABC should focus on Danica Patrick during this Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.

Peter Van Allen of the Philadelphia Business Journal says the Flyers have brought record ratings to the local Comcast SportsNet affiliate.  

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says Nationals fans as well as baseball fans across the country will have their eyes focused on the Junior College World Series and potential 1st round draft pick Bryce Harper tonight.

Jim notes that it will be a hockey weekend on NBC.

South

Adam Fisher of the Naples (FL) Daily News says Dick Vitale was a big hit as the keynote speaker for a local event.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says all signs point to the Astros and Rockets leaving Fox Sports and signing with Comcast or another entity for their TV rights.

Midwest

Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) Press writes that soccer games can draw ratings as the numbers show us.

Curt Cavin of the Indianapolis Star wonders when the local blackouts of the Indianapolis 500 will end. 

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Fox Sports is putting out an all points bulletin for younger male viewers for NASCAR.

Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business has CBC’s Don Cherry being bullish on the Flyers-Blackhawks Stanley Cup Finals.

Ed says the Blackhawks are the big winners in sports business this week.

Paul Christian of the Rochester Post-Bulletin looks at ESPN/ABC’s coverage of this Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.

Dan Caesar in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Cardinals might be making changes to their TV and radio deals for next season.

West

Scott D. Pierce of the Deseret (UT) News writes that BYU fans will be able to watch the women’s softball team in action this weekend on the ESPN family of networks.

Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune tells Padres fans that Dick Enberg prefers to call games straight down the middle.

To John Maffei of the North County Times who tells us that the Padres, Cox 4 and a local sports radio station have agreed to pull a spot that depended on bathroom humor.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star writes that Danica Patrick may be losing her status as IndyCar sweetheart.

And Jim has some sports media news and notes today.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News speculates on where Erin Andrews may land after her ESPN contract expires later this year.

Tom also has his extensive media news and notes in his blog.

Canada

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail wonders if CBC will broach the subject of match fixing during the World Cup. Dowbiggin apparently thinks every soccer game is fixed based on this extremely biased column.

TSN announces that TSN2 will carry an early afternoon NFL game during the regular season.

As mentioned, not as many links on this Friday as many writers took the weekend off. Can’t say I blame them.

Weekend Viewing Picks

Saturday, May 29

College Lacrosse
Division I Men’s Championship
Semifinals
Notre Dame vs. Cornell – ESPN2, 4 p.m.
Duke vs. Virginia – ESPN2, 6:30 p.m.

College Softball
Division I Softball Championship

Athens Super Regional
Game 2/California vs. Georgia – ESPN, noon

Columbia Super Regional
Game 1/Oregon vs. Missouri – ESPN, 2:30 p.m.

Tuscaloosa Super Regional
Game 2/Hawai’i vs. Alabama – ESPN, 5 p.m.

Gainesville Super Regional
Game 1/Arizona State vs. Florida – ESPN, 7:30 p.m.

Los Angeles Super Regional
Game 1/Louisiana-Lafayette vs. UCLA – ESPN2, 9 p.m.

Golf
Champions/Senior PGA Championship, 3rd round – NBC, 3 p.m.
PGA Tour/Colonial Invitational, 3rd round – Golf Channel, 1 p.m./CBS, 3 p.m.

MLB
American League
Baltimore at Toronto – MASN/Rogers Sportsnet, 1 p.m.
Cleveland at New York Yankees – STO/YES, 1 p.m.
Seattle at Anaheim Angels – Fox, 4 p.m.
Texas at Minnesota – Fox, 4 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Tampa Bay – Comcast SportsNet Chicago/Sun Sports, 7 p.m.
Kansas City at Red Sox – Fox Sports Kansas City/NESN, 7 p.m.
Oakland at Detroit – Comcast SportsNet California/Fox Sports Detroit, 7 p.m.

National League
St. Louis at Chicago Cubs – Fox, 4 p.m.
Houston at Cincinnati – Fox Sports Houston/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
New York Mets at Milwaukee – WPIX/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Florida – Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/Fox Sports Florida, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Atlanta – FSN Pittsburgh/SportSouth, 7 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado – MLB Network/KCAL/FSN Rocky Mountain, 8 p.m.
Washington at San Diego – MASN/Cox 4, 8:30 p.m.
Arizona at San Francisco – Fox Sports Arizona/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 9 p.m.

Baseball Tonight – ESPN, 10 p.m.
Quick Pitch Live – MLB Network, 11 p.m.

Mixed Martial Arts
UFC 114 – Spike (prelims), 9 p.m./Pay per view, 10 p.m.

NASCAR
Nationwide Series/Whatever It’s Called 250 – ABC, 2:30 p.m.

NBA Playoffs
Western Conference Finals
Game 6/Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix – TNT, 8:30 p.m.

Inside the NBA – TNT, 11 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Finals
Game 1/Philadelphia at Chicago – NBC/CBC/RDS, 8 p.m.

Hockey Central – Versus, 11 p.m.
NHL On The Fly at the Stanley Cup Finals: Game 1 Postgame Show – NHL Network, 11 p.m.

Soccer
International Friendly
USA vs. Turkey – ESPN2, 2 p.m.

Tennis
French Open, 3rd round – Tennis Channel, 5 a.m./NBC, noon

Entertainment
Giada at Home: Walk For Life – Food Network, 1 p.m.
Cops – Fox, 8 p.m.
America’s Most Wanted: America Fights Back – Fox, 9 p.m.
Samantha Brown’s Greek Islands – Travel Channel, 9 p.m.
Samantha Brown’s Napa – Travel Channel, 10 p.m.
48 Hours Mystery – CBS, 10 p.m.
Red Dead Redemption – Fox, midnight

Sunday, May 30

College Softball
Division I Softball Championship

Columbia Super Regional
Game 2/Oregon vs. Missouri – ESPN, 1 p.m.
Game 3/Oregon vs. Missouri – ESPN, 3:30 p.m. (if necessary)

Gainesville Super Regional
Game 2/Arizona State vs. Florida – ESPNU, 3:30 p.m.
Game 3/Arizona State vs. Florida – ESPNU, 6 p.m. (if necessary)

Los Angeles Super Regional
Game 2/Louisiana-Lafayette vs. UCLA – ESPNU, 7 p.m.
Game 3/Louisiana-Lafayette vs. UCLA – ESPNU, 9:30 p.m. (if necessary)

Formula 1
Turkish Grand Prix – Speed, 7:30 p.m.

Golf
Champions/Senior PGA Championship, 3rd round – NBC, 3 p.m.
PGA Tour/Colonial Invitational, 3rd round – Golf Channel, 1 p.m./CBS, 3 p.m.

IndyCar
Indianapolis 500 – ABC, 1 p.m.

MLB
American League
Baltimore at Toronto – MASN/Rogers Sportsnet, 1 p.m.
Cleveland at New York Yankees – STO/YES, 1 p.m.
Oakland at Detroit – Comcast SportsNet California/Fox Sports Detroit, 1 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Tampa Bay -WGN America /Sun Sports, 1:30 p.m.
Kansas City at Red Sox – Fox Sports Kansas City/NESN, 1:30 p.m.
Seattle at Anaheim Angels – FSN Northwest/KCOP, 3:30 p.m.
Texas at Minnesota – ESPN or ESPN2, 8 p.m.

National League
Houston at Cincinnati – Fox Sports Houston/Fox Sports Ohio, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia at Florida – Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/Fox Sports Florida, 1 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Atlanta – FSN Pittsburgh/Fox Sports South, 1:30 p.m.
New York Mets at Milwaukee – SNY/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 2 p.m.
St. Louis at Chicago Cubs – TBS/KSDK/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 2 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado – Fox Sports Prime Ticket/FSN Rocky Mountain, 3:30 p.m.Arizona at San Francisco – Fox Sports Arizona/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 4 p.m.
Washington at San Diego – MASN2/Cox 4, 4 p.m.

MLB Tonight Live – MLB Network, 5 p.m.
Baseball Tonight – ESPN or ESPN2, 7 p.m.
Quick Pitch Live – MLB Network, 7 p.m.
Plays of the Month: May – MLB Network, 8 p.m.

NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series/Coca Cola 600 – Fox, 6 p.m.

TennisFrench Open, round of 16 – Tennis Channel, 5 a.m./NBC, noon

Entertainment
Sandra’s Money Saving Meals: Bargain Bunch – Food Network, noon
60 Minutes Presents: Gotti – CBS, 7 p.m.
60 Minutes – CBS, 8 p.m.
National Memorial Day Concert – PBS, 8 p.m.
Quantum of Solace – Sho2, 9 p.m.
Breaking Bad – AMC, 10 p.m.
Interrogating Saddam – National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

Golf
PGA Tour/Colonial Invitational, 2nd round – Golf Channel, 2 p.m.

MLB
American League
Baltimore at Toronto – MASN/Rogers Sportsnet, 7 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Tampa Bay – Comcast SportsNet Chicago/Sun Sports, 7 p.m.
Cleveland at New York Yankees – WKYC/YES, 7 p.m.
Kansas City at Red Sox – Fox Sports Kansas City/NESN, 7 p.m.
Oakland at Detroit – Comcast SportsNet California/Fox Sports Detroit, 7 p.m.
Texas at Minnesota – KTXA/Fox Sports North, 8 p.m.
Seattle at Anaheim – FSN Northwest/Fox Sports West, 10 p.m.

National League
St. Louis at Chicago – MLB Network/Fox Sports Midwest/WGN America, 2 p.m.
Houston at Cincinnati – Fox Sports Houston/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Florida – Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/Fox Sports Florida, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Atlanta – FSN Pittsburgh/Peachtree TV, 7:30 p.m.
New York Mets at Milwaukee – SNY/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado – KCAL/FSN Rocky Mountain, 9 p.m.
Arizona at San Francisco – Fox Sports Arizona/KNTV, 10 p.m.
Washington at San Diego – MASN2/Cox 4, 10 p.m.

MLB Tonight Live – MLB Network, 6 p.m.

NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Finals
Game 6/Orlando at Boston – ESPN, 8:30 p.m.

Tennis
French Open, 3rd round – Tennis Channel, 5 a.m./ESPN2, noon
French Open Tonight – Tennis Channel, 6:30 p.m.

Entertainment
Whale Wars: The Aftermath: Ladies First – Animal Planet, 8 p.m.
Whale Wars: The Aftermath: Boiling Point – Animal Planet, 9 p.m.
20/20 – ABC, 9 p.m.
Zack and Miri Make a Porno – Showtime, 10 p.m.
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross – BBC America, 10:20 p.m.
The Daily Line – Versus, 11 p.m.
Zane’s Sex Chronicles – Cinemax, 12:05 a.m.

NESN Hires Kevin Millar As Studio Analyst

Not too surprising to see this. Kevin Millar was hired earlier this season to work as a studio analyst at MLB Network. He now joins the New England Sports Network to work pre and postgame shows for Red Sox games.

KEVIN MILLAR JOINS NESN AS RED SOX STUDIO ANALYST

BOSTON, MA – NESN, New England’s most watched sports network, announced today that former Red Sox first baseman and post-season hero, Kevin Millar, has joined NESN to serve as a Red Sox studio analyst for select games. Millar will share time in the NESN studios with the network’s trio of Hall of Fame baseball analysts Dennis Eckersley, Peter Gammons and Jim Rice.

“We are thrilled to have Kevin join our team of outstanding studio analysts,” said Joel Feld, NESN’s executive vice president of programming and executive producer. “Kevin is a fan favorite and he brings first-hand knowledge of the game. He has never been shy about sharing his opinions and our fans will enjoy the added dimension he will bring to our Red Sox programming.”

Millar will make his NESN debut on Thursday, May 27th at 6:00 PM on Olympia Sports presents The Boston Globe Red Sox GameDay Live before the Red Sox host the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park. He will join host Tom Caron and Jim Rice on the NESN Yawkey Way stage.

Millar became a cult hero for Red Sox fans with his iconic “Cowboy Up” rallying cry after joining the Red Sox in 2003. He was a key member of the Red Sox 2004 World Series Championship team. The 12 year major league veteran, played for 4 different teams (Marlins, Red Sox, Orioles and Blue Jays) compiling a .274 career batting average with 170 home runs. Since retiring in April of this year, Millar also recently joined MLB Network as a studio analyst.

More later.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Comcast SportsNet New England To Air WNBA Games

Comcast SportsNet New England which is sorely lacking for live game programming during the summer has some to add to the MLS New England Revolution. Starting this week, CSNNE will air 7 Connecticut Sun games sprinkled through August.

Here’s your schedule.

COMCAST SPORTSNET TO TELECAST CONNECTICUT SUN BASKETBALL IN HIGH DEFINITION THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND

Mike Gorman and Former UConn Star Rebecca Lobo to Call Sun Games Starting with Sun vs. Dream on Friday, May 21

BURLINGTON, MA – The Connecticut Sun are in pursuit of their first WNBA championship and the team’s chase for WNBA glory will be shown in high definition on Comcast SportsNet, which reaches more than four million homes throughout New England.

Comcast SportsNet’s Sun schedule includes a matchup with the defending WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury and former UConn great Diana Taurasi on Friday, June 25. The schedule also includes Candace Parker and the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday, July 24 as well as former Sun star Lindsay Whalen and the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, August 3.

Veteran Boston Celtics play-by-play man Mike Gorman and UConn legend Rebecca Lobo will call Comcast SportsNet’s Sun coverage which tips off when the Sun visit the Atlanta Dream on Friday, May 21.

“We are really excited by this new television partnership,” said Chris Sienko, Connecticut Sun vice president and general manager. “Comcast SportsNet gives us a great opportunity to reach a broader audience all over New England, where we have many fans. The Connecticut Sun is always looking for different ways to grow its brand and we think this will afford us the chance to do so.”

“We are excited to expand Comcast SportsNet’s coverage of New England’s top sports teams and to have recognizable names like Gorman and Lobo work the telecasts. The Connecticut Sun are part of a great tradition of women’s basketball in New England, and with our region-wide footprint we offer the Sun and the WNBA the chance to extend their reach and tap into that tradition,” said Len Mead, Comcast SportsNet vice president of production and programming.

Comcast SportsNet’s full high definition Sun schedule features:

• Fri, May 21 @ Atlanta Dream – 7 pm
• Fri, June 11 vs. Indiana Fever – 7:30 pm
• Fri, June 25 vs. Phoenix Mercury – 7:30 pm
• Sun, June 27 @ NY Liberty – 4 pm
• Sat, July 24 vs. LA Sparks – 7 pm
• Tue, August 3 @ Minnesota Lynx – 8 pm
• Tue, August 17 vs. Tulsa Shock – 7:30 pm 

Having Boston Celtics voice Mike Gorman helps plus hiring UConn alum Rebecca Lobo adds to the broadcast.

Preview of Tonight’s World’s Toughest Fixes on National Geographic Channel

One of my favorite shows is Nat Geo’s World’s Toughest Fixes. Tonight and next week, Sean Riley heads to Las Vegas where he’ll be helping to repair three famous locations in the city including one of my favorite places, the Stratosphere’s X-Scream.

We have a preview of tonight’s show and next week’s as well.

WORLD’S TOUGHEST FIXES: FIXING VEGAS

Thursday, May 20 at 9PM ET/PT

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/worlds-toughest-fixes/4939/Overview

“As a rigger, these are my favorite kind of jobs – that combine the soft science of art and the hard science of physics.” – Sean Riley

Riley travels to Las Vegas to help high-flying Cirque du Soleil solve a real showstopper of a problem … one of the world’s largest, most technologically advanced stages is broken.  To make the repair, Riley and team have to lower the 80-ton stage and take a look inside — a process never before attempted.  While in Sin City, Riley helps repair some of most amazing spectacles on the Strip, including the world’s largest video screen (four blocks long!) and high-tech water cannons in the Bellagio fountain.  For these men and women, failure is not an option.  The show must go on!

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States: Riley and Ka’s Technical Director Erik Walstad testing out the sand cliff deck. (Photo Credit: (c) NGT)

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States: The post and beam catwalk in the Ka Theatre. (Photo Credit: (c) NGT) 

Video “Bellagio Foundation Fix Up” – The massive fountain at the Bellagio needs some repairs, so the team goes inside to see how it operates.

WORLD’S TOUGHEST FIXES: EXTREME HEIGHTS

Thursday, May 27 at 9PM ET/PT

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/worlds-toughest-fixes/4223/Overview

“It takes a special breed of person to work all the way up here. You’ve got to be part tradesman, part acrobat and just a little bit crazy.” – Sean Riley

Sean Riley is an expert rigger, but in this episode he is going to new heights. He’ll hang over the edge of Las Vegas’ tallest building to fix the X-Scream, a thrill ride on the Stratosphere.  One of the critical safety measures needs replacing, and Riley joins the ride’s head of maintenance on the very edge of the track, 800 feet above the ground, to make the fix.  Then he’ll dangle 500 feet over the side of the Hoover Dam to retrieve trash.  And just upriver from Niagara Falls, he’ll hang over an unstable, overgrown cliff to eliminate loose rocks.  This is truly a job where you don’t want to find yourself between a rock and a hard place.

Video “Sky High Roller Coaster Fix” – Sean Riley and engineer Steve make a precarious roller coaster repair 900 feet over Las Vegas.

Video “Extreme Heights” - In New York’s Finger Lakes region, wind power is big business — and Sean Riley has to climb sky high to help make this repair.

And I’ll point out that Sean will be live blogging each episode as they air on Nat Geo and you can go here to check it out.

Sports Media Weekly Podcast No. 34

After a week’s absence, the Sports Media Weekly Podcast returns with a vengeance with a super-sized edition.

Keith Thibault of Sports Media Journal is back after a week’s vacation to discuss the latest sports media news with your humble blogger. In this edition, we talk about the record ratings for the NHL in the Conference Semifinals. We also look at the Fox Sports experiment to expand its MLB primetime offerings for Saturday nights which begins this week. In addition, we look at the new ESPN/ACC contract that puts the conference on a part with the TV deals for the SEC and Big Ten. And we end our segment by delving into ESPN’s upfront presentation to advertisers and marketers this week.

Speaking of ESPN, we talk with Rob King, the Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of Digital Media. In our interview, Keith and I ask Rob about the evolution of ESPN.com from its early years when it was known as ESPN Sportszone to a newsgathering operation. In addition, we look at the fast growth of ESPN’s local sites in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York. And we discuss ESPN’s social media and Twitter policy that was imposed last summer.

You can head on over to iTunes by searching for Sports Media Journal and downloading previous editions of our podcast. Or you can go here to listen.

MLB Games On TV This Weekend

This is the weekend where Fox is experimenting with primetime baseball on Saturday night. Usually on Saturday afternoons, Fox will regionalize as many as three games. This Saturday, Joe Buck returns after a week off. He’ll have done five games out a possible seven for the season. Here’s the Fox Sports schedule and previews for this week.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

MLB on FOX Hits Prime Time with Mets/Yankees, Phillies/Red Sox, Rangers/Cubs, & Dodgers/Tigers

Rosenthal: Critical Week for the Mets and Jerry Manuel’s Future

 

SUBWAY SERIES BATTLE IN PRIMETIME – Lights! Camera! Action! On Saturday, May 22, the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK moves to prime time with four interleague matchups at 7:00 PM ET. The Subway Series reconvenes in New York as David Wright and the Mets welcome Derek Jeter and the World Champion Yankees to Queens. In Philadelphia, Ryan Howard and the NL Champs host the Boston Red Sox. Experiencing a bit of a renaissance, Vladimir Guerrero leads the first-place Rangers into a matchup with the North-Siders in Texas. Also, the Tigers take on the Dodgers out west. This week, the pregame show originates live from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA with host Chris Rose.  Once game action begins, Rose joins the game crew including Dick Stockton and Jose Mota as a field reporter.

For instant updates throughout the week and during games from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX.Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.myspace.com/foxsports.

ROSENTHAL: “CRITICAL WEEK FOR THE FUTURE OF JERRY MANUEL & THE METS” – With the Yankees visiting Citi Field this week to face the struggling Mets, MLB on FOX’s Ken Rosenthal gave his thoughts on the latest talks regarding Jerry Manuel’s future in New York. “Manuel is under intense scrutiny right now. When the owner of the Mets flies down to Atlanta to meet with manager and others that is a sign of major concern,” said Rosenthal.  “The real question is: ‘When will the Mets make a move and what do the Mets need to do to avoid this from happening?’  The next week is critical. They start a series with Washington tonight, then they host the Yankees, then they have the Phillies. It’s a big week and if it doesn’t go well I can easily see the Mets replacing Manuel with Bob Melvin, who is with the team in a scouting capacity. Would he be a massive improvement over Manuel? Would he reverse the misfortunes of the Mets franchise? Probably not, but attendance is down and the Mets are going to be looking perhaps for a different voice, something to sell the fans. The easiest thing in the world to do is change the manager.”

New York Yankees at New York Mets, Joe Buck, Tim McCarver  & Ken Rosenthal, going to 49% of USA

Citi Field – Flushing, NY   

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Albuquerque, Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Buffalo, Charlotte, Cleveland, Columbus, Denver, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Orlando, Portland, Raleigh, Richmond, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Washington, West Palm Beach

Probable Pitchers: Phil Hughes, RHP (5-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. Mike Pelfrey, RHP (5-1, 3.02 ERA)

Chicago Cubs at Texas Rangers, Josh Lewin & Mark Grace, going to 23% of USA

Rangers Ballpark in Arlington – Arlington, TX

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Austin, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Louisville, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, St. Louis, Tulsa

Probable Pitchers: Randy Wells, RHP (3-2, 4.13 ERA) vs. Derek Holland, LHP (2-0, 2.38 ERA)

Detroit Tigers at Los Angeles Dodgers, Dick Stockton & Jose Mota, going to 17% of USA

Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles, CA

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Detroit, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego

Probable Pitchers: Armando Galarraga, RHP (1-0, 1.59 ERA) vs. TBA

Boston Red Sox at Philadelphia Phillies, Kenny Albert & Eric Karros, going to 10% of USA

Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia, PA

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Boston, Dayton, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh

Probable Pitchers: Daisuke Matsuzaka, RHP (2-1, 7.89 ERA) vs. TBA

Now to ESPN’s games on Sunday and into next week.

Sunday Night Baseball (May 23)

New York Yankees at New York Mets, 8 p.m.

(ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN3.com, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Mobile TV)

Commentators: Jon Miller, Joe Morgan & Orel Hershiser

Monday Night Baseball (May 24)

Boston at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

(ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com)

Commentators: Dan Shulman, Chris Singleton, Aaron Boone

Wednesday Night Baseball (May 26)

New York Yankees at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

(ESPN2, ESPN2 HD, ESPN3.com)

Commentators: Dave O’Brien, Rick Sutcliffe

When TBS gives us its Sunday game press release, I’ll post it here.

NBC Sports Airs Both NHL Conference Final Games This Weekend

NBC Sports will air both the NHL Eastern and Western Conference Finals this weekend. You’ll see both Games 4 of Montreal-Philadelphia and San Jose-Chicago series on separate days. Mike Emrick and Ed Olczyk will be in the booth for NBC for both games and unfortunately, America will be subjected to Pierre McGuire on ice level throughout the entire weekend.

Here’s NBC’s press release.

NHL CONFERENCE FINAL DOUBLEHEADER THIS WEEKEND ON NBC SPORTS

Montreal Hosts Philadelphia this Saturday; Chicago Hosts San Jose this Sunday

“It’s going to be fantastic.” – NBC Sports’ Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick on this weekend’s games

NEW YORK – May, 20, 2010 – NBC Sports presents coverage of both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals this Saturday and Sunday, respectively, at 3 p.m. ET both days. The Montreal Canadiens host the Philadelphia Flyers, who currently hold a 2-0 series lead, in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final this Saturday at 3 p.m. ET. In the Western Conference, the Chicago Blackhawks, currently up 2-0, host the San Jose Sharks in Game 4 on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.

Mike “Doc” Emrick (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (analyst) and Pierre McGuire (inside-the-glass reporter) call the action. McGuire will pull double duty, hosting NBC’s studio show alongside analyst Mike Milbury.

Chicago is 3-2 on NBC this season, including last weekend’s Game 1 win over San Jose, which was the Sharks’ first appearance on the network this season. Montreal won its only game on the network this year, defeating Pittsburgh, 3-1, on May 2 in the Conference Semi-Finals. Philadelphia is 1-3 on NBC in 2010, including two overtime losses. Philadelphia and Chicago have an opportunity to clinch their series on NBC this weekend if they win their respective Game 3s, which will be played Thursday and Friday nights.

EMRICK: “Of all the hockey arenas, these are the two of the loudest. There will be close to 44,000 fans combined in the arenas and it’s going to be fantastic because of the history in Chicago and Montreal.”

“There is a rejuvenation of the whole franchise in Chicago. They learned a great deal losing to Detroit last year in the playoffs…Home has been good for Montreal in the playoffs. They’ve build up a great deal of confidence there. The question is, ‘is it too late?’”

NBCSPORTS.COM: NBCSports.com’s “Star-cam” continues in the playoffs. “Star-cam” tracks a player(s) from both teams throughout each of their shifts. Following the game, NBCSports.com will present bonus material, including “Star-cam” and “Net-cam” and bonus analysis from NBC Sports commentators.

That’s it.

Gathering The Thursday Linkage

Time for some linkage on this Thursday. Trying to get this in before I have to get some work done today. I’ll do as many links as I can.

USA Today picks up a story from Ronald Blum of the Associated Press in which Fox Sports Ele Jefe del Mundo David Hill expects a big audience for the UEFA Champions League final this Saturday.

In the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Dave Kindred loves certain sports movies.

Jon Weisman in Variety says Golf Channel will air a documentary on Tom Watson’s long-time caddy based on John Feinstein’s book.

Laura Martinez from Multichannel News says ESPN Deportes is going to launch a multimedia campaign for the World Cup.

Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek writes that ESPN is starting an in-house creative unit to develop custom branded spots for certain clients.

Channel Guide Magazine looks at this weekend’s NASCAR All-Star Race and where you can see it.

Writing in CNBC’s Darren Rovell’s SportsBiz blog, Sandra Carreon-John of Saatchi Sport & Entertainment says the sports business is not as sexist as some women would have you believe.

Writing in Forbes, the Biz of Sports’ Maury Brown says ESPN will use your iPhone to throw a bunch of news at you. 

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes that NFL Network will air next week’s Super Bowl XLVIII announcement.

Richard Sandomir from the New York Times says the Preakness Stakes lost viewers from last year and from the Kentucky Derby earlier this month.

From the Albany Times Union, Pete Dougherty writes that Fox Sports is going to have internal discussions regarding Chris Myers’ remarks about Hurricane Katrina victims when he guest-hosted on the Dan Patrick Show on Monday.

In the Messenger Post (NY), noted author Curt Smith says Nashville Predators voice Pete Weber is one of the best in his sport.

Laura Nachman has Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia’s coverage plans for tonight’s Flyers-Canadiens game.

Tim Lemke looks at a Houston Astros program that asks fans to recycle some of their electronic gadgets.

David Teel from the Newport News (VA) Daily Press says the new ESPN/ACC deal puts the conference in a better position to compete with the SEC and Big Ten.

Sarah Talalay of the South Florida Sun Sentinel has another update on the new Florida Marlins Stadium.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business has some various sports business news and notes including the latest Blackhawks ratings.

Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune says some Blackhawks fans are wondering why WGN-AM isn’t picking up all of the team’s playoff games.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is not a fan of the NBA Draft Lottery (scroll down).

Bob Mayhall from the St. Louis Globe-Democrat profiles FoxSports.com NASCAR writer and Gateway City native Lee Spencer.

Scott Dochterman of the Iowa City Gazette says the Big Ten Network is a big key, but not the main reason for the conference’s expansion according to league Commissioner Jim Delaney.

Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times reports that Sirius XM will carry all 64 games of the World Cup. 

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has your first look at Chris Berman’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail writes that a BBC Sport documentary on the world’s best sprinters missed Canada’s contributions to the sport. 

To William Houston of Truth & Rumours who tells us there’s a reason why TSN gave up its Blue Jays schedule so easily to Rogers Sportsnet.

Fox Sports Midwest says it will send its July 2 game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers to troops stationed in Afghanistan.

Mark Newman of MLB.com says MLB Network will air the All-Star Game Red Carpet Special on July 13.

Jon Weinbach from Fanhouse says despite not being liked by the conference’s coaches, it appears ACC Sunday Night Hoops, created for Fox Sports Net, will continue when the new ESPN contract begins after the 2010-11 season.

Friend of Fang’s Bites, Chuck Hanf, from the Two Cents from Beantown blog tells the media that got on Red Sox star Mike Lowell that they don’t have their heads screwed on straight for criticizing him for wanting to leave the team after he felt he wasn’t contributing.

Back to Maury Brown, this time in the Biz of Baseball. He gives kudos to Major League Baseball for televising its draft, but it has a long way to go before reaching the popularity of the NFL and NBA Drafts. 

Sports Media Watch speaks with NBA Digital Managing Editor Mike Doyle.

SMW notes that the ratings for Game 2 of Celtics-Magic failed to measure up to last year’s Conference Final ratings.

Joe Favorito says even though it doesn’t have to, the Green Bay Packers continue to grow their brand during the offseason.

And we will finish there for the links.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

Cycling
Tour of California, Stage 5 – Versus, 5 p.m.

Golf
LPGA Tour/Sybase Match Play Championship – Golf Channel, 1 p.m.
PGA Tour/Byron Nelson Championship, 1st round – Golf Channel, 3 p.m.

MLB
American League
Kansas City at Cleveland – STO, noon
Detroit at Oakland – Fox Sports Detroit, 3:30 p.m
Toronto at Seattle – Rogers Sportsnet/FSN Northwest, 3:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Red Sox – Fox Sports North/NESN, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay at New York Yankees – MLB Network/Sun Sports/YES, 7 p.m.
Anaheim Angels at Chicago White Sox – Fox Sports West/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 8 p.m.
Baltimore at Texas – MASN2/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.

National League
Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia – WGN America/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati at Atlanta – MLB Network/SportSouth, 1 p.m.
Florida at St. Louis – Fox Sports Florida/Fox Sports Midwest, 1:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh – Fox Sports Wisconsin/FSN Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
New York Mets at Washington – SNY/MASN, 7 p.m.
Colorado at Houston – FSN Rocky Mountain/Fox Sports Houston, 8 p.m.
San Francisco at Arizona – Comcast SportsNet Bay Area/Fox Sports Arizona, 9:30 p.m.
San Diego at Los Angeles Dodgers – Cox 4/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 10 p.m.

MLB Tonight Live – MLB Network, 4 p.m., 6 p.m. & 10 p.m.
Baseball Tonight – ESPN, 10 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Finals
Game 3/Philadelphia at Montreal – Versus/CBC/RDS, 7 p.m.

NHL On The Fly – NHL Network, 10 p.m.

Tennis
WTA Tour/Warsaw Open, quarterfinals – Tennis Channel, 5 a.m.

Entertainment
Bones – Fox, 8 p.m.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – CBS, 9 p.m.
World’s Toughest Fixes: Fixing Vegas – National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
Samantha Brown’s Great Weekends: Route 66 Road Trip – Travel Channel, 10 p.m.
Samantha Brown’s Great Weekends: Circus: San Jose – Travel Channel, 10:30 p.m.
The Daily Line – Versus, 10 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman – CBS, 11:35 p.m.

Univeral Sports To Air Winter Olympics Special

Next Monday, Universal Sports airs a documentary on the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The Today Show’s Matt Lauer will narrate the special.

Universal Sports Celebrates Great Moments of the 2010 Winter Olympics with Visions of Vancouver Premiering May 24

Documentary to feature stories of Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White, Apolo Ohno and numerous other stars

‘Today’ Show’s Matt Lauer Narrates Prime Time Special

Los Angeles: May 19, 2010:  The recent 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver produced countless heroes, highlights and human stories—both heartbreaking and uplifting—and Universal Sports takes a unique look at many of them in Visions of Vancouver, a documentary premiering on the network on Monday, May 24, at 7 p.m. ET. 

The two-hour original production will be narrated by Matt Lauer, host of NBC’s ‘Today’ show, and airs exactly 100 days after the Opening Ceremony in Vancouver.

“There are so many memorable athletes and terrific stories that came out of the Vancouver Games that this show was a natural extension for us,” says Universal Sports Executive Producer David Michaels.  “The hardest part of putting it together was deciding which great stories to tell in more depth.” 

The documentary will feature some of the prominent gold medalists to emerge from Vancouver including alpine skiers Lindsey Vonn and Bode Miller, snowboarder Shaun White, ladies figure skater Kim Yu-Na, and the Canadian men’s hockey team.

Visions of Vancouver will also highlight other memorable stories, including Apolo Ohno’s quest to become the most decorated Winter Olympian in U.S. history; Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette’s emotional performance just two days after her mother unexpectedly died in Vancouver; and freestyle skier Alexandre Bilodeau’s victory, earning him the first gold medal ever won by a Canadian on home soil.

The documentary also examines the love story of Chinese pairs figure skating gold medalists Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo; the pioneering achievements of American speed skater Shani Davis; the unforgettable disqualification of Dutch speed skating star Sven Kramer; and many more.

Visions of Vancouver:

Executive Producer ­­– David Michaels

Supervising Producer & Writer – Daniel Fleschner

Editors – Lou Angelo, Ryan Thiel

Associate Producers – Nick Gismondi, Jen Wojnar

That’s it.

MLB Network To Air 2nd Annual Stand Up 2 Cancer Special

For the second year in a row, MLB Network will air the Stand Up 2 Cancer special that will air on several broadcast networks as well as a whole host of cable networks. MLB Network will be the only all-sports network that will clear time for Stand Up 2 Cancer which is one of the more important charities. Here’s the press release.

MLB NETWORK TO SIMULCAST STAND UP TO CANCER TELEVISION EVENT ON SEPTEMBER 10

Live, Star-Studded One-Hour Telecast to Build Continuing Public Support and Donations for Cancer Research

Secaucus, NJ, May 19, 2010 – MLB Network will join several broadcast and cable networks in donating one hour of simultaneous commercial-free primetime on September 10, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT to simulcast Stand Up To Cancer’s (SU2C) star-studded appeal to build continuing public support and donations for cutting-edge cancer research. The event, which will be hosted by CBS’s Katie Couric, ABC’s Diane Sawyer and NBC’s Brian Williams and held in Los Angeles, comes two years after SU2C’s historic fundraising telecast that raised more than $100 million. 

The event will feature live performances of recording artists and stars from film, television and sports who will present content providing viewers with insights into cancer. The program will also include calls to donate through designated phone lines, as well as to the standup2cancer.org web site. One hundred percent of all public donations will go directly to cancer research.

The primary goal of SU2C is to raise funds for groundbreaking translational research to accelerate the delivery of new therapies to patients, getting them from the “bench to the bedside” as quickly as possible. SU2C brings together scientists from different disciplines across various institutions to work collaboratively — rather than competitively — at a critical time in the field of cancer research.

Major League Baseball was the lead donor to contribute to the original SU2C telecast on September 5, 2008 aired on ABC, CBS, NBC and E!, and was viewed in more than 170 countries. Throughout the program, many scientists and celebrities stood together in an unprecedented display of unity to combat cancer, including the late Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Aniston, Rob Lowe, Halle Berry, Ellen DeGeneres, Charles Barkley, Christina Applegate, Lance Armstrong, Tina Fey, Kirsten Dunst, Jack Black, America Ferrera, Neil Patrick Harris, Salma Hayek, Scarlett Johansson, Robin Roberts, Meryl Streep, Forest Whitaker and Abigail Breslin.  Musical performers included Sheryl Crow, James Taylor, Melissa Etheridge, and a group that included Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Fergie, Carrie Underwood, Mary J. Blige and several other recording artists.

Good to see Stand Up 2 Cancer on once again, but also sad that it has to be on once again. If you can, please donate to Stand Up 2 Cancer to wipe out this disease once and for all.

Golf on Your Television This Week

We have the golf tournaments on Golf Channel and CBS over the last part of the week. Let’s take a look at the Golf Channel’s schedule first.

Golf Channel Live Tournament Coverage: May 20-23

Top 64 Women in the World at Sybase Match Play Championship

PGA TOUR Heads to Dallas for the HP Byron Nelson Championship

European Tour’s Flagship Event – BMW PGA Championship

Sybase Match Play Championship

Dates: May 20-23

    Venue: Hamilton Farm Golf Club, Gladstone, N.J.

Airtimes (Eastern):

Thursday                    1-3 p.m. (Live) / 6:30-8:30 p.m. (TD)

Friday                         1-3 p.m. (Live) / 6:30-8:30 p.m. (TD)

Saturday                     2-5 p.m. (Live) / 9:30-11:30 p.m. (Replay)

Sunday                       2-5 p.m. (Live) / 9:30-11:30 p.m. (Replay)

Golf Channel Live Tournament Broadcast Team:

Brian Hammons (Play by Play)

Michelle McGann (Analyst)

Tom Abbott (Tower)

Jerry Foltz (On Course)

Val Skinner (On Course)

Stephanie Sparks (On Course / Interviews)

Broadcast Notes:

• The Sybase Match Play Championship will feature the top-64 players in the world.
• Thursday and Friday’s coverage will feature morning matches in the 1-3 p.m. ET window and afternoon matches in the 6:30-8:30 p.m. ET window.
• LPGA Tour professional Michelle McGann will make her Golf Channel on-air debut as lead analyst, working in the booth with play-by-play host Brian Hammons.
• The four brackets are named for Kathy Whitworth (88 wins), Mickey Wright (82 wins), Annika Sorenstam (72 wins), and Patty Berg (60 wins), all of whom are members of both the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame.  The tournament’s No. 1 seed will be placed in the Whitworth Group, while the No. 2, 3 and 4 seeds will be placed in the Wright Group, Sorenstam Group and Berg Group, respectively.

HP Byron Nelson Championship

Dates: May 20-23

Venue: TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas, Irving, Texas

 Airtimes (Eastern):

Thursday         3-6 p.m. (Live) / 8:30-11:30 p.m. (Replay)

Friday              3-6 p.m. (Live) / 8:30-11:30 p.m. (Replay)

Golf Channel Live Tournament Broadcast Team:

Kelly Tilghman (Play by Play)

Nick Faldo (Analyst)

Peter Oosterhuis (Tower)

Gary McCord (Tower)

Billy Ray Brown (On Course)

Mike Ritz (Interviews)

Broadcast Notes:

• Aimpoint Featured at Byron Nelson Championship: Aimpoint, Golf Channel’s Emmy-award winning technology that predicts the line of a putt and where a player must aim to hole out, will be featured on holes 9 and 15 at TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas.
• The field includes: Kenny Perry, Fred Couples, Davis Love III, 2010 Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin, Rory Sabbatini, Sean O’Hair, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Hunter Mahan, Justin Leonard and Ben Crane.

BMW PGA Championship

Dates: May 20-23

Venue: Wentworth Club, Surrey, England

Airtimes (Eastern):

Thursday        10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live)

Friday             10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live)

Saturday         9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Live) / 6:30-9:30 p.m. (Replay)

Sunday           9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Live) / 7-9:30 p.m. (Replay)

Broadcast Notes:

• The field includes: Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey, Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson, Retief Goosen, Luke Donald, Charl Schwartzel, Alvaro Quiros, Ross Fisher, Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose, Matteo Manassero and Shaun Micheel.
• The flagship event on The 2010 European Tour International schedule, the PGA Championship returns to a newly remodeled West Course at Wentworth Club for the 27^th consecutive year.
• Past Champions of the event include: Arnold Palmer, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Angel Cabrera and Paul Casey.

CBS’ coverage plans for the Byron Nelson Classic comes to you after the break.

“TEXAS SWING” CONTINUES WITH SECOND LEG IN LONE STAR STATE AT “HP BYRON NELSON CHAMPIONSHIP” ON CBS SPORTS, MAY 22-23

The PGA TOUR’s “Texas Swing” continues this weekend at the BYRON NELSON CHAMPIONSHIP, a tournament with one of the richest traditions in the game of golf, as CBS Sports broadcasts the third and final rounds on Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23 (3:00-6:00 PM, ET, both days), live from TPC Las Colinas in Irving, Texas.

 The first tournament was played in 1944 at Lakewood Country Club where Byron Nelson won by 10 strokes. His victory that year was the start of a two-year run in which the World Golf Hall of Famer won 26 tournaments, including his PGA TOUR record-streak of 11 consecutive wins in 1945. Nelson has had his name attached to this tournament since 1968. He was a fixture at this event, greeting players on the first tee and watching from the porch behind the 18^th green where many of the players would stop after completing their round.

No player has ever won the Texas Grand Slam (Shell Houston Open, Valero Texas Open, HP Byron Nelson Classic and Crowne Plaza Invitational) although several have won three titles. This week Corey Pavin shoots to become the first to win all four.  

Defending champion Rory Sabbatini aims to become the first player to win back-to-back titles here since Tom Watson won three straight from 1978-80. Sabbatini defends his title in a strong field that includes Vijay Singh, J.B. Holmes, Y.E. Yang, Justin Leonard, Hunter Mahan, Kenny Perry, Rickie Fowler, Rocco Mediate, Chad Campbell,  Dustin Johnson, Charley Hoffman, Sean O’Hair, Stuart Appleby, Chez Reavie, Rod Pampling, Mark Calcavecchia, Charles Howell III, Ricky Barnes, Corey Pavin, Scott Verplank, Tim Herron and Chris DiMarco.

Jim Nantz, the 2009 Emmy Award Winner for “Outstanding Sports Personality – Play-by-Play” and 2009 National Sportscaster of the Year, serves as anchor of CBS Sports’ golf coverage. Sir Nick Faldo, winner of six major championships and more than 40 tournaments worldwide, serves as lead analyst. Ian Baker-Finch calls the action at the 17^th hole and Gary McCord at the 16^th hole. David Feherty and Peter Kostis serve as on-course reporters. Lance Barrow is Coordinating Producer and Steve Milton is Director of CBS Sports’ golf coverage.  Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

* * * * *

2010 CBS GOLF  SCHEDULE

May 22 (3:00-6:00 PM) HP Byron Nelson, TPC Las Colinas

May 23 (3:00-6:00 PM) Championship       Irving, TX

May 29 (3:00-6:00 PM) Crowne Plaza Invitational, Colonial Country Club

May 30 (3:00-6:00 PM) at Colonial                          Fort Worth, TX

June 5 (3:00-6:00 PM) The Memorial Tournament, Muirfield Village Golf Club

June 6 (1:30-6:00 PM)                                             Dublin, OH

June 12 (3:00-6:00 PM) St. Jude Classic, TPC Southwind

June 13 (3:00-6:00 PM)                            Memphis, TN

June 26 (3:00-6:00 PM) Travelers, TPC River Highlands

June 27 (3:00-6:00 PM) Championship Cromwell, CT

                                                                                            

July 3 (3:00-6:00 PM)  AT&T National, Aronimink Golf Club

July 4 (2:00-6:30 PM)                             Newtown Square, PA

July 10 (3:00-6:00 PM) John Deere Classic, TPC Deere Run

July 11 (3:00-6:00 PM)                                  Silvis, IL

July 24 (3:00-6:00 PM)  RBC Canadian Open, St. Georges Golf and CC           

July 25 (3:00-6:00 PM)                                     Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada

July 31 (3:00-6:00 PM) The Greenbrier Classic, The Old White Course

Aug. 1 (3:00-6:00 PM)                                        White Sulphur Springs, WV

Aug. 7 (2:00-6:00 PM)   WGC-Bridgestone, Firestone Country Club

Aug. 8 (1:00-6:00 PM)   Invitational             Akron, OH

Aug. 12 (12:37-1:07 AM)  PGA Championship, The Straits Course, Whistling Straits

Aug. 13 (12:37-1:07 AM)                                    Kohler, WI

Aug. 14 (2:00-7:00 PM)

Aug. 15 (2:00-7:00 PM)

Aug. 21 (2:00-5:00 PM)   Wyndham Championship, Sedgefield Country Club

Aug. 22 (2:00-5:00 PM)                                             Greensboro, NC

Aug. 28 (3:00-6:00 PM)   The Barclays, Ridgewood Country Club

Aug. 29 (2:00-6:00 PM)                          Paramus, NJ

We’re done here.

John McEnroe To Open Tennis Academy In New York

I received this press release from good friend, Joe Favorito and I’ll post this. Famed tennis star and analyst John McEnroe has announced that he’s opening a World Class tennis academy on Randall’s Island in New York. It’ll begin operations after the US Open in September. We have a press release for you.

Tennis Legend And Former #1 John McEnroe Announces Plans To Open World Class Tennis Academy In New York 

 
John McEnroe Academy To Hold Open Tryouts For Scholarships In July

The John McEnroe Tennis Academy to Open in September at the new $18 Million SPORTIME at Randall’s Island Tennis Center

NEW YORK (May 19, 2010) – Hall of Famer, native New Yorker and former world number one John McEnroe today announced that he will open and direct the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, with its inaugural, full-year programs commencing just after the 2010 US Open. The McEnroe Academy will be housed at the new $18 Million SPORTIME at Randall’s Island Tennis Center in New York City. SPORTIME, owner of 13 tennis and fitness clubs throughout New York State, will operate the club and will partner with McEnroe in the operation of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy.

The announcement today is the culmination of McEnroe’s longstanding goal to develop and oversee an academy that will embrace many of the best elements of McEnroe’s own childhood experience, updated for the modern game and based on McEnroe’s unique perspective. As a junior, McEnroe worked with renowned coaches Harry Hopman and Tony Palafox and a worldclass, international staff of instructors in a non-residential setting that drew the best and brightest players from all over the New York Metropolitan area. The McEnroe Academy will encourage its students to take advantage of the many educational, athletic and cultural opportunities that New York City has to offer.

“For many years the United States has struggled to develop its next class of elite players. I believe that I can inspire young players the way that my coaches inspired me. And I plan to create a system, like the one that I learned in, that supports building an all-around person, as opposed to a tennis machine,” McEnroe said. “My academy, based here in the world’s greatest city, will provide a balance of world-class tennis and fitness training, along with a New York experience, so maybe our kids will be a little more creative, a little more intense, and will be able to think on their feet a little better, like any New Yorker. Over time and with my guidance and that of our hand-picked coaches and pros, I think our students will see great success.”

Rather than a tennis-only approach, the McEnroe Academy will support a balanced training experience for the developing elite player. All or virtually all students who are admitted to the Academy will attend a conventional school during the day and will train after school hours and on weekends during the school year. And they won’t be encouraged to play tennis 7 days a week. The Academy will offer tennis coaching, training and practice, coaching at on and off site tournaments, a fitness component and an academic support team. Students will live in New York City or the surrounding area. The cost of the Academy will be determined by each student’s personal plan, and partial and full scholarships will be available based on need and ability. In cases of need, the Academy will also provide equipment and apparel, as well as tournament travel and coaching, at no cost to the student. McEnroe has selected former ATP, Olympic and Israeli Davis Cup player Gilad Bloom as the Academy’s Director of Tennis and he and McEnroe are assembling a top-tier staff of international instructors and coaches.

McEnroe also announced that the Academy will hold open tryouts this July for young persons interested in attending the McEnroe Academy starting in September. One boy and one girl between the ages of 8 and 16 will be selected by McEnroe to receive a full scholarship for a year of training at the McEnroe Academy. The tryouts will be held on July 14 for boys and on July 19 for girls, beginning at 8:30am each day, at SPORTIME at Randall’s Island, One Randall’s Island, Manhattan. The tryouts will last the entire day for those who progress to the final rounds, and all finalists will be invited to watch McEnroe’s New  York Sportimes World TeamTennis team play on the evening of their respective try-out dates. Each day’s winner will receive his/her scholarship award from McEnroe at half time of that evening’s televised match.

On July 14, the date of the boys’ try-outs, the NY Sportimes will battle Billie Jean King’s own Philadelphia Freedom franchise, and that match will feature the first-ever NYC match-up between John McEnroe, playing for NY and Andy Roddick playing for Philly. On July 19, the date of the girls’ try-outs, the Sportimes take on the Albany based NY Buzz and their star Martina Hingis. Playing for the Sportimes that night will be John McEnroe and Kim Clijsters. Details on the tryouts can be found at www.sportimeny.com/JohnMcEnroeTennisAcademy.

SPORTIME at Randall’s Island, which opened less than a year ago, is the flagship of SPORTIME’s 13 tennis, fitness and sports clubs across New York State. SPORTIME clubs serve over 25,000 tennis and fitness enthusiasts, including more than 10,000 junior players. The Randall’s Island facility features 20 indoor/outdoor Deco-Turf and Har-Tru courts, all enclosed during the indoor season and lighted for evening play year-round. The facility also offers a 20,000 square foot clubhouse, with classrooms, a computer lounge, a state-of-the-art fitness and training center, a pro shop and café and more. The SPORTIME facility also includes an intimate, modern tennis stadium with seating for 2,500 fans, which is home each July to New York’s World TeamTennis franchise, the NY Sportimes, of which McEnroe has been captain since 2000.

The SPORTIME facility is part of the rebirth of Randall’s Island, located just off the East Side of Manhattan below the RFK Bridge. The facilities on the island now include Icahn Stadium, a state-of-the-art track and field facility, nearly 70 reconstructed baseball, soccer and softball fields, and a renovated Golf Center. The Randall’s Island Sports Foundation manages the Island, and Sportime constructed and operates the tennis center under a 20-year license agreement with the Foundation and the City.

For all the details on the Academy, visit www.sportimeny.com/JohnMcEnroeTennisAcademy. Tickets for the NY Sportimes WTT matches are available by calling 888-WTT-NYC1 or by visiting www.nysportimes.com.

And we have highlights of a conference call John McEnroe conducted along with Claude Okin, the CEO of the Sportime Clubs and brother, Mark McEnroe after the break.

John McEnroe/Claude Okin Conference Call – Highlight Q&A

19 May 2010

John McEnroe

On why he started John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA)

If you know me, this is something I’ve wanted for a long time, having grown up in the New York area and seeing tennis somewhat disintegrate here — the buzz we used to have at the Port Washington Tennis Academy and subsequently playing at the US Open so it seemed only natural for me to put together a tennis academy in the N.Y. area. I used to play other sports on Randall’s Island, High School at Trinity. They’ve put in hundreds of millions of dollars, including this tennis facility. It’s great for the City of New York.

I’m living proof of someone who can live “a normal life,” go to school and play other sports, and succeed in tennis.

I hope this will provide a different opportunity for young kids here who want to go another way besides living at Florida or California academies.

The aim is to have an academy at Randalls Island along lines of the Academy I grew up with: my brothers were there, Vitas Gerulaitis, Peter Fleming. I don’t know of a player from this area who has made it in the last 25 years.

On why it has been difficult to recruit elite tennis players in the N.Y. area

I think people follow what was successful in the past. They are influenced rather easily; they think you need to live someplace like Bollettieri, leave your parents at age six or eight. We’re looking to provide a different option, similar to what I had at Port Washington.

On the role of Education at tennis academies

I would encourage kids to remain in school. I expect some individuals will talk about home schooling and we will do our best to make sure they succeed if they don’t make it to the level they or their parents believe they would in tennis.

I’m living proof of someone who went to school in Manhattan, and even went to a year of college, which would be sacrilegious at this time. But look at a guy like Isner, an example of someone who matured later, he spent all four years of college eligibility, he’s playing his best, coming into his own at a later age. Of course, not everyone will be 6’9 but he’s exactly the type that I would like to target, enjoys success and in a better position to handle it emotionally.

On his participation level at the JMTA

Number one, even at 51, I love to be on the court. Occasionally I still play a Senior Champions Tour event to get the juices flowing. I don’t believe this can succeed at the level we want unless I’m here regularly.

On the JMTA as competitive to USTA and its programs

It would appear on paper that we are competing, but I would say that according to the charter of the USTA, it is to help tennis in as many ways possible and to provide grants for people in all different types of situations, so as far as I’m concerned, they should be helping us.

On whether the opening of the JMTA is a criticism of how the USTA has developed tennis players

I hope to provide a type of inspiration for young kids. Maybe I’m biased but when I came into the sport in the 70s and 80s seemed like a great time for the sport. More kids are playing now, at least, now we need to get them to continue to play. The USTA makes an obscene amount of money for one tournament. They have a $150 million portfolio, I’m not sure what they are supposed to be doing with that money.

For many years, I talked to the USTA about this type of thing at the tennis center, naming it the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, but I was unable to get through. Now I have this tremendous opportunity to work with Claude and his people on a facility that is as good or better than the Tennis Center. With the tens of millions they make in a single year I would think that it’s in their best interest and the sport’s best interest to welcome us with open arms and provide us with money that they provide other programs.

On his brother Patrick’s reaction to the JMTA

I have not spoken to him specifically about the Academy, but he hasn’t called to congratulate me. I don’t know that that means.

On what the French and Spanish have done to be so successful

Every case is different, but what I believe they’ve done is to put more money into it, they got backing from major sponsors or the government. Plus, they have gotten the top players to travel together, like a team. We’ve alienated too much. We are too concerned with rankings at 12-14, all different types of rankings, it’s so complicated. There are some diamonds in the rough in other sports we want to bring into this sport.

On the value of World TeamTennis

TeamTennis is nice because it reminds me of one of the reasons I like Davis Cup, you’re part of a team, can rally around other individuals. It’s also different in that you have the guys and girls together, not the same as Wimbledon. Things happen faster, the format is quick, they learn to be ready for the first ball, matches are 15-30 minutes. It’s a good opportunity to get match play and to get ready for bigger things down the road.

On who he sees winning Roland Garros this year

I’m not going to go on a limb. Nadal is the overwhelming favorite, and I would pick Federer as next. But you have to see the draw. The women more unpredictable. I don’t know the status of Henin, but she is the favorite, she’s had the most success there. The Williams sisters are the “X factor,” they’re capable of winning, but sometimes they lose their way on clay. It’s more of crap shot after those.

On the two-year PED-related suspension today of Wayne Odesnik

It’s pretty clear cut with that particular performance enhancing drug, that’s the penalty, so I’m not surprised. They are looking to send a message. He’s a lower ranked player, so everyone is hoping that’s not something that is a problem higher up. Tennis players are tested more than any other athletes.

On NBA Star LeBron James’s Free Agency and the possibility that he might join the N.Y. Knicks

I would give him a free lesson at JMTA anytime he wants. He’s probably pretty good at tennis, a big serve. I think this is not only important for the Knicks, that goes without saying, with the next five years on the line, maybe the next 10, but for New York, this unbelievable buzz. I’ll even go as far as to say that my academy would get better people if he comes, along with Dwyane Wade or Chirs Bosh, we’ll take him.

On movement and quickness on the court, ability vs. teaching

I think that some of it is innate, which is partially why we want to get more great athletes in to the sport. But maybe more important is the mental side, the ability to think ahead, where to be, flowing within your feet, hands.

On the risk of setting up the JMTA in this economy, and the prospects of working with USTA

We’re open to discussion. We’re fortunate that in this area there are maybe 20 million people within a 30-minute radius and a fair amount that love game of tennis. The program is going on right now. Now we’re looking to get more of an elite player, make it NCAA Division 1 or make it professionally. JMPTA will be starting in September full scale. We also are working on getting corporate sponsorship to be able to provide the type of opportunity we want to give players who can’t afford this kind of training.

On the possibility of expanding the Academy past the New York area players

The tri-state area is where we’re starting. It’s where we’re focused. I did see at the Academy, growing up, sometimes there were kids form East Europe, Australia. I don’t want to close the door, as they could provide the competition for both sides. But we’re focusing on the New York area now.

Claude Okin: CEO of Sportime Clubs and NY Sportimes

On Sportime

Sportime is a partnership that we formed in 1994. The company currently own and operates 14 tennis fitness and multi-sport clubs in N.Y. State, mostly Long Island, New York City, some Westchester, Capital region. We are tennis people: my closest colleagues here are in the tennis industry for 30 years. And we are New Yorkers.

It took us more than five years from the time the City of NY first issued the Request for Proposal for us to complete this 160K square foot, 20-court facility that opened in 2009, less than a year ago, and we’re still putting the finishing touches. It cost almost $19 million.

John has been the captain and star of our NY Sportimes franchise. He’s been playing for us for 10 years.

Mark McEnroe, the middle brother between John and Patrick, who has forged an esteemed career in law and business, is also a big part of team. He’s the GM for the Randall’s Island Site and for the John McEnroe Tennis Academy director of corporate development. It’s a McEnroe family affair.

In the coming weeks we will be announcing some key partnerships. This is not a trial balloon. The Academy is constructed and funded, there are almost 3000 tennis players using the facility now, and 1000 juniors playing now; many have had the treat of interacting with John this year – under the radar, as he has begun to put the tools in place.

Whether or not we end up in quasi-partnership with the USTA, and as we add sponsors, the JMTA is going to be here for a while and produce players, and most importantly maintain enough independence that can reflect the wisdom and inspiration of John McEnroe, a pretty independent guy.

On Tryouts and Scholarships to the Academy

Although there are many pathways, this July we will conduct open tryouts on two dates, July 14 for the boys, beginning at 8:30 a.m., then later that night John McEnroe is playing vs. Philadelphia in World TeamTennis, for the first time it will be John McEnroe vs. Andy Roddick in New York City. During the day, he’ll interact with kids to fight for full scholarships for a year at the Academy. Also on July 19th for girls tryouts, that night the Sportimes play w Kim Clijsters vs. Martina Hingis. One scholarship will go to at least 1 female winner on the 19th.

Mark McEnroe

On working with John on a project of this magnitude

I have never worked with John on a project like this… I have represented him as a personal lawyer for exhibitions and other events. This endeavor is new as far as being general manager of the facility, I’ve been doing it a few months and it’s been great, and I expect it to be much better in the future.

As the middle brother, I have had 45 years of experience in dealing with John and Patrick. As mentioned, emissaries form the JMTA have already approached the USTA – that would be me. Discussions have already taken place. Patrick has assured me that he is behind the USTA’s creed which is to support tennis at all levels and to try to make that happen.

That’s it.

Fox Soccer Channel Does Well With UEFA Champions League, FA Cup Final & English Premier League

With Fox Soccer Channel dependent on English soccer packages, it finds its ratings going up. Thanks to carrying games from the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup, FSC saw a ratings gain from the previous year which was the first in which the channel was measured by Nielsen.

We have a press release for you.

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL DELIVERS RATINGS SURGE WITH KEY EUROPEAN PROPERTIES

FA Cup Final Scores for Fox Soccer Channel

Los Angeles, CA (May 19, 2010) – Fox Soccer Channel scored impressive ratings gains for its FA Cup Final telecast on Saturday, May 15, according to figures released by Nielsen Media Research. The year-to-year improvement is consistent with the networks’ continued growth across key demographics as a direct result of the first year of UEFA Champions League telecasts and second year increases for the prestigious Barclays Premier League.

Last Saturday’s performance of the FA Cup Final – in which Chelsea repeated as champion and secured its first-ever domestic “double” with a 1-0 victory over Portsmouth – notched significant gains across the board in viewers compared to the 2009 Final. Household coverage area ratings (CAR) are +67% on households (HH) overall (0.5 vs. 0.3), while M18-34 CAR increased +50% (0.3 vs. 0.2) and M25-54 (CAR) grew 25% (0.5 vs. 0.4).

Fox Soccer Channel continues to experience steady and remarkable growth in viewership since becoming a Nielsen rated network in October of 2008, boosted by its status as the primary U.S. television home for the UEFA Champions League. UEFA Champions League matches which air in the 2:30-5 p.m. time period, delivered significant ratings growth across all demos from October ’08-May ’09, particularly with key M18-34 and M18-49 demos skyrocketing to 975% and 957%, respectively. P2+ viewing posted a 675% increase. On April 28^th the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Inter Milan set a M18-34 ratings record for FSC with a 1.2 coverage area rating.  

Fox Soccer Channel also posted considerable growth during the past year with England’s Barclays Premier League as the total viewer average for matches in October 2009-May 2010 period increased 68% compared to the average for matches from October 2008-May 2009 (FSC was not measured prior to October 2008). The February 7 showdown between rivals Chelsea and Arsenal drew the network’s record-high audience of 403,000 P2+ and earned a 0.7 HH coverage area rating.

This past April, Fox Soccer Channel registered a 71% Q1 increase in the network’s primetime audience, a 65% increase in weekend audience and an 89% rise in total-day audience. These increases were tops among Nielsen-rated cable sports nets in Q1. Nielsen also cited Fox Soccer Channel as the cable sports network with the highest concentration of M18-49 among English-speaking audiences in the U.S according to Nielsen data.  

Source:  Nielsen Media Research, dates as above, qualifications furnished upon request

We end it there.

Your NFL Network Schedule For Next Week

Here’s the NFL Network programming schedule for the next seven days.

NFL NETWORK PROGRAMMING NOTES (5/19-5/25)

SUPER BOWL XLVIII HOST ANNOUNCED LIVE ON NFL NETWORK TUESDAY, MAY 25 AT 3:00 PM ET

Kurt Warner Serves as Guest Analyst for Arizona Rattlers-Iowa Barnstormers ‘Arena Football Friday’ Contest Friday at 8:00 PM ET

Interviews with Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald & Panthers WR Steve Smith on NFL Total Access at 7:00 PM ET

WR Muhsin Muhammad In-Studio Guest Analyst on

NFL Total Access Thursday and Friday

Super Bowl XLVIII Selection Show Airs Live from NFL Spring Meeting in Dallas, TX Tuesday, May 25 at 3:00 PM ET

Three sites, one dream. Find out live where the champion of the 2014 Super Bowl will hoist the Lombardi Trophy on NFL Network’s Super Bowl XLVIII Selection Show Tuesday, May 25 at 3:00 PM ET.

Rich Eisen hosts, alongside Michael Irvin and guest analyst Daryl “Moose” Johnston from the NFL Annual Meeting at the Omni Mandalay Hotel in Dallas to give viewers an inside look into the process of determining the Super Bowl host site and the three contenders for 2014 – New York/New Jersey, South Florida and Tampa Bay. NFL Network reporters Jason La Canfora, Steve Wyche and Kara Henderson will also be on hand with reports from the camps of each contending committee.

Coverage also includes features on each of the three cities, interviews with Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFL Senior Vice President of Events Frank Supovitz, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and key Super Bowl committee members, as well as clips from each city’s presentation to the owners.

Kurt Warner to be Guest Analyst for Week 8’s ‘Arena Football Friday’ Matchup Featuring Arizona Rattlers vs. Iowa Barnstormers

The greatest player in Arena Football League history returns to where it all began on Friday, May 21 at 8:00 PM ET as the Iowa Barnstormers pay tribute to Kurt Warner during their matchup against the Arizona Rattlers.  Warner joins NFL Network’s announcing team as an analyst for the game where he will also be inducted into the Iowa Barnstormers Hall of Fame as the inaugural member.

The Iowa Barnstormers have announced that Friday’s game against the Arizona Rattlers will be “Kurt Warner Night.”  The Barnstormers will honor Warner with a special ceremony acknowledging the retirement of his number 13 Barnstormers jersey and induction into the team’s Hall of Fame.

Joining Warner in the booth is former University of Iowa quarterback Paul Burmeister with play-by-play while another former Hawkeye, Anthony Herron, provides reports from the sideline.

THIS WEEK ON NFL TOTAL ACCESS: ‘Coaching Spotlights’ on Pete Carroll, Tony Sparano, John Fox & Josh McDaniels

Wednesday, May 19

• Randy Moss reports from the Minnesota Vikings training facility
• Michelle Beisner reports from the Oakland Raiders training facility
• Coaching Spotlight: Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll
• Jason La Canfora goes ‘Around the League’

Thursday, May 20

• WR Larry Fitzgerald on Cardinals Cam
• Guest analyst Muhsin Muhammad in-studio
• Jason La Canfora goes ‘Around the League’

• Coaching Spotlight: Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano

Friday, May 21

• Interview with former Cardinals QB Kurt Warner
• Guest analyst Muhsin Muhammad in-studio
• WR Steve Smith on Panthers Cam
• Scott Hanson reports from the Chicago Bears training facility
• Steve Wyche goes ‘Around the League’

Monday, May 24

• Full coverage from NFL Spring Meeting in Dallas, TX
• Coaching Spotlight: Panthers head coach John Fox
• Jason La Canfora goes ‘Around the League’ from NFL Spring Meeting in Dallas, TX

Tuesday, May 25

• Full coverage from NFL Spring Meeting in Dallas, TX, including recap of Super Bowl XLVIII host selection
• Coaching Spotlight: Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels
• Jason La Canfora goes ‘Around the League’ from NFL Spring Meeting in Dallas, TX

THIS WEEK ON NFL.COM

Thursday, May 20

• CHAT: Steve Wyche (12 NOON ET)

CHAT: Bucky Brooks (1:00 PM ET)

Friday, May 21

·         CHAT: Vic Carucci (12 NOON ET)

DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (all times listed are ET)

Wednesday, May 19

10:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

11:00 PM – America’s Game: 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – America’s Game: 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

Thursday, May 20

1:00 PM – NFL Film Session: The Matchup of the Millennium, part I

2:00 PM – America’s Game: 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

3:00 PM – America’s Game: 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD)

4:30 PM – NFL Film Session: Super Bowl XXXI – New York Giants vs. New England Patriots

5:00 PM – NFL Film Session: 1996 New England Patriots

5:30 PM – NFL Film Session: 1996 Green Bay Packers 

6:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Follies

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Return Aces

9:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Comebacks

10:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Return Aces

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL’s Top 10: Comebacks

Friday, May 21

1:00 PM – NFL Film Session: The Matchup of the Millennium, part II

2:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Return Aces

3:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Comebacks

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD)

4:30 PM – NFL Film Session: Super Bowl XXXII – Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers

5:00 PM – NFL Film Session: 1997 Green Bay Packers

5:30 PM – NFL Film Session: 1997 Denver Broncos 

6:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: QB Controversies

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – Arena Football Friday: Arizona Rattlers vs. Iowa Barnstormers (HD) – LIVE

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Saturday, May 22

1:00 PM – High School Rivalries: Rockford vs. Muskegon (HD)

2:00 PM – High School Rivalries: Union vs. Jenks (HD)

3:00 PM – America’s Game: 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

4:00 PM – America’s Game: 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

5:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Return Aces

6:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Comebacks

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access: Week in Review (HD)

8:00 PM – Super Bowl Classics: Super Bowl XXVII – Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access: Week in Review (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – Super Bowl Classics: Super Bowl XXVII – Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills

Sunday, May 23

9:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Worst Teams

10:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Defenses

11:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Passing Combinations

12 NOON – NFL’s Top 10: Opening Days

1:00 PM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 10 – New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts (HD)

2:30 PM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 10 – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 10 – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets (HD)

5:30 PM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 10 – New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Weekly Countdown: Week 10 (HD)

7:30 PM – SoundFX: Week 10 (HD)

8:00 PM – America’s Game: 1977 Dallas Cowboys (HD)

9:00 PM – America’s Game: 1992 Dallas Cowboys (HD)

10:00 PM – America’s Game: 1993 Dallas Cowboys (HD)

11:00 PM – America’s Game: 1995 Dallas Cowboys (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – America’s Game: 1977 Dallas Cowboys (HD)

1:00 AM – America’s Game: 1992 Dallas Cowboys (HD)

 

Monday, May 24

6:00 AM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 10 – New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts (HD)

7:30 AM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 10 – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

9:00 AM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 10 – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets (HD)

10:30 AM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 10 – New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts (HD)

12 NOON – America’s Game: 1977 Dallas Cowboys (HD)

1:00 PM – America’s Game: 1992 Dallas Cowboys (HD)

2:00 PM – America’s Game: 1993 Dallas Cowboys (HD)

3:00 PM – America’s Game: 1995 Dallas Cowboys (HD)

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD)

5:00 PM – NFL Replay Real-Time: Week 10 (HD)

6:00 PM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 10 – New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Classic Games: San Diego Chargers vs. Denver Broncos (Sept. 14, 2008) (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Tuesday, May 25

11:00 AM – NFL Classic Games: San Diego Chargers vs. Denver Broncos (Sept. 14, 2008) (HD)

2:00 PM – Best of the Decade: The 2000s (HD)

3:00 PM – Super Bowl Selection Show (HD) – LIVE from Dallas, TX

4:30 PM – Around the League (HD)

5:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Super Bowl Performances 

6:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Football Factories

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – High School Rivalries: Mater Dei vs. Orange County (HD)

9:00 PM – High School Rivalries: Pahokee vs. Glades Central (HD)

10:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Enjoy.