Fang's Bites

Erin Andrews to Cry on Oprah’s Shoulder on 9/11

The date is correct. On the 8th anniversary of 9/11, Erin Andrews will be making her first comments about the infamous hotel tape to Oprah Winfrey. Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch broke the story late this afternoon.

Erin returns to ESPN for Thursday Night Football this week where she will be on the sidelines for the South Carolina-NC State game (not a good place to come back, not Raleigh which is lovely, but a college football game where the students will be all over her).

As much as I sympathize with Erin over what happened, I’m not liking the choice to go on the manhating Oprah show. I’m not an Oprah lover to begin with and I find her hypocritical, but Erin will find a sympathetic audience.

I also find the choice of venue rather strange, but again, Erin is looking to branch out from the normal sports audience who’s very familiar with her. Unless I get a TV, I’ll have to wait for the YouTube clips to watch.

According to Deadspin, the show has already been taped.

So again, Erin will be on the Oprah Winfrey show on September 11 to give her first public comments about the nude hotel room video.

Only Place to See This Week’s NFL Exhibition Games is NFL Network

With CBS, ESPN, Fox and NBC finished with their NFL exhibition game schedules, the only place to see any of this coming week’s games is on the NFL Network.

It will air three live games including the Cowboys at Minnesota on Friday, but I doubt you’ll see Brett Favre in that game. Here’s the schedule of games.

EXHIBITION SEASON WEEK 4:

QBs MICHAEL VICK, BRETT FAVRE &

MARK SANCHEZ LIVE ON NFL NEWORK – THE ONLY PLACE FOR WEEK 4 PRESEASON ACTION

Live Telecasts This Week:

Eagles at Jets, Thursday at 7:00 PM ET

Raiders at Seahawks, Thursday at 10:00 PM ET

Cowboys at Vikings, Friday at 8:00 PM ET

Three quarterbacks in their final 2009 exhibition games with new clubs highlight NFL Network’s exclusive Week 4 action.

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who completed all four of his passes in his exhibition season debut last week, and recently named Jets starting quarterback Mark Sanchez are in focus in NFL Network’s first live game on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7:00 PM ET.

Later Thursday night at 10:00 PM ET, former division rivals Seattle and Oakland meet to close out the exhibition season for the fourth consecutive year.

On Friday, Sept. 4 at 8:00 PM ET, Brett Favre and the Vikings get in their final exhibition game tune-up against the Dallas Cowboys.

All of the remaining preseason Week 4 games will be encored over Labor Day weekend to give fantasy players one last look at the potential stars and sleepers of 2009.

During the 2009 NFL preseason, NFL Network will televise a record 65 games – up from the 54 shown in 2008. The exhibition game schedule, which is entirely in HD for the first time, also includes a record 12 live games and 97 encore telecasts so that no one will miss a game.

NFL NETWORK AIR TIMES FOR 2009 WEEK 4 EXHIBITION SEASON GAMES

(ALL TIMES EASTERN; ALL GAMES IN HIGH DEFINITION)

Thursday, September 3

7:00 PM – Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets – LIVE

10:00 PM – Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks – LIVE

Friday, September 4

1:00 AM – Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos – encore

4:00 AM – Philadelphia Eagles at New York – encore

7:00 AM – Kansas City Chiefs at St. Louis Rams – encore

10:00 AM – Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons – encore

1:00 PM – Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints – encore

4:00 PM – New York Giants at New England Patriots – encore

8:00 PM – Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings – LIVE

11:30 PM – Green Bay Packers at Tennessee Titans – encore

Saturday, September 5

2:30 AM – Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks – encore

7:00 AM – Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints – encore

10:00 AM – Houston Texans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – encore

1:00 PM – Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings – encore

4:00 PM – Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears – encore

8:30 PM – Washington Redskins at Jacksonville Jaguars – encore

11:30 PM – Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals – encore

Sunday, September 6

2:30 AM – San Francisco 49ers at San Diego Chargers – encore

7:00 AM – Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills – encore

10:00 AM – Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals – encore

1:00 PM – Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets – encore

4:00 PM – Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers – encore

7:00 PM – New York Giants at New England Patriots – encore

10:00 PM – Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears – encore

Monday, September 7

1:00 AM – Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos – encore

4:00 AM – Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills – encore

7:00 AM – Washington Redskins at Jacksonville Jaguars – encore

10:00 AM – Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets – encore

1:00 PM – New York Giants at New England Patriots – encore

4:00 PM – Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings – encore

8:30 PM – Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers – encore

So with most teams not playing their starters in the fourth exhibition game, the networks except for NFL Network have been given a pass from showing this week’s games. Good on the NFL for not subjecting fans to the network announcing crews for the final week of exhibition games.

Giving You The Monday Links

Time to do the links today. Once again, I ask if you could be so kind to donate to the Fang’s Bites TV fund. Trying to get two HD sets in time for the NFL season. Even if I can get half of the $1,200 target, that would be fine. So far, I’ve raised $66 so I have a ways to go. I’m only asking you to give $5, but if you wish to give more, that’s fine as well. The widget is under my profile to the left.

Ok to the links.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today writes about Michael Irvin joining the NFL Network this season.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch has his Media Power Rankings for August.

Daniel Kaplan of Sports Business Journal says as many as 12 NFL teams could have local blackouts of at least one home game this season.

Jon Show of the SBJ says the LPGA is shopping around an umbrella naming rights deal for the next three seasons.

Terry Lefton of the SBJ writes that even with a new owner, Anheuser-Busch is still spending plenty on sports sponsorships.

Liz Mullen reports in Sports Business Daily that NHL Players Association Executive Director Paul Kelly has been voted out by the player reps.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell writes that Yankees season ticket holders won’t see that much of a price increase for the postseason.

Darren says the top selling NFL jersey, believe it or not, is Brett Favre’s Minnesota Vikings #4.

Darren got to play the world’s number two tennis player in the world, Andy Murray last week.

Mary Ellen Fillo of the Hartford Courant followed the brothers McEnroe as they made their way through ESPN last week.

Jackie Majerus of the Bristol (CT) Press covered an event on Friday that celebrated ESPN’s 30 anniversary and featured founder Bill Rasmussen.

Dave Phillips of the Shore Line (CT) Times says a local sports radio talk show host is beginning to make the move to TV.

Lynn Zinser of the New York Times says the ESPNization of the US Open has already begun.

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick feels TV directors too often miss key action.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has your opening weekend TV schedule of college football action.

Pete says the Mets are being bumped off their local radio affiliate five times in September due to NFL conflicts.

Pete writes that Fox Sports has signed a new four year deal to keep the Cotton Bowl.

Ken McMillan of the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record writes that ESPN will make visits to two of the service academies in November.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says get ready for round the clock coverage of the US Open.

Jim adds that for the third year in a row, TBS will use a Bon Jovi song as the theme music for its postseason MLB coverage.

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times feels there’s too many NFL exhibition games on TV.

Jon Solomon of the Birmingham (AL) News wonders if ESPN will play favorites with the SEC.

Paul Gattis of the Huntsville (AL) Times asks if the SEC made a deal with the Devil.

Mike Tankersley of the Montgomery (AL) Advertiser says a local station will be picking up SEC Network games.

Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal says the ESPN/SEC 15 year contract will put the conference into many more homes across the country than its previous TV deal.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News has a local sports radio tidbit.

Barry says the Cowboys once again won the ratings on Saturday night.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business says former White Sox pitcher Jack McDowell is throwing barbs at his former team in his Chicago Tribune blog.

The Denver Post’s Dusty Saunders says a former Colorado University QB makes his national TV debut on Fox Sports Net this week.

Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star says the new University Arizona TV network will be shown outside of Phoenix and Tucson on Fox Sports Arizona.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News talks about a feature that Bob Costas will narrate on MLB Network tonight.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star writes about TSN celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says veteran Canadian TV host Brian Williams (not the one from NBC News) looks forward to hosting another Olympic games.

Gareth Davies of the London Telegraph says ESPN UK plans to show British UFC fighters who normally would not be seen anywhere else.

Mike Reynolds of Mutlichannel News writes that Tennis Channel will not be on Cablevision for the US Open after all.

The Sports Media Watch looks back at last week.

The Sports Media Journal has two more videos from last week’s ESPN Media Workshop. Here’s one and it’s rather long, but it’s worthwhile to watch, regarding ESPN’s 30th anniversary and it starts with a demonstration of its new virtual technology.

And the SMJ’s Keith Thibeault got to shadow an ESPN Production Assistant as he prepared for a Baseball Tonight segment.

Keith gives his thoughts on attending the Media Workshop.

And Ray Frager writing in the SMJ is happy to hear that Monday Night Football will focus on the game instead of on everything else.

Michael David Smith of Fanhouse (whom I had the pleasure to meet last week at the ESPN Media Workshop) looks at some of the more prolific ESPN tweeters.

Andrew Hampp of Advertising Age has a review of the ESPN Media Workshop.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio says there was a schism at ESPN over an ESPN report about a Vikings schism.

Steve Lepore of Puck The Media looks at some of the local NHL TV schedules.

Kristine Leahy of WEEI.com has today’s version of The Five.

Jan Ozer of Streaming Media.com finds out why NBCSports.com is using Microsoft’s Silverlight technology to stream Sunday Night Football.

That’s going to conclude the links for today.

Chicago-Denver Gets Good Ratings for NBC

Last night’s intriguing Bears-Broncos game signaling the return of former Denver QB Jay Cutler to the Mile High City gave NBC a primetime win on Sunday night, but also gave the NFL its highest exhibition overnight ratings in five years.

"NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" SCORES BEST NFL PRESEASON OVERNIGHT IN 5 YEARS

Sunday Night Football Dominates the Night, Delivering Peacock's Best Sunday Night Performance Since Super Bowl

NEW YORK - August 31, 2009 - NBC Sports' "Sunday Night Football" preseason game last night delivered the best overnight rating for any NFL preseason game on any network in five years. The 7.3 overnight rating and 12 share (8-11 p.m. ET) for the Chicago Bears-Denver Broncos preseason contest was the best since the 8.2/13 for the Titans-Cowboys preseason game on August 30, 2004.

Sunday Night Football was the No. 1 telecast of the night in the metered markets and dominated its time period, more than doubling second-place CBS in the time slot (7.3 vs. 3.4). NBC averaged a 6.4/11 from 7-11 p.m. ET, representing the network's highest Sunday primetime average in the metered markets since Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1.

The broadcast, which featured Bears QB Jay Cutler's return to Denver after his off-season trade from the Broncos to the Bears, peaked at an 8.2/14 from 9-9:30 p.m. ET. The preseason game was won by the Bears 27-17.

Top 10 Metered Markets:
1. Denver, 25.9/45
2. Chicago, 22.6/36
3. Las Vegas, 12.1/19
4. Milwaukee, 11.0/18
5. Albuquerque, 10.7/17
6. Nashville, 10.6/16
7. Jacksonville, 10.4/16
8. Oklahoma City, 10.1/15
9. New Orleans, 9.1/13
10. Indianapolis, 8.8/14

As expected, Denver and Chicago are the top markets, but seeing non-NFL markets like Las Vegas, Albuquerque and Oklahoma City certainly bode well for football this season.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

MLB

American League
Tampa Bay at Detroit – Fox Sports Florida/Fox Sports Detroit, 1 p.m.
New York Yankees at Baltimore – YES/MASN, 7 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Minnesota – Comcast SportsNet Chicago/Fox Sports North, 8 p.m.
Toronto at Texas – Rogers Sportsnet/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.
Anaheim Angels at Seattle – Fox Sports West/FSN Northwest, 10 p.m.
Kansas City at Oakland – Fox Sports Kansas City/Comcast SportsNet California, 10 p.m.

National League
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati – Fox Sports Ohio, 1 p.m.
Atlanta at Florida – SportSouth/Fox Sports Florida, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati – FSN Pittsburgh/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
Houston at Chicago Cubs – Fox Sports Houston/WGN America, 8 p.m.
Arizona at Los Angeles Dodgers – Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 10 p.m.
Washington at San Diego – MASN2/Cox 4, 10 p.m.

MLB Tonight: 1st to 3rd – MLB Network, 8 p.m.
MLB Tonight: Roundtripper Final – MLB Network, 10 p.m.

NFL
Minnesota at Houston – ESPN, 8 p.m.

Tennis
US Open, first round – Tennis Channel, 11 a.m./ESPN2, 1 p.m.
US Open Scoreboard – ESPN2, 6 p.m.
US Open, first round/Primetime at the US Open – ESPN2, 7 p.m.
US Open Tonight – Tennis Channel, 11 p.m.

Entertainment
Top Gear – BBC America, 8 p.m.
Intervention: Marci – A&E, 9 p.m.
9/11: Science and Conspiracy – National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
Jon & Kate Plus 8 – TLC, 9 p.m.
Weeds – Showtime, 10 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman – CBS, 11:35 p.m.

The Playmaker Joins NFL Network and So Does Stacey Dales!

The fact that Michael Irvin, the Playmaker was joining NFL Network has been reported everywhere from the Dallas Morning News to O Globo in Rio de Janeiro. But to have Fang’s Bites fave Stacey Dales as a co-host of the expanded NFL Gameday Morning? That’s a surprise and welcome in these parts as well. After Stacey left ESPN last year over a contract dispute and her unhappiness of not being flown 1st Class like her fellow ESPN talent, I was wondering where she would surface. Well, nice to see that she will be on a high profile position at NFL Network.

Check out the release:

NFL NETWORK ADDS HALL OF FAMER MICHAEL IRVIN TO NFL GAMEDAY CAST

‘Playmaker’ Joins Analyst Lineup of Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Warren Sapp and Steve Mariucci on NFL Sundays

Stacey Dales Also Joins “NFL GameDay Morning” – First Pregame Show On-Air Sundays Expands to Four Hours

NFL Network welcomes another All-Pro talent to its star-studded Sunday analyst roster with the addition of Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin. Irvin, a five-time Pro Bowler, joins Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Warren Sapp and Steve Mariucci as part of the Network’s all-encompassing Sunday coverage dubbed NFL GameDay beginning Sunday, September 13.

In addition, Stacey Dales joins the NFL GameDay lineup as co-host of NFL GameDay Morning with Spero Dedes, reporting the latest news and information to kick off each football Sunday. NFL GameDay Morning, the first NFL pregame show on the air Sunday mornings, expands this season to four hours from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM ET.

Irvin will join Faulk, Mariucci, Sapp, Dales, Dedes and insider Jason La Canfora on NFL GameDay Morning. Following the afternoon games, he will recap and analyze the action on NFL GameDay Highlights with Sanders and host Rich Eisen at 7:30 PM ET.

“Michael is a proven NFL analyst,” said NFL Network executive producer Eric Weinberger. “His personality, work ethic and football IQ fit right into our great team here at NFL Network.”

No stranger to the NFL Network broadcast team, Irvin served as a guest analyst on the network’s coverage of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction ceremony for the past two years. Previously, Irvin served as an NFL analyst for ESPN (2003-2007).

A 2007 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Irvin spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys where he won three Super Bowl rings and tallied 750 receptions for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns.

Dales joins NFL Network after seven years as an analyst and reporter for ESPN and ABC, where she covered a variety of sports including college football, men and women’s college basketball and the NBA. Prior to her broadcasting career, Dales played five seasons in the WNBA and was a member of the Canadian team for the 2000 Summer Olympics.

NFL Network is the place for football fans to get all their NFL information Sunday before kickoff, between the action and after the games conclude. NFL GameDay Morning, the first NFL pregame show on the air Sunday mornings, goes straight to the stadiums for the latest news, reports and breaking stories from radio play-by-play announcers and analysts from all NFL teams.

NFL GameDay StatZone follows NFL GameDay Morning at 1:00 PM ET with up-to-the-minute scores, statistics and news accompanying audio from Sirius NFL Radio’s “Around the League” program. After the conclusion of the early afternoon games at 4:00 PM ET, NFL GameDay Scoreboard takes viewers around the league for post-game press conferences and game highlights in addition to, statistics and news during the late afternoon games. Fran Charles hosts, alongside Tom Waddle and Jamie Dukes. NFL GameDay Highlights with Irvin, Sanders and Eisen follows at 7:30 PM ET.

NFL GameDay Final caps off all of Sunday’s action at 11:30 PM ET with Eisen, Sanders and Emmy-nominated analyst Mariucci giving viewers highlights, insider commentary, on-field interviews and postgame press conferences from all the games of the day in an comprehensive 90-minute package.

NFL GameDay Schedule

9:00-1:00 PM – NFL GameDay Morning (HD)

1:00-4:00 PM – NFL GameDay StatZone (HD)

4:00-7:30 PM – NFL GameDay Scoreboard

7:30-8:30 PM – NFL GameDay Highlights (HD)

11:30-1:00 AM – NFL GameDay Final (HD)

(* All times ET)

NFL Network is trying to be the Network of Record on Sundays during the NFL season. Can’t say I blame them.

US Open TV Schedule

This is the schedule for the US Open. It used to be simple. USA Network with the weekday sessions from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and the night sessions starting from 7:30 p.m. until 11 p.m.

CBS would take over the weekends from 11:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. USA would have the night sessions.

Now with Tennis Channel and ESPN2 with the cable contracts, the start times have changed. Tennis Channel will have coverage of the outer courts starting at 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.

ESPN2 will have coverage starting mostly at 1 p.m. of the main courts until 6 p.m. Then at night, it’s all ESPN2.

CBS still has its weekend coverage schedule. The difference here is that due to college football commitments, ESPN2 will not have weekend primetime coverage. That’s been outsourced to Tennis Channel. I have the schedule so take a look at what you’ll see. It’s a new world for coverage of the US Open for the next six years.

Mon. 8/31	11 am – 7 pm*	Opening Round	Tennis Channel
	1 pm – 6 pm	Opening Round	ESPN2
	6 pm – 7 pm	US Open Scoreboard	ESPN2
	7 pm-11 pm	Opening Round	ESPN2
	11 pm – 12 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
Tue. 9/1	12 am – 3 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	3 am – 4 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
	4 am – 6 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	6 am-7 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	7 am-10 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	10 am-11 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	11 am – 7 pm*	Opening Round	Tennis Channel
	1 pm – 6 pm	Opening Round	ESPN2
	6 pm – 7 pm	US Open Scoreboard	ESPN2
	7 pm-11 pm	Opening Round	ESPN2
	11 pm – 12 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
Wed. 9/2	12 am – 3 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	3 am – 4 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
	4 am – 6 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	6 am-7 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	7 am-10 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	10 am-11 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	11 am – 7 pm*	Men’s First Round/Women’s Second Round	Tennis Channel
	1 pm – 6 pm	Men’s First Round/Women’s Second Round	ESPN2
	6 pm – 7 pm	US Open Scoreboard	ESPN2
	7 pm-11 pm	Men’s First Round/Women’s Second Round	ESPN2
	11 pm – 12 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
Thu. 9/3	12 am – 3 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	3 am – 4 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
	4 am – 6 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	6 am-7 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	7 am-10 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	10 am-11 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	11 am – 7 pm*	Second Round	Tennis Channel
	1 pm – 6 pm	Second Round	ESPN2
	6 pm – 7 pm	US Open Scoreboard	ESPN2
	7 pm-11 pm	Second Round	ESPN2
	11 pm – 12 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
Fri. 9/4	12 am – 3 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	3 am – 4 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
	4 am – 6 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	6 am-7 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	7 am-10 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	10 am-11 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	11 am – 7 pm*	Men’s Second Round/Women’s Third Round	Tennis Channel
	1 pm – 6 pm	Men’s Second Round/Women’s Third Round	ESPN2
	6 pm – 7 pm	US Open Scoreboard	ESPN2
	7 pm-11 pm	Men’s Second Round/Women’s Third Round	ESPN2
	11 pm – 12 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
Sat. 9/5	12 am – 3 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	3 am – 4 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
	4 am – 6 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	6 am-7 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	7 am-10 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	10 am-11 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	11 am-6 pm	Third Round	CBS
	7 pm-11 pm	Third Round	Tennis Channel
	11 pm – 12 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
Sun. 9/6	12 am – 3 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	3 am – 4 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
	4 am – 6 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	6 am-7 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	7 am-10 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	10 am-11 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	11 am-6 pm	Men’s Third Round/Women’s Fourth Round	CBS
	7 pm-11 pm	Men’s Third Round/Women’s Fourth Round	Tennis Channel
	11 pm – 12 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
Mon. 9/7	12 am – 3 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	3 am – 4 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
	4 am – 6 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	6 am-7 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	7 am-10 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	10 am-11 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	11 am-6 pm	Fourth Round	CBS
	7 pm-11 pm	Fourth Round	ESPN2
	11 pm – 12 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
Tue. 9/8	12 am – 3 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	3 am – 4 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
	4 am – 6 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	6 am-7 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	7 am-10 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	10 am-11 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	11 am – 7 pm**	Men’s Fourth Round/Various Doubles Matches	Tennis Channel
	11 am-6 pm	Men’s Fourth Round/Women’s Quarterfinals	ESPN2
	6 pm – 7 pm	US Open Scoreboard	ESPN2
	7 pm-11 pm	Men’s Fourth Round/Women’s Quarterfinal	ESPN2
	11 pm – 12 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
Wed. 9/9	12 am – 3 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	3 am – 4 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
	4 am – 6 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	6 am-7 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	7 am-10 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	10 am-11 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	11 am – 7 pm**	Doubles/Juniors/Wheelchair	Tennis Channel
	11 am-6 pm	Quarterfinals	ESPN2
	6 pm – 7 pm	US Open Scoreboard	ESPN2
	7 pm-11 pm	Quarterfinals	ESPN2
	11 pm – 12 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
Thu. 9/10	12 am – 3 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	3 am – 4 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
	4 am – 6 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	6 am-7 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	7 am-10 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	10 am-11 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	11 am – 7 pm**	Doubles/Juniors/Wheelchair	Tennis Channel
	11 am-6 pm	Men’s Quarterfinal/Mixed Doubles Final	ESPN2
		Women’s Doubles Match
	6 pm – 7 pm	US Open Scoreboard	ESPN2
	7 pm – 11 pm	Men’s Quarterfinal	ESPN2
	11 pm – 12 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
Fri. 9/11	12 am – 3 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	3 am – 4 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
	4 am – 6 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	6 am-7 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	7 am-10 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	10 am-11 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	12:30 pm – 6 pm	Men’s Doubles Final/Women’s Semifinals	CBS
	7 pm-11 pm	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	11 pm – 12 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
Sat. 9/12	12 am – 3 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	3 am – 4 am	US Open Tonight	Tennis Channel
	4 am – 6 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	6 am-7 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	7 am-10 am	US Open Daily Match Encores	Tennis Channel
	10 am-11 am	Breakfast at the Open	Tennis Channel
	12 pm – 6 pm	Men’s Semifinals	CBS
	8 pm – 10 pm	Women’s Final	CBS
	11 pm – 6 am	US Open Tonight: Women’s Final & Men’s Semifinal	Tennis Channel
Sun. 9/13	6 am -1 pm	Breakfast at the Open: Women’s Final & Men’s Semifinal	Tennis Channel
	1 pm – 3p	Women’s Doubles Final	ESPN2
	4 pm – 7 pm	Men’s Final	CBS
	9 pm -11 pm	SportsCenter at the US Open	ESPN2
	11 pm – 2 am	US Open Tonight: Men’s Final Encore	Tennis Channel
Mon. 9/14	2 am -5 am	US Open Tonight: Men’s Final Encore	Tennis Channel
	6 am-9 am	Breakfast at the Open: Men’s Final Encore	Tennis Channel

* From 2 pm – 7 pm Tennis Channel coverage will emanate from courts 11 and/or 13 only

** From 11 am – 7 pm Tennis Channel coverage will emanate from outside of Arthur Ashe Stadium and will not include matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium

DirecTV also has coverage of the outer courts as well with dedicated channels. If you have the service, it’s no added charge and will be on channels 701-708.

Mad Men Sneak Peek, Episode 304 "The Arrangements"

Well, I’ve read the tweets about tonight’s episode, how the Campbells danced the Charleston and how Joan made playing the accordion sexy, plus she sang in French. I wish I could have seen that (yes, I know iTunes leaked the episode early, but I missed it), but you know the story of my broken TV’s (don’t forget to donate to the cause to the left).

Here’s a look at the episode next week’s episode as Ken comes to Don in a panic over the “Patio” account.

And here’s a look at what happened tonight in “My Old Kentucky Home”

Damn. That looked good. I’ll have to watch the episode when it becomes available on iTunes again tomorrow.

You can check out some production stills from tonight’s episode plus get another sneak peek at next week’s episode right here.

Clip of Plax Speaking to E:60

Here’s a clip of former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress speaking with Jeremy Schaap for tomorrow’s E:60. This clip has already aired on SportsCenter and Monday Night Countdown. In this clip, Plaxico explains how his gun went off on the night that changed his life.

You can follow along with this transcription from ESPN.

Former Giants Wide Receiver Plaxico Burress Speaks to E:60’s Jeremy Schaap, excerpts from SportsCenter and Monday Night Countdown

Former N.Y. Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, talked in detail with correspondent Jeremy Schaap today, in an exclusive E:60 interview, that will air in full Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m. ET. Excerpts from the interview aired today on SportsCenter and Monday Night Countdown. Burress discussed the early morning hours of Nov. 29, when he accidentally shot himself in the leg with his own gun at the Latin Quarter nightclub in midtown N.Y., and about the two-year jail sentence he now faces.

Excerpts from Burress:

“It wasn’t like I was trying to hide it or go into this place and go through security. They knew I had it, they pat me down and they said, ok. They let me in, with it.”

“I’m there for maybe five minutes. It was getting so crowded, everybody coming over, so VIP said I’ll take you upstairs so you can relax and no one will bother you. I’m walking up the stairs and I miss a step, and my gun slides down my pants. So, it’s getting ready to hit the ground. I don’t want it to hit the ground, when it slides down my jeans, and I go to stop it from hitting the ground.

“I don’t think you could do it a million times. Through your pants you can try to stop it from hitting the ground and my finger hit right on the trigger. What are the odds in that happening?”

The entire interview airs on E:60 tomorrow night at 7.

Mad Men Sneak Peek, Episode 303 "My Old Kentucky Home"

Because I don’t have a TV, I wasn’t able to watch last night’s episode and forgot to post the sneak peek for next week’s show. Thankfully, it’s available online so I can catch up later, but still, it would be nice to watch it as it airs “live” on the East Coast.

Here’s your peek at next week’s episode as Roger’s new wife has an awkward encounter with Joan.

If you missed last night’s episode like I did, here is the recap, but don’t watch if you don’t want to be spoiled. I watched it because I would at least like to know what went on.

And you can check out production stills from last night’s and next week’s episodes. I hope to have a TV so I can watch next week.

Golf Channel Programming for This Week

I wanted to get this up before it gets outdated. This is Golf Channel’s release for original programming this week.

Plax Speaks to E:60

In a big get for ESPN, former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress will speak to Jeremy Schaap for tomorrow’s edition of E:60. Excerpts of the interview begin airing on SportsCenter tonight.

Former Giants Wide Receiver Plaxico Burress Speaks Exclusively to E:60 Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m. ET; Excerpts to Debut on SportsCenter, Monday, Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. ET

Former N.Y. Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, will talk in detail with correspondent Jeremy Schaap in an exclusive E:60 interview, Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m. ET, about the early morning hours of Nov. 29, when he accidentally shot himself in the leg with his own gun at the Latin Quarter nightclub in Midtown N.Y., and about the two-year jail sentence he now faces.

Burress pleaded guilty Thursday, Aug. 20, to the weapons charge and avoided what would have been a mandatory minimum sentence of three years for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He will head to prison when he is officially sentenced Sept. 22, and will be eligible for release after serving a little more than 20 months. The NFL has suspended Burress but will reinstate him once he completes his sentence.

Burress previously had a license to carry the gun in Florida, but it had expired nearly seven months before the shooting.

Excerpts from the interview will debut Monday, Aug. 24, on SportsCenter at 6 p.m. ET and in subsequent editions of the show. The interview will air in full on E:60.

I think many of us are interested in what Burress has to say in regards to his sentencing.

Get Ready for Tennis Channel’s Coverage of the US Open

Tennis Channel is also getting ready for cover the US Open and its programming will begin at 11 a.m., two hours before ESPN2 begins its daily coverage. As with the other Grand Slams, Bill Macatee will be involved in the US Open for Tennis Channel. And add former ESPN SportsCenter and current Entertainment Tonight reporter Kevin Frazier to the mix. Strange choice there. I do like Ted Robinson coming in to call some of the action as he has for USA Network, but there are some interesting announcing choices here. Check out the release:

TENNIS CHANNEL’S INAUGURAL US OPEN COVERAGE BEGINS MONDAY, AUGUST 31

Network Offers 72 Live Match Hours During Two-Week Tournament and 240 Overall, for Round-the-Clock, “Grounds Pass” Telecast with US Open Tonight, Breakfast at the Open

US Open Legend Jimmy Connors Returns to an American Broadcast Booth for the First Time since 1991, Joining Tennis Channel’s Martina Navratilova, Bill Macatee

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24, 2009 – Tennis Channel will cover its first US Open with 72 live match hours, 240 hours of dedicated tournament programming overall, a reporters’ station on top of Armstrong Stadium that overlooks the iconic Unisphere and Court of Champions, wireless roving cameras, round-the-clock coverage and a viewer “Grounds Pass” experience the likes of which has never been seen on television. It is also bringing a timeless name so many sports fans associate with the energetic event – Jimmy Connors – back to the U.S. broadcasting booth for the first time in almost two decades.

Beyond its live, high-definition coverage which, with ESPN2 and CBS, brings more hours of US Open matches to television than ever in history, Tennis Channel will keep viewers in the Flushing Meadow loop 24 hours a day via US Open Tonight and Breakfast at the Open. Like the city that never sleeps, these news, interview, highlight and replay shows will air from 11 p.m.-11 a.m. ET each day of the two-week tournament, and bridge the late-night gap between each day’s on-court play.

Tennis Channel’s typical US Open schedule starts with 11 a.m. ET coverage from Arthur Ashe Stadium or Louis Armstrong Stadium, and follows the action throughout the day until 7 p.m. ET. US Open Tonight begins at 11 p.m. ET and runs through the night until 6 a.m. ET, when Breakfast at the Open carries viewers up to the 11 a.m. ET start of play. The day portion of this schedule changes on Labor Day Weekend when the network carries prime-time matches from center court from 7 p.m.-11 p.m. ET. As with the other three Grand Slams, Tennis Channel will work with ESPN2 to bring fans virtually round-the-clock coverage during the US Open, each network utilizing its own commentators.

On-Air Talent

Since the 2007 French Open, Tennis Channel’s Grand Slam coverage has featured veteran sportscaster Bill Macatee and Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova. With the 2009 US Open the network adds Connors to that mix as a lead analyst with Navratilova and puts, for the first time ever, the all-time men’s and women’s singles titlists in the same broadcast booth. To this day an iconic tennis figure for a generation of American fans, Connors won the US Open singles championship five times and is the only person in the 127-year history of the event to win on three surfaces: grass, clay and hard courts. Playing at the tournament’s Forest Hills’ home prior to its current site, Connors won the event on grass and clay, before capturing another three hard-court titles at the event’s current home. No male tennis player has collected more singles titles (109), played in more tournaments (401) or won more matches (1,337-285, an .824 win percentage) than Connors. He brings this unparalleled perspective to the American broadcast booth for the first time since 1991.

“I’m excited to be a part of Tennis Channel’s US Open team and can’t wait to get back to New York,” said Connors. “There’s nothing in tennis like the US Open. I’m looking forward to helping Bill, Martina and everyone else at the network change the way the tournament is seen on television.”

Also returning to the Tennis Channel Grand Slam team are lead commentators Ted Robinson and Ian Eagle, along with former players Leif Shiras, Katrina Adams, Jimmy Arias, Justin Gimelstob and Corina Morariu. Based in Los Angeles, US Open Tonight and Breakfast at the Open will be hosted by sports anchor and Entertainment Tonight host Kevin Frazier, who will share duties with 1998 US Open-winner Lindsay Davenport. Tennis Channel’s Court Report segments with anchor Jill Arrington will also appear every hour during these programs.

“Grounds Pass”

Like the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, Tennis Channel’s approach to its inaugural US Open coverage is to provide viewers with an immersive experience that can only be replicated by actually attending the event itself. Audiences will receive a two-week “Grounds Pass” to Flushing Meadow that allows them take in the matches and activities that occur at various points in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, beyond just the featured on-court action at Ashe Stadium. To accomplish this, the network will position a 20-by-24 glass-enclosed booth and three cameras on top of Armstrong Stadium, overlooking the fountain and common area. Tennis Channel is the first network to utilize the space in this way and, as the hub of its US Open broadcasts, the booth will typically feature Robinson and Eagle with the unique backdrop of Ashe Stadium, thousands of spectators and general tournament activity. From this center the network will take viewers around the grounds to wherever the latest story is unfolding, be it center court with Macatee, Connors and Navratilova, or one of the outer courts via a rolling jib camera, also a US Open first.

To further the television audience’s sense of actually being at the US Open, Gimelstob and Morariu will act as wireless reporters, roving the grounds and interacting with fans and celebrities, and reporting activities and events that give the tournament its distinct flavor. During US Open Tonight and Breakfast at the Open, Davenport will demonstrate on-court strategy, positioning and other instruction via an in-studio tennis court¸ in addition to regular updates and interviews from New York in the persons of Macatee and the others from the on-site team.

Broadband and Digital Coverage

In addition to live scoring and US Open radio throughout the tournament, Tennis Channel’s Web site, www.tennischannel.com, will offer daylong, live streaming during the first week of the US Open. Other full-time video on the network’s www.tennis-channel.com player includes archived matches, behind-the-scenes footage, shorts, Court Report, interviews and highlights. The Web site again features Tennis Channel’s “Racquet Bracket” tournament prediction game, an interactive draw, daily polls, “All Access Pass” sweepstakes information, tennis reporter Steve Flink’s column and blogger James LaRosa’s unique tennis-fan’s perspective, both of the latter from the tournament grounds. Visitors additionally will have the opportunity to engage with the US Open Tonight and Breakfast at the Open studio sets.

The network is partnering with Sports Illustrated to share video on the publication’s online tennis page, and fans can also see Tennis Channel video at www.youtube.com/tennischannel. Tennis Channel’s official Twitter feed, www.twitter.com/tennischannel, will offer updates from Flushing Meadow, as will its Facebook site, www.facebook.com/tennischannel.

Tennis Channel’s Live 2009 US Open Match Schedule – Entirely in High Definition

Monday, Aug. 31 11 a.m.-7 p.m. First-Round Action

Tuesday, Sept. 1 11 a.m.-7 p.m. First-Round Action

Wednesday, Sept. 2 11 a.m.-7 p.m. First-Round, Second-Round Action

Thursday, Sept. 3 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Second-Round Action

Friday, Sept. 4 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Second-Round, Third-Round Action

Saturday, Sept. 5 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Third-Round Action

Sunday, Sept. 6 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Third-Round, Round-of-16 Action

Tuesday, Sept. 8 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Round-of-16 Action, Doubles

Wednesday, Sept. 9 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Doubles Quarterfinals, Mixed Semifinals

Thursday, Sept. 10 8 a.m.-Noon Doubles, Juniors

Tennis Channel will also offer same-day replays of the men’s and women’s singles finals and women’s semifinals, and next-morning replays of the men’s semifinals (all times ET):

Friday, Sept. 11 – 7 p.m.-11 p.m.: women’s semifinals

Saturday, Sept. 12 – 11 p.m.-6 a.m.: women’s final; men’s semifinals

Sunday, Sept. 13 – 6 a.m.-1 p.m.: women’s final; men’s semifinals; 11 p.m.-2 a.m.: men’s final

Monday, Sept. 14 – 2 a.m.-5 a.m.; 6 a.m.-9 a.m.: men’s final

Tennis Channel’s US Open Tonight, Breakfast at the Open Schedule

US Open Tonight and Breakfast at the Open run evenings and mornings throughout the US Open, Monday, Aug. 31-Monday, Sept. 14. The schedule, which begins on the first day of play, is as follows (all times ET):

11 p.m.-3 a.m. – US Open Tonight

3 a.m.-6 a.m. – US Open Tonight (encore)

6 a.m.-10 a.m. – Breakfast at the Open

10 a.m.-11 a.m. – Breakfast at the Open (second edition)

Beginning with US Open Tonight on Saturday, Sept. 12, all editions of both shows consist of encore replays of the men’s semifinals and finals and women’s finals, concluding with Breakfast at the Open on Monday, Sept. 14. During this time the above schedule differs slightly due to varying match lengths.

So there you have it. I expect CBS Sports’ release later this week.

Get Ready for ESPN2′s Coverage of the US Open

For the last 25 years, we’ve been treated to USA Network’s coverage of the US Open. It was quite a joy to watch, however, the only problem was that when streaming online coverage became prevalent, USA only streamed its Labor Day coverage because of WWE commitments and because the matches were seen on CNBC for that night only. Now, with ESPN2 and Tennis Channel coming on board with CBS, there will be plenty of online coverage as well as matches to be seen on TV. This is good for the tennis fan who has not been able to watch the day sessions while at work. So I give ESPN’s press release on the coverage.

ESPN Completes a Tennis Grand Slam with US Open

Multi-Platform, Worldwide Coverage: Bracket Draw Commercial Free on ESPNEWS August 27, 100 Hours on ESPN2, Nearly 400 on ESPN360.com; ESPN Radio/ESPN2’s “Mike & Mike” on Site Aug. 31 & Sept. 1

John & Patrick McEnroe to Team; Storm & Tirico Join as Host, Drysdale Completes 30^th Year with ESPN

ESPN has televised tennis since its first week on the air nearly 30 years ago, but on Monday, August 31, it will do what no U.S. network has ever done – complete the Grand Slam by televising the US Open for the first time. In the first year of a six-year agreement with the USTA, tennis fans will enjoy 100 hours in high definition on ESPN2, US Open update shows each weekday on ESPNEWS, nearly 400 hours on ESPN360.com’s multi-court offering and coverage across ESPN’s platforms in the U.S. and around the world.

ESPN’s multimedia coverage will begin Thurs., Aug. 27, with the live, exclusive announcement of the tournament’s brackets on ESPNEWS at noon ET. Chris McKendry will host the half-hour, commercial-free show, with Mary Joe Fernandez and Patrick McEnroe. Live interviews with defending champions Roger Federer and Serena Williams from New York are planned.

Before the first ball is in the air, ESPN’s first presentation from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will be on ESPN Radio and ESPN2 with Mike & Mike in the Morning. Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic will host their 6-10 a.m. show – heard on more than 350 radio stations (plus Sirius and XM Satellite Radio) and simulcast on ESPN2 – both Monday, Aug. 31, and Tuesday, Sept. 1.

During the first week of the tournament, ESPN2’s coverage will start at 1 p.m. each weekday and will continue non stop through both the day and evening sessions. A one-hour US Open Scoreboard program will lead into Primetime at the US Open at 7 p.m. and until 11 p.m. or play is concluded, whichever is later. The second week, ESPN2 will have Primetime at the US Open at 7 p.m. on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 7 (ESPN’s 30^th Anniversary), followed by 12-hour windows Tuesday – Thursday starting at 11 a.m., with US Open Scoreboard at 6 p.m. and Primetime at the US Open at 7 p.m.

On the final day of the tournament, Sunday, Sept. 13, ESPN2 will televise live the women’s doubles championship at 1 p.m., and will review all the action at 9 p.m. with a special two-hour edition of SportsCenter at the US Open. Both weeks, ESPNEWS will present a two-hour weekday US Open update show at noon. As with the other three Grand Slams, ESPN2 will work with Tennis Channel to bring fans virtually round-the-clock coverage during the US Open, each utilizing its own commentators.

ESPN2’s Commentator Lineup

ESPN’s tennis team is led by Cliff Drysdale, completing his 30^th year with ESPN. The former US Open finalist has been with ESPN since its first tennis telecast September 14, 1979, exactly one week after the network launched, making him second in ESPN tenure among commentators behind only Bob Ley. Chris Fowler, ESPN’s lead studio anchor for Grand Slam tennis since 2003, will serve as a host and call matches. Mike Tirico of Monday Night Football and Hannah Storm of the weekday morning SportsCenter will make their debuts as a tennis host.

They will team with John McEnroe, the four-time US Open champ who has joined ESPN for the event, plus familiar ESPNers Darren Cahill, Mary Carillo, Fernandez, Brad Gilbert, Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver, plus Hall of Fame tennis journalist Bud Collins. Shriver will frequently be utilized as a sideline reporter and as a roving reporter covering play in “outer courts”, as will Luke Jensen, and the McEnroes will at times be teamed together to form a sibling booth pairing. In addition, Tom Rinaldi will provide essays and conduct interviews during the first week and Rick Reilly will contribute commentary.

Did You Know? – Cliff Drysdale appeared on the first color telecast in Great Britain. It was at Wimbledon in 1967, when he played Roger Taylor on Centre Court on BBC2.

Surveying the Fields

Roger Federer, who last month at Wimbledon broke the record for career titles at Grand Slam events with 15, will attempt to win the US Open for a sixth consecutive year, tying the record set by Bill Tilden in the 1920s (Tilden won seven overall.) He will face a field led by Rafael Nadal, who missed Wimbledon but has six major titles and is seeking a career Grand Slam at the US Open; Andy Roddick, who has enjoyed a resurgent 2009 and took Federer to the limit in a five-set Wimbledon final; and Andy Murray, whose play this year has him ranked #2, best ever for a male British player.

Recent Wimbledon champ Serena Williams defends the woman’s US Open crown. Ranked #2 in the world, she counts three titles in New York among her 11 major victories. Her primary competition comes from top-ranked Dinara Safina; and #3-ranked Venus Williams, a two-time US Open winner. Others to watch: 2006 champ Maria Sharapova and 2005 champ Kim Clijsters, who both are making comebacks, Sharapova from injury and Clijsters has returned this summer after more than two years away from competition, including having her first child.

More US Open from ESPN, Inc.

ESPN360.com, the company’s signature live sports broadband network, will webcast the action from five courts beginning at 1 p.m. the first five days. ESPN360.com will also simulcast ESPN2 for the full tournament (including the 6-7 p.m. US Open Scoreboard) select outer court coverage and a simulcast of the Women’s Doubles final for a total of approximately 380 hours of U.S. Open tennis on the web. Other digital offerings:

• ESPN.com will provide blanket coverage of the U.S. Open, with the latest news and scores, as well as commentary, photos and daily video news and summaries from ESPN commentators.

• ESPN Mobile Properties will present live action, press conferences and highlights packages.

• ESPN has the exclusive right to display a multi-court mosaic platform during its TV windows.

ESPN360.com is ESPN’s live sports broadband network, giving fans a 24/7 online destination with more than 3,200 live events annually. It is available at no cost to fans with a high-speed Internet connection from an affiliated provider. ESPN360.com is currently available in 41 million households – a majority of US broadband homes. It is available via dozens of Internet Service Providers, including AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, RCN, Insight, Frontier, Cavalier, Charter, Mediacom, Conway, Grande Communications and many more. It is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks (those with “.edu” and “.mil” domains).

ESPN Interactive TV will be enjoyed exclusively on DIRECTV. During the ESPN2 telecast windows, a six-screen mosaic will include the ESPN2 program, along with matches from five other courts. In total, viewers will have access to more than 435 hours of live tennis action and 140 extra matches. Production will be enhanced with press conferences, interviews and features that will be added during court changeovers and between matches. All six screens can be expanded to full screen or picture-in-picture at the touch of the remote button. In addition, DIRECTV will offer “Matches On Now,” a graphic across the bottom with scores from each of the matches currently on the court channels, with the ability to tune directly to the match, and “Results,” an instant look at real-time scores and schedule info for matches ahead – all without leaving the match the viewer is watching.

ESPN International will offer 140 live hours in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as well as in Brazil for the first time, in high definition on ESPN HD. Coverage to Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America will be anchored from New York by Luis Alvarez and Eduardo Varela (play-by-play), analysts Javier Frana and Jose Luis Clerc and reporters Nicolas Pereira and Sophie Cortina. English-language coverage will feature Sam Gore and Mark Brown (play-by-play) and Arias and Rinaldi (analysis). In addition, ESPN360.com will feature 400 hours of live coverage in Chile and Mexico.

ESPN Deportes, the Spanish-language U.S. network, will present the US Open for the first time, with 34 hours in daily coverage through September 10. Eduardo Varela will handle play-by-play with former tennis players Clerc and Pereira as analysts and reporter Cortina. ESPN Deportes will feature a distinct production, focusing on Latino stars as well as the top-ranked players. There will also be extensive reporting from US Open ESPN Deportes’ SportsCenter.

ESPNdeportes.com, the Spanish-language Web site serving fans in the U.S. and Latin America, will feature daily webisodes titled “ESPNiando en el US Open” with the latest news and information, exclusive interviews and chats, as well as updates on Twitter by Varela, Cortina, and Pereira and Alvarez. Varela will also conduct a daily segment on ESPN Deportes Radio’s morning drive show Al Amanecer.

ESPN Classic’s US Open Tribute – August 30

ESPN Classic will present a 12-hour marathon of great US Open matches the day before the action begins for 2009 on Sunday, August 30. The action starts at noon with 16-year old Tracy Austin stunning the four-time defending champion Chris Evert-Lloyd in 1979 to become the youngest US Open winner ever, a memorable match celebrating its 30^th anniversary in 2009. The day-long drama concludes when an ageless Jimmy Connors, on his 39^th birthday, outlasts 24-year old Aaron Krickstein to reach the 1991 quarterfinals 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6.

Time (ET)	Match
12 p.m.	1979 Women’s Final: Tracy Austin vs Chris Evert-Lloyd
2 p.m.	1999 Women’s Semifinal: Martina Hingis vs Venus Williams
4 p.m.	1992 Men’s Semifinal: Stefan Edberg vs Michael Chang
7 p.m.	2003 Men’s Semifinal: Andy Roddick vs David Nalbandian
10 p.m.	1991 Men’s Round of 16: Jimmy Connors vs Aaron Krickstein

ESPN – All Four Slams, All In One Place

Tennis has been part of ESPN since its first week on the air and provided many memorable moments, but it has never been as important as today, with the US Open joining the lineup, giving ESPN all four Grand Slam events, something no other U.S. network has ever done, let alone in one year.

ESPN debuted September 7, 1979, and the first tennis telecast was exactly one week later, September 14, a Davis Cup tie, Argentina at U.S. from Memphis with Cliff Drysdale on the call.

ESPN has presented the Australian Open since 1984, the French Open since 2002 (plus 1986 – 1993) and Wimbledon since 2003.

ESPN & the US Open

Date	Time (ET)	Event	Network
Sun, Aug 30	Noon-MID	Five Great Matches from the Past	ESPN Classic
Mon, Aug 31	6-10 a.m.	Mike & Mike in the Morning with Mike Greenberg & Mike Golic	ESPN Radio/ ESPN2
	Noon-2 p.m.	US Open Updates	ESPNEWS
	1-6 p.m.	Early Round Action	ESPN2
	6-7 p.m.	US Open Scoreboard	ESPN2
	7-11 p.m.	Early Round Action	ESPN2
Tues, Sept 1	6-10 a.m.	Mike & Mike in the Morning with Mike Greenberg & Mike Golic	ESPN Radio/ ESPN2
	Noon-2 p.m.	US Open Updates	ESPNEWS
	1-6 p.m.	Early Round Action	ESPN2
	6-7 p.m.	US Open Scoreboard	ESPN2
	7-11 p.m.	Early Round Action	ESPN2
Wed, Sept 2	Noon-2 p.m.	US Open Updates	ESPNEWS
	1-6 p.m.	Early Round Action	ESPN2
	6-7 p.m.	US Open Scoreboard	ESPN2
	7-11 p.m.	Early Round Action	ESPN2
Thur, Sept 3	Noon-2 p.m.	US Open Updates	ESPNEWS
	1-6 p.m.	Early Round Action	ESPN2
	6-7 p.m.	US Open Scoreboard	ESPN2
	7-11 p.m.	Early Round Action	ESPN2
Fri, Sept 4	Noon-2 p.m.	US Open Updates	ESPNEWS
	1-6 p.m.	Early Round Action	ESPN2
	6-7 p.m.	US Open Scoreboard	ESPN2
	7-11 p.m.	Early Round Action	ESPN2
Mon, Sept 7	Noon-2 p.m.	US Open Updates	ESPNEWS
	7-11 p.m.	Round of 16	ESPN2
Tues, Sept 8	11 a.m.-6 p.m.	Men’s Round of 16, Women’s Quarterfinals	ESPN2
	Noon-2 p.m.	US Open Updates	ESPNEWS
	6-7 p.m.	US Open Scoreboard	ESPN2
	7-11 p.m.	Men’s Round of 16, Women’s Quarterfinals	ESPN2
Wed, Sept 9	11 a.m.-6 p.m.	Quarterfinals	ESPN2
	Noon-2 p.m.	US Open Updates	ESPNEWS
	6-7 p.m.	US Open Scoreboard	ESPN2
	7-11 p.m.	Quarterfinals	ESPN2
Thurs, Sept 10	11 a.m.-6 p.m.	Men’s Quarterfinals	ESPN2
	Noon-2 p.m.	US Open Updates	ESPNEWS
	6-7 p.m.	US Open Scoreboard	ESPN2
	7-11 p.m.	Men’s Quarterfinals, Mixed Doubles Final	ESPN2
Fri, Sept 11	Noon-2 p.m.	US Open Updates	ESPNEWS
Sun, Sept 13	1-3 p.m.	Women’s Doubles Final	ESPN2
	9-11 p.m.	SportsCenter at the US Open	ESPN2

So for tennis fans like me, this is going to be a smorgasbord of matches compared to previous years. I do expect releases from Tennis Channel and CBS as well so expect separate posts on coming up later this week.

NFL Network To Debut New Show with A New Analyst

Coming up next month, NFL Network will premiere a new studio show featuring analysts Steve Mariucci and Jim Mora, host Charles Davis and newly hired Mike Martz. The NFL Network has just announced the hiring of Martz, former coach of the St. Louis Rams and offensive coordinator for the Lions. Here’s the announcement.

“THE NFL HEAD COACHES” SHOW DEBUTS ON NFL NETWORK

Former NFL Head Coach Mike Martz Makes NFL Network Analyst Debut, Joins Former Head Coaches Steve Mariucci and Jim Mora On New Monday Night Studio Show Hosted by Charles Davis

This fall, NFL Network gives fans more inside access into the game with the debut of The NFL Head Coaches, Monday, September 14 at 6:30 PM ET. Hosted by Charles Davis, the weekly half-hour show features a trio of former head coaches – Steve Mariucci, Mike Martz and Jim Mora – who have been on the sidelines and experienced the ups and downs associated with being at the helm of a team in the National Football League.

The NFL Head Coaches also marks Martz’s debut as an NFL Network analyst for the 2009 season. Martz joins the rotation of expert analysts on NFL Total Access and NFL Network’s live coverage of annual league events.

The NFL Head Coaches provides an inside look at game plans as Mariucci, Martz and Mora review the previous Sunday’s games and analyze the big plays and tough decisions NFL head coaches encounter. With 50 seasons of NFL coaching experience combined from three different coaching philosophies, NFL Network’s resident coaching trio share situations and experiences from their careers that remain applicable to today’s head coach.

“The head coach’s point of view is similar to that of a CEO of a company,” said NFL Network Executive Producer Eric Weinberger. “They manage so many different areas of a team, from evaluating talent to the split-second decisions made during a game. There’s a very unique point to view that a head coach provides and our panel of experts can shed some light on what separates a win from a loss.”

With nine years of NFL head coaching experience with the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions, Mariucci compiled a record of 72-67 and led his teams to four playoff appearances including the 1997 NFC Championship game with San Francisco. As a quarterback coach with the Green Bay Packers under Mike Holmgren, Mariucci’s offensive expertise, developed as a protégé of the Bill Walsh coaching tree, helped mold the talents of future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre. Mariucci was also nominated for an Emmy award last season as an analyst.

Martz joins NFL Network’s team of analysts following 12 years as an NFL coach. Known for his offensive mind, Martz, who was hired as the St. Louis Rams’ offensive coordinator by then-head coach Dick Vermeil in 1999, led St. Louis to a Super Bowl championship that season. The following year, Martz took over head coaching duties from Vermeil and held that position for the next five years. During that time, Martz developed one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses nicknamed “The Greatest Show on Turf,” led by four-time Pro Bowl QB Kurt Warner and seven-time Pro Bowl selection and current NFL Network analyst Marshall Faulk.

Mora began his NFL coaching career with the New Orleans Saints from 1986-1996, followed by a three-year head coaching stint with the Indianapolis Colts. In his first season with the Colts, Mora played an integral role in Indianapolis’ selection of Peyton Manning over Ryan Leaf as the number one overall selection in the 1998 NFL Draft.

In his fourth season with NFL Network, Davis has evolved into one of football’s most versatile broadcasters, expanding his repertoire with hosting duties on The NFL Head Coaches. Davis also serves as one of the NFL Network’s college football experts, providing analysis during the Network’s Senior Bowl, NFL Scouting Combine and NFL Draft coverage and on the show Path to the Draft. Outside of NFL Network, Davis is a game analyst for the Big Ten Network and FOX Sports’ BCS Championship and NFL Sunday game broadcasts.

I’ll give this show a try. Can’t hurt considering ESPN’s Monday night pregame programming is sometimes hard to watch.

A Monday Linkfest

I’m here to give you some links this morning. Still no response on my quest to get a couple of TV’s. If any of the sports networks wants to dump a couple of HDTV sets, let me know. Yes, I can buy a couple on my own, but I’ve budgeted money for other personal purchases like for stuff around the house and a renovation, so I’m hoping to find alternate ways of finding TV’s. If you can help, e-mail the address in the profile to the left.

To the links.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand writes that former Monday Night Football voice Frank Gifford feels there’s too much screaming in the NFL announcing booths.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch talks with NBC’s Cris Collinsworth about taking John Madden’s place on Sunday Night Football.

To the Sports Business Journal which has a special section today on the Top Minor League markets. It explains how it reached the conclusion of Hershey-Harrisburg, PA as the top minor league market.

Here are the rest of the top 10 markets.

Here’s the ranking of all the markets.

The SBJ’s Theresa Manahan talks with two executives from Oklahoma City’s minor league teams to gauge the impact the NBA’s Thunder has had on the market.

David Broughton looks at certain markets that stand out for the right and wrong reasons.

Joe Favorito talks about a minor league team getting major league marketing buzz.

Walter Bingham writes in the Cape Cod (MA) Times how TV has changed golf over the years.

In a preview of his Tuesday column, Newsday’s Neil Best talks with ESPN’s Jon Gruden about Jets’ rookie QB Mark Sanchez.

Neil noticed that Kate Mara, granddaughter of Giants owner Wellington Mara, was on HBO’s Entourage last night.

Neil says good on SNY’s Gary Cohen for capturing the bizarre triple play ending to the Phillies-Mets game, but bad on him for not getting the history right.

Neil reports a former 1050 ESPN Radio staffer has surfaced down the dial at WFAN.

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick is angry over a lack of sportsmanship at the Little League World Series and feels Nike is guilty by association in the release of the Pan Am 103 bomber.

Laura Nachman says CBS Radio has moved Eagles coach Andy Reid’s weekly show from WYSP to WIP.

Tom Knott of the Washington Times talks with former DC sports radio host and Washington Wizard Brendon Heywood.

Bob Molinaro of the Virginian-Pilot writes that the SEC with the help of ESPN has become the giant 800 lb. gorilla in college sports.

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times reviews the weekend in televised sports.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News notes that the Cowboys exhibition game beat the Rangers in the ratings like a drum on Friday.

Barry also has the video of the tour that Jerry Jones took Fox Sports NFL host Curt Menafee on at the new Cowboys Stadium.

Warren Gerds of the Green Bay Press Gazette writes that eight Vikings games featuring Brett Favre will be seen locally this season.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business feels Tribune Company owner Sam Zell lost out on his sale of the Cubs.

Ed also has a huge suggestion for new Cubs owner-elect Thomas Ricketts.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says former Rams coach Mike Martz will be doing work for the NFL Network this season.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls (IA) Courier says E:60 will do a story on the high school football coach who was shot and killed earlier this year.

Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post writes that Colorado Avalanche voice Norm Jones deserved better than to be cut from his job to save money.

Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times says ESPN plans to show the USC-Ohio State game next month in 3-D in select markets.

Diane writes that unless an agreement can be made, DirecTV plans to pull Versus on August 31.

Joe Flint of the Times writes about the WWE showing a softer side and also planning in the works to launch its own cable TV network.

On the 20th anniversary of Pete Rose being banned from baseball for gambling, the Los Angeles Daily News’ Tom Hoffarth feels that any chance of Rose being reinstated is slim to none.

Art Thiel writing in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer site says new Pac 10 Commissioner Larry Scott has his work cut out for him as far as generating new TV revenue is concerned.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star says Maria Sharapova’s treatment of her coach proved to be more riveting than the Rogers Cup final on CBC.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says the war of words between Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk and Research In Motion Jim Balsillie shows what’s wrong with the NHL today.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News outlines next week’s extensive TV coverage for the US Open in Flushing Meadow, NY.

Mike looks at some of the changes with the NFL TV partners this season.

Mark Sweeney in the Guardian in the UK says ESPN has hired former England and Newcastle United coach Kevin Keegan to be the network’s lead studio analyst for English Premier League games.

Dylan Stableford wonders in The Wrap if ESPN the Magazine is committing “publishing suicide” by offering a $1/year renewal rate.

Amanda Bruno in Batter-up with Bruno feels ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball crew did worse than Fox’s MLB crew during this weekend’s Yankees-Red Sox series.

Christy Hammond in the Sports PR blog looks at the SEC revising its new media policy.

Tracy Swedlow of Interactive TV looks at NBC’s 2.0 version of streaming Sunday Night Football this season.

WHDH TV in Boston says NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol was in town over the weekend as to honor the memory of his late son, Teddy.

And Kristine Leahy has today’s version of The Five on WEEI.com.

That’s it for today. Lots of links on this Monday.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

English Premier League
Liverpool vs. Aston Villa – ESPN2, 2:55 p.m.

MLB

American League
Chicago White Sox at Red Sox – WCIU/NESN, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Toronto – Fox Sports Florida/TSN, 7 p.m.
Baltimore at Minnesota – MASN2/Fox Sports North, 8 p.m.
Cleveland at Kansas City – STO/Fox Sports Kansas City, 8 p.m.
Detroit at Anaheim Angels – ESPN2/Fox Sports Detroit/Fox Sports West, 10 p.m.

National League
Philadelphia at New York Mets – Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/SNY, 1 p.m.
Milwaukee at Washington – Fox Sports Wisconsin/MASN, 4:30 p.m.
San Francisco at Colorado – Comcast SportsNet Bay Area/FSN Rocky Mountain, 8:30 p.m.

MLB Tonight: 1st to 3rd – MLB Network, 8 p.m.
MLB Tonight: Roundtripper Final – MLB Network, 10 p.m.

NFL
New York Jets at Baltimore – ESPN, 8 p.m.

Entertainment
Great American Road (season finale) – NBC, 8 p.m.
Intervention: Gloria – A&E, 9 p.m.
The Closer – TNT, 10 p.m.
Raising the Bar – TNT, 10 p.m.
Dateline NBC – NBC, 10 p.m.
Weeds – Showtime, 10 p.m.
Nurse Jackie – Showtime, 10:30 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman – CBS, 11:35 p.m.

More Sunday Linkage

I have some more linkage for you on this Sunday. Some good stuff to get to while I try to forget the Yankees-Red Sox game and the fact that I still don’t have a TV right now. We’ll discuss that on Monday.

Anyway, Ben Grossman of Broadcasting & Cable talked with Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer who has calmed down after wanting to punch a few ESPN people for mocking his Favre-to-Minnesota story last week.

Glen Dickson of B&C says the High Def super slo-mo are beginning to catch up with technology.

Wayne Friedman of Mediapost says network ad sales for the NFL have been quite slow as the season opener approaches.

Elizabeth Kim of the Connecticut Post says NBC is expanding its production into Stamford joining the NBC Sports office which have been there since 1997.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times caught up with John Madden last week.

Josh Land of the Carroll County (MD) Times feels ESPN went overboard on the Vick and Favre coverage.

David Climer in the Tennessean says former Vols coach Phil Fulmer is using TV as a springboard to get another job on the sidelines.

Kyle Veazey of the Jackson (MS) Clarion-Ledger writes that SEC football fans will have to be prepared for a lot more games on TV and plenty of them to be played at night.

Rich Lieberman of the San Francisco Examiner feels new 49ers voice Ted Robinson is already in mid-season form.

Joe Favorito says the Baltimore Ravens reaching out to the military helps its standing in the community.

Anthony DiComo of MLB.com writes about the number of players who are looking to broadcasting when they retire from the game.

Staci D. Kramer of paidContent.org says NBC Sports and the NFL will stream Sunday Night Football once again this season, but no embedding will be allowed.

Chris Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media has the entire 2009 college football on TV schedule.

The Sports Media Watch reviews last week in the sports media.

Dave Warner of EPL Talk says for the most part, ESPN2′s return to the English Premier League has gone well.

The CSMB blog notices that WBZ-FM/98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston is off to a not-so-good start.

That’s the poop for now. Back with more links on Monday.

Two NFL on CBS Logos You’ll See This Season

This is a Super Bowl season for CBS Sports. Whichever network has the Super Bowl becomes a big season for said network.

Having said that, it’s a milestone for CBS Sports, this being the 50th season that the network has been affiliated with the National Football League. CBS’ association with the NFL dates back to 1956. As you can tell, it doesn’t add up to 50 if you count to 2009, but remember between the 1994 and 1997 seasons, CBS was out of the NFL and had to buy its way back in for the 1998 season.

So, CBS will use the 2009 season to celebrate 50 years with the National Football League and I believe that’s the longest relationship that a network has had with a sports league. So you will see this logo during CBS’ NFL coverage this season:

I keep wondering if that circle is supposed to represent a planet or is just a blue circle. Upon further review, the circle looks like the stars from the NFL shield. Maybe you have a different interpretation.

And for Super Bowl XLIV, CBS will utilize this logo:

I think it’s better than NBC’s logo for Super XLIII which looked like this:

Those are the logos for CBS’ NFL coverage this season. Get used to them. You’ll be seeing them a lot.

Back to Blogging Finally

After two days of not providing links, I’m back today and let’s get caught up. Thank you for your patience. Next week may be a light week for links as well, but that’s by design and that’s due to my own plans. I’ll explain that as we get closer to Thursday when I’ll be away from the desk. But, I’ll have my computer with me, so I hope to be able to give you some posts on Thursday and Friday. Again, I’ll have full explanations down the road.

Newsday’s Neil Best talks about the Lower Hudson Journal News cutting away most of its staff and the bulk of its sports coverage.

Neil also looks back at the week in blogging.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times looks at the off-field marketing potential of Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez.

The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman is not a fan of Jay Glazer’s act.

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick tells the New York Mets whom it should honor. I’m sure the Mets will jump on it right away, Phil.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says ESPN horse racing and boxing voice Joe Tessitore moves to college football this fall.

Pete has this week’s NFL exhibition game schedule on TV.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner has the complete schedule for the Little League World Series on the networks of ESPN.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News feels Fox’s Troy Aikman went a bit too far in his criticism of the Brett Favre affair.

Artie Gigantino of the San Francisco Examiner says the dysfunctional Raiders dominated the Bay Area airwaves once again.

The wonderful Amanda Bruno of the Batter-up with Bruno blog appeals to Fox to end the Tim McCarver experience.

Matt Sarzyniak who does a great job every college football and basketball season compiling the TV schedules in his College Sports on TV website has a blog post on the Big East TV contract situation.

The Big Lead bids farewell to World Soccer Daily which ended its program last Friday over threats to the co-host Steven Cohen who made incendiary comments earlier this year about the Hillsborough disaster.

The Sports Media Watch has the weekend ratings predictions.

SMW has some various ratings news and notes.

SMW isn’t impressed by Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy’s complaints about the NBA Christmas schedule.

And SMW says the NFL continues to draw well even for exhibition games.

That’s going to be it for now.

No Links Today Either

As I’m disappointed that Hurricane Bill has been downgraded to a Category 2 storm and won’t be a Category 5 as it veers away from hitting Rhode Island, I’m also disappointed that I got up at 6 a.m. to drive 800 miles all over Massachusetts.

So I inform you that I won’t be blogging today either. I’ll be back Sunday unless I discover that it’s been planned behind my back as well.

The great Keith Thibeault of Sports Media Journal usually does a version of the megalinks so if you missed them yesterday, you can check out what the media writers are saying.

My apologies to you. This fucking shit is affecting me for two days. I hope to have a Videos of the Week feature that’s been sorely missing for several weeks and other stuff when I return to blogging.

No Megalinks Tonight

At 7:30 tonight, I discovered that my entire Saturday was planned for me. Screw my plans to rest up and do what I would like to do. I now have to get up early in the morning and go all over Northeastern and Central Massachusetts and back. I probably won’t be back until Saturday night so all of my plans have been screwed up and it will most likely take all day Sunday to recover.

Plus, no one is responding to my shameless request so I’m going to alter my plans to seek a TV from a manufacturer or retailer. If one of the sports networks has one or two extra HD monitors that it wants to get rid of, I will gladly take it or them. All you have to do is contact me at the e-mail address in my profile and we can arrange advertising or some type of mention for you. Or if you don’t want me to mention it at all, I can do that as well. Just let me know.

I’m so pissed off that I can’t do the megalinks tonight. I will write something that I regret and I don’t want to do that. I have to calm down. I’m ready to go kick a homeless person or go to my neighbor’s house and break up his huge noisy block party that is bothering everyone who is not in attendance. So I’ll be back Sunday morning. Sorry to do this. Just indulge me this one time and I’ll see you in two days.

Weekend Viewing Picks

Saturday, August 22

Boxing
Boxing After Dark – HBO, 9:45 p.m.

English Premier League
Arsenal vs. Portsmouth – Setanta Sports, 10 a.m.
Manchester City vs. Wolverhampton – Fox Soccer Channel, 10 a.m.
Wigan Athletic vs. Manchester United – ESPN2, 10 a.m.
Hull City vs. Bolton – Fox Soccer Channel, 5 p.m. (same day coverage)
Sunderland vs. Blackburn – Setanta Sports, 6:45 p.m. (same day coverage)
Birmingham vs. Stoke – Setanta Sports, 8:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

Golf
LPGA Tour/Solheim Cup, Day 2 – Golf Channel, 9 a.m.
PGA Tour/Wyndham Championship, 3rd round – CBS, 3 p.m.

MLB

American League
Anaheim at Toronto – Fox Sports West/TSN, 1 p.m.
New York Yankees at Red Sox – Fox, 4 p.m.
Baltimore at Chicago White Sox – MASN/WGN America, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Kansas City – Fox Sports North/Fox Sports Kansas City, 7 p.m.
Seattle at Cleveland – FSN Northwest/STO, 7 p.m.
Texas at Tampa Bay – Fox Sports Southwest/Fox Sports Florida, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Oakland – Fox Sports Detroit/Comcast SportsNet California, 9 p.m.

National League
Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers – Fox, 4 p.m.
Arizona at Houston – Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports Houston, 7 p.m.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh – Fox Sports Ohio/FSN Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Florida at Atlanta – Sun Sports/Peachtree TV, 7 p.m.
Milwaukee at Washington – WMLW/MASN2, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at New York Mets – MLB Network/WPHL/SNY, 7 p.m.
San Francisco at Colorado – MLB Network/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area/FSN Rocky Mountain, 8 p.m.
St. Louis at San Diego – Fox Sports Midwest/Cox 4, 10 p.m.

MLB Tonight: Roundtripper Final – MLB Network, 11 p.m.

NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series/Sharpie 500 – ESPN, 7:30 p.m.

NFL
Carolina at Miami – WCCB/WFOR, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit at Cleveland – WWJ/WKYC, 7:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Washington – NFL Network/KDKA/WRC/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, 7:30 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Jacksonville – WFLA, 7:30 p.m.
Buffalo at Green Bay – WFRV, 8 p.m.
New Orleans at Houston – Cox Sports Television/KTRK, 8 p.m.
New York Giants at Chicago – WNBC/WFLD, 8 p.m.
Oakland at San Francisco – KTVU, 8 p.m.
San Diego at Arizona – KFMB/KCBS/KNXV, 10 p.m.
Denver at Seattle – NFL Network/KCNC/KING, 10:30 p.m.

Tennis
US Open Series/W&S Financial Group Masters, semifinals – ESPN2, 2 p.m. & 10 p.m.
US Open Series/Rogers Cup, semifinals – ESPN2, 4 p.m./Tennis Channel, 7 p.m.

Track & Field
IAAF World Athletics Championships – NBC, 1 p.m.

Entertainment
5 Ingredient Fix: No Cook Dinner – Food Network, 12:30 p.m.
Giada at Home: Dig in for a Cause – Food Network, 1 p.m.
Cops – Fox, 8 p.m.
America’s Most Wanted: America Fights Back – Fox, 9 p.m.
Being Human – BBC America, 9 p.m.
Samantha Brown’s Great Weekends: Smoky Mountains – Travel Channel, 10 p.m.
Big Brother After Dark – Sho2, midnight
Saturday Rock the Deuce – MTV2, 12:30 a.m.

Sunday, August 23

English Premier League
West Ham vs. Tottenham – Setanta Sports, 8:30 a.m.
Fulham vs. Chelsea – Fox Soccer Channel, 11 a.m.
Burnley vs. Everton – Fox Soccer Channel, 6 p.m. (same day coverage)

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

Golf
LPGA Tour/Solheim Cup, Day 3 – Golf Channel, 11 a.m.
PGA Tour/Wyndham Championship, final round – CBS, 3 p.m.

Indy Car
IRL IndyCar Series/Indy Grand Prix in Sonoma, CA -Versus, 5 p.m.

MLB

American League
Anaheim at Toronto – KCOP/TSN, 1 p.m.
Seattle at Cleveland – FSN Northwest/STO, 1 p.m.
Texas at Tampa Bay – TBS/Fox Sports Southwest/Sun Sports, 1:30 p.m.
Baltimore at Chicago White Sox – MASN/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 2 p.m.
Minnesota at Kansas City – WFTC/Fox Sports Kansas City, 2 p.m.
Detroit at Oakland – Fox Sports Detroit/Comcast SportsNet California, 4 p.m.
New York Yankees at Red Sox – ESPN, 8 p.m.

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

Baseball Tonight – ESPN, 7 p.m.
Quick Pitch – MLB Network, 7 p.m.
Studio 42 with Bob Costas – MLB Network, 8 p.m.

Tennis
US Open Series/W&S Financial Group Masters, finals – CBS, 12:30 p.m.
US Open Series/Rogers Cup, finals – ESPN2, 3 p.m.
US Open Series/Rogers Cup, doubles final, Tennis Channel, 8 p.m.

Track & Field
IAAF World Athletics Championships – NBC, 2 p.m.

Entertainment
60 Minutes: Tribute to Don Hewitt – CBS, 7 p.m.
Who Wants to be A Millionaire – ABC, 8 p.m.
Big Brother 11 – CBS, 8:01 p.m.
Ice Road Truckers – History Channel, 9 p.m.
True Blood – HBO, 9 p.m.
Mad Men – AMC, 10 p.m.
Hung – HBO, 10 p.m.
Entourage – HBO, 10:30 p.m.
Big Brother After Dark – Sho2, midnight

Leftover Thursday Press Releases

I’m running behind today so Megalinks might be up tonight. I still have a couple of things to do before I get cracking on other stuff.

Here are releases from Thursday that I didn’t post last night. Let’s get cracking.

This is from NBC Sports which will have live coverage of the concluding weekend of the IAAF World Track & Field Championships from Berlin.

NBC SPORTS LIVE COVERAGE OF WORLD TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS FROM BERLIN CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND

Bolt and Gay Lead Their Teams in 4X100m Final, Live on Saturday

Live Streaming Webcasts on UniversalSports.com

NEW YORK – August 20, 2009 – Jamaica’s Usain Bolt and the USA’s Tyson Gay, who placed No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in the 100m Final, will square off again live in the 4x100m as NBC Sports’ coverage of the World Track & Field Championships from Berlin continues this weekend. Bolt, who set the world record with an amazing 9.54 seconds in the 100m final, will lead the Jamaican team against Gay and Team USA. Gay placed second in the 100m with a new American record of 9.71 seconds.

COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS: NBC Sports will air four hours of competition this weekend beginning this Saturday from 1-3 p.m. ET (LIVE) and continuing this Sunday from 2-4 p.m. ET (Same Day Tape). Coverage highlights include:

Saturday: Men’s 4x100m Relay Final
Women’s 4x100m Relay Final
Women’s 5,000m Final
Men’s Long Jump Final
Men’s Pole Vault Final
Women’s Hammer Throw Final
Men’s Marathon

Sunday: Men’s 4x400m Relay Final
Women’s 4x400m Relay Final
Men’s 800m Final
Women’s 1,500m Final
Woman’s Marathon
Women’s Long Jump Final
Men’s Javelin Final

COVERAGE ON UNIVERSALSPORTS.COM: UniversalSports.com is providing a live webcast of the morning and evening sessions from Berlin each day of the Championships. UniversalSports.com’s Alan Abrahamson will provide daily blog posts and news updates from Berlin. The full webcast schedule, highlights, full-length videos, photos, breaking news and more is available at UniversalSports.com/trackandfield.

TEAM USA RETURNS TO BERLIN: These World Championships mark the first time that the USA Track and Field team will return to Berlin for a major international competition since the 1936 Olympic Games where Jesse Owens won four gold medals.

ANNOUNCERS: Calling the action from Berlin is NBC Sports Olympic Track and Field broadcast team of: Tom Hammond, Ato Bolden, Lewis Johnson, Dwight Stones and Bob Neumeier.

LUCAS OIL AMA PRO MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP, SATURDAY, 3 PM ET

NBC Sports and Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, present live coverage of the 10th stop of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Budds Creek in Mechanicsville, Md., part of the Monster Energy Triple Crown Series. Chad Reed will attempt to maintain his lead in the standings over Andrew Short and Ivan Tedesco.

Commentary is provided by Jason Weigandt, David Bailey, Jamie Bestwick and Tiffany Simons.

JELD-WEN TRADITION, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, 4 PM ET Greg Norman leads the field as NBC Sports presents live coverage of the JELD-WEN Tradition from Crosswater Club at Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Ore., Saturday and Sunday, 4 p.m. ET. Fred Funk is the defending champion. The JELD-WEN Tradition is one of five major events on the Champions Tour.

Other marquee names competing include Tom Watson, Gary Player, Hale Irwin and Peter Jacobsen.

Dan Hicks, Gary Koch, Roger Maltbie and Mark Rolfing provide the commentary.

To CBS Sports and this release stating that it will cover the W&S Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati and the great Ian Eagle will be calling the tournament with Mary Carillo.

CBS SPORTS TO BROADCAST MEN’S FINAL OF U.S. OPEN SERIES

“WESTERN AND SOUTHERN FINANCIAL GROUP MASTERS”

LIVE FROM CINCINNATI ON SUNDAY, AUG. 23

CBS Sports broadcasts the men’s final of the U.S. OPEN SERIES “western and southern financial group masters” on Sunday, Aug. 23 (12:30-3:00 PM, ET).

The U.S. Open Series, which leads up to the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, was launched in 2004 in order to create a cohesive, six-week summer tennis season for ATP and WTA Tour professional tournaments in North America. The winner of the series will be vying for bonus prize money at the U.S. Open.

CBS Sports’ coverage of the 2009 U.S. OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS begins on Saturday, Sept. 5 (11:00 AM-6:00 PM, ET) with men’s and women’s third-round action and concludes with the men’s singles final on Sunday, Sept. 13 (4:00 PM, ET).

CBS Sports’ Ian Eagle and Mary Carillo call the final live from Cincinnati. Bob Mansbach produces and Bob Fishman directs.

CBS will also be all over the PGA Wyndham Championship.

CBS SPORTS BROADCASTS PGA TOUR’S FINAL REGULAR-SEASON EVENT AT WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP ON AUGUST 22-23

The final run to the PGA TOUR playoffs for the FedExCup is this weekend at the WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP, the last event of the PGA TOUR’s regular-season, as CBS Sports broadcasts third- and final-round coverage of the Wyndham Championship from Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., on Saturday, Aug. 22 (2:00-5:00 PM, ET) and Sunday, Aug. 23 (3:00-6:00 PM, ET), live on the CBS Television Network.

Bill Macatee and Ian Baker-Finch provide commentary from the 18^th tower. Peter Oosterhuis calls the action at the 17^th hole, Peter Kostis at the 16^th, and David Feherty and Bobby Clampett serve as on-course reporters.

After the 2008 season the PGA TOUR made changes made to the FedEx Cup and reduced the field size for The Barclays from 144 to 125, placing a premium on a top finish at the Wyndam Championship for players on the bubble looking to earn a spot in The Barclays. The 70^th playing of the Wyndham Championship has a strong field of 156 players looking to boost their Playoff position for the FedExCup including Lucas Glover, Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Davis Love III and Fred Couples. Scott (No. 111) and Garcia (No. 115) will play in the Wyndam Championship for the first time since 2005 as they hope to end their season with strong runs to the Playoffs. Notables outside the top 125 include Carl Pettersson (No. 151, who is defending his title this week, Stuart Appleby (No.138), Ricky Barnes (No. 141), Rocco Mediate (No. 143) and David Duval (No. 149). In addition Tim Clark, K.J. Choi, Rich Beem, Justin Rose, Chris DiMarco, Scott McCarron, Charley Hoffman, Charles Howell III, Brian Davis, Steve Elkington, Bubba Watson, Kirk Triplett, Tom Pernice, Jr., Brandt Snedeker, Mark Calcavecchia and John Daly are among those competing at the Wyndam Championship.

After the Wyndam Championship, the top 125 point earners will make the field at THE BARCLAYS, the first of the four PGA TOUR FedExCup Playoff tournaments. CBS Sports will broadcast the third- and final rounds of The Barclays on Saturday, Aug. 29 (3:00-6:00 PM, ET) and Sunday, Aug. 30 (2:00-6:00 PM, ET), live from Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J.

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

Golf Channel says ESPN/ABC golf analyst Judy Rankin joins the network for Solheim Cup coverage this weekend.

Rankin Makes GOLF CHANNEL Debut at Solheim Cup

SUGAR GROVE, Ill., (Aug. 20, 2009) – When she makes her debut tomorrow, Judy Rankin will bring her vast Solheim Cup experience and one of the most respected voices in the game to GOLF CHANNEL’s marathon telecast.

Captaining two victorious U.S. teams (1996, ’98) Rankin will serve as lead analyst for the Solheim Cup, joining play-by-play commentator Rich Lerner to kick-off the network’s coverage Friday at 9 a.m. ET for the morning matches. Dottie Pepper will join play-by-play commentator Brian Hammons to call the afternoon matches.

“It’s an honor for us at GOLF CHANNEL to add Judy and her impressive resume to our great group of announcers at this week’s Solheim Cup,” said Jack Graham, GOLF CHANNEL’s executive producer for live tournaments.

“Judy is simply one of the best in the business, one of the best analysts and one of the best human beings,” said Lerner.

The broadcast team also includes Hall-of-Famer Donna Caponi-Byrnes, LPGA veteran Kay Cockerill and multiple LPGA tournament winner and ’96 U.S. Solheim Cup team member Val Skinner reporting from the course. Tom Abbott will report from a tower position and conduct post-round interviews and Lerner, as show host, will set the stage for the telecasts each day and conduct post-round interviews in addition to rotating as play-by-play commentator with Hammons.

GOLF CHANNEL will take viewers inside the ropes this week at Rich Harvest Farms with 26 hours of live match-play coverage of The Solheim Cup – produced for the first time in high definition and coupled with 14 hours of wrap-around news coverage. Live From the Solheim Cup will surround GOLF CHANNEL’s tournament coverage with all of the news from the first tee-shot to the last putt.

Friday

· The Solheim Cup (Day 1), 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

· GolfChannel.com live stream of The Solheim Cup, 2 – 4 p.m.

· The Solheim Cup (Day 1), 4 – 7:30 p.m.

· Live From The Solheim Cup, 7:30 – 8 p.m.

· The Solheim Cup (Day 1 re-air), 10:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.

Saturday

· The Solheim Cup (Day 2), 9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.

· Live From The Solheim Cup, 7:30 – 9 p.m.

· The Solheim Cup (Day 2 re-air), 9 p.m. – 12 a.m.

Sunday

· Live From The Solheim Cup, 10:30 – 11 a.m.

· The Solheim Cup (Day 3), 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

· Live From The Solheim Cup, 4:30 – 6 p.m.

· The Solheim Cup (Day 3 re-air), 9 p.m. – 12 a.m.

MLB NETWORK’S BOB COSTAS TO HOST Q&A WITH FORMER MLB PITCHER & BALL FOUR AUTHOR JIM BOUTON ON AUGUST 23

Interview to discuss Bouton’s MLB career and his memoir Ball Four

August 20, 2009 – MLB Network’s Studio 42 with Bob Costas will host a conversation with former Major League pitcher and author Jim Bouton on Sunday, August 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET on MLB Network. Throughout the interview, Bouton discusses his MLB career as well as his relationship with Mickey Mantle, his reason for writing the controversial memoir Ball Four, the reception the book received and what led to his return to Yankee Stadium for Old Timers’ Day in 1998.

Highlights of the interview include:

ON WHY BOUTON WROTE BALL FOUR

I really wanted to share the fun in baseball. That was my purpose for writing it. It wasn’t really a tell-all book. I didn’t have racial comments, all the sexy stories are anonymous. It really was a great environment to be part of, a Major League Baseball team. I got lucky, I was with the right bunch of guys and I kept good notes.

ON WHY BALL FOUR CONNECTED WITH PEOPLE IN 1970

It was a time in our history where people were questioning things, questioning authority, doing things in different ways. You had the Vietnam War, you had men landing on the moon that year, and it [the Seattle Pilots] was a wonderful team. It was an expansion team, the Seattle Pilots. These guys were getting to know each other because they haven’t played with each other. They were always telling stories about their careers and I was sitting there with my notepad.

ON THE WAY MICKEY MANTLE IS DEPICTED IN BALL FOUR

I don’t think it makes Mickey Mantle look bad at all. He hit a home run with a hangover. It was more a story about what a great ball player he was than about what an awful thing it was.

ON RETURNING TO YANKEE STADIUM FOR OLD TIMERS’ DAY IN 1998

I got into the clubhouse and the players were great. It was a really good feeling. I spent so much time in the clubhouse that I got onto the field late. I didn’t get a chance to run around the field and get that feeling. But it was some day.

Prior to the interview, MLB Network will re-air episodes of Studio 42 with Bob Costas featuring Major League Baseball umpires Don Denkinger, Bruce Froemming and Steve Palermo at 3:00 p.m. ET and Cal Ripken Jr. at 4:00 p.m.

And CBC will use the legendary Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto as the locale for its “Battle of the Blades” competition.

CBC’S BATTLE OF THE BLADES TO BE BROADCAST FROM MAPLE LEAF GARDENS IN FRONT OF A LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE

Four-time Stanley Cup Champion Claude Lemieux added to the men’s roster

Beginning Sunday, October 4, CBC Television’s BATTLE OF THE BLADES will open the doors to historic Maple Leaf Gardens for the first time to former world class female figure skaters and NHL players in a fierce pairs competition of athleticism, drama and intrigue.

Hosts Ron MacLean and Kurt Browning will welcome a live studio audience and viewers from across the country to the legendary ice surface for this seven-week ground breaking event. Information on obtaining tickets will be available shortly.

In addition to the announced venue, former Conn Smythe trophy winner and agitator Claude Lemieux has signed on to compete in BATTE OF THE BLADES. Over the course of his 20-year career Lemieux played for Montreal, New Jersey, Colorado, Phoenix, Dallas and San Jose collecting 786 points and 1,777 penalty minutes. The Buckingham, Que. native replaces Sean Burke who was unable to participate due to professional obligations.

BATTLE OF THE BLADES is the brainchild of Kevin Albrecht with development by Sandra Bezic. BATTLE OF THE BLADES executive producers are John Brunton, Barbara Bowlby and Kevin Albrecht. It is produced by Insight Productions in association with CBC Television.

That’s going to do it for now. I’m so far behind today, it’s not funny.

ESPN Radio’s John Kincade Beats Cancer Not Once, But Twice

Great story today from Daryn Kagan on Atlanta sports radio host John Kincade who learned a very important life lesson after beating cancer not just once, but twice. It’s a tremendous story and one we can all draw from. Take a look.

John is an afternoon drive host at 680 The Fan and can be heard nationally Sunday mornings on ESPN Radio.

CBS’ PGA Championship Rating Up 150% on Sunday

CBS continues to reap the benefits of having a duel involving Tiger Woods down the stretch. Satuday’s third round rating was up almost 400% from the previous year which went up against the Olympics and didn’t have Tiger Woods.

Now this year for Sunday with Y.E. Yang and Woods involved in Match Play down the stretch steered CBS to excellent ratings.

RATINGS SOAR AS CBS SPORTS’ COVERAGE OF 2009 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP RANKS AS HIGHEST-RATED FINAL ROUND SINCE 2002

Final Round Rating Up 150% From Last Year

CBS Sports’ final-round coverage of the 2009 PGA Championship on Sunday, Aug. 16, which saw Y.E. Yang overtake Tiger Woods, scored in the ratings by earning an average overnight household rating/share of 7.5/17, up +150%, ranking it the highest-rated final round of the PGA Championship in the metered markets since 2002 when Rich Beem beat Woods (8.0/17).

CBS Sports’ final-round coverage of the 2009 PGA Championship was up +150% from 2008’s 3.0/6, and up +10% from 2007’s 6.8/15. Sunday’s final-round rating peaked at an 11.6/24 from 7:00-7:15, PM, ET.

This year’s PGA Championship final round was the second highest-rated of the four majors on Sunday in 2009:

Masters Final Round – 8.8/21 (CBS)

U.S. Open Third Round/Start of Final Round – 5.1/12 (NBC)

British Open – 3.9/12 (ABC)

CBS Sports’ third-round coverage of the 2009 PGA Championship on Saturday, Aug. 15 earned an overnight household rating/share in the metered markets of 4.9/13, up +390% from last year’s rain-delay coverage which earned a 1.0/2; and up +7% compared to a 4.6/12 in 2007. Saturday’s third-round rating peaked at 5.6/13 from 6:30-7:00 PM, ET.

This year’s PGA Championship third round was the second highest-rated of the four majors on Saturday in 2009:

Masters Third Round – 5.7/13 (CBS)

U.S. Open Second/Third round – 3.7/9 (NBC)

British Open – 2.4/7 (ABC)

* * * * *

CBS Sports’ two-day average for the 2007 PGA Championship earned an average household overnight rating/share of 6.2/15.

Overall, this year’s 6.2/15 ties with 1999 as the third-highest rating for the PGA Championship two-day average in the metered markets dating back to 1986. This year’s 6.2/15 tied with 1999 (6.2/16) (Tiger’s first PGA Championship win); and trailed 2000’s 8.0/19 (Tiger’s second PGA Championship win) and 2002’s 6.7/15.

This year’s 6.2/15 also is the second-best two-day average for the PGA Championship in the metered markets since a 6.7/15 in 2002.

That’s it for now. Links are coming up shortly.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

MLB

American League
Anaheim at Baltimore – Fox Sports West/MASN, 7 p.m.
Kansas City at Chicago White Sox – Fox Sports Kansas City/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 8 p.m.
Minnesota at Texas – Fox Sports North/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.
New York Yankees at Oakland – YES/Comcast SportsNet California, 10 p.m.

National League
Arizona at Atlanta – Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports South, 4 p.m.
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh – Fox Sports Wisconsin/FSN Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
San Francisco at New York Mets – Comcast SportsNet Bay Area/SNY, 7 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at San Diego – WCIU/Cox 4, 10 p.m.
St. Louis at Los Angeles Dodgers – ESPN2/Fox Sports Midwest/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 10 p.m.

MLB Network: 1st to 3rd – MLB Network, 8 p.m.
MLB Network: Roundtripper Final – MLB Network, 10 p.m

Minor League Baseball
Pawtucket Red Sox at Gwinnett Braves – MLB Network, 2 p.m.

NFL
Jacksonville at Miami – WTEV/WFOR, 7:30 p.m.
Carolina at New York Giants – ESPN, 8 p.m.

Track & Field
World Athletics Championships – Versus, 1 p.m. (live) & 8 p.m. (tape)

Entertainment
Who Wants to be A Millionaire – ABC, 8 p.m.
Intervention: Sebastian & Marcel – A&E, 9 p.m.
Jon & Kate Plus 8 – TLC, 9 p.m.
The Closer – TNT, 9 p.m.
Dateline NBC – NBC, 10 p.m.
Weeds – Showtime, 10 p.m.
Nurse Jackie – Showtime, 10:30 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman – CBS, 11:35 p.m.
Big Brother After Dark – Sho2, midnight

Fox Sports Officially Reveals Its 2009 NFL Announcing Teams

After USA Today’s Michael Hiestand wrote about it Friday, Fox Sports has now sent the press release announcing its talent roster for this upcoming NFL season.

As Michael stated, there were some changes like Matt Vasgersian who departed from Fox to MLB Network and Brian Baldinger whose contract was not renewed and will be doing work on radio.

Here’s the release:

ANALYST DAVIS, LYNCH & GREEN DEEPEN NFL ON FOX ROSTER

Buck, Aikman and Oliver Return as No. 1 Crew for 8^th Season;

Match Legendary Summerall/Madden Team in Longevity

New York— FOX Sports officially announced today its broadcast teams for the upcoming NFL season. This year’s lineup welcomes three exciting, new faces to the FOX booth as John Lynch, Trent Green and Charles Davis join the NFL on FOX as game analysts. Also announced, six-time Emmy-Award winning play-by-play announcer Joe Buck, Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman and reporter Pam Oliver return as the NFL on FOX’s lead broadcast team. The 2009 season marks their eighth as FOX’s lead team and matches the tenure of the legendary broadcast team of Pat Summerall and John Madden with the network. The announcement was made today by FOX Sports President Ed Goren.

“This is without a doubt, the deepest and most talented broadcast roster that we’ve had here at FOX Sports since we began covering the NFL,” said Goren. “It’s a high-energy group that will be fully prepared to deliver insightful analysis each and every game.”

Lynch, a 15-year NFL veteran and nine-time Pro Bowler, was a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Super Bowl-winning team in 2003. Lynch called two games for the NFL on FOX in ’08 and this season joins play-by-play announcer Ron Pitts on a full-time basis. He calls his first game Sunday, Sept. 13 in Seattle as the Seahawks host the St. Louis Rams. Trent Green, a 14-year NFL veteran and two-time Pro Bowler with the Chiefs, joins play-by-play announcer Chris Myers and calls his first game in New Orleans Week 1 as the Saints face the Detroit Lions. Charles Davis, who as the lead analyst for the BCS on FOX, has called the last three national collegiate championship games, joins the NFL on FOX for his first season pairing with veteran play-by-play man Dick Stockton. The team’s opening week assignment is in Charlotte as the defending NFC South Champion Panthers welcome the Philadelphia Eagles.

This season marks Buck’s 16^th with FOX Sports and Aikman’s ninth, while sideline reporter Pam Oliver returns for her 15^th. The group calls its first game from East Rutherford, NJ on Sept. 13 as the defending NFC East Champion New York Giants play host to their division rival Washington Redskins. For the third consecutive year, former Cowboys fullback Daryl Johnston teams with play-by-play announcer Kenny Albert and on-field analyst Tony Siragusa. The team is in Tampa Bay Week 1 as first year head coach Raheem Morris and the Buccaneers take on Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys.

Each week, the NFL on FOX broadcast day begins with FOX NFL SUNDAY (12:00 PM ET), America’s most-watched NFL pregame show. The one-hour prelude is the recipient of 20 Emmy Awards and stars co-hosts Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee, analysts Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson and Michael Strahan, insider Jay Glazer and comedic prognosticator Frank Caliendo. Bradshaw and Long have been with the show since its debut in 1994, and Bradshaw won the 2008 Emmy for Outstanding Studio Analyst, his third.

FOX NFL SUNDAY holds the distinction of being the No. 1 show in its time slot for 15 straight years, and that places it alongside some of the most iconic programs ever to air. All in the Family, No. 1 for five seasons, is prime time’s longest running No. 1 hit. Only a handful of shows outside of prime time have dominated their time period in a way similar to FOX NFL SUNDAY: The Today Show was No. 1 in morning programming for over 500 straight weeks; Saturday Night Live has controlled its time period for over 30 years; The Tonight Show has topped weekday late night for decades.

The 2009 NFL on FOX campaign kicks off Sunday, Sept. 13 (1:00 PM ET) with doubleheader coverage of seven games, highlighted by the Giants/Redskins clash. Week 1 also features the high flying offense of the defending NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals with Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald hosting the San Francisco 49ers as well as the Minnesota Vikings as they travel to Cleveland to face the Browns.

Following are the NFL on FOX announcer pairings for 2009:

Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver

Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa

Dick Stockton, Charles Davis

Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick

Sam Rosen, Tim Ryan

Ron Pitts, John Lynch

Chris Myers, Trent Green

Stockton, Pitts and Albert have the distinction of being the only members of the group to work NFL on FOX games full-time since FOX Sports’ inception in 1994. Oliver, as previously mentioned, is in her 15^th season, followed by Rosen (14), Buck (12), Aikman and Johnston (9), Ryan (8), Brennaman (7), Glazer and Siragusa (6), Myers (5), Billick (2), Lynch, Green, and Davis (1).

NFL on FOX national games posted a 13.7 household rating last season, and would have ranked No. 1 among all prime-time shows in fourth quarter. Last season was the second straight year – and only the second time ever – that the NFC package beat both the AFC and the prime-time broadcast package to rank as the highest-rated NFL package. The NFC package on FOX out-rated the AFC package for the 14th straight season.

David Hill and Ed Goren are the Executive Producers of FOX Sports. Bill Brown is Senior Producer. Scott Ackerson is the Coordinating Producer of FOX NFL SUNDAY and Bob Levy directs.

I do expect a release from CBS following its NFL media luncheon next week.

Two PGA Championship Press Releases From Sunday

Because I was out all day Sunday, I was not able to post these releases.

First, CBS says its ratings for the 3rd round for the PGA Championship from Saturday were up a whopping 390%!!!!! Three guesses why and the first two don’t count. One hint. First name begins with Tiger.

CBS Sports’ third-round coverage of the 2009 PGA Championship on Saturday, Aug. 15 earned an overnight household rating/share in the metered markets of 4.9/13, up +390% from last year’s coverage which earned a 1.0/2; and up +7% compared to a 4.6/12 in 2007.

Last year’s third round coverage of the PGA Championship, which ran against the 2008 Summer Olympics, was also interrupted by rain.

Saturday’s third round rating peaked at 5.6/13 from 6:30-7:00 PM, ET.

This year’s PGA Championship third round was the second highest-rated of the four majors in 2009:

Masters Third Round – 5.7/13 (CBS)

U.S. Open Third round – 3.7/9 (NBC)

British Open – 2.4/7 (ABC)

I can only imagine what Sunday’s will be with Y.E. Yang of South Korea winning over Tiger. And this is quotage from TNT’s coverage from Sunday.

Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the PGA Championship from Hazeltine National Golf Club – Round Four – Sunday, August 16, 2009

Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Ian Baker-Finch, Bill Kratzert and Jim Huber

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed Sean O’Hair (+14) after his final round.

O’Hair on playing a quick round: “I think it just gets you good momentum. I played in two hours and 23 minutes at the Tour Championship in 2005 and shot a 64. I think it sets a tone for you a little bit and it’s nice to not have to wait and to have fresh greens. You just get up to (the tee) and hit it.”

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed Ian Poulter (+2 after three rounds) before the final round

Poulter on being disappointed with his play at the PGA Championship: “I feel like I should be contending. I’m personally disappointed about (round three). I felt I left some shots on the course (in the first two rounds) as well. (I’ve got) some work to do to make sure these mistakes don’t happen in the future.”

Baker-Finch on Y.E. Yang’s remaining in contention: “(Going for broke) is the kind of attitude that (Y.E. Yang) has to take. He’s certainly got nothing to lose. He looked a little bit soft on a couple of short putts (in the third round). He looked nervous; he had a deer-in-the-headlights look a couple of times. He also made a couple of shots that were very impressive. He’s definitely got the ability.”

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed Vijay Singh (E) before his final round

Singh on his putting struggles in the third round: “I feel very comfortable with my stroke. It’s a learning process and you go through things like (bad putting) and you see what you can improve on afterwards. I went back and thought about it and I think I learned a lot from (round three) and I think it’s going to make me better.”

Kratzert on Padraig Harrington making a run at leader Tiger Woods: “I think (Padraig) Harrington is the one you have to keep an eye on because he is so mentally tough. Is he hitting it well enough? I thought (round three) was his best ball-striking day of the three days so far. I think Harrington is going to challenge (Tiger Woods).”

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed Corey Pavin (-1) before his final round

Pavin on finding a balance between being a Ryder Cup captain and competing in tournaments: “It’s always there, it’s always in the back of my mind. At the very least, I’m paying attention to everything that is going on. Obviously when I get on the golf course, that’s a different story. Then it’s time to shut that down, play golf, work on my game and see what I can do in a tournament.”

Kratzert on Phil Mickelson: “He’s one of the really fun players to go out there and walk with as an on-course announcer. You never know what you’re going to get. He’s so appreciative and he never misses making eye-contact, or making the person that has hung on the ropes for ten minutes waiting to see him, he’ll always make an effort to see (that person).”

I got home in time to watch the final four holes. Tremendous television.

Mad Men Sneak Peek, Episode 302 "Love Among Ruins"

I did not know I could embed Mad Men videos so after each episode on Sunday, I will embed the recap of that night’s episode as well as the sneak peek for next week’s episode as soon as they become available.

As usual, another bang up job by the writers and Executive Producer Matthew Weiner. I love this show.

First, the recap of Episode 301, “Out of Town”

Then, here’s a look at next week’s episode as Don and Betty meet with the new head of Sterling Cooper and his wife.

As usual, funny lines. My favorite from tonight? Betty telling Don about their daughter Sally breaking the strap on his suitcase, “Sally is taking to your tools like a little lesbian.” So un-PC, but so funny.

And just in case you need a reminder, here’s what happened in Season 2.

Ok, watch this blog every Sunday night around 11:30 for the latest in Mad Men videos.