Archive for October, 2012
Oct
31
TNT Revises Its NBA Thursday Doubleheader
Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the New York Knicks-Brooklyn Nets game has been canceled. It had been scheduled to start after 7 p.m. ET and air on TNT. However, as the conditions in New York have not improved, the NBA made the right decision to cancel the game. So TNT will air two episodes of The Mentalist followed by a half-hour of NBA Tip-Off at 9 p.m. That will be followed by the originally scheduled late game of the NBA on TNT doubleheader, Oklahoma City at San Antonio.
Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller and David Aldridge will be on hand for the game.
Here’s the revised schedule for Thursday night.
NBA on TNT Schedule Update for Thursday, Nov. 1
The NBA game between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, previously scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. ET on TNT, has been postponed due to conditions in the New York area caused by Hurricane Sandy. TNT will televise the Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs, as originally scheduled, at 9:30 p.m.
The network will also televise the NBA Tip-Off pre-game show at 9 p.m. and the Inside the NBA post-game show following live game coverage.
TNT will air two one-hour episodes of The Mentalist prior to Thursday’s NBA coverage from 7-9 p.m.
TNT’s Updated Schedule for Thursday, November 1
7 p.m. ET The Mentalist 8 p.m. The Mentalist 9 p.m. NBA Tip-Off Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal 9:30 p.m. Oklahoma City at San Antonio Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller and David Aldridge Midnight Inside the NBA Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal NBA TV will televise a one-hour NBA pre-game show with host Matt Winer and analysts Chris Webber and Rick Fox at 8 p.m. TNT’s Johnson, Barkley, Smith and O’Neal will also contribute to the show.
That’s it.
Oct
31
ESPN Family of Networks 2012-13 Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Season
To the ESPN family of networks’ schedule for the 2012-13 basketball season. Overall, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will air 38 conference games, 14 of which to be divided among ESPN/ESPN2 and the rest on ESPNU.
The games will air primarily on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday nights. This season begins an 11 p.m. ET game on ESPN2 Wednesdays except for two weeks in January when the networks airs the Australian Open.
Take a look at the schedule below.
ESPN’s 2013 Pac-12 Men’s College Basketball Schedule
ESPN’s 2013 Pac-12 men’s college basketball regular-season schedule will feature 38 conference games across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Overall, ESPNU will televise 24 of the matchups.
ESPN and the Pac-12 are beginning a new 12-year agreement for extensive conference action through 2024-25. As part of the deal, ESPN will add men’s regular-season basketball across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, primarily on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday nights, including in new 11 p.m. ET (8 p.m. PT) Wednesday telecasts (except Jan. 16 and 23). ESPN also receives the rights to one Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament quarterfinal and semifinal game, and the championship every other year beginning this season.
Viewers can also watch live ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU game action online at WatchESPN.com or on smart phones and tablets through the WatchESPN app. The service – available to customers of Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Verizon FiOS TV and Comcast Xfinity TV – gives fans the ability to watch ESPN’s live networks, no matter where they are.
ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU 2013 Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Schedule
Dates, times and television listings subject to change
Date Time (ET) Game Network Thu, Jan 3 8 p.m. Colorado at Arizona ESPNU 10 p.m. Stanford at USC ESPNU Sat, Jan 5 9:30 p.m. Washington at Washington State ESPNU Wed, Jan 9 11 p.m. Washington at California ESPN2 Thu, Jan 10 9 p.m. Arizona at Oregon ESPN or ESPN2 10 p.m. USC at Colorado ESPNU Sat, Jan 12 9:30 p.m. Arizona at Oregon State ESPNU Thu, Jan 17 9 p.m. Oregon State at UCLA ESPNU 11 p.m. Oregon at USC ESPNU Sat, Jan 19 9 or 11 p.m. Utah at Washington ESPNU Thu, Jan 24 9 p.m. UCLA at Arizona ESPN2 10 p.m. Stanford at Colorado ESPNU Sat, Jan 26 8:30 p.m. USC at Arizona ESPNU Wed, Jan 30 11 p.m. Oregon at Stanford ESPN2 Thu, Jan 31 9 p.m. Arizona at Washington ESPN or ESPN2 10 p.m. Oregon State at California ESPNU Sat, Feb 2 9 p.m. Arizona State at Washington ESPNU Wed, Feb 6 9 or 11 p.m. Stanford at Arizona ESPN2 Thu, Feb 7 9 p.m. Washington at UCLA ESPN or ESPN2 10 p.m. Colorado at Oregon ESPNU Sat, Feb 9 9 p.m. Stanford at Arizona State ESPNU Wed, Feb 13 11 p.m. Oregon at Washington ESPN2 Thu, Feb 14 9 p.m. UCLA at California ESPN or ESPN2 11 p.m. USC at Stanford ESPNU Sat, Feb 16 4 p.m. UCLA at Stanford ESPN or ESPN2 9 p.m. Arizona State at Colorado ESPNU Wed, Feb 20 11 p.m. Washington at Arizona ESPN2 Thu, Feb 21 9 p.m. California at Oregon ESPNU 11 p.m. Stanford at Oregon State ESPNU Sat, Feb 23 TBD Washington at Arizona State ESPNU Wed, Feb 27 11 p.m. Colorado at Stanford ESPN2 Thu, Feb 28 9 p.m. Utah at California ESPNU 11 p.m. Oregon State at Oregon ESPNU Sat, Mar 2 9 p.m. Saturday Primetime: Arizona at UCLA * ESPN 5 p.m. Colorado at California ESPNU Wed, Mar 6 11 p.m. Stanford at California ESPN2 Thu, Mar 7 9 p.m. Oregon at Colorado ESPNU 11 p.m. Oregon State at Utah ESPNU Thu, Mar 14 11:30 p.m. Pac-12 Tournament: Quarterfinal #4 ESPNU Fri, Mar 15 11:30 p.m. Pac-12 Tournament: Semifinal #2 ESPN or ESPN2 Sat, Mar 16 11 p.m. Pac-12 Tournament: Championship ESPN * College GameDay will originate from site
That’s all.
Oct
31
Pac-12 Network’s 2012-13 Men’s Basketball Schedule
Let’s take a look at the Pac-12 Network’s men’s basketball schedule for the 2012-13 season.
2012 Pac-12 Networks Men’s Basketball Televised Schedule
November 9 — 4:00 PM, Wofford vs. Colorado
November 9 — 6:00 PM, Niagara vs. Oregon State
November 9 — 6:00 PM, Willamette vs. Utah
November 9 – 8:00 PM, Coppin State vs. USC
November 9 — 8:00 PM, San Francisco vs. Stanford
November 10 — 4:30 PM, Northern Arizona vs. Oregon
November 10 — 4:30 PM, Central Arkansas vs. Arizona State
November 10 — 4:30 PM, Eastern Washington vs. Washington State
November 11 — 3:00 PM, Charleston Southern vs. Arizona
November 11 — 5:00 PM, Loyola (MD) vs. Washington
November 11 — 7:00 PM, Cal-State Bakersfield vs. California
November 12 — 6:30 PM, Portland State vs. Oregon
November 12 — 8:30 PM, Cal State Fullerton vs. Stanford
November 13 — 6:30 PM, Long Beach State vs. USC
November 13 — 6:30 PM, Pepperdine vs. California
November 13 — 6:30 PM, Albany vs. Washington
November 13 — 8:30 PM, UC Irvine vs. UCLA
November 14 — 7:00 PM, Utah Valley vs. Washington State
November 15 – 6:00 PM, Alcorn State vs. Stanford
November 15 — 8:00 PM, James Madison vs. UCLA
November 16 — 6:00 PM, Sacramento State vs. Utah
November 16 — 8:00 PM, Vanderbilt vs. Oregon
November 18 — 12:00 PM, Florida A&M vs. Arizona State
November 18 — 6:00 PM, Belmont vs. Stanford
November 19 — 6:00 PM, Long Beach State vs. Arizona
November 19 — 8:00 PM, Jacksonville State vs. Oregon
November 20 — 6:00 PM, Cornell vs. Arizona State
November 21 — 6:00 PM, Idaho State vs. Utah
November 23 — 4:00 PM, Central Michigan vs. Utah
November 24 — TBD, Wright State vs. Utah
November 24 — TBD, Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Washington State
November 24 — 4:30 PM, Colorado State vs. Washington
November 25 — 3:00 PM, Montana State vs. Oregon State
November 25 — 5:00 PM, Air Force vs. Colorado
November 25 — 7:00 PM, Cal Poly vs. UCLA
November 27 — 6:30 PM, Texas Southern vs. Colorado
November 28 — 5:00 PM, Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Arizona State
November 28 — 7:00 PM, Idaho vs. Washington State
November 28 — 7:00 PM, Northern Arizona vs. Arizona
November 28 — 7:00 PM, Seattle vs. Stanford
November 28 — 9:00 PM, Saint Louis vs. Washington
November 28 — 9:00 PM, Cal State Northridge vs. UCLA
November 29 — 7:00 PM, UT San Antonio vs. Oregon
December 1 — 3:30 PM, Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Oregon
December 1 — 5:30 PM, Sacramento State vs. Arizona State
December 1 — 7:30 PM, Portland vs. Washington State
December 2 — 2:00 PM, Denver vs. Stanford
December 2 — 4:00 PM, Cal State Fullerton vs. Washington
December 4 — 6:30 PM, Southern Mississippi vs. Arizona
December 5 — 5:30 PM, Boise State vs. Utah
December 5 — 5:30 PM, Hartford vs. Arizona State
December 5 — 7:30 PM, Colorado State vs. Colorado
December 8 — 11:00 AM, Cal State Northridge vs. Arizona State
December 8 — 1:00 PM, Grambling State vs. Oregon State
December 8 — 3:00 PM, Idaho State vs. Oregon
December 8 — 5:00 PM, Nevada vs. Washington
December 8 — 7:30 PM, Minnesota vs. USC
December 9 — 4:00 PM, Fresno State vs. Washington State
December 12 — 6:00 PM, DePaul vs. Arizona State
December 13 — 7:00 PM, Jackson State vs. Washington State
December 15 — 12:00 PM, Dartmouth vs. Arizona State
December 15 — 2:00 PM, UC Davis vs. Stanford
December 15 — 4:00 PM, UC Riverside vs. USC
December 15 — 4:00 PM, Jackson State vs. Washington
December 15 — 6:00 PM, Prairie View A&M vs. UCLA
December 15 — 8:00 PM, Creighton vs. California
December 16 — 4:00 PM, Chicago State vs. Oregon State
December 18 — 6:00 PM, Oral Roberts vs. Arizona
December 18 — 6:00 PM, Southern Methodist vs. Utah
December 18 — 8:00 PM, UC Santa Barbara vs. California
December 18 — 8:00 PM, Long Beach State vs. UCLA
December 19 — 7:00 PM, Howard vs. Oregon State
December 20 — 6:00 PM, Cal Poly vs. Washington
December 20 — 8:00 PM, UC Irvine vs. USC
December 21 — 5:30 PM, Northern Arizona vs. Colorado
December 21 — 7:30 PM, Cal State Northridge vs. Utah
December 21 — 7:30 PM, Buffalo vs. Washington State
December 22 — 12:00 PM, Houston Baptist vs. Oregon
December 22 — 2:00 PM, Prairie View A&M vs. California
December 22 — 4:00 PM, Northern Illinois vs. Washington
December 22 — 6:00 PM, San Diego vs. Oregon State
December 22 — 8:00 PM, Fresno State vs. UCLA
December 28 — 6:30 PM, College of Idaho vs. Utah
December 29 — 11:00 AM, Coppin State vs. Arizona State
December 29 — 11:00 AM, Hartford vs. Colorado
December 29 — 1:00 PM, Towson vs. Oregon State
December 29 — 3:00 PM, Idaho State vs. Washington State
December 29 — 5:00 PM, Harvard vs. California
December 29 — 7:30 PM, Lafayette vs. Stanford
December 30 — 4:00 PM, Dayton vs. USC
December 31 — 2:00 PM, Texas-Pan American vs. Oregon State
December 31 — 4:00 PM, Nevada vs. Oregon
January 2 — 7:00 PM, Utah vs. Arizona State
January 5 — 12:00 PM, Stanford vs. UCLA
January 5 — 2:00 PM, Utah vs. Arizona
January 6 — 5:00 PM, Colorado vs. Arizona State
January 9 — 7:00 PM, Washington State vs. Stanford
January 10 — 6:30 PM, UCLA vs. Utah
January 10 — 8:30 PM, Arizona State vs. Oregon State
January 12 — 11:00 AM, UCLA vs. Colorado
January 12 — 1:00 PM, Washington State vs. California
January 12 — 3:00 PM, USC vs. Utah
January 13 — 6:00 PM, Arizona State vs. Oregon
January 16 — 6:30 PM, Utah vs. Washington State
January 16 — 8:30 PM, Colorado vs. Washington
January 19 — 5:00 PM, Oregon State vs. USC
January 19 — 7:00 PM, Colorado vs. Washington State
January 23 — 6:30 PM, Washington State vs. Oregon
January 23 — 8:30 PM, Washington vs. Oregon State
January 24 — 5:30 PM, California vs. Utah
January 24 — 7:30 PM, USC vs. Arizona State
January 26 — 2:00 PM, Washington State vs. Oregon State
January 26 — 4:00 PM, Washington vs. Oregon
January 27 — 6:00 PM, Stanford vs. Utah
January 30 — 7:00 PM, USC vs. UCLA
January 31 — 8:00 PM, Arizona State vs. Washington State
February 2 — 7:00 PM, Arizona vs. Washington State
February 3 — 12:00 PM, Oregon State vs. Stanford
February 6 — 7:00 PM, Utah vs. Oregon State
February 7 — 6:30 PM, California vs. Arizona State
February 7 — 8:30 PM, Washington State vs. USC
February 9 — 5:00 PM, Utah vs. Oregon
February 9 — 7:00 PM, Washington State vs. UCLA
February 10 — 4:00 PM, California vs. Arizona
February 10 — 6:00 PM, Colorado vs. Oregon State
February 13 — 5:00 PM, Arizona State vs. Utah
February 13 — 7:00 PM, Oregon State vs. Washington State
February 14 — 7:00 PM, Arizona vs. Colorado
February 16 — 4:00 PM, Oregon vs. Washington State
February 17 — 12:00 PM, Arizona vs. Utah
February 20 — 7:00 PM, Washington State vs. Arizona State
February 21 — 7:00 PM, Utah vs. Colorado
February 23 — 3:00 PM, California vs. Oregon State
February 23 — 5:00 PM, Stanford vs. Oregon
February 27 — 6:30 PM, Arizona vs. USC
February 27 — 8:30 PM, Arizona State vs. UCLA
March 3 — 2:00 PM, Utah vs. Stanford
March 6 — 6:30 PM, UCLA vs. Washington State
March 6 — 8:30 PM, USC vs. Washington
March 9 — 11:30 AM, Oregon vs. Utah
March 9 — 1:30 PM, Oregon State vs. Colorado
March 9 — 3:30 PM, USC vs. Washington State
March 13 — 12:00 PM, Pac-12 Tournament – Game 1
March 13 — 2:30 PM, Pac-12 Tournament – Game 2
March 13 — 6:00 PM, Pac-12 Tournament – Game 3
March 13 — 8:30 PM, Pac-12 Tournament – Game 4
March 14 — 12:00 PM, Pac-12 Tournament – Quarterfinal 1
March 14 — 2:30 PM, Pac-12 Tournament – Quarterfinal 2
March 14 — 6:00 PM, Pac-12 Tournament – Quarterfinal 3
March 15 — 6:00 PM, Pac-12 Tournament – Semifinal 1
ESPN’s Pac-12 schedule is next.
Oct
31
Screamin’ Gus Johnson Returns For Another Season of Big Ten Basketball
This from Big Ten Network. We have the talent lineup for BTN For the upcoming basketball season.
Gus Johnson returns for another season, his 5th with the network. Also calling play-by-play will be Eric Collins, Kevin Kugler, Brian Anderson, Wayne Larrivee, Tom Hamilton and coming out of the studio, Dave Revsine.
Sam Vincent, Dan Bonner, Steve Smith, Greg Kelser, Mike Kelley, Scoonie Penn and Sean Harrington are among the analysts for men’s basketball.
LaChina Robinson and Debbie Antonelli are among the women’s analysts.
Let’s take a look at the Big Ten Network press release.
BTN Announces On-Air Talent Roster for 2012 Men’s & Women’s Basketball Season
BTN to air two 60-minute preview shows to launch season
CHICAGO – BTN today revealed its studio talent for the 2012 Big Ten men’s and women’s basketball season. Gus Johnson, one of America’s favorite sportscasters, will return to BTN for his fifth season as a men’s basketball play-by-play announcer. Johnson joined BTN during the 2008-09 season. Known for his memorable catchphrases, Johnson’s style is popular among fans.
BTN has added five new faces to the men’s basketball talent roster. Justin Kutcher, who previously worked for ESPN, will join BTN’s deep roster of returning play-by-play announcers, which includes Eric Collins, Kevin Kugler, Dave Revsine, Brian Anderson, Tom Hamilton and Wayne Larrivee.
Sam Vincent, former head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, Mike Kelley, who previously worked as an analyst for ESPN, Scoonie Penn, former Ohio State point guard and Sean Harrington, former Illinois shooting guard, will all join returning BTN analysts Jim Jackson, Shon Morris, Greg Kelser, Dan Bonner, Steve Smith and Eddie Johnson. Vincent, who played at Michigan State, spent seven seasons in the NBA with multiple teams and won an NBA Championship with the 1986 Boston Celtics. Kelley, a former Badger basketball standout and 1999 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, holds Wisconsin’s all-time record in career steals with 275. Penn was a two-time All Big Ten selection and a third team All-American as a senior. Harrington spent the last four years at Illinois as the Director of Basketball Operations.
BTN has added former ESPN and NBA TV analyst LaChina Robinson to the women’s basketball talent roster. Robinson, who played in college at Wake Forest, will join returning analysts Stephanie White, Mary Murphy and Debbie Antonelli. Returning play-by-play talent to the women’s basketball roster includes Lisa Byington and Brenda VanLengen, as well as Kugler and Collins.
BTN will bring fans two 60-minute basketball preview shows for both men’s and women’s basketball. The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Preview Show will air at 7 PM ET on Nov. 4 and will be hosted by Revsine and Jackson. The Women’s Big Ten Basketball Preview Show will air at 8:30 PM ET on Nov. 5 and be hosted by White and BTN’s Mike Hall.
BTN is the fan’s home for Big Ten basketball this season, airing more than 175 men’s and women’s conference and non-conference matchups, which includes four Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament games and 10 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament games. All televised games will also be available on BTN2Go. An additional 150 games will be streamed on the Big Ten Digital Network.
That is all. Look for more college basketball posts throughout the day.
Oct
31
Pac-12 Networks Announce Talent Lineup For Inaugural Basketball Broadcasts
While Pac-12 Networks may not be on DirecTV, it still steams ahead with its schedule. Basketball season will be starting soon and the network has announced its play-by-play callers and analysts for inaugural year of broadcasts.
Familiar names to West Coasters fill the roster including Ted Robinson, Kevin Calabro, Roxy Bernstein and Paul Sunderland are among those to call the play-by-play.
Bill Walton, Don MacLean, Ernie Kent, Lenny Wilkens and Detlef Schrempf are among the analysts who will be on the basketball telecasts.
Overall, this is a strong lineup of announcers to call the games on Pac-12 Networks. Take a look at the press release below.
Bill Walton, Don MacLean, Ernie Kent, Lenny Wilkens & Detlef Schrempf Headline Analyst Team for Pac-12 Networks Live Game Telecasts
Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Media Day to be Held at Pac-12 Studios & Streamed Live on Pac-12.com Thursday, November 1 with ‘Pac-12 Media Day Special’ Airing on Networks at 9:00 PM PT
‘Pac-12 Networks 2012 Men’s Basketball Season Preview’ Show Debuts Wednesday, November 7 at 7:00 PM PTSAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., October 30, 2012 — Pac-12 Networks gets set to hit the hard court with its first season of men’s basketball game coverage that features 150 exciting live contests and dynamic analysis from legendary Pac-12 names. Live game action begins Friday, November 9 at 4:00 PM PT with five nonconference matchups and concludes with the first eight games of the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball tournament from its new home at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV.
For its coverage, Pac-12 Networks has assembled a talented group of voices to provide play-by-play and analysis for both live games and studio shows. Led by UCLA and NBA legend Bill Walton, Pac-12 Networks men’s broadcast team also includes:
Analyst Team:
Don MacLean
Former UCLA Bruin standout and all-time Pac-12 scoring leaderErnie Kent
Former University of Oregon head coach and Pac-10 Coach of the Year (2002)Lenny Wilkens
Hall of Fame player and coach; NBA Champion (1979) and Coach of the Year (1994)Detlef Schrempf
Former Washington Huskies forward and three-time NBA All-StarBrevin Knight
Former Stanford All-American and 12-year NBA veteranLamar Hurd
Former Oregon State guardDan Belluomini
Former University of San Francisco head men’s basketball coachJoe Cravens
Former University of Utah men’s basketball coachMatt Muehlebach
Former Arizona Wildcats guardChris Spatola
Former Army guard and Director of Basketball Operations for Duke men’s basketball
Play-by-play Team:
Kevin Calabro
Pac-12 Networks football play-by-play voice; Seattle radio personality and former voice of the Seattle SupersonicsTed Robinson
Pac-12 Networks football announcer; Two-time Emmy winner and current radio voice of the San Francisco 49ersRoxy Bernstein
Voice of Cal men’s basketball and former San Francisco radio personalityJB Long
Sports reporter and host with former assignments covering the MLB and Summer OlympicsRich Cellini
Seasoned play-by-play voice with previous assignments at CBS Sports Network, FOX Sports and ABC Sports covering college football and the NFLMark Rogondino
Pac-12 Networks lead men’s soccer announcer and current play-by-play voice for the Los Angeles GalaxyPaul Sunderland
Southern California sports personality covering the Lakers for FOX Sports Net; Also covering beach volleyball and the NBA for FSN and NBC SportsJim Watson
Multi-sport announcer with over 20 years of broadcasting experience covering the Pac-12 and professional sports for NBC, FOX Sports, ESPN3 and Universal Sports“With the incredible amount of talent Pac-12 men’s basketball is bringing to the court this season, there could not be a better time for Pac-12 Networks to showcase the tradition and strength of the conference’s 12 teams with an unprecedented amount of live coverage,” said Lydia Murphy-Stephans, Pac-12 Networks Executive Vice President and General Manager. “We’re thrilled to host the conference coaches and players in our new home to officially kick off the season, as well as introduce our all-star talent roster that includes Hall of Famers, Emmy winners and some of the best former players in the conference.”
Several of Pac-12 Networks’ men’s basketball on-air team will be on hand for Media Day, being held at Pac-12 Studios Thursday, November 1. Pac-12.com will offer live streaming of all the action including both player and coaches press conferences, while at 9:00 PM PT, MacLean, Kent and host Mike Yam put a bow on all the day’s events on the Pac-12 Media Day Special on Pac-12 Networks.
The Pac-12 Networks basketball schedule begins Friday, November 9 and over that first weekend will feature home openers for 11 Pac-12 teams. The unprecedented amount of exposure means that each school will be featured at least 11 times during the season and guarantees that every Pac-12 home game will be televised for the first time in Conference history. The schedule boasts 92 nonconference battles, including 11 contests featuring 2012 NCAA tournament-qualifying opponents. The conference season opens the first week in January with Utah at Arizona State, Stanford at UCLA, Utah at Arizona and Colorado at Arizona State.
With UCLA and Arizona bringing in top rated recruiting classes and several prominent starters returning from all 12 schools, including Allen Crabbe (California), Solomon Hill (Arizona), Brock Motum (Washington State) and Andre Roberson (Colorado), the race for the Pac-12 title figures to come down to the wire, as it did a year ago. The Pac-12 featured seven teams with 20-or-more wins and seven others with 10-or-more conference wins. Washington edged Cal for the regular season title before Colorado claimed the Pac-12 Tournament title in dramatic fashion.
Men’s hoops joins Pac-12 women’s basketball as the first programs to have postseason games televised live on Pac-12 Networks with the first eight games of the 2013 Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament from its new home in Las Vegas, NV March 13-15. The Pac-12 Networks schedule also includes special neutral site regular season matchups with bay area teams San Francisco and Stanford squaring off at Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA November 9 at 8:00 PM PT, Buffalo vs. Washington State at Seattle’s Key Arena December 21 at 7:30 PM PT and Idaho State in a 3:00 PM PT contest versus the Cougars December 29 at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, WA.
That is all.
Oct
31
Wednesday’s Viewing Picks
College Basketball
ESPN The Magazine: College Basketball Preview — ESPNU, 7 p.m.
Onward Notre Dame: South Bend to Soldier Field — NBC Sports Network, 9 p.m.
College Football
CFB Daily — ESPNU, 1 p.m.
College Football Live — ESPN, 3:30 p.m.
Lemming Report — CBS Sports Network, 7:30 p.m.
Tackling the Trends — CBS Sports Network, 8 p.m.
College Volleyball
Women’s
Purdue at Illinois — Big Ten Network, 8 p.m.
Texas at TCU — ESPNU, 8 p.m.
San Diego at BYU — ESPNU, 10 p.m.
Colorado at Washington State — Pac-12 Network, 10 p.m.
English League Cup
Chelsea vs. Manchester United — beIN Sport, 3:40 p.m.
Golf
PGA Tour: World Golf Championship – HSBC Champions, 1st Round — Golf Channel, 11 p.m.
On the Range: Charles Schwab Cup Championship — Golf Channel, 9 p.m.
WBC-HSBC Champions Preview — Golf Channel, 10 p.m.
MLB
2012 World Series Celebration & Parade — Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 1:30 p.m./MLB Network, 2 p.m.
NASCAR
Inside NASCAR: Week 8 — Showtime, 10 p.m.
NBA
San Antonio at New Orleans — NBA TV, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Lakers at Portland — NBA TV, 10:30 p.m.
NBA Coast to Coast — ESPN, 9 p.m.
NFL
NFL Live — ESPN, 4 p.m.
Around the League Live — NFL Network, 5 p.m.
Chris Spielman: A Football Life — NFL Network, 8 p.m.
Inside the NFL: Week 8 — Showtime, 9 p.m.
NFL Turning Point — NBC Sports Network, 10 p.m.
Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
The ‘Lights — NBC Sports Network, 6 a.m.
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/Root Sports (Northwest/Pittsburgh/Rocky Mountain), 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 10 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV)/DanPatrick.com, noon
SVP & Russillo — ESPNews, 1 p.m.
Outside the Lines — ESPN, 3 p.m.
Dan Le Batard is Totally Nuts Extremely Crazy Highly Questionable — ESPN2, 4:30 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 5 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
Sportfolio — Bloomberg, 9:30 p.m.
Lead Off — CBS Sports Network, midnight
UNITE — ESPNU, midnight
Tennis
ATP Tour: BNP Paribas Masters: 3rd Round — Tennis Channel, 5:30 a.m.
Entertainment
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown — ABC, 8 p.m.
Survivor: Philippines — CBS, 8 p.m.
Arrow — The CW, 8 p.m.
The Exorcist — IFC, 8 p.m.
World Without End: Part 3: Plague and Passion — Reelz, 8 p.m.
My Grandmother’s Ravioli: Gaetano Varbero – Eating Outdoors — Cooking Channel, 8:30 p.m.
Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry?: Homeland Insecurity — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Resident Evil: Apocalypse — Cinemax, 9 p.m.
Combat Countdown: The Indestructibles — Military Channel, 9 p.m.
Ghost Hunters: Tunnels of Terror — SyFy, 9 p.m.
Suburgatory — ABC, 9:30 p.m.
The Devil You Know: Buried Secrets — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation — CBS, 10 p.m.
American Horror Story: Asylum — FX, 10 p.m.
Black Ops: Assault on al-Qaeda — Military Channel, 10 p.m.
Sandra Lee’s Taverns, Lounges & Clubs: After Hours — Cooking Channel, 10:30 p.m.
Mega Dens: A Mega Tale From The Crypt — DIY Network, 10:30 p.m.
House Hunters International: Sweden — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
Conan — TBS, 11 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.
Oct
30
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area Airs The Giants World Series Celebration & Parade
The San Francisco Giants will celebrate their World Series Championship with their fans on Wednesday. Starting at 10:30 a.m. Bay Area time, the Giants will hold their victory parade and that will be followed by an event at City Hall.
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area will air the entire four-hour event commercial-free and will also stream it live at CSNBayArea.com.
Comcast SportsNet will also re-air the celebration later Wednesday night at 11 PT.
Let’s take a look at what CSN Bay Area is saying about the Giants’ celebration as well as whom will be out all over the city to cover the event. Check it all out below.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS WORLD SERIES PARADE AND CITY HALLCELEBRATION TO AIR LIVE TOMORROW BEGINNING AT 10:30 A.M. PTON COMCAST SPORTSNET BAY AREA & CSNBAYAREA.COM
Network’s Comprehensive Season-Long Giants Coverage
Cumulates with Over 4 Hours of Live, Commercial-Free Celebration Coverage
World Series Parade and City Hall Celebration Presented in Full HD
Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper to Provide Exclusive Commentary Along Parade RouteSAN FRANCISCO, CA (October 30, 2012) – Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, the on-air and online home of “Authentic Bay Area Sports,” celebrates the 2012 World Champion San Francisco Giants with live HD coverage of the ticker-tape parade and the City Hall celebration beginning at 10:30 a.m. PT tomorrow (October 31). In addition, CSNBayArea.com will provide live video streaming of the entire parade and civic celebration beginning at 10:30 a.m. The network’s parade and City Hall celebration coverage will be commercial-free and will be presented in full HD.
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s parade and City Hall coverage is anchored by the region’s most comprehensive sports news team – Greg Papa, Vida Blue and Bill Laskey (@Laskey19) from the network’s studio; Jaymee Sire (@JaymeeSireCSN), Mindi Bach (@MBachCSN) and Brodie Brazil (@BrodieBrazilCSN) stationed along the parade route; Amy Gutierrez (@AmyGGiants) with exclusive access to the parade participants; and Jim Kozimor (@CSNKoz), Scott Reiss (@ScottReissCSN), Andrew Baggarly (@CSNBaggs) and other CSN reporters from City Hall, providing viewers with live reports along the parade route, including an inside look at the celebration with exclusive interviews and access to Giants players, coaches, legends and front office executives. Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper will join Comcast SportsNet’s coverage and will provide exclusive commentary along the parade route.
The parade will begin at the foot of Market Street at 11 a.m. and will continue down Market Street to Civic Center Plaza. Following the parade, on the steps of City Hall, Mayor Ed Lee will honor the World Series Champions in a civic celebration.
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area will re-air the parade coverage later that night at 11 p.m. as well as Thursday (November 1) at 7 p.m. and Friday (November 2) at 11 p.m.
That is all.
Oct
30
MLB Network Unveils Offseason Lineup Including Hot Stove in the Mornings
Now that the 2012 baseball season is over, MLB Network will be transitioning to offseason mode.
Most of the offseason shows will begin next Monday, November 5, but the big move is Hot Stove becoming a live morning show the following Monday, November 12 airing at 9 a.m. ET. Matt Vasgersian and Harold Reynolds will co-host with Joe Posnanski of the new venture, Sports on Earth, joining them.
The Abortion Known as Intentional Talk continues with Chris Rose and the always-yelling Kevin Millar in its regular timeslot at 5 p.m. ET, but will be a half-hour.
That will be followed by Clubhouse Confidential with Brian Kenny and then MLB Tonight becomes a year-round show.
We have details from MLB Network.
HOT STOVE MOVES TO MORNINGS THIS OFFSEASON ON MLB NETWORK
Matt Vasgersian & Harold Reynolds to Host Two-Hour Live Weekday Morning Show Starting Monday, November 12 at 9:00 a.m. ET
Intentional Talk with Chris Rose and Kevin Millar to Air on Weekdays at 5:00 p.m. ET
Clubhouse Confidential with Brian Kenny Returns on Monday, November 5 at 5:30 p.m. ET
MLB Tonight Moves to Year-Round Show Airing Daily at 6:00 p.m. ETSecaucus, N.J., October 30, 2012 – MLB Network today announced its weekday programming lineup for the offseason, featuring the re-launch of Hot Stove as a morning show, as Matt Vasgersian and Harold Reynolds host a live, two-hour weekday talk show starting Monday, November 12 at 9:00 a.m. ET. MLB Tonight, MLB Network’s signature studio show, will shift to a year-round show for the first time, airing throughout the entire offseason at 6:00 p.m. ET and 8:00 p.m. ET.
In an offseason where news can break at any moment, Hot Stove will start a baseball fan’s day by providing live analysis, debate and interviews with MLB Network insiders, current MLB players and celebrity baseball fans.
Based out of MLB Network’s new Studio K, Hot Stove will also feature perspectives from Sports on Earth writers, including 2012 National Sportswriter of the Year Joe Posnanski. Launched this past August under a joint venture between USA Today Sports Media Group and MLB Advanced Media, L.P., Sports on Earth is an online destination for sports writing in all its forms.
Throughout the offseason, Vasgersian and Reynolds will set out to find the “Face of MLB” by creating a bracket-style tournament with matchup results voted on by fans using social media. Fans will first vote which player they think is the face of each MLB franchise before matching each club’s player up to determine the “Face of MLB.” MLB Network will air the best of Hot Stove weekdays at 4:00 p.m. ET.
MLB Network’s offseason lineup will feature Chris Rose and Kevin Millar continuing to host a 30-minute edition of Intentional Talk weekdays at 5:00 p.m. ET and 7:00 p.m. ET. Clubhouse Confidential, hosted by Brian Kenny, will return and air weekdays at 5:30 p.m. ET and 7:30 p.m. ET beginning Monday, November 5. MLB Tonight will regularly air weekdays at 6:00 p.m. ET and 8:00 p.m. ET, providing fans the latest news, interviews and reports around the league.
With the re-launch of Hot Stove as a morning show, MLB Network’s offseason lineup now includes more than 35 hours of original studio programming each week.
MLB Network’s 2012-2013 offseason weekday studio programming lineup is as follows:
9:00 a.m. ET: Hot Stove
11:00 a.m. ET: Hot Stove
4:00 p.m. ET: Best of Hot Stove
5:00 p.m. ET: Intentional Talk
5:30 p.m. ET: Clubhouse Confidential
6:00 p.m. ET: MLB Tonight
7:00 p.m. ET: Intentional Talk
7:30 p.m. ET: Clubhouse Confidential
8:00 p.m. ET: MLB Tonight
11:00 p.m. ET: MLB Tonight
And that does it.
Oct
30
Some Tuesday Links
I hope those of you in the Mid-Atlantic states are ok after Hurricane Sandy. I’m lucky to still have power after yesterday’s gusts in Southern New England. I know many are not. Hopefully you’re ok after Sandy and you can start getting back to normal. Let’s do some linkage for you.
Michael Hiestand of USA Today talks about the World Series’ ratings.
Ed Sherman at The Sherman Report wonders why the World Series ratings continue to decline.
Ed goes behind the scenes with ESPN’s Monday Night Football.
Ed has an interview with Jay “The Rat” Mariotti.
Michael O’Connell from the Hollywood Reporter says the World Series ratings fell from last year, but still won their respective nights.
Tim Baysinger of Broadcasting & Cable notes the 2012 World Series fell way below its previous record low.
Tim looks at NBC’s deal with the English Premier League.
Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News talks with MLB Network head honcho Tony Petitti about obtaining the rights to the next two World Baseball Classics.
Mike says Univision has signed the rights to the CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer tournament.
Brian Steinberg of Advertising Age talks about the World Series’ low ratings.
Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life says Fox won Sunday night with an NFL overrun and the World Series.
Newsday’s Neil Best notes that WFAN begins its FM simulcast on Friday.
NBA on TNT voice Marv Albert writes in the New York Times about welcoming the Nets to Brooklyn.
Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette says Fox has changed the NFL game being sent to the Capital Region for the second consecutive week.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has the college football TV schedule for Week 10.
Pete has the NFL TV schedule for Weeks 9 and 10.
Ken McMillan from the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record notes the MLS Playoffs start this Wednesday.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner talks with NBA TV’s Chris Webber about the Wizards.
Tom Jones in the Tampa Bay Times reviews the weekend in sports television.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle looks at the weekend ratings.
Mel Bracht of The Oklahoman says a former Sooner basketball player will be the analyst for several Oklahoma games this season.
Dusty Saunders at the Denver Post is a fan of NBC’s Tony Dungy.
Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News notes that the West Coast Conference gets a TV deal.
EPL Talk looks at the new NBC Sports-English Premier League deal.
Matt Yoder from Awful Announcing analyzes what airing English Premier League games means for NBC and NBC Sports Network.
The EPL also made a new rights deal in Canada.
Sports Rantz looks at some radio and sports broadcasts affected by Hurricane Sandy.
And that will be it for now.
Oct
30
Tuesday’s Viewing Picks
College Football
CFB Daily — ESPNU, 1 p.m.
College Football Live — ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
Inside College Football — CBS Sports Network, 7 p.m.
The Tony Barnhart Show — CBS Sports Network, 9 p.m.
Golf
Big Break Greenbrier: A Very Tall Order — Golf Channel, 9 p.m.
Chasing the Dream: One Club Changes Everything — Golf Channel, 10 p.m.
Our Longest Drive: Continental Drive — Golf Channel, 10:30 p.m.
MLB
2012 Gold Glove Awards — ESPN2, 9:30 p.m.
NBA
Boston at Miami — TNT, 8 p.m.
Dallas at Los Angeles Lakers — TNT, 10:30 p.m.
NBA TV Season Preview 2012-2013 — NBA TV, 6 p.m.
NBA Tip-Off — TNT, 7 p.m.
Inside the NBA — TNT, 1 a.m. (Wednesday)
NFL
NFL Live — ESPN, 4 p.m.
Around the League Live — NFL Network, 5 p.m.
Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
The ‘Lights — NBC Sports Network, 6 a.m.
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/Root Sports (Northwest/Pittsburgh/Rocky Mountain), 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 10 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV)/DanPatrick.com, noon
SVP & Russillo — ESPNews, 1 p.m.
Outside the Lines — ESPN2, 3 p.m.
Dan Le Batard is Absolutely Insane Totally Nuts Highly Questionable — ESPN2, 4:30 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 5 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
E:60 — ESPN, 7 p.m.
30 for 30: Ghosts of Ole Miss — ESPN, 8 p.m.
Lead Off — CBS Sports Network, midnight
UNITE — ESPNU, midnight
Tennis
ATP Tour: BNP Paribas Masters, 1st and 2nd Round — Tennis Channel, 5 a.m.
Entertainment
NCIS — CBS, 8 p.m.
Hart of Dixie — The CW, 8 p.m.
Ellen DeGeneres: The Mark Twain Prize — PBS, 8 p.m.
Transporter 3 — IFC, 8 p.m.
Doomsday Preppers Bugged Out: It’s Only a Question of When — National Geographic Channel, 8 p.m.
Chuck’s Eat the Street: Where the Ocean Meets the Farm — Cooking Channel, 8:30 p.m.
Kitchen Crashers: Refined Rustic Kitchen — DIY Network, 9 p.m.
New Girl — Fox, 9 p.m.
Airport 24/7: Miami: Fuel Fire (season finale) — Travel Channel, 9 p.m.
NCIS: Los Angeles — CBS, 9 p.m.
Alaska: The Last Frontier: The River Wild — Discovery, 9 p.m.
The Men Who Built America: Changing the Game — History Channel, 9 p.m.
Hard Time: Stress Box — National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
The Mindy Project — Fox, 9:30 p.m.
Frontline: Big Sky, Big Money — PBS, 9:30 p.m.
Don’t Trust the B*&%@( in Apartment 23 — ABC, 9:31 p.m.
I Hate My Bath: Luxurious Layout — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
Private Practice — ABC, 10 p.m.
Chef Race: U.K. vs U.S.: Hot Sauce Hustle — BBC America, 10 p.m.
Sons of Anarchy — FX, 10 p.m.
Zero Hour: The Final Minutes of Flight 11 — Military Channel, 10 p.m.
Underemployed: The Roommate — MTV, 10 p.m.
I Hate My Kitchen: Lofty Ideas — DIY Network, 10:30 p.m.
House Hunters International: Brisbane, Australia — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
Flashpoint — Ion, 11 p.m.
Conan — TBS, 11 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.
Oct
29
2012 World Series on Fox Averages 7.6 Rating For Four Games; Lowest in US TV History
We have the final ratings for the 2012 World Series on Fox. First, the ratings for Game 4 which ended as the highest rated of all the broadcasts this year. It resulted in an 8.9 rating and 14 share, down from last year’s Game 4 which had a 9.2/14. The viewership, however, was higher than last year’s Game 4 which averaged 15.2 million viewers. This year’s Game 4 garnered 15.5 million.
Game 3 was hit hard by college football and ended with a 6.1/11. Fox did win the night on Saturday and Sunday.
Now for the four game average which resulted in the lowest ratings ever for a World Series on American television. It averaged a 7.6 rating with a 12 share.
Here’s the Fox Sports press release.
15.5 MILLION VIEWERS TUNE IN TO WITNESS GIANTS WIN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ON FOX
Fall Classic Remains Top Ten Show; No. 2 in Men 18-49
New York, NY – The San Francisco Giants captured their secondWorld Series title in three years last night and 15.5 million viewers tuned in to see the extra innings drama unfold on FOX Sports.
Sunday night’s decisive Game 4, which completed the Giants’ sweep of the Detroit Tigers, posted 8.9/14 fast-national rating/share, according to Nielsen Media Research. The average audience of 15.5 million viewers is up +2% from last year’s Game 4 average (15.2 million viewers, 9.2/14 rating/share).
The Giants aren’t the only ones to sweep during this series. FOX is projected to win both Saturday (Game 3) and Sunday nights in the coveted Adults 18-49 demographic, giving the network a win each World Series night this year. Saturday and Sunday’s broadcasts also won the night in household ratings, bringing the network to a total of three primetime wins during the Fall Classic. Game 3 on Saturday night posted a 6.1/11 fast-national rating/share.
When compared against other primetime programming, the World Series remains a top-ten force. The 2012 World Series averaged a 7.6/12 rating/share and 12.7 million viewers, ranking No. 9 in viewership among all primetime programming this season. This year’s four-game series still placed No. 2 among Men 18-49 (4.7); No. 3 in Men 25-54 (5.6); No. 4 with Men 18-34 (4.0); tied for No. 6 in Adults 18 – 49 (3.7); tied for No. 8 in Adults 18 – 34 (3.2) and No. 9 among Adults 25-54 (4.3).
“The World Series has been a top ten primetime hit for over 40 years and even with a four-game sweep this series was no exception,” said Michael Mulvihill, Senior Vice President of Programming and Research, FOX Sports Media Group. “This World Series gave us exactly what we expected: a top ten show among all viewers and a top five show among hard-to-reach younger men. It’s important for us to remain focused on the Series relative to today’s competitive environment rather than bygone years. The World Series remains a powerful force in primetime and we’re fortunate to have the Fall Classic for at least nine more years to look forward to.”
World Series Game 4 is the highest-rated, most-watched primetime program in households on FOX since the AMERICAN IDOLFinale this past May and provided the network its best Sunday night primetime performance since the NFC Championship Game on January 22, 2012. Last night’s game peaked with an 11.3 at 11:45 PM as the decisive 10th inningunfolded.
San Francisco led all markets with a 38.7/64 for Game 4, scoring the best rating of any MLB game in that market since Game 7 of the 2002 World Series between the Angels and the Giants. Detroit scored a 37.9/53 for Game 4, notching Motown’s highest rating for an MLB game since Game 2 of the 2006 World Series between the Tigers and the Cardinals.
That is all.
Oct
29
NBA on TNT Kicks Off The 2012-13 Season With A Doubleheader
On Tuesday, TNT will have the season opening games for the new season. It begins with the Boston Celtics taking on the Miami Heat. Included in the coverage will be the Ring Ceremony as the Heat celebrates its championship from last season.
Marv Albert, Steve Kerr and the Czar of the Telestrator, Mike Fratello will be on hand to call all of the action for TNT. David Aldridge will be the courtside reporter. Game coverage kicks off at 8 p.m. ET.
TNT has pregame coverage with the Inside the NBA crew starting at 7 p.m.
And the nightcap will have the Dallas Mavericks taking on the Los Angeles Lakers live from Staples Center at 10:30 p.m. Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller will be there to call the action and Craig Sager’s loud wardrobe will roam the sidelines.
Here’s the TNT press release.
Miami Heat Ring Ceremony to Precede Game Action During TNT NBA Tip-Off Pre-game Show at 7 p.m. ET
Inside the NBA Studio Team of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith On Site in Brooklyn Nov. 1Turner Broadcasting tips off its 29th year of NBA coverage with TNT featuring two nights of doubleheaders beginning Tuesday, Oct. 30, with the defending NBA Champion Miami Heat hosting the Boston Celtics at 8 p.m. ET. Marv Albert will call the game with analyst Steve Kerr and reporter Craig Sager. In the nightcap, the Los Angeles Lakers will host the Dallas Mavericks at 10:30 p.m. Kevin Harlan will handle play-by-play with analyst Reggie Miller and reporter David Aldridge.
The network’s opening night coverage will include the Miami Heat Ring Ceremony during the one-hour TNT NBA Tip-Off pregame show – with TNT’s Emmy® Award-winning studio show team of host Ernie Johnson and analysts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal – at 7 p.m. ET. Johnson, Barkley, Smith and O’Neal will return following the doubleheader for the Inside the NBA post-game show.
TNT’s opening week action will continue Thursday, Nov. 1, with the home debut of the Brooklyn Nets against the New York Knicks at 7 p.m. Albert will call the game with Kerr and Sager. Additionally, TNT’s studio team of Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith will be live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the game. The studio crew will contribute to a special one-hour pre-game show at 6 p.m. on NBA TV. Matt Winer will also anchor NBA TV’s pre-game coverage from Turner Studios in Atlanta with analysts Chris Webber and Rick Fox, along with Inside the NBA on TNT. The Nov. 1 doubleheader will conclude with a Western Conference Finals rematch between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs at 9:30 p.m. Harlan will be courtside along with Miller and Aldridge.
NBA on TNT Opening Week Schedule:
DAY/DATE TIME (ET) EVENT Tuesday, October 30 7 p.m. TNT NBA Tip-Off ’12 (including Miami Heat Ring Ceremony) Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith (analysts) 8 p.m. Boston Celtics @ Miami Heat Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr and Mike Fratello (analysts) with David Aldridge (reporter) 10:30 p.m. Dallas Mavericks @ Los Angeles Lakers Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Reggie Miller (analyst) with Craig Sager (reporter) Post-game Inside the NBA Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley, Shaquile O’Neal and Kenny Smith (analysts) Thursday, November 1 6 p.m. Special NBA TV Pre-Game Show (NBA TV telecast) Matt Winer (host), Chris Webber and Rick Fox (analysts) from Atlanta Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith (analysts) from Brooklyn 7 p.m. New York Knicks @ New Jersey Nets Marv Albert and Steve Kerr with Craig Sager 9:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder @ San Antonio Spurs Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller with David Aldridge Post-game Inside the NBA (live from Turner Studios in Atlanta) Matt Winer (host), Chris Webber and Rick Fox (analysts)
That will do it.
Oct
29
Dan Patrick Finally Makes Announcement About Show’s Home
After numerous false starts, Dan Patrick finally made the long-awaited announcement on where the the TV portion of his radio show will be aired. Yes, it’s been confirmed by Dan himself that the show will be airing live every morning on NBC Sports Network from 9 a.m. – noon ET starting next Monday, November 5. He made the announcement at the beginning of his show thus morning.
Fang’s Bites learned last August that NBC was negotiating with DirecTV to become the cable home of the Dan Patrick Show. The show was distributed on Fox Sports Net from 2010 through mid-October.
The radio show continues to be syndicated through Fox Sports Radio.
Oct
29
Monday’s Viewing Picks
College Football
CFB Daily — ESPNU, 1 p.m.
College Football Live — ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
Final Verdict — ESPNU, 4:30 p.m.
ESPNU BCS Countdown — ESPNU, 6 p.m.
Lemming Report — CBS Sports Network, 8 p.m.
Football
2012 Global Bowl, Italy
Stars & Stripes vs. Italian U-19 — CBS Sports Network, 10 p.m.
Golf
Top 10: Ben Hogan — Golf Channel, 8 p.m.
Our Longest Drive: Rough Road to Heaven — Golf Channel, 8:30 p.m.
MLB Postseason
World Series
Game 5: San Francisco Giants at Detroit Tigers — Fox, 8 p.m. (San Francisco leads series 3-1)
MLB Tonight: World Series Edition — MLB Network, 3 p.m.
MLB Tonight: World Series Edition — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, 7 p.m.
Fox World Series Pregame — Fox, 7:30 p.m.
MLB Tonight: World Series Edition — MLB Network, 11 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, 12:30 a.m. (Tuesday)
NBA
NBA GameTime — NBA TV, 8 p.m.
NFL
San Francisco at Arizona — ESPN, 8:30 p.m.
NFL PrimeTime — ESPN, 3 p.m.
Around the League Live — NFL Network, 3 p.m.
NFL Live — ESPN, 4 p.m.
NFL Monday Quarterback — CBS Sports Network, 6:30 p.m.
NFL Total Access: Monday Night Football Preview — NFL Network, 7 p.m.
NFL Total Access: Monday Night Football Postgame –NFL Network, 11:30 p.m.
Olympics
Return to London: The Games of the XXX Olympiad
NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.
NBC Sports Network, 8 p.m.
NBC Sports Network, 9 p.m.
NBC Sports Network, 10 p.m.
NBC Sports Network, 11 p.m.
Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
The ‘Lights — NBC Sports Network, 6 a.m.
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/Root Sports (Northwest/Pittsburgh/Rocky Mountain), 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 10 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV)/DanPatrick.com, noon
SVP & Russillo — ESPNews, 1 p.m.
Outside the Lines — ESPN2, 2:30 p.m.
Dan Le Batard is Bat Sh*t Crazy Totally Nuts Highly Questionable — ESPN2, 4:30 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 5 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
Lead Off — CBS Sports Network, midnight
Tennis
ATP Tour: BNP Paribas Masters, 1st Round — Tennis Channel, 5 a.m.
Entertainment
How I Met Your Mother — CBS, 8 p.m.
Battle of the Network Stars — ESPN Classic, 8 p.m.
Inherit the Wind — Turner Classic Movies, 8 p.m.
Beavis and Butt-head Do America — VH1 Classic, 8 p.m.
House Crashers: Bright Bungalow Kitchen — DIY Network, 9 p.m.
Top Gear: Top Fails, Volume 2 — BBC America, 9 p.m.
Blood, Lies & Alibis: Doctor of Death — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
To Catch a Smuggler: Coke in the Coat — National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations: Dominican Republic — Travel Channel, 9 p.m.
Kitchen Crashers: Sleek, Chic, Chicago Kitchen — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
Hawaii Five-0 — CBS, 10 p.m.
Intervention: Al — A&E, 10 p.m.
Richard Hammond’s Crash Course: Cabbie; Comedian — BBC America, 10 p.m.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy — Cinemax, 10 p.m.
Final Witness: Graveyard Love — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Revolution — NBC, 10:01 p.m.
$24 in 24: Philadelphia — Food Network, 10:30 p.m.
Bath Crashers: Bathroom’s Got Tame — DIY Network, 10:30 p.m.
House Hunters International: San Luis Potosi — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
Conan — TBS, 11 p.m.
Judgment at Nuremburg — Turner Classic Movies, 11 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — 11:35 p.m.
Oct
29
Hurricane Sandy Wreaking Havoc on Sports
The weather on the East Coast is wreaking havoc on flights as Hurricane Sandy continues to churn in the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, it’s caused the networks to adjust their schedules.
From ESPN, we learn that the 11 p.m. ET SportsCenter on Monday and Tuesday will be produced from Los Angeles in addition to the usual 1 a.m. ET edition that originates from the ESPN West Coast studios.
ESPN also announced that the late night show, UNITE that airs live at midnight on ESPNU will be pre-empted on Monday.
Dave Sims who called the New Orleans-Denver Sunday Night Football game for Dial Global Radio says he’s stranded in the Mile High City and can’t fly home to New York due to the weather.
I’m in Denver, and stuck for a coupla days. Can I get a #hurricane report from NYC?
— Dave Sims (@TheDaveSimsShow) October 29, 2012
As we wait for Hurricane Sandy to make landfall in Southern New Jersey and cause damage in Southern New England, we note that no matter how much we love our sports, we can’t control the weather. For those reading in the Mid-Atlantic and New England, be safe and stay under shelter. I hope to see you here when everything calms down.
Oct
28
NBC’s Football Night in America Quotage For Week 8 of the 2012 NFL Season
Let’s now complete the Sunday NFL pregame quotage with NBC’s Football Night in America. Check it out.
“FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA” NOTES & QUOTES – WEEK 8
“I’ve been a Sanchez supporter and have said that you need to stay with your quarterback, but it’s time to make the change.” – Tony Dungy on the Jets
“Tebow will give you leadership. He will give you passion. It’s contagious throughout that locker room. I look at how unselfish this young man is. He’s playing on special teams. He’s playing running back. He’s playing tight-end. You have to give him a chance. Nothing else is working. As a coach, that is your duty.” – Rodney Harrison on the Jets
“They have no identity. This offense has no identity. They don’t know if they want to be a big play offense that passes the ball down the field or if they want to be a running offense.” – Rodney Harrison on the Chargers
“Football is always a chess game, but you are up against a chess master when you play Peyton Manning.” – Bob CostasNEW YORK – October 28, 2012 – Following are highlights for Football Night in America. Bob Costas opened the show live from inside Sports Authority Field in Denver, Colo. where the Broncos are hosting the New Orleans Saints. Costas was joined on-site by Sunday Night Football commentators Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (analyst), and Hines Ward, the former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Super Bowl MVP and newest addition to NBC Sports’ NFL team.
Dan Patrick co-hosted the program from Studio 8G at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios and was joined by Football Night in America analysts Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison, and NFL insiders Peter King of Sports Illustrated and Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. Alex Flanagan reported from Cowboys Stadium in Dallas on the Giants-Cowboys game.
Following are highlights from Football Night in America:
ON SAINTS
Collinsworth on how much “Bountygate” affected the team’s performance this season: “You do have to say a little of it was self-imposed because they didn’t get the contract done with Drew Brees. You have to wonder, with all those people and all the controversy, if he (Brees) had just been in the building. We know this guy is a dynamic leader of that football team. They didn’t get the job done and that hurt them.
“Greg Williams, the former defensive coordinator, is sort of hyperbole run amuck. It sounds horrible and I agree that he should have been punished. The issue is, were the players trying to hurt somebody? That’s the threshold as far as I’m concerned, and there really hasn’t been any evidence of that. I think that’s where this hearing is going to be interesting.”
Costas: “The league is convinced it has a very strong case.”ON PEYTON MANNING
Ward on playing against Manning: “It’s very frustrating. It seems like he thrives in situations to try and bring his team back. Having Peyton Manning on the field is always a threat, because he always has the chance to bring his team back and win the ballgame.”
Ward: “Tennessee recruited me at the same time they were recruiting Peyton Manning. They said that if I signed with Tennessee, they would stop recruiting Peyton Manning.”
Collinsworth: “What?”
Ward: “It’s true. I don’t know if they lied to me or what.”
Collinsworth: “Let me just tell you, yes, they lied to you. That is exactly what happened. That has to go down as one of the biggest lies in recruiting history.”Dungy on Manning: “It’s not what he does in the clutch. It’s the preparation for the clutch. And knowing what’s going on. That’s where he really stands out.”
Costas: “Football is always a chess game, but you are up against a chess master when you play Peyton Manning.”
ON JETS
Dungy: “I’ve been a Sanchez supporter and have said that you need to stay with your quarterback, but it’s time to make the change.”
Harrison: “Tebow will give you leadership. He will give you passion. It’s contagious throughout that locker room. I look at how unselfish this young man is. He’s playing on special teams. He’s playing running back. He’s playing tight-end. You have to give him a chance. Nothing else is working. As a coach, that is your duty.”Dungy on the Jets making Tebow their starting QB: “This is absolutely the right time to do it. If you are going to make the change, you have to change the offense totally and do the things Tim can do well.”
ON GIANTS
Alex Flanagan reporting from Cowboys stadium in Dallas: “The Giants are scrambling as fast as they can out of Cowboys Stadium. They cut some interviews short. They are trying to get home in time before their plane is cancelled by Hurricane Sandy.”
ON COWBOYS
Patrick on Tony Romo: “How do you throw the last play out of bounds?”
Dungy: “Everybody is going to be talking about the last part of the game and the time management.”
Rodney: “Once it becomes third-down-and-one, you have to run the ball. They are giving you the run. You have to get the first down.”Dungy on Tony Romo’s pass to Dez Bryant with seconds left in the game: “You know Dez Bryant is going to get the ball. How did they let him run free?”
Harrison on Jason Garrett: “I can see if it happened once in a while, but it is happening every single week. The turnovers, the time management and the penalties. We see it each and every week. This is not a well prepared team.” *(Comments made during halftime of the Saints-Broncos game)
ON EAGLES
Mike Florio on Vick: “The Mike Vick era in Philadelphia could be ending. After today’s loss Vick told reporters that coach Andy Reed is considering making a change to rookie Nick Foles. And Vick actually said he would support it. But I’m told that privately Vick is upset. Vick doesn’t believe that it’s his fault that the team lost today. Vick didn’t make any mistakes and he thinks it was more of a defensive collapse.”
Video clip of Florio on Vick: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/49591244#49591244
Dungy: “They are in desperate times in Philadelphia, but I don’t know that changing quarterbacks helps this offense.”
Harrison: “You have to give them a spark. You have to change and try something different. You also have to figure out what your future is with Michael Vick. Play the young rookie now. Let him come in. See if he can play. If not, then you go back to Vick.”
Dungy: “I don’t think Andy Reid is worried about the future. How can we win some games? How can we get back in this race? Unless they can protect better, I don’t know if going to Foles is going to help.”Dungy: I think you have to stay with him (Vick). There is a lot of desperation in Philadelphia right now, but Andy Reid is coaching for his job. He has to make the playoffs to keep his job. Michael Vick gives him a better chance than a rookie quarterback who has never played. *(Comments made during halftime of the Saints-Broncos game.)
ON STEELERS AND EAGLES
Dungy: “My headline is football in Pennsylvania. In Western PA, we are getting good football from the Steelers. They look like they are going to make a run in the AFC North. In the Eastern side of the state, bad football from the Eagles. They change defensive coordinators, but they are now worse on defense.”
ON STEELERS
Dungy on Ben Roethlisberger: “All the talk was about RG III, but Ben Roethlisberger controlled the game.”
ON CHARGERS
Harrison: “I look at Ryan Mathews. He was brought in to replace LaDainian Tomlinson, but he has been a huge disappointment. You look at the injuries and the fumbles. He has not been consistent.”
Harrison: “They have no identity. This offense has no identity. They don’t know if they want to be a big play offense that passes the ball down the field or if they want to be a running offense.”
Dungy: “You have to be able to score on a game-winning drive against Cleveland.”ON DOLPHINS
Harrison: “The Dolphins are 4-3. They are playing good football and if the playoffs started today, they would be in.”
ON LIONS
Dungy: “They have a chance now with a two-game winning streak. They are still not playing great offense, but they did just enough to hang in there.
ON FALCONS
Dungy on Matt Ryan: “He was unbelievable in the first half. He used all of his weapons. He was on fire and was the most valuable performer today.”
ON CHIEFS
Patrick: “Kansas City is a dead man walking here.”
ON NFL TRADE DEADLINE
King: “If anybody is going to go, I believe it will be one of two guys. Either Dwayne Bowe, the receiver for Kansas City, or Steven Jackson the running back for the St. Louis Rams. But do not call either one of those teams unless you are going to offer at least a third round pick for one of those guys.”
Video clip King on trade deadline: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/49591322#49591322
And that concludes the posts for the day.
Oct
28
NBC Secures Rights To English Premier League Games
After we learned Friday that ESPN and Fox had dropped out of the bidding for the US rights to the English Premier League, NBC makes it official tonight that it will become the new home of the world’s most popular football league.
Overall, NBCUniversal’s properties, NBC, NBC Sports Network, Telemundo, Mun2 and NBCSports.com will be home to most of the EPL’s 380 games a year. Other NBCUniversal properties will air selected games throughout the season (most likely CNBC and Comcast SportsNet). The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobiles and tablets will stream video across various devices. It does not appear that NBC will sublicense any fixtures to other networks as Fox did with ESPN.
As reported on Friday in Sports Business Daily by John Ourand, NBC’s bid is believed to be triple of what Fox/ESPN is currently paying for its contract that ends this season.
This is a huge win for NBC and gives NBC Sports Network content for 10 months of the year. Expect pre and postgame programming in addition to regular highlight shows.
It all begins with the 2013-14 season. We have the official announcement from NBC Sports.
NBC SPORTS GROUP ACQUIRES EXCLUSIVE U.S. MEDIA RIGHTS TO PREMIER LEAGUE
20 Teams, 10 Months, 380 Matches Annually
Multi-Year Partnership Begins in August 2013
Agreement Includes English- and Spanish-Language Media Rights Across All Platforms & Devices in U.S.NEW YORK – October 28, 2012 – NBCUniversal, via the NBC Sports Group, has acquired the exclusive U.S. media rights to the Premier League through a multi-year agreement that begins with the 2013-14 season, both parties announced today. Per the agreement, NBCUniversal becomes the exclusive English- and Spanish-language media rights holder to all 380 Premier League matches across all platforms and devices in the United States.
“The Premier League is the preeminent soccer league in the world, and is on the cusp of exponential popularity growth here in the U.S.,” said Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBC Sports Group. “NBCU will provide the broadest programming and promotional commitment that the league has ever experienced here in the United States. The Premier League provides NBCU with best-in-class content for 10 months of the year across our far-reaching broadcast, cable and digital platforms. This is a perfect match.”
“The NBC Sports Group has an excellent track record in sports broadcasting and will showcase the Premier League to fans across the USA through its extensive network of channels and high quality production,” said Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore. “We are extremely pleased that NBC has chosen to invest in the Premier League and look forward to working with them for many years to come.”
Each of the 20 Premier League teams plays 38 matches over a 41-week period from August to May. Although specific programming details will be announced at a later date, NBC, NBC Sports Network, and NBCSports.com will all be utilized to present live Premier League coverage, as well as Telemundo and mun2 for Spanish-language coverage. Additional NBCUniversal platforms and networks will occasionally be scheduled to air Premier League matches, while NBC Sports Live Extra will provide the live streaming platform across web, tablet and mobile devices.
The NBC Sports Group will also produce comprehensive shoulder programming around its live-event coverage of the Premier League, including pre- and post-match shows, as well as highlight and weekly wrap-up programs. It is also developing a package to make sure the most avid fans have access to every Premier League match.
And for more information on NBC’s plans, Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch speaks with NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus on NBCU’s strategy to secure the EPL and what you’ll see across its platforms.
Oct
28
CBS Announces SEC Selections For 11/3 Plus Ratings Note
We have the official selections for the SEC on CBS for this Saturday, November 3. Earlier, CBS chose Alabama-LSU in primetime to be called by Uncle Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson with Tracy Wolfson on the sidelines. The game will air at 8 p.m.
Earlier in the day, CBS has chosen Mississippi at Georgia for 3:30 p.m. this Saturday. And SEC on CBS host Tim Brando will call the game. CBS also taps Turner’s Marty Snider to be on the sidelines.
Here’s the preview.
THIS JUST IN…
…from CBS Sports
CBS Sports has announced its afternoon SEC ON CBS football game for Saturday, Nov. 3 (3:30-7:00 PM, ET) will feature *No. 10-ranked Georgia taking on Ole Miss. Tim Brando, Steve Beuerlein and reporter Marty Snider will call the action from Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.
Following Georgia-Ole Miss, CBS Sports will broadcast *No. 1-ranked Alabama vs. *No. 6-ranked LSU in prime time at 8:00 PM, ET. Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson along with reporter Tracy Wolfson announce from Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
* BCS Rankings as of 10/21/12
And CBS notes Sunday’s annual Florida-Georgia World’s Largest Cocktail Party game received a good overnight rating, up 21% from last year’s game, plus almost equaling the highest overnight for this season.
CBS Sports’ coverage of the SEC ON CBS on Saturday, Oct. 27, which saw No. 10 Georgia defeat No. 2 Florida, earned an average overnight household rating/share of 4.7/10, up 21% from last year’s 3.9/9 (Georgia-Florida). Yesterday’s 4.7/10 tied with a 4.7/11 as CBS Sports’ highest rating-to-date in the 2012 college football season (No. 4 LSU-No. 10 Florida; 10/06/12). The 4.7/10 in 2012 also was the highest rating for Georgia-Florida on CBS since a 4.8/11 on October 31, 2009.
That’s it.
Oct
28
NBC Previews Football Night in America Interviews For Week 8 of 2012 NFL Season
And we conclude the Sunday quotage with NBC’s preview of Football Night in America’s Bob Costas interviews. Tonight, Bob talks with Denver Broncos exec John Elway plus New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins in advance of the Sunday Night Football matchup between New Orleans and Denver.
Here’s the preview.
“He is going to be on the short list of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. I think he would just like to solidify it and say I’m (Manning) the best of all time. He can do that by winning some Super Bowls.” – John Elway on Peyton Manning
“We had different plans for him at different points in the game. We didn’t want to keep it the same. You try to keep the ball out of his hands and do whatever you can to keep him off the field.” – Malcolm Jenkins on playing against ManningNEW YORK – October 28, 2012 – Bob Costas interviewed Denver Broncos Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway and New Orleans Saints Safety Malcolm Jenkins for tonight’s Week 8 edition of Football Night in America, which will preview Saints-Broncos, and will also include highlights, analysis and reaction to earlier Week 8 games.
Football Night In America, the most-watched pre-game studio show in sports, airs each Sunday at 7 p.m. ET with Costas hosting the program live from inside the stadium. He will be joined on site by Sunday Night Football commentators Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (analyst) as well as NBC NFL analyst Hines Ward for reaction to the afternoon games and to preview tonight’s match-up.
Dan Patrick co-hosts Football Night from Studio 8G at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios and is joined by Super Bowl-winning head coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison, Peter King of Sports Illustrated and Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk on NBCSports.com. Alex Flanagan will report from Cowboys Stadium in Dallas on the Giants-Cowboys game.
INTERVIEWS: Below are excerpts from Costas’ interviews with Elway and Jenkins.
JOHN ELWAY WITH BOB COSTAS
On the relationship between Elway and Broncos QB Peyton Manning: I just know that when we were going through the process, with my 16-years having played here for an owner who gave us the opportunity to win Super Bowls, as a player that’s what you ask for. For me to be able to sell that to Peyton and tell him what the Denver Broncos are all about, and it really starts at the top with Pat Bowlen. The number one thing he (Manning) was looking for was the ability to go someplace and win a World Championship. I think it started when he looked at the Denver Broncos and our owner Pat Bowlen, and what World Championships mean to him.
On the fraternity of NFL quarterbacks: No question that there is a fraternity. When we have time to spend around each other, which doesn’t come very often. No one knows else knows what it’s like to sit in that pocket, drop back seven-steps, have those guys rush down your throat and be able to stand there and throw a football. There is a unique combination of the way we think and when we get around each other. I’m thrilled that he (Manning) came here and we have had the right opportunity to get the right people around him to hopefully win a World Championship.
On where Manning currently is in his career: You know, it’s always hard for me to tell. I’ve seen great growth in him since he signed with us in March. The way that he has worked in training camp and through the first six games of the year, especially the last three. I’ve seen him get better and better. I think he is getting close to where he needs to be.
On the personal goals that Manning is still working towards: I think that you are always compared to your contemporaries. Tom Brady has been to five Super Bowls and Peyton’s brother has been to two. I think that even though they are brothers, they are still competitors. I know that I looked at my contemporaries. I looked at Marino and Kelly when I played. As a quarterback it’s what they are doing, and I think that Peyton is looking at his contemporaries now. He is going to be on the short list of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. I think he would just like to solidify it and say I’m (Manning) the best of all time. He can do that by winning some Super Bowls. Hopefully we can get that done.
MALCOLM JENKINS WITH BOB COSTAS
On Jenkins play last week against Vincent Jackson and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: I’ve seen plays like that happen since I was little, since Pop Warner. Somebody gives everything they have and it’s just enough to make the play. The chances of us keeping them out of the end zone are slim, but I know there is still a chance. Whatever I can give, I’m always going to give it, just to give my team the chance to win the game.
On Jenkins similar play last year against the Dallas Cowboys: One thing that Jim Tressel always taught us was that being great usually means it’s not all about talent. Sometimes your God given ability is just not enough. If that’s the case, then you can be fine with that. But if you don’t give all that you have and do the things that you have control over, then you will be disappointed in yourself. So I make sure that whenever those opportunities come I’m always going to give it my all. And they have worked out for me.
On preparing to play against Peyton Manning, when Manning was with the Colts: The biggest thing I remember is the importance of the details. How we aligned and what we were showing him. Knowing that he is reading us was the biggest thing. We studied our own body mannerisms. We had to do a lot of self-scouting to know what he would see and know what we were showing as far as coverage and looks. We had different plans for him at different points in the game. We didn’t want to keep it the same. If you do the same plan for the whole game, it may work early but eventually he will figure it out. You try to keep the ball out of his hands and do whatever you can to keep him off the field. And it worked for us.
That’s it.
Oct
28
The NFL Today on CBS Quotage For Week 8 of the 2012 Season
Now to conclude the early Sunday NFL pregame quotage. This is from The NFL Today on CBS.
NEWS, NOTES & QUOTES FROM CBS SPORTS’ “THE NFL TODAY” WITH JAMES BROWN, DAN MARINO, SHANNON SHARPE, BILL COWHER AND BOOMER ESIASON FOR WEEK 8 ON OCTOBER 28
“INSIDE INFORMATION”
(On coaching and general manager moves occurring this season)
JASON LA CANFORA: Based on talks with executives and GMs around the league, they think there is a potential for sweeping changes around the league. Not just on the coaching side, but more GM moves than ever before, and a lot of places where the coach and GM are in trouble. We know Carolina and Cleveland, change is afoot there. Buffalo, San Diego, Jacksonville, Kansas City, you can see it on both sides of the ball there. With that in mind, long time executive Bill Polian is looking to get back in the league in 2013. Mike Lombardi worked in Cleveland. I continue to hear a buzz about him going back in a front office role. And long time GM Jerry Angelo, most recently with the Bears, is looking for a job in 2013 at the GM level.
(On whether there will be a team full-time in London)
JASON LA CANFORA: Get your fish and chips ready because there is a strong desire to be in London. I’ve talked to several people who were at the most recent league meeting where all the owners gather. They came away convinced that not only is this going to happen it’s going to happen within the next 10 years. A lot of people in the league believe Jacksonville is the likely front-runners to end up there. They’re going to be playing a game at Wembley from 2013 to 2016.
QUICK HITS
(On Dallas and Philadelphia)
BOOMER ESIASON: This week we have great divisional match?ups, important conference match?ups. And there are two teams that either start their season anew or it’s the beginning of the end. To me it’s the Cowboys and Eagles in the NFC East. They have the Giants and Falcons coming in and it’s not going to be easy.
(On Denver)
SHANNON SHARPE: I believe they (Broncos) run the table from here on out. I believe they challenge the Houston Texans for home?field advantage throughout. The only game they will not be favored in would probably be at Baltimore. But when you look at their schedule with two games against Kansas City, the Oakland Raiders and with Cleveland and KC still on their schedule, I believe the Broncos and Peyton Manning, playing as well as he is, run the table. They get to 13?3.
(On Philadelphia’s Michael Vick and Andy Reid)
SHARPE: Michael Vick is a loss away from losing his job to Nick Foles. The owner has made it abundantly clear, 8?8 will not do it this year to keep Andy Reid‘s job. What does that mean? He didn’t say you need 10 or 11 wins. But I believe they need to get to the playoffs and go extremely far in the playoffs for Andy to maintain his job. But I believe Michael Vick is a loss away from losing his job.
DAN MARINO RANKS 10 YOUNG QBs
This season, there have been five rookie and five second-year quarterbacks starting in the NFL. THE NFL TODAY’s Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, who had one of the greatest seasons ever as he led Miami to the Super Bowl in his second season, ranks these 10 quarterbacks. Shawn Robbins and Jeff St. Arromand are the producers.
10. Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville 5. Ryan Tannehill, Miami
9. Jake Locker, Tennessee 4. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati
8. Christian Ponder, Minnesota 3. Cam Newton, Carolina
7. Russell Wilson, Seattle 2. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis
6. Brandon Weeden, Cleveland 1. Robert Griffin III, Washington
That will do it.
Oct
28
NFL on Fox Quotage For Week 8 of the 2012 NFL Season
Now to Fox NFL Sunday and its quotage. No videos here. No time.
FOX NFL SUNDAY NOTES – 10/28/12
Strahan: Cowboys Have the Players to Beat Giants, But Not the Attitude
Glazer Reports on More Adderall Suspensions on the BuccaneersAnalyst Michael Strahan on the Cowboys mindset facing the Giants at home: “If I’m a Cowboys player, how is my psyche for this game against the Giants? We’re 0-3 in our stadium against this team. How do I react when something goes wrong especially without DeMarco Murray and or Sean Lee? They are the only two players that could impact the Cowboys attitude. The Cowboys definitely have the players to beat the Giants but they don’t have the attitude.”
Co-host Terry Bradshaw on the development of Falcon’s quarterback Matt Ryan: “So much was expected of Matt Ryan and he has delivered. He no longer has the running game that is supporting him. He has had to take more on his shoulders and carries this team by throwing the football. He’s had 19 fourth quarter wins and nine of them came with less than two minutes to go. Matt Ryan has really grown up.”
Analyst Jimmy Johnson on the reason for the Lions’ disappointing start: “Detroit is solid on defense and moves the chains on offense. Why are they not getting it done? They’re horrendous on special teams and they turn the ball over. Calvin Johnson, their most explosive player, only has one touchdown pass. The other players around him have to step it up.”
Analyst Michael Strahan offered some advice to Calvin Johnson: “Being double-teamed is a compliment. You have to go in and get what’s yours. The football is yours when it’s in the air. You’re a good enough player to make a double-team look like they can even cover you.”NFL Insider Jay Glazer reports on game bans issued to Tampa Bay players this week for use of Adderall: “Aqib Talib has already been suspended four games for testing positive for Adderall. I’ve learned that their other starting cornerback Eric Wright is also facing a four game ban for the same thing. There are several players in the NFL that are taking Adderall for attention deficient disorder. Some are getting caught and facing a four game suspension and some aren’t. It’s a slippery slope.”
Analyst Howie Long on Philadelphia’s defense: “The elephant in the room is that the Eagles offense has put their defense over and over again in bad situations. The defense is very good, despite their record.”
Analyst Jimmy Johnson on whether the return of Joe Vitt to the Saints’ sidelines will spark the team: “They aren’t going to make the playoffs regardless of what happens with Joe Vitt’s return.”
Analyst Jimmy Johnson on what the Panthers and quarterback Cam Newton should be focused on: “With a new general manager, this team will be gutted and rebuilt over the next couple of years. Cam Newton better worry about his own job because they are going to turn this roster over. It was the wrong move to resign both their running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.”
Co-host Terry Bradshaw added: “The expectations placed on this franchise after last year’s performance is a lot for a second year quarterback”
That is all. To CBS’ NFL Today quotage next.
Oct
28
ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown Quotage For Week 8 of the 2012 NFL Season
We move to ESPN’s quotage from Sunday NFL Countdown. Check it all out.
ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown Notes and Quotes: Week 8
ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown host Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson previewed NFL Week 8 with Suzy Kolber, analysts Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski and NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter. Some excerpts:
In a press briefing during the week, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton said he’ll bring in a suggestion box on ways to correct what ails his sputtering team. The Countdown crew obliged, offering suggestions for the “Cam Newton Suggestion Box.”
Jackson: Take a look at yourself – When you look at last year, when this team was losing and how you responded to that, just look at how positive you were. Even in the midst of this, you were playing well, the team was losing and you wanted to win. This year, downtrodden, morose, not optimistic, more pessimistic; that will literally bleed the life right out of your football team.”
Carter: “Role model – Realize that when you’re speaking, you are not only speaking for the Carolina Panthers, you’re not only speaking for the National Football League, but you’re also speaking for a lot of young quarterbacks out there, and you happen to be a role model for them. So, think about what you’re going to say before you say it.”
Johnson: “Get rid of the problems – No matter what they are. You are the quarterback of the football team. You have to take control no matter what anybody says. When you step on that football field, be yourself. Have fun. Sometimes, you’re going to have ups. Sometimes you’re going to have downs. But don’t let it get you too down.”
Ditka: “Get over it – You live in the past, you die in the past. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, that’s why it is called, the present.”
Berman: “You and your team are young, it’s okay – A little football knowledge, put it on (WR) Steve Smith’s shoulders a little bit. Give him the ball. He can help you, man. He can do some of it on his own, but he needs the ball. Let him help you son.”The Cowboy that needs to step up tonight at home vs. their NFC East rival the New York Giants:
Jackson: “Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff – Your job is to tie up guys so the linebackers can make plays.”
Carter: “Head coach Jason Garrett – 16 and 14 as a head coach in Dallas; very, very average. Aggressive game-plan from the beginning, that’s why they won in New York in week 1.”
Johnson: “Quarterback Tony Romo – He has to continue to play at the level that helps this team win football games. No matter what anyone says, it is all on his shoulder. He wants the big money, he wants to be the top guy at the quarterback position, but yet he still can’t win big football games. He has an opportunity to stop that slide against the Giants in his own stadium.”
Ditka: “Wide receiver Dez Bryant – Here’s the guy that caught two passes last week for 14 yards. He doesn’t run good routes. He doesn’t stay on the route. He drops the ball … Step up Dez Bryant, if you’re a big-time guy.”
Berman: “Linebacker DeMarcus Ware – He can wreck a game. This is a game they need him to wreck … Beware of Ware. As he goes, so goes the Cowboys.”Following a report on the off-field verbal jousting between some Jets and Dolphins players, the ountdown crew discussed whether trash talk about injured players is crossing the line?
Jackson: “This is one of the few professions where you actually get to hit somebody after they say something to you. I’m going to share something with our audience: ‘I had one guy, in my 14-year career, say the “N” word to me on the field. He said it about 10 minutes into the game, and I took it out on him for about 50 minutes. I’m sure he knows who he is. He will always remember what I did for the rest of that football game.’”
Carter: “There are some unwritten rules in this business. When you take away the ability of a player to take care of his family or to feed his kids … we know as former players that it is totally out of bounds. I have one instance – I broke my collarbone in week 17 with the Vikings, out the rest of the season. We played the Washington Redskins the next year in the playoff. We threw an interception early in the game. I’m going to make the tackle. Right before I make the tackle, Wilber Marshall yells out ‘Chris!’ and I stop for a second. Didn’t make the tackle, but he could have ended my career. There are some gentlemen behind these gladiators that play the game …”Reaction to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s comments regarding (new offensive coordinator) Todd Haley’s offense – “Haley’s offense is not a big play offense, it’s kind of a dink-and-dunk offense”:
Jackson: “Ben (Roethlisberger) labeled it, not necessarily as a negative. He called it dink-and-dunk as opposed to what he’s been doing … He’s the best improviser the game has seen in our generation. A big man, moving his feet the way Ben does. When you come in and you change that, I think you take a real chance on reducing the level of success that you’ve had with Ben Roethlisberger.”
Johnson: “It’s not so much about dink-and-dunk, vertical stretch, or any of that. I think what Todd is trying to do for Ben is to help Ben protect Ben. Ben has missed too many games in the past because of injuries, because of dropping back and trying to heave the football, taking unnecessary hits. If you get the football out of Ben’s hands, quick, fast and in a hurry, it protects him … But when he drops back and he’s holding on to the football, it hurts the football team and it eventually hurts Ben.”
Ditka: “I don’t think you take any negative shots – dink-and-dunk. You’ve got to be on the same page. That’s the offensive coordinator and the quarterback. That’s a head coach’s responsibility. You get what you tolerate. You can’t allow this to happen.”
Carter: “I’m going to tell you what Todd Haley is doing. He is doing the right thing and it is working. Why? Because the sacks. Why? Because Ben is not hurt … Also, Drew Brees is doing this. Peyton Manning is doing this. Tom Brady is doing this. Everybody is trying to get the ball out of their hands, quicker to the wide receiver. That’s what the National Football League is doing.”On whether the Philadelphia Eagles will rebound from recent less-than-spectacular performances vs. the Falcons at home …
Carter: “Philly will be well-rested today. But, it is about the players. They can change the scheme, change the coaches – you know it’s not the Xs and Os, it is the Willies and the Joes. They need to get a rush. (QB) Michael Vick needs to stop turning the ball over … This is personal to me, if you can’t play for (head coach) Andy Reid, you really have problems as a professional trying to play in the National Football League.”
Johnson: “As much as I like Andy Reid … he’s probably better off being a great coach with somebody else, another team. That’s not to say they should fire him. He has kind of worn out his welcome. It’s time to kind of move on … It’s a lot like Jeff Fisher and Tennessee. Great coach, can get a job somewhere else and do fine because the players weren’t responding to him. The players that they have, overpromised and under-delivered.”
Jackson: “At midseason point, how do you straighten out what is going on with them right now? Yes, Michael Vick has to be more careful with the football. But I think that when you look at the (RB) LeSean McCoy numbers, when you look at the offensive line and what they’d like to do, let’s figure out a way that we can get him those 20 carries that won us over 90 percent of our football games when he gets them. Let’s figure out how to do that offensively.”How does Pittsburgh Steelers defense play against quarterback Robert Griffin, III?
Ditka: “This is probably the most athletic quarterback I’ve ever seen come into the National Football League. If you’re going to blitz him, you better get him. If you don’t, he’s going to beat you with his leg. He is a very accurate thrower and he makes great decision with the football.”
Johnson: “You usually don’t start as a rookie quarterback in the NFL on good teams. So, they’re a bad team to start with. This is a different type of football team … With the (Redskins head coach Mike and son Kyle, offensive coordinator) Shanahans running the offense, I see them putting him in a great position to succeed. He is not only playing against (Steelers defensive coordinator) Dick Lebeau, they are playing against the Mike Shanahan and his son Kyle.”
Carter: “We have to be real, this is not your daddy’s ‘steel curtain’ … The thing they have to do, they have to tackle in space. He’s going to be alone with one defender, and one guy has to bring him down.”
On to Fox NFL Sunday next.
Oct
28
NFL Network’s Quotage For Week 8 of the 2012 Season
After prepping for Hurricane Sandy, it’s now time for the Sunday NFL pregame quotage. We have lots of it thanks to the networks airing pregame shows.
As always, we begin with NFL Network which has notes and quotes from First on the Field and NFL GameDay Morning. Lots of quotage. Get ready to scroll for a while.
News and Sound Bites From Week 8 Editions of FIRST ON THE FIELD & NFL GAMEDAY MORNING
“The only thing I thought that was holding this team back was leadership from the quarterback. I’m starting to see that.” – Michael Irvin on the Chicago Bears
“This is a shot of adrenaline for the Saints.” – Steve Mariucci on the return of interim head coach Joe Vitt
“He’s the heart and soul of this football team.” – Warren Sapp on Cowboys LB Sean Lee
Melissa Stark’s 1-on-1 Interview with Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III
First on the Field host Melissa Stark sits down with Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III for a conversation about his rookie year thus far, leading the NFL in completion percentage among starting quarterbacks, and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck.On if he feels the pressure of being the player the Redskins traded first round picks in the next two drafts for:
“I don’t feel that pressure. They invested all of that into me because they believe in the player that I am and the person that I am. I also believe in those things so I know that I can go out and help this team win.”On if he is the leader of the team:
“You’d have to ask the guys that, but over these first seven games I’ve proven myself to them. I’ve earned my respect from them, as they have told me, and I don’t think there is a shadow of a doubt that they see me as their leader out there on the field.”On what has been harder than he thought would be:
“Getting losses. We’re 3-4; I’m a winner so you have to hate losing more than you love winning. That’s something that I feel is deep inside me and as a competitor, you rise up to the occasion.”On what he thinks when he watches his 76-yard touchdown run against the Minnesota Vikings:
“It’s truly amazing. The coaches told me that it’s the most special play they’ve been a part of in their careers and it made me realize that you can do that in high school, you can do that in college but if you run for a 76-yard touchdown as a quarterback in the NFL, it’s truly something special. But the most important thing about that play was we won the game.”On what is more impressive to him: that he has the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback this season or that he has the highest completion percentage among starters:
“The highest completion percentage. Touchdowns do help you win games but to be able to have a high completion percentage and move the ball down the field is huge.”
On how much he is following Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck’s career:
“I don’t follow his career that much but I always root for quarterbacks so you’ll never see me say anything ill about him, you’ll never see me hoping against him or wishing against him.”On if he is the better quarterback between he and Andrew Luck:
“That’s not for me to judge; that’s for everyone else to judge. Some people will say yes, some people will say no. My job is to go out and prove it every week so I don’t really try to get into those kind of debates.”
Quotes from First on the Field
Every Sunday morning at 7:00 AM ET, NFL Network is First on the Field with Melissa Stark, LaDainian Tomlinson, Sterling Sharpe and Michael Lombardi providing the first analysis of the day’s games.
- “It doesn’t make sense for the Jets to trade Tim Tebow. They’ve invested in him. Last year they traded a late round pick to get him and there was only one other team interested in him and that was Jacksonville. So really, why would anybody think that he is valuable at this point after he has just run some dive plays into the line?” – Michael Lombardi on the Tim Tebow trade rumors
- “Randall Cobb is a poor man’s Percy Harvin, and I say that because Harvin is playing at a Pro Bowl-level…but eventually Cobb will get there.” – LaDainian Tomlinson on Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb
- “It’s really not that difficult to go from no wins to six or eight wins. The challenge is to try to get 10 wins every year and to be a legitimate playoff or Super Bowl team. Right now, you can’t make the mistakes the Lions are making and think you’re going to go further. That comes down to the character of the players and their commitment to the game.” – Michael Lombardi on the Detroit Lions
- “Steven Jackson is probably not a long term solution for coach Jeff Fisher and he makes a lot of money this year. He should be a guy that if a team calls up and makes a decent offer, the Rams let him go…Maybe a team like the Packers would make sense for Jackson.” – Michael Lombardi on St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson
Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning
NFL GameDay Morning is the most comprehensive pregame show on Sunday morning, airing at 9:00 AM ET on NFL Network and taking viewers straight up to kickoff. Host Rich Eisen joins analysts Steve Mariucci, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin to bring fans the latest news, injury reports, pregame analysis and game previews.- “The only thing I thought that was holding this team back was leadership from the quarterback. I’m starting to see that.” – Michael Irvin on the Chicago Bears and quarterback Jay Cutler
- “This is a shot of adrenaline for the Saints. Any positive news is good for them and Joe Vitt is going to settle things down for them for the rest of the year.” – Steve Mariucci on New Orleans Saints interim head coach Joe Vitt returning from suspension
- “He’s the heart and soul of this football team.” – Warren Sapp on Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee
- “He fits the mold of this Mike Shanahan running game; Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson – guys they’ve had in the past. Alfred Morris has made enough plays where they can actually stick [with] this guy and say, ‘He’s a playmaker, we need to have him on the field.’” – LaDainian Tomlinson on Washington Redskins rookie running back Alfred Morris
- “They’re getting it in rhythm…I like where Mark Sanchez is headed. They need to stay balanced but he’s distributing the ball all over the field.” – Steve Mariucci on quarterback Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets offense
- “This is an average football team but they have a great quarterback, and that gives them a chance.” – Kurt Warner on the Pittsburgh Steelers
- “He’s been amazingly consistent…He’s playing with a knowledge, poise and confidence that is well beyond his years.” – Kurt Warner on Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill
Front Office View with Michael Lombardi
On if the firing of Panthers general manager Marty Hurney is a warning to head coach Ron Rivera:
“Clearly. Marty Hurney went into his meeting with owner Jerry Richardson, and Jerry Richardson expressed to my sources his displeasure with the organization. Ultimately, Marty Hurney took one for the team here; he did not have a contract. I do believe as we move forward with the season, Ron Rivera is going to have to put a string of a wins together to impress Jerry Richardson that he’s the man to lead this team into the future. Right now, Jerry Richardson is not happy about anything that is going on in Carolina and it’s going to take a lot of wins for Ron Rivera to keep his job.”On NFL.com the following video clips from First on the Field & NFL GameDay Morning are available for viewing:
Who Should be Dealt Before the Deadline? – Michael Lombardi suggests some trades that should be made prior to Tuesday’s deadline:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000085872/Who-should-be-dealt-before-the-deadlineWhich Teams are Dead? – NFL GameDay Morning goes to the graveyard to show which teams are already dead in 2012:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000086102/Which-teams-are-deadWeek 8 Bold Predictions – The cast of NFL GameDay Morning provides their bold predictions for Week 8:http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000085880/Week-8-Bold-Predictions
Who Should be Scared in Week 8? – With Halloween approaching, the NFL GameDay Morning crew debates which teams should be most scared in Week 8:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000085871/Who-should-be-scared-in-Week-8Where Does Washington Redskins Quarterback Robert Griffin III Rank? – See where the NFL GameDay Morning crew ranks Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III among the NFL’s best:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000085893/Where-does-Robert-Griffin-III-rankHow Have the Cowboys and Giants Changed Since Week 1? – The Dallas Cowboys shocked the football world when they defeated the New York Giants on opening night. Going into Week 8, NFL GameDay Morning discusses how each team has changed:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000085873/How-have-Cowboys-and-Giants-changed-since-Week-1Can Cowboys Conquer Home-field Woes vs. Giants? – The Dallas Cowboys are 0-3 against the New York Giants at Cowboys Stadium. They will look to change that trend in Week 8:
|http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000085897/Can-Cowboys-conquer-home-field-woes-vs-GiantsAre Expectations too high in New England? – New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had some choice words about expectations from Patriots’ fans, which begs the question are expectations too high for New England?:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000085878/Are-expectations-too-high-in-New-EnglandCan the Philadelphia Eagles Turn Things Around? – NFL GameDay Morning discusses whether or not changes are coming in Philadelphia with head coach Andy Reid on the hot seat:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000085879/Can-the-Philadelphia-Eagles-turns-things-aroundWhat Trade Value Does Tim Tebow Have? – Michael Lombardi discusses the trade value of New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000085888/What-trade-value-does-Tim-Tebow-haveHow will Interim Head Coach Joe Vitt’s Return Impact the New Orleans Saints? – Steve Mariucci explains the impact of the return of New Orleans Saints interim head coach Joe Vitt:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000085874/How-will-Joe-Vitt-s-return-impact-the-New-Orleans-Saints?campaign=Twitter_videos_mooch
We’ll have ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown quotage next.
Oct
28
Your NFL Week 8 Viewing Guide
This is up late once again and I’m getting ready for Hurricane Sandy as it speeds up the East Coast into the Northeast.
Well, let’s provide the Week 8 Viewing Guide in The League Where They Play for Pay.
So why is this a Sunday unlike any other?
Well, Hurricane Sandy is going to have an impact on a couple of games, Miami at the New York Jets (CBS, Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts) in northern New Jersey and the Atlanta at Philadelphia (Fox, Dick Stockton/John Lynch/Jennifer Hale) game at the Linc in the Delaware Valley. While it won’t be extremely windy, there will be rain bands in both cities as the storm comes up the coast. Luckily, the Carolina Panthers are on the road in Chicago (Fox, Kenny Albert/Daryl Johnston/Tony Siragusa) as Sandy has been hitting the North Carolina coast.
What about non-weather issues?
Let’s see, there are just two late games again, just like in Week 7, one each for CBS (Oakland at Kansas City at 4 p.m ET) and Fox (New York Giants at Dallas, 4:25 p.m.). And NBC’s Sunday Night Football will have the World Series as competition. However, based on the ratings for the World Series and the rest of the MLB Postseason, the Saints-Broncos game should come out on top when all is said and done.
Byes? Who has the dreaded bye this week?
Baltimore, Buffalo, Cincinnati and Houston are off this week.
So are there any blackouts anywhere?
No and through Week 8, the NFL is happy to point out that just four games did not make the deadline to sell out 72 hours in advance. So all 14 games scheduled for this week from last Thursday through Monday Night will be seen in the local markets.
Why are there just two late games?
Fox wanted just one game as it airs the NFC East Division blood rivalry game between the Giants and Cowboys (Thom Brennaman/Troy Aikman/Pam Oliver) . And with just four games early, CBS will have one late game at 4 p.m., Oakland at Kansas City (Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots) going to a large portion of the country. Blame the byes for this. But also Fox didn’t want the country to miss out on G-men/Cowpokes.
So there’s a game in London?
Yes, the New England Patriots are taking on the St. Louis Rams (Jim Nantz/Phil Simms) at the venerable Wembley Stadium on CBS. Since this is a designated home game for the Rams, the Pats are designated the road team, thus CBS gets the game as the “visiting” network. This will be the last time for just a single game in London. Next year, there will be two.
What are your Games of the Week?
For CBS, I’ll go with Pats-Rams just to see how the players handle being six hours ahead of their normal body clocks. And Miami-Jets because the game always lends for crazy things.
On Fox, I’ll choose Atlanta at Philadelphia to see if the Eagles can play a complete game for once and if they can end the Falcons’ perfect season. And the Giants-Cowboys late will give us something interesting to watch.
What about Sunday Night?
Yes, the interconference matchup between New Orleans and Denver (Al Michaels/Cris Collinsworth/Michele Tafoya) is quite intriguing. Can’t forget about it.
Any other games to keep our eyes on?
Yes, Washington at Pittsburgh on Fox (Sam Rosen/Brian Billick/Laura Okmin) just to see Robert Griffin III and San Diego at Cleveland on CBS (Spero Dedes/Rich Gannon) as it marks the first game for the Chargers since its massive implosion against the Broncos in Week 7 on Monday Night.
Anything else?
Let’s be careful out there. Be safe if you’re on the East Coast and have fun watching the games.
Oct
28
NBC Previews Sunday Night Football For Week 8 of the 2012 NFL Season
And our last Sunday NFL preview is from NBC Sports and its look at this week’s Sunday Night Football matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the Denver Broncos live from the new Mile High Stadium.
NBC is promoting the QB duel between the Saints’ Drew Brees and the Broncos’ Peyton Manning.
Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth will call the game live from Denver. Michele Tafoya roams the sidelines.
On Football Night in America, Bob Costas will host in Denver with analyst Hines Ward. Dan Patrick will be in New York along with analysts Rodney Harrison and Tony Dungy.
This is what NBC is saying about Sunday night’s game.
PEYTON MANNING AND DREW BREES MEET IN DENVER FOR A QUARTERBACK DUEL ON “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL”
Manning and Brees Have Combined for 99,475 Passing Yards & 712 TDs
Coverage Begins with Football Night in America at 7 p.m. ET
Sunday Night Football Extra to Live Stream Saints-Broncos on NBCSports.comNEW YORK – October 24, 2012 – Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints (2-4) travel to Denver to take on Peyton Manning and the Broncos (3-3) on Sunday Night Football in a matchup that features two of the game’s most prolific passers. Brees (349.5) and Manning (301.3) rank No. 1 and 2 (tie) this season in average passing yards per game, and have combined for 99,475 career passing yards (Manning – 56,636; Brees – 42,839). Brees has thrown a touchdown pass in a record 49 consecutive games and is one away from 300 career, which would tie him with John Elway for sixth on the all-time list. Manning is third all-time with 413 career passing touchdowns. Together Brees and Manning have combined for 712 touchdown passes. Coverage begins with Football Night in America at 7 p.m. ET on NBC.
Calling Saints-Broncos is six-time Emmy Award-winner Al Michaels (play-by-play), in his 27th season as the voice of the NFL’s premier primetime package; 13-time Emmy Award-winner Cris Collinsworth, who has won the Emmy for Outstanding Event Analyst in each of his three seasons in the Sunday Night Football booth; and sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, who, last year in her first season with SNF, won the inaugural Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Reporter.
Football Night in America is hosted by 23-time Emmy Award-winner Bob Costas, who will report from Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo. Costas will be joined on site by Michaels, Collinsworth and Hines Ward, the former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Super Bowl MVP and newest addition to NBC Sports’ NFL team.
Dan Patrick co-hosts Football Night from NBC’s Studio 8G at 30 Rockefeller Plaza on Sunday night. Patrick is joined by Super Bowl-winning head coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison, Peter King of Sports Illustrated, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk on NBC Sports Network and NBCSports.com. Alex Flanagan will report from Cowboys Stadium in Dallas on Giants-Cowboys.
PREVIEW VIDEO:
Michaels and Collinsworth:
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/49498472#49498472Patrick, Dungy and Harrison on Saints vs. Broncos:
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/49498063#49498063In addition to the weekly Sunday Night Football and Football Night in America broadcasts, NBC Sports Group’s NFL coverage also includes digital content and social media extensions that are available online, as well as NFL-related shoulder programming available on NBC Sports Network.
And the NFL Viewing Guide for Week 8 is coming up.
Oct
28
NFL on Fox Previews Week 8 of the 2012 Season
Now we move to the NFL on Fox which has five games on Sunday, four at 1 p.m. ET and just the Giants-Cowboys at 4:25 p.m. It marks the first time since 2010 that Fox will have a New York Giants-Dallas matchup as NBC had both last season and the first in 2012 in the NFL Kickoff Game in Week 1. You can bet that Fox is happy to have this game and it being the lone late game on the network.
Here’s the NFL on Fox preview for Week 8. Check it all out.
FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
NFL on FOX Week 8: Giants Look For Revenge on Cowboys Sunday at 4:00 PM ET
Bradshaw Breaks Down Why Eli Is So Clutch on FOX NFL SUNDAY at 12:00 PM ETGIANTS/COWBOYS RENEW RIVALRY IN BIG D – The NFL on FOX presents doubleheader coverage of five matchups on Sunday, Oct. 28. After nearly pulling off a miracle in the Meadowlands, Robert Griffin III and the Redskins travel to Pittsburgh to take on Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers in a 1:00 PM matchup. Two the NFL’s most talked about quarterbacks, Cam Newton and Jay Cutler faceoff as the 5-1 Bears host the Panthers. Coming off their bye week, Matt Ryan and the undefeated Falcons look to keep rolling as they travel to Philadelphia to meet Mike Vick and the Eagles. Also, the stingy Seahawks defense looks to shut down Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson when they battle the Lions in Detroit. At 4:25 PM ET, America’s Game of Week features one of the biggest division rivals in the league as Eli Manning and the Giants head down to Texas to take on Tony Romo and the Cowboys. Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver call the action from Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.
Coverage begins at 12:00 PM ET with America’s No. 1 pregame show, FOX NFL SUNDAY. Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee co-host the Emmy Award-winning program and are joined by analysts Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Jimmy Johnson. NFL Insider Jay Glazer breaks the latest league news and scoops from the FOX NFL SUNDAY studio while NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira discusses the previous week’s important impactful calls and points of emphasis in officiating. Comedic prognosticator Rob Riggle provides his weekly picks segment. This week, Bradshaw explains why Giants QB Eli Manning is the best clutch quarterback in the NFL. Also, meet the fastest receiving core in the NFL, “The Young Money Family:” Pittsburgh Steelers WRs Emmanuel Sanders, Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown.
For instant updates during the week and games from the entire NFL on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NFLONFOX. Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports.
Washington at Pittsburgh Steelers — Sam Rosen, Brian Billick & Laura Okmin, going to 49% of USA, 1:00PM
Heinz Field – Pittsburgh, PA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Fort Myers, Hartford, Houston, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Francisco, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm BeachCarolina Panthers at Chicago Bears — Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston & on-field analyst Tony Siragusa, going to 17% of USA, 1:00PM
Soldier Field – Chicago, IL
MARKETS INCLUDE: Charlotte, Chicago, Greensboro, Greenville, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Raleigh, St. LouisAtlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles — Dick Stockton, John Lynch & Jennifer Hale, going to 16% of USA, 1:00PM
Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Jacksonville, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Diego, TampaSeattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions — Chris Myers, Tim Ryan & Jaime Maggio, going to 8% of USA, 1:00PM
Ford Field– Detroit, MI
MARKETS INCLUDE: Detroit, Grand Rapids, Portland, SeattleNew York Giants at Dallas Cowboys — Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman & Pam Oliver, going to 98% of USA, 4:25PM
Cowboys Stadium – Arlington, TX
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Fort Myers, Grand Rapids, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm BeachLYNCH: PHILLY OFFENSE NEEDS SUCCESSFUL RUNNING GAME – NFL on FOX analyst John Lynch is calling Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday on FOX and when talking about the Eagles offense, Lynch believes it’s not only the turnovers that are troublesome for the Eagles. “A lot of it is a function of the offensive line and their struggles. At times, the Eagles need eight-man protections to keep Michael Vick alive off play action. And it’s not as if they’re calling play action because they’ve been running it so effectively. These eight-man protections only leave two-man wide receiver routes and are usually met with four defensive players in the backfield,” said Lynch. The answer for the Eagles offense is not only the offensive line but successfully utilizing their running back LeSean McCoy. “LeSean McCoy is the guy they need to feed the ball to more and he’s got a great compliment in the back field in rookie running back Bryce Brown. If calling play action is going to work for the Eagles, their running game needs to be respected.”
And the NFL previews will end with a look at NBC’s Sunday Night Football for Week 8.
Oct
28
NFL on CBS Previews Week 8 of the 2012 Season
Let’s go to CBS’ preview of NFL Week 8. We’ll begin with analyst Phil Simms talking about Pats-Rams in London and we have the NFL Today’s Bill Cowher discussing Dolphins-Jets and DC NFL Team QB RGIII.
THE NFL ON CBS: WEEK 8 (SUNDAY, OCT. 28)
AUDIBLES WITH “NFL ON CBS” LEAD ANALYST PHIL SIMMS AND “THE NFL TODAY’S” BILL COWHER
The CBS Television Network, home of Super Bowl XLVII, continues its 53rd year broadcasting the NFL with coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Oct. 28 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY, the Network’s one-hour studio show (12:00 NOON-1:00 PM, ET), live from THE NFL TODAY studio in New York City.
THE NFL ON CBS lead announce team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms call the action live from Wembley Stadium in London, England as the New England Patriots take on the St. Louis Rams. Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.
Sean McManus is Chairman, CBS Sports, and serves as Executive Producer of CBS Sports’ coverage of THE NFL ON CBS. Harold Bryant is Executive Producer and Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.
* * * * *
PHIL SIMMS
(On Sam Bradford): Sam Bradford is one of the purest throwers in the NFL. If you give him time and he gets somebody even remotely open down the field he will hit them. Very seldom does he miss an open receiver when the conditions are good. I have only seen him in person once. So I am looking forward to meeting him, watching him throw and practice, and seeing what he looks like for real. I believe in his talent. I believe he deserved to be the first pick of the draft the first year he came out. If the Patriots don’t get a pass rush on him he’s going to be dangerous out there.
(On St. Louis Rams): Jeff Fisher has come in and got the program in order pretty quick. There are a lot of young players on both sides of the ball. They are fundamentally sound and not trying to do too much. In other words, just line it up and play good, solid football. That’s the way to start a program off and get it moving forward.
(On New England Patriots): The Patriots are fighting through a lot of injuries with their football team. They have been a little inconsistent. People expect them to go out there and dominate in all these games, which is hard to do in this league. The biggest concern is giving up big pass plays. Last year they prided themselves in not giving them up. This year they’re one of the worst in the NFL giving up big pass plays.
BILL COWHER
(On Miami vs. N.Y. Jets): It’s a very key game when you look at the AFC and the wild card position, that sixth position. Certainly Miami is surprising a lot of people. They’re playing great defense and Ryan Tannehill has been one of the most impressive looking quarterbacks to come into the league. Despite losing, the Jets put together one of their best performances against New England. It’s a really pivotal game for both the Jets and Dolphins in terms of that second position in the AFC East. I do believe New England is the team to beat there, but that number two spot is crucial, particularly as it relates to that potential sixth wild card spot.
(On young quarterbacks taking over): The biggest thing this year right now is the young quarterbacks versus the second year quarterbacks. It’s very encouraging to see the development of these guys – Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, Christian Ponder, Ryan Tannehill, Russell Wilson – and for the league to see a group of young quarterbacks getting ready to replace the Mannings and Bradys. Those guys are still out there, but it’s very encouraging for the league to see these new guys step forward. You’re also talking about Cam Newton – a lot of guys who have been second year players. There’s a good group of young quarterbacks in the league at the same time right now.
And CBS previews what you’ll see on The NFL Today on Sunday.
THE NFL ON CBS, home of Super Bowl XLVII and broadcasting its 53rd year of the NFL, continues its 2012 NFL season on Sunday, Oct. 28 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET).
One of the most remarkable aspects of this 2012 NFL season is that nearly one-third of the teams have entrusted their offenses to young quarterbacks drafted within the past two years. This season, there have been five rookie and five second-year quarterbacks starting in the NFL.
THE NFL TODAY’s Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, who had one of the greatest seasons ever as he led Miami to the Super Bowl in his second season, is the perfect judge when it comes to ranking these 10 quarterbacks. Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck and Washington’s Robert Griffin III were picked one-two only six months ago. Would they rank that way today as we near the midway mark of their first NFL season? What about last season’s offensive Rookie of the Year Cam Newton of Carolina, and other sophomore signal callers Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton and Minnesota’s Christian Ponder? Shawn Robbins and Jeff St. Arromand are the producers.
James Brown hosts THE NFL TODAY along with analysts Marino, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Bill Cowher, NFL TODAY Insider Jason La Canfora, as well as Lesley Visser reporting.
Eric Mann is senior producer and Bob Matina is director of THE NFL TODAY.
We’ll have the NFL on Fox preview next.
Oct
27
ESPN Previews NFL Week 8 of the 2012 Season
Let’s move to ESPN and its previews for Week 8 starting with NFL Matchup that airs on ESPN at 6:30 a.m. Sunday and again on ESPN2 at 8:30 a.m.
NFL Matchup – Cowboys Blitz Breakdown; Frank Gore Trap TD Run; Robert Griffin III on Play-Action Passes; and More
NFL Matchup host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge will preview the weekend’s key matchups by taking viewers inside the film room with X’s and O’s analysis Sunday, Oct. 28, on ESPN at 6:30 a.m. (ESPN2 at 8:30 a.m.). Highlights:
- ‘Inside the Matchup’ – Cowboys Blitz Breakdown: Jaworski goes ‘Inside the Matchup’ from the first week of the season to show that the Cowboys defense seldom blitzed quarterback Eli Manning, yet sacked Manning three times and limited the quarterback to two completions on eight attempts facing a blitz.
- Jaws’ Film Room – Todd Bowles Blitzes from 2011: Jaworski goes back to last year’s tape to show the blitz schemes that Todd Bowles was a part of while on Miami’s coaching staff. As the Eagles’ new defensive coordinator, Bowles could use similar blitzes this week at home against Atlanta.
- Hoge Drop In – Kroy Bierman Spy: Hoge highlights the versatility of defensive end Kroy Biermann, showing how the Falcons use him as a spy to neutralize mobile quarterbacks like Redskins’ Robert Griffin III.
- ‘Coaches Clicker’ – Frank Gore Trap TD Run: Hoge revisits last year’s matchup between the 49ers and Cardinals and uses the ‘Coaches Clicker’ to break down an inside trap that opened the hole for running back Frank Gore’s 37-yard touchdown run.
- ‘Tell Me Something I Don’t Know’ – Luke Kuechly: Jaworski highlights the emergence of Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly who has 26 tackles in two weeks since starting at middle linebacker.
- Hoge Breakdown – Robert Griffin III Play-Action Pass Game: With 54 percent of Robert Griffin’s passing yards coming on play-action passes, Hoge shows how the Redskins’ use of multiple formations and backfield action paralyzes second-level defenders, opening up downfield throws that result in big gains.
- ‘Between the Lines’ – Saints Offense Back on Track: Jaworski contends the Saints offense is back on track and uses the telestrator to show a big play that features wide receiver Marques Colston running a cross pattern in one of the team’s staple pass routes.
- ‘Factor Back’ – Reggie Bush: Hoge puts the skill set of Dolphins “Factor Back” Reggie Bush on display using two plays from earlier this season – Week 3 against the Jets – where he was featured as a conventional-style running back, and later as a receiver out of the backfield.
- ‘Beyond the Film Room’ – Andrew Luck: NFL Matchup goes ‘Beyond the Film Room’ with Andrew Luck to show the quarterback’s uncanny improvisation last week vs. the Browns.
Now to Sunday NFL Countdown which has a short and sweet preview for its show at 10 a.m. ET.
ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown with Chris Berman, Cris Carter,Mike Ditka,Tom Jackson,Keyshawn Johnson, Suzy Kolber, Merril HogeandRon Jaworski will preview week eight games on Sunday, Oct. 28, at 10 a.m. ESPN’s NFL Insider Adam Schefterand senior analyst Chris Mortensen will report the day’s news and updates. Comedian and impressionist Frank Caliendo will contribute with a witty and unique look at some of the ESPN and NFL personalities.
Correspondents Sal Paolantonio (Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles), Rachel Nichols (Miami Dolphins at New York Jets), Josina Anderson (Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears), George Smith (Washington Redskins at Pittsburgh Steelers) and Ed Werder (New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys) will report from game sites. Highlights:
- You Play to Win the Game: This week marks the 10th anniversary of one of the most famous on-the-podium speeches by a coach in NFL history – then-N.Y. Jets head coach Herm Edwards’ “You Play to Win the Game.” Countdown will commemorate this hallmark rant with Edwards, now an ESPN analyst, as the crew reviews the impact the saying has had on the game, including insight from Judy Battista of the New York Times, reporter whose question prompted the memorable answer.
- Sport Science – Measuring the Mile High Altitude: Quarterbacks Drew Brees (Saints) and Peyton Manning (Broncos) will go head-to-head on Sunday night in Denver. Sports Science host John Brenkus will analyze how the altitude at Mile High Stadium could impact the speed and tempo of running a no-huddle offense in the game between the league’s two leading quarterbacks.
The three-hour program will also include Jaworski and Hoge’s Xs and Os “Eye in the Sky” segment; preview Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III, ahead of his first game against the vaunted Steelers defense; Cris Carter’s “Where You At?”; and Kenny Mayne tackling a sticky situation in his self-titled, tongue-in-cheek segment, “Mayne Event.”
Finally to ESPN’s preview of Monday Night Football.
Arizona Cardinals Host First Place 49ers on Monday Night Football
Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals will host NFC West divisional foe Alex Smith and the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football on October 28, at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. In the last six seasons, these teams have met five times on MNF with the 49ers winning four of those games. Play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico and analyst Jon Gruden will call the game with sideline reporter Lisa Salters.
In addition, fans can watch MNF on ESPN Deportes and – for anyone who receives their video subscriptions from an affiliated provider – on WatchESPN.com (computers) or via the WatchESPN app (tablets).
Leading into the matchup, Chris Berman will host the two-hour pre-game show Monday Night Countdown at 6:30 p.m. with analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson and NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter. On-site host Stuart Scott, analysts Trent Dilfer and Steve Young, contributor Rick Reilly and Salters will also join the show. Some highlights:
- ‘Gruden Extra’ with Larry Fitzgerald: Since entering the National Football League in 2004, Larry Fitzgerald has been one of the league’s top wide receivers. He passed the 10,000 career receiving yards mark earlier this year, but more importantly, he has been a team leader for the Cardinals. This week, the Pro Bowl receiver sits down with Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden in the MNF bus to discuss the Cardinals season.
- Rick Reilly Feature on William Gay: William Gay was just seven when his mother was shot and killed by his step-father, a senseless act of violence that turned his life upside down. Today, the Cardinals cornerback helps others affected by domestic abuse in Pittsburgh, the home of his former team, reports Rick Reilly.
- Jim Harbaugh Soundtracks: In just his second season, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh has infused his personality into his football team. This week’s Soundtracks features in-game audio from Harbaugh during his team’s week six loss to the New York Giants.
And we’ll move to CBS’ preview next.
Oct
27
NFL Network Previews Week 8 of the 2012 Season
After being away all day once again dealing with family issues, I’m back now to provide the Sunday NFL pregame previews for Week 8 in the National Football League.
For this week, we’ll begin with the NFL Network pregames that begin very early at 7 a.m. ET/4 a.m. PT. I may be up since I’m dealing with hurricane prep in the Northeast.
Let’s take a look at what you’ll see on First on the Field with the always lovely Melissa Stark and the extremely talkative Sterling Sharpe on Sunday.
At 7:00 AM ET, NFL Network is First on the Field with Melissa Stark, LaDainian Tomlinson, Sterling Sharpe and Michael Lombardi providing the first analysis of the day’s games.
This week, Melissa Stark interviews Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III about his adaptation to the NFL, rookie success and the Redskins season.
Also featured this week:
- Live reports from New England-St. Louis in London, Washington-Pittsburgh, Miami-New York Jets, and Carolina-Chicago
- Sterling Sharpe interviews Miami Dolphins first-year head coach Joe Philbin
- Front Office View: Michael Lombardi on latest trade rumors
And we move to NFL GameDay Morning’s preview for Sunday.
At 9:00 AM ET, host Rich Eisen and analysts Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin take viewers up to kickoff on NFL GameDay Morning.
Featured on NFL GameDay Morning this week:
- Feature on Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid’s remarkable 13-0 record following a bye week
- The return of New Orleans Saints interim head coach Joe Vitt and his impact on the Saints season
- Albert Breer reports from London for Patriots-Rams
- Aditi Kinkhabwala reports from Pittsburgh for Redskins-Steelers
- Kim Jones reports from New York for Dolphins-Jets
- Stacey Dales reports from Chicago for Panthers-Bears
- Jeff Darlington reports from Philadelphia for Falcons-Eagles
- Ian Rapoport reports from Dallas for Giants-Cowboys
That is it.
Oct
27
A NBC Sports-Themed Sports Media Thoughts Post
Time for some long overdue sports media thoughts. They’re all in bullet form. And the thoughts have to do with NBC Sports/NBC Sports Network.
- NBC Sports Network will finally get its man on Monday when it picks up the TV portion of the Dan Patrick Show and its accompanying show, The Box Score. Since the summer, NBC had been negotiating with DirecTV to become the national cable distributor of the show. Fox Sports Net had been the cable partner from 2010 until this month when negotiations to remain the home of the show broke off.
NBC Sports Network is desperately trying to become a legitimate competitor to ESPN, but with the NHL lockout plus losing out on Major League Baseball, it appeared that things were looking bleak. But some developments this week are giving NBCSN some hope to take the power back.
The first part is getting an established brand name like Dan Patrick to the network. The formal announcement will be made on Sunday Night Football during halftime of New Orleans-Denver.. Then the show starts the following day. The move has been long rumored, but it will finally come reality next week. For NBC Sports Network, the climb has to start somewhere. It has to start somehow. What better place than next week?
- The news broken by Sports Business Daily’s John Ourand on Friday that NBC appears to be the leader in the clubhouse for the US rights for the English Premier League has to feel like a bullet in the head to incumbents Fox Soccer and ESPN. When the bidding for the rights began this month, it appeared the current rightsholders, Fox/ESPN would continue for another three years beginning with the 2013-14 season. However, news broke today that the English Premier League had informed Fox/ESPN that it would no longer require its services. Ourand reported that NBC’s bid would triple Fox’s current fee of $23 million per year. An announcement is expected next week.
Of course, the Al Jazeera-owned beIN Sport which launched in the US in August has expressed its interest in the US rights, but it’s not known if it actually bid.
Let’s say for argument’s sake that NBC wins the rights, it would be huge. NBC Sports Network could conceivably air EPL games on Saturday and Sunday mornings plus air Monday afternoon games. Matches could be sublicensed to another network or placed on another NBCUniversal property like the Comcast SportsNet affiliates.
The English Premier League makes a nice compliment to the Major League Soccer games that air on both NBC and NBCSN. And if the EPL bid is successful, it suddenly gives the Peacock some street cred with soccer fans.
Plus, this is a huge blow to Fox Soccer which has heavily depended on the English Premier League for programming. And ESPN which already lost the World Cup and now 80 EPL games finds itself with just MLS once the 2014 World Cup concludes.
- Brett McMurphy at ESPN.com reports that the Big East conference is letting its exclusive 60 day negotiating window with ESPN lapse and will now start talks with Fox and NBC Sports.
While the Big East can still sign with ESPN, the conference is taking a gamble that it can get a megadeal similar to what other major college leagues have received. The Big East left big money on the table when it rejected a long-term deal from ESPN last year choosing to shop around. Now with its exclusive window with the alleged Worldwide Leader coming to an end, the Big East will get courted especially by NBC.
Over the last year, NBC Sports Network has picked up rights to the A-10, CAA, Ivy League and the Mountain West conferences, but it would be a huge win to get the Big East, a league that has been with ESPN since its inception.
Fox might be in just to drive up the bidding, but now with losing the EPL and Formula 1, it needs some inventory for its soon-to-be-launched Fox Sports 1 channel. If the Big East can convince either Fox or NBC or perhaps even both to pony up, the conference might be in line to see fees on par with the ACC. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
Suddenly, NBC Sports Network’s future looks a bit brighter than it did earlier this month. And if it gets a piece of the NASCAR schedule next year, then NBCSN’s programming with the NHL (if it ever returns), English Premier League, MLS, Big East, Formula 1 and the other aforementioned properties makes the channel a decent challenger. Don’t forget the NBA contract bidding in 2014 also is looming.
That’s going to end the thoughts for now.
Howdy. Welcome to Fang's Bites!
Thanks for dropping by! Feel free to join the discussion by leaving comments, and stay updated by subscribing to the RSS feed. See ya around!