Fang's Bites

Some Required Linkage for Late Night Wednesday

There are just too many stories that cannot be ignored until Thursday so let’s get to them.

First, after waiting two days, ESPN finally acknowledged the Ben Roethlisberger story. Gregg Rosenthal from Pro Football Talk is all over it.

Newsday’s Neil Best says ESPN decided to hit back at the New York Post for publishing pictures from the creepy Erin Andrews video.

Kate Nocera of the New York Daily News says ESPN is now investigating whether one of its own employees shot that video.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star feels the internet should be regulated in the wake of the Erin Andrews video. I wouldn’t go that far.

David Whitley of Fanhouse plays the blame game.

Chris Byrne in the Eye on Sports Media says CBS is being hypocritical when it comes to the Erin Andrews story.

Chris tells you how to keep track of the SEC Media Days this week.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell writes that the NCAA is facing another lawsuit.

Darren talks with Mrs. Andy Roddick, better known as Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker.

The Sports Media Journal’s Ray Frager writes about shrinking sports coverage in newspapers.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union goes over the ESPN family of networks’ college football schedule.

To Ken McMillan of the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record and his story on Army moving its home football games to CBS College Sports from ESPN’s platforms.

Steven Goff of the Washington Post has an update on the efforts to get the US-Mexico World Cup qualifying match on a network that most Americans can access.

The Sports Media Watch has some news and notes.

That’s it for now. I have some press releases to post next.

Fang’s Bites Musical Interlude – Heart

Time for a musical interlude as I haven’t done one in over a month. I’ll post videos from one of my favorite bands, Heart. Led by sisters Ann & Nancy Wilson, the band was one of the pioneers for future female-led bands. Ann sang, Nancy played guitar and through the years, have added and subtracted various band members.

The core of the band has been the Wilson sisters and they started in Seattle in the early 1970′s before hitting it big around 1977. They played hard and folk rock before being forced to sing power ballads in the mid-1980′s by their record company. In the mid-1990′s, Heart went back to its hard rock roots where they’ve stayed.

I’m going to post six videos here and they really don’t even begin to broach their discography, but perhaps during a Videos of the Week, I’ll go all out and post a whole bunch of their music.

Right now, let’s begin in 1976 and a live appearance by the band on a TV show (not sure which one), but this is “Heartless.”

I can’t believe I found a video of a performance I actually saw on TV. This is from the California Jam 2 in 1978. ABC played this on a late night Friday, I remember it being on after midnight and it went for about 2 hours and I watched the whole thing. Watch how hard the band works on stage. Oh, before I forget, this is “Barracuda.”

Let’s move to Heart’s power ballad era, but instead of showing those horrible videos that MTV played, I’ll post a video from a concert the band did in Seattle in 2003. This is “Alone.” And a very nice acoustical version. Ann and Nancy had some very nice harmony.

From the same concert, here’s Nancy singing “These Dreams”. Again, great harmony.

Since you see the beginning of “Mistral Wind” in the last video, I’ll add it so you can see it in its entirety.

From that same Seattle concert, Heart covers Led Zepplin’s “Black Dog.” Heart really loved Led Zepplin and often paid tribute covering their songs live. Ann pulls this off so well.

And flashing back again, this time to 1976 and NBC’s Midnight Special which never played at midnight, but always at 1 a.m., here is “Crazy on You” and Nancy’s awesome acoustic beginning to the song.

Ok, that’s actually 7 videos, but once I start finding good songs, I just want to post them. Down the line, I’ll do a Videos of the Week with Heart. Press releases coming up.

Westwood One Radio Unveils 2009-10 NFL Announcing Teams

After battling the ESPN College Football schedule press release for over an hour and a half as I edited it and tried to get it to format properly, this release from Westwood One Radio arrived in the Fang’s Bites inbox. This should be considerably easier to edit compared to ESPN’s mile long release. Take a look at who will call NFL games for the league’s national radio partner.

ANNOUNCES

ALL-STAR BROADCASTERS

FOR THE 2009-2010 NFL SEASON

-- The Best NFL Announcers on Radio Featuring Hall of Fame Players and Broadcasters –

-- Marv Albert & Boomer Esiason Return as Lead Monday Night Football Team –

-- Kevin Harlan & Warren Moon join the NFL on Westwood One with Dave Sims, James Lofton,

Ian Eagle, Randy Cross, Howard David, Dan Reeves, Kevin Kugler,

and Mark Malone rounding out the lineup --

New York, NY – July 22, 2009 – Westwood One announced today its lineup of all-star broadcasters for the 2009-2010 NFL season. Marv Albert and Boomer Esiason will return as the lead announcers for Monday Night Football and Super Bowl XLIV. In addition, veteran NFL broadcaster Kevin Harlan and Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon join Westwood One and will also provide play-by-play and analysis for Monday Night games and the Playoffs. Dave Sims returns as play-by-play announcer for Sunday Night games and will be joined by NFL Hall of Famer James Lofton. Ian Eagle and Randy Cross will team up for Westwood One’s Thursday Night broadcasts.

“The best quality games call for top quality broadcasters and we are thrilled to have assembled such an amazing lineup for the 2009 NFL season,” said Gary Schonfeld, President of Westwood One Network. “Legendary sportscasters, Hall of Fame NFL players, winning NFL coaches and an unparalleled schedule of games will make for great radio this fall. Fans, stations and advertisers are in for a real treat.”

Full broadcast teams for the NFL on Westwood One are as follows:

Sunday Afternoon Doubleheaders

Play-by-Play: Howard David

Color Analyst: Dan Reeves

Play-by-Play: Kevin Kugler

Color Analyst: Mark Malone

Sunday Night Football

Play-by-Play: Dave Sims

Color Analyst: James Lofton

Monday Night Football

Play-by-Play: Marv Albert (or Kevin Harlan)

Color Analyst: Boomer Esiason (or Warren Moon)

Thursday Night Football

Play-by-Play: Ian Eagle

Color Analyst: Randy Cross

Westwood One has been an NFL network radio partner for more than four decades and the exclusive network radio partner since 1978. As the exclusive radio partner of the NFL, the Westwood One 2009 NFL broadcast schedule features 57 national games, including: the Hall of Fame game, Opening Night game, 17 Monday Night games, including one doubleheader, 16 Sunday Night games, seven Thursday and Saturday Night games (including Thanksgiving Night), Thanksgiving Day doubleheader, Christmas Night, 12 Postseason games, including the NFL Playoffs, the AFC and NFC Championship Games, the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl and Super Bowl XLIV in South Florida. Westwood One also delivers specialty programs, including: The NFL Today, NFL Preview, NFL Insider, NFL Sunday, and NFL Fantasy Football Forecast.

In addition to the 57 game primetime package, Westwood One will also present a weekly Sunday afternoon doubleheader starting Sunday, September 13, 2009 and continuing each Sunday through January 3, 2010.

Westwood One is home of the most prestigious sports broadcasts on radio. Westwood One’s lineup includes regular season NFL football, the Playoffs and the Super Bowl; NCAA Football and Basketball including the Final Four; College World Series; Frozen Four; the Olympics; the Masters and more.

WESTWOOD ONE 2009-2010 NFL BROADCASTERS

Marv Albert, the voice of Monday Night Football on Westwood One, returns for his eighth year as play-by-play announcer. For over 25 years, Albert has served as primary play-by-play voice for the NBA on NBC and TNT, along with play-by-play announcing for NFL football, college basketball, boxing, NHL All-Star games, and has hosted studio and pre-game shows for Major League Baseball. Albert has won six Cable Ace Awards, three New York Emmy awards and was named New York State Sportscaster of the Year an unprecedented 20 times. In 1997, he was awarded the Curt Gowdy Media Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors given to sports journalists.

Boomer Esiason provides color commentary for Westwood One’s critically acclaimed Monday Night Football broadcast team and this marks his ninth year broadcasting for the network. Esiason co-host’s The NFL Today for CBS Sports and also served as the Monday Night Football analyst for ABC Sports for two seasons before joining Westwood One. Boomer also spends mornings co-hosting a daily radio show on WFAN in New York, and co-hosts NFL Preview each week on Westwood One as well. Prior to embarking on a broadcasting career, Esiason was one of the most prolific quarterbacks in NFL history. He spent 14 years in the NFL and quarterbacked the Cincinnati Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII. In 1988, Esiason was named NFL MVP by the Pro Football Writers of America and the Associated Press and was named the NFL’s Man of the Year in 1995.

Kevin Harlan makes his return to Westwood One to do play-by-play for Monday Night Football games. Harlan was the play-by-play voice of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four on Westwood One from 2003-2007 and currently calls play-by-play for CBS Sports’ coverage of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and NBA Basketball on TNT. Harlan joined CBS Sports in 1998 as an NFL play-by-play announcer, after having served in the same capacity for Fox Sports since 1994. A veteran football and basketball broadcaster, this will be his 26^th consecutive season broadcasting the NFL and this year’s NBA season marks his 23^rd broadcasting the NBA. Harlan spent nine seasons (1985-93) as the voice of the Kansas City Chiefs and was the voice of the Minnesota Timberwolves for nine seasons as well.

Warren Moon returns to Westwood One as an analyst, where he worked for three seasons from 2001-2003. He is also entering his 6^th season as the radio analyst for the Seattle Seahawks, and has served in numerous capacities over the years on television, including a stint in the booth for the Pac Ten College Football Game of the Week on FOX. Moon began his pro career with the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League, winning an unprecedented five straight Grey Cups. He signed with NFL’s Houston Oilers in 1984, and played 17 seasons in NFL where Moon completed 3,988 of 6,823 passes for 49,325 yards and threw 291 touchdowns. Despite spending his first six professional seasons in the CFL, Moon ranked third all-time in NFL passing yardage and fourth in touchdown passes thrown at the time of his retirement. Moon was selected to nine Pro Bowls; was named the NFL’s Man of the Year in 1989 and was inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

Dave Sims returns for his fourth season as Westwood One’s play-by-play announcer for Sunday Night Football. Before switching to primetime, Sims called Westwood One Sunday afternoon games as well as the NFL Playoffs for nearly a decade. The two-time Emmy Award winner has also called play-by-play for NCAA Basketball regular season games and tournament coverage for the past seven years and in 2003, also hosted the NCAA Women’s Final Four. In addition to his Westwood One duties, Sims called the Big East Football TV Game of the Week for many years, is currently the TV play by play voice of the Seattle Mariners and has written for the New York Daily News.

James Lofton returns to Westwood One after a seven-year coaching stint with the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders. Lofton served as analyst and sideline reporter for the NFL on Westwood One from 1999 - 2001. He was the No. 1 draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in 1978, beginning a long career as an NFL wide receiver. In 16 season playing for Green Bay, the Los Angeles Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, and the Philadelphia Eagles, Lofton caught 764 passes for 14,004 yards, which was the most in NFL history at the time of his retirement. In 13 playoff games, Lofton caught 41 passes for 759 yards and eight touchdowns, including a seven-reception game in Super Bowl XXVI. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.

Ian Eagle enters his second year as play-by-play announcer for Westwood One’s NFL Thursday night coverage. For the past two years, Eagle also called the action for Westwood One’s coverage of the SEC Basketball Championship and the Regional Semi-Finals and Finals of the NCAA Tournament. Eagle is primarily known for his work with CBS Sports, calling NFL games and NCAA Basketball games since 1998. He also has served as the play-by-play announcer for the NBA’s New Jersey Nets television broadcasts since 1995, after having called play-by-play for radio broadcasts the previous year. He was the play-by-play radio voice for the New York Jets in 1997 and hosted Jets pre- and post-game shows on WFAN from 1993 to 1996. Eagle joined WFAN Radio in New York in 1990 as a producer and debuted as host of his own show in 1992. Eagle was awarded the Bob Costas Award for Outstanding Sportscasting while attending Syracuse University.

Randy Cross returns to Westwood One as an analyst, where he worked for three seasons from 1990-1992 including the network’s coverage of Super Bowl XXIV. He will continue to call games for CBS Television as well, where he has worked as a booth analyst from 1989-1993 and then again from 2002 – present. Cross also served three years as a studio analyst for THE NFL TODAY on CBS and four years at NBC Sports as an analyst for its NFL broadcasts, selected Notre Dame games, the 1995 Fiesta Bowl and as a reporter for Super Bowl XXXII. A 13-year NFL veteran and three-time Pro Bowler, Cross was a center and guard for the San Francisco 49ers and helped lead the team to three Super Bowl championships. A two-time All-American at UCLA, he was the 49ers’ second-round pick in 1976 and missed only eight games over 13 years.

Howard David returns to Westwood One as play-by-play announcer for Sunday Afternoon games. David spent 23 years with CBS Radio/Westwood One broadcasting College Football, College Basketball, Masters Golf, US Open Tennis, the Olympics and NFL Football including six seasons as the voice of Monday Night Football and the Super Bowl. David‘s broadcast background also includes calling play-by-play for the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, as well as NBA Basketball with the New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics. He has also hosted talk shows at WQAM in Miami, Sporting News Radio and currently co-hosts a show for Sirius NFL Radio. David was chosen as New Jersey Sportscaster of the Year four times, the NY “Air Award” for broadcast excellence and is also a recipient of a New York Emmy Award.

Dan Reeves, former NFL player and head coach, returns to Westwood One for his fourth season as an analyst. Reeves played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1965-1972, during which the Cowboys went to the Super Bowl twice. After his retirement, he became a Cowboys’ Assistant Coach under Tom Landry for nine seasons, three of which resulted in Super Bowl appearances. In 1981, Reeves was named head coach and Vice President of the Denver Broncos, making him the youngest head coach in the league at the time, at age 37. Reeves piloted the team to three Super Bowl appearances in his 12 seasons at the helm. Reeves then took over as head coach of the New York Giants from 1993-1996, and in 1993 was named NFL Coach of the Year by the Associated Press. From 1997-2003, Reeves coached the Atlanta Falcons and in 1998, Reeves won his second Coach of the Year Award for leading them to the Super Bowl, his NFL record ninth appearance in the big game. Reeves won 201 games in 23 years as a head coach, ranking him 7^th in NFL history. All six coaches ahead of him on the career list of victories have already been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Kevin Kugler transitions from NCAA Football on Westwood One and makes his debut as play-by-play announcer for Sunday Afternoon NFL games. For the past three seasons, he has been the lead voice of the College Football Game of the Week and has called the past five College World Series for the Network as well. Kugler also serves as the radio play-by-play announcer for the NCAA Men’s Final Four broadcast and as the lead announcer for Westwood One’s regular season college basketball package. In addition, Kugler broadcast the Masters and the 2008 Summer Olympics for Westwood One, including calling the Gold Medal Basketball game in Beijing. Kugler also co-hosts a daily sports talk show in Omaha, and recently won the Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year Awards for the 5^th time in the past six years.

Mark Malone returns for a second season as an analyst and sideline reporter for the NFL on Westwood One, and will add duties as the host of NFL Insider. Malone spent a decade with ESPN where he hosted many NFL shows including Edge NFL Match-up, NFL Tonight, and Monday Night Countdown. Prior to joining Westwood One, he served as Sports Director for WBBM-TV in Chicago, where he garnered four Emmys for his work. Malone, an All-American quarterback at Arizona State and first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, played for 10 years in the NFL, quarterbacking the Steelers to the 1984 AFC Championship Game.

Jim Gray joined Westwood One in 2001 as host of the network’s Monday Night Football pre-game and halftime shows and this marks his ninth season fulfilling the same role for the network. Gray also serves as courtside reporter for Westwood One’s coverage of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four and as on-course reporter for the Masters. A prominent network television reporter for over two decades, Gray currently covers boxing for Showtime, is a contributor to NBC’s Today Show, and also has served as a courtside reporter for the NBA on CBS, NBC, ABC and most recently ESPN. Gray’s numerous credits include: seven Olympic Games, 22 Masters, twelve Super Bowls, seven World Series and 15 NBA Finals. Gray has won eight Emmy Awards and also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Scott Graham joins Westwood One as the new pregame, halftime and postgame host for the network’s Sunday NFL coverage. Graham has spent over twenty years as a radio and television sportscaster including play-by-play for both the NFL and NFL Europe on FOX. He has also spent the last 13 seasons as The Comcast Network’s primary play-by-play voice of college basketball, and continues to call college hoops for ESPN. On the radio side, Graham served as the play-by-play voice of the Philadelphia Phillies for eight seasons from 1999-2006. For nearly a decade prior to that, he hosted the pregame and postgame shows for the Phillies on CBS Radio in Philadelphia. He currently hosts a daily show on Sirius/XM’s MLB Channel. Since 2003, Graham has narrated a variety of programs, commercials, and features produced by NFL Films. His voice has most often been heard on NFL Game of the Week, in weekly game previews on NFL.com, and in various season highlight films for NFL teams.

Nice to see Tommy Tighe out of the studio host role. He was unlistenable with his stupid puns and silly rhymes. Scott Graham is a good choice to replace him. Much better than Tommy Tighe. I’m also glad to see that Howard David is back on Westwood One’s NFL coverage. Great radio play-by-play man. More later.

ESPN To Launch Local Sites in NYC, LA and Dallas

This is a story that started circulating last night and now has come into fruition. In addition to its ESPN Chicago site that launched earlier this year, ESPN is now going after audience in the nation’s two largest cities and in the Metroplex. Here’s the press release from ESPN.

ESPN to Expand Network of Local Sports Sites

Sites for Dallas, New York and Los Angeles to Join Successful ESPNChicago.com

ESPN announced today that it will roll out three more city-specific sports sites in the months ahead, with Dallas, Los Angeles and New York joining the successful ESPNChicago.com. ESPNDallas.com is slated to launch this Fall, followed by ESPNNewYork.com and ESPNLosAngeles.com in the first half of 2010. Like ESPNChicago.com, each site will feature an integrated home for ESPN’s news and information, online video and digital audio powered by the flagship ESPN Radio station in each market, giving local fans a destination for their sports on-air, online, on-site and on mobile devices.

“Our commitment to expand ESPN’s network of localized sites is a testament to our dedication to serve sports fans and their passions,” said Marc Horine, vice president digital partnerships and sales development, ESPN Digital Media. “We understand that local sports interests ignite strong passions, and Dallas, New York and Los Angeles have some of the most storied franchises and fan bases in history. We’re excited by the early success we’ve had with ESPNChicago.com and the opportunities that lie ahead.”

Like ESPNChicago.com, each site will have its own short-form SportsCenter, hosted by SC anchors and providing an original 3-6 minute roundup of the city’s sports news, teams and figures each day. Additionally, the sites will feature:

• Online radio and podcasts from local ESPN Radio flagship stations (ESPN 710 AM in LA, ESPN 1050 AM in NY, and ESPN 103.3 FM in Dallas);
• Online video, including highlights, news, analysis and original content from ESPN programs including Baseball Tonight, NFL Live, College Football Live and more;
• Original reporting, blogs and commentary from a stable of local voices, including those at the local ESPN Radio station, and award-winning journalists and writers from other ESPN media;
• Breaking sports news and information;
• Real-time scores, GameCasts and video highlights;
• Clubhouse pages from professional and college leagues;
• Community tools such as Fan Profiles, SportsNation, ESPN Conversations pages and Passport, ESPN.com’s digital fan scrapbook;
• Each site will also extend to mobile devices;
• The same innovative local and national advertising opportunities that both ESPNChicago.com and ESPN.com offer.

ESPN will continue to expand the network to more cities in the future, though no specific plans are in place. Like with ESPNChicago.com, ESPN’s Digital Media, Radio and Television Production divisions will collaborate to build and support the new sites.

The announcement comes following growth and momentum for ESPN’s first city-centric site, ESPNChicago.com. In less than three months, ESPNChicago.com has established itself as the top sports site for Chicago fans, and among the most popular news and information destinations for Chicago residents. In June, ESPNChicago.com logged 1.4 million total minutes of time spent on the site from nearly 600,000 unique visitors, up 112 percent and 57 percent respectively compared to May, according to comScore. The site also recently struck a content syndication agreement with The Huffington Post Chicago in which ESPNChicago.com sports news and content complements HuffPost Chicago’s unique blend of news, opinion, politics, local news, food and style. In exchange, The Huffington Post Chicago supplements ESPNChicago.com’s local content which includes ESPN Radio 1000, and Chicago news, traffic and weather from ABC-owned TV station WLS. The four local ESPN.com sites complement the growing network of ESPNRadio.com affiliate sites, now totaling 20, including Washington D.C., Denver, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Cleveland and more.

To anyone who thinks that ESPN is not going to expand further has his/her head in the sand. I can see the announcement of sites in Boston, DC-Baltimore, Detroit and Miami in the near future.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

MLB

American League
Baltimore at New York Yankees – MASN/YES, 7 p.m.
Red Sox at Texas – NESN/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.
Anaheim at Kansas City – Fox Sports West/Fox Sports Kansas City, 8 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Chicago White Sox – Sun Sports/Comcast SportsNet Chicago Plus, 8 p.m.
Minnesota at Oakland – Fox Sports North/Comcast SportsNet Calif0rnia, 10 p.m.

National League
Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia – ESPN/Comcast SportsNet Chicago/WPHL, 7 p.m.
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh – Fox Sports Wisconsin/FSN Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
New York Mets at Washington – SNY/MASN2, 7 p.m.
San Francisco at Atlanta – Comcast SportsNet Bay Area/SportSouth, 7 p.m.
Houston at St. Louis – Fox Sports Houston/Fox Sports Midwest, 8 p.m.
Arizona at Colorado – Fox Sports Arizona/FSN Rocky Mountain, 8:30 p.m.
Cincinnati at Los Angeles Dodgers – Fox Sports Ohio/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 10 p.m.
Florida at San Diego – Fox Sports Florida/Cox 4, 10 p.m.

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

Entertainment
Torchwood: Inside the Hub – BBC America, 8 p.m.
Torchwood: Children of Earth, Day One – BBC America, 9 p.m.
Weeds – Showtime, 10 p.m.
Hooked: Monsters of the Deep – National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.
Torchwood: Inside the Hub – BBC America, 10:15 p.m.
Nurse Jackie – Showtime, 10:30 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman – CBS, 11:35 p.m.

The Last Ever TNT Quotage from The Open Championship

I’m going to miss getting TNT quotage from the Open Championship seeing that this is the last year for Turner Sports at Golf’s Oldest Major until at least 2014. Thanks to the fine people at TNT for getting this out so quickly not just today, but throughout the four days of the Open.

Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the Open Championship from the Ailsa Course at Turnberry in Scotland

Final Round – Sunday, July 19, 2009

Announcers: Ernie Johnson (play-by-play), Ian Baker-Finch (analyst), Bill Kratzert (analyst) and Jim Huber (reporter)

Baker-Finch on the chances of Tom Watson winning the Open Championship: “I think the chances are very good (for Tom Watson to win). I think if he continues to do what he’s doing…he’s driving it great, he’s making a lot of birdies, everything he’s doing is just fantastic. The thing I think about Tom is he has more experience than anyone else. He’s done this five times before, he’s been playing here since 1975, he’s only missed a couple. I think he’s got the world behind him, all of Scotland is behind him. Scotland has always taken Tom as their own, he’s won four of his five titles here. I don’t see any reason why he can’t keep doing it. He’s putting well and it’s only the putter that lets him down on occasion and the putter hasn’t let him down this week. He’s 59 years of age, but he’s been winning on the Champions Tour in the U.S. and won the Senior Open Championship three times as well. It’s not like he’s been away from the game, he’s been competitive and winning.”

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed former Open Champion Mark Calcavecchia and his wife Brenda, who serves as his caddy.

Brenda Calcavecchia on being her husband Mark’s caddy: “I can’t lie, it is physically tough. But even when I’m not carrying the bag we talk throughout the round and I give him encouragement. This is a way for me to be out with him full-time and it works for us. He did throw one club one time at the TOUR Championship. It almost hit my ring, I said, ‘if you break the diamond you buy a bigger one,’ and that was the end of that.”

Kratzert on the weakness in Ernie Els’ game: “The obstacle (Ernie Els) has to overcome it just trying to put it in play in competition.”

Baker-Finch: “Yeah, he’s just lost his mojo. It’s self-belief that you need. The swing is there, it’s not like he’s lost his swing. It’s just you work on it and you try to find a feel. Some days he just doesn’t feel like he’s out there, doesn’t understand why.”

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed Ernie Els prior to his round.

Els on the possibility of Tom Watson, at 59 years old, winning a record tying sixth Open Championship: “Unbelievable, in the history of the game this could be it (the greatest feat). I know there have been great stories along the way in our sport; Bobby Jones winning the Grand Slam, Ben Hogan, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, a lot of great stories. Man, at 59 to win the Open Championship, that had to be a 10,000 to 1 shot that that’s ever going to happen, and it could happen today. He’s been unbelievable to watch and a hero of mine. Great links player, probably the best of our generation, so he’s got a great change to win.”

Kratzert on why he loves the Ailsa Course at Turnberry as an Open Championship site: “The addition of 22 bunkers, the added yardage 247 yards, it now plays over 7200 yards. You have a great mixture, you have a long Par Three (on hole) six, you look out there on the 11th and that short Par Three, that is a spectacular hole, the views are just unbelievable. It’s the Pebble Beach of Europe. I think with the changes they’ve made, visually it’s more pleasing. And we saw on the first day, if the wind doesn’t blow it’s a golf course you can go out and pretty much shoot the grass off it. (If there is weather), it becomes a very difficult challenge and that’s what I like.”

Baker-Finch on the success of Steve Marino, who had a strong showing in his first links course and Open Championship ever: “It’s created another American player (Steve Marino) coming over from the PGA TOUR, the first time ever on a links golf course on this stage. He’s just going to have a love affair with it now and it will last forever.”

Johnson on John Daly’s hounds tooth pants: “Put these pants on with a Bear Bryant hat and you are stylin’.”

Baker-Finch on amateur golfer Matteo Mannasero: “Matteo Mannasero, just always remember this name, this kid can really play and he’s a great putter. You’ll see him at next year’s Masters, he’s still only going to be 16.”

Kratzert on Ernie Els’ ability to pitch the ball: “Is (Ernie Els) not the best? Is he not one of the top five pitching the ball? Unbelievable. You know he’s accelerating through the shot, but it’s not visually detectable that he’s accelerating. It’s just so smooth through that there has to be that minimal amount of acceleration, otherwise he wouldn’t be as good as he is.”

Ernie Johnson signed off at 7:58 a.m. ET and I get this at 8:43 a.m. Very impressive.

Next year, it’s all ESPN’s and I have not received a single bit of quotage from their coverage this year.

Videos of the Week – Rage Against the Machine

Two years ago, on my birthday no less, I posted a RATM-themed Videos of the Week so I figured it was time to do so again.

It’s time and why not? No real reason other than Rage Against the Machine is one of my all-time favorite bands.

I’ll start with Freedom off RATM’s self-titles debut album.

This is the awesome Renegades of Funk.

A live performance of Guerilla Radio.

Here’s Bombtrack

Another live performance. This is Know Your Enemy.

A rare live performance from 1993 doing Bullet in the Head.

And this is No Shelter performed at the Tibetan Freedom Concert.

Finally, a bonus video. Someone at YouTube made this to Gil-Scott Heron’s The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.

That’s it. I’m gone for most of today. I’ll be back tonight.

Golf Channel Readies Its Post-Open Championship Coverage

On Golf Channel, it will go over the 3rd round in which Tom Watson is turning back the clock and leads the Open Championship as we go to the Final Round tomorrow.

Faldo and Nobilo Tackle Turnberry today on

Live From the Open Championship

ORLANDO, Fla., July 18 – Today’s Live From the Open Championship news coverage (2:30-4 p.m. ET; 7-9 p.m. ET) will go inside the ropes to recap the third round of play at Turnberry, featuring Nick Faldo re-creating exact shots on the course and GOLF CHANEL analyst Frank Nobilo, in addition to his expert analysis, taking viewers inside the minds of players as they approach the first tee box and what he misses about playing in the Open Championship.

Faldo and Nobilo will join GOLF CHANNEL’s team of analysts and reporters – Steve Sands and Tom Abbott from Turnberry and Kelly Tilghman, Kraig Kann, Rich Lerner, Todd Lewis, Peter Oosterhuis, Brandel Chamblee and Charlie Rymer from its network studios in Orlando – to break down the third round of the Open Championship and prepare viewers for Sunday’s final round. Alex Miceli and GOLF CHANNEL insider Tim Rosaforte will join the show for additional insight, and in his essay, Lerner wonders if “Old” Tom Watson is channeling the spirit of Old Tom Morris in Watson’s bid to make history.

Live From the Open Championship also will air in prime time tonight from 7-9 p.m. ET and re-air throughout the evening.

Live From the Open Championship TV Times (all times ET)

Saturday, July 18: 2:30 – 4 p.m.

Saturday, July 18: 7-9 p.m.

Sunday, July 19: 1:30 – 4 p.m.

Sunday, July 19: 7-9 p.m.

I hope the final round is highly rated because what a great story it would be for the 59 year old Watson to win tomorrow.

Another Interview with Len Berman

Last month, former WNBC-TV sports anchor Len Berman did an internet interview with Obsessed TV. It was a very good interview as Len gives great quotes.

This week, Len did another interview, this time with Big Apple Channel.com and the host is Roger Ahl. They speak about why Len left WNBC and why ESPN intimidates the non-sports fan. It lasts about 25 minutes. Enjoy.

Thanks to Len for tipping us off through Twitter.

On The Next Real Sports

Here is you’ll see on HBO’s Real Sports on Tuesday. It’s an edition I have promised to review.

REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL SITS DOWN WITH SUPER BOWL NO-SHOW BARRET ROBBINS, VISITS FREDDIE ROACH, ONE OF BOXING’S MOST SUCCESSFUL TRAINERS, TELLS THE INSPIRING STORY OF A YOUNG CANCER PATIENT ADOPTED BY THE NORTHWESTERN WOMEN’S LACROSSE TEAM AND UPDATES ITS REPORT ON YANKEE JORGE POSADA AND HIS SON’S BATTLE AGAINST CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS WHEN THE EMMY^®-WINNING SHOW RETURNS JULY 21, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

Winner of 21 Sports Emmys^® in 14 years, REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL presents more enterprising features and reporting when its 148th edition, available in HDTV, debuts TUESDAY, JULY 21 (10:00 p.m. ET/PT & 9:00 p.m. CT), exclusively on HBO.

Segments include:

*AWOL. As the Oakland Raiders took the field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII, they did so without their Pro Bowl center, Barret Robbins. In one of the strangest Super Bowl controversies ever, Robbins went AWOL two days before the biggest game of his career, leaving no trace of his whereabouts. For the Raiders, Robbins’ disappearance was a major distraction; for Robbins, the episode was only the beginning of a dark and tragic story that would include a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, substance abuse, numerous stints in rehab and multiple run-ins with the law. Now, more than six years after his Super Bowl no-show, Robbins sits down with correspondent Andrea Kremer to look back on his troubles in this REAL SPORTS/Sports Illustrated collaboration.

Producers: Chapman Downes, Mike Sullivan.

*All the Right Moves. Like elite fighters, trainers can get on a hot streak, and no teacher in the sweet science is currently hotter than Freddie Roach. A journeyman prizefighter in his younger years, Roach has fashioned a potential Hall of Fame career, working out of his famed Wild Card Gym in Hollywood with his most accomplished pupil, pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, among other sluggers. Roach’s own story includes a troubled childhood and a battle with Parkinson’s disease today. As REAL SPORTS correspondent Mary Carillo shows, it’s easy to see why this three-time BWAA Trainer of the Year is currently the man in demand.

Producer: Lisa Bennett.

*Friends of Jaclyn. Boasting five consecutive national championships, the Northwestern women’s lacrosse team might be the most dominant program in NCAA history. For those close to the team, it’s common knowledge that their magic run began only after a secret weapon was brought in: Jaclyn Murphy. Diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor at age nine, the Hopewell Junction, NY native was in desperate need of a lift when the team reached out to her. Four years later, Murphy is a healthy, cancer-free 14-year-old, while Northwestern hasn’t lost a national championship since their initial meeting. Inspired by their uplifting relationship, the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation has been established to link other children with malignant brain tumors to college teams around the country. Correspondent Frank Deford reports this remarkable story.

Producer: Chapman Downes.

*The Next Posada. In 2003, REAL SPORTS profiled three generations of the Posada family, revealing the struggles of the son of New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada. A month after the Yankees won the 1999 World Series, Jorge’s wife Laura gave birth to Jorge IV, who was afflicted by craniosynostosis, a life-threatening condition that causes the bones of the skull to fuse before the brain finishes growing. Following many complicated and lengthy surgeries, Jorge IV appeared ready to turn the corner and live the normal life of a three-year old. Six years after the original segment, host Bryant Gumbel updates Jorge IV’s extraordinary story and reports on the efforts of the Jorge Posada Foundation to help other families affected by craniosynostosis.

Producers: Jill Klapper, Joe Perskie.

The executive producers of REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; Kirby Bradley is senior producer.

This will air Tuesday at 10 p.m.

TNT Quotage from the Open Championship, 3rd Round

Nice to have quotage on a Saturday. Here’s what the TNT crew said during the early 3rd round coverage of the Open Championship.

Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the Open Championship from the Ailsa Course at Turnberry in Scotland

Round Three – Saturday, July 18, 2009

TNT’s coverage of the Open Championship concludes Sun., July 19 from 6 am – 8 am ET/PT. Watch live video coverage on PGA.com

Announcers: Ernie Johnson (play-by-play), Ian Baker-Finch (analyst), Bill Kratzert (analyst) and Jim Huber (reporter)

Baker-Finch on the absence of Tiger Woods’ coach Hank Haney and the poor performance of Tiger Woods which caused him to miss the cut of the Open Championship: “Tiger told me that Hank (Haney) is going to work with Tiger leading into the majors and not come to the majors so he can just go out and concentrate on this game and concentrate on golf. Hank watches from home, I’m sure Hank’s seeing exactly what’s happening on those bad shots. They’ll go back and they’ll discuss it. Tom Weiskopf had a great expression last night, he said he’s going to retool. (Tiger is) going to home and retool, work on the things that went wrong under pressure and come back stronger next time.”

Kratzert on Tiger Woods following a similar pattern this year that he did in 2007 when he won the PGA Championship: “We saw the same pattern the year he won the PGA at Southern Hills. He did not play well over here, he was frustrated, didn’t hit any balls. All of a sudden, he went to the practice range, he kind of figured it out on his own and went on and won at Firestone and then won at Southern Hills. All of a sudden that started that streak of seven victories in a row. So he’ll go home and he’ll figure it out. He’s really disappointed with his performance and it is totally unacceptable for him.”

Baker-Finch on teeing off on the 10^th hole: “You’re elevated, the water and the cliff to the left hand side, severe rough on both sides, bunkers to avoid as well as that left to right wind…if you’re going to fear a tee shot, that’s the one you’re going to fear.”

Baker-Finch on the lack of confidence Justin Rose has in his swing: “I played with Justin Rose for the first two rounds at the Colonial (Invitational) a couple of months ago and he’s just not quite there from a confidence standpoint with his swing. When the pressure’s on, it gets a little bit tighter.”

Kratzert on Steve Marino who started Round Three in second place: “(Steve Marino) is a feel player, is his golf swing technically sound? I would have to say no, but the fact that he putts the ball so well and the fact that he’s like a (Fredrick) Jacobson…there are a lot of players out on the TOUR that get the job done with quality and there are a lot of players who get the job done with quantity. I think Marino is one of these quantity players, but if he keeps the hot putter he’s going to stay in it.”

Baker-Finch on the classic 1977 Open Championship which featured a showdown between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus dubbed ‘Duel in the Sun’: “I just have seen that at least 20 times, I think it’s the best. There are a lot of great Masters moments, but I think that the ‘Duel in the Sun’ with (Tom) Watson and (Jack) Nicklaus is just the absolute classic. There was a period of time there from 1977 to 1982 when we saw Jack and Tom battling it out in a lot of major championships.”

I love the quotage. But if you visit here often, you knew that already.

Some Saturday Links

I’ll do some linkage for you on this Saturday morning.

First, The Big Lead is really pissed about the Peeping Tom videos of Erin Andrews.

Here’s a statement from Erin’s lawyers who will pursue this case.

A quick note here. Many sports bloggers myself included liked posting pictures of Erin. And it was nice that Erin played along with us. She was a bit confused about the attention at first, but then she rolled along with it. In interviews, Erin said she found the attention a bit daunting in the beginning, but then began to show a sense of humor about it. But then the person responsible for taking the videos took this a step too far. I’ll admit, I’m going to take a step back on posting pictures of Erin for a while. The person who took these videos definitely went over the line in a big way.

To the other links today.

Jack Bell of the New York Times says the USA-Mexico World Cup Qualifier game will be aired in English, but you have to search to find it.

Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette feels Chris Russo lost a lot of credibility with his listeners.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union assembled a panel to rate the Mets and Yankees announcing teams.

Alan Pergament of the Buffalo News has ESPN/ABC’s Paul Maguire confused about his role with the network.

Patrick Berkery of the Philly Burbs papers says Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia’s Lesley Gudel’s expertise doesn’t stop at sports.

The Orlando Business Journal reports that Fox Sports Net and ESPN Regional TV have signed a multiyear agreement to put SEC football, basketball and Olympic sports on three of FSN’s networks.

Andrea Adelson of the Orlando Sentinel has details of the ESPN/FSN SEC contract.

Also from the Sentinel, Andrew Carter says the ACC has to play catchup on its TV contract with ESPN when it expires next year.

Andrew writes that the SEC’s huge contract has rival leagues worried.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News writes that the Texas Rangers are doing well in the ratings. Barry has a video of Cowboys QB Tony Romo poking fun at himself.

Todd Jorgenson of the Denton (TX) Record Chronicle speaks with Rangers voice and Denton native Dave Barnett.

James Corley of the Daily Oklahoman says ESPN returns to its roots by airing slow-pitch softball this weekend.

Scott Wright of the Oklahoman says Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy makes the rounds on ESPN this Monday.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star says it’s apparent that NBC likes the NHL.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says the marriage of UFC and Rogers Sportsnet has been a match made in Canadian heaven.

T.J. Donegan of the Sports Media Journal looks at a side of the Steve McNair story that hasn’t been covered.

Chris Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media has the lowlights of Tiger Woods’ disastrous 2nd round at the Open Championship yesterday.

I’ll end it there for now.

Some Press Releases that Should Have Been Posted on Friday

I have some releases to give you that I should have posted last night. So let’s do them now. Then I hope to do some linkage.

Here’s CBS Sports touting that Lesley Visser has been named as the best female broadcaster of all time by the American Sportscasters Association.

CBS SPORTS’ LESLEY VISSER VOTED NO. 1 FEMALE SPORTSCASTER BY AMERICAN SPORTSCASTERS ASSOCIATION

CBS Sports’ Lesley Visser was voted the No. 1 female sportscaster by the American Sportscasters Association.

Visser, who returned to CBS Sports in 2000, was chosen from 36 finalists, which included Andrea Kremer, Robin Roberts, Michele Tafoya and Hannah Storm.

“I am so thrilled and appreciative of this honor,” said Visser. “I am equally proud of the other women.”

“Lesley is a pioneer among women in sports broadcasting,” said Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports. “Her career and accomplishments as an insightful journalist and intrepid reporter are a testament to not only being recognized as the No. 1 female sportscaster, but one of the best in the industry.”

Visser’s long and trailblazing career includes many firsts as the first woman to be recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the recipient of the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award in 2006; the first woman assigned to “Monday Night Football” and the first woman ever to report from the sidelines during a Super Bowl.

Visser first joined CBS Sports in 1984 and became full-time in 1987. Her assignments included the NBA, college basketball, Major League Baseball, college football, U.S. Open Tennis Championships and the Winter Olympics, and she was a regular on THE NFL TODAY. In 1992 she became the first woman to handle the post-game presentation ceremony at the Super Bowl and in 1989 she covered the fall of the Berlin Wall, focusing on how sports would change in East Germany.

Visser began her career in sports journalism in 1974 as a member of the Boston Globe sports staff on a grant from the Carnegie Foundation, two years later she was assigned to cover the New England Patriots, becoming the first ever female NFL beat writer. While at the Boston Globe she covered the NCAA Final Four, Super Bowl, NBA Finals, World Series, Wimbledon, the Olympics and college football. In 2009, Sports Illustrated named the Boston Globe Sports staff (1975-80) the best sports section of all time.

The ASA Board of Directors is made up of Chairman Dick Enberg, Lou Schwartz, Jon Miller, Jim Nantz and Bill Walton.

Terrell Owens was a guest on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday. This is what he had to say.

MLB Network has a special on Rickey Henderson that will air on Sunday.

MLB NETWORK TO PREMIERE MLB PRODUCTIONS’ RICKEY HENDERSON: LEADOFF LEGEND ON SUNDAY, JULY 19 AT 9:00 P.M. ET

July 17, 2009 – MLB Network will televise the premiere of Rickey Henderson: Leadoff Legend, a documentary from MLB Productions, on Sunday, July 19 at 9:00 p.m. ET, one week prior to Henderson’s induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. MLB Network will also televise the 2009 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony live from Cooperstown, New York on Sunday, July 26.

Narrated by Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who is from the Oakland area and idolized Henderson growing up, the documentary focuses on how Henderson’s record-breaking career redefined the leadoff position. The film contains footage from Henderson’s exclusive two-hour interview for the project and showcases why he is considered one of baseball’s most entertaining characters and most dominant players. Several former MLB players, teammates and journalists are also featured, including MLB Network’s Bob Costas, Harold Reynolds, Al Leiter and Barry Larkin, John Franco, Tony Gwynn, Torii Hunter, Dave Parker, Wally Joyner, Carlton Fisk, Tim Raines, Bert Blyleven, Vida Blue, Doug Glanville, Vince Coleman, Steve Stone, Dwayne Murphy, Rick Rizzs and Ed Randall.

Michael Phelps will be seen on NBC Sports and Universal Sports for the World Aquatics Championships.

Unprecedented Coverage of Championships Includes Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water and Synchronized Swimming Events

LOS ANGELES – July 17, 2009 – NBC Sports and Universal Sports, in cooperation with the International Swimming Federation (FINA), present more than 50 hours of coverage of the 2009 FINA World Aquatics Championships taking place July 17 – August 2 in Rome. The U.S. team is led by Michael Phelps, who won seven gold medals at the 2007 Championships in Melbourne along with teammates Ryan Lochte, Dara Torres and Aaron Peirsol. Coverage of the 13th FINA World Championships covers all disciplines governed by FINA, including swimming, diving, water polo, open water and synchronized swimming events.  The planned coverage on Universal Sports and NBC more than triples the amount of broadcast hours for any international aquatics event outside of the Olympic Games.

COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS: NBC Sports will air six hours of competition over two weekends beginning July 26 from 12-2 p.m. ET and continuing August 1 and 2 from 12–2 p.m. ET.  Highlighted races include the men's and women's 4x100m freestyle relays, pitting the U.S. against top rivals from France and Australia on July 26; the men's 100m buttery on August 1, featuring Olympic champion and recent world-record setter Michael Phelps; and the women's 50m freestyle on August 2, with 42-year-old Dara Torres continuing to defy her age.

COVERAGE ON UNIVERSAL SPORTS: Universal Sports will feature a two-hour primetime show at 7 p.m. ET every night of the Championships, beginning tomorrow. The network will also run a daily, two-hour live program during the swimming finals, beginning noon ET from Monday, July 27 through Friday, July 31.  The men's and women's water polo teams hope to climb one step higher on the podium after earning silver medals at the Beijing Games, while the U.S. diving team challenges China's dominance of the sport.  Notable swimming races on Universal Sports include the women's 200m individual medley on July 2 featuring Beijing silver medalist Christine Magnuson; the men's 100m freestyle on July 30; and the 200m backstroke showdown between Lochte and Peirsol on July 31.

COVERAGE ON UNIVERSALSPORTS.COM: UniversalSports.com will provide live streaming coverage of the entire swimming competition, from heats through finals. Live webcasts begin today at 11:30 a.m. ET with the men's 1m diving final.

NBC Sports' Olympic swimming broadcast team, featuring three-time Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, Emmy Award-winning host Dan Hicks, and reporter Andrea Kremer, will provide commentary for the swimming event, while Emmy Award-winning host Ted Robinson and former Olympic diver Cynthia Potter will cover the diving competition.  Coverage on both networks is hosted and produced by the NBC Olympics production team, led by NBC Sports and Olympics Executive Producer David Neal.

"This is unprecedented coverage of the 2009 FINA World Championships, the most any network has ever dedicated to aquatics across all the disciplines, providing viewers with more than 50 hours of television coverage, as well as robust online offerings," said Claude Ruibal, CEO of Universal Sports.  "Collectively, NBC Sports, Universal Sports and UniversalSports.com, will deliver world-class, wall-to-wall coverage of these exciting World Championships to millions of fans."

A full TV schedule is available at UniversalSports.com/tvschedule, and a detailed competition schedule, as well as highlights, full-length videos, photos, breaking news and more will be available at Universal Sports' swimming channel at UniversalSports.com/swimming.

TEAM USA: Top contenders include 14-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps competing in the 200m freestyle, 100m and 200m butterfly; Dara Torres competing in the 50m freestyle; Olympic gold medalist Aaron Peirsol competing in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke; and Ryan Lochte competing in the 200m and 400m IM and 200m backstroke. Aaron Peirsol set two world records at the USA Swimming National Championships (100m fly and 200m backstroke), while Phelps set the world record in the 100m fly. 

And ESPN gets ready to begin its NASCAR Sprint Cup coverage next weekend.

ESPN BEGINS NASCAR SPRINT CUP COVERAGE AT INDIANAPOLIS

SportsCenter, NASCAR Now Among Multimedia Platforms Surrounding Brickyard

ESPN begins its coverage of the final 17 races of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule with a live, flag-to-flag telecast of the 400-mile race at historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 26, at 12:30 p.m. ET. ESPN’s multimedia platforms will surround the race telecast on television, radio and online.

The telecast from Indianapolis begins with an expanded, 1 hour, 45 minute NASCAR Countdown pre-race show that will include multiple features and interviews highlighting the significance, history and pageantry of the race and venue. The green flag flies at 2:19 p.m.

“Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the most famous and storied racing venues in the world and is certainly a fitting place for us to launch our NASCAR Sprint Cup coverage,” said Rich Feinberg, ESPN vice president, motorsports, production. “As the speedway celebrates its centennial, we want to convey to our viewers how special the track and the race are with a spectacular and interesting telecast that focuses on the race itself and its importance to competitors and fans.”

Five former NASCAR Sprint Cup champions will be an integral part of ESPN’s coverage team at the Brickyard, including analyst Dale Jarrett, the 1999 driving champion, who will work with two-time champion crew chief Andy Petree and lap-by-lap announcer Dr. Jerry Punch in the booth. Two-time champion crew chief Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage, while pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch.

NASCAR Countdown from the ESPN pit studio will feature analysis by 1989 champion driver Rusty Wallace and three-time champion crew chief Ray Evernham, with host Allen Bestwick and analyst Brad Daugherty. The studio team will interact with the booth during the telecast of the race.

ESPN will use 76 high definition cameras in the telecast, including the first usage in NASCAR of BatCam. The camera on a cable, which was used by ESPN in telecasts of the last two Indianapolis 500 races, will fly over the speedway’s frontstretch and pit road at more than 80 miles per hour to give viewers a dramatic look at the setting and action.

NASCAR Countdown will include a segment with actress/television host Kelly Ripa, who interviews her occasional Live with Regis and Kelly co-host Jeff Gordon. The interview in a New York City park focuses not only on Gordon’s racing career, but also on how he was the first NASCAR driver to move into the entertainment spotlight. Ripa also will delve into how becoming a father has changed Gordon’s outlook on his racing career.

Other features for NASCAR Countdown include Tony Stewart and A.J. Foyt, as the NASCAR Sprint Cup point leader and his idol discuss their passions for racing, their love for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and their similar, volatile personalities. Also, a dramatic recap of the 2008 Indianapolis race and the tire debacle is told through the voices of various people involved; ESPN captures the essence of why racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is so special to stock car drivers; and ESPN racing champions and personalities Jarrett, Petree, Wallace, Evernham, Brewer and Daugherty enter a boxing ring to “duke it out” in a wild and dramatic debate about what will happen at the Brickyard and why.

The telecast’s opening segment is a cinematic look at four gladiators ready to do battle at the Brickyard once again: Jimmie Johnson, who has dominated this track in recent years; Stewart, the hometowner who returns as owner/driver in the legendary No. 14; Kyle Busch, who wins almost everywhere but has yet to win on the sport’s biggest stages; and Gordon, who has the chance to make history by being the only 5-time winner at the 100-year-old track.

ESPN’s coverage from Indianapolis also includes a live telecast of NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying on Saturday, July 25, at 10 a.m., and telecasts of two practice sessions for the NASCAR Sprint Cup cars on the famed 2.5-mile track, all on ESPN2. The first practice session airs Friday, July 24, at 2 p.m., while final practice airs Saturday at 3:30 p.m. All programming airs in high definition.

ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program NASCAR Now will originate from Indianapolis for four episodes with Bestwick as host. A one-hour episode airs Thursday, July 23, at 5 p.m., with a half-hour show on Friday, July 24, at 6:30 p.m. NASCAR Now airs Sunday at 10 a.m. with a preview of the race, while a weekend wrap-up edition airs at midnight Monday, July 27 (late Sunday night). NASCAR Now co-host Nicole Manske and lead reporter Marty Smith will contribute to the on-site Indianapolis coverage.

Other ESPN Platforms

In addition to the live telecasts on ESPN and ESPN2, the Indianapolis event will receive multiplatform coverage on other ESPN outlets:

ESPN International’s networks and syndication of the NASCAR event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will reach more than 83 countries and territories and more than 94 million households worldwide. In addition, U.S. troops and their families serving around the world and Navy vessels at sea can watch via the American Forces Network.

ESPN.com will provide surround coverage from the Brickyard with veteran motorsports writers Terry Blount, Ed Hinton, David Newton, Marty Smith, Ryan McGee, Angelique Chengelis and editor K. Lee Davis leading coverage. The crew will chat live Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the first NASCAR race of the track’s Centennial Era as well as maintain a live blog on race day. Jayski.com’s Mark Garrow will keep fans up to date with his regular podcasts as well as informative fantasy chat and a team-by-team breakdown from the garage the morning of the race. In addition, ESPN’s team of on-air announcers will contribute from the weekend’s festivities.

As part of the 2009 NASCAR on ESPN marketing campaign, ESPN.com is launching the “ESPN Virtual Pitwall” on July 22. Fans will be able to write personalized messages for their favorite drivers that will be posted to the pit wall (espn.com/pitwall). Fans also will be able to look through all the messages by driver to make sure no other driver has more support than their favorite.

SportsCenter at the Brickyard – ESPN’s flagship program SportsCenter will present a one-hour special from Indianapolis on ESPN at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 25. Bestwick will host the program, with Jarrett, Wallace, Evernham and Daugherty as analysts.

Among features in the program will be Jarrett and defending race winner Jimmie Johnson playing a round of golf and discussing racing and life, and ESPN analysts who have tasted victory at the Brickyard (Jarrett, Evernham and Andy Petree) discussing their favorite memories.

In addition to the special, extensive reports, interviews and highlights will air on regular editions of SportsCenter and on ESPNEWS. Post-race driver news conferences will air on ESPNEWS.

Feel Your Heart Race – ESPN2 will air Feel Your Heart Race, a half-hour look into why and how NASCAR attracts the most devoted fans in the country. The program airs Thursday, July 23, at 6 p.m. Produced and directed by noted documentary filmmaker Doug Pray and Oil Factory, the program allows viewers to take a look inside the hearts and minds of drivers and fans to reveal NASCAR as a sport that is honest, real, complex, beautiful and fueled by passion. The story is told directly and entirely by top NASCAR drivers and their fans without narration or commentary and contains scenes of life at the track, colorful fan interviews and surprisingly honest testimony from drivers themselves about what it really feels like to be behind the wheel.

ESPN Classic will re-live four classic Brickyard 400 races during the four days leading up to the first day of track activity on July 24. The inaugural NASCAR event at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1994 is widely credited with helping elevate the popularity and status of NASCAR racing. Highlights of that event, won by Jeff Gordon, air Monday, July 20, at 6 p.m.

Dale Earnhardt, one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history, put his stamp on the Brickyard 400 the next year, and ESPN Classic airs highlights of the 1995 race on Tuesday, July 21, at 6 p.m. The 2000 edition of the race airs Wednesday, July 22, at 6 p.m. The four-race run on ESPN concludes Thursday, July 23, at 6:30 p.m. with the 2007 race.

ESPN Radio’s Saturday RaceDay starts its engines at 6 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, with an hour of news, previews and analysis. ESPN Radio also provides auto racing fans the comprehensive Sunday RaceDay (6-7 a.m. Sundays), which covers the auto racing world.

ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s Spanish-language television, radio and Internet in the U.S., will televise the Indianapolis race on a delayed basis, airing the event at 4 a.m. on Monday, July 27. ESPN Deportes auto racing commentators Andres Aguilla and Alex Pombo will provide lap-by-lap commentary and analysis in Spanish.

Schedule for Indianapolis Week on ESPN Networks (all times Eastern)

Mon., July 20	5 p.m.	NASCAR Now Monday Roundtable	ESPN2
Mon., July 20	6 p.m.	1994 Brickyard 400	ESPN Classic
Tue., July 21	5 p.m.	NASCAR Now	ESPN2
Tue., July 21	6 p.m.	1995 Brickyard 400	ESPN Classic
Wed., July 22	5 p.m.	NASCAR Now	ESPN2
Wed., July 22	6 p.m.	2000 Brickyard 400	ESPN Classic
Thu., July 23	5 p.m.	NASCAR Now (at Indianapolis)	ESPN2
Thu., July 23	6 p.m.	Feel Your Heart Race	ESPN2
Thu., July 23	6:30 p.m.	2007 Brickyard 400	ESPN Classic
Fri., July 24	2 p.m.	NASCAR Sprint Cup practice	ESPN2
Fri., July 24	6:30 p.m.	NASCAR Now (at Indianapolis)	ESPN2
Sat., July 25	6 a.m.	Saturday RaceDay	ESPN Radio
Sat., July 25	10 a.m.	NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying	ESPN2
Sat., July 25	12:30 p.m.	NASCAR Nationwide Series final prac.	ESPN2
Sat., July 25	3:30 p.m.	NASCAR Sprint Cup final practice	ESPN2
Sat., July 25	4:30 p.m.	NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying	ESPN2
Sat., July 25	7 p.m.	SportsCenter at the Brickyard	ESPN
Sat., July 25	7:30 p.m.	NASCAR Countdown	ESPN
Sat., July 25	8 p.m.	NASCAR Nationwide Series at ORP	ESPN
Sun., July 26	6 a.m.	Sunday RaceDay	ESPN Radio
Sun., July 26	10 a.m.	NASCAR Now (at Indianapolis)	ESPN2
Sun., July 26	12:30 p.m.	NASCAR Countdown	ESPN
Sun., July 26	2 p.m.	Brickyard 400	ESPN
Mon., July 27	Midnight	NASCAR Now (at Indianapolis)	ESPN2
Mon., July 27	4 a.m.	Brickyard 400	ESPN Deportes
Mon., July 27	5 p.m.	NASCAR Now Monday Roundtable	ESPN2

Finally, ESPN Radio’s auction for The V Foundation raised $1 million for cancer research.

ESPN Radio’s “ Don’t Give Up “ V Foundation Auction Raises More Than $1 Million

Nearly $2 Million Raised During ESPY Week

The fifth annual ESPN Radio “Don’t Give Up“ V Foundation Auction raised $1,035,512 for The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a 415 percent increase from the inaugural event’s total of $201,000 in 2005. More than 275 items and experiences were auctioned off either online or as part of an on-air radiothon Wednesday, July 15.

The auction, combined with the Celebrity Golf Classic, raised nearly $2 million.

Two featured auction offerings were a new 2010 Range Rover luxury vehicle, and ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning broadcasting from a listener’s home. The Range Rover attracted a winning bid of $102,100, while Mike & Mike’s broadcast and ESPN2 simulcast raised $51,100.

The radio auction was one of Team ESPN’s corporate outreach initiatives, which coincided with the ninth annual Celebrity Golf Classic. Held at Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms in Industry Hills, Calif. on Tuesday, July 14, the 2009 Celebrity Golf Classic raised $950,000 in net proceeds for The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

I do have one more press release, but that will stands alone.

Our Friday Megalinks

Time to do our megalinks. Kind of difficult as I watch the tributes to Walter Cronkite who passed away at the age of 92 tonight. He was one of the reasons why I went into broadcast journalism.

I’ll press on with the links tonight.

As usual, I’ll begin with the Weekend Viewing Picks.

We’re officially in the dog days of summer as we don’t have too much sports viewing other than the Open Championship and baseball for the weekend.

TNT and ABC share the Open Championship this weekend without Tiger Woods. At least there’s the story of a 59 year old Tom Watson that could bring viewers, but when Greg Norman was in the hunt last year, the ratings without Tiger for the Open were down considerably from the year before. TNT and ABC start coverage on Saturday at 7 a.m. and on Sunday morning at 6.

Nationally, Fox, TBS and ESPN are forcefeeding the New York teams down our throats. We get a double dose of Mets-Braves on Fox and ESPN. Then TBS has Tigers-Yankees on Sunday afternoon. The only respite we get is from MLB Network and WGN America. Your baseball viewing for the weekend is right here.

The Tour de France continues and Versus has full coverage starting at 8:30 Saturday morning and 7:30 Sunday morning.

Check out the full viewing picks here.

Let’s get to the links.

National

Michael Hiestand of USA Today writes that the man known as Batting Stance Guy is getting more national recognition thanks to his spot on the Late Show with David Letterman.

The Hollywood Reporter picks up a story from John Consoli of sister publication Mediaweek that ad sales for upcoming sporting events are slow including the once recession-proof NFL.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News writes that Versus’ ratings for the Tour de France are up 77% from last year.

Chris Byrne at the Eye on Sports Media may have pieced together the SEC on CBS schedule for this fall.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell reports that the Miami Heat’s Dwayne Wade has become a Nike convert. Darren adds that NFL teams are seeing their ticket waiting lists go up in smoke.

The Sports Media Watch has some ratings news and notes.

The Big Lead says a St. Louis newspaper published the home addresses of several present and past Cardinals and got its credentials yanked as a result.

Deadspin says Erin Andrews is ready to file a lawsuit and for a very good reason. I hope she gets millions of dollars for this.

East and Mid-Atlantic

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe says WBZ-FM/The Sports Hub is ready to take on WEEI.

Speaking of WBZ-FM vs. WEEI, I have an interview with Chuck Wilson, formerly of ESPN Radio, about the upcoming battle between the two stations.

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette’s Bill Doyle talks with WHDH sports reporter Larry Ridley.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times took a tour of the new Cowboys Stadium.

Newsday’s Neil Best says SNY will show a Mets Classic game in which the team actually loses. In his blog, Neil writes that WFAN is a ratings powerhouse on Long Island. Neil has WFAN’s Operations Manager Mark Chernoff saying Craig Carton doesn’t cross the proverbial line. Neil toured Dodger Stadium during his vacation. Neil writes that Reggie Jackson is not happy with how ESPN portrayed him in “The Bronx is Burning”.

Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News says people are watching the Mets on TV while refusing to go the games in person. That’s a bit of a stretch.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post is pleasantly surprised that Mad Dog Radio apologized for pulling shenanigans on the listeners last week.

Justin Terranova of the Post talks with Sirius XM MLB Home Plate co-host Jim Duquette about the Yankees.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says this weekend’s ESPN on ABC production of the Open Championship will not be pleasant to the viewing eye.

Tim Lemke of the Washington Times writes that the Capitals remain red hot with their fans.

South

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald says a new ratings system has produced some surprising results for the city’s sports radio stations.

Ray Buck of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes that Batting Stance Guy makes his Fox Sports Southwest debut this weekend.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News breaks down the sports radio ratings hour by hour. Barry is amazed that a Wal-Mart is located so close to the Cowboys’ new stadium.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle talks with the new program director of a local sports radio station.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman writes that ESPN’s Ron Franklin plans on retiring when his contract expires early next year. Ron has been a class act and will be missed.

Midwest

Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) Press says a second sports radio station is about to hit the local area.

Bob Wolfley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel chronicles former Buck Richard Jefferson’s interview with Howard Stern regarding him calling off his wedding.

From Crain’s Chicago Business, Ed Sherman has his winners and losers in sports business and media.

Paul Christian in the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin says Tom Watson rather be playing on Sunday than broadcasting the Open Championship on ABC.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says there’s a feud brewing between Cardinals TV analyst Al Hrabosky and manager Tony LaRussa.

Dan adds an urban sports radio station makes its debut next week in the Gateway City.

West

Scott D. Pierce in the Deseret (UT) News tells us that the mtn. will be offering more events in HD this season.

John Maffei in the North County Times gives new Padres TV voice Mark Neely good grades.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star criticizes Fox for missing the Presidential first pitch at the All-Star Game on Tuesday. And Jim talks with the TNT/ABC broadcast crew for the Open Championship.

Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times is bewildered that we can’t watch the Open Championship in HD. That will change next year.

Friend of Fang’s Bites Tom Hoffarth profiles popular TVG host and trackside reporter Christina Olivares. In his blog, Tom has some more with Ms. Olivares. Tom has his usual extensive media notes. And Tom looks back at the week in blogging.

John Ryan of the San Jose Mercury News writes about Communist China’s delegation boycotting the Opening Ceremonies of the World Games being held in the democratically-elected country of Taiwan.

That’s going to do it for the megalinks. Thanks for reading.

Walter Cronkite, 1916-2009

America’s anchorman, Walter Cronkite passed away tonight at the age of 92. Here’s Katie Couric reporting the news on Walter’s former network, CBS.

For those of us who grew up watching him, Walter was the news and gave it in a comforting manner. It’s why CBS News was number one throughout his tenure. He will be missed.

Interview with Chuck Wilson

In the wake of the news of CBS Radio’s announcement that it will create an FM sports radio station in Boston this August, I got in contact with former ESPN Radio talk show host Chuck Wilson to talk about the upcoming battle between WEEI and the new WBZ-FM (aka “The Sports Hub”). I felt Chuck could give some interesting perspective having been a long-time talk show host in the New England area and also on the national level.

Chuck is well known in New England having moved to Providence in 1981 where he first worked for news/talk WEAN where he hosted “Chuck Wilson on Sports”. His show was the first in New England to use weekly contributors such as Peter Gammons, Bob Ryan and Mel Kiper, Jr.

He moved to WICE-AM in 1986 after WEAN was sold and remained there until 1989 when he switched to WPRO-AM. In 1993, Chuck left WPRO and joined ESPN Radio full-time where he had helped to launch the national network two years earlier.

Wilson left ESPN Radio in July 2005 and joined XM Satellite Radio soon afterward as a host on its MLB Home Plate Channel. He left in November of last year, a victim of the Sirius XM merger.

Chuck is currently living in Rhode Island. He has a website that offers his opinions on sports.

We exchanged e-mails over the last two days on WEEI and WBZ-FM. The interview is seen below.

Fang’s Bites: You’ve worked in New England area, most notably Providence and you’ve observed WEEI from RI. What is it that makes WEEI the 800 lb. gorilla in the region?

Chuck Wilson: WEEI has produced compelling sports talk for a long time and become one of the most successful radio stations in the country mostly due to smart, talent-driven programing. It has a clear, consistent identity. No one has done what they’ve done any better.

WEEI has understood from the beginning the value of having hosts passionate about hot-button issues.

WFAN in New York with Mike and the Mad Dog provided the dual-host blueprint. It isn’t easy. You want hosts that approach sports from different points-of-view, but you can’t just throw two individuals together and expect magic. You need them to develop an on-air chemistry, and that is something that can’t be forced. It either happens or it doesn’t.

WEEI Program Director Jason Wolfe knows talent and he has been effective, as was Glenn Ordway, at putting together combinations of hosts that create sparks and can play off each other. That’s number one.

Second, WEEI has done an excellent job covering sports news. If there has been a breaking story in Boston sports, WEEI has been THE station to tune to for coverage. The station has also benefited by its arrangements with athletes and teams for regular appearances on the station as a means to develop on-air relationships, break news and limit the access other talk stations have to some high-profile, professional athletes. WEEI “broke” a lot of stories thanks to its relationship with Curt Schilling and the weekly exclusive appearances of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have been valuable in promoting listener loyalty and increasing TSL (time spent listening), key factors in building ratings.

FB: You’ve mentioned the strengths of WEEI such as its strong personalities and covering sports news. Is there an area where WEEI is vulnerable?

CW: The minute you think you’re the best and can’t be beat, you‘re in trouble. Any station is vulnerable to strong competition. It would be a surprise if “The Sports Hub” doesn’t mount a significant challenge. With the backing of CBS, they will have the resources. WEEI will respond and raise its game. Some listeners have formed strong attachments to particular shows and personalities but if “The Sports Hub” gets off to a good start, many listeners figure to go back and forth deciding day-to-day which station is more informative and entertaining — which station covers the teams better, has better guests, and provides smarter, more compelling talk.

FB: What can The Sports Hub do that other competitors (1510 AM/ESPN890) could not against WEEI?

CW: There has been a peculiar station ownership dynamic in the Boston media market. Until now, no station with a strong signal has challenged WEEI in the market.

That was the fundamental reason why the efforts on 1510 AM and 890 AM (ESPN Radio Boston) really were doomed from the start — weak signals.

In radio, you can’t compete if you can’t be heard.

The decision to put “The Sports Hub” on the 98.5 FM signal is a smart move. Its coverage area is excellent and FM has the advantage of “no static”. It’s easier to listen to an FM signal than an AM signal. That’s a vital first step — WBZ-FM has the signal strength to compete.

FB: Should The Sports Hub try to be a clone of WEEI or try to make itself totally different?

CW: This is an interesting question. WEEI is such an established entity that it seems logical to provide an alternative approach.

What approach?

Everything today is based on immediacy. That is a strength of radio. Take advantage of it. Cover the local sports scene better than anyone else. Take listeners inside the game as much as possible. Provide as much insight and informed opinion as you can through interviews, team coverage and expert opinion. Tell listeners something they didn’t know — inform and entertain them.

To me, THE most important challenge for “The Sports Hub” is to establish credibility with sports fans. That doesn’t just mean hiring on-air hosts with credibility. It means being everywhere, hustling for stories, interviewing athletes and being seen. It means establishing trust with the local teams and players. And when a story “breaks”, they’ll have to be all over it. You don’t have to be first with every story, but you can’t be second.

Many listeners to WEEI like what they hear but others listen even if they aren’t fans of a particular show. They listen because they know if sports news breaks, WEEI will have it. “The Sports Hub” must create the mindset with its listeners that if you tune out, you are going to miss something important.

That perception, that trust, won’t be earned overnight. It will take strong, on-site beat reporters; smart, aggressive producers and hosts asking the right questions. The attention is always paid to the on-air talent but the reporters, producers and engineers will have a significant impact on the success of the new station.

Callers can add a lot to a show if used to further the goal of providing insight and perspective in an entertaining way. Shows are best aimed at listeners, not callers. 98% of listeners don’t call in to talk shows. Keep callers focused and on topic. If callers don’t have something constructive to add to the conversation, don’t put them on-the-air. But if they have a good point, let them make it and in cases where the caller has a good point, but uses a poor example, dismiss the example but address the good point rather than just make fun of the caller . In other words, bring out the “best” of what callers have to say rather than the “worst”.

FB: Do you think The Sports Hub should use single hosts or go with a duo or trio for its shows?

CW: The dual-host approach has several advantages. Two opinions on any topic tends to spark more entertaining conversations. It gives a show two personalities to attract listeners and callers. It provides continuity in the case of illness or vacation by having at least one of the co-hosts on the air. And it usually results in better interviews. One added benefit is that it discourages monologues and solo rants that go on too long.

It sounds as if “The Sports Hub” may go with solo hosts in the mid-day and afternoon drive with a rotating co-host for each show. That can be effective, too, though on-air chemistry may differ day-to-day and there may be times when a story breaks in one sport while you have an expert in another sport as co-host.

More than two in the booth can be very entertaining depending on the mix of personalities. One dominant voice can overpower the show but it can work well, especially if the show doesn’t take calls. When you add callers to a three-person show, it tends to lead to a lot of talking over one another.

FB: Would it behoove WBZ-FM to tie in with the sports staff of WBZ-TV to help cover the local sports teams?

CW: You would think that the station will look to take advantage of every available synergy. WBZ-TV’s “Patriots All-Access” could provide some exclusive content.

FB: WBZ-FM has the Patriots game broadcasts while WEEI has Patriots Monday and other ancillary programming surrounding the team. Could the Patriots become a big battleground between the two stations?

CW: There is no question about it. When you have the broadcast rights, you make the most of it with as much team-related programing as possible, while trying to contractually limit what other stations can do. If you don’t have the contract, you try to be creative and aggressive in forging relationships with the team so that you can position yourself as a strong alternative for coverage.

What WEEI has done with the Patriots as a non-rights holder with its Patriots Monday and Friday shows featuring Tom Brady and Bill Belichick provide a textbook example of how to do it. Sponsors want to be associated with popular teams, so stations look for every way possible to tie-in sponsors to team-related programs. Much of the stations’ sales revenue is dependent on this dynamic, so look for the two stations to continue to look for ways to bring the players and teams closer to the fans.

FB: With the area pro sports teams divided between WBZ-FM (Patriots and Bruins) and WEEI/WRKO (Red Sox and Celtics), do you foresee a bidding war for the properties as long as CBS Radio and Entercom keep their stations afloat?

CW: All-Sports stations have to have Play-by-Play of local teams to be successful. Even when the rights fees are high (such as with the Red Sox and Patriots), stations have to have these anchors for programing and especially for sales. Add to it that Play-by-Play properties are more important in the Boston market than in almost any other market in the country because Boston-area fans are all about the local teams. Big national events like the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Playoffs do not rate as well in Boston as in other big markets unless a local team is playing. So, sure, the two companies will compete for local play-by-play, but it will be more of an issue down the road since the local team contracts are tied-up for right now.

FB: WEEI’s owner, Entercom has expanded the station’s brand through a radio network and a web presence. Do you think CBS Radio will have to do that with WBZ-FM?

WEEI wisely added 103.7 FM in Rhode Island to simulcast the AM product. That move increased the reach and audience numbers and effectively eliminated any on-air competition from Rhode Island while boosting coverage in parts of Massachusetts.

With its strong FM signal, “The Sports Hub” doesn’t have to be concerned about covering the metro Boston area but it would make sense to add stations and increase its regional footprint over time.

As for a strong web presence, that figures to be a goal for “The Sports Hub”.

The internet and multimedia distribution is the future. With listeners getting information instantly on-line and through hand-held devices, everyone has to take advantage of the digital platform and the emerging technologies. Websites offer stations a way to cross-promote the name brand and open up important new revenue streams. For sports fans, it’s another way to stay on top of the sports they care about. WEEI is doing it well. CBS has a strong brand name. It can use sports talent from its other network affiliates and it’s national personalities to provide exclusive insights, both on-air and on the new website. Expect CBS to use that strength on all of its owned stations. Content is king. Both WEEI and WBZ-FM will be touting their exclusivity.

FB: Do you see this as a marathon between Entercom and CBS Radio or will there be a real clear cut winner between the two?

CW: When “The Sports Hub” first hits the air next month, there will be a curiosity factor. Many sports talk listeners will check out the new station. So getting out of the blocks with few glitches is important.

It is a challenging market place with diminished national and regional advertising dollars. What level of resources will CBS devote to this new venture? How well will CBS take advantage of its national and affiliate talent to provide exclusive regular appearances on “The Sports Hub”? How quickly can the new station attract the advertising revenue needed to support what is an expensive format?

There is room for two sports station given the passion of Boston-area sports fans. The numbers WEEI has with male listeners has been coveted in the Boston market for some time. CBS has decided to go after them.

If WBZ-FM provides its own brand of compelling content, WEEI likely will respond by sharpening its approach. The competition figures to bring out the best in both — two sports stations with strong signals.

It’s a win-win for area sports fans.

I’d like to thank Chuck for taking the time to respond to my e-mails. I hope to have Chuck talk about other subjects at Fang’s Bites in the near future.

TNT Quotage from the Open Championship, 2nd Round

Once again, TNT churns out the quotage from its second round coverage of the Open Championship in less than an hour from its signing off. Very nice.

Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the Open Championship from the Ailsa Course at Turnberry in Scotland

Round Two – Friday, July 17, 2009

TNT’s Round Three coverage of the Open Championship continues Sat., July 18 from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. ET. Watch live video coverage on PGA.com

Quote of the Day:

“That has to be one of the best moments in Championship history. One of the greatest tournaments in history was in 1977, 32 years ago when Watson and (Jack) Nicklaus battled it out (at Turnberry)”

- Former British Open Champion Ian Baker-Finch on Tom Watson’s birdie on his final hole of the day:

Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Ian Baker-Finch, Bill Kratzert, Jim Huber, Terry Gannon, Tom Weiskopf, Paul Azinger, Peter Alliss, Mike Tirico, Curtis Strange and Judy Rankin

Baker-Finch on Nick Faldo’s ball rolling into the bunker at Hole #17: “That’s how bunkers should be. I’m really disappointed with the way the trend has become in Australia and the (United) States now where most fairway bunkers are in the rough, you don’t ever see that in the States anymore; a ball actually rolling into a bunker.”

Jim Huber interviewed Retief Goosen (-3) following the second round

Goosen on his play in the Open Championship: “I feel like I’ve been playing a lot better in the past six or seven months. If I can keep the putter going this weekend, then who knows.”

Baker-Finch on the key holes at Turnberry: “Those first ten or eleven holes today will be a real test of character and ability.”

Chief Executive of the R & A Peter Dawson joined Ernie Johnson and Ian Baker-Finch

Dawson on the Open Championship returning to Turnberry: “Turnberry is such a scenic venue. It’s a favorite among the players; they love the golf course, they love the hotel. It’s just a stunning location; the most beautiful place in golf. We are delighted to be back, it’s been too long.”

Dawson on Tom Watson doing well in the first round: “Tom is an adopted Brit. He’s won five of our Championships and the British golfing public love Tom Watson. He’s one of our favorites. I hope he keeps it together today.”

Dawson on golf becoming part of the Olympics: “There are seven sports biding for two spots in the Olympic Games for 2016. We’ve presented golf as best we can. All of the tours around the world are in support. The governing bodies are in support and the top players support both the men’s and women’s game. I’m very hopeful golf will succeed, but there are no guarantees.”

Johnson on John Daly’s colorful pants: “I wonder if you get an air sickness bag with that pair of pants.”

Alliss on Japanese teen phenom Ryo Ishikawa handling the media circus surrounding his first round: “I thought he did remarkably well (dealing with the media). The younger players play so much golf when they are of a high caliber and come from a country where golf is big stuff. They get used to traveling and going to other countries, experiencing other food and going through the customs. They get mature very quickly.”

Baker-Finch on the conditions at Turnberry: “At sea level the wind plays more of a factor because it’s a heavy wind. It was only 50 degrees when we came out here this morning and they sky was dull. It has brightened up a bit and I still think 70 to 72 is a good score.”

Baker-Finch on the Japanese photographers following Ryo Ishikawa possibly following the lower scoring Kenichi Kuboya: “Maybe some of those photographers will leave (Ryo) Ishikawa and come over and watch (Kenichi) Kuboya.”

Baker-Finch on Steve Marino’s bright future: “(Steve Marino) a birdie machine; one of the good, young players. Really, really good talent. He has only been on tour for a couple of years, but I think he will be a prolific winner. “

Curtis on Ryo Ishikawa’s youth: “(Ryo Ishikawa) is very, very talented, but very, very young at only 17 (years old). He has a lot of good years ahead of him.”

Azinger on how the weather is affecting the second round of the Open: “Some of these holes are playing four club differences compared to yesterday.”

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed Mark Calcavecchia (-4) following the second round

Calcavecchia on his performance on Day #2: “I’m happy with my score. I’ve been playing good, so it’s fun. This occasion brings out my best.”

Azinger on the crowd helping Tiger Woods find his golf ball: “There isn’t another player in the field who is afforded the luxury of 100 people looking for his golf ball.”

Baker-Finch on Tom Watson: “He is so good in the wind. He is confident in the way he’s striking the ball.”

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed Kenny Perry (+3) earlier in the week

Perry on playing while his mom is suffering from cancer: “If you dwell on it, it gets tough. You’ve got to live and keep moving in this world.”

Rankin on Sergio Garcia’s second round: “(Sergio Garcia’s) humor has been good all day. He’s had a smile on his face and enjoyed the day. He’s picked himself up from a couple bad things.”

Johnson on Wood’s performance: “This is so unexpected. Based on what we heard from players and others who had seen him in the practice rounds. The zone that he was in, they said to watch out.”

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed tournament leader Tom Watson (-5) following his second round

Watson on leading the Open Championship after two rounds: “I made two no-brainers there, ‘field goals’ as my dad called them. Something is on my side right now and things are happening my way.”

Watson on his made long putt on the 9^th green: “That (putt) turned me around. Lady Turnberry had her gloves off and I hadn’t put in a good counter-punch until then.”

Watson on his second round: “It was a special day. I don’t have many years left to play in the Open Championship but I’ve had some wonderful memories and maybe I can make one more memory here.”

Watson on if he thinks he can win the 2009 Open Championship: “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could.”

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed co-leader Steve Marino (-5) following the second round

Marino on the change in conditions from Day One to Day Two: “Yesterday was absolutely perfect for scoring and today was a total grind out there. The wind was totally opposite from yesterday. It was cold and there were bouts of rain every now and then. It was very, very difficult.”

Marino on if he had any expectations playing in his first Open Championship: “To be honest, I didn’t have any expectations. I wanted to come over here and enjoy myself, enjoy the experience and do the best I could.”

I wonder if I’ll quotage during the weekend. We shall see.

Follow Friday VI

We’re back with another edition of Follow Friday, my recommendations on bloggers, writers and sites you should follow.

For previous Follow Friday recommendations, click here.

I’ll start with something I’ve been linking to all week long and that’s WEEI.com’s new feature, “The Five” hosted by Kristine Leahy. She tells what’s hot on the site plus lists the top five stories the website is covering. Since she started, we’ve been Tweeting back and forth so yes, there’s a personal interest in this recommendation, but I also would not make one if I did feel the blog, writer or video was good. This has hit the ground running and look for more of Kristine at WEEI.com in the future. Also, she loves to Twitter, so if you’re on the social network like me, you can follow Kristine and exchange tweets.

FanIQ is a sports social networking site with stories and the opportunity to talk with fellow sports fans about them. In addition, the site has grown by leaps and bounds over the last year. It’s one of the sites that bears watching in regards to social networking and sports.

Sports Crackle Pop! is a blog that includes sports and pop culture. It’s a site that does not take itself too seriously as some blogs do. It has a sense of humor and is willing to laugh at most everything sports without being too vicious. I also exchange tweets with the site and the people have a lot of fun in their posts. Good site.

One site that is plenty of fun and doesn’t require a lot of heavy lifting is Hail Mary Jane. It’s a site that focuses a lot of marijuana, but also on sports as well. The blog’s focus is on the legalization of pot, but also there’s some gossip as well as sports post. Lenny aka Houroc calls himself semi-educated, but he deserves more credit than that. HMJ is a fun blog to visit.

To get the women’s perspective, there’s SportsKatGirl’s …On Being a Sports Girl blog. She’s a fellow Red Sox fan, but that’s not why I recommend her. It’s to let you know that women can can blog about sports as well. Kat is a good writer and knows her hockey as well. Visit Kat’s blog and let her know that you’re a fan.

Right Fielders Women in Sports is another blog offering the female perspective, and it also introduces women athletes. The site could look better, but the content is pretty good. I’ve visited the blog quite a bit over the last few months and the posts have been good reads.

For non-sports blogs, there’s Cherry Grrl which offers the latest and greatest on lesbian entertainment and news. It’s a comprehensive site and the look is very easy on the eyes.

Boston Radio Watch offers the latest happenings in the market that is the Hub. It was on top of the WBCN/Mix 98.5/WBZ-FM story and it also gives perspective on personnel moves, ratings and formats. Great site.

And that is your Follow Friday for this week.

Weekend Viewing Picks

Saturday, July 18

Cycling
Tour de France/Stage 14 – Versus, 8:30 a.m.

Golf
The Open Championship, 3rd round – TNT, 7 a.m./ABC, 9 a.m.
PGA Tour/U.S. Bank Championship, 3rd round – Golf Channel, 4 p.m.

MLB

American League
Red Sox at Toronto – NESN/Rogers Sportsnet, 1 p.m.
Detroit at New York Yankees – Fox Sports Detroit/YES, 1 p.m.
Anaheim Angels at Oakland – Fox, 4 p.m.
Baltimore at Chicago White Sox – Fox, 4 p.m.
Seattle at Cleveland – MLB Network/FSN Northwest/STO, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Kansas City – Fox Sports Florida/Fox Sports Kansas City, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Texas – MLB Network/Fox Sports North/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.

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

Baseball Tonight – ESPN, 10 p.m.
MLB Tonight: Roundtripper Final – MLB Network, 11 p.m.

NASCAR
Nationwide Series/Your Name Here 250 – ESPN2, 9:30 p.m.

Entertainment
Giada at Home – Food Network, 1 p.m.
Kings – NBC, 8 p.m.
Cops – Fox, 8:30 p.m.
America’s Most Wanted: America Fights Back – Fox, 9 p.m.
Primeval – BBC America, 9 p.m.
Marijuana Inc.: Inside America’s Pot Industry – CNBC, 10 p.m.

Sunday, July 19

Cycling
Tour de France/Stage 15 – Versus, 7:30 a.m.

Golf
The Open Championship, final round – TNT, 6 a.m./ABC, 8 a.m.
PGA Tour/U.S. Bank Championship, final round – Golf Channel, 4 p.m.

MLB

American League
Red Sox at Toronto – NESN/Rogers Sportsnet, 1 p.m.
Seattle at Cleveland – FSN Northwest/WKYC, 1 p.m.
Baltimore at Chicago White Sox – MASN2/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 2 p.m.
Detroit at New York Yankees – TBS/Fox Sports Detroit/YES, 2 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Kansas City – Fox Sports Florida/Fox Sports Kansas City, 2 p.m.
Anaheim Angels at Oakland – KCOP/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 4 p.m.
Minnesota at Texas – Fox Sports North/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.

National League
Milwaukee at Cincinnati – Fox Sports Wisconsin/Fox Sports Ohio, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia at Florida – WPHL/Sun Sports, 1 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at Washington – WGN America/WDCW, 7 p.m.
San Francisco at Pittsburgh – Comcast SportsNet Bay Area/FSN Pittsburgh, 1:30 p.m.
Arizona at St. Louis – Fox Sports Arizona/KSDK, 2 p.m.
Colorado at San Diego – FSN Rocky Mountain/Cox 4, 4 p.m.
Houston at Los Angeles Dodgers – Fox Sports Houston/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 4 p.m.
New York Mets at Atlanta – ESPN, 8 p.m.

Baseball Tonight – ESPN, 7 p.m.
Quick Pitch – MLB Network, 7 p.m.
The Pen – MLB Network, 8:30 p.m.
Rickey Henderson: Hall of Famer – MLB Network, 9 p.m.
Inside Studio 42 with Bob Costas: Jim Bouton, author of “Ball Four” – MLB Network, 10 p.m.

Entertainment
That’s The Way It Is: Remembering Walter Cronkite – CBS, 7 p.m.
Big Brother 11 – CBS, 8 p.m.
Deadliest Sea – Discovery, 9 p.m.
Ice Road Truckers – History Channel, 9 p.m.
Living on the Moon – National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
True Blood – HBO, 9 p.m.
Hung – HBO, 10 p.m.
Entourage – HBO, 10:30 p.m.

A Quick Video Interlude

While I’m working on a few things for the blog today, I’ll embed today’s edition of “The Five” from WEEI.com. The lovely Kristine Leahy gives you what WEEI.com is working on today.

For the full effect, head on over to “The Five” at WEEI.com. And you can follow Kristine at her Twitter page.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

Cycling
Tour de France/Stage 13 – Versus, 8:30 a.m.

Golf
The Open Championship, 2nd round – TNT, 7 a.m.
U.S. Bank Championship, 2nd round – Golf Channel, 4 p.m.

MLB

American League
Red Sox at Toronto – NESN/Rogers Sportsnet, 7 p.m.
Detroit at New York Yankees – Fox Sports Detroit/YES, 7 p.m.
Seattle at Cleveland – FSN Northwest/STO, 7 p.m.
Baltimore at Chicago White Sox – MASN2/WCIU, 8 p.m.
Minnesota at Texas – Fox Sports North/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Kansas City – Sun Sports/Fox Sports Kansas City, 8 p.m.
Anaheim Angels at Oakland – Fox Sports West/Comcast SportsNet California, 10 p.m.

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

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

Entertainment
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross – BBC America, 8 p.m.
Dateline NBC – NBC, 9 p.m.
Whale Wars – Animal Planet, 9 p.m.
20/20 – ABC, 10 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman – CBS, 11:35 p.m.
Lingerie – Cinemax, midnight

Thursday’s Leftover Press Releases

Here are the releases that are still lingering in the Fang’s Bites inbox and need to be cleared before I go to bed. So let’s get busy and wind down for bed.

Starting with WEEI in Boston, I finally get a press release announcing “The Five” hosted by my new best friend, Kristine Leahy on WEEI.com. I’ve only been linking to this all week. Well, it’s about time corporate got around to promoting it (that’s a joke, btw…. WEEI’s PR firm tends to be without humor).

WEEI.com Showcases the Day’s Top Stories

in a Fun, Unique Video Segment Called “The Five”

WEEI.com newcomer Kristine Leahy hosts the new daily feature that highlights

the web site’s top stories and features, while providing easy access for site visitors

BOSTON (July 16, 2009) – WEEI.com has launched a new daily video feature that runs down the top stories and features on the web site entitled “The Five.” Each day on The Five, new WEEI.com personality Kristine Leahy will count down the site’s latest content, while providing direct links adjacent to the video.

The Five showcases WEEI.com’s top five new stories and features each day in a fun, light format featuring Leahy’s commentary. WEEI.com visitors can easily access links to the highlighted stories by navigating to the right of the video player and clicking the corresponding number. The Five can be accessed on the rotating scroll on the WEEI.com home page or by visiting WEEI.com/Five.

“The Five is a great way for us to organize and distribute the freshest content on WEEI.com,” WEEI.com Site Editor Rob Bradford said. “The Five is a convenient way for WEEI.com visitors to quickly access all the top stories every day and get a sneak preview before clicking. Kristine Leahy brings an upbeat and youthful energy to the feature that Boston sports fans are going to love.”

Leahy is a graduate of Boston University College of Communication, earning her B.A. in Journalism. At Boston University she hosted Offsides, BU Television’s sports talk show. Leahy also has experience in television at WFXT-TV in Boston and CBS2-KCAL9 in Los Angeles.

The Five is the latest component of the continued growth at WEEI.com. The web site of the nation’s top-rated sports radio station has more than doubled in size since announcing its re-launch and hiring Bradford as site editor in August 2008. In June 2009 WEEI.com drew more than 517,000 unique visitors, a 143% growth over the last year.

For more information on The Five, log onto WEEI.com/Five.

Next, NBC Sports received some rare primetime Emmy Award nominations for its airing of the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Olympic Games in Communist China as well as the Super Bowl XLIII halftime show featuring Bruce Springsteen.

NBC SPORTS RECEIVES 8 PRIMETIME EMMY AWARD NOMINATIONS

Opening Ceremony of the XXIX Olympiad Nominated in Four Categories, Including Outstanding Special Class Program

NEW YORK – July 16, 2009 – NBC Sports has been nominated for eight Primetime Emmy Awards, four for its coverage of the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, including in the category of Outstanding Special Class Program. The nominations were announced Thursday by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in Los Angeles. 

The Primetime Emmy Award nominations for NBC Sports' coverage of the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games are:

• Outstanding Directing for A Variety, Music or Comedy Special
• Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video For a Miniseries, Movie or Special
• Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or Special
• Outstanding Special Class Program

NBC Sports' coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the most-watched event in television history with 215 million viewers, won six Sports Emmy Awards including Outstanding Live Event Turnaround, in April.  

NBC, along with White Cherry Entertainment in association with Don Mischer Productions, also was nominated in four categories for the Bruce Springsteen Super Bowl Halftime Show in the following categories:

• Outstanding Directing for A Variety, Music or Comedy Special
• Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video For a Miniseries, Movie or Special
• Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or Special
• Outstanding Special Class – Short Format, Live-Action Entertainment Program

NBC earned a total of 67 nominations, ranking the Peacock as the top-nominated broadcast network.

Next week, it’ll be Kenny Mayne’s turn to offer essays during ESPN’s Fan Feast. Mike Greenberg has been offering them this week.

Kenny Mayne’s SportsCenter “Fan Feast” Essays Debut July 20

SportsCenter and ESPN.com’s four-week, fan-based celebration of the top sporting events to experience as a participant and to watch continues Monday, July 20, through Friday, July 24, with daily essays by Kenny Mayne, host of ESPN.com’s Mayne Street, on his top five events to see. The essays, one each day, will debut on SportsCenter at 9 a.m. ET and will be repeated on all editions of the program.

SportsCenter “Fan Feast” combines online (ESPN.com) submissions of 50-word essays by fans proposing their favorite sporting event to attend and favorite sporting event to participate in. On Monday, July 20, a panel of ESPN.com editorial staff will post the top 10 essays submitted by fans in each category on their best sporting event to play. The series will culminate in two winners – one for each category – to be announced the week of July 27 on SportsCenter at 6 p.m. Highlights of Mayne’s essays:

Monday, July 20: Attend a Title Fight in Vegas

“Same day a title fight is announced: Get your flights, get your rooms, get your tickets … There’s nothing like being there. There’s an electricity on site that just doesn’t translate through your cable box … Whether you get halfway close or star gaze with binoculars from the rafters….you’re there…you’re in the same room with Denzel, Jack and not unattractive women.

“It builds and builds … The guy coming to the ring is either your fighter, or their fighter. This is war, man. You gotta take sides. They enter the ring. They stare each other down. They ignore the ref’s instructions. They want to attack…but not until Michael Buffer — Hold on. I think it’s copyrighted … And when they go at it, it’s like you feel every punch when your man is being pummeled. And you’re throwing haymakers from your seat when your man is on the attack … It’s one man defending himself against another … And you’re there to see your man rise…or fall.”

Tuesday, July 21: Travel to a World Cup Game
“I mean my favorite is still our tackle football, but you gotta go with the world flow. You need to make the journey to a World Cup game. South Africa this next time, and no matter where it’s held, the whole world shows up. A missed goal, with all the action involved in the set up to the chance is more exciting than a lame one yard touchdown run in our football.

“The other countries had like a 300 year head start on us. But we’re getting there. Our soccer people are doing their damndest to give us something to root for. In the meantime, the spectacle is there for us to be a part of, to learn from even. Maybe one day our country will send fans who do something better than the wave.”

Wednesday, July 22: Visit Royal Ascot Racecourse

“It’s called ‘Ascot’ all the time. But when the queen shows up, it’s then referred to as “Royal.” And that’s been going on since 1711 … Breeders’ Cup would be my runner-up for a must-go horse event. But this place is something to behold. I’m not much for convention but there’s no going against the grain at Ascot. A suit at minimum, top hat and tails if you don’t want the queen looking at you sideways.

“I’d seen nothing like it before and nothing like it since. A day at Ascot is a day of make believe – except for the Queen. She remains Queen. But for the rest of us, it’s a chance to play dress-up, to feel a part of something with perfect structure, to be in a place where the past and present blend together perfectly, poetically.”

Thursday, July 23: Experience the Men’s 100M finals

“Guys…I need your attention. But only for ten seconds. Not even a full ten seconds … This is the biggest deal there is. Fastest man in the world … The fastest known men gather every four years at the Olympics. They weed out the relatively slow ones, and eight of ‘em line up for the greatest (just under) ten seconds in sports.

“And it’s not just the finals race, it’s everything leading to it … They gather in the blocks, take their final stretch, and when the starter calls them to a set position, time stands still. Which is almost what the best of them are able to do once the running begins … Say, every four years, I want to know who the fastest man in the world is. There’s no other title quite like it.”

Friday July 24: Watch a Children’s Game

“The best entertainment, and the thing closest to the spirit of any sport can be found at any children’s game. Disregard the handful of pushy parents and coaches who think they’re the second coming of Vince Lombardi. Concentrate on the kids. You used to be one. Remember how it felt when you got your new glove? When someone gave you a football for Christmas? It was so simple then. You needed a ball and a friend. With more friends you had a bigger game. Wiffle ball all day, every day.

“There is a window of opportunity for everyone to play, to be a part, to go unjudged, to just play. Go watch. It’s free and it’s a break from all the rest that’s made us cynical. No talk radio’s gonna bring ‘em down. They’re playing their games. They’re getting their ice cream. They’re throwing their uniforms down from the bath so mom can get them ready for the next time they go to play.”

And ESPN will offer extensive coverage of the World Football Challenge. Take a look at what that means.

ESPN and ESPN2’s 2009 World Football Challenge Television Schedule and Commentators

All Matches in High Definition; Coverage on ESPN Deportes and ESPN360.com

ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN360.com will combine to present live coverage of all six matches of the inaugural World Football Challenge, a six-city round-robin tournament in the U.S. July 19 – 26 featuring four of the best club soccer teams in the world – Chelsea FC, AC Milan, FC Internazionale Milano and Club America. All the matches will be available in high definition.

The series will kick off Sunday, July 19, with Mexican Primera Division’s Club America vs. Italian Serie A champions Inter Milan live from Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif., at 7 p.m. ET. The Challenge will conclude Sunday, July 26 with an ESPN2 doubleheader – AC Milan vs. Inter Milan, in a first Milan derby to be played outside of Italy, from Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., at 5 p.m., and Chelsea vs. America from Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at 7 p.m.

The World Football Challenge gives soccer fans in the United States the opportunity to experience global soccer superstars such as Chelsea’s John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack; AC Milan’s Ronaldinho, Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf; Inter Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovich, Javier Zannetti, and Douglas Maicon; and Club America’s Pavel Pardo, Guillermo Ochoa and Salvador Cabañas.

Additional highlights:

• ESPN Deportes: live, on-site presentation of its critically-acclaimed studio program Futbol Picante and SportsCenter segments from the state-of-the-art Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas, surrounding the Chelsea vs. America match (July 26),
• ESPN.com: pre-tournament preview and post-tourney wrap, fixture previews and post-match sidebars and stories, live gamecast and commentary, and photo gallery, and
• ESPNDeportes.com: match previews and post-match stories, interviews with players, and video highlights.

ESPN’s World Football Challenge Commentators

Two commentator teams will call the matches. ESPN’s lead commentator team for U.S. Men’s National Team and Major League Soccer telecasts, JP Dellacamera (play-by-play) with analyst John Harkes, and play by-play commentators Derek Rae with Adrian Healey and Alexi Lalas, former U.S. National Team defender. ESPN Deportes SportsCenter anchor and seasoned bi-lingual sideline reporter Fernando Palomo will work matches featuring Club America.

Bios:

• Dellacamera – has worked six straight FIFA World Cups as a play-by-play commentator…the lead voice for U.S. National Teams (men’s and women’s) and MLS telecasts on ESPN and ABC;
• Harkes – former U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team captain who made his ESPN debut during 2006 FIFA World Cup, is the lead game analyst for U.S. Men’s National Team and MLS matches on ESPN and ABC;
• Healey – play-by-play for Euro 2008 title match…also calls UEFA Champions League matches for ESPN International;
• Lalas – former U.S. Men’s National Team defender is ESPN studio analyst for soccer…joined the network after successful career as a professional and team manager in MLS;
• Palomo – ESPN Deportes SportsCenter anchor has covered many marquee sports events including the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan…works select U.S. National Team and MLS matches providing English and Spanish-language reporting from the sidelines,
• Derek Rae – has called ESPN’s English-language UEFA Champions League Final for the past eight years…lead play-by-play commentator for ESPN International.

2009 World Football Challenge Commentators Schedule

Subject to change

Date	Time (ET)	Networks	Match	Site
Su 7/19	7 p.m.	E2/360/ED	Club America vs. Inter Milan JP Dellacamera, John Harkes and Fernando Palomo	Palo Alto, Calif.
Tu 7/21	11 p.m.	E2/360/ED	Chelsea FC vs. Inter Milan Dellacamera and Harkes	Pasadena, Calif.
We 7/22	7 p.m.	E2/360/ED	AC Milan vs. Club America Derek Rae, Alexi Lalas and Palomo	Atlanta, Ga.
Fr 7/24	8 p.m.	E1/360/ED	AC Milan vs. Chelsea FC Adrian Healey and Lalas	Baltimore, Md.
Su 7/26	5 p.m.	E2/360/ED	AC Milan vs. Inter Milan Dellacamera and Harkes	Foxboro, Mass.
	7 p.m.	E2/360/ED	Chelsea vs. Club America Healey, Lalas and Palomo	Arlington, Texas

E1 – ESPN E2 – ESPN2 360 – ESPN360.com ED – ESPN Deportes

That’s going to do it. Good night.

Some Late Night Linkage

Time for some links on this Thursday.

Starting with the Associated Press which states that the American Sportscasters Association has named Lesley Visser as the top female sportscaster.

Here’s the release from the American Sportscasters Association and those who are ranked after Lesley.

Based on her career, I would agree with this. Lesley was the first female sideline reporter for Monday Night Football and was the first woman to host the Super Bowl trophy presentation. Lesley is also an excellent writer, worked for the Boston Globe and was taught by one of the best NFL reporters, Will McDonough. I cannot disagree with the ASA’s choice at all.

Comparing Lesley to Erin Andrews, Erin is more of a personality and I would not even begin to consider her as a journalist. In fact, she is becoming bigger than the event she covers which is a danger to any sports broadcaster. That’s when you start losing credibility and while I love looking at Erin and love posting and linking to her pictures, as a journalist, she hardly measures up to Lesley, Andrea Kremer or any of the pioneering women who are on the ASA list. In fact, she’s not even considered which would be correct in my mind. Putting on my journalist hat which I did wear in the 1980′s through the early 21st Century, I would consider Lesley, Andrea, Bonnie Bernstein, Andrea Joyce and Linda Cohn (misspelled on the ASA website!) fellow journalists. Erin who says TMZ.com is her favorite website cannot even be considered in the same league as the other women.

Off my soapbox now. To the other links

ESPN’s Ron Franklin tells Mel Bracht of the Oklahoman that he’ll retire after the 2010 NIT.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says Phil Ivey in the World Series of Poker’s last table will bring the ratings for ESPN.

Bruce Allen of Boston Sports Media Watch says Comcast is pleased over the preliminary numbers for Red Sox on Demand.

Over to Neil Best of Newsday says WFAN remains the sports king in New York. Neil writes about the whole shenanigans at Mad Dog Radio. And Neil says YES and SNY are grabbing ratings for their baseball coverage.

Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette says a local sports talk show will replaced with national programming next week as the host will be on vacation.

Ray Frager of the Sports Media Journal feels that Twitter is not for everyone.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner writes that it’s Tom Watson’s wish to be playing at the Open Championship on Sunday instead of working for ESPN.

Tim Lemke of the Washington Times reports that Australia is looking to ban alcohol sponsorship of sporting events.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News previews a Friday column on TVG trackside reporter and host Christina Olivares.

The Pacific Business News reports that Hawaiian Airlines has been named the sponsor of the inaugural Diamond Head Classic, a college basketball tournament owned by ESPN Regional Television.

Last night, I linked to a story in Mediapost which stated ESPN is using clips of SportsCenter anchor Scott Van Pelt to sell upfront spots. It just so happens I have found the site that contains those clips.

Tonight, Wayne Friedman of Mediapost says Versus continues to rack up good ratings for the Tour de France.

Sports business writer Evan Weiner writes that network TV contracts could be responsible for labor actions by the NFL and the NBA in 2011.

John Consoli of Mediaweek says it was Cartoon Network that helped TNT cement its long-term contract for the PGA Championship.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says St. Louis supported the All-Star Game with high viewership.

Steve Lepore of Puck The Media suggests 10 NHL games Versus should air.

A couple of programming notes.

On Friday, Jessie Karangu, a 16 year old internet radio talk show host will speak with UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghe and Jessie has asked me to plug his show which I will do. The show starts at 7 p.m. (I believe that is Eastern time) and you can call in and ask questions of the UFL Commish.

Also on Friday, ESPN’s Outside the Lines has obtained some interesting tape in regards to the Pacman Jones case:

ESPN has obtained never-before-released documents, as well as video of Adam “Pacman” Jones “making it rain” in a Las Vegas strip club, which precipitated a melee that ended in a triple shooting outside the club. The video, evidence jurors are likely to see when Jones takes the stand as a witness, will run Friday on ESPN.com, live SportsCenters, 3 p.m. Outside the Lines and ESPNEWS

I do respect the work of Outside the Lines, so I’ll give that a plug as well.

See you Friday.

TNT’s Open Championship Quotage

By my clock, TNT signed off its live coverage from the Open Championship at 2:39 p.m. ET. And here is it is at 3:25 p.m. ET getting the quotage. This is very impressive. The people at Turner Sports are very efficient. I have to give them mad props for the timeliness of this release. Plus, if you missed any coverage and are heading home now to watch some of TNT’s replay, you can anticipate what Ernie Johnson, Jr., Jim Huber, Ian Baker-Finch and Peter Alliss said today.

Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the Open Championship from the Ailsa Course at Turnberry in Scotland

Round One – Thursday, July 16, 2009

TNT’s Round Two coverage of the Open Championship continues Fri., July 17 from 7 am – 7 pm ET/PT. Watch live video coverage on PGA.com

Quote of the Day #1:

“I was on the (course) and we had to stop at the services, I needed to go to the restroom. When I walked in there it was out of context and a lot of people were taking a double take and looking and was it or was it not (me) and basically what was I doing in the services? Even a guy who’s won three majors needs to go to the toilet”

- Two-time defending Open Champion Padraig Harrington on the increased fame that comes with winning three majors

Quote of the Day #2:

“Tom (Watson) has socks that are older than that”

- Ernie Johnson on early first round leader Tom Watson playing against a field filled with young golfers, including 16 and 17 years olds

Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Ian Baker-Finch, Bill Kratzert, Jim Huber, Terry Gannon, Tom Weiskopf, Paul Azinger, Peter Alliss, Mike Tirico, Curtis Strange and Judy Rankin

Baker-Finch on Sergio Garcia’s eagle on hole #7 (Par 5): “(Sergio Garcia) needs to continue to do that throughout the whole week. We see him in the first three rounds hole some putts, but he normally struggles on Sundays.”

Baker-Finch on the aggressive play of Japanese teen sensation Ryo Ishikawa who finished with a 68 (-2): “The more he plays with great players and sees how they use the strategy around a great golf course like this, the better he’ll become at doing that. But at 17 (years old) you are aggressive, you don’t have that baggage in the back of your mind of the times you’ve messed up while hitting a driver when you shouldn’t have.”

TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed Tom Watson, who shot a 65 in the first round to lead the field early in the day.

Watson on how he feels after his first round 65 at Turnberry, compared to his famous win at the Open in 1977: “The body’s a little bit older, but the enthusiasm out there today was very similar. It was a wonderful day to play, there was very little wind. The course is obviously defenseless, a lot of the scores are going to be under par today because of that. It’s a good beginning round for me and the wind ought to pick up tomorrow afternoon according to the forecast, so she’ll have some teeth tomorrow and I’m looking forward to that.”

Watson on being more competitive against young players on links courses: “I’ve said that (that links courses are the great equalizer) about my ability to play against the kids. I can’t play against the kids at Augusta National, it’s just too soft. The golf course is too soft and too long and I’m hitting the wrong clubs into the holes. But I’ve said on links golf courses I can get it out there and get the ball rolling.”

Watson on adding a sixth Claret Jug trophy to his collection: “I could use one of those. I’m not being greedy, either.”

Kratzert on the pairing of Tiger Woods with 17-year-old Ryo Ishikawa: “I think the fact that Tiger looks at this young player and looks back a few years and he kind of sees himself, because Ishikawa has some kind of game and he’s going to be around for a long time and he fears nothing. It’s just been a great pairing and it’s been very conversational (between the two).”

Baker-Finch on major championships eluding Stewart Cink, who finished at -5 in the first round: “You would have to think that Stewart Cink would win at least one major in his career as good a player as he is and as good as he’s been at every level of the game. I’d be surprised if he didn’t.”

Alliss on providing analysis on Tiger Woods: “Criticizing Tiger Woods is like telling Muhammed Ali how to box or (Roger) Federer how to serve.”

Baker-Finch on the first round of Tiger Woods, who finished with a 71 (+1): “(Tiger Woods) struggled a little bit from the tee, he hit three or four shots out to the right, he hit a shot viciously left on the third and I think that changed his whole way of thinking as he went into the round. Let’s avoid that one to the left and let a few hang out to the right as he played the round, sort of steered away from the trouble on the left. (Woods was) A little fortunate at times to find some decent lies way right at the fairway. He’ll go to the range and try to figure that out. (A score of) 71 is certainly not out of it, he’s only six back from the lead.”

Sir Jackie Stewart, three-time Formula One world champion and native Scottsman, joined the TNT booth.

Alliss on an experience with Sir Jackie Stewart: “(Stewart) once drove me from the front door of the Glenn Eagle Hotel down to the pro shop, about 600 yards or so, and he frightened the bloody daylights out of me.”

Stewart: “That was only because he is English. In Scotland we would love to have Peter Alliss as a Scot, but unfortunately the poor boy is English.”

Stewart on the golfing legends that he has had the privilege of playing with: “I’ve been very lucky to play with some fantastic golfers. (I’ve played) with Jack (Nicklaus), Arnold (Palmer), Gary (Player), (Lee) Trevino, (Nick) Faldo and some of the modern players as well. It’s been a great experience. That’s one of the nice privileges of being a sportsman, you get to do things with other sports.”

Azinger on the bold outfit of Ian Poulter who sported a Union Jack sweater with red plaid pants: “I wonder if (Poulter) is a little self-conscious wearing that sweater. It’s really stepping out. He’s such a good player I just wonder if sometimes when he gets to this tournament if he just tries too hard to stand out and it effects his play a little bit.”

Azinger on Anthony Kim: “(Anthony Kim) to me is the player to watch for the next 20-25 years.”

Weiskopf: “He makes a ton of birdies, usually. He’s a very aggressive player so he rolls the dice. When he plays he doesn’t back off.

Azinger: “He’s got such a swing, he doesn’t look like he’s ever going to get that far off; runs with some hot emotions once in a while, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Strange on the unusually nice weather at Turnberry: “We have seen a couple of days like this over the years, maybe at St. Andrews, but this is quite unusual. I played here in 1986 and I was miserable for four days, nothing less.”

Strange on the ease of playing the Ailsa course at Turnberry: “The golf course is playing as easy as it could possibly play. If you didn’t shoot under par you were disappointed today. I think it’s very quiet out there today. I haven’t heard the roars, it’s been very quiet and calm, maybe that’s part of the weather. But I want it to change because I want to see the golf course play the way we know it to play.”

Strange on Miguel Angel Jimenez: “He’s a man at steady. Watch out. He’s never won here, but this could be his week.”

Jim Huber interviewed Miguel Angel Jimenez (-6) after his first round

Jimenez on winning the Open: “I’m 45 (years-old) and I don’t know how much longer I will be around with these new kids. I give everything to golf and I would love to win.”

Kratzert on Padraig Harrington’s improved confidence as the first round progressed: “As the round progressed today you could see Padraig get more and more confident.”

Jim Huber with 2007 & 2008 Open Championship winner Padraig Harrington (earlier this week)

Harrington on his season and if he’s frustrated with his play: “It’s not frustrating at all. I’ve been in control of what I’m doing; it’s a process, you’ve got to be patient. Sometimes these things take longer than you expect and you just have to wait it out. I don’t mind making short-term sacrifices for long-term games.”

Jim Huber interviewed Padraig Harrington (-1) after his first round

Harrington on how he felt after Day One: “My recent form hasn’t been so hot. Even though I hit the ball well today, I feel like I lacked a little in confidence.”

Harrington on his performance in the first round: “First round of the tournament, you want a nice and steady start. Although I’m not leading the tournament, I played well enough to have a chance.”

Jim Huber interviewed Jim Furyk (-3) after his first round

Furyk on his performance in the first round: “I could have played a little better today, but I’m happy with the score.”

Other networks can learn from Turner regarding the quotage. Great job, Turner!

Some Press Releases That Need to be Posted Now

I’ll do a few releases before I head out of here for the day. I’ve had enough dealing with the other offices.

Golf Channel will air a special tonight dealing with the 1977 “Duel in the Sun” between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus during the Open Championship at Turnberry. Kind of topical as Tom Watson is tied for second at the Open Championship at Turnberry today.

GOLF CHANNEL to Air Duel in the Sun Tonight at 9 p.m. ET

Nobilo Tackles Pot Bunkers at Turnberry on Live From the Open Championship

Tonight at 9 p.m. ET, GOLF CHANNEL will air Duel in the Sun, a special presentation chronicling one of the most memorable showdowns in major championship history – the 1977 Open Championship at Turnberry between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus. Duel in the Sun documents the Nicklaus-Watson pairing in the final round at the 1977 Open Championship and includes tournament footage from the original broadcast and features recent interviews with Nicklaus and Watson, third-round leader Roger Maltbie, 1977 U.S. Open Champion and third-place finisher Hubert Green, and several award-winning journalists.

GOLF CHANNEL is providing its signature wrap-around news coverage of the Open Championship with its Live From the Open Championship news coverage, airing immediately following network coverage Thursday – Sunday and in prime time from 7 – 9 p.m. ET with fresh, new analysis to recap the day’s action. Today’s Live From coverage features GOLF CHANNEL’s team of reporters and analysts breaking down the opening round with player interviews and analysis, including Watson’s memorable opening-round 65. GOLF CHANNEL analyst Frank Nobilo – who competed in the 1986 and 1994 Open Championships at Turnberry – will tackle Turnberry’s pot bunkers and show viewers how the players will try to hit out of them this week.

Live From the Open Championship News Coverage (All Times Eastern)

Thursday, July 16: 2:30 – 4 p.m.

Thursday, July 16: 7-9 p.m.

Friday, July 17: 2:30 – 4 p.m.

Friday, July 17: 7-9 p.m.

Saturday, July 18: 2:30 – 4 p.m.

Saturday, July 18: 7-9 p.m.

Sunday, July 19: 1:30 – 4 p.m.

Sunday, July 19: 7-9 p.m.

NBC airs the Celebrity Golf Championship from Lake Tahoe, NV this weekend.

JORDAN, BARKLEY, ROMO, ROETHLISBERGER HEADLINE AMERICAN CENTURY CHAMPIONSHIP

NEW YORK – July 16, 2009 – NBC presents live coverage of the 20th annual American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament, from Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Lake Tahoe, Nev., Saturday and Sunday starting at 3 p.m. ET. More than 80 sports and entertainment stars are participating including Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Tony Romo, Ben Roethlisberger, Mario Lemieux, Ray Romano and Emmitt Smith. 

Among the sports figures making the trip to Tahoe for the first time include NBA star Shane Battier, NFL Head Coach Jack Del Rio, NFL offensive rookie of the year Matt Ryan and Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith. 

The tournament benefits the Lance Armstrong Foundation for the fourth consecutive year. The Lance Armstrong Foundation raises money for cancer research, and also provides information and support for people living with cancer. 

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

MALOOF MONEY CUP SUNDAY 2 PM ET

NBC Sports and Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports present taped coverage of The Maloof Money Cup this Sunday at 2 p.m. ET from the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, Calif.

The Maloof Money Cup showcases the world's best skateboarders competing in Vert and Street for a chance to win $450,000, the largest prize purse in skateboarding.

Sponsored by Joe and Gavin Maloof, the brothers who own the Sacramento Kings, the Maloof Money Cup features skateboarding's top stars including Ryan Sheckler, Pierre Luc-Gagnon, Bob Burnquist and Paul Rodriguez.

Designed by leading skate park designer, Joe Ciaglia, the street course features obstacles such as ledges, stairs, handrails and a picnic table that were all inspired by real locations including the Sunset Boulevard up-down corner ledge, 12-stairs from Rincon, San Diego and the Barcelona ledge.  

Alli represents a collaboration of NBC Sports and MTV, broadcasting the largest array of action sports in the world.

To Tennis Channel (nice to have these releases!) and its schedule for the US Open Series which starts next weekend.

TENNIS CHANNEL’S 2009 US OPEN SERIES COVERAGE TO INCLUDE SEVEN TOURNAMENTS, CLOSE TO 60 HOURS OF LIVE AND SAME-DAY MATCH PLAY IN HIGH DEFINITION

Summer-long Network Schedule again Features Sunday Doubles Finals and Singles Semifinal, Quarterfinal and Early Round Competition

LOS ANGELES, July 16, 2009 — Tennis Channel, the only 24-hour, television-based multimedia destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle, will offer close to 60 hours of live and same-day match telecasts during seven tournaments in this summer’s US Open Series. The network’s July 24-Aug. 29 coverage of the US Open’s hard-court tournament includes seven prime-time Sunday doubles finals, in addition to numerous singles semifinals, quarterfinals and round-of-16 competitions.

Tennis Channel, which will televise the US Open with ESPN and CBS for the first time this year, produces all US Open Series coverage for the three networks, except for the circuit’s two ATP Masters Series events. With encore replays Tennis Channel will devote close to 75 hours of on-air time to US Open Series play this year, all in high definition.

Men’s US Open Series tournament on Tennis Channel in 2009 are: the Indianapolis Championships (Indianapolis), LA Tennis Open (Los Angeles), and Legg Mason Tennis Classic (Washington, D.C.). At the same time, the network’s four Sony Ericsson WTA Tour women’s events will be: The Bank of the West Classic (Stanford, Calif.), LA Women’s Tennis Championships (Los Angeles), Western and Southern Financial Group Women’s Open (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Rogers Cup (Toronto).

The network has been a partner with the US Open Series’ governing body, the United States Tennis Association, since the summer season’s 2004 introduction, along with fellow broadcasters ESPN and CBS Sports.

On-Air Talent

Tennis Channel’s 2009 coverage of the US Open Series features a combination of long-time play-by-play professionals alongside former players who have made the transition from the court to the booth. Veteran Ian Eagle starts the coverage at the Indianapolis Tennis Championships alongside former U.S. Davis Cup team member, Justin Gimelstob. Emmy-award winning announcer Ted Robinson, who has called the past 20 US Opens, will serve as lead commentator at the Bank of the West Classic, flanked by analysts Corina Morariu and former World No.1 Lindsay Davenport. Morariu and Davenport will also work together at two other events during the series, the LA Women’s Tennis Championship and the Western and Southern Financial Group Women’s Open, both with network regular Leif Shiras—a Tennis Channel veteran since the network’s launch in 2003. Shiras will also serve as the lead anchor at the LA Tennis Open, next to Gimelstob. Barry Mackay will work as the lead anchor at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, along with Gimelstob and recent International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Donald Dell. Tennis Channel’s Olympus US Open Series coverage concludes with the Rogers Cup, with lead coverage by Brett Haber and Morariu.

Tennis Channel’s 2009 US Open Series live and same-day telecast schedule (all times ET): For encore replays, visit www.tennischannel.com/schedule.

July 24-26 Indianapolis Tennis Championships (ATP)

Friday, July 24 – 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. (singles quarterfinals)

Saturday, July 25 – 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. (singles semifinals)

Sunday, July 26 – 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. (doubles final)

July 30-Aug. 2 Bank of the West Classic (WTA)

Thursday, July 30 – 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (round of 16)

Friday, July 31 – 7:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. (singles quarterfinals)

Saturday, Aug. 1 – 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (singles semifinals)

Sunday, Aug. 2 – 9:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m. (doubles finals)

July 30-Aug. 2 LA Tennis Open (ATP)

Thursday, July 30 – 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.; 12:30 a.m.-2:30 a.m. (round of 16)

Friday, July 31 – 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. (singles quarterfinals)

Saturday, Aug. 1 – 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. (singles semifinals)

Sunday, Aug. 2 – 8:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (doubles finals)

Aug. 7-9 Legg Mason (ATP)

Friday, Aug. 7 – 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. (singles quarterfinal)

Saturday, Aug. 8 – 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (singles semifinal)

Sunday, Aug. 9 – 8:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (doubles final)

Aug. 7- 9 LA Women’s Tennis Championships (WTA)

Friday, Aug. 7 – 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. (singles quarterfinal)

Saturday, Aug. 8 – 5:00 p.m.-7:00p.m. (singles semifinal)

Sunday, Aug. 9 – 9:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m. (doubles final)

Aug. 13-16 Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open (WTA)

Thursday, Aug. 13 –5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (round of 16)

Friday, Aug. 14 – 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (singles quarterfinals)

Saturday, Aug. 15 – 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. (singles semifinals)

Sunday, Aug. 16 – 8:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (doubles finals)

Aug. 21-23 Rogers Cup (WTA)

Friday, Aug. 21 – 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (singles quarterfinals)

Saturday, Aug. 22 – 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (singles semifinals)

Sunday, Aug. 23 – 8:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (doubles finals)

The Chairman and CEO of Tennis Channel has been honored.

Chairman and CEO Noted with Tennis Hall of Famer Billie Jean King at New York Benefit

NEW YORK, July 16, 2009 — Ken Solomon, chairman and CEO of Tennis Channel, received the “Tennis Champions for Children” award during a gala benefit of the same name hosted by the Randall’s Island Sports Foundation (RISF) Wednesday, July 15. The award recognizes people who have made a difference in the world of tennis for kids.

The event took place at the SPORTIME at Randall’s Island tennis facility, a new, $16-million, state-of-the-art venue and new home of the World TeamTennis Pro League New York Sportimes franchise. In addition to a VIP reception and dinner with several tennis luminaries, the evening featured a World TeamTennis match between the host Sportimes and visiting Boston Lobsters, led respectively by tennis legends John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova. (Coincidentally, McEnroe and Navratilova are part of Tennis Channel’s on-air broadcast team during various tournaments throughout the year.)

In addition to Solomon, noted for his role at the helm of Tennis Channel, RISF honored three others with the “Tennis Champions for Children” award during halftime of the match. The first is Billie Jean King, the iconic tennis Hall of Famer whose on-court and off-court actions changed the American sports landscape. Other recipients were New York-area high school tennis coach Chris Lacopo and the late Eugene L. Scott, founder of Tennis Week magazine.

RISF, founded in 1992, is a public-private partnership with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation that seeks to realize the unique potential of 480 waterfront parkland acres anchoring Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens. RISF strives to empower under-resourced children through sports and recreation with an investment of over $300 million in world class facilities, playing fields and programming.

And ESPN has been awarded the rights to air Scottish Premier League soccer games in the UK and Ireland, joining the rights it picked up for the English Premier League earlier this month.

The Scottish Premier League today awarded Sky Sports and ESPN the exclusive live rights to Premier League games for the next five seasons in the UK and Ireland. The deal will cover three years initially, with the SPL having a two-year extension option.

Each broadcaster will show 30 live games each season across the UK and Ireland, starting with the 2009-10 campaign this August.

Announcing the deal, Lex Gold, Chairman of the SPL, said: “We are pleased that in just over three weeks we have been able to strike this deal. Sky and ESPN are two of the biggest names in sports broadcasting and they will bring first class production standards and a wide audience to the table. We are looking forward to working with both in the coming years to raise the profile of the SPL for our clubs, fans and partners.”

“We’re delighted that ESPN will broadcast live Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League matches from this season, adding to our growing portfolio of world renowned live sport,” said Lynne Frank, ESPN Managing Director in Europe, Middle East and Africa. “We look forward to working with the Scottish Premier League and its clubs over the next few years and beyond as we bring British and Irish sports’ fans all the SPL action and excitement live on our new ESPN and ESPN HD channels.”

Barney Francis, Managing Director of Sky Sports, said: “This new deal gives Sky Sports viewers 30 live matches a year, including each of the Old Firm games, all in HD. And it gives the Scottish Premier League clubs stability and continued investment from committed partners. Sky Sports has covered the Scottish game since our launch 18 years ago – we are long term supporters. We are now looking forward to showing the Premier League, alongside Scotland internationals and the Scottish Cup, for the next five years.”

The Premier League matches will air on Sky Sports and ESPN. ESPN has already reached an agreement for its coverage to be retailed by Sky to residential and commercial customers. ESPN is also in discussions with other Pay-TV platforms in the UK for the ESPN channel.

That will be it for now. I do have another release coming, but that can stand alone.

Baseball on TV This Weekend

Here’s what you can expect to see this weekend for MLB on Fox, ESPN and TBS. When the release comes for TBS, I’ll post it, but for now, what you see is what you get.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

MLB on FOX Kicks Off Season’s Second Half

Rosenthal on Phillies Signing Pedro: “What Is There To Lose?”

FOX Sports Revamps Social Networking Sites

MLB’S SECOND HALF STARTS UP – Fresh off an intense MLB All-Star Game, The FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK presents its first weekend of the second half with three enticing matchups on Saturday, July 18 (4:00 PM ET). In Atlanta, NL rivals meet as Jeff Francoeur and the Mets take on the man he was traded for, Ryan Church, and the Braves. Also, AL West rivals face off in Oakland as the A’s host the first-place Angels. On the South Side, President Obama’s favorite team, the White Sox, host Adam Jones and the Orioles. This week, the pregame show originates live from Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland with host Chris Rose. Once game action begins, Rose joins the game crew of Glenn Kuiper and Jose Mota as a field reporter. For instant updates during the week and games from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX.

New York Mets at Atlanta Braves, Thom Brennaman, Eric Karros & Ken Rosenthal, going to 49% of USA

Turner Field – Atlanta, GA

MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Houston, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, St. Louis, Tampa, West Palm Beach

Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics, Glenn Kuiper & Jose Mota, going to 28% of USA

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum – Oakland, CA

MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tulsa

Baltimore Orioles at Chicago White Sox, Dick Stockton & Mark Grace, going to 22% of USA

Comiskey Park – Chicago, IL

MARKETS INCLUDE: Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Washington

80^th ALL-STAR GAME IS A WINNER FOR MLB & FOX SPORTS – The 80th MLB ALL-STAR GAME, an exciting 4-3 American League victory, was watched by an impressive total of 33.6 million viewers, supplanting last year’s Yankee Stadium extravaganza as the most-watched Midsummer Classic since 1999 (36.9 million), according to fast national figures released Wednesday by Nielsen Media Research. It is the fourth consecutive year the All-Star Game’s total audience has risen year to year, and the sixth time it’s risen in the seven years since the rule tying home field advantage in the World Series to the winning league was adopted. Total viewing of last night’s game was +13% higher than the same figure in 2002, the last year before the adoption of the World Series home field rule (33.6 million vs. 29.7 in 2002).

“Anyone who can figure a batting average knows that going six for seven is pretty good, and we’ve seen the All-Star Game’s audience rise six times in the seven years since the outcome determines home field advantage in the World Series,” said FOX Sports President Ed Goren.

ROSENTHAL PLEASED WITH PEDRO SIGNING – This week, former Mets pitcher and 3-time Cy-Young winner Pedro Martinez signed a 1-year contract to pitch for the NL East leading Philadelphia Phillies. MLB on FOX reporter Ken Rosenthal is happy that Pedro is back and doesn’t see much downside for the defending champs. “What is there to lose? Its $1 million guaranteed. If Pedro wins three games, he basically pays for himself. The Phillies were very impressed by what they saw – Pedro threw 88-89 mph with command,” said Rosenthal. “Personally, I am just happy he is back in the game. He’s one of baseball‘s most intelligent and colorful guys.”

Click here to read Rosenthal’s notes that didn’t make it into Tuesday night’s All-Star Game telecast:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9809204/Experience-doesn’t-help-NL-All-Star-staff

And this is what’s on tap for ESPN Sunday, Monday and next Wednesday.

Sunday Night Baseball (July 19)

New York Mets vs. Atlanta Braves at 6 p.m. ET
(ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN360.com)
Commentators: Jon Miller, Joe Morgan, Steve Phillips

Monday Night Baseball (July 20)

Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies* at 7 p.m.
* full national telecast; available in both local markets
(ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com)
Commentators: Dan Shulman, Orel Hershiser, Steve Phillips

Wednesday Night Baseball(July 22)

Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers at 8 p.m.
(ESPN2, ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com)
Commentators: Dave O’Brien, Rick Sutcliffe

When TBS’ release comes on Friday, I’ll add it here.

UPDATE, 2:20 p.m.: Here is TBS’ game: Detroit at the Yankees.

“Sunday MLB on TBS” Continues with Tigers @ Yankees at 2 p.m. ET

“Sunday MLB on TBS” continues on Sunday, July 19^th at 2 p.m. ET with an American League match-up featuring Curtis Granderson and the Detroit Tigers visiting Mark Teixeira and the New York Yankees. The Tigers’ probable starting pitcher Justin Verlander is scheduled to take the mound against Joba Chamberlain of the Yankees. Chip Caray (play-by-play) and Ron Darling (analyst) will call the action from the broadcast booth.

Sunday MLB on TBS includes match-ups on TBS every Sunday afternoon throughout the regular season. In October TBS will once again provide exclusive coverage of the Division Series and the National League Championship Series (NLCS).

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

SUNDAY MLB ON TBS SCHEDULE:

Sun., July 19

2 p.m. Detroit Tigers @ New York Yankees

Announcers: Chip Caray (play-by-play) and Ron Darling (analyst)

SUNDAY MLB ON TBS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Sun., July 26

1:30 p.m. St. Louis Cardinals @ Philadelphia Phillies

Announcers: Chip Caray (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst) and David Wells (analyst)

That’s it. Enjoy your baseball weekend.

A Thursday Linkfest

Time for some linkage today.

Since we burned up our server with yesterday’s picture of ESPN’s Erin Andrews in a hot dress (thank you, Jimmy Traina of Sports Illustrated), we have an entire gallery of Erin in hot dresses as she was in Los Angeles yesterday (again thank you, Jimmy). If you scroll down today’s edition of Jimmy’s Hot Clicks at SI.com, you’ll see Heather Graham wearing that same dress.

If you want more Erin news, Mike Snider and Brett Molina of USA Today’s Game Hunters blog talk with EA about her being featured in a video game for EA Sports.

Newsday’s Neil Best has Erin talking to TMZ.com about her getting a ball to the chin at the Dodgers-Mets game last week.

That’s your Erin fix for the day. Now on to other links.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today says don’t get up late otherwise you might miss something during the Open Championship.

ESPN Plus, ESPN’s syndication arm for various conferences including the SEC, has relaunched its website today to include its schedule for SEC football.

Jessica Heslam of the Boston Herald says WEEI and WBZ-FM stand to split advertising dollars for the sports listening audience.

Evans Clinchy of NESN.com reviews the HBO Ted Williams documentary.

Here’s Kristine Leahy and the latest edition of “The Five” at WEEI.com.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says Ted’s daughter, Claudia, was a standout in the HBO documentary.

Laura Nachman recalls one funny story from the new Harry Kalas book that’s now available.

Dick Jerardi of the Philadelphia Daily News his colleague, sports curmudgeon Bill Conlin will be inducted into the city’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says you have to get up early if you want to catch the Open Championship this week.

Jon Solomon from the Birmingham (AL) News writes that Fox Sports Net has signed a syndication deal with ESPN Regional TV to carry seven SEC football games for three of its regional networks in the conference footprint.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News says the June ratings f0r the city’s sports radio station are another version of wash, rinse, repeat. Barry says Dallas-Fort Worth just doesn’t seem to care about the MLB All-Star Game.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recaps Green Bay Packer WR Donald Driver’s interview on Sirius NFL Radio on Wednesday.

Ed Sherman from Crain’s Chicago Business says sports radio WSCR now has an iPhone app. Ed writes that Steve Stone is returning to WSCR as a regular guest.

Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times says athletes and actors like hanging out together for a certain awards show that I try to ignore.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail talks about NBC renewing its rights deal with the NHL for the next two seasons.

The Associated Press reports that ESPN and Sky Sports have picked up the rights to air the Scottish Premier League in both the UK and Ireland. This month, ESPN has been picking up soccer TV rights in the UK this month establishing its presence with a giant boot.

Chris Byrne of Eye on Sports Media says a Comcast Sports Southeast producer is recovering from injuries suffered from a car accident.

A couple of things from The Big Lead. There’s a preliminary report on a certain awards show that I often try to ignore. Apparently, the US-Mexico World Cup qualifying match next month will be seen only on Univision.

I think that will conclude the links for now.

Where to Watch the 2009 Open Championship Online

I’ve noticed that people are looking to find places to watch this week’s Open Championship online as it starts early for the U.S. fans.

I’m happy to tell you that there’s free online coverage at PGA.com. Today and Friday, it will webcast the world feed from 4 – 7 a.m. ET, then offer TNT’s coverage for the first two rounds from 7 a.m. Eastern to about 2:30 p.m. Eastern. In addition, it will offer coverage of holes 9 through 11 at Turnberry as well as offer a feature called “Inside the Ropes” that runs throughout the Open.

On Saturday, online streaming begins at 5 a.m. with the world feed, then PGA.com takes TNT’s coverage from 7 – 9 a.m. Then on Sunday, coverage starts at 6 a.m. ET.

ABC’s coverage does not appear to be available online.

To get to the online coverage, you can click on this link.

Nice to have TNT’s coverage available all four days of the tournament.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

Cycling
Tour de France, Stage 12 – Versus, 8:30 a.m.

Golf
The Open Championship, 1st round – TNT, 7 a.m.
PGA Tour/U.S. Bank Championship, 1st round – Golf Channel, 4 p.m.

MLB

American League
Seattle at Cleveland – FSN Northwest/STO, 7 p.m.
Anaheim Angels at Oakland – Fox Sports West/Comcast SportsNet California, 10 p.m.

National League
Chicago Cubs at Washington – Comcast SportsNet Chicago/MASN, 7 p.m.
Milwaukee at Cincinnati – MLB Network/Fox Sports Wisconsin/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
New York Mets at Atlanta – SNY/SportSouth, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Florida – MLB Network/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/Fox Sports Florida, 7 p.m.
Colorado at San Diego – FSN Rocky Mountain/Cox 4, 10 p.m.
Houston at Los Angeles Dodgers – Fox Sports Houston/KCAL, 10 p.m.

Baseball Tonight – ESPN, 10 p.m.
MLB Tonight: Roundtripper Final, 10 p.m.

Entertainment
Big Brother 11 – CBS, 8 p.m.
Are We Alone – Discovery, 9 p.m.
World’s Toughest Fixes: Columbia River Dam – National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
Naked Science: How The West Was Made – National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.
Penn & Teller: Bullshit – Showtime, 10 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman – CBS, 11:35 p.m.

A Few Wednesday Press Releases

There are few things I’m working on for both Fang’s Bites here and at Fang’s Bites at Sports Media Watch. Can’t say what they are, but they will be quite good. And my subject for Videos of the Week will be interesting and timely so look for those in the coming days.

Let’s post some press releases for you as this has turned out to be a busy night for me blog-wise.

I’ll start this with the NFL Network and what it’s airing over the next week.

NFL NETWORK PROGRAMMING NOTES (7/16-7/21)

“BEST IN THE BIZ” SERIES CONTINUES ON

NFL TOTAL ACCESS WITH TOP 5 FAN BASES,

ORGANIZATIONS AND PLAYERS

Inaugural IFAF Junior World Championship

To Be Re-Aired Saturday at 8:00 PM ET

Debut of NFL’s Top 10 Meltdowns

Friday at 8:00 PM ET

2009 IFAF Junior World Championship: USA vs. Canada – Saturday at 8:00 PM ET

The Gold Medal Game of the first junior world championship, played earlier this month in Canton, Ohio’s historic Fawcett Stadium, will be televised nationally on NFL Network Saturday, July 18 at 8:00 PM ET.

After taking part in a tournament that was comprised of teams from eight countries, spanning four continents, 45 of the best American football players ages 19 and younger took on challengers from Canada.

NFL’S TOP 10 Meltdowns – Friday at 8:00 PM ET

They are the moments players and fans live to forget – from a key fumble to a late season losing streak by a first-place team, on Friday at 8:00 PM ET, NFL’s Top 10 takes a look at the most memorable meltdowns in NFL history.

NFL’s Top 10 provides a look at some of the most intriguing subjects in the NFL, creating and debating a top ten list for each category. Each 60-minute episode counts down from No. 10 to the top ranking in each category.

THIS WEEK ON NFL TOTAL ACCESS: Best in the Biz Fan Bases, Organizations and Players

Thursday, July 16

• ‘Best in the Biz’ – Top 5 Organizations
• ’32 Teams in 32 Days’ – #4 Indianapolis Colts

Friday, July 17

• A compilation piece of NFL players and experts commenting on the sacrifices they made to compete at such a high level
• ‘Best in the Biz’ – Top 5 Players
• ’32 Teams in 32 Days’ – #3 New York Giants

Monday, July 20

• Seattle Seahawks facility tour
• Around the League with Jason La Canfora
• ’32 Teams in 32 Days’ – #2 New England Patriots

Tuesday, July 21

• Miami Dolphins facility tour
• Around the League with Jason La Canfora
• ’32 Teams in 32 Days’ – #1 Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL.COM CHAT SCHEDULE: Raiders LB Kirk Morrison & Browns LB Willie McGinest

Thursday, July 16

• 12:00 PM ET – NFL.com writer Bucky Brooks
• 5:00 PM ET – NFL Network Analyst Solomon Wilcots

Friday, July 17

• 12:00 PM ET – NFL.com writer Jason La Canfora
• 5:00 PM ET – Browns LB Willie McGinest

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

Thursday, July 16

1:00 PM – NFL Films Presents: Harshest Cut

2:00 PM – Year in Review: 2005

2:30 PM – Year in Review: 2006

3:00 PM – America’s Game: 1996 Green Bay Packers (HD)

4:00 PM – America’s Game: 1999 St. Louis Rams (HD)

5:00 PM – Year in Review: 2005

5:30 PM – NFL’s Greatest Games: Washington Redskins vs. San Francisco 49ers (1983 NFC Championship)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Film Session: 1999 QB Challenge – Part 1

9:00 PM – NFL Film Session: 1999 QB Challenge – Part 2

10:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Film Session: 1999 QB Challenge – Part 1

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Film Session: 1999 QB Challenge – Part 2

1:00 AM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Friday, July 17

1:00 PM – NFL Films Presents: Big Time Fun

2:00 PM – Sabol’s Shots of the Year 2008

3:00 PM – NFL Film Session: 1999 QB Challenge – Part 1

4:00 PM – NFL Film Session: 1999 QB Challenge – Part 2

5:00 PM – Year in Review: 2006

5:30 PM – NFL’s Greatest Games: Denver Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns (1987 AFC Championship)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Meltdowns

9:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Controversial Calls

10:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Meltdowns

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Controversial Calls

1:00 AM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Saturday, July 18

1:00 PM – Game of the Week: New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (2004 AFC Divisional Playoff) (HD)

2:00 PM – Game of the Week: New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Super Bowl XXXIX) (HD)

3:00 PM – America’s Game: 1996 Green Bay Packers (HD)

4:00 PM – America’s Game: 1999 St. Louis Rams (HD)

5:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Controversial Calls

6:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Meltdowns

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

8:00 PM – 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship: USA vs. Canada

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

12 MIDNIGHT– 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship: USA vs. Canada

Sunday, July 19

9:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Football Myths

10:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Clutch Quarterbacks

11:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Meltdowns

12 NOON – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Controversial Calls

1:00 PM – NFL Replay: Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals (2008 NFC Wild Card) (HD)

2:30 PM – NFL Replay: Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers (2008 AFC Wild Card) (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Replay: Baltimore Ravens vs. Miami Dolphins (2008 AFC Wild Card) (HD)

5:30 PM – NFL Replay: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Minnesota Vikings (2008 NFC Wild Card) (HD)

7:00 PM – Live Wire: Wild Card Edition (HD)

7:30 PM – Starting 11: Wild Card Edition (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Replay: Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals (2008 NFC Wild Card) (HD)

9:30 PM – NFL Replay: Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers (2008 AFC Wild Card) (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Replay: Baltimore Ravens vs. Miami Dolphins (2008 AFC Wild Card) (HD)

12:30 AM – NFL Replay: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Minnesota Vikings (2008 NFC Wild Card) (HD)

2:00 AM – Live Wire: Wild Card Edition (HD)

2:30 AM – Starting 11: Wild Card Edition (HD)

Monday, July 20

7:00 AM – NFL Replay: Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals (2008 NFC Wild Card) (HD)

8:30 AM – NFL Replay: Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers (2008 AFC Wild Card) (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Replay: Baltimore Ravens vs. Miami Dolphins (2008 AFC Wild Card) (HD)

11:30 AM – NFL Replay: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Minnesota Vikings (2008 NFC Wild Card) (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Replay: Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals (2008 NFC Wild Card) (HD)

2:30 PM – NFL Replay: Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers (2008 AFC Wild Card) (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Replay: Baltimore Ravens vs. Miami Dolphins (2008 AFC Wild Card) (HD)

5:30 PM – NFL Replay: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Minnesota Vikings (2008 NFC Wild Card) (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Classic Games: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Arizona Cardinals (2008 NFC Championship)

10:30 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

11:30 PM – NFL Classic Games: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Arizona Cardinals (2008 NFC Championship) (HD)

Tuesday, July 21

11:00 AM – Live Wire: Super Bowl XLIII (HD)

11:30 AM – NFL Classic Games: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Arizona Cardinals (2008 NFC Championship) (HD)

2:00 PM – NFL Film Session: San Francisco 49ers vs. San Diego Chargers (Super Bowl XXIX)

2:30 PM – NFL Film Session: Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburg Steelers (Super Bowl XXX)

3:00 PM – Road to the Super Bowl: 2003

4:00 PM – Road to the Super Bowl: 2004

5:00 PM – NFL Film Session: Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills (Super Bowl XXVII) (HD)

5:30 PM – NFL Film Session: Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills (Super Bowl XXVIII) (HD)

6:00 PM – NFL Film Session: San Francisco 49ers vs. San Diego Chargers (Super Bowl XXIX) (HD)

6:30 PM – NFL Film Session: Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Super Bowl XXX) (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – Game of the Week: New York Giants vs. Seattle Seahawks (Week 12, 2005) (HD)

9:00 PM – Game of the Week: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts (2005 AFC Divisional Playoff) (HD)

10:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

11:00 PM – Game of the Week: New York Giants vs. Seattle Seahawks (Week 12, 2005) (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – Game of the Week: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts (2005 AFC Divisional Playoff) (HD)

1:00 AM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Here are a few notes from ESPN regarding its NASCAR coverage.

NASCAR on ESPN Notes

ESPN Promotional Campaign Kicks Off with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Spot

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is featured in a new ESPN promotional spot now running in advance of the launch of ESPN’s coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, which begins July 26 with the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Wallace, Gaughan In-Race Reporters for NASCAR at St. Louis

Drivers Steven Wallace and Brendan Gaughan will be In-Race Reporters during ESPN2’s live coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis on Saturday night, July 18, at 9 p.m. The two will talk with ESPN’s Rusty Wallace on the race’s pace laps and during caution periods.

USA Today Writer Joins NASCAR Now Monday Roundtable

USA Today motorsports writer Nate Ryan has joined the panel for NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable discussion program airing Monday, July 20, at 5 p.m. on ESPN2. Associated Press motorsports writer Jenna Fryer and Ryan McGee of ESPN.com and ESPN the Magazine also will be panelists with host Mike Massaro.

ESPN has set the field for its annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

11th Annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge Schedule

The network and times for the 11th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge have been determined.

This year’s event will be highlighted by Michigan State at North Carolina, a December 1 rematch of this past year’s NCAA men’s basketball championship game; Big Ten Conference Tournament champion Purdue against Wake Forest (December 1); and ACC Tournament champion Duke at Wisconsin (December 2).

For the fifth consecutive year, the Challenge consists of 11 games, with two telecasts on ESPNU while ESPN and ESPN2 combine to televise the remaining nine games. ESPN360.com, the broadband sports television network, will simulcast the ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts. Schedule:

Date	Time (ET)	Game	Network
Monday, Nov. 30	7 p.m.	Penn State at Virginia	ESPN2/ESPN360.com
Tuesday, Dec. 1	7 p.m.	Wake Forest at Purdue	ESPN/ESPN360.com
		Northwestern at N.C. State	ESPNU
	7:30 p.m.	Maryland at Indiana	ESPN2/ESPN360.com
	9 p.m.	Michigan State at North Carolina	ESPN/ESPN360.com
	9:30 p.m.	Virginia Tech at Iowa	ESPN2/ESPN360.com
Wednesday, Dec. 2	7:15 p.m.	Illinois at Clemson	ESPN/ESPN360.com
		Minnesota at Miami	ESPNU
	7:30 p.m.	Boston College at Michigan	ESPN2/ESPN360.com
	9:15 p.m.	Duke at Wisconsin	ESPN/ESPN360.com
	9:30 p.m.	Florida State at Ohio State	ESPN2/ESPN360.com

That’s it for tonight. See you manana.