Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

College Football
Hawai’i at Louisiana Tech – ESPN2, 8 p.m.

MLB

American League
Chicago White Sox at Cleveland – Comcast SportsNet Chicago/STO, 4 p.m.
Toronto at Red Sox – Rogers Sportsnet/NESN, 7 p.m.
Baltimore at Tampa Bay – MASN2/Fox Sports Florida, 7 p.m.
Kansas City at New York Yankees – Fox Sports Kansas City/YES, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Detroit – ESPN/Fox Sports North/Fox Sports Detroit, 7 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Cleveland – Comcast SportsNet Chicago/STO, 7:30 p.m.
Oakland at Seattle – Comcast SportsNet California/FSN Northwest, 10 p.m.
Texas at Anaheim Angels – Fox Sports Southwest/Fox Sports West, 10 p.m.

National League
Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs – WGN America, 2 p.m.
New York Mets at Washington – SNY/MASN, 4:30 p.m.
Florida at Atlanta – Sun Sports/SportSouth, 7 p.m.
Houston at Philadelphia – Fox Sports Houston/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
St. Louis at Cincinnati – Fox Sports Midwest/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs – FSN Pittsburgh/Comcast SportsNet Chicago Plus, 8 p.m.
Milwaukee at Colorado – Fox Sports Wisconsin/FSN Rocky Mountain, 8:30 p.m.
Arizona at San Francisco – Fox Sports Arizona/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 10 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego – Fox Sports Prime Ticket/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.

UEFA Champions League
Manchester United vs. Vfl Wolfsburg – Fox Soccer Channel, 2:30 p.m.
Apoel vs. Chelsea – Setanta Sports, 2:30 p.m.
Real Madrid vs. Olympique de Marseille – Fox Soccer Channel, 5 p.m. (same day coverage)

Entertainment
Full Color Football: The History of the American Football League – Showtime, 8 p.m.
Inside the NFL – Showtime, 9 p.m.
The Ultimate Fighter – Spike, 10 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman – CBS, 11:35 P.M.

Clearing Out Tuesday’s Press Releases

Let’s finish up the press releases so I can go to bed.

From CBS, ten members of the New York Rangers will help David Letterman with the Top Ten List on Wednesday.

THIS JUST IN…

…from CBS Entertainment

TEN MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK RANGERS PRESENT THE

TOP TEN LIST ON CBS’s “LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN,”

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30

NEW YORK, Sept. 29 — Ten members of the New York Rangers will present the Top Ten List on the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, Wednesday, Sept. 30 (11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. The 2009-2010 National Hockey League regular season kicks off Thursday, Oct. 1, with the Rangers playing their first game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, Oct. 2.

Also featured on the Wednesday, Sept. 30 LATE SHOW is an interview with pop superstar Madonna and a performance by musical guest Harry Connick Jr. The LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN is a production of Worldwide Pants Incorporated. Barbara Gaines, Matt Roberts, Jude Brennan, Maria Pope and Rob Burnett are the executive producers.

Official CBS Web site: http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/

Besides the NFL and the SEC, here’s what else is in store for CBS Sports this weekend.

CBS SPORTS AND PGA OF AMERICA FOSTER LOVE OF GOLF WITH ENCORE PRESENTATION OF REALITY-BASED SHOW ON SATURDAY

CBS Sports presents a one-hour encore presentation of the PGA of America special PLAY GOLF AMERICA: GET GOLF READY on Saturday, Oct. 3 (2:00-3:00 PM, ET; aired on 5/3/09). Hosted by CBS Sports’ Bill Macatee, the show follows a group of six amateur would-be golfers, who come from all walks of life, as they begin to discover a love and passion for the game of golf. The novice golfers begin with lessons at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. where they are given instructions from some of America’s top instructors including Top 50 Instructor and PGA of America Director of Instruction T.J. Tomasi, 2008 PGA Teacher of the Year Martin Hall, and top female instructor and the second woman to play in a PGA Tour event Suzy Whaley, as well as many other top flight instructors. CBS Sports’ Chris Svendsen serves as the coordinating producer.

CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR COWBOYS UP WITH PRO BULL RIDING’S “GODADDY.com INVITATIONAL” ON SUNDAY

CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR presents professional bull riding’s GoDADDY.com INVITATIONAL on Sunday, Oct. 4 (5:00-6:00 PM; 3:00-4:00 PM in late NFL markets; taped 10/2-3) from the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Ore. The GoDADDY.com INVITATIONAL is the 29th stop on the Built Ford Tough Series. With only two more events on the “Road to Vegas” left after Portland, the championship round will go a long way in setting up the world standings for the 2009 PBR World Finals in what has been one of the closest races for a world title in the 16-year history of the PBR. Craig Hummer, Ty Murray and Leah Garcia call the action for CBS Sports. CBS Sports’ Ross Schneiderman serves as coordinating producer.

Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

Golf Channel will be busy this week.

GOLF CHANNEL TOURNAMENT COVERAGE

Oct. 1 – 4, 2009

Turning Stone Resort Championship

Dates: 10/1 – 10/4

Venue: Atunyote Golf Club at Turning Stone Resort, Verona, N.Y.

Airtimes (Eastern):

Thursday 4 – 6 p.m. (Live)

Friday 4 – 6 p.m. (Live)

Saturday 4 – 6 p.m. (Live)

Sunday 4 – 6 p.m. (Live)

GOLF CHANNEL Broadcast Talent:

Rich Lerner (Play by Play)

Brandel Chamblee (Analyst)

Peter Oosterhuis (Tower)

Matt Gogel (On Course)

Andrew Magee (On Course)

Inga Hammond (Interviews)

GOLF CHANNEL Broadcast Notes: The Turning Stone Resort Championship is the first of five events in the PGA TOUR’s Fall Series that will air exclusively on GOLF CHANNEL… Mutual of Omaha Putting Line powered by Aimpoint, a graphics technology that predicts the break of a putt and suggests where a player must aim to hole out, will be used during the telecast will be used on holes 16 and 18.

Navistar LPGA Classic

Dates: 10/1 – 10/4

Venue: The Senator Course, Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Prattville, Ala.

Airtimes (Eastern):

Thursday 8:30 – 10:30 p.m. (Tape Delayed)

Friday 8:30 – 10:30 p.m. (Tape Delayed)

Saturday 8:30 – 10:30 p.m. (Tape Delayed)

Sunday 8:30 – 10:30 p.m. (Tape Delayed)

GOLF CHANNEL Broadcast Talent:

Brian Hammons (Play by Play)

Beth Daniel (Analyst)

Kay Cockerill (Tower)

Charlie Rymer (Tower)

Val Skinner (On Course)

Todd Lewis (Interviews)

GOLF CHANNEL Broadcast Notes: The top five players on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings will compete in the Navistar LPGA Classic… Big Break Ka’anapali winner and current LPGA player Kim Welch will be wired for sound during Thursday’s opening round and featured as the “Spotlight Player” of the day.

Soboba Classic

Date: 10/1 – 10/4

Venue: The Country Club at Soboba Springs, San Jacinto, Calif.

Airtimes (Eastern):

Thursday 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (Live)

Friday 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (Live)

Saturday 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (Live)

Sunday 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (Live)

GOLF CHANNEL Broadcast Talent:

Jerry Foltz (Play by Play)

Curt Byrum (Analyst)

Phil Parkin (Tower)

Jason Buha (On Course)

Stephanie Sparks (Interviews)

GOLF CHANNEL Broadcast Notes: A strong field has gathered this week for the inaugural Soboba Classic. The $1 million event has attracted 66 of the Top-70 money winners on Tour. The only exceptions are Michael Sim, Mathias Gronberg and Darron Stiles, who are all competing on the PGA TOUR this week. The other missing player is Steven Alker… The top-25 money winners at the conclusion of the Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island in Charleston, S.C. (Oct. 22-25) will be awarded PGA TOUR cards for 2010.

Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship

Dates: 10/1 – 10/4

Venue: East Course, Baltimore Country Club, Baltimore, Md.

Airtimes (Eastern):

Thursday 1 – 3:30 p.m. (Live)

Friday 1 – 3:30 p.m. (Live)

GOLF CHANNEL Broadcast Notes: The Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship, the Champions Tour final major of the year, will be televised by GOLF CHANNEL and NBC. GOLF CHANNEL will provide live coverage on Thursday and Friday, while NBC will televise the weekend’s play. Dave Marr will serve as the play-by-play commentator during GOLF CHANNEL’s coverage and will be joined by NBC Sports talent… The tournament will be aired in HD.

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Dates: 10/1 – 10/4

Venue: Old Course, St. Andrews, Scotland

Carnoustie and Kingsbarn Golf Course, Fife, Scotland

Airtimes (Eastern):

Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Live)

Friday 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Live)

Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Live)

Sunday 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Live)

GOLF CHANNEL Broadcast Notes: GOLF CHANNEL will broadcast the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in HD… GOLF CHANNEL’s Tom Abbott will play in the amateur portion of the pro-am event.

CBC airs the premiere of its “Battle of the Blades” later this week.

LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!

CBC TELEVISON’S BATTLE OF THE BLADES DEBUTS OCT. 4

Sandra Bezic and Dick Button headline judging panel

Canadian figure skating and hockey icons take to the ice in a live competition of artistry and athleticism as CBC Television’s BATTLE OF THE BLADES premieres on Sunday, October 4, at 8 p.m. ET.

Ten charities chosen by the competitors will be the beneficiaries of donations, announced weekly, as pairs are eliminated from the competition on the Monday night result show. At the completion of the seven week series, the winning pair will make a combined donation of $100,000 to their chosen charities. The benefactors include Make-A-Wish Canada, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Alberta Cancer Foundation, MA Foundation, The Foundation Fighting Blindness, Diabetes Hope Foundation, Wounded Warriors, The Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre Society, Bloorview Kids Rehab and World Vision Canada.

Bringing together a top-notch group of judges, choreographers and coaches, CBC Television’s BATTLE OF THE BLADES has assembled an all-star cast to ensure that the athletes and viewers are treated to the very best in this ground breaking competition. Each Sunday night, the pairs perform a routine to a specific musical theme and viewers will cast their votes by mobile phone text message, internet (www.cbc.ca/battle) or telephone. The two pairs with the fewest votes return for the Monday night live results show to perform their routines again. The judges will determine which pair goes home and which advances to the next round. Throughout the series a special guest judge, announced each week, will join Sandra Bezic and Dick Button.

Sandra Bezic is widely regarded as one of the most influential people in skating. She is an Olympian and has been a coach, choreographer, producer, on-air analyst, and author in her storied career. Her award winning choreographic work has guided numerous Olympic and World Champions. Bezic has been the driving creative force behind ground breaking live skating tours and more than 30 television specials, winning an Emmy for outstanding choreography and two Gemini’s as a producer. She has also served as a figure skating analyst for NBC for more than 20 years.

Widely considered one of the premier figure skaters of all time, Dick Button steps into his role as judge on BATTLE OF THE BLADES armed with his signature tough, but thoughtful, commentary. During a seven year period he dominated the sport like no other, winning two Olympic gold medals (1948, 1952), five consecutive World Championships (1948-52) and seven U.S. National titles. Button’s career as a figure skating analyst is equally remarkable and has earned him legendary status. He made his television debut with CBS at the 1960 Olympic Winter Games. In 1981 Button became the first winner of an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Sports Personality – Analyst.” Button is a member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame and Olympic Hall of Fame.

Internationally renowned choreographers for the cast of BATTLE OF THE BLADES include: Renee Roca a three-time U.S. Champion ice dancer and respected choreographer who’s worked with Olympic Champions, Skating With Celebrities and Katarina Witt’s German production of Stars Auf Eis ; former U.S. National Ice Dance Champion, three-time World Bronze dance medallist and Emmy Award-winning Michael Seibert; Torontonian David Wilson who is widely sought after choreographer by Olympic and World competitors; and Evgeny Platov, who is a two-time Olympic Champion and four-time World Ice Dance Champion skating first for the U.S.S.R, then for the Unified Team and Russia.

The coaches include former Olympians; Doug Ladret who along with his skating partner, Christine Hough-Sweeney, was a Canadian Pair Champion and World and Olympic team member; Patrice Lauzon, a five-time Canadian Ice Dance Champion and two-time World Silver medallist with his partner and now wife, Marie-France Dubreuil; Paul Martini, Canadian Sports Hall of Famer and seven-time World Professional Skating Champion with partner Barbara Underhill; Olympic and World Champion David Pelletier who with his partner Jamie Salé were recently inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame; rounding out the coaches are Rockey Marval, married to Brasseur and former U.S. National Champion and lastly, Sean Rice, who with his wife/partner Jodeyne Higgins has performed around the world.

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

Finally, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia has a documentary on the old Spectrum. And thanks to the great people at CSN Philly for sending Fang’s Bites this release.

COMCAST SPORTSNET TO AIR SPECIALLY PRODUCED ONE-HOUR DOCUMENTARY ON THE SPECTRUM: “BUILDING A MEMORY” TO DEBUT ON OCTOBER 5

Philadelphia, PA (September 29, 2009) – Comcast SportsNet, the leader in regional sports, celebrates the history of the Spectrum, the legendary arena slated to close at the end of October, with “Building A Memory.” The hour-long documentary is the result of over 200 hours of interviews and is told by the people that called the Spectrum home. “Building A Memory” will debut on Comcast SportsNet on Monday, October 5 at 9 p.m.

When Comcast-Spectacor Chairman Ed Snider declared, “This will be the final year of the Spectrum,” Comcast SportsNet immediately began culling through file footage to document the 42-year history of the Spectrum and compiling a “must interview” list.

Some of the memorable names interviewed for “Building A Memory” include Snider, former Flyers players Bob Clarke, Bernie Parent, Tim Kerr, and General Manager Keith Allen; former 76ers Charles Barkley, Julius Erving, and Gerald Henderson; college basketball legends Mike Krzyzweski, and Christian Laettner; plus music promoter Larry Magid and entertainer Billy Joel.

“Building A Memory” was produced by Comcast SportsNet’s Emmy-Award winning Executive Producer Brad Nau. According to Nau, “The story is told by the people involved – the performers, the athletes, the fans, and the employees – who share their thoughts about the Spectrum.”

“The Spectrum is a very special place for so many millions of people,” said Snider. “’Building A Memory’ highlights the great events, the terrific people and the wonderful memories that the Spectrum created for me and everyone who has ever attended an event there over the past 42 years. I’d also like to commend Brad Nau who gave so tirelessly of his time to produce this great show.”

The Spectrum opened on September 30, 1967, with the Quaker City Jazz Festival. After nearly 40 seasons of Philadelphia Flyers hockey and Philadelphia 76ers basketball, the Spectrum gave way to the Wachovia Center in l996. The two teams moved to their new home, paving the way for a minor league hockey team, the Philadelphia Phantoms, and a new indoor soccer team, the Philadelphia Kixx, to call the Spectrum “home.”

Pearl Jam will have the distinction of being the final act to play the Spectrum when they perform four shows at the end of October as part of the Final Farewell Concert Series at the Spectrum. In addition to Pearl Jam’s final four shows at the Spectrum, the Final Farewell Concert Series also features Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Maxwell, Leonard Cohen, and Daryl Hall and John Oates performing with Todd Rundgren and the Hooters.

“Building A Memory” will air on Comcast SportsNet on Monday, October 5 at 9 p.m.; Wednesday, October 7 at 9 p.m.; Friday, October 9 at 4 p.m.; Tuesday, October 13 at 9 p.m.; and Thursday, October 15 at 4 p.m. The program will also air on The Comcast Network on Monday, October 12 at 10:30 p.m.; Tuesday, October 13 at 7 p.m.; Thursday, October 15 at 10 p.m.; and Wednesday, October 21 at 10 p.m.

And that’s it for now.

Some Football Press Releases For You

I’m up late. I have a presentation to give on Wednesday and I need to clear these releases out from the Fang’s Bites inbox as I won’t be able to provide links. This will involve both pro and college football, so let’s go.

From NFL Network, this is quotage from “The Head Coaches”. I’ve yet to see this show. You know the issue I have with not having a TV right now. One of these days, I’ll see it.

Quotable from Week 3 Edition of The Head Coaches on NFL Network

(Airs Mondays at 6:30 PM ET with replays at 8:30 and 10:00 PM ET)

Special Guest Interview: Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress with Martz and Mariucci:

“He’s an equal-opportunity thrower. If you’re open, he’s going to throw it to you.” – Brad Childress on Vikings QB Brett Favre

“It’s just a tremendous rivalry. I’m happy to have them in our backyard.” – Brad Childress on the Vikings upcoming game vs. Green Bay

Quick Quotes:

“They are covered for the present time and they are certainly covered for the future.” – Steve Mariucci on the Philadelphia Eagles depth at quarterback

“We finally have to all agree that Andy Reid knows what he’s doing with quarterbacks.” – Mike Martz on the Philadelphia Eagles developing quarterbacks

“Jim has spent all this time as the quarterbacks coach, the play caller and the head coach…He needs to get back to being the head coach and the assistants have to pick up some of the slack with the passing game.” – Mike Martz on Redskins head coach Jim Zorn

“I don’t know what their identity is on offense. They’re a little bit of this, little of that, but I don’t know where they are headed. It’s a pretty solid team, but they’re all over the map.” – Steve Mariucci on the Miami Dolphins

“With Joe Flacco right now, they can strike from anywhere on the field and that’s scary with a defense and a running game like they have.” – Mike Martz on the Baltimore Ravens

“The poise, execution and wherewithal of this kid is unbelievable.” – Steve Mariucci on Jets QB Mark Sanchez

“In my mind, [the questioning] was uncalled for. I thought he did a terrific job handling it and moving through it.” – Mike Martz on Bills WR Terrell Owens postgame press conference

“That line of questioning bordered on being extremely unprofessional. They were badgering the witness and I think he handled it very well.” – Steve Mariucci on Bills WR Terrell Owens’ postgame press conference

“It’s not about getting them the ball for the streak, but it’s about getting those good players the ball to be productive for you.” – Steve Mariucci on getting wide receivers involved in the game

“Elite players are like that. They want to get in the game and make a play.” – Mike Martz on getting players involved in the game

*** Additional exclusive video clips from Monday’s The Head Coaches are available on NFL.com. These videos include:

- The NFL Head Coaches talk about Jim Zorn and the early struggles of the Washington Redskins

http://www.nfl.com/videos/washington-redskins/09000d5d812fef53/Zorn-on-the-hot-seat

- ‘What They Said, What They Meant’ – The coaches take a look at Terrell Owens’ press conference and decipher what he meant

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d812ff14d/What-they-said-what-they-meant

- The coaches discuss what the Philadelphia Eagles should do at the quarterback position

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d812fec39/Eagles-QB-conundrum

- And many more Week 3 game highlights and postgame video only on NFL.com.

Moving to CBS Sports which previews a feature on this Sunday’s NFL Today program.

“THE NFL TODAY’S” DAN MARINO SITS DOWN WITH NEW ORLEANS QUARTERBACK DREW BREES IN PREVIEW OF

JETS-SAINTS GAME FOR WEEK 4 OF “THE NFL TODAY” ON SUNDAY, OCT. 4

THE NFL ON CBS, home of Super Bowl XLIV and broadcasting its Golden Anniversary 50^th year of the NFL, continues its 2009 NFL season on Sunday, Oct. 4 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET).

THE NFL TODAY’s Dan Marino visits with New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees to talk about his season so far, his team’s 3-0 start and his off-the-field charity work in New Orleans. This season Brees has thrown for nine touchdowns and is on pace for 48, which puts him just shy of Tom Brady’s record of 50. Last year Brees threw for 5,069 yards, just 15 yards shy of tying Marino’s record of 5,084 yards in 1984. Jeff St. Arromand is the producer.

James Brown hosts THE NFL TODAY along with analysts Marino, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Bill Cowher, NFL TODAY “General Manager” Charley Casserly, as well as Lesley Visser and Sam Ryan reporting.

Eric Mann is senior producer and Bob Matina is director of THE NFL TODAY.

Sean McManus is President, CBS News and Sports, and serves as the executive producer for the Network’s coverage of the NFL. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

To Sirius XM Radio which will have a three part interview series with NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown.

LEGENDARY NFL GREAT JIM BROWN SITS DOWN WITH SIRIUS XM HOST JOE MADISON FOR EXTRAORDINARY INTERVIEW SERIES

Madison Tackles Brown: The Athlete, Activist and Actor

A revealing and powerful look at the life and times of the iconic figure

NEW YORK – September 29, 2009 – SIRIUS XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) announced that it will broadcast an exclusive series of hard hitting, no-holds barred interviews with Hall of Fame running back, activist and actor Jim Brown conducted by award-winning SIRIUS XM Radio host Joe Madison. The Madison-Brown interview specials will air across multiple SIRIUS XM channels in three hour-long installments, featuring in-depth discussions on sports; race, politics and activism; and Hollywood and celebrity.

Madison’s insightful interviews provide an intimate portrait of the man whose legendary career, influence and impact on American culture is multi-faceted. With unflinching candor, Brown reflects on his extraordinary life experiences, the lessons he’s learned, and how he applies them to his life today.

“Jim Brown is one of the most fascinating figures of our times, and his amazing accomplishments on and off the field broke new ground at every turn and have left an indelible mark on our culture,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SIRIUS XM Radio. “Many people think they know the ‘Jim Brown story’ but until now, the whole story has not been told. With this satellite radio broadcast event, Joe Madison connects SIRIUS XM’s millions of listeners across the country with the complete Jim Brown.”

The first interview, “The Athlete,” will air October 2 at 8:00 am ET on The Power, XM channel 169, and at 11:00 am ET on SIRIUS XM Stars, SIRIUS channel 102 and XM channel 155. It will replay October 3 at 6:00 pm ET on The Power. “The Athlete” focuses on Brown’s storied years in the NFL as a Hall of Fame running back with the Cleveland Browns. At the height of his career Brown was the highest paid player in the NFL, earning $85,000 a year. He was also the first NFL player to have an agent. Brown reflects on his experience in professional sports and offers advice for the next generation of young star athletes on how to deal with newfound fame, wealth and success. He also offers insight on players’ relationships with their coaches.

The second installment, “The Activist,” focuses on race, politics and activism, and will air October 9 at 8:00 am ET on The Power, XM channel 169, and at 11:00 am ET on SIRIUS XM Stars, SIRIUS channel 102 and XM channel 155. It will replay October 10 at 6:00 pm ET on The Power. The drive that fueled Brown on the football field carried over to his role as community activist. For many years Brown has worked with black communities across the country, helping to eradicate violence and emphasizing the importance and power of education. As part of this mission, Brown also visits prisons to speak to inmates, and works with gang leaders in cities large and small. Through Amer-I-Can, Brown’s non-profit organization created to offer social support and services to underserved populations and cities, he acts as a mentor and helps millions of young men and women across the country achieve success and self-confidence.

The third and final hour of Madison and Brown’s in-depth conversation, “The Actor,” will air October 16 at 8:00 am ET on The Power, XM channel 169, and at 11:00 am ET on SIRIUS XM Stars, SIRIUS channel 102 and XM channel 155. It will replay October 17 at 6:00 pm ET on The Power. “The Actor” explores Brown’s transition from star athlete to Hollywood box office champ. Brown reveals what it was like to be black in 1960s and 1970s Hollywood; the role race played in the parts he was offered and the parts he sought; why “The Dirty Dozen” is his favorite of his movies; his on-and off-screen relationship with Raquel Welch; his friendship and partnership with comedian Richard Pryor, and how that disintegrated because of Pryor’s drug addiction; his days managing Earth, Wind & Fire; and more.

Joe Madison, also known as “The Black Eagle,” is recognized as a human and civil rights activist, abolitionist against slavery in Africa, television commentator, columnist, lecturer, labor and corporate spokesman, musician, and athlete. He is the former executive director of the Detroit NAACP and was later appointed director of the national NAACP political action department. Joe Madison’s daily, call-in show airs from 6:00 – 10:00 am ET on The Power, XM channel 169. Madison has been named one of Talker Magazine’s “100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts” nine times.

For more information visit www.sirius.com and www.xmradio.com.

We turn to the college football ranks. Here are news, notes and quotes from CBS College Sports’ Tony Barnhart Show.

NEWS, NOTES AND QUOTES FROM

“THE TONY BARNHART SHOW” ON CBS COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK

POLITICAL STRATEGIST JAMES CARVILLE AND

GEORGIA HEAD COACH MARK RICHT JOINED AS GUESTS

CBS COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK’s THE TONY BARNHART SHOW, a new weekly one-hour primetime college football talk show, features political strategist and LSU fan James Carville, University of Georgia head coach Mark Richt and CBSSports.com columnist Mike Freeman on Tuesday, Sept 29 (9:00 PM, ET).

“Mr. College Football,” Tony Barnhart hosts the show along with Brian Jones. The hard-hitting program debates and analyzes the hot topics and issues facing college football both on and off-the-field. This week, Barnhart and Jones look at the “glass ceiling” as it relates to Boise State. Can an undefeated non-BCS school make it to the national championship game? In addition, the show examines the latest news on Tim Tebow’s concussion.

The TONY BARNHART SHOW will air each Tuesday throughout the college football season at 9:00 PM, ET. Mike Aresco serves as Executive Producer. Tyler Hale and Stefan Van Engen produce.

* * * * *

(JAMES CARVILLE ON BCS):

Of course I’m a playoff guy. If you want to know just how stupid this whole system is, the Coaches Poll has Penn State ranked above Iowa. This is the beautiful one, they have Cal ranked higher then Oregon. Last week they had BYU ranked higher then Florida State. How can anyone with a straight face defend the poll? Oregon beat Cal 42-3. I think I know who the better football team is…They have got to turn this thing around. And they can do it within the existing bowl structure. If it was up to me, every team would play nothing but conference games, and then have the conference champions tee it up and have all the bowl games be intersectional games…This system is no good. I pull against it every time. I hope there are three undefeated teams in the country, and I hope it’s just a big mess. That’s the one thing I pull for more than anything in college football, that the BCS just turns into a big, rotten mess.

(BARNHART ON ALABAMA): Right now based on what I have seen on the field, I think Alabama is the best team in the country, they have everything you need. Great defense, they lost a great player in Dont’a Hightower, but they had a kid like Trent Richardson who can run, they have a super super defense. I think they have all the elements you need to win a national championship. I don’t see any weaknesses on this Alabama team.

(BARNHART ON BOISE STATE): This is not going to make my friend Karl Benson, the WAC Commissioner, very happy. There is a glass ceiling for Boise State and they’ve just about reached it. And no, an undefeated Boise is not going to go to the BCS Championship ahead of a one-loss Champion of the SEC, Big 12 or Pac-10….I’ll admit, it’s not Boise State’s fault, the only thing that Boise can control is its non-conference schedule and it’s difficult, if not impossible to put together a strong non-conference schedule because very few teams from the big six conferences will come to Boise. It’s not fair, I’ll give you that, but at the end of the day you have to play the schedule in front of you, and that schedule is not going to put Boise into the BCS game ahead of one of the big boys.

(MIKE FREEMAN ON BOISE STATE): The Pac-10 is very overrated, it’s extremely overrated. There is one good team in the Pac-10. The second best team in the Pac-10 just got whooped. So why cant Boise State go in and beat one of those teams or play against one of those teams? This whole thing just smacks of old school politics.

Finally, we get a preview of SEC Gridiron Live on Fox Sports Net’s Southern affiliates.

THE SEC ON FOX SPORTS SOUTH – WEEK FIVE

SEC Gridiron LIVE Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on FOX Sports South

Charles Davis, Randy Cross, David Pollack and Cassidy Hubbarth Offer Previews & Picks

Southeastern Conference football coverage on FOX Sports South continues this week with SEC Gridiron LIVE presented by O’Charley’s, Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET. Hosted by Charles Davis with analysts Randy Cross and David Pollack and social media reporter Cassidy Hubbarth, SEC Gridiron LIVE offers previews and picks of all seven SEC games, as well as a special mic’d up feature on controversial University of Tennessee Head Coach Lane Kiffin. The crew counts down the Top 5 running backs they would pay to see and debates hot topics including why Auburn isn’t ranked and why Tim Tebow was playing in the Gators’ game against Kentucky when he was injured. Throughout the show, fans will have the opportunity to interact and debate with each other and the team of in-studio experts via Twitter, Facebook and email.

Live SEC football returns to FOX Sports South on Saturday, October 10 for a showdown between Kentucky and South Carolina at 12:30 p.m. ET.

SEC football is distributed to more than 24 million cable and satellite households on the FSN regional networks throughout the SEC territory – FOX Sports South, Sun Sports, FOX Sports Houston and FOX Sports Southwest.

That’s it for this post. Another press release post is coming up.

Hockey Night in Canada is Back with A Vengeance

For NHL fans, opening weekend is almost here. Plenty of games to watch Thursday, Friday and Saturday which is good for hockey fans like me. Unfortunately, DirecTV and Versus have not resolved their dispute and I still don’t have a TV, but that’s besides the point. Here’s CBC Sports’ announcement about Hockey Night in Canada’s opening weekend.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA OPENING WEEKEND FEATURES ALL SIX CANADIAN TEAMS

CBC opens the season with an all-Canadian NHL doubleheader on Thursday, Oct. 1, and a full Saturday of hockey on Oct. 3

CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada’s 57^th regular season season gets in full swing on Thursday, Oct. 1, with a special all-Canadian doubleheader starting with Hockey Tonight, at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Leafs and Canadiens, and then the Canucks and Flames, at 10 p.m. ET. Also on Thursday night, CBCSports.ca will feature live coverage from Colorado as the Avalanche honour recently retired captain Joe Sakic by raising his number 19 to the rafters.

CBC kicks off a huge slate of hockey on Saturday, Oct. 3 with live coverage of 2009 NHL Premiere on CBC from Stockholm, Sweden, featuring the Detroit Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues, at 3 p.m. ET. Evening coverage begins with Hockey Tonight, at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by four more big matchups: Toronto at Washington (full network less Quebec and Ottawa), Montreal at Buffalo (Quebec region) and Ottawa at NY Rangers (Ottawa region), all at 7 p.m. ET, and Calgary taking on Edmonton, at 10 p.m. ET (full network). All broadcasts will be available live and on-demand at CBCSports.ca.

CBCSports.ca also features Punjabi-language broadcasts with Parminder Singh handling play-by-play duties and Harnarayan Singh providing analysis. Punjabi-language broadcasts will also be available to Bell TV subscribers on channel 249, and Rogers Cable subscribers on channel 385. Punjabi-language broadcasts will begin on Saturday, Oct. 3 with Toronto at Washington and Calgary at Edmonton.

Hockey fans can visit CBCSports.ca 24 hours a day, seven days a week for live and on-demand video streaming of all games, CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada Online Desk hosted by Scott Morrison and Jeff Marek, as well as comprehensive NHL coverage, including weekly columns and insider Twitter updates from CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA personalities, breaking news, in-depth reports, broadcast schedules and more.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA SCHEDULE

All broadcasts available live on CBCSports.ca

Subject to Change

Thursday, October 1, 7 p.m. ET – Hockey Tonight
Thursday, October 1, 7:15 p.m. ET – Montreal at Toronto (full net)
Thursday, October 1, 8:45 p.m. ET - Joe Sakic Retirement Ceremony (on CBCSports.ca)
Thursday, October 1, 10 p.m. ET – Vancouver at Calgary (full net)

Saturday, October 3, 3 p.m. ET – St. Louis at Detroit (from Stockholm, Sweden)
Saturday, October 3, 6:30 p.m. ET – Hockey Tonight
Saturday, October 3, 7 p.m. ET – Toronto at Washington (full net less Quebec, Ottawa – also available in Punjabi)
Saturday, October 3, 7 p.m. ET – Montreal at Buffalo (Quebec region)
Saturday, October 3, 7 p.m. ET – Ottawa at New York Rangers (Ottawa region)
Saturday, October 3, 10 p.m. ET – Calgary at Edmonton (full net – also available in Punjabi)
followed by HNIC: After Hours

And Saturday’s games will be seen in the US on NHL Network which is very good.

Despite Increased Competition, Sunday Night Football Wins The Night

NBC Sports saw heavier competition on Sunday due to the season premieres of The Amazing Race on CBS and Desperate Housewives on ABC plus a less than marquee matchup between Indianapolis and Arizona along with a blowout, but still managed to win the ratings. Here’s a release from NBC.

"SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" #1 SHOW OF SUNDAY NIGHT FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE WEEK

Colts-Cardinals Blowout Beats Network Premieres Across All Metrics

SNF #1 For Week in Key Demos

NEW YORK -- Sept. 29, 2009 -- NBC's "Sunday Night Football" was the No. 1 broadcast on Sunday night for the third consecutive week and the No. 1 show of the week in the key advertising demos, including Adults 18-49.  "SNF" won the night on a night that included season premieres of ABC's Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters, CBS's Amazing Race and Fox's Simpsons, Family Guy and the debut of The Cleveland Show.  

"Sunday Night Football" featuring the Indianapolis Colts 31-10 blowout of the Arizona Cardinals, pulled in 17.5 million viewers (from 8:31-11:13 p.m. ET) and had a national household rating of 10.7 and a 17 share, easily winning the night across those metrics as well as in the key advertiser demos of Adults 18-34, 18-49, 25-54 and Men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.

DOMINATES PRIMETIME AGAIN: The SNF game once again propelled NBC to a convincing primetime win on Sunday night with a margin of victory over the No. 2 network, Fox, by 71 percent in adults 18-49 and over the No. 2 network in total viewers, CBS, by 28 percent.  
 
"SNF" DEFEATS "DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES": "Sunday Night Football" beat the much-anticipated season premiere of ABC's "Desperate Housewives" head-to-head by 40 percent (19.0 million viewers to 13.6 million from 9-10 p.m. ET).   

SNF WINS WEEK IN KEY DEMOS: The Colts-Cardinals game topped the weekly primetime rankings in the key demographic of adults 18-49 and also ranked No. 1 for the week among all primetime programs in adults 25-54, men 18-49 and men 25-54.  In total viewers, "SNF" ranked #4 among all telecasts this week. 

The Colts-Cardinals 31-10 blowout is down 20 percent (17.5 million to 22.2 million) from last year's Week 3 Dallas Cowboys-Green Bay Packers match-up. That game, that "America's Team" won 27-16, did not air against the season premieres on other networks.

Compared to last week which not only was heavily hyped thanks to the opening of Cowboys Stadium and the Giants-Cowboys game that was close to the end, last Sunday’s game did not have the juice as last week, but still managed to win the ratings.

Some Tuesday Links

I’ll give you some linkage today. Been busy with paperwork and getting ready for the end of the month/beginning of the month stuff so that took my time today.

We begin with Michael McCarthy of USA Today who has the some of the names who will show some skin in ESPN The Magazine’s now highly anticipated “Body Issue.”

Sean Leahy of USA Today’s The Huddle blog has Buffalo Bills WR Terrell Owens blaming the media for trying to goad him into saying something controversial after Sunday’s game against the Saints.

Another link from the Nation’s Newspaper, Michael Hiestand has a look at the ratings from some of this past weekend’s events.

In the Sporting News, Dan Levy of On The DL writes about his experience watching NFL Network’s RedZone.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell discusses a new trading card deal for Kobe Bryant.

The always lovely Daryn Kagan talks about the NFL going pink this weekend to raise awareness for breast cancer.

Evan Weiner tells us why September 30, 1961 is the most important day in the NFL’s TV history.

Amanda Bruno from Batter-up with Bruno looks into the suddenly growing number of sports news sites fighting for Boston’s attention.

Jackie Majerus of the Bristol (CT) Press writes about Usain Bolt’s visit to ESPN and promptly winning a race against several employees. Like he was going to lose.

In the New York Times, Richard Sandomir talks with ESPN’s Bill Simmons about the network’s new “30 for 30″ documentary project.

Richard writes that on Sunday when five New York teams played simultaneously, it was the Jets that won the ratings battle.

Newsday’s Neil Best column has a potpourri of topics including locker room champagne spraying, the Jets being ratings kings and NBC’s Rodney Harrison.

Neil has highlights of an ESPN media conference call involving new/old Baseball Tonight analyst Bobby Valentine.

The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman also writes about Valentine’s return to ESPN after six years managing in Japan.

Writing for New York Sportsbeat, Jerry Barmash talks with WFAN update anchor Harris Allen.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union writes that the Oakland Raiders attempted to ban its former QB and current CBS NFL analyst Rich Gannon from a pregame meeting last week.

Laura Nachman says Philadelphia Eagles WR DeSean Jackson will get his own local radio show.

And Laura writes that CBS’ James Brown will be in Philly this week for a book signing.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call says Jets coach Rex Ryan has become a darling of the NFL broadcast partners.

Dave Shenin of the Washington Post says Bobby Valentine’s return to ESPN will lead to speculation about him filling MLB manager openings next season.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News takes a look at the ratings of five of New York sports teams on Sunday and is also beginning his whimsical war with Newsday’s Neil Best again.

Barry says the overnight ratings for last night’s Panthers-Cowboys game were very good in the Metroplex.

Mede Nix of the Morning News notes that ESPN’s Monday Night Football crew noted the lack of vital information on the Cowboys Stadium huge video screen.

And Mede says the mayor of Arlington, TX is happy with ESPN correctly identifying the location of Cowboys Stadium.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle says Saturday’s Texas Tech-Houston game did well in the local ratings.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that the Steelers-Bengals game cleaned up in the Queen’s City on Sunday.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business talks with Blackhawks President John McDonough on why he agreed to have the team start the NHL regular season in Finland.

Jerry McDonald of the Contra Costa Times has Rich Gannon’s response to the Raiders’ attempts to ban him from CBS’ broadcast of the Broncos-Oakland game. McDonald is clearly writing with tongue-in-cheek.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star is amazed at how exhibition hockey topped the ratings in Canada over the weekend.

Steve Lepore of Puck The Media has the five things he’d like the NHL TV partners to adopt this season.

Maury Brown in the Biz of Hockey says while ESPN may ignore the NHL in the US, it’ll provide plenty of coverage on its channels in the UK.

Now some links to the Sports Media Watch.

First, CBS saw a ratings drop for its NFL doubleheader on Sunday.

However, Fox had a ratings spike for its regional NFL coverage.

ABC got a nice ratings boost for its college football coverage.

But NASCAR on ABC continues to slide.

And the Tour Championship on NBC with Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods in contention rode a nice ratings wave.

Joe Favorito wonders if 24/7 high school sports coverage is a good thing.

Chris Byrne of Eye on Sports Media says in a roundabout way, CBS got a good matchup in LSU-Georgia for Saturday.

And we conclude with the latest edition of the Five from Kristine Leahy of WEEI.com.

That’s going to do it for now.

NHL on Versus Returns Thursday with Charissa Thompson!!!!

With or without DirecTV and it appears it will be without DirecTV on Thursday, the NHL on Versus returns for its fifth season. And there will be a new addition to the network, Fang’s Bites fave Charissa Thompson who has been quite busy over the last few months having been on “Shaq Vs.” as well as the Big Ten Network. Now, we get the announcement that she’ll be the rinkside reporter for Versus. In fact, Charissa hinted earlier this month that she would be working for Versus in her blog on her website.

i was in new york this past week doing a bunch of media stuff for the nhl. i will be covering hockey this year. really looking forward to it. fox doesnt have a hockey package at the network level so i have never covered it before and looking forward to the challenge of a new sport.

We look forward to seeing Charissa when and if DirecTV gets its act in gear and brings Versus back to its lineup. In the meantime, I give you the Versus press release touting its opening week coverage. I’ve put the most important part of the release in bold and italics.

NHL ACTION RETURNS TO VERSUS ON THURSDAY WITH OPENING NIGHT DOUBLE-HEADER

VERSUS Launches Season with Additional Online Offerings, Hockey Central Enhancements and New Rinkside Reporter

NEW YORK, N.Y. (September 29, 2009)-VERSUS, the exclusive cable television home of the National Hockey League (NHL), kicks off its fifth year of NHL coverage on Thurs., Oct. 1, with a must-see night of hockey featuring three of the best teams during last year's regular season. Opening night will also showcase NHL superstar Alexander Ovechkin's season debut and the Colorado Avalanche honoring 20-year NHL veteran Joe Sakic by retiring his jersey. The double-header begins with a clash between Eastern Conference titans when the Washington Capitals visit the Boston Bruins at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Avalanche hosting the San Jose Sharks at 10 p.m. ET.

As the fastest growing cable sports network in the country and on the heels of the most-watched September in network history, VERSUS continues its first week of NHL coverage on Friday, Oct. 2, with an overseas double-header featuring the Florida Panthers and Chicago Blackhawks at 12 p.m. ET from Helsinki, Finland, followed by a Central Division battle between the St. Louis Blues and Detroit Red Wings at 3 p.m. ET from Stockholm, Sweden. 

Joe Beninati, Andy Brickley and new rinkside reporter Charissa Thompson will serve as the in-arena team in Boston, while Mike "Doc" Emrick, Eddie Olczyk and Bob Harwood will be on-site in Colorado for opening night. On Oct. 2, Dave Strader and Billy Jaffe will call the action for the Helsinki game and Rick Peckham and Darren Eliot will provide commentary for the contest in Stockholm.  

VERSUS.com, which saw video views grow more than 140 percent during the 2008-09 NHL season, has been revamped to increase its comprehensive offerings to viewers. This season, team pages will include up-to-date statistical information for all NHL teams, a blog called "The Daily Drop" which will provide a daily update on what is happening in and around the NHL, interactive games and a new video feature titled "Rookie Diaries" which will spotlight the league's top draft picks for this year's regular season. The site will continue to include editorial coverage from some of the most knowledgeable hockey sources in the industry, exclusive videos and interviews as well as game highlights.

This season, VERSUS' dedicated studio show Hockey Central, hosted by Bill Patrick with analysts Brian Engblom and Keith Jones, will feature high-profile guest analysts on select game telecasts for the first time. Details about guests will be announced when information becomes available, but may include former players and/or coaches. Hockey Central provides extensive insight and commentary of the sport and features regular segments, including highlights from games around the league; Plays of the Week; a telestrator segment in which Engblom breaks down and discusses the night's top plays; Parting Shots, where Engblom and Jones debate hockey's hottest topics in rapid fire fashion; Live-Look-Ins wherever possible, bringing viewers live action from games being played concurrently during VERSUS' telecast; and features on NHL players away from the ice.  

In addition to the VERSUS.com and Hockey Central enhancements, the network has added Charissa Thompson to the NHL on VERSUS talent roster. Thompson will serve as a rinkside reporter, providing in-game updates and on-the-bench interviews. Most recently, Thompson was a correspondent for the Best Damn Sport Show Period and served as the sideline reporter for the Big Ten Network's Saturday game of the week.  
 
Coming off the highest-rated regular season in network history and the most-watched playoffs on cable since 2002, VERSUS is heading into its coverage of 2009/10 NHL regular season with tremendous momentum. Last year VERSUS saw regular season viewership jump more than 20 percent and viewership for the playoffs increase 27 percent as compared to the year prior. Games 3 and 4 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final were the most-watched Final round on cable since 2002 and VERSUS' coverage of the Conference Semifinal and Conference Final rounds were the highest-rated on cable in more than a decade.  
 
VERSUS' regular season schedule highlights some of the most exciting games this year with the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings appearing nine times on VERSUS and the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins all making eight appearances. The Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres and Minnesota Wild will each appear seven times this season. In total VERSUS will televise 54 regular season games, wall-to-wall Stanley Cup Playoff action and Games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. All of the network's regular-season games are exclusive and VERSUS' regular-season schedule features a Game of the Week wherein VERSUS will be the only place on television to watch an NHL game in the U.S. at that time. Due to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, an All-Star Game will not take place this season.  Every NHL game on VERSUS is available in HD and the network's complete schedule is available at VERSUS.com.  

I’ll have to find a way to watch Versus’ coverage this week as Comcast and DirecTV have yet to come to a carriage agreement.

Bobby Valentine Returns to TV

After six years removed from his last stint on ESPN, former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine returns to the Alleged Worldwide Leader in time for the MLB postseason. He’ll be on Baseball Tonight and this time, it appears Bobby V. will be with ESPN for quite some time as he’ll contribute to ESPN’s New York website when it launches next year and do some work for ESPN Radio in New York. As ESPN likes to say, he’ll appear on multiple platforms for the network. Check out the release:

Bobby Valentine Returns to ESPN as Baseball Tonight Analyst

Regular Contributor to ESPNNewYork.com and 1050 ESPN Radio in New York

Former manager Bobby Valentine will return to ESPN as a Baseball Tonight analyst. Valentine, who most recently managed the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan’s Pacific League, will make his season debut during the 2009 League Championship Series and World Series. Valentine previously worked for ESPN in 2003.

Valentine, who led the New York Mets to the World Series in 2000, will assume a larger role throughout the 2010 season including frequent appearances on Baseball Tonight and contributions to ESPNNewYork.com, the local sports site launching in 2010, and 1050 ESPN Radio in New York. He will also provide analysis for Division Series games on ESPN Radio next season.

“Bobby’s global knowledge of the game and dynamic personality make him a great addition to our baseball franchise,” said Norby Williamson, executive vice president, production. “We’re thrilled to welcome him back to ESPN.”

“I’ve had a remarkable experience in Japan the last six years, and I’m excited about returning to ESPN,” said Bobby Valentine. “I’ve been following Major League Baseball closely from afar, and look forward to delving back into those conversations across the company’s multimedia platforms.”

Valentine managed the Chiba Lotte Marines from 2004-09, leading them to a Japan Series victory in 2005, the team’s first championship since 1974. Prior to working with ESPN in 2003, he managed the New York Mets from 1996 -2002. Valentine guided the Mets to the postseason in consecutive years for the first time in club history in 1999 and 2000. In 1999, he was honored as Manager of the Year by the New York Athletic Club. As manager of the Texas Rangers (1985-1992), Valentine won more games than any other manager in team history.

Valentine played 10 seasons of Major League Baseball (Los Angeles Dodgers, 1969, 1971-72; California Angels, 1973-75; San Diego Padres, 1975-77; New York Mets, 1977-78; and Seattle Mariners, 1979). A high school star in baseball and football, Valentine was voted as the eighth best athlete of the 20^th century from Connecticut in a poll by Sports Illustrated.

Off the field, Valentine has been recognized for his contributions to the community. He was presented with the Good Guy Award by the New York Press Photographers Association and by the New Jersey sportswriters in 1998; he received the same award from the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association in 2001. Valentine received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation in 2001 and the Joan Payson Award for humanitarian services in 2002.

Valentine has been in the restaurant business for 29 years owning “Bobby Valentine’s Sports Gallery Café” in Stamford, Conn., and Arlington, Tex. He is also an accomplished ballroom dancer.

Valentine and his wife, Mary, the daughter of former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca, reside in Connecticut.

Accomplished ballroom dancer? Why would ESPN put that in the release? Does that mean he’ll be on Dancing with the Stars next season? Later.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

MLB

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

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

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

UEFA Champions League
Rangers FC vs. Sevila FC – Fox Soccer Channel, 2:30 p.m.
Olympiacos vs. Arsenal – FSN, 2:30 p.m.
Fiorentina vs. Liverpool – Setanta Sports, 2:40 p.m.
Barcelona vs. Dynamo Kiev – Setanta Sports, 5 p.m. (same day coverage)

Entertainment
The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, The Empire of Grandeur (1915-1919) – PBS, 8 p.m.
NCIS – CBS, 8 p.m
NCIS: Los Angeles – CBS, 9 p.m.
Sons of Anarchy – FX, 10 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman – CBS, 11:35 p.m.

General Sports TV Press Releases

Let’s finish our press releases with a mishmash of subjects. Lots of stuff to post and they all don’t fit under one particular theme.

As we get closer to the start of the NHL season, ESPN tells us that analysts Barry Melrose and Matthew Barnaby will return to talk puck on SportsCenter.

Barry Melrose & Matthew Barnaby Return for NHL Season

ESPN NHL analysts Barry Melrose and Matthew Barnaby return to the air of ESPN studio programming Wednesday, Sept. 30, the night before the opening puck drop, to provide a preview of the 2009-10 season.

Throughout the regular season, Melrose, in his 14th year with ESPN, will offer insight and analysis every Tuesday and team up with Barnaby every Wednesday. Then Barnaby, entering his second season with ESPN, will appear solo on Thursdays. The analysts will review and preview games and talk X’s and O’s on SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, ESPN.com and other platforms.

Barnaby and Melrose selected teams to watch and made their preseason Stanley Cup predictions:

Teams to watch

Melrose: “The usual suspects, such as Washington and Pittsburgh, will be good, but Philadelphia has really changed by adding Chris Pronger.”

Barnaby: “Washington and the New York Rangers are the teams to look for this season. The Rangers have added help on the power play with Marian Gaborik and Vinny Prospal.”

Stanley Cup predictions

Melrose: “I am picking Chicago vs. Philadelphia.”

Barnaby: “I think in the Finals we will see San Jose vs. Washington.”

ESPN.com says its popular web series, Mayne Street returns next month.

Keibler, Kimmel among Guest Stars on New Mayne Street Webisodes on ESPN.com

ESPN.com’s original scripted series Mayne Street returns with six new webisodes Tuesdays at 9 a.m. starting Oct. 13. On Mayne Street, Mayne stars as himself in a fictionalized version of life at a sports television network. His reoccurring foils revolve largely around his fictional production crew, as well as other ESPN personalities. The new webisodes feature guest stars Stacey Keibler, Jimmy Kimmel, Bill Simmons and Ben Stiller.

Showtime announces that Fox Sports’ Curt Menafee will host and call its ShoBox: The Next Generation series while regular host Nick Charles recovers from cancer.

NFL STUDIO HOST CURT MENEFEE TO JOIN

SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION ANNOUNCE TEAM

___________________________________________________________________________________

The Versatile Veteran Sportscaster To Sub For Nick Charles

Beginning With Live ShoBox Telecast, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009

NEW YORK (Sept. 28, 2009)–Veteran sportscaster Curt Menefee will join the ShoBox: The New Generation announce team, substituting for Nick Charles, the perennial host and play-by-play announcer who is currently battling bladder cancer.

Menefee will anchor the remaining ShoBox telecasts in 2009, joining color analyst Steve Farhood, beginning Friday, Oct. 2, when top-ranked super middleweight contender Allan Green (28-1, 20 KOs) takes on late replacement Tarvis Simms (25-0, 11 KOs) in a 10-round bout.

Also working the announce booth on Oct. 2 will be former light heavyweight kingpin Antonio Tarver who will be serving as guest commentator for his third stint on ShoBox.

“It’s an honor to be offered this role and to join the SHOWTIME Sports family,” Menefee said. “As a boxing fan, I feel as though I just scored a knockout victory. After watching the network for decades, I am honored to be a small part of the tireless and talented SHOWTIME Sports team.”

While Menefee is excited for the opportunity, he wishes Charles the best and hopes for a speedy recovery and return to ShoBox.

“I started as an intern at CNN in Atlanta in 1984 when Nick (Charles) and Fred Hickman were the hosts,” Menefee said. “It is difficult to hear what Nick is going through. I am pulling for him in this fight.”

Menefee is best known as studio host for FOX NFL SUNDAY alongside co-host Terry Bradshaw and studio analysts Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson and Michael Strahan.

An avid sports fan, Menefee began his career at FOX Sports in 1997 as a sideline reporter, and later moved to the game booth to call play-by-play for NFL and NFL Europe League coverage on FOX Sports and FSN. Through his work at WNYW FOX5 and MSG in New York, Menefee established himself as one of the city’s most popular sportscasters.

Menefee has boxing broadcast experience, having provided ringside commentary for three international feeds for Top Rank, and is excited to work with Farhood.

“To have the opportunity to work on the ShoBox series with a historian like Steve Farhood is like taking a masters degree course from the professor who wrote the text book,” Menefee said. “I can’t wait to get started.”

The executive producer of ShoBox is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

For more information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go to the SHOWTIME Sports website at http://sports.sho.com.

About ShoBox: The New Generation

Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. The growing list of fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Leonard Dorin, Scott Harrison, Juan Diaz, Jeff Lacy, Ricky Hatton, Joan Guzman, Juan Urango, David Diaz, Robert Guerrero, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Malignaggi, Kendall Holt, Timothy Bradley and Bernard Dunne.

And Golf Channel gets ready for the next edition of Big Break.

It Will Take More Than Magic to Win Big Break Disney Golf

View preview of Big Break Disney Golf

http://video.thegolfchannel.com/temp_download/gc_bbdc_trailer_090809_16x9.wmv

(L- R) Andrew Giuliani, Andres Huber, Mike Perez, J.R. Reyes, Sean Kalin, Blake Moore, Gipper Finau, Kevin Erdman, Tony Finau, Vincent Johnson, Kevan Maxwell, Ed Moses

ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 28, 2009) – GOLF CHANNEL’s popular Big Break series returns for a 12^th season to a magical setting that will make one contestant’s dream of playing on the PGA TOUR come true. Premiering Oct. 13 at 10 p.m. ET, Big Break Disney Golf will showcase a field of 12 men – collectively the most talented cast in series history, but individually at different stages in their careers – battling for the opportunity to fulfill the desire to play professional golf at the highest level.

Shot mainly at both the Magnolia and Palm Courses at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla., the winner of Big Break Disney Golf will receive an exemption to compete in the 2010 Children’s Miracle Network Classic on the PGA TOUR. The series marks the first time that a Big Break winner will compete in a TOUR event on the same course in which the series was filmed.

Utilizing unique venues throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, Big Break Disney Golf’s challenges also will take place at Main Street U.S.A., Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex and the Walt Disney World Speedway. Intertwined into several episodes will be cameos by PGA TOUR players and memorable moments from the Children’s Miracle Network Classic.

And that’s it for tonight. See you in the morning.

College Football-centric Press Releases

Here are three college football-themed releases, two of which are from ESPN.

College Gameday will be in Boston on Saturday for the Florida State-Boston College game and to focus on BC linebacker Mark Herzlich who’s battling cancer this season.

College GameDay Live from Florida State at Boston College

This Saturday, Oct. 3, ESPN’s College GameDay at 10 a.m. ET will originate from Chestnut Hill, Ma., site of Florida State at Boston College (3:30 p.m., ABC). College GameDay is hosted by Chris Fowler with analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard.

The show will include a feature on Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, last year’s ACC Defensive Player of the Year who is out this season battling Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer, a malignant tumor most often found in bone and soft tissue. Herzlich, who will be honored by Boston College during the game, will appear as a guest on the College GameDay set.

Here are the college football games ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ABC will air this week.

Two Showdowns Between Ranked Teams on Saturday Night Football

This week’s college football action will be highlighted by two matchups between ranked teams in a Saturday Night Football split national telecast Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. on ABC: No. 8 Oklahoma at No. 17 Miami and No. 7 USC at No. 24 California.

Additional Oct. 3 highlights:

• At noon, ESPN2 will televise Arkansas State at No. 13 Iowa, with the Hawkeyes coming off a 21-10 upset victory over then-No. 5 Penn State.

• The ESPN Saturday prime-time telecast will feature undefeated Auburn at Tennessee in an SEC showdown at 7:45 p.m. ESPN2 will televise undefeated Texas A&M vs. Arkansas from Cowboys Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

• A split national telecast at 3:30 p.m. on ABC will include Florida State at Boston College in an ACC showdown; UCLA, the only undefeated team in the Pac-10, visiting 3-1 Stanford; and No. 15 Penn State at Illinois.

Date	Time (ET)	Game	Network(s)
Thu, Oct 1	7:30 p.m.	Colorado at West Virginia Chris Fowler, Craig James, Jesse Palmer & Erin Andrews	ESPN / ESPN360.com
	7:30 p.m.	Alcorn State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Charlie Neal & Jay Walker	ESPNU
Fri, Oct 2	8 p.m.	Pittsburgh at Louisville Joe Tessitore & Rod Gilmore	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
Sat, Oct 3	Noon	Wisconsin at Minnesota Dave Pasch, Chris Spielman & Bob Griese	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	Noon	Arkansas State at No. 13 Iowa Pam Ward & Ray Bentley	ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	Noon	Clemson at Maryland Clay Matvick & David Diaz-Infante	ESPNU
	Noon	No. 6 Virginia Tech at Duke Dave Weekley & Danny Kanell	ESPN360.com
	Noon	No. 3 Alabama at Kentucky Dave Neal, Andre Ware & Cara Capuano	SEC Network
	1 p.m.	No. 10 Cincinnati at Miami (Ohio) Jim Barbar & Robert Chmiel	ESPN360.com
	3:30 p.m.	Florida State at Boston College * Sean McDonough, Matt Millen & Holly Rowe	ABC
		No. 15 Penn State at Illinois * Mike Patrick, Craig James & Heather Cox	ABC
		UCLA at Stanford Dave Lamont & David Norrie	ABC
	3:30 p.m.	Reverse Mirror of ABC: Penn State at Illinois and Florida State at Boston College*	ESPN / ESPN360.com
	3:30 p.m.	N.C. State at Wake Forest Todd Harris & Charles Arbuckle	ESPNU
	7 p.m.	No. 21 Mississippi at Vanderbilt Eric Collins & Brock Huard	ESPNU
	7 p.m.	South Carolina State at South Carolina Bob Wischusen & Brian Griese	ESPN Classic / ESPN360.com
	7:30 p.m.	Texas A&M vs. Arkansas (from Cowboys Stadium) Mark Jones & Bob Davie	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	7:45 p.m.	Auburn at Tennessee Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge & Erin Andrews	ESPN / ESPN360.com
		No. 8 Oklahoma at No. 17 Miami Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit & Lisa Salters	ABC
	8 p.m.	No. 7 USC at No. 24 California Ron Franklin & Ed Cunningham	ABC
	10:30 p.m.	Colorado State at Idaho Carter Blackburn & TBD	ESPNU

* Reverse mirror: ESPN will regionalize two games on ABC to markets not receiving the telecast.

And CBS College Sports previews Tuesday’s Tony Barnhart Show.

POLITICAL STRATEGIST JAMES CARVILLE AND

GEORGIA HEAD COACH MARK RICHT THIS WEEK ON

“THE TONY BARNHART SHOW” ON CBS COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK

Barnhart to Look at Boise State – Is there a Glass Ceiling?

CBS COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK’s THE TONY BARNHART SHOW, a new weekly one-hour primetime college football talk show, features political strategist and LSU fan James Carville, University of Georgia head coach Mark Richt and CBSSports.com columnist Mike Freeman on Tuesday, Sept 29 (9:00 PM, ET).

“Mr. College Football,” Tony Barnhart hosts the show along with Brian Jones. The hard-hitting program will debate and analyze the hot topics and issues facing college football both on and off-the-field. This week Barnhart and Jones look at the “glass ceiling” as it relates to Boise State. Can an undefeated non-BCS school make it to the national championship game? In addition the show will examine the latest news on Tim Tebow’s concussion.

Throughout the season Barnhart will invite a variety of high-profile guests from the college football community, including coaches, administrators, writers, broadcasters and former players to the program. The distinguished guests will offer in-depth, lively, opinionated, topical discussions on the world of college football.

The TONY BARNHART SHOW will air each Tuesday throughout the college football season at 9:00 PM, ET. Mike Aresco serves as Executive Producer. Tyler Hale and Stefan Van Engen produce.

One more press release post coming up.

Three NFL Press Releases

I have some releases to clear from the Fang’s Bites inbox so let’s get to them so I can post other releases for you tonight.

There are two releases from NFL Network. This one is quotage from NFL Gameday Highlights and Gameday Final.

Week 3 (Sept. 27, 2009) – Quotable from NFL GameDay Final & NFL GameDay Highlights on NFL Network

(Airs Sundays at 7:30 PM ET & 11:30 PM ET)

“If (Mark Sanchez) stays poised, does not turn the ball over and they establish a little more of the running game, this team is going to go deep into the playoffs.”

– Deion Sanders on 3-0 New York Jets

“Tennessee is a good football team. I can’t believe they are 0-3.”

– Steve Mariucci on Tennessee Titans

“After all that indecisiveness in the offseason, that one play will make him say ‘This is why it is all worth it.’”

– Deion Sanders on Vikings QB Brett Favre’s game-winning touchdown pass vs. 49ers

“All Eli does is win.”

– Michael Irvin on Giants QB Eli Manning

“Michael Vick is the odd man out. (The Eagles) are going to trade him, probably at the conclusion of the season, for a second-round pick.”

– Deion Sanders on Eagles quarterback situation

“Andy Reid has got a new toy.”

– Michael Irvin on QB Michael Vick

“Kevin Kolb is the real deal. He has made a great case for himself to be a starter in this league with a nice big contract.”

– Steve Mariucci on Eagles QB Kevin Kolb

“I hate to see him (running that) gadget stuff. He’s not a gadget player. He’s a starting quarterback”

– Deion Sanders on Eagles QB Michael Vick

“He’s not ready yet to start.”

– Steve Mariucci on Eagles QB Michael Vick

“Finally they are throwing the seam post and getting the ball down the field.”

– Steve Mariucci on Vikings offense after 30-yard Brett Favre-to-Sidney Rice scoring pass in first quarter

“He has a cutback that is one of the best of anyone that has ever played this game.”

– Deion Sanders on Vikings RB Adrian Peterson

“Let’s give the San Francisco 49ers some credit. They are for real.”

– Deion Sanders on the San Francisco 49ers

“He’s finally living up to the expectations.”

– Deion Sanders on 49ers TE Vernon Davis

“When he plays, that offense moves.”

– Deion Sanders on Patriots WR Wes Welker, who has missed the past two games with injury

“Wes Welker. He’s the guy with the real ‘C’ on his chest because he’s the leader. And when he’s out, it just doesn’t click.”

– Deion Sanders on Patriots WR Wes Welker

“That’s a good 1-2 punch at the running back spot.”

– Steve Mariucci on Broncos RBs Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno

“This young quarterback is exciting.”

– Steve Mariucci on rookie Lions QB Matthew Stafford

“He’s not Fran Tarkenton. He is not going to get away from the Colts rush all day long.”

– Steve Mariucci on Kurt Warner, who was sacked four times by Colts

“Not a real big guy, but he’s good in space and a good receiver. He’s an outstanding addition to this team.”

– Steve Mariucci on Colts rookie RB Donald Brown

*** Additional exclusive video clips from Sunday’s NFL GameDay are available on NFL.com. Click on the video segments. These videos include:

- Brett Favre hits Greg Lewis for an amazing TD pass with two seconds left to beat the 49ers

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/09000d5d812f33ea/WK-3-Can-t-Miss-Play-Favre-s-game-winner

- Peyton Manning turns in a masterful performance with 379 yards and 4 TDs vs. the Cardinals

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d812fa1c8/WK-3-Peyton-Manning-highlights

- And many more Week 3 game highlights and postgame video only on NFL.com.

NFL Network has selected two games for re-air on its NFL Replay series on Tuesday.

NFL REPLAY TO “ENCORE” WEEK 3 WINS BY NEW YORK JETS & MINNESOTA VIKINGS ON NFL NETWORK, TUESDAY, SEPT. 29

The New York Jets’ home victory over Tennessee, in which Mark Sanchez became the first rookie quarterback to start and win his team’s first three games of a season, and Minnesota’s thrilling home victory over San Francisco on the last-second Brett Favre-to-Greg Lewis 32-yard touchdown pass will be “encored” in a fast-paced, 90-minute format on NFL Network’s NFL Replay on Tuesday, September 29 at 8:00 PM ET & 9:30 PM ET, respectively.

NFL Replay highlights the most exciting games from the weekend, re-airing them on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. The abridged, yet enhanced version features the match-ups minus halftime and other elements not critical to the outcome, while granting insider access to fans with sideline and on-field sound, as well as post-game press conference sound bites. NFL Network’s NFL Replay also incorporates exclusive shots and camera angles distinctive to NFL Films.

Comcast says subscribers will have access to the NFL Network RedZone this Sunday for the early games.

COMCAST OFFERS “FREE-VIEW” OF “NFL REDZONE”

All Digital Customers to Have Access to New NFL Channel That Shows Every Touchdown from Every Game Sunday Afternoons

PHILADELPHIA – September 28, 2009 – Comcast today announced that it will bring the NFL’s national “free-view” of its NFL RedZone channel to all of its Digital customers. The “free-view” will be available this Sunday, October 4 from 1 PM to 4:15 PM EST.

“The verdict is in…sports fans are calling NFL RedZone a ‘must-have,’” said Derek Harrar, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Video Services for Comcast. “Since the debut was an instant hit, we’re opening up the channel to all our digital customers so they can experience the intense live action only available on NFL RedZone.”

NFL RedZone, normally on Comcast’s Sports Entertainment Package (SEP), is produced by NFL Network and airs every Sunday from 1:00 p.m. EST through late-afternoon games providing Comcast SEP customers with every touchdown from every game, as well as live look-ins and real-time highlights. On Sunday afternoons throughout the NFL regular season, the channel keeps fans up-to-date in real time, moving from game to game each time a team is poised to score inside the 20-yard line.

Next, college football releases.

Universal Sports and UniversalSports.com to Offer Live Coverage of Olympic Announcement

This Friday, both Universal Sports and UniversalSports.com will offer live coverage of the International Olympic Committee’s announcement of the host of the 2016 Olympic Games. Four cities are vying to be host, Chicago, IL; Madrid, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tokyo, Japan. Universal says it will be on the air for at least four hours, simulcasting Chicago’s NBC affiliate.

I have been so busy with my own work that I did not realize the announcement was this Friday. If things work out, I’ll be here with the announcement as well.

Sunday Night Football Wins Even With A Blowout

I thought with a less than glamorous matchup and a potential blowout, the ratings for Sunday Night Football would fall from last week and I was right, but even a 31-10 Colts win over the Arizona Cardinals, but even so, NBC scored a ratings win.

NBC's  "SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" WINS AGAIN

Colts-Cardinals Blowout Beats Network Premieres

NEW YORK -- Sept. 28, 2009 -- NBC's "Sunday Night Football" was the No. 1 broadcast on Sunday night for the third consecutive week and, for the first time this season, aired against tough competition from season premieres on three networks.  "SNF" won the night opposite season premieres of ABC's Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters, CBS's Amazing Race and Fox's Simpsons and Family Guy.  

"Sunday Night Football" featuring the Indianapolis Colts at the Arizona Cardinals, earned an 11.8 overnight rating and 19 share (from 8:30-11:15 p.m. ET). The overnight rating peaked at a 13.0/20 from 9:30 and 10 p.m. ET as the Colts took firm control of the game, 21-3.

"SNF" BEATS "DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES": "Sunday Night Football" beat the much-anticipated season premiere of ABC's "Desperate Housewives" head-to-head by 59 percent (12.7 vs. 8.0 from 9-10 p.m. ET).   

In metered-market households, NBC's "Sunday Night Football" ruled the night, with NBC's 7-11 p.m. primetime average 9.5/16 in the metered markets establishing a 20 percent margin of victory over CBS's second-place 7.9/13.

The Colts-Cardinals 31-10 blowout is down 18 percent from last year's Week 3 Dallas Cowboys-Green Bay Packers match-up (14.4/22). That game, won by "America's Team" 27-16, also did not air against the season premieres on the three other networks.

NOTE: Viewership totals will be available when Nielsen releases national ratings on Tuesday.

Good on NBC to acknowledge last night’s ratings were down from last week’s viewing record. Too often, networks will spin the numbers, but nice to see some straightforward news from the NBC.

Comparing the Red Zone Channels Side-By-Side

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to watch both DirecTV’s Red Zone Channel and NFL Network’s RedZone simultaneously. As a subscriber of DirecTV, I get the Red Zone as part of the satellite service’s NFL Sunday Ticket Superfan package. And I can also watch it online as I still don’t have a TV, but that’s besides the point.

If you’re a regular reader of Fang’s Bites, then you’ll know how much I enjoy watching DirecTV’s Red Zone.

This weekend, the NFL provided me with access to a special website to watch NFL Network’s RedZone and I was able to use two computers, one to watch DirecTV and the other to watch NFL Network.

I decided to watch the 1 p.m. ET games to compare coverage from the two channels. Andrew Siciliano hosts DirecTV’s Red Zone. Scott Hanson is the host for NFL Network. NFL Network’s version has been on the air two weeks compared to DirecTV which is into its fourth season.

The purpose of both channels is to show scoring plays and if a team has a legitimate scoring opportunity, reaching inside the opponent’s 20 yard line, they’ll cut in live to either the CBS or Fox broadcast.

As far as content was concerned, both virtually carried the same games at the same time. There were some instances when DirecTV was focused on game, NFL Network was showing another, but for the most part, both channels were showing action from the same game. For example, both channels started with Titans-Jets and Washington-Detroit, switching between both games. I thought for a moment that perhaps the only difference was the hosts, but eventually, I did see different games at the same time.

When there were simultaneous scoring opportunities, both channels went to double boxes, but DirecTV stayed with the double box while NFL Network would go full-screen to whichever game snapped the ball first. And NFL Network would wipe in between the two games. I’m not a fan of the double box even in high definition so wiping full screen between two games is better in my opinion.

Both channels do a good job in finding live action. When one games goes to break, DirecTV does have highlights at the ready to fire.

NFL Network does do a good job in updating scores as games go final. That’s one thing DirecTV does not do well. However, in the waning seconds of the 49ers-Vikings game that was won on Brett Favre’s last second TD pass to Greg Lewis, I felt DirecTV did the better job in following up as the touchdown was reviewed. It aired the referee’s review live. NFL Network only mentioned in passing that the ruling on the field stood.

I also prefer Andrew Siciliano’s hosting style to Scott Hanson who is rather dry in my opinion. Andrew has humor and is snarky, plus he always has a comment on referee Ed Hochuli’s guns. Sure, Scott has only been on officially for three weeks so he hasn’t developed a true style as of yet. However, Andrew knows every player on sight and is very good in transitioning from one game to another. And if something goes wrong, which can happen in 6 hours of live TV, he’s able to laugh it off or give us a humorous aside.

To be honest, a true fan of the NFL should get the Red Zone. For fantasy players and for anyone who wants to see every scoring play, it’s really the way to watch every week. Plus it has rendered the highlights shows obsolete as you have already seen the major highlights. If I had to grade the channels, DirecTV’s Red Zone Channel gets an A. It has had the head start by three years plus Andrew Siciliano is a good fit.

NFL Network’s RedZone, available to those who don’t have access to DirecTV, gets a B. Very solid for a production that’s been on for just three weeks. Subscribers to Verizon FiOS, Comcast, Dish Network, AT&T U-Verse and RCN will get a free preview this Sunday between 1 and 4 p.m. so watch it if you have the opportunity. The channel is currently unavailable to Time Warner at this time.

MLB Network Showing Live Games Tonight and Tomorrow

MLB Network will be airing live games tonight and Tuesday as we get closer to the the end of the regular season on Sunday. The games will be produced by the local teams’ flagships.

MLB NETWORK ANNOUNCES LIVE GAMES FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

Pennant Race Matchup Features a Battle for the A.L. Central Title between Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers

Secaucus, N.J., September 28, 2009 – MLB Network today announced its “Pennant Race” game for Tuesday, September 29, featuring an American League Central showdown between the Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers at 7:00 p.m. ET featuring Twins pitcher Brian Duensing against Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander. Only two games separate the Twins from the A.L. Central first-place Tigers as a four-game series begins on MLB Network today at 7:00 p.m. ET featuring Twins pitcher Nick Blackburn against Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello.

The two games, which will be blacked out in the Twins’ and Tigers’ home television territories, will be simulcasts of the Fox Sports Minnesota local broadcast, including local announcers. MLB Network viewers in the Twins’ and Tigers’ home television territories will see the Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox at 7:00 p.m. ET today and the Florida Marlins at Atlanta Braves at 7:00 p.m. ET tomorrow. Additional live games for the week will be announced coinciding with MLB Network’s selection windows.

Good to see MLB Network airing as many games as it can.

Time for Monday Linkage

It feels like last week since I last did linkage. And well, it’s true. The last time I did links for you was on Thursday. My apologies. Time to do some now.

From the Nation’s Newspaper, Michael Hiestand of USA Today says Michael Vick’s return to the football field hardly generated controversy.

In Sports Business Journal, Tripp Mickle writes that Pittsburgh Penguins will become the first sports franchise to get their own dedicated 24/7 HD radio station.

The SBJ talked with several business marketers on the changes they’ve had to make and will have to make to get returns on their sports sponsorships.

Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated says despite a TV blackout in Detroit, Lions fans listened to the team’s first win since the Bush Administration.

Tom Van Riper of Forbes.com calls the 2009 NFL season, the Year of the Blackout.

Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek says with the Yankees back in the MLB postseason, advertising dollars are coming in for Fox and TBS for their coverage of the playoffs.

Elsa Keslassy of Variety says San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker is developing a French cartoon series using his likeness.

Todd Spangler of Multichannel News writes that Cox Communications is picking up ESPN360 as of Wednesday.

Amanda Bruno from the Batter-up with Bruno blog notes that Boston.com is losing a key employee to ESPN Boston.

Neil Keefe of NESN.com says the Boston Bruins will honor former TV and radio voice Fred Cusick posthumously next week.

Juliet Macur of the New York Times reports that President Obama will make an appearance at the International Olympic Committee vote for the 2016 Summer Olympics next month.

Newsday’s Neil Best says the baseball tradition of champagne locker room celebrations is now an anachronism.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post is incredulous that the Rev. Al Sharpton is appearing on WWE Raw tonight. Lighten up, Phil.

The Albany Times Union’s Pete Dougherty looks forward to a matchup of 3-0 teams on Sunday.

And Pete has your college football TV schedule for this week.

Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette notes that the AHL’s Albany River Rats have a new radio home.

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times reviews the weekend of sports on television.

David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun feels the NFL Sunday pregame shows glossed over Michael Vick’s dogfighting past.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News writes that Cowboys voice Brad Sham has a very busy day today.

Barry says there will be plenty of pregame programming before a local station’s simulcast of tonight’s ESPN production of the Panthers-Cowboys game.

Bob Wolfley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has some highs and lows from yesterday’s Fox production of the Packers-Rams game.

Aaron Barnhart of the Kansas City Star gets on MLB Network for not providing live cut-ins on Sunday afternoon.

Dusty Saunders from the Denver Post writes that Colorado Rockies radio voice Jeff Kingery is leaving at the end of this season.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has your planning guide for sports on TV this week.

Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times is a fan of NFL Network’s RedZone.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says much of Canada’s media gave Wayne Gretzky a pass for resigning from the Phoenix Coyotes last week.

Chris Zelkovich from the Toronto Star feels some sportscasters are too dependent on the yucks.

From the Biz of Football, Maury Brown says Verizon FiOS will offer a free preview of NFL Network’s RedZone on Sunday.

Comcast will also offer a free preview this Sunday as well.

Christopher Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media blog has a guest column from former NBC Sports and Raycom Sports analyst Dave Rowe.

Chris noticed that Brent Musburger was quoting Blue Oyster Cult songs during Saturday’s Iowa-Penn State game.

The Sports Media Watch has its usual weekend ratings predictions.

Steve Lepore from Puck The Media says the NHL has finally taken a stand in the DirecTV/Versus dispute.

Steve has your North American NHL TV schedule for October.

Steve notes that NHL Network won’t be carrying the full compliment of CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada games, but tells us it’s for the good.

That’s going to do it for today.

A Few Monday Morning Press Releases

Let’s give you some releases this morning and then I’ll do some links in about an hour.

Starting with TBS and some quotage from yesterday’s MLB On Deck pregame show.

Notes from Sunday MLB on TBS – September 27, 2009

Sunday MLB on TBS concludes on Sunday, Oct. 4, with a game to be announced. TBS’ coverage will begin with a 30-minute pre-game show prior to the game with its exclusive coverage of MLB’s Division Series beginning on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

MLB on Deck

Announcers: Host Ernie Johnson with analysts Cal Ripken, Dennis Eckersley and David Wells

Ripken on the teams battling for a spot in the Postseason: “This is the coolest part of the game, and I thought we weren’t going to have these kinds of races down the stretch. Minnesota comes back and they are playing really well. Colorado, I still can’t figure out Colorado; they are just riding out the momentum. This is more pressure and more fun than the playoffs.”

Eckersley on the pressure being on the team that is leading the standings: “I was never in that position all that much coming down to the last week, to only have a two or three game lead. The pressure I think is definitely on the team that’s leading, if you don’t win, you choked the last week of the season. The pressure is definitely on Colorado and Detroit.”

Wells on the Colorado Rockies: “The thing about Colorado is that anything can happen anytime. These guys are so notorious for coming back and making a playoff run. They did it a few years ago against San Diego. Are they going to be able to do it again? We’ll find out, but the thing about them is they play better at home.”

Wells on the San Francisco Giants problems producing runs: “I was working the (Giants) game a few weeks ago and talking to (manager Bruce) Bochy. I said, ‘Bochy, what happened to you guys?’ And he threw up his hands and said, ‘we just can not score.’ I said, ‘there’s a new invention called trying to manufacture runs.’ When you’re in that situation with the type of pitching you have, they’ve got guys that can pitch and win 1-0 ball games. And they’ve got guys who can hit, but you want to talk about going in the tank, they are the definition of going in the tank.”

Eckersley on how the Yankees and Red Sox are the two best teams in baseball by far: “My pick is the New York Yankees, and I follow the Red Sox all year, and I think they are a close second. As far as the National League, that’s an inferior league, that’s like Triple A. Come over to the American League East and try to win some ball games.”

Wells on Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain: “I had no clue what they were doing with (Joba Chamberlain) to begin with when he was a reliever. He was setting up Mo (Mariano Rivera) very nicely, it was the (John) Wetteland, Rivera one-two punch. Then they had Joba and Rivera, but they tried to make him a starter because they didn’t have any starting pitching and they were tinkering with that. This guy was so good at his position and now he’s lost. I think they have the Joba rule, 70 pitches no matter how many innings you go. What does that do to a guy’s mental state of mind?”

Ripken on three teams to watch during the Postseason: “(The Yankees) are the better team, I love the team chemistry this year as an intangible. They are on the same page; winning does that. The Red Sox are an awfully dangerous team; the experience, they have, the nasty factor that we talk about. But keep your eye on the Angels. I have no real reason why, they’ve lost the last two years in the playoffs, but I think they’ve been pushed a little bit more this year and I think they might be due.”

TBS analysts rank the best National League teams:

Wells: “Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis and Philadelphia.”

Ripken: “The Cardinals first, I like Philly second and the Dodgers third.”

Eckersley: “St. Louis first, and number two is the Dodgers, and who cares after that?”

Sunday MLB on TBS

St. Louis Cardinals (3) @ Colorado Rockies (4)

Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Buck Martinez (analyst) and Marc Fein (field reporter)

Martinez on Rockies manager Jim Tracy taking over mid-season: “When you’re a manager taking over a team mid-season, guys like (Todd) Helton are invaluable. (Manager) Jim Tracy talked about the biggest asset he had in the dugout he said Helton, (Brad) Hawpe, (Aaron) Cook, they are all veterans who really validated his presence.”

Martinez on Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan’s pitching philosophy: “When you throw a lot of strikes it keeps you in the ballgame. The Cardinals’ starters have pitched a ton this year, when you’re out on the field pitching into the seventh and eighth inning you always have a chance to win. (Cardinals pitching coach) Dave Duncan has always been a proponent of throwing strikes. As a pitching coach, you convince your pitchers to throw it over, challenge the hitters to put it in play, plus, you always keep the defense on their toes.”

Martinez on throwing breaking balls high due to the dry air in Colorado: “That will happen to pitchers because of dry air, you don’t get a real good grip on a breaking ball and it will slip out of your hand from time to time.”

Johnson, Ripken, Eckersley and Wells called the bottom of the fifth inning and a portion of the sixth inning.

Wells on watching the scoreboard during a game to see how other teams are doing: “Every inning (I watched), you’ve got to adjust to the scoreboard. Those guys just won, now that puts us in a predicament, and as a pitcher, now I’ve got to make smart pitching and I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do. You try not to put pressure (on yourself), but I know when I get in situations I’ve got to be smart.”

Ripken on preferring to face an established pitcher over a new player: “Towards the end of the season I didn’t like facing new guys. Sometimes when you face a spoiler team and they are going to spot start a guy, and it felt like it took until the third at-bat to get to know him a little bit. I’d rather face a guy I know even if it means playing the tougher competition. There are all kinds of tricks you can do (to a rookie), but I would always rather know what I’m expecting because the advantage goes to the pitcher.”

Wells on Royals starter Zack Greinke pitching seven innings to help secure a victory against the Minnesota Twins who are trying to make it to the Postseason: “(Royals Zack Greinke) is playing the role of spoiler and that’s what you want to do. When you get an opponent to go out and spoil someone’s postseason, that’s almost like winning a postseason game because you’ve done the job and you’re gong to make some people mad and some people happy. But he’s going to go out and do the job because he’s a Cy Young candidate with the way he’s been throwing the ball.”

Martinez on Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki’s second error of the game on a bad throw to first baseman Todd Helton: “I don’t know why (Troy) Tulowitzki throws it on the run and handcuffs Helton. (Helton) is a Gold Glover, but you don’t want to put him in this position.”

Eckersley on the Tigers allowing it to become a race with the Minnesota Twins: “I keep thinking about Detroit, thinking they have messed up. They could have taken it, they should have won this thing long before the last week of the season.”

Wells: “No question. When you have an opportunity to capitalize and you don’t…if you’re pitching falls. The Tigers only have a couple of guys in the lineup doing it (with scoring), and that’s (Miguel) Cabrera, (Brandon) Inge has been in and out, so you don’t know what you’re going to get, but you have to do it.”

Golf Channel tells us that they’re airing this week.

COMING UP ON GOLF CHANNEL… Sept. 28 – Oct. 4, 2009

Meet the Cast of Big Break Disney Golf

Dr. J and Billy Andrade Headline Playing Lessons from the Pros

Original Programming Premieres and Highlights

(All times eastern)

Big Break Disney Golf: Preview Show

Time: Tuesday, 10 – 10:30 p.m.

Hosts: Vince Cellini, Stephanie Sparks

Tuesday’s Big Break Disney Golf preview show will introduce the contestants, offer a glimpse of the upcoming challenges and provide an inside look at the drama that will ensue in the series. Big Break Disney Golf will premiere Oct. 13 at 10 p.m. ET and will showcase a field of 12 men – collectively the most talented cast in series history, but individually at different stages in their careers – battling for the opportunity to fulfill the desire to play professional golf at the highest level. Competitors range from an Olympic gold medalist to those merely chasing a dream.

Playing Lessons from the Pros – “Dr. J” Julius Erving and Billy Andrade

Time: Monday, 10-10:30 p.m.

NBA Hall-of-Famer “Dr. J” Julius Erving will join PGA TOUR professional Billy Andrade for a round of golf on Playing Lessons from the Pros. Taking place at Celebrity Golf Club International in Atlanta, Ga., Andrade will provide tips on bunker shots, chipping around the green and golf course management.

Top 10: Fred Couples Highlights

Time: Tuesday, 9-9:30 p.m.

Host: Lauren Thompson

The only thing smoother than Fred Couples’ disposition is his fluid golf swing. Host Lauren Thompson will count down the top 10 Fred Couples highlights, featuring his Presidents Cup successes and his par-3 miracle in capturing the 1992 Masters. Top 10 will include insight and interviews from fellow PGA TOUR professionals and noted sports journalists, including Couples’ college roommate at the University of Houston, CBS Sports’ Jim Nantz.

Golf’s Amazing Videos: Hole-in-One Spectacular

Time: Monday, 9 – 9:30 p.m.

Golf’s Amazing Videos returns with a new episode showcasing some of the most remarkable holes in one ever recorded, both on the professional tours and in the amateur ranks, including aces by Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Natalie Gulbis and Vijay Singh. Nick Faldo will give a step-by-step lesson on how to make an ace, and viewers will witness two amateurs hit million dollar aces.

Quest for the Card

Time: Wednesday, 7:30-8 p.m.

Host: Jerry Foltz

Quest for the Card will recap the 2009 Albertsons Boise Open and the WNB Golf Classic. The half-hour show also will profile Nationwide Tour players as they continue their quest to earn PGA TOUR cards for the 2010 season.

News and Talk Show Programming Highlights

Golf Central

Live Airings: Monday – Wednesday, 6-6:30 p.m./11:30 p.m.-12 a.m.

Thursday – Sunday, 6-6:30 p.m./12:30-1 a.m.

Golf Central will recap the news and storylines coming out of THE TOUR Championship and preview upcoming tournaments on all of the various tours, including the Turning Stone Resort Championship and the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship – a major on the Champions Tour.

Golf Central Pre Game

Live Airings: Thursday – Sunday, 12:30-1 p.m.; 3:30-4 p.m.

Golf Central Pre Game will prepare viewers for all of the action at the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by a second Pre Game show at 3:30 p.m. ET previewing the Turning Stone Resort Championship and all of the tournaments on the various golf tours with news, interviews and analysis.

The Golf Fix

Time: Monday, 8-8:30 p.m.

Host: Michael Breed

Hosted by Michael Breed, GOLF CHANNEL’s fast-paced, interactive instructional show will highlight viewer call-ins and e-mails and provide drills that viewers can practice both on and off the golf course. GolfChannel.com also will include a bonus segment following the conclusion of the live show on Monday.

The Approach with Callaway Golf

Time: Tuesday, 8-8:30 p.m.

Host: Vince Cellini

Panelists: Alex Miceli/Andrew Magee

Highlighting the top storylines in golf from different perspectives, analysts from The Approach with Callaway Golf will recap THE TOUR Championship and preview the upcoming tournaments on the various tours in an entertaining and informative manner.

Grey Goose 19^th Hole

Time: Wednesday, 8-8:30 p.m.

Host: Vince Cellini/Analyst Jeff Rude

Grey Goose 19^th Hole, the network’s fast-paced half-hour talk show, will feature debates on the hot topics in golf coming out of THE TOUR Championship and will preview the upcoming tournaments on the various tours.

From the NBA and ESPN, we have this new collaboration on NBA.com’s Fantasy Basketball.

ESPN and NBA Digital Team Up for ESPN NBA.com Fantasy Basketball

Distinctive Collaboration includes Official Game on both ESPN.com and NBA.com, Multi-Platform Content and Co-Promotion

NBA Digital and ESPN announced today a unique multi-year agreement that will make ESPN NBA.com Fantasy Basketball, the official commissioner-style fantasy basketball game for both ESPN.com and NBA.com. The collaboration between NBA Digital and ESPN means that fantasy sports players on two of the leading NBA destinations online will now have a single, integrated game and access to the very best fantasy basketball content online and on mobile devices. The companies will also develop cross-platform promotions through a multitude of ESPN and NBA Digital platforms.

“This collaboration takes NBA Digital’s multi-platform philosophy to unprecedented levels,” said Bryan Perez, senior vice president and general manager, NBA Digital. “By marrying the TV, internet and wireless assets of ESPN and NBA Digital, fantasy sports fans will be able to engage in the game and related content in more ways than have ever been offered in the fantasy arena.”

“Working together with NBA Digital on ESPN NBA.com Fantasy Basketball builds upon the great, multi-faceted relationship we have with the NBA and will provide fans with the very best fantasy basketball game and content available,” said John Kosner, senior vice president and general manager, ESPN Digital Media. “Fans will benefit this season and in seasons ahead from new innovations and an enhanced interactive experience, while advertisers will get more value than ever before from their connection to a best-of-breed multi-platform game and content experience.”

The game is available now on NBA.com and ESPN.com and on ESPN and NBA mobile Web sites. Fans will be able to manage their teams with the latest information on their players, check scores and set their lineups. Following a record-setting season for the free commissioner-style fantasy game on ESPN.com (including nearly 40 times the growth in participation from the previous season) ESPN NBA.com Fantasy Basketball will allow players to create leagues and teams, schedule drafts, conduct mock drafts and more. Other features include:

• Integrated access to all the leading NBA Digital and ESPN Fantasy news, analysis and information including video, podcasts, columns, features and more;
• NBA TV and ESPN studio personalities competing in the game throughout the season;
• Mobile companions allowing team management through the ESPN and NBA mobile Web sites, as well as a downloadable Draft Kit mobile application developed by ESPN;
• A co-branded and cohesive marketing campaign featuring 2008 Olympic Gold Medalists Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic) and Deron Williams (Utah Jazz), three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards), and reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls).

As part of the agreement, ESPN and NBA Digital will cross promote the game and the Fantasy Draft Kit across their multiple media platforms. ESPN and NBA Digital will work together to develop new features throughout the 2009-10 NBA regular season (begins Tuesday, October 27) and in seasons ahead, including the integration of video from the NBA Digital and ESPN libraries. In addition, ESPN and NBA Digital will jointly develop sponsorship packages and co-marketing initiatives around ESPN NBA.com Fantasy Basketball.

And ESPN has its motorsports schedule for the week.

Motorsports This Week on ESPN and ABC

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Live from Kansas on ABC

The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup continues this weekend as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for 400 miles on Sunday, Oct. 4, at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. ESPN’s live, flag-to-flag coverage of the race will air on ABC. The telecast begins with NASCAR Countdown at 1 p.m. ET and the race’s green flag is at 2:15 p.m.

ESPN’s coverage of the final 11 races of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule will air on ABC, including all 10 races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. ESPN’s coverage from Kansas includes NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying on Friday, Oct. 2, at 4:30 p.m. and a same-day telecast of NASCAR Sprint Cup final practice on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 6:30 p.m., both on ESPN2.

Dr. Jerry Punch will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage, with analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch, with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer in the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage.

Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, co-owner of a winning team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, in the ESPN pit studio.

NASCAR Nationwide Series Live from Kansas on ESPN2

ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend as the series races at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. The live, flag-to-flag telecast airs Saturday, Oct. 3, at 3 p.m. ET, with the green flag at 3:46 p.m. ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, with selected races on ESPN and ABC.

Coverage of NASCAR Nationwide Series final practice airs Friday, Oct. 2, at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.

Marty Reid will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage, with analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch, with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer in the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage.

Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, owner of a winning team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, in the ESPN pit studio.

Evernham, Said, Craven on NASCAR Now Roundtable

NASCAR on ESPN analysts Ray Evernham, Boris Said and Ricky Craven will be panelists on NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable discussion program on Monday, Oct. 5, at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Allen Bestwick will host the edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program.

Mike Massaro hosts half-hour episodes of NASCAR Now airing Tuesday through Thursday of this week at 5 p.m. and Friday at 7 p.m. following ESPN2’s coverage of NASCAR Nationwide Series final practice at Kansas Speedway.

Massaro will be joined by Said for the one-hour weekend edition that airs Sunday, Oct. 4, at 10 a.m. with a preview of that day’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas. The weekend wrap-up edition airs at 10 p.m. Sunday. Nicole Manske and Terry Blount will report from Kansas for both programs.

NASCAR Now is hosted by Massaro, Bestwick and Manske and originates from ESPN’s high definition studios in Bristol, Conn. Contributors include NASCAR Insiders Marty Smith and Angelique Chengelis, analysts Ray Evernham, Tim Brewer, Brad Daugherty, Boris Said, Ricky Craven and Randy LaJoie, and ESPN.com reporters Ed Hinton, Terry Blount and David Newton. The NASCAR on ESPN team event coverage team of Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett, Dr. Jerry Punch, Andy Petree, Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Spake and Vince Welch also make frequent contributions to NASCAR Now.

Countdown to 1 Continues in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing

The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series continues its Countdown to 1 playoffs as the series visits Memphis Motorsports Park for the NHRA Mid-South Nationals this weekend. ESPN2 will air qualifying and eliminations action, with qualifying airing Saturday, Oct. 3, at 10:30 p.m. ET. Eliminations action airs Sunday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m., with a re-air Monday, Oct. 5, at 5 p.m. on ESPN Classic.

The tour’s annual stop in “the birthplace of the Blues” is being contested for the third straight season in what should be cooler climes from its previous late-August date. For the teams still in the Countdown to the Championship for NHRA Full Throttle world titles, this is the halfway point of the Countdown to 1, the third of six events that will determine the world champions.

Paul Page anchors ESPN2’s coverage with analysis by 22-time NHRA winner Mike Dunn. Gary Gerould, Dave Rieff and John Kernan report from the pits. Rieff and Dunn host NHRA RaceDay on Sunday at 11 a.m. to set the stage for that day’s eliminations action.

Other NHRA programming airing on ESPN Networks this week includes highlights from the 2004 Pontiac Excitement NHRA Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, airing Monday, Oct. 5, at 3 p.m. on ESPN Classic. In addition, action from the recent Sportsman Series event in Dallas airs Sunday, Oct. 4, at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.

Traxxas TORC Series Action on ESPN2 Sunday

Action from the Traxxas TORC Series returns to ESPN2 on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 11:30 a.m. ET with highlights of the event held in Perris, Calif. The premier short-course racing series with the top stars in off-road racing, this exciting form of door-to-door action is appearing on both ESPN2 and ABC this season.

The 2009 season features eight total rounds of racing. ESPN2 will air five rounds with three to appear on ABC. Marty Reid, lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN on ABC’s coverage of the Indianapolis 500 and selected NASCAR races, will call all of the TORC Truck Series events on ESPN2 and ABC. Joining Reid will be long-time extreme sports announcer Tes Sewell and former Miss USA Kimberly Pressler as pit reporter.

That’s it. Links are coming up.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

English Premier League
West Ham United vs. Manchester City – ESPN2, 2:55 p.m.

MLB

American League
Toronto at Red Sox – MLB Network/Rogers Sportsnet/NESN, 7 p.m.
Baltimore at Tampa Bay – MASN2/Fox Sports Florida, 7 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Cleveland – WCIU/STO, 7 p.m.
Kansas City at New York Yankees – Fox Sports Kansas City/YES, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Detroit – MLB Network/Fox Sports North/Fox Sports Detroit, 7 p.m.
Texas at Anaheim Angels – Fox Sports Southwest/Fox Sports West, 10 p.m.

National League
Los Angeles Dodgers at Pittsburgh – Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 12:30 p.m.
Florida at Atlanta – Sun Sports/Fox Sports South, 7 p.m.
Houston at Philadelphia – Fox Sports Houston/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
New York Mets at Washington – SNY/MASN, 7 p.m.

Baseball Tonight – ESPN2, 10 p.m.
MLB Tonight: Roundtripper Final – MLB Network, 10 p.m.

Entertainment
How I Met Your Mother – CBS, 8 p.m.
House – Fox, 8 p.m.
The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, The Last Refuge (1890-1915) – PBS, 8 p.m.
Top Gear: Best of Season 7 Special – BBC America, 8 p.m.
Intervention: Special: One Man Rehab – A&E, 9 p.m.
CSI: Miami – CBS, 10 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman – CBS, 11:35 p.m.

The Amazing Race 15 – Elimination Station

After a shocking elimination at the starting line, we got another elimination at the end of leg 2 in Vietnam tonight. Unfortunately, yoga instructors Eric & Lisa did not get to break in Elimination Station. They never got to leave the country.

The first team christening Elimination Station after tonight’s episode are Garrett & Jessica. They try to make the best of their elimination as Garrett proposes.

And here’s a look at next week’s episode.

College Gameday to Broadcast Live from Boston College

Certainly, Saturday’s matchup between Boston College and Florida State is hardly a marquee one, but Fang’s Bites has learned that College Gameday will be live from BC’s Chestnut Hill campus this Saturday morning.

A cynical person can say that this is do help promote the ESPN Boston site. Another cynic could say it’s to pump up the BC-Florida State on ABC that afternoon.

To be honest, I’m kind of puzzled over ESPN’s decision to go to Boston this weekend. Boston is hardly a college football hotbed.

The Amazing Race 15 Season Premiere Sneak Peek

Oh this is not good. Right off the bat at the starting line, there is an elimination. A team will not even leave the country before being eliminated. Interesting. Take a look at the sneak peek CBS sent.

In the frenetic pace to get out, you know someone will not read the clue and understand what they’re supposed to do. The premiere is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, but you know that will change due an NFL overrun.

NFL Pregame Quotage for Week 3

I was hoping to do some linkage today, but my car battery died so I spent a couple of hours dealing with that so the links are out of the window. I do have your Sunday pregame quotage.

Let’s begin with NFL Network’s Gameday Morning. When you have a four hour pregame show, you’re going to have plenty of quotes.

News and Sound Bites From Week 3 Edition of NFL GAMEDAY MORNING

“It was definitely a blessing. I would have never changed.” – Eagles QB Michael Vick on His Time in Prison

“You only have leverage two times in this league – when you are a free agent and when you’re drafted.” – Marshall Faulk on 49ers WR Michael Crabtree’s Contract Situation

“The reality is Tom Terrific isn’t Tom Terrific.” – Michael Irvin on Patriots QB Tom Brady

NFL GameDay Morning, the FIRST pregame show on the air Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM ET with a new four-hour expanded format, taking viewers straight up to kickoff. Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Jason La Canfora, and hosts Spero Dedes and Stacey Dales bring fans the latest news, injury reports, pregame analysis and game previews.

‘Sunday Sit-Down’ – Sterling Sharpe Sits Down with Eagles QB Michael Vick:

NFL Network’s Sterling Sharpe sits down with Eagles QB Michael Vick for a candid conversation on making his comeback to the NFL and his role with the Philadelphia Eagles:

“I’m ready to go out and do what I’m asked to do right now.” – Vick on being ready to play

“I always tried to stay optimistic, but I really didn’t know what was going to happen. I knew that I was not forthright with the Commissioner and that there was a chance that he wouldn’t let me back in.” – Vick on his thoughts prior to being reinstated into the league

“That was special. At first I didn’t believe it when my agent called and told me. I thought it was a hoax. I just thought, ‘why would Philadelphia want to bring me in?’ and ‘what could I do for them?’” – Vick on his thoughts after signing with Philadelphia

“It wasn’t the ideal situation…I missed all the OTAs, all the minicamps, most of the preseason and training camps, so where could I go and be ‘the guy’ and do I want that kind of pressure? I knew that anything I did would be scrutinized to a tee. I would have been a focal point on the team and that would have taken away from the team. I didn’t want to be selfish in that regard.” – Vick on his return

“I get in a 7 AM in the morning to work out and I never did that before. I watch film and I never did that before. I don’t know if I can reach the playing level that I was at, but I know there’s potential and I still feel like I got it.” – Vick on his new work ethic

“It was definitely a blessing. I would have never changed. I would have never changed as an individual off the field, as a player in the film room and just being one of the guys in the locker room…I wouldn’t change a thing. I would go through the same things, the prison and all. It was tough, but it brought me closer to my family. From the outside looking in, I was able to sit back and see what was missing in my life.” – Vick on his time in prison

To view Sharpe’s interview with Vick, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d812ecda1/Michael-Vick-1-on-1

Kara Henderson 1-on-1 Live Interview with Falcons Owner Arthur Blank

Falcons owner Arthur Blank chats with NFL Network’s Kara Henderson prior to the Falcons matchup vs. New England:

“I certainly have forgiven Michael and I’ve moved on and hopefully he has as well, and I believe he has.” – Blank on Eagles QB Michael Vick

To view Henderson’s entire interview with Blank, please visit NFL.com.

‘Super Bowl Journey,’ Week Three Edition – Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew and Redskins TE Chris Cooley’s Preparation for Week 3 On and Off the Field

The Super Bowl Journeys of Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew and Redskins TE Chris Cooley continue with a look at how Jones-Drew recuperates after a hard-hitting week two and what Cooley does in his free time:

“In this league, your body is your resume.” – Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew on his recuperation process

To view the week two installment of Super Bowl Journey, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d812efd74/Super-Bowl-Journey-Cooley-s-B-B – part I

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d812efc35/Super-Bowl-Journey-MJD-Monday-s – part II

Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning:

“Take your money now. It’s your second contract where you make the money.” – Warren Sapp on 49ers WR Michael Crabtree’s contract situation

“I think he’s throwing away more than just the money, but his entire rookie season. Even if he comes back tomorrow, it will be sub par.” – Steve Mariucci on 49ers WR Michael Crabtree

“You only have leverage two times in this league – when you are a free agent and when you’re drafted.” – Marshall Faulk on 49ers WR Michael Crabtree’s contract situation

“When I did not train with the team, I would over train because you know no matter how hard you’re out there running, it’s not game speed and you’re going to lose something.” – Michael Irvin on 49ers WR Michael Crabtree’s contract situation

“There are some of the things we heard that Michael Vick wasn’t doing before the problems came and now he’s doing them after. Maybe we haven’t seen the best Michael Vick yet.” – Irvin on Michael Vick’s new game preparation routine

“If I’m a coach, I don’t want a guy who wants to be the backup. You better want to be the starter.” – Faulk on Vick’s comments regarding being a starting quarterback

“The reality is Tom Terrific isn’t Tom Terrific. I saw him missing guys on the goal line last week.” – Irvin on Patriots QB Tom Brady

“Bill Belichick has had to take out about 40 percent of the defensive playbook with all the new faces.” – Patriots TV analyst Steve DeOssie in ‘Word on the Street’ segment live from Foxboro

“When you go 0-3, all of a sudden as coaches you start thinking, ‘if we’re out of the playoff race, do we start playing some young players to evaluate?’ Does Josh Freeman start entering the picture?” – Mariucci on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers possibly going 0-3 vs. the Giants

“Never have the Giants had two receivers go for over 130 yards like Steve Smith and Mario Manningham did last week. Never did Plax and Amani Toomer do that.” – Irvin on the Giants receiving corps

“When you‘re on the road, you must pack your defense.” – Sapp on the Titans-Jets matchup

“Frank Gore is facing the Pro Bowl law firm of Williams, Williams & Allen.” – Mariucci on the 49ers-Vikings matchup and Minnesota’s defensive line featuring Kevin Williams, Pat Williams and Jared Allen

“I want to know about these linebackers that Mike Singletary is coaching right now. They’re facing the premiere back in the game. If you’re a linebacker, you want to face the best. You can make your name off a matchup like this.” – Sapp on the 49ers-Vikings matchup

“Here’s a little advice from being there: Get the man the ball.” – Mariucci on Bills WR Terrell Owens

La Canfora’s News Reports:

Ÿ Things are at a ‘status quo’ in regards to WR Michael Crabtree and his contract negotiations with the San Francisco 49ers. Crabtree has his eyes on the contract that Raiders WR Darrius Heyward-Bey got from the Oakland at the number seven spot, which includes about $23.5 in guaranteed money. The 49ers have a slotted deal on the table that includes about $16 million in guaranteed money. That’s a huge gap that hasn’t been closed. At this point, Crabtree has not taken up the 49ers on their offer to get together in a room with ownership to sit down together and try to hash it out. Both sides talk incrementally, but no real progress has been made.

Ÿ There was a positive sign this week between the NFL and the NFL Players Association when both sides got together and jointly sent out a memo to all players reinforcing their drug policies and the discipline that will come if you violate the league’s drug policy. So you can see if they were able to agree on something and jointly issue a memo, then this week when they are scheduled to get together for negotiation talks on the CBA, perhaps they’ll be a little positive momentum that comes from getting together on this StarCaps issue.

For additional thoughts from La Canfora, check out his blog at http://www.nfl.com/news/author?id=09000d5d8112986c

Here are your news and notes from ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown.

2009 “Sunday NFL Countdown” Notes and Quotes — Week 2

ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown host Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson previewed today’s NFL action.

Some excerpts:

On whether Tom Brady is struggling as a result of the knee injury which forced him to miss last season …

Johnson: “Any player with a major knee injury is going to struggle out the gate. That’s just it. … As the season continues to go, Tom Brady will continue to get better. Now, I don’t know if the team will continue to get better but Tom Brady will continue to get better.”

Jackson: “There are players who have had knee surgeries who are never the same again. That has happened in the past. So we don’t know whether that’s going to happen. … He certainly doesn’t look the same right now. The other thing is, he’s a victim of game plan. When you drop a guy back 50 times a game to throw a football, you not only make it hard on that guy – empty backfield – you make it hard on the five guys in front of him. But what were they going to do? They won 18 games in row doing this.”

Carter: “I don’t know what Brady I’m going to see because I don’t know what kind of protection he’s going to get. … There’s only one guy that I could see that could take pressure, and that was Joe Montana. That’s why when people ask me who’s the best quarterback, it’s always Joe. What I saw last week was a guy who didn’t want to get hit.”

Ditka: “When you have success, you get confidence. When you have failure, you get doubt. Now this is not his failure as much as the football team’s failure. They don’t have the people, the receivers. I don’t care how good Randy Moss is, you can take one guy out of a football game, and they don’t have the other weapons around. … This kid’s a great football player, but he’s got to have some help.”

ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer (pre-recorded): “Let’s not get too caught up in his mechanics. Sometimes that’s the easy thing to say. The NFL position of quarterback is played under chaos. You must throw from multiple platforms and multiple arm angles. The problem is Tom Brady is being asked to do it too much this year, and that’s the problem. It’s with the Patriots, not Tom Brady.”

To View Video Clip, Click Here

On the Patriots’ struggles this season …

Jackson: “You have to make some commitment to the run game. When you look at the Patriots’ offense, it’s all about throwing the football. … As the game goes on, they tend to get away from the run game to where you get to the fourth quarter – the last three full games that Tom Brady has played, they’ve only run the ball four times, four times in three football games. When you do that, you make yourself one-dimensional and teams are taking advantage of that and putting pressure on top.”

Johnson: “There’s a lack of personnel on the defensive side of the football … and the depth offensively is just not there.”

From Sal Paolantonio interview with Michael Vick …

Vick (on the wildcat offense): “I like to drop back and throw the football. I like to drop back, read the defense, throw the football. That’s when I make the plays that I’m able to make, whether it’s with my arm or with my legs. That’s when things happen naturally. Now, more so, it’s almost like when I come into the game it’s like I’m coming in as a decoy or I’m coming in to run the wildcat. I like it, it’s cool, but it’s more effective when you are out there full time, you know, but we’re going to make it work here.”

To view Paolantonio’s interview with Vick, click here.

On Vick and the Eagles quarterback situation …

Jackson: “He’s got to play. … His strength is, ‘I’m a better athlete than anybody else on this field.’ If he’s a better quarterback (than Kevin Kolb), then you’ve gotta let him play. You’ve got to figure out how to get him on the field.

“You heard that he wants to be a full-time quarterback again, dropping back to pass the football. One of the more amazing athletes we’ve ever seen in this league, touching the football on every play. I think that really is eventually the ultimate threat, but today look for him to do what he does, do what Andy Reid wants him to do out of that wildcat formation, and make a few plays for the Philadelphia Eagles.”

Ditka: “I believe Michael Vick is one of the best football players in the National Football League. I don’t care if you put him under center, put him in the shotgun, put him in the wildcat – use him.”

On Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and his performance on Monday night …

Jackson: “What he’s doing right now, it’s magic.”

From Rachel Nichols feature on the attitude and toughness head coach Rex Ryan has brought to the New York Jets, reminiscent of his father, Buddy Ryan, architect of the Bears’ famed 46 Defense …

Rex Ryan: “I learned a ton of what to do from my dad and maybe a couple things that maybe what not to do.”

Jets assistant coach Doug Plank, who wore #46 for the Bears (for which the Bears’ 46 Defense is named): “What Rex has done over the last 20-30 years, I think he’s taken the body of what was the 46 Defense and added so many different components to it, and variations, it’s almost like that toy the Transformer. It starts out as one thing, as an automobile, and you can turn it into 50 different things.”

Rob Ryan, Rex’s brother and Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator: “If you make a Ryan guarded, it’s dumb. If you want to harness him back, and pull him back, it’s ridiculous. It’s like having a Ferrari and not going over 15 miles per hour. Hell, let that thing burn. Let it go.”

To view the Nichols E:60 feature, click here.

From Trent Dilfer feature on 49ers head coach Mike Singletary and the hill he had built at the team’s training facility this offseason, creating a new conditioning program …

Singletary: “I always said that whenever I became a head coach, that’s one of the first things I wanted to do. … It’s just trying to give the guys just one more thing that I know builds endurance that’s different from what other teams are doing. … Everybody that I have known that worked on the hill had great careers – had long careers. A lot of guys that really worked on the hill, it did things that you can’t get in the weight room. … The biggest thing this team will learn from the hill is that it really is about the climb. ‘I’m going to get to the top of something and I’m going to conquer it.’”

On the New York Jets’ toughness and versatility …

Carter: “I give the Jets credit for style points — because they have an all-weather team.”

These are Fox NFL Sunday’s quotes.

FOX NFL SUNDAY NOTES – 9/27/09

Bradshaw: Vick Should Never Reference ‘Superman’ Again, It’s About Team

Glazer’s Conversation with Vick on Life In Prison

Strahan: Jim Zorn is in Over His Head

Johnson: It’s a Head Coach’s Job to Instill Confidence and Rex Ryan Has Done That

Long: Favre Must Hit Big Plays to Take Pressure Off Peterson

Co-host Terry Bradshaw on Michael Vick’s outlook: “I heard an interview with Mike this week when he said, ‘Superman isn’t quite ready yet.’ If I had the chance to talk to him I’d say, don’t ever say Superman again. Don’t ever reference me or I again because it’s all about team. Be thankful for Andy Reid and the job he’s doing with you and the fact that the Eagles really do want you there. Be a good team guy. Say how great it is to be a part of the Wildcat and that you’ll do anything you can to help them win.”

NFL Insider Jay Glazer’s conversation with Mike Vick on life in prison: “In a very revealing and open conversation I had with Mike yesterday, he said, ‘I’m about 80-85% of what I used to be. There’s a big misconception that all you do in jail is workout. I couldn’t really workout. They had a grass field but you couldn’t run on it. You have a couple of days where you can lift weights but it’s too crowded.’ Vick took a night job as a janitor and that’s when he was able to work out. He was able to go downstairs into the basement, use a treadmill and jump some rope. Other than that, Vick said, ‘I started from scratch.’”

Glazer on Vick trying to stay anonymous and diffusing one altercation while in prison: “Vick told me, ‘the problem is, other than missing your family; you’re in there with 500 other guys. You don’t know if anyone wants to take their frustrations out on you. You don’t know what anyone’s intentions are.’ “He used to be a big star and all the attention was on him and he said, ‘I tried to be as anonymous as possible.’ He did have one altercation while he was there on the basketball court. One guy threatened physical harm to him. He said, ‘the problem is, if you stand up for yourself you risk more jail time. If you don’t, then everybody goes after you. Luckily one of my friends jumped in and said, ‘Mike, this guy has nothing to lose and you have everything to lose and diffused it.’”

Co-host Curt Menefee: “That’s something that Plaxico Burress is facing right now and I know that the two talked and Mike gave him a little advice.”

Analysts Michael Strahan and Howie Long on Redskins Head Coach Jim Zorn:

Strahan: “You start to wonder if Zorn is in over his head. That’s what I’m starting to wonder.”

Howie: “There are a lot of really high profile coaches sitting at home or on TV sets right now and owner Daniel Snyder tends to have attention-deficit. I think Zorn could be in trouble.”

Co-Host Terry Bradshaw on Jim Zorn: “This was a team that was 6-2 last year before they fell apart. I don’t think he’s going to get canned. I think they’re going to turn this thing around and get better.”

Analyst Howie Long on Brett Favre having to make some plays to ease the pressure on Adrian Peterson: “Brett Favre so far has been flawless, 77% completion. But 43 of his 48 passes have been for 10 yards or less. He’s going to have to get the ball down the field to Rice and Berrian some point in this game. Does he press a lot in the home opener? He’s got to hit a big play to take some pressure off Peterson.”

Analyst Jimmy Johnson on playing with confidence:

On Rex Ryan and the Jets: “You heard me say last week that Rex Ryan has a little swagger and it could be a self fulfilling prophecy in effect. Well, the Jets beat the Patriots 16-9. It’s a head coach’s job to instill confidence in his players. Ryan has done that with the underdog Jets. His bravado has them believing they can win. Trust me; it all comes from the leader in his approach. You may not remember, but one year I said, ‘Go ahead and put it in seven inch headlines. Are we going to beat the 49ers? Yes, and win the NFC Championship Game.’ It wasn’t about having guts or bragging. All I wanted to do is let my players know that I had total confidence in them. I had a very good team and I wanted them performing at their highest level. They did and we won the Super Bowl that season.”

On the New England Patriots: “The Patriots are the NFL standard this decade. They play with confidence because they believe they are the best prepared team in the league. I’ve always said, ‘Treat a person as he is, he will remain as he is. Treat a person as if he were what he could be or should be and he’ll become what he could be and should be.”

Cowboys Tony Romo playing with confidence: “The big knock on Tony Romo is that he plays great against teams he should beat but plays tight in big games. This is not about talent, this is about confidence. How do you create confidence? You have to have him so well prepared in those big games that he knows that he will make the play. Also, simplify the game plan to where you don’t put it on his back. The bigger the game, the simpler the plan.”

To CBS and the NFL Today.

NEWS, NOTES & QUOTES FROM CBS SPORTS’ “THE NFL TODAY” WITH JAMES BROWN, DAN MARINO, SHANNON SHARPE, BILL COWHER AND BOOMER ESIASON FOR WEEK 3 ON SEPTEMBER 27

? NFL TODAY HOST JAMES BROWN SAT DOWN WITH PHILADELPHIA’S MICHAEL VICK

(On being prepared to take over Eagles’ quarterback spot for whole game should Kolb get injured)

VICK: I can do it. I can do it and everybody will see that.

(On media saying Vick will only be a “package quarterback”)

VICK: Not at all, that’s not what my future holds. I know I can play this game. I know I can play for a long time. I still have the speed, the quickness and I still have the mind to run an NFL offense. My future is bright, you know. I’m excited about it. I know what I can do, you know. And I let the critics talk and say what they want to say. But I will be a starter in this league in the future.

(On what Vick imagined being scenario of his return versus how it’s playing out)

VICK: This isn’t the exact scenario that I thought was going to play out.

JB: What did you think?

VICK: I actually thought I would be playing for a team and actually starting. But as it turned out, and I think the Lord makes things happen certain ways for certain reasons, and it wasn’t meant for me to be a starter. It was meant for me to be in the role that I’m in now. I’ve got time to work to get myself back into playing shape and learn from one of the best quarterbacks in the game.

(On reports of possible rift with Donovan McNabb and their relationship)

VICK: That’s all talk. That’s just, you know, the critics and the public saying what they want to say and they feel like Donovan and myself can’t co-exist. And like, how can we not? We’ve known each other for years. I grew up patterning my game after Donovan. I’m delighted to be here and he accepted me with open arms. He practically helped make the decision for me to come here.

REACTION TO VICK

BOOMER ESIASON: I think there are four or five teams he could be starting for today, Sunday. I will say this, I do like the fact that he said he wants to be an instrument of change. And I do believe that he is legitimate when he says that, and I love watching him talk to the kids as well. I don’t believe he will be a Philadelphia Eagle next year because of his contract status. They’ll have to pay him over $5 million if they want to keep him. I do believe he will be a starting quarterback in this league, and it will be on another team.

? QUICK HITS

(On transition of NFL becoming a passing vs. running game)

BILL COWHER: The game has changed. The rules have changed. I think right now, I hate to say this, but the running game is a complement. It’s not the foundation that it once was. You look at the last three AFC teams that were in the Super Bowl, that’s Pittsburgh, New England and Indianapolis. They’re all passing games. The running game is a complement.

DAN MARINO: Coach, do you have a fever? Listen, I can’t believe it. You’re the purist, run guy always. The Giants a couple years ago were a running football team, they won the Super Bowl. And I think if you look around the league, I have to disagree with you. If you asked any of the head coaches, they would rather have a balanced offense going into any game than throwing 300 times like New England did. They threw it 50 times and they didn’t win the football game.

(On whether Patriots are same team than before)

BOOMER: Right now I’m going to say no but this is still going to be a great Patriots team. Tom Brady isn’t even a year removed from his surgery on his left knee for the ACL and MCL tears. He’s rounding back into shape. The defense has a lot of different names. They’ve played reasonably well but you can’t expect Tom Brady to average 50 pass attempts a game and this team to win. I say today they’ll go back to run the ball, take pressure off Tom Brady and I am not going to panic yet on my Super Bowl pick. I still tell you he’s the best quarterback in football and that will bear itself out.

COWHER: I say no and I say this for a lot of reasons. They’ve got a lot of missing components on the defensive side: Seymour, Vrabel, Bruschi, Rodney Harrison and Asante Samuel. I agree with you, Tom Brady is going to work into it, but this is a football team that has a lot more questions than they have answers.

?“INSIDE THE NFL” WITH CHARLEY CASSERLY

(On Adrian Peterson’s durability)

CASSERLY: The way he runs, his running style, I think he’s putting himself in a position to have a serious injury. (Clip being shown) Watch here as he lowers his head and uses it as a battering ram to take on the defenders. Appears to me what he ought to do, when he takes on a defender put a move on him. If that doesn’t work, get out of bounds or take the blow with his shoulder. Here are the three things I think he’s putting himself at risk for: Number one, by lowering that head, you have a concussion; Number two he’s got an elongated neck and I think he has a greater potential than the average player for a stinger; and finally if he lowers that head any more he’s got a potential for a cervical spine injury.

NBC’s Football Night in America quotes will be posted when they become available.

And here is FNIA quotage for you.

FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA HIGHLIGHTS: WEEK 3

Dungy's Coach's Clicker, Straight Talk from Rodney Harrison & Costas Interviews Fitzgerald, Caldwell, Schwartz, Ryan

PATRICK: "Do you think Brett Favre knows who Greg Lewis is?"
DUNGY: "He does now."

NEW YORK -- September 27, 2009 -- Following are highlights from NBC Sports' "Football Night in America." Bob Costas hosted the show live from University of Phoenix Stadium. The temperature outside was 110 degrees. Inside the retractable dome stadium it was 71 degrees. He was joined on site for commentary by Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth. Co-hosts Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann, analysts Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison, and reporter Peter King were live from NBC's 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios, covering the news of the NFL's third week.

TONY DUNGY'S "COACH'S CLICKER" ON PEYTON MANNING AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE:
Dungy: "Every single thing he does has meaning. Every movement, every gesture he is getting information to players."

ON MICHAEL VICK'S FIRST GAME BACK
Dungy: "He was really excited, just happy to be out there. He told me he can't remember having butterflies before a game and he had butterflies today...He wants to be a drop-back quarterback. He wants to be part of the reason they win. But he'll do what it takes and what Andy asks him."

Harrison: "I saw him in the preseason and I saw him today. I think the wildcat is a joke right now. I think it's a joke for Michael Vick. He wants to be a drop-back quarterback. He's not a running back. He's lost some quickness. He's not as explosive as he once was. It's a complete joke. They're not getting any production out of this wildcat offense. If Andy Reid really wants to help Michael Vick, put him under center and let him drop back 10 or 12 times and let him become a quarterback. Let him get repetitions as a quarterback instead of this gimmick stuff. This is not Michael Vick's game."

ON THE REDSKINS PROBLEMS
Harrison: "It's many problems dealing with the Washington Redskins. One problem in particular is Jason Campbell, the quarterback. I don't know what they see in this guy. To me, he's a backup quarterback that's been elevated to a starter. He's a guy that's unpredictable. He's inconsistent. He's not a guy that defensive players look at and fear."

Dungy: "I wouldn't blame it all on the quarterback. He threw for a lot of yards today. They're having trouble scoring. I think it goes to a bigger thing, maybe an organizational thing. It's always new free agents, new players, all-star guys. They need to build a team concept there."

Patrick: "It seems like Daniel Snyder treats it like it's a fantasy league team. You bring in [Albert] Haynesworth. They were trying to get Sanchez. They're always looking for something different. There's no core there."

Dungy: "It's not always getting the best players. It's building a good team, building a team that everyone has confidence in, and, right now, they don't have confidence."

ON BRETT FAVRE'S GAME-WINNING TD PASS TO NEW WR GREG LEWIS
Patrick: "Do you think Brett Favre knows who Greg Lewis is?"

Dungy: "He does now."

ON TOM BRADY
Harrison: "Brady is obviously not himself right now. He has to learn patience. He has to know he's coming off an ACL-MCL injury. It's going to take a year or year-and-a-half. I had a similar injury as Tom Brady. It took me at least six-to-eight weeks to really feel comfortable. As a quarterback dropping back, looking downfield, the timing is going to be off course a little bit and he's not going to be the Tom Brady of old."

ON TERRELL OWENS' POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Dungy: "You really don't want that. But I think you know that's what you get with Terrell Owens. When things aren't going well, you're going to get stuff like that. That's hard to coach."

Harrison: "He's just a clown, a straight up clown. He's more concerned with individual stats as opposed to the team's success. Just a clown."

ON REX RYAN
Harrison: "He's got a big mouth. He's super arrogant. But he's a great coach. That team believes in him."

ON THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS BEING 1-2
Dungy: "The Pittsburgh Steelers are 1-2 because they can't run the football. They're putting all the pressure on Ben Roethlisberger to win games. They've got to run it better."

COSTAS INTERVIEWS
"Football Night" host Bob Costas interviewed Colts head coach Jim Caldwell and Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald prior to the game, and conducted a live interview with Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz, who led the Lions to a win today to break their 19-game losing streak and, at halftime, 3-0 Jets head coach Rex Ryan.

CALDWELL on what he learned from Penn State head coach Joe Paterno, who he worked for as an assistant coach from 1986-92: "I can sum it up in one saying. I actually have the saying in our locker room in Indianapolis. 'Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves.' Play smart. Play fast. Play physical. All the other things will fall into line."

FITZGERALD on thoughts of the Cardinals near-win in the Super Bowl: "A frown. It brings up bad memories. We talked about it as a team and we tried to put that behind us. That was last year and we have to continue to move forward."

SCHWARTZ on the college atmosphere at Ford Field after the game: "We were in the locker room and the players were celebrating. It felt good after the game. I just told the players this win is more than just about us. This is the city of Detroit. Let's get out of the locker room and share this win with our fans. The fans that stayed around were lucky enough to have the players come out and high five with them."

RYAN on his dad, former NFL head coach Buddy Ryan, being the defensive line coach for the Jets' Super Bowl III team: "I speak to him a couple of times a week. When I took this job, when I got this amazing opportunity to be the head football coach of the Jets, he just told me 'not to mess it up because this was his team.' So I'm trying not to mess it up. He's proud as any father would be of his son coming back to his stomping grounds. We think we have great karma here. The first year my dad was a head coach [sic] he went to the Super Bowl."

That’s it.

Videos of the Week – Fang’s Bites Favorite Beatles Songs

Time to do a Videos of the Week and since Sirius XM does “Breakfast with The Beatles” at 9 a.m. on Underground Garage every Sunday, I figured I’d give you some of my all-time favorite songs from my all-time favorite band. Many of these I have posted before, but I will do a countdown from 10 until 1.

Let’s start with number 10 and Penny Lane. This video comes directly from Apple Corp, The Beatles’ own record company so no threat of it being taken down.

From Help!, this is my 9th favorite Beatles song (no, it’s not Revolution No. 9. No. 9. No.9), You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away.

This is from the movie and album, “Let It Be”. The famous rooftop concert on top of Apple Records in London in 1969. This is “I’ve Got A Feeling” at number 8.

Another video directly from the Apple Corp. vaults. “I Am The Walrus” from “Magical Mystery Tour”. This is my 7th favorite song.

At number 6, here’s “Strawberry Fields Forever”. Great song.

These are The Beatles performing “Hey Jude” on The David Frost Show at number 5. Note the Al Franken look-a-like at 4:23.

At number 4, this is a live performance of “All You Need Is Love” for the first ever live global satellite link. If you saw “The Beatles Anthology”, you’ll know that it was broadcast to 26 countries and 400 million people watching live.

No Friday Megalinks or Saturday Links

On Friday, all of my well-laid plans to have the Friday megalinks up by now were dashed when I was stuck editing a press release for over an hour today. I had a nice post of leftover Thursday press releases published when I noticed the layout was messed up. Then when I tried to correct it, it took longer than expected. Then when I tried to publish it, all of my work disappeared as well as the press releases. After another effort to post them, I gave up, but by that time, it was already noon on the East Coast and none of my regular Friday features such as Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks, NFL Viewing Picks, College Football Viewing Picks and Weekend Viewing Picks had yet to be published on the blog.

I finally got them up, but it was too late to get the megalinks started. Plus, I had dinner plans and other things going for the evening, so unfortunately, I was not able to get megalinks going. My apologies. It’s one of the features that has been a staple since I began doing the links.

We’ll have them back up next week.

Another reason that the links weren’t up Friday and again on Saturday is the fact I’m heading to New York to see my niece for the first time. She was born on Wednesday and I can’t wait to see her. So if you can indulge me for this instance, I pledge that the megalinks will return.

Thanks. See you back here on Sunday.

Friday’s Press Release Reading

Here are some more press releases that came into the Fang’s Bites inbox on Friday. We’ll get these posted and go to bed. Busy day on Saturday. I won’t be near a computer as I’ll be in New York to get my first glimpse at my niece. It’s nice to write that.

This is from Sirius XM Radio which states that it will carry every Big Ten football game starting on Saturday as well as most basketball games. Good news for college sports fans.

BIG TEN FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL TO AIR NATIONWIDE ON SIRIUS XM RADIO

NEW YORK – September 25, 2009 – SIRIUS XM Radio and Learfield Sports announced today an agreement to broadcast Big Ten Conference football and men’s basketball games to listeners nationwide.

Starting September 26, SIRIUS XM will begin airing live play-by-play of every Big Ten football game through the end of the regular season. A schedule of Big Ten men’s basketball games on SIRIUS XM will be announced at a later date.

“Year after year the Big Ten boasts some of the country’s best teams and we’re thrilled to have these games as part of our college sports lineup,” said Steve Cohen, SIRIUS XM’s SVP of Sports Programming. “With SIRIUS XM, Big Ten fans and alumni will be able to follow their teams from anywhere in the continental U.S., and college sports fans around the country will have access to some of the season’s best matchups.”

“We’re thrilled to have completed this agreement in time for tomorrow’s games,” said Learfield Sports’ Senior Vice President Mike Behymer. “Big Ten Conference fans will be happy to catch their favorite University game action on satellite radio every week throughout the season.”

CBC announces that the new season of Hockey Night in Canada Radio begins on Sirius Satellite Radio on Monday. Old interviews had been running the last week and it’s nice to know host Jeff Marek and the HNIC staff will be back.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA RADIO ON SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO RETURNS FOR THIRD SEASON, SEPT. 28

Glenn Healy, Kevin Weekes and Guy Carbonneau join HNIC Radio team

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA heads back to the airways, Monday, Sept. 28, with HNIC Radio exclusively on SIRIUS Satellite Radio. Season three will feature all the marquee interviews, intelligent hockey talk, and breaking news from the world of hockey that listeners have come to expect. Returning to its regular time slot, HNIC Radio on SIRIUS airs from 4-7 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday on SIRIUS Satellite Radio’s Channels 122 and 97, beginning Sept. 28. (Encore broadcast immediately following from 7 -10 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday, on SIRIUS Satellite Radio’s Channel 122; and channel 97 replays the broadcast from 8-11 p.m. and 12 a.m. – 3 a.m. ET).

Jeff Marek returns as the host of HNIC Radio on SIRIUS, alongside rotating co-hosts including Kelly Hrudey, Cassie Campbell Pascall, Craig Simpson and Scott Morrison. Mike Milbury, Scott Oake, Mark Lee, PJ Stock, Pierre Lebrun, Jim Hughson and Elliotte Friedman return as contributors. Also, the newest members of CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA broadcast team, Glenn Healy, Kevin Weekes and Guy Carbonneau have been added to the show on a weekly basis to provide their perspective on all NHL-related matters.

HNIC Radio on SIRIUS hits the ground running, providing listeners with all of the latest news from NHL training camps as well as intriguing stories and happenings from the off-season. Fans are invited to drop by the Front Street CBC Sports set inside the CBC building in Toronto, from Wednesday, Sept 30 to Friday, Oct 2, between 4 and 7 p.m. ET, to watch live broadcasts of HNIC Radio on SIRIUS.

Hot topics for discussion will include a look at all six Canadian teams as they begin the 2009/10 season, the ongoing Phoenix Coyotes situation, and the defending Cup champions in Pittsburgh. The show will also examine personnel changes around the NHL, including a coaching change in Dallas, Chris Pronger heading to Philadelphia, and phenom John Tavares as he launches his career with the Islanders. Special guests will include top NHL players Scott Gomez, Mike Comrie, Tim Thomas, Chris Pronger and Martin Brodeur, NHL coaches and officials—as well as regular members of the HNIC Radio on SIRIUS broadcast team: Ron MacLean, Kelly Hrudey, Mike Milbury, P.J. Stock, Elliotte Friedman, Mark Lee and on Wednesday, Sept 30, a special in-studio appearance by Ron MacLean, followed by Don Cherry, on Friday, Oct. 2, at 4 p.m. ET.

Hockey fans can visit CBCSports.ca 24 hours a day, seven days a week for live and on-demand video streaming of all games as well as comprehensive NHL coverage, including weekly columns from CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA personalities, breaking news, in-depth reports, broadcast schedules and more. At game time, Jeff Marek will be joined by Scott Morrison at the I-Desk, found on CBCSports.ca. The show will feature a mix of post-game interviews and coaches press conferences, game highlights, comments from online bloggers and discussions with Elliotte Friedman and Scott Oake from rinkside.

HBO Pay Per View announced that last week’s Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez pay per view fight garnered one million buys. A good number.

MAYWEATHER-MARQUEZ REGISTERS

ONE MILLION PAY-PER-VIEW BUYS

Sept. 25, 2009 – NEW YORK — HBO Sports reported today that one million pay-per-view buys were generated from last Saturday’s welterweight fight between Floyd Mayweather and Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The fight was promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions.

The one million buy total represents the highest performing boxing pay-per-view event in 2009 and generated $52 million in pay-per-view revenue. The million buys include 525,000 from cable homes and 475,000 from satellite homes. It is only the fifth time in boxing pay-per-view history that a non-heavyweight event has attained the one million buy mark. Mayweather, a bona fide superstar, returned to the ring after a 21-month absence and showed no signs of rust in scoring a dominating victory. He has now participated in two events that have reached the one million buy mark.

“Sept. 19 was an event that connected with sports fans across the country,” said Mark Taffet of HBO Pay-Per-View. “Floyd Mayweather has clearly reinforced his standing as a top attraction and fans are excited about his return to the sport.”

Mayweather vs. Marquez will be replayed this Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10:00 p.m. ET/ 7:00 p.m. PT on HBO. The 12-round unanimous decision triumph by Mayweather will be paired with the live heavyweight title fight featuring Vitali Klitschko and Cristobal Arreola from Los Angeles.

Golf Channel says it will have coverage of the PGA Tour’s Fall Series, a swing of five tournaments that many big names will skip after this weekend’s Tour Championship.

GOLF CHANNEL to Broadcast Exclusive Coverage of Fall Series

Orlando, Fla. (Sept. 25, 2009) – It is money that matters at THE TOUR Championship, but starting next week, careers will be on the line when the PGA TOUR’s Fall Series kicks off on GOLF CHANNEL. The cable network will air exclusive action from the final five tournaments of the season and feature storylines involving players fighting for their livelihood in an attempt to secure a spot in the top 125 on the TOUR’s money list and earn playing privileges for 2010.

Following are airtimes for each tournament in the Fall Series:

Turning Stone Resort Championship

(10/1 – 10/4) 4 – 6 p.m. ET

Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open

(10/15 – 10/18) 4 – 7 p.m. ET

Frys.com Open

(10/22 – 10/25) 5 – 7 p.m. ET

Viking Classic
(10/29 – 11/1) 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. ET

Children’s Miracle Network Classic

(11/12 – 11/15) 1 – 4 p.m. ET

To more actively involve fans in the Fall Series, GOLF CHANNEL, Kodak and Disney Golf have created Golf’s Photo Finish presented by Kodak and its accompanying viewer promotion called the Photo Challenge. The Photo Challenge will be a series of on-screen photo-trivia questions that will begin with next week’s coverage of the Turning Stone Resort Championship and is designed to promote the network’s broadcasts of PGA TOUR Fall events and Big Break Disney Golf.

To participate, fans can visit a special Web site (www.GolfChannel.com/PhotoChallenge) to answer the photo-trivia questions and become eligible for prizes. Kodak products, Disney Golf and Golf Channel prize packs will be among the prizes available for winning participants.

In addition to the photo-trivia contest, a special “Text to Win” promotion will provide fans watching PGA TOUR action on GOLF CHANNEL the opportunity to win a KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera. Once an hour during tournament coverage, on-screen messages will prompt viewers to text message a keyword for a chance to win the KODAK Zi8. One pocket video camera will be given away each hour of the tournament telecast.

Premiering Oct. 13 at 10 p.m. ET, Big Break Disney Golf will showcase a field of 12 men – collectively the most talented cast in series history, but individually at different stages in their careers – battling for the opportunity to fulfill the desire to play professional golf at the highest level. Shot mainly at both the Magnolia and Palm Courses at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla., the winner of the 10-week series will receive an exemption to compete in the 2010 Children’s Miracle Network Classic on the PGA TOUR. The series marks the first time that a Big Break winner will compete in a TOUR event on the same course in which the series was filmed.

That’s it for the releases.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

MLB

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

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

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

Entertainment
NCIS (season premiere) – CBS, 8 p.m.
NCIS: Los Angeles (series premiere) – CBS, 9 p.m.
Sons of Anarchy – FX, 10 p.m.
Joe Buck Live – HBO, 10 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman – CBS, 11:35 p.m.

Here’s Your UFL on Versus Announcing Crew

Today, the fledgling United Football League announced the crew that will call its games on Versus starting next month. Of course, DirecTV subscribers won’t be able to see the games as the satellite provider continues its dispute with the channel. But I digress.

Nice to see good friend Dave Sims get the play-by-play call, but interesting hire is that Baltimore sports radio host and former women’s professional football quarterback and Playboy model Anita Marks will be on the sidelines. Check out the release.

UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE

ANNOUNCES TV ANNOUNCERS

FOR VERSUS UFL TELECASTS

Dave Sims, Doug Flutie, Kordell Stewart

& Anita Marks to Lead Broadcast team

RUTHERFORD, NJ (September 22, 2009) – The United Football League announced today that four highly talented broadcasters will lead the television coverage of the UFL on VERSUS. Veteran play-play announcer Dave Sims joins the broadcast booth with color analyst and former NFL standout Doug Flutie. Former Steelers Quarterback Kordell Stewart and radio and television host Anita Marks will serve as sideline and features reporters.

“We have assembled a top-notch team to lead our inaugural telecasts on VERSUS,” said Frank Vuono, COO of the UFL. “The combined football experience and knowledge of Dave, Doug, Kordell and Anita will help us provide unprecedented access to professional football while allowing the home viewer prime viewing position that will truly make them feel like they are part of the action.”

A two-time Emmy Award winning sportscaster, Dave Sims is best known as the television play-by-play voice for the Seattle Mariners and the radio play-by-play announcer for Westwood One’s NFL Sunday Night Football. In addition, Sims continues to be a mainstay on the college sports scene where he has been calling basketball games for ESPN since 1991. A veteran of the local New York sports scene, Sims worked at WCBS-TV as a reporter/anchor, has hosted talk shows at Madison Square Garden Network and WFAN-AM Radio and spent seven years as a sportswriter for the New York Daily News. In addition to his Emmy Awards, Sims accolades include the 2005 Big East Conference Media Award and the American Football Foundation’s 2003 Lindsey Nelson Outstanding Sportscaster Award.

A phenomenal college football player who rose to prominence during his playing days at Boston College, Doug Flutie is probably best remembered for his 1984 “Hail Mary” touchdown pass. A Heisman Trophy and Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award winner, Flutie has had experience playing at all levels of professional football including the USFL, the NFL and the CFL. Flutie led the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts to back-to-back Grey Cup victories and was named CFL’s Most Outstanding Player a record six times and MVP in all of his three Grey Cup victories. As a member of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, he earned Pro Bowl and NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors. In 2006, Flutie was the top ranked CFL Player. In 2007, Flutie was named to the College Football Hall of Fame and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, the first American born player to be inducted. In combining his CFL, NFL and USFL statistics, Flutie ranks sixth among the all-time pro football passing leaders in attempts, completions and touchdowns.

Kordell Stewart joins the UFL broadcast team as sideline reporter. As quarterback at the University of Colorado, Stewart is also heralded for his “Miracle at Michigan” pass which led the Buffaloes past the University of Michigan 27-26 in 1994. He became one of the most prolific quarterbacks in school history, setting several records including most completed passes, most passing yards and most touchdown passes. In Kordell’s first season as a starting quarterback in the NFL, in 1997, he led the Steelers to an 11–5 record and the AFC Championship Game. In 2001, Stewart led the Steelers to a 13-3 regular-season record and the top seed in the AFC playoffs. He had the best professional season of his career throwing for over 3,000 yards, completing 60 percent of his passes and attaining a passer rating of 81.7. Stewart threw for 14 touchdowns and ran for five more. Stewart’s year culminated with his being elected to the Pro Bowl and being named Steelers MVP. Among NFL quarterbacks, Stewarts’ 38 rushing touchdowns ranks second all-time behind Steve Young’s. Stewart was given the nickname “Slash” early in his career due to his abilities as utility player playing running back/wide receiver/punter. Most recently, Stewart served as studio host on ESPNews for its college broadcasts.

Anita Marks learned about football by playing the sport competitively. She fine-tuned her football skills and dominated the Collegiate Flag Football Circuit for four years while attending the University of South Florida (USF) where she graduated with a Communications degree. Upon graduation from USF, Marks transferred her passion for sports into a career as a sports producer for the local CBS affiliate in Miami. The opportunity to return to the gridiron and play professional football occurred in 1999 when Marks served as quarterback for the Miami Fury, a women’s professional football team, for four years and the Florida Stingrays for one year. Known for her incredible arm strength and pinpoint accuracy, Marks developed a reputation for being one of the best QB’s to ever play women’s professional football. Upon conclusion of her playing days, Marks transitioned back to the media and currently hosts her own afternoon sports talk show on Baltimore‘s ESPN Radio 1300, which is also simulcast on television’s Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN). Marks also hosts the Ravens pre- and post-game shows and has her own television show on MASN called Fantasy Blitz.

The United Football League is a new professional football league that will kick-off its “Premiere” season this October. Featuring high-quality traditional football played by world-class athletes and led by former NFL coaches, the UFL’s “Premiere” season teams include the California Redwoods, Florida Tuskers, Las Vegas Locomotives and New York Sentinels. The UFL’s goal is to provide fans with affordable, innovative and entertaining game-day experiences.

The UFL previously announced that VERSUS, one of the fastest growing sports cable networks in the country, will air eight of the League’s “Premiere” season games. VERSUS’ first game will air on October 8^th at 9:00 PM EST. Each live telecast will be approximately three hours and all games will be produced and available in HD. The complete schedule for UFL games on VERSUS follows:

Oct. 8	California Redwoods at Las Vegas Locos	9:00 PM (EST)
Oct. 14	Florida Tuskers at Las Vegas Locos	9:00 PM (EST)
Oct. 22	California Redwoods at Florida Sentinels	7:00 PM (EST)
Oct. 29	California Redwoods at New York Sentinels	7:00 PM (EST)
Nov. 4	Las Vegas Locos at New York Sentinels	7:00 PM (EST)
Nov. 12	Florida Tuskers at New York Sentinels	7:00 PM (EST)
Nov. 19	Florida Tuskers at California Redwoods	9:00 PM (EST)
Nov. 27	Championship Game in Las Vegas	3:00 PM (EST)

Primetime and Late Night Viewing Picks coming up.

MLB Network Games for Tuesday

Last release before I shut the computer off. On Tuesday, MLB Network will air a game from the left coast at 10 p.m. ET.

MLB NETWORK ANNOUNCES LIVE GAMES FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

“Pennant Race” matchup features top American League teams New York Yankees and Anaheim Angels

Secaucus, N.J., September 21, 2009 – MLB Network today announced its “Pennant Race” game for Tuesday, September 22 will be a match-up between top American League East and West teams the New York Yankees at Anaheim Angels at 10:00 p.m. ET. The game, which will be blacked out in the Yankees’ and Angels’ home television territories, will be a simulcast of My 9’s local broadcast, including local announcers.

Viewers in the Yankees and Angels home television territories will see the Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics at 10:00 p.m. ET. Additional live games for the week will be announced coinciding with MLB Network’s selection windows.

That will do it. Good night.

Football-Centric Press Releases

Here are three football-related press releases.

Starting with NFL Network’s quotage from its NFL Gameday highlights and NFL Gameday Final shows.

Week 2 (Sept. 20, 2009) – Quotable from NFL GameDay Final & NFL GameDay Highlights on NFL Network

(Airs Sundays at 7:30 PM ET & 11:30 PM ET)

“All I can say is ‘wow.’ How can Mark Sanchez look as cool as Tom Brady?”

– Michael Irvin on Jets QB Mark Sanchez

“All who are listening and watching please take the Jets seriously.”

– Deion Sanders

“Baltimore is the team to beat in the AFC. We know they play defense. They’ve got a good young quarterback, they can run. They are a complete football team.”

– Steve Mariucci on Baltimore Ravens

“There was no timing in the passing game because he was under duress all day.”

– Steve Mariucci on Patriots QB Tom Brady

“He seemed like his rhythm is still off… like his knee is still bothering him. You never blitzed Tom Brady like that.”

– Deion Sanders on Patriots QB Tom Brady

“He started anticipating that before the snap.”

– Steve Mariucci on Ravens LB Ray Lewis’ game-sealing tackle of Darren Sproles late in the fourth quarter. Lewis’ tackle on a fourth-and-two deep in Ravens territory resulted in a five-yard loss.

“It’s like he doesn’t see the deep safety.”

– Deion Sanders on Cowboys’ QB Tony Romo throwing an interception on a deep pass with 30 seconds left in third quarter

“It takes some players a little time to mature in this game and understand what the NFL is all about. He has now hit that point of maturity.”

– Deion Sanders on Raiders S Michael Huff, who had two interceptions and a key late fourth-quarter pass defensed in Oakland’s victory over Kansas City

“Stuckey is tackled by Jimmy Hoffa.”

– Rich Eisen on Jets WR Chansi Stuckey, who was untouched, falling in end zone as he attempted to catch a pass

“He’s in my top three corners in the NFL.”

– Deion Sanders on Jets CB Darrell Revis

“How did they get those seats?”

– Steve Mariucci on Bengals fans in front row of Lambeau Field at spot of Chad Ochocinco’s Lambeau Leap

“You have Chris Johnson, Andre Johnson, Gus Johnson in the booth. Everybody is named Johnson. It’s like that scene in Blazing Saddles.”

– Rich Eisen on Texans-Titans

“The real ‘wildcat’ will be in play next week.”

– Deion Sanders on Eagles QB Michael Vick being eligible to play Week 3

“133 yards rushing, 311 yards passing – that is explosiveness at its best.”

– Deion Sanders on the New Orleans Saints performance vs. Philadelphia

Deion Sanders’ “Let’s Go Prime Time” – The “Primees”

Outstanding Comedy – Chad Ochocinco doing the Lambeau Leap

Outstanding Drama – New York Giants’ come-from-behind victory

Outstanding Director – New York Jets coach Rex Ryan

Outstanding Supporting Actor – Baltimore LB Ray Lewis

Outstanding Lead Actor – San Francisco RB Frank Gore

*** Additional exclusive video clips from Sunday’s NFL GameDay are available on NFL.com. Click on the video segments. These videos include:

- Titans RB Chris Johnson’s 284 Scrimmage-Yard Performance

- http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d812c389a/WK-2-Chris-Johnson-highlights

- Texans WR Andre Johnson’s One-Handed Scoring Catch

- http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/09000d5d812c02d7/WK-2-Can-t-Miss-Play-Johnson-s-one-handed-TD

- And many more Week 2 game highlights and postgame video only on NFL.com.

Here is what to expect on Fox Sports South as far as SEC programming is concerned.

THE SEC ON FOX SPORTS SOUTH – WEEK FOUR

SEC Gridiron LIVE Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on FOX Sports South

Charles Davis, Randy Cross, David Pollack and Cassidy Hubbarth Offer Previews & Picks

Auburn Hosts Ball State on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET in HD

This week, SEC football on FOX Sports South features the undefeated Auburn Tigers (3-0) and the Ball State Cardinals (0-3) of the Mid-American Conference. The Tigers host the Cardinals at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on FOX Sports South in high definition. The SEC has fared well against non-conference opponents in 2009 with a 19-2 record and the highest non-conference winning percentage of any FBS conference. Play-by-play announcer Bob Rathbun will be joined by analyst Dave Archer and sideline reporter Jenn Hildreth in the FOX Sports South booth.

On Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on FOX Sports South, SEC Gridiron LIVE and hosted by Charles Davis previews and picks all eight SEC games, including Arkansas’ contest against Alabama, a showdown between the SEC’s No. 1 total offense and No. 1 total defense. Analysts Randy Cross and David Pollack give out “Chinstraps,” which recognize gutsy gridiron performances, and social media reporter Cassidy Hubbarth goes behind the scenes at the Southeastern Raptor Center at Auburn University with a special look at Spirit the Eagle. Throughout the show, fans will have the opportunity to interact and debate with each other and the team of in-studio experts via Twitter, Facebook and email.

And join SEC Gridiron LIVE’s Cassidy Hubbarth at O’Charley’s in Opelika, Ala. (2501 Gateway Drive, Opelika, AL 36801) on Friday, September 25 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. CT. You could be featured on next week’s SEC Gridiron LIVE.

SEC football will be distributed to more than 24 million cable and satellite households on the FSN regional networks throughout the SEC territory – FOX Sports South, Sun Sports, FOX Sports Houston and FOX Sports Southwest.

And this is your lineup for Tuesday’s edition of the Tony Barnhart Show on CBS College Sports.

FORMER OLE MISS QUARTERBACK ARCHIE MANNING, MIAMI HEAD COACH RANDY SHANNON AND ACTOR DAVID KEITH THIS WEEK ON

“THE TONY BARNHART SHOW” ON CBS COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK

Barnhart to Examine Inconsistencies and Controversies of Major Polls

CBS COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK’s THE TONY BARNHART SHOW, a new weekly one-hour primetime college football talk show, features former Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning, University of Miami head coach Randy Shannon and Actor David Keith on Tuesday, Sept 22 (9:00 PM, ET).

“Mr. College Football,” Tony Barnhart hosts the show along with Brian Jones. The hard-hitting program will debate and analyze the hot topics and issues facing college football both on and off-the-field. This week Barnhart and Jones examine the voting inconsistencies and controversies associated with the major polls.

Throughout the season Barnhart will invite a variety of high-profile guests from the college football community, including coaches, administrators, writers, broadcasters and former players to the program. The distinguished guests will offer in-depth, lively, opinionated, topical discussions on the world of college football.

The TONY BARNHART SHOW will air each Tuesday throughout the college football season at 9:00 PM, ET. Mike Aresco serves as Executive Producer. Tyler Hale and Stefan Van Engen produce.

One more release and I’m calling it a night.