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NFL Previews for Week 11

We go to the NFL TV partners and what they’ll be discussing on their pregame shows as well as the storylines they’ll be covering over the weekend.

Beginning with ESPN and the features you’ll see on the pregames shows on Sunday and Monday.

ESPN’s Weekend and Monday NFL Studio Features

ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown will preview the day’s matchups Sunday at 11 a.m. ET with Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson. ESPN senior analyst Chris Mortensen and NFL insider Adam Schefter will provide headlines and league news.

The two-hour program will include reports from Rachel Nichols covering the Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants, Sal Paolantonio in Baltimore for the Colts at Ravens, Ed Werder in Dallas for Redskins at Cowboys, and Michael Smith covering the New York Jets at New England Patriots. Other highlights:

4^th Down Decisions: On Sunday night, Patriots coach Bill Belichick made a coaching decision to go for it on fourth down and two yards at his own 28-yard line. The play didn’t work and ultimately led to the Patriots loss against the Colts. Belichick is one of several NFL coaches who have studied the work of a former Cal-Berkeley economics professor – who advocates coaches being much more aggressive going for it on fourth down. Greg Garber examines Belichick’s decision and whether strange mathematical symbols and theories should intersect on the football field.

The Island: No position is more isolated on a football field than cornerback. When left in one-on-one coverage, it’s often stated that cornerbacks are out on “the island.” Pro Bowl cornerbacks Champ Bailey and Nnamdi Asomugha share their knowledge – and Keyshawn Johnson takes a visit to “the island” with Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis as his guide.

Colts D: Symbols of Success: The Colts defense has lost three starters for the year, but, instead of talking X’s and O’s, Colts head coach Jim Caldwell is talking Chinese characters. He’s told his team about the symbol for crisis – it includes one character meaning danger, the other standing for opportunity or crucial moment. Bob Holtzman reports on how the symbols have been metaphors for the Colts’ perfect season thus far.

Mayne Event – Maurice Jones-Drew’s Revenge: Maurice Jones-Drew leads the league in rushing touchdowns – and could have had one more if not for kneeling at the one-yard line against the Jets last Sunday. Some thought it was a strategy play, but in this week’s Mayne Event, Kenny Mayne finds out Jones-Drew was getting revenge – and on whom.

Soundtracks: Chargers-Broncos Rivalry: The Chargers and Broncos have been the rivalry to watch in the AFC West. Battling for first place in the division along with a fair share of bad blood can make for some interesting sights and sounds in this week’s Soundtracks.

Wide Receiver Demo: The Island: Countdown’s former Pro Bowl wide receivers Johnson and Carter take to the demo field to show how they attacked cornerbacks on “the island” and which wide receivers are most dangerous to defend one-on-one. Johnson and Carter debate whether the “cover corner” is a dying breed in today’s NFL, as Randy Moss suggested earlier this season.

Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em with Matthew Berry and Merril Hoge: ESPN’s fantasy football guru Matthew Berry and NFL analyst Merril Hoge debate which players to start or sit this weekend.

Berman, Carter, Ditka, Jackson and Johnson will pick the biggest games of the day and tell fans which players will make the biggest impact in NFL’s Week 11 action. The list of game picks will be posted on www.espn.com/sundaycountdown after the show.

MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN, 7 P.M. ON ESPN

Monday Night Countdown with Berman, Carter, Ditka, Jackson, Johnson, Mortensen and Schefter (in Bristol) and Stuart Scott, Matt Millen and Steve Young (at the MNF game in Houston) will review Sunday’s games and preview Monday Night Football. The 90-minute, pre-game show will lead into the kickoff of the Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans (8:30 p.m.) game, featuring Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski.

Reporters Suzy Kolber (Titans) and Michele Tafoya (Texans) will cover the teams. Other highlights:

Soundtracks: DeMeco Ryans: Texans Pro Bowl linebacker DeMeco Ryans may be the best player who still is not a household name in the NFL. The 2006 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year is wired for sound as he battles Maurice Jones-Drew in a game earlier this season.

ESPN The Magazine’s For Love or the Game: Matt Schaub: Monday Night Countdown and ESPN The Magazine will feature Texans quarterback Matt Schaub this week. Schaub’s wife, Laurie, and his teammate David Anderson will battle to see who really knows Schaub better.

WEEKLY MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN SEGMENTS
TEAMS AT 20 – Every 20 minutes reporters Tafoya and Kolber will update news from the teams in their preparations for the game, beginning with NFL Live at 3:30 p.m.

FIELD PASS – Countdown offers an all-access look at pre-game preparations as the players get ready for kickoff. Analysts will also breakdown the important storylines and key players before the game.

C’MON MAN – Countdown personalities share their head-scratching plays from Week 11.

In addition, Monday Night Football’s Tirico, Jaworski and Gruden will preview the night’s match-up, with Mortensen and Schefter covering breaking news from around the league, and the Countdown analysts offering their “Lead Pipe Lock” predictions for the game.

NFL MATCHUP, SUNDAY 3 A.M. AND 7:30 A.M. ON ESPN

NFL Matchup with host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski will preview the weekend’s games by bringing viewers inside the film room for the Xs and Os analysis of the matchups. The 30-minute program – taped each week at NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey – highlights team strategy and game planning. This week’s features:

Jets @ Patriots: Patriots Offense – Jaworski goes ‘Inside the Matchup’ to clarify how the Patriots can use an extra offensive lineman or a tight end to help protect against the Jets’ complex blitz schemes.

Jets @ Patriots: Mark Sanchez – Hoge pulls out his ‘Coaches Clicker’ to highlight how rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez needs to be more disciplined with his footwork in the pocket.

Chargers @ Broncos – Hoge shows how San Diego can use screens to provide a pseudo running game.

Redskins @ Cowboys – Tony Romo is the most blitzed quarterback in the NFL. Jaworski illustrates how Romo and the Cowboys’ offensive line have struggled to recognize and adjust to blitz pressure.

Colts @ Ravens – Hoge spotlights how the combination of player alignment and Manning’s ability to manipulate defenders makes it nearly impossible to stop the Colts offense on certain plays.

Seahawks @ Vikings – The Vikings are 8-1 for the first time since 1998, due in no small part to Brett Favre. Matchup goes ‘Beyond the Film Room’ onto the field for a glimpse of Favre when he’s playing quarterback.

Eagles @ Bears – Hoge reveals how Donovan McNabb needs to make quicker reads and throw with more accuracy in the red zone if the Eagles want to avoid wearing out their field goal kicker.

Titans @ Texans – Jaworski displays how the Titans have used Vince Young’s talents wisely both to help him feel comfortable and to take advantage of Chris Johnson, arguably the most dangerous running back in the game.

Over to Fox Sports where Fox NFL Sunday co-host Terry Bradshaw has it out for Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

NFC East Rivals and Playoff Contenders Share the Spotlight on the NFL on FOX

Terry Bradshaw on Roy Williams: “He’s Not Proving Anything”

NFL ON FOX HIGHLIGHT PLAYOFF CONTENDERS – The 2009 NFL on FOX campaign rolls into Week 11 on Sunday, Nov. 22 with singleheader coverage of six exciting matchups—each presented in crystal clear HD. At 1:00 PM ET, two of the NFC East’s fiercest rivals meet in Dallas as Tony Romo and the Cowboys host the Redskins. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver call the action from Cowboys Stadium. In New Jersey, Eli Manning and the 5-4 Giants look to right the ship. Standing in their way are Matt Ryan and the 5-4 Falcons. Adrian Peterson and the 8-1 Vikings are on a roll and aim to keep it that way when they host the Seahawks. The undefeated Saints visit Tampa to face the Bucs and the Packers host the 49ers to round out the 1 PM slate. At 4:00 PM ET, Kurt Warner and the Cards are on the road to take on the Rams in St. Louis.

Coverage begins at 12:00 PM ET with America’s most-watched pregame show, FOX NFL SUNDAY. Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee co-host the Emmy Award-winning program and are joined by analysts Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Jimmy Johnson. The crew is joined by NFL Insider Jay Glazer who presents the latest league news and scoops in the FOX NFL SUNDAY studio and comedic prognosticator Frank Caliendo contributes his weekly “Frank’s Picks” segment. In this week’s show, Oliver sits down with the Vikings’ wide receiver corps to find out how they meshed so well and in such little time with Brett Favre. Johnson breaks down the anatomy of a head coaching decision based on the Jaguars’ Jack Del Rio and the Pats’ Bill Belichick.

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

BRADSHAW ON ROY WILLIAMS: “HE’S NOT PROVING ANYTHING” – Coming off four straight wins, the 6-3 Dallas Cowboys were nearly shutout at Lambeau Field last Sunday, losing to the Green Bay Packers. “Dallas lost that game when Roy Williams dropped that pass and then fumbled, too. He may have finished with 100 yards receiving, but he’s certainly not worth two first-round picks and all that money Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is paying him. He’s not proving anything,” said four-time Super Bowl winning quarterback and FOX NFL SUNDAY co-host Terry Bradshaw. “Last Sunday was their chance to make a statement. If they beat the Packers, they have the Redskins and the Raiders coming into Dallas and they are 9-2 with five games remaining and they have the NFC East all wrapped up. Instead, they brought the Giants back into the picture.”

For more from Bradshaw and the entire FOXSports.com NFL crew, log onto http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/10378122/Eagles’-red-zone-issues-give-Chargers-boost

BILLICK: “CONFIDENCE IS A MISSING ELEMENT FOR THE BROWNS RIGHT NOW” – “As usual, it comes down to the simple things,” NFL on FOX analyst Brian Billick says regarding the Browns’ problems. “Every team has talent but the difference between legitimate talent, NFL talent and star talent is so very subtle. So much of it really does come from confidence and that’s something that’s missing from the Cleveland Browns right now. It’s a horrendous cycle and sometimes you just have to start from ground zero.”

On the NFL Today on CBS, James Brown will interview embattled Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini.

“THE NFL TODAY’S” JAMES BROWN SITS DOWN WITH CLEVELAND BROWNS HEAD COACH ERIC MANGINI FOR WEEK 11 ON SUNDAY, NOV. 15

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, Nov. 22 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET).

This week THE NFL TODAY’s host James Brown sits down with Cleveland Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini. Deb Gelman is the producer.

Brown hosts THE NFL TODAY along with analysts Dan 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.

CBS previews Week 11 with analysts Phil Simms and Dan Fouts.

THE NFL ON CBS: WEEK 11 (SUNDAY, NOV. 22)

AUDIBLES WITH LEAD “NFL ON CBS” ANALYST PHIL SIMMS AND DAN FOUTS

The CBS Television Network, home of Super Bowl XLIV, continues its Golden Anniversary 50^th year broadcasting the NFL with THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Nov. 22 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY, the Network’s one-hour studio show (12:00 NOON-1:00 PM, ET), live from THE NFL TODAY studio in New York City.

THE NFL ON CBS lead announce team of Jim Nantz, who this year is marking his 25^th with CBS Sports, and Phil Simms call the action from the New York Jets-New England Patriots game live from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.

Throughout the 2009 season, THE NFL ON CBS will broadcast all of its games each week in HDTV, the highest definition television format – 1080i lines of picture resolution – along with 5.1 digital audio.

Sean McManus is President, CBS News and Sports, and serves as executive producer of CBS Sports’ coverage of THE NFL ON CBS. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

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PHIL SIMMS

(On Bill Belichick’s fourth down call in Indianapolis game): It’s been documented that this was a premeditated thought. The whole week leading up to the game, he decided he was going to do this. I always tell people this about coaches: if it’s fourth-and-one from the one, the last play of the game, coaches already know what play they’re going to call. They determine those kinds of things during the week. So do I agree? It’s not about agreeing. Would I have done it? No, I would not have done it. What gets overlooked is not having timeouts. If he would have had one, I believe he would have won the challenge because in my mind Kevin Faulk was past the 30 yard line and clearly had possession of the football. It’s a general rule in the NFL to use your timeouts, no matter what, in the first half. In the second half, save them regardless of almost any situation, unless it’s a scoring opportunity. Save those timeouts for the end of the game.

(On how Patriots will respond to N.Y. Jets after loss to Colts): Emotionally there’s a little bit of a hangover from it because you put so much into the game. It was such an emotionally charged game. Then it’s talked about by the media, your family, your friends, your teammates. Sometimes it’s hard to put that behind you. If I was the coach, I would hope we do something good early to get the emotions and everything going our way in the game against the Jets.

(On Jets coming off five losses in last six games): The Jets have played a lot of close games. It’s how you play the last couple minutes of the game that many times determines if you’re a playoff team. They have not reacted well when the pressure is on – on either side of the ball – when it comes to those moments late in the game. Overall, the Jets have done a lot of good things. I’ve watched all of their games and Mark Sanchez has had a good rookie year. Has it been great? No, but it’s very good.

(On Jets-Patriots rematch): When the Patriots played in Week 2 they did not block the New York Jets very well. But now there’s a lot of film out there. There have been a lot of things to look at as the NFL season has settled in. Can the Jets get guys free and running at Tom Brady consistently like they did in Week 2? My first thought is, I have to see it to believe it. Because they’re experienced and had more time to prepare, I think the Patriots will handle the Jets’ blitz much better this time around.

NOTE: The Sporting News/Sports Business Journal/Sports Business Daily listed its Top 25 Football Broadcasters and CBS Sports was well represented: Gary Danielson (1), Phil Simms (4), Verne Lundquist (8), Jim Nantz (10), Greg Gumbel (17), Dan Fouts (20), Gus Johnson (24) and Dick Enberg (25).

DAN FOUTS

(On AFC West race): There’s no question this is a two-horse race between Denver and San Diego. There’s no doubt in my mind, this race will go down to the end.

(On Chargers being different team from last time they met Denver): They’re healthier number one. They’ve gotten healthier on the offensive line and at running back with LT (LaDainian Tomlinson), and defensively they’re playing a lot better. They had the huge loss in Jamal Williams and they’ve kind of gone to playing nose tackle by committee without him. The biggest thing is that they’ve regained their health, as well as LT and Shawne Merriman being healthy helps as well.

(On San Diego): Although the running game is important, it’s still the passing game that’s winning games for San Diego. With those receivers, along with LT and Darren Sproles coming out of the backfield along with Antonio Gates, they have so many weapons. The Chargers are not all that concerned with running the ball. They know they can win by throwing it.

(Keys to game for Denver): If you look back to the first game that Denver won, they got two touchdowns in the return game. So if you take those out of the game, it’s a different plan defensively for Denver as well. They got five sacks in that game. That would be my game plan if I were Mike Nolan –continue to put pressure on Philip Rivers and don’t let him beat you. Of course, that’s easier said than done.

(On Denver’s quarterback situation): It will be interesting to see how many reps Chris Simms gets in practice this week and how many reps Kyle Orton gets due to his ankle. He had an ankle injury last year when he was with the Bears that caused him problems. It’ll be interesting to see how long Josh McDaniels takes to make the decision on his quarterback.

(On how pivotal this game is for San Diego): There’s no question that if San Diego loses then they lose the tiebreak to Denver. And, a loss in conference impacts the wild card race down the road with other AFC teams as well. You don’t want to lose any game. You certainly don’t want to lose a divisional game with a team you’re tied to that’s already beaten you. And you don’t want to lose a conference game. San Diego would say that all games are critical, but this one, mathematically, would be devastating.

NOTE: This week Dan Fouts and LaDainian Tomlinson were the leading vote getters among the 53 players and coaches selected as the Greatest Chargers of all-time during the team’s 50^th Anniversary season.

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TRIP IN THE NFL ON CBS WAY BACK MACHINE…

In commemoration of THE NFL ON CBS celebrating its 50^th year broadcasting the NFL, footage from historic highlights will be featured during each game. Included among the clips this week during the Pittsburgh-Kansas City game will be a highlight of Super Bowl XIV when Pittsburgh’s Terry Bradshaw and John Stallworth connect for a 73-yard touchdown pass on their way to a 31-19 win over the Rams on January 20, 1980.

And NBC tries to hype a matchup of two NFC teams, Chicago at Philadelphia. A glamor Patriots-Colts game it’s not.

PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS AT STAKE WHEN BEARS HOST EAGLES ON “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” – AMERICA’S NO. 1 SHOW

“Teams know that a game like this could decide a playoff spot.” – Football Night’s Dungy

“This is a must-win game.” – Football Night’s Harrison

NEW YORK – Nov. 18, 2009 – The Chicago Bears (4-5) host the Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) on "NBC Sunday Night Football" – the No. 1 show in America – in a game with playoff implications for both teams.  

Coverage begins with "Football Night in America," Sunday at 7 p.m. ET with Bob Costas hosting live from inside the stadium. Al Michaels (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst) and Andrea Kremer (sideline reporter) call the action from Soldier Field.  

Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann will co-host "Football Night" from NBC's 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios joined by Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison and Sports Illustrated's Peter King. "Football Night's" Tiki Barber will report from Invesco Field at Mile High on the Chargers-Broncos game.

DUNGY: "Thanksgiving is when you start looking at playoff implications. It's always better when both teams are in a similar situation. Head-to-head is the first tie breaker and teams know that a game like this could decide a playoff spot."  

HARRISON: "This is a must-win game for two teams that have been inconsistent and underachieving." 

BEARS VS. EAGLES: The Bears lead the all-time series 27-10-1, including three playoff games (Eagles 2-1). The Bears have won the two most-recent regular-season meetings in 2007 and 2008, but the Eagles won the five preceding games, including a Divisional Playoff game in 2001. The teams' most famous game was the 1988 Divisional Playoff game, dubbed "The Fog Bowl" because a dense fog permeated the playing field and severely hampered visibility. The contest was won, 20-12, by the Bears.  

BEARS-EAGLES IN PRIMETIME: Since NBC acquired the NFL's premiere primetime package in 2006, the Chicago Bears are 4-5 and the Philadelphia Eagles are 0-7 on "Sunday Night Football." The Bears defeated the Eagles, 24-20, last year on "Sunday Night Football" by securing a fourth-quarter goal-line stand.  This is the third SNF appearance for the Bears this year. They were defeated, 21-15, by the Green Bay Packers on the road in Week 1 and by the Atlanta Falcons, 21-14, in Week 6. The Eagles lost to Dallas, 20-16, at home on SNF in Week 9. They are scheduled to travel to New York to face the Giants in Week 14.  

SUNDAY NIGHT IS 300-YARD NIGHT: Seven quarterbacks have passed for 300-or-more yards nine times on "Sunday Night Football" this season. Colts QB Peyton Manning has accomplished the feat three times. Bears QB Jay Cutler passed for 300 yards in a 21-14 loss to the Falcons in Week 6. Earlier this season (Weeks 2-5), winning quarterbacks passed for 300-or-more yards in four consecutive weeks, the first time in Sunday Night history.  

Following are the nine 300-yard passing performances this season on SNF:  
Week 2    Eli Manning, Giants, 330 yards vs. Cowboys – W 33-31 
Week 3    Peyton Manning, Colts, 379 yards vs. Cardinals – W 31-10
Week 3    Kurt Warner, Cardinals, 332 yards vs. Colts – L 31-10
Week 4    Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers, 333 vs. Chargers – W 38-28
Week 5    Peyton Manning, Colts, 309 yards vs. Titans – W 31-9
Week 6    Jay Cutler, Bears, 300 yards vs. Falcons – L 21-14
Week 9    Tony Romo, Cowboys, 307 yards vs. Eagles – W 20-16
Week 10  Tom Brady, Patriots, 375 yards vs. Colts – L 35-34
Week 10  Peyton Manning, Colts 327 yards vs. Patriots – W 35-34

And that does it for this post.

College Football Previews for Week 12

Let’s post some college football previews. Usually I do this on Friday night, but I have some time tonight so I’m doing this a night early.

Starting with Fox Sports Net and its SEC Gridiron Live program complete with predictions.

SEC Gridiron LIVE – Week Twelve

They Said It:

Randy Cross on the Philips HD MVP Dexter McCluster

· “Well you see those highlights and that is not a video game, this is for real. Imagine what the Tennessee defenders had to deal with. 170-175 pounds, can run a little heavier at times, but man when he gets in the air, what can’t this guy do?”

David Pollack on Auburn and South Carolina having bye weeks

· “Both of these teams have bye weeks before their state championships. You’ve got Auburn and Alabama in the Iron Bowl, that is a huge game every single year and that’s probably the most important game on the schedule. Clemson – obviously the same thing with South Carolina playing them. Both of those teams, the next week they’re playing their championship games. That’s going to be huge, maybe they can sneak up and steal their in-state rivals.”

David Pollack on Mark Ingram’s chances to win the Heisman

· “He should be the front-runner for the Heisman because he’s got the best stats, he’s getting the ball, and he gets the quality opponents. You’ve got to consider that when he’s facing top defenses he is shredding these guys – 178 yards a game against ranked opponents.”

Randy Cross on Ryan Mallett

· “Two years of eligibility left, six-foot-seven, throws a gorgeous football; I look at this kid and I say look, the completion percentage has got to be better, you’ve got to up it against those SEC West teams and you can’t throw it to the other guy. The key for that – get your receivers together. For him, the tight end has been a great position for him the past couple of weeks; it’s really made a gigantic difference for Ryan Mallett. DJ Williams, welcome to the party.”

Randy Cross on Vanderbilt’s chances against Tennessee

· “This is their bowl game. Everyone was very excited up in Nashville last year. They got to the Music City Bowl and played Boston College, they were tickled to death. This is your bowl game. You can go to Knoxville and you can win this game. This is your recruiting tool – treat it that way.

SEC Gridiron LIVE names the Top 5 “Big Hitters” in the SEC

5. Myron Lewis, Vanderbilt

4. Reshad Jones, Georgia

3. Eric Berry, Tennessee

2. Rahim Alem, LSU

1. Wendel Davis, Arkansas

Panel Picks:

Match up/ Analyst	Florida International @ Florida	UT-Chattanooga @ Alabama	Mississippi State @ Arkansas
Charles	Florida	Alabama	Arkansas
Randy	Florida	Alabama	Arkansas
David	Florida	Alabama	Arkansas

Match up/ Analyst	Vanderbilt @ Tennessee	Kentucky @ Georgia	LSU @ Ole Miss
Charles	Tennessee	Georgia	Ole Miss
Randy	Tennessee	Georgia	LSU
David	Tennessee	Georgia	LSU

Social Media Sound Off:

In response to the Thumb It In question – Who is most likely to pull off an upset this weekend?

· Brent Shepard – Vandy over Tennessee. Tennessee has had A LOT of major distractions this week. We’ll see how that plays out on the field.

· Mark Fernandez – LSU. I can’t believe Ole Miss is favored in this one.

Stephen Gobbell – Ole Miss in a close one. The big factor for Ole Miss is Snead.

Stephanie Staley – RUN DMC!!! Hotty toddy!! Hope LSU doesn’t put a hit out on our little man!

Will Carruth – Mississippi State creates some balance by throwing the ball and running Dixon. The Dawgs win in a shootout!

Billy Satterfield – Tennessee wins big by at least 4 touchdowns and Eric Berry breaks the interception return yards record with 2 INTs.

In response to the Top 5 “Big Hitters” of the SEC –

· Brent Leatherwood – Is this even a contest? Berry delivers a slobber knocker every time he touches the field. He is a human highlight film on how to tackle and knock the ball loose. Seriously, is this really a discussion? It’s EV and everyone else is vying for second.

SEC Gridiron LIVE presented by O’Charley’s airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET throughout the college football season 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. SEC Gridiron LIVE is hosted by Charles Davis with analyst Randy Cross and David Pollack and social media reporter Cassidy Hubbarth.

That will bring us to CBS Sports which touts Gary Danielson chosen as the top football broadcaster by Sporting News and Sports Business Daily/Sports Business Journal.

“THE SEC ON CBS”

FEATURES SEC WEST SHOWDOWN ON SATURDAY, NOV. 21 AS

NO. 8-RANKED LSU TAKES ON OLE MISS

AUDIBLES with CBS Sports’ Lead College Football Analyst Gary Danielson

CBS Sports’ national coverage of the SEC “Game of the Week” continues on Saturday, Nov. 21 (3:30 PM, ET), with *No. 8-ranked LSU taking on SEC Western Division foe, Ole Miss.

The CBS Television Network’s lead college football announce team of Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson call the action live from Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss. Tracy Wolfson serves as lead reporter. Craig Silver, the Network’s coordinating producer of college football, produces and Steve Milton directs. CBS Sports’ broadcast of LSU-Ole Miss also will be broadcast in high definition.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY, the Network’s pre-game, halftime and post-game studio show, starts the day on CBS Sports (3:00 PM, ET) with host Tim Brando, along with analysts Spencer Tillman and Tony Barnhart. COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY will keep viewers updated on all the games throughout the afternoon with scores and highlights. Vin DeVito produces and Linda Malino directs. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

CBS College Sports Network’s SEC TAILGATE show is live from the University of Mississippi’s campus prior to the game. This week’s show originates in front of the student union plaza at The Grove. Former Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister joins the show as a guest analyst, as well as CBS College Sports Network recruiting analyst Tom Lemming and Oxford Eagle sports editor John Davis. Veteran SEC announcer Dave Baker hosts SEC TAILGATE, and is joined by CBSSports.com’s Lauren Shehadi. Sam Ryan anchors coverage from New York with former Tennessee Head Coach Phillip Fulmer and Brian Jones serving as analysts.

The LSU-Ole Miss game will be streamed live and free of charge on CBSSports.com. Each week CBS Sports’ “SEC Game of the Week” is available exclusively on CBSSports.com and also can be accessed through a link on the websites of all CBS affiliates.

After CBS Sports’ live SEC game coverage each Saturday throughout the season, CBS COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK takes over with SEC POSTGAME SHOW (7:00-PM, ET), providing a recap of all the news, scores and highlights from around the SEC. Ryan serves as host along with Jones and Fulmer, Stephan Van Engen produces.

*BCS Poll as of 11/16/09

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CBS Sports’ Lead College Football Analyst Gary Danielson NAMED TOP FOOTBALL BROADCASTER

The Sporting News/Sports Business Journal/Sports Business Daily listed its Top 25 Football Broadcasters and CBS Sports was well represented: Gary Danielson (1), Phil Simms (4), Verne Lundquist (8), Jim Nantz (10), Greg Gumbel (17), Dan Fouts (20), Gus Johnson (24) and Dick Enberg (25).

AUDIBLES with Gary Danielson

(On LSU-Ole Miss): Both LSU and Ole Miss have finally found their footing. They struggled early. They struggled with how much people expected from them. Ole Miss has really found their game and are playing their best football. With the emergence of Dexter McCluster, who has worked his way into being a mid-first-round draft pick, Houston Nutt has found one of those players that he can ride. When he finds a playmaker like that, he will ride them and it makes them a very dangerous team. They already were really good on defense.

This is a really high stakes game in this conference. Both of these teams are expecting to win to a make this a successful season. And both fan bases will be very disappointed if they don’t win this game. The coaches will come under criticism for not winning this game. What makes this conference so tough is that the fan base just expects these wins. There is no logic behind it; someone has to lose the game. But both sides expect this game as a win to signature their season.

(On Importance of SEC Non-conference games): It’s a given that an undefeated winner of the SEC , Alabama or Florida, will have one of the slots for the BCS national championship. However, to insure a spot, should the winner not be undefeated they will need some help next week from two conference rivals. Georgia faces Georgia Tech and South Carolina takes on Clemson. Should Tech and Clemson knock off the two SEC partners, I feel both the computers and voters will have a problem selecting a one loss SEC Champion over either TCU or Cincinnati should they finish the season undefeated. There are two big games remaining to protect the conference champion if the unlikely happens. Namely Florida or Alabama losing prior to the SEC Championship.

CBS College Sports has a doubleheader on Saturday.

CBS COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK’S FOOTBALL ACTION FEATURES AIR FORCE AT NO. 19 BYU AND TULSA AT SOUTHERN MISS

CBS College Sports Network continues its slate of college football this weekend. On Saturday, Nov. 21 (3:30 PM, ET) CBS College Sports Network features Air Force at *No. 19-ranked BYU from Lavell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. Play-by-play announcer Tom Hart teams with analyst Aaron Taylor to call the action. A C-USA match-up featuring Tulsa at Southern Miss follows in primetime (7:30 PM, ET) from M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Miss. Dave Ryan and analyst Akbar Gbaja-Biamila announce.

INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL LIVE (3:00 – 3:30 pm, ET) brings fans the latest scores and highlights. Immediately following the Tulsa – Southern Miss game, INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL EXTRA (11:00 – 11:30 PM, ET) wraps up the day’s action with news and analysis. Adam Zucker hosts, along with analysts Brian Jones and Phillip Fulmer.

On Friday, Nov. 20 (7:30 PM, ET), the Network airs a special edition of its weekly high school football recruiting show MaxPreps Lemming Report, featuring musical artist and star of the new movie The Blind Side, Tim McGraw. McGraw discusses recruiting and high school football with Lemming, who also appears in The Blind Side movie.

* AP Poll as of 11/16/09

NBC Sports will air its last Notre Dame game of the season on Saturday as the Fighting Irish take on UConn. It may also be the last appearance of Charlie Weis on NBC as well.

NOTRE DAME HOSTS UCONN IN FINAL HOME GAME OF 2009 SEASON THIS SATURDAY ON NBC SPORTS  “The Huskies have been in every game until late in the fourth quarter.” - Haden 

NEW YORK – Nov. 19, 2009 – The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame (6-4) will host the UConn Huskies (4-5) in the first-ever meeting between the two programs and the final 2009 home game for the Irish this Saturday on NBC Sports.

Coverage begins at 2:30 pm ET from Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. with Tom Hammond handling play-by-play duties, Pat Haden providing analysis and Alex Flanagan reporting from the sidelines.

HADEN ON THE MATCHUP: "Notre Dame will once again have its hands full with a solid UConn team coming to South Bend. Coach Randy Edsall has gotten as much out of his talent as any coach. While they have lost five games, the Huskies have been in every game until late in the fourth quarter."

NOTRE DAME-UCONN MATCHUP: This is the first-ever meeting between the two schools. It will be Notre Dame's 137th different opponent in its 121-year history. Notre Dame began the season by defeating first-time foe, Nevada, 35-0. The Irish have won their last 12 games against teams making their first appearance at Notre Dame.

Notre Dame is coming off a 27-22 loss at No. 8 Pittsburgh. UConn had a bye last week. In their last game, the Huskies lost, 47-45, to No. 5 Cincinnati on the road.
 HUSKY RESILIENCE: In a poignant halftime feature, Jimmy Roberts examines the resilience of the UConn football team following the tragic death of cornerback Jasper Howard earlier this season.
 NOTRE DAME VIEWERSHIP UP NINE PERCENT: Through seven games, viewership for Notre Dame on NBC Sports is up nine percent vs. 2008 (3.7 million viewers vs. 3.4). Saturday's game against UConn is NBC's final broadcast of the season. The USC-Notre Dame game on October 17 drew 6.5 million viewers, the most for a Notre Dame game on NBC Sports since September 9, 2006 when the Penn St.-Notre Dame game drew 6.9 million viewers.
 NOTRE DAME ON NBCSPORTS.COM: NBCSports.com will once again offer a live post-game webcast, which will originate from Notre Dame Stadium and extend the NBC Sports television broadcasts by providing an unprecedented depth of Notre Dame coverage, including live coverage of Coach Charlie Weis' press conference.

Coming up next, the network previews for NFL Week 11.

My Take on The Top 25 Football Announcers

Lists by publications are made to stir debate and also give them a bit of publicity. The list that was published today by The Sporting News and sister publication Sports Business Daily/Sports Business Journal certainly does that. Already, I’m a bit perturbed that college and NFL announcers are mixed together as are play-by-play callers and analysts.

If it were up to me, I would separate the play-by-play men from the analysts. But that’s me. Just for kicks, here’s the list in full.

1. Gary Danielson, CBS
2. Cris Collinsworth, NBC
3. Al Michaels, NBC
4. Phil Simms, CBS
5. Kirk Herbstreit, ABC/ESPN
6. Troy Aikman, FOX
7. Ron Franklin, ABC/ESPN
8. Verne Lundquist, CBS
9. Joe Buck, FOX
10. Jim Nantz, CBS
11. Mike Tirico, ESPN
12. Brad Nessler, ESPN
13. Brent Musburger, ABC/ESPN
14. Jon Gruden, ESPN
15. Daryl Johnston, FOX
16. Ron Jaworski, ESPN
17. Greg Gumbel, CBS
18. Sean McDonough, ABC/ESPN
19. Todd Blackledge, ESPN
20. Dan Fouts, CBS
21. Bob Papa, NFL Network
22. Mike Patrick, ABC/ESPN
23. Chris Fowler, ESPN
24. Gus Johnson, CBS

25. Dick Enberg, CBS

I’m not enamored with this list. I’ll separate play-by-play and analysts and go from there.

Play-by-play and this includes college football and NFL.

1. Al Michaels – NBC’s Sunday Night Football
Probably the best all-around play-by-play voice ever. He’s called so many big games and rises to the occasion whenever there’s a big moment. Al does a tremendous job in doing football and yes, he does the wink-wink with the point spread, but there’s no one better at setting the scene, giving perspective and breaking down complicated moments than Al. Tops at play-by-play hands down.

2. Ron Franklin – ESPN College Football
Being forced out by ESPN after the college basketball season. Very classy. After Keith Jackson, one of the best ever to call college football. He’s a great fit at games. Why ESPN took him off the primetime package of games is beyond me. Ron is a very comfortable fit in the booth whether he’s calling the Big 12, SEC or other big conferences. ESPN is mistreating Ron this season.

3. Verne Lundquist – SEC on CBS
Calls a very good game. One of the announcer who just exudes college football. He wasn’t happy when CBS took him off the NFL after the 1998 season, but then he started on a tremendous run calling the SEC and he’s become quite comfortable calling the games. Whenever there’s a big game in the SEC, Verne is there and he’s very smooth. Love him and Gary Danielson.

4. Sean McDonough – ESPN/ABC College Football
One of my favorite announcers, his best sport is baseball, but he’s very good at college football and is unfortunately partnered with one of the worst analysts, Matt Millen. Sean is not afraid to call out bad plays and he’s also very good in spotting trends. Works extremely well with his partners to draw out the best analysis. Unfortunately, Millen’s credibility is shot.

5. Jim Nantz – NFL on CBS
He doesn’t scream. Jim gives the nuts and bolts of a game quite well. Has grown into a very good play-by-play man. He works well with Phil Simms. Jim won’t raise the decibel level on your TV. He’ll just provide you with the facts which is what you want.

6. Ian Eagle – NFL on CBS
He’s not on the list, but he should be. And he’s becoming a very good all-around announcer, calling the NFL, the NBA, college basketball and tennis. CBS would do everyone a favor in promoting him to the 3rd or 4th announcing team next season.

7. Dick Enberg – NFL on CBS
Dick has slipped over the past few seasons. One of the announcing elite, but he has made mistakes and miscalls. Still is better than many younger announcers.

8. Tom Hammond – Notre Dame Football on NBC
I think NFL Network should have hired Tom to replace Bryant Gumbel last season. He calls Notre Dame football quite well on NBC and only calls one NFL game a year, the Wild Card playoff game for the Peacocks. I’m glad he got to call 8 Notre Dames this season. He should have a full slate of games.

9. Sam Rosen – NFL on Fox
Sam is a very good nuts and bolts guy. He’s also a very good NHL announcer calling the New York Rangers on MSG Network. He’s always there with down and distance, who made the tackle and sets the scene very nicely. Sam should get more recognition for his work.

10. Gus Johnson – NFL on CBS
Yes, Gus yells. Yes, Gus screams. But yes, Gus can give you a signature call that gives the fan the exclamation point and proper perspective. The best case in point was during the Denver-Cincinnati game in Week 1. Tremendous stuff.

11. Mike Patrick – ESPN/ABC College Football
ESPN took Mike off the NFL when it lost the Sunday Night package and gained Monday Night Football. I thought Mike, Paul Maguire and Joe Theismann were perfect on SNF and should have remained the team for MNF, but what do I know? Mike is quite solid on college football. There are times when I wonder what hair color Mike is going to be from week to week, but that’s minor. He does get a tad too excited, but he’s very good.

12. Brad Nessler – ESPN/ABC College Football
There was a time I didn’t like Brad, but he’s grown on me. I can see Brad becoming a main guy for college football once Brent Musburger decides to retire from announcing. I like his style. He’s not forceful. His style is perfect for college football. I do hope to see him on some bigger games down the road.

13. Kenny Albert – NFL on Fox
A second generation announcer, Kenny has risen to the “B” team for Fox Sports. He’s been with Fox since the network got the NFL package in 1994 and he’s been a very good fit at the network. Another hockey guy who can call the NFL very well. I would take Kenny over Joe Buck any day.

14. Bob Papa – NFL Network
Bob does a great job calling the New York Giants on radio and does a very good job doing the games for NFL Network. Sometimes, the Thursday Night games are stinkers, but no fault to Bob as he doesn’t schedule the games. Bob is another guy who does multiple sports, NFL, boxing, basketball and does all of them well. He lets the action come to him and does a very good job in spotting trends. I’m hoping to see him get more games down the road.

15. Greg Gumbel – NFL on CBS
Greg was the #1 guy on the NFL on CBS and I liked he and Phil Simms. For some reason, CBS took him off, put him on the NFL Today for two seasons, then placed him on the #2 team with Dan Dierdorf. Greg is another guy who won’t go over the top. A very good nuts and bolts announcer and will give you the straight facts. Very good announcer.

16. Dave Sims – Westwood One Radio
Dave is one of the best announcers on radio, bar none. There was a time when he was so busy, you would see him doing Big East football on ESPN Regional TV, hear him doing the NFL on Westwood One Radio, basketball on ESPN and then perhaps a radio talk show guest spot. He calls Sunday Night Football on Westwood One and is a great listen. Calls the game well, spots the players, gives down and distance and is our eyes when we have to hear the radio call. Very good play-by-play man.

You may notice I’ve omitted Joe Buck who I think is horrible on the NFL. I’ve also left off Brent Musburger who I don’t think is a top notch college football announcer. He was a better host and is a better at doing college basketball, but I don’t think he belongs in the upper echelon of that sport either. Again, you can debate away.

Now to the analysts.

1. Phil Simms – NFL on CBS
I enjoy listening to Phil. He’s not afraid to admit he’s wrong. He studies tape every week and can spot things in the booth that other analysts cannot. I enjoy listening to his analysis whenever he calls a game.

2. Gary Danielson – SEC on CBS
I’ll agree that he’s the best college football analyst in the game today. He’s become an ardent apologist for the SEC which I find strange, but overall, Gary is an analyst who can spot a play before it happens. Very enjoyable listen. He and Verne Lundquist have become one of the best announcing teams on TV today.

3. Todd Blackledge – ESPN/ABC College Football
Todd and Gary traded positions a few seasons back. Remember Todd was teamed with Verne in the early aughts? He then left CBS to return to ESPN and then CBS hired Gary away from ESPN. Anyway, Todd has become a premier analyst in college football. Working with Brad Nessler, he’s an analyst who does a very good job in the booth. And his features finding great eating establishments in each town he visits have become must see TV.

4. Cris Collinsworth – NBC’s Sunday Night Football
There are times when Cris makes me scratch my head, but overall, he’s a quite good. When he did Thursday Night Football on NFL Network, he had to carry Bryant Gumbel for two seasons and that wasn’t easy. Cris is so good that he could be a studio analyst or a game analyst and for three seasons was both! It’s not easy to replace John Madden, but after 10 weeks of the NFL season, Cris has made the transition quite nicely.

5. Pat Haden – Notre Dame Football on NBC
It’s too bad that Notre Dame has fallen off the nation’s radar because Pat Haden would be considered one of the elite analysts. Pat used to be the top college football analyst for CBS and also did Sunday Night Football games on CBS Radio. Did them both well. Pat is also not afraid to scold bad quarterback play when he sees it.

6. Troy Aikman – NFL on Fox
I never thought I would see Troy in the booth when he was a player. I didn’t think he had TV in him, but he’s become quite good. At first, he was brought along by Daryl Johnston and Cris Collinsworth as he rose up the ladder on Fox. Now, he can stand alone and I wish he weren’t teamed with Joe Buck so we can really hear some good analysis. Troy is one of the best analysts in the NFL and I enjoy his work.

7. Bob Griese – ESPN/ABC College Football
Ok, taco comment aside, Bob is one of the better analysts in college football. He was teamed with Keith Jackson for a very long time and they formed one of the better announcing teams from the late 1980′s through the 1990′s. Bob may have slipped a bit, but he’s still good at spotting trends, noting passing routes and good on the telestrator.

8. Dan Dierdorf – NFL on CBS
I like Dan’s work from his days on Monday Night Football through now. Still keeps up with the game and gives a good perspective having been in the trenches on the offensive line.

9. Dan Fouts – NFL on CBS
Dan can analyze the NFL or college football with the best. He’s worked with some of the best play-by-play men, Al Michaels, Keith Jackson, Verne Lundquist and his current partner, Dick Enberg. Dan also had to deal with the failed Monday Night Football experiment with Dennis Miller. But through it all, Dan has persevered. His analysis is quite good. He’s had broadcasting in his background thanks to his dad who worked for CBS in the 1960′s. It would be nice if Dan had the opportunity to call a playoff game or two for CBS.

10. Jon Gruden – ESPN’s Monday Night Football
In less than one season, Gruden has shown that he can be one of the better analysts if he chooses to remain on TV. The thing is that no one believes he’s going to stay in the broadcast booth for long, despite signing a multi-year deal with ESPN this week. There were times earlier this season when I could not tell him or fellow analyst Ron Jaworski apart, but now I can. Jon has shown some humor and he’s not afraid to do so at his own expense. He’s very good and if he decides to stay in TV he can be one of the best analysts ever.

11. Daryl Johnston – NFL on Fox
Daryl has done TV for so long, it’s hard to remember that he got his start with CBS in 1998. He’s very smooth and yes, he has to endure Tony Siragusa who interrupts him quite often, but Daryl is such a team player that he seems to have fun with it. Moose’s analysis is solid and while he won’t be on the “A” team on Fox, he does get to call one playoff game a season and does it well teaming up nicely with Kenny Albert and Goose.

12. Craig James – ESPN/ABC College Football
Whenever Craig is in the booth, I enjoy his work. When he was in the studio, especially for ABC with Doug Flutie, I didn’t. I can’t explain it. But Craig is a good listen.

13. Ron Jaworski – ESPN’s Monday Night Football
Ron has a tendency to overhype things, but coming into the booth to replace Joe Theismann two seasons ago was a good thing. To be honest, he didn’t wow me last season when he started with Mike Tirico and Tony Kornheiser, but with Jon Gruden, has formed a good analysis team.

14. Boomer Esiason – Monday Night Football, Westwood One Radio
He’s good in the studio on the NFL Today, but when he’s on radio with either Marv Albert or Dave Sims on Monday Night Football, Boomer really shines. I like listening to his analysis and he’s not afraid to speak out when he has to. He and Marv are a good team, but I did enjoy when Boomer worked with Howard David.

15. James Lofton – Sunday Night Football, Westwood One Radio
James and Dave Sims are a very formidable radio team. James can spot trends as well and can give perspective on routes from his wide receiver days. Plus, being a Hall of Famer gives him a lot of credibility.

So you have my list of top football broadcasters.

Your Thursday Links

The stuff is hitting the fan work wise so I’m doing these links now while I can. I may not be able to do the megalinks on Friday. Keep your Twitter and RSS feeds updated.

USA Today’s Michael McCarthy writes about the NFL trying to crack down on extended tailgating in hopes of curbing drunkenness.

Sean Leahy in USA Today’s The Huddle blog writes that San Diego and Detroit are approaching the 11th hour for avoiding blackouts on Sunday.

The Sporting News and sister publication, Sports Business Journal/Sports Business Daily, list the top 25 active college and NFL football announcers. I don’t agree with the list and I’ll have my take on it later.

Dan Levy of On The DL, adds his two cents to the list in The Sporting News.

Dave Kindred writing for Indiana University’s National Sports Journalism Center lists the 50 Do’s and Don’ts for aspiring sportswriters.

Writing in The Huffington Post, Daisy Whitney writes that the NFL plans to expand its digital and mobile video offerings.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says Michelle Wie winning the Lorena Ochoa Invitational gave Golf Channel its second highest ratings for an LPGA event.

A sign of the apocalypse. Larry King’s 10 year old son, Chance, will host a show for Fox Sports Net next year. *hits head against keyboard*

Richard Sandomir from the New York Times talks about Sunday Night Football being the top rated primetime program of the season to date.

Peter Lauria of the New York Post says NFL Network is using an ad in the daily Politico to reach out to the politicians in its dispute with Time Warner Cable.

Pete Dougherty in the Albany Times Union says Time Warner subscribers won’t see next week’s Giants-Broncos game as it will be carried on NFL Network.

Sarah Talalay of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel is amused by the Official Humidor of the Super Bowl.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News reviews the Sporting News/Sports Business Journal Top 25 Active College and NFL TV announcers. Again, I’ll have my own take on this later.

Ed Sherman from Crain’s Chicago Business mentions Comcast SportsNet will remember the 25th anniversary of the death of a top high school basketball player.

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times says the Bears have rejected a request from NBC for Bob Costas to interview coach Lovie Smith, quarterback Jay Cutler and general manager Jerry Angelo. Strange. Thanks to Ed Sherman for the link.

Rick Telander of the Sun-Times advises Cutler not to make the media an enemy.

Bob Wolfley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that the Packers are national TV darlings.

Chris Erskine of the Los Angeles Times spent Sunday at a local sports bar with several Boston transplants to watch the Pats-Colts game.

Dan Rafael from ESPN.com says HBO wants a Manny Pacquaio-Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fight.

Chris Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media advises you to add yourself to your own Twitter lists. Why not?

Joe Favorito says sometimes teams can be the worst in their league or division to expand their brands.

The Big Lead is disappointed in ESPN Ombudsman Don Ohlmeyer’s reaction to the Steve Phillips affair.

Kristine Leahy has The Five on WEEI.com.

We’ll end it there for now.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

College Basketball

Puerto Rico Tipoff
Quarterfinal, George Mason vs. Villanova – ESPNU, 2 p.m.
Quarterfinal, Indiana vs. Ole Miss – ESPN2, 5 p.m.

Charleston Classic
Quarterfinal, UNC-Wilmington vs. Penn State – ESPNU, 4 p.m.
Quarterfinal, LaSalle vs. South Carolina – ESPNU, 9:30 p.m.

Coaches vs. Cancer Classic
Semifinal, Syracuse vs. Cal – ESPN2, 7 p.m.
Semifinal, North Carolina vs. Ohio State – ESPN2, 9:30 p.m.

Sam Houston State at Kentucky – Fox Sports South/Sun Sports, 7 p.m.
Utah Valley at Minnesota – Big Ten Network, 8 p.m.

College Football
Tennessee State at Eastern Illinois – ESPNU, 6:30 p.m.
Colorado at Oklahoma State – ESPN, 7:30 p.m.

NBA
Phoenix at New Orleans – TNT, 8 p.m.
Chicago at Los Angeles Lakers – TNT, 10:30 p.m.

Inside the NBA – TNT, 1 a.m.

NHL
Boston at Atlanta – NESN/SportSouth, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Carolina – TSN/Fox Sports Carolinas, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Ottawa – TSN2/RDS/FSN Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Nashville – MSG Plus/Fox Sports Tennessee, 8 p.m.
Phoenix at St. Louis – Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports Midwest, 8 p.m.
Columbus at Dallas – Fox Sports Ohio/Fox Sports Southwest, 8:30 p.m.
Chicago at Calgary – TSN/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 9:30 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Anaheim – Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 10 p.m.

NHL On The Fly – NHL Network, 8 p.m.

UFL
Florida at California – Versus, 9 p.m.

Entertainment
Survivor: Samoa – CBS, 8 p.m.
Bones – Fox, 8 p.m.
Terror in Mumbai – HBO, 8 p.m.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – CBS, 9 p.m.
Mars: Making the New Earth – National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – FX, 10 p.m.
Private Practice – ABC, 10:01 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman – CBS, 11:35 p.m.

Late Night Linkage

It’s been quite some time since I have done late night links. Usually, I reserve late night for posting the press releases, but since I still don’t have a TV and there was a minimal amount of sports that I wanted to see, I was quite productive posting the release earlier tonight so I can do some linkage for you now.

We’ll start with ESPN Ombudsman Don Ohlmeyer to whom I’ll give credit for discussing the network’s handling of the Steve Phillips affair, the reporting of the Tom Cable domestic violence story, Bob Griese’s suspension and finishing off with the 30 for 30 documentary series. All quite candid and I was glad to see Ohlmeyer address the Phillips story, although I would have preferred if he had done it earlier.

Editor & Publisher reports that Chicago Sun-Times baseball writer Chris DeLuca has been promoted to the paper’s top spot in its sports department. Thanks to Indiana University’s National Sports Journalism Center for the link.

We’re finding out more about the creepy stalker who videotaped Erin Andrews in the nude not just once, but several times.

Rick Kissell of Variety writes that the NFL continues to dominate the network primetime ratings.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News says Monday Night Football steered ESPN to a cable primetime win last week.

Hibah Yousuf of CNNMoney.com writes that CBS is 90% sold for Super Bowl XLIV.

Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine tells us that the NFL continues to set ratings ablaze this season.

Jay Fitzgerald of the Boston Herald reports that the Celtics and Comcast are teaming up to provide Video On Demand programming

I’m not sure why, but NESN.com is offering a photo gallery of Heidi Watney.

The Lehigh (PA) Express-Times says Fox Sports Net and Gatorade are teaming up to air a special, recreating high school football rivalries across the nation.

Here’s the press release anouncing the program.

In the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog, Dan Steinberg who’s been keeping track of the on-air Tony Kornheiser-Mike Wise radio feud says Mr. Tony decided to not to throw verbal barbs on Wednesday.

Tim Lemke of the Washington Times writes that FedEx Field isn’t just used for the DC NFL team exclusively anymore.

In his blog, Tim talks about how FedEx Field hopes to be the site of the FIFA World Cup Finals in either 2018 or 2022.

MASN has announced it will air some 200 college basketball games this season.

Jack Bogaczyk of the Charleston (WV) Daily Mail says the West Virginia-Rutgers Big East regular season finale will be aired by ESPN on December 5.

Barry Horn in the Dallas Morning News says Fox’s Terry Bradshaw is sharpening his claws on Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams.

Also in the Morning News, Tim Colishaw looks at noted charlatan Bill Simmons’ book on the NBA.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that Bearcats football brought in good ratings for ESPN last Friday.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News gives us an update on what’s up with the planned new USFL.

Carl Steward of the Oakland Tribune says DirecTV subscribers will be shut out of Saturday’s Cal-Stanford game as it will be shown on Versus.

To the Sports Media Watch and a few links from that blog.

The NFL on Fox continues to score this season.

Pats-Colts helped to steer NBC’s Sunday Night Football to higher reaches.

A lackluster Monday Night Football matchup gave the series its lowest ratings of the season.

The NBA on TNT is off to a fast start in the young season.

And a developing story, SMW says MLB plans to cut the number of off days during the postseason.

Steve Lepore from Puck the Media says Versus’ ratings for the NHL are all over the place.

Dave Kohl’s Major League Programs blog looks at some various sports media issues from the last week.

Lots of good links for you as we head into the wee hours of Thursday morning. I’ll be back with you later today.

Sports Media Weekly Podcast No. 10

This week, the podcast that is co-hosted by yours truly and Southeastern New England media mogul Keith Thibault of Sports Media Journal explores a whole host of topics.

For the entire half hour, our guest is Tom Hoffarth, sports media writer of the Los Angeles Daily News. Among the topics we discuss are Jon Gruden’s contract extension to remain in the ESPN Monday Night Football booth, ESPN’s West Coast SportsCenter and LA presence, as well as ESPN’s 24 hour college basketball marathon.

We also talk about Tom doing play-by-play of an inning of a minor league baseball game, running the field mic for a college football game, his playful tweaking of USC football voice Pete Arbogast, speculation on Vin Scully’s retirement, the reduction of newspapers covering the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver as well as bringing back the NFL to Los Angeles.

It’s another great edition and a quick listen. Just over a half hour. You can check it out

Over the next two weeks, we have some good guests so be ready for some fun podcasts.

National Geographic Channel Programming for Next Few Days

If you’ve been watching National Geographic Channel this week, then you know it’s Expedition Week, where programs have been exploring recent discoveries and major expeditions. I have a preview DVD set of the entire week of programming and it’s been tremendous to watch. Plus, you learn a few things in a very entertaining way.

Let’s give you some of the documentaries that will fill out the rest of Expedition Week, plus give you some other upcoming programming on NatGeo. Tomorrow night, we look at how we can make Mars habitable for humans.

EXPEDITION WEEK: Mars: Making the New Earth

Thursday, November 19 at 9PM ET/PT

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/expedition-week/4588/Overview

The notion of bringing Mars to life ? transforming a cold, dry, uninhabitable desert into a living planet ? called terraforming, has been around for almost a century. Initially just a science fiction concept, it has become a subject of serious scientific investigation. NASA astrobiologist Dr. Chris McKay has spent 30 years researching extreme environments to understand the potential of such planetary engineering. On the surface, the red planet’s freeze-dried world of rocks, ice and dust looks like an unlikely place to plant a garden. But rocks and minerals found by the Mars rovers show it must once have had warmer, habitable living conditions. Now, using photorealistic CGI visualizations, we’ll make a science fiction dream of Mars — a world of trees, rivers and blue skies — a plausible future.

Early stage terraformed Mars (no vegetation), orbital view. This stage will be the first of many that will take hundreds of years. (Photo credit: © National Geographic Channel)

Video “Preview: Mars: Making the New Earth” – An 18,500 foot volcano in Mexico is a living laboratory for NASA scientist Chris McKay as he investigates how to transform Mars from a cold, dead planet into a living world like planet Earth.

EXPEDITION WEEK: The First Jesus?

Friday, November 20 at 9PM ET/PT

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/expedition-week/4290/Overview

He was called the King of the Jews, believed to be a Messiah. Just before Passover, the Romans beheaded him and crucified many of his followers outside Jerusalem. But his name was not Jesus … it was Simon, a self-proclaimed Messiah who died four years before Christ was born. Now, new analysis of a three-foot-tall stone tablet from the first century B.C., being hailed by scholars as a “Dead Sea Scroll on stone,” speaks of an early Messiah and his resurrection. Was Simon of Peraea real? Did his life serve as the prototype of a Messiah for Jesus and his followers? And could this tablet shake up the basic premise of Christianity? We’ll go to Israel to assess this unique and mysterious artifact, including testing by a leading archeological geologist and comprehensive review of the letters, script and content by a Dead Sea Scroll expert. Then, from Jerusalem to Jericho, we’ll investigate key archeological ruins that could help prove Simon was indeed real — all of which just might sway the skeptics.

The crew films the Jewish graves on the Mount of Olives. (Photo Credit © Hoggard Films / Catherine Yrisarri)

Video “Preview: The First Jesus?” – Explore the mysteries of a recently discovered stone tablet that may speak of a messiah before Christ, who rose from the dead after three days.

Video “Preview: The First Jesus?” – A three-foot-tall stone tablet from the first century B.C. may speak of an early Messiah and his resurrection.

Video “Preview: The First Jesus?” – Many scholars are convinced that Jesus came to the temple in Jerusalem and overturned the money tables, knowing there would be grave consequences. Was he taking lessons from Simon to fulfill his messianic destiny?

And next Monday, National Geographic Channel airs The Lost JFK Tapes: The Assassination. This looks very fascinating.

THE LOST JFK TAPES: THE ASSASSINATION

Monday, November 23 at 9PM ET/PT

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/the-lost-jfk-tapes-the-assassination-4469/Overview

For over 45 years, news footage and radio reports of Kennedy’s assassination and the days following have quietly languished in Dallas – first kept under wraps by the news stations who owned them, then in the vault of a museum dedicated to preserving the memory of the day Kennedy was cut down. Now, for the first time, this remarkable record will be assembled in an unprecedented two-hour documentary. The film will detail the events of those four days in a way not seen in more than four decades, letting the images unfold in real time. That’s what sets this film apart – a “you are there” approach. The film features this footage in its original form – for the first time since it was broadcast in 1963.

Video: “Preview: THE LOST JFK TAPES”- On November 22, 1963, hundreds of hours of news footage, radio reports, audio recordings and home movies captured history as it was chaotically unfolding.

So, stuff to look forward to. National Geographic Channel never fails to entertain and educate.

More Wednesday Press Releases

We keep getting the releases at Fang’s Bites and that’s a good thing for you. I enjoy posting them.

Let’s begin with ESPN and its coverage of the college basketball holiday tournaments and something the network likes to call “Feast Week” during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Men’s College Basketball: Extensive Coverage of Tournaments & Start of Feast Week Highlight Schedule

ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com will combine to provide extensive coverage of multiple early season men’s college basketball tournaments, including:

• ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com will televise nine games of the third annual Puerto Rico Tip-Off from San Juan, beginning with a doubleheader Thursday, Nov. 19: George Mason vs. No. 6 Villanova at 2 p.m. on ESPNU and Indiana vs. Mississippi at 5 p.m. on ESPN2.

• ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com will televise the second annual Charleston Classic from South Carolina for the first time. Coverage will begin Thursday, Nov. 19, with two ESPNU telecasts: UNC Wilmington vs. Penn State at 4 p.m. and La Salle vs. South Carolina at 9:30 p.m.

From Monday, Nov. 23, to Sunday, Nov. 29, all men’s college basketball telecasts will be part of ESPN’s Feast Week, a special week to celebrate the matchups surrounding Thanksgiving, including the beginning of the Maui Invitational. Additional highlights include two ESPN2 telecasts with matchups between ranked teams in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic from New York City on Thursday, Nov. 19: No. 24 Syracuse vs. No. 12 California at 7 p.m. followed by No. 4 North Carolina vs. No. 15 Ohio State at 9 p.m. ESPN2 will also televise the third-place game and championship Friday, Nov. 20, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.

Date	Time (ET)	Matchup	Network
Thu, Nov 19	2 p.m.	Puerto Rico Tip-Off: George Mason vs. No. 6 Villanova (San Juan) Doug Sherman & Fran Fraschilla	ESPNU
	4 p.m.	Charleston Classic: UNC Wilmington vs. Penn State Justin Kutcher & Jay Williams	ESPNU
	5 p.m.	Puerto Rico Tip-Off: Indiana vs. Mississippi Jon Sciambi & Hubert Davis	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	7 p.m.	Coaches vs. Cancer Classic – Semifinal #1: No. 24 Syracuse vs. No. 12 California (New York City) Dan Shulman, Bob Knight & Doris Burke	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	9 p.m.	Coaches vs. Cancer Classic – Semifinal #2: No. 4 North Carolina vs. No. 15 Ohio State Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale & Doris Burke	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	9:30 p.m.	Charleston Classic: La Salle vs. South Carolina Justin Kutcher & Jay Williams	ESPNU
Fri, Nov 20	1 p.m.	Puerto Rico Tip-Off Doug Sherman & Fran Fraschilla	ESPNU
	3 p.m.	Puerto Rico Tip-Off Jon Sciambi & Hubert Davis	ESPNU
	5 p.m.	Coaches vs. Cancer Classic – 3rd Place Dan Shulman, Bob Knight & Doris Burke	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	7 p.m.	Coaches vs. Cancer Classic – Championship Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale & Doris Burke	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	8:30 p.m.	Puerto Rico Tip-Off Jon Sciambi & Hubert Davis	ESPNU
Sun, Nov 22	10:30 a.m.	Puerto Rico Tip-Off Doug Sherman & Fran Fraschilla	ESPNU
	12:30 p.m.	Puerto Rico Tip-Off Doug Sherman & Fran Fraschilla	ESPNU
	5:30 p.m.	Puerto Rico Tip-Off Jon Sciambi & Hubert Davis	ESPNU
	6 p.m.	Charleston Classic – Championship Justin Kutcher & Jay Williams	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	8 p.m.	Puerto Rico Tip-Off – Championship Jon Sciambi, Hubert Davis & Fran Fraschilla	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

Feast Week

Date	Time (ET)	Matchup	Network
Mon, Nov 23	3 p.m.	Maui Invitational – Quarterfinal #1: Colorado vs. Gonzaga Carter Blackburn & Jimmy Dykes	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	5 p.m.	Invitational – Quarterfinal #2: Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas & Bill Raftery	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	7:30 p.m.	CBE Classic – Semifinal #1: Wichita State vs. Pittsburgh (Kansas City) Terry Gannon & Stephen Bardo	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	9:30 p.m.	Maui Invitational – Quarterfinal #3: Maryland vs. Chaminade Carter Blackburn & Jimmy Dykes	ESPNU
	9:30 p.m.	CBE Classic – Semifinal #2: No. 3 Texas vs. Iowa (Kansas City) Terry Gannon & Stephen Bardo	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
Tue, Nov 24	12 a.m.	Maui invitational – Quarterfinal #4: Arizona vs. Wisconsin Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas & Bill Raftery	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	1:30 p.m.	Maui Invitational – Consolation Carter Blackburn & Jimmy Dykes	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	3:30 p.m.	Maui Invitational – Consolation Carter Blackburn & Jimmy Dykes	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	7 p.m.	Maui Invitational – Semifinal #1 Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas & Bill Raftery	ESPN / ESPN360.com
		Cornell at No. 24 Syracuse Doug Sherman & Rob Kennedy	ESPN360.com
	7:45 p.m.	CBE Classic – 3rd Place (Kansas City) Terry Gannon & Stephen Bardo	ESPNU
	9 p.m.	Maui Invitational – Semifinal #2 Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas & Bill Raftery	ESPN / ESPN360.com
	9:30 p.m.	Wofford at No. 25 Illinois Jim Barbar & Mark Adams	ESPNU
	10 p.m.	CBE Classic – Championship (Kansas City) Terry Gannon & Stephen Bardo	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com

This is for Flyers fans and for those living in the Greater Philadelphia area. Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia is conducting a contest and the Grand Prize winner gets to see the NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day at Fenway Park.

COMCAST SPORTSNET TEAMS UP WITH THE FLYERS AND SCHUYLKILL VALLEY SPORTS FOR “2010 NHL BRIDGESTONE WINTER CLASSIC” SWEEPSTAKES

One Lucky Winner Will Travel to Boston to Watch the Philadelphia Flyers take on the Boston Bruins at Fenway Park

Philadelphia, PA (November 18, 2009) – Comcast SportsNet, together with the Philadelphia Flyers and Schuylkill Valley Sports, is offering one lucky fan the opportunity to travel to Boston, MA for the 2010 NHL Winter Classic. The 2010 Winter Classic features legendary foes, the Flyers and Bruins facing off at Fenway Park on New Year’s Day.

Fans can log onto www.CSNPhilly.com and enter keyword “Winter Classic” to register for their chance to win the 2010 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic package.

One Grand Prize winner will receive a trip for two to the 2010 NHL Winter Classic, complete with two tickets to the game, travel via Amtrak, two nights hotel accommodations, a Flyers Winter Classic jersey, VIP tickets to the House of Blues New Year’s Eve party and a Winter Survival Gear package. One First Prize winner receives two tickets in the Comcast SportsNet suite to the Flyers-Bruins game on March 11, 2010 and a Flyers Winter Classic jersey. Ten Second prizes, consisting of a NHL Winter Classic Gift pack, will be awarded.

The 2010 NHL Winter Classic will be the third regular-season outdoor NHL game played in the United States and the fourth regular-season outdoor game in NHL history

This contest ends on Sunday, December 13 at 11:59 p.m. and is open to anyone 21 years of age and older, living in Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware. The winner will be announced on The Comcast Network during the Flyers-Bruins telecast on Monday, December 14 at 7 p.m.

To sign up or for a complete list of rules, log onto www.CSNPhilly.com Keyword: Winter Classic

Here’s another contest, this one involving NBCOlympics.com and skiier Lindsay Vonn. You get to design the helmet she will wear during the Vancouver Winter Olympics in February. Really.

LINDSEY VONN AND NBCOLYMPICS.COM FORM PARTNERSHIP FOR CONTEST TO DESIGN HER HELMET FOR THE 2010 VANCOUVER OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES

“This is your chance to be with me in Vancouver,” - Lindsey Vonn

Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity to Design World Cup Skiing Champion Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic Helmet

NEW YORK – Nov. 18, 2009 - NBCOlympics.com invites fans to join in the Countdown to Vancouver and participate in the "Design Lindsey's Helmet" contest, beginning November 23. Lindsey Vonn, one of the most successful Alpine skiers in U.S. history, is challenging fans to convince her that their artwork is what she wants to feature on her helmet while soaring down the slopes during the upcoming 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.

"This is your chance to be with me in Vancouver," said Vonn.  "Whether you're an aspiring graphic designer or just someone who likes to doodle all day, it doesn't matter if you snow plow down the bunny slopes, tree-ski in waist deep powder, or just hang in the lodge, I want to see your designs."

To enter the contest, fans as young as 13 years old can log on to NBCOlympics.com/lindseys-helmet/ and enter original artwork by December 21. A team of judges will narrow the submissions down to a final three designs, which will be showcased on NBCOlympics.com the first week of January. Fans will then have the opportunity to log on and vote to help Lindsey decide on the winning design. 

The voting closes on January 11 with the winner to be announced in late January. The grand prize winner for the "Design Lindsey's Helmet" contest will be awarded a trip for two to Vail, Colorado, one of the world's top ski resorts. Prizes also include a pair of Head skis and bindings and a Uvex helmet and goggles.

"Now that the World Cup season has started, I'm getting very excited for the Olympics," said Vonn. "I really wanted to do something that allowed my fans to share in my Vancouver experience, and this is what I came up with. I'm looking forward to seeing what people create for my helmet."

In support of the contest, NBCOlympics.com is undertaking several different promotional tactics to alert fans about the challenge, including online ads that will run on the web site, 30 second-spots to run on NBC and Universal Sports, and a grassroots campaign designed to reach out to art and design schools across the country as well as online and print-based lifestyle media outlets.

And I’ll have one more post before a couple of features for you.

Some Wednesday Press Releases

I have a few press releases to provide you. A couple of quotage releases and a two other general releases for you are on the docket for this particular post. Then if all goes well, I might do a late night links session. I haven’t done one in a very long while.

First, we have quotes from NBA TV’s Fan Night game on Tuesday.

Notes from NBA TV’s Fan Night – Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Golden State Warriors (108) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (114)

Voting is open on NBA.com for next week’s Fan Night match-up that will air on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Fans can select between the following games:

Indiana Pacers @ Toronto Raptors

Philadelphia 76ers @ Washington Wizards

Golden State Warriors @ Dallas Mavericks

New Jersey Nets @ Denver Nuggets

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Utah Jazz

New York Knicks @ L.A. Lakers

CLIP OF THE DAY

(click on link below to watch)

NBA TV’s Chris Webber talks about playing for Golden State Warriors head coach Don Nelson two different times during his career

**** **** **** ****

Pre-Game Show

Ernie Johnson, Chris Webber and Kevin McHale

McHale on Golden State’s team chemistry after trading (Stephen) Jackson to the Charlotte Bobcats: “When the players come out and say it will be better when Stephen Jackson goes, which they started a couple of weeks ago, that is really an indication that it is very disruptive. I think (the Warriors) will play free and easy tonight.”

Webber on the Golden State Warriors: “When you are on a team that has a bad feeling in the locker room, it is really good to get a breath of fresh air. And I think for Golden State this is a breath of fresh air. When you win and when you lose it is good to just be able to concentrate on your team and the game and not everything that is going inside and outside the locker room.”

McHale on coaches getting teams back on track after turmoil: “You have to stay with what you believe in and you can’t be changing. Some coaches say, ‘tonight we are going to play defense, tomorrow we are going to play offense.’ The players get confused and pretty soon they say that the coach has no idea what he is talking about. Stay with your pattern, do what you do. The message has to be the same every single day in the locker room and then the players start buying in and believing. I think that Nellie (coach Don Nelson’s) message is going to be the same. Score a lot of points.”

Webber on playing for Golden State’s coach Don Nelson: “I actually got two chances to play for (Nelson), once when I was a young rookie and I think I could have made better decisions then…definitely, I know I could have made better decisions then. He could have as well, as far as explaining the game to young guys. Then I got to play with him my last year in the league for about 10 games and I’ve seen a difference in the way he handles players. To me, he is a player’s coach, definitely a good personality. But that may set some guys up and I think that could be a double-edged sword at times.”

Webber on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ adjustment to center Shaquille O’Neal: “I think they are a really good team. Right now LeBron (James) is finding his way, finding out how to play with Shaq (O’Neal) because you don’t want to get in Shaq’s way and still continuing to be a leader. I think they are going to be okay, they have great players. It is going to take some time to mesh.”

McHale on most important part of the Cavaliers besides LeBron James: “I think when Mo Williams started playing like Mo Williams of last year during All-Star that really changed up their team. I think it took a little while for Mo to say, ‘I have to go play,’ because Mo wasn’t playing well and I like the fact that he said, ‘this is on me, I have to play better.’ You like when players do that. Players are always passing the buck saying it is not my fault. He said this is my fault and I think he is the guy that is going to make them go.”

Webber on the hype surrounding Bucks guard Brandon Jennings: “Right now, I believe the hype. I believe that this is not a mistake and that he is very skilled and can shoot off the dribble, shoot the open three and he can pass. It is too early, I usually don’t judge this early but I am going to give him the heads up and say he is the real deal.”

McHale on Bucks guard Brandon Jennings: “What he has really been able to do is mature. He went over to Europe last year and he said the culture was a huge shock to him. He matured so much. I think that was the best thing that happened to him.”

McHale on whether a team will pick up Allen Iverson: “It is going to have to be the right team at the right time. I would have to say right now, as of today, no.”

Webber on Allen Iverson: “If he can’t go to the Lakers because of Kobe Bryant, if he can’t go to Cleveland because of the influence of Shaq…I would not have him around young players. He is the guy that has to score; he is the guy that wants the ball. Do you want to honestly sell tickets and let him shoot 50 times or do you want someone that can help your team win? I don’t think a team in championship mode is going to be willing to take a risk and draft him after the experiment at Detroit last year.”

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Halftime Report

Johnson, Webber and McHale

McHale on Thunder forward Kevin Durant: “(Durant) can flat out score the basketball in many ways. He got a good start with Oklahoma City tonight. The thing is that he is so long. He can just go over the top of people and make shots.”

Webber on Cavaliers guard Anthony Parker: “There is no place better to be a shooter, unless you are playing with (Steve) Nash. To be around the best player with the ball in his hands (in LeBron), Parker is going to get those shots up. In the second half, I’m going to be interested in looking at LeBron. I think he is going to turn his killer instinct on even more because he and Corey Maggette were getting into it a little bit earlier. So I think he is going to amp it up and get guys just like Parker involved and force his will on this team.”

McHale on Golden State being under-manned: “One of two things can happen, you either get disheartened and say, ‘we are under-manned and say we can’t play, we can’t win.’ Or the guys can say, ‘I can shoot all I want because the coach can’t take me out.’ There is a point where they can say, ‘it doesn’t matter the coach can’t take me out,’ so maybe they will relax and play.”

***** ***** *****

NBA GameTime

Johnson, Webber and McHale

Webber’s assessment of the Cleveland Cavaliers: “I feel that by Shaq being out they are getting the rhythm. Everyone is getting to play. Guys are getting the ball when it matters most. If Shaq was playing, he would have had the ball. I think this is going to help. Even when (Anderson) Varejao comes back and guys are on the bench, I think it is going to help with their confidence later on in the playoffs.”

Webber on Golden State guard J.J. Hickson’s career high: “We heard that LeBron was working with him over the summer. I’m a big believer in chemistry and a big believer in guys that are on the bench that practice and go against the starters every day. I’m always like let those guys out of the cage because when those wild animals get out they have been waiting to play. He has that energy so I think this will work out well for him.”

McHale on Golden State’s play against the Cavaliers: “I did think they played a little looser without Stephen Jackson. The guys in the locker room were saying he needed to go, he wasn’t good here. He left and I thought they played with energy. I thought they played loose and had some chemistry out there.”

Webber on why he believes in the Atlanta Hawks: “I’m going to actually start to believe in Atlanta. Atlanta is a team I didn’t want to believe in. I didn’t like the fact that the guys were that young. I didn’t like the fact that they were happy to get to the playoffs and the antics that happened in the playoffs. I was rooting for them when they played against Boston and took them to seven games. This team made me a believer. They play like a veteran team which is something I thought they were never ready for. I never thought they had the mentality. Josh Smith is playing awesome this year. I think this team is ready to make some big steps this year.”

This brings us to quotes and notes from the Tony Barnhart Show on CBS College Sports.

NEWS, NOTES AND QUOTES FROM “THE TONY BARNHART SHOW” ON CBS COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK

DIRECTOR OF THE BLIND SIDE JOHN LEE HANCOCK AND CO-STARS

PHILLIP FULMER AND TOM LEMMING, PLUS CBS SPORTS’ JIM NANTZ ON “THE TONY BARNHART SHOW”

CBS COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK’S THE TONY BARNHART SHOW, a new weekly one-hour primetime college football talk show featured John Lee Hancock, director of the new movie The Blind Side, along with two of its co-stars, CBS College Sports Network announcers Phillip Fulmer and Tom Lemming; plus CBS Sports’ Jim Nantz on Tuesday, Nov. 17 (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.

The TONY BARNHART SHOW airs 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.

* * * * *

The following are excerpts from the show:

(PHILLIP FULMER ON RETURNING TO COACHING):

Barnhart: Why do you want to coach? As crazy as this business is, why do you want to coach again?

Fulmer: Well I do because I enjoy it. I enjoy the competition. I enjoy putting teams together. I feel the same passion right now that I did when I took over 17 years ago at Tennessee…I’ve got something to prove and I want to get to a point where we’re competing for championships. I love being around it. I’m not ready to retire at all. I think I’ve got 10, 12 good years left of being an active coach. I love recruiting. I can go to any part of the country, you know, to do it, because we’ve recruited all over the country at Tennessee…But if the opportunity, the right opportunity, presents itself, I’m certainly going to look at it. And I think I’ll be interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing me at this point.

(TONY BARNHART ON NOTRE DAME):

How effective can any coach be at Notre Dame? The world has changed dramatically since Lou Holtz won Notre Dame’s last National title in 1988. An entire generation of players has grown up in a time when the school has just not been relevant on the national stage. In an age of Facebook and Twitter when almost every game is on television and the great players are staying closer to home, is it even possible to get enough of them to buy into the Notre Dame mystique to make the Irish a National Championship contender? I say no. We’ve talked about the decline of the Big Ten because of geography, weather and other factors. The same rules apply to Notre Dame, it’s still a great job because of the tradition and passion of the fans, but the next head coach had better walk into South Bend with his eyes wide open, there is a lot of work to do.

CBC makes the official announcement that it will air a second season of the wildly successful “Battle of the Blades” and we also discover that the production company behind the competition plans to license the show worldwide so expect a US edition sometime soon.

CBC-TV’S BATTLE OF THE BLADES RENEWED FOR SECOND SEASON

Groundbreaking Canadian series a ratings and advertising success story

CBC Television announced today that its hit series BATTLE OF THE BLADES, featuring world-class figure skaters and former NHL’ers, will return next fall for a second season. The 14-episode series sold out to live audiences every week, and wrapped up on Monday, Nov. 16 with an unconfirmed television audience of 1.736 million tuning in for the one-hour results finale.

Overall viewership has been tremendous, with an average of 1.749 million viewers 2+ watching the seven performance shows on Sunday evenings, and 1.332 million Canadians 2+ tuning in for the Monday night results shows. Combined, BATTLE OF THE BLADES reached one out of three Canadians with a total unduplicated reach of over 10 million.

“We could not be happier with the audience and advertising response to this truly Canadian series,” said Kirstine Stewart, general manager, CBC Television. “CBC continues to generate successful and relevant top-tier programming and the return of Battle of the Blades is another welcome addition to our star-studded lineup.”

The program’s unique format and mass appeal provided an ideal platform for advertisers. Season one sponsors DanActive, ARTISTRY Brands, McDonald’s and Kruger Products showcased their brands to millions of Canadians through innovative program integrations and sponsorship opportunities, including: co-branded vignettes; the DanActive Warm-up Zone; the ARTISTRY Style Studio; and signage and product sampling at the legendary Maple Leaf Gardens. Season two of BATTLE OF THE BLADES will provide even more customized opportunities for advertisers to connect with Canadians.

The overwhelming response to the show concept has led Insight Productions to look at expanding the franchise globally.

“We are thrilled that Battle of the Blades has captured such a wide and diverse male and female viewing audience,” said John Brunton, president & executive producer, Insight Productions. “It has tremendous international potential as a big name sports and entertainment brand, and we look forward to growing this franchise significantly over the coming years.”

Viewers can learn more about the competitors at www.cbc.ca/battle, the official online portal for the series and the source for everything about BATTLE OF THE BLADES. In addition to videos and behind-the-scene photos, the site offers viewers the opportunity to become fans of their favourite pair and track each participant’s activity as they strive to be the final pair remaining at the end of the series.

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.

And this is what tournaments Golf Channel’s airing this week.

GOLF CHANNEL TOURNAMENT COVERAGE

Nov. 16-22, 2009

LPGA Tour Championship

Dates: 11/19 – 11/22

Venue: The Houstonian Golf and Country Club, Richmond, Texas

Airtimes (Eastern):

Thursday 4 – 6 p.m. (Live)

Friday 4 – 6 p.m. (Live)

Saturday 4 – 6 p.m. (Live)

Sunday 3 – 5 p.m. (Live)

GOLF CHANNEL On-Air Talent:

Brian Hammons (Play by Play)

Dottie Pepper (Analyst)

Kay Cockerill (Tower)

Val Skinner (On Course)

Charlie Rymer (On Course)

Stephanie Sparks (Interviews)

Broadcast Notes: Returning to the Houston area for the first full-field LPGA event in 20 years, the LPGA Tour Championship features 120 of the world’s best players in the season-ending event, competing for a share of the $1.5 million purse, with the world’s top-ranked player Lorena Ochoa and Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year Jiyai Shin competing for the Player of the Year Honors….U.S. Solheim Cup team member Angela Stanford will be fitted with a microphone during Thursday’s opening round of play…New LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan will join Hammons and Pepper in the booth during Friday’s live coverage.

Dubai World Championship

Dates: 11/19 – 11/22

Venue: Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Airtimes (Eastern):

Thursday 3 – 8 a.m. (Live)

Friday 3 – 8 a.m. (Live)

Friday 3 – 8 a.m. (Live)

Saturday 3 – 8 a.m. (Live)

Thursday – Sunday 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Replay)

Broadcast Notes: The top-60 players in the Race to Dubai – a season-long competition on the European Tour – will compete in the season-ending Dubai World Championship, where the winner will win $1.5 million and a seven-year European Tour exemption. The winner of the Dubai World Championship will earn $1.2 million and a five-year European Tour exemption. The field includes current race-leader Lee Westwood, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy, Jeev Milkha Singh, Geoff Ogilvy, Henrik Stenson, Camilo Villegas and Martin Kaymer…The Dubai World Championship will be broadcast in high definition.

That’s going to do it for this post. Another press release post is next.

Mayne Street – Just Give Me The Tickets

In this webisode, Kenny and Sarah (Alison Becker) are called into a special Sunday meeting with Evan Mintz and his assistant, Robin Gibney, only to find a confrontation waiting for them. Hilarity ensues. Or maybe not.

Nice to see Aubrey Plaza playing Robin once again. But overall, the real star of Mayne Street is Alison Becker. We all know it.

NFL says No Flexing in Week 12; Minor Changes for Fox

Just got the schedule from the NFL for Week 12. No flexing of the Pittsburgh/Baltimore game in primetime. But there are a couple of adjustments in Fox’s 4:15 p.m. slot. Take a look.

FINAL WEEK 12 SCHEDULE:

NO CHANGE IN NBC SUNDAY NIGHT GAME;

CHICAGO AT MINNESOTA & ARIZONA AT TENNESSEE MOVE TO 4:15 PM ET ON FOX ON NOV. 29

The Week 12 NFL schedule was finalized today with the originally scheduled Pittsburgh at Baltimore Sunday night game on NBC remaining in place. The Arizona at Tennessee game on Sunday, November 29 moves from 1:00 PM ET to 4:15 PM ET on FOX. It was previously announced that Chicago at Minnesota would move from 1:00 PM ET to 4:15 PM ET on FOX.

Following is the final Week 12 NFL schedule (asterisk and bold/italics represents changed game time):

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26 (WEEK 12)

GREEN BAY AT DETROIT	12:30 PM (ET)	FOX
OAKLAND AT DALLAS	4:15 PM (ET)	CBS
N.Y. GIANTS AT DENVER	8:20 PM (ET)	NFLN

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29

TAMPA BAY AT ATLANTA	1:00 PM (ET)	FOX
MIAMI AT BUFFALO	1:00 PM (ET)	CBS
CLEVELAND AT CINCINNATI	1:00 PM (ET)	CBS
INDIANAPOLIS AT HOUSTON	1:00 PM (ET)	CBS
CAROLINA AT N.Y. JETS	1:00 PM (ET)	FOX
WASHINGTON AT PHILADELPHIA	1:00 PM (ET)	FOX
SEATTLE AT ST. LOUIS	1:00 PM (ET)	FOX
KANSAS CITY AT SAN DIEGO	4:05 PM (ET)	CBS
JACKSONVILLE AT SAN FRANCISCO	4:05 PM (ET)	CBS
CHICAGO AT MINNESOTA*	4:15 PM (ET)	FOX
ARIZONA AT TENNESSEE*	4:15 PM (ET)	FOX
PITTSBURGH AT BALTIMORE	8:20 PM (ET)	NBC

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30

NEW ENGLAND AT NEW ORLEANS

8:30 PM (ET)

ESPN

The NFL will utilize “flexible scheduling” on Sundays in Weeks 11-17. Flexible scheduling will ensure quality matchups in all NFL Sunday time slots in those weeks and give teams a chance to play their way onto primetime and into the late-afternoon 4:15 PM ET time slot on CBS and FOX.

For each of the flexible scheduling weeks with the exception of Week 17, the NFL will announce the start times of games on Sundays no later than 12 days prior to that weekend. To ensure a Sunday night game and doubleheader games with playoff implications in Week 17, the flexible scheduling decision for that Sunday may be made on six days notice.

So for the first two weeks of the flex schedule, the NFL has chosen to keep the preselected games in their primetime slots while making minor adjustments to the afternoon schedule. We’ll see what happens for Week 13 which has the Patriots-Dolphins in the 8:20 p.m. slot.

Previews of Coming Attractions

This post deals with upcoming programming on the various networks. Let’s give them to you.

From NBA TV, we have the Fan Night Game for Tuesday as well as the week ahead on the channel.

Warriors @ Cavaliers Wins Vote for NBA TV’s Fan Night Game on Tuesday

NBA TV’s Tuesday Fan Night will feature the Golden State Warriors @ Cleveland Cavaliers match-up, winning with 43% of the fan vote on NBA.com. The game will air on Tues., Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. (ET) with host Ernie Johnson and analysts Chris Webber and Kevin McHale on-hand for studio coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. (ET). Fan Night voting will continue on NBA.com from Tues., Nov. 17 (8 a.m. ET) – Thurs., Nov. 19 (Midnight ET) as fans select the match-up for Tues., Nov. 23 between six games:

Indiana Pacers @ Toronto Raptors
Philadelphia 76ers @ Washington Wizards
Golden State Warriors @ Dallas Mavericks
New Jersey Nets @ Denver Nuggets
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Utah Jazz
New York Knicks @ L.A. Lakers

Tipping off Tuesday night is The Jump on NBA.com, a live, interactive show that allows fans to submit questions and comments to NBA.com’s Kyle Montgomery, Dennis Scott and Brent Barry via NBA.com, Facebook or Twitter. The show will stream live each week at 1 p.m. (ET).

Every Wednesday NBA TV features original programming; this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. (ET) the network will air REAL NBA: Rookie Points which takes a look at the impact of the league’s talented rookie point guards. REAL NBA spends time with a number of these talented rookies including Brandon Jennings (Milwaukee Buck), Tyreke Evans (Sacramento Kings), Jonny Flynn (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Darren Collison (New Orleans Hornets).

At 8 p.m. (ET), NBA SPECIAL: NBA 10: The Inside – Generation Now will profile the 1980′s NBA renaissance when transcendent stars such as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird made even the most casual fan sit up and take notice. Now, decades later, a new group of stars is fueling strong interest in the game with superstars like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul are just some of the names who have the skills and personality to be stars on and off the court. The special explores the 1996 and 2003 classes that have stocked the league, the influx of international players who have developed into stars, memorable playoff performers and a still-younger generation who are knocking on the door and seeking entry into the NBA’s “new” Golden Age.

In addition to the Fan Night game, NBA TV will also feature live games on Monday, Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. (ET) with the Dallas Mavericks @ Milwaukee Bucks, on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 8:30 p.m. (ET) with the Washington Wizards @ San Antonio Spurs and on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. (ET) with the Detroit Pistons @ Phoenix Suns.

Every Saturday at 1 p.m. (ET), NBA TV features a Euroleague Game of the Week. This Saturday, Nov. 21, the game will feature a match-up between teams filled with former NBA players. Olympiakos (Greece), whose roster includes Josh Childress (Hawks), Von Wafer (Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, Blazers, Rockets) and Linas Kleiza (Nuggets), will face Efes Pilsen (Turkey) who have Bostjan Nachbar (Rockets, Hornets, Nets) and Igor Rakocevic (Timberwolves) on their roster.

Check out TNT and NBA TV Insider David Aldridge’s new NBA.com column The Morning Tip that recaps NBA action and includes analysis and musings on players, teams, games, news and everything NBA-related. Follow this link to read his latest edition: http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/david_aldridge/11/16/morning.tip/index.html

NBA.com adds a new columnist/blogger to the site with former Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer Sekou Smith joining the ranks. Smith will pen a daily blog called Hang Time as well as appear every Tuesday on The Jump on NBA.com as a Fan Voice contributor. Smith’s blog debuts today and can be found at: http://my.nba.com/cms/2009/11/16/hornets_pushing_all_the_wrong_buttons_with_paul

NBA TV PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE:

NBA TV SCHEDULE (all times ET): NOV. 17-22

TUESDAY, NOV. 17: FAN NIGHT

1 p.m. (NBA.com) The Jump on NBA.com Kyle Montgomery, Dennis Scott, Brent Barry

6-6:30 p.m. THE BEAT Marc Fein, David Aldridge

6:30- 7 p.m. Pregame Show Ernie Johnson, Chris Webber, Kevin McHale

7- 9:30 p.m. NBA Regular Season: Golden State Warriors @ Cleveland Cavaliers Local Announcers

9:30 – 10 p.m. NBA GameTime Ernie Johnson, Chris Webber, Kevin McHale

10 p.m.- 2 a.m. NBA GameTime Rick Kamla, Steve Smith

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 18

6:30-7 p.m. NBA ACTION

7-7:30 p.m. All-Access with Ahmad Ahmad Rashad

7:30-8 p.m. REAL NBA: Rookie Points

8-8:30 p.m. NBA SPECIAL: NBA 10: The Inside – Generation Now

8:30-9 p.m. All-Access with Ahmad (REAIR)

9- 11 p.m. NBA GameTime Andre Aldridge, Kenny Smith, Eric Snow

11 p.m.-12 a.m. All-Access/REAL NBA (REAIR)

12- 1 a.m. NBA GameTime Andre Aldridge, Eric Snow

THURSDAY, NOV. 19

8p.m. – 1 a.m. BEST OF THE 2000′s: NBA E Presents 2001

FRIDAY, NOV. 20

7 p.m.- 2 a.m. NBA GameTime Friday Rick Kamla, Cheryl Miller, Steve Smith

SATURDAY, NOV. 21

12:30-1 p.m. FIBA World Basketball Studio Show

1-3 p.m. Euroleague Game of the Week: Olympiakos vs. Efes Pilsen

7-8 p.m. NBA GameTime

8-8:30 p.m. Pregame Show Andre Aldridge, Cheryl Miller, Eric Snow

8:30- 11 p.m. NBA Regular Season: Washington Wizards @ San Antonio Spurs Local Announcers

11p.m.- 1 a.m. NBA GameTime Andre Aldridge, Cheryl Miller, Eric Snow

SUNDAY, NOV. 22

7-7:30 p.m. NBA GameTime Marc Fein, Steve Smith

7:30-8 p.m. Pregame Show Marc Fein, Steve Smith

8-10:30 p.m. NBA Regular Season: Detroit Pistons @ Phoenix Suns Local Announcers

10:30 p.m.-1 a.m. NBA GameTime Marc Fein, Steve Smith

Next, Golf Channel has its programming for this week.

COMING UP ON GOLF CHANNEL… Nov. 17-22, 2009

Contestants “Rev Up” Drives on Big Break Disney Golf

Season Finale of Inside the PGA TOUR

Original Programming Premieres and Highlights

(All times eastern)

Big Break Disney Golf

Time: Tuesday 10 – 11 p.m.

Hosts: Vince Cellini, Stephanie Sparks

Tuesday’s new episode of Big Break Disney Golf will feature a first-time challenge, when the remaining seven contestants will compete in a unique driving challenge along pit road at Walt Disney World Speedway. The contestants’ short game will then be put to test in order to avoid elimination. Tuesday’s new episode will re-air Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET.

Inside the PGA TOUR (Season Finale)

Time: Tuesday 7:30 – 8 p.m.

The season finale of Inside the PGA TOUR will recap the Children’s Miracle Network Classic and the 2009 season with player profiles, interviews and features.

2009 U.S. Open Highlights (Premiere)

Time: Wednesday 10 – 11 p.m.

GOLF CHANNEL will air a one-hour highlight show recapping the 2009 U.S. Open, held at Bethpage Black Course in New York. In a rain-soaked event, sentimental favorites Phil Mickelson and former World No. 1 David Duval rocketed up the leaderboard, only to witness Lucas Glover steadying his hand and claiming his greatest title.

News and Talk Show Programming Highlights

Golf Central

Live Airings: Tuesday – Sunday 6-6:30 p.m. (Live)

Tuesday – Wednesday 11:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.

Friday – Monday 12:30 – 1 a.m. (Live)

Tuesday – Wednesday, Golf Central will recap all of the top storylines from the Children’s Miracle Network Classic, JBWere Masters and the Lorena Ochoa Invitational and preview the LPGA Tour Championship and the Dubai World Championship. Following live tournament coverage of the LPGA Tour Championship Thursday – Sunday at 6 p.m. ET, Golf Central will recap the action of the second stage of PGA TOUR Q-School Wednesday – Saturday and deliver all of the golf news and highlights from the various tours.

Golf Central Pre Game

Live Airings: Thursday – Saturday 3:30 – 4 p.m. (Live)

Sunday 2:30 – 3 p.m. (Live)

Golf Central Pre Game will prepare viewers for all of the action at the LPGA Tour Championship and the Dubai World Championship with interviews, analysis and highlights. Inga Hammond and Frank Nobilo will host Golf Central Pre Game from the network’s Orlando studios.

Also on Tuesday, MLB Network runs an interview Bob Costas conducted with legendary Hall of Fame announcer Ernie Harwell who has inoperable cancer.

MLB NETWORK’S BOB COSTAS INTERVIEWS BASEBALL BROADCASTING GREAT ERNIE HARWELL ON NOVEMBER 17

Studio 42 with Bob Costas episode to discuss Harwell’s 55-year career and his battle with cancer

November 12, 2009 – MLB Network’s Studio 42 with Bob Costas will debut an interview with longtime Detroit Tigers play-by-play announcer and Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell on Tuesday, November 17 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Throughout the interview, Harwell, 91, discusses his 55-year career in broadcasting with the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers, as well as the incurable cancer he was diagnosed with in September 2009. At the interview’s close, Harwell recites the speech he gave upon being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on August 2, 1981. A preview of the interview, which will re-air on November 17 at 10:00 p.m. ET, can be seen here.

Prior to the interview, MLB Network will air Hot Stove, its live studio show in the offseason with updates and analysis of the moves all 30 clubs are making and planning in preparation for the upcoming season, at 6:00 p.m. ET and 7:00 p.m. ET/PT. Following the interview, MLB Network will re-air Studio 42 with Bob Costas featuring Major League Baseball umpires Don Denkinger, Bruce Froemming and Steve Palermo at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Highlights from the interview with Harwell include:

ON HIS HEALTH

This will be my last World Series, I think. Back in July, the doctors gave me six months to live, give or take a few months. I’m hoping to reach my birthday on January 25 but I’m pretty sure I won’t make the baseball season. But you never know as the Lord works wonders.

I’m not overwhelmed by the circumstances. One of the doctors said, “If you were my father, I’d say, don’t do anything, just relax and wait for the inevitable.” But I had great peace about that and closure to it and I knew God was in charge and whatever happens, happens for the best. I really have a lot of serenity and great support from my wife family and friends. It’s been so far a fairly easy task to accept it.

On Returning to Comerica Park on September 16

That was a great event for me. First of all, I addressed the team, which was a real honor. Jim Leyland had the whole team around. And after a couple innings, they sent me out there with a microphone and I said a few words of farewell. It was very heartwarming for me to see the way people felt about me.

The old voice hasn’t changed that much in 50 years and I thank mainly the genes, the good health the Lord gave me, and the fact I enjoyed the job so much. I never looked at it as work. It was something I got great pleasure out of; Getting to know the people in baseball, traveling with them, and being a part of that great Major League Baseball fraternity.

ON SUPPORT FROM FANS

I don’t think there’s any reason for this response except that I was the Tiger announcer. I showed up and did the best I could. I tried to be myself and my whole philosophy was the game was the main thing and don’t ever interfere with the game. People tune in to what the Tigers are doing. No matter whose doing the game, they’re going to tune in.

ON BEING A LOCAL MLB ANNOUNCER

I do feel like those people out there were my friends and I hope I was their friend. It is a unique association that you have with your listener. I really appreciate the fact that they’ve taken interest in me. I don’t know that I deserve that. All I tried to do was be myself. I wanted to broadcast the game that I thought I’d like to hear as a listener. I tried to give the score as often as I could. I let the play take over and fill in with anecdotes or historical information that maybe nobody else came up with. There were going to be some people who like you and some who don’t like you and you have to accept that when you start out.

On moving from the segregated South to Brooklyn in 1948

It was a little strange seeing a black man play against white competition. I accepted it and Jackie Robinson became a very good friend of mine. I played cards with him, played golf with him, rode the train with him. It’s the most exciting and most eventful thing that’s happened in sports history, the breaking of the color line by Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey.

On leaving Baltimore IN 1960 and taking THE job WITH THE DETROIT TIGERS

So I made the jump and it was probably the best move I ever made because the people in Michigan have really been super. They’re great fans, it’s an original franchise, and they have a great passion for baseball.

ESPN previews what it will show this week in motorsports including the NASCAR season finale.

Motorsports This Week on ESPN and ABC

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Season Finale Live on ABC

The 2009 season finale for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is this weekend at Florida’s Homestead-Miami Speedway as the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup ends with the crowning of the champion. ESPN’s live, flag-to-flag coverage of the Ford 400 airs Sunday, Nov. 22, on ABC and ABC HD beginning with NASCAR Countdown at 2:30 p.m. ET. The race’s green flag is at 3:30 p.m.

Also from Homestead, ESPN2 airs coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying on Friday, Nov. 20, at 3 p.m., as well as coverage of final practice on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 3 p.m.

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 Tech Garage.

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

SportsCenter Special Originates from Homestead on Championship Day

ESPN’s flagship program SportsCenter will present a 90-minute special from Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 1 p.m. ET, following NFL Countdown on ESPN. The telecast will lead up to NASCAR Countdown on ABC at 2:30 p.m.

SportsCenter at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship will be hosted by Allen Bestwick and will give NASCAR fans the opportunity to see things that go on prior to a race that they normally don’t get to see.

Mike Rowe, host of Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel, will be a special on-site reporter for ESPN and look at some of the dirty jobs of NASCAR. Rowe’s voice has been heard by NASCAR fans as the narrator of segments during ESPN’s coverage of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup this season.

ESPN’s Dave Burns will spend the program shadowing the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet of Jimmie Johnson, taking viewers behind-the-scenes as the car goes through final race preparation and NASCAR inspection. And ESPN’s Marty Smith will shadow Johnson himself in the hours before he attempts to make history as the first driver to win four consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championships.

The program also will include a heartwarming story of how the building of Homestead-Miami Speedway in 1994 and 1995 helped bring the Homestead area back from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Andrew, one of the worst natural disasters in history, on Aug. 24, 1992.

Joining Bestwick in the ESPN Pit Studio will be analysts Rusty Wallace, Brad Daugherty and Ray Evernham. Several NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers also are expected to stop by the studio during the course of the program.

NASCAR Nationwide Series Finale Live from Homestead on ESPN2

ESPN2 completes its season-long coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend as the series concludes 2009 with the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The live, flag-to-flag telecast airs Saturday, Nov. 21, at 4 p.m. ET, with the green flag at 4:45 p.m. ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, with selected races on ESPN and ABC.

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 Tech Garage.

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

NASCAR Now Originates from Homestead for Season Finale

NASCAR Now, ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program, will close out its 2009 season with four shows originating from Homestead-Miami Speedway, site of this weekend’s final races of the NASCAR season. Allen Bestwick will host the programs with analysts including Rusty Wallace, Brad Daugherty, Ray Evernham and Dale Jarrett, and reporters Mike Massaro, Nicole Manske and Marty Smith.

The first program from Homestead airs Friday, Nov. 20, at 12:30 a.m. ET (late Thursday night), with another airing Saturday, Nov. 21, at 12:30 a.m. (late Friday night). The one-hour weekend edition airs Sunday, Nov. 22, at 10 a.m. with a preview of that day’s NASCAR Sprint Cup finale at Homestead, with the final NASCAR Now of the season airing at 10 p.m. Sunday.

Massaro hosts half-hour editions of NASCAR Now from ESPN’s high definition studios in Bristol, Ct., on Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 1:30 a.m. (late Tuesday night), and Wednesday at 6 p.m. Smith will report from Miami for both programs.

ESPN Classic Returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway

With long-dormant North Wilkesboro (NC) Speedway scheduled to re-open late in 2010, ESPN Classic will bring NASCAR fans back to the 0.625-mile short track with a look at the 1989 Holly Farms 400, a NASCAR Winston Cup race. A one-hour highlights program airs Monday, Nov. 23, at noon ET.

NHRA Drag Racing Series Action Airs Sunday

The NHRA Drag Racing Series will air Sunday, Nov. 22, at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2 with coverage of series action from the event held at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif.

Featuring race vehicles that range from 5-second Top Alcohol Dragsters and Top Alcohol Funny Cars to 15-second Stockers, the NHRA Drag Racing Series is the premier Sportsman series in drag racing. Eight categories are included in the series, which is showcased at selected NHRA national events. ESPN’s Dave Rieff will anchor the coverage from Pomona.

That will do it. Tomorrow, we’ll have more stuff to post. Keep it here.

A Couple of NFL-centric Releases

I’ll now post two NFL -related releases. First from NFL Network which contains quotes from NFL Gameday Highlights and NFL Gameday Final.

Week 10 (Nov. 15, 2009) – Quotable from NFL GameDay Final & NFL GameDay Highlights on NFL Network

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

“I love the coach’s swagger. I love his confidence.”

– Deion Sanders on Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s decision to go for it on 4^th-and-2 from New England’s 28-yard line with 2:08 left in the fourth quarter

“Favre to Rice is starting to look like Montana to Rice.”

- Deion Sanders on Vikings WR Sidney Rice, who has 553 receiving yards in his past four games

“He’s becoming one of the big-time wide receivers in this league.”

- Michael Irvin on Vikings WR Sidney Rice

“132 rushing yards and two TDs…nine catches for 100 yards. That sounds like Marshall Faulk and Roger Craig.”

– Deion Sanders on Titans RB Chris Johnson’s game vs. Bills

“Amazing job by a rookie to come in, return kicks and play tailback. The Bengals leaned on him and he got the job done.”

– Steve Mariucci on Bengals RB Bernard Scott who had a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown and 13 carries in place of starting RB Cedric Benson

“The cornerbacks Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph harassed the receivers all day and allowed the pass rush of the Cincinnati Bengals to get to Ben Roethlisberger.”

- Deion Sanders on a key to Bengals’ win over Pittsburgh

“He’s not only running outside the tackles. He runs between the tackles and is able to break tackles.”

- Deion Sanders on Titans RB Chris Johnson

“It wasn’t pretty, but there are no pictures in the standings.”

- Rich Eisen on Bengals winning 18-12 over Pittsburgh and leading the AFC North

“This is what makes him dangerous. Say what you want, you don’t like the way he throws, but he wins football games and that element is scary.”

- Michael Irvin on scrambling ability of Titans QB Vince Young, who is 3-0 as Tennessee’s starter this season

“This is a young football team. They don’t know how to win the games they are supposed to win.”

- Michael Irvin on Cowboys’ 17-7 loss to Packers

*** 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 232-scrimmage yard, two-touchdown performance

- http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d814358a8/WK-10-Chris-Johnson-highlights

- Deion Sanders’ “Let’s Go Primetime”

- http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d8143c549/Let-s-Go-Primetime

- And many more Week 10 game highlights and postgame video only on NFL.com.

7:30 PM -8:30 PM ET: NFL GameDay Highlights

Host: Rich Eisen Analysts: Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin

Following the late afternoon games, NFL GameDay Highlights offers analysis of the events of the day. Includes highlights from all completed games, insider commentary, on-field interviews and post-game press conferences.

11:30 PM -1:00 AM ET: NFL GameDay Final

Host: Rich Eisen Analysts: Deion Sanders and Steve Mariucci

NFL GameDay Final is the definitive exclamation point on Sundays providing unlimited highlights of all the games, plus post-game press conferences, interviews from the field and locker room, audio captured throughout the day and expert analysis.

And we go to Versus which premieres Patriots LB Junior Seau’s new reality show in December, but we get a sneak peek later this week.

NFL LEGEND AND PATRIOTS LINEBACKER TO TACKLE THE JOBS THAT MAKE SPORTS WORK IN NEW ORIGINAL SERIES ON VERSUS

'Sports Jobs With Junior Seau' Kicks Off With Two Episodes on Dec. 2;

VERSUS to Air Special Sneak Preview on Nov. 18 at 11 p.m. ET 

NEW YORK, N.Y. (November 16, 2009) - On the field, on the ice, in the cage or behind the wheel, professional athletes have to be tough. But what does it take to do the behind-the-scenes jobs in sports? All-Pro linebacker Junior Seau is about to find out. In VERSUS' new original series, Sports Jobs with Junior Seau, the NFL legend trades in his helmet and pads and tries out the sometimes thankless, but extremely important, jobs across the entire sports world. VERSUS will air a special sneak preview of the show on Wednesday, November 18, at 11 p.m. ET. The 10-episode weekly half-hour series will debut in its regularly scheduled timeslot, Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. ET, beginning December 2, with two back-to-back episodes.    

"This is the first show that gives fans a look at the people who make the games possible. These guys don't get the fame and recognition but they are just as talented and compelling as the players and they have just as much pride in their work," said Andy Meyer, Vice President of Original Programming for VERSUS. "We're very excited to have Junior Seau, one of the greatest players the NFL has ever seen, on VERSUS' team doing the every day jobs that make sports work." 

In the sneak preview episode on November 18 Junior gets into the cage to help UFC fighter Forrest Griffin train for his bout against Anderson Silva at UFC 101 this past August in Philadelphia. Some of the other episodes will feature Seau working as the equipment manager for the Washington Capitals, as an IndyCar pit crew member, a college football writer for Sports Illustrated, a member of an arena conversion crew and as bullfighter at a Professional Bull Riders (PBR) event.  

"Throughout my 19-year professional football career, I've had the great fortune to work with so many phenomenal people; from equipment managers to trainers to the field crew, it is because of these unsung heroes that I am able to be the best player I can be on the field," said show host Junior Seau.   "I'm very excited to be part of show that allows me to do the jobs that are essential to a sport and make an impact on the overall effectiveness of an athlete or team."

A San Diego native, Seau began making a name for himself in football during his collegiate days at USC where he was an All-American player.  In 1990, following his junior year college football season, he was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the draft as the fifth pick overall.  A Charger until 2002, Seau went on to play for the Miami Dolphins from 2003 until 2005 and was signed by the New England Patriots in 2006.  Seau took a short break from football prior to the start of the 2009 NFL season for production of Sports Jobs, but after seeing how difficult some of the jobs actually were-including getting tackled by a bull during his bullfighter job with the PBR-Junior decided he'd rather take his chances on the field and returned to the Patriots team roster in time to play in the sixth game of the 2009 season. 

The COMPLETE on-air schedule follows (ALL TIMES 10 P.M. ET UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, subject to change): 

GIANTS STADIUM CONSTRUCTION CREW/DODGERS BATBOY (December 2)
In the first episode of the night, Seau will be working as part of the construction crew helping to build the new stadium for the New York Giants.  In the night's second episode, Seau will wear Dodger blue and serve as the batboy/equipment manager during a Dodgers home stand against the Milwaukee Brewers.     

NHL EQUIPMENT MANAGER (December 9, 11:30 p.m. ET)  
The Washington Capitals travel with thousands of pounds of skates, pads, jerseys, sticks and pucks and being their equipment manager for the 2009/10 NHL season-opening road game at Boston is no small task.    

ARENA CONVERSION TEAM   (December 16)
In this episode Junior joins up with Boston's legendary "Bullgang" crew to convert the Boston Bruins ice into the Boston Celtics hardwood, and back again, in just 36 hours.         

INDYCAR PIT CREW MEMBER (December 23)
The pressure is on as Junior learns how to jack up the car, fill it with gas, and change the tires - and do it all to have Scott Dixon's car back on the track in seven seconds.    

LPGA CADDY (December 30) 
Junior learns to read greens and minds, as he works a loop with LPGA and reality TV superstar Natalie Gulbis. 

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED REPORTER (January 6)
From trying to land an exclusive interview to racing between the press box and the locker room, Junior tries to cover a game and make his deadline.         

UFC CORNERMAN (January 13)
Junior joins UFC star Forrest Griffin's camp as he trains to take on Anderson Silva at UFC 101: Declaration in Philadelphia.  

HORSE TRAINER (January 20)
He'll feed, groom, shoe, clean and care for racehorses, and then do the dirtiest job he's done yet - castrate a live horse. 

PBR BULL FIGHTER (January 27)
Junior finds out first hand that keeping the riders from getting trampled and gored by a massive bull is one of the most dangerous jobs in all of sports.   

I’m amazed there’s enough inventory for so many shows. My impression was that Seau just taped a handful of episodes. I guess there’s enough footage for an entire season. One more press release post and we’re done for the evening.

College Football Press Release Reading

Let’s post some college football press releases for tonight. Lots of good stuff to get to.

First, this is the schedule of games the ESPN networks will air this week.

College Football: Three Undefeateds in Action, Plus No. 10 Ohio State at Michigan & No. 11 Oregon at Arizona

ESPN’s college football coverage this week will include telecasts involving three of the remaining six undefeated teams, No. 10 Ohio State at Michigan in one of sports’ greatest rivalries and No. 11 Oregon at Arizona in a key matchup that could help decide the Pac-10 title. The telecasts involving unbeaten teams include:

• No. 2 Alabama against Chattanooga Saturday, Nov. 21, at noon on ESPN Regional Television’s SEC Network;

• No. 3 Texas against Kansas Saturday, Nov. 21, at 8 p.m. on ABC’s Saturday Night Football;

• No. 6 Boise State at Utah State Friday, Nov. 20, at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

• The Thursday night game on ESPN Nov. 19 will feature a Big 12 showdown pitting Colorado at No. 12 Oklahoma State at 7:30 p.m.

Date	Time (ET)	Game	Network
Wed, Nov. 18	6 p.m.	Buffalo at Miami (Ohio) TBD & Tom Luginbill	ESPNU
	8 p.m.	Central Michigan at Ball State Dave Lamont & Trent Dilfer	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
Thu, Nov. 19	6 p.m.	Tennessee State at Eastern Illinois Charlie Neal & Jay Walker	ESPNU
	7:30 p.m.	Colorado at No. 12 Oklahoma State Chris Fowler, Craig James, Jesse Palmer & Erin Andrews	ESPN / ESPN360.com
Fri, Nov. 20	5:30 p.m.	Akron at Bowling Green Kevin Negandhi & David Jon Berger	ESPNU
	9:30 p.m.	No. 6 Boise State at Utah State Joe Tessitore & Rod Gilmore	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
Sat, Nov. 21	Noon	No. 10 Ohio State at Michigan Sean McDonough, Matt Millen & Holly Rowe	ABC
		Minnesota at No. 13 Iowa Dave Pasch, Bob Griese & Chris Spielman	ESPN / ESPN360.com
		North Carolina at Boston College Pam Ward & Ray Bentley	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
		Duke at No. 20 Miami Clay Matvick & David Diaz-Infante	ESPNU
		Mississippi State at Arkansas Dave Neal, Andre Ware & Cara Capuano	SEC Network ** ^
		Chattanooga at No. 2 Alabama Doug Bell & Chris Doering	SEC Network ** ^
		Louisville at South Florida Mike Gleason, John Congemi & Quint Kessenich	BIG EAST Game of the Week **
	2:30 p.m.	Florida Classic: Florida A&M vs. Bethune-Cookman (from Orlando) Charlie Neal & Jay Walker	ESPN Classic / ESPN360.com
	3:30 p.m.	No. 14 Penn State at Michigan State * Mike Patrick, Craig James & Heather Cox	ABC
		Virginia at No. 23 Clemson * Bob Wischusen & Brian Griese	ABC
		Reverse Mirror of Big Ten and ACC games on ABC *	ESPN / ESPN360.com
		N.C. State at No. 15 Virginia Tech Todd Harris & Charles Arbuckle	ESPNU
		Rutgers at Syracuse TBD & TBD	ESPN360.com
	7 p.m.	Vanderbilt at Tennessee Eric Collins & Brock Huard	ESPNU
	7:45 p.m.	Kansas State at Nebraska Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge & Erin Andrews	ESPN / ESPN360.com
		Kentucky at Georgia Mark Jones & Bob Davie	ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
	8 p.m.	No. 11 Oregon at Arizona Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit & Lisa Salters	ABC
		Kansas at No. 3 Texas Ron Franklin & Ed Cunningham	ABC
	10:20 p.m.	Nevada at New Mexico State Terry Gannon & David Norrie	ESPNU

* Reverse mirror: ESPN or ESPN2 will regionalize two games on ABC to markets not receiving the telecast

** Syndication

^ Split window