Fang's Bites

NBA TV’s Schedule For This Week

We continue to post schedules for this week for various networks and channels. This is what’s in store for NBA TV.

The Phoenix Suns Face Chicago Bulls on NBA TV’s Tuesday Fan Night

Network will Air Season’s Final Fan Night on Tuesday, April 6

NBA TV will air the winner of Fan Night, the Phoenix Suns @ Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, March 30 at 8 p.m. ET. Host Ernie Johnson and analysts Chris Webber and Kevin McHale will begin coverage at 7:30 p.m. (ET) with the Pregame show.  

Voting for Fan Night will continue on NBA.com from Tuesday, March 30 (8 a.m. ET) – Thursday, April 1 (Midnight ET) as fans select the match-up for the season’s final Fan Night on Tues., April 6. Fans can choose between the following:

·       Detroit Pistons @ Philadelphia 76ers

·       Golden State Warriors @ Washington Wizards

·       Boston Celtics @ New York Knicks

·       Milwaukee Bucks @ Chicago Bulls

·       San Antonio Spurs @ Sacramento Kings

The network will also showcase other live games, including Monday, March 29 at 8:30 p.m. (ET) with the Denver Nuggets @ Dallas Mavericks.

Fans can let their voices be heard every Tuesday during The Jump on NBA.com a live, interactive show designed for the ultimate NBA fan, where fans can submit questions and comments via NBA.com, Facebook or Twitter. Host Kyle Montgomery, analysts Dennis Scott and Brent Barry and ‘chat-master’ Sekou Smith will respond and give their comments and analysis on everything happening around the league. The show will stream live each week at 1 p.m. ET on NBA.com and re-air at 5:00 p.m. ET on NBA TV.

International basketball is highlighted every Saturday at 1 p.m. (ET) on NBA TV.

NBA TV PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE:

MARCH 29 – APRIL 4

 
NBA TV  SCHEDULE (all times ET): MARCH 29- APRIL 4     
 
MONDAY, MARCH 29               
12-1 p.m.       NBA.COM FANTASY INSIDER Rick Kamla, Dennis Scott        
7-8 p.m.        NBA GameTime           
8-8:30 p.m..    Pregame Show     Matt Winer, Brent Barry, Eric Snow     
8:30- 11 p.m.   NBA Regular Season: Denver Nuggets @ Dallas Mavericks   Local Announcers       
11 p.m.- 12 a.m.        NBA GameTime    Matt Winer, Brent Barry, Eric Snow     

TUESDAY, MARCH 30 : FAN NIGHT  
1 p.m. (NBA.com)        The Jump on NBA.com     Kyle Montgomery, Dennis Scott, Brent Barry and Sekou Smith     
5-6 p.m.        The Jump on NBA.com (NBA.com Re-Air)    Kyle Montgomery, Dennis Scott, Brent Barry and Sekou Smith     
6-6:30 p.m.     THE BEAT        Marc Fein, David Aldridge              
7:30-8 p.m.     Pregame Show     Ernie Johnson, Kevin McHale, Chris Webber      
8- 10:30 p.m.   NBA Regular Season: Phoenix Suns @ Chicago Bulls        Local Announcers       
10:30-11:30 p.m.        NBA GameTime       Ernie Johnson, Kevin McHale, Chris Webber      
 
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31    
4-4:30 p.m.     NBA D-League Central    Rick Kamla     
4:30-6:30 p.m.  NBA D-League Showcase: TBD      Local Announcers                             
7- 7:30 p.m.    All-Access with Ahmad   Ahmad Rashad   
7:30- 8 p.m.    REAL NBA               
8- 8:30 p.m.    NBA Wired 2010         
8:30- 9 p.m.    NBA Action             
9- 11 p.m.      NBA GameTime    Matt Winer, Eric Snow, Kenny Smith                           
12- 2 a.m.      NBA GameTime    Matt Winer, Eric Snow  

THURSDAY,  APRIL 1     
7 p.m.- 2 a.m.  BEST OF THE 2000′s : NBAE Presents 2009        
 
FRIDAY, APRIL 2
7 p.m- 2 a.m.   NBA GameTime Friday         Rick Kamla, Steve Smith, Mike Fratello 
 
SATURDAY, APRIL 3      
1- 3 p.m.       Euroleague Game of the Week: Caja Laboral vs. CSKA Moscow              
7:30- 8 p.m.    Pregame Show     Matt Winer, Eric Snow, Mike Fratello   
8- 10:30 p.m.   NBA Regular Season: Charlotte Bobcats @ Chicago Bulls   Local Announcers       
10:30p.m.- 1 a.m.       NBA GameTime      Matt Winer, Eric Snow, Mike Fratello   
 
SUNDAY, APRIL 4
7p.m.- 1 a.m.   NBA GameTime    Marc Fein, Steve Smith 

If I have more stuff, Ill post it.

Tennis Channel All Over Sony Ericsson Tournament

This week, Tennis Channel and Fox Sports Net are combining once again for another tournament, this one being the “Fifth Slam”, the Sony Ericsson Tournament in Miami. Here’s Tennis Channel’s live schedule.

TENNIS CHANNEL BEGINS COVERAGE OF SONY ERICSSON OPEN ON MONDAY, MARCH 29

LOS ANGELES, March 26, 2010 – Tennis Channel, the only 24-hour, television-based multimedia destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle, will begin its coverage of the Sony Ericsson Open on Monday, March 29, at 7 p.m. ET.  The network has slated 20 live or first-run hours during what has become known as the “fifth slam,” in addition to 30 hours of same-day repeats.  The Sony Ericsson Open features the world’s top ATP men’s and WTA women’s tennis players in Miami at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park.  For a full schedule of planned Tennis Channel coverage, go to www.tennischannel.com.

Tennis Channel’s Live Sony Ericsson Open Match Schedule

Monday, March 29, 7 p.m.-11 p.m.  – Men’s Third Round; Women’s Round of 16

Tuesday, March 30, 11 a.m. -11 p.m. – Men’s Round of 16; Women’s Quarterfinals

Wednesday, March 31, 7 p.m.- 9 p.m. – Women’s Quarterfinals

Thursday, April 1, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. – Men’s Quarterfinals

CBS airs the finals over the weekend.

Coming Up On The Golf Channel

One press release to give you for this week. Here’s what Golf Channel is airing over the next few days.

Coming up on Golf Channel…March 29 – April 4

Halfway There on The Haney Project

The Unthinkable Happens in Mexico on Being John Daly

Original Programming Premieres and Highlights

(All Times Eastern)

The Haney Project: Ray Romano (new)

Airtime: Monday, 9-9:30 p.m.

Video Preview: Haney Project Preview

As the series reaches its halfway point, Ray Romano’s progress on the course is put to the test. Later in the episode, Romano invites Hank Haney to a friendly game of poker, where fellow comedian and Everybody Loves Raymond co-star Brad Garrett humorously questions Haney’s poker skills and Romano’s golf skills.

Being John Daly (new)

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

Video Preview: Being John Daly Preview

The series will take viewers south of the border as John Daly competes in the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun.  He makes his first cut of the 2010 season, only to have his final round derailed in a feat that has only happened three times in the past 15 years.  After the tournament, Daly takes time off to finish his album in Nashville and throws out the first pitch at a Philadelphia Phillies spring training game in Tampa.

Quest for the Card (season premiere)

Airtime: Wednesday, 6:30-7 p.m.

On the season premiere of Quest for the Card, Golf Channel will recap the first five events of the 2010 Nationwide Tour season and will profile Nationwide Tour players as they compete to earn their PGA TOUR cards for 2011.

Top 10: Major Meltdowns (new)

Host: Lauren Thompson

Airtime: Wednesday, 9-9:30 p.m.

Host Lauren Thompson will count down the top 10 biggest meltdowns at golf’s major championships, including mishaps at the 2006 U.S. Open, Greg Norman’s final round at the 1996 Masters and Jean Van de Velde’s collapse at Carnoustie in the 1999 Open Championship. 

News and Talk Show Premieres and Highlights

 (All Times Eastern)

The Golf Fix

Host: Michael Breed

Airtime: Monday, 6-7 p.m.

The Golf Fix host Michael Breed will provide golf tips and instruction and will re-create the key shots and moments from the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Breed also will answer e-mails throughout the course of the show.

Grey Goose 19^th Hole (Live)

Host: Kraig Kann

Panelists: John Hawkins, Jeff Rude

Contributors: Win McMurry, Jay Coffin, Rex Hoggard

Airtime: Wednesday, 7-8 p.m.

Host Kraig Kann and panelists John Hawkins and Jeff Rude will debate all the hot topics in golf, featuring viewer interaction throughout the show.  Win McMurry and members of GolfChannel.com’s editorial team also will contribute throughout the show.

Grey Goose 19^th Hole (Special Presentation)

Host: Steve Sands       

Airtime: Wednesday, 8:30-9 p.m.

PGA TOUR Professional Ernie Els joins the cast of the Grey Goose 19^th Hole, on-site at PGA National, after an exciting day on the links supporting a noble and charitable cause close to his heart. Els assembled an all-star cast for the second annual Els for Autism Pro-Am, including Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd, Steve Stricker, Stuart Appleby, Robert Allenby, Justin Leonard, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Briny Baird and Rory Sabbatini.

Golf Central

Live Airings:    Monday-Wednesday, 6-6:30 p.m.

                        Thursday-Friday, 7-7:30 p.m.

                        Saturday, 5-5:30 p.m., 6-6:30 p.m.

                        Sunday, 6-7 p.m.

Golf Central will recap the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Monday. Later in the week, Golf Central will feature highlights, interviews and analysis from the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the PGA TOUR’s Shell Houston Open and throughout the world of golf.

Golf Central Pre Game

Live Airings:    Thursday-Friday, 3:30 – 4 p.m.

                        Saturday-Sunday, 12:30 – 1 p.m.

                       

Thursday – Sunday, Golf Central Pre Game will prepare viewers for live tournament action on the various tours, featuring interviews, analysis and early highlights. 

We’ll end it there for now.

Your 2010 NCAA Men’s Tournament Final Four Tip Times

From CBS Sports, we have the tip times for next Saturday’s Final Four in Indianapolis. Of course, Duke is the late game.

THIS JUST IN…

…from CBS Sports

CBS Sports has announced tip times for the 2010 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Final Four games on Saturday, April 3 (6:00-11:00 PM, ET). Butler takes on Michigan State to tip-off the day (6:07 PM, ET), followed by Duke against West Virginia 40 minutes after conclusion of the first game (approximately 8:47 PM, ET).

That’s it.

Golf Channel To Air Conclusion of Arnold Palmer Invitational on Monday

Here’s the announcement for Monday as rain wreaked havoc with the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the NASCAR event on Sunday.

Golf Channel to Air Conclusion of the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Monday, 10 a.m. ET

Golf Channel will air the conclusion of the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Monday beginning at 10 a.m. ET.  Kelly Tilghman and Frank Nobilo will host Golf Channel’s live coverage, joined by Brandel Chamblee from the tower and Jerry Foltz reporting from the course. Golf Central will air a special post-game show immediately following the tournament’s completion, hosted by Rich Lerner and Todd Lewis.

This will be added to the Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks for Monday.

Clark Kellogg Goes One-on-One with President Obama, Then Shoots Hoops With Him

CBS gets a nice get for its Final Four coverage next week. Clark Kellogg gets to interview President Obama at the White House. In addition, Early Show co-host Harry Smith will interview the President and both men will try to shoot hoops with the First Basketball Fan. Here’s the press release.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH CLARK KELLOGG DURING CBS SPORTS’ NCAA FINAL FOUR COVERAGE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 3

CBS Sports’ lead college basketball analyst Clark Kellogg goes one-one-one with President Barack Obama in an interview and game of basketball during CBS Sports’ exclusive coverage of the NCAA Final Four® on Saturday, April 3 (4:00-11:00 PM, ET). Kellogg and CBS News’ EARLY SHOW co-anchor Harry Smith challenge the President to a game on the White House basketball court.

Also, Smith sits down in a separate interview with the President that will be broadcast on THE EARLY SHOW Friday, April 2 (7:00-9:00 AM, ET/PT). The interviews and game are scheduled to occur on Thursday, April 1.

Earlier this season President Obama joined Kellogg and Verne Lundquist courtside as guest analyst during CBS Sports’ broadcast of Duke-Georgetown on January 30. During the broadcast President Obama said, “Nobody can keep up with Clark. He’s the best color man in college basketball.” President Obama then warned Kellogg that he was interested in his job, “After retirement I am coming after your job Clark. I am just letting you know. You either have three more years or seven, I am not sure which. But you need to plan accordingly because I am going to do some play-by-play.”

Eric Mann serves as Senior Producer for CBS Sports’ coverage of THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR®. Debra Gelman produces. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production.

That’s it.

Our Sunday Links

Let’s do some linkage on this Sunday. I found one of my all-time favorite movies, Goldfinger on BBC America so while I wait for the NCAA Tournament later, I’ll do linkage for you.

Multichannel News reports that MSG’s high school sports channel is setting up awards for original television content produced by students.

The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir remembers the life of former network television sports executive Chet Simmons.

Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News spews venom this morning.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner has some personal remembrances of Chet Simmons.

Jim also finds some trends in the 3rd day of voting for DC’s best sports sports radio talk show.

Arek Sarkissian II from the Savannah (GA) Morning News talks with Chet Simmons’ family about his life.

Bob Wolfley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that Marquette basketball coach Buzz Williams has been performing well as a guest analyst on CBS College Sports this weekend.

In the Kansas City Star, Randy Covitz writes that the local market ranks 3rd in the country in the ratings for the men’s NCAA Tournament. 

The Daily Oklahoman’s Jenni Carlson interviews ESPN women’s college basketball analyst Kara Lawson about Oklahoma University’s chances to get to the Women’s Final Four.

Tom Hoffarth from the Los Angeles Daily News looks back at the week in sports blogging.

Tom talks with former Louisville basketball coach Denny Crum who will be inducted into a local Hall of Fame.

Tom has more with Crum in his blog.

The Los Angeles Times’ Sam Farmer talks with former NFL coach and broadcaster John Madden about several current league issues

Artie Gigantino from the San Francisco Examiner likes the new NFL overtime rules.

Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that the Pirates have signed a long term rights agreement with FSN Pittsburgh ensuring at least 150 games on the network.

NESN says it will air its final two Red Sox spring training games today and tomorrow.

Sean Leahy at Yahoo’s Puck Daddy looks at an ESPN NHL player poll which gives Commissioner Gary Bettman low marks as well as the league’s current TV coverage.

The Sports Media Watch gives its weekend ratings predictions.

SMW says NASCAR’s ratings continue to drop.

Sox & Dawgs has an ESPN Outside the Lines feature on UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma.

That’s going to do it for this Sunday. Enjoy your day.

Videos of the Week – Chet Simmons’ Influence on Sports

With the death of Chet Simmons on Thursday, I thought I would bring you some of the programs that he helped to bring into fruition as an executive at both ABC and NBC Sports, then as the first President of a fledgling cable sports network known as ESPN. Without his guidance, ESPN would have never got off the ground. He gave ESPN the broadcast standards that are still held today. You may not know the name of Chet Simmons, but his influence on NBC Sports in the 1970′s and ESPN in its early infancy cannot be forgotten. So today, we salute Chet Simmons and look at the programs he helped develop over the years.

Simmons began his sports television career with an entity known as Sports Programs Inc. which would later evolve into ABC Sports in 1961. And with ABC, a 13 week summer replacement anthology series began known as Wide World of Sports. The replacement series did not off the air until 1997.

This is a promo that I think dates back to the late 1960′s or early 1970′s.

Here’s a longer version of the promo.

As you can see, Wide World spanned the globe to find the constant variety of sport, whether it be a track & field competition, tennis, surfing, Little League Baseball and the like. Here’s a close from 1983.

Simmons moved to NBC and was instrumental in keeping the network in the NFL, MLB, NCAA Tournament, Wimbledon and also helped to gain the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. He also helped to develop NBC’s version of Wide World of Sports, SportsWorld. This is an open from 1987.

Here’s an open from the NFL on NBC from 1973. NBC had the AFC package on Sunday afternoons and alternated the Super Bowl every year with CBS. It also had a very good stable of announcers including Curt Gowdy, Jim Simpson, Jay Randolph, etc.

In the early 1970′s, Simmons helped NBC to secure the rights to the NHL and aired a Game of the Week plus the Stanley Cup playoffs. Here are the final seconds of Game 7 of the Philadelphia Flyers-New York Rangers and on the call were Tim Ryan and Ted Lindsay.

However, the NHL did not garner ratings for NBC (sound familiar?) and dropped the sport in 1975.

Throughout the 1970′s, NBC was the network for Major League Baseball and thus, the World Series. Here’s the open for Game 4 of the World Series between the Cincinnati Reds and Oakland A’s. The late Curt Gowdy opens the broadcast with a commercial billboard and then introduces the game. This is great stuff.

In 1979, Simmons moved to ESPN and helped to develop SportsCenter, the anchor of the network at the time. Here’s the very first SportsCenter broadcast on September 7, 1979, started by Lee Leonard who introduces George Grande at the anchor desk.

Among the people Simmons brought to ESPN from NBC included Jim Simpson, Paul Maguire and producer Scotty Connal. At ESPN, Simmons brought in Leonard and Grande whom you saw in the previous video. He also hired Bob Ley, Chris Berman, had a hand in hiring Cliff Drysdale and Dick Vitale. One of the early events Simmons obtained was the early round of the NCAA Tournament and here are two games which eventually led CBS to buy the Tournament outright and get the rights to the 63 games.

In 1981 in the Sweet Sixteen, BYU took on Notre Dame and ESPN showed this moment live to the country. Danny Ainge took the ball the length of the court to defeat the Fighting Irish coached by Digger Phelps. Ignore the intro and outro of BYU-TV.

In 1987, Princeton of the Ivy League and a #16 seed took on #1 seed Georgetown of the Big East at the Providence Civic Center. By this time, ESPN was well established in the NCAA Tournament and here are John Saunders and Dick Vitale talking about the game and highlights. The best part was Vitale’s stunned look at halftime when Princeton went into the locker room with the lead. Calling the game were the legendary Mike Gorman and Ron Perry.

Chet Simmons had the vision to air the NFL Draft, something which then-Commissioner Pete Rozelle was puzzled as to why anyone would be interested in doing so, but it turned out to be a truly made-for-TV event. Here’s a portion of coverage from 1983. George Grande, Bob Ley and Chris Berman are there for ESPN.

Simmons left ESPN in 1982 and became the first Commissioner of the United States Football League, originally a spring football entity and the first TV contracts were signed with ABC and ESPN. Here’s a game from 1984 between the Philadelphia Stars and Pittsburgh Maulers as called by ESPN original and former NBC Sports announcer Jim Simpson.

And here’s the USFL on ESPN open.

Simmons left the USFL after being forced out in 1984 and later became a consultant and professor. As you can see, Simmons’ legacy at three networks is a big one. And he cannot be ignored when looking at the history of sports television.

Fang’s Bites Musical Interlude: Remember The Titans

I’m going to give you one video. Actually it’s not really a video, just the main theme from the great movie, “Remember The Titans” which starred Denzel Washington and Will Patton. Produced by the Walt Disney Pictures, the message of the movie to overcome racism and becoming together as one still resonates today. Of course, the main theme of the movie, “Titan Sprit” has been used by NBC since 2002 for the closing montage to each Olympic Games. It’s quite fitting music and I’ll give you this in lieu of any links today. I’m out running errands so this will tie you over until tomorrow.

If I get motivated, I may do a Videos of the Week for Sunday morning. See you all on Sunday.

Universal Sports Quotage From The World Figure Skating Championships

Another day of quotage from the World Figure Skating Championships on Universal Sports. By the way, none of this is being covered on NBC Sports if you notice. Talk about low viewership here.

Anyway, here’s your notes and quotes from Friday.

Universal Sports PRESENTS COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE 2010 World Figure Skating Championships

NEWS, NOTES AND QUOTES FOR MARCH 26, 2010:

Weir likes Japan’s Asada pushing ‘technical boundaries’, predicts she’ll win;

 Olympian Belbin says ice dancing changed for the better, here to stay

Saturday Alert: Ladies’ Free Program Live at 10 A.M. ET

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., March 26, 2010: Universal Sports’ coverage of the World Figure Skating Championships from Turin, Italy, delivers with figure skating insight, spirited humor and behind-the-scenes intelligence. Johnny Weir, Tara Lipinski and legendary U.S. ice dancers Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto joined live studio host Peter Carruthers in “The Loft” to break down Friday’s Ladies’ short program, in which American Mirai Nagasu sits on top of the standings, while Olympic gold medalist Kim Yu-Na of South Korea faces a comeback from a surprising seventh-place result.

Weir, Belbin and Agosto joined a team consisting of play-by-play announcer Andrea Joyce, plus analysts Carruthers, Paul Wylie and Tara Lipinski. Former NBC Olympic researcher Lee Ann Gschwind was on hand with interviews and in-rink updates.

NEWS UPDATES

LADIES: Mirai Nagasu is currently in first place after the short program, with 2010 Olympic champion Kim Yu-Na 10 points behind the lead and in seventh place, and more than 18 points off her world record score, set at the Vancouver Olympics. Japanese skater Mao Asada is just behind Nagasu, with Finnish skater Laura Lepisto in third. American Rachael Flatt is in sixth place heading into Saturday’s free program. No American woman has been on the podium in the last three Worlds.

ICE DANCING: Canadian couple Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir followed up their gold medal performance with a World Championship title. American duo Merle Davis and Charlie White won the Free Dance program over Virtue and Moir, but finished second overall to win their first medal at a World Championships.  The bronze medal was awarded to French dancers Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat.

TODAY (MARCH 26) ON UNIVERSAL SPORTS: LADIES’ SHORT PROGRAM (11 A.M. – 1 P.M. ET)

QUOTES FROM OUR COVERAGE:

On today’s competitions:

Weir:  “At the Ladies’ Senior World Championships, a double-loop is not acceptable.”

Lipinski: “My biggest problem with the footwork sequence is that everyone is trying to get so many steps in and so many changes of directions, they look really slow, and the skaters almost come to a stop. If you watch Mao (Asada), Miki (Ando) or Yu-Na (Kim), they really flow across the ice. They’ve really mastered it.”

Lipinski: “Every season is different for a figure skater. Either you’re the newcomer or the pro, and you have to handle both with poise.”

On Japanese skater Mao Asada, currently in second place:

Lipinski: “She has beautiful lines and great positions and great technique.  But she’s missing a bit of her personality and a connection to her music and the audience. Where as with Kim Yu-Na, you feel every movement that she makes when she’s on the ice. Yu-Na is unbeatable at this point and Mao is just trying to catch up.”

Mao Asada, to Universal Sports’ Lee Ann Gschwind: “Yes, my triple Axel was downgraded. I was sad, but tomorrow I will be stronger.”

QUOTES FROM THE STUDIO SHOW (HOSTED BY PETER CARRUTHERS)

*With special guests Johnny Weir, three-time U.S. Men’s Figure Skating Champion and 2008 World Bronze Medalist; and Tara Lipinski, 1998 Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medalist; Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, the most decorated U.S. ice dancing team of all time.

Weir: (on Russian skater Ksenia Makarova): “She’s like a queen on ice. There’s a very regal quality to her, a purpose to every movement. Today, I don’t understand how she’s behind (Italian skater) Carolina (Kostner) and (Finnish skater) Laura (Lepisto). For me, reputation shouldn’t be as important as it is in figure skating. Her skating was superior to both of their skating.”

Weir (on the judges’ downgrade of Mao’s triple Axel jump): “There’s something with her ankles, I think they are double-jointed. Even if her body isn’t all the way around, she can smudge it a little bit. Her technique — the swing she gets heading into the jump — helps her get so high into the air and it’s a great take-off. I think she gets downgraded when it’s actually a clean jump.”

On Mirai Nagasu:

Weir: “I want her to have that ‘look at me’ expression that she had at the Olympics. There’s a lot of buzz going on around her. It’s important that she skates clean to keep herself legitimate. Not winning Nationals lit a fire, but a lot of people in that building thought she should have won.”

Lipinski: “She’s a tough competitor. The focus she has right before she skates is amazing. She can be laughing and smiling, and then once the music starts, she’s ready to compete. It’s nice to watch her on the ice, she’s enjoying herself and she’s attacking on the ice.”

Weir: “She had the sparkle in her eyes today. Her technique has improved. Her skills rival Kim Yu-Na and Mao Asada, and she’s a skater that has grown-up in this new system. She knows how to work every point.”

Mirai Nagasu, to Universal Sports’ Lee Ann Gschwind : “It was important to try the triple-triple, at the Olympics I wasn’t able to do it and I think that took me out of medal contention. After the Olympics, I’ve been really tired and not in the mood to train, so I’m glad I stuck to it and did the best I could here.”

On Kim Yu-Na’s disappointing performance in the short program:

Joyce: “It’s been an intense year of expectations and pressure since last year’s World Championship and her performance stunned the crowd in Torino. The podium is up for grabs right now.”

Weir: “It was simple things. This was a shock, but when you train so much for the Olympics, and the Olympics are your main focus, to come to the World Championships and give that same kind of performance, it’s a difficult thing to do. But don’t count her out of the free program.”

Kim Yu-Na, to Universal Sports’ Lee Ann Gschwind: “I felt my left foot shaking, maybe that’s why (I made mistakes).  After the Olympics I wasn’t able to train, I felt really tired and I wasn’t ready.”

On Rachael Flatt:

Lipinski: “She’s a technician. She’s a tough competitor and she’s consistent. Those jumps come so easy to her. The triple combinations are like doubles for her, but she needs to show her personality, have a little bit more fun.”

Weir: “I wish she expressed herself on the ice. Shoulders back, chest up. They keep talking about how smart she is, but I want them to talk about the artistry and the stylist she is.”

Weir: “Figure skating is a political sport. Mirai was already in first place representing the same country, and the skater that skates afterward will be judged harsher.  Rachael came across – I’m not trying to be funny – but ‘flat’.”

TODAY (MARCH 26) ON UNIVERSAL SPORTS: FREE DANCE (4 P.M. – 6 P.M. ET)

QUOTES FROM OUR COVERAGE:

Belbin (on Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates): “The look of being a junior team to a senior team always comes down to maturity and the connection between yourself and your partner and your comfort level on the ice. In the beginning, they looked very cautious, thinking a bit too much and a slight baubles on the transitional steps, the program developed as they went on. They just need more chances (on the senior world level) to get experience and improve.”

Emily Samuelson (with partner Evan Bates), to Universal Sports’ Lee Ann Gschwind (on what they will take away from the Worlds): “The Olympic experience was amazing, it’s good to have that under our belt as we prepare for 2014. We’ll take everything we learned this season and apply it to next year.”

QUOTES FROM THE STUDIO SHOW (HOSTED BY PETER CARRUTHERS)

Belbin (on where ice dancing is today): “The style and the strength of the top two teams will change the face of ice dancing. It’s a different sport entirely. Never again will ice dancing be questioned as to whether it has a place in the Olympics. That has been thrown out the window, never to return. This is an incredible sport and people will be watching for years to come.”

SATURDAY’S COVERAGE: LADIES’ FREE PROGRAM (MARCH 27, LIVE AT 10 A.M.)

On the forecast for the Ladies’ free program:

Weir: “I say Mao Asada. I think the two triple Axels and her (level of) experience will help her at the World Championships. I want her to skate without abandon. There’s no other woman pushing the technical boundaries like Mao.”

Weir: Kim Yu-Na beat the ladies by a giant margin (in Vancouver). It is possible for her to make up this deficit by skating clean. Mirai has a lot of pressure; she has to be as perfect as possible.  If she gets nervous, the first thing that happens is you revert back to your comfort zone, and that might include mistakes.”

Lipinski: “Mirai had a great Olympics performance and a great Nationals performance. If she can sustain that energy and … show the world, ‘I’m here to stay, I’m going to be with the top ladies in the world and I’m going to compete for that podium.’ But now there’s a lot of pressure being in first place.”

World Championships Coverage on Universal Sports TV (All times are EDT):

Saturday, March 27 – Ladies’ Free Program (live at 10 a.m., re-airs at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.)

Visit UniversalSports.com/tvschedule for additional times and re-airs.

I’ll have one more day of quotage and that will be posted tomorrow.

Your 2010 Regional Final Tip Times for Sunday, March 28

Just into the Fang’s Bites inbox, CBS has given us the tip times for the NCAA Tournament Regional Finals for Sunday.

CBS SPORTS’ EXCLUSIVE LIVE COVERAGE OF NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CONTINUES

Tip-Times Announced for Regional Finals on Sunday, March 28

CBS Sports’ exclusive broadcast coverage of the 2010 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship continues on Saturday, March 27 (4:30-9:00 PM, ET) with broadcasts of the regional finals as Kansas State battles Butler in the first game followed by Kentucky playing West Virginia. Regional final action continues on Sunday, March 28 (2:00-7:00 PM, ET) as Tennessee takes on Michigan State to tip-off the day followed by Duke against Baylor.

On Saturday, the Division II Men’s Basketball Championship (1:00-3:00 PM, ET) tips-off the day with Indiana (Pa.) taking on Cal Poly Pomona, followed by THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR®, hosted by Greg Gumbel, Greg Anthony and Seth Davis (3:00-4:30 PM, ET). Kansas head coach Bill Self serves as guest analyst for the weekend.

Bob Dekas is coordinating producer of CBS Sports’ NCAA basketball coverage, and Bob Fishman is the lead director.  Eric Mann is Senior Producer and Bob Matina directs.  Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

Following are the tip-times and announce teams for Sunday’s regional final games.

SUNDAY, MARCH 28 (2:00 PM-7:00 PM, ET

2:20 PM – St. Louis I, Michigan State vs. Tennessee, Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery 

5:05 PM – Houston I, Duke vs. Baylor, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg

That’s it.

The End of 24

As one of my all-time favorite shows comes to end this season, I give you some links reacting to the announcement that came today from multiple sources via Twitter, including former Director Jon Cassar, who broke the news first. Then Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe) came out with her own Tweet to announce the end of the show which has lasted eight wonderful seasons. Only one season of the eight was under the high quality that the series had set for so long.

Let’s now bring some reaction to end of the show which premiered right after 9/11 occurred in 2001.

James Hibberd of the Hollywood Reporter says the series finale airs in May.

James also talks with Executive Producer and showrunner Howard Gordon about what’s in store for the franchise. 

Lynette Rice of Entertainment Weekly talks with star Kiefer Sutherland who states that a 9th season on NBC was not an option for the show.

Brian Stelter of the New York Times says 24 represented the times we lived in.

Mike Hale of the Times writes the time has come for the show to end.

Denise Martin and Maria Elena Fernandez of the Los Angeles Times says while the cast knew the end was near, many of the crew reacted emotionally.

Michael Schneider at Variety says not only is a movie in the works, but perhaps a series spinoff.

And here is the last live blog my Twitter trophy wife Amanda Rykoff wrote for Hour 13 of this season. 

That will do it for this post. Sorry to see the series end, but it had to come and better to go while the series is still doing decently.

The series finale is scheduled for May 24 (quite appropriately).

BREAKING NEWS: The Clock Runs Out on 24

This just in from former 24 Director Jon Cassar who is still connected to the show.

“News from the 24 set,the crew has been told that 24 has come to an end. There will b no season 9. Its been a great run, thanx all 4 watching”

So the season finale in May will also be the series finale. After 8 seasons, the crew can now concentrate on a movie franchise.

More later.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Friday Megalink Thing

Ok, it’s time for the Friday megalinks. Wasn’t able to do them last week and now it’s time to bring them to you while I can. There’s a new look here and I’m experimenting with the template and colors. Let me know what you think either via a comment here or through a quick e-mail. I like to hear your comments.

You can always check your Weekend Viewing Picks for sports and primetime TV.

Now to your links.

National

Michael Hiestand of USA Today talks with CBS’ Dick Enberg who will call his final NCAA Tournament game tomorrow before embarking on a new phase of his broadcasting career.

Also in USA Today, sports broadcasting historian David J. Halberstam looks at the large number of veteran play-by-play men, including Enberg, who continue to call their respective sports well into their 70′s and some into their 80′s

And USA Today’s version of Mike and Mike, Michael Hiestand and Mike McCarthy debate the value of expanding the NCAA Tournament from its current 65 teams.

Alex Weprin of Broadcasting & Cable says MLB is rebranding its Home Plate channel on Sirius XM Satellite Radio to MLB Network Radio and will simulcast its programs at night.

Multichannel News looks at the life of former NBC Sports and ESPN President Chet Simmons who passed away Thursday at the age of 81.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel notes that Spike and UFC have put together a website for their Ultimate Fighter reality series which archives all ten seasons of the show.

Katy Bachman of Mediaweek looks at ESPN launching a New York-centric website.

Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine says the NCAA Tournament steered CBS to an overnight ratings victory on Thursday.

The Nielsen Wire blog notes that Louisville in basketball-crazy Kentucky is the top rated market for the NCAA Tournament through the first two rounds.

Writing for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Dave Kindred says it’s important to see both sides of the story. 

The Sports Media Watch says Tiger Woods is shooting a new commercial.

Joe Favorito writes that the New York Jets made the right decision in participating in this season’s Hard Knocks program on HBO.

Gail Sideman in Sports Networker provides 5 proactive public relations tips for athletes to prevent them from getting into trouble.

Len Berman has his top five stories of the day.

East and Mid-Atlantic

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe compares and contrasts the ESPN and Golf Channel interviews of Tiger Woods.

The New York Times speculates that HBO could be ending “Joe Buck Live” after three mostly lackluster shows.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post isn’t a fan of MLB Walking, Talking Conflict of Interest Bud Selig’s job on steriods.

Over to Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News who writes that the Jets are taking a stab at HBOs Hard Knocks after turning a request last year.

Writing in Baltimore’s Press Box, Dave Hughes from DCRTV.com has the latest on the Charm City’s sports radio ratings wars and other media moves.

In the Washington Examiner, Jim Williams asks his readers which is the best sports radio talk show in DC?

South

The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson looks at an upcoming ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on Dolphins running back Ricky Williams.

Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel takes Florida football coach Urban Meyer to task for verbally attacking one of his colleagues this week.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News has the latest ratings for the sports radio stations and they’re not good for the local ESPN Radio affiliate.

Ray Buck from the Fort Worth Star Telegram says the national media spotlight will be on Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington after last week’s admission that he took cocaine.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle writes that CBS’ Jim Nantz returns to Houston to call the NCAA Tournament this weekend.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman talks with a national women’s college basketball analyst about Oklahoma’s play in the ladies NCAA Tournament.

In his media notebook, Mel discusses the upcoming season of Hard Knocks and the recent Sports Emmy Award nominations.

Midwest

Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) Press looks at former Michigan State star Mateen Cleaves who’s hoping to start a new career on TV.

Bob Wolfley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the Fox Sports’ NFL analysts’ reaction to the new overtime rules.

In Crain’s Chicago Business, Ed Sherman says WGN-AM has eliminated a long-running talk show in place of more Cubs programming.

Ed also has his weekly winners and losers in sports business and media.

Paul Christian in the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin has a whole bunch of media stories in his Friday column.

To Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch who writes about Verne Lundquist’s return to the Gateway City where it’s memorable for a very big reason.

West

Scott D. Pierce of the Deseret (UT) Morning News says despite having two NCAA Tournament games in town last night, CBS beamed the games from Syracuse into the local market.

Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports on a continued contract dispute between a local sports radio station and its morning show. 

And John Maffei of the North County Times says on-air auditions for potential replacements have turned out to be disastrous.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star explores why ESPN and Golf Channel accepted interviews with Tiger Woods and why CBS did not.

Jim looks at how CBS handled the first four days of the NCAA Tournament.

John Scheibe in the Los Angeles Times says upsets have not hurt CBS’ ratings for the NCAA Tournament.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News writes about the new social networking venture by new Angels TV voice and Friend of Fang’s Bites, Victor Rojas.

In his blog, Tom expands on Victor’s venture.

Tom also has his extensive media news and notes.

Canada

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail previews the CBC mini-series on Don Cherry.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star is puzzled as to why the Blue Jays have yet to release their TV schedule.

In Truth & Rumours, William Houston says the Don Cherry movie is definitely worth watching.

And that will conclude the megalinks.

Kansas’ Bill Self Joins CBS’ Coverage of the NCAA Tournament Regional Finals

CBS brings in Kansas coach Bill Self as a guest analyst for the NCAA Tournament this weekend. If you remember, Kansas was upset last Saturday by Northern Iowa in Oklahoma City defeating the Jayhawks and ruining a bunch of brackets across the country.

Here’s a quick blurb by CBS Sports regarding Self’s visit to New York this weekend.

THIS JUST IN…
…from CBS Sports

KANSAS HEAD COACH BILL SELF TO SERVE AS GUEST ANALYST FOR CBS SPORTS’ NCAA REGIONAL COVERAGE

The University of Kansas’ head coach Bill Self joins CBS Sports’ Greg Gumbel, Greg Anthony and Seth Davis for its studio coverage of the Regional Finals for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship on Saturday, March 27 (4:30-9:00 PM, ET) and Sunday, March 28 (2:00-7:00 PM, ET). Self also serves as guest-analyst for CBS Sports’ ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR® show on Saturday (3:00-4:30 PM, ET).

So short and sweet that I don’t have to insert a page break.

MLB To Rebrand MLB Home Plate Radio As MLB Network Radio

In a move to integrate MLB Network on Sirius XM Radio, MLB Home Plate Radio (XM channel 175, Sirius Channel 210) will be renamed as of April 4 as MLB Network Radio. I think it’s a good move. This will bring MLB Network programming to Sirius XM listeners including simulcasts of MLB Tonight and other shows.

The full press release is after the jump.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TO REBRAND MLB HOME PLATE CHANNEL ON XM SATELLITE RADIO AS MLB NETWORK RADIO

Major League Baseball and MLB Network today announced that Major League Baseball will rebrand the MLB Home Plate channel on XM as MLB Network Radio, effective Sunday, April 4, for the start of the 2010 Championship Season. MLB Network Radio will simulcast a substantial amount of MLB Network’s television programming, including MLB Tonight, MLB Network’s live nightly studio show, live every weekday during the regular season. MLB Network Radio will continue to air MLB Home Plate’s existing daytime lineup of talk programming.

MLB Network Radio will be available on XM channel 175 & SIRIUS channel 210 (Best of XM). Additional simulcast programming will be announced throughout the 2010 season.

“We feel fortunate to have powerful platforms on both television and satellite radio that are dedicated to Major League Baseball 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” said Chris Tully, Senior Vice President, Broadcasting, Major League Baseball. “In bringing MLB Network content to MLB Network Radio listeners through our partnership with Sirius XM, we’re maximizing both platforms for the benefit of fans.”

“We are excited to provide our live and feature programming, including our signature studio show, MLB Tonight, to a different audience at MLB Network Radio on XM,” said Tony Petitti, President and CEO of MLB Network. “When fans are in their cars and can’t watch MLB Network on TV, they can tune in to our programming on satellite radio. It’s important for us to continue to raise awareness about MLB Network’s programming and deep roster of on-air talent as we enter our second regular season on the air.”

I think it’s a good move by MLB to simulcast MLB Network. The talk shows that MLB Home Plate airs during the day will continue without interruption.

Weekend Viewing Picks

Saturday, March 27

Boxing
Super Six World Boxing Classic/Andre Dirrell vs. Arthur Abraham, middleweights – Showtime, 10:30 p.m.
Boxing After Dark/Joan Guzman vs. Ali Funeka, IBF Lightweight Title & Marcos Rene Maidana vs. Victor Cayo, WBA World Jr. Welterweight Title – HBO, 10:30 p.m.

College Basketball Viewing Picks

College Hockey
NCAA Men’s Division I Tournament

Northeast Regional – Worcester, MA
Alaska vs. Boston College – ESPN360.com, 1:30 p.m./ESPNU, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. (tape)
North Dakota vs. Yale – ESPN360.com, 5 p.m./ESPNU, Sunday, noon (tape)

Midwest Regional – Fort Wayne, IN
Miami vs. Alabama-Huntville – ESPNU, 4 p.m.
Michigan vs. Bemidji State – ESPN360, 7:30 p.m./ESPNU, 11:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

East Regional Final
UNH vs. Rochester Institute of Technology – ESPNU, 6:30 p.m.

West Regional Final
Wisconsin vs. St. Cloud State – ESPNU, 9 p.m.

English Premier League
Chelsea vs. Aston Villa – ESPN Classic, 10:55 a.m.
Birmingham City vs. Arsenal – Fox Soccer Plus, 10:55 a.m.
Tottenham vs Portsmouth – Fox Soccer Channel, 11 a.m.
Bolton vs. Manchester United – Fox Soccer Channel, 1:30 p.m.
Wolverhampton vs. Everton – Fox Soccer Plus, 5 p.m. (same day coverage)
Hull City vs. Fulham – Fox Soccer Channel, 6 p.m. (same day coverage)
West Ham United vs. Stoke City – Fox Soccer Channel, 7 p.m. (same day coverage)

Golf
LPGA Tour/Kia Classic, 3rd round – Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m. (same day coverage)
PGA Tour/Arnold Palmer Invitational, 3rd round – NBC, 2:30 p.m.

Horse Racing
Louisiana Derby & Lane’s End Stakes – USA Network, 5 p.m.

MLB
Washington vs. New York Mets – MLB Network/WPIX, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati vs. San Diego (SS)- Cox4, 4 p.m.
San Diego (SS) vs. Chicago Cubs – WGN America, 4 p.m.
Seattle vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 4 p.m./MLB Network, 5 p.m. (same day coverage)
San Francisco vs. Anaheim Angels – Fox Sports West, 4 p.m.
Texas vs. Milwaukee – Fox Sports Wisconsin, 4 p.m./MLB Network, 11 p.m. (same day coverage)

NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series/Kroger 250 – Speed, 2 p.m.

NBA
New Jersey at Chicago – WGN America, 7 p.m.
Portland at New Orleans – NBA TV, 8 p.m.

NHL
Calgary at Boston – NESN, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh – Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/FSN Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
New Jersey at Montreal – CBC/RDS/NHL Network (US)/MSG Plus, 7 p.m.
New York Rangers at Toronto – CBC/MSG Network, 7 p.m.
Florida at Ottawa – CBC/Fox Sports Florida, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at Carolina – SportSouth/Fox Sports Carolinas, 7 p.m.
New York Islanders at Columbus – MSG Plus 2/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Buffalo – Sun Sports/MSG Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Nashville – Fox Sports Detroit/Fox Sports Tennessee, 8 p.m.
Colorado at Phoenix – Altitude/Fox Sports Arizona, 9 p.m.
Vancouver at San Jose – CBC/Comcast SportsNet California, 10 p.m.
Dallas at Los Angeles – Fox Sports Southwest/Fox Sports West, 10:30 p.m.

NHL On The Fly – NHL Network, 10 p.m.

Tennis
Sony Ericsson Open/men’s and women’s early rounds – Fox Sports Net, 1 and 8 p.m.

Entertainment
Giada at Home: When Life Gives You Lemons – Food Network, 1 p.m.
Legend of the Seeker – WGN America, 3 p.m. or check your local listings
Cops – Fox, 8 p.m.
America’s Most Wanted: America Fights Back – Fox, 9 p.m.
Paranormal Court – TLC, 10 p.m.
The Wanda Sykes Show – Fox, 11 p.m.

Sunday, March 28

College Hockey
NCAA Men’s Division I Tournament

Northeast Regional Final
Yale vs. Boston College – ESPNU, 5:30 p.m.

Midwest Regional Final
Miami (Ohio) vs. Michigan – ESPNU, 8 p.m.

English Premier League
Burnley vs. Blackburn – Fox Soccer Plus, 6:55 a.m.
Liverpool vs. Sunderland – Fox Soccer Channel, 11 a.m.

Golf
LPGA Tour/Kia Classic, 3rd round – Golf Channel, 7 p.m. (same day coverage)
PGA Tour/Arnold Palmer Invitational, 3rd round – NBC, 2:30 p.m.

MLB
Detroit vs. New York Yankees – YES, 1 p.m.
Minnesota vs. Red Sox – MLB Network/NESN, 1 p.m.
Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia – Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
St. Louis vs. New York Mets – SNY, 1 p.m.
Chicago White Sox vs. Texas – Fox Sports Southwest, 4 p.m.
Chicago Cubs vs. Seattle – FSN Northwest, 4 p.m./MLB Network, 9 p.m. (same day coverage)
Cleveland vs. Anaheim Angels – Fox Sports West, 4 p.m./MLB Network, 5 p.m. (same day coverage)

NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series/Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 – Fox, 1 p.m.

NBA
Boston at San Antonio – ESPN/Comcast SportsNet New England, 8 p.m.

NHL
Calgary at Washington – Rogers Sportsnet West/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, 3 p.m.
Toronto at Pittsburgh – Rogers Sportsnet Ontario/FSN Pittsburgh, 5 p.m.
Edmonton at St. Louis – Rogers Sportsnet West/Fox Sprots Midwest, 6 p.m.
Columbus at Chicago – Fox Sports Ohio/WGN, 7 p.m.
New Jersey at Philadelphia – MSG Plus/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Colorado at San Jose – NHL Network (Canada)/Altitude 2/Comcast SportsNet California, 8 p.m.

NHL On The Fly – NHL Network, 8 p.m.

Tennis
Sony Ericsson Open/men’s and women’s early rounds – Fox Sports Net, 1 and 7 p.m.

Entertainment
Sandra’s Money Saving Meals: Bake Sale – Food Network, noon
10 Dollar Dinners With Melissa: European Party – Food Network, 12:30 p.m.
60 Minutes – CBS, 7 p.m.
The Amazing Race: Anonymous? – CBS, 8 p.m.
Life: Mammals – Discovery 8 p.m.
Undercover Boss – CBS, 9 p.m.
Life: Fish – Discovery, 9 p.m.
The Pacific, Part Three – HBO, 9 p.m.
Breaking Bad – AMC, 10 p.m.

College Basketball Viewing Picks for 03/27 & 03/28/09

Saturday, March 27

Road to the Final Four – CBS, 3 p.m.

men’s
NCAA Tournament – All Games on CBS

West Regional Final – Salt Lake City, UT (Gus Johnson/Len Elmore, CBS; Ted Robinson/Bill Frieder, Westwood One Radio)
Butler vs. Kansas State – 4:30 p.m.

East Regional Final – Syracuse, NY (Dick Enberg/Jay Bilas, CBS: Ian Eagle/P.J. Carlesimo, Westwood One Radio)
Kentucky vs. West Virginia – 7:05 p.m.

NCAA Division II Championship
Cal Poly Pomona vs. Indiana (PA) – CBS, 1 p.m.

women’s
NCAA Tournament – Games on ESPN/ESPN2
Sweet Sixteen

Memphis Regional – Memphis, TN (Dave O’Brien/Doris Burke)
Baylor vs. Tennessee – ESPN, noon
San Diego State vs. Duke – ESPN, approximately 2:30 p.m.

Sacramento Regional – Sacramento, CA (Dave Pasch/Mary Murphy)
Georgia vs. Stanford – ESPN, 9 p.m.
Gonzaga vs. Xavier – ESPN2, approximately 11:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 28

Best of College Basketball 2010 – CBS, 1 p.m.
Road to the Final Four – CBS, 2 p.m.

men’s
NCAA Tournament – All Games on CBS

Midwest Regional Final – St. Louis, MO (Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery, CBS; Kevin Harlan/John Thompson, Westwood One Radio)
Tennessee vs. Michigan State – 2:20 p.m.

South Regional Final – Houston, TX (Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg, CBS; Kevin Kugler/Pete Gillen, Westwood One Radio)
Duke vs. Baylor – 5:05 pm.

women’s
NCAA Tournament – Games on ESPN/ESPN2
Sweet Sixteen

Dayton Regional – Dayton, OH (Bob Wischusen/Stephanie White)
Iowa State vs. UConn – ESPN, noon
Mississippi State vs. Florida State – ESPN2, approximately 2:30 p.m.

Kansas City Regional – Kansas City, MO (Pam Ward/Debbie Antonelli)
Oklahoma vs. Notre Dame – ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.
Kentucky vs. Nebraska – ESPN2, approximately 10 p.m.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

College Basketball
men’s
NCAA Tournament – All Games on CBS
Sweet Sixteen

Midwest Regional – St. Louis, MO (Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery, CBS; Kevin Harlan/John Thompson, Westwood One)
Ohio State vs. Tennessee – 7:07 p.m.
Michigan State vs. Northern Iowa – approximately 9:37 p.m.

South Regional – Houston, TX (Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg, CBS; Kevin Kugler/Pete Gillen, Westwood One)
Baylor vs. St. Mary’s – 7:27 p.m.
Duke vs. Purdue – approximately 9:57 p.m.

women’s
NCAA Division II Championship
Fort Lewis vs. Emporia State – ESPN2, 8 p.m.

College Hockey
NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Tournament

East Regional Semifinals – Albany, NY
Denver vs. Rochester Institute of Technology – ESPNU, 3 p.m.
Cornell vs. UNH – ESPNU, 6:30 p.m.

West Regional Semifinals – St. Paul, MN
St. Cloud State vs. Michigan State – ESPN360, 5:30 p.m./ESPNU, 11:30 p.m. (same day coverage)
Vermont vs. Wisconsin – ESPNU, 9 p.m.

Golf
LPGA Tour/Kia Classic, 2nd round – Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m. (same day coverage)
PGA Tour/Arnold Palmer Invitational, 2nd round – Golf Channel, 3 p.m.

MLB
Detroit vs. Atlanta – ESPN, 1 p.m.
Kansas City vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – MLB Network/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 4 p.m.
Oakland vs. Chicago Cubs – WGN America, 4 p.m./MLB Network, 9 p.m. (same day coverage)

NBA
Sacramento at Boston – Comcast SportsNet New England, 7:30 p.m.
Miami at Milwaukee – NBA TV, 8:30 p.m.

NHL
Minnesota at Detroit – Fox Sports North/Fox Sports Detroit Plus, 7:30 p.m.
Ottawa at Buffalo – TSN/RDS/MSG Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Anaheim at Edmonton – Fox Sports West/Rogers Sportsnet West, 9 p.m.

NHL On The Fly – NHL Network, 8 p.m.

Entertainment
Clash of the Titans: A G4 Special – G4, 8 p.m.
Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution – ABC, 9 p.m.
The Ricky Gervais Show – HBO, 9 p.m.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Cartoon Network, 9 p.m.
20/20 – ABC, 10 p.m.Spartacus: Blood and Sand – Starz, 10 p.m.
Zane’s Sex Chronicles – Cinemax, 11:45 p.m.

Your 2010 Regional Final Tip Times for Saturday, March 27

I keep saying I would shut it down for the night, but when you get a release from CBS Sports announcing tip times for Saturday, sleep can wait for a few more minutes. Yes, these are the tip times and announcing assignments for Saturday as we get to the Elite Eight and the Regional Finals.

CBS SPORTS’ EXCLUSIVE LIVE COVERAGE OF NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CONTINUES

Tip-Times Announced for Regional Finals on Saturday, March 27

CBS Sports’ exclusive coverage of the 2010 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship continues on Friday, March 26 (7:00 PM-12:00 AM, ET) with broadcasts of the regional semi-finals. The regional finals will be broadcast on Saturday, March 27 (4:30-9:00 PM, ET) and Sunday, March 28 (2:00-7:00 PM, ET). On Saturday Kansas State takes on Butler in the first game followed by Kentucky playing West Virginia.

On Saturday, the Division II Men’s Basketball Championship (1:00-3:00 PM, ET) tips-off the day followed by THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR®, hosted by Greg Gumbel, Greg Anthony and Seth Davis (3:00-4:30 PM, ET).

Bob Dekas is coordinating producer of CBS Sports’ NCAA basketball coverage, and Bob Fishman is the lead director. Eric Mann is Senior Producer and Bob Matina directs. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

Following are the tip-times and announce teams for Saturday’s regional final games.

SATURDAY, MARCH 27 (4:30 PM-9:00 PM, ET)

4:30 PM – Salt Lake City, Kansas State vs. Butler, Gus Johnson/Len Elmore

7:05 PM – Syracuse, Kentucky vs. West Virginia, Dick Enberg/Jay Bilas

Sunday’s tip times will be announced after Friday night’s action and I’ll post that when it becomes available.

NCAA Final Four? Come On Down!

On Friday, CBS’ The Price Is Right will have an NCAA Final Four-themed Showcase featuring four college cheer teams. Since I like Price Is Right and the host, Drew Carey, I give this release. No need for a jump either.

FOUR COLLEGE CHEER TEAMS TO PARTICIPATE IN A SPECIAL NCAA^® FINAL FOUR^®-THEMED SHOWCASE ON CBS’s “THE PRICE IS RIGHT,” FRIDAY, APRIL 2

Cheer Teams From Duke University, Michigan State University, Butler University and University of Kansas Each Pre-Taped Appearances in Showcase

Showcase Includes Trip to 2010 NCAA^® Final Four^®

Four college cheer teams will participate in a special NCAA^® Final Four^®-themed showcase on CBS’s THE PRICE IS RIGHT, with host Drew Carey, Friday, April 2 on the CBS Television Network. Teams from Duke University, Michigan State University, Butler University and University of Kansas each pre-taped appearances in the showcase, which includes a trip to the 2010 NCAA Final Four^® in Indianapolis.

THE PRICE IS RIGHT, the longest-running game show in television history, is hosted by Drew Carey. Produced by FremantleMedia North America, THE PRICE IS RIGHT is broadcast weekdays on the CBS Television Network. 

On the Web:  http://www.cbs.com/daytime/the_price_is_right/

Ok, this ends it for tonight. Back on with your regular Friday features.

ESPN’s Networks Cover the NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament

ESPNU and ESPN360 will have coverage of the NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament starting on Friday. Plenty of games for college hockey fans and it will lead to the Frozen Four in April. It all begins with the regional semifinals and we check out the schedule for this weekend.

I have more on ESPN’s coverage coming up after the jump.

Here is what ESPN is saying about the announcers for this weekend’s action.

Commentators include play-by-play announcer John Buccigross and analyst Barry Melrose (NHL) at the East Regional in Albany, N.Y.; Matvick and Jim Paradise (Colorado College) at the West Regional in Saint Paul, Minn.; Dan Parkhurst and Damian DiGiulian (Hamilton College) at the Northeast Regional in Worcester, Mass.; and Ben Holden and Ritchlin (Michigan) at the Midwest Regional in Fort Wayne, Ind., while the ESPNU studio will be anchored by Lowell Galindo and Bob Norton (Rutgers).

And this is what ESPN is talking about regarding its coverage in general.

NCAA Div. I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship, Frozen Four to Receive Extensive Live Coverage on ESPNU, ESPN2, ESPN and ESPN360.com

ESPNU, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN360.com will combine to present all 15 games live from the 2010 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship, Friday, March 26-Saturday, April 10. ESPNU will telecast eight regional games exclusively, while ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband sports network, will supplement the coverage by offering seven games live, including the Frozen Four. Select regional games on ESPN360.com may also be available via local syndication.

The Frozen Four, live from Ford Field in Detroit, will be presented in high definition on ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD, as well as ESPN360.com.

ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD and ESPN360.com will showcase the Frozen Four live from Detroit, with the first national semifinal Thursday, April 8, at 5 p.m. on ESPN2 HD and ESPN360.com and the second national semifinal at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile. The national championship will air Saturday, April 10, at 7 p.m. on ESPN HD, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile.

Frozen Four telecasts will feature Gary Thorne (play-by-play), Barry Melrose (analyst), Clay Matvick (ice-level reporter) calling all the action from Detroit. At regional semifinals and finals, commentators include play-by-play announcer John Buccigross and analyst Barry Melrose (NHL) at the East Regional in Albany, N.Y.; Matvick and Jim Paradise (Colorado College) at the West Regional in Saint Paul, Minn.; Dan Parkhurst and Damian DiGiulian (Hamilton College) at the Northeast Regional in Worcester, Mass.; and Ben Holden and Ritchlin (Michigan) at the Midwest Regional in Fort Wayne, Ind. Also during coverage of the regional rounds, the ESPNU studio will be anchored by Lowell Galindo and Bob Norton (Rutgers).

Frozen Four, Ford Field, Detroit

Date	Time (ET)	Event	Network
Thu, Apr 8	5 p.m.	National Semifinal #1	ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com
	8:30 p.m.	National Semifinal #2	ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile
Fri, Apr 9	7 p.m.	Hobey Baker Award	ESPNU HD
Sat, Apr 10	7 p.m.	National Championship	ESPN HD / ESPN360.com / ESPN Mobile

And that does it for us tonight.

Universal Sports’ Notes and Quotes From The World Figure Skating Championships

Many of us can’t see Universal Sports’ comprehensive coverage of the World Figure Skating Championships from Turin this week, but I still get press releases and I post them out of service to you.

Universal Sports PRESENTS COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE 2010 World Figure Skating Championships

NEWS, NOTES AND QUOTES FOR MARCH 25, 2010:
Olympic Games Suitemates Johnny Weir and Tanith Belbin dish on Vancouver Games;

Belbin and Partner Ben Agosto ‘leaving American ice dancing in very capable hands’

Friday Alert: Ladies’ Short Program Live at 11 A.M. ET

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., March 25, 2010:  Fan-favorite Johnny Weir continues to deliver timely analysis and deadpan humor as Universal Sports’ coverage of the World Figure Skating Championships from Torino, Italy, rolls on. Weir and U.S. ice dancing duo Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto joined live studio host Peter Carruthers upstairs in “The Loft”, where Weir and Belbin dished on being roommates (they shared a two-bedroom suite) in Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games (see quotes below).

Also Thursday, Agosto and Belbin reflected on their final Olympic performances and the next chapter in their career. Universal Sports’ extensive coverage continues with the ladies’ short program at 11 a.m. ET Friday, and the ladies’ free program at 10 a.m. ET Saturday.

Weir, Belbin and Agosto joined a team consisting of play-by-play announcer Andrea Joyce, plus analysts Carruthers, Paul Wylie, Michael Weiss and Tara Lipinski. Former NBC Olympic researcher Lee Ann Gschwind was on hand with interviews and in-rink updates.

On American ice dancers Merle Davis and Charlie White’s ‘Bollywood-on-Ice’ performance

Weir: “Their Original Dance is my favorite figure skating performance I have seen in four years, from any gender, any ethnicity…anything! Their OD rocks my world!”

On Daisuke Takahashi considering a quad toe or flip jump in the Free skate

Weir: “That’s insanity. My groin hurts just thinking about it.”

On random subjects

Weir: (after Carruthers’ asked Weir if he was ‘chill-axing’ on the couch): “What’s with you and the lingo?” Carruthers: I know, I know. My kids are going to tell me ‘Dad, stop trying to act young.’

Weir (on his pledge at the Vancouver Games to ride a yak in 2010): “I absolutely rode a yak. I was on the George Lopez Show last night, and it has always been my dream to ride a yak, so he rented a yak for the day and I mounted it on national television — well, I got on it, but that sounds worse than ‘mounted.’ I rode this yak, and … the yak charged at the American flag. I was terrified!”

NEWS UPDATES

MEN’S: The U.S. is guaranteed three spots for the men’s competition in the World Championships next year, the result of Jeremy Abbott and Adam Rippon placing 5th and 6th, respectively. Daisuke Takahashi clinched the World title, with Canadian skater Patrick Chan securing silver and French skater Brian Joubert achieving the bronze. This is the first World Championship captured by a Japanese male figure skater in history.

ICE DANCING: The top two scores recorded in the Original Dance in International Skating Union history were bestowed today. Canadian couple Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir head into Friday’s Free Dance with 114.40 points, with the American duo of Merle Davis and Charlie White close behind (112.54 points), after both received season-best scores in the OD.

TODAY (MARCH 25) ON UNIVERSAL SPORTS: ORIGINAL DANCE (11 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. ET)

QUOTES FROM OUR COVERAGE:

Belbin (on Canadian ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir): “The intensity and passion that they put into this program is captivating. When doing the Flamenco, if you don’t have the personality infused into it, then it can fall flat. But Tessa and Scott have taken it and made it their own, and it’s really improved throughout the year. It’s a great program to demonstrate their connection to each other while skating.”

Belbin (on Davis and White’s ‘Bollywood-inspired’ Original Dance): “They did it so well, coming off the Olympics. There’s a huge outpouring from the Indian community, people were so honored and pleased with the way they represented their culture in this folk dance. After a season of controversy with some programs about whether or not they were respectful in their delivery, I think Merle and Charlie exemplified how to (represent) so well…”

Merle Davis, to Universal Sports’ Lee Ann Gschwind (on their season and personal-best OD score): “We’re hoping to end things with another personal best. We’ve really been improving and we’re hoping to do the best again tomorrow. We’re aiming high.”

Belbin (On the young American Ice Dancing Team of Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates): “Performances like their Original Dance proves that we’re leaving American ice dancing into very capable hands. There’s room to grow, they are younger, they have a lot of rough edges to smooth out, but that will come with time. They are hard workers and on the right track.”

QUOTES FROM THE STUDIO SHOW (HOSTED BY PETER CARRUTHERS)

*With special guests Johnny Weir, three-time U.S. Men’s Figure Skating Champion and 2008 World Bronze Medalist; and Tara Lipinski, 1998 Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medalist, Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, the most decorated U.S. ice dancing team of all time.

On their Olympic performance and retirement from the sport:

Agosto: “It’s difficult to put in perspective.  We were so happy with our skate. When you dream about your Olympic performance, and it comes true, it’s such a high. We’re still trying to come down and decompress.  It’s nerve-wracking watching all our friends compete in the World Championships though!”

Belbin: “It’s nice to sit on the sidelines, but we’re looking forward to a new experiences in the future, but we’ll never forget our time in ice dancing…”

TODAY (MARCH 25) ON UNIVERSAL SPORTS: MEN’S FREE PROGRAM (4 P.M. – 6 P.M. ET)

QUOTES FROM OUR COVERAGE:

Paul Wylie, 1992 Olympic Figure Skating Silver Medalist (on American Jeremy Abbott): “He missed the hardest jump and the easiest jump in this program and it was a bit of a struggle. He concentrated on the second half of the program, but overall he’s probably disappointed.”

Andrea Joyce, NBC Figure Skating Reporter: “There’s relief on his face that this season is over.”

Brian Joubert, to Universal Sports’ Lee Ann Gschwind: “I just want to be more confident. My goal is not to win a medal, but to do my best, like I did today. I feel more ready than I did before Vancouver. I learned a lot, not only about figure skating, but about my life.”

Wylie (on Daisuke Takahasi’s gold medal performance): “He went for it from the beginning with the point of view, the perspective and the quad flip. It’s huge for him to put all of this content, to put everything into the program, to not simplify it, and skate with all the energy through the footwork sequences and spins. This is a performance he can be proud of for the rest of his life.”

QUOTES FROM THE STUDIO SHOW (HOSTED BY PETER CARRUTHERS)

Weir (on Jeremy Abbott): “He was punished a bit (in his Torino short program scores) for not doing well at the Olympics Games. Politics do play a big part in this sport, and, if you aren’t good in the competition just before, you’re going to be judged on a different scale than you normally would. To me, as an athlete, it was a slap in the face.”

On American Adam Rippon and his Senior World Championships debut

Weir: “He was beautiful tonight. He’s my favorite for carrying on the future of men’s figure skating in the U.S. He’s very superior to a lot of the younger skaters coming up as far as artistry is concerned.”

Lipinski: “You’re learning a different jump when you put both your arms in the air. He’s the only one that can do it and it’s incredibly difficult.”

On Daisuke Takahashi

Lipinski: “To go out there and to put in the quad flip, knowing that there’s some skaters that skated clean right behind him, it was gutsy. But that’s what great athletes are all about.”

Weir (on what sets Takahashi apart from the rest of the field): “No comparison: he can land anything.”

FRIDAY’S COVERAGE: LADIES’ SHORT PROGRAM (MARCH 26, LIVE AT 11 A.M.)

Lipinski (on Mirai Nagasu): “I’m so excited to see what she does here. Watching her at Nationals and at the Olympics, she just improved before your eyes.”

Wylie (on Rachael Flatt): “She wants to deliver here and not get the downgrades that we so costly in Vancouver.”

Weir (on Kim Yu-Na): “The ladies’ are scored on a slightly lower scale than the men, but her score was only six points less than my score in Vancouver, so that just tells you how strong she is.”

FRIDAY’S COVERAGE: ICE DANCING FREE PROGRAM (March 26, Live at 4 p.m.)

Belbin: “Merle and Charlie have proved that they can beat Tessa and Scott before – they did it at the Grand Prix final this year – I’m really looking forward to the free program. They have very contrasting programs: Tessa and Scott have a very romantic, soft program and Merle and Charlie have a free dance package that puts together their strength, power and raw energy.”

World Championships Coverage on Universal Sports TV (All times are EDT):

Friday, March 26 – Ladies’ Short Program  (live at 11 a.m. and re-air at 8 p.m.) / Free Dance Program  (live at 4 p.m. and re-air at 11 p.m.)

Saturday, March 27 – Ladies’ Free Program (live at 10 a.m., re-airs at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.)

Visit UniversalSports.com/tvschedule for additional times and re-airs.

One more press release post coming up.

Chet Simmons, The First President of ESPN, 1928-2010

You may not know the name of Chet Simmons, but in sports television, his was one of the biggest. He was President of NBC Sports in the 1970′s steering the network to maintain relationships with MLB, NFL, NCAA and Wimbledon. In addition, Simmons helped NBC secure the rights to the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

In 1979, he became the first President of an all-sports network called ESPN. At the time, his friends thought running ESPN was a risk, but Simmons was someone who thought outside the box.

One of the first properties ESPN obtained was the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament. He also got the Australian Open plus the Davis Cup, events that had not been seen in the United States. Simmons also got permission from the NFL to televise the Draft, another event that had not been seen other than by reporters. It became a huge television event that it will now span three days for the first time this year.

Simmons then left ESPN in 1982 to become the first Commissioner of the United States Football League, a position he held until 1985.

After that he became a consultant and an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina. Simmons died today at the age of 81. A statement from ESPN about Simmons and his impact on the network is right after the jump.

Former ESPN President Chet Simmons Died Today

Leader at ESPN Launch, ABC Sports, NBC Sports, First USFL Commissioner

Sports broadcasting and cable pioneer, Chester R. Simmons, who served as president of ESPN at the company’s 1979 launch, died of natural causes today in Atlanta.  He was 81.

As a founding father of sports television, Simmons started in 1957 with Sports Programs, Inc., which soon evolved into ABC Sports, where he was instrumental in the development of Wide World of Sports.  He became President of NBC Sports and later of ESPN, and was founding Commissioner of the USFL.

Simmons had been living in Savannah and Atlanta, Ga., since 1986.  He is survived by his wife Harriet of 53 years; his four children Pam, Jed, Pete and Nikki; his daughter-in-law Jana Simmons; his sons-in-law Randy Miller and Micah Goldstein; and nine grandchildren Ella, Zach, Claudia, Streeter, Ben, Zander, Jack, Reid, and Tyler.

                                ______________________

Simmons left an indelible mark on both the early days of broadcast sports television and the formative years of sports on cable.  During his career, he was an important contributor to the development of every major sport on the network level.  In 2005, Simmons received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 26^th annual Sports Emmy Awards.

“Chet Simmons’ leadership and vision in our first years were absolutely critical to ESPN’s survival,” said George Bodenheimer, president, ESPN and ABC Sports.  “He was the only industry President to have pioneered both sports broadcasting in the late ’50s and cable television in the late ’70s.  His legacy lives on in ESPN’s culture, stellar employees and commentators, and innovative programming.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Harriet, and his children.”

Added ESPN anchor Chris Berman, hired by Simmons approximately one month after the network launched:  “Chet did so much more than take a chance on us young people 30 years ago.  He took a chance on ESPN.  What you see today would have never been possible without him.  We’ll miss him as a mentor and as a friend.  All of us will be forever indebted to Chet Simmons.”

ESPN anchor Bob Ley, whom Simmons hired for SportsCenter the first week of the network’s operation, added: “I will forever treasure the trust that Chet placed in all of us at the beginning in 1979.  He brought this young network immediate expertise and credibility.  His legacy is seen in his family and his grandchildren, and professionally in the foundation he laid so well and profoundly with those of us who now celebrate his life. “

Simmons influenced or launched the commentating careers of Jim Simpson, Merlin Olsen, Greg and Bryant Gumbel, Dick Enberg, Curt Gowdy, Tony Kubek, Joe Gargiola, Sandy Koufax, Vin Scully, Donna de Varona, George Grande, Tom Mees, Dick Vitale, Cliff Drysdale, Tim Ryan, and Jack Buck; Sharon Smith, Leandra Reilly and Rhonda Glenn in the early years of ESPN; and many more.

____________________________

Simmons joined ESPN as president and chief operating officer on July 31, 1979, just prior to the network’s launch September 7.  Back then Simmons said: “There’s no question that cable television sports is at the same stage right now that network sports was 15 or 20 years ago, I’ve lived through the evolution of sports on television, and what lies ahead for cable television is incalculable at this point.  I was there during the inception of ABC Sports and the rebirth of NBC Sports, and I see many similarities between those beginnings and the beginning of ESPN and 24-hours-a-day televised sports.”

The following May he was promoted to president and chief executive officer and led the network through its infancy.  Among his most notable achievements were the birth and direction of SportsCenter on day one of ESPN, which three decades later continues to define the sports television news genre;  television’s first comprehensive coverage of the early rounds of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament; and the NFL Draft telecast (both in 1980).  Simmons was a diversity advocate, placing women and people of color in key positions on air and behind the scenes.

He was an unabashed and unfailing advocate of the ESPN mission, never missing an opportunity to take on cynics and critics.  When faced with the inevitable question, “Who will watch sports 24 hours a day?” Simmons turned the query on its head, understanding the key wasn’t ‘round-the-clock viewers, but ‘round-the-clock accessibility.  For the young, hard-working ESPN staffers, he served as a pillar of strength for the fledgling, small outfit.

In 1982, Simmons left the company and joined the USFL as the league’s founding Commissioner, serving until January 1985.  In subsequent years Simmons served as a media consultant to Madison Square Garden and the Marquis Group; as an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina; and as a member of the Savannah Sports Council and Film Commission.

Before ESPN, Simmons worked at NBC for 15 years, holding a variety of leadership positions, culminating as president of sports in November 1977.  He had served as vice president of sports from March 1977 to November 1977, vice president of sports operations from March of 1973 to 1977, and director of sports from 1964 to1973.  At NBC, Simmons helped in the development and growth of NBC’s SportsWorld.  He was also involved in the creation of “instant replay” and had a major hand in attaining NBC’s major sports properties, including the American Football League, National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, college basketball, the Rose and Orange Bowls, and Wimbledon.  Simmons was also instrumental in securing the coverage of the 1980 Olympics.

While at ABC from 1957 to 1964 when he held the title vice president and general manager of sports programs, his involvement in the development of Wide World of Sports would portend his unconventional yet winning approach years later at ESPN of providing a broad spectrum of sports and enhancing the technical quality of each event.  In that way, he understood that sports meant more than the major, well-known leagues and events.  He respected the fans of each. 

Simmons was born on July 11, 1928, in New York City, and was raised in Ossining, N.Y., and Pawtucket, Rhode Island.  He earned a bachelor of arts degree in broadcasting from the University of Alabama, and did graduate work in radio and television at Boston University.  He served in the Coast Guard after leaving B.U.  In 2006, he was inducted into the University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences Hall of Fame.   In addition to following the Crimson Tide, he was a true Dodger fan, starting with the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field, and later became an ardent New York Yankees fan. 

____________________________

Funeral arrangements are being finalized with the Gamble Funeral Service, Inc., in Savannah (www.gamblefuneralservice.com).  A scholarship fund will be established in his name at the University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences. 

I’ll see if I can find more on Simmons’ for the Megalinks tomorrow.

ESPN Family of Networks Ramps Up Its College Baseball and Softball Coverage

We have a bunch of college baseball and softball games on the ESPN platforms, ESPN2, ESPNU and the soon-to-be renamed ESPN3.com. This means a combined 53 regular season baseball and softball games. Most of them will be seen on ESPNU and a whole slew of contests will involve the SEC. Take a look at the press release.

ESPNU, ESPN, ESPN2 & ESPN360.com Offer Most-Ever College Softball & Baseball Schedule Beginning with Regular-Season Action

ESPNU, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN360.com will televise 53 regular-season college softball and baseball games leading into the networks’ extensive postseason action of up to 110 contests. It is ESPN’s most coverage overall of the two sports and the most games scheduled of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship – up to 55 — with the addition of a Regional round.

Regular-season softball action will begin with two games from the No. 13 Florida at No. 5 Alabama series Saturday, March 27, at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2 HD and Sunday, March 28, at 2:30 p.m. on ESPNU HD. Baseball coverage will start the following weekend with three telecasts, all featuring at least one ranked team: Georgia at No. 4 LSU (Friday, April 2, at 8:30 p.m. on ESPNU HD), No. 8 Texas at No. 12 Oklahoma (Saturday, April 3, at 3 p.m. on ESPNU HD) and Mississippi State at No. 23 South Carolina (Sunday, April 4, at 2 p.m. on ESPNU).

Regular-season schedule details:

• ESPNU will televise the majority of the action, with 41 of the 53 games. ESPN360.com will simulcast the 12 ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts.
• Thirty-one of the telecasts will be in high definition.
• The schedule includes 30 softball and 23 baseball games.
• The networks will combine to televise six conference title games, comprising:

• The entire SEC Softball Tournament.
• The SEC Baseball Tournament championship game.
• The SWAC softball and baseball championships.
• The baseball championships from the BIG EAST and MEAC.

ESPNU, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN360.com will offer up to 55 games each from the NCAA Division I Softball Championship and NCAA Division I Baseball Championship for a potential of 110 total telecasts (the entire schedules for both will be released at a later date). Coverage for both events will include two Regional series, all eight of the Super Regionals and the entire Championships.

A minimum of 62 games will be offered in high definition, including every game from both of the softball and baseball Regional series and the entire Women’s College World Series and College World Series.

Softball and baseball commentators

ESPN’s telecasts will feature former top players and coaches providing analysis. The softball lineup will include:

• Three U.S. Olympic Medalists working softball games: two-time gold medalist Michele Smith (2000 and 1996), Jessica Mendoza, who won gold in 2004 and silver in 2008, and Amanda Freed, who won gold in 2004.
• Former Northwestern standout Garland Cooper, a three-time Big Ten Player of the Year and all-time Big Ten home runs leader.
• National Pro Fastpitch commissioner Cheri Kempf.
• Cindy Bristow, former head softball coach at Arizona State, New Mexico State and Wichita State.

The baseball telecasts will include:

• Kyle Peterson, a former Stanford All-American, participant in the College World Series and first-round MLB Draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers, entering his seventh season of college baseball analysis with ESPN.
• Morgan Ensberg who won the College World Series with USC in 1998 and played eight years in Major League Baseball (Houston Astros, San Diego Padres and New York Yankees).
• Former LSU All-American and Gold Spikes Award winner Ben McDonald, who also played eight years in Major League Baseball (Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers).
• Leland Maddox, a former Major League Baseball Director of Scouting for the Cincinnati Reds and Oakland A’s.

* Tape Delay

All baseball rankings are from ESPN/ USA Today Coaches Top 25

All softball rankings are from ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Women’s Top 25

Schedule subject to change; All times Eastern

Additional commentator assignments will be released as the season progresses

That does it. And yes, I now have jump capabilities so the posts won’t be so long. It’ll save you aggravation.

Thursday’s Links

After a day in which I dealt with a flooded basement and buying filters for my wet vac, it’s time to bring back the linkage.

USA Today’s Game On blog looks at a new PBS documentary on legendary New Jersey high school basketball coach Bob Hurley.

Bob Velin of USA Today profiles an announcer who will call his 20,000th consecutive horse race over a span of almost 36 years.

Georg Szalai of the Hollywood Reporter says Univision will be airing all 64 World Cup games this summer over a variety of platforms.

Sports Business Daily compiles reaction to the MSG Network’s 3-D production. 

Glen Dickson of Broadcasting & Cable says Cablevision and MSG executives are declaring last night’s 3-D production of the New York Rangers-New York Islanders game a success.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says Versus received its highest NHL audience of the season on Monday.

Dan Lamothe of the Red Sox Monster blog at the Springfield (MA) Republican looks at recent NESN hire Jade McCarthy quickly becoming a favorite on the channel by taking over the anchoring duties on SportsDesk.

John Altavilla of the Hartford Courant says UConn’s women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma will be profiled on ESPN’s Outside the Lines this weekend. 

John Koblin of the New York Observer notes that the Wall Street Journal will launch its sports section next month.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times reviews MSG Network’s first 3-D telecast.

Dan Martin of the New York Post says the 3-D production was popular with fans and players alike.

Peter Botte of the New York Daily News has a similar story on the fans who watched the Islanders-Rangers game in 3-D.

Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette has the NCAA Hockey Tournament TV schedule.

The Washington Examiner’s Jim Williams says CBS is back with the NCAA Tournament tonight.

John Boyette of the Augusta (GA) Chronicle says Tiger Woods will be talking to reporters at The Masters on April 5.

Noell Barnidge of the Savannah (GA) Morning News says ESPN’s Outside the Lines is in town to do a story regarding an incident at Savannah State University. 

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News looks at one person who has a perfect NCAA Tournament bracket.

Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star Telegram says TCU has chosen a new flagship radio station for football and basketball.

General John McClain of the Houston Chronicle says the Texans and the New York Jets want to be the Thanksgiving Night game on NFL Network.

Mel Bracht in the Daily Oklahoman writes that TNT plans to go interactive tonight for the Miami-Chicago game.

Tyler James of the Columbus Dispatch says a local teenager tops ESPN.com’s NCAA Tournament bracket challenge. 

Anthony Schoette at the Indianapolis Business Journal feels Bob Knight is mellowing in his old age.

Curt Cavin of the Indianapolis Star writes that Good Morning America co-host and former ESPN anchor Robin Roberts will be driving the Indianapolis 500 pace car on May 30. There’s no corporate synergy in that decision as ESPN/ABC airs the Indy 500 that day.

In Crain’s Chicago Business, Ed Sherman feels the NCAA should allow arena advertising during its games.

Jim O’Donnell of the Chicago Sun-Times laments the potential end for a long-running WGN-AM sports show.

Bob Wolfley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has ESPN’s Orel Hershiser and Rick Sutcliffe talking about various MLB issues.

Bob Mayhall of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat talks with CBS’ Verne Lundquist who will be calling the NCAA Tournament’s Midwest Regional this weekend.

The Denver Post reports that the MLS’ Colorado Rapids are moving a majority of its games to free TV this season.

Joe Flint of the Los Angeles Times interviews Fox Sports El Jefe del Mundo David Hill about bidding for the Olympics, the MLB All-Star Game in 3-D and trying to get a younger halftime act for the Super Bowl.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News previews his Friday column on Friend of Fang’s Bites Victor Rojas and his new social networking project, Yakcy.

Kevin Iole of Yahoo’s Cagewriter blog writes that an ESPN.com MMA show is moving to ESPN2.

The Sports Media Watch says MLB has eliminated the off day between Games 4 and 5 in the League Championship Series.

SMW has some various news and notes.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media feels that last night’s Pittsburgh-Washington game should have been on Versus and not NHL Network. Agreed.

The great Maury Brown at the Biz of Baseball says the MLB At Bat iPhone/iPod Touch app finally has live streaming video of Spring Training games as of today.

Phillip Badger of EPL Talk gives us an update on the latest with Fox Soccer Plus and Fox Soccer Channel HD.

We’ll end it there for now.

BREAKING NEWS: ESPN New York Site Launches April 2

In what will be the 5th ESPN local site to launch and join other sites in Chicago, Boston, Dallas and Los Angeles, we learn that ESPN New York will begin in earnest on April 2, which will be just two days before the opening of the MLB regular season.

We have details of the launch and some of the reporters who will be involved with the site.

Start Spreading the News: ESPNNewYork.com Launches April 2

New York Sports Media Veteran Leon Carter Named Executive Editor of Local Destination for NY Sports Fans

Daily ESPNNewYork SportsCenter Series Online, ESPN New York Added to ESPN Radio 1050 AM Weekday Lineup; StubHub, Anheuser-Busch and Audi Signed as Launch Advertisers 

ESPN is in a New York state of mind with ESPNNewYork.com, the latest edition of ESPN’s network of local sites and newest destination for New York sports news and information. The site features exclusive, original content from local contributors, locally relevant content created from ESPN’s multiple platforms and branded programming. 

“We are committed to offering a truly local experience with these sites, and thus with the launch of ESPNNewYork.com, we are dedicated to finding contributors and authentic voices that have a passion for all things New York, an expertise on the hometown teams and a real, meaningful connection with fans in the NY area,” said Jim Pastor, senior vice president and general manager, ESPN Local. “Our mission is to serve sports fans, and in just one year, we’ve managed to establish a deeper relationship on a local level with fans in Chicago, Boston, Dallas and Los Angeles. They are each among the top local sports destinations for fans in their respective markets, and we have high hopes for New York as we build our presence from the solid foundation we’ve established through the success and reach of our owned and operated station, ESPN Radio 1050 AM.” 

The site launches under the day-to-day editorial leadership of new executive editor Leon Carter, a news veteran with over 24 years of experience with the NY sports media world, most recently as sports editor for the New York Daily News and previously with Newsday. He is an award-winning editor who has covered the NY area sports scene since 1984. 

In 2009, Carter was honored with the Legacy Award from the National Association of Black Journalists for his efforts promoting diversity in the newsroom and guiding the careers of more than 250 minority journalists over the past 16 years. He co-founded and continues to instruct at the Sports Journalism Institute, an intensive nine-week training and internship program for aspiring minority journalists held every summer since 1993. 

“New York is one of the world’s greatest sports cities, home to one of most passionate fan bases and some of the most storied franchises in sports,” said Rob King, vice president and editor-in-chief, ESPN.com. “Leon is a veteran of the NY media world who truly understands the NY area sports landscape. His leadership will drive the editorial direction of ESPNNewYork.com and build a sports site for true NY sports fans.” 

The site is continuing the process of hiring reporters and writers to bring their voices and daily coverage of area teams and sports to fans via words, video and audio content.  

Additionally, ESPNNewYork.com will feature contributions from veteran ESPN reporters and writers connected closely to New York, who will provide original content on New York sports topics. 

For a preview image of ESPNNewYork.com, click HERE. 

Original Content, Features & Tools

ESPNNewYork.com will also be the exclusive home of ESPNNewYork SportsCenter, hosted by SC anchors and produced originally each day by ESPN. The video series will provide fans a 3-6 minute roundup of the city and region’s sports news, teams, highlights, figures and stories each day. 

The site will cover all of the NY area major professional sports teams, collegiate sports programs and, in time, extend to regional high school coverage, a core passion for Tri-State Area sports fans. 

Features at launch include:

• Fan engagement tools that are endemic to the local NY media world, including:
  • New York Yankees Greatest Team of All Time – an application that allows fans to compile what they believe is the Yankee “dream team” by position;
  • The Headline Machine – a user-generated tool that allows fans to create their own “back page” photos and headlines;
• A custom New York video hub, offering a library for the latest highlights, news, analysis and original content from ESPN programs including exclusive, original New York content from the teams at ESPN programs including Baseball Tonight, NFL Live, College Football Live and more;
• An integrated video and audio experience, featuring a dynamic 16×9 video player on the front page and index pages, and one-click access to the ESPN Radio SuperStream audio player with live 1050 ESPN audio and access to ESPN’s catalog of podcasts and on-demand audio;
• Community and social media tools such as Fan Profiles, SportsNation chats and polls, ESPN Conversation pages, local Twitter feeds, ESPN Fantasy and Arcade games, Stadium Guides and ESPN Passport, ESPN.com’s digital fan scrapbook;
• Real-time scores, GameCasts and video highlights;
• Clubhouse pages from all Tri-State area professional and college leagues;
• Photo galleries featuring images from New York area events;
• An ESPNNewYork.com mobile Web extension that will launch as http://espn.mobi/ny, bringing the news, features, scoreboards, and more to fans on their mobile devices;
• The same innovative local and national advertising opportunities that ESPN.com offers. 

The launch of ESPNNewYork.com coincides with the ESPN2 telecast between the 2009 World Series Champions New York Yankees against their biggest rival, the Boston Red Sox, at Fenway Park on Sunday, April 4. Both ESPNBoston.com and ESPNNewYork.com will be on site covering all the action at the ballpark. Sports fans from the two rival towns will also be able to participate in Cover It Live conversations on both local sites. 

At launch, ESPNNewYork.com includes multiple charter advertisers, including StubHub, Anheuser-Busch and Audi. 

ESPN Radio 1050 AM

ESPNNewYork.com also builds on the 9-year success of ESPN’s owned and operated radio station’s (ESPN Radio 1050 AM) dynamic Web presence. The site offers a clean design and navigation, and a combination of breaking news, blogs, video, audio, analysis and features. The Web home for 1050 ESPN will be a section on ESPNNewYork.com. 

ESPN Radio 1050 AM will also air a two-hour special of the The Michael Kay Show in conjunction with the launch of ESPNNewYork.com on Friday, April 2 from 5-7 p.m.  The special will preview the 2010 Yankees and Mets seasons with contributors from ESPNNewYork.com. 

The station will also debut a new lineup on Monday, April 5 that includes ESPN New York (10-11 a.m.), a look at the morning’s top New York stories with contributions from columnists and beat reporters from ESPNNewYork.com, reporting live to dissect and advance the hottest local topics with 1050 ESPN host Seth Everett. 

ESPN Local: One Year Later

ESPN Local sites in Chicago, Boston, Dallas and Los Angeles have already become leading destinations for fans of local sports.  In January, more than 6.2 million fans visited one of the four sites, spending more than 20.4 million minutes on the sites, according to comScore. 

ESPNChicago.com — ESPN’s first local site celebrating its one-year anniversary in April — has already established itself as the top sports site for Chicago fans and among the most popular news and information destinations for Chicago residents. In January it attracted 1.2 million unique visitors, up 232 percent since it first launched. Fans spent more than 3.4 million minutes on the site as well, more than five times the amount of time spent in its first full month. In June, ESPNChicago.com struck a content syndication agreement with The Huffington Post Chicago and with ABC-owned TV station WLS to deliver easy access to Chicago news, traffic and weather. 

ESPNBoston.com, launched over six months ago, has 1.4 million unique visitors and logged more than 6.2 million total minutes, up 75 percent over September, making the average time spent per visitor the highest of all of ESPN’s local sites in January. 

ESPN Dallas.com, launched on September 28, attracted 1.6 million unique visitors, up 88 percent since its first full month (October), with fans logging 5.3 million minutes. 

In just its first full month, ESPNLosAngeles.com has emerged as one of the leading destinations for L.A. sports, attracting 2 million unique visitors and 5.5 million total minutes.  

Similar to ESPNChicago.com, ESPNLosAngeles.com struck a content syndication agreement with The Huffington Post Los Angeles and with ABC-owned TV station KABC-TV to deliver easy access to L.A. news, traffic and weather.

ESPN is carefully launching each local site. I’m sure there will be more to come this year.

HBO Sports & NFL Films Team Up For Hard Knocks With The J-E-T-S

It was broken yesterday by the New York Daily News and confirmed today by the NFL. The New York Jets will be the focus of this year’s edition which will be co-produced by NFL Films and HBO Sports. Last year’s series on the Cincinnati Bengals turned out to be quite entertaining, especially when we learned Chad Ochocinco’s term of endearment was “Child, please!”

Here’s the joint press release from HBO Sports and NFL Films.

HBO SPORTS®, NFL FILMS AND THE NEW YORK JETS JOIN FORCES FOR A NEW SEASON OF THE ULTIMATE SPORTS REALITY SERIES WHEN HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE NEW YORK JETS, CHRONICLING THE RIGORS AND DAILY DEMANDS OF NFL TRAINING CAMP, DEBUTS WEDNESDAY, AUG. 11, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

            NEW YORK, March 25, 2010 – HBO Sports, NFL Films and the New York Jets team up for an all-access look at what it takes to make it in the National Football League when HARD KNOCKS:  TRAINING CAMP WITH THE NEW YORK JETS debuts in August. The first sports-based reality series – and one of the fastest-turnaround reality series – kicks off its five-episode sixth season, presented in HD, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 11 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Other hour-long episodes debut subsequent Wednesdays at the same time, culminating in the Sept. 8 season finale, with regular encore plays on Thursdays.

            “We are delighted that HARD KNOCKS will be returning this summer and placing the spotlight on charismatic Jets head coach Rex Ryan and his engaging team of proven veterans and emerging stars,” says Ross Greenburg, president, HBO Sports. “As always, there will be plenty on the line for veterans, free agents and rookies alike during training camp. After last year’s postseason run, this is certainly a championship-caliber team with big-name talent. Get ready for some of Coach Ryan’s ‘blunt force trauma’ behind the scenes with this staff and this talent.”

            “HARD KNOCKS has successfully traveled the country over the last several years,” says NFL Films president Steve Sabol. “There have been shows in Dallas, Baltimore, Kansas City and Cincinnati. Now we’ve got our act together – we’re finally ready to open on Broadway!”

            The cinema verité series will focus on the daily lives and routines of players and coaches as the dynamic New York Jets, who compete in the ultra-competitive AFC East, prepare for the 2010 NFL season. HARD KNOCKS:  TRAINING CAMP WITH THE NEW YORK JETS will chronicle second-year head coach Rex Ryan and an intriguing mix of high-profile veterans, free agents and rookie hopefuls throughout training camp and the preseason. Each week, players will experience drills, meetings and fun, while struggling to prove they have what it takes to make the team and make their mark in the NFL.

            “We are committed to being an organization that is open and accessible,” says New York Jets chairman and CEO Woody Johnson. “HARD KNOCKS serves as a tremendous vehicle for fans everywhere to receive unprecedented access and a fascinating behind-the-scenes look as we prepare for the 2010 season. HBO and NFL Films have an award-winning track record and we are excited about working with them.”

            A 24-person NFL Films crew will live at the Jets’ training camp, shooting more than 1,000 hours of video over the course of the series. Camera and sound crews will be given unencumbered access to the players’ and coaches’ meeting rooms, training rooms, dormitories and practice fields.

            HARD KNOCKS launched with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001, followed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2002. The series resumed in 2007 with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning a Sports Emmy®. In 2008, the series returned to the Dallas Cowboys, receiving a second Sports Emmy® for production excellence. In 2009 HARD KNOCKS spotlighted the Cincinnati Bengals franchise.

            GQ magazine wrote that HARD KNOCKS was reason No. 18 of 73 reasons why “we’re living in a new golden age of football,” adding that “‘Hard Knocks’ might be the second-best thing on television,” while Esquire observed, “There’s a brilliant late-summer reality TV treat on HBO.”

            HBO and NFL Films recently received four Sports Emmy® nominations for last season’s “Hard Knocks:  Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals,” including Outstanding Edited Sports Series/Anthology, Outstanding Camera Work, Outstanding Editing and Outstanding Post-Produced Audio/Sound. The winners will be announced April 26.

We’ll preview each episode with press releases so look for them starting in August.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

College Basketball
men’s
NCAA Tournament – All Games on CBS
Sweet Sixteen

West Regional at Salt Lake City (Gus Johnson/Len Elmore, CBS; Ted Robinson/Bill Frieder, Westwood One)
Syracuse vs. Butler – 7:07 p.m.
Kansas State vs. Xavier – approximately 9:37 p.m.

East Regional at Syracuse, NY (Dick Enberg/Jay Bilas, CBS; Ian Eagle/P.J. Carlesimo, Westwood One)
Washington vs. West Virginia – 7:27 p.m.
Kentucky vs. Cornell – approximately 9:57 p.m.

Golf
LPGA Tour/Kia Classic, 1st round – Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m. (same day coverage)
PGA Tour/Arnold Palmer Invitational, 1st round – Golf Channel, 3 p.m.

MLB
Minnesota vs. Tampa Bay – Sun Sports, 1 p.m.
New York Mets vs. St. Louis – ESPN/Fox Sports Midwest, 1 p.m.
New York Yankees vs. Baltimore – MASN, 1 p.m.
Toronto vs. Detroit – Fox Sports Detroit, 1 p.m.
Milwaukee vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 4 p.m.
Texas vs. Anaheim Angels – MLB Network/KXTA/Fox Sports West, 4 p.m.
Oakland vs. San Francisco – MLB Network/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 10 p.m.

NBA
Miami at Chicago – TNT, 8 p.m.
Dallas at Portland – TNT, 10:30 p.m.

Inside the NBA – TNT, 1 a.m.

NHL
Calgary at New York Islanders – Rogers Sportsnet West/MSG Plus2, 7 p.m.
Chicago at Columbus – Comcast SportsNet Chicago Plus/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Philadelphia – Fox Sports North/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
New York Rangers at New Jersey – MSG Network/MSG Plus, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Boston – Sun Sports/NESN, 7 p.m.
Washington at Carolina – Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/Fox Sports Carolinas, 7 p.m.
Florida at Montreal – RDS/Fox Sports Florida, 7:30 p.m.
Los Angeles at St. Louis – Fox Sports West/Fox Sports Midwest, 8 p.m.
Phoenix at Tennessee – Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports Tennessee, 8 p.m.
Dallas at San Jose – NHL Network (US & Canada)/Fox Sports Southwest/Comcast SportsNet California, 10:30 p.m.

NHL On The Fly – NHL Network, 8 p.m.

Entertainment
Ultimate Factories: Chevy Volt – National Geographic Channel, 8 p.m.
World’s Dumbest …: World’s Dumbest Criminals 20 – truTV, 9 p.m.
True Crime with Aphrodite Jones: The Staircase Killer – Discovery ID, 10 p.m.
Private Practice – ABC, 10:01 p.m.
The Sarah Silverman Program: Songs In The Key of Yuck – Comedy Central, 12:30 a.m.

CBS College Sports Gets Ready For The NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

CBS Sports’ cable channel, CBS College Sports, brings out the coaches as guest analysts for the NCAA Tournament. You have some heavy hitters as well. Check out the press release.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACHES SERVE AS ANALYSTS FOR CBS COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK’S NCAA TOURNAMENT REGIONAL COVERAGE

Buzz Williams, Jamie Dixon, Seth Greenberg, Tony Barbee, Dave Rose and Norm Roberts Provide In-Depth Analysis March 25-March 28

CBS College Sports Network’s coverage of the 2010 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship continues with regional action on Thursday, March 25 through Sunday, March 28.  The Network features some of the nation’s top college coaches in-studio serving as analysts, including Marquette’s Buzz Williams (3/25, 3/27-3/28), Pittsburgh’s Jamie Dixon (3/26-3/28), Virginia Tech’s Seth Greenberg (3/25), UTEP’s Tony Barbee (3/26-3/28), BYU’s Dave Rose (3/26-3/27) and former St. Johns coach Norm Roberts (3/25). 

Coverage begins on Thursday, March 25 (4:00-6:00 PM, ET) with NCAA MARCH MADNESS PRE-GAME SHOW. Immediately following the conclusion of each day’s games, CBS College Sports Network airs the official highlight show of the tournament, NCAA March Madness Highlights, which recaps the excitement of the day with all the scores, news, highlights and analysis. \Throughout the tournament, NCAA March Madness Central brings viewers exclusive in-progress game highlights, live look-ins and press conferences from every team at every site from the first-round through the Championship Game

Adam Zucker, Tracy Wolfson and Tom Hart anchor the studio programming with CBS College Sports Network analysts Steve Lappas and Wally Szczerbiak. Below is a full programming schedule (all times ET).

Thursday, March 25

4:00 – 6:00 PM – NCAA March Madness Pre-Game Show

8:00 – 8:30 PM – NCAA March Madness Central

10:30 PM – 12:00 AM – NCAA March Madness Central

12:00 – 12:30 AM – NCAA March Madness Highlights*

Friday, March 26

5:00 PM – 12:00 AM – NCAA March Madness Central

12:00 – 12:30 AM – NCAA March Madness Highlights*

Saturday, March 27

2:30 – 3:00 PM – NCAA March Madness Pre-Game Show

4:30 – 9:00 PM – NCAA March Madness Central

9:00 – 9:30 PM – NCAA March Madness Highlights*

Sunday, March 28

1:30 – 2:00 PM – NCAA March Madness Pre-Game Show

2:00 – 7:00 PM – NCAA March Madness Central

7:00 – 7:30 PM – NCAA March Madness Highlights*

*Show begins upon conclusion of CBS Sports live game coverage. 

I’ll post more stuff when I can.