ESPN’s Extensive Championship Week Coverage

This is a very long press release from ESPN. Just without the actual schedule, the text below contains some 1,430 words. That’s a hefty press release. Anyway, ESPN is announcing here that the Big East Tournament will be aired on ESPN 3D. Some 190 games will be carried throughout the week on the ESPN platforms whether it be on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3.com, ESPN 3D or ESPN Radio. Most of the major conferences are represented including the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC. We also have announcing assignments as well. It’s very extensive so get ready to scroll.

Championship Week: Record 190 Games, including Entire BIG EAST in 3D, Begins Thursday, March 3

ESPN’s 2011 Championship Week will feature a record 190 men’s and women’s college basketball conference tournament games from Thursday, March 3 to Sunday, March 13 (including one game on March 1) across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3.com, ESPN FULL COURT, ESPN 3D, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Radio and ESPN International. It will surpass the previous high of 177 telecasts, set last year.

Overall, the networks will combine to televise 43 Division I championship games from 24 men’s and 19 women’s conferences and one men’s Division II title matchup. Of the 190 games, 126 will feature a men’s contest and 64 women’s.

First-Ever 3D Coverage
ESPN 3D, the first 3D network to launch in the industry, will televise all 15 games of the BIG EAST Championship, March 8-12. It will mark the first time an entire conference tournament will be offered in 3D and the second of three championships to be crowned on ESPN 3D (Bowl Championship Series in January and the upcoming NBA Finals in June). ESPN 3D, which will televise more than 100 events in its first year, began showing 3D content 24-hours a day on Feb. 14.

Broadband, HD, Pay-Per-View and Mobile Record Coverage
This year’s Championship Week schedule will include record coverage across multiple ESPN platforms, including:

• ESPN3.com will offer a record 187 (of the 190) games via simulcasts of every ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN FULL COURT telecast. ESPN3.com will also provide live coverage of every NCAA Women’s Championship Presented by Capital One and men’s postseason NIT game.
• ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, ESPNU HD and ABC HD will combine to provide high definition telecasts of a record 81 (out of 88) Championship Week games. Last year, the outlets televised 45 games in high definition.
• ESPN FULL COURT, ESPN’s pay-per-view package, will provide a platform record 102 games, surpassing last year’s previous high of 86 games.
• ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN’s first 24/7 mobile video channel (available on FLO TV and MobiTV) will offer live simulcasts of 28 men’s and women’s games, plus bonus coverage – featuring live extended look-ins – of two others. Last year, the platform provided full coverage of 27 games and live extended look-ins of two others.

Championship Week action will tip off on ESPNU with the men’s Big South Conference semifinals Thursday, March 3, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Coverage will conclude Sunday, March 13, with five championships (three on ESPNU and one each on ABC and ESPN).

A breakdown of coverage:

Schedule Highlights

• This season will mark ESPN’s 26th, ESPN2’s 17th and ESPNU’s sixth year of comprehensive coverage. ESPN will televise 21 games, ESPN2 33, ESPNU 30 and ABC three games.
• The final four days of Championship Week will feature 43 games across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU (March 10-13), highlighted by 15 telecasts Saturday, March 12.
• In addition to 15 BIG EAST games, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will combine to televise multiple men’s games from several top conferences, including eight from the ACC (every game but the first-round telecast will be outermarket only), four from the Big Ten, and three from the SEC and Big 12. ESPN Regional Television will syndicate the remaining eight games of the SEC and Big 12 Tournaments on ESPN3.com and ESPN FULL COURT, as well as in the SEC and Big 12 markets, respectively.
• ESPN Buzzer Beater — available to Time Warner Cable Sports Tier, Bright House Networks Customers and Verizon FiOS TV Ultimate HD and Extreme HD Customers — will provide live cut-ins and highlights from numerous Championship Week games Thursday, March 10 and Friday, March 11. ESPN Buzzer Beater launched January 8 with live cut-ins to top games across the ESPN networks and up-to-the-minute commentary from ESPN analysts and experts every Wednesday and Saturday.
• ESPN International will offer extensive coverage, reaching 208 million households in 224 countries and territories on ESPN America – Great Britain (25 games), ESPN America – Europe (25 games), ESPN America -Middle East (23 games), ESPN Caribbean (nine games), ESPN2 Caribbean (nine games), ESPN Pac Rim (eight games), ESPN2 Australia (eight games), ESPN Atlantic (five games), ESPN Middle East (seven games), ESPN Dos Venezuela (three games), ESPN Dos Mexico (three games), and five games each on ESPN China, ESPN Hong Kong, ESPN India, ESPN Malaysia, ESPN Philippines, ESPN Asia and ESPN Taiwan

Week Concludes with Extensive Day-Long Coverage
The final day of Championship Week – Selection Sunday, March 13 — will begin at noon with College GameDay on ESPN, followed by the ACC Tournament Championship (on ESPN) and SEC Championship (on ABC), both at 1 p.m. Extensive coverage of the men’s NCAA Championship selection will include a three-hour Bracketology at 3 p.m. and a two-hour edition at 7 p.m., both on ESPN. ESPN will also offer selection coverage during SportsCenter at 6 p.m. ESPNU will televise a two-hour look at the final moments of some of the best games during Championship Week with Crunch Time: Championship Week Special at 7 p.m., followed by the fifth annual NIT Selection Show at 9 p.m. and a 90-minute Championship edition of The Experts at 9:30 p.m.

The following day, ESPN’s Selection Monday coverage will feature the NCAA Women’s Basketball Selection Special at 7 p.m. on ESPN. ESPNU will televise an additional hour of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Selection Special Extended Coverage beginning at 8 p.m. The action will serve as a lead-in to complete, 63-game coverage of the NCAA Women’s Championship across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3.com and ESPN FULL COURT March 19 through April 5.

Commentator Notes

• Beth Mowins will work a total of 13 Championship Week games: calling play-by-play on five women’s BIG EAST Championship games and eight as a reporter, all on the men’s BIG EAST Championship.
• Sean McDonough and analysts Jay Bilas and Bill Raftery will work nine of the network’s men’s BIG EAST telecasts, including both semifinals and the championship on ESPN (Friday, March 11, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and Saturday, March 12, at 9 p.m.). Dave Pasch, Fran Fraschilla and Doris Burke will call the remaining six contests. In addition to being an analyst on six games, Burke will serve as a reporter on the semifinals and championship. Mark Jones and Bob Valvano will work nine of ESPN 3D’s telecast while Justin Kutcher and Bob Wenzel will call the remaining six.
• Hall of Famer Dick Vitale, in his 32nd season with ESPN, will pair up with Dan Shulman and reporter Erin Andrews to work at least one men’s ACC semifinal Saturday, March 12 and championship March 13, at 1 p.m., all on ESPN. Len Elmore will serve as the analyst for the remaining ACC telecasts, with commentators Mike Patrick and Dan Shulman. Elmore will also call the Metro Athletic Association Conference championship Monday, March 7, at 7 p.m. with John Saunders.
• ESPN analyst and Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Knight, commentator Brent Musburger and reporter Holly Rowe will work all three Big 12 telecasts.
• Dave O’Brien and Dan Dakich will work ESPN and ESPN2’s four Big Ten telecasts.
• Brad Nessler, analyst Jimmy Dykes and reporter Shannon Spake will work the three SEC games on ABC, while Cara Capuano and Carolyn Peck will work the three women’s SEC telecasts. Nessler and Dykes will also work four of the men’s SEC games on the SEC Network.
• Analyst Brooke Weisbrod will work five of the women’s BIG EAST Championship telecasts, all with Mowins. Rebecca Lobo will provide analysis on the title game. Bob Picozzi will call the remaining two games with analyst Kayte Christensen. Allison Williams will report on six of the matchups.

ESPN Regional Television
For this year’s Championship Week coverage, ESPN Regional Television will syndicate 33 games, comprising action from the Big 12 (eight games), SEC (eight games) BIG EAST (four women’s games), Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (six men’s and two women’s games) and America East (two men’s and three women’s games).

ESPN.com
ESPN.com’s Championship Week index page will feature news, analysis, information and results for every conference tournament. ESPN.com’s Bubble Watch with college hoops writer Eamonn Brennan will give fans an in-depth look at teams on the bubble and the latest developments on NCAA Championship selection status. The site will also preview major conference tournaments, examine storylines and offer in-depth expert examinations.  ESPN.com writers will file stories from several tournament sites, including Andy Katz (ACC), David Ubben (Big 12), Dana O’Neil (BIG EAST), Pat Forde (Big Ten) and Mark Schlabach (SEC). Additionally, ESPN.com’s “Bracketologist,” Joe Lunardi, will update and adjust his Bracketology projections and outlook daily.

ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio will present comprehensive Championship Week coverage with updates and reports from the sites of key matchups. ESPN Radio’s SportsCenter Saturday and SportsCenter Sunday will dive deep into predicting the field of 65. Also, for the third straight season, ESPN Radio will present play-by-play coverage of the Big 12 Semifinals and Championship. Additionally, regularly scheduled ESPN Radio programming will include previews and reviews of key contests, analysis by ESPN experts, and interviews with coaches and players preparing for the NCAA Championship.

And coming up after the jump, the entire Championship Week schedule. It’s long.

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ESPN’s Motorsports Programming For This Week

We have one more press release for you now. This deals with ESPN’s motorsports programming. Let’s check it out.

Motorsports This Week on ESPN and ABC

NASCAR Nationwide Series Live from Las Vegas on ABC

The NASCAR Nationwide Series makes its first appearance of the season on ABC this weekend with a 300-mile race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 5. The telecast begins with NASCAR Countdown at 2:30 p.m. ET, with flag-to-flag coverage of the race at 3 p.m.

Marty Reid will call the action with analysis by Dale Jarrett, the 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, and two-time champion crew chief Andy Petree. Two-time champion crew chief Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Tech Garage, while pit reporters will be Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch.

NASCAR Countdown from the ESPN pit studio will be hosted by Allen Bestwick with analysis by Jarrett and Brad Daugherty, a team owner in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. The studio team will interact with the booth during the telecast of the race.

Schrader To Make First NASCAR Now Roundtable Appearance

NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader joins ESPN analyst Ricky Craven and ESPN the Magazine senior writer Ryan McGee as panelists on NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable discussion program airing Tuesday, March 8, at midnight ET (late Monday night) on ESPN2. Allen Bestwick will host the edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program. Schrader, who has 733 career NASCAR Sprint Cup starts, will be appearing on the program for the first time and will be on the panel numerous times this season.

Mike Massaro hosts half-hour episodes of NASCAR Now airing at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday of this week as well as NASCAR Now’s weekend edition Sunday at 11 a.m. with a preview of that day’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Shannon Spake and Terry Blount will report from Las Vegas with analyst Dale Jarrett.

Tim Richmond 30 for 30 Film to Re-Air on ESPN Classic

The critically-acclaimed film on the life and career of former NASCAR star Tim Richmond, part of the ESPN 30 for 30 series from 2010, will re-air on Sunday, March 6, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN Classic. Tim Richmond: To the Limit chronicles the rise and fall of Richmond, one of the top drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the 1980s, who died of AIDS in 1989.

Also this week, ESPN Classic re-airs Sportscentury: Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Wednesday, March 2, at 7 p.m.

ESPN.com Offers RacingLive! During Las Vegas Race

NASCAR fans looking for an online gathering during ESPN’s telecasts of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series now have a place to go on ESPN.com.

RacingLive! on ESPN.com is a live blog where fans can engage in debate and discussion with ESPN.com writers and editors during the NASCAR Sprint Cup races. On Sunday, March 6, RacingLive! Las Vegas will kick off to coincide with the race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Fans can join ESPN.com’s NASCAR experts in dissecting every aspect of the race live at .

ESPN.com senior motorsports writer Terry Blount will be on-site at Las Vegas to report on the weekend’s action and news.

ESPN Radio Raceday Airs Saturday, Sunday

Each weekend morning, ESPN Radio’s RaceDay starts its engines at 6 a.m. ET with host Pat Patterson anchored from Daytona Beach, Fla. Patterson also originates the broadcast from several racetracks with key races during the season. On both Saturday and Sunday mornings, ESPN Radio’s RaceDay listeners get an hour of news, previews and analysis, as well as profiles and interviews with NASCAR’s biggest names and newsmakers and the involvement of listeners via calls and e-mails.

Additionally, many of ESPN’s NASCAR reporters and analysts contribute each week as ESPN networks televise the entire NASCAR Nationwide Series and the final 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup races, including the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup” championship. A list of ESPN Radio affiliates can be found at www.espnradio.com.

That does it.

ESPN Family of Network’s College Basketball Games This Week

Plenty of college basketball this week as conferences will end their regular season schedules. Lots of games. We have ESPN’s entire schedule for the week including all platforms, on TV and online below.

Men’s College Basketball: Six of Top Nine in Action; Three Showdowns of Ranked Teams

ESPN’s men’s college basketball schedule for early this week includes six of the top nine teams in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, highlighted by two of them playing another ranked team: No. 2 Kansas against No. 17 Texas A&M on Wednesday, March 2, at 9 p.m. (on ESPN2) and No. 9 Notre Dame against No. 14 Villanova on Monday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. on ESPN. Highlights:

• ESPN will televise No. 5 Texas against Kansas State on Monday, Feb. 28, at 9 p.m.
• An ESPN doubleheader Tuesday, March 1 will include No. 8 Purdue against Illinois at 7 p.m. followed by No. 18 Vanderbilt at No. 22 Kentucky at 9 p.m.
• On Wednesday, March 2, ESPN will televise No. 1 Duke against Clemson at 9 p.m. and ESPNU will cover No. 6 Pittsburgh against South Florida at 9 p.m.

In addition, Dan Shulman and Dick Vitale will call ESPNU’s telecast of Alabama at No. 13 Florida Tuesday, March 1, at 7 p.m.

Date	Time (ET)	Game	Network
Mon, Feb 28	7 p.m.	No. 14 Villanova at No. 9 Notre Dame Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas & Bill Raftery	ESPN / ESPN3.com
		Morgan State at North Carolina A&T Charlie Neal & Stan Lewter	ESPNU
	9 p.m.	Kansas State at No. 5 Texas Brent Musburger, Bob Knight & Holly Rowe	ESPN / ESPN3.com
		Jackson State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Anthony Calhoun & Stephen Howard	ESPNU
Tue, Mar 1	7 p.m.	Illinois at No. 8 Purdue Dave O’Brien, Dan Dakich & Jill Montgomery	ESPN / ESPN3.com
		Baylor at Oklahoma State Jon Sciambi & Doug Gottlieb	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
		Alabama at No. 13 Florida Dan Shulman & Dick Vitale	ESPNU
	9 p.m.	No. 18 Vanderbilt at No. 22 Kentucky Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes & Shannon Spake	ESPN / ESPN3.com
		Boston College at Virginia Tech TBA & Len Elmore	ESPNU
Wed, Mar 2	7 p.m.	No. 19 North Carolina at Florida State Dan Shulman & Dick Vitale	ESPN / ESPN3.com
		No. 15 Connecticut at West Virginia John Saunders & Fran Fraschilla	ESPN2  / ESPN3.com
		Maryland at Miami Carter Blackburn & LaPhonso Ellis	ESPNU
	8 p.m.	Cincinnati at Marquette Jim Barbar & Dickey Simpkins	ESPN3.com
	8:30 p.m.	Rutgers at DePaul David Kaplan & Brooke Weisbrod	ESPN3.com
	9 p.m.	Clemson at No. 1 Duke Mike Patrick, Len Elmore & Jeannine Edwards	ESPN / ESPN3.com
		No. 17 Texas A&M at No. 2 Kansas Mark Jones & Hubert Davis	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
		No. 6 Pittsburgh at South Florida Dan McLaughlin & Kara Lawson	ESPNU
	11 p.m.	No. 23 Utah State at New Mexico State Dave Flemming & Sean Farnham	ESPN2 / ESPN3.com

And we check out the schedule for the latter part of the week after a jump break.

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NBA TV’s Live Games Including Two From The UK

This week, the New Jersey Nets and Toronto Raptors head to England to play the very first two NBA regular season games in the UK. It’s all to promote the NBA in England and to help promote basketball in the country in general. England is still very much a soccer country and seeing the enthusiasm for the English Premier League is proof enough. But the NBA will send two teams out to London to play in the O2 Arena. Those are just two of the games that will be seen live on NBA TV this week and we have the schedule starting from tonight through Saturday.

Fans Select New York Knicks @ Orlando Magic for NBA TV’s Fan Night on Tuesday, Mar. 1

NBA TV to televise first NBA regular-season games to be played in Europe Friday Mar. 4 and Saturday, Mar. 5

The fans have spoken with a resounding 85-percent of the fan vote on NBA.com and have chosen recently acquired forward Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks taking on Eastern Conference rivals and Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic for NBA TV’s Tuesday Fan Night. The game will air on Tues., Mar. 1 at 7:00 p.m. (ET) with host Matt Winer and analysts Kevin McHale and Steve Smith on-hand for studio coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. (ET).

Fan Night voting will continue on nba.com/nbatv/fannight from Tues., Mar.1 (8 a.m. ET) – Mar. 3 (Midnight ET) as fans select the match-up for Tues., Mar. 8 between:

• Golden State Warriors @ Cleveland Cavaliers
• Philadelphia 76ers @ Indiana Pacers
• Milwaukee Bucks @ Washington Wizards
• Portland TrailBlazers @ Miami Heat
• Houston Rockets @ Phoenix Suns

This week, NBA TV will televise the first NBA regular-season games to be played in Europe at The 02 arena in London on Friday, Mar. 4 and Saturday, Mar. 5 at 3:00 p.m. (ET) as part of NBA Games – London 2011. NBA.com’s Sekou Smith will provide pre and post game updates via Skype from the games.

Fans can stay connected to the latest NBA action every Tuesday with The Jump, a live, interactive show designed for the ultimate NBA fan.  Fans can submit questions and comments via NBA.com, Facebook or Twitter. Host Kyle Montgomery, analyst Dennis Scott, Kevin McHale and ‘chat-master’ Sekou Smith will respond and give their comments and analysis on everything happening around the league. The show will stream live on Mar. 1 at 1 p.m. (ET) on NBA.com and air at 5:00 p.m. (ET) on NBA TV.

The Beat returns this week to prep fans for the upcoming trade deadline with news and storylines across the league with host Marc Fein, regular contributors David Aldridge, SLAM’s Lang Whitaker as well as reporters from across the country. The Beat airs Mar. 1 at 6:00 p.m. (ET).

NBA TV GAMES OF THE WEEK:

FEBRUARY 28– MARCH 5

NBA TV  SCHEDULE (all times ET: FEB. 28 – MAR. 6
MONDAY, FEB. 28
9:00 – 11:00 p.m.	NBA Regular Season: Boston Celtics @ Utah Jazz	Local Announcers
TUESDAY, MAR. 1 Fan Night
7:00 – 9:30 p.m.	NBA Regular Season: New York Knicks @ Orlando Magic	Matt Winer, Kevin McHale and Steve Smith
WEDNESDAY, MAR. 2
7:00 – 9:30 p.m.	NBA Regular Season: New Orleans Hornets @ New York Knicks	Local Announcers
10:30 p.m – 1:00 a.m	NBA Regular Season: Houston Rockets @ LA Clippers	Local Announcers
FRIDAY, MAR. 4
3:00 – 5:00 p.m	NBA Regular Season: Toronto Raptors vs. New Jersey (London, England)	Local Announcers
SATURDAY, MAR. 5
3:00 – 5:00 p.m	NBA Regular Season: Toronto Raptors vs. New Jersey (London, England)	Local Announcers

And we’re done here.

What’s On Golf Channel This Week

We have the original programming on Golf Channel this week including the season finale of The Haney Project plus other things for which you can set your DVR.

Coming up on Golf Channel…Feb. 28-March 6

Final Exam for Limbaugh on Season Finale of The Haney Project
Haney Makes Special Appearance on Donald J. Trump’s Fabulous World of Golf
Burk Faces $5K Test Against European Senior Tour Pro Jimmy Bruner on Pipe Dream

Original Series Premieres and Highlights
All Times Eastern

The Haney Project Rush Limbaugh (Season Finale)
Haney Project Series Website: www.GolfChannel.com/haney-project/limbaugh
Airtime: Tuesday, 9-9:30 p.m.

Haney and Limbaugh head to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for one, final round.  Limbaugh will put into practice what he’s learned over the course of the past seven months of Haney tutelage.  Challenges and surprises will await Limbaugh during the episode, including guest appearances by baseball Hall-of-Famer George Brett and PGA TOUR professional Fred Couples.

Donald J. Trump’s Fabulous World of Golf (New)
Donald J. Trump’s Fabulous World of Golf Website: www.GolfChannel.com/donald-trump
Host: Donald J. Trump
Airtime: Monday, 9-9:30 p.m.

Donald Trump will return to Trump National Philadelphia to answer important questions from his members about the future of their course.  When heading out for a round with friends, Trump will be greeted by Hank Haney, who will express some concerns of his own.

Pipe Dream (New)
Pipe Dream Series Website: www.GolfChannel.com/pipe-dream
Airtime: Tuesday, 9:30-10 p.m.

An old friend hears of Mark Burk’s failed attempt at Champions Tour Q-School and will offer him a chance to win $5,000 in a match against Jerry Bruner, one of the top players on the European Senior Tour.

Golf’s Amazing Videos (Season Premiere)
Host: Charlie Rymer
Airtime: Wednesday, 10-10:30 p.m.

Charlie Rymer will host the season premiere of Golf’s Amazing Videos by putting a humorous spin on the unlucky bounces, sudden wind gusts and short putts that somehow stay out of the cup that plague golfers of all skill levels.

Talk Show and News Premieres and Highlights
(All Times Eastern)

Golf Central
Live Airings: Monday-Saturday, 6-6:30 p.m.
Sunday, 6-7 p.m.

Golf Central Pre Game
Live Airings: Thursday-Friday, 2:30-3 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday, 12:30-1 p.m.

Golf Central and Golf Central Pre Game will deliver all of the news from throughout the world of golf.  Todd Lewis will report throughout the week from The Honda Classic.

The Golf Fix (New)
Host: Michael Breed
Airtime: Monday, 7-8 p.m. ET

Host Michael Breed will break down the key moments from the WGC-Match Play Championship with tips and instruction, and will answer viewer calls and emails during the course of the show.

School of Golf (New)
Chapter Six: Working the Ball
Host: Martin Hall
Airtime: Tuesday, 7-7:30 p.m. ET

Martin Hall will teach the secrets to hitting fades and draws and also will reveal whether a popular swing belief is right or wrong.  Hall also will answer questions from viewers throughout the show.  Charlie Rymer will co-host the show alongside Hall.

Grey Goose 19^th Hole (New)
Host: Kraig Kann
Panelists: John Hawkins, Jay Coffin, Jason Whitlock (FoxSports.com Columnist)
Contributor: Win McMurry
Airtime: Wednesday, 7:30-8 p.m.

FoxSports.com columnist Jason Whitlock will join Kraig Kann, John Hawkins and Jay Coffin to debate the hot topics in golf.  Win McMurry also will contribute during the show.

That does it.

CBS Sports & CBS College Sports Combine To Cover Duke-North Carolina This Saturday

This Saturday, CBS will air Duke-North Carolina game in primetime, the last time it will be able to do so as ESPN takes over the ACC contract and ownership of all conference games starting next season through 2023-24. To go out with a bang, CBS not only put the game in primetime, but it will also bring CBS College Sports into the picture with pre and postgame coverage. Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg will call the game from the Dean Dome for CBS. Adam Zucker and a cast of thousands, o.k., not thousands, but a few, will be on hand for CBS College Sports.

We have the press release for you.

CBS SPORTS BROADCASTS NO. 4 DUKE AT NO. 13 NORTH CAROLINA LIVE IN PRIME TIME ON SATURDAY, MARCH 5 AT 8:00 PM, ET

CBS COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK BRACKETS GAME COVERAGE WITH SPECIAL PRE- AND POST-GAME SHOWS LIVE FROM CHAPEL HILL, N.C.

CBS Sports broadcasts *No. 4-ranked Duke at No. 13-ranked North Carolina in prime time on Saturday, March 5 (8:00 PM, ET). This marks the first time the Duke-North Carolina rivalry airs in prime time on network television. CBS College Sports Network brackets CBS Sports’ broadcast of Duke-North Carolina with special pre- and post-game coverage live on-site from Chapel Hill, N.C.

CBS Sports’ lead college basketball broadcast team of Jim Nantz and analyst Clark Kellogg call the action from the Dean E. Smith Center. Bob Dekas, CBS Sports’ coordinating producer for college basketball, produces and Bob Fishman directs.

CBS College Sports Network’s coverage tips off with a special two-hour edition of INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL (6:00-8:00 PM, ET) live from outside the Dean E. Smith Center, which previews the game and captures all the excitement and festivities around the Duke-UNC rivalry. The Network airs a half-hour post-game show immediately following the game. The shows are open to the public.

Host Adam Zucker is joined by former North Carolina star Jerry Stackhouse, former Duke star Alaa Abdelnaby, CBS College Sports Network analyst Wally Szczerbiak and reporter Lauren Shehadi.

For all the latest CBS Sports and CBS College Sports Network news, follow along on Twitter via @CBSSportsGang.

*AP Poll as of 2/28

There you have it.

ESPN Sets New MLB Announcing Teams Debuts

During March, the new ESPN Sunday, Monday and Wednesday Night Baseball teams will debut. After Jon Miller and Joe Morgan were jettisoned from the Sunday Night Baseball booth, ESPN made wholesale changes to all of its baseball broadcast teams including on radio. So during Spring Training, ESPN will have all of the broadcast teams work Cactus and Grapefruit League games so they can ready for the regular season. So we have the schedule of the 10 Spring Training games ESPN will carry and the announcing teams that will call them.

ESPN’s New Sunday Night Baseball Team to Debut March 3

New Monday & Wednesday Night Baseball & ESPN Radio Squads Also to Debut During Spring Training

ESPN’s new Sunday Night Baseball team, comprised of play-by-play commentator Dan Shulman and analysts Orel Hershiser and Bobby Valentine, will debut Thursday, March 3, at 1 p.m. ET, when the Atlanta Braves host the Detroit Tigers in a Spring Training game at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.  Shulman, Hershiser and Valentine will also provide commentary for a contest between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox on Monday, March 14, at 7 p.m. from Ft. Myers, Fla.

ESPN’s new Monday Night Baseball team – Sean McDonough and analysts Rick Sutcliffe and Aaron Boone – will provide commentary for Chicago White Sox vs. Chicago Cubs on Thursday, March 24, at 5 p.m. from Mesa, Ariz.; the Cubs vs. Texas Rangers on Saturday, March 26, at 4 p.m. from Surprise, Ariz.; and the Tigers vs. Yankees on Tuesday, March 29, at 1 p.m. from Tampa, Fla.

Dave O’Brien and analyst Nomar Garciaparra, ESPN’s new Wednesday Night Baseball duo, will call two matchups: Red Sox vs. Braves on Wednesday, March 16, at 1 p.m. from Orlando, Fla.; New York Mets at St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, March 23, at 1 p.m. from Jupiter, Fla.

ESPN Radio’s new Sunday Night Baseball broadcast team – Jon Sciambi and Chris Singleton – will call the Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, March 24, at 1 p.m. from Clearwater, Fla.

Additionally, Baseball Tonight’s Karl Ravech and analyst John Kruk will provide commentary for a pair of games – Red Sox vs. Phillies on Monday, March 21, at 1 p.m. from Clearwater, Fla., and Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, March 22, at 1 p.m. from Sarasota, Fla.

ESPN’s Spring Training telecasts will also be available on ESPN3.com. ESPN’s Spring Training schedule with commentator assignments.

Date	Time (ET)	Teams	Network
Thu, March 3	1 p.m.	Detroit vs. Atlanta Dan Shulman, Orel Hershiser, Bobby Valentine, Buster Olney	ESPN
Mon, March 14	7 p.m.	N.Y. Yankees vs. Boston Shulman, Hershiser, Valentine, Olney	ESPN2
Wed, March 16	1 p.m.	Boston vs. Atlanta Dave O’Brien, Nomar Garciaparra, Olney	ESPN
Mon, March 21	1 p.m.	Boston vs. Philadelphia Karl Ravech, John Kruk, Wendi Nix	ESPN
Tue, March 22	1 p.m.	N.Y. Yankees vs. Baltimore Ravech, Kruk, Nix	ESPN
Wed, March 23	1 p.m.	N.Y. Mets vs. St. Louis O’Brien, Garciaparra, Tim Kurkjian	ESPN
Thu, March 24	5 p.m.	Chicago White Sox vs. Cubs Sean McDonough, Rick Sutcliffe, Aaron Boone, Pedro Gomez	ESPN2
Fri, March 25	1 p.m.	Atlanta vs. Philadelphia Jon Sciambi, Chris Singleton, Kurkjian	ESPN
Sat, March 26	4 p.m.	Chicago Cubs vs. Texas McDonough, Sutcliffe, Boone, Gomez	ESPN2
Tue, March 29	1 p.m.	Detroit vs. N.Y. Yankees McDonough, Sutcliffe, Boone, Olney	ESPN

And there you have the scheduled debuts of each of the MLB broadcast teams for ESPN.

Versus Announces UFC Card in 3-D To Air on Thursday

Versus has formally announced that it will air Thursday’s UFC Live card in Louisville, KY in the third dimension. This means about 45 people across the country will be able to see this. Anyway, it marks the first UFC card ever to be carried in 3-D. It’ll be sponsored by Versus’ parent company, Comcast and will be aired on its Next Generation Xfinity 3D channel. We have the details of Versus’ plans to carry UFC Live in 3-D later this week.

UFC^® LIVE EVENT ON VERSUS IN LOUISVILLE ON MARCH 3 TO BE BROADCAST IN 3D

Marks the First UFC Event to Ever Air in 3D

New York, N.Y. (February 28, 2011) – The Ultimate Fighting Championship^® and VERSUS announced today that the UFC® event airing this Thursday, March 3, will be broadcast in 3D for the first-time ever. The highly-anticipated card, which is headlined by a welterweight clash between Diego Sanchez and Martin Kampmann, emanates from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky. and will air live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

The 3D telecast, produced by VERSUS with the UFC and sponsored by Comcast Xfinity, will feature a separate 3D production crew and equipment from the traditional HD production. The telecast will also include a separate announce team, as veteran play-by-play voice Todd Harris will team up with UFC featherweight star Kenny Florian to call all of the night’s action.

Multiple 3D cameras will be placed strategically around the Octagon^®, giving viewers access to some new camera angles not usually seen during previous UFC 2D telecasts.  The 3D telecast will be made available live to those with 3D-capable television sets through dedicated 3D channels on affiliates across the country, including Comcast’s 24-hour, Next Generation Xfinity 3D channel.

“We’re really excited to start broadcasting UFC events in 3D,” UFC President Dana White said. “UFC is ahead of the curve when it comes to introducing new technology and we think UFC fans will really enjoy seeing fights in 3D.”

A couple of more press releases coming up.

Some Monday Linkage

Let’s do some linkage on this rainy Monday in Southern New England. Such a drab day and I just can’t get started. Maybe it was due to watching The Oscars abortion last night. Anyway, here are your links to start off your work week.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand reviews Golf Channel’s State of the Game Live panel discussion that had both NBC and Golf Channel analysts together.

Ryan Ballengee of Pro Golf Talk recaps the Golf Channel special.

Jason Gay at the Wall Street Journal tries to understand the attraction of watching the NFL Scouting Combine.

To the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center where Jason Fry lists some of his favorite Mets stories that he’s culled online from the past week.

At Mediaweek, Katy Bachman notes that online streaming provider Ivi TV got shut down over complaints from the networks and MLB.

Jeanette DeForge at the Springfield (MA) Republican reports on ESPN.com contributor Howard Bryant getting arrested over the weekend for allegedly assaulting his estranged wife. This story was picked up over the weekend by several blogs.

The Boston Herald where Bryant used to work has a story on the incident from Jessica Heslam.

The Connecticut Post says ESPN MLB analyst Bobby Valentine is interested in buying a piece of the New York Mets.

Newsday’s Neil Best notes that SNY will be visiting Mets third baseman David Wright’s home.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post feels Mets owner Fred Wilpon is flip-flopping over his money problems.

To Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union. He has the America East conference tournament TV schedules.

Pete also has the MAAC Conference tournament TV schedule.

Down to Washington, DC where CBS-owned WJFK-FM has announced it will be the new flagship station of the Nationals for this season.

This also gives me an opportunity to link to Friend of Fang’s Bites Liz Drabick of WJFK (she’s an update anchor) website and her Twitter page. If you’re on Twitter, say hello to her.

From the DC Sports Bog at the Washington Post, Dan Steinberg notes that Sports lllustrated is being harsh on Capitals  star Alexander Ovechkin. Maybe truthful is more like it.

Cindy Boren of the WaPo’s The Early Lead blog also discusses the Nationals’ new flagship radio station.

Nathan Warters from the Lynchburg (VA) News & Advance says ESPN’s Digger Phelps helped to inspire Virginia Tech to an upset of Duke on Saturday.

Tom Jones at the St. Petersburg Times looks at the weekend in sports TV.

John Helsley of the Daily Oklahoman talks with the Perpetually Angry Doug Gottlieb of ESPN to talk about his alma mater’s chances of making a run in the NCAA Tournament.

Dan Stupp of the Dayton Daily News talks about UFC using social media to promote its next card.

Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post notes ESPN’s Doris Burke’s ability to be analyst or sideline reporter.

At the Toronto Globe and Mail, Bruce Dowbiggin says the NHL TV analysts are taking off the gloves.

And I’ll end there.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

College Basketball
men’s
Villanova at Notre Dame – ESPN, 7 p.m.
Morgan State at North Carolina A&T – ESPNU, 7 p.m.
Kansas State at Texas – ESPNU, 9 p.m.
Jackson State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff – ESPNU, 9 p.m.

women’s
Morgan State at North Carolina A&T – ESPNU, 4:30 p.m.
St. John’s at West Virginia – ESPN2, 7 p.m.
Notre Dame at DePaul – CBS College Sports, 9 p.m.

English Premier League
Stoke City vs. West Brom – Fox Soccer Plus, 3 p.m.

MLB
Washington vs. New York Mets – SNY, 1 p.m./MLB Network, 9:30 p.m.
Chicago White Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – MLB Network/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 3 p.m.
Oakland vs. Anaheim Angels – Fox Sports West, 3 p.m.

MLB’s 20 Greatest Games: No. 12 – MLB Network, 8 p.m.

NBA
Boston at Utah – NBA TV/Comcast SportsNet New England, 9 p.m.

NFL
NFL Scouting Combine – NFL Network, 11 a.m.

NHL
Chicago at Minnesota – Versus/TSN2, 8 p.m.
Detroit at Los Angeles – NHL Network (US & Canada)/Fox Sports Detroit/Fox Sports West, 10:30 p.m.

TradeCentre 2011 – TSN/NHL Network (US), 8 a.m.
Trade Deadline Special – CBC.ca/hockey, 8 a.m.
NHL Network Presents: 2011 Trade Deadline Day – NHL Network (US), 6 p.m.
NHL Trade Deadline Special – NESN, 6 p.m.
Hockey Central Pregame: Trade Deadline Special – Versus, 7 p.m.

NHL on the Fly – NHL Network, 8 p.m.
NHL Overtime – Versus, 11 p.m.

Tennis
2011 BNP Paribas Showtime: Andre Agassi vs. Pete Sampras – ESPN2, 9 p.m.

Entertainment
How I Met Your Mother – CBS, 8 p.m.
House – Fox, 8 p.m.
Top Gear – BBC America, 9 p.m.
The Chicago Code – Fox, 9 p.m.
The American Experience: The Triangle Fire – PBS, 9 p.m.
Skins – MTV, 10 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman – CBS, 11:35 p.m.

A Snowy Sunday Linkage Thing

It’s snowing in Southern New England, nothing major, but it’s a major annoyance. It means I’ll be shoveling out later, but for now, I’ll do linkage for you.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says Versus will be stepping into the 3-D octagon by airing its UFC program in the 3rd dimension later this week.

Southeastern New England media mogul Keith Thibault announces that he is ready to bring his Sports Media Journal site back.

Glenn Davis of SportsGrid says a Southern sports radio host claims to have heard tapes of former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton knowing about a pay-for-play scheme hatched by his father.

Ken Belson and Richard Sandomir of the New York Times write that the Mets which got a cash infusion from Major League Baseball, could continue to receive cash loans to survive throughout the season.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post feels ESPN and Bob Knight are hypocrites. What else is new about Mushie?

Newsday’s Neil Best talks with ESPN’s Erin Andrews who will be on the Oscars red carpet tonight for ABC.

Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner is happy to have baseball back on television.

Mark Giannotto from the Washington Post says College GameDay’s visit to Blacksburg, VA was a giant success.

Matthew Stevens from the Biloxi (MS) Sun Herald writes about the final game for legendary Mississippi State voice Jack Cristil.

The Columbus (MS) Dispatch also discusses Cristal’s final game and his long career.

Joe Biddle of the Tennessean says Cristil called more than 2,000 games in his career.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the NFL Network has made a production hire.

Sports Media Watch has its Weekend Ratings Predictions.

Our links are short and sweet today, but it’s quality, not quantity here. That’s all for now.

Bob talks about ESPN hiring the Poynter Institute to be its Ombudsman.

Randy Covitz of the Kansas City Star writes that former Chiefs voice Bill Grigsby has passed away.

Sirius XM All Over MLB Spring Training

Sirius XM Radio will have two of its sports channels airing shows live from both Arizona and Florida throughout Spring Training. MLB Network Radio and Mad Dog Radio combined will hit all 30 teams. We have the schedule of shows for you.

SiriusXM Embarks on MLB Spring Training Tour Feb. 27

MLB Network Radio visits 30 MLB Spring Training sites in 30 days Feb. 27-Mar. 28
Mad Dog Radio’s Chris Russo will host from Cactus League ballparks Mar. 7-11, Grapefruit League locations Mar. 21-25

NEW YORK – February 25, 2011 – Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) will embark on its 2011 Spring Training Tour on Sunday, February 27, giving fans nationwide an in-depth and comprehensive look at all 30 Major League Baseball clubs as they prepare for the coming season.

SiriusXM’s 24-hour baseball talk channel, MLB Network Radio, and its all-sports talk channel, Mad Dog Radio, will broadcast live from ballparks in Arizona and Florida where they will present one-on-one interviews with managers, players and team executives from every MLB team.

MLB Network Radio (XM channel 175, Sirius channel 210 with the “Best of XM”), will visit 30 spring training sites in 30 days from February 27 to March 28.  Former Mets and Orioles general manager Jim Duquette and co-host Mike Ferrin will cover the west coast sites of Florida’s Grapefruit League from Feb. 27 – Mar. 6.  Former Reds and Nationals general manager Jim Bowden and Casey Stern will broadcast from Arizona’s Cactus League ballparks from Mar. 7 – 14.  Former Rangers and Red Sox manager Kevin Kennedy will team up with Duquette to broadcast from seven Arizona sites from Mar. 15 -21.  Then Bowden will join co-host Jim Memolo to cover Florida’s east coast parks from Mar. 22-28.

On Mad Dog Radio (Sirius channel 123, XM channel 144), Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo will host his daily show, Mad Dog Unleashed, from five Arizona locations from March 7-11 and from five Florida parks from March 21-25.  Mad Dog Unleashed airs every weekday (2:00–7:00 pm ET).

2011 SiriusXM Spring Training Tour Schedule: (All times ET)

Sunday, Feb. 27
Ø  Yankees @ Phillies – Bright House Networks Field, Clearwater, FL
10am-1pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette & Mike Ferrin (MLBNR)

Monday, Feb. 28
Ø  Phillies @ Blue Jays – Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, Dunedin, FL
10am-2pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette & Mike Ferrin (MLBNR)

Tuesday, Mar. 1
Ø  Yankees @ Pirates – McKechnie Field, Bradenton, FL
10am-2pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette & Mike Ferrin (MLBNR)

Wednesday, Mar. 2
Ø  Braves @ Red Sox – City of Palms Park, Fort Myers, FL
10am-2pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette & Mike Ferrin (MLBNR)

Thursday, Mar. 3
Ø  Twins @ Orioles – Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota, FL
10am-2pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette & Mike Ferrin (MLBNR)

Friday, Mar. 4
Ø  Red Sox @ Yankees – George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL
2-6pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette & Mike Ferrin (MLBNR)

Saturday, Mar. 5
Ø  Twins @ Rays – Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte, FL
10am-1pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette & Mike Ferrin (MLBNR)

Sunday, Mar. 6
Ø  Orioles @ Twins – Hammond Stadium, Lee County, FL
10am-1pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette & Mike Ferrin (MLBNR)

Monday, Mar. 7
Ø  Brewers @ Reds – Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, AZ
2-6pm ET: Inside Pitch with Jim Bowden & Casey Stern (MLBNR)

Ø  Dodgers @ Rockies – Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale, AZ
2-7pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo (MDR)

Tuesday, Mar. 8
Ø  Diamondbacks @ Indians – Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, AZ
2-6pm ET: Inside Pitch with Jim Bowden & Casey Stern (MLBNR)

Ø  Rangers @ Angels – Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe, AZ
2-7pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo (MDR)

Wednesday, Mar. 9
Ø  Brewers @ Diamondbacks – Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale, AZ
2-6pm ET: Inside Pitch with Jim Bowden & Casey Stern (MLBNR)

Ø  Padres @ Indians – Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, AZ
2-7pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo (MDR)

Thursday, Mar. 10
Ø  Indians @ Cubs – HoHoKam Park, Mesa, AZ
2-6pm ET: Inside Pitch with Jim Bowden & Casey Stern (MLBNR)

Ø  Giants @ Reds – Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, AZ
2-7pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo (MDR)

Friday, Mar. 11
Ø  Royals @ Rockies – Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale, AZ
2-6pm ET: Inside Pitch with Jim Bowden & Casey Stern (MLBNR)

Ø  A’s @ Brewers – Maryvale Baseball Park, Phoenix, AZ
2-7pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo (MDR)

Saturday, Mar. 12
Ø  A’s @ Mariners – Peoria Stadium, Peoria, AZ
1-4pm ET: Inside Pitch with Jim Bowden & Casey Stern (MLBNR)

Sunday, Mar. 13
Ø  Indians @ Padres – Peoria Stadium, Peoria, AZ
1-4pm ET: Inside Pitch with Jim Bowden & Casey Stern (MLBNR)

Monday, Mar. 14
Ø  Brewers @ Giants – Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale, AZ
2-6pm ET: Inside Pitch with Jim Bowden & Casey Stern (MLBNR)

Tuesday, Mar. 15
Ø  Rangers @ Dodgers – The Ballpark at Camelback Ranch, Glendale, AZ
2-6pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette and Kevin Kennedy (MLBNR)

Wednesday, Mar. 16
Ø  Giants @ White Sox – The Ballpark at Camelback Ranch, Glendale, AZ
2-6pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette and Kevin Kennedy (MLBNR)

Thursday, Mar. 17
Ø  Cubs @ A’s – Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Phoenix, AZ
2-6pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette and Kevin Kennedy (MLBNR)

Friday, Mar. 18
Ø  Padres @ Angels – Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe, AZ
2-6pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette and Kevin Kennedy (MLBNR)

Saturday, Mar. 19
Ø  Mariners @ Rangers – Surprise Stadium, Surprise, AZ
1-4pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette and Kevin Kennedy (MLBNR)

Sunday, Mar. 20
Ø  Rangers @ Royals – Surprise Stadium, Surprise, AZ
1-4pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette and Kevin Kennedy (MLBNR)

Monday, Mar. 21
Ø  Rangers @ Brewers – Maryvale Baseball Park, Phoenix, AZ
2-6pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette and Kevin Kennedy (MLBNR)

Ø  Yankees @ Rays – Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte, FL
2-7pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo (MDR)

Tuesday, Mar. 22
Ø  Twins @ Marlins – Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter, FL
10am-2p ET: Power Alley with Jim Bowden and Jim Memolo (MLBNR)

Ø  Mets @ Tigers – Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland, FL
2-7pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo (MDR)

Wednesday, Mar. 23
Ø  Mets @ Cardinals – Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter, FL
10am-2pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Bowden and Jim Memolo (MLBNR)

Ø  Marlins @ Braves – Champion Stadium, Lake Buena Vista, FL
2-7pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo (MDR)

Thursday, Mar. 24
Ø  Cardinals @ Mets – Digital Domain Park, Port St. Lucie, FL
10am-2pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Bowden and Jim Memolo (MLBNR)

Ø  Twins @ Phillies – Bright House Networks Field, Clearwater, FL
2-7pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo (MDR)

Friday, Mar. 25
Ø  Cardinals @ Nationals – Space Coast Stadium, Viera, FL
2-6pm ET: Inside Pitch with Jim Bowden and Jim Memolo (MLBNR)

Ø  Blue Jays @ Red Sox – City of Palms Park, Fort Myers, FL
2-7pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo (MDR)

Saturday, Mar. 26
Ø  Phillies @ Tigers – Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland, FL
10am-2pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Bowden and Jim Memolo (MLBNR)

Sunday, Mar. 27
Ø  Tigers @ Astros – Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee, FL
10am-2pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Bowden and Jim Memolo (MLBNR)

Monday, Mar. 28
Ø  Nationals @ Braves – Champion Stadium, Lake Buena Vista, FL
2-6pm ET: Inside Pitch with Jim Bowden and Jim Memolo (MLBNR)

MLB Network Radio is available to listeners nationwide on XM channel 175 and Sirius channel 210 with the “Best of XM.”  Visit www.siriusxm.com/mlbnetworkradio for programming info.

Mad Dog Radio airs nationwide on Sirius channel 123 and XM channel 144.  Visit www.siriusxm.com/maddogradio for programming info.

And you’re done. Actually, I’m done, but you get what I’m saying.

ESPN Announces Big East Football Schedule

This coming from ESPN, its Big East Football schedule on its family of networks. Overall, 14 games spread over the Mothership, ESPN2 and ABC. Here’s the sked.

ESPN Announces 14 BIG EAST College Football Telecasts for 2011

ESPN announced 14 of its BIG EAST Conference college football selections for the 2011 season, including three Thursday and four Friday night telecasts, two non-conference Saturday showdowns, two Championship Saturday matchups, two games on the Friday after Thanksgiving, and a Wednesday prime-time contest. Additional games will be announced in the coming months. Highlights:

• Every conference team will be featured in at least one of the 14 games, highlighted by five Pittsburgh appearances, four of West Virginia, and three each of defending BIG EAST champion Connecticut, Louisville and West Virginia.

• Two Saturday non-conference telecasts on ESPN, ABC or ESPN2 will feature BIG EAST teams against teams ranked in an ESPN.com early pre-season poll for 2011: West Virginia against No. 4 LSU from the SEC and Pittsburgh against No. 14 Notre Dame.

• ESPN’s popular Thursday night ESPN College Football Primetime series will include three telecasts involving BIG EAST teams, all at 8 p.m. ET, highlighted by South Florida twice: at Pittsburgh on Sept. 29 and against West Virginia on Dec. 1.

• ESPN will showcase Connecticut at Pittsburgh Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 8 p.m. Connecticut defeated Pittsburgh 30-28 last year.

• Two BIG EAST games will be featured the Friday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 25 including Pittsburgh at West Virginia in the 104th Backyard Brawl and Louisville at South Florida.

• ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise four Friday BIG EAST showdowns in prime time, including Connecticut against Big 12 conference member Iowa State (Sept. 16, at 8 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN2) and South Florida at Syracuse (Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. on ESPN2).

2011 BIG EAST Schedule as of Feb. 25 (additional selections will be announced):

Date	Time (ET)	Game	Network
Fri, Sep 9	7 p.m.	Florida International at Louisville	ESPN
Fri, Sep 16	8 p.m.	Iowa State at Connecticut	ESPN or ESPN2
Thu, Sep 22	8 p.m.	NC State at Cincinnati *	ESPN
Sat, Sep 24	TBA	No. 14 Notre Dame at Pittsburgh	ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
	TBA	No. 4 LSU at West Virginia	ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
Thu, Sep 29	8 p.m.	South Florida at Pittsburgh	ESPN
Fri, Oct 21	8 p.m.	Rutgers at Louisville	ESPN
Wed, Oct 26	8 p.m.	Connecticut at Pittsburgh	ESPN
Fri, Nov 11	8 p.m.	South Florida at Syracuse	ESPN2
Fri, Nov 25	TBD	Pittsburgh at West Virginia	ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
	TBD	Louisville at South Florida	ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
Thu, Dec 1	8 p.m.	West Virginia at South Florida	ESPN
Sat, Dec 3	TBD	Connecticut at Cincinnati	ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
	TBD	Syracuse at Pittsburgh	ABC, ESPN or ESPN2

* Previously announced

More later.

Yahoo’s Puck Daddy To Team with Toronto’s theScore for NHL Trade Deadline Coverage

One very nice feature of this year’s NHL Trade Deadline is having Yahoo’s PuckDaddy Radio on top of all of the news. Friend of Fang’s Bites Greg Wyshynski will host five and a half hours of coverage starting at 10 a.m. Eastern time on Monday. Not only will it be heard in Toronto, but all over North America on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 98 We have the press release.

theScore® Teams Up with Yahoo! Sports To Keep You in the Know on NHL® Trade Deadline Day

Can’t sit for hours in front of the TV?  theScore’s got you covered.

TORONTO, February 25^th, 2011 – Score Media Inc. (TSX: SCR) and Yahoo! Sports today announce that they’re joining forces to get you everything you need to know – the way you want it – on NHL Trade Deadline Day.  >From Puck Daddy’s in-depth analysis throughout the day available on theScore Satellite Radio™ SIRIUS Channel 98 and streamed online on theScore.com and Yahoo! Sports along with regular TV updates from Sid Seixeiro and in-depth analysis by 24hrs in 30mins personalities Tim Micallef and Cam Stewart, theScore along with special contributions from Yahoo! Sports analysts will be the ultimate source for all the information you’ll need and want on trade deadline day.

Greg Wyshynski, editor of Puck Daddy, Yahoo! Sports’ infamous and humorous hockey blog and host of Puck Daddy Radio on theScore, will feature a special edition of his popular radio show live from 10-3:30 p.m. giving his analysis of each and every move.  With special guests, live in-studio visitors, and other members of Yahoo! Sports’ respected NHL analysts contributing to the show alongside their regular contributions to the Puck Daddy blog on Yahoo! Sports, this can’t-miss edition of Puck Daddy Radio will also be streamed on theScore.com.

“theScore is known for our authentic and in-depth sports analysis and our partnership with the Puck Daddy blog and Yahoo! Sports will add another level to our coverage that will give sports fans what they want, the way they want it,” says Benjie Levy, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Score Media Inc.

theScore.com, theScore iPad Edition and ScoreMobile will offer you everything you need to know wherever you are.  theScore.com’s talented roster of Sports Federation bloggers will be breaking down trades while the trade tracker will give you each and every move.  theScore iPad Edition will have a trade deadline blog and a trade, rumour and signing tracker available anywhere you are.  As always, the industry-leading app, ScoreMobile®, will have you covered with up-to-the minute reports on trade news and rumours throughout the day, available on your Android, BlackBerry, iPhone or Windows Phone 7 device.

theScore will also feature two special editions of 24hrs in 30mins with Tim Micallef and Cam Stewart, known for their hard-hitting and blunt analysis airing at both 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.  Throughout the day, theScore’s TV coverage will consist of on-going updates hosted by Score personality Sid Seixeiro who will be breaking down every move while paying particular attention to what is being said on Twitter by players, analysts, reporters and management.

And there you have it.

CBC All Over NHL Trade Deadline

CBC will have coverage Monday of the NHL Trade Deadline on its cable channel, bold, and online at CBCSports.ca/hockey. In addition, coverage will be heard on Sirius Channels 97 and 127. It all begins at 9 a.m. Monday with your host, Jeff Marek. He’ll be joined by Hockey Night in Canada reporter extraordinaire Elliotte Friedman and analysts P.J. Stock, Bobby Holik, Kevin Weekes, Glen Healy, Mike Milbury and coverage.

Kelly Hrudey. CBC insiders Scott Morrison and Tim Wharmsby will be on hand as well to offer looks at the trades that come in.

Here are the particulars of CBC’s coverage.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF NHL TRADE DEADLINE

Online Coverage Includes Live Streaming to iPads and iPhones tracking every trade on Feb 28^th

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA: Trade Deadline Special provides Canadian hockey fans with comprehensive multi-platform coverage of the February 28^th NHL Trade Deadline day.

Coverage airs live on CBCSports.ca, CBC specialty channel bold and HNIC Sirius Radio channels 97 & 127 starting at 9 a.m. ET. Online, coverage includes streaming to iPads and iPhones. Additionally, fans can track trades with the HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA Trade Log, get audience reaction and vote on the trades with Trade Polls, get the inside scoop with reporter blogs, plus analysis, stories, and video, all at cbcsports.ca.

“The trade deadline is one of the pivotal moments of the hockey season,” said CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA Executive Producer Trevor Pilling. “The deals that get done can change the course of a season and that’s why we’re using the depth, reach and knowledge of our team to make sure fans across the country know exactly what’s happening with their favourite team.”

On-air coverage will be anchored from three key desks:

Main Trade Desk: Host Jeff Marek and analysts P.J Stock, Bobby Holik and Kevin Weekes provide comprehensive trade analysis and reaction from players, managers and agents via phone and Skype throughout the day.

Player Desk: Hosted by Elliotte Friedman, former NHL players Glenn Healy, Mike Milbury and Kelly Hrudey provide analysis, reaction and updates.

Chevrolet I-Desk: Hosted by Nabil Karim with Scott Morrison and Tim Wharnsby, this team has its finger on the pulse of the nation.  Fan reaction, tweets and waiver wires will be the focus.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA will have reporters covering the movement of each Canadian team along with live news conferences and interviews with NHL General Managers and fan reaction after the deadline has passed.

Like with TSN’s coverage, I believe CBC’s coverage will be available online in the US. I have one more press release on NHL Trade Deadline coverage.

A Friday Night Megalink Thing

Let’s provide the Friday megalinks. Lots of things to get to.

We, of course, provide the Weekend Viewing Picks for your sports and entertainment weekend programming.

Now let’s get to the linkage from across the country.

National

Brian Steinberg of Advertising Age reports that NBC is already seeking $3.5 million for a 30 second spot for Super Bowl XLVI.

Mike McCarthy at USA Today writes that ESPN’s Erin Andrews will be working the red carpet during the Oscars for ABC’s Good Morning America.

Mike and fellow USA Today sport media writer Michael Hiestand debate the pros and cons of airing the NFL Scouting Combine.

George Winslow from Broadcasting & Cable writes that a tennis tournament has decided to use NeuLion’s platform to stream matches online in HD quality.

Mike Reynolds at Multichannel News discusses Versus’ good ratings for the NHL Heritage Classic.

Multichannel notes that Style Network will be turning a NASCAR wedding into a reality TV series.

Glenn Davis at SportsGrid has a video of Erin Andrews looking for that perfect dress for the Academy Awards red carpet.

Marcus Vanderberg from SportsNewser says Versus will air its next UFC MMA card in 3-D.

Sports Media Watch writes that MSG saw its highest ratings in 16 years for the New York Knicks with Carmelo Anthony’s debut.

SMW says NASCAR’s Nationwide Series got off to a slower start in the ratings from last year.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says the NHL on Versus continues to be red hot in the ratings

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says outsourcing has helped smaller teams stay in contention.

Awful Announcing notices the notorious “Schwab” making a cameo in the new Hooters ad featuring ESPN’s Dick Vitale.

SportsbyBrooks gives the legendary voice of Mississippi State football and basketball Jack Cristil a very nice tribute as he had to step down immediately due to health issues.

In Examiner.com, Evan Weiner looks at the NFL lockout and what it means to the league’s TV partners.

All Access says the embattled Charlie Sheen called into a Fox Sports Radio show to once again rant against CBS, Warner Brothers and Global Warming.

East and Mid-Atlantic

The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn reviews the week in Boston sports media news.

Bruce Allen at Boston Sports Media Watch notes that WEEI buried the news of the naming of its new midday show late Friday.

In SB Nation Boston, Bruce has a look at the WEEI shakeups and a tumultuous week for the once-dominant sports radio station.

Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette talks about a local part-time radio reporter who has been reporting on the Red Sox for almost two decades.

Richard Sandomir from the New York Times writes about MSG’s boffo ratings for Carmelo Anthony’s Knicks debut.

Richard discusses how a panel takes over as the ESPN Ombudsman.

Richard and Pat Borzi team up for a story on the NFL Players Association trying to prevent the NFL from collecting its TV rights fee during a potential lockout.

Newsday’s Neil Best talks with Steven A. “A is for Amiable” Smith who’s happy to be back with ESPN.

Bob Glauber of Newsday says both New York Jets coach Rex Ryan and HBO will not be back on Hard Knocks at least this year.

It’s official. Phil Mushnick from the New York Post really hates Madison Square Garden and Cablevision Chairman James Dolan.

Justin Terranova of the Post has five questions for MLB Network’s Al Leiter.

As of today, I’m am no longer linking to Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News over his extreme hate. He went after Friend of Fang’s Bites Tina Cervasio the other night and that was it. He’s persona non grata as far as I’m concerned.

Pete Dougherty from the Albany Times Union has ESPN releasing its Big East football schedule.

Ken Schott at the Schenectady Gazette says the local Fox affiliate will have an extra high school sports highlight show this weekend.

In the New Jersey Newsroom, Nicole Pride talks with an ESPN producer who felt a story on paralyzed Rutgers football Eric LeGrand really hit home.

Colin Dunlap of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the Pirates have announced their spring training TV and radio schedule.

At the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog, Dan Steinberg has ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt ripping the students of his alma mater once again.

Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner says NASCAR is back in full swing on TV.

South

Bob Molinaro of the Virginian-Pilot says there’s too much speculating in the sports media today.

Erin Barnett of WSLS-TV in Roanoke, VA reports on College GameDay’s visit to the Virginia Tech campus.

Barry Jackson at the Miami Herald says like them or not, the Miami Heat are among the top of the heap in the local and national NBA TV ratings.

Carlos Frias of the Palm Beach Post talks with Pam Tebow, mother of Tim, about life after the controversial Super Bowl ad she and her son did last year.

Clarence E. Hill, Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has Cowboys owner Jerry Jones speaking about how he felt Super Bowl XLV went.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle talks with syndicated radio host Paul Finebaum about now infamous confession from the Alabama fan who said he poisoned the Auburn tree. That confession occurred on Finebaum’s show.

Mel Bracht at the Daily Oklahoman talks with the new TV voice of the Texas Rangers.

In his media notebook, Mel says the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to be featured nationally this weekend.

Midwest

Kevin Bull of the Detroit Free Press has highlights of an ESPN.com chat conducted by former Michigan Fab Five standout Jalen Rose regarding the new ESPN documentary on the 1992-93 team.

Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) Press writes that a local radio host is making sure that high school sports gets its due.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has former Brewers manager Ken Macha responding on MLB Network Radio to one of his former player’s comments.

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

The Des Moines (IA) Register reports that Iowa State’s football game against UConn has been scheduled for a Friday night on ESPN2.

From Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals spring training games will be pre-empting Rush Limbaugh on KMOX.

West

Jay Posner at the San Diego Union-Tribune has CBS’ Clark Kellogg looking forward to seeing San Diego State and BYU square off tomorrow.

John Maffei of the North County Times says it’s BYU and Jimmer Fredette as to why San Diego State is on national TV on Saturday.

Tom Hoffarth at the Los Angeles Daily News looks at the Poynter Institute panel that will play the role of ESPN Ombudsman.

Joe Flint of the Los Angeles Times also looks at the new ESPN Ombudsmen.

Ben Bolch of the Times says Fox Sports Net will honor the late UCLA coach John Wooden during Pac 10 basketball games this weekend.

Canada

Bruce Dowbiggin at the Toronto Globe and Mail writes that TSN continues its TV rights shopping spree, this time at the expense of one of its competitors.

And that is going to do it for the megalinks. Enjoy your sports weekend

MLB At Bat ’11 Is A Big Success

Just out only 24 hours for the Android and iOS platforms, MLB At Bat ’11 has become the top-selling non-gaming app for both the iPad and iPhone. That’s despite a hefty $14.99 pricetag. It would be nice if MLB stopped the annual money grabs and allowed current subscribers to get the new app for a discounted price instead of charging $5 more than last year. Let’s see what happens next year, but I would hate to see this very good app reach the $20 mark in 2012. Anyway, here’s the press release from MLB.com.

MLB.COM AT BAT 11: A RECORD-SETTING DEBUT

At Bat 11 believed to be first non-gaming App to simultaneously rank as #1 grossing for iPhone and iPad

New York, NY, February 25, 2011 – Baseball fans again have raised the bar for mobile applications with yesterday’s record-setting debut of MLB.com At Bat 11. Believed to be an App Store first for a non-gaming mobile application, At Bat 11 for iPhone and iPad simultaneously rank as the overall highest grossing applications for each respective device. At Bat 11 also ranks in the overall top five for paid applications across each of its four available platforms – iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry.

“We’re delighted with the fans’ response to our best release yet, At Bat 11,” said Dinn Mann, EVP Content, MLB.com. “The At Bat 11 app’s features optimize the presentation of baseball on any mobile device, making it convenient to watch or listen to hundreds of live Spring Training games.”

In 2010, At Bat for iPhone was named the highest grossing application by Apple, finishing first overall across all categories of paid applications, and At Bat for iPad was recognized as the highest grossing sports application. A year earlier, At Bat for iPhone finished ranked second among all App Store paid applications.

MLB.com At Bat 11 is available to subscribers for a one-time fee of $14.99 for the entire 2011 season. For more information, visit MLB.com.

That’s it.

NASCAR on Fox Heads To Phoenix on Sunday

The 2011 NASCAR season is now underway and the Fox Sports crew is heading to Phoenix this weekend for the Subway Fresh Fit 500. We have what Fox is saying about the race.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

NASCAR on FOX Gets Hot in the Desert for Subway Fresh Fit Sunday at 2:30 PM ET

WHAT OTHER SURPRISES DOES THE 2011 NASCAR ON FOX SEASON HAVE IN STORE?  – Last week saw 20-year-old Trevor Bayne win the Daytona 500 in stunning fashion. On Sunday, Feb. 27 (2:30 PM ET), the 2011 NASCAR on FOX season rolls into the desert for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 from Phoenix International Raceway.

Coverage starts with the NASCAR on FOX prerace show host Chris Myers, along with analysts Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Hammond from the Hollywood Hotel, FOX Sports’ traveling prerace set providing up-to-the-minute reports and live interviews with drivers, crewmen and officials shaping the day’s action.

Once the green flag drops, race announcer Mike Joy is alongside analysts Waltrip and Larry McReynolds to call all the twists and turns on the track while Dick Berggren, Steve Byrnes, Krista Voda and Matt Yocum patrol the pits for reports on teams and pit stops.

There you have it.

Golf Channel and NBC Team Up For “State of the Game Live” Tonight

It’s like a summit of golf announcers. You have Dan Hicks,  Johnny Miller and Roger Maltbie from NBC, Nick Faldo from Golf Channel and CBS and Brandel Chamblee from Golf Channel, all together sharing the same stage to talk about the game and where it stands today. All are in Arizona for the WGC-Match Play Championships which have been ongoing since Wednesday. Tonight after the action is said and done for Friday, Golf Channel will have this panel discussion to look at the current state of golf and where it’s heading. Pretty good concept and I will watch at least part of it to see what this is all about. The program starts at 8:30 p.m. Eastern and marks the beginning of the synergy between Golf Channel and NBC Sports.

Television Event State of the Game Live with Johnny Miller & Nick Faldo to air Friday Night on Golf Channel

Golf’s Top Analysts from NBC Sports and Golf Channel to Discuss Golf’s Biggest Issues and Stories From Site of WGC-Match Play Championship

MARANA, Ariz. (Feb. 24, 2011) – NBC Sports’ Johnny Miller and Golf Channel’s Nick Faldo, two of the premiere voices in golf, will participate in a first-of-its-kind television event titled State of the Game Live, a Golf Central Special airing Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET on Golf Channel.

In celebration of Golf Channel and NBC Sports’ new association as members of the NBC Sports Group, State of the Game Live will air live from The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Marana, Ariz., site of this week’s World Golf Championships – Match Play Championship. Miller and Faldo – along with fellow analysts Roger Maltbie (NBC Sports) and Brandel Chamblee (Golf Channel) – will participate in a panel discussion moderated by NBC Sports’ commentator Dan Hicks, which will focus on the important issues surrounding the game today. Golf Channel’s Frank Nobilo also will participate in the program.

A custom stage, which overlooks the golf course and surrounding Tucson desert area, was built specifically for the show.  The discussion will be free-flowing, covering such topics as what has been making headlines at the WGC-Match Play Championship; Tiger Woods; the emergence of European stars on the American stage and what it means the PGA TOUR; and rules – if they too complicated and if players need to understand them better.

Beginning this week, all golf coverage on NBC will be re-branded as “Golf Channel on NBC.”  The coverage will incorporate the Golf Channel look throughout every telecast, down to the logo on the NBC Sports commentators’ apparel. Golf Channel’s tournament graphics will be showcased throughout all coverage, which now includes a custom-made Golf Channel-NBC peacock combination logo.

Golf Channel and NBC will share 10 tournaments on the PGA TOUR’s 2011 FedExCup schedule, including the PGA TOUR Playoffs. The networks also will share coverage of The Presidents Cup, a biennial, team match-play event pitting the USA Team against the International Team, and select USGA amateur competition.

And we’ll be back throughout the day with stuff.

NBC Chooses Flex Game For March 13

Continuing with its policy of airing teams that from the Eastern and Central time zones, NBC has selected Chicago at Washington as its NHL Game of the Week for March 13. While last week’s Hockey Day in America did give us eight teams and two games overall, none of the teams were farther west than Minneapolis. One of these days, NBC will decide to show a team from either the Mountain or Pacific time zones and I’ll make it a big deal, but for now, since the network went to the 12:30 p.m. Sunday time slot, we have not seen a team from the West Coast. Oh well. Here’s the press release from NBC Sports.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS AT WASHINGTON CAPITALS FLEXED AS NBC SPORTS’ “NHL GAME OF THE WEEK” ON SUNDAY, MARCH 13

Six 2011 NHL All-Stars Take To The Ice For Inter-Conference Clash

NEW YORK (February 24, 2011) –The Sunday, March 13, Chicago Blackhawks at Washington Capitals game has been flexed as NBC Sports’ “Game of the Week” and will be played at Verizon Center at 12:30 p.m. ET, the National Hockey League and NBC Sports announced today.

The only meeting between these marquee clubs this season, the ice will be filled with NHL All-Stars on both sides: Chicago Captain Jonathan Toews leads Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, 2011 All-Star Game MVP Patrick Sharp and the rest of the Blackhawks (31-23-6) into Washington for the first time since Oct. 11, 2008, to face Alex Ovechkin, Mike Green and the Capitals (32-19-10).

In the only meeting of the teams last season, the Capitals erased a 3-0 deficit by scoring three third-period goals in the span of two minutes and 16 seconds, eventually winning on an overtime goal from Nicklas Backstrom. In that game, played in Chicago and televised by NBC Sports, Ovechkin received a game misconduct and a subsequent two-game suspension for a first-period hit on Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell.

As the NHL approaches the final quarter of the 2010-11 regular season, both the Blackhawks and Capitals need every point they can earn. Currently tied for 9^th place in the Western Conference with 68 points, the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks are two points out of a playoff spot. In what is shaping up to be a historic Western Conference playoff race, Chicago currently sits within two points of seven other clubs. Washington is fifth in the Eastern Conference, but only three points behind Tampa Bay for the Southeast Division lead and one of the top three seeds in the conference. The game against Chicago will be the final home game for the Caps before heading on a critical six-game road trip.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING
At least 13 days prior to the scheduled game, one game is selected for broadcast on NBC. All NBC games will be broadcast on Sundays and all games will be presented in HD. Games not flexed to NBC will be available to the teams’ regional carriers and remain at the originally announced start time. The Mar. 13 match-up was first announced on the Thursday, Feb. 24, edition of “NHL Hour With Commissioner Gary Bettman” on NHL.com and SIRIUS XM Radio airing from 6-7 p.m. ET. All subsequent flexed games will be announced on NHL Hour with Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Upcoming 2011 NBC Game of the Week Regular-Season Flexible Schedule

Mar. 6	PHILADELPHIA AT NY RANGERS	12:30 p.m. ET
Mar. 13	CHICAGO AT WASHINGTON	12:30 p.m. ET
Mar. 20	NY Rangers at Pittsburgh OR New Jersey at Columbus	TBD
Apr. 3	NY Rangers at Philadelphia OR Minnesota at Detroit OR Tampa Bay at Chicago	TBD
Apr. 10	Boston at New Jersey OR Pittsburgh at Atlanta OR Detroit at Chicago OR Dallas at Minnesota	TBD

That’s it.

NHL Scores With Heritage Classic

Received this press release from the National Hockey League in regards to its outdoor event in Canada last week, the Heritage Classic. While temperatures were cold and the ice was chippy, fans across Canada watched the game in droves, outdistancing the viewership of the first Heritage Classic in 2003. In addition, the game did well for Versus, making it the fourth highest watched regular season game on the network and the most involving two non US-based teams. And the NHL throws in that Hockey Day in America reached its expectations as far as ratings and interest.

We have the press release from our friends at the National Hockey League’s offices in New York.

NHL HERITAGE CLASSIC ENGAGES FANS ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS – THIRD SUCCESSFUL BIG EVENT FOR LEAGUE IN 51 DAYS

Outdoor Game in Calgary Attracts More Than 2 Million Viewers to CBC; RDS Audience Peaks at 1.6 Million
NHL Heritage Classic Hands VERSUS its 4th-Largest NHL Telecast Ever
Event Drives Record Sponsorship Revenue Plus Substantial Merchandise Sales
“Hockey Day in America” Earns Best Viewership for NBC in Five Years
“Sunday’s Heritage Classic proved that, until further notice, you can’t get enough of a good thing.” – ESPN.com

NEW YORK (February 25, 2011) – The NHL Heritage Classic™, one of the cornerstones of the NHL’s big event strategy, continued the League’s business momentum while driving substantial growth and fan engagement on North American television, via digital platforms such as NHL.com, through social media platforms like Twitter, at retail outlets and at a sold-out McMahon Stadium in Calgary. The NHL Heritage Classic also set an NHL event record for both total sponsorship revenue and activation, surpassing the 2011 NHL Winter Classic®.

Other highlights included the event delivering the fourth-largest audience ever for an NHL game on VERSUS in the U.S. at that time and big audiences for CBC and RDS. The NHL Heritage Classic led NHL.com to its best Sunday performance of the season and was the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter in Canada. Additionally, merchandise sales for the outdoor game were the third-largest in history for an NHL event.

“The Heritage Classic was a tremendous triumph for the NHL and it was gratifying to see our fans and the business community embrace the event so enthusiastically,” said NHL COO John Collins. “Our big event strategy is activating our fan base like never before, while helping the League achieve five straight years of revenue growth. Delivering our third successful major event in just 51 days is a great way to lead into the stretch run of the season and our ultimate event, the Stanley Cup Playoffs. ”

CBC, RDS ENJOY STRONG BROADCAST IN CANADA
The CBC broadcast of the NHL Heritage Classic averaged 2.078 million viewers, up 7 percent over its season average of 1.936 million for HNIC early telecasts. Viewership for this year’s NHL Heritage Classic game on CBC peaked at 2.9 million viewers, while French language RDS peaked at 1.6 million viewers.

U.S. VIEWERS DEMONSTRATE DEMAND FOR OUTDOOR NHL HOCKEY
Capping off a full day of televised hockey with “Hockey Day in America” on NBC, the NHL Heritage Classic on VERSUS Sunday night averaged 608,000 viewers, which at that time made it the fourth-most-watched regular-season game in the network’s history. The game, which peaked at more than 700,000 viewers between 7-7:15 p.m. ET, was the most-watched regular-season game between two Canadian teams on U.S. cable since NHL viewership became available by Nielsen in the 1993-94 season. The 608,000 viewers also marks a 95 percent increase from the 2010-11 NHL regular-season average on VERSUS (311,000 viewers).

MOST WATCHED NHL REGULAR-SEASON GAMES IN VERSUS HISTORY AS OF FEB. 20
(average viewers)

1. 12/14/2010 Pittsburgh at Philadelphia 750,000
2. 10/7/2010 Philadelphia at Pittsburgh 730,000
3. 3/22/2010 Pittsburgh at Detroit 622,000
4. 2/20/2011 2011 NHL Heritage Classic: Montreal at Calgary 608,000

HOCKEY DAY IN AMERICA SCORES FOR NBC
With regional doubleheaders and the national Game of the Week, Hockey Day in America on NBC recorded its highest overnight ratings of the season for indoor hockey coverage with a 1.2. This marks an 83 percent increase when compared to the same weekend in 2009 when the Washington Capitals hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins (NBC was airing the Olympics in 2010 during the same week).

NBC Sports’ coverage of the Penguins-Blackhawks, the second game of Hockey Day in America which went head-to-head with the Daytona 500, was watched by 1.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched non-Winter Classic NHL regular-season game in five years.

OUTDOOR GAME DRIVES STRONG WORLDWIDE DEMAND ON NHL.COM

• The 2011 NHL Heritage Classic™ drove this season’s top Sunday in terms of unique visitors and visits from Canada
• Web traffic was up significantly in Canada, the U.S. and internationally over a typical regular-season Sunday
• It was the top Sunday this season for international page views on NHL.com

ASSORTMENT AND DEMAND DRIVE MERCHANDISE SALES
The substantial merchandise sales for the NHL Heritage Classic helped it rank third overall in sales for an NHL event. Sales also were 180 percent higher than the NHL Winter Classic in Buffalo and up 18 percent over the NHL Winter Classic in Chicago.

The top selling items were Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff jerseys; the cold weather knit hat; and the official puck, event scarf, game programs and the Reebok hooded sweatshirt.

SPONSOR ACTIVATION SETS NHL RECORD
The NHL aggressively and creatively promoted the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic™ as one of the League’s major tentpole events and corporate sponsors responded in a big way. Sponsor revenue and activation exceeded the recent NHL Winter Classic® becoming the highest revenue-generating event in NHL history.

NHL FANS AGAIN PROVE SOCIALLY-SAVVY
As an indication of the interest in the event in Canada, #HeritageClassic was the top organic trend on Twitter in Canada throughout the entire game and #HeritageClassic peaked at the No. 3 trending topic worldwide.

THIRD SUCCESSFUL EVENT IN JUST 51 DAYS
The success of the NHL Heritage Classic comes on the heels of the 2011 NHL Winter Classic®, which saw all sponsorship opportunities sold out and a 22 percent increase in viewership for the U.S. broadcast on NBC. The recent NHL All-Star Game was also a huge success for the League, earning significant increases in viewership in Canada and the United States, a 42 percent increase in sponsorship revenue over the last All-Star Game in the U.S., an all-time record for video starts on NHL.com and the best retail performance for a U.S.-based All-Star Game in seven years.

That’s all.

MLB At Bat App Is Back and Live Streaming of Games Returns

We have two announcements from MLB.com. One which many of you know about already, that the MLB At Bat mobile and tablet app for the 2011 season is out. While it carries a very hefty $14.99 price tag, it’s already the number one sports app at the iTunes Stores. I’ve already downloaded it for my iPhone and iPad. It’s one of the best apps bar none especially when you combine it with your MLB.TV subscription and can watch all of the games, with the exception of ones in your home market. The one main problem is the silly MLB blackout restrictions, but to be able to watch out-of-market games has been a plus and since I bought MLB.TV, I’ve canceled my subscription to MLB Extra Innings. So to be able to watch the games on mobile devices is just tremendous and the video is getting better and better every year.

Here’s the announcement on MLB At Bat.

MLB.COM AT BAT 11 IS HERE

LIVE BASEBALL WHEREVER YOU GO, AVAILABLE EARLIER THAN EVER BEFORE

#1 Grossing App returns with first live mobile streaming for Spring Training games in February

New York, NY, February 24, 2011 – MLB.com At Bat, the top-selling, award-winning suite of mobile applications developed by MLB Advanced Media, is back for the 2011 season today and earlier than ever before will deliver a special free preview of MLB.TV live streaming video for At Bat 11 on Apple devices starting Saturday, February 26. At Bat 11, which is available now for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Android and BlackBerry, also introduces a new favorite Club home screen customization functionality for select devices.

With Opening Day just five weeks away, At Bat 11 will deliver additional updates prior to the regular season, including brand new features, offers and functionalities.

Spring Training 2011
MLB.com At Bat 11 across each of these platforms offers the most comprehensive coverage of Grapefruit and Cactus League action with access to live Spring Training games, including every available radio feed and in progress statistical data. Among the At Bat 11 features available for Spring Training are:

• Customize home screen to feature a designated favorite team (iPhone, iPod touch, Android only).

• Watch live streaming of about 150 available Spring Training games with a special mobile free preview of MLB.TV (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad only).

• Listen to available radio broadcasts of Spring Training games

• Follow league-wide scoreboards and batter-by-batter action for every Spring Training game

• Enhanced video library archive, searchable by player or team

• Breaking news, schedules and interactive rosters and players stats for every team

• Full-season schedule calendars

MLB.com At Bat 11 is available to subscribers for a one-time fee of $14.99 for the entire 2011 season. For more information, visit MLB.com.

And to get you into the mood for baseball, MLB.TV will begin streaming live Spring Training games starting on Saturday with three games, two from Florida and one from Arizona. Those who have an MLB.TV subscription will able to watch the games. There are no blackout restrictions with Grapefruit or Cactus League action.

LIVE BASEBALL RETURNS TO MLB.COM ON SATURDAY

MLB.TV 2011 live streaming schedule begins with three Spring Training matchups:

Phillies-Yankees, Braves-Mets, Rockies-Diamondbacks

NEW YORK, February 25, 2011 – MLB.com will present the first of more than 150 live Spring Training games from Florida and Arizona camps beginning tomorrow with a trio of games, the Philadelphia Phillies-New York Yankees (1:05 p.m. EST), Atlanta Braves-New York Mets (1:10 p.m. EST) and Colorado Rockies-Arizona Diamondbacks (3:10 p.m. EST).

The entire allotment of select Spring Training broadcasts, along with every out-of-market game of the 2011 regular season, is available as part of a MLB.TV subscription. As one of the largest subscription video offerings on the Internet, MLB.TV has served one billion live video streams since its inception, 25% of which were delivered in 2010 alone.

Spring Training 2011
Fans again will be able to watch select live games from Spring Training on their Mac/PC and on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices with a free MLB.TV sneak preview included within the top-selling MLB.com At Bat 11 applications for each. It marks the earliest availability ever for live streaming Spring Training games on mobile devices.

Opening Day 2011
In addition to the accessible devices offered for Spring Training, MLB.TV subscribers will be able to watch every regular season game with support across select Android devices through At Bat 11, Sony PS3 and other connected devices. Additional platform offerings for MLB.TV live streaming will be announced as they become available.

Subscribers will get a host of cutting-edge features in the award-winning MLB.TV media player, including HD quality picture, alternate audio options, in progress highlights and fantasy player tracker alerts, clickable linescores, multi-game viewing options (Premium), home and away feeds (Premium) and DVR functionality (Premium).

MLB.TV and MLB.TV Premium with complete portability are available to subscribers for annual fees of $99.99 and $119.99, respectively, for the entire 2011 season. For more information, visit MLB.com.

That’ s it.

Weekend Viewing Picks

Saturday, February 26

Boxing
Championship Boxing/WBA Lightweight Championship: Brandon Rios vs. Miguel Acosta – Showtime, 10 p.m.

College Basketball Viewing Picks

College Hockey
Bemidji State at North Dakota – Fox College Sports, 4:30 p.m.
Vermont at Boston University – NESN, 6:30 p.m.
Michigan Tech at Minnesota – Fox Sports North, 8:30 p.m.

English Premier League
Everton vs. Sunderland – Fox Soccer Plus, 9:55 a.m.
Wigan Athletic vs. Manchester United – Fox Soccer Channel, 10 a.m.
Aston Villa vs. Blackburn – Fox Soccer Channel, noon (same day coverage)
Wolverhampton vs. Blackpool – Fox Soccer Plus, noon (same day coverage)
Newcastle vs. Bolton – Fox Soccer Channel, 5 p.m. (same day coverage)

ESPN Sports Saturday
30 for 30 – ABC, 4 p.m.
Winners Bracket – ABC, 5 p.m.

Golf
LPGA Tour/HSBC Women’s Champions, 3rd round – Golf Channel, 10 a.m. (same day coverage)
PGA Tour/WGC-Match Play Championship, quarterfinals – Golf Channel, noon/NBC, 2 p.m.
PGA Tour/Mayakoba Classic, 3rd round – Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

Mixed Martial Arts
UFC 127: Penn vs. Fitch: Preliminaries – Ion, 9 p.m./Main Event: Pay per view, 10 p.m.

MLB
Philadelphia vs. New York Yankees – MLB Network/YES, 1 p.m.
Colorado vs. Arizona – FSN Rocky Mountain/Fox Sports Arizona, 3 p.m./MLB Network, 11 p.m.

NASCAR
Nationwide Series/Some Supermarkets 200 or Something Like That – ESPN2, 5:30 p.m.

NBA
Chicago at Milwaukee – WGN America, 8:30 p.m.
Boston at Los Angeles Clippers – NBA TV/Comcast SportsNet New England, 10:30 p.m.

NFL
NFL Scouting Combine – NFL Network, 9 a.m.

NHL
Nashville at Dallas – Fox Sports Tennessee/Fox Sports Southwest, 2 p.m.
Colorado at Los Angeles – Altitude/Fox Sports West, 4 p.m.
Carolina at Montreal – CBC/RDS/Fox Sports Carolinas, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Ottawa – CBC/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Toronto – CBC/NHL Network (US)/FSN Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Buffalo – Fox Sports Detroit/MSG Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Washington at New York Islanders – Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/MSG Plus, 7 p.m.
Boston at Vancouver – CBC/NESN, 10 p.m.

NHL on the Fly – NHL Network, 10 p.m.

Tennis
ATP Tour/Dubai Championships, Final – Tennis Channel, 10 a.m.
ATP Tour/International Championships, semifinals – Tennis Channel, 2 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
ATP Tour/International Championships, Doubles semifinals – Tennis Channel, 7 p.m.
ATP Tour/Mexican Open, Final – Tennis Channel, 11 p.m. (same day coverage)
WTA Tour/Qatar Ladies Open, Final – Tennis Channel, 4:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

Entertainment
Cops – Fox, 8 p.m.
Everday Italian: Ingredients in 15 Minutes – Cooking Channel, 8 p.m.
Egypt Unwrapped: Secrets of the Valley of the Kings – National Geographic Channel, 8 p.m.
Being Human – BBC America, 9 p.m.
America’s Most Wanted: America Fights Back: 50 States, 50 Fugitives Edition – Fox, 9 p.m.
48 Hours Mystery: Live to Tell: Hunting Humans – CBS, 10 p.m.
2011 Spirit Awards – IFC, 10 p.m.
The Graham Norton Show – BBC America, 10:15 p.m.

Sunday, February 27

Carling Cup Final
Arsenal vs. Birmingham City – Fox Soccer Channel, 11 a.m.

College Basketball Viewing Picks

English Premier League
West Ham United vs. Liverpool – Fox Soccer Channel, 8:30 a.m.
Manchester City vs. Fulham – ESPN2, 9:55 a.m.
Aston Villa vs. Blackburn – Fox Soccer Channel, noon (same day coverage)

Golf
LPGA Tour/HSBC Women’s Champions, final round – Golf Channel, 2 p.m. (same day coverage)
PGA Tour/WGC-Match Play Championship, semifinals – Golf Channel, 9 a.m.
PGA Tour/WGC-Match Play Championship, final – NBC, 2 p.m.
PGA Tour/Mayakoba Classic, final round – Golf Channel, 7 p.m. (same day coverage)

NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series/Subway Fresh Fit 500 – Fox, 3 p.m.

MLB
New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia- YES, 1 p.m./MLB Network, 8 p.m.
Anaheim Angels vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – MLB Network/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 3 p.m.

NBA
Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City – ABC, 2:30 p.m.
New York at Miami – ESPN, 8 p.m.

NFL
NFL Scouting Combine – NFL Network, 9 a.m.

NHL
Tampa Bay at New York Rangers – NHL Network (Canada)/Sun Sports/MSG Network, 1 p.m.
Columbus at Nashville – Fox Sports Ohio, 3 p.m.
New Jersey at Florida – MSG Plus/Fox Sports Florida, 5 p.m.
Toronto at Atlanta – Rogers Sportsnet Ontario/SportSouth, 5 p.m.
Phoenix at Chicago – NHL Network (US)/Fox Sports Arizona Plus/WGN, 7 p.m.
Colorado at Anaheim – Altitude/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 8 p.m.
Boston at Edmonton – NESN/Rogers Sportsnet Edmonton, 8 p.m.
St. Louis at Calgary – Fox Sports Midwest/Rogers Sportsnet West, 8 p.m.

NHL on the Fly – NHL Network, 9:30 p.m.

Tennis
ATP Tour/International Championships, Doubles Final – Tennis Channel, 1 p.m.
ATP Tour/International Championships, Singles Final – Tennis Channel, 3 p.m.

Entertainment
CBS News Sunday Morning – CBS, 9 a.m.
Giada at Home: Total Comfort – Food Network, 10 a.m.
Aarti Party: Indian Take Out – Food Network, 11:30 a.m.
Sandra’s Money Saving Meals: State Fair Food – Food Network, noon
Luke’s Vietnam: Hanoi – Cooking Channel, 12:30 p.m.
10 Dollar Dinners with Melissa: Dixie on a Dime – Food Network, 12:30 p.m.
60 Minutes – CBS, 7 p.m.
The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business: I Never Looked So Foolish in My Whole Entire Life – CBS, 8 p.m.
The 83rd Annual Academy Awards – ABC, 8:30 p.m.
Big Love – HBO, 9 p.m.
Snapped: Darlene Gentry – Oxygen, 9 p.m.
Californication – Showtime, 9 p.m.
Alaska State Troopers: Crime Under the Midnight Sun – National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.
Shameless – Showtime, 10 p.m.
Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Academy Awards – ABC, approximately midnight

College Basketball Viewing Picks For 02/26 & 02/27/2011, All Times Eastern

Men’s Schedule Courtesy of Matt’s College Sports

Saturday, February 26

College Gameday, live from Blacksburg, VA – ESPNU, 10 a.m./ESPN, 11 a.m.

11 a.m.
Bowling Green at Miami (OH) – ESPNU

noon
Syracuse at Georgetown – CBS

Boston College at Virginia – Comcast Sports Net Mid-Atlantic/Fox Sports Florida/Fox Sports South/NESN

James Madison at Virginia Commonwealth – Comcast SportsNet New England/The Comcast Network

Missouri at Kansas State – ESPN

women’s/South Florida at Villanova – Big East Network

1 p.m.
Wichita State at Missouri State – ESPN2

1:30 p.m.
Nebraska at Iowa State – Big 12 Network
Texas Tech at Oklahoma State – Big 12 Network

Arkansas at Auburn – SEC Network
Vanderbilt at LSU – SEC Network

2 p.m.
Georgia Tech at NC State – ACC Network
Miami (FL) at Florida State – ACC Network

South Florida at DePaul – Big East Network

Temple at George Washington – Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/CSS
URI vs. Fordham at East Rutherford, NJ – Cox Sports RI/Comcast Sportsnet New England

BYU at San Diego State – CBS

Central Connecticut State at Long Island – Fox College Sports

women’s/Charlotte at St. Bonaventure – CBS College Sports

3 p.m.
Memphis at Texas-El Paso – ESPN2

4 p.m.
Texas at Colorado – Big 12 Network

Florida at Kentucky – CBS
Lehigh at Holy Cross – CBS College Sports

William & Mary at Old Dominion – Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia

Wake Forest at Clemson – Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic Plus/Fox Sports Carolinas/Fox Sports South/NESN/Sun Sports

Kansas at Oklahoma – ESPN

Arizona at UCLA – Fox Sports Net

Alabama at Mississippi – SEC Network

women’sTCU at New Mexico – the mtn.

4:30 p.m.
Michigan at Minnesota – Big Ten Network

5:30 p.m.
Colorado State at Air Force – the mtn.

6 p.m.
UAB at Houston – CBS College Sports

Mississippi State at Tennessee – ESPN

Cal at Oregon State – Fox College Sports

women’s/Oklahoma State at Texas Tech – Fox Sports Net

7 p.m.
Iowa at Illinois – Big Ten Network

Seton Hall at Notre Dame – ESPNU

South Carolina at Georgia – Fox Sports South/Sun Sports

7:30 p.m.
Arizona State at USC – Fox College Sports

8 p.m.
College GameDay, live from Blacksburg, VA – ESPN
UC-Santa Barbara at Long Beach State – ESPN2

Western Illinois at Oral Roberts – Fox College Sports
Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee – Fox College Sports

New Mexico at TCU – the mtn.

9 p.m.
Duke at Virginia Tech – ESPN
Texas A&M at Baylor – ESPNU

10 p.m.
Wyoming at BYU – the mtn.

10:30 p.m.
Boise State at Nevada – WAC Sports Network

11 p.m.
Cal-Poly at Cal State-Fullerton – ESPNU

Sunday, February 27

noon
West Virginia at Rutgers – Big East Network

UConn at Cincinnati – ESPNU

women’s/Wisconsin at Ohio State – Big Ten Network
women’s/St. Joseph’s at George Washington – CBS College Sports

1 p.m.
Boston University at Vermont – Comcast SportsNet New England

Purdue at Michigan State – ESPN
Xavier at Dayton – ESPN2

women’s/Virginia at Virginia Tech – Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/Fox Sports South/Suns Sports South Plus

2 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Louisville – CBS

women’s/Iowa at Indiana – Big Ten Network
women’s/Marshall at East Carolina – CBS College Sports
women’s/LSU at Tennessee – ESPNU
women’s/Vanderbilt at South Carolina – Fox Sports Florida/Fox Sports Southwest Plus/SportSouth
women’s/Kentucky at Auburn – SEC Network

3 p.m.
women’s/Texas A&M at Texas – Fox Sports Net

4 p.m.
Providence at Marquette – Big East Network

Indiana at Ohio State – CBS

women’s/Northwestern at Penn State – Big Ten Network
women’s/Xavier at Temple – ESPNU

5 p.m.
women’s/Baylor at Oklahoma – ESPN2
women’s/North Carolina at Duke – Fox Sports Net

6 p.m.
Northwestern at Wisconsin – Big Ten Network

7:45 p.m.
Maryland at North Carolina – Fox Sports Net

10 p.m.
Washington State at Washington – Fox Sports Net

NBA on TNT Crew Talk Trade

Before Thursday’s NBA doubleheader, TNT’s studio crew of Ernie Johnson, Jr., Charles Barkley, Kevin McHale and Kenny “The Jet” Smith all discussed the Trade Deadline and the heavy activity that took place before the final whistle blew on all trades for the season. We have the situation and the press release right here.

The NBA on TNT Crew Recap the Trade Deadline – February 24, 2011

TNT NBA Tip-off
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kevin McHale and Kenny Smith with David Aldridge

Barkley on the Boston Celtics trading center Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder: “I was very surprised but it’s a good trade for the Celtics considering they weren’t going to be able to re-sign (Perkins). They only need Perkins against the Lakers if they get to the Finals. They are going to have a tougher time getting through Chicago (Bulls) and Miami (Heat). Perkins wouldn’t have been a big factor in (a Miami) series. They got the best deal they could out of their circumstances.”

Smith on the Celtics losing the mystique of being a tough team: “(Perkins) doesn’t help you get to a championship but he helps you win it. What the Boston Celtics had over everyone else was the mystique of toughness…They don’t have that anymore. That’s what the cache was that they were a great defensive team and you couldn’t get layups or get to the basket. They have just traded that (mystique) in and said, ‘we are a new team.’ To me, that is the difference and I don’t know if that’s great if you’re trying to win a championship.”

Barkley on the Thunder getting tougher at the trade deadline: “I love the toughness that (the Thunder) have now. I love the fact that they’ll be able to hit some guys in the head when they come down the lane. (Russell) Westbrook and (Kevin) Durant are going to score. Those guys will score in church but they never get rebounds. Now they have some rebounding (ability) and some defensive toughness. This (trade) makes them a contender.”

Smith on the New York Knicks acquiring Chauncey Billups from the Denver Nuggets: “Chauncey Billups is underrated in the trade but he is possibly the best fit for this trade. He doesn’t turn the basketball over and he will make sure that (Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire) get shots. He is deadly from three-point range and he’ll have license to shoot at any time.”

Barkley on the Knicks: “I’ll take my chances that (the Knicks) won’t win a playoff series (this season).”

Smith on the New Jersey Nets trading for point guard Deron Williams: “It was a great trade for the New Jersey Nets. (Williams) is what Amar’e Stoudemire is for the Knicks. If they start getting a style of play together than guys can say, ‘I can play with him.’ If they don’t create a style of play, they’ll still be in a hardship and Deron will leave (as a free agent).”

McHale on Deron Williams putting pressure on the Nets to win: “I think the best player in all of these trades is (Deron) Williams. I think that Williams is a better overall player than Carmelo Anthony. (Williams) did not commit to staying in New Jersey….so he’s putting pressure on them to bring in more pieces so they can win.”

Barkley on Mo Williams and Jamario Moon being traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers: “I’ve heard people say that Oklahoma City and the Knicks were the big winners (at the deadline)…the big winners are Mo Williams and Jamario Moon.”

McHale on how point guard Kirk Hinrich makes the Atlanta Hawks a better team: “Sometimes you just have to try to make your team better. (Kirk) Hinrich can defend point guards and can play some two (guard). He helps Atlanta get better because (Mike) Bibby had lost any ability to guard on the perimeter. It’s not like Kirk Hinrich is going to make them better than the Celtics but at least it gives them a chance…They are just trying to get better.”

Aldridge on Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose: “(Rose) is a young guy who still has great humility and people like playing with him. He was the most popular guy on the Eastern Conference All-Star Team. People like playing with a star and he’s a superstar without a superstar ego.”

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade on the Knicks acquiring Carmelo Anthony: “I love it. The Eastern Conference is getting very competitive. We play this game because we’re competitors. What New York has done by bringing in ‘Melo (Anthony) is great for the game of basketball and the city of New York. As a friend, I’m happy for ‘Melo. I’m sure he’s happy and his family is happy. (The Knicks) are better for the future so for a long time to come, they are going to be a rival for us and we look forward to that.”

Aldridge on the Thunder trading for Kendrick Perkins: “If you go back in time, (the Kendrick Perkins) trade is like Larry Nance going to Cleveland or Dennis Johnson going to Boston. Those ‘cement’ trades that make a good team a great team. I think Kendrick Perkins does that for the Oklahoma City Thunder. They were already good and they could’ve won a playoff series. What (Perkins) gives them in terms of defensive presence, toughness and championship experience; I think Oklahoma City is going to remember this day as the day they took a step up to be a true contender in the NBA.”

That will do it.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

College Basketball
men’s
Siena at Fairfield – ESPN2, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Wright State – ESPNU, 7 p.m.
Iona at St. Peter’s – ESPNU, 9 p.m.

College Hockey
Niagara at Rochester Institute of Technology – CBS College Sports, 7:30 p.m.
Vermont at Boston University – NESN, 7:30 p.m.
Michigan Tech at Minnesota – Fox Sports North, 7:30 p.m.

Golf
LPGA Tour/HSBC Women’s Champions, 2nd round – Golf Channel, 11 a.m. (same day coverage)
PGA Tour/WGC-Match Play Championship, Day 3 – Golf Channel, 2 p.m.
PGA Tour/Mayakoba Classic, 2nd round – Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

NBA
Oklahoma City at Orlando – ESPN, 8 p.m.
Denver at Portland – ESPN, 10:30 p.m.

NHL
New York Rangers at Washington – NHL Network (US)/MSG2/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic Plus, 7 p.m.
Phoenix at Columbus – Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Carolina – FSN Pittsburgh/Fox Sports Carolinas, 7 p.m.
Florida at Atlanta – Fox Sports Florida/Fox Sports South, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Tampa Bay – MSG Plus/Sun Sports, 7:30 p.m.
Ottawa at Buffalo – RDS/Rogers Sportsnet East/MSG Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
San Jose at Calgary – Comcast SportsNet California/Rogers Sportsnet Calgary, 9 p.m.
St. Louis at Edmonton – Fox Sports Midwest/Rogers Sportsnet West, 9 p.m.
Minnesota at Anaheim – Fox Sports North/KDOC, 10 p.m.

NHL on the Fly – NHL Network, 9:30 p.m.

Tennis
ATP Tour/Dubai Championships, semifinals – Tennis Channel, 5 a.m. & 10 a.m.
ATP Tour/Mexican Open, semifinals – Tennis Channel, 6 p.m. & 10 p.m.
WTA Tour/Qatar Ladies Open, semifinals – Tennis Channel, 12:30 & 2:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

Entertainment
Hollywood 411 – TV Guide Channel, 8 p.m.
Law & Order UK – BBC America, 9 p.m.
20/20 – ABC, 10 p.m.
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (season finale) – Starz, 10 p.m.
Onion News Network – IFC, 10 p.m.
Portlandia – IFC, 10:30 p.m.
Camelot (series premiere) – Starz, 11:05 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman – CBS, 11:35 p.m.
Life on Top – Cinemax, 12:45 a.m.

The Belgian Navy Does Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now”

This is just hilarious. I happened upon this video in the UK magazine, Monkey Magazine for the iPad and luckily, we have found this on YouTube. This is the crew of the Belgian Frigate F931 Louise-Marie doing a video to Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now”. I can why this was done, to boost the morale of the crew. There is one small part that can be considered Not Safe For Work with view of a butt crack.

We have the video right here.

Very funny and well done. But I think the Belgian Navy might have too much free time on its hands.

ESPN Has A New Ombudsman; Not A Person, But An Entire Institute

This story was broken not by ESPN, not by a sports media writer, but the co-author of the upcoming book on ESPN, James Andrew Miller. In a tweet that took most everyone covering the sports media by surprise, Miller announced that the Poynter Institute will be the Ombudsman for the next 18 months.

It means that Poynter faculty and journalism students will be the ones overseeing ESPN’s journalism practices beginning in March through September of 2012. And this period will be quite interesting as it will include the bidding for Olympic TV rights, the London 2012 Olympics and many events in between.

For those of you who aren’t aware of the Poynter Institute, it was founded in 1975 and teaches journalism at its main campus at the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg, FL. It has a controlling interest in the St. Petersburg Times and Florida Trend magazine. Poynter is well known by journalism professionals and has been covering the media through Jim Romanesko’s blog for several years.

In fact, Romanesko has a brief blurb about the appointment in his blog.

The Poynter Institute takes over for Don Ohlmeyer who was the previous Ombudsman, however, health problems prevented him from writing regularly about ESPN.

We have the press release from ESPN announcing Poynter as the new Ombudsman.

The Poynter Review Project to Launch With ESPN

ESPN and The Poynter Institute today announced a new step in media transparency—The Poynter Review Project—in which a panel of Poynter faculty will review ESPN content across all platforms and publicly comment on ESPN’s efforts.  This will include monthly essays and additional timely responses as issues arise.  The group also will address fan concerns during its 18-month tenure.  The commentaries will be posted on ESPN.com, beginning with an introductory column in March.

“The Poynter Institute’s reputation in the field of journalism is unmatched and we welcome the panel’s scrutiny in this new format,” said John A. Walsh, ESPN executive vice president and executive editor. “Our goal is to improve our content through increased accountability, transparency and timeliness.  We believe The Review will take the traditional ombudsman role and advance it for the 21st century media world. ”

Poynter President Karen B. Dunlap, said, “This project with ESPN allows us to join with a major multi-media organization interested in the connection between values and quality news and information.  For more than 35 years, Poynter has taught the skills and values on which journalism excellence is based. As media evolve we have new opportunities to promote and learn from best practices—across all platforms.”

The Institute’s role expands the tradition of ESPN ombudsman, most recently held by television producer Don Ohlmeyer. His 18-month term was preceded Le Anne Schreiber, a former New York Times sports editor-turned author, and George Solomon, former sports editor of The Washington Post.

Among Poynter contributors are Kelly McBride, a writer, teacher and one of the country’s leading voices on media ethics. She has been on the faculty of The Poynter Institute for eight years. She leads Poynter’s Sense-Making Project, a Ford Foundation initiative which examines the transformation of journalism and the effects on democracy. Regina McCombs, Poynter’s faculty for multimedia and mobile, teaches digital skills in on-site and distance-learning programs. She was the senior producer for multimedia at StarTribune.com in Minneapolis-St. Paul prior to joining Poynter in 2008. Butch Ward is both managing director and a member of the Poynter faculty. A journalist for 27 years at The Philadelphia Inquirer and Baltimore News-American, Ward held jobs throughout the newsroom, including managing editor at both newspapers. For Poynter, he coordinates the Institute’s business departments and teaches leadership, management, editing, reporting and writing.

About The Poynter Institute
Founded in 1975 in St. Petersburg, Fla., The Poynter Institute one of the nation’s top schools for professional journalists and news media leaders, as well as future journalists and journalism teachers. Poynter offers training throughout the year in the areas of online and multimedia, leadership and management, reporting, writing and editing, TV and radio, ethics and diversity, journalism education and visual journalism. Poynter’s News University (www.newsu.org) offers journalism training to the public through more than 200 interactive modules and other forms of e-learning. It has more than 170,000 registered users in 225 countries. Poynter’s Web site, (www.poynter.org) is the dominant provider of journalism news, with a focus on business analysis and the opportunities and implications of technology.

So as mentioned, the first column from Poynter as the Ombudsman will be published in March. I will link you to the first column when it’s published.

ESPN Signs A Former Packers Executive As NFL Business Analyst

Former Green Bay Packers executive Andrew Brandt joins ESPN as an analyst on NFL business affairs. With 25 years experience in pro football, Brandt will speak about the salary cap, trades, contract negotiations and any dealings having to do with the front office. He’ll appear on all ESPN platforms including TV, radio, online and in print.

Former Green Bay Packers Executive Andrew Brandt Joins ESPN as NFL Business Analyst

Former Green Bay Packers vice president Andrew Brandt is joining ESPN as an NFL business analyst.  Brandt, an accomplished sports executive with over 25 years experience in professional football, will provide insight on the league’s labor news and player acquisitions by teams on all ESPN studio shows and platforms such as SportsCenter, NFL Live, ESPN First Take, Outside the Lines, ESPNEWS, ESPN Radio and more.

Brandt joins ESPN after 25 years in professional football, split evenly between team management and player representation.  He spent nine years as vice president with the Green Bay Packers, where he negotiated all player contracts and managed the team’s NFL salary cap.  Brandt’s skillful management of the NFL salary cap and handling of player contracts earned numerous professional acclaim within the league.  The highlight of his tenure (1999 – 2008) with the Packers includes negotiating the contracts of most of the players on the Super Bowl XLV-winning roster.

“Andrew’s experience on both sides of the NFL labor negotiation as a team executive and player rep gives him a unique insight that will educate and inform sports fans,” said Mark Gross, ESPN senior vice president and executive producer, production.

Prior to his years with the Packers, Brandt worked for ProServ, Inc., where he represented marquee athletes such as Michael Jordan, Boomer Esiason and Arthur Ashe.  He left ProServ in 1990 to become the general manager of NFL World League’s Barcelona Dragons, leading the team through its appearance in the inaugural World Bowl, June 9, 1991, at London’s Wembley Stadium.

Brandt said:  “I am honored to be joining ESPN to provide insight into the ever-growing sports industry, including the ongoing labor negotiations and the many issues surrounding the business of the NFL.  I am confident that my years of experience will provide value to fans who turn to ESPN for an insider’s information and analysis on the business of sports.”

A graduate of Stanford University and Georgetown University Law School, Brandt previously was a player rep with Woolf Associates in Boston, Mass., where he represented current and former NFL stars including Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, Indianapolis Colts placekicker Adam Vinatieri and Dolphins running back Ricky Williams.

In 2008, Brandt, in collaboration with other NFL insiders, launched The National Football Post (www.nationalfootballpost.com) – a leading online resource and publication focusing on NFL business news and statistical analysis.  He will continue to pen his sports business columns for the site.  Brandt is a full-time lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, teaching sports law, sports business and negotiations.  He has appeared on numerous ESPN TV and radio programs in the past.  His writing on sports business has been published by Forbes, The Huffington Post, Sports Business Journal and more.

That’s going to do it for now.

TSN Acquires NCAA Tournament

Continuing a buying spree that includes Tour de France, the Euro 2012 and ’14 Championships and Major League Soccer, TSN has announced that it has acquired the Canadian rights to the NCAA Tournament. If I remember right, the NCAA Tournament had been on The Score and TSN will now be able to show the games. As part of this new deal, TSN will produce its own pre and postgame shows and do live cut-ins, similar to the way CBS used to produce the Tournament. We have the press release from TSN.

TSN to Broadcast 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship

– TSN and TSN2 to deliver live NCAA® MARCH MADNESS® coverage beginning March 17 –

Toronto, ON (February 24, 2011) – TSN announced today it will have live coverage of this year’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, commonly referred to as NCAA® MARCH MADNESS®. Complete coverage of the 2011 tournament is available to Canadian fans on TSN and TSN2 beginning Thursday, March 17 at 11:30 a.m. ET.

“It’s hard to find an event with as much drama and excitement as NCAA® MARCH MADNESS®,” said Stewart Johnston, President, TSN. “We are thrilled to add this marquee property to the TSN and TSN2 schedules. Bringing the NCAA tournament to TSN is another example of our commitment to giving Canadians the biggest events in sports.”

TSN will produce an original studio show for pre- and post-game analysis, along with live look-ins to various games.

All games on TSN and TSN2 will be broadcast nationally in High Definition.

This agreement is the latest in a series of recently announced major acquisitions for TSN.

And that does it.