ESPN may not have the rights to air the NBA All-Star Weekend like the Skills Competition and the actual game itself in the US, but ESPN Radio does and so does ESPN International. By being an NBA TV partner, ESPN still has some privileges like being able to air the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. Of course, Captain Blowhard has to weasel his way into everything and he’ll be at the Celebrity Game next to Bill Walton as an assistant coach to one of the teams. Anyway, before I blow my stack and libel him, I’ll stop here and just post the press release.
ESPN’s Multiplatform Presentation of NBA All-Star 2011
ESPN to Televise NBA All-Star Celebrity Game February 18
ESPN Radio and ESPN International to Broadcast 60th NBA All-Star GameESPN’s multi-platform coverage of NBA All-Star 2011 will tip off with ESPN’s telecast of the 2011 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. ET. The game, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, will also be simulcast on ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV. Game participants will include musician Justin Bieber, rapper/actor Common, actor/comedian Nick Cannon, actor Zac Levi, Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, former NBA players and current ESPN analysts Jalen Rose and Chris Mullin, along with former NBA players Mitch Richmond, Rick Fox and AC Green and current WNBA players Swin Cash and Tamika Catchings.
Hall of Famer and ESPN analyst Magic Johnson and Hall of Famer Bill Walton will be the legend coaches, with ESPN.com columnist Bill Simmons teaming with Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) to coach one squad and Jimmy Kimmel and Ty Burell (Modern Family) coaching the other team.
ESPN Mark Jones will provide play-by-play commentary with analyst Jon Barry and reporter Heather Cox. The telecast will include interviews with several current NBA All-Stars.
Celebrity Game rosters (subject to change):
Team East Team West Legend coach: Bill Walton (Hall of Famer) Legend coach: Magic Johnson (Hall of Famer; ESPN analyst) Asst. coaches: Bill Simmons (ESPN.com columnist), Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) Asst. coaches: Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live!), Ty Burell (Modern Family) Common (rapper/actor)
Nick Cannon (actor/comedian)
Scottie Pippen (Basketball Hall of Famer)
Chris Mullin (Five-time NBA All-Star; ESPN analyst)
Mitch Richmond (NBA legend)
Tamika Catchings (WNBA, Indiana Fever)
Michael Rapaport (Pound Puppies)
Joel McHale (The Soup)Justin Bieber (musician)
Zac Levi (Chuck)
Rick Fox (three-time NBA champion; NBA TV analyst)
Jalen Rose (NBA legend; ESPN analyst)
AC Green (NBA legend)
Swin Cash (WNBA, Seattle Storm)
Romeo Miller (rapper/actor)
Rob Kardashian (TV personality)ABC Viewership Up 44 Percent; ESPN Up 20 Percent
ABC is averaging 7,233,000 viewers through five broadcasts this season, an improvement of 44 percent over last year’s 5,013,000 viewers through the same number of games. ABC’s household impressions (4,625,000 vs. 3,353,000) and rating (4.0 vs. 2.9) are up 38 percent.Through 47 games, ESPN’s NBA telecasts are averaging 2,009,000 viewers, an increase of 20 percent when compared to last year’s average of 1,674,000 viewers (through 45 telecasts). The corresponding household impressions are up 19 percent (1,520,000 vs. 1,274,000) and the rating is up 15 percent (1.5 vs. 1.3). (Ratings data provided by Nielsen)
ESPN Radio
For the 15th consecutive year, ESPN Radio will provide comprehensive coverage of NBA All-Star events – including all of the following events – culminating with the NBA All-Star Game Sunday, Feb. 20, at 7:45 p.m. Jim Durham will provide play-by-play for the events with analyst and Hall of Famer Dr. Jack Ramsay and reporters Ric Bucher and Shelley Smith, with studio host Mark Kestecher and studio analyst Will Perdue.Friday, Feb. 18, at 9 p.m., Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam – Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Sacramento’s Tyreke Evans and Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings will lead a sophomore class against the rookie team featuring the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, Washington’s John Wall and New Jersey’s Derrick Favors.
Saturday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m., Meet the All-Stars – interviews with players and other personalities attending NBA All-Star events.
Saturday, Feb. 19, 8:30-11 p.m., NBA All-Star Saturday Night
- Shooting Stars – for the sixth straight year, four teams consisting of an NBA player, WNBA player and former NBA player will compete in a timed shooting event. This year’s participants: Atlanta (Al Horford, Hawks; Coco Miller, Dream; Steve Smith, former Hawk); Chicago (Taj Gibson, Bulls; Cathrine Kraayveld, Sky; former Bull Steve Kerr); defending-champion Texas (Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks; Roneeka Hodges, Silver Stars; Kenny Smith, former Rocket).
- Skills Challenge – four NBA stars (to be announced) will compete against Chris Paul in an obstacle course challenge that tests shooting, passing and dribbling skills.
- Three-Point Shootout – Boston’s Paul Pierce will attempt to defend last year’s triumph against teammate Ray Allen and Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, Miami’s James Jones, Golden State’s Dorrell Wright and Cleveland’s Daniel Gibson.
- Slam Dunk – a new champion will be crowned when the Clipper’s Griffin, Toronto’s DeRozan, Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka and Washington’s JaVale McGee compete in L.A.
On Sunday, Feb. 20, 7:45 p.m., 60th NBA All-Star Game – ESPN Radio will broadcast the action between the games’ elite players.
ESPN International
ESPN International will televise the NBA All-Star Game and all All-Star weekend festivities to 90 countries and territories.News and Information
SportsCenter – Mark Jones will host SportsCenter’s coverage from Los Angeles with analyst Jon Barry and reports by Colleen Dominguez. ESPN’s Rome is Burning (M-F, 4:30 p.m.), Around the Horn (M-F, 5 p.m.), Pardon the Interruption (M-F, 5:30 p.m.) and ESPN2’s First Take (M-F, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.) will also provide NBA All-Star content.ESPN2’s SportsNation, with co-host Colin Cowherd, will originate from Los Angeles on Thursday, Feb. 17, and Friday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m.
ESPNEWS, the nation’s only 24-hour sports news television network, will feature guest and player interviews from Los Angeles.
ESPN.com
ESPN.com’s extensive All-Star coverage will include:Friday, Feb. 18
- Blake Griffin feature story by ESPNLA.com’s Ramona Shelburne;
- Rookie/Sophomore scouting report by Scouts Inc.’s David Thorpe;
- coverage of All-Star media availability throughout the weekend (including coverage via the TrueHoop Network);
- All-Star player previews and the 2011 Rookie Challenge live on ESPNRadio.com;
- Daily Dime Live during the Celebrity Game and Rookie/Sophomore Game;
- Rookie Challenge grades by Kevin Arnovitz;
- Rookie Challenge postgame report by John Hollinger;
- TrueHoop Network: Justin Bieber breakdown (scout’s look at Bieber’s game);
- TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott writing throughout the weekend;
- ESPN.com video: Rookie Challenge highlights and interviews;
- ESPN.com video: NBA news each day throughout the weekend;
- Page 2 coverage of All-Star nightlife throughout the weekend.
Saturday, Feb. 19
- News and information surrounding the D League All-Star Game;
- Coverage of Commissioner David Stern’s news conference;
- Daily Dime Live during All-Star Saturday Night;
- All-Star Saturday Night on ESPNRadio.com;
- All-Star Saturday Night grades by Arnovitz and postgame coverage by Hollinger;
- ESPN.com video: All-Star Saturday Night highlights and interviews.
Sunday, Feb. 20
- Feature on Kobe Bryant by J.A. Adande;
- All-Star Game previews and recap;
- All-Star Game grades by Arnovitz and postgame coverage by Hollinger;
- Daily Dime Live during NBA All-Star Game;
- NBA All-Star Game on ESPNRadio.com;
- ESPN.com video: All-Star Game highlights, news and information, and an interview with the MVP;
- All-Star Game postgame coverage by Hollinger and Michael Wallace.
ESPNLA.com’s coverage will include:
- Arash Markazi column on what makes Los Angeles a great basketball town;
- A four-part series on Los Angeles as the “Center of the Basketball Universe”
- Top 25 moments that shaped Los Angeles hoops history;
- Mapping the sacred places in Los Angeles hoops history;
- Lunch with a legend – Dr. Jerry Buss;
- 710 ESPN live from the courts at Venice Beach on Thursday, Feb. 17;
- Griffin feature story by Shelburne;
- A gallery of past Laker All-Stars;
- Markazi piece on Kobe Bryant’s footprints at Grauman’s Chinese Theater;
- Coverage of the unveiling of Jerry West’s statue at Staples Center;
- Rookie-Sophomore Challenge coverage;
- Comprehensive coverage of Griffin’s participation in the Slam Dunk Contest.
ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic will celebrate the NBA All-Star break with the following programming Saturday, Feb. 20:
- 12 p.m., 2009 NBA All-Star Game – Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant share MVP honors as the West dominated the East 146-119.
- 2 p.m., 1988 NBA All-Star Game – after winning the Dunk Contest, Michael Jordan scored 40 points to earn MVP honors in the East’s 138-133 victory;
- 4 p.m., 1992 NBA All-Star Game – Magic Johnson returned to the NBA All-Star Game and won MVP honors with 25 points and nine assists in the West’s 153-113 win;
6 p.m., 2004 NBA All-Star Game – Shaquille O’Neal dominates with 24 points and 11 rebounds as the game’s MVP in the West’s 136-132 triumph.
And that concludes this very long press release.
