After watching a horrible pitching performance by the Red Sox and an amazing Indianapolis Colts win (no, I still don’t have a TV and have to depend on watching backdoor websites), I’ll give you some press releases that came into the Fang’s Bites inbox today.
Starting with a new ESPNU branding campaign.
Duke, Florida and Texas in New ESPNU TV Spots
Three new TV spots for ESPNU’s brand campaign will premiere this week on the ESPN networks. The 30-second spots will feature Duke University, University of Florida and the University of Texas at Austin. Duke and Florida’s spot will being airing today (September 21) and the Texas spot will air later in the week.
Duke – showcases a university tour guide escorting prospective students around campus, citing school landmarks and their affiliation with former Duke basketball players, such as Christian Laettner, Grant Hill and Shane Battier. View spot here.
Florida – features two University of Florida fans pose as UF band members, in an attempt to get in to a Gators football game. View spot here.
Texas – a Texas student is caught red-handed trying to steal the Longhorn’s steer, “Bevo.”
Created by ESPN and Wieden + Kennedy New York, the campaign seeks to demonstrate the lifelong passion, culture and traditions that bonds college students and alumni to their respective colleges and universities. Each TV spot will close with the tagline “Never Graduate.”
ESPN announces its women’s basketball Big Monday schedule starting in January.
ESPN Announces Women’s College Basketball Big Monday Schedule for 2009-10 Season
ESPN has announced the 2009-10 Big Monday women’s college basketball schedule featuring the nation’s top teams in action every Monday primarily at 7 p.m. or 9 p.m. ET from Jan. 11 to March 1. New to this year’s schedule is the addition of Big Monday doubleheaders on Feb. 8, Feb. 15 and Feb. 22. Every game will be televised on ESPN2 and will also be available on ESPN360.com.
Entering its fourth season, ESPN2’s Big Monday prime-time Game of the Week series will include 11 games (up from eight) throughout January and February, featuring the best programs in Division I women’s basketball. The series will begin on Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m. with an ACC matchup featuring Maryland at Virginia.
Before the tipoff of the Big Monday schedule, ESPN will showcase a prime-time matchup in its regular time slot, Monday, Jan. 4, at 7 p.m. pitting the BIG EAST’s Notre Dame at the Big Ten’s Purdue.
Big Monday schedule highlights:
- Defending NCAA Champion Connecticut will appear three times: vs. Duke (Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.), Oklahoma (Feb. 15 at 9 p.m.) and Notre Dame (March 1 at 7 p.m.);
- All 15 teams on the schedule appeared in the 2009 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament; nine made it to the Sweet Sixteen; four advanced to the Elite Eight; and two played in the Women’s Final Four;
- Every game will be available in HD on ESPN2 HD.
ESPN2’s Women’s College Basketball Schedule for Big Monday (Subject to change)
Date
Time (ET)
Game
Jan 11
7:30 p.m.
Maryland at Virginia
Jan 18
7 p.m.
Connecticut at Duke
Jan 25
7 p.m.
Ohio State at Purdue
Feb 1
7:30 p.m.
Notre Dame at Rutgers
Feb 8
7 p.m.
North Carolina at Duke
Feb 8
9 p.m.
Tennessee at Vanderbilt
Feb 15
7 p.m.
North Carolina at Virginia
Feb 15
9 p.m.
Connecticut vs. Oklahoma
Feb 22
7 p.m.
LSU at Tennessee
Feb 22
9 p.m.
Baylor at Texas A&M
Mar 1
7 p.m.
Connecticut at Notre Dame
The MLB-themed episode of DIY Network’s Man Caves will air at the end of this month.
DIY NETWORK AND MLB NETWORK CREATE THE ULTIMATE WINDY CITY BASEBALL LOUNGE FOR AVID CHICAGO WHITE SOX FAN, WINNER OF THE “WHO WANTS A MAN CAVE?” CONTEST
Special Edition of Popular Primetime Series “‘Man Caves’’ Featuring Transformation Premieres
Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m. ET on DIY Network and Monday, Oct. 26 at 9 p.m. ET on MLB Network
NEW YORK – September 21, 2009 — DIY Network and MLB Network have teamed up to create the ultimate baseball man cave for Chicago native Dave Roseman, a die-hard fan of the Chicago White Sox for a special episode of DIY Network’s popular primetime series, Man Caves. DIY Network series hosts, former NFL player Tony “Goose” Siragusa and licensed contractor Jason Cameron, along with MLB Network studio analysts and former Major League Baseball players Harold Reynolds and Mitch Williams worked together to transform Roseman’s garage into a fully decked out man cave equipped with officially licensed MLB merchandise, high-tech toys and deluxe furnishings. Viewers can witness the fast-paced renovation from start to finish during a special episode of Man Caves on DIY Network on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m. ET, and on MLB Network on Monday, Oct. 26 at 9 p.m. ET.
DIY Network’s Man Caves spent three days in mid-September renovating Roseman’s Evanston, Ill., garage into a multifunctional space complete with MLB Network insignia and tributes to both the Chicago White Sox’s U.S. Cellular Field and the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field in honor of his wife Becca, who is a lifelong Cubs fan. The centerpiece of the man cave is a hydraulic Chicago White Sox professional pool table that rises and falls into the garage floor with the simple touch of a button and is surrounded by opposite walls devoted to the Windy City rivalry.
In addition to his new man cave, DIY Network and MLB Network surprised Dave with an impromptu visit to U.S. Cellular Field on Wednesday, Sept. 9 for a special opportunity to throw out the first pitch at the Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago White Sox game. While at the ballpark, the cameras followed Dave as he met members of the White Sox as well as manager Ozzie Guillen, and was rewarded with a custom-made jersey and star treatment as he viewed the game from his very own suite.
“The space turned out even more amazing than we anticipated and both DIY Network and MLB Network were fantastic,” said Roseman. “How they were able to convert our garage into the ultimate baseball man cave was unreal. It’s like having a stadium in our own backyard and we feel like season ticket holders. And getting to throw the first pitch at a White Sox game and meeting some of the players was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Dave will get his baseball fix watching his 42-inch flat screen TV accompanied by a home theater system and extensive cabinetry featuring an oversized image of U.S. Cellular Park, while Becca will feel at home relaxing in their MLB Network recliners leaned up against a brick-faced wall dedicated to the architecture of Wrigley Field. This baseball-themed man cave continues to the outside with French doors leading to a patio with a wood pergola, brick pavers, an outdoor lounge set and an oversized grill perfect for pre-game festivities.
“It was great building a man cave for such a diehard baseball fan, and with a little one on the way, his space is about to shrink,” added Siragusa. “It was fun to see how psyched Dave was when we were able to bring the feel of his favorite ballpark into the home.”
“I had an awesome time helping create this man cave for Dave with Tony, Jason and Harold,” said Williams. “Dave is a true die-hard baseball fan, and whether it’s watching a White Sox game or MLB Network, he deserves to have a space like this to indulge his passion for the game.”
The ultimate baseball man cave also includes must-have accessories, amenities and furnishings: oversized bean bags; Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs barstools, glassware and collectibles; a hot dog griller and mini-fridge; cooling and heating systems; and mock stadium and pendant lights similar to those found in ballparks and in MLB Network’s Studio 42. The majority of MLB merchandise seen in the episode can be found on MLB.com.
As the go-to destination for home improvement television, DIY Network teamed up with the ultimate television destination for baseball fans, MLB Network, to deliver one lucky viewer a man cave fit for the major leagues with their “Who Wants A Man Cave?” contest. The winning video submission featured Dave explaining why the couple deserved the baseball man cave and highlighted their families’ intense baseball feud. Married for four years, they recently moved out of the city of Chicago and to suburban Evanston to be closer to their families and to prepare for the birth of their first child, who they are expecting at the end of September. Their new home is over 110-years-old and the renovation list is long. Dave, 29, and Becca, 28, enjoy getting their hands dirty, but admit that with full-time jobs (Dave is an underwriter and Becca is an instructional coach for Glenview School District 34) and a baby on the way, their DIY time is limited.
Whether building a swanky cigar bar, a well-equipped wine cellar or an upscale sportsman’s lodge, DIY Network’s Man Caves delivers jaw-dropping getaways outfitted with high-tech toys and all the manly essentials for homeowners and even celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Rainn Wilson. Each half-hour episode follows hosts, former NFL star Tony “Goose” Siragusa and licensed contractor Jason Cameron as they transform ordinary spaces into a guy’s paradise. Man Caves airs on DIY Network every Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET with new episodes premiering on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m. ET.
MLB Network’s signature show, MLB Tonight, features on-air analysts Mitch Williams and Harold Reynolds, and airs live beginning at 6 p.m. ET until the final MLB game of the night ends between Monday and Saturday. The show features live look-ins of games in progress, updates, highlights, reporting and analysis. MLB Network is available nationwide on DIRECTV Ch. 213 and Verizon FiOS Ch. 86, and local listings can be found with the Channel Locator at www.MLBNetwork.com. Viewers can catch up on the latest highlights and programming updates by following MLB Network on Twitter and Facebook.
For more information on DIY Network’s Man Caves, experts, tips and home improvement programs, visit the network’s companion Web site at www.DIYNetwork.com. Members of the media may also obtain additional press materials, talent bios and show images by registering at DIY Network’s online media newsroom. Viewers can also become fans of DIY Network and interact with other home improvement enthusiasts and do-it-yourselfers through Twitter and Facebook. DIY Network is available nationwide on DISH Network Ch. 111 and DIRECTV Ch. 230, and additional cable channel designations may be found by checking local listings and www.DIYNetwork.com/tv.
ESPN Classic shows the Australian Football League Grand Final early Saturday morning/late Friday night depending on your time zone. And it will be live.
AFL Grand Finale Live on ESPN Classic, ESPN360.com SaturdayThe Australian Football League’s grand finale — the Toyota AFL Grand Final — will be aired in the U.S. live from Melbourne Cricket Ground on ESPN Classic on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 12:30 a.m. (Friday, Sept. 25 at 9:30 p.m. PT). A live simulcast will also be available on ESPN360.com, ESPN’s 24/7 online destination for live sports. St. Kilda’s win over the Western Bulldogs gives the Saints and their captain Nick Riewoldt an opportunity for their first premiership since 1966. They will face the Geelong Cats and their star player Gary Ablett, fresh off a win over the Collingwood.
The AFL and ESPN have enjoyed a lengthy relationship, stretching back to
ESPN’s early years. In addition to the U.S., ESPN delivers the AFL to Canada, the UK, Ireland, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean region.
And ESPN and ABC tell us what’s in store for motorsports this week on the family of networks.
Motorsports This Week on ESPN and ABCNASCAR Sprint Cup Series Live from Dover on ABC
The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup continues this weekend as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for 400 miles on Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Monster Mile, Dover (Del.) International Speedway. ESPN’s live, flag-to-flag coverage of the race will air on ABC. The telecast begins with NASCAR Countdown at 1 p.m. ET and the race’s green flag is at 2:15 p.m.
ESPN’s coverage of the final 11 races of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule will air on ABC, including all 10 races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. ESPN’s coverage from Dover includes NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying on Friday, Sept. 25, at 3 p.m. on ESPN2, and a same-day telecast of NASCAR Sprint Cup final practice on Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
Dr. Jerry Punch will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage, with analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch, with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer in the ESPN Tech Garage.
Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, co-owner of a winning team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, in the ESPN pit studio.
NASCAR Nationwide Series Live from Dover on ESPN2
ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend as the series races at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. The live, flag-to-flag telecast airs Saturday, Sept. 25, at 3 p.m. ET, with the green flag at 3:45 p.m. ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, with selected races on ESPN and ABC.
Also on Saturday, coverage of NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying airs at 10:30 a.m., while coverage of final practice airs Friday, Sept. 25, at 1:30 p.m., both on ESPN2.
Marty Reid will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage, with analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch, with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer in the ESPN Tech Garage.
Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, owner of a winning team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, in the ESPN pit studio.
Evernham, LaJoie, Craven on NASCAR Now Roundtable
NASCAR on ESPN analysts Ray Evernham, Randy LaJoie and Ricky Craven will be panelists on NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable d
iscussion program on Monday, Sept. 28, at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Allen Bestwick will host the edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program.Mike Massaro hosts half-hour episodes of NASCAR Now airing Tuesday through Thursday of this week at 5 p.m. and Friday at 4:30 p.m. following ESPN2’s coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying at Dover International Speedway.
Massaro will be joined by LaJoie for the one-hour weekend edition that airs Sunday, Sept. 27, at 10 a.m. with a preview of that day’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover. The weekend wrap-up edition airs at 10 p.m. Sunday. Nicole Manske and Angelique Chengelis will report from Dover for both programs. .
NASCAR Now is hosted by Massaro, Bestwick and Manske and originates from ESPN’s high definition studios in Bristol, Conn. Contributors include NASCAR Insiders Marty Smith and Angelique Chengelis, analysts Ray Evernham, Tim Brewer, Brad Daugherty, Boris Said, Ricky Craven and Randy LaJoie, and ESPN.com reporters Ed Hinton, Terry Blount and David Newton. The NASCAR on ESPN team event coverage team of Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett, Dr. Jerry Punch, Andy Petree, Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Spake and Vince Welch also make frequent contributions to NASCAR Now.
Countdown to 1 Continues in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing
The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series continues its Countdown to 1 playoffs as the series visits Texas Motorplex near Dallas for the NHRA Fall Nationals this weekend. ESPN2 will air qualifying and eliminations action, with qualifying airing Sunday, Sept. 27, at 12:15 a.m. ET, and again at 11:30 a.m. Eliminations action airs at 7 p.m., with a re-air Monday, Sept. 28, at 5 p.m. on ESPN Classic.
Texas Motorplex is one of three all-concrete dragstrips on the schedule, which provide optimum traction and allow crew chiefs the opportunity to achieve national record performances. The event, which is the second chance for Countdown teams to earn points, takes place on the second of four consecutive race weekends in this crucial segment of the home stretch.
Paul Page anchors ESPN2’s coverage with analysis by 22-time NHRA winner Mike Dunn. Gary Gerould, Dave Rieff and John Kernan report from the pits. Rieff and Dunn host NHRA RaceDay on Sunday at 1
1 a.m. to set the stage for that day’s eliminations action.Other NHRA programming airing on ESPN Networks this week includes highlights from the 2004 NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kansas, airing Monday, Sept. 28, at 3 p.m. on ESPN Classic. In addition, action from the recent Sportsman Series event at Concord, N.C., airs Sunday, Sept. 27, at 11 p.m. on ESPN2.
I have some more press release posts so keep your RSS and Twitter feeds updated.
