There are quite a few press releases to give you on the waning minutes of Thursday. Let’s give them to you.
First, the Big Ten Network prepares to hit the road in August to visit all of the schools in advance of football season.
‘Big Ten Football Tour’ Hits the Road Starting August 11
Revsine, DiNardo, Griffth go all-access with every Big Ten football team
CHICAGO – Eleven teams. Fifteen days. And 3,000 miles.
That’s how far the Big Ten Network’s Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith will travel to bring fans Big Ten Football Tour, a series of 11 90-minute shows devoted to a preseason football practice at every Big Ten university. The shows, which begin Aug. 11 and will air the same night as the practices at 10 PM ET, will feature a true, behind-the-scenes look at individual and team drills as Big Ten teams prepare for the 2009 season.
“As the new season approaches, Big Ten fans will love getting an all-access look at their team,” Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said. “This will be a great opportunity to see how every football program is gearing up for the season.”
Revsine, DiNardo, Griffith and the Big Ten Network production crew will criss-cross the conference’s eight states in a customized, chartered bus. The bus will be branded with logos and air times for the network’s “Four Pack,” a quartet of new football shows that debut in September. The shows include Breakdown (Tuesdays, 10 PM ET), Sites & Sounds (Wednesdays, 10 PM ET), Behind the Schemes (Thursdays, 10 PM ET) and Big Ten Football and Beyond (Fridays, 10 PM ET).
Revsine will host the Big Ten Football Tour, while DiNardo and Griffith will provide on-the-field analysis of each team’s top newcomers, rising stars, important position battles and schedule. A coach or player will wear a wireless microphone during practice to give fans another perspective on the team’s preparation for the season.
The tour begins at Ohio State (Aug. 11), and continues at Penn State (Aug. 13), Michigan (Aug. 14), Michigan State (Aug. 15), Indiana (Aug. 17), Purdue (Aug. 18), Illinois (Aug. 19), Northwestern (Aug. 20), Wisconsin (Aug. 21) and Minnesota (Aug. 22), before wrapping up at Iowa (Aug. 25).
In addition to the on-the-field aspects, shows will include interviews with head coaches, coordinators and position coaches. Reporters Mike Hall, Rick Pizzo and Charissa Thompson will have post-practice interviews with key returning players, newcomers, former players or other special guests.
Fans along the Big Ten Football Tour route will have a chance to win football tickets and other Big Ten Network prizes by getting updates through the network’s Facebook page and Twitter feed.
The Big Ten Network also will produce a separate 30-minute football preview show for each Big Ten school. Those programs will premiere during the last week of August. The network will also air a two-part conference-wide preview show at 10 PM ET on Tuesday, Sept. 1 and Wednesday, Sept. 2.
Preseason coverage for each school is listed below.
Illinois:
Aug. 19 – Big Ten Football Tour (10 PM ET)
Aug. 29 – Illinois Football Preview (10 PM ET)
Indiana:
Aug. 17 – Big Ten Football Tour (10 PM ET)
Aug. 28 – Indiana Football Preview (10:30 PM ET)
Iowa:
Aug. 25 – Big Ten Football Tour (10 PM ET)
Aug. 30 – Iowa Football Preview (9:30 PM ET)
Michigan:
Aug. 14 – Big Ten Football Tour (10 PM ET)
Aug. 26 – Michigan Football Preview (10:30 PM ET)
Michigan State:
Aug. 15 – Big Ten Football Tour (10 PM ET)
Aug. 27 – Michigan State Football Preview (10:30 PM ET)
Minnesota:
Aug. 22 – Big Ten Football Tour (10 PM ET)
Aug. 30 – Minnesota Football Preview (10 PM ET)
Northwestern:
Aug. 20 – Big Ten Football Tour (10 PM ET)
Aug. 29 – Northwestern Football Preview (10:30 PM ET)
Ohio State:
Aug. 11 – Big Ten Football Tour (10 PM ET)
Aug. 26 – Ohio State Football Preview (10 PM ET)
Penn State:
Aug. 13 – Big Ten Football Tour (10 PM ET)
Aug. 27 – Penn State Football Preview (10 PM ET)
Purdue:
Aug. 18 – Big Ten Football Tour (10 PM ET)
Aug. 28 – Purdue Football Preview (10 PM ET)
Wisconsin:
Aug. 21 – Big Ten Football Tour (10 PM ET)
Aug. 30 – Wisconsin Football Preview (10:30 PM ET)
Old school NFL fans will remember the original incarnation of the NFL Today on CBS hosted by Brent Musberger with Phyllis George, Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder and Irv Cross. From the late 1970’s through the late 1980’s, it was a ratings juggernaut beating NBC’s NFL pregame show like a drum every year. Of course, having the NFC package had a lot to do with that. The reason why I’m mentioning this is the fact that Irv Cross will be honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his work on CBS.
FORMER CBS NFL ANCHOR IRV CROSS TO BE HONORED BY PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
IRV CROSS, a nine-year defensive back with the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams, made history in 1971 when he became the first African American sports analyst on national television with CBS. Four years later he began a 15-year run as the first anchor of the
network’s Emmy-Award-winning The NFL Today pregame show.For his exceptional work on NFL telecasts, Cross will be honored during the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s enshrinement weekend in early August with the PETE ROZELLE RADIO-TELEVISION AWARD.
“The game means a great deal to me and I have a high regard for the people who made pro football what it is today,” Cross said. “I am humbled to have been selected as one of those in the radio-TV business to have had an impact on the game.”
Cross, currently the executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota, joins past Rozelle Award winners including ROONE ARLEDGE, JACK BUCK, DICK ENBERG, FRANK GIFFORD, JOHN MADDEN, and PAT SUMMERALL.
Next, Golf Channel tells us what it has in store programming-wise for the next week.
COMING UP ON GOLF CHANNEL… July 27 – Aug. 2, 2009
Rebirth of New Orleans and Rehab for Wounded Warriors on Golf in America
Original Programming Premieres and Highlights
(All times eastern)
Golf in America
Video Preview: Golf in America
Time: Tuesday 10 – 10:30 p.m.
Host: Anthony Anderson
The sixth episode of the 10-week series will feature:
· Bayou District Foundation: Rebirth in New Orleans– City Park was once home to 54 holes of municipal golf in New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina nearly destroyed the facility. Four years later, the North Course is again open to the public, the first step of a rebirth for City Park and St. Bernard Parish. By following the model created by the revival of East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, New Orleans hopes to establish City Park as a championship golf course facility and revive the community. GOLF CHANNEL’s Rich Lerner gets a first-hand look at the facility and the vision for the community.
· Golf As Therapy for Wounded Warriors – For wounded soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, golf serves as both mental and physical therapy. The National Amputee Golf Association teaches golf professionals, rehabilitation professionals and parks and recreation professionals, techniques and drills for teaching golf to veterans with disabilities. GOLF CHANNEL’s Steve Sands will visit with National Amputee Golf Association president Bob Wilson and the professionals at Fort Belvoir Golf Club near Washington, D.C., where they work the front line to help our wounded warriors get back into the swing of everyday life.
· Oakhurst Links – Established in 1884, Oakhurst Links is the oldest golf course in the United States. The fairways are maintained by grazing sheep, the tee-boxes are made of sand and the players wear knickers and use hickory-shafted clubs. Restored in 1994, the West Virginia course hosts the annual National Hickory Championship. Golf in America will give viewers an inside glimpse into the history of Oakhurst Links and will showcase how golf was played before modern technology took over during the 2009 National Hickory Championship in June.
Golf in America takes viewers coast-to-coast to discover never-before-told stories, larger-than-life characters and inspirational people in capturing the spirit of the game of golf. The series, hosted by film and television actor Anthony Anderson, chronicles stories in stunning HD from celebrities, such as Justin Timberlake and Donald Trump to everyday people across the country that are unified by the sport.
Playing Lessons from the Pros
Time: Monday 10 – 10:30 p.m.
Host: Stephanie Sparks
PGA TOUR professional Rory Sabbatini and host Stephanie Sparks will play a round of golf at Colonial Country Club in Ft. Worth, Texas, on a new episode of Playing Lessons From the Pros. Sabbatini will show viewers the keys to his stellar golf game and will delve into how he deals with pressure.
Top 10: Tiger Short Game Shots
Time: Tuesday 9 – 9:30 p.m.
Host: Lauren Thompson
Tuesday’s new episode of Top 10 will count down Tiger Woods’ top 10 short game shots, featuring insight from JB Holmes, Sean O’Hair, Chris DiMarco Rocco Mediate, Dan Hicks and Roger Maltbie. Notable shots to be featured include Woods’ chip-in on the 16th hole at the 2005 Masters, his birdies on the 72nd holes to win the 2008 and 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational tournaments and his birdie on the 72nd hole to force a playoff at the 2008 U.S. Open.
PGA TOUR Primetime
Time: Thursday-Friday 8:30 – 11:30 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday 9:30 – 11:30 p.m.
GOLF CHANNEL’s Thursday and Friday coverage from the Buick Open will re-air on PGA TOUR Primetime from 8:30 – 11:30 p.m. ET. Saturday and Sunday, GOLF CHANNEL will re-air CBS Sports’ weekend coverage from 9:30 – 11:30 p.m. ET.
News and Talk Show Programming Highlights
Golf Central
Live Airings: Monday – Thursday 6 – 6:30 p.m. / 11:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Friday 6 – 6:30 p.m. / 1:30 – 2 a.m.
Saturday 6 – 6:30 p.m. / 11:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Sunday 6 – 7 p.m. / 11:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Golf Central will recap the news and storylines from the RBC Canadian Open and all of the tours, preview the upcoming tournaments and deliver news and insight.Thursday – Sunday, Golf Central will broadcast live from Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club, delivering all of the comprehensive wrap-around news coverage of the 2009 Buick Open in addition to the latest news from the Ricoh Women’s British Open and all golf’s major tours.
Golf Central Pre Game
Live Airings: Thursday – Friday 2:30 – 3 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday 12:30 – 1 p.m.; 2:30 – 3 p.m.
Hosted by Kraig Kann and Brandel Chamblee on-site from Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club, Golf Central Pre Game will prepare viewers for all of the action on the various golf tours with news, interviews and analysis. Saturday and Sunday, Golf Central Pre Game will air from 12:30 – 1 p.m. ET prior to GOLF CHANNEL’s lead-in coverage, and return for a second show from 2:30 – 3 p.m., preparing viewers for CBS Sports’ weekend action.
The Golf Fix
Time: Monday 8 – 8:30 p.m.
Host: Michael Breed
GOLF CHANNEL’s fast-paced interactive instructional show will feature the key shots from the weekend, and highlight call-ins and emails from viewers during the show. GolfChannel.com will include a bonus segment following the conclusion of the live show on Monday.
The Approach with Callaway Golf
Time: Tuesday 8 – 8:30 p.m.
Hosts: Kraig Kann/ Analysts Andrew Magee and Alex Miceli
Highlighting the top storylines in golf from different perspectives, analysts from The Approach with Callaway Golf will recap the RBC Canadian Open, the Senior Open Championship and the Evian Masters and preview the Buick Open and the Ricoh Women’s British Open in an entertaining and informative manner.
Grey Goose 19th Hole
Time: Wednesday 8 – 8:30 p.m.
Host: Vince Cellini/Analysts Jeff Rude and Rex Hoggard
Grey Goose 19th Hole, the network’s fast-paced half-hour talk show will feature debates on the hot topics in golf coming out of the RBC Canadian Open, Senior Open Championship and the Evian Masters.
To CBS Sports and its coverage of the Tour de France this weekend.
CBS SPORTS BULLETIN BOARDCBS SPORTS PEDALS TO PARIS ON SUNDAY, JULY 26 AS LANCE ARMSTRONG TRIES TO WIN FINAL STAGES OF 2009 “TOUR DE FRANCE” FOR HISTORIC WIN
CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR’s coverage of the 2009 TOUR DE FRANCE pedals into Paris for its final stages on Sunday, July 26 (2:00-3:00 PM, ET; SD TAPE) in this hour-long recap on the CBS Television Network. American Lance Armstrong, making a comeback after winning seven consecutive Tours and falling to fourth place 3:55 behind Astana teammate Alberto Contador after 17 stages, looks to try and overcome three other riders ahead of him for an improbable and unlikely eighth win. Craig Hummer hosts the show, while Vic Frank serves as producer of CBS Sports’ coverage. Production support will be provided by Versus.
Harold Bryant is Vice President of Production, CBS Sports.
Not that you’ll watch, but ESPN wants you to know that the WNBA All-Star Game will be on ABC on Saturday in High Def, no less!
2009 WNBA All-Star Game in High Definition Saturday on ABC HD
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2010 to be Announced
The best-of-the-best from the East and West will face each other in the 2009 WNBA All-Star Game from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., Sunday, July 25, at 3:30 p.m. ET, in high definition on ABC HD. Dave Pasch will call the ninth All-Star Game alongside analysts Nancy Lieberman and Carolyn Peck, with courtside reporters Heather Cox and Rebecca Lobo.The Eastern Conference will feature All-Stars Alana Beard of the Washington Mystics, Tamika Catchings and Katie Douglas of the Indiana Fever, and Candice Dupree and Sylvia Fowles of the Chicago Sky. The Western Conference All-Stars will be led by starters Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Silver Stars and Lauren Jackson of the Seattle Storm.
Asjha Jones of the Connecticut Sun will be one of five former UConn stars suiting up for this year’s All-Star Game, the most by any university. The others include Western Conference All-Stars Sue Bird and Swin Cash of Seattle, Charde Houston of the Minnesota Lynx and Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury.
Lin Dunn, head coach of the Indiana Fever, will lead the Eastern Conference, while Dan Hughes, head coach of the San Antonio Silver Stars, will coach the West. Both head coaches, one player from each team and the lead referee will wear live microphones during the telecast. ABC’s production will also include the exclusive live announcement of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2010.
To supplement ABC’s telecast of the game, ESPN.com will provide robust coverage of the 2009 WNBA All-Star Game with pre-game features from columnists Mechelle Voepel and Graham Hays, plus a new interactive social media site, which will include live-blogging from Voepel and Hays, tweets from ESPN TV personalities @RebeccaLobo, @NancyLieberman and @CAROLYNPECK and WNBA All-Stars, WNBA fan questions and comments, polls, photos, highlight video, ESPN Stats and Analysis research notes and more. WNBA All-Stars scheduled to participate: Alana Beard, Charde Houston, Cappie Pondexter, Sophia Young and Swin Cash.
That’s it for now.
