I’ve found that Monday and Wednesday are usually the big days for press releases. Tuesday is a bit quieter. This Tuesday is no exception. But still, it’s nice to get releases to post.
Here’s one from ESPN which continues to harp on the primetime wins the NBA Finals had in June.
NBA Finals Propel ABC to Dominate Prime Time in June
The 2009 NBA Finals – which saw the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Orlando Magic 4-1 for the NBA championship – were a slam dunk for ABC throughout June, averaging over 14 million viewers and providing the top five broadcasts on television among viewers. The broadcasts also accounted for the top five programs among Men 18-34 since February.
If ratings figures hold through the remainder of the month, it will be the second consecutive year The Finals have delivered June’s most-watched programs. All five Finals broadcasts ranked No. 1 each night for ABC.
The Finals also sparked ABC to dominate in all key demos, including the following five-game averages:
- M18-34 (6.8)
- M18-49 (7.1)
- M25-54 (7.4)
- P18-34 (5.7)
- P18-49 (5.7)
- P25-54 (5.9)
ABC’s five Finals broadcasts averaged an 8.4 HH rating representing 9,642,000 households and 14,347,000 viewers (P2+).Record-Setting NBA Playoffs for ESPNESPN’s coverage of the 2009 NBA Playoffs was record-setting including:
- the highest-rated (3.7 HH rating) and most-viewed (3,594,000 households; 4,893,000 viewers) postseason ever for the network;
- ESPN’s six most-viewed basketball games (college or pro) of all time;
- the network’s highest-rated (6.2 HH rating) and most-viewed (6,057,000 households; 8,712,000 viewers) Conference Finals ever;
- the network’s highest-rated (3.5 HH rating) and most-viewed (3,459,000 households; 4,576,000 viewers) Conference Semifinals ever.
ESPN picks up its second heavyweight boxing championship fight, this one involving Wladimir Klitschko. My problem is that it’s being dumped to ESPN Classic. Show it on the mothership or don’t show it all all.
Live Coverage of Klitschko/Chagaev on ESPN Classic and ESPN360.com
ESPN Classic and ESPN360.com will present live coverage of the June 20 Wladimir Klitschko/Ruslan Chagaev bout from Gelsenkirchen, Germany, beginning at 5 p.m. ET. This marks the second time in three months that ESPN networks have aired a heavyweight championship boxing match. ESPN International will also air the fight on ESPN Brasil and ESPN Dos (Mexico and the northern cone).
In March, ESPN Classic aired Vitali Klitschko’s WBC title defense against Juan Carlos Gomez. Vitali is the older brother of Wladimir Klitschko.
“We continually seek boxing content that serves fans across multiple platforms,” said Doug Loughrey, director of programming & acquisitions at ESPN. “We are pleased to offer up another championship bout.”
The winner of the bout will receive the vacant Ring Magazine Heavyweight Championship belt, which was held by Vitali Klitschko until he retired in 2005. Wladimir Klitschko, 33, is a three-time heavyweight champion and holds a 52-3-0 record with 46 KOs. He defeated Hasim Rahman by TKO in seven rounds December. Klitschko has not lost since April 10, 2004.
“I’m very proud that ESPN, the No. 1 sports channel worldwide, will cover my upcoming fight,” Klitschko said. “Now all the fans in the United States can watch this fight between two champions.”
Chagaev, 30, is 25-0-1. In February, he beat then-undefeated Carl Davis Drumond in six rounds. Klitschko has the physical advantage. The Ukrainian is 6-foot-6 with an 81-inch reach, while Chagaev, a southpaw, is 6-foot-1 with a 74” reach.
BJ Flores will provide analysis. Flores, a world-ranked cruiserweight, has worked in studio with ESPN’s Brian Kenny on select ESPN Friday Night Fights telecasts and will continue to do so through the 2009 season.
The Big Ten Network will air its second annual awards show later this month.
Second Annual Big Ten Network Awards Show to Air Live on June 19
Winners of the Suzy Favor and Jesse Owens Awards to be announced
CHICAGO – The Big Ten Network will recognize the best of Big Ten sports in 2008-09 with the second annual Big Ten Network Awards live at 10 PM ET on Friday, June 19. Mike Hall, Rick Pizzo and Dave Revsine will host the one-hour show.
The announcement of two prestigious Big Ten Conference awards, the Suzy Favor Award, for the conference’s best female student-athlete, and the Jesse Owens Award, for the best male student-athlete, will highlight the evening’s festivities.
The network also will have interviews with selected award winners, both coaches and players.
Fan voting on www.BigTenNetwork.com will determine the winners in three categories, including Best Finish of the Year, Men’s Coach of the Year and Women’s Coach of the Year. Voting ended June 14.
Nominees for the Men’s Coach of the Year award are Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, Michigan State men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo, Michigan State men’s soccer coach Joe Baum, Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands and Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz. Nominees for Women’s Coach of the Year are Penn State women’s volleyball coach Russ Rose, Illinois women’s gymnastics coach Bob Starkell, Northwestern women’s lacrosse coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, Northwestern women’s tennis coach Claire Pollard and Ohio State women’s basketball coach Jim Foster.
The other award categories and nominees are as follows:
Breakout Performance of the Year
Darryl Clark – Penn State football
Shonn Greene – Iowa football
Samantha Prahalis – Ohio State basketball
Monica Perry – Illinois softball
Terrelle Pryor – Ohio State football
Evan Turner – Ohio State basketball
Most Dominating Performance
Megan Hodge – Penn State volleyball (Final Four, 12/18 and 12/20/08)
Deshawn Sims – Michigan basketball (Big Ten Tournament, 3/12/09)
Brittany Weil – Iowa softball (10/4/08)
Derrick Williams – Penn State football (9/27/08)
Juice Williams – Illinois football (10/4/08)
Alex Wimmers – Ohio State baseball (4/1/09)
Most Courageous Performance
Jamelle Cornley – Penn State basketball
Robbie Hummel – Purdue basketball
Jaevery McFadden – Wisconsin football
Mark Mitera – Michigan hockey
Joe Paterno – Penn State football
Allie Southard – Penn State gymnastics
Best Finish of the Year
Illinois vs. Northwestern – men’s basketball (2/12/09)
Illinois vs. Penn State – men’s basketball (3/5/09)
Michigan vs. Purdue – football (11/1/08)
Michigan State vs. Purdue – women’s basketball (3/1/09)
Minnesota vs. Michigan – women’s basketball (2/15/09)
Northwestern vs. Minnesota – football (11/1/08)
Ohio State vs. Iowa – Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament Championship (11/9/08)
Ohio State vs. Northwestern – men’s basketball (2/18/09)
Penn State vs. Iowa – football (11/8/08)
Purdue vs. Central Michigan – football (9/20/08)
Purdue vs. Ohio State – Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship (3/8/09)
Wisconsin vs. Michigan State – football (11/1/08)
Men’s Team of the Year
Iowa football
Iowa wrestling
Michigan State basketball
Michigan State soccer
Ohio State tennis
Penn State football
Women’s Team of the Year
Indiana swimming & diving
Iowa field hockey
Michigan gymnastics
Northwestern lacrosse
Northwestern tennis
Penn State volleyball
Game of the Year
Kansas vs. Michigan State – men’s basketball (3/27/09)
Michigan vs. Duke – men’s basketball (11/21/09)
Michigan vs. Purdue – football (11/1/08)
Michigan State vs. Connecticut – men’s basketball (4/4/09)
Michigan State vs. Penn State – men’s basketball (2/1/09)
Minnesota vs. Wisconsin – men’s basketball (1/15/09)
Northwestern vs. Michigan State – men’s basketball (1/21/09)
Penn State vs. Iowa – men’s basketball (3/7/09)
Penn State vs. Iowa – football (11/8/08)
Penn State vs. Nebraska – women’s volleyball Final Four (12/18/08)
Penn State vs. Ohio State – football (10/25/08)
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin – football (10/4/08)
Wisconsin vs. Michigan – football (9/27/09)
And we get this wrap up of Monday’s episode of Big Break: Prince Edward Island from Golf Channel.
Mendoza Eliminated From Big Break Prince Edward Island
Final Three Contestants Compete for $100,000
ORLANDO, Fla. (June 16, 2009) – Gerina Mendoza was eliminated in the ninth episode of Big Break Prince Edward Island, leaving Derek Gillespie (Oshawa, Ontario, Canada), Brenda McLarnon (Charleston, S.C.) and Blair O’Neal (Scottsdale, Ariz.) to compete for the $100,000 winner’s paycheck in the series’ remaining two shows.
In the episode’s opening challenge, McLarnon defeated Mendoza in a two-hole stroke play match while O’Neal pulled off an upset by defeating the favored Gillespie. The winners earned immunity and the losers faced off in an elimination challenge.
Competing in the same format, Gillespie overcame faulty driving to eliminate Mendoza, who he called the greatest threat to winning the series.
“I definitely would get some grief from my friends if I lose to a girl,” a relieved Gillespie said.
Elimination by Episode:
Show 1: Robert Read
Show 2: William Thompson
Show 3: Kim Kouwabunpat
Show 4: Caroline Larsson
Show 5: Nicole Sikora
Show 6: Brian Skatell
Show 7: Eugene Smith
Show 8: Aaron Wright
Show 9: Gerina Mendoza
With two-thirds of the remaining field female, and each gaining momentum, he is far from escaping ridicule. Gillespie’s two victories on the Canadian Tour give him the best credentials, but he has a challenge ahead.
O’Neal proved she could beat him, something that was in question. A four-year starter at Arizona State University, she twice won the NCAA Long Drive Championship but has been out of professional golf since 2006 pursuing a modeling career. Before leaving the fairway for the runway, she competed on numerous Tours around the world. However, other competitors in Big Break Prince Edward Island quickly learned that she is someone to watch instead of merely look at. “She comes in a beautiful package but she is not just a pretty face,” said Nicole Sikora (Valley Cottage, N.Y.), who was eliminated in episode five. “That girl can stripe it.”
McLarnon is brutally honest and outspoken, and brings humor and conflict to everything she does. Having played the Duramed FUTURES Tour the last three years, she learned the sacrifice it takes to play professional golf and is ready to capitalize on the hard-earned experience. In the series, she has earned respect as a gritty competitor who has been tested in elimination challenges.
The 10th episode of Big Break Prince Edward Island will air Monday at 9 p.m. ET.
Past Big Break champions won tournament exemptions to compete on some of the world’s top professional circuits, such as the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour, European Tour, LPGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Canadian Tour. Former Big Breakers Tommy Gainey and James Nitties compete on the PGA TOUR in 2009 while four previous female contestants currently play on the LPGA Tour, including Kristy McPherson, who finished tied for second at the Kraft Nabisco Championship earlier this year.
Adding insight to Big Break Prince Edward Island as co-hosts are former PGA TOUR professional Charlie Rymer and Golf Digest Senior Editor Stina Sternberg.
Shot at Mill River Golf Course in Prince Edward Island, it marks the first time a Canadian location has hosted Big Break. Located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on Canada’s east coast, Prince Edward Island boasts more than 32 courses that span from one end of the Island to the other. One of Canada’s top golf destinations, Prince Edward Island offers other recreational activities, including kayaking and cycling.
Coming, one last post on the NHL.
