Since I was away from internet access for several hours today and into this evening, I find that I have a bunch of press releases in my inbox. So let’s post them so you can get by until a late evening linkfest later on.
First, the incoming MLB Network has announced that Tampa Bay Rays color analyst Joe Magrane the latest talent addition to its roster.
MLB NETWORK ADDS JOE MAGRANE TO ON-AIR TALENT LINEUPFormer Rays Broadcaster and MLB Pitcher Joins Versatile Studio Roster
SECAUCUS, N.J. – Veteran Tampa Bay Rays broadcaster and former Major League pitcher Joe Magrane has been added to MLB Network’s roster of on-air talent, joining Matt Vasgersian, Al Leiter, Harold Reynolds, Trenni Kusnierek and Hazel Mae. Magrane will join the cast of MLB Tonight, the live, nightly studio show that will be the signature program of the new network, and Hot Stove, a live, nightly off-season studio show. All of the on-air personalities will appear on both shows, as well as other programming across MLB Network, which will launch on January 1, 2009, in approximately 50 million homes as the largest network debut in cable history.“Bringing Joe into the fold continues our trend of hiring high caliber, versatile talent who we know can be successful in a wide variety of roles,” said Tony Petitti, President and Chief Executive Officer of MLB Network. “Joe’s experience as a broadcaster and a player speaks for itself, and his presence will clearly enrich our programming.”
Magrane has been part of the Rays broadcast team as color analyst since the team’s inception in 1998. He also worked on FOX baseball telecasts, and was a color analyst for NBC’s baseball coverage of the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympic Games. In 2002, he served as a postgame reporter for the NLCS on FOX. An All-America selection at the University of Arizona in 1985, Magrane enjoyed a ten-year Major League career, compiling a 56-67 record with the St. Louis Cardinals (1987-93), California Angels (1993-95), and Chicago White Sox (1996). He finished third in the 1987 NL Rookie of the Year voting, helping lead the Cardinals to the World Series. He won the NL ERA title in 1988 and the following year won 18 games, placing third in the NL Cy Young voting.
MLB Tonight will air live beginning at 6:00 p.m. Eastern until the final MLB game of the night ends between Monday and Saturday, and will be based out of MLB Network’s headquarters in Secaucus, New Jersey. The program will feature live look-ins of games in progress, updates, highlights, reporting and analysis. Hot Stove, will air during the off-season at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday and feature news, reports, and analysis of the moves clubs are making and planning in preparation for the upcoming season.
NBA TV announces its programming for the week including next Tuesday’s “Fan Night” Game.
NBA TV Live Coverage Continues with the Cleveland Cavaliers @ New York Knicks on Fan Night and Coverage of the Houston Rockets @ Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls @ Denver Nuggets
NBA TV will take the court with the fourth week of Fan Night. The voting is in and the Cleveland Cavaliers @ New York Knicks match-up was selected by fans on NBA.com over four other matchups. The game will air on Tues., Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET with NBA TV announcers Ahmad Rashad, Chris Webber and Gary Payton on hand for studio coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
Fan Night voting will continue on NBA.com this Tues., Nov. 25 as fans select between: L.A. Lakers @ Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards @ New Jersey Nets, Portland Trail Blazers @ New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers @ Chicago Bulls, L.A. Clippers @ Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons @ San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors @ Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz @ Sacramento Kings.
NBA TV’s Euroleague Game of the Week coverage will resume featuring Regal FC Barcelona @ Asseco Pronkom. The game will air on Sat., Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. ET. The network will continue to air a weekly Euroleague matchup every Saturday throughout the regular season.
Live NBA action continues on Sat., Nov. 22 as Rick Kamla and Steve Smith tipoff the evening with the AutoTrader.com Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets @ Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic at 7 p.m. ET. Kamla and Smith will conclude the evening with the Postgame Show presented by Hyundai and NBA GameTime.
On Sun., Nov. 23, Andre Aldridge and Eric Snow will provide studio coverage as the Chicago Bulls take on the Denver Nuggets at 9 p.m. ET. The night’s coverage will begin at 8:30 p.m. ET with the AutoTrader.com Pregame Show. Aldridge and Snow will close out the evening’s coverage with the Postgame Show presented by Hyundai and NBA GameTime.
The Big Ten Network will announce the Conference’s annual awards on Monday night.
All-Big Ten Selection Show Airs Monday Night
Annual conference awards to be announced at 7:30 PM ET
CHICAGO – The Big Ten Network will present the exclusive, live announcement of the annual Big Ten football awards during Big Ten Tonight: All-Conference Selection Show at 7:30 PM ET Monday, Nov. 24. Dave Revsine will host alongside analysts Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith.
“It’ll be interesting to see how the ballots are cast because you could make a strong case for any number of candidates for some of these awards,” Revsine said. “In particular, I think there is a ton of intrigue in the Coach of the Year battle and it’s going to come down to this weekend.”
The winners of the following awards, selected by the conference coaches and media, will be revealed: Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year. In addition, the media will choose the winner of the Dave McClain Coach of the Year Award and the coaches will pick the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year.
The show will also announce the All-Big Ten teams as selected by both the coaches and the media. Selected award winners will be interviewed during the 30-minute program and for Monday’s edition of Big Ten Tonight.
Additionally, the All-Big Ten volleyball teams will be announced during The Big Ten Women’s Show at 6:30 PM ET Monday, Dec. 1.
ESPN announces the matchups for “Feast Week” or the Thanksgiving holiday’s college basketball tournaments that start on Monday.
Feast Week Begins Monday
Premier Programs in Top Tournaments Highlight Schedule For Nov. 24-29
ESPN’s Feast Week, ESPN’s annual week encompassing all the men’s college basketball matchups surrounding Thanksgiving, will once again feature premier teams playing in several of the sport’s top events, including the NIT Season Tip-Off, Maui Invitational, Old Spice Classic, CBE Classic and 76 Classic. In addition to tournament coverage, ESPN will televise Duquesne at #5 Duke Friday, Nov. 28 at 3 p.m. ET.
Feast Week Highlights (as throughout the season, ESPN360.com will offer a simulcast of every ESPN and ESPN2 telecast):
- The Maui Invitational, celebrating its 25th anniversary, will once again feature a deep field of top teams in action, and will tip-off Feast Week coverage Monday, Nov. 24. All 12 games will be
televised on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com. Opening round games on Monday include St. Joseph’s vs. #8 Texas (3 p.m. on ESPN2), Indiana vs. #9 Notre Dame (5 p.m. on ESPN2), #1 North Carolina vs. Chaminade (9:30 p.m. on ESPNU) and Oregon vs. Alabama (11:59 p.m. on ESPN2).- ESPN2 will televise the semifinals and championship of the NIT Season Tip-Off from New York Wednesday, Nov 26, and Friday, Nov. 28, respectively. The semifinals will feature Boston College vs. #10 Purdue at 7 p.m. and UAB vs. #14 Oklahoma at 9 p.m.
- ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com will offer all 12 games of the third annual Old Spice Classic from Orlando, featuring one of the top tournament fields this year, Nov. 27-30. ESPN2 will televise the four opening games Thursday, Nov. 27: #13 Tennessee vs. Siena (noon), Wichita State vs. #18 Georgetown (2 p.m.), Maryland vs. #7 Michigan State (7 p.m.) and Oklahoma State vs. #11 Gonzaga (9 p.m.).
- ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com will offer coverage of all 12 games of the 76 Classic from Anaheim Nov. 27-30. Games on Thursday, Nov. 27, include St. Mary’s (Calif.) vs. UTEP (2 p.m. on ESPNU), #25 Wake Forest vs. Cal State-Fullerton (4:30 p.m. on ESPN2), Arizona State vs. Charlotte (9 p.m. on ESPNU) and Providence vs. Baylor (11:30 p.m. on ESPNU).
- ESPN2 will televise the CBE Classic semifinals from Kansas City on Monday, Nov. 24, beginning with Syracuse vs. #19 Florida at 7:30 p.m. and #24 Kansas vs. Washington at 9:30 p.m.
Feast Week
Mon., Nov. 24
3 p.m., ESPN2, Maui Invitational – Quarterfinal #1: St. Joseph’s vs. #8 Texas, Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas, Bill Raftery and Jimmy Dykes
5 p.m.,ESPN2, Maui Invitational – Quarterfinal #2: Indiana vs. #9 Notre Dame, Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas, Bill Raftery and Jimmy Dykes
7:30 p.m.,ESPN2, CBE Classic – Semifinal #1: Syracuse vs. #19 Florida (Kansas City),
Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale and Doris Burke
9:30 p.m., ESPNU, Maui Invitational – Quarterfinal #3: #1 North Carolina vs. Chaminade, Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas, Bill Raftery and Jimmy Dykes
9:30 p.m., ESPN2, CBE Classic – Semifinal #2: #24 Kansas vs. Washington (Kansas City), Dan Shulman, Bob Knight and Doris Burke
11:59 p.m., ESPN2, Maui invitational – Quarterfinal #4: Oregon vs. Alabama, Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas, Bill Raftery and Jimmy Dykes
Tue., Nov. 25
1:30 p.m., ESPNU, Maui Invitational – Consolation Game, Dave Barnett and Jimmy Dykes
4 p.m., ESPN2, Maui Invitational – Consolation Game, Dave Barnett and Jimmy Dykes
7 p.m., ESPN, Maui Invitational – Semifinal #1, Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas, Bill Raftery and Jimmy Dykes
7:45 p.m., ESPNU, CBE Classic – 3rd Place Game (Kansas City), Dan Shulman, Bob Knight and Doris Burke
9 p.m., ESPN, Maui Invitational – Semifinal #2, Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas, Bill Raftery and Jimmy Dykes
10 p.m., ESPN2, CBE Classic – Championship Game (Kansas City), Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale and Doris Burke
Wed., Nov. 26
2 p.m., ESPN2, Maui Invitational – 5th Place Game, Dave Barnett and Jimmy Dykes
4 p.m., ESPN2, Maui Invitational – 3rd Place Game, Dave Barnett and Jimmy Dykes
7 p.m., ESPN2, NIT Season Tip-Off – Semifinal #1 (New York City): Boston College vs. #10 Purdue, Dave O’Brien, Steve Lavin and Allen Hopkins
7 p.m., ESPNU, Maui Invitational – 7th Place Game, Dave Barnett and Jimmy Dykes
9 p.m., ESPN2, NIT Season Tip-Off – Semifinal #2 (New York City): UAB vs. #14 Oklahoma, Dave O’Brien, Steve Lavin and Allen Hopkins
10 p.m., ESPN, Maui Invitational – Championship, Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas and Bill Raftery
Thu., Nov. 27
noon, ESPN2, Old Spice Classic – Quarterfinal #1: #13 Tennessee vs. Siena (Orlando), Bob Wischusen, Len Elmore and Andy Katz
2 p.m., ESPNU, 76 Classic – Quarterfinal #1: St. Mary’s (Calif.) vs. UTEP (Anaheim), Steve Physioc and Bob Wenzel
2 p.m., ESPN2, Old Spice Classic – Quarterfinal #2: Wichita State vs. #18 Georgetown (Orlando), Bob Wischusen, Len Elmore and Andy Katz
4:30 p.m., ESPN2, 76 Classic – Quarterfinal #2: #25 Wake Forest vs. Cal State Fullerton (Anaheim), Scott Graham and Bob Wenzel
7 p.m., ESPN2, Old Spice Classic – Quarterfinal #3: Maryland vs. #7 Michigan State (Orlando), Jon Sciambi, Fran Fraschilla and Andy Katz
9 p.m., ESPN2, Old Spice Classic – Quarterfinal #4: Oklahoma State vs. #11 Gonzaga (Orlando), Jon Sciambi, Fran Fraschilla and Andy Katz
9 p.m., ESPNU, 76 Classic – Quarterfinal #3: Arizona State vs. UNC Charlotte (Anaheim), Steve Physioc and Stephen Bardo
11:30 p.m., ESPN2, 76 Classic – Quarterfinal #4: Providence vs. Baylor (Anaheim), Scott Graham and Stephen Bardo
Fri., Nov. 28
10:30 a.m., ESPNU, Old Spice Classic – Consolation (Orlando), Bob Wischusen and Len Elmore
1 p.m., ESPN, Old Spice Classic – Semifinal #1 (Orlando), Bob Wischusen, Len Elmore and Andy Katz
1:30 p.m., ESPN2, NIT Season Tip-Off – 3rd Place Game (New York City), Dave O’Brien, Steve Lavin and Allen Hopkins
3 p.m., ESPN, Duquesne at #5 Duke, Bob Picozzi and Jimmy Dykes
3:30 p.m., ESPNU, 76 Classic – Consolation (Anaheim), Steve Physioc and Bob Wenzel
3:30 p.m., ESPN2, NIT Season Tip-Off – Championship (New York City), Dave O’Brien, Steve Lavin and Allen Hopkins
5:30 p.m., ESPN, Old Spice Classic – Semifinal #2 (Orlando), Jon Sciambi, Fran Fraschilla and Andy Katz
5:30 p.m., ESPNU, 76 Classic – Consolation (Anaheim), Steve Physioc and Bob Wenzel
8 p.m., ESPNU, Old Spice Classic – Consolation (Orlando), Jon Sciambi and Fran Fraschilla
10 p.m., ESPNU, 76 Classic – Semifinal #1 (Anaheim), Scott Graham and Stephen Bardo
11:59 p.m., ESPNU, Las Vegas Invitational: Kansas State vs. Kentucky (Las Vegas), Jim Barbar and Larry Conley
Sat., Nov. 29
12:30 a.m., ESPN2, 76 Classic – Semifinal #2 (Anaheim), Scott Graham and Stephen Bardo
10:30 p.m., ESPN2, Las Vegas Invitational – Championship, Dave O’Brien and Steve Lavin
And HBO Sports previews the next installment of De La Hoya/Pacquaio 24/7.
DE LA HOYA/PACQUIAO 24/7
NOV. 23 EPISODE
Episode #2
Debut date: SUNDAY, NOV. 23 (8:30-9:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Oscar de la Hoya’s wife Millie arrives at camp in Big Bear, Cal., while cameras follow Manny Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee as she tries to keep up with his training schedule in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, special consultant Angelo Dundee offers De La Hoya words of wisdom, and Pacquiao tries to keep from over-training and peaking too soon.
And NBC Sports will broadcast Annika Sorenstam’s final LPGA Tour Event on Sunday.
NBC SPORTS TO BROADCAST FINAL ROUND COVERAGE OF SORENSTAM’S SWANSONG AT ADT CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY, 3 PM ET
Event Features $1 Million First Place Prize, Largest on LPGA TourNEW YORK – November 20, 2008 – Annika Sorenstam, retiring at the end the season, bids farewell to the LPGA Tour at the ADT Championship. NBC Sports will broadcast live final round coverage, featuring the final eight players from the 32-player field, all starting at even par, Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, from the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla. The event boasts 32 of the best LPGA players including Annika Sorenstam, who has won the event three times, Lorena Ochoa, the defending champion, Morgan Pressel and Paula Creamer competing for a $1 million first place check, the largest first place prize on the LPGA Tour.
Dan Hicks will host NBC's coverage, joined by Dottie Pepper, Gary Koch, Jane Crafter and Kay Cockerill.
The unique format of the ADT Championship features two rounds of cuts, the first from 32 players to 16 following 36 holes, and the second from 16 players to eight after 54 holes. The final eight players start at even par for the final round on Sunday.
I have another press release post coming up.
