Fang's Bites

Turner Launches New NCAA Sports Mobile App

Just announced by Turner Sports, a new NCAA Sports mobile app that will be made available for the iPhone and Android platforms. This will give mobile phone users the opportunity to see over 60 NCAA Championships.

The live game streaming will begin with finals coverage of Divisions I-III field hockey and Division II and III soccer.

Turner has also optimized the NCAA.com site for mobile users. Here’s the press release from Turner Sports on the new NCAA Sports app.

NCAA Digital Launches NCAA® Sports, a Year-round College Sports iPhone App to Feature Exclusive Live Video Streaming of More Than 60 NCAA Championship Events

NCAA.com also launches new mobile website for touchscreen mobile devices

Turner Sports and the NCAA announced today the launch of NCAA Sports, a new iPhone app that provides in-depth regular season coverage of college football and basketball, as well as NCAA championship coverage of all NCAA sports.  In addition, NCAA Sports offers fans exclusive live video streaming of more than 60 NCAA championship events including Division II football, Divisions II and III wrestling, Divisions I, II and III field hockey, Divisions II and III men’s and women’s soccer,  and Divisions II and III women’s volleyball. Turner-hosted NCAA.com is also unveiling a new mobile website for touchscreen phones (iPhone, Android, etc.), accessible via your mobile browser. The new mobile website will allow fans to get live scores, schedules, news, rankings and video recaps suitable for the mobile screen.

For fans on the go, NCAA Sports provides college sports news and scores throughout the year, with live and on-demand video coverage of NCAA championships. Users also will be able to virtually check into games and chat with friends via Facebook and Twitter. NCAA Sports is available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod Touch.

Click to here to access NCAA Sports

“With the launch of the NCAA Sports iPhone app and the new NCAA.com mobile website, we’re giving  college sports fans greater access to NCAA championship and regular season content than ever before,” said Mark Johnson, vice-president of Turner Sports’ NCAA Digital group. “College sports content is underserved in the mobile space right now and we’re excited to offer fans mobile products that are 100% dedicated to college sports.”

“NCAA Sports is the next step in providing fans with more convenient digital access to many NCAA championships. We’ve seen the success with March Madness on Demand and other NCAA.com initiatives over the years and are excited to launch these new features for fans of our other NCAA championships,” said Greg Shaheen, NCAA interim executive vice president for championships and alliances.

“The NCAA Sports mobile app will provide live game streaming, interactive opportunities and access to more championship information,” Shaheen added. “This new mobile capability also will broaden the NCAA audience and overall reach with messaging whether fans are at the championship or viewing from another location.”

To kick-off the live game streaming, NCAA Sports will feature live finals coverage of: Divisions I, II and III women’s field hockey, Divisions II and III men’s and women’s soccer, National Collegiate men’s water polo and Divisions II and III women’s volleyball. The live video streaming coverage also will include Division II football quarterfinal games on December 3.

Additionally, the NCAA.com mobile website is now available for touchscreen devices by typing ncaa.com in your address bar. Fans have the opportunity to follow their favorite NCAA sports and receive live scores, schedules, video recaps and interviews with the same feel as the home site – NCAA.com.

That’s it.

ESPN Family of Networks All Over NCAA Women’s College World Series

This year, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will all have games leading up to and through the Women’s College World Series. In addition, the networks will have coverage of all the regionals and Super Regionals as well meaning there will be a total of 55 NCAA Division I Women’s Softball Championship games. That’s a lot.

Here’s the press release and schedule of games.

Most Extensive NCAA Division I Softball Championship Coverage Begins May 21

Schedule Includes Two Regional Sites for First Time, Every Super Regional and World Series Game

With the addition of a Regional site, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com will combine to provide the most extensive NCAA Division I Softball Championship coverage to date with up to 55 games May 21-June 9, an increase from the scheduled 48 last year. The lineup will feature complete coverage of two Regional sites, one more than last year, every game from each of the eight Super Regional sites for the second consecutive year and every Women’s College World Series contest for the ninth straight event.

Every game from both Regional series and the entire Women’s College World Series will be offered in high definition.

Action will begin Friday, May 21, with four telecasts from two Regional sites. Games from Seattle will include Nebraska vs. North Carolina at 5:30 p.m. ET and North Dakota State vs. Washington at 8 p.m., both on ESPNU HD. The doubleheader from Atlanta will pit Auburn vs. Oregon at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN2 HD and Jacksonville State vs. Georgia Tech at 8 p.m. on ESPN HD (both games will be simulcast on ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV).  

Highlights:

• A record 55 scheduled games will be offered across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com, including all possible 14 Regional, 24 Super Regional and 17 Women’s College World Series contests. 

• ESPNU HD will televise one complete best-of-seven Regional series, while ESPN2 HD and ESPN HD will combine to cover another May 21-23. Each Regional winner will advance to the Super Regionals.
• ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com will combine to televise every game from the eight best-of-three Super Regional series May 27-30. For the third season, ESPN will offer whip-around coverage, featuring two games in one window while whipping around to the best action from both games for viewers in most of the nation (except in the home market of the competing teams, where the game of local interest will be the primary telecast). Each Super Regional winner will advance to the Women’s College World Series. 
• ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3.com will combine to televise every Women’s College World Series game June 3-9. It will mark ESPN’s 29th consecutive year covering the event.
• ESPN3.com — ESPN’s signature live, sports broadband network – will simulcast every ESPN and ESPN2 telecast. ESPN Mobile TV will simulcast a total of up to 23 games.

• The networks will use two announce teams on the Women’s College World Series, each featuring U.S. Olympic Gold Medal winners as analysts. Beth Mowins will call play-by-play with analyst Jessica Mendoza, a 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist. Pam Ward will call play-by-play with analyst Michele Smith, a two-time U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist (2000 and 1996). Holly Rowe will serve as the field reporter on every telecast.

• The Regional telecasts will feature Mowins and Mendoza working games from the Atlanta series and play-by-play announcer Cara Capuano calling games with Smith in Seattle. The Super Regional commentators include Mowins, Ward, Capuano, Justin Kutcher, Clay Matvick, Rowe and Bob Wischusen working play-by-play and Mendoza, Smith, Jennie Ritter, Amanda Freed, Garland Cooper, Cheri Kempf, Cindy Bristow, Leah Amico, Barbara Jordan and Brittany Rogers as analysts.

• ESPN International will provide coverage of the Women’s College World Series in 54 countries and territories on ESPN Pacific Rim, ESPN Australia, ESPN Africa, ESPN Middle East, ESPN Caribbean and ESPN Brazil. 

The extensive schedule of games is available after the break.

Here’s the schedule. Get ready to scroll for a while.

I told you it was long.

Two Weekend Programming Press Releases

We have a couple of weekend press releases, one from NBC and the other from CBS. There are four programs that you may be interested in seeing if you’re staying in.

First, from NBC Sports:

GLOBAL GOLF ADVENTURE PRESENTED BY CONTINENTAL AIRLINES RETURNS THIS SATURDAY ON NBC FEATURING BERMUDA AND STEWART CINK

MAUI, Hawaii/New York, NY (May 4, 2010) – NBC Sports will present an exciting new episode of Global Golf Adventure, a groundbreaking first-of-its kind golf, travel and adventure show produced and hosted by NBC Sports golf personality Mark Rolfing this Saturday, May 8^th at 1:30 p.m. ET immediately prior to the network’s third-round live coverage of THE PLAYERS Championship. 

The second installment of the Global Golf Adventure series will feature Bermuda and an interview with 2009 British Open Champion, Stewart Cink. Rolfing will showcase several Bermuda golf destinations and courses including the Port Royal Golf Course, which serves as the home of the PGA Grand Slam, the iconic Mid Ocean Club, as well as the unique Fairmont Southampton Course. NBC golf analyst Johnny Miller will offer a golf tip for viewers about how to save shots around the green, highlighting Phil Mickelson’s hinge and hold technique.

In his conversation with Rolfing, Stewart Cink reflects on the 2009 British Open victory and reveals an interesting story about his thoughts while approaching the tee in the playoff against Tom Watson.

Another Cink highlight follows:

Cink on if as time has elapsed since winning last year’s British Open has his view on his first major victory changed: “It hasn’t really…and I think that’s one of the most special things about it. It feels like it’s frozen in my mind, like it happened yesterday…It’s not fading away at all and I hope it never does.”

For Global Golf Adventure, Rolfing will travel to exciting locations worldwide, showcasing unique global golf and travel destinations.  Four 30-minute programs will air prior to NBC’s live third round golf tournament coverage and will include interviews with pro golfers and notable personalities familiar with the episode’s location, as well as instructional segments and travel adventures.  The next edition of Global Golf Adventure will feature Wales, the site of the 2010 Ryder Cup and will air prior to the U.S. Senior Open Championship on July 31^st.   

Global Golf Adventure on NBC Sports Programming Schedule

Date & Time

Saturday, May 8; 1:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, July 31; 3:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, Sept 5; 2:30 p.m. ET

Then a couple of notes from CBS Sports.

CBS SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS 2010 NCAA WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ON SATURDAY

CBS Sports presents CHAMPIONSHIPS OF THE NCAA with the 2010 NCAA WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS on Saturday, May 8 (3:00-5:00 PM, ET; taped 4/22-24) from the Stephen O’Connel Center at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Florida will compete on its home floor for a first ever NCAA title in the sport, while UCLA returns to the site of its first championship in 1997 looking to win the Bruins’ sixth title in the last 14 years. Utah, women’s gymnastics’ original dynasty team, Alabama, who won it all in 2002, as well as Stanford and Oklahoma, both seeking their first NCAA team championship in the sport, also compete for the crown. CBS Sports’ Tim Brando and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Amanda Borden call the action, while Vin DeVito produces and Suzanne Smith directs.

OFF ROAD IS ON AS CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR AIRS “OFF ROAD RACING SERIES” ON SATURDAY

CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR goes off road with the high flying action of the OFF ROAD RACING SERIES on Saturday, May 8 (5:00-6:00 PM, ET; taped 4/17-18). This premier national short course off road racing organization features 800 horsepower purpose built trucks racing door-to-door on motocross style tracks. Featuring action from Round Four in Surprise, Ariz., the mile-long course at Speedworld Off Road Park features challenging terrain and action at every turn. Carl Renezeder, the defending champion in both the Pro 2 and Pro 4 unlimited truck classes, faces stiff competition from Rick Huseman, Ricky Johnson and Rob MacCachren as he races to defend his pair of titles.  Cameron Steele, Ken Stout and Rob Klepper call the action for CBS Sports. CBS Sports’ Ryan Galvin serves as coordinating producer.

CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR REVIEWS 2010 AMA SUPERCROSS SEASON

CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR looks back at the 2010 AMA SUPERCROSS season with the YEAR IN REVIEW on Sunday, May 9 (5:00-6:00 PM, ET; taped). After series favorites James Stewart and Chad Reed suffered injuries, the young guns of the series battled for the championship. Rookie Ryan Dungey claimed the title, becoming only the second rookie to win the crown joining legendary Jeremy McGrath. CBS Sports’ Bryan Lilley serves as coordinating producer. 

Thanks to both NBC Sports and CBS Sports for sending these over.

General Sports Press Release Post

Ok, this press release post will deal with various sports, not just one as the last three have. Let’s get right to it.

Starting with TNT which discusses its NASCAR coverage this weekend.

TNT Continues its Coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing in Michigan on Sunday, June 14^th

Pre-race coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. ET; LifeLock 400 begins at 2 p.m. ET

TNT gears up for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing from Michigan on Sunday, June 14^th live from Michigan International Speedway. The network will air exclusive coverage of the LifeLock 400 beginning at 2 p.m. ET with play-by-play announcer Bill Weber calling the race alongside analysts Kyle Petty and Wally Dallenbach in the booth. In addition, analyst Larry McReynolds will make frequent contributions from the in-field as he breaks down crew strategy and analyzes car adjustments.

The network will rev up its pre-race coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET with NASCAR on TNT Live! with Marc Fein (host), Petty and McReynolds. No. 33 Clint Bowyer and owner Richard Childress will join TNT’s infield rig for an interview prior to the race.

Grammy-nominated artist and Detroit native Kid Rock will also join TNT’s pre-race coverage, stopping by the set to speak to the NASCAR on TNT Live! announcers.

TNT’s acclaimed Pride of NASCAR series will feature racing legend Darrell Waltrip who is a three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and 1989 Daytona 500 winner.

Dallenbach will once again breaks down race strategy during Wally’s World, as he is superimposed into live race footage from last season’s race in Michigan. He will virtually walk along the track to discuss its nuances, with the ability to stop the race footage.

In addition, Lindsay on Location with will go behind the scenes of NASCAR’s Race Control for a Lindsay Czarniak piece to explain how NASCAR officials assess penalties and determine car positions, particularly with the implementation of double-file restarts.

Ralph Sheheen will take viewers on a private tour of Jack Roush’s personal garage in Lavonia, Mich. where Roush will put on display his private collection of rare cars.

The show will be followed by Countdown to Green at 1:30 p.m. ET with Weber (host), Dallenbach (analyst) and Petty (analyst) with reports from pit reporters Marty Snider, Matt Yocum, Sheheen and Czarniak.

Countdown to Green leads into coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing in Michigan at 2 p.m. ET with Weber, Dallenbach and Petty calling the action with frequent interaction with McReynolds (analyst) who will man the TNT Offtrack Robotic Car.

Throughout this year’s NASCAR on TNT Summer Series, the network will join forces with NASCAR.COM, the official site of NASCAR, to provide TNT RaceBuddy a multiplatform experience for race fans which features live feeds from the racetrack including pit road and in-car cameras, as well as live chats and polls.

REMAINING 2009 NASCAR ON TNT SCHEDULE:

(All times ET)

SUNDAY, JUNE 14

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. NASCAR on TNT Live!

1:30 – 2 p.m. Countdown to Green

2:00 – 5:30 p.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing from Michigan (from Michigan Intl. Speedway)

SUNDAY, JUNE 21

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. NASCAR on TNT Live! and

4:30 – 5:00 p.m. Countdown to Green

5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Toyota/Save Mart 350 (from Infineon Raceway)

SUNDAY, JUNE 28

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. NASCAR on TNT Live!

1:30 – 2:00 p.m. Countdown to Green

2:00 – 5:30 p.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing from Loudon (from New Hampshire Intl. Speedway)

SATURDAY, JULY 4

6:30 – 7:30 p.m. NASCAR on TNT Live!

7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Countdown to Green

8:00 – 11:15 p.m. Coke Zero 400 at Daytona (from Daytona Intl. Speedway)

SATURDAY, JULY 11

6:30 – 7:30 p.m. NASCAR on TNT Live!

7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Countdown to Green

8:00 – 11:30 p.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing from Chicago (from Chicago Speedway)

To Golf Channel which will have Christina Kim miked during the LPGA Championship.

LPGA professional Christina Kim will be mic’d up Thursday during GOLF CHANNEL’s opening round coverage of the LPGA Championship. Kim will be paired with Michelle Wie and Shanshan Feng. Live coverage will begin Thursday at 12:30 p.m. ET, with a prime-time re-air at 7 p.m. ET. This will be the second LPGA event in 2009 GOLF CHANNEL will mic a player during live tournament coverage. Kristy McPherson was wired for sound during the opening round of the LPGA Corning Classic, where she also played alongside Michelle Wie.

GOLF CHANNEL also will feature the Emmy-award winning Putting Line Powered by Aimpoint graphics technology on holes 16 and 18 during all four rounds of play.

GOLF CHANNEL/LPGA Championship TV Times

Thursday – Friday 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. ET (Live)

7 – 10 p.m. ET (Live)

Saturday – Sunday 4 – 7 p.m. ET (Live)

7:30 – 10:30 p.m. ET (Live)

ESPN gets ready to air one of its signature events, the College World Series which it has shown since its inception. It’s so big that Erin Andrews will be there.

ESPN’s 30th College World Series Begins Saturday

ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN360.com will combine to televise the entire men’s College World Series from Omaha, Neb., including the best-of-three Series Final, with every game in high definition on ESPN HD or ESPN2 HD.

ESPN’s 30th consecutive season from Omaha begins Saturday, June 13, at 2 p.m. with Arkansas vs. Cal State Fullerton and Virginia vs. LSU at 7 p.m. (both on ESPN). On Sunday, June 14, ESPN will televise Arizona State vs. North Carolina at 2 p.m. and ESPN2 will offer Southern Mississippi vs. Texas at 7 p.m.

Commentator teams include Mike Patrick or Sean McDonough with analyst Orel Hershiser and reporter Erin Andrews; Karl Ravech or McDonough with analyst Robin Ventura and reporter Kyle Peterson. Ravech and Andrews will rotate as hosts of live SportsCenter segments from Rosenblatt Stadium June 15-17.

In addition, ESPN.com and other digital platforms will include unique, original offerings, including a College World Series Facebook page (ESPN College World Series) and Peterson utilizing Twitter to provide fans with updates and behind-the-scenes insight into the Tournament.

Date Time (ET) Network Game Matchup Commentators

Sat., 6/13	2 p.m.	ESPN HD / ESPN360.com	1	Arkansas vs. Cal State Fullerton	Ravech, Ventura and Peterson
	7 p.m.	ESPN HD / ESPN360.com	2	Virginia vs. LSU	Patrick, Hershiser and Andrews
Sun., 6/14	2 p.m.	ESPN HD / ESPN360.com	3	Arizona State vs. North Carolina	Ravech, Ventura and Peterson
	7 p.m.	ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com	4	Southern Mississippi vs. Texas	McDonough, Hershiser and Andrews
Mon., 6/15	2 p.m.	ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com	5	Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2	Ravech, Ventura and Peterson
	7 p.m.	ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com	6	Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2	Patrick, Hershiser and Andrews
Tue., 6/16	2 p.m.	ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com	7	Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4	Ravech, Ventura and Peterson
	7 p.m.	ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com	8	Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4	McDonough, Hershiser and Andrews
Wed., 6/17	7 p.m.	ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com	9	Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5	Patrick, Hershiser and Peterson
Thu., 6/18	7 p.m.	ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com	10	Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 7	McDonough, Ventura and Peterson
Fri., 6/19	2 p.m.	ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com	11	Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 6	Patrick, Hershiser and Peterson
	7 p.m.	ESPN2 HD / ESPN360.com	12	Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 8	McDonough, Ventura and Peterson
Sat., 6/20	2 p.m.	ESPN HD / ESPN360.com	13	If necessary	Patrick, Hershiser and Andrews
	7 p.m.	ESPN HD / ESPN360.com	14	If necessary	McDonough, Ventura and Peterson
Mon., 6/22	7 p.m.	ESPN HD / ESPN360.com	1	Series Final	Patrick, Hershiser, Ventura, Andrews and Peterson
Tue., 6/23	7 p.m.	ESPN HD / ESPN360.com	2	Series Final	Patrick, Hershiser, Ventura, Andrews and Peterson
Wed., 6/24	7 p.m.	ESPN HD / ESPN360.com	3 *	Series Final	Patrick, Hershiser, Ventura, Andrews and Peterson

* If necessary

CBS and CBS College Sports will team up to show the NCAA Track & Field Championships starting on Friday.

CBS SPORTS AND CBS COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK TEAM UP FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF NCAA® Division I MEN’S AND WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

CBS Sports and CBS College Sports Network team up for the fourth consecutive year to provide live coverage for the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships during five unprecedented hours on Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13, from Fayetteville, Ark.

The event is highlighted by CBS Sports’ live broadcast for the fourth consecutive year on Saturday, June 13 (1:00-3:00 PM, ET) when the 2009 men’s and women’s team champions are crowned. On the Men’s side, the University of Oregon is trying to become only the third school in history to win the track and field “triple crown,” winning the cross-country, indoor and outdoor championships in the same academic year.

Saturday’s broadcast includes two hours of live coverage highlighted by the Men’s and Women’s 200, 400 and 800 Meter finals and the Men’s and Women’s 4×400 relay, all of which factor into the team standings.

CBS College Sports Network broadcasts three hours of action on Friday, June 12 (7:00-10:00 PM, ET), highlighted by the Men’s and Women’s 100 meter final, and the Men’s and Women’s 5,000 meters. Oregon’s Galen Rupp, a 2008 Olympian, will attempt to become only the fourth runner in the past 25 years to win both the 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter races.

CBS Sports’ Ian Eagle, 1976 NCAA Outdoor High Jump Champion Dwight Stones, 1983 and 1985 NCAA Outdoor Long Jump Champion Carol Lewis, and 1995 and 1996 NCAA Champion Ato Boldon call the action from the University of Arkansas for both CBS Sports and CBS College Sports Network. CBS Sports’ Craig Silver serves as producer for both broadcasts. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

Sirius XM Satellite Radio will have the 24 Hours of Le Mans race starting Saturday.

SIRIUS XM RADIO TO BROADCAST 24 HOURS OF LE MANS LIVE JUNE 13-14

SIRIUS XM to offer Radio Le Mans broadcast to U.S. listeners; Fans can hear every minute of the 77^th Grand Prix of Endurance live from France

NEW YORK – June 10, 2009 – SIRIUS XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) announced today that it will offer U.S. listeners live coverage of the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race on June 13-14 from the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France.

SIRIUS and XM subscribers will hear uninterrupted Radio Le Mans coverage of the race, produced by Radio Show Limited, from the time the flag drops at 9:00 am ET on Saturday, June 13 through the finish at 9:00 am ET on Sunday, June 14 on SIRIUS channel 126 and XM channel 243. The coverage will also feature an hour of pre-race news and analysis starting at 8:00 am ET as well as an hour of post-race coverage following the finish, with the podium ceremony and interviews with the top finishers.

On Wednesday, June 10, SIRIUS XM will carry RadioLeMans.com Midweek Motorsport Le Mans Special on SIRIUS channel 126 and XM channel 243 from 9:00 – 11:00 pm ET followed by live coverage of free practice from 11:00 pm – 7:00 pm ET on SIRIUS channels 113 and 126 and XM channel 243.

On Thursday, June 11, SIRIUS XM will air Legends qualifying from 10:00 am – 11:00 pm ET, immediately followed by live coverage of 24 Hours Qualifying on SIRIUS channels 113 and 126 and XM channel 243.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 77th Grand Prix of Endurance, is the world’s oldest endurance sports car race. Danish native Tom Kristensen has won a record eight races including last year’s and six-straight from 2000-2005. Kristensen and teammates, Rinaldo Capello from Italy and Allan McNish from Great Britain, will be racing the Audi R15 TDI for Audi Sport Team Joest. Kristensen has won six of his titles behind the wheel of an Audi.

“The 24 Hours is truly a one-of-a-kind event, testing both the high performance technology of the race cars and the endurance of the drivers and their teams,” said Scott Greenstein, SIRIUS XM Radio’s President and Chief Content Officer. “With satellite radio, SIRIUS and XM listeners have the benefit of being able to hear every minute of the race anywhere, at home or on the go.”

“We have always enjoyed great support from U.S. based enthusiasts,” said Eve Hewitt, Managing Director of Radio Show Limited, the team behind Radio Le Mans. “Broadcasting our Le Mans programs through SIRIUS XM makes perfect sense.”

Radio Le Mans is the Official English language radio station at the 24 Hours.

SIRIUS XM airs every 2009 American Le Mans Series race, offering listeners on track action plus pre- and post-race coverage. The American Le Mans Series is North America’s premier sports car series, featuring high-tech cars from the most prestigious automobile manufacturers in the world – including Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari and Panoz – competing in a combination of endurance and sprint races on road racing tracks as well as street circuits in major urban markets.

And National Geographic Channel’s next episode of World’s Toughest Fixes is Thursday. Check it out. There’s video too!

WORLD’S TOUGHEST FIXES: Alaska Oil Pipeline

Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 9 PM ET/PT

“I feel like I’m ready to go in the microwave … I really hope we do not have a hole in the pipe, because I don’t ever want to get back in this suit again.”

— Riley, on sealing himself inside a reflective, fire retardant suite on the Trans-Alaska Oil pipeline.

FAIRBANKS, ALASKA: In National Geographic Channel’s World Toughest Fixes, host Sean Riley fixes the leaky oil valve #72 that hasn?t met the strict pipeline standards. Riley is surveying the removal of any dust or dirt particles from the replacement pipe (Photo by Jenny McAllister / NGT&F)

The pressure is on as Riley joins a team on the 800-mile Trans-Alaska oil pipeline — the conduit for almost 15 percent of America’s domestic oil production. They have 36 hours to swap out one of the line’s 32-ton valves — a plug that helps block the pipe and lessen the damage in the event of an oil spill. In order to swap out the valve, the crew must first plug the line to isolate it and drain the oil from the section they need to replace. Then they cut into the pipe and weld on a new valve. Welding around crude oil is among the most dangerous jobs in industry. Every year, pipeline and oilfield accidents claim hundreds of lives. For this team, failure is not an option.

• Video “Mighty Explosive” - The oil is safely cut off from the pipe, but the residual gas is extremely dangerous:

• Video “Crude Oil Blast” - When the Alaskan oil pipeline springs a leak, it is a major problem so Riley gears up to learn how to fix it:

• Video “Fixing the Pipe” – The best welders in the world are sealing in the new valve in the pipeline — very carefully:

Also on our program website, you can read all about Riley’s experience through his blog post about bringing the right tools to the job at hand, and play the “Can You Handle A Big Fix?” game online.

That concludes this post. I have one more press release post. Keep refreshing.

More Thursday Press Releases

After I did my press release post earlier today, more came into the Fang’s Bites inbox so it’s time for another post now.

Starting with NBC Sports, the network previews it’s coverage of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS UNPRECEDENTED COVERAGE OF THE 135th RUNNING OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY THIS SATURDAY AT 4 PM ET

“One of the great sporting events in America...a slice of Americana” – NBC’s Hammond

“It’s a great Kentucky Derby this year, one of the best I’ve seen in 20 years.” - NBC's Stevens

NEW YORK – April 30, 2009 – NBC Sports broadcasts exclusive coverage of the 135th Kentucky Derby this Saturday starting at 4 p.m. ET.  NBC Sports' broadcast will bring the spectacle of the Kentucky Derby, which has been contested annually since 1875, home to viewers with behind-the-scenes access, celebrities and fashion surrounding the legendary Run for the Roses. The Red Carpet will feature celebrity interviews as the stars arrive to Churchill Downs to enjoy the greatest day in horse racing.

Bob Costas and Tom Hammond co-host the Derby alongside three-time Derby winner Gary Stevens.  NBC Sports' broadcast team also includes race-caller Tom Durkin; contributing analysts/handicappers Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier; reporter Kenny Rice and on-track reporter Donna Brothers, who retired in 1998 after an impressive 11-year career as a jockey.  The Kentucky Derby on NBC is produced by Sam Flood and directed by David Michaels.  Additionally, the TODAY Show's Al Roker will contribute reports, and Nancy O'Dell, co-host of "Access Hollywood" and author of "Full of Life: Mom-To-Mom Tips I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Was Pregnant," and Tiki Barber of "Football Night in America" will handle Red Carpet arrivals. 

Due to technical difficulties with our conferencing center we apologize that the conference call had to be cancelled.  Below are quotes from NBC's talent and production staff about the Kentucky Derby and NBC's coverage:

TOM HAMMOND ON WHAT MAKES THE DERBY SPECIAL: "I always look forward to the first Saturday of May because the Kentucky Derby is one of the great sporting events in America. It's really a slice of Americana where you have the raucous infield, millionaires' row and more than 150,000 people on hand, and that makes it one of the highlights of our broadcasting year.

"The thing that makes the Derby special to me too is that, aside from the Olympics, there are more stories involved in horse racing and specifically the Derby than any other sport of all the sports I cover. Not only stories about horses, but also stories about the people involved with them - the owners, the trainers, the jockeys. It's just a wealth of stories, and storytelling is part of our duties as sportscasters."

TOM HAMMOND ON ONE OF HIS FAVORITE STORIES THIS YEAR: "There's a story in the Derby this year that typifies what I think the Derby is all about. On one hand, you have Sheikh Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, coming over with two horses. He's spent billions worldwide, and the one thing he has not been able to accomplish in horse racing is to win the Kentucky Derby. There's also a horse in here named General Quarters that is owned by Tom McCarthy, who is a 75-year old retired school principal from Louisville who has been chasing his dream of having a Derby horse for 50 years. He's the owner, the trainer and the groom for a horse he claimed he bought for $20,000. So you have the man who is a one-horse stable who does all the work himself, running against one of the richest men in the world. It's what the Derby's all about. It doesn't matter how much money you have. The horses don't know who owns them, and you can't buy the Derby. The best horse on that day is going to win it, regardless of the wealth of its owners. And that's what the Kentucky Derby is all about. It's a great equalizer and the story of Tom McCarthy is one we'll tell on Saturday, and hopefully that will make the Derby special."

GARY STEVENS ON A WIDE OPEN DERBY: "It's a great Kentucky Derby this year, one of the best I've seen in 20 years as far as prospects who could win it. I've got about eight horses who, if I was still riding, I wouldn't mind sitting on their back.  It's a very contentious race this year."

EIGHT HORSES GARY STEVENS LIKES:
· I Want Revenge
· Pioneerof the Nile
· Dunkirk
· Desert Party
· General Quarters
· Regal Ransom
· Papa Clem
· Mr. Hot Stuf

BOB NEUMEIER'S TOP THREE: "I only see three possible horses that can win the race. In order of preference: Dunkirk, Pioneerof the Nile and I Want Revenge. I'll be very surprised if someone else wins the race, because I think those three are head and shoulders above the rest of the field."

BOB NEUMEIER'S PICK TO WIN THE KENTUCKY DERBY: "I like Dunkirk because he ran an incredible second in the Florida Derby to the horse that I thought was the best horse in the country, and that is Quality Road, who has been scratched for the Derby. For that reason and the fact that Pioneerof the Nile has never run on conventional dirt, makes me give the nod to Dunkirk. I don't care about historical precedents about him not running as a two-year old. I think he's the best horse in the race."

BOB NEUMEIER ON I WANT REVENGE: "Tactically, I think the race will advantage I Want Revenge, because he is kind of a frontrunner pace presser in a race that's dominated by late running horses, or closing horses. So I think he will take advantage of that. But I don't think he's any better than Dunkirk or Pioneerof the Nile, and as a favorite I'll put him third on my hit parade. So Dunkirk –1, Pioneerof the Nile- 2, I Want Revenge- 3."

MIKE BATTAGLIA ON THE DERBY FIELD: "It's a strong field of three-year-olds, much stronger top-to-bottom than the field we had last year. Big Brown was a standout last year, but I don't think the field as a whole was nearly as good as the one we have this year. 

MIKE BATTAGLIA'S PICK TO WIN THE KENTUCKY DERBY: "I personally like Pioneerof the Nile's chances. I think he will handle the dirt. This is a horse that has only raced on turf and synthetics, but he's really trained well since he got here and trainer Bob Baffert knows how to win this race.  Baffert has already won the Kentucky Derby three times and I think the fact that jockey Garrett Gomez chose this horse over Dunkirk speaks volumes for Pioneerof the Nile also, so I think he's going to be very dangerous. Wide open race, excellent race. Best trip wins. My pick- Pioneerof the Nile."

OTHER HORSES MIKE BATTAGLIA LIKES: "You can't knock I Want Revenge, the favorite and you can't knock Dunkirk. Either one of those can win and Friesan Fire could be dangerous."

MIKE BATTAGLIA'S LONG SHOT: "For a long shot I kind of think Hold Me Back will run big. He makes his third start for Bill Mott, who is very good with horses." 

SAM FLOOD ON DERBY STORYLINES: "It's a wonderful Derby because there are more stories than we've ever had before. There's a great trainer in Bob Baffert coming back to the track to Tom McCarthy, the school principal who's getting his first chance at age 75 on a $20,000 horse. Then you've got Larry Jones coming off the tragedy last year with Eight Belles, coming to his last Derby. There are human stories throughout the Derby that make it a compelling day of racing. We have all the people in place and all the equipment in place to really make this one of the great Kentucky Derby scenes of all-time."

SAM FLOOD ON BRAVO'S FRIDAY SHOW: "Doing the Oaks for the first time is very exciting for our group. In the past we have not covered that race, and now we have an hour-long special on Bravo that will include the Ladies' Day at the Derby. This will create a whole new feel and a whole new tone to Friday's telecast, so we're very excited about that and the folks at Churchill are really excited about moving the Oaks onto Bravo and showcasing the ladies."

NBCSPORTS.COM AT THE DERBY: NBCSports.com will live stream the tote board during the pre-race broadcast Saturday so fans can get up-to-the-minute information on the latest odds directly from Churchill Downs.
 
Additionally, NBCSports.com, in conjunction with Icue, will present a video-quiz application that tests knowledge of past Kentucky Derby winners and events, and is available on NBCSports.com and Facebook.

KENTUCKY DERBY ON ITUNES:  This year, for the first time, race fans can also purchase a Kentucky Derby race replay on the iTunes Store (www.iTunes.com).  Fans can buy a highlight package of the NBC Sports broadcast and "Run for the Roses: The Kentucky Derby and the Business of Horse Racing", a CNBC Original primetime program, for $1.99 each or a bundle of the two for $2.99.

SEE THE DERBY ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE: Users on the go can watch the Kentucky Derby live on their mobile phones exclusively through NBC 2Go and NBC Sports Mobile.  Plus, fans can watch exclusive video and race replays on-demand on NBC Sports Mobile Video (check your carrier for availability).
 
LUCKY U GAME: NBC Sports and Churchill Downs are joining together to present The Kentucky Derby Lucky U Game for the third consecutive year.  Last year, the Lucky U Game generated more than 500,000 entries.  Lucky U is a contest where a lucky fan can win a cash prize and a trip to the 2010 Kentucky Derby.  Once the field for the Derby is set on Wednesday, horse racing fans will be able to vote for the horse that they think will win.  The winner will receive $10,000 in cash and a 2010 Kentucky Derby VIP Experience provided by Churchill Downs, including tickets to the Derby, round-trip transportation, and accommodations. Viewers of NBC's Kentucky Derby broadcast and other horse racing fans will be invited to enter by sending a text message for their choice from their cell phone.  Standard text messaging charges apply.  Fans can also enter by going online to NBCSports.com/luckyu.

LADIES FIRST: BRAVO AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Bravo will feature the very best in food, fashion and the celebrity experience associated with the great spectacle of Kentucky Derby weekend including Kentucky Oaks 135 on "Ladies First: Bravo at the Kentucky Derby," a one-hour special produced by NBC Sports, LIVE this Friday at 5 p.m. ET/PT. The special, hosted by NBC's Costas, "Access Hollywood's" O'Dell, and "The Real Housewives of New York City's" Bethenny Frankel, daughter of horse trainer Bobby Frankel, celebrates a day for women and gives viewers a history on the fashion and festivities before and after the Oaks race. NBC's Barber will check-in live from the Infield Club with "Top Chef" series five finalist Stefan Richter, and season four and five "Top Chef" winners Stephanie Izard and Hosea Rosenberg. "Top Chef: The Tour," a state-of-the-art customized traveling kitchen with expansive space to accommodate cooks and fans alike, will make a special stop at the Kentucky Oaks – in the Infield Club.  

Frankel, a racing aficionado and best-selling author, will provide a female perspective to handicapping and betting at the Kentucky Oaks, and along with O'Dell will take viewers through the spectacular fashion and hats on display over the weekend.

KENTUCKY DERBY A RATINGS SUCCESS: NBC's coverage of the 2008 Kentucky Derby grabbed 11.5 million viewers, equaling its best delivery in six years. Since 2001 when the Kentucky Derby moved from ABC to NBC, average viewership has increased more than two million viewers (24 percent) over the previous eight years on ABC.  

KENTUCKY DERBY ON NBC: NBC Sports began its exclusive coverage of the Kentucky Derby, the longest continuously held sporting event in North America, in 2001.  In May 2005, NBC Sports and Churchill Downs Incorporated reached an agreement giving the network the exclusive broadcast rights to the Kentucky Derby beginning in 2006 and continuing through 2010.

NBC also looks at its NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage.

CROSBY VS. OVECHKIN, & DEFENDING CHAMPION RED WINGS HIGHLIGHT NBC SPORTS COVERAGE OF STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS THIS WEEKEND

Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals Saturday, 1 p.m. ET; Anaheim Ducks at Detroit Red Wings Sunday, 2 p.m. ET

“This series is star-power personified, just great for the game of hockey. – NBC’s McGuire

NEW YORK – April 30, 2009 – A marquee matchup between Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin, plus the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings headline NBC Sports' coverage of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs this weekend. Saturday, Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals will host Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins at 1 p.m. ET in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series. On Sunday at 2 p.m. ET, the Red Wings will host the Anaheim Ducks in Game 2 of their series. 

Mike "Doc" Emrick (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (analyst) and Pierre McGuire (inside-the-glass analyst) call the action (Darren Pang will fill in for McGuire Sunday in Detroit). McGuire and Pang will pull double duty, hosting NBC's studio show alongside analyst Mike Milbury on site in Washington and Detroit.

MCGUIRE ON PITTSBURGH-WASHINGTON: "This series is star-power personified, just great for the game of hockey. The big question is, will the Capitals have enough balance to deal with the Penguins? The X-factor is Jordan Staal for Pittsburgh and how well [Simeon] Varlamov plays. He played well but really wasn't tested in the Rangers series but you can be sure he will here. The Penguins are vicious on the forecheck and I wonder how Washington will cope with that."

MCGUIRE ON ANAHEIM-DETROIT: "I see a lot of problems for Anaheim in this series dealing with the waves that Detroit throws at you. They're going to have to get scoring beyond their first line and from the defense in order to compete."

CBC and TSN will switch NHL Playoff games in the second round.

2009 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS PROGRAMMING ADVISORY: CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA AND TSN EXCHANGE GAMES

CBC to broadcast Anaheim at Detroit, Game One on May 1;

TSN to broadcast Washington at Pittsburgh, Game Six on May 11

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA and TSN today announced updates to their respective broadcast schedules for Round Two of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs. CBC will air Game One of the Detroit / Anaheim series, live from Joe Louis Arena on Friday, May 1 at 7 p.m. ET, while TSN will broadcast Game Six of the Washington / Pittsburgh series on Monday, May 11 (time TBD). This exchange of games ensures Canadians will see all games from Round Two of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs nationally and in their entirety.

Mark Lee will handle play-by-play duties for the Anaheim at Detroit series opener on Friday, alongside analyst Garry Galley and rinkside reporter Elliotte Friedman. Ron MacLean hosts the entire evening, and will be joined by Kelly Hrudey and P.J. Stock, while Jeff Marek and Scott Morrison will be front and centre at the Stanley Cup I-Desk. Hockey fans can visit CBCSports.ca 24 hours a day, seven days a week for wall-to-wall coverage of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including live and on-demand video streaming of all games broadcast on CBC.

CBS Sports will air a NCAA Winter Championships special.

CBS SPORTS TO AIR NCAA WINTER SEASONAL SHOW SATURDAY, MAY 2 AT 2 PM ET

INDIANAPOLIS — For the seventh consecutive year, all 88 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships will receive television exposure, including 17 winter sports to be featured in a one-hour special. “CBS Sports Presents Championships of the NCAA” will air at 2 p.m. Eastern, 10 a.m. Pacific Saturday, May 2, on CBS Sports. The popular series continues on CBS as it features dozens of NCAA student-athletes following their dreams in fencing, ice hockey, indoor track & field, rifle, skiing, swimming & diving and wrestling. For the 2008-09 academic year, CBS Sports will feature half (44) of the NCAA’s 88 championships in its three seasonal shows.

The show focuses on the aspirations of several student-athletes pursuing their individual and team paths to various NCAA championships including:

· Senior wrestler Karl Voeck of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater details how his life experiences as a member of the United States Air Force in Iraq has had an impact on and off the wrestling mat, along with plenty of support from his wife Michaela. Voeck vies for the NCAA Division III title in the 197-pound weight class.

· Abilene Christian University (TX) senior Camille Vandendriessche, a native of Paris, France, is the defending NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field decathlon champion and a 2012 Olympic aspirant, and competes in the first-ever heptathlon at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships.

· Newberry College (NC) senior Cy Wainwright looks to complete an undefeated season as a heavyweight at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships.

· The three swimming Alexander sisters of Carleton College (MN), Becky, Kate and Maggie, all compete at the NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships.

· University of Wisconsin-La Crosse distance runner Dallas Vincent, who lost his mother to brain cancer last fall, is seeking to help his team earn its eighth national title in the last nine years.

Through the NCAA-CBS 11-year bundled rights agreement, CBS Sports has aired 19 seasonal shows from the three NCAA championship seasons (fall, winter, spring) over the last six years. The Saturday, May 2^nd show is the 20^th edition. Each seasonal show features highlights and unique NCAA student-athlete stories from a variety of NCAA Division II and III championships.

CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson will host this edition of CBS Sports Presents Championships of the NCAA. Wolfson is CBS Sports’ lead college football reporter, working with Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson. She has also served as a reporter for CBS Sports’ coverage of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship for the past six years. For the fourth consecutive year, the winter program was produced by Emmy-award winning producer Joseph E. Zappulla. This year’s winter show will again be broadcast entirely in High Definition. The feature producers for the show are Bill Thayer and Alanna Campbell.

For more information about NCAA championships, log on to www.NCAA.com.

Here’s what Golf Channel has in store for us from May 4 through 10.

COMING UP ON GOLF CHANNEL…May 4 – 10, 2009

More than 35 Hours of Live Tournament and News Coverage of THE PLAYERS

THE PLAYERS

GOLF CHANNEL will combine exclusive live tournament coverage with Live From THE PLAYERS news reporting for more than 35 hours of THE PLAYERS programming.

Thursday and Friday beginning at 1 p.m. ET, GOLF CHANNEL will air 12 hours of live coverage of THE PLAYERS. Brian Hammons will serve as play-by-play host, joined by Nick Faldo as lead analyst. Gary Koch and Bob Murphy will report from on-course towers; Roger Maltbie, Jimmy Roberts and Dottie Pepper will report from the course and show host Rich Lerner will set the scene for viewers at the beginning of the telecasts and also will conduct player interviews. At 9 p.m. ET, PGA TOUR Primetime will air a condensed three hour prime-time replay that will include bonus coverage not seen during the initial telecasts.

Originating from the 17^th hole at TPC Sawgrass, Live From THE PLAYERS, GOLF CHANNEL’s signature news show produced in HD, will go inside the ropes throughout the week with live news reports, authoritative analysis and compelling features from a variety of angles to provide viewers a comprehensive examination of THE PLAYERS.

Tuesday: Live From the Players will air Tiger Woods’ and Phil Mickelson’s news conferences live at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET, respectively. Coverage will continue from 2-4 p.m. ET with pre-event news conferences, hosted by Rich Lerner and Charlie Rymer. Live From THE PLAYERS will return with a two-hour show from 6-8 p.m. ET.

Wednesday: Live coverage of pre-tournament news conferences will air from 2 – 4:30 p.m. ET, including defending champion Sergio Garcia at 4 p.m. ET. Live From will return for a two-hour show from 6-8 p.m. ET to recap the day’s activities and preview Thursday’s opening round.

Thursday – Friday: Two-hour preview shows beginning at 11 a.m. ET, leading into GOLF CHANNEL’s live tournament coverage at 1 p.m. ET. Live From THE PLAYERS will recap the first two rounds beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

Saturday – Sunday: 90-minute preview shows beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET, leading into NBC Sports live coverage, followed by two-hour recap shows at 7 p.m. ET.

Live From THE PLAYERS broadcast team will include Vince Cellini, Rich Lerner, Steve Sands, Kelly Tilghman, Brandel Chamblee, Frank Nobilo, Charlie Rymer, Inga Hammond, Scott Walker, Adam Barr, Alex Miceli and John Hawkins. GolfChannel.com’s team of writers – Jay Coffin, Rex Hoggard and Randall Mell – will contribute to the network’s Live From coverage as well as daily stories, blogs and features online at www.GolfChannel.com.

Talk Show and Original Programming Highlights

Big Break Prince Edward Island

Monday at 9 p.m. ET, the competition begins to heat up and the pressure might be too much to handle for the contestants on a new episode of Big Break Prince Edward Island. The episode will feature the remaining 10 contestants competing head-to-head for immunity and $1,000 cash from Dick’s Sporting Goods, all the while trying to fend off elimination. Produced in high definition, the contestants are competing for a grand prize of $100,000 in cash. Hosted by Stina Sternberg and Charlie Rymer.

The Golf Fix (Special Guest, Charles Howell III)

Monday at 8 p.m. ET, PGA TOUR professional Charles Howell III will join host Michael Breed on The Golf Fix, GOLF CHANNEL’s half-hour, fast-paced interactive instructional show featuring call-ins and emails from viewers. Howell will discuss his preparation for THE PLAYERS. The Finau Brothers, Gipper and Tony, also will provide driving tips to hit the ball farther.

Best of THE PLAYERS (Premiere)

Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET at 9 p.m. ET, GOLF CHANNEL will preview THE PLAYERS, feature 2008 champion Sergio Garcia and re-air some of the top moments at TPC Sawgrass.

The Approach with Callaway Golf (100^th Episode)

Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, Andrew Magee and Alex Miceli will tackle the top storylines in golf from different perspectives, preview THE PLAYERS in an entertaining and informative manner and celebrate the show’s 100^th episode on The Approach with Callaway Golf. Taking place at TPC Sawgrass. Kraig Kann will serve as host and moderator.

Grey Goose 19^th Hole

Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, PGA TOUR Executive Vice President of Communications and International Affairs, Ty Votaw will join the Grey Goose 19^th Hole to discuss THE PLAYERS with host Vince Cellini and analysts John Hawkins and Jeff Rude on-site at TPC Sawgrass.

Live Tournaments Programming Highlights

BMW Italian Open

2010 European Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie and major champions John Daly and Paul Lawrie will headline the field at the 2009 BMW Italian Open on the European Tour. Thursday – Friday, live coverage will air from 9:30 – 11 a.m. ET, followed by three-hour coverage Saturday and Sunday starting at 9:30 a.m. ET.

And NFL Network has one reminder for us in regards to one program Friday night.

On The Road With NFL Total Access Airs Tomorrow at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT

On the Road with NFL Total Access (HD) takes cameras behind the scenes for NFL Network’s coverage of Thursday Night Football, chronicling the lives, antics and off-camera preparation of NFL experts and television personalities Rich Eisen, Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci and Warren Sapp. From games in Jacksonville and Dallas to every stop in between, On the Road with NFL Total Access gives viewers an inside look at what happens when the TV cameras are turned off and NFL Network personalities go off-stage.

Below is a link to a clip on NFL.com from the show of the crew sitting down for a Dec. 18 production meeting prior to the Colts-Jaguars game. In the clip, the conversation centers around Sapp and Sanders debating the unraveling of the Cowboys locker room and the truth and rumors from the situation.

Catch On The Road With NFL Total Access Friday at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT which encores airing at 11:00 PM and 2:00 AM ET.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d8100ca74/On-The-Road-With-Total-Access

Plenty of press releases today. Enjoy.

Three Press Releases from Wednesday to Post

I post these press releases for your approval.

First, the NFL Network gives us its schedule for the week.

NFL NETWORK PROGRAMMING NOTES (4/9-4/14)

INTERVIEW WITH FALCONS QUARTERBACK MATT RYAN ON NFL TOTAL ACCESS THURSDAY

Live Wire, Starting 11, & NFL Replay Encore 2008 Week 6 Action

Sunday Beginning at 1:00 PM ET

THIS WEEK ON NFL TOTAL ACCESS

Thursday, April 9

• Interview with Falcons QB Matt Ryan
• Dallas Morning News reporter Jean-Jacques Taylor in-studio
• ‘Draft Journey’ – An inside look at the journey to Draft Day for prospects Michael Crabtree, Matthew Stafford and Brian Cushing
• Brian Billick and Mike Mayock discuss the Rams’ and Seahawks’ draft needs

Friday, April 10

• Chargers radio announcer Hank Bauer in-studio
• Brian Billick and Mike Mayock discuss the 49ers’ and Cardinals’ draft needs

Monday, April 13

• Brian Billick and Mike Mayock discuss the Chiefs’ and Raiders’ draft needs

THIS WEEK ON PATH TO THE DRAFT

Thursday, April 9

• First Draft: Boston College DT B.J. Raji
• On the Clock: Cleveland Plain Dealer beat writer Mary Kay Cabot gives her take on the Browns’ draft needs.

Friday, April 10

• First Draft: Baylor OT Jason Smith

Monday, April 13

• First Draft: Penn State DE Aaron Maybin
• On the Clock: Al Walace, Sports Reporter for WDAF-TV in Kansas City, MO gives his take on the Chiefs draft needs.

Tuesday, April 14

• First Draft: USC LB Rey Maualuga

DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (all times listed are ET):

Thursday, April 9

1:00 PM – NFL Follies: Legends of the Follies (2007)

2:00 PM – Path to the Draft: Wednesday edition

2:30 PM – America’s Game: 1988 San Francisco 49ers (HD)

3:30 PM – America’s Game: 1989 San Francisco 49ers (HD)

4:30 PM – NFL Film Session: Lost Treasures #18 – The Press Box

5:30 PM – NFL Follies: Legends of the Follies (2007)

6:30 PM – Path to the Draft

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access

8:00 PM – NFL’s Greatest Games: 1958 NFL Championship – Baltimore Colts vs. New York Giants

9:30 PM – NFL’s Greatest Games: 1962 NFL Championship – Green Bay Packers vs. New York Giants

Friday, April 10

1:00 PM – NFL Follies: 21^st Century Follies (2000)

2:00 PM – Path to the Draft: Thursday edition

2:30 PM – NFL’s Greatest Games: 1958 NFL Championship – Baltimore Colts vs. New York Giants

4:00 PM – NFL’s Greatest Games: 1962 NFL Championship – Green Bay Packers vs. New York Giants

4:30 PM – NFL Film Session: Lost Treasures #4 – The American Football League

5:30 PM – NFL Follies: 21^st Century Follies (2000)

6:30 PM – Path to the Draft

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access

8:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Most Versatile

9:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Tight Ends

Saturday, April 11

Path to the Draft – Full Week Encore

10:00 AM – Path to the Draft: Monday edition

10:30 AM – Path to the Draft: Tuesday edition

11:00 AM – Path to the Draft: Wednesday edition

11:30 AM – Path to the Draft: Thursday edition

12 NOON – Path to the Draft: Friday edition

12:30 PM – Path to the Draft: Monday edition

1:00 PM – Path to the Draft: Tuesday edition

1:30 PM – Path to the Draft: Wednesday edition

2:00 PM – Path to the Draft: Thursday edition

2:30 PM – Path to the Draft: Friday edition

3:00 PM – America’s Game: 1988 San Francisco 49ers (HD)

4:00 PM – America’s Game: 1989 San Francisco 49ers (HD)

5:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Most Versatile

6:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Tight Ends

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access: Week in Review

8:00 PM – NFL Classic Games: 2002 AFC Divisional Playoff – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tennessee Titans (Jan. 11, 2003) (HD)

Sunday, April 12

9:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Pass Rushers

10:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Linebacking Corps

11:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Most Versatile

12 NOON – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Tight Ends

1:00 PM – NFL Replay Real Time: Week 6

2:00 PM – Live Wire: Week 6 (HD)

2:30 PM – Starting 11: Week 6 (HD)

3:00 PM – NFL Replay: Miami Dolphins vs. Houston Texans (2008, Week 6) (HD)

4:30 PM – NFL Replay: New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns (2008, Week 6) (HD)

6:00 PM – NFL Replay: Chicago Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons (2008, Week 6) (HD)

7:30 PM – NFL Replay: Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals (2008, Week 6) (HD)

9:00 PM – NFL Replay Real Time: Week 6

10:00 PM – Live Wire: Week 6 (HD)

10:30 PM – Starting 11: Week 6 (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Replay: Miami Dolphins vs. Houston Texans (2008, Week 6) (HD)

12:30 AM – NFL Replay: New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns (2008, Week 6) (HD)

2:00 AM – NFL Replay Real Time: Week 6

Monday, April 13

6:30 AM – NFL Replay: Miami Dolphins vs. Houston Texans (2008, Week 6) (HD)

8:00 AM – NFL Replay: New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns (2008, Week 6) (HD)

9:30 AM – NFL Replay: Chicago Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons (2008, Week 6) (HD)

11:00 AM – NFL Replay: Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals (2008, Week 6) (HD)

12:30 PM – NFL Replay: Miami Dolphins vs. Houston Texans (2008, Week 6) (HD)

2:00 PM – NFL Replay: New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns (2008, Week 6) (HD)

3:30 PM – NFL Replay: Chicago Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons (2008, Week 6) (HD)

5:00 PM – NFL Replay: Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals (2008, Week 6) (HD)

6:30 PM – Path to the Draft

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access

8:00 PM – Super Bowl Classics: Super Bowl XXXIV – St. Louis Rams vs. Tennessee Titans

Tuesday, April 14

11:00 AM –Super Bowl Classics: Super Bowl XXXIV – St. Louis Rams vs. Tennessee Titans

2:00 PM – Path to the Draft: Monday edition

2:30 PM – NFL Film Session: History of the Oakland Raiders

3:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Power Backs

4:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: One Shot Wonders

5:30 PM – NFL Film Session: History of the Oakland Raiders

6:30 PM – Path to the Draft

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access

8:00 PM – Game of the Week: 2005 AFC Divisional Playoff – New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos (HD)

9:00 PM – Game of the Week: 2005 NFC Divisional Playoff – Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears (HD)

You’ve probably seen this story all over the last 24 hours. TNT and NBA TV will use Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to engage fans during the NBA Playoffs.

Turner Sports Engages Fans Online Through Robust Social Media Campaign for 2009 NBA Playoffs

TNT and NBA TV announcers to be featured on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter

Turner Sports is unveiling a multiplatform marketing campaign that utilizes popular social media platforms YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to promote TNT’s ‘40 Games in 40 Nights’ coverage of the 2009 NBA Playoffs. TNT will have a significant presence on YouTube with a homepage takeover on Mon., April 20, featuring player-specific videos to promote the tune-in for the night’s match-ups as well as TNT messaged overlays on sports-related featured videos. Turner Sports will also feature a full court press on Facebook on Sun., April 19 with TNT NBA Playoffs messaging on sponsored ads, along with prominently placed topical promotional spots and a special promotion prompting Facebook users to ‘Become a Fan’ of the NBA on TNT Facebook page. Turner Sports will take over Yahoo! Sports’ main page on Sun., April 19, with all ads featuring TNT NBA Playoffs creative to drive fans to the network’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs.

Turner Sports will complement its robust social media marketing plan with a strong Twitter presence, featuring updates from popular announcers including TNT’s Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Craig Sager and NBA TV’s Chris Webber, Gary Payton, Steve Smith, Eric Snow and Rick Kamla. The hosts and analysts will ‘tweet’ on their individual pages beginning Tues., April 14 with regular updates, comments, thoughts and analysis that will feed to a main NBA TV Twitter profile and link to the National Basketball Association’s Twitter page. The ‘tweets’ will also feed into the NBA on TNT Facebook page. The Facebook and Twitter sites will be prominently featured on NBA.com and will receive on-air promotion on TNT and NBA TV.

Turner Sports’ NBA Playoffs marketing campaign is also supported by a comprehensive mix of advertising including heavy spot rotation by local cable operators in key markets, radio traffic sponsorships and DJ endorsements in 15 target markets, concentrated out-of-home messaging in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta and select print advertising in multiple national publications.

Did you know there’s an NCAA Bowling Championship? Now you do and ESPNU and ESPN2 will carry it this weekend!

NCAA Bowling Championship Live on ESPNU, ESPN2 and ESPN360.com Saturday

ESPNU, ESPN2 and ESPN360.com will provide live coverage of the NCAA Women’s Bowling Championship from Super Bowl Lanes in Canton, Mich., on Saturday, April 11 at 8 p.m. Beth Mowins and Carolyn Ballard will call the action. The eight-team field includes: Arkansas State University, Central Missouri University, Delaware State University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, defending champion University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, University of Nebraska, New Jersey City University and Vanderbilt University.

The NCAA Bowling Championship begins Thursday, April 9, with a qualifying round — four traditional team games and 20 Baker-style games (each team will have five players bowling two frames a piece to complete a ten-frame game). Total pinfall is then used to seed teams for best-of-seven, double-elimination Baker match play. Matches continue until a champion is crowned.

That’s it. I’ve caught up.

A Thursday Link Thing

I’m here. And the fallout from the John Tomase/Boston Herald/New England Patriots/Spygate story continues as fans wait to hear the explanation from Tomase as to why he chose to run his story the day before the Super Bowl.

David Scott of Boston Sports Media Watch who’s been doing a great job in covering this from the media’s perspective goes through his own analysis of the story.

Boston Herald editor Kevin Convey issues another apology on behalf of the paper. But the Herald’s Tony Massarotti throws salt on the wound.

Scott Benson from Patriots Daily hopes that John Tomase will do the right thing on Friday.

Newsday’s Neil Best has excerpts from the Matt Walsh interview that will be seen on HBO’s rebroadcast of Real Sports this Friday. Neil also has a rare Thursday column in which he talks about Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown and its successful marketing plan.

Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun wonders if Pats coach Bill Belichick will watch HBO tomorrow night.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle remembers a local sportscaster who recently passed away.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Bob Wolfley has comments from Tony Kornheiser who has left the Washington Post (scroll down).

The Biz of Baseball site reports that MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann will write a five part series on Topps baseball cards for Sports Collectors Digest.

Michael David Smith of the AOL Fanhouse blog looks into the ESPN.com-Bill Simmons dispute.

Tom Kubat of the Lafayette (IN) Journal & Courier says he wishes ESPN would end its obsession with the Red Sox.

Awful Announcing is not a fan of the new HBO Hard Knocks promo.

ESPN says it will have extensive coverage of the NCAA Division I Softball Championships starting tomorrow.

NBC Sports has announced a new service allowing fans to watch live sporting events on cell phones. And NBC Sports talks about its coverage of this Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.

CBS Sports is back on the PGA Tour this week with the AT&T Classic.

That’s it for now.

Monday Night Update

Let’s give you a few more links this evening. My real-time review of Real Sports will come tomorrow.

I will say the Lenny Dykstra story is just amazing. I’ll have the review on Tuesday.

My first link is from the former Executive Producer of the Score, WSKO-AM/FM in Providence, John Crowe. From his Crowe’s Nest blog, John talks about the unfortunate demise of the Score which came when parent company Citadel Broadcasting brought the hammer down on the sports radio station today. Now only WEEI-FM, a carpetbagging radio station from Boston will have the Providence market to itself. Fans of Providence College, the University of Rhode Island and Brown University will not have an outlet to talk sports as WEEI just focuses on the Patriots and Red Sox. It’s a sad day, but Citadel will tell you the station was not performing well in the ratings nor financially. But the station had a loyal listenership and may have not been performing as well as WEEI, but it had its fans. I do hope that the staff that was let go will be able to find work.

David Scott of Boston Sports Media Watch has his thoughts on the Score’s demise. Art Martone, sports editor of the Providence Journal had a story as it broke this afternoon.

One of the mainstays of the aforementioned WEEI, Glenn Ordway announced today that his baby daughter who experienced physical trauma during her birth is recovering and could have a normal life. That is definitely good news.

Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune says a deal between the Big Ten Network and Comcast could come anytime now. Jeff Richgels from the Capital (WI) Times reports that a framework for a deal is set.

The Eye on Sports Media blog has information on the NCAA D-II and D-III men’s and women’s basketball championships, which network will air them and when.

NCAAsports.com has now relaunched as NCAA.com.

SI.com picks up an Associated Press story which says Dish Network has picked up CST, the cable home of the New Orleans Hornets, and civic leaders are now appealing to DirecTV to do the same.

TV Week’s Chris Pursell writes in his Pressbox blog that NBA TV ratings are going through the roof.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News says ESPN Deportes will be added to Time Warner Cable’s lineup in Los Angeles. Mike Reynolds of Multichannel writes that CBS College Sports Network is expanding its reach for its video on demand March Madness highlights package. And Multichannel tells us that Versus has begun its NHL Stanley Cup ad campaign.

Alex Weprin of Broadcasting & Cable says NASCAR and Family Circle magazine are teaming up for a syndicated TV show focused on cooking.

Brad Stone of the New York Times reports that Hulu.com, the joint venture from NBC and Fox, is now out of Beta and will officially launch on Wednesday with not only programming from NBC, Fox and Warner, but also with NBA, NHL and NCAA basketball highlights.

The NFL Network has announced that former GM and current CBS NFL Insider Charley Casserly will be part of its NFL Draft coverage in April.

CHARLEY CASSERLY JOINS NFL NETWORK’S DRAFT COVERAGE

OFFERS GENERAL MANAGER’S PERSPECTIVE ON

“PATH TO THE DRAFT” & THROUGHOUT DRAFT WEEK

Charley Casserly, a 24-year executive for the Washington Redskins and Houston Texans, joins NFL Network’s NFL Draft coverage, it was announced today.

Casserly will offer his analysis on Path to the Draft twice each week at 6:30 PM ET before spending all of Draft week in NFL Network’s Los Angeles studios, where he will contribute to Path to the Draft and NFL Total Access as well as NFL Network’s gavel-to-gavel NFL Draft coverage on April 26-27.

“We continue to deepen our roster with year round draft experts,” said NFL Network executive producer Eric Weinberger. “Charley knows talent.”

During the NFL season, Casserly serves as the “General Manager” for CBS’ The NFL Today pregame show.

Prior to joining CBS Sports in 2006, Casserly spent six years as senior vice president and general manager of the Houston Texans. In Casserly’s final draft with the team in 2006, the Texans selected defensive end Mario Williams with the first overall pick and linebacker DeMeco Ryans with the first pick in the second round. Williams tied for third in the NFL with 14 sacks last season (including 10 sacks in his last seven games), while Ryans earned a trip to the 2008 Pro Bowl.

Casserly earned three Super Bowl rings with the Washington Redskins prior to joining the Texans and twice served on the NFL Competition Committee (2003-06; 1996-1999).

This has nothing to do with sports, but fans of The WB can see its old shows on a website as John Consoli of Mediaweek tells us.

That will do it.

The Monday Links

Here we are, back to work and time to give you some links.

First, David Scott of Boston Sports Media Watch tells us that Tina Cervasio was seen on NBC Sports this weekend. I wish I had seen her. By the way, Boston Sports Media Watch is going through a redesign and a new server. The new web page looks quite good and Bruce Allen who runs the site does a fantastic job running the site and was the first to provide links to stories relating to Boston sports. He’s the website that many of us amateur bloggers aspire to be.

Next, Michael Hiestand of USA Today tells us that the roles of sideline reporters Suzy Kolber and Michelle Tafoya on Monday Night Football are going to be reduced.

Phil Swann of the TV Predictions website says ESPN plans to expand its HD coverage in 2008.

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick says it was wrong of several Congressmen to have had their picture taken with Roger Clemens, several days before he was to testify in DC this week.

Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun gives us a couple of recommended links in his Medium Well blog.

Rocky Saunders of the Rocky Mountain News laments the end of Inside the NFL on HBO.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell gives us the top selling NFL jerseys.

CBS Sports says all 63 games of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament will be available online for the first time ever.

John Dempsey of Variety says Oxygen will air 20 hours of gymnastics coverage during the Summer Olympics.

You may have seen the video and Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union certainly has, but he says ESPN used restraint when showing the horrific moment when Florida Panthers defenseman Richard Zednik had his throat accidentally cut during the game against the Buffalo Sabres last night.

Laura Drake of the Ottawa Citizen writes that a Canadian band is trying to confirm one of its songs was used in the Fox Super Bowl pregame show.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star says NBC is looking to produce a new reality show on curling featuring rock stars. You read that right. And Zelkovich says CBC was on its game during Hockey Day in Canada.

However, William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail feels CBC went too far. The Globe and Mail reports that Red Wings TV analyst Mickey Redmond is going surgery to remove a tumor on his lung.

That’s going to do it for now.

Thursday Night Linkage

I was out at a job site all day preventing me from giving you links today. I’ll give them to you tonight. I did get back in time to give you video of the Kelly Tilghman apology on the Golf Channel and I just saw the re-air as the 1st Round of the Buick Invitational and it’s contrite and short. Hopefully, that will be the end of the story. But as Kelly returns, we find the Dana Jacobsen controversy just won’t go away.

The Big Lead blog contacted Scott Cronick of the Atlantic City Press who covered the Mike & Mike Celebrity Roast earlier this month. He tells the blog that Jacobsen never said “F*ck Jesus!” as the Catholic League and Christian Defense Coalition have said. The Sports Media Watch blog reports that the Christian Defense Coalition will hold a demonstration and prayer vigil outside ESPN headquarters demanding that Jacobsen be fired. Here’s the press release from the Christian Defense Coalition on the protest. The Albany Times Union’s Pete Dougherty writes in his Best Seat in My House blog that Jacobsen’s suspension should be longer than a week. Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News writes in his Farther Off the Wall blog that Jacobsen is paying the price in more ways than one. Michael Hiestand of USA Today in a rare Thursday column chimes in on the Jacobsen controversy.

Moving onto other subjects, Hoffarth has the text of Kelly Tilghman’s apology. In his golf blog, the Chicago Tribune’s Ed Sherman says there was an audio glitch when Tilghman was stating her apology (which was corrected in the primetime airing). World Golf News has a press release from Golfweek announcing a new editor replacing David Seanor who was fired after the noose cover controversy last week.

Newsday’s Neil Best writes in his blog that WFAN’s Mike Francesca has signed a long term deal with the station.

Jim Williams of the DC/Baltimore Examiner writes in his blog that the NFL has 13 of the 15 most watched TV shows this season. That’s impressive.

Joanne C. Gerstner of the Detroit News is bored with the Big Ten Network/Comcast dispute.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman talks with ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla who will call the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State game with Ron Franklin on Monday night. Bracht has his weekly media notebook. He also lists the TV ratings for the past week. And Bracht gives his viewing picks for the next few days.

Shawn Courchesne of the Hartford Courant says ESPN will run a five part series on Dale Earnhardt, Jr. moving to a new racing team for the upcoming NASCAR season.

Robert Crow from the Southern Illinoisan writes that ESPN’s College Gameday will be broadcasting live from the SIU Arena in advance of the game against Creighton Saturday night.

John Eggerton from Broadcasting & Cable magazine reports that CSTV.com and USAToday.com are teaming up to form an online alliance.

The NCAA is proud of TV ratings and attendance for college football during the regular season and college bowls.

Greg Stiles of the Mail Tribune (OR) writes that a new sports radio station will pop up in the local area and will include Dan Patrick in its programming.

That will do it for tonight. Friday megalinks coming up in the morning.

Videos of the Week

I forgot to post Videos of the Week! Well, since NFL season is coming up, that means we’ll be blessed or forced to listen to certain announcers. I’ve found that CBS’ crew for the AFC has been quite enjoyable since it returned to the NFL in 1998. Jim Nantz is ok, but guys like Greg Gumbel, Dick Enberg, Ian Eagle and Don Criqui are all experienced and give you the nuts and bolts of the game. And one guy who was hired by CBS in 1996 and made a mark by first doing the NCAA Tournament and then college football, was Screamin’ Gus Johnson. Gus has been teamed with Brent Jones and Solomon Wilcotts. But he’s really made his name with classic calls of last second baskets during the NCAA Tournament.

Here’s a retrospective CBS put together in 2006 of its 25 years of broadcasting the tourney and Gus talks about doing the UCLA-Princeton game in which the Tigers upset the then-defending National Champions in the first round.

Ten years later, Gus had the opportunity to call UCLA-Gonzaga in which the Bruins came back to beat the Zags and Johnson had a great call. Here are the final 40.8 seconds. And see Adam Morrison cry like Amber on Big Brother 8.

And this is Greg Gumbel’s reaction to the call.

From this year’s tournament, Gus’ various calls from the first and second round sub-regional in Lexington, KY.

And probably the most famous call “The slipper still fits!” Gonzaga beats Florida in 1999.

It’ll be nice to have Gus back in the saddle for CBS when the tournament returns in March.

Comparing Goofner to Trup

Last night, I was able to listen to both former Red Sox announcer Jerry Trupiano and one of his replacements, Glenn “3 x 5″ Geffner. Thanks to Sirius Satellite Radio, I was able to listen to the College World Series from Westwood One’s NCAA Radio Network. Kevin Kugler and Trup were on the call. For about half an hour, the Oregon State-North Carolina broadcast overlapped with the Red Sox-Padres game on WEEI-FM. The College World Series game was in the 7th inning and the Red Sox-Padres game broadcast was just starting with Goofner and Joe Castiglione at the mike.

Trup was doing color and doing his usual corny jokes, but it was like listening to old friend. Trup was comfortable behind the mike. He was able to pick up certain nuances like pitcher’s arm slots (comes with experience). And it appeared that he meshed well with Kugler who usually works for 1620 The Zone in Omaha.

In the first two innings of the Red Sox-Padres game, Geffner was able to bring some insight into the trading of Doug Mirabelli from the Padres to the Red Sox last season. Instead of reading off 3 x 5 notecards (hence the nickname, “3 x5″), Goof actually sounded authoritative, something he had been lacking all season. But to this blogger, Joe Castiglione went on with his call of the game, not really responding to Geffner (lack of respect perhaps?).

Back to the College World Series, Trup was looking into the possibility of a North Carolina comeback. Down 10-3, the Tar Heels got a home run in the 8th inning and had two men on. Trup said the last thing North Carolina needed was a double play and the next pitch was indeed a 5-4-3 twin killing. Kugler and Trup said for all intents and purposes, the night was done for UNC. Both looked forward for Game 2 and discussed what the Tar Heels had to do to remain in the series. And their chemistry made it sound as if they had been working together for several years. In fact, I enjoyed Kugler and I think he has a potential to make it to the bigs someday.

Over to the Red Sox and the 3rd inning, it seemed Joe decided to take it off and let Geffner do the inning solo. This is where any goodwill that I had for Goof left the building. His play-by-play was weak. He was not strong and did not identify pitches. In fact, he was behind several plays. This is where I could see San Diego Padres lead announcer Jerry Coleman not having any respect for him.

By the time I switched back to the College WS, the game was over, but Westwood One was replaying highlights. One was Trup’s call of a Oregon State rally. There were no home runs so I could not hear, “Way back! Way back!”, but maybe tonight. If you don’t have Sirius Satellite Radio or have a radio station near you that carries the CWS, you can listen to live streaming from NCAA Sports.com, so you can listen to Trup once again.

I finally decided to turn on NESN to get a quality call of the game rather than subject myself to listening to the Goof. While the game turned out to be a downer, at least I could enjoy Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy without having to worry whether I would hear information read off a 3 x 5 notecard.