Some Press Release Reading For You

I’ll provide some press releases for you on this Thanksgiving Eve.

First, HBO previews the third installment of De La Hoya/Pacquaio 24/7.

DE LA HOYA/PACQUIAO 24/7 NOV. 30 EPISODE

Episode #3

Debut date: SUNDAY, NOV. 30 (8:30-9:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Both camps pause for the Thanksgiving holiday; training intensifies as the Dec. 6 welterweight showdown between Oscar de la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao draws near.

CBS Sports previews what Bill Cowher will talk about on The NFL Today this Sunday. Plus, a Victoria’s Secret model comes in to hype the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show special on CBS next week.

BILL COWHER DELVES INTO HIS LAB TO EXPERIMENT ON HOW TO CHANGE THE NFL FOR WEEK 13 OF “THE NFL TODAY” ON SUNDAY, NOV. 30

Also, The “Secret” is Out – “Victoria’s” Selita Ebanks Visits THE NFL TODAY Set

THE NFL ON CBS, broadcasting its 49th year of the NFL, continues its 2008 NFL season broadcast schedule on Sunday, Nov. 30 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET). After successfully diagramming how the Jets could knock off the Titans last week, THE NFL TODAY’s Bill Cowher goes into his laboratory to experiment on how to change the NFL. His tinkering includes everything from narrowing the goal-posts to changing overtime to making referees more accountable. Nothing is safe from “Dr. Cowher’s” scrutiny. Jeff St. Arromand is the producer.

In addition, the secret is out as Victoria’s Secret supermodel Selita Ebanks joins the guys live on the set to help them with their NFL picks.

We get a preview of Sunday Night Football from NBC Sports.

A BATTLE FOR FIRST PLACE IN THE NFC NORTH AS BEARS AND VIKINGS CLASH ON “NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL”

NEW YORK – Nov. 26, 2008 – “NBC Sunday Night Football,” in its third season as the NFL’s premier primetime package, heads to Minneapolis as Adrian Peterson and the Vikings (6-5) host Brian Urlacher and the Bears (6-5) in a battle of the two teams atop the NFC North.

Al Michaels (play-by-play), John Madden (analyst) and Andrea Kremer (sideline reporter) call the action. Coverage on NBC begins at 7 p.m. ET with “Football Night in America,” with Bob Costas (host), Cris Collinsworth (co-host) Keith Olbermann (co-host), Dan Patrick (co-host), Jerome Bettis (analyst), Tiki Barber (analyst) and Peter King (reporter).

MADDEN ON THE RIVALRY: “It’s going to be a typical old Central Division game. You’re going to get a lot of defense and a lot of emotion. They are playing for first place and that’s what it’s all about. There’s nothing like the end of the season with division rivals tied for the lead.”

BEARS-VIKINGS IN PRIMETIME: The Bears are making their second 2008 appearance on NBC “Sunday Night Football.” In Week 4, the Bears defeated the Eagles 24-20 at Soldier Field. They are now 4-2 overall since the NFL’s premier primetime package moved to NBC in 2006. This marks the Vikings first “NBC SNF” appearance this season and their second all-time. Last season in Week 16 they lost to the Redskins 32-21 in a flex game.

BEARS VS. VIKINGS: This is the 95th meeting between these two franchises in a rivalry that dates back to 1961 with the Vikings holding a 50-42-2 series lead. The Vikings and Bears met in Week 7 in Chicago with the Bears winning a thriller 47-41. In that game Bears QB Kyle Orton threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns while the Bears defense intercepted Vikings QB Gus Frerotte four times.

On Saturday, NBC broadcasts the annual Bayou Classic between Grambling State and Southern University from New Orleans.

GRAMBLING MEETS SOUTHERN IN STATE FARM BAYOU CLASSIC SATURDAY ON NBC

NEW YORK – November 26, 2008 – A Thanksgiving weekend tradition continues as NBC Sports, for the 18th consecutive year, presents the State Farm Bayou Classic between Southern University and Grambling State, Saturday, 2 p.m. ET from the Louisiana Superdome. Lewis Johnson will host NBC’s coverage. Bob Papa provides play-by-play alongside analyst Don McPherson, joined by Charles Davis and Derrin Horton.

The first ever Bayou Classic was played in New Orleans’ Tulane Stadium in 1974 and Southern leads the all-time series 18-16. The teams have split the last four contests with Southern winning last year’s Classic 22-13.

One of the highlights of NBC’s broadcast is the renowned halftime show, during which the marching bands of both Southern University and Grambling State University put on an exciting display of talent. Weaved throughout the broadcast will be interviews with the head coaches and drum line battles between the bands.

This is what’s on tap for ESPN’s Sunday and Monday NFL pregame shows.

ESPN’s Sunday and Monday NFL Studio Features

ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown will preview Sunday’s games beginning at 11 a.m. ET with Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson. Chris Mortensen will also provide headlines and league news, and Steve Young will contribute his weekly Sunday segment, “Young is Restless.”

The program will include reports from Sal Paolantonio covering the New York Giants at the Washington Redskins, Wendi Nix at the Steelers-Patriots game, and Bob Holtzman covering the New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers game.

Other highlights:

Pass Rushers
An NFL game averages 70 pass plays and only four sacks. The job of a pass rusher involves overcoming numerous failures before achieving the desired goal – taking down the quarterback. Countdown’s Tom Jackson turns to the best pass rushers from the past (Deacon Jones, Bruce Smith) and present (Jason Taylor, Dwight Freeney, DeMarcus Ware, Jared Allen) to share the secrets of the sack.

“Crazy Train” Patriots
What do the New England Patriots have in common with the “Prince of Darkness,” Ozzy Osbourne? Apparently, a lot. The team has a pre-game ritual of entering the field to the music of Osbourne’s classic “Crazy Train,” and Osbourne performed the song live prior the Patriots’ 2005 home opener. Reporter Chris Connelly interviews New England players and Osbourne to find out why the song has become the Patriots’ anthem.

Mayne Event: Drew Brees Soundtracks
In this week’s “Mayne Event,” Kenny Mayne presents mock soundtracks – in-game audio – from New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees during the Packers-Saints Monday Night Football game. This comical adaptation of the NFL Films critically acclaimed feature will mix audio from Mayne, pretending to be Brees, with highlights of game action.

Virtual Playbook: Falcons Michael Turner vs. the Chargers Defense
In Virtual Playbook, Cris Carter breaks down how Falcons running back Michael Turner will attack his old teammates on the San Diego defense.

Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em with Matthew Berry and Merril Hoge
ESPN’s fantasy football guru Matthew Berry and NFL analyst Merril Hoge preview which players to start or sit Sunday in “Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em” including, weekly trends and sleepers in the NFL. Berman, Carter, Ditka, Jackson and Johnson will pick the biggest games of the day and tell fans which players will make the biggest impact in NFL’s Week 13 action.

Additional segments include “Ditka’s Doghouse,” where the erstwhile mercurial NFL head coach Mike Ditka sends an NFL player his doghouse; and “Sunday Stretch,” which previews some of the day’s key matchups and players as they warm up for their games.

MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN, 7 P.M. ON ESPN

Monday Night Countdown with Chris Berman, Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, and Chris Mortensen (in Bristol) and Stuart Scott, Young and Emmitt Smith (at the MNF game in Houston) will review Sunday’s games and preview Monday Night Football.

The 90-minute, pre-game show will lead into the kickoff of the Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans game (8:30 p.m.), featuring Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Tony Kornheiser. Reporter Suzy Kolber (Jaguars) and Michele Tafoya (Texans) will cover the teams.

Other highlights:

“Unmasked:” Andre Johnson
Andre Johnson may be the best wide receiver in the NFL. He leads the league in receptions and receiving yards. In this week’s “Unmasked,” Countdown takes viewers inside the helmet to meet the Texans’ wide receiver.

ESPN the Magazine’s “For Love or the Game:” Texans Ephraim Salaam and Chester Pitts
Famous for their Super Bowl ad and appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Houston teammates Ephraim Salaam and Chester Pitts will be the subject of Monday’s ESPN the Magazine’s “For Love or the Game,” a Countdown segment that pairs a player or coach with a member of his family and a teammate to find out which person knows more about him. Salaam’s wife, Renece, a former dancer for music stars Beyonce and Ricky Martin, and Pitts battle to see who really knows Salaam better.

WEEKLY MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN SEGMENTS FIELD PASS – Countdown offers an all-access look at pre-game preparations as the players get ready for kickoff. Analysts will also breakdown the important storylines and key players before the game.

TEAMS AT 20 – Every 20 minutes reporters Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya will update news from the teams in their preparations for the game, beginning with NFL Live at 3:30 p.m.

In addition, Monday Night Football’s Tirico, Jaworski and Kornheiser will preview the night’s match-up, with Mortensen covering breaking news from around the league and the Countdown analysts offering their “Lead Pipe Lock” predictions for the game.

ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike will broadcast live from Dallas’ Medical City Children’s Hospital next Tuesday as part of Jimmy V Week.

Mike and Mike to Broadcast from Dallas-area Hospital Tuesday

ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning (6-10 a.m.) will originate from Dallas’ Medical City Children’s Hospital on Tuesday, Dec. 2, the result of a matching bid during the fourth annual ESPN Radio “Don’t Ever Give Up ESPYs V Foundation Auction,” on behalf of The V Foundation for Cancer Research. Listeners bid to host co-hosts Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg who would broadcast their show from the winner’s home. The winning total was matched by two officials from the hospital who made personal contributions to have the show originate from the hospital for its patients. Additionally, Golic and Greenberg will visit the hospital to meet with patients Monday afternoon.

That’s going to do it for now. I have an update brewing for you next.