The press releases keep coming in. I’ve had more press releases than links today, but I’ll make up for that tonight with plenty of linkage. Let’s give you a couple from Golf Channel.
First, we have a preview of the next episode of “The Haney Project”. That’s the show where Charles Barkley tries to improve his golf swing.
Barkley Gains Confidence on Next Episode of
The Haney Project on GOLF CHANNEL
ORLANDO, Fla. (March 12, 2009) – The Haney Project, golf’s craziest experiment, continues Monday at 9 p.m. ET on GOLF CHANNEL when Charles Barkley’s efforts to recapture a golf game on the loose gets some encouraging words from famous friends, while Hank Haney sees a little light at the end of the tunnel.
Although Barkley says the regimented practice sessions and swing thoughts Haney has been drilling into his head are starting to haunt him in the night – the words “flatter, flatter” ringing in his head – their reunion starts on a positive note when Haney sees improvement in Barkley’s motion and knows he’s been practicing on his own.
Out on the range at Haney’s home course, Vaquero Golf Club in suburban Dallas, former NHL star Brett Hull, PGA TOUR pro Tommy Armour III, CBS golf commentator David Feherty and actor/comedian George Lopez stop by to witness the carnage but are surprised at what they see. “Haney’s a genius!” says Feherty.
When the duo takes it to the golf course, the confidence Barkley gained on the range translates to trash talk, which doesn’t slip the notice of Haney. “I can go from basket case to cocky in zero to 60,” says Barkley. But old habits die hard and Barkley’s infamous swing hitch again rears its ugly head.
Later, Haney and Barkley visit The Oven, Nike’s research and design facility to give Charles his first-ever club fitting. Then, it’s back to the Hank Haney Golf Ranch for more drills, with a surprise visit by PGA TOUR pro Colt Knost, who has some fun at Barkley’s expense.
The Haney Project follows the world’s best golf instructor, Hank Haney, in his attempt to fix the world’s ugliest swing. The seven-part series air Mondays at 9 p.m. ET, when Barkley allows cameras to chronicle a game gone south and follow Haney’s efforts to improve a swing that has been laughed at by millions and ridiculed by his closest friends.
Next, Golf Channel has coverage of the Tavistock Cup next week.
Tavistock Cup Returns to Lake Nona
GOLF CHANNEL Offers Only Chance to Watch
ORLANDO, Fla. (March 12, 2009) – Airing live from Lake Nona in Orlando, Fla., GOLF CHANNEL will telecast over 18 hours of exclusive coverage of the Tavistock Cup Monday and Tuesday from noon – 5 p.m. ET with prime-time airings each evening.
With both pride and bragging rights on the line, the Tavistock Cup pits Isleworth Golf & Country Club against Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in a match-play competition. Mark O’Meara’s 10-member Isleworth team will be highlighted by 14-time major winner Tiger Woods while Ernie Els’ Lake Nona squad will feature 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman. To date, the golf professional members of Isleworth and Lake Nona have won a combined total of 53 major championships and more than 710 victories worldwide.
With the Tavistock Cup closed to the public, GOLF CHANNEL is the only way to watch 20 of the world’s top golfers revive a friendly feud between the two elite country clubs. Covering the action will be host Rich Lerner and analyst Peter Oosterhuis. GOLF CHANNEL’s Jerry Foltz will be joined by CBS Sports’ David Feherty and Gary McCord reporting from the course.
Isl
eworth Country Club RosterLake Nona Country Club Roster
Mark O’Meara – Captain
Ernie Els – Captain
Robert Allenby
Ben Curtis
Stuart Appleby
Chris DiMarco
Darren Clarke
Retief Goosen
Daniel Chopra
Trevor Immelman
John Cook
Graeme McDowell
J.B. Holmes
Mark McNulty
Charles Howell III
Ian Poulter
Nick O’Hern
Justin Rose
Tiger Woods
Henrik Stenson
Celebrating its sixth year, the Tavistock Cup is a unique interclub competition pitting the golf professional members of Isleworth against their counterparts at Lake Nona. Team Isleworth claimed the inaugural Tavistock Cup in 2004 at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club. Following a sudden-death playoff that resulted in a tie in 2005, Team Isleworth was victorious again in 2006. Team Lake Nona’s home course advantage helped clinch its first Tavistock Cup victory in 2007. Last year, Tavistock Cup rookie J.B. Holmes helped lead Team Isleworth to its third victory.
The Orlando, Fla. – area Isleworth and Lake Nona Country Clubs are two of the most exclusive country clubs in the world, and each counts some of the world’s top professional golfers among their residents.
TAVISTOCK CUP
GOLF CHANNEL TV Times
(All times ET)
Monday (March 16), Noon – 5 p.m (Live) / 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. (Replay) / 9:30 – 11:30 p.m. (Replay Continues)
Tuesday (March 17) Noon – 5 p.m. (Live) / 7:30 p.m. – 11:30 (Replay)
Tonight, Comcast SportsNet New England will discuss Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon’s his comments on Manny Ramirez.
In defense of his comments on former Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez, All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon sent Comcast SportsNet a text message reaffirming the comments that he made to Esquire Magazine.
Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight host Gary Tanguay posted the following on Comcast SportsNet.com:
“That old news story was 4 months ago. I’m not saying anything else, but I’m also not taking back anything I have said already.” – Jonathan Papelbon
In his post, Gary also notes that AL MVP Dustin Pedroia shared his candid comments on Manny during Spring Training (3:50 into video). Gary’s full post and the Pedroia interview can be viewed at http://newengland.comcastsportsnet.com/wickedgoodsports/red-sox/papelbon-sticking-by-his-statement/.
Tanguay and co-host Michael Felger will discuss Papelbon’s comments tonight at 6:30 on Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight.
Next, ESPN has released its schedule for Major League Soccer. I’m sure many of you are jumping for joy.
ESPN’s 2009 Major League Soccer Schedule
ESPN’s coverage of the 14th Major League Soccer season will kickoff with the live telecast of Seattle Sounders FC’s first match as the expansion club hosts 2008 MLS Cup finalist New York Red Bulls led by Juan Pablo Angel, Thursday, March 19 at 9 p.m. ET, from Qwest Field in Seattle, Wash., on ESPN2 (ESPN Deportes at 10 p.m. PT). ESPN’s lead MLS commentator team JP Dellacamera (play-by-play) and John Harkes (analyst) will call the match, joined in the studio by Rob Stone (host) and Alexi Lalas (analyst). The telecast will mark the debut of ESPN MLS Game of the Week, the network’s season-long presentation of the top professional soccer league in the U.S. Throughout the season, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes Radio will combine to present live coverage of MLS matches, and ESPN360.com will simulcast the English language telecasts.
2009 ESPN MLS GAME OF THE WEEK SCHEDULE
All Times Eastern; Schedule Subject To Change
Date Air (ET) Networks Match
Thu 3/19 9 p.m. E2/360 New York Red Bulls at Seattle Sounders***
Thu 4/2 9 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 Columbus Crew at Real Salt Lake***
Sat 4/11 10:30 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 Chivas USA at Los Angeles Galaxy
Fri 4/17 7 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 New England Revolution at DC United
Thu 4/23 8 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 New York Red Bulls at Kansas City Wizards
Sat 5/9 9 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 Dallas FC at Houston Dynamo
Thu 5/28 10:30 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 Chicago Fire at Chivas USA***
Thu 6/4 7:30 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 New York Red Bulls at DC United
Wed 6/10 8:30 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 Chivas USA at Houston Dynamo
Wed 6/17 11 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 DC United at Seattle Sounders
Sat 6/20 4 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 Los Angeles Galaxy at San Jose Earthquakes
Sun 6/28 11 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 Houston Dynamo at Los Angeles Galaxy
Sat 7/4 7 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 DC United at Columbus Crew
Sat 7/11 8 p.m. ABC/ABC HD Columbus Crew at Chicago Fire
Sat 7/18 1 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 Houston Dynamo at Toronto FC
Sat 7/18 3 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 Chelsea FC at Seattle Sounders++
Thu 7/25 3 p.m. E1/ED/EDR/360 Chicago Fire at Seattle Sounders
Wed 7/29 9:30 p.m. ESPN2/360 MLS ALL-STAR GAME – SALT LAKE CITY***
Thu 8/6 8 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 Houston Dynamo at Dallas FC
Wed 8/19 9 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 Los Angeles Galaxy at Chicago Fire
Thu 8/20 10 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 New England Revolution at Seattle Sounders
Sat 8/29 11 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 Los Angeles Galaxy at Chivas USA
Fri 9/18 11 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 Colorado Rapids at San Jose Earthquakes
Fri 10/2 11 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 Chicago Fire at Los Angeles Galaxy
Wed 10/7 10 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 Dallas FC at San Jose Earthquakes
Wed 10/14 10 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 New York Red Bulls at Real Salt Lake***
Thu 10/22 8 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 Chivas USA at Chicago Fire***
Thu 10/29 9 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 MLS Playoffs***
Sun 11/1 4:30 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 MLS Playoffs***
Thu 11/5 10 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 MLS Playoffs***
Sun 11/8 4:30 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 MLS Playoffs***
Thu 11/12 10 p.m. E2/ED/EDR/360 MLS Playoffs***
Sun 11/22 8:30 p.m. ESPN/360 MLS Cup in Seattle, Wash.***
Most matches available on ESPN2 HD
*** – “ESPN Soccernet.com pre- and post-game window”; ++ — MLS International Friendly
ED – ESPN Deportes; EDR – ESPN Deportes Radio; 360 – ESPN360.com
That’s it for now.
