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Stuff for Next Week

Posted by on Jan 30, 2010 01:30

I have some releases for next week’s programming so instead of letting them pile up and take up space in the Fang’s Bites inbox, let’s post them now so I can free up room.

I’ll begin with ESPN2’s season premiere of NASCAR Now on Monday.

ESPN2’s NASCAR Now Returns Feb. 1

Daily NASCAR News Program Originating from Daytona Feb. 8-14

ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program NASCAR Now returns for its fourth season on Monday, Feb. 1, at 5 p.m. ET, to coincide with the beginning of the 2010 NASCAR season. The program includes highlights, opinion, debate, analysis and the latest news from drivers, crew chiefs and insiders.
 
With hosts Nicole Briscoe, Mike Massaro and Allen Bestwick, NASCAR Now originates from ESPN’s high definition studios in Bristol, Conn., with reporters and analysts checking in from locations around the country wherever NASCAR news is happening. In addition to reports from races, NASCAR Now reporters also visit race shops and special events.
 
The program regularly airs at 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with all weekday programs 30 minutes except for a one-hour Monday roundtable discussion edition with ESPN analysts and reporters. ESPN2 also airs an hour-long edition at 9 a.m. on the morning of each NASCAR Sprint Cup race, and a weekend wrap-up edition will begin in July.
 
NASCAR Now will originate from Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., site of the NASCAR season-opening Daytona 500, with special hour-long programs Feb. 8-14. Massaro will host the first week of episodes beginning Feb. 1, with Briscoe reporting from Daytona starting Feb. 4.
 
The first two weeks of the program will include a focus on the top 10 teams in the sport, looking back at the 2009 season and looking ahead to 2010 with predictions from ESPN analysts. In addition, the first week of the program will feature drivers of the decades, starting on Feb. 1 with drivers from the 1960s.
 
The NASCAR Now team also includes Terry Blount, motorsports writer for ESPN.com; analyst Tim Brewer,Angelique Chengelis, Detroit News writer and columnist; D.J. Copp, tire changer in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series; analyst Ricky Craven, a former winning driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series; and analyst Brad Daugherty, five-time NBA All-Star and NASCAR team owner. two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion crew chief; reporter
 
Others are analyst Ray Evernham, three-time NASCAR Cup champion crew chief; Ed Hinton, motorsports writer for ESPN.com; analyst Randy LaJoie, two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion; Ryan McGee, motorsports writer for ESPN the Magazine; David Newton, motorsports writer for ESPN.com; and NASCAR Now lead reporter and ESPN Insider Marty Smith.
 
Shannon Spake, a pit reporter on ESPN’s NASCAR race coverage, will report for NASCAR Now this season and occasionally host while also reporting for SportsCenter and other ESPN platforms covering NASCAR.
 
NASCAR Now viewers also will see analysis and reports from the NASCAR on ESPN race coverage team including analysts Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree and pit reporters Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch.
 
Live NASCAR racing returns to the ESPN networks for the 2010 season when ESPN2 airs flag-to-flag coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series 300-mile from Daytona on Saturday, Feb. 13. NASCAR Countdown airs at noon ET, with the race’s green flag at 1:34 p.m.

NBA TV has lots of programming in store for next week including live games.

NBA TV’s Fan Night Features Memphis Grizzlies @ Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA TV’s Tuesday Fan Night match-up will feature two NBA All-Stars facing off with Zach Randolph and the Memphis Grizzlies @ LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.  This is the Cavaliers’ sixth appearance on Fan Night this season.  
The game will air on Tues., Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. (ET) with host Ernie Johnson and analysts Chris Webber and Kevin McHale in studio for the pre-game show beginning at 6:30 p.m. (ET). 
Fan Night voting will continue on NBA.com from Tues., Feb. 2 (8 a.m. ET) – Thurs., Feb. 4 (Midnight ET) as fans select the match-up for Tues., Feb. 9. Fans can choose between 11 games: 
  • Washington Wizards @ Charlotte Bobcats
  • New Jersey Nets @ Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Chicago Bulls @ Indiana Pacers
  • Minnesota Timberwolves @ Philadelphia 76ers
  • Houston Rockets @ Miami Heat
  • Sacramento Kings @ New York Knicks
  • Atlanta Hawks @ Memphis Grizzlies
  • Detroit Pistons @ Milwaukee Bucks
  • Dallas Mavericks @ Denver Nuggets
  • Oklahoma City Thunder @ Portland Trail Blazers
  • Utah Jazz @ L.A. Clippers
NBA TV will also feature live game coverage on Monday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. (ET) with the Phoenix Suns @ New Orleans Hornets.
Fans can also stay connected to the latest NBA action every Tuesday during The Jump on NBA.com. The Jump is a live, interactive show that allows fans to send questions and comments via NBA.com, Facebook or Twitter. The show features host Kyle Montgomery and analysts Dennis Scott and Brent Barry, as well as ‘chat master’ and NBA.com blogger Sekou Smith. The show will stream live each week at 1 p.m. ET on NBA.com and air again at 5 p.m. ET.
International basketball is highlighted on NBA TV every Saturday at 1 p.m. (ET) with the Euroleague Game of the Week.
FEBRUARY 1 – FEBRUARY 7

NBA TV  SCHEDULE (all times ET):
 
MONDAY, FEB. 1                 
12-1 p.m.       NBA.COM FANTASY INSIDER Rick Kamla, Dennis Scott        
7:30- 8 p.m.    Pregame Show     Matt Winer, Brent Barry,Eric Snow      
8- 10:30 p.m.   NBA Regular Season: Phoenix Suns @ New Orleans Hornets  Local Announcers       
10:30 p.m.- 1 a.m.      NBA GameTime       Matt Winer, Brent Barry,Eric Snow      
 
TUESDAY, FEB. 2 : FAN NIGHT    
1 p.m. (NBA.com)        The Jump on NBA.com     Kyle Montgomery, Dennis Scott, Brent Barry      
5-6 p.m.        The Jump on NBA.com (NBA.com Re-Air)    Kyle Montgomery, Dennis Scott, Brent Barry     
6-6:30 p.m.     THE BEAT        Marc Fein, David Aldridge      
6:30- 7p.m.     Pregame Show     Ernie Johnson, Kevin McHale, Chris Webber      
7-9:30 p.m.     NBA
Regular Season: TBD Local Announcers       
9:30 p.m.-12 a.m.       NBA GameTime       Rick Kamla, Steve Smith
 
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3      
4:30- 6:30 p.m. NBA D-League Showcase: TBD      Local Announcers       
7- 7:30 p.m.    All-Access with Ahmad   Ahmad Rashad   
7:30- 8 p.m.    REAL NBA               
8- 8:30 p.m.    NBA Special: NBA Midyear               
9- 11 p.m.      NBA GameTime    Matt Winer, Kenny Smith,  Eric Snow    
12- 2 a.m..     NBA GameTime    Matt Winer, Kenny Smith,  Eric Snow    
 
THURSDAY, FEB. 4       
7 p.m.- 2 a.m.  BEST OF THE 2000’s/ Hardwood Classic           

FRIDAY, FEB. 5 
10 p.m.- 2a.m.  NBA GameTime Friday         Rick Kamla, Steve Smith, Cheryl Miller 

SATURDAY, FEB. 6       
1- 3 p.m.       Euroleague Game of the Week: TBD               
7- 7:30 p.m.    NBA GameTime    Matt Winer, Eric Snow, Cheryl Miller   
7:30- 8 p.m.    Pregame Show     Matt Winer, Eric Snow, Cheryl Miller   
8- 10:30 p.m.   NBA Regular Season: Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls  Local Announcers       
10:30p.m.- 2 a.m.       NBA GameTime       Matt Winer, Eric Snow, Cheryl Miller   

SUNDAY, FEB. 7 
5-5:30 p.m.     NBA GameTime    Marc Fein, Steve Smith 

Also on Monday, Tennis Channel unveils a new program involving people who don’t live like you or me.

NEW TENNIS CHANNEL SERIES CELEBRITY TENNIS
PREMIERES MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1
Host Vince Van Patte
n Hits the Courts with Advice Guru Dr. Phil, Supermodel Christie Brinkley, Poker Champ Gus Hansen, Music Superstar Brandy and Others
LOS ANGELES – Tennis Channel, the only 24-hour, television-based multimedia destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle, will premier original series Celebrity Tennis, Monday, Feb. 1, at 6:30 pm ET. The half-hour show is hosted by film, television actor and commentator of The World Poker Tour, Vince Van Patten, who takes viewers inside the lives of celebrities who are passionate about watching and playing tennis.
Van Patten grew up in New York playing tennis near the US Open’s then-Forest Hills home and took up acting when his showbiz family moved to California. He became a professional tennis player in 1979 and spent eight years on the pro circuit. In Celebrity Tennis Van Patten unearths the ways his guests are influenced by tennis and how the sport is a regular part of their lives, and offers a demonstration of their on-court strengths.
“The worlds of tennis and celebrity have long been intertwined,” said Laura Hockridge, vice president, original programming, Tennis Channel. “Professional stadiums are filled with newsmakers of every type, from entertainers and politicians to business people and other sports’ athletes. Pro tennis players today are just as likely to appear on red carpets or magazine covers. Vince Van Patten is a perfect host for Tennis Channel’s Celebrity Tennis, having navigated both of these environments throughout his life.”
The premier edition of Celebrity Tennis profiles television’s top advice guru, “Dr. Phil” McGraw, on a red clay court at Church Estate Vineyards in Malibu, Calif., where he declares his backhand to be his best shot. A serious tennis player who uses the game as his own form of therapy, McGraw hits the court six-to-eight times a week, and admits to Van Patten that he builds his daily schedule around getting in an afternoon match. McGraw also offers viewers a glimpse inside his overstuffed tennis bag, which he says he always has on hand, as well as a look into his vast closet full of treasured tennis T-shirts.
“It is good to be back in the game I love and a relief to be away from the high stakes poker games for awhile,” said Van Patten.
The second episode of Celebrity Tennis (Feb. 8) visits all-American supermodel Christie Brinkley in East Hampton, N.Y., at a charity benefit for the Ross School, where she is joined by actor Alec Baldwin, tennis legend Andre Agassi and famed tennis coach Nick Bollettieri.
Brinkley, who coincidentally grew up in California on Rod Laver Lane (a street named for one of the sport’s all-time champions), hits with Van Patten on the court at her house, built to the same specifications as center court at the US Open. Brinkley also demonstrates her air-guitar skills on a tennis racquet, plays tennis with neighborhood kids and divulges funny anecdotes about her many trips to the US Open.
Poker champion Gus Hansen is the focus of episode three (Feb. 15), which takes viewers to Las Vegas’ Stirling Club. Hansen explains that, although he played in junior tennis tournaments as a youngster, he realized he did not have the goods to go all the way. Having made close to $10 million as a career gambler, however, he tells Van Patten that he stopped putting his money down on tennis after losing seven figures on a bet that Rafael Nadal would win the 2009 French Open. (Though at the time of the bet Nadal had never lost a French Open match, the perennial clay-court champion ultimately lost to Robin Soderling in an upset for the ages.)
Television and music superstar Brandy is profiled in the fourth episode of Celebrity Tennis (Feb. 22). In addition to revealing herself as the hardest working tennis student in show business, Brandy notes that her introduction to the sport came at the hands of none other than her best friend, American superstar Serena Williams. Van Patten goes for a workout with Brandy and her demanding tennis fitness routine as they get in court time in Calabasas, Calif.
Additional episodes of Celebrity Tennis will follow these initial editions.

NESN will air the annual Beanpot college hockey Tournament which involves four of Boston’s major colleges and universities.

NESN’S COVERAGE OF THE 58TH ANNUAL BEANPOT HOCKEY TOURNAMENT BEGINS ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1st AT 5 PM

BOSTON, MA –For the 8th consecutive year, NESN, New England’s most watched sports network, will deliver live and exclusive high definition coverage of the 58th annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament beginning on Monday, February 1st.  The first game pits Boston College against Harvard at 5:00 PM followed by Boston University battling Northeastern University at 8:00 PM from the TD Garden. NESN’s coverage of the Beanpot championship game on Monday, February 8th will begin with Prelude to A Championship, a live, half-hour pre-game show starting at 7:30 PM. 
Tom Caron and Andy Brickley will call all three games with Bob Beers, Craig Janney and Brendan Walsh teaming up to host Prelude to a Championship and intermission coverage from NESN’s TD Garden studio. Kathryn Tappen will serve as the rink-side reporter contributing pre-game, intermission and post-game interviews.
“The Beanpot is the middle pillar of NESN’s 27 game college hockey schedule, sandwiched between Frozen Fenway in January and the Hockey East Championships in March,” said Joel Feld, NESN’s executive vice president of programming and executive producer. “We are fortunate to have 4 schools in Boston, including the past two NCAA champions, who annually put on a must-see event for college hockey fans everywhere.”
The championship game will also be available to 4.5 million homes in Canada on TSN2, which will rebroadcast the game in HD at 6:00 PM on February 9.

Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia will have vignettes celebrating Black History Month.

COMCAST SPORTSNET CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH 
PHILADELPHIA– Comcast SportsNet, the leader in local sports television, celebrates Black History Month with feature profiles of prominent members of our sports community discussing the impact race has had on sports, plus the personal struggles of local sports heroes.
Throughout Black History Month, viewers will get to know local athletes, coaches and sports legends who impacted the lives of others through sports. In addition, Comcast SportsNet’s on-air personalities and sports celebrities will share their personal stories of inspiration through a series of vignettes that will air throughout the month. 
The inspirational stories are as varied as the people who tell them. Viewers will hear personal stories from Comcast SportsNet’s Derrick Gunn, Ed Pinckney, John Celestand and Donyell Marshall. Philadelphia athletes including the 76ers Lou Williams, the Phillies Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard, plus the Eagles Leonard Weaver and the Flyers Ray Emery also share their personal stories with viewers.
Every Friday during Daily News Live, the panel will explore the connection between sports and race. Topics will range from areas of progress to areas needing improvements, plus players and coaches as role models.  Comcast SportsNet’s Ron Burke and Marshall Harris kick off Black History Month on February 1 during Daily News Live.  Friday’s guest panelists include: Daily News Columnist Elmer Smith and Former Philadelphia Eagle Garry Cobb (February 6); Phillies hitting coach Milt Thompson (February 12); Community Leader Sonny Hill and Philadelphia 76er Elton Brand (February 19) and Philadelphia Eagle Jeremiah Trotter and former Eagle Mik
e Quick (February 26.) Also throughout the month on SportsNite, Comcast SportsNet will profile local and national stories that promote the spirit of Black History Month.
February’s edition of Net Impact Philly profiles the 76ers Ambassador of Basketball, World B Free. The former Sixer is a significant influence on the children in his community by working closely with the team he loves.  Net Impact Philly debuts on Comcast SportsNet on Tuesday, February 9 at 11:30 p.m. and on Tuesday, February 16 at 9:30 p.m. on The Comcast Network. The 30-minute episode will air throughout the month of February on Comcast SportsNet and The Comcast Network.  

On Tuesday, MLB Network will begin airing live baseball as the Caribbean World Series gets underway.

MLB NETWORK TO TELECAST THE 52ND ANNUAL CARIBBEAN WORLD SERIES
Live coverage begins Tuesday, February 2 at 2:30 p.m. ET with Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic

SECAUCUS, N.J. – MLB Network today announced its broadcast schedule for the 52nd annual Caribbean World Series in Porlamar, Venezuela from February 2 through February 7, 2010.  The event draws the region’s top talent as well as current MLB players, including San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim third baseman Freddy Sandoval and Kansas City Royals catcher Brayan Pena, who competed in the 2009 tournament. The countries participating in the 2010 tournament are Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

The telecast of the Caribbean World Series will mark the first live games telecast on MLB Network in 2010, with MLB Network’s Victor Rojas, Greg Amsinger, Mitch Williams and Dan Plesac calling each of the 12 games. In between games, MLB Network will air game Hot Stove, its live nightly studio show during the offseason, airing at 6:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

          “MLB Network is proud to continue to be part of the Caribbean World Series,” said Tony Petitti, MLB Network President and CEO. “We’re excited to provide fans with live baseball as we prepare for Spring Training and the 2010 MLB season.”

            “The Caribbean World Series showcases the region’s best in baseball and offers fans the opportunity to experience com
petitive international play. We are pleased that the tournament will continue to reach a broad audience of baseball fans through the MLB Network,” said Jim Kern, Cultiva Entertainment. 

          MLB Network’s live game schedule for the Caribbean World Series is as follows (all times Eastern):

Feb. 2:         2:30p            Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic
7:30p            Mexico vs. Venezuela
Feb. 3:         3:30p            Dominican Republic vs. Mexico
                    7:30p           Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico
Feb. 4:           3:30p            Mexico vs. Puerto Rico
                    7:30p           Venezuela vs. Dominican Republic
Feb. 5:         3:30p            Dominican Republic vs. Puerto Rico
                   7:30p            Venezuela vs. Mexico
Feb. 6:         3:30p            Mexico vs. Dominican Republic
                   7:30p            Puerto Rico vs. Venezuela
Feb. 7:         3:30p            Puerto Rico vs. Mexico
                   7:30p            Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela

          Since 1949, the Caribbean World Series, a 12-game round robin tournament between the best teams from the region, has crowned a champion within this group of nations
, and has served as a platform to showcase the best competition of Winter League Baseball. Major League players who have participated in the Caribbean World Series include legends such as Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, Mike Schmidt and Fernando Valenzuela; and active Major League players such as Pedro Martinez, Rafael Furcal, Carlos Beltran, Ivan Rodriguez, and Miguel Cabrera, among others. The Caribbean World Series is sanctioned by Major League Baseball. Cultiva Entertainment is the exclusive agent for the Caribbean World Series.

We started this post with NASCAR and we’ll end with NASCAR. HBO previews the next episode of 24/7 Jimmie Johnson: Race to Daytona.

24/7 JIMMIE JOHNSON:  RACE TO DAYTONA
FEB. 2 EPISODE
            HBO Sports®’ groundbreaking “24/7” reality franchise presents episode No. 2 of the all-access show 24/7 JIMMIE JOHNSON:  RACE TO DAYTONA. Debuting TUESDAY, FEB. 2 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), the four-week series spotlights one of racing’s biggest stars, reigning four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, and gives viewers an inside look at the driver and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team as they prepare for the Daytona 500, the Super Bowl of auto racing.
            Episode #2
            Debut:  TUESDAY, FEB. 2 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT)

            Four-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson takes to the track for the “24 hours of Daytona” endurance race, while crew chief Chad Knaus prepares the No. 48 car for the fast-approaching Daytona 500, set for Feb. 14 in Daytona Beach, Fla.
            Additional episodes of 24/7 JIMMIE JOHNSON:  RACE TO DAYTONA debut on subsequent Tuesdays – Feb. 9 and 16 – in prime time at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT). The Feb. 16 series finale debuts two days after the race, with cameras tracking all the drama and excitement surrounding Johnson and his team on race day. All four episodes will have multiple replay dates on HBO, and the series will also be available on HBO On Demand.

 
            The executive producers of 24/7 JIMMIE JOHNSON:  RACE TO DAYTONA are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; senior producer, Dave Harmon; coordinating producer, Scott Boggins; producer, Bentley Weiner; writer, Peter Nelson.  Liev Schreiber narrates.

That will conclude this post. I’ll have more press releases tomorrow.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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