I have some press releases that are left over from Tuesday so let’s post them so I can sleep.
Starting with NFL.com, the website has a weeklong series devoted to five players hoping to make the grade.
NFL.COM’S ON THE FRINGE
PROFILES THE JOURNEY OF FIVE PLAYERS FIGHTING FOR AN NFL ROSTER SPOT
Training Camp Series Features Super Bowl XLII hero David Tyree, Vikings’ Ian Johnson, Falcons’ Coy Wire, Texans’ Boomer Grigsby and Cardinals’ Lance LongThe most interesting stories during training camp don’t always surround the stars; sometimes the best stories are about players trying to follow their dreams to make an NFL team. Starting this week and throughout training camp NFL.com will follow five such players battling to make their team’s roster.
Log on to NFL.com beginning this week for stories, features, interviews and videos as the On the Fringe series follows these players:
Monday, July 27 – RB Ian Johnson, Minnesota Vikings: The undrafted rookie hopes to earn a spot behind Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor.
Tuesday, July 28 – LB Coy Wire, Atlanta Falcons: He fought back from a near career-ending injury to captain the Falcons’ special teams but must continue to fight off younger players to retain his roster spot.
Wednesday, July 29 – WR David Tyree, New York Giants: Best known for his helmet catch during Super Bowl XLII, Tyree must re-earn his spot after missing the 2008 season due to injury.
Thursday, July 30 – FB Boomer Grigsby, Houston Texans: Cut by the Miami Dolphins after Week 1 last season, Grigsby thought his NFL career was over until the Houston Texans called during the spring.
Friday, July 31 – WR Lance Long, Arizona Cardinals: After spending his rookie season on the practice squad, Long hopes to make the jump to the Cardinals’ active roster in 2009.
Visit http://www.nfl.com/trainingcamp/story?id=09000d5d8116ffad&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true to follow the five hopefuls throughout the 2009 preseason.
To Sirius NFL Radio which is going to be at every NFL training camp through August 19.
SIRIUS NFL RADIO TRAINING CAMP TOUR KICKS OFF JULY 29Annual radio series will feature live on-site broadcasts from all 32 NFL team training camps
Plus live coverage of 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement
NEW YORK – July 28, 2009 – SIRIUS XM Radio, the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, will kick off the fifth annual SIRIUS NFL Radio Training Camp Tour on Wednesday, July 29, featuring extensive coverage of all 32 NFL team camps plus the 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.
All programming is available to both SIRIUS and XM subscribers nationwide exclusively on SIRIUS NFL Radio, SIRIUS XM’s 24-hour NFL channel (SIRIUS channel 124 and XM channel 124 with the “Best of SIRIUS” programming package).
Over 22 days – July 29 to Aug. 19 – SIRIUS NFL Radio hosts will broadcast live on location from all 32 NFL training camp sites around the country, giving listeners access to their favorite teams and players as they prepare for the coming season. Each show will present an expert breakdown of every team, one-on-one interviews with players, coaches and franchise executives, and candid reports on rookies, veterans and free agents.
A full schedule detailing show times, hosts and locations appears below.
SIRIUS NFL Radio personalities on the tour include former players, coaches, front office executives and other insiders including: longtime Dallas Cowboys pro personnel executive Gil Brandt, former NFL defensive lineman Tim Ryan, former NFL front office executive Pat Kirwan, former NFL QB Jim Miller, former NFL defensive back Solomon Wilcots, former NFL lineman Ross Tucker, former NFL coach Dean Dalton, plus NFL experts Peter King, Adam Schein, Vic Carucci and Howard Balzer.
On Saturday, August 8, SIRIUS XM will present a full day of live coverage from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH for the 2009 enshrinement ceremonies. Listeners will hear live coverage as the class of 2009 is inducted – which includes wide receiver Bob Hayes, guard Randall McDaniel, defensive end Bruce Smith, linebacker Derrick Thomas, owner Ralph Wilson and defensive back Rod Woodson.
A detailed tour map featuring camp locations, dates, times and featured hosts can be found at www.sirius.com/nfl. Fans can also interact with SIRIUS NFL Radio hosts and other listeners on SIRIUS NFL Radio’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/siriusnflradio) or by following on Twitter at www.twitter.com/siriusnflradio.
As the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, SIRIUS XM broadcasts every NFL game live nationwide, from the preseason through the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl. Listeners can hear home and visiting team broadcasts, national radio broadcasts and Spanish-language broadcasts for select games.
2009 SIRIUS NFL Radio Training Camp Tour Schedule: (All times ET)
Wed, July 29: Buffalo Bills, Pittsford, NY
8-11am The Opening Drive with Ross Tucker and Peter King
Sat, Aug. 1: Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio, TX
11am-2pm Press Coverage with Vic Carucci and Gil Brandt
New England Patriots, Foxborough, MA
2-6pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan
Sun, Aug. 2: Houston Texans, Houston, TX
12-4pm The End Zone with Vic Carucci and Gil Brandt
Chicago Bears, Bourbonnais, IL
4-8pm NFL Rewind with Jim Miller and Dean Dalton
Mon, Aug. 3: St. Louis Rams, Earth City, MO
10am-1pm The SIRIUS Blitz with Howard Balzer and Jim Miller
Minnesota Vikings, Mankato, MN
1-4pm The Red Zone with Dean Dalton and Paul Allen
New York Giants, Albany, NY
4-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan
Tue, Aug. 4: Indianapolis Colts, Terre Haute, IN
12-3pm The Red Zone with Solomon Wilcots and Jim Miller
New York Jets, Cortland, NY
3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan
Wed, Aug. 5: Cincinnati Bengals, Georgetown, KY
1-3pm The Red Zone with Solomon Wilcots and Jim Miller
Cleveland Browns, Berea, OH
3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan
Thu, Aug. 6: Tennessee Titans, Nashville, TN
12-3pm The Red Zone with Solomon Wilcots and Jim Miller
Pittsburgh Steelers, Latrobe, PA
3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan
Fri, Aug. 7: New Orleans Saints, Metairie, LA
3-7pm The SIRIUS Blitz with Adam Schein and Solomon Wilcots
Pittsburgh Steelers, Latrobe, PA
7-10pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan
Sat, Aug. 8: Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, OHLive coverage from Canton begins at 8am
Sun, Aug. 9: Philadelphia Eagles, Bethlehem, PA
12-4pm The SIRIUS Blitz with Adam Schein and Ross Tucker
Mon, Aug. 10: Washington Redskins, Ashburn, VA
10am-1pm The SIRIUS Blitz with Adam Schein and Solomon Wilcots
Carolina Panthers, Spartanburg, SC
3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan
San Francisco 49ers, Santa Clara, CA
8-11pm Late Hits with Randy Cross and Gil Brandt
Tue, Aug. 11: Baltimore Ravens, Westminster, MD
10am-1pm The SIRIUS Blitz with Adam Schein and Solomon Wilcots
Denver Broncos, Englewood, CO
1-3pm The Red Zone with Ross Tucker and Jim Miller
Atlanta Falcons, Flowery Branch, GA
3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan, Pat Kirwan and Randy Cross
Wed, Aug. 12: Jacksonville Jaguars, Jacksonville, FL
3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan
Seattle Seahawks, Renton, WA
8-11pm Late Hits with Ross Tucker and Jim Miller
Thu, Aug. 13 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa, FL
3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan
Fri, Aug. 14: Miami Dolphins, Davie, FL
3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan
Mon, Aug. 17: Kansas City Chiefs, River Falls, WI
1-3pm The Red Zone with Vic Carucci and Gil Brandt
San Diego Chargers, San Diego, CA
3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Pat Kirwan and Jim Miller
Tue, Aug. 18: Green Bay Packers, Green Bay, WI
12-3pm The Red Zone with Vic Carucci and Gil Brandt
Arizona Cardinals, Flagstaff, AZ
3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Pat Kirwan and Jim Miller
Wed, Aug. 19: Detroit Lions, Allen Park, MI
1-3pm The Red Zone with Vic Carucci and Gil Brandt
Oakland Raiders, Napa Valley, CA
3-7pm Movin’ The Chains with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan
** Schedule subject to change. **
NASCAR fans can vote for the inaugural class to be inducted into the new NASCAR Hall of Fame.
NASCAR.com Announces Online Fan Voting for Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame
Fan vote marks the first time a major sport has allowed fans have taken part in Hall of Fame voting process
NASCAR.com announced today that fans will be able to take part in the voting process for the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame. This is the first time a major sport has allowed fans to be part of a Hall of Fame election process. Beginning today, July 28th, fans can log-on to http://www.nascar.com/hall to cast their vote for up to five legends for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. NASCAR fans collectively will represent one of the 51 ballots on the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Committee. In an effort to educate fans on the accomplishments of the 25 nominees, videos, photos and bios are available on the site. Fans must register to vote and can only fill out a Hall of Fame ballot one time.
We get a release from Universal Sports touting its acquisition of the Vuelta a Espana, one of the biggest cycling races of the year.
Universal Sports Inks Four-Year Deal to Broadcast the Vuelta a Espana
Network Now Home to Two of the Three Grand Tours of Road CyclingLOS ANGELES (July 28, 2009) – Universal Sports announced today it has inked an exclusive four-year multimedia deal to broadcast the Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain), a three-week road cycling stage race that is one of the three Grand Tours of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. Universal Sports will broadcast throughout next month’s Vuelta, beginning with the start in Assen, Holland, on August 29, and ending in Madrid, Spain, on September 22.The Vuelta will join the Giro d’Italia in Universal Sports’ cycling schedule, giving the network two of the three Grand Tours and firmly establishing Universal Sports as the cable leader in cycling coverage. Additional cycling events on Universal Sports include the Tour of the Basque Country, the Road Cycling and Track Cycling World Championships, other UCI Road and Track events, BMX World Championships, Mountain Bike, Cyclocross and more.“We’re thrilled to have the Vuelta as part of our growing cycling lineup, allowing us to provide viewers with more of the world’s top cycling events, including two of the three Grands,” said Carlos Silva, president and COO of Universal Sports.“Collectively between Universal Sports and UniversalSports.com, we’ll show every moment of this exciting competition, offering the most broadcast and online coverage of the Vuelta ever.”
Coverage will be led by David Michaels, executive producer of Universal Sports, who brings more than 30 years experience in producing international cycling events. Michaels produced Universal’s highly acclaimed coverage of the 2009 Giro d’Italia this past May.Universal Sports will provide more than nine hours of Vuelta programming every day during the three-week event. Every stage will be shown LIVE at UniversalSports.com every morning and replayed on Universal Sports network. Each night, Universal Sports will show an enhanced stage replay in Primetime. Additionally, UniversalSports.com will have an online TRACKER that will show each rider’s location on the course, stage maps, and integrated videos. The site will also offer full-length videos, highlights, photos, recaps, and behind-the-scenes interviews.
Finally, here’s a preview of Thursday’s Homecoming program on ESPN.
Legend Tony Hawk Skates Home With Rick ReillyCoinciding with the anniversary of his first 900 and the opening night of X Games 15, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk returns to San Diego on the next episode of ESPN’s original series – Homecoming with Rick Reilly. Hosted by 11-time Sportswriter of the Year Rick Reilly, the show challenges that old adage “you can’t go home again.” The episode will be televised July 30, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Filmed in mid-May, Reilly talked with the skateboarding pioneer about life as an outcast and his lonely time at the top in front of an intimate audience at Farb Middle School, Hawk’s alma mater. In the crowd was Hawk’s mom, Nancy, fellow members of the revolutionary “Bones Brigade” and X Games stars Bob Burnquist and Bucky Lasek. During the 1-hour show, Hawk gives Reilly a tour of Tony Hawk, INC, which includes a sneak-peek at “The Ride,” his new videogame that will be released later this year. After the interview, Hawk performs an exclusive private skate demo for the kids in the audience. Also captured on film are intimate moments between Hawk and his children as he skates with eldest son and rising street skater, Riley and one-year-old daughter, Kadence, who also enjoys a quick ride with daddy.
Excerpts from the Tony Hawk episode:“Bones Brigade” member Lance Mountain on Hawk “What he’s done with skateboarding and has done for us, has benefited all the other kids that ever skated.”Hawk on life at the top “If I didn’t win…they’re like ugh, he’s over, he lost…And there were guys who come up to me and say ‘Oh man, I’m just hoping to get second place.’ And that was supposed to be a compliment but it was crushing…It was lonely at the top…it was just difficult to be in that position at such a young age, and to have so much expected of me , that I just wanted to step back and go I don’t want to, I don’t want to compete.”Hawk talking to the kids in the audience “If you’re doing something and it’s different and maybe its not the coolest thing but you really love doing it, keep doing it because no matter what if you keep doing what you love you’ll be happy in the end I’m living proof
of that.”
We’re done.
