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Archives for April 2009

Conference Call Replay with ESPN NFL Draft Expert Mel Kiper Jr.

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Conference Call Replay with ESPN NFL Draft Expert Mel Kiper Jr.

ESPN conducted a post NFL Draft media conference call Monday, April 27, with NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.

Select comments from the conference call:

On the difficulty of getting drafted as a free agent and making an NFL roster …
“In terms of the free agents, it’s good opportunity. … You can look at the history of the draft over the last five years and a lot of guys make it. A lot of free agents will beat out the fifth, sixth and seventh round picks. There is a very fine line between being a free agent and a fifth-round pick. These fifth and sixth round picks don’t come to mini-camp with the number on their backs saying I went in the fifth round, you’ve got to keep me. And, you don’t come in as undrafted free agent saying, ‘I stink, I’m a free agent.’ You come in as a player who normally in a 12-round draft would have been an eighth, ninth, 10th, 11th or 12th round pick. … So, this notion of undrafted free agents not having a chance is ridiculous. They have plenty of chances.”

On the Dolphins’ Selections of West Virginia’s Pat White and USC’s Patrick Turner …
“I didn’t have a question with Pat White. I just said he has to be a receiver to make sense at that pick. I would have said that about any team that took him in the second round. … He doesn’t have the second-round value to be a wildcat quarterback. He’s got to be a receiver … if he’s not, he’s not worth being picked in the second round … I like his potential and I think he can be a good second-round pick for them if he emerges as slot receiver, return man. Patrick Turner, personally I didn’t think he’d get drafted and if he did it’d be late. … He’s big, comes out of a great program, expected to be the next big receiver out of USC, but turned out to be very average. … I thought he was a short immediate threat, but average in a lot of categories.”

On the Buccaneers’ draft and quarterback Josh Freeman …
“Josh, we know he has risk vs. reward. We know there is boom or bust with him. Coach him, let him have a chance to learn. You’ve got two veteran quarterbacks there to battle it out. He should sit his rookie year and not play. Watch, learn from Byron (Leftwich), learn from (Luke) McCown. Adapt to the system and by year two he can be the starting quarterback.”

On Baltimore’s selection of Michael Oher …
“I had him at 29 on my pick board and it was because of lapses in concentration. He let some guys at the college level beat him that shouldn’t. I think in the NFL you can’t have that. These are the best in the world playing these defensive end spots. He had some great moments in college and was a great player overall in some games. He was also a guy that kind of frustrated you a little bit because he let some guys beat him that he should have manhandled. He’s a competitor, he’s tough, he’s aggressive, he’s got skills, he’s got versatility. He’s got the toughness to play right tackle. … I have no problem with the pick.”

On why quarterbacks Drew Willy from the University of Buffalo and Brian Hoyer from Michigan State did not get drafted…
“Quarterbacks this year slid. Brian Hoyer, out of Michigan State, a lot of people thought would be a third round pick. He didn’t get drafted. I don’t know why Drew Willy didn’t get drafted. He’s got a good enough arm, he’s got escapability. He ran a 4.9. Tom Brady ran a 5.22. It’s how you maneuver in the pocket. He does that very effectively. He’s got more game experience than any quarterback in this draft. … I don’t know why he lasted till the end of the draft.”

NBC’s Stevens: “There are 19 horses in the Kentucky Derby and they all have a chance, don’t throw any of them out.”

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

Conference Call to Preview Kentucky Derby on Thursday 11 a.m. ET

NEW YORK – April 28, 2009 – NBC Sports will conduct a conference call Thursday at 11 a.m. ET to preview its Kentucky Derby coverage with NBC’s Kentucky Derby co-host Tom Hammond, analyst Gary Stevens, contributing analyst and handicapper Mike Battaglia, analyst Bob Neumeier, producer Sam Flood and director David Michaels.

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 Hammond co-host the Derby alongside three-time Derby winner Stevens. NBC Sports’ broadcast team also includes race-caller Tom Durkin; contributing analysts Battaglia and 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 Flood and directed by 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.

THE DERBY ACCORDING TO NEUMEIER: “Conventional wisdom suggests the Kentucky Derby is annually a wide-open, ultra-competitive race, with many of the 19 entrants enjoying a reasonable chance for success. But lately the Derby has been controlled by highly-rated favorites and this year’s edition figures to be won by one of the top three choices. They would include Pioneerof the Nile, I Want Revenge and the lightly raced but talented Dunkirk. Each has legitimate merits, which makes ‘just-who-will-go-off-the-favorite?’ an interesting subplot in the run-up to the race.

“As usual, the Derby is rich with fascinating storylines. Can newly elected Hall-of-Fame trainer Bob Baffert win his fourth Derby with Pioneerof the Nile? Will conditioner Todd Pletcher break a 0-for-21 Derby slump with Dunkirk? Is it possible that an underdog could come from the one-horse barn of former high school principal Tom McCarthy with General Quarters, who he claimed for the bargain-basement price of $20,000? These are just a few of the many stories that dot this year’s Derby.”

STEVENS TOP FIVE:

  • Fresian Fire
  • I Want Revenge
  • Desert Party
  • Regal Ransom
  • Pioneerof the Nile

“There are 19 horses in the Kentucky Derby and they all have a chance, don’t throw any of them out. I would be very happy riding any of the 19, but those five would be my top picks.”

NBCSPORTS.COM AT THE DERBY: NBCSports.com will be streaming the draw live on Wednesday at Noon, ET and the site will also 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.

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.

ESPN NFL Draft Telecast Attracts Record 36.7 Million Viewers

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ESPN NFL Draft Telecast Attracts Record 36.7 Million Viewers
Traffic on ESPN Mobile Web Site Up 145% from 2008
The NFL Draft on ESPN and ESPN2 this past weekend was the most-viewed in ESPN’s 30-year history of televising the event with 36.7 million people tuned in to at least part of the 15 1/2 hours of NFL Draft coverage.  It was the highest number of total NFL Draft viewers in ESPN history — an increase of 5% over last year’s 34.8 million and just above the previous high of 36.3 million viewers in 2006.
ESPN’s five hours of Day 1 coverage on Saturday, April 25 (4-9 p.m. ET), was seen in an average of 3.896 million households and garnered a 4.0 HH rating, according to Nielsen Media Research. Both figures represent an increase of 3% over last year’s event which averaged 3.785 million households and a 3.9 rating.
Highest-Rated Markets for ESPN’s Saturday coverage (4-9 p.m. ET):
1. Columbus, Ohio (7.4)
2. New Orleans (6.9)
3. Cleveland (6.8)
4. Milwaukee (6.2)
5. Indianapolis (6.2)
ESPN Digital Media
In addition to the television success on ESPN and ESPN2, traffic to NFL content on the ESPN Mobile Web site was up 145% from last year and views of video on ESPN.com were up 22% from the 2008 NFL Draft weekend. Visits to ESPN.com for the weekend increased 9% on Day 1 and 8% on Day 2, with fans spending nearly 25 minutes spent per visitor.

Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA Playoffs – Monday, April 27, 2009

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Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA Playoffs – Monday, April 27, 2009

TNT’s “40 Games in 40 Nights” NBA Playoffs coverage continues on Tuesday, April 28th with the Chicago Bulls @ Boston Celtics (Game #5) at 7 p.m. ET followed by Dallas Mavericks @ San Antonio Spurs (Game #5).

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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com

Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith

Barkley on Hawks All-Star guard Joe Johnson struggling in the playoffs: “(Opponents) play better defense on you in the playoffs, so regular season (stats) don’t mean anything in the playoffs.  I like Joe Johnson and I think he’s a good player but he can’t be the best player on your team.  He’s a good player; he’s not a great player.”

Smith on Lakers center Andrew Bynum: “He wants to play and I think any competitive person would have that attitude.  If you are in the NBA and don’t have that attitude, I’d question it from the start.  Andrew Bynum has jumped into the season when the season is at its height.  He didn’t play the whole year and he doesn’t have his legs, the same timing and consistency.  I think it was fool’s gold down the stretch in the last five games when he played well.  He was playing against teams that didn’t have the same energy.”

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Game #1: Atlanta Hawks (81) @ Miami Heat (71) – Series tied 2-2

Announcers: Dick Stockton, Mike Fratello; and Cheryl Miller reporting

Fratello on the effectiveness of players-only meetings: “It’s rare that a players-only meeting has an effect.  They really need to have a presence that leads the meeting and says something that the players are going to listen to.  Often times, it ends up being lip service, a waste of time and they don’t do one thing about the major concerns that they are supposed to be doing.”

Fratello on Hawks guard Joe Johnson’s shooting struggles in the playoffs: “Joe Johnson’s shooting has gotten into his head.  His head is all messed up on his shooting.”

Fratello on the Hawks having tough players: “(Maurice) Evans and (Zaza) Pachulia have toughness, Flip Murray has the ability to get into the game mentally and has great concentration on his guy.”

TNT’s Cheryl Miller interviewed Hawks forward Maurice Evans following the first half

Evans on what the Hawks need to do to beat the Heat: “We have to understand what we did wrong and we have to do exactly what we did when we built up the lead.  We played team ball on the offensive and defensive end.  That’s what’s going to beat the Miami Heat.”

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T-Mobile Halftime Report

Announcers: Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Smith on players keeping their composure when the game is on the line: “When the game gets frantic the best players get calmer and they have more composure.  That’s the difference between championship teams and teams that play championship teams.”

Smith on the Jazz needing to take Lakers center Andrew Bynum off of his game and making him a non-factor: “The only hope that the Utah Jazz have is that they’ve taken Andrew Bynum out of the series.  If they can continue to do that, the Lakers are so long and athletic and without Bynum they aren’t as long and athletic.”

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Fratello on Heat forward Michael Beasley struggling with his jump shot:  “Michael Beasley did not contribute much in Game #3.  (The Heat) are counting on him to come off the bench and provide a scoring punch.  He’s not hesitant at all to shoot; he’s got to take the ball to the basket more.  He’s not making his jumper.”

Fratello on Heat forward Jermaine O’Neal: “(Jermaine O’Neal) has a size advantage.  He’s got long arms, he brings the ball up high (to shoot) and elevates over the top of the defender.”

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Game #2:  Utah Jazz (96) @ Los Angeles Lakers (107) – Lakers win the series 4-1.

Announcers: Marv Albert, Reggie Miller and Craig Sager reporting

Miller on Jazz center Mehmet Okur returning to the Jazz lineup: “That’s what’s been missing from the Jazz lineup, someone to spread the floor.  Especially when (point guard) Deron Williams gets into the paint.  Mehmet Okur is one of those players who can spread the defense.”

Miller on Jazz reserve guard C.J. Miles guarding Lakers guard Kobe Bryant: “No disrespect to C.J. Miles but with (Andrei) Kirilenko and Ronnie Brewer on the bench for the Jazz, Kobe Bryant understands that he can take C.J. Miles anytime he wants.”

Lakers guard Derek Fisher on Kobe Byrant having a pulse on how to play the game in order to have success as a team: “(Kobe Bryant) has the understanding of when he needs to do the Kobe Bryant thing. Tonight he’s going to make sure that we come out and send the right message and we start the game the way we need to in order to win this game. If that means scoring early and that’s what he feels then he’ll do that. If that means locking in defensively, if that means facilitating and getting Pau Gasol going, getting Andrew Bynum going, he’ll do that. It’s whatever we need him to do to win.”

Miller on Lakers reserve forward Josh Powell: “Josh Powell is one of those players who comes off the bench for the Lakers who is going to scrap, play hard and sometimes a little dirty.  He’ll get some offensive rebounds and set good screens.”

Albert: “You say ‘dirty’ in a nice way.”

Miller: “In a very good way.”

Miller on Lakers forward Lamar Odom: “(Jazz forward) Matt Harpring cannot guard Lamar Odom down low.  What makes Odom so tough is when he gets into the open court, he’s able to finish with either hand and he’s able to lay the ball up in traffic.”

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T-Mobile Halftime Report

Announcers: Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Smith on what makes the Lakers a great team: “Kobe Bryant can get anyone a shot on (the Lakers).  They’ve got two other guys who can get other players shots which no team has.  Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom can get other people shots.  When you have three guys on your team that can command a double-team, you’re going to be tough to beat.”

Barkley on Lakers forward Lamar Odom: “Lamar Odom is a good player but he couldn’t carry a team by himself.  He is the third best player on the Lakers and that makes him more effective and equally dangerous.”

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Miller on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant: “Kobe Bryant is one of those players that can go around you, over you, under you and through you.”

Miller on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant getting inadvertently tripped and slowed up by referee Steve Javie during a fast break: “(Referee) Steve Javie might be the best defense for the Jazz tonight by getting in the way of Kobe Bryant.”

Miller on Lakers center Andrew Bynum continuing to get into playing shape: “These are important minutes for Andrew Bynum, who has really struggled with his (injured) knee and conditioning since coming back from injury.  If the Lakers move on to the second round to face the Houston Rockets with Yao (Ming) or the Portland Trail Blazers with Greg Oden or Joel Pryzbilla, he’s going to have to round into shape. These are big bodies in the second round.”

Miller on the upcoming off-season for the Utah Jazz: “Everyone is wondering if (potential free agents Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver and Mehmet Okur) are going to opt out of their contracts and you have six other free agents, Paul Milsap is a restricted free agent.  General manager Kevin O’Connor will have a long summer evaluating his team and players.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Lakers guard Kobe Bryant following the game

Bryant on if the Jazz exposed the Lakers inability to hold onto big leads: “It’s going to be on us to try to correct some mistakes.  (We need to) keep hustling, you can’t stop playing hard because you have a big lead.  We have to play fundamentally sound, get back on defense and do the necessary things that got you that lead.”

Bryant on former Lakers player and long-time Jazz play-by-play announcer “Hot Rod” Hundley who called his final game: “He’s one of the greatest to ever (announce games).  It was a tremendous honor to have some of our games called by him.  I was fortunate enough to get my picture taken with him and I’ve got it hanging up in my office.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai

Announcers: Johnson, Barkley and Smith

Barkley on the Lakers’ lack of defense that allowed the Jazz to keep the game close: “I’m concerned if I’m moving forward. The Lakers have unbelievable talent top to bottom, but they keep letting down defensively. (The Lakers have) so many good offensive players, the only way to blow 20-point leads to get down to two or three points is they are not playing defense consistently. As they go deeper in the playoffs and they play against better teams, it’s going to come back to bite them in the (butt) at some point.”

Smith on the strong performance of Jazz guard Ronnie Price who emerged as a strong backup for Deron Williams: “All year there hasn’t been a consistent backup for Deron Williams. When Jerry Sloan said he’s never seen a guy play that hard (as Ronnie Price did) for that short period of time, I would agree with him. That was one of the most impressive eight minutes for a guy who hasn’t played in a series, a guy that I haven’t seen. (Price) made a name for himself. He’s a free agent, they will sign him after this and he will become the backup point guard for Deron Williams. They can move Deron to the two guard because Deron is a very good shooter and can come off screens. You don’t always need to see him and you can play those two guys together.”

Barkley on whether he would re-sign Jazz forward Carlos Boozer: “No (I would not re-sign Carlos Boozer). If I give a guy $100 million he’s got to put me over the hump. (Kenny and I) both talk about wanting to be GM’s, I’d be better than you. I like Carlos Boozer, he’s a terrific player, but my rule of thumb is if I give a guy $80, $90 or $100 million, we’ve got say ‘we’ve got a shot to win the championship with this guy.’ They didn’t advance past the first round, so I’m not going to give him a raise.”

Barkley on the Hornets 58-point loss to the Nuggets in Game #4: “I always think it’s difficult to say someone’s quit, but (the Hornets) quit. You can’t get beat that bad and not quit.”

Celtics head coach Doc Rivers on whether he recognizes the exciting match-up between the Celtics and Bulls: “No, I don’t even see it. I hear it a lot, my brother, my mom, you guys, everybody is talking about it. All I see is 2-2, that’s it and I don’t like it.”

Celtics guard Ray Allen on the advantage the Celtics should have over the Bulls: “We like to think it’s our experience, but experience isn’t just talked about and put in play, experience is shown through the lack of mistakes down the stretch.”

Log onto TNT OverTime on NBA.com for a full replay of Inside the NBA and exclusive reports from TNT announcers.

ESPN Films Adds 10 More Names to “30 for 30” Filmmaker Roster

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ESPN Films Adds 10 More Names to “30 for 30” Filmmaker Roster

Peter Berg, Ron Shelton, Brett Morgen and Steve James to Turn Lens Toward Sports Stories

ESPN Films is announcing 10 additional filmmakers for its ambitious “30 for 30” film project. The filmmakers include Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights), Academy Award nominee Ron Shelton (Bull Durham), Academy Award nominee Brett Morgen (On the Ropes), and Academy Award nominee Steve James (Hoop Dreams), as well as Academy Award winner Bill Couturié, Peabody Award winner Fritz Mitchell, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Jonathan Hock, Jeff Zimbalist and the duo of Lucas Jansen and Adam Kurland. These noted directors will delve into sports stories of the past 30 years – from Wayne Gretzky’s trade and Michael Jordan’s stint in the minors to the birth of fantasy sports and the murder of soccer player Andres Escobar. Debuting in October 2009, “30 for 30” will gather 30 filmmakers to each create one-hour films on topics from 1979 to 2009, ESPN’s first 30 years.

The Films

#99 (Peter Berg)

On August 9, 1988, the NHL was forever changed with the single stroke of a pen. The Edmonton Oilers, fresh off their third Stanley Cup victory in four years, signed a deal exporting Wayne Gretzky, Canadian national treasure and the greatest hockey player ever, to the Los Angeles Kings. Acclaimed director Peter Berg presents the captivating story of the trade that knocked the wind out of an entire country and placed a star-studded city right at the humble feet of “the Great One.”

Jordan Plays Baseball (Ron Shelton)

In the fall of 1993, in his prime and at the summit of the sports world, Michael Jordan walked away from pro basketball. Having just finished a remarkable year on top in which he won a gold medal and a third NBA Championship, Jordan signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox to rekindle his childhood love of baseball. Ron Shelton, a former minor leaguer who brought his experiences to life in the classic movie Bull Durham, along with Asylum Entertainment will revisit Jordan’s short career in the minor leagues and explore the motivations that drove the world’s most competitive athlete to play a new sport in the relative obscurity of Birmingham, Alabama for a young manager named Terry Francona.

June 17, 1994 (Brett Morgen)

Do you remember where you were on June 17, 1994? Thanks to a wide array of unrelated, coast-to-coast occurrences, this Friday has come to be known for its firsts, lasts, triumphs and tragedy. Arnold Palmer retired at Torrey Pines, the FIFA World Cup kicked off in Chicago, the Rangers celebrated on Broadway, Ken Griffey Jr. reached a milestone in Kansas City, Patrick Ewing desperately pursued a long evasive championship in the Garden and Donald Fehr stared down the baseball owners. And yet, all of that was a prelude to OJ Simpson leading America on a slow speed chase in a white Ford Bronco around Los Angeles. Oscar-nominated and Peabody Award-winning director Brett Morgen will weave these moments and others to create a unique and nostalgic look at a day that every sports fan will remember.

The Trial of Allen Iverson (Steve James)

On February 13, 1993, 17-year-old Bethel High School basketball star Allen Iverson entered a Hampton, Virginia bowling alley with several classmates. It was supposed to be an ordinary evening, but it became a night that defined Iverson’s young life—a quarrel soon erupted into a brawl pitting Iverson’s young, black friends against a group of older white men. The fallout from the fight and the handling of the subsequent trial landed the nation’s best high school athlete in jail and sharply divided the city along racial lines. Oscar nominee Steve James (Hoop Dreams) returns to his hometown of Hampton, where he once played basketball, to take a personal look at this still disputed incident and examine its impact on Iverson and the shared community.

The Gurus of Go (Bill Couturié)

By the mid 1980’s, Paul Westhead had worn out his welcome in the NBA. The best offer he could find came from an obscure small college with no history of basketball. In the same city where he had won an NBA championship with Magic and Kareem, Westhead was determined to perfect his non-stop run-and-gun offensive system at Loyola Marymount. His shoot-first offense appeared doomed to fail until Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble, two talented players from Westhead’s hometown of Philadelphia, arrived gift wrapped at his door-step. With Gathers and Kimble leading a record-scoring charge, Westhead’s system suddenly dazzled the world of college basketball and turned conventional thinking on its head. But then, after a strong start to the 1989-90 season, Gathers collapsed during a game and was diagnosed with an abnormal heartbeat. Determined to play, Gathers tragically died on the court on March 4, 1990. Working with both Westhead and Kimble, Oscar-winning director Bill Couturié will tell a fast-paced and emotionally moving story of innovation, triumph and tragedy.

The Rise and Fall of Jimmy “the Greek” Snyder (Fritz Mitchell)
The NFL Today on CBS was the preeminent sports program on television in the early 1980s. It was a perfect combination of reporting, analysis, predictions, humor and talent. But there was no personality on the show more popular than Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder. The son of Greek immigrants, Jimmy overcame early childhood tragedy, moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in the mid 1950s, and quickly became the biggest name in the world of sports handicapping. When CBS added him as an “analyst” on The NFL Today, “The Greek” not only further increased his stature as a sort of national folk hero, but he also gained an air of respectability never before associated with gamblers. Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Fritz Mitchell, who broke in as a researcher on The NFL Today, will examine Snyder’s impact on the growth of sports gambling, while also taking a fresh look at The Greek’s tragic downfall.

One Night in Vegas (Reggie Rock Bythewood)

On the evening of September 7, 1996, Mike Tyson and Bruce Seldon met in the ring at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to contend for the WBA title belt. At this point in his career, Tyson’s fights had become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon, where the ever present hype of the professional boxing scene would come face to face with the worlds of big business, Hollywood, and hip hop. Sitting ringside was controversial rapper Tupac Shakur. Following Tyson’s victory, Shakur and “Iron Mike” were to celebrate at an after party, but Shakur never arrived. Shakur was brutally gunned down outside of the MGM Grand shortly after the fight, and the scene in Las Vegas quickly turned from would be celebratory revelry to ill fated and inopportune tragedy. Director Reggie Rock Bythewood, with the full cooperation of Mike Tyson, will tell not only the story of that infamous night but of the remarkable friendship between Tyson and Tupac.

The Best that Never Was (Jonathan Hock)

The face of college recruiting changed in 1981. That was the year a dozen big time football programs sat waiting for the decision of a physically powerful and lightning-quick high school running back named Marcus Dupree. Having already graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, Dupree attracted recruiters from schools in every major conference to his hometown of Philadelphia, Miss. Just a decade removed from being a flashpoint in the civil rights struggle, Philadelphia was once again thrust back into the national spotlight. Dupree took the attention in stride, and committed to Oklahoma. What followed, though, was a forgettable college career littered with conflict, injury and oversized expectations. Eight-time Emmy Award winner Jonathan Hock will examine why this star burned out so young and how he ultimately used football to redeem himself.

The Two Escobars (Jeff Zimbalist)

In an early match against the United States in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Colombia’s star defenseman, Andres Escobar, scored an own goal that led to the team’s elimination. Less than two weeks later, Escobar was gunned down outside a bar in a suburb of Medellin. He was shot 12 times, and the murderer shouted “goal” each time the trigger was pulled. Director Jeff Zimbalist will examine the role Pablo Escobar’s drug cartel played in building the sport of soccer in Colombia and the mysterious events leading up to and surrounding Andres Escobar’s death.

Silly Little Game (Adam Kurland and Lucas Jansen)

Fantasy Sports is a $4 billion dollar industry that boasts more than 20 million participants and a league for almost every sport imaginable. But for all this success, the story of the game’s inception is little known. The modern fantasy leagues can be traced back to a motley group of writers and academics who met at La Rotisserie Francaise in New York City to form a baseball league of their own: The Rotisserie League. The game quickly grew in popularity, and with the growing use and popularity of the Internet, the “Founding Fathers” never foresaw how their creation would take off and ultimately leave them behind. Innovative filmmakers Adam Kurland and Lucas Jansen will chronicle the early development and ultimate explosion of Rotisserie Baseball, and shine a light on its mostly unnoticed innovators.

The 10 filmmakers join previously announced “30 for 30” participants: Peabody Award winner Dan Klores (King of the New York Streets), two-time Academy Award winner Barbara Kopple (The Steinbrenner Family Business), Academy Award winner Barry Levinson (And the Band Marched On), Academy Award nominee Albert Maysles (Muhammad and Larry), two-time NBA MVP and first-time filmmaker Steve Nash (Terry Fox), Academy Award nominee Mike Tollin (Who Killed the USFL?), Billy Corben and Alfred Spellman (The U) and two-time Academy Award nominee Spike Lee (TBD).

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Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7: Series finale debuts this Friday

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PACQUIAO/HATTON 24/7 – MAY 1 EPISODE

Episode #4 (series finale)

Debut date:  FRIDAY, MAY 1 (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Other HBO playdates:  May 1 (12:05 a.m.), 2 (4:00 p.m.), 3 (11:00 a.m., 11:30 p.m.), 4 (7:30 p.m., 12:30 a.m.), 6 (9:00 a.m., midnight)

HBO2 playdates:  May 1 (2:00 a.m.), 2 (11:30 a.m.) and 5 (noon, 11:30 p.m.)

HBO On Demand availability begins:  May 2

Manny Pacquiao breaks camp in Los Angeles and heads to Las Vegas, where he finds Ricky Hatton waiting for him; final fight week activities begin as their May 2 junior welterweight showdown approaches.

Prior to the May 1 debut of the series finale, the first three episodes of PACQUIAO/HATTON 24/7 will be presented back-to-back on HBO, beginning at 8:00 p.m.  In addition, all four episodes will be presented back-to-back on Saturday, May 2, beginning at 10:00 a.m. on HBO2, and at 2:30 p.m. on HBO.

On Saturday, May 2 at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT), HBO Pay-Per-View presents “Pacquiao vs. Hatton,” live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

At the 30th annual Sports Emmy® Awards, presented April 27, the “24/7” franchise received four awards, including three for “Calzaghe/Jones 24/7” (Outstanding Edited Sports Special, Outstanding Editing, Outstanding Post Produced Audio/Sound) and one for “De La Hoya/Pacquiao 24/7” (Outstanding Edited Sports Series/Anthologies).

The executive producers of PACQUIAO/HATTON 24/7 are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; coordinating producer, Dave Harmon; producers, Scott Boggins and Bentley Weiner; narrator, Liev Schreiber; writer, Aaron Cohen.

RECORD 39 MILLION FANS TUNE INTO 2009 NFL DRAFT ON NFL NETWORK, ESPN & ESPN2

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RECORD 39 MILLION FANS TUNE INTO 2009 NFL DRAFT

ON NFL NETWORK, ESPN & ESPN2

First-Round Coverage Outdraws All Weekend

Basketball, Hockey & Baseball Games

Fans Spend More Time on NFL.com

A record 39 million viewers tuned in to watch the 2009 NFL Draft on NFL Network, ESPN and ESPN2, according to Nielsen Media Research. The total audience for the 2009 NFL Draft is an increase of nearly 2.5 million viewers from 2008 and tops the record of 38 million viewers set in 2007. Total NFL Draft viewership has increased 66 percent from 2001 to 2009 (from 23.5 million to 39 million).

First-round coverage of the Draft drew a combined average viewership of 6.3 million viewers on ESPN and NFL Network – exceeding the average viewership of the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball (Yankees-Red Sox; 4.6 million viewers), FOX’s Saturday Baseball (Yankees-Red Sox and Cubs-Cardinals; 4.1 million) and all other weekend NBA and NHL playoff action (topped by NBA Playoffs First-Round Game 4 on ABC, Cavaliers-Pistons; 5.4 million viewers).

Fans visiting NFL.com on Draft weekend spent a record average of 45 minutes on the site – up 153 percent from a year ago. Visitors to NFL.com over the weekend increased 28 percent over 2008 while video streams accessed were up 65 percent. In addition, fans viewed three times more NFL.com Draft content on their wireless devices than a year ago.

More than 48,000 fans followed the NFL Draft via the NFL’s Twitter pages. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s Draft tweets were read by 3,690 followers. NFL Network’s Rich Eisen drew 4,383 followers and posted 309 updates throughout the network’s two-day draft coverage.   NFL Network analyst Jamie Dukes had more than 1,500 followers.

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Jim Nantz Headlines CBS Sports Emmy Wins

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April 28, 2009

CBS SPORTS’ JIM NANTZ WINS EMMY AWARD FOR “OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – PLAY-BY-PLAY”

AT 30TH ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY AWARDS

Network Also Garners Four Other Emmy Awards Including Teaming Up with Showtime Networks for

“OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW – WEEKLY” for INSIDE THE NFL

CBS Sports’ Jim Nantz was honored with an Emmy Award for OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – PLAY-BY-PLAY at the 30th Annual Sports Emmy Awards on Monday, April 27 at the Frederick P. Rose Hall Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Nantz is the lead play-by-play voice for the Network’s coverage of the NFL, NCAA Basketball, including the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship and Final Four, and the PGA TOUR, including the Masters® and PGA Championship.

CBS Sports also won four other Emmy Awards including OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW – WEEKLY for its combined production with Showtime Networks and NFL Films for “Inside the NFL” on Showtime.

The Network also won for OUTSTANDING SHORT FEATURE for the 2008 NCAA Basketball on CBS, produced by Pete Radovich, Jr.; OUTSTANDING MUSIC COMPOSITION/DIRECTION/LYRICS for the 2008 AFC Championship Game tease, music director Radovich, Jr. and composed by Franz Vonlichten and Helmut Vonlichten; and OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN/ART DIRECTION also for the 2008 AFC Championship Game tease, art director Radovich, Jr.

* * * * *

On Monday, May 4, Nantz also will be honored by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association as the 2008 National Sportscaster of the Year.  This marks the fourth time he will be honored with this prestigious award (1998, 2005 and 2007).

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Filed Under: CBS

ESPN Wins Five Sports Emmy Awards

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ESPN Wins Five Sports Emmy Awards
ESPN won five Sports Emmy Awards, presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences last night in New York, including the 19th in company history for NASCAR (in the Technical Team Studio category) and the first for 22-year ESPN vet Tom Jackson, in the studio analyst category for his work on Sunday NFL Countdown and additional ESPN NFL programming.
The company was also honored for the 11th time in Technical Achievement (EA SPORTS Virtual Playbook). The innovation, developed jointly by EA SPORTS and ESPN, delivers an “augmented reality” that allows ESPN’s NFL analysts to interact in the studio with the virtual players from EA SPORTS video games and provide insight, education and analysis to fans about key football plays and techniques.
ESPN won a Sports Emmy in the New Approaches/Short Format category (“No Love Lost” on ESPN.com about long-suffering Chicago Cubs fans). ESPN has been honored with at least one award in each of the years online entries have been considered (since 2006).
The company was also presented a Sports Emmy in the Long Features category for a piece on Richard Jensen, who overcame a drug addiction and enrolled in college in his late 30s and was a standout wrestler.  It was the eighth consecutive year ESPN received a Sports Emmy in one of the two categories for Features.
ESPN has now won 128 Sports Emmy Awards in 21 years of eligibility.
ESPN’s Sports Emmy Awards
Long Feature Outside the Lines – Richard Jensen http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3510121
New Approaches – Shorts No Love Lost (ESPN.com)  http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=cubs100
Studio Analyst Tom Jackson
Technical Team Studio NASCAR
Technical Achievement EA SPORTS Virtual Playbook/Augmented Reality: http://espnmediasource.com/rs/?c=898&k=330fd2f984

HBO Sports Emmy Award Wins

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Winners were revealed tonight at the 30th Annual Sports Emmy awards in New York City.

HBO garnered the second most of any single network:

NBC             9

HBO             8
CBS             5

FOX             5
ESPN            4
FSN             3
TNT             2

HBO collected 8 Sports Emmy awards which include:

OUTSTANDING SPORTS DOCUMENTARY

Breaking the Huddle: The Integration of College Football

OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS SERIES / ANTHOLOGIES

De La Hoya/Pacquiao 24/7

OUTSTANDING SPORTS JOURNALISM

Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel – Horse Slaughter: Running For Their Lives (Bernard Goldberg)

OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS SPECIAL

Calzaghe/Jones 24/7

OUTSTANDING EDITING

Calzaghe/Jones 24/7

OUTSTANDING POST PRODUCED AUDIO/SOUND – 2

Calzaghe/Jones 24/7

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – STUDIO HOST

Bob Costas – HBO, NBC

The Sports Emmy awards were announced APRIL 27, 2009 in New York City at the Frederick P. Rose Hall in the Time Warner Center.

For a full list of winners go to: www.emmyonline.tv

Filed Under: HBO