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2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Final – U.S. Men’s National Team’s Biggest Audience Outside the World Cup

June 30, 2009 By admin

2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Final – U.S. Men’s National Team’s Biggest Audience Outside the World Cup

Sunday’s 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup final live on ESPN from Ellis Park in Johannesburg, South Africa, – a 3-2 victory for Brazil over the United States – was the most-watched non-FIFA World Cup match featuring the U.S. Men’s Soccer National Team on the network, with an average of 3.945 million viewers. The telecast, aired Sunday, June 28, at 2 p.m. ET, was seen by an average of 2.556 million television homes, based on a 2.6 rating.

The match, in which Brazil, No. 5 in the FIFA World Rankings, overcame a 2-0 deficit in the first half to defeat the 14th ranked U.S. Team, also delivered the third largest audience for a U.S. Men’s National Team match on ESPN, trailing two World Cup matches – June 21, 2002, Germany vs. U.S., seen by 5.335 million viewers, and June 22, 1994, U.S. vs. Colombia, seen by 4.810 million viewers.

The five most-viewed U.S. Men’s Team matches:

Date

Event

Matchup

Viewers (P2+)

HH Imps

Rating

June 21, 2002

2002 World Cup-Qtr-final

Germany vs. U.S.

5,335,000

3,772,000

4.4

June 22, 1994

1994 World Cup-1st RD

U.S. vs. Colombia

4,810,000

2,686,000

4.3

June 28, 2009

FIFA Confed Cup-Final

U.S. vs. Brazil

3,945,000

2,556,000

2.6

June 22, 2006

2006 World Cup-1st RD

Ghana vs. U.S.

3,819,000

2,902,000

3.2

June 16, 2002

2002 World Cup-2nd RD

Mexico vs. U.S.

2,935,000

1,983,000

2.3

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Filed Under: ESPN, Soccer

SIRIUS XM To Broadcast All-Star Futures Game; Broadcasters: Jim Kaat and Scott Graham

June 30, 2009 By admin

SIRIUS XM RADIO TO AIR EXCLUSIVE BROADCAST OF XM ALL-STAR FUTURES GAME JULY 12

Longtime major league pitcher Jim Kaat will be the game analyst; SIRIUS XM’s Scott Graham will call play-by-play

Futures Game features top minor league prospects from U.S. and abroad

NEW YORK – June 30, 2009 – SIRIUS XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) announced today that it will offer baseball fans an exclusive radio broadcast of the XM All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, July 12, two days before the 2009 MLB All-Star Game.  The XM All-Star Futures Game will be played at Busch Stadium in St. Louis and features top minor league prospects from the U.S. and abroad.

Veteran major league pitcher Jim Kaat will be the game analyst for the broadcast, which will air live starting with the pre-game at 2:00 pm ET on XM channel 175.  Scott Graham, host of SIRIUS XM’s Baseball This Morning talk show, will be the play-by-play voice.

Former Major League Baseball pitcher and longtime broadcaster Jim Kaat, also known as “Kitty,” won 283 games during his 25-year career in Major League Baseball.  Best known for his time with the Minnesota Twins, the southpaw won 16 consecutive Gold Gloves from 1962-1977.  Following his retirement after the 1983 season, Kaat moved to the broadcast booth, covering three World Series for CBS from 1990-1992, and becoming an analyst for New York Yankees baseball from 1995-2006, where he won seven Emmy Awards.  Kaat is now a color commentator for MLB Network’s Thursday Night Baseball series.

Scott Graham has spent over 20 years as a radio and television sportscaster. His work has covered Major League Baseball, the NFL, college football and basketball, and a variety of other sports from golf to volleyball. He has been a play-by-play broadcaster for the Philadelphia Phillies, ESPN, FOX, CBS and a number of national and regional television and radio networks.

The XM All-Star Futures Game showcases the brightest talent currently in the minor leagues.  Rosters include up to two players from each MLB farm system who are assigned to U.S. and World teams based on place of birth.  The World team defeated the U.S. team 3-0 in last year’s XM All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium.  This year, Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith will manage the U.S. team and his former Cardinals teammate, Jose Oquendo, now the third base coach for St. Louis, will manage the World team.

XM Radio airs every game of the 2009 MLB season live, including the 2009 MLB All-Star Game.  XM listeners can hear every game from all 30 Major League teams on XM channels 175 to 189.  A schedule of upcoming MLB games on XM can be found at www.xmradio.com/mlb.

In addition to live play-by-play coverage, SIRIUS XM offers baseball fans 24-hour coverage of the game on MLB Home Plate, the only radio channel dedicated to covering Major League Baseball seven days a week, 365 days a year.  Now available to both XM and SIRIUS subscribers (XM channel 175, SIRIUS channel 210 with the “Best of XM” programming package), MLB Home Plate offers the most comprehensive radio coverage of the Major Leagues with a daily lineup of talk shows hosted by baseball experts and insiders like Cal Ripken Jr., Bill Ripken, Rob Dibble, Jim Duquette, Kevin Kennedy, Buck Martinez and others.

For more information, please visit www.xmradio.com/mlb.

Filed Under: MLB, Sirius/XM

“Don’t Give Up ESPYs V Foundation Auction” to Include 2010 Range Rover and Mike & Mike in the Morning from a Listener’s Home

June 30, 2009 By admin

“Don’t Give Up ESPYs V Foundation Auction” to Include 2010 Range Rover and Mike & Mike in the Morning from a Listener’s Home

Online Items and Experiences July 5-15; Day Long ESPN Radio On-Air Auction July 15

A new 2010 Range Rover luxury vehicle – the Autobiography specification valued at over $100,000* — and ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning broadcasting from a listener’s home highlight the more than 275 items and experiences available for bid in the fifth annual “Don’t Give Up ESPYs V Foundation Auction” July 5-15.  Net proceeds from the auction benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research.
The majority of the experiences and items will be available through an online component via espnradio.com or ebay.com (July 5-15) – including the Range Rover, donated by Land Rover North America, and Mike & Mike in the Morning — while 26 fan “experiences” will be auctioned in an 18-hour radiothon across ESPN Radio’s six national shows on Wednesday, July 15 beginning at 6 a.m. ET.
Bidding for the Range Rover, the first vehicle ever available in the auction, will begin at $50,000.  The 2010 Range Rover Autobiography – the Land Rover flagship vehicle — will feature a series of enhanced elements, including updated exterior revisions providing a more contemporary detailing to the classic Range Rover design; a new 510 bhp supercharged engine; advanced interior technologies, including a virtual instrument panel; and active safety aids highlighted by Adaptive Cruise Control, Emergency Brake Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring and a surround camera system.
For the second consecutive year, the Mike & Mike in the Morning experience will open at $0.99.  Last year’s experience, marking the first time it was offered, garnered a winning bid of $57,100, the largest for any item.  The popular morning program is hosted by Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. ET on ESPN Radio, ESPN2 HD and espnradio.com.
ESPN Radio’s “experiences” will range from special access ticket packages to sporting events and trips to handing Lee Corso the mascot head from behind the College GameDay set to various events at ESPN’s headquarters.  Listeners call 1-800-4JimmyV to make bids with the highest bidder at 59 minutes past each hour winning the experience.  Items available online will include autographed jerseys, footballs, basketballs, baseballs, guitar, golf club and balls, helmets, books, collector’s player cards and photos.  Details of the other auction and online items and experiences are available on espnradio.com.
The fourth annual ESPN Radio “Don’t Give Up ESPYs V Foundation Auction” set a record by raising $1,130,314 for The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a 323% increase from the inaugural event’s total of $201,000 in 2005.  The event has raised more money each year ($435,770 in 2006 and $851,036 in 2007).
The event is one of Team ESPN’s corporate outreach initiatives which will coincide with the ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic on July 14 and the ESPYs July 15 (televised Sunday, July 19 at 9 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN HD).
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is the country’s largest sports radio network, providing more than 9,000 hours of talk and event content annually to more than 750 stations, including more than 350 full-time affiliates and owned stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Pittsburgh. ESPN Radio event programming features the NBA (and The Finals), MLB (and the World Series) and college football’s BCS (and regular-season schedule). Weekday studio programming includes: Mike and Mike in the Morning (Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic), 6-10 a.m. ET; The Herd with Colin Cowherd, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Tirico and Van Pelt (2-4 p.m.); The Doug Gottlieb Show (4-7 p.m.).
The V Foundation
The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator.  Since 1993, the Foundation has raised more than $80 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide.  It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs.  The Foundation, which has received five consecutive top 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Review Committee.  For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.
Team ESPN
Team ESPN encompasses ESPN’s multi-faceted corporate outreach initiatives, including volunteerism, corporate giving and cause marketing, while utilizing its diverse media assets.  Through Team ESPN, ESPN employees and fans work together to make a difference in our world and the communities in which we live.  Team ESPN… Fans Helping Fans.  www.teamespn.com
*  Vehicle details:  The winner shall receive a 2010 Range Rover Autobiography, inclusive of all standard Autobiography content, standard color and trim options, as well as the Surround Camera System.  Additional charge color and trim options may be specified at the auction winners expense.

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Filed Under: ESPN

Under the Lights: The First “Supper at Wimbledon”

June 30, 2009 By admin

Under the Lights:  The First “Supper at Wimbledon”

Thirty years after he was part of the first live broadcast of the Gentlemen’s Final from Wimbledon, (“Breakfast at Wimbledon” — Roscoe Tanner vs. Bjorn Borg, 1979), Dick Enberg was again part of history, calling ESPN2′s quarterfinal match in which Scotsman Andy Murray outlatsted Stanislaus Wawrinka of Switzerland 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 — the first match played completely under the new retractable roof of the famed Centre Court (Monday, June 29).  With rain falling, the roof had been closed earlier in the day in the middle of the Dinara Safina-Amelie Mauresmo quarterfinal, and it stayed closed as Britain’s latest favorite son, the #3 seed,  took on the surprising #19 seed.  Illuminated by lights for the first time in history, the sacred sod saw play continue to the latest time in Wimbledon history — 10:39 p.m. locally (5:39 p.m. ET) after 3:46 of back-and-forth action.  (The previous record, when competition was limited by the setting sun, was 9:49 p.m. in 2006.)
As for the first-ever “Supper at Wimbledon,” Enberg says, “Of all the changes made here over the years, I was pleased to be part of another piece of Wimbledon history.  The quality of the match and the atmosphere made for a ‘tennis dessert’ to the first Supper at Wimbledon.  It felt like a championship.
“For generations the long-suffering British tennis fans have anquished over the fate of their male players, with Tim Henman the latest to tease and come close but not end the drought of a British title holder that dates to Fred Perry in 1936.  Now they pin their hopes on Andy Murray, who is bigger, faster and stronger…yet still has the flair for dramatic theatre for which London and Wimbledon are famous.”
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Filed Under: ESPN, Tennis

SportsCenter and ESPN.com to Present “Fan Feast” – Celebration of Top Sporting Experiences and Events to Attend

June 30, 2009 By admin

SportsCenter and ESPN.com to Present “Fan Feast” – Celebration of Top Sporting Experiences and Events to Attend

Two winners: One to attend event, the other to participate in


SportsCenter, ESPN’s flagship news and information program, and ESPN.com, the leading online sports destination, will combine to present a four-week, fan-based celebration of the top sporting events to experience and to watch. The series, “SportsCenter Fan Feast,” will feature five daily essays each by ESPN television studio host Kenny Mayne on his top five sports events to attend, and Mike Greenberg, co-host of ESPN Radio and ESPN2’s Mike and Mike in the Morning Show, on his top five events to participate in.


On ESPN.com, starting today through Friday, July 10, fans can submit a 50-word essay on www.espn.com/fanfest proposing their favorite sporting event to attend. Fans can also submit essays about their favorite sporting event to participate in. A panel of ESPN.com editorial staff will select the top 10 essays submitted for each category. Greenberg and Mayne will pick the winning essays in each category ten. The two winners will be announced Friday, July 24, on SportsCenter at 6 p.m. ET.

“The ’SportsCenter Fan Feast’ is great opportunity to continue our effort to engage fans by giving them a vehicle to share and celebrate their ‘bucket lists’ of sporting events with other fans,” said Mark Gross, senior vice president and managing editor, studio production.


Monday, June 29 – Fri., July 10

SportsCenter: Daily vignettes with key athletes discussing their favorite events (other than their respective sports) to play in or to watch:

· Mon., June 29: Kobe Bryant – play cricket

· Tue., June 30: Joe Mauer – be a quarterback at the Super Bowl

· Wed., July 1: Candace Parker – attend the FIFA World Cup

· Thur., July 2: Jeff Gordon – face Tony Hawk one-on-one in an X Games contest

· Thur., July 2: Carl Crawford on 1:00 a.m. (10 p.m. PT) – to be a quarterback in the NFL

· Fri., July 3: Blake Griffin – play football at the University of Oklahoma

· Mon., July 6: Colt McCoy – attend the Masters

· Tue., July 7: Trevor Hoffman – race in the Indy 500

· Wed., July 8: Lisa Leslie – attend the US Open and watch a Williams sisters final

· Thur., July 9: Dale Earnhardt Jr. – play in the NFL

· Thur., July 9: Dick Vermeil – a front row seat at the Indy 500

· Fri., July 10: Justin Morneau – play and win the Stanley Cup


Monday, July 13 – Friday, July 17

SportsCenter: Mike Greenberg’s essays on the top five to-do sports events (one each day) will be aired.

ESPN.com: On Monday, June 13, the site will post the top 10 essays proposing their “must-do” sports events. Users will be polled on the best submissions in this category.


Monday, July 20 – Friday, July 24

SportsCenter: Kenny Mayne’s essays on the top five events sports fans “should see” will be aired.

ESPN.com: On Monday, June 20, the site will post the top 10 essays on “must-see” events. Users will be polled on the best essays.


Friday, July 24

Two winners, selected by Greenberg and Mayne, will be announced on SportsCenter at 6 p.m. One winner will get the chance to participate in their favorite event. The other will attend their favorite event.


“Fan Feast” reflects SportsCenter’s ongoing desire to engage sports fans. Last summer, the program launched an interactive, fan-based search for “TitleTown USA.” For four straight years (2006 – ’09), SportsCenter, in cooperation with The Walt Disney Company and Make-A-Wish Foundation, has granted and chronicled sports-related wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions in the critically acclaimed SportsCenter “My Wish” series.


In September 2004, the program originated live for one week from Camp Arifjan Army base in Kuwait. In the summer of 2005, in its most ambitious initiative to date, SportsCenter took to the road, reporting segments from a combination of mainstream and unique sports events in all U.S. 50 states and Washington, D.C., in 51 days.

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Filed Under: ESPN

ESPN Plans Month-long Coverage from South Africa for 2010 FIFA World Cup

June 29, 2009 By admin

ESPN Plans Month-long Coverage from South Africa for 2010 FIFA World Cup


SportsCenter FIFA World Cup Segments, Nightly World Cup Live, and Pre-, Halftime and Post-Match Programming to Originate from Site with Hosts Chris Fowler, Bob Ley and Mike Tirico; and World Cup News and Analysis on 14 Localized Editions of SportsCenter Across the World


ESPN will present all of its 2010 FIFA World Cup television studio programming from site in South Africa, offering U.S. sports fans the most comprehensive news and information coverage throughout the month-long soccer showcase (June 11 – July 11, 2010). Coverage of the quadrennial global event will include SportsCenter segments, nightly World Cup Live, and pre-, halftime and post-match shows, with additional studio programming and World Cup-branded segments, totaling more than 65 hours of coverage, originating from two sets in and around Johannesburg.


A trio of top-tier ESPN hosts, Chris Fowler (college football, Grand Slam tennis), Bob Ley (SportsCenter, Outside the Lines), and Mike Tirico (Super Bowl, NBA Finals, Final Four, major golf championships), will serve as on-site FIFA World Cup studio hosts. ESPN’s “game around the game” approach to South Africa 2010 will include live and taped segments that will air on ESPN International’s 13 localized versions of SportsCenter in eight different languages across the world.


“Presenting all live studio programming from site in South Africa during the World Cup will allow us to fully capture the event’s key storylines and provide the right context for fans to experience the world’s most popular sport on its biggest stage,” said Mark Gross, senior vice president and managing editor, ESPN studio production. “Much like our on-site coverage of the Super Bowl, NBA Finals and other marquee events, this month-long commitment reflects the popularity of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S. and globally, and the historic nature of this event in Africa for the first time ever.”


South Africa 2010 will mark the first time in ESPN’s 30-year history that the entirety of its FIFA World Cup studio programming will originate on location from the site of the host country. Highlights of planned programs and 2010 FIFA World Cup-branded segments:

  • SportsCenter at the FIFA World Cup
  • World Cup Live – the daily, 30-minute news, highlights and analysis program (30 episodes) aired each night of the tournament on ESPN or ESPN2;
  • Live 30-minute pre-match, halftime (15 min.) and post-match shows on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2;
  • World Cup segments on ESPNEWS, First Take on ESPN2, and Outside the Lines.

In the United States, ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC will combine to present high definition coverage of all 64 matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa June 11 – July 11, 2010. Beyond its English-language exclusive coverage in the U.S., ESPN Inc. is a World Cup rights-holder in Brazil (ESPN Brazil) and in the ESPN Star Sports (ESS) territories of India, Pakistan, The Maldives, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Middle East.


ESPN, through the 14 localized editions of SportsCenter, the network’s flagship sports news and information brand, also provides the most comprehensive coverage of marquee sports events around the world. Each SportsCenter edition will provide extensive coverage of 2010 FIFA World Cup for fans in their respective markets, including:

  • U.S. (English)
  • ESPN 2 (Dos) serving the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (Spanish)
  • ESPN’s pan-regional network in Latin America (Spanish)
  • ESPN+ serving the Southern cone of Latin America (Spanish)
  • ESPN Brasil (Portuguese)
  • TSN Canada (English)
  • ESS pan-Asia (English)
  • ESS India (Hindi)
  • ESS Hong Kong (Cantonese)
  • ESS Taiwan (Mandarin)
  • J Sports ESPN (Japanese)
  • ESS Malaysia (Malay)
  • ESPN South Africa, Israel (English)
  • ESPN Australia (English)


ESPN Inc.’s FIFA WORLD CUP HISTORY in the United States

FIFA World Cups (Men’s)

Germany ’06 – All 64 matches live and in high definition

Korea/Japan ’02 – 58 ESPN and ESPN2 matches live (six tape-delayed broadcasts on ABC)

France ’98 – ESPN 27, ESPN2 23 and ABC Sports 14 – all 64 matches live

USA ’94 – ESPN, 41, and ABC, 11 – all 52 matches

Mexico ’86 – ESPN, 15 matches (U.S. cable television rights)

Spain ’82 – ESPN, 7 matches


FIFA Women’s World Cups

China ’07

USA ’03

USA ’99 – unprecedented coverage – all 32 matches

Sweden ’95


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Filed Under: ESPN, Soccer

Notes from TNT’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coverage – Sunday, June 28, 2009

June 29, 2009 By admin

Notes from TNT’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coverage – Sunday, June 28, 2009

TNT’s coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series continues on Saturday, July 4 with Wide Open coverage from Daytona, FL at Daytona International Speedway. NASCAR on TNT Live! begins at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by Countdown to Green at 7:30 p.m. ET. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing begins at 8 p.m. ET.


NASCAR on TNT Live! from New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, NH

Marc Fein (host), Larry McReynolds (analyst) and Kyle Petty (analyst)


McReynolds on the parody in the Sprint Cup Series this season: “It’s been a very unpredictable season.  When we were at this point last year, it was pretty obvious that the No. 18 (Kyle Busch) and the No. 99 (Carl Edwards) were the dominant forces.  If you go back to 2007, no question it was the Hendrick group with No. 24 Jeff Gordon and No. 48 Jimmie Johnson.  But right now, I just don’t see anyone that’s dominating our sport, which is a great thing.”


Petty on this week’s Pride of NASCAR series featuring a profile of the Wood Brothers: “It’s all about family with (the Wood Brothers).  Ford is their family and their family is the center of their life.  Everyone who has driven for them is a part of their family.  I’m proud to say that I was a part of their family for a while and I still consider myself (part of their family).”


Petty on the rumors that Richard Petty Motorsports is exploring options on manufacturers for 2010: “If you’re Richard Petty Motorsports and you are going to explore your options, explore them after you win a race like they did last week (in Sonoma) because that’s when there is the most interest.  I do think that because of everything that’s going on in Detroit right now in the automobile industry, there are a lot of teams that are exploring options right now.”


Petty on a comment No. 99 Carl Edwards made during Lindsay Czarniak’s Lindsay on Location behind-the-scenes piece: “(Carl Edwards) said that ‘racing is 80% mental.’  So if I look at No. 14 Tony (Stewart), it’s got to be 98% mental because he’s kickin’ butt out there and he doesn’t look like Carl Edwards.”


No. 2 Kurt Busch joined Fein, McReynolds and Petty on the TNT set.

Busch on the incident at Sonoma involving him and No. 48 Jimmie Johnson: “We talked and it and felt like a championship-type discussion where we were both going for the same spot at the same time and we’re going to handle it like championship drivers.  We both know to give each other room next time.  I was really upset when it initially happened, but we went from 38th (position) to 15th in the last 20 laps and that really camouflaged it in my mind.  At worst, I thought we were going to finish seventh at Sonoma but we’ll take 15th and get out of there.”


Busch on if he feels the Penske Racing Team has turned the corner from last year to this year: “It’s all about taking those bad days that have turned rough and turning it into a solid finish.  In the past, when things went wrong, it would snowball.  I feel that the way Pat Tryson has led this team, we’ve got Dave Winston as our team engineer, everybody at Penkse (Racing), the new engine, the cars in general are handling better and when you’re handling better, you’re going to drive to better finishes.”


Busch on his hobby of hunting: “I’ve gotten big into hunting and I’ve found it refreshing to go out into the woods, think about things and get into the hunting mode then switch back into racing.”

*****   *****   *****   *****   *****   ******

Countdown to Green

Marc Fein (host) and Wally Dallenbach (analyst)


TNT’s Marty Snider interviewed No. 11 Denny Hamlin prior to the race.

Hamlin on if he drives better on flat tracks: “I think so because I’ve got a lot of laps on the flat tracks.  This weekend we’ve got an experimental set-up and we don’t know what we have.  It could be hero or it could be zero, you never know.”


Dallenbach on what goes through the mind of a driver who is in a slump: “Most drivers who are in (a slump) are very insecure.  You go to the racetrack and you don’t know what you’re doing different.  It doesn’t matter how many championships you’ve won or how many races you’ve won.  It’s really hard and you beat yourself up when you’re not running well.  It’s a little bit easier like in the (Richard) Childress situation where your teammates aren’t running as well.  Then the focus is more on the team because none of the drivers are running well.  That helps the driver keep his confidence.  In the situation that Dale Earnhardt is in, he’s in a tough situation because his teammates are running well and he’s not.  You don’t sleep at night because you are trying to figure out what you need to do differently and if the team is completely confident in you, you can tell.  But if the whispers start happening, as a driver, you can sense that too and that makes it worse.”

*****   *****   *****   *****   *****   ******

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing: Lenox Industrial Tools 301 from New Hampshire International Speedway

Announcers: Ralph Shaheen (play-by-play), Wally Dallenbach (analyst) and Kyle Petty (analyst); Larry McReynolds (analyst) contributes from the in-field at the TNT Off-track Robotic Car (TORC)


Pit reporters: Lindsay Czarniak, Marty Snider and Matt Yocum


Dallenbach on the importance of the double-file restart at New Hampshire International Speedway: “This is one of those places where if it goes green, and you haven’t hit the setup right off the bat, the way the double-file restarts are now, if you go a lap down, you’re pretty much history.”


Petty on the unsung heroes in the pit crews: “Those guys on pit row are unsung heroes.  To go out there and turn your back on a car, these guys do an incredible job.  Drivers can’t do what they do without these guys.”


Dallenbach on how good No. 48 Jimmie Johnson has been: “These guys are just so darn good.  Everyone has to step up their game to catch No. 48 (Jimmie Johnson) but the problem is No. 48 keeps moving their game forward.”


Petty on drivers working hard to stay in contention and not get down a lap: “These guys are driving twice as hard as (No. 48) Jimmie Johnson.  They are driving to stay on the lead lap and stay in contention.  The cars just aren’t driving properly and you see the guy go past you 20 miles-per-hour faster and he’s got his arm out the window waving at you as he goes by.  Nothing makes you madder than that.  These guys are really driving hard.”


Dallenbach on the importance of keeping up with the leader: “You don’t want to lose (time on) the leader.  If you lose five or six seconds on the leader before your car comes in (to the pits), it’s really hard to make that gap up.  You almost have to be good for the whole run, you can’t give up.”


Petty on the multi-car crash at lap 175: “If you look at this at face value and all the people that are No. 18 Kyle Busch haters out there will say that Kyle Bush caused this (accident).  He didn’t, this was a chain-reaction.  This wasn’t anyone’s fault.”


TNT’s Marty Snider interviewed No. 1 Martin Truex Jr. who was eliminated from the race in a multi-car accident

Truex Jr. on what happened in the accident that involved No. 18 Kyle Busch: “I’m not sure what happened in front of us, either the No. 88 (Dale Earnhardt Jr) or No. 2 (Kurt Busch) spun their tires, I’m not sure who it was.  I was trying to do what I need to do to get going.  You can’t pass before the start/finish line and I guess No. 18 Kyle (Busch) decided he didn’t want to do it.  I’m just an innocent victim today.”


TNT’s Marty Snider interviewed No. 31 Jeff Burton who was eliminated from the race in a multi-car accident

Burton on if the accident that eliminated him from the race was the result of a double-file restart: “Everything you do has a positive and a negative and you hope there are more positives.  There’s no question that the double-file restarts are going to make it more exciting and make more aggressive racing.  When you have more aggressive racing, you’re going to have more wrecks.  That’s just how it is.  We’ve wrecked here on single-file restarts, let’s be clear about that.  That’s what racing is all about and it was our turn today to get in it.”


Dallenbach on double-file restarts: “I like the double-file restarts and I think everybody else does.  I think most of these drivers have to like it especially if you’re in the eighth or ninth spot.”


Petty on No. 20 Joey Logano: “(Joe Gibbs Racing’s) goal right now is to get this kid to race in the top ten or fifteen.  Has he done that today?  I’m not sure, we could argue that point.  At the same time, he’s with a great organization in the Gibbs organization.  He has a ton of talent.  Whether it’s matured to that point yet, it doesn’t matter because he’s going to win races in the future, that’s a given.  But the point is he’s with a great organization and team and they are giving him the time to learn.”


TNT’s Marty Snider interviewed No. 2 Kurt Busch during the rain delay

Busch on his intense double-file restarts with No. 24 Jeff Gordon: “When you inject (double-file restarts) into our racing, it seems like it changed the whole game.  There’s more to think about and after lap 150, you don’t know when the rain is going to come.  To me, that’s the whole race and you better go get what you can.  I stepped over the line a little bit but that’s the excitement.  I think Jeff (Gordon) can have a smile on his face right now.  It’s great, this sport has been clean and these guys you race with are clean and you can rub a little like that and still finish second or third, that’s alright.


TNT’s Lindsay Czarniak interviewed Lenox Industrial Tools 301 winner No. 20 Joey Logano.

Logano on his first Sprint Cup win: “I never thought that I’d be the one.  It kind of bit us in Charlotte when we had the same opportunity to do this and we didn’t.  This was the opportunity we had and we had nothing to lose.  This is a dream come true and the best race track that it could happen at.”


Logano on what it means to win his first race at his home track: “It makes it that much more special, belive me.  We struggled a little bit in practice and I was starting to figure it out and we were where we needed to be.  Luckily we had enough fuel and we made a pit stop at the end before the last green flag so we had a little bit more fuel than everyone else.  That’s what it took.”


Unofficial Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Results:

1.       No. 20 Joey Logano

2.       No. 24 Jeff Gordon

3.       No. 2 Kurt Busch

4.       No. 00 David Reutimann

5.       No. 14 Tony Stewart

6.       No. 09 Brad Keselowski

7.       No. 18 Kyle Busch

8.       No. 77 Sam Hornish Jr.

9.       No. 48 Jimmie Johnson

10.  No. 9 Kasey Kahne

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Filed Under: NASCAR, TNT

FOX Sports All A-Twitter At 80th MLB All-Star Game

June 29, 2009 By admin

FOX SPORTS ALL A-TWITTER AT 80TH MLB ALL-STAR GAME

MLB on FOX Plans Extensive Coverage via Tweets from St. Louis;

Reporter/Insider Rosenthal to Answer Questions In-Game

New York – There’s no way to be 100% sure without checking each of MLB on FOX’s 10 prior MLB All-Star Game broadcasts, but it’s unlikely you’d find the words “Twitter” and “tweet” anywhere in the coverage.  That’s about to change.

As communication via Twitter continues to grow, MLB on FOX plans extensive coverage of the 80th MLB All-Star Game via the Internet-driven messaging service, it was announced today by FOX Sports president, Ed Goren.  FOX Sports’ coverage of the Mid-Summer Classic begins at 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, July 14, live from Busch Stadium in St. Louis.  In addition to “tweets” generated by the MLB on FOX on-air team and FOXSports.com in the days and hours leading up sports’ most-popular all-star event, MLB on FOX reporter and FOXSports.com MLB Insider extraordinaire Ken Rosenthal answers Twitter-submitted questions from fans as the game progresses.

“There’s no denying that Twitter is a communications phenomenon that continues to grow, and our hope is that those who follow us on Twitter will use it to deepen their enjoyment of the All-Star Game broadcast,” said Goren.  “Ken is the best connected writer following the game today, and he’s been our biggest single tweeter.  Our hope is that fans will have fun tweeting with him during the game, which in turn will make their All-Star Game experience more enjoyable.”

“I’m all about reaching fans with the information I gather, be it on-air, through FOXSports.com, via Twitter or our Facebook and Myspace pages,” added Rosenthal.  “I’m sure time will permit me only a few on-air opportunities during the game, so this gives me a forum to answer as many questions from fans as possible and report more of what I learn and observe.”

Initiated as a complement to MLB on FOX on-air coverage to engage viewers more deeply, www.twitter.com/mlbonfox has broken news, provided in-game observations and insights, guided fans to exclusive columns at FOXSports.com, sent out dozens of exclusive photos and issued programming alerts and tune-in information.  The twitter.com/mlbonfox page was launched at 12:52 PM ET on April 7, 2009 with a link to Rosenthal’s 2009 predictions, and since then over 9000 fans have become followers, with access to over 400 updates issued.  A prolific contributor, Rosenthal is responsible for generating over 100 tweets, thus far this season.   Besides Rosenthal, also contributing from St. Louis throughout All-Star festivities will be play-by-play announcer Joe Buck, game analyst Tim McCarver and dugout reporters Eric Karros and Chris Rose, who also serves as pre-game host.

Twitter reportedly has more than 10 million followers around the world at present, doubling its number over the last few months.  Users exchange messages of no more than 140 characters, instantaneously.

FOX SPORTS – As America’s top-rated network for sports for the 12th-straight year (1997-2008), FOX Sports boasts rights agreements with each of the nation’s highest-rated sports. FOX Sports is the exclusive national over-the-air television rights holder of Major League Baseball, including the All-Star Game, alternating League Championship Series and World Series (2007-2013); the National Football League’s NFC package, including the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowls XLV and XLVII (2006-2013); NASCAR’s Sprint Cup racing from February through May, including the Daytona 500 (2007-2014); the Bowl Championship Series, featuring the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, FedEx Orange Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl from 2007 through 2010; and the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. Since its inception in 1994, FOX Sports has earned 81 Emmy Awards for production excellence. David Hill and Ed Goren are the Executive Producers of FOX Sports.  For the latest sports news, opinion and video, log on to www.FOXSports.com.  Fans may also interact with FOX Sports at www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.myspace.com/foxsports.

Filed Under: FOX, MLB

MLB Network adds Ken Rosenthal to On-Air Talent Roster

June 29, 2009 By admin

MLB NETWORK ADDS KEN ROSENTHAL TO ON-AIR TALENT ROSTER

FoxSports.com Senior Writer Joins Studio Team as “Baseball Insider”

Secaucus, N.J., June 29, 2009 – MLB Network today announced that Ken Rosenthal has joined its roster of on-air talent.  Rosenthal will join the cast of MLB Tonight beginning Tuesday, June 30 at 6:00 p.m. ET. Rosenthal, who will continue his reporting for FoxSports.com and MLB on Fox, joins Sports Illustrated senior writers Tom Verducci and Jon Heyman as Baseball Insiders on the MLB Network team.

“Ken brings a wealth of on-air reporting experience and insight into the game and we’re excited to welcome him to MLB Network,” said Tony Petitti, president and CEO of MLB Network. “As we grow as a network, it’s important that we continue to bring fans the most up-to-date information from the best resources in the business.”

Rosenthal has served as lead field reporter for MLB on Fox since 2005. Prior to joining Fox Sports, Rosenthal worked as the national baseball writer for The Sporting News and as a sportswriter at the Baltimore Sun, where he was named Maryland Sportswriter of the Year five times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. He is a voting member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

MLB Tonight, the signature program of MLB Network during the regular season, airs live beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET until the final MLB game of the night ends each Monday through Friday, featuring live look-ins of games in progress, updates, highlights, reporting and analysis.

MLB Network launched on January 1, 2009 as the largest debut in cable television history and is currently available in approximately 53 million cable and satellite homes. With live games, original programming, highlights, classic games, and coverage of baseball events, MLB Network is the ultimate television destination for baseball fans. For more information, go to mlbnetwork.com.

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Filed Under: MLB, MLBN

MLB and ‘People’ Announce 30 Community “All-Stars” to be Honored at All-Star Game

June 29, 2009 By admin

MLB AND ‘PEOPLE’ ANNOUNCE 30 COMMUNITY “ALL-STARS”

TO BE HONORED AT ALL-STAR GAME

Winners to be Featured in Special Pre-Game Ceremony on FOX — July 14th, 8:00 p.m. ET

Nearly Three Quarters of a Million Votes Cast Across the Nation

Major League Baseball and PEOPLE today announced the 30 winners of the “All-Stars Among Us” campaign, which recognizes individuals who are serving their communities in extraordinary ways.  The winners will be honored during the pre-game ceremony at the 2009 MLB All-Star Game in St. Louis on July 14 on FOX, at which President Barack Obama will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

The “All-Stars Among Us” program is central to the 2009 MLB All-Star Summer events dedicated to charitable initiatives and recognition of the important role of community service.  Nearly three quarters of a million votes were cast at PeopleAllStars.com by fans across the nation to select the 30 “All-Stars Among Us” winners (one per MLB Club) out of the pool of 90 finalists who are serving as leaders within their communities.

The 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, with pre-game ceremonies beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised in more than 200 countries and territories by Major League Baseball International.  ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage.

Major League Baseball dedicated its 2009 All-Star Game and surrounding events to raising funds and awareness for charitable initiatives and celebrating the importance of community service. The charity and community service initiatives, which are themed “Going Beyond,” will be the most extensive in Major League Baseball All-Star history. In addition, Major League Baseball is supporting President Obama’s call for community service through “United We Serve,” a program which encourages Americans to engage in sustained and meaningful community service. President Obama is encouraging all Americans to visit www.serve.gov to find service opportunities in their area.

The 30 winners (summarized with photos and bio information on the following pages) include inspirational stories of the selfless work of individuals who dedicate their time and energy to helping others and improving the lives of those around them.

“The All-Stars Among Us winners are making a significant impact in their communities with a selfless dedication to very important causes,” said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig.  “Major League Baseball is proud to honor this impressive group of people whose achievements demonstrate the renewed sense of community service that will make our nation an example for the world.”

“Celebrating the ‘Heroes Among Us’ has been an important part of PEOPLE editorial throughout its 35-year history,” said PEOPLE Managing Editor Larry Hackett.  “43 million weekly readers look to PEOPLE for these stories of everyday individuals who dedicate their lives to making a difference.”  Time Inc Style & Entertainment Group President Paul Caine adds: “We are thrilled to partner with MLB to shine a spotlight on the inspiring work of these “All-Stars Among Us”, and to salute these individuals in front of a nationwide audience.”

One winning “All-Star Among Us” will be featured in PEOPLE the week of the All-Star Game.  For the last 35 years, PEOPLE has told stories of everyday ‘heroes’ whose acts of courage, commitment, strength and compassion are changing the lives of others. The “PEOPLE All-Stars Among Us” campaign extends the PEOPLE “Heroes Among Us” franchise.

About the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

The 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be played on Tuesday, July 14th in St. Louis and will feature the best of the American League taking on the top players of the National League.  Major League Baseball has responded to United States of America President Barack Obama’s call for community service through “United We Serve,” a program which encourages Americans to engage in sustained and meaningful community service. Building up to the excitement of the All-Star Game, Major League Baseball will conduct a wide variety of special events and charitable activities for fans both inside and outside of Busch Stadium. At the ballpark, the events will include Taco Bell All-Star Sunday on Sunday, July 12th featuring the XM All-Star Futures Game and the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game, and Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday, July 13th featuring the State Farm Home Run Derby. Outside of the ballpark, fans will have an opportunity to experience All-Star Summer through a variety of special events including Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest, the five-day interactive fan festival; the MLB All-Star Charity Concert presented by Pepsi benefiting Stand Up To Cancer, a free concert for fans under The Gateway Arch featuring Sheryl Crow; the All-Star Charity 5K & Fun Run presented by Sports Authority and Nike, a charity run on a baseball-themed route to benefit three cancer organizations; and the All-Star Game Red Carpet Show presented by Chevy, a free parade of All-Stars leading into Busch Stadium. The Midsummer Classic will be televised nationally on FOX Sports and will be shown around the world by Major League Baseball International. For more information about 2009 All-Star Summer, visit www.allstargame.com.


About PEOPLE Magazine

PEOPLE revolutionized personality journalism in 1974 and is today the world’s most successful and popular magazine. Each week, the PEOPLE brand brings more than 43 million consumers the latest news, exclusive interviews and in-depth reporting on the most compelling people of our time.  In addition to unparalleled access to the entertainment community, the stories of real-life “Heroes Among Us” remain an essential component of PEOPLE’s editorial approach.  PEOPLE.com is the premier web destination for celebrity news, photos, style and entertainment coverage. With reporters across the globe, PEOPLE is headquartered in New York City.  For more information visit www.people.com.

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Filed Under: MLB, MLBN
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