February 10, 2012

QBs Michael Vick, Brett Favre & Mark Sanchez Live On NFL Network – The Only Place For Week 4 Preseason Action

August 31, 2009 By Leave a Comment

QBs MICHAEL VICK, BRETT FAVRE &

MARK SANCHEZ LIVE ON NFL NEWORK – THE ONLY PLACE FOR WEEK 4 PRESEASON ACTION

Live Telecasts This Week:

Eagles at Jets, Thursday at 7:00 PM ET

Raiders at Seahawks, Thursday at 10:00 PM ET

Cowboys at Vikings, Friday at 8:00 PM ET

Three quarterbacks in their final 2009 preseason games with new clubs highlight NFL Network’s exclusive Week 4 action.

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who completed all four of his passes in his preseason debut last week, and recently named Jets starting quarterback Mark Sanchez are in focus in NFL Network’s first live game on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7:00 PM ET.

Later Thursday night at 10:00 PM ET, former division rivals Seattle and Oakland meet to close out the preseason for the fourth consecutive year.

On Friday, Sept. 4 at 8:00 PM ET, Brett Favre and the Vikings get in their final preseason tune-up against the Dallas Cowboys.

All of the remaining preseason Week 4 games will be encored over Labor Day weekend to give fantasy players one last look at the potential stars and sleepers of 2009.

During the 2009 NFL preseason, NFL Network will televise a record 65 games – up from the 54 shown in 2008. The preseason schedule, which is entirely in HD for the first time, also includes a record 12 live games and 97 encore telecasts so that no one will miss a game.

NFL NETWORK AIR TIMES FOR 2009 WEEK 4 PRESEASON GAMES

(ALL TIMES EASTERN; ALL GAMES IN HIGH DEFINITION)

Thursday, September 3

7:00 PM – Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets – LIVE

10:00 PM – Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks – LIVE

Friday, September 4

1:00 AM – Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos – encore

4:00 AM – Philadelphia Eagles at New York – encore

7:00 AM – Kansas City Chiefs at St. Louis Rams – encore

10:00 AM – Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons – encore

1:00 PM – Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints – encore

4:00 PM – New York Giants at New England Patriots – encore

8:00 PM – Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings – LIVE

11:30 PM – Green Bay Packers at Tennessee Titans – encore

Saturday, September 5

2:30 AM – Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks – encore

7:00 AM – Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints – encore

10:00 AM – Houston Texans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – encore

1:00 PM – Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings – encore

4:00 PM – Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears – encore

8:30 PM – Washington Redskins at Jacksonville Jaguars – encore

11:30 PM – Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals – encore

Sunday, September 6

2:30 AM – San Francisco 49ers at San Diego Chargers – encore

7:00 AM – Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills – encore

10:00 AM – Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals – encore

1:00 PM – Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets – encore

4:00 PM – Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers – encore

7:00 PM – New York Giants at New England Patriots – encore

10:00 PM – Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears – encore

Monday, September 7

1:00 AM – Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos – encore

4:00 AM – Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills – encore

7:00 AM – Washington Redskins at Jacksonville Jaguars – encore

10:00 AM – Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets – encore

1:00 PM – New York Giants at New England Patriots – encore

4:00 PM – Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings – encore

8:30 PM – Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers – encore

NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the only television network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football.  For more information, log on to www.nfl.com/nflnetwork. NFL.com is the exclusive internet home of NFL Network.

Filed Under: NFL, NFLN

Hard Knocks episode 4 debuts this Wednesday on HBO

August 31, 2009 By Leave a Comment

HARD KNOCKS:  TRAINING CAMP WITH THE CINCINNATI BENGALS

SEPT. 2 EPISODE

HBO Sports, in association with NFL Films and the Cincinnati Bengals, provides an all-access look at what it takes to make it in the National Football League in HARD KNOCKS:  TRAINING CAMP WITH THE CINCINNATI BENGALS.  The first sports-based reality series – and one of the fastest-turnaround reality series – continues its five-episode season WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.  Subsequent hour-long editions air each Wednesday at the same time, culminating in the Sept. 9 season finale.

Each week, players experience drills, meetings and fun, while struggling to prove they have what it takes to make the team and make their mark in the NFL.

This week’s show:

Episode #4

Debut date:  WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Other HBO playdates for episode #4:  Sept. 2 (3:55 a.m.), 3 (1:00 p.m., midnight), 4 (12:30 a.m.), 5 (9:45 a.m., 11:30 p.m.), 6 (8:00 a.m.) and 7 (11:30 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates for episode #4:  Sept. 2 (midnight) and 6 (11:30 p.m.)

Episode #4 recaps the preseason loss to St. Louis; No. 1 pick Andre Smith, from the University of Alabama, arrives after a lengthy holdout; and pressure builds as coaches and players prepare for their final preseason game.

A 24-person NFL Films crew is living at the Bengals training camp, shooting more than 1000 hours of video over the course of the series.  Camera and sound crews are given unencumbered access to the players’ and coaches’ meeting rooms, training rooms and practice fields.

Filed Under: HBO, NFL

CBSSports.com & The Sports Illustrated Group Launch Integrated Print And Digital Content Partnership

August 31, 2009 By Leave a Comment

http://www.cbssports.com/info/about/press/2009/cbssi09

CBSSPORTS.COM & THE SPORTS ILLUSTRATED GROUP LAUNCH INTEGRATED PRINT AND DIGITAL CONTENT PARTNERSHIP

MaxPreps.com, the leader in online high school sports, to become the official partner of Sports Illustrated’s  acclaimed “Faces In The Crowd” Franchise

A Collection of Sports Illustrated writers to be syndicated across CBSSports.com

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL & NEW YORK, August 31, 2009 – CBS Interactive’s CBSSports.com and MaxPreps.com, and The Sports Illustrated Group, including Sports Illustrated and SI.com, today announced a partnership in which both parties will share and distribute various digital and print assets, combining strengths from two of the largest brands on the sports media landscape.

MaxPreps.com, the online high school sports leader, will now be featured in SI.com’s High School section front, as well as become the engine for the iconic Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd franchise both in print and digital. Additionally as part of this agreement, select Sports Illustrated writers, including David Feherty and Seth Davis, will be syndicated across CBSSports.com.

CBSSports.com will feature direct links across its site to SI.Com’s award-winning writers, including Peter King and Tom Verducci. SI.com will promote live sports video on CBSSports.com such as SEC Live and Fantasy Football Today.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Sports Illustrated for a deal that truly highlights the strengths of two very powerful brands in sports media,” said Jason Kint, Senior Vice President and General Manager, CBSSports.com.  “The increased exposure for MaxPreps.com through its association with Faces in the Crowd, as well as the content sharing with Sports Illustrated writers on CBSSports.com, should truly be a winning combination for both sides.”

“The prospect of teaming some of the assets of The Sports Illustrated Group with CBSSports.com is truly exciting,” said SI.com Managing Editor, Paul Fichtenbaum. “The combination will provide an outstanding service to users as well as shine a brighter light on our collective efforts.”

Sports Illustrated’s Faces in the Crowd is one of the most recognized franchises in sports media.  Many of the greatest athletes in the last 50 years came to national attention first in this feature. Former Faces include: Lew Alcindor, Earvin Johnson, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Jack Nicklaus, Andy Roddick, Ben Roethlisberger, Emmitt Smith, Bill Walton and Tiger Woods.

High school athletes will have the opportunity to become a member of this elite fraternity through MaxPreps.com, the fastest growing high school sports site on the Internet with a 120% increase in visitors in the past year (comScore MediaMetrix, June 2009).

About CBSSports.com

CBSSports.com is at the leading edge of media companies providing Internet sports content, Fantasy sports and e-commerce. CBSSports.com is a unit of CBS Interactive, a leading online content network for information and entertainment. With more than 200 million people visiting its properties each month, CBS Interactive is the 8th largest Web property globally and the 5th largest Web property in the U.S. in terms of unique video viewers. Its portfolio of leading brands, which include CNET, CBS.com, CBSSports.com, GameSpot, TV.com, BNET, CBS RADIO and Last.fm, span popular categories like technology, entertainment, sports, news and business.

For more information about CBSSports.com and for the latest sports news, scores and expert analysis, please visit cbssports.com.

More information about CBS and its businesses is available at www.cbscorporation.com.

About SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

SI is a multimedia sports brand that takes the consumer into the heart and soul of sports.  The SI franchise is anchored by Sports Illustrated, the most respected voice in sports journalism which reaches a weekly audience of nearly 21 million adults, and www.SI.com, the magazine’s 24/7 sports news website that delivers more than 150 original stories to its users each week.  The SI franchise also includes Sports Illustrated Kids (www.sikids.com), a monthly magazine targeted to kids age 8 and up; Golf Magazine and www.Golf.com; www.FanNation.com, a social networking and sports-news aggregation platform;; SI Presents, the magazine’s specialty publishing division; as well as SI Books, SI Pictures, SI Productions, SI Digital and SI Events.  Founded in 1954, SI is a division of Time Inc., the world’s leading magazine publishing company and a subsidiary of Time Warner.

Filed Under: CBS

ESPN Radio: Jeremy Schaap hosts The Sporting Life

August 31, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Jeremy Schaap to host The Sporting Life debuting September 11

August 31, 2009

ESPN reporter and E:60 correspondent Jeremy Schaap will host The Sporting Life, premiering Friday, Sept. 11 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN Radio.

The weekly, one-hour show will emphasize sports features, profiles and narratives in which Schaap, a five-time Sports Emmy-Award winner, will explore the stories and stars of the day in depth.

The Sporting Life reprises The Sporting Life with Dick Schaap, a Saturday morning show on ESPN Radio in which the host, an award-winning journalist, best-selling author and television commentator, discussed the week’s developments in sports with his son, Jeremy.

“The Sporting Life will be a show that emphasizes long-form journalism, not driven by talk, but by the stories we produce — profiles, investigations and more off-beat pieces, too,” Schaap says. “On a more personal level, it means a lot to me that The Sporting Life — which my father hosted and I regularly co-hosted — is being revived, albeit in a different format. I am hoping that sports fans who appreciate the in-depth stories they see on Outside the Lines and E:60 will make a point of listening to The Sporting Life on ESPN Radio.

Jeremy Schaap, who joined ESPN in 1994, is known for his exclusive one-on-one interview with former Indiana University coach Bob Knight in 2000 – the first by Knight after being fired by the university two days earlier. Schaap also broke the 2003 story concerning improprieties with the University of Georgia basketball team which led to coach Jim Harrick’s dismissal, and for authoring New York Times bestseller Cinderella Man, which in 2005 became an Emmy-winning ESPN documentary about heavyweight champion James Braddock.

Most recently, Schaap scored an exclusive, one-on-one interview with Former N.Y. Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress on August 24, just four days after Burress pleaded guilty to a weapons charge for shooting himself in the leg at a Manhattan club, leaving him facing a two-year jail sentence.

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Filed Under: ESPN

NFL Network Adds Hall Of Famer Michael Irvin To NFL Gameday Cast — Conference Call TODAY at 4 PM ET

August 31, 2009 By 1 Comment

NFL NETWORK ADDS HALL OF FAMER MICHAEL IRVIN TO NFL GAMEDAY CAST

‘Playmaker’ Joins Analyst Lineup of Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk,

Warren Sapp and Steve Mariucci on NFL Sundays

Stacey Dales Also Joins “NFL GameDay Morning” –

First Pregame Show On-Air Sundays Expands to Four Hours

NFL Network welcomes another All-Pro talent to its star-studded Sunday analyst roster with the addition of Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin. Irvin, a five-time Pro Bowler, joins Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Warren Sapp and Steve Mariucci as part of the Network’s all-encompassing Sunday coverage dubbed NFL GameDay beginning Sunday, September 13.

In addition, Stacey Dales joins the NFL GameDay lineup as co-host of NFL GameDay Morning with Spero Dedes, reporting the latest news and information to kick off each football Sunday. NFL GameDay Morning, the first NFL pregame show on the air Sunday mornings, expands this season to four hours from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM ET.

Irvin will join Faulk, Mariucci, Sapp, Dales, Dedes and insider Jason La Canfora on NFL GameDay Morning. Following the afternoon games, he will recap and analyze the action on NFL GameDay Highlights with Sanders and host Rich Eisen at 7:30 PM ET.

“Michael is a proven NFL analyst,” said NFL Network executive producer Eric Weinberger. “His personality, work ethic and football IQ fit right into our great team here at NFL Network.”

No stranger to the NFL Network broadcast team, Irvin served as a guest analyst on the network’s coverage of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction ceremony for the past two years. Previously, Irvin served as an NFL analyst for ESPN (2003-2007).

A 2007 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Irvin spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys where he won three Super Bowl rings and tallied 750 receptions for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns.

Dales joins NFL Network after seven years as an analyst and reporter for ESPN and ABC, where she covered a variety of sports including college football, men and women’s college basketball and the NBA. Prior to her broadcasting career, Dales played five seasons in the WNBA and was a member of the Canadian team for the 2000 Summer Olympics.

NFL Network is the place for football fans to get all their NFL information Sunday before kickoff, between the action and after the games conclude. NFL GameDay Morning, the first NFL pregame show on the air Sunday mornings, goes straight to the stadiums for the latest news, reports and breaking stories from radio play-by-play announcers and analysts from all NFL teams.

NFL GameDay StatZone follows NFL GameDay Morning at 1:00 PM ET with up-to-the-minute scores, statistics and news accompanying audio from Sirius NFL Radio’s “Around the League” program. After the conclusion of the early afternoon games at 4:00 PM ET, NFL GameDay Scoreboard takes viewers around the league for post-game press conferences and game highlights in addition to, statistics and news during the late afternoon games. Fran Charles hosts, alongside Tom Waddle and Jamie Dukes. NFL GameDay Highlights with Irvin, Sanders and Eisen follows at 7:30 PM ET.

NFL GameDay Final caps off all of Sunday’s action at 11:30 PM ET with Eisen, Sanders and Emmy-nominated analyst Mariucci giving viewers highlights, insider commentary, on-field interviews and postgame press conferences from all the games of the day in an comprehensive 90-minute package.

NFL GameDay Schedule

9:00-1:00 PM – NFL GameDay Morning (HD)

1:00-4:00 PM – NFL GameDay StatZone (HD)

4:00-7:30 PM – NFL GameDay Scoreboard

7:30-8:30 PM – NFL GameDay Highlights (HD)

11:30-1:00 AM – NFL GameDay Final (HD)

(* All times ET)

NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the only television network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football. For more information, log on to www.nfl.com/nflnetwork. NFL.com is the exclusive internet home of NFL Network.

Filed Under: NFL, NFLN

“NBC Sunday Night Football” Scores Best NFL Preseason Overnight In 5 Years

August 31, 2009 By Leave a Comment


“NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” SCORES BEST NFL PRESEASON OVERNIGHT IN 5 YEARS

Sunday Night Football Dominates the Night, Delivering Peacock’s Best Sunday Night Performance Since Super Bowl

NEW YORK – August 31, 2009 – NBC Sports’ “Sunday Night Football” preseason game last night delivered the best overnight rating for any NFL preseason game on any network in five years. The 7.3 overnight rating and 12 share (8-11 p.m. ET) for the Chicago Bears-Denver Broncos preseason contest was the best since the 8.2/13 for the Titans-Cowboys preseason game on August 30, 2004.

Sunday Night Football was the No. 1 telecast of the night in the metered markets and dominated its time period, more than doubling second-place CBS in the time slot (7.3 vs. 3.4). NBC averaged a 6.4/11 from 7-11 p.m. ET, representing the network’s highest Sunday primetime average in the metered markets since Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1.

The broadcast, which featured Bears QB Jay Cutler’s return to Denver after his off-season trade from the Broncos to the Bears, peaked at an 8.2/14 from 9-9:30 p.m. ET. The preseason game was won by the Bears 27-17.

Top 10 Metered Markets:
1. Denver, 25.9/45
2. Chicago, 22.6/36
3. Las Vegas, 12.1/19
4. Milwaukee, 11.0/18
5. Albuquerque, 10.7/17
6. Nashville, 10.6/16
7. Jacksonville, 10.4/16
8. Oklahoma City, 10.1/15
9. New Orleans, 9.1/13
10. Indianapolis, 8.8/14

Filed Under: NBC, NFL, Ratings

ESPNU to Launch ESPNU Road Trip Sept. 12; Pregame Show Highlights Fan Experience at College GameDay Sites

August 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment

ESPNU to Launch ESPNU Road Trip Sept. 12; Pregame Show Highlights Fan Experience at College GameDay Sites

ESPNU will launch ESPNU Road Trip, a new one-hour series that will capture the fan and student perspective from the site of ESPN’s Emmy Award-winning Saturday morning college football show College GameDay Built by The Home Depot. The show is scheduled to air three times this college football season, debuting Saturday, Sept. 12, at 9 a.m. ET, from Columbus, Ohio, for No. 4 USC at No. 6 Ohio State. Each of the other two shows will originate from the site of College GameDay on Oct. 17 and Nov. 28, respectively, which will be announced at a later date.

“The show is a great example of ESPNU’s goal to bring fans closer to the on-campus experience and give students a voice to share their perspective,” said Rosalyn Durant, vice president and general manager, ESPNU. “It also allows our viewers to experience what it’s like to be in the exciting atmosphere of College GameDay.”

ESPNU Road Trip will be hosted by Jonathan Drubner and Jenn Brown, who will roam through the crowd of fans gathered for College GameDay to give viewers an up-close look at the pageantry surrounding the game, including the band performances, cheerleaders and fans making signs that are often highlighted on College GameDay. Drubner and Brown have also been featured on ESPN.com’s Road Trip webisodes.

Additionally, Road Trip will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the College GameDay production crew and how they prepare for the show. Road Trip will also integrate ESPNU Campus Connection elements, incorporating students producing parts of the show and helping to further illustrate the culture and traditions on campus.

ESPNU

ESPNU launched on March 4, 2005. The 24-hour college sports television network features more than 550 live events annually, including college football, college basketball and Olympic sports from more than 25 Division I conferences, as well as premier high school content. The network also has a wide-ranging, long-term agreement with the NCAA for enhanced coverage of 22 NCAA Championships.

ESPNU also offers comprehensive studio programming, including live simulcasts of ESPN Radio’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd, and replays the best games of the week from ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Regional Television. The brand is also available in high definition on ESPNU HD and online at ESPNU.com. In addition, ESPNU Campus Connection, a multi-platform student-generated content initiative, was introduced in August 2007.

ESPNU is available nationwide in more than 46 million households and has long-term carriage agreements with nine of the top 10 providers – Charter, Comcast, Cox, DirecTV (Channel 614), DISH Network (Channel 148), Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS TV and AT&T U-verse.

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Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Football

ESPNU Coaches Spotlight Special Attempts to Interview all 120 FBS Coaches in 12 Hours

August 28, 2009 By 1 Comment

ESPNU Coaches Spotlight Special Attempts to Interview all 120 FBS Coaches in 12 Hours

In the course of two days and 12 hours, ESPNU will attempt to interview all 120 Football Bowl Subdivision coaches for its ESPNU Coaches Spotlight Special presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods. ESPNU anchor Lowell Galindo will host a six-hour special Monday, Aug. 31, and Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 2 p.m.-8 p.m. ET. The show is an expansion of the five-hour ESPNU Coaches Spotlight: College Basketball Special the network did in March 2009, when ESPN.com senior writer Andy Katz attempted to interview all 65 head coaches in the NCAA Tournament. Katz successfully interviewed 64 of the 65 coaches. At press time, ESPNU confirmed 110 of the 120 FBS coaches to participate, including Urban Meyer (Florida), Jim Tressel (Ohio State), Charlie Weis (Notre Dame), Mack Brown (Texas) and Frank Beamer (Va. Tech) for Monday’s show and Rich Rodriguez (Michigan), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma), Pete Carroll (USC) and Gene Chizik (Auburn) on Tuesday.

“We’re going to try to make history,” Galindo said. “We’re going to talk about everything a college football junkie would want to talk about, from the coaches’ expectations for the 2009 season to Colt McCoy’s facial hair.”

Cara Capuano will host discussions with analysts Charles Arbuckle (Monday), Tom Luginbill (Monday and Tuesday) and Jay Walker (Tuesday) from a separate set, offering additional perspectives on each FBS conference.

ESPNU

ESPNU launched on March 4, 2005. The 24-hour college sports television network features more than 550 live events annually, including college football, college basketball and Olympic sports from more than 25 Division I conferences, as well as premier high school content. The network also has a wide-ranging, long-term agreement with the NCAA for enhanced coverage of 22 NCAA Championships.

ESPNU also offers comprehensive studio programming, including live simulcasts of ESPN Radio’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd, and replays the best games of the week from ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Regional Television. The brand is also available in high definition on ESPNU HD and online at ESPNU.com. In addition, ESPNU Campus Connection, a multi-platform student-generated content initiative, was introduced in August 2007.

ESPNU will be available nationwide in more than 46 million households and has long-term carriage agreements with nine of the top 10 providers – Charter, Comcast, Cox, DirecTV (Channel 614), DISH Network (Channel 148), Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS TV and AT&T U-verse.

Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Football

30th Anniversary SportsCenter September 6

August 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment

30th Anniversary SportsCenter September 6 To Mix Past & Present with Berman, Ley & Saunders

The special SportsCenter on the eve of ESPN’s 30th anniversary, hosted by the three SportsCenter anchors of longest service – Chris Berman, Bob Ley and John Saunders – will include segments throughout that look back at great moments in sports over three decades and the trio’s careers at ESPN.  The 90-minute program airs Sunday, Sept. 6, at 11:30 p.m. ET.  It will be reaired the following morning, Labor Day Monday, Sept. 7, starting at 4:30 a.m. and will be seen five times through noon. Live updates with the latest sports news will be inserted.

Mixed into the presentation of the sports news of the day will be a variety of interstitial segments:

  • The show will begin with a special opening that features four different looks from SportsCenter’s evolution over the years.
  • Three short segments will show the veteran anchors and their most memorable moments, along with the changes in their appearance and bloopers.
  • Each anchor will reflect upon their favorite moment in sports since 1979.
  • Former SportsCenter anchor Robin Roberts, now of ABC’s Good Morning America, interviewed SportsCenter pioneer Gayle Gardner.
  • A look at 1979 – the world of sports and pop culture when ESPN launched.

Ley joined ESPN two days after its September 7, 1979, launch, while Berman soon followed in October. Saunders came to ESPN in 1986.

Berman — “30 years is a long time, but then again, 1979 seems like yesterday. There are a ton of people who made ESPN’s success possible, and I am thrilled to be sharing our anniversary SportsCenter with two of them, Bob Ley and John Saunders. Better yet, we’ll be able to share it with the most important folks – our viewers – whether they’ve been with us for three decades or three months. I’m really looking forward to the evening.”

Ley — “To borrow and adapt from rocker Bob Seger – ’30 years, where’d they go?’ The number has the feel of an ‘era’ – which may explain the grey hair and slower 40-yard times. But getting to work with Boomer and that short-timer Saunders – hey, John’s only been here 23 years – will be a real treat. SportsCenter’s place in the national cultural conversation is something truly special – we treasure it and respect it – and SportsCenter’s the perfect place to observe this milestone. I hope I can stay up that late. “

Saunders – “I remember my parents sitting me in front of the TV to watch Chris and Bob….just joking! I’m actually the oldest of the three. But between us we have more than 90  years in the business and over 83 years at ESPN. I am proud to have been part of it and excited to join two guys I sincerely respect and who I call my friends to celebrate Sportscenter’s 30th year.

Berman, Ley & Saunders

Berman has been selected the National Sportscaster of the Year (1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996 and 2001) six times by the members of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. He regularly hosted SportsCenter in ESPN’s first 11 years. He will begin his 24th consecutive season as studio host of Sunday NFL Countdown this fall and has been calling Major League Baseball since 1990.

Ley spearheads ESPN’s aggressive coverage of breaking news and issues. He has hosted the award-winning Outside the Lines since its inception in May 1990. Outside the Lines has captured 10 Sports Emmy Awards and three CableACE Awards as cable’s top Sports Information Series. He’s been a fixture on SportsCenter and continues to host weekend editions.  In 2010, he will serve as a host of the extensive coverage of the FIFA World Cup from South Africa.

Saunders is one of ESPN’s most visible and versatile commentators. He plays a prominent role in some of ESPN’s highest-profile sports, including NBA, college football and college basketball studio host and/or play-by-play. In addition, he was named host of Sports Reporters in January 2002. Saunders consistently co-hosted SportsCenter during the 1980s and ‘90s.  As in 2008, he will team with Berman on the Sunday 7 p.m. ET edition of SportsCenter, focusing on the NFL games played that day.

Filed Under: ESPN

Weekly Features Across ESPN Platforms

August 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Logo

 Enterprise Journalism
Weekly Features Across ESPN Platforms

August 27, 2009


Search Party
Outside the Lines (9 a.m. ET, ESPN; noon, ESPNEWS)

Search Party

College coaching searches can make big news, but the most influential figure in the process is often kept secret. Some schools, including Oklahoma, LSU and Florida, acknowledge they use headhunters — liaisons between universities and coaching prospects. The appeal is confidentiality, with universities possibly avoiding the embarrassment of reports if a prospect turns them down. Outside the Lines found that since 2008 at least 21 of the 35 college football coaching hires were made with the help of search firms. Bob Holtzman reports.

“Well, I think three reasons: No. 1, probably to expedite the process; No. 2, maintain the confidentiality; and No. 3, avoid embarrassment.” – Chuck Neinas, former commissioner of the Big Eight and Executive Director of the College Football Association, now founder of the search firm Neinas Sports Services, on why universities spend the money to hire him

“In all probability, the search firms may be important to you professionally or personally in the future. So, you’re going to be very hesitant to criticize someone who may play that type of role in your life.” – Ron Wellman, Wake Forrest AD who has never hired a search firm, on why it is so hard to find anybody critical of search firms


In Parkersburg, the Game Must Go on
ESPN.com (Follow-up to E:60 piece)

Parkersburg

Following the shooting death of coach Ed Thomas, residents of a small Iowa town still wonder how they will carry on. Aaron Thomas, one of Ed and Jan’s children, is Aplington-Parkersburg’s new athletic director, replacing his father. Perhaps one of the answers to carrying on lies on the football field. Elizabeth Merrill reports.


Bill Laimbeer: Does NBA Player + WNBA Coach = NBA Coaching Job?

Outside the Lines (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET, ESPN; noon, ESPNEWS)
ESPN.com (Mechelle Voepel’s companion piece, photos, video)
Laimbeer

Outside the Lines
Bill Laimbeer could get under an opponent’s skin more than any other player, but his success is undeniable: back-to-back NBA championships playing for the Detroit Pistons, and three WNBA titles in seven years coaching the Detroit Shock. In June, just three games into his eighth WNBA season, Laimbeer abruptly quit to pursue a job as an NBA head coach. With no NBA coaching experience, some question his credentials. Mark Schwarz examines Laimbeer’s legacy and potential future in the NBA.

“I can honestly say when I played Laimbeer that I really hated his guts.” – Charles Barkley

“If I was a GM, I would hire Bill Laimbeer. Without any reservations. He did due diligence and the work coaching. Yeah, he’d be one of my first calls.” — Charles Barkley

“Well I don’t think there is any question that the perception of me in the past probably has carried over somewhat to who I am now. But they don’t know me. They haven’t been around me now.” – Bill Laimbeer

ESPN.com
Mechelle Voepel writes: “Did he burn too many bridges in the past, even within his Pistons family? Will NBA organizations think of him only as the ultimate Bad Boy? Will they understand what he has done the past seven years is, in fact, fully applicable to what he wants to do now?”


Burress: Gunshot wound nearly fatal
ESPN.com (Follow-up to E:60 interview)

burress

In his first interview since accidentally shooting himself in the leg at a Manhattan nightclub in November, Plaxico Burress on Monday told E:60 that the gunshot wound he suffered was nearly fatal.

In His Element
ESPN The Magazine (on newsstands Friday, Aug. 28)
Follow-up to E:60 piece (video below)

Marzo

In the new issue of ESPN The Magazine, Alyssa Roenigk profiles Clay Marzo, who some say might be the greatest surfer since nine-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater. However, Marzo always knew something was off with him. He would excel on the waves but had trouble adjusting to other areas of his life. As his fame skyrocketed, his behavior became more erratic — to the point he missed scheduled appearances and took unnecessary risks in competition. Concerned with Marzo’s actions, Strider Wasilewski, team manager of Quiksilver, the brand that sponsors Marzo, encouraged the then-18-year-old to get tested for Asperger’s Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. Now, two years after his diagnosis, Marzo still excels on the water while learning to cope with the Syndrome. Marzo always knew he had a gift, and now he can explain it.

“He was becoming a problem, and people wanted to let him go. But I knew this kid wasn’t stoned or stupid. He wasn’t a spoiled teenager who didn’t want to be there. I could see him freaking out inside. He was in pain.” – Strider Wasilewski, Quiksilver team manager

“Clay is a freak on a surfboard. He does things people don’t even think of. He just sees the wave his own way.” – Kelly Slater

“It’s (Asperger’s Syndrome) a gift. With surfing, with the way I see the world, with everything. It’s definitely my gift.” – Clay Marzo

Age Changing in the Dominican Republic
ESPN Deportes SportsCenter (Sunday, 11 p.m.)
Reportajes Especiales piece on espndeportes.com

In the past decade, several Dominican baseball players have been discovered to be older than their official documents stated. Among this group are Major Leaguers Bartolo Colón, Rafael Furcal, Luis Vizcaíno and Miguel Tejada. This year, a talented Dominican player became the recipient of the largest international signing bonus in Washington Nationals’ history. He was listed as 19 years old, but eventually was revealed to be a 23-year-old. In an ESPN Deportes investigation, a hidden camera helps uncover how easy it is to change one’s identity and age in the Dominican Republic.

Filed Under: ESPN
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