Following are highlights from this week’s Major League Baseball coverage on ESPN: Morgan Measures A.L. Cy Young Candidates Morgan: Angels Infielders Figgins and Aybar Attracting Gold Glove Attention
Philadelphia’s Eric Bruntlett Discusses Rare Triple Play
Kruk and Singleton Explain Unique Outfield Ground Rule
“Buck Stops Here” Segment Focuses on Player Anticipation
ESPN’s 20th Year All-Star Team Voting Continues
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Archives for August 2009
Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly Statement Regarding NHL Bid Filing
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BILL DALY STATEMENT REGARDING NHL BID FILING
NEW YORK (August 25, 2009) — National Hockey League Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly tonight released the following statement regarding the NHL submission of a bid to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes franchise out of bankruptcy:
“Today, the League filed its own bid to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes’ franchise out of bankruptcy in an effort to maximize the likelihood that the Club ultimately will be sold to an acceptable purchaser who is committed to operating the franchise in Glendale.
“We remain supportive of the other efforts that have been and are being made to purchase and operate the Coyotes in Glendale, and we will continue to do everything we can to assist interested groups in those efforts leading up to the scheduled sale hearing on September 10, 2009 and thereafter, if the NHL is the winning bidder.
“We believe this step was necessary at this time in order to best preserve and maximize the value of the Club asset for benefit of the Club’s creditors and for the community of Glendale.
“The bankruptcy petition and subsequent events have been incredibly damaging to the Club’s business, and the sooner the Club can be extricated from the bankruptcy process, the sooner Club personnel can begin to restore the team’s vitality and local fan base.
“In the event the League’s bid proceeds forward and ultimately is the one approved by the Court, we intend to conduct an orderly sale process to a third party buyer outside of bankruptcy.
“It continues to be our intention and hope to conclude satisfactory agreements with existing Club business partners that will allow the Coyotes to be owned and operated on a viable basis in Glendale for many years to come.”
### 8/25/2009
Little League World Series Viewership Up Sharply Across ESPN Networks
Little League World Series Viewership Up Sharply Across ESPN Networks
ESPN’s opening weekend coverage of the Little League World Series averaged 1,056,000 viewers for eight telecasts, a 60 percent increase over last year’s opening weekend average of 660,000 viewers for six telecasts. The corresponding household impressions are up 52 percent (837,000 in 2009 vs. 549,000 last year) and the rating is up 50 percent (0.9 this year vs. 0.6 in 2008).
ESPN2’s four telecasts are averaging a 1,219,000 viewers, up 137 percent over the 514,000 viewers last year. ESPN2’s 0.9 rating are an increase of 125 percent (vs. 0.4 rating in 2008) and household impressions are up 122 percent (898,000 vs. 405,000).
Collectively, ESPN and ESPN2’s Little League World Series coverage generated five telecasts posting a 1.0 rating or higher over the opening weekend. ESPN360.com’s usage was an increase of 545 percent in total hours during the Little League World Series’ opening weekend when compared to the same weekend in 2008.
ABC’s Saturday broadcast (Warner Robins, Ga. vs. Staten Island, N.Y.) posted a 1.3 overnight rating, up 160 percent over the comparable 0.5 overnight rating a year ago. Sunday’s Little League World Series broadcast on ABC (Russellville, Ky. vs. San Antonio) generated a 0.9 overnight rating, an increase of 29 percent over last year’s 0.7 overnight rating.
ESPN’s Little League World Series coverage from Williamsport, Pa., is coming off momentum built during the Regional Finals, which demonstrated significant audience growth including:
ESPN
- Five telecasts up 19 percent in households (708,000 vs. 596,000 for five telecasts in 2008);
- a 0.7 average rating, an increase of 17 percent over last year’s 0.6 rating;
- up 14 percent in viewership (889,000 viewers vs. 779,000).
ESPN2
- three telecasts up 55 percent among households (721,000 vs. 465,000 for three telecasts in 2008);
- an increase of 53 percent among viewers (972,000 vs. 635,000);
- up 40 percent in rating (0.7 vs. 0.5 last year).
Little League World Series action will continue throughout the week – all 32 games available in HD – including the semifinals and final this weekend (Aug. 29-30) on ABC.
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Youth Meets Experience At Quarterback In Saturday’s Live Doubleheader On NFL Network
YOUTH MEETS EXPERIENCE AT QUARTERBACK
IN SATURDAY’S LIVE DOUBLEHEADER
ON NFL NETWORK
Live Telecasts This Week:
Colts at Lions, Saturday at 1:00 PM ET
Saints at Raiders, Saturday at 4:00 PM ET
Eagles QB Michael Vick Eligible to Play Against Jaguars,
Game to Re-air Thursday at 11:00 PM ET/8:00 PM PT
Matthew Stafford and JaMarcus Russell continue their development at quarterback facing two of the league’s veteran QBs – Peyton Manning and Drew Brees – in a live doubleheader Saturday on NFL Network. Week 3 preseason action features the Colts visiting the Lions at 1:00 PM ET and the Saints heading west to take on the Raiders at 4:00 PM ET.
While both the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions head into Week 3 with a 1-1 preseason record, the Colts are coming off a win against the Eagles where Manning gave a solid performance. The Colts’ defense, which had three sacks and caused two turnovers, face a Lions offense where the competition at quarterback continues between Stafford and Daunte Culpepper.
Oakland QB JaMarcus Russell begins Week 3 as the Raiders’ starter. Following a 21-20 loss to San Francisco, the Raiders look to rebound against an undefeated Saints team. Brees continues to display the Saints’ offensive prowess both in the air with WRs Marques Colston and Adrian Arrington and on the ground with RBs Mike Bell and Pierre Thomas.
On Thursday, the scheduled preseason debut of Eagles QB Michael Vick will re-air in its entirety on NFL Network at 11:00 PM ET while Thursday’s edition of NFL Total Access at 7:00 PM ET offers live look-ins at the Eagles’ possessions. The Week 4 Eagles vs. Jets matchup airs live on NFL Network Thursday, September 3 at 7:00 PM ET.
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 3 PRESEASON GAMES
(ALL TIMES EASTERN; ALL GAMES IN HIGH DEFINITION)
Tuesday, August 25
12 MIDNIGHT– Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks – encore
7:00 AM – New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans – encore
10:00 AM – Tennessee Titans at Dallas Cowboys – encore
1:00 PM – Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins – encore
4:00 PM – Buffalo Bills at Green Bay Packers – encore
8:00 PM – New York Giants at Chicago Bears – encore
Wednesday, August 26
12 MIDNIGHT – San Diego Chargers at Arizona Cardinals – encore
7:00 AM – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars – encore
10:00 AM – Detroit Lions at Cleveland Browns – encore
1:00 PM – New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens
4:00 PM – Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots – encore
8:00 PM – Pittsburgh Steelers at Washington Redskins – encore
Thursday, August 27
12 MIDNIGHT – Oakland Raiders at San Francisco 49ers – encore
7:00 AM – Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins – encore
10:00 AM – Philadelphia Eagles at Indianapolis Colts – encore
1:00 PM – San Diego Chargers at Arizona Cardinals – encore
4:00 PM – New York Giants at Chicago Bears – encore
11:00 PM – Jacksonville Jaguars at Philadelphia Eagles
Friday, August 28
2:00 AM – St. Louis Rams at Cincinnati Bengals
10:00 AM – St. Louis Rams at Cincinnati Bengals – encore
1:00 PM – Miami Dolphins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4:00 PM – Jacksonville Jaguars at Philadelphia Eagles – encore
Saturday, August 29
1:00 AM – Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals
7:00 AM – New England Patriots at Washington Redskins
10:00 AM – Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals – encore
1:00 PM – Indianapolis Colts at Detroit Lions – LIVE
4:00 PM – New Orleans Saints at Oakland Raiders – LIVE
11:00 PM – Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, August 30
2:00 AM – New Orleans Saints at Oakland Raiders – encore
7:00 AM – Baltimore Ravens at Carolina Panthers
10:00 AM – New York Jets at New York Giants
1:00 PM – Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers
4:00 PM – San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys
Monday, August 31
12 MIDNIGHT – Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns
3:00 AM – San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys – encore
7:00 AM – San Diego Chargers at Atlanta Falcons
10:00 AM – New England Patriots at Washington Redskins – encore
1:00 PM – Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers – encore
4:00 PM – Chicago Bears at Denver Broncos
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.
NFL ON CBS Announces Broadcast Pairings for 2009
August 25, 2009
CBS SPORTS – HOME OF SUPER BOWL XLIV AND CELEBRATING 50TH YEAR OF
NFL BROADCASTING – ANNOUNCES BROADCAST PAIRINGS FOR 2009 NFL SEASON
Jim Nantz and Phil Simms Lead as No. 1 NFL ON CBS Announce Team In
CBS Television Network’s 50th Season Covering NFL
THE NFL TODAY Returns James Brown, Dan Marino, Bill Cowher,
Boomer Esiason and Shannon Sharpe To Studio
The CBS Television Network, the home of Super Bowl XLIV, begins its Golden Anniversary 50th year of broadcasting the NFL on Sunday, Sept. 13 (12:00 Noon-4:00 PM, ET) as Jim Nantz and Phil Simms lead THE NFL ON CBS into the Network’s 2009 NFL season.
James Brown anchors the CBS Television Network’s hour-long pre-game studio show, THE NFL TODAY, along with analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Bill Cowher and Shannon Sharpe from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City. Charley Casserly serves as THE NFL TODAY’s “General Manager,” while Lesley Visser and Sam Ryan serve as reporters for the show. This season marks the 42nd year of THE NFL TODAY on the CBS Television Network.
THE NFL ON CBS announce team is solidified as the deepest in sports television as Greg Gumbel once again calls games alongside Dan Dierdorf; Dick Enberg teams with Dan Fouts; and Kevin Harlan teams with Solomon Wilcots.
Other notes of interest this year include Ian Eagle teaming with Rich Gannon; Gus Johnson pairing with Steve Tasker; Don Criqui and Randy Cross, and Bill Macatee with Steve Beuerlein.
CBS Sports’ complete roster of announce teams for its 50th year of NFL coverage was announced today by Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports, and Executive Producer, THE NFL ON CBS.
Following are the Network’s NFL announcer pairings for the 2009 season (play-by-play/analyst):
Jim Nantz//Phil Simms
Greg Gumbel//Dan Dierdorf
Dick Enberg//Dan Fouts
Kevin Harlan//Solomon Wilcots
Ian Eagle//Rich Gannon
Gus Johnson//Steve Tasker
Don Criqui//Randy Cross
Bill Macatee//Steve Beuerlein
Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer for THE NFL ON CBS, and Michael Arnold is the lead game director. Eric Mann is senior producer for THE NFL TODAY, while Bob Matina directs. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.
McManus serves as executive producer for THE NFL ON CBS.
John & Patrick McEnroe Go Through ESPN “Car Wash” Friday
John & Patrick McEnroe Go Through ESPN “Car Wash” Friday
On Friday, August 28, John and Patrick McEnroe – who will be part of the team for ESPN2’s first-ever coverage of the US Open starting Monday, Aug. 31 – will be at ESPN headquarters for a trip through what is affectionately known as “The Bristol Car Wash.” The brothers will make the most of their time – as do other visiting athletes and celebrities – appearing live on many ESPN programs and outlets, and taping appearances for others. Patrick has worked for ESPN since 1995; John is joining ESPN for this event and at times will often be paired in the booth with his younger sibling.
| Time (ET) | Who? | Program | Outlet | |
| 9:25 a.m. | Patrick | Mike & Mike in the Morning | ESPN Radio / ESPN2 | Live |
| 10 a.m. | John | ESPN First Take | ESPN2 | Live |
| Noon | John | The Herd w/Colin Cowherd | ESPN Radio / ESPNU | Live |
| 1:15 p.m. | John/Patrick | SportsCenter | ESPN | Live |
| 1:45 p.m. | John/Patrick | Erik Kuselius Show (Sat. a.m.) | ESPN Radio | taped |
| 2:15 p.m. | John/Patrick | Interview w/ESPN Digital Media | ESPN.com / ESPN Mobile | taped |
| 2:40 p.m. | John/Patrick | ESPNEWS | ESPNEWS | Live |
| 3 p.m. | John/Patrick | SportsNation (airs @ 4 p.m.) | ESPN2 | taped |
| 3:15 p.m. | John/Patrick | SportsCenter (6 p.m. edition) | ESPN | taped |
| 3:20 p.m. | John/Patrick | SportsCenter (weekend) | ESPN | taped |
| 3:40 p.m. | John/Patrick | Scott Van Pelt Show | ESPN Radio / ESPN2 | Live |
ESPN & the US Open
ESPN will do what no U.S. network has ever done – televise all four of tennis’s Grand Slam events, and do so in one year – with its first US Open from New York – 100 hours in high definition on ESPN2, nearly 400 on ESPN360.com, plus coverage on ESPNEWS, ESPN Radio and more.
Coverage begins with the live announcement of the draw on ESPNEWS Thursday, Aug. 27, at noon. Chris McKendry will host the commercial-free, half-hour show with analysts Mary Joe Fernandez and Patrick McEnroe. The show will include live interviews via satellite with defending champions Roger Federer and Serena Williams. ESPN Classic will present a 12-marathon of five past great matches Sunday, Aug. 30. Action in New York begins Monday, Aug. 31, for two weeks, with ESPN Radio and ESPN2’s Mike & Mike in the Morning setting the stage the first two days, broadcasting live from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center 6-10 a.m. The upcoming schedule:
| Date | Time (ET) | Event | Network |
| Thur, Aug 27 | Noon-12:30 p.m. | Live Draw Announcement | ESPNEWS |
| Sun, Aug 30 | Noon-Midnight | Five Great Past Matches | ESPN Classic |
| Mon, Aug 31 | Noon-2 p.m. | US Open Updates | ESPNEWS |
| – Fri, Sept 4 | 1-6 p.m. | Early Round Action | ESPN2 |
| 6-7 p.m. | US Open Scoreboard | ESPN2 | |
| 7-11 p.m. | Early Round Action | ESPN2 | |
| Mon, Aug 31 –
Tue Sept 1
|
6-10 a.m. | Mike & Mike in the Morning
with Mike Greenberg & Mike Golic
|
ESPN Radio / ESPN2 |
ESPN – All Four Slams, All In One Place
Tennis has been part of ESPN since its first week on the air and provided many memorable moments, but it has never been as important as today, with the US Open joining the lineup, giving ESPN all four Grand Slam events, something no other U.S. network has ever done, let alone in one year.
ESPN debuted September 7, 1979, and the first tennis telecast was exactly one week later, September 14, a Davis Cup tie, Argentina at U.S. from Memphis with Cliff Drysdale on the call.
ESPN has presented the Australian Open since 1984, the French Open since 2002 (plus 1986 – 1993) and Wimbledon since 2003.
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NFL ON CBS Kicks Off Preseason Sked on Friday
CBS SPORTS KICKS OFF 2009 NFL PRESEASON SCHEDULE WITH WEEKEND GAMES
THE NFL ON CBS Preseason Schedule Kicks Off with
New England Patriots Visiting Washington Redskins Live in Prime Time on Friday, August 28
San Diego Chargers Take On Atlanta Falcons for THE NFL ON CBS’s Second Preseason Game Following Night on August 29 on
CBS Television Network
The CBS Television Network, home of Super Bowl XLIV, begins its 50th year broadcasting the NFL with two preseason games during the 2009 season.
The preseason schedule for THE NFL ON CBS begins on Friday, Aug. 28 (8:00 PM, ET) when the New England Patriots take on the Washington Redskins live in prime time from FedEx Field in Landover, Md. on the CBS Television Network. Jim Nantz and Phil Simms call the action. Lance Barrow produces and Mike Arnold directs.
THE NFL ON CBS concludes it two-game preseason schedule the following night as the San Diego Chargers play the Atlanta Falcons live in prime time on Saturday, Aug. 29 (8:00 PM, ET). Greg Gumbel and Dan Fouts call the game from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga. Mark Wolff produces and Bob Fishman directs.
Sean McManus is President, CBS News and CBS Sports, and serves as executive producer of CBS Sports’ coverage of THE NFL ON CBS. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.
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Comcast and Dish Network To Carry NFL Network’s New “NFL RedZone” Channel
COMCAST AND DISH NETWORK TO CARRY NFL NETWORK’S NEW “NFL RedZone” CHANNEL
Two of the Top Distributors to Carry The New Channel That Brings Fans The Crucial Plays and Every Touchdown on Sunday Afternoons This Season
Comcast Cable systems and DISH Network have agreed to carry NFL Network’s new NFL RedZone channel this season, it was announced today. Starting Sunday, September 13, NFL RedZone will be available through two of the nation’s largest distributors, Comcast and DISH Network.
“We are pleased to announce the first two deals for our new NFL RedZone channel that complements the live broadcasts of NFL games on CBS and FOX Sunday afternoons,” said Kim Williams, Chief Operating Officer for NFL Network. “We are in discussions with other distributors and look forward to announcing more distribution deals for one of the most exciting new products now available to cable operators and telcos.”
“Inside the 20, fans are focused, leaning forward on the edge of their seats. With NFL RedZone, our customers get that intense live action experience for all the NFL games on every Sunday afternoon,” said Derek Harrar, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Video Services for Comcast. “The addition of NFL RedZone represents yet another major enhancement to our overall sports offering for Comcast customers.”
“NFL RedZone is the most exciting thing to happen to football since high definition,” said Ira Bahr, Chief Marketing Officer for DISH Network. “There’s no better way to kick off the 2009 NFL football season than by changing the way America watches football, and DISH Network is pleased to offer consumers an opportunity to catch every touchdown and the biggest plays as they happen.”
NFL RedZone is hosted by Scott Hanson from the new state-of-the-art NFL RedZone studio at NFL Network’s headquarters in Los Angeles and debuts on the first Sunday of the 2009 NFL regular season September 13 at 1:00 PM ET/10 AM PT.
Produced by NFL Network, NFL RedZone whips around every NFL game on Sunday afternoons delivering the touchdowns and most exciting moments as they happen and in high definition. When a team goes inside the 20-yard line, fans see the crucial plays live. The channel keeps fans up-to-date in real time, switching from game to game with live look-ins, highlights and a chance to see every important play.
For more information on NFL RedZone, visit www.nfl.com/redzonetv.
HBO Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals, Ep. 3
HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE CINCINNATI BENGALS
AUG. 26 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, AUG. 26 (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 #3
Debut date: WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates for episode #3: Aug. 26 (2:45 a.m.), 27 (3:00 p.m., midnight), 28 (12:30 a.m.), 29 (10:00 a.m., 11:35 p.m.), 30 (10:30 a.m.) and 31 (9:00 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates for episode #3: Aug. 26 (11:30 p.m.) and 30 (10:30 p.m.)
A recap of the pre-season game at New England; coaches and players return to Cincinnati and Paul Brown Stadium; roster positions are evaluated.
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.
ESPN Completes a Tennis Grand Slam with US Open
ESPN Completes a Tennis Grand Slam with US Open
Multi-Platform, Worldwide Coverage: Bracket Draw Commercial Free on ESPNEWS August 27, 100 Hours on ESPN2, Nearly 400 on ESPN360.com; ESPN Radio/ESPN2’s “Mike & Mike” on Site Aug. 31 & Sept. 1
John & Patrick McEnroe to Team; Storm & Tirico Join as Host, Drysdale Completes 30th Year with ESPN
ESPN has televised tennis since its first week on the air nearly 30 years ago, but on Monday, August 31, it will do what no U.S. network has ever done – complete the Grand Slam by televising the US Open for the first time. In the first year of a six-year agreement with the USTA, tennis fans will enjoy 100 hours in high definition on ESPN2, US Open update shows each weekday on ESPNEWS, nearly 400 hours on ESPN360.com’s multi-court offering and coverage across ESPN’s platforms in the U.S. and around the world.
ESPN’s multimedia coverage will begin Thurs., Aug. 27, with the live, exclusive announcement of the tournament’s brackets on ESPNEWS at noon ET. Chris McKendry will host the half-hour, commercial-free show, with Mary Joe Fernandez and Patrick McEnroe. Live interviews with defending champions Roger Federer and Serena Williams from New York are planned.
Before the first ball is in the air, ESPN’s first presentation from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will be on ESPN Radio and ESPN2 with Mike & Mike in the Morning. Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic will host their 6-10 a.m. show – heard on more than 350 radio stations (plus Sirius and XM Satellite Radio) and simulcast on ESPN2 – both Monday, Aug. 31, and Tuesday, Sept. 1.
During the first week of the tournament, ESPN2’s coverage will start at 1 p.m. each weekday and will continue non stop through both the day and evening sessions. A one-hour US Open Scoreboard program will lead into Primetime at the US Open presented by IBM at 7 p.m. and until 11 p.m. or play is concluded, whichever is later. The second week, ESPN2 will have Primetime at the US Open presented by IBM at 7 p.m. on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 7 (ESPN’s 30th Anniversary), followed by 12-hour windows Tuesday – Thursday starting at 11 a.m., with US Open Scoreboard at 6 p.m. and Primetime at the US Open presented by IBM at 7 p.m.
On the final day of the tournament, Sunday, Sept. 13, ESPN2 will televise live the women’s doubles championship at 1 p.m., and will review all the action at 9 p.m. with a special two-hour edition of SportsCenter presented by BMW at the US Open. Both weeks, ESPNEWS will present a two-hour weekday US Open update show at noon. As with the other three Grand Slams, ESPN2 will work with Tennis Channel to bring fans virtually round-the-clock coverage during the US Open, each utilizing its own commentators.
ESPN2’s Commentator Lineup
ESPN’s tennis team is led by Cliff Drysdale, completing his 30th year with ESPN. The former US Open finalist has been with ESPN since its first tennis telecast September 14, 1979, exactly one week after the network launched, making him second in ESPN tenure among commentators behind only Bob Ley. Chris Fowler, ESPN’s lead studio anchor for Grand Slam tennis since 2003, will serve as a host and call matches. Mike Tirico of Monday Night Football and Hannah Storm of the weekday morning SportsCenter will make their debuts as a tennis host.
They will team with John McEnroe, the four-time US Open champ who has joined ESPN for the event, plus familiar ESPNers Darren Cahill, Mary Carillo, Fernandez, Brad Gilbert, Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver, plus Hall of Fame tennis journalist Bud Collins. Shriver will frequently be utilized as a sideline reporter and as a roving reporter covering play in “outer courts”, as will Luke Jensen, and the McEnroes will at times be teamed together to form a sibling booth pairing. In addition, Tom Rinaldi will provide essays and conduct interviews during the first week and Rick Reilly will contribute commentary.
Did You Know? – Cliff Drysdale appeared on the first color telecast in Great Britain. It was at Wimbledon in 1967, when he played Roger Taylor on Centre Court on BBC2.
Surveying the Fields
Roger Federer, who last month at Wimbledon broke the record for career titles at Grand Slam events with 15, will attempt to win the US Open for a sixth consecutive year, tying the record set by Bill Tilden in the 1920s (Tilden won seven overall.) He will face a field led by Rafael Nadal, who missed Wimbledon but has six major titles and is seeking a career Grand Slam at the US Open; Andy Roddick, who has enjoyed a resurgent 2009 and took Federer to the limit in a five-set Wimbledon final; and Andy Murray, whose play this year has him ranked #2, best ever for a male British player.
Recent Wimbledon champ Serena Williams defends the woman’s US Open crown. Ranked #2 in the world, she counts three titles in New York among her 11 major victories. Her primary competition comes from top-ranked Dinara Safina; and #3-ranked Venus Williams, a two-time US Open winner. Others to watch: 2006 champ Maria Sharapova and 2005 champ Kim Clijsters, who both are making comebacks, Sharapova from injury and Clijsters has returned this summer after more than two years away from competition, including having her first child.
More US Open from ESPN, Inc.
ESPN360.com, the company’s signature live sports broadband network, will webcast the action from five courts beginning at 1 p.m. the first five days. ESPN360.com will also simulcast ESPN2 for the full tournament (including the 6-7 p.m. US Open Scoreboard) select outer court coverage and a simulcast of the Women’s Doubles final for a total of approximately 380 hours of U.S. Open tennis on the web. Other digital offerings:
- ESPN.com will provide blanket coverage of the U.S. Open, with the latest news and scores, as well as commentary, photos and daily video news and summaries from ESPN commentators.
- ESPN Mobile Properties will present live action, press conferences and highlights packages.
- ESPN has the exclusive right to display a multi-court mosaic platform during its TV windows.
ESPN360.com is ESPN’s live sports broadband network, giving fans a 24/7 online destination with more than 3,200 live events annually. It is available at no cost to fans with a high-speed Internet connection from an affiliated provider. ESPN360.com is currently available in 41 million households – a majority of US broadband homes. It is available via dozens of Internet Service Providers, including AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, RCN, Insight, Frontier, Cavalier, Charter, Mediacom, Conway, Grande Communications and many more. It is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks (those with “.edu” and “.mil” domains).
ESPN Interactive TV will be enjoyed exclusively on DIRECTV. During the ESPN2 telecast windows, a six-screen mosaic will include the ESPN2 program, along with matches from five other courts. In total, viewers will have access to more than 435 hours of live tennis action and 140 extra matches. Production will be enhanced with press conferences, interviews and features that will be added during court changeovers and between matches. All six screens can be expanded to full screen or picture-in-picture at the touch of the remote button. In addition, DIRECTV will offer “Matches On Now,” a graphic across the bottom with scores from each of the matches currently on the court channels, with the ability to tune directly to the match, and “Results,” an instant look at real-time scores and schedule info for matches ahead – all without leaving the match the viewer is watching.
ESPN International will offer 140 live hours in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as well as in Brazil for the first time, in high definition on ESPN HD. Coverage to Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America will be anchored from New York by Luis Alvarez and Eduardo Varela (play-by-play), analysts Javier Frana and Jose Luis Clerc and reporters Nicolas Pereira and Sophie Cortina. English-language coverage will feature Sam Gore and Mark Brown (play-by-play) and Arias and Rinaldi (analysis). In addition, ESPN360.com will feature 400 hours of live coverage in Chile and Mexico.
ESPN Deportes, the Spanish-language U.S. network, will present the US Open for the first time, with 34 hours in daily coverage through September 10. Eduardo Varela will handle play-by-play with former tennis players Clerc and Pereira as analysts and reporter Cortina. ESPN Deportes will feature a distinct production, focusing on Latino stars as well as the top-ranked players. There will also be extensive reporting from Wimbledon ESPN Deportes’ SportsCenter. ESPNdeportes.com, the Spanish-language Web site serving fans in the U.S. and Latin America, will feature daily webisodes titled “ESPNiando en el US Open” with the latest news and information, exclusive interviews and chats, as well as updates on Twitter by Varela, Cortina, and Pereira and Alvarez. Varela will also conduct a daily segment on ESPN Deportes Radio’s morning drive show Al Amanecer.
ESPN Classic’s US Open Tribute – August 30
ESPN Classic will present a 12-hour marathon of great US Open matches the day before the action begins for 2009 on Sunday, August 30. The action starts at noon with 16-year old Tracy Austin stunning the four-time defending champion Chris Evert-Lloyd in 1979 to become the youngest US Open winner ever, a memorable match celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2009. The day-long drama concludes when an ageless Jimmy Connors, on his 39th birthday, outlasts 24-year old Aaron Krickstein to reach the 1991 quarterfinals 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6.
| Time (ET) | Match |
| 12 p.m. | 1979 Women’s Final: Tracy Austin vs Chris Evert-Lloyd |
| 2 p.m. | 1999 Women’s Semifinal: Martina Hingis vs Venus Williams |
| 4 p.m. | 1992 Men’s Semifinal: Stefan Edberg vs Michael Chang |
| 7 p.m. | 2003 Men’s Semifinal: Andy Roddick vs David Nalbandian |
| 10 p.m. | 1991 Men’s Round of 16: Jimmy Connors vs Aaron Krickstein |
ESPN – All Four Slams, All In One Place
Tennis has been part of ESPN since its first week on the air and provided many memorable moments, but it has never been as important as today, with the US Open joining the lineup, giving ESPN all four Grand Slam events, something no other U.S. network has ever done, let alone in one year.
ESPN debuted September 7, 1979, and the first tennis telecast was exactly one week later, September 14, a Davis Cup tie, Argentina at U.S. from Memphis with Cliff Drysdale on the call.
ESPN has presented the Australian Open since 1984, the French Open since 2002 (plus 1986 – 1993) and Wimbledon since 2003.
ESPN & the US Open
| Date | Time (ET) | Event | Network |
| Sun, Aug 30 | Noon-MID | Five Great Matches from the Past | ESPN Classic |
| Mon, Aug 31 | 6-10 a.m. | Mike & Mike in the Morning
with Mike Greenberg & Mike Golic
|
ESPN Radio /
ESPN2
|
| Noon-2 p.m. | US Open Updates | ESPNEWS | |
| 1-6 p.m. | Early Round Action | ESPN2 | |
| 6-7 p.m. | US Open Scoreboard | ESPN2 | |
| 7-11 p.m. | Early Round Action | ESPN2 | |
| Tues, Sept 1 | 6-10 a.m. | Mike & Mike in the Morning
with Mike Greenberg & Mike Golic
|
ESPN Radio /
ESPN2
|
| Noon-2 p.m. | US Open Updates | ESPNEWS | |
| 1-6 p.m. | Early Round Action | ESPN2 | |
| 6-7 p.m. | US Open Scoreboard | ESPN2 | |
| 7-11 p.m. | Early Round Action | ESPN2 | |
| Wed, Sept 2 | Noon-2 p.m. | US Open Updates | ESPNEWS |
| 1-6 p.m. | Early Round Action | ESPN2 | |
| 6-7 p.m. | US Open Scoreboard | ESPN2 | |
| 7-11 p.m. | Early Round Action | ESPN2 | |
| Thur, Sept 3 | Noon-2 p.m. | US Open Updates | ESPNEWS |
| 1-6 p.m. | Early Round Action | ESPN2 | |
| 6-7 p.m. | US Open Scoreboard | ESPN2 | |
| 7-11 p.m. | Early Round Action | ESPN2 | |
| Fri, Sept 4 | Noon-2 p.m. | US Open Updates | ESPNEWS |
| 1-6 p.m. | Early Round Action | ESPN2 | |
| 6-7 p.m. | US Open Scoreboard | ESPN2 | |
| 7-11 p.m. | Early Round Action | ESPN2 | |
| Mon, Sept 7 | Noon-2 p.m. | US Open Updates | ESPNEWS |
| 7-11 p.m. | Round of 16 | ESPN2 | |
| Tues, Sept 8 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Men’s Round of 16, Women’s Quarterfinals | ESPN2 |
| Noon-2 p.m. | US Open Updates | ESPNEWS | |
| 6-7 p.m. | US Open Scoreboard | ESPN2 | |
| 7-11 p.m. | Men’s Round of 16, Women’s Quarterfinals | ESPN2 | |
| Wed, Sept 9 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Quarterfinals | ESPN2 |
| Noon-2 p.m. | US Open Updates | ESPNEWS | |
| 6-7 p.m. | US Open Scoreboard | ESPN2 | |
| 7-11 p.m. | Quarterfinals | ESPN2 | |
| Thurs, Sept 10 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Men’s Quarterfinals | ESPN2 |
| Noon-2 p.m. | US Open Updates | ESPNEWS | |
| 6-7 p.m. | US Open Scoreboard | ESPN2 | |
| 7-11 p.m. | Men’s Quarterfinals, Mixed Doubles Final | ESPN2 | |
| Fri, Sept 11 | Noon-2 p.m. | US Open Updates | ESPNEWS |
| Sun, Sept 13 | 1-3 p.m. | Women’s Doubles Final | ESPN2 |
| 9-11 p.m. | SportsCenter at the US Open | ESPN2 |
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