February 10, 2012

Michaels, Collinsworth, Dungy, Harrison, Gaudelli Preview 2010 NFL Season

August 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

“As compelling a story as any in the NFL this season.” – SNF’s Michaels on Favre

“I can’t wait for somebody to get smacked in the mouth.” – Football Night’s Harrison

“I don’t want to come back in a next life because I’ll be in Mongolia in a sulfur mine working the night shift.” – SNF’s Michaels on how lucky he feels about working his 25th NFL season

NEW YORK – Aug. 30, 2010 – Marquee teams and storied rivalries highlight NBC’s 2010 NFL schedule, which begins next Thursday night in primetime with the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints hosting Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings in a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship Game. Coverage on NBC begins at 7:30 p.m. ET. The first “Sunday Night Football” contest of the season is a classic NFC East rivalry as the Washington Redskins with their new QB Donovan McNabb and head coach Mike Shanahan host Tony Romo and the NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys.  Coverage starts with “Football Night in America” at 7 p.m. ET.

NBC Sports today previewed the season on a conference call with “Sunday Night Football” duo Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth along with “Football Night in America” studio analysts Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison, and SNF producer Fred Gaudelli.

For a complete replay of the call, dial 719-457-0820 and enter passcode: 54215765. Highlights of the call follow:

MICHAELS ON THE POWER OF THE NFL ON TV: “Everybody is stoked about the beginning of football.  It’s a spectacle on television.  The NFL is the king of television these days. Look at the ratings, we’ve done two preseason games and they’ve both won the week.”

COLLINSWORTH ON NFL KICKOFF GAME: “Probably the top four players in the league are (Drew) Brees, (Peyton) Manning, Chris Johnson and Brett Favre. We get two of the four in the opening night game.”

HARRISON ON GETTING THE SEASON STARTED: “There has been a lot of speculation, a lot of trash talking this off-season. I’m tired of the talking; it’s time to hit.  I can’t wait for somebody to get smacked in the mouth.”

ON BRETT FAVRE, THE YEAR HE HAD LAST YEAR AND COMING BACK FROM AN ANKLE INJURY:

MICHAELS: “One of the things he said that struck me was the fact that he’s given people a lot of ammunition to shoot arrows at him, because of all the procrastination. I think he’s concerned about some things, but, to me, if he felt the ankle was going to be such an issue that he couldn’t do or didn’t have the potential to do what he’s capable of, I think he would have walked away. I got the feeling that the ankle is good enough.  It’s not great. He’s 40-years-old, he’ll be 41 in October, but again that’s one of the key questions this year. What happens when he does take a hit? What happens if he twists the ankle? Brett Favre, here we go again, is going to be at least as compelling a story as any in the NFL this season.”

COLLINSWORTH: “What surprised me most watching him on tape getting ready for this game and watching all of the playoff stuff from last year, is that I was just amazed at age 40 how quick his feet were…he looked like he was 25 years old. That was my concern (with the ankle injury). When I was watching the (preseason) game, and, of course, he only played four plays in the game that we saw, so we didn’t get to see a lot of it, but will his feet be what they were a season ago which were pretty impressive?”

HARRISON: “The one thing that impressed me was not only his feet, but his ability to keep his eyes down the field and keep plays alive. I looked at film on the guy and he looked like he was a 26-27-28-year-old quarterback and it was amazing to me, because I know towards the end of my career how sore it would feel to get out of bed and to recover from games. That’s the thing that really concerns me with Brett Favre because before it could be the ribs, it could be the shoulder, the neck, the lower back, now all of a sudden he has something wrong with his ankle which really causes a whole host of other problems and concerns.”

DUNGY: “I think Brett is going to be fine physically, but 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions, he probably hasn’t had a year like that since ’96 or ’97. To think that he’s going to duplicate that, I just don’t think that is going to happen. I think he’ll come out and play well for them, but I would not expect to see that type of year. Last year was just a magical year.”

COLLINSWORTH ON DUNGY’S COMMENTS: “Tony, I thought that was almost the reason that he didn’t come back this year, more so than the ankle or the age or anything else, it was his own expectations and his own sort of fear. This guy has paranoia almost of letting somebody down and having a down year after his best year, as he called it. It was almost enough to make him stay home. It was a pretty remarkable conversation, almost like listening to Jerry Rice at the Hall of Fame Game talking about what a motivator fear was in his career and fear of failure and fear of letting somebody down. Brett was almost regurgitating the same kind of speech.”

GAUDELLI ON PACKERS: “The Green Bay Packers are a magical sounding team…when you look at them, there aren’t many more entertaining teams on television. That’s an offensive juggernaut up there. Especially when you do the games from Lambeau, the greatest setting in the National Football League. They’re a real attraction.”

DUNGY ON BROADCASTING: “I’m looking forward to this year as much as I’ve ever looked forward to coaching, because it’s a team effort putting these games together and trying to come up with a great broadcast. I feel like I’m with a great team with the whole Sunday Night crew.”

GAUDELLI ON NBC SPORTS FOOTBALL COVERAGE: “My philosophy is pretty simple. It’s to do what the moment calls for. If you’re sitting at home and something happens, you pretty much have in mind what you think should come next.  Or, if you’re confused, you’re hoping someone’s going to come on and either explain it to you verbally, like Al or Cris would, or show you a picture that immediately clears it up. And just remember that it’s a broad audience out there. There are a lot of people really into the X’s and O’s of football and we want to service them and then there are others who are into the personalities and the stories and we want to service them. But really just to do what the moment calls for and to do the right thing as much as you possibly can…our goal is to do it better than we did it the year before.”

MICHAELS ON GAUDELLI AND DIRECTOR DREW ESOCOFF: “The essence of this business is working with a group of people like Fred Gaudelli and (director) Drew Esocoff.  When we did the Arizona-Pittsburgh Super Bowl a couple of years ago, and Pittsburgh wins the game on an amazing catch by Santonio Holmes, who is the No. 4 receiver in Roethlisberger’s tree at that point, and our guys have every angle, whether he’s in bounds, whether he’s out of bounds, whether he’s caught the ball. Everything. All of the drama, the excitement of it, and I think the fact that we are able to do that, and we have people who can do that is what makes this so exciting.

HARRISON ON TOM BRADY AND THE JETS-PATS RIVALRY: “Tom Brady is an honest guy, but Tom really never comes out and blatantly says how much he hates a particular team, so obviously they are very tired and fed up with all the trash talking.  You better believe the Patriots have that game circled. They’ve always hated the Jets, but they hate them even more now.”

DUNGY ON BEING OPINIONATED: “A lot of people have opinions. I don’t think I’m an overly opinionated person. I guess some of the things I do have opinions about touched a nerve with people. That particular thing wasn’t directed at Rex Ryan, it was directed at language that goes across television. I’ve had those kinds of opinions in the past. I wouldn’t call myself controversial in the least, but apparently some people think so.”

MICHAELS ON 25th YEAR OF PLAY-BY-PLAY VOICE OF NFL’S PREMIER PRIMETIME PACKAGE: “I’m lucky, I love what I do. I have a job that people would die for and I understand that. I work with some phenomenal people. It’s a wonderful thing to go to work every week and be in an environment where the stadium is always full, the lights are on, and you know that a lot of people are watching. I’m like a fan. I’m excited for the season to start. I love sports, I love football, I love the strategy, I love when we get down to the final two minutes of a half or the end of the game when you’re trying to think along with the coach and all of that. That to me is what drives me and I’m still a kid at heart in that regard.  I don’t want to come back in a next life because I’ll be in Mongolia in a sulfur mine working the night shift.”

GAUDELLI ON MICHAELS: “To do it and get better every year, that’s quite an achievement. There have been some great broadcasters, but to do all the different sports that Al has done, obviously the NFL, Major League Baseball, the Olympics, the NBA Finals, the National Hockey League Stanley Cup Final. When you listen to Al Michaels, you know you’re listening to a big event and that is what makes it great to have him on our team.”

COLLINSWORTH ON MICHAELS: “It’s pretty remarkable that sometimes when the game does come down to the last two minutes or there is a controversial call by the referees, I’m even looking at Al. I’ll ask ‘Al what do you think the coach should do here or what do you think this referees call should be?’  He’s been on top of the details of the game in such a way that I think he’s unmatched…there is nobody better in the moment than what Al Michaels does. That’s probably why he’s been the lead announcer in all these sports for so long.”

MICHAELS ON CHANGES IN THE BUSINESS: “Technologically, it’s been phenomenal through the years. When I started Monday Night Football in 1986, there was no such thing as Cable Cam or SkyCam. There was no HD. I think those are two of the contributing factors right now. Football is such a visual treat. The images are so sharp. The camera above the huddle is incredible and the way we have the ability to isolate almost everything and anything.”

# # #

“SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” 2010 SEASON: Three appearances each by six marquee NFL teams, the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers; a rematch of the NFC Championship Game as the Super Bowl XLIV champion New Orleans Saints host the Minnesota Vikings in the opening Thursday night game; the “Manning Bowl” rematch in Week 2; and storied rivalries including three NFC East games, Chargers-Colts, Vikings-Packers at Lambeau, Steelers-Ravens and Jets-Dolphins highlight the “Sunday Night Football” schedule.

Highlights of “Sunday Night Football” schedule:

  • Sixteen of NBC’s 17 scheduled games involve at least one playoff team from last season; eight of 17 include two playoff teams.
  • Fourteen of the 17 teams playing on “Sunday Night Football” had .500 or better records.
  • Three appearances from six marquee teams: Colts (vs. Giants, Redskins, Chargers), Cowboys (Redskins, Packers, Eagles), Eagles (49ers, Giants, Cowboys), Giants (Colts, Bears, Eagles), Packers (Vikings, Cowboys, Patriots) and Steelers (Saints, Patriots, Ravens).
  • A rematch of last year’s NFC Championship game between the Vikings and Saints to kickoff the NFL season on Thursday night, Sept. 9.
  • Peyton and Eli meet in the anticipated rematch of the “Manning Bowl” when the Giants and Colts face off in Week 2.  They last met in the network debut of “Sunday Night Football” in 2006 in a game that was seen by 22.6 million viewers, the third-most ever in the history of “Sunday Night Football.” Six SNF games involve one of the Manning brothers.
  • A matchup of two of the oldest NFL teams when the Bears and Giants meet in Week 4 in the New Meadowlands Stadium.  The Bears-Giants rivalry dates back to 1925.
  • Three matchups among bitter NFC East rivals: Cowboys-Redskins, Giants-Eagles, and Eagles-Cowboys.
  • The first “Sunday Night Football” trips to New Orleans, Cincinnati, San Francisco and Miami.

2010 “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” SCHEDULE

Regular Season – “Football Night in America” begins every Sunday at 7 p.m. ET

Thurs. Sept. 9               NFL Kickoff              Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints

Sun. Sept. 12               Week 1          Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins

Sun. Sept. 19               Week 2          New York Giants at Indianapolis Colts

Sun. Sept. 26               Week 3          New York Jets at Miami Dolphins

Sun. Oct. 3                   Week 4             Chicago Bears at New York Giants

Sun. Oct. 10                 Week 5               Philadelphia Eagles at San Francisco 49ers

Sun. Oct. 17                 Week 6             Indianapolis Colts at Washington Redskins

Sun. Oct. 24                 Week 7            Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers

Sun. Oct. 31                 Week 8            Pittsburgh Steelers at New Orleans Saints

Sun. Nov. 7                  Week 9          Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers

Sun. Nov. 14                Week 10        New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers

Sun. Nov. 21                *Week 11        New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles

Sun. Nov. 28                *Week 12        San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts

Sun. Dec. 5                  *Week 13            Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

Sun. Dec. 12                *Week 14            Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys

Sun. Dec. 19                *Week 15        Green Bay Packers at New England Patriots

Sun. Dec. 26                *Week 16        San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals

Sun. Jan. 2                   *Week 17        TBA

*Flex Week

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Filed Under: NBC, NFL

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets – New episode #4 this Wednesday

August 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

HARD KNOCKS:  TRAINING CAMP WITH THE NEW YORK JETS

SEPT. 1 EPISODE

HBO Sports, in association with NFL Films and the New York Jets, provides an all-access look at what it takes to make it in the National Football League in HARD KNOCKS:  TRAINING CAMP WITH THE NEW YORK JETS.  The first sports-based reality series – and one of the fastest-turnaround reality series – continues its five-episode sixth season, presented in HD, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, with an encore play immediately following at 11:00 p.m.  The season finale debuts Wednesday, Sept. 8 at the same time.

Episode #4

Debut:  WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Other HBO playdates:  Sept. 1 (11:00 p.m.), 2 (2:00 p.m., midnight), 3 (6:00 p.m., midnight), 4 (10:00 a.m., 10:45 p.m.), 5 (11:30 a.m.) and 6 (12:30 p.m., 8:00 p.m., 3:00 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates:  Sept. 5 (11:30 p.m.) and 7 (7:00 p.m.)

The Jets visit Long Island for a scrimmage at Hofstra University and play Washington in their second home game of the preseason.  Tension mounts as competition for a spot on the regular-season roster intensifies.

A 24-person NFL Films crew is living at Jets training camp, shooting up to 1,000 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 facilities, dormitories and practice fields.

Filed Under: HBO, NFL

2010 College Football Season Kicks off Thursday

August 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

2010 College Football Season Kicks off Thursday

First Week of Season Includes 31 Games in Five Days, College GameDay from Atlanta

ESPN will kick off the 2010 college football season with 31 games in five days across ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3.com, ESPN 3D and ESPN Radio beginning Thursday, Sept. 2. ESPN’s opening weekend of action will conclude with a Labor Day doubleheader Monday, Sept. 6, highlighted by No. 3 Boise State vs. No. 10 Virginia Tech from FedEx Field, home of the Washington Redskins, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN Radio and ESPN 3D, ESPN’s newest outlet and the first 3D network to launch in the industry.

ESPN and ABC will each televise a matchup between ranked teams in prime time Saturday, Sept. 4: No. 24 Oregon State vs. No. 6 TCU in the Cowboys Classic from Arlington, Texas, at 7:45 p.m. on ESPN, and No. 21 LSU vs. No. 18 in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game from Atlanta at 8 p.m. on Saturday Night Football on ABC.

Other ranked teams in action include:

  • No. 4 Florida against Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, Sept. 4, at noon on ESPN and ESPN3.com;
  • No. 5 Texas at Rice on Saturday, Sept. 4, at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN3.com
  • No. 13 Miami against Florida A&M on Thursday, Sept. 2, at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN3.com;
  • No. 14 USC at Hawaii on Thursday, Sept. 2, at 11 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN3.com;
  • No. 16 Georgia Tech against South Carolina State on Saturday, Sept. 4, at 1 p.m. on ESPN3.com;
  • No. 20 Florida State against Samford on Saturday, Sept. 4, at noon on ESPNU.

College GameDay Built by The Home Depot – expanded to three hours and now beginning on ESPNU at 9 a.m. and continuing on ESPN at 10 a.m. every Saturday – will open the season Sept. 4 live from Atlanta. Erin Andrews will anchor several segments of the first hour on ESPNU and contribute reports, interviews and features during the ESPN portion of the two-time Emmy Award-winning program. Chris Fowler will return as show host with analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard. College GameDay is entering its 24th season and 18th consecutive year of originating from the site of one of the day’s best games or a game with the most compelling storyline.

ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3.com, ESPN Classic, ESPN Mobile TV and ESPN Radio College Football Schedule

Note: All ABC split national, ESPN and ESPN2 games will be simulcast on ESPN3.com

Date Time (ET) Game Network
Thu, Sep 2 6:30 p.m. Presbyterian at Wake Forest

Ryan Rose & Warrick Dunn

 ESPN3.com
7:30 p.m. Southern Miss at South Carolina

Rece Davis, Craig James, Jesse Palmer & Jenn Brown

 ESPN / ESPN3.com
7:30 p.m. Florida A&M at No. 13 Miami

Dave Weekley & Jeremy Bloom

 ESPN3.com
7:30 p.m. Norfolk State at Rutgers

Dave Popkin & Drew Henson

 ESPN3.com
7:30 p.m. Minnesota at Middle Tennessee

Anish Shroff & Jay Walker

 ESPNU
11 p.m. No. 14 USC at Hawaii

Mark Jones, Bob Davie & Robert Smith

 ESPN / ESPN3.com
Fri, Sep 3 5 p.m. Villanova at Temple

Scott Graham & Rene Ingoglia

 ESPN3.com
8 p.m. Arizona at Toledo

Joe Tessitore & Rod Gilmore

 ESPN / ESPN3.com
Sat, Sep 4 Noon Miami (OH) at No. 4 Florida

Dave Pasch, Chris Spielman, Bob Griese & Quint Kessenich

 ESPN / ESPN3.com
Noon Western Michigan at Michigan State

Bob Wischusen & Brian Griese

 ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Noon Samford at No. 20 Florida State

Rob Stone & David Pollack

 ESPNU
1 p.m. South Carolina State at No. 16 Georgia Tech

Trey Bender & Jay Taylor

 ESPN3.com
1 p.m. Weber State at Boston College

Dave Popkin & Curt Warner

 ESPN3.com
3:30 p.m. Connecticut at Michigan **

Sean McDonough, Matt Millen & Heather Cox

 ABC and ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
UCLA at Kansas State **

Carter Blackburn, Mike Bellotti & Brock Huard

 ABC and ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Kentucky at Louisville

Dave Lamont & JC Pearson

 ABC
3:30 p.m. No. 5 Texas at Rice

Ron Franklin & Ed Cunningham

 ESPN / ESPN3.com
3:30 p.m. North Texas at Clemson

Pam Ward & Danny Kanell

 ESPNU
6 p.m. Western Carolina at N.C. State

Ryan Rose & Warrick Dunn

 ESPN3.com
6 p.m. Richmond at Virginia

Jim Barbar & John Gregory

 ESPN3.com
6 p.m. Syracuse at Akron

Michael Reghi & TBA

 ESPN3.com
7 p.m. Memphis at Mississippi State

Clay Matvick & Herm Edwards

 ESPNU
7 p.m. Elon at Duke

Dave Weekley & Derek Rackley

 ESPN3.com
7:45 p.m. Cowboys Classic: No. 24 Oregon State vs. No. 6 TCU (from Arlington)

Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge & Holly Rowe

 ESPN / ESPN3.com
8 p.m. Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game: No. 21 LSU vs. No. 18 North Carolina (from Atlanta)

ABC: Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit & Erin Andrews

Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie & Joe Schad

 ABC / ESPN Radio
10 p.m. Cincinnati at Fresno State

Beth Mowins & Trent Dilfer

 ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sun, Sep 5 Noon 2010 MEAC/SWAC Challenge Presented by Disney: Southern vs. Delaware State

Charles Neal & Jay Walker

 ESPN / ESPN3.com
2 p.m. Tulsa at East Carolina

Mike Gleason & John Congemi

 ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
3:30 p.m. SMU at Texas Tech

Mark Jones, Bob Davie & Holly Rowe

 ESPN / ESPN3.com
Mon, Sep 6 4 p.m. Navy vs. Maryland (from Baltimore)

Mike Patrick, Craig James & Quint Kessenich

 ESPN / ESPN3.com
8 p.m. No. 3 Boise State vs. No. 10 Virginia Tech (from Landover, Md.)

ESPN: Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit & Heather Cox

ESPN 3D: Joe Tessitore, Tim Brown & Ray Bentley

Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie & Joe Schad

 ESPN / ESPN Radio / ESPN 3D

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Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Football

CBS’s Simms on 18-game schedule and Mike Shanahan and Albert Haynesworth

August 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment


►THE NFL ON CBS lead analyst Phil Simms on the possibility of expanding the schedule to 18 games during CBS Sports’ pre-season game, Dallas vs. Houston, on Saturday night.

SIMMS: I think it’s a game where you slowly indoctrinate yourself in to the hitting and all the punishment that comes with it.  So it’s a little bit the first game; a little more and a little more.  You don’t go into boxing, hey my first professional fight I’m taking on Mike Tyson.  I’m ready for the real thing.  You don’t do that.  You slowly work your way into it.  I think it’s going to hurt the players if they change it drastically.

►On whether Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan handled Albert Haynesworth the right way or the wrong way

SIMMS: Looking at it right now, it worked out perfect.  He played the other night.  It looked like he played hard.  He started.

GUS JOHNSON: He said he didn’t want to play in a 3-4 (defense).  Now he’s playing in a 3-4.

SIMMS: Well, they’re paying him a lot of money.  It came down to, okay, do you want the money or not?  He’s coming to play.  He’s got pride.  You can’t be that good of a player if you don’t have pride.  So when he gets in there, he’s going to get it done.  Mike Shanahan sent a message to his football team that he was in charge.  He controlled it the right way as a head coach.  And I think the team is all sitting around saying, ‘Way to go Coach.’  Players want everyone to play under the same rules.    

Simms made his predictions for the upcoming NFL season during CBS Sports’ pre-season game, Dallas vs. Houston, on Saturday night.

AFC

East – New York Jets

North – Cincinnati

South – Indianapolis*

West – San Diego

Wild Cards – New England, Baltimore

NFC

East – Dallas*

North – Minnesota

South – New Orleans

West – San Francisco

Wild Cards – Green Bay, New York Giants

* Super Bowl – Dallas vs. Indianapolis

Filed Under: CBS, NFL

NFL Network’s America’s Game: 2009 New Orleans Saints Narrated By Brad Pitt Debuts Wednesday, Sept. 8 At 9:00 PM ET

August 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

NFL NETWORK’S AMERICA’S GAME: 2009 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS NARRATED BY BRAD PITT DEBUTS WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 8 AT 9:00 PM ET

Head Coach Sean Payton, Jonathan Vilma and Drew Brees

Tell the Story of the Road to Super Bowl XLIV and What it Meant to New Orleans

BREES CHOOSES NEW ORLEANS AND LEADS SAINTS TO FIRST SUPER BOWL WIN

PAYTON TALKS ABOUT HIS GUTSY ON-SIDE KICK CALL IN THE SUPER BOWL

VILMA AND UNSUNG DEFENSE STOP THREE OF THE BEST QBs IN PLAYOFF VICTORIES

Why did Drew Brees choose to go to New Orleans? When did Sean Payton make the call for an on-side kick during the Super Bowl? The answers to these questions and much more will be unveiled when the inside story of the Saints remarkable Super Bowl-winning season is told by Drew Brees, Sean Payton and Jonathan Vilma on NFL Network’s newest episode of the NFL Films-produced Emmy award-winning series, America’s Game:  2009 New Orleans Saints.

Narrated by two-time Academy Award nominee Brad Pitt, America’s Game: 2009 New Orleans Saints debuts Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 9:00 PM ET, the night before the Saints kick off the 2010 NFL season against the Minnesota Vikings.

Super Bowl MVP Brees, linebacker Vilma and head coach Sean Payton recount their memories and inside stories about the Saints 2009 season that was capped off with the first Super Bowl win in franchise history. The one-hour America’s Game features exclusive video and sound of the Saints during team meetings, practices, games and inside the locker room leading up to and following Super Bowl XLIV.

Find out what Sean Payton did to make him think Brees would sign with Miami instead of New Orleans as a free agent, see previously unseen video from practice of the on-side kick that was successful in the Super Bowl, learn what pass in a commercial impressed Vilma about his quarterback and about the must-have item Payton never commands a sideline without.

Pitt, who has done extensive community work in New Orleans, lends his voice as narrator to America’s Game:  2009 New Orleans Saints to help tell the story of the season.  Frustrated with the lack of progress in rebuilding the Lower 9th Ward, where thousands of homes were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, Pitt established the Make It Right Foundation to build 150 green, affordable, high-quality design homes in the New Orleans neighborhood.

Below is a sampling of quotes from America’s Game: 2009 New Orleans Saints:

“I felt like this is where I belong, to be a part of not only the rebuilding of an organization, but also a city and a region.” – QB Drew Brees on his decision to sign with New Orleans in 2006

“I’ve never to this day heard the Superdome louder than that moment.  That’s when you knew that no matter who we were playing that day, they didn’t stand a chance.” – Brees on the 2006 win against Atlanta in the first home game following Hurricane Katrina

“It was magical.  You could feel what that game meant and what it symbolized.  New Orleans was coming back.” – Brees following the Atlanta win

“Somewhere between ‘Teenage Wasteland’ and ‘Pinball Wizard’, we decided that this was going to be the time to run this.” – Head Coach Sean Payton on halftime decision during Super Bowl XLIV to call the onside kick, “Ambush”

“You knew it was more than just us winning a game.  All of New Orleans won this.” – LB Jonathan Vilma on winning the Super Bowl

“If we—as a team and as a city—can be world champions when nobody ever thought we could, then man, we can accomplish anything.” – Brees on winning the Super Bowl

America’s Game, which won an Emmy Award for best sports series, delves deep into the story behind the making of Super Bowl champions. Each episode is a 60-minute documentary (available in high definition) featuring key members of the winning team telling behind-the-scenes accounts from their championship season. With classic NFL Films action combined with news clips and photos, highlights from team radio broadcasts, footage from inside team meeting rooms, sideline audio and other exclusive features, America’s Game provides an epic and intimate portrait of championship teams, in one groundbreaking series.

– NFL NETWORK –

Filed Under: NFL, NFLN

“Sunday MLB on TBS” to Feature an American League Match-up Between the New York Yankees @ Chicago White Sox

August 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

“Sunday MLB on TBS” to Feature an American League Match-up Between the New York Yankees @ Chicago White Sox

“Sunday MLB on TBS” continues on August 29 with two American League contenders facing off as Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees visit Paul Konerko and the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field at 2 p.m. (ET).  Ivan Nova is scheduled to start for the Yankees against the White Sox probable starter Gavin Floyd.  Ernie Johnson will call play-by-play alongside analyst Ron Darling.

“Sunday MLB on TBS” includes match-ups on TBS every Sunday afternoon throughout the regular season.  The network will also begin providing exclusive coverage of the Division Series and the American League Championship Series (ALCS) in October 2010.

TBS has broadcast MLB coverage for more than 30 years serving as the exclusive home of the MLB Division Series (DS) and one League Championship Series (LCS) since 2007 and home of Atlanta Braves coverage from 1977 to 2007.

SUNDAY MLB ON TBS SCHEDULE:

DAY/DATE

TIME (ET)             EVENT

Sunday, Aug. 29

2 p.m.                          New York Yankees @ Chicago White Sox

Announcers: Ernie Johnson (play-by-play) and Ron Darling (analyst)

SUNDAY MLB ON TBS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Sunday, Sept. 5

1:30 p.m.                     Chicago White Sox @ Boston Red Sox

Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst) and John Smoltz (analyst)

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Filed Under: MLB, TBS

ESPN The Magazine Dives Deep into the NFL: Ray Lewis on the Cover

August 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

With the Baltimore Ravens chosen as a favorite to win this year’s Super Bowl, linebacker Ray Lewis is ready to break out and claim the championship title everyone else is vying for. In the meantime, Lewis is featured in ESPN The Magazine’s photo-act “Faces Of The Game”—a photographic tribute to the stars, suits and surprises who make the NFL what it is today.  Photos

AND… “Five Days In The Life Of An NFL Coach” shines the light on Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini, who allowed ESPN The Magazine writer Seth Wickersham to have unfiltered access to his routine for a few days. Wickersham reveals the hard-working coach who is trying to improve his team—and himself. Also in The Mag’s NFL Preview issue, writer Alan Grant gives an in-depth breakdown of one of the most complex and lethal plays in football: the screen pass.

PLUS… ESPN The Magazine’s latest “NFL Confidential” survey is out:

- Who will win the Super Bowl? 29.6% foresee a repeat of last year with the Saints coming out on top.

- If you could be a superstar in another sport, what would it be? At 32.3%, baseball is the most popular answer, with basketball coming in at a close second with 29.2% of the votes.

- How many concussions have you had? What percentage have you kept to yourself? 54.1% of the players who took the survey have gotten concussions and of those, most went unreported (58.2%).
- What is home field advantage worth? 71.4% of players overwhelmingly agree the edge is a field goal.

Cover

NFL Deep-Dive:

The Analytically Correct Guide to Football

Dear NFL coaches, Need an edge? Our numbers show how to call plays even better. By Peter Keating

The Running Back Glossary

Hat level! Crossover step! To walk the walk, you gotta learn to talk the talk. By Mike Tanier

Texas Two-Step

Football Outsiders simulates 10,000 seasons to preview all 32 NFL teams.

“You Are Going to Get Worse Before You Get Better”

Chuck Noll and Mean Joe Green steeled buckling Pittsburgh. By Chad Millman and Shawn Coyne.

Unforgiven

Tackle Tony Washington’s fall from promising prospect to undrafted outcast. By Allison Glock

Scale of 1 to 10

Players rate a tristate Super Bowl.

Filed Under: ESPN, NFL

ESPN Announces SEC on ESPN Men’s College Basketball Schedule

August 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

ESPN Announces SEC on ESPN Men’s College Basketball Schedule

ESPN, the exclusive national cable home and syndication rights-holder for the Southeastern Conference, presents the SEC on ESPN men’s college basketball conference schedule, including the entire SEC Tournament, in the second year of the historic 15-year agreement with the conference. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3.com and the SEC Network will feature 102 conference controlled games, including 91 regular-season and all 11 SEC Tournament games.

ESPN3.com, ESPN’s live broadband sports network, will simulcast all SEC games televised on ESPN, ESPN2, SEC Network and regional syndication partners. Also, many games will be available on ESPN FULL COURT, ESPN’s out-of-market pay-per-view package. In addition, ESPN networks will televise an extensive schedule of non-conference action (schedule to be determined).

The SEC Network, ESPN Regional Television’s over-the-air syndication package, will present a minimum of 37 SEC games in 79 television markets nationwide. Also, the SEC Network will present the SEC Studio show each Saturday afternoon through the regular season and the SEC Tournament.

ESPN on ABC will televise the SEC Basketball Tournament semifinals and championship game nationally, while the first two rounds will be available on the SEC Network. The tournament is set for March 10-13 in Atlanta.

The SEC on ESPN schedule includes the 2011 College GameDay Driven by State Farm opener from Knoxville, Tenn., site of the Tennessee Volunteers men’s and women’s teams hosting the Vanderbilt Commodores men’s and women’s programs at noon ET and 8 p.m., respectively. The doubleheader marks the first time the show has originated from a site featuring a men’s and women’s game played in the same day.

College GameDay will return to SEC country for the Feb. 5 matchup of Kentucky at Florida, a showdown of teams ranked in ESPN senior college basketball writer Andy Katz’s early preseason poll (No. 13 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Florida). College GameDay is hosted by Rece Davis with analysts Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps, Hubert Davis and Bob Knight.

Schedule (Subject to change)

Date Time (ET) Matchup Network(s)
Sat, Jan 8 1:30 p.m. Tennessee at Arkansas SEC Network / ESPN3.com
4 p.m. Kentucky at Georgia SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Alabama at Mississippi State SEC Network / ESPN3.com
5 p.m. Vanderbilt at South Carolina ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
6 p.m. LSU at Auburn FSN / ESPN3.com
8 p.m. Ole Miss at Florida CSS / ESPN3.com
Tue, Jan 11 7 p.m. Auburn at Kentucky ESPNU
9 p.m. Florida at Tennessee ESPN / ESPN3.com
Wed, Jan 12 8 p.m. Georgia at Vanderbilt SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Arkansas at LSU SEC Network / ESPN3.com
9 p.m. South Carolina at Alabama CSS / ESPN3.com
Thu, Jan 13 9 p.m. Mississippi State at Ole Miss ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Jan 15 Noon Vanderbilt at Tennessee ESPN / ESPN3.com
1:30 p.m. South Carolina at Florida SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Alabama at Arkansas SEC Network / ESPN3.com
4 p.m. LSU at Kentucky SEC Network / ESPN3.com
5 p.m. Georgia at Ole Miss FSN / ESPN3.com
Sun, Jan 16 2 p.m. Auburn at Mississippi State FSN / ESPN3.com
Tue, Jan 18 7 p.m. Tennessee at Georgia ESPNU
9 p.m. Kentucky at Alabama ESPN / ESPN3.com
Wed, Jan 19 8 p.m. Arkansas at South Carolina SEC Network / ESPN3.com
9 p.m. Ole Miss at Vanderbilt CSS / ESPN3.com
Thu, Jan 20 7 p.m. Florida at Auburn ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Jan 22 1:30 p.m. Ole Miss at LSU SEC Network / ESPN3.com
4 p.m. Mississippi State at Georgia SEC Network / ESPN3.com
6 p.m. Kentucky at South Carolina ESPN / ESPN3.com
Alabama at Auburn CSS / ESPN3.com
8 p.m. Arkansas at Florida FSN / ESPN3.com
Tue, Jan 25 7 p.m. Florida at Georgia ESPN / ESPN3.com
9 p.m. Auburn at Arkansas ESPNU
Wed, Jan 26 8 p.m. LSU at Tennessee SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Thu, Jan 27 7 p.m. Vanderbilt at Mississippi State ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Jan 29 1:30 p.m. Auburn at South Carolina SEC Network / ESPN3.com
4 p.m. Georgia at Kentucky ESPN / ESPN3.com
Tennessee at Ole Miss SEC Network / ESPN3.com
6 p.m. Arkansas at Vanderbilt FSN / ESPN3.com
8 p.m. LSU at Alabama FSN / ESPN3.com
Tue, Feb 1 7 p.m. Kentucky at Ole Miss ESPNU
9 p.m. Vanderbilt at Florida ESPN / ESPN3.com
Wed, Feb 2 8 p.m. South Carolina at LSU SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Mississippi State at Alabama SEC Network / ESPN3.com
9 p.m. Georgia at Arkansas CSS / ESPN3.com
Thu, Feb 3 9 p.m. Tennessee at Auburn ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Feb 5 1:30 p.m. Auburn at Georgia SEC Network / ESPN3.com
South Carolina at Vanderbilt SEC Network / ESPN3.com
4 p.m. Mississippi State at LSU SEC Network / ESPN3.com
5 p.m. Alabama at Tennessee FSN / ESPN3.com
6 p.m. Ole Miss at Arkansas ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
9 p.m. Kentucky at Florida ESPN / ESPN3.com
Tue, Feb 8 9 p.m. Tennessee at Kentucky ESPN / ESPN3.com
Wed, Feb 9 8 p.m. Florida at South Carolina SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Arkansas at Mississippi State SEC Network / ESPN3.com
9 p.m. LSU at Ole Miss CSS / ESPN3.com
Thu, Feb 10 9 p.m. Alabama at Vanderbilt ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Feb 12 1:30 p.m. LSU at Arkansas SEC Network / ESPN3.com
4 p.m. Georgia at South Carolina SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Ole Miss at Alabama SEC Network / ESPN3.com
6 p.m. Tennessee at Florida ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
7 p.m. Mississippi State at Auburn FSN / ESPN3.com
Tue, Feb 15 7 p.m. Mississippi State at Kentucky ESPN / ESPN3.com
Wed, Feb 16 7 p.m. Vanderbilt at Georgia ESPNU
South Carolina at Tennessee CSS / ESPN3.com
8 p.m. Auburn at Ole Miss SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Thu, Feb 17 9 p.m. Alabama at LSU ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Feb 19 1:30 p.m. Ole Miss at Mississippi State SEC Network / ESPN3.com
4 p.m. Vanderbilt at Auburn SEC Network / ESPN3.com
South Carolina at Kentucky SEC Network / ESPN3.com
7 p.m. Arkansas at Alabama FSN / ESPN3.com
Sun, Feb 20 1 p.m. Florida at LSU ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Tue, Feb 22 7 p.m. Ole Miss at South Carolina ESPNU
9 p.m. Tennessee at Vanderbilt ESPN / ESPN3.com
Wed, Feb 23 8 p.m. Kentucky at Arkansas SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Auburn at Alabama SEC Network / ESPN3.com
9 p.m. LSU at Mississippi State CSS / ESPN3.com
Thu, Feb 24 7 p.m. Georgia at Florida ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Feb 26 1:30 p.m. Vanderbilt at LSU SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Arkansas at Auburn SEC Network / ESPN3.com
4 p.m. Alabama at Ole Miss SEC Network / ESPN3.com
6 p.m. Mississippi State at Tennessee ESPN / ESPN3.com
7 p.m. South Carolina at Georgia FSN / ESPN3.com
Tue, Mar 1 7 p.m. Alabama at Florida ESPNU
9 p.m. Vanderbilt at Kentucky ESPN / ESPN3.com
Wed, Mar 2 8 p.m. LSU at Georgia SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Ole Miss at Auburn SEC Network / ESPN3.com
9 p.m. Mississippi State at Arkansas CSS  / ESPN3.com
Thu, Mar 3 7 p.m. Tennessee at South Carolina ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Sat, Mar 5 1:30 p.m. Georgia at Alabama SEC Network / ESPN3.com
2 p.m. South Carolina at Mississippi State ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
4 p.m. Arkansas at Ole Miss SEC Network / ESPN3.com
6 p.m. Florida at Vanderbilt ESPN / ESPN3.com
7 p.m. Auburn at LSU FSN / ESPN3.com
Thu, Mar 10 1 p.m. SEC Tournament Game 1 SEC Network / ESPN3.com
3:30 p.m. SEC Tournament Game 2 SEC Network / ESPN3.com
7:30 p.m. SEC Tournament Game 3 SEC Network / ESPN3.com
10 p.m. SEC Tournament Game 4 SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Fri, Mar 11 1 p.m. SEC Tournament Game 5 SEC Network / ESPN3.com
3:30 p.m. SEC Tournament Game 6 SEC Network / ESPN3.com
7:30 p.m. SEC Tournament Game 7 SEC Network / ESPN3.com
10 p.m. SEC Tournament Game 8 SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Sat, Mar 12 1 p.m. SEC Tournament Game 9 ABC
3:30 p.m. SEC Tournament Game 10 ABC
Sun, Mar 13 1 p.m. SEC Tournament Championship ABC

-30-

Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Basketball

Lions Host Browns in Live Preseason Matchup Saturday at 5:00 PM ET — NFL NETWORK PROGRAMMING NOTES (8/25-8/31)

August 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

NFL NETWORK PROGRAMMING NOTES (8/25-8/31)

LIONS HOST BROWNS IN LIVE PRESEASON MATCHUP SATURDAY AT 5:00 PM ET

Interviews with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and Former NFL QB Kurt Warner on NFL Total Access Wednesday

Week 3 Preseason Game Line-Up Features Cleveland Browns vs. Detroit Lions LIVE on NFL Network Saturday at 5:00 PM ET

The 2010 NFL preseason rolls on with Week 3 coverage featuring a number of exciting matchups as teams continue to get game ready with the regular season two weeks away. This weekend, NFL Network’s schedule is highlighted by 12 preseason games on Saturday and Sunday.

NFL Network continues to bring fans all the preseason action with 16 Week 3 matchups including the Lions playing host to the Browns live Saturday at 5:00 PM ET. Matthew Stafford looks to build on the solid rookie season as the Lions franchise QB, while 2010 top draft pick Ndamukong Suh continues to establish his place within the Lions defensive line. After an impressive debut with his new team last week, Browns QB Jake Delhomme continues to find his rhythm with the Cleveland offense and passing targets Ben Watson and Josh Cribbs.

In addition to the ten live telecasts this preseason, NFL Network features tape-delayed broadcasts of every preseason game so that no play goes unseen. Other games this week include QB Brett Favre getting his second taste of preseason action vs. Seattle, while the Vikings’ opening day opponent New Orleans Saints host QB Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers.

THIS WEEK ON NFL TOTAL ACCESS: Interview with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and Former NFL QB Kurt Warner; Coverage from Special League Meetings

Wednesday, August 25

  • Interview with QB Aaron Rodgers on Packers Cam
  • Interview with former NFL QB Kurt Warner
  • Steve Wyche reports from the special League Meetings in Atlanta, GA
  • Jason La Canfora goes ‘Around the League’

Thursday, August 26

  • Jason La Canfora goes ‘Around the League’

Friday, August 27

  • Preview of the weekend’s Week 3 preseason matchups
  • Jason La Canfora goes ‘Around the League’

THIS WEEK ON NFL.COM: Chat with NFL Network Insiders on Week 3 Preseason Matchups

Thursday, August 26

  • CHAT: Steve Wyche (12:00 NOON ET)

Friday, August 27

  • CHAT: Vic Carucci (12 NOON ET)

DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (all times listed are ET)

Wednesday, August 25

7:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: New York Jets at Carolina Panthers (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Houston Texans at New Orleans Saints (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Baltimore Ravens at Washington Redskins (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Preseason Game: Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks (HD)

Thursday, August 26

7:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: St. Louis Rams at Cleveland Browns (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Dallas Cowboys at San Diego Chargers (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Follies: Most Super Fantastic Follies of the Year – 2008

9:00 PM – NFL Follies: NFL’s Newest Follies

10:00 PM – NFL Follies: Best of Football Follies

11:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: St. Louis Rams at New England Patriots (HD)

Friday, August 27

2:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: St. Louis Rams at New England Patriots (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: St. Louis Rams at New England Patriots (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Follies: Super Duper Football Follies

9:00 PM – NFL Follies: Phenomenal Football Follies

10:00 PM – NFL Follies: The Son of Football Follies

10:30 PM – NFL Follies: The Football Follies

11:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs (HD)

Saturday, August 28

2:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins (HD)

5:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers (HD)

8:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs (HD)

11:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins (HD)

2:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Washington Redskins at New York Jets (HD)

5:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions (HD) – LIVE

8:00 PM – NFL Follies: Follies Go Hollywood

8:30 PM – NFL Follies: Those Fantastic Football Funnies

9:00 PM – NFL Follies: Fall Follies – 2007

9:30 PM – NFL Follies: NFL Symfunny

10:00 PM – NFL Follies: Talkin’ Follies

11:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings (HD)

Sunday, August 29

5:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Biggest Upsets

6:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Defenses

7:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: San Diego Chargers at New Orleans Saints (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Tennessee Titans at Carolina Panthers (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: New York Giants at Baltimore Ravens (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Follies: Best of NFL Follies

9:00 PM – NFL Follies: Football Comedy

10:00 PM – NFL Follies: Football Card Follies

11:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: San Francisco 49ers at Oakland Raiders (HD)

Monday, August 30

2:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (HD)

5:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Quarterback Controversies

6:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Snakebitten Franchises

7:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Washington Redskins at New York Jets (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Dallas Cowboys at Houston Texans (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: St. Louis Rams at New England Patriots (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears (HD)

Tuesday, August 31

2:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: San Francisco 49ers at Oakland Raiders (HD)

7:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Preseason Game: San Francisco 49ers at Oakland Raiders (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: San Diego Chargers at New Orleans Saints (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: New York Giants at Baltimore Ravens (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Preseason Game: Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Preseason Game: Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs (HD)

Filed Under: NFL, NFLN

Costas & Smoltz Call Mets at NL East First-Place Braves on MLB Network’s Thursday Night Baseball

August 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

NL East First-Place Atlanta Braves Host New York Mets on Thursday Night Baseball ON September 2,

CALLED BY MLB NETWORK’S bob costas and john smoltz

Three First-Place Teams in Action During MLB Network’s Live Game Schedule for August 30-September 4

Game Schedule Also Includes Cincinnati Reds Visiting NL Central Rival St. Louis Cardinals on September 3

Secaucus, N.J., August 26, 2010 – The NL East first-place Atlanta Braves host the New York Mets on Thursday Night Baseball on September 2 at 7:00 p.m. ET, part of MLB Network’s live game schedule for August 30 – September 4. MLB Network’s Bob Costas and former Braves Cy Young Award winner and eight-time All-Star John Smoltz will call the game live from Turner Field. The Braves currently lead the NL East by 2 ½ games over the Philadelphia Phillies. Viewers in the Mets and Braves markets will see the AL Central first-place Minnesota Twins match up against the Detroit Tigers at 8:00 p.m. ET live from Target Field.

The NL Central first-place Cincinnati Reds, who have won seven of their last ten games, led by All-Star first baseman Joey Votto, host the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, August 30 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Viewers in select markets will see the Braves take on the Mets in the first of their four-game series at 7:00 p.m. ET. On Tuesday, August 31, the Twins, who have a 3 ½ game lead in the AL Central, host the Tigers at 8:00 p.m. ET. Viewers in select markets will again see the Mets at Braves at 7:00 p.m. ET. Later in the week the Reds travel to Busch Stadium to take on division rivals St. Louis Cardinals for the first of a three-game series on Friday, September 3 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Reds are 3½ games ahead of the Cardinals in the NL Central. Viewers in select markets will see an NL East matchup between the Braves and Florida Marlins at 7:00 p.m. ET live from Sun Life Stadium. Saturday Night Baseball features the Chicago White Sox at Boston Red Sox at 7:00 p.m. ET. Viewers in select markets will again see the Braves against the Marlins at 7:00 p.m. ET.

MLB Tonight, MLB Network’s Emmy Award-winning signature nightly studio show, airs seven days a week, featuring updates, highlights, bonus coverage and look-ins at live games in progress. Quick Pitch, MLB Network’s highlights show of record, airs nightly with recaps of all the great fielding and scoring plays from the day’s games.

MLB Network’s August 30 – September 4 live game schedule:

All times ET and subject to change, check MLBNetwork.com for updates

Unless otherwise announced, games will be blacked out in each club’s home television territory

Date               Time               Game

August 30      7:00 p.m.      Milwaukee at Cincinnati

7:00 p.m.      New York Mets at Atlanta [In select markets]

August 31      8:00 p.m.      Detroit at Minnesota

7:00 p.m.      New York Mets at Atlanta [In select markets]

September 2  7:00 p.m.      Thursday Night Baseball: New York Mets at Atlanta – Matt Vasgersian & John Smoltz

8:00 p.m.      Detroit at Minnesota [In Mets and Braves markets]

September 3  8:00 p.m.      Cincinnati at St. Louis

7:00 p.m.      Atlanta at Florida [In select markets]

September 4  7:00 p.m.      Chicago White Sox at Boston

7:00 p.m.      Atlanta at Florida

MLB Network launched on January 1, 2009 as the largest debut in cable television history and is currently available in approximately 55 million cable, telco TV and satellite homes throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. In its inaugural year, MLB Network was honored with four Sports Emmy Awards and 12 nominations by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 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 and to find MLB Network in your area, go to www.MLBNetwork.com. www.Facebook.com/MLBNetwork www.Twitter.com/MLBNetwork

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Filed Under: MLB, MLBN
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