NHL Network, NHL.com, NHL Mobile and NHL Radio Announce All-Star Weekend Programming Plans; Former NHL Star Jeremy Roenick Joins Cast for Weekend Coverage

January 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

NHL NETWORK, NHL.COM, NHL MOBILE AND NHL RADIO ANNOUNCE ALL-STAR WEEKEND BROADCAST PLANS
Former NHL Star Jeremy Roenick Joins Cast for Weekend Coverage

NEW YORK (January 26, 2011) – New and exciting are the themes for the upcoming NHL® All-Star Weekend and NHL Network™, NHL.com, NHL Radio™ and NHL Mobile™ will have all angles covered with a full slate of live programming and fan initiatives.  First-time players, special on-air guests and renewed competitiveness resulting from a new draft format that can cast regular season teammates as All-Star foes make this All-Star weekend a can’t-miss event on the NHL calendar and the League’s media platforms.

After battling through a thrilling, six-game Stanley Cup® Final series last June, it is possible through the new draft format that Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers players might find themselves as All-Star teammates.  NHL Network has that possibility covered in the person of former Blackhawks and Flyers player Jeremy Roenick. “JR” joins the NHL Network on-air team throughout the weekend — including challenging colleague Kevin Weekes to take it to the ice for a little one-on-one competition.

Below are programming notes for NHL media platforms at the 2011 NHL All-Star weekend:

NHL Network

NHL Network drops the puck on its All-Star coverage with the NHL Network 2011 All-Star Mock Draft on Thursday, Jan. 27, at 8:00 p.m.  Draft architect Brendan Shanahan will take viewers through the selection process and both All-Star team captains — Carolina Hurricanes C Eric Staal and Detroit Red Wings D Nicklas Lidstrom — will offer some last-minute insight and tips.  NHL On the Fly™ host Brian Duff might need to play the role of mediator as former NHLers and OTF regulars Kevin Weekes and Mike Johnson go head-to-head to make their fantasy player selections. Who will be the last man left standing?

NHL Network’s studio set and panel will make their on-site debut in Raleigh on Friday, Jan, 28, with pre- and post-game coverage live from the NHL Fan Fair™ — a 150,000 square foot hockey party that will occupy the Raleigh Convention Center.  The official NHL Network at the 2011 NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft™ show will get underway at 6:00 p.m. with a behind-the-scenes look at the host city, the history of hockey in Carolina and Draft pick tactics. Weekes and Roenick will have an opportunity to talk strategy with Captains Staal and Lidstrom before they put on their GM hats ahead of the first pick for the NHL All-Star Draft powered by Cisco.

With the pool of available All-Stars assembled, NHL Network cameras will enter the green room, where Deb Placey and Heidi Androl will speak with players and their families before the Draft begins.

The 2011 NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft Recap show begins immediately following the draft with exclusive interviews with the first and last picks.  Alternate captains from Team Staal and Team Lidstrom will join the panel to discuss their selection approaches and why they think their team will have the definitive advantage over the other going into Sunday’s big game.

Saturday’s three hour pre-NHL SuperSkills® coverage starts at 4:00 p.m. with the 2011 NHL All-Star Red Carpet Show.  Players, coaches, NHL alumni and entertainers will mingle with fans and broadcast personalities to showcase their personal off-ice fashions on the red carpet.  In the second half of the show, NHL Network cameras will bring fans into the locker rooms for the coaches’ pre-NHL SuperSkills address and check out all the action from the NHL’s Fan Fair.  NHL Network also will cover Commissioner Gary Bettman’s State of the League news conference at 6:00 p.m.

The 2011 Honda NHL SuperSkills Recap begins at 9:00 p.m. with a review of winners, player reaction and surprising outcomes. Will the rookies dominate the night or will the All-Stars exploit their experience, particularly in an event like the Blackberry NHL Breakaway Challenge where creativity is as important as skill?

When the big game arrives on Sunday, January 30, NHL Network will be front and center with the 2011 NHL All-Star Pre-Show show beginning at 2:00 p.m. from its set overlooking the RBC Center ice surface.  The NHL On The Fly team will take an in-depth look at the some of the most memorable moments from past All-Star competitions, milestones and some of the best players ever to play the game.

The League’s mid-season spectacular concludes with the 58th NHL All-Star Game presented by Discover.  Live television coverage will be provided by VERSUS in the U.S. and CBC and RDS in Canada, beginning at 4:00 p.m.  The 2011 NHL All-Star post-game show on NHL Network gets underway at 7:00 p.m. with news, analysis and game highlights.  Finally, after a weekend of milestones and memories, the Network team will look ahead to when Ottawa hosts the All-Star celebrations in 2012.

NHL.com

NHL.com will provide extensive coverage from Raleigh with daily reporting by top writers and exclusive, behind-the-scenes features and video.  The 2011 NHL All-Star microsite, www.nhl.com/allstar is already in full All-Star weekend mode and is loaded with in-depth stories, mock drafts, video highlights and historical notes from past All-Star games.  NHL.com’s comprehensive All-Star Draft coverage will include a live blog for U.S. fans and live streaming for Canadian fans and international audiences.  The website will also cover the NHL Fan Fair, The Guardian Project™ and entertainment acts set to perform during All-Star weekend.

The Blackberry All Access Show — a daily video newscast to which fans have become accustomed during the regular season — will have special programming throughout All-Star weekend.  The show will feature All-Star moments, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes videos and a preview of game day coverage.

NHL Radio

NHL Radio will have a special broadcast of the NHL All-Star Game presented by Discover with Doug Brown fulfilling host duties and John Forslund handling the play-by-play.  A special guest analyst – Stanley Cup winner and former Carolina Hurricanes player Aaron Ward – will join the broadcast with EJ Hradek reporting from ice-level.

The team will call the play -by -play of the game, feature live intermission shows and post game analysis.  The NHL All-Star Game presented by Discover can be heard on Sirius XM Satellite Radio (XM Channel 204 and Sirius 208 in the US), NHL.com and radio stations around the U.S. and Canada (check your local listing).

NHL Mobile & Social Media

NHL on Foursquare — the NHL’s mobile application that makes cities easier to and more interesting to explore — will be giving All-Star “tips” throughout the weekend, driving fans to check-in at the various events like NHL Fan Fair.

NHL on Twitter will be running a Watch-and-Win contest during NHL All-Star weekend.  Throughout the weekend, the contest will encourage fans to follow @NHL#NHLAllStar for their chance to win prizes.  Fans following @NHL will be asked to answer questions related to the broadcast and correct answers will have an opportunity to win a prize including a Bauer hockey stick for each of the six Honda NHL SuperSkills®.

During Sunday’s broadcast of the NHL All-Star Game presented by Discover, the NHL will also be giving away an opportunity to win two prizes each period and a grand prize — an autographed Sidney Crosby jersey.

NHL Mobile will also have several fan initiatives running throughout the weekend.  On Saturday during the BlackBerry NHL BreakAway Challenge™ event at the Honda NHL SuperSkills®, fans will be able to vote for their favorite NHL BreakAway Challenge player.  Immediately following the sixth skater in the Discover NHL Elimination Shootout™, the voting window will open up to fans.  SMS voting will consist of numbers 1-6 (i.e. Text “1″ to vote for Stamkos, Text “2″ for Ovechkin, etc.).  Fans will be able to vote for their favorite player by texting in the number that corresponds to the player of their choice to 81812.  Voting is open to residents in the United States and Canada.*

On Sunday, fans will also have the opportunity to vote for the All-Star Game MVP in the 2011 Honda NHL All-Star MVP Award™ Text-to-Vote Promotion. Voting opens at the beginning of the second period and runs through the end of the game.  To vote, fans text the players last name to 81812.  Voting is open to residents of the United States and Canada.*

NHL GameCenter™ has a complete roster of mobile and tablet applications that will provide fans yet another way to connect to the 2011 NHL All-Star weekend.

Mobile applications on Andriod, Blackberry, Nokia and iPhone will provide users with all their NHL All-Star weekend needs including All-Star video highlights, team rosters, news and notes, photo galleries, wallpaper options and a detailed fan guide for spectators and fans in Raleigh.  In addition to the above functions, iPad tablet users can also experience an online shopping feature that allows them to purchase 2011 NHL All-Star Game merchandise at shop.nhl.com.

NHL Network All-Star Special Programming Schedule
Thursday, Jan. 27        NHL Network 2011 All-Star Mock Draft        8pm-9pm
2009 NHL All-Star Game from Montreal, Quebec        10pm-12am
Friday, Jan. 28        Bienvenue a Montreal – 2009 NHL All-Access        12am-1am
NHL Network at the 2011 All-Star Player Fantasy Draft        6pm-8pm
2011 NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft Recap        9pm-11pm
Saturday, Jan. 29        2011 NHL All-Star Red Carpet Show        4pm-6pm
NHL Commissioner’s News Conference        6pm-7pm
2011 Honda NHL Superskills Recap        9pm-10pm
Sunday, Jan. 30        2011 NHL All-Star Pre-Game        2pm-4pm
2011 NHL All-Star Post-Game        7pm-8pm
* Voters in the Blackberry NHL BreakAway Challenge will receive a text message notifying them of the Blackberry NHL BreakAway Challenge winner.  Voters for the Honda NHL All-Star MVP Award will receive a text message notifying them of the Honda NHL All-Star MVP Award winner.  Message and data rates may apply.  Voters may text STOP to cancel and text HELP for information.

NHL, the NHL Shield, Stanley Cup  and NHL SuperSkills are registered trademarks and NHL Network, NHL Radio, NHL Mobile, NHL On the Fly, NHL Fan Fair, NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft, NHL BreakAway Challenge, NHL Elimination Shootout, NHL All-Star MVP Award and NHL GameCenter are trademarks of the National Hockey League.  NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams.  All Rights Reserved.  THE GUARDIAN PROJECT and GP Logo are trademarks of Guardian Media Entertainment, LLC.

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Filed Under: NHL, NHL Network

Notes from TNT’s Exclusive Announcement of the 2011 NBA All-Star Starters

January 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Notes from TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com – January 27, 2011

The 2011 NBA All-Star Starters were announced exclusively on TNT

Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith live from Madison Square Garden in New York

Matt Winer, Kevin McHale and Chris Webber from Studio J in Atlanta

NBA All-Star Eastern Conference Starters

Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

LeBron James, Miami Heat

Amar’e Stoudemire, New York Knicks

Barkley on Bulls guard Derrick Rose: “The best point guard in the NBA and the MVP favorite right now.”

Barkley on whether the fans selected the right five NBA All-Star Eastern Conference starters: “They got it 100% right. Derrick Rose has been the MVP for the first half of the season, and Amar’e Stoudemire is in the conversation. The fans got it right. You know I hate the fans voting, but they got it right.”

Smith on the Eastern Conference starters: “I would agree. The five guys you have here have played the best consistently. Not only played the best, but they have dominated in so many different areas. He says Derrick Rose is the leading candidate (for MVP), but I would say you can make a mark for any of those five guys that they are the leading vote getters in the conference for MVP.”

Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire on being selected an Eastern Conference All-Star starter: “It’s a great accomplishment and I think the most important fact is that the fans really appreciate it more so than anyone because they see the success that we’re having, they see the team’s success. The most important factor of being announced an All-Star starter is that it wouldn’t be possible if you’re team is not successful. If you’re team is not successful then it wouldn’t happen, so it’s also a team award.”

Smith on the revival that the New York Knicks have had on the fans who attend the games: “You go from umpteen years of not making the playoffs and this building (Madison Square Garden) being a full house that felt deserted. It would sell out, people would be excited until about the second quarter. Then it’s a fashion show, it’s a music concert, whatever else is going on in here. Right now, the concentration is on the basketball court. These 94 feet now have the attention of the 20,000 that come every night.”

NBA All-Star Western Conference Starters

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

Yao Ming, Houston Rockets

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets

Barkley on Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony not deserving to be an All-Star starter: “The best offensive player in the NBA is Carmelo Anthony. I’ve got to tell you something, Carmelo Anthony is a better player than some of those guys (in the West), but I don’t think he deserves to start in the All-Star Game. Kevin Love or Blake Griffin deserve to start. If both of those guys don’t make the All-Star team, that’s a travesty. Carmelo Anthony is a better player, but I think on the court performance this year…Kevin Love deserves it.”

Projected Western Conference Reserves

Matt Winer:

Manu Ginobili

Deron Williams

Russell Westbrook

Blake Griffin

Dirk Nowitzki

Pau Gasol

Tim Duncan

Lamar Odom

Kevin McHale:

Manu Ginobili

Deron Williams

Russell Westbrook

Blake Griffin

Dirk Nowitzki

Pau Gasol

Tim Duncan

Kevin Love

Chris Webber:

Manu Ginobili

Deron Williams

Russell Westbrook

Blake Griffin

Dirk Nowitzki

Pau Gasol

Kevin Love

Tony Parker

Ernie Johnson:

Manu Ginobili

Deron Williams

Blake Griffin

Dirk Nowitzki

Tim Duncan

Russell Westbrook

Pau Gasol

Kevin Love

Kenny Smith:

Manu Ginobili

Deron Williams

Blake Griffin

Dirk Nowitzki

Tim Duncan

Russell Westbrook

Pau Gasol

Tony Parker

Charles Barkley:

Manu Ginobili

Deron Williams

Blake Griffin

Dirk Nowitzki

LeMarcus Aldridge

Monte Ellis

Tony Parker

Kevin Love

Projected Eastern Conference Reserves

Matt Winer:

Rajon Rondo

Paul Pierce

Al Horford

Kevin Garnett

Ray Allen

Joe Johnson

“Joakim Boozer”

Kevin McHale:

Rajon Rondo

Paul Pierce

Al Horford

Kevin Garnett

Ray Allen

Joe Johnson

Chris Bosh

Chris Webber:

Rajon Rondo

Paul Pierce

Al Horford

Raymond Felton

Chris Bosh

Ernie Johnson:

Ray Allen

Rajon Rondo

Paul Pierce

Kevin Garnett

Al Horford

Chris Bosh

Raymond Felton

Kenny Smith:

Ray Allen

Rajon Rondo

Paul Pierce

Kevin Garnett

Al Horford

Chris Bosh

Joe Johnson

Charles Barkley:

Ray Allen

Rajon Rondo

Paul Pierce

Kevin Garnett

Al Horford

Raymond Felton

Joe Johnson

Webber on only selecting five Eastern Conference reserves: “I usually love a good argument with my guys Chuck, Kenny and EJ, but I don’t even want to argue. This is mine, you can take it.”

Barkley on the NBA All-Star starters being a popularity contest: “It is a popularity contest and that sucks. Last year it was Aaron Brooks who had a fabulous season. It was his one time to make the All-Star team, he’s not going to have many seasons like that. This isn’t a lifetime achievement award. The award should go to guys who are having the best first half of the season.”

Smith on players who impact games beyond their statistics: “A guy like Tim Duncan, the reason that some of these guys are able to play well on this team is because he’s there. I’ve been here 15 years. Whenever the stat sheet comes by I very rarely look at it because it doesn’t always say what’s going on in the game.”

Smith on the argument between adding Knicks guard Raymond Felton or Hawks guard Joe Johnson to the Eastern Conference reserves: “I think Raymond Felton probably has a better case than Joe Johnson, but Joe Johnson has been what he’s been. Raymond Felton probably has a better case to say, ‘I’m doing something I’ve never done before.’ But Joe Johnson is a tough cover. If you try to guard Joe Johnson you’re going to have a nightmare if you don’t get up on him and do the right thing.”

Barkley on agreeing with Webber on the East not having very many worthy All-Star reserves: “I 100% agree with you, C-Webb. I just put a couple of Celtics on (my list) because they had a better record.”

Barkley on why Bulls center-forward Kurt Thomas deserves an honorable mention: “Kurt Thomas of the Chicago Bulls (should get) an honorable mention. I don’t know Kurt Thomas well. At the Thomas house, Mrs. Thomas has a lot Ben-Gay around there. Kurt Thomas had no idea he was going to be playing that many minutes this season at his age.”

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Filed Under: NBA, TNT

ESPN to Debut New Monday and Wednesday Night Baseball Commentator Teams

January 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

ESPN to Debut New Monday and Wednesday Night Baseball Commentator Teams

ESPN continues to revamp its signature Major League Baseball franchises with the introduction of new Monday and Wednesday Night Baseball commentator teams in 2011.  Sean McDonough will return to MLB in a season-long role as the play-by-play voice of Monday Night Baseball, joined by analysts Aaron Boone and Rick Sutcliffe.  Play-by-play commentator Dave O’Brien and analyst Nomar Garciaparra will form the new Wednesday Night Baseball team. In addition to their game responsibilities, Boone, Sutcliffe and Garciaparra will contribute to Baseball Tonight throughout the season.

McDonough has contributed to ESPN’s Spring Training and Opening Day telecasts, along with the College World Series, since 2000.  He called MLB games for the network, primarily Wednesday Night Baseball, from 1990-95.  McDonough will continue to provide commentary for ESPN college basketball and football telecasts, the College World Series and select golf events.

Last season, ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball commentator team included Dan Shulman and analysts Boone and Chris Singleton.  Shulman will be calling Sunday Night Baseball telecasts this season with analysts Orel Hershiser and Bobby Valentine.  Singleton will be paired with play-by-play commentator Jon Sciambi on ESPN Radio’s Sunday Night Baseball broadcasts. O’Brien and Sutcliffe mainly called Wednesday Night Baseball games in 2010, with Garciaparra joining them for select telecasts.

Sean McDonough

In addition to his ESPN responsibilities, McDonough has previously been the main play-by-play commentator for CBS’ MLB coverage (1992-93), calling regular-season games, the All-Star Game, NLCS and World Series.  With CBS, at age 30, McDonough became the youngest announcer to broadcast all nine innings of the World Series (since surpassed by Joe Buck at age 27).  McDonough was the television voice of the Boston Red Sox for 17 seasons (1988-2004).

Rick Sutcliffe

In addition to Monday Night Baseball, Sutcliffe will contribute to Baseball Tonight this season.  Sutcliffe, a former Cy Young Award winner, joined ESPN in 1998 and has most recently been paired with O’Brien on Wednesday Night Baseball (2008-10) and Monday Night Baseball (2002-07). Sutcliffe served as an ESPN Radio analyst from 1999-2001.  He has also provided analysis for MLB’s international coverage of the All-Star Game and World Series for several years.

Aaron Boone

Boone joined ESPN in 2010 following a 12-year Major League Baseball career. He will return for his second full season in the Monday Night Baseball booth, while also contributing to Baseball Tonight throughout the season.  Boone worked for ESPN Radio as a guest analyst during the 2009 National League Division Series.

Dave O’Brien

O’Brien joined ESPN in 2002 and has served as the play-by-play voice of Monday Night Baseball (2002-07) and Wednesday Night Baseball (since 2008). O’Brien called ESPN-produced Division Series games airing on ABC Family in 2002.  He had the call for both of Barry Bonds’ historic home runs – Nos. 755 and 756 – in 2007 on ESPN.  He has also provided commentary for MLB’s international coverage of the World Series.

Nomar Garciaparra

In addition to being a Wednesday Night Baseball analyst, Garciaparra will continue to contribute to Baseball Tonight. Garciaparra, a six-time MLB All-Star, joined ESPN in 2010.  He primarily contributed to Baseball Tonight and select Wednesday Night Baseball telecasts last season.

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Filed Under: ESPN, MLB

Enhanced ESPNU National Football Signing Day Coverage

January 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Enhanced ESPNU National Football Signing Day Coverage

ESPNU will air a record 10 hours of programming and headline ESPN’s multiplatform coverage of National Signing Day with a two-set live ESPNU National Signing Day Special, Wednesday, Feb. 2. The sixth annual program will originate from ESPNU’s studios in Charlotte, N.C., and air from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. It will be simulcast in its entirety on ESPN3.com.

The ESPNU National Signing Day Special, hosted by Rece Davis and Lowell Galindo, will feature comprehensive analysis from an assembled team of experienced and knowledgeable recruiting analysts. Former University of Miami head coach Randy Shannon will join Tom Luginbill, ESPN national recruiting director; Bruce Feldman, ESPN The Magazine senior writer; Robert Smith, ESPN college football analyst; and Craig Haubert, Corey Long and Jamie Newberg, ESPN recruiting analysts. ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit will join the panel throughout the day to provide his overall breakdown of National Signing Day.

SportsCenter and ESPNEWS will provide live look-ins and updates on high-ranking commits throughout the day.

Top Players
Several players ranked by ESPNU 150, a nationwide ranking of top prep football prospects compiled by ESPN Scouts, Inc., are expected to announce their college decision live during the show, including #3 Cyrus Kouandjio (OT, DeMatha Catholic HS/Hyattsville, Md.);  #4 Isaiah Crowell (RB, Carver HS/Columbus, Ga.); #9 Tony Steward (ILB, Pedro Menendez HS/St. Augustine, Fla.); #17 Tim Jernigan (DT, Columbia HS/Lake City, Fla.); #26 Gabe Wright (DT, Carver, HS/Columbus, Ga.); #46 Curtis Grant (ILB, Hermitage HS/Richmond, Va.) and #52 Enrique Florence (S, Valley, HS/Valley, Ala.). Additional player announcements on ESPNU may be added. Also scheduled to appear is the #1 ranked ESPNU 150 player Jadeveon Clowney (DE, South Point HS/Rock Hill, S.C.), who remains undecided.

On Campus
ESPN reporters will be on campuses around the nation providing news updates throughout the day and interviews with coaches, including Wendi Nix at Alabama; Jenn Brown at Auburn; Holly Rowe at Florida; Shelley Smith at Florida State; Quint Kessenich at Michigan and Pat Forde at Texas. Interviews with as many as 20 BCS Conference coaches will be part of the telecast, including Bobby Petrino (Arkansas); Mark Richt (Georgia); Dan Mullen (Mississippi State); Butch Davis (North Carolina); Brian Kelly (Notre Dame); Todd Graham (Pittsburgh); Doug Marrone (Syracuse); Gary Patterson (TCU); and Mike London (Virginia).

ESPN The Magazine
New to this year’s telecast, in conjunction with ESPN The Magazine, the ESPNU National Signing Day Special will chronicle the No. 1 rated recruits over the last 25 years. The features will delve into how the recruiting process affected each of the top prosepcts, including Ricky Watters (Notre Dame, 1987); Hines Ward (Georgia, 1994); Vince Young (Texas, 2002); and Da’Quan Bowers (Clemson, 2008).

ESPN The Magazine also surveyed 50 of the elite 2011 recruits from across the country. Recruiting Confidential will report the findings of the survey questions that range from “Who had the biggest impact on your decision” to “What you thought of the recruiting process” and “would you rather win a BCS National Championship or the Heisman Trophy.”

E:60
E:60 will also contribute a feature on the Coppola brothers. Tyler Coppola, a first team all-state selection at running back and captain of the St. John’s Prep (Mass.) squad that made it to the Division I State Superbowl. Every time Tyler stepped onto the football field he was not playing for himself, but for two former teammates that once shared the backfield with him – his brothers Brandon and Jared. The Coppola brothers, who are triplets, always shared an intense love of football, always playing on the same team until Brandon and Jared suffered spinal cord injuries within a year of each other. Now Tyler plays for all of them.

ESPN Digital Media
In preparation for National Signing Day, ESPN.com will feature the Signing Day Preview File, a one-stop shop with everything fans need to know heading into the day. Preview coverage will also include a “where are they now” look at the ESPNU 150 Class of 2007 with re-rankings and re-evaluations of players and teams based on performances to date, as well as a look at top prospects and predictions for teams in non-automatic qualifying BCS Conferences.

On Signing Day, ESPN.com will stream video from the ESPNU National Signing Day Special and will feature the “RecruitTracker” tool, an information clearinghouse for ESPN Recruiting coverage that will update signings as they happen, allowing fans to track where the ESPN 150 recruits are headed and how their favorite teams are doing. On The Trail will feature instant news and commentary on the day’s signings, while the ESPN.com college football blog network will provide up-to-the-minute updates from around the country.

For fans on the go, ESPN’s Live Now, an opt-in alerts service, will provide the latest Signing Day news and player commitment updates directly to mobile devices. Coverage will include player-by-player commitment alerts among the ESPNU 150 and information about the top teams and conferences.

ESPN.com will continue its coverage after National Signing Day concludes with major post-recruiting features. This includes naming the ESPN National Recruiter of the Year and presenting honors to other top recruiters in each of the major football conferences.

In addition, ESPNU will provide live updates and interaction with fans on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ESPNU) and Twitter (www.Twitter.com/ESPNU) throughout the day.

ESPN RISE
ESPN RISE, ESPN’s high school sports initiative, will provide comprehensive coverage leading up to and on National Signing Day. ESPNRISE.com will be the source for multi-media storytelling, including video diaries from select recruits, advice to incoming players, statistics and more. Highlights:

  • Video diaries that followed Under Armour All-American Kevin McReynolds and Elite 11 quarterback Adam Pittser during their senior season and through the recruiting process;
  • A list of NFL stars participating in this year’s Super Bowl, who did not receive an offer on National Signing Day like Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers;
  • A feature on the expectations of Division I quarterbacks from the view of a true freshman starter, a redshirt and medical redshirt player, all who offer tips on how to survive;
  • A recruiting resource for high school athletes, including advice from head coaches Mack Brown (Texas), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) and Chip Kelly (Oregon).

ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio will provide listeners the latest news throughout National Signing Day during its SportsCenter updates every 20 minutes, and with commentary on the biggest signings during regularly scheduled studio programming.

30 for 30
Preceding the 10-hour National Signing Day coverage will be the airing of The Best That Never Was, a two-hour film from ESPN’s critically acclaimed 30 for 30 series, at 7 a.m. on ESPNU. In 1981, college athletic recruiting changed forever as a dozen big-time football programs sat waiting for the decision by a physically powerful and lightning-quick high school running back named Marcus Dupree. On his way to eclipsing Herschel Walker’s record for the most touchdowns in high school history, Dupree attracted recruiters from schools in every major conference to his hometown of Philadelphia, Miss. More than a decade removed from being a flashpoint in the civil-rights struggle, Philadelphia was thrust back into the national spotlight. Dupree took the attention in stride, and committed to Oklahoma. Eight-time Emmy Award winner Jonathan Hock examined why this star burned out so young and how he ultimately used football to redeem himself.

The coverage of ESPNU’s National Signing Day Special will reair in its entirety on Wednesday, Feb. 2, into Thursday, Feb. 3, beginning at 11 p.m.

ESPNU
The 24-hour college sports television network televises more than 650 live events annually and offers over 400 original studio shows. ESPNU has seen a steady increase since its inception on March 4, 2005 and is now in approximately 73 million households. The brand is also available in high definition on ESPNUHD, now in over 17 million homes.

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Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Football

World Championship Boxing returns Saturday Night on HBO

January 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

HBO SPORTS® PRESENTS A JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT TITLE SHOWDOWN WHEN

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®:  DEVON ALEXANDER VS. TIMOTHY BRADLEY

IS SEEN LIVE SATURDAY, JAN. 29 ON HBO

HBO Sports kicks off the 2011 boxing season with a highly anticipated junior welterweight title slugfest when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: DEVON ALEXANDER VS. TIMOTHY BRADLEY is presented live SATURDAY, JAN. 29 (10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT) from the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich., exclusively on HBO. The WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING team of Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and Emanuel Steward will be ringside for all the action, presented in HDTV and in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates:  Jan. 30 (10:45 a.m.) and 31 (11:45 p.m.)

HBO2 playdate:  Jan. 30 (5:15 p.m.)

Unbeaten junior welterweight stars Devon Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs), of St. Louis and Timothy Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs), from Palm Springs, Cal., both of whom turned pro in 2004, will bring a combined 47 wins and no losses into the ring when they face off in this high-stakes, 12-round title showdown.

“We believe Alexander vs. Bradley is a spectacular way to launch a new season of boxing on HBO,” says Kery Davis, senior vice president of programming, HBO Sports.  “Fight fans have the date circled on their calendars and sports fans everywhere should do the same.”

Already recognized as one of boxing’s elite 140-pounders, titleholder Devon Alexander’s unparalleled aggressiveness can leave opponents reeling.  Although he’s coming off a unanimous decision victory over Ukrainian powerhouse Andriy Kotelnik on HBO last August, many observers felt the fight was much closer than it was scored.  Alexander, 23, will be fired up to face a true rival and prove he’s the best in the division.

Timothy Bradley, who also owns a junior welterweight crown, will look to use his extraordinarily quick feet and countless punch combinations to tire out the big southpaw.  The 27-year-old Bradley’s world-renowned strength should help counter Alexander’s slight height advantage, but it remains to be seen if Bradley can guard against his foe’s famous left hook, which has put a host of quality fighters on the canvas.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV.  HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Dave Harmon; director, Marc Payton.

® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

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Filed Under: Boxing, HBO

NFL All-Stars Meet in Pro Bowl from Hawaii Sunday Night on FOX

January 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment


FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

NFL All-Stars Meet in Pro Bowl from Hawaii Sunday Night on FOX

Featuring Helmet-Cam and More Miked Players Than Any Other NFL Broadcast

NFL PRO BOWL ON FOX – The NFL’s best enjoyed kicking-off Super Bowl week so much last year, they’re doing it again this year. With one week until the Steelers and Packers clash for the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XLV, FOX Sports presents the 2011 Pro Bowl LIVE from Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on Sunday, Jan. 30 (7:00 PM ET).  Hall of Famer and three-time Pro Bowler Terry Bradshaw alongside FOX NFL SUNDAY co-host Curt Menefee handle all pre and postgame activities. Once they set the stage for the NFL’s All-Star event, Bradshaw joins play-by-play announcer Thom Brennaman and analyst Brian Billick in the broadcast booth. On-field analyst Tony Siragusa and NFL Insider Jay Glazer prowl the sidelines providing all the insight to the NFL All-Stars.

FOX Sports brings back an fan favorite with several players agreeing to wear ‘helmet-cam.’ The tiny HD camera gives viewers a first-hand perspective on avoiding the rush or scoring a touchdown. In addition, FOX Sports plans to mike at least 10 players and coaches, more than any other NFL broadcast before.

SUNDAY JAN. 30, 2011

GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST/SIDELINE TIME

AFC vs. NFC                                                                                        Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick,                                    7:00PM

Terry Bradshaw, Tony Siragusa

& Jay Glazer

Aloha Stadium – Honolulu, HI

SUPER BOWL XLV ON FOX PREGAME PREVIEW PRESS CALL – FOX Sports will conduct a media conference call to preview Super Bowl XLV between the Green Bay Packers vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers tomorrow, January 27 at 1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT.  FOX NFL SUNDAY co-hosts Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee are joined by analysts Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson, Michael Strahan and FOX NFL SUNDAY producer Scott Ackerson along with FOX Sports Media Group CEO David Hill.

The telephone number to access the call is 913-312-6680

SUPER BOWL-BOUND JENNINGS & WOODSON DROP IN ON GLAZER’S AFTERPARTY – Excerpts below provided by a special edition of FOXSports.com’s “The After Party with Jay Glazer” following the Green Bay Packers victory over the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship game.  To view the complete episode click here: http://msn.foxsports.com/video/shows/afterparty

Packers WR Greg Jennings on going to the Super Bowl – “It’s bigger than the Green Bay Packers, the tradition that’s behind it, the legacy that has been laid down and now we’re trying to lay our own legacy down.  To be able to do it with this group of guys, overcome the adversity that we were able to overcome this year is special. We have one more game and that’s the biggest game of them all. We’re just trying to get it done.”

Packers CB Charles Woodson on Julius Peppers’ hit on QB Aaron Rodgers – “I’m surprised he got the helmet to helmet. He’s taken a few of those over the course of the season and doesn’t get the call. He is a tough guy man, and he wants it just as bad as anybody else. So we knew he wasn’t going anywhere.”

FUEL TV HIGHLIGHTS RISING SURF STAR CLAY MARZO – Rising surf star Clay Marzo (Maui, Hawaii) surfs waves around the world in the acclaimed surf documentary “Just Add Water” airing on FUEL TV on Saturday, Jan. 29 (9:00 PM ET/PT). The documentary showcases an awareness-raising glimpse into his life and mind as he comes to understand the gifts and challenges of living with Asperger’s syndrome.

– FOX SPORTS –

Filed Under: FOX, NFL

NBA Sunday Showcase on ABC Tips Off with Marquee Doubleheader

January 27, 2011 By 1 Comment

NBA Sunday Showcase on ABC Tips Off with Marquee Doubleheader

Regular Sunday Broadcasts on ABC – Home of The Finals – Remainder of Season

ESPN’s comprehensive coverage of the 2010-11 NBA season continues this weekend with an NBA Sunday doubleheader (Jan. 30) on ABC, the first of regular Sunday afternoon broadcasts airing on the network over the remainder of the regular season.  Sunday’s marquee doubleheader will be highlighted by the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant hosting the Boston Celtics, currently with the best record in the Eastern Conference, at 3:30 p.m. ET.  Mike Breen will call the game with analysts Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy and reporter Lisa Salters.

Preceding Lakers/Celtics, the Miami Heat, with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, will visit the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kevin Durant at 1 p.m.  Mike Tirico will provide commentary for Heat/Thunder with analyst Hubie Brown and reporter Heather Cox.  The Buick Regal NBA Countdown pregame show, with host Hannah Storm and analysts Jon Barry and Michael Wilbon, will preview the doubleheader at 12:30 p.m.

Both games will also be available on ESPN Radio, with Jim Durham and Hall of Famer Dr. Jack Ramsay calling the Lakers/Celtics game (coverage beginning at 12:15 p.m.) and Marc Kestecher and analyst Will Perdue providing commentary for Heat/Thunder.  Additionally, ESPN will televise a Sunday evening contest – the Utah Jazz and Deron Williams visiting the Golden State Warriors and Monta Ellis – at 10 p.m.  ESPN’s telecast will also be available via ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV.

ABC’s upcoming NBA game schedule:

Date Time (ET) Teams
Sun., Jan. 30 1 p.m. Miami at Oklahoma City
3:30 p.m. Boston at L.A. Lakers
Sun., Feb. 6 2:30 p.m. Orlando at Boston
Sun., Feb. 13 1 p.m. Miami at Boston
3:30 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Orlando

ABC Viewership Up 54 Percent; ESPN Up 24 Percent; Growth Across Digital Media & Mobile Platforms

ABC’s two NBA broadcasts this season (both on Christmas Day) generated an average of 10,883,000 viewers, an increase of 54 percent over last year’s broadcasts (7,078,000 viewers).  The corresponding 5.5 rating improved by 45 percent (3.8 rating) and the 6,353,000 household impressions were up 44 percent (4,403,000 impressions).

Through 39 telecasts, ESPN has seen a 24 percent increase in average viewers (2,068,000 vs. 1,668,000), and household impressions (1,570,000 vs. 1,268,000) and 23 percent in average rating (1.6 vs. 1.3) when compared to 41 telecasts season-to-date in 2009-10. (Ratings information provided by Nielsen)

The average minutes spent on the NBA section of ESPN.com this season is up 31 percent, with unique visitors up 26 percent compared to the same time last year.  NBA content on the ESPN Mobile Web has seen average minutes spent increase 75 percent, daily unique visitors improve 74 percent and page views up 62 percent. On ESPN3.com, NBA games have generated nearly 58 million minutes consumed this season, which is up 94 percent compared to the same point last year. (Source: Adobe)

Comprehensive Digital Media Content

ESPN.com, ESPNBoston.com, ESPNLA.com and the Heat Index will offer extensive coverage surrounding this weekend’s doubleheader on ABC.

Pregame:

  • Heat Index previewing the Heat/Thunder top five things to watch;
  • Tom Haberstroh story on LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant and the contrast of the modern small forward;
  • ESPNLA.com on whether Shaquille O’Neal’s jersey should be retired as a Laker;
  • ESPNLA.com/ESPNBoston.com podcast and blog post on who would have won Game 7 if it had been played in Boston;
  • Jackie MacMullan reporting on Kendrick Perkins and whether he could have made a difference last year;
  • Chris Forsberg previewing the Celtics/Lakers matchup;
  • Celtics/Lakers video previews;
  • Phil Jackson interview (video);
  • ABC Sunday Dime.

In-game:

  • Daily Dime Live – live chat with ESPN and TrueHoop Network reporters, analysts, commentators and bloggers;
  • ESPNRadio.com live stream (Heat/Thunder and Celtics/Lakers).

Post-game:

  • Daily Dime (complete coverage of Sunday’s games);
  • Heat Index reaction – player grades for the Heat/Thunder matchup;
  • Game column by the Heat Index’s Brian Windhorst;
  • Analysis by the Heat Index’s Haberstroh;
  • Game column by ESPNBoston.com’s Chris Forsberg;
  • ESPNBoston.com game notes;
  • Game column by ESPNLA.com’s Dave McMenamin;
  • General column by ESPNLA.com’s Ramona Shelburne;
  • ESPNLA.com’s Andy and Brian Kamenetzky – “At the Buzzer,” “Lakers Late Night,” and postgame video.

-30-

Filed Under: ABC, ESPN, NBA

Carolina Hurricanes Owner Peter Karmanos Jr. is Todays’s Guest on “NHL Hour with Commissioner Gary Bettman”

January 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

NEW YORK (January 26, 2011) – Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr. will be today’s guest on NHL Hour With Commissioner Gary Bettman on NHL.com and SIRIUS XM Radio at 6 p.m. ET.

The Hurricanes and RBC Center are set to host their first NHL All-Star Game this weekend.  The excitement begins on Friday, Jan. 28 with the first-ever All-Star player draft — the NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft powered by Cisco will be televised nationwide on VERSUS in the United States and TSN and RDS in Canada beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The Honda NHL SuperSkills® will take place at RBC Center on Saturday followed by the League’s mid-season spectacular, the 58th NHL All-Star Game presented by Discover on Sunday, Jan. 30.

The Hurricanes will have four players represented in the Honda NHL SuperSkills competition and the NHL All-Star Game presented by Discover. Team captain Eric Staal, goaltender Cam Ward and first-year sensation Jeff Skinner will participate in the game while rookie defenseman Jamie McBain will join his teammates to take part in the Saturday night skills competition.

NHL Hour with Commissioner Gary Bettman broadcasts live on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET on NHL Home Ice (XM Channel 204 and on SIRIUS Channel 208 as part of the “Best of XM” programming package) and NHL.com.
The show will re-air on SIRIUS XM Radio, with archived shows available for download via podcast on NHL.com.

The show encourages fans to call in with questions for the Commissioner. To submit questions to NHL Hour call 1-877-645-6696.

NHL Hour with Commissioner Gary Bettman is a production of NHL Radio.

Filed Under: NHL, Sirius/XM

Inside the NFL on SHO – Plaxico Burress Agent Predicts He’ll Play in 2011

January 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

NEWS, NOTES AND QUOTES FROM

INSIDE THE NFL ON SHOWTIME®

Plaxico Burress Feature- Agent Drew Rosenhaus Predicts “Burress Will Be Playing in 2011”

NEW YORK (Jan. 26, 2011 – This week’s INSIDE THE NFL – Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT – features an interview with Pittsburgh’s James Farrior and Green Bay’s A.J. Hawk, plus a story on Plaxico Burress, and how his family is surviving with some help from former teammate Brandon Jacobs, while he is in jail. And a special look at former NFL player Hershel Walker turned MMA fighter.

Host James Brown anchors INSIDE THE NFL on SHOWTIME with All-Pro NFL greats Cris Collinsworth, Phil Simms and Warren Sapp serving as expert analysts.

INSIDE THE NFL is produced by CBS Sports and NFL Films with new episodes airing on SHOWTIME every Wednesday during the NFL season through February 9, 2011.  Pete Radovich serves as coordinating producer. The executive producers are Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports, and NFL Films President Steve Sabol.

Following are excerpts from the show:

Plaxico Burress feature

Agent Drew Rosenhaus: I am not a big advocate of making predictions on teams because so much can change. But I am not afraid to make the following prediction; Plaxico Burress will be playing in 2011. And he will play very well. And it will be a very happy ending to a very tough, tough story for him.

Reaction to Burress feature

Collinsworth: I do believe that he will be back. My concern would be what I saw with Mike Vick. It took Mike a year out of prison before he looked like Mike Vick again. Plaxico Burress is a guy (that) I don’t think it will take him that long. But we’ll have to see.

Simms: I don’t think he’ll come back to the Giants. One, they are loaded at the receiver position. And, I think it might be best for him to move on and connect with the coach or the receiver coach that he can have a special relationship with and further his career along.

*  *  *

Filed Under: NFL, ShowTime

Under Armour Senior Bowl on NFL Network for Fifth Consecutive Year Saturday, Jan. 29 at 4:00 PM ET — NFL NETWORK & NFL.COM PROGRAMMING NOTES (1/26 – 2/1)

January 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

NFL NETWORK & NFL.COM PROGRAMMING NOTES (1/26 – 2/1)

UNDER ARMOUR SENIOR BOWL ON NFL NETWORK FOR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR SATURDAY, JAN. 29 AT 4:00 PM ET

NFL Network All-Star Week Includes Exclusive Coverage of Pro Bowl Practices & NFL Total Access Pro Bowl Pre and Post Game Shows

Re-Live Every Super Bowl with Highlight Marathon Beginning Saturday, Jan. 29 at 10:00 AM ET

Pittsburgh LBs LaMarr Woodley and Larry Foote, New Orleans QB Drew Brees & Snoop Dogg on the Latest Edition of ‘The Rich Eisen Podcast’ on NFL.com

NFL Network is the Official Home of the Under Armour Senior Bowl for Fifth Consecutive Year: Saturday, Jan. 29 at 4:00 PM ET

NFL Network’s ‘Path to Primetime’ 2011 NFL Draft coverage continues with the Under Armour Senior Bowl. For the fifth consecutive year, NFL Network brings you exclusive coverage of the prestigious all-star game from Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, AL. On Saturday, January 29 at 4:00 PM ET, NFL Network’s voice of Thursday Night Football Bob Papa calls the game alongside Mike Mayock and Charles Davis, while Paul Burmeister and Stacey Dales contribute live reports from the sidelines. Coverage begins at 3:30 PM ET with the NFL Total Access Senior Bowl pregame show.

NFL Network’s coverage of the Senior Bowl includes daily practice shows from Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Wednesday, January 26 and Thursday, January 27. Burmeister, Mayock and Davis anchor NFL Network’s practice coverage from 11:00 AM – Noon ET (North team) and 5:00 – 6:30 PM ET (South team). A 30-minute recap show wraps up the day’s action at 8:30 PM ET.

NFL.com also features exclusive coverage during Senior Bowl week with reporters Bucky Brooks, Pat Kirwan and Steve Wyche providing analysis and interviews with players, coaches and NFL front office personnel.

Below are video links to NFL Network’s coverage of the Senior Bowl throughout the week:

- Interview with TCU quarterback Andy Dalton: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-senior-bowl/09000d5d81de649c/Senior-Bowl-Andy-Dalton-interview?module=HP_video

- Kansas City GM Scott Pioli and Atlanta GM Thomas Dimitroff interviewed on set: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-senior-bowl/09000d5d81de50e7/Pioli-and-Dimitroff-on-set-at-Senior-Bowl?module=HP_video

- Discussion of the quarterbacks for the North team: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-senior-bowl/09000d5d81de4551/Senior-Bowl-QB-Comparison?module=HP_video

- Interview with University of Washington quarterback Jake Locker: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-senior-bowl/09000d5d81dea7df/Jake-Locker-1-on-1?module=HP_video

All-Star Week Includes NFL Network’s Coverage of Pro Bowl Practices and NFL Total Access Pro Bowl Pre and Post Game Shows

NFL Network provides exclusive coverage of the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl from Honolulu, Hawaii throughout the week with AFC and NFC team practices and NFL Total Access Pro Bowl pre and post game shows.

Beginning on Wednesday, January 26 at 2:00 PM ET, watch stars such as Philip Rivers, Michael Vick, Adrian Peterson, and Ray Lewis prepare for the NFL’s annual all-star game with exclusive coverage of the AFC and NFC team practices, including wired sound and player interviews. Host Fran Charles and analysts Marshall Faulk and Jim Mora discuss all the players who will be playing in the game and provide an insight into the minds of the players and coaches participating in the Pro Bowl. Below is a schedule of NFL Network’s practice coverage:

Wednesday, January 26

- 2:00 PM ET – Pro Bowl Practice: AFC (HD) – LIVE

- 3:30 PM ET – Pro Bowl Practice: NFC (HD) – LIVE

Thursday, January 27

- 2:00 PM ET – Pro Bowl Practice: NFC (HD) – LIVE

- 3:30 PM ET – Pro Bowl Practice: AFC (HD) – LIVE

Saturday, January 29

- 1:30 PM ET – Pro Bowl Practice: AFC/NFC (HD) – LIVE

Below is a video link to Chargers QB Philip Rivers’ interview with Fran Charles, Marshall Faulk and Jim  Mora: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-player-interviews/09000d5d81deeeae/Pro-Bowl-Philip-Rivers-on-set?module=HP_video

On Sunday, January 30 at 4:00 PM ET, NFL Network previews the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl with a special, three-hour edition of NFL Total Access. Host Randy Moss joins analysts Matt Millen and Tom Waddle to preview the game and get you caught up on all you need to know. Following the game, Moss, Millen and Waddle recap the action with the NFL Total Access Pro Bowl post game show at 10:30 PM ET.

For complete coverage of the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl, please visit http://www.nfl.com/probowl.

Super Bowl Highlight Reel Marathon Beginning Saturday, Jan. 29 at 10:00 AM ET

Kick off Super Bowl week with a marathon of highlights from every Super Bowl beginning on Saturday, January 29 at 10:00 AM ET. Before the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers face off in Super Bowl XLV, re-live every Super Bowl with a 30-minute recap of the game. Below is a full schedule:

Saturday, January 29

10:00 AM – Super Bowl I: Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

10:30 AM – Super Bowl II: Green Bay Packers vs. Oakland Raiders

11:00 AM – Super Bowl III: New York Jets vs. Baltimore Colts

11:30 AM – Super Bowl IV: Kansas City vs. Minnesota Vikings

8:00 PM – Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts vs. Dallas Cowboys

8:30 PM – Super Bowl VI: Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins

9:00 PM – Super Bowl VII: Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins

9:30 PM – Super Bowl VIII: Miami Dolphins vs. Minnesota Vikings

10:00 PM – Super Bowl IX: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings

10:30 PM – Super Bowl X: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys

11:00 PM – Super Bowl XI: Oakland Raiders vs. Minnesota Vikings

11:30 PM – Super Bowl XII: Dallas Cowboys vs. Denver Broncos

12 MIDNIGHT– Super Bowl XIII: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys

12:30 AM – Super Bowl XIV: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Los Angeles Rams

1:00 AM – Super Bowl XV: Oakland Raiders vs. Philadelphia Eagles

1:30 AM – Super Bowl XVI: San Francisco vs. Cincinnati Bengals

2:00 AM – Super Bowl XVII: Washington Redskins vs. Miami Dolphins

2:30 AM – Super Bowl XVIII: Los Angeles Raiders vs. Washington Redskins

3:00 AM – Super Bowl XIX: San Francisco 49ers vs. Miami Dolphins

3:30 AM – Super Bowl XX: Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots

4:00 AM – Super Bowl XXI: New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos

4:30 AM – Super Bowl XXII: Washington Redskins vs. Denver Broncos

5:00 AM – Super Bowl XXIII: San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

5:30 AM – Super Bowl XXIV: San Francisco 49ers vs. Denver Broncos

Sunday, January 30

6:00 AM – Super Bowl XXV: New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills

6:30 AM – Super Bowl XXVI: Washington Redskins vs. Buffalo Bills

7:00 AM – Super Bowl XXVII: Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills

7:30 AM – Super Bowl XXVIII: Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills

8:00 AM – Super Bowl XXIX: San Francisco 49ers vs. San Diego Chargers

8:30 AM – Super Bowl XXX: Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

9:00 AM – Super Bowl XXXI: Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots

9:30 AM – Super Bowl XXXII: Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers

10:00 AM – Super Bowl XXXIII: Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons

10:30 AM – Super Bowl XXXIV: St. Louis Rams vs. Tennessee Titans

11:00 AM – Super Bowl XXXV: Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Giants

11:30 AM – Super Bowl XXXVI: New England Patriots vs. St. Louis Rams

12 NOON – Super Bowl XXXVII: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Oakland Raiders

12:30 PM – Super Bowl XXXVIII: New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers

1:00 PM – Super Bowl XXXIX: New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles

1:30 PM – Super Bowl XL: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks

2:00 PM – Super Bowl XLI: Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears

2:30 PM – Super Bowl XLII: New England Giants vs. New England Patriots

3:00 PM – Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals

3:30 PM – Super Bowl XLIV: New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts

Pittsburgh LBs LaMarr Woodley and Larry Foote, New Orleans QB Drew Brees, and Snoop Dogg on the Latest Edition of ‘The Rich Eisen Podcast,’ Now Available on NFL.com and iTunes

The latest edition of ‘The Rich Eisen Podcast’ is now available for download on NFL.com and iTunes. As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for their third Super Bowl appearance in six years, Eisen catches up with linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Larry Foote to get their thoughts heading into Super Bowl XLV against the Green Bay Packers. Both linebackers discuss how the Steelers were able to avenge an earlier loss to the New York Jets with a win in the AFC Championship Game and how they plan to control Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Next up hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg, a long-time Pittsburgh Steelers fan, offers his thoughts on his favorite team and predicts what will happen in Super Bowl XLV. In preparation of next week’s Super Bowl, last year’s Super Bowl MVP, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, recaps the 2010 season for the Saints and explains his thoughts on why it is so difficult for teams to repeat as champions. Finally, actor Jeff Garlin and Eisen’s old colleague Dan Patrick wrap up the Super Bowl bye week podcast.

Below are select quotes from this week’s episode:

- “Coach LeBeau is not going to be one of those guys who’s going to be yelling and screaming; he’s going to talk to you like a man, and when a guy treats you like that, you’re willing to go out and just play for him.” – LaMarr Woodley on Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau

- “Like we do with any other quarterback: hit him. When a quarterback starts taking hits and you have guys in his face, he’s going to want to get rid of the ball a little faster and doesn’t want to take a hit.” – LaMarr Woodley on how to contain Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers

- “This is definitely going to be our toughest challenge.” – Larry Foote on how this Super Bowl compares to the Steelers’ two previous ones against Arizona and Seattle

- “The expectation level and the fact that everybody is gunning for you, you feel like every week is so hard to win. You’ve got to prepare like you never have before and you have to work even harder, so by the time you get to playoffs I’m sure that a lot of people feel pretty drained.” ­– Drew Brees on the difficulties in repeating as Super Bowl champions

For more information on ‘The Rich Eisen Podcast,’ please visit http://richeisen.nfl.com/ or go to iTunes to download the latest episode.

THIS WEEK ON AROUND THE LEAGUE and NFL TOTAL ACCESS

­­­­­­­­­­­

Wednesday, January 26

NFL Total Access:

  • NFL Insider with Jason La Canfora
  • Scott Hanson reports from Green Bay
  • Albert Breer reports from Pittsburgh

Thursday, January 27

NFL Total Access:

  • NFL Insider with Jason La Canfora
  • Scott Hanson reports from Green Bay
  • Albert Breer reports from Pittsburgh

Friday, January 28

NFL Total Access:

  • NFL Insider with Jason La Canfora

THIS WEEK ON PLAYBOOK

Wednesday 6:30 PM ET – Playbook with Sterling Sharpe, Solomon Wilcots and Brian Baldinger:

  • How the Packers defense carried Green Bay to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1997
  • How Aaron Rodgers’ performance propelled Green Bay to victory

Thursday 6:30 PM ET – Pittsburgh Steelers Playbook with Sterling Sharpe, Solomon Wilcots and Joe Theismann:

  • What do the Steelers need to fix on defense?
  • How the Steelers offensive line can neutralize Clay Matthews
  • How the Steelers can put pressure on Aaron Rodgers
  • Can Rashard Mendenhall keep the Steelers offense on schedule?

Friday 6:30 PM ET – Green Bay Packers Playbook with Sterling Sharpe, Solomon Wilcots and Joe Theismann:

  • How the Packers secondary has limited the opposition’s passing game in the playoffs
  • Who will be Aaron Rodgers’ go-to guy in the Super Bowl?
  • How can the Packers win the battle for field position?
  • How Aaron Rodgers can stay in rhythm in the Super Bowl

Below are video links to segments from this week’s series of Playbook:

- Comparison of the defenses of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-playbook/09000d5d81dea604/Playbook-Breaking-down-the-defenses?module=HP_video

- The Playbook crew breaks down how the Steelers offense had success against the Jets: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-playbook/09000d5d81dea4e5/Playbook-Steelers-offense

Latest Episode of ‘The NFL Season’ on NFL.com Now Available: Championship Sunday

The latest installment of ‘The NFL Season’ is now available on NFL.com. Last season, both the NFC and AFC Championship Games were played indoors – at New Orleans and at Indianapolis, respectively. This season, Championship Sunday returned to its four-decade old roots: two frozen fields in two storied football cities. Re-live the thrilling games between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears at Solider Field, and the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field as the four teams vied for a spot in Super Bowl XLV. After 20 weeks, the NFL season comes down to one final game between the league’s most decorated franchise – the Steelers – against the team who’s legendary coach’s name is etched on the Super Bowl trophy – the Packers.

The latest episode can be found at: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-the-season/09000d5d81de97a5/The-NFL-Season-Championship-Sunday?module=HP_video

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

Wednesday, January 26

2:00 PM – Pro Bowl Practice: AFC (HD) – LIVE

3:30 PM – Pro Bowl Practice: NFC (HD) – LIVE

5:00 PM – 2011 Senior Bowl Day 3 Practice: South (HD)

6:30 PM – Playbook (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:30 PM – 2011 Senior Bowl Day 3 Recap (HD)

9:00 PM – NFL Replay: New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

10:15 PM – NFL Replay: Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears (HD)

11:30 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Thursday, January 27

10:30 AM – Playbook (HD)

11:00 AM – 2011 Senior Bowl Day 4 Practice: North (HD) – LIVE

12 NOON – NFL’s Top 10: Lefty Quarterbacks (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Games with Names (HD)

2:00 PM – Pro Bowl Practice: NFC (HD) – LIVE

3:30 PM – Pro Bowl Practice: AFC (HD) – LIVE

5:00 PM – 2011 Senior Bowl Day 4 Practice: South (HD)

6:30 PM – Playbook: Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:30 PM – 2011 Senior Bowl Day 4 Recap (HD)

9:00 PM – Sound FX: Championship Sunday (HD)

9:30 PM – Best of Sound FX: Jerome Bettis (HD)

10:00 PM – NFL Films Presents: Sounds of the Season (HD)

10:30 PM – America’s Game: 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

11:30 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Friday, January 28

10:30 AM – Playbook: Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

11:00 AM – Sound FX: Championship Sunday (HD)

11:30 AM – Best of Sound FX: Jerome Bettis (HD)

12 NOON – Sound FX: 2010, Week 16 (HD)

12:30 PM – NFL Replay: Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – Week 15, 2009 (HD)

2:00 PM – NFL Films: Sounds of the Season (HD)

2:30 PM – Sound FX: Championship Sunday (HD)

3:00 PM – Best of Sound FX: Jerome Bettis (HD)

3:30 PM – 2007 Pro Bowl Skills Challenge

5:30 PM – Sound FX: Championship Sunday (HD)

6:00 PM – NFL Films Presents: Sounds of the Season (HD)

6:30 PM – Playbook: Green Bay Packers (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Revenge Games (HD)

9:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Single-Season Performances

10:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Most Versatile

11:30 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Saturday, January 29

9:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Single-Season Performances

10:00 AM – Super Bowl I: Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

10:30 AM – Super Bowl II: Green Bay Packers vs. Oakland Raiders

11:00 AM – Super Bowl III: New York Jets vs. Baltimore Colts

11:30 AM – Super Bowl IV: Kansas City vs. Minnesota Vikings

12 NOON – Playbook: Green Bay Packers (HD)

12:30 PM – Playbook: Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

1:00 PM – Sound FX: Championship Sunday (HD)

1:30 PM – Pro Bowl Practice: AFC/NFC (HD) – LIVE

3:30 PM – NFL Total Access: Senior Bowl Pregame (HD)

4:00 PM – 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl (HD) – LIVE

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts vs. Dallas Cowboys

8:30 PM – Super Bowl VI: Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins

9:00 PM – Super Bowl VII: Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins

9:30 PM – Super Bowl VIII: Miami Dolphins vs. Minnesota Vikings

10:00 PM – Super Bowl IX: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings

10:30 PM – Super Bowl X: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys

11:00 PM – Super Bowl XI: Oakland Raiders vs. Minnesota Vikings

11:30 PM – Super Bowl XII: Dallas Cowboys vs. Denver Broncos

12 MIDNIGHT– Super Bowl XIII: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys

12:30 AM – Super Bowl XIV: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Los Angeles Rams

1:00 AM – Super Bowl XV: Oakland Raiders vs. Philadelphia Eagles

1:30 AM – Super Bowl XVI: San Francisco vs. Cincinnati Bengals

2:00 AM – Super Bowl XVII: Washington Redskins vs. Miami Dolphins

2:30 AM – Super Bowl XVIII: Los Angeles Raiders vs. Washington Redskins

3:00 AM – Super Bowl XIX: San Francisco 49ers vs. Miami Dolphins

3:30 AM – Super Bowl XX: Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots

4:00 AM – Super Bowl XXI: New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos

4:30 AM – Super Bowl XXII: Washington Redskins vs. Denver Broncos

5:00 AM – Super Bowl XXIII: San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

5:30 AM – Super Bowl XXIV: San Francisco 49ers vs. Denver Broncos

Sunday, January 30

6:00 AM – Super Bowl XXV: New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills

6:30 AM – Super Bowl XXVI: Washington Redskins vs. Buffalo Bills

7:00 AM – Super Bowl XXVII: Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills

7:30 AM – Super Bowl XXVIII: Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills

8:00 AM – Super Bowl XXIX: San Francisco 49ers vs. San Diego Chargers

8:30 AM – Super Bowl XXX: Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

9:00 AM – Super Bowl XXXI: Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots

9:30 AM – Super Bowl XXXII: Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers

10:00 AM – Super Bowl XXXIII: Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons

10:30 AM – Super Bowl XXXIV: St. Louis Rams vs. Tennessee Titans

11:00 AM – Super Bowl XXXV: Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Giants

11:30 AM – Super Bowl XXXVI: New England Patriots vs. St. Louis Rams

12 NOON – Super Bowl XXXVII: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Oakland Raiders

12:30 PM – Super Bowl XXXVIII: New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers

1:00 PM – Super Bowl XXXIX: New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles

1:30 PM – Super Bowl XL: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks

2:00 PM – Super Bowl XLI: Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears

2:30 PM – Super Bowl XLII: New England Giants vs. New England Patriots

3:00 PM – Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals

3:30 PM – Super Bowl XLIV: New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts

4:00 PM – NFL Total Access: Pro Bowl Pregame (HD)

7:00 PM – Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders: Episode 1

8:00 PM – Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders: Episode 2

9:00 PM – Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders: Episode 3

10:00 PM – Sound FX: Championship Sunday (HD)

10:30 PM – NFL Total Access: Pro Bowl Postgame (HD)

11:30 PM – Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals

12 MIDNIGHT – Super Bowl XXXI: Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots

12:30 AM – Super Bowl XL: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks

1:00 AM – Super Bowl XIII: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys

1:30 AM – Super Bowl II: Green Bay Packers vs. Oakland Raiders

2:00 AM – Super Bowl I: Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Monday, January 31

1:00 PM – America’s Game

2:00 PM – America’s Game

3:00 PM – America’s Game

4:00 PM – NFL Total Access at the Super Bowl (HD) – LIVE

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:30 PM – America’s Game (HD)

9:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Super Bowl Performances

10:30 PM – Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players: #50-41 (HD)

11:30 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Tuesday, February 1

10:00 AM – NFL Total Access at the Super Bowl: Media Day (HD) – LIVE

10:30 AM – Super Bowl XLV Media Day: TBD Press Conference (HD) – LIVE

12 NOON – NFL Total Access at the Super Bowl: Extended Sound (HD)

1:00 PM – Super Bowl XLV Media Day: TBD Press Conference (HD) – LIVE

2:30 PM – Super Bowl XLV Media Day (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Total Access at the Super Bowl: Extended Sound (HD)

5:00 PM – Super Bowl XLV Media Day (HD)

6:30 PM – The Coaches Show (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:30 PM – Sound FX: Best of Super Bowls (HD)

9:30 PM – Sound FX: Best of 2010 Season (HD)

10:30 PM – Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players: #40-31 (HD)

11:30 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Filed Under: NFL, NFLN
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