“Sunday MLB on TBS” Features Dodgers vs. Braves on May 19 at 1:30 p.m. ET

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

tbs-mlb“Sunday MLB on TBS” continues on May 19 with a National League match-up featuring Justin Upton and the Atlanta Braves hosting Adrian Gonzalez and the Los Angeles Dodgers at 1:30 p.m. ET. Atlanta’s Mike Minor is scheduled to take the mound against Los Angeles probable starting pitcher Matt Magill. In the TBS broadcast booth, Matt Devlin will call the action alongside analysts Ron Darling and John Smoltz.

TBS’ MLB coverage will include a 26-game regular season schedule and the exclusive telecast of the 2013 MLB All-Star Selection Show presented by Taco Bell on Sunday, June 30. In October, TBS will exclusively televise the American League and National League Wild Card games and will once again provide coverage of all four MLB Division Series and exclusive coverage of the National League Championship Series.

TBS has broadcast MLB for more than 30 years, televising the MLB Division Series and one League Championship Series since 2007, and was the home of the Atlanta Braves from 1977 to 2007.

 

“Sunday MLB on TBS” Schedule:

 

May 19
1:30 p.m. ET Los Angeles Dodgers @ Atlanta Braves
Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Ron Darling and John Smoltz (analysts)

 

Upcoming Schedule:

May 26
1:30 p.m. ET New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays
Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Ron Darling and Dennis Eckersley (analysts)
June 2
2 p.m. ET San Francisco Giants @ St. Louis Cardinals
Steve Physioc (play-by-play), Ron Darling and John Smoltz (analysts)

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Filed Under: MLB, TBS

ABC, ESPN Combine to Exclusively Televise 2013 NBA Western Conference Finals

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

NBA_on_ABCOn-Site KIA NBA Countdown Shows; ESPN Radio to Broadcast Both NBA Conference Finals Series

ABC and ESPN will combine to exclusively televise the 2013 NBA Western Conference Finals – San Antonio Spurs and four-time NBA Champion Tim Duncan vs. Memphis Grizzlies and Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol – beginning with Game 1 on Sunday, May 19, on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET.  Remaining Western Conference Finals games will air on ESPN at 9 p.m. Mike Breen will serve as the voice of the Western Conference Finals with reporter Doris Burke and analyst Hubie Brown (Game 1) and Jeff Van Gundy (Game 2 through remainder of series). All games will also be available on ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN. The Finals on ABC will begin Thursday, June 6.

KIA NBA Countdown – ESPN’s NBA pre-game show – will emanate on site at the Western Conference Finals for the first time this season. Countdown will air Sunday, May 19, at 3 p.m. o ABC before Game 1 and on Tuesday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN before Game 2. The one-hour shows will begin at 8 p.m. on ESPN for Games 3 through the remainder of the series. Basketball Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons and Michael Wilbon will provide insights and analysis. Prior to Game 2 – Tuesday, May 21 – KIA NBA Countdown will be followed by ESPN’s exclusive live coverage of the 2013 NBA Draft Lottery at 8:30 p.m. from the Times Square Studios in N.Y.

ESPN Radio – in its 18th year of NBA postseason coverage – will serve as the exclusive radio broadcast home for both NBA Conference Finals series. Dave Pasch and analyst Chris Mullin will describe the action for the Western Conference Finals, while Kevin Calabro and analyst Hubie Brown will provide commentary for the Eastern Conference Finals – Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers/New York Knicks – beginning Wednesday, May 22.

Additionally, ESPN3 will present the post-game press conferences for every Western Conference Finals and Eastern Conference Finals game.

Special note: ESPN will televise Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals series between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. The telecast will air at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 18, with Mike Tirico, analyst Hubie Brown and reporter Heather Cox providing commentary.

Western Conference Finals coverage across ESPN platforms

 

ESPN.com’s top NBA reporters will provide comprehensive coverage of the Western Conference Finals. Coverage will include live chats, in-depth scouting reports from ESPN NBA Insiders, expert predictions and video highlights and analysis of each game.

 

ESPN Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage of the Western Conference Finals, led by commentators Alvaro Martin and Carlos Morales. In addition, ESPN Deportes will televise the NBA Finals for the first time, beginning June 6.

 

ESPN International will televise the Western Conference Finals throughout Latin America (South America, Central America and Mexico), Caribbean, Middle East, Africa, UK and Pac-Rim (Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands). Additionally, ESPN International will televise the Eastern Conference Finals throughout the Pac-Rim and in the Middle East.

Western Conference Finals schedule

Date Time (ET) Game Network (s)
Sun., May 19 3:30 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies at

San Antonio Spurs

Game 1

 ABC, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes
Tues., May 21 9 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies at

San Antonio Spurs

Game 2

 ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
Sat., May 25 9 p.m. San Antonio Spurs

at Memphis Grizzlies

Game 3

 ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
Mon., May 27 9 p.m. San Antonio Spurs

at Memphis Grizzlies

Game 4

 ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
Wed., May 29 9 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies at

San Antonio Spurs

Game 5 *

 ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
Fri., May 31 9 p.m. San Antonio Spurs

at Memphis Grizzlies

Game 6 *

 ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
Sun., Jun. 2 9 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies at

San Antonio Spurs

Game 7 *

 ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

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Filed Under: ABC, ESPN, NBA

CAMCAT Returns for SPEED Coverage of NASCAR All-Star Race Saturday Night

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

foxsports_logoCAMCAT Returns for SPEED Coverage of NASCAR All-Star Race Saturday Night

Chase Utley & Phillies Host Joey Votto & Reds on

FOX Saturday Baseball at 3:30 PM ET; Rays/Orioles & White Sox/Angels Also Featured

Survival Sunday on FOX Soccer Features Nine Matches for Barclay’s Premiere League Season Finale

NASCAR SPRINT CUP ALL-STAR RACE ON SPEED HIGHLIGHTS BIG WEEKEND IN CHARLOTTE For the first time since this year’s Daytona 500, FOX Sports and SPEED bring CAMCAT back to the track, as the 85-mph, high-tech camera suspended above the race track by a pair of gigantic cranes positioned outside of Charlotte Motor Speedway adds a strong element to SPEED’s signature coverage of the 29th NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday, May 18 (7:00 PM ET).  With $1 million-to-win from Sprint, and another $1 million available to any driver that can win all five segments, this ‘anything goes’ event showcases the sport’s biggest stars.

A special three-hour All-Star edition of NASCAR RaceDay Fueled by Sunoco begins at 4:00 PM ET with hosts John Roberts, Kyle Petty and Larry McReynolds leading into live coverage of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. NASCAR Race Hub hosts Steve Byrnes and Danielle Trotta handles driver introductions.

Mike Joy, NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip and McReynolds call the action once live racing begins with the Sprint Showdown, the final opportunity for drivers to race their way into the main event. SPEED’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on-air team also includes Chris Myers from the famed Hollywood Hotel, Jeff Hammond, Krista Voda, Byrnes and Matt Yocum. In addition, Hall of Fame broadcaster Keith Jackson narrates a pre-race All-Star retrospective. Jackson called NASCAR’s first three All-Star events, including Dale Earnhardt’s famous “Pass in the Grass” win in The Winston in 1987.

NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race weekend television schedule (all times ET & subject to change):

Friday, May 17

  • NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice (10:30 PM, LIVE)
  • NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice: Showdown (Noon, LIVE)
  • NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice: All-Star (1:30 PM LIVE)
  • Trackside (3:00 PM, LIVE)
  • NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying (4:00 PM, LIVE)
  • NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying: Showdown (5:00 PM, LIVE)
  • NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying: All-Star (6:00 PM, LIVE)
  • NCWTS Setup (7:30 PM, LIVE)
  • NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race (8:00 PM, LIVE)

Saturday, May 18

  • SPEED Center: NASCAR Edition (3:30 PM, LIVE)
  • NASCAR RaceDay Fueled by Sunoco: Special All-Star Edition (4:00 PM, LIVE)
  • NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (7:00 PM, LIVE)
  • NASCAR Victory Lane (11:00 PM, LIVE)

Sunday, May 19

  • SPEED Center (7:00 PM)
  • Wind Tunnel w/Dave Despain (8:00 PM)
  • Inside the Headsets: 2013 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (8:30 PM)

 

NASCAR ON FOX FROM DARLINGTON IS MOST-WATCHED SPORTS EVENT OF THE DAY – Airing in primetime against stiff competition this past Saturday night, NASCAR on FOX Sprint Cup racing from Darlington emerged as the highest-rated and most-watched sports event of the day.  Head-to-head, NASCAR on FOX delivered a 3.8/7 (5.9 million viewers) +11% on viewership versus ABC’s Knicks-Pacers NBA playoff game (3.5/7, 5.3 million viewers).  Saturday night’s Darlington 500 was flat with last year’s race.  Season-to-date, NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing on FOX is averaging a 4.9/10 with 7.9 million viewers, flat with last year.

MLB ON FOX: WEEK 7 – The FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK returns on Saturday, May 18 (3:30 PM ET) with three intriguing matchups. In Philadelphia, big bats are on display as Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and the Phillies host Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and the Reds. The Rays and their strong pitching staff look to slow down phenom Manny Machado and the Orioles in Baltimore. Also the Angels host the White Sox in Southern California.

Coverage begins with the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL PREGAME SHOW, a full 30-minute program originating live from MLB Network’s state-of-the-art Studio 3 in Secaucus, NJ. The show is hosted by longtime FOX Sports and MLB Network broadcaster Matt Vasgersian who is joined this week by analysts Harold Reynolds and Mitch Williams.

For instant updates during the week from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at

http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX, on Instagram at http://instagram.com/foxsports or on GetGlue at

http://getglue.com/tv_shows/major_league_baseball_on_fox. Fans can gain more access to exclusive

FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports.

GAME                                                                                     PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST                                  COV.

Cincinnati Reds at Philadelphia Phillies                       Thom Brennaman & Tom Verducci                               45%

Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia, PA

MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Denver, Greensboro, Greenville, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Knoxville, Louisville, Memphis, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, St. Louis, Tulsa

Probable Pitchers: Bronson Arroyo, RHP (3-4, 3.76 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick, RHP (4-1, 2.47 ERA)

 

Tampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles                         Dick Stockton & Brian Anderson                                   40%

Oriole Park at Camden Yards – Baltimore, MD

MARKETS INCLUDE: Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Dallas, Detroit, Fort Myers, Hartford, Houston, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Norfolk, Orlando, Portland, Providence, Richmond, San Antonio, Seattle, Tampa, Washington, West Palm Beach

Probable Pitchers: Roberto Hernandez, RHP (2-4, 4.43 ERA) vs. TBA

 

Chicago White Sox at Los Angeles Angels*                Kenny Albert, Tim McCarver                                             14%

& Ken Rosenthal

Angel Stadium – Anaheim, CA

MARKETS INCLUDE: Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City

Probable Pitchers: Hector Santiago, LHP (1-2, 2.23 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton, RHP (0-7, 6.46 ERA)

*On FOX Deportes

For instant updates during the week from the entire NASCAR on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NASCARONFOX, on Instagram at http://instagram.com/foxsports  or on GetGlue at http://getglue.com/tv_shows/nascar_on_fox. Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports.

ROSENTHAL EXAMINES PHILLIES’ LATEST MOVE – In an exclusive for FOXSports.com, MLB on FOX reporter Ken Rosenthal examines the hottest topics surrounding Major League Baseball, including the today’s deal that brought Carlos Zambrano to the Phillies. “Right-hander Carlos Zambrano, the emotional, controversial former Cub, has agreed to a minor league contract with the Phillies,” Rosenthal writes. “The Phillies are looking for rotation help following the news that right-hander Roy Halladay could miss the entire season due to shoulder surgery.”

For more from Rosenthal, visit http://msn.foxsports.com/writer/Ken_Rosenthal.

FOX SOCCER PRESENTS NINE LIVE MATCHES ON SUNDAY FOR FINALE OF BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON – Every year, on the final day of England’s Barclays Premier League season, all 20 teams from the world’s top domestic soccer competition play each other in a frantic 10-match race for financial survival, hardware and European honors. This year FSN, FOX Soccer, FOX Soccer Plus, along with digital platforms FOXSoccer.com and FOX Soccer 2Go, carry all nine matches live Sunday, May 19 (11:00 AM ET).  Pre-match coverage begins at 10:30 AM ET on FOX Soccer with Tottenham taking on Sunderland. Spurs’ season comes down to this final match, with a must-need win at White Hart Lane, plus some help from other results, to give them the fourth-place finish and coveted Champions League berth. Simultaneously on FOX Soccer Plus, third-placed Chelsea faces Everton, who are still without a manager following former coach David Moyes replacing the retired Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford. Known to soccer fans as “relegation Sunday” and dubbed Survival Sunday by FOX, the final day of the Barclays Premier League season is filled with last-minute drama and passion for all the fans and teams involved.

2013 LUCAS OIL PRO MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS KICK OFF SEASON ON FUEL TV – The 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship season kicks off live on FUEL TV Saturday, May 18 (4:00 PM ET) with the Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic from Sacramento, CA. For 2013, FUEL TV brings live coverage of all 12 rounds, with eight rounds of Moto 1 coverage and four rounds of Moto 2 coverage. The longtime duo of three-time AMA Pro Motocross Champion Jeff Emig and veteran announcer Jason Weigandt are back to provide event play-by-play and analysis to the viewers at home. On the track, Kelli Stavast and Erin Coscerelli report the latest breaking news from the pits and the starting gate, while interviewing riders before and after they hit the track. Watch to see if 2012 Champion Ryan Dungey can repeat again this year or if 2011 Champion Ryan Villopoto returns to his dominant form.

UNDEFEATED UFC HEAVYWEIGHT CORMIER JOINS SONNEN AS ANALYST FOR UFC ON FX 8 SHOWS – This week’s coverage of UFC on FX 8 features undefeated UFC heavyweight Daniel Cormier, who joins light heavyweight Chael Sonnen as an analyst on FUEL TV. The two sit in with host Karyn Bryant at the FOX Sports Los Angeles studios to kick off the action on Friday, May 17 (3:00 PM ET) with the one-hour live UFC WEIGH-IN SHOW ON FUEL TV. The UFC ON FX 8 PRELIMS begin on FUEL TV on Saturday, May 18 (6:00 PM ET) with Jon Anik and Kenny Florian calling the fights live from Arena Jaragua in Jaragua, Brazil. The main card starts on FX at 9:00 PM ET, while FUEL TV wraps coverage of the evening with the UFC POSTFIGHT SHOW later that evening (11:00 PM ET).

ROCKHOLD CAN OVERCOME BELFORT AT UFC ON FX 8, SAYS SONNEN – The Octagon heads to Brazil this weekend for UFC ON FX 8: BELFORT VS. ROCKHOLD, featuring an explosive main card fight between Brazilian UFC superstar Vitor Belfort and Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold. FUEL TV’s UFC TONIGHT analyst and current UFC Light Heavyweight Chael Sonnen believes Rockhold has three things he needs to overcome to get the victory: “It’s the main event, it’s in Brazil, and it’s his first time in the UFC. He can do it, but it’s going to be tight. He’s one of the most explosive fighters in the UFC.” For a detailed breakdown of the fights, watch this clip: http://youtu.be/hP3kuYRBT48.  For Sonnen’s predictions, click here: http://youtu.be/iMCT2Z0ly7U

FSMG NATIONAL NETWORK KEY EVENTS CALENDAR

All Times Eastern and Subject to Change

* Also Airing on Deportes

 

Week of: 5/15/2013 – 5/22/2013

 

DATE                      NETWORK            TIME                       EVENT DETAILS

5/15/13                  FOX Deportes        6:00 PM               Copa Libertadores: Quarterfinal – Vélez Sarsfield/Newell’s Old Boys

5/15/13                  FOX Deportes        9:00 PM               Copa Libertadores: Quarterfinal – Corinthians/Boca Juniors

5/16/13                  FOX Deportes        7:00 PM               Copa Libertadores: Quarterfinal – Olimpia/Tigre

5/16/13                  FOX Deportes        9:30 PM               Copa Libertadores: Quarterfinal – Ind. Santa Fe/Gremio

5/17/13                  FOX Soccer Plus   5:30 AM                National Rugby League: Rabbitohs v Tigers

5/17/13                  FOX Soccer Plus   2:55 PM               Amlin Challenge Cup: Final – Stade Francais/Leinster

5/17/13                  FUEL TV                  3:00 PM               UFC Weigh-in on FUEL TV

5/17/13                  SPEED                    8:00 PM               NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: Charlotte

5/17/13                  FOX Soccer Plus 11:00 PM               Australian Rules Football League: Essendon/Brisbane Lions

5/18/13                  FOX Soccer Plus   3:30 AM                National Rugby League: Dragons/Eels

5/18/13                  FOX Soccer Plus   5:30 AM                Australian Rules Football League: Collingwood/Geelong Cats

5/48/13                  FOX Soccer Plus 11:55 AM               Heineken Cup: Final – Clermont Auvergne/Toulon

5/18/13                  FOX                          3:30 PM               MLB on FOX: CWS at LAA*/TB at BAL/CIN at PHL

5/18/13                  FUEL TV                  6:00 PM               UFC Prelims on FUEL TV

5/18/13                  SPEED                    7:00 PM               NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing: The Sprint All-Star Race

5/18/13                  FX*                            9:00 PM               UFC on FX 8: Fight Night (Jaragua do Sul, Brazil)

5/18/13                  FOX Deportes        9:30 PM               Golden Boy Promotions: Mexico – Shane Mosley/Pablo Cesar Cano

5/18/13                  FOX Soccer Plus                 11:00 PM               Australian Rules Football League: Carlton/Port Adelaide

5/19/13                  FOX Soccer Plus   7:30 AM                Scottish Premier League: Ross County/Inverness CT

5/19/13                  SPEED                    8:00 AM                MotoGP World Championship: French Grand Prix

5/19/13                  TBD                        11:00 AM               Barclays Premier League: Chelsea/Everton

5/19/13                  TBD                        11:00 AM               Barclays Premier League: Liverpool/Queens Park Rangers

5/19/13                  TBD                        11:00 AM               Barclays Premier League: Manchester City/Norwich City

5/19/13                  TBD                        11:00 AM               Barclays Premier League: Southampton/Stoke City

5/19/13                 FOX Soccer            11:00 AM               Barclays Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur/Sunderland

5/19/13                  TBD                        11:00 AM               Barclays Premier League: West Ham United/Reading

5/19/13                  TBD                        11:00 AM               Barclays Premier League: West Brom/Manchester United

5/19/13                  TBD                        11:00 AM               Barclays Premier League: Wigan Athletic/Aston Villa

5/19/13                  TBD                        11:00 AM               Barclays Premier League: Swansea CityvsFulham

5/19/13                  SPEED                    2:00 PM               ARCA Racing Series: Toledo

5/19/13                  SPEED                    4:00 PM               Australian V8 Supercars: Austin

5/20/13                  FOX Soccer Plus   5:00 AM                National Rugby League: Storm/Sea Eagles

5/20/13                  FOX Soccer Plus   2:30 PM               Super League Rugby: Leeds/St. Helens

Filed Under: Auto Racing, FOX, MLB

ESPN Networks to Carry up to 70 College Baseball Conference Tournament Games

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment
espnESPN will continue its extensive coverage of the 2013 college baseball season – including more than 200 regular-season games – with 70 conference tournament contests from Sunday, May 19 to Sunday, May 26. ESPN platforms will carry 12 conference title games with each winner receiving an automatic bid into the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship. The schedule includes the entire ACC, BIG EAST, Missouri Valley Conference and SEC tournaments as well as contests from the America East, Atlantic Sun, Big South, Southern, Southland, SWAC, Sun Belt and West Coast.
 
Schedule of 2013 Conference Championship Games (complete schedule below)
Sun, May 19 2 p.m. Southwestern Athletic Conference: Championship

Mike Morgan & Jay Walker
 ESPN3 **
Fri, May 24 8 p.m. America East Championship: Championship ESPN3
Sat, May 25 4 p.m. Big South Championship: Championship ESPN3
  6 p.m. Southland Conference: Championship ESPN3
  8 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Championship ESPN3 *
  8 p.m. America East Championship: Championship ESPN3 ^
  10 p.m. West Coast Conference Championship: Championship

Roxy Bernstein & Mike Rooney
 ESPNU
Sun, May 26 Noon BIG EAST Championship: Championship

Clay Matvick & Chris Burke
 ESPNU
  1 p.m. ACC Tournament: Championship

Dari Nowkhah & Danny Graves
 ESPN2
  1 p.m. Atlantic Sun Conference: Championship ESPN3
  2 p.m. Southern Conference: Championship ESPN3
  2 p.m. Sun Belt Conference: Championship ESPN3 *
  4:30 p.m. SEC Championship: Championship

Dave Neal & Kyle Peterson
 ESPN2
  4:30 p.m. Atlantic Sun Conference: Championship ESPN3 ^
 
* Outermarket only; ** ESPNU will televise on May 20 at 9 p.m.; ^ If necessary
 
ESPNU will televise the announcement of the 2013 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship field of 64 teams on Monday, May 27, at Noon ET.
 
ESPN’s extended commitment to college baseball this season includes covering all 16 sites of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship from Friday, May 31 to Monday, June 3. It will mark the first time every first-round game – up to seven contests from each of the 16 locations for a total of a possible 112 matchups over four days – will be available to fans live on a national platform. ESPN provided coverage of six sites in 2012, four in 2011 and two the previous six years.
 
ESPN will also launch Bases Loaded, a four-day platform providing unlimited live cut-ins and highlights from numerous games, plus up-to-the-minute commentary from ESPN analysts each day of the Regionals. Bases Loaded will be available Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1, from 2 p.m. to midnight; Sunday, June 2, from 2 p.m. to 1 a.m.; and Monday, June 3, from 6 p.m. to midnight. ESPN3 will carry the network in its entirety while ESPNU and ESPN2 will simulcast at select times, including between games and rain delays when time permits.
 
In addition to the expanded Regionals schedule, ESPN will continue to cover every Super Regional site (up to 24 games from eight sites) and all possible 17 games of the College World Series.
 
College Baseball Conference Championship Schedule
Sun, May 19 2 p.m. Southwestern Athletic Conference: Championship

Mike Morgan & Jay Walker
 ESPN3 **
Tue, May 21 10 a.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 1 ESPN3
  10:30 a.m. SEC Championship: Game 1 ESPN3 *
  1:30 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 2 ESPN3
  2 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 2 ESPN3 *
  5 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 3 ESPN3
  5:30 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 3 ESPN3 *
  8 p.m. BIG EAST Home Run Derby ESPN3 *
  8:30 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 4 ESPN3
  9 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 4 ESPN3 *
Wed, May 22 10 a.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 5 ESPN3
  10 a.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 1 ESPN3 *
  10:30 a.m. SEC Championship: Game 5 ESPN3 *
  11 a.m. ACC Tournament: Game 1 ESPN3 *
  1 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 2 ESPN3 *
  1:30 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 6 ESPN3
  2 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 6 ESPN3 *
  3 p.m. ACC Tournament: Game 2 ESPN3 *
  5 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 7 ESPN3
  5 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 3 ESPN3 *
  5:30 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 7 ESPN3 *
  7 p.m. ACC Tournament: Game 3 ESPN3 *
  8 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 4 ESPN3 *
  8:30 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 8 ESPN3
  9 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 8 ESPN3 *
Thu, May 23 10 a.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 9 ESPN3
  10 a.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 5 ESPN3 *
  10:30 a.m. SEC Championship: Game 9 ESPN3 *
  11 a.m. ACC Tournament: Game 4 ESPN3 *
  1 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 6 ESPN3 *
  1:30 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 10 ESPN3
  2 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 10 ESPN3 *
  3 p.m. ACC Tournament: Game 5 ESPN3 *
  5 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 11 ESPN3
  5 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 7 ESPN3 *
  5:30 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 11 ESPN3 *
  7 p.m. ACC Tournament: Game 6 ESPN3 *
  8 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 8 ESPN3 *
  8:30 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 12 ESPN3
  9 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 12 ESPN3 *
Fri, May 24 11 a.m. ACC Tournament: Game 7 ESPN3 *
  1:30 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 13 ESPN3
  3 p.m. ACC Tournament: Game 8 ESPN3 *
  3 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 9 ESPN3 *
  4 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 13 ESPN3 *
  5 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Game 14 ESPN3
  6 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 10 ESPN3 *
  7 p.m. ACC Tournament: Game 9 ESPN3 *
  7:30 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 14 ESPN3 *
  8 p.m. America East: Championship ESPN3
Sat, May 25 10 a.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 11 ESPN3 *
  11 a.m. ACC Tournament: Game 10 ESPN3 *
  1 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 15

Dave Neal & Kyle Peterson
 ESPN3 & ESPNEWS
  1 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 12 ESPN3 *
  3 p.m. ACC Tournament: Game 11 ESPN3 *
  4 p.m. Big South: Championship ESPN3
  5 p.m. SEC Championship: Game 16

Dave Neal & Kyle Peterson
 ESPN3 & ESPNEWS
  5 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 13 ESPN3 * ^
  6 p.m. Southland Conference: Championship ESPN3
  7 p.m. ACC Tournament: Game 12 ESPN3 *
  8 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference Championship: Championship ESPN3 *
  8 p.m. BIG EAST Championship: Game 14 ESPN3 * ^
  8 p.m. America East: Championship ESPN3 ^
  10 p.m. West Coast Conference: Championship

Roxy Bernstein & Mike Rooney
 ESPNU
Sun, May 26 Noon BIG EAST Championship: Championship

Clay Matvick & Chris Burke
 ESPNU
  1 p.m. ACC Tournament: Championship

Dari Nowkhah & Danny Graves
 ESPN2
  1 p.m. Atlantic Sun Conference: Championship ESPN3
  2 p.m. Southern Conference: Championship ESPN3
  2 p.m. Sun Belt Conference: Championship ESPN3 *
  4:30 p.m. SEC Championship: Championship

Dave Neal & Kyle Peterson
 ESPN2
  4:30 p.m. Atlantic Sun Conference: Championship ESPN3 ^
 
* Outermarket only; ** ESPNU will televise on May 20 at 9 p.m.; ^ If necessary
 
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Filed Under: College Baseball, ESPN

Notes from TNT’s NBA Playoff Coverage – Thursday, May 16, 2013

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Nba-on-tntNotes from TNT’s NBA Playoff Coverage – Thursday, May 16, 2013

TNT’s coverage of the 2013 NBA Playoffs continues with Game 7 of the Knicks/Pacers series (if necessary) on Monday, May 20, at 8 p.m. ET or the

Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday, May 22, with Pacers/Knicks vs. Miami Heat (Game 1) at 8 p.m. 

****    ****    ****    ****

TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith

Barkley on the Knicks: “I want to see who’s going to show up. I’m not worried about Carmelo Anthony; I’m worried about the ‘others.’ If the others don’t show up, the Knicks are going home.”

Barkley on Warriors guards Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry being worn out: “They haven’t been the same since [the double overtime] Game 1.”
O’Neal on the San Antonio Spurs: “They will never panic. They have a lot of experience. They will close it [the series] out tonight.”

****    ****    ****    ****

Game 5: Indiana Pacers (75) @ New York Knicks (85) – Pacers lead series 3-2

Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Reggie Miller (analyst) with Rachel Nichols (reporter)

Miller on the Pacers: “This is really a no-name bunch of guys for the Indiana Pacers…and to me, it’s all what the Indiana Pacers have done in this series. Defensively, [head coach] Frank Vogel and these guys [Pacers] have stuck to the game plan. Paul George and Roy Hibbert, defensively, have done an unbelievable job on J.R. Smith and Carmelo Anthony.”

Miller on the Pacers in the close-out situation of Game 5: “When you’re in a close-out situation – up 3-1 like the Pacers are – and on the road, you’ve got to do all the small, little things. You’ve got to make your free throws.”

Miller on Knicks guard J.R. Smith: “If they [Knicks] want to extend this series, [Smith] and Melo have to carry this team.”

****    ****    ****    ****

Sprint Halftime Report

Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Smith

Barkley on the Knicks first half of play in Game 5: “[The Knicks] are not playing with passion.”

Smith on the lack of excitement at Madison Square Garden: “The place should be going crazy.”

****    ****    ****    ****

Miller on Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony imposing his will on a game: “Your best player in an elimination game has got to come out and put their will on games. When your back is against the wall, you have to come out and have a monster game.”

TNT reporter Rachel Nichols interviewed Knicks head coach Mike Woodson before the fourth quarter

Woodson: “This team has been committed all season, so we’re not going to quit.”

Miller on Knicks center Tyson Chandler’s rebounding prowess in Game 5: “Chandler has done a great job on the boards.”

TNT reporter Rachel Nichols interviewed Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony following New York’s win

Anthony: “We [weren’t] ready to go home yet. We’re just taking it one day at a time. We proved that we can win on the road and we’ve got to do it [Saturday].”

****    ****    ****    ****

Visit the Turner Sports online pressroom for additional press materials; follow Turner Sports on Twitter at @TurnerSportsPR.

 

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Filed Under: NBA, TNT

2 Days: Gennady Golovkin Debuts June 8 on HBO

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

hbo-boxing“2 Days: Gennady Golovkin”

Premieres Saturday, June 8 on HBO®

May 14, 2013 – HBO Sports® debuts an all-new installment of “2 Days” when the feature segment returns with a behind-the-scenes look at fast-rising 160-pound star Gennady Golovkin.  The episode debuts Saturday, June 8 at 12 midnight (ET/PT) or immediately following the HBO Boxing After Dark® doubleheader from Montreal.

“2 Days” is a revealing and intimate look at a 48-hour span in the life of a boxer in the lead-up to one of his fights and the next edition will focus on  31-year-old undefeated middleweight title-holder Gennady “GGG” Golovkin.  HBO cameras followed the sensational knockout artist prior to his showdown in January against Gabriel Rosado.

“2 Days: Gennady Golovkin” will add to the HBO Boxing programming lineup on June 8, which kicks off with an HBO Boxing After Dark  presentation from the Bell Centre in Montreal at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT).

Golovkin returns to the ring on Saturday, June 29 when he faces Matthew Macklin in what is expected to be an all-action affair at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut on HBO Boxing After Dark®.

“2 Days” will also be available on the HBO On Demand® service, HBO GO® and at www.hbo.com/boxing as well as various other new media platforms that distribute the series.

        

Other HBO playdates: June 9 (1:30 p.m.), 10 (1:30 a.m.), 13 (1:45 p.m., 9:15 p.m.), 15 (12:45 a.m.), 16 (11:00 a.m.), 17 (11:45 a.m.), 20 (4:15 p.m.), 23 (11:30 a.m.), 24 (3:35 a.m.), 25 (4:00 p.m., 9:15 p.m.), 28 (11:45 a.m., 12:00 a.m.) and 29 (10:15 a.m.).

HBO2 playdates: June 9 (6:30 p.m.), 11 (2:00 a.m.), 16 (8:45 p.m.), 18 (3:50 a.m.), 20 (7:55 a.m.), 25 (8:10 a.m.), and 26 (9:15 p.m.).

All times are ET/PT.

 

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Filed Under: Boxing, HBO

Matchups for Inaugural BIG 12/SEC Challenge

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment
ESPN_CollegeBasketballNew Men’s Basketball Event with 10 Games between Big 12 Conference and Southeastern Conference
       
Matchups for the inaugural Big 12/SEC Challenge – an early-season men’s basketball event matching 10 teams from two premier conferences against each other – have been determined. ESPN will provide exclusive coverage of all 10 games across its networks.
The Challenge includes five teams ranked in an early ESPN.com preseason top 25: No. 1 Kentucky, No. 5 Kansas, No. 7 Florida, No. 11 Oklahoma State and No. 19 Baylor. Two games will pit ranked teams against each other: No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 19 Baylor and No. 5 Kansas at No. 7 Florida.
In the first year of the new agreement between ESPN and the conferences, eight of the 10 games will be played at home sites (each conference will host four home games) with two of the matchups at a neutral site. Ten of the 14 SEC teams (Arkansas, Georgia, LSU and Tennessee will not play in the first year) will participate each year against all 10 of the Big 12 members. The event’s title will alternate each year (it will be the SEC/Big 12 Challenge in 2014). While the inaugural Challenge takes place in November and December, ESPN and the conferences will work together to schedule matchups across consecutive days in future years.
 
2013 Big 12/SEC Challenge schedule (times and networks are to be determined):
 
Date Game
Thu, Nov 14 Texas Tech at Alabama
Mon, Dec 2 Vanderbilt at Texas
  Auburn at Iowa State
Thu, Dec 5 Ole Miss at Kansas State
  West Virginia at Missouri
  TCU at Mississippi State
Fri, Dec 6 South Carolina at No. 11 Oklahoma State
  No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 19 Baylor (Arlington)
Tue, Dec 10 No. 5 Kansas at No. 7 Florida
Sat, Dec 21 Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M (Houston)
 
  • Tourney Teams: Eight of the 20 teams played in the 2012 NCAA Tournament: Florida, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Ole Miss
  • Uncommon Opponent: Several of the games will feature teams that have not played each other very often, including: South Carolina and Oklahoma State in their second matchup (South Carolina won the first game); Auburn and Iowa State and TCU and Mississippi State playing for the third time (both series are tied 1-1); and West Virginia and Missouri meeting in the regular-season for the first time (they played in two NCAA Tournament games with each scoring a victory).
  • Going for Undefeated: Ole Miss has defeated Kansas State in its three previous meetings, including the most recent in 2009.
  • New Streaks: Kentucky had won its seven previous games against Baylor, including an 82-70 victory in the Elite Eight of the 2012 NCAA Tournament, before losing to the Bears in a regular-season game last season.
  • Game 5: Kansas and Florida will play for the fifth time since 1994 and first since the 2006 Las Vegas Invitational contest. Kansas holds a 3-1 series lead.
  • 80s Flashback: Vanderbilt and Texas will play for the first time since 1989 and seventh overall.
  • Rematch: Texas Tech will visit Alabama after hosting the Crimson Tide in a game last season, a 66-62 Red Raiders loss. Alabama holds a 6-1 series lead.
  • Nice to See You Again: Former conference partners Oklahoma and Texas A&M will meet for the 40th time.
 
The SEC and Big 12 have combined for seven Final Four appearances and four national titles in the last eight NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournaments: Kentucky (2012), Kansas (2008) and Florida (2007 and 2006).
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Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Basketball

Two-Part Motorsports Press Release: Indy 500 Qualifying & Monaco Grand Prix

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment
nbc-sportsPart One: NBC Sports Network Coverage of Indy 500 Qualifying, Carb Day & ParadePart Two: Extensive Monaco Grand Prix Coverage across NBC & NBC Sports Network

Monaco Media Conference Call Scheduled for Wednesday

***

Part One: Indy 500 Qualifying

NBC SPORTS NETWORK PRESENTS 19 HOURS OF COVERAGE SURROUNDING INDY 500 QUALIFYING

“It’s a season of surprise.” – Leigh Diffey

Indy 500 Winner Gil de Ferran Joins NBC Sports Network’s Announce Team for Qualifying This Weekend

Leigh Diffey to Call Indy 500 Qualifying This Weekend & Monaco Grand Prix Next Week

Coverage Starts Saturday, May 18, at 11 a.m. ET

NEW YORK – May 16, 2013 – NBC Sports Network presents 19 hours of coverage surrounding the Indianapolis 500, including live qualifying, Carb Day, Indy Lights, an Indy Car 36 episode, and the Indy 500 Parade. Live qualifying coverage begins this Saturday, May 18 at 11 a.m. ET, continues through Saturday, and returns on Sunday, May 19 at noon ET. Qualifying coverage is highlighted by the NBC Sports Network broadcast debut of former IndyCar driver and 2003 Indy 500 winner Gil de Ferran.In addition, NBC Sports Network presents live coverage of Carb Day, the last practice before the race, with the return of renowned motorsports voice Bob Jenkins. Coverage begins on Friday, May 24, at 11 a.m. ET, continues with Indy Lights at noon ET, and is followed by more Carb Day coverage. The premier of IndyCar 36 featuring record-breaking driver Simona de Silvestro airs at 10:30 p.m. ET that night.

NBC Sports Network concludes its coverage on Saturday, May 25, with the Indy 500 Parade live at 5 p.m. ET.

NBC Sports Network’s Indy 500 Qualifying Coverage (subject to change, all times ET):

Date Coverage Time Commentators
Sat., May 18 Qualifying 11 a.m. Leigh Diffey, Gil de Ferran, Jon Beekhuis, Kevin Lee, Marty Snider, Robin Miller, Will Buxton
Sat., May 18 Qualifying 4:30 p.m. Leigh Diffey, Gil de Ferran, Jon Beekhuis, Kevin Lee, Marty Snider, Robin Miller, Will Buxton
Sun., May 19 Qualifying Noon Leigh Diffey, Gil de Ferran, Jon Beekhuis, Kevin Lee, Marty Snider, Robin Miller, Will Buxton
Fri., May 24 Carb Day 11 a.m. Bob Jenkins, Jon Beekhuis, Wally Dallenbach, Kevin Lee, Martin Snider, Robin Miller
Fri., May 24 Indy Lights Noon Mike King, Jake Query
Fri., May 24 Carb Day 1 p.m. Bob Jenkins, Jon Beekhuis, Wally Dallenbach, Kevin Lee, Martin Snider, Robin Miller
Fri., May 24 IndyCar 36: Simona de Silvestro 10:30 p.m.
Sat., May 25 Indy 500 Parade 5 p.m. Bob Jenkins, Diane Willis, Kevin Lee

QUALIFYING COMMENTATORS: Former IndyCar driver Gil de Ferran joins NBC Sports Network’s team as an analyst this weekend 10 years after his Indy 500 win. de Ferran is filling in for NBC Sports Network IndyCar analyst Townsend Bell, who is attempting to qualify for his seventh Indy 500. In 2009, Bell finished fourth in the race.

Sharing the booth with de Ferran includes play-by-play announcer Leigh Diffey and analyst Jon Beekhuis. Diffey is working IndyCar this weekend, but will travel abroad next week to call the Monaco Grand Prix. Veterans Kevin Lee and Marty Snider manage the pits, and are joined by reporters Robin Miller and Will Buxton, the Formula One reporter who is making his inaugural trip to the Brickyard.

Coverage on Sunday will feature Bell driving first-timer Buxton around the oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a two-seater.

CARB DAY COMMENTATORS: Legendary motorsports voice Bob Jenkins returns to the booth for Carb Day on Friday, May 24, filling in for Diffey, who will be at Monaco. Jenkins will be joined by Beekhuis and race analyst and former NASCAR driver Wally Dallenbach, Jr. Veterans Lee, Snider and Miller will manage the pits.

Mike King will call Indy Lights on Friday, May 24, alongside Jack Query.

Jenkins, Diane Willis and Lee will host Indy 500 Parade coverage on Saturday, May 25 at 5 p.m. ET.

DIFFEY ON INDY 500 QUALIFYING: “The way this year’s IZOD Indycar Series has gone, who can’t be excited about the Indy 500 Pole Day? This time last year, Penske Racing had dominated all four opening rounds of the series and led the championship. This year they haven’t won a race, nor has defending Indy 500 winner Chip Ganassi Racing, and there have been two first-time winners from the first four races. It’s a season of surprise.”

INDYCAR 36: NBC Sports Network offers motorsports fans another episode of the all-access series IndyCar 36. This week the cameras follow driver Simona de Silvestro, who made history by becoming the first woman to earn a podium spot at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2006.

The NBC Sports Network original series is produced by IMS Productions and gives viewers an all-access pass into the life of a world-class driver in the middle of race season. The cameras will follow a driver for 36 hours during a race weekend providing a behind-the-scenes look at the on- and off-track activities of the stars of the IndyCar Series. The all-access 36 series also includes NHL 36, Fight Night 36 and F1 36.

INDYCAR ON NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA: NBC Sports Live Extra — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets — will live stream Indy 500 qualifying on Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19, Carb Day and Indy Lights on Friday, May 24, and the Indy 500 Parade on Saturday, May 25. Coverage will be streamed via “TV Everywhere,” the media industry’s effort to make quality content available to authenticated customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.

Coverage airing on NBC Sports Network will live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra, and to the digital platforms of participating cable, satellite, and telco services, via “TV Everywhere,” which is available on an authenticated basis to subscribers of participating MVPDs.

INDYCAR ON MOTORSPORTSTALK: MotorSportsTalk (@MotorSportsTalk) on NBCSports.com brings racing fans up-to-the-minute news, video and information on the IZOD IndyCar Series, Formula One™, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and all other motorsports racing from around the world. The site also serves as the destination for all news, analysis and video from NBC and NBC Sports Network productions of IndyCar and F1, including contributions from on-air commentators.

MotorSportsTalk’s content is provided by top racing journalists and expert analysts, including:

  • Tony DiZinno (@TonyDiZinno), who has written for RACER Magazine and has covered IndyCar and NASCAR since 2006;
  • Writer Christopher Estrada (@estradawriting) who has written for the Boston Globe, FoxSports.com, created the Indy Racing Revolution blog and is a contributor to IndyCar’s IndyCar Nation blog.

***

Part 2: Monaco Grand Prix

NBC TO AIR MONACO GRAND PRIX LIVE ON SUNDAY, MAY 26 AT 7:30 A.M. ET

19.5 Hours of Coverage

“It is an unbelievable spectacle.” – Leigh Diffey

“In the most glamorous spot in the world, spiced with high danger content, and you end up with the most unique weekend of any sporting event in the world.” – David Hobbs

“Mimosas From Monaco” Coverage Kicks Off “Biggest Day in Racing” on Sunday, May 26, at 7 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Network

Conference Call Set for Wednesday, May 22, at Noon ET

NEW YORK – May 16, 2013 – For the first time, Formula One’s famed Monaco Grand Prix will air live on network television Sunday, May 26 at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBC. NBC Sports Group will present a total of 19.5 hours of Monaco coverage from Thursday to Sunday, May 23-26, across NBC, NBC Sports Network and NBC Sports Live Extra. Race day, Sunday May 26, will begin with a live pre-race show at 7 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Network, and conclude with F1 Extra, NBC Sports Network’s half-hour post-race show, live from Monaco after the race.

Coverage from Monaco also includes live practice, qualifying and GP2 races on NBC Sports Network. Practice will air live on Thursday, May 23, at 8 a.m. ET. Qualifying will air live on Saturday, May 25, at 8 a.m. ET. In addition, NBC Sports Network will air two GP2 races, F1’s developmental series, at 12 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 26.

CONFERENCE CALL: NBC Sports Group F1 commentators Leigh Diffey, David Hobbs, Steve Matchett, and Will Buxton, as well as NBC Sports Group motorsports producer Rich O’Connor, will preview the Monaco Grand Prix on a media conference call from Monaco at Noon ET on Wednesday, May 22. Media interested in participating should call 719-325-2435; passcode 7826869.

Sunday, May 26 can arguably be called ‘the biggest day in racing’ as it features three of sport’s most famous races from three different circuits — the Monaco Grand Prix (Formula One), the Indy 500 (IndyCar) and the Coca-Cola 600 (NASCAR). NBC Sports Network’s Monaco coverage kicks it all off on Sunday at 7 a.m. ET.

NBC Sports Group’s Monaco Grand Prix Coverage (subject to change):

Date Coverage Network Time (ET)
Thurs., May 23 Practice NBCSN 8 a.m.
Fri., May 24 Practice Encore NBCSN 1:30 a.m.
Fri., May 24 Practice Encore NBCSN 11:30 p.m.
Sat., May 25 Qualifying NBCSN 8 a.m.
Sat., May 25 Qualifying Encore NBCSN 10:30 p.m.
Sun., May 26 GP2 Race 1 NBCSN 12 a.m.
Sun., May 26 Pre-Race Show NBCSN 7 a.m.
Sun., May 26 Monaco Grand Prix NBC 7:30 a.m.
Sun., May 26 F1 Extra NBCSN 10 a.m.
Sun., May 26 Monaco Grand Prix Encore NBCSN 10:30 a.m.
Sun., May 26 F1 Extra Encore NBCSN 1 p.m.
Sun., May 26 GP2 Race 2 NBCSN 1:30 p.m.
Sun., May 26 Monaco Grand Prix Encore NBCSN 10:30 p.m.

COMMENTATORS ON SITE: NBC Sports Group’s F1 announce booth will be on site to capture the unique glitz-and-glamor atmosphere of the Monaco Grand Prix. Leigh Diffey will serve as lead race announcer alongside veteran analyst and former racecar driver David Hobbs, analyst and former race mechanic for the Benneton F1 team Steve Matchett, and F1 insider and former journalist Will Buxton. Diffey will precede his work in Monaco by calling Indy 500 qualifying coverage.

ON MONACO:

Diffey: “Monaco is so special because people want to see something they can’t believe they are seeing, and that is the Monaco Grand Prix in a nutshell. It is an unbelievable spectacle. Cars that are way too fast for the track they are racing on, a track way too narrow for the speed of the cars. The element of danger is way too high for the modern day sport. But that is why Monaco is Monaco.”

Hobbs: “Monaco is one of the older races on the calendar and the circuit has changed very little over the nearly 90 years of running. Monaco is built around a fabulous natural harbor filled with the world’s most expensive yachts and a backdrop of gorgeous mountains. Throw in 20 or so multimillionaire drivers, team owners and top technicians in the most glamorous spot in the world, spiced with high danger content, and you end up with the most unique weekend of any sporting event in the world.”

ON THE RACE:

Diffey: “The form guide over the past three years screams Infiniti Red Bull Racing, but if you base it on the last Grand Prix everything points at Ferrari. With that being said, the Mercedes AMG Petronas team has shown incredible qualifying speed this year and qualifying well at Monaco is paramount.”

Hobbs: “This is the race all drivers and teams want to win. It has that extra something driven by its vintage location and crowd. It is a difficult race between very unforgiving walls, miles of guardrail, tightness of the turns and the narrow width of the road. It’s a tiring event for drivers and controlled aggression is key for a driver. Go fast, but keep off the walls.”

ON THE DRIVERS:

Diffey: “Over the last seven years there are only two drivers who have won more than once. Mark Webber has won two of the last three years and Fernando Alonso won back to back in 2006-07. Drivers who like Monaco always do well there and those guys are definitely in that group.”

Hobbs: “This year is proving to be very competitive. Team Ferrari is on a roll and Fernando Alonso, previous winner in Monaco, always goes well here. Red Bull and Mark Webber, two-time Monaco winner will go well – their car is suited to most tracks. Kimi Raikkonen in his Lotus should shine here, and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes is fast every time he comes here.

NBC SPORTS DIGITAL & SOCIAL COVERAGE

F1 ON NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA: NBC Sports Live Extra — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets — will live stream the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday, May 26, as well as qualifying on Saturday, May 25, and practice on Thursday, May 23. A vast majority of coverage will be streamed via “TV Everywhere,” the media industry’s effort to make quality content available to authenticated customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.

Coverage airing on:

  • NBC will live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra;
  • NBC Sports Network will live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra, and to the digital platforms of participating cable, satellite, and telco services, via “TV Everywhere,” which is available on an authenticated basis to subscribers of participating MVPDs.

F1 ON MOTORSPORTSTALK: MotorSportsTalk (@MotorSportsTalk) on NBCSports.com brings racing fans up-to-the-minute news, video and information on Formula One™, IZOD IndyCar Series, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and all other motorsports racing from around the world. The site also serves as the destination for all news, analysis and video from NBC and NBC Sports Network productions of F1 and IndyCar, including contributions from on-air commentators.

MotorSportsTalk’s content is provided by top racing journalists and expert analysts, including:

  • Keith Collantine (@KeithCollantine), editor and creator of the F1Fanatic blog;
  • Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) creator of the F1 site RichlandF1.com.

To explore the site, please visit MotorSportsTalk.com.nbcsports.com or www.NBCSports.com.

SOCIAL: Follow @MotorsportsTalk, @F1onNBCSports and @NBCSN on Twitter and “like” Facebook.com/NBC Sports for the most up-to-date news, videos and commentary about Formula One on NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network.

Commentator Twitter Chats – During the week of the Monaco race, F1 on NBC Sports commentators including @leighdiffey, @mrstevematchett, @mrdavidhobbs and @willbuxton will take part in various Twitter Chats allowing fans to get their questions answered from our very own experts.

For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com.

—NBC SPORTS GROUP—
Filed Under: Auto Racing, NBC

ESPN Extends Andy Katz Contract

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment
espnESPN has reached a contract extension with college basketball reporter Andy Katz to continue his multi-platform role for ESPN.com and ESPN networks. The multi-year agreement will see Katz to a more than 20-year career at ESPN.
 
Katz, who joined ESPN in 1999, will continue his daily written and video contributions as senior college basketball writer for ESPN.com, in addition to contributions for ESPN the Magazine. After the debut of his weekly show, Katz Korner, and hosting The Experts on ESPNU, his role on ESPN networks will continue to expand in both a reporting and hosting capacity for Outside the Lines on ESPN. His reporting role will also continue courtside, as well as in studio, during college basketball games.
 
Katz is set to continue his ESPN Audio initiatives, collaborating with college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg in a podcast series that re-airs on ESPN Radio Saturday mornings.
 
“Across every ESPN platform, Andy continues to be an invaluable asset to our coverage of NCAA basketball and the NBA Draft,” said Patrick Stiegman, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief, ESPN.com. “No one works harder than Andy, and that shows in his work for ESPN.”
 
Added Katz, “This is home for me and my family now.  I put tremendous value on the people I work for and with at ESPN. This new contract gives me the chance to explore even more opportunities that simply are not possible at other places. I feel fortunate to work with so many pros from editors to producers to cameramen and everyone else involved in a show or story. The first 14 years here have been rewarding and challenging and I expect the next few years to be similar, with even more room for growth.”
 
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Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Basketball

Real Sports returns Tuesday

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

hbo-real-sportsREAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL

PROFILES PENN STATE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH BILL O’BRIEN;

TELLS THE DRAMATIC STORY OF TWO CITIES BONDING OVER TRAGEDY;

EXPLORES VIOLENT ATTACKS ON GAME OFFICIALS IN AMERICA; AND

REVISITS THE FASCINATING WORLD OF HORSE BREEDING

WHEN THE EMMY®-WINNING SHOW RETURNS MAY 21, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

Now in its 19th season, REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL, TV’s most honored sports journalism series and the only sports program recognized with a prestigious 2012 George Foster Peabody Award, presents more enterprising features and reporting when its 194th edition, available in HDTV, debuts TUESDAY, MAY 21 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Other HBO playdates: May 21 (2:35 a.m.), 23 (6:30 p.m., 2:40 a.m.), 25 (8:30 a.m., 11:15 p.m.), 28 (7:00 p.m.) and 31 (3:30 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), and June 2 (9:30 a.m.), 5 (10:15 a.m.) and 7 (9:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: May 24 (6:00 a.m., 8:30 p.m.), 27 (2:40 p.m.) and 29 (3:25 p.m., 11:35 p.m.), and June 3 (7:00 p.m., 3:25 a.m.) and 8 (10:30 a.m.)

HBO On Demand® availability: May 27-June 17. The show will also be available on HBO GO®.

Segments include:

*Family Ties. After nearly 20 years in college and pro football, Bill O’Brien finally attained the head coaching job he coveted. Prior to the 2012 season, the 43-year-old Brown alum took over a Penn State University program devastated by the child sex abuse scandal involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Then the NCAA hit the university with a $60 million fine, scholarship reductions and a four-year bowl ban for lack of institutional control. After an 0-2 start amidst these unprecedented sanctions, O’Brien rallied his team to win eight of the next ten games, exceeding all expectations. He learned resilience in the face of adversity from his ten-year-old son, Jack, who suffers from a debilitating brain disorder and fights to survive every day of his life.  Andrea Kremer goes one-on-one with the 2012 National Coach of the Year and learns how his son’s condition helped prepare him for the challenges he’s encountered in turning around a program shattered by scandal.

Producer: Chapman Downes.

 

            *Oklahoma Strong. Each year, around the anniversary of the 1995 terrorist bombing of the Murrah Building, Oklahoma City holds a marathon to honor the 168 people killed and the hundreds injured in the attack. This year’s race occurred just two weeks after the Boston Marathon, where terrorists claimed three lives and injured more than 200, and participants honored those affected by that recent tragedy with donations and showed solidarity by wearing red socks. In this REAL SPORTS/Sports Illustrated collaboration, correspondent Mary Carillo meets several of the inspirational characters who have survived these tragedies and are taking strides – literally – toward healing.

Producer: Jordan Kronick.

*Ref Assaults. On a recent Saturday afternoon in late April, Salt Lake City resident Ricardo Portillo was doing what he loved to do in his free time, refereeing a local soccer game. When the game became too physical, the longtime official made a typical call in what was up to that point a typical game, issuing a yellow card to a goalie. As he wrote down the player’s name and number, the 17-year-old goalie allegedly threw a swift punch to Portillo’s head. The 46-year-old collapsed, slipped into a coma shortly after, and died a week later. While it is extremely rare in the U.S. for an attack on a referee to result in death, physical assaults by players and coaches are happening at an alarming rate, and officials are receiving security escorts following events with increasing frequency. REAL SPORTS correspondent Jon Frankel sets out to discover why referees are so often faced with danger and what can be done to remedy the troubling trend.

Producer: Nick Dolin.

 

            *Out to Stud.  The prized stallion Storm Cat was euthanized at Overbrook Farm in Lexington, Ky., due to complications of old age, on April 24, 2013. A descendant of Triple Crown winner Secretariat, he was once the most sought-after thoroughbred sire in horse racing, with his offspring earning more than $100 million at the tracks. Commanding a stud fee of $500,000 per session, Storm Cat brought his owners millions of dollars from eager breeders hoping to cash in on his proven genetic strength.

In the late 2000s, however, the recession hit the once-booming horse breeding industry particularly hard, resulting in much lower stud fees. After Storm Cat retired, attention turned to the engaging Zenyatta, who became the first filly to win the Breeder’s Cup Classic in 2009. Unlike Storm Cat, Zenyatta does not get paid to reproduce, but her offspring are the most talked-about in the industry. In this REAL SPORTS update, correspondent Bernard Goldberg heads back to Kentucky to assess the changing landscape of horse breeding.

Producers: Nisreen Habbal, Lisa Bennett.

REAL SPORTS was the sole sports program recognized in 2012 with a George F. Peabody Award for broadcast excellence by the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. In addition, it is the only sports program ever honored with the duPont Award, having first been recognized in 2005, and receiving its second duPont Award in 2012.

At the 34th Annual Sports Emmy® Awards on May 7, REAL SPORTS captured two trophies, for Outstanding Edited Sports Series and for Outstanding Long Feature for the Aug. 2012 profile of former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason. REAL SPORTS has won the Sports Emmy® for Outstanding Sports Journalism 15 times and has received 25 Sports Emmy® Awards overall.

Follow REAL SPORTS updates on Facebook at facebook.com/realsports or join the conversation on Twitter using #RealSports.

The executive producer of REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL is Rick Bernstein; Joe Perskie is senior producer.

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Filed Under: HBO
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