FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
Pereira & Mora Jr. Make NFL on FOX Debuts Thursday Night
NFL on FOX Preseason Kicks-Off with Patriots/Falcons & Eagles/Bengals
TO & Ochocinco Fire Questions at Each Other In Special Interview Friday at Halftime
Johnson on Vikings: Special Treatment of Players Was My Decision; Not the Players
FOXSports.com: End of The Road For Torre?
NFL ON FOX KICKS OFF PRESEASON: PATRIOTS @ FALCONS & EAGLES @ BENGALS — FOX Sports kicks off its Super Bowl season this week when the New England Patriots travel to Atlanta for a clash with the Falcons Thursday, August 19 (8:00 PM ET) in the first of three preseason matchups. Super Bowl XLV’s broadcast team of Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver call all the action in Atlanta. New NFL on FOX rules analyst Mike Pereira makes his much-anticipated NFL on FOX debut during Thursday’s game when he joins Buck and Aikman in the booth. He’ll join the broadcast in the third quarter and also contribute and educate viewers if circumstances warrant a rules interpretation or explanation. FOX NFL SUNDAY host Curt Menefee welcomes fans live from the Georgia Dome and is joined by new NFL on FOX analyst Jim Mora Jr. Together they handle pregame, halftime and postgame coverage.
FOX Sports’ second preseason matchup takes place from Paul Brown stadium in Cincinnati on Friday, August 20 (8:00 PM ET) as the Bengals faceoff against the Philadelphia Eagles. Play-by-play broadcaster Kenny Albert is joined by analyst Daryl Johnston and on-field analyst Tony Siragusa to call the action between these two playoff teams from last season. Menefee handles pregame, halftime and postgame coverage live from Cincinnati. At halftime, Cincinnati Bengals stars and the NFL’s most intriguing receiving duo, Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, find out if they are really two-of-a-kind when the fire questions at each other in a special back-and-forth interview.
For instant updates during the week and games from the entire NFL on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NFLONFOX.
JOHNSON: PLAYERS WHO GOT SPECIAL TREATMENT WAS MY DECISION; NOT THE PLAYERS After months of uncertainty and rumors, Brett Favre officially announced today that he will be returning to the Vikings for his 20th season in the NFL. FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Jimmy Johnson has been monitoring the situation all off-season and as a Super Bowl-winning head coach, doesn’t like who seems to be calling the shots for the Vikings. “I’m really uncomfortable with how the situation in Minnesota played out with Brett Favre. I expected all of our star players to be on time and go through the same drills and have the same rules as a backup offensive guard. As a head coach and at my choosing, I might sit them out a practice, drill or give some leeway on curfew. They had privileges because they were great performers but they were still expected to do everything that the other players did. It was at my choosing, not at the demand of the individual to say, ‘I’m not going to come to training camp.’ When you anoint someone as your savior you’re not going to get the maximum performance out of the rest of your players. What happens if Favre doesn’t have that magical season he did a year ago? What happens if his ankle isn’t 100%?”
MLB DIVISIONAL RIVALRIES COLLIDE THIS SATURDAY ON FOX – The FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK enters Week 20 on Saturday, August 21 (4:00 PM ET) with three matchups featuring division-leaders.
The Phillies have been on a roll recently, keeping the pressure on the NL East-leading Braves. After losing Chipper Jones to a season-ending knee injury, Atlanta is looking to bolster their lineup. In Minneapolis, Joe Mauer and the Twins host the Angels. As of today, the AL Central leaders have won eight of their last 10 to open up a four-game lead over the Chicago White Sox. Cliff Lee and the AL West-leading Rangers are in the Baltimore to take on an Orioles team that continues to play well under manager Buck Showalter. This week, the pregame show originates live from Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore with host Chris Rose. Once game action begins, Rose joins analyst Mark Grace in the booth.
For instant updates throughout the week and during games from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX. Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.myspace.com/foxsports.
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST COV.
Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs Kenny Albert & Tim McCarver 63%
Wrigley Field – Chicago, IL
MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Denver, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Salt Lake City, San Diego, St. Louis, Tampa, West Palm Beach
Probable Pitchers: Tommy Hanson, RHP (8-8, 3.41 ERA) vs. Tom Gorzelanny, LHP (6-7, 3.85 ERA)
Los Angeles Angels at Minnesota Twins Dick Bremmer, Jose Mota 19%
& Ken Rosenthal
Target Field – Minneapolis, MN
MARKETS INCLUDE: Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco
Probable Pitchers: Trevor Bell, RHP (1-3, 5.40 ERA) vs. Kevin Slowey, RHP (11-5, 4.22 ERA)
Texas Rangers at Baltimore Orioles Chris Rose & Mark Grace 17%
Oriole Park at Camden Yards – Baltimore, MD
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Austin, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Seattle, Tulsa, Washington
Probable Pitchers: Cliff Lee, LHP (10-6, 2.77 ERA) vs. Brad Bergesen, RHP (4-9, 5.80 ERA)
MOROSI: TORRE THINKING ABOUT THE END – FOXSports.com’s national MLB writer Jon Paul Morosi wouldn’t be surprised if Joe Torre walks away from his job as Dodgers manager when the season is over. Given some of the upheaval in the Dodgers front office and Torre’s own words, Morosi believes that Torre will not manage in 2011. “Yes, Torre could make another $4 million or so in 2011 and we can’t dismiss that as a motivation. This is a man who reminded reporters Tuesday that he signed with the Milwaukee Braves in 1960 because “they gave me the most money.” He probably doesn’t want to spend his winter wondering if the Dodgers can afford the 200-inning starter from last year’s wish list. The divorce trial for Frank and Jamie McCourt is set to begin later this month, but it will be some time before absolute sovereignty is clear.”
For more columns from Morosi and other FOXSports.com MLB writer’s log onto www.foxsports.com/mlb
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