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Archives for January 2010

Pittsburgh Penguins At Washington Capitals Flexed As NBC Sports’ “Game Of The Week” Sunday, Feb. 7, At Noon ET

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FEBRUARY 7 NBC SPORTS FLEX SCHEDULING

ALEX OVECHKIN AND THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS TAKE ON SIDNEY CROSBY AND THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ON NBC SPORTS’ “GAME OF THE WEEK” SUNDAY, FEB. 7, AT NOON ET

Next Three “Game of the Week” Telecasts Set

NEW YORK (January 21, 2010) – The Sunday, Feb. 7, Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals game has been flexed as NBC Sports’ “Game of the Week” and will be played at Verizon Center at the special time of Noon ET, the National Hockey League and NBC Sports announced today.  Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin last spring delighted the sports world with a memorable seven-game playoff series, including both superstars recording a hat trick in Game 2, that elevated what had been a rivalry between individuals into what many are calling the NHL’s best current team rivalry.

Both the teams and superstars are at it again this season.  Ovechkin has 65 points in 41 games, including 15 in his last seven games.  Crosby has 63 points in 50 games, including 14 in his last seven games.  Ovechkin has 30 goals this season, tying him for third in the NHL.  Crosby has 32 goals this season, second in the League behind San Jose’s Patrick Marleau who has 34.  Ovechkin had five points against Toronto last Friday. Crosby had six against the Islanders Tuesday night.

The surging Capitals, who have won seven of their last eight games, currently sit atop the Eastern Conference standings.  The Penguins have won five of their last eight games and reside in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

The Capitals and Penguins face each other for the first time this season tonight, Thursday, Jan. 21, at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh.  The game will be televised locally on FSN Pittsburgh and Comcast SportsNet in Washington and nationally in the U.S. on NHL Network.

ADDITIONAL “GAME OF THE WEEK” MATCHUPS

This Sunday, the Penguins travel to Philadelphia to face the Flyers at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC.  This Keystone State rivalry has reached the boiling point after the Penguins eliminated the Flyers from the playoffs in two hard-fought series each of the past two seasons.

Sunday, Jan. 31, features a rematch of the last two Stanley Cup Finals when the Detroit Red Wings visit the Penguins in Pittsburgh.  Another great NHL rivalry was forged when the Penguins won the Stanley Cup last spring in seven games to dethrone the Red Wings, who had won in six games the previous season against the Penguins.  Jan. 31 marks the first meeting between Pittsburgh and Detroit this season.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING

At least 13 days prior to the scheduled game, one game is selected for broadcast on NBC.  All NBC games will be broadcast on Sundays and all games will be presented in HD.  Games not flexed to NBC will be available to the teams’ regional carriers and remain at the originally announced start time.

Upcoming 2010 NBC Game of the Week Regular-Season Flexible Schedule

Jan. 24 PITTSBURGH AT PHILADELPHIA 12:30 p.m. ET
Jan. 31 DETROIT AT PITTSBURGH 12:30 p.m. ET
Feb. 7 PITTSBURGH AT WASHINGTON Noon ET
Mar. 7 Boston at Pittsburgh OR
Detroit at Chicago OR
Carolina at Atlanta		 12:30 p.m. ET
Mar. 14 Philadelphia at NY Rangers OR
Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay OR
Washington at Chicago OR
Colorado at Dallas		 12:30 p.m. ET
Mar. 21 NY Rangers at Boston OR
Buffalo at Carolina		 12:30 p.m. ET
Apr. 4 Detroit at Philadelphia 12:30 p.m. ET
Apr. 11 Boston at Washington      OR
NY Rangers at Philadelphia OR
Detroit at Chicago		 TBD

##### (1/21/10)

NASCAR on FOX Broadcasters “Excited” & “Thrilled” About ‘Back-To-Basics’ Racing

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NASCAR ON FOX BROADCASTERS “EXCITED” & “THRILLED”

ABOUT ‘BACK-TO-BASICS’ RACING

New York, NY – In its continuing effort to get “back to basics,” NASCAR CEO and Chairman Brian France today announced significant rules changes that will greatly impact NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing this season.

In addition to adopting earlier and consistent start times, which were announced late last year, NASCAR will “relax some on-track rules, putting racing back in drivers’ hands in 2010.”  The on-track changes announced today include: Bump-drafting rules will be eliminated at superspeedways (Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway) and teams will use bigger restrictor plates at Daytona, giving drivers more horsepower.  NASCAR also announced a significant change to Sprint Cup Series cars, including replacing the rear wing with a more traditional spoiler.

NASCAR on FOX broadcasters are looking forward changes for 2010:

Race Announcer, Mike Joy:

“I am really encouraged by NASCAR’s relaxing of the bump-drafting rules, and it will lead to a really exciting Daytona 500.  The strategy of drafting may change dramatically, as two cars bump drafting together can often be faster than the long freight-train drafts that we are used to seeing.”

Race Analyst, Larry McReynolds:

“NASCAR has put racing back in the hands of the drivers and that is a positive change. I’ve said all along, you can’t tell these drivers how to drive. NASCAR is not making decisions solely on its own, and that’s very important.  They’re talking to drivers, teams, owners and getting their opinions and they’re listening to the fans.  I really like the things NASCAR is doing and I am excited for 2010!”

Prerace & Race Analyst, Darrell Waltrip:

“When I heard NASCAR talk about losing the wing and going back to the traditional spoiler that we’ve all looked at for 50 years, I was thrilled!  Losing the wing will give cars that conventional stock car look.  And a bigger restrictor plate will make racing better and drivers happier.  It’s a change that a fan won’t see or feel, but the driver will.  It will give them so much more throttle response.  It’s like swapping a four cylinder engine for a V8.”

Waltrip on the Yellow Line Rule Staying Put (For Now): “I understand the concern about eliminating the yellow line completely, but I’d be in favor of the boundary rule being waived for the final lap. Drivers will give it everything they have and we’ll all get to see more exciting finishes. Regan Smith would have won Talladega and Carl Edwards would have won Talladega last year, if we didn’t have the yellow line rule on the last lap.  I’m glad NASCAR will continue to look at it for the future.”

–FOX SPORTS–

“She looks great, like no time has passed.” – NBC’s Hamilton on Sasha Cohen

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LADIES TAKE THE ICE IN HOPES OF MAKING THE OLYMPIC TEAM AS NBC SPORTS AND UNIVERSAL SPORTS LIVE COVERAGE OF THE AT&T U.S. FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS CONTINUES

Expanded Live Coverage of the Ladies Free Skate Begins Tonight on Universal Sports

“She looks great, like no time has passed.” – NBC’s Hamilton on Sasha Cohen

NEW YORK – January 21, 2010 – The remainder of U.S. Olympic figure skating team (ladies and dance) will be determined this weekend as NBC Sports and Universal Sports present live coverage of the AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships, including live primetime coverage of the Ladies Free Skate on Saturday on NBC and expanded live coverage of the Ladies Short Program tonight on Universal Sports.

Coverage on NBC Sports includes the Ladies Free Skate live on Saturday in primetime (9-11 p.m. ET/PT).  Earlier in the day, NBC Sports will have live coverage of the Free Dance and taped coverage of the Ladies Short Program (3-6 p.m. ET).  Universal Sports’ coverage begins tonight at 10:30 p.m. ET with live coverage of the Ladies short program.  *Coverage on Universal Sports is expanded to four hours tonight from the two hours that was announced previously.

The U.S. Figure Skating Championships, held annually since 1914, is the nation’s most prestigious figure skating event, and this year’s event will go a long way in determining the U.S. team for Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, which begin Feb. 12 on NBC.

Coverage this weekend will also include the official announcement of the U.S. Olympic team on Sunday in primetime (9-11 p.m. ET/PT) along with the Exhibition of Champions and a full recap of the competition on Sunday (4-6 p.m. ET).

Event host Bob Costas and legendary figure skater and announcer Dick Button host NBC Sports’ coverage from Spokane Arena in Spokane, Wash.  NBC’s Olympic figure skating broadcast team of Tom Hammond (play-by-play), Scott Hamilton (analyst), Sandra Bezic (analyst), and Andrea Joyce (reporter) will call the action for both NBC and Universal Sports.

COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS:
– Saturday, 3-6 p.m. ET – Free Dance (Live), Ladies Short
– Saturday, 9-11 p.m. ET/PT – Ladies Free Skate (Live)
– Sunday, 4-6 p.m. ET – Recap of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships
– Sunday, 9-11 p.m. ET/PT – Exhibition of Champions and announcement of U.S. Olympic Team

UNIVERSAL SPORTS COVERAGE:
– Tonight, 10:30 p.m. – 2:30 a.m. ET – Ladies Short (Live)
– Tomorrow, 11 p.m. – 12 midnight ET – Original Dance (Live)
– Saturday, 11 p.m. – 2 a.m. ET – Ladies Short and Free Dance (Re-Air of NBC Show)
– Sunday, 2-4 a.m. ET (late Saturday night) – Ladies Free Skate (Re-Air NBC Show)

COMPETITION PREVIEW:
LADIES: Two Olympic berths are at stake. 2006 Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen makes her much anticipated return to competitive skating in Spokane.  She made her last competitive appearance at the 2006 World Championships in Calgary.  Competing against Cohen for a berth on the U.S. Olympic team is two-time defending U.S. silver medalist Rachel Flatt.  Flatt, the 2008 World Junior Champion, and Japan’s Miki Ando are the only ladies who have beaten world champion Kim Yu-Na in a competition segment this season (no one has beaten her overall). Flatt defeated Kim in the free skate at Skate America in November.  Other competition for the Olympic spots will come from defending U.S. champion Alissa Czisny, defending U.S. bronze medalist Caroline Zhang and 2008 U.S. champion Mirai Nagasu.  2007 U.S. silver medalist Emily Hughes makes her first appearance at nationals since 2007; she missed the past two years due to injuries. She is on a one-year break from Harvard, hoping to qualify for her second Olympics. Hughes is the younger sister of 2002 Olympic champion Sarah Hughes.

NBC’S SCOTT HAMILTON BREAKS DOWN LADIES COMPETITION AFTER WATCHING PRACTICE YESTERDAY:

On Sasha Cohen: “She looks great, like no time has passed.  Some things actually look better than they did four years ago.  A lot of the people that she’s competing against have had four years to kind of up their game and get used to competing under this system, and one thing that might hold her back is the fact that she hasn’t been on competitive ice, but she looked really comfortable.  She was very happy and practiced well.  She’ll be in the mix throughout.”

On the Ladies Competition: “It’s going to be an exciting competition and there is no sure thing.  There are a lot of women this year that can rise to the challenge and with two good performances could accumulate enough points to win this thing.  You look at Alissa (Czisny), the defending champion, who’s skating very well here.  You can look at Rachael Flatt who’s turned in performance after performance and seems to be consistent enough to skate well under that kind of pressure.  Then you have to look at Ashley Wagner who has been coming on strong and then the champion of two years ago, Mirai Nagasu, who looks really good, really calm.  The U.S. has only two spots on the women’s team and we have more ladies than that poised and in shape and ready to try to claim one of those two spots.”

DANCE: Three Olympic berths are at stake. Five-time U.S. champions Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto compete for their sixth U.S. title; a win would give them the record for most U.S. dance titles. Belbin and Agosto are already the most successful U.S. dance team in history, with four world medals, three Four Continents titles, and an Olympic silver medal from Torino.  Their main competition will come from 2009 U.S. champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who are fresh off a win at the Grand Prix Final, the first-ever by an American team.  Davis & White have never defeated Belbin & Agosto in competition.  They won at Nationals last year when Belbin and Agosto did not compete.  Also competing for one of the three Olympic spots are are two-time U.S. bronze medalists Kimberly Navarro & Brent Bommentre, defending U.S. silver medalists Emily Samuelson & Evan Bates and 2009 world junior champions Madison Chock & Greg Zuerlein, who will make their senior debut in Spokane.

HAMILTON ON DANCE COMPETITION: “The U.S. has never been this well represented in a dance event going into Olympics as we are this year. Tanith and Ben and Meryl and Charlie are two of the best dance teams in the world, so they’re going at it nose to nose competing for the National Title because that would give them momentum into the Olympics.  It’s going to be interesting to see who wins there because Charlie and Meryl have been on the rise like crazy, but Tanith and Ben won a medal last Olympics and they’ve been dominant on the international stage.”

NBC SPORTS AND U.S. FIGURE SKATING ASSOCIATION: NBC Sports and U.S. Figure Skating are in the third year of a multiyear partnership under which NBC will broadcast live high-definition coverage of the AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships, including Saturday night primetime coverage of the ladies free skate, as well as Skate America. The deal between NBC and the USFSA was extended last year and continues through the 2014 U.S. Championships

Sunday NFL Countdown and NFL Matchup Features for NFL Conference Championship Sunday

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Sunday NFL Countdown and NFL Matchup Features for NFL Conference Championship Sunday

Sunday NFL Countdown featuring Chris Berman, Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson will preview the AFC and NFC Championship games Sunday at 11 a.m. ET.  Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will provide headlines and league news.

Sunday’s pre-game show will offer team reports from Sal Paolantonio (Jets) and Suzy Kolber (Colts) at the AFC Championship in Indianapolis, as well as Ed Werder (Vikings) and Rachel Nichols (Saints) at the NFC Championship in New Orleans.  Planned features:

Rex Ryan – The Press Conference: In his first press conference as Jets head coach, Rex Ryan said his team would be meeting President Obama soon as a Super Bowl champion.  Since then, Ryan has been a walking sound bite, a New York tabloid headline writer’s dream, and has filled reporters’ notebooks while raising the ire of some of his opponents.  Greg Garber reports on the experience of a Rex Ryan press conference.

Sidney Rice’s Ball Drills: Countdown’s Cris Carter, a former Vikings receiver, joins Sidney Rice in a training session where the current Viking addresses how he improved his craft with unique ball drills, transforming his career from a virtual unknown to Pro Bowl player.

Saints – The Soul of New Orleans: New Orleans is jazz music playing in the French Quarter, feasting on beignets at Café du Monde, and a rebuilding city post-Hurricane Katrina. But the soul of New Orleans rests in its football team.  ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine senior writer Wright Thompson, a Gulf Coast native, reports on how New Orleans and its residents are handling the excitement of hosting their first NFC Championship game – one game away from the team’s first Super Bowl.

Mayne Event: Ada, Oklahoma & J-E-T-S: In the small Southern town of Ada, Okla., it has become an urban legend that one can get arrested and tossed into jail for wearing a New York Jets jersey.  In this week’s “Mayne Event,” Kenny Mayne tries to get Ada and its residents onto the Jets’ bandwagon.

EA Sports Virtual Playbook: Brett Favre vs. Saints Safety Darren Sharper: Favre and Sharper were teammates in Green Bay for eight seasons, facing each other in practices.  In EA Sports Virtual Playbook, Tom Jackson analyzes how the impending on-the-field chess match between the Vikings quarterback and Saints safety will be one of the key matchups in the NFC Championship.

Berman, Carter, Ditka, Jackson and Johnson will pick the conference championship games, preview the key players and matchups in their “Championship Game X Factors,” and offer tale-of-the-tape insight about the games.

NFL MATCHUP SUNDAY 3 A.M. AND 7:30 A.M.

NFL Matchup (Sunday at 3 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.) with host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge will preview the NFL Conference Championship games.  Sunday’s features:

Jets “D” vs. Colts “O” –

  • Hoge reveals how the Colts offense can attack the Jets’ vulnerabilities on defense with the running game.
  • Jaworski shows how late movement before the snap and quick inside pressure can break down the Indianapolis offensive line and disrupt their offense.

Jets “O” vs. Colts “D”

  • Jaworski illustrates how New York must take some shots downfield in predominantly running situations for big plays.
  • Hoge highlights how the Colts defense can exploit Mark Sanchez’s inability to account for free rushers.

Vikings “O” vs. Saints “D”

  • The Saints defense uses late movements and disguises.  Jaworski points out how the Vikings offense Sunday exploited the Cowboys defense that resembles the Saints.
  • At 40 years old, Brett Favre continues to make plays outside the pocket and as Hoge shows, the Saints must be wary of Favre’s ability to improvise.

Vikings “D” vs. Saints “O”

  • Jaworski goes back to game film from Week 5 of the 2008 season to explain how New Orleans successfully attacked Minnesota’s linebackers in pass coverage, a key matchup Sunday.
  • Hoge pulls out his ‘Coaches Clicker’ to show how Minnesota can get free rushers to the Saints quarterback without sacrificing players in coverage.

– 30 –

ESPNU Campus Connection Week Features College Students Contributing to ESPN Telecasts

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ESPNU Campus Connection Week Features College Students Contributing to ESPN Telecasts

For the second consecutive year, ESPN will provide college students with an opportunity to participate in the production of men’s and women’s college basketball telecasts as part of ESPNU Campus Connection Week from Monday, Jan. 25, to Sunday, Jan. 31. Throughout the week, telecasts will provide viewers with an all-access pass to campus life through student-generated content from across the country. Editorial roles include producer, sideline reporter, play-by-play announcer, stage manager, camera operator, statistician, audio assistant and more.

ESPNU Campus Connection Week will feature student involvement in 49 men’s and women’s games across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, highlighted by two featuring more than 10 students contributing to the overall telecast in key roles. ESPNU will televise those two games, both featuring men’s conference showdowns: Alabama State at Southern on Monday, Jan. 25, at 9 p.m. ET and No. 24 Mississippi at Auburn on Thursday, Jan. 28, at 9 p.m. (a complete schedule is below).

ESPNU Campus Connection Week Highlights on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU:

  • ESPNU Campus Connection Week will encompass coverage of 81 schools representing 16 conferences.
  • Every game will feature at least one ESPNU Campus Connection element and one profile on a student-athlete.
  • The “ESPNU Extra Credit” segment – student(s) conveying something unique about his/her college – will return for 30 of the 49 games. For example, Notre Dame students will provide insight into why the football program’s slogan “Play Like A Champion” is for more than just the team.
  • Telecasts involving Texas, Maryland, Boston College and DePaul will have a student sideline reporter from those respective schools. Highlights include Dan Duquette Jr., son of the former Boston Red Sox general manager, working a Boston College game and DePaul softball player Sheana Warren working a Blue Demons game.
  • Some of the participating students will be “embedded reporters” among the fans during telecasts featuring some of the most vocal student sections in the BIG EAST, including Marquette, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Villanova and West Virginia.
  • Former Campus Connection student reporter and current ESPN analyst Abby Waner will be a reporter on two ESPNU women’s telecasts: Louisiana Tech at Nevada on Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 11 p.m. and Georgia at Auburn Sunday, Jan, 31, at 6 p.m. In addition to Waner, two former Campus Connection students now work at ESPN, both in behind-the-scenes production roles.
  • ESPNU will offer several “For Love of the Game” interstitials featuring testimonials from student-athletes on why they love what they do, including from Quincy Pondexter (Washington), Malik Perry (Ball State) and Katrina Thompson (Duke).
  • Indiana and Illinois students will debate which of the school’s Assembly Hall basketball facilities is better.
  • Select telecasts will feature the integration of student radio calls.
  • Student-produced vignettes will be used during several telecasts.
  • Kansas State students will provide an inside look at a College GameDay Driven by State Farm telecast when the show originates from No. 3 Kansas at No. 9 Kansas State Saturday, Jan. 30, at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
  • Fans will have the opportunity to post comments and photos relevant to their respective institutions and alma maters on the college basketball and ESPNU.com sections of ESPN.com.

ESPNU Campus Connection Week is an expansion of the larger ESPNU Campus Connection brand that was launched in January 2008, a student-generated content initiative that involves more than 150 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. Students regularly provide content for game telecasts and studio shows through short-form pieces on student athletes and campus life, as reporters, on-air announcers, producers and camera operators, among other roles. The emphasis is on providing an authentic look at campus life through the eyes and voices of the students. Other examples have included writing articles for ESPN.com, programming the ESPNU network for a day and working on special academic projects.

In addition to opportunities during ESPNU Campus Connection Week, ESPNU will televise three additional basketball games with extensive college student participation in February:

Date Time (ET) Matchup Network
Thu, Feb 4 7 p.m. Florida at Alabama ESPNU
9 p.m. Alabama at Mississippi State (women) ESPNU
Sun, Feb 14 6 p.m. No. 25 Kentucky at No. 20 Vanderbilt (women) ESPNU

The week will feature action involving the top 12 men’s teams from the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 coaches’ poll and 18 ranked teams overall, including three telecasts pitting ranked teams against each other: No. 14 Georgetown at No. 5 Syracuse on Monday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. on ESPN; No. 19 Wisconsin at No. 15 Purdue on Thursday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN2; and No. 3 Kansas at No. 9 Kansas State on Saturday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

Highlights of women’s telecasts include No. 12 Baylor at No. 23 Texas (ESPN2) and No. 8 Georgia at Auburn (ESPNU) Sunday, Jan. 31, at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively; and No. 4 Ohio State at Purdue on Monday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

Date Time (ET) Matchup Network
Mon, Jan 25 4:30 p.m. Delaware State at Coppin State (women)

Charlie Neal & Renee Montgomery

 ESPNU
7 p.m. No. 14 Georgetown at No. 5 Syracuse

Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas & Bill Raftery

 ESPN / ESPN360.com
7 p.m. Delaware State at Coppin State

Charlie Neal & Mark Adams

 ESPNU
7 p.m. No. 4 Ohio State at Purdue (women)

Bob Wischusen, Carolyn Peck & Rebecca Lobo

 ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
9 p.m. Missouri at No. 3 Kansas

Brent Musburger, Bob Knight & Holly Rowe

 ESPN / ESPN360.com
9 p.m. Alabama State at Southern

Quint Kessenich & Stephen Howard

 ESPNU
11 p.m. Boise State at Idaho

Trey Bender & Bob Donewald

 ESPNU
Tue, Jan 26 7 p.m. No. 7 Michigan State at Michigan

Dave O’Brien, Steve Lavin & Erin Andrews

 ESPN / ESPN360.com
7 p.m. No. 16 Clemson at Boston College

Mike Patrick & Len Elmore

 ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
7 p.m. Miami at Maryland

Rob Stone, Drew Barry & Jon Barry

 ESPNU
9 p.m. No. 2 Kentucky at South Carolina

Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes & Jeannine Edwards

 ESPN / ESPN360.com
9 p.m. Rutgers at Marquette

Mike Gleason & Mike Kelley

 ESPNU
11 p.m. Louisiana Tech at Nevada (women)

Angie Kiel & Abby Waner

 ESPNU
Wed, Jan 27 7 p.m. Notre Dame at No. 4 Villanova

Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas & Allen Hopkins

 ESPN / ESPN360.com
7 p.m. Vanderbilt at No. 8 Tennessee

Carter Blackburn & Mark Gottfried

 ESPNU
7:30 p.m. Texas A&M at Oklahoma State

Ron Franklin & Hubert Davis

 ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
9 p.m. Florida State at No. 6 Duke

Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale & Heather Cox

 ESPN / ESPN360.com
9 p.m. Texas Tech at No. 1 Texas

Dan McLaughlin & Tim Welsh

 ESPNU
11 p.m. Boise State at Fresno State (women)

Trey Bender & Krista Blunk

 ESPNU
Thu, Jan 28 7 p.m. No. 19 Wisconsin at No. 15 Purdue

Brent Musburger & Steve Lavin

 ESPN / ESPN360.com
7 p.m. Seton Hall at South Florida

John Saunders & Bob Valvano

 ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
7 p.m. St. John’s at No. 11 Pittsburgh

Quint Kessenich & Bob Wenzel

 ESPNU
9 p.m. Mississippi State at Arkansas

Brad Nessler & Jimmy Dykes

 ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
9 p.m. No. 24 Mississippi at Auburn

Rob Stone & Jay Williams

 ESPNU
11 p.m. No. 10 Gonzaga at Santa Clara

Terry Gannon & Stephen Bardo

 ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
11 p.m. Portland at San Francisco

Dave Flemming & Krista Blunk

 ESPNU
Fri, Jan 29 4:30 p.m. Marist at Canisius (women)

Dean Darling & Mica Ryan

 ESPNU
7 p.m. Niagara at Canisius

Doug Sherman & Rob Kennedy

 ESPNU
9 p.m. No. 20 Butler at Wisconsin-Green Bay

Lou Cannellis & Mark Adams

 ESPNU
Sat, Jan 30 Noon Louisville at No. 12 West Virginia

Mike Patrick & Doris Burke

 ESPN / ESPN360.com
Noon LaSalle at Temple

Bob Wischusen & Tim Welsh

 ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
Noon Eastern Michigan at Miami (Ohio)

Jim Barbar & Tim McCormick

 ESPNU
2 p.m. Oklahoma State at Missouri

Ron Franklin & Fran Fraschilla

 ESPN / ESPN360.com
2 p.m. Indiana at Illinois

Dave O’Brien & Steve Lavin

 ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
2 p.m. Murray State at Tennessee-Martin

Dave Weekley & TBD

 ESPNU
4 p.m. Vanderbilt at No. 2 Kentucky

Brad Nessler & Jimmy Dykes

 ESPN / ESPN360.com
4 p.m. Youngstown State at Cleveland State

TBD & Jim Chones

 ESPNU
6 p.m. Notre Dame at Rutgers

Dave Pasch & Len Elmore

 ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
6 p.m. Charlotte at Massachusetts

Clay Matvick & Stephen Howard

 ESPNU
7 p.m. No. 3 Kansas at No. 9 Kansas State

Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale & Erin Andrews

 ESPN / ESPN360.com
8 p.m. Pacific at UC Riverside

Terry Gannon & Stephen Bardo

 ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
8 p.m. Providence at Cincinnati

Justin Kutcher & Dickey Simpkins

 ESPNU
10 p.m. Hawaii at Nevada

Trey Bender & Bob Donewald

 ESPNU
Sun, Jan 31 2 p.m. Manhattan at Saint Peter’s

Doug Sherman & Rob Kennedy

 ESPNU
3 p.m. Purdue at Iowa (women)

Beth Mowins & TBD

 ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
4 p.m. Marquette at DePaul (women)

Jim Barbar & Brooke Weisbrod

 ESPNU
5 p.m. No. 12 Baylor at No. 23 Texas (women)

Pam Ward & Kara Lawson

 ESPN2 / ESPN360.com
6 p.m. No. 8 Georgia at Auburn (women)

Dave Baker & Abby Waner

 ESPNU
8 p.m. Wichita State at Southern Illinois

Dan McLaughlin & Mac McCausland

 ESPNU

– 30 –

Former Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Tebow Headlines 2010 Senior Bowl Rosters

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FORMER HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER TIM TEBOW HEADLINES 2010 SENIOR BOWL ROSTERS

2010 UNDER ARMOUR SENIOR BOWL GAME AND PRACTICE COVERAGE JANUARY 25-30 EXCLUSIVELY ON NFL NETWORK

For the fourth consecutive year, NFL Network introduces viewers to the NFL’s next generation of talent with exclusive coverage of the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl from Mobile, AL.  High-definition coverage begins with practices on Monday, January 25 and culminates with the 60th annual Senior Bowl game Saturday, January 30 at 4:00 PM ET.

Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano and his staff coach the South team, while Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz and his staff lead the North team. Former college stars participating in this year’s Senior Bowl include: former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow of Florida, Javier Arenas of the national champion Alabama Crimson Tide, Lamarr Houston of Texas, Taylor Mays and Stafon Johnson of Southern California, Jimmy Graham and Darryl Sharpton of Miami, Penn State’s Jared Odrick and Sean Lee, Pat Angerer of Iowa, Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle of Florida State, Kurt Coleman of Ohio State, Brandon Graham of Michigan and Sam Young of Notre Dame.

Live practice coverage from Ladd-Peebles Stadium runs Monday through Thursday, January 28 with one-hour telecasts for both North and South teams. Each night at 8:00 PM ET, a 30-minute Path to the Draft Senior Bowl Recap Show from NFL Network’s Los Angeles studios provides interviews and analysis in reviewing the day’s action.

Coverage of the Senior Bowl game on Saturday begins at 3:00 PM ET with a NFL Total Access Senior Bowl Pregame Show from Los Angeles takes viewers straight up to the 4:00 PM ET kickoff. NFL Network’s on-air talent roster from Mobile includes Paul Burmeister, Mike Mayock, Corey Chavous, Lindsay Soto and Bucky Brooks with Randy Moss, Charles Davis and Michael Lombardi anchoring recap shows in Los Angeles. On gameday, Bob Papa, voice of NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football, has the call in the booth alongside Mayock and Davis with Burmeister and Chavous reporting from the sidelines.

The annual Senior Bowl is one of the first opportunities NFL head coaches, scouts and general managers have to evaluate upcoming talent. Eleven participants in the 2009 Senior Bowl were drafted in the first round and Clay Matthews (Packers) and Brian Cushing (Texans) earned Pro Bowl honors in their rookie seasons.

The 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl is part of NFL Network’s college football and Path to the Draft programming which includes the Insight Bowl, 2010 Scouting Combine and the 2010 NFL Draft. Live pick-by-pick coverage of the draft airs in primetime for the first time beginning on April 22 on NFL Network.

2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl on NFL Network Programming Schedule

(all times are ET)

Monday, Jan. 25

3:30 PM – Day 1: North Team Practice (HD)

8:00 PM – Path to the Draft: Under Armour Senior Bowl Recap Show: Day 1 (HD)

Tuesday, Jan. 26

12 NOON – Day 2: North Team Practice (HD)

3:00 PM ­– Day 2: South Team Practice (HD)

8:00 PM – Path to the Draft: Under Armour Senior Bowl Recap Show: Day 2 (HD)

Wednesday, Jan. 27

12 NOON – Day 3: North Team Practice (HD)

3:00 PM ­– Day 3: South Team Practice (HD)

8:00 PM – Path to the Draft: Under Armour Senior Bowl Recap Show: Day 3 (HD)

Thursday, Jan. 28

12 NOON – Day 4: North Team Practice (HD)

3:00 PM ­– Day 4: South Team Practice (HD)

8:00 PM – Path to the Draft: Under Armour Senior Bowl Recap Show: Day 4 (HD)

Saturday, Jan. 30

3:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD) – Under Armour Senior Bowl Pregame Show

4:00 PM – 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD) – Post-game analysis

NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the only television network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football. For more information, log on to www.nfl.com/nflnetwork.

NFL Network

MLB Network to Simulcast “Hope for Haiti Now” Telethon, Friday, January 22

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Please see below for more information regarding the Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief telethon which MLB Network will simulcast tomorrow, Friday, January 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET. MLB Network is the only sports network that will carry the telethon.

“HOPE FOR HAITI NOW: A GLOBAL BENEFIT FOR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF”
ADDS NEW MUSICAL PERFORMANCES AND CELEBRITY PARTICIPANTS TO SUPERSTAR LINEUP

Beyoncé to Perform in London

Madonna in New York City

Haitian Artist Emeline Michel in Los Angeles

Participants to include President Bill Clinton, Ben Stiller, Brad Pitt, Chris Rock,
Clint Eastwood, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jon Stewart, Julia Roberts,
Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Nicole Kidman,
Robert Pattinson, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hanks, Will Smith with Muhammad Ali,

and More Than One Hundred of the Biggest Names in Film, Television, and Music

“Hope for Haiti Now” to Begin Accepting Donations via Online, Phone, Text and Mail
at 12:00 p.m. ET/9:00 a.m. PT on Friday, January 22

Music Performances Available for Pre-Order Exclusively on iTunes

NEW YORK, NY; LOS ANGELES, CA; and LONDON, ENGLAND (JANUARY 21, 2010) – “Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief,” today announced the addition of new musical artists and celebrity participants to its lineup.   “Hope for Haiti Now” will air on Friday, January 22, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT and 7:00 p.m. CT

Newly added performers Beyoncé in London, Madonna in New York City, and Haitian artist Emeline Michel in Los Angeles will join the previously announced lineup: Wyclef Jean, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira, and Sting in New York City; Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift and a group performance by Keith Urban, Kid Rock, and Sheryl Crow in Los Angeles; and Coldplay, and a group performance by Bono, The Edge, Jay-Z, and Rihanna in London.

In addition to musical performances, Wyclef Jean in New York City, George Clooney in Los Angeles, and CNN’s Anderson Cooper reporting from Haiti, “Hope for Haiti Now” will feature President Bill Clinton, Ben Stiller, Brad Pitt, Chris Rock, Clint Eastwood, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jon Stewart, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Nicole Kidman, Robert Pattinson, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hanks, Will Smith with Muhammad Ali, and more than one hundred of the biggest names in film, television, and music.

“Hope for Haiti Now” will begin accepting donations at 12:00 p.m. ET/9:00 a.m. PT on Friday, January 22 via the following methods:

•         Online: www.hopeforhaitinow.org

•         Phone: 877-99-HAITI

•         Text: Text “GIVE” to 50555

•         Mail: Hope For Haiti Now Fund, Entertainment Industry Foundation,

1201 West 5th Street, Suite T-700, Los Angeles, CA 90017

Music performances from “Hope for Haiti Now” will be available for purchase and download on the iTunes® Store.  Beginning on Friday, iTunes customers will be able to exclusively pre-order both the “Hope for Haiti Now” full performance album ($7.99) and the full two-hour video telecast ($1.99).   Pre-orders will be delivered in the days following the telethon.  Individual audio performances will also be available for purchase and download for $.99 cents each in the days following the telethon.  Apple, the record labels and the artists will donate their share of the proceeds to Haiti relief funds managed by “Hope for Haiti Now” charities.

“Hope for Haiti Now” performances will also be available for purchase on AmazonMP3 and Rhapsody, with distribution provided by INgrooves. Proceeds from those purchases will also benefit Haiti relief funds managed by “Hope for Haiti Now” charities.

“Hope for Haiti Now,” will benefit Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme, Yele Haiti Foundation, and the newly formed Clinton Bush Haiti Foundation.  Proceeds from “Hope for Haiti Now” will be split among each organization’s individual funds for Haiti earthquake relief.  With the exception of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, each partner organization was selected for its history of operation and collaboration within the NGO community in Haiti.

“Hope for Haiti Now” will air across ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1, CMT, PBS, TNT, Showtime, COMEDY CENTRAL, Bravo, E! Entertainment, National Geographic Channel, Oxygen, G4, CENTRIC, Current TV, Fuse, MLB Network, EPIX, Palladia, SoapNet, Style, Discovery Health, Planet Green, CNN en Español, HBO Latino, and Canadian networks including CBC Television, CTV, Global Television, and MuchMusic.  The event will be live streamed online globally across sites including YouTube, Hulu, MySpace, Fancast, AOL, MSN.com, Yahoo, Bing.com, BET.com, CNN.com, MTV.com, VH1.com, and Rhapsody and on mobile via Alltel, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and FloTV. “Hope for Haiti Now” will also air internationally on BET International, CNN International, National Geographic, and MTV Networks International, which is available in 640 million homes worldwide.  “Hope for Haiti Now” will be available non-exclusively to all terrestrial radio stations around the globe and SIRIUS XM Radio as a one time only radio broadcast via the MTV Radio Network and Westwood One.

Based on production needs and venue sizes, all “Hope for Haiti Now” studio locations will be closed to the media.  Photos, pool video footage and talent interviews from “Hope for Haiti Now” will be serviced to news outlets immediately following the event.

“Hope for Haiti Now” is produced by Joel Gallen and Tenth Planet Productions, in collaboration with Viacom’s MTV Networks and George Clooney.

SHOWTIME Sports Announces Talent – INSIDE NASCAR

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SHOWTIME SPORTS® ANNOUNCES ‘INSIDE NASCAR’ TALENT:

CHRIS MYERS, RANDY PEMBERTON, BRAD DAUGHERTY, MICHAEL WALTRIP

Series Premiere Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010

At 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME®

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (January 21, 2010)—SHOWTIME Sports and NASCAR Media Group have tapped veteran sports television host Chris Myers and leading auto racing experts Randy Pemberton, Brad Daugherty and Michael Waltrip to serve as analysts for “Inside NASCAR” when the series premieres in February on SHOWTIME®.  The joint announcement was made today by Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports, Ken Hershman and Chief Operating Officer, NASCAR Media Group, Jay Abraham at a morning press conference during NASCAR Media Week.

Premium television’s first weekly highlights and analysis program dedicated to the sport, Inside NASCAR will premiere on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME®, immediately following the season finale of Inside The NFL, and run 38 consecutive weeks corresponding with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Inside NASCAR has all the angles covered with its charismatic on-air team and exclusive highlights and access afforded by NASCAR Media Group.  With a two-time Daytona 500 Champion (Waltrip), a team owner (Daugherty), and a life-long NASCAR insider (Pemberton), some of the sport’s most respected names will guide viewers through the ins and outs, the sudden turns and the high-octane drama of the racing season.

“The combination of experience, family history and passion for stock car racing makes this group as strong as any that has ever been assembled in a studio,” said Hershman. “We are looking for opinionated and vibrant personalities and I am confident that we’ve found them with these four gentlemen.”

“This impressive lineup of commentators will provide the kind of unique insights and sharp commentary appealing to NASCAR fans,” said Abraham.  “Fans have been telling us they’re looking forward to a high-end weekly NASCAR magazine news show in primetime, and we are thrilled to partner with SHOWTIME® to bring it to them.”

Myers, the Emmy® Award winning broadcaster out of Miami, Fla., is the studio host of NASCAR coverage on FOX and the network’s reporter for the NFL, BCS and MLB.  Prior to joining FOX, he anchored SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight on ESPN and covered the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, The Masters and The Olympics in a prolific career that began when Myers was just 16 years old.

“We have a great cross-section of perspective here,” said Myers. “With a former athlete and diehard NASCAR fan, one of the most experienced drivers in NASCAR, and lifelong reporter, I anticipate healthy doses of differing opinions and unique insight into every corner of racing.”

“On behalf of Randy, Brad and Michael,” continued Myers, “we are thrilled to be working together for the first time and excited to get in the studio and find our chemistry. The first show may be like a bad pit stop, but once we get our timing down, this will be a winning crew.”

One of the four brothers who have dedicated their lives to the business of racing, Pemberton began his television career in 1986 as a reporter and host for the syndicated television show This Week in Motorsports. Since then, Pemberton has produced and reported on over 500 NASCAR features for CBS, TNN, TBS, FSN, SPEED Channel, DirecTV and radio.  He has earned numerous awards for his work including the prestigious Russ Catlin Award for excellence in motorsports journalism on three occasions.  Pemberton currently is the host of NASCAR Race Hub and NASCAR in a Hurry and a garage reporter for NASCAR Live on SPEED Channel.

Daugherty, a former NBA number-one pick who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1986-1994 wore jersey No. 43 as a tribute to his hero, Richard Petty.  Daugherty has said his main goal was to make enough money on the court to one day be part of the NASCAR industry. Following his NBA career, Daugherty invested in the Liberty Racing NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team featuring drivers Kenny Irwin and Kevin Harvick.  He is currently a co-owner of JTG Daugherty Racing (NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series). Daugherty currently is an analyst on NASCAR Countdown and NASCAR Now on ESPN and is the founder of the Daugherty Foundation that works in Asheville, N.C., on community projects benefitting youth and fighting homelessness.

One of only three drivers in history to start more than 1,000 NASCAR races (Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck), Michael Waltrip has established his legacy in NASCAR—and he is not done yet. Born in a racing family, Michael watched his older brother Darrell Waltrip win three championships, before starting his own career in the Sprint Cup Series.  The younger Waltrip has collected five checkered flags, including two at The Great American Race, and a non-points win at the 1996 All-Star Challenge.  In a 25-year career he has amassed a remarkable 128 top-10 finishes in the Sprint Cup Series.  From his backyard garage in Kentucky, where Michael Waltrip Racing was born, to an accomplished team owner housing three Sprint Cup Series teams, Waltrip is among most colorful, polarizing and engaging characters in stock car racing.  In 2010, for the first time in nearly 30 years, Waltrip will run a limited schedule on the racetrack, continue his work at MWR and lend his insight to SHOWTIME Sports’ newest program.

Inside NASCAR is a natural extension of regularly scheduled SHOWTIME Sports programming, which includes the Emmy® Award winning Inside The NFL, live boxing and mixed martial arts events, and the critically acclaimed, behind-the-scenes documentary series Fight Camp 360°: Inside The Super Six World Boxing Classic, among other titles.

Inside NASCAR will emanate from the new, state-of-the-art NASCAR Hall of Fame in the birthplace of the sport, Charlotte, N.C.

ABOUT SHOWTIME NETWORKS

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

About NASCAR Media Group

NASCAR Media Group (NMG) is NASCAR’s media, marketing and entertainment company that creates and produces programming related to the sport, manages its media partnerships, and forges relationships to integrate NASCAR into mainstream entertainment.  Projects developed by NMG include award-winning television programs and theatrical releases, such as the acclaimed biopic “DALE”; Quest for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup; “NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience”; and “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.” Earlier this year, in partnership with BET, NASCAR Media Group announced the development of a new program, “Changing Lanes,” which will spotlight up and coming drivers and those supporting them behind the scenes, and this fall began producing Quest for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, an up close HD look at the drivers competing in NASCAR’s playoffs, for VERSUS.

Aikman: Vikings Have to Battle Superdome & the Saints Sunday

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FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

Saints/Vikings Clash in New Orleans for the NFC Title Sunday Night on FOX

FOX NFL SUNDAY Pregame Live from Louisiana Superdome: Coverage at 6:00 PM ET

Aikman: Vikings Will Have to Battle Superdome and the Saints on Sunday

Strahan: Jets Can Win If They Execute What They Do Best

THE NFL ON FOX PRESENTS FIRST-EVER NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME FROM NEW ORLEANS: A trip to Super Bowl XLIV is on the line on Sunday, Jan. 24 (6:00 PM ET) as the Saints and the Louisiana Superdome host their first ever NFC Championship Game. Drew Brees & Co. face as tough a matchup as the NFC can offer when Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson and the Vikings come to town. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver & Chris Myers call this high-octane battle for the NFC title in the Bayou.

Coverage begins at 6:00 PM ET with America’s most-watched pregame show, FOX NFL SUNDAY.  Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee co-host the Emmy Award-winning program and are joined by analysts Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Jimmy Johnson live at the Louisiana Superdome.  The crew is joined by NFL Insider Jay Glazer who presents the latest league news and scoops and comedic prognosticator Frank Caliendo contributes his conference championship “Frank’s Picks” segment. In this week’s Championship edition, Oliver sits down with Brett Favre to reflect on his improbable season. Johnson chats with New Orleans offensive weapons Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and Marques Colston. Strahan dissects the Vikings defense and how they match up with the Saints while Long looks at the Saints defense and if they can stop the Vikings offense. NFL on FOX’s John Lynch reports from Indianapolis with interviews and reaction from the AFC Championship Game between the Colts and Jets.

Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010

GAME BROADCASTERS TIME

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints Announcer Joe Buck                                         6:30 PM ET

Analyst Troy Aikman

Sideline Reporter Pam Oliver

Sideline Reporter Chris Myers

AIKMAN: VIKINGS GET A TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE AND WILL HAVE TO BATTLE THE SUPERDOME NOISE EARLY – NFL on FOX lead analyst Troy Aikman says the Superdome gives the Saints a certain edge this Sunday. “Part of playing on the road is mental,” said Aikman. “The Saints definitely have an advantage. Every single play becomes magnified and it can make you feel as though things are worse than they are. If you are playing at home and you don’t convert on a third down, you think ‘well, we’ll get the ball back.’ When you’re playing on the road in a big game and you get stopped on third down, the crowd goes bananas and it just feels like it’s worse than it really is. I think it’s a huge factor that the Vikings really have to block out, especially early in game. At some point, it doesn’t matter how loud it gets, if you can’t hear, you can’t hear. People assume the defense will have an advantage because Minnesota has to use a silent count but I think it is an equally big advantage for New Orleans offensively.”

STRAHAN ON JETS/COLTS: EVERYONE IS BEATABLE IF YOU EXECUTE WELL – FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Michael Strahan knows a little something about beating the odds and defeating a heavily favored team. Strahan looks at what has to happen for the Jets’ journey to continue to Super Bowl XLIV: “There’s no trick to winning. Once they kick the ball off, it’s football. Everybody is beatable. They’ve played Indianapolis already and they’ve seen Peyton Manning. The Jets do a great job of disguising their defense and sending blitzes. In order to throw Peyton off you have to throw him off his rhythm. It won’t be easy, but it’s possible. You aren’t going to out-smart Peyton Manning, he’s a four-time MVP and he knows every situation out there. The Jets’ defense has to do what their players are comfortable with and execute well for the best chance of winning.”

AIKMAN ON CHAN GAILEY HIRING IN BUFFALO – “From a personnel standpoint, the Buffalo Bills are built for defense. If they can continue to dominate like they were able to do defensively then Chan Gailey will put together a good running game. If you believe that running the football and playing good defense, as we see now with the New York Jets, can win you a title, then I think it was a good hire.”

— FOX SPORTS —

Shaun White Headlines Final Stop Of The U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix This Weekend On NBC Sports

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SHAUN WHITE HEADLINES FINAL STOP OF THE U.S. SNOWBOARDING GRAND PRIX THIS WEEKEND ON NBC SPORTS

Snowboarding and Freestyle Skiing from Park City, Utah Help to Determine U.S. Olympic Team

NEW YORK – Jan. 21, 2010 – Olympic Champions Shaun White, Kelly Clark and Hannah Teter compete among the best in snowboarding as NBC Sports presents taped coverage of the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix from Park City, Utah this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. Park City is the final stop of the Grand Prix, where winners will be crowned and the 2010 Olympic halfpipe team will be named.

Airing on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET, the Visa Freestyle International encompasses both moguls and aerials. Among those in moguls competition are World Cup Champion Hannah Kearney, Olympic silver medalist Shannon Bahrke and World Champion Patrick Deneen. World Champion Ryan St. Onge, World Cup winner and Olympian Jeret “Speedy” Peterson, and Utah native Lacy Schnoor lead the way in the aerials competition.

See details below on each event:

U.S. SNOWBOARDING GRAND PRIX, PARK CITY, UTAH:

ANNOUNCERS: Pat Parnell, Tina Dixon and Todd Richards of the NBC Sports
Olympic snowboarding broadcast team will call the action.

COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS: NBC will broadcast coverage of the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix, this Sunday from 3-4 p.m. ET.

VISA FREESTYLE INTERNATIONAL, PARK CITY, UTAH:

ANNOUNCERS: Todd Harris, Jonny Moseley and Tina Dixon of the NBC Sports
Olympic freestyle skiing broadcast team will call the action.

COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS: NBC will broadcast coverage of the Visa Freestyle International, this Saturday from 1:30-3 p.m. ET.