Sports Media News

Keeping Up With All The Industry Press Releases

Archives for April 2010

ESPN Wins Seven Sports Emmy Awards

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ESPN Wins Seven Sports Emmy Awards

ESPN won seven Sports Emmy Awards, presented for the 31st year by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences last night in New York.  ESPN’s commitment to innovation was recognized through honors for three of the network’s more creative series (Pardon the Interruption, E:60 and SportsNation), ESPN.com content, and the ground-breaking College GameDay weekly football road show.

E:60 won its first two Sports Emmys, in the Long Feature category for “Catfish Hunters,” a piece by Wright Thompson about fishing for catfish with bare hands, and in the Journalism category for “Wanted: Fugitive,” a Jeremy Schaap report about a former Binghamton University basketball player who fled to Serbia to avoid criminal charges in the U.S.  It was the ninth consecutive year ESPN received a Sports Emmy in one of the two categories for Features and the ninth time the company was honored for Journalism.

Two other shows also won their first Sports Emmy: Pardon the Interruption in the category Studio Show Daily; and SportsNation, which debuted in July 2009, in the category Graphic Design.

College GameDay won the Studio Show Weekly Sports Emmy for the second time in three years, and the show’s Kirk Herbstreit was named the best Studio Show Analyst with the first Sports Emmy in his 15-year ESPN career.

ESPN.com was honored in the New Approaches – Sports Programming category for the feature “Super Bowl MVPs.”   ESPN has been honored with at least one award in each of the years online entries have been considered (since 2006).

ESPN has now won 135 Sports Emmy Awards in 23 years of eligibility.

ESPN’s Sports Emmy Awards (all are ESPN, except as noted):

Studio Show/Weekly College GameDay

Studio Show/Daily Pardon the Interruption

Journalism E:60 – Wanted: Fugitive (ESPN2)

Long Feature E:60 – Catfish Hunters (ESPN2)

New Approaches –

Sports Programming Super Bowl MVPs (ESPN.com)

Studio Analyst Kirk Herbstreit

Graphic Design SportsNation (ESPN2)

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Jim Nantz Highlights CBS Sports’ 7 Emmy Haul

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CBS SPORTS’ JIM NANTZ REPEATS EMMY AWARD WIN FOR “OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – PLAY-BY-PLAY”

AT 31ST ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY AWARDS

CBS Sports Garners Seven Emmy Awards Total for Coverage of NCAA Tournament; College Football and U.S. Open Tennis Championships; and with Showtime Networks for INSIDE THE NFL

CBS Sports’ Jim Nantz was honored with his second Emmy Award for OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – PLAY-BY-PLAY at the 31st Annual Sports Emmy Awards on Monday, April 26 at the Frederick P. Rose Hall Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Nantz, who won the Emmy Award in the same category last year and is in his 25th year with CBS Sports, is the lead play-by-play voice for the Network’s coverage of the NFL, NCAA Basketball, including the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship and Final Four, and the PGA TOUR, including the Masters® and PGA Championship.

CBS Sports won six other Emmy Awards including OUTSTANDING LONG FEATURE (The Magic of J-Mac; produced by Pete Radovich, Jr.) during its Final Four coverage; OUTSTANDING OPEN/TEASE (Army-Navy Game; produced by Radovich, Jr.) for its college football coverage; and the George Wensel TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for its use of “Flomotion” digital technology during the U.S. Open Tennis Championships.

CBS Sports also won two Emmy Awards for its combined production with Showtime Networks and NFL Films for “Inside the NFL” on Showtime: OUTSTANDING SHORT FEATURE (Fighting for #62 – The Nick Reardon Story; produced by Sarah Rinaldi) and OUTSTANDING POST PRODUCED AUDIO/SOUND (Sounds of the Year).

The Network rounded out its seventh Emmy Award of the night as CBS Mobile won for OUTSTANDING NEW APPROACHES SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE (CBS Mobile NCAA March Madness on Demand) for its coverage of NCAA March Madness on Demand.

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On Monday, May 3, Nantz also will be honored by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association as the 2009 National Sportscaster of the Year.  This marks the fifth time, and third consecutive year, he will be honored with this prestigious award (1998, 2005, 2007 and 2008).

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Filed Under: CBS

NHL.com Sets Single-Day Record; NBC Up 18% For Weekend Games

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NHL.COM SETS SINGLE-DAY RECORD; NBC UP 18% FOR WEEKEND GAMES

Unique Visitors and Video Starts Earn New Bests

April Most-Trafficked Month for NHL.com

NEW YORK (April 26, 2010) – NHL.com yesterday set a single-day high-water mark for both unique visitors and video starts as fans flocked to the site Sunday to get all the details on two exciting overtime games Saturday (Pittsburgh-Ottawa & Nashville-Chicago), and to preview/review a pair of Sunday games (Detroit-Phoenix & Vancouver-Los Angeles). With five days still remaining in April, Sunday’s record-breaking totals added to the most-trafficked month in the site’s history. Overall through the first 12 days of the playoffs, unique visitors to NHL.com have increased by 33 percent, video starts by 141 percent and mobile page views by 167 percent.

“By continuing to break records at NHL.com and with all of our digital products, we are demonstrating that NHL fans are more tech savvy and educated than fans of the other major sports,” said NHL COO John Collins. “And by creating a deeper lineup of programming, we have been able to engage more people across more platforms and deliver impressive results to our advertisers.”

The positive news for the League’s digital platforms was matched by ratings increases for the NHL’s U.S. national broadcast partner NBC. Both weekend games on NBC earned a 1.3 overnight rating with Saturday’s Chicago-Nashville game up eight percent over last year (Pittsburgh-Philadelphia, 1.2) and Sunday’s  Phoenix-Detroit matchup up 30 percent over 2009 (Washington-NY Rangers, 1.0). Through two weekends (four games) of the NHL Stanley Cup Quarterfinal Playoffs on NBC, overnight ratings are up eight percent (1.3 vs. 1.2) over the first four games of 2009.

Through the first 12 days of the NHL postseason, the League has experienced gains in all areas of the business: in-arena, on television (for all of its partners) and via its digital platforms. This continued growth highlights the NHL’s business momentum, further validating the NHL’s strategy of engaging its fans through the creation of an ever-expanding hockey marketplace with multiple touch points.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE NHL’S RECORD-BREAKING
BUSINESS SUCCESS IN 2009-10

· Corporate sponsorship was up 20 percent
· New League partners this season include Geico, Starwood Hotels, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, LG Electronics and Hershey’s Canada
· Ad spending on NHL® media increased by 37 percent over last season
· NHL.com ad revenue is up 50 percent over last year
· Revenue from big event platforms, led by the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, are up 22 percent over last season
· Unique visitors to NHL.com surpassed last year’s record by 32 percent
· NHL Game Center Live™ subscriptions were up 25 percent
· NHL Network subscribers have increased by 104 percent
· Sales at SHOP.NHL.com were up 12 percent from last year’s record
· Viewership for NBC’s Game of the Week telecasts were up 13 percent
· Ratings for exclusive telecasts on Versus were up 20 percent
· NHL Mobile™ reached 1.6 million page views, an increase of 233 percent over last season

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2010 NFL DRAFT: MOST VIEWED EVER — 45.4 Million Total Viewers On NFL Network, ESPN & ESPN2

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2010 NFL DRAFT: MOST VIEWED EVER

45.4 Million Total Viewers On NFL Network, ESPN & ESPN2

NFL.com’s 2010 NFL Draft Coverage Sets Records

A record combined total viewership of 45.4 million viewers tuned in to watch the 75th NFL Draft on NFL Network, ESPN and ESPN2 – up 16% from last year’s record of 39 million, according to Nielsen Media Research.  Total NFL Draft viewership has nearly doubled over the past decade (from 23.5 million in 2001 to 45.4 million in 2010).

In addition, a record 32.9 million viewers watched for at least six minutes, up 23% from last year’s 26.8 million.  (The 45.4 million total represents fans watching at least one minute of the Draft. This one-minute qualifier has been used for the Draft over the last decade).

NFL.com set records with its coverage of the 2010 NFL Draft.  There were a record 12.5 million visits to NFL.com during the Draft — up 61% from last year — and users watched 40% more video than a year ago.  LIVE coverage on NFL.com also saw record growth with 1.1. million fans watching the Draft on NFL.com and watching 89% more of the Draft on NFL.com than they did last year.  By the end of the Draft, fans had made more than 500,000 comments in the Fan War Rooms.  In addition, there were 13 million page views on NFL.com’s mobile site, a 125% increase over a year ago. Since its launch earlier this month, NFL Mobile on Verizon has been one of the most successful and popular entertainment applications downloaded by Verizon Wireless customers.

In addition, a record 12,275 fans attended the 75th NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall over the three days.

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It’s “Win or Go Home” Time for Playoff Teams as NBA Action Continues on TNT and NBA TV

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It’s “Win or Go Home” Time for Playoff Teams as NBA Action Continues on TNT and NBA TV

TNT’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs continues tonight, April 26 at 8 p.m. (ET) with Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic visiting Stephen Jackson and the Charlotte Bobcats in Game #4 of the series.  The Magic can advance to the second round with a win over the Bobcats.  Calling the action will be Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Kevin McHale (analyst) and Cheryl Miller (reporter).  At 10:30 p.m. (ET), Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns host Brandon Roy and the Portland Trail Blazers in Game #5 of their series. The first round series is tied at 2-2.  Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter) will call the game.  The night will conclude with the Emmy® award-winning studio show Inside the NBA with Matt Winer (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Chris Webber (analyst).

The NBA action continues on Tuesday, April 27 at 8 p.m. (ET) with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers hosting Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls in Game #5 of the series.  The Cavaliers can advance to the second round with a win over the Bulls.  Calling the action will be Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and David Aldridge (reporter).  At 10:30 p.m. (ET), Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder visit Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in Game #5 of their series. The Thunder won Games #3 and #4 at home to even the series 2-2.  Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Doug Collins (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter) will call the game.  The night will conclude with the Emmy® award-winning studio show Inside the NBA with Ernie Johnson (host), Barkley and Kenny Smith (analyst).

NBA TV will also continue to provide extensive coverage of the playoffs beginning tonight, April 26 at 8:30 p.m. (ET) with Game #4 between the Atlanta Hawks @ Milwaukee Bucks; the Hawks lead the series 2-1   The network will tip off the night with host Vince Cellini and analysts Brent Barry and Steve Smith previewing the night’s action on the AutoTrader.com Pregame Show at 8 p.m. (ET).  In addition, NBA TV will recap the night’s action and air all post-game press conferences in their entirety on NBA GameTime.

The NBA Playoffs will continue on NBA TV on Tuesday, April 27 with a doubleheader. The night will start at 6:30 p.m. (ET) with the AutoTrader.com Pregame Show featuring host Rick Kamla and analysts Barry, Steve Smith and Webber, followed at 7 p.m. (ET) by #5 between the Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics. The Celtics can advance to the second round with a victory. Immediately following will be Game #5 between the San Antonio Spurs @ Dallas Mavericks at 9:30 p.m. (ET). The Spurs can eliminate the Mavericks with a win. NBA GameTime will conclude the night’s action with full post-game coverage, including live press conferences.

Exclusive content, analysis from TNT announcers and replays of Inside the NBA are available on TNT OverTime on NBA.com. The broadband channel offers an all-access pass to the excitement and drama of the NBA Playoffs, with special features and reports being added throughout the postseason.

NBA PLAYOFFS ON TNT SCHEDULE

DAY/DATE

TIME (ET)             EVENT

Monday, April 26
8 p.m. NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com

Matt Winer (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Chris Webber (analyst)
Orlando Magic @ Charlotte Bobcats (Game #4)

Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Kevin McHale (analyst) and Cheryl Miller  (reporter)
10:30 p.m. Portland Trail Blazers @ Phoenix Suns (Game #5)

Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
Post-game Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai

Matt Winer (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Chris Webber (analyst)
Tuesday, April 27
8 p.m. NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com

Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
Chicago Bulls @ Cleveland Cavaliers (Game #5)

Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and David Aldridge (reporter)
10:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder @ Los Angeles Lakers (Game #5)

Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Doug Collins (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
Post-game Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai

Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
Wednesday, April 28
8 p.m. NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com

Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
Milwaukee Bucks @ Atlanta Hawks (Game #5)

Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Kevin McHale (analyst) and Lewis Johnson  (reporter)
10:30 p.m. Utah Jazz @ Denver Nuggets (Game #5)

Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Marc Fein (reporter)
Post-game Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai

Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)

NBA PLAYOFFS ON NBA TV SCHEDULE

DAY/DATE

TIME (ET)             EVENT

MONDAY, APRIL 26

8 – 8:30 p.m.                AutoTrader.com Pregame Show

Vince Cellini (host), Steve Smith (analyst) and Brent Barry (analyst)

8:30 – 11 p.m.              Atlanta Hawks @ Milwaukee Bucks (Game #4)

Local Announcers

11p.m. – 1 a.m.            NBA GameTime (Hawks/Bucks Game #4 postgame)

Vince Cellini (host), Steve Smith (analyst) and Brent Barry (analyst)

1 – 2 a.m.                     NBA GameTime (Trailblazers/Suns Game #5 postgame)

Vince Cellini (host), Steve Smith (analyst) and Brent Barry (analyst)

TUESDAY, APRIL 27

6:30 – 7 p.m.                AutoTrader.com Pregame Show

Rick Kamla (host), Steve Smith (analyst), Chris Webber (analyst) and

Brent Barry (analyst)

7 – 9:30 p.m.                Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics (Game #5)

Local Announcers

9:30-p.m. – 12 a.m.     San Antonio Spurs @ Dallas Mavericks (Game #5)

Local Announcers

12 – 1a.m.                    NBA GameTime (Spurs/ Mavericks Game #5 postgame)

Rick Kamla (host), Steve Smith (analyst), Chris Webber (analyst) and

Brent Barry (analyst)

1 – 2 a.m.                     NBA GameTime (Thunder/ Lakers Game #5 postgame)

Rick Kamla (host), Steve Smith (analyst), Chris Webber (analyst) and

Brent Barry (analyst)

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Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA Playoffs – Sunday, April 25, 2010

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Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA Playoffs – Sunday, April 25, 2010

TNT’s coverage of the 2010 NBA Playoffs continues on Monday, April 26 at 8 p.m. (ET) with a doubleheader featuring the Orlando Magic @ Charlotte Bobcats (Game #4) followed by the Portland Trail Blazers @ Phoenix Suns (Game #5).

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“If somebody says (Deron Williams) is arguably the best point guard, nobody’s arguing, he is the best point guard in the NBA.”

— Barkley on Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams being the best in the NBA.

CLIP OF THE DAY

(click on link below to watch)

TNT’s Charles Barkley answers a burning question posed by Kenny Smith.

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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com

Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Chris Webber

Smith on the toughness of Manu Ginobili who is playing with a broken nose: “There are two different things.  Great players can play hurt.  No player can play injured…that hurts.  It’s gonna to get hit, it’s going to hurt, I’m gonna play.  So there is a difference between playing hurt and playing injured.  That’s why I love Ginolbili.  I love guys who play tough.”

Barkley on Mavericks forward Caron Butler being benched during the second half of Game #3: “There’s great tension in the (Mavericks) locker room.  When you’re losing, they always say that winning is the best deodorant.  (Mavericks head coach) Rick Carlisle is a friend of mine but what he did (in Game #3) to Caron Butler, I disagree with 100%.   You can’t (bench) him for the entire second half.  First of all, he was the centerpiece of the trade (with the Wizards), he is probably their second best player and you’ve got to play him.”

Smith on there being no excuse for Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle benching Caron Butler: “The one thing that a player has to respect is a coach’s decision.  As a player, Caron Butler can be mad but he can’t say a word.  When you do that, your teammates will respect you.  Now it’s up to Rick Carlisle to realize that he made a wrong choice.  To me, no matter what excuse it was, it was the wrong choice because the guy never had the opportunity and he’s been giving you 20 points a game in the first two games (of the series).  He is the difference in making you a contender.  He’s not making you a playoff team, he’s making you a contender to win the NBA Title and you don’t play him in the second half.  There’s no excuse for that.”

Smith on Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade being one of the best players in the NBA: “This (46-point game) puts Dwyane Wade back into the conversation.  A lot of the time, he gets left out of the conversation of who is the best player in basketball.  Because of what he does and who he has around him, he doesn’t have the size or the athleticism and strength that a lot of other players have around them.  We did see him when he had that talent around him and he won an NBA Championship.  Arguably, he could say that he is in the top two or three players in basketball.  I don’t know if he’s ever mentioned as being in the top but he’s usually in the top five (players in the NBA).  He doesn’t have the same talent around him that a lot of players have.”

Barkley on the Oklahoma City Thunder: “(The Thunder/Lakers series is) fun to watch.  I pull for Scottie Brooks and Maurice Cheeks and I’m happy for them.  That (Thunder game) environment looks like it would be fun to be at.  This has turned into a great series.  I think we are all surprised.  A lot of people didn’t think (the Thunder) could win a game (in the series) and I didn’t think they could win two at home.  They are playing terrific basketball.”

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Game 1: Dallas Mavericks (89) @ San Antonio Spurs (92) – San Antonio leads the series 3-1.

Announcers: Kevin Harlan and Doug Collins with Marty Snider reporting

Collins on the Spurs hitting their stride: “These are the Spurs (in Game #4) that I think everyone expected earlier in the season.  (Spurs head coach Gregg) Popovich is monitoring his stars’ minutes.  They are getting (Antonio) McDyess in the flow and with Richard Jefferson coming over in a trade.  They are starting to put it together and defense is where they have really picked up their game.”

Collins on how Caron Butler can be the difference in the series: “(Butler) is a competitor and he’s tough.  That is what they brought him to this team to do.  Not to get through the first round but to win a championship.  He’s a tough player and (Game #4) could be the difference.  If he can play well, Dallas can win on the road.”

Collins on Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich managing his players’ minutes: “Nice job by Gregg Popovich of managing his players’ minutes so they would be fresh at this point in the season.”

Collins on the kind of shots that Shawn Marion takes: “Every one of his baskets have been off a double-team, a fast break, an offensive rebound.  That’s the way he scores, he’s not a guy that you’re going to throw the ball to in the post and let him go one-on-one against players.  That’s not his strength.”

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Halftime

Johnson, Barkley, Smith and Webber

Smith on the Spurs need to play George Hill and Tony Parker together to have a quicker lineup: “(The Spurs) are probably going to have to play (George) Hill and (Tony) Parker together because that would give them speed on the perimeter along with (Manu) Ginobili, with (Richard) Jefferson at the four (position).  When they have these lineups that don’t really get up the floor, it’s difficult for them to get back on defense.”

Barkley on the Mavericks offense: “When they run and get layups, that’s easy.  Their half-court offense is not the best, they give the ball to Dirk (Nowitzki).  It’s kind of ‘LeBron-ish’ – they give it to Dirk and hope that teams double-team him.”

Webber on how good teams get all of their players involved in the offense: “That’s why teams like the Lakers or Utah (Jazz) play so well because guys that can’t score one-on-one are coming off of flex-offenses or triangles.  If your ball-handler has the ball and he’s going fast, it’s definitely to their advantage.”

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Collins on Spurs forward Antonio McDyess: “That’s why (the Spurs) got (McDyess).  They thought he would be a good fit next to (Tim) Duncan because he can make a jump shot and he’s smart.  He was a very big part of those Detroit Piston teams that went to the (Eastern) Conference Finals six years in a row.”

Collins on the Thunder/Lakers series: “Those young kids in Oklahoma City are playing some ball.  The energy in that building, the Lakers fans in Staples Center better bring some energy because the Lakers need it right now.  The Oklahoma City team is playing with so much confidence.”

Collins on the physical play of the Spurs: “People don’t talk about it but the Spurs are a very physical team.  This is a tough, physical team.”

Collins on Spurs reserve guard George Hill: “This is his coming-out playoff party.  His first two games (in the series), he was invisible.  You didn’t even know he was playing.  He is making all the critical jump shots (in Game #4).  The man of the hour, George Hill, has fallen right into your lap.”

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Game 2: Denver Nuggets (106) @ Utah Jazz (117) – Jazz lead the series 3-1.

Announcers: Marv Albert and Reggie Miller with Marc Fein reporting

Miller on playing in Salt Lake City: “This is a great atmosphere for basketball.  These fans are passionate.  It’s a tough win to come in here as the road team.  You have to play 48 minutes of hard, tough-nosed basketball.”

Miller on Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups: “When healthy, he’s one of the top point guards in the league because of his size.  I love his leadership.”

Chauncey Billups on how he approaches leadership: “One thing about me is I don’t really worry about hurting anyone’s feelings that’s mad at me on the team, who didn’t like what I said. One thing I know is that it’s never anything personal with me.  I’m never going to attack anyone personally.  I just go at it to help the team win.  If a certain guy doesn’t like it, I don’t really care.  That’s how I lead, that’s how I am.”

Miller on Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams: “(Williams’) size, his strength and we’ve talked about his vision as a point guard.  This is the best point guard in the game right now.  He knows when to turn it on.”

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Halftime

Johnson, Barkley, Smith and Webber

Barkley on Deron Williams dominating Chauncey Billups in the Jazz/Nuggets series: “Chauncey (Billups) is a guy who has to step up.  I have great respect for Chauncey, but Deron Williams is just kicking his (butt).  He is dominating this series totally.  He has been the best player in every game.  He is imposing his will and this team is missing two of their better players (Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur).  It’s like what Dwyane Wade did earlier (46 points against the Celtics) and he is leading his team.  Chauncey has to step up, plain and simple.”

Webber on why Chauncey Billups can’t stop Deron Williams: “One of the reasons why Chauncey can’t do anything is because Deron Williams is going after him.  Defensively, he can’t lock down on him.”

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Miller on the Oklahoma City Thunder: “Oklahoma City is playing fantastic basketball right now.  They are a young team that’s getting it done on both ends of the floor.”

Albert: “You just love to watch the Thunder play.  A fast-tempo (style of play) lead by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green.”

Miller on Jazz center Kyrylo Fesenko: “If anything, Fesenko takes up space.  He’s a big body.  (He has) good fundamentals down low, he knows his role and understands the system.  He does need to learn how to go up quick and finish though.”

Miller on the Western Conference being up for grabs in the playoffs: “At some point in time, they’ve all had extended runs.  If you look at the playoffs now, anyone can win this.  When you look at what Oklahoma City has done with the Lakers (series tied 2-2) and the San Antonio Spurs going up 3-1 on the second seed (Dallas Mavericks), it’s anyone’s game.”

TNT’s Marc Fein interviewed Jazz forward Carlos Boozer following the game

Boozer on the Jazz’s Game #4 victory over the Nuggets: “It’s a great game, ‘Melo (Carmelo Anthony) hit some big shots down the stretch for them and we stayed composed.  D-Will (Deron Williams) hit some big shots and some big free throws.  We had a good enough cushion to win it and I’m proud of the young guys who are doing a great job on Nene and ‘Melo.  ‘Melo got cookin’ but that’s part of the game.  He’s a great player but we stuck together as a (team) and won a big game for us.”

Boozer on how everyone on the Jazz is an option on offense: “We are aggressive and when we run our offense, everyone is an option.  We don’t only go to one or two guys.  Well, me and D-Will (Deron Williams) get a lot of shots every now and then but everyone is an option and everyone is a threat.  When we execute well, we get good shots.”

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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai

Johnson, Barkley, Smith and Webber

Barkley on the Utah Jazz defeating the Denver Nuggets in Game #4: “You’ve got to take your hat off to Utah, they played fantastic. I was really impressed with Carmelo Anthony, he was really trying to will his team to win, but the bottom line is he didn’t get any help whatsoever.”

Webber on the style of play by the Nuggets leading to their loss to the Jazz in Game #4: “I love (interim Nuggets coach) Adrian Dantley because he played with the Pistons while I was growing up, but you know what (his press conference) sounds like to me? (Takes white handkerchief out of pocket and waves it like a surrender flag). Denver has a better team, but I’m going to tell you why Utah wins. Utah has 24 assists. Why is that important? That means that somebody was setting up the other players, they were passing it and said, ‘here, you can’t score one-on-one so I’ll give you an open, easy shot.’ You go to Denver, they have 13 assists. That means that all of them are going one-on-one, and there is only one great one-on-one player and that’s Carmelo Anthony. So it’s not Carmelo’s fault they lost tonight, he came in and got 39 and 11, he played hard. But it’s the style of play, Utah gets easy shots, they get shots at the basket, they get shots off a flex offense, that’s part of your defense because you know you can get a lay-up. And when other guys are going around one-on-one or the pace of the game is not there, that’s why I believe they lost. You can’t say Denver has guys who can’t score, but Denver is shooting a lot of one-on-one ball and when you do that, you cannot win.”

Barkley on Jazz guard Deron Williams being the best in the NBA: “If somebody says (Deron Williams) is arguably the best point guard, nobody’s arguing, he is the best point guard in the NBA.”

Smith on the comparison between Heat guard Dwyane Wade and superstar Michael Jackson: “(Dwyane Wade) had some help today, he had some help. He was singing all his greatest hits, but he had some help.”

Webber: “Did he put that white glove on?”

Barkley: “He sure did, he put on that white glove. He belted out Billie Jean, Dirty Diana and everything. ‘The way you make me feel.’”

Barkley on the Suns being perceived as soft due to their lack of offense: “(The Suns/Trail Blazers series) hasn’t been a tough series to read. If the game is played fast, the Suns are going to win. If it’s played slow, the Blazers have a great chance. As a player, I would be embarrassed if people said, ‘well, they’re soft. They can only win if they’re running and gunning.’ It tells people they’re not tough, they don’t want to play defense, they don’t want to rebound. (The Suns) have been trying to change that mentality.”

Webber: “I agree, really what you’re saying is, ‘go ahead and shoot, I’m not going to give any effort on defense, if you miss it or make it we’re going to push it and we know we’re going to score. We just hope that you miss more than you make.’ It’s just defense (that’s needed), it’s effort, it’s attention to detail. So it does make a team seem kind of soft (not to have that).”

Smith: “As a point guard, I would take it in two different directions. I would be like, ‘I can impose my will in this game and they’re nervous about that, that we can run.’ Steve Nash is probably thinking, ‘you know what? You know we want to run, you know we want to get out, but you can’t stop us. You’re going to have to play the way we are to beat us.’ That was the first way. The second way is (directed to) our big guys. That means we’re not rebounding. As the point guard, I never put the blame on me, I always pointed the finger because I gave you the ball. So that means our big guys don’t rebound well enough. So if we rebound, we won’t be considered soft and then we can run.”

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2010 ESPN College Football Primetime Schedule to Feature UCLA at Washington on Nov. 18

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2010 ESPN College Football Primetime Schedule to Feature UCLA at Washington on Nov. 18

ESPN and the Pac-10 announced today that the 2010 season of ESPN College Football Primetime will feature head coach Rick Neuheisel and the UCLA Bruins visiting head coach Steve Sarkisian, preseason Heisman hopeful Jake Locker and the Washington Huskies on Thursday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

“Having the UCLA vs. Washington game join our Thursday night lineup in 2010 is a tremendous addition to our schedule,” said Dave Brown, vice president, programming & acquisitions, ESPN. “We look forward to showcasing both programs, the great city of Seattle and the great atmosphere of Husky Stadium for the first time on a Thursday night.”

The matchup comes on the heels of the Bruins’ 24-23 victory over the Huskies in 2009, which ended a seven-game drought in Pac-10 matchups for UCLA. It will be the Bruins’ second Thursday night appearance of the season – after the Oct. 21 matchup vs. preseason No. 10 Oregon at 9 p.m. – and joins a list of previously announced ESPN College Football Primetime matchups:

2010 ESPN College Football Primetime Schedule

Date Time (ET) Matchup Network
Thu, Sep 2 7:30 p.m. Southern Miss at South Carolina ESPN
11 p.m. No. 15 USC at Hawaii ESPN
Thu, Sep 9 7:30 p.m. Auburn at Mississippi State ESPN
Thu, Sep 16 7:30 p.m. No. 22 Cincinnati at NC State ESPN
Thu, Sep 23 7:30 p.m. No. 13 Miami at No. 16 Pittsburgh ESPN
Thu, Sep 30 7:30 p.m. Texas A&M at Oklahoma State ESPN
Thu, Oct 7 7:30 p.m. No. 9 Nebraska at Kansas State ESPN
Thu, Oct 14 7:30 p.m. South Florida at West Virginia ESPN
Thu, Oct 21 9 p.m. UCLA at No. 10 Oregon ESPN
Thu, Oct 28 7:30 p.m. No. 21 Florida State at NC State ESPN
Thu, Nov 4 7:30 p.m. No. 17 Georgia Tech at No. 5 Virginia Tech ESPN
Thu, Nov 11 7:30 p.m. No. 16 Pittsburgh at Connecticut ESPN
Thu, Nov 18 8 p.m. UCLA at Washington ESPN
Thu, Nov 25 8 p.m. Texas A&M at No. 4 Texas ESPN
Thu, Dec 2 8 p.m. Arizona State at Arizona ESPN

* Rankings from the College Football Live Preseason Top 25

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“Buffalo finally got a QB in Levi Brown from Troy. I believe he’s been undervalued all along.” — MIKE MAYOCK on Bills Selection of QB Levi Brown — Highlights from NFL Network’s Day 3 Coverage of 2010 NFL Draft

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NFL NETWORK DRAFT COVERAGE RECAP – DAY 3

NFL TOTAL ACCESS AT THE 2010 NFL DRAFT

QUOTES FROM MIKE MAYOCK’S DRAFT COVERAGE ON NFL.COM

Due to losing his voice following more than 16 hours of on-air coverage during Day 1 and 2 of the 2010 NFL Draft, expert Mike Mayock continued his analysis live throughout rounds 4 through 7 on NFL.com. 81 players on Mayock’s Top 100 list were drafted in the first three rounds (98 picks).

Mayock’s entire day three Draft thread can be found at http://chat.nfl.com/front/index/883. The following are selected quotes from the day’s chat:

156 & 157 — Ravens — WR David Reed and DT Art Jones

The Ravens just executed back to back picks. Reed is a quicker than fast receiver with excellent hands and will have an opportunity to compete on the Ravens’ special teams. He had 81 catches, including a 91-yard TD against Air Force Academy on a slant in which he broke two tackles and took it to the house. Very impressive play.

Syracuse DT Jones had a second-round grade heading into his senior year but had a knee injury in early November, followed by surgery. His draft stock plummeted, but, when healthy, he’s a very talented up-field pass rusher that will give the Ravens yet another option on defense.

181 — Bears — QB Dan LeFevour

This is Corey Chavous’ favorite player in the draft. He believes he might be the best QB to come out of this draft class when we all look back at it in 10 years. I gave him a fifth-round grade and think he can be a quality backup.

197 — Texans — KR Trindon Holliday

Holliday is really an interesting pick for the Texans. He’s one of the smallest players in college football, but arguably the fastest. His primary use will be on special teams as a return man. But, over time, he could develop into a slot receiver and someone you try and get the ball to on reverses and bubble screens. He’s a play-maker in space.

207 — Titans — SS Myron Rolle

I like the third day picks by the Titans. I thought Verner was an underrated corner out of UCLA, and Johnson an underrated safety out of Utah. Smith, the QB from FAU, was off most people’s radars except for Corey Chavous. Finally, Myron Rolle with the last pick in the sixth round is a huge bargain for the Titans. His intelliegence goes without saying, but he brings a core competence to his playin the secondary. He’s a little tight, and he didn’t make a lot of big plays, but he’s solid and dependable.

209 – Bills – QB Levi Brown

Buffalo finally got a QB in Levi Brown from Troy. I believe he’s been undervalued all along. He was invited to the Combine, but only as a throwing QB, not a participant. I liked him on tape, and feel like he has a chance to be a very solid backup QB.

For a complete thread of all of Mayock’s thoughts of the selections in rounds 4-7, please visit: http://chat.nfl.com/front/index/883

ADDITIONAL FEATURED VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF NFL NETWORK’S 2010 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE:

Commissioner Fan Forum – Commissioner Goodell fields questions on rookie salaries and other league issues with selected NFL season ticket holders at the NFL Draft

Interview with Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones – Jerry Jones discusses the Cowboys draft selections, Miles Austin’s contract and more

The Year of the Hug – There were plenty of emotions, tears and hugs as players were picked in the 2010 NFL Draft

Commissioner on Set – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell talks about the 2010 Draft and the league’s success

Dhani Tackles the NFL Draft – What’s the draft really like? See for yourself with Dhani Jones’ wild behind-the-scenes look.

NFL Network offers an encore of first round coverage of the 2010 NFL Draft Sunday at 8:00 PM ET.

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

– NFL Network –

NBC Sports Partners With Daily Racing Form

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NBC SPORTS PARTNERS WITH DAILY RACING FORM

New York, NY, April 26, 2010 — NBC Sports Digital and Daily Racing Form today announced they have finalized an agreement which will enlist “America’s Turf Authority” to provide digital content in a co-branded online venture to support NBC Sports’ Thoroughbred racing coverage, including the just completed “Road to the Kentucky Derby” television series, the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1, and the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, on May 15.
The 115-year-old Daily Racing Form, the foremost news and handicapping authority covering Thoroughbred racing, will host and program a customized digital horseracing section at NBCSports.com (http://drf.nbcsports.com), and provide content, tools, news coverage, including race previews, entries, results, original video analysis, race replays, past performances and access to complete profiles of all Triple Crown contenders.  Powered by DRF.com, the co-branded site will also include expert selections and analysis from DRF’s award-winning team of correspondents and nationally-recognized handicapping experts.

In addition to its firmly-established reputation as the unquestioned authority for the core horseplayer and racing fan, Daily Racing Form’s development of the NBC Sports horse racing site will incorporate beginner level content to introduce, entertain and educate new fans to the nuances of the exciting world of Thoroughbred racing.

NBCSports.com racing fans can look forward to the following, powered by Daily Racing Form:

  • A High-Tech Real-Time Results Application for all NBC Sports Thoroughbred racing broadcasts featuring entries, pre-race analysis including predictions and real-time results of the races.
  • In-Depth Analysis and Features in the new co-branded NBCSports.com’s Horse Racing Section powered by Daily Racing Form.
  • Free past performances from Daily Racing Form including exclusive Beyer Speed Figures available to all NBCSports.com Horse Racing Section visitors for Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
  • Video features from DRF experts on everything from how to place a bet, instructional ticket making to terminology of horse racing.

“NBC Sports is always looking to align itself with the best brands in sports that we broadcast and the Daily Racing Form certainly fits,” said Rick Cordella, Vice President/GM, NBC Sports Digital.  “Partnering with the leading news organization in Thoroughbred racing guarantees that our viewers will have the most in-depth Thoroughbred racing coverage available to compliment NBC Sports’ storytelling through online and on-air coverage of horse racing.”

“It’s a privilege for our 115-year-old brand to partner with the award-winning team at NBC Sports,” stated John Hartig, chief executive officer for Daily Racing Form.  “DRF’s content and interactive tools offer a first-class digital experience around two of racing’s most historic days, and NBC Sports’ efforts to entertain and introduce new fans to the sport will be supported by all of our expert multi-media assets.”

ABOUT NBC SPORTS

NBC Sports is synonymous with superior production that elevates the event, broad promotion, and mutually beneficial partnerships. Known as America’s Olympic Network, NBC has broadcast 12 Olympic Games, more than any other network. Its ability to amass large audiences with broad promotion, particularly for the Olympics, has resulted in NBC Sports broadcasting nine of the top 10 most-watched events in U.S. television history, including the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games that stands at No. 1 all time with 215 million viewers. In 2009, NBC Sports won the prestigious Peabody Award for its production of the Beijing Games and was named ‘Best in Sports Television’ at the Sports Business Awards.

NBC Sports partners with numerous leagues and governing bodies to broadcast some of the most prestigious properties in sports, including: ‘NBC Sunday Night Football,’ which is the premier primetime NFL game of the week; ‘Football Night in America,’ which is the most-watched NFL studio program; Notre Dame football; the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes; the U.S. Open Championship, THE PLAYERS Championship, and the Ryder Cup; the NHL Winter Classic, NHL ‘Game of the Week,’ and NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and Final; and Wimbledon and the French Open.

ABOUT DAILY RACING FORM
Daily Racing Form, “America’s Turf Authority since 1894” for Thoroughbred racing horseplayers and professionals throughout North America, is the Thoroughbred industry’s dominant multi-channel media company.  Launched in Chicago on November 17, 1894, Daily Racing Form is the only daily newspaper in the U.S. dedicated solely to the coverage of a single sport, publishing up to 2,000 unique pages of statistical and editorial copy every day, in as many as 30 daily editions, 364 days a year (with the exception of Christmas Day).  Its companion website, www.drf.com, is the most heavily trafficked horseracing destination PORTAL, providing players with THE MOST EXTENSIVE SUITE OF interactive past performances and exclusive handicapping and wagering tools TO SERVE HORSE RACING FANS.

“He’s a first round talent, but the perception of him as a ‘me first’ kid pushed him out of the first round.” – MIKE MAYOCK on QB Jimmy Clausen not being a first round selection — Quotes from NFL Network’s Day 2 Coverage of 2010 NFL Draft

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NFL NETWORK DRAFT COVERAGE RECAP – DAY 2

NFL TOTAL ACCESS AT THE 2010 NFL DRAFT

PRE-DRAFT COVERAGE QUOTES & VIDEO:

“He’s a first round talent, but the perception of him as a ‘me first’ kid pushed him out of the first round.” – Mike Mayock on QB Jimmy Clausen not being selected on the first day.

“They got the perfect corner for their system.” – Michael Lombardi on Jets selecting CB Kyle Wilson No. 29 overall

“He avoided the trap of taking USC players. He picked the best guys.” – Jamie Dukes on head coach Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks

“Whether or not you believe they should have traded down, they got the guy they wanted. But they’re open to criticism because a lot of people think they still could have gotten him and picked up some extra picks.” – Mike Mayock on Jaguars selecting DT Tyson Alualu No. 10 overall

“That’s what San Francisco wants to be: a physical running team. Somewhere, Frank Gore is celebrating.” – Charles Davis on 49ers selecting OT Anthony Davis No. 11 overall and OG Mike Iupati No. 17 overall.

“This means that Josh McDaniels is going all in.” – Mike Mayock on the Broncos’ offseason and draft.

Final part of Mike Mayock’s exclusive sit down with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick: The Rolling Stones had a dramatic effect on one draft. Bill Belichick recalls how it happened.

DRAFT COVERAGE QUOTES & VIDEO:

“We all get caught up in team needs, but you need to go back to the best player on your board.” – Mike Mayock on draft strategy

“Maybe someone needs to go under the hood to find out what’s going on.” – Rich Eisen on the uncertainty surrounding the 42nd pick in the second round that the New England Patriots acquired through the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders

“Roger Goodell must feel very loved.” – Mike Mayock on Commissioner Goodell receiving big hugs from the draftees on stage

FEATURED VIDEO OF 2ND AND 3RD ROUND DRAFT PICKS:

To access video with NFL Network analysts sharing their thoughts on 2nd and 3rd rounds selections from the night including Dexter McCluster, Jimmy Clausen, Colt McCoy and Toby Gerhart, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/tracker#dt-by-round-input:2 (round 2) and http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/tracker#dt-by-round-input:3 (round 3).

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEAD COACH MACK BROWN INTERVIEW WITH FORMER QB COLT MCCOY:

After announcing former Texas QB Colt McCoy being selected No. 85 overall by the Cleveland Browns, Texas head coach Mack Brown chats with his former quarterback on the NFL Network set: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/09000d5d817c011f/McCoy-interview

NFL Network’s coverage of Rounds 4 through 7 of the NFL Draft begins Saturday at 9:00 AM ET with Total Access at the NFL Draft Presented by Lexus. University of Texas head coach Mack Brown joins Rich Eisen, Mike Mayock, Charles Davis and Corey Chavous for the one hour pre-draft show, followed by day three of the 2010 NFL Draft Presented by Verizon at 10:00 AM ET.

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

– NFL Network –