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Archives for May 2022

Transgender Swimmer and NCAA Champion Lia Thomas Gives Exclusive, First On-Camera Interviews with ESPN and ABC News

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Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, the 2022 NCAA 500 freestyle champion from the University of Pennsylvania, participated in an exclusive interview with ESPN and ABC News – her first televised conversation away from the pool since her controversial swimming season. Thomas spoke with both ESPN’s Katie Barnes and ABC News “Nightline” co-anchor Juju Chang to discuss her groundbreaking championship, the scrutiny that she has been under swimming with the women’s team, and what’s next for her swimming career.

The post Transgender Swimmer and NCAA Champion Lia Thomas Gives Exclusive, First On-Camera Interviews with ESPN and ABC News appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

OKLAHOMA SENIOR CHRIS GOTTERUP WINS 2022 FRED HASKINS AWARD PRESENTED BY STIFEL

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Recognizing the Most Outstanding Male NCAA Division I College Golfer, Gotterup Finished the Regular Season as Top-Ranked College Golfer in the Country

Live Coverage of the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships Continues Today and Wednesday on GOLF Channel

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 31, 2022 – Oklahoma senior Chris Gotterup was announced today as the winner of the prestigious 2022 Fred Haskins Award presented by Stifel, recognizing the most outstanding male NCAA Division I college golfer for the 2021-22 season. The announcement was made today by Brian Stubbs, executive director of the Fred Haskins Foundation, and Ron Kruszewski, Chairman and CEO of Stifel.

Gotterup, a fifth-year senior who is the top-ranked NCAA DI men’s college golfer in both the Golfstat and Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, transferred to Oklahoma from Rutgers for the 2021-22 season. He carded victories at the East Lake Cup and the Puerto Rico Classic, and recorded eight top-10 finishes in 12 events overall, highlighted by his two victories, a runner-up finish at the Big 12 Championship and two top-3 finishes. Gotterup finished in fifth place at 1-over par at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships Individual Championships on Monday, and advances to team match play competition with his Oklahoma teammates that begins today.

“I’m kind of lost for words. Looking at all of these names on here, to be associated with these names is awesome,” said Gotterup upon receiving the award. “I never thought I would be here. This just gives another notch on the belt that you can do it, and to be on the same list of people who are Hall of Famers in the game is really cool. This is surreal to be honest, and it has been a great journey.

“I wouldn’t be here without my four years at Rutgers,” continued Gotterup. “It really changed who I was, coming from a lost freshman to maturing as a senior. And now having the opportunity with the COVID year to play for Coach Hybl has been a dream journey for sure. I just wat play the best I can and see where it takes me.”

“Stifel has been a proud supporter of the Fred Haskins Award for more than a decade, and we are honored to announce Chris Gotterup as this year’s award winner,” said Ron Kruszewski, Chairman and CEO of Stifel. “We salute Chris’ achievements both on the golf course and in the classroom throughout his collegiate career, and we wish him the best as he continues his journey in golf.”

“Chris is an outstanding individual on and off the course who has excelled under the challenges of a couple of unconventional college golf seasons, and we are honored to have him join the distinguished class of Fred Haskins Award presented by Stifel winners,” said Brian Stubbs, executive director of the Fred Haskins Foundation. “I would like to extend my sincere thank you to all of the players, coaches, sports information directors and members of the college golf media for their support.”

Chris Gotterup, Senior, Oklahoma (2021-2022 season)
Ranking: Golfstat – 1 | Golfweek – 1
Wins: 2 (East Lake Cup, Puerto Rico Classic)
Regular season results: Win – East Lake Cup, Puerto Rico Classic; T-3, Colonial Collegiate, T-3 Maridoe Collegiate Invitational; T-4, Thunderbird Collegiate; T-9, NIT; T-14, Carmel Cup; T-16, Calusa Cup; T-50, Southern Highlands Collegiate. Score vs. par of -1.69 in 2021-22 is third-lowest in Oklahoma history. Finished as low amateur (T7) at the Puerto Rico Open on the PGA TOUR.

Post-season results: Second, Big 12 Championship; T-9, NCAA Norman Regional; Fifth, NCAA Individual Stroke Play Championship.

Other results and achievements (2017-2021 – Rutgers): 2019-20 Big Ten Player of the Year; 2020 NCAA Division I PING Third-Team All-American; 2020 Golfweek Honorable Mention All-American; Owns Rutgers school records in scoring average, par-3 scoring, par-4 scoring, par-5 scoring and number of par or better rounds.

GOLF Channel’s live coverage of the NCAA Golf Championships continues today and tomorrow with the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships team match play competition in primetime. Complete information about GOLF Channel’s television coverage of the NCAA Golf Championships can be found HERE.

Voting for the 2022 Haskins Award presented by Stifel was compiled and verified by the Fred Haskins Foundation, which oversees the award. Current NCAA D1 men’s golfers, men’s coaches, men’s golf sports information directors (SID’s) and college golf media are eligible to vote. Past winners of the Haskins Award have captured 33 major championships and more than 400 professional tournament victories around the world. Past recipients include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Ben Crenshaw and Justin Thomas. Florida State’s John Pak was the recipient of the 2021 Haskins Award.

About the Fred Haskins Award

Celebrating its 52nd year, the Fred Haskins Award presented by Stifel has been given to players who have captured 33 major championships and more than 400 professional tournaments around the world. Past recipients include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ben Crenshaw, and Justin Thomas.  John Pak (FSU) won the 51st Haskins Award in 2021. The Fred Haskins Award is the oldest individual college golf award and the only award to be voted on by players, coaches, golf SID’s, and select golf media. Golf Channel and Golfweek are media partners for the Fred Haskins Award. More information on the Fred Haskins Award presented by Stifel at www.haskinsaward.com.

Stifel, one of the nation’s leading wealth management and investment banking firms, serves as the presenting sponsor of both the ANNIKA and Haskins Awards, recognizing annually the most outstanding NCAA Division I female and male college golfers. Stifel also serves as a presenting sponsor for the NCAA Division I Women’s and Men’s Golf Championships on GOLF Channel.

About Fred Haskins and the Haskins Foundation

From the seaside town of Liverpool to a quaint Donald Ross course in Georgia, Fred Haskins built a reputation for mentoring young golfers. Haskins was head professional at the Country Club of Columbus for 34 years, recommended for the position by the legendary Bobby Jones. His proteges learned the game in Saturday morning classes that cost a nickel. They went on to win more than 150 collegiate and amateur tournaments. Haskins, a master club-maker as well, died in 1981. Since its formation in 1971, the Haskins Foundation has been devoted to amateur golf and the presentation of the Haskins Award. This coveted trophy honors the year’s outstanding college golfer and the memory of Fred Haskins, an obscure club pro that spent his life nurturing and mentoring amateur golfers. The foundation, based in Columbus, Ga., oversees the voting conducted among college golfers, coaches and golf media.

Stifel Company Information
Stifel Company Information Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) is a financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that conducts its banking, securities, and financial services business through several wholly owned subsidiaries. Stifel’s broker-dealer clients are served in the United States through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, including its Eaton Partners business division; Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.; Miller Buckfire & Co., LLC and Century Securities Associates, Inc. The Company’s broker-dealer affiliates provide securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. Stifel Bank and Stifel Bank & Trust offer a full range of consumer and commercial lending solutions. Stifel Trust Company, N.A. and Stifel Trust Company Delaware, N.A. offer trust and related services. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the Company’s website at www.stifel.com. For global disclosures, please visit https://www.stifel.com/investor-relations/press-releases.

ESPN2 and ESPN+ Present Scotland vs. Ukraine World Cup Qualifying Playoff Semifinal and Final

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ESPN2 and ESPN+ will present live coverage of Scotland vs. Ukraine at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Wednesday, June 1, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET (kick at 2:45 p.m.). The match will mark the first competitive match for Ukraine’s men’s national team since the war in Ukraine started on February 20. Scotland-Ukraine will be available on the ESPN App.

The post ESPN2 and ESPN+ Present Scotland vs. Ukraine World Cup Qualifying Playoff Semifinal and Final appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

MARIA TAYLOR TO HOST ROLAND-GARROS SEMIFINALS AND FINALS LIVE FROM PARIS THIS THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY ON NBC AND PEACOCK

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STAMFORD, Conn. – May 31, 2022 – Maria Taylor will host the Roland-Garros women’s and men’s semifinals and finals this Thursday, June 2 through Sunday, June 5 on NBC and Peacock.

Taylor will be on-site in Paris, anchoring coverage around the matches, and will interview the women’s and men’s champions on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Saturday and Sunday.

Earlier this month, she was named host of Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.

In the last 12 months, Taylor – who was named one of 2021’s “Most Powerful Women in Sports” by Adweek – has hosted many of the most-watched events and programs in sports. Following her move to NBC Sports in July 2021, she hosted the Tokyo Olympics, Super Bowl LVI Pregame Show, and Beijing Olympics and Paralympics. Just prior to joining NBC Sports, she also hosted the primetime network broadcasts of the NFL Draft and the NBA Finals.

In addition to her hosting roles, Taylor is executive producing and currently in production on an eight-part documentary series on the history of the Black quarterback in the NFL that will stream on Peacock.

Click here for more information on Maria Taylor.

–NBC SPORTS–

2022 NBA Finals Presented By YouTubeTV Exclusively on ABC: Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics Starts June 2

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The 2022 NBA Finals Presented By YouTubeTV will air exclusively on ABC, beginning with Game 1 on Thursday, June 2, at 9 p.m. ET as the Golden State Warriors and three-time NBA Champion Stephen Curry host the Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum.The 2022 NBA Finals Presented By YouTubeTV will air exclusively on ABC, beginning with Game 1 on Thursday, June 2, at 9 p.m. ET as the Golden State Warriors and three-time NBA Champion Stephen Curry host the Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum.

The post 2022 NBA Finals Presented By YouTubeTV Exclusively on ABC: Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics Starts June 2 appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

MARCUS ERICSSON WINS THE 106th RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500 ON NBC, PEACOCK & UNIVERSO – NOTES AND QUOTES

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“You want to talk about mental fortitude. Think about what this driver just went through the last 10 minutes.” – Townsend Bell on Marcus Ericsson’s Indy 500 Victory

“Shades of Simon Pagenaud in 2019. An incredible run.” – James Hinchcliffe

“Today was everything you always hope the Indy 500 can be. Marcus Ericsson did such an amazing job…Incredible driving under incredible pressure.” – Danica Patrick

“The biggest crowd on the biggest day in racing at the greatest racetrack in the world.” – Townsend Bell

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 29, 2022 – NBC Sports presented exclusive coverage of the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 this afternoon from Indianapolis Motor Speedway on NBC, Peacock and Universo, as Marcus Ericsson won “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Pato O’Ward and Tony Kanaan rounded out the podium.

NBC Sports’ lead INDYCAR commentary team of Leigh Diffey (play-by-play) and analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe called NBC Sports’ broadcast of the Indy 500 alongside pit reporters Marty Snider, Kevin Lee, Dave Burns, and Dillon Welch.

NBC Sports host Mike Tirico anchored coverage alongside analyst and former INDYCAR driver Danica Patrick. Dale Earnhardt Jr., one of racing’s most popular personalities and an NBC Sports motorsports analyst, contributed to pre-race coverage alongside motorsports reporter Rutledge Wood, and joined Tirico and Patrick on the Peacock Pit Box during the race.

Post-Race

Marcus Ericsson to Snider on his approach finishing the race following the red flag: “I felt you can never take anything for granted. Obviously there was eight laps to go and I was praying so hard it wasn’t going to be another yellow, but I knew it was probably going to be one. It was hard to refocus, but I knew the car was amazing, the crew, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, has done such an amazing job.”

Bell on Marcus Ericsson’s victory: “You want to talk about mental fortitude. Think about what this driver just went through the last 10 minutes.”

Hinchcliffe: “Shades of Simon Pagenaud in 2019. An incredible run.”

Bell: “The best elevator ride in the world. Victory lane here in Indianapolis.”

Patrick: “Today was everything you always hope the Indy 500 can be. Marcus Ericsson did such an amazing job…Incredible driving under incredible pressure.”

Bell on Chip Ganassi: “He brought a race-winning team here with five different options.”

Race

Diffey on Marcus Ericsson: “With the spirit of Ronnie Peterson onboard with his helmet, Marcus Ericsson wins the Indy 500 in the most dramatic way!”

Hinchcliffe on Ericsson: “The last two red flags situations we’ve had in INDYCAR (were) Nashville and Detroit Race 1 in 2019. Marcus Ericsson’s two INDYCAR wins have come after red flags.”

Tony Kanaan on his mentality going into the restart with four laps to go during an in-car interview with Townsend Bell during the red flag: “It should be all or nothing again. I’ve done it before so I have nothing to lose. I’m going for the championship. Second place won’t do me any good.”

Hinchcliffe on the impact of Jimmie Johnson’s crash on lap 194 to race leader Marcus Ericsson: “A red flag could completely change the outcome of this race.”

Hinchcliffe on Scott Dixon’s pit lane speeding violation on lap 176: “The man that’s led more laps around the Indy 500 than any other driver in history sees his chance for a win absolutely disappear. Pulls off the pit lane to serve what’s going to be the longest and most painful penalty of his career.”

Bell: “Dixon — bad luck strikes again. Unbelievable!”

Diffey: “Can you imagine what is going on in Scott Dixon’s mind right now? Dominated the day (and) led almost half the race only to fall victim to a pit lane speeding violation.”

Hinchcliffe on Romain Grosjean’s crash on lap 106: “Turn 2 has really been a handful today. Like we’ve seen from (Rinus) VeeKay and (Callum) Ilott, the rear end just steps out in traffic and it is a massive leftside hit.”

Earnhardt Jr. on the windy conditions at the track: “It’s going to be part of the story. The gusts are the problem. It’s going to be interesting how the drivers are going to have to adjust their cars.”

Hinchcliffe on Alex Palou entering pit lane right after Callum Ilott’s crash on lap 69: “(He) was so close to getting away with it…This is devastating…This is very much going to change the structure of his race.”

Bell on the impact of Rinus VeeKay and Callum Ilott’s crashes: “All of a sudden, it goes from total dominance and control from Chip Ganassi Racing — just completely managing the race — to this racetrack managing those two drivers.”

Pre-Race

Patrick on the atmosphere at IMS: “Indianapolis Motor Speedway has its own energy, whether or not anyone is here. I’m glad that all these fans – all 325,000 of them here today – are going to experience the magic of this track.”

Bell: “The biggest crowd on the biggest day in racing at the greatest racetrack in the world.”

Patrick on Helio Castroneves attempting to win a record fifth Indy 500 victory: “I think you have to have that passion and that energy to keep coming back. I really feel that (Castroneves) has been such a great representation for the sport of INDYCAR.”

Patrick on Jimmie Johnson: “Whether its bikes, stock cars, open wheel cars, he just loves racing. I think it’s so cool his dad is spotting. It’s such a family affair.”

Hinchcliffe on Scott Dixon: “There’s no reason not to look at this guy to win. Three runner-up finishes, five pole positions…He’s got the chance today to be the all-time lap leader at IMS, but he “only” has one Indy 500 trophy. When he got that, he was a one-time (INDYCAR) Series champion. He’s got five more of those. He wants nothing more than to get that second Borg-Warner.”

Pre-race coverage highlights included:

Country music superstar and The Voice coach Blake Shelton served as grand marshal, actor Miles Teller served as honorary starter and waved the green flag, while recording artist and actor Jordan Fisher performed the National Anthem ahead of the race.

–NBC SPORTS–

The 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO continue Monday with Game 7 Showdown between the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN

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The 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN presented by GEICO continue with a winner-take-all Second Round, Game 7 showdown between the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, May 30, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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The 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO continue Saturday with Game 6 Matchup between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN

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The 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN presented by GEICO continue with a crucial Second Round, Game 6 matchup between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers on Saturday, May 28, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

With the series tied 2-2 on Thursday night, the Carolina Hurricanes took the series lead behind strong defensive play and limiting the New York Rangers’ scoring opportunities with a 34-17 shot disparity – the largest of the series. However, winning on the road in the Stanley Cup Playoffs continues to challenge the Hurricanes as they have already failed to do so five times, while the Rangers have most recently won five-straight home games in the playoffs. As the teams head back to Madison Square Garden for Game 6, the Rangers will look for more scoring opportunities and to goaltender Igor Shesterkin for his continued strong play on home ice to match the Hurricanes’ Antti Raanta, who increased his home-ice save percentage to .965 after Game 5.

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