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GOLF CHANNEL’S LIVE FROM THE MASTERS COVERAGE WAS MOST-WATCHED DAILY PREVIEW SHOW ON ANY NETWORK DURING MASTERS WEEK

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Live From… Viewership for Full Masters Week UP 46% from 2020 and On Par with 2019, Which Featured Tiger Woods’ Historic Victory

Live From… Shows Ahead of Thursday’s Opening Round and Sunday’s Final Round Rank as GOLF Channel’s Most Watched on Respective Days Since 2018

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 13, 2021 – NBC Sports’ Live From the Masters coverage on GOLF Channel was the most-watched daily Masters preview programming on any network from Monday, April 5 through Sunday, April 11, according to official national data provided by Nielsen.

Live From the Masters daily preview coverage averaged 437,000 viewers for the full Masters week from Monday through Sunday*. For Thursday through Sunday coverage before each Masters round, Live From averaged 633,000 viewers, outperforming the closest competition by 67%.

Live From’s full-week average of 437,000 viewers topped by 46% the show’s average during November’s 2020 Masters (299,000) and was on par with the 2019 Masters (442,000), when Tiger Woods won his fifth green jacket and first major in more than a decade.

Additional viewership highlights from GOLF Channel’s Masters week coverage:

    • GOLF Channel’s average viewership for Masters week programming from Monday-Sunday (6 a.m.-3 a.m. ET) was up 50% vs. November 2020.
    • Extended Live From the Masters coverage on Thursday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. ET averaged 463,000 viewers – marking the largest audience for the show ahead of a Masters opening round since 2018.
    • Live From the Masters on Sunday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. ET delivered an average of 697,000 viewers – ranking as the best figure ahead of a Masters final round since 2018.

In total, NBC Sports presented more than 55 hours of Live From the Masters coverage from Augusta National Golf Club last week as Hideki Matsuyama finished 10-under to secure his first Masters championship, marking his first major title and becoming the first Japanese man to win a major championship.

*Based upon regularly scheduled Live From… windows (Monday, 2-5 p.m. ET, Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. ET, Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. ET, Sunday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. ET)

-NBC SPORTS-

ESPN’s 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship Coverage is Most-Viewed Since 2014

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ESPN’s 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship coverage, from March 26-April 10, was the network’s most-watched since 2014, averaging 193,000 viewers for games across Nielsen-rated networks (ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU).

The post ESPN’s 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship Coverage is Most-Viewed Since 2014 appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

NBC SPORTS’ “PUSH FOR THE PLAYOFFS” BEGINS THIS WEEKEND AS PART OF NHL QUADRUPLEHEADER

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ALEX OVECHKIN & WASHINGTON CAPITALS FACE DAVID PASTRNAK & BOSTON BRUINS SUNDAY AT NOON ON NBC

Sunday Tripleheader Features East Division Co-Leaders in Action – Capitals-Bruins at Noon ET on NBC; Islanders vs. Flyers at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Nightcap Between League-Leading Avalanche Hosting Kings at 9 p.m. ET on NBCSN

NHL West Division Wednesday Doubleheader – Avalanche-Blues at 7:30 p.m. ET; Golden Knights vs. Kings at 10 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Victor Hedman and Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Aleksander Barkov and Florida Panthers in Central Division Clash Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Vegas Golden Knights Zach Whitecloud — NHL’s First Indigenous Player from the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation — Speaks with Anson Carter Available Now on Season Two of Hockey Culture

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 13, 2021 – NBC Sports’ “Push for the Playoffs” begins with an NHL quadrupleheader weekend, headlined by Alex Ovechkin and the East Division co-leading Washington Capitals facing off against David Pastrnak and the Boston Bruins Sunday at Noon on NBC. Sunday’s tripleheader also features the East Division co-leading New York Islanders who play Claude Giroux and the Philadelphia Flyers at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. The nightcap spotlights Nathan MacKinnon and the league-leading Colorado Avalanche hosting Anze Kopitar and the Los Angeles Kings at 9 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Sidney Crosby and the streaking Pittsburgh Penguins, winners of eight of their past 10 games, take on Sam Reinhart and the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.

Wednesday evening will feature a West Division doubleheader on NBCSN, including the pair of teams atop the division standings — the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights. MacKinnon and the Avalanche face Ryan O’Reilly and the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday Night Hockey at 7:30 p.m. ET. The nightcap will be a clash between Mark Stone and the Golden Knights against Kopitar and the Kings at 10 p.m. ET.

Two of the top teams in the Central Division will be in action Thursday on NBCSN, when Victor Hedman and the Tampa Bay Lightning host Aleksander Barkov and the Florida Panthers at 7 p.m. ET.

HOW TO WATCH

  • TV – NBC, NBCSN
  • Streaming – NBC Sports app and NBCSports.com
Date Coverage Commentators Time (ET) Network
Tues., April 13 NHL Live Liam McHugh, Dominic Moore, Mike Babcock 6:30 p.m. NBCSN
  Philadelphia vs. Washington^ Brendan Burke, AJ Mleczko 7 p.m. NBCSN
  NHL Overtime Liam McHugh, Dominic Moore, Mike Babcock 9:30 p.m.* NBCSN
Wed., April 14 NHL Live Kathryn Tappen, Keith Jones, Mike Babcock, Darren Dreger 7 p.m. NBCSN
  Colorado vs. St. Louis^ John Forslund, Pierre McGuire 7:30 p.m. NBCSN
  Vegas vs. Los Angeles Alex Faust, Jim Fox 10 p.m. NBCSN
  NHL Overtime Kathryn Tappen, Keith Jones, Mike Babcock, Darren Dreger 12:30 a.m.* NBCSN
Thurs., April 15 NHL Live Liam McHugh, Patrick Sharp, Dominic Moore 6:30 p.m. NBCSN
  Florida vs. Tampa Bay^ John Walton, Pierre McGuire 7 p.m. NBCSN
  NHL Overtime Liam McHugh, Patrick Sharp, Dominic Moore 9:45 p.m.* NBCSN
Sat., April 17 Pittsburgh vs. Buffalo John Forslund, Pierre McGuire 3 p.m. NBC
Sun., April 18 Washington vs. Boston Mike Tirico, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher Noon NBC
  NHL Live Liam McHugh, Anson Carter, Ryan Callahan 6 p.m. NBCSN
  N.Y. Islanders vs. Philadelphia Brendan Burke, Pierre McGuire 6:30 p.m. NBCSN
  Los Angeles vs. Colorado^ John Forslund, AJ Mleczko 9 p.m. NBCSN
  NHL Overtime Liam McHugh, Anson Carter, Ryan Callahan 11:30 p.m.* NBCSN

*Immediately following game coverage

^Blacked out in local markets: Philadelphia, Washington, Colorado, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles

HOCKEY CULTURE SEASON TWO

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud, the NHL’s first indigenous player from the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, joined NHL on NBC analyst Anson Carter for a conversation about his background, his journey in professional hockey to becoming a member of the Golden Knights, and indigenous players in the NHL that served as role models to him, on the latest episode of NBC Sports’ Hockey Culture.

The conversation is available now on Hockey Culture’s dedicated YouTube Channel and below are highlights:

Whitecloud on the role that the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation played in his hockey career: “I get emotional thinking about it because we didn’t come from a lot of money and my parents did everything to keep me in sports and make sure that I was doing something that I loved. So for them to reach out to Sioux Valley for help and have that financial stability, I’m very grateful to Sioux Valley for supporting me.”

Whitecloud on his decision to join the Golden Knights as an undrafted free agent: “Vegas laid out a plan for me to develop, go into the minor league system, get experience, get reps and become the player they thought I could be…Vegas is an incredible city and after that first year, they’ve created a culture here that I wanted to be a part of.”      

OUR LINE STARTS

NHL on NBC analysts Patrick Sharp and Dominic Moore joined NBC Sports’ Kathryn Tappen to preview the trade deadline, Hart Trophy predictions, and the tight race in the West Division, on the latest episode of NBC Sports’ NHL weekly podcast, Our Line Starts.

OFF THE ICE

On the latest episode of Off the Ice with Kathryn Tappen, Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers joins to discuss the role that his father helped in him pursuing his hockey career, how he modeled his game after Detroit Red Wings former star Pavel Datsyuk, and details how he is making an impact in the local Edmonton community.

2020-21 REGULAR SEASON COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS

NBC Sports is scheduled to present roughly 100 games featuring all 31 teams on NBC and NBCSN during the 2020-21 NHL regular-season, including a record 16 regular-season games on the NBC broadcast network. Click here for more info.

–NBC SPORTS–

IN NBC OLYMPICS FIRST, MIKE TIRICO TO HOST PRIMETIME SHOW FROM OUTDOOR STUDIO OVERLOOKING PICTURESQUE TOKYO SKYLINE

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101 Days to The Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, Friday, July 23, LIVE on NBC

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 13, 2021 – It will be a summer of firsts for Mike Tirico and the NBC Olympics primetime show beginning in July in Tokyo.

Tirico, who makes his debut as the Summer Olympics primetime host, will anchor the show outdoors from a fifth-floor deck with a panoramic view of the Tokyo skyline, highlighted by the landmark Rainbow Bridge. The location marks the first time that the host of NBC Olympics’ primetime presentation will anchor from outdoors (NBC’s first Olympics was the 1964 Tokyo Games).

“We are excited to bring the energy of this vibrant host city to our primetime audience each night as Mike opens the show and interviews the stars of the Games from a spectacular vantage point,” said Molly Solomon, Executive Producer & President, NBC Olympics Production.

After serving as a daytime host from an open-air set on Copacabana Beach at the 2016 Rio Olympics and anchoring NBC Olympics’ primetime and late-night coverage of PyeongChang 2018 from an indoor 3,500 square-foot geodesic dome studio, Tirico will host this summer’s primetime show in Tokyo’s morning and afternoon sunshine (Tokyo is 13 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time).

“Tokyo is one of the great cosmopolitan cities in the world. The chance to use the city as our daily setting will help bring our viewers back in the States even closer to the Olympic experience,” Tirico said.

The outdoor presentation space, designed by NBC Olympics coordinating director Michael Sheehan and his team, will be enhanced by virtual graphics and an array of monitors. The TODAY show will also broadcast from this NBC Olympics outdoor set each day.

“We’re thrilled to be able to incorporate the live Tokyo cityscape into our most technologically advanced Olympics studio setup,” Sheehan said.

Sheehan, who has been leading the NBC Sports studio design team since 2014, also created with his team a technology-laden indoor presentation space, which can project sweeping cityscape backdrops similar to those seen on NBC’s Football Night in America studio show, which he directs.

NBC Olympics’ studios in Tokyo are designed by award-winning set designer Bryan Higgason, and the team of New York based HD Studio. Lighting for the studios is designed by LDG led by Steve Brill, and all fabrication is done by blackwalnut. The entire scenic project is supervised by NBC Olympic Vice President of Production Operations Atila Ozkaplan.

In 101 days, NBC Olympics will provide unprecedented coverage of the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics on Friday, July 23, creating a full day of Olympic programming on NBC that culminates in what is always one of the most-watched nights in television with the primetime presentation of the Ceremony.

ABOUT NBC OLYMPICS

A division of NBC Sports Group, NBC Olympics is responsible for producing, programming and promoting NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. NBC Olympics is renowned for its unsurpassed Olympic heritage, award-winning production, and ability to aggregate the largest audiences in U.S. television history. NBCUniversal owns the U.S. media rights on all platforms to all Olympic Games through 2032. NBC Olympics also produces thousands of hours of Olympic sports programming throughout the year, which is presented on NBC, NBCSN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, Peacock and NBC Sports digital platforms.

– NBC OLYMPICS –

NBC OLYMPICS, CLASSDOJO, AND CLASSROOM CHAMPIONS LAUNCH LEARNING SERIES – HEART OF A CHAMPION – FOR CHILDREN FEATURING TOKYO OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC ATHLETES

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Allyson Felix, Chuck Aoki, April Ross, Christian Taylor, and More Share Life Lessons with Millions of Children on ClassDojo 

Content Available for Free at ClassDojo.com/heart

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 12, 2021 – NBC Olympics, ClassDojo, and Classroom Champions have partnered to connect children with Olympic and Paralympic athletes in a new exclusive learning series, “Heart of a Champion”. In this unique series, children hear stories from elite U.S. athletes about building important life skills such as perseverance, courage, and goal setting. Children can follow the athletes on their journey to make the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams for the Tokyo Olympics this summer.

Each athlete will share their experience with one important social or emotional trait. An especially notable athlete in the 10-part series is Allyson Felix, the most decorated track and field Olympian of all time. Winning her first international title at the age of 15, she has now gone on to hold more world championship and Olympic titles than any other female track athlete. Her episode on courage relates her journey on the track to the courage students use in the everyday classroom setting.

The following athletes and topics are featured in the series:

    • Allyson Felix (Track & Field) – Courage
    • Christian Taylor (Track & Field) – Goal Setting
    • Chuck Aoki (Wheelchair Rugby) – Perseverance
    • Emily Regan (Rowing) – Teamwork
    • Lex Gillette (Track & Field) – Feedback
    • Sophia Herzog (Swimming) – Diversity
    • David Boudia (Diving) – Focus
    • April Ross (Beach Volleyball) – Community

 

“Heart of a Champion” will be available to the public for free at ClassDojo.com/heart and distributed for free to all classrooms on ClassDojo. Children deserve access to the world’s best learning experiences and role models. This series ends a difficult school year with an inspirational series encouraging students to strive for greatness amidst challenges.

“For decades NBC has been bringing the extraordinary stories of Olympic athletes to life,” said Jenny Storms, Chief Marketing Officer, Entertainment and Sports, NBCUniversal. “Through our partnership with ClassDojo and Classroom Champions, we are excited to connect these athletes with millions of students and to share their inspirational journeys in order to help kids succeed in sports, in the classroom, and in life.”

Sam Chaudhary, CEO of ClassDojo: “Sonia Sotomayor said that ‘a role model in the flesh provides more than inspiration…his or her very existence is confirmation of possibilities one may have every reason to doubt, saying, ‘Yes, someone like me can do this.’’ We couldn’t be more excited to give children everywhere the chance to hear stories from inspiring role models like Allyson Felix, and other extraordinary Olympic and Paralympic athletes on the road to Tokyo.”

“Olympians and Paralympians are the most inspirational athletes our country has to offer to help kids see their potential. As these athletes put their long-standing dreams on hold through the first Olympic and Paralympic postponement in history, there’s no one better equipped to teach kids about perseverance,” said Steve Mesler, Olympic Gold Medalist and Chief Executive Officer of Classroom Champions. “Our partnership with NBC Olympics and ClassDojo is an exciting step in getting the right people in front of millions more kids struggling to find role models in today’s world.”

“One of the most courageous acts one can do is be themselves, but it is also one of the most challenging life skills to learn or teach,” said Allyson Felix, 6-time Olympic Gold Medalist. “When the Tokyo Games were postponed, it tested these lessons once more. It took courage, perseverance, teamwork and my community as an athlete and as a mom, to keep my competition mindset for an additional year. It’s because of these skills, that I’m once again ready to compete at the highest level.”

The Games of the XXXII Olympiad will take place July 23-August 8 in Tokyo, Japan. NBCUniversal will present more than 7,000 hours of coverage for U.S. viewers. The Tokyo Paralympics take place August 24-September 5, with NBCU providing unprecedented coverage. 

About NBC Olympics

A division of NBC Sports Group, NBC Olympics is responsible for producing, programming and promoting NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Olympic Games. NBC Olympics is renowned for its unsurpassed Olympic heritage, award-winning production, and ability to aggregate the largest audiences in U.S. television history. NBCUniversal owns the U.S. media rights on all platforms to all Olympic Games through 2032. NBC Olympics also produces thousands of hours of Olympic sports programming throughout the year, which is presented on NBC, NBCSN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, Peacock and NBC Sports digital platforms.

About ClassDojo

ClassDojo is a leading education company, with a vision to give every child on Earth an education they love. Its flagship app is the #1 communication app for K-8 teachers, children and families globally. They use it to stay connected, sharing through the school day with photos, videos, messages, and activities. Families rely on ClassDojo Beyond School to help children get learning experiences they love, beyond those their school can offer. Today, ClassDojo is used by 95% of pre-K-8 schools in the US, and serves over 51 million students in 180 countries. To learn more, visit: classdojo.com or Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or read about our@samchaudhary/https-medium-com-samchaudhary-how-to-change-education-from-the-ground-up-f82b8f3e4b95__;!!PIZeeW5wscynRQ!_CoLWtDshjGepzq_9Tn1TOipTZPHG6Qy04nB5qZotAC3N_3ulkC-4BpSMnffcJgdyD0%24"> thesis here.

About Classroom Champions

Classroom Champions is a non-profit dedicated to connecting students with world-class athlete mentors. Classroom Champions supports students’ social and emotional learning (SEL) and academic achievement, and provides curriculum and mentorship programs to districts, schools, and teachers to encourage children to achieve successful futures. Over the past 10 years, Classroom Champions and its more than 200 Olympians, Paralympians, NCAA student-athletes, and professional sport athlete mentors have taught SEL skills to more than 1 million students across 35 countries. Classroom Champions has provided more than $10,000,000 in scholarships to Title I, rural, and Indigenous communities. Students participating in Classroom Champions see significant improvements in the classroom, teachers see improved engagement, and athlete mentors learn new skills to prepare for life after sport. To learn from more athletes visit www.classroomchampions.org.

PETER KING OUTLINES 20 QUARTERBACK DECISIONS SHAPING NFL OFFSEASON AS DRAFT APPROACHES IN THIS WEEK’S “FMIA” COLUMN

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“There has never been an offseason like this one, which sets up a draft the likes of which we’ve never seen. Never has there been such a league-wide gold rush for quarterbacks.” – King on this offseason

“You need a really good quarterback to play the game that exists now. It leads to the need, and sometimes the desperation, of trying to find ‘that guy.’” – NFL Films’ Greg Cosell to King

“We’ve gone from wondering who would trade for Watson a month ago to…Will he play football at all in 2021?” – King on Deshaun Watson

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 12, 2021 – Peter King outlines 20 quarterback decisions across the league which are shaping the NFL offseason as the 2021 draft approaches in this week’s edition of Football Morning in America, available now exclusively on NBCSports.com. King also discusses Aaron Rodgers’ time as the host of Jeopardy! and speaks with Virginia Tech CB and potential first-round pick Caleb Farley about his recent medical check as he recovers from surgery.

Across NBC Sports, Peacock’s weekday block of NFL programming from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET, which provides extensive NFL coverage, includes PFT Live featuring Mike Florio and Chris Simms live at 7 a.m. ET, followed by The Dan Patrick Show at 9 a.m. ET, The Rich Eisen Show at Noon ET, Brother From Another, with Michael Holley and Michael Smith, at 3 p.m. ET, and PFT PM at 5 p.m. ET. Chris Simms Unbuttoned streams at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday-Friday. ProFootballTalk.com continues to provide the latest offseason news, NBC Sports EDGE’s A Good Football Show discusses offseason storylines. and the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast continues to rank 2021 NFL Draft prospects by position group.

The following are highlights from this week’s edition of Football Morning in America:

QB DECISIONS

King on the offseason: “There has never been an offseason like this one, which sets up a draft the likes of which we’ve never seen. Never has there been such a league-wide gold rush for quarterbacks. Never has the draft gone 1-2-3-4 with quarterbacks at the top…And I doubt this will be the last time that so many quarterbacks go so high in a draft.”

NFL Films producer and analyst Greg Cosell to King on the increased demand of QBs: “In a league that has veered dramatically toward the passing game and toward three and four-receiver sets, it makes sense the quarterback becomes more in demand. You need a really good quarterback to play the game that exists now. It leads to the need, and sometimes the desperation, of trying to find ‘that guy.’”

King on teams becoming more willing to change QBs: “General managers are not risk-averse in this generation. They used to be, back in the eighties and nineties. I think Jimmy Johnson began to change that…In general, they have no fear about shaking up their roster, and quickly.”

King: “I’ve made a list of the 20 quarterback moves and prospective moves, just to show how much the market has been thrown into a tizzy in the last 10 weeks.”

1. Rams Jared Goff out, Matthew Stafford in.
2. Lions Stafford out, Goff in.
3. Cowboys Andy Dalton out, Dak Prescott in (through 2024).
4. Patriots Cam Newton in, but New England scouts rookie QBs hard.
5. Saints Drew Brees out, Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston the heir.
6 WFT Alex Smith out, Ryan Fitzpatrick in.
7. Texans Deshaun Watson status TBD, Tyrod Taylor in as a likely September starter.
8. Bears Mitchell Trubisky out, Andy Dalton in.
9. Colts Philip Rivers out, Carson Wentz in.
10. Eagles Carson Wentz out, Jalen Hurts in.
11. 49ers Jimmy Garoppolo more likely than not staying, TBD rookie quarterback in.
12a. Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa staying, likely getting solid shot in 2022 to be Miami’s long-term QB.
12b. Dolphins Jacoby Brissett in as a prime backup, and Brian Flores won’t be shy about playing him if Tua struggles.
13. Jaguars Gardner Minshew out, Trevor Lawrence in.
14. Panthers Teddy Bridgewater out, Sam Darnold in.
15. Jets Sam Darnold out, Zach Wilson (likely) in.
16. Falcons Do they commit to Ryan or do they draft his successor?
17. Steelers No one trustworthy is behind Roethlisberger. Best guess: Steelers will delay big decision till 2022.
18. Broncos Denver needs a QB of the future, but the Broncos might be able to trade back for draft capital they can’t refuse.
19. Seahawks Seattle, barring a mega-offer before August, enters 2021 with Wilson the starting quarterback.
20. Texans Tyrod Taylor likely to start the season as Houston’s starter. That’s all we can project right now.

 

King on the Falcons: “Do you believe (Matt) Ryan can take you to a Super Bowl? If so, you trade down from the fourth pick in the first round or sit at four and take the best player in the draft who’s not a quarterback. If you don’t believe it, you take the best quarterback available this year – because it may be years before you have a top-five pick in a quarterback-heavy draft again.”

King on the Steelers: “Pittsburgh has not fortified the position of heir to 39-year-old Ben Roethlisberger, unless you trust Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins to be the heir – and I doubt sincerely the Steelers do.”

King on the Seahawks: “This is either crazy or logical, I don’t know which. But the Seahawks had more than one team inquire about trading for Russell Wilson, and nothing ever got close, and I don’t see the scenario of Wilson being dealt re-emerging till February 2022.”

UPDATES ON 11

King on Aaron Rodgers potentially hosting Jeopardy! long-term: “My feeling is the biggest hurdle for Rodgers is the show being on hiatus from July 20 to the end of January, give or take a couple of weeks, every year he continues playing football. Six-plus months, dark, is a potential issue, I would think. But if Sony loves Rodgers, anything’s possible.”

Jeopardy! executive producer Mike Richards to King: “It’s the ultimate compliment to Alex (Trebek) and to the franchise that Aaron is that forward with his thoughts, and so complimentary of the show…What I find fascinating about Aaron is his second career could be better than his first.”

King on Colts head coach Frank Reich’s foundation: “Colts coach Frank Reich and his wife Linda funded and founded a foundation called Knot Today to fight sex trafficking and child exploitation. As part of that, the Reichs spent $12,000 to buy a Labrador Retriever, Hunter, specially trained to sniff out SIM cards and other suspicious links to human traffickers…So many NFL players, coaches and teams do so many great things for the less fortunate. But I can’t think of a better charity for an NFL person than this one.”

King on the Falcons’ draft strategy at pick No. 4: “They will not force a quarterback…They’ll take a quarterback if they love one. Like, really love one. They understand that forcing a quarterback could lead to misery.”

King on the Falcons: “Do the Falcons truly NEED a quarterback? No. They’ve got a good one for, say, the next four years… If there’s a transcendent player they love, like Florida TE Kyle Pitts, they’ll take him.”

King on the upcoming NFL vote to give the Replay Official more power to influence calls: “The Competition Committee likes the power of suggestion inherent in giving the Replay Official more power. The Competition Committee does not like the Sky Judge concept – an eighth official in the crew, with the power to ‘throw flags’ from on high – because of the potential for a rash of fouls the NFL is trying to avoid.”

Virginia Tech CB prospect Caleb Farley to King on his medical check after recently undergoing a microdiscectomy: “I got a lot of positive feedback from the NFL doctors. The NFL doctors confirmed I would be ready for the season, and they told me this is definitely not a chronic thing.”

King on the Panthers and Sam Darnold: “I think it’s possible that the Panthers could still be in the Deshaun Watson derby, when/if his legal troubles go away…Darnold still has a chance to be good. He’ll play this year at 24 – he’s six months younger than Joe Burrow…But he’ll have to play well in 2021 for the Panthers to avoid looking for an upgrade next offseason.”

NEWS & NOTES

King on Deshaun Watson: “I think this past week revealed enough evidence in the Deshaun Watson case to suggest – suggest, I say – that there’s a good chance Watson will be suspended or put on the Commissioner’s Exempt List (rendering him ineligible to play) for at least part of the 2021 season. I can’t see another team trading for him until his legal situation is resolved.”

King on Watson: “We’ve gone from wondering who would trade for Watson a month ago to wondering two more dire things: Will he play football at all in 2021, and will he be found guilty of any charge of sexual assault, the kind of thing that would put a scarlet letter on Watson for the rest of his career?”

King on Florida QB Kyle Trask: “I’m starting to think Kyle Trask, the Florida quarterback, has a good chance to be the sixth first-round quarterback. Starting to think.”

Read the full FMIA column here and catch the weekly Peter King Podcast here.

The following are additional highlights of NBC Sports’ NFL coverage:

    • PFT Live with NBC Sports’ Mike Florio and Chris Simms streams live on Peacock from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. ET on weekdays, followed by The Dan Patrick Show at 9 a.m. ET, The Rich Eisen Show at Noon ET, Brother From Another at 3 p.m. ET, PFT PM at 5 p.m. ET. At 6 p.m. ET, Chris Simms Unbuttoned streams Tuesday-Friday.
    • ProFootballTalk.com continues to provide the latest news and updates.
    • The Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast and NBC Sports EDGE’s A Good Football Show continue the NFL discussion.

 

A new “Football Morning in America” posts every Monday morning exclusively on NBCSports.com through the NFL season. It was announced in May 2019 that King signed an exclusive agreement with NBC Sports Group that included writing a weekly Monday morning NFL column for NBCSports.com; making regular appearances on PFT Live with Mike Florio; and continuing to contribute to Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.

—NBC SPORTS—

NOTES AND QUOTES – LIVE FROM THE MASTERS ON GOLF CHANNEL (FINAL ROUND)

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“It’s been an incredible eight days, not just for golf in general, but more specifically golf in Japan.” – Brandel Chamblee

“He’s going to be a popular commodity come August when we’re there for the Olympics.” – Justin Leonard on Hideki Matsuyama

“They’ve come tantalizingly close to having major championship wins…Now finally, we’ve seen someone climb the highest mountain in golf.” – Chamblee on a Japanese Men’s Golfer Winning the Masters

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 11, 2021 – NBC Sports presented final round Live From the Masters coverage from Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., today and in primetime tonight on GOLF Channel. Hideki Matsuyama won his first Masters championship, marking his first major title, and becoming the first Japanese man to win a major championship.

The Masters – Final Leaderboard

Player Total
Hideki Matsuyama -10
Will Zalatoris -9
Jordan Spieth -7
Xander Schauffele -7


On Hideki Matsuyama (10-under, 2021 Masters champion)

Justin Leonard: “He earned it. He earned it with his play yesterday afternoon, he earned it with superior ball-striking, an incredible short game…Can’t imagine, as golf crazy as the nation of Japan is, they’ve had a pretty good eight days…To have Hideki Matsuyama win the Masters, of all the majors, he’s going to be a popular commodity come August when we’re there for the Olympics.”

Brandel Chamblee: “It’s been an incredible eight days, not just for golf in general, but more specifically golf in Japan — to see Tsubasa Kajitani win the Augusta National Women’s Amateur as a 17-year-old, and to see Hideki Matsuyama become the first player from Japan to win a major championship and win the Masters.”

Leonard on Matsuyama’s iron play: “It’s elite and has been consistently elite for a number of years…The level of consistency is hard to fathom he’s been that good for that long.”

Chamblee: “In general, the scrambling of Hideki Matsuyama was top-notch…Sort of quietly, he’s been one of the best scramblers on the PGA TOUR over the last three years, but this particular week, only one player in the field managed to get it up and down more often than he did.”

Rich Lerner: “It’s been said that through the years, the Masters doesn’t start until the second nine on Sunday. I think he won the Masters with what he did on the second nine on Saturday…That bought him margin for error and he needed every bit of it coming down the stretch today.”

Lerner: “What this Masters may have lacked in raw, white-knuckle, birdie-eagle excitement, it made up for in significance — Hideki Matsuyama becoming the first male player from Japan to win a major championship.”

On the importance of a Japanese golfer winning the Masters

Chamblee: “They’ve come tantalizingly close to having major championship wins…Golf in Japan is a frenzied activity…They love their sport…Men on a big stage winning one of the biggest events, they’ve been teased and now finally, we’ve seen someone climb the highest mountain in golf.”

Rex Kuramoto: “Men’s golf has been behind ladies golf because (Hinako) Shibuno won the (Women’s) British Open two years ago, and since that time, golf in Japan, the ladies have come first…But Matsuyama winning this Masters changes everything — Matsuyama will be the guy.”

On Will Zalatoris (9-under, 2nd)

Leonard on what’s most impressive about Zalatoris: “He’s got an impressive golf game, obviously. Great ball-striker. The distance that he hits the ball for not being a big guy with long arms or anything, it’s quite remarkable, but also kind of his mental outlook. He wasn’t shocked or surprised or overwhelmed to be here. He looked very comfortable out there yesterday, he looked comfortable again today.”

Chamblee: “It’s not often you see a rookie come along with a talent this luminous from a ball-striking standpoint, but that alone is not unique, right? It happens…In general, I’d say it’s his ability to treat every round as if it’s the same, and be the same every single round…His strategy, his ability to think properly under pressure at such a young age, those two are extraordinary.”

On Xander Schauffele (7-under, T-3rd)

Leonard: “The lessons he’s learning because he’s in the thick of the battle and in contention, they’re hard ones…He seems to hit a poor shot or (make a) bad decision at the wrong time…I think he’s becoming tougher through this process and that will serve him well down the road.”

–NBC SPORTS–

NOTES AND QUOTES – LIVE FROM THE MASTERS ON GOLF CHANNEL (THIRD ROUND)

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“If Hideki Matsuyama goes on to win, this will be one of the more famous 30s ever shot here…Tomorrow has a chance to be the biggest day in the history of Japanese golf.” – Brandel Chamblee

“With the Olympics coming up in Tokyo this summer, he’s already a rock star, but this would put him in a stratosphere I don’t think anyone can imagine or put into words.” – Justin Leonard on Matsuyama’s importance to Japan if he wins the Masters

“I would say that this felt like a Sunday to me with all the sublime ball-striking.” – Chamblee on the third round

Live From the Masters Final Round Coverage Begins Tomorrow Morning at 9 a.m. ET and Continues in Primetime at 7 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 10, 2021 – NBC Sports presented third round Live From the Masters coverage from Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., today and in primetime tonight on GOLF Channel, as Hideki Matsuyama holds a four-shot lead after third round play.

Live From the Masters continues with final round coverage tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. ET and in primetime at 7 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel.

Throughout the week, GOLF Channel’s daily live coverage features more than 55 hours and includes pre-and post-tournament coverage through the final round on Sunday, April 11.

The Masters – Third Round Leaderboard

Player Total
Hideki Matsuyama -11
Xander Schauffele -7
Justin Rose -7
Marc Leishman -7
Will Zalatoris -7

 

On Hideki Matsuyama

Rich Lerner on Matsuyama’s play after the weather delay: “Really the only player who sort of adjusted his strategy. He went pin hunting…Matsuyama with a day to remember.”

Brandel Chamblee on Matsuyama’s back nine: “If Hideki Matsuyama goes on to win, this will be one of the more famous 30s ever shot here and it will certainly go down into Japanese lore as one of the greatest weeks in the history of that game…Tomorrow has a chance to be the biggest day in the history of Japanese golf.”

Justin Leonard on Matsuyama’s round: “It was something else…It’s hard to understand or put into words the amount of pressure that a professional golfer from Japan faces from the media in Japan…They’re just put on a pedestal that we can’t comprehend in the United States. Every time they tee it up, it’s like The Rolling Stones playing at Madison Square Garden…With the Olympics coming up in Tokyo this summer, he’s already a rock star, but this would put him in a stratosphere I don’t think anyone can imagine or put into words.”

On Justin Rose

Leonard: “I think he’s got to feel pretty good about his position…It’s time he can play a little more aggressively, and he’ll need to from the get-go tomorrow. He got off to a great start, so nerves aren’t an issue.”

Chamblee: “I’ve probably been more surprised watching Justin Rose play this week than I have pretty much anybody else because he came in here without any form…It’s almost like he’s turned himself inside out…From five to ten feet, where he’s had a career now of misses, he’s just looked beautiful…I think he’s going to have to draw on psychological reserves tomorrow.”

Leonard: “He still feels like he got it, like he could come away from here with a green jacket, and with the amount of pressure that’s on Hideki Matsuyama, he just may very well do that.”

Lerner: “He’s had a solid career, there’s no doubt…With a win tomorrow, it likely puts him in the Hall of Fame, and it goes from a really good career to a great career.”

On Will Zalatoris

Chamblee: “This guy has never played in the Masters and experience is supposed to get the better of you…and yet he hits a shot like that at the last (hole). You think about all the players that are here, these are the best in the world with enormous amount of experience here, and yet nobody in the entire field managed to hit more greens today than that man.”

Leonard on Zalatoris’ potential: “His poise, the way he’s handled the situations…To watch his game, to see how quickly he’s matured and this meteoric rise he’s made over the past two years, but I feel like he’s not getting ahead of himself.”

On Xander Schauffele

Leonard on Schauffele’s experience contending in past majors: “You get more comfortable, and that’s the hardest thing to do. I wouldn’t say you get completely comfortable, but you edge toward that line. I think for Xander Schauffele, he understands that being uncomfortable is a good spot, because it means it means something…I think there are a lot of players who can kind of take it or leave it, but Xander seems to kind of thrive off of it.”

On the Third Round

Chamblee: “I would say that this felt like a Sunday to me with all the sublime ball-striking…Just from the quality of play and the fact that it was the contrast of the forecast.”

Leonard: “It looked like it was going to be a test of survival today. Then, all of a sudden, with a little bit of break, a little bit of moisture, the wind dies down. All of a sudden, guys went flag hunting.”

–NBC SPORTS–

NOTES AND QUOTES – LIVE FROM THE MASTERS ON GOLF CHANNEL (SECOND ROUND)

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“Yesterday’s round was a confidence builder. Today’s round was a character builder… today’s round was more important to him and his outlook for the rest of the weekend than yesterday was.” – Justin Leonard on Justin Rose

“Looking at the leaderboard, you almost have to consider Jordan Spieth the favorite.” – Leonard

“There’s just no shot out here that he cannot create.” – Brandel Chamblee on Justin Thomas

Live From the Masters Third Round Coverage Begins Tomorrow Morning at 9 a.m. ET and Continues in Primetime at 7 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 9, 2021 – NBC Sports presented second round Live From the Masters coverage from Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., today and in primetime tonight on GOLF Channel, as Justin Rose holds a one-shot lead after second round play.

Live From the Masters continues with third round coverage tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. ET and in primetime at 7 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel.

Throughout the week, GOLF Channel’s daily live coverage features more than 55 hours and includes pre-and post-tournament coverage through the final round on Sunday, April 11.

The Masters – Second Round Leaderboard

Player Total
Justin Rose -7
Will Zalatoris -6
Brian Harman -6
Jordan Spieth -5
Marc Leishman -5

On Justin Rose

Justin Leonard: “Yesterday’s round was a confidence builder. Today’s round was a character builder…to be able to get off to the start he did and right the ship…today’s round was more important to him and his outlook for the rest of the weekend than yesterday was.”

Brandel Chamblee: “When I talk about making mistakes at the Masters, it’s not just the technical mistakes, it’s keeping your wits about you when you get into trouble…that’s what he did early that allowed him to play well late and kept him on top of the leaderboard.”

On Jordan Spieth

Leonard: “There’s no guide to what he’s doing, especially off the tee, he’s free-swinging, shaping the ball both directions…the putting and chipping is marvelous. We thought we saw some signs, but this has been a rapid comeback — where looking at the leaderboard — you almost have to consider Jordan Spieth the favorite.”

Rich Lerner: “Three months ago, we had a hard time remembering when Jordan was great. He was in that deep of a hole. Now, I’m having a hard time remembering he was in a slump at all.”

Chamblee: “He has a scramblers sensibility with a tactician’s talent, he’s like part (Ben) Hogan, part Sevy (Seve Ballesteros).”

On Will Zalatoris

Leonard on Zalatoris’ rapid rise from the Korn Ferry Tour to the PGA TOUR: “Phenomenal talent…a year ago, Will Zalatoris was thinking about his next Korn Ferry start and tomorrow he’s playing in the last group in the Masters. What a meteoric rise.”

Chamblee: “It’s belief that gets you to the reality…when you put it all together and start to look at what he’s done in this short span of playing these (PGA) TOUR events, the ball striking adds up.”

On Justin Thomas

Chamblee: “There’s just no shot out here that he cannot create.”

On Rory McIlroy

Leonard: “I’m surprised at the lack of form…I know he’s been putting a lot of work in, obviously some work there still left to do and it needs to happen quickly.”

On the Second Round

Chamblee: “Friday’s give us time to talk about not just the good, there was plenty of good, but the bad and unprecedented…start with the good, Justin Rose, like Dustin Johnson, going for a very deserving second major championship…Jordan Spieth doing what Phil Mickelson did in 2006, win back-to-back weeks on the PGA TOUR, making one of them a major, and the Masters…the bad is pretty simple too, watching Dustin Johnson struggle, watching Rory McIlroy hit it worse than I’ve probably ever seen him hit it…and then there’s the unprecedented, with Hideki Matsuyama (looking) to be the first player from Japan to win a Masters.”

–NBC SPORTS–

NOTES AND QUOTES – LIVE FROM THE MASTERS ON GOLF CHANNEL (FIRST ROUND)

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“He’s going to hit it right where it needs to be, and he’s going to find that sweet spot…Justin Rose can find these greens as good as Tiger Woods in his prime.” – Brandel Chamblee on Rose at Augusta National

“Sometimes coming in with little expectations, it frees a player up, and I think for Justin Rose, that’s probably what we saw today.” – Justin Leonard

“The way Bryson DeChambeau drove the ball today, he may pull an all-nighter…He has some work to figure out.” – Chamblee

Live From the Masters Second Round Coverage Begins Tomorrow Morning at 8 a.m. ET and Continues in Primetime at 7:30 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 8, 2021 – NBC Sports presented opening round Live From the Masters coverage from Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., today and in primetime tonight on GOLF Channel, as Justin Rose shot a seven-under 65 to take the first round lead.

Live From the Masters continues with second round coverage tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. ET and in primetime at 7:30 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel.

Throughout the week, GOLF Channel’s daily live coverage features more than 55 hours and includes pre-and post-tournament coverage through the final round on Sunday, April 11.

The Masters – Opening Round Leaderboard

Player Total
Justin Rose -7
Brian Harman -3
Hideki Matsuyama -3
Patrick Reed -2
Webb Simpson -2
Will Zalatoris -2
Christiaan Bezuidenhout -2

 

On Justin Rose

Rich Lerner: “On a day when a number of big names struggled, Justin Rose served up a mind-boggling reminder that he too, not long ago, was one of those big names.”

Brandel Chamblee: “The way Justin Rose is playing, he looked like vintage Justin Rose here. This looked like the guy who won the U.S. Open in 2013, and it looked like he might win several other championships.”

Justin Leonard: “Justin Rose (is) really the only one to generate heat on a fiery golf course here opening day.”

Chamblee on how Rose’s game plays at Augusta National: “That’s the kind of accountant that I’d like to have. He’s not going to cut corners. He’s going to hit it right where it needs to be, and he’s going to find that sweet spot. That’s what he does. This is a thinking man’s golf course…Justin Rose can find these greens as good as Tiger Woods in his prime.”

Leonard on Rose’s turnaround today: “We saw no semblance of this. He didn’t even know where his game was for the last month coming in here, but he used his experience and kind of walking the tight rope very nicely today at Augusta National…Sometimes coming in with little expectations, it frees a player up, and I think for Justin Rose, that’s probably what we saw today.”

On Bryson DeChambeau

Chamblee: “The way Bryson DeChambeau drove the ball today, he may pull an all-nighter. He’s burning the midnight oil many, many times at major championships, but he may be there until the sun comes up. He has some work to figure out.”

Leonard: “Bryson DeChambeau is trying to figure out how hard he hits a pitching wedge because today it looked like he had no clue…Those are the kinds of mistakes that you cannot make at Augusta National and expect to play halfway decent.”

Lerner: “At least to this point, Augusta National is not Bryson’s golf course.”

Chamblee: “It’s a square peg in a round hole for him. He’s linear, this golf course is abstract. I’m going to borrow an analogy from the GEICO lizard, and say this golf course fits him about as well as a porcupine in a balloon factory. It’s just not a good fit for him.”

On Rory McIlroy

Chamblee: “I’ve never seen him swing like he did today. I’ve never seen him this unorganized, I’ve never seen him miss shots the way he missed them today. I’ve seen him miss plenty of shots, I’ve seen him hit bad shots and make bad swings, but I’ve never seen him make worse swings than he did today…From a purely empirical standpoint, I’ve never seen him hit the ball that bad.”

On Dustin Johnson

Leonard: “The defending champion with quite a bit of work to do, but we know that he’s capable.”

On Lee Elder, who broke the color barrier at the 1975 Masters and served as today’s honorary starter

Damon Hack: “The beauty of the morning, the dignity of the man, and the love that was showered upon Lee Elder. Life has come full circle for Lee Elder, who joined Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player (as) honorary starters in this 85th Masters, 46 years after he broke the color barrier at the 1975 Masters…Today was all about love and a soft heart, as he described it, and wanting to be an inspiration for the next generation and for all those who love this game.”

Chamblee: “When you see Lee Elder stand up on that tee today, he’s being honored for his significant role in helping change the game for the better. But he didn’t just get there because of his golf clubs. He got there, as Damon Hack just said, because of how he handled those indignities with grace. And that’s because of the content of his character.”

Leonard: “So today, by honoring Lee Elder, this was another step in the right direction for Augusta National and the Masters.”

On the first round

Leonard: “Wasn’t surprised that we had firm and fast greens…Wasn’t surprised we saw some eagles, and wasn’t surprised we saw some bogeys, some doubles, and even triples by one of our players that’s on the first page of the leaderboard. What was surprising was some of the struggles of a couple players in the Top 10 in the world.”

Chamblee on contenders: “It went from 88 in the field to about 10 or 12 having a chance to win this championship…This golf course requires such technical precision and such great strategy that it’s just very rare that you can couple those two. And after the first round, you are very clear at who has their technical skills and who has their wits about them.”

Leonard on the difficulty of Augusta National: “An inch here is like yards at another venue. An inch here makes all the difference – a difference between a seven and a three in Jordan Spieth’s case at 15 today.”

–NBC SPORTS–