FOX Sports’ Action Packed Week Includes NFL, NASCAR, MLB, UFC, Soccer & Boxing * Studio Guests, Premieres & Live Event Schedule (8/16 – 8/21)

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

Full Schedule Includes NFL, NASCAR, MLB, UFC, Soccer, Boxing & MotoGP

Across FOX Broadcasting, FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2

Detailed Descriptions and Guest Lineups for this Week’s Live Events and Studio Shows

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FOX SPORTS LIVE EVENT, PREMIERE AND STUDIO SCHEDULE (8/16 – 8/21)

FOX SPORTS (BROADCAST) – BLUE; FOX SPORTS 1 – BLACK; FOX SPORTS 2 – GREEN

All Times Eastern/Subject to Change

Friday, August 16

Saturday, August 17

** Fox News, FX, Fox Deportes, Fox Soccer +, Fox Radio, BTN and FOXSports.com synchronize coverage at 7:59 PM ET to preview FOX Sports 1’s UFC FIGHT NIGHT

Sunday, August 18

Monday, August 19

Tuesday, August 20

Wednesday, August 21

NFL

NFL ON FOX KICKS OFF PRESEASON: BUCS AT PATRIOTS & COLTS AT GIANTS – FOX Sports kicks off preparations for its 2013 Super Bowl season with two preseason clashes this weekend. On Friday, Aug. 16 (8:00 PM ET) the Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to New England to take on the Patriots. The broadcast team of game announcer Kenny Albert, analyst Daryl Johnston and on-field analyst Tony Siragusa call the game action from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.  FOX Sports moves its NFL preseason coverage to New Jersey on Sunday, Aug. 18 (7:00 PM ET) when the New York Giants faceoff against the Indianapolis Colts. NFL on FOX’s lead broadcast team of play-by-play broadcaster Joe Buck, analyst Troy Aikman and reporter Pam Oliver call the action on the field from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.

Pregame and halftime studio coverage for both NFL on FOX broadcasts features host Curt Menefee with NFL insider Jay Glazer, rules analyst Mike Pereira and recently announced newcomers Brian Urlacher, Ronde Barber and Randy Moss from the FOX Network Center in Los Angeles.

Earlier this week, Moss, Urlacher and Barber were on a call with Scott Fujita to announce joining FOX FOOTBALL DAILY on FOX Sports 1.

Moss on what he’s looking forward to most: “For us to be able to come in and do a show where we’re picking each other’s brains on how we played professionally is great.  What’s really going to be intriguing is that you have two linebackers, two wide receivers and a cornerback. Everything that we’ve experienced, and how we see and approached the game is going to be the main thing that I look forward to hearing from everybody.”

Urlacher on how having so many different perspectives on the NFL among the FOX FOOTBALL DAILY cast leads to varied discussions: “Having Randy, who played receiver or me who played middle linebacker and being able to see the game from different situations and give our insights on anything Jay or Curt bring up is going to be fun to not only talk about but to listen to.”

Menefee on the freedom FOX FOOTBALL DAILY provides: “One of the things we’ve already seen in is the relationships these guys have with Jay.  Most of us have known each other, one way or another, throughout our NFL and broadcasting careers. Now that we’ve been in rehearsals you see what goes on.  Every show has guys on it that know football. Our show allows guys to be themselves and that’s what you’ll see on a daily basis.”

FOX FOOTBALL DAILY GUEST RUNDOWN THIS WEEK – FOX Sports 1’s signature daily football show, FOX FOOTBALL DAILY debuts Monday, Aug. 19 (6:00 PM ET) with appearances from football’s biggest stars. On Monday, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly joins the cast via satellite. On Tuesday, NFL insider Jay Glazer sits down with Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and Wednesday’s program welcomes New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton.

FOX SPORTS 1-ON-1, an original program in which FOX Sports icons like Terry Bradshaw, Chris Myers, Gus Johnson and more sit down for in-depth interviews with legends in the world of sports, entertainment and politics, premieres at 2:30 PM ET. Saturday’s episode features FOX Sports’ Michael Strahan with legendary New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

CROWD GOES WILD & FOX SPORTS LIVE

CROWD GOES WILD GUEST RUNDOWN THIS WEEK – The highly anticipated original show CROWD GOES WILD premieres Monday, Aug. 19 (5:00 PM ET) with Regis Philbin, Jason Gay, Michael Kosta, Trevor Pryce, Georgie Thompson, and Katie Nolan talking about the biggest sports stories of the day.  In its premiere episode, the cast welcomes former boxing great Oscar De La Hoya.  Tuesday’s program gets a visit from PGA golfer Rickie Fowler. On Wednesday, CROWD GOES WILD hosts recording artist Wale and New York Knicks forward Metta World Peace.

FOX SPORTS LIVE GUEST RUNDOWN THIS WEEK – FOX Sports’ nightly news, opinion and highlights show makes its premiere Saturday, Aug. 17 (11:00 PM ET) and features the highlights team of Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole, host Charissa Thompson and panelists Donovan McNabb, Ephraim Salaam, Gary Payton and Andy Roddick.  Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson visits the studio in Monday’s edition.  On Tuesday’s show, columnist Bill Reiter sits down with Miami Heat superstar LeBron James.  Wednesday’s program features an on-site visit from UFC President Dana White.

MLB

MLB ON FOX: BASEBALL’S HOTTEST TEAMS MEET IN HOLLYWOOD – It’s full speed ahead for the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK on Saturday, Aug. 17 (3:30 PM ET) as FOX Sports presents three exciting MLB matchups. Two of the game’s giants meet in Boston as the AL East-leading Red Sox host the New York Yankees.  On Chicago’s North Side, old-time rivals meet as the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Cubs. The Cubs and Cardinals are chasing the NL Central-leading Pirates who host the Arizona Diamondbacks in Pittsburgh.

Coverage begins with the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL PREGAME SHOW originating live from MLB Network’s state-of-the-art Studio 3 in Secaucus, NJ. This week, longtime FOX Sports and MLB Network broadcaster Matt Vasgersian is joined by analysts Mitch Williams and Dan Plesac.

GAME                                                                                    PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST                                                        COV.

New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox*                      Kenny Albert, Tim McCarver                                                     73%

& Ken Rosenthal

Fenway Park – Boston, MA

MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Houston, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Washington, West Palm Beach

Probable Pitchers: Hiroki Kuroda, RHP (11-7, 2.33 ERA) vs. TBA

*On FOX Deportes

St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs                            Rich Waltz & Tom Verducci                                                             16%

Wrigley Field – Chicago, IL

MARKETS INCLUDE: Chicago, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Louisville, Memphis, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Tulsa

Probable Pitchers: Joe Kelly, RHP (3-3, 3.14 ERA) vs. Travis Wood, LHP (7-9, 3.00 ERA)

Arizona Diamondbacks at Pittsburgh Pirates            Justin Kutcher & Bob Brenly                                                          10%

PNC Park – Pittsburgh, PA

MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Denver, Phoenix, Pittsburgh

Probable Pitchers: Trevor Cahill, RHP (3-10, 4.66 ERA) vs. Jeff Locke, LHP (9-3, 2.43 ERA)

UFC

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SHOGUN VS. SONNEN DEBUTS ON FOX SPORTS 1 – The Ultimate Fighting Championship debuts as the first live primetime event on America’s new sports network, FOX Sports 1, Saturday, Aug. 17 (6:00 PM ET) from TD Garden in Boston. Coverage of these bouts begins on FUEL TV with UFC FIGHT NIGHT WEIGH-IN on Friday, Aug. 16 (4:00 PM ET).  Molly Qerim hosts the weigh-in with color commentary from Kenny Florian and Brian Stann. Ariel Helwani interviews fighters backstage.

UFC ULTIMATE INSIDER premieres on FOX Sports 1 Saturday, Aug. 17 (4:30 PM ET) with a feature on UFC featherweight rising star Conor McGregor as he prepares for Saturday night’s fight.  The program then goes behind-the-scenes with Bostonian Joe Lauzon who discusses his powerful bond with the city he loves.  Additionally, host Jon Anik sits down with Alistair Overeem to preview Overeem’s bout against Travis Browne.  Immediately following UFC ULTIMATE INSIDER is the UFC FIGHT NIGHT PREFIGHT SHOW: SHOGUN VS. SONNEN, which begins at 5:00 PM ET with host Jay Glazer and UFC analysts Florian and Stann. Three-time MMA journalist of the year Helwani interviews fighters backstage.

A quadruple header of preliminary bouts commences at 6:00 PM ET as No. 5 ranked bantamweight contender Brad Pickett (24-7) takes on No. 3 ranked Michael McDonald (15-2); McGregor (13-2) takes on Max Holloway (7-2) in a featherweight clash; Mike Brown (26-8) fights Steven Siler (22-10) in the featherweight division; and Diego Brandao (21-8) battles Daniel Pineda (18-9) also in the featherweight division.  Then, beginning at 8:00 PM ET, the main card kicks-off with Lauzon (22-8) against Michael Johnson (13-8) in the lightweight division; Uriah Hall (8-3) clashes with Bostonian John Howard (20-8) in the middleweight class; Matt Brown (19-11) takes on Mike Pyle (25-8-1) in a battle of resurgent welterweights; No. 2 ranked bantamweight Uriah Faber (28-6) battles Yuri Alcantara (27-4, 1NC); Overeem (36-12, 1NC) takes on No. 8 ranked Browne (14-1-1).  The headline bout features former UFC champion and Brazilian superstar Shogun Rua (21-7) as he faces three-time world title challenger Chael Sonnen (28-13-1) in a thrilling heavyweight showdown. UFC announcers Anik and Joe Rogan call all fights live.

FLORIAN SAYS SONNEN HAS EDGE IN CLASH OF STYLES AT UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SHOGUN VS. SONNEN – This weekend’s main event at UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SHOGUN VS. SONNEN features a clash of MMA styles, says UFC TONIGHT analyst Kenny Florian. “Sonnen loves to wrestle his opponents down and keeps a brutal pace. He loves the ground and pound, but Rua has a ton of experience and is a former UFC and PRIDE champion. Sonnen’s keys to victory are to get in boxing range to set up takedowns, pass the guard, and pace himself. He’s the smaller guy and he’ll be pushing around a bigger guy.” For more predictions on UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SHOGUN VS. SONNEN, watch this clip: http://youtu.be/fsKahE-dQuE

SOCCER

UEFA AND CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SOCCER COMES TO FOX SPORTS 1 – Soccer makes its FOX Sports 1 debut on Tuesday, Aug. 20 with the UEFA Champions League Pregame Show (2:00 PM ET) followed by the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoffs, as PSV Eindhoven (HOL) faces AC Milan (ITA) at 2:30 PM ET. Later that evening, the Houston Dynamo (USA) take on DirecTV W Connection (TRI) in CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage – Match Day 2 at 8:00 PM ET. UEFA Champions League playoffs continue the following afternoon at 2:00 PM ET on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

NASCAR

NASCAR LIVE! ORIGINATES FROM FOX SPORTS STAGE IN MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY – This Friday, Aug. 16 (1:30 PM ET), NASCAR LIVE! welcomes viewers from the infield of Michigan International Speedway. Hosted by John Roberts with analysis from NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace and reporting by Jeff Hammond and Matt Clark, NASCAR LIVE! offers updates from the day’s practice sessions and the latest breaking news.  This week, includes updates on Tony Stewart’s injured leg and his eventual return to the cockpit and details of Austin Dillon’s whirlwind weekend as Stewart’s fill-in driver.  Additionally, NASCAR LIVE! covers this week’s announcement that Brian Vickers’ landed a fulltime ride for 2014 with Michael Waltrip Racing and the panel debates whether Dale Earnhardt Jr. can break his winless streak this weekend at Michigan, site of his only two Cup Series wins since 2007.

TRACKSIDE SAYS GOODBYE TO SPEED – SPEED airs its 429^th and final episode live from the FOX Sports Stage in the MIS infield on Friday, Aug. 16 (5:30 PM ET). Friday’s guests on the long-running program include NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship contenders Clint Bowyer and Matt Kenseth. Danielle Trotta hosts alongside Kyle Petty, Rutledge Wood and Kaitlyn Vincie.

THE 1 FOR NASCAR KICKS OFF BRIGHT AND EARLY – NASCAR LIVE! ushers in the new era of NASCAR on FOX Sports 1 on Saturday, Aug. 17 (8:00 AM ET) live from the Michigan International Speedway infield.  Host John Roberts, analyst and NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip, analysts Jeff Hammond and Kenny Wallace and reporters Wendy Venturini and Matt Yocum put viewers in-the-know for the weekend’s on-track activity.

CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES MARKS FIRST LIVE SPORTING EVENT ON FOX SPORTS 1 –The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race from Michigan on Saturday, Aug. 17 (12:30 PM ET) marks FOX Sports 1’s first-ever live event. Barely halfway through a 22-race season, points leader Matt Crafton looks to increase his advantage on the other top-10 contenders, who are separated by a mere 32 points.  Play-by-play announcer Rick Allen is on the call alongside analysts Phil Parsons and Michael Waltrip.  Ray Dunlap and Hermie Sadler report from the pits.  FOX Sports 1 kicks off its Truck Series race coverage with a packed NCWTS SETUP (12:00 PM ET) pre-race show live from the main FOX Sports Stage in the MIS infield.  Danielle Trotta fills in for Krista Voda as host and is joined by analyst Michael Waltrip.

DUNLAP: MATT CRAFTON IS THE FAVORITE – Michigan kicks off a summer stretch of five consecutive races contested on a variety of tracks ranging from a superspeedway to a road course, short track and intermediate track.  The next five weeks potentially could decide the championship. “You’ve got to point the finger at Matt Crafton right now as the favorite,” FOX Sports 1 reporter Ray Dunlap said.  “He rolled out of Pocono last week with his 11^th top-10 finish in 11 races. Crafton wasn’t a big factor at Pocono, but he keeps ticking and marching toward his first championship. This summer stretch will play an integral role in deciding who hoists the trophy at the end of the year, and at the halfway point, someone will have to show they can outperform Crafton’s team for that honor. Good luck.”

TIGHT RACE FOR THE CHASE HIGHLIGHTS NASCAR RACEDAY FROM MICHIGAN – It’s all hands on deck for NASCAR RACEDAY on Sunday, Aug. 18 (10:00 AM ET) live from Michigan.  FOX Sports 1’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pre-race show is hosted by John Roberts with special guest analyst Darrell Waltrip and regular analysts Kyle Petty and Larry McReynolds.  Wendy Venturini, Kenny Wallace and Rutledge Wood deliver inside stories and exclusive driver interviews from the garage and pit road. With four races remaining to qualify for the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup, the on-air team breaks down the perpetual points shuffle and who’s in and who’s out of the Chase heading into Michigan; whether reigning champ Brad Keselowski can make the Chase without a win; who poses the biggest challenge to current Chase “wild card” contenders Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman; whether Roush Fenway Racing can take its program up a notch at Michigan, historically one of the organization’s best tracks; and possible landing spots for free agents Newman and Juan Pablo Montoya in 2014.

PUTTING A BOW ON SUNDAY’S ACTION – FOX Sports 1 has every detail of Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at MIS covered with extensive post-race coverage on NASCAR VICTORY LANE (7:00 PM ET). Host John Roberts and analysts Kyle Petty and Kenny Wallace interview the winning driver and crew chief, while reporter Bob Dillner catches up with other key players.

MODIFIED TOUR TAKES CENTER STAGE WEDNESDAY – FOX Sports 2 offers live race coverage of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on Wednesday, Aug. 21 (6:00 PM ET) from Bristol Motor Speedway.  Mike Joy has play-by-play duties alongside analyst Bob Dillner with Ralph Sheheen delivering reports from pit road.

TRUCKS SERIES ROLLS AROUND WEDNESDAY IN THUNDER VALLEY – The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series hits the high banks of Bristol Wednesday, Aug. 21 (8:00 PM ET) for one of the most-anticipated and action-packed races of the season, live on FOX Sports 1.  Rick Allen calls the 13^th race of the 22-race season alongside analysts Phil Parsons and Michael Waltrip, with reporting by Ray Dunlap and Hermie Sadler.  With an extremely tight points race playing out among the top-10 drivers, the half-mile oval track, known as “Thunder Valley,” threatens to shake up the point standings even further. Look for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regulars Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski to do their best to swoop down and add another Bristol win to their resume.  NCWTS SETUP, which precedes Wednesday’s Camping World Truck Series is hosted by Danielle Trotta with reporting by Dunlap and Sadler as they set the tone for the race under the lights with comprehensive live coverage from Bristol at 7:30 PM ET.  Features include “Grassroots Beat,” a look at Joey Coulter’s short-track racing at Volunteer Speedway (Bulls Gap, Tenn.), and a retrospective on Timothy Peters’ dominant performance at Bristol in 2012.

NASCAR RACE HUB DEBUTS ON FOX SPORTS 1 –  FOX Sports 1’s daily NASCAR news and highlights show, RACE HUB, wraps all the action from Michigan International Speedway on Monday, Aug. 19 (4:30 PM ET).  Co-hosts Steve Byrnes and Danielle Trotta recap all the weekend’s races, news and fallout with insight from analyst Larry McReynolds.  On Tuesday, Aug. 20 (12:00 PM ET) RACE HUB takes a deeper look at the points shakeup following the weekend’s race at MIS, evaluating who still has a legitimate shot to qualify for the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup.  Tuesday’s show features co-hosts Byrnes and Trotta with analysis from Jimmy Spencer.  On Wednesday, Aug. 21 (1:30 PM ET) RACE HUB sets the scene for the night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race under the lights at Bristol with live reports from the track.  Host Byrnes recaps the day’s highlights and Truck Series practice session at Bristol, and updates viewers on the latest news in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series.

BOXING

GOLDEN BOY LIVE! DEBUTS ON FOX SPORTS 1 – On Monday, Aug. 19 (9:00 PM ET), FOX Sports 1 begins its relationship with boxing’s Golden Boy Promotions in what is expected to be a thrilling middleweight showdown as Danny Jacobs takes on Giovanni Lorenzo from Best Buy Theater in New York.  The celebratory inaugural night of boxing on FOX Sports 1 also features 2012 U.S. Olympian Marcus Browne taking on Lamont Williams and Eddie Gomez versus Steve Chambers.  Veteran, award-winning commentator Dave Bontempo is joined by analysis from Bernard Hopkins and Paulie Malignaggi.

MOTOGP/MOTOCROSS

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING FROM INDY ON FOX SPORTS 2 – Qualifying to determine the starting grid for the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix begins Saturday, Aug. 17 (5:00 PM ET) on FOX Sports 2.  Calling this critical MotoGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING session on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 2.62-mile, 16-turn road course is long-time motorcycle racing voice Ralph Sheheen with analysis coming from AMA Hall of Famer Scott Russell.  Greg White has the latest from pit road while Bob Varsha hosts, from an infield stage just behind the famous front-stretch pagoda. Points leader and 20-year-old Marc Marquez vies for grid supremacy in hopes of boosting his quest to become the youngest MotoGP World Champion in the sport’s history, while American rider Ben Spies returns to competition after lingering injuries that have kept him out of recent competition. On Sunday, Aug. 18 (2:00 PM ET.)  the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix debuts on FOX Sports 1 with Varsha, Sheheen, Russell and White. The show kicks off with companion races from Moto 3 (11:00 AM ET) and Moto 2 (12:00 PM ET).

INAUGURAL MOTOCROSS RACE FROM UTAH SET FOR FOX SPORTS 2 – FOX Sports 2 has live coverage of the inaugural LUCAS OIL PRO MOTOCROSS event from Salt Lake City’s Miller Motor Sports Park on Saturday, Aug. 17 (5:00 PM ET.)  Jason Weigandt leads the broadcast, AMA Hall of Famer Jeff Emig provides color and Kelli Stavast covers the paddock when the second Motos from both the 450cc (5:00 PM ET) and 250cc (6:00 PM ET) categories look to crown 2013 titlists.  Two races remain as defending Monster Energy Supercross champion Ryan Villopoto is chasing his second LUCAS OIL PRO MOTOCROSS title in three years, while Eli Tomac goes after his first 250cc championship.

— FOX SPORTS —