Some More Press Releases…. Yes! It’s True!

I’ve been catching up on episodes of “The Secret Millionaire” on Hulu. Try to watch one of those episodes without bawling your eyes out. Really tough to do although I notice that some give more than others, but at least I’ve noticed the millionaires appear to have been changed by their experiences living in poverty for a week. Probably the best episodes to check out are episode #2 in which a husband and wife go into Buras, Louisiana which was hard hit by Hurricane Katrina and episode #3 where another husband and wife go into the neighborhood of Watts in South Los Angeles.

Ok, now from that to some press releases that have come into my inbox.

First, the NFL Network tells us the particulars for the Thursday Night game between Jacksonville and Indianapolis.

Thursday Night Football • Colts vs. Jaguars • 8:00 PM ET • NFL Network

Announcers: Bob Papa, Cris Collinsworth

Local Over-the-Air Simulcast: Fox Ch. 59 (WXIN) Indianapolis

Fox Ch. 30 (WAWS) Jacksonville

Where to Watch: DirecTV – Channel 212

Check your local cable listings

NFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at :15 and :45 of each hour and other key moments

NFL Mobile Live only from Sprint

And NFL Network previews its coverage of the Ravens-Cowboys game which will be the last regular season game in Texas Stadium.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20 — 8:00 PM ET

BALTIMORE RAVENS VS. DALLAS COWBOYS ON NFL NETWORK

Tribute to Texas Stadium – A Retrospective Look at Some of the

Best Moments in Texas Stadium History

Live Interviews with Cowboys Legends From the Past and Present

Head-to-Head: Cowboys WR Terrell Owens vs. Ravens LB Ray Lewis

NOTABLE & QUOTABLE…

• “It’s going to be a physical game between two very tough, talented defenses. Both teams need a win. This is a playoff game in December. I expect both quarterbacks to be under heavy duress all night long.” – STEVE MARIUCCI

• “From Tom Landry’s fedora to Roger Staubach’s comebacks. Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, the cheerleaders, the hole in the roof. Every game in Texas Stadium has always felt like more than just a game. It has always been an NFL event.” – BOB PAPA

• “I have so many memories in Texas Stadium. My last game with the Green Bay Packers was the 1995 NFC Championship Game and it was incredible. We faced probably the best Cowboys team ever. Deion Sanders played both offense and defense in that game.

“From my time in San Francisco, I’ll never forget when T.O. ran to the star after scoring a touchdown…that was a memorable game to say the least! There are just so many memories at Texas Stadium from Thanksgiving to the Playoffs. When you play in Texas Stadium, you always knew you were in for an unforgettable experience.” – MARIUCCI

• “You have two desperate teams with dominating defenses. Dallas’ offensive line has to find a way to protect Tony Romo and the Ravens are looking to rebound from a crushing loss to their arch rival (Pittsburgh). It’s quite the matchup to end an unforgettable era in Texas Stadium.” – BOB PAPA

	RAVENS (9-5)	COWBOYS (9-5)
LOCAL OVER- THE-AIR BROADCAST*	NBC Ch. 11 (WBAL)	CW Ch. 33 (KDAF)
ANNOUNCERS	Bob Papa, Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk
PREGAME (5:00 PM ET)	Total Access on Location Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Sterling Sharpe, Warren Sapp, Adam Schefter
HALFTIME	The Halftime Show Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Sterling Sharpe, Warren Sapp, Adam Schefter
POSTGAME	The Postgame Show Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Sterling Sharpe, Warren Sapp, Adam Schefter
WHERE TO WATCH	DirecTV – Channel 212 Check your local cable listings NFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at :15 and :45 of each hour and other key moments NFL Mobile Live only from Sprint

And the NFL talks about dominating the sports TV ratings even during an Olympic year.

And here’s the schedule of college bowl games on the ESPN family of platforms.

BC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Radio, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV to Provide Coverage of 29 College Football Bowl Games

ESPN Radio to Broadcast 19 Games Including Entire BCS; ESPNU to Re-Air 24 Bowl Games; Musburger/Herbstreit/Salters to Call Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi on ABC and the FedEx BCS National Championship on ESPN Radio

ESPN’s 2008 college football season – featuring more than 400 games – will conclude with coverage of 29 bowl games on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Radio, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV, plus extensive news, analysis and highlights, telecasts of classic games, and re-airs of 2008 matchups on ESPNU.

Coverage will kick off Saturday, Dec. 20 with four games: the inaugural EagleBank Bowl (Wake Forest vs. Navy) at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN, the New Mexico Bowl (Colorado State vs. Fresno State) at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN Radio, magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl (Memphis vs. South Florida) at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2 and ESPN Radio, and Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl (BYU vs. Arizona) at 8 p.m. on ESPN. Highlights include:

• Twenty-five games on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, all offered in high definition on ABC HD, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD. ABC will televise two New Year’s Day bowl games: the Capital One Bowl at 1 p.m. followed by the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi at 4:30 p.
  m. from Pasadena, Calif., site of next year’s BCS National Championship Game, also on ABC. ESPN and ESPN2’s schedule will be highlighted by Capital One Bowl Week, one of ESPN’s most-viewed weeks of the year, from December 20 – January 3.

• ESPN360.com will offer a live simulcast of every ESPN and ESPN2 game telecast as well as both ABC bowls on short turnaround.

• ESPN Mobile TV will simulcast 23 of the games on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, 21 of them live.

• ESPN Radio will broadcast 19 bowl games – the most-ever for the national network and an increase from 16 last year — including all five BCS matchups highlighted by the BCS National Championship game (Thursday, Jan. 8 at 8 p.m.).

• ESPNU will offer encore presentations of 24 bowl games and three bowl preview shows.

• ESPN International will offer coverage of multiple bowl games on ESPN networks in 128 million households across 209 countries and territories highlighted by the Rose Bowl Game throughout Asia, Canada, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. NASN will televise 29 bowl games across Europe including the entire BCS..

• ESPN.com will offer a special bowl section with previews of each game as well as a fantasy bowl application.

• ESPN Classic will offer several special bowl-themed marathons.

• ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise all six ESPN Regional Television owned-and-operated bowl games, including the new magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl Saturday, Dec. 20, at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2. Returning games include the New Mexico Bowl and Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl Saturday Dec. 20, at 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) and 8 p.m. (ESPN), respectively; Sheraton Hawaii Bowl Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 8 p.m., (ESPN); Papajohns.com Bowl Monday, Dec. 29, at 3 p.m. (ESPN); and Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl Wednesday, Dec. 31, at noon (ESPN).

• Commentator highlights include:

• ESPN on ABC Saturday Night Football Presented by Southwest Airlines commentators Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Lisa Salters will work the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi on ABC (Jan. 1) and the FedEx BCS National Championship (Jan. 8) on ESPN Radio. ESPN Monday Night Football announcer Mike Tirico will call the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi on ESPN Radio with analyst David Norrie and reporter Erin Andrews.

• Native Canadians John Saunders and Jesse Palmer plus Canada Sports Hall of Famer Doug Flutie will work the International Bowl Saturday, Jan. 3 at noon on ESPN2.

• Sean McDonough and Chris Spielman will work four games, the first three with Rob Stone and the final one with Holly Rowe.

• Analysts Bob Davie and David Norrie will each work three games. Announcer pairings Dave Pasch and Andre Ware, Joe Tessitore and Rod Gilmore and Dave Barnett and Dennis Franchione will each call three games.

ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 AND ESPN RADIO COLLEGE BOWL SCHEDULE

CAPITAL ONE BOWL WEEK
Sat., 12/20

11 a.m., ESPN, EagleBank Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Navy – Terry Gannon, David Norrie and Quint Kessenich

2:30 p.m., ESPN, New Mexico Bowl: Colorado State vs. Fresno State – Joe Tessitore and Rod Gilmore, ESPN Radio – Joe Tessitore and Rod Gilmore (simulcast)

4:30 p.m., ESPN2, St. Petersburg Bowl: Memphis vs. South Florida – Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman and Rob Stone, ESPN Radio – Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman and Rob Stone (simulcast)

8 p.m., ESPN, Las Vegas Bowl: #16 BYU vs. Arizona – Mike Patrick, Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe

Sun., Dec. 21

8:15 p.m., ESPN, New Orleans Bowl: Southern Mississippi vs. Troy – Eric Collins and Shaun King, ESPN Radio – Eric Collins and Shaun King (simulcast)

Tue., 12/23

8 p.m., ESPN, Poinsettia Bowl: #9 Boise State vs. #11 TCU – Rece Davis, Lou Holtz, Mark May and Todd Harris (What?), ESPN Radio – Rece Davis, Lou Holtz, Mark May and Todd Harris (simulcast)

Wed., 12/24

8 p.m., ESPN, Hawai’i Bowl: Hawai’i vs. Notre Dame – Dave Pasch and Andre Ware, ESPN Radio – Dave Pasch and Andre Ware (simulcast)

Fri., 12/26

7:30 p.m., ESPN, Motor City Bowl: Florida Atlantic vs. Central Michigan – Todd Harris and Ray Bentley

Sat., 12/27

1 p.m., ESPN, Meineke Car Care Bowl: West Virginia vs. North Carolina – Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman and Rob Stone

4:30 p.m., ESPN, Champs Sports Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Florida State – Brad Nessler, Bob Griese, Paul Maguire and Holly Rowe, ESPN Radio – Dave Lamont and Robert Smith

8 p.m., ESPN, Emerald Bowl: Miami vs. Cal – Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore and Quint Kessenich, ESPN Radio – Clay Matvick and Bob Davie

Sun., 12/28

8:15 p.m., ESPN, Independence Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech – Pam Ward and Ray Bentley

Mon., 12/29

3 p.m., ESPN, Papajohns.com Bowl: N.C. State vs. Rutgers – Eric Collins and Shaun King, ESPN Radio – Dave Lamont, Todd McShay and Trevor Matich

8 p.m., ESPN, Alamo Bowl: #21 Missouri vs. #23 Northwestern – Rob Franklin, Ed Cunningham and Jack Arute, ESPN Radio – Dave Barnett, Dennis Franchione and Joe Schad

Tue., 12/30

4:30 p.m., ESPN, Humanitarian Bowl: Maryland vs. Nevada – Bob Wischusen and Brock Huard

8 p.m., ESPN, Holiday Bowl: #13 Oklahoma State vs. #17 Oregon – Chris Fowler, Craig James, Jesse Palmer and Erin Andrews, ESPN Radio – Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore and Dave Ryan

Wed., 12/31

noon, ESPN, Armed Forces Bowl: Houston vs. Air Force – Terry Gannon and David Norrie, ESPN Radio – Mike Gleason and John Congemi

3:30 p.m., ESPN, Music City Bowl: #24 Boston College vs. Vanderbilt – Mark Jones, Bob Davie and Todd Harris

7:30 p.m., ESPN, Chick-fil-A Bowl: LSU vs. #14 Georgia Tech – Brad Nessler, Bob Griese, Paul Maguire and Jack Arute, ESPN Radio – Dave Barnett, Dennis Franchione and Dave Ryan

Thu., 1/1

11 a.m., ESPN, Outback Bo
wl: South Carolina vs. Iowa – Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman and Rob Stone, ESPN Radio – Dave Pasch, Andre Ware and Joe Schad

1 p.m., ABC, Capital One Bowl: #15 Georgia vs. #18 Michigan State – Mike Patrick, Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe

4:30 p.m., ABC, Rose Bowl: #8 Penn State vs. #5 USC – Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Lisa Salters, ESPN Radio – Mike Tirico, David Norrie and Erin Andrews

8:30 p.m., ESPN Radio, Orange Bowl: #12 Cincinnati vs. #19 Virginia Tech – Ron Franklin, Ed Cunningham and Jack Arute

Fri., 1/2

5 p.m., ESPN, Liberty Bowl: Kentucky vs. East Carolina – Mark Jones, Bob Davie and Todd Harris, ESPN Radio – Pam Ward and Ray Bentley

8 p.m., ESPN Radio, Sugar Bowl: #6 Utah vs. #4 Alabama – Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman and Holly Rowe

Sat., 1/3

noon, ESPN2, International Bowl: Buffalo vs. Connecticut – John Saunders, Doug Flutie and Jesse Palmer

Mon., 1/5

8 p.m., ESPN Radio, Fiesta Bowl: #10 Ohio State vs. #3 Texas – Dave Barnett, Dennis Franchione and Dave Ryan

Tue., 1/6

8 p.m., ESPN, GMAC Bowl: Tulsa vs. #22 Ball State – Dave Pasch and Andre Ware

Thu., 1/8

8 p.m., ESPN Radio, BCS National Championship: #2 Florida vs. #1 Oklahoma – Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Lisa Salters

Finally, ESPN says its showing of “The Greatest Game Ever Played” was its highest rated documentary.

The Greatest Game Ever Played: ESPN’s Highest-Rated Documentary

ESPN’s telecast on Saturday, Dec. 13, of critically acclaimed The Greatest Game Ever Played, garnered the highest rating for any documentary in ESPN history, a 1.4. That represents an average of 1,369,015 homes (1,811,000 viewers — P2+). The Greatest Game Ever Played broke the record set March 16, 2008, by Black Magic (1.3 rating, representing 1,211,000 homes and 1,546,000 viewers). The documentary will re-air on the following days:

Date	Time (ET)	Network
Wed., Dec. 24	9 p.m.	ESPN2
Thurs., Dec. 25	6 a.m.	ESPN2
Thurs., Jan. 1	7 p.m.	ESPN Classic
Sun., Jan. 4	10 p.m.	ESPN2
Fri., Jan. 31	8 p.m.	ESPN Classic

And that’s going to do it.