Some Monday Press Releases

I have a press release from the NFL Network and some PR tidbits from ESPN. Let’s do the NFL Network first. Here’s quotage from NFL Gameday Final.

Wild Card Weekend (Jan. 4, 2009) – Quotable from NFL GameDay Final on NFL Network

“When is this glass slipper going to fall off the San Diego Chargers?” – Deion Sanders

“He looks like Willie Mays in centerfield.” – Steve Mariucci on Ravens S Ed Reed’s over-the-shoulder interception, which he returned 64 yards for a touchdown

“He is arguably the best corner in the game.” – Deion Sanders on Eagles CB Asante Samuel, who had 44-yard interception-return touchdown vs. Vikings. Samuel’s score was his NFL postseason record fourth career INT-return TD.

“I would be shocked if they let him [leave] or trade him. They need him. For 10 years he’s been great…seven times in the Playoffs.” – Steve Mariucci on Eagles QB Donovan McNabb, who passed for 300 yards vs. Vikings

“He has no big-time receivers and he still gets the job done.” – Deion Sanders on McNabb

“Why would you throw the ball up like that when you know Ed Reed is in the middle of the field?” – Deion Sanders on Dolphins QB Chad Pennington’s second-quarter interception, which Ravens S Reed returned for a touchdown

“He breaks on the ball like no other.” – Deion Sanders on Ravens S Ed Reed’s second interception

“A younger player would not have even had the thought to jump the ball like that. Amazing.” – Steve Mariucci on Reed’s second interception

“I love watching this defense, not only because they have great players; but the scheme is very multiple and fun to watch and dissect.” – Steve Mariucci on Baltimore Ravens defense

“[Ravens] defensive coordinator Rex Ryan should be a head coach next year.” – Deion Sanders

“Last time they met, he was still a young Joe Flacco.” – Deion Sanders on Ravens-Titans Divisional matchup

“They need to run for 150 yards against Tennessee to help this young quarterback.” – Steve Mariucci on Ravens game plan vs. Titans next week

“San Diego [must] continue to pressure Ben Roethli
sberger.” – Steve Mariucci on Chargers-Steelers Divisional matchup

“We are who we are because of the Playoffs.” – Deion Sanders on timing of AP awards, including MVP and Coach of the Year

And let’s do a bunch of ESPN-related news from the Alleged Worldwide Leader. Some interesting stuff. First, ESPN talks about the announcing team switch for this Wednesday between its NBA and college basketball crews.

NBA and College Basketball Commentators Trade Places; Vitale Back to NBA

ESPN’s NBA and college basketball commentators will switch roles on Wednesday, Jan. 7, during a special basketball doubleheader on ESPN.

NBA regulars Mike Tirico and analysts Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy will call Davidson at Duke at 7 p.m. ET, followed by college voices Dan Shulman and Hall of Famer Dick Vitale (who is in his 30th year with ESPN) providing commentary when the Denver Nuggets host the Miami Heat at 9 p.m. Vitale last called an NBA game on ESPN in 1984, while Jackson was a standout at St. John’s in the mid-1980’s and Van Gundy was an assistant coach at Providence College and Rutgers University in the late 1980’s.

Next, ESPN announces that the Sunday 7 p.m. ET SportsCenter with Chris Berman doing NFL highlights had increased ratings from the previous year.

Sunday SportsCenter at 7 p.m. Hosted by Chris Berman Up in Ratings This Fall

The 7 p.m. Sunday SportsCenter during the NFL season had a 13% increase in ratings (0.9 vs. 0.8 in 2007) and a 12% gain in household viewership (849,000 homes vs. 759,000) from a year ago.

Two years removed from the 19th and final season of ESPN’s popular NFL PrimeTime (1987-2005) highlights show, this year ESPN reunited Chris Berman, Tom Jackson and John Saunders with first-year analyst Trent Dilfer in a new NFL-centric show focused on all the day’s pro football action in addition to the day’s top sports stories.

SportsCenter also added a new compressed graphical format with statistics, injury reports, fantasy football stats and other relevant NFL news, updating fans on the day’s action.

“Chris Berman and our NFL experts delivered on our promise of giving fans immediate and hard-hitting analysis of all the day’s games all season long, and the new 7 p.m. Sunday SportsCenter was a big hit,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, production.

MLB Network has its nightly “Hot Stove” program so ESPN is trying to go one better with its “Baseball Tonight Hot Stove” segments starting tomorrow on SportsCenter. Expect ESPN’s stable of baseball reporters to star in the segments.

“Baseball Tonight Hot Stove” Series on SportsCenter

SportsCenter is presenting a daily “Baseb
all Tonight Hot Stove” series analyzing each Major League team.

The series started last Friday with Philadelphia followed by Tampa Bay, the Cubs and White Sox (tonight). Host Karl Ravech is joined by a combination of reporters and analysts including Peter Gammons, Tim Kurkjian, Buster Olney, and Steve Phillips, who examine each team’s key losses, additions and yet-to-be-made moves.

“Baseball Tonight Hot Stove” Team-by-Team Schedule

Tue., Jan. 6 – Anaheim (Kurkjian) Tue., Jan. 20 – Washington (Kurkjian)

Wed., Jan. 7 – Los Angeles (Olney) Wed., Jan. 21 – Baltimore (Olney)

Thu., Jan. 8 – Florida (Gammons) Thu., Jan. 22 – Arizona (Gammons)

Fri., Jan. 9 – Detroit (Gammons) Fri., Jan. 23 – Oakland (Gammons)

Sat., Jan. 10 – Cincinnati (Kurkjian) Sat., Jan. 24 – Pittsburgh (Olney)

Sun., Jan. 11 – Boston (Gammons) Sun., Jan. 25 – Mets (Phillips)

Mon., Jan. 12 – Colorado (Phillips) Mon., Jan. 26 – Minnesota (Olney)

Tue., Jan. 13 – St Louis (Phillips) Tue., Jan. 27 – Houston (Olney)

Wed., Jan. 14 – Cleveland (Kurkjian) Wed., Jan. 28 – Toronto (Phillips)

Thu., Jan. 15 – Atlanta (Kurkjian) Thu., Jan. 29 – San Francisco (Kurikjian)

Fri., Jan. 16 -San Diego (Olney) Fri., Jan. 30 – Texas (Kurkjian)

Sat., Jan. 17 – Seattle (Phillips) Sat., Jan. 31 – Kansas City (Gammons)

Sun., Jan. 18 -Yankees (Olney)

Mon., Jan. 19 – Milwaukee (Gammons)

And that will do it for now.