Now that I’ve come down from watching tonight’s great episode of “Lost” and tonight’s great episode of “Damages”, I can provide you with the press releases that hit my inbox.
Regular readers should know that Mondays are reserved for “24, Wednesdays for “Lost” and “Damages”, Thursdays for “Hell’s Kitchen” and Sunday for “The Amazing Race” and Showtime’s lineup. And yes, I do keep track of sports in between, but again, that’s is what the DVR was invented for.
Anyway, let’s get to the releases. First, Fox previews its coverage of Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race which is in Atlanta.
FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
NASCAR on FOX Takes a Bite Out of The Peach State For Kobalt Tools 500
Race Analyst Larry McReynolds Visits The Weather Channel
NASCAR on FOX is on Twitter
KYLE BUSCH IS OUT TO MAKE ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY SECOND HOME – NASCAR on FOX rolls into Atlanta for week four of the 2009 season on Sunday, March 8 at 1:30 PM ET for the Kobalt Tools 500. Following a Sprint Cup victory at home last weekend, Kyle Busch returns to his unofficial second home where he celebrated twice in victory lane last year by winning the Truck race & Sprint Cup race in the same weekend. Prerace host Chris Myers along with analysts Jeff Hammond and Darrell Waltrip bring fans all the news and features from the Hollywood Hotel, FOX Sports’ traveling prerace set. Once the green flag drops, race announcer Mike Joy will be alongside Waltrip and Larry McReynolds to call all the twists and turns on the track while Dick Berggren, Steve Byrnes, Krista Voda and Matt Yocum patrol the pits for up-to-the-second reports on teams and pit stops.
NASCAR ON FOX PRERACE SHOW FEATURES FIFTH GRADER’S ULTIMATE JOY RIDE WHEN ASK.COM’S BOBBY LABONTE DRIVES HIM TO SCHOOL – In recognition of Outstanding Internet Safety Education, NASCAR driver Bobby Labonte will drive fifth grader William Starr of Cotton Indian Elementary School in Stockbridge, GA to school this Friday (3/6). Labonte will be driving a Ford Fusion wrapped to look like his #96 Ask.com race car before presenting a donation of new computers to William’s elementary school as part of Ask.com’s Safe Search Schools Program (www.safesearchschools.com). The exciting day will be chronicled on NASCAR on FOX’s prerace show beginning at 1:30 PM ET this Sunday. Students were asked to come up with ways for kids to ensure safety when using the internet. While all the student submissions were commendable, William’s idea to create a board game for students with cards featuring “bad” and “good” websites was the most creative and thoughtful.
WALTRIP: ‘DON’T BE SHOCKED IF LABONTE DOMINATES ATLANTA’ – Following a top-five finish last week in Las Vegas and vaulting himself into the top-10 in the points standings, NASCAR on FOX analyst Darrell Waltrip feels Bobby Labonte is poised for big things: “Labonte loves Atlanta. His crew chief, Todd Parrott, loves Atlanta. Don’
t be shocked, if Bobby Labonte goes to Atlanta and wins the pole and wins the race. I have that much confidence in him at that race track. Bobby gets around there great, Todd knows how to set that car up and they have Yates’ power. They’re coming off a great finish in Vegas and that is exactly what he needed. He needed something that would give him a little confidence and give him a little push. Watch the No. 96 car. That will be the car to beat in Atlanta.”
WATCH OUT JILLIAN! LARRY MCREYNOLDS MAKES A PIT STOP AT THE WEATHER CHANNEL AS GUEST FORECASTER – While in Atlanta this weekend, analyst Larry McReynolds makes a pit stop to cable’s 24-hour weather network, the Weather Channel. Larry Mac will serve as ‘guest weatherman’ during “Your Weather Today” to talk about the affects of weather on race tracks, drivers, cars and how it factors into a crew chiefs strategy. “I don’t think that any other sport is effected by weather as much as NASCAR. Since so much of NASCAR is dependant on equipment, the weather heavily affects the performance of these race cars. It changes the way engine tuners tune their engines and the way crew chiefs set up the cars. If the track gets hot, the car loses grip and if the track cools down it’ll gain grip and you’ll have to make more adjustments. Bottom line, the more precise information you have, the better prepared your team will be,” said the former crew chief. McReynolds will make his venture into the world of weather prognosis, live this Friday, March 6 at 7:40 AM ET.
NASCAR ON FOX DOMINATES SPORTS COVERAGE FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE WEEK – Sunday’s race from Las Vegas Motor Speedway scored as the most-watched and highest-rated weekend sports event giving NASCAR on FOX that distinction for the third consecutive week. According to Nielsen Media Research, FOX Sports’ 11.1 million viewership average for Sunday’s race is up 5% over average viewership (10.6 million) for Sprint Cup Racing at LVMS from 2001 to 2008 on FOX. Sunday’s 6.5/12 national household rating/share ranks as the second-highest rating for the event since 2003’s 6.9/15.
NASCAR ON FOX JOINS TWITTER NATION – Twitter is one of the fastest growing communication methods in the world, and beginning this week, Twitter users are able to follow the latest news and notes from NASCAR on FOX. Race fans can follow by logging on to www.twitter.com/NASCAR_ON_FOX.
FOX SPORTS HONORED BY ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION – Tonight, at a star-studded benefit for the Alzheimer’s Association known as “A Night at Sardi’s,” FOX Sports will be recognized for their efforts in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. The network will receive the first Advocacy Award presented by Alzheimer’s Association for their association with FOX Sports Supports. The partnership helped raise awareness, provide financial assistance, and spur volunteerism for the Alzheimer’s Association during the 2009 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) on FOX. David Hill, Chairman & CEO of FOX Sports Television Group, Ed Goren, President of FOX Sports and Bill Wanger Sr. Vice President of Programming & Research, FOX Sports will accept the award on behalf of the network.
Over to Westwood One which recently was sold and will have extensive coverage of the NCAA Tournament.
WESTWOOD ONE’S
NCAA RADIO NETWORK
PRESENTS COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE
2009 NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
–– Coverage To Air On Over 450 Radio Stations Nationwide–
New York, NY – March 4, 2009 – Westwood One’s NCAA Radio Network (WWON:OB) is proud to present complete coverage of the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament beginning on Tuesday, March 17, 2009. Full play-by-play coverage from 29 men’s basketball games includes the opening round game, action from all eight first-round and second-round sites, four select regional semifinals, all four regional finals and all three games from the NCAA Men’s Final Four in Detroit. Once again, Westwood One will also broadcast the Division II Men’s Basketball Championship game from Springfield, MA on Saturday, March 28, 2009. Complete tournament coverage will be heard on over 450 radio stations nationwide. Additionally, Westwood One’s NCAA Radio Network will provide Sirius Satellite Radio with the broadcast of all 65 games in their entirety and all 64 Men’s Division I games will be streamed online for millions more to enjoy via the web on NCAA.com.
Kevin Kugler will provide play-by-play from the Final Four, with former Georgetown and Hall of Fame coach John Thompson and former Seton Hall coach Bill Raftery adding color commentary. Emmy-winning sportscaster Jim Gray returns as courtside reporter and Tommy Tighe completes the lineup as pregame and halftime host for Westwood One’s Final Four™ coverage. Westwood One will also present The Final Four Show and Championship Monday, hosted by Tommy Tighe. The Final Four Show will air two and a half hours prior to the National Semifinals, while Championship Monday will air two hours before the National Championship game.
In addition to coverage of the men’s games, Westwood One also produces an outstanding lineup of college basketball programming including: March to Madness with John Thompson; the one-hour daily feature The NCAA Tournament Today; as well as Selection Sunday.
Westwood One’s NCAA Radio Network will also originate three games of play-by-play coverage from the NCAA Women’s Final Four in St. Louis, MO on April 5th and April 7th. Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli will broadcast the NCAA Women’s Final Four to radio stations nationwide. Joe Tolleson will host pregame, halftime and postgame coverage. Additionally, Westwood One will once again provide coverage of all four NCAA Women’s Regional Finals on March 30th and March 31st.
Westwood One’s NCAA Radio Network is the exclusive provider of complete NCAA basketball coverage including major conference championships, March Madness®, the NCAA Men’s Final Four™ and Championship Game, as well as the NCAA Women’s Final Four® and Championship Game.
Now that the PGA Tour’s West Coast Swing is over, the focus now shifts to Florida where the next four tournaments will be played. NBC will have coverage of them all and it begins with the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens.
“THE BEAR TRAP” LOOMS AS NBC’s PGA TOUR COVERAGE MOVES TO PALM BEACH GARDENS WITH HONDA CLASSIC SATURDAY & SUNDAY AT 3 PM ETNBC Tees Up Week Two of Seven Straight Weekends of
PGA TOUR CoveragePepper on “The Bear Trap”: “The finish is one of the very best in golf.”
NEW YORK – March 4, 2009 – "The Bear Trap" looks to catch a field led by Sergio Garcia, defending champion Ernie Els, Boo Weekley and Camilo Villegas (runner-up in 2007) as NBC Sports tees up week two of seven straight weeks of PGA TOUR broadcast coverage at the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Saturday and Sunday from 3-6 p.m. ET, presented in high definition.
The Honda Classic enters its third year at the Jack Nicklaus re-designed PGA National Championship Course, with its signature 15th, 16th and 17th holes, a daunting test known as "The Bear Trap." The 17th hole is a 172-yard par three over water. The course played host to the 1983 Ryder Cup and 1987 PGA Championship.
Host Dan Hicks and analyst Johnny Miller, in their 10th season together as NBC Sports' lead golf announcers, will anchor the coverage from the 18th hole tower. They are joined by tower reporters Gary Koch and Bob Murphy; course reporters Roger Maltbie and Dottie Pepper; and interviewer/essayist Jimmy Roberts. NBC's golf coverage is produced by Tommy Roy, among the most nominated persons in the history of the Sports Emmys.
"Villagas really started coming on at the end of last year and that has continued at the start of this year," said Maltbie. "As he's shown, he knows how to play this course. He's definitely a force to be reckoned with."
Pepper said: "I played three PGA Junior Championships on this course and I can honestly say there wasn't a hole that I didn't like. The finish is on e of the very best in golf with two par threes, 15 and 17, and 15 in particular, that I believe will decide the event. Water is in play on each of the four closing holes and coupled with the usual Florida winds, the players have their hands full."
To HBO which has a new edition of Boxing After Dark this Saturday.
HBO SPORTS SERVES UP A TRIPLE HEADER OF ACTION WHEN HBO BOXING AFTER DARK®: JAMES KIRKLAND VS. JOEL JULIO, VICTOR ORTIZ VS. MIKE ARNAOUTIS AND ROBERT GUERRERO VS. DAUD YORDAN IS SEEN SATURDAY, MARCH 7
HBO Sports serves up a triple header of action when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: JAMES KIRKLAND VS. JOEL JULIO, VICTOR ORTIZ VS. MIKE ARNAOUTIS AND ROBERT GUERRERO VS. DAUD YORDAN is presented SATURDAY, MARCH 7 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT), from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Cal., exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team of Bob Papa, Lennox Lewis and Max Kellerman will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.
The main event features two fighters known for their aggressive style and heavy hitting, as undefeated James Kirkland (24-0, 21 KOs) of Austin, Tex. and Joel Julio (34-2, 31 KOs) from Monteria, Columbia battle in a scheduled ten-round junior middleweight contest. Kirkland has quickly become a top prospect in the division with a knockout-to-victory ratio in the high 80% range. Julio, another top prospect with an equally impressive percentage of KO victories, has suffered only two losses. Both men see the match as an important step toward a title in the division.
The middle bout has rising prospect Victor Ortiz (23-1-1, 18 KOs) from Oxnard, Cal. going against top contender Mike Arnaoutis (21-2-2, 10 KOs) from Atlantic City in a scheduled 12-round face-off. On a fast rack to stardom, Ortiz has been steadily notching victories against top fighters. Arnaoutis, a hot prospect in the junior lightweight division who is now fighting as a junior welterweight, looks to put the brakes on Ortiz’s rise.
The evening kicks off when two-time featherweight champ Robert Guerrero (23-1-1, 16 KOs) from Gilroy, Cal. takes on undefeated Daud Yordan (23-0, 17 KOs) from Kalimantan, Indonesia in a scheduled ten-round junior lightweight contest. Guerrero won titles in the featherweight division at ages 24 and 25. Now 26, he is moving up in weight to seek a third crown. Yordan will be fighting in the U.S. for only his second time and is looking for a victory to affirm his status in the division.
The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jon Crystal; director, Mike Sheehan.
We stay with boxing and the announcement from ESPN that it will carry a heavyweight championship fight! Yes, it’s true. It will be liv
e and on basic cable. You won’t have to pay extra. What a concept!
First-Ever Live, World-Ranked Heavyweight Championship on ESPN will Feature Klitschko-Gomez Title Bout
WBC Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko will defend his WBC heavyweight title against Juan Carlos Gomez on Saturday, March 21, at 5 p.m. ET from Stuttgart, Germany, in the first live, world-ranked heavyweight championship bout on ESPN. It will be Klitschko’s first title defense since coming out of retirement last October, when he beat defending champion Samuel Peter.
The bout will also be presented live on ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband sports network, and ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN’s real-time service for mobile devices.
Klitschko is among only a handful of boxers in history — along with Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis — who have won the heavyweight crown three times. Klitschko was WBO Heavyweight Champion from 1999 until 2000 and WBC Heavyweight Champion from 2004 until 2005. He has a record of 36-2 with 35 knockouts.
Gomez is No. 1 in the WBC rating and the official challenger with a record of 45-1 with 35 knockouts. A former WBC cruiserweight champion, he won the title in 1998 and defended it successfully 10 times before vacating the title to move up in weight. He became the mandatory heavyweight challenger with two wins in elimination bouts.
Play-by-play announcer Brian Kenny and analyst Teddy Atlas will call the action for ESPN.
It won’t be the same not having HBO’s Jim Lampley, Emanuel Steward and Larry Merchant on the call, but let’s see how this works out. If the ratings pan out, we could get more championship bouts on basic and possibly free TV and that is definitely good for the consumer.
And NFL Network provides us with its programming for the next week as it prepares to televise the Draft in April.
NFL NETWORK PROGRAMMING NOTES (3/4-3/10)
DERRICK MASON, T.J. HOUSHMANDZADEH, TEDY BRUSCHI & HINES WARD IN-STUDIO ON NFL TOTAL ACCESS THIS WEEK
Top Draft Prospect – Boston College DT B.J. Raji In-Studio on Path to the Draft Wednesday at 6:30 PM ET
NFL Classic GamesMonday through Saturday at 8:00 PM ET
THIS WEEK ON NFL TOTAL ACCESS
Thursday, March 5
- Ravens WR Derrick Mason in-studio
- ‘Draft Journey’ – An inside look at the journey to Draft Day for prospects Michael Crabtree, Matthew Stafford and Brian Cushing.
Friday, March 6
- Ravens WR Derrick Mason in-studio
Monday, March 9
- Seahawks WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh in-studio
Tuesday, March 10
- Patriots LB Tedy Bruschi in-studio
- Steelers WR Hines Ward in-studio
THIS WEEK ON PATH TO THE DRAFT
Wednesday, March 4
- Boston College DT B.J. Raji in-studio
- First Draft: Maryland WR Darius Heyward-Bey
- On the Clock: Chris Stueber, NFL draft analyst for Scout.com takes a look at the Tennessee Titans draft needs.
Thursday, March 5
- First Draft: Georgia RB Knowshon Moreno
- On the Clock: Keith Idec, columnist for Giantinsider.com takes a look at the New York Giants draft needs.
Friday, March 6
- First Draft: Texas DE Brian Orakpo
Monday, March 9
- First Draft: Sam Houston State QB Rhett Bomar
Tuesday, March 10
- First Draft: Alabama OT Andre Smith
DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (all times listed are ET):
Wednesday, March 46:30 PM – Path to the Draft
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – NFL Classic Games: 1998 NFC Wildcard (Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers)
Thursday, March 5
1:00 PM – NFL Film Session: 13 Greatest Comebacks
2:00 PM – Path to the Draft: Wednesday edition
2:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Single Season Performances
3:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Draft Classes
4:30 PM – 2009 NFL Scouting Combine: Linebackers, Defensive Line
6:30 PM – Path to the Draft
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – NFL Classic Games: 2006 AFC Championship (New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts)
Friday, March 6
1:00 PM – NFL Film Session: 50 Greatest QBs
2:00 PM – Path to the Draft: Thursday edition
2:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Comebacks
3:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Draft Steals
4:30 PM – 2009 NFL Scouting Combine: Running Backs, Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers
6:30 PM – Path to the Draft
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – NFL Classic Games: 1992 AFC Wildcard (Houston Oilers vs. Buffalo Bills)
Saturday, March 7
Path to the Draft – Full Week Encore
10:00 AM – Path to the Draft: Monday edition
10:30 AM – Path to the Draft: Tuesday edition
11:00 AM – Path to the Draft: Wednesday edition
11:30 AM – Path to the Draft: Thursday edition
12 NOON – Path to the Draft: Friday edition
12:30 PM – Path to the Draft: Monday edition
1:00 PM – Path to the Draft: Tuesday edition
1:30 PM – Path to the Draft: Wednesday edition
2:00 PM – Path to the Draft: Thursday edition
2:30 PM – Path to the Draft: Friday edition
3:00 PM – Prime U (HD)
4:00 PM – NFL Classic Games: 1992 AFC Wildcard (Houston Oilers vs. Buffalo Bills)
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access: Week in Review
8:00 PM – NFL Classic Games: 1995 NFC Championship (Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys)
Sunday, March 8
9:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Team Nicknames
10:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Records That Will Not Be Broken
11:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Weather Games
12 NOON – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Biggest Upsets
1:00 PM – NFL Replay Real Time:
Week 12:00 PM – NFL Replay: New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins (2008, Week 1)
3:30 PM – NFL Replay: Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers (2008, Week 1)
5:00 PM – NFL Replay: Chicago Bears vs. In
dianapolis Colts (2008, Week 1)6:30 PM – NFL Replay: Carolina Panthers vs. San Diego Chargers (2008, Week 1)
8:00 PM – NFL Replay Real Time: Week 1
9:00 PM – NFL Replay: New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins (2008, Week 1)
10:30 PM – NFL Replay: Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers (2008, Week 1)
12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Replay: Chicago Bears vs. Indianapolis Colts (2008, Week 1)
1:30 AM – NFL Replay: Carolina Panthers vs. San Diego Chargers (2008, Week 1)
Monday, March 9
Live Wire Marathon
6:00 AM – Live Wire: Wildcard Weekend
6:30 AM – Live Wire: Divisional Playoffs
7:00 AM – Live Wire: Championship Sunday
7:30 AM – Live Wire: Super Bowl XLIII
8:00 AM – Live Wire: Week 3
8:30 AM – Live Wire: Week 5
9:00 AM – Live Wire: Week 6
9:30 AM – Live Wire: Week 7
10:00 AM – Live Wire: Week 8
10:30 AM – Live Wire: Week 9
11:00 AM – Live Wire: Week 10
11:30 AM – Live Wire: Week 11
12 NOON – Live Wire: Week 12
12:30 PM – Live Wire: Week 13
1:00 PM – Live Wire: Week 14
1:30 PM – Live Wire: Week 15
2:00 PM – Live Wire: Week 16
2:30 PM – Live Wire: Wildcard Weekend
3:00 PM – Live Wire: Divisional Playoffs
3:30 PM – Live Wire: Championship Sunday
4:00 PM – Live Wire: Super Bowl XLIII
4:30 PM – Live Wire: Wildcard Weekend
5:00 PM – Live Wire: Divisional Playoffs
5:30 PM – Live Wire: Championship Sunday
6:00 PM – Live Wire: Super Bowl XLIII
6:30 PM – Path to the Draft
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – NFL Classic Games: Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers (Nov. 3, 1985)
Tuesday, March 10
11:00 AM – NFL Classics: Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers (Nov. 3, 1985)
2:00 PM – Path to the Draft
2:30 PM – NFL Film Session: 1995 Year in Review
3:00 PM – NFL Film Session: Lombardi
4:00 PM – NFL Film Session: Montana: Fire Inside
5:00 PM – NFL’s Greatest Games: New York Jets vs. Cleveland Browns – 1986 AFC Divisional Playoff
6:30 PM – Path to the Draft
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – Game of the Week: 1999 AFC Wildcard – Buffalo Bills vs. Tennessee Titans
9:00 PM – Game of the Week: 2001 AFC Divisional Playoff – Oakland Raiders vs. New England Patriots
And that will conclude the press releases for Wednesday.
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