Because of the busy work schedule yesterday and today, I really haven’t been able to post as many press releases. I’ll post what has piled into the inbox over the last two days.
Starting with HBO Sports, it has another fascinating documentary subject, Theodore Samuel Williams, the best hitter that ever lived. And I notice that Mary Carillo who did a great job in writing the documentary on the 1960 U.S. Open has the same duties on this doc.
THE KID: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TED WILLIAMS,
HBO SPORTS DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE BOSTON RED SOX ICON, DEBUTS JULY 15, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO
NEW YORK, April 7, 2009 – HBO Sports, which has produced compelling portraits of baseball legends Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle, will explore the life of Boston Red Sox slugger Ted Williams, one of baseball’s most enduring icons, it was announced today by Ross Greenburg, president, HBO Sports. Marking the 70th anniversary of his rookie season, THE KID: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TED WILLIAMS debuts WEDNESDAY, JULY 15 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), the day after the All-Star Game, exclusively on HBO.
“The life story of Ted Williams is a fascinating tale of courage, triumph and redemption,” said Greenburg. “He was a larger-than-life baseball icon and war hero whose complex personal saga and relationship with the city of Boston took many turns. This will be a compelling story.”
Larger than life, “Williams was the real – as opposed to reel – John Wayne,” observed USA Today in 2002, shortly after his death. Born in 1918 in San Diego, he was a latchkey child from a broken home, raised by a mother more dedicated to the Salvation Army than to her two sons, and by a father who spent more time away from home than in it. Williams found salvation by doing the one thing he loved most: hitting baseballs. In his rookie season with the Red Sox, where he would spend his entire career as a player, Williams batted .327, socked 31 homers and led the league with 145 RBI.
Over the next 21 years, despite losing five seasons of his prime to active service as a U.S. Marine Corps pilot in World War II and the Korean War, Williams hit 521 home runs, twice captured the Triple Crown, and became the oldest man ever to win a batting title. He finished his career with a .344 lifetime batting average, was the last man to hit over .400 in a full season, batting .406 in 1941, and was a first-ballot inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Today, 49 years after hitting a home run in his final at-bat, “Teddy Ballgame” is still regarded as the greatest pure hitter in baseball history.
Williams was the ultimate man’s man, a tireless fundraiser, expert fisherman and all-around outdoorsman extraordinaire. But his professional and military achievements were countered by personal failure. Married and divorced three times, Williams was often absent as a husband and father to his three children. His final years were marked by ill health; following his death, the decision to have his body preserved in a cryonics facility inspired public disputes among his family and friends, sparking controversy and ridicule.
Among those interviewed for the special are: former President George H.W. Bush; baseball vets Jerry Coleman, Bobby Doerr, Bob Feller, Pumpsie Green, Tony Gwynn and Johnny Pesky; writers Richard Ben Cramer, Leigh Montville, Dan Shaughnessy and John Underwood; sportscaster Joe Buck; and namesake Ted Williams, the slugger’s nephew.
HBO Sports has a rich tradition of producing baseball documentaries. The groundbreaking 1991 special “When It Was a Game” won a Peabody Award, the first of seven Peabodys earned by the sports division for documentary excellence. 2003’s “Curse of the Bambino” and 2007’s “Brooklyn Dodgers: The Ghosts of Flatbush” both received the Sports Emmy® for Outstanding Sports Documentary.
The executive producers of THE KID: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TED WILLIAMS are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; producer, Margaret Grossi; interviewer & story editor, Mary Carillo; writer, Aaron Cohen; narrator, Liev Schreiber; editor, Andy Morreale; music composed by Gary Lionelli.
HBO Sports will also premiere its 24/7 series to promote the upcoming Manny Pacquaio/Ricky Hatton fight.
HBO SPORTS’ ALL-ACCESS SERIES PACQUIAO/HATTON 24/7
DEBUTS APRIL 11, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO
HBO Sports’ groundbreaking Emmy®-winning reality franchise “24/7” returns with PACQUIAO/HATTON 24/7, an all-new, four-e
pisode, all-access series, kicking off SATURDAY, APRIL 11 (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET/PT). Episodes two and three debut on subsequent Saturdays (April 18 and 25), a traditional viewing night for boxing, while the finale debuts Friday, May 1, the night before the fight.Episode #1
Debut date: SATURDAY, APRIL 11 (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Superstars Manny Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs) and Ricky Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs) hit the publicity trail and begin preparations with their high-profile trainers Freddie Roach (Pacquiao) and Floyd Mayweather Sr. (Hatton) for the May 2 pay-per-view junior welterweight showdown in Las Vegas.
The launch of PACQUIAO/HATTON 24/7 is part of a compelling night of boxing programming that also includes the debut of the documentary “Thrilla in Manila” and an intriguing battle between two of the sport’s most formidable competitors. Debuting at 8:00 p.m. (ET)/10:00 p.m. (PT), “Thrilla in Manila” tells the story of the final fight between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. The 12-round “World Championship Boxing” middleweight bout between Winky Wright and Paul Williams will be seen live from Las Vegas at 10:00 p.m. (ET)/7:00 p.m. (PT).
On Saturday, May 2 at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT), HBO Pay-Per-View presents “Pacquiao vs. Hatton,” live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The “24/7” franchise, which earned three Sports Emmys® in 2008, has received six 2009 Sports Emmy® nominations, including four for “Calzaghe/Jones 24/7” and two for “De La Hoya/Pacquiao 24/7.” The winners will be announced April 27.
The executive producers of PACQUIAO/HATTON 24/7 are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; coordinating producer, Dave Harmon; producers, Scott Boggins and Bentley Weiner; narrator, Liev Schreiber; writer, Aaron Cohen.
TNT tells us what to expect for its Thursday NBA doubleheader.
NBA Playoff Position Battles Heat up on TNT NBA ThursdaySpecial Tuesday night doubleheader on April 14th
TNT NBA Thursday inches closer to the postseason with an exclusive doubleheader on Thursday, April 2 featuring teams jockeying for playoff position. The night’s action gets underway with Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls taking on Andre Iguodala and the Philadelphia 76ers at 8 p.m. ET. Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) will call the action alongside Doug Collins (analyst) with Craig Sager reporting. The second game of the night will feature Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers hosting Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets at 10:30 p.m. ET. Marv Albert (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Reggie Miller (analyst) will call the game with Cheryl Miller reporting. The Emmy® award-winning studio show Inside the NBA with Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst) will recap the games.
The NBA on TNT regular season schedule concludes with a special Tuesday night doubleheader on April 14 featuring Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics visiting Andre Miller and the 76ers at 8 p.m. ET. Albert (play-by-play), Fratello (analyst) and Reggie Miller (analyst) will call the action with Sager reporting. The second game of the night will feature Pau Gasol and the Lakers hosting Deron Williams and the Utah Jazz
at 10:30 p.m. ET. Harlan (play-by-play) and Collins (analyst) will be courtside with Cheryl Miller reporting. Inside the NBA with Johnson (host), Barkley (analyst), Smith (analyst) and Chris Webber (analyst) will wrap up the night’s action.TNT NBA THURSDAY SCHEDULE:
Thu., April 9
8 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
8:15 p.m. Philadelphia 76ers @ Chicago Bulls
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Doug Collins (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
10:30 p.m. Denver Nuggets @ Los Angeles Lakers
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Cheryl Miller (reporter)
Post-game Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
NBA ON TNT UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Tue., April 14
8 p.m. NBA Tip-Off
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Kenny Smith (analyst) and Chris Webber (analyst)
8:15 p.m. Boston Celtics @ Philadelphia 76ers
Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Cheryl Miller (reporter)
10:30 p.m. Utah Jazz @ Los Angeles Lakers
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Doug Collins (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
Post-game Inside the NBA
Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Kenny Smith (analyst) and Chris Webber (analyst)
Golf Channel will be Tweeting from The Masters.
Golf Channel will feature Twitter updates surrounding The Masters that will provide insight from members of the network’s Live From the Masters team at Augusta. Thursday and Friday, Golf Channel will expand on the 35 hours of wrap around news coverage with observations to capitalize on a team of reporters and analysts who will interview players, officials and personalities making news. In addition, fans will go behind the scenes of Live From the Masters with input from show producers.
Golf Channel’s Twitter address is: www.Twitter.com/GolfChannelnews
Currently live on Twitter.com, updates will start Thursday morning and run through the end of play Friday.
Now we get ESPN-centric for a bit. First, E:60 returns next week with five new stories.
ESPN’s Primetime Newsmagazine E:60 Returns for Five New Episodes Beginning Tuesday, April 14
ESPN’s award-winning primetime newsmagazine E:60, on hiatus since November, will return with five weekly, original episodes beginning Tuesday, April 14, at 7 p.m. ET. The program, which launched in October 2007, combines investigative reporting, in-depth profiles of intriguing sports personalities, and features on emerging star athletes. These stories are presented in a fresh and innovative format that incorporates producer/correspondent meetings.
The five E:60 original episodes, concluding Tuesday, May 12, will feature a variety of stories. Highlights include:
· Lord of the Ring – an access-driven profile of Vince McMahon and the inner-workings of WWE on the 25th anniversary of WrestleMania, one of the biggest entertainment events in the United States (April 14);
· Danger in the Air – an E:60 exclusive investigation of air quality in ice hockey and ice skating rinks across the country and the potential risks to young hockey players and figure skaters (April 14);
· Coach – the story of Don Meyer, 64-year-old basketball coach of Division II Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D., whose life took a tragic turn while he was on the cusp of surpassing Bob Knight for the most basketball wins in the NCAA Men’s Basketball history (April 14);
· Some of the other stories in the next flight of shows are in-depth profiles of Kim Ng, the Los Angeles Dodgers assistant general manager; NHL’s Washington Capitols Alexander Ovechkin; Dewey Tomko, golf’s top hustler; the fall of former Dallas Cowboy Dwayne Goodrich; a look at the NCAA Eligibility Office which handles foreign players; a look at the lucrative life of professional video gamers; and more.
Over 24 original episodes, E:60 and its award-winning stable of correspondents – Tom Farrey, Rachel Nichols, Lisa Salters, Jeremy Schaap and Michael Smith – and an equally honored executive production team, have unearthed enterprising stories.
Highlights of past E:60 stories:
· Ray of Hope – how Jason Ray (the student who dressed as the University of North Carolina mascot) gave new life to many as an organ donor;
· The Good Son – the story of redemption and forgiveness between NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade and his mother, Pastor Jolinda Wade;
· Justice Intercepted – an examination of how the reputation of a powerhouse high school football team in Miami may have led adults to look the other way when faced with allegations of player misconduct;
· Walk On – how 30-year-old D.J. Gregory, born with cerebral palsy, lived every golf fan’s dream by walking every hole – of every round – at every PGA Tour golf tournament in 2008;
· Violated – an E:60 exclusive investigation of how, despite USA Gymnastics’ efforts to keep pedophile coaches out of the nation’s gymnasiums, child molesters are still finding ways to beat the system to gain access to kids;
· Homecourt – an illustrative story about a basketball league in downtown Los Angeles’ skid row run by the Union Rescue Mission so the homeless can learn how to repair their broken lives through teamwork;
· Baby Bullfighters – the story of 14-year-old Spanish matador Jairo Miguel as he returns to the ring in Mexico after being gored by a bull;
· Lost Boy – Macharia Yuot’s (one of the 20,000 Sudanese children who were forced to flee their war-torn country) trek through refugee camps to his new country of refuge in the U.S., a country he now trains to represent in the Olympics;
· Heart of a Warrior – how University of Hawaii football assistant coach Brian Kajiyama, born with cerebral palsy, was removed from a program he so loved after a change in the program’s coa
ching staff;
· Fielder’s Choice – in an E:60 exclusive interview, former Major League Baseball slugger Cecil Fielder divulges why he is estranged from his son and MLB star Prince Fielder; and more.
ESPN2 will show the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four in crystal clear, 21st Century High Definition starting on Thursday.
2009 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four Features No. 1 National Seed Boston University vs. No. 3 Regional Seed Vermont; and Two No. 4 Regional Seeds, Bemidji State vs. Miami University
Div. I Championships Receive Extensive Live Coverage on ESPNU, ESPN2, ESPN and ESPN360.comESPN HD, ESPN2 HD and ESPN360.com will showcase the Frozen Four, live from the Verizon Center in Washington, DC, with the national semifinal games Thursday, April 9, on ESPN2 HD and ESPN360.com. The national championship will be telecast Saturday, April 11, at 7 p.m. on ESPN HD. ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband sports network, will complement the telecasts with complete live coverage of all three games.
Thursday’s first semifinal, set for 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2 HD and ESPN360.com, features two No. 4 regional seeds facing off as Bemidji State (20-15-1) matches up with Miami University (22-12-5). The second semifinal follows at 8:30 p.m. ET, as No. 3 regional seed Vermont (22-11-5), squares off with No. 1 overall seed Boston University (33-6-4). The complete Frozen Four schedule can be found below.
After defeating No. 3 seed New Hampshire in the Northeast Regional Final, Boston U., which was ranked No. 1 in the nation throughout most of the regular season, returns to the championship round for the first time in 12 years. This is the Terriers’ 21st Frozen Four. In fact, according to the NCAA, this is the first time that any of these teams has made it to the Frozen Four since 1997.
In the East Regionals, Vermont upset No. 2 seed Yale 4-1, and defeated Air Force 3-2 in overtime to win the East Final and advance to the Frozen Four for just the second time in school history. In the Midwest Regionals, Bemidji State knocked off No. 2 seed Notre Dame, 5-1, before defeating Cornell in the regional final, 4-1. Miami, in the West, upset top seed Denver in a 4-2 decision, and claimed the regional final with a 2-1 defeat of No. 2 seed Minnesota-Duluth.
Other top story lines from the Frozen Four will include:
- Vermont junior left wing and Sweden native Viktor Stalberg, ranked No. 1 in Hockey East in goals; his parents have traveled from Sweden to be in attendance
- A look back at the game-winning goal in the East Regional Final by Vermont sophomore defenseman Dan Lawson. Officials analyzed the play for nearly 12 minutes before declaring the Catamounts had sealed the 3-2 win over Air Force
- Bemidji State’s Cinderella story – where in the world is Bemidji? What do folks do there?
- The groundbreaking Friday for Bemidji State’s new arena
- Jack Parker’s tenure as the longtime coach of the Boston University Terriers
- Four of Parker’s former BU players who went on to be members of the Miracle on Ice, the 1980 Olympic gold-medal winning United States hockey team – Mike Eruzione, Jack O’Callahan, Dave Silk and Jim Craig
- The bicentennial celebration this year at Miami University, the nation’s 10th oldest university
- A campus-wide pep rally this past week to send off the Miami RedHawks in style
The Frozen Four telecasts will feature Gary Thorne (play-by-play), Barry Melrose (analyst), Clay Matvick (ice-level reporter) calling all the action from Washington, DC.
Also, on Friday, April 10, at 7 p.m., ESPNU will present the Hobey Baker Award live in high definition from the Verizon Center. The presentation honors college ice hockey’s top men’s player and the show will be hosted by Clay Matvick and Ben Holden. Boston University boasts two of the three Hobey Baker Award finalists: defenseman Matt Gilroy and forward Colin Wilson. Northeastern goaltender Brad Thiessen is also a final
ist.ESPN’s presentation of the Frozen Four will feature seven cameras, plus two robotics, all in high definition. Of the two robotics, the “Speed Shot,” which pans left to right as a team comes across the blue line, will be positioned at center ice. The other robotic will be positioned behind one of the goals.
Analysts’ One-liners: What it will take to win the Frozen Four
BOSTON U. – Game analyst Barry Melrose: “Everyone says BU is the most talented team in the Frozen Four, and for them to win they must match the work ethic of the other teams they will be playing.”VERMONT – Play-by-play analyst Gary Thorne: “The Catamounts must continue to play team two-way hockey with the emphasis on their defense’s core ability to shut down better offenses.”
MIAMI – Reporter Clay Matvick: “Coach Enrico Blasi’s youngest team in four seasons will have to continue to get senior-like leadership from underclassmen such as freshman goaltender Cody Reichard, who was excellent in the West Regional.”
BEMIDJI STATE – SportsCenter‘s John Buccigross: “The dream of a small-town team winning it all is the essence of Minnesota hockey; small-town belief is the Beavers’ most important strategy.”
Frozen Four Schedule
Verizon Center, Washington, DCThu., Apr 9, 5 p.m., National Semifinal – Bemidji St. vs. Miami (OH) ESPN2 HD/ESPN360.com, Gary Thorne, Barry Melrose, Clay Matvick
8:30 p.m., National Semifinal – Vermont vs. Boston U., ESPN2 HD/ESPN360.com, Gary Thorne, Barry Melrose, Clay Matvick
Fri., Apr 10, 7 p.m., Hobey Baker Award, ESPNU HD, Clay Matvick, Ben HoldenSat., Apr 11, 7 p.m., NCAA Championship Final, ESPN HD/ESPN360.com, Gary Thorne, Barry Melrose, Clay Matvick
ESPN is crowing about its college basketball ratings.
Audiences Increase for ESPN’s Men’s College Basketball Regular-Season, Championship Week and NIT Telecasts
ESPN and ESPN2 experienced audience increases over last year for their extensive coverage of the 2009 men’s college basketball regular season, Championship Week and NIT. Highlights:
- ESPN delivered its most-viewed regular season among households and second most-viewed in total viewers since 1990 (the first year of the company’s historical viewership records) with an average of 1,005,000 households and 1,258,000 people. It marks a 4% increase in households (vs. 964,000) and total viewers (vs. 1,213,000) over last year. Both seasons averaged a 1.0 rating.
- ESPN2 averaged 376,000 households and 479,000 viewers for an increase of 11% in households (vs. 340,000) and viewers (vs. 431,000) over last year. Both seasons averaged a 0.4 rating.
- ESPN posted its most-viewed Championship Week since 1990 among households and viewers (people 2+) this year with 1,521,500 and 1,595,386, respectively, based on a 1.3 rating, the highest since 1991 (the network also averaged a 1.3 rating in 1998 and 1996). ESPN’s telecasts marked significant increases in households, total viewers and ratings over last year: 27% (vs. 983,298), 31% (vs. 1,215,371) and 30% (vs. 1.0), respectively.
- ESPN2 also posted audience increases for its Championship Week telecasts, averaging 358,712 households, 450,359 viewers and a 0.4 rating for increases of 12% in households and viewers (vs. 319,584 and 400,702, respectively) and 33% (vs. 0.3).
- ESPN’s NIT telecasts averaged 1,040,000 households, 1,298,000 total viewers and a 1.1 rating, marking increases of 12% (vs. 929,000), 14% (vs. 1,134,000) and 10% vs. 1.0) over last year.
- ESPN2 averaged 669,000 households, 839,000 viewers and a 0.7 rating for increases of 33% (vs. 502,000), 35% (vs. 621,000) and 40% (vs. 0.5) over last year.
D
o you care about this headline?Samuel L. Jackson to Host The 2009 ESPYsI didn’t think you would. I’m moving on.
On Monday, Sirius XM’s Chris Russo talked with MLB Walking, Talking Conflict of Interest Bud Selig about having an afternoon game during the World Series.
On April 6, 2009 on “Mad Dog Unleashed” on SIRIUS XM Radio, host Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo, broadcasting from the MLB Network studios on Opening Day, spoke with MLB Commissioner Bud Selig about the possibility of a day game and earlier starting times in a future World Series.
Host, Chris Russo: “How about Game 6, day game, World Series? Are we talking…”
Commissioner Bud Selig: “I hope so. I hope so. I don’t know about a day game but hopefully a late day game and earlier starting times. Believe me, I’m working hard because I happen to believe not only in a late afternoon game but in earlier starting times and I’m not going to be happy until we get those.”
Russo: “Could that occur in ’09, Bud, or is that going to be down the road?”
Selig: “No, I hope it can occur, at least the earlier starting times, can and should occur in ’09.”
Last October (October 29, 2008) on the show Russo asked FOX Sports President Ed Goren about the same topic and Goren had this to say:
Host, Chris Russo: “If baseball was willing to give you a reduction in their fees. And you pay them $257 million per year, I believe that might be the figure. I might be wrong but I’m in the ball park. If you give them a quarter of a billion [dollars] a year to do the baseball and they were willing to give you some of that money back – you’re the FOX Sports President, you can answer this call – if they give you that money back but in return they demanded to start the games when they wanted to start the games would you be for that?”
FOX Sports President Ed Goren: “We would certainly have that discussion and if it was laid out properly that would certainly be a possibility. In fact, think about this. We play a day game then we have our normal primetime programming. We get a double dip of revenue.”
Universal Sports will be airing and streaming the World Women’s Hockey Championships on TV and online.
TEAM USA TO DEFEND WORLD TITLE AS UNIVERSAL SPORTS BROADCASTS 2009 IIHF WOMEN’S WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPSGold Medal Game Live Sunday, 12 Noon, ET
TV and Live Online Coverage start Thursday at 4 p.m. ET
LOS ANGELES – April 6, 2009 – Defending world champion Team USA takes to the ice against the world's best as a preview to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games as Universal Sports presents 10 hours of coverage of the 2009 IIHF Women's World Hockey Championships from Hameenlinna, Finland, including live coverage of the gold medal match on Sunday at 12 noon, ET. Coverage begins with the qualifying round Thursday at 4 p.m. ET.
The Universal Sports broadcast team consists of Emmy-award winning announcer Ari Wolfe (play-by-play), and Olympic gold and silver medalist in women's hockey, game analyst A.J. Mleczko Griswold.
COVERAGE ON UNIVERSAL SPORTS: Coverage will begin with a qualifying round game on Thursday at 4 p.m. ET and will continue through to the medal matches. The gold medal game will be shown live on Universal Sports on Sunday at 12 Noon, ET.
Universal Sports, available in 45 million homes, will present over 10 hours of coverage starting Thursday (all times ET and Same-day coverage except for Final):
Date Events Time
Thurs. Qualifying Round Game #15 4 – 6:30 p.m.
Fri. Qualifying Round Game #18 4 – 6:30 p.m.
Sun. Bronze Medal Game #19 9 – 11:30 a.m.*
Gold Medal Game #20 – LIVE 12 – 3 p.m.
LIVE COVERAGE ON UNIVERSALSPORTS.COM: UniversalSports.com will cover the entire women's tournament, starting on April 4, with breaking news, results and photo galleries. The site will offer the following IIHF events live, and free-of-charge starting Thursday at 12 Noon, ET. Log onto UniversalSports.com/hockey for the complete schedule. (All times ET and LIVE):
Date Events Time
Thurs. Qualifying Round Game #15 12 – 2:30 p.m.
Fri. Qualifying Round Game #18 12 – 2:30 p.m.
Sun. Bronze Medal Game #19 8 – 10:30 a.m.*
Gold Medal Game #20 12 – 3 p.m.
*Bronze medal game to be broadcast only if Team USA is competing
**Schedules subject to change, coverage available only in the U.S. and territories.
ABOUT THE ATHLETES: The 2009 Women's National Team is made up of 21 women, 16 of which were a part of the 2008 Championship team. The five new players include goaltender Megan Van Beusekom, twin sisters: Jocelyne Lamoureux and Monique Lamoureux, and defensemen Lisa Chesson and Helen Resor. Returning to the team is starting goalie Jessie Vetter who had 21 saves against Canada during the championship game that won the U.S. the gold medal in 2008. Three of Vetter's teammates from the University of Wisconsin national championship team were also named to this 2009 roster.
TEAM USA ROSTER: USA Hockey named the following players to the 2009 U.S. team, including Head Coach Mark Johnson (Madison, Wis.) and Assistant Coaches Dave Flint (Manchester, N.H.) and Jodi McKenna (Middletown, Conn.). Johnson will also serve as the head coach for Team USA at the 2010 Winter Games. Sixteen of the 20 members of the 2008 U.S. Women's World Champion Team return to the 2009 team.
Name Hometown
Goaltenders
Molly Schaus Natick, Massachusetts
Megan Van Beusekom Loretto, Minnesota
Jessie Vetter Cottage Grove, Wi sconsin
Defensemen
Kacey Bellamy Westfield, Massachusetts
Caitlin Cahow Branford, Connecticut
Lisa Chesson Plainfield, Illinois
Molly Engstrom Siren, Wisconsin
Helen Resor Greenwich, Connecticut
Angela Ruggiero Harper Woods, Michigan
Kerry Weiland Palmer, Alaska
Forwards
Julie Chu Fairfield, Connecticut
Natalie Darwitz Eagan, Minnesota
Meghan Duggan Danvers, Massachusetts
Hilary Knight Hanover, New Hampshire
Jocelyne Lamoureux Grand Forks, North Dakota
Monique Lamoureux Grand Forks, North Dakota
Erika Lawler Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Gigi Marvin Warroad, Minnesota
Jenny Potter Edina, Minnesota
Kelli Stack Brooklyn Heights, Ohio
Karen Thatcher Blaine, Washington
2009 IIHF MEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Universal Sports will also provide TV and online coverage of the Men's Hockey Tournament, from Berne and Zurich-Kloten, Switzerland, from April 24 – May 10, 2009. Teams competing include last year's champion Russia, as well as Canada, USA, Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic, previewing the Olympic hockey tournament at the 2010 Vancouver Games.Finally, CBS Sports will have the “Monster Jam World Finals” this Sunday.
CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR ROLLS WITH “MONSTER JAM WORLD FINALS” ON SUNDAY, APRIL 12
The country’s biggest trucks come together at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev. as CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR presents the MONSTER JAM WORLD FINALS on Sunday, April 12 (12:00-1:00 PM, ET; taped 3/28/09). Weighing around 10,000 pounds and powered by supercharged V-8 engines that produce over 1500 horsepower, 24 of the greatest monster trucks in the world compete against each other with bigger jumps and bigger superstars on what looks like the toughest course ever assembled in World Finals history. The 10th annual Monster Jam NGK Spark Plugs World Finals ended with Maximum Destruction driver Tom Meents winning the World Racing Championship, extending his title record to eight, while Damon Bradshaw, one of the sport’s newest superstars, won the World Freestyle Championship in the Air Force Afterburner. Scott Douglas calls the action for CBS Sports. CBS Sports’ Ross Schneiderman serves as coordinating producer.
There you have it. I’ve cleaned my inbox from the press releases.
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