Catching Up on Press Releases

I left my office for a doctor’s appointment (nothing serious, just my yearly physical … I’m fine) and a few press releases flew into my inbox so let’s clear them out.

Here are some quotes from last night’s NFL Gameday Final on NFL Network.

Week 13 (Nov. 30, 2008) – Quotable from NFL GameDay Final on NFL Network (Airs Sunday at 11:30 PM ET)

“Right now, the Giants seem to be in a class by themselves.”
— Steve Mariucci

“Don’t be surprised if the Eagles surprise the Giants.”
— Deion Sanders on Eagles-Giants Week 14 matchup

“Everyone thinks the McCaskey family owns the Bears, but it seems like Adrian Peterson does.”
— Rich Eisen on Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown in Minnesota’s 34-14 win against Chicago. Peterson has rushed for 554 yards and eight touchdowns in four career games vs. Bears.

“I don’t know why he’s always under scrutiny and criticism. (Teams) always want to replace him and he constantly makes plays.”
— Deion Sanders on Buccaneers QB Jeff Garcia, who ranks sixth in the NFL with a 92.5 passer rating

“This is not the same Jets team we saw last week (vs. Titans), or the week before (vs. Patriots).”
— Deion Sanders on New York Jets’ 34-17 loss to Denver

“The Cable guy lost his connection there.”
— Rich Eisen on Raiders’ unsuccessful fake field goal in 20-13 loss to Kansas City

“What you have is a desperate team that might be able to win the division at 8-8, but it’s unlikely.”
— Steve Mariucci on San Diego Chargers

“He’s a good quarterback, but he’s not going to throw for 400 yards every game.”
— Steve Mariucci on Patriots QB Matt Cassel

Next, the National Football League tells us that New England and Tampa Bay will head to London for next year’s UK game.

BUCCANEERS & PATRIOTS TO PLAY IN LONDON IN 2009

The NFL’s International Series of regular-season games will return to the United Kingdom in 2009 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the New England Patriots, the NFL announced today.

The game will be played on Sunday, October 25 at Wembley Stadium in London with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS.

The Buccaneers and Patriots have been two of the NFL’s most successful teams in recent years, combining to play in five of the past seven Super Bowls. Both clubs are strong contenders for a return trip to the playoffs this season.

“Over the past two years, we have seen first-hand the excitement that exists for our sport in the UK,” said NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL. “The games have helped us to deepen our connection with our UK fans as well as create new ones. We are looking forward to another outstanding game in 2009.”

The contest will mark the third consecutive year of an NFL regular-season game at London’s Wembley Stadium. On October 26, the New Orleans Saints defeated the San Diego Chargers 37-32 before a crowd of 83,226. The International Series began on October 28, 2007, when the New York Giants defeated the Miami Dolphins 13-10 en route to a victory in Super Bowl XLII.

“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization is extremely excited and honored to be chosen to participate in the NFL International Series,” said Buccaneers Executive Vice President JOEL GLAZER. “We look forward to being part of the NFL’s global outreach and playing our great game in front of Buccaneers fans overseas.”

The Buccaneers captured Super Bowl XXXVII following the 2002 season and are challenging for their third NFC South Division title in the past four years. The Tampa Bay community will be in the global spotlight at the culmination of this season when Super Bowl XLIII is played at Raymond James Stadium on February 1.

“We are proud to be selected by the NFL to be featured in next year’s international game,” said New England Patriots Chairman and CEO ROBERT KRAFT. “We have had a lot of memorable moments in recent years. I am sure our trip to the United Kingdom next year will prove to be an unforgettable experience for our players and coaches, as well as the many fans that will travel to the game. I think it is fitting that New England’s first game to be played outside of North America will be in England. I know that the UK is home to some of our most passionate Patriots fans and we look forward to the experience.”

The Patriots are three-time Super Bowl champions (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX) and won their first 18 games last season in advancing to Super Bowl XLII. The team is bidding for its sixth consecutive AFC East Division championship.

Two things from ESPN’s College Football Department. First, College Gameday broadcasts live from the SEC Championship this Saturday. Only the third time this season that Gameday will be live from a site of a non-ESPN family of networks game.

College GameDay (Saturdays at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN) will originate from the SEC championship matchup pitting #4 Florida vs. #1 Alabama in Atlanta. College GameDay is hosted by Chris Fowler with analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard.

Second, ESPN will air four conference championship games on its family of networks this weekend starting Friday night.

Four Conference Championships Highlighted by #20 Missouri vs. #2 Oklahoma

This week’s college football schedule on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN360.com, ESPN Classic and ESPN Radio will be highlighted by telecasts of four conference championships:

• ABC will
  broadcast the Big 12 Championship – #20 Missouri against #2 Oklahoma – from Kansas City Saturday, Dec. 6, at 8 p.m.
• ESPN2 will televise the MAC Championship between undefeated #12 Ball State and Buffalo from Detroit Friday, Dec. 5, at 7:55 p.m.
• ESPN on ABC will offer coverage of the ACC Championship featuring #17 Boston College vs. #25 Virginia Tech Saturday, Dec. 6, at 1 p.m.
• The Conference USA Championship Saturday, Dec. 6, at noon on ESPN2 will pit East Carolina at Tulsa.

In addition to conference championships, Saturday’s coverage will include Pac-10 champion #5 USC at UCLA at 4:30 p.m. on ABC and BIG EAST champion #13 Cincinnati at Hawaii at 11:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

Date	Time (ET)	Network	Game/Commentators
Thu., Dec. 4	7:30 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN360.com	Louisville at Rutgers
			Chris Fowler, Craig James, Jesse Palmer and Erin Andrews
Fri., Dec. 5	7:55 p.m.	ESPN2/ESPN360.com	MAC Championship: #12 Ball State vs. Buffalo
			Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman and Rob Stone
Sat., Dec. 6	noon	ESPN/ESPN360.com	#23 Pittsburgh at Connecticut
			Bob Wischusen and Brock Huard
	noon	ESPN2/ESPN360.com	Conference USA Championship: East Carolina at Tulsa
			Dave Pasch and Andre Ware
	noon	ESPN Classic / ESPN360.com	NCAA Division II Semifinals: Minnesota Duluth at California (Pa)
			Eric Collins and Jon Ritchie
	1 p.m.	ABC	ACC Championship: #17 Boston College vs. #25 Virginia Tech
			Brad Nessler, Bob Griese, Paul Maguire and Stacey Dales
	4 p.m.	ESPN2/ESPN360.com	NCAA Division II Semifinals: North Alabama at NW Missouri State
			Pam Ward and Ray Bentley
	4:30 p.m.	ABC	#5 USC at UCLA
			Mike Patrick, Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe
		ESPN Radio	Terry Gannon and David Norrie
	8 p.m.	ABC	Big 12 Championship: #20 Missouri vs. #2 Oklahoma
			Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Lisa Salters
		ESPN Radio	Dave Barnett, TBD and Joe Schad
	8 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN360.com	Arizona State at Arizona
			Mark Jones and Bob Davie
	8 p.m.	ESPN2/ESPN360.com	South Florida at West Virginia
			Ron Franklin, Ed Cunningham and Jack Arute
	11:30 p.m.	ESPN2/ESPN360.com	#13 Cincinnati at Hawaii
			Joe Tessitore and Rod Gilmore

ESPN is already in college basketball mode (you should know that from the amount of games you saw over Thanksgiving weekend) and here is the schedule for this year’s ACC-Big Ten Challenge and Big12/Pac 10 Series.

This week’s men’s college basketball schedule on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com’s will be highlighted by coverage of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series.

#1 North Carolina will play #12 Michigan State from Ford Field in Detroit, site of this year’s Final Four, in an ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 9:15 p.m. on ESPN.

• #4 Duke at #10 Purdue in the first-ever ACC/Big Ten Challenge meeting between the schools Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 9 p.m. on ESPN. Duke and Boston College are the only two teams to win all of their Challenge g
  ames. Boston College will host Iowa Tuesday at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.
• ESPN2 will televise a Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series doubleheader Thursday, Dec. 4: USC at #6 Oklahoma at 7 p.m. followed by #9 UCLA at #8 Texas at 9 p.m.

Date	Time (ET)	Network	Game/Commentators
Tue., Dec. 2	7 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN360.com	ACC/Big Ten Challenge: Ohio State at #22 Miami
			Dave O’Brien and Steve Lavin
	7 p.m.	ESPNU	ACC/Big Ten Challenge: Iowa at Boston College
			Clay Matvick, Ron Perry and Andy Katz
	7:30 p.m.	ESPN2/ESPN360.com	ACC/Big Ten Challenge: Clemson at Illinois
			Jon Sciambi and Fran Fraschilla
	9 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN360.com	ACC/Big Ten Challenge: #4 Duke at #10 Purdue
			Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale and Doris Burke
	9 p.m.	ESPNU	Georgia at Western Kentucky
			Dave Weekley at Mark Adams
	9:30 p.m.	ESPN2/ESPN360.com	ACC/Big Ten Challenge: Virginia at Minnesota
			Dave Pasch and Hubert Davis
Wed., Dec. 3	7:15 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN360.com	ACC/Big Ten Challenge: Indiana at #17 Wake Forest
			Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes and Jeannine Edwards
	7:30 a.m.	ESPN2/ESPN360.com	ACC/Big Ten Challenge: Penn State at Georgia Tech
			John Saunders and Bob Valvano
	7:30 p.m.	ESPNU	ACC/Big Ten Challenge: Michigan at Maryland
			Quint Kessenich and Mike Kelley
	9:15 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN360.com	ACC/Big Ten Challenge: #1 North Carolina vs. #12 Michigan State (from Ford Field in Detroit)
			Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale and Doris Burke
	9:30 p.m.	ESPN2/ESPN360.com	ACC/Big Ten Challenge: Florida State at Northwestern
			Terry Gannon and Stephen Bardo
Thu., Dec. 4	7 p.m.	ESPN2/ESPN360.com	Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series: USC at #6 Oklahoma
			Bob Wischusen and Fran Fraschilla
	8 p.m.	ESPNU	Butler at Cleveland State
			Michael Reghi and Mark Adams
	9 p.m.	ESPN2/ESPN360.com	Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series: #9 UCLA at #8 Texas
			Dave O’Brien and Jay Bilas
Fri., Dec. 5	9:30 p.m.	ESPNU	Arizona at Texas A&M
			Doug Bell and Reid Gettys

Finally, NBC, CBC and RDS will combine with the National Hockey League for a promotion campaign for the NHL Winter Classic using Harry Caray’s version of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”.

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE, NBC, CBC AND RDS UNVEIL “NHL WINTER CLASSIC 2009” TUNE-IN CAMPAIGN

TV Spot Features Legendary Broadcaster Harry Caray’s Iconic Version of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” Campaign Marks First Time Broadcasters And League Collaborate On Universal Campaign

NEW YORK (December 1, 2008) – The National Hockey League (NHL), in collaboration with NBC, CBC and RDS, has released a new tune-in marketing campaign to promote the upcoming NHL Winter Classic 2009 game on New Year’s Day at Wrigley Field. The TV spot, backed by the singing of the late, legendary baseball broadcaster Harry Caray and his iconic version of “Take Me Out To the Ball Game,” debuted last night in the U.S. on the “NBC Sunday Night Football Game” between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings. NBC’s Bob Costas narrates the U.S. version. This marks the first time that the League and its rights-holders have worked together to create a universal campaign for a single event.

The creative begins with images of various Blackhawks and Red Wings as they prepare for NHL Winter Classic 2009 and pays tribute to the once-in-a-lifetime meshing of NHL hockey and Wrigley Field while featuring pre-game routine and rituals of players from the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings, the teams competing in this season’s NHL Winter Classic 2009. Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, James Wisniewski and coach Joel Quenneville and Detroit Red Wings Nicklas Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg, Marian Hossa, Pavel Datsyuk and Chris Osgood are highlighted, with a final cut to the exterior of Wrigley Field on a snowy day.

The campaign is now running on NBC, RDS, VERSUS, NHL Network, regional broadcast carriers, NHL.com and other digital sites. CBC will begin airing the spot on Dec. 15th. This campaign also will live through digital banners and outdoor billboards in the Chicago market.

“The NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day is a unique event for hockey fans everywhere. This ad speaks to the excitement and magnitude of this game. It’s the sport returning to its roots, featuring two ‘Original Six’ teams playing under the elements in Wrigley Field — one of the most historic venues in the world,” said Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of Marketing, NHL. “We are especially proud to have created this spot with NBC, CBC and RDS to produce one unified voice for this event which, for one day, brings together hockey fans of every team to celebrate the game.”

The game will be the 701st all-time meeting of the clubs – no NHL opponents have played more regular-season games against each other. Face-off is at 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT. NBC will provide live broadcast coverage of the game in the U.S. In Canada, CBC and RDS will televise the event live. NHL Network and NHL.com will provide extensive coverage and NHL Radio will provide coverage for radio stations across North America. NHL Winter Classic 2009 will be the second regular-season outdoor NHL game played in the United States and the third regular-season outdoor game in League history.

There you have it. Plenty of stuff for today. I’ll have an update later.