Lots o’ Press Releases

I have a bunch of press releases to post. Since this is a holiday weekend, the networks’ sports PR departments want to get things out early and be on Cape Cod by Friday at 3 p.m. so the fine people at ESPN, CBS, CNBC and Fox churned stuff out today. It leaves you the Fang’s Bites visitor with plenty to read and a lot to scroll. Let’s get cracking.

ESPN leans on Dick Enberg to remember his first ” Breakfast at Wimbledon” 30 years ago and his first “Supper at Wimbledon” on Monday.

Under the Lights: The First “Supper at Wimbledon”

Thirty years after he was part of the first live broadcast of the Gentlemen’s Final from Wimbledon, (“Breakfast at Wimbledon” — Roscoe Tanner vs. Bjorn Borg, 1979), Dick Enberg was again part of history, calling ESPN2’s quarterfinal match in which Scotsman Andy Murray outlatsted Stanislaus Wawrinka of Switzerland 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 — the first match played completely under the new retractable roof of the famed Centre Court (Monday, June 29). With rain falling, the roof had been closed earlier in the day in the middle of the Dinara Safina-Amelie Mauresmo quarterfinal, and it stayed closed as Britain’s latest favorite son, the #3 seed, took on the surprising #19 seed. Illuminated by lights for the first time in history, the sacred sod saw play continue to the latest time in Wimbledon history — 10:39 p.m. locally (5:39 p.m. ET) after 3:46 of back-and-forth action. (The previous record, when competition was limited by the setting sun, was 9:49 p.m. in 2006.)

As for the first-ever “Supper at Wimbledon,” Enberg says, “Of all the changes made here over the years, I was pleased to be part of another piece of Wimbledon history. The quality of the match and the atmosphere made for a ‘tennis dessert’ to the first Supper at Wimbledon. It felt like a championship.

“For generations the long-suffering British tennis fans have anquished over the fate of their male players, with Tim Henman the latest to tease and come close but not end the drought of a British title holder that dates to Fred Perry in 1936. Now they pin their hopes on Andy Murray, who is bigger, faster and stronger…yet still has the flair for dramatic theatre for which London and Wimbledon are famous.”

ESPN goes over what’s up for bid for the “V Foundation Auction”.

“Don’t Give Up V Foundation Auction” to Include 2010 Range Rover and Mike & Mike in the Morning from a Listener’s Home

Online Items and Experiences July 5-15; Day Long ESPN Radio On-Air Auction July 15

A new 2010 Range Rover luxury vehicle – the Autobiography specification valued at over $100,000* — and ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning broadcasting from a listener’s home highlight the more than 275 items and experiences available for bid in the fifth annual “Don’t Give Up V Foundation Auction” July 5-15. Net proceeds from the auction benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

The majority of the experiences and items will be available through an online component via espnradio.com or ebay.com (July 5-15) – including the Range Rover, donated by Land Rover North America, and Mike & Mike in the Morning — while 26 fan “experiences” will be auctioned in an 18-hour radiothon across ESPN Radio’s six national shows on Wednesday, July 15 beginning at 6 a.m. ET.

Bidding for the Range Rover, the first vehicle ever available in the auction, will begin at $50,000. The 2010 Range Rover Autobiography – the Land Rover flagship vehicle — will feature a series of enhanced elements, including updated exterior revisions providing a more contemporary detailing to the classic Range Rover design; a new 510 bhp supercharged engine; advanced interior technologies, including a virtual instrument panel; and active safety aids highlighted by Adaptive Cruise Control, Emergency Brake Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring and a surround camera system.

For the second consecutive year, the Mike & Mike in the Morning experience will open at $0.99. Last year’s experience, marking the first time it was offered, garnered a winning bid of $57,100, the largest for any item. The morning program is hosted by Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. ET on ESPN Radio, ESPN2 HD and espnradio.com.

ESPN Radio’s “experiences” will range from special access ticket packages to sporting events and trips to handing Lee Corso the mascot head from behind the College GameDay set to various events at ESPN’s headquarters. Listeners call 1-800-4JimmyV to make bids with the highest bidder at 59 minutes past each hour winning the experience. Items available online will include autographed jerseys, footballs, basketballs, baseballs, guitar, golf club and balls, helmets, books, collector’s player cards and photos. Details of the other auction and online items and experiences are available on espnradio.com.

The fourth annual ESPN Radio “Don’t Give Up V Foundation Auction” set a record by raising $1,130,314 for The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a 323% increase from the inaugural event’s total of $201,000 in 2005. The event has raised more money each year ($435,770 in 2006 and $851,036 in 2007).

The event is one of Team ESPN’s corporate outreach initiatives which will coincide with the ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic on July 14 and the ESPYs July 15 (televised Sunday, July 19 at 9 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN HD).

* Vehicle details: The winner shall receive a 2010 Range Rover Autobiography, inclusive of all standard Autobiography content, standard color and trim options, as well as the Surround Camera System. Additional charge color and trim options may be specified at the auction winners expense.

ESPN will tug at your heartstrings ag
ain this year when it brings back “My Wish” next week.

SportsCenter ‘My Wish’ Series Returns July 5-9

ESPN to Chronicle Five Children’s Unique Sports-Themed Experiences Granted through the Make-A-Wish Foundation^®

For the fourth straight year, ESPN will present its critically acclaimed SportsCenter’s “My Wish” series, which chronicles sports-themed wishes granted to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Stephanie Druley, senior coordinating producer, ESPN, and David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer, announced today that the series will air Sunday, July 5, through Thursday, July 9,.

As part of the series, ESPN will help grant sports-related wishes with leading sports figures to five children referred through the world’s largest wish-granting charity, Make-A-Wish Foundation. Each wish will be the subject of one SportsCenter feature segment.

Similar to previous years, the SportsCenter segment will feature the story behind the wish, interviews with the youngsters and their families and a behind-the-scenes look at the wish fulfilled, including the interaction between each child and his or her favorite athlete. Emmy Award-winning reporter Chris Connelly will again host, and each SportsCenter “My Wish” segment will be taped.

“Sports have a unique way of connecting people to one another, from athlete to fan, and the ‘My Wish’ series continues to share that bond through one-of-a-kind experiences and stories,” Druley said. “The feedback from participants and viewers has been extremely positive year after year and we find that there are always more compelling stories to be told.”

“The ‘My Wish’ series has generated incredible interest in the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s mission during the past three years,” Williams said. “The stories genuinely reflect what Wish children experience every day – from the daunting challenges of a life-threatening medical condition to the unforgettable joy of having their heartfelt wishes granted. We truly appreciate the support of ESPN, The Walt Disney Company and the athletes who give their time to make the children’s wishes such amazing moments.”

ESPN.com will offer additional and complementary content related to the five wish-granting experiences.

With more than 20 original episodes in three years, “My Wish” has offered an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look at the wish-granting experience and featured the Wish children participating in sports-related activities with their favorite athletes or teams, including: Derek Jeter, Kobe Bryant, Ben Roethlisberger, Todd Helton, Michelle Kwan, Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O’Neal, Tedy Bruschi and NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon Jimmie Johnson.

DW! Boogity! Boogity! Boogity! Fox Sports NASCAR analyst Darrell Waltrip has been nominated for the Inaugural Class at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

BOOGITY! BOOGITY! BOOGITY!

Racing Legend Darrell Waltrip a Nominee for Inaugural NASCAR Hall Of Fame

New York, NY – Darrell Waltrip, a three-time NASCAR Champion and the lead analyst for NASCAR on FOX, is among the first nominees vying for a spot in the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s inaugural class, it was announced today on NASCAR.com. It was also revealed toda
y that Waltrip’s long-time rival Bobby Allison is also a nominee for the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s first class. Additional nominees, a pair each day, will be identified tomorrow and Thursday, July 2, before the rest are announced Thursday night during an hour-long special on SPEED at 8:00 PM ET.

Long before flourishing in his current role as the cornerstone of NASCAR on FOX’s broadcast team, Waltrip became one of the sport’s most legendary drivers. Upon retirement in 2000, Waltrip recorded 84 career wins (3^rd all-time) and was Winston Cup Champion in 1981, 1982 and 1985. Clearly, Waltrip’s most memorable victory was the 1989 Daytona 500, his sole career win at the Great American Race.

“My whole career, I’ve always thought it was cool that other big league sports would refer to their guys as ‘Hall of Famers,’” said Waltrip from his home in Franklin, TN. “I hoped that one day someone would refer to me that way. It’s the greatest honor a driver can receive, to be in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. It means you must have been pretty good at what you do. I am humbled and excited that my name, Darrell Waltrip, would be under consideration for a spot in the Hall.”

Thursday’s SPEED special will be hosted by long-time NASCAR broadcaster Ken Squier, and immediately following the program, NASCAR.com will provide a gallery of all 25 finalists and will open registration for a fan vote. Nominees were determined by a 21-person Nominating Committee consisting of officials from NASCAR and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, plus owners and operators of major speedways and historic short tracks. The list will represents many who helped build the sport, including drivers, owners and promoters.

Waltrip twice copped the Most Popular Driver Award (1989-90) and was the proud recipient of the prestigious Bill France Award of Excellence in 2000, honoring his lifetime of achievements on the race track. In 2003, Waltrip was elected into the National Motorsports Hall of Fame, an honor followed by an induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2005. Through his 29 year racing career, DW captured 59 Cup poles (4^th all-time) and remains the only five-time winner of the Coca-Cola 600 (1978-79, 1985, 1988-89).

The great Darren Rovell of CNBC hosts a new special on the network about the struggles of NASCAR and what it has to do to rebound.

CNBC PRESENTS “INSIDE TRACK: REFUELING THE BUSINESS OF NASCAR”

ORIGINAL CNBC SPECIAL TAKES AN UNPRECEDENTED LOOK AT NASCAR, THE ONCE SEEMINGLY UNSTOPPABLE AND FASTEST GROWING SPORT IN AMERICA

One-Hour Documentary Reported by CNBC’s Sports Business Reporter, Darren Rovell, to Premiere on CNBC on Thursday, July 9th at 9PM, 10PM & 1AM ET

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., June 30, 2009-Every weekend from February to November fans show up to see their favorite driver go bumper to bumper at 180MPH toward the checkered flag. The sport fills some of the largest venues in the world...its a Super Bowl every week.  

On Thursday, July 9th at 9PM, 10PM & 1AM ET, CNBC presents "Inside Track: Refueling the Business of NASCAR," reported by CNBC's Emmy-Nominated Sports Business Reporter, Darren Rovell. CNBC takes viewers inside the world of NASCAR, once the fastest growing sport in America, NASCAR is now threatened by an imploding car business and loss of the corporate dollars that are its very lifeblood.

Unlike any other sport, everything in NASCAR is controlled by one family...the France family. They have maintained an iron grip on a sport where television ratings, corporate sponsorship and the number of fans have seemingly defied gravity. But, after a race to the top, attendance and television ratings are starting to decline and the car manufacturing business, for decades the foundation of the sport, is crumbling. Rovell goes one-on-one with NASCAR chairman & CEO Brian France to discuss how he plans to weather the storm.

Win on Sunday, buy on Monday...once rang true of NASCAR fans, but the Wall Street crisis has changed everything and the companies that pay top dollar to have their logo emblazoned on the hood of cars are carefully watching their investment. Is NASCAR sponsorship  paying off? Is the sport still a good fit for corporate America? Rovell speaks with the key people behind the iconic American brands that have stuck with this sport that was born more than five decades ago.

The program also takes viewers inside the garage of driver-turned-owner, Tony Stewart. When Stewart, the fiery, two-time Sprint Cup champion, isn't racing, he's Tony Stewart-the businessman-and he is just as competitive off the track.  For years, Stewart has owned racetracks, open wheel teams and a remote control car outfit-owning 13 businesses in total. Rovell interviews Stewart about his successful rookie season as a driver-owner and the Stewart-Haas team, which according to Forbes magazine, is worth $80 million dollars.

This hour also features a look at the future of NASCAR and the ways in which the sport is trying to broaden its fan base, add foreign automakers and going green.

Rovell also speaks with NASCAR super stars Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards ,  movie star Kevin Costner; Marcus Smith who runs Speedway Motorsports Inc. and Julie Geary, the ultimate NASCAR fan.

Jeff Pohlman is the Executive Producer of "Inside Track: Refueling the Business of NASCAR." Tom Rotunno is the Producer, Nick Stantzos is the Editor and Tyler Mathisen is CNBC's Managing Editor. Ray Borelli is the Vice President of Strategic Research, Scheduling and Long Form Programming.

For more information including web extras, slideshows and extended video clips, log on to nascar.cnbc.com.

"Inside Track: Refueling the Business of NASCAR" will re-ai
r on Sunday, July 12th at 10PM ET and Monday, July 13th at 10PM ET on CNBC.

Sirius XM, mostly XM Satellite Radio will have the MLB Futures Game on Sunday.

SIRIUS XM RADIO TO AIR EXCLUSIVE BROADCAST OF ALL-STAR FUTURES GAME JULY 12

Longtime major league pitcher Jim Kaat will be the game analyst; SIRIUS XM’s Scott Graham will call play-by-play

Futures Game features top minor league prospects from U.S. and abroad

NEW YORK – June 30, 2009 – SIRIUS XM Radio announced today that it will offer baseball fans an exclusive radio broadcast of the All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, July 12, two days before the 2009 MLB All-Star Game. The All-Star Futures Game will be played at Busch Stadium in St. Louis and features top minor league prospects from the U.S. and abroad.

Veteran major league pitcher Jim Kaat will be the game analyst for the broadcast, which will air live starting with the pre-game at 2:00 pm ET on XM channel 175. Scott Graham, host of SIRIUS XM’s Baseball This Morning talk show, will be the play-by-play voice.

Former Major League Baseball pitcher and longtime broadcaster Jim Kaat, also known as “Kitty,” won 283 games during his 25-year career in Major League Baseball. Best known for his time with the Minnesota Twins, the southpaw won 16 consecutive Gold Gloves from 1962-1977. Following his retirement after the 1983 season, Kaat moved to the broadcast booth, covering three World Series for CBS from 1990-1992, and becoming an analyst for New York Yankees baseball from 1995-2006, where he won seven Emmy Awards. Kaat is now a color commentator for MLB Network’s Thursday Night Baseball series.

Scott Graham has spent over 20 years as a radio and television sportscaster. His work has covered Major League Baseball, the NFL, college football and basketball, and a variety of other sports from golf to volleyball. He has been a play-by-play broadcaster for the Philadelphia Phillies, ESPN, FOX, CBS and a number of national and regional television and radio networks.

The All-Star Futures Game showcases the brightest talent currently in the minor leagues. Rosters include up to two players from each MLB farm system who are assigned to U.S. and World teams based on place of birth. The World team defeated the U.S. team 3-0 in last year’s All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium. This year, Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith will manage the U.S. team and his former Cardinals teammate, Jose Oquendo, now the third base coach for St. Louis, will manage the World team.

On July 4th, CBS airs its NCAA Spring Championships special.

CBS SPORTS TO AIR NCAA SPRING SEASONAL SHOW ON SATURDAY, JULY 4

INDIANAPOLIS — For the seventh consecutive year, all 88 NCAA championships will receive television exposure, including 17 spring sports being featured in a one-hour special. CBS Sports Presents Championships of the NCAA will air at 2 p.m. Eastern, Saturday, July 4, on CBS Sports. Highlights and stories from NCAA baseball, golf, rowing, softball, tennis and outdoor track & field will be featured in the program. For the 2008-09 academic year, CBS Sports will feature half (44) of the NCAA’s 88 championships in its three seasonal shows.

The show focuses on the aspirations of several NCAA student-athletes pursuing their individual and team paths to various national championships, including:

· Division III Rowing – Williams senior Meg Conan overcomes stress fractures in her spine to help defend her teams’ title.

· Division III Men’s Track & Field – The intense rivalry between Abilene Christian and St. Augustine.

· Division I Rowing

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