Three Winter Sports Releases

I’ll put together three releases in this post. One regarding the NBA, one about the NHL and the other on figure skating. It works, believe me.

We begin with NBA TV and its programming for the week plus the live “Fan Game” it will carry on Tuesday.

Nuggets @ Bulls Wins Vote for NBA TV’s Fan Night Game on Tuesday

NBA TV’s Tuesday Fan Night will feature the Denver Nuggets @ Chicago Bulls match-up, which received 31% of the vote, edging out the Oklahoma City Thunder @ Sacramento Kings game, which received 28% of the vote on NBA.com. The game will air on Tues., Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. (ET) with host Ernie Johnson and analysts Chris Webber and Kevin McHale on-hand for studio coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. (ET). Fan Night voting will continue on NBA.com from Tues., Nov. 10 (8 a.m. ET) – Thurs., Nov. 12 (Midnight ET) as fans select the match-up for Tues., Nov. 17 between eight games:

· Golden State Warriors @ Cleveland Cavaliers

· Oklahoma City Thunder @ Miami Heat

· Indiana Pacers @ New Jersey Nets

· L.A. Clippers @ New Orleans Hornets

· Phoenix Suns @ Houston Rockets

· Toronto Raptors @ Denver Nuggets

· Chicago Bulls @ Sacramento Kings

· Detroit Pistons @ L.A. Lakers

Tipping off Tuesday night is The Jump on NBA.com, a live, interactive show that allows fans to submit questions and comments to NBA.com’s Kyle Montgomery, Dennis Scott and Brent Barry via NBA.com, Facebook or Twitter. The show will stream live each week at 1 p.m. ET.

Every Wednesday NBA TV features an NBA Special; this Wednesday at 8 p.m. (ET) the network will air “NBA Special: Baske
tball without Borders 2009.” The 30-min special follows NBA All-Stars Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh and Dirk Nowitzki, among others, as they make the journey Beijing, Mexico City and Johannesburg, respectively, to help grow the game of basketball and bring attention to important social issues.

In addition to the Fan Night game, NBA TV will also feature live games on Monday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. (ET) with the Phoenix Suns @ Philadelphia 76ers, on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. (ET) with the Portland Trail Blazers @ Charlotte Bobcats and on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. (ET) with the L.A. Clippers @ Oklahoma City Thunder.

Check out TNT and NBA TV Insider David Aldridge’s new NBA.com column The Morning Tip that recaps NBA action and includes analysis and musings on players, teams, games, news and everything NBA-related. Follow this link to read his latest edition: www.nba.com/2009/news/features/david_aldridge/11/09/morning.tip.lebron/index.html

NBA TV PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE:

NOVEMBER 9 – NOVEMBER 15 (all times ET)

MONDAY, NOV. 9
12-1 p.m. NBA.COM FANTASY INSIDER Rick Kamla, Dennis Scott
6:30 – 7 p.m. Pregame Show Rick Kamla, Steve Smith, Brent Barry
7-9:30 p.m. NBA Regular Season: Phoenix Suns @ Philadelphia 76ers Local Announcers
9:30 p.m.- 2 a.m. NBA GameTime Rick Kamla, Steve Smith, Brent Barry

TUESDAY, NOV. 10: FAN NIGHT
1 p.m. (NBA.com) The Jump on NBA.com Kyle Montgomery, Dennis Scott, Brent Barry
6-6:30 p.m. THE BEAT Marc Fein, David Aldridge
7:30- 8 p.m. Pregame Show Ernie Johnson, Chris Webber, Kevin McHale
8- 10:30 p.m. NBA Regular Season: Denver Nuggets @ Chicago Bulls Local Announcers
10:30 p.m.- 1:30 a.m. NBA GameTime Ernie Johnson, Chris Webber, Kevin McHale
11 p.m.- 1:30 a.m. NBA GameTime Andre Aldridge, Eric Snow

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 11
7-7:30 p.m. All-Access with Ahmad Ahmad Rashad
7:30-8 p.m. REAL NBA
8-8:30 p.m. NBA SPECIAL: Basketball without Borders 2009
8:30-9 p.m. All-Access with Ahmad (REAIR)
9- 11 p.m. NBA GameTime Andre Aldridge, Kenny Smith, Eric Snow
11 p.m.-12 a.m. All-Access/REAL NBA (REAIR)
12- 2 a.m. NBA GameTime Andre Aldridge, Kenny Smith, Eric Snow

THURSDAY, NOV. 12
7-8 p.m. BEST OF THE 2000’s NBAE Presents: 2001
8- 10 p.m. BEST OF THE 2000’s 76ers/ Lakers, 2001 NBA Finals- Game #1
10-11 p.m. BEST OF THE 2000’s NBAE Presents: 2001- Re-Air
11 p.m.- 1 a.m. BEST OF THE 2000’s Bucks/Magic, 2001 Eastern Conference 1st Round Game #3

FRIDAY, NOV. 13
7 p.m.- 2 a.m. NBA GameTime Rick Kamla, Steve Smith

SATURDAY, NOV. 14
12:30-1 p.m. FIBA World Basketball Studio Show
1-3 p.m. Euroleague Game of the Week: Regal FC Barcelona vs. Asvel Villeurbanne
6:30-7 p.m. Pregame Show Andre Aldridge, Eric Snow
7-9:30 p.m. NBA Regular Season: Portland Trail Blazers @ Charlotte Bobcats Local Announcers
9:30p.m.-12 a.m. NBA GameTime Andre Aldridge, Eric Snow

SUNDAY, NOV. 15
6:30-7 p.m. Pregame Show Marc Fein, Steve Smith
7-9:30 p.m. NBA Regular Season: Los Angeles Clippers @ Oklahoma City Thunder Local Announcers
9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. NBA GameTime Marc Fein, Steve Smith

Over to Versus which will have three guest analysts joining its Hockey Central studio this month.

THREE STANLEY CUP WINNERS JOIN THE HOCKEY CENTRAL TEAM IN NOVEMBER

NEW YORK, N.Y. (November 9, 2009)-VERSUS today announced three guest analysts synonymous with NHL success will join the Hockey Central studio crew in November. Mike Keenan will be the first guest to join Bill Patrick, Keith Jones and Brian Engblom in the Hockey Central studio on Tuesday, November 10, when the Boston Bruins host the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7 p.m. ET. Keenan coached 1386 career games with eight NHL teams and led the New York Rangers to their historic Stanley Cup victory in 1994; a feat that hadn't been accomplished in more than 50 years.  

On Monday, November 16, Peter Laviolette will be in the studio when the Philadelphia Flyers host the New Jersey Devils at 7 p.m. ET.
 Laviolette coached 487 career games spanning two teams and led the Carolina Hurricanes to Stanley Cup victory in 2006. Darren McCarty, 17-year NHL veteran and four-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Detroit Red Wings, will join the Hockey Central crew on Monday, November 23. Throughout his career, McCarty garnered 288 career points and 1477 regular season penalty minutes and 49 points and 228 penalty minutes in the playoffs. Given his storied career with the Red Wings, he will be able to offer unprecedented insight and analysis during VERSUS' Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators telecast.  

In addition to their November appearances, these guest analysts will also be joining the studio team on select telecasts throughout the NHL regular season.  Details regarding subsequent Hockey Central appearances will be announced when information becomes available.

And to CBC which announced that no one was “iced” from tonight’s Battle of the Blades competition.

ALL THREE REMAINING PAIRS ADVANCE

TO THE BATTLE OF THE BLADES FINALE

Injury to Marie-France Dubreuil leaves the decision in Canada’s hands

As a result of a back injury sustained earlier today, Marie-France Dubreuil was unable to skate in the scheduled Monday night skate-off on BATTLE OF THE BLADES. Judge Sandra Bezic declared all remaining three pairs safe for this week, leaving the decision to Canadians to decide next week which pair will win $100,000 for the charity of their choice.

“We felt, and the skaters agreed, that no one wanted to win this competition by default,” says Bezic. “We’re relieved that Marie-France’s injuries may allow her to skate next week. Our primary concern is for the safety of our skaters and we believe this is the fairest way to determine a winner.”

Before the judging panel made its decision, it was revealed that the two pairs with the fewest votes in the sixth week of competition were Dubreuil and Stéphane Richer along with Jamie Salé and Craig Simpson. However, instead of the usual skate-off, Salé and Simpson as well as Shae-Lynn Bourne and Claude Lemieux performed their programs for exhibition only.

The three pairs competing in the final week of the show on Sunday, November 15 are: Shae-Lynn Bourne and Claude Lemieux, Marie-France Dubreuil and Stéphane Richer, Jamie Salé and Craig Simpson.

Viewers can learn more about the competitors at www.cbc.ca/battle, the official online portal for the series and the source for everything about BATTLE OF THE BLADES. In addition to videos and behind-the-scene photos, the site offers viewers the opportunity to become fans of their favourite pair and track each participant’s activity as they strive to be the final pair remaining at the end of the series.

BATTLE OF THE BLADES is the brainchild of Kevin Albrecht with development by Sandra Bezic. BATTLE OF THE BLADES executive producers are John Brunton, Barbara Bowlby and Kevin Albrecht. It is produced by Insight Productions in association with CBC Television.

That will conclude this post. Two more press release posts are on the way.