Jim Williams: CBS’ Davis: GMU can win it all
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Mar 31, 2006 7:00 AM (12 mins ago)
WASHINGTON -
Last Sunday while George Mason was upsetting Connecting, Potomac/Rockville native Seth Davis
was on the set at CBS in New York text messaging his brother and nephew at Verizon Center about
how amazing the game they were watching was — a real once-in-a-lifetime game.
Davis is part of the entertaining “Road to the Final Four” studio team on CBS along with Greg
Gumbel and Clark Kellogg.
I spoke to Seth as he was on his way to Indianapolis for the Final Four. The George Mason storyline
was, of course, the main topic of conversation.
Jim Williams: Are we overstating the importance of George Mason making it to the Final Four?
Seth Davis: No not at all. GMU has accomplished something of historical importance and it cannot
be played down. They have captured the imagination of the country and the Patriots have become
“America’s Team.”
JW: Can George Mason win the NCAA title?
SD: Yes. One of the best things about the Patriots is that they aren’t just happy to be in the Final
Four, they feel like they belong. They have beaten some of the best programs in college basketball
to get to Indianapolis. So after all the things this team has accomplished how can anyone say that
GMU can’t win this?
Davis will join Gumbel and Kellogg on the pregame show on CBS 9 this weekend. Look for plenty
of Patriots features as this story continues.
Follow the Patriots….
Starting today at 1pm on both CSN and College Sports TV the George Mason press conference will be covered live from the Final Four. CSTV will continue after the GMU conference to cover all of the Final Four teams.
NBC 4, FOX 5, ABC 7, CBS 9 and CSN plan expanded sports coverage from the Final Four. Sports Talk 980am will have the games as will SIRIUS satellite radio.
Patriots fans will be seen on CSTV Saturday on at 2:30PM Crystal Ball broadcasts from Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis during the World’s Largest Pep Rally.
Must watch programs on CBS 9 Saturday the Road to the Final Four Special at 3PM followed by a outstanding show The Moment 25 Years of the NCAA Tournament great for all area fans with Georgetown and Maryland championships featured!
Friday, March 31, 2006
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Jim Williams: XM radio gets into swing of
things
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Mar 29, 2006 7:00 AM (38 mins ago)
WASHINGTON -
Chuck Dickemann had just returned to his D.C. office after a long but successful trip that took the
XM baseball chief all over the country covering the World Baseball Classic.
It was a big event for the Washington-based satellite service but no time to rest. Dickemann’s
talented team of producers and talent are ready the baseball season’s start in less than a week.
Jim Williams: How did the XM-WBC experience workout?
Chuck Dickemann: It was hard work but in the end we are proud that we were able to carry all the
games and still have such awesome content for the shows on MLB Home Plate Channel 175. It was
a great thing for XM to be such a big part of the coverage of the WBC. Having Buck Martinez as the
USA Manager as well as someone who is part of our team was huge.
JW: So what can fans of the baseball on XM expect in 2007?
CD: Well, we are improving on what we think is a very strong lineup. It all starts with “Baseball
This Morning” with Mark Patrick, Buck Martinez and our new addition. We brought Orestes
Destrade over from our Spanish outlet to join the guys. He brings a great deal of energy to the
already super morning team.
“Fantasy Focus” comes up at noon, then we will have Charley Steiner back at 1 p.m. every day with
“Baseball Beat.” At 3 p.m., we head out west to Rob Dibble and Kevin Kennedy for the “The
Show,” then we have a preview of the nights games with “MLB Live,” “XM On Deck” hosted by Chuck Wilson airs from 6-7pm; Ronnie Lane hosts “MLB Live” from 7-10pm and Joe Castellano hosts “MLB Live Late Edition” from 10p-2am.
There are lots of XM baseball fans in the D.C. area and plenty of good stuff to check out. Not to
mention you can hear all the games live.
things
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Mar 29, 2006 7:00 AM (38 mins ago)
WASHINGTON -
Chuck Dickemann had just returned to his D.C. office after a long but successful trip that took the
XM baseball chief all over the country covering the World Baseball Classic.
It was a big event for the Washington-based satellite service but no time to rest. Dickemann’s
talented team of producers and talent are ready the baseball season’s start in less than a week.
Jim Williams: How did the XM-WBC experience workout?
Chuck Dickemann: It was hard work but in the end we are proud that we were able to carry all the
games and still have such awesome content for the shows on MLB Home Plate Channel 175. It was
a great thing for XM to be such a big part of the coverage of the WBC. Having Buck Martinez as the
USA Manager as well as someone who is part of our team was huge.
JW: So what can fans of the baseball on XM expect in 2007?
CD: Well, we are improving on what we think is a very strong lineup. It all starts with “Baseball
This Morning” with Mark Patrick, Buck Martinez and our new addition. We brought Orestes
Destrade over from our Spanish outlet to join the guys. He brings a great deal of energy to the
already super morning team.
“Fantasy Focus” comes up at noon, then we will have Charley Steiner back at 1 p.m. every day with
“Baseball Beat.” At 3 p.m., we head out west to Rob Dibble and Kevin Kennedy for the “The
Show,” then we have a preview of the nights games with “MLB Live,” “XM On Deck” hosted by Chuck Wilson airs from 6-7pm; Ronnie Lane hosts “MLB Live” from 7-10pm and Joe Castellano hosts “MLB Live Late Edition” from 10p-2am.
There are lots of XM baseball fans in the D.C. area and plenty of good stuff to check out. Not to
mention you can hear all the games live.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Mason madness gains national attention
Jim Williams: Mason madness gains national
attention
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Mar 27, 2006 7:00 AM (44 mins ago)
WASHINGTON -
Unless you live under a rock you know George Mason is the feel good story of the NCAA
Tournament.
Here in D.C., NBC 4, FOX 5, ABC 7, CBS 9, Newschannel 8 and Comcast SportsNet documented
every minute of the Patriots experience. Ah, but this is far from just a local story.
The New York Times, USA Today, and Los Angeles Times are among the over 100 newspapers
who ran feature stories about George Mason. Sports Illustrated made the
Patriots one of their four regional covers.
Patriots coach Jim Larranaga (a fellow Examiner columnist) has been on over 75 national radio
shows, not to mention one-on-one interviews with ESPN and CBS.
What does this all mean?
Good news from a Mason recruiting standpoint, no doubt at least a couple of national TV games for
the Pats in 2007 and a huge boost for the Colnial Atletich Conference, which has the highest
postseason winning percentage of any conference with teams in both the NCAA and NIT
tournaments.
Lady Terps in the Elite Eight
Maryland made it to the Elite Eight and Terps alum and local favorite Pam Ward will handle the
play-by-play of tonight’s ESPN telecast. Maryland squares off against Utah for a berth in the Final
Four.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
attention
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Mar 27, 2006 7:00 AM (44 mins ago)
WASHINGTON -
Unless you live under a rock you know George Mason is the feel good story of the NCAA
Tournament.
Here in D.C., NBC 4, FOX 5, ABC 7, CBS 9, Newschannel 8 and Comcast SportsNet documented
every minute of the Patriots experience. Ah, but this is far from just a local story.
The New York Times, USA Today, and Los Angeles Times are among the over 100 newspapers
who ran feature stories about George Mason. Sports Illustrated made the
Patriots one of their four regional covers.
Patriots coach Jim Larranaga (a fellow Examiner columnist) has been on over 75 national radio
shows, not to mention one-on-one interviews with ESPN and CBS.
What does this all mean?
Good news from a Mason recruiting standpoint, no doubt at least a couple of national TV games for
the Pats in 2007 and a huge boost for the Colnial Atletich Conference, which has the highest
postseason winning percentage of any conference with teams in both the NCAA and NIT
tournaments.
Lady Terps in the Elite Eight
Maryland made it to the Elite Eight and Terps alum and local favorite Pam Ward will handle the
play-by-play of tonight’s ESPN telecast. Maryland squares off against Utah for a berth in the Final
Four.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Will DC officials show at the Nats fans rally? (Saturday/Weekend)
Jim Williams: Will D.C. officials show at Nats
fans rally?
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Mar 25, 2006 7:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
WASHINGTON -
The Nationals fan club (www.nationalspride.com ) has organized a rally for noon Sunday in the
parking lot at RFK in support of getting MASN on Comcast cable systems in D.C., Maryland
Northern Virginia.
But here is the interesting part of the story. Among the officials who have confirmed are U.S. Rep.
Jim Moran, Maryland Del. Peter Franchot, and Virginia Delegate Brian Moran. You might notice no
D.C. City Council member or Mayor Anthony Williams has confirmed their presence at the rally.
The city leaders fought Major League Baseball and each other over the past two years; they finally
approved the building of a $611 million dollar stadium on the southwest waterfront.
But when it comes to fighting for the fans rights to see the Nationals play on TV and promote both
the city and the team they suddenly become silent.
So politicians from Maryland and Northern Virginia will be in D.C. at RFK applying whatever
pressure they can to get Comcast to carry the 158 Nationals games to be aired this season on
MASN? But the mayor and city council are in no rush to drive over to RFK? That is not only a
shame but a slap in the face to the city.
“Baseball fans in the D.C. area have been begging the cable companies to show Nationals games for
a year now,” NationalsPride.com editor Ian Koski said. “Being able to see our team on television
every night is a critical part of developing a true and loyal fan base. As great a success as the
Nationals’ inaugural season was here in Washington, it could have and should have been so much
more.”
I have spoken to many members of the city council as well as members of the mayor’s staff and
they are good people. Let’s see if some of them can find the time to get to RFK Sunday and aid the
process of getting the Nationals games on TV. It is in the best interest of both the fans and the city.
The chance to showcase the team and city throughout the region makes sense. So come on gang, get
out to RFK.
fans rally?
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Mar 25, 2006 7:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
WASHINGTON -
The Nationals fan club (www.nationalspride.com ) has organized a rally for noon Sunday in the
parking lot at RFK in support of getting MASN on Comcast cable systems in D.C., Maryland
Northern Virginia.
But here is the interesting part of the story. Among the officials who have confirmed are U.S. Rep.
Jim Moran, Maryland Del. Peter Franchot, and Virginia Delegate Brian Moran. You might notice no
D.C. City Council member or Mayor Anthony Williams has confirmed their presence at the rally.
The city leaders fought Major League Baseball and each other over the past two years; they finally
approved the building of a $611 million dollar stadium on the southwest waterfront.
But when it comes to fighting for the fans rights to see the Nationals play on TV and promote both
the city and the team they suddenly become silent.
So politicians from Maryland and Northern Virginia will be in D.C. at RFK applying whatever
pressure they can to get Comcast to carry the 158 Nationals games to be aired this season on
MASN? But the mayor and city council are in no rush to drive over to RFK? That is not only a
shame but a slap in the face to the city.
“Baseball fans in the D.C. area have been begging the cable companies to show Nationals games for
a year now,” NationalsPride.com editor Ian Koski said. “Being able to see our team on television
every night is a critical part of developing a true and loyal fan base. As great a success as the
Nationals’ inaugural season was here in Washington, it could have and should have been so much
more.”
I have spoken to many members of the city council as well as members of the mayor’s staff and
they are good people. Let’s see if some of them can find the time to get to RFK Sunday and aid the
process of getting the Nationals games on TV. It is in the best interest of both the fans and the city.
The chance to showcase the team and city throughout the region makes sense. So come on gang, get
out to RFK.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Patriots are excellent, Verne you know what I mean? (Friday Column)
Jim Williams: Patriots are excellent, Verne,
know what I mean?
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Mar 24, 2006 7:00 AM (3 mins ago)
WASHINGTON -
The NCAA Tournament will get its true Cinderella story from right here in the Washington
Regional.
CBS is well aware the winner of the George Mason-Wichita State matchup tonight at Verizon
Center will put one of the mid majors in the Elite Eight, one game away from the hallowed ground
of the Final Four.
So the network sent two of their best storytellers — Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery — to D.C. to
call the action.
I had a chance to speak to Verne about the hometown Patriots and the D.C. regional.
Jim Williams: Well, you get the Bracket Buster rematch between George Mason and Wichita State.
What are your thoughts about this as a national game?
Verne Lundquist: I have been doing college basketball for over 30 years and the NCAA
Tournament for 23 years and it is the games like the Patriots and the Shockers that gives this event
its magic. There are so many wonderful stories to be told and it is games like this that I think fans of
college basketball love the most.
JW: How do you rate the D.C. regional?
VL: Wide open. I mean, conventional wisdom says that UConn is the best team in the tournament.
But if we have learned one thing it is that we now have a much more level playing field. The teams
like George Mason have their kids for the entire four years, while elite teams have their star players
for a year and sometimes two. That gives the mid majors a chance to compete and the differences in
the No. 1 and the 16 seeds in this tournament have gotten a lot closer in recent years. So yes we
could indeed see the team from the D.C. Region being the surprise Final Four team.
CBS 9 will have the local doubleheader with George Mason playing at 7 p.m., followed by the
Georgetown-Florida meeting in Minneapolis.
Big time local interest
Last week we had all the local TV stations and Comcast SportsNet covering the local teams. But
this week, things went into monster coverage. George Mason and Georgetown are getting Redskins
like-coverage. It helps that the Patriots are playing in D.C. but every sports department will descend
on Minneapolis as well to cover the Hoyas.
Mets New Network update...
Cablevision of New York signed a deal with SportsNet New York and so the Mets will be seen on all the major cable companies in the Big Apple area. Too bad we can't get that kind of help with the Nationals in DC !!
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
know what I mean?
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Mar 24, 2006 7:00 AM (3 mins ago)
WASHINGTON -
The NCAA Tournament will get its true Cinderella story from right here in the Washington
Regional.
CBS is well aware the winner of the George Mason-Wichita State matchup tonight at Verizon
Center will put one of the mid majors in the Elite Eight, one game away from the hallowed ground
of the Final Four.
So the network sent two of their best storytellers — Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery — to D.C. to
call the action.
I had a chance to speak to Verne about the hometown Patriots and the D.C. regional.
Jim Williams: Well, you get the Bracket Buster rematch between George Mason and Wichita State.
What are your thoughts about this as a national game?
Verne Lundquist: I have been doing college basketball for over 30 years and the NCAA
Tournament for 23 years and it is the games like the Patriots and the Shockers that gives this event
its magic. There are so many wonderful stories to be told and it is games like this that I think fans of
college basketball love the most.
JW: How do you rate the D.C. regional?
VL: Wide open. I mean, conventional wisdom says that UConn is the best team in the tournament.
But if we have learned one thing it is that we now have a much more level playing field. The teams
like George Mason have their kids for the entire four years, while elite teams have their star players
for a year and sometimes two. That gives the mid majors a chance to compete and the differences in
the No. 1 and the 16 seeds in this tournament have gotten a lot closer in recent years. So yes we
could indeed see the team from the D.C. Region being the surprise Final Four team.
CBS 9 will have the local doubleheader with George Mason playing at 7 p.m., followed by the
Georgetown-Florida meeting in Minneapolis.
Big time local interest
Last week we had all the local TV stations and Comcast SportsNet covering the local teams. But
this week, things went into monster coverage. George Mason and Georgetown are getting Redskins
like-coverage. It helps that the Patriots are playing in D.C. but every sports department will descend
on Minneapolis as well to cover the Hoyas.
Mets New Network update...
Cablevision of New York signed a deal with SportsNet New York and so the Mets will be seen on all the major cable companies in the Big Apple area. Too bad we can't get that kind of help with the Nationals in DC !!
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Tark not shocked by mid major success
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Mar 22, 2006 7:00 AM (57 mins ago)
WASHINGTON -
So Billy Packer, Jim Nantz and all those who said the power conferences were cheated out of
deserved NCAA Tournament berths are now full on crow.
One observer not the least bit surprised that George Mason, Bradley and Wichita State are in the
Sweet 16 is legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian, now of SIRIUS Satellite Radio.
Tark took three mid-major programs to the NCAA Tournament: Long Beach State, UNLV and
Fresno State. His Running Rebels beat Duke to win the NCAA Championship in 1990.
O.K., it’s a stretch to call UNLV a mid-major. But are you going to argue with Tark? We spoke
about what has been an unbelievable tournament thus far.
Jim Williams: Are you surprised so many mid-major teams advanced to the Sweet 16?
Jerry Tarkanian: Not at all. I think that the mid-major teams are what make the NCAA Tournament
exciting. We see enough of the power conference teams, it’s great to see the little guy get a chance.
Kids at mid-majors tend to stay longer and play as a team for almost four years. That serves them
well when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. It is always fun to see David beat Goliath.
JW: Can one of the mid-majors left in the field win it all?
JT: Of course they can, but it would take some more upsets. This year I really like UConn to win it
all. But I think that the mid-majors have made a case that they belong and that they always deserve
consideration in the tournament. Just ask the Big 10.
Tark can be heard from The Shark Tank on SIRIUS Sports Channel 123. Also, SIRIUS is the
official home to all the games of the NCAA Tournament.
Web record set
Week one is in the books and CBS and their online partners at CBS SportsLine.com are dancing in
the streets of Manhattan.
Over the tournament’s first four days, 14 million video streams and four million visitors were
served, setting a record for the biggest live event in Internet history.
Speaking of Sweet 16
Arlington couple Chaya Cashin and Nate Zahn made it to the final 16 in the ESPN Radio’s “Mike
and Mike In the Morning Marriage Madness” contest. We will keep you posted on their progress.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Mar 22, 2006 7:00 AM (57 mins ago)
WASHINGTON -
So Billy Packer, Jim Nantz and all those who said the power conferences were cheated out of
deserved NCAA Tournament berths are now full on crow.
One observer not the least bit surprised that George Mason, Bradley and Wichita State are in the
Sweet 16 is legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian, now of SIRIUS Satellite Radio.
Tark took three mid-major programs to the NCAA Tournament: Long Beach State, UNLV and
Fresno State. His Running Rebels beat Duke to win the NCAA Championship in 1990.
O.K., it’s a stretch to call UNLV a mid-major. But are you going to argue with Tark? We spoke
about what has been an unbelievable tournament thus far.
Jim Williams: Are you surprised so many mid-major teams advanced to the Sweet 16?
Jerry Tarkanian: Not at all. I think that the mid-major teams are what make the NCAA Tournament
exciting. We see enough of the power conference teams, it’s great to see the little guy get a chance.
Kids at mid-majors tend to stay longer and play as a team for almost four years. That serves them
well when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. It is always fun to see David beat Goliath.
JW: Can one of the mid-majors left in the field win it all?
JT: Of course they can, but it would take some more upsets. This year I really like UConn to win it
all. But I think that the mid-majors have made a case that they belong and that they always deserve
consideration in the tournament. Just ask the Big 10.
Tark can be heard from The Shark Tank on SIRIUS Sports Channel 123. Also, SIRIUS is the
official home to all the games of the NCAA Tournament.
Web record set
Week one is in the books and CBS and their online partners at CBS SportsLine.com are dancing in
the streets of Manhattan.
Over the tournament’s first four days, 14 million video streams and four million visitors were
served, setting a record for the biggest live event in Internet history.
Speaking of Sweet 16
Arlington couple Chaya Cashin and Nate Zahn made it to the final 16 in the ESPN Radio’s “Mike
and Mike In the Morning Marriage Madness” contest. We will keep you posted on their progress.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Madness a runaway ratings success!
Madness a runaway ratings success! (Monday column)
The first weekend of the NCAA College Basketball Tournament provided CBS with great numbers on all levels.
Ratings for the games are up over 6% over last season and are on pace to be one of the best rated tournaments in many years. Locally CBS 9’s rating are expected to be huge with George Mason, George Washington and Georgetown making it to the weekend.
Meanwhile online CBS SportsLine, the March Madness on Demand, the online video player that provides streaming live video of the first 56 games of the 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship set an Internet record for a scheduled live entertainment or sports event with over 268,000 simultaneous streams. In total, NCAA March Madness on Demand has already surpassed over 2.5 million video streams served.
NCAA March Madness on Demand (MMOD) is available at NCAASports.com and is free.
Madness reached the newsrooms of NBC 4, FOX 5, ABC 7, CBS 9, and Comcast SportsNite.
Best coverage was provided by CBS 9 Sports Director Brett Haber and his team as they were live in the opening block of all the newscasts from both Dayton and Greensboro following all the action of the big three local teams.
Comcast SportsNite as you might expect were all over the tournament coverage and because of their time abilities they had some great interviews and complete coverage.
The new team does well…
DCA 20 aired the first MASN spring training game of the season and if the first show is any indication then we will have an entertaining season. Bob Carpenter and Tom Paciorek made their debut and they were in mid season form. Carpenter as always was smooth and Paciorek mixed good insights with a sense of humor making for a very good start!
Orioles fans in Washington details are not set yet but it looks like along with the 90 games on CSN there will be about 40 games on WB50. An announcement is expected soon but the O’s will be returning to WB50 in DC. Also it looks like the number of telecasts to be about the same number as the Nationals who will have 35 games on DCA 20.
The first weekend of the NCAA College Basketball Tournament provided CBS with great numbers on all levels.
Ratings for the games are up over 6% over last season and are on pace to be one of the best rated tournaments in many years. Locally CBS 9’s rating are expected to be huge with George Mason, George Washington and Georgetown making it to the weekend.
Meanwhile online CBS SportsLine, the March Madness on Demand, the online video player that provides streaming live video of the first 56 games of the 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship set an Internet record for a scheduled live entertainment or sports event with over 268,000 simultaneous streams. In total, NCAA March Madness on Demand has already surpassed over 2.5 million video streams served.
NCAA March Madness on Demand (MMOD) is available at NCAASports.com and is free.
Madness reached the newsrooms of NBC 4, FOX 5, ABC 7, CBS 9, and Comcast SportsNite.
Best coverage was provided by CBS 9 Sports Director Brett Haber and his team as they were live in the opening block of all the newscasts from both Dayton and Greensboro following all the action of the big three local teams.
Comcast SportsNite as you might expect were all over the tournament coverage and because of their time abilities they had some great interviews and complete coverage.
The new team does well…
DCA 20 aired the first MASN spring training game of the season and if the first show is any indication then we will have an entertaining season. Bob Carpenter and Tom Paciorek made their debut and they were in mid season form. Carpenter as always was smooth and Paciorek mixed good insights with a sense of humor making for a very good start!
Orioles fans in Washington details are not set yet but it looks like along with the 90 games on CSN there will be about 40 games on WB50. An announcement is expected soon but the O’s will be returning to WB50 in DC. Also it looks like the number of telecasts to be about the same number as the Nationals who will have 35 games on DCA 20.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Behind the madness at CBS
Sitting in his office at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York Mike Aresco, the Senior Vice President of Programming thinks that he has the schedule down. It is Mike’s job to decide what games are seen in each market in the country.
He has a big board that corresponds with a national map and each local CBS affiliate
can choose the game they want as their feature game. But once the tournament begins then switching from game to game rests the hands of the CBS executives and producers.
“Our goal is to make sure that fans get to see a game that is of local interest and at the same time we want to be flexible. We also plan to change from game to game to see those great endings. Our goal is to give the viewers the best action without disrupting the flow of the games they are watching,” said Aresco.
Where to find the local teams…
CBS 9 has a local double header on today with Georgetown playing a 2:35pm game against Northern Iowa followed at 7:10pm by George Mason facing Michigan State.
Not a good day for work…
CBS.Sportsline.com is the place to watch all the action if you follow a team outside the greater DC area. The service is being offered for free and you can bet that workers all over the area have one eye on work and the other on the games.
Can’t use your computer to see the games?
Radio of all the NCAA Tournament games all the way through the finals can be found on Sirius Satellite radio. Well worth looking into! Meanwhile locally WTEM Sports Radio 980 has plenty of action including all the Georgetown games.
Maryland fans…
The Terps will be on at 11am on ESPN Saturday morning in the NIT.
Nats TV this weekend…
Nats fans will get their first look at the team and the new broadcast duo of Bob Carpenter and Tom Paciorek 1pm Saturday on DCA 20/MASN/DirecTV/RCN/Cox
He has a big board that corresponds with a national map and each local CBS affiliate
can choose the game they want as their feature game. But once the tournament begins then switching from game to game rests the hands of the CBS executives and producers.
“Our goal is to make sure that fans get to see a game that is of local interest and at the same time we want to be flexible. We also plan to change from game to game to see those great endings. Our goal is to give the viewers the best action without disrupting the flow of the games they are watching,” said Aresco.
Where to find the local teams…
CBS 9 has a local double header on today with Georgetown playing a 2:35pm game against Northern Iowa followed at 7:10pm by George Mason facing Michigan State.
Not a good day for work…
CBS.Sportsline.com is the place to watch all the action if you follow a team outside the greater DC area. The service is being offered for free and you can bet that workers all over the area have one eye on work and the other on the games.
Can’t use your computer to see the games?
Radio of all the NCAA Tournament games all the way through the finals can be found on Sirius Satellite radio. Well worth looking into! Meanwhile locally WTEM Sports Radio 980 has plenty of action including all the Georgetown games.
Maryland fans…
The Terps will be on at 11am on ESPN Saturday morning in the NIT.
Nats TV this weekend…
Nats fans will get their first look at the team and the new broadcast duo of Bob Carpenter and Tom Paciorek 1pm Saturday on DCA 20/MASN/DirecTV/RCN/Cox
Monday, March 13, 2006
What are we Comcast, chopped liver?
By: Jim Williams
The Examiner
The New York
Mets start their
new regional
sports network
this week. Why
should we care that SportsNet New
York hits the air?
Simple, Comcast is a partner in
the deal and you will never guess
what is going on in the Big Apple.
Cablevision, the largest cable
company in the New York area, is
threatening not to carry the Mets
on their systems. Cablevision owns
the Madison Square Garden Network
and has part ownership in
Fox Sports Net New York. For the
past four years they were the Mets’
home. But now the team has its own
network so to protect MSG and FSN
the folks at Cablevision may not be
airing the Mets.
Stop me if you have heard this
before.
Comcast, which is protecting
Comcast SportsNet here in the
Washington/Baltimore area, would
like you to think there is no room
for another regional sports network.
And the Mets’ new network
is the fourth regional sports carrier
in New York.
But Comcast is involved in the
new Mets network. They are involved
with a regional network in
Atlanta that is the third one there
and also does programming in Florida
making it the Sunshine State’s
third regional network. They are in
Dallas as partners with the Cowboys
network. A few years ago, they blew
into Chicago, put together a great
business plan and within a year took
over the major sports teams in the
second city and put Fox SportsNet
Chicago under.
Again, there is nothing wrong
with Comcast doing business and
developing fine regional networks
like they have here.
But claiming there is no room
for two regional sports networks in
what is the fourth-largest TV market
when you combine D.C. and Baltimore
is simply wrong.
It is time to play fair. Some D.C.
area customers pay around $50
or more per month to Comcast.
Shouldn’t that cash bring the chance
to see the hometown team.
Comcast fights for its customers
in New York City, Atlanta, Dallas
and Chicago.
Why not us? Give us the games.
You owe it to us as customers.
The Examiner
The New York
Mets start their
new regional
sports network
this week. Why
should we care that SportsNet New
York hits the air?
Simple, Comcast is a partner in
the deal and you will never guess
what is going on in the Big Apple.
Cablevision, the largest cable
company in the New York area, is
threatening not to carry the Mets
on their systems. Cablevision owns
the Madison Square Garden Network
and has part ownership in
Fox Sports Net New York. For the
past four years they were the Mets’
home. But now the team has its own
network so to protect MSG and FSN
the folks at Cablevision may not be
airing the Mets.
Stop me if you have heard this
before.
Comcast, which is protecting
Comcast SportsNet here in the
Washington/Baltimore area, would
like you to think there is no room
for another regional sports network.
And the Mets’ new network
is the fourth regional sports carrier
in New York.
But Comcast is involved in the
new Mets network. They are involved
with a regional network in
Atlanta that is the third one there
and also does programming in Florida
making it the Sunshine State’s
third regional network. They are in
Dallas as partners with the Cowboys
network. A few years ago, they blew
into Chicago, put together a great
business plan and within a year took
over the major sports teams in the
second city and put Fox SportsNet
Chicago under.
Again, there is nothing wrong
with Comcast doing business and
developing fine regional networks
like they have here.
But claiming there is no room
for two regional sports networks in
what is the fourth-largest TV market
when you combine D.C. and Baltimore
is simply wrong.
It is time to play fair. Some D.C.
area customers pay around $50
or more per month to Comcast.
Shouldn’t that cash bring the chance
to see the hometown team.
Comcast fights for its customers
in New York City, Atlanta, Dallas
and Chicago.
Why not us? Give us the games.
You owe it to us as customers.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Do you feel lucky? Monday's Examiner Column
Do you feel lucky?
By: Jim Williams
The Examiner
OK it is Monday you watched the CBS, and ESPN selection shows and you have your brackets ready to go – in pencil not ink just yet!
Where do you go for help?
All day long on Sports Talk 980AM, WTEM will be offering you help. I strongly suggest the The Tony Kornheiser Show 9am to 1pm. Each year Tony does a great job of getting some name coaches to help you fill out the brackets. At 3pm The John Thompson Show also has plenty of good information.
If you subscribe to XM then listen to the First Team on Fox with Steve Czaban and he and his gang will help you out. 6am to 9am on FSR channel 142. For Sirius listeners go to The Shark Tank where legendary Coach Jerry Tarkanian will be there for you weekdays at 1pm on Sirius Sports 123.
Best Websites?
Yahoo Sports, Fox Sports, CBS.Sportsline and ESPN all offer plenty of good information to help you in your quest for the perfect bracket sheet. Plus they also give you an opportunity to play online for free to see how you do against other fans around the country.
Also we will give you some assistance for those last minute sleeper teams over the next couple of days so good luck!
The Women’s NCAA…
Don’t forget that the women’s NCAA Tournament begins this week as well with all the games on ESPN. Tonight at 7pm is the selection show and Maryland figures to have a real shot at the title.
NIT anyone?
OK so it isn’t the NCAA Tournament but your team is still playing hoops. ESPN is the home for all the NIT action starting this week.
Job well done…
ABC 7’s Tim Brant did a great job of play by play on the ACC Tournament calling the games for Jefferson – Pilot/Raycom Sports. Tim continues to prove why he is one of the best in the business!
Also kudos to Dave Sims who did the play by play of the Big East Tournament for DC based XM radio and Westwood One. His call of the final 20 seconds of the Georgetown – Syracuse game was as good as it gets and should be must listen material for anyone doing basketball play by play.
By: Jim Williams
The Examiner
OK it is Monday you watched the CBS, and ESPN selection shows and you have your brackets ready to go – in pencil not ink just yet!
Where do you go for help?
All day long on Sports Talk 980AM, WTEM will be offering you help. I strongly suggest the The Tony Kornheiser Show 9am to 1pm. Each year Tony does a great job of getting some name coaches to help you fill out the brackets. At 3pm The John Thompson Show also has plenty of good information.
If you subscribe to XM then listen to the First Team on Fox with Steve Czaban and he and his gang will help you out. 6am to 9am on FSR channel 142. For Sirius listeners go to The Shark Tank where legendary Coach Jerry Tarkanian will be there for you weekdays at 1pm on Sirius Sports 123.
Best Websites?
Yahoo Sports, Fox Sports, CBS.Sportsline and ESPN all offer plenty of good information to help you in your quest for the perfect bracket sheet. Plus they also give you an opportunity to play online for free to see how you do against other fans around the country.
Also we will give you some assistance for those last minute sleeper teams over the next couple of days so good luck!
The Women’s NCAA…
Don’t forget that the women’s NCAA Tournament begins this week as well with all the games on ESPN. Tonight at 7pm is the selection show and Maryland figures to have a real shot at the title.
NIT anyone?
OK so it isn’t the NCAA Tournament but your team is still playing hoops. ESPN is the home for all the NIT action starting this week.
Job well done…
ABC 7’s Tim Brant did a great job of play by play on the ACC Tournament calling the games for Jefferson – Pilot/Raycom Sports. Tim continues to prove why he is one of the best in the business!
Also kudos to Dave Sims who did the play by play of the Big East Tournament for DC based XM radio and Westwood One. His call of the final 20 seconds of the Georgetown – Syracuse game was as good as it gets and should be must listen material for anyone doing basketball play by play.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Friday Column - Tournament Time
Tournament time!!
By: Jim Williams
The Examiner
George Washington, Georgetown, and Maryland all are looking at their conference tournaments and hopefully the invite to play in the “Big Dance,” starting next week.
We went to our local media experts to get the insight on this weeks big tournaments.
Marius Payton Comcast SportsNet on the A-10 Tournament - TV on CSN
The clear favorite to take the tournament crown is no other than George Washington, who owns the longest winning streak in the country along with the highest national ranking in school history. But the bullseye will be firmly placed across the backs of the Colonials with the absence of Pops Mensah-Bonsu, who is out with a slight meniscus tear in his left knee. He had arthroscopic knee surgery last Thursday. So, look for Charlotte, Saint Louis and LaSalle to take aim at the Colonials”
Tim Brant ABC 7 and Play by play voice of the ACC. – TV on WDCA 20
This has been a season top tier and low tier quality in the ACC. Duke has been solid all year long and will be great in the tournament. Billy Packer and I did the N.C. State – UNC game and I was impressed with depth and the strength of the young Tar Heels. I have to say after the top four it is wide open. FSU and Virginia have been playing well but the great thing about the ACC is ‘there is always a surprise. I am looking forward to doing the games!
Dave Sims Westwood One/XM Voice of the Big East. - TV on ESPN
This figures to be the best Big East Tournament ever! The top teams are outstanding, and the teams in the middle are dangerous. And naturally some of the teams seeded eight through 12 may be able to pull off a surprise or two. Georgetown is one those dangerous teams. Great job by JT, III! Hoyas center Roy Hibbert will cause many problems. I called the Georgetown win over Syracuse last Saturday and came away impressed with the big guy as well as Jeff Green. I also thought the guards (Ashanti Cook, Jonathan Wallace) were impressive. Look out if Brandon Bowman can get out of his slump and get his game up a level. Connecticut is still the team to beat. Beware of West Virginia, Villanova and Marquette.
The A 10 and will be on CSN and Sirius, the Big East on ESPN and XM, the ACC on WDCA and XM. with Georgetown on WTEM and XM.
Hey let the madness begin!!!
By: Jim Williams
The Examiner
George Washington, Georgetown, and Maryland all are looking at their conference tournaments and hopefully the invite to play in the “Big Dance,” starting next week.
We went to our local media experts to get the insight on this weeks big tournaments.
Marius Payton Comcast SportsNet on the A-10 Tournament - TV on CSN
The clear favorite to take the tournament crown is no other than George Washington, who owns the longest winning streak in the country along with the highest national ranking in school history. But the bullseye will be firmly placed across the backs of the Colonials with the absence of Pops Mensah-Bonsu, who is out with a slight meniscus tear in his left knee. He had arthroscopic knee surgery last Thursday. So, look for Charlotte, Saint Louis and LaSalle to take aim at the Colonials”
Tim Brant ABC 7 and Play by play voice of the ACC. – TV on WDCA 20
This has been a season top tier and low tier quality in the ACC. Duke has been solid all year long and will be great in the tournament. Billy Packer and I did the N.C. State – UNC game and I was impressed with depth and the strength of the young Tar Heels. I have to say after the top four it is wide open. FSU and Virginia have been playing well but the great thing about the ACC is ‘there is always a surprise. I am looking forward to doing the games!
Dave Sims Westwood One/XM Voice of the Big East. - TV on ESPN
This figures to be the best Big East Tournament ever! The top teams are outstanding, and the teams in the middle are dangerous. And naturally some of the teams seeded eight through 12 may be able to pull off a surprise or two. Georgetown is one those dangerous teams. Great job by JT, III! Hoyas center Roy Hibbert will cause many problems. I called the Georgetown win over Syracuse last Saturday and came away impressed with the big guy as well as Jeff Green. I also thought the guards (Ashanti Cook, Jonathan Wallace) were impressive. Look out if Brandon Bowman can get out of his slump and get his game up a level. Connecticut is still the team to beat. Beware of West Virginia, Villanova and Marquette.
The A 10 and will be on CSN and Sirius, the Big East on ESPN and XM, the ACC on WDCA and XM. with Georgetown on WTEM and XM.
Hey let the madness begin!!!
Cox signs MASN deal - Great news for Nats Fans!
By: Jim Williams
The Examiner
In a move that will delight Nationals fans the Mid Atlantic Sports Network has just signed a deal with Cox cable to carry MASN on its Expanded Basic programming service beginning April 1, 2006. The network will be carried on Cox Cable channel 102 in Fairfax and Cox Cable channel 79 for Fredericksburg-area customers. That is nearly 260,000 people in Northern Virginia and could be the catalyst that brings Comcast to the table for DC and the Maryland suburbs.
“This is great news and an important development in considerably expanding Nationals’ cable television coverage within our marketplace,” said Tony Tavares, President of the Washington Nationals. “We enthusiastically join MASN in welcoming Cox into our broadcast family.”
Now with Cox the second biggest cable service on board the pressure is squarely on Comcast to open up at least a few DC area systems. This should cause some rumblings over at the Wilson Building now that Northern Virginia can see the Nationals while the vast majority of Washington residents can’t see MASN.
Speaking of Comcast..
CSN today announced that they will airing 90 Orioles games starting three spring training games the first March 27th against the Marlins as well as the April 1st telecast against the Nationals. The first regular season game is April 6th against Tampa Bay.
More MASN news…
Orioles fans will be able to see 65 games on WB54, WJZ 13 and soon to be announced PAX/i 66 here in the Washington area. So for those keeping score it is 158 Nationals games on MASN and 155 games for the Orioles on CSN/MASN. Both teams will also get air play on ESPN Sunday Night and FOX Saturday.
The Examiner
In a move that will delight Nationals fans the Mid Atlantic Sports Network has just signed a deal with Cox cable to carry MASN on its Expanded Basic programming service beginning April 1, 2006. The network will be carried on Cox Cable channel 102 in Fairfax and Cox Cable channel 79 for Fredericksburg-area customers. That is nearly 260,000 people in Northern Virginia and could be the catalyst that brings Comcast to the table for DC and the Maryland suburbs.
“This is great news and an important development in considerably expanding Nationals’ cable television coverage within our marketplace,” said Tony Tavares, President of the Washington Nationals. “We enthusiastically join MASN in welcoming Cox into our broadcast family.”
Now with Cox the second biggest cable service on board the pressure is squarely on Comcast to open up at least a few DC area systems. This should cause some rumblings over at the Wilson Building now that Northern Virginia can see the Nationals while the vast majority of Washington residents can’t see MASN.
Speaking of Comcast..
CSN today announced that they will airing 90 Orioles games starting three spring training games the first March 27th against the Marlins as well as the April 1st telecast against the Nationals. The first regular season game is April 6th against Tampa Bay.
More MASN news…
Orioles fans will be able to see 65 games on WB54, WJZ 13 and soon to be announced PAX/i 66 here in the Washington area. So for those keeping score it is 158 Nationals games on MASN and 155 games for the Orioles on CSN/MASN. Both teams will also get air play on ESPN Sunday Night and FOX Saturday.
Nationals TV - Carpenter and Paciorek the new team!
Veteran announcer Bob Carpenter has left the St. Louis Cardinals broadcast team to become the TV voice of the Washington Nationals on MASN. He will be joined in the booth by Tom Paciorek who was Carpenter's partner back in the 1980's doing Rangers games.
Carpenter was set to do 41 games this season for the Cardinals network on KPLR-TV. But on Friday the club let Carpenter out of his contract so he could accept the Nationals job.
One of the most respected sportscasters in the business, Carpenter has spent most of his career with the Cards but has done games for ESPN, the Mets and Rangers.
He is also well known for his work as play-by-play voice of Big 12 sports.
I spoke to him Sunday from his home in Tulsa about becoming the Nats’ TV voice and asked him why he chose to leave the Cards to join the Nationals.
"I loved being with the Cardinals but the chance to do a full season of games and to be able to work in Washington was too good a deal to pass up," Carpenter said. "Also hearing how committed MASN was to quality TV and the opportunity to work with my good friend Tom Paciorek cinched things for me. I do college basketball and other sports but my passion is and has always been baseball. So I look forward to my new job and the challenge of working with the Nationals and MASN."
The addition of Carpenter means MASN passed on Dave Sims, our recommendation.
“I am of course disappointed about not getting the job,” Sims said. “But I want to thank all the fine people in D.C. who were pulling for me. I would also like to thank the team and MASN for their consideration. As for my friend Bob Carpenter, he is a great broadcaster and a fine person and I wish him all the best.”
Meanwhile, Carpenter’s partner will be Paciorek, who has been doing Braves games on Fox Sports South and is best known for his work as the Chicago White Sox color analyst with Ken “Hawk” Harrelson.
Carpenter was set to do 41 games this season for the Cardinals network on KPLR-TV. But on Friday the club let Carpenter out of his contract so he could accept the Nationals job.
One of the most respected sportscasters in the business, Carpenter has spent most of his career with the Cards but has done games for ESPN, the Mets and Rangers.
He is also well known for his work as play-by-play voice of Big 12 sports.
I spoke to him Sunday from his home in Tulsa about becoming the Nats’ TV voice and asked him why he chose to leave the Cards to join the Nationals.
"I loved being with the Cardinals but the chance to do a full season of games and to be able to work in Washington was too good a deal to pass up," Carpenter said. "Also hearing how committed MASN was to quality TV and the opportunity to work with my good friend Tom Paciorek cinched things for me. I do college basketball and other sports but my passion is and has always been baseball. So I look forward to my new job and the challenge of working with the Nationals and MASN."
The addition of Carpenter means MASN passed on Dave Sims, our recommendation.
“I am of course disappointed about not getting the job,” Sims said. “But I want to thank all the fine people in D.C. who were pulling for me. I would also like to thank the team and MASN for their consideration. As for my friend Bob Carpenter, he is a great broadcaster and a fine person and I wish him all the best.”
Meanwhile, Tom Paciorek, who has been doing Braves games on Fox Sports South and is best known for his work as the Chicago White Sox color analyst with Ken “Hawk” Harrelson.
Carpenter was set to do 41 games this season for the Cardinals network on KPLR-TV. But on Friday the club let Carpenter out of his contract so he could accept the Nationals job.
One of the most respected sportscasters in the business, Carpenter has spent most of his career with the Cards but has done games for ESPN, the Mets and Rangers.
He is also well known for his work as play-by-play voice of Big 12 sports.
I spoke to him Sunday from his home in Tulsa about becoming the Nats’ TV voice and asked him why he chose to leave the Cards to join the Nationals.
"I loved being with the Cardinals but the chance to do a full season of games and to be able to work in Washington was too good a deal to pass up," Carpenter said. "Also hearing how committed MASN was to quality TV and the opportunity to work with my good friend Tom Paciorek cinched things for me. I do college basketball and other sports but my passion is and has always been baseball. So I look forward to my new job and the challenge of working with the Nationals and MASN."
The addition of Carpenter means MASN passed on Dave Sims, our recommendation.
“I am of course disappointed about not getting the job,” Sims said. “But I want to thank all the fine people in D.C. who were pulling for me. I would also like to thank the team and MASN for their consideration. As for my friend Bob Carpenter, he is a great broadcaster and a fine person and I wish him all the best.”
Meanwhile, Carpenter’s partner will be Paciorek, who has been doing Braves games on Fox Sports South and is best known for his work as the Chicago White Sox color analyst with Ken “Hawk” Harrelson.
Carpenter was set to do 41 games this season for the Cardinals network on KPLR-TV. But on Friday the club let Carpenter out of his contract so he could accept the Nationals job.
One of the most respected sportscasters in the business, Carpenter has spent most of his career with the Cards but has done games for ESPN, the Mets and Rangers.
He is also well known for his work as play-by-play voice of Big 12 sports.
I spoke to him Sunday from his home in Tulsa about becoming the Nats’ TV voice and asked him why he chose to leave the Cards to join the Nationals.
"I loved being with the Cardinals but the chance to do a full season of games and to be able to work in Washington was too good a deal to pass up," Carpenter said. "Also hearing how committed MASN was to quality TV and the opportunity to work with my good friend Tom Paciorek cinched things for me. I do college basketball and other sports but my passion is and has always been baseball. So I look forward to my new job and the challenge of working with the Nationals and MASN."
The addition of Carpenter means MASN passed on Dave Sims, our recommendation.
“I am of course disappointed about not getting the job,” Sims said. “But I want to thank all the fine people in D.C. who were pulling for me. I would also like to thank the team and MASN for their consideration. As for my friend Bob Carpenter, he is a great broadcaster and a fine person and I wish him all the best.”
Meanwhile, Tom Paciorek, who has been doing Braves games on Fox Sports South and is best known for his work as the Chicago White Sox color analyst with Ken “Hawk” Harrelson.
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