Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 30, 2006 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 6 of 8,694 articles
WASHINGTON - The NFL Network’s Bryant Gumbel and Cris Collinsworth have become the most talked about duo in sports broadcasting. And they’ve only done one game.
I have never seen a reaction quite this interesting. Fans either like or hate them. I know it was Thanksgiving and your relatives were driving you nuts, but talk about snap judgments.
As many of you may recall last summer I interviewed both NFL Network president Steve Bornstein and Bryant Gumbel about their plans. Bornstein said the game broadcasts would be “conversational and not your traditional play-by-play and color team.”
Said Gumbel: “I have never done play-by-play and I don’t intend on doing it. I was hired to observe and to react to what is going on and Cris is there as the football analyst. Those are the roles we have been asked to do and we hope to do them well.”
It is different, edgy and won’t suit everyone’s taste. We need to give them some time, much like fans did for the Monday Night Football crew.
This week I spoke to Rich Eisen who with Deion Sanders, Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, and Adam Schefter handles all the pre game, halftime and post game duties from the game sites.
Eisen spoke to the charges that some have made that the NFL Network never takes on the tough issues that face the league:
“That is something that drives me crazy,” Eisen said. “Clearly the people who say or write those things have never watched the network. We started our show off the other night with Michael Vick making an obscene gesture to the crowd, followed that up by talking about Eli Manning’s sudden fall from grace and we also did a story on the inconsistency of the officiating in the league. That is hardly taking the easy way out.”
Eisen on the Network’s growth: “We are the fastest growing cable network in history and that just goes to show you that fans want football information 24/7/365.”
The network takes its second shot at game production tonight as the Ravens take on the Bengals in Cincinnati.
The NFL Network can be seen on both Comcast and Cox digital services as well as via DirecTV and Dish Network. For those in the northern suburbs or in the Baltimore metro area you can also see the game on WMAR TV 2.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Hoop lovers have their fill
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 28, 2006 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 2 of 9,317 articles
WASHINGTON - If there were any doubt Baltimore-based Mid-Atlantic Sports Network would be an entertaining year-round channel, let’s just put that rest once and for all.
MASN has begun to air what will be one of the most ambitious college basketball schedules ever offered to local fans.
How about 150 college games that will feature plenty of local schools like Georgetown, George Mason, Loyola, UMBC and Towson, with a nice compliment of women’s games in the mix?
The top conferences in the country will be featured in this package, including the Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Colonial Athletic Association, and MAC.
The package’s showcase is the Big East, home to many a local players and one of the country’s premier conferences.
“We are delighted that MASN will be covering so many Big East contests,” said Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese. “MASN is opening up a whole new channel of opportunity for sports fans who can now follow Big East basketball from wire to wire.”
Dave Sims, the voice of Big East hoops told me, “I know that the Baltimore-Washington area is one of the best in the country. Year in and year out that region produces some of the best college basketball players in the country and many of them play for schools in the Big East. But the best part is that the Georgetown-Maryland rivalry is back big time. They don’t face each other during the season but you can bet they track one another all season long with the hopes of meeting in the NCAA tournament.”
Terps fans will not be slighted. They will be on TV every week once the ACC schedule begins. Maryland fans can follow all the Terps games on CSN, Raycom and the ESPN family of networks.
There will be over 1,000 college games on TV between ESPN, CSTV, CN8, CBS, Raycom and Verses, plus more on broadband and that does not count radio, XM and SIRIUS.
Your best bet is to check your favorite team’s Web site. They will give you all the info needed to follow the bouncing ball.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Nov 28, 2006 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 2 of 9,317 articles
WASHINGTON - If there were any doubt Baltimore-based Mid-Atlantic Sports Network would be an entertaining year-round channel, let’s just put that rest once and for all.
MASN has begun to air what will be one of the most ambitious college basketball schedules ever offered to local fans.
How about 150 college games that will feature plenty of local schools like Georgetown, George Mason, Loyola, UMBC and Towson, with a nice compliment of women’s games in the mix?
The top conferences in the country will be featured in this package, including the Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Colonial Athletic Association, and MAC.
The package’s showcase is the Big East, home to many a local players and one of the country’s premier conferences.
“We are delighted that MASN will be covering so many Big East contests,” said Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese. “MASN is opening up a whole new channel of opportunity for sports fans who can now follow Big East basketball from wire to wire.”
Dave Sims, the voice of Big East hoops told me, “I know that the Baltimore-Washington area is one of the best in the country. Year in and year out that region produces some of the best college basketball players in the country and many of them play for schools in the Big East. But the best part is that the Georgetown-Maryland rivalry is back big time. They don’t face each other during the season but you can bet they track one another all season long with the hopes of meeting in the NCAA tournament.”
Terps fans will not be slighted. They will be on TV every week once the ACC schedule begins. Maryland fans can follow all the Terps games on CSN, Raycom and the ESPN family of networks.
There will be over 1,000 college games on TV between ESPN, CSTV, CN8, CBS, Raycom and Verses, plus more on broadband and that does not count radio, XM and SIRIUS.
Your best bet is to check your favorite team’s Web site. They will give you all the info needed to follow the bouncing ball.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Buckhantz: Still a fan
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 28, 2006 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 7 of 9,279 articles
BALTIMORE - Steve Buckhantz is one announcer who is not afraid to say he loves the Wizards. He is a fan and very proud of that fact that he followed the Bullets/Wizards ever since he was a little boy growing in Washington.
Buckhantz teams with color analyst Phil Chenier, a former Bullets star, on the Wizards’ Comcast SportsNet broadcasts. It’s a far cry from the days when he watched Chenier on TV and cheered for the Bullets at the old Capital Center.
I spoke to “Buck” about being the TV voice for the team he loves.
Buck on being passionate about the team: “There is nothing wrong wanting to see the Wizards win every game they play. As a broadcaster, I want to see them win, but just like every other fan, if they make mistakes or bonehead plays, you can bet both Phil and I will call them on it. You can be a fan and broadcaster without losing either your objectivity or most of all your credibility.”
Buck on his partner, Chenier: “Phil is a wonderful guy to work with, and he is such a great teacher of the game. I know that he has been able to teach me more about the game, and I know he has done the same for the fans. He has become one of my best friends, and we eat dinner together on the road, we play golf and, of course, we talk basketball. Phil has been with this organization for over 30 years, and he is a great resource, not only about the Bullets/Wizards, but about basketball in general. I can’t imagine a better partner or anyone that the fans would enjoy more.”
Anyone who watches Wizards telecasts knows that these guys like each other and form one of the best broadcast teams in the NBA. Buck has a natural sense of how build the drama of the game, and when he uses his signature call of the “dagger,” we just hope that it is being used by a Washington player.
Let’s not forget Wizards radio voice Dave Johnson, either. He, like Buck, knows how to use drama in his broadcasts.
Wizards fans are blessed to have these two voices.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Nov 28, 2006 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 7 of 9,279 articles
BALTIMORE - Steve Buckhantz is one announcer who is not afraid to say he loves the Wizards. He is a fan and very proud of that fact that he followed the Bullets/Wizards ever since he was a little boy growing in Washington.
Buckhantz teams with color analyst Phil Chenier, a former Bullets star, on the Wizards’ Comcast SportsNet broadcasts. It’s a far cry from the days when he watched Chenier on TV and cheered for the Bullets at the old Capital Center.
I spoke to “Buck” about being the TV voice for the team he loves.
Buck on being passionate about the team: “There is nothing wrong wanting to see the Wizards win every game they play. As a broadcaster, I want to see them win, but just like every other fan, if they make mistakes or bonehead plays, you can bet both Phil and I will call them on it. You can be a fan and broadcaster without losing either your objectivity or most of all your credibility.”
Buck on his partner, Chenier: “Phil is a wonderful guy to work with, and he is such a great teacher of the game. I know that he has been able to teach me more about the game, and I know he has done the same for the fans. He has become one of my best friends, and we eat dinner together on the road, we play golf and, of course, we talk basketball. Phil has been with this organization for over 30 years, and he is a great resource, not only about the Bullets/Wizards, but about basketball in general. I can’t imagine a better partner or anyone that the fans would enjoy more.”
Anyone who watches Wizards telecasts knows that these guys like each other and form one of the best broadcast teams in the NBA. Buck has a natural sense of how build the drama of the game, and when he uses his signature call of the “dagger,” we just hope that it is being used by a Washington player.
Let’s not forget Wizards radio voice Dave Johnson, either. He, like Buck, knows how to use drama in his broadcasts.
Wizards fans are blessed to have these two voices.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Monday, November 27, 2006
MASN, CSN offer a hoops smorgasbord
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 27, 2006 3:00 AM (6 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 2 of 7,893 articles
BALTIMORE - If there was any doubt that the Baltimore-based Mid-Atlantic Sports Network would not be an entertaining, year-round channel, let’s put that question to rest once and for all.
MASN has started to air what will be one of the most ambitious college basketball schedules ever offered to local fans. How about 150 college games featuring plenty of local schools like Georgetown, George Mason, Loyola, UMBC and Towson, with a nice complement of women’s games in the mix. The top conferences in the country like the Big East, Big Ten and the Big 12 will be featured in this package, as well as the Colonial Athletic Association and the Mid-American Conference. The package’s showcase is the Big East, which is home to many local players.
“We are delighted that MASN will be covering so many Big East contests,” Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese said. “MASN is opening up a whole new channel of opportunity for sports fans who can now follow Big East basketball from wire to wire.”
Dave Sims, the voice of Big East hoops, told me: “I know that the Baltimore-Washington area is one of the best in the country. Year in and year out, that region produces some of the best college basketball players in the country, and many of them play for schools in the Big East. But the best part is that the Georgetown-Maryland rivalry is back big-time. They don’t face each other during the season, but you can bet they track one another all season long with the hopes of meeting in the NCAA tournament.”
Maryland fans will not be slighted. The Terps will be on TV every week once the ACC schedule begins. Fans can follow all the Terps’ ACC games on Comcast SportsNet, Raycom and the ESPN family of networks.
There will be more than 1,000 college games on TV between ESPN, CSTV, CN8, CBS, Raycom and Versus, plus even more on broadband. And that doesn’t count radio, XM and SIRIUS.
With all these games, your best bet is to check your favorite team’s Web site to find info on how to follow the bouncing ball.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Nov 27, 2006 3:00 AM (6 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 2 of 7,893 articles
BALTIMORE - If there was any doubt that the Baltimore-based Mid-Atlantic Sports Network would not be an entertaining, year-round channel, let’s put that question to rest once and for all.
MASN has started to air what will be one of the most ambitious college basketball schedules ever offered to local fans. How about 150 college games featuring plenty of local schools like Georgetown, George Mason, Loyola, UMBC and Towson, with a nice complement of women’s games in the mix. The top conferences in the country like the Big East, Big Ten and the Big 12 will be featured in this package, as well as the Colonial Athletic Association and the Mid-American Conference. The package’s showcase is the Big East, which is home to many local players.
“We are delighted that MASN will be covering so many Big East contests,” Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese said. “MASN is opening up a whole new channel of opportunity for sports fans who can now follow Big East basketball from wire to wire.”
Dave Sims, the voice of Big East hoops, told me: “I know that the Baltimore-Washington area is one of the best in the country. Year in and year out, that region produces some of the best college basketball players in the country, and many of them play for schools in the Big East. But the best part is that the Georgetown-Maryland rivalry is back big-time. They don’t face each other during the season, but you can bet they track one another all season long with the hopes of meeting in the NCAA tournament.”
Maryland fans will not be slighted. The Terps will be on TV every week once the ACC schedule begins. Fans can follow all the Terps’ ACC games on Comcast SportsNet, Raycom and the ESPN family of networks.
There will be more than 1,000 college games on TV between ESPN, CSTV, CN8, CBS, Raycom and Versus, plus even more on broadband. And that doesn’t count radio, XM and SIRIUS.
With all these games, your best bet is to check your favorite team’s Web site to find info on how to follow the bouncing ball.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Three helpings of NFL … for some
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 23, 2006 3:00 AM (5 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 5 of 6,976 articles
WASHINGTON - Today is Thanksgiving and that means turkey and football. For some, there will more of both.
An extra helping of turkey is up to you. What NFL games you’ll have access to is not as simple. Everybody will be able to see the traditional games with Miami at Detroit starting at 12:30 p.m. on CBS, followed by Tampa Bay at Dallas at 4:15 p.m. on FOX.
But the much-anticipated debut of the NFL Network’s prime-time game coverage kicks off later in the evening with the Denver traveling to Kansas City. The pregame begins with “Total Access Live” at 7 p.m. Bryant Gumbel and Cris Collinsworth will call the game beginning at 8.
However, even if you have cable in the Washington/Baltimore area you may not be able to see the game. You will need to check your channel guide or cable company’s Web site to find out.
The NFL Network is on Comcast as well as Cox, this region’s two major cable systems. But it is on the digital tier and in some cases is part of the “sports pack.” Dish Network and DirecTV subscribers will be able to watch the game.
This area is lucky. Interested viewers at least have a chance to watch the games. Fans in New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, St. Louis, Cleveland, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Houston, Green Bay, Cincinnati, Charlotte and Indianapolis will not even have a choice. The NFL Network is not carried on Time Warner, Cablevision or some of the smaller cable systems around the country, causing anger among NFL fans.
Cable companies and the NFL Network have been locked in a heated battle over the price-per-subscriber as well as the network’s channel placement on the popular extended basic platform most of the 90 million people in the country get in their homes.
The NFL Network reaches approximately 40 million of the country’s 112 million cable subscribers and the Washington-Baltimore market is in much better shape than the rest of the country. More people get the NFL Network in this area than almost anywhere else. By the way, the same holds true for other niche sports networks like CSTV, NBA-TV, FOX Soccer Channel and Gol TV.
Much like it works with ESPN’s NFL contract, the Kansas City and Denver markets will see the game on local TV.
If you don’t get the NFL Network, you always have radio. WTEM and SIRIUS will air the games.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Nov 23, 2006 3:00 AM (5 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 5 of 6,976 articles
WASHINGTON - Today is Thanksgiving and that means turkey and football. For some, there will more of both.
An extra helping of turkey is up to you. What NFL games you’ll have access to is not as simple. Everybody will be able to see the traditional games with Miami at Detroit starting at 12:30 p.m. on CBS, followed by Tampa Bay at Dallas at 4:15 p.m. on FOX.
But the much-anticipated debut of the NFL Network’s prime-time game coverage kicks off later in the evening with the Denver traveling to Kansas City. The pregame begins with “Total Access Live” at 7 p.m. Bryant Gumbel and Cris Collinsworth will call the game beginning at 8.
However, even if you have cable in the Washington/Baltimore area you may not be able to see the game. You will need to check your channel guide or cable company’s Web site to find out.
The NFL Network is on Comcast as well as Cox, this region’s two major cable systems. But it is on the digital tier and in some cases is part of the “sports pack.” Dish Network and DirecTV subscribers will be able to watch the game.
This area is lucky. Interested viewers at least have a chance to watch the games. Fans in New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, St. Louis, Cleveland, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Houston, Green Bay, Cincinnati, Charlotte and Indianapolis will not even have a choice. The NFL Network is not carried on Time Warner, Cablevision or some of the smaller cable systems around the country, causing anger among NFL fans.
Cable companies and the NFL Network have been locked in a heated battle over the price-per-subscriber as well as the network’s channel placement on the popular extended basic platform most of the 90 million people in the country get in their homes.
The NFL Network reaches approximately 40 million of the country’s 112 million cable subscribers and the Washington-Baltimore market is in much better shape than the rest of the country. More people get the NFL Network in this area than almost anywhere else. By the way, the same holds true for other niche sports networks like CSTV, NBA-TV, FOX Soccer Channel and Gol TV.
Much like it works with ESPN’s NFL contract, the Kansas City and Denver markets will see the game on local TV.
If you don’t get the NFL Network, you always have radio. WTEM and SIRIUS will air the games.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Thursday Night Football a show not all can see
By: Jim Williams
The Examiner
It is Thanksgiving and you will be able to see the traditional games with Miami - Detroit starting at 12:30pm on CBS (9 in Washington and 13 in Baltimore), followed by Tampa Bay - Dallas at 4:15pm on FOX ( 5 in Washington and 45 in Baltimore.)
At 7pm the much anticipated debut of the NFL Network’s prime time coverage of the Chiefs and the Broncos kicks off with Total Access Live from Kansas City then at 8pm Bryant Gumbel and Cris Collingsworth will call the game.
However even if you do have cable in the Washington/Baltimore area you may not be able to see the game between the Chiefs and the Broncos you will need to check your channel guide or the cable companies website to find out if you will get the game.
The NFL Network is on Comcast as well as Cox the two major cable systems in the region however it is on the digital tier and in some cases part of the “sports pack.” Subscribers to both the Dish Network and DirecTV will be able to watch the game. As a matter of fact the Baltimore/Washington area boasts one of the largest subscriber bases for the NFL Network anywhere in the country.
So we are very lucky that we at least have a chance to watch the games, fans in New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, St. Louis, Cleveland, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Houston, Green Bay, Cincinnati, Charlotte, Kansas City and Indianapolis will not even have a choice. The NFL Network is not carried on Time Warner, Cablevision or some of the smaller cable systems around the country causing football fans to be very angry.
Cable companies and the NFL Network have been locked in a heated battle over the price per subscriber as well as the placement of the channel on the popular extended basic platform that most of the 90 million people in the country get in their homes.
The NFL Network like the ESPN contract demands that the two teams involved in the telecast will see the game on local TV. Next weeks Ravens-Cincinnati game will be seen on WMAR TV 2 and the Redskins-New York telecast that will be the final game of the season will be on local TV in Washington.
You always have radio WBAL, WTEM and SIRIUS all plan on airing the games.
Fast facts:
1. The NFL Network has 40 million subscribers and is the fastest growing cable network.
2. ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and TBS have in excess of 90 million subscribers nationwide.
3. There are 115 million television homes in the United States.
The Examiner
It is Thanksgiving and you will be able to see the traditional games with Miami - Detroit starting at 12:30pm on CBS (9 in Washington and 13 in Baltimore), followed by Tampa Bay - Dallas at 4:15pm on FOX ( 5 in Washington and 45 in Baltimore.)
At 7pm the much anticipated debut of the NFL Network’s prime time coverage of the Chiefs and the Broncos kicks off with Total Access Live from Kansas City then at 8pm Bryant Gumbel and Cris Collingsworth will call the game.
However even if you do have cable in the Washington/Baltimore area you may not be able to see the game between the Chiefs and the Broncos you will need to check your channel guide or the cable companies website to find out if you will get the game.
The NFL Network is on Comcast as well as Cox the two major cable systems in the region however it is on the digital tier and in some cases part of the “sports pack.” Subscribers to both the Dish Network and DirecTV will be able to watch the game. As a matter of fact the Baltimore/Washington area boasts one of the largest subscriber bases for the NFL Network anywhere in the country.
So we are very lucky that we at least have a chance to watch the games, fans in New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, St. Louis, Cleveland, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Houston, Green Bay, Cincinnati, Charlotte, Kansas City and Indianapolis will not even have a choice. The NFL Network is not carried on Time Warner, Cablevision or some of the smaller cable systems around the country causing football fans to be very angry.
Cable companies and the NFL Network have been locked in a heated battle over the price per subscriber as well as the placement of the channel on the popular extended basic platform that most of the 90 million people in the country get in their homes.
The NFL Network like the ESPN contract demands that the two teams involved in the telecast will see the game on local TV. Next weeks Ravens-Cincinnati game will be seen on WMAR TV 2 and the Redskins-New York telecast that will be the final game of the season will be on local TV in Washington.
You always have radio WBAL, WTEM and SIRIUS all plan on airing the games.
Fast facts:
1. The NFL Network has 40 million subscribers and is the fastest growing cable network.
2. ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and TBS have in excess of 90 million subscribers nationwide.
3. There are 115 million television homes in the United States.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Hanging with Ahmad on Tuesday nights
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 21, 2006 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 3 of 8,855 articles
WASHINGTON - For over 30 years, Ahmad Rashad has been an Emmy Award-winning reporter and program host for NBC, ABC and now NBA-TV.
His show on NBA-TV — “Tuesdays with Ahmad” — is the network’s pregame show that airs just before the Tuesday Night Game of the Week.
It is a hit not only here in the United States but in over 60 countries worldwide.
Local favorites Gilbert Arenas and Carmelo Anthony have been on the show both as in-studio and on-location guests.
I spoke to Rashad about the show and about the NBA’s growth over the past decade.
» Rashad on his show: “I am the executive producer of the show and along with a very talented staff we try do a show that both the casual fan and the hardcore fan would enjoy. We talk to players and celebrities and try give the audience a different perspective about who these guys are as people. If you know more about them as people you are more inclined to like them and cheer for them. As for the guests from the entertainment field they are fans just like us and they enjoy talking sports. All in all, I am proud of what we have done thus far and think the fans enjoy the program.”
» Rashad on the NBA’s worldwide appeal: “The NBA and pro basketball is the second biggest sport in the world behind soccer. I tell my friends in the NFL that everywhere I go in the world people stop me and want to talk about Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, LeBron James and a number of others. They are wearing NBA gear in Europe, China and everywhere in between. I have seen basketball hoops in Russia and in Africa. To be able to use my show as a way to advance the game is a big plus both for me and the NBA.”
“Tuesdays with Ahmad” can be seen at either 7:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. depending on the Game of the Week but it is worth finding. It is clearly one of the most entertaining sports shows on TV.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Nov 21, 2006 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 3 of 8,855 articles
WASHINGTON - For over 30 years, Ahmad Rashad has been an Emmy Award-winning reporter and program host for NBC, ABC and now NBA-TV.
His show on NBA-TV — “Tuesdays with Ahmad” — is the network’s pregame show that airs just before the Tuesday Night Game of the Week.
It is a hit not only here in the United States but in over 60 countries worldwide.
Local favorites Gilbert Arenas and Carmelo Anthony have been on the show both as in-studio and on-location guests.
I spoke to Rashad about the show and about the NBA’s growth over the past decade.
» Rashad on his show: “I am the executive producer of the show and along with a very talented staff we try do a show that both the casual fan and the hardcore fan would enjoy. We talk to players and celebrities and try give the audience a different perspective about who these guys are as people. If you know more about them as people you are more inclined to like them and cheer for them. As for the guests from the entertainment field they are fans just like us and they enjoy talking sports. All in all, I am proud of what we have done thus far and think the fans enjoy the program.”
» Rashad on the NBA’s worldwide appeal: “The NBA and pro basketball is the second biggest sport in the world behind soccer. I tell my friends in the NFL that everywhere I go in the world people stop me and want to talk about Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, LeBron James and a number of others. They are wearing NBA gear in Europe, China and everywhere in between. I have seen basketball hoops in Russia and in Africa. To be able to use my show as a way to advance the game is a big plus both for me and the NBA.”
“Tuesdays with Ahmad” can be seen at either 7:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. depending on the Game of the Week but it is worth finding. It is clearly one of the most entertaining sports shows on TV.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Friday, November 17, 2006
NFL Network has a Super new show
NFL Network has a Super new show
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 17, 2006 3:00 AM (3 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 2 of 10,006 articles
BALTIMORE - Get out you calendar and make time Friday night for “America’s Game: A Countdown to History,” which debuts at 8:30 p.m. on the NFL Network. It’s one of the best sports documentary series ever done.
The series will run over the next 20 weeks, counting down to the best Super Bowl team of all time.
The show, which is hosted by Rich Eisen and Steve Sabol, unveils the top 20 Super Bowl champions of all time, as voted on by a blue-ribbon panel of NFL experts. Panelists include general managers Ernie Accorsi (Giants) and Bill Polian (Colts); Hall of Fame players Dan Marino and Dan Fouts; current head coaches Bill Cowher (Steelers) and Marty Schottenheimer (Chargers); sportswriters Peter King (Sports Illustrated), Rick Telander (Chicago Sun-Times) and Dave Anderson (New York Times); and former players and current TV analysts Cris Collinsworth (HBO, NBC, NFL Network) and Boomer Esiason (CBS Sports).
Having seen some of the shows, this much is clear: NFL Films has outdone itself on this project. “America’s Game” is the best work they have ever done. It’s worthy of making the jump from TV to theaters.
Sabol told me about the massive project: “We have a saying here at NFL Films: ‘Never throw anything away.’ It is a good thing that we didn’t because we were able to use never-before-seen footage in this series. I am proud that we found the right people who were part of the team to tell the story. For instance, on the 1970 Colts we used Bill Curry, Mike Curtis, Ernie Accorsi and Bubba Smith. You could not pick four more different personalities. That was our goal in each film — to get people who could tell us stories that we have never heard before. We also have a wonderful cast of narrators, including Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, Gene Hackman and Martin Sheen to name a few.”
Sabol on the production: “We filmed this show like would a feature film. The people who told the stories — like Curry, Curtis, Accorsi and Smith — all were given massive binders full of background material in the hopes that it would fill in any blanks they might have had recalling the season. It paid off because we have more stories than we ever expected, and I can tell that I am proud of this project. But most of all, my 90-year-old father liked it, and he has always been our toughest critic.”
The 20 teams that did not make the cut will be shown this spring after the Super Bowl.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 17, 2006 3:00 AM (3 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 2 of 10,006 articles
BALTIMORE - Get out you calendar and make time Friday night for “America’s Game: A Countdown to History,” which debuts at 8:30 p.m. on the NFL Network. It’s one of the best sports documentary series ever done.
The series will run over the next 20 weeks, counting down to the best Super Bowl team of all time.
The show, which is hosted by Rich Eisen and Steve Sabol, unveils the top 20 Super Bowl champions of all time, as voted on by a blue-ribbon panel of NFL experts. Panelists include general managers Ernie Accorsi (Giants) and Bill Polian (Colts); Hall of Fame players Dan Marino and Dan Fouts; current head coaches Bill Cowher (Steelers) and Marty Schottenheimer (Chargers); sportswriters Peter King (Sports Illustrated), Rick Telander (Chicago Sun-Times) and Dave Anderson (New York Times); and former players and current TV analysts Cris Collinsworth (HBO, NBC, NFL Network) and Boomer Esiason (CBS Sports).
Having seen some of the shows, this much is clear: NFL Films has outdone itself on this project. “America’s Game” is the best work they have ever done. It’s worthy of making the jump from TV to theaters.
Sabol told me about the massive project: “We have a saying here at NFL Films: ‘Never throw anything away.’ It is a good thing that we didn’t because we were able to use never-before-seen footage in this series. I am proud that we found the right people who were part of the team to tell the story. For instance, on the 1970 Colts we used Bill Curry, Mike Curtis, Ernie Accorsi and Bubba Smith. You could not pick four more different personalities. That was our goal in each film — to get people who could tell us stories that we have never heard before. We also have a wonderful cast of narrators, including Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, Gene Hackman and Martin Sheen to name a few.”
Sabol on the production: “We filmed this show like would a feature film. The people who told the stories — like Curry, Curtis, Accorsi and Smith — all were given massive binders full of background material in the hopes that it would fill in any blanks they might have had recalling the season. It paid off because we have more stories than we ever expected, and I can tell that I am proud of this project. But most of all, my 90-year-old father liked it, and he has always been our toughest critic.”
The 20 teams that did not make the cut will be shown this spring after the Super Bowl.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
The King leaves his throne
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 17, 2006 3:00 AM (3 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 3 of 10,006 articles
WASHINGTON - He is going out on top.
George Michael has turned down a lucrative offer from NBC and will end his career as WRC TV channel 4’s sports director after 26 years.
It is official. The King is ending his run.
“Bob Wright, the president of NBC, has been good to me and to my staff over the years,” Michael said. “He offered me a deal that was very, very generous. But I just could not see working without my team, the writers and producers that have won awards and have made me look good for 26 years. This network-wide budget cut is tough on everyone and Mr. Wright has been good about taking care of all my staff, the ones that will stay and the others that will have to leave.
“So I have no issues with NBC or channel 4. This is a family now and will always be a family to me — and a part of my life.”
That begs the question: What’s next for Michael?
“For now and into 2007, I will continue to do “The Redskins Report”, “The Joe Gibbs Show”, and “Full Court Press”. Also, I will do the Monday live interviews with Sonny Jurgensen so we can give Coach Gibbs and Joe Bugel plenty of grief.
“As for going to another TV station, I have had plenty of offers — one even wanted to build me my own studio — but it is time to end this. Everything has to come to an end some time and I think that this is my time.”
The future of the “The Sports Machine”, Michael’s nationally syndicated sports highlight show that premiered in 1984, is still uncertain. Michael said he is leaning toward shutting that down in March as well, although he did leave the door slightly open.
Like Johnny Carson, Michael is going out on top. His ratings have never been better. Michael will still be on the air doing the Redskins with Sonny and his fans will be able to watch he and Jim Vance have fun.
So it’s not all bad.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Nov 17, 2006 3:00 AM (3 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 3 of 10,006 articles
WASHINGTON - He is going out on top.
George Michael has turned down a lucrative offer from NBC and will end his career as WRC TV channel 4’s sports director after 26 years.
It is official. The King is ending his run.
“Bob Wright, the president of NBC, has been good to me and to my staff over the years,” Michael said. “He offered me a deal that was very, very generous. But I just could not see working without my team, the writers and producers that have won awards and have made me look good for 26 years. This network-wide budget cut is tough on everyone and Mr. Wright has been good about taking care of all my staff, the ones that will stay and the others that will have to leave.
“So I have no issues with NBC or channel 4. This is a family now and will always be a family to me — and a part of my life.”
That begs the question: What’s next for Michael?
“For now and into 2007, I will continue to do “The Redskins Report”, “The Joe Gibbs Show”, and “Full Court Press”. Also, I will do the Monday live interviews with Sonny Jurgensen so we can give Coach Gibbs and Joe Bugel plenty of grief.
“As for going to another TV station, I have had plenty of offers — one even wanted to build me my own studio — but it is time to end this. Everything has to come to an end some time and I think that this is my time.”
The future of the “The Sports Machine”, Michael’s nationally syndicated sports highlight show that premiered in 1984, is still uncertain. Michael said he is leaning toward shutting that down in March as well, although he did leave the door slightly open.
Like Johnny Carson, Michael is going out on top. His ratings have never been better. Michael will still be on the air doing the Redskins with Sonny and his fans will be able to watch he and Jim Vance have fun.
So it’s not all bad.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Praise for Acta already started
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 14, 2006 5:00 AM (2 hrs 13 mins ago)
Current rank: # 3 of 5,840 articles
WASHINGTON - Mets third base coach Manny Acta is expected to be introduced today as new manager of the Nationals.
At 37, Acta will be the youngest manager in Major League Baseball. He knows many of the current Nationals players because he served as a coach under outgoing manager Frank Robinson in Montreal from 2002-04.
The move is drawing praise from those in the baseball media.
While Acta has no major league managerial experience, every person I spoke to from ESPN’s Steve Phillips to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal had nothing but high praise for Acta and how he handles players.
Phillips pointed out how well he handled egos while managing the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic. Also, Acta’s attention to fundamentals and teaching young players is his strong suit. Phillips also pointed out Acta showed a great deal of managing savvy in winter ball in his native Dominican Republic where he won a championship with the Licey Tigers in 2003-2004.
“A guy like Manny Acta is the perfect fit for the Nationals,” said ESPN baseball analyst John Kruk. “He will be a great manager and will be around this game for a very long time.”
It has been a busy month for the Nats. They found a manager, added more than 20 new players to their minor league system, and bolstered their scouting department to rival that of any organization in baseball.
The Hot Stove League is just getting started and in their own slow but meticulous way, Nats president Stan Kasten and general manager Jim Bowden are following their rebuilding script to the letter.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Nov 14, 2006 5:00 AM (2 hrs 13 mins ago)
Current rank: # 3 of 5,840 articles
WASHINGTON - Mets third base coach Manny Acta is expected to be introduced today as new manager of the Nationals.
At 37, Acta will be the youngest manager in Major League Baseball. He knows many of the current Nationals players because he served as a coach under outgoing manager Frank Robinson in Montreal from 2002-04.
The move is drawing praise from those in the baseball media.
While Acta has no major league managerial experience, every person I spoke to from ESPN’s Steve Phillips to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal had nothing but high praise for Acta and how he handles players.
Phillips pointed out how well he handled egos while managing the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic. Also, Acta’s attention to fundamentals and teaching young players is his strong suit. Phillips also pointed out Acta showed a great deal of managing savvy in winter ball in his native Dominican Republic where he won a championship with the Licey Tigers in 2003-2004.
“A guy like Manny Acta is the perfect fit for the Nationals,” said ESPN baseball analyst John Kruk. “He will be a great manager and will be around this game for a very long time.”
It has been a busy month for the Nats. They found a manager, added more than 20 new players to their minor league system, and bolstered their scouting department to rival that of any organization in baseball.
The Hot Stove League is just getting started and in their own slow but meticulous way, Nats president Stan Kasten and general manager Jim Bowden are following their rebuilding script to the letter.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Sports fans paying it forward on legal Web site
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 14, 2006 5:00 AM (2 hrs 10 mins ago)
Current rank: # 2 of 5,782 articles
BALTIMORE - So you are now convinced that Maryland is going to a BCS bowl and the Ravens will be in the Super Bowl, and you want tickets. But how do you get them without selling the farm?
TicketReserve.com is a fascinating new concept that allow sports fans to buy tickets at face value for investing some cash in their favorite team’s chances of making it to a big-time bowl game or the Super Bowl. The concept is based on the stock market, with each team assigned a value that either goes up or down depending on its success.
TicketReserve.com is legal, well-controlled, supervised and has impressed so many top bowls and other key sporting event managers that it has won the support of the BCS bowls, as well as a number of other bowls. They also have the support of the NFL and NBA, among others.
For $10 per ticket, a Maryland fan can buy a FanForward pass, assuring them the chance to purchase up to eight tickets at face value should Maryland make the BCS or any of the top-tier bowl games. If they don’t, you are out your $10-per-ticket investment. Right now, the Ravens are at $100 per ticket and growing fast for Super Bowl seats.
Just like the stock market, the “buy-in” goes up the better the team plays. For example, a fan of Ohio State bought the FanForward at the opening price of $156. The Buckeyes’ victory over Texas on Sept. 9 pushed prices over $600. The most recent check saw the buy-in at $595.
For the fan who bought the right to purchase the tickets at $156 over face value, he can either choose to do that or make a profit like the stock market and sell his FanForward to someone else on the Web site. Again, all perfectly legal and very much fan-controlled.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Nov 14, 2006 5:00 AM (2 hrs 10 mins ago)
Current rank: # 2 of 5,782 articles
BALTIMORE - So you are now convinced that Maryland is going to a BCS bowl and the Ravens will be in the Super Bowl, and you want tickets. But how do you get them without selling the farm?
TicketReserve.com is a fascinating new concept that allow sports fans to buy tickets at face value for investing some cash in their favorite team’s chances of making it to a big-time bowl game or the Super Bowl. The concept is based on the stock market, with each team assigned a value that either goes up or down depending on its success.
TicketReserve.com is legal, well-controlled, supervised and has impressed so many top bowls and other key sporting event managers that it has won the support of the BCS bowls, as well as a number of other bowls. They also have the support of the NFL and NBA, among others.
For $10 per ticket, a Maryland fan can buy a FanForward pass, assuring them the chance to purchase up to eight tickets at face value should Maryland make the BCS or any of the top-tier bowl games. If they don’t, you are out your $10-per-ticket investment. Right now, the Ravens are at $100 per ticket and growing fast for Super Bowl seats.
Just like the stock market, the “buy-in” goes up the better the team plays. For example, a fan of Ohio State bought the FanForward at the opening price of $156. The Buckeyes’ victory over Texas on Sept. 9 pushed prices over $600. The most recent check saw the buy-in at $595.
For the fan who bought the right to purchase the tickets at $156 over face value, he can either choose to do that or make a profit like the stock market and sell his FanForward to someone else on the Web site. Again, all perfectly legal and very much fan-controlled.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Saturday, November 11, 2006
So you want those BCS and Super Bowl tickets?
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 11, 2006 5:00 AM (3 hours ago)
Current rank: # 9 of 5,154 articles
OK you are now convinced that Maryland is going to make it to a BCS bowl or that the Ravens will be in the Super Bowl and you want tickets. But how do you get them without selling the farm?
Well the Ticket Reserve is a fascinating new concept that assures that the fans can buy tickets at face value for investing some cash in their favorite team’s chances of making it to a big time bowl game.
It works like the stock exchange in many ways the better the team the higher the buy in for instance right a Maryland fan could buy for $10 per ticket a FanForward pass assuring you the chance to purchase up to eight tickets at face value should Maryland make a BCS Bowl game, if they don’t you are out your $10 per ticket investment. Right now the Ravens are at $100 per ticket and growing fast.
Here is the key; Let's say that Maryland wins out and the Ravens are a shoe-in for the playoffs. Well, just like the stock market the buy in goes up the better the team plays.
For example a fan of Ohio State bought the FanForward at the opening price of $156. The team's victory over Texas pushed prices over $600 and the most recent check of the site saw the buy in at $595.
For the fan who bought the right to purchase the tickets at $156 over face value he can either choose to do that or make a profit like the stock market and sale his FanFoward to someone else on the web site. It is all perfectly legal and is very much fan controlled.
“The goal is to allow Joe Fan better access to prominent sporting events, said Andy Leach who is the company's executive vice president.”The average fan gets locked out of these games," Leach said. "Ticket prices just keep going higher and higher as ticket brokers buy up the seats."
TicketReseve.com has agreements with all the BCS Bowls and a number of other major non BCS Bowls to serve as the official online sales arm of the games.
“The online market's users qualify as your typical fan looking for a seat at the big game, Leach said. “A very small percentage seems to participate more for investment purposes.”
Well worth watching…
CSTV will air the Notre Dame at Air Force game Saturday at 4pm and Comcast in the entire area will have the game on digital cable for free on channel 274.
CSTV also will debut "From Ballfields to Battlefields: Stories From Iraq," a compelling one-hour show hosted by acclaimed actor Matthew Modine. It's about college athletes whose lives and athletic careers will forever be affected because of combat injuries. The show premieres Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Much of the interviews were shot at Walter Reed Hospital and Bethesda Naval Hospital and it worth watching.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 11, 2006 5:00 AM (3 hours ago)
Current rank: # 9 of 5,154 articles
OK you are now convinced that Maryland is going to make it to a BCS bowl or that the Ravens will be in the Super Bowl and you want tickets. But how do you get them without selling the farm?
Well the Ticket Reserve is a fascinating new concept that assures that the fans can buy tickets at face value for investing some cash in their favorite team’s chances of making it to a big time bowl game.
It works like the stock exchange in many ways the better the team the higher the buy in for instance right a Maryland fan could buy for $10 per ticket a FanForward pass assuring you the chance to purchase up to eight tickets at face value should Maryland make a BCS Bowl game, if they don’t you are out your $10 per ticket investment. Right now the Ravens are at $100 per ticket and growing fast.
Here is the key; Let's say that Maryland wins out and the Ravens are a shoe-in for the playoffs. Well, just like the stock market the buy in goes up the better the team plays.
For example a fan of Ohio State bought the FanForward at the opening price of $156. The team's victory over Texas pushed prices over $600 and the most recent check of the site saw the buy in at $595.
For the fan who bought the right to purchase the tickets at $156 over face value he can either choose to do that or make a profit like the stock market and sale his FanFoward to someone else on the web site. It is all perfectly legal and is very much fan controlled.
“The goal is to allow Joe Fan better access to prominent sporting events, said Andy Leach who is the company's executive vice president.”The average fan gets locked out of these games," Leach said. "Ticket prices just keep going higher and higher as ticket brokers buy up the seats."
TicketReseve.com has agreements with all the BCS Bowls and a number of other major non BCS Bowls to serve as the official online sales arm of the games.
“The online market's users qualify as your typical fan looking for a seat at the big game, Leach said. “A very small percentage seems to participate more for investment purposes.”
Well worth watching…
CSTV will air the Notre Dame at Air Force game Saturday at 4pm and Comcast in the entire area will have the game on digital cable for free on channel 274.
CSTV also will debut "From Ballfields to Battlefields: Stories From Iraq," a compelling one-hour show hosted by acclaimed actor Matthew Modine. It's about college athletes whose lives and athletic careers will forever be affected because of combat injuries. The show premieres Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Much of the interviews were shot at Walter Reed Hospital and Bethesda Naval Hospital and it worth watching.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Changes coming on MASN baseball broadcasts
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 10, 2006 5:00 AM (1 hr 45 mins ago)
Current rank: # 5 of 6,178 articles
BALTIMORE - With the recent news that former Washington Nationals color analyst Tom Paciorek was let go, the big question is: Will the new Nationals’ opening have an effect on Orioles broadcasts, now that both are on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network?
Bob Carpenter will return as the Nationals’ play-by-play man, but his partner is yet to be determined. Scuttlebutt from Chicago and Phoenix says former Chicago Cubs broadcaster and Orioles pitcher Steve Stone has been in contact with the Nationals about the opening and that he wants the job.
Stone worked at ESPN last season, but he’d like to do home games for a local team. His wife is from the Washington area, so when the opening came he apparently jumped at the opportunity.
But MASN could hire Stone, partner him with Jim Palmer for Orioles broadcasts and send Buck Martinez to Washington. Martinez, who is a MASN employee, has worked with Carpenter at ESPN in the past. They have a good broadcast history together.
But there is another big name in the mix. Don Sutton, the former major league pitcher and long-time Braves broadcaster on TBS, got caught in the numbers game in Atlanta and is available. Like Stone, he has shown interest in the Nationals’ opening. He certainly knows team president Stan Kasten well, and one would think his résumé would lead to strong consideration.
MASN and the Nationals are likely to get a number of prospective tapes, because this is one of the premier jobs in baseball. It will certainly attract some other big-name candidates.
Joe Angel, Jim Hunter and Fred Manfra are all expected to be back calling O’s games, along with Jim Palmer and Martinez ... for now.
Meanwhile, both the O’s and Nationals are looking at new radio deals. Each team’s one-year deals expired, prompting hopes of a long-term contract and possibly a change of stations.
Stay tuned.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Nov 10, 2006 5:00 AM (1 hr 45 mins ago)
Current rank: # 5 of 6,178 articles
BALTIMORE - With the recent news that former Washington Nationals color analyst Tom Paciorek was let go, the big question is: Will the new Nationals’ opening have an effect on Orioles broadcasts, now that both are on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network?
Bob Carpenter will return as the Nationals’ play-by-play man, but his partner is yet to be determined. Scuttlebutt from Chicago and Phoenix says former Chicago Cubs broadcaster and Orioles pitcher Steve Stone has been in contact with the Nationals about the opening and that he wants the job.
Stone worked at ESPN last season, but he’d like to do home games for a local team. His wife is from the Washington area, so when the opening came he apparently jumped at the opportunity.
But MASN could hire Stone, partner him with Jim Palmer for Orioles broadcasts and send Buck Martinez to Washington. Martinez, who is a MASN employee, has worked with Carpenter at ESPN in the past. They have a good broadcast history together.
But there is another big name in the mix. Don Sutton, the former major league pitcher and long-time Braves broadcaster on TBS, got caught in the numbers game in Atlanta and is available. Like Stone, he has shown interest in the Nationals’ opening. He certainly knows team president Stan Kasten well, and one would think his résumé would lead to strong consideration.
MASN and the Nationals are likely to get a number of prospective tapes, because this is one of the premier jobs in baseball. It will certainly attract some other big-name candidates.
Joe Angel, Jim Hunter and Fred Manfra are all expected to be back calling O’s games, along with Jim Palmer and Martinez ... for now.
Meanwhile, both the O’s and Nationals are looking at new radio deals. Each team’s one-year deals expired, prompting hopes of a long-term contract and possibly a change of stations.
Stay tuned.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
MASN, Nats resume color analyst search
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 10, 2006 5:00 AM (1 hr 41 mins ago)
Current rank: # 2 of 6,178 articles
WASHINGTON - Tom Paciorek, we hardly knew ya.
MASN announced early this week that Paciorek, after one season, won’t be back as color analyst of the Nationals’ broadcast team.
His partner in the booth, play-by-play man Bob Carpenter, will return.
It’s second year in a row MASN has dropped the Nats’ color analyst, as Ron Darling went the way of Paciorek after the inaugural season. But Paciorek’s departure comes as a mild surprise because he and Carpenter worked well together and fans seemed to enjoy their broadcasts.
So where do MASN and the Nats go from here?
There are several candidates that make sense:
» Word out of Chicago and Phoenix has former Chicago Cubs broadcaster and Orioles pitcher Steve Stone as a candidate. Stone confirmed he has been in contact with the Nats and he “really wants the job.”
Stone worked at ESPN last season but is eyeing a return to covering one team. Stone’s wife is from the Washington area so he has jumped at the opportunity.
» Buck Martinez is a MASN employee currently doing O’s telecasts. He worked with Carpenter before at ESPN and I am sure MASN could find a suitable former Oriole player (possibly Stone) to take Martinez’s spot on O’s games when Jim Palmer is not on the Baltimore telecasts.
» Former major league pitcher and Braves broadcaster Don Sutton got caught up in a numbers game in at Atlanta and is available. Like Stone, he has shown interest in the Nats’ opening. He certainly knows team president Stan Kasten well from their days in Atlanta and one would think he’ll be given strong consideration.
The Nats’ popular radio team of Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler will return, which is good news. They did a great job last season when most of the games could not be seen on TV.
We still don’t know if the team will be back on WTWP AM-1500 and FM-107.7 or not. The Nats provided WTWP with some of its best ratings and are a hot radio property. Other stations in town — WTEM, Triple X ESPN Radio and WJFK-FM — are still in the hunt for the rights.
Stay tuned.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer
Examiner
Nov 10, 2006 5:00 AM (1 hr 41 mins ago)
Current rank: # 2 of 6,178 articles
WASHINGTON - Tom Paciorek, we hardly knew ya.
MASN announced early this week that Paciorek, after one season, won’t be back as color analyst of the Nationals’ broadcast team.
His partner in the booth, play-by-play man Bob Carpenter, will return.
It’s second year in a row MASN has dropped the Nats’ color analyst, as Ron Darling went the way of Paciorek after the inaugural season. But Paciorek’s departure comes as a mild surprise because he and Carpenter worked well together and fans seemed to enjoy their broadcasts.
So where do MASN and the Nats go from here?
There are several candidates that make sense:
» Word out of Chicago and Phoenix has former Chicago Cubs broadcaster and Orioles pitcher Steve Stone as a candidate. Stone confirmed he has been in contact with the Nats and he “really wants the job.”
Stone worked at ESPN last season but is eyeing a return to covering one team. Stone’s wife is from the Washington area so he has jumped at the opportunity.
» Buck Martinez is a MASN employee currently doing O’s telecasts. He worked with Carpenter before at ESPN and I am sure MASN could find a suitable former Oriole player (possibly Stone) to take Martinez’s spot on O’s games when Jim Palmer is not on the Baltimore telecasts.
» Former major league pitcher and Braves broadcaster Don Sutton got caught up in a numbers game in at Atlanta and is available. Like Stone, he has shown interest in the Nats’ opening. He certainly knows team president Stan Kasten well from their days in Atlanta and one would think he’ll be given strong consideration.
The Nats’ popular radio team of Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler will return, which is good news. They did a great job last season when most of the games could not be seen on TV.
We still don’t know if the team will be back on WTWP AM-1500 and FM-107.7 or not. The Nats provided WTWP with some of its best ratings and are a hot radio property. Other stations in town — WTEM, Triple X ESPN Radio and WJFK-FM — are still in the hunt for the rights.
Stay tuned.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer
Examiner
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
See the Turtle: Terps on TV
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 8, 2006 5:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 2 of 5,092 articles
BALTIMORE - Several weeks ago, the Maryland football team’s chances of earning bowl eligibility and spending some time in the sun in December looked dicey. Now, the Terps are very much in the hunt for the Atlantic Coast Conference title and a possible BCS bowl.
As such, the ESPN family of networks will focus its cameras on Maryland for the stretch run starting Saturday, when Miami comes to College Park for an ESPN on ABC game, seen locally on ABC-2. The Terps’ upcoming games against Boston College and Wake Forest will be seen on an ESPN network at a time to be determined. That’s a far cry from mid-October, when Maryland’s game at Virginia was carried only on ESPN360 Broadband.
Speaking of ESPN, happy 10th birthday to ESPNEWS. They have come a long way since the early days of just reading the news and showing highlights. As a matter of fact, “College Game Day Overdrive” was awesome on Saturday, switching between ACC games to keep you up to the minute on everything going on in college football.
“Sunday Blitz” is also a great show, where you can flip from the Ravens game and catch up all the NFL scores and some great analysis.
The NFL Network is also celebrating a birthday — it turns three this week. No other network has grown as fast, and continues to expand in large numbers every day.
The network made a wise choice to turn down Comcast’s $500 million offer and keep the NFL Thursday/Saturday package in hopes of growing. Turning down the big dollars has allowed the network to gain ground on ESPN and other sports networks. Plus, their NFL Films shows and access to coaches and players have made studio shows must-see TV.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Nov 8, 2006 5:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 2 of 5,092 articles
BALTIMORE - Several weeks ago, the Maryland football team’s chances of earning bowl eligibility and spending some time in the sun in December looked dicey. Now, the Terps are very much in the hunt for the Atlantic Coast Conference title and a possible BCS bowl.
As such, the ESPN family of networks will focus its cameras on Maryland for the stretch run starting Saturday, when Miami comes to College Park for an ESPN on ABC game, seen locally on ABC-2. The Terps’ upcoming games against Boston College and Wake Forest will be seen on an ESPN network at a time to be determined. That’s a far cry from mid-October, when Maryland’s game at Virginia was carried only on ESPN360 Broadband.
Speaking of ESPN, happy 10th birthday to ESPNEWS. They have come a long way since the early days of just reading the news and showing highlights. As a matter of fact, “College Game Day Overdrive” was awesome on Saturday, switching between ACC games to keep you up to the minute on everything going on in college football.
“Sunday Blitz” is also a great show, where you can flip from the Ravens game and catch up all the NFL scores and some great analysis.
The NFL Network is also celebrating a birthday — it turns three this week. No other network has grown as fast, and continues to expand in large numbers every day.
The network made a wise choice to turn down Comcast’s $500 million offer and keep the NFL Thursday/Saturday package in hopes of growing. Turning down the big dollars has allowed the network to gain ground on ESPN and other sports networks. Plus, their NFL Films shows and access to coaches and players have made studio shows must-see TV.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Triple X gaining ground on WTEM’s dominance
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 7, 2006 5:00 AM (2 hrs 3 mins ago)
Current rank: # 2 of 7,540 articles
WASHINGTON - For years, WTEM’s “Tailgate Show” leading up to Redskins games has been the standard by which other local pregame shows were measured. Scott Lynn has continued the tradition and with many fine contributors like Doc Walker, Brian Mitchell, Steve Czaban, Andy Pollin and Redskins beat reporter Jerry Coleman, they continue to do the best pregame show in the market.
But Triple X ESPN Radio is quickly closing the gap.
“Redskins Game Day” with Kevin Sheehan and co-host Bram Weinstein has exclusive access with player and coach interviews you won’t find anywhere else. They also have an impressive stable of analysts led by John Riggins, Sonny Jurgensen, Sam Huff and Larry Michael. Each adds to a show that in less than one season has almost matched the quality of WTEM.
Basically, it’s two good sports talk radio stations dueling to produce the best content. That is good news for D.C. sports fans.
Picture worthy Terps, Hokies
Several weeks ago, Maryland and Virginia Tech’s football teams would have been happy to secure the all-important sixth win, become bowl eligible and spend some time in the sun come December.
But now the Terps and Hokies are in the hunt for a spot in the ACC Championship game and BCS bowl bid awarded the winner.
That means for the rest of the season, the ESPN family of networks will focus their cameras on Maryland and Virginia Tech’s stretch run.
You can bet that starting Saturday, when Miami comes to College Park, followed by a trip Boston College and home final against Wake Forest, all Terps action is ticketed for TV. The Terps and Miami will be a 3:30 p.m. start this Saturday on ESPN on ABC (Channel 7).
Meanwhile in Blacksburg, Hokies fans will be watching their team face off against Kent State on ESPNU before a trip to Wake Forest and home finale against Virginia. All three games will find their way onto either the ESPN family of networks or Raycom/MY20.
So in this wide-open ACC of 2006, Maryland and Virginia Tech fans will be able to see how it all unfolds without having to leave the comfort of their home.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Nov 7, 2006 5:00 AM (2 hrs 3 mins ago)
Current rank: # 2 of 7,540 articles
WASHINGTON - For years, WTEM’s “Tailgate Show” leading up to Redskins games has been the standard by which other local pregame shows were measured. Scott Lynn has continued the tradition and with many fine contributors like Doc Walker, Brian Mitchell, Steve Czaban, Andy Pollin and Redskins beat reporter Jerry Coleman, they continue to do the best pregame show in the market.
But Triple X ESPN Radio is quickly closing the gap.
“Redskins Game Day” with Kevin Sheehan and co-host Bram Weinstein has exclusive access with player and coach interviews you won’t find anywhere else. They also have an impressive stable of analysts led by John Riggins, Sonny Jurgensen, Sam Huff and Larry Michael. Each adds to a show that in less than one season has almost matched the quality of WTEM.
Basically, it’s two good sports talk radio stations dueling to produce the best content. That is good news for D.C. sports fans.
Picture worthy Terps, Hokies
Several weeks ago, Maryland and Virginia Tech’s football teams would have been happy to secure the all-important sixth win, become bowl eligible and spend some time in the sun come December.
But now the Terps and Hokies are in the hunt for a spot in the ACC Championship game and BCS bowl bid awarded the winner.
That means for the rest of the season, the ESPN family of networks will focus their cameras on Maryland and Virginia Tech’s stretch run.
You can bet that starting Saturday, when Miami comes to College Park, followed by a trip Boston College and home final against Wake Forest, all Terps action is ticketed for TV. The Terps and Miami will be a 3:30 p.m. start this Saturday on ESPN on ABC (Channel 7).
Meanwhile in Blacksburg, Hokies fans will be watching their team face off against Kent State on ESPNU before a trip to Wake Forest and home finale against Virginia. All three games will find their way onto either the ESPN family of networks or Raycom/MY20.
So in this wide-open ACC of 2006, Maryland and Virginia Tech fans will be able to see how it all unfolds without having to leave the comfort of their home.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Arena returns for the United-Revolution title game
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 4, 2006 5:00 AM (5 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 5 of 7,803 articles
The Cowboys and the Redskins will be playing in front of 90,000 fans at Fed Ex Field on Sunday but the best game of the day will be at RFK. At 4pm about four miles away at Redskins old home, the fans will be dressed in all black and the joint will be packed and jumping.
With the Eastern Title on the line it will be like old times as United will face the Revolution in what has all the elements of a wide open last man standing kind of game.
Sunday's game is a rematch of one of the best games in MLS history when D.C. beat New England at RFK in the 2004 Eastern Conference Final.
After the two teams played to a 3-3 draw in regulation, United topped the Revolution on penalty kicks and went on to capture its fourth MLS Cup championship.
ESPN2 jumped on the Washington – New England, Eastern Conference Championship game the moment it came up on the board. There is a wild history between these two teams and ESPN did not want to miss the fun.
They will have a three man booth that will feature Bruce Arena’s return to D.C. and he will join Dave O’Brien, Eric Wynalda, and sideline reporter extraordinaire Brandi Chastain on the telecast.
I spoke to Wynalda about the game: “I see this as a really wide open game. Most of the same players are on United and New England that played in that classic 2004 game. This match up should provide almost the same result. I see lots of goals being scored in this one.”
Wynalda on the United fans: “This is a great soccer city, and the Washington fans are passionate about their team. I am sure that Sunday’s game will be loud and electric just what both sides deserve knowledgeable true soccer fans, it will be great stuff.”
Wynalda on the MLS: “The league is doing many positive things with all the new soccer only stadiums opening. But I would like to see us go to more of a world schedule so we finish the season in March or April and not up against football or the World Series.”
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Nov 4, 2006 5:00 AM (5 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 5 of 7,803 articles
The Cowboys and the Redskins will be playing in front of 90,000 fans at Fed Ex Field on Sunday but the best game of the day will be at RFK. At 4pm about four miles away at Redskins old home, the fans will be dressed in all black and the joint will be packed and jumping.
With the Eastern Title on the line it will be like old times as United will face the Revolution in what has all the elements of a wide open last man standing kind of game.
Sunday's game is a rematch of one of the best games in MLS history when D.C. beat New England at RFK in the 2004 Eastern Conference Final.
After the two teams played to a 3-3 draw in regulation, United topped the Revolution on penalty kicks and went on to capture its fourth MLS Cup championship.
ESPN2 jumped on the Washington – New England, Eastern Conference Championship game the moment it came up on the board. There is a wild history between these two teams and ESPN did not want to miss the fun.
They will have a three man booth that will feature Bruce Arena’s return to D.C. and he will join Dave O’Brien, Eric Wynalda, and sideline reporter extraordinaire Brandi Chastain on the telecast.
I spoke to Wynalda about the game: “I see this as a really wide open game. Most of the same players are on United and New England that played in that classic 2004 game. This match up should provide almost the same result. I see lots of goals being scored in this one.”
Wynalda on the United fans: “This is a great soccer city, and the Washington fans are passionate about their team. I am sure that Sunday’s game will be loud and electric just what both sides deserve knowledgeable true soccer fans, it will be great stuff.”
Wynalda on the MLS: “The league is doing many positive things with all the new soccer only stadiums opening. But I would like to see us go to more of a world schedule so we finish the season in March or April and not up against football or the World Series.”
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
FOX brings ‘A’ game to FedEx Field
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 4, 2006 5:00 AM (3 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 6 of 5,714 articles
WASHINGTON - Maybe their records don’t warrant the attention, but FOX NFL Sunday will be in full force for Sunday’s Redskins-Cowboys tilt at FedEx Field.
The Redskins (2-5) are struggling and the Cowboys (4-3) now have a flicker of hope with Tony Romo in for the statuesque Drew Bledsoe. But it’s still Washington-Dallas and FOX is all over it with its traveling band.
Coverage begins at noon with FOX NFL Sunday’s Emmy Award-winning pregame show hosted by Joe Buck, who will be joined as always by Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Jimmy Johnson, along with insider Jay Glazer and comedian Frank Caliendo.
This week, Pam Oliver sits down with Romo. In speaking with several of his teammates, Oliver gets inside the head of Drew Bledsoe’s replacement and seeks out his plan to save Dallas’ season.
Let’s hope the savior waits another week before leading the Cowboys to a second victory.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Nov 4, 2006 5:00 AM (3 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 6 of 5,714 articles
WASHINGTON - Maybe their records don’t warrant the attention, but FOX NFL Sunday will be in full force for Sunday’s Redskins-Cowboys tilt at FedEx Field.
The Redskins (2-5) are struggling and the Cowboys (4-3) now have a flicker of hope with Tony Romo in for the statuesque Drew Bledsoe. But it’s still Washington-Dallas and FOX is all over it with its traveling band.
Coverage begins at noon with FOX NFL Sunday’s Emmy Award-winning pregame show hosted by Joe Buck, who will be joined as always by Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Jimmy Johnson, along with insider Jay Glazer and comedian Frank Caliendo.
This week, Pam Oliver sits down with Romo. In speaking with several of his teammates, Oliver gets inside the head of Drew Bledsoe’s replacement and seeks out his plan to save Dallas’ season.
Let’s hope the savior waits another week before leading the Cowboys to a second victory.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Gearing up for horse racing’s biggest day
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 4, 2006 5:00 AM (3 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 4 of 5,786 articles
BALTIMORE - Football fans have the Super Bowl, baseball fans have the World Series, hockey fans have the Stanley Cup and horse racing fans have the Breeders’ Cup.
You can bet Maryland’s many horse-racing fans will be glued to the TV set this weekend while having cup parties.
On Saturday from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., ESPN and ESPNHD will devote seven-plus hours on a huge college football afternoon to cover the 23rd Breeders’ Cup, the single biggest day in all of horse racing and another in a long line of premier sporting events to move from broadcast TV to cable. NBC had long been the home of the Breeders’ Cup, but it now belongs to ESPN.
The network has dedicated an entire week to Breeders’ Cup programming, leading up to Saturday’s big day. It all begins at high noon, with the first of eight races featuring a combined, one-day purse of a staggering $20 million in prize money. The showcase event, the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, will cap off the day with a post time of 5:20 p.m.
Throughout the past few years, ESPN and ESPN2 have quickly established themselves as the leader in thoroughbred racing coverage, with more hours dedicated to races and shows promoting the sport than any other major network. They are working on revving up interest in the Breeders’ Cup by presenting a series of qualifying races. ESPN’s Cup qualifying starts July 28 at Saratoga and runs through Oct. 7 at Oak Tree.
Six different tracks on six different dates will hold a combined 24 races, in which the winners will automatically qualify for the 2007 Cup at Monmouth in New Jersey. It’s a simple case of win and you’re in.
As Len DeLuca, ESPN’s senior vice president for programming and acquisitions, said this week, “There will be 20 football games on TV this weekend and only one Breeders’ Cup. We have the Super Bowl of horse racing, and we are going to give it wall-to-wall coverage.”
SIRIUS will have the entire day of racing on the radio side. “Down the Stretch,” hosted by Dave Johnson and Bill Finley, will air 10 a.m. to Noon Saturday live from Churchill Downs.
Johnson and Finley will then host SIRIUS’s live coverage of the Breeders’ Cup, with coverage airing exclusively on SIRIUS, channel 125.
23rd Breeder’s Cup
» Where: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky.
» When: Noon, Saturday
» TV: ESPN
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Nov 4, 2006 5:00 AM (3 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 4 of 5,786 articles
BALTIMORE - Football fans have the Super Bowl, baseball fans have the World Series, hockey fans have the Stanley Cup and horse racing fans have the Breeders’ Cup.
You can bet Maryland’s many horse-racing fans will be glued to the TV set this weekend while having cup parties.
On Saturday from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., ESPN and ESPNHD will devote seven-plus hours on a huge college football afternoon to cover the 23rd Breeders’ Cup, the single biggest day in all of horse racing and another in a long line of premier sporting events to move from broadcast TV to cable. NBC had long been the home of the Breeders’ Cup, but it now belongs to ESPN.
The network has dedicated an entire week to Breeders’ Cup programming, leading up to Saturday’s big day. It all begins at high noon, with the first of eight races featuring a combined, one-day purse of a staggering $20 million in prize money. The showcase event, the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, will cap off the day with a post time of 5:20 p.m.
Throughout the past few years, ESPN and ESPN2 have quickly established themselves as the leader in thoroughbred racing coverage, with more hours dedicated to races and shows promoting the sport than any other major network. They are working on revving up interest in the Breeders’ Cup by presenting a series of qualifying races. ESPN’s Cup qualifying starts July 28 at Saratoga and runs through Oct. 7 at Oak Tree.
Six different tracks on six different dates will hold a combined 24 races, in which the winners will automatically qualify for the 2007 Cup at Monmouth in New Jersey. It’s a simple case of win and you’re in.
As Len DeLuca, ESPN’s senior vice president for programming and acquisitions, said this week, “There will be 20 football games on TV this weekend and only one Breeders’ Cup. We have the Super Bowl of horse racing, and we are going to give it wall-to-wall coverage.”
SIRIUS will have the entire day of racing on the radio side. “Down the Stretch,” hosted by Dave Johnson and Bill Finley, will air 10 a.m. to Noon Saturday live from Churchill Downs.
Johnson and Finley will then host SIRIUS’s live coverage of the Breeders’ Cup, with coverage airing exclusively on SIRIUS, channel 125.
23rd Breeder’s Cup
» Where: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky.
» When: Noon, Saturday
» TV: ESPN
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Friday, November 03, 2006
Super Bowl of horse racing gallops to cable this weekend
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 3, 2006 5:00 AM (2 hrs 32 mins ago)
Current rank: #2 of 6,262 articles
WASHINGTON - Football fans have the Super Bowl. Baseball fans have the World Series. Hockey fans have the Stanley Cup.
Horse racing fans have the Breeders’ Cup.
You can bet the many horse racing fans in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. will be glued to the TV set this weekend.
On Saturday from Churchill Downs, ESPN will devote over seven hours on a huge college football afternoon to the 23rd annual Breeders’ Cup. It’s the single biggest day in all of horse racing and another in a long line of premier sporting events to move from broadcast TV to cable. NBC had long been the home of the Breeders’ Cup before the move to ESPN.
It all begins at high noon with the first of eight races that feature a combined one-day purse of a staggering $20 million in prize money.
The $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic will cap the day with post time set for 5:20 p.m.
In the past few years, ESPN has quickly established itself as the leader in thoroughbred racing with more hours dedicated to races and shows promoting the sport than any other major network. They are also adding to their coverage going forward in an attempt to spur interest in the sport.
ESPN’s Cup qualifying starts next July at Saratoga and runs through through October. There will be six different events tracks and a combined 24 races long the way. The winners automatically qualify for the 2007 Cup at Monmouth in New Jersey.
It is a simple case of win and you are in.
As Len DeLuca, ESPN’s senior vice president for programming and acquisitions, said this week: “There will be 20 football games on TV this weekend and only one Breeders’ Cup. We have the Super Bowl of horse racing and we are going to give it wall-to-wall coverage.”
SIRIUS will have the entire day of racing on the radio side.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Nov 3, 2006 5:00 AM (2 hrs 32 mins ago)
Current rank: #2 of 6,262 articles
WASHINGTON - Football fans have the Super Bowl. Baseball fans have the World Series. Hockey fans have the Stanley Cup.
Horse racing fans have the Breeders’ Cup.
You can bet the many horse racing fans in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. will be glued to the TV set this weekend.
On Saturday from Churchill Downs, ESPN will devote over seven hours on a huge college football afternoon to the 23rd annual Breeders’ Cup. It’s the single biggest day in all of horse racing and another in a long line of premier sporting events to move from broadcast TV to cable. NBC had long been the home of the Breeders’ Cup before the move to ESPN.
It all begins at high noon with the first of eight races that feature a combined one-day purse of a staggering $20 million in prize money.
The $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic will cap the day with post time set for 5:20 p.m.
In the past few years, ESPN has quickly established itself as the leader in thoroughbred racing with more hours dedicated to races and shows promoting the sport than any other major network. They are also adding to their coverage going forward in an attempt to spur interest in the sport.
ESPN’s Cup qualifying starts next July at Saratoga and runs through through October. There will be six different events tracks and a combined 24 races long the way. The winners automatically qualify for the 2007 Cup at Monmouth in New Jersey.
It is a simple case of win and you are in.
As Len DeLuca, ESPN’s senior vice president for programming and acquisitions, said this week: “There will be 20 football games on TV this weekend and only one Breeders’ Cup. We have the Super Bowl of horse racing and we are going to give it wall-to-wall coverage.”
SIRIUS will have the entire day of racing on the radio side.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Thumbs up for Davis, down for guest reporters
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 3, 2006 5:00 AM (2 hrs 29 mins ago)
Current rank: # 4 of 6,285 articles
BALTIMORE - Steve Davis has a career as an air traffic controller if he ever gives up sports. He is the smooth host of “Ravens Game Day Live,” a three-hour pre-game show that airs on WBAL 1090 AM prior to every Ravens game.
Three hours goes by very quickly with Davis, who keeps things moving as part host, part traffic cop. The show is fast-paced and has plenty of information for both the casual fan and the hard-core purple-and-black face-painter.
Davis mixes conversations with game broadcasters Gerry Sandusky, Stan White and Rob Burnett, who each take turns throughout the show to give updates from the stadium. To help break down the game, Davis gets plenty of national help from former Ravens defensive star Tony Siragusa (now part of the FOX broadcast team), former Maryland quarterback Boomer Esiason (now an “NFL Today on CBS” regular), Jarrett Bell of USA Today, WBAL reporter Keith Mills and Ravens head coach Brian Billick.
There are plenty of canned interviews of players and coaches that were done during the week so fans tuning in for 10 minutes or the whole three hours will be informed and entertained.
As we hit the mid-point of the season, I think the Sandusky-White-Burnett team is doing a fine job. Sandusky is a solid play-by-play man and doesn’t get too excited when things go right for the Ravens. He does a good job of keeping fans upbeat while informing them of where the ball is, down and distance, etc. White and Burnett have good insights and are stepping on each other far less than early in the season.
But now, it’s time to retire the guest sideline reporter. As a producer, I know sometimes things sound great in theory and once used, they fall flat. Ladies and gentlemen, this is one of those times. The folks at WBAL should put Burnett on the sideline — he can be far more effective. He knows all the players and coaches and can use that knowledge to give fans real insight.
The third analyst being on the sidelines works very well on the CBS Radio Sunday and Monday night broadcasts. It would be a perfect platform for the talented Burnett.
I applaud the concept of the guest sideline reporter, but I find its current set-up meaningless and, at times, just silly. (Gary Williams did a good job, but he is a natural.) Come on, gang, you have a good team. Use them correctly.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Nov 3, 2006 5:00 AM (2 hrs 29 mins ago)
Current rank: # 4 of 6,285 articles
BALTIMORE - Steve Davis has a career as an air traffic controller if he ever gives up sports. He is the smooth host of “Ravens Game Day Live,” a three-hour pre-game show that airs on WBAL 1090 AM prior to every Ravens game.
Three hours goes by very quickly with Davis, who keeps things moving as part host, part traffic cop. The show is fast-paced and has plenty of information for both the casual fan and the hard-core purple-and-black face-painter.
Davis mixes conversations with game broadcasters Gerry Sandusky, Stan White and Rob Burnett, who each take turns throughout the show to give updates from the stadium. To help break down the game, Davis gets plenty of national help from former Ravens defensive star Tony Siragusa (now part of the FOX broadcast team), former Maryland quarterback Boomer Esiason (now an “NFL Today on CBS” regular), Jarrett Bell of USA Today, WBAL reporter Keith Mills and Ravens head coach Brian Billick.
There are plenty of canned interviews of players and coaches that were done during the week so fans tuning in for 10 minutes or the whole three hours will be informed and entertained.
As we hit the mid-point of the season, I think the Sandusky-White-Burnett team is doing a fine job. Sandusky is a solid play-by-play man and doesn’t get too excited when things go right for the Ravens. He does a good job of keeping fans upbeat while informing them of where the ball is, down and distance, etc. White and Burnett have good insights and are stepping on each other far less than early in the season.
But now, it’s time to retire the guest sideline reporter. As a producer, I know sometimes things sound great in theory and once used, they fall flat. Ladies and gentlemen, this is one of those times. The folks at WBAL should put Burnett on the sideline — he can be far more effective. He knows all the players and coaches and can use that knowledge to give fans real insight.
The third analyst being on the sidelines works very well on the CBS Radio Sunday and Monday night broadcasts. It would be a perfect platform for the talented Burnett.
I applaud the concept of the guest sideline reporter, but I find its current set-up meaningless and, at times, just silly. (Gary Williams did a good job, but he is a natural.) Come on, gang, you have a good team. Use them correctly.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Thursday, November 02, 2006
A big welcome back for NBA
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Nov 2, 2006 5:00 AM (1 hr 8 mins ago)
Current rank: # 4 of 4,188 articles
BALTIMORE - Baltimore is a great basketball town, and the NBA season is underway. Hoops fans can catch a game almost every night with CSN, TNT, ESPN and NBA TV serving up all the action you can handle.
I talked to a cross-section of experts from both TNT and ESPN, and here is what they had to say about some key story lines as the season gets started.
» TNT’s Doug Collins on Baltimore’s own Carmelo Anthony, the Denver Nuggets’ forward: “Carmelo looks good. His body is lean, and he’s moving well. I can’t tell you what this summer [playing on the USA Basketball team] did for him. Now, people are starting to talk about him in the same breath as Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.”
» Hubie Brown, ESPN’s lead basketball analyst, on what the Washington Wizards need to do to take the next step: “I like Washington’s chances to take a move up and become an elite team. If Washington wants to contend for an NBA championship — and they have the talent to go far — there is only one word they need to remember: Defense. Gilbert Arenas and the guys can score, but to be real contenders, they must defend. If they can do that, the Wizards have a chance to go deep into the playoffs.”
» TNT’s Reggie Miller on sleeper picks: “My sleepers — and these are all contingent on guys staying healthy — I like Sacramento, as well as Utah. In the East, I sense something special brewing down in Orlando. Jameer Nelson is a true, proven leader at the point guard position. Can Grant Hill give them some minutes and stay healthy? Also, growing up here in Los Angeles, I thought I would never say this, but it is slowly becoming a Clipper town. You really have to give credit to Donald Sterling, Elgin Baylor and Mike Dunleavy.”
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Nov 2, 2006 5:00 AM (1 hr 8 mins ago)
Current rank: # 4 of 4,188 articles
BALTIMORE - Baltimore is a great basketball town, and the NBA season is underway. Hoops fans can catch a game almost every night with CSN, TNT, ESPN and NBA TV serving up all the action you can handle.
I talked to a cross-section of experts from both TNT and ESPN, and here is what they had to say about some key story lines as the season gets started.
» TNT’s Doug Collins on Baltimore’s own Carmelo Anthony, the Denver Nuggets’ forward: “Carmelo looks good. His body is lean, and he’s moving well. I can’t tell you what this summer [playing on the USA Basketball team] did for him. Now, people are starting to talk about him in the same breath as Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.”
» Hubie Brown, ESPN’s lead basketball analyst, on what the Washington Wizards need to do to take the next step: “I like Washington’s chances to take a move up and become an elite team. If Washington wants to contend for an NBA championship — and they have the talent to go far — there is only one word they need to remember: Defense. Gilbert Arenas and the guys can score, but to be real contenders, they must defend. If they can do that, the Wizards have a chance to go deep into the playoffs.”
» TNT’s Reggie Miller on sleeper picks: “My sleepers — and these are all contingent on guys staying healthy — I like Sacramento, as well as Utah. In the East, I sense something special brewing down in Orlando. Jameer Nelson is a true, proven leader at the point guard position. Can Grant Hill give them some minutes and stay healthy? Also, growing up here in Los Angeles, I thought I would never say this, but it is slowly becoming a Clipper town. You really have to give credit to Donald Sterling, Elgin Baylor and Mike Dunleavy.”
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
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