Jim Williams, The Examiner
Feb 27, 2007 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 6 of 16,095 articles
WASHINGTON - This time of year, you rarely find ESPN basketball analyst Dick Vitale at his home in Sarasota, Fla. Normally he is on the road, but I got lucky when I called the Vitale estate Monday and he was in the mood to talk about his favorite subject: college basketball.
He will help call the Duke-Maryland game on ESPN Wednesday night and had just gotten off the phone with Terps head coach Gary Williams.
“You know, I told Gary that according to the Vitale Bald Dome Index, Maryland is a NCAA Tournament team,” Vitale said. “The win over North Carolina was huge and Gary has his team playing well and Maryland is peaking at just the right time.”
» Vitale on the best team in the area: “It is Georgetown. They are back, baby. John Thompson III has that team playing as well as anyone in the country now. They play tough Big East defense and they have one of the best frontcourts in college basketball. Hey, they were the only team in the NCAA Tournament last year that gave Florida any trouble. The Hoyas are a legit title contender.”
» Vitale on expanding the NCAA Tournament beyond 65 teams: “I am against it. This is the perfect number, and after what George Mason did last year you can bet there will be more mid-majors in the field this year and that is a great thing for college basketball. There will be plenty of big conference coaches complaining on the Monday after Selection Sunday that they were wrongly left out. But the conference tournaments are their play-in games. If you are a bubble team you know you have to impress the NCAA. Do it in your conference tournament.”
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
MASN’s new lineup has name value
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Feb 24, 2007 3:00 AM (9 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 3 of 20,550 articles
WASHINGTON - The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network has crafted a roster of recognizable talent to cover Nationals and Orioles baseball starting March 3.
As we told you well in advance of the formal announcement, Bob Carpenter is back for a second season and will be joined by a new analyst: Hall of Fame pitcher and former TBS analyst Don Sutton. In game reporter Debbi Taylor will join the crew.
Johnny Holiday, longtime voice of the Maryland Terrapins, will host “Nats Xtra” along with ex-major leaguer Oriole Ray Knight, the 1986 World Series MVP for the Mets.
The Orioles TV crew has added play-by-play man Garry Thorne, ESPN’s voice on NHL hockey, MLB Baseball and college football. He will join Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer, Buck Martinez and field reporter Amber Theoharis on all Baltimore telecasts. Jim Hunter fill in when Thorne has an ESPN conflict.
Hunter will join former Oriole Rick Dempsey on “O’s Xtra.” Thankfully, Tom Davis returns to local air to serve in a co-host capacity. Many O’s fans will recall Davis was a part of the Home Team Sports network’s coverage of Orioles baseball.
There is a drawback: MASN will not offer HD telecasts this season due in large part to channel capacity of the cable systems. The goal is for HD to come in 2008 for all Orioles and Nationals home telecasts. Let’s hope so.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
COACH POTATO'S BEST BETS…
» Georgetown hosts Pitt on Saturday at 2 p.m. on CBS. Sunday’s big game is Maryland hosting North Carolina at 5:30 p.m. on CSN.
» Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson on Golf Channel Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. NBC picks up the action at 2 p.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday.
» NASCAR has the Truck Series on SPEED Friday at 9 p.m. On Saturday ESPN2 has the Busch Series race at 7 p.m. On Sunday at 3 p.m. FOX features the Auto Club 500 from Fontana.
» NFL Network has the scouting combine daily in primetime through Wednesday.
Examiner
Feb 24, 2007 3:00 AM (9 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 3 of 20,550 articles
WASHINGTON - The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network has crafted a roster of recognizable talent to cover Nationals and Orioles baseball starting March 3.
As we told you well in advance of the formal announcement, Bob Carpenter is back for a second season and will be joined by a new analyst: Hall of Fame pitcher and former TBS analyst Don Sutton. In game reporter Debbi Taylor will join the crew.
Johnny Holiday, longtime voice of the Maryland Terrapins, will host “Nats Xtra” along with ex-major leaguer Oriole Ray Knight, the 1986 World Series MVP for the Mets.
The Orioles TV crew has added play-by-play man Garry Thorne, ESPN’s voice on NHL hockey, MLB Baseball and college football. He will join Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer, Buck Martinez and field reporter Amber Theoharis on all Baltimore telecasts. Jim Hunter fill in when Thorne has an ESPN conflict.
Hunter will join former Oriole Rick Dempsey on “O’s Xtra.” Thankfully, Tom Davis returns to local air to serve in a co-host capacity. Many O’s fans will recall Davis was a part of the Home Team Sports network’s coverage of Orioles baseball.
There is a drawback: MASN will not offer HD telecasts this season due in large part to channel capacity of the cable systems. The goal is for HD to come in 2008 for all Orioles and Nationals home telecasts. Let’s hope so.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
COACH POTATO'S BEST BETS…
» Georgetown hosts Pitt on Saturday at 2 p.m. on CBS. Sunday’s big game is Maryland hosting North Carolina at 5:30 p.m. on CSN.
» Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson on Golf Channel Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. NBC picks up the action at 2 p.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday.
» NASCAR has the Truck Series on SPEED Friday at 9 p.m. On Saturday ESPN2 has the Busch Series race at 7 p.m. On Sunday at 3 p.m. FOX features the Auto Club 500 from Fontana.
» NFL Network has the scouting combine daily in primetime through Wednesday.
Examiner
Friday, February 23, 2007
MASN Offers an All Star Talent list O's and Nat's Baseball
By: Jim Williams
The Examiner
The Mid Atlantic Sports Network has put together an impressive roster of talent that will be covering Nationals and Orioles baseball starting March 3rd at 1pm.
The Orioles TV crew will be Garry Thorne long time ESPN voice on NHL hockey, MLB Baseball and college football. He will join Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer, Buck Martinez and field reporter Amber Theoharis on all Baltimore telecasts. Jim Hunter will be part of the TV and radio team, Thorne is the lead play by play man with Hunter taking the lead when Thorne has a conflict with an ESPN event.
Hunter will join former Oriole Rick Dempsey for O’s Xtra. Tom Davis will serve in a co host capacity and many O’s fans will recall that Davis was a part of the HTS coverage of Orioles baseball.
On the Nationals side we will see Bob Carpenter returning for his second season with the team and he will be joined in the booth by another Hall of Fame pitcher, former TBS broadcaster Don Sutton. They will welcome field reporter Debbi Taylor who joins the crew from Sun Sports in Florida.
Nationals pre and post game Xtra will be hosted by long time University of Maryland football and basketball voice and beloved broadcaster Johnny Holliday. Holliday will be joined in studio by former major league player and manager Ray Knight the 1986 World Series MVP. He also is a former ESPN broadcaster now part of the MASN team.
This is an impressive roster of broadcast talent that MASN has put together and using both local and nationally known talent. Also the addition of in game reporters will add to the storylines that can be developed and is a very ambitious move by the young network.
Baseball fans throughout the mid Atlantic should be very pleased with the talent choices and it is clearly a major league staff at both ends of I-95.
One interesting sidebar to this is that Johnny Holliday was the Washington Senators pre and post game radio host back in the last two years of their existence. So it is nice to have him back in the rotation.
Finally MASN will not be doing any of the over 300 games in HD. This is due in large part to the lack of cable channel HD capacity at this point and there is hope that they can do all Orioles and Nationals games in HD for the 2008 season.
--
The Examiner
The Mid Atlantic Sports Network has put together an impressive roster of talent that will be covering Nationals and Orioles baseball starting March 3rd at 1pm.
The Orioles TV crew will be Garry Thorne long time ESPN voice on NHL hockey, MLB Baseball and college football. He will join Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer, Buck Martinez and field reporter Amber Theoharis on all Baltimore telecasts. Jim Hunter will be part of the TV and radio team, Thorne is the lead play by play man with Hunter taking the lead when Thorne has a conflict with an ESPN event.
Hunter will join former Oriole Rick Dempsey for O’s Xtra. Tom Davis will serve in a co host capacity and many O’s fans will recall that Davis was a part of the HTS coverage of Orioles baseball.
On the Nationals side we will see Bob Carpenter returning for his second season with the team and he will be joined in the booth by another Hall of Fame pitcher, former TBS broadcaster Don Sutton. They will welcome field reporter Debbi Taylor who joins the crew from Sun Sports in Florida.
Nationals pre and post game Xtra will be hosted by long time University of Maryland football and basketball voice and beloved broadcaster Johnny Holliday. Holliday will be joined in studio by former major league player and manager Ray Knight the 1986 World Series MVP. He also is a former ESPN broadcaster now part of the MASN team.
This is an impressive roster of broadcast talent that MASN has put together and using both local and nationally known talent. Also the addition of in game reporters will add to the storylines that can be developed and is a very ambitious move by the young network.
Baseball fans throughout the mid Atlantic should be very pleased with the talent choices and it is clearly a major league staff at both ends of I-95.
One interesting sidebar to this is that Johnny Holliday was the Washington Senators pre and post game radio host back in the last two years of their existence. So it is nice to have him back in the rotation.
Finally MASN will not be doing any of the over 300 games in HD. This is due in large part to the lack of cable channel HD capacity at this point and there is hope that they can do all Orioles and Nationals games in HD for the 2008 season.
--
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Radio world ready to first pitch
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Feb 21, 2007 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 3 of 15,066 articles
BALTIMORE - WHFS-FM, the new flagship radio station of the Orioles, has announced its spring training schedule, with a total of 12 games to air starting on March 1 when Baltimore faces the Florida Marlins at 1 p.m.
The Orioles broadcast crew of Jim Hunter, Fred Manfra and Joe Angel will handle all 12 spring training games, plus the entire 162 regular season games. All games will be in FM stereo, and there will be plenty of new, interactive communications between the dugout and the booth.
How many MASNs?
Recently, I have received a lot of questions about the number of Mid-Atlantic Sports Networks — MASN and MASN2.
There is only one MASN. Each cable company that carries the new home of the Orioles and the Nationals will offer an overflow channel when both teams play at the same time.
That channel could be a shopping channel all day long, and when the Orioles are on channel 62 and 64 in the city or the county, then channel 75, for instance, would carry the Nationals. Once the game is over, regular programming resumes.
MASN2 is simply an overflow channel so that both games can be seen in all markets in the mid-Atlantic region. That’s more than 300 games for fans to follow on the network.
Let the kvetching begin …
At 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Tony Kornheiser returned to radio on WTWP 1500-AM and 107.7 FM, which was great news to his many fans in the Washington/Baltimore area. The show airs from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and repeats from 10:30 to 12:30 p.m. to cover the entire morning shift.
Tony, funny as always, thanked many of his former WTEM gang. He and his new gang hit the ground running.
He is joined by Nigel, Jean McManus, Joe Barber, David Aldridge, Brennan Haselton and an ensemble company of stars, sidekicks and provocateurs still being assembled. The show is produced by Marc Sterne, a former WTEM staffer and a talented broadcaster in his own right.
With TK back, all seems right with the world.
WHFS-FM’s Orioles spring training lineup
March 1 1:05 p.m. vs. Florida Marlins
March 4 1:05 p.m. vs. New York Mets
March 10 1:05 p.m. vs. St. Louis Cardinals
March 11 1:05 p.m. vs. Boston Red Sox
March 17 1:05 p.m. vs. New York Mets
March 18 1:05 p.m. vs. Boston Red Sox
March 20 7:10 p.m. vs. New York Mets
March 24 1:05 p.m. vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
March 25 1:05 p.m. vs. St. Louis Cardinals
March 29 4:05 p.m. vs. Washington Nationals (in Columbus, Ohio)
March 30 2:05 p.m. vs. Washington Nationals (in Norfolk, Va.)
March 31 1:05 p.m. vs. Washington Nationals (at RFK Stadium)
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Feb 21, 2007 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 3 of 15,066 articles
BALTIMORE - WHFS-FM, the new flagship radio station of the Orioles, has announced its spring training schedule, with a total of 12 games to air starting on March 1 when Baltimore faces the Florida Marlins at 1 p.m.
The Orioles broadcast crew of Jim Hunter, Fred Manfra and Joe Angel will handle all 12 spring training games, plus the entire 162 regular season games. All games will be in FM stereo, and there will be plenty of new, interactive communications between the dugout and the booth.
How many MASNs?
Recently, I have received a lot of questions about the number of Mid-Atlantic Sports Networks — MASN and MASN2.
There is only one MASN. Each cable company that carries the new home of the Orioles and the Nationals will offer an overflow channel when both teams play at the same time.
That channel could be a shopping channel all day long, and when the Orioles are on channel 62 and 64 in the city or the county, then channel 75, for instance, would carry the Nationals. Once the game is over, regular programming resumes.
MASN2 is simply an overflow channel so that both games can be seen in all markets in the mid-Atlantic region. That’s more than 300 games for fans to follow on the network.
Let the kvetching begin …
At 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Tony Kornheiser returned to radio on WTWP 1500-AM and 107.7 FM, which was great news to his many fans in the Washington/Baltimore area. The show airs from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and repeats from 10:30 to 12:30 p.m. to cover the entire morning shift.
Tony, funny as always, thanked many of his former WTEM gang. He and his new gang hit the ground running.
He is joined by Nigel, Jean McManus, Joe Barber, David Aldridge, Brennan Haselton and an ensemble company of stars, sidekicks and provocateurs still being assembled. The show is produced by Marc Sterne, a former WTEM staffer and a talented broadcaster in his own right.
With TK back, all seems right with the world.
WHFS-FM’s Orioles spring training lineup
March 1 1:05 p.m. vs. Florida Marlins
March 4 1:05 p.m. vs. New York Mets
March 10 1:05 p.m. vs. St. Louis Cardinals
March 11 1:05 p.m. vs. Boston Red Sox
March 17 1:05 p.m. vs. New York Mets
March 18 1:05 p.m. vs. Boston Red Sox
March 20 7:10 p.m. vs. New York Mets
March 24 1:05 p.m. vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
March 25 1:05 p.m. vs. St. Louis Cardinals
March 29 4:05 p.m. vs. Washington Nationals (in Columbus, Ohio)
March 30 2:05 p.m. vs. Washington Nationals (in Norfolk, Va.)
March 31 1:05 p.m. vs. Washington Nationals (at RFK Stadium)
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Friday, February 16, 2007
Two Big Events, One Big Weekend
By: Jim Williams
The Examiner
The Daytona 500 and the NBA All Star Game dominate a big sports weekend with plenty of action.
SPEED, ESPN and FOX5/FOX 45 are your locations for all things Daytona. The twin 125 races that will make up the rest of the field behind pole sitters and Yates Ford teammates David Gilliland and Ricky Rudd will be run Thursday at 2pm on SPEED. Also on SPEED Friday at 8pm live NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from Daytona.
Saturday ESPN returns to NASCAR after a seven year absence as “The Duce,” becomes the official home of the Busch Series at 1pm the ORBITZ 300 can be seen on ESPN2.
Sunday afternoon at 1pm on FOX it will be “The Great American Race,” the Daytona 500 live. All the NASCAR and Busch races will be presented in HD.
Special additions to NASCAR will see DirecTV offering “Hot Pass,” a chance to watch every NASCAR Race from the view of five different drivers. They will have their own announce crews and total coverage including the ability to listen live the driver-crew chief channel. Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, and Tony Stewart will be this week’s group of drivers to choose from and Eric Shanks the EVP of Entertainment for DirecTV told me that “This is the most ambitious project that we have ever undertaken. We have some of the top announcers and producers working as part of our production team covering the five drivers that we will choose each race.”
SIRIUS Satellite Radio will offer up to ten driver’s audio channels each NASCAR race for fans. Check the site to find out each weeks list and vote for a fan favorite to be added each week.
NBA All Star Weekend in Vegas Baby…
ESPN will televise the 2007 McDonald’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game Presented by 2K Sports Friday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas featuring Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, Grammy Award-winning recording artist Nelly, Desperate Housewives star James Denton, New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush, actor and executive producer David Arquette. Then at 9pm on TNT is the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam.
Saturday Night on TNT at 8:30pm is one of the best nights of basketball fun with the Three Point Shootout featuring the Wiz All Star Gilbert Arenas taking on defending champ Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki.
Also airing on TNT as part of NBA All-Star Saturday Night will be the Sprite Slam Dunk, Skills Challenge and Haier Shooting Stars. Then on Sunday Wizards All Stars Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Coach Eddie Jordan will be part of the 56th NBA All-Star Game at 8:30 p.m. on TNT.
The Examiner
The Daytona 500 and the NBA All Star Game dominate a big sports weekend with plenty of action.
SPEED, ESPN and FOX5/FOX 45 are your locations for all things Daytona. The twin 125 races that will make up the rest of the field behind pole sitters and Yates Ford teammates David Gilliland and Ricky Rudd will be run Thursday at 2pm on SPEED. Also on SPEED Friday at 8pm live NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from Daytona.
Saturday ESPN returns to NASCAR after a seven year absence as “The Duce,” becomes the official home of the Busch Series at 1pm the ORBITZ 300 can be seen on ESPN2.
Sunday afternoon at 1pm on FOX it will be “The Great American Race,” the Daytona 500 live. All the NASCAR and Busch races will be presented in HD.
Special additions to NASCAR will see DirecTV offering “Hot Pass,” a chance to watch every NASCAR Race from the view of five different drivers. They will have their own announce crews and total coverage including the ability to listen live the driver-crew chief channel. Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, and Tony Stewart will be this week’s group of drivers to choose from and Eric Shanks the EVP of Entertainment for DirecTV told me that “This is the most ambitious project that we have ever undertaken. We have some of the top announcers and producers working as part of our production team covering the five drivers that we will choose each race.”
SIRIUS Satellite Radio will offer up to ten driver’s audio channels each NASCAR race for fans. Check the site to find out each weeks list and vote for a fan favorite to be added each week.
NBA All Star Weekend in Vegas Baby…
ESPN will televise the 2007 McDonald’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game Presented by 2K Sports Friday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas featuring Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, Grammy Award-winning recording artist Nelly, Desperate Housewives star James Denton, New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush, actor and executive producer David Arquette. Then at 9pm on TNT is the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam.
Saturday Night on TNT at 8:30pm is one of the best nights of basketball fun with the Three Point Shootout featuring the Wiz All Star Gilbert Arenas taking on defending champ Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki.
Also airing on TNT as part of NBA All-Star Saturday Night will be the Sprite Slam Dunk, Skills Challenge and Haier Shooting Stars. Then on Sunday Wizards All Stars Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Coach Eddie Jordan will be part of the 56th NBA All-Star Game at 8:30 p.m. on TNT.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
MASN ready to play ball with Nats, Orioles
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Feb 10, 2007 3:00 AM (7 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 2 of 17,559 articles
WASHINGTON - We have about a week until pitchers and catchers report to camp and MASN has released its schedule for both the Orioles and Nationals Spring Training telecasts.
Since both Orioles and Nationals are partners in the network, viewers can expect a great deal of access not available before.
The Nats-Orioles tilt on March 3 marks the first of over 300 baseball telecasts MASN will have in 2007. The Nationals broadcast crew of Bob Carpenter and newly-signed Don Sutton will call the game.
“I can’t wait to get to Spring Training,” Carpenter said. “As for being the broadcast team that does the first telecast of the network in Baltimore it will be an honor and I know that while O’s fans will cheer for their team I hope that since we are all part of the family that they will also tune in to watch Don and me from time to time.”
MASN will debut its new pre-game and post-game shows — “O’s Xtra” and “Nats Xtra” — for three of the last games in March. These 30-minute programs will showcase Nationals and Orioles news, analysis, highlights, and interviews.
We do know Jim Palmer will return to the Orioles broadcast team, giving MASN the distinction of being the only regional cable network to have two Hall-of-Fame pitchers in their broadcast stable. The rest of Baltimore’s broadcast team is not set. Expect an announcement on that soon, perhaps next week. It seems the network is deciding whether it wants separate TV and radio teams like a few years ago.
Jim Hunter, Fred Manfra and Joe Angel will continue to call the O’s games WTEM in Washington.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
TELEVISION RIGHTS
Here are the list of Nationals preseason games on MASN:
» Saturday, March 3, 1:05 p.m. —
Orioles @ Nationals, Viera, Fla.
» Thursday, March 8, 1:05 p.m. —
Astros @ Nationals, Viera, Fla.
» Friday, March 9, 1:05 p.m. — Nationals @ Orioles, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
» Monday, March 12, 1:05 p.m. — Mets @ Nationals, Viera, Fla.
» Wednesday, March 21, 7:05 p.m. — Braves @ Nationals, Viera, Fla.
» Tuesday, March 27, 7:05 p.m. — Mets @ Nationals, Viera, Fla. **
» Friday, March 30, 2:05 p.m. —
Nationals @ Orioles, Norfolk, Va.
» Saturday, March 31, 1:05 p.m. — Orioles @ Nationals, RFK Stadium **
Orioles preseason games on MASN:
» Saturday, March 3, 1:05 p.m. —
Orioles @ Nationals, Viera, Fla.
» Friday, March 9, 1:05 p.m. — Nationals @ Orioles, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
» Sunday, March 18, 1:05 p.m. — Red Sox @ Orioles, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
» Saturday, March 24, 1:05 p.m. — Dodgers @ Orioles, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
» Wednesady, March 28, 1:05 p.m. — Cardinals @ Orioles, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. **
» Friday, March 30, 2:05 p.m. — Nationals @ Orioles, Norfolk, Va.
» Saturday, March 31, 1:05 p.m. — Orioles @ Nationals, RFK Stadium **
**Denotes games featuring the new MASN pre- and post-game shows, O’s Xtra and Nats Xtra
Examiner
Feb 10, 2007 3:00 AM (7 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 2 of 17,559 articles
WASHINGTON - We have about a week until pitchers and catchers report to camp and MASN has released its schedule for both the Orioles and Nationals Spring Training telecasts.
Since both Orioles and Nationals are partners in the network, viewers can expect a great deal of access not available before.
The Nats-Orioles tilt on March 3 marks the first of over 300 baseball telecasts MASN will have in 2007. The Nationals broadcast crew of Bob Carpenter and newly-signed Don Sutton will call the game.
“I can’t wait to get to Spring Training,” Carpenter said. “As for being the broadcast team that does the first telecast of the network in Baltimore it will be an honor and I know that while O’s fans will cheer for their team I hope that since we are all part of the family that they will also tune in to watch Don and me from time to time.”
MASN will debut its new pre-game and post-game shows — “O’s Xtra” and “Nats Xtra” — for three of the last games in March. These 30-minute programs will showcase Nationals and Orioles news, analysis, highlights, and interviews.
We do know Jim Palmer will return to the Orioles broadcast team, giving MASN the distinction of being the only regional cable network to have two Hall-of-Fame pitchers in their broadcast stable. The rest of Baltimore’s broadcast team is not set. Expect an announcement on that soon, perhaps next week. It seems the network is deciding whether it wants separate TV and radio teams like a few years ago.
Jim Hunter, Fred Manfra and Joe Angel will continue to call the O’s games WTEM in Washington.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
TELEVISION RIGHTS
Here are the list of Nationals preseason games on MASN:
» Saturday, March 3, 1:05 p.m. —
Orioles @ Nationals, Viera, Fla.
» Thursday, March 8, 1:05 p.m. —
Astros @ Nationals, Viera, Fla.
» Friday, March 9, 1:05 p.m. — Nationals @ Orioles, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
» Monday, March 12, 1:05 p.m. — Mets @ Nationals, Viera, Fla.
» Wednesday, March 21, 7:05 p.m. — Braves @ Nationals, Viera, Fla.
» Tuesday, March 27, 7:05 p.m. — Mets @ Nationals, Viera, Fla. **
» Friday, March 30, 2:05 p.m. —
Nationals @ Orioles, Norfolk, Va.
» Saturday, March 31, 1:05 p.m. — Orioles @ Nationals, RFK Stadium **
Orioles preseason games on MASN:
» Saturday, March 3, 1:05 p.m. —
Orioles @ Nationals, Viera, Fla.
» Friday, March 9, 1:05 p.m. — Nationals @ Orioles, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
» Sunday, March 18, 1:05 p.m. — Red Sox @ Orioles, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
» Saturday, March 24, 1:05 p.m. — Dodgers @ Orioles, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
» Wednesady, March 28, 1:05 p.m. — Cardinals @ Orioles, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. **
» Friday, March 30, 2:05 p.m. — Nationals @ Orioles, Norfolk, Va.
» Saturday, March 31, 1:05 p.m. — Orioles @ Nationals, RFK Stadium **
**Denotes games featuring the new MASN pre- and post-game shows, O’s Xtra and Nats Xtra
Examiner
Friday, February 09, 2007
MASN announces plans for spring training telecasts
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Feb 9, 2007 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 3 of 14,205 articles
BALTIMORE - With just about a week until pitchers and catchers report to camp, the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network has released its schedule for both the Orioles and Nationals’ spring training telecasts.
“MASN is offering unmatched access to the Nationals and Orioles this year, starting with an unprecedented 11 spring training games on television,” MASN spokesman Todd Webster said. “MASN is bringing fans inside the game with complete baseball coverage all season long.”
Since both Orioles and Nationals are partners in the network, viewers can expect a great deal of access they have not seen before, with field reporters and in-game comments from managers.
The first game on the schedule will be the O’s and the Nationals from Viera, Fla., on March 3 at 1 p.m. It will mark the first of more than 300 MASN baseball telecasts for 2007. The game will feature the Nationals broadcast crew of Bob Carpenter and the newly signed Don Sutton, the Hall of Fame pitcher and former TBS broadcaster.
“I can’t wait to get to spring training,” Carpenter said. “Working with Don is going to be a real honor and a treat. As for being the broadcast team that does the first telecast of the network in Baltimore, it will be an honor.”
The new home of the Orioles and Nationals will have solid cable coverage throughout the entire mid-Atlantic area and, of course, DirecTV fans will have access to the games.
MASN will debut its new pre-game and post-game shows, “O’s Xtra” and “Nats Xtra” for three of the last games in March. These 30-minute programs will showcase Nationals and Orioles news, analysis, highlights and interviews. The details of these shows will be released in the next few weeks as contracts are signed.
While the Baltimore broadcast team is not yet set (expect an announcement on that as soon as next week), this much is certain: Jim Palmer will return, giving MASN the distinction of being the only regional cable network to have two Hall of Fame pitchers in their broadcast stable. Jim Hunter, Fred Manfra and Joe Angel will continue to call O’s games on their new flagship station, WHFS-FM 105.7.
Television rights
MASN’s spring training telecast schedule:
Nationals preseason games on MASN
» March 3, 1:05 p.m. — Orioles at Nationals, Viera, Fla.
» March 8, 1:05 p.m. — Astros at Nationals, Viera
» March 9, 1:05 p.m. — Nationals at Orioles, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
» March 12, 1:05 p.m. — Mets at Nationals, Viera
» March 21, 7:05 p.m. — Braves at Nationals, Viera
» March 27, 7:05 p.m. — Mets at Nationals, Viera
» March 30, 2:05 p.m. — Nationals at Orioles, Norfolk, Va.
» March 31, 1:05 p.m. — Orioles at Nationals, Washington, D.C.*
Orioles preseason games on MASN
» March 3, 1:05 p.m. — Orioles at Nationals, Viera, Fla.
» March 9, 1:05 p.m. — Nationals at Orioles, Fort Lauderdale
» March 18, 1:05 p.m. — Red Sox at Orioles, Fort Lauderdale
» March 24, 1:05 p.m. — Dodgers at Orioles, Fort Lauderdale
» March 28, 1:05 p.m. — Cardinals at Orioles, Fort Lauderdale*
» March 30, 2:05 p.m. — Nationals at Orioles, Norfolk, Va.
» March 31, 1:05 p.m. — Orioles at Nationals, Washington, D.C.
*Denotes games featuring new MASN pre- and post-game shows.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Feb 9, 2007 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 3 of 14,205 articles
BALTIMORE - With just about a week until pitchers and catchers report to camp, the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network has released its schedule for both the Orioles and Nationals’ spring training telecasts.
“MASN is offering unmatched access to the Nationals and Orioles this year, starting with an unprecedented 11 spring training games on television,” MASN spokesman Todd Webster said. “MASN is bringing fans inside the game with complete baseball coverage all season long.”
Since both Orioles and Nationals are partners in the network, viewers can expect a great deal of access they have not seen before, with field reporters and in-game comments from managers.
The first game on the schedule will be the O’s and the Nationals from Viera, Fla., on March 3 at 1 p.m. It will mark the first of more than 300 MASN baseball telecasts for 2007. The game will feature the Nationals broadcast crew of Bob Carpenter and the newly signed Don Sutton, the Hall of Fame pitcher and former TBS broadcaster.
“I can’t wait to get to spring training,” Carpenter said. “Working with Don is going to be a real honor and a treat. As for being the broadcast team that does the first telecast of the network in Baltimore, it will be an honor.”
The new home of the Orioles and Nationals will have solid cable coverage throughout the entire mid-Atlantic area and, of course, DirecTV fans will have access to the games.
MASN will debut its new pre-game and post-game shows, “O’s Xtra” and “Nats Xtra” for three of the last games in March. These 30-minute programs will showcase Nationals and Orioles news, analysis, highlights and interviews. The details of these shows will be released in the next few weeks as contracts are signed.
While the Baltimore broadcast team is not yet set (expect an announcement on that as soon as next week), this much is certain: Jim Palmer will return, giving MASN the distinction of being the only regional cable network to have two Hall of Fame pitchers in their broadcast stable. Jim Hunter, Fred Manfra and Joe Angel will continue to call O’s games on their new flagship station, WHFS-FM 105.7.
Television rights
MASN’s spring training telecast schedule:
Nationals preseason games on MASN
» March 3, 1:05 p.m. — Orioles at Nationals, Viera, Fla.
» March 8, 1:05 p.m. — Astros at Nationals, Viera
» March 9, 1:05 p.m. — Nationals at Orioles, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
» March 12, 1:05 p.m. — Mets at Nationals, Viera
» March 21, 7:05 p.m. — Braves at Nationals, Viera
» March 27, 7:05 p.m. — Mets at Nationals, Viera
» March 30, 2:05 p.m. — Nationals at Orioles, Norfolk, Va.
» March 31, 1:05 p.m. — Orioles at Nationals, Washington, D.C.*
Orioles preseason games on MASN
» March 3, 1:05 p.m. — Orioles at Nationals, Viera, Fla.
» March 9, 1:05 p.m. — Nationals at Orioles, Fort Lauderdale
» March 18, 1:05 p.m. — Red Sox at Orioles, Fort Lauderdale
» March 24, 1:05 p.m. — Dodgers at Orioles, Fort Lauderdale
» March 28, 1:05 p.m. — Cardinals at Orioles, Fort Lauderdale*
» March 30, 2:05 p.m. — Nationals at Orioles, Norfolk, Va.
» March 31, 1:05 p.m. — Orioles at Nationals, Washington, D.C.
*Denotes games featuring new MASN pre- and post-game shows.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Signing day goes big time for college football
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Feb 7, 2007 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 6 of 14,636 articles
BALTIMORE - CSTV and ESPNU are poised to cover college football’s national signing day with all the fanfare of the NFL Draft, featuring wall-to-wall coverage and plenty of local high school players and college coaches on the edge of their seats.
Today is the big day, and ESPNU will start its coverage at noon with both ESPNEWS and ESPN dropping by from 3 to 5 p.m. CSTV will air its signing day special live from 2 to 5 p.m. with Matt Simms, John L. Smith, John Bunting and recruiting expert Tom Lemming, the dean of college recruiting.
Lemming spoke to me about the nation’s growing interest with national signing day.
Lemming on scouting players: “I have been tracking high schools for over 27 years, and I logged over a million miles scouting players for my publications, and over the past five years things just exploded. Everyone wants to know if their school got the big catch — impact players to make them a BCS Championship contender.”
Lemming on Maryland: “I really think that Maryland fans will be very happy with their success. The Terps have been able to keep most of the top players in the state while sneaking up to New Jersey and grabbing four players from Rutgers’ backyard. Head coach Ralph Friedgen and his staff really have worked very hard to not lose the very talented kids in Maryland, and it has paid off. I really think they could have a Top 25 class.”
On the ACC: “Virginia Tech gets high marks, and once again, coach Frank Beamer should have a great class coming to Blacksburg. I think Beamer is an underrated recruiter. He always does a great job. As for Miami and FSU dropping off, don't count on it. They will still be perennial top-10 recruiting teams every year, with South Florida quickly becoming the state’s next powerhouse.”
On who did the best recruiting nationally: “USC and Florida both have done a great job of becoming dynasties and will be top-five recruiters for many years to come. Texas, Notre Dame, LSU, Michigan and Ohio State will all be near the top this year.”
THEOHARIS STAYING PUT: Early last week, Amber Theoharis was looking to leave her Baltimore home and head north to take a bite out of the Big Apple. But as of last Thursday, she will be staying in Charm City for a long time.
On the day she was named the 2006 Maryland sportscaster of the year, Theoharis signed a deal with WHFS-FM to do a new show, which debuted last week, called “The A List,” airing Monday-Friday, 7-9 p.m. You can also expect Theoharis to be on TV sometime this spring.
With Theoharis’ new gig and Anita Marks doing drive-time on sister station ESPN 1300-AM, Baltimore has the distinction of five consecutive hours of daily sports talk anchored by women.
Both Theoharis and Marks are likely to be part of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network’s baseball plans, but look for that news in a couple of weeks. The network is still working out the details for its elaborate baseball coverage.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Feb 7, 2007 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 6 of 14,636 articles
BALTIMORE - CSTV and ESPNU are poised to cover college football’s national signing day with all the fanfare of the NFL Draft, featuring wall-to-wall coverage and plenty of local high school players and college coaches on the edge of their seats.
Today is the big day, and ESPNU will start its coverage at noon with both ESPNEWS and ESPN dropping by from 3 to 5 p.m. CSTV will air its signing day special live from 2 to 5 p.m. with Matt Simms, John L. Smith, John Bunting and recruiting expert Tom Lemming, the dean of college recruiting.
Lemming spoke to me about the nation’s growing interest with national signing day.
Lemming on scouting players: “I have been tracking high schools for over 27 years, and I logged over a million miles scouting players for my publications, and over the past five years things just exploded. Everyone wants to know if their school got the big catch — impact players to make them a BCS Championship contender.”
Lemming on Maryland: “I really think that Maryland fans will be very happy with their success. The Terps have been able to keep most of the top players in the state while sneaking up to New Jersey and grabbing four players from Rutgers’ backyard. Head coach Ralph Friedgen and his staff really have worked very hard to not lose the very talented kids in Maryland, and it has paid off. I really think they could have a Top 25 class.”
On the ACC: “Virginia Tech gets high marks, and once again, coach Frank Beamer should have a great class coming to Blacksburg. I think Beamer is an underrated recruiter. He always does a great job. As for Miami and FSU dropping off, don't count on it. They will still be perennial top-10 recruiting teams every year, with South Florida quickly becoming the state’s next powerhouse.”
On who did the best recruiting nationally: “USC and Florida both have done a great job of becoming dynasties and will be top-five recruiters for many years to come. Texas, Notre Dame, LSU, Michigan and Ohio State will all be near the top this year.”
THEOHARIS STAYING PUT: Early last week, Amber Theoharis was looking to leave her Baltimore home and head north to take a bite out of the Big Apple. But as of last Thursday, she will be staying in Charm City for a long time.
On the day she was named the 2006 Maryland sportscaster of the year, Theoharis signed a deal with WHFS-FM to do a new show, which debuted last week, called “The A List,” airing Monday-Friday, 7-9 p.m. You can also expect Theoharis to be on TV sometime this spring.
With Theoharis’ new gig and Anita Marks doing drive-time on sister station ESPN 1300-AM, Baltimore has the distinction of five consecutive hours of daily sports talk anchored by women.
Both Theoharis and Marks are likely to be part of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network’s baseball plans, but look for that news in a couple of weeks. The network is still working out the details for its elaborate baseball coverage.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Signing day goes big time for college football
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Feb 7, 2007 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 6 of 14,636 articles
BALTIMORE - CSTV and ESPNU are poised to cover college football’s national signing day with all the fanfare of the NFL Draft, featuring wall-to-wall coverage and plenty of local high school players and college coaches on the edge of their seats.
Today is the big day, and ESPNU will start its coverage at noon with both ESPNEWS and ESPN dropping by from 3 to 5 p.m. CSTV will air its signing day special live from 2 to 5 p.m. with Matt Simms, John L. Smith, John Bunting and recruiting expert Tom Lemming, the dean of college recruiting.
Lemming spoke to me about the nation’s growing interest with national signing day.
Lemming on scouting players: “I have been tracking high schools for over 27 years, and I logged over a million miles scouting players for my publications, and over the past five years things just exploded. Everyone wants to know if their school got the big catch — impact players to make them a BCS Championship contender.”
Lemming on Maryland: “I really think that Maryland fans will be very happy with their success. The Terps have been able to keep most of the top players in the state while sneaking up to New Jersey and grabbing four players from Rutgers’ backyard. Head coach Ralph Friedgen and his staff really have worked very hard to not lose the very talented kids in Maryland, and it has paid off. I really think they could have a Top 25 class.”
On the ACC: “Virginia Tech gets high marks, and once again, coach Frank Beamer should have a great class coming to Blacksburg. I think Beamer is an underrated recruiter. He always does a great job. As for Miami and FSU dropping off, don't count on it. They will still be perennial top-10 recruiting teams every year, with South Florida quickly becoming the state’s next powerhouse.”
On who did the best recruiting nationally: “USC and Florida both have done a great job of becoming dynasties and will be top-five recruiters for many years to come. Texas, Notre Dame, LSU, Michigan and Ohio State will all be near the top this year.”
THEOHARIS STAYING PUT: Early last week, Amber Theoharis was looking to leave her Baltimore home and head north to take a bite out of the Big Apple. But as of last Thursday, she will be staying in Charm City for a long time.
On the day she was named the 2006 Maryland sportscaster of the year, Theoharis signed a deal with WHFS-FM to do a new show, which debuted last week, called “The A List,” airing Monday-Friday, 7-9 p.m. You can also expect Theoharis to be on TV sometime this spring.
With Theoharis’ new gig and Anita Marks doing drive-time on sister station ESPN 1300-AM, Baltimore has the distinction of five consecutive hours of daily sports talk anchored by women.
Both Theoharis and Marks are likely to be part of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network’s baseball plans, but look for that news in a couple of weeks. The network is still working out the details for its elaborate baseball coverage.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Feb 7, 2007 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 6 of 14,636 articles
BALTIMORE - CSTV and ESPNU are poised to cover college football’s national signing day with all the fanfare of the NFL Draft, featuring wall-to-wall coverage and plenty of local high school players and college coaches on the edge of their seats.
Today is the big day, and ESPNU will start its coverage at noon with both ESPNEWS and ESPN dropping by from 3 to 5 p.m. CSTV will air its signing day special live from 2 to 5 p.m. with Matt Simms, John L. Smith, John Bunting and recruiting expert Tom Lemming, the dean of college recruiting.
Lemming spoke to me about the nation’s growing interest with national signing day.
Lemming on scouting players: “I have been tracking high schools for over 27 years, and I logged over a million miles scouting players for my publications, and over the past five years things just exploded. Everyone wants to know if their school got the big catch — impact players to make them a BCS Championship contender.”
Lemming on Maryland: “I really think that Maryland fans will be very happy with their success. The Terps have been able to keep most of the top players in the state while sneaking up to New Jersey and grabbing four players from Rutgers’ backyard. Head coach Ralph Friedgen and his staff really have worked very hard to not lose the very talented kids in Maryland, and it has paid off. I really think they could have a Top 25 class.”
On the ACC: “Virginia Tech gets high marks, and once again, coach Frank Beamer should have a great class coming to Blacksburg. I think Beamer is an underrated recruiter. He always does a great job. As for Miami and FSU dropping off, don't count on it. They will still be perennial top-10 recruiting teams every year, with South Florida quickly becoming the state’s next powerhouse.”
On who did the best recruiting nationally: “USC and Florida both have done a great job of becoming dynasties and will be top-five recruiters for many years to come. Texas, Notre Dame, LSU, Michigan and Ohio State will all be near the top this year.”
THEOHARIS STAYING PUT: Early last week, Amber Theoharis was looking to leave her Baltimore home and head north to take a bite out of the Big Apple. But as of last Thursday, she will be staying in Charm City for a long time.
On the day she was named the 2006 Maryland sportscaster of the year, Theoharis signed a deal with WHFS-FM to do a new show, which debuted last week, called “The A List,” airing Monday-Friday, 7-9 p.m. You can also expect Theoharis to be on TV sometime this spring.
With Theoharis’ new gig and Anita Marks doing drive-time on sister station ESPN 1300-AM, Baltimore has the distinction of five consecutive hours of daily sports talk anchored by women.
Both Theoharis and Marks are likely to be part of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network’s baseball plans, but look for that news in a couple of weeks. The network is still working out the details for its elaborate baseball coverage.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Examiner
Dotted line is serious business
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Feb 7, 2007 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 7 of 14,636 articles
WASHINGTON - CSTV and ESPNU are poised to cover college football’s National Signing Day like it is the NFL Draft. The cable networks will feature wall-to-wall coverage today with plenty of local high school players and college coaches on the edge of their seats.
ESPNU will start its coverage at noon with both ESPNEWS and ESPN dropping by for two hours (3-5 p.m.).
CSTV will air live coverage from 2-5 p.m. with Matt Simms, John L. Smith, John Bunting and CSTV recruiting expert Tom Lemming.”
I spoke to Lemming about the day and how some local schools may fare.
Lemming on scouting players: “I have been tracking high schools for over 27 years and I logged over a million miles scouting players for my publications. Over the past five years, things just exploded. Everyone wants to know if their school got the big catch impact players to make them a BCS Championship contender.”
Lemming on Maryland: “I really think that Maryland fans will be very happy with their success. The Terps have been able to keep most of the top players in the state while sneaking up to New Jersey and grabbing four players from Rutgers’ backyard. Head coach Ralph Friedgen and his staff really has worked very hard to not lose the very talented kids in Maryland and it has paid off. I really think they could have a Top 25 class.”
On Virginia Tech and the ACC: “Virginia Tech gets high marks and once again Coach Frank Beamer should have a great class coming to Blacksburg. I think Beamer is an underrated recruiter, he does a great job. As for Miami and Florida State dropping off, don’t count on it. They will still be perennial Top 10 recruiting teams every year with South Florida quickly becoming the state’s next powerhouse.”
On which school will win the day on a national level: “USC and Florida both have done a great job of becoming dynasties and will be top five recruiters for years to come. Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Michigan and Ohio State all cashed in this year.”
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Feb 7, 2007 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 7 of 14,636 articles
WASHINGTON - CSTV and ESPNU are poised to cover college football’s National Signing Day like it is the NFL Draft. The cable networks will feature wall-to-wall coverage today with plenty of local high school players and college coaches on the edge of their seats.
ESPNU will start its coverage at noon with both ESPNEWS and ESPN dropping by for two hours (3-5 p.m.).
CSTV will air live coverage from 2-5 p.m. with Matt Simms, John L. Smith, John Bunting and CSTV recruiting expert Tom Lemming.”
I spoke to Lemming about the day and how some local schools may fare.
Lemming on scouting players: “I have been tracking high schools for over 27 years and I logged over a million miles scouting players for my publications. Over the past five years, things just exploded. Everyone wants to know if their school got the big catch impact players to make them a BCS Championship contender.”
Lemming on Maryland: “I really think that Maryland fans will be very happy with their success. The Terps have been able to keep most of the top players in the state while sneaking up to New Jersey and grabbing four players from Rutgers’ backyard. Head coach Ralph Friedgen and his staff really has worked very hard to not lose the very talented kids in Maryland and it has paid off. I really think they could have a Top 25 class.”
On Virginia Tech and the ACC: “Virginia Tech gets high marks and once again Coach Frank Beamer should have a great class coming to Blacksburg. I think Beamer is an underrated recruiter, he does a great job. As for Miami and Florida State dropping off, don’t count on it. They will still be perennial Top 10 recruiting teams every year with South Florida quickly becoming the state’s next powerhouse.”
On which school will win the day on a national level: “USC and Florida both have done a great job of becoming dynasties and will be top five recruiters for years to come. Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Michigan and Ohio State all cashed in this year.”
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
Examiner
Sunday, February 04, 2007
The Complete SB XLI TV Day Planner
Here is your Super Bowl Day Planner. I have all the features from ESPN, NFL Network and CBS so that you the fan will be able to know when to make that beer/soda run, get the extra ice, do all the important things and not miss anything that might interest you. This public service has been done for you the last three years and I hope you enjoy the game.
Cheers.....Jim Williams
The Features on ESPN where their pre game starts at 11am:
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, the Super Bowl XXXV MVP and former University of Miami All-American, will join ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown as a guest analyst during the program’s three-hour Super Bowl XLI preview edition Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m. ET, from Miami. The telecast will feature host Chris Berman and analysts Tom Jackson, Michael Irvin, Mike Ditka and Ron Jaworski from ESPN’s South Beach set (12th and Ocean Drive), as well as Stuart Scott, Super Bowl XXIX MVP Steve Young, guest analyst Lewis and NFL Insider Chris Mortensen appearing from Dolphin Stadium. ESPN reporters Ed Werder (covering the Bears) and Sal Paolantonio (Colts) will provide live updates from the team hotels.
Program highlights with planned telecast times:
Making History (12:00 p.m.)
For the first time, the Lombardi Trophy will be hoisted by an African-American head coach with Lovie Smith or Tony Dungy set to make NFL history on Sunday. Greg Garber examines how both coaches got to the Super Bowl and what it means for the NFL, the African-American community and the country.
The Mayne Event: Big Bobbles (12:20 p.m.)
What does Kurt Warner have to do with the Bears’ secret defensive strategy to win the game? Kenny Mayne finds out in The Mayne Event.
Soundtracks: AFC Championship (12:30 p.m.)
Sunday’s “Soundtracks” will feature the best audio from the New England Patriots-Indianapolis Colts AFC Championship match-up.
Bears Linebackers (12:40 p.m.)
Brian Urlacher is carrying on the tradition of outstanding Chicago Bears linebackers. In a unique feature by Nichols on the lineage of Bears linebackers, Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Urlacher talk about what it means to play the position for the Bears franchise.
Reggie Wayne (12:55 p.m.)
On September 24, Indianapolis receiver Reggie Wayne had four catches for 82 yards in the Colts win over the Jaguars. Just hours later, Wayne learned that his brother Rashad had been killed in a car accident. Wayne talks to Countdown’s Tom Jackson about that day, how his brother's death affected him and how his teammates have helped him get through this family tragedy.
Rex Grossman (1:10 p.m.)
The "other" quarterback in the big game comes from a football family, too. Grossman's father was a quarterback at Indiana University and his grandfather played for the Baltimore Colts. Rachel Nichols profiles the Bears quarterback's journey from grade school to the NFL.
Peyton Manning (1:35 p.m.)
The Mannings are football's first family. While Archie and sons Peyton and Eli have made names for themselves in the NFL, it is the other Manning brother who inspires Peyton. Tom Rinaldi tells the story of Cooper Manning and the close relationship he has with his brother Peyton.
Countdown will also feature a series of vignettes highlighting: Colts placekicker Adam Vinatieri in the clutch, Lovie Smith’s demeanor, Peyton Manning’s audible and the Bears’ defense.
The NFL Network also starts their pre game show at 11am and as we have seen all week they have been right there with ESPN earning top coverage honors,
11 a.m. -- NFL Total Access at the Super Bowl
NFL Total Access - NFL Total Access is the NFL's show of record, providing daily news, interviews and analysis from around the league. This special Super Bowl edition of Total Access looks ahead to Super Bowl XLI between the Bears and the Colts.
2:30 p.m. -- Championship Chase: Chicago Bears
Championship Chase 2006: Chicago Bears - Follow the Chicago Bears throughout the 2006 season. This championship chase provides the NFL Films signature highlights and sideline sound each week. Watch the Bears battle through adversity and triumph on their way to Miami and Super Bowl XLI.
3 p.m. -- NFL Replay
NFL Replay - 2006 NFC Championship - NFL Replay features the 2006 NFC championship game between NO and CHI. NFL Replay games air in a 90-minute fast-paced format, without halftime and other elements not critical to the outcome.
4:30 p.m. -- Championship Chase: Indianapolis Colts
Championship Chase 2006: Indianapolis Colts - Follow the Indianapolis Colts throughout the 2006 season. This championship chase provides the NFL Films signature highlights and sideline sound each week. Watch the Colts battle through adversity and triumph on their way to Miami and Super Bowl XLI.
5 p.m. -- NFL Replay
NFL Replay - 2006 AFC Championship - NFL Replay features the 2006 AFC championship game between NE and IND. NFL Replay games air in a 90-minute fast-paced format, without halftime and other elements not critical to the outcome.
CBS SPORTS' "SUPER BOWL TODAY" FEATURES SET FOR SUPER BOWL XLI ON
THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK ON FEB. 4
CBS Sports' coverage of Super Bowl XLI continues with THE SUPER BOWL
TODAY, the Network's pre-game studio show (2:00-6:00 PM, ET) with host
James Brown along with analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, and Shannon
Sharpe, as well as NFL Insider General Manager Charley Casserly,
reporters Lesley Visser, Sam Ryan and contributor Dick Enberg.
¨James Brown, Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason and Shannon Sharpe welcome
viewers with some pre-game analysis and highlights from the NFL Tailgate
party set, while Lesley Visser and Sam Ryan report on each team.
Following are the approximate air times for features on THE SUPER BOWL
TODAY (subject to change):
2:15 PM, ET
¨Shannon Sharpe tackles the Colts' defense talking with Dwight
Freeney and Bob Sanders. Jeff St. Arromand produces.
2:30 PM, ET
¨THE SUPER BOWL TODAY features Chicago Bears running back Thomas
Jones.
2:45 PM, ET
¨Dick Enberg visits with legendary coaching genius of the San Francisco
49ers Bill Walsh. Deb Boulac produces.
3:00 PM, ET
¨Sam Ryan covers Indianapolis Colts record-breaking wide receiver
Marvin Harrison. Jeff St. Arromand produces.
3:10 PM, ET
¨Shannon Sharpe and Boomer Esiason go mach speed as they take a ride
with the famous Thunderbirds fighter jets.
3:30 PM, ET
¨THE SUPER BOWL TODAY features Chicago Bears defensive lineman Tank
Johnson.
3:40 PM, ET
¨CBS EVENING NEWS Chief Investigative Reporter Armen Keteyian sits down
with Joy Piccolo and Connie Payton, wives of former Chicago Bears
running backs Brian Piccolo and Walter Payton. Sarah Rinaldi
produces.
4:00 PM, ET
¨James Brown visits with the head coaches of the Chicago Bears Lovie
Smith and the Indianapolis Colts Tony Dungy to talk about the meaning of
their historic meeting as the first African-American head coaches in the
NFL to lead their teams to the Super Bowl. Charlie Bloom produces.
4:10 PM, ET
¨Randy Cross reports from Baghdad with the troops as they watch Super
Bowl XLI and participate in the first-ever Baghdad Bowl (flag football
game). Suzanne Smith produces.
4:30 PM, ET
¨Lesley Visser visits with Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman. Deb
Gelman produces.
4:45 PM, ET
¨CBS EVENING NEWS Anchor Katie Couric reports the story of Pittsburgh
Steelers wide receiver and last year's Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward about
his Korean heritage, what it was like growing up and the impact his
success has had on children and others in Korea. Pete Radovich
produces.
5:00
¨Boomer Esiason looks at the tradition of great Chicago middle
linebackers from Dick Butkus to Mike Singletary to Brian Urlacher. Deb
Boulac produces.
5:30 PM, ET
¨Dan Marino sits down for a quarterback-to-quarterback talk with the
Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning. Charlie Bloom produces.
Performances by Stevie Nicks (3:55 PM, ET), Cirque du Soleil (5:45 PM,
ET), and Billy Joel singing the national anthem (6:15 PM, ET) also will
be a part of the pre-game show.
Cheers.....Jim Williams
The Features on ESPN where their pre game starts at 11am:
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, the Super Bowl XXXV MVP and former University of Miami All-American, will join ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown as a guest analyst during the program’s three-hour Super Bowl XLI preview edition Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m. ET, from Miami. The telecast will feature host Chris Berman and analysts Tom Jackson, Michael Irvin, Mike Ditka and Ron Jaworski from ESPN’s South Beach set (12th and Ocean Drive), as well as Stuart Scott, Super Bowl XXIX MVP Steve Young, guest analyst Lewis and NFL Insider Chris Mortensen appearing from Dolphin Stadium. ESPN reporters Ed Werder (covering the Bears) and Sal Paolantonio (Colts) will provide live updates from the team hotels.
Program highlights with planned telecast times:
Making History (12:00 p.m.)
For the first time, the Lombardi Trophy will be hoisted by an African-American head coach with Lovie Smith or Tony Dungy set to make NFL history on Sunday. Greg Garber examines how both coaches got to the Super Bowl and what it means for the NFL, the African-American community and the country.
The Mayne Event: Big Bobbles (12:20 p.m.)
What does Kurt Warner have to do with the Bears’ secret defensive strategy to win the game? Kenny Mayne finds out in The Mayne Event.
Soundtracks: AFC Championship (12:30 p.m.)
Sunday’s “Soundtracks” will feature the best audio from the New England Patriots-Indianapolis Colts AFC Championship match-up.
Bears Linebackers (12:40 p.m.)
Brian Urlacher is carrying on the tradition of outstanding Chicago Bears linebackers. In a unique feature by Nichols on the lineage of Bears linebackers, Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Urlacher talk about what it means to play the position for the Bears franchise.
Reggie Wayne (12:55 p.m.)
On September 24, Indianapolis receiver Reggie Wayne had four catches for 82 yards in the Colts win over the Jaguars. Just hours later, Wayne learned that his brother Rashad had been killed in a car accident. Wayne talks to Countdown’s Tom Jackson about that day, how his brother's death affected him and how his teammates have helped him get through this family tragedy.
Rex Grossman (1:10 p.m.)
The "other" quarterback in the big game comes from a football family, too. Grossman's father was a quarterback at Indiana University and his grandfather played for the Baltimore Colts. Rachel Nichols profiles the Bears quarterback's journey from grade school to the NFL.
Peyton Manning (1:35 p.m.)
The Mannings are football's first family. While Archie and sons Peyton and Eli have made names for themselves in the NFL, it is the other Manning brother who inspires Peyton. Tom Rinaldi tells the story of Cooper Manning and the close relationship he has with his brother Peyton.
Countdown will also feature a series of vignettes highlighting: Colts placekicker Adam Vinatieri in the clutch, Lovie Smith’s demeanor, Peyton Manning’s audible and the Bears’ defense.
The NFL Network also starts their pre game show at 11am and as we have seen all week they have been right there with ESPN earning top coverage honors,
11 a.m. -- NFL Total Access at the Super Bowl
NFL Total Access - NFL Total Access is the NFL's show of record, providing daily news, interviews and analysis from around the league. This special Super Bowl edition of Total Access looks ahead to Super Bowl XLI between the Bears and the Colts.
2:30 p.m. -- Championship Chase: Chicago Bears
Championship Chase 2006: Chicago Bears - Follow the Chicago Bears throughout the 2006 season. This championship chase provides the NFL Films signature highlights and sideline sound each week. Watch the Bears battle through adversity and triumph on their way to Miami and Super Bowl XLI.
3 p.m. -- NFL Replay
NFL Replay - 2006 NFC Championship - NFL Replay features the 2006 NFC championship game between NO and CHI. NFL Replay games air in a 90-minute fast-paced format, without halftime and other elements not critical to the outcome.
4:30 p.m. -- Championship Chase: Indianapolis Colts
Championship Chase 2006: Indianapolis Colts - Follow the Indianapolis Colts throughout the 2006 season. This championship chase provides the NFL Films signature highlights and sideline sound each week. Watch the Colts battle through adversity and triumph on their way to Miami and Super Bowl XLI.
5 p.m. -- NFL Replay
NFL Replay - 2006 AFC Championship - NFL Replay features the 2006 AFC championship game between NE and IND. NFL Replay games air in a 90-minute fast-paced format, without halftime and other elements not critical to the outcome.
CBS SPORTS' "SUPER BOWL TODAY" FEATURES SET FOR SUPER BOWL XLI ON
THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK ON FEB. 4
CBS Sports' coverage of Super Bowl XLI continues with THE SUPER BOWL
TODAY, the Network's pre-game studio show (2:00-6:00 PM, ET) with host
James Brown along with analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, and Shannon
Sharpe, as well as NFL Insider General Manager Charley Casserly,
reporters Lesley Visser, Sam Ryan and contributor Dick Enberg.
¨James Brown, Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason and Shannon Sharpe welcome
viewers with some pre-game analysis and highlights from the NFL Tailgate
party set, while Lesley Visser and Sam Ryan report on each team.
Following are the approximate air times for features on THE SUPER BOWL
TODAY (subject to change):
2:15 PM, ET
¨Shannon Sharpe tackles the Colts' defense talking with Dwight
Freeney and Bob Sanders. Jeff St. Arromand produces.
2:30 PM, ET
¨THE SUPER BOWL TODAY features Chicago Bears running back Thomas
Jones.
2:45 PM, ET
¨Dick Enberg visits with legendary coaching genius of the San Francisco
49ers Bill Walsh. Deb Boulac produces.
3:00 PM, ET
¨Sam Ryan covers Indianapolis Colts record-breaking wide receiver
Marvin Harrison. Jeff St. Arromand produces.
3:10 PM, ET
¨Shannon Sharpe and Boomer Esiason go mach speed as they take a ride
with the famous Thunderbirds fighter jets.
3:30 PM, ET
¨THE SUPER BOWL TODAY features Chicago Bears defensive lineman Tank
Johnson.
3:40 PM, ET
¨CBS EVENING NEWS Chief Investigative Reporter Armen Keteyian sits down
with Joy Piccolo and Connie Payton, wives of former Chicago Bears
running backs Brian Piccolo and Walter Payton. Sarah Rinaldi
produces.
4:00 PM, ET
¨James Brown visits with the head coaches of the Chicago Bears Lovie
Smith and the Indianapolis Colts Tony Dungy to talk about the meaning of
their historic meeting as the first African-American head coaches in the
NFL to lead their teams to the Super Bowl. Charlie Bloom produces.
4:10 PM, ET
¨Randy Cross reports from Baghdad with the troops as they watch Super
Bowl XLI and participate in the first-ever Baghdad Bowl (flag football
game). Suzanne Smith produces.
4:30 PM, ET
¨Lesley Visser visits with Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman. Deb
Gelman produces.
4:45 PM, ET
¨CBS EVENING NEWS Anchor Katie Couric reports the story of Pittsburgh
Steelers wide receiver and last year's Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward about
his Korean heritage, what it was like growing up and the impact his
success has had on children and others in Korea. Pete Radovich
produces.
5:00
¨Boomer Esiason looks at the tradition of great Chicago middle
linebackers from Dick Butkus to Mike Singletary to Brian Urlacher. Deb
Boulac produces.
5:30 PM, ET
¨Dan Marino sits down for a quarterback-to-quarterback talk with the
Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning. Charlie Bloom produces.
Performances by Stevie Nicks (3:55 PM, ET), Cirque du Soleil (5:45 PM,
ET), and Billy Joel singing the national anthem (6:15 PM, ET) also will
be a part of the pre-game show.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
CBS Plans Plenty of good SB Pre Game Features
Here is what CBS plans for Pre game on Super Bowl Sunday. You can plan
your day around what feature you want to see!!
your day around what feature you want to see!!
Enjoy.....Jim Williams
CBS SPORTS' "SUPER BOWL TODAY" FEATURES SET FOR SUPER BOWL XLI ON
THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK ON FEB. 4
CBS Sports' coverage of Super Bowl XLI continues with THE SUPER BOWL
TODAY, the Network's pre-game studio show (2:00-6:00 PM, ET) with host
James Brown along with analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, and Shannon
Sharpe, as well as NFL Insider General Manager Charley Casserly,
reporters Lesley Visser, Sam Ryan and contributor Dick Enberg.
¨James Brown, Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason and Shannon Sharpe welcome
viewers with some pre-game analysis and highlights from the NFL Tailgate
party set, while Lesley Visser and Sam Ryan report on each team.
Following are the approximate air times for features on THE SUPER BOWL
TODAY (subject to change):
2:15 PM, ET
¨Shannon Sharpe tackles the Colts' defense talking with Dwight
Freeney and Bob Sanders. Jeff St. Arromand produces.
2:30 PM, ET
¨THE SUPER BOWL TODAY features Chicago Bears running back Thomas
Jones.
2:45 PM, ET
¨Dick Enberg visits with legendary coaching genius of the San Francisco
49ers Bill Walsh. Deb Boulac produces.
3:00 PM, ET
¨Sam Ryan covers Indianapolis Colts record-breaking wide receiver
Marvin Harrison. Jeff St. Arromand produces.
3:10 PM, ET
¨Shannon Sharpe and Boomer Esiason go mach speed as they take a ride
with the famous Thunderbirds fighter jets.
3:30 PM, ET
¨THE SUPER BOWL TODAY features Chicago Bears defensive lineman Tank
Johnson.
3:40 PM, ET
¨CBS EVENING NEWS Chief Investigative Reporter Armen Keteyian sits down
with Joy Piccolo and Connie Payton, wives of former Chicago Bears
running backs Brian Piccolo and Walter Payton. Sarah Rinaldi
produces.
4:00 PM, ET
¨James Brown visits with the head coaches of the Chicago Bears Lovie
Smith and the Indianapolis Colts Tony Dungy to talk about the meaning of
their historic meeting as the first African-American head coaches in the
NFL to lead their teams to the Super Bowl. Charlie Bloom produces.
4:10 PM, ET
¨Randy Cross reports from Baghdad with the troops as they watch Super
Bowl XLI and participate in the first-ever Baghdad Bowl (flag football
game). Suzanne Smith produces.
4:30 PM, ET
¨Lesley Visser visits with Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman. Deb
Gelman produces.
4:45 PM, ET
¨CBS EVENING NEWS Anchor Katie Couric reports the story of Pittsburgh
Steelers wide receiver and last year's Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward about
his Korean heritage, what it was like growing up and the impact his
success has had on children and others in Korea. Pete Radovich
produces.
5:00
¨Boomer Esiason looks at the tradition of great Chicago middle
linebackers from Dick Butkus to Mike Singletary to Brian Urlacher. Deb
Boulac produces.
5:30 PM, ET
¨Dan Marino sits down for a quarterback-to-quarterback talk with the
Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning. Charlie Bloom produces.
Performances by Stevie Nicks (3:55 PM, ET), Cirque du Soleil (5:45 PM,
ET), and Billy Joel singing the national anthem (6:15 PM, ET) also will
be a part of the pre-game show.
From Jim Williams sent via T-Mobile Blackberry
Thursday, February 01, 2007
A Super Bowl Viewers Guide
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Read more by Jim Williams
Feb 1, 2007 3:00 AM (7 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 5 of 11,679 articles
BALTIMORE - This week, we’re on Super Bowl information overload.
TV, radio, the Internet and satellite communications are bringing fans so much information about the Colts and the Bears, it’s almost impossible to keep up with it. Here’s a look at the top media sources to help you get the best, most entertaining information in the least amount of time.
For TV, WJZ-13 will broadcast the game, but there is a real battle going on between ESPN and the NFL Network. The two cable networks will combine for more than 190 hours of Super Bowl coverage, with much of ESPN’s 90 hours originating from a set in Miami’s South Beach. Also camped out in Miami, the NFL Network’s 100-plus hours of coverage include an unprecedented 55 hours of live programming.
Both will offer extensive pre-game shows that will start in prime-time on Saturday night and run right up to 2 p.m. Sunday.
The very entertaining NFL Films presentation of “America’s Game” named the final four teams in its countdown of the best Super Bowl teams — the 1989 San Francisco 49ers, 1985 Chicago Bears, 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers and 1972 Miami Dolphins. The countdown continues this weekend, with teams No. 3 and 4 featured on NFL Network on Friday at 8 p.m. On Saturday on WJZ, we’ll see the top two teams starting at 2 p.m.
On radio, ESPN and Fox Sports Radio will be live all weekend with comprehensive coverage. The radio winner is SIRIUS NFL channel 124, which will feature inside interviews, press conferences and the most extensive lead-up coverage. On Sunday, they will air the Super Bowl in seven languages. Locally, the game airs on WBAL 1090 AM.
Internet fans will be best served at CBS.Sportsline.com, ESPN.com, and NFL.com. All have plenty of video clips on demand, so you will be able to do your homework on the game.
WJZ starts Sunday’s all-day coverage in the morning with a special football edition of “Face the Nation.” At 2 p.m., the official pre-game show will begin, including a special feature from Katie Couric, as well as live reports throughout the show and game by CBS Sports’ Randy Cross with American soldiers in Iraq.
Kick-off is at 6:25 p.m., and it will mark the first-ever Super Bowl play-by-play assignment for Jim Nantz. Post-game shows will air on CBS, NFL Network and ESPN.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. E-mail him at jwilliamsexaminer@gmail.com.
Read more by Jim Williams
Feb 1, 2007 3:00 AM (7 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 5 of 11,679 articles
BALTIMORE - This week, we’re on Super Bowl information overload.
TV, radio, the Internet and satellite communications are bringing fans so much information about the Colts and the Bears, it’s almost impossible to keep up with it. Here’s a look at the top media sources to help you get the best, most entertaining information in the least amount of time.
For TV, WJZ-13 will broadcast the game, but there is a real battle going on between ESPN and the NFL Network. The two cable networks will combine for more than 190 hours of Super Bowl coverage, with much of ESPN’s 90 hours originating from a set in Miami’s South Beach. Also camped out in Miami, the NFL Network’s 100-plus hours of coverage include an unprecedented 55 hours of live programming.
Both will offer extensive pre-game shows that will start in prime-time on Saturday night and run right up to 2 p.m. Sunday.
The very entertaining NFL Films presentation of “America’s Game” named the final four teams in its countdown of the best Super Bowl teams — the 1989 San Francisco 49ers, 1985 Chicago Bears, 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers and 1972 Miami Dolphins. The countdown continues this weekend, with teams No. 3 and 4 featured on NFL Network on Friday at 8 p.m. On Saturday on WJZ, we’ll see the top two teams starting at 2 p.m.
On radio, ESPN and Fox Sports Radio will be live all weekend with comprehensive coverage. The radio winner is SIRIUS NFL channel 124, which will feature inside interviews, press conferences and the most extensive lead-up coverage. On Sunday, they will air the Super Bowl in seven languages. Locally, the game airs on WBAL 1090 AM.
Internet fans will be best served at CBS.Sportsline.com, ESPN.com, and NFL.com. All have plenty of video clips on demand, so you will be able to do your homework on the game.
WJZ starts Sunday’s all-day coverage in the morning with a special football edition of “Face the Nation.” At 2 p.m., the official pre-game show will begin, including a special feature from Katie Couric, as well as live reports throughout the show and game by CBS Sports’ Randy Cross with American soldiers in Iraq.
Kick-off is at 6:25 p.m., and it will mark the first-ever Super Bowl play-by-play assignment for Jim Nantz. Post-game shows will air on CBS, NFL Network and ESPN.
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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