We're almost into the month of August, but this is a feature I've been meaning to write for over a month. From January through July, this is what I feel are the best and worst of TV and Radio sports to date.
Most Valuable Network - Fox Sports. This is mostly due to the strength of Super Bowl XLII, its NASCAR season to the All-Star Game. Fox had an excellent NFL postseason including the NFC Championship and the monumental upset of the New England Patriots at the hands of the New York Giants. In addition, Fox had one of the highest rated Super Bowls of all-time. For the first half of the year, Fox had a very good six months.
Least Valuable Network - ESPN. Maybe it's karma. Maybe it's the stars. Maybe it's a major coincidence, but ESPN is having a very strange year. First in January, First Take co-host Dana Jacobsen got drunk at the Mike & Mike celebrity roast, made an ass of herself and promptly got suspended. In June, Jamele Hill got suspended for making inappropriate Hitler and Cold War references in an anti-Celtics column. Then in the most bizarre incident to top them all, Bonnie Bernstein had to apologize for saying Palestinian boys want to grow up to be suicide bombers. These incidents caused ESPN Ombudsman Le Anne Schreiber to call for a personal conduct guideline policy to be put into effect.
Best Disappearance by a Network - CBS Sports. After the NCAA Tournament and The Masters, just what did we hear from CBS Sports? Asides from this week's departure by Billy Packer, nothing. Between April through July, CBS has the PGA Tour and that's pretty much it. There are no major events like the U.S. Open or the French Open or The Triple Crown. CBS does have the PGA Championship and U.S. Open tennis in August, but it's virtually a September - April network and that doesn't cut it in this day and age.
Best Run by a Network - NBC Sports. Starting with the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the French Open in May; the Stanley Cup Finals and the U.S. Open in June; then Wimbledon, the U.S. Olympic Trials and the signing of Dan Patrick in July; followed by the Summer Olympics in August, then the season premiere of Sunday Night Football in September, NBC is on an amazing run both in events and ratings. NBC could not have asked for a better five months and it will culminate with Super Bowl XLIII in February.
Best Return of a Sport - The NHL. Beginning from the Winter Classic on New Year's Day through the Stanley Cup Finals, ratings for a much maligned sport improved from the previous two seasons. Does this mean a resurgence for hockey? It's too early to tell, but the ratings for this season have led to NBC renewing its option for next season and Versus has signed up for three more seasons effectively shutting out ESPN.
Biggest Non-Story - In April, media critics were all worried about ESPN televising The Masters. Their fears could not have been more overblown. CBS produced the coverage. Mike Tirico was the only ESPN staffer appearing on the first two days of the tournament. Other than that, it looked like a regular CBS Sports telecast. And there was no Chris Berman.
Worst Personnel Moves - NESN. This network worked hard four years ago to bring in some major league talent including Tina Cervasio and Hazel Mae. However by July, both were gone. Tina left before baseball season to work closer to her New Jersey home after being with NESN for two years. In early June, NESN announced that it was allowing Hazel to leave. NESN has hired Heidi Watney to replace Tina, a move that is still being evaluated and Kathryn Tappen is temporarily replacing Hazel on the SportsDesk. You combine this with allowing Sean McDonough to leave back in 2005, and NESN has earned a reputation of low-balling talent, something that it should not want.
Worst Pulling of the Plug - In March, Citadel Broadcasting in Providence pulled the plug on sports radio station, WSKO, leaving the market with just one sports talker, the carpetbagging WEEI from Boston. It left a very good staff without work. While Andy Gresh is mulling offers, Scott Cordischi returns to the airwaves tomorrow on a part-time basis.
Best Coverage of an Event - NCAA Tournament, CBS Sports. The network has this event down pat, but I have to take some points away for not sending its studio crew to the Final Four. While the economy is not great, CBS makes money on the event and the least it could have done was to send Greg Gumbel, Clark Kellogg and Seth Davis to the site of the Final Four.
Worst Coverage of an Event - The Belmont Stakes, ESPN/ABC. Because it chose to focus so much on favorite Big Brown, the telecast was taken aback when Da'Tara pulled the upset. In addition, host Brent Musberger was miscast. Rick Reilly did not make a very good impression. So far, the Belmont's decision to break away from NBC Sports which covers the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes has yet to be justified this year's ratings aside.
Best Event Starring Tiger Woods - U.S. Open, NBC Sports. What more could you want? Tiger struggled on one knee. He went into a playoff with Rocco Mediate and NBC got great ratings for putting golf in primetime during Father's Day weekend.
Best Event Not Starring Tiger Woods - Wimbledon, NBC Sports. The battle between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal was an instant classic lasting almost five hours. It also garnered good ratings for NBC.
At the end of the year, we'll do our final awards, but this covers the first six and a half months.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks
MLB
Oakland at New York Yankees - KICU/YES, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Tampa Bay - Rogers Sportsnet/ION, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Baltimore - FSN Detroit/MASN2, 7 p.m.
New York Mets at Cincinnati - SNY/FSN Ohio, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Florida - Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/FSN Florida, 7 p.m.
Washington at Atlanta - MASN/Peachtree TV, 7:30 p.m.
Kansas City at Chicago White Sox - FSN Kansas City/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 8 p.m.
Texas at Minnesota - FSN Southwest/FSN North, 8 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at Houston - WGN/FSN Houston, 8 p.m.
San Diego at St. Louis - Cox 4/FSN Midwest, 8 p.m.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame - ESPN, 9 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Colorado - FSN Pittsburgh/FSN Rocky Mountain, 9 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona - KCAL/FSN Arizona, 9:30 p.m.
Red Sox at Anaheim Angels - NESN/FSN West, 10 p.m.
Cleveland at Seattle - STO/FSN Northwest, 10 p.m.
Milwaukee at San Francisco - FSN Wisconsin/KNTV, 10 p.m.
Baseball Tonight - ESPN, 10 p.m.
Entertainment
Most Outrageous Moments - NBC, 8 p.m.
Dateline - NBC, 9 p.m.
Doctor Who - SciFi, 9 p.m.
Monk - USA, 9 p.m.
Psych - USA, 10 p.m.
Flashpoint - CBS, 10 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman - CBS, 11:35 p.m.
Co-Ed Confidential 2 Sophomores - Cinemax, 11:45 p.m.
Big Brother After Dark - Showtime 2, midnight
Oakland at New York Yankees - KICU/YES, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Tampa Bay - Rogers Sportsnet/ION, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Baltimore - FSN Detroit/MASN2, 7 p.m.
New York Mets at Cincinnati - SNY/FSN Ohio, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Florida - Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/FSN Florida, 7 p.m.
Washington at Atlanta - MASN/Peachtree TV, 7:30 p.m.
Kansas City at Chicago White Sox - FSN Kansas City/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 8 p.m.
Texas at Minnesota - FSN Southwest/FSN North, 8 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at Houston - WGN/FSN Houston, 8 p.m.
San Diego at St. Louis - Cox 4/FSN Midwest, 8 p.m.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame - ESPN, 9 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Colorado - FSN Pittsburgh/FSN Rocky Mountain, 9 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona - KCAL/FSN Arizona, 9:30 p.m.
Red Sox at Anaheim Angels - NESN/FSN West, 10 p.m.
Cleveland at Seattle - STO/FSN Northwest, 10 p.m.
Milwaukee at San Francisco - FSN Wisconsin/KNTV, 10 p.m.
Baseball Tonight - ESPN, 10 p.m.
Entertainment
Most Outrageous Moments - NBC, 8 p.m.
Dateline - NBC, 9 p.m.
Doctor Who - SciFi, 9 p.m.
Monk - USA, 9 p.m.
Psych - USA, 10 p.m.
Flashpoint - CBS, 10 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman - CBS, 11:35 p.m.
Co-Ed Confidential 2 Sophomores - Cinemax, 11:45 p.m.
Big Brother After Dark - Showtime 2, midnight
Providing Your Friday Megalinks
It's time for the Friday megalinks today. Lots of stuff to get to and so little time. Let's do the Weekend Viewing Picks first.
Weekend Viewing Picks
The Open Championship and baseball dominate our viewing this weekend.
TNT and ESPN/ABC combine for weekend coverage of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. TNT provides early 3rd round coverage Saturday morning starting at 7. ABC joins in at 9 .m. Then on Sunday, TNT begins very early at 6 a.m. and ABC takes the coverage to the conclusion starting at 8. We'll see if Greg Norman can win his third Claret Jug or if he'll find a way to fade.
Fox Saturday baseball divides the country three ways in which the Red Sox at Anaheim will be the main game. Cleveland at Seattle and San Diego at St. Louis will be the other games Fox will air at 3:55 p.m. WGN has the White Sox hosting Kansas City, Saturday night at 7 and the Cubs visiting Houston, Sunday afternoon at 2. TBS' Sunday afternoon telecast will have the Yankees at home taking on the Oakland A's. ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball starts early at 6 with the Red Sox-Angels.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup series takes the week off, but the Nationwide Series will be in full swing with the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 which ESPN2 will air Saturday night at 9:30.
The IndyCar Series travels to Ohio for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on ABC this Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
The Formula 1's German Grand Prix will be shown on tape Sunday at 1 p.m.
Versus shows the Tour de France this weekend on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. then on Sunday at the early time of 7 a.m.
The USTA's US Open Series has begun with the first tournament finals on Sunday. ESPN2 shows the Indianapolis Tennis Championships men's final at 1 p.m., then the women's Bank of the West Classic final at 5 p.m.
If you're into Beach Volleyball, the Brooklyn Open will be shown on NBC both Saturday and Sunday starting at 2:30 p.m.
Now to the links.
National
Michael Hiestand of USA Today writes that because ESPN is not an Olympics rightsholder, it has to resort to creative ways in covering the games in Communist China.
Kathy Orton of Newsweek says ESPN's Rick Reilly chose some strange words about atheists while Josh Hamilton was hitting during the Home Run Derby.
The Sports Media Watch has some random news and notes including an NHL season opening doubleheader in Europe.
East and Mid-Atlantic
David Scott of the Boston Sports Media Watch lists the winners and losers in the WEEI.com re-launch. And David was part of a podcast hosted by young Alex Reimer over at Mysportsradio.com.
Nancy Marrapese-Burrell of the Boston Globe says even without Tiger Woods, the Open Championship is still Must See TV.
Eric McHugh of the Quincy (MA) Patriot-Ledger profiles Red Sox announcer Dave O'Brien.
Boston.com's Extra Bases Red Sox blog recaps former WBZ-TV anchor Bob Lobel's statements on WEEI today in which he said the Red Sox fined Manny Ramirez six figures and then alleged Manny purposely did not swing during an at-bat at Yankee Stadium earlier this month.
Newsday's Neil Best writes about ESPN's special on the 100th anniversary of "Take Me out to the Ball Game". And Neil says MSG Network will carry the WNBA outdoor game between the New York Liberty and Indiana Fever this Sunday.
The New York Daily News' Bob Raissman says the Yankee Stadium crowd at the All-Star Game did not know how to react to George Steinbrenner's appearance (if this is the best Raissman can do, I may have to drop him from the megalinks).
The perpetually angry Phil Mushnick of the New York Post is mad at MLB for scheduling the Yankees last home game on September 21 for ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball and making the first pitch for the All-Star Game at 8:45 p.m. ET. Of course, Phil does not take into consideration that MLB delays the first pitch so fans on the West Coast can be home in time to watch.
Also from the Post, Justin Terranova talks with NBC Sports golf analyst Gary Koch about the Open Championship. And Justin has five questions for Philadelphia Phillies announcer Tom McCarthy.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says the New York Jets' exhibition games will be seen on local TV for the first time in over a decade.
Dafney Tales of the Philadelphia Daily News reports that alcohol was a factor in John Marzano's death.
Laura Nachman's Philadelphia TV and radio blog mentions that a sports radio WIP host was auditioning for a TV gig this week.
Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun talks about Bob Papa going to the NFL Network and Billy Packer's departure from CBS Sports and Raycom among other things.
Tim Lemke of the Washington Times looks at the All-Star Game ratings and the selling of Brett Favre's jersey.
South
Doug Nye of The State would have preferred an earlier starting time for the All-Star Game.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald says the MLB Network is preparing for launch on New Year's Day and unlike the NFL Network, will have a wide distribution.
Dave Darling in the Orlando Sentinel writes about a new Amazing Race-like program that debuts on Golf Channel this Tuesday.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says FSN Houston is going through a retooling to show more local programming in the fall.
Ray Buck of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says the Open Championship will have plenty of drama even without Tiger Woods.
From the Daily Oklahoman, Mel Bracht talks about Tom Watson joining the ESPN on ABC booth for the Open Championship. Mel likes two major broadcast changes coming up for the NFL and college basketball seasons. Mel has some college football news in his media notebook. And Mel provides his weekend viewing picks.
West
Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune says the local Fox affiliate will do sports on its newscasts only when events dictate. Here are the ratings from last weekend in the always classy San Diego market.
John Maffei from the North County Times says San Diego State did not really solve its problem by lacking a color analyst on its football radio broadcasts.
Jim Carlisle in the Ventura County Star writes that the Open Championship faces an uphill battle for ratings.
John Scheibe writing in the Los Angeles Times that Dodgers fans can see plenty of archival pictures of the team at the library.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says a reinvigorated DodgerTalk program has given fans another chance to talk about the games. And Tom has more on DodgerTalk in his media notes segment of his blog.
Midwest
George M. Thomas from the Akron Beacon Journal talks about former Ohio State Buckeye Clark Kellogg becoming CBS Sports' #1 analyst for college basketball.
Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) Press says Billy Packer is not the only polarizing announcer.
Paul Christian of the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin says Tom Watson might be pulling double duty at the Open Championship this weekend.
Blogs
The 38Cliches blog heard through a third party that the son of former Red Sox announcer Jerry Trupiano visits the site.
Awful Announcing has the MLB announcing schedule for the weekend.
Deadspin has the Ashley Harkleroad nude Playboy layout pics.
SportsbyBrooks says Ashley's boyfriend did the negotiating for the Playboy layout.
Joe Favorito tried to take advantage of the quietest day in sports.
That's going to do it for us today. Enjoy your weekend.
Weekend Viewing Picks
The Open Championship and baseball dominate our viewing this weekend.
TNT and ESPN/ABC combine for weekend coverage of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. TNT provides early 3rd round coverage Saturday morning starting at 7. ABC joins in at 9 .m. Then on Sunday, TNT begins very early at 6 a.m. and ABC takes the coverage to the conclusion starting at 8. We'll see if Greg Norman can win his third Claret Jug or if he'll find a way to fade.
Fox Saturday baseball divides the country three ways in which the Red Sox at Anaheim will be the main game. Cleveland at Seattle and San Diego at St. Louis will be the other games Fox will air at 3:55 p.m. WGN has the White Sox hosting Kansas City, Saturday night at 7 and the Cubs visiting Houston, Sunday afternoon at 2. TBS' Sunday afternoon telecast will have the Yankees at home taking on the Oakland A's. ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball starts early at 6 with the Red Sox-Angels.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup series takes the week off, but the Nationwide Series will be in full swing with the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 which ESPN2 will air Saturday night at 9:30.
The IndyCar Series travels to Ohio for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on ABC this Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
The Formula 1's German Grand Prix will be shown on tape Sunday at 1 p.m.
Versus shows the Tour de France this weekend on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. then on Sunday at the early time of 7 a.m.
The USTA's US Open Series has begun with the first tournament finals on Sunday. ESPN2 shows the Indianapolis Tennis Championships men's final at 1 p.m., then the women's Bank of the West Classic final at 5 p.m.
If you're into Beach Volleyball, the Brooklyn Open will be shown on NBC both Saturday and Sunday starting at 2:30 p.m.
Now to the links.
National
Michael Hiestand of USA Today writes that because ESPN is not an Olympics rightsholder, it has to resort to creative ways in covering the games in Communist China.
Kathy Orton of Newsweek says ESPN's Rick Reilly chose some strange words about atheists while Josh Hamilton was hitting during the Home Run Derby.
The Sports Media Watch has some random news and notes including an NHL season opening doubleheader in Europe.
East and Mid-Atlantic
David Scott of the Boston Sports Media Watch lists the winners and losers in the WEEI.com re-launch. And David was part of a podcast hosted by young Alex Reimer over at Mysportsradio.com.
Nancy Marrapese-Burrell of the Boston Globe says even without Tiger Woods, the Open Championship is still Must See TV.
Eric McHugh of the Quincy (MA) Patriot-Ledger profiles Red Sox announcer Dave O'Brien.
Boston.com's Extra Bases Red Sox blog recaps former WBZ-TV anchor Bob Lobel's statements on WEEI today in which he said the Red Sox fined Manny Ramirez six figures and then alleged Manny purposely did not swing during an at-bat at Yankee Stadium earlier this month.
Newsday's Neil Best writes about ESPN's special on the 100th anniversary of "Take Me out to the Ball Game". And Neil says MSG Network will carry the WNBA outdoor game between the New York Liberty and Indiana Fever this Sunday.
The New York Daily News' Bob Raissman says the Yankee Stadium crowd at the All-Star Game did not know how to react to George Steinbrenner's appearance (if this is the best Raissman can do, I may have to drop him from the megalinks).
The perpetually angry Phil Mushnick of the New York Post is mad at MLB for scheduling the Yankees last home game on September 21 for ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball and making the first pitch for the All-Star Game at 8:45 p.m. ET. Of course, Phil does not take into consideration that MLB delays the first pitch so fans on the West Coast can be home in time to watch.
Also from the Post, Justin Terranova talks with NBC Sports golf analyst Gary Koch about the Open Championship. And Justin has five questions for Philadelphia Phillies announcer Tom McCarthy.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says the New York Jets' exhibition games will be seen on local TV for the first time in over a decade.
Dafney Tales of the Philadelphia Daily News reports that alcohol was a factor in John Marzano's death.
Laura Nachman's Philadelphia TV and radio blog mentions that a sports radio WIP host was auditioning for a TV gig this week.
Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun talks about Bob Papa going to the NFL Network and Billy Packer's departure from CBS Sports and Raycom among other things.
Tim Lemke of the Washington Times looks at the All-Star Game ratings and the selling of Brett Favre's jersey.
South
Doug Nye of The State would have preferred an earlier starting time for the All-Star Game.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald says the MLB Network is preparing for launch on New Year's Day and unlike the NFL Network, will have a wide distribution.
Dave Darling in the Orlando Sentinel writes about a new Amazing Race-like program that debuts on Golf Channel this Tuesday.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says FSN Houston is going through a retooling to show more local programming in the fall.
Ray Buck of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says the Open Championship will have plenty of drama even without Tiger Woods.
From the Daily Oklahoman, Mel Bracht talks about Tom Watson joining the ESPN on ABC booth for the Open Championship. Mel likes two major broadcast changes coming up for the NFL and college basketball seasons. Mel has some college football news in his media notebook. And Mel provides his weekend viewing picks.
West
Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune says the local Fox affiliate will do sports on its newscasts only when events dictate. Here are the ratings from last weekend in the always classy San Diego market.
John Maffei from the North County Times says San Diego State did not really solve its problem by lacking a color analyst on its football radio broadcasts.
Jim Carlisle in the Ventura County Star writes that the Open Championship faces an uphill battle for ratings.
John Scheibe writing in the Los Angeles Times that Dodgers fans can see plenty of archival pictures of the team at the library.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says a reinvigorated DodgerTalk program has given fans another chance to talk about the games. And Tom has more on DodgerTalk in his media notes segment of his blog.
Midwest
George M. Thomas from the Akron Beacon Journal talks about former Ohio State Buckeye Clark Kellogg becoming CBS Sports' #1 analyst for college basketball.
Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) Press says Billy Packer is not the only polarizing announcer.
Paul Christian of the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin says Tom Watson might be pulling double duty at the Open Championship this weekend.
Blogs
The 38Cliches blog heard through a third party that the son of former Red Sox announcer Jerry Trupiano visits the site.
Awful Announcing has the MLB announcing schedule for the weekend.
Deadspin has the Ashley Harkleroad nude Playboy layout pics.
SportsbyBrooks says Ashley's boyfriend did the negotiating for the Playboy layout.
Joe Favorito tried to take advantage of the quietest day in sports.
That's going to do it for us today. Enjoy your weekend.
Preview of Real Sports for July 22
Here's the rundown of stories for the next edition of Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.
TAKES AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS,
EXAMINES RISKS OF THE LITTLE-KNOWN SPORT EQUESTRIAN EVENTING,
REVISITS WITH
AND GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH BILL PARCELLS
WHEN IT RETURNS JULY 22, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO
*What It Takes. When the Beijing Olympics kick off in August, all eyes will be on the marquee event of the games – women’s gymnastics. Every four years, spectators watch in awe as these young athletes perform the impossible in their quest for gold. But many people don’t realize what some of these young girls endure to get a shot at achieving their dreams. In this REAL SPORTS/Sports Illlustrated collaboration, correspondent Jon Frankel takes an in-depth look at the sport, exploring the challenges and physical toll female gymnasts face on the road to Olympic glory. Interviews include: former U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Dominique Moceanu; current
Producer: Chapman Downes.
*Deadly Ride. At this year’s Olympic Games, one of the most glamorous and exhilarating sports is one you may never have heard of – equestrian eventing. Consisting of three competitions – dressage, jumping and cross-country – eventing is the ultimate test of total horsemanship. Amidst the excitement of the sport, the third and most challenging event, cross-country, has recently come under scrutiny: In the last two years, 14 riders and a dozen horses have been killed while competing. REAL SPORTS correspondent Frank Deford takes a closer look at this tragic mystery and talks to those in and around the sport as they look for answers. Interviews include: Professional Rider, Darren Chiacchia; U.S. Equestrian Federation President, David O’Connor; Karan Eriksson; and Wendy Wood.
Producer: Tim Walker.
*Run to Freedom: After years of running from the dangers that plagued his childhood in war-ravaged
Producers: Leah Williams, Mike Sullivan.
*Bill Parcells. One the most accomplished NFL coaches of the past 30 years, Bill Parcells is destined for the Hall of Fame in
Producer: Lisa Bennett.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Late Thursday Night Links
I was at a jobsite for most of the day and I relaxed this evening watching My Boys on TBS (thank you, Neil Best for recommending the show), the Gong Show with Dave Attell and my new favorite show, Reality Bites Back, both on Comedy Central.
Now, I'll provide you with some links tonight.
If you saw Costas Now on HBO on Wednesday night, you might have noticed Will Leitch, formerly of Deadspin, sitting in the audience with his new BFF, Buzz Bissinger. Will tries to explain the whole premise behind it.
The following link comes courtesy of Bruce Allen of the Boston Sports Media Watch. The Boston Daily blog over at Boston Magazine talked with Michael Felger about his new role at WEEI.com.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News talks with two former hosts of DodgerTalk about their experiences with the program.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says the All-Star Game was long, but it certainly wasn't boring.
Broadcasting & Cable says Verizon Fios will be picking up NBC Universal's HD Olympics channels. B&C also reports that CBS College Sports will show all 63 games of this year's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament starting on Monday.
Tony Barnhart of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says don't count out the SEC Network just yet.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News writes that some local regional sports networks are seeing rating upticks for MLB. Reynolds adds that DirecTV will be adding Video on Demand services for the Olympics.
Carl Steward of the Contra Costa Times talks with NBC Sports overseeing graphics coordinator who's going to his fifth Olympics for the network.
Katy Brandenburg of the Union Democrat (CA) talks with an NBC Sports producer who's heading to Communist China for the Olympics.
John Consoli of Mediaweek says through the first ten days of the Tour de France, viewership on Versus is up.
Jackie Majerus of the Bristol (CT) Press tells us about an event in which ESPN invited local businesses to see what the local behemoth is all about.
Cole Young of the Kansas City Star says on nights when there are no sports, depending on taped events becomes important.
Fans of the World Poker Tour will now watch Season VII on FSN.
The Inside Track Girls at the Boston Herald say even though Hazel Mae threw a farewell-to-Boston party earlier this week, she may have a gig lined up in the Hub.
Golf Channel has picked up early coverage of the President's Cup starting next year.
Vlada Gelman of TV Week says Tennis Channel premieres a new program about the U.S. Open this Sunday.
Chris Howard writing in the Daily Courier (AZ) says Tennis Channel is a must-have for tennis fans.
I'll have the Friday megalinks midday.
Now, I'll provide you with some links tonight.
If you saw Costas Now on HBO on Wednesday night, you might have noticed Will Leitch, formerly of Deadspin, sitting in the audience with his new BFF, Buzz Bissinger. Will tries to explain the whole premise behind it.
The following link comes courtesy of Bruce Allen of the Boston Sports Media Watch. The Boston Daily blog over at Boston Magazine talked with Michael Felger about his new role at WEEI.com.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News talks with two former hosts of DodgerTalk about their experiences with the program.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says the All-Star Game was long, but it certainly wasn't boring.
Broadcasting & Cable says Verizon Fios will be picking up NBC Universal's HD Olympics channels. B&C also reports that CBS College Sports will show all 63 games of this year's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament starting on Monday.
Tony Barnhart of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says don't count out the SEC Network just yet.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News writes that some local regional sports networks are seeing rating upticks for MLB. Reynolds adds that DirecTV will be adding Video on Demand services for the Olympics.
Carl Steward of the Contra Costa Times talks with NBC Sports overseeing graphics coordinator who's going to his fifth Olympics for the network.
Katy Brandenburg of the Union Democrat (CA) talks with an NBC Sports producer who's heading to Communist China for the Olympics.
John Consoli of Mediaweek says through the first ten days of the Tour de France, viewership on Versus is up.
Jackie Majerus of the Bristol (CT) Press tells us about an event in which ESPN invited local businesses to see what the local behemoth is all about.
Cole Young of the Kansas City Star says on nights when there are no sports, depending on taped events becomes important.
Fans of the World Poker Tour will now watch Season VII on FSN.
The Inside Track Girls at the Boston Herald say even though Hazel Mae threw a farewell-to-Boston party earlier this week, she may have a gig lined up in the Hub.
Golf Channel has picked up early coverage of the President's Cup starting next year.
Vlada Gelman of TV Week says Tennis Channel premieres a new program about the U.S. Open this Sunday.
Chris Howard writing in the Daily Courier (AZ) says Tennis Channel is a must-have for tennis fans.
I'll have the Friday megalinks midday.
Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks
Golf
British Open: SportsCenter at the Open Championship - ABC, 1:05 a.m.
MLB
Detroit at Baltimore - FSN Detroit/MASN, 7 p.m.
New York Mets at Cincinnati - SNY/FSN Ohio, 7 p.m.
San Diego at St. Louis - Cox 4/FSN Midwest, 8 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Colorado - FSN Pittsburgh/FSN Rocky Mountain, 9 p.m.
Baseball Tonight - ESPN, 10 p.m.
Entertainment
Greatest American Dog - CBS, 8 p.m.
Smoking Gun Presents: World's Dumbest - truTV, 9 p.m.
My Boys - TBS, 9:30 p.m.
Hopkins - ABC, 10 p.m.
Soundstage: Stevie Nicks - PBS, 10 p.m.
The Gong Show with Dave Atell (series premiere) - Comedy Central, 10 p.m.
Burn Notice - USA, 10 p.m.
Swingtown - CBS, 10:04 p.m. (?)
Reality Bites Back - Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman - CBS, 11:35 p.m.
British Open: SportsCenter at the Open Championship - ABC, 1:05 a.m.
MLB
Detroit at Baltimore - FSN Detroit/MASN, 7 p.m.
New York Mets at Cincinnati - SNY/FSN Ohio, 7 p.m.
San Diego at St. Louis - Cox 4/FSN Midwest, 8 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Colorado - FSN Pittsburgh/FSN Rocky Mountain, 9 p.m.
Baseball Tonight - ESPN, 10 p.m.
Entertainment
Greatest American Dog - CBS, 8 p.m.
Smoking Gun Presents: World's Dumbest - truTV, 9 p.m.
My Boys - TBS, 9:30 p.m.
Hopkins - ABC, 10 p.m.
Soundstage: Stevie Nicks - PBS, 10 p.m.
The Gong Show with Dave Atell (series premiere) - Comedy Central, 10 p.m.
Burn Notice - USA, 10 p.m.
Swingtown - CBS, 10:04 p.m. (?)
Reality Bites Back - Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman - CBS, 11:35 p.m.
Where to Watch The Open Championship Online
As golf's third major gets underway at Royal Birkdale today, most if not all of the action will take place when many of us are at work.
With Tiger Woods still recovering from knee surgery after the U.S. Open, this year's Open Championship is wide open. Defending champion Padraig Harrington will decide just before tee time if he can participate as his right wrist is in pain.
To watch this unfolding drama, you can head to several websites for live streams of the 1st and 2nd rounds while you're at work.
PGA.com will offer the most extensive online coverage with the world feed as well as TNT's coverage, pictures of the 16th through 18th holes and video flyovers during all four days.
TNT's website will also be streaming its coverage all four days of the Open.
CBSSports.com will also have live streaming coverage, but only of holes 16 through 18 during the first two rounds.
There won't be any streaming of ABC's coverage when it hits the air on Saturday. But Channel Surfing and Justin.tv provide some alternative ways for you to watch the Open Championship.
And of course, you can watch the traditional way if you're home on Thursday and Friday.
TNT has coverage beginning at 7 a.m. ET on Thursday through Saturday. Coverage begins at 6 a.m. Sunday.
And ESPN/ABC has third round coverage on Saturday at 9 a.m. and the final round starting at 8 a.m.
Enjoy the Open.
With Tiger Woods still recovering from knee surgery after the U.S. Open, this year's Open Championship is wide open. Defending champion Padraig Harrington will decide just before tee time if he can participate as his right wrist is in pain.
To watch this unfolding drama, you can head to several websites for live streams of the 1st and 2nd rounds while you're at work.
PGA.com will offer the most extensive online coverage with the world feed as well as TNT's coverage, pictures of the 16th through 18th holes and video flyovers during all four days.
TNT's website will also be streaming its coverage all four days of the Open.
CBSSports.com will also have live streaming coverage, but only of holes 16 through 18 during the first two rounds.
There won't be any streaming of ABC's coverage when it hits the air on Saturday. But Channel Surfing and Justin.tv provide some alternative ways for you to watch the Open Championship.
And of course, you can watch the traditional way if you're home on Thursday and Friday.
TNT has coverage beginning at 7 a.m. ET on Thursday through Saturday. Coverage begins at 6 a.m. Sunday.
And ESPN/ABC has third round coverage on Saturday at 9 a.m. and the final round starting at 8 a.m.
Enjoy the Open.
Late Wednesday Night/Early Thursday Morning Links
I've been monitoring the Big Brother live feeds on Real Player on behalf of my friends at the Reality Fan Forum. Because I'm friendly with many people over there, I help out, but I'm telling you, none of the cast except for 75 year old grandfather, Jerry is likable. And waiting for something to happen is like watching paint dry. But if you're a BB fan and want to know what's going on before the CBS shows, go to RFF and read up on the live updates to catch up on the action. And if you like, donate a few dollars to the board to keep the feeds going. Rob and Puddin over there will thank you.
Now, let's get to the links tonight of which the ratings for the All-Star Game on Fox will be an underlying theme.
The Sports Media Watch takes Fox to task for playing around with the numbers and splitting the All-Star Game into primetime and late night dayparts to inflate its ratings. The SMW also looks at the ratings for the Tour de France and Arena Football on the national and local levels. Paul Sen has some idle notes including news of an NBA tripleheader scheduled for ESPN during the opening week of the season. And the SMW notes that TNT finished its NASCAR season on a low note.
Neil Best of Newsday says the All-Star Game on Fox got a solid rating in New York as one would expect. You can also check out Neil's very first live chat held on Wednesday.
Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News says Fox's Joe Buck was emphatic in endorsing Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The New York Post's TV Sports blog says the All-Star Game's ratings for the first nine innings on Tuesday rose 11% from the year before.
Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette also writes about the ASG's ratings. Ken's colleague, Jeff Wilkin says he was tired and ready for bed as the All-Star Game hit 11 p.m. on the East Coast.
CNBC's Darren Rovell says Fox did not make any extra ad revenue when the All-Star Game went to extra innings. And Darren says the New York Yankees could have a recorded public address announcer Bob Sheppard do the lineups at the new Yankee Stadium for the next 50 years, long after he's passed away.
Paul J. Gough of the Hollywood Reporter says thanks to the All-Star Game, Fox had the highest rated night of the summer.
Broadcasting & Cable says the ASG's viewership was up over 15% from last year. Mike Malone of B&C blogs that ESPN.com gave him some false hope with a misleading headline Wednesday morning.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News writes that Monday's Home Run Derby on ESPN was the highest rated show on cable of the year thus far.
The lovely Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine says the All-Star Game hit a home run for Fox. And Toni adds that other programs running opposite to the All-Star Game were down compared to other weeks.
Rick Kissell of Variety tells us that Fox was an All-Star on Tuesday.
On to other subjects, Ken McMillan of the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record blogs that NBC's Olympics team has a distinct New York flavor.
Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun has some mixed opinions on Billy Packer in the wake of his departure from CBS Sports and Raycom.
Jack Bogaczyk of the Charleston (WV) Daily Mail will miss Billy Packer.
But Wally Hall of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette will not.
The Detroit Free Press tells us that ESPN has released the dates, matchups and times for the 10th annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
The El Paso Times says CBS College Sports will be live from the Conference USA football media day this Sunday.
The Capital (WI) Times reports that the Big Ten Network will televise the conference's Media Days starting July 24.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says long-time announcer Bob Wolff and writer David DuPree will be honored for their contributions by the Basketball Hall of Fame in September.
Katy Bachman of Mediaweek writes that ESPN is expanding its presence by offering a standalone media player to the 10 ABC owned-and-operated affiliates websites.
Del Milligan of The Ledger (FL) says the Open Championship can be seen and heard on a whole series of different platforms.
Paul Farhi of the Washington Post reports that Redskins owner Dan Snyder's Red Zebra Broadcasting plans to simulcast programming from sports radio station WTEM on four of his six stations.
Andy Tarnoff of OnMilwaukee.com talks with Fox6 sports anchor Jen Lada.
That's going to do it. I may not be available to do links tomorrow. I'll be at a jobsite in the morning. Keep it here.
Now, let's get to the links tonight of which the ratings for the All-Star Game on Fox will be an underlying theme.
The Sports Media Watch takes Fox to task for playing around with the numbers and splitting the All-Star Game into primetime and late night dayparts to inflate its ratings. The SMW also looks at the ratings for the Tour de France and Arena Football on the national and local levels. Paul Sen has some idle notes including news of an NBA tripleheader scheduled for ESPN during the opening week of the season. And the SMW notes that TNT finished its NASCAR season on a low note.
Neil Best of Newsday says the All-Star Game on Fox got a solid rating in New York as one would expect. You can also check out Neil's very first live chat held on Wednesday.
Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News says Fox's Joe Buck was emphatic in endorsing Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The New York Post's TV Sports blog says the All-Star Game's ratings for the first nine innings on Tuesday rose 11% from the year before.
Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette also writes about the ASG's ratings. Ken's colleague, Jeff Wilkin says he was tired and ready for bed as the All-Star Game hit 11 p.m. on the East Coast.
CNBC's Darren Rovell says Fox did not make any extra ad revenue when the All-Star Game went to extra innings. And Darren says the New York Yankees could have a recorded public address announcer Bob Sheppard do the lineups at the new Yankee Stadium for the next 50 years, long after he's passed away.
Paul J. Gough of the Hollywood Reporter says thanks to the All-Star Game, Fox had the highest rated night of the summer.
Broadcasting & Cable says the ASG's viewership was up over 15% from last year. Mike Malone of B&C blogs that ESPN.com gave him some false hope with a misleading headline Wednesday morning.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News writes that Monday's Home Run Derby on ESPN was the highest rated show on cable of the year thus far.
The lovely Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine says the All-Star Game hit a home run for Fox. And Toni adds that other programs running opposite to the All-Star Game were down compared to other weeks.
Rick Kissell of Variety tells us that Fox was an All-Star on Tuesday.
On to other subjects, Ken McMillan of the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record blogs that NBC's Olympics team has a distinct New York flavor.
Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun has some mixed opinions on Billy Packer in the wake of his departure from CBS Sports and Raycom.
Jack Bogaczyk of the Charleston (WV) Daily Mail will miss Billy Packer.
But Wally Hall of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette will not.
The Detroit Free Press tells us that ESPN has released the dates, matchups and times for the 10th annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
The El Paso Times says CBS College Sports will be live from the Conference USA football media day this Sunday.
The Capital (WI) Times reports that the Big Ten Network will televise the conference's Media Days starting July 24.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says long-time announcer Bob Wolff and writer David DuPree will be honored for their contributions by the Basketball Hall of Fame in September.
Katy Bachman of Mediaweek writes that ESPN is expanding its presence by offering a standalone media player to the 10 ABC owned-and-operated affiliates websites.
Del Milligan of The Ledger (FL) says the Open Championship can be seen and heard on a whole series of different platforms.
Paul Farhi of the Washington Post reports that Redskins owner Dan Snyder's Red Zebra Broadcasting plans to simulcast programming from sports radio station WTEM on four of his six stations.
Andy Tarnoff of OnMilwaukee.com talks with Fox6 sports anchor Jen Lada.
That's going to do it. I may not be available to do links tomorrow. I'll be at a jobsite in the morning. Keep it here.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Excerpts of NFL Network Conference Call
You want more press release stuff? I'll give it to you. Here's another release from the NFL, giving excerpts of a conference call officially introducing Bob Papa as the new play-by-play voice of Thursday and Saturday Night Football. Steve Bornstein, President of NFL Network and analyst Cris Collinsworth were also on hand.
EXCERPTS FROM TODAY’S NFL NETWORK CONFERENCE CALL
WITH STEVE BORNSTEIN, BOB PAPA & CRIS COLLINSWORTH
NFL NETWORK PRESIDENT & CEO STEVE BORNSTEIN: We have very exciting news today. We're announcing our new play‑by‑play announcer Bob Papa, who will be joining Cris Collinsworth, on our eight‑game NFL package starting this November.
Bob has been a fixture in the
BOB PAPA: First of all, Steve, thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity. It's just an honor and a privilege to be joining such a great group like those at the NFL Network and the team you've assembled. I am just so looking forward to working with the premiere football analyst in the National Football League in Cris Collinsworth.
I think we're going to have a lot of fun during the season. I think we're going to bring great information to the audience and we're going to let the games play out and have a blast in the booth. I'm just so excited and honored to be a part of this family.
CRIS COLLINSWORTH: I've had the pleasure of working with a lot of great play‑by‑play announcers over the years, but Bob Papa is the first that ever paid for dinner when we went out to enjoy a meal. So we got off to a great start.
My only problem when I work with Bob is by the end of dinner, typically I end up with a little bit of a
But here is a guy that I've worked with at HBO, and they absolutely adore him there. I've worked with him and will be working with him on the Olympics coming up for NBC. I think this is his seventh Olympics and he's a pro's pro. He's a guy that works it every day. He's on Sirius radio going over the issues of the NFL. He was part of a world championship broadcast with the Giants.
All you have to do is spend five minutes with the guy and you understand that he's all in for the game of football and the National Football League. He studies it. He lives it. He breathes it. It's something that I feel like I like to do, as well.
It's interesting when as a group you're around people who the NFL is not only their vocation, it's their avocation, as well. I think that's what Bob is all about and I'm excited to work with him.
Q. Steve, now that you have an accomplished play‑by‑play man like Bob, have you decided to move away from the more conversational style that Bryant Gumbel was brought in for? And, Bob, from your standpoint, what is the most exciting part of being on this new team?
STEVE BORNSTEIN: First off, we're just trying to put the best team together. Bob Papa is an accomplished announcer and well‑known to the NFL Network. He worked on NFL Europa games the past few seasons for us and we think he's going to be a great complement to the Emmy award winning Cris Collinsworth. So I am pretty pleased that we are going to be putting the best announce team out there we possibly can.
BOB PAPA: Just to follow up and answer my part of the question, the thing that's most exciting is this is a standalone Thursday night game. This is a national package. All eyes of the NFL are on these games. To have a chance to work with Cris and be a part of this is tremendous.
I mean, I've been a subscriber and a fan of NFL Network since its inception. It's always on in my house. Now to be a part of that team, to be a part of the wonderful product they put on 24/7 is really just an honor.
It's kind of a natural progression for me with the amount of time that I've spent in the National Football League working in various capacities as a broadcaster, to now be a part of the premiere package of the NFL Network is just tremendous.
Q. Steve, obviously you took a chance at trying to do something a little different with Bryant the first time around. Were you specifically looking this time for more of a hardcore football guy with a long background at this thing? In terms of Bob's national visibility, the Giants' Super Bowl run, you respected his work before that, but do you think that helped introduce him to more people nationally, hearing his voice on highlights?
STEVE BORNSTEIN: I think the answer to the question is we tried and experimented with Bryant, and I think we had some successes there. He's a class broadcaster, and he elected not to come back this season. That allowed us an opportunity to explore different options.
We think Bob's profile in
Q. Cris, obviously the Bryant thing was a bit of an experiment. The dynamic between the two of you was not necessarily a normal veteran play‑by‑play guy with a veteran analyst. Do you think working with Bob will be a little bit more of a traditional role for you where you just kind of do your analysis thing and know he can take care of the nuts and bolts stuff?
CRIS COLLINSWORTH: With Bryant I was always interested in his take on the games because Bryant has a way of seeing a very broad picture of the NFL and big picture of where the NFL fits in the world, obviously with all his news background and such. So that was an interesting dynamic for me all the way through.
But I think with Bob, he lives the minutia the way that I do, if that makes sense. He lives the day‑to‑day grinding of the Brett Favre issue from the first day it was a rumor all the way through and all the nuances of that. So I think it will be a different dynamic.
Now, I think it will be one of those that we will get into discussions of the details of what's going on in the league. And for me that's probably what I enjoy most about doing the games themselves. When you do studio work, you're always talking about the Brett Favre situations of the world; you're always talking about the same four or five topics that sort of are the headlines in the newspapers. But when you're doing the games, you get to talk about the left guard and the running backs coach.
The details that I think make the National Football League and these individual teams so interesting is because there are so many different dynamics between the ownership and the general managers and the coaches and the defensive coordinators and the players, who's happy, who's not happy, things that you just can never get into in a studio show type of setting, that I think Bob will really be able to bring out in a broadcast.
Q. Steve, are there any other changes coming up with regard to the pregame shows and the things that you're doing?
STEVE BORNSTEIN: We're going to be announcing probably in a few weeks our new fall programming schedule. I think you'll be seeing a lot of additional both programming that we're going to be adding and how we're working with the NFL.com side of the story. So it will be a more integrated experience on NFL Network and NFL.com as well.
Bob Papa Is the New Voice of the NFL Network
Here's another press release for you, this one on Bob Papa joining the NFL Network replacing Bryant Gumbel in calling Thursday and Saturday Night Football.
Bob is a good announcer and has come a long way from being the host of the NHL on the old SportsChannel America. One of the best local NFL announcers, he'll get to showcase his work nationally and he'll be much better than Gumbel who showed his inexperience in play-by-play the last two seasons.
BOB PAPA JOINS NFL NETWORK AS
NEW PLAY-BY-PLAY VOICE OF
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Award-Winning
with Analyst Cris Collinsworth
Bob Papa will be the new play-by-play announcer for NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football, NFL Network President and CEO Steve Bornstein announced today.
The new team of Papa and analyst Cris Collinsworth will debut on Thursday, November 6 at 8:00 PM ET when the Cleveland Browns host the Denver Broncos as NFL Network begins its third season of televising an eight-game package of regular-season games.
“Bob is one of the most talented and experienced announcers in the business. We are proud he is joining us as the voice for our Thursday Night Football games,” said Bornstein. “Bob and Cris will be an informative and entertaining team to watch on NFL Network’s prime-time games this fall.”
Papa has been calling New York Giants games, including Super Bowls XXXV and XLII, for WFAN and the Giants’ radio network since 1995. He also was the lead play-by-play voice for NFL Europa games on NFL Network, including the 2007 World Bowl.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to join NFL Network and call the Thursday Night games with the talented Cris Collinsworth,” said Papa.
“Being the new play-by-play voice on prime-time national NFL games after announcing one of the most exciting games in NFL history, Super Bowl XLII, it doesn’t get much better than that.”
In addition to calling Thursday Night Football, Papa will also contribute pre and post game reports for NFL Network from New York Giants games, which he will continue to call on radio. He will also write columns for NFL.com and contribute to the internet site with chats and reports.
Papa hosts a weekday morning show, “
Papa is a fixture in the
In 1992, Papa was named the New York State Associated Press Sportscaster of the Year. He is a graduate of
Mark Loomis is the game producer on Thursday Night Football and Craig Janoff is the game director. Eric Weinberger serves as the executive producer of NFL Network.
Bob is a good announcer and has come a long way from being the host of the NHL on the old SportsChannel America. One of the best local NFL announcers, he'll get to showcase his work nationally and he'll be much better than Gumbel who showed his inexperience in play-by-play the last two seasons.
NBC Sports' Entire Olympics Roster
This is the press release from NBC Sports which outlines every single announcer working the Summer Olympics in Communist China starting on August 8. There are over 100 announcers working for NBC.
Some familiar names include veteran announcer Tim Ryan, reporter Jim Gray for boxing, TNT's Craig Sager doing sideline work for basketball and nice to see ex-Lakers announcer Paul Sunderlund getting some work for indoor volleyball. Melissa Stark returns to sports television as the host of MSNBC's coverage.
While all of the major sports will be called by announcers on-site, much of the online coverage will be called by announcers off a monitor at the NBC studios in New York.
Costas Returns for 8th Olympics, 7th as Primetime Host
NBC Talent Roster Has Won 42 Olympic Medals Including 25 Gold Medals
Collinsworth, Carillo, Roberts Olympic Correspondents
NEW YORK – July 16, 2008 – A record 106 NBC Olympic commentators will broadcast an unprecedented 3,600 hours of Beijing Olympic Games coverage, the most ambitious single media project in history. NBCU's Olympics coverage features the most live coverage in the United States (nearly 2,900 live hours in total), across the most platforms, of any Summer Olympics in history when the Games of the XXIX Olympiad commence on Aug. 8. The lineup, led by the 19-time Emmy Award-winner, Bob Costas, returning for his seventh Olympics as primetime host, was announced today by Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics and Executive Producer of NBCU's Olympic coverage and returns virtually every one of the network's signature Olympic hosts, play-by-play announcers and analysts.
"My first Olympics in Mexico City in 1968 were the first Olympics live in primetime and we had maybe two dozen commentators," said Ebersol. "To have a roster of 106 commentators broadcasting 3,600 total hours is simply astounding. It's a tribute to David Neal and Molly Solomon that we're able to put together such a talented and versatile roster, with a great mix of Olympic veterans and newcomers, particularly considering many of these sports are rarely televised."
NBC Universal's roster of Olympic commentators:
· Roster includes 28 Olympians who won a combined total of 42 Olympic medals (25 Gold, 5 Silver and 12 Bronze). "Team NBC" would have finished sixth at the Athens Olympics with 42 total medals behind Australia and Germany with 49 and ahead of Japan who amassed 37.
· Ranges from Jim Lampley – who is working his record 14th Olympics – to Olympic gold medal wrestling legend Rulon Gardner making his Olympic announcing debut.
· Cris Collinsworth, who will serve as an Olympic correspondent, makes his second Olympic appearance for NBC and his first since 1996.
· Mary Carillo pulls double duty as NBC's late night host and Olympic correspondent, her ninth Olympic Games and sixth with NBC.
· Bela Karolyi, arguably the most successful coach in the history of his sport, one of its most recognized personalities and who has coached and trained world-renowned gymnasts for the past eight Olympics, makes his broadcast debut.
Here is a rundown of NBC's Olympic talent:
HOSTS:
· The 2008 Beijing Olympics will be Bob Costas' eighth for NBC Sports and his seventh as primetime host. After serving as late night host in 1988 from Seoul, Costas has won acclaim and Emmy Awards each year for his work as primetime host from Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, Salt Lake City and Athens. Costas, who has the longest tenure of the network's sports announcers, joined NBC in 1980. He has handled a wide array of assignments, including play by-play, studio hosting and reporting.
· Jim Lampley, America's most experienced Olympic broadcaster, will work his record 14th Olympics in Beijing. Lampley possesses the record for the most-ever Olympic broadcast assignments for any television commentator. He will anchor NBC's afternoon Olympic telecasts in his seventh Olympics with NBC.
· Mary Carillo will host NBC's late night coverage. Carillo will also serve as an Olympic correspondent in her ninth Olympic games and sixth for NBC.
· Alex Flanagan makes her Olympic debut as host of CNBC and USA Network's coverage.
· Matt Vasgersian, who made his Olympic debut as the play-by-play announcer for both softball and baseball during NBC's broadcast of the 2004 Athens Games, will serve as host of USA Network's coverage. In 2006 in Torino, he served as the ski jumping play-by-play commentator.
· Melissa Stark will work her third Olympic Games for NBC serving as an anchor for MSNBC's coverage. Previously, Stark served as the speed skating reporter during NBC's coverage of the 2006 Torino Games and the swimming and diving reporter at the 2004 Athens Games.
· Bill Patrick will serve as the host of MSNBC's coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, making his debut as a full-time Olympic host.
· Fred Roggin, the sports director at KNBC-TV, NBC's owned-and-operated station in Los Angeles, will work his fifth Olympics for NBC as host of CNBC's Boxing in Beijing. Roggin's previous Olympic assignments have included hosting CNBC and MSNBC's curling coverage from the 2006 Torino Games, CNBC's coverage from the Athens Games, serving on the "Special Features Unit" at the Salt Lake Games in 2002 and working as the boxing reporter at the 2000 Sydney Games.
· Lindsay Czarniak will make her second Olympic appearance and her first as host of Oxygen's coverage and as a Sports Desk reporter for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. She made her Olympic debut as a Sports Desk reporter during NBC's coverage of the 2006 Torino Games.
OLYMPIC CORRESPONDENTS:
· Cris Collinsworth: The most honored studio analyst in sports television, Collinsworth, who is a co-host with Costas on NBC's "Football Night in America" will serve as an Olympic correspondent, providing on the scene reports throughout Beijing. This will be his second Olympic assignment having reported from the track & field venue in Atlanta in 1996.
· Mary Carillo: In addition to her role as host of NBC's late night coverage, Carillo will serve as an Olympic correspondent and provide a look into life in China through a collection of features done in her own inimitable style.
· Jimmy Roberts, a 13-time Emmy Award winner, will contribute feature stories and essays and serve as an Olympic correspondent during NBC's coverage of the 2008 Beijing Games.
SPORT BY SPORT:
NBC's signature announce teams return in gymnastics, swimming and track and field. Following is a partial rundown, sport-by-sport. A complete roster is attached.
· GYMNASTICS: Play-by-play commentator Al Trautwig is once again joined by Olympic gold medalist Tim Daggett and Elfi Schlegel, who have provided analysis on NBC's Olympic gymnastics coverage since the 1992 Barcelona Games and veteran Olympic reporter Andrea Joyce. This Olympics will also mark the broadcast debut of Bela Karolyi, arguably the most successful coach in the history of his sport and one of its most recognized personalities who has coached and trained world-renowned gymnasts for the past eight Olympics. He will serve as a gymnastics studio analyst.
· SWIMMING: Dan Hicks has the call alongside analyst Rowdy Gaines – working their fourth Olympics together – with Andrea Kremer reporting in her Olympic debut. Gaines, who won three gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, is working his fifth Olympics for NBC.
· TRACK & FIELD: Tom Hammond, who has won acclaim for his memorable calls at the last four Summer Olympics, will once again call track & field. Dwight Stones, Carol Lewis and Lewis Johnson return as analysts. New analysts include Ato Boldon and Ed Eyestone. Bob Neumeier returns for his second Olympics as a reporter and Craig Masback, who worked as a track & field commentator for NBC in Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996, returns to provide analysis on the men's marathon.
· DIVING: Ted Robinson, working his fifth Olympics, debuted as the diving play-by-play commentator for the 2004 Athens Games. Cynthia Potter, who made three Olympic teams and won bronze in 1976, returns as analyst, a role she's handled for NBC since the 1992 Games. Reporters for the diving venue are Neumeier and Kremer.
· BASKETBALL: Mike Breen, working his fifth Olympics, will handle the play-by-play of both the men's and women's competitions, alongside two respected analysts: Doug Collins (men's) and Ann Meyers (women's). Collins, a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic basketball team, takes on his third Olympic broadcasting assignment. Meyers, who won silver as a member of the U.S. Olympic basketball team in 1976, is working her fourth Olympics as a broadcaster. Craig Sager returns as reporter for both men's and women's hoops. Other basketball commentators include Chris Carrino (play-by-play), Mike Crispino (play-by-play) and analysts Steve "Snapper" Jones, Bob Salmi and Teresa Edwards.
· BOXING: Bob Papa and analyst Teddy Atlas will call boxing. Athens is Papa's seventh Olympics, as he previously called the boxing play-by-play in Barcelona in 1992 and Athens in 2004. Atlas analyzed the boxing competition from Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004. Jim Gray, reporter, returns for his first Olympics for NBC since 2000 where he served as a reporter for swimming and track & field for the Sydney Games. In 1996 he received critical acclaim for his reporting from the scene of the Olympic Park bombing at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
· SOCCER: Veteran soccer play-by-play commentator JP Dellacamera calls his second Olympics, working alongside analysts Marcelo Balboa, who made his debut as a soccer analyst at the 2004 Athens Games and first time Olympic analyst Brandi Chastain. Balboa, a longtime star in Major League Soccer, was the first American to play in three World Cups. With the Women's National Team, Chastain has played in three Olympics (Athens, Sydney and Atlanta) and three Women's World Cups (1991, 1999 and 2003).
· BEACH VOLLEYBALL: NBC's beach volleyball coverage will once again include analyst Karch Kiraly, the most accomplished player in the history of the sport and the only man to win Olympic volleyball gold both indoors and on the beach. Kiraly made his Olympic broadcasting debut in Athens in 2004. Entertaining play-by-play announcer Chris Marlowe, who won a gold medal as captain of the 1984 U.S. Olympic volleyball team, returns for his fifth Olympics as an NBC commentator. Heather Cox returns for her second Olympics as a reporter.
· VOLLEYBALL: Paul Sunderland, a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. volleyball team at the 1984 Olympics, returns to call indoor volleyball, an assignment he had for NBC in Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney. He is joined by two-time Olympian Kevin Barnett, who is making his debut as an Olympic analyst.
· WATER POLO: Bob Fitzgerald makes his Olympic debut for NBC as the Water Polo play-by-play announcer. His previous Olympics broadcast assignments included commentating for basketball at the 2004 Athens Olympics and swimming at the Atlanta Games in 1996. He is joined by Wolf Wigo, a three-time Olympian and former captain of the USA Water Polo Men's National Team.
· WRESTLING: Veteran commentator Matt Devlin returns for his second Olympic assignment and first calling wrestling. He is joined by Olympic gold medalist and American wrestling legend Rulon Gardner, who is making his Olympic broadcasting debut. In 2000 at the Sydney Olympics, Gardner won the gold after defeating Aleksander Karelin. Karelin had been undefeated for 13 years and had not given up a point in six years prior to his loss in the gold-medal match to Gardner. At the end of the 2000 Olympics, Gardner was selected to serve as the U.S. flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony. He then followed with a bronze in 2004 at the Olympic Games in Athens, where he left his shoes on the mat, the sport's traditional symbol of retirement. Gardner is also renowned for surviving several near-death experiences.
The 3,600 total hours of coverage on seven NBC Universal networks: NBC, USA, MSNBC, CNBC, Oxygen, Telemundo and Universal HD, as well as NBCOlympics.com, is 1,000 hours more than the combined coverage for every televised Summer Olympics in U.S. history (Rome 1960 – Athens 2004, 2,562 hours). NBCOlympics.com will feature approximately 2,200 total hours of live streaming Olympic broadband video coverage, the first live online Olympic coverage in the United States.
SPORT-BY-SPORT RUNDOWN:
GYMNASTICS:
Al Trautwig, Play-by-play
Elfi Schlegel, Analyst
Tim Daggett, Analyst
Andrea Joyce, Reporter
TRAMPOLINE GYMNASTICS:
Al Trautwig, Play-by-play
Elfi Schlegel, Analyst
Tim Daggett, Analyst
RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS:
Andrea Joyce, Play-by-play
Elfi Schlegel, Analyst
TRACK & FIELD:
Tom Hammond, Play-by-play
Lewis Johnson , Analyst
Carol Lewis, Analyst
Dwight Stones, Analyst
Ato Boldin, Analyst
Craig Masback, Analyst
Ed Eyestone, Analyst
Bob Neumeier, Reporter
RACE WALKING:
Ron Vaccaro, Play-by-play
Ed Eyestone, Analyst
Carol Lewis, Analyst
SWIMMING:
Dan Hicks, Play-by-play
Rowdy Gaines, Analyst
Andera Kremer, Reporter
OPEN WATER SWIMMING:
Craig Hummer, Play-by-play
Rowdy Gaines, Analyst
DIVING:
Ted Robinson, Play-by-play
Cynthia Potter, Analyst
Bob Neumeier, Reporter
Andrea Kremer, Reporter
BEACH VOLLEYBALL:
Chris Marlowe, Play-by-play
Karch Kiraly, Analyst
Heather Cox, Reporter
INDOOR VOLLEYBALL:
Paul Sunderland, Play-by-play
Kevin Barnett, Analyst
CYCLING (Road/BMX/Mountain Bike):
Pat Parnell, Play-by-play
Craig Hummer, Play-by-play
Kenan Harkin, Analyst
Paul Sherwin, Analyst
Marty Snider, Reporter
TRIATHLON:
Craig Hummer, Play-by-play
Siri Lindley, Analyst
Marty Snider, Reporter
BASKETBALL:
Mike Breen, Play-by-play
Chris Carrino, Play-by-play
Mike Crispino, Play-by-play
Pete Pranica, Play-by-play
Eric Collins, Play-by-play
Teresa Edwards, Analyst
Doug Collins, Analyst
Ann Meyers, Analyst
Bob Salmi, Analyst
Craig Sager, Reporter
ROWING:
Tim Ryan, Play-by-play
Yaz Farooq, Analyst
CANOEING (Flat Water):
Tim Ryan, Play-by-play
Joe Jacobi, Analyst
CANOEING (White Water):
Craig Hummer, Play-by-play
Pat Parnell, Play-by-play
Joe Jacobi, Analyst
SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING:
Craig Hummer, Play-by-play
Heather Olson, Analyst
WRESTLING:
Matt Devlin, Play-by-play
Rulon Gardner, Analyst
WATER POLO:
Bob Fitzgerald, Play-by-play
Wolf Wigo, Analyst
BOXING:
Bob Papa, Play-by-play
Teddy Atlas, Analyst
Jim Gray, Reporter
MODERN PENTATHLON:
Ron Vaccaro, Play-by-play
Rob Stull, Analyst
WEIGHTLIFTING:
Pete Pranica, Play-by-play
Shane Hamman, Analyst
EQUESTRIAN:
Kenny Rice, Play-by-play
Melanie Smith-Taylor, Analyst
SOFTBALL:
Joe Castellano, Play-by-play
Michele Smith, Analyst
SOCCER:
JP Dellacamera, Play-by-play
Glenn Davis, Play-by-play
Adrian Healey, Play-by-play
Steve Cangialosi, Play-by-play
Marcelo Balboa, Analyst
Brandi Chastain, Analyst
Shep Messing, Analyst
Lori Walker, Analyst
TENNIS:
Barry MacKay, Play-by-play
Jimmy Arias, Analyst
BASEBALL:
Eric Collins, Play-by-play
Joe Magrane, Analyst
HANDBALL:
Andrew Catalon, Play-by-play
Dawn Lewis, Analyst
TABLE TENNIS:
Bill Clement, Play-by-play
Sean O'Neill, Analyst
BADMINTON:
Jim Kozimor, Play-by-play
Steve Kearney, Analyst
Bi
Some familiar names include veteran announcer Tim Ryan, reporter Jim Gray for boxing, TNT's Craig Sager doing sideline work for basketball and nice to see ex-Lakers announcer Paul Sunderlund getting some work for indoor volleyball. Melissa Stark returns to sports television as the host of MSNBC's coverage.
While all of the major sports will be called by announcers on-site, much of the online coverage will be called by announcers off a monitor at the NBC studios in New York.
NBC ANNOUNCES TALENT ROSTER FOR
BEIJING OLYMPICS – 106 COMMENTATORS IN ALL
BEIJING OLYMPICS – 106 COMMENTATORS IN ALL
Costas Returns for 8th Olympics, 7th as Primetime Host
NBC Talent Roster Has Won 42 Olympic Medals Including 25 Gold Medals
Collinsworth, Carillo, Roberts Olympic Correspondents
NEW YORK – July 16, 2008 – A record 106 NBC Olympic commentators will broadcast an unprecedented 3,600 hours of Beijing Olympic Games coverage, the most ambitious single media project in history. NBCU's Olympics coverage features the most live coverage in the United States (nearly 2,900 live hours in total), across the most platforms, of any Summer Olympics in history when the Games of the XXIX Olympiad commence on Aug. 8. The lineup, led by the 19-time Emmy Award-winner, Bob Costas, returning for his seventh Olympics as primetime host, was announced today by Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics and Executive Producer of NBCU's Olympic coverage and returns virtually every one of the network's signature Olympic hosts, play-by-play announcers and analysts.
"My first Olympics in Mexico City in 1968 were the first Olympics live in primetime and we had maybe two dozen commentators," said Ebersol. "To have a roster of 106 commentators broadcasting 3,600 total hours is simply astounding. It's a tribute to David Neal and Molly Solomon that we're able to put together such a talented and versatile roster, with a great mix of Olympic veterans and newcomers, particularly considering many of these sports are rarely televised."
NBC Universal's roster of Olympic commentators:
· Roster includes 28 Olympians who won a combined total of 42 Olympic medals (25 Gold, 5 Silver and 12 Bronze). "Team NBC" would have finished sixth at the Athens Olympics with 42 total medals behind Australia and Germany with 49 and ahead of Japan who amassed 37.
· Ranges from Jim Lampley – who is working his record 14th Olympics – to Olympic gold medal wrestling legend Rulon Gardner making his Olympic announcing debut.
· Cris Collinsworth, who will serve as an Olympic correspondent, makes his second Olympic appearance for NBC and his first since 1996.
· Mary Carillo pulls double duty as NBC's late night host and Olympic correspondent, her ninth Olympic Games and sixth with NBC.
· Bela Karolyi, arguably the most successful coach in the history of his sport, one of its most recognized personalities and who has coached and trained world-renowned gymnasts for the past eight Olympics, makes his broadcast debut.
Here is a rundown of NBC's Olympic talent:
HOSTS:
· The 2008 Beijing Olympics will be Bob Costas' eighth for NBC Sports and his seventh as primetime host. After serving as late night host in 1988 from Seoul, Costas has won acclaim and Emmy Awards each year for his work as primetime host from Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, Salt Lake City and Athens. Costas, who has the longest tenure of the network's sports announcers, joined NBC in 1980. He has handled a wide array of assignments, including play by-play, studio hosting and reporting.
· Jim Lampley, America's most experienced Olympic broadcaster, will work his record 14th Olympics in Beijing. Lampley possesses the record for the most-ever Olympic broadcast assignments for any television commentator. He will anchor NBC's afternoon Olympic telecasts in his seventh Olympics with NBC.
· Mary Carillo will host NBC's late night coverage. Carillo will also serve as an Olympic correspondent in her ninth Olympic games and sixth for NBC.
· Alex Flanagan makes her Olympic debut as host of CNBC and USA Network's coverage.
· Matt Vasgersian, who made his Olympic debut as the play-by-play announcer for both softball and baseball during NBC's broadcast of the 2004 Athens Games, will serve as host of USA Network's coverage. In 2006 in Torino, he served as the ski jumping play-by-play commentator.
· Melissa Stark will work her third Olympic Games for NBC serving as an anchor for MSNBC's coverage. Previously, Stark served as the speed skating reporter during NBC's coverage of the 2006 Torino Games and the swimming and diving reporter at the 2004 Athens Games.
· Bill Patrick will serve as the host of MSNBC's coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, making his debut as a full-time Olympic host.
· Fred Roggin, the sports director at KNBC-TV, NBC's owned-and-operated station in Los Angeles, will work his fifth Olympics for NBC as host of CNBC's Boxing in Beijing. Roggin's previous Olympic assignments have included hosting CNBC and MSNBC's curling coverage from the 2006 Torino Games, CNBC's coverage from the Athens Games, serving on the "Special Features Unit" at the Salt Lake Games in 2002 and working as the boxing reporter at the 2000 Sydney Games.
· Lindsay Czarniak will make her second Olympic appearance and her first as host of Oxygen's coverage and as a Sports Desk reporter for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. She made her Olympic debut as a Sports Desk reporter during NBC's coverage of the 2006 Torino Games.
OLYMPIC CORRESPONDENTS:
· Cris Collinsworth: The most honored studio analyst in sports television, Collinsworth, who is a co-host with Costas on NBC's "Football Night in America" will serve as an Olympic correspondent, providing on the scene reports throughout Beijing. This will be his second Olympic assignment having reported from the track & field venue in Atlanta in 1996.
· Mary Carillo: In addition to her role as host of NBC's late night coverage, Carillo will serve as an Olympic correspondent and provide a look into life in China through a collection of features done in her own inimitable style.
· Jimmy Roberts, a 13-time Emmy Award winner, will contribute feature stories and essays and serve as an Olympic correspondent during NBC's coverage of the 2008 Beijing Games.
SPORT BY SPORT:
NBC's signature announce teams return in gymnastics, swimming and track and field. Following is a partial rundown, sport-by-sport. A complete roster is attached.
· GYMNASTICS: Play-by-play commentator Al Trautwig is once again joined by Olympic gold medalist Tim Daggett and Elfi Schlegel, who have provided analysis on NBC's Olympic gymnastics coverage since the 1992 Barcelona Games and veteran Olympic reporter Andrea Joyce. This Olympics will also mark the broadcast debut of Bela Karolyi, arguably the most successful coach in the history of his sport and one of its most recognized personalities who has coached and trained world-renowned gymnasts for the past eight Olympics. He will serve as a gymnastics studio analyst.
· SWIMMING: Dan Hicks has the call alongside analyst Rowdy Gaines – working their fourth Olympics together – with Andrea Kremer reporting in her Olympic debut. Gaines, who won three gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, is working his fifth Olympics for NBC.
· TRACK & FIELD: Tom Hammond, who has won acclaim for his memorable calls at the last four Summer Olympics, will once again call track & field. Dwight Stones, Carol Lewis and Lewis Johnson return as analysts. New analysts include Ato Boldon and Ed Eyestone. Bob Neumeier returns for his second Olympics as a reporter and Craig Masback, who worked as a track & field commentator for NBC in Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996, returns to provide analysis on the men's marathon.
· DIVING: Ted Robinson, working his fifth Olympics, debuted as the diving play-by-play commentator for the 2004 Athens Games. Cynthia Potter, who made three Olympic teams and won bronze in 1976, returns as analyst, a role she's handled for NBC since the 1992 Games. Reporters for the diving venue are Neumeier and Kremer.
· BASKETBALL: Mike Breen, working his fifth Olympics, will handle the play-by-play of both the men's and women's competitions, alongside two respected analysts: Doug Collins (men's) and Ann Meyers (women's). Collins, a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic basketball team, takes on his third Olympic broadcasting assignment. Meyers, who won silver as a member of the U.S. Olympic basketball team in 1976, is working her fourth Olympics as a broadcaster. Craig Sager returns as reporter for both men's and women's hoops. Other basketball commentators include Chris Carrino (play-by-play), Mike Crispino (play-by-play) and analysts Steve "Snapper" Jones, Bob Salmi and Teresa Edwards.
· BOXING: Bob Papa and analyst Teddy Atlas will call boxing. Athens is Papa's seventh Olympics, as he previously called the boxing play-by-play in Barcelona in 1992 and Athens in 2004. Atlas analyzed the boxing competition from Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004. Jim Gray, reporter, returns for his first Olympics for NBC since 2000 where he served as a reporter for swimming and track & field for the Sydney Games. In 1996 he received critical acclaim for his reporting from the scene of the Olympic Park bombing at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
· SOCCER: Veteran soccer play-by-play commentator JP Dellacamera calls his second Olympics, working alongside analysts Marcelo Balboa, who made his debut as a soccer analyst at the 2004 Athens Games and first time Olympic analyst Brandi Chastain. Balboa, a longtime star in Major League Soccer, was the first American to play in three World Cups. With the Women's National Team, Chastain has played in three Olympics (Athens, Sydney and Atlanta) and three Women's World Cups (1991, 1999 and 2003).
· BEACH VOLLEYBALL: NBC's beach volleyball coverage will once again include analyst Karch Kiraly, the most accomplished player in the history of the sport and the only man to win Olympic volleyball gold both indoors and on the beach. Kiraly made his Olympic broadcasting debut in Athens in 2004. Entertaining play-by-play announcer Chris Marlowe, who won a gold medal as captain of the 1984 U.S. Olympic volleyball team, returns for his fifth Olympics as an NBC commentator. Heather Cox returns for her second Olympics as a reporter.
· VOLLEYBALL: Paul Sunderland, a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. volleyball team at the 1984 Olympics, returns to call indoor volleyball, an assignment he had for NBC in Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney. He is joined by two-time Olympian Kevin Barnett, who is making his debut as an Olympic analyst.
· WATER POLO: Bob Fitzgerald makes his Olympic debut for NBC as the Water Polo play-by-play announcer. His previous Olympics broadcast assignments included commentating for basketball at the 2004 Athens Olympics and swimming at the Atlanta Games in 1996. He is joined by Wolf Wigo, a three-time Olympian and former captain of the USA Water Polo Men's National Team.
· WRESTLING: Veteran commentator Matt Devlin returns for his second Olympic assignment and first calling wrestling. He is joined by Olympic gold medalist and American wrestling legend Rulon Gardner, who is making his Olympic broadcasting debut. In 2000 at the Sydney Olympics, Gardner won the gold after defeating Aleksander Karelin. Karelin had been undefeated for 13 years and had not given up a point in six years prior to his loss in the gold-medal match to Gardner. At the end of the 2000 Olympics, Gardner was selected to serve as the U.S. flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony. He then followed with a bronze in 2004 at the Olympic Games in Athens, where he left his shoes on the mat, the sport's traditional symbol of retirement. Gardner is also renowned for surviving several near-death experiences.
The 3,600 total hours of coverage on seven NBC Universal networks: NBC, USA, MSNBC, CNBC, Oxygen, Telemundo and Universal HD, as well as NBCOlympics.com, is 1,000 hours more than the combined coverage for every televised Summer Olympics in U.S. history (Rome 1960 – Athens 2004, 2,562 hours). NBCOlympics.com will feature approximately 2,200 total hours of live streaming Olympic broadband video coverage, the first live online Olympic coverage in the United States.
SPORT-BY-SPORT RUNDOWN:
GYMNASTICS:
Al Trautwig, Play-by-play
Elfi Schlegel, Analyst
Tim Daggett, Analyst
Andrea Joyce, Reporter
TRAMPOLINE GYMNASTICS:
Al Trautwig, Play-by-play
Elfi Schlegel, Analyst
Tim Daggett, Analyst
RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS:
Andrea Joyce, Play-by-play
Elfi Schlegel, Analyst
TRACK & FIELD:
Tom Hammond, Play-by-play
Lewis Johnson , Analyst
Carol Lewis, Analyst
Dwight Stones, Analyst
Ato Boldin, Analyst
Craig Masback, Analyst
Ed Eyestone, Analyst
Bob Neumeier, Reporter
RACE WALKING:
Ron Vaccaro, Play-by-play
Ed Eyestone, Analyst
Carol Lewis, Analyst
SWIMMING:
Dan Hicks, Play-by-play
Rowdy Gaines, Analyst
Andera Kremer, Reporter
OPEN WATER SWIMMING:
Craig Hummer, Play-by-play
Rowdy Gaines, Analyst
DIVING:
Ted Robinson, Play-by-play
Cynthia Potter, Analyst
Bob Neumeier, Reporter
Andrea Kremer, Reporter
BEACH VOLLEYBALL:
Chris Marlowe, Play-by-play
Karch Kiraly, Analyst
Heather Cox, Reporter
INDOOR VOLLEYBALL:
Paul Sunderland, Play-by-play
Kevin Barnett, Analyst
CYCLING (Road/BMX/Mountain Bike):
Pat Parnell, Play-by-play
Craig Hummer, Play-by-play
Kenan Harkin, Analyst
Paul Sherwin, Analyst
Marty Snider, Reporter
TRIATHLON:
Craig Hummer, Play-by-play
Siri Lindley, Analyst
Marty Snider, Reporter
BASKETBALL:
Mike Breen, Play-by-play
Chris Carrino, Play-by-play
Mike Crispino, Play-by-play
Pete Pranica, Play-by-play
Eric Collins, Play-by-play
Teresa Edwards, Analyst
Doug Collins, Analyst
Ann Meyers, Analyst
Bob Salmi, Analyst
Craig Sager, Reporter
ROWING:
Tim Ryan, Play-by-play
Yaz Farooq, Analyst
CANOEING (Flat Water):
Tim Ryan, Play-by-play
Joe Jacobi, Analyst
CANOEING (White Water):
Craig Hummer, Play-by-play
Pat Parnell, Play-by-play
Joe Jacobi, Analyst
SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING:
Craig Hummer, Play-by-play
Heather Olson, Analyst
WRESTLING:
Matt Devlin, Play-by-play
Rulon Gardner, Analyst
WATER POLO:
Bob Fitzgerald, Play-by-play
Wolf Wigo, Analyst
BOXING:
Bob Papa, Play-by-play
Teddy Atlas, Analyst
Jim Gray, Reporter
MODERN PENTATHLON:
Ron Vaccaro, Play-by-play
Rob Stull, Analyst
WEIGHTLIFTING:
Pete Pranica, Play-by-play
Shane Hamman, Analyst
EQUESTRIAN:
Kenny Rice, Play-by-play
Melanie Smith-Taylor, Analyst
SOFTBALL:
Joe Castellano, Play-by-play
Michele Smith, Analyst
SOCCER:
JP Dellacamera, Play-by-play
Glenn Davis, Play-by-play
Adrian Healey, Play-by-play
Steve Cangialosi, Play-by-play
Marcelo Balboa, Analyst
Brandi Chastain, Analyst
Shep Messing, Analyst
Lori Walker, Analyst
TENNIS:
Barry MacKay, Play-by-play
Jimmy Arias, Analyst
BASEBALL:
Eric Collins, Play-by-play
Joe Magrane, Analyst
HANDBALL:
Andrew Catalon, Play-by-play
Dawn Lewis, Analyst
TABLE TENNIS:
Bill Clement, Play-by-play
Sean O'Neill, Analyst
BADMINTON:
Jim Kozimor, Play-by-play
Steve Kearney, Analyst
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