New Deal Brings USTA’s U.S. Open Beginning In 2015

Posted on May 17, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

Tennis fans have some good news today. ESPN has announced that it has acquired the broadcast rights to the U.S. Open. The new deal means that the Sports Leader will broadcast the U.S. Open beginning in 2015. It will be the exclusive home of the U.S. Open both in North and South America. The deal will keep the tournament on ESPN for eleven years. It also means that ESPN and the ESPN family of networks will now broadcast three of tennis’ four majors beginning in 2015.

ESPN President John Skipper shared his thoughts on the new deal. “Certain sporting events become synonymous with when they are held, and there is no better – or bigger – way to celebrate the end of summer than at the US Open in New York,” he said. We look forward to capturing every match, every star, every championship and all the drama on this grand stage.”

Expectations for the new deal are just as high among those with the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Dave Haggerty, USTA Chairman of the Board and president commented on the announcement, saying “This wide-ranging and broad relationship with ESPN positions tennis at the forefront of American sports. By teaming with the world-wide leader in sports, the USTA will continue to ensure that tennis at every level thrives in the United States.”

When the deal takes effect, all matches of the U.S. Open tournament will be available not just on ESPN and ESPN2, but also via WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app for those with mobile internet. Every match of the tournament’s seventeen total courts will also be available on ESPN3. Anyone that has ESPN’s linear networks as part of their video subscription through Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Verizon FiOs, Comcast Xfinity TV, Midcontinent Communications, Cablevision, Cox, Charter or AT&T U-Verse.

Along with broadcasting the U.S. Open in the United States beginning in 2015, ESPN will continue to be the home of the entire U.S. Open in Latin America and the Caribbean, and on TSN in Canada, as it has done since 2002. Fans in these countries will benefit from the new deal as it means expanded hours and broadcast rights, just as in the U.S.—both on multiple linear TV channels and on digital platforms throughout each region.

The new broadcast deal has major implications in the U.S. and Latin and South America, as well as the Caribbean, as noted. It will have a big impact in the Middle East, too. Terms of the deal included making ESPN the home of the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series. Coverage of the series includes seventy-two hours of action in the five-week tournament leading up to the championship. Terms also have given broadcast rights of the Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. The Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day is the family friendly music and tennis festival that serves as the unofficial start to the two-week tournament. It takes place a week prior to the tournament’s official start.

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Soccer Fans Getting More Coverage From ESPN Beginning This Summer

Posted on May 14, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN/ESPNFC

ESPN is giving soccer fans an early Christmas gift this Summer. What started mainly on the ESPNFC.com website has evolved into the first ever full length studio show dedicated to coverage of all things soccer. ESPN FC on TV will air on ESPN daily on ESPN beginning Sunday, August 11^th. The announcement was made today at the company’s Upfront presentation in New York City. The new show will take the place of ESPN FC Press Pass, which currently airs on ESPNEWS in the United States.

The new program will be more than just a studio based show. It will also incorporate the use of ESPNFC.com into the show via a variety of outlets including social media and ESPN’s industry-leading Stats & Information Group’s data visualization analysis, just to name a couple. Digital versions of the show will be available online at http://www.ESPNFC.com.

Scott Guglielmino spoke on the motivation to expand ESPN’s coverage of professional soccer, noting the increased attention that it is now getting around the world. “Soccer’s popularity is at an all-time high in the United States as fans are now more familiar with the world’s top players, marquee clubs and national teams. ESPN FC on TV continues our leadership role in coverage of the sport across all media,” he said. “ESPN FC will inform, entertain and provide hard-hitting insight on the global sport of soccer,” It will become ESPN’s signature program for soccer, bringing tremendous value to the company, our affiliates and the ad sales community looking to reach core and casual soccer fans in the United States.”

Sunday editions of ESPN FC on TV will offer full wrap-ups of each week’s biggest games and looks forward to the coming week, too. Weekday editions of the show will run for half an hour each day. Fans can expect from ESPN FC on TV all the latest news and rumors from around the world of professional soccer. Reporters, columnist, and bloggers from around the world will have all the latest from the Barclay’s Premiere League, UEFA Champion’s League, Spain’s La Liga, Major League Soccer, the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team, and Mexican National Team. It will also include interviews with the biggest names from around the professional soccer world, and previews of the biggest games from the FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, Manchester Derby, and even more.

To keep up with the latest soccer news from ESPN online, fans can “Like” the ESPN FC Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ESPNFC and check in daily at the ESPN FC website, http://www.espnfc.com.

Yankees/Red Sox Rivalry Returning To ESPN, Angels & White Sox Face Off Tonight On ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball

Posted on May 12, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

One of the biggest rivalries in sports re-ignites in its latest round Sunday, June 2^nd. David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox will take on Robinson Cano and the New York Yankees will face off at 8pm that evening. Dan Shulman will host the evening’s broadcast. He will be joined by analysts Orel Hershiser and John Kruk. Buster Olney will be on hand with commentary.

Tonight’s matchup pits the Los Angeles Angels against the Chicago White Sox in the “Windy City.” Dan Shulman will host the evening’s broadcast along with his colleagues, Orel Hershiser, John Kruk and Buster Olney. The game will be available across all ESPN platforms including: ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Deportes Radio, WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app for mobile media. Pre-game starts at 7pm tonight. The ESPN Sunday Night Baseball Crew offered its thoughts on tonight’s games, which can be viewed right here.

Baseball Tonight analyst Aaron Boone on the C.J. Wilson- Chris Sale matchup:
With Jered Weaver down, C.J. Wilson needs to assume the head of this rotation. They need to be able to hang their hat on his starts and count on him to be close to an ace. Sale needs to get his slider down. While he’s been pretty good, he hasn’t quite been the dominant ace. I’ve seen a little bit of slider elevation from him. If he can get that pitch down, he’s an ace.

Baseball Tonight analyst Alex Cora on Wilson:
I think that the key storyline is C.J. Wilson. We’ve been talking about the Angels being a contender and Weaver being hurt. Here’s a guy that they signed last year to either be their ace or their number two and he hasn’t done it. For them to turn this around, they need him to pitch the way he’s capable of pitching.

MLB Insider Buster Olney on the Angels’ struggles this season:
Early in every season, there are a handful of teams that quickly move into desperation mode, and little more than a month into the 2013 season, that’s where the Angels stand. They cannot afford to lose more ground, and even though it’s May, this team of great stars will be playing with a sense of urgency. The Angels can turn it around, but because of the lack of depth in the pitching staff, the impetus for a comeback has to come from their offensive stars: Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Mark Trumbo.

MLB Insider Tim Kurkjian on the Angels facing Sale:
This is a big weekend series, especially for the Angels. They are in danger of falling out of the race in the West unless they start winning immediately. Their come-from-behind win Thursday night might be the spark that finally gets this team going but they are up against Chris Sale on Sunday night. I don’t know how anyone gets a hit off of that guy.

Olney on Sale’s delivery and repertoire:
Chris Sale is a one-of-a-kind pitcher, with an unusual delivery, and a nasty slider. I think Orel made a fascinating comparison: Sale reminds you a lot of the former Yankees Cy Young winner Ron Guidry, because of the quality of his slider and his angular build.

ESPN MLB Insider Pedro Gomez on the Angels’ struggles:
The Angels cannot afford to continue to spin their wheels and expect to remain in the AL West race. They need pitching to really start to shine and they absolutely need more production from their two cogs in the middle of their order, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton.

Cora on Hamilton’s plate discipline:
He needs to take a step back. We get it, he’s an aggressive hitter. But right now, he’s getting 0-2 pitches in the first pitch of the at-bat. They know he’s swinging. They aren’t even trying to get ahead of him. They are going to the put-out pitch on pitch one because he’s swinging. He needs to be more patient. He has two home runs in last few days but still he needs to take some pitches. The whole league knows that he’s been very aggressive and chasing a lot. He must take a step back and see some good pitches.

ESPN MLB Insider Jim Bowden on keys for the Angels to improve:
The Angels can turn it around but they have to stay healthy. There is not enough depth to withstand injuries, as we’ve seen to date. Hamilton and Pujols must get back to MVP form. The key to the team will be the starting rotation. Blanton and Hanson have to be good enough to win 12 games and pitch 180 innings. A trade for more pitching is a must. Hamilton’s not loading and his timing is not in sync. If he corrects those two flaws he will hit. His bat speed is still there. He also must improve his strike zone awareness and cut down at swinging at balls out of the zone which is at a poor rate of 49%.

Boone on the struggling power hitters in both lineups:
If these teams are going to live up to expectations, their big guys in the middle have to get it going. We need to see production from Konerko and Dunn for the White Sox and Hamilton and Pujols with the Angels.

Cora on White Sox Manager Robin Ventura:
It’s Robin’s second year, so right now it’s his team. Obviously last year he had a great season. They made some changes and lost A.J. So, I think now he’s settled in. It has been a tough month for them, so let’s see what kind of manager he is. Last year, they kind of lost it at the end in September and they seem to be in the same pattern now. We need to see what kind of manager he will be.

Next Sunday on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, the Tigers head to the Lone Star State to take on the Rangers. The latest Sunday Night Baseball schedule is available below.

Upcoming Sunday Night Baseball schedule:

Date	Game
May 12	Los Angeles Angels at Chicago White Sox
May 19	Detroit Tigers at Texas Rangers
May 26	Atlanta Braves at New York Mets
June 2	Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
July 14	St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs
July 21	New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox

*Additional games for June and July will be announced three weeks in advance, while games for August and September will be made two weeks in advance.

ESPN Networks Win Five Sports Emmys

Posted on May 8, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN proved once again Tuesday night why it is “The Sports Leader.” The ESPN family of networks took home five Sports Emmy Awards Tuesday night at the 34^th annual Sports Emmy Awards. The annual awards program is put on by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Among its awards were top honors for journalism, technical and creative excellence and marketing.

ESPN2’s E:60 took home the award for Journalism for its feature, “Beitar Jerusalem.” The feature focused on the Beitar Jerusalem Soccer team and its infamous fan base. Audiences saw firsthand the behavior of the team’s overly devoted fans and its sometimes overtly racist tendencies. ESPN reporter Jeremy Schaap and a filming crew went to Israel to film the feature. The award for this feature was the fifth Sports Emmy in four years for E:60.

ESPN’s Outside The Lines brought home Sports Emmy for its feature, “Breaking The Silence.” This feature focuses on the story of Monika Korra. Korra, a native of Norway, was a member of SMU’s cross country team. While a member of the team, she was raped by three men. But through her personal strength, she went on to help find the men and convict her assailants. She now speaks publicly about such acts of violence. “Breaking The Silence” won the Sports Emmy for Short Format Camerawork. It Outside The Lines host Bob Ley worked with ESPN reporter Tom Rinaldi for the feature. The award is the fifteenth Sports Emmy for the show.

Full features weren’t the only things for which ESPN received awards. It also brought home a Sports Emmy for its “It’s not crazy, it’s sports” promotional campaign. The campaign brought home the award for Best Promo-Institutional. One of the more memorable spots in the campaign told the story of a man named Michael Jordan who lived in Chicago. The man in question was not the famed basketball legend. Audiences can check out the promo at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxBBN3ZnYeU.

ESPN’s recent upstart network, ESPN 3D brought home its own award yesterday. It defended its 2012 award in the Technical Team Remote category, winning this year for its coverage of the Winter X Games. ESPN 3D is the only all-sports 3D network on television today.

In the category of New Approaches – Short Form, ESPN’s Sports Science won its third Sports Emmy in as many years.

Yesterday’s wins bring the total number of Sports Emmys for the ESPN family of networks to one hundred and fifty three in its twenty-six years of eligibility.

NNS Heads To The High Banks Of Talladega This Weekend

Posted on May 1, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: NASCAR/ESPN/ESPN2

The NASCAR Nationwide Series will face the high banks and high speeds of Talladega Speedway this weekend in the Aarons 312. Points leader Sam Hornish Jr. and second place driver Regan Smith will go wheel to wheel in the next round. Hornish, who drives for Penske Racing, leads Smith by only a single point. The pair is evenly matched on the track. Hornish boasts a current record of six top tens, four top fives and one win. Smith has five top tens and two top fives. He doesn’t have any wins yet this season. ESPN will have qualifying coverage Friday at 12pm EST.

Coverage of the Aarons 312 kicks off Saturday afternoon at 2:30pm EST on ESPN2. Nicole Briscoe will lead pre-race coverage on NASCAR Countdown, and will be joined by analysts Rusty Wallace and Brad Daughtery. The green flag drops at 3:35pm EST. Allen Bestwick will lead the lap-by-lap coverage alongside Andy Petree. They will be joined by NASCAR Sprint Cup veteran Carl Edwards in the booth. Edwards is currently second in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, behind five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson. Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch, and Vince Welch will have all the action live from the pits throughout the race.

Six Big Ten Games Scheduled For Prime Time On ESPN Family Of Networks

Posted on April 30, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

The upcoming college football season is still months away. But that doesn’t mean things have slowed down from the world of NCAA football. ESPN has announced that it will run six Big Ten Conference games in prime time during the upcoming season. The games will be run on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC over the course of the season. Each of the six scheduled games includes at least one ranked team in an early ESPN.com preseason Top 25 Poll. No. 1 Ohio State will play three times across the ESPN family of networks. No. 9 Michigan will have two televised games in the schedule. No. 24 and 25, Northwestern and Wisconsin will each have one game aired. Two of the six games on the schedule will see a Big Ten member team hosting independent Notre Dame, which is currently ranked No. 10 in the ESPN.com preseason Top 25 poll. More games will be announced in the coming months. The current slate of scheduled games is available below.

Date	Time (ET)	Game	Network
Sat, Sep 7	8p.m.	No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 9 Michigan *	ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
Sat, Sep 14	8 p.m.	No. 10 Notre Dame at Purdue	ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
Sat, Sep 28	8p.m.	No. 25 Wisconsin at No. 1 Ohio State	ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
Sat, Oct 5	8p.m.	No. 1 Ohio State at No. 24 Northwestern	ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
Sat, Oct 12	5p.m.	No. 9 Michigan at Penn State	ESPN or ESPN2
Sat, Oct 26	8p.m.	Penn State at No. 1 Ohio State	ABC, ESPN or ESPN2

* Previously Announced

ABC, ESPN Networks Carrying Seven Playoff Games This Weekend

Posted on April 25, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

NBA fans have plenty of reason to be happy this weekend. ABC and ESPN have seven games on tap this weekend. Three of those games will air on ESPN Friday night beginning with a matchup between the Knicks and Celtics. The Knicks will look to extend their two-game lead over Boston as the teams face off in game three of that series Friday night at 8pm. It will air on ESPN and ESPN Radio affiliates across the country. Fans can also catch the game online and via mobile access through WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app. Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, and Heather Cox will have the call on ESPN. Marc Kestecher and Dr. Jack Ramsey will call the game for ESPN Radio. The game is scheduled to start at 8pm EST.

The second of the night’s triple header sees the Spurs and Lakers face off in the third game of their series, too. The Spurs are up two games to none in that best-of-seven series. Injuries have plagued the Lakers, who are looking to get their footing again Friday night. The game is scheduled to start at 10:30pm EST. It will air live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Fans can also watch the game online and on mobile devices through WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app. Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, and Chris Broussard will have the call on ESPN. They will be joined by Alvaro Martin and Carlos Morales for ESPN Deportes.

Also at 10:30, the Warriors will look to break the one-game time with the Nuggets when the teams head back to Oakland. The Warriors come into Friday’s game with some momentum. The team as a whole shot nearly sixty-five percent and made 14 of 25 three-point shots. Four of the team’s players scored twenty points in game two Tuesday night. The Warriors have also outrebounded the Nuggets 91 to 71 over the course of the series’ first two games. The Nuggets are looking to regain some footing Friday night when they are hoping to get Kenneth Faried back in the lineup after having lost him in Game 1 to a sprained ankle. Friday’s matchup will air on ESPN2 and can be viewed online and on mobile devices through WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app. Dave Pasch, Jon Barry, and Holly Rowe will have all the action and news throughout the game.

The weekend showcase closes out with a Sunday doubleheader pitting the Knicks and Celtics against each other again for Game Four in the teams’ best-of-seven series first. The game will air at 1pm on ABC and on ESPN Radio affiliates across the nation. Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Heather Cox will be back to call the action again for the game, while Marc Kestecher and Dr. Jack Ramsay will have the call for ESPN Radio.

The day’s second game tips off at 3:30pm EST. The Bucks are hoping to dig out of a two game hole right now with game three tonight at 7pm. Game four will be Sunday afternoon on ABC and ESPN Deportes. Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, and Chris Broussard will be on hand for ESPN. Alvaro Martin and Carlos Morales will call all the action for ESPN Deportes. It all starts with the Kia NBA Countdown at 12:30pm EST. Hosts Magic Johnson, Bill Simmons, Jalen Rose, and Michael Wilbon will discuss the weekend’s previous games and their implications as the NBA post season rolls on, as well as Sunday’s games on tap. Fans can catch the Countdown on ABC.

A full schedule of the weekend’s games is available below.

Date	Time (ET)	Game / Commentators	Networks
Fri, Apr 26	8 p.m.	New York Knicks at Boston Celtics (Gm. 3) ESPN: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Heather Cox ESPN Radio: Marc Kestecher, Dr. Jack Ramsay	ESPN, ESPN Radio, WatchESPN
	10:30 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers (Gm. 3) ESPN: Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, Chris Broussard ESPN Deportes: Alvaro Martin, Carlos Morales	ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes
	10:30 p.m.	Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors (Gm. 3) ESPN: Dave Pasch, Jon Barry, Holly Rowe	ESPN2, WatchESPN
Sat, Apr 27	7 p.m.	Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks (Gm. 3) ESPN: Mark Jones, Doris Burke, Holly Rowe	ESPN, WatchESPN
	9:30 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets (Gm. 3) ESPN: Dave Pasch, Jon Barry, Samantha Ponder ESPN Radio: Kevin Calabro, Chris Mullin ESPN Deportes: Alvaro Martin, Carlos Morales	ESPN, ESPN Radio, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes
Sun, Apr 28	12:30 p.m.	*KIA NBA Countdown* Magic Johnson, Bill Simmons, Jalen Rose, Michael Wilbon	ABC
	1 p.m.	New York Knicks at Boston Celtics (Gm. 4) ESPN: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Heather Cox ESPN Radio: Marc Kestecher, Dr. Jack Ramsay	ABC, ESPN Radio
	3:30 p.m.	Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks (Gm. 4) ESPN: Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, Chris Broussard ESPN Deportes: Alvaro Martin, Carlos Morales	ABC, ESPN Deportes

Czarniak Tapped To Lead 2013 Indy 500 Broadcast

Posted on April 24, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN’s Lindsay Czarniak will host this year’s Indy 500. The SportsCenter co-host’s appointment to the broadcast marks the first time ever that the race broadcast has ever been helmed by a female broadcaster. Czarniak co-hosts ESPN’s SportsCenter alongside John Anderson. Before taking on co-hosting duties with Anderson was a pit reporter and feature reporter for broadcasts of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on TNT and NBC. She also hosted ESPN’s NASCAR Now previously.

Lindsay got her start in broadcasting at WRC-TV (NBC 4) in Washington, D.C. She worked at WRC-TV from 2005 – 2011. During her time there, she covered the 2006 Winter and 2008 Summer Olympic Games as well as NASCAR broadcasts.

Courtesy: ESPN/ABC

The Indy 500 pre-race show is scheduled to run from 11am – 12pm on Sunday, May 26^th. Czarniak will head the pre-race broadcast from the IMS’ famed Pagoda. She will also help contribute to the race broadcast itself. Former Indy 500 winner Eddie Cheever will also take part in calling the race. He will serve as an in-race analyst in the broadcast booth for the race, and for the remaining five races that ABC will carry.

Cheever is a former Formula One racer who won the Indy 500 in 1998. He made 132 starts in Formula One from 1978 to 1989. That is the most by any American driver in the history of Formula One racing. He returned to the U.S. and joined the former CART Series in 1990 and then the IndyCar Series in 1996. He claimed five wins in his time in the IRL, including his win in 1998. Cheever last raced in the IndyCar series in 2006. He will be joined by lap-by-lap announcer Marty Reid and fellow analyst Scott Goodyear to call all six Izod IndyCar Series races broadcast on ABC this season. Also on hand for the broadcasts will be pit reporters: Rick DeBruhl, Jamie Little, and Vince Welch. Dr. Jerry Punch will join the broadcast team in the pits for the Indy 500.

The Indy 500 is the first of six races that will be broadcast on ABC this year. Each race will be produced by ESPN and broadcast on ABC. ABC’s other races include: a doubleheader from Detroit’s Belle Island on June 1^st and 2^nd, a primetime broadcast from Texas Motor Speedway on June 8^th, the series’ race from Iowa Speedway on June 23^rd, and its return to the hills of Pocono, PA on July 7^th at Pocono Raceway.

To get all the latest news from the Izod Indycar Series on ABC and ESPN, viewers can “Like” the ESPN Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ESPN and the ABC Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ABCNetwork.

To keep up with all the latest news from the Izod Indycar Series, fans can “Like” the official Izod Indycar Series Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/IZOD-IndyCar-Series/181178948587654.

To keep up with all the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Mad Men Actor Tapped To Host 2013 ESPYS

Posted on April 24, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

Mad Men actor Jon Hamm has been announced as the host of this year’s annual ESPY Awards broadcast. Hamm, who plays Don Draper on the hit AMC series, was announced as this year’s host this morning on LIVE With Kelly and Michael. Hamm already has quite the resume. He has already earned himself a Golden Globe Award, a Television Critics Association Award, and a Critics’ Choice Television Award. He has also been nominated for awards at the Emmys and the Screen Actors Guild.

Hamm will be in comfortable company for this year’s ESPYs broadcast. He will be joined by some of the best of the best in the sports world. This year’s list of celebrity athlete presenters will be announced at a later date. He himself has quite the sports pedigree. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Hamm is an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Blues. He played in the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Games in 2009 and 2012. His role in the games allowed him to play third base, right next to his childhood idol, Ozzie Smith. He will also be working on a new film from Walt Disney Pictures and Mayhem Pictures this summer titled, Million Dollar Arm. The movie is about a disillusioned sports agent who is in search of professional pitching talent through a reality show set in India.

Hamm commented in a recent interview on the announcement of his being named to host the ESPYS this year. “I’m very excited to be hosting the ESPYS. As a longtime sports fan and a marginally successful high school athlete I feel my skill-set jibes well with a host’s duties,” he said. “I now have to figure out what cleats to wear with a tuxedo.”

ESPY Executive Producer Maura Mandt shared Mann’s thoughts about his appointment. “The ESPYS is designed to showcase the year’s best sports moments in a sharp, fun and entertaining manner and Jon’s the perfect host for this year’s show. His appearances on shows like 30 Rock and SNL show that humor and creativity are two of his main strengths,” she said. “The combination of Jon’s dry wit with his passion for sports will give fans a unique and original view of the year in sports.”

The ESPYS are scheduled to air live Wednesday, July 17^th at 9pm EST/8pm CT/6pm PST on ESPN/ESPNHD from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. This year’s broadcast will be more interactive than ever for fans. All categories except for the Arthur Ashe Courage Award and other special awards will be chosen by the fans. Voting can take place before and during the live show. Voting will be open from June 28^th – July 17^th at 9pm EST on ESPN.com/ESPYS. Voting during the show will be open during the show beginning at 9pm July 17^th. Voting for “Best Team” will be open only on Twitter. Fans can vote for “Best Team” on Twitter during the show using hashtag ESPYSBestTeam and the team name.

For all the latest ESPYS news, fans can follow the ESPYS on Twitter at @ESPYS.

ESPN Releases Full Monday Night Football Schedule

Posted on April 19, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN has released its complete schedule for the upcoming 2013-2014 NFL season. The network kicks off a brand new season with a double header on Monday, September 9^th. First up that night, the Eagles head to the nation’s capitol with a new head coach and potentially a new QB at the line. Michael Vick is still stating that he will be the team’s lead man when the regular season opens September 9^th. But that could very well change between now and then. And the Redskins’ QB, Robert Griffin III will look to rebound in big fashion after a season ending injury during the 2012-2013 Season. The NFC East Divisional matchup is expected to start at 7pm EST/6pm CT.

Second up on the season’s opening night, the Texans host the San Diego Chargers, who will also have a new coach on the sidelines. Mike McCoy took the helm after Norv turner was released at the end of the Chargers’ 2012-2013 Season. The Chargers and Texans both have a lot to play for and to prove on opening night. The Texans were knocked out of the playoffs early last season, while the Chargers didn’t even make it in, having finished their season 2^nd in the AFC West with a disappointing 7-9-0 record. So the night’s second game looks to have its own share of fireworks. The night’s second matchup is scheduled to start at 10:15pm EST/9:15pm CT.

Week Two of ESPN’s Monday Night Football coverage is sure to be quite the showdown as “Big Ben” Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Pirates make the annual trip to Cincinnati to face off against Andy Dalton and the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals pulled off a shocker last season, beating their hated rivals to earn a spot in the Wildcard Round. But the team’s season would end in that round as this time the Texans would go on to knock them out of the playoffs with a 19-13 win. The season before, it was the Jets that knocked the Bengals from the playoffs. So Cincy’s hoping that the third time will be the charm, and that they’ll have fans yelling “Who Dey” even more this coming season. And it all starts with a chance for the Cats to start it all with a win over their divisional rivals. The game is scheduled to air at 8:30pm EST/7:30pm CT.

Week Three of Monday Night Football features yet another divisional matchup. Veteran QB Peyton Manning leads the Broncos as they host Matt Flynn and the Oakland Raiders on September 23^rd. the game marks an NFL Record. It marks the seventeenth time that the AFC West rivals will go head to head under the Monday night lights. The Broncos come in to the 2012-2013 season with a lot of momentum despite a tough double overtime loss to the Ravens in the Divisional round of the playoffs last season. The Raiders on the other side of the line finished a miserable 4-12-0 last season, ending up 3^rd in the AFC West. This game is scheduled to air at 8:30pm EST/7:30pm CT, as with the previous week’s game.

The remaining Monday Night Football games look to be just as impressive as those that fill the season’s first month. A full rundown of ESPN’s Monday Night Football schedule is available below.

ESPN’s 2013 Monday Night Football Schedule

Preseason
Date	Time (ET)	Teams
Aug. 8	8 p.m.	Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons
Aug. 15	8 p.m.	San Diego Chargers vs. Chicago Bears
Aug. 19	8 p.m.	Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Washington Redskins
Aug. 22	8 p.m.	Carolina Panthers vs. Baltimore Ravens
Regular Season
Sept. 9	7 p.m.	Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins
	10:15 p.m.	Houston Texans vs. San Diego Chargers
Sept. 16	8:30 p.m.	Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sept. 23	8:30 p.m.	Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos
Sept. 30	8:30 p.m.	Miami Dolphins vs. New Orleans Saints
Oct. 7	8:30 p.m.	New York Jets vs. Atlanta Falcons
Oct. 14	8:30 p.m.	Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers
Oct. 21	8:30 p.m.	Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Giants
Oct. 28	8:30 p.m.	Seattle Seahawks vs. St. Louis Rams
Nov. 4	8:30 p.m.	Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers
Nov. 11	8:30 p.m.	Miami Dolphins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Nov. 18	8:30 p.m.	New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers
Nov. 25	8:30 p.m.	San Francisco 49ers vs. Washington Redskins
Dec. 2	8:30 p.m.	New Orleans Saints vs. Seattle Seahawks
Dec. 9	8:30 p.m.	Dallas Cowboys vs. Chicago Bears
Dec. 16	8:30 p.m.	Baltimore Ravens vs. Detroit Lions
Dec. 23	8:30 p.m.	Atlanta Falcons vs. San Francisco 49ers

philspicks

All the latest reviews and news in entertainment

Tag Archives: sports

New Deal Brings USTA’s U.S. Open Beginning In 2015

Soccer Fans Getting More Coverage From ESPN Beginning This Summer

Yankees/Red Sox Rivalry Returning To ESPN, Angels & White Sox Face Off Tonight On ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball

ESPN Networks Win Five Sports Emmys

NNS Heads To The High Banks Of Talladega This Weekend

Six Big Ten Games Scheduled For Prime Time On ESPN Family Of Networks

ABC, ESPN Networks Carrying Seven Playoff Games This Weekend

Czarniak Tapped To Lead 2013 Indy 500 Broadcast

Mad Men Actor Tapped To Host 2013 ESPYS

ESPN Releases Full Monday Night Football Schedule

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