ESPN ThisWeek – February 16, 2010
BASSMASTER CLASSIC
BASKETBALL, NFL, MLB, BLACK HISTORY MONTH & MORE
- Men’s College Basketball: Six of Top 10 Teams in Action; BracketBusters Highlights Schedule
- Conference Call: ESPN NFL Draft Analyst Mel Kiper Jr. Discusses NFL Draft, Combine
- ‘Mel and Todd’s NFL Draft Lab’ Continues through Saturday
- Saints CB Tracy Porter, NFL Free Agent ‘Willie’ McGinest Jr. Visit ESPN
- Baseball Tonight ‘Grapefruit Express Tour’ begins Thursday
- NBA: Eastern Conference Showdown: Cleveland at Orlando
- NASCAR Nationwide Series Live from California on ESPN2
- NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series in Phoenix
- Black History Month: Holyfield/Bowe, R-E-G-G-I-E, & UpClose Marathon
- Latest Mayne Street Goes Live: Anyone Can be a Hero
ESPN HONORED FOR JOURNALISM
- ESPN.com’s Marc Stein Honored by Professional Basketball Writers Association
- ESPN Features Nominated for 2010 NAMIC Vision Awards
BASSMASTER CLASSIC
40thBassmaster Classic from Alabama’s Lay Lake on ESPN2, ESPN & ESPN360.com
contact: doug.grassian@espn.com
ESPN2 and ESPN360.com, as well as ESPN and Bassmaster.com will feature event action, news, features and highlights from the 40th edition of the Bassmaster Classic, the world’s premiere fishing event, starting Saturday, Feb. 20, with coverage at 10 a.m. ET of Day 1 competition from Birmingham, Ala. On Sunday, Feb. 21, shortly after Classic competitors launch on Alabama’s Lay Lake for the final day of competition, ESPN2 will deliver Classic news from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. A two-hour show on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 10 p.m. on ESPN2 will feature the final, Day 3 weigh-in extravaganza, during which the new Classic champ will be crowned.
The Bassmaster Classic will again be streamed live on ESPN360.com, ESPN’s 24/7 broadband sports network, featuring the weigh-ins from the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center available exclusively each day from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. ESPN Classic will air a mini-marathon of previous Classics on Sunday, Feb. 21, starting at 5 p.m.
Bassmaster Classic Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Event | Network |
| Sat, Feb 20 | 10 a.m.-11 a.m. | Bassmaster Classic Day 1 | ESPN2 |
| 10 p.m.-midnight | Bassmaster Classic Day 2 | ESPN2 | |
| Sun, Feb 21 | 6 a.m.-10 a.m. | Classic news recap | ESPN2 |
| 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. | Classic news recap | ESPN | |
| 10 p.m.-midnight | Bassmaster Classic Day 3 | ESPN2 |
ESPN Classic Mini-Marathon
| Date | Time (ET) | Event | Network |
| Sun, Feb 21 | 5 p.m.-6 p.m. | 2003 Bassmaster Classic | ESPN Classic |
| 6-7 p.m. | 2004 Bassmaster Classic | ESPN Classic | |
| 7-8 p.m. | 2005 Bassmaster Classic | ESPN Classic | |
| 8-9 p.m. | 2008 Bassmaster Classic | ESPN Classic | |
| 9-10 p.m. | 2009 Bassmaster Classic | ESPN Classic |
BASKETBALL, NFL, MLB, BLACK HISTORY MONTH & MORE
Men’s College Basketball: Six of Top 10 Teams in Action; BracketBusters Highlights Schedule
contact: michael.c.humes@espn.com
ESPN’s men’s college basketball coverage across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com this weekend will be highlighted by telecasts involving six of the top 10 teams in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll and the BracketBusters event, with 11 nationally televised games. Schedule details:
- The schedule for Thursday, Feb. 18 will feature four telecasts with at least one ranked team, highlighted by a BIG EAST showdown between top 10 teams: No. 5 Syracuse at No. 10 Georgetown at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
- BracketBusters tips off Friday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 and ESPN360.com with Old Dominion at No. 24 Northern Iowa, and continues through Saturday, Feb. 20, highlighted by bubble team Siena at No. 13 Butler at 11 a.m. on ESPN2 and ESPN360.com.
- Four of ESPN’s five telecasts Saturday, Feb. 20 will feature at least one team among the top 25, highlighted by No. 2 Kentucky at No. 19 Vanderbilt at 6 p.m. and No. 4 Purdue against Illinois at 4 p.m.
- ESPN’s College GameDay Driven by State Farm and Saturday Primetime DIRECTV Game of the Week matchup, both on ESPN, will originate from UCLA at Washington in a Pac-10 showdown. Last week’s College GameDay from Kentucky set a fan attendance record with 22,144 fans. College GameDay – hosted by Rece Davis with analysts Jay Bilas, Hubert Davis and Digger Phelps – will air at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- ESPNU will televise the top two teams Saturday, Feb. 13: No. 1 Kansas against Iowa State at 8 p.m. and No. 5 Villanova against Providence at 2 p.m.
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup / Commentators | Network(s) |
| Thu, Feb 18 | 7 p.m. | Auburn at Florida Rece Davis & Hubert Davis | ESPN / ESPN360.com |
| 7 p.m. | No. 5 Syracuse at No. 10 GeorgetownDan Shulman, Dick Vitale & Erin Andrews | ESPN2 / ESPN360.com | |
| 7 p.m. | No. 19 Vanderbilt at MississippiRob Stone & Jay Williams | ESPNU | |
| 9 p.m. | No. 16 Wisconsin at MinnesotaDave O’Brien & Steve Lavin | ESPN / ESPN360.com | |
| 9 p.m. | No. 21 Pittsburgh at MarquetteDave Pasch & Len Elmore | ESPN2 / ESPN360.com | |
| 11 p.m. | St. Mary’s (Calif.) at San DiegoJon Sciambi & Stephen Bardo | ESPN2 / ESPN360.com | |
| Fri, Feb 19 | 7 p.m. | BracketBusters: Old Dominion at No. 24 Northern IowaJohn Saunders & Bob Valvano | ESPN2 / ESPN360.com |
| 7 p.m. | Yale at PrincetonDave Popkin & Tim O’Toole | ESPNU | |
| 9 p.m. | BracketBusters: William & Mary at IonaDoug Sherman & Rob Kennedy | ESPNU | |
| Sat, Feb 20 | 11 a.m. | BracketBusters: Siena vs. No. 13 ButlerDave Pasch & Fran Fraschilla | ESPN2 / ESPN360.com |
| Noon | Seton Hall at No. 8 West VirginiaMike Patrick & Len Elmore | ESPN / ESPN360.com | |
| Noon | BracketBusters: Morgan State at Murray StateDan McLaughlin & Brooke Weisbrod | ESPNU | |
| 1 p.m. | BracketBusters: Louisiana Tech at NortheasternBob Wischusen & Tim Welsh | ESPN2 / ESPN360.com | |
| 2 p.m. | No. 17 Texas at Texas TechRon Franklin & Stephen Bardo | ESPN / ESPN360.com | |
| 2 p.m. | Louisville at DePaulJustin Kutcher & Dickey Simpkins | ESPNU | |
| 3 p.m. | BracketBusters: Nevada at Missouri StateLou Canellis & Mark Adams | ESPN2 / ESPN360.com | |
| 4 p.m. | Illinois at No. 4 PurdueDave O’Brien & Steve Lavin | ESPN / ESPN360.com | |
| 4 p.m. | BracketBusters: Akron at Virginia CommonwealthDave Weekley & Tim O’Toole | ESPNU | |
| 5 p.m. | BracketBusters: College of Charleston at George MasonJon Sciambi & LaPhonso Ellis | ESPN2 / ESPN360.com | |
| 6 p.m. | No. 2 Kentucky at No. 19 VanderbiltBrad Nessler, Dick Vitale & Erin Andrews | ESPN / ESPN360.com | |
| 6 p.m. | No. 7 Kansas State at OklahomaClay Matvick & Stephen Howard | ESPNU | |
| 8 p.m. | BracketBusters: Western Carolina at Kent StateRob King & Anthony Buford | ESPNU | |
| 9 p.m. | UCLA at WashingtonDan Shulman, Jay Bilas & Bob Knight | ESPN / ESPN360.com | |
| 10 p.m. | BracketBusters: New Mexico State at PacificSteve Andress & Krista Blunk | ESPNU | |
| 11:59 p.m. | BracketBusters: Wichita State at Utah StateDave Flemming & Bob Wenzel | ESPN2 / ESPN360.com | |
| Sun, Feb 21 | 1 p.m. | Dayton at DuquesneBob Wischusen & Tim Welsh | ESPN2 / ESPN360.com |
Conference Call: ESPN NFL Draft Analyst Mel Kiper Jr. Discusses NFL Draft, Combine
contact: kimberly.jessup@espn.com
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. will participate in a media conference call Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the 2010 NFL Draft and preview the NFL Scouting Combine. To participate: 785-830-1942 (Confirmation Code: 2147061).
‘Mel and Todd’s NFL Draft Lab’ Continues through Saturday
contact: kimberly.jessup@espn.com;
ESPN NFL Draft experts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay continue to assess NFL Draft prospects in advance of the NFL Combine each day this week through Saturday, Feb. 20, in “Mel and Todd’s NFL Draft Lab,” which airs during the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. editions of SportsCenter. Mel and Todd will present the players who have the biggest upside, are the biggest risks and those who are under the radar. In Monday’s first segment, “Quarterbacks,” McShay listed Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen as the biggest risk, while Kiper had him as the player with the biggest upside; Florida’s Tim Tebow was Kiper’s biggest risk, while McShay had Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford as his player with the biggest upside.
Tuesday: Running Backs; Wednesday: Receivers; Thursday: “In the Trenches” (OL & DL); Friday: “The Back Seven” (LB & DB); Saturday: Final Analysis. Each segment will also include a Draft "compression" with draft orders and other nuggets for viewers to digest.
Saints CB Tracy Porter, NFL Free Agent ‘Willie’ McGinest Jr. Visit ESPN
contact: kimberly.jessup@espn.com;
Super Bowl XLIV hero and New Orleans Saints cornerback Tracy Porter, celebrated for his 74-yard interception return against the Indianapolis Colts to seal the championship, and NFL free agent Willie McGinest Jr. are scheduled to visit ESPN on Thursday, Feb. 18, when both will appear on multiple television and radio programs and other ESPN platforms.
- Tracy Porter, Super Bowl XLIV champion, is scheduled to appear on Mike & Mike in the Morning at 9:25 a.m. (ESPN Radio/ESPN2), First Take at 10:50 a.m. (ESPN2), The Herd with Colin Cowherd at 11:10 a.m. (ESPN Radio/ESPNU), ESPNEWS at 2:40 p.m., NFL Live at 4 p.m. (ESPN), SportsNation at 4 p.m. (ESPN2) and SportsCenter 6 p.m. (ESPN);
- Willie McGinest, two-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker, is scheduled to appear on The Herd with Colin Cowherd at 1:10 p.m. (ESPN Radio/ESPNU), SportsNation (taping) airing at 4 p.m. (ESPN2) and The Scott Van Pelt Show at 3:40 p.m. (ESPN Radio/ESPN2).
Baseball Tonight ‘Grapefruit Express Tour’ begins Thursday
contact: nate.smeltz@espn.com
ESPN’s Baseball Tonight will visit all Florida-based Spring Training destinations Feb. 18 through March 5, during its first “Grapefruit Express Tour.” During each stop, ESPN will present multiplatform content throughout the day, including Baseball Tonight (weekdays at 3:30 p.m.), SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, ESPN Radio and ESPN.com. ESPN commentators will be on site in Florida, with ESPN’s Pedro Gomez reporting from Spring Training in Arizona.
Schedule (through February)
| Date | Location | Commentators |
| Thu, Feb 18 | Tampa (Yankees) | Karl Ravech, John Kruk, Bobby Valentine |
| Fri, Feb 19 | Clearwater (Phillies) | Ravech, Kruk, Valentine |
| Sat, Feb 20 | Lakeland (Tigers) | Tim Kukjian |
| Sun, Feb 21 | Melbourne (Nationals) | Kukjian |
| Mon, Feb 22 | Jupiter (Marlins) | Kurkjian |
| Tue, Feb 23 | Jupiter (Cardinals) | Kurkjian |
| Wed, Feb 24 | Port St. Lucie (Mets) | Buster Olney |
| Thu, Feb 25 | Orlando (Braves) | Chris Singleton |
| Fri, Feb 26 | Orlando (Astros) | Singleton |
| Sat, Feb 27 | Bradenton (Pirates) | Olney |
| Sun, Feb 28 | Port Charlotte (Rays) | Kurkjian |
NBA: Eastern Conference Showdown: Cleveland at Orlando
contact: nate.smeltz@espn.com; mark.d.mandel@espn.com
ESPN presents seven NBA games this week, including a clash between the teams boasting the top records in the Eastern Conference when Cleveland visits Orlando on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 1 p.m. on ABC.
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | Network |
| Wed, Feb 17 | 9 p.m. | Phoenix at DallasMike Tirico, Mark Jackson, Jon Barry | ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV |
| Fri, Feb 19 | 7:30 p.m. | Kia NBA ShootaroundStuart Scott, Avery Johnson, Jalen Rose | ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV |
| 8 p.m. | Dallas at OrlandoMike Breen, Jackson, Van Gundy | ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV | |
| 10:30 p.m. | Boston at PortlandDan Shulman, Doris Burke | ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV | |
| Sun, Feb 21 | 12:30 p.m. | GMC Sierra NBA CountdownScott, Barry, Mike Wilbon | ABC, ABC HD |
| 1 p.m. | Cleveland at OrlandoBreen, Jackson, Van Gundy | ABC, ABC HD | |
| 3:30 p.m. | Boston at DenverTirico, Hubie Brown | ABC, ABC HD | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Kia NBA Shootaround Mark Jones, Johnson, Jamal Mashburn | ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV | |
| 8 p.m. | Atlanta at Golden StateDave Pasch, Tim Legler | ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV | |
| 10:30 p.m. | Utah at PortlandShulman, Burke | ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV |
NASCAR Nationwide Series Live from California on ESPN2
contacts: andy.hall@espn.com or george.mcneilly@espn.com
The NASCAR Nationwide Series races for 300 miles Saturday afternoon at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., and ESPN2 will have a live, flag-to-flag telecast of the second event of the 2010 season. NASCAR Countdown airs Saturday, Feb. 20, at 5 p.m. The race telecast starts at 5:30 p.m. with the green flag at 5:46 p.m. Marty Reid will be the lap-by-lap announcer with analysts Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree.
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series in Phoenix
contacts: andy.hall@espn.com or george.mcneilly@espn.com
The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series races this weekend in the Lucas Slick Mist NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, and ESPN2 will air highlights of qualifying and eliminations. Qualifying action airs Sunday, Feb. 21, at 2 a.m. ET, and eliminations will air later that day at 7 p.m. Paul Page anchors with analyst Mike Dunn.
Black History Month: Holyfield/Bowe, R-E-G-G-I-E, & UpClose Marathon
contact: kim.jarvis@espn.com
Among this week’s ESPN Classic features for Black History Month is the Evander Holyfield vs. Riddick Bowe trilogy Wednesday, Feb. 17, starting at 5 p.m. On Friday, Feb. 19, fans of the World Series champion New York Yankees can watch the 1977 World Series game when “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson belted three home runs. On Saturday, Feb. 20, the network will televise an Up Close marathon, with host Roy Firestone interviewing some of the top athletes of that time, starting with Arthur Ashe at 1 p.m. and concluding with Michael Jordan at 7:30 p.m.
Latest Mayne Street Goes Live: Anyone Can be a Hero
contact: alison.lazar@espn.com
This week, ESPN.com’s original scripted series Mayne Street (Tuesdays, 9 a.m.) features Kenny in an inspirational Olympic profile feature, showing that anyone can be a hero. On Mayne Street, Mayne stars as himself in a fictionalized version of life at a sports television network. His reoccurring foils revolve largely around his fictional production crew, as well as other ESPN personalities.
Mayne Street joins a lineup of video that is among the most popular online. ESPN.com leads the sports video category, capturing nearly 34 percent of the total minutes spent by users.
ESPN HONORED FOR JOURNALISM
ESPN.com’s Marc Stein Honored by Professional Basketball Writers Association
contact: nate.smeltz@espn.com
ESPN.com senior writer Marc Stein was honored in two categories – “features” and “game story” – Sunday, Feb. 14, when the Professional Basketball Writers Association announced the winners of its annual writing contest before the NBA All-Star Game in Dallas. Stein placed first in the features category with a retrospective look at the career of international trail blazer Vlade Divac (published in September ’09). Stein placed second in the game story category with his coverage of the controversial Game 3 of the Denver-Dallas playoff series, after which the league office publicly admitted a missed call that preceded Carmelo Anthony’s game-winning three-pointer.
ESPN Features Nominated for 2010 NAMIC Vision Awards
contact: dave.nagle@espn.com
ESPN features aired on news magazines Outside the Lines and E:60, and the Spanish sports network ESPN Deportes swept the sports category for nominations in the 2010 NAMIC Vision Awards. In their 16th year, the awards are presented (April 22) by the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) to honor original multi-ethnic and cross-cultural television programming that best reflects the diversity of the global viewing audience. Highlights:
- “Carry On,” the Outside the Lines story of the two African-American high school wrestlers in Cleveland, one without legs, the other legally blind, reported by Tom Rinaldi.
- “James Stewart: King of the Hill” – an E:60 profile on the African-American motorcycle racer James Stewart, by reporter Michael Smith.
- “Kim G – Kim Possible” – E:60 and reporter Lisa Salters tell the story of Kim G., the assistant general manager of the LA Dodgers and the highest-ranking woman in Major League Baseball’s front office.
- “The Enough Project” – a behind-the-scenes look at Tracy McGrady’s visit to Africa, chronicling how the NBA star was moved to initiate building a school to help educate the underprivileged.
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