a resource for media professionals

ESPN ThisWeek – March 15, 2010

Posted by barons • March 15, 2010 • Printer-friendly

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NASCAR, NBA, NFL DRAFT & More

 

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

 

NCAA Men’s Tournament Opening Round Game; National Invitation Tournament Tips off on ESPN2
contacts: michael.c.humes@espn.com or jenny.zimmerman@espn.com

For the ninth straight year, ESPN will televise the opening round matchup of the NCAA Tournament, which pits Arkansas Pine Bluff vs. Winthrop in a matchup of seeds No. 65 and No. 64 from Dayton, Ohio, on Tuesday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Dave O’Brien, Steve Lavin and Holly Rowe will work the game, which will also be seen on ESPN360.com.

Also, a battle of Huskies – Northeastern at Connecticut – tips off the ESPN networks’ exclusive presentation of the 2010 National Invitation Tournament on Tuesday, March 16 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 and ESPN360.com, the start of 10 NIT first-round games through Wednesday, March 17, on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com. For more information, visit ESPN MediaZone.

 

NCAA Women’s Tournament Media Conference Call Thursday
contact: jenny.zimmerman@espn.com

 

In anticipation of the ESPN networks’ eighth year televising exclusively all 63 games in the NCAA Div. I Women’s Basketball Tournament, ESPN basketball analysts Doris Burke and Carolyn Peck, along with Carol Stiff, senior director, programming, will join the media Thursday, March 18, at 1 p.m.  To participate: 1-888-208-1625. Call name: ESPN, NCAA Women’s Tournament; passcode: 9906034.

 

NASCAR, NBA, NFL DRAFT & More

 

Nascar Nationwide Series Live From Bristol on ABC
contacts: andy.hall@espn.com or george.mcneilly@espn.com

After a two-week break, the NASCAR Nationwide Series returns Saturday with a 300-lap race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and makes its season debut on ABC. NASCAR Countdown presented by Hellman’s airs Saturday, March 20, at 2 p.m. The race telecast starts at 2:30 p.m. with the green flag at 2:43 p.m. Marty Reid will be joined by analysts Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree to call the action.

Also from Bristol, ESPN2 has a live telecast as some of the great NASCAR drivers of the past compete in a special 35-lap race Saturday at 5:30 p.m. David Pearson, Cale Yarborough and Harry Gant will be among the competitors. Reid, Jarrett and Rusty Wallace will be in the booth.

 

NBA: Four Games This Week on ESPN
contact: nate.smeltz@espn.com or mark.d.mandel@espn.com

 

ESPN presents doubleheaders Monday and Wednesday.

Date Time (ET) Matchup Networks
Mon, Mar 15 8 p.m. Detroit at Boston at DallasMike Breen, Hubie Brown, Jon Barry ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV
  10:30 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Golden StateKevin Calabro, Mark Jackson ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV
Wed, Mar 17 7:30 p.m. Kia NBA ShootaroundMark Jones, Byron Scott ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV
  8 p.m. San Antonio at OrlandoMike Tirico, Brown, Barry ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV
  10:30 p.m. Milwaukee at L.A. ClippersCalabro, Jackson ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV

 

Conference Call: Todd McShay to Discuss NFL Pro Days and 2010 NFL Draft
contact: kimberly.jessup@espn.com 

 

ESPN Scouts Inc. Director of College Football Scouting Todd McShay will participate in a conference call Thursday, March 18, at 4 p.m. to discuss 2010 NFL Draft prospects. To participate: (913) 312-1416 (Confirmation Code: 6098942).

McShay covered the NFL Scouting Combine this month and on Wednesday, March 17, will provide reports on ESPN throughout the day from the University of Florida Pro Day when quarterback Tim Tebow and other Gators prospects will conduct workouts for scouts and coaches. McShay is also scheduled to cover upcoming Pro Day events at Oklahoma (March 25), Texas (March 31) and Notre Dame (April 9). For photos of McShay click here.

 

NFL Draft Prospect Devin McCourty of Rutgers to Visit ESPN on Wednesday
contact: kimberly.jessup@espn.com; 

 

Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty will visit the ESPN campus in Bristol, Conn., on Wednesday, March 17.  McCourty – projected as the No. 30 overall pick (to Minnesota) in Mel Kiper’s latest Mock Draft – is one of the top defensive back prospects in the 2010 NFL Draft. His twin brother, Jason, already plays cornerback in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans. McCourty will appear on several ESPN television and radio programs throughout the day.

 

NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships on ESPN Networks
contact: jenny.zimmerman@espn.com

 

ESPNU, ESPN and ESPN360.com will present the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships live Friday, March 19, and Saturday, March 20, from the Qwest Center Omaha in Omaha, Neb. For the first time, three former All-America wrestlers will join ESPN commentators for in-depth analysis in the quarterfinals, semifinals and medal round. All matches will be featured in high definition, and, for the third straight year, two referees per match during the Finals will wear microphones. For the complete release, click here.

 

ESPN’s Her Story – Celebrating Women in Sports"
contacts: diane.lamb@espn.com or samantha.a.baron@espn.com

 

To conclude the celebration of Women’s History month, ESPN will present Her Story: Ten Times Over on Sunday, April 4, at 2:30 p.m. The program focuses on 27-year-old Nigerian-American Mobolaji Akiode and her journey, leaving her life the United States and to return to her homeland of Nigeria. In a country where women are often treated as second-class citizens, Akiode is determined to bring hope and empowerment to young girls through basketball camps. Robin Roberts of ABC’s Good Morning America narrates the half-hour special.

 

Mayne Street Finale This Week on ESPN.com
contact: alison.lazar@espn.com  

 

The finale of ESPN.com’s original scripted series Mayne Street debuting Tuesday, March 16, has Kenny Mayne pushing his parking privileges a hair too far. 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 headlines 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-30-

Comments are closed.