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MidWeek — May 25, 2011

Posted by Editor • May 25, 2011 • Printer-friendly

 
 

INDY 500 

MLB, NBA, LACROSSE, SOFTBALL & MORE…

 

espnW.com Covers the Indianapolis 500
contact: colleen.s.lynch@espn.com

This week espnW.com will provide extensive coverage of the Indianapolis 500, leading up to the race which will air on Sunday, May 29, at 11 a.m. ET on ABC.  Upcoming stories:

  • Wednesday, May 25: Women are now working on pit row.  Anna Chatten, who was the air jack operator for Milka Duno last year, has the same job with Mario Moraes this year.
  • Thursday, May 26: Auto racing is one of the few sports where women compete with men. What are the skills required to excel in this dangerous sport?
  • Friday, May 27: Will this be Danica Patrick’s last time competing at the Indy 500?
  • Saturday, May 28: espnW interviews Danica’s mom, Bev Patrick, and Janet Guthrie and Sarah Fisher assess the women in this year’s race. 
  • Sunday, May 29: Live event coverage from Indianapolis. 

 
 

 

ESPN Classic Airing 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 Tribute
contact: andy.hall@espn.com

ESPN Classic’s week-long Indianapolis 500 tribute, in honor of the 100th anniversary, continues with historic Indy 500 races and SportsCentury programming.  The “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will air Sunday, May 29, with pre-race at 11 a.m. on ABC.  On Monday, May 30, the actual 100th anniversary, an all-day marathon will be anchored by a re-air of the 2011 race at 10 p.m. 

  
 

 

Atlanta Braves to Host Cincinnati Reds on Sunday Night Baseball
contact: nate.smeltz@espn.com; ben.cafardo@espn.com

The Atlanta Braves and Chipper Jones will host the Cincinnati Reds and Joey Votto on Sunday Night Baseball May 29, at 8 p.m. on ESPN2 (telecast will be moved to ESPN if there isn’t a Game 7 of the NBA Western Conference Finals). Dan Shulman will provide commentary with analysts Orel Hershiser and Bobby Valentine and reporters Buster Olney and Wendi Nix.  Baseball Tonight - emanating from just outside the ballpark – will precede the game telecast at 7 p.m. Sunday Night Baseball is also available on ESPN Radio (with Jon Sciambi and Chris Singleton), ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV.

 
 

 

NBA Western Conference Finals on ESPN
ontact: nate.smeltz@espn.com; ben.cafardo@espn.com

If the Oklahoma City Thunder win and avoid elimination tonight against the Dallas Mavericks (9 p.m., ESPN; Mavs lead the series 3-1), ESPN will televise Western Conference Finals Game 6 on Friday, May 27, at 9 p.m. with Mike Breen, analysts Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy, and reporter Doris Burke.  Western Conference Finals games are also available on ESPN Radio (Kevin Calabro and Dr. Jack Ramsay providing commentary), ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV.  Kia NBA Countdown precedes all game telecasts – with host Stuart Scott, Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and analysts Jon Barry and Michael Wilbon – at 8 p.m.  ABC’s exclusive coverage of The Finals is scheduled to begin Thursday, June 2, but will be moved up to Tuesday, May 31, if both Conference Finals conclude in five games.

  
 

 

NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship in Baltimore Saturday & Monday
contact: rachel.l.margolis@espn.com

ESPN networks will provide exclusive coverage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship semifinals and title game Saturday, May 28 and Monday, May 30, from M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.  Highlights:

  • National semifinals (ESPN2/ESPN3.com) – Saturday, May 28: No. 7 seed Virginia vs. No. 6 seed Denver at 4 p.m., and Maryland vs. No. 5 seed Duke at 6:30 p.m.
  • National Championship (ESPN/ESPN3.com/ESPN Mobile) – Monday, May 30: Semifinal winners at 3:30 p.m.
  • All three games available in high definition
  • ESPN3.com will simulcast all three games, exclusive Sky Cam views and full coverage of postgame celebration, trophy presentation and net cutting 

ESPNU, ESPN.com, ESPN International and ESPN Mobile will have additional coverage. Fact Sheet

Date Time (ET) Games Networks
Sat, May 28 4 p.m. National Semifinal (Baltimore, Md.) Game 1:
No. 7 Virginia vs. No. 6 Denver
Sean McDonough, Quint Kessenich & Eamon McAnaney		 ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN3.com (Sky Cam feed)
  6:30 p.m. National Semifinal (Baltimore, Md.) Game 2:
Maryland vs. No. 5 Duke
Sean McDonough, Quint Kessenich & Eamon McAnaney 		 ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN3.com (Sky Cam feed)
Mon, May 30 3:30 p.m. National Final (Baltimore, Md.)
Sean McDonough, Quint Kessenich & Eamon McAnaney 		 ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN3.com (Sky Cam feed) / ESPN Mobile
  6 p.m. 2011 NCAA Lacrosse Championship Post Show ESPNU HD
Wed, June 1 9:30 p.m. 2011 SECTOR SPDRS Lacrosse Season Review Show ESPNU HD

 

 
 

 

NCAA Division I Softball Super Regionals Begin Thursday on ESPN & ESPN2
contact: rachel.l.margolis@espn.com

ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com will continue to combine for the most extensive NCAA Division I Softball Championship coverage to date with all 24 games from the Super Regionals, set to begin Thursday, May 26, from Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Tempe, Ariz. 

ESPN networks will combine to air up to a record 69 games, which began with the Regionals on Friday, May 20, and commences from the NCAA Women’s College World Series Wednesday, June 8. The lineup included action from four Regional sites; and moving forward will have every game from each of the eight Super Regionals and every NCAA Women’s College World Series contest. 

For the first time all games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will be televised in high definition and simulcast on ESPN3.com, while ESPN Mobile TV will offer select games throughout the championship. 

Super Regional Highlights:

  • Live coverage from each of the eight Super Regional sites – Athens, Ga., Columbia, Mo., Gainesville, Fla., Lexington, Ky., Stillwater, Okla., Tempe and Tucson, Ariz., and Tuscaloosa, Ala.;
  • 13 of the top 16 seeds remain in the field, including top-seeded Arizona State and No. 2 seed Alabama - where the Super Regional coverage kicks off Thursday, May 26, at 8 & 10 p.m.;
  • Charlotte Morgan will be joined by recently retired LSU head coach Yvette Girouard from ESPNU’s Charlotte, N.C., studio, while Stacy Nuveman will be in the Bristol studio. 

NCAA Division I Softball Championship – Super Regionals Presented by Capital One

Date Time (ET) Game Matchup Network
Thu, May 26 8 p.m. Game 1 No. 15 Stanford vs. No. 2 Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Beth Mowins & Jessica Mendoza		 ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile
  10 p.m. Game 1 No. 16 Texas A&M vs. No. 1 Arizona State
(Tempe, Ariz.)
Pam Ward & Michele Smith		 ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com
Fri, May 27 2 p.m. Game 1 No. 13 Oregon vs. No. 4 Florida
(Gainesville, Fla.)
Cara Capuano & Garland Cooper		 ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com
  4:30 p.m. Game 2 No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 15 Stanford
(Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Beth Mowins & Jessica Mendoza 		 ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com
  7 p.m.^ Game 3* (from Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Beth Mowins & Jessica Mendoza 		 ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com
    Game 1 Houston vs. Oklahoma State
(Stillwater, Okla.)
Holly Rowe & Leah Amico		 ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com
  9 p.m. Game 2 No. 1 Arizona State vs. No. 16 Texas A&M
(Tempe, Ariz.)
Pam Ward & Michele Smith 		 ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com
  11:30 p.m. Game 3* (from Tempe, Ariz.)
Pam Ward & Michele Smith 		 ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile
    Game 1 No. 9 Oklahoma vs. No. 8 Arizona
(Tucson, Ariz.)
Carter Blackburn & Cheri Kempf		 ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com
Sat, May 28 Noon Game 2 No. 4 Florida vs. No. 13 Oregon
(Gainesville, Fla.)
Cara Capuano & Garland Cooper 		 ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile
    Game 1 Kentucky vs. No. 7 California
(Lexington, Ky.)
Mark Neely & Jennie Ritter 		 ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com
  2:30 p.m. Game 3* (from Gainesville, Fla.)
Cara Capuano & Garland Cooper 		 ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile
    Game 2 Oklahoma State vs. Houston
(Stillwater, Okla.)
Holly Rowe & Leah Amico 		 ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com
  5 p.m. Game 2 No. 8 Arizona vs. No. 9 Oklahoma
(Tucson, Ariz.)
Carter Blackburn & Cheri Kempf 		 ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile
    Game 3* (from Stillwater, Okla.)
Holly Rowe & Leah Amico 		 ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com
  7:30 p.m. Game 3* (from Tucson, Ariz.)
Carter Blackburn & Cheri Kempf 		 ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile
    Game 1 No. 11 Baylor vs. No. 6 Georgia
(Athens, Ga.)
Clay Matvick & Amanda Freed		 ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com
  9 p.m. Game 1 No. 12 Washington vs. No. 5 Missouri
(Columbia, Mo.)
Justin Kutcher & Amanda Scarborough 		ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com
Sun, May 29 1 p.m. % Game 2 No. 7 California vs. Kentucky
(Lexington, Ky.)
Mark Neely & Jennie Ritter		 ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile
    Game 2 No. 6 Georgia vs. No. 11 Baylor
(Athens, Ga.)
Clay Matvick & Amanda Freed 		 ESPN HD / ESPN3.com
  3:30 p.m. % Game 3* (from Lexington, Ky.)
Mark Neely & Jennie Ritter 		 ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile
    Game 3* (from Athens, Ga.)
Clay Matvick & Amanda Freed 		 ESPN HD / ESPN3.com
    Game 2 No. 5 Missouri vs. No. 12 Washington
(Columbia, Mo.)
Justin Kutcher & Amanda Scarborough 		 ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com
  6 p.m. Game 3* (from Columbia, Mo.)
Justin Kutcher & Amanda Scarborough 		 ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com

 If there is no NBA Western Conf. Finals Game 7, the schedule for May 29 sites 6, 7 & 8 will be:

Sun, May 29 1 p.m. Game 2 No. 7 California vs. Kentucky
(Lexington, Ky.)
Mark Neely & Jennie Ritter		 ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile
  3:30 p.m. Game 2 No. 6 Georgia vs. No. 11 Baylor
(Athens, Ga.)
Clay Matvick & Amanda Freed		 ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com
    Game 3* (from Lexington, Ky.)
Mark Neely & Jennie Ritter		 ESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile
  6 p.m. Game 3* (from Athens, Ga.)
Clay Matvick & Amanda Freed		 ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com
  7 p.m. Game 2 No. 5 Missouri vs. No. 12 Washington
(Columbia, Mo.)
Justin Kutcher & Amanda Scarborough		 ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com
  9:30 p.m. Game 3* (from Columbia, Mo.)
Justin Kutcher & Amanda Scarborough		 ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com

* - If necessary; ^ - If no NBA Western Conference Finals Game 6 – telecast will be moved to ESPN HD; % - ESPN will showcase games within one window and regionalize its coverage. Viewers in the home markets of the competing teams will receive their local game in its entirety.

  
 

 

College Baseball: Selection Show Monday on ESPN
contact: Michael.c.humes@espn.com

On Monday, May 30, at 12:30 p.m., ESPN will televise the 30-minute NCAA Division I Road to Omaha Selection Show Presented by Capital One featuring the live announcement of the 64-team field for the NCAA Baseball Championship. Ryan Burr will host with analyst Kyle Peterson. The program will include an in-depth look at each region, key players in the tournament, analyst Keith Law discussing Major League Baseball prospects to watch and more. 

ESPN will provide extensive coverage of the NCAA Baseball Championship – including Regionals, Super Regionals and College World Series – across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com June 3 to June 29.

  
 

 

ESPNU Follows National Champion UConn Men’s Basketball Team to the White House
contact: rachel.l.margolis@espn.com

ESPNU All-Access: Connecticut at the White House will air Thursday, May 26, at 6:30 p.m. in high definition. ESPN’s Andy Katz went behind the scenes for an ESPNU All-Access tour with the national champs. 

The Huskies made the most of their trip to Washington, D.C., where head coach Jim Calhoun, assistant coach Kevin Ollie, forward Jeremy Lamb and the team, offered inspiration to local kids during a basketball clinic for area youth. The group also toured the White House and spent quality time with President Obama, the first fan of college basketball. 

Reair schedule: Friday, May 27, at midnight and Sunday, May 29, at 11 & 11:30 a.m.

 

ESPN 3D Adds Five Friday Night Fights Telecasts to Schedule
contact: colleen.s.lynch@espn.com

ESPN 3D has added five nights of live boxing to its schedule.  Friday Night Fights will be on the network starting June 24 at 9 p.m. with matches originating from the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif.  The schedule: 

Date Time (ET) Location
June 24 9 p.m. Pechanga Resort Casino, Temecula, Calif.
July 1 11 p.m. Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas
July 8 9 p.m. Jobing.com Arena, Phoenix, Ariz.
July 22 9 p.m. TBD
Aug. 12 9 p.m. TBD

ESPN 3D televised its first Friday Night Fights match on February 18.  It was also the first live ESPN telecast to be produced only in 3D and aired in 3D and 2D simultaneously

  
 

 

Former Heavyweight Challengers on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights; 
Bernard Hopkins Joins Ryan Burr in Studio
contact: stephen.mcdonald@espn.com

ESPN’s Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra, will originate from Reno, Nev., May 27 at 9 p.m. on ESPN2 when Ring Magazines No. 10-ranked heavyweight Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (31-2, 27 KOs, WBC #2, IBF #5, WBO #13, WBA #15) and former heavyweight world title challenger Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (35-2, 23 KO’s, IBF #7) are featured in co-main events. Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas will be ringside describing the action. Friday’s show will also include Ring Magazine’s new light heavyweight champion and future hall of famer Bernard Hopkins in studio with host Ryan Burr. Hopkins, age 46, became the oldest fighter ever to win a significant title with a unanimous decision over Jean Pascal last Saturday. 

 

 

Jarrett, Smith, McGee on NASCAR Now Roundtable
contact: andy.hall@espn.com

Analyst Dale Jarrett, NASCAR Now lead reporter Marty Smith and ESPN the Magazine’s Ryan McGee will be panelists on NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable Monday, May 30, at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2 with host Allen Bestwick. Michelle Bonner will host the weekend edition Sunday, May 29, at 10 a.m. with a preview of that evening’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Charlotte. Smith and Mike Massaro will report from Charlotte with analyst Ricky Craven.

  
 

 

College Football Live Month-Long Roundtable Discussions Concludes; All 20 in New ESPNU Show
contact: michael.c.humes@espn.com

The month-long College Football Live roundtable series of analysts discussing the daily program’s top 20 pre-season teams will conclude this week with a look at No. 3 Oregon (today), No. 2 Alabama (Thursday) and No. 1 Oklahoma (Friday). College Football Live – providing in-depth analysis, news, features, interviews and discussion – is aired weekdays at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN. Throughout May, each show featured a panel discussion looking at one team from the College Football Live preseason top 20, counting down from 20 to 1.  Kirk Herbstreit, Craig James, Urban Meyer, Jesse Palmer and Robert Smith serve as the roundtable experts. 

On Wednesday, June 1, ESPNU will televise all 20 of the roundtable discussions in a special two-hour College Football Live 2011 Top 20 Countdown at 7:30 p.m. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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