Monthly Archives: April 2013

Best viewing of year: NBC Sports Group superserves hockey fans in first round

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The NHL playoffs begin tonight. Nothing like getting the second season started while the calendar still says April.

Thanks to the NHL’s TV deal with NBC, the first round of the playoffs now might represent the best week or two of hockey for the season.

For the second straight year, every game will air on national TV on one of these outlets: NBC, NBC Sports Network, CNBC, and NHL Network.

That’s every game, something that might not have happened if the NHL opted for ESPN. The multi-channel coverage created a great dynamic during the first round last year. Hockey fans worked out their remotes watching one dramatic finish after another. While the games get bigger during subsequent rounds, nothing matches the volume of the first round.

The end result produced an increase in ratings for the early rounds of the playoffs.

NBC and the NHL hope the numbers improve even more this year as more people catch on to the concept. There will be three games on tonight, and there are several days with four games.

I asked Sam Flood, NBC’s executive producer, about the set-up yesterday during a conference call:

The idea was to super-serve the hockey fan. That’s our Number 1 priority. The league wanted to make sure that their games were available to everyone. And that’s what we’ve partnered up to do with the NHL.

Gary Bettman and his team have been fabulous to work with making sure the schedule works. And unlike the NBA or baseball, this is a league that’s going to deal with two countries and make sure that they keep their partners at CVC, TSN, RDS and NBC happy.

And I can’t say how well the league was working through the schedule planning to make sure they’ve got good games on every night, to make sure the hockey fan has what they want. Which is hockey seven nights a week, and the match ups and times where they can consume them as often as possible.

Let the feast begin. Here’s the menu through May 8:

Tuesday, April 30
8 p.m. Minnesota (8) @ Chicago (1) NBCSN
8 p.m. Los Angeles (5) @ St. Louis (4) CNBC
10:30 p.m. Detroit (7) @ Anaheim (2) NBCSN
Wednesday, May 1
7 p.m. Toronto (5) @ Boston (4) CNBC
7:30 p.m. N.Y. Islanders (8) @ Pittsburgh (1) NBCSN
10:30 p.m. San Jose (6) @ Vancouver (3) NBCSN
Thursday, May 2
7 p.m. Ottawa (7) @ Montreal (2) CNBC
7:30 p.m. N.Y. Rangers (6) @ Washington (3) NBCSN
9:30 p.m. Los Angeles (5) @ St. Louis (4) CNBC
10 p.m. Detroit (7) @ Anaheim (2) NBCSN
Friday, May 3
7 p.m. N.Y. Islanders (8) @ Pittsburgh (1) NBCSN
7 p.m. Ottawa (7) @ Montreal (2) CNBC
9:30 p.m. Minnesota (8) @ Chicago (1) NBCSN
10 p.m. San Jose (6) @ Vancouver (3) CNBC
Saturday, May 4
12:30 p.m. N.Y. Rangers (6) @ Washington (3) NBC
7 p.m. Toronto (5) @ Boston (4) CNBC
7:30 p.m. Anaheim (2) @ Detroit (7) NBCSN
10 p.m. St. Louis (4) @ Los Angeles (5) NBCSN
Sunday, May 5
Noon Pittsburgh (1) @ N.Y. Islanders (8) NBC
3 p.m. Chicago (1) @ Minnesota (8) NBC
7 p.m. Montreal (2) @ Ottawa (7) NBCSN
10 p.m. Vancouver (3) @ San Jose (6) NBCSN
Monday, May 6
7 p.m. Boston (4) @ Toronto (5) NHL Network
7:30 p.m. Washington (3) @ N.Y. Rangers (6) NBCSN
8 p.m. Anaheim (2) @ Detroit (7) CNBC
10 p.m. St. Louis (4) @ Los Angeles (5) NBCSN
Tuesday, May 7
7 p.m. Pittsburgh (1) @ N.Y. Islanders (8) NBCSN
7 p.m. Montreal (2) @ Ottawa (7) CNBC
9:30 p.m. Chicago (1) @ Minnesota (8) NBCSN
10 p.m. Vancouver (3) @ San Jose (6) CNBC
Wednesday, May 8
7 p.m. Boston (4) @ Toronto (5) NHL Network
7:30 p.m. Washington (3) @ N.Y. Rangers (6) NBCSN

Here’s the official rundown from NBC:

Every first-round playoff game will be televised on a national platform.

In order to televise as many as four games on a given day/night, the NBC Sports Group will utilize NBC, NBC Sports Network, CNBC and the NHL Network to carry Conference Quarterfinal games.

NBC Sports Network will be the primary home of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, offering coverage of one or two games virtually every night of the first round. NBC will present exclusive afternoon coverage during the weekend of May 4-5.

CNBC and NHL Network will also provide live coverage in primetime. Games airing on NBC Sports Network, CNBC and the NHL Network will be subject to local blackouts in the first round.

See below for a complete Conference Quarterfinal schedule.

CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

NBC Sports Group’s Stanley Cup Playoff exclusivity originates with the Conference Semifinal round. Beginning in the second round and continuing through the Stanley Cup Final, all games will air exclusively on NBC, NBC Sports Network, or CNBC.

NBC Sports Network will serve as the primary home for Conference Semifinal coverage, offering one or two games virtually every night of the second round. When necessary, CNBC will provide live coverage in primetime, although more infrequently than in the first round. NBC will present exclusive afternoon coverage during the weekend of May 18-19, plus a primetime game on Saturday, May 25.

CONFERENCE FINALS

NBC and the NBC Sports Network will team to provide exclusive coverage of the Conference Finals. NBC will broadcast Saturday games on June 1 and June 8. The remaining games from both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals will be televised exclusively on NBC Sports Network.

STANLEY CUP FINAL

For the eighth consecutive year, NBC and NBC Sports Network (formerly VERSUS) will provide exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Final. NBC will broadcast Game 1, Game 4, and Games 5-7 (if necessary), with NBC Sports Network televising Games 2-3. Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, analyst Eddie Olczyk and ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Pierre McGuire will call the Stanley Cup Final.

What they’re saying: Gay sportswriter rejoices; CBS’ Brando says Collins not a hero

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Quite a reaction indeed.

Chuck Culpepper in Sports on Earth, who wrote about being gay for the first time earlier this year:

The deluge of positivity surrounding this issue has astounded me, especially after six years abroad. You spend a good long while in life just hoping for a lack of derision, maybe some measure of distant understanding, and then so much of the nation just up and gives a big embrace. To a gay person — well, this one, anyway — it’s like spending years yearning for a Christmas puppy, and then the door opens and a whole litter stampedes out to swarm you.

Tim Brando generated quite a reaction with a series of tweets:

On the topic of Jason Collins I really don’t care and frankly why should anyone else.The HERO worship is out of bounds.I’m glad he is happy.

I used “choice” in reference to the timing. He is 34 at the end of his career and that in my opinion played a role on his coming out

I don’t apologize for being where I’m from or being a Christian, but anyone that plays the BIGOT card on me does not know my History.Sorry.

Dan Levy of Bleacher Report eloquently refutes Brando’s hero comment.

If the dictionary truly matters to Brando, he should go ahead and read it once in a while.

To the greater point, a hero is someone who inspires other people to be better, and to work hard to make this world we live in better every day.

Our lives are, in the grand scheme of history, short, and if someone decides to put the enormous weight of something like this on his shoulders to help other people get through a confusing, frightening or otherwise difficult time in their lives, that’s about as heroic as one can get.

The Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy lauds Collins, but says he isn’t Jackie Robinson:

And it is not a big deal. It is not Jackie Robinson in 1947. Collins has come out at a time when few will challenge his right to his own sexual identity. There no doubt are folks who wish Collins kept this to himself, but woe is the ballplayer or commentator who will question anything about Collins’s sexual orientation.

We have evolved. There are gay men and women in just about every workplace. There have been gay ballplayers for more than a century. We just didn’t know about it.

Dave Zirin of The Nation in a tweet about Broussard:

If an ESPN commentator sees Christianity, Judaism, or Islam as evil, can they say so on air? Truly curious about where they draw line.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star had this view of Broussard:

To be frank about it, I think it took more courage for Chris Broussard to do what he did than it did for Jason Collins to do what he did.

Matt Yoder, the managing editor of Awful Announcing, didn’t post this view on his site. Instead, he did it in an extended tweet. When I asked why he went this route, he said he initially thought it was too personal. However, he said he still might post on AA.

I’m a Christian.  I stand with Jason Collins.

I feel the need to state this plainly because we live in a world where Christians have by and large failed the LGBT community and failed to follow through on the words and ministry of Christ.  As I read column after column today on Jason Collins coming out I felt more and more persuaded to say something so that the only Christian voice in this discussion isn’t one that condemns.

In the wake of Jason Collins coming out in Sports Illustrated, the Christian face of the reaction, at least in the sports world, is someone saying Collins should not be considered a Christian.  That is not something I can silently stand by and watch happen because it is not consistent with the ministry of Christ.

I read the piece written by Jason Collins in Sports Illustrated and rejoiced when I passed over these words because I hoped they could begin to tear down the wall too many of us Christians have built up blocking out the LGBT world:

James Andrew Miller, author of the ESPN book, did not think Monday was a good day for ESPN.

The hours @espn spent talking about #tebow today instead of #collins will live as dog years. Sad day for Bristol journalism.

Ken Fang of Fang’s Bites sums up a “bizarre day” with a timeline.

 

 

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Broussard tweet: Believe Collins displayed bravery; ESPN statement: Regret it became a distraction

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You might have went to bed last night, but the uproar over Chris Broussard didn’t.

Both Broussard and ESPN addressed the comments. Broussard did it in a tweet.

Today on OTL, as part of a larger, wide-ranging discussion on today’s news, I offered my personal opinion as it relates to Christianity, a point of view that I have expressed publicly before. I realize that some people disagree with my opinion and I accept and respect that. As has been the case in the past, my beliefs have not and will not impact my ability to report on the NBA. I believe Jason Collins displayed bravery with his announcement today and I have no objection to him or anyone else playing in the NBA.

ESPN, meanwhile, issued a statement shortly before 11 p.m. ET. Interestingly, Broussard’s name wasn’t mentioned.

We regret that a respectful discussion of personal viewpoints became a distraction from today’s news.  ESPN is fully committed to diversity and welcomes Jason Collins’ announcement.

More to come.

 

 

MLB Network profile: Diminished eyesight doesn’t deter veteran Cincy Reds reporter

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Make a point of seeing this story:

From MLB Network:

MLB Network will profile longtime Cincinnati Reds beat writer Hal McCoy Tuesday on MLB Tonight (6 p.m.). It centers on McCoy, who is legally blind, and Ray Snedegar, who was hired by McCoy before the 2013 season began to drive him to and from every Reds home game. Snedegar is a 31-year U.S. Air Force veteran and recent widower who volunteered to make the 180-mile roundtrip drive.

This feature continues their story by following McCoy and Snedegar on their drives to and from Great American Ballpark for two days earlier this month. MLB Network equipped Snedegar’s car with two wallet-sized GoPro cameras over the roundtrip drives to give insight into their daily routine, how McCoy now watches a baseball game (at one point in the feature, McCoy says that he has not seen a home run land since 2003), and how revered McCoy is by Reds players, manager Dusty Baker and fans as he and Snedegar walk through the ballpark before and after games.

Posted in MLB

Chris Broussard on Outside The Lines: Homosexuality is ‘an open rebellion’ to God

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Looks like Chris Broussard just made himself part of the story in the Jason Collins story.

During a special edition of Outside The Lines today, Broussard said homosexuality is “an open rebellion” to God.

Broussard said: “Personally I don’t believe that you can live an openly homosexual lifestyle or openly  pre-marital sex between heterosexuals – if you’re openly living that  type of lifestyle then the bible says you know them by their fruits, it says that that’s a sin. If you’re openly living in unrepentant sin – whatever it may be – not just homosexuality; adultery, fornication, pre-marital sex between heterosexuals, I believe that’s walking in open rebellion to God and Jesus Christ. So I would not characterize that person as a Christian because I don’t  think the bible would characterize them as a Christian.”

As I write this, Broussard has yet to weigh in on his Twitter feed, which has nearly 650,000 followers. However, he now is trending ahead of Collins on Twitter.

Some samples among the many, many tweets:

FYI to Chris Broussard: Plenty of homosexual scientists, doctors, lawyers, educators, soldiers, etc. All human beings & free to live equally

Who would have guessed that Tim Tebow has a brighter professional future than Chris Broussard?

My sources tell me Chris Broussard will be covering sports for the 700 club next week

Chris Broussard is going to go from Outside the Lines to Unemployment Lines.

Not so quick with the last tweet. Don’t for a minute think that Broussard’s comment will get him fired. He was expressing an honest view. As much as I disagree with Broussard, I agree with this tweet from Doug Gottlieb, a sentiment that was echoed by others.

BTW @Chris_Broussard should be allowed to speak his mind,share his faith–as long as no hate is involved #OTL— even though I disagree

Still, Mr. Broussard is in for an eventful few days.

 

 

 

Coming out: Sports Illustrated with first-person story of Jason Collins saying he is gay

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As I vented earlier today about Don Cherry’s comments about women in the locker room being an issue from the 1980s, it pains me about the fallout from Jason Collins disclosing he is gay.

Sports Illustrated just dropped its package about the 12-year NBA veteran on its site. Collins also is on the cover of this week’s issue.

I know I am being incredibly naive, or perhaps overly optimistic, but it’s 2013. A person’s sexuality shouldn’t be a big deal. All that matters is whether an athlete can play, right?

Maybe Collins’ declaration will be a first step in that process. You know he hardly is the only gay male athlete.

The piece definitely is a coup for Sports Illustrated. SI.com has a behind-the-scenes account of how the story came together written by managing editor Chris Stone.

Stone writes:

The player’s identity remained unknown to Lidz until the agreed-upon date. He, and we, knew there was a very real, understandable possibility that the player could change his mind. Lidz and SI executive editor Jon Wertheim arrived in L.A. on the night of April 23. At noon the next day, they were directed to meet with Collins at his home. For four hours Collins shared his story with remarkable clarity, directness, emotion and humor (keyword: Shaq). There was a deeply moving note of graciousness too. To the pioneers before him, such as the tennis champion Martina Navratilova and the retired NBA journeyman John Amaechi, and to such straight advocates of gay rights as Ayanbadejo and Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, he told Lidz, “The words thank you aren’t enough.”

 

Ozzie Guillen makes debut on First Take: Will analyze games for ESPN Deportes

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A year ago, Ozzie Guillen was in the first year of a four-year deal with the Miami Marlins. Even after a rocky start following his ill-advised comments on Fidel Castro, he had reason to be optimistic about his future with Miami. The Marlins actually were 30-23 at the beginning of June, only two games out of first.

Then it all imploded, and Guillen was fired after a dreadful season.

So what now?

While waiting to see if he gets a call from another team, Guillen has decided to go the TV route. Last week, the former White Sox and Marlins manager signed on as an analyst for baseball games on ESPN Deportes.

The deal, though, goes beyond games. Guillen will be making occasional appearances on First Take and other ESPN studio shows.  He also will be heard on ESPN Deportes Radio Nueva York 1050 AM.  Guillen is slated to make weekly appearances on the radio station’s local shows – Zona ESPN and Firma ESPN.

Guillen made his first appearance Monday on First Take. The discussion ranged from an umpire dispute involving David Price to the Red Sox and Yankees (what else?).

Guillen wasn’t asked to weigh in on Tim Tebow. Now that would have been interesting.

It remains to be seen if Guillen can resurrect his managerial career. At some point, you would think there will be a publicity-hungry team willing to take a chance on Guillen.

Until then, Guillen is doing the right thing by remaining visible on the TV side. The stopover has worked for plenty of other guys.

In the release, Guillen said:

“It’s an honor to join the ESPN Deportes family. ESPN’s baseball analysts are some of the best in the business and I’m looking forward to joining the conversation and providing my perspective on what’s happening this season.”

 

AWSM denounces Cherry’s idiotic remarks about women in lockerroom; CBC tries to distance itself

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Given the views Don Cherry expressed over the weekend, you can assume the blowhard also isn’t in favor of women having the vote.

Cherry turned the way-back machine to 1985 (or 1885) by saying he isn’t in favor of having women in the locker room during his weekly segment on CBC. It occurs at the 2:23 mark of the video below. Watch the priceless reaction of co-host Ron MacLean, who knows Cherry just stepped in it.

Cherry was responding to a woman reporter in Vancouver, Karen Thompson, pressing Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks about a slash he dished out that did not receive a penalty. Keith got upset about the line of questioning, and suggested that Thompson should be a “female referee.”

Awful Announcing has the audio and recap.

Keith made a poor choice of words by saying “female referee.” However, the exchange could have occurred just as easily with a male reporter. Players get ticked off at reporters all the time.

When Cherry came to the defense of his “good friend” Keith, he took a swipe at all women reporters. The Association for Women in Sports Media issued a strong response yesterday.

********

The Association for Women in Sports Media is dismayed and disappointed by the remarks made by Don Cherry on CBC’s segment of “Coach’s Corner,” which aired Saturday, April 27.

Cherry’s stance that women should not be allowed in hockey locker rooms is as sexist as it is outdated. Professional female sports journalists and media relations personnel have been working alongside their male counterparts in NHL locker rooms for nearly 40 years.

 

AWSM then noted the CBC, though a spokesman, issued a written statement saying Cherry’s comments did not represent the views of the network. You think? Not good to upset the women demo.

The CBC:

“As you know, Don Cherry has many opinions on a wide range of subjects and isn’t shy about expressing them … last night being no exception,” CBC head of media relations Chuck Thompson said. “That said, in as much as he’s hired to give hockey related opinions on Coach’s Corner, he speaks for himself and not the CBC. I should also point out, and something you likely heard when watching last night, Ron MacLean took the opposing view and countered Don’s perspective, which provided some balance to the discussion.”

AWSM would like to thank MacLean for his support of women and his championing of equal opportunity in the workplace.

We reaffirm our support for all the female sports professionals who cover the NHL.”

One of those professionals is Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times, a 2005 Elmer Ferguson Hockey Hall of Fame honoree. And there are plenty of other strong women reporters throughout the league. They go in the locker rooms after every game. It hasn’t been an issue for years.

My gut reaction is to not even dignify Cherry’s remarks. Why call attention to an out-of-touch man who only wants to draw attention to himself?

However, AWSM is right. Even in this day and age, there are people who don’t know better. The association had to denounce Cherry’s comments and set the record straight. Again.

Thankfully, unlike Cherry, there are fewer people who still think it is 1985.

 

He interviewed Ruth, Cobb, Jackie: Long-time broadcaster donates collection to Library of Congress

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Tyler Kepner in the New York Times has a terrific story on Bob Wolff. The 92-year old broadcaster is donating his collection of interviews to the Library of Congress.

And what a collection it is. Kempner writes:

Wolff has donated about 1,400 audio and video recordings, consisting of well more than 1,000 hours, to the Library of Congress, which will honor him in a ceremony next week.

Much of the material, DeAnna said, comes from an era when broadcasts were erased or not recorded at all. Wolff called some of the most memorable sports moments of the last century, including Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series and the Colts-Giants N.F.L. championship game in 1958. But the jewels of the collection are his interviews.

The subjects in Wolff’s trove range from Babe Ruth and Connie Mack to Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, plus Vince Lombardi, Joe Louis, Jim Thorpe and nearly every other major sports celebrity to cross his path. He was a pioneer in the creation of pre- and postgame shows, which he syndicated to various teams for their local broadcasts.

“In the early days, the people doing interviews, for the most part, were former athletes,” Wolff said. “They were people who had spent their time answering questions because they were stars, and had never asked a question in their lives.”

Wolff’s encounter with Ted Williams:

Wolff said he always wanted the interview to be appealing to the audience and enjoyable for the athlete, but he was no pushover. He once approached Ted Williams for an interview, and Williams, noticing the microphone, scowled at Wolff and muttered to himself. Wolff later chastised Williams, who made him a deal: the next time they met, if Williams had a certain batting average, he would do the show.

Williams, indeed, had met his high standards when he next encountered Wolff. But he had also just sworn off all interviews in another of his famous feuds with the Boston news media.

“Ted, you told me this with a handshake, but I read about what happened in Boston, and if you live up to your deal with me, as a reporter, I’ve got to ask you if you have any remorse,” Wolff said he told Williams. “But you’re a friend of mine, and if you want to bow out, we’re still friends. But if you want to go on, I’ve got to ask you the questions.”

Wolff said Williams did not hesitate.

“What time’s the interview?” Williams said. “Ask anything you want.”

And the good news if you love history:

The Library of Congress is digitizing Wolff’s collection and making much of it available to the public online. The library shared several recordings with The New York Times last week, including interviews with Ty Cobb, Jackie Robinson and Tris Speaker.

Robinson gives fielding tips — keep the glove low, brushing against the dirt — and, in a group interview after his groundbreaking rookie season, offers a rather benign comparison when asked about the abuse he took from Southern players.

“I went to U.C.L.A.,” Robinson says. “U.S.C. is our archrival across town. Suppose I suddenly had to go over and root for U.S.C. during a crucial game between U.S.C. and U.C.L.A. I mean, I think that’s the same way that these fellows felt when they came up out of the South. They have certain things instilled with them in the South, and they had to come up, all of a sudden, and were pushed in with me. At first they didn’t know just how to take it, but as the season progressed, there was certainly no feeling at all between us and we got along swell.”