Plenty of drama on sports TV
By: Jim Williams
Examiner Sports Columnist
August 18, 2009
The drama began last Thursday on TNT when Tiger Woods took the lead at the PGA Championship. It continued on CBS Sunday when it looked like Woods would score his first major of the year and the 15th of his career.
Y.E. Yang was two strokes back and playing with Woods in the final group of the day. For three hours on Sunday the drama was riveting. Yang drew even with Woods and then, on the 72nd hole, he rolled in a birdie putt to become the first Asian-born player to win a major.
CBS producer Lance Barrow had all the shots covered and closed it out with an outstanding reaction shot by Yang after his title-winning putt. As always, Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo where perfect in their analysis of the Yang victory and the Woods loss. Meanwhile, TNT was solid with their early-round coverage, proving they are a quality destination for golf. Also broadband coverage on PGA.com was better than ever.
ESPN2 came through with a huge deal, bringing Barclay's Premier League soccer to 98 million fans nationwide. It was a huge deal for soccer fans because the British league is the best in soccer. The new deal gives ESPN2 the 7:45 a.m. Saturday morning telecasts along with the Monday afternoon telecasts.
The BPL also is on Fox Soccer Channel, so soccer fans will get at least three live Saturday games on the two networks and at least one game a week on Sundays at 10 a.m.
FSC will debut their UEFA Champions League coverage starting today at 2 p.m. with a doubleheader. FC Sheriff (MDA) faces Olympiacos (GRE), followed by Celtic (SCO) vs. Arsenal (ENG) at 5 p.m. The games air every Tuesday this month.
It was a good first telecast for both the Redskins on CSN/NBC4 and the Ravens on MASN/WBAL-TV 11. The battle of the beltways was better on TV than it was on the field.
The CSN/NBC4 crew of Mike Patrick, Joe Thesimann, Keli Johnson and Lindsay Czarniak handled the telecast in midseason form. CSN pregame and postgame was strong with Russ Thaler pinch-hitting for Chick Hernandez, who will be back this week. Brian Mitchell and Trevor Matich were ready to talk Skins football with great depth. This week they will do the Steelers-Redskins game from FedEx Field.
Ravens fans were treated to good pregame information by the insightful Qadry Ismail and Pete Gilbert on Ravens Kickoff. The Ravens broadcast team of Gerry Sandusky, Stan White and Rob Burnett had a solid opening telecast. They have a great matchup this week against former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan as the Ravens and Jets meet in Baltimore.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on washingtonexaminer.com.
