1979 Pirates – Orioles World Series revisited tonight on MLB Network

By: Jim Williams
11/18/09 10:10 AM

It was the “We are family Pirates and the great pitching of the Baltimore Orioles in one of the most amazing World Series ever played. OK maybe it seemed that way because it was the first World Series I ever covered and the first game in Baltimore there was SNOW. Anyway tonight begins a new series of Baseball’s Seasons this week on MLB Network with a focus on the most memorable moments of the 1979 Major League Baseball season. The documentary-style series created by Major League Baseball Productions focuses on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ championship season led by Dave Parker and 1979 National League MVP Willie Stargell; the story of the Baltimore Orioles, led by Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver and 1979 All-Star Ken Singleton; and the California Angels who, with veterans like Rod Carew & 1979 American League MVP Don Baylor, reached the playoffs for the first time in the franchise’s history. Also highlighted in the episode is how the New York Yankees were impacted by the death of their star catcher Thurman Munson in the quest for their fourth-straight American League pennant. As the series examines each year in the context of the time’s culture and society, the 1979 episode highlights the country’s gas crisis. The episode will air on Wednesday, November 18 at 8:00 p.m. ET and re-air at 11:00 p.m. ET. A preview of the 1979 episode can be v...

12 hours of college hoops on TV today. Hoyas and Terps see action

By: Jim Williams
11/17/09 8:18 AM

You say you are a college basketball fan? Locally Georgetown will host Temple at 4pm on ESPN and Maryland will entertain Fairfield at 8pm on CSN. But that is a small sample of the college hoops on TV and broadband for your viewing pleasure. There is some early madness for you as the ESPN family of networks will air over 12 hours of both men's and women's college basketball - TODAY! Most will be offered on both ESPN360 and ESPN Mobile so if you want to watch at we won't tell. Here is the schedule of games not yet played: No. 24 Clemson at Liberty 10am on ESPN/ESPN36/ESPN MOBILE Eric Collins & Adrian Branch Northeastern at Siena Noon on ESPN/ESPN360/ESPN MOBILE Sean McDonough & Bill Raftery Arkansas-Little Rock at Tulsa 2pm on ESPN/ESPN360/ESPN/MOBILE Ron Franklin & Fran Fraschilla Temple at No. 21 Georgetown 4pm on ESPN/ESPN360/ESPN MOBILE Mike Patrick & Len Elmore O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic: Binghamton at Pittsburgh 5:30pm ESPN2 John Saunders, Bob Valvano & Bob Holtzman Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT from Durham, N.C. (Duke University)* 6pm ESPN/ ESPN360 Brad Nessler & Jimmy Dykes

ESPNU Road to the Championship: No. 9 Tennessee vs. Texas Tech (women’s game from San Antonio) 7pm on ESPNU Pam Ward, Kara Lawson & Rebecca Lobo Hall of Fame Showcase: Arkansas vs. No. 23 Louisville (from St. Louis) 7:30pm ESPN2/ESPN...

No Redskins in 2010 - Gruden to stay at ESPN

By: Jim Williams
11/16/09 10:09 AM

Many reports had former Raiders and Bucs head coach Jon Gruden being a possible candidate for the Redskins' head coaching job at the end of the season. However, it looks like he will be staying in the broadcast booth for a while.

The Super Bowl-winning head coach, who joined ESPN in May as a Monday Night Football analyst, has agreed to an exclusive multi-year agreement with the company — meaning Gruden has made a commitment to remain with ESPN. In addition to his MNF role alongside play-by-play commentator Mike Tirico and analyst Ron Jaworski, Gruden will appear on ESPN’s NFL Draft and Super Bowl week coverage, among other platforms, and he will call the 2010 NFL Pro Bowl in South Florida on Jan. 31. Gruden will serve as an analyst for ESPN Radio’s 2010 Rose Bowl and Bowl Championship Series (BCS) title game broadcasts, where he will team with Tirico, and he will be part of SportsCenter coverage leading up to the ESPN on ABC telecasts of both games. "Working with Mike, Jaws and our entire Monday Night Football team is the most fun I have had in years, and I am fired up to make this long-term commitment to ESPN," said Gruden. “Monday Night Football is special and I look forward to remaining a part of it and continuing to call these great games.” Norby Williamson, executive vice president, production, added: “Jon has truly reinvent...

Matt Millen returns tonight on the NFL Network

By: Jim Williams
11/12/09 10:20 AM

NFL NETWORK NFL Network Pregame 5pm Thursday Night Football Chicago at San Francisco 8pm Radio Westwood One Sirius/XM Matt Millen will join Bob Papa as the new broadcast team for NFL Network telecasts starting tonight when they telecast the game between Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers. In the 1990's Millen was thought by many -- myself included -- to be one of the best football analysts in the business and the heir apparent to John Madden. The former Detroit Lions President and CEO has been doing college games for ESPN and serving in the studio on a number of NFL shows. When Cris Collinsworth moved into the NBC Sunday Night Football booth to replace Madden, it seemed fitting that the NFL Network would turn to Millen. JW » I know you love doing the college games on ESPN But how good is to be doing the NFL games for “The Network.” Millen » "It is great to be back involved in doing NFL broadcasting again. To be working with a great partner like Bob Papa is a real treat. As for working for the NFL Network that is really wonderful. They are very open, the people are all very professional and they love the game. So to be part of the Thursday Night package is a real honor for me and to be working for the NFL Network just makes a super job even better. " JW » The first time around you called the games from the ...

Redskins-Falcons top local TV ratings with 20.2 rating and a 45 share

By: Jim Williams
11/11/09 2:28 PM

The Redskins might be losing on the field but they have extended their streak of #1 TV shows in Washington to a perfect 8-0. The ratings for the Washington - Atlanta game were a solid 20.2 Rating and a 45 share giving the Redskins another big TV victory.

Ratings continue to rise for the NFL both on a local and a national basis. This week’s numbers are in and there is no doubt that the Saints fans love their team. Let’s not forget “How about those Cowboys!” Sorry Jimmy just could not resist. Cincinnati has rediscovered the Bengals again in a big way and laid back San Diego are getting excited about their “Bolts.” Even in places like Green Bay, Nashville, Washington and Kansas City where their teams aren’t doing so well the ratings remain strong. Here is the latest information from the league office. NFL games topped the local ratings in 22 NFL markets last week. Following are the NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Nov. 2-Nov. 8: Week of 11/2-11/8 HH HH RTG Market ...

Nats and Reds could be dealing

By: Jim Williams
11/11/09 12:19 PM

The Washington National could be interested in a couple of players that the Reds will be looking to shop as they cut payroll.

Reports out of Cincinnati say that at least three of the teams top vets are on the block. Candidates to be moved are second baseman Brandon Phillips at $7 million for 2010 as well as a pair of pitchers. Aaron Harang who will comand $12.5 million in 2010 and Bronson Arroyo also at that $12 million for 2010 figure. Phillips, with his .452 slugging percentage over the last four seasons, is the most attractive candidate. The Nats could use a quality 2nd baseman with some pop in his bat.

Harang and Arroyo are both coming off decent years themselves, but any trade with the two pitcherswould require the Reds to absorb a chunk of their salaries if traded.

More Hot Stove info as it comes...

Nats to chose between Valentine or Riggleman - Fans vote Valentine - choice could come this week

By: Jim Williams
11/10/09 12:35 PM

Multiple sources are reporting that the Washington Nationals have narrowed their managerial search down to two men. Interim manager Jim Riggleman or former Mets, Rangers and Japanese Major League manager Bobby Valentine and a decision is likely to be made within the next ten days. It is possible that GM Mike Rizzo will have one final chat with both men before he makes the choice. If the fans had a vote it would be Valentine by a mile. The message boards, blogs and Twitter are all pushing for the former Mets and Rangers manager to become the Nationals field boss in 2010. The team has a comfort level with Riggleman and was pleased with the way he handled the Nationals after they fired Manny Acta. He was 33-42 as the Nats skipper and would not command a big salary. But Rizzo and team president Stan Kasten were extremely impressed by Valentine in his interviews and his ability to open the Asian market to the team. Valentine is very popular in Japan where his has won championships over the past six years and his contacts run very deep. Valentine is a proven winner and someone who is as good a salesman of baseball as Kasten. He is great with young players, super at helping bring in free agents but at his best at working at expanding the fan base. While with the Mets he was loved by the fans and he had a great relationship with the media. Something the team should pay atten...

Is Michael Vick the Redskins QB in 2010?

By: Jim Williams
11/09/09 2:42 PM

On the NBC pregame show "Football Night in America," former Bucs and Colts coach and now studio analyst Tony Dungy said that the Redskins among the teams who could be considering Eagles backup QB Michael Vick for the 2010 season.

Dungy: "I told Michael to just worry about this year. It's technically up to Philadelphia. If they want him back, he has to stay there. If they don't, there are some teams looking for quarterbacks – Cleveland, St. Louis and Washington. But I think a dark horse is Buffalo ... They talked originally. There was some communication there. I think that could be a good spot."

At least four NFL insiders have told me that if Philly were to let Vick go, he would get a long look in Washington depending on the new head coach.

Let's take a look at the rest of yesterday's to quotes from the pregame shows.

My e-mail box is full from people who were touched and just totally inspired by the gang at Fox and their Sunday pregame show live with our troops in Afghanistan. Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan, Jimmy Johnson and Jay Glazer were all a big hit and the quote of the show came when Sgt. Nikki Irvin of the U.S. Air Force asked each of the guys who they think will win the Super Bowl:

Glazer: “Right now I’ve got to go with the New Orleans Saints.” Johnson: “How bout them Dallas Cowboys!” Strah...

Strahan tells former Redskins star John Riggins to “Just shut up.”

By: Jim Williams
11/09/09 8:03 AM

The Redskins were getting advice all the way from Afghanistan from the FOX pregame show and it came from two former rivals. There were plenty of great quotes of the weekend but FOX analyst and former New York Giant star Michael Strahan had some words of wisdom for Redskins Hall of Fame running back John Riggins who criticized Washington and Owner Daniel Snyder: “John Riggins is a Hall of Fame football player and everyone knows the problems of the Redskins but he made it a bit personal saying Dan Snyder’s heart was dark and all those things. I don’t know if it had anything to do with the fact that Daniel Snyder’s company bought a radio station where John Riggins had a show and then they cancelled his show. What John Riggins is saying now is personal and I think he just needs to shut up.” Former Cowboys coach and fellow FOX analyst Jimmy Johnson added: “We’ve all questioned some of the decisions that have been made with the Redskins but you can’t question the passion and you can’t question the effort. Daniel Snyder will spend the money and they’ll keep working to get it right.” NBC ‘s Bob Costas spoke to Eagles backup QB Michael Vick and Dallas QB Tony Romo and here are the highlights. VICK Vick on doubting his abilities: "I would be lying if I said there wasn't some doubt there. I'm being realisti...

Riggo blasts Snyder on Showtime's "Inside the NFL"

By: Jim Williams
11/05/09 7:55 AM

On this week’s edition of Showtime’s “Inside the NFL” former Redskins great John Riggins leveled some the harshest criticism ever spoken by a former player at the team’s owner Daniel Snyder. Riggins who hosted a daily radio show for Snyder’s Red Zebra Broadcasting group was not shy in sharing his thoughts about his former boss.

Here is part of the Hall of Famer's conversation with the show’s host James Brown and analyst Cris Collinsworth. BROWN: John, you have been pretty doggone outspoken on the Washington Redskins and what is not working. Maybe it is an obvious question, but why so passionate? Why so intense in terms of your critique or criticism of the Redskins? RIGGINS: First of all it’s what I do JB. I have been in broadcasting for the last 15-20 years, so it is sort of my job. And the other part is, and I’ve been asked this question a lot, when they say do you have an ax to grind, and I think anytime an older player criticizes or says anything about his former team, unless he’s throwing Bon Mots at them, that all of a sudden you get a, ‘What’s he griping at’ type of thing. Maybe that’s the case. But truthfully I do have an ax to grind and I just realized I have been a little bit disingenuous. But this is a bad guy that owns this team. I’ll just tell you that upfront. Bad guy. ...

Redskins owner: "We have let everyone down"

By: Jim Williams
11/03/09 4:14 PM

Dan Snyder says his Washington Redskins have "let everyone down." according to an report this afternoon from the AP.

In a rare in-season talk with reporters, who caught up to Snyder in the parking lot following his remarks at a charity event about the Redskins, the owner said the organization is embarrassed by its 2-5 start and hopes to turn things around soon.

Snyder has been the subject of much ire from some fans. Signs critical of the owner have been confiscated at recent home games as part of the team's new crackdown on all signs and banners at FedEx Field.

Regarding the fans, he said: "We've let everyone down, including ourselves, and we know that and we're just apologetic."

When asked a question about the two other issues surrounding the fans — the suing of some fans who couldn't pay for season tickets and about the recently enforced stadium sign ban — Snyder deflected the question then left.

The story has made its way around the Web and it no doubt it will be a headline graber... more to come on CSN, ESPN 980AM, 106.7FM THE FAN DC , WTOP, WUSA, WRC, WJLA, WTTG and of course right here in The Examiner.

My TV game of the night: Wiz - Cavs on CSN at 6:30pm

By: Jim Williams
11/03/09 3:43 PM

It has been three years since the Wizards and the Cavs have met in a game that has been of any interest to either side. It was the first round of the NBA Playoffs and Gilbert Arenas and LeBron James were both putting on a show. Much has happened since that playoff meeting and Wizards fans have circled this very early season matchup just to see how far back their team has come. Pregame starts at 6:30pm tonight on CSN with Chris Miller and Ron Thompson doing the honors then they will pass things over to the broadcast team of Steve Buckhantz and Phil Chenier for the call of the game. Thus far Wizards rating through only three games are well above last season but there are great expectations with the return of Arenas and new coach Flip Saunders and his fun to watch up tempo style. OK fans three down and at least 79 more to go! Let’s see how the Wiz match up against the Cavs.

Redskins fans complain, but they keep watching

By: Jim Williams
11/01/09 12:01 AM

Funny thing about fans they will complain, they will threaten never to watch, listen or go to anymore games but in the end more often than not they return to their team.

Such seems to be the case thus far anyway with the Washington Redskins where if the fans are indeed leaving the team you sure could not tell by the ratings.

Through seven games this season their ratings are almost exactly where they were last year at this point in the season. The Redskins have won the weeks overall ratings and still remain the #1 watched show on Washington television. So while the team remains 2-5 and going nowhere this season on the field they remain a perfect 7-0 this season on Washington TV.

Here is where things really get interesting ratings wise.

"Redskins Kickoff," the outstanding pregame show seen on CSN with Chick Hernandez, Trevor Matich and reporter Keli Johnson is actually seeing some their best ratings in years. They are up a whopping 72% over the same point last season. The Redskins Postgame Live show featuring Hernandez, Matich, Johnson and Brian Mitchell along a number of special guests is also up 7% over last season.

Redskins Radio ESPN 980AM is also logging in strong numbers and both the pre and postgame shows are having no trouble attracting listeners or irate callers who want to dissect the losses.

The Washington Redskins remain the premier sports brand by far in the regi...

Strasburg and other Nats and O's stars to be featured on MLB Network

By: Jim Williams
10/30/09 1:17 PM

Stephen Strasburg Era is starting quietly in Arizona but you can bet over the next couple of weekends we will have a chance to have a peek at the Nats young star along with a number of the best young talent in baseball.

He is playing for the East leading Phoenix Desert Dogs of the AFL and we will see him in the Rising Stars game and quite likely in the playoffs on MLB Network. Also on the team is fellow Nationals prospoect Drew Storen. But Orioes fans can be happy that their top young players are also Desert Dog teammares with the Nats gang.

Baltimore pitchers Eddie Gamboa, Joshua Michael Perrault and Owings Mills own Brandon E. Erbe are on the team.

Here the link that will give you the entire Desert Dog Roster.

MLB Network today announced it will air two Arizona Fall League games in November, including the fourth annual Rising Stars Game and the Championship game. MLB Network’s Tony Clark and Arizona Diamondbacks announcer Daron Sutton will be in the broadcast booth for the Rising Stars Game on Saturday, November 7 at 8:00 p.m. ET live from Surprise Stadium. Clark, who played for the league’s Tempe Rafters in 1994, and MLB Network host Victor Rojas will call the 18th annual AFL Championship game on Saturday, November 21 at 2:30 p.m. ET live from Scottsdale Stadium. MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, will co-produce and provide free live and on-...

Redskins – Eagles pull a strong MNF local rating

By: Jim Williams
10/28/09 11:16 AM

Monday Night Football may not have been successful on the field for the Redskins but they were a winner on TV. Ratings provided to me this morning by ESPN showed that 19.7 rating on ESPN and an 8.2 rating on WDCA, for a combined 27.9 rating. That is certainly in line with other primetime Redskins broadcasts over the past two years and certainly does not show any significant fall off for the team. (Philly pulled a 30.4 rating but they are always among the top sports cities in the country in sports ratings) There is no doubt that rating’s for the remainder of the season after this week’s bye will be looked at and poured over to see how badly the Redskins brand is being damaged. CSN continues to post strong numbers for all things Redskins and the brand – while slipping slightly – is still far and away the number one sports brand in Washington. But fans do have a way of getting angry and punishing ownership. Talk on sports talk radio is one thing but tuning the Redskins out on the airwaves and at the box office remains the biggest punishment they can deal the club. The question is will they really do it for the long term or can those who have left the fold be convinced to come back? That is the biggest unknown for 2009 and beyond...

Jim Williams: Mike Golic’s plan to fix the Skins

By: Jim Williams
10/24/09 2:18 AM

Mike Golic is part of the nation’s most popular sports talk show - along with partner Mike Greenberg. They are starting their 10th year together doing “Mike & Mike in the Morning,” which is heard on more than 350 radio stations nationally, as well as locally on ESPN 980AM. It is seen daily on ESPN2.

The duo will be doing their next Monday show from the ESPN Zone in Washington, where they will be talking in-depth about the Monday Night Football game between the Redskins and the Eagles.

I spoke to Golic about the Redskins and his expanded network duties:

JW » OK, I am putting you in charge of the Redskins. How do you fix this mess?

Golic » “Well, the first thing you do is bring in Jim Zorn and tell him you know this just did not work out and we have to go another way. Everyone knows that he is not going to be retained, so fire him now. Let me say that I am normally not in favor of firing a coach mid-season. But this is such a different situation that management simply has to let him go. They need to pick someone, maybe Jerry Gray, and make him the interim coach.”

JW » Fine, Zorn is gone. Now what?

Golic » “Then after the season, you bring in a Mike Shanahan, a Bill Cowher, or a guy I work with like a Jon Gruden. These are guys with Super Bowl rings; they know how to build a winner. In Miami they brought in Bill Parcells an...

Vinny Cerrato:” Jim Zorn will remain the Redskins head coach for 2009.”

By: Jim Williams
10/23/09 8:48 AM

On his Friday radio show Redskins V.P. of football operations Vinny Cerrato announced that embattled Redskins head coach Jim Zorn would remain the head coach. Cerrato told his audience “Inside the RedZone” that management wanted Zorn to remain the Redskins head coach for the remainder of the 2009 season. "Let me make this perfectly clear, Jim Zorn will remain the head coach of the Washington Redskins for the 2009 season and hopefully longer into the future," stated Cerrato. He denied the reports that former Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs would be coming back in a Bill Parcells role like in Miami as the team president who would hire a new general manager and head coach. Cerrato said that:”We are not firing Jim [Zorn] we want to see how this season works out. We have not given up on him or his ability to coach this team. Far too much has been read into having Sherman Lewis calling the plays… it is simply giving a new voice to the offense.” Cerrato told his listeners:”We need a signature win and we are too early in this season. There are way too many things left to play out. This thing can be turned around and it all starts Monday night against Philly.”

Ripken on the World Series and Nats' manager search

By: Jim Williams
10/23/09 12:19 AM

Cal Ripken has become one of the best studio analysts in sports -- and part of what might be the best baseball studio show in TV history. The TBS "On Deck" show has done for baseball what the TNT studio show has done for the NBA. It is honest, it shies away from no topic, and, most all, it is very entertaining.

Ripken is joined on the program by host Ernie Johnson and fellow analysts Dennis Eckersley and David Wells.

Wednesday night, prior to the Phillies clinching another National League pennant, we talked about a variety of baseball subjects.

JW » Tell me about your broadcast partners on TBS "On Deck."

Ripken » "It all starts with E.J. He is the reason I am doing the show. He really keeps things moving and allows the rest of us to talk. Eckersley continues to impress me with his knowledge of pitching and his ability to get right to the key points during a game. Wells and I played together and I love that he simply says what he thinks and more often than not his observations are right on target. As for me, I have developed a real comfort level that I hope has given me an ability to be a better analyst."

JW » What about the World Series? Ripken » "The Yankees are looking like it is only a matter of time before they take out the Angles. To me New York has been able to force the Angels to go deep into counts, then get the pit...

Redskins ratings strong despite losses

By: Jim Williams
10/21/09 12:12 PM

The Redskins had another strong week despite losing to the Chiefs. The game seen on WUSA9 - they scored a very solid rating of 24.8 with a 51 share. This week they face the Eagles on Monday Night Football on ESPN and DC20 in Washington on the broadcast side.

Here are the rating's for alll the NFL games.







Week of 10/12-18 HH HH RTG Market Game Date RTG SHR Rank Pittsburgh Browns at Steelers 10/18/09 44.1 74 1 New Orleans Giants at Saints 10/18/09 ...

Redskins Jim Zorn talks with FOX Sports Brian Billick tody @ 1pm

By: Jim Williams
10/20/09 12:07 PM

Redskins head coach will be one of Brian Billick’s guests on Coach Speak – the show is part of the FOX SPORTS.COM popular “Lunch with Benefits.” Zorn has been a guest on the show before and he and Billick have had some candid conversations. Today’s Menu Includes: Zorn, John Fox, Rex Ryan, Wade Phillips, Mike McCarthy and Jim Schwartz You can watch the show : http://msn.foxsports.com/lunchwithbenefits If you miss it no problem it will be up all day on demand so do check it out.

Jim Williams » A Nation under siege

By: Jim Williams
10/18/09 12:48 AM

As the voice of Redskins Nation, Larry Michael tries to address, inform and calm an entire fanbase from his anchor desk in Ashbrun, Va. Each weekday, at 6 & 10:30 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet, he tries to keep up beat and tackle problems that face the team.

It is easy job when the team is doing well, but when things are headed in the wrong direction it might just be the toughest job in Washington sports.

Michael’s job is to be the calm in the eye of the storm while at the same time keeping those passionate Redskins fans hopeful. It is no simple task and he is often unfairly attacked by bloggers, local media and in general by people who seem to enjoy having fun at Michael’s expense.

But twice a day there is Michael attempting to show fans what it is like behind the scenes at Redskins Park. He as the voice of Redskins Nation is doing what he loves to do and that is talk Redskins football plain and simple.

The show features Redskins observers like Rick “Doc” Walker and former USA Today NFL columnist Larry Weisman who are now part of the Redskins broadcast team. Both men offer their views on the team without being muted or censored with observations that are sometimes pro Redskins and other times questioning the job done by players, coaches and management.

If you are looking for a show bashing the team then don’t watch Redskins Nation. It is a show for the...

NASCAR in primetime on ABC tonight

By: Jim Williams
10/17/09 10:50 AM

ABC 7:30pm NASCAR Banking 500 MRN and Sirius- XM Radio NASCAR.COM Broadband OK while there is nearly 2500 miles left to be raced before the Chase for the Cup is over Jimmy Johnson has given very few reasons to doubt that he can win yet another title. Lowe’s Motor Speedway plays host to the only night race during the Chase part of the series and while Johnson is a 3-1 favorite to win - the Vegas odds makers have firmly in front of the pack - night races have a way of making things far more interesting. There will be a very good chance of rain that is likely to play games all day long along the East coast. The key is can they dodge the raindrops. Johnson is a two-time winner of this event and leads the point standings by 12 over Mark Martin thanks to his win last week in the Pepsi 500. Johnson has finished in the top 10 in all four Chase for the Championship races, including two victories. Martin is a three-time winner of this event, with his last win coming in 1998. Martin has finished no worse than seventh in any Chase race and has one victory during that time. On the year, Martin has five wins to his credit. Jeff Gordon sits fifth in the standings, 105 points behind his teammate, Johnson. Gordon is a two-time winner of this event, with his last win coming in 2007. Gordon has back-to-back runner-up finishes and has one win in 2009.

Big day of college football on TV - Hokies, and Terps host Cavs

By: Jim Williams
10/17/09 10:28 AM

Man is there some good sports on this weekend. A great weekend to just grab the remote and settle down for a long day enjoying sports on TV and broadband.

Noon on ABC – Texas – Oklahoma in Dallas. There are people in the state of Texas that have been counting the seconds – forget counting the days – till they had another chance at Oklahoma -the team that cost them - what they feel was their spot in last year’s BCS Championship game. The Red River Rivalry is one of the best all of college sports and you don’t have to know the way to display the Hook'm Horns or the words to Boomer Sooner to know this is going to be fun. 3:30pm on NBC – USC at Notre Dame OK the Trojans have owned the Irish for the past decade and this one is being played at the Golden Dome. Three questions will be answered today in South Bend when this game ends around 7pm eastern time tonight. 1. Are the Trojans still legit a BCS National Champion contenders? Can Notre Dame get that signature win that will make people in college football really feel that the program is on the way back? 3. Is Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen really a Heisman Trophy candidate? 3:30pm on CBS – Arkansas at Florida I know what you are saying Florida should run Arkansas out of the Swamp. True this should be a big time Gator win however we are still in the “let’s take it easy w...

Jim Williams » Former Terps star Branch is ready for the Madness

By: Jim Williams
10/15/09 10:40 PM

Adrian Branch will be sitting in a studio Friday night with ESPNU anchor Lowell Galindo and Andy Katz as the trio brings fans Midnight Madness action from across the country.

The coverage will showcase Georgetown and begin at 9 p.m. on ESPN2, which will simulcast ESPNU's coverage from 11:30 p.m. until midnight.

Branch, a former star at DeMatha High School, was a member of the University of Maryland 1984 ACC Championship team. He went on to win an NBA title in 1987 with the Los Angeles Lakers, a team that included Hall of Famers Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy and coach Pat Riley.

Based in Charlotte, Branch now is an ESPN college basketball analyst. We talked about how Midnight Madness has changed over the years.

JW » What was it like playing for "Lefty" Driesell, founder of Midnight Madness?

Branch » "It was great. Coach Driesell wanted to get a jump on the start of fall practice and at the same time give the students the opportunity to watch us play. So we would have our annual Red vs. White game and it was fun. We would just run up and down the court and shoot. The students, your friends and family all enjoyed it. Then come Saturday morning, the next day, we were having regular, tough, get ready for the season practice."

JW » How has Midnight Madness gotten better over the years?

Branch » "It has become like a night a...

Bowden tells CBS College Sports "I am learning toward coming back next year."

By: Jim Williams
10/13/09 6:08 PM

9pm The Tony Barnhart Show

CBS College Sports

It sure looks like FSU head coach Bobby Bowden is coming back next year. The following excerpts from tonight's show have Bowden doing more than leaning that way.

Tony Barnhart: Coach, just from talking to you, it sounds like you said you’re going to make the decision at the end of the year. It sounds to me like if you had to make the decision today that you’re sort of leaning towards coming back next year. Am I reading you right on that? Bobby Bowden: You’re reading that exactly right. I’m strongly leaning…I just hope I can present a case out there that would warrant that.

Barnhart: Coach, you made it really clear that you’re going to wait until the end of the season, then you’re going make a decision. Does it make you angry or upset that there are people who are kind of pushing things now? They want a decision now. They don’t want to let the season play out. Does that bother you? Bowden: Does it bother me? Not unless they have a lot of power. If they have a lot of power, yeah it bothers me….I don’t worry about things like that…That’s been going on since I was 65. Ever since I was 65, I was too old. And every time we would lose a game, that would come up. So I am kind of used to that

Barnhart: Has the program slipped in the last couple years? Bowden: There is no ...

Bobby Bowden speaks out tonight on CBS College Sports

By: Jim Williams
10/13/09 3:35 PM

The Tony Barnhart Show 9pm

Tonight on CBS College Sports

FSU's colorful coach Bobby Bowden speaks only to Tony Barnhart tonight.

I have had the pleasure of knowing coach Bowden since he first showed up in Tallahassee back in 1976. What he has done for Florida State is simply outstanding and this is coming from a lifelong Gator. I for one will be watching the show tonight and if you are a college football fan you should be too.

The Tony Barnhart Show is like no other college football program on TV.

Barnhart is funny, entertaining and gets guests no other host seems to be able to score. Tonight besides having Bowden on he has former Southeastern Conference Commissioner Harvey Schiller, Ph.D. I am sure that he will be talking SEC football but Schiller knows all about the U.S. Olympic bid and has been a champion for returning baseball to the games.

As the former head of the USOC he certainly have plenty to say about both topics and he is always a wonderful guest. Barnhart's guest also includes somone who may know a little about the issues Bowden faces at FSU and that is Penn State President, Graham Spanier who has had to fend off the people who wanted "Jo Pa's head."

Great guest list sure to be an entertaing show.

TBS Gets a solid B - Could get an A with some local flavor

By: Jim Williams
10/10/09 12:05 PM

Today's Games on TBS Gm 3 Dodgers at Cardinals: 6:07 PM Gm 3 Phillies at Rockies: 9:37 PM TBS has done an outstanding job of covering the first week of the ALDS and the NLDS with quality camerawork and solid announcing. The TBS production on all of the games has been top notch with great producing, directors who have done a fine job of capturing each key moment with great reaction shots. They deserve a solid B for their MLB playoff coverage. I have gotten a ton of email on the broadcast teams that are calling the games and as someone who has hired and fired announcers I can tell you that there are no perfect broadcast teams that come together for a once a year event. The TBS announcer pairings have gotten some bad and unfair critiques from the media and the bloggers because they only work together once a year in the playoffs. Only the team Chip Caray (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst) and Craig Sager work together on the TBS Sunday Baseball package. The Red Sox – Angels team of Don Orsillo (play-by-play) Buck Martinez (analyst) and Tom Verducci do an entertaining job. Many Yankee fans don’t like Orsillo the regular Boston broadcaster for NESN, but frankly I have not detected any” homerism” on his part. For his part everyone loves Martinez as an analyst. Phillies – Rockies NLDS is being done by the team of B...

NBC4 has coverage of the Presidents Cup all weekend

By: Jim Williams
10/10/09 12:01 PM

Saturday: Foursomes & Four-ball Matches, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. ET, NBC Sunday: Singles Matches, Noon - 6 p.m. ET, NBC

Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and the four Major Championship winners from this year (Angel Cabrera – Masters, Lucas Glover – U.S. Open, Stewert Cink – British Open, Y.E. Yang – PGA Championship) highlight a field that includes six of the world's top 10 players competing in the Presidents Cup from Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco, Calif. The biennial event, which is contested in non-Ryder Cup years, pits the United States against a team of non-European international stars in match play competition. NBC Sports will broadcast 16 hours of exclusive live coverage on Saturday and Sunday, including coverage of the 12 concluding singles matches on Sunday.

NBC SPORTS GOLF TEAM: Host Dan Hicks and analyst Johnny Miller, in their10th season together as NBC Sports' lead golf commentators, anchor the network's 16 hours of Presidents Cup coverage Saturday and Sunday. NBC also will produce Golf Channel's 11 hours of coverage on Thursday and Friday. Hicks and Miller are joined by tower reporter Gary Koch; on-course reporters Roger Maltbie, Mark Rolfing and Dottie Pepper; and interviewer/essayist Jimmy Roberts; with reports from Golf World's Tim Rosaforte. Tommy Roy, one of the most nominated persons in the history of the Sports Emmys ...

TBS has a double header of ALDS action tonight

By: Jim Williams
10/09/09 3:48 PM

5:30 p.m. Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees, Game #2 9:30pm. Boston Red Sox @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Game #2 TBS continues their coverage of the American League Divisional Series with the Twins and the Yankees playing the early game tonight from what will likely be a windy and rainy evening in New York. Game two will be played in the home of the “Thunder-sticks” and the “Rally Monkey” as the Angels host the Red Sox. Here is what the TBS crew has to say about the games thus far: TBS MLB on Deck Ernie Johnson, Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells Ripken on the Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz: “I love the relationship between the catcher and the pitcher. And I’ve been very impressed with Carlos Ruiz.” Wells on the Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee and catcher Carlos Ruiz’s relationship: “That is where you have to be in sync – catcher and pitcher. Sometimes, the catcher sees something that we don’t – moving up or moving out in the box. He might see something that we don’t know. He has an idea. You have to trust in your catcher.” Eckersley on Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels wanting to redeem himself after a disappointing regular season: “I think with Cole Hamels he wants to make up for the season. The lack of what he really did this ...

106.7FM The Fan takes over as the top sports talker in Washington

By: Jim Williams
10/09/09 9:16 AM

106.7 The Fan upsets ESPN 980AM as Washington’s top sports talker It did not take long for the new kid to replace the old guard in Washington’s sports talk radio. According to numbers released this morning Arbitron ratings released today, Sportsradio 106.7 The Fan is the No.1-ranked sports radio station in Washington, D.C. The station signed on July 20 and has eclipsed sports radio rival WTEM with listeners 12+, and in its target demographic of Men 25-54. To say that the gang at the fan are happy would be an understatement. “Washington area sports radio listeners have quickly chosen The Fan as their go-to station for D.C. sports talk and news,” said Program Director Chris Kinard. “Our engaging hosts provide a forum for sports fans unlike any other in D.C. And listeners appreciate the fact that we are live and local, morning until night on a strong FM signal.” The numbers from the latest rating are as follows: In the September ratings period (Aug. 20-Sept. 16), The Fan showed growth across the board. Its overall share of listeners 12+ was up 38% from the prior ratings period. During the same time period, the station increased its share among Men 18+ and 18-34 by 24% and 35%. Additionally, The Fan was the No. 1 choice for Men 18-34 sports radio listeners in the coveted morning and afternoon timeslots, as well ...