Wednesday Press Releases

I have a few press releases to give you today. I'll also do links this evening so look out for those later. But I'll do the releases first.

NFL Network has its programming schedule over the next few days.

TY LAW GUEST ANALYST IN-STUDIO ON NFL TOTAL ACCESS MONDAY & TUESDAY

Debut of NFL’s Top 10 Dallas Cowboys

Friday at 8:00 PM ET

Full Coverage of OTAs From Patriots, Cardinals and Vikings Training Facilities

NFL’S TOP 10 DALLAS COWBOYS – Friday at 8:00 PM ET

The bright lights of ‘Big D’ have been home to big talents like Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. Friday’s episode of NFL’s Top 10 reveals the biggest stars to don the star with a countdown of the Top 10 Dallas Cowboys.

The 60-minute countdown features interviews and comments from: radio personalities George Dunham, Craig Miller, Mike Ryhner, Bob Sturm and Norm Hitzges, voice of the Cowboys Brad Sham, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, USA Today’s Jarrett Bell, Jim Cramer of MSNBC’s Mad Money and DallasCowboys.com’s Mickey Spagnola.

NFL’s Top 10 provides a look at some of the most intriguing subjects in the NFL, creating and debating a top ten list for each category. Each 60-minute episode counts down from No. 10 to the top ranking in each category.

THIS WEEK ON NFL TOTAL ACCESS: Ty Law in-studio; Reports from Patriots, Cardinals and Vikings’ Training Facilities

Wednesday, May 27

• Lindsay Soto reports from the Arizona Cardinal training facility
• Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Jamie Dukes, and Warren Sapp discuss the Dallas Cowboys and if the team is better off without Terrell Owens.
• Profile of Eagles head coach Andy Reid

Thursday, May 28

• Kara Henderson reports from the New England Patriots training facility
• Profile of Texans head coach Gary Kubiak
• Steve Wyche goes Around the League

Friday, May 29

• Randy Moss reports from the Minnesota Vikings training facility
• Profile of Browns head coach Eric Mangini

Monday, June 1

• Ty Law in-studio
• Scott Hanson reports from the Carolina Panthers training facility

Tuesday, June 2

• Ty Law in-studio
• Simeon Rice in-studio
• Comedian/actor Jay Mohr in-studio
• Michelle Beisner reports from the Cleveland Browns training facility
• Profile of Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo

NFL.COM CHAT SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 28

• 1:00 PM ET – NFL.com senior writer Thomas George
• 6:00 PM ET – NFL Network contributor Brian Billick

Friday, May 29

• 12:00 NOON ET – NFL.com fantasy editor Michael Fabiano
• 2:00 PM ET – NFL.com writer Pat Kirwan

DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (all times listed are ET):

Wednesday, May 27

5:30 PM – NFL Replay: Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 10, 2007) (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – America’s Game: 2001 New England Patriots (HD)

9:00 PM – America’s Game: 2004 New England Patriots (HD)

10:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Thursday, May 28

1:00 PM – Lost Treasures #15: The World Football League

2:00 PM – Lost Treasures #16: Three Cheers for the Redskins

3:00 PM – America’s Game: 2001 New England Patriots (HD)

4:00 PM – America’s Game: 2004 New England Patriots (HD)

5:00 PM – NFL Film Session: Super Bowl XIV – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Los Angeles Rams

5:30 PM – NFL Replay: Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens (Week 11, 2007) (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – Hard Knocks: 2008 Dallas Cowboys: Episode #4 (HD)

9:00 PM – Hard Knocks: 2008 Dallas Cowboys: Episode #5 (HD)

Friday, May 29

1:00 PM – Hard Knocks: 2008 Dallas Cowboys: Episode #4 (HD)

2:00 PM – Hard Knocks: 2008 Dallas Cowboys: Episode #5 (HD)

3:00 PM – NFL’s Greatest Games: 1986 AFC Divisional Playoff – New York Jets vs. Cleveland Browns

4:30 PM – NFL Film Session: 1986 Cleveland Browns

5:00 PM – Hard Knocks: 2008 Dallas Cowboys: Episode #4 (HD)

6:00 PM – Hard Knocks: 2008 Dallas Cowboys: Episode #5 (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Dallas Cowboys

9:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Foul-Ups

Saturday, May 30

1:00 PM – Game of the Week: San Diego Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens (Week 4, 2006) (HD)

2:00 PM – Game of the Week: Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Week 5, 2006) (HD)

3:00 PM – America’s Game: 2001 New England Patriots (HD)

4:00 PM – America’s Game: 2004 New England Patriots (HD)

5:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Backfield Tandems

6:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Things That Changed The Game

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access: Week in Review (HD)

8:00 PM – Super Bowl Classics: Super Bowl XXX – Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Sunday, May 31

9:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Receiving Corps

10:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Football Families

11:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Dallas Cowboys

12 NOON – NFL’s Top 10: Top 10 Foul-Ups

1:00 PM – NFL Replay Real-Time: Week 12 (HD)

2:00 PM – Live Wire: Week 12 (HD)

2:30 PM – Starting 11: Week 12 (HD)

3:00 PM – NFL Replay: New York Jets vs. Tennessee Titans (Week 12, 2008) (HD)

4:30 PM – NFL Replay: New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins (Week 12, 2008) (HD)

6:00 PM – NFL Replay: New York Giants vs. Arizona Cardinals (Week 12, 2008) (HD)

7:30 PM – NFL Replay: Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers (Week 12, 2008) (HD)

9:00 PM – NFL Replay Real-Time: Week 12 (HD)

10:00 PM – Live Wire: Week 12 (HD)

10:30 PM – Starting 11: Week 12 (HD)

11:00 PM – NFL Replay: New York Jets vs. Tennessee Titans (Week 12, 2008) (HD)

12:30 AM – NFL Replay: New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins (Week 12, 2008) (HD)

2:00 AM – NFL Replay Real-Time: Week 12 (HD)

Monday, June 1

7:00 AM – NFL Replay: New York Jets vs. Tennessee Titans (Week 12, 2008) (HD)

8:30 AM – NFL Replay: New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins (Week 12, 2008) (HD)

10:00 AM – NFL Replay: New York Giants vs. Arizona Cardinals (Week 12, 2008) (HD)

11:30 AM – NFL Replay: Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers (Week 12, 2008) (HD)

1:00 PM – NFL Replay: New York Jets vs. Tennessee Titans (Week 12, 2008) (HD)

2:30 PM – NFL Replay: New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins (Week 12, 2008) (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Replay: New York Giants vs. Arizona Cardinals (Week 12, 2008) (HD)

5:30 PM – NFL Replay: Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers (Week 12, 2008) (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Classic Games: 2007 AFC Wildcard – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

Tuesday, June 2

11:00 AM – NFL Classic Games: 2007 AFC Wildcard – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

2:00 PM – Live Wire: Week 5 (HD)

2:30 PM – Live Wire: Week 6 (HD)

3:00 PM – NFL Follies: The NFL TV Follies (1986)

4:00 PM – NFL Follies: Super Duper Football Follies (1986)

5:00 PM – NFL Film Session: Super Bowl XV – Oakland Raiders vs. Philadelphia Eagles

5:30 PM – NFL Replay: Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers (Week 10, 2007) (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – Game of the Week: Indianapolis Colts vs. Denver Broncos (Week 8, 2006) (HD)

9:00 PM – Game of the Week: Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots (Week 9, 2006) (HD)

This is TNT quotage from Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals from Tuesday.

Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA Playoffs – Tuesday, May 26, 2009

TNT’s exclusive coverage of the Eastern Conference Finals continues on Thursday, May 28 with pre-game coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET, followed by Game #5 of the Orlando Magic @ Cleveland Cavaliers at 8:30 p.m. ET.

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TNT NBA Tip-off

Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller and Kenny Smith

Smith on someone other than forward LeBron James needing to be a star for the Cavaliers: “Someone on Cleveland’s team has to commit to being a star other than LeBron James. In that locker room I don’t think it’s selfish to want to be a superstar on this stage. I’ve seen Mo Williams come off pick and rolls and if he’s not wide open he’s not taking a shot. In playoff basketball you have to create shots to become a star because everyone knows your offense and everyone knows your defense.”

Barkley on the Cavaliers needing guards Mo Williams and Delonte West to step up: “This game is going to come down to Mo Williams and Delonte West. No disrespect to the Cavaliers bench, but they don’t have anyone on their bench who is capable of getting 20 points, that’s just the fact of the matter. One or both of those guys need to step up or those guys (the Cavaliers) are in trouble.”

Nuggets head coach George Karl on a play in which Nuggets guard Dahntay Jones tripped Lakers guard Kobe Bryant: “Dahntay (Jones) plays an important role for us. He’s our poor man’s Bruce Bowen, or maybe our Duke Bruce Bowen. And he’s not a dirty guy, he just gets in you and that's how he has to play to be successful. He’s competing against one of the greatest players of all time (in Kobe Bryant) and contact’s going to happen. He’s going to get blown for a lot of whistles, but we’re not going to tell him to stop playing.”

Miller on the Lakers’ toughest players being their guards : “The physical nature of how Denver is playing L.A., that’s why they have the advantage. They have so many players who are going to bump and grind and hit and clinch and trip. Kobe Bryant, Trevor Ariza and Derek Fisher, those are the three toughest guys (for the Lakers) and they are guards. That’s never good.”

Smith on why the Lakers mentally toughness allows them to win games: “A lot of people don’t understand the difference between physicality and mental toughness. You can not be a physical team but be a mentally tough team and win basketball games, you don’t have to bump and grind all the time. Pau Gasol is one of the most skilled big men we have in basketball. Lamar Odom is probably one of the most skilled players in basketball. So they might not bump and grind, but if you have a mental toughness it doesn’t matter how much (your opponent might) push, how much they shove and how much they trip if you have mental toughness and you fight through in fortitude. So I still say the Lakers can win the series and win without having a physical presence because they can still be mentally tough and that wins ball games too.”

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Cleveland Cavaliers (114) @ Orlando Magic (116) in Overtime – The Magic lead the series 3-1.

Announcers: Marv Albert and Doug Collins; with Craig Sager reporting

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Magic guard Rafer Alston before Game #4 of the Cavaliers @ Magic.

Alston on why the Magic will not guarantee a series win over the Cavaliers: “We don’t want to put that type of pressure on ourselves, this is a league where it’s already tough to win as it is and they are a good team with one of the best players to ever lace up a pair of shoes. We just want to come out and compete hard and hopefully we will get a win.”

Collins on whether Cavaliers forward LeBron James has lost trust in his teammates: “I don’t think there is any question that (LeBron James) doesn’t trust (his teammates) quite as much, that’s human nature when he’s got to bear the brunt of the winning and losing. He had 49 and 41 points in their two losses.”

Collins on the Cavaliers moving better without the basketball allowing forward LeBron James to pass the ball: “Cleveland is moving better without the basketball. They are not standing and watching LeBron, they are moving to open areas and he’s rewarding (them), he loves to pass.”

Collins on Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu: “(Hedo) Turkoglu is making great decisions with the ball, you can say, ‘oh that screen roll’ all you want, but your guy has to make the right decision and he’s making the right plays.”

Collins on Magic center Dwight Howard needing to get more involved in the paint: “I think the foul trouble is bothering (Dwight Howard), but he’s only got one tonight. He’s got to be more aggressive and he’s got to control the paint, (which is) a big part of his success. He’s the Defensive Player of the Year.”

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Cavaliers guard Mo Williams at halftime.

Williams on how his early morning at shootaround helped him gain confidence for Game #4: “Just a rhythm. I got game shots up, running off the screens just like you saw me shooting some shots today running off the screens, getting some in the break and I’m just making an effort to push the ball on the floor and keep them on the heels and play my type of basketball. The first three games I’ve been sitting back and playing off LeBron, I’ve got to initiate and be a threat on the floor.”

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Halftime Report

Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller and Kenny Smith

Miller on Cavaliers guard Mo Williams having a strong first half: “I’m glad (Mo Williams) was aggressive, that was the key. He didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, but getting to the three point line six times and going six for six. He took a few bad shots, but putting the bulls eye on your back when you’re going to guarantee a win, you’ve got to be the guy to come out and somewhat set the tone. You know LeBron James is going to be the one to finish, especially in the second half, but I liked how Mo came out and was looking to be aggressive offensively.”

Smith on Cavaliers guard Mo Williams helping forward LeBron James in the first half: “As I said earlier, you’re searching for someone who wants to be a star, that means (Mo Williams) has to be a little more aggressive and you have to try to take some risks on the offensive end and then you will take some pressure off of LeBron James. I thought all in all (James) became a finisher instead of a facilitator in that first half. In all those other games he was more of a facilitator with the ball, dribble, dribble, dribble and giving other people the shot. Today he got the ball from other people.”

Barkley on the inconsistent lineup Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown has chosen to play: “If I’m on the Cavaliers I have to question (Cavs coach) Mike Brown at some point. In one game he plays (Aleksandar) Pavlovic, in the next game he doesn’t play him, in the next game he doesn’t play (Wally) Szczerbiak, and he doesn’t play (Daniel) Gibson. He puts those guys in a very awkward situation. You’ve got to at least make them feel like there’s a chance they are going to play when they come to the game.”

Miller: “(Cavs coach) Mike Brown is searching for answers, he’s taking it game by game. He’s not looking at the series as a whole because every game has taken on a life of its own and I think that’s what they’re looking for from his bench players.”

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Collins on the Cavaliers starting the second half poorly: “So often how teams come out at halftime is so important. Cleveland, up eight, they came out very soft and Orlando is taking advantage of it.”

Collins on Magic center Dwight Howard guarding Cavaliers forward LeBron James: “Dwight Howard is waiting for LeBron James at the rim and he’s got a full head of steam. Dwight Howard has so much space and LeBron is going right at him and rolls off. So you can see why it’s been a nightmare cover for Howard, when you’ve got a guy coming at you with that much speed.”

Collins on Magic center Dwight Howard receiving his sixth technical foul, which will result in an automatic suspension if he receives a seventh: “They (Cavaliers) have tried to get in (Dwight Howard’s) head and get him upset. Now what you’ve got to be concerned about is you’ve got to stay away from a double technical where you get wrapped up with someone and they call two technical fouls or in a game down the road when something like this happens. So this is a very serious situation.”

Collins on the turnovers by Cavaliers forward LeBron James in the second half of the game after he passed into a group of Magic players causing a turnover in overtime: “LeBron James has made some careless plays in the fourth quarter and overtime. I know he’s hit some big shots, but trying to force a pass in there with no place to go…remember, he turned it over when he and Daniel Gibson had a miscommunication."

TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Magic center Dwight Howard after the Magic defeated the Cavaliers to lead the series 3-1.

Howard on how the Magic won in Game #4: “I had to get myself going, my teammates found me in the right spot to score, but I just kept fighting. I don’t want to lose, I hate losing, especially on my home floor. We just came out ready tonight and we kept it going, we kept fighting to the end.”

Howard on whether he deserves a technical foul for his ‘taunting’ of the Cavaliers after a shot: “I hope the leagues looks at it, I was just so emotional because I made the basket. It wasn’t taunting, I wasn’t doing anything to the other team, I’m just happy because I made the basket. We get emotional out here on the court, but they shouldn’t have given me the technical.”

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Inside the NBA

Announcers: Johnson, Barkley, Miller and Smith

Smith, speaking from experience after two comebacks from 3-1 deficits in the playoffs, on how the Cavaliers must approach Game #5: “The mentality has to be you change your whole mental process starting tomorrow, saying, ‘there’s no way we lose going home.’ That has to be your logic. There’s no way, you have to have a delusion of grandeur right now. Then you say, ‘you know, what if we win at home? The pressure’s not on us, it’s on them because if they lose in Orlando again we come back and there’s no way we lose a Game #7.’ So your delusion starts now, it might not be accurate, but that’s the thought process that I know we had two times coming back out of those holes.”

Barkley on the Cavaliers: “The Cleveland Cavaliers, you can paint it how you want to, they aren’t playing well. LeBron James is not getting any help.”

Smith on the Cavaliers without forward LeBron James: “If you took off the best player on every team that’s left in the playoffs, probably the Cleveland Cavaliers don’t have the best talent. But they have played collectively the best basketball (in the first two series), but they are not showing that because they are not being aggressive on the offensive end and they are making LeBron James work entirely too hard on the offensive end.”

Barkley on Magic center Dwight Howard getting dunks during overtime: “You can’t let Dwight Howard get all these dunks. He’s got to make 14 or 18 free throws a game. He dunked the first three plays in overtime that cannot happen. You’ve got to bring it, Ben Wallace, or you got to bring it Joe Smith, you’ve got to grab him.”

Smith on the technical foul given to Magic center Dwight Howard for ‘taunting’: “If that’s a technical, after every basket there’s a technical.”

Miller on whether the Cavaliers will force a Game #6 by winning at home: “Yes (we will return to Orlando for Game #6). The reason why I say that is the Cavs played fantastic all year, they had the best home record all year, this is really going to show me a lot about the MVP and his team. You look at the look on Mo Williams face and it scares me with the way he’s talking and pausing in between, I worry about that.”

Fox Sports talks about its final NASCAR race of the season.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

NASCAR on FOX Races To Final Lap of ’09 Season with Monster Mile Race in Dover

NASCAR ON FOX’S 2009 FINALE AT DOVER – The NASCAR on FOX 2009 Sprint Cup Series returns to Dover International Speedway on Sunday, May 31 (1:30 PM ET) for the networks’ final race of the season. David Reutimann, who notched his first Sprint Cup victory of 2009 at the rain shortened Coca-Cola 600, has risen to one spot out of the Chase. Despite the chaos of Memorial Day weekend, Jeff Gordon increased his points lead ever so slightly over second- running, Tony Stewart. Prerace host Chris Myers along with analysts Jeff Hammond and Darrell Waltrip bring fans all the news and features from the Hollywood Hotel, FOX Sports’ traveling prerace set.

Once the green flag drops, race announcer Mike Joy will be alongside Waltrip and Larry McReynolds to call all the twists and turns on the track while Dick Berggren, Steve Byrnes, Krista Voda and Matt Yocum patrol the pits for up-to-the-second reports on teams and pit stops. For instant updates during the week and race from the entire NASCAR on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NASCARONFOX.

HAMMOND: DID NASCAR LEARN ANYTHING FROM CHARLOTTE? – Yesterday, NASCAR on FOX analyst Jeff Hammond gave NASCAR credit for meeting with drivers and owners to get their input on potential changes within the sport following a rough weekend for racing. “You simply have to give all the drivers and crew a lot of credit because they put up with a lot. [Over Memorial Day Weekend] we had, get ready, start, wait don’t start, finally start, stop, start, stop, take a time out during the race to pay tribute to the troops, which I think was the silver lining in all those clouds Monday,” said the former crew chief. With all the starts and stops, Hammond wonders what NASCAR took away from that. “We had the opportunity to see if shorter race lengths are right or wrong. Did we learn anything from that?”

To read more on Hammond’s thoughts following Charlotte and what changes he thinks Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 needs to make click here: http://tinyurl.com/pcd8y9

Let's go next to ESPN which has the FIFA Confederations Cup schedule which is a test event for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

ESPN’s 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Schedule

All Matches in High Definition on ESPN and ESPN2; All Matches Live on ESPN360.com

ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise all matches of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, June 14-28, from four cities in South Africa, host nation for next summer’s 2010 FIFA World Cup. All 16 matches will also be available live and for replay on ESPN360.com.

ESPN2 will air 12 matches. ESPN will televise four, including two group stage matches – United States vs. 2006 FIFA World Cup champion Italy (June 15, 2:25 p.m. ET), and Italy vs. Brazil (June 21, 2:25 p.m.). ESPN will also air both semifinals -- Wednesday, June 24 at 2:25 p.m. in Bloemfontein, and Thursday, June 25, at 2:25 p.m. in Johannesburg.

All Matches in HD

Confederations Cup matches will be available in high definition on ESPN HD, and ESPN2 HD. The high definition telecasts will be offered as a simulcast of ESPN and ESPN2’s Confederations Cup coverage.

In addition, ESPN’s high definition services will feature Confederations Cup studio programming – three 25-minute pre-match shows leading into USA vs. Brazil on ESPN2 HD (Thursday, June 18), Italy vs. Brazil, and the Confederations Cup Final on ESPN2 HD (Sunday, June 28).

ESPN360.com

ESPN’s signature broadband network, available currently in 25 million homes nationwide (and soon to add 15 million Comcast households nationwide, making it available in nearly 41 million homes), will feature live English-language simulcasts of ESPN and ESPN2’s coverage of all 2009 Confederations Cup matches. ESPN360 will also include live pre-game and halftime studio coverage for each match during the tournament.

ESPN Mobile TV

ESPN’s first 24/7 wireless network, available on FLO TV and MobiTV, will feature 12 Confederations Cup matches. Some of the key matches on ESPN Mobile TV will include: USA vs. Italy (June 15), Egypt vs. USA (June 21), the third-place match, semifinals, and finals. ESPN Mobile TV’s coverage begins on Sunday, June 14, with South Africa vs. Iraq at 9:55 a.m.

ESPN on Demand

ESPN on Demand will make six matches of the Confederations Cup available the day after their original air dates and will be accessible through Friday, July 31. The matches include: U.S. vs. Italy, U.S. vs. Brazil, Italy vs. Brazil, semifinals and finals.

The Event

The FIFA Confederations Cup is one of the most competitive tournaments among national soccer teams. It features champions of each of the six FIFA confederations – CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football), UEFA (Union of European Football Associations), CAF (African Football Confederation), CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation), AFC (Asian Football Confederation) and OFC (Oceana Football Confederation), and both the upcoming host country and past winner of the FIFA World Cup.

Originally organized by and held in Saudi Arabia, and known as the King Fahd Cup, the tournament was founded in 1992. FIFA took control of the event in 1997, renaming it the FIFA Confederations Cup and hosting the tournament every two years. Now contested every four years (since 2005), the Confederations Cup is played one-year prior to the FIFA World Cup.

The teams:

CONCACAF: United States - 2007 Gold Cup

Italy - 2006 World Cup

UEFA: Spain - Euro 2008

CONMEBOL: Brazil - 2007 Copa America

South Africa - Host (2010 World Cup host)

AFC: Iraq - 2007 Asian Cup

CAF: Egypt - 2008 African Nations Cup

OFC: New Zealand - 2008 Oceanic

2009 Confederations Cup Team Groupings

Group A Group B

1. Spain - #1 1. Brazil - #4

2. South Africa - #77 2. Italy - #5

3. New Zealand - #79 3. USA - #15

4. Iraq - #85 4. Egypt - #37

#: Current FIFA World Ranking

2009 Confederations Cup TV SCHEDULE - All times EASTERN

Schedule is subject to change

Sunday, June 14, 9:55 a.m., ESPN2/ESPN 360/Mo. TV, South Africa vs. Iraq, Group A, Johannesburg, Match #1

Sunday, June 14, 2:25 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN 360, New Zealand vs. Spain, Group A, Rustenburg, Match #2

Monday, June 15, 9:55 a.m., ESPN2/ESPN 360/Mo. TV, Brazil vs. Egypt, Group B, Bloemfontein, Match #3

Monday, June 15, 2:25 p.m., ESPN/ESPN 360/Mo. TV, USA vs. Italy, Group B, Pretoria, Match #4

Wednesday, June 17, 9:55 a.m., ESPN2/ESPN 360/Mo. TV, Spain vs. Iraq, Group A, Bloemfontein, Match #5

Wednesday, June 17, 2:25 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN 360/Mo. TV, South Africa vs. New Zealand, Group A, Rustenburg, Match #6

Thursday, June 18, 9:55 a.m., ESPN2/ESPN 360, USA vs. Brazil, Group B, Pretoria, Match #7

Thursday, June 18, 2:25 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN 360/Mo. TV, Egypt vs. Italy, Group B, Johannesburg, Match #8

Saturday, June 20, 2:25 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN 360/Mo. TV. Spain vs. South Africa, Group A, Bloemfontein, Match #9

Sunday, June 21, 1:00 a.m., ESPN2/ESPN 360*, Iraq vs. New Zealand, Group A, Johannesburg, Match #10

Sunday, June 21, 2:25 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN 360/Mo. TV, Egypt vs. USA, Group B, Rustenburg, Match #11

Sunday, June 21, 2:25 p.m., ESPN/ESPN 360, Italy vs. Brazil, Group B, Pretoria, Match #12

Semifinals Stage

Wednesday, June 24, 2:25 p.m., ESPN/ESPN 360/Mo. TV, 1st A vs. 2nd B, Bloemfontein, Match #13

Thursday, June 25, 2:25 p.m., ESPN/ESPN 360/Mo. TV, 1st B vs. 2nd A, Johannesburg, Match #14

Confederations Cup 3rd Place Match and Final on ESPN2

Sunday, June 28, 8:55 a.m., ESPN2/ESPN 360/Mo. TV, 3rd Place Match, Rustenburg, Match #15

Sunday, June 28, 2:25 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN 360/Mo. TV, Final, Johannesburg, Match #16

*(Game will air live on ESPN360 on Saturday, June 20, at 2:25 p.m.)

ESPN – ESPN

ESPN2 – ESPN2

ESPN 360 – ESPN360.com

Mo. TV – ESPN Mobile TV

FIFA World Cup on ESPN Inc.

ESPN and ABC are the U.S. English-language television homes of the Men’s and Women’s FIFA World Cup events through 2014, having acquired the rights in 2005, as well as the rights to the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2009 and 2013. Beginning June 11, through July 11, 2010, ESPN will provide unprecedented multimedia coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

ESPN has another of its 50 States tour, this time for College Football Live.

“College Football Live 50 States Tour” Celebrates Amateur Football Across Every State June 1 to August 7

Every state has a football story, memorable moment, legendary coach, great players, rivalries, or esteemed high school. ESPN’s College Football Live will offer a daily showcase of the best and greatest of amateur football – college and high school -- from all 50 United States and the District of Columbia with “College Football Live 50 States Tour” from June 1 to August 7.

College Football Live, a weekday afternoon studio show dedicated to college football aired weekdays generally at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, will explore topics specific to every state, including greatest plays and games; and best coaches, players and high schools across 43 episodes. Some episodes will focus on two or three states while select states will be spread out over two shows.

“College Football Live 50 States Tour” will feature live interviews related to the state, including with prominent football figures, current coaches, and local writers. The shows will also include debate between analysts and an online component for fans to pick each state’s best coach, player and team. The 30-minute, viewer interactive show, will utilize content from ESPN.com and ESPN RISE, ESPN’s multimedia content brand dedicated to serving the high school athlete audience, and incorporate the fan’s opinion through ESPN Mobile and ESPN.com applications.

The schedule for week one and guests (future schedule of states and guests will be released):

Date	State	Scheduled Guest
June 1	Michigan	Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson
June 2	Tennessee	Peyton Manning
June 3	Delaware and New Jersey	Joe Flacco
June 4	Oregon	Mike Belotti
June 5	Oklahoma	Barry Sanders

ESPN Mobile
Fans will be able to cast their vote via text message (by texting keyword "CFB" to 43776) and opt to receive a daily tune-in reminder. Additionally, ESPN's industry-leading mobile Web site and the award-winning ESPN MVP application will provide news, features and video content, including on-demand segments with analysts debating the best in each state.

ESPN.com

ESPN.com will utilize SportsNation -- where fans interact with athletes, coaches, sportswriters, commentators and each other in real time – to offer three or four polls a day, blog reports, online chats and content specific to each state, including video segments. ESPN.com will also archive the content from each state.

Themed Weeks

Since the return of daily editions of the show April 20, College Football Live has offered special week-long themed topics to the daily analysis, news and interviews content leading to season kickoff.

Themes have included a discussion on top newcomers expected to replace key starters (week of April 20). a focus on defending BCS National Champion Florida (April 27), ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit on the road to interview five of the top quarterbacks heading into 2009 (May 4), a focus on Notre Dame (May 11) and a roundtable discussion with former quarterbacks Herbstreit and Jesse Palmer and Brock Huard (May 18).

The 30-minute program examines every aspect of the game with highlights, analysis, breaking news, features, press conferences, interviews and more. College Football Live also features in-depth interviews with some of the top coaches and players in the country, unique college football features and interactive fan polls and contests.

To NBC which has the French Open this weekend.

NBC SPORTS’ FRENCH OPEN COVERAGE BEGINS THIS SATURDAY

Nadal, the King of Clay, Seeks his 5th Straight French Open Title

“I think it would be a good idea at the French for Roger to change his tactics and play more aggressively, shortening the points and coming to the net.” - McEnroe on how Federer Can win

NEW YORK – May 27, 2009 -- Rafael Nadal seeks to become the only man ever to win five consecutive French Open titles as NBC Sports presents the 2009 French Open from Roland Garros in Paris beginning Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET, in high definition. Coverage of the French Open concludes next Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7 with the women and men's finals live. Host Ted Robinson anchors NBC Sports' broadcast, joined by analysts John McEnroe and Mary Carillo.

Nadal, the four-time defending champion at Roland Garros seeks to become the only man to win five straight French Open titles surpassing the legendary Bjorn Borg, who won four straight from 1978-1981 and six overall titles. Nadal had spent 160 straight weeks as the world's second ranked men's tennis player until he surpassed Federer in August 2008 and has held the No. 1 ranking ever since. In 2008, Nadal became the only man to win the French Open, Wimbledon and earn an Olympic gold medal in the same year.

Federer had been the world's top ranked tennis player for a record 237 straight weeks from February 2004 – August 2008 before being passed by Nadal. He has won a total of 12 Grand Slam singles titles (five Wimbledon, four U.S. Open, three Australian Open) and is closing in on Pete Sampras' record of 14, but the French Open title still eludes him.  Federer has lost to defending French Open champion Nadal in the Finals in each of the last three years and in the semifinal round in 2005.  

FEDERER VS. NADAL: NBC Sports analyst John McEnroe calls Federer-Nadal the "one of the greatest rivalries in sports."  

· They have been either No. 1 or No. 2 in the world since July 2005 with Federer holding the top spot for 237 consecutive weeks before Nadal surpassed him in August 2008.  
· The two have faced each other 20 times, 16 of those in tournament finals including a record seven Grand Slam finals.  
· Nadal holds a 13-7 edge over Federer including wins in five of their seven Grand Slam final matches.
· Federer won the last match between them on clay at the Madrid Masters earlier this month but Nadal holds a 9-2 edge in the series on clay.

MCENROE ON THE RIVALRY: "Last year's Wimbledon final was the greatest match ever and for our sport it couldn't have come at a better time. Let's just hope that they keep it going for a few more years. Already, it is one of the best rivalries in sport." 

MCENROE'S PREDICTION: "I have to go with Nadal to win his fifth straight French Open title."

MCENROE'S ON FEDERER WINNING IN MADRID:  "It looked like Federer was trying to change his tactics which worked for him, and I think it would be a good idea at the French for Roger to change his tactics and play more aggressively, shortening the points and coming to the net."

MCENROE ON WHO COULD SURPRISE: "I don't think you're going to see any big surprises. The best-known players are going to come through. If Gael Monfils is healthy he can make a run. I don't think you're going to see a Gustavo Kuerten come out of nowhere as we've seen in the past." 
 
The women's draw is wide open with Dinara Safina, last year's runner-up and the runner up to Serena Williams at the Australian Open, holding the top seed.  Serena (No. 2) hasn't won the French Open since 2002 and her sister Venus (No. 3) has never won at Roland Garros. Last year's champion Ana Ivanovic won her first round match this year but is only the No. 8 seed. Other top seeds include Elena Dementieva (No. 4) and Jelena Jankovic (No. 7).

MCENROE ON WOMEN'S COMPETITION: "Dinara Safina is the favorite with the most confidence on clay but it's certainly wide open. There are only a handful of players who believe they can win including the Williams sisters, particularly Serena, who won a tough first round match."

COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS: Following is the schedule for NBC Sports' coverage of the 2009 French Open, which culminates with live HD coverage of the women's (June 6) and men's (June 7) finals next weekend:  

Saturday, May 30, 1:30-4:30 p.m. ET – Third Round
Sunday, May 31, 3-6 p.m. ET – Third and Fourth Round  
Friday, June 5, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (all time zones) – Men's Semifinals
Saturday, June 6, 9 a.m.-Noon ET – Women's Final (Live)
Sunday, June 7, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. ET – Men's Final (Live)

FRENCH OPEN GOES MOBILE: Tennis fans that are on the go can once again watch the French Open live on their mobile phones through NBC 2Go and NBC Sports Mobile. Fans can also get live news and scores on their mobile devices through the NBC Sports Mobile site (http://m.nbcsports.com) or by texting "TENNIS" to 51515 to sign-up for NBC Sports Mobile tennis alerts.  

NBC AND THE FRENCH OPEN: In 1975, NBC became the first American television network to provide coverage of the French Open when the network signed a three-year deal with the French Tennis Federation. The tournament was covered by CBS from 1980-82 and returned to NBC in 1983, where it has remained since.

ABOUT NBC SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON: NBC Sports Championship Season ties together seven iconic championship events with a combined 769 years of history in a 65 day period starting with the Kentucky Derby on May 2 and culminating with Wimbledon on July 5. NBC Sports Championship Season also includes The Players, the Preakness Stakes, the French Open, the Stanley Cup Final and the U.S. Open.

I have another press release post coming up so hang tight.