Tagged: ‘PTI’

posted by on March 8, 2013 10:00 AM

Fan Central Mailbag: Spanish-language WBC Games on ESPN, ESPN2; ATH voice revealed; ‘Worst of the Worst’ voting

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Welcome to another edition of the Fan Central Mailbag. Remember, if you have an ESPN-related question, follow us @ESPN_FanCentral and use #FanCentralMB to tweet your questions. Also, be sure to “like” our new Fan Central Facebook page. You can also e-mail questions to FanCentral@espn.com.

Before we get to the latest mailbag questions, let’s first address some programming news. This Sunday night’s 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC) game between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico will be simulcast in Spanish on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET. There will be another Spanish-language WBC simulcast on ESPN2 Tuesday, March 12, at 1 p.m. The Spanish-language simulcasts are part of the exclusive Spanish-language, live coverage of all 39 WBC games on ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes+.

We realize some fans are curious about the decision to have Spanish-language simulcasts on ESPN and ESPN2, so we spoke with Executive Vice President, Programming & Acquisitions Norby Williamson about the offering.

“The World Baseball Classic provides a great showcase of how ESPN’s resources can document a global event with strong multi-cultural appeal,” Williamson said. “Having the exclusive Spanish-language rights to all 39 WBC games on Deportes and Deportes+ for both the 2013 and 2017 events provides us with unique opportunities to serve fans across our television, audio and digital properties. The upcoming simulcasts are the latest examples.”

Two other quick baseball-related notes: First, ESPN’s first spring training game of the 2013 season takes place this Monday at 1 p.m. when the St. Louis Cardinals visit the New York Yankees (Full Spring Training schedule). Second, for those on Twitter, you now can get all your ESPN baseball news, updates and insight by following @BBTN.

Now onto your questions:

Note: This first question was directed to Jamie Little, pit reporter for ESPN’s NASCAR and IndyCar coverage and a reporter for the Winter X Games.

ESPN’s Jamie Little (Andy Hall/ESPN)

ESPN’s Jamie Little (Andy Hall/ESPN)

I always wondered about who makes the replacement car parts that are destroyed during each race and who makes the new interior roll cages for each car? – Bill continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, ESPN Fan Central, Fan Central

posted by on January 12, 2013 12:00 PM

ICYMI: The Week on Front Row

The New England Patriots and the Houston Texans will meet for an AFC divisional playoff game Sunday, 4:30 P.M. ET at Gillette Stadium. Quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots are favored to win the game; the last time the teams met they defeated the Texans 42-14. But don’t despair, Texans fans.

In the video above, Numbers Never Lie hosts Michael Smith, Hugh Douglas and Jalen Rose explain why the Texans may have a chance to win.

ESPN’s divisional playoff coverage will feature two editions of Sunday NFL Countdown — a two-hour special Saturday, Jan. 12, at 10 a.m. ET, and the regular three-hour edition Sunday, Jan. 13, at 10 a.m.

ICYMI: Highlights from the past week on Front Row
• The latest “This Is SportsCenter” segment stars anchors Chris McKendry, Stuart Scott, the Boston College Eagle and the Temple Owl mascots. Watch the ad and see how it came about.

• Between wrapping up his College GameDay season and preparing for the Australian Open, Chris Fowler describes what’s it’s like to make such a quick transition “from sport to sport, role to role, winter to summer and North America to Down Under.”

• ESPN’s Talent Department recruits, manages, coaches and retains more than 1,000 commentators. A sampling of the hundreds of ESPN contract renewals and/or new signings of 2012 can be found here.

• You’ve seen him on Pardon the Interruption and Around the Horn, but ESPN.com columnist J.A. Adande also works as an educator in USC’s journalism department. He shares more about his role as an educator in this Front & Center podcast.

Row of Four
Our favorites from across ESPN over the past week continue reading…

Filed in: ICYMI Highlights

posted by on January 8, 2013 2:15 PM

Front & Center: J.A. Adande

ESPN's JA Adande. (Rich Arden/ESPN Images)

ESPN’s JA Adande. (Rich Arden/ESPN Images)

Click HERE to listen or visit iTunes to download the podcast and be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the Front & Center podcast. Also, make sure to check out the ESPN Radio app, available for the iPad.

J.A. Adande wears many hats at ESPN — he’s an ESPN.com senior writer, an Around the Horn panelist and sometimes host of Pardon the Interruption. Perhaps not as well known is that Adande has another title to his name: educator. Since 2004, Adande has taught at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. He serves as an adjunct professor, teaching Sports Commentary to undergraduate and graduate students (including this Front Row contributor).

An alumnus of Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, Adande brings lessons from his own schooling and his experience at ESPN to his students, even running them through mock PTI and ATH exercises to demonstrate that being on camera isn’t as easy as he and his co-panelists make it look.

Front Row recently sat down with Adande to talk with him about his experiences in the classroom, his thoughts on education and how ESPN factors into his lessons.

Filed in: Front & Center, Podcast, Uncategorized

posted by on January 4, 2013 8:00 AM

Fan Central Mailbag: ESPN’s commitment to women’s sports; BCS line-up & World’s Strongest Man

Welcome to another edition of the Fan Central Mailbag. Remember, if you have an ESPN-related question, follow us @ESPN_FanCentral and use #FanCentralMB to tweet your questions. You can also e-mail them to FanCentral@ESPN.com.

To start this edition of the mailbag, we want to address a topic several of you have expressed interest in: ESPN’s commitment to women’s sports.

ESPN’s commitment and support of female athletes is stronger than ever. In 2012, there were more than 2,100 hours of women’s sport programming on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, including the WNBA, NCAA Women’s Basketball, Women’s Grand Slam Tennis, NCAA Women’s Lacrosse, X Games, NCAA Softball and Women’s Professional Softball. Additionally, ESPN was home to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011.

Also, espnW, ESPN’s brand platform with its mission to connect female fans to the sports they love and follow, offers content geared toward female athletes and sports fans. espnW’s digital hub at espnW.com offers commentary and coverage for female sports fans, premier coverage of women’s sports and the voice of the female athlete.

As a multi-platform brand, espnW includes a strong social media presence on Twitter (@espnW), Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, branded content across ESPN networks (including ESPN3) and the annual espnW: Women + Sports Summit.

Will Brent Musberger and Kirk Herbstreit be calling the BCS National Championship game? — Mike
Indeed, Brent and Kirk will be calling the big game between No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Alabama on Monday (ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET). Heather Cox and Tom Rinaldi will handle sideline reporting duties. If you have a 3D television, you won’t want to miss ESPN 3D’s coverage of the game where Joe Tessitore and Rod Gilmore will provide extended coverage of the title game during select commercial breaks of the ESPN telecast.

When will ESPN televise the 2012 World Strongest Man competition finals? — Frank
ESPN and ESPN2 will be televising the entire 2012 World’s Strongest Man throughout the month of January. ESPN will air the first seven episodes from the 11-episode competition tomorrow starting at 7:30 p.m.

You can catch the remaining episodes, which include the finals, on Jan. 12 when ESPN2 reairs the entire competition starting at 6 p.m. You also can watch reairs of episodes Nos. 2-11 on Jan. 13 starting at 2:30 p.m.

Be sure to check out our latest TV listings by visiting our TV page at ESPNTV.com. Please note that programming is subject to change.

Filed in: ESPN Fan Central

posted by on December 13, 2012 2:46 PM

‘Picturegate’ threatens peaceful time of year for PTI and “frienemy” Adam Schefter [UPDATED: With PTI "response"]

So much for holiday cheer and good tidings.

Pardon the Interruption’s Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon noticed that a signed picture of the duo on Adam Schefter’s backdrop bookshelf was being obstructed by a Schefter family wedding photo.

The perceived slight did not sit well with Kornheiser and Wilbon and was mentioned (video above) at the end of yesterday’s show (5:30 p.m. ET daily on ESPN).

“Schefty, we saw what you did, make it right,” Kornheiser said. “You know what I’m saying?”

Wilbon chimed in with a spirited, “YEAH, YEAH!”

The Front Row Investigative Team (FRIT) pounced on the opportunity to get to the bottom of “Picturegate.”

Schefter was unrepentant in his explanation and hinted at a perceived slight from the PTI crew.

“I’ve told PTI over and over, it’s all about one thing: Equal time. Equal time,” Schefter said. “Where’s my [head-on-a-stick] photo been? Haven’t seen it on PTI in weeks.

“Their photo never has left my bookcase,” he said. “I can’t help it if my wife slides our wedding picture in front of two guys who don’t look out for me the same way I look out for them.”

“Order has been restored in my office and on the shelf,” Schefter said. “Hope order soon is restored on their set.”

Front Row has contacted PTI for its response.

[UPDATE: Thursday's PTI featured the return of the Schefter head-on-a-stick photo (see below), albeit with a pencil thin mustache.

The @PTI Twitter account Tweeted at 5:34 p.m. ET: "frienemy @AdamSchefter wanted order restored on the PTI set. http://twitpic.com/blpmdj"

As Kornheiser tossed to Bristol in the "Big Finish" he proclaimed, with the Schefter head over his right shoulder, "Schefty, real recognize real, Baby."

Now, it seems, order has truly been restored.]

PTI’s response to Schefter’s request was on display for Thursday’s show.

Item #6 on Schefter’s bookshelf on an un-obstructed day.

Bill Hofheimer contributed to this post.

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on November 2, 2012 3:26 PM

Lightning Round: Around the Horn panelists weigh in on show’s 10 years

Around the Horn celebrates its 10th anniversary today (5 p.m. ET). (ESPN)

This week marks the 10-year anniversary of ESPN’s Around the Horn, which debuted on Nov. 4, 2002.

The popular daytime sports talk and debate show will celebrate the milestone today at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Host Tony Reali — who penned this for Front Row yesterday — will be joined by an expanded group of panelists including show regulars JA Adande, Kevin Blackistone, Tim Cowlishaw, Israel Gutierrez, Bomani Jones, Jackie MacMullan, Woody Paige, Bill Plaschke, Bob Ryan and Michael Smith.

A special guest will also make an appearance.

In recognition of the anniversary, Front Row asked a few of the ATH regulars for their thoughts on the show, its success and the experience of being part of it the past decade. (Note: No points were awarded for these answers and no one was muted.)

Bob Ryan, the legendary Boston Globe sports writer, who has been part of ATH since the very first show:
“What is amusing to consider is that what we are the most successful spin-off of its kind ever. We exist because of PTI’s success. I sense that we skew a bit younger, and that one of the keys to our popularity is the idea among kids that the young guy controls his elders, even to the point of muting, as well as judging. A younger host is essential, and Tony is ideal.

“Whether it was [original host] Max [Kellerman] or now Tony, this is the hardest hosting job in the history of TV, period. You need to keep things moving with perpetual ad-libbing, all while working the levers. And they both have made it look so damn easy, when it’s anything but. I know I’d never want to do it.”

Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News, who made his debut on ATH’s second show (Nov. 5, 2002):
“The first person who contacted me about the show said it was probably going to be called ‘Zones’ or ‘Time Zones’ because they wanted a show where columnists from four time zones argued about sports. I was also told one of the ideas was that we would try to break news for the other cities — in other words, I would go on the show and tell Bob Ryan something that’s happening in Boston that he wouldn’t know. I thought ‘This is going to be a very difficult show.’”

Jackie MacMullan, ESPNBoston.com columnist — and one of ATH’s two female panelists, along with Jemele Hill — who debuted during ATH’s second week (Nov. 12, 2002): continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on November 1, 2012 4:42 PM

Sgt. Reali’s Around the Horn Club Band turns 10: 2,217 shows and counting

Note: ESPN’s daily sports talk and debate show, Around the Horn, will mark 10 years on the air with a special Friday show (5 p.m. ET, ESPN) featuring an expanded group of panelists and other special guests. On the eve of this milestone, host Tony Reali offers his thoughts on the show’s successful run and what the opportunity has meant for him personally. (Front Row also thanks him, Chris Gavin and Mars Lewis for the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band-inspired artwork.)

Pele wore it on his back.

Phil Jackson once wore it on his head.

Pearl Jam debuted with it.

Dudley Moore thought Bo Derek was it.

Ten. X. 10.

And now, it’s our number.

2,217 shows and I can remember every single one. Or, at least the 2,000-plus I have done. I remember the day Woody (Paige) almost choked on confetti celebrating his 300th win. The day Michael Smith broke out an impromptu (Barack) Obama impression for 64 points. I remember having Lil Wayne on as a guest panelist and thinking “This guy could take all our jobs.” I remember when Kevin Blackistone dressed as Ron Washington for Halloween. I remember Jay Mariotti working 265 straight shows. 265 straight!

I remember February 1, 2004.  I got the call to host the show the next day while watching the Patriots-Panthers Super Bowl. Max Kellerman was in contract talks. Could I sit in? I had been a panelist previously and hosted a couple of times but  never a  day after the Super Bowl.  At first I said ‘no’. I was scared stiff. I couldn’t comprehend this was how ESPN hired its hosts. (Spoiler alert: It’s not.) I was 25 and my entire broadcasting career consisted of 10 seconds a day as “Stat Boy” and saying inappropriate things on radio at Fordham.

When I finally said ‘yes,’ I realized I had no clothes. I wore my only suit to work the next day — sweated through it — and put together a hosting stint that has to go down in history as the worst of all-time. But I did get through it, and I’m much better for it. I wore the same suit to work the next day, and by Wednesday I needed a new tie. It was 18 months later when I signed my first contract to host the show. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on October 12, 2012 12:00 PM

What’s on Adam Schefter’s shelf?

With the popularity of John Clayton’s now famous This is SportsCenter spot, we thought we’d shed some light on NFL Insider Adam Schefter and his home office.

Schefter, like a handful of other ESPN experts, has a camera in his house in New York so he can be ready at a moment’s notice to break news or report on a top NFL story for SportsCenter or one of ESPN’s many NFL shows.

Instead of having a generic blue backdrop behind him, Schefter uses the actual bookcase in his home. Below are some of the pieces of memorabilia and other items of interest in Schefter’s own words: continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on June 30, 2012 11:00 AM

Week in review

The first week of Wimbledon coverage across ESPN platforms been nothing short of thrilling. From Lukas Rosol’s stunning win over Rafael Nadal to Roger Federer’s close call against Julien Benneteau, the competition has been intense. That’s just the beginning with another week left in this fortnight.

Host Hannah Storm welcomed fans to Breakfast at Wimbledon this morning, as the tournament’s iconic branding returned on ESPN. Tomorrow, on the traditional “middle Sunday,” ABC will air a three-hour highlights program with Monday Night Football’s Mike Tirico before live action resumes Monday with “Cross Court Coverage” in the Round of 16, on what is widely considered the Greatest Day in Tennis.

Fans will see every point live on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and on WatchESPN through the Gentleman’s final next Sunday, July 8th.

Now let’s review the week on Front Row:

• Six-time National Sportscaster of the Year Chris Berman will be calling his first NFL game as part of ESPN’s season-opening MNF doubleheader on September 10. Berman and analyst Trent Dilfer have been assigned to the San Diego Chargers-Oakland Raiders game.

• The man behind “The Voice” of SportsCenter, Chris Kelley, joined Front Row for a podcast and video featuring the affable voice-over professional. In the podcast, Kelley admits to nerves prior to his recent on-camera debut and shares how there’s only a few degrees of separation between him and rock and roll luminaries. continue reading…

Filed in: Week In Review

posted by on June 28, 2012 12:30 PM

Tony Kornheiser offers insight into PTI’s “Goodnight, Canada”

Tony Kornheiser (l) always has a special sign-off for his friends in Canada.

Fans who watch Pardon the Interruption have likely noticed that Tony Kornheiser ends each show by waving a Maple Leaf Canadian flag. 

He also sometimes says “Goodnight, Canada.”

But why?

With Canada Day on Sunday (July 1), it’s an opportune time to answer this burning question about one of ESPN’s most popular shows.

When PTI signs off just before 6 p.m. ET, viewers in Canada do not get the additional segment with Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon that airs on the SportsCenter edition that follows because a different program airs north of the border.

“It has to be at least seven or eight years now since I started doing this,” says Kornheiser.

PTI’s longtime associate director Bonnie Berko told Kornheiser about the SportsCenter segment not airing in Canada. So, he grabbed the flag and started waving it at the end of the show. It became a farewell to the viewers who wouldn’t see him again until the next day’s show.

“I get asked about it routinely — by as many Americans as Canadians,” adds Kornheiser. “I always tell people that I’m so popular in Canada, I could get lucky in Nova Scotia. Canadians really seem to like it.”

And now you know why.

Note: SportsCenter anchor and ESPN Radio host Scott Van Pelt will make his first appearance as a guest co-host of Pardon the Interruption on Friday (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). Van Pelt, a native of the Washington, D.C., area, will be in-studio with Wilbon from the show’s studio location at the ABC News Bureau in the Nation’s Capital. Since PTI debuted in 2001, there have been 30 different* guest hosts. Van Pelt is No. 31.

“As friends of Tony and Michael, I’m honored to sit in the chair and the hope is to not be any great shame to the show,” Van Pelt said. “Also, as friends of Tony and Michael, I’m curious how it took 10 years and 30 other people before they got to my name on the list. But who’s counting?”

*Amaze your friends with your knowledge of this list of those fortunate enough to have filled in as a PTI co-host: JA Adande, David Aldridge, Skip Bayless, Jay Bilas, Kevin Blackistone, Norman Chad, Tim Cowlishaw, David DuPree, Josh Elliott, Mike Golic, Max Kellerman, Sally Jenkins, Tim Kurkjian, Dan LeBatard, Jackie MacMullan, Jay Mariotti, Patrick McEnroe, Bill Plaschke, Rick Reilly, Bob Ryan, Dan Shaughnessy, TJ Simers, Bill Simmons, Michael Smith, Stephen A. Smith, Michele Tafoya, Mike Tirico, Bob Valvano, Scott Van Pelt, Jason Whitlock and Ralph Wiley.

 

Filed in: Behind The Scenes