Sonntag, Januar 31, 2010

ESPN at 2010 Pro Bowl and Super Bowl XLIV

Super Bowl XLIV week in South Florida will kick off Sunday, Jan. 31, with the 2010 Pro Bowl on ESPN, ESPN HD and ESPN Deportes at 7:20 p.m. ET from Sun Life Stadium. ESPN’s week-long comprehensive coverage of the Indianapolis Colts-New Orleans Saints matchup will continue across its multimedia platforms through Sunday, Feb. 7. Highlights:
  • Super Bowl-related content across 18 ESPN platforms: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Classic, ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, ESPNEWS HD, ESPNU HD, ESPN International, ESPN.com, ESPN Radio, ESPNRadio.com, ESPN Deportes Radio, ESPNdeportes.com, ESPN The Magazine and ESPN Mobile properties;
  • More than 80 hours of Super Bowl-related programming on domestic television from South Florida;
  • More than 55 hours of Super Bowl-related programming on ESPN Radio from South Florida;
  • ESPN International will bring live coverage of the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl to more than 51 million households in 140 countries and territories throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Israel, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Rim, and much of Europe;
  • More than 30 on-air commentators (hosts, analysts, reporters and contributors) covering on-site;
  • ESPN’s coverage will peak with more than 16 hours of TV and radio coverage on Super Bowl Sunday (Sunday, Feb. 7), beginning with Mike & Mike in the Morning at 6 a.m. (ESPN Radio/ESPN2).
  • ESPN’s weeklong television and radio coverage (Feb. 1 – Feb. 7) will originate from Lummus Park on Miami Beach (12th Street and Ocean Drive).

McDonald’s Presents the 2010 Pro Bowl on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (Sunday, Jan. 31)

ESPN’s coverage of the 2010 Pro Bowl kicks off on ESPN and ESPN HD at 5:30 p.m. with a special edition of Sunday NFL Countdown hosted by Chris Berman from Sun Life Stadium with analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter. Countdown will lead into the Pro Bowl game telecast at 7:20 p.m. with Monday Night Football commentators Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski in the booth. Reporters Suzy Kolber (AFC Team) and Michele Tafoya (NFC Team) will cover the Pro Bowl teams. Berman will also have interviews with Colts and Saints players from a sideline set, including an anticipated halftime interview with Super Bowl quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. ESPN Deportes will also offer a Spanish-language telecast of the Pro Bowl with pre-game coverage beginning at 7 p.m.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson, and Titans running back Chris Johnson are among the league’s top players who will be on display for the annual NFL all-star game. The ESPN telecast will feature 14 live microphones on players and coaches that will allow fans to hear live audio of conversations in the huddle, during plays and in the locker rooms.

Reporter Bob Holtzman and Mortensen began providing Pro Bowl reports from South Florida on Wednesday, Jan. 27 on NFL Live and SportsCenter.

Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 7)

  • Berman, covering his 28th Super Bowl, will host the special four-hour Super Bowl edition of Sunday NFL Countdown (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) from Lummus Park on Miami Beach with Carter, Ditka, Jackson, Johnson, Mortensen and Schefter. Analysts Trent Dilfer, Steve Young and Tedy Bruschi – all Super Bowl champions – will also appear on the show from Miami Beach, while MNF’s Tirico, Jaworski and Gruden will occupy a set at Sun Life Stadium. In all, ESPN’s Super Bowl Sunday analyst team features former players and coaches with a combined 12 Super Bowl rings in 20 appearances in the NFL’s biggest game. Reporters Suzy Kolber (Colts) and Ed Werder (Saints) will provide team updates.
  • Postgame coverage on ESPN begins at 10 p.m. begins with NFL Primetime with Berman, Jackson and Young on the field at Sun Life Stadium, followed by a 90-minute SportsCenter.
  • ESPN Radio’s “Super Sunday” program lineup will include Mike & Mike in the Morning for the third straight year (6-10 a.m./simulcast on ESPN2). Tirico will anchor ESPN Radio’s post-game coverage from radio row in Miami until 1 a.m.
  • ESPN2’s SportsNation will have a special two-hour Super Bowl Sunday show (10 a.m., re-airing at noon).
  • ESPN International will air Super Bowl XLIV live to more than 51 million households in 140 countries and territories throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Israel, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Rim, and much of Europe. Commentary and analysis will be provided in English, French-Canadian, Portuguese, and Spanish.


ESPN – ESPN2 – ESPNEWS – ESPNU – ESPN Classic

ESPN’s primary host location throughout Super Bowl week will be an outdoor set – open for public viewing – Lummus Park on Miami Beach (12th Street and Ocean Drive). Planned highlights:

  • SportsCenter (Monday, Feb. 1 - Sunday, Feb. 7) – daily editions with anchors Mike Greenberg, Steve Levy and Stuart Scott, joined by Mortensen, Schefter, reporters Kolber and Werder, and analysts Ditka, Jackson, Johnson, Young, etc.;
  • SportsCenter Special: The Champions (Friday, Feb. 5 at 3:30 p.m., ESPN) – Tirico hosts this special with all of ESPN’s NFL analysts in Miami who have won Super Bowl rings – Bruschi, Dilfer, Ditka, Gruden, Johnson, Matt Millen, Mark Schlereth and Young. The panel -- with a combined 19 rings in 24 Super Bowl appearances – will discuss their personal experiences of playing for the NFL title and what they expect for Super Bowl XLIV.
  • Sport Science (Friday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m., ESPN) – The three-time Emmy Award-winning special hosted by John Brenkus will offer four football-based segments, including researching the common thread in quarterbacks, the physics of the greatest catches of the past several years (with Steelers’ wide receiver Santonio Holmes in-studio), exploring if a running back generates as much power as a Diesel engine (with Bills’ Marshawn Lynch), and Brenkus acting as live dummy when 14-year NFL veteran Matt Willig joins him in the lab to test the impact-forces when an unpadded referee accidentally gets hit. Sport Science brings popular professional athletes together with cutting-edge technology in state-of-the-art scientific facilities to test the limits of human athletic abilities, while challenging popular assumptions about athletes and sports.
  • SportsCenter Special and NFL Live (Monday, Feb. 1 – Thursday, Feb. 4, 3:30-4:30 p.m.) Trey Wingo will host daily these consecutive 30-minute shows throughout Super Bowl week;
  • NFL Matchup (Sunday, Feb. 7, 3 and 6:30 a.m., ESPN) – the popular 30-minute X’s and O’s analysis show hosted by Sal Paolantonio with Merril Hoge and Jaworski will preview the Super Bowl matchup from South Florida;
  • Rome is Burning (M-F, 4:30 p.m., ESPN) – current and former NFL players will join host Jim Rome live in South Florida to discuss the Super Bowl;
  • Around the Horn (M-F, 5 p.m., ESPN) – daily panelists will opine from South Florida;
  • Pardon the Interruption (M-F, 5:30 p.m., ESPN) – co-host Michael Wilbon and ‘Five Good Minutes’ guests will participate from South Florida;
  • Sports Reporters (Sunday, Feb. 7, at 8:30 a.m., ESPN) – John Saunders will host the popular Sunday morning sports journalism and discussion program from the Super Bowl city;
  • Mike & Mike in the Morning (M-F, 6-10 a.m./simulcast on ESPN2) – Co-hosts Mike Golic and Greenberg will kick off ESPN Radio’s on-site coverage from Miami on Monday, Feb. 1, followed by The Herd with Colin Cowherd (10 a.m.-2 p.m./ESPNU), and co-hosts Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo on The Scott Van Pelt Show (2-4 p.m./ESPN2). Each show will feature NFL guests and experts on-set with the hosts throughout the week.
  • First Take (M-F, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., ESPN2) – will include Super Bowl-related interviews and previews all week;
  • SportsNation (M-F, 4 p.m., ESPN2) – Michelle Beadle will be joined by guest host and ESPN NFL analyst Marcellus Wiley in ESPN's Bristol, Conn., studios all week. A special preview of Puppy Bowl VI is among the anticipated Super Bowl week features. A special two-hour SportsNation is also planned for Super Bowl Sunday, at 10 a.m. on ESPN2 (re-airing at noon).
  • ESPN2 will feature a number of NFL Films-produced Super Bowl highlight shows throughout the week, including back-to-back 30-minute shows Saturday, Feb. 6 at 10 a.m. spotlighting two memorable South Florida Super Bowl games involving the Colts – SB III vs. Jets and SB XLI vs. Bears.
  • ESPNEWS will provide live coverage of Super Bowl events with extensive reporting from Miami all week -- including team arrivals, coaches' and players' press conferences, Media Day (Tuesday, Feb. 2), Commissioner Roger Goodell's State of the NFL address (Friday, Feb. 5), and the Pro Football Hall of Fame announcement (Saturday, Feb. 6). On Super Bowl Sunday, extensive pre- and postgame analysis will include interviews, news conferences, highlights and more.
  • ESPN Classic will celebrate Super Bowl XLIV with 24 straight hours of NFL-related programming, including: SportsCentury shows spotlighting Pete Rozelle, Vince Lombardi and more; Who’s #1; Top 5 Reasons You Can’t Blame…; and classic interviews that have not been aired on ESPN in more than a decade, including Up Close Classics with Jim Kelly, Joe Namath and more, Firestone Chat with Brett Favre and Schaap One-one-One.

ESPN RADIO – ESPNRADIO.COM

ESPN Radio’s Super Week 2010 in South Florida will feature 10 hours of programming each weekday (6 a.m.-4 p.m./M-F), including on-site broadcasts of regularly scheduled weekday programs, special shows, reports from team headquarters, Media Day, and comprehensive analysis and post-game interviews. For the first time, The Herd (ESPNU) and The Scott Van Pelt Show (ESPN2) will be simulcast from the Super Bowl city, joining Mike & Mike (ESPN2).

Beginning Monday, Feb. 1, Mike & Mike in the Morning (6-10 a.m., M-F/ESPN2) with co-hosts Golic and Greenberg will kick off ESPN Radio’s on-site coverage, followed by The Herd with Colin Cowherd (10 a.m. - 2 p.m., M-F/ESPNU) and The Scott Van Pelt Show (2-4 p.m. M-F/ESPN2). All radio shows throughout the week will originate from 11th St. and Ocean Drive in South Beach (adjacent to the ESPN television set). Friday’s coverage will also include the Weekend Blitz: Pro Football (8-9 p.m.) and The Mort Report (9-10 p.m.).

For the third straight year, Mike & Mike in the Morning will kick off “Super Sunday” with a special lineup (6-10 a.m./simulcast on ESPN2). Tirico will anchor ESPN Radio’s post-game coverage from Miami until 1 a.m.

ESPNRadio.com will provide live audio and video streaming of ESPN Radio programs throughout Super Bowl week, as well as on-demand highlights of every show and every interview.

ESPN.COM and ESPN MOBILE PRODUCTS

ESPN.com is providing complete coverage and analysis of the game, teams, players, coaches and the entire Super Bowl scene from Miami from the main NFL page (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/index) and the 2010 edition of Super Bowl Central (http://espn.go.com/nfl/superbowl). The site features interactivity through daily chats with writers and other personalities on SportsNation, as well as video reports throughout the week.

ESPN’s award-winning roster of contributors will be part of Super Bowl coverage, including Pro Football Hall of Famers John Clayton and Len Pasquarelli, as well as Gene Wojciechowski, Jeffri Chadiha, Greg Garber, Elizabeth Merrill, the NFL Blog Network and Scouts Inc., who will provide insight, commentary, breaking news and analysis of all facets of the Super Bowl XLIV match-up. Other coverage highlights include:

  • Complete coverage of Media Day, with users able to interact with bloggers on the scene;
  • An interactive presentation called Inside A Moment In Time that takes readers inside Steelers linebacker James Harrison’s 100-yard interception return in Super Bowl XLIII;
  • Behind-the-hero stories highlighting one player from each of the 43 teams that have earned Super Bowl rings;
  • Video, essays and pictorials from 10 Super Bowl MVPs, including Pittsburgh’s Hines Ward, who tell stories about pivotal moments in their path to being named MVPs;
  • In-depth analysis, scouting reports and rankings of all 106 players on the Super Bowl rosters from Scouts Inc.;
  • Additional video features, interviews, news and analysis on the ESPN Video hub (http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/);

Fans on the go can access the latest action through the NFL Playoffs Hotcorner on the ESPN mobile Web site and up to the minute scores via the ESPN ScoreCenter mobile app for iPhone and iPod Touch devices.

ESPN INTERNATIONAL

ESPN will deliver Super Bowl XLIV to some 51 million households in 140 countries and territories outside the U.S. ESPN International will provide live coverage of Super Bowl XLIV throughout Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Israel, Europe and the Pacific Rim and Canada. Commentary and analysis will be provided in English, French-Canadian, Portuguese and Spanish. ESPN International will also air the Pro Bowl on January 31 to fans in these regions. Highlights:

  • For the first time, ESPN International will host the "Super Bowl at Sea" Viewing Party for clients and VIPs. The network will feature SportsCenter segments from aboard a Royal Caribbean Cruise. The four-day Caribbean cruise will depart from Miami on Feb. 4 and return Feb. 8;
  • Coverage of the game in HD in Australia, Brazil and the rest of Spanish-speaking Latin America. In Latin America, ESPN will be the only network televising the game in HD;
  • ESPN’s international SportsCenter production team will provide reports throughout the week to Latin America and throughout the Pacific Rim;
  • Live coverage on Super Bowl Sunday in Latin America will begin at 3:30 p.m. with Cronometro Super Sunday Special, followed by a one-hour edition of SportsCenter: Super Bowl Special and NFL Esta Noche Super Bowl Special.

Spanish-language coverage in the U.S. and Latin America will feature Spanish-language Emmy nominee Álvaro Martín (play-by-play), analyst and former New York Giants Super Bowl-winning kicker Raul Allegre, and reporters John Sutcliffe and Ciro Procuna, who will offer daily reports from Miami on Spanish-language editions of SportsCenter and Radio Formula programs, and Los Capitanes en ESPN throughout Super Bowl week. Live coverage on Super Bowl Sunday in Latin America begins at 3:30 p.m. with Cronometro Super Bowl Special and continues throughout the day through the telecast of Super Bowl XLIV at 6 p.m.

ESPN DEPORTES – ESPN DEPORTES RADIO – ESPNDEPORTES.COM
ESPN Deportes will offer the most comprehensive coverage of Super Bowl XLIV on Spanish-language television in the U.S. The network will have a team in Miami all week, providing nightly segments for its edition of SportsCenter. NFL Semanal, ESPN's signature Spanish-language NFL news and analysis program, will be hosted by Procuna, Martin and Allegre from the ESPN set in South Beach. In addition, ESPN Deportes will feature exclusive live coverage in the U.S. of the Pro Bowl.

ESPN Deportes Radio, the only around-the-clock national Spanish-language sports radio network in the U.S., will feature NFL commentary throughout Super Bowl week. ESPNdeportes.com, the company's Spanish-language Web site, will provide complete coverage all week, including chats with ESPN Deportes experts, daily blogs and ESPN Motion video.

ESPN THE MAGAZINE

Athlete and celebrity Super Bowl revelers will dance the night away at ESPN The Magazine's sixth annual NEXT event at the “new” Fontainebleau Miami Beach in a custom-made, 25,000-square-foot, clear-top tent Friday, Feb. 5. The private, VIP event will feature Grammy Award-winning singer Ne-Yo and Grammy-nominated singer Keri Hilson as its headliners; A Tribe Called Quest front-man Q-Tip will DJ the event. Universal Music Group recording artists rapper Nelly will report from the red carpet, interviewing athletes and celebrities in a Samsung sponsored tent on the carpet. ESPN The Magazine's NEXT event celebrates The Mag's NEXT issue and showcases what's NEXT in sports, technology, lifestyle, and, of course, what’s NEXT from ESPN.

WORLD TEAM FALLS 17-0 TO TEAM USA

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - The world is becoming a smaller place

At least in football terms, only 17 points separates the game's traditional powerhouse of the United States and the rest of the world following a 17-0 Team USA victory over the World at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

Assembled as a collective squad of the best under 19 American football players from around the world for the first time, the team representing eight countries and four continents held their own against USA Football's junior national team of 45 players who have committed to some of the nation's top college football programs.

"It didn't surprise me that the game was close,"
said USA head coach Chris Merritt.,
whose squad won the first USA Football's Team USA vs. The World Game, Presented by Riddell.

"I'm very proud of how the team came together in about four days.
It would be easy for them to think about where they're going to be playing in college but throughout the week it was great to see them become a team."

Team USA built on the psychological advantage of having broken a first half deadlock with a touchdown with only nine seconds remaining and then added a third quarter touchdown and late field goal to edge the contest. The World team was left wondering what might have been.

"Turnovers and the big penalties were our downfall but what hurt the team the most was our truest starter on defense going down on the third play of the game because he has been superb for us all week,"
explained World team head coach Jan Jenmert.

Canadian quarterback Jeremi Doyon-Roch (Vanier College) was intercepted by Team USA MVP Mike Hull (Canon-McMillan, PA) late in the third quarter with the World team trailing 14-0 and facing a crucial third and seven at the USA 12-yard line. There was to be no comeback once Team USA capitalized, driving into range for kicker Ben Hopfinger (St Thomas Aquinas) to split the uprights from 40 yards out.

The World team lost Australian defensive tackle Jesse Williams (Arizona Western) to injury on the opponent's opening drive, disrupting a line that has impressed during a week of practices, with Williams one of the stars. They then also had to adjust the running game when fullback James Sifakis (Vanier College) also went down.

It was the World team's ground attack that opened brightly with Steven Lumbala (University of Calgary) and Doyon-Roch pounding the ball steadily downfield on the ground, completing three third downs in the process.

Neither team was able to move the ball for the remainder of the first quarter, but to open the second, Team USA sustained a drive that looked likely to put points on the board. Aided by a roughing the kicker penalty that earned a first down after having to punt, Team USA quarterback Mark Myers (St Ignatius, OH), who had been run into when punting, connected with Sam Gagliano (Waxahachie, TX) for a 16 yard gain. He then found Quinton Dunbar (Booker T Washington, FL) and Anthony Creecy (Southern Durham, NC), closing in on field goal range.

A Christian Walcott (Concordia University) tackle on Myers for a loss of seven yards brought out the field goal unit and German defensive end Bjoern Werner (Salisbury School, CT), who has been highly recruited by leading US colleges, blocked a 28-yard field goal attempt by Hopfinger.

That should have left the first half scoreless, but Dunbar produced an elusive punt return, at one point forced back to his own five-yard mark, to take the ball out to within a yard of midfield, a touchdown return denied by the tackle of punter Tyler Crapigna (Ottawa Myers Riders).

Quarterback Tyler Smith (Wilson Area HS, PA) went to work immediately, hooking up on a spectacular 50-yard pass downfield that Josh Reese (Miami Central, FL) would have taken all the way to pay dirt but for a saving tackle by Dylan Hollohan (St Francis Xavier) at the one-yard mark. Reese fumbled and recovered the ball on the play then from a yard out, Ethan Grant (North Broward Prep, FL) scored to earn Team USA a 7-0 halftime lead with only nine seconds left on the clock.

What proved to be the killer blow came at the start of the second half. Team USA drove steadily towards its second touchdown and used the no huddle offense effectively. Dontae Williams (Aldine, TX) gained 11 yards on two carries, Jakhari Gore (Miami Columbus, FL) 21 from three and Myers went to the air for a 25-yard connection with Gagliano.

From five yards out, Williams burst over right tackle to earn a two-touchdown lead after Hopfinger added the extra point.

The World team enjoyed success moving the chains on the ground, with team MVP Hampus Hellermark (Sweden) the most effective rusher with an eventual 64 yards from 12 carries. But the passing game proved less effective, especially on third down.

Team USA closed out the third quarter and the contest with a confident 40yard field goal from Hopfinger.

The World team produced a steady 15-play, 50-yard drive that threatened to break the shutout late on, but Hellermark lost yards on a swing pass on fourth and goal as Team USA held firm.

Myers led Team USA with 7 of 10 pass attempts completed for 79 yards, while Smith contributed 5 of 10 for 105 yards. Keiwone Malone (Mitchell, TN) had 4 receptions for 41 yards, Gagliano 3 for 46 and Reese 2 for 72. On the ground Gore rushed 11 times for 53 yards, Williams 10 times for 59 yards and a touchdown and Grant 7 times for 11 yards.

Hull
and Travis Williams (Lake Taylor, VA) led the Americans with 8 tackles each, with Hull claiming the game's only interception. Steele Divitto (Don Bosco Prep, NJ) had 8 tackles and a sack, while Josh Huff (Nimitz, TX) recorded 2 sacks and 4 tackles.

Hellermark
was the World team's most effective offensive weapon with 12 carries for 64 yards, while Lumbala rushed for 28 yards on 7 carries and Doyon-Roch for 32 from 9 runs. The Vanier Prep quarterback completed 5 of 13 pass attempts for 32 yards, with 2 of those going to college teammate Julian Bailey for a total of 14 yards.

Defensively, Walcott led the World team with 6 tackles and a sack and there were also sacks for Jerod McCrory (Western University), Beck Coulter (Trinity, TX), Scott Janz (Western) and Tyler Sawyer (University of Ottawa).

Freitag, Januar 29, 2010

NFL.COM COVERS SUPER BOWL XLIV

Live Online Streaming of Events including All 12 Podiums at Media Day

Fans Have Their Say with #SB44 and Super Bowl MVP Voting


Top Analysts Offering Unique Super Bowl Perspectives

NFL fans will be able to experience all aspects of Super Bowl XLIV at NFL.COM with dynamic video programming, new community features, in-depth event coverage, and an interactive trivia challenge.

Fans can watch live online streaming of all of the week’s biggest events including Super Bowl Media Day, the Commissioner’s news conference and the announcement of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2010.

For the first time, users can choose what they want to watch from the NFL.com cameras on Media Day (Tuesday, February 2 at 10:00 AM ET) at Sun Life Stadium, the home of Super Bowl XLIV. There will be one camera covering each of the 12 featured members of the competing teams, as well as one camera with NFL Network reporter and NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson explaining the event.


Fans can be a part of the Super Bowl XLIV conversation across the web by tagging their Flickr photos and Twitter posts with #SB44, the Official Tag of Super Bowl XLIV. Fans then can celebrate the Super Bowl through other fans’ perspectives by visiting NFL.com/SB44, a page that aggregates the tweets and photos into an interactive and dynamic presentation.

Throughout the week, NFL.COM/SUPERBOWL will be the virtual home of Radio Row. Within the video section, exclusive interviews with NFL luminaries, celebrities and special guests will be posted as they make their way through South Florida.


NFL.com also will feature a powerful lineup of reporters and analysts, including senior columnist Vic Carucci, senior writers Steve Wyche and Jason La Canfora, analysts Bucky Brooks and Gil Brandt and former NFL personnel executive Pat Kirwan. Information and insight from NFL Network experts Solomon Wilcots, Sterling Sharpe, Jamie Dukes and more round out the comprehensive coverage. In addition, NFL Blog Blitz, powered by SportsFanLive.com, will continue their coverage of the NFL teams from the fan’s perspective.


On game day, fans around the globe can listen to international radio broadcasts of Super Bowl XLIV. NFL.com will stream broadcasts from 10 countries including Spain, Belgium, Italy, Russia and Japan.


For the tenth consecutive year, fans will be able to vote for the Super Bowl MVP presented by GMC Sierra on NFL.com. In addition, fans also will be able to visit NFL.com on web-enabled mobile devices to vote for the MVP. In the fourth quarter of the game, fans, along with a media panel, will select the MVP, who will be awarded the Pete Rozelle Trophy. Combined votes on NFL.com and web-enabled mobile devices will count 20 percent towards the MVP.

Fans can test their Super Bowl knowledge with the NFL Two-Minute Trivia Super Bowl game. To prepare for the challenge, check out the comprehensive history section at NFL.COM/SUPERBOWL, the exclusive online site to watch highlights from the first 43 Super Bowl games.


NFL.COM/SUPERBOWL
also is a virtual tour guide, complete with an expanded visitor’s guide, an events section, and background on Sun Life Stadium.

USA FOOTBALL'S TEAM USA VS. THE WORLD GAME PRESENTED BY RIDDELL AVAILABLE LIVE ON NFL GAME PASS FOR INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE

Football fans outside the United States can subscribe to NFL Game Pass online to catch all the action live from Lockhart Stadium at 12pm on Saturday, Jan. 20


USA Football's "Team USA vs. The World" game will be televised LIVE by NFL Network and will be available to football fans outside the United States in high definition quality through an NFL Game Pass subscription.

Fans eager to cheer on the World team - featuring players and coaches from American Samoa, Australia, Bahamas, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden - can do so by visiting www.NFL.com/GamePass.

Selecting the option of a subscription covering the January 30 game date will allow access to online streaming and all the action when the game kicks off at 12pm local time. Subscribers will also have access to the AFC and NFC Pro Bowl practices, which take place at Lockhart Stadium from 9am, in addition to regular NFL Network programming.

"There will be about 50 friends and relatives cramming into my house back in Australia to watch the game," said World team defensive tackle JESSE WILLIAMS. Currently playing football at Arizona Western junior college, Williams was among five World team players interviewed by NFL Network on Thursday during production meetings to prepare for the broadcast.

"I've been watching the NFL Network in my room and there have been loads of adverts for our game every day," said fullback JAMES SIFAKIS. "It is pretty cool to see those promos as part of the Pro Bowl previews and then realize that is the game we're going to be playing in."

RICH EISEN, DEION SANDERS and SCOTT KENNEDY will deliver game commentary. Sideline reporter STACEY DALES will contribute on-field insight. Viewers in the United States can watch the game live on the NFL Network.


JAN JENMERT, head coach of Sweden's national American football team, is the head coach of the 45-man World roster, which is selected from eight countries on four continents. The head coach of USA Football's team is CHRIS MERRITT, head coach of Miami Christopher Columbus High School. Merritt was the 2009 USA Football Junior National Team's defensive backs coach that earned a gold medal in Canton, Ohio, this past July in the eight-nation International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship.

Mittwoch, Januar 27, 2010

Burger, American Football & Co im PULS 4 Stadtreport

Schluss mit dem Diätwahn - im Winter braucht der Körper deftige Kost. So kommt es, dass sich Gastronaut Fabian Holzer für den Stadtreport auf PULS 4 auf die Suche nach dem besten Burger Wiens begibt und das amerikanische Nationalgericht - abseits aller Fastfood-Ketten – am Donnerstag, den 28. Jänner um 17:30 Uhr verkostet. Wo bekommt man den besten Burger der Stadt und um welches Restaurant macht man besser einen großen Bogen? Der Gastronaut deckt in gewohnt schonungsloser Manier auf.

Außerdem Thema: Am 7. Februar ist es soweit: PULS 4 überträgt das große Super Bowl Finale live und exklusiv im österreichischen Free TV. Was Sie schon immer über das große Sportereignis wissen wollten, sich aber nie getraut haben zu fragen - der Stadtreport auf PULS 4 gibt kommenden Donnerstag alle Antworten für die Nacht der Nächte.

Stadtreport
Donnerstag, 28.1.2010, um 17:30 Uhr auf PULS 4
Moderation: Florian Danner

Dienstag, Januar 26, 2010

Quotenerfolg für NFL auf PULS 4

PULS 4 erzielte mit der Live-Übertragung der NFL Conference Finals ein sehr erfreuliches Ergebnis: über 6 Stunden lang verfolgten durchschnittlich 5,0 Prozent der 12-49-Jährigen die zwei Live-Spiele, in denen die Indianapolis Colts über die New York Jets und die New Orleans Saints über die Minnesota Vikings siegten. Sogar 7,8 Prozent der Erwachsenen 12-49 waren in der Zeitschiene 00:30 – 03:00 Uhr dabei, als den New Orleans Saints in einer spannenden Verlängerung der Sieg über die Minnesota Vikings gelang. Durchschnittsreichweite im Schnitt über 6 Stunden 45.000 Zuseher/innen Erwachsene 12+; in Spitzen sogar 73.000 Zuseher/innen.

Besonders beliebt ist American Football bei der jungen Zielgruppe 12-29 Jahre - Hier kommen die NFL Conference Finals auf einen durchschnittlichen Marktanteil von 8,01 Prozent. PULS 4 konnte am Sonntag somit einen Tagesschnitt von 3,5 Prozent bei der Zielgruppe 12-49 erreichen.

Mag. Fouad B. Lilabadi, Generalsekretär des American Football Bund Österreich (AFBÖ): „PULS 4 ist es als jungem Sender hervorragend gelungen, eine erfrischend neue Herangehensweise an American Football zu finden. Von der Vorberichterstattung mit Expertendiskussion bis zur Live-Übertragung der Spiele war der gestrige Football-Abend auf PULS 4 perfekt abgerundet.“

Sportprofi Robert Seeger, der die erste Begegnung gemeinsam mit Graz Giants-Host Roland Horn analysierte: „Kommentieren hat mir schon lange nicht mehr soviel Freude bereitet. Wir haben über 800 Zuschauer-Emails bekommen, die zeigen, dass auch in Österreich ein sehr hohes Interesse an American Football herrscht!"

Das große Super Bowl Finale überträgt PULS 4 am 7. Februar um 23:30 Uhr live und exklusiv im österreichischen Free-TV.

NFL – Super Bowl
Sonntag 7. Februar 2010 ab 23:30 Uhr

LIVE auf PULS 4
Alle Infos unter puls4.com/nfl

Basis: Österreich, Alle Ebenen, PULS 4, E 12+/12-49/12-29 , 24.01.2010., Zeitschiene 21:00-03:00 h.
Quelle: AGTT / GfK: Teletest / Evogenius Reporting, Alle Daten vorläufig gewichtet

Samstag, Januar 23, 2010

WHAT TO LOOK FOR – CONFERENCE FINALS

WHAT TO LOOK FORAFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

RETURN ENGAGEMENT: For the fourth consecutive season and 14th time since 1990 when the NFL went to the 12-team playoff format, teams that played at least once during the regular season will meet in the AFC Championship Game when the New York Jets face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. If New York defeats Indianapolis, it will mark the 11th time in 14 opportunities that a team won the AFC Championship Game against a team it defeated in the regular season.

AFC Championship Games that were rematches of regular-season meetings since 1990:

SEASON

SEASON WINNER

SEASON LOSER

CHAMP. GAME RESULT

1990

Buffalo

L.A. Raiders

Buffalo, 51-3

1992

Buffalo/Miami *

Buffalo/Miami *

Buffalo, 29-10

1993

Kansas City

Buffalo

Buffalo, 30-13

1994

San Diego

Pittsburgh

San Diego, 17-13

1996

New England

Jacksonville

New England, 20-6

1997

Pittsburgh

Denver

Denver, 24-21

1999

Tennessee **

Jacksonville

Tennessee, 33-14

2002

Oakland

Tennessee

Oakland, 41-24

2003

New England

Indianapolis

New England, 24-14

2004

Pittsburgh

New England

New England, 41- 27

2006

Indianapolis

New England

Indianapolis, 38-34

2007

New England

San Diego

New England, 21-12

2008

Pittsburgh **

Baltimore

Pittsburgh, 23-14

2009

New York Jets

Indianapolis

???

* Met twice during season. Teams split; ** Met twice during season. Tennessee and Pittsburgh won both games.

-- AFC --

ROOKIE HEAD COACHES: For the first time in NFL history, a conference championship game will feature two rookie head coaches: New York’s REX RYAN and Indianapolis’ JIM CALDWELL. The winner of this week’s matchup will become the fifth rookie head coach to lead a team to the Super Bowl.

The rookie head coaches to lead a team to the Super Bowl:

YEAR

HEAD COACH

TEAM

SUPER BOWL RESULT (OPPONENT)

1970

Don McCafferty

Baltimore Colts

Won SB V, 16-13 (Dallas)

1977

Red Miller

Denver Broncos

Lost SB XII, 27-10 (Dallas)

1989

George Seifert

San Francisco 49ers

Won SB XXIV 55-10 (Denver)

2002

Bill Callahan

Oakland Raiders

Lost SB XXXVII, 48-21 (Tampa Bay)

2009

Jim Caldwell/Rex Ryan

Indianapolis Colts/New York Jets

???

-- AFC --

PEY DAY: Indianapolis Colts quarterback PEYTON MANNING currently ranks fifth in NFL postseason history in completions and passing yards. Manning needs 18 completions to surpass DAN MARINO (385) and TOM BRADY (395) for third-most ever in the playoffs. He needs 57 yards to overtake Marino (4,510) for fourth-most playoff passing yards all-time.

The players with the most completions and passing yards in NFL postseason history:

PLAYER

COMP.

PLAYER

YARDS

Joe Montana

460

Joe Montana

5,772

Brett Favre

453*

Brett Favre

5,545*

Tom Brady

395

John Elway

4,964

Dan Marino

385

Dan Marino

4,510

Peyton Manning

378*

Peyton Manning

4,454*

*Active in 2009 playoffs

-- AFC --

YOUTH IS SERVED: Last week, the Jets’ MARK SANCHEZ became the second rookie quarterback in NFL history to win two playoff games, joining Baltimore’s JOE FLACCO (2008). With a win this Sunday, Sanchez would become the youngest quarterback to lead his team to the Super Bowl at 23 years and 88 days on Super Bowl Sunday. Sanchez would also be the first rookie quarterback in history to start a Super Bowl.

Ages of the youngest quarterbacks to start a Super Bowl:

SEASON

QUARTERBACKS

TEAM

YEARS

DAYS

NFL EXP.

SB RESULT

1984

Dan Marino

Miami

23

127

2

L 38-16 vs. San Francisco (SB XIX)

2005

Ben Roethlisberger

Pittsburgh

23

340

2

W 21-10 vs. Seattle (SB XL)

1982

David Woodley

Miami

24

97

3

L 27-17 vs. Washington (SB XVII)

2001

Tom Brady

New England

24

184

2

W 20-17 vs. St. Louis (SB XXXVI)

1996

Drew Bledsoe

New England

24

347

4

L 35-21 vs. Green Bay (SB XXXI)

2009

Mark Sanchez*

NY Jets

23

88

R

???

* On Super Bowl Sunday, February 7

Sanchez, who will be 23 years, 74 days old when the Jets face the Colts this Sunday, will become the fourth-youngest quarterback to start a conference championship game.

The youngest quarterbacks to start a conference championship game:

SEASON

QUARTERBACK

TEAM

YEARS

DAYS

NFL EXP.

CHAMP. RESULT

1999

Shaun King

Tampa Bay

22

239

R

L 11-6 vs. St. Louis

2004

Ben Roethlisberger

Pittsburgh

22

327

R

L 41-27 vs. New England

1986

Bernie Kosar

Cleveland

23

47

2

L 23-20 (OT) vs. Denver

1984

Dan Marino

Miami

23

113

2

W 45-28 vs. Pittsburgh

2005

Ben Roethlisberger

Pittsburgh

23

326

2

W 34-17 vs. Denver

2009

Mark Sanchez*

New York Jets

23

74

R

???

* On Sunday, January 24

-- AFC --

GREENE MAN: With 128 rushing yards against the San Diego Chargers last week, New York Jets running back SHONN GREENE became one of three rookies in NFL history with at least 100 rushing yards in each of his first two playoff games, joining DUANE THOMAS (1970) and ICKEY WOODS (1988).

If he continues his streak against Indianapolis, Greene can become the first player in NFL history with 100+ rush yards in each of his first three playoff games. With 121 rushing yards, Greene can also set the NFL record for the most rushing yards by a player in his first three postseason contests. FRED TAYLOR (383 yards) currently owns the record.

The players with the most rushing yards in their first three playoff games:

PLAYER

TEAM

YEARS

RUSH YARDS

Fred Taylor

Jacksonville

1998-99

383

Terrell Davis

Denver

1996-97

376

Eddie George

Tennessee

1999

354

Timmy Smith

Washington

1987

342

Freeman McNeil

New York Jets

1981-82

335

Shonn Greene

New York Jets

2009

263*

*Through 2 games

PLAYOFF SPARK FROM CLARK: Indianapolis’ Pro Bowl tight end DALLAS CLARK can become the NFL’s all-time postseason leader among tight ends in receptions and receiving yards this Sunday. Clark, who currently ranks fourth in both categories with 53 catches for 726 yards, needs 10 receptions and 109 yards against the Jets to set both records.

The tight ends with the most receptions and receiving yards in NFL postseason history:

PLAYER

REC.

PLAYER

YARDS

Jay Novacek

62

Keith Jackson

834

Shannon Sharpe

62

Shannon Sharpe

814

Brent Jones

60

Brent Jones

740

Dallas Clark

53

Dallas Clark

726

Keith Jackson

51

Jay Novacek

645

-- AFC --

WAYNE MANOR: Colts wide receiver REGGIE WAYNE is currently tied for sixth all-time with nine postseason touchdown receptions. If he catches his 10th playoff touchdown this Sunday against the Jets, Wayne will tie for third on the all-time list with Pro Football Hall of Famer FRED BILETNIKOFF, ANTONIO FREEMAN and RANDY MOSS.

The players with the most receiving touchdowns in NFL postseason history:

PLAYER

TEAM(S)

RECEIVING TDs

Jerry Rice

San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle

22

John Stallworth

Pittsburgh

12

Fred Biletnikoff

Oakland

10

Antonio Freeman

Green Bay, Philadelphia

10

Randy Moss

Minnesota, New England

10

Reggie Wayne

Indianapolis

9

Wayne also has an active streak of four consecutive postseason games with a touchdown catch. He can extend that streak to five games this Sunday, which would tie for the third longest such streak in NFL playoff history.

The most consecutive postseason games with a touchdown reception in NFL history:

PLAYER

TEAM(S)

YEARS

CONSECUTIVE PLAYOFF GAMES WITH TD CATCH

John Stallworth

Pittsburgh

1978-1983

8

David Givens

New England

2003-2005

7

James Lofton

Green Bay, Buffalo

1982-1990

5

Randy Moss

Minnesota

1998-2000

5

Antonio Freeman

Green Bay

1997-2001

5

Hines Ward

Pittsburgh

2002-2005

5

Reggie Wayne

Indianapolis

2006-2009

4*

*Active streak

-- AFC --

REVIS ISLAND: After intercepting a pass in his playoff debut against Cincinnati in the Jets’ Wild Card win, Pro Bowl cornerback DARRELLE REVIS secured another INT against San Diego. With an interception against Indianapolis, Revis can become the sixth player in NFL history to intercept a pass in each of his first three postseason games.

The players with an interception in each of their first three postseason games:

PLAYER

TEAM

YEAR(S)

CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH INT TO

START POSTSEASON CAREER

Aeneas Williams

St. Louis Rams

1998-2001

4

Ken Gorgal

Cleveland Browns

1950-1953

3

Warren Lahr

Cleveland Browns

1950-1951

3

Ed Reed

Baltimore Ravens

2003-2008

3

Jason Sehorn

New York Giants

1996-2000

3

Darrelle Revis

New York Jets

2009

2*

*Active streak

AFC TROPHY PRESENTATION: The LAMAR HUNT TROPHY will be presented to the winner of the AFC Championship Game.

The late Hunt, founder of the Kansas City Chiefs and American Football League, helped professional football attain its stature as America’s No. 1 sport. In the 10-year history of the AFL, his team posted the most wins (87) and earned berths in two of the first four Super Bowls, including a victory in Super Bowl IV.

In 1972, Hunt became the first person from the AFL to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

# # #

FOR USE AS DESIRED

January 20, 2010

WHAT TO LOOK FORNFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

TOP-TWO SQUARE OFF: For the fifth time since the 2000 season, the top-two seeds will square off in the NFC Championship Game (Sunday, 6:40 PM ET, FOX). The New Orleans Saints aim to reach their first Super Bowl in franchise history, and the Minnesota Vikings seek their fifth Super Bowl berth.

SEASON

ONE SEED

TWO SEED

RESULT

2000

N.Y. Giants

Minnesota

N.Y. Giants 41, Minnesota 0

2002

Philadelphia

Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay 27, Philadelphia 10

2004

Philadelphia

Atlanta

Philadelphia 27, Atlanta 10

2006

Chicago

New Orleans

Chicago 39, New Orleans 14

2009

New Orleans

Minnesota

???

-- NFL --

SCORING BONANZA: The NFC Championship Game will match the two highest scoring teams in the NFL in 2009. The Saints, who recorded the ninth-highest single-season points total in NFL history with 510, will face the Vikings, who averaged 29.4 points per game (470 total) this year. The meeting will be just the fifth Conference Championship Game featuring the top two scoring teams in the league. All such matchups have taken place in the NFC Championship Game.

Conference Championship Games featuring the top two scoring teams in the league:

SEASON

HOME (RANK)

VISITOR (RANK)

RESULT

1989

San Francisco (1)

LA Rams (2)

San Francisco 30, LA Rams 3

1992

San Francisco (1)

Dallas (2)

Dallas 30, San Francisco 20

1993

Dallas (2)

San Francisco (1)

Dallas 38, San Francisco 21

1994

San Francisco (1)

Dallas (2)

San Francisco 38, Dallas 28

2009

New Orleans (1)

Minnesota (2)

???

The Saints and Vikings showed off their high-powered offenses in the Divisional Playoffs, posting 45 (New Orleans) and 34 (Minnesota) points. The two tie for the second-highest combined points scored in the Divisional Playoffs by Conference Championship opponents.

SEASON

HOME

POINTS

VISITOR

POINTS

TOTAL

1999

Jacksonville

62

Tennessee

19

81

1994

San Francisco

44

Dallas

35

79

2009

New Orleans

45

Minnesota

34

79

2001

St. Louis

45

Philadelphia

33

78

1981

San Francisco

38

Dallas

38

76

1986

N.Y. Giants

49

Washington

27

76

-- NFL --

FAVRE AND AWAY: Minnesota quarterback BRETT FAVRE will be 40 years and 106 days old on Sunday when he faces the New Orleans Saints. If he starts that game as expected, he will become the oldest quarterback ever to start a Conference Championship Game. Favre’s four touchdown passes last week against Dallas are twice as many as all other 40-year old quarterbacks have thrown in NFL postseason history combined.

The oldest quarterbacks to start a Conference Championship Game:

PLAYER

SEASON, TEAM

YEARS

DAYS

RESULT

Johnny Unitas

1971 Baltimore

38

240

L 21-0 vs. Miami

Earl Morrall

1972 Miami

38

228

W 21-17 vs. Pittsburgh

John Elway

1998 Denver

38

203

W 23-10 vs. NY Jets

Brett Favre

2007 Green Bay

38

102

L 23-20 (OT) vs. NY Giants

Johnny Unitas

1970 Baltimore

37

241

W 27-17 vs. Oakland

Brett Favre*

2009 Minnesota

40

106

???

* Favre will be 40 years and 106 days old on Sunday

Favre ranks second in NFL playoff history in completions, passing yards and touchdown passes. He needs eight completions, 228 passing yards and three touchdowns on Sunday to set postseason records in each passing category. He is already the all-time postseason leader in attempts with 745.

The top two quarterbacks in playoff completions, attempts, passing yards and touchdown passes:

PLAYER

COMPLETIONS

PLAYER

ATTEMPTS

Joe Montana

460

Brett Favre*

745

Brett Favre*

453

Joe Montana

734

*Active *Active

PLAYER

PASS YARDS

PLAYER

TD PASSES

Joe Montana

5,772

Joe Montana

45

Brett Favre*

5,545

Brett Favre*

43

*Active *Active

-- NFL --

BEEN HERE BEFORE: When he takes the field on Sunday, Favre will tie Philadelphia Eagles quarterback DONOVAN MC NABB for third-most starts by a quarterback in the NFC Championship Game. Pro Football Hall of Famers JOE MONTANA and ROGER STAUBACH have each started an NFL-record six NFC Championship Games.

The quarterbacks with the most NFC Championship Game starts:

PLAYER

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME STARTS

RECORD

Joe Montana

6

4-2

Roger Staubach

6

4-2

Donovan McNabb

5

1-4

Troy Aikman

4

3-1

Brett Favre*

4

2-2

Steve Young

4

1-3

* Favre will start his fifth NFC Championship Game on Sunday

-- NFL --

TRIPLE CROWN QUARTERBACKS: New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES and the Vikings’ Favre both passed for 4,000+ yards, 30+ touchdowns and had a passer rating of 100+ this season. When they face off on Sunday, it will be the first matchup of quarterbacks with such passing totals in Conference Championship Game history.

There has been only one previous Conference Championship Game matchup in which both starting quarterbacks passed for even 4,000+ yards during the regular season.

Conference Championship Game matchups of quarterbacks with 4,000+ passing yards in the regular season:

GAME

HOME QB (YARDS)

VISITING QB (YARDS)

RESULT

1996 AFC Championship Game

(New England vs. Jacksonville)

Drew Bledsoe (4,086)

Mark Brunell (4,367)

New England 20, Jacksonville 6

2009 NFC Championship Game

(New Orleans vs. Minnesota)

Drew Brees (4,388)

Brett Favre (4,202)

???

-- NFL --

PUNT RETURN PROWESS: New Orleans running back/punt returner REGGIE BUSH recorded an 83-yard punt-return touchdown in the Saints’ Divisional Playoff win over Arizona, becoming just the 20th player with a punt-return touchdown in playoff history. With a punt-return touchdown against Minnesota, Bush will become the first player in postseason history with two punt-return touchdowns and just the fourth player with two combined kick-and punt-return touchdowns.

In his last game against Minnesota (10/6/08), Bush tied an NFL record with two punt-return touchdowns.

The players in NFL history with two combined kick-and punt-return touchdowns in postseason history:

PLAYER

COMBINED RETURN TDs

PUNT-RETURN TDs

KICK-RETURN TDs

Ron Dixon

2

0

2

Desmond Howard

2

1

1

Jermaine Lewis

2

1

1

Reggie Bush*

1

1

0

* Active

Bush has recorded a touchdown in each of his three career playoff games, and has scored an 80+ yard touchdown in an NFL-record two consecutive playoff games. He aims for his third straight such game on Sunday.

-- NFL --

NFC TROPHY PRESENTATION: The winner of the NFC Championship Game will be presented with the GEORGE HALAS TROPHY.

Halas, the late owner of the Chicago Bears and a founder of the NFL, is the second-winningest coach in history (324-151-31) behind DON SHULA (347-173-6). He won six NFL championships with the Bears and is a charter enshrinee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1963).