PGA TOUR FANTASY: AT&T National

Here are my picks for this week:

A: Camilo Villegas (Backup: J.B. Holmes)
B: Tiger Woods (Backup: Marc Leishman)
B: Hunter Mahan (Backup: Brian Davis)
C: Johnson Wagner (Backup: Harris English)

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PGA TOUR DIGEST: Vol. 5 No. 27

This week on the PGA Tour it’s Tiger’s tournament, the AT&T National from Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, MD. The defending champion is Nick Watney.

TV Coverage is: Thursday-Friday, 3-6pm, Golf Channel, Saturday, 1-2:30pm ET, Golf Channel, 3-6pm ET, CBS, and Sunday, 1-2:30pm ET, Golf Channel, 3-6:30pm ET, CBS.

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COLUMNS: Index of My Columns for NewJerseyNewsroom.com and Rotowire

Here’s an index (starting with the most recent) on the columns I’ve written for both NewJerseyNewsroom and RotoWire.com:

(Note, the RotoWire ones require payment.)

A Look at NBC’s Iconic Olympic Music

RotoWire: A Look at Players’ Status on the Reshuffle List as The Next One Looms

All-Star Games Should Be Eliminated

RotoWire: Players in Trouble NOT on the Reshuffle List

Watch Every Moment of the Olympics LIVE on NBCOlympics.com — If You Authenticate

Results of the Third PGA Tour Reshuffle for 2012

Introduction to the PGA Tour Reshuffle List, Players In Trouble

Yankees Hitting Issues

Tim Tebow As Punt Protector? Not a good idea

Food and Drink at The Masters is Really Cheap!

I’m a Big Fan of MLB’s New Second Wild Card

Linsanity Proves Anything is Possible

People Need to Get Off Their Cell Phones at Sporting Events

Slow Play in Golf is Not Good

Concussions Need to be Taken Seriously

Stadium Violence is Getting Worse

Eli Manning is An Elite Quarterback

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TENNIS: ESPN’s 2012 Wimbledon Coverage Plans and Announcers

ESPN began their first ball-to-last ball coverage of Wimbledon 2012 today. Here are their coverage plans and announcers:

A new era of television coverage for one of sport’s most prestigious and historic events will begin when ESPN presents The Championships, Wimbledon complete, live and exclusively across its networks from first ball Monday, June 25, with day-long marathon telecasts through to the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Finals, Saturday, July 7, and Sunday, July 8, respectively. ESPN’s 10th Wimbledon will expand to 140 live hours in high definition on ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD – including three days when the two networks offer all-day “cross court coverage” (airing matches simultaneously) – plus highlights and reairs of both Finals on ABC. All the action on ESPN and ESPN2 is also available through WatchESPN online at WatchESPN.com and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app.

In addition, ESPN3 will also increase its schedule to more than 800 hours of a multi-screen offering – all available TV courts (up to nine) presented from first ball to last ball each day – which will be available along with ESPN and ESPN2’s action via the WatchESPN app. The service will also offer matches on demand after they occur.

The new schedule is the result of a 12-year agreement between ESPN and the All England Lawn Tennis Club announced just after the conclusion of the 2011 Championships.

As previously announced, ESPN 3D, which presented its first tennis at Wimbledon a year ago with one live match and others on delay, will televise five days of action live from Centre Court. ESPN 3D’s coverage will begin with the Gentlemen’s quarterfinals Wednesday, July 4, and continue through the Finals. Each day’s telecast will be reaired that night at 9 p.m.

“This Wimbledon is the culmination of a dream we at ESPN have had for more than 10 years, to deliver every match and every key moment live as it happens to fans wherever they are,” said John Skipper, ESPN president. “The Club entrusted the care of their wonderful event to us and we intend to fulfill their trust and present a Wimbledon that uses modern technology to serve fans across all devices while being mindful of the great history and traditions of the fortnight.”

As previously announced, Hall of Famer John McEnroe is adding Wimbledon to his ESPN repertoire, having worked the US Open since 2009. He will be joined by returnees Darren Cahill, Cliff Drysdale, Mary Joe Fernandez, Brad Gilbert, Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver. Chris Fowler will call matches and serve as studio host, sharing that role with Hannah Storm and Mike Tirico. The voice of ESPN’s Monday Night Football, Tirico has worked the US Open for ESPN as a host and calling matches and will fill those roles in his Wimbledon debut. Tom Rinaldi will provide essays and features.

Surveying the Fields

Three players dominate the top of the men’s game with 28 of the last 29 Major championships – No. 1-ranked and defending champion, Novak Djokovic, two-time champ and No. 2 Rafael Nadal who recently defeated Djokovic for the French Open crown, and No. 3 Roger Federer, who counts six Wimbledon crowns in his tally of 16 Grand Slam titles. Everyone else – starting with British hopeful No. 4 Andy Murray seeking his first Grand Slam title and hoping to end Great Britain’s 76-year Wimbledon drought (Fred Perry, 1936) – is hoping for a slot in the semifinals.

Among the women, it’s a very different story. Six different women have won the last six Majors, but having regained the No. 1 ranking with the French Open championship, 2004 Wimbledon winner Maria Sharapova is the favorite in a crowded field. Serena Williams has four Wimbledon trophies, and looks to rebound from her first-round ouster in Paris and her No. 6 ranking. No. 2 Victoria Azarenka won this year’s Australian Open, No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska has never reached a Major semifinal, No. 4 Petra Kvitova is the defending champ, No. 5 Sam Stosur won the 2011 US Open and former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki is ranked No. 7. The field also includes two big names with a combined 11 Major titles – Venus Williams has five Wimbledon victories among her seven Major wins, and Kim Clijsters would love to add a Wimbledon crown to her collection of four Major victories in what is likely her final Wimbledon, having announced she will retire this year.

Scheduling Highlights: All Live, ESPN & ESPN2’s “Cross Court Coverage” for “Greatest Day in Tennis”

For the first time in the U.S., ESPN networks will show all of Wimbledon live, from first ball through the finals, including up to nine courts simultaneously on ESPN3 and an unprecedented ESPN/ESPN2 dual network “cross court coverage” approach for July 2-4:

ESPN2 HD will begin daylong live weekday programming Monday, June 25, at 6:30 a.m. and continuing each weekday through Wednesday, July 4, at 7 a.m. (except Friday, June 29)
ESPN HD will first be live on Friday, June 29, from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. and then on Saturday, June 30, starting at 7 a.m. with Breakfast at Wimbledon presented by US Trust, a one-hour preview of the day’s matches that marks the return of the iconic branding after that being featured on air for many years. Breakfast at Wimbledon will also precede the network’s live, national telecasts of the Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Semifinals and Finals, Thursday, July 5 – Sunday, July 8.

On the “middle Sunday,” a scheduled day off as is Wimbledon tradition, ABC will broadcast a three-hour review of the first week at 3 p.m. ABC will also reair the finals on the day they take place, July 7 and 8 at 3 p.m.

For the second Monday – Wednesday (July 2-4), ESPN will be live alongside ESPN2 to allow for live coverage of each and every match from the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals. In this unprecedented “Cross Court Coverage,” ESPN will focus on Centre Court matches while ESPN2 offers fans a “grounds pass” with action from Court 1 and other courts. The first of these three days, Monday, July 2 – when all 32 players are on the court in eight Gentlemen’s and eight Ladies’ Round of 16 matches, something that is unique to Wimbledon – is commonly referred to as “the greatest day in tennis.”
ESPN 3D will pick up coverage with live Centre Court action Wednesday, July 4 through the Finals.
ESPN3 will provide a multi-court offering of live play, including a simulcast of ESPN and ESPN2, with all-day coverage from all nine TV courts plus press conferences totaling more than 800 hours. In addition, the service – which reaches more than 73 million U.S. homes – will offer replays on demand.

ESPN3 is ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network, a 24/7 destination that delivers thousands of global sports events annually and accessible online via WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold level members. It is currently available to 73 million homes at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider. The network is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks.

The WatchESPN App – for fans who receive ESPN’s linear networks as part of their video subscription via Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Verizon FiOS TV or Comcast Xfinity – will provide access to for ESPN2’s live coverage online at WatchESPN.com and through the WatchESPN app on smartphones and tablets, in addition to ESPN3’s multi-screen offering.

ESPN On Demand (TV/Mobile) will offer historic matches and highlights of the 2012 Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ finals.

ESPN Mobile will provide point-by-point coverage of every Wimbledon match with live scores on the ESPN mobile Web and ScoreCenter app. Additionally, ESPN will offer video highlights of Wimbledon via the ScoreCenter app for iPhone. ESPN Alerts will also notify fans who opt in to receive alerts of developing stories, match results and highlights.

ESPN Mobile TV will simulcast 105 hours of live ESPN/ESPN2 coverage throughout the tournament.

ESPN Interactive TV, now in its fifth year at Wimbledon, will provide multi-screen coverage of five matches in addition to the match airing on ESPN2 or ESPN through the second Monday of the tournament through DirecTV. Fans will also receive interviews, features, press conferences and, new for 2012, a studio wrap-around presence hosted by SportsCenter anchor Ryan Burr with a roster of guest analysts. In addition to the video offerings, DirecTV viewers can access results, schedules, draws and other interactive features through the remote control “Red Button.” In total, ESPN will provide more than 350 hours of coverage through this unique application.

ESPN Classic will air four great Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Finals from the past, each upon a significant anniversary – matches won by Bjorn Borg (1977), Jimmy Connors (1982), Andre Agassi (1992) and Roger Federer (2007). Each match will air twice on the day of the anniversary (except Federer’s 2007 victory, which took place on July 8).
Date Times (ET) Event
Mon, July 2 1 a.m. & 10 p.m. 1977 Gentlemen’s Final: 35th Anniversary of Bjorn Borg defeating Jimmy Connors for the second of five consecutive Wimbledon titles
Wed, July 4 1 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. 1982 Gentlemen’s Final: 30th Anniversary of Jimmy Connors defeating John McEnroe in five sets
Thur, July 5 1 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. 1992 Gentlemen’s Final: 20th Anniversary of 22-year old Andre Agassi defeating Goran Ivanisevic
Mon, July 9 2 a.m. & 11 a.m. 2007 Gentlemen’s Final: 5th Anniversary of Roger Federer’s Fifth Wimbledon title, defeating Rafael Nadal

More Wimbledon from ESPN, Inc.

ESPN.com will have previews, reviews, the latest news and videos and more:

Courtcast: A multi-tool application with live events via the ESPN3 syndicated player, all-court scoring, match stats, Cover It Live conversations, poll questions, rolling Twitter feeds and scrolling bottom line;
Slam Central: A daily destination for all Wimbledon fixtures;
Five Things We Learned: Video series reviewing the top news of the day;
Grass Stains: A daily notebook wrapping up the best and worst of the day;
Digital Serve: Daily original videos previewing the next day;
Star Watch: Daily blog focusing on one of the game’s elite.

espnW

espnW.com will offer daily columns, blog posts and video, with an emphasis on the women’s side of the tournament.

ESPNDeportes.com will provide live scores and draws, in depth news and coverage of Latin American players, columns, blogs, live chats, video, highlights and news, including ESPiando Wimbledon that will recap the day’s play.

ESPN International will reach 33 million homes in Spanish speaking Latin America and the Caribbean with over 90 live hours of television across ESPN Latin America and ESPN Caribbean. In addition to daily primetime highlight programs on ESPN Latin America, ESPN+ in the Southern Cone and ESPN Dos in the Northern Cone will supplement the coverage on ESPN Latin America with an additional 50+ live hours. Also, ESPN’s broadband service, ESPN Play, will offer over 700 hours of live coverage throughout both regions with over 10 simultaneous early round windows available.

ESPN – All Four Slams, All In One Place

Tennis has been part of ESPN since its first week on the air and provided many memorable moments, but it has never been as important as today, with the US Open joining the lineup in 2009, giving ESPN all four Grand Slam events, something no other U.S. network has ever done, let alone in one year. ESPN has presented the Australian Open since 1984, the French Open since 2002 (plus 1986 – 1993), and Wimbledon since 2003, with exclusivity for live television with all other rights extended in a 12-year agreement starting this year.

ESPN debuted September 7, 1979, and the first tennis telecast was exactly one week later, September 14, a Davis Cup tie, Argentina at U.S. from Memphis with Cliff Drysdale on the call and John McEnroe playing.

In addition, broadband network ESPN3, now in nearly 72 million homes, carries thousands of hours of tennis annually, including all four Grand Slam events, plus ATP 1000 and 500 tournaments and WTA Premier Events, and season-ending championships for both tours. Also, ESPN Classic shows great matches from the past and the sport receives extensive coverage on SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, Spanish-language ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine. ESPN 3D aired its first tennis at Wimbledon in 2011.

ESPN & WIMBLEDON 2012
Date Time (ET) Event Network
Mon, June 25 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Early Round Action ESPN2 / ESPN3 Live
Tue, June 26 – Thur, June 28 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Early Round Action ESPN2 /ESPN3 (begins at 6:30 a.m.) Live
Fri, June 29 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Early Round Action ESPN / ESPN3 Live
Sat, June 30 7 – 8 a.m. Breakfast at Wimbledon ESPN / ESPN3 Live
8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Early Round Action ESPN / ESPN3 Live
Sun, July 1 3 – 6 p.m. Highlights of Week One ABC Tape
Mon, July 2 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Round of 16 ESPN2 / ESPN3 Live
8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Round of 16, Centre Court ESPN / ESPN3 Live
Tue, July 3 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Ladies’ Quarterfinals ESPN2 / ESPN3 Live
8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Ladies’ Quarterfinals, Centre Court ESPN / ESPN3 Live
Wed, July 4 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Gentlemen’s Quarterfinals ESPN2 / ESPN3 Live
8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Gentlemen’s Quarterfinals, Centre Court ESPN / ESPN3D / ESPN3 Live
Thur, July 5 7 – 8 a.m. Breakfast at Wimbledon ESPN / ESPN3 Live
8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Ladies’ Semifinals ESPN / ESPN3D / ESPN3 Live
Fri, July 6 7 – 8 a.m. Breakfast at Wimbledon ESPN / ESPN3 Live
8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Gentlemen’s Semifinals ESPN / ESPN3D / ESPN3 Live
Sat, July 7 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Breakfast at Wimbledon ESPN / ESPN3 Live
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Ladies’ Final ESPN / ESPN3D / ESPN3 Live
3 – 6 p.m. Ladies’ Final ABC Tape
Sun, July 8 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Breakfast at Wimbledon ESPN / ESPN3 Live
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Gentlemen’s Final ESPN / ESPN3D / ESPN3 Live
3 – 6 p.m. Gentlemen’s Final ABC Tape

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PGA TOUR FANTASY: Hartford

Here are my picks for this week, made before play started today:

A: Webb Simpson (Backup: Matt Kuchar)
B: Bubba Watson (Backup: Michael Thompson)
B: Hunter Mahan (Backup: Brian Davis)
C: Padraig Harrington (Backup: John Peterson)

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PGA TOUR DIGEST: Vol. 5 No. 26

Little late on this but here’s the info about this week’s PGA Tour event, the Travelers Championship in Hartford.

TV Coverage continues tomorrow from 3-6pm ET on Golf Channel, Saturday-Sunday from 1-2:30pm ET on Golf Channel and 3-6pm ET on CBS.

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PGA TOUR FANTASY: U.S. Open

Here are my picks for this week:

A: Matt Kuchar (Backup: Webb Simpson)
B: Tiger Woods (Backup: Bubba Watson)
B: Rickie Fowler (Backup: David Toms)
C: Jason Dufner (Backup: Martin Laird)

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PGA TOUR DIGEST: Vol. 5 No. 25

Ahh yes, the U.S. Open. Golf’s second major championship. I hope Tiger wins. But guys to look for if he doesn’t: Phil, Rickie Fowler or Jason Dufner. You need to drive it straight at Olympic Club at Dufner does exactly that. We’ll see what happens.

TV Coverage is:

Thursday-Friday:

ESPN – Noon-3pm ET
NBC – 3-5pm ET
ESPN 5-10pm ET

Saturday:

NBC — 4-10pm ET

Sunday:

NBC — 4-10:30pm ET

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US OPEN: Golf Channel and NBC’s 2012 US Open Coverage Plans and Announcers

Here are Golf Channel and NBC’s coverage plans and announcers for the 2012 U.S. Open which includes the third and final rounds taking place LIVE in PRIMETIME this weekend!

ORLANDO, Fla. / NEW YORK (June 7, 2012) – NBC Sports Group will present unprecedented national, regional and digital coverage of the 112th U.S. Open Championship – more than 60 hours in total – from The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif., June 11-17.

“Golf Channel on NBC” will present 16 hours of live tournament coverage of the season’s second major championship Thursday-Sunday (June 14-17), with the majority of coverage of the third and final rounds airing in primetime. Complementing NBC’s live coverage, Golf Channel will provide more than 40 hours of wrap-around programming, featuring news, talk and instruction, headlined by its franchise show, Live From the U.S. Open. Comcast SportsNet Bay Area will provide robust news coverage with a regional twist for its 3.8 million viewers throughout the week, and NBCSports.com and GolfChannel.com are teaming up to provide the most comprehensive digital coverage of the championship in their respective histories.

TOURNAMENT BROADCAST TEAM: Bob Costas will serve as network host for Golf Channel on NBC’s weekend U.S. Open coverage. Dan Hicks and Johnny Miller – together for their 13th season – will anchor NBC’s four-day coverage, and will be joined by tower reporters Gary Koch and Peter Jacobsen; on-course reporters Roger Maltbie, Mark Rolfing and Dottie Pepper; and interviewer/essayist Jimmy Roberts. Golf World senior writer Tim Rosaforte will provide insider news and notes.U.S. OPEN AIRTIMES ON NBC (all times ET):

June 14 Thursday Round 1 3-5 p.m.

June 15 Friday Round 2 3-5 p.m.

June 16 Saturday Round 3 4-10 p.m.

June 17 Sunday Final Round 4-10:30 p.m.

Actioncam Returns: Returning to NBC’s live coverage of the U.S. Open will be “ActionCam,” an overhead, cable-suspended camera system that provides compelling and unique camera angles. The camera will track between the 8th green, the golf course Clubhouse and the 18th green, and will be used throughout the week on NBC and Golf Channel.

45 HOURS OF ON-SITE NEWS COVERAGE: Golf Channel has planned 45 hours of live, wraparound news coverage of the U.S. Open throughout the week, featuring highlights, inside analysis, player interviews and news conferences, special guest appearances and compelling features. Headlined by its franchise show – Live From the U.S. Open – coverage will begin Monday with pre-tournament news conferences and conclude Sunday with a two-hour recap show. Live From the U.S. Open will originate from two sets at The Olympic Club – the main stage overlooking the clubhouse and a roundtable stage on the driving range. Live From coverage on Monday and Tuesday will include pre-tournament player news conferences in the afternoon, followed by shows in primetime each evening, and the show will precede and follow tournament play Thursday-Sunday. Morning Drive, the network’s weekday morning show, will expand to seven days next week, with additional live hours Saturday and Sunday and will feature daily special guests from The Olympic Club. Additionally, The Golf Fix (Monday, 7 p.m.) and The Grey Goose 19th Hole (Wednesday, 6 p.m.) will air live from The Olympic Club.

NEWS CONFERENCES: Live From the U.S. Open player news conference shows from The Olympic Club will air Monday, 3-5 p.m., and Tuesday, 4-7 p.m.

LIVE FROM THE U.S. OPEN ON NBC: For the first time at the U.S. Open, Golf Channel will prep NBC’s weekend tournament action with an hour-long Live From the U.S. Open preview show, airing exclusively on NBC from 3-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Rich Lerner, Kelly Tilghman and Bob Costas will host the shows, joined by Golf Channel analysts Brandel Chamblee and Frank Nobilo, reporter Steve Sands and Golf Channel insider Tim Rosaforte. NBC’s Johnny Miller, Dan Hicks and Jimmy Roberts also will contribute.

LIVE FROM THE U.S. OPEN SCHEDULED FEATURES FOR THE WEEK:

Nobilo Goes Tee to Green at The Olympic Club – Frank Nobilo scouted The Olympic Club layout and will host 15 short features that will provide insight into the changes made to the golf course since the 1998 U.S. Open hosted there.
Masters Champion Bubba Watson Goes One-on-One with Steve Sands– Bubba Watson sits down with Steve Sands to discuss his life on and off the course following his Masters victory, and his preparations leading up to the U.S. Open.
Nathaniel Crosby Reflects on His 1981 U.S. Amateur Victory – Nathaniel Crosby, son of the late actor and singer Bing Crosby, recalls his 1981U.S. Amateur victory at The Olympic Club.
Rich Lerner Shares Stories on San Francisco Golf – Rich Lerner will showcase the rich history of golf in San Francisco and the Bay area in features airing throughout the week.
San Francisco Legend John Brodie Reflects on Golf and Football – Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and Champions Tour professional sits down with Rich Lerner to reflect on a long sports career in San Francisco, including his time as golf analyst for NBC.
Sandy Tatum – Now in his 90s, former USGA course set-up man Sandy Tatum is still a force in the San Francisco area.
Glenneagles – Rich Lerner visits Glenneagles golf course and some of the unique characters that call this municipal course one of the toughest in the city.

LIVE FROM THE U.S. OPEN BROADCAST TEAM: Scottish golfer and former European Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie will make his Golf Channel debut as a guest analyst for Golf Channel’s Live From the U.S. Open telecasts on Thursday and Friday prior to live tournament coverage. Notah Begay also returns for Golf Channel’s major championship coverage, joining the network’s Live From broadcast team, including Rich Lerner, Kelly Tilghman, Steve Sands, Frank Nobilo, Brandel Chamblee, David Feherty, Tripp Isenhour, Todd Lewis, Kay Cockerill, Rex Hoggard, John Feinstein, Tim Rosaforte, Whit Watson, Ken Schofield and Alex Miceli. Members of Golf Channel on NBC’s on-air team also will contribute to the broadcasts, including Bob Costas, Johnny Miller, Dan Hicks and Jimmy Roberts.

NICKLAUS DOCUMENTARY: The USGA one-hour documentary 1962 U.S. Open: Jack’s First Major, will premiere on NBC onSunday, June 17 at 2 p.m. The one-hour documentary will chronicle Jack Nicklaus’ first U.S. Open victory in 1962 at Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburg, which set in motion one of the most prolific careers in professional golf. It also was a victory that ignited one of the greatest rivalries in sport between Nicklaus and Pennsylvania native Arnold Palmer. The documentary will include fresh interviews with Nicklaus, Palmer and other luminaries from golf and journalism to tell a complete story of the 1962 U.S. Open, from the opening round through the dramatic 18-hole playoff, covering events both on and off the course. The documentary is a USGA film produced in collaboration with the USGA Museum and NBC executive producer and multiple Emmy-winner Ross Greenburg.

COMCAST SPORTSNET BAY AREA/NBC BAY AREA

Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and NBC Bay Area will present Northern California’s most comprehensive coverage of the 2012 U.S. Open:

Comcast SportsNet Bay Area:

· 2012 U.S. Open Preview – A half-hour show hosted by Dave Benz, debuting Thursday, June 7 at 8 p.m. PT.

· Chronicle Live – A live, on-hour show hosted by Jim Kozimor, Monday- Wednesday at 5 p.m. PT. Chronicle Live on Wednesday will originate from The Olympic Club.

· SportsNet Central – Daily half-hour news show that will serve the viewers in the Bay Area with special guest analysts and on-site news, analysis and opinion from The Olympic Club.

NBC Bay Area:

· Nightly coverage during the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. PT newscasts throughout tournament week.

WALL-TO-WALL DIGITAL COVERAGE: NBCSports.com and GolfChannel.com will combine efforts to provide users with the most comprehensive digital coverage in U.S. Open history, featuring expanded editorial content and interactive capabilities. Fans also can access U.S. Open content on the go with the GolfChannel.com mobile application.

Live Blogs & Chats

Jason Sobel and John Hawkins will host live chats on GolfChannel.com Thursday-Sunday to keep fans up to date as the action unfolds. Live chats will take place Thursday and Friday from 1-6 p.m. ET, and Saturday and Sunday from 4-7 p.m. ET.

Editorial Coverage

Rex Hoggard, Randall Mell, Jason Sobel, Jay Coffin, John Hawkins and Ryan Ballengee will contribute daily to GolfChannel.com’s Golf Talk Central blog, along with daily columns, news articles, features and breaking news.

Exclusive Online Video Content on GolfChannel.com:

Morning and evening updates from Golf Channel’s Live From the U.S. Open team will be available each day.
Win McMurry will conduct pre-tournament interviews from the driving range that will be exclusive to GolfChannel.com.
John Hawkins and Win McMurry will provide video updates and video blogs each day Thursday-Sunday.
Rex Hoggard will follow 2009 U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover as he plays the newly redesigned 17th hole at Olympic Club exclusively for GolfChannel.com.
The Tee to Green features hosted by Frank Nobilo for Live From the U.S. Open on Golf Channel also will be available on demand on GolfChannel.com.

Social Media

Golf Channel will engage fans with content via Facebook and Twitter, and also will integrate social media into GolfChannel.com by grouping golf-relevant Twitter handles, including those of Golf Channel personalities, on the site for viewing.

NBC Sports Group U.S. Open Coverage

Show Network Airtime (all times ET)

Monday, June 11

Morning Drive Golf Channel 7-9 a.m.

Live From the U.S. Open Golf Channel 3-5 p.m. (news conferences)

Live From the U.S. Open Golf Channel 6-7 p.m.

The Golf Fix Golf Channel 7-8 p.m.

Chronicle Live CSN Bay Area 8-9 p.m.

Tuesday, June 12

Morning Drive Golf Channel 7-9 a.m.

Live From the U.S. Open Golf Channel 4-7 p.m. (news conferences)

Live From the U.S. Open Golf Channel 7-9 p.m.

Chronicle Live CSN Bay Area 8-9 p.m.

Wednesday, June 13

Morning Drive Golf Channel 7-9 a.m.

Grey Goose 19th Hole Golf Channel 6-7 p.m.

Live From the U.S. Open Golf Channel 7-9 p.m.

Thursday, and Friday, June 14-15

Morning Drive Golf Channel 7-9 a.m.

Live From the U.S. Open Golf Channel 9 a.m.-Noon

U.S. Open NBC 3-5 p.m.

Live From the U.S. Open Golf Channel 10 p.m.-Midnight

Saturday, June 16

Morning Drive Golf Channel 10 a.m.-Noon

Live From the U.S Open Golf Channel Noon-2:30 p.m.

Morning Drive Golf Channel 2:30-3 p.m.

1962 U.S. Open: Jack’s First Major NBC 2-3 p.m.

Live From the U.S Open NBC 3-4 p.m.

U.S. Open NBC 4-10 p.m.

Live From the U.S. Open Golf Channel 10 p.m.-Midnight

Sunday, June 17

Morning Drive Golf Channel 10 a.m.-Noon

Live From the U.S Open Golf Channel Noon-2:30 p.m.

Morning Drive Golf Channel 2:30-3 p.m.

Live From the U.S Open NBC 3-4 p.m.

U.S. Open NBC 4-10:30 p.m.

Live From the U.S. Open Golf Channel 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.

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US OPEN: ESPN’s Coverage Plans and Announcers for the 2012 US Open

Here is ESPN’s press release about their coverage plans and announcers for the television, radio and online telecasts of the 2012 U.S. Open:

ESPN at the 112th U.S. Open

With more offerings than ever for sports fans, ESPN will have multiplatform coverage of the 112th U.S. Open at Olympic Club in San Francisco June 12-18 with live action as well as expansive analysis, news and information on television, radio, online and mobile devices.

Telecasts of the first two rounds of golf’s toughest test on Thursday and Friday, June 14-15, are expanded by an hour this year and will offer live prime time viewing for golf fans. ESPN, ESPN3 and WatchESPN will air eight hours of live play each day on Thursday and Friday from noon – 3 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. ET. An edited encore presentation from each of the first two rounds will air on ESPN2 and WatchESPN in the overnight hours from 1-4 a.m. and both also will air edited highlights from Saturday and Sunday’s third and final round action. If a playoff is necessary, ESPN will air the first two hours on Monday, June 18, at noon.

ESPN Radio will have exclusive live coverage of all four days of tournament play as well as special programming and reports that can be heard on both terrestrial and satellite radio, online at ESPNRadio.com and on mobile devices with the ESPN Radio app.

ESPN’s flagship news and information program, SportsCenter, will originate from the tournament site with special SportsCenter presented by IBM at the U.S. Open programs for seven consecutive days beginning Tuesday, June 12, as well as extensive reports on the hour throughout each day.

Chris Berman, who has covered the U.S. Open for ESPN every year since 1986, will host the live telecasts on Thursday and Friday as well as the weekend highlight programs, while Mike Tirico will call the early-day action on Thursday and Friday with 1993 PGA champion Paul Azinger as analyst.

ESPN’s U.S. Open team for the Thursday and Friday telecasts also includes two-time U.S. Open champions Curtis Strange (hole announcer) and Andy North (on-course reporter) and World Golf Hall of Famer Judy Rankin (on-course reporter). Other hole announcers will be Scott Van Pelt, Terry Gannon and Sean McDonough, while Bill Kratzert also will report from the course. Reporter Tom Rinaldi will conduct player interviews and ESPN the Magazine columnist Rick Reilly will contribute essays.

NBC will again produce the telecasts, with announcer contributions from analyst Roger Maltbie, who will join Berman for Thursday and Friday’s afternoon play.

Among features that will be presented during ESPN’s coverage of the U.S. Open:

ESPN.com senior national columnist Gene Wojciechowski profiles 1955 U.S. Open champion Jack Fleck, the oldest living winner of the tournament.
The dreaded “snowman” (8), a number no golfer wants to see, and how it came into play in the last U.S. Open held at Olympic Club in 1998.
Father’s Day with Masters champion Bubba Watson.
Reilly on where Tiger Woods’ career is now.
The recurring issue of slow play in professional golf.

ESPN, which began televising the first and second rounds of the U.S. Open in 1982, is airing the tournament for the 31st consecutive year. The event has been in the ESPN/ABC family of networks since 1966.

SportsCenter presented by IBM at the U.S. Open

One-hour SportsCenter presented by IBM at the U.S. Open programs air Tuesday and Wednesday, June 12-13, at 2 p.m. on ESPN2 and Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, June 15-18, at midnight on ESPN2. There also are programs on Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m., both airing on ESPN. All U.S. Open SportsCenter programs also will stream live on WatchESPN.

Scott Van Pelt will host the programs with analyst Andy North and reporter Tom Rinaldi. Also contributing to SportsCenter coverage will be analysts Curtis Strange and Paul Azinger, ESPN.com senior national columnist Gene Wojciechowski, ESPN the Magazine columnist Rick Reilly and host John Anderson.

Regular editions of SportsCenter will have reports from the U.S. Open on the hour beginning Tuesday of tournament week.

ESPN Radio’s Four-Round U.S. Open Coverage

ESPN Radio’s third straight broadcast of the U.S. Open Championship tees off Wednesday, June 13, with a one-hour preview special at 1 a.m. ET leading to the network’s 24 live hours of tournament play Thursday-Sunday from the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Commentators contributing to ESPN Radio’s live coverage from the Olympic Club include: Doug Bell, Bill Kratzert, Sean McDonough, Dennis Paulson, Bill Rosinski, Curtis Strange and Bob Wischusen. Chuck Wilson will host U.S. Open studio programming featuring a preview and Rounds 2-3-4 recaps, while Amy Lawrence will host the opening round review show.

ESPN Radio’s U.S. Open coverage will be simulcast on Slacker Radio and Tune-in Radio, as well as on ESPNRadio.com and via the ESPN Radio app on smartphones and tablets. It will also be available on Sirius XM Radio: Rounds 1 and 2 on ESPN Xtra (Channel 85), and Rounds 3 and 4 on ESPN Radio (Channel 84).

ESPN Radio’s Four-Round U.S. Open Coverage (All Times Eastern)
Thursday, June 14 1-7 p.m.
Friday, June 15 1-7 p.m.
Saturday, June 16 4-10 p.m.
Sunday, June 17 4-10 p.m.

ESPN Radio’s Preview & Review Shows
Thursday, June 14 2012 U.S. Open Preview Special 1-2 a.m.
Friday, June 15 First Round Recap Special 2-3 a.m.
Saturday, June 16 Second Round Recap Special 1-2 a.m.
Sunday, June 17 Third Round Recap Special 1-2 a.m.
Monday, June 18 2012 U.S. Open Recap Special 2-3 a.m.

The U.S. Open on ESPN Digital Platforms

WatchESPN

All U.S. Open programming on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3 is also available on computers, smartphones and tablets through WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app, which are accessible to fans who receive their video service from affiliated providers Bright House Networks, Comcast, Time Warner and Verizon FiOS TV.

ESPN.com and espnW.com

News, blogs and columns from ESPN.com national columnist Gene Wojciechowski, senior golf writers Farrell Evans and Bob Harig and ESPNNewYork.com writer Ian O’Connor.
espnW.com writer Michelle Smith will be on-site Thursday-Sunday.
“Digital Drive,” an exclusive ESPN.com program hosted by Rick Reilly, will be produced each day.
“CoverItLive” live chat with Michael Collins throughout the championship.

“Red Light/Green Light” with Collins each day, examining pin placements on selected holes.
The “Road to the U.S. Open” series, which began May 30, has offered extensive coverage of the U.S. Open sectionals and Olympic Club.
The ESPN Golf Cast application, which offers an easy-to-use interface with scoring, “CoverItLive,” video and social media elements.
Best Ball Majors, U.S. edition, the third installment of the ESPN Best Ball Challenge.
Interactive leaderboards and live scores.
Extensive video content, including highlights, analysis, clips from SportsCenter and press conferences.
Photo galleries, podcasts, live chats, SportsNation polling.
Mobile WAP site.

ESPN3

ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network will carry ESPN’s telecast of the first and second rounds on Thursday and Friday, June 14-15, from noon-3 p.m. (Part I) and 5-10 p.m. (Part II). In addition, ESPN3 will have three exclusive feeds, including a morning and afternoon featured group from noon-8 p.m., the 8th and 18th holes and a Spanish-language feed for Part II coverage each day.

Trey Wingo will host the featured group coverage, with analysts Bill Kratzert and David Duval, the veteran PGA TOUR player making his debut as an analyst. Mark Donaldson will be the on-course reporter. Jim Kelly will host the 8th/18th hole coverage with former major winner Tom Weiskopf as analyst and Kim Thomas reporting from the course.

ESPN Mobile

Live mobile video simulcasts of ESPN’s first- and second-round telecasts on June 14-15 and SportsCenter presented by IBM at the U.S. Open programs preview shows Friday-Monday will appear on ESPN Mobile. The Best of the U.S. Open programs for all four rounds also will be simulcast.

News, highlights and a U.S. Open leaderboard will appear on the ESPN Mobile website and there will be U.S. Open Insider content, news and columns and scoring alerts for top players.

Additional coverage of the U.S. Open on ESPN platforms:

ESPN International

The U.S. Open on ESPN platforms will reach some 133 countries and more than 218 million international households, with coverage in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Mandarin and Cantonese. Latin America will also feature live coverage and exclusive feeds (Holes 8 & 18 and a featured group) via ESPN Play (broadband). In Canada, TSN will carry all four rounds of the tournament live along with streaming coverage on TSN Mobile TV and TSN.ca.

ESPN the Magazine

In the “Women in Sports” issue that hit newsstands June 1, ESPN the Magazine has a close look at San Francisco’s Olympic Club and how difficult it is expected to be for the competitors in the U.S. Open. The “Playbook” piece examines the course’s greens, runoffs, primary and deep rough areas and the trees, with comments from ESPN analyst Curtis Strange, USGA director Mike Davis and others.

ESPNEWS

SportsCenter on ESPNEWS will offer all the latest U.S. Open news beginning Tuesday, June 12, with reports on the hour from Olympic Club.

ESPN Classic

ESPN Classic will feature 35 hours of classic U.S. Open golf films leading into live coverage of the first round of the U.S. Open on ESPN. The U.S. Open Golf Marathon begins at midnight on Wednesday, June 13, and runs through Thursday, June 14, at noon. The special programming also includes U.S. Open anniversary tributes to players including Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson on June 15 and June 18-21.

ESPN on Demand

Available in more than 38 million households, ESPN on Demand will offer viewers the opportunity to watch some classic U.S. Open tournaments from the past, including Tiger Woods’ victories in 2000, 2005 and 2008, Jack Nicklaus’ last win in 1980, Lee Jantzen’s 1998 win at Olympic and Rory McIlroy’s victory last year.

Interactive Television

The four-screen U.S. Open Mix will air on DirecTV (channels 701-705) for all four days of the championship. Channel 1 will carry the live ESPN or NBC television coverage, while Channels 2 and 3 will cover Featured Groups 1 and 2, respectively (players in both groups to be determined). Channel 4 will cover the 8th and 18th holes.

112th U.S. Open Championship – Olympic Club, San Francisco, CA

(all times Eastern)

Day/Date Program Start Network
Tue., June 12 SportsCenter pres. by IBM at the U.S. Open 2 p.m. ESPN2, WatchESPN
Wed., June 13 SportsCenter pres. by IBM at the U.S. Open 2 p.m. ESPN2, WatchESPN
Wed., June 13 SportsCenter pres. by IBM at the U.S. Open 11 p.m. ESPN2, WatchESPN
Thu., June 14 First Round (Part 1) Noon ESPN, ESPN3, WatchESPN
Thu., June 14 First Round (Part 2) 5 p.m. ESPN, ESPN3, WatchESPN
Fri., June 15 SportsCenter pres. by IBM at the U.S. Open Midnight ESPN2, WatchESPN
Fri., June 15 Best of the U.S. Open pres. by Titleist 1 a.m. ESPN2, WatchESPN
Fri., June 15 Second Round (Part 1) Noon ESPN, ESPN3, WatchESPN
Fri., June 15 Second Round (Part 2) 5 p.m. ESPN, ESPN3, WatchESPN
Sat., June 16 SportsCenter pres. by IBM at the U.S. Open Midnight ESPN2, WatchESPN
Sat., June 16 Best of the U.S. Open pres. by Titleist 1 p.m. ESPN2, WatchESPN
Sat., June 16 SportsCenter pres. by IBM at the U.S. Open 1:30 p.m. ESPN, WatchESPN
Sun., June 17 SportsCenter pres. by IBM at the U.S. Open Midnight ESPN2, WatchESPN
Sun., June 17 Best of the U.S. Open 2 a.m. ESPN2, WatchESPN
Sun., June 17 SportsCenter pres. by IBM at the U.S. Open 1:30 p.m. ESPN, WatchESPN
Mon., June 18 SportsCenter pres. by IBM at the U.S. Open Midnight ESPN2, WatchESPN
Mon., June 18 Best of the U.S. Open 1 a.m. ESPN2, WatchESPN
Mon., June 18 Playoff (if necessary) Noon ESPN, WatchESPN

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