Weekend Watchdog: At the world’s fastest half-mile
NASCAR spends an exciting weekend in Bristol, with thousands of fans converging on the high-banked half-mile track.
It’s the 50th anniversary of the small track just across the border from Virginia, which draws thousands to the area and packs all hotels within miles.
The Sprint Cup teams pack the infield for their race Saturday night on ABC. The Nationwide racers get their chance to bang around the track Friday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Across the country, the Indy Cars are in Sonoma Sunday at 4 p.m. on Versus.
Little League baseball crowns its champion this weekend. The International final will be set after Thursday’s 4 p.m. game on ESPN, then the local Pennsylvania team battles California at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
ABC has the International final Saturday at noon, followed by the United States final at 3 p.m. The consolation game will be Sunday at 11 a.m. on ESPN, with the title game on ABC at 3 p.m.
FOX offers the choice of four games Saturday afternoon, as the Tigers face the Twins along with three National League contests – Pirates at Cardinals, Braves-Mets and Rockies taking on the Dodgers. ESPN has the Angels meeting the Rangers Sunday night.
Pending Irene’s path, the Orioles will meet the Yankees on TBS Sunday afternoon and MASN. Prior to that, they have a Thursday afternoon game at Minnesota on MASN and games Friday and Saturday on MASN. The Nationals take on Arizona Thursday on MASN, then head to Cincinnati for the weekend on MASN2.
The third week of the NFL preseason opens with the Redskins taking on the Ravens Thursday at 8 p.m. on ESPN. CBS offers a pair of contests – Packers at Colts Friday and Patriots visiting Detroit Saturday – before NBC closes the weekend with the Saints taking on Oakland.
The PGA tour starts its playoff run this weekend at the Barclays. CBS has coverage Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday starting at 2 p.m.
It’s almost time for the U.S. Open, and top players prepare at the New Haven Open and Winston-Salem Open. ESPN2 heads to New Haven Thursday at 3 p.m. and Friday at 2 p.m., with the final showing Saturday at 5 p.m. CBS has the final from Winston-Salem Saturday at 12:30 p.m., after ESPN2 goes with Friday’s play at 12:30 p.m.
D.C. United takes on Portland Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on Comcast. The women’s soccer league holds its championship game Saturday at 4 p.m. on Comcast.
In the WNBA, the Mystics host Phoenix Sunday at 4 p.m. on Comcast.
AFP on WREL: Football fever
We return from vacation with a new segment of AFP on WREL featuring AFP editor Chris Graham and WREL-1450AM’s “Online with Jim Bresnahan.”
Chris and Jim talk about the signing by the Seattle Mariners of Danny Hultzen, the UVa. lefthander who was the #2 pick in June’s Major League draft.
The focus then shifts to local high-school and college football.
Weekend Watchdog: Are you ready for some football?
No more legal pads. Time for shoulder pads.
The NFL preseason kicks off Thursday when the Baltimore Ravens visit Philadelphia at 7:30 p.m. on Comcast. The Redskins take their turn Friday at 7:30 p.m., hosting the Steelers on Comcast.
ESPN begins its coverage Thursday at 8 p.m. when the Seahawks visit San Diego. Friday, FOX has Tampa Bay heading to Kansas City at 8 p.m. and the Jets take on the Texans Monday at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
No more lawyers and lockouts. Now it’s time for linebackers and blockers to take center stage.
The PGA tour has its final major of the season this weekend, with the PGA championship from outside Atlanta. TNT has coverage of the first two rounds, starting at 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Early birds can catch the start of the final two rounds at 11 a.m., while CBS takes over at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The Pirates are on national TV this weekend, facing the Brewers on FOX. Other Saturday afternoon games are Rays at Yankees and the Rangers taking on Oakland. TBS shows the Rays-Yankees Sunday afternoon, while ESPN offers Colorado at St. Louis on Sunday night.
The Orioles close out a series with the White Sox Thursday on MASN, then host Detroit for the weekend on MASN2. The Nationals take on the Cubs Thursday at 2 p.m before heading home to meet the Phillies for a weekend series on MASN.
Like your baseball with younger players? The road to the Little League World Series begins this weekend, with a Midwest semifinal Thursday at 2 p.m. on ESPN. ESPN2 has the second Midwest final at 6 p.m., along with the Southwest final at 8 p.m. and Northwest finals at 4 and 10 p.m.
The Mid-Atlantic semifinals are on Friday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., then the Southeast final goes Friday at 8 p.m. on ESPN. ESPN2 heads West for semifinals at 5 and 11.
Four regions have their finals on ESPN Saturday, starting with the Great Lakes at 11 a.m. At 5 p.m., the Northwest crowns its champion followed by the Midwest and West. New England’s representative to the Little League World Series comes out of the 1 p.m. game on ESPN2. The Mid-Atlantic title game is Sunday at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
NASCAR heads to upstate New York for the Sour Cream Dips race at Watkins Glen. NASCAR coverage starts Sunday at 1 p.m, while the Nationwide racers hit the track Saturday at 2 p.m.
The IndyCar racers are in New Hampshire Sunday at 3:30 p.m., with ABC at the Move that block.com 225.
D.C. United hosts Vancouver Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on Comcast.
The road to the U.S. Open continues with the Rogers Cup on ESPN2. Play begins Thursday and Friday at noon, then 3 p.m. on Saturday. The finals go Sunday at 1 p.m.
NBC has skateboarding from Portland as the Dew Tour offers the Skateboard Street finals Saturday and BMX Dirt finals Sunday.
Weekend Watchdog: Tiger’s back
Tiger golfing instead of tabloid-fodder? It’s about time.
Tiger Woods returns to the PGA tour this weekend for the World Golf Championship from Akron. He’s done well there in the past, giving him a good tune-up for next week’s PGA championship.
CBS will be on the air Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
It’s Yankee-Red Sox weekend again, with the teams on FOX Saturday afternoon and Sunday night on ESPN. The Phillies’ visit to San Francisco is the other FOX game, while the Braves take on the Mets on TBS Sunday afternoon.
The Orioles close out a series in Kansas City Thursday at 8 p.m. on MASN, then host Toronto this weekend. The Nationals play the Rockies on MASN2 Thursday at 8:30 p.m. to start a four-game series.
NASCAR heads back to Pocono Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN, while the Nationwide racers visit Iowa on ESPN2 Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
The Indy cars are in Ohio for the Honda 200 on Versus Sunday at 2 p.m.
The NFL labor troubles meant the cancellation of the Hall of Fame preseason game. But this year’s class still goes in, and the induction will be on ESPN Saturday at 7 p.m.
The World Football Challenge closes its run Saturday on ESPN, with Barcelona taking on Club America at 4 p.m. from Cowboys Stadium.
It’s week three of six in the U.S. Open tennis series. ESPN2 has the Legg Mason Classic Friday at 7 p.m., with coverage continuing Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. The Mercury Insurance Open goes Friday at 11 p.m., followed by action Saturday at 10 p.m. and the finals Sunday at 5 p.m.
Comcast has Major League Lacrosse Saturday at 7 p.m., with Chesapeake visiting Rochester.
Sports Roundup: Watchdog, plus minor league baseball
Weekend Watchdog: Triple Crown or not?
He’s the last Triple Crown winner, a fact mentioned in stories numerous times over the past 30 years.Only Animal Kingdom has the power to relegate Affirmed to the history books this year. First, he has to win the Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Saturday on NBC. Coverage starts at 4:30 p.m., and by 6:30 p.m. we should know if there’s still a chance at a Triple Crown in 2011.
Versus shows the fillies running the Black Eye Susan Stakes Friday. Continue reading “Weekend Watchdog: Triple Crown or not?” »
Sports Roundup: Lots of baseball
Tides drop Syracuse : Troy Patton gave the Tides 4.0 innings of emergency relief Thursday and led the Norfolk Tides past the Syracuse ChiWeekend Watchdog: No Lakers, No Celtics?
The Lakers didn’t make the NBA Western Conference Finals – is that allowed?
The two-time champions exited the playoffs Sunday after being swept by Dallas.
The Celtics’ season ended Wednesday. The Heat scored the last 16 points of the game to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
The teams with the most NBA championships are on the sideline the rest of the way.
Who will join the Mavericks and Heat in the conference finals? Thursday, the Bulls try to close out their series in Atlanta. The tip is 8 p.m. on ESPN.
Friday, Memphis hosts Game 6 of its series with Oklahoma City. Results from those contests will determine rest of the weekend schedule.
The top two seeds in the NHL’s Eastern Conference have been ousted, leaving Boston and Tampa Bay to battle for a Stanley Cup Final berth. They start their series Saturday at 8 p.m. on Versus.
Out west, Vancouver hosts Game 1 Sunday at 8 p.m. on Versus. Either San Jose or Detroit – who play their Game 7 Thursday at 9 p.m. – will be the opponent.
The Red Sox visit the Yankees this weekend – guess what’s ESPN’s Sunday game of the week? FOX has Saturday baseball in prime time. Games include Giants at Cubs, Dodgers-Diamondbacks and ….Red Sox-Yankees.
Sunday afternoon, TBS has the Phillies visiting Atlanta.
The Nationals are in Atlanta Thursday on MASN, then host Florida this weekend – Friday and Sunday on MASN2, and Saturday at 1 p.m. on MASN.
The Orioles face Seattle Thursday on MASN2, before heading to Tampa Bay for a series with the Rays on MASN (MASN2 Saturday at 4 p.m.).
NASCAR visits the Monster Mile this weekend, with the Sprint Car racers on FOX Sunday at 1 p.m. The Nationwide race takes the track Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.
The PGA tour hits TPC Sawgrass and its famous 17th hole for the Players Championship this weekend. NBC has coverage Saturday and Sunday starting at 2 p.m.
The D.C. United face Colorado Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on Comcast, while ESPN2 shows Seattle-Portland Saturday at 11 p.m.
Comcast has SEC baseball Friday at 7 p.m., with Vanderbilt going against Florida. Saturday, it’s ACC action at 1 p.m. with Miami at Virginia followed by Tennessee-LSU at 4 p.m.
It’s a big weekend for conference softball tournaments. The ACC crowns its champion Sunday at 1 p.m. on Comcast, while ESPN2 has the Big East final Saturday at 5 p.m.. The SEC title game is on ESPN Saturday at 8 p.m., after a first-round game between Alabama and Mississippi State Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
The NCAA lacrosse tournament starts this weekend. ESPN2 has Johns Hopkins vs. Hofstra Saturday at noon, and ESPN offers North Carolina against Maryland Sunday at 1 p.m.
Weekend Watchdog: No Lakers, No Celtics?
The Lakers didn’t make the NBA Western Conference Finals – is that allowed?
The two-time champions exited the playoffs Sunday after being swept by Dallas.
The Celtics’ season ended Wednesday. The Heat scored the last 16 points of the game to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
The teams with the most NBA championships are on the sideline the rest of the way. Continue reading “Weekend Watchdog: No Lakers, No Celtics?” »
Weekend Watchdog: Drafting for the picket line
We have a 2011 NFL schedule. Thursday, we have the 2011 NFL draft. Will we have a 2011 NFL season on time.
Ask the lawyers about the coming season. Until then, the NFL draft opens Thursday on ESPN and NFL Network. There’s plenty of questions due to the lockout, but nobody locks out Mel Kiper Jr.
It’s one round of picks Thursday night at 8, two more on Friday starting at 6 p.m. and the final four rounds Saturday beginning at noon.
Then it’s back to the negotiating table. And more waiting for fans.
The Capitals advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs, and begin play Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast and Versus. Game 2 against the Lightning is set for Sunday at 7 p.m.
The second round begins Thursday on Versus, with the Predators visiting Vancouver at 9 p.m. The second West semifinal begins Friday at 10:30 p.m. with Detroit heading to San Jose.
NBC shows the opener of the Bruins-Flyers series Saturday at 3 p.m., and Game 2 from San Jose Sunday at 3 p.m. Versus has the second game from Vancouver Saturday at 9 p.m.
In the NBA playoffs, there’s a pair of Game 6 contests on TNT Thursday – Lakers at Hornets at 8 p.m., followed by Dallas at Portland. ESPN has Game 6 between San Antonio and Memphis Friday at 9 p.m.
Saturday’s schedule? Depends on who wins Thursday. The first East semifinal kicks off Sunday at 3:30 p.m. when the Heat take on the Celtics.
NASCAR heads to Richmond for the weekend, with the Sprint Cup race Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on FOX. The Nationwide racers take the track Friday for the Bubba Burger 250 on ESPN2.
For a more exotic locale, the IndyCar drivers are in Sao Paulo Sunday at noon on Versus.
FOX Saturday baseball goes early this week, with the Mets visiting the Phillies at 1 p.m. Other games in the time slot are Angels at Rays and the Cardinals taking on the Braves. The Mets and Phillies meet again Sunday at 8 p.m. on ESPN, while the Yankees host the Blue Jays in the afternoon on TBS.
The Orioles play the Red Sox Thursday on MASN, then go to Chicago this weekend on MASN2. The Nationals are home this week, with the Mets on MASN2 Friday and Giants in town Friday through Sunday on MASN.
Comcast has ACC baseball this weekend, with Florida State at Miami Saturday at 7 p.m. Saturday afternoon at 1, Georgia Tech visits Clemson.
Comcast goes to the Sun Belt Saturday at 4 p.m. for Arkansas-Little Rock taking on Louisiana-Lafayette.
ESPN2 has SEC baseball between Arkansas and Georgia Saturday at 1 p.m. and Auburn-South Carolina Sunday at 3 p.m.
ESPN showcases college softball Saturday at 8 p.m., with Oklahoma facing Texas.
The PGA tour visits New Orleans this weekend, with CBS providing coverage Saturday and Sunday starting at 3 p.m.
Weekend Watchdog: Drafting for the picket line
We have a 2011 NFL schedule. Thursday, we have the 2011 NFL draft. Will we have a 2011 NFL season on time.
Ask the lawyers about the coming season. Until then, the NFL draft opens Thursday on ESPN and NFL Network. There’s plenty of questions due to the lockout, but nobody locks out Mel Kiper Jr.
It’s one round of picks Thursday night at 8, two more on Friday starting at 6 p.m. and the final four rounds Saturday beginning at noon.
Then it’s back to the negotiating table. And more waiting for fans. Continue reading “Weekend Watchdog: Drafting for the picket line” »
Weekend Watchdog: Triple Crown or not
Column by Mike Judge
WeekendWatchdog.blogspot.com
Going into the Kentucky Derby, all the horses have a chance of winning the Triple Crown. Saturday in Baltimore, only one still has that chance. Continue reading “Weekend Watchdog: Triple Crown or not” »
