Weekend Watchdog: Sports for the Easter basket
Easter Sunday means NASCAR Sprint Cup takes a rare week off. But other sports continue their marches.
The second weekend of the NBA playoffs starts Thursday with Game 3 from Philadelphia (against the Heat at 8 p.m.) and Portland (against Dallas at 10:30 p.m.) Friday, ESPN offers a pair of games starting at 7 p.m. – Celtics vs. Knicks, then Lakers at Hornets – while the Hawks play the Magic at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.Saturday, TNT has the afternoon doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m. The Pacers host Chicago in Game 4 of that series, followed by the Mavericks at Portland. ESPN shows a pair of games, with the Spurs taking on Memphis at 7:30 p.m. then Thunder and Nuggets play at 10.
ABC has an Eastern Conference doubleheader on Sunday. The 76ers host the Heat at 1 p.m., then it’s Celtics-Knicks. TNT has coverage starting at 7 p.m. with the Magic at Hawks, then the Lakers take on the Hornets.
Then it’s a week of “if necessary, while the NHL enters the “if necessary” zone this weekend. Thursday, Versus starts coverage at 7 p.m. with Game 4 of the Canadiens and Bruins. Chicago made Game 5 necessary with a win Tuesday, and will face Vancouver Thursday in the nightcap.
Friday, it’s necessary for Versus to find some programming – Detroit won in four straight. From the West Coast, the Predators go against the Ducks in Game 5. There’s four games on the Saturday schedule. NBC shows the Capitals against Rangers in Game 5 at 3 p.m., with three other games on Versus – Lightning at Penguins at noon, Canadiens-Bruins at 7 p.m. and the Kings facing the Sharks at 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, Versus has Game 6 of the Flyers-Sabres series – if it makes it that far.
The NL Central battle between Cincinnati and St. Louis take centerstage this weekend, on FOX Saturday afternoon and ESPN Sunday night. FOX also shows the White Sox at Tigers and Braves-Giants, while TBS has the Dodgers at Cubs Sunday afternoon.
The Orioles face Minnesota Thursday on MASN, then the Yankees visit for the weekend.
The Nationals have a Thursday afternoon game in St. Louis on MASN, then head to Pittsburgh for a series with the Pirates on MASN2.
ACC baseball gets coverage on Comcast Friday, as Miami visits North Carolina at 7 p.m. Saturday, Virginia hosts N.C. State at 1 p.m. and Louisiana-Monroe visits Middle Tennessee. ESPN2 offers Alabama against Florida Saturday at 8 p.m. and LSU-Vanderbilt battle Sunday at 3 p.m.
Since it’s Easter weekend, the Nationwide Series goes it alone – racing from Nashville Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN.
The PGA tour heads to Hilton Head for the Heritage this weekend, with coverage of the final two rounds on CBS at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
D.C. United plays New York Thursday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
MASN has Saturday lacrosse, with Yale visiting Georgetown at 1 p.m. Comcast has the ACC women’s lacrosse championship at 1 p.m., followed by the men’s title tilt at 3:30 p.m.
For an SEC softball doubleheader, it’s Alabama vs. Friday Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN2 and Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN.
Weekend Watchdog: Sports for the Easter basket
Easter Sunday means NASCAR Sprint Cup takes a rare week off. But other sports continue their marches.
The second weekend of the NBA playoffs starts Thursday with Game 3 from Philadelphia (against the Heat at 8 p.m.) and Portland (against Dallas at 10:30 p.m.) Friday, ESPN offers a pair of games starting at 7 p.m. – Celtics vs. Knicks, then Lakers at Hornets – while the Hawks play the Magic at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.Saturday, TNT has the afternoon doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m. The Pacers host Chicago in Game 4 of that series, followed by the Mavericks at Portland. ESPN shows a pair of games, with the Spurs taking on Memphis at 7:30 p.m. then Thunder and Nuggets play at 10. Read more
Weekend Watchdog: Let the long postseason begin
When the NFL playoffs begin, Tuesday Morning Quarterback mournfully notes that there’s only 11 more games left.
You can’t count the number of games in the NBA and NHL postseasons.
The two-month long marches to championship began in the NHL Wednesday and start Saturday in the NBA.
The Capitals, top seeds in the Eastern Conference, got things going Wednesday against the Rangers – a come-from-behind overtime victory. Game 2 is set for Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast, and NBC has Game 3 in New York Sunday at 3 p.m.
NBC shows Game 2 between Phoenix and Detroit Saturday at 1 p.m.
Versus has the majority of the ice hockey action, starting Thursday at 7 p.m. with Montreal at Boston. The Kings at Sharks is the nightcap.
Friday, Versus shows the Capitals-Rangers nationally before heading west for the Blackhawks against the Canucks. Saturday, it’s another dose of Canadiens-Bruins and Kings-Sharks, starting at 7 p.m.
Chicago, the 2010 Stanley Cup champion, hosts Vancouver on Sunday at 8 p.m.
The NBA show begins Saturday on ESPN. The Pacers visit the top-seeded Bulls at 12:30 p.m., then ABC gets LeBron, D-Wade and the gang against the 76ers at 3:30 p.m.
ESPN returns to the action at 7 p.m. when the Hawks meet Orlando, followed by Dallas hosting Portland.
The other four series start on Sunday. ABC features the Hornets at Lakers at 3:30 p.m, and TNT has the rest – Memphis-San Antonio at 1 p.m., Knicks facing the Celtics at 7 p.m. and the Thunder hosting Denver at 9:30 p.m.
Basketball and ice hockey – on TV almost every night for the next two months.
NASCAR goes to Talledega this weekend. FOX has the Sprint Cup race Sunday at 1 p.m. while the Nationwide race is Saturday on ESPN2 at 3 p.m.
Versus has the Grand Prix of Long Beach Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
The Yankees get another appearance on ESPN’s Sunday night baseball, hosting Texas at 8 p.m. Early in the day, the Red Sox and Blue Jays meet on TBS.
FOX offers three contests on Saturday afternoon – Twins vs. Rays, Angels at White Sox and Mets visiting the Braves.
The Nationals have a Thursday contest against Philadelphia on MASN2, then Milwaukee comes to town for a three-game series on MASN.
The Orioles close out their series with the Yankees Thursday on MASN, then continue the road trip at Cleveland on MASN2.
Comcast offers a pair of college baseball games Saturday – Florida State at Virginia Tech at 1 p.m. and Vanderbilt visits South Carolina at 7 p.m. Sunday, there’s more SEC baseball as Florida takes on Georgia at 1 p.m.
ESPN2 shows Vanderbilt-South Carolina Sunday at 1 p.m.
The PGA tour heads west this weekend for the Valero Texas Open. CBS has coverage Saturday and Sunday starting at 3 p.m.
MLS has Chicago visting Portland Thursday at 11 p.m. on ESPN2.
ESPN2 offers SEC college softball Saturday at noon, with Tennessee facing LSU. Sunday on ESPN, Oklahoma plays Missouri at 4 p.m.
More sports at VaSportsOnline.com
Weekend Watchdog: Let the long postseason begin
When the NFL playoffs begin, Tuesday Morning Quarterback mournfully notes that there’s only 11 more games left.
You can’t count the number of games in the NBA and NHL postseasons.
The two-month long marches to championship began in the NHL Wednesday and start Saturday in the NBA.
The Capitals, top seeds in the Eastern Conference, got things going Wednesday against the Rangers – a come-from-behind overtime victory. Game 2 is set for Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast, and NBC has Game 3 in New York Sunday at 3 p.m. Read more
Mike Judge: Time for a summer hiatus
Column by Mike Judge
WeekendWatchdog.blogspot.com
I’m going to take a break from the Watchdog for the next few weeks while I enjoy summer vacation with my sons.
I hope to resume weekly updates as football season rolls around at the end of August.
You know your summer sports. Here’s your links. Read more
Mike Judge: Dad’s Weekend
Column by Mike Judge
WeekendWatchdog.blogspot.com
Last year, Father’s Day was a sports feast for dads. This year, you get to add the World Cup to the weekend mix.
The United States plays its second game Friday, meeting Slovenia at 9:30 a.m. on ESPN. That’s the group leading Slovens after the first batch of matches. Germany meets Serbia to open the day at 7 a.m., then England meets Algeria at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2. Will the Brits be able to keep up with the Yanks in group play?
Saturday opens with the Netherlands vs. Japan at 7 a.m., then it’s Ghana vs. Australia at 9:30 p.m. ABC gets to show Denmark against Cameroon at 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, you’ve got Slovakia vs. Paraguay, then Italy against New Zealand in the morning on ESPN. ABC has favorite Brazil going against Ivory Coast in its afternoon slot.
By the next weekend, the group play will be done and it’s off to the single-elimination round of 16. Read more
Weekend Watchdog: The world arrives in South Africa
Column by Mike Judge
WeekendWatchdog.blogspot.com
It’s an event held every four years, but this time it’s unique.
The World Cup comes to Africa for the first time in its 80-year history, and host South Africa opens play against Mexico Friday at 9:30 a.m. Uruguay takes on France at 2 p.m.
The United States team has its first contest Saturday at 1:30 p.m., facing on England on ABC. Earlier in the day on ESPN, it’s South Korea vs. Greece at 7 a.m. and Argentina-Nigeria at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, the day begins with Algeria vs. Slovenia at 7 a.m., then Serbia vs. Ghana. ABC brings Germany against Australia at 1:30 p.m.
Play continues daily through the opening round, with the final set for July 11. Read more
