Weekend Tube Review

↵ESPN’s Euro 2008 coverage hasn’t necessarily been pulling in stellar ratings this month (the highest being a .9), but you have to remember that most games have been on ESPN2 and during weekday afternoons. The play and commentating have been outstanding and this weekend was no different. Andy Gray is as good an analyst as there is in any sport and both Play-by-Play men, Adrian Healey and Derek Rae, have been spot on. The only broadcaster that people seem to be undecided on is analyst Tommy Smyth, but the Irishman did an excellent job this past Saturday during the Netherlands-Russia match aired on ABC.
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↵The semifinals will go down this Wednesday and Thursday (ESPN, 2:30pm) and the Final will be on ABC this Sunday at 2:30pm.
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↵With not much action going on in the world of sports this past weekend, the biggest story that floated to the surface was a rumor that ESPN is in talks with the NFL about bringing on the league’s football channel. According to the Wall Street Journal, ESPN is in talks to create a partnership and Steven Bornstein, chief executive of the NFL Network, has been in talks as of late with the chance of ESPN Classic taking over the Thursday night NFL games in the future.
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↵“We have a long-term and extensive relationship with the NFL and to that end we are always in discussions with them about mutual projects.”- ESPN’s Mike Soltys (VP of Communications) on the rumored acquisition of the NFL Network
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↵“Tell Juan to go, he’s a pro!”- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the radio behind a slow Juan Pablo Montoya
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↵“It’s like bowling pins, when the ball hits it’s a chain reaction.”- Kyle Petty after a multiple car crash in the Toyota/Save Mart 350
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↵“I don’t think Lou knew he could rap.”- Bob Brenley after WGN aired a commercial in which Lou Pinella rapped (see below)
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↵WGN got its hands on an advance copy of a new Chevy ad featuring Coaches Ozzie Guillen and Lou Pinella rapping about Chicago:↵

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