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Bowl Season 2021-22 Schedule Released Full Slate of 44 Bowl Games Returns

DALLAS (May 27, 2021) — Bowl Season today announced the complete 2021-22 college football bowl schedule, which includes 44 games, beginning December 17. All games will be televised on the ABC and ESPN family of networks, with one bowl on CBS and another on FOX. Two bowl games still have networks and times to be determined.


Bowl matchups will be revealed on Sunday, December 5, following the regular season and conference championship games. Bowl Season culminates with the 2021 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship, scheduled to be played on Monday, January 10, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on ESPN.

“We are thrilled to have a full slate of bowl games scheduled for next season,” said Nick Carparelli, executive director of Bowl Season. “Last year dealt us many challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we have expectations that stadiums will be operating at full capacity again which will undoubtedly mean a memorable experience for student-athletes, fans, universities and communities. College football and Bowl Season is back, and we couldn’t be more excited.”


While many sporting events were cancelled last season due to the pandemic, 26 of the bowl games were able to remain scheduled and played, mainly due to the flexibility and cooperation of the conferences and bowl partners, and the dedication and commitment of the many players, coaches and team staff.

The complete 2021-22 Bowl Season schedule can be found on the next page.


###   About Bowl Season Bowl Season is the collective coalition of the 44 bowl games played in the traditional college football postseason. Dubbed “A Celebration of College Football,” Bowl Season promotes the grand tradition of the bowl system and its endearing value to student-athletes. It also highlights the broader university and college communities, including spirit squads, marching bands, athletic staff and fans. A nonprofit, Bowl Season spotlights the distinctiveness of each of the bowl games along with their histories and traditions, embracing and honoring the bowl experience for present and future generations. 

UCLA Athletics Names Scott Markley Sr. Associate AD, Communications

UCLA Field ready for Spring Ball 2019 in Los Angeles. Photo by Jevone Moore

UCLA Athletics has hired Scott Markley as the Senior Associate Athletic Director, Communications.

Scott Markley

Markley brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in strategic communications in three of the largest corporate brands in the world. A native of San Diego, he will be joining UCLA after working as Associate Director of Corporate Communications for Kellogg’s in Chicago, where he was a spokesperson responsible for directing the global communications strategy for the company’s corporate responsibility initiatives. He also served as a spokesperson for McDonald’s, where he directed a 10-person team representing the company on TV, radio and in print regarding all aspects of the business. Prior to that, Markley worked for three and a half years as Senior Manager, National Media Relations at Walmart and was a spokesperson for the Supreme Court of the United States from 2006 to 2014.

As UCLA Athletics’ primary spokesperson and strategic communicator, Markley will serve on the senior staff of Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond. He will advise senior administrators and head coaches on communications matters and oversee the athletic communications department, including social and digital media initiatives.

“We are excited to bring Scott to Westwood,” Jarmond said. “Scott brings a distinct perspective to our athletic department and has a strong history of commitment to service and engagement with constituents. His ability to promote and highlight the stories of our talented student-athletes will be very positive for our program.”

Markley graduated from San Diego State in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Economics.

Sam Houston State Bearkats win the FCS Championship

Frisco, TX – The Sam Houston State Bearkats were able to defeat the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, 23-21 to win the FCS championship. 

A 10 yard TD pass from Eric Schmid to Ife Adeyi capped a 16 play, 65 yard drive to stun the Jackrabbits with 16 seconds left in the game. The Bearkats had to fight back late after blowing a 17-7 lead. 

Unusual May FCS Title Game: South Dakota State vs Sam Houston State – NBC 5  Dallas-Fort Worth

Sam Houston State head coach K.C Keeler said after the game that there was “resolve” on the sideline as the team went down the field to win a championship. 

Keeler on the game winning throw to Adeyi: “It was a bullet…I mean, he threw a bullet.” 

Schmid finished the game 20-37, 209 yards and three touchdowns. He added in 54 rushing yards on 13 attempts. 

The Jackrabbits jumped out to a 7-0 on their 2nd offensive possession after being set up by a Sam Houston fumble. The drive saw the jackrabbits go 41 yards on 5 plays. Davis finished the drive with a 1 yard TD run. Davis was far from finished in this one. 

Sam Houston scored the next 14 points of the game to take a 14-7 lead into halftime. Halftime would only be a three minute TV timeout due to an hour and 15 minute lighting delay with 8:25 left in the 2nd quarter.

Jequez Ezzard was responsible for the scoring for Bearkats. His first touchdown of the day was an impressive 35 yard catch and run. It did appear that he fumbled going into the end zone. But the play was not reviewed. Ezzard scored his 2nd touchdown with a 15 yard reception. 

Ezzard finished the game with 10 receptions, 108 yards and the two touchdowns. 

Adeyi caught 5 passes for 73 yards and the eventual game winning touchdown. 

South Dakota State trailed 17-7 heading into the 4th quarter. That is when Davis went to work. 

His 2nd touchdown of the day was a 28 yard run to make the score 17-14. South Dakota State took the lead 21-17 when he went 85 yards down the sideline with 5:41 left in the game. 

Davis had 14 rushing attempts for 178 yards and the 3 touchdowns. 

Pac-12 announces George Kliavkoff as new Commissioner

The USC Trojans and the Oregon Ducks meet in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to play in the 2020 PAC-12 Confrence Championship on Dec. 18, 2020. (John McGillen)

– Sports and media executive brings multifaceted expertise in managing change and driving results from roles at MGM Resorts, Hearst, NBCUniversal and Major League Baseball Advanced Media –

SAN FRANCISCO – The Pac-12 Conference announced today that, following a comprehensive global search led by its governing executive committee and TurnkeyZRG, accomplished sports business executive George Kliavkoff has been appointed Pac-12 Commissioner.

Kliavkoff (Klēē-ãv-cough), 54, brings unparalleled expertise and leadership in live sports and entertainment, fan experience, content creation and distribution, and navigating complicated environments. He comes to the Pac-12 Conference from MGM Resorts International, where he was president of entertainment and sports.

Kliavkoff’s appointment was supported by a unanimous vote of all Pac-12 presidents and chancellors. His five-year contract begins July 1.

“At each step of his career, George has navigated complex, quickly changing environments and has been a successful consensus builder. George is a visionary leader with an extraordinary background as a pioneering sports, entertainment and digital media executive, and we are delighted and honored that he has agreed to become our next Pac-12 Commissioner,” said University of Oregon President Michael H. Schill, chair of the five-member search committee. “He is the new prototype for a sports commissioner. While George has deep sports experience, his biggest asset is his ability to listen, connect with diverse groups, find common ground, collaborate and navigate an evolving landscape. We believe George’s overall skills and experience will become even more prevalent in college sports leadership.”

“I am thrilled to be the Pac-12 Commissioner. This is a challenging time for intercollegiate athletics, but I believe these challenges also create significant opportunities,” Kliavkoff said. “I loved being a student-athlete, and I’m passionate about the doors that college sports and higher education open for young women and men. My job at the Pac-12 will be to help manage the balance between continued academic excellence, student-athlete well-being and an even higher level of athletic achievement.”

In the coming weeks and months, Kliavkoff said he will meet with the athletic directors, coaches from a wide variety of men’s and women’s sports, faculty athletic representatives, and a diverse set of student-athletes to learn more about the conference and begin building relationships at each of the Pac-12 institutions.

“The athletic directors in the Pac-12 look forward to working with George and supporting his success. As a student-athlete himself, George understands the challenges at all levels, including first and foremost from the student-athlete perspective,” said Bernard Muir, the Jaquish & Kenninger director of athletics at Stanford University.

An Accomplished Sports and Entertainment Executive

During his tenure at MGM Resorts International, Kliavkoff managed one of the largest live entertainment and sports businesses in the world and also oversaw the company’s sponsorship spend with professional and college sports leagues, conferences—including the Pac-12 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments and the Pac-12 Football Championship Game—and teams. Additionally, he led the company’s global sponsorship sales efforts and sat on the board of BetMGM, one of the three largest U.S. sports betting companies.

A proponent of women’s sports, he served as a member of the Board of Governors of the WNBA and managed the Las Vegas Aces WNBA franchise prior to selling the team earlier this year to Las Vegas Raiders Owner Mark Davis.

In the media and entertainment space, Kliavkoff co-led the largest and most profitable division at Hearst Entertainment & Syndication, overseeing Hearst’s interests in cable television networks, including ESPN, A&E, Lifetime and HISTORY. He drove significant financial returns for Hearst by managing the purchase of a 50% stake in Mark Burnett Productions, which included signature programming such as Survivor, The Apprentice, Shark Tank, The Voice and The Bible, and then later negotiating a sale to MGM Studios.

Kliavkoff was the first chief digital officer at NBCUniversal, where he set corporate digital media strategy and developed new business models and markets. At NBCU, Kliavkoff partnered with News Corp to incubate and launch Hulu, which became a top five U.S. video site within six months of launch. Kliavkoff served as the interim CEO of Hulu until the first full-time CEO was hired, and he served on the joint venture’s board.

“One of the best hires I ever made,” said Beth Comstock, NIKE board member, the first female vice chair of General Electric and the former president of Integrated Media at NBCUniversal. “George is an inclusive team builder, consensus builder, thought leader and world-class collaborator. He’s brilliant at solving complex puzzles, again and again finding solutions that work for everybody.”

Prior to NBCU, Kliavkoff was executive vice president of business for Major League Baseball Advanced Media and managed corporate development, business development, and baseball’s digital media subscription and licensing businesses.

Kliavkoff started his career as an attorney at prominent law firms in Los Angeles and Seattle and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law.

About the Selection Process

The search committee included the Pac-12 executive committee, led by Schill as chair; Kirk H. Schulz, Washington State University president; and Ana Mari Cauce, president of the University of Washington. They were joined by University of Colorado Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano and University of Southern California President Carol Folt, forming a five-person search committee to reflect the diversity of the Conference.

The committee was assisted by TurnkeyZRG, which has placed more than 25 directors of athletics and recently placed the new Commissioner of the ACC. TurnkeyZRG and the search committee considered a global pool of more than 200 highly qualified and diverse candidates for the job, including traditional college sports, entertainment and media executives.

Outgoing Commissioner Larry Scott said, “It has been an honor to serve as Commissioner of the Pac-12 for the past 11 years, and I believe the Conference is well-positioned for continued success and growth. I look forward to working with George and ensuring a smooth transition.”

The Pac-12 and Student-Athlete Success

The Pac-12 CEO Group expects the new Commissioner to continue to prioritize positive graduation rates for the Conference’s student-athletes in concert with its member institutions. President Schill reiterated the Conference’s improvements in graduation rates as measured by the NCAA’s Graduation Success Rate (GSR). With 90% of NCAA Division I student-athletes now graduating during the measured period, the Pac-12 experienced improvements across the Conference, with some member institutions and athletic programs achieving 100% graduation rates among student-athletes in specific sports programs.

The Pac-12 Conference has led or tied the nation in NCAA Championships in 54 of the last 60 years, with the exceptions coming no lower than third. The Conference also debuted its Impact program using the power of sport to promote a culture of diversity and inclusion. It also played a leadership role with its Student-Athlete Health and Well-Being Initiative, which is doing groundbreaking research into injury prevention, brain trauma and mental health.

Other Pac-12 Conference milestones and those of its member institutions can be found on the Pac-12 website.

About the Pac-12 Conference The Conference has a tradition as the “Conference of Champions,” leading the nation in NCAA Championships in 54 of the last 60 years, with 535 NCAA team titles overall. The Conference comprises 12 leading U.S. universities – the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Colorado, the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Stanford University, the University of Southern California, the University of Utah, the University of Washington and Washington State University. For more information on the Conference’s programs and member institutions go to Pac-12.com/conference.

For more information regarding the NCAA’s Graduation Success Rate (GSR), visit here

– Pac-12.com –

Lakers Knock Off Knicks In OT

LOS ANGELES, CA – Rallying from a ten point deficit in the fourth quarter, the Los Angeles Lakers mounted a comeback against the tough, suddenly relevant  New York Knicks on Tuesday night at Staples Center, earning a hard fought scrappy victory in overtime,101-99. A seesaw battle which had 23 lead changes before a new Laker star emerged!


Talen Horton-Tucker hit the game winning three pointer with only 21 ticks left in OT. It was a crucial victory as the Lakers are desperately seeking to avoid the play-in tournament. “Not too many kids from Chicago can say they did that,” beamed Horton-Tucker, who scored 7 of his 13 points in OT.
Tucker was clutch down the stretch, alongside other valuable role players such as Andre Drummond and Wesley Matthews. Injuries have plagued the defending champions all season, Tuesday night was no exception with LeBron James resting that sprained right ankle, and Alex Caruso left early in the first quarter with soreness in his right foot. 


It’s absolutely critical the supporting cast, which has been inconsistent at best, rise to the occasion now that the Playoffs are right around the corner. The Los Angeles Lakers improve to 39-30, still a game back from both the Portland Trailblazers and Dallas Mavericks, trapped in the dreaded NO. 7 seed.


Many in Lakers Nation myself included have been frustrated  with Wes Matthews, a former All-Star the Lakers acquired during the off season. His confidence, not to mention his deadly three point shooting have struggled thus far. That is until last night.


Matthews grabbed an offensive rebound with three seconds left in regulation, and made a put back to send the game into overtime. Kyle Kuzma led the Lakers with 23 points, Anthony Davis added 20 in the victory. 


Tonight marks the final home game in the regular season, hard to believe right? The Lakers will finally unveil their 17th NBA Championship banner in the rafters. LeBron James is also expected to return as well. It all begins at 6:30 with the banner ceremony, followed by tipoff against the Woeful Houston Rockets slated for 7:30 pm PST

LA GILTINIS PLAY IN FIRST PROFESSIONAL RUGBY MATCH AT SOFI STADIUM

Sofi Stadium scoreboard. Photo by Jevone Moore

LOS ANGELES (May 6, 2021) Today, the trailblazing LA Giltinis Rugby team announced a May 15 home game at SoFi Stadium that will be the first-ever chance for fans to experience rugby at the showpiece venue.

SoFi Stadium will make its Major League Rugby (MLR) debut with fans on May 15 when the LA Giltinis face the Utah Warriors at 7 p.m. This match is presented by Gilly’s Legendary Lager.

The opportunity to showcase MLR in the state-of-the-art stadium demonstrates the exponential growth and interest in Rugby in Southern California.

“We are thrilled to be part of history by providing fans of all sports with the opportunity to experience SoFi Stadium for one of the first times,” said Former Australian Wallabies player and Giltinis General Manager Adam Freier.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to showcase to the people of Los Angeles why Rugby is the third biggest sporting event in the world, and we have already seen huge interest here in Los Angeles, which many refer to as the sporting capital of the world.

“We look forward to welcoming guests to SoFi Stadium for our inaugural series of events,” said Jason Gannon, managing director, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. “SoFi Stadium is slated to host a variety of world-class sporting events in the coming years, and we will continue to add dynamic events like Major League Rugby to our list.”

Los Angeles welcomed the Giltinis as the newest professional sports franchise to the City of Angels on March 20 where they began play at the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Due to a scheduling conflict, the May 15 match was moved from the Coliseum to SoFi Stadium. The Coliseum will otherwise remain the Giltinis’ home stadium for the full 2021 season.

A limited number of tickets will be available for the May 15 match, going on-sale Friday, May 7, 12 p.m. PT at Ticketmaster.com.

About Major League Rugby

MLR was founded in 2018 with seven teams and has since expanded to 12 teams this season with the LA Giltinis as the newest club. The current teams in the league are: Austin (TX) Gilgronis; Houston (TX) Sabercats; New England (Boston) Free Jacks; NOLA (New Orleans) Gold; Old Glory DC (Washington, D.C.); Rugby ATL (Atlanta); Rugby United New York; San Diego Legion; Seattle Seawolves; Toronto Arrows; Utah Warriors and the Los Angeles Giltinis.

About the LA Giltinis

The LA Giltinis is our professional Rugby Union Team representing the City of Los Angeles in the Major League Rugby (MLR), named after a premium cocktail based on a Martini. The Giltinis’ home matches are played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and headquarters and practice facility is located in El Segundo, CA. The LA Giltinis are setting the pace in the MLR at 6-0 atop the Western Conference standings with Captain Dave Dennis, Wallabies great Matt Giteau and Head Coach Darren Coleman leading the way. The full 2021 season schedule for the Giltinis can be found by visiting www.giltinis.com and for the full MLR schedule visit www.majorleague.rugby

About SoFi Stadium

SoFi Stadium, the new home of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, is located at Hollywood Park, a near 300-acre sports and entertainment destination being developed by Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke in Inglewood, Calif. The 3.1 million square-foot SoFi Stadium is the largest stadium in the NFL, as well as the first indoor-outdoor stadium. It seats approximately 70,000, expandable up to 100,000, with more than 260 luxury suites and more than 13,000 premium seats. SoFi Stadium has already secured Super Bowl LVI in 2022, the College Football National Championship Game in 2023, and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games in 2028. Adjacent to the stadium and sitting under the same roof canopy is the 2.5-acre American Airlines Plaza and a 6,000-seat performance venue. For more information about SoFi Stadium, visit www.SoFiStadium.com or @SoFiStadium on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

###

WNBA ANNOUNCES BROADCAST AND STREAMING SCHEDULE FOR LEAGUE’S 25th REGULAR SEASON

WNBA 2019: Chicago Sky vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on August 11, 2019. (Photo by Austin Sosa)

–  Regular Season Schedule to Feature 100 National Broadcasts Across

ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS Television Network, CBS Sports Network and NBA TV –

–  Google to be Presenting Partner of the WNBA “25 for 25” on ESPN, Including Opening Weekend ABC Doubleheader Featuring MVPs Elena Delle Donne, Candace Parker, Breanna Stewart, and A’ja Wilson

–  CBS Sports Extends Partnership with WNBA with 40 Regular Season Games per Season under Multi-year Deal –

–  Twitter to Stream 12 games and Oculus from Facebook to Stream 20 games –

NEW YORK, May 3, 2021– The WNBA’s 25th season, which will include a 32-game schedule for each team, will feature 100 national telecasts across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS Television Network, CBS Sports Network and NBA TV. 

A link to the current national television schedule, as well as to games to be streamed on Twitter, Facebook Watch, and Oculus from Facebook, can be found here.

WNBA 2019: #7 Paris Kea blow #3 Tiffany Bias past during a New York Liberty vs Indiana Fever at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on June, 01, 2019 (Photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)

Google, recently announced as a premier supporter of the league as a WNBA Changemaker, as well as an Official Technology Partner and the WNBA’s Official Trends and Fan Insights Partner, will be the presenting partner of the WNBA on ESPN. Google has collaborated with ESPN and the WNBA to deliver “25 for 25”, a 25-game schedule of telecasts across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 in celebration of the WNBA’s 25th season.

In addition, as part of the commitment of CBS Sports to the WNBA, the network and the league, which first partnered in 2019, have announced a multi-year extension of their relationship through which CBS Sports will present WNBA regular season games, including 40 contests this season, featuring up to three games on the CBS Television Network that will also stream live on Paramount+. 

NBA TV, now in its 19th consecutive year of carrying WNBA games, will feature 35 games during the 2021 season. 

In 2021, the WNBA and partners Twitter and Facebook will continue to deliver programming to fans via alternative live streaming platforms.  As Twitter and the WNBA enter the fifth year of their partnership, Twitter will offer a 12-game slate on #WNBATwitterLive, as well as real-time game highlights and post-game interviews. #WNBATwitterLive will also deliver top voices from the sports community and several new ways for fans to engage, including fan Tweets, Q&As, votes and trivia. Facebook, now in its second straight year as a provider of WNBA game action, will present 20 games available on both Facebook Watch and Venues on Oculus Quest.

WNBA League Pass also returns this season offering over 110 games.

“Providing significant opportunities to view WNBA games across traditional and streaming platforms drives expanded coverage to our growing fan base,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.  “Our goal is to deliver as many WNBA games and content to our passionate fans and supporters across platforms that best match the evolution of content consumption. Also, we are grateful to Google and ESPN for collaborating on “25 for 25” and we will continue to look for ways to innovate and shape the future landscape of the fan experience.” 

The WNBA will tip off its landmark 25th regular season in the national spotlight on Friday, May 14, with a weekend of action featuring all 12 teams.

The national telecast schedule gets underway on opening day when NBA TV presents Sabrina Ionescu, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2020, and the New York Liberty hosting the Indiana Fever and Kelsey Mitchell, the WNBA’s sixth-leading scorer last season (7 p.m. ET). Following that game, the action shifts to CBSSN, which will highlight Diana Taurasi, the league’s all-time points leader, and the Phoenix Mercury visiting the Minnesota Lynx, led by back-to-back WNBA Rookie of the Year winners Napheesa Collier and Crystal Dangerfield (9 p.m. ET).  In addition on opening day, Twitter will deliver a matchup of two of the league’s top scorers in 2020 as DeWanna Bonner and the Connecticut Sun visit Chennedy Carter and the Atlanta Dream, whose roster also features Aari McDonald, the No. 3 overall pick in the recent WNBA Draft presented by State Farm® (7:30 p.m. ET).  The final game on opening day is when Facebook carries the WNBA head coaching debut of Vickie Johnson, whose Dallas Wings with 2020 leading scorer Arike Ogumbowale will be in Los Angeles to meet the Sparks, led by a pair of former All-Stars, sisters Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike (10:30 p.m. ET).

WNBA 2016: Phoenix Mercury vs Los Angeles Sparks game during the 20th WNBA Season at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on June 17, 2016. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Nneka Ogwumike going hard at Brittney Griner during the Phoenix Mercury vs Los Angeles Sparks at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on June 17, 2016. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)

The national focus returns Saturday, May 15, with an ABC doubleheader. The spotlight will first shine on two-time league MVP Candace Parker, who will make her debut with the Chicago Sky at Washington against former MVP Elena Delle Donne and the Mystics (1 p.m. ET). Immediately following that game, ABC will turn its attention to Seattle, where reigning WNBA Finals MVP Breanna Stewart, 11-time All-Star selection Sue Bird and the defending champion Storm will receive their championship rings prior to hosting the Las Vegas Aces, led by 2020 regular-season MVP A’ja Wilson and newly acquired All-Star Chelsea Gray (3 p.m. ET). 

Opening weekend wraps up with a pair of games on CBS Sports Network (CBSSN) on Sunday, May 16, as the Liberty and Fever will face each other again, this time in Indiana (2 p.m. ET), and the Mercury will visit the Connecticut Sun (7 p.m. ET).

The regular season, currently scheduled to conclude on Sunday, Sept. 19, and to be followed by a traditional playoffs and Finals format, will include a break from July 15 until Aug. 11, during which time the USA Basketball Women’s National Team will be competing for its seventh consecutive Olympic gold medal.

“We have been extremely proud to collaborate with the WNBA since its inception in 1996,” said Carol Stiff, ESPN vice president, programming & acquisitions, “ESPN is thrilled to continue that relationship by programming 25 games during the regular season for basketball fans in honor of the 25th anniversary of the league. We look forward to continuing our support of the WNBA’s players by spotlighting both their amazing talents and their commitment to social justice on the national stage.”

“We are excited to extend our partnership with the WNBA for years to come and bring high quality basketball to fans across the nation,” said Dan Weinberg, Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports. “The CBS Sports schedule, highlighted by two broadcast games on the CBS Television Network and three games on CBS Sports Network throughout opening weekend, will bring amazing action featuring some of the biggest names in the league to a wide audience throughout the summer. We are thrilled to be a part of the league’s 25th season celebration and showcase the best players in the world on our networks.”

Highlights of the Broadcast Schedule for the WNBA “25 for 25” on ESPN presented by Google

  • In honor of the WNBA’s 25th season and 25 years of airing WNBA games, ESPN networks – the league’s longest-running broadcast partner – will present 25 telecasts over the course of the regular season, including three on ESPN, 12 on ESPN2, and an all-time high nine on ABC.  ESPN also will air AT&T WNBA All-Star 2021, details of which will be announced in the near future. 
  • Additionally, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 will provide coverage of up to 19 postseason games during the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google and the WNBA Finals 2021 presented by YouTube TV.
  • All ESPN telecasts during the regular season and postseason will stream live on the ESPN app.
  • In addition to airing an opening weekend doubleheader, ABC will present a second doubleheader on Saturday, June 5, featuring Las Vegas at Washington (1 p.m. ET) and the return of Candace Parker to Los Angeles as the Chicago Sky visit the Sparks (3 p.m. ET).
  • In honor of the WNBA’s Inaugural Game in 1997, ESPN will televise a rematch of the Liberty at Sparks on Sunday, June 20 (4 p.m. ET), when Ionescu and New York visit L.A. and 2016 MVP Nneka Ogwumike.
  • ESPN will televise a matchup of the WNBA’s career points leader, Taurasi, against the league’s all-time assists leader, Bird, on Friday, July 9, when the Phoenix Mercury host the Seattle Storm (9 p.m. ET).
  • Playoff seeding could be on the line on the final day of the regular season, Sunday, Sept. 19, when Phoenix hosts Las Vegas on ABC (3 p.m. ET).

Highlights of the CBS Sports Telecast Schedule

  • The CBS Television Network and CBS Sports Network will combine to carry 40 games, including up to three on CBS Television Network, with all CBS Television Network games streaming live on Paramount+.
  • CBS Television Network will feature a rematch between 2020 first-round playoff opponents Connecticut and Chicago on Saturday, June 19 when the Sun visit the Sky (2 p.m. ET), and on Saturday, June 26 will spotlight the 2019 champion Washington Mystics at Dallas, against 2020 WNBA scoring leader Arike Ogunbowale and the Wings, who made history during the WNBA Draft presented by State Farm on April 15, becoming the first team in league history to make the No. 1 (Charli Collier) and No. 2 (Awak Kuier) overall selections (1 p.m. ET). Both matchups will also be streamed live on Paramount+.
  • Following an off-season of unprecedented player movement, CBSSN will present some of the most anticipated action when stars take the court against their former teams for the first time…
  • Las Vegas’ Chelsea Gray, a three-time All-Star during her tenure with Los Angeles, will lace them up against her former team for the first time on Friday, May 21, when the Sparks visit the Aces (10:30 p.m. ET).
  • Chicago’s Candace Parker, a two-time league MVP in her 13 seasons with Los Angeles, will meet her former team for the first time on Friday, May 28 when the Sky host the Sparks (8 p.m. ET).
  • And New York’s Natasha Howard, the 2019 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time champion with Seattle, will go up against her former team for the first time when the Storm visits the Liberty on Wednesday, Aug. 18 (7 p.m. ET).

Highlights of the NBA TV Telecast Schedule

  • While NBA TV will air the very first game of the season on opening day and carry a total of 35 contests, the network will place a particular focus on the race to the playoffs, delivering 29 telecasts – more than any other national carrier – when play resumes following the in-season break.
  • NBA TV’s coverage will bracket the first part of the WNBA’s 2021 schedule when the network televises the very first game of the season (Indiana at New York on May 14 at 7 p.m. ET) and the final game before the break (Minnesota at Los Angeles on July 11 at 9 p.m. ET).

Highlights of Twitter Content

  • Twitter’s 12-game package, available via @WNBA, will feature in game commentary from basketball insiders, influencers and WNBA legends.
  • On Friday May 21, Twitter will deliver a matchup between the Atlanta Dream and the Indiana Fever (7 p.m. ET). Then on Tuesday, May 25, Twitter will spotlight the WNBA’s two most recent No. 1 overall draft selections when 2021 top pick Charli Collier and the Wings visit the Liberty and Sabrina Ionescu, the No. 1 pick in 2020 (7 p.m. ET).
  • As part of the WNBA’s effort to bring fans closer to live game action, game presentations on Twitter will incorporate fan tweets as an overlay, polls for fans to vote on certain elements of the game, and real-time engagements with the commentators in unique ways.

Highlights of Facebook Watch and Venues on Oculus Quest Content

  • Fifteen games prior to the in-season break and five when the league returns to action will be available on Facebook Watch via the WNBA Facebook page. The broadcasts will feature interactive elements that take advantage of the Facebook Watch social video platform.
  • These same games will be available in 2D through Venues on Oculus Quest headsets (both Quest and Quest 2). 
  • The schedule tips off on opening night, Friday, May 14, when it carries the Dallas Wings who will be in Los Angeles to meet the Sparks (10:30 p.m. ET).
  • Coverage wraps up on Friday, Sept. 17, when Minnesota is at Indiana (7 p.m. ET).
  • A leading virtual reality platform, Oculus is an Official Marketing Partner of the WNBA and an associate partner of the WNBA’s Believe in Women platform. 

About the WNBA

Entering its 25th season in 2021, the WNBA is a bold, progressive basketball league that stands for the power of women. Featuring 12 teams, the W is a unique sports property that combines competition and entertainment with a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and social responsibility. Through its world-class athletes, the in-game fan experience, TV and digital broadcasts, digital and social content, and community outreach programs, the league celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it.

In 2020, the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) signed a groundbreaking eight-year CBA that charts a new course for women’s basketball – and women’s sports overall – with a focus on increased player compensation, improvements to the player experience, expanded career development opportunities and resources specifically tailored to the female professional athlete. Key elements of the agreement are supported through the league’s new partnership platform, WNBA Changemakers, with AT&T, the WNBA’s Marquee Partner and inaugural Changemaker, as well as fellow inaugural Changemakers Deloitte and Nike. In addition, during the 2020 season, the WNBA and WNBPA launched the WNBA Justice Movement forming the Social Justice Council with the mission of being a driving force of necessary change and continuing conversations about race and voting rights, among other important societal issues.

For more information, visit WNBA.com.

AMAZON PRIME VIDEO TO BECOME THE EXCLUSIVE HOME OF THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL BEGINNING WITH THE 2022 SEASON

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 back to pass at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Ca on November 19, 2018. Jevone Moore

NFL accelerates the start of the League’s first ever all-digital package one year ahead of schedule

MAY 3, 2021: The National Football League announced today that Amazon Prime Video will be the exclusive home of Thursday Night Football beginning with the 2022 season. Amazon will distribute Primetime’s 2nd most-watched show across hundreds of compatible digital devices. The NFL’s original agreement with Amazon, announced as part of a larger series of media distribution deals this past March, had Amazon Prime Video distributing Thursday Night Football starting with the 2023 season.

Nov 29: NFL QB Ben Roethlisberger calling our signals during Pittsburgh Steelers at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Washington. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)

With this development, the 2021 season will be the last for Thursday Night Football on FOX. As part of the recent long-term media deals, FOX will continue to produce the National Football Conference (NFC) package of Sunday afternoon games with a focus on America’s Game of the Week, the most-watched show in all of television for the last 12 seasons and the most-watched NFL window for the last 20 seasons.

The NFL and Amazon first partnered on Thursday Night Football as part of a tri-cast distribution model during the 2017 season, initially with CBS/NBC and then with FOX starting in 2018.

With its new media distribution agreements the NFL has expanded its digital footprint to reach a broader audience and enhanced the ability of its media partners to innovate around their productions and provide interactive elements such as stats/data, chat and integrated social feeds as part of their digital presentations. 

The NFL continues to be the only sports league that delivers all of its games – regular season and playoffs – on free, over-the-air television. (Thursday Night Football will be carried on free over-the-air television in the broadcast markets of the participating teams.)  

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2021 NFL Draft sees 28 Pac-12 selections

2019 Holiday Bowl St. Brown running after a catch on Friday December 27, 2019. (Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 news)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The Pac-12 Conference had 28 players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, highlighted by OREGON offensive tackle Penei Sewell (seventh overall selection by the Detroit Lions), USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker (14th overall selection by the New York Jets) and WASHINGTON outside linebacker Joe Tryon (32nd overall selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers). The three selections marked the 11th consecutive NFL Draft that the Pac-12 has had at least three players selected in the first round.

After Sewell was selected with the seventh overall pick, it marked the second time in school history for the Ducks to have Top 10 picks in back-to-back years (also, Justin Herbert selected sixth overall by the Chargers in 2020) and the first time since 2015-16 when Marcus Mariota was selected second overall in 2015 and DeForest Buckner seventh overall in 2016. The seventh spot marked the highest ever by an offensive lineman for Oregon (previous, Kyle Long selected 20th overall in 2013) and the highest by a Pac-12 offensive lineman since 2012 (USC’s Matt Kalil selected fourth overall by Minnesota).

USC has now seen back-to-back years with an offensive lineman selected in the first round after Vera-Tucker was selected 14th overall (also, Austin Jackson selected 18th overall by Miami in 2020). Vera-Tucker is the 24th Trojan offensive lineman selected in the first round since 1967, the most such selections by any school over that stretch. In total for USC, the Trojans have had 72 first-round picks since 1967, tied for the most of any school over that stretch (also, Ohio State).

Washington’s Tryon is the first Husky defensive player to be selected in the first round since 2018 when Vita Vea was selected 12th overall, also by Tampa Bay.

UCLA Bruins running back Demetric Felton #10 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA on Saturday November 2, 2019. (Photo by Jevone Moore)

Pac-12/NFL Draft Notes:

  • Oregon saw four defensive backs selected in the 2021 Draft, tied for the most this year (also, Georgia). Prior to 2021, four defensive backs from one school occurred only 11 times and just three times in the last 20 years.
  • The Detroit Lions selected four Pac-12 players, the most of any NFL team (Sewell, Levi Onwuzurike, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jermar Jefferson).
  • In total, 10 Pac-12 programs had at least one player selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, led by Oregon, Stanford and USC each with five picks. For the Ducks, five picks are their most since also having five in 2015. For the Trojans, five is their most since also having five in 2017. For the Cardinal, five is their most since also having five in 2019.  
  • Pac-12 was fourth among all conferences with 28 selections, trailing the 14-team SEC (65) and Big Ten (44) conferences and 15-team ACC (42).
  • Over the past three years, the Pac-12 has had 93 players selected in the NFL Draft, 2.58 per school in the 12-team league. Averaged by school, 2.58 is the third-most of any Power 5 conference over the last three years, trailing the 14-team SEC (192/4.57) and Big Ten (132/3.14) conferences. 

Selections by School – 2021 NFL Draft

  • Oregon – 5
  • Stanford – 5
  • USC – 5
  • Washington – 4
  • Arizona – 2
  • Oregon State – 2
  • UCLA – 2
  • Arizona State – 1
  • California – 1
  • Colorado – 1
PlayerPositionPac-12 SchoolNFL TeamRound / Overall Pick
Penei SewellOTOregonDetroit Lions1st / 7th
Alijah Vera-TuckerOLUSCNew York Jets1st / 14th
Joe TryonOLBWashingtonTampa Bay Buccaneers 1st / 32nd
Jevon HollandSOregonMiami Dolphins2nd / 36th
Levi OnwuzurikeDLWashingtonDetroit Lions2nd / 41st
Walker LittleOTStanfordJacksonville Jaguars2nd / 45th
Davis MillsQBStanfordHouston Texans3rd / 67th
Osa OdighizuwaDTUCLADallas Cowboys3rd / 75th
Paulson AdeboCBStanfordNew Orleans Saints3rd / 76th
Nahshon WrightCBOregon StateDallas Cowboys3rd / 99th
Elijah MoldenCBWashingtonTennessee Titans3rd / 100th
Jay TufeleDTUSCJacksonville Jaguars4th / 106th
Amon-Ra St. BrownWRUSCDetroit Lions4th / 112th
Drew DalmanCStanfordAtlanta Falcons4th / 114th
Camryn BynumSCalMinnesota Vikings4th / 125th
Keith TaylorCBWashingtonCarolina Panthers5th / 166th
Deommodore LenoirCBOregonSan Francisco 49ers5th / 172nd
Simi FehokoWRStanfordDallas Cowboys5th / 179th
Talanoa HufangaSUSCSan Francisco 49ers5th / 180th
Frank DarbyWRArizona StateAtlanta Falcons6th / 187th
Marlon TuipulotuDTUSCPhiladelphia Eagles6th / 189th
Roy LopezDLArizonaHouston Texans6th / 195th
Gary BrightwellRBArizonaNew York Giants6th / 196th
Will ShermanOLColoradoNew England Patriots6th / 197th
Demetric FeltonRBUCLACleveland Browns6th / 211th
Brady BreezeSOregonTennessee Titans6th / 228th
Thomas Graham Jr.DBOregonChicago Bears6th / 228th
Jermar JeffersonRBOregon StateDetroit Lions7th / 257th

YOU SHOULD KNOW ME: RICHARD HUMPHREY “THE KING OF ROLLERDANCE”

“You should know me” is an ongoing column that is intended to introduce accomplished Bay Area artists and entertainers to the mainstream media.  I have the pleasure of introducing you to Richard Humphrey.  If you have ever seen a roller-skating routine that had eye-catching flair and rhythm, there is a high probability that you can credit Richard.   Since Covid-19, we have seen social media explode with these fantastic routines and more people skating outdoors.  Richard’s imprint on roller-skating can be seen throughout the world.  So why don’t we know Richard Humphrey?    Too often, the general public’s knee-jerk reaction is to assume that some personal issue has prevented superstardom.  I presented some of these questions to “The King” and requested nothing but the uncut truth.

HOW ARE YOU QUALIFIED TO BE TERMED THE KING OF ROLLERDANCE?

Richard asserts that he is the pioneer for teaching choreographed roller skating routines.  He originated using VCR tapes to teach the foundational steps, which is now the skating blueprint for all the routines you see on wheels.   The skating world has 4 Central Locations: Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Venice Beach, San Diego Beach, and Central Park in New York.   You can travel to any of these locations and see the Humphrey blueprint in action.  Richard has traveled throughout the United States, Germany, Brazil, and London to teach Rollerdance.  Richard appeared in the movie “Roll Bounce” and is widely known and respected on all the major skating scenes.  At this point, I was uncertain if his King status was self-proclaimed.

HAVE YOU BEEN ENDORSED AS THE KING BY THE MEDIA AND GENERAL PUBLIC?

Richard has been summoned to appear before thousands at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House and performed as the opening acts for comedians Ronny Schell and Phyllis Diller.  Kristi Yamaguchi, Gold Medalist Ice Skater, hired Richard to assist in her choreography.  In 2006, Ebony magazine featured Richard, to which you can see Janet Jackson on the cover.  Damon Wayans hired Richard to be a stunt double in the movie the Underground.  In 2009, Reidell, a leading skate manufacturer, debuted the “No Strings Attached Humphrey Skate Boot.”  It was the first skating boot with no laces.  Also, Reidell released his signature wheel called “Golden Roller Bones.”   You may have gotten a view of the No Strings Attached if you tuned into an episode of Dr. Oz, when Richard attempted to show Dr. Oz how to get down on skates.

HOW DID HIS SKATING JOURNEY BEGIN?

Richard was just a kid from Fillmore, San Francisco, who loved track, bowling, and sports.   Richard was inspired by an article in Roller Skating magazine written in 1979 on Bill Butler, a New York Skating Pioneer.  Also, credit is given to David Miles, San Francisco’s Godfather of Skate.  Richard connected with DeWayne McDaniels and Wayne Evans and formed a group called the Golden Rollers.  They perfected the “Alpha Kick,” splits on skates, which is known in the skating community as the “#1.” The Golden Rollers appeared on Real People, an Emmy nominated television show.  He started skating 40 years ago and never stopped. 

HOW CAN ROLLERDANCE BE MONOTIZED?

There have been attempts to bring Rollerdance to the mainstream.  In 1978, Saul Zaents, producer of the Lord of the Rings, filmed Richard in a pilot series called Dancing Wheels.  In 1999, Richard received a patent for “The Rollerdeck Plus Fitness Machine,” a self-contained portable floor for skaters on the go.  Richard has a disdain for people that brand themselves as “certified instructors” and charge people for lessons.  He expressed that some people have taken his VCR instructional videos, rebranded them, and changed the names of the moves.  It is just the reality of capitalism.  One of the major impediments to profit from skating is that you need to own a rink.  You need to have an owner that embraces the skating community that provides the flare.  Unfortunately, the lack of diversity in rink ownership limits the exposure and opportunities to grown this brand of skating.  Richard opines that the owners simply don’t want “you people” to come to their rink.  As such, he has moved his classes outside. 

HOW CAN PEOPLE JOIN THE ROLLERDANCE FAMILY?

Every Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm, you can join 50-70 people of the Rollerdance Academy at San Lorenzo Community Park.  Log onto www.rollerdance.com to stay current with the newest trends in skating.  Check out his YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/aJjn) called the “Hook Up” to learn skating routines and get instructions.  Instagram @richardhumphrey is also a great place to be part of the movement.  I had the pleasure of joining a few classes and purchasing some custom skates from Richard.  This is a person with a very soothing and charismatic spirit.  Some people have a synergy that brings like-minded and spirited people together.  It was a simple pleasure to meet Richard Humphrey, “The King of Rollerdance.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMcz7YWB-Mu/? m_source=ig_web_copy_link

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Rollerdance.com Richard Humphrey

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