Good Moves for Versus/NBC Sports Network

It's been a good week or so for Versus, which will officially become NBC Sports Network on Jan. 2, 2012.

With a couple of important deal (one moreso than the other), the announcement of some potentially strong programming and the return of legendary Dick Ebersol as an adviser to NBC Sports in general, the soon-to-be re-branded network, the latest all-sports hopeful to someday challenge ESPN, has gained some important traction.

Here's a look at the moves, act-and-react style, in order of importance:

Act: NBC Sports Network signs three-year deal with MLS (beginning in 2012), which complements an existing 10-year agreement with NHL.
React: A decent and necessary move to gain some programming and live game action, something any sports network needs. And they are professional leagues, so it's something. Still, it's hockey and soccer. Think of them as rungs on the sporting step ladder. If something better existed, and a deal could be made, NBC Sports Network would step up if it could. Maybe someday it will. For now, it's a programming and a consistent home network for fans of those sports.

Act: Versus to debut original programing next week.
React: Every network needs some homegrown staples, and it seems like every cable network has at least one such series -- from "Jersey Shore" on MTV to "Pawn Stars" on History Channel and many, many more. A couple of sports-talk/studio shows might not reach that level, but with "NBC SportsTalk" (6 p.m. weeknights) and especially "CNBC Sports Biz: Game On" (7 p.m Fridays) the network might have something worth watching. The NFL show promises Mike Florio and Peter King on Friday nights. Best of all, the sports business show, with Darren Rovell could emerge quickly as must-see sports TV. Rovell ranks as the Evel Knievel or sports business coverage because he basically invented the genre and continually sets the standard. He's aggressive, connected and entertaining enough to make a half-hour show seem short. And, he'll do a good job harnessing social media to add another layer for the show and keep it relevant with certain demographics without, hopefully, alienating others.

Act: NBC Sports announces Dick Ebersol has been retained as a "senior adviser."
React: So much for a divorce or long hiatus. After a separation that started in May over a disagreement with Comcast Corp., which purchased NBC, the legendary sports television executive has returned just in time for the start of the NFL season. He'll work on the big network's "Sunday Night Football" package (including next week's Thursday night opener featuring the New Orleans Saints and Greeen Bay Packers) and will be in London next summer for the "all live" Olympic coverage promised by the network. Maybe it's a bad thing for whoever hoped to emerge from his shadow, but with so much of sports TV business and success based on relationships, it's a huge return for NBC. More importantly, as NBC Sports Network grows and seeks to land the better programming (the NFL) having Ebersol around will certainly help.

Act: Versus/NBC Sports Network reaches agreement with NFL and NFL Films to air weekly "Turning Point" program beginning Sept. 15.
React: Now this is bigger than a deal with the MLS -- by miles. It's even more important than Ebersol's return. That's because the deal gives the all-sports network an presence as an NFL partner. At this point, it's just one show a week, a highlights-based look ahead at the coming week's game on NBC (so it's valuable as cross-promotion, too), but it could certainly set the groundwork for a bigger relationship in the future. With the NFL expected to open bidding on another piece of its TV package, something on cable during the week, that's a property that would attract interest from a channel like NBC Sports Network. So if things go smoothly with "Turning Point" and the talk shows mentioned earlier, that could position the network to get its hands on the most important property in sports television -- the NFL. Weekly shows will air at 10 p.m. Thursdays, and be produced by NFL Films, which means the network will get a high-quality show as well.

'GameDay' Campaign Kicks off Strong Again

Perhaps it's not surprising that the best sports show on TV has he best commercial promos, but the folks who shill "College GameDay" on ESPN have done it again.

As the show begins its 25th season, a new series of commercials will hit the air beginning Monday. Some of the spots are already online, though -- including one that celebrates the quirks of LSU coach Les Miles and another that pokes fun at the sideline signing system used by Oregon coach Chip Kelly and his staff.

Wong, Doody, Crandall, Wiener was the creative agency for the campaign.

Future spots will feature Oklahoma's Sooner Schooner and Oregon State's Benny Beaver. As usual, though, veteran analyst Lee Corso inevitably finds a way to shine and all of the on-air talent plays their roles perfectly -- just as they do with news and analysis most Saturdays.

Here's a look at the first two commercials ...
LSU and Les Miles


Oregon's Chip Kelly

ESPN's 'Blueprint' a Start, But More Necessary

With scandals at Ohio State and Miami still fresh in the minds of sports fans -- and still months from being settled -- ESPN has a timely backdrop for its "College Football Blueprint for Change," which airs for a half hour beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday on ESPN in the typical spot for "Outside the Lines."

Segments of the session have aired on "SportsCenter" and "College Football Live" this week and an hour-long version of the show is scheduled to air at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday on ESPNU. Re-airs are scheduled at 5 p.m. Monday and at 11 a.m. Aug. 27 on ESPN.

The show, which was edited into a "series" for the nightly shows, features panelists discussing topical issues such as pay-for-play, the postseason, and recruiting and enforcement rules.

Along with host Rece Davis, those involved include: ESPN college football analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Urban Meyer, Mark May, Mike Bellotti, Robert Smith and Rod Gilmore; ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas; current college football coaches Nick Saban (Alabama) and Bob Stoops (Oklahoma); former Big East Conference commissioner Mike Tranghese; and current Tennessee athletic director Joan Cronan.

It's a generally good show and not a bad start in terms of addressing issues. It remains just a start, though.

ESPN can, and should, do more -- and in a more visible fashion. Half an hour on Sunday morning? An hour (sure, several times) on ESPNU? Not enough.

In many ways, ESPN and the media are just as complicit as those breaking the rules for the way they've changed intercollegiate athletics. If change is to come, such topical shows do provide a blueprint, but a structure and more substance must follow.

More regular issue-oriented shows would be nice, perhaps on a regular basis (quarterly?) with different guests, and guests that wield the influence necessary to move toward change.

Again, it's a start (see excerpt below) -- but the topic, and viewers, deserve more.

CBS Bags Interesting Interview w/Caddy

Put the microphone in front of caddy Steve Williams after his guy wins a tournament and you get an interesting interview -- an interview that might have been more about sending a message to his former boss that sharing his enjoyment with Adam Scott.

Then again, maybe he's just honestly happy and sincere. Take a look:

Network Hooks Longhorns with Problems

At some point (and we're past that point), you have to wonder how the folks at ESPN, the University of Texas and even throughout the Big 12 Conference failed to overlook the obvious regarding the soon-to-be-launched Longhorn Network.

A competitive advantage for UT? Certainly.

How could it be overlooked? Impossible to believe.

In fairness, ESPN and UT were blinded by the money and the potential windfall from a network that airs only Longhorn sports and university-related programming. It's another brand and another revenue stream.

For other Big 12 Conference members, the possibilities were clearly never considered. After all, the channel came about when the conference was about do dissolve and UT was flexing its muscle to keep things alive after the departure of Nebraska for the Big Ten Conference.

Texas is the bell cow for the Big 12, and the other members that were suckling it to remain alive and together were no doubt happy to have a reason for the Longhorns to remain. So they hardly questioned the network when it was proposed.

In theory -- and eventually in reality -- it's not a bad idea.

We've seen the success of a conference channel (with the Big Ten Network) so it only made sense that some big, powerful school would attempt to anchor its own channel. Few schools have the following to make such a channel possible, but Texas is in that limited group and BYU believes it can do the same.

However, compared to the Big Ten Network, which does a good job of balancing hours of programming dedicated to specific schools and sports, the Longhorn Network would be all UT all the time. That's not the major problem in some aspects, though, because the Longhorns' opponents in games that air on the network would get exposure as well. Even if games would only be a small portion of the programming, it could be argued that all parties could benefit from the network's existence.

Beyond that, UT would get huge benefits in terms of exposure with coaches shows and other programs. That's something other schools could not match.

In addition, the Longhorn Network had planned to air high school football games, something that would clearly benefit UT in terms of perception and recruiting. That's the network's biggest problem, and it's good the games have been put on hold.

The potential has even prompted the NCAA to order a confab with those involved in all existing and potential conference and team channels. That "summit" will take place Aug. 22 in Indianapolis, and it's a necessary meeting.

Although the NCAA often reacts to changes without providing guidance and leadership, this reaction makes sense. Hopefully some direction and leadership will emerge from the meeting.

It's clear that Texas and its people are not prepared to bring leadership and perspective to the situation. After all, UT football coach Mack Brown has vocally dismissed the network as creating any possible recruiting advantage for his program, and to make that argument he has to either be clueless or immensely ill-informed.

Are You Ready for Some Football?

One of the most certain signs of an NFL lockout settlement came late last week, when Hank Williams Jr. filmed this season's promos for "Monday Night Football" during a long session in Florida.

For the 62-year-old country music superstar (and make no mistake, he's so well known in part because of the success of those "MNF" promos), the annual sessions provide a reason to be excited. Especially because what was supposed to be a one-year deal in 1989 has earned an anticipated spot in U.S. sports culture.

A generation of fans know "MNF" only with Hank Jr. kicking off the action, and his role in the weekly telecasts has lasted longer than almost any other talent associated with the show.

The season's game-opening segments were taped during a long day at on campus at Full Sail University, an award-winning school for entertainment media, and included dozens of faculty and students from the school as well as a couple hundred extras.

And, while NBC has tried its own musical opening with Faith Hill, it's OK but just not the same. The Peacock Network should have stuck with its original female singer -- Pink. Because if you're going to be different -- different, entertaining and strong are good.

ACT: Hope Solo tells Dana Jacobson the U.S. women's soccer team did not choke. Video
REACT: Some people, including ESPN analyst Tommy Smyth, disagree because they believe the U.S. team could've done a better job protecting the lead. Twice. Still, it's good to have a bit of analysis and a sports-talk feel in the aftermath of the Women's World Cup. Otherwise, it's not a sporting event. It's just some cultural experience. Still, the dynamic of the questioning by Jacobson, and Solo's response, was polite and subdued compared to other such situations with other sports. If you listen/watch closely, though, you see that Solo takes the typical jock, people-do-not-understand-the-sport defense as at least part of her response.

ACT: HBO's Ross Greeenburg decides not to renew contract and leaves the company.
REACT: A potentially impactful loss for sports on TV. Hopefully HBO has enough of a culture established to withstand his departure, but he's been that good and that much of a driving force. Boxing on HBO never waned (despite the sport's problems) under his leadership. Plus, he created "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" and the "Hard Knocks" series. During his tenure, HBO earned 51 Sports Emmy Awards.

ACT: Shaq joins TNT as a basketball analyst.
REACT: A wise decision by the Big Analyst. They'll find a better role for him and he'll make the same amount of money and work less (over many fewer platforms) than he would have at ESPN. Plus, he'll still get all kinds of media attention.

ACT: Poynter Project reviews Bruce Feldman, ESPN situation. Link
REACT: So, he was not suspended, just asked not to do some work for a while. Sure, that's believable. It was just a poorly handled situation all the way around. Honestly, communications companies may communicate more poorly than any kind of business. In the end, it's not ESPN but Feldman who takes the bigger hit, and that's a shame because he's good and deserves to be in a better situation.

ACT: K-Swiss unveils long-form, online commercial. Video
REACT: It's supposed to be irreverent and naughty, something that could garner buzz and gain traction online. It's a nice premise, but it's just OK -- a little much to much. It's too long. Plus, dropping all the f-bombs happens just because they can and becomes self-serving.

Women's Soccer Always More Than a Game

As reliable as the once-every-four-years schedule and publicity blitz that puts the Women's World Cup front and center for sports fans, some people invariably attempt to make the games and the outcome about more than the games themselves.

It's not just compelling action and exceptional athletes, it's something more, some window into a bigger cultural or sports issue. And that's a shame, because it detracts from what's happening on the field. (OK, the pitch in this case.)

It's NOT about Title IX, and it's NOT about the acceptance or growth of women's sports internationally. Sure, those things happen as a result of the tournament, but that's not what it's about.

It's about the competition, the competitors and the games. It's about winning. (Cue the Charlie Sheen sound bite.)

Making the ancillary or aftermath things the story actually detracts from the effort and performance of those playing the games.

People in the United States rally around the Women's World Cup -- Sunday's game (2 p.m., ESPN) could draw one of the largest TV ratings ever for a women's soccer game and interest has prompted ESPN to boost its production bells and whistles for the championship game -- because:
1) it requires minimal investment, you only need to pay attention for one week every four years;
2) because of nationalistic pride, a lot of people like to wrap themselves in the flag, or any red, white and blue apparel;
3) because we're winning, and people love to jump bandwagons and put their pointer finger in the air; and
4) because they've been programmed to care by a consistent media onslaught led by ESPN and supported by outlets of almost all types across the country.

That's all a good thing. Shared sports experiences are special, and this particular team seems determined, gritty, successful and talented -- all good things.

That does not mean women's professinal soccer has a future in the United Sates, because it has proven it probably does not. Nor does it mean more consistent coverage of women's college soccer in the future, because that's not the case either.

Still, the Women's World Cup is fun. It's good sports action, and it's really good TV -- thanks in large part to Ian Darke.

Yes, I'm sure its empowering and reaffirming for some, too. That's just not THE story. This is not 1973 with Billy Jean King in some made-for-TV tennis mismatch against circus barker/over-the-hill loudmouth Bobby Riggs.

No, this is 2011, with a women's soccer team worth watching because they're that good and nothing more. Let's just enjoy it for that and nothing more.