By Ryan Berenz

I feel kind of dirty posting this, considering the absurdity of it all, but I’m sure this program will get a ton of viewers. Reports are that LeBron is favoring joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, so maybe someone from a competing network will confirm it and report it before ESPN does and we can all skip this circus. (Yeah, I know about the proceeds going to charity thing. Doesn’t make it any less silly.) Here is the release from ESPN:

“The Decision” to be Presented Live on ESPN Thursday at 9 p.m. ET

LeBron James to Make Formal Announcement as to Where He’ll Play Next

One of the most anticipated decisions in the sports world – where NBA superstar free agent LeBron James will play next season and beyond – will be officially revealed on “The Decision,” to be presented live on ESPN and ESPN Radio Thursday, July 8, at 9 p.m. ET.

Proceeds from “The Decision” will be donated to Boys & Girls Club of America in support of James’ vision to construct basketball courts for youth across the country. The program will be co-presented by University of Phoenix and Bing. vitaminwater® and McDonald’s will also sponsor the program. In addition, Nike and Sprite are making contributions in support of this charitable initiative. LeBron James and his marketing company, LRMR Marketing, were responsible for securing the sponsors for this unique event.
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Categories: Sports, TV News & Program Updates by Cubicle QB
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Tags: Basketball, ESPN, LeBron James, NBA, Sports, The Decision, TV News & Program Updates

By Ryan Berenz

Familiar foes will battle again for the 2010 NBA championship, as the 2009 champion L.A. Lakers take on the 2008 NBA champion Boston Celtics (who beat the Lakers for their most recent title). Together, these two teams have combined for 32 NBA championships, and will play each other in the NBA Finals for the 12th time. ABC has exclusive coverage of the best-of-seven series beginning Thursday, June 3 at 9pm ET. Here’s the full schedule, followed by ESPN’s release on all their coverage plans:

Los Angeles wins series 4-3

Game 1: Thursday, June 3: Los Angeles 102, Boston 89
Game 2: Sunday, June 6: Boston 103, Los Angeles 94
Game 3: Tuesday, June 8: Los Angeles 91, Boston 84
Game 4: Thursday, June 10: Boston 96, Los Angeles 89
Game 5: Sunday, June 13: Boston 92, Los Angeles 86
Game 6: Tuesday, June 15: Los Angeles 89, Boston 67
Game 7: Thursday, June 17: Los Angeles 83, Boston 79

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Categories: Sports, TV News & Program Updates by Cubicle QB
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Tags: ABC, Basketball, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Finals, Sports, TV News & Program Updates

By Ryan

The NBA playoffs inch ever closer to the NBA Finals, as the conference finals get underway with the Boston Celtics vs. the Orlando Magic in the East and the L.A. Lakers against the Phoenix Suns in the West. Complete schedules and releases from ESPN and TNT/NBA TV are below:

NBA Playoff Coverage on ESPN and ABC

ESPN’s exclusive Eastern Conference Finals schedule featuring the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic will begin Sunday, May 16, at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.  Coverage will continue Tuesday, May 18, at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.  All games will also be available on ESPN Radio.  NBA games airing on ESPN are also available via ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV.  Mike Breen will call the games airing on ESPN and ABC with analysts Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy and reporter Doris Burke.  Jim Durham will provide commentary for the Eastern Conference Finals on ESPN Radio with analyst Dr. Jack Ramsay. ESPN Radio will also broadcast the Western Conference Finals between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers beginning Monday, May 17, at 8 p.m.  Kevin Calabro will describe the action with analyst Hubie Brown.  Schedule:
Date                      Time (ET)        Matchup                          Network
Sun, May 16        3:30 p.m.             Boston 92, Orlando 88         ABC
Tue, May 18        8:30 p.m.             Boston 95, Orlando 92        ESPN
Sat, May 22         8:30 p.m.            Boston 94, Orlando 71           ESPN
Mon, May 24      8:30 p.m.            Orlando 96, Boston 92           ESPN
Wed, May 26*      8:30 p.m.             Orlando 113, Boston 92      ESPN
Fri, May 28*         8:30 p.m.             Orlando at Boston           ESPN
Sun, May 30*       8:30 p.m.             Boston at Orlando           ESPN

*If Necessary

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Categories: Sports, TV News & Program Updates by Cubicle QB
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Tags: ABC, Basketball, Boston Celtics, ESPN, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Playoffs, NBA TV, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Sports, TNT, TV News & Program Updates

By Ryan

The NBA regular season is over and the playoff matchups are set. First-round action begins Saturday, April 17, at 3pm ET on ABC with the Bulls at the Cavaliers. Full first-round schedule below. (We’ll try to fill in the TBD TV games as promptly as we can, so check back.)

2010 NBA Playoffs First Round Schedule

*If necessary. TBD – to be determined. All times Eastern.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 Cleveland vs. No. 8 Chicago
Cleveland wins series 4-1.

No. 2 Orlando vs. No. 7 Charlotte
Orlando wins series 4-0.

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Categories: Sports, TV News & Program Updates by Cubicle QB
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Tags: ABC, Basketball, ESPN, NBA, NBA TV, Sports, TNT, TV News & Program Updates

By Ryan

The NBA regular season tips off Oct. 27, with the Celtics at the Cavaliers and the Clippers at the Lakers, both on TNT. Here’s the entire NBA regular-season TV schedule for games on ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV:

2009-10 NBA National TV Schedule

All Times Eastern. Additional NBA Games Televised In Your Area. Check Local Listings. Schedule Subject To Change.

OCTOBER

Tuesday, Oct. 27
Boston at Cleveland, 7:30pm (TNT)
L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers, 10:30pm (TNT)

Wednesday, Oct. 28
New Orleans at San Antonio, 8pm (ESPN)
Utah at Denver, 10:30pm (ESPN)

Thursday, Oct. 29
San Antonio at Chicago, 8pm (TNT)
Denver at Portland, 10:30pm (TNT)

Friday, Oct. 30
Chicago at Boston, 8pm (ESPN)
Dallas at L.A. Lakers, 10:30pm (ESPN)
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Categories: Sports, TV News & Program Updates by Cubicle QB
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Tags: ABC, Basketball, ESPN, NBA, NBA TV, Sports, TNT, TV News & Program Updates

By Ryan

I’ll readily admit that the NBA Draft is not something I typically take a great deal of interest in. This year, I am exceptionally disinterested because 1) This draft class is horrible, and 2) There will be no Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s draft coverage. Over the past few drafts, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Stephen A. Smith Heckling Society of Gentlemen and the work they’ve done at the NBA Draft. The SASHSG will be back this year, but it appears as though it will be their final appearance:

Details of ESPN’s NBA Draft coverage (and last year’s awesome tribute to Cheez Doodles) after the jump:

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Categories: Sports, TV News & Program Updates by Cubicle QB
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Tags: Basketball, ESPN, NBA, NBA Draft, Sports, Stephen A. Smith

By Ryan

The NBA Finals tip off Thursday, June 4 at 9pm ET on ABC, with Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic taking on Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers. It’s not the Kobe vs. LeBron series we were all expecting, and it’s likely a lot of viewers will dismiss it. Nobody even seems to care about this matchup — they’re all still fixating on LeBron’s media and handshake snub. Obviously, the “Can Kobe win one without Shaq?” storyline will dominate. There’s also debate about ESPN/ABC analyst Jeff Van Gundy being on the broadcasts with his brother Stan being the Magic’s head coach. But if those are the only things that can generate any interest, then … yawn.

But really, the matchup is intriguing, even if the storylines really aren’t. The Magic dispatched both the Celtics and the Cavs to get here, and they’re not to be underestimated. That said, I’m taking the Lakers in seven games.

Full NBA Finals schedule after the jump.

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Categories: Sports, TV News & Program Updates by Cubicle QB
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Tags: ABC, Basketball, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Finals, Orlando Magic, Sports

by haro1d

It’s all over.

Well, not really, but this year’s chapter is. The Season Finale for One Tree Hill aired last night, and truth be told, it easily could have been a series finale. Nearly every one of the OTH gang reached a point of resolution … except for Dan Scott, who still has a way to go. This time, things opened with a summary “montage” such as is usually found at the end of each OTH episode. It went something like this:

Lucas is at the hospital. After delivering Peyton to the emergency ward, he washes his bloody hands and sees the pinkish, bloody water swirl down the drain and probably wonders if that’s what’s happening to Peyton and their life together. Then he goes to watch Peyton in the operating theater.

Cut to Haley, who wakes in the middle of the night to see that Nathan isn’t at home … he’s out on the river court drinking from a whiskey bottle, drowning his sorrows in booze.

We see Julian walk into Clothes Over Bros looking for Brooke but finding Victoria. He tells her he loves Brooke, and tells Victoria to deliver the message to call her. [Read more →]

Categories: Drama by haro1d
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Tags: baby, Brooke Davis, Chad Michael Murray, Chase, Coach Irons, Coach Whitey, Dan Scott, Haley, Hilarie Burton, Jamie, Julian, Karen, Lucas, Mia, Millie, Mouth, Nathan, NBA, One Tree Hill, OTH, Peyton, Sawyer, Season Finale Recap, The CW, Victoria