Middle East/ North Africa Network

Highlights for July 2009

 

It's not getting older, it's getting better:

ESPN's X Games 15

returns to eternally-young Los Angeles

 

 

X GAMES 15

 

World-class athletes and the best Action Sports seen anywhere -

ESPN's X Games 15 airs LIVE in July & August

 

ESPN's famed action sports franchise, the X Games, is back in Los Angeles, California, for the seventh time with the arrival of X Games 15 , airing LIVE beginning July 31. The first event of its kind - and still the best - the X Games attract more than 200 of the world's leading action sports athletes who compete for medals and prize money in Skateboarding, Moto X, BMX and Rally Car Racing. The X Games is known for innovation and creativity on both sides of the camera, making every event a whole new experience.

 

Moto X champion James Stewart - who notched a perfect season in the 2008 AMA Motocross Championship, winning 24 of 24 races, and is the 2009 Supercross champ - makes his X Games debut this year, while rally cars will be led by last year's medalists, Travis Pastrana and Tanner Foust. Up-and-coming challengers keep the competition fresh, but it's the veteran talents who keep it anchored, among them reigning Skateboard Big Air gold medalist Bob Burnquist of Brazil, BMX legend Dave Mirra and Canadian Skate Vert star Pierre-Luc Gagnon.

 

Don't miss a chance to see the world's best action sports stars, from past X Games winners to Olympic medalists and World Champions, as they do what they do best - X Games 15 LIVE on ESPN.

 

Schedule:    M.E.                   LIVE coverage

July 31          04:00              X Games 15 - Los Angeles, CA

July 31          21:00              X Games 15 - Los Angeles, CA (R)

Aug 1            04:00              X Games 15 - Los Angeles, CA

Aug 1            15:00              X Games 15 - Los Angeles, CA (R)

Aug 1            22:00              X Games 15 - Los Angeles, CA

Aug 2            02:30              X Games 15 - Los Angeles, CA

Aug 2            15:00              X Games 15 - Los Angeles, CA (R)

Aug 2            22:00              X Games 15 - Los Angeles, CA

(R) Re-air

 

 

2009 KIA X GAMES ASIA

 

 More action sports in the spotlight as

KIA X Games Asia returns to Shanghai

 

July features taped coverage from another spectacular event in ESPN's famed X Games franchise, KIA X Games Asia , airing for the third consecutive year from glittering Shanghai. In celebration of 11 years of Asian X Games events, 2009 has bigger paydays, more challenging courses and an international lineup of more than 200 leading action sports athletes representing more than 30 countries from five continents.

 

Like all X Games events staged worldwide, the sport categories feature some of the most popular action sports on the planet, from Vert and Street events in Aggressive Inline, Skateboard, and BMX Freestyle to Men's and Women's Speed competitions in Sport Climbing. Add to this a Big Air demo starring leading Moto X freestylers plus music, dancers and non-stop entertainment and you get what is certain to be another unforgettable X Games experience in Asia.

 

See taped coverage of KIA X Games Asia airing in July on ESPN.

 

 

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (MLB)

 

Regular season action plus the MLB All-Star Game -

LIVE coverage of MLB continues all month on ESPN

 

Major League Baseball ( MLB ) continues throughout the month on ESPN, spotlighting old rivalries, new protagonists and, on July 14 & 15, the popular MLB All-Star Weekend , highlighted by the 2009 MLB All-Star Game . The St. Louis Cardinals - who take on one of last year's best teams, the Chicago Cubs, on the 13 ^th - continue to get top play from slugger Albert Pujols, the defending National League (NL) MVP, while the Boston Red Sox boast the American League (AL) MVP in Dustin Pedroia, a skillful second baseman who is one of only three players to follow a rookie of the year award with an MVP.

 

The New York Mets, with a healthy and motivated Johan Santana on the mound, face one of their toughest NL East rivals mid-month as they take on the Atlanta Braves. Both teams are looking to bounce back after missing last year's MLB playoffs, the Mets losing the Wild Card berth to the Milwaukee Brewers by only one win. Also this month is the popular All-Star Weekend with LIVE coverage of the MLB All-Star Game , won last year for the 12 ^th consecutive time by the American League, and the Home Run Derby , a batting competition among the sport's biggest hitters.

 

ESPN's MLB package (airing Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays M.E.) airs all season, LIVE and on short-turnaround. Most games feature same day re-airs in the afternoon. Don't miss MLB All-Star Weekend action with coverage July 14, 03:00, of the Home Run Derby and on July 15, 03:00, the MLB All-Star Game , both events airing LIVE from St. Louis, Missouri (and featuring same day re-airs in the afternoon).

 

Schedule:    M.E .                  LIVE coverage - Host team shown first

July 1            02:00                 ESPN's Tuesday Night Baseball

July 2            02:00                 ESPN's Wednesday Night Baseball

July 4            02:00                 ESPN's Friday Night Baseball

July 6            03:00                 ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball

July 7            16:00                 ESPN's Monday Night Baseball (S)

July 8            02:00                 ESPN's Tuesday Night Baseball

July 9            02:00                 ESPN's Wednesday Night Baseball

July 11          02:00                 ESPN's Friday Night Baseball

July 13          03:00                 Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals

July 14          03:00                 2009 Home Run Derby

July 14          20:00                 2009 Home Run Derby (R)

July 14          05:00                 All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game (T)

July 15          03:00                 2009 MLB All-Star Game

July 15          20:00                 2009 MLB All-Star Game (R)

July 18          02:00                 ESPN's Friday Night Baseball

July 20          01:00                 Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets

July 21          16:00                 ESPN's Monday Night Baseball (S)

July 22          02:00                 ESPN's Tuesday Night Baseball

July 23          02:00                 ESPN's Wednesday Night Baseball

July 25          02:00                 ESPN's Friday Night Baseball

July 27          03:00                 ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball

July 28          16:00                 ESPN's Monday Night Baseball (S)

July 29          02:00                 ESPN's Tuesday Night Baseball

July 30          02:00                 ESPN's Wednesday Night Baseball

Aug 1            02:00                 ESPN's Friday Night Baseball

(S) Short-turnaround; (T) Taped; (R) Re-air

 

 

GOLF - PGA Tour, Champions Tour and the American Century Championship

 

World-class golf continues on ESPN with

LIVE coverage of the AT&T National and Buick Open

 

The PGA Tour continues LIVE on ESPN in July with coverage of two leading tournaments, the AT&T National and the Buick Open. Last season's AT&T National saw the emergence of a new star as Anthony Kim of the United States - part of an international wave of young talents that also includes Colombia's Camilo Villegas and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy - claimed the title to become the first American under 25 to win twice in one year on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods. Kim also won at the Wachovia Championship. The Buick Open was won by Kenny Perry, the veteran pro who let the 2009 Masters title slip away in a sudden-death playoff eventually won by Argentina's Ángel Cabrera.

 

Among the top players expected on the course this month in addition to Woods, Cabrera, Perry and Kim are Australia's Geoff Ogilvy, England's Paul Casey, South Africa's Retief Goosen, defending FedEx Cup winner Vijay Singh of Fiji, and a strong U.S. contingent led by Phil Mickelson, Sean O'Hair, Nick Watney and Zach Johnson. Coverage airs LIVE.

 

Schedule:    M.E.                   LIVE coverage

July 2            22:00             The AT&T National - First Round

July 3            22:00             The AT&T National - Second Round

July 4            22:00             The AT&T National - Third Round

July 5            22:30             The AT&T National - Final Round*

July 30          22:00             Buick Open - First Round

Aug 1            16:00             Buick Open - Second Round (S)

Aug 2            16:00             Buick Open - Third Round (S)

*Final round joined in progress following IndyCar Series; (S) Short-turnaround

 

 

The glitziest Pro-Am ever is on ESPN -

the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship

 

July has coverage from the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship , a popular event that yearly attracts more than 80 famous pro athletes (past and present) as well as some of Hollywood's biggest names to Lake Tahoe's lush South Shore. Last year's event came down to the final putt on the 18 ^th hole, as former MLB pitcher Rick Rhoden defeated former NHL All-Star center Dan Quinn to claim his seventh victory at this tourney.

 

In addition to regulars like Super Bowl champion QB Ben Roethlisberger and fellow NFL stars Tony Romo and LaDainian Tomlinson, back again in 2009 are actors Dennis Quaid and Ray Romano, boxing great Oscar de la Hoya and NBA legend Michael Jordan. Among the newcomers this year are NASCAR's Elliot Sadler and MLB's Joe Carter and Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, just part of an impressive roster made up of well-known athletes and performers. Coverage airs July 18 - 20.

 

Schedule:    M.E.

July 18          16:00             American Century Championship

July 19          16:00             American Century Championship

July 20          16:00             American Century Championship

Coverage airs on Short-turnaround

 

 

Skilled veterans also take the links in July with coverage on ESPN

of the season's third major - the U.S. Senior Open Championship

 

Golf coverage on ESPN in July also spotlights the Champions Tour , the leading tour for veteran golfers over the age of 50, with coverage of the final round of Dick's Sporting Goods Open, the 3M Championship and the U.S. Senior Open Championship. Last year's U.S. Senior Open Championship, the third of the season's four major tournaments, was won by Argentina's Eduardo Romero, who overcame four straight bogeys down the stretch to win by four strokes over Fred Funk. Romero is also the defending champion at Dick's Sporting Goods Open.

 

The last 3M Championship was won by U.S. pro R.W. Eaks, who started Sunday with a three-shot lead and powered to a record-setting six-shot victory over top challengers Gary Hallberg of the U.S. and Germany's Bernhard Langer. Langer, the 2008 Player of the Year, has started the new season on fire, finishing in the Top 10 in all six events he played to mid-April. Also in sharp form are Joey Sindelar and the 2007 top player, Loren Roberts, as well as Zimbabwe's Nick Price, and U.S. pro Jay Haas, winner of the 2008 Charles Schwab Cup as the year's top player. Coverage airs on short-turnaround and taped throughout the month.

 

Schedule:    M.E.

July 1            12:00             Dick's Sporting Goods Open (S)

July 13          12:00             3M Championship (T)

July 14          12:00             3M Championship (T)

July 15          12:00             3M Championship (T)

July 31          08:00             U.S. Senior Open Championship (S)

Aug 1            08:00             U.S. Senior Open Championship (S)

Aug 2            08:00             U.S. Senior Open Championship (S)

Aug 3            08:00             U.S. Senior Open Championship (S)

(S) Short-turnaround; (T) Taped

 

 

MOTOR SPORTS - NASCAR, IndyCar Series and NHRA Drag Racing

 

Stock car racing in July travels to Daytona, Chicagoland

and famed Indianapolis -

the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series LIVE on ESPN

 

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series continues on ESPN in July, delivering more fender-to-fender race action from the world's best stock car series. While three-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson, past series champ Jeff Gordon and rebel Kyle Busch - who celebrated his 24 ^th birthday with a win in Richmond - remain favorites for the title, the winners circle has been surprising this season. From Matt Kenseth's back-to-back wins to open the season and 50-year-old Mark Martin's dominating runs at Phoenix and Darlington, to Brad Keselowski's spectacular victory at Talladega to claim his first Sprint Cup win, it promises to be a roller-coaster ride all the way to the end.

 

July is a big month, with racing from Daytona International Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway and from the famed Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, one of the biggest events in NASCAR. Last season saw Kyle Busch claim consecutive victories in Daytona and Chicagoland, while Jimmie Johnson took the checkered flag at legendary Indy. Don't miss a lap as Johnson, Gordon, the Busch brothers, Kyle and Kurt, plus Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart and the rest of the gang show their slickest moves - it's NASCAR on ESPN and it's never been better.

 

ESPN presents coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series airing LIVE, on short-turnaround and taped throughout the season. Most races have same day or next day re-airs in the afternoon.

 

Schedule:    M.E.                   LIVE coverage

July 5            03:00             Coke Zero 400 - Daytona, FL

July 5            15:00             Coke Zero 400 - Daytona, FL (R)

July 12          03:00             LifeLock.com 400 - Joliet, IL

July 12          13:00             LifeLock.com 400 - Joliet, IL (R)

July 26          21:00             NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at the Brickyard - Indianapolis, IN

July 27          13:00             NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at the Brickyard - Indianapolis, IN (R)

(R) Re-air

 

 

Also continuing LIVE on ESPN all month is the Nationwide Series , NASCAR's next level of racing where promising talents hone their skills in hopes of making the leap to Sprint Cup. It's a busy month, with race action airing from Daytona Beach in Florida, Chicagoland, Gateway International Raceway in Illinois and the O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis.

 

Teen star Joey Logano held off teammate Kyle Busch to win in Nashville mid-April, notching his second Nationwide win following last year's victory at Kentucky and moving him higher up the standings. Busch won in Fontana, Texas and Richmond to lead the standings by late-April, with Carl Edwards, Logano, Talladega winner David Ragan and hot Brad Keselowski all in the hunt. The mix of up-and-coming talents like Logano with more practiced racers such as Edwards and Dale Earnhardt Jr. keeps the Nationwide Series percolating on high.

 

Nationwide Series races generally take place at the same tracks as the Sprint Cup Series, with ESPN providing coverage throughout the season, airing LIVE and on short-turnaround. Most races feature same day or next day re-airs in the afternoon.

 

Schedule:    M.E.                               LIVE coverage

July 4            03:00             NASCAR Nationwide Series at Daytona - Daytona Beach, FL

July 4            17:00             NASCAR Nationwide Series at Daytona - Daytona Beach, FL (R)

July 11          03:00             NASCAR Nationwide Series at Chicago - Joliet, IL

July 11          16:00             NASCAR Nationwide Series at Chicago - Joliet, IL (R)

July 19          04:30             NASCAR Nationwide Series at Gateway - Madison, IL

July 19          13:00             NASCAR Nationwide Series at Gateway - Madison, IL (R)

July 26          03:00             NASCAR Nationwide Series at O'Reilly - Indianapolis, IN

July 26          13:00             NASCAR Nationwide Series at O'Reilly - Indianapolis, IN (R)

(R) Re-air

 

The IndyCar series leaves the ovals behind for

 road racing in Watkins Glen and

the inaugural Streets of Toronto - LIVE on ESPN

 

Open wheel racing from the IndyCar Series continues LIVE on ESPN in July with coverage from the 3.4-mile road course at Watkins Glen International and the inaugural race from the 1.721-mile street course in the Streets of Toronto. Following six oval races, this month gives the street and road experts a chance to shine, among them defending series champ Scott Dixon of New Zealand, Brazilian talents Tony Kanaan and Helio Castroneves, and Scotland's Dario Franchitti, winner on the Streets of Long Beach in April.

 

Last year's race in Watkins Glen saw a new face on the podium as U.S. driver Ryan Hunter-Reay claimed his first series win. With a No. 2 finish behind Australia's Ryan Briscoe at the season-opening Streets of St. Petersburg, Hunter-Reay is clearly a face to watch as the 2009 season unfolds. Joining Dixon, Kanaan, Castroneves and Briscoe as favorites this year are Franchitti, top female driver Danica Patrick, and two young talents from well-known racing families, Marco Andretti and Graham Rahal.

 

July race action on ESPN features LIVE coverage from the road course at Watkins Glen in New York and the inaugural Streets of Toronto from Canada.

 

Schedule:    M.E.                               LIVE coverage

July 5            20:00             IndyCar Series at Watkins Glen - Watkins Glen, NY

July 12          20:00             IndyCar Series at Toronto - Toronto, ON, Canada

 

 

NHRA drag racing powers into July

with more red-hot race action on ESPN

 

The fastest sport on wheels continues all month on ESPN with more race action from NHRA Drag Racing . The clock is ticking and the pressure is on as the Countdown to the Championship moves closer to ending it's 18-race first phase at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in September. Tony Schumacher, who last season became the first Top Fuel driver in NHRA history to win five consecutive world championships, is gunning to make it six in 2009. With back-to-back wins in late March and early April, Schumacher is making things tough on his closest challengers, among them rising star Antron Brown and veteran drivers Brandon Bernstein and Larry Dixon.

 

In Funny Car, Ron Capps impressed the crowds by winning three of the season's first five races, while Bob Tasca III burst on the scene by claiming his first professional win at the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals in March. Ashley Force Hood, the daughter of racing legend John Force, has been riding the momentum from her victory at the O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals to take her place among the top challengers for this year's title.

 

ESPN presents season coverage of NHRA Drag Racing including both qualifying and race day action; final eliminations are featured at each stop.

 

Schedule:    M.E.      

July 13          20:30             Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals - Denver, CO

July 20          20:30             N HRA Northwest Nationals - Seattle, WA

July 27          20:30             Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals - Sonoma, CA

Races air on Short-turnaround

 

 

THE ESPY AWARDS

 

Roll out the red carpet - it's ESPY Awards time

 

For one special night in July, athletic excellence melds with Hollywood-style glamour as ESPN presents the 17 ^th edition of the ESPY Awards , ESPN's celebration of the most outstanding athletes and most incredible sports achievements of the previous year. This unique event honors not only the best sports performances, both individual and team, but also the year's most unforgettable sports moments. Back for the fourth time as host is Oscar-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson, host of the show in 1999, 2001 and 2002.

 

Besides the glitter and sculpted muscles, what sets the ESPY's apart from other award shows are the award categories, with sports-specific honors - such as Best Golfer, won for the fourth straight year by Tiger Woods in 2008, giving him a record 21 ESPYs - as well as awards that cross over all sports, like Best Male Athlete and Championship Performance (both also won by Woods last year). Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton won Best Comeback for his performance in the MLB Home Run Derby, while repeat winners included Pittsburg Penguin Sidney Crosby as Best NHL Player and Russia's Maria Sharapova as Best Female Tennis Player.

 

As in previous years, the winners will be determined by online fan voting. The ESPY Awards air taped on July 21, 20:30, from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

 

 

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER (MLS)

 

David Beckham is back to light up the Galaxy -

regular season matches plus

the MLS All-Star Game on ESPN in July

 

Major League Soccer ( MLS ) continues all month on ESPN with top regular season matchups - including a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference championship as the Chicago Fire host the Columbus Crew - and the popular MLS All-Star Game . Last season's All-Star Game saw the MLS All-Stars defeat Premiership side West Ham United, marking the MLS team's fourth victory in a row over international competition. The MLS All-Stars are now a perfect 5-0 since the MLS vs. the World format was adopted in 2003. Their competitor in 2009 is another dangerous English side, Everton FC, winner of nine league championships and a FA Cup finalist this season.

 

In regular season action, in addition to the Fire fans can see the defending champion Crew, struggling early season to find last year's winning form, host D.C. United, a tough side who are even more so with the return of Christian Gomez, the 2006 MLS MVP who helped lead the club to their fourth title in 2004. Also in action this month are the Houston Dynamo, title winners in 2006 & 2007, facing hot Toronto FC, and the new Seattle Sounders FC - looking sharp behind Swedish star Freddie Ljungberg - hosting the Fire.

 

ESPN presents coverage of MLS airing LIVE, on short-turnaround and taped throughout the season. Don't miss LIVE coverage of the MLS All-Star Game , July 30 at 04:30 (with a re-air at 19:30), as the MLS All-Stars take on Everton FC.

 

Schedule:    M.E.                   Host team shown first

July 5            18:00              Columbus Crew vs. D.C. United (S)

July 12          18:00              Chicago Fire vs. Columbus Crew (S)

July 18          20:00              Toronto FC vs. Houston Dynamo (L)

July 25          22:00              Seattle Sounders FC vs. Chicago Fire (T)

July 30          04:30              MLS All-Star Game: MLS All-Stars vs. Everton FC - LIVE

July 30          20:00              MLS All-Star Game: MLS All-Stars vs. Everton FC (R)

(L) Live; (S) Short-turnaround; (T) Taped; (R) Re-air

 

 

SPORTSCENTER

 

ESPN's marquee sports news and information program, SportsCenter , airs LIVE daily, Monday to Friday, at 01:00, 06:00 and 09:00 local time. Original and entertaining, SportsCenter covers the world's leading sporting events while working round the clock to give sports fans exclusives on all the sports headlines as they happen.

 

Since 1979, SportsCenter has earned worldwide acclaim for in-depth reporting and analysis, vast coverage, and a creative and sophisticated production style that is the mark of SportsCenter wherever it is seen around the globe.

 

 

BOXING

 

Step in the ring with Friday Night Fights -

great boxing airing all month on ESPN

 

Friday Night Fights , ESPN's popular weekly program featuring live championship bouts, continues throughout the month on ESPN. In addition to fight coverage spotlighting the sport's top-rated contenders, Friday Night Fights has news and information, chats with in-studio guests, and features clips of classic fight footage. Friday Night Fights airs weekly on Saturdays at 18:00 with re-airs on Friday evenings, 21:00.

 

AROUND THE HORN

 

Stay in the loop with Around the Horn , a fast-paced and free-spirited talk show where Tony Reali and four leading sports reporters from across the country debate the latest sports issues, rumors and headlines via satellite. Tony gives points for a good argument and happily deducts them when he has to hit 'mute.' The winner then gets 30 seconds to opine on victory. Around the Horn airs weekdays.

 

 

PTI

 

Pardon the Interruption shines a spotlight on the latest, most talked-about happenings in the sports world. Fast-paced, innovative and always provocative, PTI features Tony Kornheiser and Washington Post columnist Mike Wilbon facing-off in a lively format devoted exclusively to sports opinions and the latest news making headlines around the world. Mixing insight, analysis and humor, PTI gets inside the stories viewers care most about. Program airs weekdays.

 

 

JIM ROME IS BURNING

 

Jim Rome is Burning is a daily sports talk show that is informative, entertaining and always controversial. Hosted by famed sports broadcaster Jim Rome, this high-octane show is the first choice of fans and athletes who want to know what is going on beyond the scoreboard. Known for his rapid-fire dialogue and sharp wit, Rome gives opinion - the famed Rome 'rants' - and leads heated debate on the latest sports issues in the news. Program airs most nights, late evening.

 

 

 

 

NOTE: ALL SCHEDULES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS.