FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
NASCAR on FOX’s Michael Waltrip Works Prerace & Drives in Talladega; Expanded Coverage Begins Sunday at 12:00 PM ET
FOX Saturday Baseball Game of the Week: O’s/Angels; Nats/Pirates; Cards/Brewers Saturday at 3:30 PM ET
Manchester United/Chelsea Battle Sunday on FOX Soccer
PENSKE PENALTIES UPHELD; BROADCASTER MICHAEL WALTRIP COMPETES THIS WEEKEND AT DEGA – NASCAR on FOX heads to Talladega with supersized coverage from the Alabama Superspeedway on Sunday, May 5 (12:00 PM ET) for the Aaron’s 499. Host Chris Myers welcomes viewers inside the friendly confines of the Hollywood Hotel studio to cover the most recent NASCAR penalty news with analysis from Michael Waltrip and Darrell Waltrip. This week, MW pulls double duty when he trades his seat in the Hollywood Hotel for a seat in a racecar on Sunday. During Sunday’s special one-hour show, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stops by the set, and Kevin Harvick sits down with DW for a one-on-one chat to discuss the season so far. The stars come out for this special race, and FOX has it covered as Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron , his girlfriend Miss Alabama USA Katherine Webb and MLB star Chipper Jones are expected to attend this year’s festivities.
Race announcer Mike Joy is alongside analysts Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds to call all the exciting action on this superspeedway, while Steve Byrnes , Krista Voda and Matt Yocum patrol the pits for reports on teams and pit stops. FOX Sports’ Jeff Hammond serves as the network’s roving analyst, taking fans from the garages to pit road and to places rarely seen at Talladega.
For instant updates during the week from the entire NASCAR on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NASCARONFOX , on Instagram at http://instagram.com/foxsports or on GetGlue at http://getglue.com/tv_shows/nascar_on_fox . Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports .
MCREYNOLDS: HAMLIN SHOULD FEEL GOOD ABOUT VICKERS TAKING THE WHEEL – NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin plans to start Sunday’s Sprint Cup race from Talladega Superspeedway before handing the reigns to Brian Vickers . If NASCAR approves this, Hamlin, who has been out since suffering a compression fracture in a lower back vertebra March 24 at Auto Club Speedway, would gain the driver points. “NASCAR has yet to approve this so if they do, we know that Vickers is a good restrictor plate racer, and he’ll have a good racecar,” said NASCAR on FOX and SPEED analyst Larry McReynolds , adding that the Toyotas performed well in the series’ first restrictor plate track this year in Daytona. “The good thing about Brian is he’s not auditioning for a full-time Cup car for next year. Unless something really goes south, Vickers has a full-time ride for next year in the No. 55 of Michael Waltrip Racing. I don’t think it’s been signed and certainly not announced, but it’s the blind obvious. The worst thing you could do is put somebody in a car for someone that’s injured who’s trying to get a Cup ride because then he starts doing things that he shouldn’t do.”
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BIG BATS LOOK TO GET GOING ON MLB ON FOX – Week 5 of the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK treats baseball fans on Saturday, May 4 (3:30 PM ET) with three intense matchups. In Southern California, the power-hitting duo of Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols look to get on track as the Angels host Adam Jones and the Orioles. Nats ace Stephen Strasburg is expected to toe the rubber as the Washington Nationals travel to Pittsburgh to face Andrew McCutchen and the Pirates. Also, NL Central rivals meet as Ryan Braun and the Brewers host the NL Central-leading Cardinals.
Coverage begins with the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL PREGAME SHOW, a full 30-minute program originating live from MLB Network’s state-of-the-art Studio 3 in Secaucus, NJ. The show is hosted by longtime FOX Sports and MLB Network broadcaster Matt Vasgersian who is joined this week by analysts Harold Reynolds and Kevin Millar .
For instant updates during the week from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX , on Instagram at http://instagram.com/foxsports or on GetGlue at http://getglue.com/tv_shows/major_league_baseball_on_fox . Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports .
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST COV. Baltimore Orioles at Los Angeles Angels* Joe Buck, Tim McCarver 39% & Ken Rosenthal Angel Stadium – Anaheim, CA MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Fort Myers, Hartford, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Portland, Providence, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa Probable Pitchers: TBA vs. Tommy Hanson, RHP (2-1, 3.91 ERA) *On FOX Deportes
Washington Nationals at Pittsburgh Pirates Howard David & F.P. Santangelo 33% PNC Park – Pittsburgh, PA MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Birmingham, Buffalo, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Miami, New York, Norfolk, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington, West Palm Beach Probable Pitchers: Stephen Strasburg, RHP (1-4, 3.13 ERA) vs. Jeff Locke, LHP (3-1, 2.83 ERA)
St. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers Justin Kutcher & Eric Karros 27% Miller Park – Milwaukee, WI MARKETS INCLUDE: Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Denver, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Louisville, Memphis, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, Tulsa Probable Pitchers: Adam Wainwright, RHP (4-2, 2.03 ERA) vs. Yovani Gallardo, RHP (3-1, 4.25 ERA)
ROSENTHAL: BREWERS MAY HAVE FOUND A STAR IN SEGURA – MLB on FOX reporter Ken Rosenthal believes Brewers shortstop Jean Segura may not look like a prototypical shortstop, but he’s drawing impressive comparisons. Rosenthal cites Brewers director of pro scouting Zack Minasian , who says that despite the fact that they share no physical resemblance, Segura reminds the organization of Michael Young . “Segura, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said, is similar to Young because of his energy, his instincts, even his relatively low profile when he was a prospect in the Angels organization,” Rosenthal writes. “Young, too, was mostly unknown in his career with the Blue Jays. Young exceeded expectations, and now it appears that Segura – the centerpiece of the Brewers’ three- player haul for right-hander Zack Greinke last July – might do the same.”
For more from Rosenthal on Segura, click here: http://bit.ly/11Ybwvf
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MANCHESTER UNITED AND CHELSEA BATTLE SUNDAY ON FOX SOCCER – FOX Soccer is home to the Barclays Premier League this weekend with a high-profile matchup between newly crowned Premier League champion Manchester United and reigning European champion Chelsea, live Sunday, May 5 (10:30 AM ET). FOX Sports’ renowned play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson calls the game live from Old Trafford alongside former England international standout Ian Wright . The Reds are coming off a 1-1 draw against Arsenal last weekend and with the league’s leading goal scorer Robin Van Persie snubbed for the PFA Player of the Year award, Manchester United will be eager to earn the victory and bragging rights over the third-placed Blues. Chelsea is in the race to maintain its top-four status and cannot afford any tired legs, following a major midweek semifinal fixture in the UEFA Europa League, Thursday, May 2 (2:30 PM ET), also live on FOX Soccer.
FSMG NATIONAL NETWORK KEY EVENTS CALENDAR All Times Eastern and Subject to Change * Also Airing on Deportes
Week of: 5/1/2013 – 5/8/2013
DATE NETWORK TIME EVENT DETAILS 5/1/13 FOX Deportes 8:30 PM Copa Libertadores: Quarterfinal - Boca Juniors/Corinthians 5/1/13 FOX Soccer 10:00 PM CONCACAF Champions League: Final Leg 2 - Monterrey/Santos Laguna 5/2/13 FOX Soccer 2:30 PM UEFA Europa League: Semifinal Leg 2 - Chelsea FC/FC Basel 5/2/13 FOX Soccer Plus 2:30 PM UEFA Europa League: Semifinal Leg 2 - SL Benfica/ Fenerbahçe SK 5/2/13 FOX Deportes 7:00 PM Copa Libertadores: Quarterfinal - Sao Paulo/At. Mineiro 5/2/13 FOX Deportes 9:30 PM Copa Libertadores: Quarterfinal - Emelec/Fluminense 5/5/13 SPEED 2:00 PM NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice: Talladega, AL 5/5/13 SPEED 3:30 PM NASCAR Sprint Cup Final Practice: Talladega, AL 5/5/13 SPEED 5:00 PM ARCA Racing Series: Talladega, AL 5/3/13 BTN 7:00 PM Big Ten Softball: Michigan State/Wisconsin 5/3/13 FOX Deportes 10:00 PM Golden Boy Promotions: Francisco Vargas/Jose Aguiniga 5/4/13 FOX Soccer Plus 12:00 AM Australian Rules Football League: North Melbourne/Port Adelaide 5/4/13 FOX Soccer Plus 3:30 AM National Rugby League: Storm/Raiders 5/4/13 FOX Soccer Plus 9:53 AM Barclays Premier League: West Brom/Wigan 5/4/13 FOX Deportes 10:00 AM Barclays Premier League: Swansea City/Manchester City 5/4/13 FOX Soccer 10:00 AM Barclays Premier League: Norwich City/Aston Villa 5/4/13 SPEED 12:00 PM NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying: Talladega, AL 5/4/13 FOX Soccer* 12:30 PM Barclays Premier League: Queens Park Rangers/Arsenal 5/4/13 BTN 1:00 PM Big Ten Softball: Northwestern/Michigan 5/4/13 BTN 3:30 PM Big Ten Softball: Indiana/Minnesota 5/4/13 FOX 3:30 PM MLB on FOX: BAL at LAA*/STL at MIL/WAS at PIT 5/4/13 FOX Soccer Plus 4:00 PM Aviva Premiership: Harlequins/Northampton 5/4/13 FOX Soccer Plus 6:00 PM Aviva Premiership: Exeter/Gloucester 5/4/13 BTN 7:00 PM Big Ten Baseball: Indiana/Nebraska 5/4/13 SPEED 9:30 PM Supercross: Las Vegas, NV 5/5/13 FOX Soccer Plus 12:00 AM National Rugby League: Knights/Sharks 5/5/13 FOX Soccer Plus 2:30 AM Australian Rules Football League: West Coast Eagles/Western Bulldogs 5/5/13 FOX Soccer Plus 6:55 AM Scottish Premier League: Ross County/Celtic 5/5/13 SPEED 8:00 AM MotoGP World Championship: Spanish Grand Prix 5/5/13 FOX Soccer* 8:30 AM Barclays Premier League: Liverpool/Everton 5/5/13 FOX Soccer Plus 10:00 AM Aviva Premiership: Saracens/Bath 5/5/13 FOX Soccer* 10:30 AM Barclays Premier League: Manchester United/Chelsea 5/5/13 BTN 12:00 PM Big Ten Softball: Northwestern/Michigan 5/5/13 FOX* 12:00 PM NASCAR Aaron's 499 Talladega, AL 5/5/13 BTN 2:30 PM Big Ten Softball: Nebraska/Penn State 5/7/13 FOX Deportes 2:30 PM Barclays Premier League: Wigan/Swansea City 5/7/13 BTN 7:00 PM Big Ten Baseball: Georgia Tech/Ohio St.
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