FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
NFC Divisional Playoff Doubleheader Weekend on FOX Packers & Falcons Square-Off at Georgia Dome Saturday Seahawks Battle Bears in Chicago Sunday
Pereira in the Booth for Both Divisional Playoff Games on FOX this Weekend
NFL ON FOX: NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS – FOX Sports followed another record-setting regular season for ratings and viewership by airing the Packers-Eagles matchup which resulted in the highest- rated Wild Card game ever. Fresh off that triumph, the NFL on FOX rolls into the divisional weekend with two exciting matchups. On Saturday, Jan. 15 (8:00 PM ET) Aaron Rodgers and the dynamic Packers invade the Georgia Dome to take on Matt Ryan and the Falcons. FOX’s lead NFL broadcast crew of Joe Buck , Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver are joined by Chris Myers to call of the action from Atlanta.
On Sunday, Jan. 16 (1:00 PM ET), FOX’s playoff coverage shifts to Chicago as Lance Briggs and the Bears look to stop Matthew Hasselbeck , Marshawn Lynch and the Seahawks. Kenny Albert , Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa call the action from Soldier Field.
NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira travels to both divisional playoff games to be on hand to cover and explain any impactful officiating calls from the respective broadcast booths.
FOX NFL SUNDAY – NFC DIVISION PLAYOFF EDITIONS
Coverage begins on Saturday at 7:30 PM ET and Sunday at 12:00 PM ET with America’s most-watched pregame show, FOX NFL SUNDAY. Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee co-host the Emmy Award- winning program and are joined by analysts Howie Long , Michael Strahan and Jimmy Johnson . NFL Insider Jay Glazer presents the latest league news and scoops and comedic prognosticator Frank Caliendo contributes his playoff “Frank’s Picks” segment.
Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011
FOX NFL SPECIAL 7:30 PM ET • Terry Bradshaw sits down for a 1-on-1 with Matt Ryan to discuss the Falcons emergence to a No. 1 seed in the NFC.
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST/SIDELINE TIME Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, 8:00PM Pam Oliver & Chris Myers Georgia Dome – Atlanta, GA
Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011
FOX NFL SPECIAL 12:00 PM ET • Curt Menefee explores the change in attitude based around Pete Carroll . • Pam Oliver sits down with Mike Martz and Jay Cutler to find out how this unlikely duo has found success.
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FOX SPORTS NQ&A – PAGE 2
GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST/SIDELINE TIME Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston 1:00PM & Tony Siragusa Soldier Field – Chicago, IL
BILLICK: I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE NO WAY THE SEAHAWKS WOULD DEFEAT THE SAINTS – Going into Wild Card weekend, there seemed to be a consensus amongst media and fans; the Seahawks would lose at home to the Saints. We all know what happened, and NFL on FOX analyst Brian Billick was just as surprised as anyone. “We have to keep in mind how close the talent is in the NFL. If the Saints were to play the Seahawks 10 times, they’d probably win nine,” said Billick. “This is what makes the NFL playoffs so wonderful. All you have to do is be better that day. It’ll be interesting to see what they can do when they go into Chicago to face a team they’ve already beaten.”
FUEL TV HIGHLIGHTS PRO SURFER KELLY SLATER’S HISTORIC RUN – Recently crowned 10-time World Surfing Champion Kelly Slater appears on FUEL TV’s “ Rip Curl Pro, Portugal” Saturday, January 15 (9:00PM ET/PT). Slater joins the world's best surfers at the Rip Curl Pro Surf Contest in Portugal on the 2010 Men's Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour. Watch pro surfers like Dane Reynolds (Ventura, CA), Damien Hobgood (Satellite Beach, FL), former World Champion Mick Fanning (Australia), and upstarts like South African Jordy Smith battle with the 10-time world surfing champ.
BIG TEN NETWORK PREVIEWS THIS WEEK’S BIG TEN ICONS – The countdown of Big Ten Icons , presented by Discover and hosted by the legendary Keith Jackson , continues on Sunday, January 16 (9:00 PM ET) on the Big Ten Network. This week’s episode spotlights #8 Ohio State’s Jerry Lucas . The Ohio native was a three-time All-American, three-time Big Ten Most Valuable Player, two-time National Player of the Year and two-time Final Four MVP for the Buckeyes. The show includes exclusive interviews with Lucas and other members of Ohio State's 1958-59 dream recruiting class, including John Havlicek . Lucas went on to an 11-year professional basketball career, was a seven-time All-Star and won an NBA championship in 1973 with the New York Knicks.
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