From Fox Sports -
FOX Sports Invades Wembley for Dream Championship: Barcelona - Manchester United UEFA Champions League Final - Saturday at 2:00 PM ET on FOX
MLB on FOX Covers All Bases in Prime Time with Six-Game Slate Saturday at 7:00 PM ET
Who Will Sprint to Victory Lane at Coca-Cola 600?
NASCAR on FOX Rolls into Charlotte Sunday at 5:30 PM ET
FOX SPORTS INVADES WEMBLEY FOR BARCELONA - MANCHESTER UNITED CLASSIC: UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL SATURDAY – On Saturday, May 28 FOX Sports presents the pinnacle of European club soccer as Barcelona takes on Manchester United in the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final. FOX Sports, for the second consecutive year, is the exclusive over-the-air broadcast home for the UEFA Champions League Final, and live HD coverage kicks off at 2:00 PM ET.
Curt Menefee, FOX NFL SUNDAY co-host, anchors pregame, halftime and postgame coverage for FOX Sports live from Wembley. Menefee is joined by FOX Soccer analysts Eric Wynalda, a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and the second-leading goal scorer in U.S. soccer history and retired English national team and Newcastle United player Warren Barton. Aston Villa goalkeeper and former U.S. international player Brad Friedel joins the panel in London as guest analyst. Martin Tyler (play-by-play) and Alan Smith (expert analyst) call the action from legendary Wembley Stadium.
PREGAME FEATURES – COVERAGE BEGINS AT 2:00 PM ET
Landon Donovan, USA’s all-time leader in World Cup games played and goals scored, breaks down what makes Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, generally regarded as the world’s best player, such a dominating force.
FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Michael Strahan, who grew up in Europe watching soccer, talks about what makes the two sports that are close to his heart – soccer and American football – so special.
Gus Johnson, the newest addition to FOX Sports’ broadcasting roster, introduces his unique style to fans in a fun segment that illustrates what soccer’s most exciting moments would sound like if Johnson were behind the mike for them.
Analysts break down the exciting matchup, pick their keys to victory and take a look back at the top goals and moments from the Champions League this season.
PRESS CALL TRANSCRIPT & REPLAY
During today’s UEFA Champions League Final on FOX preview press call, FOX Sports Media Group Co-President and Co-COO Eric Shanks, pregame host Curt Menefee and analyst and American National Soccer Hall of Famer Eric Wynalda previewed the matchup and the popularity of soccer in the US.
Wynalda on whether or not Messi needs to win a World Cup in order to cement his place in history: “Nobody has any control, outside of their coach, of FIFA and the World Cup. That’s what I would call forced friendship. You have to be born in that country or of that nationality to compete together. When you’re dealing with UEFA Champions League, you’re dealing with the strongest, richest clubs with the biggest wallets who spend the money to get the best players on the planet on the field at the same time. That’s why UEFA Champions League soccer is so much better than a World Cup. I think Messi has already proven to be the best ever but that certainly would cap things off if somebody could figure how to get those Argentines to get along. That’s always been the issue.”
Menefee on how broadcasting a game of this importance compares to other broadcasting highlights: “I’ve been fortunate in my career to be in this position. You look at the last 12 months, I got to do the Champions League final last year as the host from Madrid, then the Super Bowl this year which was the largest watched program in American history, and now you get an event that probably, at least worldwide, will have more viewers than the Super Bowl did. To be able to be here in person is what I’m looking forward to as much as anything else. The atmosphere and electricity that we’re going to try and capture on FOX is going to be unlike anything anybody has done in television back home.”
Wynalda on the coaching matchup between Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson and Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola: “Barcelona has a possession driven game. They like to keep the ball and force the issue quite a bit. They force open those spaces, as opposed to waiting for them to open. Sir Alex always gets the right formula and this matchup serves United well. His style is all about the one-on-one battles, whereas Pep Guardiola will make it much more of a team sport. That may play to the advantage of Manchester United who have two very experienced defenders in Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić who can use that experience to get a toe in or a little nudge that will make it difficult for the likes of Lionel Messi.”
Wynalda on Barcelona’s play-acting and diving on the field: “I think diving is something that has become quite embarrassing for the sport. For as beautiful the soccer they can play, the culprits are the Sergio Busquets, Pedro and Daniel Alves. It’s a disgrace and it needs to stop. My hope is that UEFA will start fining these players after the game is over. It’s not part of the game to try and fool everybody that you have a broken leg, go off on a stretcher, come back and celebrate goal as if you were a 15-year-old kid.”
Shanks on the growth of soccer in the US: “All of the pieces are there for continued growth. Both internationally and domestically, we as a broadcaster want to work with the leagues as much as we can to help continue to grow. We have two 24-hour soccer channels and an online business. As a company, we’re very much behind it and here in the U.S., we want to do everything possible to help the sport grow both bringing in the best international soccer and helping have a strong domestic product. International soccer is the spectacle and I think it has the widest appeal, but having a team in your hometown that you want to see, that you want to get behind, and create some rivalries domestically is important long-term.”
SATURDAY NIGHT IS FULL OF MLB ACTION – On Saturday, May 28, the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK hits prime time for the third-straight week with a glutton of MLB matchups at 7:00 PM ET. Albert Pujols and the first-place Cardinals travel to Denver to take on Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and the hard-hitting Rockies. Right on their heels in the NL Central are the Reds who are in Atlanta to face Derek Lowe and the Braves. It’s been another drama-filled week in Queens. As they deal with another distraction, the Mets welcome the Phillies to CitiField. The Rangers welcomed MVP Josh Hamilton back with a bang this week as they host the young Royals. Also, the Twins face the Angels in Minneapolis. The MLB on FOX pregame originates live from the FOX Network studio in Los Angeles, with host Chris Rose.
For instant updates throughout the week and during games from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX. Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.myspace.com/foxsports.
WHICH METS DAYS ARE NUMBERED? – With uncertainty surrounding the entire Mets organization, speculation is building on which players will still be with the team at the end of the season. FOXSports.com national MLB writer Jon Paul Morosi assesses the market for five notable players.
Outfielder Carlos Beltran – “The Yankees, Angels, A’s, Mariners and Tigers have had below-average production at right field, DH, or both. Yankees GM Brian Cashman knows how to add supplemental bats as the season goes along. We’re nearing the 10th anniversary of David Justice for Robin Ventura, so I’d say we’re due for another interborough trade.”
Shortstop Jose Reyes – “On paper, at least, the team with the greatest need for Reyes would be the Tampa Bay Rays. They have the worst leadoff OPS and worst shortstop OPS of any team in the American League. But it’s not clear if they can add $3.6 million in payroll at the deadline.”
Third Baseman David Wright – “Teams tend to avoid trading for players at the deadline if they have suffered significant injuries during the same season, and the Mets don’t know when Wright will play again. Two more reasons that the Mets will keep him: Wright is under contract through 2012, with a team option for 2013, and the Mets will need his marketability after the departures of Beltran and Reyes.”
Closer Francisco Rodriguez – “The Mets (and other teams) are well aware of the contract clause that guarantees him a $17.5 million contract for next year if he finishes 55 games. Because of his contract, suitors will likely want K-Rod to be a setup man. So, he should be of particular interest to teams that have soft spots in front of strong closers, such as Boston, Detroit, and Texas.”
Starter Mike Pelfrey – “The New York rotation is already thin, and Pelfrey was their Opening Day starter this year. Without him, the ’12 and ’13 seasons would look even grimmer than they already do.”
For Morosi’s full analysis, visit http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/new-york-mets-selloff-coming-so-whos-going-052511.
St. Louis Cardinals at Colorado Rockies
Dan McLaughlin & George Frazier
Coors Field – Denver, CO
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Memphis, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Phoenix, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, St. Louis
Probable Pitchers: Jaime Garcia, LHP (5-0, 1.93 ERA) vs. Greg Reynolds, RHP (2-0, 3.07 ERA)
Cincinnati Reds at Atlanta Braves
Thom Brennaman & Eric Karros
Turner Field – Atlanta, GA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Greensboro, Greenville, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Louisville, Nashville, Raleigh
Probable Pitchers: Bronson Arroyo, RHP (3-5, 5.28 ERA) vs. Derek Lowe, RHP (3-4, 3.53 ERA)
Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers
Dick Stockton & Mark Grace
Comerica Park – Detroit, MI
MARKETS INCLUDE: Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Fort Myers, Hartford, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Providence, Richmond, Tampa
Probable Pitchers: Clay Buccholz. RHP (4-3, 3.30 ERA) vs. Andrew Oliver, LHP (0-0, -.-- ERA)
Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets
Joe Buck, Tim McCarver & Ken Rosenthal
Citi Field – Queens, NY
MARKETS INCLUDE: Miami, New York, Norfolk, Philadelphia, Washington, West Palm Beach
Probable Pitchers: Cole Hamels, LHP (6-2, 3.06 ERA) vs. Mike Pelfrey, RHP (3-4, 5.37 ERA)
Kansas City Royals at Texas Rangers
Ryan LeFebvre & Tom Grieve
Rangers Ballpark – Arlington, TX
MARKETS INCLUDE: Austin, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Portland, San Antonio, Seattle, Tulsa
Probable Pitchers: Sean O’Sullivan, RHP (2-3, 5.60 ERA) vs. Matt Harrison, LHP (4-4, 3.62 ERA)
Los Angeles Angels at Minnesota Twins
Kenny Albert & Bert Blyleven
Target Field – Minneapolis, MN
MARKETS INCLUDE: Los Angeles, Minneapolis
Probable Pitchers: Jered Weaver, RHP (6-4, 2.35 ERA) vs. Francisco Liriano, LHP (3-5, 5.73 ERA)
HIGH DRAMA EXPECTED DURING NASCAR’S MARATHON RACE – As NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitors stare down the year’s longest event, strategy may never be more important. On Sunday, May 29 (5:30 PM ET), the Coca-Cola 600 begins in daylight, ends under the cover of darkness and incorporates numerous track and condition changes. Who will navigate the Sprint Cup Series’ longest race? NASCAR on FOX prerace show host by Chris Myers looks for the answers. The prerace show, which also features analysts Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Hammond, airs live from the infield and includes updates from drivers, crewmen and officials shaping the day’s action. Once the green flag drops, the voice of NASCAR Mike Joy is alongside analysts Waltrip and Larry McReynolds to call all the twists and turns on the track while Dick Berggren, Steve Byrnes, Krista Voda and Matt Yocum patrol the pits for reports on teams and pit stops.
HAMMOND: BUSCH SHOULD TURN BRUSH WITH THE LAW NEGATIVE INTO A POSITIVE – As many race fans know, earlier this week in Charlotte, NC, NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch was given a traffic ticket for driving 128 mph in a 45 mph zone. NASCAR on FOX analyst Jeff Hammond believes the role model should turn this negative action into a positive outcome. “Like some of the mixed martial arts (MMA) and the WWE fighters have done with the bullying issue, Kyle should offer to do a public service announcement about speeding and the responsibilities behind the wheel of a car,” said Hammond. “Let’s face it; there are a lot of young drivers out there that have just recently gotten their driver's license. They may want to emulate and be like Kyle, but now might think they can get by with something like this. He owes it to his fans and the young kids out there that are influenced by his actions to come out and do something so that a positive comes out of his action. The message has to be clear that speeding is only acceptable on the racetrack and not on the road.”
For Jeff Hammond’s full story log onto FOXSports.com by clicking here: http://tinyurl.com/3rmjfma
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