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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2011
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THE TIMES LEADER
www.timesleader.com
O LY M P I C S
NBC to show all events live ... somewhere Primetime broadcasts won’t change but every event will be available somewhere.
By RACHEL COHEN AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK — NBC’s Olympic coverage in London will look very familiar, with one major twist. For the first time, the network plans to show every event live in some form — even if it’s just raw video streaming online. But the prime-time broadcasts will still use that traditional formula of human-interest features and taped competition. The minds behind that cover-
age will be steeped in the NBC philosophy of packaging the Olympics for a wide audience. “Today” executive producer Jim Bell will serve in that role for the 2012 Games. And the man who previously held the title, former NBC Sports Group Chair Dick Ebersol, will be an adviser to his successor, Mark Lazarus. “That’s what our approach on the Olympics has been and what it will continue to be,” Lazarus said. “Having Jim do that for the Olympics assures we’ll have that sensibility.” Of hiring Ebersol, Lazarus said Tuesday: “Dick’s experience and knowledge will be of great benefit.”
Earlier in his career, Bell was coordinating producer for NBC Olympics under Ebersol, who was adamant even as he left the network that showing events live during the day would hurt overall ratings. But to Lazarus, the sports fan of today demands immediacy — and that doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive to highly stylized broadcasts aired when people are most likely to be sitting in front of the TV. “I believe in that, and that will be some philosophical shift from my predecessor,” Lazarus told The Associated Press. Next year’s Olympics will test whether those broadcasts will
still be highly rated, too, now that they’re not the first opportunity for viewers to watch who wins the gold. “You can show things in its rawest form to satisfy that immediacy,” Lazarus said, “and then you can package it and make it a bigger story and broader and more inclusive of other elements, and people will watch it again and bring others with them.” The blending of old and new with the Olympics is just a piece of the broader evolution at NBC Sports that Lazarus is in the middle of. Comcast took over NBCUniversal in January, bringing new bosses — and the resources of the company’s sports cable net-
works. Lazarus, an outsider to both sides, came aboard as president of the NBC Sports Cable Group with the merger. Then Ebersol, the unmistakable face of NBC Sports for more than two decades, left in a contract dispute. He’ll also advise Lazarus on NBC’s NFL coverage. “I look forward to continuing my 15-year relationship with him,” Lazarus said. A former president of Turner Entertainment Group, Lazarus was suddenly overseeing a stable that included the traditional broadcast network of NBC; Comcast’s Versus and Golf Channel; its regional sports networks; and
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NFL ROUNDUP
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AP PHOTO
Philadelphia Eagles’ Michael Vick speaks at a news conference at the team’s practice facility Tuesday in Philadelphia.
Dollar signs proof of Vick’s recovery
The Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — Just more than two years after being released from prison, out of work, mired in bankruptcy and facing an uncertain future, Michael Vick is again on top of the world. Vick, who served 19 months at a federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kan., on felony dogfighting charges before joining the Philadelphia Eagles as a third-string quarterback two years ago, signed one of the richest contracts in NFL history on Tuesday. Vick’s six-year, $100 million deal makes him the third-highest-paid player in the NFL, behind only Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. “It’s a lot of money, how ever you look at it,” Vick said. “Obviously, it’s going to create a lot of demands. I know what comes along with it, and I know how to handle it. But it’s not even about the money. It’s about the changes that have been made in my life. Kids have an opportunity to see that you should never count yourself out. “But at the same time, don’t put yourself in a position where you’ve got to make a miraculous comeback. That’s not what it’s about.” Steelers PITTSBURGH — The stars on the Pittsburgh Steelers will be in baseball caps by the second quarter of the team’s preseason finale against Carolina on Thursday. Then, the real drama begins. NFL teams must trim the roster from 80 players to 53 this weekend and there are precious few spots available on the veteran-laden defending AFC champions. Wide receiver Tyler Grisham has been in this position before. He’s spent time on the
practice squad in each of the last two seasons after failing to make the roster out of camp. He’s had another solid preseason but knows the odds are stacked against him. He’s likely no higher than sixth on the depth chart. He says his job is to make it hard for the coaches to cut him.
49ers SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Frank Gore says his agent is gone after what he considered a productive, all-day meeting Monday with the 49ers about a new contract for the two-time Pro Bowl running back. Gore would not say Tuesday whether an initial proposal was made, only that he has instructed agent Drew Rosenhaus to let him know when there is what he considers a “fair” offer on the table. That hadn’t happened yet to Gore’s knowledge. The 28-year-old Gore, third on San Francisco’s career rushing list heading into his seventh NFL season, has said he hopes for a new long-term deal before the Sept. 11 season opener against Seattle. Rosenhaus’ office said it had no comment, and Rosenhaus didn’t immediately return an email from The Associated Press. Giants EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Eli Manning sees his dismal preseason statistics and isn’t concerned. Preseason is a time to get used to standing in the pocket, to get adjusted to new teammates and to take a couple of hits. And that’s just what the New York Giants quarterback says he has done in the first three preseason games. Manning has not had a ton of success playing behind a revamped offensive line, and without departed wide receiver
what direction we are going to go.” Kelly was a second-round pick from Oklahoma in 2008, but a knee injury from college surfaced again during his rookie season and limited him to five games. He also missed all of last year with a pulled hamstring. This year, Kelly has been sidelined since the first week of Jets training camp with an injured right foot. He did not play in NEW YORK — Rex Ryan likes what he has seen from his the first three preseason games. defense this preseason, even Kelly appeared in 21 regular after the Jets allowed the Giseason games for the Redskins, ants to roll up more than 200 catching 28 passes for 365 yards in the first half Monday yards and no touchdowns. night. The Redskins also released The Jets’ defense kept the Giants out of the end zone, and defensive backs Dante Barnes that’s all that matters in Ryan’s and Tyrone Grant, quarterback Ben Chappell, offensive lineeyes. In fact, he’s so confident men Xavier Fulton and Corey in his bunch, he says he “wouldn’t trade this defense for O’Daniel, linebacker Eric anybody’s in the league.” Ryan, McBride, kicker Clint Stitser and tight end Joe Torchia. who has made a career of creating tough defenses, says it is Defensive end Jarvis Jenkins, who tore the ACL in his right his “least concern” with one knee in last week’s preseason game to go in the preseason. game, was placed on injured He also predicts that the Jets reserve. will finish No. 1 in the league in defense, and issued a challenge: “Put your negative com- Cowboys IRVING, Texas — Seeing ments out there and we’ll see Gerald Sensabaugh get turned what happens at the end.” around while allowing a long Redskins touchdown pass on the opening drive of the last preseason ASHBURN, Va. — Malcolm game reminded the Dallas Kelly spent much of training Cowboys of why they shopped camp riding a stationary bicyaround for an upgrade at safety cle while his teammates practhis offseason. ticed. The Washington RedSeeing him leap over the skins decided Tuesday he center and leap again to block wasn’t worth the wait. a field goal, then seeing him The oft-injured receiver was snatch a deflected pass for an released by the Redskins and interception later in the same received an injury settlement game reminded the Cowboys of as the team made the first why they ended up bringing round of cuts to get the roster him back. down to 80 players. Sensabaugh’s return was sort “It’s really a shame that he of a consolation prize, both for hasn’t been able to stay healthy,” coach Mike Shanahan him and for Dallas. So far this preseason, the said. “I know he’s feeling a lot Cowboys have been glad to better but still isn’t able to go. have him. We had to make a decision on Steve Smith and tight end Kevin Boss. He has completed just over 49 percent of his passes, has not thrown a touchdown and tossed two interceptions. Certainly not Tom Bradytype stats, but Manning is certain things will change once the regular season starts on Sept. 11 at Washington.
championship at the U.S. Open, where in the past four years he’s lost twice in the final and twice in the semifinals. “This year has been tremendous — best so far in my career — and there has been a lot of talk about history-making and this incredible run,” Djokovic said. His showing Tuesday was the most noteworthy development in the men’s draw during an afternoon session that included a second consecutive first-round departure from the U.S. Open by the sixth-seeded French Open champion Li Na. Since becoming China’s first major singles champion at Paris in June, Li has gone 5-6, exiting in the second round at Wimbledon, then losing 6-2, 7-5 to 53rd-ranked Simona Halep of Romania on Tuesday. “Terrible feeling,” Li said. “I really want to do well after Roland Garros. But, I mean, it’s not easy to do. Always easy to say, ‘I want to do, I would like to do,’ but always lose early. Now I even lose all the confidence on the court. I was feeling, ‘Oh, tennis just too tough for me.”’ It’s the first time in 40 years that none of the women’s champions at a season’s first three Grand Slam tournaments reached the second round at the U.S. Open. Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova lost her first-round match Monday, while Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters withdrew because of a stomach muscle injury. The active leader for women’s Grand Slam titles, Serena Williams, was to follow Nadal in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday night. Earlier, top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki — who’s been ranked No. 1 for most of the past year but is still in search of Grand Slam trophy No. 1 — defeated 125thranked Nuria Llagostera Vives of Spain 6-3, 6-1. Afterward, Wozniacki was asked about criticisms that she lacks a big-time shot. “They can say what they want,” said Wozniacki, who is dating U.S. Open golf champion Rory McIlroy. “I’m the type of player I am.” Among the past major winners who advanced Tuesday were 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, who overcame 16 double-faults, including four in her last service game; 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic, whose blood pressure was checked by a trainer at the final changeover and said afterward she felt overwhelmed while thinking about the recent death of her grandfather; and two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova. Other winners included No. 4 Victoria Azarenka, No. 10 Andrea Petkovic, No. 11 Jelena Jankovic and three young Americans: Sloane Stephens, CoCo Vande-
CANZLER Continued from Page 1B
Tampa Bay signed him as a free agent in the offseason. Canzler leads the IL with 61 extra-base hits, 40 doubles, 77 runs, 241 total bases and a .533 slugging percentage. He is fourth in the league in batting average. Since the All-Star Game, Can-
digital assets. Lazarus proudly asserts it’s the only media company with all four sorts of platforms. He believes his status as an outsider makes it easy to think in terms of what’s best for the entire NBC Sports Group, instead of how the cable channels can benefit NBC or vice versa. But clearly a key cog in the future is Versus, which is already slated for a significant change: its name. It will be known as NBC Sports Network starting early next year. The cable channel is getting Major League Soccer broadcasts, which gives it games in the summer to go with the NHL in the winter.
US Open Glance NEW YORK — A look at Tuesday’s play at the $23.7 million U.S. Open tennis championships: WEATHER: Sunny and mild. High of 79. ATTENDANCE: Day: NA. MEN’S SEEDED WINNERS: First Round: No. 1 Novak Djokovic, No. 5 David Ferrer, No. 11 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, No. 14 Stanislas Wawrinka, No. 17 Jurgen Melzer, No. 19 Fernando Verdasco, No. 24 Juan Ignacio Chela and No. 26 Florian Mayer. MEN’S SEEDED LOSERS: No. 16 Mikhail Youzhny and No. 32 Ivan Dodig. WOMEN’S SEEDED WINNERS: First Round: No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, No. 4 Victoria Azarenka, No. 7 Francesca Schiavone, No. 10 Andrea Petkovic, No. 11 Jelena Jankovic, No. 15 Svetlana Kuznetsova, No. 16 Ana Ivanovic, No. 18 Roberta Vinci, No. 20 Yanina Wickmayer, No. 22 Sabine Lisicki, No. 23 Shahar Peer, No. 26 Flavia Pennetta, No. 29 Jarmila Gajdosova and No. 31 Kaia Kanepi. WOMEN’S SEEDED LOSERS: No. 6 Li Na, No. 21 Daniela Hantuchova and No. 32 Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez. TOP PLAYERS ON COURT WEDNESDAY: Men: No. 4 Andy Murray vs. Somdev Devvarman, No. 6 Robin Soderling vs. Louk Sorensen, No. 18 Juan Martin del Potro vs. Filippo Volandri. Women: No. 2 Vera Zvonareva vs. Kateryna Bondarenko, No. 3 Maria Sharapova vs. Anastasiya Yakimova, No. 8 Marion Bartoli vs. Christina McHale. STAT OF THE DAY: No. 1 Novak Djokovic needed only 44 minutes to advance to the second round. His opponent, Conor Niland, retired at 6-0, 5-1 because of food poisoning. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We’re thinking it was either salad or a pork dish. We’re not giving away the name of the restaurant.” — Conor Niland, who retired from his match against Novak Djokovic because of food poisoning. TODAY ON TV: Tennis Channel, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (live), 11 p.m.-Mid (highlights); ESPN2, 1-11 p.m. (live). ON THIS DATE: Aug. 31, 2006: Andre Agassi outlasts Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5 in the second round. It is the final victory of Agassi’s career.
weghe and Vania King. Two seeded men lost during the day: No. 16 Mikhail Youzhny was beaten by Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 6-2, 6-4, 6-4, and No. 32 Ivan Dodig was eliminated 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 by Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, who was a U.S. Open semifinalist in 2006 and 2007 and once was ranked No. 3 but now is 39th. Winners included No. 5 David Ferrer, No. 11 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, No. 17 Jurgen Melzer and Americans James Blake and Donald Young. Tsonga’s next opponent is Sergei Bubka, the son of the polevault world record-holder of the same name, who is a qualifier ranked 207th and won his first Grand Slam match Tuesday. zler is hitting at a .355 clip. The MVP award marks the second post-season honor for the Hazleton native. Representing the Boise Hawks, he was given the MiLB.com Short-Season Round Tripper award in 2006 after leading the Northwest League in homers, RBIs and doubles. Durham leads the South Division by 2.5 games over Gwinnett with five games remaining in the regular season.