All systems go for Euro final
Although a power outage that caused a television blackout during a semifinal match of soccer’s European Championship on Wednesday is still fresh in the minds of network executives, ESPN and ABC hope it’s a fading memory for viewers when the tournament-favored Germans play Spain on Sunday for the UEFA title in Vienna.
ESPN executives said the BBC’s global feed of the Germany-Turkey match was interrupted when lightning and bad weather knocked out power in Vienna. It took some time for circuit breakers and the power grid to recover. Tim Scanlan of ESPN said there would be plenty of backup generators in place for Sunday’s game.
“There will be backup to the backups,” he said.
Julie Foudy, Andy Gray and Tommy Smyth, who have been providing commentary and analysis for the tournament, will do the same for the championship from their studio seats at ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Conn.
“It’s been a fantastic tournament,” Smyth said during a media conference call on Thursday. “Goals going in at a time when you least expect it. So many have been game winners.”
Other events worth viewing this weekend:
Baseball, Angels at Dodgers (Today, 7:30 p.m., Prime, Channel 13; Saturday, 7 p.m., Channels 9 and 13; Sunday, 1 p.m., Channels 9 and 13). The fast-lane Angels take the Freeway Series exit at Dodger Stadium for three interleague games against a team that has been in the slow lane most of the season.
Tennis, Wimbledon (Today, 4 a.m., ESPN2; Saturday, 5 a.m., ESPN2, 9 a.m., Channel 4; Sunday, 9 a.m., Channel 4). With the new roof in place on Centre Court, the winds that swirled about last year are gone, but so are the lovely vistas of the English countryside.
NBC and ESPN2 are doubles partners for coverage of early-round play.
Horse racing, Hollywood Gold Cup (Saturday, 4 p.m., ESPN2). Hollywood Park’s signature race, which in another age had the Turf Club brimming with such stars as Cary Grant, Dorothy Lamour, Bing Crosby and Judy Garland, goes to the post about 4:43 p.m., with Heatseeker as the favorite.
Swimming, U.S. Olympic trials (Sunday, 8 p.m., Channel 4; Monday, 8 p.m., USA). Michael Phelps, Aaron Peirsol and Katie Hoff lead the contenders Sunday, the first of eight consecutive nights of competition in prime time, delayed on the West Coast. Bob Costas, Dan Hicks, Rowdy Gaines and Andrea Kremer will be at the Qwest Center in Omaha. Phelps will attempt to qualify in nine events.
Track and field, U.S. Olympic trials (today, 9 p.m., USA; Saturday, 8 p.m., Channel 4; Sunday, 7 p.m., Channel 4, all delayed). Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon is the site for those looking to earn a trip to Beijing and represent the U.S. in the Olympics’ premier event. Tom Hammond, Carl Lewis, Dwight Stones and Ato Boldon will report from Eugene.
Golf, U.S. Women’s Open (today, noon, ESPN; Saturday, noon, Channel 4; Sunday, noon, Channel 4). Playing on a course at Edina, Minn., that’s the longest in U.S. Women’s Open history, Lorena Ochoa has her eye on winning her third major, and maybe some chocolate cake, while the golf world watches to see if Michelle Wie can make the cut.
Golf, Buick Open (today, noon, Golf Channel; Saturday, noon, Channel 2; Sunday, noon, Channel 2). Viewers figure to be flipping back and forth from this tournament to the U.S. Women’s Open, which airs at the same time on NBC. Rocco Mediate is back, but without Tiger Woods, it’ll be interesting to see whether the PGA Tour can break par in the ratings.
Football, Arena League playoffs (Today, 4:30 p.m., ESPN; Saturday, 1 p.m., ESPN; Monday, 4 and 6:30 p.m., ESPN2). Today’s wild-card game between New York and Dallas is the first of 11 playoff telecasts on ESPN and ABC. On Saturday, Colorado is at Utah, and Orlando visits Cleveland on Monday night in the first game of a doubleheader, followed by Grand Rapids at Arizona.
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