Mike Reynolds's blog

Can't Wait For Sunday

By: Jan 22 2011 - 5:33pm

Yes, in the immortal words and fearsome inflection of New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott, millions of viewers can’t wait for Sunday.

Like the Final Four of March Madness, the semifinals of the NFL’s post-season is in many ways better than the championship game itself, providing a duo of contests to chew and cheer, the intrigue of shaping the Super Bowl combatants and more chances to plunk down a few dimes on whatever aspects of the action intrigue you most.

Last year, 46.9 million saw the Jets flame out against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in the second half of the  American Football Conference title tilt in the early window, while the New Orleans Saints capitalized on Brett Favre’s  blunder in the waning seconds of regulation to top the Minnesota Vikings in OT, before an average of 57.9 million in the late-window National Football Conference championship contest.

Those were the two biggest telecasts in TV during the 2009-10 season, this side of the 106.5 million viewers CBS averaged with Super Bowl XLIV, which shoved Alan Alda’s Hawkeye Pierce and the series finale of M*A*S*H from the Nielsen record book.

Now, some like Nick Utton, CMO of the New York office of E*Trade Financial Group, which will run new versions of its “baby” spots in and around Super Bowl XLV on Fox, said he believes that estimates of 110 million viewers are in reach.

And why not, given the number of record Nielsen numbers the league has generated this season? That includes the 43.5 million who watched the Jets’ Jan. 16 triumph over the New England Patriots on CBS in Foxborough (where the post-game interview by ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio provided the forum for Scott’s hall of fame rant), the most ever for a Divisional round contest on any network.

Pittsburgh is a national team, with the embattled “Big” Ben Roethlisberger looking to add a third title to his resume and a record seventh Lombardi Trophy overall to the Steelers’ mantle, which would thus house two more pieces of the coveted hardware than those found in Dallas or San Francisco. Meanwhile, Rex Ryan’s Hard Knockers hail from the No. 1 DMA, even if Gang Green remains the No. 2 gridiron team in the market behind the G-men. Can Mark Sanchez finally displace Joe Namath as the face of the Jets’ Sanchise?

As to Chicago-Green Bay, what’s not to like about pro football’s longest-running rivalry? Both teams have national followings and Packers’ signal-caller Aaron Rodgers is red hot, while Clay Matthews III, Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams make enough plays defensively to give the No. 6-seeded team a very real chance to hoist the Halas Trophy on their rival’s shoddy sod at Soldier Field. The Bears bring the No. 2 market and a robust defensive of their own led by Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers into play. The question is there enough Lovie for Jay Cutler to become the worst quarterback this side of Trent Dilfer to lead his team to a win in the Big Game?

Can’t wait to see how things play out Sunday on Fox at 3 p.m. and CBS at 6:30 p.m.

Less in 'Skins'

By: Jan 26 2011 - 4:20am

For all those who thought Tim Winter’s antics would serve as a better lead-in than Snooki for MTV’s original series Skins, you should have taken the Jersey Shore girl and the under. The way under.

Winters, the Parents Television Council president succeeded in stripping Skins of many of its top advertisers after its Jan. 17 premiere. And half its audience to boot.

The Jan. 24 installment attracted 1.6 million watchers, a 52% drop from the 3.3 million for its premiere the week before. More importantly, Monday night’s episode skidded among MTV’s core demo, dropping from a 3.4 rating and 2.7 million persons 12 to 34, the most ever for a series launch with MTV’s broad demo, to a 1.4, according to Nielsen data.

But the premiere benefited from a fresh episode of Jersey Shore, MTV’s top-rated original series ever, which drew 7.7 million who watched Snooki get arrested, after falling down drunk on the beach in Seaside Heights.

Featuring storylines about teen sex and drug and alcohol use, Skin’s subject matter was certain to titillate America’s oh so impressionable youth. Reports then began to surface that with the age of the actors, MTV might find itself rubbing up against childhood pornography laws.

Many believed that those elements in a moth to flame or Jon and Kate Gosselin kind of spectacle way, plus PTC’s protestations — it labeled the Americanized remake of the British series the “most dangerous” show for children in U.S. TV annals — would have more viewers peep in on the second episode of this show. Especially considering that Winter kept his group’s hype machine humming and the series in the news by getting Taco Bell, General Motors, Wrigley, H&R Block, Schick and L’Oreal to pull their ads from Skins. The advertisers confessed that Skins was no longer a righteous, er the right, place for their commercial messaging.

Well, for the studios/distributors behind No Strings Attached, The Mechanic, Just Go With It, Unknown, I Am Number Four, The Roommate, The Eagle, Sanctum, Drive Angry, The Rite and From Prada to Nada, energy drink Red Bull and pimple remedy Hot Spot, hawked by none other than Whitney Port of The Hills fame — all of which had spots in the Jan. 24 episode — their decisions would now seem to be as much about whether Skins can deliver enough audience to warrant future buys, as bearing PTC attacks should Winter’s group start warbling against them for supporting this MTV ode to teen turpitude.

Moreover, depending if the furor has died and the ratings decline further with it, MTV will have to wrangle about the show’s ultimate worth as well. But that call presumably won’t come before the network’s Feb. 3 New York upfront, whose e-invites include images of the actors, or the Jan. 31 episode, which could grab some prurient audience attention as a cast member is supposed to sport his drug-inspired member.

In the Viacom camp, the ratings’ masseuses noted that Skins’s 1.6 mark with the 12-to-34 set compared well with the second week of such scripted fare as HBO’s True Blood (1.6), The CW’s Gossip Girl (1.7), 90210 (1.5) and Vampire Diaries (1.5) and ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars (1.7)

They also pointed out that Skins beat its encored Jersey Shore lead-in by 33%, while improving MTV’s 2010 time slot (Mondays in the 10 p.m. hour) average of a 0.9 by 78%. Further, they said the second of episode of Skins built upon the network’s last scripted series The Hard Times of RJ Berger, which scored a 1.1 demo mark in its second week.

Still, the second episode of Skins had to prompt panting and preaching from more than a few parents and PTCers as it depicted lesbian Tea, via a series of quick-cuts, frolicking with a friend on the dance floor and later in her bedroom; taking a quick shot of a booze in the hallway at school; sharing a bottle of vodka with Tony on a playground merry-go-round; and pleasuring herself to a picture of Holly Golightly, before her nana interrupted matters by stepping into the wrong bed.

Oh, the kids these days. Then again, perhaps this show is already like so 2010 to them. Or maybe, after watching the pilot, they think Skins sucks and just didn’t bother to return.

Mo' Money, Mo' Money, Mo' Money...

By: Jan 7 2011 - 8:38pm

It’s a new year and the rights deals are flowing.

Fox, looking to bolster its position in college football after seeing ESPN wrest away the Bowl Championship Series last year, tackled a rights and sponsorship deal for the inaugural Pac 12 Conference championship football game (nee the Pac 10), tentatively set for Dec. 3. Meanwhile, Fox Sports Net added regular-season football and basketball games, reflective of new conference members Utah and Colorado.

FSN also notched a five-year TV deal with Conference USA that picks up and expands on the six-year pact with ESPN that concludes this spring. Under the pact, FSN will televise 20 college football games — compared with 10 under ESPN’s watch — 10 regular-season men’s basketball games, five women’s basketball games and some Olympic sports. FSN also grabbed the rights to the circuit’s championship football game, as well as men’s and women’s basketball title tilts, and can switch key events to broadcast brethren Fox or 98-million home cable cousin FX.

Much more importantly, a couple of big rights deals are apparently on the boil. Sports Business Daily reports that ESPN is nearing a renewal of its NFL and Monday Night Football pact that will run nine or 10 years for up to $19 billion, upon the expiration of its current contract at the end of the 2013 season.

At $1.9 billion per season that would represent a 73% hike over the average $1.1 billion ESPN pays under its current contract, already the highest of all NFL carriers. Under deals that were extended in 2009, DirecTV allocates $1 billion annually for the Sunday Ticket out-of-market, pay-per-view package, Fox $720 million for its National Football Conference package, CBS $620 million for American Football Conference action and NBC over $600 million for Sunday Night Football, currently TV’s top show.

The prospective long-term pact prevents anybody else — Turner’s TNT or TBS, Fox’s FX, Comcast’s Versus — from getting at the most-watched franchise in cable history into the next decade and figures to put MNF on broadband service ESPN3.com. According to SBJ, the new contract evidently doesn’t extend to mobile, nor will it put ESPN in the Super Bowl party. Perhaps it will include a playoff match in the latter years of the deal.

Guess the retention of those rights and the ability to incorporate highlights, while talking NFL all week long across myriad existing and future platforms, justifies the steep rise in rates. And it’s certainly good to be the king and foot much of your NFL bill with monthly subscriber fees easily exceeding the $4 mark and counting. Still, it’s a huge jump in rights, in what at this point perhaps can be construed as a case of ESPN bidding against itself. Or do you think any of the other parties would be willing to shed that kind of coin for MNF?

That won’t be case with the Olympics. The International Olympics Committee has postponed bidding for U.S. TV rights to the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia in 2014 and the Summer Games in Rio de Janiero in 2016 for more than a year because of the nation’s tough economy and slumping advertising market.

Now, the Associated Press reports that IOC Finance Commission chairman Richard Carrion said that all networks interested in securing U.S. TV rights want the package to encompass four Games — Sochi, Rio and the Winter and Summer Olympics that follow in 2018 and 2020, but do not yet have attached host cities. As such, the IOC is now considering bundling the four Games together with AP’s story indicating that one Olympic official said ESPN and Fox have been “among the most adamant” for that kind of deal. A CBS-Turner team is also expected to be in the hunt, not to mention incumbent NBC, which following FCC and DOJ approval, should soon be under the auspices of Comcast.

Of course, NBC and its Olympic champion Dick Ebersol have been down the multiple Games path before. The Peacock, with General Electric’s backing, secured the rights to the 2004, 2006 and 2008 competitions in one fell swoop back in December 1995, bypassing a bidding process. That win came just several months after NBC paid for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.

The competition figures to be tougher this time round and with the four-pack of Games rights pushing well past the $4 billion mark. That will certainly be a litmus test for what life will be like for NBC Sports under the cable company, which doesn’t have engines, turbines and other machinery to sell around the globe, like GE does. Still, Comcast could use the Games to significantly build the profile and license fees for national cable network Versus.

It’s unclear what the timing for the Olympic and NFL deals might be, but in the end, the organizations will back up the truck to collect their respect rights fee wads, just like Damon and Keenen Ivory Mo MoneyWayans did on the “Homeboy Network” segments on Fox’s venerable 1990s’ sketch comedy In Living Color.

The question is do you imagine IOC president Jacques Rogge as Whiz and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell playing Iceman? Or do you envision Goodell portraying Whiz and Rogge as Iceman? Either way, it’s Mo’ Money, Mo’ Money, Mo’ Money…

Football Over Futbol

By: Feb 9 2011 - 6:39pm

Somewhat lost in the good (the game), bad (Christina Aguilera’s butchering of the national anthem) and ugly (Seatgate at Jerry’s World) of Super Bowl XLV was another significant Nielsen nugget.

The NFL championship game not only stands at the most-watched show in U.S. TV history, but it’s the top program among Hispanic viewers as well.

Included among the record 111 million viewers on average who saw the Green Bay Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers were some 10 million Latinos. Fox’s Feb. 6 telecast knocked Spain’s 1-0 victory over The Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup Final last July 11.

The result speaks not only to the power of the NFL as America’s favorite TV sport, but the acculturation and assimilation of our society.

Super Bowls now account for four of the top U.S. telecasts among Hispanic viewers (see list below).

Most-Watched TV Programs Among Hispanic Viewers

Telecast  Hispanic Average Viewers

Super Bowl XLV (Packers-Steelers), 2/6/11 10.01 million

2010 World Cup Final (Spain/Netherlands), 7/11/10 8.95 million

2010 World Cup Round of 16 (Argentina/Mexico), 6/27/10 8.91 million
Destilando Amor (telanovela series finale), 12/3/07 8.88 million

Super Bowl XLIV (Saints-Colts), 2/7/10 8.28 million

Super Bowl XLIII (Steelers-Cardinals), 2/1/09 7.84 million
Rubi (telanovela series finale), 3/7/06 7.76 million
Selena ¡VIVE! (benefit concert), 4/7/05 7.65 million

Super Bowl XLII (Giants-Patriots), 2/3/08 7.49 million
Soy Tu Dueña (telanovela series finale), 12/27/10 7.18 million









Source: NFL, The Nielsen Co., 1994-2011

Building Beyond Super Bowl 111 Million

By: Feb 8 2011 - 3:09am

Before the New York Giants played the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLI on Feb. 2, 2007, the notion of the NFL championship game playing before an average of 100 million viewers began to take root.

The team from the nation’s largest DMA was looking to slow down the then-undefeated New England Patriots and stop Tom Brady’s offensive juggernaut from surpassing the 1972 unbeaten Miami Dolphins in the record book.

The G-men’s monumental 17-14 upset in the final minute over Bill Belichick’s bunch also ushered in a quartet of close NFL championship games each of which has set a new Super Bowl average audience mark - from 97.4 million to 98.7 million for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ win over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLII and 106.5 million last year. CBS’s telecast of the New Orleans Saints’ triumph over the Indianapolis Colts surpassed the series finale of M*A*S*H in 1983 as the most-watched show in U.S. TV history.

The run of taut title tilts culminated with Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers holding off the Pittsburgh Steelers before some 111 million viewers at home with Fox  (and 103,219 in Cowboys Stadium, a total that fell short of the Super Bowl XIV record of 103,985 who watched the Steelers top the Los Angeles Rams at the Rose Bowl, because of the NFL’s and Jerry Jones’s Seatgate snafu).

Sunday’s thriller also marks the sixth straight year that Super Bowl viewership has increased. Fox happily pointed out Monday that over that span, the Big Game’s average audience has grown from 86.1 million in 2005 — when it televised New England’s victory over Philadelphia in Super Bowl XXXIX — by some 25 million viewers. That’s a 29% increase for those keeping score at home.

Next up: Comcast may get to brag about the top U.S. telecast of all-time as NBC holds the rights to Super Bowl XLVI in Indy in February 2012, provided the NFL and its players association don’t tackle next season in a labor dispute. If there’s peace, chances are Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth will preside over what figures to be another record-setter on the small screen, before CBS reclaims the Nielsen crown with the Big Game in the Big Easy in 2013 and then Fox usurps the throne at the New Meadowlands Stadium with Super Bowl XVLIII, come 2014.

You get the idea: the NFL has never been a more popular product on TV. Presumably, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA director DeMaurice Smith won’t let their $9 billion industry breakdown, like the construction crews and ticket dispensers did at Jerry’s World on Super Sunday.

Guess that’s a case of if you don’t build it right, they can come in, but can’t sit down, even if they’ve spent thousands getting to arctic Arlington.

Super Bowl XLV Parlay

By: Feb 6 2011 - 5:55am

Take the over on both the 105 and 106.5.

As in a Super Bowl record crowd of 105,000 people in and around Cowboys Stadium and 106.5 million average viewers, which would ease past last year’s NFL title tilt as the largest audience in U.S. TV history.

The league is projecting that the Pittsburgh Steelers-Green Bay Packers matchup will set a new championship game attendance mark, with upward of 95,000 fans and an additional 5,000 workers, officials and members of the media inside Jerry’s World. Plus, there are another 5,000 or so who plunked down $200 a throw for the outdoor Plaza Party area.

While the inclement weather that’s dropped snow and ice on North Texas may keep some of those folks away (to say nothing of those who were injured when some of the white stuff slid off the roof), tickets sold are tickets sold. As such, the 103,985 who saw the Steelers top the Los Angeles Rams (yes children, the NFL once had a team in the City of the Angels) in Super Bowl XIV at the Rose Bowl, figure to fall by the wayside as the largest gathering in Super Bowl annals.

Yep, things are always bigger in Texas. Unless, you’re looking at the 108,713 that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones invited to the 2010 NBA All-Star Game.

As for the Nielsen tally, Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints’ triumph over Peyton Manning’s Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV drove Alan Alda’s Hawkeye Pierce and the M*A*S*H finale from the Nielsen record book, as last season’s Big Game was truly big, generating 106,476,000 viewers on average for CBS.

Several factors could set the stage for a new mark: the NFL’s record-setting ratings during the regular season and playoffs; the lousy weather that might keep some Nielsen families home, rather than heading to their favorite tavern to watch the contest; and the storied franchises with national followings participating. Add up all the Terrible Towel twirlers and Cheeseheads around the nation and things bode well for Fox to up the audience ante.

On the downside, one can argue against the size of the markets: Pittsburgh is DMA No. 24, while Green Bay-Appleton is the NFL’s smallest at 71 (Milwaukee, that old Packers stomping ground, ranks 35th). But, in one of the NFL’s many attributes, TV and otherwise, size doesn’t always matter. Indeed, Indy (25) and New Orleans (51) don’t sit near the top of the Nielsen standings either.

Moreover, QBs Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger don’t have as much of the right profile (that’s Montgomery Clift, honey) as their counterparts from a year ago. Could a bit of Steeler fatigue — the club is making its third appearance in the title tilt since 2006 — also come into play?

Most importantly, will casual fans and/or women, tune out Roethlisberger given his off-the-field legacy?

Of course, an early blowout could puncture holes in small screens around the country, if not the monstrous video board hovering above the playing field at Cowboys Stadium. Then again, if the owners and players can’t come to a new labor accord, this could be the last NFL games fans can watch and savor for a spell.

Let’s hope neither of those final two scenarios materialize. Enjoy the game!

Syfy Make-Goods On Broadway?

By: Feb 4 2011 - 12:39am

In more flush times, many networks lavished tchotchkes, often of the expensive and electronic kind, on their upfront guests.

As the economy soured, though, the parting gifts became more practical. In many cases, nothing more than the hope — and perhaps a memory stick — that the presentations would trigger a favorable schedule decision when the Madison Avenue bazaar officially opened its tent to accommodate prospective buyers.

Now consider Syfy’s situation. The NBC Universal service is trumpeting its March 22 upfront with a subsequent performance of the much-ballyhooed/pooh-poohed Spider-Man: Turn Out The Dark at the Foxwoods Theatre in Manhattan.

Given the show’s track record for delays and accidents, where cast members have taken it on the chin and other body parts during aerial rehearsals, the practical thing for Syfy to do is hand out its gift bags — after executives proffer their pitches and before the lights for the Broadway musical blink — housing hard hats and personal protection policies from The Hartford.

Then again, like the ambitious play itself, can Syfy, which is a media partner of the production from U2’s Bono and The Edge and Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor, guarantee that Spider-Man will be ready to fly just a week after its latest announced opening date? Something about the Ides of March.

Indeed, Syfy, which in 2010 spun its way to a 14th straight year among cable’s top 10 in its core 25-to-54 demo, might have to worry about make-goods of a different kind before the 2011-12 TV season even starts.

Defenseless Against NFL's Lure

By: Jan 31 2011 - 11:26pm

For those who scoff at the defense displayed by the Team Lidstrom 11,Team Staal 10 final score line in yesterday’s NHL All-Star Game, try this one on a for size: 13.4 million.

That’s how many tuned in to watch the NFL Pro Bowl on Fox Sunday, in which the NFC eked its way to a 42-0 lead in the second quarter before holding onto a 55-41 victory over the AFC.

Just goes to underline the power of the NFL in what is arguably the weakest of the four major team sport All-Star Games, where like its puck counterpart, hitting is very much optional, if not frowned upon.

Case in point: KC safety Eric Berry’s half-assed, missed tackle on St. Louis RB Steve Jackson’s 21-yard TD. Not sure if the on-field mics picked up the audio, but a more seasoned teammate must have admonished: “Hey rook, what doing?…Don’t wanna be in the trainer’s room and miss the post-game luau.” Berry dutifully backed off in mid-hit, and Jackson sauntered in for the score.

But even with this nonsensical, flag football affair, the NFL has us so hooked that Fox netted a 7.7 rating/12 share in the most-watched Pro Bowl since 1997, when ABC averaged 13.5 million viewers, and the highest-rated since an 8.6/15 for the 2000 game.

Compared to last year’s game, the 2011 Pro Bowl was ahead 8% in rating (7.7/12 versus 7.1/11) and 9% in viewership (13.4 million versus 12.3 million), over ESPN’s presentation of the 2010 exhibition, which faced much more formidable Nielsen competition in the way of the Grammys.  Nevertheless, the Jan. 30 telecast also improved 5% among persons 18 to 34 (4.1 versus 3.9), and by 34% among adults 25 to 54 (6.3 versus 4.7). The Pro Bowl gave Fox an easy win for the night with a 4.7 among persons 18 to 49., outscoring the combination of second- and third-place ABC (2.1/6) and CBS (1.9/5).

And with all this, NFL fans, sponsors, networks, players and owners are staring at a pro pigskin work stoppage come March 4. Seems that’s the only defense against America’s TV pastime.

NHL All-Star Draft: The Last Will Be First

By: Jan 29 2011 - 8:05pm

The National Hockey League put a new spin on Matthew 20:16 Friday night.

Looking to spruce up its All-Star Game format and veer from the traditional conference-versus-conference and/or North America vs. World formats, the NHL put the responsibility of picking two teams from its 36 best into the hands of two captains, Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom.

During Versus’ coverage of the NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft, powered by Cisco, Staal and Lidstrom each picked three goalies, six defenseman and 12 forwards. While Staal wisely went for Hurricane teammate, hometown hero and goaltender Cam Ward, Lidstrom selected Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos.

After 17 rounds, only Colorado forward Paul Stastny and Toronto forward Phil Kessel were left in the talent pool. When Staal stepped to the podium inside the Raleigh Convention Center and opted for Stastny, Kessel was the last man standing.

But rather than the humiliation (and pummeling) reserved for being the last one selected for, say, an elementary school dodgeball game, Kessel was rewarded with a new Honda and $20,000, which he donated to a cancer charity he got involved with when he battled testicular cancer.

Indeed, Stastny’s comments suggested he and some others wouldn’t have minded being No. 36. “I think once it got down to the last five or six, I think we all were hoping one of us would go last, so we’d get that car,” Stastny said. “It was fun the way they did it and it was good to be part of.”

As for the draft, it probably went a little too far along conference lines, with Team Staal reflecting an Eastern bias and Team Lindstrom leaning a little Western (see lists below).

Still, it was a fun event and one that hopefully sets the stage for exciting Versus’ telecasts of  the 2011 Honda NHL SuperSkills competition on Saturday at 7 p.m. and the 58th  NHL All-Star Game on Sunday at 4 p.m.

Versus will face off for ratings against ABC’s coverage of pro basketball’s most-storied rivalry and a rematch of the 2010 NBA Finals as the Boston Celtics visit the Los Angeles Lakers at 3:30 p.m. (ET). The NFL Pro Bowl kicks off at 7 p.m. on Fox.

Team Staal

Eric Staal, F, Hurricanes (Captain)

Mike Green, D, Capitals (Assistant Captain)

Ryan Kesler, F, Canucks (Assistant Captain)


Draft

1. Cam Ward, G, Hurricanes

3. Alex Ovechkin, F, Capitals

5. Daniel Sedin, F, Canucks

7. Zdeno Chara, D, Bruins

9. Rick Nash, F, Blue Jackets

11. Henrik Lundqvist, G, Rangers

13. Marc Staal, D, Rangers

15. Patrick Sharp, F, Blackhawks

17. Dan Boyle, D, Sharks

19. Carey Price, G, Canadiens

21. Jeff Skinner, F, Hurricanes

23. Kris Letang, D, Penguins

25. Claude Giroux, F, Flyers

27. Erik Karlsson, D, Senators

29. Corey Perry, F, Ducks

31. Patrik Elias, F, Devils

33. David Backes, F, Blues

35. Paul Stastny, F, Avalanche

















Team Lidstrom

Nick Lidstrom, D, Red Wings (Captain)

Patrick Kane, F, Blackhawks (Assistant Captain)

Martin St. Louis, F, Lightning (Assistant Captain)


Draft

2. Steven Stamkos, F, Lightning

4. Duncan Keith, D, Blackhawks

6. Henrik Sedin, F, Canucks

8. Shea Weber, D, Predators

10. Tim Thomas, G, Bruins

12. Danny Briere, F, Flyers

14. Dustin Byfuglien, D, Thrashers

16. Jonathan Toews, F, Blackhawks

18. Marc-Andre Fleury, G, Penguins

20. Jonas Hiller, G, Ducks

22. Brad Richards, F, Stars

24. Keith Yandle, D, Coyotes

26. Brent Burns, D, Wild

28. Martin Havlat, F, Wild

30. Anze Kopitar, F, Kings

32. Matt Duchene, F, Avalanche

34. Loui Eriksson, F, Stars

36. Phil Kessel, F, Maple Leafs















No Djok Down Under

By: Jan 27 2011 - 1:06pm

Known as the Happy Slam, the 2011 Australian Open couldn’t have left too many casual tennis fans around the world or executives in Bristol smiling.

The hope of defending champion Roger Federer looking to prevent the “Rafa Slam” in his first meeting with Rafael Nada in a Grand Slam final since the 2009 Aussie event deteriorated Down Under.

Nadal’s pursuit of becoming the first man to hold all four majors since Rod Laver achieved the second of his two calendar Grand Slams in 1969 cratered in straight sets to the combination of the effects of a lingering virus, a hamstring injury and the steely play of David Ferrer in the quarters.

Instead of the Rafa Slam, Ferrer will look to reach his initial Grand Slam final against another competitor looking for his first major, Andy Murray. The Scot, who lost to Federer in the final a year ago, is looking to end the UK’s 75-year Slam drought that extends to Fred Perry’s U.S Open title in 1936.

World No. 2 Federer, seeking a fifth title in Melbourne, went down under in straights as well to Novak Djokovic. The third-seeded Serb, fresh off leading his nation to the Davis Cup in December, backed up his win over the all-time Slam king in a five sets at the U.S. Open last September in much more facile form in Melbourne. Djokovic secured the first-set tiebreak, then regained his composure after going up and then down a break to trail Fed 5-2 in the second. Novak’s big forehands, retooled serve, speed and drop-shot gets melded with Federer getting caught betwixt and between his defensive inclinations and the more offensive tactics espoused by his coach Paul Annacone to give the 2008 Aussie winner the edge to win five straight games.

Not scoring enough easy points off his serve and being on the wrong end of most rallies didn’t help the Federer cause, which died after he couldn’t convert three break chances in the second game of the third set, when “The Djoker” followed with a break of his own. Fed returned the favor in the eighth game after a long rally and a net cord set up a pass. But it was too little, too late, as Roger was rocked in the very next game and then Novak eventually held serve to win 7-6, 7-5, 6-4.

Hence, this Oz Open will mark the first time since the 2008 event (and only second time since the 2005 tournament) that neither of tennis’ reigning royalty will appear in a Slam final. Their absence might make it a little tougher for Americans to stroke the 16- (East Coast) and 19-hour (West Coast) differences aside and watch the time zone-challenged final live on ESPN2 in Sunday’s wee morning hours. ESPN2 and Slam partner Tennis Channel will present encore options.

On the women’s side of the net, many, including ESPN analysts Darren Cahill and Pam Shriver, questioned No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki’s readiness to capture her first major. Still, not too many had Li Na making her first Grand Slam final as she dropped the Dane, who held a match point while serving at 5-4 in the  second set, in three, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Na will look to become the first Chinese woman to win a major and make the world’s largest nation even prouder of her performance at the Asia/Pacific Slam if she can prevent Kim Clijsters, who dropped No. 2 Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-3, from collecting her second consecutive major and fourth overall (she won the 2005, 2009 and  2010 tourneys in Flushing Meadow) on Saturday morning. Clijsters lost to the now retired-again Justine Henin in the 2004 Down Under final.

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