HDNet to broadcast live coverage of the 2010 College Basketball Invitational
Network to air LIVE coverage of this exciting NCAA contest for the second straight year
HDNet and The Gazelle Group are pleased to announce the network’s coverage of the upcoming 2010 College Basketball Invitational.
The College Basketball Invitational will consist of 16 teams not selected for the NCAA Tournament. The teams will be invited based upon performance during their conference and non-conference schedule, as well as how they are playing at the end of the regular season. Bracketing will be done geographically into four regions of the country (East, West, South, Midwest) to minimize missed class time. Brackets will be balanced competitively within each region.
The College Basketball Invitational bracket will be announced on the evening of Sunday, March 14.
The “professor” Rich Cellini is once again paired with former collegiate and NBA star Craig Ehlo as one of HDNet’s two broadcast teams. Ehlo played for Washington State and then went on to an outstanding 14-year career as a shooting guard in the NBA.
The network’s second team includes long time HDNet play-by-play announcer, the award-winning Kenny Rice, who is joined by former NCAA player and two-time Division II NCAA championship coach Wayne Chapman. After an outstanding career at Western Kentucky University, Chapman played professionally in the American Basketball Association from 1968-72. Chapman has been an NBA scout for the last decade.
The event will be played under a single-elimination format, up until the Championship Series, with all games being played at campus sites. The Championship Series will be a best-of-three series in which the higher seed will host two games should a third be necessary.
The College Basketball Invitational will feature the following:
March 16 and 17
– HDNet will broadcast two games LIVE each night at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. ET
– There are a total of eight Opening Round games at campus sites
– Two games will be played on March 16, six games will be played on March 17
March 22
– HDNet will broadcast two games LIVE at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. ET
– The tournament now features four Quarterfinal Round games at campus sites
March 24
– HDNet will broadcast two semi-final games
– Both will air LIVE at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. ET
All College Basketball Invitational Championship Series (March 29, March 31 and April 2) championship games LIVE on HDNet at 8:00 p.m. ET
This marks the third season of the CBI. Previous winners of the tournament are Tulsa (‘08) and Oregon State (‘09).
HDNet to debut new original MMA series Fighting Words with Mike Straka
Network to launch this first-of-its-kind MMA series with Dana White as the premiere guest – Friday, March 26 at 8:30 p.m. ET
HDNet announced that it will add the new, original series “Fighting Words with Mike Straka,” to its Friday night lineup. The 30-minute one-on-one weekly interview program will feature revealing conversations with the top stars in mixed martial arts. “Fighting Words with Mike Straka” is scheduled to debut on Friday, March 26 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The premiere episode will feature a rare, 30-minute interview with one of the most influential people in Mixed Martial Arts – UFC President Dana White.
In the following weeks, host Mike Straka will present unique insights into the sport’s most interesting personalities including King Mo, Gegard Mousasi, Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, Matt Hughes, Frank Shamrock and Bobby Lashley.
“This show has been years in the making – I wanted MMA fans to get an unprecedented view, from the biggest names, of what it takes to be in this business,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “The MMA world produces the most intriguing personalities in professional sports and this program is designed to give Mike a full half- hour to ask the tough questions – the real questions fight fans want to know.”
“I am proud to join HDNet as the newest piece of the network’s already impressive MMA lineup,” said Mike Straka. “I am excited about the opportunity to present a side of these amazing athletes that the fans haven’t seen before.”
Mike Straka was previously the host of “FOX Fight Game.” He has covered MMA since UFC 30 in February 2001 and is widely recognized as one of the first mainstream journalists to begin reporting on the sport.
First ever Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup announces winner
At the inaugural Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup held at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass., Lexie Priessman of Cincinnati, Ohio, won the all-around title with Kassandra Lopez of Tucson, Ariz., and Diandra Milliner of Andover, Kansas, finishing in second and third, respectively. Competing were 36 gymnasts who traveled from 17 states across the country to participate. Proceeds from the event benefit the Nastia Liukin Fund, a charitable fund within the National Gymnastics Foundation.
“It was such an honor to compete here today,” said Priessman. “I am very happy that I hit four-for-four and accomplished my goal. I am so thankful for this wonderful opportunity; it was a dream for me to meet Nastia!”
“We had an amazing group of talented gymnasts participate in my first ever Supergirl Cup,” said Nastia Liukin, 2008 Olympic all-around champion. “I congratulate Lexie, Kassandra, and Diandra for their incredible performances today. They serve as an inspiration to the Supergirl in all of us.”
Priessman, who trains at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy, won the all-around with a total score of 38.400. Her individual event scores were: 9.750, vault; 9.450, uneven bars; 9.725, balance beam; and 9.475, floor exercise. Lopez finished just 0.725 behind her. Lopez, who trains at Gym World East, posted a 9.450 on vault, a 9.425 on the uneven bars, a 9.425 on the balance beam and a 9.375 for the floor exercise. Milliner rounded out the top three with her total score of 37.400. Competing for Folgers, she earned 9.850 on vault, 9.350 on bars, 8.650 on beam and 9.550 on floor.
The 36 young women were chosen to compete in the Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup based on performances at the 15 invitationals that comprised the Nastia Liukin Cup Series. Each invitational selected a minimum of two athletes from the respective Level 10/open fields. The Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup is a partnership between Warner Bros. Consumer Products, USA Gymnastics and Liukin. Always aware of how much life has given her and determined to give back, Liukin is proud to host an event that helps fund the Nastia Liukin Fund. The Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup and the accompanying Nastia Liukin Cup Series provide a unique competitive opportunity for the country’s rising female gymnasts.
With her desire to be a positive role model for young girls, Liukin enjoyed meeting the young gymnasts to share the Supergirl vision — with hard work, belief in yourself, and commitment to a dream — anything is possible. The Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup participants received a Nastia Liukin-designed leotard and a warm-up from GK Elite; two tickets to the Tyson American Cup and recognition during that event for the Cup’s medalists. For more information, go to: www.nastialiukinsupergirlcup.com.
2010 Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup Field
Worcester, Mass.
March 5, 2010
Final Results
All-Around
1. Lexie Priessman, Cincinnati, Ohio, 38.400
2. Kassandra Lopez, Tucson, Ariz., 37.675
3. Diandra Milliner, Andover, Kansas, 37.400
Nastia Liukin: At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Liukin’s total of five medals tied the U.S. gymnastics record for most medals in one Olympic Games, currently held by Mary Lou Retton (1984) and Shannon Miller (1992). Liukin’s medals are: gold – all-around; silver – team, balance beam and uneven bars; and bronze – floor exercise. Liukin is just the third U.S. woman to win the Olympic all-around crown. Liukin has nine world medals to her credit. Liukin and her teammates on the 2007 U.S. Women’s World Championships Team were selected as the 2007 U.S. Olympic Committee’s Team of the Year. Following her success in Beijing, Nastia was named the International Gymnastics Federation Athlete of the Year, Women’s Sports Foundation Individual Sportswoman of the Year, and the United States Sports Academy’s Female Athlete of the Year. In 2009, she was named USAG Athlete of the Year, USAG Sportswoman of the Year and won an ESPY for Female Athlete of the Year. With an undeniable presence on and off the mat, Nastia has secured a multitude of promotional partnerships including Covergirl, Visa, AT&T, Herbal Essences, Pure Sport, Secret, Sega and the cover of the Wheaties box. Nastia has appeared in several television projects such as the hit TV series, Gossip Girl; the documentary, USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team; and the feature film, Stick It. She was also chosen as one of 2009’s most influential women by MSN Lifestyle.