HD Sports Weekly: April 15, 2004 — Masters Golf, MLB, NHL, Long Beach Grand Prix and More

Volume 1, Issue # 2
April 15, 2004

         Last weekendÂ’s HDTV Sports programming was a refreshing bright spot for recent ‘LiveÂ’ Television, be it High Definition, News or otherwise. The CBS/USA Masters was a sight to behold. FridayÂ’s last career Masters Golf 18th hole by Arnold Palmer was THE HD highlight for the tourney. Wrong Tom, the end of the Final round was one of the best ever and showed the potential of our new, fantastic HDTV technology. Cool Â… the 68^th Masters is now saved digitally and should last for, well, maybe forever with proper care & handling of the data.

 

This is a great spring season for the HD Sports Fan. It is equally so for the many HD providers who now bring you these spectacular events. This coming weekend shall not disappoint you, plus, if youÂ’re a HD Golf fan, you have a chance to get in 36 holes! ESPN-HD also shined brightly last Tuesday and Wednesday with NHL Stanley Cup, NBA, and MLB--all in HD.

 

This weekend brings us nearly 20 “Live” HD sports programs in a more diverse line-up. Telecasts will include the first weekend of MLB, Stanley Cup playoffs, Tennis, MLS Soccer. Last, but I say NOT least, HDNetÂ’s HD Autoracing coverage with the 30^th Anniversary (cooled by the ocean) running of the Long Beach GranPrix street race  Sunday. If youÂ’ve never been to a High Speed Street Race this will be the closest thing to being there. Whew, I need to buy a generator, what if we get a local power outage? 

Note: NBA Playoffs may have some games in HD. I can not get a set schedule for press time. As info is avail. I will fwd to all.

All of the programs that I mention with rare exception are National HD feeds which should be noted with the now-infamous “may or may not be available in your area”.  FoxNetHD is regional at this time although they may be/seem to be popping up all over the dial. I believe all these programs to be HDTV “Live” broadcasts. Start times are all Eastern as best determined by press time. Check your local listings for changes and time.

 

SPORTS HIT LIST

 

Thursday: Well let's see...many Prime time HD Sports.  

ESPN-HD at 7:30pm may have to get the nod for bringing Game Five Conference Stanley Cup playoffs: Detroit Red Wings vs. Nashville Predators from Joe Louis Sports Arena, Detroit MI. Predators could clinch in this match up.

MLBaseball also on Thursday night, INHD is showing the LA Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres from Petco Park. 7:00 PM. MLB again:

FOX-Net HD North & Southwest regional has Brewers vs. Astros, the first of, I think, a complete weekend of HD MLB from the Houston Astros 2yrs young park, Minute Maid Field 7:00pm

 

Friday:

Tennis HD fans rejoice! INHD is showing US MenÂ’s Clay Court Championships from the Westside Tennis club in Houston. 8:00pm. 

 

FOXNet-HD regional MLB shows Brewers vs. Astros 8:00pm also

 

Saturday:

It’s a four sports HD day. If you like Baseball get back home by 1:00pm (maybe 1:20) INHD is showing the first of three MLB-HD games spotlighting the Boston Red Sox’s home, Fenway Park, see the “Green Monster” in HD! You may have guessed it, the New York Yankees are in town for a four game series and it’s show time. These Yankees games may be available elsewhere.

HDNet does a four wheel slide into Sunday with these HD events: Champ Car: LongBeach GranPrix Qualifying at 4:30pm followed later by

 

HD MLS Soccer: 9:00pm, LA Galaxy at Colorado Rapids. FOXNet-HD North lists MLB Milwaukee Brewers at Houston Astros 6:00pm

 

ADVERTISE HERE
 

Sunday swings into 1080i action with INHDÂ’s second MLB game from Boston. Yankees at the Red Sox, starts at 2:00pm Meanwhile
 

FOXNet-HD regionals list MLB Brewers visiting the Astros in Houston.

 

Next up is my personal favorite: HDNet Roars to life with Flag to Flag coverage of the XX Long Beach GranPrix featuring Champ Cars (old CART) running down city streets, 190mph, right onto your Home Theatre screen in HD!

Do you like Auto racing but not open wheel cars? DonÂ’t touch that remote because we get a first HD showing of  Trans-Am series action on the same Long Beach street track.

This racing series runs cars you may recognize: Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang and Jaguar XKR.  Also running in this series are the Viper and Camaro. These full-bodied cars produce around 650-700Hp and do standing ¼ mile in 10 sec!

 

For Baseball fans our second MLB-HD Sunday game itÂ’s ESPN-HD, features the Oakland AÂ’s at Anaheim Angels: 5:00pm, as all ESPN, ABC and soon FOX, this HD broadcast is 720p.

 

Monday was quiet, but now it has a late HD Sports addition: INHD network likes Boston Fenway Park so much they are leaving everything set-up and sticking around for INHDÂ’s 3^rd HD MLB game in as many days. ItÂ’s a rare Monday 11:05am day game to finish up the YankeeÂ’s & Red SoxÂ’s four game weekend.

 

Tuesday brings us more MLB with a western match up LA Dodgers visit the Colorado Rockies from Coors Field in Denver. 6:00pm start, this should be shown on FOXNet-HD West2. See Fox Sports web site to link to the various FOXNet-HD regions and listings

 

Wednesday brings us yet another  LA Dodgers vs. the Colorado Rockies from Coors Field in Denver. 6:00pm FOXNet-HD West2.

 

 

Wheew, Well as you can see it has been another great week for HD Sports, which is good for HDTV in general. I will be bringing you much  more HD related Sports news in the coming weeks. We will have special sections MLB HD, NASCAR Autoracing in HD: including the latest HDTV Racing coverage provider interviews and explanations reported right from RaceTrack. We will most likely take you to an ESPN-HD Sunday night Baseball game with more inside info on what it takes to put on these HDTV broadcasts, “Live” to your Home.

 

Until next time, keep watching HD Sports. Forward any comments, corrections, additional info or suggestions to Dale or me.

Tom Vrolyk

San Francisco, CA

[email protected]