Summary

Issue #4 of This Week in HD Sports covers a packed week of HDTV sports programming including eight MLB games, live NASCAR racing from California Speedway on HDNet, Championship Boxing on Showtime, PGA Golf, and Stanley Cup Playoff hockey on ESPN-HD. Author Tom Vrolyk travels to Fontana to report firsthand on HDNet's live 1080i coverage of the NASCAR Grand National Division race.

Source document circa 2004 preserved as-is

Issue #4                                                                                                                             April 29, 2004

 

 

This Week in HD Sports rings the bell with High Definition Championship Boxing, a total of eight HD MLB games plus Golf, Soccer, and NASCAR Stock Car Racing, all on High Definition Television.  In the next few months more HD Sports is coming to your Home Theater system. Rumors have it that TNT-HD, starting in July, will bring us Major League Baseball games in glorious HDTV! This opening is short (maybe heaven for some) on account this author is traveling to the California Speedway, in Fontana, to bring you, the TWiHDSports reader, coverage of the NAkSCAR Grand National Division on HDNet. We will try to put simple handle on all that it takes for HDNet to bring you a ‘LiveÂ’ (1080i HDTV Format, no less) Autorace at a fast running 2-Mile Superspeedway.

 

he usual disclaimer: I believe all these programs are HDTV “Live” broadcasts.  Start times are all ET (Eastern Time), best available at press time. Cheers. PVRs etc. Check your local listings.

 

HD Sports hit list for this week:

 

Thursday:   First up an early game, 11:30amET MLB on FOX SportsNet-HD Southwest. ItÂ’s the Houston Astros visit the Pittsburgh Pirates in this National League match up from PNC Park. Next INHD gets to second base at 3:00pmET with MLB: 04/29 Seattle Mariners visit the BaltimoreÂ’s OÂ’s Camden Yards.

 

Friday: Coming up to bat again is the number 720p, itÂ’s FOX SportsNet HD Southwest! They are rolling in MLB this week with the 2nd of Five HD Baseball games. In this one itÂ’s the Houston Astros playing host to the Cincinnati Reds starts 8:00pm ET.
 

 
Photos: 'NASCAR Grand National Division on HDNet'
 

Saturday: Hold on! Here comes 190mph HDTV. ‘LiveÂ’ at noon ET, from the 2-mile California Super Speedway in Fontana, HDNet brings us flag to flag coverage of the Nascar West Touring Series. This racing series will show off up and coming Nascar drivers from the western USA plus we get Veteran Nextel Cup Series driver Ken Schraderf. CBS Sports drives it long and straight with 3rd round HD Golf coverage of the HP Classic, from New Orleans. This tournament which debuted in 1938, starts at 3:00pm ET from English Turn Country Club. From English TurnÂ’s Web Site: “This Par 72 Championship Golf Course presents a unique challenge to golfers of any skill level. Water comes into play on every hole. Giant sand and waste bunkers guard many holes, and numerous grass depressions and mounds line the sculptured fairways. Huge tiered greens challenge putting strokes.


Club House - English Turn


Norman, Faldo, Love & Couples. They've all taken a swing at English Turn's 7,078 - yard track and come away with a bit more respect for the award-winning Jack Nicklaus designed 18-hole layout. The famed 18th of English Turn has consistently been rated one of the most challenging on the PGA Tour.”


Saturday night, HD continues when INHD2, 7:30pmET, splits the uprights with Arena Pro Football. Two times AFL World Champs Arizona Rattlers visit the LA Galaxy. Same time is HDNetÂ’s weekly soccer, 7:30pm ET, Dallas Burn @ Columbus Crew. 

Boxing is here on HDTV. Showtime, 9:00pmET, Championship Boxing features Cruiserweight & middleweight world title bouts. USBA Cruiserweight Champion/IBF No. 1 Contender Kelvin "Concrete" Davis vs. IBF No. 4 Cruiserweight Contender Ezra Sellers. PABA Middleweight Champion/WBA No. 4 Contender Maselino Masoe vs. WBA International Middleweight Champion/WBA No. 5 Contender Evans Ashira, Miami Arena, Miami, FL. HDNet, 9:30ET, brings us their premiere of HD Boxing from Manhattan Ctr NY, NY.

 

Sunday: Up first is MLB FOX SportsNet HD Southwest 2:00pmET. The Houston Astros playing host to the Cincinnati Reds.

 

HD provider CBS Sports, 3:00pm ET, final round coverage of PGA Golf with the HP Classic.

 

HOCKEY FANS rejoice: Stanley Cup Playoff action! ESPN-HD 4:00pm ET has Toronto Maple Leaves visit the Philadelphia Flyers from Wachovia Ctr.


More MLB INHD 4:00pm ET has Mets visiting the Padres in San Deigo. 8:00pm ET Sunday is now home to HD MLBaseball. ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, Boston RedSox visit Texas Rangers from Arlington TX. Broadcast is 720p format, as is all ESPN/ABC HD broadcasts.

 

Monday:  Pretty slow today. MLB once again on FoxNetHD Soutwest, 8:00pmET, Reds vs. Astros. INHDÂ’s MLB 7:00pmET coverage lists only “TBA” at press time.  L

 

Tuesday:  All quiet on the TWinHD Sports radar.

 

Wednesday:  MLB action with FOXNet Sports Southwest 8:00pmET providing their 5th HD baseball game in 7days, Pittsburgh Pirates visit the Houston Astros.

 

I will be bringing on more HD related Sports news in the coming weeks.  Special Page 2 section on MLB HD.  WeÂ’re hoping to take you to an ESPN-HD Sunday night Baseball game. Giving you more inside info. from TWinHDSports, on what it takes to put these great HDTV broadcasts together. Remember that these HD programs are ”Live” beamed right to your HDTV Home Theatre system.

 

Programs listed: most are National HD feeds served up with the, “may or may not be available in your area”.  FoxNetHD is, at this time, regional although they may start popping up all over the dial.

 

LetÂ’s keep watching HD Sports. Forward any comments, corrections, additional info or suggestions to [email protected]. Personal notes, barbs, jokes or most anything else you care to fwd my way, send to the email(s) below.

Regards,

 

Tom Vrolyk

San Francisco, CA

[email protected]

[email protected]