2015 Donruss Football Coming In September

In early September, Panini America will reintroduce an old friend to football collectors with the release of 2015 Donruss Football. The first standalone Donruss-branded NFL product since 2002 will deliver both hobby and retail versions steeped in long-adored brand staples such as Rated Rookies, Classics, Dominators, Gridiron Kings, Passing the Torch Autographs and more.

Set to release on September 2, each hobby box of 2015 Donruss Football (eight cards per pack, 24 packs per box) will deliver three autograph or memorabilia cards, four parallels, four Rated Rookies, one Classics, two Gridiron Kings, nine Elite inserts, nine Elite Rookies, two Passing the Torch inserts, two Elite Series and one Dominator.

via Panini America Provides Detailed First Look at 2015 Donruss Football (Preview Gallery) | The Official Panini America Blog.

Championship Saturday Makes Good

American Pharoah Captures First Triple Crown in 37 Years as Belmont Stakes Posts 12.3 Overnight Rating

NHL Stanley Cup Final Game 2 Registers 4.8 Overnight – Best Game 2 On Record on Broadcast TV

Belmont Stakes Overnight is Highest for Saturday Afternoon Sporting Event since AFC Divisional Playoff on NBC

Serena Williams’ French Open Victory for Her 20th Grand Slam Singles Title Up 21% From Last Year’s Women’s Final

Home of Belmont Stakes, New York Posts Its Best Belmont Overnight Since 2004

via RATINGS MILESTONES FOR HISTORY-MAKING “CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY” ON NBC | NBC Sports Pressbox.

Interpol puts six with ties to FIFA on its most wanted list | For The Win

In continuation of FIFA’s unprecedented skid, on Wednesday, Interpol added six men with ties to FIFA to its most wanted list, issuing an international alert for two former officials and four executives with charges of racketeering and corruption.

via Interpol puts six with ties to FIFA on its most wanted list | For The Win.

“NBC SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON” Coverage This Weekend on NBC Sports

“NBC Sports Championship Season” coverage takes center stage this weekend with numerous high-profile events including the 147th Belmont Stakes featuring Triple Crown contender American Pharoah, Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning, the Women’s and Men’s Finals in the 2015 French Open, Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC, the IndyCar Firestone 600, the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, and Lucas Oil Motocross.

In addition to this weekend’s events, “NBC Sports Championship Season” featured the first two legs of the Triple Crown, The Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, and The Players Championship, which took place last month. “Championship Season” continues through July with the remainder of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final between the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning, and the 2015 Tour de France.

via “NBC SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON” TAKES CENTER STAGE THIS WEEKEND | NBC Sports Pressbox.

2015 Prizm Collegiate Draft Picks Football Sneak Peek!

Each 12-pack hobby box will deliver at least two autographs (although some boxes have three autographs), 24 Draft Picks, six Prizms, one Stained Glass and three additional inserts. We’ll have much more on 2015 Prizm Collegiate Draft Picks Football in the coming days leading up to next Wednesday’s official release.

via The Panini America Quality Control Gallery: 2015 Prizm Collegiate Draft Picks Football | The Official Panini America Blog.

Belmont Stakes This Saturday

Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner American Pharoah runs for history, aiming to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, as NBC Sports Group presents the 147th Belmont Stakes this Saturday, June 6, at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Coverage from Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., begins Friday, June 5, at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Highlights of NBC Sports Group’s Belmont coverage include:

• Bob Costas’ essay on the elusive Triple Crown, discussing past winners and what makes this achievement unique, and difficult.
• Josh Elliott hosts a feature on American Pharoah’s road to the Triple Crown, takes a look at his challengers, and visits with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who is making his fourth attempt at the Triple Crown with American Pharoah.
• A feature on “Drought Busters” – professional athletes who have helped break major slumps in their respective sports.
• A look at Victor Espinoza’s 2014 Triple Crown attempt at Belmont aboard California Chrome. Espinoza, once a bus driver in Mexico, is now the first jockey in history to have three chances at the Triple Crown. In addition, Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss continue their debate on the reasons California Chrome finished fourth in last year’s Belmont and failed to win the Triple Crown.
• For the first time at the Belmont Stakes, NBC Sports will utilize a 4K super-slow-motion, reverse finish-line camera.

COMMENTATORS: NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the Belmont Stakes features hosts Bob Costas, a 26-time Emmy Award-winner, and Tom Hammond, a veteran NBC Sports commentator; analysts Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey and two-time Belmont winner; analysts/handicappers Bob Neumeier and Eddie Olczyk; NBCSN host/NBC reporter Laffit Pincay, III; reporters Kenny Rice, Donna Brothers and Jay Privman; and race caller Larry Collmus. Josh Elliott and Carolyn Manno provide a mix of features and interviews at Belmont Park.

The coordinating producer of NBC’s horse racing coverage is Rob Hyland, who has been a part of the network’s horse racing coverage since 2001. The Belmont Stakes is directed by Sunday Night Football and NBC Sports’ horse racing director, Drew Esocoff. The coverage on NBCSN is produced by Billy Matthews and directed by Doug Grabert. The executive producer of NBC Sports and NBCSN is Sam Flood, who has produced 12 Triple Crown races for the network.

via AMERICAN PHAROAH RUNS FOR TRIPLE CROWN HISTORY IN BELMONT STAKES THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 6, AT 4:30 PM ET ON NBC | NBC Sports Pressbox.

NBC SPORTS GROUP’S SUNDAY OF CHAMPIONS

NBC Sports’ Championship Season coverage takes center stage this Sunday with numerous high-profile events airing on NBC and NBCSN, including Game 5 of the NHL Eastern Conference Final between Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Rangers; the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix; Premier League’s “Championship Sunday;” the first round of the 2015 French Open; and the Senior PGA Championship.

“Championship Season” consists of high-profile events from May through July, and continues with the 2015 Stanley Cup Final, the 147th Belmont Stakes featuring Triple Crown contender American Pharoah, The Men’s and Women’s French Open Finals, and the 2015 Tour de France.

via NBC SPORTS GROUP’S SUNDAY OF CHAMPIONS: NHL CONFERENCE FINAL, MONACO GRAND PRIX, PL “CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY,” FRENCH OPEN & SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP | NBC Sports Pressbox.

2014-15 Spectra Basketball Coming Next Week

Panini America’s colorful, Prizm-infused Spectra brand has wasted precious little time in etching out a loyal following among hardhcore hoops collectors. In fact, with just one inaugural release last season, Spectra Basketball became a bona fide favorite — as much for its perfect-for-Prizm designs as for its rich autograph and memorabilia content. When the second installment arrives next week, collectors will revel in the fact that the brand has only improved with age.

2014-15 Spectra Basketball releases one week from today and will deliver seven autograph or memorabilia cards in every box. The product this year also has been bolstered by the addition of Global Icons, a one-per-case chase insert that showcases some of the game’s greatest international players. After the jump, you can discover a little bit of everything else the product has to offer.

via The Panini America Quality Control Gallery: 2014-15 Spectra Basketball (69 Sweet Pics) | The Official Panini America Blog.

Premier League Championship Sunday!

NBCUniversal presents a blockbuster “Championship Sunday,” with all 10 matches presented live simultaneously on 10 different NBCUniversal television networks this Sunday, May 24 at 10 a.m. ET. In addition, Telemundo and NBC UNIVERSO will each televise one match in Spanish, and all 10 matches will be streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra, NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices and tablets.

Chelsea, this season’s Premier League champions, will be presented with the trophy this Sunday, while Newcastle and Hull City aim to avoid the final relegation position. Depending on the result of their match against Arsenal on Wednesday, 16th-place Sunderland could join Newcastle and Hull City in Sunday’s fight to avoid relegation.

via NBCUNIVERSAL PRESENTS 10 MATCHES LIVE ACROSS 10 NETWORKS FOR PREMIER LEAGUE “CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY,” THIS SUN., MAY 24, AT 10 AM ET | NBC Sports Pressbox.

PBC ON NBC RETURNS TO PRIMETIME

A highly anticipated showdown between former titleholders Adrien “The Problem” Broner (30-1, 22 KOs) and “Showtime” Shawn Porter (25-1-1, 16 KOs) headlines the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC primetime event on Saturday, June 20, live at 8:30 p.m. ET from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. Broner enters the fight coming off a victory against John Molina Jr. in the primetime debut of PBC on NBC in March. Coverage begins with the undefeated Errol Spence Jr. (16-0, 13 KOs) vs. hard-hitting veteran Roberto “La Amenaza” Garcia (37-3, 23 KOs) in a welterweight bout.

via PBC ON NBC RETURNS TO PRIMETIME: SUPERSTARS ADRIEN BRONER AND SHAWN PORTER TO MEET IN LIVE SHOWDOWN IN LAS VEGAS, SAT., JUNE 20 ON NBC | NBC Sports Pressbox.