CN8, Comcast's shadow network (Our own Today Show! And PTI! And Larry King! Hell-ohhhh!), has an exciting contest:
Special Programming Series Features Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox and Orioles’ Hall of Fame Induction Speeches and Ultimate Road Trip Viewer Promotion
PHILADELPHIA – Travel ‘round the bases and down baseball’s memory lane with the Dodge Grand Slam Getaway, airing Monday, April 23 through Friday, April 27 at 7 p.m. on "Out of Bounds" on CN8, The Comcast Network. The series spotlights regional stars’ National Baseball Hall of Fame induction speeches and offers viewers a chance to win a whirlwind tour of four East Coast stadiums, culminating with a visit to the Hall of Fame.
Each night, "Out of Bounds" host Gregg Murphy features the special moments when New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles players were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Viewers can then visit www.CN8.tv/sports to answer questions, based on the speeches, for a chance to win a trip to New York’s Shea Stadium, Boston’s Fenway Park, Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park, Washington D.C.’s RFK Stadium and the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
"The Dodge Grand Slam Getaway celebrates baseball history and pays homage to this all-American summer sport and some of the best teams in CN8’s East Coast footprint," says Murphy. "I am confident our on-air series and special viewer promotion will be a home run."
The Dodge Grand Slam Getaway schedule on CN8’s "Out of Bounds" is as follows. Following their broadcast, programs will also be available ON DEMAND to Comcast Digital Cable subscribers until Friday, May 4. Select Sports and Fitness > CN8 Sports > Out of Bounds to access the special series.
New York Yankee Dave Winfield, Monday, April 23, 7 p.m.
Left fielder Winfield was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001. He also played for the San Diego Padres, the California Angels, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians.
Boston Red Sox Carl Yastrzemski, Tuesday, April 24, 7 p.m.
Inducted in 1989, Yastrzemski, a left fielder, played 23 seasons in Boston and was the all-time Red Sox leader in eight major categories, including games, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, total bases, RBI and extra base hits.
Philadelphia Phillie Jim Bunning, Wednesday, April 25, 7 p.m.
Pitcher Bunning was inducted in 1996 after playing consistently during his 17-year career. He was the first pitcher to record 100 wins and 1,000 strikeouts in both the American and National leagues.
Baltimore Oriole Brooks Robinson, Thursday, April 26, 7 p.m.
"The Human Vacuum Cleaner," third-baseman Robinson was inducted in 1983. He played 23 seasons for the Orioles, and set major league career records for games, putouts, assists, chances, double plays and fielding percentage.
Recap, Friday, April 27, 7 p.m.
Get caught up on all of the Dodge Grand Slam Getaway features as Murphy reviews the week’s broadcasts.
CN8’s Dodge Grand Slam Getaway will send one lucky viewer and a companion on a route that begins Thursday, July 12, and includes the following games and tours:
- New York Mets vs. Cincinnati Reds at Shea Stadium (July 12)
- Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park (July 13)
- Philadelphia Phillies vs. St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park (July 14)
- Washington Nationals vs. Houston Astros at RFK Stadium (July 16)
- Tour of National Baseball Hall of Fame
"Out of Bounds" is the show with the Around the Horn-ish quadrant of sports figures screaming at each other -- though from my limited experience watching the show, it's more like they're laughing at each other's jokes rather than screaming at one another. Brian Mitchell seems to be on that show regularly, as does that King Kong Bundy-looking guy from New York who used to read sports on Imus in the Morning.
And on that note, play the Grand Slam Getaway. It'll be a home run!
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Speaking of CN8, its corporate bosses at Comcast apparently haven't placed MASN on Roanoke or Harrisonburg cable:
"Comcast has no immediate plans to launch MASN," Comcast’s Lisa Altman said this week. "We’re always looking at programming based on customer interest."
The channel is now available to Comcast customers in most areas, MASN spokesman Todd Webster said Thursday, and the company would like to see it added to Harrisonburg ’s lineup.
"There’s no question. It is part of the Orioles’ and Nationals’ television territory and has been for some time," Webster said. "There is something fundamentally un-American about taking away baseball, the national pastime."
One would think the "no immediate plans" part would violate the MASN-Comcast agreement from last September. On the other hand, the agreement seemed to allow Comcast to phase in MASN to outlying areas in the so-called "Orioles/Nationals region" over the next two years. If it's true that there's not much demand for the product in these areas, then I can see why Comcast wouldn't be in any hurry.
Moreover, Webster's reply -- harkening to cherished American values as it does, rather than the terms of a contract -- would seem to indicate Comcast isn't doing anything in breach of the deal. If someone's breachin', I think I'd say "Breach!" first, "un-American" second. But that's just me. I asked Webster this very question, but he hasn't responded as of yet.
Yet, putting myself in the place of a baseball fan in these areas, I would most certainly be pissed if I were without MASN. Forget allegiances to the Nats for just a minute. That's 300 baseball games these people are missing. Golly.