FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

NBC SPORTS NETWORK’S MLS COVERAGE CONTINUES WITH COLUMBUS AT PHILADELPHIA ON SATURDAY

Eastern Conference Match begins at 3:30 p.m. ET “They are nicely placed in the Eastern Conference, and would love a repeat of their 2-1 win at PPL Park in 2010.” – Arlo White on Columbus “If the Union can jump start their idle attack, then this could be the day of the win.” – Martino on Philadelphia

NEW YORK – April 11, 2012 – NBC Sports Network’s coverage of Major League Soccer continues this week on Saturday with an Eastern Conference match when the Philadelphia Union host the Columbus Crew at 3:30 p.m. ET.

COMMENTATORS: The NBC Sports Group MLS announce team of Arlo White (@arlowhite, play-by-play), and Kyle Martino (@kylemartino, “Between the Benches” analyst) will call the game. NBC SportsTalk host Russ Thaler (@RussThaler) will host the pre-game, halftime and post-game segments live from PPL Park in Chester, Pa.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM: Soccer America said White is “one of the best MLS commentators around” and called Martino, “NBC’s insider analyst, not simply a guy with a mike.” Additionally, The Tampa Times said NBC Sports Network’s coverage, “looked great and sounded even better with Kyle Martino between the benches, just like you might see on NBC’s hockey coverage.”

WHITE AND MARTINO BREAK DOWN THE MATCHUP:

 

WHITE ON THE UNION: “Make no mistake, after a turbulent off-season, and then traumatic starts to the campaign, Philadelphia are desperate for that first win. Captain Danny Califf appears to be back in Coach Peter Nowak’s good books, but which of the Union’s young battery of strikers are going to stand up and score the goals. It could be time for either Danny Mwanga, Jack McInerney or Chandler Hoffman to seize the day.”

 

WHITE ON THE CREW: “Columbus had a two game losing streak snapped by Thierry Henry and a rampant New York last week. They are nicely placed in the Eastern Conference, and would love a repeat of their 2-1 win at PPL Park in 2010.”

 

MARTINO ON THE MATCH: “Philadelphia continues the search for their first win of the season at home this weekend against a Columbus team looking to erase the memory of the beating they took last week at the hands of New York. If the Union can jump start their idle attack, then this could be the day of the win.”

 

UPCOMING MLS GAMES ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK: (All Times ET, Home Team Listed First)

Sat., April 21, Toronto vs. Chicago, 3:30 p.m.

Sat., April 28, New York vs. New England, 3:30 p.m.

Sat., May 5, Seattle vs. Philadelphia, 4 p.m.

 

For the full NBC Sports Group 2012 MLS Schedule visit www.NBCSports.com.

 

ProSoccerTalk on NBCSports.com: Steve Davis (@SteveDavis90), a respected soccer journalist for more than two decades, is the featured writer for ProSoccerTalk on NBCSports.com. Davis, who has covered Major League Soccer, since its inception in 1996 contributes regular posts and will provide video reports to NBCSports.com, and is expected to be an occasional guest on NBC SportsTalk, the daily hour-long news and information show the new NBC Sports Network.

 

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Last August, Major League Soccer (MLS) and the NBC Sports Group announced a three-year media rights agreement that calls for 46 MLS games and four U.S. National Team contests to be televised live across both NBC and NBC Sports Network each season. This agreement was the first rights deal for the new NBC Sports Network. All telecasts on NBC and NBC Sports Network will consist of pre-game and post-game coverage.