NBC regional coverage features Los Angeles/Orlando, Dallas/Chicago
March 3, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
New York - March 2, 2006 - NBC Sports will broadcast regional coverage of two AFL games on Sunday at Noon ET: the Los Angeles Avengers (1-4, Western Division) at Orlando Predators (3-2, Southern Division) and the Dallas Desperados (4-1, Eastern Division) at Chicago Rush (3-2, Central Division).
Tom Hammond (play-by-play), Pat Haden (analyst) and Lewis Johnson (reporter) will call Los Angeles/Orlando; and Bob Papa (play-by-play), Ray Bentley (analyst) and Mike Adamle (reporter) will call Dallas/Chicago.
Hugh Douglas is the guest analyst in the AFL on NBC studio on Sunday, joining host Al Trautwig and analyst Glenn Parker.
LOS ANGELES AT ORLANDO:
The Avengers will be led by rookie quarterback Sonny Cumbie who just two weeks ago was the third-string QB. Cumbie was leading the NCAA in passing for Texas Tech 14 months ago.
After three straight wins, Orlando struggled on offense and lost a tough game to the New York Dragons, 55-35 last week. The Predators are led by QB Joe Hamilton, a former Heisman Trophy runner-up, while at Georgia Tech, who is in his third season of the AFL.
DALLAS AT CHICAGO:
Dallas showcases WR/DB Will Pettis, who earned last week's Ironman Player of the Week with a strong performance that included three touchdowns and helped propel the Desperados over Las Vegas.
Chicago is coming off three straight victories after starting the season 0-2.
TYSON AMERICAN CUP, SATURDAY, 1 P.M. ET:
Future Olympic hopefuls compete for Tyson American Cup, this Saturday, live at 1 p.m. ET on NBC. The American Cup, billed as the world's premier gymnastics invitational meet, pits some of the nation's best gymnasts vs. international athletes and kicks off NBC's 2006 gymnastics coverage. The event features 2005 world champion Nastia Liukin of the U.S. on the uneven bars and balance beam.
Al Trautwig will call the action from the Global Spectrum's Liacouras Center at Temple University in Philadelphia, with Elfi Schlegel and Tim Daggett providing analysis and Andrea Joyce reporting.
Liukin headlines the U.S. Women's Team, having also won silver medals in the all-around and floor exercise at the 2005 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. At the 2005 Visa Championships, Liukin won the all-around, uneven bars and balance beam, while claiming second in the floor exercise.
>From 1976 through 2005, the American Cup has served as the most prestigious international all-around competition on the gymnastics calendar. The event launched the international careers of many world-class competitors, such as Bart Conner, Kurt Thomas, Mary Lou Retton, Peter Vidmar, Shannon Miller, Blaine Wilson, Kerri Strug and Carly Patterson.
This year's Tyson American Cup is also the first leading international invitational in the United States to introduce the sport's new scoring system.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 3, 2006
- "A-Team" Dancers support "Read Across America" - Los Angeles Avengers
- Destroyers force five turnovers in 65-54 win over New York - Columbus Destroyers
- AFL week six Friday injury report - AFL I
- Rattlers Place Three on IR - Arizona Rattlers
- Preds place lineman Greg White on IR - Orlando Predators
- NBC regional coverage features Los Angeles/Orlando, Dallas/Chicago - AFL I
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