Posted on 07/02/2008 10:08:59 PM PDT by bootless
"The Giants will have a chance to win two consecutive games at home for the first time since they beat the Padres and Mets exactly one month ago. But even more exciting will be the opportunity for both teams to play a game in honor of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.
In celebration of the Fourth of July, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and the Giants will honor American troops worldwide by televising Wednesday night's game in 176 countries and on 200 U.S. Navy ships at sea.
Authentic Heroes: Telecast for the Troops is part of the Giants' June 30-July 6 homestand, which the Giants have dedicated to celebrating our country's independence and honoring the men and women who have fought and continue to fight for our nation's freedom.
In addition to the telecast, Giants starting pitcher Barry Zito will be a part of the pregame celebration. Zito and his Strikeouts For Troops organization will be featured during the Comcast SportsNet Bay Area's pregame show.
"I have a friend named Stephanie, who served out there and was injured by an IED, so I'm going to be talking to her over the air," Zito said. "I think this is great. We're really excited to bring them some sort of entertainment, especially something they can get wherever they are stationed. Whether it's two hours or 10 minutes, it's an escape from their reality. It's pretty cool."
Following the game, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and the American Forces Network will stay on the air with a special edition of Giants Postgame Live. Giants Postgame Live will end the special evening by presenting live coverage of the Chevron Fireworks Night in High-Definition for viewers at home and U.S. troops serving around the world."
(Excerpt) Read more at sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com ...
Oh yes. Comcast has a Troops Talk link where we can send emails to the troops, or members of our families in service, which they have been displaying and reading all night long.
The broadcast team, among the finest in the business - Jon Miller, Duane Kuiper, Mike Krukow and Dave Fleming - have been uniformly respectful and supportive all evening. Having listened to them all for years, it's no act. The Marines sponsor an "atta boy" moment during each game, and they have ALWAYS been so positive.
KUDOS!!!
BUMP!
Barry Zito might be having a hellish season, but his heart (and time and money) are well in the right place in his support for the troops.
They decided to televise the game where BARRY ZITO is pitching. =P
You’re funny! :-) Actually, Kevin Correia started this one, which ended 6-5 Cubs, with a runner on third. It was a good game, though. The Cubs are TOUGH!
Seriously, I really wanted to go to this game - and there was no snide, backhanded compliment stuff from the team or the broadcasters. I taped this one.
Damn straight! Barry Z who started the program is a great spokesperson for the program and I have listened to him on the Jim Rome show one time: he truly cares for the program.
BUT he truly sucks right now as a pitcher.
Now for the magic question: how many lefty idiots from hippie barrios in SF will protest the military during the celebration?
I read an excellent online column last week (it was older than that), where the writer said that even if Zito never won another game, he’d still be his hero for what he does for the troops.
He spends a good bit of time visiting wounded troops in the hospital, too. What a great guy, truly.
If there were any protesters, they never got a nanosecond of publicity.
Ooh! They’re televising the fireworks, which the troops can see on the AFN! And the fireworks show is called “A Salute To Heroes,” with patriotic music as the background.
Excellent.
By the way, Matt *Cain* pitched and won last night. :-p
Yo bootless...
Do you remember the episode of JAG where Barry Zito played a pitcher for the Navy?
He’s actually a cousin of one of the executive producers of JAG with Don Bellisario (now of NCIS’).
Aahhh... just went from You’re a Grand Old Flag to Ray Charles singing “America.”
I didn’t know that, but I’ll look for it on iTunes - thanks!
Was he good? Bet he had fun!
A Ray Charles bump
This is great! They’ve moved into the armed forces anthems, starting with the Air Force, then Marines, Navy and Army!
Yeah!!
Ack - forgot the Coast Guard after the Marines, then Army, THEN Navy.
I haven’t been able to listen to a Giants game for a few years, but I remember Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow both being a joy to listen to. Krukow especially gave the real “inside baseball” perspective that I want to hear. (Unlike Joe Morgan if he is still around)
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