'Survival Sunday' to fill the air waves

By Paul Kennedy

How big is the English Premier League on American television? Seven Fox and two ESPN networks will be showinglive coverage of the final day of the EPL season.

Fox is dubbing it “Survival Sunday.” It will broadcast sixmatches on Fox Soccer and Fox Soccer Plus, plus FX, SPEED, FSN and FUEL TV, with one game simulcast on Spanish-language FOX Deportes. Its coverage will feature pre- and post-game shows on all of itsnetworks except SPEED.

Three other games will be available on Foxsoccer.com and Fox Soccer2Go.

ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will have Day 38’s big game: Manchester City-QPR, which has both title and relegation implications.

Man City will clinch its first top-levelleague title in 44 years with a win, while QPR needs at least one point (or a Bolton Wanderers loss or tie at Stoke City) to be assured of remaining in the EPL.

Manchester United, whichplays at Sunderland, must do better than Man. City does against QPR to overcome City’s current edge in the tiebreaker.

There’s also a battle for the third and fourth UEFA Champions Leagueberths among Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle United. (The third-place team earns qualification for the group stage, while the fourth-place team heads to the qualifying stage.)

‘SURVIVAL SUNDAY’ PAIRINGS
Chelsea-Blackburn Rovers
Everton-Newcastle United
Manchester City-QPR
Norwich City-Aston Villa
Sunderland-ManUnited
Tottenham-Fulham
West Bromwich Albion-Arsenal
Wigan-Wolves
Stoke City-Bolton Wanderers
Swansea City-Liverpool

ADIDASPREDATOR, V12. adidas debuted the next generation of the adidas Predator with the introduction of the Predator LethalZones. The 12th version of the Predator features five lethal zones aimed at helping ball control: First Touch, Dribble, Sweet Spot, Drive and Pass.  Each zone is composed of super-lightrubber and memory foam with 3-D print placed on the Predator upper to help provide improved ball control, handling and feel. MLS players wearing Predator Lethal Zones include David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Kenny Cooper (New York Red Bulls), Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders)and Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City).

JELD-WEN TAKES AWARD. TheAmerican Institute of Architects, San Francisco chapter’s 2012 Merit Award for excellence in architecture went to JELD-WENField, home of the Portland Timbers. The architects of the $40 million renovation project were AECOM. The renovation, completed just prior to theTimbers’ inaugural Major League Soccer season in 2011, was honored as an urban-planning success story that balances contemporary architecture with the historic character of the downtown stadium, whichwas originally constructed in 1926.

LIVERPOOL LOSSES. How is Liverpool doing under new owners, Fenway Sports Group, the John Henry-led ownership group that also owns the Boston Red Sox? Well, Liverpool lost $80 million for the fiscal year that ended July 31,2011. Much of it was spent on cleaning the slate, so to speak. Fenway Sports Group, which owned the club for nine and a half of the 12 months, wrote off $57 million spent by the previous Americanowners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, on plans for a new stadium. Another $13.5 million went to pay off former Roy Hodgson and other staff members when the club changed owners.

KEENEY NAMED USL REP. Chris Keeney has been named USL‘s Southwest regionalrepresentative. He is the founder and CEO of A3 Sports Consulting, which will be a USL consultant and team services agency. Keeney, who has previously worked for the Columbus Crew, Real Salt Lake andD.C. United in MLS, is currently managing partner of the PDL’s FC Tucson.
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