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Comcast SportsNet is stepping up to the plate with a game show that is to debut Sunday (July 1) at 5 p.m. Chicago time. The CSN effort is far from a trivial pursuit — even if the idea behind “The Batter’s Box” involves trivia. The baseball-themed show will feature eight Cubs and eight White Sox experts battling for the grand prize of the “Game Day Experience of a Lifetime.”
OK, so this photo of Jaime Edmondson has nothing to do with a trivia game on Comcast SportsNet. Is that a problem? Didn't think so.
Viewers also will be able to participate online at CSNChicago.com in a “Trivia Question of the Week” and a chance to win prizes. Luke Stuckmeyer will host the show, whose time is approximate because it follows “Cubs Post Game Live,” and baseball games can run long.
The show will culminate with a Cubs vs. White Sox finale in October, which is going to be about as close as the Cubs come to being a postseason presence this year.
“The Batter’s Box’ is the first show of its kind in Chicago to pit passionate and knowledgeable White Sox and Cubs fans against each other in a fun, competitive baseball trivia game show,” CSN Chicago vice president of programming Greg Bowman said. “This is truly a unique, local, original programming venture for us that definitely caters to both old and new Chicago baseball fans. Plus, viewers at home will also enjoy playing along to see how much they know about these two historic baseball franchises.”
The 30-minute show uses multiple-choice questions of varying degrees of difficulty. Correct responses advance “runners” who can score runs. Games last three innings. Most runs wins. Winners advance to the next round.
The grand prize includes a luxury suite for the winner and his/her guests at Wrigley Field or U.S. Cellular Field in 2013, a visit to the broadcast booth and to the CSN production truck and — as they say in game-show land — much, much more.
The show will replay during the week. Check CNSChicago.com for listing information. To link to the show’s page, you can click here.
And now your starting (and finishing) lineup for “The Batter’s Box”:
FIRST ROUND
Sun, July 1 at 5 p.m. (Cubs round): Brian Bosley vs. Will Cook
Sun, July 8 at 3:30 p.m. (White Sox round): Mike Medley vs. Ned Mulka
Sun, July 15 at 4:30 p.m. (Cubs round): Kristin Lee vs. Beau Thalheimer
Sun, July 22 at 3:30 p.m. (White Sox round): Milo Berrera vs. Patrick O’Malley
Sun, July 29 at 9:30 p.m. (Cubs round): Monty Childs vs. David Sellars
Sun, Aug. 5 at 4:30 p.m. (White Sox round): Julie Farby vs. Tony Paink
Sun, Aug. 12 at 4:30 p.m. (Cubs round): John Dooley vs. Anthony Hoffman
Sun, Aug. 19 at 4:30 p.m. (White Sox round): Antonio Barrentez vs. Tom Pauly
QUARTERFINALS
Sun, Aug. 26 at 4 p.m.: (Cubs, contestants TBD)
Sun, Sept. 2 at 4 p.m.: (White Sox, contestants TBD)
Sun, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m.: (Cubs, contestants TBD)
Sun, Sept. 16 at 4:30 p.m.: (White Sox, contestants TBD)
SEMIFINALS
Sun, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m.: (Cubs, contestants TBD)
Sun, Sept. 30 at 4:30 p.m.: (White Sox, contestants TBD)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Sun, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m.: (White Sox champion vs. Cubs champion, contestants TBD)
Adrenaline Rush Dancer Nicole will be going to New Orleans.
For any and all concerned about the Chicago Rush’s chances to be an ArenaBowl XXV participant, there is some good news — even after the San Jose SaberCats defeated the Rush 75-61 Saturday night at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill.
Well, it’s good news as far as the Adrenaline Rush Dancers are concerned. Which is about as far as some of us are concerned when it comes to the Arena Football League.
Nicole, one of the ARD members, will be part of the Net10 ArenaBowl Dream Team dancers. She won in balloting against fellow ARD member Corina. Rumor has it that Corina might make her way to New Orleans for the game — just for the fun of it. In charge of the Net10 Dream Team will be Gloria Esposito, who oversees the ARD. A former dance-team member, Gloria will be in charge of choreography and other duties associated with leading a group of energetic young women.
She took time after participating in the June 24 Going Pro Entertainment Expo Chicago event at HiFi Fitness to chat:
As for the Rush (9-6), it could use a victory July 8 against San Antonio (12-3) to improve its playoff hopes. Rush quarterback Russ Michna threw for seven touchdowns to set a team season record of 83. Reggie Gray and Jared Perry had 322 of Michna’s 375 yards passing against San Jose and all of his TD tosses.
As part of the evening’s festivities (non-football-player division), Gloria received a bouquet of flowers.
Come for the basketball; stay for the gospel music. Or vice versa. Or both.
The Chicago Sky Gospel Night will be Sunday at Allstate Arena in conjunction with the team’s WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream. The night, which begins with the game at 5, will feature several church choirs and will include a postgame performance by gospel superstar Marvin Sapp.
You were expecting a picture of Marvin Sapp? Sorry to disappoint.
“I am so very excited to be part of the 2012 Chicago Sky Gospel Night,” said Sapp, who also serves as a pastor in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich. “It is indeed going to be a phenomenal event of joyous praise and worship through music. I am so very glad that I will be able to share the gift of Gospel music with the WNBA and the city of Chicago!! I hope to see your face in the place. Grace and Peace.”
Speaking of women’s basketball (and even if we weren’t), here is a version of “Call Me Maybe” by the Finnish Women’s team that some of us find entertaining (OK, so some of us amuse easily):
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