TV Weekend 7.29 - 7.30

By Raven Williams, @nevaRWilliams

SportsNation Presents: Hot Take Time Machine (FRI, ESPN, 8pm)
New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXS TV, 8pm)
Masters Of Illusion (FRI, The CW, 8pm & 8:30pm)

What Would You Do? (FRI, ABC, 9pm)
New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXS TV, 9pm)
Killjoys (FRI, Syfy, 9pm)

Dark Matter (FRI, Syfy, 10pm)
Real Time With Bill Maher (FRI, HBO, 10pm)
Outcast (FRI, Cinemax, 10pm)
ELeague (FRI, TBS, 10pm)
Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle (FRI, Comedy Central, 10pm)

Uncommon Sense (FRI, MTV 2, 11pm)

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The American West (SAT, AMC, 10pm)
Boston EMS (SAT, ABC, 10pm)
Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle (SAT, Comedy Central, 10pm)

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MLB
Athletics @ Indians (FRI, STO, 7pm)
Royals @ Rangers OR Pirates @ Brewers (FRI, MLB, 8pm)

Orioles @ Blue Jays (SAT, MLB, 1pm)
Nationals @ Giants (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 4pm)
Cardinals @ Marlins (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 7pm)
Athletics @ Indians (SAT, NBC/STO, 7pm)
Red Sox @ Angels OR Royals @ Rangers (SAT, MLB, 10pm)

BASKETBALL
Womens: USA Showcase: Canada vs. United States (FRI, NBA TV, 7pm)
USA Showcase: United States vs. Venezuela (FRI, NBA TV, 9pm)

The Basketball Tournament, First Semifinal (SAT, ESPN, 5pm)
The Basketball Tournament, First Semifinal (SAT, ESPN, 7pm)

MMA & BOXING
Premier Boxing Champions (FRI, Spike, 9pm)
Boxing: Leo Santa Cruz vs. Carl Frampton (SAT, Showtime, 9pm)

NASCAR & RACING
Global RallyCross Series (SAT, NBC, 2pm)

GOLF
2016 Ricoh Women's British Open Championship, Third Round (SAT, NBC, 11am)
2016 PGA Championship, Third Round (SAT, CBS, 2pm)

SOCCER
International Champions Cup: Celtic FC vs. FC Barcelona (SAT, ESPN, 1pm)
International Champions Cup: Real Madrid CF vs. Chelsea FC (SAT, ESPN, 3pm)
International Champions Cup: FC Bayern Munich vs. Inter Milan (SAT, ESPNews, 5pm)
International Champions Cup: Liverpool FC vs. AC Milan (SAT, ESPN 2, 10pm)

TENNIS
ATP: Rogers Cup, Quarterfinal (FRI, ESPN 2, 6:30pm)

WTA: Rogers Cup, First Semifinal (SAT, ESPN 2, 1pm)
ATP: Rogers Cup, First Semifinal (SAT, ESPN 2, 3pm)
WTA: Rogers Cup, Second Semifinal (SAT, ESPN 2, 6pm)
ATP: Rogers Cup, Second Semifinal (SAT, ESPN 2, 8pm)

FOOTBALL
CFL: BC Lions @ Calgary Stampeders (FRI, ESPN 2, 10pm)

OTHER SPORTS
Red Bull Signature Series, Hare Scramble (SAT, NBC, 3:30pm)
Dew Tour: Long Beach (SAT, NBC, 5pm)

TV Weekend 8.14 - 8.15

By @nevaRWilliams

Defiance (FRI, SyFy, 8pm)
New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXSTV, 8pm)
Girl Meets World (FRI, Disney, 8:30pm)

Killjoys (FRI, SyFy, 9pm)
Cold Justice: Sex Crimes (FRI, TNT, 9pm)
What Would You Do? (FRI, ABC, 9pm)
New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXSTV, 9pm)

Strike Back (FRI, Cinemax, 10pm)
Dark Matter (FRI, SyFy, 10pm)
Burgers, Brew & 'Que (FRI, Food Network, 10:30pm)

Uncommon Sense With Charlemagne Tha God (FRI, MTV 2, 11pm)
Kingin' With Tyga (FRI, MTV 2, 11:30pm)
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Hell On Wheels (SAT, AMC, 9pm)
Power SEASON FINALE (SAT, STARZ, 9pm)
Beyond The Tank (SAT, ABC, 9pm)
Hannibal (SAT, NBC, 10pm)
Boston EMS (SAT, ABC, 10pm)
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NFL
Preseason: Titans @ Falcons (FRI, NFL Network, 7pm)
Preseason: Broncos @ Seahawks (FRI, NFL Network, 10pm)

Preseason: Buccaneers @ Vikings (SAT, NFL Network, 8pm)

MLB
Yankees @ Blue Jays OR Mariners @ Red Sex (FRI, MLB Network, 7pm)
Indians @ Twins (FRI, STO, 8pm)
Nationals @ Giants OR Reds @ Dodgers (FRI, MLB Network, 10pm)

Yankees @ Blue Jays (SAT, MLB Network, 1pm)
Indians @ Twins (SAT, STO, 7pm)
Angels @ Royals (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 7pm)
Nationals @ Giants (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 10pm)

MMA & BOXING
Premier Boxing Champions: Antonio Tarver vs Steve Cunningham (FRI, SPIKE, 9pm)
Premier Boxing Champions: Lucian Bute vs. Andrea Di Luisa (SAT, NBC Sports, 9pm)

GOLF
2015 PGA Championship, Third Round (SAT, CBS, 2pm)

NASCAR & RACING
Camping World Truck: Michigan (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 1pm)
Global RallyCross Series (SAT, NBC, 3pm)

TENNIS
ATP: Rogers Cup, Quarterfinal (FRI, ESPN 2, 7pm)

WTA: Rogers Cup, First Semifinal (SAT, ESPN 2, 1pm)
ATP: Rogers Cup, First Semifinal (SAT, ESPN 2, 3pm)
ATP: Rogers Cup, Second Semifinal (SAT, ESPN 2, 8pm)

FOOTBALL
AFL: Cleveland Gladiators @ Philadelphia Soul (SAT, CBS SportsNet, 5pm)
LFL Football Night: Seattle Mist @ Las Vegas Sin (SAT, FUSE, 9pm)
CFL: Ottawa RedBlacks @ Calgary Stampeders (SAT, ESPN 2, 10pm)

LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
Mid-Atlantic Regional, First Semifinal (FRI, ESPN, 7pm)
West Regional, Second Semifinal (FRI, ESPN, 9pm)

New England Regional, Second Semifinal (SAT, ESPN, 11am)
Midwest Regional, Final (SAT, ESPN, 1pm)
Northwest Regional, Final (SAT, ESPN, 3pm)
Great Lakes Regional, Final (SAT, ESPN, 5pm)
Mid-Atlantic Regional, Second Semifinal (SAT, ESPN, 7pm)
West Regional, Final (SAT, ESPN, 9pm)

WNBA
Minnesota Lynx @ Atlanta Dream (FRI, NBA TV, 7:30pm)
Chicago Sky @ Seattle Storm (FRI, NBA TV, 10pm)

Tulsa Shock @ New York Liberty (SAT, NBA TV, 7pm)

OTHER SPORTS
Red Bull Signature Series (SAT, NBC, 4:30pm)
Gymnastics: P&G Championships: Women's Competition (SAT, NBC, 8pm)

Patrick's Perspective 8.11.14: 2014 PGA Championship

WOW! and, I told you so.

What a golf tournament. This was by far and away the best one this year. I am glad the golfers saved the best for last. The PGA Championship in Valhalla did not disappoint.

The tournament over the course of the 4 days had numerous weather delays that caused higher than normal scores and sloppier than normal conditions.

Going into the final Round yesterday, Rory McIlroy had a two shot lead over Rickie Fowler and a three shot lead over Phil Mickelson. What would take place yesterday afternoon was awesome. All three golfers were scheduled originally to tee off around 2:45pm ET, but the weather did not cooperate and delayed them until 4:20pm ET or so. The conditions were very wet. Standing water all over the course which allowed players to take relief from it since it was not a hazard. There were several times where relief was taken which caused the pace of play to move at a snails pace.

During the final round, especially during the first nine holes, it looked as if Rickie was going to taste his first major victory. However, as I mentioned earlier, with the conditions playing slower & sloppier it caught up to Rickie. And, Rory was well, amazing. Going into the 10th hole Rickie was atop of the leader board after he birdied the par 5 10th hole making a long Birdie putt. You could see the momentum going for him. On that same hole Rory, was in the group behind him, saw Rickie make his 4. At that time Rory was three shots back. He smoked his drive and elects to hit a 3 wood to try and get on the green on two. When he hit it, the ball appeared it would be short. It was not. Rory played a brilliant runner that would end up seven feet from the hole where he would eagle it. From that point on the tournament changed.

The remaining holes were just great golf. Many clutch par saving putts for the leaders. And, I must give Phil his props. He is still awesome. He is still a wizard with his short game. He is still one of the best in the world. After hole 14, he sat atop of the leader board with Rory after Rickie made a bogey on that hole.

The last few holes of this tournament will be forever remembered as trying to finish in daylight. A part of me wishes they would of stopped the tournament after the 16th hole and finished on Monday. It was getting dark. You could tell the players were rushing their shots. Now grant it they are pros, but still. I think with the added pressure of trying to win, with a single shot separating 3 players, and this being a major it should of been delayed until Monday morning. I guess the good thing though is that all three guys had to go through the same conditions which made it fair.

Rory, the new killer in golf, made a birdie on 17 to take a two shot lead. This is where everything got interesting. On hole 18 Rickie & Phil were getting ready to tee off. You could clearly see it getting very dark. And, to boot, the storms were picking up again. With the interest of finishing the tournament on Sunday, Rory was allowed to play into the Rickie & Phil group. Essentially it was almost like a foursome. When Rory teed off on 18 he got lucky. He was about 6 feet from putting his drive into the water. Sometimes, luck is required to win. At that point Rickie & Phil had hit their second shots . The 18th hole is a par 5. If either of them made a 3 for eagle it would force Rory to make birdie. Rickie & Phil both had chances at eagle. Phil went first. He hit a wedge shot that was on the brink of going in. Just missed. Rickie had a putt for an eagle, about a 30-40 footer. Not a gimme. He did miss. You could tell both he and Phil were frustrated as Rory's group was playing on top of them . It bothered them. Phil went on to make a birdie and Rickie made a par. Rory went on to make a par and seal his 4th major title.

Again, this was by far and away the best major of the year. Lots of drama, excellent golf, and controversy! Very fun. I did predict a Rory victory. He has reached the Tiger zone. Yes I said that. The guy is only 25 years old. He is well on his way to more major championships. Yesterday when it looked like he was out of it, he persevered, and won. That is what champions do. It was a legendary performance in my opinion. With everything that was going on yesterday especially early on it appeared he was going to lose. Not so. Well done Rory.

As for Rickie Fowler, his time will come. He was so close. He had the look in his eyes on every hole. He made birdies and clutch putts. However still came up short. Rickie is also 25 like Rory. This is the second time in consecutive majors where these two have battled it out. Rickie is on a come up. He was top 5 in all four major tournaments this year. As disappointing as this loss was, it will have to be something for him to build off of. He has many more years of great golf to go. I look forward to this rivalry for many years to come. It will be great.

Until the Ryder Cup,

Cheers ~ Patrick

TV Weekend 8.8.14 - 8.9.14

NFL
Saints @ Rams (Friday, NFL Network, 8 PM)

Preseason, Browns @ Lions (Saturday, NBC/WKYC/NFL Network, 7:30 PM)

MLB
Indians @ Yankees (Friday, STO, 7 PM)
Cardinals @ Orioles OR Tigers @ Blue Jays (Friday, MLB Network, 7 PM)

Indians @ Yankees (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 1 PM)
Cardinals @ Orioles (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 4 PM)
Nationals @ Braves OR Dodgers @ Brewers (Saturday, MLB Network, 7 PM)

GOLF
2014 PGA Championship, Third Round (Saturday, CBS, 2 PM)

TENNIS
ATP Tennis, U.S. Open Series, Rogers Cup, Quarterfinal (Friday, ESPN 2, 7 PM)

WTA Tennis, Rogers Cup, First Semifinal (Saturday, ESPN 2, 1 PM)
ATP Tennis, U.S. Open Series, Rogers Cup, Semifinal (Saturday, ESPN 2, 3 PM)
ATP Tennis, U.S. Open Series, Second Semifinal (Saturday, ESPN 2, 8 PM)

OTHER SPORTS
Little League World Series, Southeast Regional, Final (Friday, ESPN, 7 PM)
Little League World Series, West Regional, Second Semifinal (Friday, ESPN, 9 PM)
SOFTBALL: Big League World Series, Second Semifinal (Friday, ESPNU, 7 PM)
WOMEN'S SOCCER: FIFA U-20 World Cup, Brazil vs. United States (Friday, ESPNU, 9:45 PM)

SOFTBALL: Senior League World Series, Final (Saturday, ESPN, 12 PM)
WOMEN'S SOCCER: FIFA U-20 World Cup, England vs. Mexico (Saturday, ESPNU, 12:45 PM)
NASCAR RACING: Nationwide Series, ZIPPO 200 at The Glen (Saturday, ABC, 2 PM)
Little League World Series, Great Lakes Regional, Final (Saturday, ESPN, 2 PM)
MOTORCYCLE RACING: Pro Motocross Championship, Unadilla National (Saturday, NBC, 3 PM)
SWIMMING: U.S. National Championships (Saturday, NBC, 4 PM)
Little League World Series, Northwest Regional, Final (Saturday, ESPN, 4 PM)
SOFTBALL: Big League World Series, Final (Saturday, ESPN 2, 5 PM)
Little League World Series, New England Regional, Final (Saturday, ESPN, 7 PM)
Little League World Series, West Regional, Final (Saturday, ESPN, 9 PM)
WNBA: Minnesota Lynx @ Phoenix Mercury (Saturday, NBA TV, 10 PM)

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WWE Friday Night Smackdown (Friday, SyFy, 8 PM)
Girl Meets World (Friday, Disney Channel, 8:30 PM)
The Knick, SERIES PREMIERE (Friday, Cinemax, 10 PM)

Hell On Wheels (Saturday, AMC, 9 PM)
Outlander, SERIES PREMIERE (Saturday, STARZ, 9 PM)

Patrick's Perspective 8.7.14: PGA Championship Preview

The fourth and final major championship of the PGA Tour season is upon us this weekend. The PGA Championship Tournament will be played at the Valhalla Golf Course in Louisville, KY. The course plays long but is slightly links style.

Going into this weekend the overwhelming favorite, with a ton of momentum, is Rory McIlroy. This guy is on FIYAHHH! He has won his last two starts that include a win at the British Open, and a win at WGC Bridgestone Classic last week at Firestone GC in Akron. Rory is playing on cheat mode golden tee style. That is the best I can describe his game right now. Crushing his driver, solid approach shots, and his putting has been well above above average. The game is much easier when all of of those things are in your favor.

Outside of Rory, my predictions are as follows. Rickie Fowler, has finished in top 5 in three previous major tournaments. He finished top 10 last week . He definitely has a shot at this.

Marc Leishman of Australia ranks around the top 20 in driving distance this season. That will help him at this course. He has also played well the last few weeks with a top 10 at the British and top 5 last week.

I would love for Sergio Garcia to finally get the major championship that he has been chasing for a very long time. He has been playing AWESOME this year. But, the one thing that always holds him back is the mental part of the game. If he can overcome those demons he may taste his first major title!

Other notable mentions are as follows, Bubba Watson, Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth, Keegan Bradley, and Victor Dubuisson.

Long shot favorites are Chris Kirk, Russel Henley, and Brooks Koepka.

All in all I am a huge fan of Rickie Fowler and would love for him to win. But, I can't bet against Rory. Not now, no way. He is playing way too good and until someone proves that otherwise he has to be the pick.

First and second round coverage will be on TNT, starting at 1 PM. CBS will carry the third and final rounds Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Here is to lots of drama on the final round on Sunday!

Cheers ~
Patrick