Merely months after Verizon managed to secure Michael Bay's talents to campaign for FiOS, the carrier has now snagged Celtics superstar Kevin Garnett to push its fiber-based services. The NBA big man is now starring in a 30-second spot for Verizon's FiOS, showing off just how much he adores the innovative Home Media DVR with multi-room recording playback capabilities (its words, not ours). First Frank Caliendo, then Mr. Bay, now KG -- who's next, Don King?

We know, it's not like you Utah residents really want to see a Game 6, but at least it gives you another shot at catching your Jazz in high-def, right? Salt Lake City's own KJZZ-14 has announced its intentions to serve up all 2008 Utah Jazz playoff games in gorgeous HD, and while there's no mention of what it plans to do next season, we'd say chances are pretty good that it'll keep the newfound tradition alive in 2009 and beyond. Those within reach can catch the games via OTA, but others will be asked to turn to channel 657 on Comcast Digital Cable in order to follow along. That is, of course, if you're staying away from the Energy Solutions Arena this Friday night.

[Image courtesy of USUAggies]

Under normal circumstances, we tend to give 3D a hard time around here, but it's hard to deny the strides the technology has made of late in an attempt to move beyond being a gimmick and into a desirable product. It seems that hundreds of NBA fans that packed the Magnolia Theater just days ago were quite impressed with the first regular season matchup to be aired in 3D. Those in attendance were able to catch a commercial-free 3D broadcast of the Dallas Mavericks versus the LA Clippers courtesy of two Sony 4K projectors and a set of gaudy glasses. Unfortunately, we're not sure if the one-time event will blossom into something more, but feel free to tap the read link for more opinions and a couple more snapshots.

[Via AboutProjectors]

It's good to see those Brits aren't the only ones getting 3D HD sports action this season, as PACE is back and hooking its Fusion 3D tech to an NBA game yet again. For the first time during the regular season (after last year's All-Star Game and a Finals game) -- and unsurprisingly with a connection to Engadget HD friend Mark Cuban (where's our invite man?) -- the March 25 game between the Dallas Mavericks and L.A. Clippers can be viewed live at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, or across town in the Magnolia Theatre with Sony's SXRD 3D projection system beamed onto an 18x42 foot screen for VIPs and 100 lucky fans who can win entry on mavs.com. Now if they could just find a way to simulate buying tickets for way over face value from eBay or StubHub in the theatre, it would be just like going to a real game.

Last night's All-Star game continued tradition by debuting new broadcast technology, as you may have noticed Sportvision's "Backboard Slideout" graphic, superimposing pictures and text on a virtual screen during free throws. It was pretty slick, almost indistinguishable from a real billboard. We've gotten pretty used to virtual graphics (does anyone remember football before the yellow first down line?), any opinions on this latest use of the tech, or predictions on how if it can withstand the power of a Dwight Howard dunk?

NBA All Star Weekend 2008 is upon us, and while it might not have the 3D cachet of last year's game, there will be plenty of HD to look forward to while voting on the dunk contest. Not just a U.S. spectacle, this year's game will be broadcast in HD in Belgium, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia and Spain. TNT has lined up 32 HD cameras to cover ASW, and 22 HD video servers, all connected via 10 TV trucks, 122 flat screen monitors and 66 miles of fiber cables. The festivities start tonight with the rookie challenge at 9 p.m., but the number we're looking for is how high Dwight Howard jumps in the dunk competition, and if he recreates Andre Iguodala's off-the-back-of-the-backboard reverse jam.

What we're watching: The NBA season starts tonight, with the defending champion Spurs facing the Greg Oden-less Trail Blazers on TNT, followed by Rockets vs. Lakers.

Our traditional high-def listings continue below.

The Phoenix Suns organization has taken the impressive step of announcing it is the first NBA team to broadcast its entire regular season scheduled in high definition. That's right, every game with two-time MVP Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion in HD. It certainly makes sense that with the investment in that core group of stars, and a streak of 71 sellouts at home, that the team should make sure Suns fans get a good look on TV as well, but its still frustrating that we can't get the same commitment this year for a 16-game NFL season. If the local team doesn't step up its broadcast capabilities, we can see people trading in #1 jerseys for #720p and #1080i.


[Thanks, TMD]

[Thanks, Andy M]

What we're watching: We've got an NBA doubleheader on ESPN, with the Cavs and Spurs both trying to close out a series while the Nets and Suns fight to play another game. We'll check those out after Lord of War on Showtime.

Our traditional high-def listings continue below.

What we're watching: With no Planet Earth, Discovery HD Theater is featuring Panic in the Ring of Fire once again tonight, but for slightly different looks of fear, we'll be watching the Mavericks at the Warriors later on TNT. The #1 seed is coming into Game 4 down 2-1 and facing a must-win game to have a good chance of advancing to the second round of the NBA Playoffs.

Our traditional high-def listings continue below.

What we're watching: Dwyane Wade and Shaq try to even up their series with the Bulls before Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash go head to head tonight in NBA Playoffs action on TNT.

Our traditional high-def listings continue below

We're sure you've been taking in the Las Vegas festivities this weekend on TNT-HD, but we've actually got something a bit more exciting that Boston's Gerald Green finally giving the Celtics something to cheer about. Similar to other sporting events that have been upping the ante on their HD arsenal, the NBA will be using a whopping 30 camera crews and 10 high-definition cameras to capture the 2007 All Star matchup. Moreover, we expect TNT's indoor broadcast to look slightly better than the rainout we all had to endure when watching the Super Bowl, but be sure to catch the game tonight at 9:00PM EST and then drop a comment as to how glorious (or not) you thought the broadcast actually was.

What we're watching: NBA All-Star Weekend continues on Saturday night with the Dunk contest, Skills competition and 3-point Shootout on TNT. Those festivities are followed up by this year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition special, but if that's not your speed there is always the fourth Harry Potter movie, The Goblet of Fire on Cinemax.

Our traditional high-def listings continue below.

If you can't afford a courtside seat at this weekend's NBA All-Star Game festivities, the league is testing a new way to "change the way we see the game" -- sans the chance of rubbing elbows with various celebrities. Guests in Las Vegas, will go to the Mandalay Bay hotel instead of the Thomas and Mack Center where the game is being played, and don special glasses to view view a 3D high definition version of TNT's broadcast of Saturday and Sunday night's activities. Five 3D camera systems have been installed around the arena by Pace, and according to the NBA's VP of operations and technology, the HDTV widescreen broadcast will allow them to avoid many cuts and camera movements, hopefully minimizing any shaky cam effect some complained about during the special SkyCam broadcast last year. If you can't make it to Vegas to check things out, you can still see this technology at work this season, as a similar broadcast during the NBA Finals is already planned. No word on plans for a "belligerent drunk" simulator, so either way we still have a long way to go towards simulating the real game experience in a theater and someday in the future, at home.

Read - Variety
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