ESPN’s Monday Night Football Chalk Talk Luncheon Series

National Sponsors Dick’s Sporting Goods and Ruth’s Chris Steak House; Events in 12 MNF Cities in 2007; ESPN Radio’s John Seibel to Emcee

Monday Night Football is the one game that all NFL fans, players and coaches get to

watch every week of the season.  The storied sports television franchise – now in its 38th year – shines a national spotlight on the participating teams and local communities that host the weekly primetime showcase game.  This fall ESPN, the NFL and ESPN national sponsors Dick’s Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) and Ruth’s Chris Steak House will make the event even more special with the creation of the Monday Night Football Chalk Talk Luncheon Series, a season-long program that will help build excitement for the games and recognize local fans for contributions they have made to their communities.

ESPN will host MNF Luncheon Series events in 12 cities in 2007.  John Seibel, host of

SportsBash and Monday Night Countdown on ESPN Radio, will emcee 11 of the luncheons with participation from among various ESPN personalities, including MNF’s Ron Jaworski, Suzy Kolber, Michele Tafoya and Mike Tirico; Monday Night Countdown and SportsCenter host Stuart Scott; and NFL studio analysts Emmitt Smith and Steve Young.  (Note: Tony Kornheiser is unable to participate in the luncheon series due to his PTI taping schedule each Monday from the MNF city.)  Prominent NFL alumni will also take part in panel discussions, along with executives and other key figures representing ESPN, the National Football League, participating teams, local civic and business leaders, and sponsors. 

Team ESPN, the corporate outreach program of ESPN, will join the host NFL team and

national sponsor Dick’s Sporting Goods in recognizing select non-profit organizations at each MNF luncheon event with the “Fans Helping Fans Award,” highlighting their team support and commitment to making a positive impact in the community.

The MNF Luncheon Series will kickoff in San Francisco on Sept. 10 before the Cardinals vs.

49ers season-opening MNF doubleheader game.  Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic, co-hosts of ESPN Radio’s popular national morning show, Mike and Mike in the Morning, will emcee the first luncheon in the Bay area before they call the game that evening.

“We’re proud to work hand in hand with the NFL in honoring those who give back to their local

communities, while celebrating an American sports institution – Monday Night Football,” said ESPN president George Bodenheimer.  “We’re thrilled with the support that Dick’s Sporting Goods and Ruth’s Chris Steak House have given us with this initiative.”

“We are pleased to join ESPN in launching this new series," said NFL Commissioner Roger

Goodell.  “The Chalk Talk Luncheon Series will add more excitement to our Monday Night Football tradition and recognize the importance of community service."

Invitations to the MNF Chalk Talk Luncheon Series will be extended to 150 guests each week. 

Ruth’s Chris Steak House, the national restaurant partner, will host events in most cities. 

“As the largest sporting goods retailer in the country, supporting the communities in which we

do business is critical for us as we work to grow youth sports and our charitable programs,” said Jeffrey R. Hennion, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer of Dick’s Sporting Goods.  “This year, we will reach over one million kids with our community programs, and working with our strong partners at ESPN, as well as the NFL and its teams we sponsor across the country, is a natural fit for us to build the Monday Night Football luncheon series into a big community event.”

“It’s powerful when leading brands like Ruth’s Chris, ESPN and Monday Night Football come

together to recognize people for their commitment to community,”  said Craig Miller, President, CEO and Chairman of Ruth’s Chris Steak House.  “There’s no question that the Chalk Talk luncheon series will create a buzz as loud as the sizzle of our steaks.”

Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc.

Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. is an authentic full-line sporting goods retailer offering a broad assortment of brand name sporting goods equipment, apparel, and footwear in a specialty store environment. As of August 4, 2007, the Company operated 315 stores in 34 states primarily throughout the eastern half of the U.S. The Company also owns Golf Galaxy, a multi-channel golf specialty retailer, with 77 stores in 29 states, ecommerce websites and catalog operations.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Inc. is the largest fine-dining company in the U.S., as measured by the total number of company-owned and franchise-owned restaurants, with 109 locations worldwide.  Founded in 1965 in New Orleans by Ruth Fertel, Ruth’s Chris specializes in USDA Prime grade steaks served in Ruth’s Chris signature fashion … “sizzling.”  Though Ruth’s Chris specializes in beef, guests can also enjoy New Orleans-inspired appetizers, fresh seafood, signature side dishes and homemade desserts, all complemented by an award-winning wine list and served with a Southern hospitality style service in an elegant yet comfortable atmosphere.

ESPN’s Monday Night Football

ESPN’s inaugural season of Monday Night Football was the most-watched series in cable television history and the only NFL series nominated for a 2007 Sports Emmy in the Outstanding Live Sports Series category.  The 17 games were the biggest 17 household audiences for cable television in 2006 and nine of the top 10 on the list of cable’s biggest household audiences ever (excludes breaking news), including the N.Y. Giants-Dallas Cowboys game (10/23/06) which ranked No. 1 with 11,807,000 homes based on a 12.8 rating.  For the season, MNF averaged a 9.9 rating and 9,109,000 homes (12,325,000 P2+), increases of 39%, 43% and 41%, respectively, compared to 2005 ESPN Sunday Night Football; the accompanying “Monday Night Surround” content on ESPN.com sparked an increase of Monday traffic to the site of 52%.

2007 Monday Night Football Chalk Talk Luncheon Series:

Date                    City                                   MNF game                                   Luncheon Site

Sept. 10            San Francisco               Cardinals vs. 49ers                     A.P. Stumps Restaurant

Sept. 17            Philadelphia                  Redskins vs. Eagles                   Old Original Bookbinder’s

Sept. 24            New Orleans                 Titans vs. Saints                         Dickie Brennan's Bourbon House

Oct. 1                 Cincinnati                      Patriots vs. Bengals                    Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse

Oct. 8                 Buffalo                            Cowboys vs. Bills                       E.B. Green’s Steak House

Oct. 15              Atlanta                             Giants vs. Falcons                      Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Oct. 22              Jacksonville                   Colts vs. Jaguars                        Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Oct. 29              Denver                            Packers vs. Broncos                  Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Nov. 12             Seattle                            49ers vs. Seahawks                   Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Nov. 26             Pittsburgh                       Dolphins vs. Steelers                  The Capital Grille

Dec. 3               Baltimore                        Patriots vs. Ravens                    Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Dec. 17             Minnesota                       Bears vs. Vikings                        Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Note: No scheduled MNF luncheons on Sept. 10 (Cincinnati), Nov. 5 (Pittsburgh), Nov. 9 (Denver), Dec. 10 (Atlanta) and Dec. 24 (San Diego)

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