[TheGame]

September 05, 2003 - In what could only be described as a surprise move, and only a couple of days after the release of ESPN NFL Football, ESPN and the team behind the show ESPN NFL Matchup have decided to team with EA Sports and Madden NFL 2004 over their own brand of games, turning their back on their gaming partner and officially changing the name of their show to the EA Sports NFL Matchup.
Produced by NFL Films and starring Suzy Kolber, Ron Jaworski, and Merrill Hoge, the show is now entering its 10th season. For the first time, however, there will be a feature called The EA Sports Analysis where the hosts will talk strategy and matchups using footage exclusively from Madden NFL 2004. Viewers will also be able to email questions to the hosts via easports.com. Each week, one question will be answered on air at the end of the show.

"We are very excited about the marriage of NFL Matchup and EA Sports," said Jaworski. "The graphics in Madden NFL 2004 are so realistic and in some ways it's better than watching the coaches video that I break down on a weekly basis."

What this says about the relationship between ESPN and Sega, or as they now like to refer to themselves, ESPN Videogames, is left open to interpretation.

One thing's for sure: Looks like money is the only loyalty left in the world...or at least the world of sports and sports video games.

-- Jon Robinson

http://sports.ign.com/articles/436/436953p1.html