Mark Malone will again serve as host of the extensive coverage of the ESPN Great Outdoor Games, which will return to Lake Placid, N.Y. July 12-15 and be televised July 26-August 3. For 2001, the number of original hours of programming has been increased to 19, including for the first time one hour on ABC Sunday, July 29 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

	Mark Malone says the Great Outdoor Games are "right up my alley!"

Malone, a 10-year NFL quarterback and ESPN commentator since 1993, hosted last year's inaugural event. The four-day, 21-event competition features more than 300 of the world's best competitors in fishing, timber events, sporting dogs and target sports (more than 400 including the canine competitors).

"I'm looking forward to another summer 'vacation' in Lake Placid at the Great Outdoor Games," said Malone. "Although it was one of the funnest assignments I've had in sportscasting, it was no vacation as we were very busy going from venue to venue, covering all the stories and getting to know the athletes. Their genuine love of their sport and of competition was refreshing, and I truly admired their talents and accomplishments."

Once again, Malone will work from all venues, primarily the Olympic Speed Skating track in front of Lake Placid High School, site of the Agility event for dogs and most timber events. He will also host from Mirror Lake (Big Air and Flyball events for dogs and timber events involving water), the Lake Placid Driving Range (target sports), Oseetah Lake (bass fishing), the Ausable River (Fly Fishing Tournament) and the Retriever Trials near the Lake Placid Showgrounds.

A San Diego native, Malone was the Pittsburgh Steelers' first-round draft pick out of Arizona State University in 1980 where he had started two years and played in the Fiesta, Hula and Senior Bowls. He played eight years for the Steelers, succeeding Terry Bradshaw as the starting quarterback in 1984. He later played for the San Diego Chargers and New York Jets. From 1990 to 1993, he worked for WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh as a Steelers pre-game show host and as a sports anchor/reporter.

Malone joined ESPN in 1993 as a reporter for SportsCenter and NFL GameDay (now NFL Countdown). In 1994, he was named the network's NFL sideline reporter and host of the weekly Edge NFL MatchUp. Since 1998, he has hosted ESPN2's NFL 2Night, a 30-minute NFL news show Tuesday through Saturday during the season and weekly in the off-season.