ESPN RADIO'S MIKE & MIKE TO BE SPECIAL COMMENTATORS FOR THE 2007 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE ON ABC AND ESPN MAY 31

Paul A. Loeffler Returns as Word Analyst, "SportsCenter's" Stuart Scott as Reporter

Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic of ESPN Radio's popular "Mike & Mike in the Morning" show (simulcast on ESPN2, weekdays 6:00-10:00 a.m., ET) will serve as special commentators on ESPN and ABC's live coverage of the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals from Washington, DC, Thursday, May 31. The duo, who have worked together on national radio for seven years, will join the host, "Good Morning America's" Robin Roberts, for ABC's primetime presentation of the championship rounds from 8:00-10:00 p.m.

Earlier in the day (10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.), Mike and Mike will join host and "SportsCenter" anchor Chris McKendry for ESPN's telecast. Paul A. Loeffler, a former Bee finalist who represented the Merced (Calif.) Sun-Star in the 1990 National Spelling Bee finals and made it up to the top 13 spellers, will return for the second year as the Bee's word analyst on ABC and ESPN.

Rounding out the on-air personalities on ABC and ESPN's coverage will be popular "SportsCenter" anchor Stuart Scott, making his Spelling Bee Finals debut as a reporter. Scott, who also serves as courtside reporter for the NBA Finals on ABC and ESPN's coverage of the NBA Draft, will handle interviews with the finalists and family members.

"Mike and Mike will bring their unique perspective to the Bee Finals - an immensely popular competition," said Bob Toms, vice president of remote production, ESPN. "Their commentary will help us showcase the personalities of these remarkable young people, and the pressure these spellers face as they compete in front of a national primetime television audience."

The Scripps National Spelling Bee, the nation's largest and longest running educational promotion, is administered on a not-for-profit basis by Scripps and 280 local sponsors. The majority of local spelling bee sponsors are daily and weekly newspapers. The Scripps National Spelling Bee helps students improve spelling, increase vocabularies, learn concepts and develop correct English usage.

Some 286 champion spellers, ranging in age from 9 to 15, will compete this year for the National Spelling Bee Championships in Washington, DC. Spellers participating in the national competition qualify by winning locally sponsored spelling bees in their home communities - featuring top spellers from across the U.S. and including competitors from Europe, Guam, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, American Samoa, Canada and New Zealand.

The program will be broadcast in HDTV with 5.1-channel surround sound. A TV parental guideline will be posted closer to airdate.