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Fan Central Mailbag: Spanish-language WBC Games on ESPN, ESPN2; ATH voice revealed; ‘Worst of the Worst’ voting

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Welcome to another edition of the Fan Central Mailbag. Remember, if you have an ESPN-related question, follow us @ESPN_FanCentral and use #FanCentralMB to tweet your questions. Also, be sure to “like” our new Fan Central Facebook page. You can also e-mail questions to [email protected].

Before we get to the latest mailbag questions, let’s first address some programming news. This Sunday night’s 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC) game between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico will be simulcast in Spanish on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET. There will be another Spanish-language WBC simulcast on ESPN2 Tuesday, March 12, at 1 p.m. The Spanish-language simulcasts are part of the exclusive Spanish-language, live coverage of all 39 WBC games on ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes+.

We realize some fans are curious about the decision to have Spanish-language simulcasts on ESPN and ESPN2, so we spoke with Executive Vice President, Programming & Acquisitions Norby Williamson about the offering.

“The World Baseball Classic provides a great showcase of how ESPN’s resources can document a global event with strong multi-cultural appeal,” Williamson said. “Having the exclusive Spanish-language rights to all 39 WBC games on Deportes and Deportes+ for both the 2013 and 2017 events provides us with unique opportunities to serve fans across our television, audio and digital properties. The upcoming simulcasts are the latest examples.”

Two other quick baseball-related notes: First, ESPN’s first spring training game of the 2013 season takes place this Monday at 1 p.m. when the St. Louis Cardinals visit the New York Yankees (Full Spring Training schedule). Second, for those on Twitter, you now can get all your ESPN baseball news, updates and insight by following @BBTN.

Now onto your questions:

Note: This first question was directed to Jamie Little, pit reporter for ESPN’s NASCAR and IndyCar coverage and a reporter for the Winter X Games.

ESPN’s Jamie Little (Andy Hall/ESPN)
ESPN’s Jamie Little (Andy Hall/ESPN)

I always wondered about who makes the replacement car parts that are destroyed during each race and who makes the new interior roll cages for each car? – Bill
Jamie replied: Hello, Bill, and thank you for your question. It’s a good one! As far as the fenders and sheet metal that you see get getting crunched up and often times destroyed, that is made in the fabrication department of each individual team. Most of the big teams have employees whose job is to shape sheet metal for the cars they are currently building and extra for damaged cars. As far as the roll cages go, that’s a good question. I don’t know the exact answer but I’m willing to guess the teams who build their own chassis build the roll cages as well. Remember, NASCAR must approve all parts on a race car before it hits the track. That includes the fenders, doors, hoods and roll cages.

Can the “Worst of the Worst” segment just retire the Mark Sanchez Butt Fumble already? – Tom
Sorry Tom, the play continues to be favorite of viewers, who vote on the “honor.” It has been the reigning SportsCenter “Worst of the Worst” champion since it occurred on Thanksgiving. Polling for the weekly feature takes place here.

I understand Kathryn Cressida does voice over for Pardon the Interruption, but who does the voice over for Around the Horn? – Louis
Myriam Leger, a member of the ATH staff, does the voice over work for the show, Louis.

I’m trying to remember the name of an ESPN game show that involved contestants shooting clay targets. It took place at night. – Tom
Wow Tom, a blast from the past! The name of the show was Starshot, which was on ESPN in the late 80s and early 90s. The premise: two teams of two played against each other in a target shooting competition. Professional marksmen and celebrities appeared on the show, including Hall of Fame pitcher Rollie Fingers.

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