Front Row Staff
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posted by Front Row Staff on June 7, 2013 11:30 AM
A brief oral history of what it was like to break a major U.S. sports story from across the globe
A screen grab of T.J. Quinn on SportsCenter live from Tokyo.
This week, while on a separate assignment in Tokyo, ESPN reporter T.J. Quinn found himself in the unique situation of being deeply involved in a major breaking news story while roughly 6,700 miles from the epicenter of the story. Writing for Outside the Lines, Quinn, Pedro Gomez and Michael Fish added to the investigative unit’s impressive body of work on Major League Baseball’s latest PED problems with a story that rocked the sports world Tuesday night and into Wednesday.
Also in Japan working on assignment was ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Jones. He had never met his colleague, Quinn, but their initial introduction was one Jones will not soon forget. In what might be a Twitter first, Jones live-Tweeted the pending breaking news on Tuesday evening and continued to share his experience of watching Quinn ply his craft as the news spread.
So, @tjquinnespn is with me in Japan. He has not slept very much lately. My heart has been pounding on his behalf. Guy is a bull.
— Chris Jones (@MySecondEmpire) June 5, 2013
Here, in an exclusive for Front Row, Quinn and Jones share recollections of a crazy couple of days: continue reading…
posted by Front Row Staff on May 23, 2013 4:40 PM
New colleagues looking forward to Paul Finebaum’s ESPN arrival
Paul Finebaum (Joe Faraoni/ ESPN Images)
Earlier today, ESPN announced the hiring of the “Voice of the SEC,” Paul Finebaum. With duties that will range from hosting a daily radio show (eventually simulcasting it on the SEC Network) to appearing on a variety ESPN shows and platforms, Finebaum will work with a wide cross-section of people at ESPN. Here, a few offer their thoughts on the multi-talented Finebaum.
“Paul knows the SEC better than anyone – the passion, the rivalries and the hot buttons for an electric fan base. We are thrilled to have Paul join the ESPN team. He will be a fantastic addition and help both ESPN and the SEC Network serve sports fans in a unique and powerful way.” – Justin Connolly, ESPN Senior Vice President of College Networks continue reading…
posted by Front Row Staff on May 8, 2013 12:13 PM
From ESPN’s Front Row team to NASCAR’s David Ragan’s Front Row team: Congrats!
David Ragan celebrates his Talladega win. (courtesy www.davidragan.com)
Here at ESPN’s Front Row, we like to think we know a little something about the responsibility that comes in living our lives with an unobstructed view of the finish line. So it was with great pleasure that we watched David Ragan win Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega for his team Front Row Motorsports.
Although there is no affiliation between our Front Row and Ragan’s Front Row, there is a kindred spirit. We’d like to think that as we wave our banner proudly in Bristol, Conn., so too does the Front Row team in Statesville, N.C.
Congrats to Ragan and his team. We thank you for representing the name in such fine fashion.
posted by Front Row Staff on April 16, 2013 10:52 AM
ESPN’s Boston Marathon Tragedy firsthand accounts and perspectives
While ESPN’s live coverage on the Boston Marathon tragedy continues, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and friends and the running community. Several ESPN employees were in Boston as reporters, runners or spectators and have shared their stories on SportsCenter and ESPN.com.
ESPN Employee Eyewitness Accounts
Bob Ley interviewed ESPN.com senior director of design and race participant Dan Benshoff, who describes the scene around the finish line and in the medical tent.
Jeremy Schaap interviewed ESPN producer and race participant Bryan Jaroch, who said he was about a mile from crossing the finish line when the explosions occurred. continue reading…
posted by Front Row Staff on April 5, 2013 11:43 AM
Final Four schools Syracuse, Michigan, Louisville, Wichita State well represented by ESPN school ties
ESPN’s Mike Tirico, 1988 Syracuse grad, at a Monday Night Football production meeting. (ESPN)
This weekend’s Final Four in Atlanta will draw fans from all four schools, each dreaming of its team cutting down the nets on Monday night. ESPN employees are no different.
They are passionate sports fans, too. Here, Front Row presents some Final Four smack talk from four folks with ties to the schools. Be sure to tune into ESPN all weekend through Monday’s championship game for live coverage from Atlanta and extensive pre- and post game analysis and features. continue reading…
posted by Front Row Staff on March 28, 2013 3:27 PM
ESPN and WNBA extend their agreement through 2022 season
ESPN and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) have extended their agreement six years, through the 2022 season, it was announced today by John Skipper, President of ESPN, Inc. and Co-Chairman of the Disney Media Networks, and Laurel J. Richie, WNBA President.
The announcement was made Thursday afternoon in Good Morning America’s New York studio. SportsCenter anchor Hannah Storm, who was the league’s first play-by-play announcer in 1997, was the moderator.
For more information, click here.
posted by Front Row Staff on March 23, 2013 3:23 PM
In Memoriam: Former ESPN/ABC Sports Executive, Loren Matthews
Former ESPN and ABC Sports Executive, Loren Matthews (ESPN Images)
Loren Matthews, who retired from ESPN as ABC Sports’ senior vice president for programming in 2006, passed away Friday night. He was 65.
“Loren Matthews was instrumental in the success and growth of ESPN,” said ESPN Executive Vice President, Production, John Wildhack a long-time colleague of Matthews. “Loren’s programming expertise was second to none. Equally important was the high degree of integrity, passion and loyalty Loren displayed throughout his career.” continue reading…
posted by Front Row Staff on December 14, 2012 4:41 PM
