Jennifer Cingari

Publicist, ESPN Films & Content Development

I started at the Worldwide Leader one month after graduating from the University of Rhode Island, and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to start my career in sports PR. In my position I assist with public relations for ESPYs, ESPN Films (including the critically-acclaimed “30 for 30” series), and the content development and consumer products divisions. Born and raised (and now working) in the New York metro area has made me a huge NY sports fan. I love rooting for the Knicks, Giants and Yankees and above all I love working at a place where I’m surrounded by sports fans that are as passionate as me!

Recent Posts

posted by on May 15, 2013 4:00 PM

ESPN Films producer adds directing duties for SEC Storied: Abby Head On documentary

How difficult would it be to direct a full-length film in addition to performing your normal work duties? Just ask ESPN Films producer Erin Leyden, whose documentary, Abby Head On, premieres tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU as part of the SEC Storied film series.

Front Row caught up with Leyden in advance of the film’s debut. Also, be on the lookout for another film she is directing this summer, The 99ers, part of the Nine for IX ESPN Films and espnW series. continue reading…

Filed in: ESPN Films, Title IX

posted by on April 1, 2013 9:17 AM

Tweetback: First Take’s April Fools’ Day stunt reveals true fans; Women’s Elite Eight set; Thoughts with Kevin Ware

With Major League Baseball’s Opening Day coinciding with April Fools’ Day, ESPN’s First Take seized on the convergence to create an opportunity to convey the show’s bond with its fans.

“We’re based in a very quiet studio five days a week, so it was a pleasure to get out and meet some of our most faithful fans,” said First Take’s Skip Bayless. “It’s debatable who had more fun, those fans or Stephen A and I. I’d argue we did.” continue reading…

Filed in: Announcements, Weekend Tweetback

posted by on March 27, 2013 11:03 AM

1972 Team USA basketball squad reunites in director Rory Karpf’s 30 for 30 Short, Silver Reunion

Forty years after the USA Men’s Olympic Basketball team declined their silver medals after controversially losing the gold to the Soviet Union, the 12 team members gathered together to ultimately either accept or refuse the medals for a game the players believe they never lost. continue reading…

Filed in: 30 for 30, Behind The Scenes

posted by on March 15, 2013 4:30 PM

Jonathan Hock, director of 30 for 30 film Survive and Advance, discusses the incredible 1983 N.C. State season

When the 1982-83 college basketball season began, Jim Valvano and his N.C. State Wolfpack had high hopes. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, ESPN Films, ESPN History

posted by on February 27, 2013 3:00 PM

ESPN analyst Bruce Pearl recalls 2008 Atlanta tornado, the subject of new SEC Storied documentary, Miracle 3

ESPN Films’ next SEC Storied documentary, Miracle 3, will premiere on Sunday, March 3, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

The film, directed by Rory Karpf, chronicles the dramatic events that ensued after a tornado hit downtown Atlanta during the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Georgia Dome.

On March 14, 2008, Alabama trailed Mississippi State 59-56 in the final seconds of the first quarterfinal game of the evening session. Crimson Tide guard Mykal Riley sank a last-second three-pointer as time expired, sending the game into overtime. That shot not only extended Alabama’s season for the moment, but it might have prevented thousands of fans from pouring into the city streets just as the tornado touched down.

ESPN college basketball analyst Bruce Pearl was the head coach at the University of Tennessee at the time and was in Atlanta with his team. Front Row asked Pearl to reflect on the experience.

ESPN’s Bruce Pearl.
(Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

Where were you when the tornado hit?
Our players were at the hotel and we were going through a walk through in the hotel in a very open area with a large glass ceiling. All of a sudden, everything just got darker and it sounded like a freight train was running right through the hotel. I just immediately got the players away from the glass ceiling. My first thought was that it was an earthquake, it felt like the building was moving a little bit. And then we all just huddled up and listened, crouched down and waited it out.

Were you surprised at the extent of the damage after it was over?
I didn’t let the guys out of the hotel that night. We wanted to make sure everyone had a chance to contact their families. Once the storm ended, we put on ESPN and we heard there was a [tornado] and that there was damage to the Dome. We didn’t know if the tournament was going to go on or what was going to happen.

What were you thinking when you found out your game was being moved to Georgia Tech? continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, ESPN College Basketball, ESPN Films

posted by on February 13, 2013 11:22 AM

Director Nelson George explores Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier’s style in 30 for 30 short film, Disdain the Mundane

The next installment of ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 Shorts premieres today on Grantland.com, showcasing basketball Hall of Famer Walt “Clyde” Frazier’s unique fashion and broadcasting style.

Director Nelson George tells Front Row how this short compares to the long-form documentary he directed last year, The Announcement, and why he chose to tell Frazier’s story.

How would you compare directing a full-length documentary to a short like Disdain The Mundane?
Directing The Announcement took me into a variety of worlds: the world of the Los Angeles Lakers’ Showtime era, the late ’80s/early ’90s Los Angeles and the world of HIV activism. With Disdain, it was very focused on one man’s very special view of himself and style, both on court, dressing and in use of language. Magic Johnson’s story took place on a large canvas. Clyde’s piece is very intimate.

What did you learn from directing The Announcement that helped you on this particular film? continue reading…

Filed in: 30 for 30, Behind The Scenes

posted by on January 27, 2013 11:00 AM

REPREVE part of ESPN’s X Games’ commitment to environmentality

Environmentality during X Games Aspen 2013. (Photo by Rich Arden/ESPN Images)

One of many of REPREVE’s recycling stations at X Games Aspen 2013. (Rich Arden/ESPN Images)

Editor’s note: A variety of X Games Aspen 2013 content from Buttermilk Mountain will be available live through Sunday across multiple platforms — television, smartphones, tablets, online, social media and more.

ASPEN, Colo. — Looking around Buttermilk Mountain, home to X Games Aspen 2013, you can’t help but notice the countless recycling stations set up to promote environmentally over ESPN’s four-day-long action sports event.

XGames_Aspen_2013_CLR_Pos

As the recycling sponsor of X Games Aspen 2013, the REPREVE brand has teamed up with pro snowboarder Elena Hight to help raise awareness about the significance of recycling. Hight is a two-time Olympian and winner of multiple X Games medals in Women’s Snowboard Superpipe.

REPREVE is made from recycled materials, including post-consumer plastic bottles, and is an essential ingredient that makes fabrics and garments sustainable. The recycled fiber goes into many winter sports-related brands including Patagonia, The North Face and Polartec-based products.

“Not many people know that REPREVE is a recycled ingredient that makes so many of the clothes we buy eco-friendly,” said Hight, who earned a silver medal with a historic trick Saturday. “It’s really cool to know that the bottles we recycle at X Games Aspen could actually end up in my clothes.” continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, X Games 2013

posted by on January 22, 2013 3:30 PM

First Take will welcome celebrity guests on ‘Who We Got Wednesdays’

First Take commentators (L-R) Stephen A. Smith, Cari Champion and Skip Bayless on the set. (Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

First Take commentators (L-R) Stephen A. Smith, Cari Champion and Skip Bayless on the set.
(Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

Beginning this week, various celebrity guests and athletes will be sharing the First Take desk with Skip Bayless, Stephen A. Smith and Cari Champion every Wednesday. Front Row caught up with Coordinating Producer Antoine Lewis to find out where the idea came from and who we can expect on “Who We Got Wednesdays.”

How did the idea of “Who We Got Wednesdays” come about?
We have many stars reaching out to us who are fans of the show. People from Snoop Dogg/Lion to Regis Philbin say we are part of their daily routine. Stop and ponder that range and spectrum. Both rappers and television icons are watching and yelling at the television while the show is on. Our team has been impressed by the passion of our live guests and it gives us a charge to have them in studio, so we were looking for a way to put our celebrity fans in the spotlight each week. More important was the goal to make it fun for our viewers and create anticipation to see who will be on the show next. So we came up with “Who We Got Wednesdays.” Why Wednesday? It fit nicely with the alliteration of the title!

Will these guests be debating Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith? continue reading…

Filed in: Announcements, Behind The Scenes

posted by on December 20, 2012 8:00 AM

Sam Bowie reflects on SEC: Storied doc; his star-crossed career; favorite 30 for 30; and Magic Johnson

Going Big, the next installment of ESPN Films’ SEC Storied series, will premiere tonight at 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

The film chronicles former basketball star Sam Bowie’s career — one labeled a “bust” by some because he never fulfilled his enormous potential due to injuries.

The Portland Trail Blazers made the former University of Kentucky standout the second-overall pick in the 1984 draft, selecting him just ahead of Michael Jordan.

Front Row caught up with Bowie in advance of the premiere.

Sam Bowie (C) had an injury-plagued career. (Getty Images)

What ultimately led you to participate in this documentary?
Honestly, [film director] Tom Friend constantly and continuously asked me to contact him and gave me an impression that he was good people. And then the fact that I have watched previous documentaries. I’ve always felt like they’ve tried to project positive story-telling. When they are over, you catch yourself staring into space just thinking about what just occurred.

What do you hope viewers take away from the film?
I would hope that they would take away that this Sam Bowie kid was relentless and he had no quit in him. Never give up. And I don’t think that’s a characteristic that can be taught. I think when they talk about God-given talent, that’s one quality that’s never really brought up. They talk about speed and how high one can jump and he’s a freak of nature in regards to being an athlete. But you either have the “never give up” gene or you don’t.

Which ESPN Films documentaries have stood out for you? continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on December 18, 2012 4:01 PM

Panelists Michael Smith, Jalen Rose, and Hugh Douglas take you inside Numbers Never Lie

ESPN2′s Numbers Never Lie got a new look in September, with commentators Jalen Rose and Hugh Douglas joining host Michael Smith in fulltime roles.

Another new addition to the show was the “Answer Chamber,” a pneumatic tube that delivers the final answers to the debate through a rotating carousel built in to the desk.

The chamber was built by UK-based Dick George Creatives, which also built the automation for the Oscar-winning movie Hugo. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes