Kim Jarvis

Multimedia Specialist

I’ve had the privilege of watching all of my favorite teams win a championship, including the Bruins, Celtics, Red Sox and Patriots. With that in mind, it is indeed a wonderful time to be a native of Boston, also known as the city of champions. As an avid sports fan and former athlete, obtaining a call for an interview at ESPN was a dream come true. I joined the worldwide leader in sports in 1998 as an assistant listings publicist before joining the multimedia team. In my current role, I work on the external and internal websites which gives me the opportunity to get to know more about our company as well as relay pertinent information to the media.

Although I attended Johnson C. Smith University, in Charlotte, N.C., I graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in English. When I’m not chauffeuring my daughter to her various activities, I enjoy writing, karate and photography. I’m also actively involved with volunteering for various charitable organizations.

Recent Posts

posted by on April 9, 2013 2:00 PM

Behind the scenes of ESPN’s profile of 14-year-old Masters qualifier, China’s Tianlang Guan

ESPN.com national columnist Gene Wojciechowski and a crew from the network recently spent 10 days in China getting to know Tianlang Guan, who at 14 is the youngest golfer to ever qualify for the Masters.

Wojciechowski and ESPN camera crews following the teen phenom from China to Augusta National in Georgia. Front Row spoke with feature producer Sharon Matthews — who helped supply the photo gallery above — about making the video feature, which is scheduled to air Wednesday during SportsCenter at the Masters (ESPN, 5 p.m. ET), which follows the network’s Par 3 Contest coverage (3 p.m.). ESPN will televise the first and second rounds of the Masters on Thursday and Friday (3 p.m. each day). continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, The Masters

posted by on February 22, 2013 4:30 PM

SportsCenter anchor Jay Harris honors Martin Luther King Jr. and others by reading to local children

 

 

Editor’s note: ESPN celebrates Black History Month throughout February with related programming and content.

With a smile on his face and a copy of Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Martin Luther King, Jr. in hand, SportsCenter anchor Jay Harris prepared for his annual Black History Month reading (one of several Black History Month readings Team ESPN organized across the country) at the Imagine Nation Children’s Museum in Bristol, Conn., near the ESPN campus.

More than 25 children, mostly 4-to-6 year olds, clung to his every word as he brought the book to life.

Following the Wednesday reading, Harris also moderated a Black History Month themed ESPN employee luncheon with Super Bowl hero Doug Williams. In the midst of his busy schedule, Harris spoke with Front Row about the importance of this month.

What does Black History Month mean to you?
Black History Month means a lot to me, my mom and my dad. Those who came before me, that made it possible for me to entertain and inform sports fans. It’s my — and our — time to shine. But it’s also kind of bittersweet for me. I love every February when it comes around, because I know it is the month that this part of American history is showcased. But it’s frustrating because I think many are kind of lazy with Black History Month. I love talking about Martin Luther King Jr. But we barely scratch the surface of Black history and its full impact on American history in the 28 days.

BHM_ESPN

How did you get involved with the reading project? continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on February 13, 2013 2:07 PM

Icons ranging from Jackie Robinson to Muhammad Ali to Gabby Douglas star in Black History Month vignette

Vintage footage of boxing legend Muhammad Ali (left) is featured in the forthcoming "Moment Of Loud" vignette. (ESPN)

Vintage footage of boxing legend Muhammad Ali (left) is featured in the forthcoming “Moment Of Loud” vignette. (ESPN)

Editor’s note: ESPN celebrates Black History Month throughout February with related programming and content.

Bomani Jones (CREDIT?)

Bomani Jones
(Credit: M. Eric Honeycutt)

Turn up the volume for an uplifting 30-second vignette highlighting some of the top accomplishments by African-American athletes. The “Moment of Loud” vignette, scheduled to debut Monday, Feb. 18 across all ESPN platforms, is part of the network’s annual Black History Month programming.

Bomani Jones, a regular panelist on Around the Horn and other ESPN programs, narrates the “action-packed tribute.” Front Row spoke with the creative team from ESPN’s marketing department, Angelo Mazza and Michael Kopech, and Jones about the project.

How did you get involved with this project?
BJ: I wish there was a long story, but I got a call from ESPN asking if I would be interested in voicing the spots. For me, it was a no-brainer. For many, the significance of Black History Month is waning, which tells me it is more important than ever. Any chance to teach more American history, especially things that may otherwise go overlooked, is something I’m glad to be a part of.

How would you describe the vignette to someone who hasn’t seen it?
MK: I would describe it as a loud, action-packed tribute to some of America’s greatest athletes, past and present. It’s uplifting, intense, and will hopefully strike an emotional chord with all sports fans. The breadth of athletes shown is vast, so pay attention, as you may discover clips of athletes you didn’t notice the first or second time you saw the spot.

Was there anything in particular that you enjoyed about this project?
BJ: Just being asked to do it was a big deal for me. This is an initiative ESPN is firmly behind, which is something we have in common.

BHM_ESPN

Are there any historical athletes you wish you had an opportunity to interview? continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on February 7, 2013 12:06 PM

ESPN.com asks fans to rank the 25 best athletes hailing from HBCUs

ESPN's Jerry Rice during his time on the San Francisco 49ers. (credit?)

ESPN’s Jerry Rice, a former Mississippi Valley State star, is among the athletes in ESPN.com’s HBCU ranker. (ESPN)

BHM_logo

Editor’s note: ESPN celebrates Black History Month throughout February with related programming and content.

What do baseball legends Andre Dawson and Lou Brock, Olympic great Wilma Rudolph, two-sport star Althea Gibson and Pro Football Hall of Famers Walter Payton and ESPN’s Jerry Rice have in common?

Each attended historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs. Those schools still are producing standout pro athletes.

Witness Lane College’s Jacoby Jones. In Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 4, Jones helped his Baltimore Ravens to victory over the San Francisco 49ers with a two-touchdown performance.

SportsNation's Rank 'Em page

SportsNation’s Rank ‘Em page

ESPN.com’s SportsNation page asks fans to attempt a daunting task: Rank the 25 best athletes from HBCUs.

Kelly Shaw, ESPN.com assistant editor and Philadelphia Tribune sports writer Donald Hunt are among those who collaborated on the project. Credit Hunt with great foresight: In 2007, he profiled Super Bowl hero-to-be Jones for ESPN.com.

More on the project from Shaw and Hunt:

Who created the poll and were other employees involved?
KS: This was a ranking we did last year for Black History Month, but it only consisted of 10 athletes. I suggested we recreate the ranking and Mark Wright, director of content and editorial services, thought the list should include 25 athletes. We collaborated with Kareem White, talent producer, and created the list.

As an HBCU grad from North Carolina A&T, who’s your favorite athlete? continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on January 21, 2013 11:00 AM

Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘Tengo un Sueño’ vignettes in Spanish on various ESPN platforms

BE190795-DF68-4DAE-8409-F3CBED0AFC00With the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday upon us, ESPN celebrated by airing a series of Content of Character vignettes — 16 in English and five in Spanish — from Jan. 14-21. The 30-45 second vignettes, with commentary from various people in the world of sports, reflect upon — among other things — the “I Have a Dream” speech by Dr. King. Nación ESPN co-host David Faitelson says: “The legacy of Dr. King should be an essential part of our daily life. It is a legacy of freedom, hope, and faith. At the same time, it is a reminder of the struggle we have in search of the country Dr. King dreamt of, and the country we all want to leave behind for generations to come.”

He share more thoughts with Front Row.

ESPN’s David Faitelson. (ESPN Images)

In your opinion, how do Hispanics relate to Martin L. King Jr.’s speech and that particular time?
Hispanics that live and work for this country sustain the same struggle that MLK referred to in his speech. And it is true: There is plenty left to do. The words of Dr. King mean, ultimately, the blood that goes through our veins and nourishes our spirit. A Hispanic that has been a victim of discrimination, violence, and persecution in the 21st century knows there is an unfailing example of struggle and survival. When MLK spoke, he didn’t do it to a specific group, he did it in the name of all human beings that dream for a fairer world for all. “That even though we encounter the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream: It is a dream profoundly ingrained in the American dream that one day this nation will truly rise up and live through its faith….”

What does the “I Have a Dream” speech mean to you?
The pursuit of liberty and justice are the principal highlights of the “I Have a Dream” speech. The flame of Dr. King is still alive. It heats our soul and our dream of a nation of liberty, respect, and justice. Let’s keep that flame burning, that is our last hope of the transformation that one day will come.

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on January 21, 2013 8:00 AM

ESPN producer Galen Gordon on contributing to Content Of Character

ESPN’s coordinating producer Galen Gordon during an ESPN “Numbers Never Lie” meeting. (Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

BE190795-DF68-4DAE-8409-F3CBED0AFC00
This past week, ESPN2 televised the network’s annual Content of Character program which included an intro by actor/rapper COMMON and a panel discussion surrounding Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy as it pertains to sports.

ESPN’s Galen Gordon.
(Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

Galen Gordon, coordinating producer for ESPN2’s Number Never Lie (weekdays, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2), helped behind the scenes of this year’s special. Front Row spoke to Gordon about his first experience working on the 60-minute show.

What do you look for in filling a panel?
We wanted a diverse group of voices to tackle the issues addressed in the show.

Was there anyone you wanted for the panel who wasn’t available?
We tried to get Chuck D from Public Enemy. He wanted to participate but unfortunately there were too many scheduling conflicts. COMMON also wanted to contribute, so he took time out to record the open. This was a compelling piece produced by Sharon Matthews.

Is there anything you want our readers to know/understand about this experience?
Overall, I’m proud to contribute to Content of Character. It speaks to ESPN’s commitment to preserving the legacy of Dr. King. This year’s show featured great storytelling combined with intriguing discussions on the racial landscape in sports.

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on January 14, 2013 4:55 PM

Content of Character debuts tonight on ESPN2 followed by live Facebook chat with Jemele Hill

(L-R) Richard Lapchick, Jemele Hill, Bob Ley, Kevin Powell and Robert Smith (Kimberly Jarvis/ESPN Images)

(L-R) Richard Lapchick, Jemele Hill, Bob Ley, Kevin Powell and Robert Smith are on the “Content Of Character” roundtable. (Kimberly Jarvis/ESPN Images)

BE190795-DF68-4DAE-8409-F3CBED0AFC00Columnist and commentator Jemele Hill is a panelist on ESPN’s third annual Content of Character special (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2; re-air Saturday, Jan. 19 on ABC), a roundtable on race relations and sports in America as the Martin Luther King Day holiday approaches.

August 2013 also will mark the 50th anniversary of King’s I Have a Dream speech.

After the one-hour special airs tonight, Hill and fellow panelist Kevin Powell will answer viewer questions live for 15 minutes on ESPN’s Facebook page.

Front Row spoke to Hill about the roundtable discussion, which also includes moderator and Outside The Lines host Bob Ley, ESPN football analyst Robert Smith, race relations expert Richard Lapchick and — via satellite — Ryan Clark of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

What’s the biggest difference between this show and last year?
The biggest difference is we changed studios. The conversation this year was much more intimate and as a result, I think it allowed me and the other panelists to be more open and feel a natural comfort immediately.

How do you feel about using social media to respond to fans? continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on December 11, 2012 11:15 AM

I Follow: Stan Verrett

Editor’s note: I Follow is all about ESPN employees on Twitter: what they tweet, whom they follow and how you can interact socially with anyone and everyone.

Twitter handle: @stanverrett
Followers: 10,973
Following: 316 (as of 12/10/2012)

Stan Verrett is a 12-year ESPN veteran who helped launch the 1 a.m. ET SportsCenter from the company’s new Los Angeles Production Facility in March 2009. He is co-host of that SportsCenter with Neil Everett.

ESPN’s Stan Verrett. (Steven Barry/ESPN)

Verrett tells Front Row what he likes about being active on Twitter, his mission to convince Everett to join the “Twitterverse,” (#getneilontwitter) and his experience making a cameo in the new movie Playing for Keeps — part of which was filmed in the LAPC.

When did you join Twitter and why? How often do you tweet – during any games, at an event?
I originally joined Twitter because our former colleague Michelle Beadle was talking some good-natured trash about me and my inability to drive a stock car during a field trip to the Charlotte Motor Speedway as guests of NASCAR. I had to defend myself to the masses.

Most of my Twitter activity is about one of
three things: SportsCenter, the Saints or LSU football. I love interacting with the people who watch our show because their viewpoints are usually valuable in learning how people use the service we provide in the ever-changing environment in which it is delivered. Most of the people are very kind and gracious, though sometimes I need a thick skin to interact with those who don’t like me or the show.

What was one of the most memorable Twitter exchanges you’ve had? continue reading…

Filed in: I Follow: Inside Twitter

posted by on December 9, 2012 9:00 AM

Meet the man behind The Journey spoken-word poetry segments on Sunday NFL Countdown

When ESPN production operations coordinator Yaw Ofori-Atta (his first name is pronounced YOW) steps before a microphone, rhymes, words and emotions flow through every verse.

That’s when he becomes rapper/poet Yaw Geez. For several weeks on ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown (10 a.m. ET, ESPN) this fall, he’s been featured summarizing teams’ quests for the playoffs with The Journey — a spoken-word poetry piece. The latest installment debuts on this morning’s edition of the show.

Here’s an example of his verse:

Tense is
The coach who hopes to one day be enshrined
He’s been on his grind put in the time
Can you fathom you and your maestro having to orchestrate a drive
With this game this season and this job all on the line at the same time

Yaw Geez’s essays usually run anywhere from 60-to-90 seconds, but that’s boiled down from a video shoot that can last as long as five hours, he says. His ESPN colleague Terrell Bouza works on editing the essays.

“The writing process takes anywhere from three to seven days, then three to four days of memorizing,” said Yaw, who in his “day job” at ESPN edits video for various shows and platforms. The New Jersey native is in his seventh year at ESPN.

In the photo gallery above, Front Row gives you a glimpse behind the scenes of the taping of his latest Journey segment. He tells us more about the process:

What is The Journey?
The Journey is a series of pieces that details the events in an NFL season from start to finish.

How did the concept of The Journey happen? continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on August 19, 2012 10:00 AM

Comedian Bellamy shares his sports knowledge with ESPN First Take crew

Bill Bellamy is an actor, comedian, cousin of Shaquille O’Neal and a big fan of ESPN First Take.

The Rutgers University alum and avid Twitter user joined the castof First Take on Aug. 15, with commentators Skip Bayless, Jemele Hill and Stephen A. Smith adding his comedic sports wisdom to the topics of the day.

A basketball fanatic, Bellamy was able to hold his own discussing the top subject: Is LeBron James better than Michael Jordan? Bellamy spoke to Front Row shortly after his First Take debut:

What is it about First Take that you like so much?
I just love the show because everyone has a point of view. You get Stephen A. saying one thing, Skip saying something else and Jemele mediating…when she can. It’s so fun to watch. On top of that they usually talk about the issues, or whatever is topical of the day or what happened that week. I want to hear what they have to say…then I can go on Twitter and do my version.

Do you like the new First Take set/look? continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes