Category: ‘ESPN History’

posted by Amanda DeCastro on June 13, 2013 11:50 AM

espnW and U.S. State Department awarded Signature Spirit Accolade for Global Sports Mentorship Program

In 2012, espnW and the U.S. Department of State teamed to present the Global Sports Mentorship Program — an initiative created to sustain sports opportunities for under-served women and girls worldwide. It pairs women from around the world, ages 25-45 and identified as emerging leaders, with American executives in a sports-related field.

The result was a successful year and the mentorship program has been renewed. In addition, espnW and the State Department were recently recognized by Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) as part of the 2013 Signature Spirit Accolades. The Accolades, which “honor exceptional operators, programmers, and a civic entity that champion community and public service programs in support of women’s initiatives,” recognized espnW and the State Department as the “Signature Spirit” for their collaborative work on the mentorship program. continue reading…

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Filed in: Behind The Scenes, ESPN History, espnW

posted by Bill Hofheimer on June 10, 2013 2:01 PM

Front & Center: Chris Berman on covering his 27th U.S. Open

Chris Berman and Curtis Strange at the 2012 US Open.

Chris Berman (l) and analyst Curtis Strange at the 2012 U.S. Open. (Credit: Andy Hall)

Click HERE to listen or visit iTunes to download the podcast and be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the Front & Center podcast. Also, make sure to check out the ESPN Radio app, available for the iPad.

Chris Berman will cover his 27th U.S. Open Golf Championship this week when ESPN presents first and second-round play of the 113th U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club near Philadelphia (Thursday and Friday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. ET).

Berman will be joined by NBC’s Roger Maltbie in the 18th hole booth on Thursday and Friday, and he will host ESPN’s weekend highlights programs. In anticipation of golf’s second major — and one of the most popular events on the annual sports calendar — the Front & Center podcast above features a conversation with Berman about the U.S. Open where he expresses his appreciation for the event and how challenging it is for the world’s top golfers.

Some highlights: continue reading…

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Filed in: ESPN History, GolfonESPN, SportsCenter

posted by Sheldon Spencer on June 3, 2013 4:45 PM

Retiring NBA stars Jason Kidd and Grant Hill both part of This Is SportsCenter’s distinguished list of ‘co-workers’

They came into the league together, they are leaving at the same time and they both share acting credits in a signature ESPN ad campaign.

Jason Kidd and Grant Hill were co-winners of the 1994-95 NBA Rookie Of The Year award.

Now, nearly 20 years later, they are again linked as both have announced retirements over the past few days. The duo will forever be linked in another way: both have had roles in ESPN’s This Is SportsCenter catalog of commercials.

One of the NBA’s best playmakers, Kidd announced his retirement today. Saturday, Hill retired after a 19-year NBA career.

In the debut spot of the long-running This Is SportsCenter spot (above), Kidd (then with the Mavericks) and boxing great Roy Jones Jr. affer cameos as anchor Bob Ley provides a 30-second tour of ESPN’s studios, circa 1995. (Kidd may be harder to spot, but keep watching, you’ll see him.)

Hill’s TISC moment of fame came as a piano player in a memorable spot (below).

Created in 1995 with advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy, ESPN’s This is SportsCenter is a tongue-in-cheek campaign that transcends mere tune-in, and in the process helped build a programming franchise, crystallize a brand, and define a place where, each night, sports and popular culture converge.

Filed in: ESPN History, SportsCenter

posted by Bill Hofheimer on May 24, 2013 12:23 PM

Chicago Bears announce plans to retire No. 89 jersey of ESPN analyst Mike Ditka on Monday Night Football

Mike Ditka (89) played for George Halas' Chicago Bears in the early 1960s. (Credit: Robert Riger/Getty Images)

Mike Ditka (89) played for George Halas’ Bears in the early 1960s.
(Credit: Getty Images)

On Friday morning, the Chicago Bears officially announced plans to retire Mike Ditka’s jersey No. 89 during halftime of the team’s ESPN Monday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 9.

Ditka, an ESPN NFL analyst since 2004 and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, played and coached for the Bears during his legendary career. In fact, he is the only individual in the NFL’s modern era to win a league championship with the same team as both a player (1963) and head coach (1985). continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, ESPN History, Monday Night Football, NFLonESPN

posted by Amy Phillips on April 24, 2013 3:50 PM

Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw’s blazing pencils have Jay Harris on edge in latest This Is SportsCenter spot

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, known for his power and control when placing a baseball over the plate, shows those skills can be dangerous in the workplace in ESPN’s latest This is SportsCenter spot, debuting today.

As Kershaw nonchalantly tosses pencils toward the ceiling of his cube at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn., SportsCenter anchor Jay Harris “fears” potential injury in the cube above. Front Row asked Harris for his take on the latest of his many This is SportsCenter appearances. continue reading…

Filed in: ESPN History, MLBonESPN, SportsCenter, This Is SportsCenter

posted by Ardi Dwornik on April 20, 2013 10:00 AM

ICYMI: The Week on Front Row; Brazil’s sports minister Rebelo welcomes X Games Foz to his country

Brazil’s Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo

Aldo Rebelo is Brazil’s sports minister. A former congressman representing São Paulo, Rebelo now takes care of all matters related to sports in Brazil. He has been dedicated to managing Brazil’s preparations as host to FIFA World Cup 2014 and the 2016 Olympic Games.

This weekend, Brazil is home to ESPN’s X Games Foz Do Iguacu, one of two international sporting events the nation welcomes in 2013; in June, FIFA’s Confederations Cup comes to six Brazilian cities. Rebelo tells Front Row why Brazil values X Games Foz Do Iguacu, which run through Sunday on ESPN. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, ESPN History, ICYMI Highlights, X Games 2013

posted by Sheldon Spencer on April 18, 2013 4:01 PM

Skateboarding legend, ESPN analyst Tony Hawk reflects on X Games’ growth and excitement for Foz

Two years ago, ESPN announced its plans to have six annual X Games events — including three in new international venues. When he first heard of the Global X concept, skateboard legend and X Games analyst Tony Hawk admitted he was taken aback.

“To do an event of that magnitude six times a year is huge,” he told Front Row at the time. “It really says a lot about how much ESPN believes in our sports, and how well respected the athletes are.” continue reading…

Filed in: ESPN History, X Games 2013

posted by Dave Nagle on April 12, 2013 10:24 AM

Journalism, storytelling lead ESPN at the New York Festivals Awards

Craig Bengtson, vice president, SportsCenter, accepted awards won by the show and the Features Unit at the 2013 New York Festivals International Film and TV Awards on Tuesday in Las Vegas.

ESPN’s Craig Bengtson, vice president, SportsCenter, accepted awards won by the show and the Features Unit at the 2013 New York Festivals International Film and TV Awards. (Credit: Copywright Marc Bryan-Brown).

For the sixth consecutive year, ESPN was named Broadcaster of the Year at the New York Festivals International Television & Film Awards Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

ESPN’s 40 medals led the competition, which attracts entrants from all corners of the globe. The network’s stellar night was largely a result of the outstanding work done in the areas of enterprise journalism and storytelling. continue reading…

Filed in: Announcements, ESPN History

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…

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

posted by Bill Hofheimer on April 3, 2013 4:43 PM

ESPN’s Chris Berman profiled by Showtime’s 60 Minutes Sports

Chris Berman with Lara Logan, the chief foreign affairs correspondent for CBS News. (Bill Hofheimer/ESPN)

Chris Berman with “60 Minutes Sports” reporter Lara Logan (Bill Hofheimer/ESPN)

Six-time National Sportscaster of the Year Chris Berman, the longtime face of ESPN’s NFL coverage as host of Sunday NFL Countdown and the NFL Draft, will be profiled by Showtime’s 60 Minutes Sports tonight at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Lara Logan, the chief foreign affairs correspondent for CBS News, conducted a wide-ranging interview with Berman in January. This video, courtesy of Showtime, is a preview of the feature.