Category: ‘SportsCenter’

posted by on May 9, 2013 4:00 PM

SportsCenter’s John Anderson back for more Wipeout wackiness

Asked about similarities between ESPN’s SportsCenter and ABC’s Wipeout, John Anderson deadpanned: “They are both television programs that last one hour and I have a speaking part. Beyond that there are no similarities. None.

“Wipeout features non-athletes failing spectacularly,” said Anderson, who is entering his 15th year as a SportsCenter anchor. “SportsCenter features the greatest athletes excelling fantastically.”

ESPN's John Anderson (Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

ESPN’s John Anderson
(Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

For the past five years, Anderson has co-hosted ABC’s hit series Wipeout – one of America’s favorite TV reality game shows. John Henson co-hosts along with the returning Jill Wagner, who took a one-year break from the show. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, SportsCenter

posted by on May 9, 2013 2:13 PM

SportsCenter, tennis majors anchor Chris McKendry makes the most of being a mom, even when she’s working worlds away from home

SportsCenter anchor Chris McKendry practices tennis with her sons. (John Atashian/ESPN Images)

SportsCenter anchor Chris McKendry practices tennis with her sons. (John Atashian/ESPN Images)

With boys aged 8 and 10 at home, SportsCenter anchor Chris McKendry takes “business trips” — such as two weeks in Paris as a host for the French Open starting on ESPN2 on May 26 — that require much planning and a team/family effort to keep the home front running smoothly.

“I leave incredible amounts of notes for my husband and our sitter — a page per day — with everything from the boys’ activities to the school lunch schedule and friends’ birthday parties with the present already wrapped,” she said. “Then I review it with them by phone every day.” continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, SportsCenter, TennisOnESPN

posted by on May 9, 2013 12:00 PM

The art of the SportsCenter highlight: Enhancements lead to better insight

Monday night was a typically busy one on the sports calendar. NBA and NHL playoffs, MLB regular season and even Ultimate Frisbee highlights were all included in the 11 p.m. ET SportsCenter.

But SportsCenter viewers are accustomed to more than just highlights. Day in and day out, those video re-caps do more than just replay key moments or pivotal plays. The compilations often bring greater context and insight into why one team lost or how an athlete accomplished his or her feat. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, SportsCenter

posted by on May 6, 2013 3:19 PM

ESPN’s Features Unit seeks to continue its Emmy-winning ways

Editor’s Note: ESPN received 41 Sports Emmy Award nominations for 2012 across its platforms (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN 3D, ABC, ESPNU, ESPNEWS and Grantland.com), led by five nods for E:60 (a total of 29 in five years), four each for Outside the Lines and ESPN Films including work by the Features Unit, and the first three ever for Grantland.com. The 34th annual Sports Emmy Awards will be held tomorrow night in Manhattan.

“And the Emmy goes to. . . ”

Ten times since ESPN’s Features Unit — a group within the Cross Platform Newsgathering Unit — was formed in 2002, the rest of that sentence ended with a product of their hard work. In fact, with 10 more possible winners in the awards to be announced Tuesday night in New York, the group has notched 50 nominations in 11 years. That’s not a bad batting average. continue reading…

Filed in: 30 for 30, Announcements, Behind The Scenes, E:60, ESPN College Football, SportsCenter

posted by on April 30, 2013 8:00 AM

Rhonda Glenn, the first female SportsCenter anchor, fondly remembers her time at ESPN

1981: Rhonda Glenn, the first female anchor for SportsCenter.

1981: Rhonda Glenn, the first female anchor for SportsCenter. (ESPN)

For years, ESPN viewers have been accustomed to seeing women anchoring the network’s flagship news and information program SportsCenter. Hannah Storm, Chris McKendry, Linda Cohn, Sage Steele, Lindsay Czarniak, Sara Walsh, Jade McCarthy and many others are known as voices of authority to sports fans far and wide.

As it has been in many other areas, ESPN was and remains a leader in providing opportunities for women, and that was certainly the case in 1981 when Rhonda Glenn sat down behind the SportsCenter desk. Two years after ESPN launched in 1979, Glenn, at the age of 34, made history as the first fulltime female sportscaster for a national television network. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, SportsCenter

posted by 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 on April 17, 2013 11:00 AM

ESPN’s attribution process for television

ESPN's Lindsay Czarniak (L) and Kevin Negandhi. (Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

ESPN’s Lindsay Czarniak (L) and Kevin Negandhi. (Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

ESPN has always strived to properly acknowledge where and from whom news stories originate. The company constantly reviews procedures and processes to keep up with the ever-changing media landscape and the revisions that follow are a reflection of that steadfast commitment.

“Attribution has been and remains vital to our users,” said ESPN Senior Vice President and Director of News, Vince Doria. “The context of where information comes from helps further establish the trust we have built in 33-plus years. These guidelines are part of our ongoing commitment to being as clear as we can in providing fans with the latest and most accurate information.” continue reading…

Filed in: Announcements, SportsCenter

posted by on April 11, 2013 4:52 PM

‘Star-struck’ ESPN NFL analyst Brian Dawkins shares time on SportsCenter with idol Barry Sanders

What began as a run of the mill suggestion in a Wednesday SportsCenter meeting turned into an opportunity that left NFL analyst Brian Dawkins nearly speechless.

“If I seemed a little star-struck, it’s because I probably was,” said Dawkins, a 16-year NFL veteran and nine-time Pro Bowl safety. “It was my first time truly meeting Barry Sanders. I’m a huge fan of his, both how he played on the football field and how he carried himself in a humble manner. I love that about him. He was so humble and then he would be absolutely dominating on the football field.

“He’s one of the reasons that I wore No. 20,” Dawkins said. “He made it look cool — like something that I wanted to wear — and a lot of that was because of the respect I had for him.” continue reading…

Filed in: NFLonESPN, SportsCenter

posted by on April 10, 2013 3:00 PM

Robert Flores gets ‘Francona’ed’ on his way to LA SportsCenter studio

Tuesday’s 1 a.m. ET SportsCenter had its usual fill of highlights, discussion and the ever-popular #SCTop10.

It also contained the amusing highlight lead-in above, playing off Cleveland Indians manager (and former ESPN analyst) Terry Francona’s struggles with finding his new home park, Progressive Field, for Monday’s home-opener.

“We try to take advantage of opportunities to do different things whenever we can,” said Anchor Stan Verrett. “Sometimes it gives us a chance to get out of the studio and do some fun things. We have to pick our spots. The show is SportsCenter, not Saturday Night Live, but used sparingly, the skits can keep the show fresh. We are fortunate to have a creative team here, and the pre-production time to get things done.” continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, SportsCenter

posted by on March 15, 2013 12:07 PM

In advance of The Incredible Burt Wonderstone’s debut, Steve Carell brings his magic to ESPN’s offices

Actor and comedian Steve Carell stopped by ESPN on Thursday for a Car Wash in promotion of his new movie The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, opening today nationwide.

Carell’s crowded schedule on the Bristol, Conn. campus included stopping by SportsCenter, where he channeled his inner Brick Tamland (from Anchorman) as he commented on “Top Plays” with anchors Sarah Walsh and Kevin Negandhi. He also broke “fake” news that, according to his “sources,” ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter has been sending out bogus Tweets.

In the Front Row video above, Carell talks about his ESPN visit, his sportscaster catchphrase (think Dick Vitale’s “That’s awesome, baby!”) and his ideal SportsCenter co-host.

Video produced by Tonya Malinowski.

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, SportsCenter