FSN NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
by FOX Sports Net
FIBA AMERICAS CHAMPIONSHIP 2007
FSN will telecast 12 games of the FIBA Americas Championship 2007, including the gold and bronze medal games, with coverage tipping off on Wednesday, August 22 at 8:30 p.m. EST/5:30 p.m. PST. Featuring such world basketball powerhouses as the United States, Argentina, Brazil and Canada, the tournament stretches over 10 days as teams fight to claim the FIBA Americas title and clinch a spot in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Superstar lineups include such notable NBA players as Team USA stars LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant; Argentina's standout Carlos Delfino; Brazil star Leandro Barbosa; plus well-known point guard Carlos Arroyo on the Puerto Rican national team and defensive specialist Raja Bell taking the floor for the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The bronze and gold medal games air on Sunday, September 2, starting at 4 p.m. EST/1 p.m. PST.
UPCOMING: COLLEGE FOOTBALL ON FSN
FSN is gearing up for another exciting season of Big 12 and Pac-10 football, airing 31 games in 2007, with 28 of those delivered in High Definition. The two conferences combined to send 14 teams to bowl games in 2006, and 2007 is shaping up to be an even better year, as consensus pre-season No. 1 USC, UCLA, Texas, California, Oklahoma and Nebraska all have their sights set on the BCS title game.
Before the games start, get the most up-to-date news, highlights and gridiron insight with COLLEGE FOOTBALL SATURDAY KICKOFF PRESENTED BY KYOCERA, hosted by Mike Goldberg alongside analyst D'Marco Farr.
FSN kicks off the 2007 campaign on Saturday Sept. 1 at 11:30 a.m. EST/8:30 a.m. PST:
Schedule (all times eastern) — (preseason USA Today/Coaches poll rankings)
11:30 a.m. — College Football Saturday Kickoff presented by Kyocera
12 p.m. — Dr Pepper Big 12 Football in HD: Colorado St. vs. Colorado (from Denver, CO)
3:30 p.m. — Pac-10 Football presented by Kyocera: No. 17 UCLA at Stanford
7 p.m. — Big 12 Football presented by Kyocera in HD: North Texas at No. 8 Oklahoma
10:15 p.m. — Pac-10 Football presented by Kyocera in HD: Idaho at No. 1 USC
RED BULL AIR RACE
The RED BULL AIR RACE is a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat aerial competition pitting the world's most talented pilots against each other in a contest of speed, precision and skill. The best racing pilots in the world navigate a challenging race course in the sky, in the fastest possible time. Flying individually against the clock, the pilots have to execute tight turns through a slalom course consisting of specially designed pylons known as air gates.
The pilots compete in knockout rounds with the two fastest pilots going head to head in the final. The Air Race is not just about speed - precision is crucial to success because any mistakes incur penalty points which are then added to the pilot's time. With the planes flying low to the ground at speeds that can reach 400kph, the Red Bull Air Races have become one of the most popular spectator sports in the world. This season's debut episode from Abu Dhabi in the UAE airs Sunday, August 19 at 6 p.m. local. New races air each Sunday night at 6 p.m..
IT'S ALL GOOD
Headlines scream with glaring issues facing the sports world: gambling referees, steroid-aided records, an entire bicycle race under a cloud of suspicion and the face of an NFL team indicted in a case that has sent shockwaves through the nation.
But take a step back from the bright lights focused on the problems and see that professional sports continues to be overwhelmed with positive stories. Former teammates literally putting their lives on the line for each other; an NFL player doing everything he can to make sure single mothers have the chance to raise their kids in a world of opportunity, not oppression and a team owner whose own military past leads him to help out a duo of Iraq War veterans. FSN showcases these uplifting, human-interest stories in IT'S ALL GOOD, a 30-minute show airing on Saturday, August 18 at 9:30 p.m. local.
Hosted by FSN anchor Laura Okmin, the show focuses on three captivating stories. Green Bay WR Donald Driver grew up with a single mom who worked two jobs trying to take care of five kids. Driver spent time during his early teens living out of a UHaul truck and in motel rooms his mom would get in exchange for food stamps. In desperate times, Driver became a drug dealer and car thief to get by. But he worked hard and overcame his impoverished upbringing to make it to the NFL. Yet he never forgot his tough childhood and how hard it was on his mother and Driver believed that no other single mother should have to deal with the same fate. He formed the Donald Driver Foundation in 2001 so other homeless mothers and underprivileged children wouldn't be stuck in a hopeless cycle. Okmin talks with Driver and visits with some of the families whose lives he changed.
Robbie Doughty awoke in an army hospital three years ago with no legs. Inspired by the events of 9/11, the Paducah, KY native signed up for the army. His life changed forever when a roadside mortar round exploded beside the convoy he was traveling in. Determined not to let his injury get him down, Doughtry's optimistic attitude was the focus of a USA Today piece that was read by Detroit Tigers and Red Wings owner and army veteran Mike Illtch. Impressed with Daughty's spirit, Ilitch called the young man to tell him he respected what he had done for the country and wanted to do something in return. That something was to give Doughty and one of Daughty's fellow soldiers a Little Caesars Pizza franchise in his hometown. The whole thing, free and clear — the building, the equipment, even a special chair for Doughty behind the counter. All Doughty had to do was run it. Danyelle Sargeant sees the impact the gesture had on Ilitch, Doughty and an entire Kentucky town.
Ron Springs and Everson Walls played together on the Dallas Cowboys back in the 1980s. The blocking back and the big-play defensive back. Springs was diagnosed about 15 years ago with diabetes was in desperate need of a new kidney to save his life. When his former teammate heard of Springs' plight, Walls discretely got tested and when he found out he was a match, Walls didn't hesitate to offer one of his kidneys to Springs. The amazing gesture has brought the two men even closer together and has allowed Springs to live a more normal life. Former NFL great and FSN analyst Eddie George speaks with the two men about teammates, friendship and sacrifice.
BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW PERIOD
BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW PERIOD is the network's nightly sports talk show hosted by Chris Rose, alongside NBA expert John Salley, former All-Star pitcher Rob Dibble and NFL veteran Rodney Peete. Regularly featuring fun interviews with top athletes, coaches, celebrities and entertainers, BDSSP airs weeknights at 9 p.m., 11 p.m., and 12:30 a.m. local.
THIS WEEK ON BEST DAMN:
Wednesday, August 15 — BEST DAMN TOP 50 SERIES: "SAY WHAT?"
Thursday, August 16 — BEST DAMN SALUTE TO FLW – FROM HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS: former NFL and Arkansas football star Billy Ray Smith, bass fishing
champion Scott Suggs
Friday, August 17 — Anchorwoman Lauren Jones
THE FSN FINAL SCORE
This week, FSN continues its nightly sports highlight show THE FSN FINAL SCORE. The show is 30 minutes of fast-paced highlights of the day's best moments the sports world has to offer. FINAL SCORE airs nightly at 10:30 p.m. local with repeats airing regularly.
advertisement
