FSN NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
by FOX Sports Net
AMAZING SPORTS STORIES
"For sports fans who think they know everything," Michael Hiestand wrote in USA Today, "AMAZING SPOTS STORIES ... might just show you up." The Emmy-nominated series, which tells the greatest untold sports stories in history, continues this week with the tale of boxer Billy Miske.
In the 1920s, the heavyweight fighter was one of the biggest names in a very deep Minnesota boxing scene. He was piling up victories and was rounding into a legitimate title contender. But Miske held a secret, one he didn't even tell his family — he had been diagnosed with a debilitating kidney ailment called Bright's Disease.
Miske was given five years to live and very specific instructions from his doctor — quit boxing immediately or face a rapid demise and certain early death. Miske never saw that as an option. Thousands of dollars in debt from bad investments, Miske refused to retire, seeing boxing as the only way to provide for his family. He knew the dangers but continued to take bouts.
A warrior of uncommon courage, Miske climbed into the ring 70 times after being told to retire. Each fight took a huge toll on him, physically wearing him down to the point where even the most basic physical movements required immense energy. In January 1923, after knocking Harry Foley out in one round, Miske could barely stand.
The boxer rested that spring, summer and fall, but his financial worries did not abate. One thought dogged him: he must take one last fight to give his family one last special Christmas. Although he didn't want to put Miske in the ring again, Miske's manager signed the boxer up for a fight against the formidable Bill Brennan. Miske was so weak that he couldn't even train. His manager would tell reporters that Miske was training in his vacation cottage, but the reality was that Miske could only shuffle between his rocking chair and his bed.
Propelled by his love for his family, Miske fought Brennan valiantly, winning the fight with a knockout in the fourth round. As Miske's arm was raised in the victor's salute he smiled at the crowd for the last time. Winning the fight enabled Billy to walk away with a $2,400 purse. He took the money back to his family in St. Paul and provided a magical and memorable Christmas. The next morning, he awoke feeling extremely ill and was rushed to the hospital. Days later, Billy Miske was dead.
His kidneys failed, but his heart left his family secure and with a future. AMAZING SPORTS STORIES: BILLY MISKE continues on Sunday, April 20 at 8 p.m. local.
THE BASEBALL REPORT
Memo to Joe Girardi: you're not in Florida anymore. After a questionable decision to pitch to Sox slugger Manny Ramirez, Girardi was eviscerated in the New York media this week. And that's just the start of a week that saw Yankees officials jackhammer away at the foundation of their new stadium after information became public that a construction worker hid a Red Sox jersey in the cement. Welcome to the next chapter in the continuing saga that is the most exciting rivalry in baseball.
On this week's installment of THE BASEBALL REPORT, hosts Charissa Thompson and Tom Helmer, along with analysts Ken Rosenthal and former All-Star pitcher Mark Gubicza, take a look at this week's matchup between New York and Boston, try to figure out what's wrong with David Ortiz and look at how the two titans of the AL East got out of the gates in 2008.
Plus, pitching staffs around the league are starting to look like an infirmary -- Erik Bedard, Tom Glavine, J.J. Putz, Dontrelle Willis, Joe Borowski, John Lackey, Scott Kazmir – leading the pack of arms on the DL. FSN analyzes which injuries will be easiest for their teams to overcome and which are the most damaging.
THE BASEBALL REPORT is a fun, fast-paced 30-minute show airing Friday, April 18 at 6 p.m. local.
SPORT SCIENCE
Already this season, SPORT SCIENCE has answered what the most difficult thing to do in sports is, recreated seemingly impossible plays, put boxing in the ring with mixed martial arts and had a weekend warrior attempt the world's toughest competition — the Ironman.
This week, SPORT SCIENCE host John Brenkus selects his favorite moments from the first season of the Emmy-nominated show and compiles them into one episode. BEST OF SPORT SCIENCE airs Sunday, April 20 at 9 p.m. local.
BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW PERIOD
BDSSP is the network's nightly sports talk show hosted by Chris Rose, alongside NBA expert John Salley and BDSSP reporter Charissa Thompson. 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, April 16 — Guest host college football announcer Dan Fouts, legendary sportscaster Keith Jackson
Thursday, April 17 — BEST DAMN TOP 50 DYNAMIC DUOS
Friday, April 18 — BEST DAMN TOP 50 SPECTACULAR PLAYS
FINAL SCORE
This week, FSN continues its nightly sports highlight show 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.
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