FSN NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES
by FOX Sports Net
FSN Kicks Off Horse Racing's Triple Crown Season with Special Documentary About Legendary Jockey Laffit Pincay
SPORT SCIENCE WINS EMMY
It turns out that the critics were dead-on about FSN's spectacular program SPORT SCIENCE. Hailed as "eye-catching," "visually stunning," and "impressive" with "Matrix-like graphics," the program was honored with a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Graphic Design by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences on Monday, April 28.
Created for FSN by BASE Productions, SPORT SCIENCE utilizes graphics from Los Angeles-based Entity FX. FSN President Bob Thompson, Executive Vice President of Programming and Production George Greenberg and VP of Development David Leepson oversee the show for FSN. John Brenkus, who also serves as the show's host, and Mickey Stern are co-creators and co-executive producers for BASE Productions.
This is FSN's second consecutive year taking home an Emmy award. The network won in 2007 for the MANSIONPOKER.NET POKER DOME CHALLENGE.
AMAZING SPORTS STORIES
In 1943, the NFL faced a crisis that is hard to imagine today: they had a shortage of players. The league had lost so many players to the WWII draft that it was forced to fold one team, the Cleveland Rams, and to merge two others, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers. And so the "Steagles", as they were affectionately called, were born. This week, on AMAZING SPORTS STORIES, FSN tells the story of how two rivals combined to save the NFL.
When the teams merged, one of the first questions was who would be in charge. Since both teams' coaches refused to accept a demotion, coaching duties were to be shared. The "co-coaches", "Greasy" Neale and Walt Kiesling, hated each other. The two teams, from very different cities, detested one another. The two franchises were historically losers. The enterprise seemed doomed.
The Steagles, officially known as the Eagles at the time, were made up of a unique roster that included military draft rejects, aging stars lured out of retirement, and even active servicemen who managed to get leave for the games. Their typical injury report included perforated eardrums, ulcers, partial blindness, and flat feet. In addition to practices, most of the men worked long hours together at defense industry jobs.
Slowly, the team began to come together, united by hard work, shared sacrifice, and — most of all — teamwork. This squad of outcasts and misfits banded together and managed to shockingly tie the defending champion Washington Redskins in their first meeting. The only thing more shocking was when the Steagles beat the Redskins in their second meeting. The Steagles, a joke and punch line at the start of the season, posted a winning record (5-4-1), the first in the history of the Eagles and only the second for the Steelers. But these men accomplished more than just a winning record. These men, often ridiculed for their draft deferments, helped keep the NFL alive. They may not have been soldiers at war, but in their own small way, these men were heroic. They gave the nation something to cheer about in its darkest hours.
Emmy-nominated AMAZING SPORTS STORIES airs on Sunday, May 4 at 8 p.m. local.
LAFFIT: ALL ABOUT WINNING
On Friday, May 2 at 4 p.m. local, FSN continues its tradition of showcasing sports legends with a captivating and inspirational documentary about legendary horse jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. with the airing of LAFFIT: ALL ABOUT WINNING. An encore presentation airs on Sat., May 17 (check local listings).
Produced and directed by Academy Award-winner Jim Wilson and narrated by Academy Award winning actor Kevin Costner, the special two-hour documentary chronicles the amazing five-decade journey of a poor young boy who willed himself into unparalleled success on a horse track.
In this celebration of the youngest jockey ever to be inducted into the Horse Racing Hall of Fame, Pincay, along with the world's greatest jockeys, trainers, owners and sportswriters who followed his unforgettable career, relive both his personal history, as well as his 40 years as a jockey.
The documentary chronicles a powerful story about the self-determination of a young boy, beginning from his humble surroundings in Panama through his aspirations to become one of the best jockeys in history.
His incredible career included more than 9,500 career wins, but the documentary also delves into how Pincay dealt with the ups and downs of his life both on and off the racetrack. From the many falls and broken bones that could have ended his career, to losing his beloved wife to a tragic suicide, the legend of Laffit Pincay Jr. is more than just a story about a wildly successful jockey, but is a model of perseverance, determination and will.
THE BASEBALL REPORT
Quick, somebody break up the Tampa Bay Rays. The team with the second-lowest payroll in baseball is coming off back-to-back sweeps of division foes Boston and Toronto and find themselves atop the AL East standings. Joe Maddon's club, led by AL Player of the Week James Shields and superstar-in-the-making OF B.J. Upton are only going to get better as they get more experience.
This week on THE BASEBALL REPORT, hosts Tom Helmer and Charissa Thompson and analyst Ken Rosenthal look at the second youngest team in the AL (based on opening day rosters) and determine if the kids have enough to seriously challenge the Yankees and Red Sox of if they are on a good roll in a season that will be full of ups and downs.
Plus, analyst Mark Gubicza tries to figure out how it came to be that the Giants paid $126 million for a middle reliever now that Barry Zito has been moved to the bullpen.
THE BASEBALL REPORT is a fun, fast-paced 30-minute show that airs every Friday at 6 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 30 — Guest hosts Memphis coach John Calipari and agent Drew Rosenhaus, Deadspin.com editor and author Will Leitch
Thursday, May 1 — BEST DAMN TOP 50 NASCAR MOMENTS
Friday, May 2 — Guest hosts Memphis coach John Calipari and agent Drew Rosenhaus, Yankee great Goose Gossage, MLB umpire Joe West
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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