OETA to air inspiring documentary on high school coach Bob Hurley Sr.
Bob Hurley Sr.
“The Street Stops Here,” an interesting documentary on Bob Hurley Sr., one of the nation’s top high school basketball coaches, debuts at 9 p.m. Wednesday on OETA-13. Hurley, whose son Bobby Hurley played for him before going on to a professional career, has had a career-long struggle to inspire and motivate those around him in order to keep the doors of St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, N.J., open.
This is a story about teenagers fighting their way out of the ’hood, armed with little more than a basketball and the hard wisdom of a fierce, demanding coach.
For 35 years, Hurley has been an uncompromising teacher who demands perfection from kids who’ve known little discipline growing up on the streets of Jersey City. His methodical yet volatile style works miracles. He’s tallied 900-plus victories for a school that’s won 24 state championships.
According to the documentary, Hurley has sent to college all but two of the hundreds of players he’s coached, a feat that truly shows what matters most to him. In the season featured, Hurley faces challenges that will test his resolve. The most talented senior class he’s ever assembled, with six seniors headed to Division I schools, is about to graduate without having won a state championship — something that’s never happened to one of his teams. Even worse, a financial crisis threatens to close the high school to which he’s dedicated his life.
The inspiring 90-minute documentary is the story of one man’s lifelong commitment to improve the lives of inner city kids and save the high school that gives them hope.
Bill Self to join CBS studio crew for NCAA basketball tournament
University of Kansas basketball coach Bill Self will get some extra air time on CBS, thanks to his Jayhawks’ early exit last week. Self will join CBS Sports host Greg Gumbel and analysts Greg Anthony and Seth Davis from New York for its studio coverage of the regional finals on Saturday (3:30-8 p.m.) and Sunday (1-6 p.m).
Self also will be a guest-analyst for CBS Sports’ “Road to the Final Four” on Saturday, April 3 (2-3:30) from the Final Four in Indianapolis.
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Interactive NBA telecast planned Thursday with TNT studio crew
Charles Barkley
TNT and NBA Digital will team up at 7 p.m. Thursday for a special interactive edition of TNT NBA Thursday, integrating TNT, NBA TV and NBA.com.
TNT’s Emmy-Award winning studio team of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith will call the Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls game.
A camera will be focused on the crew throughout the game and, for the first time, fans will get live commentary from the trio during select commercial breaks. Smith also will provide a running Twitter commentary from courtside.
Fans also will vote online each quarter to select for one player each from the Bulls and Heat to be the focus of an isolated camera.
NBA TV’s Matt Winer, Kevin McHale and Chris Webber will provide studio coverage from Atlanta.
The second game will feature Dallas at Portland at 9:30 p.m. with announcers Marv Albert, Mike Fratello and David Aldridge.
ESPN’s Todd McShay in Norman for OU Pro Day
ESPN Scouts Inc. Director of College Football Scouting Todd McShay will provide reports on ESPN on Thursday from the University of Oklahoma’s Pro Day, where projected first-round quarterback Sam Bradford and other prospects from the school will conduct workouts for scouts and coaches. McShay will also cover Pro Day at Texas (March 31) and Notre Dame (April 9).
CBS announcers lineup
Here’s CBS announcers for the regional semifinal and final games Thursday through Sunday:
Salt Lake City — Gus Johnson and Len Elmore.
Syracuse — Dick Enberg and Jay Bilas.
St. Louis — Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery.
Houston — Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg.
Excerpts from Tiger Woods interviews with ESPN, Golf Channel
Tiger Woods talks with ESPN reporter Tom Rinaldi
In preparation for his return to golf at The Masters, Tiger Woods conducted interviews with ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi and the Golf Channel’s Kelly Tilghman on Sunday as he continues his public relations damage control. Here are excerpts from the interviews:
ESPN interview:
On why he got married:
“Why? ‘Cause I loved her. I loved Elin with everything I have. And that’s something that makes me feel even worse. That I did this to someone I loved that much.”
On the depth of his infidelity:
“Well, just one is enough. Um, and obviously that wasn’t the case, and I’ve made my mistakes. And as I’ve said, I’ve hurt so many people, and so many people I have to make an amends to, and that’s living a life of amends.”
On why he didn’t seek treatment before all the news broke:
“Well I didn’t know I was that bad….stripping away denial, rationalization. You strip that away and you find the truth.”
On the low points — the moments of having to tell his wife and mother:
“They both have been brutal. They’ve both been very tough. Because I hurt them the most. Those are the two people in my life who I’m closest to and to say the things that I’ve done, truthfully to them, is…honestly was…very painful.”
On what his measure of success will be at the Masters:
“Well, playing is one thing. I’m excited to get back and play, I’m excited to get to see the guys again. I really miss a lot of my friends out there. I miss competing. But still, I still have a lot more treatment to do, and just because I’m playing, doesn’t mean I’m gonna stop going to treatment.”
On the expected/hopeful reception from fans:
“I don’t know. I don’t know. I’m a little nervous about that to be honest with you…It would be nice to hear a couple claps here and there…but also hope they clap for birdies too (laughs).”
Golf Channel interview
On how did things get so out of control:“Going against your core values, losing sight of it. I quit meditating, I quit being a Buddhist, and my life changed upside down. I felt entitled, which I had never felt before. Consequently, I hurt so many people by my own reckless attitude and behavior.”
On going from becoming recognized as the greatest golfer in the world to becoming a punch line:
“It was hurtful, but then again you know what, I did it. I’m the one who did those things and looking back on it now with a more clear head, I get it. I can understand why people will say these things because you know what, it was disgusting behavior. As a person, it’s hard to believe that was me looking back on it now.”
On state of his marriage:
“We’re working on it and it’s a process that will remain private between her and I.”
On what his father would say to him if he were still alive:
“He’d be very disappointed in me. We’d have numerous long talks. That’s one of the things I miss, I miss his guidance, wish I could have had his guidance through all this to have him help straighten me up, I know he would’ve done it.”
On wearing a new bracelet:
“It’s Buddhist, it’s for protection and strength and I certainly need that.”
John Starks featured in new ESPN film about Reggie Miller’s rivalry with Knicks
Reggie Miller drives on John Starks in the 1995 playoffs.
Reggie Miller’s heated playoff rivalry with the New York Knicks and Knicks fan Spike Lee is featured in the entertaining ESPN documentary, “Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks,” which debuts at 8 p.m. Saturday.
It’s a must watch for NBA fans, and another exemplary effort in the “30 for 30″ film series.
Miller’s matchup with Knicks guard John Starks, a former Oklahoma State player and Tulsa native, plays a major role. After Starks refused to shake his hand before a game, Miller said he started taunting him at every opportunity. Starks reached his boiling point when he headbutted Miller during the 1993 playoffs, resulting in his ejection and a $5,000 fan. Starks got the upper hand at other times.
The highlight of the film came in the Game 1 of the 1995 playoffs. With the Pacers facing a 105-99 deficit with 18.7 seconds left, Miller scoring an amazing eight points in nine seconds to pull out the victory. The previous season, he gave Lee the choke sign after he scored 25 points in the fourth quarter of a Pacers’ victory.
Robert De Niro to play Vince Lombardi in movie
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro is a surprise choice to play former legendary coach Vince Lombardi in “Lombardi,” a theatrical motion picture being developed by ESPN Films, Andell Entertainment and the NFL.
“There are few actors who could accurately portray the fire, passion and grit of Lombardi and we’re thrilled to have Robert De Niro on our team,” said Charles Coplin, the NFL’s vice president of programming. “With the addition of De Niro, Eric and Tribeca Productions, we have a deep bench to produce a film worthy of the legendary coach and American icon.”
Academy Award-winning screenwriter Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, The Good Shepherd) also will be part of the project, which will chronicle Lombardi during the years he transformed the Green Bay Packers from the worst team in the National Football League into five-time NFL champions.
ESPN/Andell have Lombardi’s life story rights through his estate and Vincent Lombardi Jr. as well as the rights to the renowned sports book “Instant Replay,” written by former Packer star Jerry Kramer and Dick Schaap.
Current plans call for the film’s release on the weekend between the AFC and NFC Conference Championships and the Super Bowl in 2012.
Erin Andrews’ dream fulfilled with berth in “Dancing With the Stars”
While covering the National Spelling Bee last May, ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews was asked about someday appearing on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.”
“I want to do it, because I think I’d be good at it,” she told The Sporting News. “I would love it love it love it. I want to be like, ‘Who do I call? Let’s do this.’ I want to do it very badly. I love the show.”
Her dream came true this week with the announcement that she would be a competitor on the spring season of ABC’s hit show.
The Sporting News article also revealed that Andrews has her own stylist, Paige Geran, who has also dressed Britney Spears, Wayne Brady, the Spice Girls, and American Idols on-tour, among many others. Before games, Andrews’ outfits arrive at her hotel, and she trusts that “they’ll be appropriate” to the sporting event in question.
Andrews is “a huge Britney fan,” and “not afraid to admit it.” She listens to Spears’ music while getting ready for broadcasts.
Andrews’ sister, Kendra, is a former Florida State Seminole dancer, who has appeared in a Cheri Dennis video and recently landed a prominent role in the dance movie “Step Up 3-D,” due out later this year. Kendra flew to New York for the audition on one of Erin’s frequent flier freebie flights. Waiting to hear if her sister got the part, Erin said, “was worse than waiting for a guy to call.”
