E:60 received its first two Sports Emmy Awards this week, in the Long Feature and Journalism categories. It was the ninth straight year ESPN received a Sports Emmy in one of the two categories for Features and the ninth time the company was honored for Journalism.
Raiders’ Russell: From Round 1 to Rejected
Outside the Lines (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET, ESPN)
JaMarcus Russell was the first pick of the 2007 NFL Draft. Reporter Mark Fainaru-Wada examines how the word “bust” is synonymous with a player who signed a six-year, $61 million contract, with $32 million in guaranteed money.
“The JaMarcus Russell experiment has failed miserably, and I think no organization can overcome that.” – Steve Young, ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback, during the 2010 NFL Draft
“The situation that JaMarcus had to step into is very, very different than the situation that Peyton Manning stepped into. Very different than the situation that Tom Brady stepped into. If he would have been drafted by anybody else, it could be completely different.” — Andrew Walter, QB who played two years with Russell
“I think the guy has as strong an arm as I’ve seen in my life. But it’s the other stuff, it’s the leadership role, it’s the studying, it’s the other stuff that you have to care enough to do.” – Jeremy Newberry, offensive lineman who played with Russell in 2007
Dangers of Concussions
E:60 (Tuesday, 7 p.m., ESPN)
Injured more than four years ago, former college football player Preston Plevretes is a case study on the dangers of concussions. Tom Farrey reports that Plevretes, after ignoring an injury in order to play, now struggles to walk and talk, and needs constant medical attention.
Jordan Motor Sports
E:60 (Tuesday, 7 p.m., ESPN)
Earlier this year, Michael Jordan’s motorcycle racing team won its first AMA Superbike event, his first win in seven years as a team owner. ESPN SportsCenter anchor Hannah Storm was with Jordan at Daytona and he talked of his love for racing on two wheels.
The Rabbi Boxer
E:60 (Tuesday, 7 p.m., ESPN)
Yuri Foreman is a top flight boxer who this summer will be fighting at Yankee Stadium. He also is studying to be a rabbi. Jeremy Schaap reports how Foreman is reconciling two very different worlds.
Notre Dame All-Access
SportsCenter (Sunday, 10 a.m., ESPN)
Coming off another disappointing season, it’s a clean slate and a fresh start for Notre Dame’s football program, with Charlie Weis and Jimmy Clausen replaced by Brian Kelly and Dayne Crist. ESPN’s exclusive behind-the-scenes access during three days of spring practice, capturing team meetings and more, shows that the Fighting Irish’s focus is on intensity and consistency.
A Dream Deferred
Kentucky Derby coverage (Saturday, 11 a.m. ESPN)
Last year, then 19-year-old Joe Talamo landed the ride of his life — 2009 Kentucky Derby favorite I Want Revenge. But Talamo never got the chance when I Want Revenge was scratched because of an injury. This Saturday Talamo again has a mount on a Derby favorite, Sidney’s Candy, and a second chance at his once-in-a-lifetime dream.
“I feel very lucky — not only that, just very fortunate and blessed — to make it to the Derby at 19. It was incredible. Having to scratch wasn’t so good, and I’ll be honest: You think that you’ll make it back, and everyone said that I would, but I never dreamed it would be this year.” — Joe Talamo
The Dividing Line
ESPN.com (piece currently posted)
The day of Haiti’s earthquake, two men went into a building and only one came out. Wright Thompson reports in this E:60 piece for ESPN.com.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=100427/Haitisoccer
