To tweet: http://es.pn/1yTVlUI
Floyd Mayweather, Jr.’s Out-of-Ring Issues
Outside the Lines (Friday 2 p.m. ET, Sunday 9 a.m., ESPN)
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. enters the ring May 2 for his mega-bout with Manny Pacquiao with five convictions for assaults on women. In December of 2011, Mayweather was sentenced to 90 days in jail (he served two months) but a judge delayed the sentence to allow him to fight a scheduled bout against Miguel Cotto in May 2012, for which he was guaranteed $45 million.
“To suggest somehow that we should have second guessed that punishment, I don’t think that’s the role that the Nevada State Athletic Commission should be having.” — Pat Lundvall, member of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which voted unanimously to issue Mayweather a boxing license so he could fight Cotto beforeserving his sentence.
“If I really did what they say I did, as far as beating a woman or stomping a woman, I’m Floyd Mayweather, they would have brought pictures out instantly. Still, no pictures, no nothing.” — Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“I don’t like it and I think that Floyd, by and large, has gotten a free ride from the media.” — Thomas Hauser, boxing writer and historian
espnW’s Jane McManus will offer a video commentary on Mayweather’s past domestic violence issues on ESPN.com.
Manny Pacquiao: The Roots
SportsCenter (Sunday, 10 a.m., ESPN)
The May 2 super fight between undefeated Floyd Mayweather (47-0) and Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2) is billed as the richest match in boxing history. However, Las Vegas is a long way from Pacquiao’s hometown in the Philippines, the source of his motivation and the secret behind his relentless pursuit of yet another world title. Reporter Greg Garber visits the island nation for the compelling and largely untold story of how the fighter escaped his turbulent childhood.
“He’s a living legend. He’s a hero. He gives hope. He gives inspiration to everyone, from the rich to the poor. Manny, I think, is the only Filipino I know that can unite a nation. Literally when Manny fights, it’s usually Sunday mornings here — there’s zero crime rate, there’s no traffic — everybody is on a TV.” —Paul Soriano, Filipino filmmaker
“It’s very, very important. And, it’s very meaningful to me to bring this honor to my country. At least, their spirit is alive, they will forget their problems.” —Manny Pacquiao, on what winning will mean to his country
Bruce Jenner and Diane Sawyer
20/20: Bruce Jenner – The Interview (Friday, 9-11 p.m., ABC)
Bruce Jenner’s far-ranging, exclusive interview with ABC News Anchor Diane Sawyer airs Friday, April 24 on a special edition of 20/20. The two-hour special, “Bruce Jenner – The Interview” debuts at 9 p.m. ESPN.com will have additional Jenner coverage throughout the weekend
Bombing Survivor Rebekah Gregory on Marathon: ‘I Took my Life Back Today’
espnW
Rebekah Gregory was determined to cross the finish line of this year’s Boston Marathon – the spot where she’d almost died two years ago. Amy VanDeusenreports.
Sports Reporters
This week’s Panel* (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ESPN; 10:30 a.m., ESPN2)
John Saunders
Mike Lupica
William C. Rhoden
Gene Wojciechowski
*Subject to change
National Headliner & Silurians Awards
ESPN received several National Headliner Awards including Outside the Lineshonors in the news magazine and health/science categories, traditionally dominated by non-sports networks (last year’s awards went to CNN, 60 Minutes, CNBC and Al Jazeera). The national Headliner Awards, founded in 1934 by the Press Club of Atlantic City, recognize journalistic merit in the communications industry by honoring the best journalism in newspapers, photography, radio, television and online.
The Society of Silurians, an organization of veteran journalists founded in 1924, also honored ESPN with Excellence in Journalism awards, recognizing reporting in/about the New York City area. ESPN medallion winners were Outside the Lines: Tragic State report on boxer Magomed Abdusalamov (Television Feature News) and theOutside the Lines and The Sporting Life: Roberts Rules portrait of Michele Roberts, new head of the NBA players union (Radio news Feature).
