The U is the highest rated documentary in ESPN history

Dec/16/09 08:46 AM

Jared Campbell and Darryl Sharpton

ESPN Films wrapped up the fall slate of the critically-acclaimed "30 for 30" film project with Billy Corben's The U, Saturday night immediately following the Heisman Trophy presentation, and earned a 1.8 rating. That represents an average of 1.8 million homes (2.368 M viewers, P2+) and is ESPN's highest-rated documentary of all time (The Greatest Game Ever aired December 13, 2008, and earned a 1.4 rating - 1.369 million households, 1.811 M viewers). For the "30 for 30" series Fall slate overall, the seven films earned an average 1.0 rating (1,007,000 homes, 1,258,000 viewers).

Click here to read our review of “The U” Documentary.

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Photos From "The U" Premier

Dec/15/09 02:41 PM

Lamar Miller, Mike James and AJ Highsmith

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Photos From "The U" Premier

Dec/14/09 08:33 AM

Tolbert Bain, Lamar Miller, Mike James, AJ Highsmith and Brian Blades

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Photos From "The U" Premier

Dec/12/09 11:27 AM

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Photos From "The U" Premier

Dec/10/09 08:19 AM

Bennie Blades, Evan Rosenfeld (rakontur), Brian Blades and Tolbert Bain

K.C. Jones and Kevin Brinkworth

Tolbert Bain, Lamar Miller, Mike James, AJ Highsmith and Brian Blades

Brett Perriman, John Routh and Don Soldinger

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PBC Sports Commission selects ICYG as 2009 Golf Clinician

Jul/15/09 07:05 PM

RIVIERA BEACH, FL — For the sixth consecutive year, Inner City Youth Golfers’, Inc. Executive Director, Esmeralda H. Knowles has been chosen as the 'Golf Clinician' along with her team of volunteers for the Palm Beach County Sports Commission’s Annual “Kids Fitness Festival” July 16-17, 2009. Each July, South Florida youth gather at the Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds, West Palm Beach, Fla., for two days of fitness and fun. ICYG will provide a fun golfing experience to at least 5,000 youth in the two days along with prizes, 'do's and don’t', literature, and a “Say No To Drugs – Say Yes To Education, Culture & Golf” goody bag (a program signature water bottle, book mark, and pencil) for them to take home and show to their friends thanks to its support from Palm Beach County Sheriff, Ric L. Bradshaw. Mrs. Knowles stated, “It is an excellent and well planned event. We hope to continue sup-porting it and being part of it for years to come.” She further stated, “We’re very excited a-bout this year’s event and all that the Kids’ Fitness Festival has to offer.”

Palm Beach County Sports Commission Executive Director, Gerry Baron said, “Without the support of ICYG, their professional team and volunteers, the golf interest among the children in the event would not have grown to its present success. We are very thankful for their sincere donation of time over the past five years.”

The festival itself gives children the opportunity to learn and participate in over 40 different traditional and non-traditional sports clinics to get hands on experience and develop skills in areas such as archery, badminton, baseball, basket-ball, bowling, chess, cheer-leading, cricket, dance, fencing, field hockey, fishing, football, golf, hockey, judo, karate, lacrosse, netball, paint ball, power lifting, rugby, running, soccer, squash, tennis, tae kwon do, surfing, and many more.

Each clinic is conducted by a professional from that sports area. The clinicians share techniques, enhance skills, and provide an introduction to their sport.

The festival also features mascots, autograph sessions, special guests, demonstrations, a gigantic bounce house, rock-wall, mist tent, and much more. Local companies can showcase their healthy lifestyle products in their expo area as well. In attendance this past year were sports franchises, facilities, the Florida Marlins, and several professional athletes such as Bennie Blades, Donnell Bennet, James Pruitt, and Mike Rumph to name a few.

The festival is open to all individuals and groups. All donations and proceeds benefit the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, a non-profit organization that provides local youths the opportunity to learn sportsmanship, teamwork and citizenship through sport. The Sports Commission also promotes character development through sporting activities, lifelong physical fitness, a drug-free lifestyle, safe, and fun access to healthy activities. Please call (561) 233-3178 for information and to sign-up for the “2009 Kids Fitness Festival.”

Congratulations to ICYG, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, other clinicians, Ronald McDonald House Chari-ties, other sponsors and volunteers from Palm Beach County Commissioner Priscilla Taylor's Office (District 7), and the entire Westside Gazette newspaper family.

(thewestsidegazette.com)

Blades carries UM torch

Dec/06/06 08:55 AM

NEW YORK · Bennie Blades wasn't thinking about the rest of his induction class as he sat at the podium Tuesday morning flanked by Bobby Bowden and Carl Eller and Steve Emtman.

They were all going into the College Football Hall of Fame together. And, to a man, most of the 14 inductees present took turns acknowledging the rest of the group, adding how much more meaningful this honor is coming alongside these men.

It was a formality as fundamental to Tuesday's festivities as thanking the National Football Foundation and its voters. The state's college tradition was well represented, with former Florida running back Emmitt Smith and former FSU quarterback Charlie Ward joining Miami's Blades and FSU's Bowden in the induction class.

Bennie Blades on Coker and Michael Irvin

Oct/18/06 01:26 PM

Former UM safety Bennie Blades, who will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame next year, criticized Michael Irvin for advocating a coaching change. ''We're talking about an egotistical guy who has an ego bigger than this room,'' Blades, who coaches linebackers at Stranahan High, said in a large dining hall.

'You don't make statements about firing a guy. Winning nine games a year is saying a lot. We've made the ceiling so high. When people make comments [about firing Coker, I say], `Are you frickin' nuts?'

(herald.com)