Baseball is Back on the FOX Sports South Regional Networks
Jeff Genthner Senior Vice President, General Manager
There are not many things that rival the excitement of Major League Baseball’s Opening Day, and we have the pleasure each year to be part of this experience with the Atlanta Braves. This year the season opened Monday, March 31 with a special one-hour Braves LIVE on SportSouth followed by a great series against the Brewers. That said, we’re just getting started and will have at six straight months of continued Braves programming coming your way, including a record 156 games slated for FOX Sports South and SportSouth.
Al Jefferson named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for March.
Speaking of Braves, we are very excited to welcome former Braves Cy Young Award winner John Smoltz to our booth this season. He will join Chip Caray, Joe Simpson, and Tom Hart for select games throughout the year. We are also pleased to welcome back 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame first-ballot inductee Tom Glavine to the booth for select games, as well. Prior to the Braves home opener on April 8, SportSouth had the privilege to bring fans the entire 40th anniversary celebration of Hank Aaron’s 715th home run as part of our special one-hour Braves LIVE pregame show.
Pekka Rinne Nashville Predators
In addition, as part of our salute to the 2014 baseball season, we participated for the first time in the Atlanta Film Festival by premiering DRIVEN: Evan Gattis – My Story on Thursday, April 3; the episode is now airing throughout the month across our networks. Even though baseball is in full swing, our hoops action is very much still in play. April is the final month of the NBA regular season and the Charlotte Bobcats are first to clinch a playoff spot with the Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies both fighting for their place in the postseason, as well.
As both business partners and sports fans, we are rooting for our teams each and every night.
Hank Aaron Atlanta Braves Legend
FOX Sports South Regional Networks Partnership Highlights The FOX Sports South Regional Networks sales team has brought on both new and incumbent advertisers to Braves telecasts for the 2014 season. New to FOX Sports in 2014, Cook’s Pest Control continues to expand its presence in the Southeast. This storied Alabama-based company has been in business for more than eighty years and will be active during Braves telecasts on SportSouth throughout the season. Recently branded as the Official Chicken of Sports Fans, Zaxby’s returns to Braves telecasts in 2014. The Georgia-based company has increased their presence on SportSouth and will be seen throughout the season.
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Pro Partner Highlights Hawks Reveal Larger-Than-Life 3D Billboard On March 20, the Atlanta Hawks previewed a special 21.5-foot tall, 700-pound 3D billboard of power forward Paul Millsap dunking on a basketball rim scheduled to be installed in early April and will be located by I-85 North near Piedmont Circle in Atlanta. The installation will tip off a yearlong promotion in which fans can enter to win one of three opportunities to hang out with Paul Millsap by dialing “**DUNK” from their mobile phones.
A 21.5-foot tall Paul Millsap dunking a basketball on a rim above Atlanta.
Dream Named Team of the Year The Atlanta Dream was named the 2013 Team of the Year at the annual Atlanta Sports Awards on March 5. The team netted the award after earning a third trip to the WNBA Finals in four seasons. Angel McCoughtry (right) was one of three finalists for the Professional Athlete of the Year award. The Dream will open the 2014 season against the San Antonio Stars on May 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET on SportSouth.
Predators Host Alumni Game for 15th Anniversary Celebration At the conclusion of the Nashville Predators game against the St. Louis Blues on March 15, a group of alumni and coaches from the two Central Division rivals took to the ice for a charity game as part of the Predators 15th anniversary celebration.
The Predators and Blues alumni pose for a photo before the charity game.
Grizzlies Pondexter Celebrates with St. Jude Memphis Grizzlies forward Quincy Pondexter celebrated his birthday by decorating cupcakes and spending quality time with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital patients and their families on March 20 as part of NBA Hoops for St. Jude Week.
Quincy Pondexter decorates cupcakes with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital patients.
Bobcats Help Supply 10,000 Care Packages for U.S. Troops On March 25, the Charlotte Bobcats helped prepare, package and donate over 10,000 care kits for military troops overseas. The packages, which include powdered Gatorade packets, toothbrushes, aspirin, soap and deodorant, among other items, will be shipped to U.S. troops in Afghanistan and the Middle East, as well as ships in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. Bobcats head coach Steve Clifford (right) and associate head coach Patrick Ewing (left) help pack care packages for U.S. Troops.
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DRIVEN: Evan Gattis – My Story Premieres on SportSouth in April On Thursday, April 3, FOX Sports South and SportSouth held a private screening of DRIVEN: Evan Gattis - My Story as part of the 2014 Atlanta Film Festival. Attendees of the premiere included Atlanta Braves staff, fans, media, business partners and pass holders.
DRIVEN: EVAN GATTIS – MY STORY – Air Dates
Date Time Network 4/20 11 a.m. ET SPSO 4/22 2 p.m. ET SPSO
Gattis, starting catcher for the Braves on Opening Day 2014, overcame numerous obstacles to earn a spot on the Braves roster and quickly became an impact player and fan favorite. As a 26-year old rookie, the catcher, left fielder and occasional first baseman slugged his way to 21 home runs and 65 RBIs. The real story, however, is the long and winding road he took to make it to the major leagues. A high school standout, Gattis walked away from a baseball scholarship to Texas A&M University as he battled anxiety, substance abuse and depression. He soon found himself working odd jobs as a golf cart attendant, ski lift operator and janitor. In 2010 Gattis decided to give baseball another try. Three years later he made the Braves’ big league roster during spring training and burst onto the national spotlight, winning 2013 National League Rookie of the Month awards in both April and May. DRIVEN picks up the story as Gattis returns to his offseason home in Dallas, Texas, where he, along with family and friends, recount his journey with candor and honesty.
Click photo for a video ciip from DRIVEN: Evan Gattis - My Story.
FOX Sports South Senior VP and GM Jeff Genthner welcomes audience to the exclusive early premiere of DRIVEN: Evan Gattis - My Story at Plaza Theatre.
Click photo for a video clip from DRIVEN: Evan Gattis - My Story.
Marquee outside of the Plaza Theatre.
FOX Sports Had Braves Home Opener Covered FOX Sports was well represented on April 8 when the Atlanta Braves took Turner Field for the first time in 2014. Not only was the Braves LIVE team – Jerome Jurenovich, Paul Byrd and Brian Jordan – on set at the ballpark for a special onehour show, but the FOX Sports South Girls and the FOX Sports robot, Cleatus, were on hand to greet fans in attendance. Fans enjoyed the Hank Aaron 715th Home Run Anniversary celebration prior to the game with Joe Simpson and Chip Caray and part-time analysts John Smoltz in the booth and Tom Hart on the sidelines.
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Host Jerome Jurenovich (right) leads a Q&A session with director/producer Zach Whipple (left) and director of photography Dan Greene (center).
Around Town with the FOX Sports South Girls Canicka and Morgan Join 92.9 The Game On March 11, FOX Sports South Girls Canicka and Morgan joined 92.9 The Game’s afternoon show Gametime with Carl Dukes and Kordell Stewart. Morgan and Canicka stopped by to promote the upcoming Atlanta Braves season and premiere of DRIVEN: Evan Gattis – My Story at the Atlanta Film Festival. From L-R: Kordell Stewart, Morgan, Canicka and Carl Dukes
The Girls Attend the Annual Atlanta Hawks Bowling Event Canicka and Morgan attended the Atlanta Hawks Annual BasketBowl on March 19 along with team sponsors, on-air talent and Hawks players and coaches. During the event, the girls interviewed Demarre Carroll, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap and SportSouth’s Dominique Wilkins. Morgan (left) and Canicka talk with Paul Millsap about his impressive season. Click photo to watch interview.
Morgan and Canicka Featured in “Chop Arm Strong” Local comedian and musician Aaron Chewning, coming off his viral hit with “Baselines” (http://youtu.be/VDmsZagT-Hs), has created another video to kick off the Braves 2014 season. His latest project is titled “Chop Arm Strong” and includes a cameo by Morgan and Canicka, as well as Governor Deal and comedian Jeff Foxworthy and our very own Tom Hart. Watch the video: http://youtu.be/Y1UFlN1xlyQ
From L-R: Morgan, Aaron Chewning and Canicka
A Look Back at The Panel The Panel, presented by the Hyundai Equus, wrapped up its third season with a week–long airing from March 24-28 on FOX Sports South. The show highlighted four 2014 NFL draft prospects: Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd and wide receiver Sammy Watkins, LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger, and Michigan State defensive back Darqueze Dennard. Our panelists included current Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen and former NFL stars Takeo Spikes, Tim Couch and Julian Peterson. In addition to analyzing each player’s skills, the pros also offered advice on finding success both on and off the field at the highest level of the game. The Panel continues to air throughout April; please check local listings for air dates and times.
Former Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd shoots a promo for The Panel.
Former Michigan State defensive back Darqueze Dennard (right) talks with the panelists.
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Former LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger gets advice from the panelists.
ACC Partners with Community Schools for 11th Straight Year For the 11th consecutive year, the Atlantic Coast Conference hosted students from 12 North Carolina counties as part of the ACC Community School Day Program at the 2014 Women’s Basketball Tournament from March 5-9. The educational partnership was created in 2004 and now includes a broad-based elementary and middle school curriculum guide. The guide includes lesson plans relating to ACC Women’s Basketball and are made available to teachers in physical education, science, social studies, math, language arts and character development.
Elementary and middle school students attend the 2014 ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum.
North Carolina students cheer on the teams inside the Greensboro Coliseum.
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