FOX Sports South May 2013 Newsletter

More Than a Game: Life Lessons from Sports

There are so many great stories in the world of sports this time of year; the Memphis Grizzlies are battling through the second round of the NBA Playoffs, the Atlanta Braves are off to the hottest start in baseball, college baseball is in full swing with many of the nation’s greatest players competing in the SEC and ACC, and the NFL Draft has made everyone the greatest prognosticator (at least until the games are actually played next fall).

Jeff Genthner Senior Vice President, Sports fill our lives with great stories. But sports give us much more than stories…sports General Manager give us lessons about life…lessons that are often much more valuable than batting averages

Riley Nash Carolina Hurricanes

and draft picks. They remind us that these amazing athletes, who are larger than life and play on the world stage, are in fact just as human as you and me. And sometimes their greatest display of courage has nothing to do with sports at all.

Jason Collins played for the Hawks for three seasons. On Tuesday morning, April 29, he called his former coach, current Hawks coach Larry Drew, to tell him of his announcement that he was coming out as an openly gay athlete. That was a display of courage mightier than when Collins had to guard Dwight Howard in the NBA Playoffs several years ago. I urge you to read the exclusive story about the exchange between Collins and Drew by FOXSportsSouth.com writer John Manasso, reprinted on page 2.

Ten years from now we may never remember a single stat from Jason Collins’ NBA career…but my guess is he will have made a bigger impact on many more lives than those who ever watched him play the game of basketball.

Former Atlanta Hawks center Jason Collins huddles with teammates.

Angel McCoughtry Atlanta Dream

B.J. Upton Atlanta Braves

Braves Ratings Up for FOX Sports South and SportSouth in 2013 The Atlanta Braves are off to a hot start in 2013 and the team’s play has translated to increased ratings for FOX Sports South and SportSouth this April.

Through the first month of the Atlanta Braves 2013 season, FOX Sports South (14 games) and SportSouth (nine games) averaged a 4.60 rating, 41% ahead of last year’s rating through the month of April.

FOX Sports South digital billboard promoting Atlanta Braves game vs. Tigers.

Dan Uggla, Jason Heyward and B.J. Upton celebrate an Atlanta Braves victory.

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Drew, Smith Support Former Hawk Collins For Coming Out

By John Manasso Published: Monday, April 29, 2013

FOXSportsSouth.com Exclusive Story

ATLANTA — Larry Drew coached Jason Collins for three seasons with the Hawks, two when Drew was an assistant and another as the head coach. One of those years, Collins was instrumental with his defense on Dwight Howard in helping Atlanta advance past the Magic in the first round of the playoffs. Drew also had Collins earlier in his career when he was an assistant in New Jersey.

But Drew had no idea what was coming when he received a phone call from Collins on Tuesday morning. Collins left a message, not informing Drew of his intent, but it wasn’t long before Drew learned that Collins had come out as the first active gay athlete in a North American professional sports league.

Jason Collins guards Dwight Howard in the first round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs.

Drew missed the call. It came during the Hawks’ shootaround before Game 4 of their first-round series with the Indiana Pacers, but he called Collins back — leaving a message in return — and told Collins how proud he was of him.

“First of all, I’m very, very proud of Jason, the fact that he had the courage to come forth, to express himself for who he was,” Drew said. “That takes a lot of courage. When you’re a person who’s been in the limelight, as he has been, and he’s done such a phenomenal job as a ball player…. He is just such a great guy, an unbelievable person, a phenomenal teammate and I underline that because he was a guy that did everything coach always wanted him to do. Never complained. He always played hard. Knew what his limitations were on the floor. Stayed with his strengths. Just a phenomenal guy.

“When I got the news today I was very proud of him. The fact that he had the courage to come out and express himself. And reading some of his quotes, you can clearly hear in his message that he feels free now. It was a burden for a long time just to keep it kind of quiet. Now that he has expressed himself you can hear that he seems very free from it.”

Jason Collins posts up against Kevin Garnett.

Forward Josh Smith was a teammate of Collins’ for those three seasons in Atlanta. Smith spoke eloquently less than 90 minutes before game time about whether NBA players would be accepting of having a gay teammate in their midst in the locker room.

“To be honest, I think that this is a business,” Smith said. “In each and every business, everybody is not the same. You can’t ask for nobody to be the same as you or the next person. You just have to accept them for who they are. People who aren’t confident with their own sexuality, I think it might bother them. For a person who understands and respects the decision and respects the human being and as long as there’s always a professional atmosphere, I don’t think it should be a problem.”

Drew reinforced that message when it came to whether the 7-foot Collins, who turns 35 in December, might receive a contract offer going forward.

Jason Collins played for the Atlanta Hawks from 2009-2012.

“Hopefully, we’re at a point where we can accept people for who they are,” he said, noting he was behind Collins “110 percent.”“Look at the individual. Again, if he can help me win ball games, I certainly would not rule him out, but, again, he’s 34, 35 so he’s moving up in age a little bit. But hopefully as a society we can accept people for who they are and we can look past things, particularly if that person, if he’s a guy who can still produce out on the basketball floor. If he is still productive if you put him in a game, certainly, I don’t see a reason why he shouldn’t be able to continue his career.”

Smith said that Collins could be a role model for other players who are struggling with the same decision as Collins made.

“I definitely commend on him on making the decision he made,” Smith said. “Now he can live his life coamfortably and not worry about what the public eye, the feelings they have about the situation and I think that whoever it is that is uncomfortable coming out, I think they should look at ‘Big Jason’ and have that confidence. I respect it 100 percent.”

Smith said that he had no inkling about Collins’ sexuality. It was pointed out to him that Collins only told his twin brother Jarron last summer.

“Not that I know of,” Smith said. “Everybody has their own time to do everything. Now is his moment.”

Smith also said he thought the Stanford-educated Collins would be a good spokesman for gay athletes.

“He’s definitely a well-spoken human being,” Smith said. “Like I say, he’s been the ultimate professional and he’s been a great teammate so I think he’s definitely handled it well.

I think it’s definitely good to hear positive reinforcement from the people he’s played with, with sincerity, not really sugar-coating anything. I really appreciate and respect what he did.”

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Grizzlies and City of Memphis Celebrate Playoff Run The Memphis Grizzlies are competing in their third straight NBA Playoffs, and the city of Memphis is “painting the town blue and gold” to cheer on the team.

Many of Memphis’ local landmarks are taking part, including Elvis Presley’s Graceland, the iconic First Tennessee Bank building in downtown Memphis, the Memphis Zoo, and the Orpheum Theatre.

Elvis Presley’s Graceland celebrates the Grizzlies by illuminating the exterior of the famous Memphis landmark in blue and gold.

The First Tennessee Bank building in downtown Memphis spells out “Go Grizz” on the exterior of the iconic skyscraper in the heart of the city.

The Orpheum Theatre light up their marquee with “Believe, Memphis!”

At the Memphis Zoo, the “Avenue of Animals” statues wear giant gold headbands.

Atlanta Hawks Guard Devin Harris Visits After-School All-Stars On an off-day in early April, Atlanta Hawks guard Devin Harris took time out of his busy schedule to visit the After-School All-Stars program at BEST Academy for Boys. Harris, who is an ambassador for the All-Stars program, participated in a Q & A with students, and received the “Most Valuable Hoop Hero” Award from ASAS Atlanta executive director Walt Thompson, for his community service with ASAS Atlanta. ASAS provides free daily after-school programs to help low-income, urban youth succeed in school and in life.

Link to the video: Spotlight on Atlanta Hawks Devin Harris 3

Atlanta Hawks guard Devin Harris takes a photo with ASAS Atlanta executive Director Walt Thompson.

FOX Sports South Preparing for 2013 Football Season

NC State football head coach Dave Doeren speaks with FOX Sports South in the Wolfpack locker room.

South Carolina quarterbacks Dylan Thompson and Connor Shaw speak with the FOX Sports South crew about the 2013 football season.

Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray poses for FOX Sports South cameras.

FOX Sports South visits the Tennessee football during spring practice.

College Baseball Heats Up In May FOX Sports South and SportSouth will continue coverage of SEC, ACC and Big 12 college baseball this May with a total of 41 college baseball games this month, including 23 matchups on FOX Sports South and 18 on SportSouth. At least 10 games will feature top-25 teams such as Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Oklahoma and South Carolina.

In addition, beginning on May 21, FOX Sports South and SportSouth will air the ACC and SEC Tournament games, as well as the Big 12 Tournament Championship.

Vanderbilt pitcher Taylor Beede toes the rubber.

Oklahoma infielder Kolbey Carpenter legs out a base hit.

South Carolina pitcher Tyler Webb is congratulated after a Gamecocks victory.

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Around Town With The FOX Sports South Girls

Brittany and Canicka interview #TailgateTweetUp organizer @ATLBravesBelle during the April 6 event at Turner Field.

Brittany and Canicka join the participants of the #TailgateTweetUp for a group photo in the Turner Field parking lot.

Brittany, Braves reporter Elizabeth Moreau and Canicka at Turner Field.

Brittany and Canicka on a photo shoot in midtown Atlanta.

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