Contact: Kristofer Goddard (212) 512-5034
homeboxoffice.com
For Immediate Release May 5, 2008
REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL
INVESTIGATES THE SLAUGHTER OF THOUROUGHBRED HORSES FOR PROFIT,
PROFILES TENNIS STAR VENUS WILLIAMS,
FOLLOWS THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN OF FORMER NBA STAR KEVIN JOHNSON
AND REVISITS AUTO RACING SENSATION DANICA PATRICK
WHEN IT RETURNS MAY 12, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO
Winner of 20 Sports Emmys® in 13 years, REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT
GUMBEL presents more enterprising features and reporting when its 134th edition debuts
MONDAY, MAY 12 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.
Other HBO playdates: May 12 (5:55 a.m.), 13 (7:00 p.m.), 16 (8:00 a.m., 8:00
p.m.), 18 (8:00 a.m.), 22 (1:00 p.m., midnight), 24 (11:30 a.m.), 28 (4:30 p.m.) and 31
(4:40 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: May 17 (1:30 p.m.), 20 (6:15 p.m., 2:30 a.m.), 23 (3:00 p.m.), 25
(7:00 p.m.) and 29 (11:00 a.m., 12:05 a.m.), and June 2 (5:00 p.m.)
HBO On Demand availability: May 19-June 9
Segments include:
*Hidden Horses. Few casual horse racing fans are aware that many former racing
horses are slaughtered for profit. When a thoroughbred race horse reaches the end of its
career or is simply no longer profitable on the track, it is often taken directly to auction
and sold for meat. Because horse slaughter is no longer practiced in this country, these
thoroughbreds are now being shipped by “killer buyers” to slaughterhouses abroad, which
are frequently less regulated and less humane than former U.S. slaughterhouses.
REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL – 2
Correspondent Bernard Goldberg, who recently won the 2008 Sports Emmy® for
Outstanding Sports Journalism for his 2007 REAL SPORTS story on the NFL concussion
crisis, traces the disturbing journey many of these young and healthy horses take from
the track, to auctions, to slaughterhouses, and finally to the plates of European and
Japanese diners who pay top dollar for the delicacy.
Producer: Joe Perskie.
*Venus’ World. Since age 14, Venus Williams has been one of professional tennis’
most exciting, successful and enigmatic stars. Her on-court resume includes six Grand
Slam singles titles, six Grand Slam doubles titles, and two Olympic gold medals – but
that’s only part of her story. Off the court, Williams is the CEO of her own interior design
company, a fashion designer with her own signature line and a recent graduate of the Art
Institute of Fort Lauderdale, all of which she’s accomplished while remaining one of the
top-ranked players in the world. REAL SPORTS host Bryant Gumbel sits down with the
usually private reigning Wimbledon champion to discuss her successes on and off the
court, her love life and her fight for equal prize money in women’s tennis.
Producer: Tim Walker.
*KJ For Mayor. In the star-studded world of California politics, a celebrity running
for office is par for the course. But while most of these celebrities-turned-politicians have
roots in Hollywood, the new front-runner in the race for Sacramento mayor is known for
his accomplishments on the hardwood. After a 12-year career, retired Phoenix Suns
point guard and three-time All-Star Kevin Johnson is trying his hand at politics in his
hometown. James Brown, in a REAL SPORTS/Sports Illustrated collaboration, sits down
with Johnson a month before the election to discuss his years of activism in Sacramento
and looks at the attacks on his character that have surfaced.
Producer: Lisa Bennett.
REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL – 3
*Driving Alone. When it comes to auto racing, Danica Patrick is in a league of her
own. One of the most talented drivers in the sport today, her every action is scrutinized
more than any other driver today because of her gender. Facing discrimination
throughout her career, Patrick has proven time and again she can compete with the best,
but it wasn’t until her first trip to the Indianapolis 500 that fellow drivers, the media and the
public took notice. Now, after years of frustration and countless questions about her
failure to win, Patrick has proven the critics wrong with her recent historic victory at Twin
Ring Motegi in the Indy Japan 300. Correspondent Frank Deford revisits the Indy Racing
League’s most dynamic star.
Producers: Naomi Marcus, Tim Walker.
REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL recently won the Sports Emmy® Award
in the category of Outstanding Sports Journalism for Bernard Goldberg’s piece “NFL
Concussions Impact.” REAL SPORTS has won the Sports Emmy® for Outstanding
Sports Journalism 11 of the last 13 years, in addition to being the first sports program
honored with the duPont Award for excellence in broadcast journalism.
The executive producers of REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL are Ross
Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; Kirby Bradley is senior producer.
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