From HBO Sports -
Face Off With Max Kellerman: Mayweather-Ortiz Premieres July 27 on HBO®
July 22, 2011 - Fight fans eager for a penetrating inside look at the September 17 HBO Pay-Per-View® showdown between undefeated superstar Floyd Mayweather and welterweight title-holder Victor Ortiz should mark their calendars to catch an all-new edition of "Face Off," starring the two ring warriors. “Face Off: Mayweather-Ortiz” debuts Wednesday, July 27 at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.
Moderated by Max Kellerman, "Face Off" is a gripping interview session in which the two fighters face-off and answer Kellerman's questions. The format enables them to deliver a message to each other as well as their fans.
The Mayweather-Ortiz extended version of ‘Face Off” is set to air multiple times on HBO and HBO2 (schedule below). “Face Off” will also be available on the HBO On Demand® service, HBO GO and at www.hbo.com/boxing as well as various other new media platforms that distribute the series.
HBO air times include: July 27 (9:45 p.m.) and Aug 2 (8:30 a.m.), 4 (8:15 p.m.), 8 (4:15 p.m.), 15 (11:45 a.m.), 19 (10:15 p.m.), 23 (4:00 p.m.), 25 (2:00 a.m.) and 26 (12:40 a.m.) and Sept. 2 (10:00 a.m.), 8 (2:45 p.m.), 10 (9:45 a.m., 9:45 p.m., 4:55 a.m.), 11 (6:15 p.m., midnight), 14 (6:00 p.m.), 16 (11:45 p.m., midnight) and 17 (10:30 a.m.).
HBO 2 air times include: Aug. 5 (10:15 p.m.), 8 (9:45 a.m.), 12 (11:45 a.m.), 28 (5:30 p.m.) and 30 (10:45 p.m.) and Sept. 11 (midnight).
All times are ET/PT.
Mayweather vs. Ortiz takes place Saturday, Sept. 17 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distibuted live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.
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Showing posts with label HBO Sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HBO Sports. Show all posts
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Derek Jeter 3K to debut on HBO
From HBO Sports -
In addition to the prime-time premiere on July 28 and a full schedule of replays, the special also will be available to subscribers on HBO ON DEMAND® and HBO GO.
“DEREK JETER 3K” SET TO PREMIERE THURSDAY, JULY 28 IN PRIME TIME ON HBO®
JETER PROVIDES SPECIAL ACCESS
TO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PRODUCTIONS AND HBO SPORTS
New York, NY --- “DEREK JETER 3K,” the hour-long documentary special from HBO and Major League Baseball Productions, will premiere Thursday, July 28th at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. The special chronicles New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter’s dramatic quest for his 3,000th career hit, which he accomplished versus the Tampa Bay Rays with a remarkable five-for-five performance on July 9th at Yankee Stadium. “DEREK JETER 3K” will take viewers behind the scenes as Jeter made his run at the 3,000-hit milestone, becoming the first player to do it in a Yankees uniform.
With the cooperation of Derek Jeter and the Yankees, MLB Productions gained extensive access to Jeter both at and away from the ballpark. For the first time ever, Jeter wore a microphone during two games including the one where he reached the 3,000 career hit milestone. He also allowed MLB Productions camera crews to follow him on multiple occasions and in a variety of settings, including in his home and during rehabilitation from a calf injury. “DEREK JETER 3K” also will feature exclusive interview footage with the Yankee captain which was recorded shortly after he became only the 28th player in MLB history to achieve the milestone.
Produced by MLB Productions in collaboration with HBO Sports, “DEREK JETER 3K” will include reflections on Jeter’s entire career, including footage in the Major League Baseball Film and Video Archive from his early days with the Yankees through his five World Series Championships. The special will include new interviews with his family and friends as well as Yankees executives, legends and teammates such as Hal Steinbrenner, Brian Cashman, Joe Girardi, Joe Torre, Curtis Granderson, Dave Winfield, Minka Kelly, Billy Crystal, and many more. Liev Schreiber, the voice of HBO Sports, will narrate.
Friday, July 8, 2011
HBO's Summer Documentary Festival
From HBO Sports -
HBO SPORTS® PRESENTS A SUMMER FESTIVAL OF ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARIES, FEATURING A DIFFERENT FILM EVERY MONDAY FROM JULY 11 TO AUG. 15 ON HBO
NEW YORK, June 15, 2011 – Recognized as sports television’s best storyteller, HBO Sports presents six of its pioneering documentary films consecutive Monday evenings this summer on HBO. The collection of acclaimed documentaries, which feature HBO Sports’ trademark blend of archival footage, home movies, revealing interviews and unique storytelling, launches July 11 with the Peabody-winning “Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals” and concludes Aug. 15 with “Nine Innings from Ground Zero.”
Films include:
MAGIC & BIRD: A COURTSHIP OF RIVALS (July 11, 6:30 p.m. ET/PT) chronicles the fierce rivalry between basketball legends Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics and Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers. The George Foster Peabody Award-winning film examines the different cultures that helped shape them and the unlikely friendship that was forged.
SUGAR RAY ROBINSON: THE BRIGHT LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF A CHAMPION (July 18, 7:00 p.m.) tells the fascinating story of the prizefighter cited by many as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in boxing history. The film explores Robinson’s unparalleled ring career, which included 202 professional fights, the innovations he brought to the business side of the sport and his intriguing lifestyle.
BROAD STREET BULLIES (July 25, 7:00 p.m.) reveals the back stories of the engaging and colorful members of the legendary Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup championship squads of the 1970s. As one of pro sport’s most polarizing teams, who won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and ’75, they dominated the NHL with a bold, aggressive style that sparked controversy and criticism.
NINE INNINGS FROM GROUND ZERO (Aug. 1, 6:45 p.m.) recalls the role of baseball in New York’s recovery efforts following the terrorist attacks that occurred on 9/11, revisiting the 2001 World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees.
BREAKING THE HUDDLE: THE INTEGRATION OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL (Aug. 8, 7:00 p.m.) chronicles the heyday of football programs at historically black colleges and universities while exploring the profound effect of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s on the racial status quo of college athletics. Winner of a Sports Emmy® for Outstanding Documentary, the film spotlights the student-athletes who blazed a trail in the southeast and reshaped the major college football landscape.
MANTLE (Aug. 15, 6:15 p.m.) explores the life and career of one of baseball’s most enduring icons, Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle, celebrating his prowess as one of the game’s best switch-hitters and exploring his troubled life off the diamond.
Following its Monday night presentation on HBO, each documentary will also be seen the following Thursday on HBO2 at 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT). The films will also be available on HBO On Demand during the festival’s run.
HBO SPORTS® PRESENTS A SUMMER FESTIVAL OF ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARIES, FEATURING A DIFFERENT FILM EVERY MONDAY FROM JULY 11 TO AUG. 15 ON HBO
NEW YORK, June 15, 2011 – Recognized as sports television’s best storyteller, HBO Sports presents six of its pioneering documentary films consecutive Monday evenings this summer on HBO. The collection of acclaimed documentaries, which feature HBO Sports’ trademark blend of archival footage, home movies, revealing interviews and unique storytelling, launches July 11 with the Peabody-winning “Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals” and concludes Aug. 15 with “Nine Innings from Ground Zero.”
Films include:
MAGIC & BIRD: A COURTSHIP OF RIVALS (July 11, 6:30 p.m. ET/PT) chronicles the fierce rivalry between basketball legends Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics and Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers. The George Foster Peabody Award-winning film examines the different cultures that helped shape them and the unlikely friendship that was forged.
SUGAR RAY ROBINSON: THE BRIGHT LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF A CHAMPION (July 18, 7:00 p.m.) tells the fascinating story of the prizefighter cited by many as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in boxing history. The film explores Robinson’s unparalleled ring career, which included 202 professional fights, the innovations he brought to the business side of the sport and his intriguing lifestyle.
BROAD STREET BULLIES (July 25, 7:00 p.m.) reveals the back stories of the engaging and colorful members of the legendary Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup championship squads of the 1970s. As one of pro sport’s most polarizing teams, who won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and ’75, they dominated the NHL with a bold, aggressive style that sparked controversy and criticism.
NINE INNINGS FROM GROUND ZERO (Aug. 1, 6:45 p.m.) recalls the role of baseball in New York’s recovery efforts following the terrorist attacks that occurred on 9/11, revisiting the 2001 World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees.
BREAKING THE HUDDLE: THE INTEGRATION OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL (Aug. 8, 7:00 p.m.) chronicles the heyday of football programs at historically black colleges and universities while exploring the profound effect of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s on the racial status quo of college athletics. Winner of a Sports Emmy® for Outstanding Documentary, the film spotlights the student-athletes who blazed a trail in the southeast and reshaped the major college football landscape.
MANTLE (Aug. 15, 6:15 p.m.) explores the life and career of one of baseball’s most enduring icons, Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle, celebrating his prowess as one of the game’s best switch-hitters and exploring his troubled life off the diamond.
Following its Monday night presentation on HBO, each documentary will also be seen the following Thursday on HBO2 at 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT). The films will also be available on HBO On Demand during the festival’s run.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Derek Jeter 3K coming to HBO
From HBO Sports-
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PRODUCTIONS AND HBO® TEAMING UP WITH 12-TIME All-STAR DEREK JETER TO PRODUCE ALL-ACCESS SHOW ON JETER’S QUEST TO REACH 3,000 HITS
Production Currently Under Way on “DEREK JETER 3K,” Set to Air Just Weeks After 3,000th Hit
New York - HBO and Major League Baseball Productions are teaming up for a new documentary chronicling New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter’s quest for his 3,000th career hit. The one-hour special, titled “DEREK JETER 3K,” will take viewers behind the scenes as Jeter attempts to reach the milestone.
With the cooperation of Derek Jeter and the Yankees, MLB Productions will have extensive access to Jeter both at and away from the ballpark. He has agreed to allow MLB Productions camera crews to follow him on multiple occasions and in a variety of settings, including in his home and during rehabilitation from a calf injury. “DEREK JETER 3K” also will feature exclusive interview footage with the Yankee captain in the ensuing days after he achieves the milestone.
Produced by MLB Productions in collaboration with HBO Sports, “DEREK JETER 3K” will include reflections on Jeter’s entire career, including footage in the MLB Productions archives from his early days with the Yankees through his five World Series Championships. The special will include new interviews with his family and friends as well as Yankees executives, Legends and teammates such as Hal Steinbrenner, Brian Cashman, Joe Girardi, Joe Torre, Curtis Granderson, Mariano Rivera, Dave Winfield, Minka Kelly, Billy Crystal, and many more. The special will debut on HBO a few weeks after the milestone is reached.
In addition to a prime-time premiere and a full schedule of replays, the special also will be available to subscribers on HBO ON DEMAND® and HBO GO.
”It has been a lot of fun working with HBO Sports and MLB Productions to capture this milestone in a special and unique way,” said Jeter. “Hopefully fans will enjoy getting to see a sneak peek at the journey.”
“The buzz we’ve all seen during the buildup to this milestone is a clear indication of how Derek transcends the game on the field, and this is an ideal occasion for us to document what he’s going through on a day-to-day basis,” said Chris Tully, Major League Baseball Senior Vice President, Broadcasting. “We’re extremely grateful to Derek and the Yankees for granting us this level of access, and we’re excited to once again work with HBO.”
“Derek Jeter is known for his grace and excellence both on and off the ball field,” said Ross Greenburg, President, HBO Sports. “This special will provide sports fans with a fascinating view of what Derek Jeter experiences during this memorable moment in baseball history.”
“The 3,000 hit plateau is one of the most recognizable feats in our great game,” said New York Yankees President Randy Levine. “To have the days surrounding Derek’s remarkable achievement chronicled by Major League Baseball Productions and HBO ensures that this historic milestone will be captured with the type of style and professionalism he has become so synonymous with.”
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PRODUCTIONS AND HBO® TEAMING UP WITH 12-TIME All-STAR DEREK JETER TO PRODUCE ALL-ACCESS SHOW ON JETER’S QUEST TO REACH 3,000 HITS
Production Currently Under Way on “DEREK JETER 3K,” Set to Air Just Weeks After 3,000th Hit
New York - HBO and Major League Baseball Productions are teaming up for a new documentary chronicling New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter’s quest for his 3,000th career hit. The one-hour special, titled “DEREK JETER 3K,” will take viewers behind the scenes as Jeter attempts to reach the milestone.
With the cooperation of Derek Jeter and the Yankees, MLB Productions will have extensive access to Jeter both at and away from the ballpark. He has agreed to allow MLB Productions camera crews to follow him on multiple occasions and in a variety of settings, including in his home and during rehabilitation from a calf injury. “DEREK JETER 3K” also will feature exclusive interview footage with the Yankee captain in the ensuing days after he achieves the milestone.
Produced by MLB Productions in collaboration with HBO Sports, “DEREK JETER 3K” will include reflections on Jeter’s entire career, including footage in the MLB Productions archives from his early days with the Yankees through his five World Series Championships. The special will include new interviews with his family and friends as well as Yankees executives, Legends and teammates such as Hal Steinbrenner, Brian Cashman, Joe Girardi, Joe Torre, Curtis Granderson, Mariano Rivera, Dave Winfield, Minka Kelly, Billy Crystal, and many more. The special will debut on HBO a few weeks after the milestone is reached.
In addition to a prime-time premiere and a full schedule of replays, the special also will be available to subscribers on HBO ON DEMAND® and HBO GO.
”It has been a lot of fun working with HBO Sports and MLB Productions to capture this milestone in a special and unique way,” said Jeter. “Hopefully fans will enjoy getting to see a sneak peek at the journey.”
“The buzz we’ve all seen during the buildup to this milestone is a clear indication of how Derek transcends the game on the field, and this is an ideal occasion for us to document what he’s going through on a day-to-day basis,” said Chris Tully, Major League Baseball Senior Vice President, Broadcasting. “We’re extremely grateful to Derek and the Yankees for granting us this level of access, and we’re excited to once again work with HBO.”
“Derek Jeter is known for his grace and excellence both on and off the ball field,” said Ross Greenburg, President, HBO Sports. “This special will provide sports fans with a fascinating view of what Derek Jeter experiences during this memorable moment in baseball history.”
“The 3,000 hit plateau is one of the most recognizable feats in our great game,” said New York Yankees President Randy Levine. “To have the days surrounding Derek’s remarkable achievement chronicled by Major League Baseball Productions and HBO ensures that this historic milestone will be captured with the type of style and professionalism he has become so synonymous with.”
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz debuts on HBO
From HBO Sports -
HBO SPORTS’ 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ, A FOUR-EPISODE, ALL-ACCESS SERIES LEADING UP TO THE PAY-PER-VIEW SHOWDOWN AT THE MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS, DEBUTS AUG. 27, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO
NEW YORK, June 28, 2011 – HBO Sports’ groundbreaking “24/7” reality franchise, which has captured 14 Sports Emmy® Awards, returns in August for its tenth boxing installment with 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ, an all-new four-episode, all-access series, it was announced today by Ross Greenburg, president, HBO Sports. Debuting SATURDAY, AUG. 27 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), the series will follow two elite fighters in one of boxing’s most competitive divisions as they prepare for their intriguing pay-per-view showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sept. 17.
“ ‘24/7’ excels when there are great characters and compelling drama, and this fight has both,” noted Greenburg. “The return of Floyd Mayweather, with his larger-than-life personality, and the odyssey of Victor Ortiz, with his inspiring tale of perseverance and achievement, provide the perfect backdrop for this new edition of ‘24/7.’ ”
Episodes two and three of 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ debut on subsequent Saturdays – Sept. 3 (10:00-10:30 p.m.) and 10 (10:00-10:30 p.m.) – while the finale debuts Friday, Sept. 16 (9:00-9:30 p.m.), the night before the high-stakes welterweight bout. All four episodes will have multiple replay dates on HBO, and the series will also be available on HBO On Demand® and HBO GO.
24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ will provide exclusive behind-the-scenes access, along with in-depth interviews, as the fighters prepare for their 147-pound world title fight. A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., the talented and opinionated Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) has evolved into a celebrated superstar, and now resides in Las Vegas. Kansas native Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) survived a turbulent upbringing and currently lives in Oxnard, Cal. He shocked the boxing world with a win over the previously undefeated Andre Berto on HBO last April, claiming a 147-pound title.
This fast-paced series will capture the interactions and rigors both men experience in preparing for their contest. Making his fifth “24/7” appearance, Mayweather is expected to surround himself with a familiar contingent of family and friends as he trains with trusted longtime trainer and uncle Roger Mayweather. Ortiz is making his “24/7” debut.
24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ is the latest installment of the acclaimed “24/7” franchise that began in 2007. At the 2011 Sports Emmy® Awards, “24/7” was recognized with two Emmys® for production excellence and is the most honored sports series on television over the past four years, earning 14 Sports Emmys®.
The St. Petersburg Times has noted, “The best sports reality show on television is HBO’s ‘24/7.’ ”
On Saturday, Sept. 17 at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT), HBO Pay-Per-View presents “Mayweather vs. Ortiz,” live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The executive producers of 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; senior producer, Dave Harmon; coordinating producers, Scott Boggins and Bentley Weiner; producer, Abtin Motia; writer, Aaron Cohen. Liev Schreiber narrates.
HBO SPORTS’ 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ, A FOUR-EPISODE, ALL-ACCESS SERIES LEADING UP TO THE PAY-PER-VIEW SHOWDOWN AT THE MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS, DEBUTS AUG. 27, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO
NEW YORK, June 28, 2011 – HBO Sports’ groundbreaking “24/7” reality franchise, which has captured 14 Sports Emmy® Awards, returns in August for its tenth boxing installment with 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ, an all-new four-episode, all-access series, it was announced today by Ross Greenburg, president, HBO Sports. Debuting SATURDAY, AUG. 27 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), the series will follow two elite fighters in one of boxing’s most competitive divisions as they prepare for their intriguing pay-per-view showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sept. 17.
“ ‘24/7’ excels when there are great characters and compelling drama, and this fight has both,” noted Greenburg. “The return of Floyd Mayweather, with his larger-than-life personality, and the odyssey of Victor Ortiz, with his inspiring tale of perseverance and achievement, provide the perfect backdrop for this new edition of ‘24/7.’ ”
Episodes two and three of 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ debut on subsequent Saturdays – Sept. 3 (10:00-10:30 p.m.) and 10 (10:00-10:30 p.m.) – while the finale debuts Friday, Sept. 16 (9:00-9:30 p.m.), the night before the high-stakes welterweight bout. All four episodes will have multiple replay dates on HBO, and the series will also be available on HBO On Demand® and HBO GO.
24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ will provide exclusive behind-the-scenes access, along with in-depth interviews, as the fighters prepare for their 147-pound world title fight. A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., the talented and opinionated Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) has evolved into a celebrated superstar, and now resides in Las Vegas. Kansas native Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) survived a turbulent upbringing and currently lives in Oxnard, Cal. He shocked the boxing world with a win over the previously undefeated Andre Berto on HBO last April, claiming a 147-pound title.
This fast-paced series will capture the interactions and rigors both men experience in preparing for their contest. Making his fifth “24/7” appearance, Mayweather is expected to surround himself with a familiar contingent of family and friends as he trains with trusted longtime trainer and uncle Roger Mayweather. Ortiz is making his “24/7” debut.
24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ is the latest installment of the acclaimed “24/7” franchise that began in 2007. At the 2011 Sports Emmy® Awards, “24/7” was recognized with two Emmys® for production excellence and is the most honored sports series on television over the past four years, earning 14 Sports Emmys®.
The St. Petersburg Times has noted, “The best sports reality show on television is HBO’s ‘24/7.’ ”
On Saturday, Sept. 17 at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT), HBO Pay-Per-View presents “Mayweather vs. Ortiz,” live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The executive producers of 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; senior producer, Dave Harmon; coordinating producers, Scott Boggins and Bentley Weiner; producer, Abtin Motia; writer, Aaron Cohen. Liev Schreiber narrates.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Borg/McEnroe on HBO - This one looks great!
Watch out for this one on HBO!
HBO SPORTS® DOCUMENTARY McENROE/BORG: FIRE & ICE, CHRONICLING ONE OF THE GREATEST TENNIS RIVALRIES OF ALL TIME, DEBUTS JUNE 11, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO
Thirty-one years after the stirring Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Final that earned John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg a place among history’s great sports battles, HBO Sports looks back at their unforgettable rivalry of the ‘70s and ‘80s when the documentary McENROE/BORG: FIRE & ICE debuts SATURDAY, JUNE 11 (10:00 p.m. ET/PT & 9:00 p.m. CT), exclusively on HBO.
Other HBO playdates: June 11 (12:05 a.m.), 14 (9:00 a.m., 8:00 p.m.), 17 (7:00 p.m.), 18 (9:30 a.m.), 19 (12:30 p.m.), 23 (5:05 a.m.), 24 (12:30 p.m.), 26 (11:30 a.m.), 29 (5:00 p.m., 1:00 a.m.) and 30 (11:55 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: June 12 (9:30 a.m., 10:00 p.m.), 20 (noon, 11:00 p.m.), 22 (7:30 a.m.) and 30 (11:00 a.m.)
HBO On Demand availability: June 13-July 4
The film chronicles their back stories, prolific tennis careers and spirited rivalry, which propelled tennis into the international sports headlines of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. In addition, McENROE/BORG: FIRE & ICE spotlights their post-tennis careers as the two men went their separate ways, with McEnroe launching a high-profile broadcasting career, while Borg chose a more private life.
Born Feb. 16, 1959 in Wiesbaden, Germany to Americans Kay and John Sr., who was stationed there with the U.S. Air Force, John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. was the fire to Bjorn Borg’s ice. McEnroe’s fierce passion for the game earned him seven Grand Slam singles titles, but also sparked intense criticism from those offended by his berating of umpires, fans and line judges. Although controversy followed McEnroe throughout his career, his talent, artistry and exquisite timing made him one of the best players of his generation.
In stark contrast, Bjorn Borg’s icy stoicism was a trademark of his dazzling career. Born June 6, 1956 in Sodertaljie, Sweden, he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles at a time when Hall of Fame players such as Jimmy Connors and Arthur Ashe were also in their prime. A master of the grass court, Borg won five straight Wimbledon championships from 1976 to 1980, establishing himself as one of the all-time greats. But his unrelenting mental and physical training regimen took its toll: Instead of embracing the rivalry he’d begun with McEnroe, Borg walked away from the sport when he was just 26, leaving the tennis world to wonder why.
Their most memorable match decided the 1980 Wimbledon men’s singles championship. Boasting an unbending ground game, Borg was attempting a fifth straight win, while McEnroe relied on a renowned serve and volley attack in pursuit of his first title. McEnroe easily took the first set, but Borg fought back to win the next two. The fourth set produced one of the sport’s finest hours, with McEnroe denying Borg seven match points, including five in the 18-16 tiebreaker, but Borg recovered to win 8-6 in the fifth.
This exclusive “Legends & Legacies” presentation features HBO Sports’ acclaimed combination of rare footage, archival photos and revealing interviews. In addition to McEnroe and Borg, interviewees include: brother Patrick McEnroe; Peter Fleming, McEnroe’s doubles partner; journalists Mike Lupica, Bud Collins, Charley Steiner and Peter Bodo; Tony Palafox, McEnroe’s coach; Percy Rosberg, Borg’s coach; former Swedish women’s player Ingrid Bentzer; former Wimbledon chair umpire George Grime; British journalists Malcolm Folley and Tim Adams; and Swedish journalist Lennart Eriksson.
HBO Sports’ documentary unit has earned 31 Sports Emmy Awards®, including the Outstanding Documentary award each of the last four years, and has received nine Peabody Awards, including one for the 2010 presentation “Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals.”
The executive producers of McENROE/BORG: FIRE & ICE are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; producer, Margaret Grossi; interviewer and story editor, Mary Carillo; writer, Aaron Cohen; narrator, Liev Schreiber; editor, Jeff Reilly; music composed by Gary Lionelli.
Highlights of McENROE/BORG: FIRE & ICE:
John McEnroe on his development as a junior tennis player: “I was taught really well. Tony Palafox and Harry Hopman instilled in me how mental the game was.”
Former McEnroe doubles partner Mary Carillo: “Harry Hopman…was a fabled disciplinarian. This is a man who trained Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall. And John just never liked that part of the program. He would play pretty much on his terms, and Mr. Hopman would let John slide on that.”
John McEnroe: “I wasn’t looking to cause trouble. I just was looking to get on the court.”
Former tennis star Peter Fleming: “One of the pros was talking about this kid McEnroe, 12-year-old kid. I was 16 at the time and we said, ‘Alright, fine. Let’s set up a bet and I’ll whip him.’ We played five sets. I didn’t win one of ‘em.”
John McEnroe on seeing Bjorn Borg: “I’d never seen a tennis player look like this. He had this sort of perfect Viking godlike look, and I certainly wanted to get the same type of things that he seemed to be getting, which was a lot of interest and a lot of girls. It was like, ‘Whoa, being a tennis player’s really cool.’ ”
John McEnroe on his aggressive style when he arrived at Wimbledon as an 18-year-old in 1977: “I tried to snap my racquet when I lost the second set. Why are people booing me if I try to break my racquet? So when that happened, I thought, ‘Ok, let me just see what happens if I kick it.’ That provokes a reaction.”
British author Malcolm Folley: “His behavior was eccentric to the point of being anguished. He sought perfection from his own tennis, and everybody around him had better be in a perfect mode as well.”
Journalist Mike Lupica: “Here came a son of anarchy that nobody was prepared for. It was Hurricane John.”
John McEnroe: “I wasn’t totally convinced that this is the path I would have chosen had I been able to choose anything I wanted. I at least was smart enough to realize that this is like a golden opportunity. You could make money. You could be an athlete. So I thought, ‘I gotta make the most of this.’ ”
John McEnroe on the burgeoning rivalry with Borg: “The least I could do was to try a little harder when I was playing him. I had to be on my best behavior, plus I respected him.”
John McEnroe: “I think everyone wanted to look like Bjorn. Certainly he had the cool clothes and the sweet headband and the great locks.”
Bjorn Borg: “I think the strongest part of my game was the mental and physical strength I had. You know, I had never been tired in a tennis match.”
British author Tim Adams: “Borg had this incredibly regimented preparation. He’d sleep for ten hours a night at a certain temperature, naked. And they’d always drive the same route to the tournament. He sat in the same chair, had the same two towels next to him. He’d lay out 50 racquets and he’d test the tension of each — be in sort of perfect musical pitch — and he’d select the racquets for each match.”
Mike Lupica: “This is not exactly an Ultimate Fighting crowd there. This is Centre Court, Wimbledon, All England Club. They booed him [McEnroe].”
John McEnroe: “So what? That’s just all the more incentive to shut ‘em down.”
Bjorn Borg on the historic 1980 Wimbledon Finals: “To lose the fourth set that was the worst moment and one set later was my best moment in my life as a tennis player.”
John McEnroe: “I was absolutely disgusted that I didn’t win that match. It was a giveaway as far as I was concerned. Thankfully, it was a historical match.”
John McEnroe: “But it wasn’t just me — it was both of us. In a way I love every minute of that. The fact that I can always share this with Bjorn.”
Bjorn Borg: “That’s a match I will remember the rest of my life. For both me and John, people coming up and they talk about the tiebreaker. That’s what people remember.”
Mike Lupica: “It almost became like urban legend: ‘Did you hear about the tiebreaker? Did you see the tiebreaker?’ And Borg-McEnroe had been joined.”
Bjorn Borg on the seniors’ tour: “And that’s exactly a perfect fit. John came in. That was a great thing for me.”
John McEnroe: “Not only did it help him, it helped me, being around my great rivals.”
John McEnroe: “Just being around Bjorn, and the matches we had, lifted me as a player and as a person.”
Bjorn Borg: “We know each other, me and John, very well, because we are two rebels. We’re gonna do it in this way, our own way. John is always gonna mean something deep inside my heart.”
HBO SPORTS® DOCUMENTARY McENROE/BORG: FIRE & ICE, CHRONICLING ONE OF THE GREATEST TENNIS RIVALRIES OF ALL TIME, DEBUTS JUNE 11, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO
Thirty-one years after the stirring Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Final that earned John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg a place among history’s great sports battles, HBO Sports looks back at their unforgettable rivalry of the ‘70s and ‘80s when the documentary McENROE/BORG: FIRE & ICE debuts SATURDAY, JUNE 11 (10:00 p.m. ET/PT & 9:00 p.m. CT), exclusively on HBO.
Other HBO playdates: June 11 (12:05 a.m.), 14 (9:00 a.m., 8:00 p.m.), 17 (7:00 p.m.), 18 (9:30 a.m.), 19 (12:30 p.m.), 23 (5:05 a.m.), 24 (12:30 p.m.), 26 (11:30 a.m.), 29 (5:00 p.m., 1:00 a.m.) and 30 (11:55 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: June 12 (9:30 a.m., 10:00 p.m.), 20 (noon, 11:00 p.m.), 22 (7:30 a.m.) and 30 (11:00 a.m.)
HBO On Demand availability: June 13-July 4
The film chronicles their back stories, prolific tennis careers and spirited rivalry, which propelled tennis into the international sports headlines of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. In addition, McENROE/BORG: FIRE & ICE spotlights their post-tennis careers as the two men went their separate ways, with McEnroe launching a high-profile broadcasting career, while Borg chose a more private life.
Born Feb. 16, 1959 in Wiesbaden, Germany to Americans Kay and John Sr., who was stationed there with the U.S. Air Force, John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. was the fire to Bjorn Borg’s ice. McEnroe’s fierce passion for the game earned him seven Grand Slam singles titles, but also sparked intense criticism from those offended by his berating of umpires, fans and line judges. Although controversy followed McEnroe throughout his career, his talent, artistry and exquisite timing made him one of the best players of his generation.
In stark contrast, Bjorn Borg’s icy stoicism was a trademark of his dazzling career. Born June 6, 1956 in Sodertaljie, Sweden, he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles at a time when Hall of Fame players such as Jimmy Connors and Arthur Ashe were also in their prime. A master of the grass court, Borg won five straight Wimbledon championships from 1976 to 1980, establishing himself as one of the all-time greats. But his unrelenting mental and physical training regimen took its toll: Instead of embracing the rivalry he’d begun with McEnroe, Borg walked away from the sport when he was just 26, leaving the tennis world to wonder why.
Their most memorable match decided the 1980 Wimbledon men’s singles championship. Boasting an unbending ground game, Borg was attempting a fifth straight win, while McEnroe relied on a renowned serve and volley attack in pursuit of his first title. McEnroe easily took the first set, but Borg fought back to win the next two. The fourth set produced one of the sport’s finest hours, with McEnroe denying Borg seven match points, including five in the 18-16 tiebreaker, but Borg recovered to win 8-6 in the fifth.
This exclusive “Legends & Legacies” presentation features HBO Sports’ acclaimed combination of rare footage, archival photos and revealing interviews. In addition to McEnroe and Borg, interviewees include: brother Patrick McEnroe; Peter Fleming, McEnroe’s doubles partner; journalists Mike Lupica, Bud Collins, Charley Steiner and Peter Bodo; Tony Palafox, McEnroe’s coach; Percy Rosberg, Borg’s coach; former Swedish women’s player Ingrid Bentzer; former Wimbledon chair umpire George Grime; British journalists Malcolm Folley and Tim Adams; and Swedish journalist Lennart Eriksson.
HBO Sports’ documentary unit has earned 31 Sports Emmy Awards®, including the Outstanding Documentary award each of the last four years, and has received nine Peabody Awards, including one for the 2010 presentation “Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals.”
The executive producers of McENROE/BORG: FIRE & ICE are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; producer, Margaret Grossi; interviewer and story editor, Mary Carillo; writer, Aaron Cohen; narrator, Liev Schreiber; editor, Jeff Reilly; music composed by Gary Lionelli.
Highlights of McENROE/BORG: FIRE & ICE:
John McEnroe on his development as a junior tennis player: “I was taught really well. Tony Palafox and Harry Hopman instilled in me how mental the game was.”
Former McEnroe doubles partner Mary Carillo: “Harry Hopman…was a fabled disciplinarian. This is a man who trained Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall. And John just never liked that part of the program. He would play pretty much on his terms, and Mr. Hopman would let John slide on that.”
John McEnroe: “I wasn’t looking to cause trouble. I just was looking to get on the court.”
Former tennis star Peter Fleming: “One of the pros was talking about this kid McEnroe, 12-year-old kid. I was 16 at the time and we said, ‘Alright, fine. Let’s set up a bet and I’ll whip him.’ We played five sets. I didn’t win one of ‘em.”
John McEnroe on seeing Bjorn Borg: “I’d never seen a tennis player look like this. He had this sort of perfect Viking godlike look, and I certainly wanted to get the same type of things that he seemed to be getting, which was a lot of interest and a lot of girls. It was like, ‘Whoa, being a tennis player’s really cool.’ ”
John McEnroe on his aggressive style when he arrived at Wimbledon as an 18-year-old in 1977: “I tried to snap my racquet when I lost the second set. Why are people booing me if I try to break my racquet? So when that happened, I thought, ‘Ok, let me just see what happens if I kick it.’ That provokes a reaction.”
British author Malcolm Folley: “His behavior was eccentric to the point of being anguished. He sought perfection from his own tennis, and everybody around him had better be in a perfect mode as well.”
Journalist Mike Lupica: “Here came a son of anarchy that nobody was prepared for. It was Hurricane John.”
John McEnroe: “I wasn’t totally convinced that this is the path I would have chosen had I been able to choose anything I wanted. I at least was smart enough to realize that this is like a golden opportunity. You could make money. You could be an athlete. So I thought, ‘I gotta make the most of this.’ ”
John McEnroe on the burgeoning rivalry with Borg: “The least I could do was to try a little harder when I was playing him. I had to be on my best behavior, plus I respected him.”
John McEnroe: “I think everyone wanted to look like Bjorn. Certainly he had the cool clothes and the sweet headband and the great locks.”
Bjorn Borg: “I think the strongest part of my game was the mental and physical strength I had. You know, I had never been tired in a tennis match.”
British author Tim Adams: “Borg had this incredibly regimented preparation. He’d sleep for ten hours a night at a certain temperature, naked. And they’d always drive the same route to the tournament. He sat in the same chair, had the same two towels next to him. He’d lay out 50 racquets and he’d test the tension of each — be in sort of perfect musical pitch — and he’d select the racquets for each match.”
Mike Lupica: “This is not exactly an Ultimate Fighting crowd there. This is Centre Court, Wimbledon, All England Club. They booed him [McEnroe].”
John McEnroe: “So what? That’s just all the more incentive to shut ‘em down.”
Bjorn Borg on the historic 1980 Wimbledon Finals: “To lose the fourth set that was the worst moment and one set later was my best moment in my life as a tennis player.”
John McEnroe: “I was absolutely disgusted that I didn’t win that match. It was a giveaway as far as I was concerned. Thankfully, it was a historical match.”
John McEnroe: “But it wasn’t just me — it was both of us. In a way I love every minute of that. The fact that I can always share this with Bjorn.”
Bjorn Borg: “That’s a match I will remember the rest of my life. For both me and John, people coming up and they talk about the tiebreaker. That’s what people remember.”
Mike Lupica: “It almost became like urban legend: ‘Did you hear about the tiebreaker? Did you see the tiebreaker?’ And Borg-McEnroe had been joined.”
Bjorn Borg on the seniors’ tour: “And that’s exactly a perfect fit. John came in. That was a great thing for me.”
John McEnroe: “Not only did it help him, it helped me, being around my great rivals.”
John McEnroe: “Just being around Bjorn, and the matches we had, lifted me as a player and as a person.”
Bjorn Borg: “We know each other, me and John, very well, because we are two rebels. We’re gonna do it in this way, our own way. John is always gonna mean something deep inside my heart.”
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