HBO, ESPN Top The Winners Of 29th Annual Sports Emmy Awards
By John Ourand, Staff Writer
HBO emerged as the big winner from last night’s Sports Emmy Awards in N.Y., taking home eight trophies. The network’s “24/7” series won in three of the four categories in which it was nominated (edited sports special, camera work and writing), and its Brooklyn Dodgers documentary “The Ghosts of Flatbush” won in both of its nominated categories (sports documentary and music composition/direction/lyrics). “Inside the NFL” -- the show that HBO declined to renew -- had four nominations, but did not win any. The evening’s biggest surprise came from ESPN.com, which won three awards from the three categories in which it had nominations (coverage, long form and general interest). ESPN.com won as many awards as established broadcasters CBS and NBC. Fox took home five honors, including live sports special (BCS on Fox). ESPN, the television channel, won four honors, including studio show for “College GameDay.”
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CBS' Brown Wins Emmy
As Best Studio Host |
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS: CBS’ James Brown won the honor as best studio host, bringing his former boss, Fox Sports President Ed Goren, to his feet for an impromptu standing ovation. Following a brief acceptance speech, Fox’ Joe Buck remarked, “There’s so much love in this room for James Brown. Is he a great guy, or what?” NBC’s "Sunday Night Football" swept the on-camera awards last night, with Al Michaels winning for play-by-play and John Madden winning for analyst. Neither was in attendance. NBC Universal Sports & Olympics Chair Dick Ebersol accepted for Madden, and noted the many Emmy Awards the analyst has won by saying, “I think this award should be retired in John’s name.” Cris Collinsworth was honored as the best studio analyst for his roles with HBO and NBC.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: The lifetime achievement award went to CBS’ Frank Chirkinian, who told the crowd of TV execs, “What you are doing out there in live television is recording history as it happens.” He referenced the '72 Munich Olympics as a time when sports and news events intersect. “Who knows what will happen in China,” he said. “It’s a scary thought, but we all know that a live event can turn into a tragic event [in the blink of an eye]."
FOND FAREWELL: CBS won three honors, and all three of the honorees referenced Tony Petitti, who decided to leave the network to head up MLB Network. Coordinating Producer Peter Radovich wished Petitti luck, saying, “We’re really going to miss you.” And Brown described him as “a guy I’m very sorry to see leaving CBS.”
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