The new Broadway play "MAGIC/BIRD," which opens April 11, was profiled in yesterday's N.Y. TIMES' Arts & Leisure section and on Sunday's CBS' "EVENING NEWS." The N.Y. Times' Richard Sandomir wrote "Magic/Bird" is the second sports-themed play produced by FRAN KIRMSER and TONY PONTURO, but unlike their first venture, "LOMBARDI," the title characters are "alive and available." Both men were "initially skeptical about the play" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/1). CBS's Jeff Glor wrote LARRY BIRD and MAGIC JOHNSON's "legendary sports rivalry" could attract a new audience through the play. Kirmser: "What's fun about 'Magic/Bird' is that it's a great experience for kids, too" (CBS, 4/1).
GETTING PERSONAL: In N.Y., Larry McShane noted U.S. Gold Medal-winning swimmer AMANDA BEARD's new memoir, "IN THE WATER THEY CAN'T SEE YOU CRY," offers details of Beard's "plunge into the deep end of competitive swimming -- and the fallout for a teenager uncomfortable in the spotlight." In her book she discusses her battles with bulimia and self-mutilation. She said of the memoir, "It's very personal. This isn't something you're telling a girlfriend over coffee. It's a very different experience to put it down on paper. It's very nerve-wracking" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/1).
HEADED TO CAMP: In St. Louis, Randy Williams noted Rams RB STEVEN JACKSON is part of a class of 20 current and former NFLers "selected after a rigid and highly competitive enrollment process to tackle Hollywood as part of the NFL's first Pro Hollywood Boot Camp." The four-day program on the back lots of Universal Studios "will provide the students an overview of filmmaking crafts including writing, directing, producing, editing and cinematography." The program is funded by the NFL's Player Engagement division. Filmmakers JOHN SINGLETON, MICHAEL MANN and ERIQ LA SALLE are scheduled to participate (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/31).
HITTING THE BIG SCREEN: DAILY VARIETY's Marc Graser noted WWE Studios "unveiled its upcoming film slate at the company's business summit" on Saturday. The company on July 3 will release the '89 film "NO HOLDS BARRED," starring HULK HOGAN, on DVD and other home video platforms. WWE Studios in August will release "THE DAY," starring DOMINIC MONAGHAN and SHAWN ASHMORE, and on Sept. 25 will debut actor ERIC MCCORMACK's thriller, "BARRICADE." The company in January will debut horror film "NO ONE LIVES," starring WWE's BRODUS CLAY (VARIETY.com, 3/31).
NAMES: After a special invitation by QUEEN ELIZABETH II, actor DANIEL CRAIG reportedly filmed scenes at Buckingham Palace that will be used during the opening ceremony of the London Games. Craig and the ceremony's Creative Dir DANNY BOYLE, were given "unprecedented access to the Queen's private quarters to shoot the scenes" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/1)....Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT was in New Orleans Saturday night for the NCAA men's basketball Final Four. Kraft is a friend of Univ. of Kentucky coach JOHN CALIPARI (ESPN.com, 3/31)....U.S. Rep MICHAEL MICHAUD (D-Maine) presented a pair of custom-made New Balance running shoes to President BARACK OBAMA Friday night during a re-election campaign fundraiser (BOSTON HERALD, 3/31)....Dolphins OL VERNON CAREY donated new equipment to the weight room of his alma mater, Miami Northwestern High School, and Friday participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new facility, which will bear his name (MIAMI HERALD, 3/31)....Northwestern State Univ. men's basketball coach MIKE MCCONATHY received the '12 National Association of Basketball Coaches' Guardians of the Game Pillar Award for Education last night during the NCAA Final Four weekend in New Orleans (NSU).
IN MEMORY: SiriusXM radio host and former Italian national soccer player GIORGIO CHINAGLIA, 65, passed away yesterday at his home in Naples, Fla. Chinaglia was co-host of SiriusXM's “THE FOOTBALL SHOW” and would "occasionally campaign for the resurrection in some form" of the former North American Soccer League club the N.Y. Cosmos, perhaps as part of MLS (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/2). In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes, "I cherished George because he told the truth" (N.Y. POST, 4/2)....Former Atlanta Constitution sports writer ERNIE REESE, 70, passed away Thursday from complications from prostate cancer. Reese was one of the first African-Americans to cover sports for a major southern newspaper, and worked for the Constitution for 29 years. He earned 11 state and national awards during his career (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 4/1).
