THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Natalie Jarvey reported Walmart's digital video service Vudu has ordered "Legacy," a new docu-series about rising sports stars who "happen to be the children of famous athletes." The eight-episode show "hails from Whistle and is executive produced" by former NBAer Dwyane Wade through his 59th & Prairie outfit. Wade's son Zaire is among the athletes the series will follow, along with Vashti Cunningham, daughter of former NFLer Randall Cunningham, and Evan and Elijah Holyfield, sons of Boxing HOFer Evander Holyfield (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 1/7).
CALLING FOR BACKUP: In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal reports White Sox TV announcer Jason Benetti, ESPN's Adam Amin and Rams radio voice J.B. Long "have been slotted to call more Bulls road games, filling in for Neil Funk." Funk, who plans to retire later this year after 29 seasons as Bulls play-by-play broadcaster, is "working a reduced TV schedule for a second season." Ten of the 30 dates Funk is skipping this season "fell before New Year's Day." The latest sub schedule "covers another eight games through Feb. 11" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/8).
GET YOUR POPCORN READY: In Pittsburgh, Ron Cook speculates HBO's "Hard Knocks" will be "coming to Steelers training camp this summer." There has been "no official word, but it has to be the Steelers." The other candidates are the Lions, Jaguars, Cardinals and Broncos. Cook: "Boring, boring, boring and boring." The Steelers are an "iconic NFL franchise" and have one of the league's "top stories" with QB Ben Roethlisberger coming back from injury. They also have WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, a "colorful character." All of it "makes for compelling, must-see reality television" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 1/8).
