REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL Returns to HBO 10/22

By: Oct. 18, 2013
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Now in its 19th season, REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL, TV's most honored sports journalism series and the only sports program recognized with a prestigious 2012 George Foster Peabody Award, presents more enterprising features and reporting when its 199th edition, available in HDTV, debuts TUESDAY, OCT. 22(10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Other HBO playdates: Oct. 22 (3:15 a.m.), 25 (8:30 a.m., 7:30 p.m.), 27 (7:30 a.m.) and 29 (5:30 p.m., 12:30 a.m.), and Nov. 2 (9:45 a.m.) and 4 (2:30 p.m., 1:15 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Oct. 23 (9:00 a.m., 11:30 p.m.) and 31 (6:00 a.m.), and Nov. 1 (1:40 p.m.), 5 (9:00 p.m., 1:45 a.m.), 7 (5:30 p.m.), 9 (5:00 p.m.) and 10 (7:30 a.m.)

HBO On Demand availability: Oct. 28-Nov. 18. The show will also be available on HBO GO.

Segments include:

*Mr. October. With millions of fans currently following baseball's post-season, many remember that this month once belonged to Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, Mr. October himself. Host Bryant Gumbel heads to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, and sits down with the outspoken 67-year-old special adviser to the club. On the heels of his new book, "Becoming Mr. October," the 14-time All-Star opens up about his personal life and storied career, offering insights into race relations during his playing days and the magical '77 and '78 seasons that cemented his legacy as one of the greatest clutch sluggers.

Producer: Nick Dolin.

*CP3. It would be hard to find a more likable, wholesome sports superstar than Los Angeles Clippers favorite Chris Paul. The antithesis of the flashy pro athlete, the 28-year-old doesn't drink or smoke, and even eschews tattoos. Paul is a dedicated father to his two young children and a devoted husband to his college sweetheart, to whom he was married in 2011. Paul's grandfather, whom he cites as his greatest inspiration, was murdered at age 61, the day after the point guard committed to Wake Forest University during his junior year of high school, which had a profound impact on his life. In the first game after his grandfather's death, Paul honored him by scoring 61 points. To this day, he calls it the most memorable game of his career. In this REAL SPORTS/Sports Illustrated collaboration, correspondent Mary Carillo provides a better look at the newly elected president of the NBA Players Association and the catalyst behind the Clippers' remarkable turnaround.

Producer: Jordan Kronick.

*eSports. Whether video gaming, or eSports, is the anti-sport or the sport of the next generation, it's big business, currently grossing more than $60 billion a year. That's roughly four times the size of the music business and nearly twice the size of the film industry. Video gaming has even become one of the fastest-growing spectator sports in the world, which may surprise those unfamiliar with eSports, but competitive gamers have shown that the profession provides lucrative opportunities. Earlier this month, REAL SPORTS' Soledad O'Brien went behind the scenes of The League of Legends World Championships at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where the competition was broadcast live to millions of people around the globe and had the eSports world buzzing.

Producer: Maggie Burbank.

*Friends of Jaclyn. When Jaclyn Murphy was nine years old, she was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and given a 30% chance of survival. To lift her spirits during the grueling medical treatments that followed, the Hopewell Junction, NY native was "adopted" by the Northwestern University women's lacrosse team, which supported her with endless texts, video messages and friendship. Out of this connection grew Friends of Jaclyn, a foundation started by her parents, which has helped match other sick children with college teams. Now, Murphy is an 18-year-old college student who inspires others, and her family also continues to inspire. In the four years since the original REAL SPORTS report, the foundation has successfully paired hundreds of sick children with sports teams across the country. Correspondent Frank Deford reconnects with Jaclyn Murphy and her family.

Producers: Chapman Downes, Beret Remak.

REAL SPORTS was the sole sports program recognized by the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication with a 2012 George F. Peabody Award for broadcast excellence. In addition, it is the only sports program ever honored with a duPont Award, first in 2005 and again in 2012.

At the 34th annual Sports Emmy Awards on May 7, REAL SPORTS captured two trophies, for Outstanding Edited Sports Series and for Outstanding Long Feature for the Aug. 2012 profile of former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason. REAL SPORTS has won the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Journalism 15 times and has received 25 Sports Emmy Awards overall.

Follow REAL SPORTS updates on HBO.com/realsports andfacebook.com/realsports, or join the conversation on Twitter using #RealSports.

The executive producer of REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL is Rick Bernstein; Joe Perskie is senior producer.



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