REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL Returns to HBO Next Week

By: Feb. 20, 2015
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REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL, TV's most honored sports journalism series, returns with more enterprising features and reporting when the show's 215th edition debuts TUESDAY, FEB. 24 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

For the up-to-the-minute updates about REAL SPORTS, follow on Twitter at @RealSportsHBO or join the conversation using #RealSports.

Segments include:

*Death on Everest. A devastating avalanche killed 13 Sherpa workers on Mount Everest last year, marking the worst tragedy in the mountain's history. With expeditions to the top of Everest more popular today than ever before, and no government oversight of the western companies that promise a luxurious adventure on the world's highest summit, some observers felt such a disaster was all but inevitable.

Lauded for their climbing skills, the Sherpas are a Nepalese ethnic group who fulfill climbers' needs, literally carrying a load that includes ropes, ladders, oxygen, food and even heated tents. The Sherpas are biologically acclimatized to the altitude like no other people in the world, but are only compensated around $5,000 per climbing season.

As western companies compete to offer more comforts to their clients, many of them inexperienced amateurs, the demands on the Sherpas have put them at increased risk. REAL SPORTS correspondent David Scott travels to the Himalayas to investigate whether the Sherpa deaths were the result of a natural disaster or the unavoidable consequence of an unregulated race to cater to wealthy western climbers.

Producer: Jordan Kronick.

*Hooked. When young athletes are injured, doctors commonly prescribe painkillers such as Percocet or Vicodin, leading in some cases to addiction. But when the prescription runs out and they hit the streets looking for a fix, they find pain pills too expensive and turn to heroin, a much cheaper alternative containing the same ingredient. Studies show that this a common progression and that adolescents who participate in organized sports are more likely to be prescribed and abuse these opioids, in part because of the pressure to return to action. REAL SPORTS correspondent Soledad O'Brien sits down with former football and baseball players to hear how addiction took hold and learn about their paths to recovery.

Producer: Maggie Burbank.

*Wonder Woman. Given only a two-percent chance of survival after contracting bacterial meningitis at age 19, snowboarder Amy Purdy could only dream of returning to the sport. She faced kidney failure, lost her spleen and had both legs amputated as doctors raced to save her life.

Nearly two years later, thanks to prosthetics and a kidney donated by her father, the Las Vegas native was back in action. Since then, the 35-year-old Purdy has won numerous competitions, most notably the bronze medal in snowboard cross at the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Games, and become a Paralympic trailblazer by designing the proper prosthetics for snowboarders. Purdy has also been a contestant on "Dancing with the Stars" and appeared in a SUPER BOWL ad this year. REAL SPORTS correspondent Jon Frankel meets the philanthropic athlete and learns more about her miraculous journey from near-death to celebrated snowboarder and TV personality.

Producer: Chapman Downes.

REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL will debut a new programming segment on the February edition. Periodically throughout the 2015 season, comedic talents from the HBO entertainment family will deliver their own unfiltered take on a hot sports issue. Launching the new feature will be Bill Maher, host of HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher," who will present his "New Rules for Real Sports" to close the Feb. 24 premiere.

Other HBO playdates: Feb. 24 (3:55 a.m.), 26 (12:15 p.m.) and 28 (8:30 a.m.), and March 4 (11:15 a.m., 4:00 p.m.), 6 (9:00 p.m.), 8 (11:00 a.m.), 9 (11:40 p.m.), 17 (4:00 p.m.) and 19 (4:20 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Feb. 25 (3:25 p.m.) and 27 (8:00 p.m.), and March 1 (7:45 a.m.), 5 (12:45 a.m.), 11 (10:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m.), 15 (2:15 a.m.) and 21 (noon)

REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL is available on multiple platforms, including HBO On Demand® and HBO GO®.

REAL SPORTS was recognized by the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication with a 2012 George F. Peabody Award for broadcast excellence. It is the only sports program ever honored with two duPont Awards, first in 2005 and again in 2012. Debuting April 2, 1995, the series has captured the Sports Emmy® for Outstanding Sports Journalism 15 times, receiving 26 Sports Emmys® overall.

Follow REAL SPORTS updates on HBO.com/realsports and facebook.com/realsports. Immediately following the debut of this month's show onFeb. 24, log on to HBO.com/realsports for a special overtime session hosted by Bryant Gumbel.

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



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