REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL Presents Its 200th Episode Today

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 the show's landmark 200th edition, available in HDTV, debuts TODAY, NOV. 19 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 19 (2:45 a.m.), 22 (10:0 a.m., 5:30 p.m.), 24 (8:00 a.m.), 27 (1:30 p.m.) and 30 (11:00 a.m., 1:00 a.m.), and Dec. 4 (12:30 a.m.), 6 (7:30 p.m.) and 9 (4:30 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Nov. 20 (11:15 p.m.), 26 (1:10 p.m., 9:00 p.m.) and 29 (7:30 p.m., 1:50 a.m.), and Dec. 3 (9:45 a.m., 6:20 p.m.) and 7 (2:15 p.m.)
HBO On Demand availability: Nov. 25-Dec. 16

Segments include:

*Putin's Olympics. With fewer than 100 days until the opening ceremonies for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, controversy looms large in the host city of Sochi, Russia. Seven years ago, Russian president Vladimir Putin captured the rights to The 2014 Winter Olympics after promising to spend $12 billion to hold the Games in this sub-tropical seaside resort town in the southern part of the country, which is the warmest location in Russia. Today, however, the latest reported estimate of the Games' cost is $50 billion, which makes the Sochi Olympics the most expensive in history, allegedly due in part to bribery and cronyism. REAL SPORTS correspondent Bernard Goldberg travels to Sochi for a behind-the-scenes look at the preparations and speaks to individuals who allege there are massive corruption schemes tied to these Games.
Producers: Josh Fine, Tim Walker.

*Shaw Time. On June 26, 1993, the mother, father and sister of former NBA journeyman Brian Shaw were killed in a car accident. (Shaw was later awarded custody of his 11-month-old niece and namesake, Brianna, the only Survivor of the crash.) At his side during this rough time was former teammate and best friend Reggie Lewis, but tragedy struck again a month after the accident when Lewis died from cardiac arrest. Now, more than 20 years after that fateful summer, Shaw, 47, is enjoying his first season as Denver Nuggets head coach, following successful stints as an assistant for the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers. In this REAL SPORTS/Sports Illustrated collaboration, correspondent Bernard Goldberg meets with the Oakland native, who details how the heartache he felt and the lessons he learned guided him to where he is today.

Producer: Chapman Downes.

*Live Mascots. Most, if not all, big-time college sports programs are represented by a symbol of the team's moniker. Some universities even go to great lengths to have a live animal represent school pride. REAL SPORTS host Bryant Gumbel explores the wild world of live animal mascots and their role in collegiate sports programs. From million-dollar habitats to enduring adulation, these mascots are accustomed to a life more akin to royalty and superstar athletes than zoo animals. Gumbel meets several of the most distinguished live animal mascots, including Ralphie the Buffalo from the University of Colorado, Tom the Tiger from the University of Memphis and the dog Reveille from Texas A&M University.
Producer: Jason Samuels.

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