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Special Report: The “N” Word
Outside the Lines (Sunday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)

As part of its Black History Month programming, ESPN will air an hour-long show focusing on the “N” word’s presence in sports. The special, hosted by Bob Ley, will examine the word, its history and its usage, and will include a live discussion. For more details and a podcast with Sr. Vice President, SportsCenter and News Rob King visit ESPNFrontrow.com

 

Boxing Tragedy
Outside the Lines (Sunday, 9 a.m., ESPN or ESPN2 if USA is in Olympic men’s Gold Medal hockey game)

Credit: ESPN Producer/Willie Weinbaum
OTL correspondent John Barr interviews Bakanay Abdusalamova, whose husband Magomed suffered severe brain injuries in a November heavyweight bout at Madison Square Garden

Previously undefeated (18-0) heavyweight contender Magomed Abdusalamov lost a 10-round decision after a brutal fight November 2 at Madison Square Garden, suffering broken bones in his face and hand, and a gash above his eye. After New York State Athletic Commission doctors examined him, they didn’t summon an on-site ambulance and he went to the hospital by taxi. Abdusalamov underwent emergency brain surgery and suffered multiple strokes, leaving him in a coma for weeks, and sparking a state investigation of the fight and its aftermath. John Barr reports.

“He was receiving lots of painful hits and complaining. I kept on thinking they would stop the fight.” — Mike Perez, who defeated Abdusalamov November 2

“We did not know that there was any kind of head injury at that point. He was showing no signs of any trouble.” — Matt Farrago, Inspector, N.Y. State Athletic Commission, assigned to monitor Abdusalamov the night of the fight

 

Credit: Mt. Sinai Roosevelt/Elizabeth Dowling
OTL production team shooting at New York’s Mt. Sinai Hospital (L to R): producer Willie Weinbaum, soundman Justin Stokes, production assistant Matt Brown, and cameraman Bryan Brousseau.

 

The Final Lap
SportsCenter (Sunday, 10 a.m., ESPN)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK3h8JbEISU

SC Featured tells the story of terminally ill NASCAR fan Mitch Zanette who had but one item on his bucket list – to spend a Speedweeks at Daytona. In February 2013, at the age of 50, Zanette fulfilled his final wish by road tripping from his home in Pen Argyl, Penn. to Daytona, Fla. – where he then died on the infield.

“He didn’t want to be told when he was gonna go out. He wanted to go out when he was ready. And, granted, he didn’t make it to the 500, but I think he did what he wanted to do.” — Mitchell Zanette, Mitch’s son

“He knew what he wanted. He didn’t wanna die in no hospital. So, I wasn’t gonna let him. He wanted to die at Daytona track, if he’s gonna die.” — Joe Zanette, Mitch’s brother

 

Perfection
SportsCenter at Daytona (Sunday, 10 a.m., ESPN2)

Credit: ESPN/Producer Steve Buckheit

Jimmie Johnson will start the Daytona 500 in pursuit of his seventh NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, a mark achieved only by NASCAR legends and seven-time champions Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. ESPN’s Kenny Mayne spent a day with Johnson, crew chief Chad Knaus and the Hendrick Motorsports organization unearthing what makes them so perfect.

 

Awarding Behavior
Polk & PBWA Recognize Reporting & Writing
ESPN investigative reporters Steve Fainaru and Mark Fainaru-Wada were among those recognized when the 65th annual George Polk Awards in Journalism were announced Sunday by Long Island University. The authors of “League of Denial” were honored in the Network Television Reporting category with Frontline’s Michael Kirk, Jim Gilmore and Mike Wiser for the documentary “League of Denial” which aired on PBS and traced the National Football League’s efforts to quash evidence linking players’ head injuries to a high level of the brain disease CET. For details

Credit: ESPN/Rich Arden
Mark Fainaru-Wada (L) and Steve Fainaru discuss their book “League of Denial” with host Bob Ley on Outside the Lines in October.

The Professional Basketball Writers Association (PBWA) also made a Sunday announcement, honoring ESPN.com NBA writer and TrueHoop editor Kevin Arnovitz with first place in its 2014 Best Writing Contest for his column titled “What we’re learning from Jason Collins” about the impact of Collins’ coming out. ESPNLosAngeles.com senior writer Ramona Shelburne was recognized with second place in the Column category for “Kobe and L.A. tradition will be tested.” Others recognized by the PBWA in the Features category included ESPN.com NBA writer Brian Windhorst with an oral history of the 2003 NBA Draft lottery (second place) and Grantland.com’s Jonathan Abrams (third place) on Korleone Young, a preps-to-pros player with a promising NBA career that fell short.