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The First Cinderella
Outside the Lines (Sunday 9 a.m. ET, ESPN)

A self-assured young coach with a thick Boston accent reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in 1986, and when unknown Kevin Mackey led No. 14 seed Cleveland State to the Sweet 16, the Vikings not only became the toast of Cleveland, but of the entire nation. However, Mackey’s addiction and poor judgment produced a historic fall from grace, leaving him banished from the top echelon of basketball for more than a decade. Now, with help from a Hall of Famer, Mackey has resurfaced as a key contributor to a team that is among the favorites to win the NBA Championship.

For more on the Mackey story visit: ESPNFrontRow.com.

“I was in denial, which is not a river in Egypt, it’s a river that runs right by every addict’s front door, and it certainly was running right by my front door. I thought I had it in control. It had control of me. That was the end of the dream in Cleveland.” — Kevin Mackey

“My father just coached in, I don’t know, 10 different states, three different countries, and he coached for whomever would give him a job. He was in, I think, a basketball purgatory, and I have always felt that the penance he paid was far greater than his sins.” — Brian Mackey, Kevin’s son

 

UNC Whistleblower: More Details on Academic Scandal
Outside the Lines (Tuesday, March 25, 3 p.m., ESPN2)

Mary Willingham discussing UNC academic issues on OTL in January

When Mary Willingham went public with assertions that some student-athletes at the University of North Carolina were taking phony classes, she opened another chapter in the school’s three-year academic scandal and touched off a firestorm that shook the student body and school administrators. Despite criticism against her – even death threats – the UNC learning specialist is holding steadfast to her claims. Willingham discussed some of those allegations in January on Outside the Lines. But now, she reveals much more in an extensive interview with Steve Delsohn.

 

Phoenix Gorilla
SportsCenter (10 a.m., Sunday, ESPN)

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

In the NBA, there is a certain Hall of Famer who still takes the court every night: The Phoenix Suns Gorilla. But the man behind the mask for the last 25 years – has never shared his story on camera until now. Inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2005 with the San Diego Chicken and the Phillie Fanatic, The Gorilla single-handedly changed NBA in-game entertainment by becoming the first dunking mascot, triggering virtually every other NBA team to copy him. Now 49, The Gorilla talks, in silhouette, about his secret life in costume. Tom Friend reports.

“It was an honor for me to be in Phoenix with the Gorilla. Some of the stuff these mascots do, I think, is hilarious.’’ – Charles Barkley, former Suns player

“I don’t want to be seen, I don’t want to be known. I want the character to take center stage.’’ — The Gorilla, on being behind a mask for a quarter century

“The legacy of The Phoenix Gorilla is he revolutionized sports entertainment. He set the golden standard that we try and live up to now.’’ – Eric McMahon, “Grizz,” the Memphis Grizzlie mascot

 

Clayton Kershaw: Comical need for Control
ESPN.com
ESPN The Magazine (MLB Preview issue on newsstands Friday)

National League Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw discusses why he turned down last year’s offer from the Dodgers for a $300 million lifetime contract, explaining that he isn’t motivated by any external factor, money or otherwise. Senior writer Buster Olney reports on what drives Kershaw to pitch at this level.

 

Mike Jirschele
ESPN The Magazine (MLB Preview issue on newsstands Friday)
ESPN.com

Mike Jirschele spent 37 years as a player and coach in the Kansas City Royals farm system. He won several championships and is known as a great finisher of prospects. Every offseason, he goes back to work at a furniture store in Wisconsin. This year, for the first time, he has been called up, and will debut this season as a general assignment coach in Kansas City. Chris Jones reports.