Another edition of Real Sports runs this Monday. I’ll have a real time review when it airs. But here are the segments that will run on Monday’s edition.
INVESTIGATES THE SLAUGHTER OF THOROUGHBRED HORSES FOR PROFIT, PROFILES TENNIS STAR VENUS WILLIAMS,
FOLLOWS THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN OF FORMER NBA STAR KEVIN JOHNSON AND REVISITS AUTO RACING SENSATION DANICA PATRICK
WHEN IT RETURNS MAY 12, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO
Winner of 20 Sports Emmys® in 13 years, REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL presents more enterprising features and reporting when its 134th edition debuts MONDAY, MAY 12 (10:00 p.m. ET/PT & 9:00 p.m. CT), on HBO.
Segments include:
*Hidden Horses. Few casual horse racing fans are aware that many former racing horses are slaughtered for profit. When a thoroughbred race horse reaches the end of its career or is simply no longer profitable on the track, it is often taken directly to auction and sold for meat. Because horse slaughter is no longer practiced in this country, these thoroughbreds are now being shipped by “killer buyers” to slaughterhouses abroad, which are frequently less regulated and less humane than former U.S. slaughterhouses. Correspondent Bernard Goldberg, who recently won the Sports Emmy® for “Outstanding Sports Journalism” for his 2007 REAL SPORTS story on the NFL concussion crisis, traces the disturbing journey many of these young and healthy horses take from the track, to auctions, to slaughterhouses, and finally to the plates of European and Japanese diners who pay top dollar for the delicacy.
Producer: Joe Perskie.
*Venus’ World. Since age 14, Venus Williams has been one of professional tennis’ most exciting, successful and enigmatic stars. Her on-court resume includes six Grand Slam singles titles, six Grand Slam doubles titles, and two Olympic gold medals – but that’s only part of her story. Off the court, Williams is the CEO of her own interior design company, a fashion designer with her own signature line and a recent graduate of the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, all of which she’s accomplished while remaining one of the top-ranked players in the world. REAL SPORTS host Bryant Gumbel sits down with the usually private reigning Wimbledon champion to discuss her successes on and off the court, her love life and her fight for equal prize money in women’s tennis.
Producer: Tim Walker.
*KJ For Mayor. In the star-studded world of California politics, a celebrity running for office is par for the course. But while most of these celebrities-turned-politicians have roots in Hollywood, the new front-runner in the race for Sacramento mayor is known for his accomplishments on the hardwood. After a 12-year career, retired Phoenix Suns point guard and three-time All-Star Kevin Johnson is trying his hand at politics in his hometown. James Brown, in a REAL SPORTS/Sports Illustrated collaboration, sits down with Johnson a month before the election to discuss his years of activism in Sacramento and looks at the attacks on his character that have surfaced.
Producer: Lisa Bennett.
*Driving Alone. When it comes to auto racing, Danica Patrick is in a league of her own. One of the most talented drivers in the sport today, her every action is scrutinized more than any other driver today because of her gender. Facing discrimination throughout her career, Patrick has proven time and again she can compete with the best, but it wasn’t until her first trip to the Indianapolis 500 that fellow drivers, the media and the public took notice. Now, after years of frustration and countless questions about her failure to win, Patrick has proven the critics wrong with her recent historic victory at Twin Ring Motegi in the Indy Japan 300. Correspondent Frank Deford updates the story of Indy Racing League’s most dynamic star.
Producers: Naomi Marcus, Tim Walker.
The show airs at 10 p.m. Monday.
