Sports Emmys Twice As Nice For ESPN, Fox coverage of NASCAR

By Ken Kerschbaumer

The Sports Emmys are typically a time when the industry gets together to share the love but last night’s ceremony, held in Rose Hall in New York City’s Time Warner center, was also about sharing the awards as three categories had multiple winners, including Outstanding Technical Team Remote, which went to both ESPN and Fox for their NASCAR coverage.

“There was no way we would win this award without Fox Sports, Speed and TNT because we share the same compound and the same people,” said Rick Abbott, ESPN VP, remote operations.

Abbott also acknowledged ESPN audio guru Ron Scalise, who helped shape the audio portion ESPN’s top telecasts and was killed in a car accident last December. “He’s tweaking God’s audio system right now looking for the perfect 5.1 audio mix,” he added.

Jerry Steinberg, Fox Sports, VP of operations, accepted the award on behalf of Fox and likewise praised his fellow networks. “There are 200 people and five networks [on site] and we are less competitive and more collaborative,” he added.

Steinberg also accepted the award for Outstanding Live Event Audio/Sound for MLB on Fox. “Audio is a special passion,” he said, adding that the cooperation of Major League Baseball since 1996 has been an important part in the success of MLB on Fox audio.

Fox also snagged the award for Outstanding Live Sports Special after its first-ever BCS broadcast of The Tostios Fiesta Bowl. “This is about Boise State, their coaches and players who never doubted it was their night,” said Fox Sports Producer Mike Burks.

The emotional high-point of the night was the presentation of the lifetime achievement award to Frank Chirkinian, a director who not only laid the framework for the Masters to be the world’s favorite golf broadcast but also oversaw the first live Olympic telecast from Squaw Valley in 1960, created the blimp shot, and even added down-and-distance to football telecasts.

“Behind the booming bark was a friend, one we would do anything for,” said Jim Nantz, CBS Sports announcer, also adding that Chirkinian is a father figure who helped shape his career.
“I share this with all of you,” said Chirkinian as he accepted the award to a standing ovation from the audience.

Here is the complete list of winners:

The George Wensel Technical Achievement Award:
PGA TOUR and LPGA coverage, Golf Channel; AimPoint

Outstanding LIVE SPORTS SPECIAL
BCS on FOX: Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: FOX

Outstanding LIVE SPORTS SERIES
NASCAR on FOX: FOX

Outstanding LIVE EVENT TURNAROUND
Quest for the Cup: NASCAR Images

Outstanding EDITED SPORTS SPECIAL
De La Hoya/Mayweather 24/7: HBO

Outstanding SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
Ghosts of Flatbush: HBO

Outstanding EDITED SPORTS SERIES / Anthology
America’s Game: The Super Bowl Champions: NFL Network, NFL Films

Outstanding STUDIO SHOW – WEEKLY
College Gameday: ESPN

Outstanding STUDIO SHOW – DAILY
Inside the NBA: TNT

Outstanding SPORTS JOURNALISM
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel; Headgames: The NFL Concussion Crisis

Outstanding SHORT FEATURE
Sunday NFL Countdown, ESPN; Fear

Outstanding LONG FEATURE
NFL Films Presents: Finding Your Butkus, NFL Network, NFL Films

Outstanding OPEN / TEASE
Super Bowl XLI, CBS; Super Bowl XLI Tease

Outstanding NEW APPROACHES – COVERAGE
Fantasy Football Live: Yahoo! Sports

Outstanding NEW APPROACHES – LONG FORM
Ray of Hope; ESPN.com

Outstanding NEW APPROACHES – GENERAL INTEREST
Death Race 2007; ESPN.com

Outstanding Sports Personality – STUDIO HOST
James Brown CBS

Outstanding Sports Personality – PLAY-BY-PLAY
Al Michaels NBC

Outstanding Sports Personality – STUDIO ANALYST
Cris Collinsworth HBO/NBC

Outstanding Sports Personality – SPORTS EVENT ANALYST
John Madden NBC

Outstanding TECHNICAL TEAM REMOTE
ESPN NASCAR; ABC / ESPN / ESPN2
NASCAR on FOX; FOX

Outstanding TECHNICAL TEAM STUDIO
MLB Post Season; TBS

Outstanding CAMERA WORK
Mayweather/Hatton 24/7; HBO

Outstanding EDITING
Ali’s 65; ESPN, Televerse Media

The Dick Schaap WRITING AWARD
Mayweather/Hatton 24/7; HBO

Outstanding MUSIC COMPOSITION / DIRECTION / LYRICS
Ghosts of Flatbush; HBO
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Kansas City Chiefs; HBO, NFL Films
NBA on TNT; TNT, NBA promos on TNT

Outstanding Live Event AUDIO / SOUND
MLB on FOX; FOX

Outstanding Post Produced AUDIO / SOUND
MLB on FOX: Pre Game Show; FOX
U.S. Open Tennis Championships; CBS

Outstanding GRAPHIC DESIGN
Sport Science FSN; BASE Productions

Outstanding PRODUCTION DESIGN / ART DIRECTION
NBA All-Star Saturday Night; TNT

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