Fox Sports Net's documentary series BEYOND THE GLORY on Sunday, April 8 at 8:00 p.m., hits the hardwood with a riveting profile of one of the NBA's biggest stars, Sacramento Kings forward Chris Webber. The one-hour sports series provides a diary of Webber's life from growing up in Detroit, to his early basketball memories, from his high school and college basketball careers to his successes and failures since joining the pro ranks. Little known facts like his charitable foundation, called "Timeout," to his rap career under his record label, "Humility Records," are all touched upon during this innovative, behind the scenes look at Webber.
At the end of the 2001 NBA season, Webber becomes the biggest name to hit the free agent market and amid much speculation about where he'll end up, watching this episode of BEYOND THE GLORY, may provide the best clue. Chronicling Webber from his childhood until today, BEYOND THE GLORY goes behind the headlines and highlights to talk to the people who have impacted and shaped Chris' life the most. As this show documents, Webber has been faced with tough choices on his basketball future since he started playing. It's the perspectives and insights from his past that may be the most telling about his future choices.
Born Mayce Edward Christopher Webber III, he will forever be remembered for an infamous blunder at the end of the 1993 NCAA championship tournament, when his Michigan Wolverines battled the University of North Carolina. With seconds remaining and his team down by two points, Webber called a timeout. However, the Wolverines had already used their final timeout and Michigan was called for a technical foul. The Tar Heels ended up winning 77-71.
People interviewed for this episode of BEYOND THE GLORY include: Indiana Pacer and former Michigan teammate Jalen Rose, Kings head coach Rick Adelman, former Michigan and current San Diego State head coach Steve Fisher, Webber's high school basketball coach from Country Day High School Kurt Keener, former Michigan assistant coach and rival Southwestern High School coach Perry Watson, current Sacramento Kings teammate and former rival at Ohio State University Lawrence Funderburke as well as Chris' father Mayce, Jr., sister Rachael and brother Jeffery. Here are some of the quotes from the one-hour show:
| Webber: | On his reaction to calling that infamous timeout at Michigan: "I just remember putting my hand on my hips and saying, 'I know that God, you're not letting this happen to me right now. I know, God, you're not doing this to me right now.'" | ||
| Mayce, Jr: | His reaction to his son's actions that day: "It just seemed like my heart went out of my body. I just knew how he felt." | ||
| Webber: | "My father tells me now about college recruitment. How much he was offered. This school offered him $100,000, this school offered him $50,000." | ||
| Webber: | On how he felt being the tallest kid growing up: "I'm taller than everybody and my feet are big. It was very uncomfortable. It was an uncomfortable stage. You can't look cool as the tallest one." | ||
| Rose: | "We made a bond to each other that we were going to play high school ball together. We were going to play college ball together. We were going to play NBA ball together." | ||
| Mayce, Jr.: | On his son's distinctive looks while at Michigan: "How could Chris do that? How could he get on TV and embarrass me? My name is out there. Bald head. I didn't like that. I couldn't stand it." | ||
| Rachael: | (Chris' sister) "Our parents always made sure that even if we were poor, we never felt like we were poor." | ||
| Webber: | "Me being angry and using my anger from people I didn't feel respected me. I definitely use that as a tool to give me energy, to make me go out and really not fear anything because I felt the world was against me." | ||
| Webber: | On how he found out that Washington had traded him: "I found out at the corner store in D.C. This guy was like, 'You were traded to Sacramento.' I didn't even believe him. I didn't even take it serious. I was just like, 'Man, he doesn't know anything.' Then my agent called and said, 'Yeah, you were traded.'" | ||
| Webber: | After learning he was going to Sacramento: "That was worse than calling a time out." | ||
| Webber: | On Sacramento now: "Sacramento has been the best place for me and you know it was a blessing from God. Getting traded."
| Webber:
| On the fans in Sacramento: "It's like playing in college again. They really give you a lot of energy. They really keep you going. They're the best fans in the NBA by far." | |
Background
The No. 1 pick in the 1993 NBA Draft, Webber at 6'10" 245 lbs., became the first sophomore since Magic Johnson in 1979, to be selected first overall. Drafted by the Orlando Magic and traded on draft day to the Golden State Warriors, Webber won Rookie of the Year honors before being shipped to the Washington Bullets in his second season. After spending four seasons with Washington he was traded to the Sacramento Kings for Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe in 1998. Part of the "Fab 5 Freshmen," he led the University of Michigan Wolverines to two straight NCAA Final appearances in 1992 and 1993, before heading to the NBA.
The BEYOND THE GLORY documentary series debuted on January 7 profiling such names as: Deion Sanders, Isiah Thomas, Warren Moon, Roberto Duran, Karl Malone, The Petty Family, Dale Earnhardt, James "Buster" Douglas, Bill "Spaceman" Lee and William "Refrigerator" Perry.
Fox Sports Net reaches more than 77 million households nationwide and is a service of National Sports Partners, equally owned by Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. and FOX. Rainbow Sports Networks incorporates Rainbow's 50% ownership of Fox Sports Net and Fox Sports National Advertising, and the ownership and management of Fox Sports Net regional networks in five of the nation's largest markets: Chicago, Florida, Ohio, New England and San Francisco.
Contact:
Jay dela Cruz
415-296-8900