“INSIDE THE MAGIC: Formation of the Franchise”: Monday, November 3, 10 p.m. on Sun Sports
ORLANDO (October 29) – As the Orlando Magic celebrate their 20th season in the NBA, Sun Sports, which is also marking 20 consecutive seasons of televising Magic games, takes fans down memory lane with the first 2008-09 season episode of its Emmy Award-nominated INSIDE THE MAGIC series.
Hosted by Whit Watson, INSIDE THE MAGIC: Formation of the Franchise, premieres Monday, November 3, at 10:00pm (ET), immediately following the Magic’s game versus the Chicago Bulls on Sun Sports.
Watson hosts the show from the Cheyenne Saloon at Church Street Station in Orlando, which was the team’s home base for news conferences, celebrations and many other events during the early days. He is joined by Magic Sr. VP Pat Williams, former GM and the team’s point man who, along with Orlando businessman Jimmy Hewitt, spearheaded the effort to bring NBA basketball to Orlando. Watson takes viewers on a walk down memory lane as Williams and others candidly share the story of how the Magic was born and the community effort that led to Orlando being awarded its first professional team franchise.
Viewers will hear how a casual conversation back in 1985 sparked the effort to bring the NBA to Orlando – that fateful airport ride with Williams and Hewitt that would lead to something magical just a few years later. The challenges were daunting, but as Williams, Hewitt and others recount, the drive and determination of the Orlando community rose to the occasion. The show traces the steps, from the critical formation of an ownership group, through the season ticket commitment drive, to that fateful day in 1987 when, despite encountering doubters along the way, Williams shouted from the balcony at the Cheyenne Saloon, “Orlando, we’re in the NBA!”
Viewers will then hear how the coaching staff and first year roster came together with insight from the team’s first head coach and now Sun Sports/FSN Florida television analyst Matt Guokas; former GM John Gabriel; former first year players Nick Anderson, Jeff Turner, Otis Smith and Morlon Wiley; 20-year radio and Sun Sports/FS Florida team broadcaster David Steele; and two local writers/columnists who were there from the beginning – Tim Povtak and Brian Schmitz.
Additional airdates/times for INSIDE THE MAGIC: Formation of the Franchise on Sun Sports include: 11/7, 8:00pm; 11/10, 6:00pm; 11/14, 7:30pm; 11/18, 10:00pm; 11/22, 10:00pm; and 11/25, 8:00pm (ET). The show also airs on FSN Florida on 11/8, 6:30pm and 10:00pm; 11/16, 5:00pm; 11/22, 6:30pm; 11/23, 1:30pm; 11/28 7:00pm.
Hosted by Whit Watson, INSIDE THE MAGIC: Formation of the Franchise, premieres Monday, November 3, at 10:00pm (ET), immediately following the Magic’s game versus the Chicago Bulls on Sun Sports.
Watson hosts the show from the Cheyenne Saloon at Church Street Station in Orlando, which was the team’s home base for news conferences, celebrations and many other events during the early days. He is joined by Magic Sr. VP Pat Williams, former GM and the team’s point man who, along with Orlando businessman Jimmy Hewitt, spearheaded the effort to bring NBA basketball to Orlando. Watson takes viewers on a walk down memory lane as Williams and others candidly share the story of how the Magic was born and the community effort that led to Orlando being awarded its first professional team franchise.
Viewers will hear how a casual conversation back in 1985 sparked the effort to bring the NBA to Orlando – that fateful airport ride with Williams and Hewitt that would lead to something magical just a few years later. The challenges were daunting, but as Williams, Hewitt and others recount, the drive and determination of the Orlando community rose to the occasion. The show traces the steps, from the critical formation of an ownership group, through the season ticket commitment drive, to that fateful day in 1987 when, despite encountering doubters along the way, Williams shouted from the balcony at the Cheyenne Saloon, “Orlando, we’re in the NBA!”
Viewers will then hear how the coaching staff and first year roster came together with insight from the team’s first head coach and now Sun Sports/FSN Florida television analyst Matt Guokas; former GM John Gabriel; former first year players Nick Anderson, Jeff Turner, Otis Smith and Morlon Wiley; 20-year radio and Sun Sports/FS Florida team broadcaster David Steele; and two local writers/columnists who were there from the beginning – Tim Povtak and Brian Schmitz.
Additional airdates/times for INSIDE THE MAGIC: Formation of the Franchise on Sun Sports include: 11/7, 8:00pm; 11/10, 6:00pm; 11/14, 7:30pm; 11/18, 10:00pm; 11/22, 10:00pm; and 11/25, 8:00pm (ET). The show also airs on FSN Florida on 11/8, 6:30pm and 10:00pm; 11/16, 5:00pm; 11/22, 6:30pm; 11/23, 1:30pm; 11/28 7:00pm.
