WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin Hosts USA’s ‘WWE Tough Enough’
USA Network and WWE announced today that WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin will host USA Network’s upcoming reality series WWE TOUGH ENOUGH.
The non-scripted series will premiere Monday, April 4 at 11/10c, immediately following USA’s ratings juggernaut WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW, and move to its regularly scheduled slot in primetime, Mondays at 8/7c, starting on April 11.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin has captivated audiences around the world with his magnetic presence and bold, yet charming nature. Austin has done it all in sports entertainment winning 17 championships, including the WWE Championship six times. He has an immense and incredibly devoted fan base and is considered one of the most popular WWE Superstars of all time. Austin was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to work with my old friends at WWE on WWE TOUGH ENOUGH. Sports entertainment has always been an important part of my life and I look forward to finding the next generation of WWE superstar,” said Austin.
Steve Austin will share his intimate knowledge, experience and flair for the stage as one of the most popular figures in WWE history to a group of individuals looking for an once-in-a-lifetime shot to become the next WWE Superstar or Diva. Austin will mentor the diverse group of men and women who will live, train, eat and sleep under one roof in a house in Simi Valley, California. Each week the contestants will battle it out in a series of unique challenges designed to test for such characteristics as showmanship, creativity, athleticism and desire, just to name a few. Viewers will witness the trials and tribulations of what it takes to be one of the best in the world’s greatest sports entertainment organization. The grand prizewinner will be awarded a contract with WWE.
Since leaving the world of sports entertainment Steve Austin has made a name for himself in Hollywood with roles in such blockbuster hits as “The Expendables,” staring Sylvester Stallone and “The Longest Yard,” starring Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. Other film credits include “Damage,” “The Condemned” and “Hunt to Kill.” In addition to film, Austin is a household name from his work on the hit television shows NBC’s “Chuck” and CBS’ “Nash Bridges.”
Shed Media US, noted for its strong characters and memorable casting in the non-scripted arena, will produce WWE TOUGH ENOUGH. The company’s previous reality credits include “The Real Housewives of New York City,” ”Who Do You Think You Are,” “World’s Strictest Parents.” Producing for Shed Media US are Alex Demyanenko and Eric Van Wagenen.
90% of U.S. Golfers May Be Playing With the Wrong Equipment for Their Swing
A new, wide-ranging study reveals a golfer’s natural ability and swing are not the only things holding them back; 90% of U.S. golfers may be playing with clubs that do not fit them properly. Nearly 6,000 avid golfers across the country took part in the survey. The findings show players who were custom fit using advanced technology such as launch monitors, saw scores improve, hit the ball more accurately and had more fun playing golf than golfers who were not custom fit. The findings were unveiled today at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida.
“This study is a wake-up call for every golfer who wants to get better. We spoke to thousands of golfers coast to coast and the majority had no idea of what true custom fitting is all about and how it can shave strokes off of score cards,” said Jon Last, President of Sports and Leisure Research Group, which conducted the research. “The magnitude of the differences in perceptions between those fit and not fit was among the most significant I’ve observed between two test populations in my 20+ years of researching American golfers.”
The highlights of the research findings include:
- 92% of those golfers who were custom fit for their new equipment on a launch monitor realized immediate benefits with their new equipment.
- 80% of custom fit golfers hit the ball more accurately and consistently. Read more
Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year: Lukas Verzbicas
Current American Mile Record-Holder and Former Gatorade National Athlete of the Year Alan Webb Surprises Standout with Elite Honor
In its 26th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, today announced Lukas Verzbicas of Carl Sandburg High School (Orland Park, Ill.) as its 2010-11 Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year. Also the 2009-10 Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, Verzbicas was surprised with the news this morning by professional distance runner Alan Webb, the 2005 U.S. National Champion in the 1,500-meter run, who earned Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year honors in 2000-01.
“When I received the award in 2001, it was such a pivotal moment for me as an athlete. I’m grateful to be a part of this moment for Lukas, who is truly a phenomenal student-athlete on and off the racecourse,” said Webb, who shattered one of competitive running’s most storied records by setting the American prep mark with a 3:53.43 mile as a high school senior, eclipsing the great Jim Ryun. ”Gatorade has been on the sidelines fueling athletic performance for years, so to be recognized by a brand that understands the game and truly helps athletes perform is a huge honor for these kids.”
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the racecourse, distinguishes Verzbicas as the nation’s best high school boys cross country runner. A national advisory panel comprised of sport-specific experts and sports journalists helped select Verzbicas from nearly 240,000 boys cross country runners nationwide. Verzbicas is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year award, to be presented at a special ceremony prior to The ESPY Awards in July. Read more
Super Bowl’s Finest Ad Moments – 44 Years of Commercial Touchdowns and Fumbles in Adweek Magazine
Remember CareerBuilder’s primates? Cindy Crawford guzzling from a new Pepsi can? The Bud Bowl? Or two all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a sesame seed bun? Adweek reflects on these commercials and others in a 12-page retrospective of memorable Super Bowl ads, both funny and sentimental, beginning with the first pro game in 1967.
“With the exception of a few recession-year discounts, the cost of a Super Bowl ad has soared like a field goal kick to its current average asking price of around $3 million,” writes Robert Klara in this week’s Adweek. ”It stands to reason, then, that if a company’s going to drop that kind of cash, it’s going to give America the best advertising it can possibly produce.”
Adweek’s 44-year timeline revisits Super Bowl ad moments that captured America’s mood, economy, and pop culture of the time: Super Bowl VII’s pre-game tribute to Apollo 17, the sixth and last mission to land on the moon to date (Dolphins 14, Redskins 7); the introduction of Apple’s Macintosh during Super Bowl XVIII (Raiders 38, Redskins 9); “The Dot-Com Super Bowl” XXXIV featuring ads from 17 dot-com advertisers (Rams 23, Titans 16); The Budweiser Clydesdales’ bow in front of the New York skyline four months after 9/11 (Patriots 20, Rams 17); and this year, Mercedes-Benz arriving to the event’s commercial break for the first time.
For those who tune in to the Super Bowl because of the commercials, expectations grow every year. Of course, should a viewer miss a “wardrobe malfunction” (Super Bowl XXXVIII, Patriots 32, Panthers 29) there’s always YouTube in order to keep up with water cooler chat. Adweek’s timeline documents the networks that have televised the big game each year, the overall rating (Super Bowl XVI being the highest rated with a 49.1), total viewership and the final score.
“The Adweek Super Bowl Ad Time Line is a look back at how agencies and brands have created a commercial event all it’s own,” said Adweek’s Executive Editor Jim Cooper.
ESPN and Bing Team Up to Highlight Decisive Moments in the Lives and Careers of World Champion Quarterbacks
ESPN unveils gridiron magic in its new feature series ‘I Am a World Champion,’ presented by Bing.
ESPN and Bing have joined forces to present a multifaceted program that includes a unique feature series highlighting champion quarterbacks and their decisive moments in life and football, as well as an on-site activation as part of ESPN The Magazine’s annual NEXT event during Super Bowl weekend.
Only 28 men have ever led their team to a Super Bowl victory and walked off the field a world champion quarterback. Beginning today, ESPN is launching a new feature series called “I Am a World Champion,” presented by Bing, offering a first-person narrative from the signal callers who helped define the biggest game in American sports. This original content will showcase the travails and triumphs told in the quarterback’s own voice, such as Terry Bradshaw’s relationship with Chuck Knoll and the many daunting life obstacles Doug Williams overcame to reach glory. The first installment, featuring Bradshaw, is now available online at http://espn.go.com/nfl/superbowl/quarterbacks and airs today at 4 p.m. EST during NFL Live, with additional segments running throughout the week on both NFL Live and afternoon editions of SportsCenter. Also, as the official Decision Engine of ESPN The Magazine’s 2011 NEXT event, Bing will be presenting an open-to-the-public panel of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks including Joe Montana, Doug Williams and Kurt Warner on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. CST.
“We’re excited to team up with ESPN Films to showcase the decisive moments in the lives and careers of these legendary quarterbacks,” said Danielle Tiedt, general manager of Bing. “It’s been an inspirational journey to work with ESPN to bring this unique content to life reflecting the key life and career decisions that made these men into legends.”
“Our collaboration with Bing gave us an opportunity to create a series of truly inspiring features, which offer a new perspective on the lives and careers of a few of the men who have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy,” said Ed Erhardt, president of ESPN Customer Marketing and Sales. Read more