SPORTS BYLINE USA TO BROADCAST LIVE FROM IRAQ
San Francisco, CA – Legendary sports talk show host Ron Barr will take his Sports Byline USA radio show to Mosul, Iraq for shows on August 22, 23 and 24 it was announced today. This is the first time that a sports talk show has originated from a military combat zone.
Sports Byline USA with Ron Barr (www.sportsbyline.com) airs weeknights from 10pm – 1am Eastern time nationwide. Sports Byline USA has been called the "Nightline" of sports for its interesting, insightful and compelling presentation.
Barr’s guests during his three show stint in Iraq will include Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, Texas Tech basketball coach Bobby Knight, former Dallas Cowboys great Roger Staubach and former San Antonio Spurs great David Robinson. Staubach and Robinson have military backgrounds. Other guests pending include Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Tony LaRussa, Shaq, Peyton Manning, Terry Bradshaw, John Madden and Alex Rodriguez. Efforts are being made to have President George Bush join Barr during one of his broadcasts. Barr will also have a military serviceman or woman co-host each hour of the Iraq broadcast of Sports Byline USA.
“I am very excited to be headed to Iraq to broadcast Sports Byline USA,” said Barr. “This trip has been in the works for over a year and it will be an amazing experience for me and my listeners. We’ve broadcast the show and our network programming on the American Forces Network for over 15 years, so this is an opportunity for us to take our show directly to the troops.” In addition, Barr’s family military background added to his desire to take his show to the troops. Barr said, “It’s important to me to bring our servicemen and women a touch of home, and let them hear and talk to their sports heroes who will join us on the broadcasts by phone.” Barr plans to also have his Sports Byline USA military co-hosts receive a call on-air from a loved one, in the United States. Sports Byline USA is heard worldwide on the more then 500 stations, in 177 countries, of the American Forces Network. In addition, Barr’s program is heard nationwide on nearly 200 radio stations, and on the Internet (www.sportsbyline.com) and Sirius Satellite Radio (channel 122).
Ron Barr’s career began at the Washington Post newspaper in Washington, D.C. Barr's career includes broadcasting NBA basketball, NFL football, Major League Baseball, professional tennis, numerous college sporting events as well as several other major sporting events. His sports reporting resume includes 30 Super Bowls, NCAA Final Fours, numerous World Series and the Olympic Games.
Furthermore, Ron Barr's voice and likeness are known worldwide. He has been the sportscaster in more than a half dozen EA SPORTS video games. Millions of video game players know Ron Barr as the "voice of" NHL Hockey, Tony LaRussa Baseball, PGA Golf, FIFA Soccer and other popular sports video games. EA SPORTS is sending a number of video games to Iraq with Barr to give out to the servicemen and women.
In addition, the National Football League and Sports Byline USA sponsor Blue Goo and Cracked Heel are sending gifts for Barr to give out to the troops as well.