Chicago, IL (February 1, 2016) – Comcast SportsNet, the television home of the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs and White Sox, celebrates “Black History Month” in February with four special feature stories highlighting prominent African-American athletes and significant sports moments that will air every Sunday night in February on GMC SportsNet Central at 10:30 PM CT. CSNChicago.com will also make each feature story available for online viewing immediately after they air on Comcast SportsNet. “Comcast SportsNet celebrates Black History Month” is presented by Knauz Autopark, located at Route 41 in Lake Bluff, IL.
Note the following feature stories scheduled to appear in “Comcast SportsNet celebrates Black History Month” throughout the month of February:
“HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS 90th ANNIVERSARY” (Sunday, February 7 at 10:30 PM): In 1926, a London-born Jewish man named Abe Saperstein founded a team of African-American men to compete and showcase their skills in a growing sport called basketball. After a transformation of identity, these talented athletes became a group of celebrated entertainers called The Harlem Globetrotters, who emerged as pop culture icons. After almost a century of existence, they are still a traveling show of ambassadors, spreading joy & goodwill on hard courts throughout the world.
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“DANIELLE GREEN” (Sunday, February 14 at 10:30 PM): Danielle Green is a former Notre Dame basketball player (1995-2000), from Chicago (Roosevelt H.S.). She joined the Army in 2003, was deployed to Iraq in 2004, and lost part of her left arm during an attack on Memorial Day. Her road to recovery was far from over. She lost her husband in those years after due to a sudden heart attack, and then found joy with the birth of her son. She moved back to South Bend and became a social worker/counselor for returning service men and women. Her special bond with Notre Dame is now stronger than ever.
“JESSE OWENS” (Sunday, February 21 at 10:30 PM): Buried in Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago, Owens was a four-time Olympic Gold Medalist at the 1936 Berlin Games. He’s arguably the greatest and most famous track and field athlete in history. Owens’ performance in the Berlin Games, where he faced strong racial tension, as well as hate from Adolf Hitler, still remains the greatest performance in Summer Games history. A new movie, “Race,” which will be released in theatres on February 16, chronicles the courageous life of Owens. We will have actor Stephan James, who portrays Owens in the movie, as well as sit-downs with Owens’ two daughters to describe the legacy of this great man.
“BILLY WILLIAMS” (Sunday, February 28 at 10:30 PM): The Cubs legend and Hall of Famer faced great struggles of race when trying to ‘make it’ in the Major Leagues. At one point, it was so bad, Williams’ quit the game he loved and moved back to his home in Alabama. Buck O’Neil and other Negro League greats went to Alabama and talked him out of that decision...a decision that turned out to be the greatest one of his life.