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Week-Long Initiative to Include Simultaneous Launch Featuring Jim Valvano ESPYS Speech on Numerous ESPN Platforms, Men's and Women's Jimmy V Basketball Classics and Marathon Chat by ESPN.com's Bill Simmons.




Athens, GA (Nov 25, 2007) - The inaugural Jimmy V Week -- a week-long initiative featuring special content across ESPN platforms and programs to drive awareness of and donations to The V Foundation for Cancer Research -- will launch Wed., Nov. 28, at 7 p.m. ET with an introduction on numerous ESPN entities and conclude Tue., Dec. 4, with the Men’s Jimmy V Basketball Classic doubleheader (at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on ESPN), a night after the Jimmy V Women’s Basketball Classic on ESPN2 at 7 p.m.

As part of the initiative to drive donations for cancer research, Jimmy V Week content will be incorporated into studio programs and event telecasts, including SportsCenter, men’s and women’s college basketball, college football, NBA, PBA and more. The week will include content on ESPN.com, ESPN360.com, ESPNEWS, ESPN Classic, special vignettes, and specific Jimmy V Week on-air graphics. Highlights include:

* Simultaneous launch featuring Jim Valvano’s speech at the 1993 ESPYS across multiple entities;
* Marathon chat session by ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons (Wednesday, Nov. 28 beginning at noon) and special section on ESPN.com;
* Special elements during game and studio programming across multiple ESPN entities;
* A telecast of the 2007 V Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic Sunday, Dec. 2 at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2;
* Special guest interviews on ESPNEWS;
* A Jim Valvano-themed marathon on ESPN Classic;
* Jimmy V Week message on the BottomLine;
* Referees from the NFL, NBA and Jimmy V Women’s Basketball Classic donating a portion of their one-day salary to the V Foundation’s Blow the Whistle on Cancer Campaign.

Simultaneous Launch Across Multiple Entities

Jimmy V Week will launch across eight ESPN entities and the ABC SuperSign in Times Square Wednesday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m. with a special introduction by Duke Coach and V Foundation board member Mike Krzyzewski, followed by a complete presentation of Jim Valvano’s speech at the 1993 ESPYS. The approximate 13-minute long open will be seen simultaneously on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPN Classic, ESPNU, ESPN360.com, Mobile ESPN and ESPN Deportes (subtitled in Spanish). The ABC SuperSign version will include English subtitles.

Special ESPN.com Content, Highlighted by Bill Simmons Marathon Chat

ESPN.com will have special Jimmy V Week content highlighted by a marathon chat by Bill Simmons, an article by Dick Vitale, Jim Valvano’s 1993 ESPYS speech, and links to a calendar of events and to www.jimmyv.org for more information on The V Foundation and how to donate. Details include:

* The Sports Guy, ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons, will host a marathon chat session Wednesday, Nov. 28, beginning at noon (no set conclusion time).
* ESPN analyst and V Foundation board member, Dick Vitale, will write an article about the importance of The V Foundation and his memories of Jim Valvano.
* Jim Valvano’s speech at the 1993 ESPYS will be available online.

Elements During Event and Studio Programming

Jimmy V Week elements will appear during studio and event programming across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNU and ABC, including 26 men’s college basketball games, five women’s college basketball contests, 12 college football matchups and two NBA telecasts. Content will also be aired during studio programming across ESPN entities, including a feature on Jim Valvano’s legacy on every edition of SportsCenter on Wednesday, Nov. 28 (6 p.m., 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.).

ESPN2 will also televise the 2007 V Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic Sunday, Dec. 2, at 2:30 p.m. The one-hour program will feature highlights from two signature V Foundation events: The Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic (held at the Pinehurst Resort August 24-26) and The V Foundation Wine Celebration (from Napa Valley, Calif. August 3-4).

Jimmy V Week will conclude Tuesday, Dec. 4, with the Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic doubleheader from Madison Square Garden at 7 p.m. (Kansas State vs. Notre Dame) and 9 p.m. USC vs. Memphis), a night after the Jimmy V Women’s Basketball Classic from Rutgers University at 7 p.m. (Maryland vs. Rutgers on ESPN2).

ESPNEWS

Throughout the week, ESPNEWS will have interviews with guests who have a connection to cancer, including N.C. State Women’s Basketball Coach Kay Yow, Syracuse Men’s Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim and Shonda Schilling, wife of Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt. Additional guests are to be determined.

ESPN Classic Jim Valvano-Themed Marathon

ESPN Classic will offer a Jim Valvano-themed marathon leading up to the Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic December 4 beginning at 12:30 p.m. The schedule:

Time/Show

12:30 p.m. Up Close Classics: Jim Valvano

1 p.m. 1987 ACC Tournament - Championship (N.C. State defeats North Carolina)

3 p.m. 1983 ACC Tournament - Championship (N.C. State defeats #2 Virginia)

5 p.m. ESPN Classic Big Ticket: 1983 National Championship featuring N.C State vs. Houston (features the game plus interviews with former N.C. State guard Derek Whittenburg and Houston All-American Clyde Drexler)

Jimmy V Week Message on BottomLine

The following Jimmy V Week message will be included across each of the ESPN networks’ BottomLines for live event programming: Jimmy V Week - Join ESPN and The V Foundation in the fight against cancer Call (800) 4-JIMMY-V or visit jimmyv.org.

Blow the Whistle on Cancer!

In coordination with Jimmy V Week, all NFL and NBA game officials are participating in The V Foundation’s Blow the Whistle on Cancer Campaign by donating a portion of their salary from the week’s games to The V Foundation. In honor of the officials’ donations, both the NFL and NBA league offices will match the officials’ personal donations. This will be the sixth year for the NFL to Blow the Whistle on Cancer and the NBA’s third season – both leagues have had 100% participation from their officials every year of the campaign.

Officials from the Jimmy V Women’s Basketball Classic will also participate in Blow the Whistle on Cancer and donate a portion of their salaries to The V Foundation.

The V Foundation

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, the Foundation has raised more than $70 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. The Foundation, which has received five consecutive top 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Review Committee. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.