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| Bay Window: The Heart of the Game: Press Release |
PLAY BALL!
"BAY WINDOW" LOOKS AT THE RELATIONSHIPS OF BASEBALL, ON AND OFF THE FIELD
KQED's Series Profiles Bonds Forged By The Passion of the Game Following National Broadcast of Joe DiMaggio Biography
San Francisco, CA, April 25, 2000—The Boys (and Girls) of Summer are back and baseball is in the air! Bay Window, the local series from KQED TV9 that provides a Bay Area perspective on national issues in conjunction with national PBS programs, takes an intimate look at baseball and the powerful relationships that transcend the playing field. "The Heart of the Game" looks at the personal and lyrical qualities that infuse baseball with such a charming appeal to American society, especially here in the Bay Area. The Heart of the Game follows on the heels of The American Experience "Joe DiMaggio, A Hero's Life."
Joe DiMaggio's captivating career definitely reinforced baseball's place in American folklore. But the sport's appeal rests on far more than one charismatic personality. "The Heart of the Game" examines our fascination with baseball by profiling the relationships central to the sport. The program features baseball as Bay Area residents experience the game–at high school, college and professional levels–where the lasting personal bonds forged around teams find life beyond the field.
Bay Window "The Heart of the Game" airs on KQED Monday, May 8 at 10:30 p.m. Bay Window is hosted by Evelyn Cisneros and is funded by The James Irvine Foundation with additional support from the Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation.
"Now that baseball is in full swing—especially with the opening of the Giants' Pac Bell Park—our hearts and minds turn to the game," said Peter Calabrese, vice president of television production at KQED. "But this is not about just the game or the score or the hot dogs or the sunny afternoons, it's about the relationships we form with one another that stay with us for an eternity."
By following a coach as he mentors a player, a father as he cheers for his child, a player as he supports a teammate and a fan as he roots for his team, the transcendent quality of the game is felt:
A Coach and His Player...
Mike Lefebvre has been coaching Amy Purcell since she was eight years old. Now she is the starting pitcher on the Contra Costa College women's softball team. They know each other so well that Amy calls Mike a second father. In addition to coaching her, he also taught her algebra in high school. While pitching, Amy and Mike play "a game within a game" as coach and player use signals and non-verbal communication to determine a pitching strategy. This rapport has grown deeper over the past 14 years, and their on-field relationship is as intense as their off-field relationship is relaxed.
A Father and His Daughter...
Dan Patterson, age 46, played baseball throughout college—and his father never missed a game. He thought he would pretty much leave the ball field behind after college. But softball leagues for girls picked up in popularity this past decade, and with two daughters, he could get involved again. Now both of his daughters are on the Albany High varsity team, and Dan is not just dedicated to their softball development, but also grateful. The sport has given him something to share with his teenage girls in a way no other activity ever has done. Krislyn, a freshman shortstop, loves the game and takes great pride in the attention she gets from her father. On the sidelines, Dan paces back and forth during her games, often providing a running and colorful commentary.
A Father and His Son...
Juan Fuentes saves his money wisely to send two of his three children to private school, including his son Nayo. At Riordan High School in San Francisco, Nayo is a star outfielder. For Juan, baseball is a way to literally keep Nayo out of trouble. The Bayview Hunter's Point neighborhood where they live is a tough one, and Nayo has had difficulty staying out of trouble in the past. Juan is banking on Nayo's baseball experience and the Riordan community to keep Nayo focused. Juan, like Dan Patterson, is also a pacer during his son’s games, and spent years coaching Nayo until he reached the high school level.
A Player and His Teammate...
Rigo Lopez and John Herbert play baseball for the University of San Francisco Dons and are coached by Nino Giarratano. Rigo is one of the leaders of the Dons squad, and as a catcher, responsible for the emotional stability of excitable pitcher John Herbert. On the field their concentration on each other is intense, and between innings, they compare notes on batters. As teammates they rely on one another, but off the field as individuals, they couldn’t be more different.
A Fan and His Team...
Steve Ballestreri, age 43, was raised to be a lifelong San Francisco Giants fan. Steve's father played sandlot ball with the DiMaggio Brothers in San Francisco. His father's own memorabilia, including old gloves and newspaper clippings, are family treasures, and Steve's son's room is dominated by the official Giants' colors. The family has been season ticket holders since 1958 and going to games is an inter-generational affair.
Transcripts, interviews and a discussion of "The Heart of the Game" will be available on May 8 via KQED's Web site at kqed.org/baywindow.
Bay Window is an eclectic series that complements national public television broadcasts with Bay Area perspectives. Formats range from live talk shows to documentaries and from cultural performances to two-minute shorts. The first season of Bay Window included programs following landmark and moving public television presentations, such as Africans in America, Not For Ourselves Alone and An American Love Story.
Bay Window was created by Peter Calabrese. "The Heart of the Game" producer is Richard Hall, series producer of Bay Window is Robin Epstein and Sue Ellen McCann is executive producer. Major funding for Bay Window is provided by The James Irvine Foundation with additional support from the Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation.
KQED, Inc., operates KQED TV9, the nation's most-watched public television station; KQED 88.5 FM, one of the most listened-to public radio stations in the nation; and the KQED Education Network, which brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents and media professionals through workshops, seminars and the Internet.
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