March 12, 2008

ESPN Original Entertainment, with Shoot the Moon Productions and award-winning director Dan Klores will debut "Black Magic" a documentary exploring the Civil Rights movement's effect on college basketball and vice versa. The NAIA contributed hours of game footage from basketball action for use in the film. "Black Magic" is a two-part, four hour film about the injustice which defined the Civil Rights Movement in America, as told through the lives of basketball players and coaches who attended Historical Black Colleges and Universities. Co-produced by basketball legend and Winston-Salem State University graduate Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, the film will be aired on March 16th and 17th 2008 on ESPN commercial free and is narrated by Samuel L. Jackson.

From more than 200 hours of interviews and footage, the film reveals the plight of these players and coaches as a stark but proud one filled with obstacles at every turn. From separate leagues and facilities, to championship games and titles that never qualified for the history books, players at HBCUs not only thrived, but laid the groundwork for the proliferation of the modern athlete. Klores conducted interviews with former NAIA players and coaches including those with Dick Barnett, Joanna McLendon, historian Milton Katz, John Chaney, Willis Reed, Cleo Hill, Woody Sauldsbury, Perry Wallace, Ben Jobe, Sonny Hill, Early Monroe and Earl Lloyd.

"Black Magic" is an important story that we look forward to telling on all of our platforms," said John Skipper, ESPN executive vice president, content. "It's a living history of sports and culture that invites a broader discussion about race, society and how we think about modern day athletes and sports. It's the kind of project we embrace wholeheartedly. Dan Klores continues to prove his mettle as a filmmaker and his rare ability to reveal what we thought we knew, but turns out we didn't know at all."

"This is a story of injustice, refuge and joy," said Klores, "It's an epic that has not been told." Klores added that Ben Jobe, the 75-year-old retired coach at six HBCUs, and the 15th child of Tennessee sharecroppers, best summarized the film when he said, "I remember when it went from `Whaddya want?' to `May I help you?'"

ESPN Original Entertainment with Shoot the Moon Productions presents "Black Magic"
The film will air on March 16th and 17th 2008 on ESPN commercial free
To check for local times and listings visit www.espn.com

Please note: Historian Milton Katz will speak briefly about the film at the 2008 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship Honorary Coach event on Thursday, March 13, 2008. The event takes place at the Screenland Theatre in the Crossroads District in downtown Kansas City. Festivities get underway at 6:30 p.m. (CT).