In just its third year ESPN The Weekend has become a very popular event for Disney-MGM Studios. Judging by the recently announced lineup, this year will be no exception. Sports fans are given the opportunity to see many of their favorite athletes and ESPN personalities up-close and personal at Disney-MGM Studios March 3-5, 2006.
Be prepared to stand in some lines for autographs, and make use of the ‘fastpass’ system they usually have set up for autographs. It’s also a chance to get on camera, so bring a cardboard sign that says something witty.
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Sports celebrities scheduled to appear, listed alphabetically by sport:
(List current as of Feb. 22, 2006):
BASEBALL:
- Brad Ausmus – MLB catcher (Houston Astros)
- Brandon Backe – MLB pitcher (Houston Astros)
- Roy Oswalt – MLB pitcher (Houston Astros)
- Andy Pettitte – MLB pitcher (Houston Astros)
- C.C. Sabathia – MLB pitcher (Cleveland Indians)
- Mike Schmidt – MLB Hall of Famer (Philadelphia Phillies)
- John Smoltz – MLB pitcher (Atlanta Braves)
- Dave Stewart – former MLB (Oakland Athletics. Toronto Bluejays, 1989 World Series MVP)
BASKETBALL:
- Dee Brown – Former NBA player (Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic); winner of ESPN’s "Dream Job 3"; ESPN NBA analyst
- Julius "Dr. J" Erving – NBA Hall of Famer (Philadelphia 76ers, 1981 NBA MVP)
- Karl Malone – NBA legend (Utah Jazz, 1997 NBA MVP, 1999 NBA MVP)
- David Robinson – NBA legend (San Antonio Spurs, 1995 NBA MVP)
FOOTBALL:
- Anquan Bolden – NFL wide receiver (Arizona Cardinals)
- Brian Dawkins – All Pro NFL defensive back (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Jake Delhomme – All Pro NFL quarterback (Carolina Panthers)
- Donnie Edwards – NFL linebacker (San Diego Chargers)
- Tony Gonzalez – All Pro NFL tight end (Kansas City Chiefs)
- Priest Holmes – NFL running back (Kansas City Chiefs)
- Chad Johnson – All Pro NFL wide receiver (Cincinnati Bengals)
- Ty Law – All Pro NFL defensive back (free agent)
- Santana Moss – All Pro NFL wide receiver (Washington Redskins)
- Joey Porter – All Pro NFL linebacker (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- Clinton Portis – NFL running back (Washington Redskins)
- Jerry Rice – NFL legend (San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks)
- Takeo Spikes – NFL linebacker (Buffalo Bills)
- Kenny Stabler – NFL legend (Oakland Raiders, Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints)
- Ike Taylor – NFL defensive back (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- Charles Tillman – NFL cornerback (Chicago Bears)
- Brian Urlacher – All Pro NFL linebacker (Chicago Bears)
- Adam Vinatieri – NFL kicker (New England Patriots)
OLYMPICS:
- Tai Babilonia – Former U.S. figure skater (1980 Olympian)
- Amanda Beard – U.S. swimmer (world record-holder in 200m breast stroke)
- Bruce Jenner – Former U.S. decathlete (Gold Medal winner, 1976)
ACTION SPORTS:
- Bucky Lasek – Skateboarding (four-time X Games Vert Gold Medal winner)
- Mike Metzger – Moto X (eight-time X Games Gold Medal winner)
ESPN personalities scheduled to appear:
"Baseball Tonight"
- Karl Ravech – host, "SportsCenter" anchor and on-site host for "SportsCenter’s" golf coverage
- Peter Gammons – baseball analyst, writer (2005 Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum inductee)
- John Kruk – former MLB All Star player, analyst
- Harold Reynolds – former MLB All Star, analyst for ESPN’s MLB, Little League and College World Series coverage
"Cold Pizza"
- Jay Crawford – "Cold Pizza" co-host Dana Jacobson – "Cold Pizza" co-host
- Woody Paige – national sports columnist and star of ESPN2’s "Cold Pizza"
ESPN Anchors/Personalities:
- Chris Berman – "SportsCenter" anchor, host of ESPN’s "Sunday NFL Countdown" and "NFL PrimeTime," MLB play-by-play commentator
- Linda Cohn – "SportsCenter" and ESPNEWS anchor, host of ESPN X Games and Winter X Games
- Josh Elliot – host of ESPN Classic’s "Classic Now"
- Jay Harris – "SportsCenter" and ESPNEWS anchor
- Al Jaffe – "Dream Job" judge and ESPN on-air talent recruiter
- Sal Paolantonio – "SportsCenter" correspondent, "Sunday NFL Countdown" reporter
- Howie Schwab – ESPN’s resident sports trivia guru and star of the ESPN quiz show "Stump the Schwab"
- Stuart Scott – "SportsCenter" anchor, host of ESPN’s "Dream Job" and "Monday Night Countdown"
- Jason and Randy Sklar – Co-hosts of ESPN Classic’s "Cheap Seats"
- Trey Wingo – "SportsCenter" anchor, host of ESPN’s "NFL Live" and ESPNEWS’ "Monday Quarterback"
ESPN Radio:
- Colin Cowherd – host of ESPN Radio’s "The Herd"
- Mike Greenberg – co-host of ESPN Radio’s "Mike and Mike in the Morning," "SportsCenter" anchor
- Mike Golic – co-host of ESPN Radio’s "Mike and Mike in the Morning," "NFL Live" analyst, former NFL lineman
- John Kincade – host of ESPN Radio’s "The John Kincade Show"
- Erik Kuselias – host of ESPN Radio’s "SportsBash"
ESPN Deportes:
- Mario Kempes – soccer analyst for ESPN Deportes; also calls games for ESPN International
- Luis Omar Tapia – Spanish-language soccer play-by-play commentator for ESPN Deportes and ESPN International
Note: Not all athletes and ESPN personalities will appear all days; all appearances subject to change.