It's been a great start to an exciting year upcoming for Murray Media, but also a good time to reflect on all the wonderful we had in 2012. From an amazing week-long National Convention Murray Media's Event A/V team produced at The Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix, to the many multi-camera High-Def production shoots for events such as the 40th Anniversary of the Dallas Cowboys 1st Super Bowl win and the 20th Anniversary of the 1st Super Bowl win of "The Triplets," to Murray Media producing the very 1st event at the newly built Perot Museum of Nature and Science, to providing all video elements and video event production, for the 3-Day opening of the new Klyde Warren Park in Downtown Dallas, 2012 was a year to remember!
So, coming on the heels of a great 2012, Murray Media finished the year by providing week-long video production and Event A/V support for ESPN's Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, the week between Christmas and New Year's, for its 7th straight year. Not to be outdone, the office staff and editors were kept busy as well, as they were putting the finishing touches on the 1-Hour Spirit Celebration Television Christmas Special 2012, produced and shot by Murray Media, which aired the 2nd week in January in 6 markets across Texas. Now, as we move into February, a month were Murray Media members will be celebrating their 11th year working on video and Event A/V services for the great Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, it is most proud of the fact it received the opportunity from FOX Sports Southwest, to produce an 1-Hour TV Special from the event that honored the 40th Anniversary of the Dallas Cowboys 1st Super Bowl win. The air-date of February 1st, 2 days before the 2013 Super Bowl, is very fitting, and the fact it has a Texas and national audience, is all the more exciting!
August/September 2012
The beginning of August began with Murray Media producing a special event for the Fort Worth Police Department in Downtown Fort Worth. Sponsored by Del Frisco's, special guests included Cowboys legends Jay Novacek and Walt Garrison and was hosted by local radio host, Hal Jay. The awards event was a huge success and raised money for a great cause!
Murray Media on August 14th was proud to provide video production and A/V for the Daughters of WWII V-J Day event, at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field. Over 150 former WWII veterans were on-hand for the momentous celebration. C-SPAN was also on-hand to help document the event.
The month of August also proved to be a tough one for Cowboys 7-time Pro Bowler, Jason Witten. Excited about training camp and what the upcoming season might hold, Witten quickly found himself on the sideline after suffering a lacerated spleen in the pre-season game against the Oakland Raiders. Witten was confident this was the season the Cowboys might make a legitimate run for the title, not to mention become the Cowboys all-time receiving leader. He needs only 54 receptions to tie Hall of Famer, Michael Irvin, with 750 career catches. Witten has averaged 77 catches per season in his nine year career, so the record is certainly in sight, if he can stay healthy. One thing we do know… Jason is one of the real difference makers in our world when it comes to helping at-risk youth. His Jason Witten SCORE Foundation, founded in 2007, operates numerous programs, both here in Texas and in his native Tennessee, to help individuals and families in need. The foundation has created programs that focus on fighting domestic violence and childhood obesity, as well as educational initiatives. Jason and his wife, Michelle, a registered nurse, continue to be role models for all the young boys and girls they come in contact with. MM CEO Scott Murray recently had the opportunity to serve as master of ceremonies at Jason’s annual corporate “thank you” event at Vaquero in Westlake. All you had to do was listen to a handful of corporate supporters and individual volunteers who work at his camps to quickly learn why he’s so admired, not only for his great play on the football field, but, more importantly, for the incredible impact he has off the field in the lives of thousands of boys and girls. It’s a great legacy he continues to create through life-changing efforts in the lives of young people who are the potential leaders of tomorrow. The world could use more Jason Witten’s.
Coming up, a big event with Murray Media's video and A/V support, is slated to take place on Friday, September 7, involving former Dallas Cowboy will be lending his support where the current Cowboys call home. Cowboys Stadium will play host to the 19th annual Fantasy Football gala benefitting the Warren Center, which assists children with developmental differences. Charles Haley is this year’s special host, joining a list of Cowboys legends that have come before him: Drew Pearson, Tony Dorsett, Rayfield Wright and Darren Woodson.
As always, catch our TV Show on Ch. 21, FYI FW, the 1st Sunday of every month, produced by Murray Media. The next episode we will be introducing the newest co-reporters, so don't miss it!
Maybe the third time will be a charm. That’s the best Texas Rangers can hope for at this point. A chance to celebrate the first World Series title in franchise history gave way to another off-season of woulda, coulda, shoulda. But, unlike a year ago, it was right there to be had…. Series to remember. I was just a kid, but, I do remember like yesterday that ’60 Series when the Pirates beat my hero, Mickey Mantle, and the Yankees, when Bill Mazeroski hit the walk-off Series winning homer in Game 7. And, many have already compared this year’s Fall Classic with those that the Red Sox let get away in memorable fashion decades ago. Who will ever forget Carlton Fisk, arms raised high in jubilation, motioning the ball to deep left to stay fair as he headed down the first base line, with the walk-off homer in the 12th forcing a Game 7 in the 1975 World Series. Then, 11 years later, a similar fate for Boston, as Bill Buckner opened the floodgates when he let the ball get through his legs at first, allowing the Mets to win Game Six and capture the deciding Game 7 the next night. Even Hall of Fame catcher, Yogi Berra, the master of malapropisms, and a native of St. Louis, weighed in on this year’s unforgettable Game Six. “Boy that was exciting,” exclaimed Berra, “I always say it ain’t over til it’s over, but, that one should’ve been over a while ago.” Don’t think many Rangers fans would disagree. Then again, wasn’t it great to be still talking about Texas baseball as we prepared for Halloween. It was the Cardinals who turned the trick and got the treats this year, but, hopefully we’ll get another chance this time next year. And, despite the disappointment, with every shortcoming there usually is a silver lining. In this case, the thousands of t-shirts and articles of clothing that were already shipped and ready to go with Texas Rangers World Series Champions emblazoned on the front are now the property of World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children and families, tackling the causes of poverty and injustice, in over 100 countries around the world, allowing children with nothing to at least have a shirt on their back.
Former Texas Tech All-America running back and Green Bay Packers great will welcome a former teammate to town in early November to help support the young people that benefit from his Winners for Life Foundation. Hall of Fame quarterback, Bart Starr, MVP of Super Bowl’s I & II, will be the guest speaker at the 3rd annual Sports Luncheon, November 8, at Royal Oaks Country Club. The event is open to the public.
Former Dallas Cowboys great, Drew Pearson, was the special guest at the 11th Annual Walk to Defeat ALS at Quik Trip Park, home of the Grand Prairie Air Hogs baseball team. The yearly event raises $300,000 for those that suffer from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a terminal neuromuscular disease, often known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, for which there is no cure. Many patients in wheelchairs were pushed by family and friends who gathered to help raise money and awareness for the insidious disease. Drew, the recipient of the ALS Association Humanitarian Award earlier this year, thanked the thousands who participated for their support, urging them to never give up and always “have hope” much like his teammates did in that memorable playoff game of 1975, when the Cowboys were trailing in Minnesota with only :24 remaining, and Roger Staubach and Pearson hooked up on that unforgettable “Hail Mary” pass to win the game. Understandably, even those not even born back then, were anxious to have their picture taken with the Cowboys great, just a week before he was finally to be inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor at Cowboys Stadium. Pearson, who owns a Super Bowl Ring from Super Bowl XII, will be in the same Ring of Honor class as former Cowboys offensive lineman, Larry Allen, and defensive great, Charles Haley, the only player to ever play on five winning Super Bowl teams: two in San Francisco and three with the Cowboys.
Haley has been busy on the charity circuit, recently serving as a greeter with members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas at the Clubs annual golf outing for corporate sponsors and generous partners. The event was held at Dallas National Golf Club. We had the privilege of serving as the master of ceremonies at the event which raises funds for young people looking to attend college and their dreams as they prepare themselves for life in the real world. Charles will also be honored by the PLAN of North Texas organization, a non-profit that assists patients and families dealing with depression, mental illness or Bipolar Disorder. The event is scheduled for February 2012.
Hats off to our good friend Verne Lundquist! The former WFAA-TV sports anchor, now the voice of SEC college football on CBS, will be honored along with ABC/ESPN broadcaster, Brent Musberger, with the Oustanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award. The National Football Foundation Presentation Banquet will be held in New York City, December 6, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. All eyes will shift to Orlando, Florida two days later for the annual College Football Awards Show, live from DisneyWorld on ESPN. That’s when we’ll find out who wins a couple of local-based national awards: The Doak Walker National Running Back Award (presented by SMU each February in Dallas) and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award (also presented each February at the historic Fort Worth Club).
Speaking of SMU, the school will again play host to the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl due to the construction that continues at TCU’s Amon Carter Stadium until 2012. This year’s game is scheduled to kickoff at 11:00am, Friday, December 30. The 2nd annual Ticket City Bowl, which will match a Big ten participant against a team from Conference USA, will be played at the Cotton Bowl, Monday, January 2, 2012, also at 11:00am. The AT&T Cotton Bowl Class kicks off Friday night, January 6,2012, at 7:00pm. In case you missed it, Cotton Bowl Classic Hall of Famer and north Texas resident, Russell Maryland, has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Russell is a 2-time NCAA Football National Champion and All-America with the Miami Hurricanes and a 3-time Super Bowl Champion with the Dallas Cowboys.
Maryland remains very active in the local community helping philanthropic endeavors. Russell will join the likes of former Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Brown, and former Dallas Cowboys greats, Preston Pearson, Billy Joe DuPree, among others at the Speedway Children’s Charities annual Celebrity Charity Bowling event at the Main Event in Grapevine, November 3, at 6:30pm. It is open to the public and all monies raised go to support children’s organizations throughout the four county area of Denton, Dallas, Collin and Tarrant. Speedway Children’s Charities has distributed close to 8 million dollars in its 14 year existence.
July/August 2011
So you think you can dance? Eight well known north Texas personalities thought so, willing to give it a try, all in the name of charity. From Super Bowl Champs to rock star chefs, Radio/TV folks to Hollywood actors, they all came to support an organization committed to ending the overpopulation, abuse and neglect of Dallas area dogs and cats, by finding the adoptable pets a loving home. The event is called Paws in the City, our staff at Murray Media is proud to provide production and A/V services, and much like the nationally televised dancing show, Dancing with the Stars, celebs strut their stuff after eight grueling practice sessions with the professionals at Arthur Murray dance studios. This year’s contestants included former Dallas Cowboys lineman, Tony Casillas, WB33 meteorologist, Rebecca Miller, KLUV radio’s morning drive host, Jody Dean, NBC 5 traffic reporter, Tammy Dombeck, restaurateur and executive chef, Gilbert Garza, actor Burton Gilliam of Blazing Saddles fame, Fiona Gorostiza from the FOX 4 weather staff, and SMU student and local philanthropist, Krystal Schlegel. Understandably, there was plenty of pride on the line, but, turns out Tony was no Emmitt Smith or Hines Ward (both winners of the nationally televised Stars program). This night of competition at the Frontiers of Flight Museum belonged to Fiona Gorostiza. She was the overall winner of the coveted Lucy Award, named in honor of former Cowboys running back, Preston Pearson’s late dog, who was adopted from a shelter. Co-hosting the annual event again with Preston, I couldn’t help but smile when one of the judges, another former Cowboys great, Drew Pearson, gave Fiona a perfect 10, according to Drew, “not only for her great dancing ability, but, for her flirtatious ways in an outfit that matched her moves.” Proceeds for the event were the most ever.
We had the chance to serve as the moderator when another former Cowboys lineman, Charles Haley, helped the Dallas All Sports Association raise money for its scholarship program at Stonebridge Country Club at a dinner and one on one interview program sponsored by Dallas-based, ClubCorp, the world leader in private clubs. Haley, as only he can be, was quite candid, yet, extremely engaging. The former All Pro and only player in the history of the NFL to ever play on five Super Bowl winning teams, took time following his presentation to have his picture taken with just about everyone in attendance.
We’ll soon find out which former Cowboys player will serve as the honorary chair of the Warren Center’s Fantasy Football XVIII annual event at Cowboys Stadium. Drew Pearson, Rayfield Wright and Tony Dorsett have filled the bill over the last 17 years, assisting those in attendance with their selection of their respective fantasy football teams. The mission of the Warren Center is to assure that children with developmental differences and disabilities and their families receive the resources and support they need to achieve their potential. This year’s event is scheduled for Friday night, September 2. Murray Media is a corporate partner of the event and responsible for the evening’s production services.
Where were you on April 26, 1977? If you were a professional athlete, entertainer, or simply a wannabee in search of the in-crowd, chances are, if you happened to be in New York City, you showed up at the opening of Studio 54. Whether you got in or not, that was another story. The club was a highly popular discotheque in the last seventies until its closing in March 1986. Two years prior to that, some promoters in the city of Dallas were hopeful of capturing the disco craze with their own version of Studio 54. Next thing you know, the Starck Club had opened its doors. It was only in business for five years, and, caught some national attention along the way, but, it’s notorious past and unique legacy have been relived by hundreds, many of whom likely weren’t even born at the time. But, its doors re-opened for a night in mid-June, thanks to prominent Dallas attorney, Larry Friedman, who simply wanted to throw a party. Always up for a good time, Larry and wife, Janelle, invited several hundred of their closest friends. To say the gathering was over the top would be an understatement. Unlike many of their shindigs, this one was not for charity, instead, just for fun. And, it was. From the Cirque du Soleil entertainers who greeted you upon your arrival at the valet parking only entrance, performing as only they can perform, to the surprise entertainment inside, it was something. Called “Party One Night Only,” it was a conglomeration of then and now, star-studded from top to bottom. E! News co-host, Giuliana Rancic, served as the evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies. Before the night was over, she had introduced and welcomed to the stage four of the professional dancers from Dancing with the Stars, Vanilla Ice, and Boyz II Men. Pro Football Hall of Famer, Michael Irvin, looking like he could play today, was among those enjoying the festivities of the night. The Friedman’s hit a homerun re-uniting the old with the new.
Michael’s former Cowboys teammate, Troy Aikman, wasn’t at the Starck Club, but, you can catch him at the Hilton Anatole Hotel on August 30. The 3-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and current lead NFL analyst on FOX Sports will be the featured speaker at the SMU Athletic Forum luncheon series. Some of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game have graced the stage at this event since its inception in 1989 including, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, John Elway, Dan Marino, Archie and Peyton Manning, Don Meredith, Fran Tarkenton, Steve Young, Joe Theismann and Steve Spurrier. If you’d like to attend, call 214-768-4314 for ticket information. This long-running event is the pre-imminent luncheon series of its kind in America, always informative, extremely entertaining and certainly for a great cause. We look forward to seeing you there.
May/June 2011
April turned out to be a month of giving back as it traditionally does for a good number of sports figures and celebrities here in north Texas. While the American League Champion Texas Rangers were starting things off with the same intensity that they ended last year’s regular season, many athletes enjoying their off-season found time to give a little something back. Like the 23rd annual Children’s Cancer Fund Fashion Show and Luncheon, held at the Hilton Anatole, where athletes and members of the local media serve as escorts for the young cancer patients currently in the fight of their lives at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. It’s a multi-kleenex event if there ever was one. Well over 1,000 people pack the ballroom to see the smiles on the faces of these special little boys and girls, each with a story that will instantly bring tears to your eyes. Probably the reason Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer, Roger Staubach hasn’t missed the event in years. This year, Roger brought along the “Moose,” Daryl Johnston, as his honorary co-chair and other former Cowboys greats like Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Charles Hayley, Russell Maryland, among others. Former Texas Rangers pitcher, Jeff Russell, also in attendance as was Miss Texas. It’s always a star-studded affair for a cause close to everyone’s heart. No wonder a handful of us haven’t missed this luncheon since it all began.