MSG Talks Best Boxing Films

New York, NY (April 10, 2013) – MSG Network’s new original series “The Lineup: Best Sports Movies” will feature an episode on boxing films on Thursday, April 11 at 11:30 p.m. following the Knicks-Bulls game.

Hosted by veteran broadcaster and former Yankees catcher Fran Healy, the 30-minute episode will present five films from the boxing genre that will be debated by the show’s expert panel to decide the top movie of all-time. The panel of film industry insiders consists of Academy Award-nominated director, producer and actor Spike Lee; Emmy Award-winning actor and writer Robert Wuhl; Academy Award-nominated actor Chazz Palminteri; and acclaimed film critic Jeffrey Lyons.

Boxing great Gerry Cooney is also featured in the episode and weighs in on his favorite boxing films:

“Jake LaMotta is a very good friend of mine and that was really him…he was the guy who was against the odds and he stuck it out and became Champion of the World,” said Cooney about Raging Bull. “He’s what boxing is really about. When you look at boxing in the dictionary his picture’s next to it.”

“Rocky was one of the greatest films in my life…I was just a kid then, 18 or so,” remembers Cooney. “I just turned pro and I remember (Rocky) having a little brandy with an egg in the morning. And I remember the next day getting a little brandy with an egg. That was the last time I did it.”

Additional guests in the boxing episode include actors John Leguizamo and Steve Schirripa and television personality Keith Olberman, who all agreed that Raging Bull is on the top of their list.

John Leguizamo, Actor

“There’s no greater sports movie ever. Everything pales in comparison to Raging Bull. The boxing is – and I know because I really box, I've been boxing since I was a little kid – the boxing is the most believable I've ever seen on film. Bar none.”

Keith Olberman, TV Personality

“There's something intense about (DiNero’s) acting. There's something that he does that very few of them do, where if he came in tomorrow playing George Washington in a movie, you'd believe that's what George Washington looked like. Not a lot of those guys can do that.”

Steve Schirripa, Actor

“Raging Bull was really a history lesson. Not that many people knew about Jake LaMotta before that movie. Now everyone knows. Before that, who’s Jake LaMotta? At least for younger people. And you got a little mob stuff in there, you got boxing stuff, you got New York stuff. That movie had the whole thing.”

The eight-part series continues next week with the final four episodes: Monday, April 15 @ 10:30pm – Golf; Tuesday, April 16 @ 9:00pm – All Sports; Wednesday, April 17 @ 11:30pm – Horse Racing; and Thursday, April 18 @ 10:30pm – Hockey. Episodes about the best baseball, basketball and football movies can been seen in their entirety on Sunday, April 14 starting at 11:00 p.m.

“The Lineup: Best Sports Movies” is the third installment from “The Lineup” franchise. “The Lineup: New York’s All-Time Best Baseball Players” premiered in the spring of 2010 and “The Lineup: Hits & Errors – The Best and Worst Deals in New York Baseball” made its debut in the spring of 2012.