Curt Smith, senior lecturer in the University of Rochester's Department of English, will give a lecture titled "Greatest Games of the Century, Making of a Documentary: Up-Close and Personal." This program, part of the Wednesday Evening Lecture Series sponsored by the University's Alumni Relations and Development department, will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 3, in The Meliora dining hall in the Frederick Douglass Building on the University's River Campus.
The history of 20th century sports in America was chronicled by ESPN and ABC television this year in the documentary Sports Century. Among the major segments was Greatest Games of the Century, featuring Joe Namath's Super Bowl III "Guarantee"; Carlton Fisk's 1975 World Series homer; and the 1980 U.S. hockey team's "Miracle on Ice."
Smith helped write the documentary and interviewed many of the people who appeared in the series, including Joe Paterno, Keith Jackson, Joe Lombardi, Vice President Walter Mondale, and former President George Bush. Smith will talk about the making of the series and the personalities interviewed, and will air actual program footage, including some of the greatest moments in football, baseball, and hockey.
Smith is a former speechwriter to President Bush and author of eight books, including Our House: A Tribute to Fenway Park. An Associated Press award-winning radio commentator, he is an Empire Sports Network broadcaster and daily talk show host on radio station WYSL.
Admission to the event is free, but reservations are requested at 273-5888.