FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 20th, 2016
COMCAST SPORTSNET TO AIR BRAND NEW DOCUMENTARY SPECIAL CHRONICLING CHICAGO WHITE SOX SUPERSTAR JOSE ABREU’S RETURN TO CUBA
“Going Home: Jose Abreu presented by the Kowalis Family of Dealerships” premieres Tuesday, January 26 at 9:30 PM CT — Exclusively on Comcast SportsNet
Chicago, IL (January 20, 2016) – Following up its recent special on Chicago Cubs manager Joe’s Maddon return home to Hazleton, PA, Comcast SportsNet will provide viewers with yet another brand new documentary entitled Going Home: Jose Abreu presented by the Kowalis Family of Dealerships, a half-hour Comcast SportsNet Original Production profiling Major League Baseball’s first goodwill trip to Cuba in over 16 years…featuring Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu’s first return visit to his beloved home country in over two years. Going Home: Jose Abreu premieres Tuesday, January 26 at 9:30 PM CT exclusively on Comcast SportsNet, immediately following “Blackhawks Postgame Live.” CSN will also re-air this documentary special on Wednesday, January 27 at 7:00 PM and again on Friday, January 29 at 9:30 PM, which coincides with the opening night of SoxFest 2016 and Abreu’s 29th birthday.
Hosted by Comcast SportsNet anchor/reporter Siera Santos and produced by Comcast SportsNet’s Senior Producer of Original Content Ryan McGuffey, Going Home: Jose Abreu takes viewers on Abreu’s emotional journey home as he not only becomes reunited with beloved family members, but also with an adoring fan base whose pride of the White Sox superstar continues to grow each and every day. For three days back in December, Comcast SportsNet was the only television outlet in the Midwest to capture this groundbreaking MLB tour that had a primary goal of improving relations between the U.S. and Cuba, along with providing underprivileged children and their families with an opportunity to meet Abreu and other Cuban-born MLB heroes, along with a number of additional MLB stars and legends who took part in this very special moment in baseball history.
Among the highlights from Going Home include Abreu’s emotional, candid discussion about seeing his young son for the first time in over two years, along with a special interview with a Cuban teenager, who has neurological paralysis, and his mother who both discuss how meaningful Abreu and this MLB goodwill tour is to their lives, plus – this documentary will provide coverage of the instructional clinics that took place with MLB players and the many aspiring young ballplayers…and a special charity event at a Catholic church where the Cuban children performed a heartwarming Christmas concert for everyone involved in the goodwill tour.
“This was a tremendous opportunity for us to be a part of such a special moment in MLB history,” said Kevin Cross, Senior Director of News & Original Content for Comcast SportsNet Chicago. “Viewers who may not know a lot about Jose Abreu will be given the chance to learn more about this very determined man, while at the same time taking in the sights and sounds of the country that he holds so dearly.”
In addition to the exclusive, up-close-and-personal interviews with Abreu, Going Home also includes interviews with numerous individuals who were a part of the MLB goodwill trip to Cuba including Hall of Famers Joe Torre and Dave Winfield, MLBPA president/former MLB star Tony Clark, and former White Sox shortstop/current San Diego Padres infielder Alexei Ramirez among others.
From a digital standpoint, fans will be able to watch Going Home: Jose Abreu in its entirety on CSNChicago.com immediately following the documentary’s Jan. 26 on-air debut. CSNChicago.com will also provide additional “web-exclusive” content from Going Home as well. Plus – Comcast SportsNet is urging fans to share their thoughts and commentary on social media by utilizing the Twitter hashtag #CSNGoingHome during the documentary special as the network’s main Twitter handle (@CSNChicago) will be retweeting a number of fan tweets leading up to and during the Jan. 26 premiere.
Please note the following quotes from the Comcast SportsNet Original Production of Going Home: Jose Abreu presented by the Kowalis Family of Dealerships, debuting Tuesday, January 26 at 9:30 PM CT:
JOSE ABREU on his decision to defect from Cuba in 2013: “It’s really hard, the story is really hard…it was the decision we made, it was the right decision. And believe me, we have to thank god for getting us, putting us on the right path. It was really hard to leave all my family that I have here…my son, grandma, aunts.
In general, many people thought that when I made the decision, they never thought I would come back to see them. With the grace of god, I am seeing them thanks to the Major Leagues and the Players Association for filling a space where I had a dark void in my heart. They opened the door for me…giving me joy in a moment that I didn’t have before.”
JOSE ABREU on reuniting with his son for the first time since defecting from Cuba: “I had the opportunity to see my son. I was really happy, really happy…he is an accomplished child. When I saw him, I began to cry. I began to cry and it was really difficult. All he did was give me kisses and kisses and kisses.”
JOSE ABREU on the importance of this MLB goodwill tour: “What we are doing is a historic. This is something that has brought us tears many times. From the first moment that we found out the news that we were going to be doing these things in this country, believe me, it’s so important.”
JOSE ABREU on being a member of the Chicago White Sox: “I have to give so much thanks to the fans of Chicago and the White Sox. I have to be so grateful because if it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be even talking about this subject. There are no words for how grateful I am for what they did for me, that they gave me the opportunity, they gave my family the opportunity to live the life they always deserved…and all the things that made Jose Dariel Abreu the person I am today.”
JOE TORRE on his impressions of Jose Abreu: “Watching Jose Abreu, he’s got a quiet dignity about himself. When you see him so giving to fans and youngsters, it shows you that he understands the responsibility part of being someone famous. He appreciates the adulation and yet, he’s one of the people to me that you can’t teach that, it has to come from within. His being humble already started when he joined the White Sox, which translates into being unselfish and, when you’re unselfish, you’re going to be a good team player. He’s going to be the center of a very special team.”
Comcast SportsNet Chicago, a partnership between the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Chicago Bulls (NBA), Chicago Cubs (MLB), Chicago White Sox (MLB) and the NBC Sports Group, features over 275 live pro games in high definition each year. In addition, CSN delivers extensive pre/post-game coverage for its core pro team partners, as well as the Chicago Bears, along with Emmy Award-winning regional sports news and analysis via SportsNet Central and SportsTalk Live. Through the network’s growing digital platform, CSNChicago.com, Chicago sports fans tap into the most comprehensive and dedicated 24/7 online destination for breaking news, up-to-the-minute game previews/recaps, highlights, multimedia video clips, blogs and standout coverage from CSNChicago.com’s team of “Insiders.” Follow the network on Twitter via @CSNChicago.
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