Jan. 5, 2007

The Notre Dame fencing program will be among the featured subjects on this weekend’s edition of the award-winning NPR radio program “Only A Game,” an hour-long sports show that originates from Boston’s WBUR and can be heard live nationwide on 137 different NPR affiliates (in 30 states, D.C. and the Virginia Islands) – in addition to being streamed/archived online and available via podcast. “Only A Game” will air live on Saturday, Jan. 6, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. eastern and the fencing segment is expected to begin at approximately 7:20. Correspondent Ron Schachter was on campus earlier in the 2006 fall semester and had the chance to attend a Notre Dame fencing practice while interviewing several of the Irish fencers, current head coach Janusz Bednarski and retired coaching legend Mike DeCicco. For complete information on stations that carry this program – and for details on how to listen to the archives – consult www.onlyagame.org.

The Notre Dame fencers who were interviewed for the show include senior sabreists Patrick Ghattas and Valerie Providenza, junior foilist Melanie Baptista and junior epeeist Greg Howard. (The timing of Schafter’s late-October visit to campus precluded other top fencers, such as Amy Orlando, Mariel Zagunis and Kelley Hurley, from being available for interviews at that time).

Hosted by veteran NPR commentator Bill Littlefield, “Only A Game” is billed as “radio for the serious sports fan and the steadfast sports avoider,” with “intelligent analysis, insightful interviews, and a keen sense humor.” Guests have included the likes of: writers John Updike, Robert Pinsky, and Roger Angell; commentators Bud Collins and Tim Kurkjian; current and former athletes Muhammad Ali, Kristine Lilly, Senator Bill Bradley, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; and coaches Pat Summit and Geno Auriemma.

Note the following website links for “Only A Game”:

• Main page – www.onlyagame.org

• Jan. 7 show – www.onlyagame.org/shows/2007/01/20070106.asp

• Archive to past shows (ultimately will include Jan. 7 show) – www.onlyagame.org/shows/date.asp?m=1&y=2007

• Podcast info. – www.wbur.org/listen/podcasts/

• List of affiliate stations that carry Only A Game live on the radio – http://www.onlyagame.org/about/stations/