For baseball fans, its This Week in Baseball. For basketball fans, its NBA Inside Stuff. And now for softball fans, its Softball 360Ί.
Yes, thats right, a show completely dedicated to a sport that millions of Americans participate in every year. Set to air on Mondays at 3:30 p.m. starting July 5, 2004 on local Fox Sports affiliates, the series will bring fans softball from every angle. 
For 18 consecutive weeks, the 30 minute segment will touch on everything from slow pitch and fast pitch to regional tournaments and the Olympic Games. Created through a joint venture of Easton Sports and John Daniels (founder of the World Softball League), Softball 360Ί will team up with the ASA and Hooters of America to highlight weekly softball action that represents the sport Americans love.
The softball community has been waiting for years for a television series that they can truly call their own, said Mike Zlaket, VP of Eastons baseball/softball division. Weve made the strategic decision to use our marketing muscle to bring softball to the small screen in a way that can best showcase the spirit and fun of the sport. Were thrilled to be partnering with John Daniels and ASA in the development of this weekly series.
The programming will feature a news recap segment entitled, The Inside Look presented by Hooters Restaurants and the ASA featuring grassroots softball events around the country as well as the Easton Bomb Squad 2004 Home Run Challenge. This portion will showcase a home run derby-type competition featuring the biggest hitters from the softball world performing at major league ballparks around the country. In addition to these weekly segments look for special Softball 360Ί features like Hey Blue that will focus on ASA playing rules questions as well as A Look Back that highlights some of the greatest moments in the sports rich history.
By focusing on all aspects of the sport, we think we have an opportunity to create a media platform the sport has needed for a long time, said Kelly McKeown, ASAs Director of Marketing. Its been frustrating to see other fringe sports gain national attention because of a weekly TV presence. Softball, which has long been known as the Game America Plays, will now be able to compete for media dollars that are needed to grow the sport. John Daniels should be applauded for having the vision and deep pockets to make this happen.
The seed was planted this past year when we created the World Softball League Today for Fox Sports Net, said Daniels. With the help of Easton Sports and its partners, were taking the show to the next level by creating a weekly show centered around national news that will be of interest to an information-hungry nation of softball players. Were making sure that each aspect of the program is executed with the utmost professionalism in order to set the bar for softball-oriented television.
So softball fans, get ready! Grab your remote, set the TV timers and sit back and enjoy!
For more updated programming information surrounding Softball 360Ί, please log on to asasoftball.com and click on the Softball 360Ί link.
About ASA
The Amateur Softball Association of America, founded in 1933, is the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. As the National Governing Body, the ASA is responsible for identifying, selecting and training male and female athletes to compete in World, Pan American and Olympic competitions through its USA Softball brand. The ASA is also responsible for promoting and growing the sport of softball across the country through a network of 93 local associations to insure fairness and equal opportunity to the millions of players who annually play the sport.
About John Daniels
John Daniels, 47, is the founder and president of Long Haul Trucking. The company, established in 1986 with a fleet of three trucks, has grown markedly since its inception and now features 150 trucks in on-time freight delivery use throughout the United States. Daniels has been a lifetime softball enthusiast and supporter. He sponsored teams that have carried the Long Haul Trucking name, including his major team that has won an astounding 10 world titles. He is the creator of the recently rebranded, Softball 360° and also pioneered the successful International Series of Champions (ISOC) snowmobiling racing circuit in the early 1990s before selling it in 1995.
About Easton Sports
Easton Sports is a privately owned developer, manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of sports equipment for individuals of all ages and abilities. Easton does not solely rely on name recognition to build and maintain business, but rather focuses on its ability to innovate and create products of unmatched quality and design. Headquartered in Van Nuys, Calif., Easton employs over 1,000 worldwide and maintains facilities in Utah, California, Mexico, and Canada. For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Matt Kovacs at (310) 578-7050 or via e-mail at kovacs@formulapr.com.
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