By: Jim Williams
ESPN’s award-winning primetime newsmagazine E:60 is back tonight at 7PM
The program, which launched in October 2007, combines investigative reporting, in-depth profiles of intriguing sports personalities, and features on emerging star athletes.
ESPN has made E: 60 an updated sports version of 60 Minutes. They tackle tough issues with very good reporting and interesting topics.
One of the stories on tonight’s show is Danger in the Air – an E:60 exclusive investigation of air quality in ice hockey and ice skating rinks across the country and the potential risks to young hockey players and figure skaters.
In the past six months, recent incidents in different states where about 200 people have gone to the hospital, some with severe conditions. As part of an E:60 report they tested more 33 rinks for air quality and 11 showed higher than normal levels of a combination of Carbon Monoxide, Nitrous Dioxide and/or Ultrafine Particles.
I spoke to Rachel Nichols who was the correspondent on this story.
What struck you as the most disturbing thing you saw?
RN: “Well think of taking one of those buses that spews out those big clouds of dirty smoke that we all have been stuck behind in traffic. Then drive that bus around for ten minutes in a basketball gym without any real ventilation then let your kids play basketball on the court. That is what is going on inside these ice rinks. No ventilation and kids playing on ice that has been resurfaced by a gas or propane powered machine. We talk to families where kids are coughing up blood and suffering from headaches this is something that if you are a parent of kids playing youth hockey or are ice skating you should be concerned.”
JW: What is going on to resolve this problem?
RN: “Well at this time three states Colorado, Indiana and Ohio require the monitoring of air quality in ice rinks. After doing a test in Tampa we showed that a rink had a dangerous level of air levels. We took that information to a state representative from the Tampa arrea. We showed him our findings and now the state of Florida is looking to pass legislation to become the fourth state to require monitoring. We also found safe ways to resurface ice most of them using electric powered machines.”
This one that all parents needs to see so make sure that if you can’t catch the program tonight then TiVo it or use your DVR.
There are some other stories of interest on tonight’s show.
Lord of the Ring – an in-depth profile of Vince McMahon and the inner-workings of WWE on the 25th anniversary of WrestleMania.
Coach – the story of Don Meyer, 64-year-old basketball coach of Division II Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D., whose life took a tragic turn while he was on the cusp of surpassing Bob Knight for the most basketball wins in the NCAA Men’s Basketball history.
