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GAIT FEATURED IN 'SOUL OF A CHAMPION' SERIES

VERSUS to tell stories of elite champions of sport

09/22/2006

Colorado Mammoth head coach and NLL Hall of Fame member Gary Gait is one of the eleven athletes chosen by USA Today and VERSUS to be profiled in the network's "Soul of a Champion" series, which debuted on Versus on Sunday. The series will highlight Gait and all eleven of the championship athletes including Tom Brady, Mariano Rivera, Martin Brodeur and Jeff Gordon. The episode that will tell the Gary Gait story will debut on October 17 at 10PM ET.

Gait began his 15-year professional indoor lacrosse career in 1991 with the Detroit Turbos. As the first player chosen in the Entry Draft, Gait was joining a last place Detroit team that posted a 1-7 record in 1990. Gary went on to win Rookie of the Year honors as he and brother Paul led the team to an 8-2 record and the league championship. He also won league championships with the Philadelphia Wings in 1994 and 1995, and was named Championship Game Most Valuable Player in 1991 and 1995. He was an All-Pro every season in which he played and was named the league's Most Valuable Player a record six times, including five consecutive seasons from 1995 through 1999.

Gait won his sixth MVP award in 2003, his first of three seasons with the Colorado Mammoth. He broke his own single-season goal scoring record that year with 61 goals, a mark that still stands. Gait also owns the second and third positions on that list with seasons of 57 (1998) and 55 (2004) goals, and became the first player in league history to score 500 career goals. Gary also shares the league's single-game records for most points (14) and goals (10). He is also the league's most prolific playoff scorer with 66 goals in 22 career postseason games. He retired after the 2005 season as the league's all-time leader in goals (596) and points (1,091). Now as head coach of the Mammoth, he led Colorado to a championship in 2006, winning the title in his first season behind the bench.

VERSUS announces the debut of the new weekly series: USA TODAY'S Soul of a Champion, on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 10 p.m. ET. The series, developed in part with the sports editors at USA TODAY, will define the qualities that set true champions apart from others, examining the intangibles that go beyond athletic talent alone. From commitment and competitiveness to confidence, intelligence and resilience, experts believe these behaviors are just as vital to the success of an athlete as stats or box scores. As family, friends, coaches and teammates weigh in, viewers at home can go to VERSUS.com or USATODAY.com to take the Soul of a Champion Challenge, a new test prepared by top sports psychologist Dr. Patrick Cohn to measure these traits, and determine which athlete's soul they most resemble.

"Soul of a Champion is a signature series for VERSUS, as it delves into the competitive nature and spirit of the champions we celebrate every day," said Gavin Harvey, President of the network. "It's an important part of our first week as VERSUS and will tell the compelling stories of some amazing athletes."

"Soul of a Champion gives USA TODAY readers a unique look into the minds and traits of champion athletes and what makes those athletes excel," said Monte Lorell, managing editor of Sports for USA TODAY. "We're excited to partner with VERSUS to bring this series to not only USA TODAY readers, but television viewers as well."

A special one-hour series premiere was hosted by Olympic Champion Dan Jansen. After its Sunday debut, it will re-air Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 9 p.m., just before the first half-hour episode profiling boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather, Jr. The full schedule for the series follows:

Sept. 24 at 10 p.m. ET: USA TODAY'S Soul of a Champion special one-hour premiere, hosted by Dan Jansen

Sept. 26 at 10 p.m. ET: Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Pound for pound, Mayweather is the self-proclaimed best boxer in the world. What makes him great? After a loss in the 1996 Olympics, his focus and determination has propelled him to an undefeated pro career.

Oct. 3 at 10 p.m. ET: Martin Brodeur
This goalie helped the New Jersey Devils climb to the top of the hockey world by winning Lord Stanley's Cup. Many consider him the best puck-handling goal tender in the NHL. His steely confidence is exposed as the episode examines the man behind the mask.

Oct. 10 at 10 p.m. ET: Mariano Rivera
Even non-Yankee fans will appreciate the powerful story of one baseball's silent warriors. A throwback reliever with two calling cards: a cut fastball and abiding faith.

Oct. 17 at 10 p.m. ET: Gary Gait
From his behind-the-back passes to his signature leaping-over-the-goal shot dubbed the "Air Gait", Gary Gait has been called the Michael Jordan of lacrosse. Not only does Gait display Jordan's athletic creativity but incredible drive to carry teams to championships. Along the way, Gait has developed a unique commitment to meditation and visualization as a mechanism for success.

Oct. 24 at 10 p.m. ET: Justin McBride
Justin McBride overcame injury and self-doubt to become one of this deadly sport's most charismatic champions. Dealing with the bull riding death of his grandfather, Justin McBride is a shining example of composure under pressure.

Oct. 31 at 10:30 p.m. ET: Tom Brady
The NFL's premier quarterback reveals the mental game plan that's made the New England Patriots three-time Super Bowl champions under his inspiring leadership.

Nov. 7 at 10 p.m. ET: Martina Navratilova
As she reaches her 50th birthday, Martina Navratilova's need for competition has kept her on the tournament courts long after her peers hit the country club circuit. After leaving her family behind in communist Czechoslovakia, Navratilova went on to become a nine-time Wimbledon champ and personifies dominance and dedication in women's tennis.

Nov. 14 at 10 p.m. ET: Jeff Gordon
"Wonder Boy" to fans, critics hated Gordon's meteoric rise on the NASCAR circuit. Somehow he turned around his image as Mr. Perfect to become a champion of the people. Soul examines how his search for perfection has evolved into a realization that NASCAR is only the first step in a life lived at warp speed.

Nov. 21 at 10 p.m. ET: Kortney Clemons/Dawn Staley (Combined episode)
Clemons planned on playing cornerback in junior college, but lost his leg as a US Army medic in Iraq. Now, nearly two years later, Clemons has qualified for the 2008 Paralympic Games in power lifting and is on the verge of qualifying for the 100-meter race as well.

Women's basketball player Dawn Staley won three Olympic gold medals, reached the WNBA Finals, and as a coach has turned around a dormant college program. She has never lost the passion to compete against the best of the best, while sacrificing personally to maintain her love affair with the game that raised her.

Nov. 28 at 10 p.m. ET: Bobby Knight
This winter, Bobby Knight will scale the highest peak in college coaching, as he ascends past the legendary Dean Smith to become the all-time winningest coach. His demeanor paints him as an enigma, but Knight steadfastly clings to the principles ingested in his youth: dedication, focus, and competitiveness.

The network's new moniker, VERSUS, is the culmination of a two-year network evolution. It was chosen not only for its bold nature, but because it universally evokes competition, which will be at the heart of the network. VERSUS will focus on competition and the inherent challenges athletes and sportsmen face. The channel will celebrate the competitive gene and keep the ideals of tradition, perseverance, courage and skill alive.