Sunday, December 17, 2000

Story and photos
By Keith Boydston
Stars and Stripes

"Fox NFL Sunday" anchors, from left,  James Brown, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Cris Collinsworth ham it up Saturday while taping their show onboard the carrier USS Harry S. Truman.

ONBOARD THE USS HARRY S. TRUMAN — Christmas came on Saturday for troops onboard the USS Harry S. Truman steaming in the Mediterranean Sea.

Fox NFL Sunday and Secretary of Defense William Cohen delivered plenty of cheer to the cool, windy decks of the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier on its maiden six-month deployment.

Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Cris Collinsworth and James Brown, the dynamic Fox NFL Sunday anchors, heated up the more than 2,000 crewmembers who turned out to watch the quartet broadcast two pre-game shows from the ship’s flight deck.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Brian Bell, ship's barber, gives sportscaster Howie Long a haircut aboard the aircraft carrier Truman.

"It was important and appropriate that we were able to do this for the crew — and just a week before Christmas was nice," said P.T. Navarro, a producer for the show. "We wanted to show the country a bunch of outstanding people who don’t always get the credit they often deserve."

The anchors joked with troops in the circus-like atmosphere and included them in parts of both shows. Roving cameras repeatedly scanned the crowds where crewmembers held up signs with messages for loved ones back home.

"This is great for morale; it’s certainly going to be one of the top highlights of the cruise," said Navy Petty Officer 3rd class Kevin Deen, assigned to a helicopter squadron. "It’s a great way to start a long deployment."

Another sailor agreed.

"Fox NFL Sunday" anchor Terry Bradshaw, foreground, tosses a football with members of the Truman's crew during a break Saturday.

"I think it’s outstanding. This is a rare opportunity," said Navy Petty Officer 3rd class Adam Dodgin, assigned to a strike-fighter squadron. "They [Fox broadcasters] come on here as VIPs, but they’ve been treating us like VIPs."

And it’s good for the Navy.

"It’s satisfying to see the men and women at sea here enjoying this," said Cohen, onboard as part of his holiday sponsored show. "I think the Navy will be a good beneficiary of this and the country will as well."

Fox broadcasters spent hours Friday meeting and talking with the ship’s crew and signing autographs.

The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders perform their routine aboard the Truman.

And the celebrities enjoyed every moment.

"This is the greatest audience in the world," Bradshaw said. "I just love military people and being able to do something for them. They have earned that kind of respect."

His co-host agreed.

"I’ve got a higher appreciation for service people and what they do," said Brown. "A lot of people revere us for what we do. But these people are really the ones to be revered."

NFL fans around the world will be able to catch a peek at the carrier and the more than 4,900 crewmembers performing their jobs.

Besides previewing upcoming games, Fox cameras showed viewers an up-close look at flight operations and daily life onboard the carrier.

"I thought it went as well as we could have anticipated from a venue like this," said Scott Ackerson, the Fox NFL Sunday coordinating producer. "We wanted to stay within the format of our regular show, but also to show the Truman and the people aboard. I think we succeeded in that."

After warming up to the Fox NFL production, troops were treated to a special holiday show.

The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders entertained the crew, along with singers Jewel and Carole King. Comedian Al Franken loosened up the crowd.

Before the show, former senator and astronaut John Glenn and former Chicago Bear linebacker Mike Singletary and several other celebrities signed autographs and visited with the sailors and Marines.

For one Fox anchor, however, it’s the Truman crew that deserves the credit.

"You’re always hearing so many bad things about the youth of America," Collinsworth said. "But whoever [is] writing that stuff hasn’t been out here."

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