JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA –
ESPN honored nearly 300 service members from Joint Base Charleston by broadcasting a top-rated morning sports talk show live from the base Nov. 7
Each year, ESPN telecasts an episode of First Take on a different military base around Veterans Day as part of their America's Heroes tribute, accoding to ESPN producer Antoine Lewis.
“We think it is important to honor America’s military men and women," said Lewis. "It is also a great experience for us to interact with and entertain the troops.”
Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman and host Molly Qerim were joined by Darius Rucker, Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter, and an audience of Joint Base Charleston service members as the hosts discussed sports topics of the day.
“They were very entertaining,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick O’Brien, 628th Communications Squadron information systems technician. “I’ve seen the show a few times and it was great to see ESPN coming out and supporting us for Veterans Day.”
During the program Smith, Kellerman and Qerim discussed various sports subjects and debated football and basketball related questions from the audience.
“It was greatly appreciated that ESPN came out to support our military,” said Sgt. First Class Damon Holland, 841st Transportation Battalion operations NCO in charge. “It was a lot of fun to see the show and we all had a good time.”
Along with service members from the Air Force, Navy, Army and Coast Guard in the audience, the show set highlighted Team Charleston’s joint mission with static displays including a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, a Humvee, a 628th Security Forces Squadron harbor patrol boat, a 628th SFS patrol car and an 841st Transportation Battalion rail car.
“On behalf of our service members, civil servants and their families representing the Air Force, Navy, Army, Marines and Coast Guard, I would like to thank First Take for visiting the Lowcountry to salute America’s heroes serving across the globe,” said Col. Robert Lyman, JB Charleston commander.