[TouccuraLar]

Courtesy of ESPN


For Immediate Release
December 18, 2008

Outside the Lines Premieres Exclusive Multi-Platform Report of Reunion Between Dr. J and Daughter Alexandra Stevenson


courtesy Chris Stanford for ESPN.com

ESPN’s award-winning multimedia enterprise journalism series Outside the Lines today debuted the first ever interview about the recent reunion between basketball great Julius Erving and his 27-year-old daughter, pro tennis player Alexandra Stevenson. ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com senior writerTom Friend sat down with the pair for their first extensive interviews on the subject. The Outside The Lines feature story, including original video, is available exclusively on ESPN.com at: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=drjandalexandra.

Additionally, on Sunday, December 21 at 9 a.m. ET Outside The Lines (re-air at 12 noon on ESPNEWS) will feature the first on-air interview, with a detailed account of their estranged relationship through the years, how they came to the moment of their reunion (which occurred less than two months ago) and why it was important for both of them to reunite now.

For a preview of the on-air interview featured on this Sunday’s Outside The Lines, visit: http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3777507.

In 1999, while becoming the first women's qualifier to ever reach the Wimbledon semifinals, Stevenson was revealed to be Erving's out of wedlock daughter with sportswriter Samantha Stevenson. Erving denied being her parent at first, and, even when he came clean two days later, they never tried contacting each other.

The estrangement lasted nine years until Stevenson -- ravaged by injuries, strapped financially and trying to make a comeback -- reached out to Erving in October, hoping he could help her find sponsors. Erving returned her call, referred to himself as "dad,'' promised to help and arranged their initial meeting, on Halloween Day.

The reunion has already lifted Stevenson's spirits. After undergoing surgery in 2004 for a torn labrum, she is now ranked 212th in the world and considers herself fully healthy. She will compete in this January's Australian Open qualifying tournament -- and Erving is already in contact with potential sponsors. He plans to come see her play at the 2009 Wimbledon -- 10 years after the scandal began.

For more features and stories from the cross-platform Outside The Lines team, visit: http://beta.espn.go.com/espn/otl/index

[Mediconlinee]

Courtesy of ESPN



The estrangement lasted nine years until Stevenson -- ravaged by injuries, strapped financially and trying to make a comeback -- reached out to Erving in October, hoping he could help her find sponsors. Erving returned her call, referred to himself as "dad,'' promised to help and arranged their initial meeting, on Halloween Day.

Erving's son (so, Alexandra's half brother) died in an accidental drowning in the summer of 2000. If Alexandra didn't reach out, or Dr. J didn't reach out, or they didn't even talk when such a tragedy occurred, they both have to be a little strange, if you ask me. How do you not reach out to your father/daughter at a time like that?

[Marlboro-oroblraM]

Erving's son (so, Alexandra's half brother) died in an accidental drowning in the summer of 2000. If Alexandra didn't reach out, or Dr. J didn't reach out, or they didn't even talk when such a tragedy occurred, they both have to be a little strange, if you ask me. How do you not reach out to your father/daughter at a time like that?

When there is a psycho mom in the picture, I suppose anything is possible. Which brings me to this point. We're all in a tizzy over the Hitler cake, but aren't parents like Samantha S. and Papa Bartoli just as bad? Haven't they ruined normalcy for their children too?

[Mediconlinee]

It's like a Disney movie!

Yeah, if Disney hired Mickey Rourke to play Dr. J, and Lindsay Lohan as Alexandra. With Courtney Love as Samantha Stevenson.

[Mediconlinee]

When there is a psycho mom in the picture, I suppose anything is possible. Which brings me to this point. We're all in a tizzy over the Hitler cake, but aren't parents like Samantha S. and Papa Bartoli just as bad? Haven't they ruined normalcy for their children too?

Has Alex ever said anything about Samantha, Krutin (or anybody?). I can't recall. She's old enough now that she should feel comfortable addressing the lesbians in the locker room comment, as well as some of Samantha's other press-worthy actions over the years.

Marion always rushes to Walter's defense. So did JenJen with Stefano. I don't know that Mary Pierce said anything much negative about Jim til after she hired the bodyguards.

[HawksBurnDown]

Yeah, if Disney hired Mickey Rourke to play Dr. J, and Lindsay Lohan as Alexandra. With Courtney Love as Samantha Stevenson.

But who's Julie Andrews going to play?

[Mediconlinee]

But who's Julie Andrews going to play?

Dr. Renee Richards. After all, Julie pulled off Victor/Victoria, right?

[Marlboro-oroblraM]

But who's Julie Andrews going to play?

Uhhh...the lesbian in the locker room?

[ClapekDodki]

Uhhh...the lesbian in the locker room?

Perfect. Nude hair brushing Conchita by Julie. Can she shed a Von Trapp nanny accent for a chiquita tone?

[Marlboro-oroblraM]

Perfect. Nude hair brushing Conchita by Julie. Can she shed a Von Trapp nanny accent for a chiquita tone?

I am at once repulsed and in stitches at the same time. Well done brp.

[Oppofeescom]

I was touched by this story although I had always been cynical about the media circus and publicity that revolved around this sad situation

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/etick...rjandalexandra

[RooxiaNof]

All parties involved made mistakes as all transactions went thorugh lawyers as Dr. J ex-wife was not a happy camper. After the secret came out at Wimby 1999, it still took 9 yrs for them to connect as both said they wanted the other to call first. Once Alexandra was low on finances to continue her career, she called him for support. And Dr. J did not back down.

[rujeltaoser]

Finally just read the ESPN article - and I'm very touched. It's a real shame when feelings get lost behind legalese, and it happens all too often.

Good on Dr J for stepping up and trying to become "Dad".

[Mr_White]

I've moved this thread to the tennis forum and moved Tennis News related posts into it.

[formobilagsw]

I hope Alexandra can focus and learn to play tennis the way she really wants to. Kudos to her for not giving up.

[Mediconlinee]

Cronin had some real interesting comments in the wake of the Alexandra/Dr. J program. Some excerpts:

"Alexandra is a sweet, likeable yet confused person. Her mother is another story, a calculating, controlling, and insensitive person who well after the cat got out of the bag about who Alexandra’s father was and when most of the tennis world stopped caring, still verbally assaulted those who weren’t following her dictums as to how the world should view Alexandra so-called great potential. Samantha was arguably the least liked parent on tour while Alexandra was still making it into main draws, the very woman who in 2002, demanded that the tour hold a never-been-done-before “alternate’s” press conference at the WTA Championships for her daughter, who had just missed the cut being ranked No. 18. Alexandra did herself no favors either, calling out players who were way better than she was, like saying Martina Hingis was “a dork and a nerd,” and alleging that obscure French players were making racist comments to her and threatened to beat her up. "They're big bitches. I think some girls are jealous. And others are so in their cliques that they don't talk to you and give you dirty looks. Next time someone bumps me, they're gonna be knocked out.”

...


Back in ’02 when we interviewed her, Samantha interjected twice:
Q: How much do you love playing?

A.S: There's nothing better. It's so cool. It beats sitting in class or a 10 to 5 day job. It's so much fun to get better and run around the court. That's what I lacked in 2000, when I didn't want to go out on court. In Florida, I didn't like who I was around and the person I was becoming. It was like a bad karma.

Samantha: We don't believe in karma, Alexandra.

Q: Are you still working with Pete Fisher (Sampras' former coach who spent more than three years in jail on child molestation charges)?

A.S: I've known him since he's been nine so it's not like he's going to be an enemy. But no.

Samantha Stevenson: Alexandra, the correct thing to say about Pete Fisher is that he will always be your friend and mentor without getting into all the stuff, that's unfair to her. But on the road I'm the coach.


Full story: http://www.tennisreporters.net/index.html