Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel

- Season 6

(2009)

"Call Me Al" profiles play-by-play sports announcer Al Michaels. "Growing Divide" looks at the divide between NFL Players and the NFL Players Association over the union failed attempt to pursue marketing deals. "Playing with Fire" looks at athletes and gun ownership. "Sticks, Stones, Now Staph" revisits the growing problem of staph infections in sports.

"Black in Bellaire" looks at the case of Robbie Tolan the son of a retired MLB player who was wrongly shot by police outside his parents home. "Total Recall" interviews controversial former figure skater Tonya Harding. "Reunion" revisits young golfer and cancer survivor Kyle Lograsso.

"Air Ball" interviews basketball player Brandon Jennings about his decision to play in Europe rather than go to college. "Bittersweet Success" profiles University of Pittsburgh men's basketball coach Jamie Dixon. "Bode's World" talks to skier Bode Miller about his decision to leave the U.S. Ski Team to compete as an independent. "Rayna DuBose" revisits the former college basketball player who lost her limbs due to meningitis.

"You're a Good Man, Charlie Manuel" profiles the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. "Hard 2 Live, Easy 2 Die" goes to Virginia to examines the growth of gang violence in high school sports. "Queen of the Ring" profiles women's boxer turned trainer Ann Wolfe. "Hands Off" revisits a controversial effort to ban dodgeball and other contact activities in schools.

"A New Era" talks to the new executive director of the NFL Players Association. "Thrill Ride" takes an inside look at the dangerous sport of professional bull riding. "The Next Level" looks at parents who are pushing their children to succeed at sports. "Running for Their Lives" revisits the little-known practice of thoroughbred horse slaughter for profit.

"Legends" interviews football great Jim Brown and basketball great Bill Russell about the 1960s and and their enduring friendship. "Underwater Heroes" looks at a program that helps injured veterans by introducing them to scuba diving. "Broken Nails" revisits Lenny Dykstra to talk about how last year economic crisis has changed his life.

"AWOL" talks to former Oakland Raider Center Barret Robbins who no-showed the Super Bowl. "All the Right Moves" profiles boxing trainer Freddie Roach. "Friends of Jaclyn" looks at the uplifting relationship between the Northwestern women's lacrosse team and a young girl with a brain tumor. "The Next Posada" revisits the Posada family and how they are helping other families affected by craniosynostosis.

"Nick Schuyler's Story" talks to a South Florida football player who is the only survivor of a boating accident that took the life of NFL players. "Home Base" looks at the return of little league baseball to Sibrie Park in Compton, California. "Dedication Personified" revisits former Clovis East High School basketball player Ryan Belflower to talk about his life since finishing high school.

"H.S. Concussions" investigates head injuries in high school sports. "The Swim Gap" looks at the connection between race and swimming in the United States. "Paper Cuts" examines how the decline of newspapers is affecting sports reporting. "Dogfighting" revisits the controversial underground sport.

"In Our Hearts" looks at the death of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart who was killed by a drunk driver. "Game Over" goes to Ohio to look at a school district that has eliminated sports due to the lack of funds. "Record Breaker" profiles the world record holder for most world records. "Ernie Harwell" revisits the Detroit Tigers broadcasting legend who was recently diagnosed with cancer.

"The Insider" looks at the 2007 NBA betting scandal and interviews one of its leading architects. "Gridiron Heroes" looks at an organization that lends support to paralyzed high school football players and their families. "Matt Long" profiles a triathlete who is making a comeback after being seriously injured in a bus accident. "Drawing a Line" revisits the controversy of alcohol consumption at football events.

Real Sports finishes 2009 with a special roundtable review of the shows most memorable moments of the year. Bryant Gumble and the show's correspondents discuss their favorite stories, their most interesting interviews, and the segments that had a personal impact for them.