CSN to debut ‘Rocky Clark: The Legacy Lives On' Sunday, December 23

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Rocky Clark: The Legacy Lives On to premiere Sunday, December 23 at 7:30 PM CT exclusively on Comcast SportsNet;
CSNChicago.com to provide video excerpts immediately following debut airing

Chicago, IL (December 13, 2012)Comcast SportsNet, the television home of the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs and White Sox, will provide viewers with a poignant and emotional half-hour documentary honoring the one-year anniversary of the death of former Eisenhower High School football standout and inspiration Rasul Rocky Clark.

Rocky Clark: The Legacy Lives On, hosted by SportsNet Centrals Pat Boyle, chronicles the tragic story of this promising 16-year-old high school running back, who was paralyzed in a game against Oak Forest High School in September of 2000 when he was tackled just four plays into the contest. He immediately suffered two broken vertebrae in his neck and a devastating spinal cord injury. From that moment forward, his life changed forever.

With a deep faith and a determination to rise above this tragic setback, Rocky never gave up. With his heroic mother Annette at his side, Rocky graduated from Eisenhower H.S., attended junior college at South Suburban College and even helped coach his old high school football teamall the while receiving around-the-clock medical attention. However, Rockys story gained national attention in 2010 when his schools 5M insurance policy had reached its cap. Annette received a two-sentence letter from the insurance company notifying her of that fact. Just 16 months later, Rocky passed away at the age of 27.

This impactful look at Clarks life and death, featuring numerous interviews with his family, friends, coaches, nurses, state representatives and others who all called him one thingan inspirationpremieres Sunday, December 23 at 7:30 PM CT exclusively on Comcast SportsNet. In addition, viewers are urged to visit Comcast SportsNets website, CSNChicago.com, for video excerpts from Rocky Clark: The Legacy Lives On immediately following the 7:30 PM debut airing.

Produced and edited by Comcast SportsNets Sarah Lauch, Rocky Clark: The Legacy Lives On will also re-air on the following datestimes: Christmas DayDecember 25 (9:30pm), New Years EveDecember 31 (9:00pm), January 5 (7:00pm) & January 7 (7:00pm).

Note the following quotes from Rocky Clark: The Legacy Lives On premiering Sunday, December 23 at 7:30 PM on Comcast SportsNet:

ANNETTE CLARK (Rockys mother) on receiving the insurance letter:

I got the letter. It was a two-sentence letter. It said Rocky's insurance was gone. I let things upset me and he wouldnt. I said the nursing care is gone now. When he sees me upset, he would tell it's going to be all right, but he thought he would be taken care of for the rest of his life. That is why I am hoping this bill is passed because someone else will get hurt. Don't put a cap on their life. Let them live. Rocky said he was being penalized for living too long.

ANNETTE CLARK on Rockys final day:

He (Rocky) said, MamaI love you and I said I love you too. I talked to the lord and I had asked him many times before to let me have him because he would have been gone and he would give him right back to me, but this time was for Rocky to go ahead on and I said to the lord thy will be done. I said let go and let god, baby. I said let go and let god...that is all I could say. The lord had already comforted me and said this world is not our home. My son had to get hurt and die to try to make a point. That makes me angry every time I think about it. My children were supposed to bury me.

KARITA LOGGINS (Rockys home nurse) on Rockys final minutes:

We were there for the last minutes of his life and I just remember him saying I love you three times. Then he asked me to help him. I said how can I help you? He kept saying, help me.

COACH GREG WALDER (Rockys Eisenhower H.S. coach) on the hit:

I never saw how this happened. I can see the play in my head. It is a normal tackle. There were ten hits in that game that were more vicious that that hit. I don't know how it happened.

COACH GREG WALDER on the Insurance scenario being Rockys legacy:

The awareness about insurance for high schoolers will be his legacy now. We don't know what the caps are. It is a tragedy that he didn't get the coverage. It is not anyone's fault, but it needs to be fixed right now. Nobody talked about it until the insurance company cut it off and it's too late at that point.

CHICAGO BEARS WR EARL BENNETT on Rocky as a person:

He was a guy you could go up and talk to. He would tell you the whole incident, about his life. He's one of those guys that just moved me when I spoke to him.

COACH TRAVIS MOORE (who selected Rocky to be his asst. at Eisenhower H.S.) on Rockys passing:

Rocky stood for so much courage and strength. He transitioned from Coach Rocky to super hero. Normally, you dont think super heroes could be hurt. Our herofriendlittle brother was taken away. It was real tough. Probably one of the toughest situations Ive been through.

DEACON DON GROSSNICKLE (Rockys friend and founder of the Gridiron Alliance):

They say a cat has nine lives, Rocky Clark had better than 30. The hardest thing was the day when I would lose my friend. Annette did everything possible to keep Rocky alive, but the day did come. It was very hard.

We are working with legislators to make a law and the law would be very simple: when high school athletes are performing in any venue, the law requires those that have them perform, insure them. The Illinois High School Association would have to insure all athletes, in all sports.

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