Best Damn Sports Show visits Forrest Wood Cup

Steve Spurrier, William ‘The Fridge’ Perry, Mike Schmidt and FLW Tour pro Luke Clausen headline event

Best Damn Sports Show Period hosts (from left to right), Chris Rose, Charissa Thompson, four-time NBA champion John Salley and University of South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier get the show started. Photo by Gary Mortenson.

August 16, 2008 • Gary Mortenson • Archives

COLUMBIA, S.C. – For the fourth consecutive year, bass-fishing enthusiasts were treated to a special taping of the Best Damn Sports Show Period at the Forrest Wood Cup. With the show’s hosts Chris Rose, four-time NBA champion John Salley and Charissa Thompson providing their own unique version of celebrity commentary, the two-hour taping featured a host of star-studded guests, plenty of laughs and some very compelling interviews.

As the show opened, audience members were first treated to a raucous welcome courtesy of the University of South Carolina marching band. With band members flanking the celebrity hosts onstage, Steve Spurrier – head football coach of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks – quickly materialized to talk about the upcoming SEC football season.

Next up was William “The Fridge” Perry of the 1985 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears. Perry, a huge fishing fan in his own right, enthralled the audience with tales from the infamous 1985 Super Bowl blowout over the New England Patriots. Perry also divulged to the audience how he ultimately stumbled upon his nickname and even took some time to sing a few lines from the less-than-Grammy quality “Super Bowl Shuffle.”

In perhaps the most humorous segment of the afternoon, FLW Tour pro Luke Clausen challenged Salley to a casting contest. Both pros took their turns attempting to cast a jig into a small children’s swimming pool located in the back of a Chevy pickup truck. Although the contest wasn’t very close, it proved to be highly entertaining.

Finally, audience members were treated to a rare appearance of Mike Schmidt – the Hall of Fame third baseman who played his entire 18-year career for the Philadelphia Phillies. Schmidt discussed all things baseball, what it was like to hit 500 home runs as well as the difficulty of trying to stay in the good graces of Philadelphia sports fans.

Viewers who missed the taping can watch the entire Best Damn Sports Show Period segment on Fox Sports Net on Thursday, Sept. 24. Check local listings for exact times.