MUMBAI: Elite Football League of India, the professional American sports football league in India, got a further boost as top American sports director Sandy Grossman agreed to lend his vast experience in the television production of the ambitious league.

An eight-time Emmy Award-winning director will head to India for pre-production and training of the Indian and American film crew and production teams in early March.

Grossman, who is one of the most highly decorated soldiers in the sports media industry, had spent a major part of his career working with NFL before moving to Fox Sports where he spent 17 years working as a television director.

?I?ve spent my life producing and perfecting the art of capturing the power and passion of the game of football. I would like to think that I?ve helped shaped the way the game of football is projected to fans across the US and the World. Hearing about the growth and excitement surrounding sports in India, this is a great opportunity for me to teach future football directors in India how to cover this game and hopefully, leave a legacy for generations of young Indian directors. I look forward to my trip to India in March and many more thereafter,? said Grossman.

Earlier, last month former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner and American actor and producer Mark Wahlberg had picked up stake in the venture. Former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka and ESPN NFL analyst Ron Jaworski are also investors in the league.

An elated EFLI founder and co-CEO Sunday Zeller said, ?The most exciting aspect, for me, was learning that one of the reasons the Fox Network became so successful after outbidding CBS for the NFL?s broadcast rights, was their decision to hire Sandy and allow him the freedom to direct a more advanced and progressive broadcast production. Sandy?s artistic freedom clearly paid off for Fox as they rose to one of the most watched stations in America."

According to Zeller, the EFLI will aim to raise the bar in the television production of sporting events in India and Sandy with his vast experience in American sports television production will lead from the front.
?Sandy stated that given freedom and support, he can direct an improved and advanced version of a football game for television broadcast applying the latest technologies and employing the newest artistic enhancements acquired over the years. The EFLI intends to raise the bar in final production standards both for the game of football as well as for the country of India in terms of television sports production. The EFLI looks to take advantage of this fresh start, so to speak, as a clean slate upon which to eventually telecast the top production in the world,? he added.

The league will have 12 teams ? 10 from India and one each from India and Sri Lanka - in the first year which includes Bangalore Warhawks, Bangladesh Tigers, Chennai Swarm, Colombo Lions, Delhi Defenders, Hyderabad Skykings, Kolkata Vipers, Mumbai Gladiators, Pune Marathas, and Punjab Warriors with two more teams yet to be named.

Taj Television-owned sports channel Ten Sports has signed an MoU with EFLI to broadcast the league in India. The first season will begin on 12 November this year and last till 18 February 2013 involving 56 matches in group stage and two play-offs.

MUMBAI: The nascent Elite Football League of India (EFLI), the first professional American sports football league in India, got a major fillip with the announcement that former National Football League quarterback Kurt Warner and American actor and producer Mark Wahlberg have picked up stake in the venture.

Ten Sports has inked an MoU with EFLI, which is slowly and steadily building the property.

The financial details of the stake acquisition price could not be ascertained. Earlier, former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka and ESPN NFL analyst Ron Jaworski had invested in the league.
 
Warner, who works with under-privileged kids through his charity First Things First, has earmarked $50,000 out of his total investment for the purchase and distribution of Warner Family footballs to schools and the underprivileged throughout India.

Considered one of the best undrafted players of all time following a 12-year career, Warner first attained stardom while playing for the St. Louis Rams from 1998-2003, where he won two NFL MVP awards in 1999 and 2001 as well as the Super Bowl MVP award in Super Bowl XXXIV.

?I am extremely excited about the possibilities of the EFLI,? says Warner. ?I became a partner for two primary reasons. First, to expand the reach of what I believe is the greatest team sport in the world. The game of football has a chance to impact the lives of many people and families in India, like it did for mine. Second, I believe the success of EFLI will present us with some amazing opportunities to impact their communities from a charitable perspective. I believe we will be able to use the great game of football to truly impact the people of India, both on and off the field, and help many to improve on their quality of life."

Wahlberg, also known as Marky Mark in his earlier years, has committed to endorse and enhance the EFLI brand and mission through media and personal introduction and support.

"The thought of owning part of the Indian Football League was, at first, intriguing. When I learned of the premise and passion behind the foundation, there was no question that I would commit to the cause,? says Wahlberg. ?The EFLI is changing the lives of countless numbers of India?s poor and underprivileged. I anxiously look forward to the inaugural 2012 season. I hope to bring my family to India for the opening game and to witness this miracle that is the EFLI.?

EFLI had earlier roped in Schutt Sports, the world?s leading maker of football helmets and faceguards, as kits supplier for the league. As part of the agreement, Schutt has committed to supply 2,000 helmets, 2,300 face guards, 2,000 shoulders pads and additional accessories and equipment worth $1 million to the EFLI teams.

EFLI is the first men?s professional American football league in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It is South Asia?s first professional American football league. The government of India and the Sports Authority of India have backed the league?s launch.

Founded in mid-2011, the organisation?s management team consists of American and Indian business and entertainment executives as well as several American sports figures.

MUMBAI: HBO will kick off the final season of the show Entourage on 6 November, at 7:35 pm. After that it will air every Sunday before the 9 pm movie.

The show chronicles the acting career of Vincent Chase, a young A-list movie star, and his childhood friends from Queens, New York City. Based on the life of actor Mark Wahlberg, and his experiences as an up-and-coming film star, Entourage deals with themes of male friendship and real-life situations in modern-day Hollywood.

The series is known for its array of guest stars, usually featuring at least two celebrities per episode.

HBO South Asia country manager Shruti Bajpai said, "Entourage - the original created by HBO has been on air for almost eight years now. A glitzy and glamourous Hollywood fairytale, Entourage is one of the most commercially and critically successful series the movie channel till now. It has been among the top-rated series in India over seasons. Keeping in mind the immense popularity of the series, we are bringing the eighth and the final season immediately after the US Premiere for Indian fans."

At the end of the previous season Chase had gone off the deep end after the boys? failed attempt to stage an intervention for his excessive boozing and not-so-recreational drug use. Now, he is back from a stint in rehab and ready for a new pet project, while each of his crew deal with their own personal and professional challenges.

As the eighth season begins, super-agent Ari Gold, played by Jeremy Piven, and Mrs. Ari played by Perrey Reeves have recently separated; Eric has broken up with Sloan, played by Emmanuelle Chriqui, after a prenuptial debacle, and is running his own management company with Scott Lavin (played by Scott Caan).

Drama is shooting his animated series, Johnny?s Bananas, with Andrew Dice Clay; and Turtle is invested in the Avion tequila line and starting a new business venture.

This season, the stakes are higher, and the money and temptations greater than ever. Spinning a fictional yarn within the real world of LA?s movie studios, nightclubs and mansions, the final season of Entourage will answer question of whether or not our longtime buddies from Queens can achieve the successes of which they have always dreamed.