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Major air time

A 12-year-old Apollo Beach skateboarder was just doing what he loved best. Next thing he knows, he's on ESPN.

SAM GOODMAN
Published June 21, 2004

About six months ago, Kevin Sullivan II was at the Skatepark of Tampa doing what he loves: skateboarding. As he skated, he spotted a camera crew and asked what it was doing.

Now, like Kevin, millions of ESPN viewers know what the camera crew was doing. It was videotaping outside stadiums, arenas, sports bars, little league parks and basketball courts to capture fans in their element.

The crew was taping at the park for commercials on the all-sports network for its "Season of the Fan" advertising campaign. Kevin, a 12-year-old from Apollo Beach, was one of the more than 1,500 fans videotaped starting in November, said Jill Cohen, a spokeswoman with Dan Klores Communications. The ESPN25 Fan Utility Vehicles visited 85 cities in 48 states.

Kevin is one of only 50 fans who will appear on the air. His 15-second commercial began airing in late May and aired May 27 during the first and second periods of the National Hockey League Stanley Cup final. The commercial, along with many others, also can be seen in coming weeks at www.ESPN25.com

In his commercial, Kevin says hi to his mom; to his favorite skater, Brian Schaefer, who owns the Skatepark; and to skateboarding legend Tony Hawk. "Give me a call," Kevin tells Hawk, "and we'll skate and just have fun."

Kevin, who will be in seventh grade at Eisenhower Middle School in August, began skateboarding when he was 10. He used to inline skate , but one day while at the Skatepark, he saw some kids on a board and had to try it. That day he bought his first skateboard, he said. He kept practicing, going to the park three or four times a week.

For the second consecutive summer, Kevin has traveled to Woodward Skate Camp in Woodward, Pa., an Olympic training ground. The camp is for skateboarders, BMX cyclers and gymnasts, said his mother, Pam Sullivan.

Kevin said his parents have been very supportive of his skating.

Kevin's father, who also is named Kevin, used to skateboard and surf as a kid. Now Kevin's younger sister, 10-year-old Samantha, is starting to skateboard.

Don't think that this 15 seconds of fame has gone to Kevin's head. His friends and family were really excited, and Mrs. Sullivan said she was "just so proud" of the way Kevin handled himself during the taping of the commercial. She said Kevin is very confident - what you might expect in a straight-A student - and is very comfortable with himself.

Sam Goodman, 12, will be in seventh grade at Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa.

You could be a star

ESPN25.com is offering young sports fans an opportunity to log on and upload their photos to potentially be used in advertisements, including billboards and the ABC SuperSign in Times Square, where a "slide show" of fan faces will be airing for 30 seconds twice an hour during the summer. Check it out.

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