Ep 12. Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (December 2019)

Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel is a long-running sports magazine TV show airing on HBO. Its 25th season includes a range of stories and interviews featuring various sports personalities and topics, from high-profile athletes to lesser-known sports and competitive events, as well as profiles on coaches, activists, and analysts.

Episode 12 of season 25, named Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (December 2019), continues the show's tradition of offering thought-provoking and diverse stories from the sports world.

The first segment delves into the world of esports, exploring the rise of competitive video gaming as a billion-dollar industry with its own leagues, teams, and stars. The show visits a training facility for a team of professional gamers, as well as a gaming convention where thousands of fans gather to watch top players compete. The segment also looks into the mental and physical demands of esports training and the controversies surrounding the inclusion of esports in the Olympics.

The second segment takes a look at the often-overlooked sport of log rolling, which involves balancing on a floating tree trunk and trying to knock off one's opponent. The segment features the reigning world champion in the sport, as well as other log rolling enthusiasts who discuss the history and challenges of the sport, as well as its potential for growth.

The third segment profiles Brianna Decker, a member of the US Women's National Hockey Team who played a crucial role in the team's victory at the 2018 Winter Olympics, despite not being paid as much as her male counterparts. The segment explores the ongoing gender pay gap in sports and the efforts to achieve equal pay and recognition for female athletes.

Finally, the show highlights the inspiring story of Dennis Watkins, a magician and mentalist who suffered a life-altering stroke while performing a show. The segment follows Watkins' recovery and the powerful role that magic and entertainment played in his rehabilitation.

Overall, Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel season 25 episode 12 offers a mix of engaging and illuminating stories from the sports world, exposing viewers to the diversity and complexity of athletic pursuits and the people who devote themselves to them.