'Sports Extra' signs off after 24 years on 11Alive. Credit: 11Alive (NBC Atlanta) Credit: 11Alive (NBC Atlanta)
By Matt Clapp on

Sunday night brought the final edition of Sports Extra on 11Alive, the NBC affiliate in Atlanta.

Sports Extra debuted in 2002 and has been a 30-minute program each Sunday at 11:30 p.m. on 11Alive, featuring a focus on Atlanta’s local sports. The newscast at 11 p.m. will now turn into an hour-long format.

The final Sports Extra led to an emotional farewell, with Maria Martin, Reggie Chatman Jr., and Grant McAuley offering their thoughts on the show’s memorable 24-year run.

“Alright, the secret is out,” Martin said. “This is the final episode of Sports Extra. I don’t know how to not keep reacting to that. The show has been on the air since 2002. And now, on August 9, 2026, things are changing. Our newscast at 11 will become an hour. And sports will have a large presence in it, but it won’t be the show as we know and love it.”

“It’s impossible to thank the sheer number of producers, directors, talent, and guests over the 24-year run of the show, but I’m going to try,” Martin continued. “I’ve been the host of this show for six years. I’ve, in a way, grown up on this show. And I cannot begin to thank those that came before me, and those that have contributed, like Reggie Chatman, over the years, enough. The viewers, the coaches, the general managers, the team presidents, the professional athletes who came in on their off days, the high school and collegiate athletes, and the former athletes wanting to break into the TV space, I’m so eternally grateful to all of you.”

“This show changed a lot over its two-decade run,” Martin explained.  “But one thing that never changed about it- it was unique. And it did something very few do in local television anymore. It gave us 30 minutes to be ourselves, to simply talk about sports, to be creative, to share perspective, and to have fun. This show won a lot of awards. This show, at the end, was hosted, produced, and directed by all women. And I’m so proud of all of it.

“I’m also hopeful for what’s next for our department,” Martin said. “You can still see us in the 11 o’clock hour on Sunday nights, just in a different way. Goodbye, Sports Extra. Can’t believe I’m saying that. Thank you for all of the memories. It is hard to digest what we just did for 30 minutes.”

“Obviously, I was emotional,” Chatman said during the final edition of Sports Extra. “We’ve known that this was coming for a couple of weeks now, but to see the recap of all the different years, all the different sets, all different studios, people who still work in town, who no longer work in town, it feels kind of like you’re at the end of high school where they’re showing the music at the end, everybody’s moving off the stage after graduation. This show is a big reason why I came to 11Alive and wanted to be able to experience this, show off a little bit more personality, and meet some great guests like you guys. So, really sad as it moves on to a different type of show.”

“Reggie and I have made friends because of this show, truly,” Martin explained. “I mean, I’ve gotten closer to Grant because of it. You’re a really good friend of mine now. And whenever I introduce the guests, and I say, ‘A good friend of mine, and a good friend of the show,’ I’m not kidding when I say that. I mean, I’m so obsessed with everyone that walks through this door. We ask people to be on this show for a reason. Grant, you came here before us. What do you think about the show going away?”

“Yeah, I would say 13 years of walking into this studio, in different forms,” McAuley said. “It’s definitely changed, but the opportunity to work with so many great people that I have so much respect for, to be a part of this team, just a small part, just playing the utility man for the Atlanta Braves, was a lot of fun for me. I’ve enjoyed talking baseball, meeting you guys, building these relationships. And I’m appreciative to Sam Crenshaw, who was the first guy that called me up and said, ‘Hey, you want to come talk about baseball with me? Because I’d love to do that. You interested?’ And I’m like, ‘I think I am.’ And here we are, 13 years later.”

“This was a rare show, and a great show,” McAuley added. “Thanks for letting me part of it.”

“Alright, we’re all crying. See you on TV next week. Guys, thanks for watching for the last two decades. I don’t know what else to say,” Martin said as Sports Extra signed off.

You can watch a montage remembering some of the best moments from Sports Extra here:

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor/writer at Awful Announcing and The Comeback.

He can be reached by email at mclapp@awfulannouncing.com.

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