Blarney Stone Broadcasting, Inc.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 8, 2018

CONTACT: Keith Gave - (989) 390-9860; media@therussian5.com

          or Maureen Barkume - (989) 348-6171; maureen@blarneystonebroadcasting.com

‘A whirlwind story. . . fantastical, gripping, emotional

and even humorous.’ – Mitch Albom

New book by local author reveals dramatic new details of the ‘Russian Five’ and the Red Wings’ rise to Stanley Cup glory

GRAYLING, Michigan – Five hockey players from the famed Soviet Red Army club who in separate, often dramatic ways ended up in crumbling, 1990s Detroit, did more to bridge Russian and American relations than decades of diplomacy and détente between the White House and the Kremlin. They were “The Russian Five,” and their story unfolds in a captivating new book written by the man who was there with them every step of the way.

In “The Russian Five, A story of espionage, defection, bribery and courage,” (Gold Star Publishing, Ann Arbor, Michigan), Blarney Stone Broadcasting’s Sports Director, Keith Gave, the spy-turned-newsman whose clandestine mission to Helsinki, Finland, reveals for the first time that he was the initial phase of a years-long series of secret meetings from posh hotel rooms to remote European forests to orchestrate the unlawful departures from behind the Iron Curtain.

Book is on sale now on Amazon.com, Indiebound.org, Barnes & Noble, Walmart. Target and eBay

Meet the author and have your book signed on Tuesday, March 20, 1-3 p.m.,

at Blarney Stone Broadcasting, 6514 Old Lake Road, Grayling MI  49738

Feature-length documentary film, ‘The Russian Five’ to premiere in Detroit on April 11

“Until now, few knew of the role played by one multi-lingual erstwhile Detroit Free Press reporter who stickhandled through the Soviet KGB to plant the seed that sprung two of the most important spokes in the winged wheel,” says Mike “Doc” Emrick, the five-time Emmy Award-winning, Hall of Fame broadcaster and the voice of hockey on NBC-TV. “This book. . .  is the ultimate ‘inside story.’”

Best-selling author Mitch Albom adds that Gave was “an envoy, Russian-speaker and secret-keeper. No one could write this story with the detail, depth and understanding that Gave delivers. . .  This book was a long time in the making, but well worth the wait.”

The Russian Five: Sergei Fedorov, Viacheslav Fetisov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Vyacheslav Kozlov and Igor Larionov. Their individual stories read like pulse-pounding spy novels. Part thriller, part memoir, part Russian fairytale, the story that unfolds after they were brought together by the masterful coach Scotty Bowman is authentic – and truly unforgettable.

“All of us at Blarney Stone Broadcasting are immensely proud of our Sports Director, Keith Gave, who puts the same effort into his columns on our websites and on-air opinions as he did in this amazing book,” said Sheryl Coyne, BSB president. “We are pleased beyond words to be able to partner with him and his publisher to help spread the word about the Russian Five, who gave us so much to cheer about when we really needed it around Detroit.”

Stay tuned to Blarney Stone Broadcasting stations (Q100.3, Y101.1, and LMA stations, WKLT 97.5 & 98.9, THE FOX MUSIC RADIO 94.3 & 92.5 and ESPN 106.7 & 105.5) to learn more about how to get your free copy of the book – signed by the author.

About the author: Keith Gave spent six years in the United States Army as a Russian linguist working for the National Security Agency during the Cold War. Nothing could have better prepared him for a career as a sports writer covering hockey for the Detroit Free Press. His 15 years with the newspaper were the highlight of a career spanning nearly 40 years in the news industry, with stops that included The Associated Press and the Dallas Morning News. More recently, he spent 15 years as a college journalism instructor. He also contributed as a writer/producer to the soon-to-be-released documentary film, “The Russian Five.” He lives in Roscommon, Michigan, where he continues to write when he’s not sneaking off to cast a fly to the trout on his home waters of the AuSable River.

Follow him at: www.keithgave.com; Twitter @KeithGave

About Blarney Stone Broadcasting:  Blarney Stone Broadcasting, Inc., co-owned by Sheryl and Jerry Coyne, operates: FM100.3, WQON, The Only Place for Rock & Roll – 60,000 watts (Detroit Lions, University of Michigan Football and Grayling Viking Football and Basketball); FM101.1, WGRY, Your Sports Talk Station – 3,400 watts (CBS Sports Talk, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Pistons and University of Michigan Basketball); AM1230, WMQU, the Catholic Light for Northern Michigan – 750 watts leased to Baraga Broadcasting.  Blarney Stone Broadcasting assumed ownership of the stations based in Grayling on Oct. 2, 2012. Blarney Stone Broadcasting is currently operating a Local Market Agreement (LMA) with Northern Broadcast, Inc., which includes The Rock Stations WKLT and WKLZ, The Fox, WFDX and WFCX and ESPN Radio WSRT and WSRJ.  Blarney Stone Broadcasting is a community orientated media resource in Northern Michigan dedicated to providing local information, entertainment and promotions focused on the needs of the audience and the businesses that serve these audience. Blarney Stone Broadcasting is committed to growing local business in Northern Michigan.

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PHOTO 1 CAPTION:

Front cover artwork for the book “The Russian Five” by Keith Gave, local author (Roscommon) and Blarney Stone Broadcasting Sports Director.

PHOTO 2 CAPTION:

When the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in 1997, three of Detroit's famed Russian Five took the trophy home to Moscow to parade it around Red Square -- and Blarney Stone Broadcasting sports director Keith Gave was there, on assignment for the Detroit Free Press. Above, he's pictured, from left, with Igor Larionov, Slava Fetisov and Slava Kozlov.

For more information, contact Maureen Barkume, VP Marketing and Promotions at Blarney Stone Broadcasting, 989-348-6171 or cell 248-229-8476 or Maureen@blarneystonebroadcasting.com. 

For more information on Q100.3 and Y101.1 visit www.q100michigan.com.  Stream Q100.3 live at www.q100michigan.com or download the free mobile app to your iPhone or Android. Search Blarney Stone Broadcasting on Facebook.