ESPN's 30 For 30

[Mister J]

This series has been going for a few weeks now, but there's still plenty of it left. A number of the topics look intriguing and, so far, the pieces have been extremely well done. There's some good stuff coming up; some stuff I really want to see (The U, Reggie Miller v. The Knicks, The Trial of Allen Iverson, The Two Escobars) and some topics I couldn't care less about, but will probably still watch. Anybody else checking this out?

http://30for30.espn.com/
http://30for30.espn.com/schedule.html
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Bill Simmons on 30 for 30

Spoiler

It started out as a one-paragraph e-mail in 2007. And only because I love documentaries. The goal of a well-written piece and a well-done documentary is fundamentally the same: you pick a story that hasn’t been fully explored yet, you throw yourself into it and you make it sing.


I know how to write; I don’t know how to make documentaries. But I know what makes for a good story. And in 2007, I wanted to see ESPN create more stories. So I sent my bosses a short pitch that hinged on three ideas rolled into one:



1. Our 30-year anniversary is coming up. We should do something.



(Note: ESPN loves celebrating ourselves. We’re the dude in college who throws himself birthday parties. “Hey, I’m turning 20! Let’s get a keg!” So I knew this would grab them.)



2. We should produce documentaries about 30 stories from that 30-year time frame, but with a slight catch. It can’t be “SportsCentury: 30 Years of ESPN.” We already did “SportsCentury.” This needs its own wrinkle. So what if we imported a few well-known Hollywood filmmakers and give them complete creative control?


(Note: I had no idea how much this would cost to have Hollywood make all of them. I thought it would cost something like eleventy million dollars. But if we could landed four or five filmmakers, that seemed slightly more realistic.)


3. The series should be called “30 For 30.”


(Note: Great title. You have to admit. Rolls off the tongue. I remember trying to chest-bump myself when I thought of it.)


My bosses liked the idea. So did my friend Connor Schell, who was working as a PA on “Cheap Seats” at the time. Or maybe he was working as an executive for ESPN Content Development. I can’t remember. Connor had an even better wrinkle: What if outside filmmakers made all 30 documentaries?


He swore we could pull it off. I didn’t believe him. We started talking on the phone a lot. Actually, we were already talking on the phone a lot, but those conversations were about fantasy baseball and “The Real World.” Now we were getting real work done. We made a master list of potential stories that we wanted to see … and they had to be stories, not just a laundry list of “we’ll do Jordan, we’ll do Tyson, we’ll do Magic” and so on. We were especially attracted to stories that resonated at the time but were eventually forgotten for whatever reason. Like the unique connection between Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble. Like Tim Richmond taking NASCAR by storm, disappearing just as quickly because of an “illness” (later revealed to be AIDS), then having his story covered up and dismissed. Like O.J.’s car chase, Escobar’s own goal and Jimmy the Greek’s career imploding in just a few sentences. Like the 2004 Red Sox winning four incredible games in four nights against the Yankees; even if the big picture theme had been beaten to death, the small picture theme (every remarkable twist from Game 4 through Game 7) had never really been told. We wanted people to say, “Wow, I forgot how (fill in a word: great, amazing, poignant, crazy, depressing, unbelievable) that was” or “I can’t believe I never knew that whole story.” We didn’t want to check off a laundry list of the 30 biggest stories from 1979 to 2009. That’s what our viewers would expect from us. We wanted to surprise them.



While we were coming up with ideas, we made a list of respected filmmakers and celebrities who also happened to be sports fans. This list kept expanding as we kept learning things like, “Hey, did you know so-and-so has been a Knicks season ticket holder for 30 years?” and “Did you know that so-and-so has a crazy passion for NASCAR?” Then we made another list of filmmakers that we desperately wanted whether they liked sports or not, just because we respected them so much. (Important note: All copies of this list have been destroyed Oliver North-style and I now deny that it ever existed.) By the time we were done, it had turned into a mix-and-match game of those three lists, so we recruited John Dahl, Mike Tollin, Joan Lynch, Chris Connelly, and the ESPN Films group to help us find the 30 best matches between stories and filmmakers. If there was no fresh take on the O.J. Trial, the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team, Magic’s HIV-driven retirement or any other “iconic” story from that time, then screw it—we weren’t going to assign those topics just to have them in the series. We wanted the best 30 matches. Period.



We hoped to land a few respected names early for a “domino effect” of sort and only needed two or three names. Everyone else would get a sniff and want to be involved. That’s what we thought. We all started going out on meet and greets, and that’s when something crazy happened, something we never anticipated: these people had been waiting for us. They had stories to tell. They just never thought they’d have a chance to tell them. Tollin broke into Hollywood by working in the USFL and happened to be sitting on three years of rare USFL footage. Yes, he wanted to direct a film. The great Albert Maysles followed Muhammad Ali around before the Holmes fight, filmed two months worth of incredible footage, even cut a 30-minute documentary about it… only nobody wanted to purchase it because the fight itself had been so depressing. The film had been sitting in a warehouse for 27 years gathering dust. Yes, he wanted to be involved.



To our eternal amazement, the dominos started falling. Ice Cube is a lifelong Raiders fan. Peter Berg’s obsession with Wayne Gretzky is real. Ron Shelton brings an unequaled passion to minor league baseball. We found out that Steve Nash grew up idolizing the late Terry Fox, that Barry Levinson never really recovered from the Colts leaving Baltimore, that Steve James grew up in Virginia and remains haunted by the racism there, specifically, how Allen Iverson’s trial was handled. They all jumped aboard. Now the project was humming. These wouldn’t be typical documentaries with highlights and talking heads and a chronological theme. These would be stories with a beginning, middle and end. That’s what we wanted.



In many cases, the filmmakers did the brainstorming while we did a lot of nodding. Dan Klores had always been fascinated not just by Reggie Miller’s connection with Madison Square Garden, but how Reggie inadvertently became the most memorable thing about Patrick Ewing’s prime with the Knicks. Has that ever happened before? An opposing player briefly hijacking the identity of another team? Our friends at NBA Entertainment wanted to make a film about how Yugoslavia’s basketball team was ripped apart by the Bosnian War—not just because it was a terrific story, but because they were sitting on a treasure chest of footage that nobody had ever seen. The talented crew from Rakontur Productions wanted to tackle Miami University in the same spirit with which they nailed “Cocaine Cowboys.” How do you say “no” to any of those stories? These ideas would put the onus on the viewers, make them think, make them use their brains, make them wonder what might happen next. Everyone already knows what happened with the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team. But how many people know what happened the night Mike Tyson knocked out Bruce Seldon in Las Vegas? That’s what we wanted.



And that’s how it went. We thought we would be shaping “30 For 30” like matchmakers on Harmony.com—let’s give this idea to him, and this idea to her, and this one to them—but really, the filmmakers shaped the series for us. Many of our we-gotta-do-these ideas never ended up happening: the rise and fall of Doc and Darryl; the Borg-McEnroe and McGwire-Sosa rivalries; the stormy marriage that submarined Mike Tyson’s career; even Tiger Woods. We thought all of those concepts were locks. None of them made the cut. We were fine with that. You can’t force this stuff. We ended up with 30 riveting stories for 30 years. We did not rank them. We did not count them down. We did not attempt to place them in any sort of context. We feel extraordinarily confident you will remember them.
Remember when I mentioned how we were hoping for a domino effect of sorts? It happened. And then some. This is the greatest collection of filmmakers ever assembled under the same umbrella. There has never been anything on television like “30 For 30” before—a network handing over thirty stories to gifted talents and trusting they will deliver. Which they will.

And if they don’t deliver? Then please know this was all Connor’s idea.

King's Ransom - Directed by Peter Berg

On August 9, 1988, the NHL was forever changed with the single stroke of a pen. The Edmonton Oilers, fresh off their fourth Stanley Cup victory in five years, signed a deal that sent Wayne Gretzky, a Canadian national treasure and the greatest hockey player ever to play the game, to the Los Angeles Kings in a multi-player, multi-million dollar deal. As bewildered Oiler fans struggled to make sense of the unthinkable, fans in Los Angeles were rushing to purchase season tickets at a rate so fast it overwhelmed the Kings box office. Overnight, a franchise largely overlooked in its 21-year existence was suddenly playing to sellout crowds and standing ovations, and a league often relegated to “little brother” status exploded from 21 teams to 30 in less than a decade. Acclaimed director Peter Berg presents the captivating story of the trade that knocked the wind out of an entire country, and placed a star-studded city right at the humble feet of a 27-year-old kid, known simply as “The Great One.”

The Band That Wouldn't Die - Directed by Barry Levinson

In late March of 1984, a moving company secretly packed up the Baltimore Colts’ belongings and its fleet of vans snuck off in the darkness of the early morning. Leaving a city of deeply devoted fans in shock and disbelief. What caused owner Robert Irsay to turn his back on a town that was as closely linked to its team as any in the NFL? Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson, himself a long-standing Baltimore Colts fanatic, will probe that question in light of the changing relationship of sports to community. Through the eyes of members of the Colts Marching Band, Levinson will illustrate how a fan base copes with losing the team that it loves.

Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? - Directed by Mike Tollin

In 1983 the upstart United States Football League (USFL) had the audacity to challenge the almighty NFL. The new league did the unthinkable by playing in the spring and plucked three straight Heisman Trophy winners away from the NFL. The 12-team USFL played before crowds that averaged 25,000, and started off with respectable TV ratings. But with success came expansion and new owners, including a certain high profile and impatient real estate baron whose vision was at odds with the league’s founders. Soon, the USFL was reduced to waging a desperate anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL, which yielded an ironic verdict that effectively forced the league out of business. Now, almost a quarter of a century later, Academy Award-nominated and Peabody Award-winning director Mike Tollin, himself once a chronicler of the league, will showcase the remarkable influence of those three years on football history and attempt to answer the question, “Who Killed the USFL?”

Muhammad and Larry - Directed by Albert Maysles and Bradley Kaplan

In October of 1980 Muhammad Ali was preparing to fight for an unprecedented fourth heavyweight title against his friend and former sparring partner Larry Holmes. To say that the great Ali was in the twilight of his career would be generous; most of his admiring fans, friends and fight scribes considered his bravado delusional. What was left for him to prove? In the weeks of training before the fight, documentarians Albert and David Maysles took an intimate look at Ali trying to convince the world and perhaps himself, that he was still “The Greatest.” At the same time, they documented the mild-mannered and undervalued champion Holmes as he confidently prepared to put an end to the career of a man for whom he had an abiding and deep affection. In the raw moments after Ali’s humbling in this one-sided fight, it was not fully comprehended what the Maysles brothers had actually captured on film and, due to unexpected circumstances, the Maysles footage never received a public screening or airing. However, in the intervening years, the magnitude of this footage is now clear. An era ended when the braggadocio and confidence were stripped away in the ring, and the world’s greatest hero was revealed to be a man. Here for the first time is the unseen filmed build up to that fight, accompanied by freshly shot interviews by Albert Maysles with members from both the Ali and Holmes camps, as well as others who were prime witnesses to this poignant foolhardy attempt at courage.

Without Bias - Directed by Kirk Fraser

More than two decades after his tragic cocaine overdose, the late Len Bias still leaves more questions than answers. When Bias dropped dead two days after the 1986 NBA Draft, he forever altered our perception of casual drug use and became the tipping point of America's drug crisis in the mid-80's. Future generations continue to face the harsh punishment of drug policies that were influenced by the public outcry after his heartbreaking death. Instead of becoming an NBA star, he became a one-man deterrent, the athlete who reminded everyone just how dangerous drug use can be. Amazingly, questions still linger about his death nearly a quarter-century later. How good could he have been in the pro ranks? Has he become underrated or overrated as the years pass? How could a University of Maryland superstar and Boston Celtics lottery pick be derailed by a cocaine binge? Was Bias a one-time user as we were led to believe, or was there a pattern of recreational use that led to his fatal last night? Did he fall in with the wrong crowd? In the most ambitious, comprehensive and uncompromising account of Bias’ life and death ever captured on film, up-and-coming director Kirk Fraser utilizes dozens of interviews with Bias’ closest teammates, friends and family in an effort to determine exactly what happened on that fateful night. Maybe it wasn't as much of a fluke as we thought.

The Legend of Jimmy The Greek - Directed by Fritz Mitchell

“The NFL Today” on CBS was one of the preeminent sports programs on television in the early 1980s. It was a perfect combination of reporting, analysis, predictions, humor and talent. But there was no personality on the show more popular than Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder. Born in Steubenville, Ohio, to Greek immigrants, Jimmy overcame childhood tragedy, moved to Las Vegas, and eventually became the biggest name in the world of sports handicapping. When CBS added him as an “analyst” on “The NFL Today,” “The Greek” not only further increased his stature as a sort of national folk hero, but he also gained an air of respectability never before associated with gamblers. Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Fritz Mitchell, who broke in as an intern on “The NFL Today,” will examine Snyder’s impact on the growth of sports gambling, while also taking a fresh look at The Greek’s tragic downfall.

The U - Directed by Billy Corben

Throughout the 1980s, Miami, Florida, was at the center of a racial and cultural shift taking place throughout the country. Overwhelmed by riots and tensions, Miami was a city in flux, and the University of Miami football team served as a microcosm for this evolution. The image of the predominantly white university was forever changed when coach Howard Schnellenberger scoured some of the toughest ghettos in Florida to recruit mostly black players for his team. With a newly branded swagger, inspired and fueled by the quickly growing local Miami hip hop culture, these Hurricanes took on larger-than-life personalities and won four national titles between 1983 and 1991. Filmmaker Billy Corben, a Miami native and University of Miami alum, will tell the story of how these “Bad Boys” of football changed the attitude of the game they played, and how this serene campus was transformed into “The U.”

Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks - Directed by Dan Klores

Reggie Miller single-handedly crushed the hearts of Knick fans multiple times. But it was the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals that solidified Miller as Public Enemy #1 in New York City. With moments to go in Game 1, and facing a seemingly insurmountable deficit of 105-99, Miller scored eight points in 8.9 seconds to give his Indiana Pacers an astonishing victory. This career-defining performance, combined with his give-and-take with Knicks fan Spike Lee, made Miller and the Knicks a highlight of the 1995 NBA playoffs. Peabody Award-winning director Dan Klores will explore how Miller proudly built his legend as “The Garden’s Greatest Villain”.

Guru of Go - Directed by Bill Couturie

By the mid-1980s Paul Westhead had worn out his welcome in the NBA. The best offer he could find came from an obscure small college with little history of basketball. In the same city where he had won an NBA championship with Magic and Kareem, Westhead was determined to perfect his non-stop run-and-gun offensive system at Loyola Marymount. His shoot-first offense appeared doomed to fail until Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble, two talented players from Westhead’s hometown of Philadelphia, arrived gift-wrapped at his doorstep. With Gathers and Kimble leading a record scoring charge, Westhead’s system suddenly dazzled the world of college basketball and turned conventional thinking on its head. But then, early in the 1989-90 season, Gathers collapsed during a game and was diagnosed with an abnormal heartbeat. Determined to play, Gathers returned three games later, but less than three months later, he tragically died on the court. Working with both Westhead and Kimble, Oscar-winning director Bill Couturié will tell a fast-paced and emotionally moving story of innovation, triumph and tragedy.

No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson - Directed by Steve James

On Valentine’s Day 1993, 17-year-old Bethel High School basketball star Allen Iverson was bowling in Hampton, Va., with five high school friends. It was supposed to be an ordinary evening, but it became a night that defined Iverson’s young life. A quarrel soon erupted into a brawl pitting Iverson’s young black friends against a group of white patrons. The fallout from the fight and the handling of the subsequent trial landed the teenager—considered by some the nation’s best high school athlete—in jail and sharply divided the city along racial lines. Oscar nominee Steve James (“Hoop Dreams&#8221 returns to his hometown of Hampton, where he once played basketball, to take a personal look at this still-disputed incident and examine its impact on Iverson and the shared community.

 

[Mister J]

Into the Wind - Directed by Steve Nash

In 1980, Terry Fox continued to fight bone cancer and deep despair in pursuit of a singular, motivating vision—to run across Canada. Three years after having his right leg amputated six inches above the knee, Fox set out to cover more than a marathon’s distance each day until he reached the shores of Victoria, British Columbia, spreading awareness and raising funds for cancer research. Anonymous at the start of his journey, Fox steadily captured the heart of a nation with his marathon of hope. After 143 days and two-thirds of the way across Canada, with the eyes of a country watching, Fox’s journey came to an abrupt end when newly discovered tumors took over his body. Two-time NBA MVP, proud Canadian, and first-time filmmaker, Steve Nash, will share Fox’s incredible story of perseverance and hope.

Jordan Rides the Bus - Directed by Ron Shelton

In the fall of 1993, in his prime and at the summit of the sports world, Michael Jordan walked away from pro basketball. After leading the Dream Team to an Olympic gold medal in 1992 and taking the Bulls to their third consecutive NBA championship the following year, Jordan was jolted by the murder of his father. Was it the brutal loss of such an anchor in his life that caused the world’s most famous athlete to rekindle a childhood ambition by playing baseball? Or some feeling that he had nothing left to prove or conquer in basketball? Or something deeper and perhaps not yet understood? Ron Shelton, a former minor leaguer who brought his experiences to life in the classic movie “Bull Durham,” will revisit Jordan’s short career in the minor leagues and explore the motivations that drove the world’s most competitive athlete to play a new sport in the relative obscurity of Birmingham, Alabama, for a young manager named Terry Francona.

Charismatic - Directed by Asylum Entertainment

In June of 1999 an unlikely chestnut colt named Charismatic, with jockey Chris Antley aboard, headed down the stretch at the Belmont Stakes, just seconds away from becoming the first Triple Crown winner in nearly 21 years. Thoroughbred racing was desperate for this story of deliverance—track attendance was in steep decline, stars like Seattle Slew and Secretariat were distant memories, drug abuse and bulimia were becoming issues in the jockey colony, and America’s love affair with the Sport of Kings was waning. Into this void stepped Charismatic and Antley, both thought to be lost causes. The racing community had such a low opinion of Charismatic that he had been entered into claiming races just months prior to the Triple Crown races. As for Antley, he was considered a washed-up, anorexic, former drug addict who should have stayed retired from racing. Together, they became the biggest long shots in 59 years to win the Kentucky Derby, and then followed that up with another underdog win at the Preakness. The two may have been denied their Hollywood ending, but their story of redemption lives on.

One Simple Gesture - Directed by Cliff Bestall (Produced by Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary)

Rugby has long been viewed in South Africa as a game for the white population, and the country’s success in the sport has been a true source of Afrikaner pride. When the 50-year-old policies and entrenched injustices of apartheid were finally overthrown in 1994, Nelson Mandela’s new government began rebuilding a nation badly in need of racial unity. So the world was watching when South Africa played host to the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Though they had only one non-white player, the South African Springboks gained supporters of all colors as they made an improbable run into the final match where they beat the heavily favored New Zealand team. When Mandela himself marched to the center of the pitch cloaked in a Springbok jersey and shook hands with the captain of the South African team, two nations became one. Oscar winner Morgan Freeman and director Cliff Bestall will tell the emotional story of that cornerstone moment and what it meant to South Africa’s healing process.

The Two Escobars - Directed by Jeff Zimbalist

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, many believe, Pablo Escobar’s Medellín Cartel and the Cali Cartels were largely responsible for financing and building the Colombian National soccer team into one of the world’s best. But in an early match against the United States in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, a Colombian defenseman named Andres Escobar—no relation to Pablo—committed an own goal that led to the team’s elimination. Less than ten days later, Escobar was gunned down outside a bar in a suburb of Medellin. He was shot 12 times, and the murderer shouted “goal” each time the trigger was pulled. Was Escobar’s murder an isolated incident, or were gambling organizations controlled by the cartels responsible? Award-winning director Jeff Zimbalist will examine the mysterious events leading up to and surrounding Andres Escobar’s death.

June 17, 1994 - Directed by Brett Morgen

Do you remember where you were on June 17, 1994? Thanks to a wide array of unrelated, coast-to-coast occurrences, this Friday has come to be known for its firsts, lasts, triumphs and tragedy. Arnold Palmer played his last round at a U.S. Open, in Oakmont, Pa., the FIFA World Cup kicked off in Chicago, the Rangers celebrated on Broadway, Patrick Ewing desperately pursued a long evasive championship in the Garden and Donald Fehr stared down the baseball owners. And yet, all of that was a prelude to O.J. Simpson leading America on a slow speed chase in a white Ford Bronco around Los Angeles. Oscar-nominated and Peabody Award-winning director Brett Morgen will artistically weave these moments and others to create a unique and reflective look at a day that no sports fan could forget.

Birth of Big Air - Directed by Jeff Tremaine (Produced by Johnny Knoxville and Spike Jonze)

In 1985, at the tender age of 13, Mat Hoffman entered into the BMX circuit as an amateur, and by 16 he had risen to the professional level. Throughout his storied career, Hoffman has ignored conventional limitations, instead, focusing his efforts on the purity of the sport and the pursuit of “what’s next.” His motivations stem purely from his own ambitions, and even without endorsements, cameras, fame and fans, Hoffman would still be working to push the boundaries of gravity. Academy Award nominee Spike Jonze and extreme sport fanatic Johnny Knoxville, along with director Jeff Tremaine, will showcase the inner workings and exploits of the man who gave birth to “Big Air.”

Silly Little Game - Directed by Adam Kurland and Lucas Jansen

Fantasy Sports is estimated to be a $4 billion dollar industry that boasts over 30 million participants and a league for almost every sport imaginable. But for all this success, the story of the game’s inception is little known. The modern fantasy leagues can be traced back to a group of writers and academics who met at La Rotisserie Francaise in New York City to form a baseball league of their own: The Rotisserie League. The game quickly grew in popularity, and with the growing use and attractiveness of the Internet, the “founding fathers” never foresaw how their creation would take off and ultimately leave them behind. Innovative filmmakers Adam Kurland and Lucas Jansen will chronicle the early development and ultimate explosion of Rotisserie Baseball, and shine a light on its mostly unnoticed innovators.

Steve Bartman: Catching Hell - Directed by Alex Gibney

With five outs remaining in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, a foul ball descended from the cold Chicago sky, destined for the glove of left fielder Moises Alou. But it was not meant to be, as one inconspicuous hand reached down from the left field stands at Wrigley Field and seized the potential out. That hand belonged to Cubs fan Steve Bartman, and many believed that he snatched away Chicago’s chance of advancing to the World Series. Even though Bartman was one of many who reached for the ball, and even though Cubs shortstop Alex Gonzalez let a sure inning-ending double-play ball go through his legs later in the same inning, and combined with the fact that the Game 6 victory by the Marlins only tied the series at 3-3, Bartman still became the most hated man in Chicago. Bartman attempted a public appeal, but his fate was already sealed by the Cub fans’ need for a scapegoat to explain a near-century of losing. Although Cubs Nation has since moved on to other seasons and other losses, Bartman remains ostracized from a community he lives in and a team he once loved. Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney will explore this relationship and try to answer the question, Can Steve Bartman ever forgive Chicago?

Unmatched - Directed by Lisa Lax, Nancy Stern with Hannah Storm

The first time Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova stepped onto a tennis court together, the world scarcely noticed. Only a few hundred spectators saw the pert 18-year-old beat the scrappy 16-year-old Czech in 1973. “I remember that she was fat,” Evert recalled. “She was very emotional on the court, whining if she didn't feel she was playing well. But I remember thinking, if she loses weight, we’re all in trouble.” Said Navratilova, “My goal was for her to remember my name.” Eighty matches later – amid the extraordinary growth of women’s tennis – Evert not only remembered, but became a tried and true friend and confidante, remarkable considering the two appeared to be polar opposites in upbringing, life styles and personal relationships. Through a series of personal conversations, filmmakers Nancy Stern and Lisa Lax, along with producer Hannah Storm, will tell the story of one of the greatest one-on-one sports rivalries and capture these two extraordinary athletes’ views on tennis and an ever-changing world.

One Night in Vegas - Directed by Reggie Rock Bythewood

On the evening of Sept. 7, 1996, Mike Tyson, the WBC heavyweight champion, attempted to take Bruce Seldon’s WBA title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. At this point in his career, Tyson’s fights had become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon, where the ever present hype of the professional boxing scene would come face to face with the worlds of big business, Hollywood, and hip hop. Sitting ringside was controversial rapper Tupac Shakur. Shakur and Tyson were friends, a feeling of kinship linked them as each rose to stardom from poverty only to be thrown in prison. Following Tyson’s victory, Shakur and “Iron Mike” were to celebrate at an after party, but the rap star never arrived. Shakur was brutally gunned down later that night, and the scene in Las Vegas quickly turned from would-be celebratory revelry to ill fated and inopportune tragedy. Director Reggie Bythewood, with the full cooperation of Mike Tyson, will tell not only the story of that infamous night but of the remarkable friendship between Tyson and Tupac.

Marion Jones: Press Pause - Directed by John Singleton

Few athletes in Olympic history have reached such heights and depths as Marion Jones. After starring at the University of North Carolina and winning gold at the 1997 and '99 World Track and Field Championships, her rise to the top culminated at the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia. There she captivated the world with her beauty, style and athletic dominance, sprinting and jumping to three gold medals and two bronze. Eventually, though, her accomplishments and her reputation would be tarnished. For years, Jones denied the increasing speculation that she used performance-enhancing drugs. But in October 2007, she finally admitted what so many had long suspected -- that she had indeed used steroids. Calling herself a liar and a cheat in a federal courtroom, Jones was sentenced to six months in prison for lying to federal investigators and soon saw her Olympic achievements disqualified. Now a free woman, Jones is running in a new direction in life and taking time to reflect. Director John Singleton will focus on the rise, fall and re-birth of Marion Jones.

Straight Outta L.A. - Directed by Ice Cube

In 1982 Raiders owner Al Davis beat the NFL in court and moved his team from Oakland to Los Angeles. With a squad as colorful as its owner, the Raiders captivated a large number of black and Hispanic fans in L.A. at a time when gang warfare, immigration and the real estate boom were rapidly changing the city. The L.A. Raiders morphed into a worldwide brand as the team’s colors, swagger and anti-establishment ethos became linked with “Gangsta Gap” and the hip-hop scene that was permeating South Central Los Angeles. Rapper-turned-filmmaker Ice Cube was not only witness to this evolution, he was also a part of it. As a member of the notorious rap group N.W.A, Ice Cube helped make the silver and black culturally significant to a new generation and demographic. Still a die-hard Raiders fan, Cube will explore the unlikely marriage between the NFL’s rebel franchise and America’s glamour city and show how pro football’s outlaw team became the toast of La La Land.

The House That George Built - Directed by Barbara Kopple

Love them or hate them, the Yankees remain the most glorified team in American sports history. Led by the Babe, the Iron Horse, the Yankee Clipper and the Mick, they dominated baseball for more than four decades before the legendary franchise sagged under the ownership of CBS. Then in 1973, a 42-year-old shipbuilder named George Steinbrenner, a man now as iconic to his team as the pinstripes on its uniforms, headed a group that purchased the Yankees, and turned that investment into a billion-dollar business. Since 1923, the ‘House that Ruth Built’ has been the epicenter of the baseball world, and its team the biggest sports attraction in the Big Apple, inspiring generations of fans to maintain loyalties through good times and bad. But with a deteriorating facility and an eye towards 21st century style revenues, Steinbrenner was inspired to build an impressive new stadium. While the Yankees kept their Bronx address at 161st and River Avenue, the new ballpark marked the end of one grand era with the hope of launching another. Two time Oscar-winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple will look at the New York Yankees as defined by George Steinbrenner’s enduring legacy, and will tell a story of how a $10-million dollar investment changed the face of not only a storied franchise, but an entire sport.

Right To Play - Directed by Frank Marshall

He has won four Olympic gold medals, graced the cover of Time magazine and been honored as Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. Yet if you say the name Johann Olav Koss in this country, you’ll usually be met with a casual shrug. “Oh yeah, speed skater . . . Norwegian . . . what’s he doing now?” Instead of cashing in on his Olympic haul, Koss embarked on a remarkable journey that has established him as one of the world’s greatest ambassadors of sports. As the founder, President and CEO of Right To Play, Koss and his army of volunteers, teachers, coaches and diplomats have used the power of athletics to elevate the lives of the world’s neediest children. As it turns out, Frank Marshall, one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed producers and a member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, witnessed Koss’s triumphs on the ice in the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Games. Now Marshall will reveal the epiphany that led Koss to start Right To Play, and attempt to uncover the motivation that drives him to crisscross the globe, establishing new programs and literally saving lives in the process. Some day, Johann may win a Nobel Peace Prize. But for now, this film will serve as an introduction to an uncommon and selfless man who embodies the power and glory of sport.

The Best That Never Was - Directed by Jonathan Hock

In 1981, college athletic recruiting changed forever as a dozen big-time football programs sat waiting for the decision by a physically powerful and lightning-quick high school running back named Marcus Dupree. Having already graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, Dupree attracted recruiters from schools in every major conference to his hometown of Philadelphia, Miss. More than a decade removed from being a flashpoint in the civil-rights struggle, Philadelphia was once again thrust back into the national spotlight. Dupree took the attention in stride, and committed to Oklahoma. What followed, though, was a forgettable college career littered with conflict, injury and oversized expectations. Eight-time Emmy Award winner Jonathan Hock will examine why this star burned out so young and how he ultimately used football to redeem himself.

 

[Mister J]

Run Ricky Run - Directed by Sean Pamphilon and Royce Toni

Ricky Williams does not conform to America’s definition of the modern athlete. In 2004, with rumors of another positive marijuana test looming, the Miami Dolphins running back traded adulation and a mansion in South Florida for anonymity and a $7 a night tent in Australia. His decision created a media frenzy that dismantled his reputation and branded him as America's Pothead. But while most in the media thought Williams was ruining his life by leaving football, Ricky thought he was saving it. Through personal footage recorded with Williams during his time away from football and beyond, filmmaker Sean Pamphilon takes a fresh look at a player who had become a media punching bag and has since redeemed himself as a father and a teammate.

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[BlackLantern]

I like this series....I need to catch the Len Bias one this weekend

 

[cyborg ninja 14]

I was watching the Len Bias one. It was pretty good, and sad.

 

[Mister J]

The Bias piece was great. There's a lot of depth to that story. The media had this guy pegged to be a rival for Jordan, following over from their ACC days. He had the goods too. ESPN Classic had a few of his games at Maryland, leading up to the premiere.

 

[Fresh Prince]

Think Len Bias would of been better then Jordan had he not died?......Also cannot wait to see the Raiders one, Straight Outta LA....Al/Larry one was funny though, still do not know why Ali was favored to win that fight and he was out of shape.

 

[Super_Ludacris]

The series has been excellent. The USFL story, King's Ransom and the Bias one are my favs.

Im still looking forward to Dan Klores' documentary on the Knicks-Pacers rivarly and the documentary by the Hoop Dreams guys called the Trial of Allen Iverson.

 

[Super_Ludacris]

The Bias piece was great. There's a lot of depth to that story. The media had this guy pegged to be a rival for Jordan, following over from there ACC days. He had the goods too. ESPN Classic had a few of his games at Maryland, leading up to the premiere.

The guy was the Jordan of power forwards in college. You gotta think if he's alive, Boston probably contends into the early 90's and theres a good chance The Bad Boy Pistons dont win there titles in 89-90.
He probably would have been Michael's main rival and who knows, Chicago probably doesnt win 6 titles. Its like imagining Malone or Barkley but with the clintele of Bird, Parish and McHale in there early years.

 

[Excel]

Without Bias was an excellent piece; that guy was a damn beast. My father in law, who is sa HUGE celtics fan and has had season tickets for decades, calls that the most shocking moment of his life. He was a massive Bias fan and went nuts when the Cs drafted him.

 

[Fresh Prince]

Fact that Celtics was a championship team and got the best player in college, they for sure would of won more titles....Bias could of been possibly better then MJ....well never know.

 

[KALEL114]

This has been a great series. The Ali/Holmes, Bias, and the USFL ones are my favorites so far with Ali/Holmes being my top favorite.

 

[Fresh Prince]

Cannot wait for the LA Raiders one.

 

[Super_Ludacris]

Tyson/Pac
MJ in Baseball
Iverson trial
Reggie vs Knicks
Cube's Raiders take
June 17 94
South Africa one (whooo this one made me choke up when I saw the lifetime achievement version at the ESPYs)
Nash's Terry Fox doc

I wanna see all of them


lol@ Steve Bartman....that dude suffered enough

 

[Fresh Prince]

Tyson/Pac and Iverson is a must see aswell.

 

[danoyse]

Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks - Directed by Dan Klores

Reggie Miller single-handedly crushed the hearts of Knick fans multiple times. But it was the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals that solidified Miller as Public Enemy #1 in New York City. With moments to go in Game 1, and facing a seemingly insurmountable deficit of 105-99, Miller scored eight points in 8.9 seconds to give his Indiana Pacers an astonishing victory. This career-defining performance, combined with his give-and-take with Knicks fan Spike Lee, made Miller and the Knicks a highlight of the 1995 NBA playoffs. Peabody Award-winning director Dan Klores will explore how Miller proudly built his legend as “The Garden’s Greatest Villain”.

I got to see this one this afternoon - it's very good. The Spike Lee stuff was hilarious.

 

[KALEL114]

I don't know about you guys, but I would love to own these on DVD. I was looking around and there is a link to where you can request to be notified when the are available.
[email protected]

 

[Mister J]

Nice.

Can't wait for the piece on University of Miami football next weekend.

 

[bgates87]

I've watched bits and pieces of some of these, the only one I watched all of was the Len Bias story which was heartbreaking.

On a slightly related note, the NFL Network is showing "America's Game: The Missing Rings" right now and it's about the Buffalo Bills 4 straight Super Bowl losses, but mainly the famous "Wide Right." Heartbreaking, in a point-and-laugh kind of way.

 

[Mister J]

The U premieres tonight.

 

[BlackLantern]

they have to put this on a DVD set once it's all over

 

[Mister J]

Good ****. I need a DVD release date.

​

 

[BlackLantern]

enjoyed it as well...I learned a lot

 

[Excel]

Missed the last few minutes; did they ever get to the Sapp-Dunn-Lewis- late 90s and Johnson-Wayne- Dorsey-Portis-McGahee of the early 2000's return to prominence?

 

[BlackLantern]

the film specifically covered from 1983-1991