ESPN's 30 for 30

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by duckman

James also gives off the slimy politician vibe too when he came up during the program.

He annoys more and more every time he opens his mouth

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by Senator

He did. No one in the public tied him as anything more than a booster. Only when the facts came out, he was long gone.

I would have said no, since the '86 election was covered in the 30 for 30. He didn't run in 1990, because he had a snowball's chance after this and the oil well blowout.

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by tarcone

I liked how Dickerson handled it.

Dickerson and James handle it completely the opposite. Dickerson smiles, laughs and winks, letting you know he got something but he'll never tell.

James smiles and acts smug, trying to make you believe he was the only innocent guy in the SMU program. Who can but that? Why does he sign to go to SMU AFTER Dickerson signs, knowing he's going to be No. 2? SMU was paying everybody but James? Please.

Makes me think even more Mike Leach got screwed. How can you trust Craig James?

[fantom1979]

Its little things like this that interest me.

If Clements hadn't been attached to SMU, would he have ran and beat Ann Richards in '90? Would he have run again in '94 at the age of 77? Would the we know who George W. Bush is if that had happened? I should have been a writer for Sliders.

[Senator]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

I would have said no, since the '86 election was covered in the 30 for 30. He didn't run in 1990, because he had a snowball's chance after this and the oil well blowout.

However, his second term was marred by a startling revelation he made two months after taking office.

So, it never really hit home until he was already in.

Ann Richards would have beat him without this. He was not very well liked. We went through a bad spot of governors until Ann. I liked that old lady.

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

Thats why I have to chuckle everytime James bitches about how PSU won the National Title in 82 and SMU didn't.

Be honest, you giggle like a schoolgirl anytime someone brings up PSU national titles.

[molson]

I haven't caught all of these, but Pony Excess was by far my favorite thus far. I enjoyed the ones that felt like documentaries (the ones about Loyola Marymount and Len Bias), and was bored with the ones that seemed like filmmaker or celebrity-drive fluff pieces (House of Steinbrenner, Straight Outta LA, and Muhammad and Larry)

[stevew]

Is this boxed set worth it?

Amazon.com: ESPN Films 30 for 30 Gift Set Collection, Volume 1: Wayne Gretzky, Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, Allen Iverson, Ricky Williams, Ice Cube, Easy E, Peter Berg;Barry Levinson;John Singleton;Steve James: Movies & TV

[MikeVic]

Ricky Williams and Allen Iverson ones were pretty good. Not sure about the rest.

[molson]

Originally Posted by stevew

Is this boxed set worth it?

Amazon.com: ESPN Films 30 for 30 Gift Set Collection, Volume 1: Wayne Gretzky, Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, Allen Iverson, Ricky Williams, Ice Cube, Easy E, Peter Berg;Barry Levinson;John Singleton;Steve James: Movies & TV

At the very least, I'd certainly hold out and buy both volumes together when they come out.

I'm surprised they don't have that ready to go for Christmas.

[digamma]

I haven't seen Pony Excess yet, but I think I would classify the overall thing as awesome story selections that didn't quite live up to my expectations when executed. While I liked most of the ones that I saw, I was often left with a feeling of wanting a little more from them.

[Butter]

One of my favorites was on the Washington State Little League team from the early 80's. I thought they did a good job on the entire story, not just focusing on the game, but also its aftermath on the players.

Once Brothers and The Two Escobars have been the other standouts. I agree that many of the others have been great ideas in theory, but often the execution has been lacking in one aspect or another.

[Mike1409]

If anyone has Time Warner on demand several of these are available. I watched a lot of these over the weekend.
Once Brothers was a very good episode.

[miami_fan]

Comcast has them as well.

[Ramzavail]

Verizon does as well. Once brothers is by far my favorite, albeit, I'm semi-biased. I was a huge Petrovic fan. But even my wife, who initially was reluctant to watch, absolutely loved it and semi-brought her to tears.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

anybody else watching the fab 5? good shit.

[Young Drachma]

Enjoying it a lot.

[cartman]

That was awesome. Great TV.

[Swaggs]

Pretty good, but a tad long for me.

Webber looked really bad. I suspect his lawyers advised him not to comment, but they made him look moody, resentful, and kind of stupid.

It was awesome seeing Chris Webber in JR High. He looked like he was about 6'8, playing against kids that were 5-feet tall.

[Groundhog]

Have to download this when I get home. Probably wont air over here for ages.

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

Pretty good, but a tad long for me.

Webber looked really bad. I suspect his lawyers advised him not to comment, but they made him look moody, resentful, and kind of stupid.

It was awesome seeing Chris Webber in JR High. He looked like he was about 6'8, playing against kids that were 5-feet tall.

Country Day is ten minutes from my house. My dad took me to see Webber play his senior year. I was five or six. All I remember is how incredibly easy it was for him. I have seen some other guys play in the area over the years but none were as dominant as he was.

[Suburban Rhythm]

I DVR'd this last night, couldn't watch it live. Hoping to carve out some time in the next few days to watch.

[Hoya1]

I totally missed this.
If anyone knows a place to download this, I'd appreciate it!

[fantom1979]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

Country Day is ten minutes from my house. My dad took me to see Webber play his senior year. I was five or six. All I remember is how incredibly easy it was for him. I have seen some other guys play in the area over the years but none were as dominant as he was.

I am originally from Southfield. I remember watching Mike Chappell, Shane Battier, and Dane Fife play. They are all awesome, but none made it look as easy as Webber.

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by Hoya1

I totally missed this.
If anyone knows a place to download this, I'd appreciate it!

I had zero luck last night, but I imagine it should be all over the torrent sites by now.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Entire series available today at Amazon for $50.

Amazon.com: ESPN Films: 30 for 30 Limited Edition Collector Set: Allen Iverson, Muhammad Ali, Jimmy The Greek, Marion Jones, Tim Richmond, Barry Levinson, Barbara Kopple, John Singleton, Ice Cube, Steve Nash: Movies & TV

[DeToxRox]

The teasers for Catching Hell have started. That is the Steve Bartman one. Should be a fun one.

[DeToxRox]

Seven more ESPN docs announced:

Tuesday, Sept. 27, 8 p.m. – Catching Hell (Alex Gibney/Gary Cohen) *120 minutes
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 8 p.m. – Renée (Eric Drath) *90 minutes
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 8 pm. – The Dotted Line (Morgan Spurlock/Jeremy Chilnick)
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 8 p.m. – Unguarded (Jonathan Hock/Philip Aromando)
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 8 p.m. –The Real Rocky (Jeff Feuerzeig/Mike Tollin)
Tuesday, Nov. 1, 8 p.m. – Charismatic (Steve Michaels/Jonathan Koch)
Tuesday, Nov. 8, 8 p.m. – Roll Tide/War Eagle (Martin Khodabakhshian)

Film summaries:

Catching Hell (Alex Gibney)

With five outs remaining in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, a foul ball descended from the cold Chicago sky, seemingly destined for the glove of Cubs left fielder Moises Alou. But a flurry of hands reached up and one hand, belonging to Cubs fan Steve Bartman, fatefully tipped the ball away from a frustrated Alou. Most long-suffering Cubs fans, including a chorus of hostile ones in Wrigley Field, quickly became convinced that Bartman had swatted away Chicago’s chance of advancing to the World Series for the first time 58 years. The mild-mannered Bartman released a sincere public apology, but his fate was already sealed by the Cubs fans’ need for a scapegoat to explain a near-century of losing. Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney relates the scapegoat compulsion to his own frustration as a Red Sox fan when Bill Buckner was similarly singled out for letting a fateful ground ball go through his legs in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. Gibney engages Buckner and his story as a means of exploring what has kept Bartman so silent despite highly lucrative offers to tell his side of the story.

Renée (Eric Drath)

The film tells the story of Renée Richard’s battle to enter the 1977 U.S. Open as the first transgender tennis player. Simultaneously, it follows her today as she struggles to cope with a life of contradictions and personal conflict. Through interviews with tennis legends, family, friends and experts from the transgender field; a story of perseverance, breakthrough and hardship unfolds.

The Dotted Line (Morgan Spurlock)

The Dotted Line is an in-depth look at what it takes to be a big-time agent in the fiercely competitive world of major league sports. Agents Peter Greenberg and Eugene Lee are profiled along with their clients New York Mets’ pitcher Johan Santana (Greenberg’s) and NFL hopefuls Jacquian Williams and Robert Hughes (Lee’s).

Unguarded (Jonathan Hock)

Chris Herren, Fall River, Massachusetts’ high school basketball superstar, played for Boston University, for Jerry Tarkanian’s Fresno State team, bounced around the NBA (once playing for his beloved Celtics) and around the globe. Chris failed drug tests wherever he played. Ultimately, Chris - the youngest and most talented of three generations of local heroes - has found redemption and personal fulfillment through the game, but only after it led him down a path of alcohol and drug addiction that nearly killed him.

The Real Rocky (Jeff Feuerzeig)

Chuck Wepner is a liquor salesman from Bayonne, NJ who drives a Cadillac with “Champ” vanity plates. A former New Jersey State Heavyweight Boxing Champion, he took abuse from Sonny Liston, got his nose broken by Muhammad Ali, and inspired Sylvester Stallone to write “Rocky” which won three Academy Awards. Wepner was left out of the “Rocky” glory, and his career took turn after strange turn as he worked to stay in the spotlight: he went on to fight Andre the Giant as “The Assassin” and boxed a 900 pound bear. Twice.

Charismatic (Steve Michaels)

In June of 1999 an unlikely colt named Charismatic, with down and out 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 as track attendance was in steep decline. Into this void stepped Charismatic and Antley, both thought to be lost causes. Together, they became the biggest long shots in 59 years to win the Kentucky Derby, and then followed up with another underdog win at the Preakness, before tragedy struck.

Roll Tide/War Eagle (Martin Khodabakhshian)

With two Heisman trophies, two national championships and one crazed fan, the biggest rivalry in college sports, Auburn vs. Alabama, has reached new heights in the last two years. This is the story of the history between the two programs, the bad blood between its fans and how this intense rivalry came to a pinnacle, just when they ended up needing each other most.

[Radii]

I've been waiting... half with excitement, half with utter dread... a long long time for Catching Hell. It honestly still stings to look at the box score or play by play for that game (something i occasionally torture myself with when I go over to baseball reference to look up other stuff).

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

The teasers for Catching Hell have started. That is the Steve Bartman one. Should be a fun one.

This is the one I've been waiting for from the very beginning. Hope it doesn't disappoint.

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

This is the one I've been waiting for from the very beginning. Hope it doesn't disappoint.

It's actually available on Demand right now through Comcast. It costs like 7 bucks though. I'd rather wait to watch it on ESPN however.

[spleen1015]

I am interested to see what happen to Bartman.

I hope Cubs fans can realize that it really isn't his fault.

[Radii]

The Bartman doc, Catching Hell, premiers in 30 minutes on ESPN. Just reading the box score from that game makes me sad, I'm awaiting this with equal levels of interest and dread.

[sabotai]

I've been waiting for this one (and I'm not even a baseball fan). Have it all set to record on the TiVo so I can watch it commercial free when it gets about an hour into it.

[RainMaker]

I don't know if I can watch. One of the worst days of my life.

[Philliesfan980]

I'm watching it now. I know there are commercials, but how the hell can you talk about this subject for two hours?

[JediKooter]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I don't know if I can watch. One of the worst days of my life.

October 6, 1984...game 4...Steve Garvey?

[Philliesfan980]

Man... comon ESPN. You have to spend the first ten minutes of this documentary, supposedly about Steve Bartman, talking about the 1986 Mets/Sox series? Typical lazy ESPN.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JediKooter

October 6, 1984...game 4...Steve Garvey?

I was 4.

Grew up a huge Cubs fan. Dad had season tickets. I drove in from Minnesota and sat in the bleachers when they clinched the division during a doubleheader. I was just so attached to that team. No losses ever hurt as bad as Game 6 and 7. I haven't felt the same way about baseball since.

[Radii]

Originally Posted by Philliesfan980

Man... comon ESPN. You have to spend the first ten minutes of this documentary, supposedly about Steve Bartman, talking about the 1986 Mets/Sox series? Typical lazy ESPN.

Just in case you weren't aware, all of these documentaries are created generally by well known directors/documentary filmmakers with virtually no direction by ESPN. Almost all the directors have praised ESPN heavily for essentially staying out of their way and allowing them to do what they want.

[JediKooter]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I was 4.

Grew up a huge Cubs fan. Dad had season tickets. I drove in from Minnesota and sat in the bleachers when they clinched the division during a doubleheader. I was just so attached to that team. No losses ever hurt as bad as Game 6 and 7. I haven't felt the same way about baseball since.

4? Oh man, you missed a doozy.

Game 6, I just don't get. The Bartman catch should have had ZERO affect on the Cubs. I think part of it was Alou's attitude after it happened that got into the rest of the teams heads. If he was more like, 'Screw it. We'll get him on the next pitch' and acted like it was no big deal instead of jumping around all pissed, I think it may have ended differently for the Cubs.

[LloydLungs]

One thing I'm amazed about, post-Bartman, is that I still see fans reach up and compete with the home team's players on pop-ups all the time. Look, (a) I'm pretty sure the Cubs were going to find a way to lose that game regardless, and (b) MANY fans were going for that ball. Bartman was just the unlucky dope that actually deflected it away. But I still hate the conventional wisdom "He was just doing what anyone would do, going for the ball!" No, if your team is trying to make the catch, you be a smart fan and get the @^!&*! out of the way.

[RainMaker]

I don't blame Bartman, it was just a shitty night. It's tough to explain the atmosphere and the fan base at that time. It was something that seemed like a sure thing going into the 8th inning. Over the course of 10 minutes everything turned to shit.

[molson]

Originally Posted by LloydLungs

(b) MANY fans were going for that ball. Bartman was just the unlucky dope that actually deflected it away.

Ya, ESPN highlighted one of those other fans today. His family and friends, watching the game right away viewed HIM as the guy that ruined the play.

ESPN - OTL: Almost Infamous - E-ticket

[molson]

Dola, and I haven't watched the documentary yet, but I really think this wouldn't have been such a big deal if Alou hadn't acted like such a baby in left field. That reaction got the fans fired up and it exploded from there.

[zums]

FUCK ALEX GONZALEZ

[Easy Mac]

Originally Posted by molson

...Alou hadn't acted like such a baby...

Does not compute

[Toddzilla]

I wrote Steve Bartman the day after the game and he wrote me back a few weeks later. We traded emails for a while but it's been a few years.

I can't watch that doc, though. Knowing how close the Cubs came only to blow it, it still breaks my heart in a million pieces.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by molson

Dola, and I haven't watched the documentary yet, but I really think this wouldn't have been such a big deal if Alou hadn't acted like such a baby in left field. That reaction got the fans fired up and it exploded from there.

This.

It is really sad what happened to this guys life. Pathetic people reacted the way they did.

[stevew]

I finally watched Catching Hell. After the way that the fans acted, I hope that the Cubs never win again.