a 30 for 30 thread

Agreed, that one is way down the list, possibly at the bottom. I thought they really missed a great opportunity with the Raiders in LA one, that kind of sucked. That is a good story that was poorly done.

really? i kinda liked the jones one. Sure it was part of her public rehab but didn't bother me. maybe cuz i always thought she was awesome and am happy she's back in the public eye.
i also agree with singleton's all-but-stated point that it's ridiculous that she served jail time

I didn't mind the Raiders one (wow shockah lol). Cube is a Raider kool-aid drinker all the way, so it was more like a, ahem, love letter than anything. It was a puff piece for the most part, but I thought it had some good stuff in it.

I think I liked the content of the Marion Jones...I mean I find her as a subject fascinating, and I like her story. I just expected something else, I guess.

I didn't mind the Raiders one (wow shockah lol). Cube is a Raider kool-aid drinker all the way, so it was more like a, ahem, love letter than anything. It was a puff piece for the most part, but I thought it had some good stuff in it.

― That is the stench of tyranny (VegemiteGrrrl), Thursday, November 4, 2010 1:55 PM (49 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Makes sense. As a non-Raider fan, maybe I just wanted a little more depth, but I could see if I was a fan that i would enjoy it. I'd love to see one on the 70's Raiders and their relationship to Oakland. I just read that new book about them, I guess they were the one group that brought the Hell's Angels and the Black Panthers onto common ground. Now that would be a killer doc.

I absolutely agree. Something on the relationship between Oakland Raiders and Oakland the city would be awesome, especially in the context of the Panthers and the Angels as you mentioned.

I would like to see something about the relationship between teams and cities in general, along the lines of the Baltimore episode they did, but across the league. Like talking to original Rams fans, and how they felt when the team left, or what it was like for Browns fans to have their team leave and then come back in a different form...or for teams that have stayed, how the organization relates to the city, and how in the early days the teams sort of took on the identity of the city somehow. I dunno, it's something that's always interested me.

What was the book you read, Bill?

Right here:

http://www.amazon.com/Badasses-Legend-Maddens-Oakland-Raiders/dp/0061834300

The author is a total Raider kool-aid drinker, so there is no objectivity. Still, it's a fun read. That was certainly a different era! Some of the stuff they pulled (getting loaded every night during training camp is just one example) couldnt really happen today with such heavy competition for roster spots. Plus i think some of his interview subjects embellished their stories, but thaat's cool. I recommend it.

I'll check it out. That's my favorite Raider era, no contest.

Best part of it: the discussion of the Soul Patrol defensive backfield, more specifically the penchant of Skip "Dr. Death" Thomas to check himself into the hospital on a weekly basis for fun.

Nice! Haha

just discovering these through the (awesome) bill simmons podcast about them, do u guys listen to it?

gonna watch a bunch soon

the 1 tonight on marcus dupree (had nvr heard of this dude) looks good. then the next 1 to air is abt smu & the 'death penalty' which ive been ~anticipating~

aw, only two more of these.

how many are there in total, and what span of time does the entire project cover?

"30 programs for 30 years of ESPN coverage"

you're so huggable sometimes slocks

:D

only 2 left?

(cries)

can't they throw the premise out of the window and just do a story for every year starting in, say, 1930? there's a sportsperson for every year. I know it in my heart. This series needs to be ongoing. NEEDS. TO. BE.

yeah i agree. i wonder if the ratings reflect that.

Besides, this is for the public good!

This Marcus Dupree one is EXCELLENT. I never knew the story before, so I'm on the edge of my seat.

(Also, some of that game film, especially the grainy b&w stuff, is phenomenal! I've never seen someone break tackles like that.)

he looked like walter payton in that footage

just discovering these through the (awesome) bill simmons podcast about them, do u guys listen to it?

gonna watch a bunch soon

― irritable bol syndrome (s1ocki), Tuesday, November 9, 2010 10:52 AM (9 hours ago) Bookmark

Ya its a good 'cast, depends a lil on the guest and the topic.

I wish they re-ran more of these, or just had a 30 for 30 channel where they aired constantly. I watched a lot of the early ones, but missed quite a few more recently. Really need to see the Vlade and Two Escobars eps.

just watched the jimmy the greek one cuz i enjoyed the podcast ep

The Jimmy the Greek one is great!

Seems like a topic Cousin Sal would have a lot to say about~

i liked it alTHO i kinda wish i listened to the ep after

Jimmy the Greek was good, except for the chintzy dramatized bits. Its my #1 complaint: if you have a great story, you don't need "devices" to make it more interesting.

I loved the Gretzky one, but where I grew up that trade was a remember where you were when you heard the news event.

I wish they did more hockey ones.

This Marcus Dupree one has ended up being one of my favorites, at least of the football-related films.

Ones that weren't made by Peter Berg

my god the dupree one was so good, definitely in the top five
the whole thing was worth it for the moment where marcus watches his high school self with this mix of awe and sadness and wonder and confusion and it's all right there on his face.

xpost what's wrong with Berg?

Canada should do an all-hockey 30 for 30 series. Would watch.

Would also like a NASCAR 30 for 30 series, and some horseracing stories would be cool.

Kings Ransom was not that great but it was pretty good compared to some of the worst episodes. The footage from the era was terrific.

xpost what's wrong with Berg?

Canada should do an all-hockey 30 for 30 series. Would watch.

Would also like a NASCAR 30 for 30 series, and some horseracing stories would be cool.

― That is the stench of tyranny (VegemiteGrrrl), Tuesday, November 9, 2010 11:06 PM (30 minutes ago) Bookmark

Eh nothing, he's made some good movies, just felt like he dropped the ball on that doc.

Would kill to see Ken Burns' NASCAR.

30 for 30 site doesn't list anything beyond the SMU one. Which is so sad!

Also I kinda want to see a meta 30 for 30 on what the hell happened to the Bartman doc, because it vanished.

think i read its still gonna air but in 2011 maybe?

According to Wikipedia there's 3 off the original list that are not yet confirmed:

Steve Bartman: Catching Hell
Charismatic- abt the horsey & the 1989 triple crown
Right to Play: johann olav koss, Olympic speed skater

Would love to see the Bartman doc

god yes, the bartman needs to happen

also smu

jesus god this marcus dupree 1 was a+++++

think i want 2 read the courting of marcus dupree book they showed

bartman still happening, they're keeping this going sorta like they did w/ sportscentury. some of these have been meh but i do like that they each have a distinct voice and that they pretty much cover undercovered sports stories (unlike hbo in both respects)(still love hbo docs but glad this is a different approach).

o man can't wait to see the charismatic one, such a great horse

Here's a local report on the Marcus Dupree doc: http://www.wtok.com/news/headlines/Philadelphia_Leaders_React_to_Marcus_Dupree_Documentary_on_ESPN_107093798.html

"I can't even put it in words. When they came to me about the film, I was all for it," exclaims Dupree.

And many residents and leaders in Philadelphia feel just as proud as Dupree does.

i took the courting of marcus dupree book out from my library -- i thought it was gonna be like a 80 pg expanded magazine article o something, its freaking 450 pages & just from leafing thru it, the writer doesnt meet marcus til page ~175

seventeen bucks on kindle what the fuck

Thomas (Washington, D.C.)
Whatever happened to the Cubs/Bartman 30 for 30? Will it ever air?

Bill Simmons
(3:19 PM)
We moved it out of the series because the director (Alex Gibney, who is brilliant) wanted more time with it. On the one hand, it was a shame because it would have been one of the 3 best docs of the series and possibly No. 1. On the other hand, the fact that he's spending MORE time on something that was already great has us really excited. PS: We're spinning off the "30 for 30" series next year into something that will probably be called "30 for 30 Presents" or something like that... we're going to be putting out 4-5 sports docs per year on the level of the best "30 for 30" docs and getting the best filmmakers to do them. Same creative team is involved. We have some terrific ideas in the hopper. So even though the SMU doc will be the 30th one (right after the Heisman ceremony) don't think the spirit of the series is going away.
Bill Simmons
(3:21 PM)
PS: the first fifteen 30 for 30s are being released in a box set on December 7th. http://www.amazon.com/ESPN-Films-Gift-S ... 1290543621

matt (Denver)
So when will the Bartman documentary be shown? Sometime next year?

Bill Simmons
(3:24 PM)
Next spring. It's outstanding. I can't say enough about it. For the record: it's about the concept of scapegoats in sports more than it's about Bartman.

More! Yay!!!!! <3

good stuff