OT: 30-for-30 ideas
with the SMU 30-for-30 just airing and all the hype of the Fab Five one in march, I started trying to think of what stories they could do that would be interesting and wanted to hear some different opinions as well along with your top 3 favorites thus far.
Ideas
-DeadWings to Stanley Cup champs (wings 80's to now) (Konstintinov Tragedy)
-Pistons Bad Boys (potentially Bulls rivalry)
-maybe an 80's Olympic Hockey one.
Top 3
1. The U (YTM)
2. Best That never was (Marcus Dupree)
3.SMU or Gretzky
your thoughts...
December 17th, 2010 at 2:48 PM ^
I can't believe I missed that one. I have grown up in So Cal (OC) basically all my life. I will have to set my DVR to get it next time it plays.
December 17th, 2010 at 2:33 PM ^
1 Dos Escobars
2 The U
3 Run, Ricky Run
I would love to see the Fab Five, that would be incredible.
December 17th, 2010 at 2:39 PM ^
I thought The Two Escobars was the best of the series.... but I've enjoyed all of them
December 17th, 2010 at 2:40 PM ^
I mentioned the death of Bo and the 2006 team as well. I might sound bias being on a Michigan sports blog, but damn if that 2006 team isn't the best college football team ever that didn't win a damn thing. The timing of it all. It seems like Bo's death started the dark ages for Michigan football.
December 17th, 2010 at 2:48 PM ^
... was the one about marcus dupree, the best that never was. For an idea, what about the broad street bullies?
December 17th, 2010 at 2:53 PM ^
1. Two Escobars
2. Best that Never Was
3.The U
4. Winning Time
5. The OJ-Rangers-Knicks Rockets (entire documentary with no interviews and still compelling)
Honorable Mention: Ricky Williams, Guru of Go, Trial of Allen Iverson, Muhammad Ali-Larry Holmes,
December 17th, 2010 at 3:02 PM ^
This series is best best thing ESPN has done in years. You can only take so much Brett Favre, Miami Heat, Cam Newton, etc. I have only seen a handful, so I have some work to do to catch up.
Run Ricky Run was great just because I wondered what the heck he was up to (besides smoking) during his time away. It was so strange for an athlete to walk away during his prime. Even more interesting is how well he has performed since he has been back.
December 17th, 2010 at 3:20 PM ^
The 30 for 30 about Terry Fox, his battle with cancer and his run across Canada doesn't get alot of mention but it was extremely inspirational and definetely hits home as I know someone currently going through the same type of thing.
My other favorite was Pony Excess. I wasn't close to being old enough to remember any of that and the first that I even heard about it was when the whole Craig James/Adam James/Mike Leach shitstorm happened, so it was really interesting to learn about it.
Still haven't watched the U. I'll have to put that on my required watching list.
As for a Michigan 30 for 30...I'd have to go with the Fab 5 and their long shorts
December 17th, 2010 at 3:21 PM ^
I'm a huge Providence College basketball fan and I always thought a 30 for 30 on John Linehan who played in the late 90's/early 00's would be amazing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Linehan_%28basketball%29
He holds the NCAA career record for steals. He was Big East Defensive POY 2 consecutive years. Kobe Bryant played high school ball against him and said he was the toughest defender he has ever faced. He's 5'9 and never played in the NBA but has had a productive international pro career. I realize I'm probably one of a very small number of people who even remembers him but it's the type of story that everyone could find intetesting.
December 17th, 2010 at 3:21 PM ^
-It'd be cool to see one about the Wings-Avalanche rivalry
-One about the McGwire-Sosa summer, and how looking back it's kind of perverted now
-A story on Barry Sanders' career (might be too similar to the Ricky Williams one tho)
MY TOP 5
1. June 17, 1994 (wasn't anticipating this one when it came out, but I just watched it on a whim one day and it really grabbed me)
2. The Best That Never Was
3. The U
4. Jordan Rides The Bus
5. Run Ricky Run
December 17th, 2010 at 3:39 PM ^
The 1967 Shearwater Broomball team. They were robbed of the St. Francis cup, which lead to a string of suicides by team members.
December 17th, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
Serious:
- Fab 5
- Doping and Tour De France
- Rise and Fall of the Spread Offense
- The Russian Five
Not-so-serious:
- Best that never was (The Sequel): Maurice Clarett
- Guru of Slow: Profile of the 4-corner offense
- Losing Time: Scott Norwood and the Buffalo Bills in the Superbowl
- Straight Outta LA: Pete Carroll's mad dash outta town ahead of the NCAA sanctions
December 17th, 2010 at 3:53 PM ^
The 1997-1998 National Championship controversy:
Michigan and Nebraska's respective seasons, who voted Michigan #4? Fulmer? And the ensuing BCS debacle.
I think this could make for a pretty interesting one.
December 17th, 2010 at 3:59 PM ^
1. June 17, 1994,
2. SMU
3. Two Escobars
I've always been intrigued by the role players around Michael Jordan during his championship runs, maybe some stories there?
The Buffalo Bills losing 4 straight super bowls.
The high flying Loyola Marymount teams and the death of Hank Gathers
Not sure if it wold attract a national audience but how about the Curse of Bobby Layne. A look at the pitiful history of the Detroit Lions
December 17th, 2010 at 4:17 PM ^
"The high flying Loyola Marymount teams and the death of Hank Gathers"
That's "Guru of Go"
December 17th, 2010 at 4:24 PM ^
Bad miss on my part. Glad to see that I think along the same lines as those who put the series together.
December 17th, 2010 at 4:16 PM ^
The Bad Boys would be a good choice. That was one of the most polarizing teams ever. They were absolutely loathed by all non-Detroit fans (who, naturally, embraced that).
December 17th, 2010 at 4:20 PM ^
I think you could do a pretty interesting one on the life of the greatest NHL enforcer ever.
December 17th, 2010 at 4:51 PM ^
The U was the worst one of the series so far. Just a rehash chock full of ex Miami players talking about how cool it was to break the law and act thug while sticking it to the rich white folk in Coral Gables. It was fresh at the beginning of the episode but got tired really really fast. I can only listen to Jesse Armstead, Michael Irvin and co. talk about how sweet they were because they changed the rules because of their celebrations.
December 17th, 2010 at 5:00 PM ^
I thought it was cool for Miami to stick it to the snobs in Coral Gables. The only thing better would have been if they would have bought the team a party house in Weston.
December 17th, 2010 at 5:11 PM ^
Were you alive when Miami was dominating fools? I could completely understand how people who didn't see those teams in action might not find the special entertaining.
December 17th, 2010 at 5:38 PM ^
I remember the Miami dominance. Like I said, the episode started out great, but just turned into a total rehashing of old party stories and "we were awesome because we didn't give a shit" face time for their alums that have nothing better to talk about. It's like that guy you went to high school with who tells the same damn stories every time you see them.
December 17th, 2010 at 5:40 PM ^
Understandable.
December 17th, 2010 at 6:10 PM ^
It really is too bad, because it had the potential to be among the best ones.
December 17th, 2010 at 5:05 PM ^
That could be a fun 30/30 to watch. Those teams were amazing to see.
December 17th, 2010 at 6:06 PM ^
One about Pete Rose would be neat to see.
December 17th, 2010 at 7:42 PM ^
I can't believe nobody mentioned the Iverson film (the title escapes me).
It was fascinating.
December 17th, 2010 at 9:53 PM ^
The ten year war: Bo vs Woody.
December 17th, 2010 at 9:59 PM ^
great story telling of an iconic and tragic figure.
December 17th, 2010 at 10:43 PM ^
According to SI's article on the 30 for 30 programs (p. 26) this week,
ESPN Films will debut documentaries next year on the University of Michigan basketball's famed Fab Five (and on Olympic speedskating champion and celebrated humanitarian Johann Olav Koss).
December 17th, 2010 at 10:44 PM ^
3o for 30 -- The Chase for 300 -- Brett Favre's chase for 300 games streak (i guess you could do a Cal ripken one also/instead)
December 17th, 2010 at 11:55 PM ^
1. Two Esobar's
2. Once Brothers
3. The Best That Never Was
4. The U
Fab Five will be the best, yet very sad at the end of the story.
December 18th, 2010 at 7:17 AM ^
The Red Wings vs Avalanche 5 year war is a bit of niche idea, maybe only good for Det, Den and 90s hockey fans...but what unbelievable emotion, drama and intensity!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yXCjBO-2A4
As for those that are out:
The Two Escobars was my favorite
December 18th, 2010 at 7:45 AM ^
More ideas:
1. Danny Almonte
2. Tim Donahay
3 The AWFUL officiating in games 5 & 6 of the 2002 NBA Western conference semi finals between the Lakers and the Kings, the basically unfailry moved the Lakers onto the finals.
Actually, the NBAs horrid officiating in ALOT of key games and series...It would never make it out of the production room, as ESPN carries the NBA, but (as you all know) there have been a ton of horrible calls that have dramaitically affected outcomes!
December 18th, 2010 at 9:18 AM ^
..and now I hate Craig James even more than after the Texas Tech/Mike Leach controversy.
He got paid to go to SMU and whines like a bitch when his kid gets called out for being a douche at TT.
I can see most SMU alums wanting to get their school back to respectability, but guys from the Dickerson/James era ought to keep there mouths shut about getting back to winning cause all their wins were bought.
It sounds like I need to catch the Escobar episode.