30 for 30s and other sports docos
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Watched over the last couple of nights "Brian and the Boz". A 30 for 30 on Brian Bosworth and, I suppose, the pitfalls of fame when you're not quite ready to deal with it.
Was quite enjoyable. Especially seeing the guy 30 years later trying to reconcile his "Boz" persona that ended up eating himself for wont of a better description.
Story essentially is: super talented young high school footballer goes to major US college despite dad issues (latter appears eventually incidental or at least insignificant but they make a deal out of it in the film). Young'un is super dedicated as well as super talented and becomes one if the greatest linebackers in NCAA history. Fame goes to head. Still awesome at footy but gets too big for boots. Pinged for roids (it's the 80s). Gets forced out of College for being a dick and makes waves getting into NFL. Fizzles as shoulders are poked. Creates a persona thag looks like a cross between Sonny Crockett and BA Baracus.
Writes bad autobiography shaming team mates. Stars in B movies. Comes to realise he'd been an arsehole and seems now like a decent chap.Strangely engaging.
I watched because the Bosworth phenomenon briefly entered my consciousness in the 80s.
I recall watching a football match (would have been Bosworth's first NFL match for the Seahawks, and there weren't many on in NZ back in those days) where they made quite a big deal if him. And strangely I caught an episode of 'Eight is Enough' (I hated that programme) where the young fullas were idolising him.
Seems weird but I had that tiny bit of buy in.
So my peripheral interests were piqued.
Would recommend.
Have enjoyed a couple of 30 for 30s. But only where I've had some passing interest in the back story.
Other 30 for 30s I've watched include:
'I Hate Christian Laetner'. Thought that was excellent. Was about the only 'amateur' (College player) on The Dream Team. Had an amazing College career. But if you were a fan of opposing teams you HATED him. With reason it seems. Was a reasonably fluffy bunny even to team mates by all accounts. Fully recommend.
'Believeland'. Cleveland's struggles to win any sort of major pro championship. (Been busted recently). Was OK. Went a bit long for me but worth a watch.
'Hillsborough'. Wow. Watch.
Would appreciate a nod to any other sports docos that may grab the attention.
PS. I'm a sucker for 'Weight of a Nation'.
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Netflix has a couple on NHL 'goons', Ice Gladiators and Ice Guardians, can't remember which one I watched but was certainly interesting.
Fights in ice hockey have divided the audience for a long time, others say it isn't a part others say it is the best way to keep the superstars untouchable, those who know facts know that the first ever ice hockey game ended in a fight, so even if it doesn't belong in the game, it certainly has been there from the get go.
Even if you don't follow ice hockey, it still might be a good watch.
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@sapetyvi Sounds interesting, even from a non-involved perspective. Ice hockey is one of those funny games in that whilst I can appreciate the skills involved, the game as a whole leaves me cold. Basketball is the same.
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@catogrande Can't really blame you, even if I play in the beer league and have been somewhat following for much of my life, it does the same for me. I only get pumped up for internationals and a select few NHL teams.
But to be honest, after I got into rugby, all the other sports seem more or less lame.
Ice guardians was the one I watched. It isn't just about ice hockey, it is also a tale of the brutality of professional sport. None of those guys dreamed that one day they would box in an ice rink, but rather one day realized that fighting might be their best(or only) shot to get to the bright lights, so they grabbed that chance with both fists.
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Ice Guardians is well worth watching. Like rugby used to be, there are interesting insights about how the players would sort out foul play independent (and more effectively) of the referees.
Also interesting is the fans expectations versus player welfare and modern social acceptability.Good doco even if, like me, you know bugger all about ice hockey
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I love 30 for 30. There is a great mix of lighthearted ones (Reggie Miller v The Knicks is fucking great), and serious (can't remember the name, but the superstar College footballer who was kicked out for borrowing his coaches car while his got repaired).
Why do American sports lend themselves so well to documentaries? And movies?
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@tim said in 30 for 30s and other sports docos:
@booboo said in 30 for 30s and other sports docos:
Brian and the Boz
Been meaning to watch this ever since I saw his great movie, Stone Cold.
even when he played he looked like a b-grade action movie goon
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If you haven't seen it, watch the "The Four Falls of Buffalo" about the only team to make, and lose, four consecutive Superbowls. It's heartbreaking watching the change in attitudes as the years go by.
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An absolutely must watch sports documentary is the 5 part mini series OJ: Made in America
It won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
It is a sensational look OJ Simpson's whole life, including the murder trial.
The level of depth it goes into - in terms of wider implications of OJ/OJ trial but also in terms of who they interview is unbelievable.
Sports or otherwise, it's probably the best documentary i've ever seen.
Note - this is NOT the drama series starring Cuba Gooding Jr and Ross from Friends.
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Speaking of OJ, the 30 for 30 episode June 17th, 1994 is one of the best documentaries I've seen.
It's basically the OJ Bronco chase today (a huge sports day as well) told from the perspective of someone flipping through TV.
The events detailed in the documentary that occurred during the chase of Simpson are as follows:
Arnold Palmer playing his final round at the U.S. Open The commencement of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, hosted for the first time by the United States The New York Rangers celebrating their win at the Stanley Cup Finals with a ticker-tape parade on Broadway. (The parade took place earlier in the day and was largely unaffected by the OJ events.) Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Houston Rockets and the New York Knicks. Ken Griffey Jr. tying Babe Ruth's record of the most home runs (30) before June 30th and the team's 65th game of the season.The documentary features no narration and also no interviews and consists simply of music set to clips from news sources during the day.[3] There are raw clips of sportscasters like Chris Berman and Bob Costas talking to their producers about how to deal with the O.J. story within the context of the events they were covering.[4]
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@mariner4life said in 30 for 30s and other sports docos:
If you haven't seen it, watch the "The Four Falls of Buffalo" about the only team to make, and lose, four consecutive Superbowls. It's heartbreaking watching the change in attitudes as the years go by.
I'll have to watch that, as those losses were all to NFC East teams.
In the early 2000s I was sitting in the departure lounge at O'Hare waiting for a flight, and who should sit down next to me - Marv Levy and his wife. The old fella is still alive too.
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@kiwimurph said in 30 for 30s and other sports docos:
An absolutely must watch sports documentary is the 5 part mini series OJ: Made in America
It won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
It is a sensational look OJ Simpson's whole life, including the murder trial.
The level of depth it goes into - in terms of wider implications of OJ/OJ trial but also in terms of who they interview is unbelievable.
Sports or otherwise, it's probably the best documentary i've ever seen.
Note - this is NOT the drama series starring Cuba Gooding Jr and Ross from Friends.
Just lost my weekend to this 5 part series. As a late 80s baby, it was Really eye opening to see how popular OJ actually was. Shades of oscar pistorius to it aswell.
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I've seen pretty much all of them up to about 2015 but for some reason Foxtel haven't updated their on demand section for Espn.
There was one I missed that looked really good about Shaq's young Orlando team and how they could have been legendary. The cool thing is that you don't have to be interested in or like these sports to enjoy the docos.
Hard to pick a favourite but the one about Bo Jackson is awesome, principally because Bo is the definition of farking awesome.
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In a similar vein, but much smaller scale than the incredible “OJ Made In America” which is probably the most epic sports doc ever made, is the 30-For-30 “The Price Of Gold” about the Tonya Harding & Nancy Kerrigan super-drama and an excellent companion piece to this years’ “I, Tonya” (I noticed Margot Robbie listed as an executive producer on that film, did she see the doc and get an idea? I think so...) “NO more heavy metal, and lose the blue nail polish.”
And you should watch the hilarious 30-For-30 “Broke” that explains in super-pathetic detail why-and-how so many mega-gazillionaire athletes in the NBA and NFL declare bankruptcy within a few years of retirement.
And of course, maybe my personal fave 30-For-30: “9.79”
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@rancid-schnitzel said in 30 for 30s and other sports docos:
I've seen pretty much all of them up to about 2015 but for some reason Foxtel haven't updated their on demand section for Espn.
There was one I missed that looked really good about Shaq's young Orlando team and how they could have been legendary. The cool thing is that you don't have to be interested in or like these sports to enjoy the docos.
Hard to pick a favourite but the one about Bo Jackson is awesome, principally because Bo is the definition of farking awesome.
I didn't know they were available on demand on Foxtel ... I'll be checking them all out soon. I wonder if they don't yet have the on demand rights for the 2015+ ones?
@Rocky-Rock-Rockbottom I heard an interview with Robbie where she said she didn't know the story before being sent the script (she was only 3 1/2 when it happened).
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That HBO feature doc about Andre has gotta be out soon...
“A mythological figure.” Who can argue with that?? Hyped!!!
