'30 in 30' LEGACY - From Harlem With Love

Well it has been a mighty long time since I have posted anything referencing my '30 in 30' project from a year and a half ago.  Remember that?  30 sports documentaries (that I have never seen before) in 30 days.  It was a lot of fun and I saw an wide range of topics, production styles and editing "looks" that really made me appreciate the sports documentary form even more.

If you're interested in checking out some of my past viewings, go to the Labels section on the right hand side of my blog.  Click on 30 in 30 and you're in business.

You won't see many ESPN 30 for 30 selections on my list mainly because I have seen them all.  I'm always looking for new episodes on TV and couldn't buy the first set of 30 fast enough on Blu-ray.  I'm patiently waiting for the second series to be complete (they have about 10 or so left) so I can purchase that one too.

What has caught my eye a bit recently is the spin-off '30 for 30 Short' series that can be viewed online.....for free.  Free is good.

Basically, it's a 30 for 30 documentary, but shorter.  They sit in the 12-15 minute range.  Many of the topics don't warrant a full hour of production, so this 'short' vehicle works perfectly.  There have been quite a few titles released so far.

My favorite without question is Holy Grail which focuses on one of the most iconic baseball cards of all time.  If you decide to watch it, keep note in the back of your head that there have been some recent developments.  Watch it....then do some research.  An incredible story.

I also really enjoyed Jake, The Irrelevant Giant, Cutthroat and Arthur and Johnnie.  But all of them are enjoyable.  Soon you can do your own mini '30 in 30'.  There are almost enough titles.

This past week was the premiere of the newest doc...From Harlem With Love.  It's subject is a little near and dear to my heart - The Harlem Globetrotters.  If you'd like to check out some of my past ramblings on The Trotters, do a quick blog search.  They are a true sports institution.

But the story presented in this latest video is one I did not know about.  There's some great footage that I had never seen before and a certain basketball player that many never even knew played for the team.

Worth the watch....





And if any of you have seen a sweet sports doc recently, drop me a comment.  I'd love to hunt down some new viewing material.

'30 in 30' LEGACY - Undefeated

My lack of sports documentary posts have not been because of a lack of me watching them (in fact, I've watched a few really good ones), but just sheer time to post about them.

ESPN's '30 for 30' will be ramping up again in October and first up will be a doc about the New York Islanders and John Spano.  A story definitely worthy of a doc.  ESPN has also branched out and has been airing a series called 'Nine for IX'.  It's a series of documentaries that are female focused and produced by females.  Some good subjects like Pat Summit, Sheryl Swoops and the first female reporters allowed into the locker room.

But one film I watched over the weekend urged me to sit in front of the computer and type.  A film that has been on my watch list since last October.  A film that won the Oscar in 2011 for best long form documentary.

A film worth watching.

Undefeated (2011)

113 mins.

Rated: PG13 ( a little bit of language)

Undefeated is a documentary that follows the Manassas Tigers football team, a severely underfunded and underprivileged team as they try to reverse their fortunes, thanks to head coach Bill Courtney.

We go through a season of ups and downs, heartbreaks and triumphs.  But this doc is more than just a season on the field.  It's about passion, character, perseverance and teamwork.  You begin to really attract to the players and especially the coach.

It's a riveting season that had me wondering how it would end.

Coach Courtney really shines in this film.  His efforts for his players is something I've never seen the likes of.  The words resonated and direct approach was refreshing.

If you like Hoop Dreams or films like that, then you'll enjoy Undefeated.  After all.....it's an Oscar winner.  Here's the trailer...



4 out of 5

'30 in 30' LEGACY - Cutthroat

Lately, ESPN 30 for 30 has put out some fantastic short films on their website.  From The Irrelevant Giant and Holy Grail have been two of my favorites but their most recent short might have the deepest connection with my knowledge of the subject.

Cutthroat, which debuted just yesterday on the site, takes a look back at one of the most frightening injuries ever in pro sports.  It was March 22, 1989 and Buffalo Sabres goalie Clint Malarchuk (who is now the Calgary Flames' goalie coach) nearly lost his life when St. Louis Blues d-man Steve Tuttle's skate blade sliced into Malarchuk's neck.

While the initial collision didn't look too bad, it was the aftermath image that would be engraved in everyone's mind.  Clint had mere minutes to live.

Nearly a quarter-century later, the emotions are so raw and entrenched that it's a struggle just to hear him talk about it.  But it's a powerful story.

HEADS UP!!!!  There's some text at the start of the film, but I'll add it as well.  There's some graphic images in the video.  I still have a tough time watching it.



There were many things I didn't realize about Malarchuk before watching this film, but the one that stuck out was his embracing of his OCD.  Telling people to use it as a positive.  Use it as a driving force forward.  Rarely have I heard anyone talk that way about OCD.

It sounds like he is in a better place today as the Flames' goalie coach and I hope he can control that which has controlled him in the past.

After watching this short, I came across an interesting supporting article.  Most people think of what Clint Malarchuk must have been going through and the struggles post injury.  But what about the forgotten player in the event.

There's a great article by Sean McIndoe (AKA Down Goes Brown) about the forgotten players involved in some horrific injuries.  AGAIN, HEADS UP!!!!  There are some tough pieces of video to watch.


Do you remember the Malarchuk incident?  What are your thoughts on the 30 for 30 short?  What did you learn or not know before that you found interesting?

'30 in 30' LEGACY - Bones Brigade: An Autobiography

I've known about this doc for months and have missed opportunities in the past to view it on the big screen here in town, but tonight I decided that I would stop procrastinating, sit down and finally watch this movie.

And am I ever glad I did.

I think some of the best documentaries (sports or not) are more about the people than the events.  By the end of this documentary, it was the group - the Brigade - that really resonated with me.  So many great messages.

Bones Brigade (2012)
111 mins.
Rated: Unrated on iTunes (the odd swear)


Documentary filmmaker Stacy Peralta continues his skateboarding docs with a killer sequel (if you could call it that) to his critically acclaimed 'Dogtown & Z-Boys' (which if you haven't seen, I suggest you do....especially before seeing this film).  Bones Brigade picks up after Stacy's success as a skater and shows the next generation of skaters and the evolution of the sport.

The birth of skateboarding as it is known today is a direct result of the guys focused on in the film.  And are they ever an eclectic mix.  Not only do we meet the prodigy Tony Hawk in his infancy, but we learn of equally gifted Steve Caballero.

Lance Mountain hit me as a person who would inspire the average person who would want to skate.  Why?  He himself describes his style as "not very good".  He just went out and had fun.

Rodney Mullen is an amazing person to both watch and listen to in the film.  He created tricks and moves that revolutionized the way people skate.  He says skateboarding was a way for him to communicate and create.  His passion and perfectionism is equaled by his love for the sport.

It's amazing to hear them talk with such passion and it's equally cool to see that this group of guys were such a positive influence in so many ways.

And it has everything.  All the interviews, all the photos, all the archive video, great music, excellent pace.  There's very little to shoot down when I think about it.

Bones Brigade: An Autobiography a fantastic story and I highly recommend it.  I plan on getting a copy and watching it with my nephew.  I can only hope he gets inspired by it as much as I did.

Here's the trailer so you can get a taste.




 4.5 out of 5

'30 in 30' LEGACY - Holy Grail: The T206 Honus Wagner

As many of you know, I'm a huge fan for sports docs - specifically the 30 for 30 series put out by ESPN.

They have recently started doing some "shorts" which appear on their website.  One of which was highly anticipated by yours truly.  Why?  Well, because the subject of the short was a baseball card.

For over 20 years now, the t206 Honus Wagner card once owned by Wayne Gretzky and (then) LA Kings owner Bruce McNall has been one of the most expensive, controversial, coveted and admired sportscards in the hobby.  It has developed a fairy tale-like story that just grows in stature with each passing year.

ESPN recognized this and recently posted a 15 minute documentary on the card.  Taking a look at the history of tobacco cards at the turn of the century, the rarity of this particular Wagner, the purchase by Gretzky and McNall and the subsequent explosion of interest and intrigue.

While it only scratches the surface of the story, it's a pretty interesting watch and I highly recommend it.



After watching this piece, I have made a pretty quick decision as to what my March book will be...

The Card

Michael O'Keeffe and Teri Thompson

Yeah....I own the book and have never read it.  So kill me.  :)

'30 in 30' LEGACY - Summit On Ice

Well, I don't want to do another 30 docs in 30 days anytime soon, but I do want to continue to post any sports documentaries that I watch.  Both for my own records and because there might be a couple of you who would be interested in watching them.

These will not be the drawn out reviews I did in October.  No chance.  These will be short and to the point.

I watched this offering a couple days ago after renting it from the library on the weekend.  Free is good.

Summit On Ice (1992)
96 mins.
Rated: G


This is a great behind-the-scenes documentary on the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and Russia.  Done in 1992 and originally broadcast on CBC, this doc has a good selection of player interviews, archive footage and inside stories.  As well, Kenneth Welsh's voiceover is  really good.

While it doesn't go terribly in-depth with some of the happenings, it does paint a good picture of the events from (now) 40 years ago.  A solid watch.

4 out of 5

30 in 30 - That's A Wrap!

Thirty documentaries (actually 31) in October.  A lot of interesting topics, compelling stories and unique personalities were on tap and this month-long project was well worth the trip.

While there were some less-than-stellar picks, most were very enjoyable and informative.  From simple editing and low-quality footage to the cream of the crop archive resources and high-end interviews, I quickly learned that there's a lot that goes into making a great documentary.

Some of the highlights of this October trek will be better offered up in a sort of "Oscars" format.

Best Film: Hoop Dreams

This was an easy choice.  It was the doc that has stuck with me the longest after watching it.  The commitment from the film crew and documentary subjects was tremendous and the ups and downs that both basketball players endure make them very easy to root for.

A "must watch" for any sports doc fan.

Honorable Mention: Pumping Iron


Sleeper Surprise: Fire In Babylon

I walked into this film knowing nothing - ZERO about cricket and yet I found this doc really interesting.  Lots of great archive footage, good interviews and some music that blends it all together.  It's the title I'm looking to add to my collection the most.

Honorable Mention: Bobby Fischer Against The World


Memorable Moment: TT3D (final race)

You've got to be one crazy cat to do what these guys do to begin with.  But seeing some of the footage come out of those final races is amazing.  Scary...but amazing.

Honorable Mention: Seve - The Legend (final message to the fans)


Biggest Surprise:  Muhammad Ali in Thrilla In Manila

I've always seen Muhammad Ali in a positive light.  This doc shows that he was sometimes a not-so-nice guy.

Honorable Mention: Larry Bird in Magic & Bird (didn't know what happened to his dad)


Best Editing: Magic & Bird

A great mix of pace and flow combined with some solid production elements made this doc sing from start to finish.

Honorable Mention: Knuckleball (great opening sequence)


Fist Pump Award: The Last Gladiators

Not only did I not think I'd be able to watch this film when the month started, but the circumstances and events of the evening made this the best doc "experience" of the month.  Big screen watch as well as a Q&A with Chris Nilan afterwards.  No brainer.

Honorable Mention: Seve - The Legend


Most In Need Of A Remake: Never Say Die - The Story Of The New York Islanders

Ugh.  This was a blunt reminder of what to expect when you are watching an NHL-produced doc from the 90's.  Even tougher to watch when it's focus is a team with such a rich history.

Honorable Mention: Fire On The Track


Worst Of The Bunch: Mario Lemieux - The Best. Ever.

Nope.  Never.

Honorable Mention: Tyson (sorry....it just didn't do it for me)


Wasn't In The Cards: Undefeated

An Oscar-winning film that unless I go buy it is just not out there.  Unless I'm missing something.  I still plan on watching it....once I find it.

Honorable Mention: The Curious Case Of Curt Flood


I could go on, but instead I'll just say that if you're ever looking for some good documentary viewing, check out my 30 in 30 posts and give one a shot.

Moving forward, I'll be doing mini-reviews of sports docs I see.  It'll keep this subject alive on my blog.  Something that's a big part of my overall enjoyment when it comes to sports in general.


And just to show how much I like some of the films out there these days, check out my pre-Christmas present to myself...

The first season of 30 for 30 is finally coming out on BluRay in Canada.  It ships next week.

Woo-hoo!

30 in 30 - Day 31: Thrilla In Manila

After that complete garbage of a 'doc' I watched yesterday to round out the 30 in 30, I decided that one more film to finish off the month was a necessity.

This one comes as a recommendation from a loyal reader of this blog and I am very appreciative of his suggestion.

One of my all-time favourite sports documentaries is When We Were Kings.  The story of the Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman...the Rumble In The Jungle.  All these years later, the story is still so captivating.  The interviews are still so impactful.  The b-roll is so fantastic.

I was excited to see that another movie featuring Ali was on the radar.

Tonight's film - Thrilla In Manila

Thrilla In Manila (2008)

90 mins.
Rated: NR (some definite racial tones are covered and a bit of profanity)

"On October 1, 1975, World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali was in the ring with his arch rival Joe Frazier for the third time.  This fight is considered one of the most dramatic boxing matches in history.  This documentary not only reconstructs the match, but shows us what was happening behind the scenes as well."  (source: imdb)

Link to the film - I watched it online via youtube.


Many people consider the Ali/Frazier III fight to be the greatest fight ever. I was only two at the time so I wouldn't know.  But after watching this doc, it's definitely higher up on the list.

We see Joe Frazier, present day, in the gym where he trained for the fight.  He runs the place - and lives there with his son.  He's in his 60's and although he's still getting around, you can see how his career has physically worn him down (not to the extent though that Ali is).  The other aspect that is clearly noticeable is the monetary results of their careers in boxing.  Ali, highly revered by his fans and public in general, walked away from the sport not needing to worry about money ever again.  His name alone brings in millions.  Frazier on the other hand is left to live a very simple life in an upstairs loft in a tough Philly neighbourhood.

Bluntly put, Frazier is ok with this as he says Ali is now paying the price for what he did and said when he was younger.  The disrespect shown towards Frazier has now come back to bite Muhammad in the butt.

What started out as a strong friendship between the two (Frazier helping Ali out when he refused to fight in the Vietnam War, keeping Ali in a positive light in the media, helping out with money when needed) turned very bitter when , after Joe took the vacant title that was stripped from Muhammad, Ali was reinstated.  The attitude changed almost overnight.

In their first fight, Ali kept commenting that Frazier was dumb, ugly and so on.  But it was relentless.  Racial abuse was prevalent.

This was the point in the film where I was seeing a very interesting group of people telling the story.  It's a shame that the two main figures can't fully express themselves - giving the true, absolute picture.

Joe Frazier was backed by a group called Cloverlay (a very 'white' group) while Ali was backed by the Nation of Islam (who was at the time talking about a merge with the KKK....Ali even spoke at one of these rallies.  Crazy!).  Ali portrayed Frazier as a traitor to the black community.

Interestingly though, it was Joe who was more the working class black than Muhammad.  Public perception (which was drawn out by Ali) can be very telling.

1971, the first fight.  This was the first time two undefeated champs would face off.  Dubbed the Fight Of The Century, Frazier was dominating.  He knocked down Ali in the 15th round and eventually won by unanimous decision.

Their second fight, in 1974, was not thoroughly covered.  The interview leading up to the match where the two got into a scrap was however.  An anticlimactic fight, Ali won it on pints.  A lot of clutching and grabbing.

That fight wasn't for the belt, since Joe lost it to George Foreman earlier.  George destroyed Joe in just 2 rounds.  Hence the lesser impact.  Ali in turn took the belt from Foreman (the Rumble in the Jungle) setting up this grudge match.

Fight 3, which Ali initially viewed as just an easy payday became a spectacle when he was walking around with his girlfriend and hitting on women....while his wife was at home.  Muhammad's poor decision making were once again in focus in this doc.

The first fight to be broadcast live via satellite, would be fought in the early morning to accommodate the US audience (since the fight was taking place in the Philippines.  A last minute referee replacement brought even more drama and questioning into the fight.

Ali won the first few rounds and started playing to the crowd.  But by round 5, Frazier started to dominate.  A fairly even match, Ali finds some strength in the 13th round and knocks Frazier's mouthpiece into the 5th row.  Ali starts pounding Frazier hard, but Joe was going on heart and determination.

Round 14.  That's all I'll say about that.  Watch it.  Many say that Ali hammered Frazier so much that he nearly killed him.....but he wouldn't go down.  The will to keep going was tremendous.

After that round, apparently Ali wanted his gloves cut off....he was done.  Joe on the other side of the ring wanted to continue.  The doctor though decided to stop the fight as Frazier was not in a condition to continue.  Ali wins...and collapses - exhausted.

Joe Frazier, asked point blank, said he would have risked his life to go out there for the final round.

After the fight,Ali tried to reconcile with Frazier....by apologizing to his son.  Joe wants to know why Muhammad never decided to speak to Frazier in person.

Joe seems to take pride in the condition that Ali is in these days - even taking responsibility.  He got what he deserved.

In a postscript, Ali claims that everything he said was all for the promotion of the fights and not personally directed towards Frazier.


Boy, does this doc make a person think.  What really was the motivation? What really is the truth?  There are a number of people in this doc who claim to know.....but unless your name is Ali or Frazier, you don't.  And Ali definitely does not come off in this doc looking very good.  My perception of who he is changed slightly....now I need to know if it's validated.

The interviews are really good (at times though very one sided) and I would have liked a little more of Joe (I don't know how good his clips would have been).  The archive footage is top notch and the filimg of various sets really blends the entire film together nicely.

An interesting story without question (one I didn't fully know) and it makes me want to find out more.  If you're a fan of When We Were Kings....I think you'll like this offering as well.

4 out of 5


Here are some other reviews I found online for the film...

LA Times

PopMatters

Bleacher Report


Well.....that's it.  Thanks to everyone who endured my ramblings.  I'm thrilled to have accomplished this little experiment and have quickly realized that there are a lot of good, quality sports docs out there.

So go find them.

Now what am I going to do?



:)

30 in 30 - Day 30: Mario Lemieux - The Best. Ever.

Here it is.  The end of the journey.  30 documentaries in 30 days.

Unfortunately, I'm going out with a whimper.

I may need to call one final Halloween audible in order to end on a high note.

Tonight's film - Mario Lemieux: The Best. Ever.

Mario Lemieux - The Best. Ever. (2005)
66 mins.
Rated: NR (this'd be a G - no question)

"Pittsburgh Penguins Captain and Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux Career Highlights DVD portraying his fantastic on ice moments including rarely seen moments, goals, goals, goals and more goals."  (source: iso)

Link to the movie - I watched it online via youtube.


Have you ever purchased something...maybe a box of hockey cards, opened them up and then had instant regret?  Have you ever been severely disappointed with the short end of the stick in a hockey card trade?

This doc is for you then.  You've already felt the pain.

I will go out and say right now - this is the worst sports documentary I've ever seen.  Period.

In fact, this in my opinion isn't even a documentary...it's a highlight reel.  An hour long highlight reel.

It says the film was made in 2005....but they must have used early 90's technology.  Everything about this movie is horrible.

Ready for my review?


We start with a very uninspired career montage.  Slow and uninviting, I'm already bored and we're two minutes in.  We get a very brief segment on him growing up.  The narration (Paul Steigerwald....who?) is abrasive.  It's like a second rate play-by-play guy trying his hand at voiceovers.

Mario is drafted, there's some immediate marketing of Mario......

and then goals.

His first goal.

More goals.....and still more........and still more.  This is long and slow.  The music is terrible.

We hear from Mike Lange (one of very few interviews...which by the way - none include Mario, not one single interview) and he talks about how Mario had the ability to see things happen in slo-mo.

And back to the goals.  Lots of them.  No rhyme or reason.  Just goals.

We get a brief snipit of Canada Cup '87.  They cover the "5 goals, 5 different ways" game.  And then they start working things year by year.

1989/90 he gets back pain.  I have pain too....and am playing through it as well.  He goes on an insane points streak.

Zero dynamics in this 'doc'.  I'm now just counting down the minutes.  I think I've heard the call "...beaten like a rented mule" about 50 times.  This video is like beating a dead horse.

A couple Stanley Cup wins.  A blip called Hodgkin's and his return.  They shove goal #500 in with a bunch of other random goals....cause that's how important it is.

1996/97 he scores a goal on his last shift before retiring.  A goal to start his career and one to end it.  Nice.

Oh....there's more.

Jersey retirement.  Hall of Fame entry and then he becomes the new owner of the team a couple years later.  This was the birth of the return.

In 2001, Mario makes his triumphant comeback.  And we celebrate with another montage of goals.

2002 Olympic gold medal, 2004 World Cup and then a focus on his charity work.

No Sid the Kid since this was put together before that.


I will repeat....this is the worst sports documentary that I have ever seen. I'm not even going to justify it with my list of reasons.  If you want a bunch of Mario Lemieux goals, this dvd is for you.

This movie is "The Worst.  Ever."

0.5 out of 5 (and I'm being generous).

No reviews for this 'doc'.


Well.  I feel very unsatisfied.  After a very successful month, I am having a very difficult time coming to terms that this will be the exit movie I review.

So much so that I'm calling the audible now.

31 in 31?  A complete month?  You bet!!!

Up next - Thrilla In Manila

30 in 30 - Day 29: Knuckleball

I'm glad I spent some time yesterday searching for a way to watch today's film.  It was one of those "must see" titles on my list.  A lot of newly released docs get that automatic moniker nowadays.

I was hoping it would either land in a theatre during our city's film festival or maybe get a special showing (like what happened to The Last Gladiators earlier this month).  Sadly, no dice.

But I did track it down on iTunes (odd that it took me a while to check there....shows you how much I watch movies off of iTunes).  I've never rented one from them but gave it a shot.  It was a lot easier than I had anticipated.

That could be trouble down the road.  :)

Today's film - Knuckleball

Knuckleball (2012)
93 mins.
Rated: NR (I think there's one instance of swearing...that's it)

"Knuckleball is the story of a few good men, a handful of pitchers in the entire history of baseball forced to resort to the lowest rung on the credibility ladder in their sport: throwing a ball so slow and unpredictable that no one wants anything to do with it."  (source: official site)

This was a rental via iTunes.  Nice!


The tagline of this movie is "To gain power you must first give up control".  That in a nutshell is the knuckleball.

The start of this film really drew me in.  The first 3 minutes are awesome. Great mood, flow and feel.  The shooting is excellent and unique while the editing is an equal compliment.  A fantastic montage mixed with a sizzling title sequence.  A very nice start.

We start with the other end of the pitching spectrum - the fastballers.  Guys these days can hit mid-100 mph.  A lifetime away from the range a knuckleballer throws.

We are introduced to the fraternity of freaks.  Only about 70 players have ever earned a paycheque in the majors by throwing a knuckleball.  It's a very stylized delivery and most find it a circus pitch.  I'm amazed at how much people constantly discount these guys.

Currently there are only two knuckleballers in the majors - Time Wakefield and R.A. Dickey.  The film follows these two as the main thread while introducing side stories involving other knucklers.

Growing up, Wakefield was using the pitch more for fun.  In fact, he came into the majors as a first baseman and was converted to a pitcher.  In 2011, he was approaching some pretty hefty milestones.

R.A. Dickey was a huge comeback story in 2011.  Constanly moving from team to team, he was signed by the Mets in 2010 as an add-on pitcher.  He was one of the first cuts in 2010.  In the minors, he pitched a near perfect game and was brought up by the parent team.  He was lights out the remainder of the season and earned a starting spot on opening day 2011.

Dickey struggled in that start as a result of a split fingernail (something most would seem so minor was huge to a knuckler.  Wakefield in the meantime was coming out the pen to start the season - often in nothing situations.  He got a start a couple months in and was solid.  Soon after he earned a spot in the starting rotation.

To the masses, the knuckleball is a circus pitch.  Passed balls and stolen bases are the norm with these guys on the mound.  A huge "us vs. the world" feel is hung on these guys as nobody really enbraces a knuckleballer.

We find Wakefield and Dickey meet up with Phil Niekro and Charlie Hough, two past knuckleballers who carried the torch in the 70's and 80's.  They sit around and chat ball.  They all agree that it's the heavy (home run) hitters who are easier to pitch to as opposed to the 'slap' hitters.

We get a bit more of a backstory from R.A..  He won a bronze medal in the 1996 Olympics (at the time he was a conventional pitcher) and was drafted into the big leagues.  Doctors wanted to test out his arm and found an issue with it that made the team withdraw their contract offer.  Dickey was devastated.  He was given a base amount by the team and R.A. took it...trying to walk the long road to the majors.

For most, the knuckleball is an act of desperation.  They 'find' it as a last resort to staying in the bigs.  Only Phil Niekro was drafted as a knucleball pitcher.

Just a note...as much as I'm enjoying the editing in this doc, it's a little too stylized at times.  Sometimes less can be more.

For Wakefield, his backstory shows him being converted from the field.  He went in and pitched a complete game win in his first start.  In 1993, he was named the opening day starter.  He too had a rough season that year (even manager Jim Leyland thought he was a freak show).  He was dropped from the roster for 1994.

Tim was signed by the Red Sox and worked with the Niekro brothers in the minors.  He got his confidence back and was a staple in the big leagues for years.  He was closing in on his 200th win.

For R.A, when he began to struggle it was Orel Hershiser who suggested he turn to the knuckleball.  He worked with Charlie Hough to polish his craft.

We see the low that Wakefield went through in the 2003 ALCS where he went from hero to zero with one pitch (a game winning home run to Aaron Boone in game 7).

Tim struggles in 2011 to get that 200th win.  After 6 attempts, he is dropped from the rotation.  Late in the season, he finally picks up the illustrious victory.  At the end of the season, he retires from pro ball.  Leaving R.A. Dickey as the only one left to throw the knuckleball.

Is the pitch becoming an endangered species?  Will it become extinct?


This doc was an enjoyable watch.  A little all over the place at times and a little thin in content, but still had a lot to offer overall.  The focus of Wakefield and Dickey is the obvious road to take but I would have enjoyed seeing more of the history of the knuckleballers.  Some guys liek Tom Candiotti get very little face time in the film.

The mood and pace of the movie is nice, a little repetitive at times though.  The shooting is solid and the editing is really nice (as mentioned...a little too much at times).  Some great use of archive material (both photos and video) is utilized.  They went in to the vault with purpose.

The story is where I noticed the biggest downside for me.  I think the doc covers some good topics and I like that both Wakefield and Dickey's families are a part of the film, but the heavy focus on those two makes the lack of other pitchers noticeable.  I think a little more on the history of the pitch would have been nice.

If you're a fan of Dickey or Wakefield, this is your doc.  An enjoyable watch for any baseball fan and a good story in general.

3.5 out of 5


Here are some other reviews I found online for the film...

Rotten Tomatoes

Hollywood Reporter

Boston.com


Up next...The Final Film!  It's a surprise.....only because I don't even know what I'll be watching yet.

30 in 30 - Day 28: More Than A Game

Just a few days left in my month long venture and I'm still excited to see a new doc title on the agenda.

There's so many great sports documentaries out there.  A wonderful way to learn, a wonderful way to become inspired and a great way to battle the television blahs.

It might take a bit of hunting and searching to track down some of these titles, but that's what makes some of these picks all the better.

Tonight's film - More Than A Game

More Than A Game (2008)
105 mins.
Rated: PG

"This documentary follows NBA superstar LeBron James and four of his talented teammates through the trials and tribulations of high school basketball in Ohio and James' journey to fame."  (source: imdb)


I hit the library to borrow this dvd.  The case was battered, but she played fine.


When I first saw this dvd, I was thinking this would be just a LeBron James highlight show.  But I was wrong.  This was the story of a team of friends who grew up playing basketball together.  Each get their own time to shine on this doc.

I guess it goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover.

The doc starts at the end.  It's the 2003 High School National Championship game.  A chance for the guys to become one of the greatest high school teams of all time.  We hear the coach speak his final words to the boys before the game begins.

We get an introduction to the players.  A great montage of photos and cutouts to give the story some style and production value.  A group of four kids who grew up together - playing basketball - and becoming great friends.

They were so good as a team back then (grade 8ish) that they became a travel team in and around Akron, Ohio.  In 1999, their last tournament before they were to head to high school, they made it to the finals of a huge national tournament.  They lost to an all-star team from California on a last second miss by LeBron.

One of the kids, Dru Joyce, was very undersized.  He knew he would have a tough time getting any playing time at the local high school.  He decided to attend St. Vincent/St. Mary's High School since it was coached by Keith Dambrot, who saw talent in Dru during a summer camp.

The cohesiveness and chemistry of the four teammates was so huge that they all decided to stick together and attend St. Vincent/ St. Mary's.  Dru's dad, who coached the kids up to that point, was brought in as an assistant and really coached his son hard.  He didn't want the perception to be that his kid was getting preferential treatment.

During their sophomore season, the fifth member of this group transfered to St. V.  Romeo Travis was not one to make friends, he was there to win. His attitude at first created a distance between him and the rest of the team.

With higher expectations, the Fighting Irish from St. V reached their second straight state championship.

That off-season, Coach Dambrot left to take a coaching job in college.  Coach Joyce, hesitant at first, took over the job as head coach.  He knew that if the system crumbled, he would be the one to take the blame.  If successful, he was just carrying on what Coach Dambrot brought in.  It could have been a lose-lose situation.

In the third year for these kids, they were dominant.  LeBron really started to show his stuff on the court.  He eventually landed on the cover of Sports Illustrated.  Everybody wanted a piece of the phenomenon.  Tickets to their games were being scalped for hundreds of dollars (these were high school kids remember).  Their games were moved to bigger arenas to accommodate.

There was a tremendous swagger that came about as a result.  They started ignoring the coach, partying and just underestimating their opponents.  They managed to still win...until they hit the state championship finals.  Their lack of teamwork, loss of composure and overall poor effort cost them.

The following season, there was a new direction - everybody was on the same page - working together.

During this journey, the doc breaks away to focus on one of the Fab Five. Giving a bit of backstory to who these kids were growing up.  All were interviewed extensively for the doc and it was nice to see.

At this point, it was Willie McGee, who would be told he wasn't starting during his senior year, these personal stories really create individual identities for each player.  This allows for a much more thorough and dynamic doc as opposed to the one-dimensional LeBron show.

During the senior year, this Fab Five started receiving national exposure. ESPN was broadcasting games.  They soundly beat the number one ranked team and were a force to be reckoned with.  They went from starting the season ranked 23rd to becoming the number one team in the country.

LeBron James was receiving a ton of national exposure - and a lot of negative press.  The pressures were starting to build.  At one point he was accused of receiving gifts, thus making him ineligible to the team for the rest of the season.  The team had to play on without James.

It was at about this point (about an hour and 15 minutes in) that my interest was waning.  It's been a bit of a long doc to this point and I knew there was still a half hour to go.

The rest of the team met the challenge and overcame the adversity of not having LeBron play.  They won their first game without him.  It was only one game as LeBron took the matter to court and was reinstated.

The final chapter, nine years in the making.  These friends growing up were going to play for the national championship as seniors.  Their final game together.  Down at the half, they rallied around their coach's words.  There's been a ton of footage in this doc I've just realized.  Cameras following these kids around, lots of archival photos and home videos.  Quite the undertaking.  I'm sure more than a couple felt this story was special and needed to be documented.

The team goes out and comes back to win the national championship.  Each kid pours out their tribute to 'Coach Dru' who helped guide these kids through this part of their lives.


This was a better doc than I expected.  At times I wondered why this story was so special and needed to be told, at times I thought this was nothing more than just the LeBron show, but for the most part the story was engaging (thanks in large part to Coach Dru's interviews....he was a great thread in this doc).

The footage was pretty solid.  Like I mentioned, lots of archive footage.  Each player was also interviewed for this doc and that paid off in spades.

I left this doc feeling good for these kids, but as I write this, the feeling is already fading.  It doesn't have that lasting effect like some other titles I have watched this past month.

A solid watch and a good option for the basketball fans out there.

3 out of 5


Here are some other reviews I found online for the film...

Rotten Tomatoes

LA Times

New York Times


Up next...Knuckleball (I'm renting it from iTunes...let's see how that works)

30 in 30 - Day 27: Mantle

Not sure if any of you have noticed (or care) but ESPN (and TSN in Canada) have begun airing a second batch of 30 for 30 documentaries.  So far I've seen about 3 or 4 of the new offerings (9.79* being one of them).

As I near the end of my month long project, I was beginning to think that this was becoming a bit of a grind.  But when I end up watching my doc for this project.....and then another one from the new 30 for 30 offerings, I realize that I'm just a huge fanatic of sports docs.

Grind?  No.  This is a wonderful time to be a fan of sports documentaries.

Tonight's film - Mantle

Mantle (2005)
60 mins.
Rated: NR (a couple profanities from Mick, but the rest is good)

"This special explores the life and career of one of baseball's most enduring icons, Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle.  August 13, 2005 marks the tenth anniversary of the death of Mickey Mantle, who lived a life as rich and extraordinary as a Hollywood script.  At the height of his career, Mantle was the toast of New York, yet behind his country charm and good looks there was a wayward lifestyle that harmed his marriage, his relationship with his four sons, and his health."  (source: HBO)


I watched this film on good ol' dvd.  Borrowed it from a friend (another Thank You!).


Once again, HBO shows its strength in the sports documentary genre.  They need to pump out a big box set of all their docs.  That would be an awesome Christmas gift eh?

The doc begins with a really nice montage.  The music really sets the tone and the editing shines.  Some great cutout photo effects mixed with some grained textures creates a very inviting start to this story.

We hear quick clips from Bob Costas, Billy Crystal and others, but it is those two who I am happy to see the most.  For me, when I hear anything Mickey Mantle, I want to hear it from them.  They are the truest of fans when it comes to the Yankees icon.

Much like Bobby Orr or Gordie Howe, I never got to see Mickey Mantle play, but to hear so many people talk so greatly about the player makes me instantly gravitate towards him.

We hear of Mickey's life growing up...far, far away from the big city of New York.  Born into baseball, he is named after the great Detroit catcher Mickey Cochrane.  His favorite time as a kid is when his dad would take him to St. Louis to watch baseball.

He would learn at an early age how to hit from both sides of the plate and the fundamentals of the game were drilled into him early.  There's some really nice archive photos used as well as some nice "setup" shots.  Lunch boxes on the porch, bats propped up by the door.  These pieces of video create a nice mood and mesh well with the archive footage.

Drafted by the Yankees in 1951, he was given $1100 to sign with the club.  He was immediately placed in the role as the 'heir' to the greats.  Ruth, Gehrig, Dimaggio.......a huge weight on his shoulders.

He struggled early on and was booed by the New York fans.  So much so that he was sent to the minors for a while.  He even wanted to quit.  His dad, who drove out to talk to him, didn't call his bluff.  He gave Mick no sympathy.  Mantle decided to give it another go and immediately improved his play.

In his first 14 years, the Yankees made it to the World Series 12 times.  He became massively popular.  His speed, power and explosiveness were second to none.  We all know him as a great hitter, but there's some excellent footage of him fielding the ball.  Love it.  Bigger than life, Mick's face was everywhere.  Advertisements for everything.  Television, magazines, newspapers, radio....everything.

There was a tremendous amount of hero worship going on.  And Mickey was catching on.  He had a lot of fun as a result.  New York was a hotbed for the clubs.  He was a regular at many of the top joints, having a few drinks after the game.  There was also plenty of alcohol in the clubhouse at the time.

The time away from home eventually cost Mickey his family.  Married in his first year with the Yankees, he had four boys, all of whom were drifting away from Mick as he was on the road all the time.

A pivotal moment in Mickey's career occurred early on.  During the 1951 World Series, Mantle hurt his knee and watched the rest of the series from a hospital room.  In that same hospital was his father who was battling Hodgkin's disease.  He watched his dad pass away at a very early age.  That was a lot of emotional and physical pain for him to endure and Mickey began thinking about his own mortality.

Mantle's career was briefly gone over and soon the doc reaches the end of his career.  In 1964 his production dropped off.  Mother's Day, 1967 he hit his 500th homerun.  You could see the pain he was going through as he battled with injuries his whole career.  By spring training, 1969 he was forced to retire.

There's some great footage of Mickey Mantle appreciation day and he speaks of Gehrig who was in the same place before him.  Mantle felt like he could have been a better player.  He was saddened by his career.

His life after baseball was where the struggles really began.  He didn't enjoy the business ventures he attempted and began drinking a lot more. His sons were all grown up and would often be his drinking buddies.  This built more of a relationship between them than ever before.

By the early 80's, Mickey's life was out of control.  What really saved him was the memorabilia era.  He started making good money for signing his name.  It saved his career.  Mantle's auto became one of the most sought after signatures.  The whole time, Mick never could figure out why so many people idolized him.

1994 and Mickey hit rock bottom.  His drinking was to the point where he needed help.  One of his sons died at 36.  The result of alcohol problems and Hodgkin's disease.  This was the moment where Mantle turned his life around.

He finally found peace with his father's death, he built a better, happier life, he was able to tell his sons that he loved them.  But Mickey was sick....he needed a new liver.  After receiving a transplant, he made a plea to the public.  He told them that he wasted his life, he has a strong body that he just let go to waste.  He became a strong advocate for organ donation.

During Mickey's liver transplant, the doctors found cancer in his lungs.  Family and teammates had time to say their goodbyes to the legend.  In 1995, Mickey Mantle passed away.

We hear parts of Mantle's eulogy presented by Bob Costas and are left with the lasting impression and legacy of an icon that will live forever.


This was another solid effort from the boys at HBO.  A lot of good archive footage, great photos, Liev Schreiber is at the narrating helm (which felt a little odd in this one for some reason) and some fantastic pace and flow.

My big beef is that it was only an hour and that it was done before the days of HD.  This is presented in good ol' 4:3 aspect ratio.  As well, it was only an hour. There was a lot more of Mantle's playing career that I would have loved to have seen.  They glossed over the race to 61 in 1961 (maybe because it was Maris who was the real story there).  But I would have liked more baseball action.

We hear clips sporadically from Costas, Crystal, Richard Lewis and I would have liked more from them as well.  For such an iconic player, it's tough to put it all in under an hour.


A must for the Yankees fans, a solid watch for anybody who enjoys baseball and just a good doc for those looking to learn more about one of the greatest ball players of all time.

I feel like a broken record...

3.5 out of 5


Here are some other reviews I found online for the film...

New York Times

LA Times

Variety


Up next...More Than A Game

30 in 30 - Day 26: Seve - The Legend

A lot of the film I have been watching this month have revolved around a team who exceeds expectations or completes something special.  Individuals that overcome a huge obstacle or are honored for their achievements.  In stepping back, I guess that's what makes for interesting documentaries.

There are personalities that make me just cringe because of something they've done in the past or the way they present themselves now while others make me respect and admire them even more for just being who they are.

Documentaries are a wonderful thing.  The movie I watched this evening is a perfect example of what I enjoy about docs.

Tonight's film...Seve - The Legend

Seve - The Legend (2011)
60 mins.
Rated: NR (there are a couple hard to watch parts, but this is a film for everyone)

(I've been told that this dvd is not the same one I watched....I'll have to confirm that)

"Only the most charismatic are known by just one name.  Known to his adoring public simply as 'Seve', Severiano Ballesteros took the world of golf by storm and transcended the sport, with his magnetic personality and sublime skill."  (source: BBC)


I borrowed this from a friend.  Much thanks!

First off, I'd like to say that I wish I was just a little older.....just 5 years.  I'd have been able to better appreciate just how great Seve was at golf.  I remember him more on the downside of his short career.  It would have been fantastic to see the magic as it was happening.


Almost immediately, you get a taste of the imagination, creativity and fun Seve Balleseros brought to the game of golf.  His passion and joy for the sport are unparalleled in my opinion.  A fantastic sense of humour along with being a true warrior makes him one of the most beloved and revered players of all time.

We start in the "present".  In May 2011, Seve passed away at the age of just 54 after a two and a half year battle with brain cancer.  You can immediately hear the emotional tribute pouring out of family and friends.  A golf tournament is set up to honour Ballesteros.  "Ole Seve!" is a project near and dear to Seve's heart and some funds were raised in the battle against brain cancer.

This is where we meet some of Seve's family and we get to know the golfer a little more intimately.

Seve started golfing at the age of 10.  We hear some archive interviews from Seve about his life growing up.  He loved golf even at an early age.  He played all the time.  At 16, he turned pro.  At the tender age of just 19, he was the third round leader at the British Open.  He came up second, but only after he opened the eyes of a lot of pros on tour.  There was a new entertainer in town.

A 3 iron out of the bunker.  Legendary.  Tiger Woods (among others) talks about the skill and precision Seve had as he would try to hole shots out of the bunker.  His mastery of "going with the flow" is something synonymous with Ballesteros.

The British Open of 1979 was the first of 5 majors for Seve.  In 1980, he became the youngest to win the Masters (also becoming the first European to take home the championship).  He became the pathfinder for European golf and the explosion of today's international flavour in the PGA can be directly linked to him.

In 1983, he won the Masters for a second time.  He also made his first appearance in the Ryder Cup (another staple for Ballesteros).  After a solid team attempt, there was great confidence going into 1985.  Sure enough...the team from Europe won.

There are some fantastic photo montages and great archive footage used.  The stories however are what I'm really enjoying.  It seems as though everybody has a great 'Seve story'.  We are bouncing back and forth between Seve's life story and the tribute golf tournament.  A very nice job of intercutting.

Always an unpredictable player, his creativity is adored.  As said in the movie "A genius does not have rules."  Some of my favorite parts of the doc revolve around these spectacular shots.

In 1988, Ballesteros wins his final major (British Open).  It is around that time that we are introduced to fellow Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal.  Seve became a mentor to Jose and the pair were forever linked in Ryder Cup play.  Even though his playing days were coming to an end, he was still a vital cog in the team.

We are shown parts of Seve's final interview as we head into the section of the doc covering his battle with cancer.  He talks about when he first was told he had a tumor in his brain.  He spent 72 days in the hospital getting radiation treatment.  Cameras were with him the whole way.

Very emotional, you could see just how much of a fighter Seve was.  He had a tremendous amount of courage as the cancer was just stealing away his life.  Struggling through the interview, you could see how he fought right to the end.

Gracious and always with a laugh, Seve Ballesteros asked us to not feel sorry for him.  He always saw the sunnier side of the fence.


BBC did a really nice job on this doc.  They managed to put a whole lot into the 60 minute production.  I think they did a very good job of balancing interviews with family and friends with the b-roll and narration covering Seve's life.

It had some production value, but nothing that really got the 'wow factor'. Not that it needed it, but a solid doc with really good production value is always appreciated.

The one big beef I have is that this is not an easy doc to find here in North America.  Now that I've seen it, I'd love to own a copy.....that will actually play in the North American region dvd players.


If you're a golf fan - watch this.  If you're a creative person (or is someone who appreciate creativity) - watch this.  Not the flashiest doc, but it's got some good substance to it.  I enjoyed it.

3.5 out of 5


I couldn't find any reviews for this doc......shame.


Next up...Mantle

30 in 30 - Day 25: The Idol Makers - Inside NFL Films

One of the best things to come of this month long documentary project is the discovery (and eventual ownership) of tonight's film.

I vaguely remember watching chunks of this on tv years ago and for the longest time couldn't even remember what it was called.  Only after some dedicated searching did I come across the title.

Sadly, the doc never made it to dvd....so it was vhs all the way.

If I never watch another video on my vcr, I can say thank you to it for allowing me to play this movie.  These little gems are what it's all about.

Tonight's film....The Idol Makers - Inside NFL Films

The Idol Makers - Inside NFL Films (1997)
53 mins.
Rated: NR (a couple of profanities are bleeped...it'd be a PG)

"If you want to really feel the game, only NFL Films can get you this close.  For more than 30 years, they've captured the 'in-your-face' collisions on the field and the behind-the-scenes dramas from the sideline to the locker room.  How do they do it?  At Super Bowl XXXI, National Geographic Television became the first to film the NFL cameramen in action, turning their cameras on these fearless 'shooters' as they sprint and shove to get the best action shots.  As the Packers battle the Patriots in New Orleans, you'll discover how these idol makers turn players into warriors, and a game into an epic struggle."  (source:  back of the vhs box)

No link....but you can buy the vhs on ebay for a buck ($8 to ship it though).


As you can see, this is NFL Films....shot by National Geographic.  That right there is enough for me.  There is one small piece of info that has me concerned though......1997.  I'm a little afraid these days of docs done in the 90's.  Let's see if this can hold up.


The montage off the top of this film is fast-paced, action-packed and everything I would expect of an NFL Films production.  The music though....OUCH!  My worst nightmares have already come true.  I'll try to look past it though.  As well, it's weird to see anything NFL that's not 16:9 or HD quality.  This is good ol' 4:3 standard definition.  There can be good stuff done that way...I'm just saying it's odd to see.

We hear from Steve Sabol (who essentially was NFL Films for years) and how the focus has always been "the struggle" as opposed to "the strategy" in football.  I've always loved that about NFL Films.

note: Steve Sabol passed away just over a month ago.  His contribution to sports documentaries is pretty much unparalleled and very much appreciated by this hockey card blogger.

The scene is set.  Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans.  The Green Bay Packers vs. the New England Patriots (pre-Brady BTW).  It's estimated that 70,000 fans will be at the game and over 600 million people will be watching the event around the world.  With those numbers, "event" is an understatement...it's a "uniquely American spectacle".

There will however be a third team on the field tonight.  For over 30 years, NFL Films has been capturing this spectacle in a very unique way. They are not news reporters, but storytellers.

By the way, the writing in this doc is really good.  The words just roll off the narrator's tongue.  Fantastic flow (even with the hokey music).  And the b-roll.....well it should be obvious - second to none.

Hey, it's a young Michael Wilbon giving his two cents!  I like him.  I wish there was more of him in this doc.

NFL Films look for the uniqueness of the sport.  Often the best shots are not found during the play.  Many times, they aren't even on the field.  It's about capturing the way the event of the day transcends the sport.  And for today's game...it just doesn't get any bigger.  Over 17 cameramen will be capturing the sights and sounds of the championship game.

We get a brief history of NFL Films - started by Steve's dad, Ed Sabol.  He received a movie camera as a wedding gift and for years would film his young boy's antics, adventures and football games.Yup, he's the kid who's dad videotaped everything.

In 1961, the film rights of the NFL championship game were sold for $1500.  That's it!  Ed Sabol decided the following year to make a pitch for it.  In 1962, he offered $3000.  After some debate, he was given the task.  Ed's approach to the game would change the way we see football - literally.

Ed Sabol did more than just shoot the highlights of the game, he captured the event.  The fans, the sidelines, the sounds.  NFL Films was born and they have grown ever since.

I was interested to learn how critical the sound is to NFL Films.  Getting the audio in the huddles, during the discussions on the sidelines and especially the hits on the field really raised the interest level of what was being captured.  A nice little montage is shown to demonstrate.  I didn't know that they place mics in the pads of the players.  They must be disposable.

We are taken through the warmup, pregame and kickoff of the Super Bowl.  We follow a few key cameramen through the event.  Each person has their own set of responsibilities - from capturing the game itself to sideline banter to strictly crowd...and then there is "the weasel".  He just shuffles around getting anywhere and everywhere.  Finding new perspectives and unique shots.

NFL Films still uses old school film (love it) and one of the challenges is that a roll of film captures only about 10 minutes worth of footage.  Lots of cartridge changes.  Efficiency at that is key.  You can't capture something if you're not hitting record.

Some great footage of how involved these guys are in capturing the action is shown.  They are so focused  - to the point of obliviousness - that they sometimes become part of the play.  These guys just don't get out of the way sometimes.  It's all about getting the shot.

As the final gun sounds, the NFL Films team keeps rolling on postgame action.  Seeing the chaos turned into beauty (by simple slow motion of the film) makes some of the stuff these guys capture a true art form.

In the end, 245 rolls of film have been captured.  That's 41 hours of Super Bowl.  And all of it gets carted out asap so it can be processed and hit the edit suites.

Speaking of....I'm a little miffed that there is zero talk about the editing of NFL Films various productions.  To me, NFL Films is more than just the filming....it's writing, editing, archive, sound, voiceover, there is so much more.  And as somebody who edits sports for a living, I really wanted to see some of those behind-the-scenes goodies.


At the end of the day, this was a pretty darn good doc - even for a late-90's production.  How good would it be if they did a version nowadays?  It would blow this one out of the water.  But in looking at the time when they produced this doc, it worked for me.

It didn't get as in depth as I would have liked, but it was still a fun ride to follow these guys throughout the Super Bowl (it was just a one game follow). They packed a lot into less than an hour.  Definitely more pros than cons.

3.5 out of 5


I couldn't find a single review about this doc online.  Clearly a sleeper.  Odd.


Up next...Seve: The Legend

30 in 30 - Day 24: The Dream Team

What is happening here?  The closer I get to the end of the month....the more volatile this project has become.

Once again I have had to do a little shifting in my film titles.  Unfortunately (due to circumstances beyond my control) I have had to switch out the movie I was to watch.  In its place though is a title that's on my 30 doc list...so I'm not drifting too far from the bench.

With just a week left, I'm sure I can limp my way to the finish.  But this is really messing up my schedule....for reals.  Good thing I can power through it.

Tonight's film - The Dream Team

The Dream Team (2012)
70 mins.
Rated: NR (but would be an easy PG choice)

"The Dream Team features highlights, rare practice footage and behind-the-scenes clips of players hanging out that both recall the experience and provide a new look at it.  Not every moment is stellar, but there are so many joyous moments that it's all too much fun to complain.  In turn, we can remember and understand just why anyone cares so many years later."  (source: yahoo sports)

Link to the film - I watched it online via vimeo


This doc is an NBA TV original production.  When I first heard that, I got worried that it would be a little substandard.  I've seen a lot of "documentaries" on various networks that miss the mark in a number of areas (quality of writing, quality of interviews, lack of footage, not really telling the complete story, etc.).  I was pleasantly surprised to see this production easily run along side some other quality documentaries.

The 1992 Olympic basketball team from the United States.  The Dream Team.  11 Hall of Famers.  Many would call this team the greatest team ever assembled....ever....in all of sports.

Pretty good topic to tackle.

The players on that team (most of them) transcended the game itself.  The NBA was on such a roll since Magic & Bird saved the league in the 80's.  Now it was guys like Jordan, Barkley, Drexler and Malone carrying the torch.

We step back and talk about the US team prior to 1992.  They were still dominant for years, even with college players taking part.  But the world was catching up and in 1988, the US team were upset in the semi-finals by the USSR.  The discussion about amateur vs. pro really heated up.

In Europe, you could be paid to play yet still be considered an amateur.  In the NBA though, you are considered a pro once you accept a paycheque.  Many felt that it was not fair.  That eventually changed and in 1992 the sport of basketball at the Olympics were open to all players.  Now the question was - who would want to play?

Initially, superstar Michael Jordan is hesitant to join.  He only accepted after seeing some of the players that have gotten on board with the idea.  Duke's Christian Laettner was the only non-NBAer as he was just coming out of college.

The lineup is a who's who of NBA stars, but there is one player who is noticeably absent....Pistons' star Isiah Thomas.  Even more surprising is that the team is coached by Chuck Daly - Head Coach of the Detroit Pistons.  Some felt that it was because of the 'Bad Boys" image the Pistons built over the years.  Some were just happy he wasn't on the team - they wanted no part of that.

Training camp opened and a lot of egos entered through the door.  At first, the team played like a bunch of individuals, then the pendulum swung way the other way and everybody started over-passing.  It was so bad that they actually lost their first warmup game against a group of college stars.  Some say that Coach Daly threw the game on purpose...but whatever it was, it got the team more focussed and more cohesive.

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were named captains and this would be their swan song.  The first game of the Olympic qualifiers were a coming out party for the duo.  They were clearly the leaders of the team and the crowd chanted for more.  Easily punching their tickets to Barcelona, the team packed up for some warmup games in Monte Carlo.

Relaxing, shooting some golf and playing cards, the team got a little sluggish in their match against France.  Coach Daly was not impressed and put the team through a tough practice the next day.  A scrimmage ensued and it got pretty competitive.  This intensity was the turning point and there was nobody going to stop the Dream Team from that point forward.

Barcelona.  The Olympics.  No room for error.  Their first match against Angola was a rout but all the press focused on was Charles Barkley's elbow to the Angolan player.  Against Croatia, it was Jordan and Pippen looking to dominate against their soon-to-be-teammate Toni Kukoc.

It got to a point where people started asking "Is this Dream Team too good?"  Was this venture creating more of a negative than a positive?

A great aside from the doc was hearing the story of John Stockton walking off the team bus one day while it was stuck in traffic.  He proceeded to just walk amongst the crowd...and nobody recognized him. His teammate Karl Malone only wishes he could do that.

The friendships and camaraderie that was built through this experience still holds to this day (as they got recent interviews with all 11 players - nice).  In the gold medal game against Croatia, they won as a team.  It was an emotional scene as the players came in to the stadium to accept their medals.  Something they will never forget.

And like that....the dream was over.


This was a surprisingly good documentary.  The interviews were really good, the archive footage was fantastic (a lot of behind-the-scene photos and video).  The main story was well presented, but the side stories were also very well done.  A good balance.

The editing was fine (nothing spectacular) and the pace was solid.  The only down side was that the content was not more "roller coaster".  But what do you expect when you have such a dominant team?  They really didn't have to overcome any major adversity.  It was just a feel good story for the most part.

Were they dominant?  You bet.  But they earned it.  They played as a team and the whole was definitely greater than the sum of all the parts.

3.5 out of 5


Here are some other reviews I found online for the film...

Yahoo Sports

Time

Bleacher Report


Next up...The Idol Makers - Inside NFL Films (for sure...I have the VHS)

30 in 30 - Day 23: Bobby Fischer Against The World

I'm sure this doc will be seen to some as a "non-sports" movie.  I can understand that stance.  But there are two main reasons why I'm including this title to the 30 in 30 list.

First, the subject of this film catapulted the exposure of this "sport" to levels comparable to the Superbowl and any other sporting event in North America at the time.  It was huge news.

Second.....I own the dvd and really should watch this from start to finish.

So there.

Tonight's film - Bobby Fischer Against The World

Bobby Fischer Against The World (2011)
93 mins.
Rated: PG (a little bit of swearing near the end)

" In 1958, Bobby Fischer stunned the chess world by becoming the youngest Grand Master in history.  Over the next decade and a half, his breathtaking rise to the top echelon of the game riveted the world and inspired an international chess phenomenon.  Then, at the apex of his success, Fischer vanished from the public eye.  See the true story behind the troubled genius, from his meteoric rise to fame to the growing madness that finally consumed him."  (source: the back of the dvd)


As mentioned, I own the dvd....and can put it in the "have watched" pile.


This is another HBO documentary and I'd like to say that these guys do a darn fine job.  I'll feel safe in the future choosing something from their list sight unseen.

In a nutshell, Bobby Fischer was the greatest chess player in the world.  But he not only was the greatest player, he inspired a generation of people to take up the game.  It became part of popular culture in the 70's. It also was a political vehicle and seen as a way to signify one's superiority intellectually.

We learn about Bobby's early life.  He began hanging out in chess clubs as early as 8.  He constantly played the game - even if it was against himself.  Obsessive even at an early age, he had a sort of genius level of understanding.

In 1958, still in his teens) Fischer became the United States chess champion and was crowned a grand master.  His knowledge and popularity was something that his mom recognized could be capitalized on.  He would gain both fame and publicity from the world of chess.

Just a quick note...the archive footage in this doc is tremendous - probably the best I've seen so far.  Fantastic photos and video.  The music creates a great mood and is very dynamic.  The interviews though are what I notice most.  Some key people in Bobby's life are interviewed and they look and sound great.  It's a very polished doc to this point.

Bobby developed a penchant for having things done his way.  Very demanding.  The World Chess Championship was coming up in 1972 and Fischer was the representative from the US.  He would keep refusing to go and flip-flopping back and forth.  Even Henry Kissenger got involved and tried to convince Bobby to go.  Eventually he agreed.

The match would take place in Iceland and was top news in America.  Regularly scheduled programming would be cut in order to show these matches (it was the best of 24 games).  People would skip work and watch. This event received huge ratings.

Fischer continually complained abut the room, the cameras filming, the sound the cameras were making - everything.  He had an excessive sensitivity to many things.

Once the match got underway, the back and forth battle began.  Fischer's unorthodox methods made his opponent, Boris Spassky, become more and more tense.  He struggled to maintain his composure and eventually he becomes the weaker of the two.

Some great editing during a couple of photo montages in the middle sections here.  The end of the match comes when Spassky retires during game 21.  Bobby Fischer is crowned the new world champion.

Up to this point, Fischer's increasing paranoia and feelings that he is being spied on are talked about.  After he wins the world championship, he becomes more of a recluse and goes into hiding.  He begins spouting more and more anti-American and anti-semitic remarks.   He gave up the game to a world of neurosis.  But where did he go?

He stayed out of the eyes of the world until 1990.  He came out of isolation and soon after a "revenge match" with Spassky was set up.  It was to be played in Yugoslavia in spite of a United Nations embargo.  Both players were shadows of their former selves in the match which Bobby ended up winning.  An arrest warrant against Fischer was placed and he became an ex-patriot by refusing to comply.  He never set foot on US soil again.

He slipped into obscurity again after the Spassky match.  Now a fugitive, his negativity towards the United States intensified.  So much so that when the terrorist attacks of 9/11 occurred, some pretty harsh words were said by Fischer.

Fischer lived for a time in Japan but was arrested in 2004 and was about to be deported.  In an attempt to evade deportation, Fischer received asylum in Iceland.  Welcomed by the people of Iceland, he gave a news conference and lived out his life as a recluse.  He continued to alienate people that he met and really had no companionship.

Bobby developed a urinary tract infection but refused dialysis.  He died in 2008 from degenerative kidney failure.  He was 64.


This was a very interesting documentary.  I saw it as three parts....his life before the '72 World Championship, the match itself and his life after.  The story of his life is both amazing and tragic.  There were many great interviews that kept the topic compelling.

Very well edited, it tells a pretty complete story.  The archive videos of Fischer along with the most recent footage of him in Iceland really paint a strong picture.

Do you have to be a chess fan to enjoy the film?  I don't think so, but having some knowledge of the game or even the events from the 70's help.

Compelling, it's one of the better docs I've seen this month.

4 out of 5


Here are some other reviews I found online for the film...

Rotten Tomatoes

The Guardian

Hollywood Reporter


Up next...Mantle

30 in 30 - Day 22: Disposable Heroes

Well, I was planning on watching Undefeated tonight, but was unable to secure a copy of it.  Not sure if I'll be able to find it before the end of the month....but I'll try.

So I switched around my calendar for the week and am watching Thursday's flick today.  I'm sure I can figure things out from now until the rest of the month.

I went with a pretty interesting selection when I stumbled upon it during my list building.  It was made in the mid-80's and was at the time a very candid, inside look at a side of football many fans didn't see.

So does it stand up to the test of time?

Tonight's film - Disposable Heroes: The Other Side of Football

Disposable Heroes: The Other Side of Football (1985)
51 mins.
Rated: NR (but there's no swearing, just the occasional talk of some bad injuries)

"Roger Stillwell and Jim Otto are the chief focus of a powerful and shocking documentary on HBO that shows the grimmer flip side of football.  Less an angry documentary and more a candid and compassionate one, caringly and skillfully shaped into a pointed statement about the seldom-reported-on-tv downside of organized sports.  After the career is over and the cheers fade, what is left?"  (source:  bjsears)

Link to the film - I watched it online via youtube


There were some pretty interesting stats throw out early on in the doc.  All while seeing some of the best of the time (the Raiders) in their glory.

The average career in the NFL - 4 and a half years.

74% of NFL players don't have their college degree.

We meet Hall of Famer Jim Otto.  He played 16 seasons in the NFL, has had upwards of 30 concussions, 25 nose breaks, numerous other injuries and now at the age of 46, can barely get out of bed in the morning, sit or stand for long periods of time and is completely arthritic.

We also meet Roger Stillwell, drafted by the Bears in 1975, his career was over by the age of just 26.  Now at 32, he lives in constant pain.

These two retired players are the focal points of the doc.  We hear from them, their wives and family about life both during and after football.

There are other interviews from ex-players talking about how they are just interchangeable parts.  New players come in every year and the old ones are just moved out of the way.  For example, we meet Dave Dalby who took over for the retiring Jim Otto. Now, he's the old vet.

Some pretty amazing footage is shown of some tremendous collisions.  The hitting in the NFL was just as vicious then as it is now.

Still well talks about his gruesome injury.  An 11-man dogpile forced his leg up by his ear.  He could literally hear the tearing and cracking.  Emotional, he talks about how when everybody got up off of him the pain was gone.  He couldn't feel his leg any longer.  He was absolutely devastated.  He talks about missing the camaraderie, hanging around with the guys.  Now...it's all gone.  Once he was injured, he was lost.

A lot of players have a very difficult time adjusting to life after the game.  All the decisions (from the time you're in high school) are made for you.  When to practice, when to rest, when to eat, when to sleep, what to do here and there.  But after you're done in the NFL, there's nobody telling you what to do.  Not a lot of offers on the table.

Jim Otto goes in for spinal surgery.  He'll live the rest of his life in pain and discomfort.  Stillwell ices his back and knees 6 times a day, 7 days a week - and will do so for the rest of his life.

You can hear the concern in their wives' voices.  Both about their husbands as well as their kids (both have boys).  They worry about the same thing happening to them.

As for Jim and Roger, they say they would do it all over again - even knowing the life they have left to live after football.  To them it was worth it.


I was interested in the investigative style of this doc.  I don't know how much of this kind of programming was out there (in the sports world) back in the 80's.  I wouldn't be surprised if this was a first of its kind when it came to pro football.

The film was much more of a slow pace, taking time to get more then just the key soundbite.  While there was some good football footage, there was less than I thought there would be.  It was a lot more footage of these guys at home, at work or at the doctor's office.

I was a little surprised that there were just two people who were focused on.  I was hoping for a little more player representation.  There are some other guys who show up occasionally to blurt out a token soundbite or two (including OJ Simpson) and they do a good job of reinforcing the points made.  Without question though, this is the story of two people struggling with life after football.

Not a flashy doc by any means.  It has more of a "60 Minutes" feel to it (and even then it seems more bare bones than that).  What I enjoyed most about it is that it was done in the 80's.  These days, stories like this (with open door access) are commonplace.  Back in '85 this would have been ground-breaking.

3 out of 5


Here's the one and only review I could find on this film...

LA Times


Up next...Bobby Fischer Against The World