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kenneycb

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QUOTE (Mirabelli28 @ Nov 18 2009, 02:13 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2690038
Bad job by ESPN with this hiatus. The fact is they have 4 different networks and can't find a place and time slot to air this series continuously? Why have all these outlets and then not use them for a series that is supposed to show they can do serious film making? I'm sure after 6 weeks, they had an audience in the routine of tuning in Tuesday at 8 and now they've blown that. Typical ESPN. Toot your horn about this series and then limit yourself to 6 weeks and out because you have to show Monmouth vs St. Peter's basketball (or whatever) that no one in America cares about. I really like the series but the people who run ESPN have no clue. 24 hours of meaningless college basketball? Check. A documentary series that actually has some teeth? Nah, can't fit it in and bump these scintillating hoop games. (And I love college basketball). Disappointing to say the least.

Or maybe the documentaries aren't finished. This isn't exactly a two week project that you just churn out like that. Hell, Steve Nash is a director of one so I have to imagine his product is going to take a little longer than most.
 

Mirabelli28

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QUOTE (kenneycb @ Nov 18 2009, 03:30 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2690067
Or maybe the documentaries aren't finished. This isn't exactly a two week project that you just churn out like that. Hell, Steve Nash is a director of one so I have to imagine his product is going to take a little longer than most.

I had thought of that after posting and it could be the case but I would think once you unveil a new series that you'd like to build an audience with it over time. That's why 6 weeks and out is odd to me.
 

FungosWithJimy

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QUOTE (kenneycb @ Nov 18 2009, 02:30 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2690067
Or maybe the documentaries aren't finished. This isn't exactly a two week project that you just churn out like that. Hell, Steve Nash is a director of one so I have to imagine his product is going to take a little longer than most.


Luckily, Johnny Knoxville is directing one about some extreme BMX biker or something like that. That probably took about three hours to complete. So it should be ready when you are are.
 

HoyaSoxa

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QUOTE (Mirabelli28 @ Nov 18 2009, 03:10 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2690166
I had thought of that after posting and it could be the case but I would think once you unveil a new series that you'd like to build an audience with it over time. That's why 6 weeks and out is odd to me.


As good as these docs have been, and as much as it is nice to have one a week, it is not as though they are related to each other in any way or building momentum on each other. Seems fairly sensible to show them when you have holes in your sports calendar. With NCAA and NBA hoops both started and the NFL still going strong, ESPN is not exactly lacking for programming, and I don't get the impression these are ratings bonanzas, so I will just be happy they funded such an ambitious project and be happy when they return with more in the spring.
 

Spacemans Bong

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QUOTE (Mirabelli28 @ Nov 18 2009, 07:13 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2690038
Bad job by ESPN with this hiatus. The fact is they have 4 different networks and can't find a place and time slot to air this series continuously? Why have all these outlets and then not use them for a series that is supposed to show they can do serious film making? I'm sure after 6 weeks, they had an audience in the routine of tuning in Tuesday at 8 and now they've blown that. Typical ESPN. Toot your horn about this series and then limit yourself to 6 weeks and out because you have to show Monmouth vs St. Peter's basketball (or whatever) that no one in America cares about. I really like the series but the people who run ESPN have no clue. 24 hours of meaningless college basketball? Check. A documentary series that actually has some teeth? Nah, can't fit it in and bump these scintillating hoop games. (And I love college basketball). Disappointing to say the least.

Jesus, who are you? Chris Russo?
QUOTE (FungosWithJimy @ Nov 18 2009, 09:58 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2690340
Luckily, Johnny Knoxville is directing one about some extreme BMX biker or something like that. That probably took about three hours to complete. So it should be ready when you are are.

That one is definitely going to be an automatic miss for me. As are Bartman, Marion Jones, Charismatic, et al. I don't care. I'll watch the Tim Richmond one, if only because NASCAR hates him.

I am not looking forward to Ice Cube's one on the LA Raiders as well, just because it's based on a fundamentally wrong premise: That people in LA LOVED the Raiders. For fuck's sake, they never sold out their games, even during their Super Bowl season.

Edit: It is also very strange that the one on Nelson Mandela and the 1995 Rugby world Cup isn't coming out soon. Invictus is out in three weeks; the movie will be on DVD by the time we get this obvious movie tie-in documentary.
 

dwightinright

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QUOTE (HomeBrew1901 @ Nov 19 2009, 08:25 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2691029
I just wish they would show the first 3 episodes again. ESPN usually bombards you with stuff like this so you can't get away from it, now they have something that people actually want to watch and you can't find it.



Not sure if Hulu has it, or if you can watch online, but you can probably find a torrent of it.
 

Clears Cleaver

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yes, basically the guy is broke now and looks like he's been on a two year bender

This is fantastic, BTW. I LOVEd those 80s UM teams. I think one team ahd like 45 NFL players on its 90-man roster

the wake up call to Boz is a fantastic story
 
QUOTE (Clears Cleaver @ Dec 12 2009, 06:37 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2725694
yes, basically the guy is broke now and looks like he's been on a two year bender

This is fantastic, BTW. I LOVEd those 80s UM teams. I think one team ahd like 45 NFL players on its 90-man roster

the wake up call to Boz is a fantastic story


I knew he was supposedely "down on his luck" and bankrupt...but Jesus.

You're right. So far it's been great. I loved watching this team back in the 80's.
 

mabrowndog

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QUOTE (Clears Cleaver @ Dec 12 2009, 09:37 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2725694
the wake up call to Boz is a fantastic story

Agreed. And Jerome Brown and his fellow defenders doing the same while re-enacting the "Warriorssssss! Come out and play-yayyyyy!!" scene was equally awesome.

So far, my favorite part has been the bunch of ex-Canes playing the race card, blaming white media bias for their legal troubles -- only to have Michael Irvin tell it straight: "There was no media conspiracy. We were baaaaad boys who enjoyed being baaaaad boys."
 

Clears Cleaver

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the Penn State game was a brutal loss. I remember them just destroying PSU and losing. I think that led to the humiliation of Texas the next year. when they had like 225 yards in penalties and UT had less than that in total yardage. It was like 45-3 or something
 

mic99

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QUOTE (BannedbyNYYFans.com @ Dec 12 2009, 09:31 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2725684
Okay, is it me or did Bernie Kosar do the "The U" interview drunk? He looks and sounds awful.


He is a mess. Those Miami teams were incredible to watch on and off the field.
 

mabrowndog

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Holy crap, that FSU music video with Deion Sanders was hilarious.

By the way, I'd totally forgotten about Schnellenberger leaving Miami for that USFL deal that never materialized. For some reason I had it in my mind that he'd gone straight to Louisville, which would have made zero sense.

Just to tie up that loose end, it turns out that the guy who'd agreed to buy the Washington Federals and move them to Miami backed out when the USFL voted to go to a fall schedule. He didn't think it made sense to compete directly with the NFL. A new owner stepped in and moved the team to Orlando, but for some reason decided he didn't want any part of Schnellenberger and axed him.
 

mabrowndog

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Hard to believe Sam Jankovich did a 1+ year stint as Patriots GM -- at the end of Victor Kiam's tenure as team owner.
 

mabrowndog

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That montage of Miami celebration highlights interspersed with the NCAA rules changes they spawned was extremely well done.
 

kenneycb

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Luke Campbell's performance when he was talking about paying the players was brilliant. I missed about 40 minutes in the middle but the rest was pure gold. Of course, I've always been a fanboy of The U for some odd reason so I may be biased.
 

mabrowndog

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QUOTE (SemperFidelisSox @ Dec 12 2009, 11:33 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2725825
Best moment: Randal Hill blaming the architect of the stadium for him running down the tunnel at the '91 Cotton Bowl.

Yeah, I was going to post about that, but opening another bottle of wine took precedence.

"Blame the architect, blame the guys who left the runway door open, blame the defensive back who was too slow to cover me, blame the NCAA for not making it against the rules -- but don't blame me." That was pretty awesome.
 

JohntheBaptist

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Man, I can't believe I'm sitting here wishing I had ESPN.

Is there anywhere online I can find these? Torrent searches not bearing anything. TIA if you know a place I can check them out. They sound incredible.
 

Three10toLeft

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QUOTE (JohntheBaptist @ Dec 13 2009, 12:04 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2725838
Man, I can't believe I'm sitting here wishing I had ESPN.

Is there anywhere online I can find these? Torrent searches not bearing anything. TIA if you know a place I can check them out. They sound incredible.


They are avail. on iTunes for a couple bucks a piece I believe...
 

mabrowndog

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Subjectively, this was the most entertaining 30-for-30 production yet. Objectively, it was pretty one-sided.

The director's a U grad and a Miami native, so his biases were pretty clear -- of course, he let us all know that up front. He packed a ton into a 2-hour presentation, but all the shit that went down with the arrests, NCAA money violations, grade fixing, etc. was pretty much glossed over, hidden under a parade of former players who seemed to justify that what they did was a product of the times and their inner-city upbringing. Aside from Irvin owning up (as I previously posted), there were no apologies from the players even 25 years after the fact. Even the coaches (Johnson & Erickson) were half-hearted in their accountability. The negatives were largely downplayed as afterthoughts -- mere bumps in the road -- but some of that crap was pretty serious shit.

So as much as I enjoyed this, it was much more a Hurricanes promotional film than a truly objective documentary.
 
QUOTE (mabrowndog @ Dec 12 2009, 10:31 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2725878
Subjectively, this was the most entertaining 30-for-30 production yet. Objectively, it was pretty one-sided.

The director's a U grad and a Miami native, so his biases were pretty clear -- of course, he let us all know that up front. He packed a ton into a 2-hour presentation, but all the shit that went down with the arrests, NCAA money violations, grade fixing, etc. was pretty much glossed over, hidden under a parade of former players who seemed to justify that what they did was a product of the times and their inner-city upbringing. Aside from Irvin owning up (as I previously posted), there were no apologies from the players even 25 years after the fact. Even the coaches (Johnson & Erickson) were half-hearted in their accountability. The negatives were largely downplayed as afterthoughts -- mere bumps in the road -- but some of that crap was pretty serious shit.

So as much as I enjoyed this, it was much more a Hurricanes promotional film than a truly objective documentary.


I absolutely agree with your entire post, but I think it's rare to find a documentary that is truly objective. Whether it's Corben or Michael Moore, the director usually is spinning/editing the story to suit his opinion. Every once in a while a documentary comes along that is both entertaining and objective (Hoop Dreams for example), but I think it's the exception to the rule regarding the genre.
 

Vinho Tinto

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QUOTE (mabrowndog @ Dec 13 2009, 01:31 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2725878
all the shit that went down with the arrests, NCAA money violations, grade fixing, etc. was pretty much glossed over


ESPN Classic is currently showing their '87 title win over OU. The pre-game interview with George Mira Jr (Who couldn't play due to testing positive for a steroid masking agent) was outstanding. The documentary just showed a glimpse, but hearing him just spew bullshit with a straight face has to be seen.

Random factoid thanks to Google: After bombing in the NFL, he became a Miami firefighter and was a first responder the night Sean Taylor was murdered.
 

SteveCrawford

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WTF Kosar, saw that and was like maybe I'm too buzzed but he looked wrecked...thought 2nd hour was better but it kept making me try to feel bad for rooting against them and calling them thugs. The film proved they relished being called thugs as all knew. They never mentioned the 'Catholics' vs 'Convicts' game. Randal Hill you keep believing that.
 

Rocco Graziosa

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Wow, that was a lot to take in. Certainly it was a two hour celebration of the University of Miami, but as I finished watching I got this sinking feeling that I was watching the worst thing thats ever happened to college athletics. Certainly they facilitated a chance for underprivileged football players a chance to play attend college and showcase their talents for the NFL, but they sure as shit didn't appear to be students to me. At the end of the day I'm left to wonder if the greatest lesson to come out of this documentary is that there should have been (or should still be) a college football minor league program. Whatever the fuck they were doing down there in Miami in the 1980's had nothing to do with academia in any way shape or form. (and I'm not some ninny that thinks college sports is anything but big business.....but jesus christ that was above and beyond even the most cynacle view of the "sport") And it was disturbing that this was not only acknowledged but celebrated even years after the fact.

Oh and Bernie Kosar.......what. the. fuck.
 

templeUsox

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QUOTE (Rocco Graziosa @ Dec 14 2009, 12:49 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2727978
Wow, that was a lot to take in. Certainly it was a two hour celebration of the University of Miami, but as I finished watching I got this sinking feeling that I was watching the worst thing thats ever happened to college athletics. Certainly they facilitated a chance for underprivileged football players a chance to play attend college and showcase their talents for the NFL, but they sure as shit didn't appear to be students to me. At the end of the day I'm left to wonder if the greatest lesson to come out of this documentary is that there should have been (or should still be) a college football minor league program. Whatever the fuck they were doing down there in Miami in the 1980's had nothing to do with academia in any way shape or form. (and I'm not some ninny that thinks college sports is anything but big business.....but jesus christ that was above and beyond even the most cynacle view of the "sport") And it was disturbing that this was not only acknowledged but celebrated even years after the fact.

Oh and Bernie Kosar.......what. the. fuck.

I care about them, or any college football team. getting an education as much as I care about any random 60 people in the country getting an education. In other words, I don't. They were a great football team, they were unapologetic, and they shoved it up the ass of every other program out there. Had I been lucid during the 80's, I would have loved that Miami team. The NCAA took the academia out of collegiate athletics. Not the University of Miami. The Miami program highlighted the absurdity of how much pressure, money, and attention is given to 18-21 year olds, took it, and ran with it. Good show.
 

Tyrone Biggums

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ESPN missed the boat on doing a documentry on the life and times at WVU of Pacman Jones and Chris Henry. Would have been awesome!
 

MoGator71

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I can't be the only one looking forward to the Reggie Miller/Knicks installment coming up...
 

DLew On Roids

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My 7-YO has watched The U about 10 times by now. When he scores a TD while playing pretend football in the yard, he runs the length of the house, turns around, and does Randal Hill's finger six-shooters. He also falls over laughing if I walk up behind him and whisper Lamar Thomas's line, "They didn't wanna know nothing about no booty dancing."

Good parenting, right?
 

Rocco Graziosa

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QUOTE (DLew On Roids @ Mar 4 2010, 08:32 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2837384
My 7-YO has watched The U about 10 times by now. When he scores a TD while playing pretend football in the yard, he runs the length of the house, turns around, and does Randal Hill's finger six-shooters. He also falls over laughing if I walk up behind him and whisper Lamar Thomas's line, "They didn't wanna know nothing about no booty dancing."

Good parenting, right?



Thats fantastic.
 

A Bartlett Giamatti

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Really well done documentary. As a big Knicks fan, even reliving some painful memories was enjoyable--at least there was something to pay attention to for a night.

The day of the Reggie 8 points in 8 seconds game was the same day I got my first BJ.

Top 5 worst day ever.
 

mabrowndog

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Winning Time will be repeated at midnight on ESPN2. Other re-airings:

3/16 - 12:00 am - ESPN2
3/17 - 10:30 pm - ESPN Classic
3/28 - 02:00 am - ESPN2
4/17 - 01:30 am - ESPN2
5/07 - 11:30 am - ESPN Classic