Every night this month ESPN Classic will be showing a different film from the celebrated ESPN Films series, 30 For 30, an unprecedented documentary series featuring thirty films from some of today’s finest storytellers. Each filmmaker will bring their passion and personal point of view to their film detailing the issues, trends, athletes, teams, rivalries, games and events that transformed the sports landscape from 1979 to 2009.
Every night at 10.30pm
Wednesday 1st – The Two Escobars
Award-winning director Jeff Zimbalist examines the mysterious events leading up to and surrounding Colombian soccer player Andrés Escobar’s death in 1994.
Thursday 2nd – Kings Ransom
Peter Berg’s captivating documentary film tells the story of how Wayne Gretzky’s 1988 transfer from the Edmonton Oilers to the LA Kings shook the world of ice hockey.
Friday 3rd – The Band That Wouldn’t Die
Oscar-winner Barry Levinson’s story of how the Baltimore Colts Marching Band carried on playing, even years after the team itself had left the city.
Saturday 4th – The 16th Man
Morgan Freeman joins director Cliff Bestall in recounting how Nelson Mandela used the 1995 Rugby World Cup to unite a South Africa previously divided by apartheid.
Sunday 5th – Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?
In the 1980s, the US Football League emerged as a genuine rival to American football’s NFL, only to abruptly disappear. Mike Tollin asks why.
Monday 6th – Without Bias
In 1986, Len Bias was rated as an NBA star in the making when a tragic cocaine overdose halted his career – and his life – in its tracks. This is his story.
Tuesday 7th – The Legend Of Jimmy The Greek
Award-winning director Fritz Mitchell tells the fascinating story of the rise and fall of one of America’s most popular and controversial TV pundits.
Wednesday 8th – The U
Director Billy Corben tells the story of how, during the 1980s, a University of Miami coach turned the Hurricanes into the self-styled bad boys of American football.
Thursday 9th – Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks
Award-winning director Dan Klores looks back on how, in 1995, one man managed to rub an entire city up the wrong way.
Friday 10th – Silly Little Game
Film-makers Adam Kurland and Lucas Jansen trace the history of fantasy sports leagues back to the humblest of beginnings with the Rotisserie Baseball League.
Saturday 11th – Muhammad And Larry
Intimate documentary film telling the story of how an ageing Muhammad Ali prepared for a 1980 bout against his old friend and sparring partner Larry Holmes.
Sunday 12th – No Crossover: The Trial Of Allen Iverson
Director Steve James returns to his home town of Hampton, Virginia to recall how the trial of a young basketball star left a city divided.
Monday 13th – Guru Of Go
Oscar winner Bill Couturié tells the incredible story of how a US college basketball coach’s revolutionary approach to the game brought both triumph and tragedy.
Tuesday 14th – Run Ricky Run
An intimate profile of Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams who, in 2004, took time out from the NFL in order to turn his life around.
Wednesday 15th – Straight Outta L.A.
Rap icon Ice Cube looks back at his beloved Raiders’ move from Oakland to Los Angeles, set against a backdrop of gang warfare, mass immigration and the rise of hip-hop.
Thursday 16th – Little Big Men
Emmy Award winner Al Szymanski finds out what happened to the group of childhood friends who won America’s Little League World Series in Pennsylvania in August 1982.
Friday 17th – June 17, 1994
Brett Morgen looks at an eventful day in US sporting history, which saw the World Cup kick-off in Chicago and OJ Simpson involved in an infamous police chase.
Saturday 18th – Birth Of Big Air
Spike Jonze, Jeff Tremaine and Johnny Knoxville tell the incredible story of BMX legend Mat Hoffman, who has been pushing the boundaries of the sport since age 13.
Sunday 19th – Jordan Rides The Bus
In 1993, following the murder of his father, the iconic Michael Jordan shocked the world of sport when he turned his back on basketball to take up minor league baseball.
Monday 20th – One Night In Vegas
Director Reggie Bythewood, with Mike Tyson, tells both the story of the infamous night of Tupac Shakur’s death, and of the remarkable friendship between Tyson and Tupac.
Tuesday 21st – Marion Jones: Press Pause
Director John Singleton focuses on the rise, fall and re-birth of Marion Jones, including her desire to slow down and come clean about her mistakes.
Wednesday 22nd – Once Brothers
The tale of how NBA stars Drazen Petrovic and Vlade Divac had their friendship destroyed by war, and how Petrovic’s untimely death prevented them from ever reconciling.
Thursday 23rd – Into The Wind
Two-time NBA MVP, proud Canadian and first-time film-maker Steve Nash will share runner Terry Fox’s incredible story of perseverance and hope.
Friday 24th – Unmatched
Nancy Stern, Lisa Lax and producer Hannah Storm,showcase one of the greatest one-on-one rivalries, through conversations between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.
To preview clips of these movies, click here.
