Fall Slate Announced for ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 as Fifth Anniversary of Series Approaches

[Bobby Layne]

 ESPN Films today revealed the films that will make up its fall 2014 30 for 30 slate. The series will return for a six-week run Tuesday nights on ESPN beginning October 7, with one additional film in December. This October marks the fifth anniversary of 30 for 30’s launch in 2009.

The upcoming slate will kick off with “Playing for the Mob,” which delves into how mobster Henry Hill once helped orchestrate the fixing of Boston College basketball games. The film is narrated by actor Ray Liotta, who played Hill in the iconic movie “Goodfellas.” Other film topics include: the 1989 San Francisco earthquake shortly before Game 3 of the World Series; the rise, fall and maturation of former Oklahoma All-American linebacker Brian Bosworth; and the incredible story of Livan and Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, half-brothers who escaped Cuba separately and quickly made themselves into star pitchers in the major leagues. “Brothers in Exile” will premiere in Spanish on ESPN Deportes on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 9 p.m. ET.

Additionally, actor Michael Rapaport takes a look back at the championship teams of the New York Knicks in his film “When The Garden Was Eden,” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival this year; and “Rand University” will explore the enigma that is former NFL star Randy Moss by going back to where he came from – Rand, West Virginia.

“The U Part 2″ will debut after the Heisman Trophy presentation in December, making it the first 30 for 30 sequel. “The U,” a chronicle of the rise of the University of Miami football program in the 1980s, was one of the first 30 for 30 films, and subsequently became ESPN’s most-watched documentary film in history up to that point. In “The U Part 2,” director Billy Corben picks up where his original film left off, with Miami trying to recover from the devastation left by NCAA sanctions and scandals.

“Even though we have been at this for five years now, there is no shortage of incredible moments from the world of sports, so that enables us to continue making 30 for 30 films we’re proud of,” says Connor Schell, vice president and executive producer of ESPN Films and Original Programming. “The new slate takes a look at events and people that may be familiar to viewers,but our intent is to provide a totally different perspective through the visions of our various filmmakers.”

The “Playing for the Mob” debut on October 7 will be immediately followed by a special premiere of a new 30 for 30 Short titled “The Great Trade Robbery,” directed by Stu Zicherman. Launching on Grantland the next day, this short film is a first-person account by Jimmy Johnson of arguably the most significant trade in NFL history—when the Dallas Cowboys built their Super Bowl dynasty 25 years ago by sending star running back Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings.

30 for 30 films will air on ESPN as follows (all times ET):
Tuesday, Oct.7, 9 p.m. – “Playing for the Mob”
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 10 p.m. – “The Day The Series Stopped”
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 9 p.m. – “When The Garden Was Eden”
Tuesday, Oct. 28, 9 p.m. – “Brian and The Boz”
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 9 p.m. – “Brothers in Exile”
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 8 p.m. – “Rand University”
Saturday, Dec. 13, 9 p.m. – “The U Part 2”

http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-r...30-as-fifth-anniversary-of-series-approaches/

 

[7thave btn 31stn33rd st]

Additionally, actor Michael Rapaport takes a look back at the championship teams of the New York Knicks in his film “When The Garden Was Eden,” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival this year;

All bias aside, I know a few people that saw this at the TFF, said it was awesome.

 

[Hahahaha]

Additionally, actor Michael Rapaport takes a look back at the championship teams of the New York Knicks in his film “When The Garden Was Eden,” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival this year;

All bias aside, I know a few people that saw this at the TFF, said it was awesome.

Should be heartbreaking.....I look forward to it.

 

[dwileykyot]

Rand university.

WV is getting some shine

There was a bunch of talented guys there around moss' time

 

[dmxfury]

Love these. I know Ali probably is the most documented athlete already but I'd love to see more on him and one on Secretariat

 

[aepps20]

The U part 2 will be great

 

[7thave btn 31stn33rd st]

"Brothers in Exile" should be dope too. El Duque is still one of my favorite Yankees.

 

[tvobach]

Rand and The U Part II have the potential to be GOATs...

...Hopefully we get some Sean Taylor highlights. 

 

[7thave btn 31stn33rd st]

"The U2" should be great because it will talk about their downfall. other than that **** them.


Moss tho Those Dupont boys.

 

[RyGuy45]

new 30 for 30 Short titled “The Great Trade Robbery,” directed by Stu Zicherman. Launching on Grantland the next day, this short film is a first-person account by Jimmy Johnson of arguably the most significant trade in NFL history—when the Dallas Cowboys built their Super Bowl dynasty 25 years ago by sending star running back Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings.

That one HAD to be done.

Randy Moss one also has major potential, especially if they get the vault of videos This stuff still amazes me every time I read it

Moss was born and grew up in Rand, West Virginia. He attended DuPont High School where he excelled in football, basketball, baseball and track. On the football field, Moss led the DuPont Panthers to back-to-back state championships in 1992, 1993, and 1994. He was a star at wide receiver, but also played defensive back, returned kickoffs and punts, and was the team's kicker and punter. In 1994, he was honored as the West Virginia Football Player of the Year. Parade magazine named him to their annual All-American high school football team in 1995 and in 2009 named him one of the 50 greatest high school football players of all time.

In addition to playing football at DuPont, Moss was twice named West Virginia Player of the Year in basketball (1993, 1994), where he was a teammate of future NBA player Jason Williams.

As a sophomore in 1992, at the age of 14 years old, he ran for the track team and was the West Virginia state champion in the 100 and 200 meters with times of 10.94 and 21.95, respectively. This was the only year he competed on the track team. He also played center field for the baseball team.

Moss transferred to Marshall University. In 1996, he set the NCAA Division I-AA records for the most games with a touchdown catch in a season (11), most consecutive games with a touchdown catch (13), most touchdown passes caught in a season (28 – tying Jerry Rice's 1984 record), and most receiving yards gained by a freshman in a season (1709 on 78 catches), a record which still stands. He finished with 1,709 yards receiving. Moss was also the leading kickoff returner in Division I-AA on the season, with 612 total yards and a 34.0 yard average.

In the 1997 season, Marshall's first in Division I-A, Moss caught 26 touchdown passes that season, at the time a Division I-A record, and was a first-team All-American. He finished with 1,820 yards receiving in 13 games.

Moss finished his career at Marshall having scored at least one touchdown in all 28 games that he played. He won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's leading wide receiver, and was a finalist for the 1997 Heisman Trophy.

 

[dmxfury]

There films are almost always fire

 

[dman14]

 

[duba169]

Easily the best thing espn has done in well over a decade.

 

[onetrust]

LOVE these! Can't wait for the one on the "Battle of the Bay World Series" and the one on my boy Straight Cash Homie!

 

[jcs11702]

Top 5 30 for 30's in order;

1: The 2 Escobars
2. Once Brothers
3. Benji
4. The Fab 5
5. Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs New York Knicks


Without Bias was also really good.

 

[dmxfury]

1994 was my fav by far

 

[dwileykyot]

The u, broke, allen iverson, etc

Too many good ones to name IMO

 

[xbiker47]

Still waiting for them to do a 30 for 30 on the decision

 

[tsamshox]

They really need to do a 30 for 30 on the 2002 WCF Lakers v Kings especially games 5, 6, and 7.

 

[be easy]

The Bo Jackson one was cool, nothing ground breaking but a good look at what made him IMO the best athlete of all time.

I'd like to see one on the rise, fall, and rise of Deion Sanders, if there hasn't been one already made...

 

[7thave btn 31stn33rd st]

Bo Jackson
1994
Reggie v. Knicks
Fab 5



All meant the most to me. Huge impact on my childhood. Bo is still my favorite athlete and I still wear black socks when I hoop 20 year later.

 

[tvobach]

Was going to create a new thread for this but what 30 for 30s need to be done...? Here's some of mine...

Sports after 9/11

Pat Tillman

Nebraska Football in the 90s (more than just the team...A LOT of drama)

The Decision

Suns Seven Seconds or Less

 

[anomolie]

30 for 30 needs do a special on whose Lebron father is. I've always been curious about that. 

 

[a55a5in11]

1995 mariners needs to be done

 

[n3rd]

Man "The Best That Never Was" legit almost had me in tears. They welled up something vicious at the end, when he was talking about how he just wanted to play for his mom, etc.

There was something so humble and real about that Doc to me.