The 16th PLayer

The 16th Player

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One event overshadows them all: Simpson's run from the police. The life of Mat Hoffman and his year career of advancing BMX riding , both creatively and promotionally. Motivated by the dream his late father had for him, Michael Jordan retires from basketball and has a brief career in minor league baseball. The Kirkland National Little League team's success at the Little League World Series , examining why their title win is considered one of the biggest upsets in the event's history. A look at the rivalry and friendship between tennis legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.

Terry Fox 's attempt to run across Canada in support of fundraising for cancer research captures the attention of his fellow Canadians and the world. Four Days in October. The successful track and field career of Marion Jones , her admission of performance-enhancing drug use, and subsequent prison sentence. The recruiting of high school football player Marcus Dupree by multiple big-time college programs, his resulting injury-prone college and professional career, and how his pursuit by college and USFL teams changed the recruiting process. The rise, fall, and rebirth of the SMU Mustangs football program , which received a 1-year " death penalty " for major infractions after former SMU player David Stanley blew the whistle on the long-suspected program.

The story of the Michigan men's basketball recruiting class, called the Fab Five , one of whom Chris Webber was later involved in a notorious pay-for-play scandal. A profile of Chuck Wepner , the original inspiration for Sylvester Stallone 's Rocky Balboa character, and how Rocky -like glory eluded Wepner as he took several strange turns in an effort to stay in the spotlight. The story of Chris Herren , a high school basketball star and NBA player; his career-long struggles with drug abuse; and his ultimate discovery of redemption and personal fulfillment through the game.

The continuing rivalry between Auburn University and the University of Alabama , focusing on the history between the two programs, the bad blood between their fans, and how this intense rivalry came to a pinnacle, just when they ended up needing each other most. Life of Dewey Bozella and his 26 years behind bars, where he found strength and purpose through boxing becoming the light heavyweight champion of Sing Sing prison , and his goal to be proven innocent and box professionally once he was released.

The story of Norwegian speed-skating gold medalist Johann Olav Koss , who founded the non-profit organization Right to Play , which brings sports to children in third-world and war-torn countries. An exploration of the road to fortune in sports and the eventual detours for various reasons to financial difficulties and bankruptcy, as experienced by top athletes including Leon Searcy , Andre Rison , Keith McCants , Bernie Kosar , and Cliff Floyd. A profile of the Men's meter final at the Summer Olympics and the lives of the eight men who participated, including Ben Johnson whose world record of 9.

The story of one fan's obsessive quest to purchase, at a auction, James Naismith 's original rules of basketball , perhaps the most important historical document in American sports history, and to bring it "home" to Lawrence, Kansas , where Naismith taught and coached at the University of Kansas for 39 years. The life of Ben Wilson , a well-regarded Chicago high school basketball star, and how his November murder one day before the start of his senior season had a wide-ranging impact. Mississippi native Wright Thompson explores tumultuous events of , when the University of Mississippi campus both erupted in violence over integration and swelled with pride over its unbeaten football team , and how those incidents continue to shape the state 50 years later.

A profile of Bo Jackson and how his college and professional feats in two sports baseball and football captured the public's imagination and made Jackson a cultural and marketing icon. The film features the recollections of Martin Demoff, the agent for both Elway and Marino, who shares a personal diary he kept to chronicle the indecision the Baltimore Colts had with drafting Elway with the first pick or trading it away, as well as the other teams' interest in his two future- Hall of Fame clients.

A chronicling of the life of Eddie Aikau , a big wave surfer and lifeguard whose death served as inspiration to an entire spiritual movement. Louis , and how Spirits owners Ozzie and Daniel Silna , with their team about to be left out in the ABA's merger with the NBA , managed to negotiate a deal that allowed the brothers' involvement in pro basketball to continue in a most unusual fashion. The story of how young businessman John Spano struck a deal to purchase the New York Islanders in , only to be later revealed as a fraud and being near financial insolvency.

Brian Koppelman and David Levien. The story of a year-old Jimmy Connors and his unexpected and extraordinary underdog run at the US Open , where he played as a wildcard entrant and reached the semifinals of the men's singles draw. A profile of Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld , their decades-long friendship, and their on-court partnership on the University of Tennessee basketball team , better known as the "Ernie and Bernie Show". The stories of two Ohio State football figures connected with Youngstown, Ohio , running back Maurice Clarett a native of the city and coach Jim Tressel former head coach at Youngstown State University , their football exploits at OSU including a national championship in , and their scandalous exits from the school.

The Price of Gold originally went by the title Tonya and Nancy during production.

A recollection of the original Big East Conference , from its simple beginnings and regional rivalries to its national prominence as one of the most successful college basketball leagues, and how it ended up fighting for its survival in the s during conference realignment. A look back at the Detroit Pistons of the late s and early s. Narrated by rapper Kid Rock , a native of nearby Romeo. An examination of the competitive nature that teammates Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault exhibited in the Tour de France ; a film based on Richard Moore's book of the same name.

How Mafia associate Henry Hill orchestrated a point-shaving scheme involving Boston College basketball. Narrated by Ray Liotta , who portrayed Hill in Goodfellas. A year retrospective of the Loma Prieta earthquake , which struck just before the scheduled start of Game 3 of the World Series. A look back at the New York Knicks ' championship teams of the s. The rise, fall, and post-football life of Brian Bosworth. A sequel to The U profiles the Miami Hurricanes football program and its rise from scandal and calls for the school to drop the sport to a national championship, only to see new controversy after booster Nevin Shapiro is revealed to have given improper benefits to the program.

An exploration of the Miracle on Ice from the point of view of the defeated Soviet Union team. I Hate Christian Laettner. A look at the life and basketball career of Christian Laettner and the intense dislike some fans still harbor for the former Duke University and NBA star. A profile of Sonny Vaccaro , who rose from steel town roots in Pennsylvania to become an influential force in both basketball and the athletic shoe industry.

The story of Nick Piantanida , a New Jersey pet store owner and truck driver whose love of parachuting and skydiving puts him on a quest to break the record for the highest recorded parachute jump. An exploration of the turbulent relationship between Olympic wrestling brothers Mark and Dave Schultz and their eccentric benefactor, John du Pont , culminating in the murder of Dave by du Pont. A look at how Bill McCartney mixed two religions — college football and evangelical Christianity — while serving as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes in the s, a tenure that included a national championship.

Four Falls of Buffalo. A profile of the Buffalo Bills teams of the early s, when the franchise became the first team to play in — and lose — four consecutive Super Bowls. A year retrospective on the Chicago Bears , from how they were assembled to their swaggering, dominant run to Super Bowl victory. A year retrospective of the Duke lacrosse case , in which a party thrown by members of the school's men's lacrosse team led to an accusation of rape — a claim that, though later proven to be false , ignited both a firestorm that damaged the school's prestige and an investigation that ruined careers.

A look at the sports curse that befell Cleveland since the NFL's Browns last brought a major pro sports championship to the Ohio city in The film debuted one month before LeBron James and the Cavaliers ' won the NBA Finals , after which the film was re-released with an updated ending on June 30, A profile of the iconic Houston Cougars men's basketball teams of the s, fronted by Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler , whose explosive play and highlight-making slam dunks earned the team the nickname Phi Slama Jama. A look at John Daly 's rise from obscurity to two major championship wins and fall back to mediocrity.

A look at the notorious Notre Dame—Miami football game and its personal and cultural impact. Creadon was a senior at Notre Dame when the game took place. His roommate that year was one of the people behind the controversial t-shirt that gave the game its name. Two longtime friends, pro wrestling impresario Vince McMahon and NBC Sports president Dick Ebersol Charlie Ebersol's father , team to form the XFL ; the film follows the league's rushed development, innovative approaches to televised football, and its rapid implosion.

The life and career of John Calipari , one of the most polarizing figures in modern college basketball, weaving his story around that of his —16 Kentucky team.

A three-part series, initially airing on consecutive nights, exploring the Celtics—Lakers rivalry , focusing mainly on the s era of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson but also examining the entire history of the NBA through the rivalry. The careers of Mike Francesa and Chris Russo , their stormy year partnership on New York City radio; and their influence on the Big Apple radio audience and sports talk radio in general.

George Best , Northern Ireland's legendary star, remains one of the most naturally gifted soccer players ever. Best's skill and exuberance lifted Manchester United , but his career was over before he turned 29, the result of his battle with alcoholism. In any other year, the team from Dallas' Carter High School would have gone down as one of the greatest in Texas football history, featuring 28 players who received college scholarship offers, eight of whom would eventually play professional football.

Fighting off racial prejudice and a grades controversy — not to mention the team that would overshadow them in book and film Odessa Permian — Carter would claim the state title, only to be rocked to their core when six of their players were involved in an armed robbery that changed the community's reputation to this day.

During the players' strike , the Washington Redskins field a roster of replacement players that goes and helps pave the way for the Redskins' Super Bowl victory. Thirty years on, those players bear the stigma of being dismissed as "scabs" by fans in general and Redskins management in particular.

The unlikely rise and sudden fall of boxer Tommy Morrison. The life and times of professional wrestling legend Ric Flair. Co-produced with NFL Films. The saga surrounding Indiana University firing coach Bob Knight in The life of NFL legend Junior Seau , from his upbringing in a Samoan immigrant family, through his path to NFL superstardom and status as a league icon, ending in his seemingly inexplicable suicide in A look at Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders , focusing especially on a hour span in when he sandwiched an NFL game between a pair of Major League Baseball postseason games in cities separated by 1, miles.

Down in the Valley [9]. The film was originally scheduled to air on October 20, , [9] but was delayed to an unspecified date in early October , in light of recent articles revisiting allegations of sexual misconduct involving Johnson. An interview with Pete Rose , Major League Baseball 's all-time hits leader, at The Forum Shops at Las Vegas ' Caesars Palace , where he signs autographs and memorabilia while store employees act as barkers to lure shoppers into the store. A look at how a young Arnold Schwarzenegger 's compulsory service in the Austrian Army played a critical role in his path to international bodybuilding fame.

The career of Alfred Slote , an author of sports-oriented children's books Jake being his personal favorite whose interest was not so much the games played but the drama that the characters encountered. An exploration into the history, mystery and industry surrounding " The Arnold Palmer ", the lemonade-and-iced tea beverage created by the same-named golfing legend that has become a fixture of nineteenth hole lore and American leisure. The style evolution of New York Knicks player and broadcaster Walt Frazier , from his cool-as-ice look in the s to his use of vibrant colors and patterns today.

The story of the rare and valuable T Honus Wagner baseball card —over a century old and valued in the millions of dollars—and the myths and realities that surround it. The members of the USA men's Olympic basketball team gather to deliberate 12 Angry Men -style on whether to finally accept or continue to refuse silver medals from the Summer Olympics , where they controversially lost the gold medal game to the Soviet Union.

Bill Parcells recalls his rookie year as a head coach with the New York Giants in and the impact of John Tuggle , a running back the Giants selected with the final pick in that year's NFL draft. The struggles of Clint Malarchuk , the "Cowboy Goalie", from a childhood spent riding horses and suffering from OCD to the grueling recovery period after his carotid artery was severed by an opponent's skate blade, one of the most gruesome injuries in sports history.

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An intimate, funny and compelling take on the unique relationship and shared legacy of Tommy John , the chatty Indiana lefty who won nearly Major League games, and Dr. Frank Jobe , the unassuming L. Rarely seen archival footage and interviews with people who lived and worked with Wilt Chamberlain give a fascinating glimpse into the basketball star's experiences in the Borscht Belt during its heyday.

Johnnie Ashe tells of a personal sacrifice: After finishing a tour of service in the Vietnam War , Johnnie, a U. Marine , volunteers to serve another tour in place of his older brother, Army 2nd Lieutenant Arthur Ashe. Johnnie's selfless move allows Arthur to continue his budding tennis career. The intriguing life and tragic death of businessman Donald Aronow , a prominent name in the world of powerboat racing. Using only a computer, a pencil and paper, and cooperation, the husband-and-wife duo of Henry and Holly Stephenson spent almost a quarter-century creating Major League Baseball 's season schedule.

Beginning with stealing a player's warm-up outfit and posing as a player at the NBA All-Star Game , Barry Bremen begins a playful run fulfilling the average sports fan's ultimate fantasy, sneaking into the fields of play to pose as players, golfers, game officials, and even a cheerleader. Security guard Richard Jewell received praise in the aftermath of a bombing during the Summer Olympics in Atlanta when he helped clear the area and found the bag that contained the pipe bomb. Praise turned into loss of honor when Jewell was wrongfully accused of planting the bomb in the ensuing investigation.

30 for 30: The 16th Man

Player Bo Ellis designs a rebellious, nonconformist jersey that would exemplify the Al McGuire -era Marquette men's basketball team. How the Harlem Globetrotters became unlikely ambassadors during the Cold War when they played a series of games in Moscow in A profile of Shawn Bradley , a 7-foot-6 center who spent the majority of his NBA career on the wrong end of epic dunks the kind usually found on posters , and how he went from a bust on the basketball court to a superstar off of it.

The story behind the iconic, multicolored basketball court Robert Indiana designed for the MECCA Arena , home to the Milwaukee Bucks and Marquette Warriors until , and how one Bucks fan used his family's credit card to rescue the floor from the scrap heap. Dodger Dusty Baker hit his 30th home run of the season, the first man to greet him at home plate was his friend and teammate, rookie Glenn Burke.

Overcome with happiness, Burke did the first thing that came to mind—he put his hand straight in the air and had Baker slap it, thus in fact creating the high five gesture. A profile of the mental side of sports focuses on Mackey Sasser , a talented catcher who suddenly couldn't perform the routine task of throwing the ball back to the pitcher, and how confronting boyhood traumas helped in his mental recovery.

Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson recalls the team's October trade of Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings , as well as the roster maneuvers involving the players the Cowboys received in return that laid the foundations for the team's success in the s. A look inside the mindset of legendary Boston Bruins enforcer John Wensink , who endeared himself to fans when he infamously challenged the entire Minnesota North Stars bench to a fight, and the journey his life took following his playing career.

The fight's controversial decision is only part of the story, as gang activity and theft in the wake of a NYPD strike was happening right outside the stadium's gates. Growing up in Hawaii , Reggie Ho always thought he would follow his father's footsteps into medicine, yet he becomes a crucial contributor to Notre Dame 's undefeated season as a walk-on player. Robert Cade , a renowned kidney specialist at the University of Florida , leads a research team that develops a drink designed to help replenish body fluids lost by the school's football team — a "magic elixir" that would later be called Gatorade.

A look at the issue of the cryogenic preservation of Ted Williams ' body. The only surviving brother the other four were lost to drug addiction or suicide , Kevin now finds peace living off the grid in a remote part of Hawaii. A recollection of how the Princeton Tigers , a heavy underdog, nearly defeated top-seeded Georgetown in the first round of the NCAA Tournament , a game that would forever change March Madness.

On the 30th anniversary of the April Fools hoax, the surviving people responsible are profiled, including the Illinois middle-school teacher who posed as Finch for SI. Aiming to satirize the loveable team mascot craze of the late s and early s, the San Francisco Giants introduce an "anti-mascot" named "Crazy Crab". With fans encouraged to take the "anti-" literally, Crazy Crab and the actor playing him, Wayne Doba, endure verbal and physical abuse over the course of the Giants' last-place season.

Already a proven broadcasting and sports executive, as well as an America's Cup-winning yachtsman, Ted Turner enters and skippers Tenacious in the Fastnet yachting race. Here, Turner and Tenacious ' s crew recall the harrowing race, an event marred by a deadly storm in the Celtic Sea. How seeing the treatment of her intellectually disabled sister propelled Eunice Kennedy Shriver to create the Special Olympics. A profile of Kansas City Chiefs star Joe Delaney , whose reputation for helping others lasted until his drowning death in , when he attempted to save the lives of three boys in a Louisiana pond though he himself could not swim.

A look at President George W. Bush 's ceremonial first pitch at New York's Yankee Stadium prior to Game 3 of the World Series , just seven weeks after the September 11 attacks in the city. Though the Pirates thrilled Pittsburgh with a World Series win, many of their stars succumbed to the lure of cocaine , leading to baseball's first major drug scandal. With the team in the World Series , an attempt is made by two Royals fans to bring their "good-luck charm" from Seoul back to KC. The story of Joy Johnson, who took up running at age 59 after raising four children and went on to run 25 New York City Marathons.

The story behind the Chattanooga Heroes Fund, started by University of Tennessee alum Peyton Manning to benefit the families of the service members and police officers who were killed or wounded in a July shooting incident in Chattanooga. A look at the life and legacy of late Philadelphia Eagles owner Leonard Tose. How diver Greg Louganis dealt with two different pressures surrounding him at the Olympics —his attempt to defend his double gold medal performance from and the discovery of his HIV -positive status prior to the Games.

The story of Friedman's, an Atlanta shoe store that specialized in really big think size 22 , really expensive shoes for the six-foot-something athlete. The story of how the Indiana Pacers avoided financial ruin by holding a telethon in the summer of A look at the life of Pete Weber , the self-declared "bad boy of bowling " and the sport's first rock star. A year-old Yup'ik Eskimo leaves his tiny village and travels across the frozen tundra to compete in an all-Yup'ik basketball tournament and bring pride to his village. Barr found a discarded golf club in the trash, he decided to save it and play street golf in New York City using paper milk cartons stuffed with newspaper, earning him the nickname, "Tiger Hood".

How Elvis Presley became a racquetball enthusiast in the final years of his life, going so far as to build a court at his mansion and proposing a chain of racquetball centers. Gonzo The Derby [79]. The lasting legacy of the Kentucky Derby has nothing to do with the winner, Dust Commander. Its true impact came from the assignment that Scanlan's Monthly gave to a year-old writer from Louisville named Hunter S.

Green is well-known for his basketball talents winning 3 NBA titles with the " Showtime "-era Lakers and playing in a league-record 1, consecutive games , he is also known for abiding by his Christian beliefs and remaining celibate throughout his entire NBA career. How Japanese thoroughbred Haru Urara , who never won a race in her career, became a symbol of hope to her country and saved the racetrack where she was based. A look back at the aftermath of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal , focusing specifically on the removal of Joe Paterno 's statue from the campus and the design of its replacement.

How jai alai went from drawing crowds of thousands in Miami in the s and s to being fortunate to draw a match today. How a team of U. Marshals lured more than fugitives to arrest through an offer of free Washington Redskins game tickets. Examining the heroics of high school football player Zaevion Dobson that lead to his death.

Victoria Arlen had it all as a young girl—athletic talent and a loving family—until falling into a coma at age When she awakened three years later, she was literally trapped in her body , unable to communicate that she was still there. With the help of family and therapy, she came out of her prison unable to walk But she wasn't done yet, enrolling in a program called Project Walk—and ending up as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. Chronicles the anxiety experienced by Felix Baumgartner during the lead-up to his ultimately successful attempt to become the first human to break the sound barrier without the benefit of engine power.

The Other Side [81]. Common goals of teamwork and dedication to a shared purpose unite a youth soccer team, composed of 9 children each from Palestine and Israel , many of whom come face-to-face with the other nationality for the first time in their lives. A look at the April 15, tragedy at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield , England, where overcrowding in the stadium's standing-room-only areas killed 96 people and injured The film examines the ongoing efforts of victims' families to seek exoneration of their loved ones, who were blamed in part by local authorities in an attempt to conceal police and security inadequacies.

Chile hosts a decisive World Cup qualifier at Santiago's National Stadium just weeks after the stadium had been transformed into a concentration camp and killing field for opponents of Augusto Pinochet who had just gained power in a military coup. Though FIFA investigates the matter, the game goes on, with the Chilean team winning in a walkover after their opponents from the Soviet Union boycott in protest over the stadium's use. June 18, , and fans of Ireland's national team are euphoric over their team's World Cup opener against Italy at Giants Stadium. Joy turns to horror, however, at a bar in Loughinisland , Northern Ireland , where a Protestant terror group kills six men who were watching the game.

The tragedy is a low point and a turning point in the Northern Ireland conflict , one that would ultimately contribute to paramilitaries on both sides calling ceasefires just weeks later. The Myth of Garrincha originally went by the title Garrincha: Crippled Angel during production. The Jules Rimet Trophy , awarded to the World Cup winners from to , is a prize shrouded in mystery, as the whereabouts of the original trophy is unknown. This film focuses on the trophy's first brush with crime — a Nazi plan to steal the Rimet Trophy from Italy during World War II — and Ottorino Barassi , an Italian soccer official who attempted to protect the valued prize.

How Brazilian goalkeeper Moacir Barbosa went from national hero to pariah after allowing Uruguay's cup-winning goal in the World Cup. Things radically change, however, when a conflicted Ardiles leaves Spurs and returns to Buenos Aires after Argentine troops descend on the British-ruled Falkland Islands , asserting sovereignty over the territory and resulting in the Falklands War.

Asked to play for South Africa's national rugby team, he didn't hesitate. I want to sleep with my jersey. As thrilled as he was by the opportunity to play for the Springboks, Williams also understood the risk. As recalled in the documentary, The 16th Man , premiering this week as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series, Williams was the team's only black player.

As such, he was not only subjected to his own teammates' racism as he wrote in his autobiography, titled Chester , but also expected to represent the new South Africa, following Nelson Mandela's election in as the first black president. The following year, when the nation hosted the Rugby World Cup, Williams' face appeared on billboards and posters, emblem of the "Rainbow Nation. The story related in The 16th Man is much like the one told by last year's fictionalized feature, Invictus. In Clint Eastwood's film, Morgan Freeman starred as Mandela; here he narrates how a "country torn apart by racism" was transformed in part by "the game of rugby.

The film submits that Mandela used the Springboks as a means to integration, a way to bring together blacks and whites at a singular moment in history. According to the documentary, Mandela's insight and inspiration made him the team's "16th man. And this history, like most histories, is revisionist, rewritten in order to affirm and make sense of the present. To this end, the film makes effective use of activist Justice Bekebeke. A rugby fan as a child, he says, he always rooted against the Springboks. He would stand apart from the white fans who had seats: It was how these people who humiliated me every day, me and my parents, it was the same thing the visited on us on a daily basis, they got it on this rugby field.

Mandela insisted that the team maintain its name and colors, despite protests by blacks, like Bekebeke, for whom it represented oppression and violence.

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The move also confounded whites, like conservative leader Koos Botha, who couldn't imagine a united South Africa. As Botha phrases it, the nation before Mandela's election was "separate but equal, so to speak, but not too equal, I must say. The Springboks served Mandela's multiple purposes. As the film shows, white rugby players and fans were eventually educated -- or at least silenced -- by a series of now famous "teachable moments. Though it's not clear who arranged for this visit, Peinaar and his teammates are visibly emotional now as they remember it.

The 16th Man

Forward James Small is tearful now as he remembers comprehending the enormity of Mandela's generosity and forgiveness. And this is the point of this remarkable story, that the Springboks and their fans overcame a legacy of hatred and distrust, that the World Cup of made explicit the politics of sports -- all sports -- in a way that was both powerful and positive.

Footage of the president shaking each man's hand is accompanied by the captain's voiceover: Watching the contest on television, Bekebeke recalls that he still resisted rooting for the Springboks. And yet, he was also moved, more by the feelings all around him than by the game itself.

Nate Chinen's treatise on the subject of jazz in the 21 st century, Playing Changes , is erudite, passionate, and downright inspiring.

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