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It doesn’t matter if you’re a sports fan or not, you should be a sports documentary fan. You see, sports stories aren’t really about sports at all. They are about people, relationships, challenges, failures, and redemption. Simply put, they are about life. And life, well that’s something everyone can relate to. The highs and lows, the successes and failures, the challenges and tribulations of life are all part of the human experience. They are the common experiences that unite us all. And that really is what sports stories are all about, a shared common experience. It also doesn’t hurt that sports docs also have a certain level of excitement, action, and high stakes.
You’ve probably heard the hype about the ten-part ESPN Films x Netflix docuseries The Last Dance. This highly talked about series follows the Chicago Bulls 1997-1998 season and dives deep into the astonishing career of Michael Jordan. Even though you may know how history plays out, you don’t want to miss this intimate portrait of one of basketball’s most iconic teams and one of the world’s most talented and renowned athletes.
He grew the game of golf more than any other player. There is no denying that. However, amongst his many, many championships and sponsorship deals, Tiger Woods has had his fair share of challenges. Some brought on by himself, some brought on by circumstance. This two part documentary highlights the unbelievable rise, the hard fall, and the comeback that no one saw coming of the one and only Eldrick “Tiger” Woods.
I can honestly say the only reason I knew about cycling as a kid was because of Lance Armstrong. His celebrity status brought interest and intrigue to a sport most didn’t pay attention to and to a disease that was, and still is, in desperate need of attention. But, he also cheated and lied on the biggest stage in the world. The rise and fall of Lance Armstrong is a can’t miss ESPN 30 for 30.
If the rise and fall of Lance Armstrong isn’t enough of a cycling story for you, you must check out Icarus. What begins as an experiment by filmmaker and avid cyclist Brian Fogel, turns into a geopolitical thriller that you simply won’t believe. A Russian scientist, mysterious deaths, and olympic medals all surround quite possibly the biggest scandal in sports history.
There is no better show about second chances than Last Chance U. This five-season Netflix original series produced by Boardwalk Pictures follows the unique world of junior college football. Some players are right out of high school trying to find their way to a D1 or D2 program after not making the cut the first time around. While others are trying to find redemption after losing their starting spot, being kicked out of their D1 football program, or having trouble with the law.
Perhaps you learned part of Henry Hill’s story when watching the Martin Scorsese classic, Goodfellas, but you probably don’t know the full part he played in the Boston College Basketball point shaving scandal. During the 1978-1979 season, several BC basketball players were recruited and bribed by the American mob to ensure the team would not win by the required margin, allowing gamblers to place sure fire bets. As a Boston College alum myself, I might be a bit biased when it comes to this documentary, but directors Joe Lavine and Cayman Grant beautifully tell this intriguing story.
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