 | This article'slead sectionmay be too short to adequatelysummarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead toprovide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(July 2023) |
30 for 30 is the title for a series of documentary films airing onESPN.
| Series | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| Volume I | 30 | October 6, 2009 (2009-10-06) | December 11, 2010 (2010-12-11) | |
| ESPN Films Presents | 14 | March 13, 2011 (2011-03-13) | February 12, 2015 (2015-02-12) | |
| Shorts | TBA | May 15, 2012 (2012-05-15) | TBA | |
| Volume II | 30 | October 2, 2012 (2012-10-02) | July 30, 2015 (2015-07-30) | |
| Soccer Stories | 8 | April 15, 2014 (2014-04-15) | July 1, 2014 (2014-07-01) | |
| Volume III | 30 | October 13, 2015 (2015-10-13) | July 2, 2019 (2019-07-02) | |
| Volume IV | 30 | September 10, 2019 (2019-09-10) | TBA | |
Unless otherwise noted, the following films are all 60 minutes in length (including commercials).
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Original release date | US viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Kings Ransom | Peter Berg | October 6, 2009 (2009-10-06) | 0.645[1] | |
The August 9, 1988 trade ofWayne Gretzky from theEdmonton Oilers to theLos Angeles Kings and the effect it had on Gretzky, the fans inEdmonton, and the popularity ofhockey inSouthern California. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | The Band That Wouldn't Die | Barry Levinson | October 13, 2009 (2009-10-13) | N/A | |
A profile ofBaltimore's love affair with football and theColts, focusing on theColts Marching Band. After the Coltsdecamped forIndianapolis in 1984, the band stayed behind to help promotethe eventual return of theNFL to the city in the form of the Ravens. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? | Mike Tollin | October 20, 2009 (2009-10-20) | N/A | |
Fresh interviews and archival footage track the life and demise of theUnited States Football League in the mid-1980s. A highlight is Tollin's interview withDonald Trump, the formerNew Jersey Generals owner whose post-interview comments on the league give this documentary its title.[2] | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | Muhammad and Larry | Albert Maysles | October 27, 2009 (2009-10-27) | N/A | |
A look at the October 1980Muhammad Ali–Larry Holmes fight and its impact on both fighters, featuring fresh interviews with participants and previously unseen lead-up footage from both fighters' camps. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | Without Bias | Kirk Fraser | November 3, 2009 (2009-11-03) | N/A | |
The death ofLen Bias from a cocaine-induced heart attack, two days afterBoston selected him as the second overall pick in the1986 NBA draft, and its impact on casual drug use, especially by the sports community. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | The Legend of Jimmy the Greek | Fritz Mitchell | November 10, 2009 (2009-11-10) | N/A | |
The life ofJimmy "the Greek" Snyder, from his career as aLas Vegasbookmaker to his tenure onThe NFL Today, from which he was fired in 1988. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | The U | Billy Corben | December 12, 2009 (2009-12-12) | 2.368[3][4] | |
The racial and cultural evolution of Miami during the 1980s as represented within theUniversity of Miami football team.(2 hours in length) | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks | Dan Klores | March 14, 2010 (2010-03-14) | N/A | |
The impact ofReggie Miller of theIndiana Pacers on theNew York Knicks in the 1990s, specifically focusing on the Pacers/Knicks battles in the 1994 and1995 NBA playoffs and on Miller's interaction with Knicks fanSpike Lee. | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | Guru of Go | Bill Couturié | April 3, 2010 (2010-04-03) | N/A | |
A profile ofPaul Westhead's coaching tenure atLoyola Marymount University (1985–1990), where his Lions' team was known for its high-scoring run-and-gun offense, use of talented players such asBo Kimble andHank Gathers, and a pall cast by Gathers's on-court death in 1990. | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson | Steve James | April 13, 2010 (2010-04-13) | N/A | |
The 1993 trial ofHampton, Virginia, high school athleteAllen Iverson, convicted for his role in a racially tinged melee, and its impact on both the community and on Iverson's life.(90 minutes in length) | ||||||
| 11 | 11 | Silly Little Game | Adam Kurland and Lucas Jansen | April 20, 2010 (2010-04-20) | N/A | |
Meeting at New York City's La Rotisserie Francaise restaurant in 1980, a group of writers and academics developRotisserie Fantasy baseball, only to see it take off in popularity and leave them behind. | ||||||
| 12 | 12 | Run Ricky Run | Sean Pamphilon and Royce Toni | April 27, 2010 (2010-04-27) | 0.972[5] | |
A profile ofRicky Williams focuses on his brief 2004 departure from theNFL, when he sought self-redemption amidst media criticism and fresh rumors of marijuana use. | ||||||
| 13 | 13 | The 16th Man | Clifford Bestall,Lori McCreary, andMorgan Freeman | May 4, 2010 (2010-05-04) | 0.463[6] | |
How hosting (and winning) the1995 Rugby World Cup, combined withNelson Mandela's support of theSpringboks national team, affected post-apartheid South Africa. | ||||||
| 14 | 14 | Straight Outta L.A. | Ice Cube | May 11, 2010 (2010-05-11) | N/A | |
The relationship between theRaiders and the minority fan base in Los Angeles during the team's 13 seasons in L.A. (1982–1994) | ||||||
| 15 | 15 | June 17th, 1994 | Brett Morgen | June 16, 2010 (2010-06-16) | N/A | |
Quick-cut archival footage captures the various US sporting events on the day in question and the emotions they generated, including the opening of theWorld Cup soccer tournament, theKnicks/RocketsNBA Finals,Arnold Palmer's last round in theU.S. Open, and theNew York Rangers'Stanley Cup victory celebration. One event, however, overshadows them all:O. J. Simpson's run from the police. | ||||||
| 16 | 16 | The Two Escobars | Jeff Zimbalist and Michael Zimbalist | June 22, 2010 (2010-06-22) | N/A | |
The lives of soccer playerAndrés Escobar anddrug lordPablo Escobar; the intertwining of crime and soccer in their nativeColombia; and the connections between the deaths of both men.(2 hours in length) | ||||||
| 17 | 17 | The Birth of Big Air | Jeff Tremaine | July 29, 2010 (2010-07-29) | N/A | |
The life ofMat Hoffman and his 25-year career of advancing, in creative and promotional avenues,BMX riding. | ||||||
| 18 | 18 | Jordan Rides the Bus | Ron Shelton | August 24, 2010 (2010-08-24) | N/A | |
Motivated by the dream his late father had for him,Michael Jordan retires from basketball and has a brief career inminor league baseball. | ||||||
| 19 | 19 | Little Big Men | Al Szymanski | August 31, 2010 (2010-08-31) | N/A | |
A look at theKirkland National Little League team's success at the1982 Little League World Series, examining why their title win is considered one of the biggest upsets in the event's history. | ||||||
| 20 | 20 | One Night in Vegas | Reggie Rock Bythewood | September 7, 2010 (2010-09-07) | N/A | |
The friendship of boxerMike Tyson and rapperTupac Shakur and the night of September 7, 1996, when Shakur was murdered after attending the Tyson-Bruce Seldon fight in Las Vegas. | ||||||
| 21 | 21 | Unmatched | Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern, withHannah Storm | September 14, 2010 (2010-09-14) | N/A | |
| 22 | 22 | The House of Steinbrenner | Barbara Kopple | September 21, 2010 (2010-09-21) | N/A | |
The legacy ofGeorge Steinbrenner's ownership of theNew York Yankees. | ||||||
| 23 | 23 | Into the Wind | Steve Nash and Ezra Holland | September 28, 2010 (2010-09-28)[a] | 0.894[7] | |
Terry Fox's attempt to run 5,373 kilometres (3,339 mi) across Canada in support of fundraising for cancer research captures the attention of his fellow Canadians and the world. | ||||||
| 24 | 24 | Four Days in October | Gary Waksman | October 5, 2010 (2010-10-05) | 1.45[8] | |
| 25 | 25 | Once Brothers | Michael Tolajian | October 12, 2010 (2010-10-12) | N/A | |
The story of CroatianDražen Petrović and SerbianVlade Divac, NBA players andYugoslavian national teammates, and howupheaval in their homeland adversely and irretrievably affected their friendship.(90 minutes in length) | ||||||
| 26 | 26 | Tim Richmond: To the Limit | NASCAR Media Group and Rory Karpf | October 19, 2010 (2010-10-19) | N/A | |
The career ofNASCAR driverTim Richmond, his flamboyant lifestyle, and his 1989 death from AIDS. | ||||||
| 27 | 27 | Fernando Nation | Cruz Angeles | October 26, 2010 (2010-10-26) | N/A | |
The euphoria created byFernando Valenzuela's 1981 arrival with theLos Angeles Dodgers. | ||||||
| 28 | 28 | Marion Jones: Press Pause | John Singleton | November 2, 2010 (2010-11-02) | N/A | |
The successful track and field career ofMarion Jones, her 2007 admission ofperformance-enhancing drug use, and subsequent prison sentence. | ||||||
| 29 | 29 | The Best That Never Was | Jonathan Hock | November 9, 2010 (2010-11-09) | 2.229[9] | |
The 1981 recruiting of high school football playerMarcus Dupree by multiple big-time college programs, his resulting injury-prone college and professional career, and how his pursuit by college andUSFL teams changed the recruiting process.(2 hours in length) | ||||||
| 30 | 30 | Pony Excess | Thaddeus D. Matula | December 11, 2010 (2010-12-11) | 2.517[4] | |
The rise, fall, and rebirth of theSMU Mustangs football program, which received a 1-year "death penalty" formajor infractions after former SMU player David Stanley blew the whistle on the long-suspected program.Patrick Duffy, known for starring in television'sDallas at the time of the scandal, narrates.(2 hours in length) | ||||||
Other films were previously announced for Volume I of the series but were not included. These films, which began airing in 2011, are a continuation of30 for 30, dealing with more sports stories that30 for 30 did not cover. According to30 for 30 producer Bill Simmons, "We're spinning off the30 for 30 series next year into something that will probably be called30 for 30 Presents or something like that... So even though the SMU doc will be the 30th one (right after the Heisman ceremony) don't think the spirit of the series is going away."[10] These additional films include:
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Original release date | US viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 1 | The Fab Five | Jason Hehir | March 13, 2011 (2011-03-13) | 2.1[11] | |
The story of the 1991 Michigan men's basketball recruiting class, called theFab Five, one of whom (Chris Webber) was later involved ina notorious pay-for-play scandal. | ||||||
| 32 | 2 | Catching Hell | Alex Gibney | September 27, 2011 (2011-09-27) | 1.379[12] | |
The relationship betweenChicago Cubs fans andSteve Bartman following Game 6 of the2003 National League Championship Series | ||||||
| 33 | 3 | Renée | Eric Drath | October 4, 2011 (2011-10-04) | 0.508[13] | |
The life of transgender athleteRenée Richards, who shocked the world with her entry into the1977US Open. | ||||||
| 34 | 4 | The Dotted Line | Morgan Spurlock | October 11, 2011 (2011-10-11) | 0.939[14] | |
Sports agents Peter Greenberg andEugene Lee are profiled with their clientsJohan Santana,Jacquian Williams andRobert Hughes. | ||||||
| 35 | 5 | Charismatic | Steven Michaels,Joel Surnow, and Jonathan Koch | October 18, 2011 (2011-10-18) | 0.672[15] | |
| 36 | 6 | The Real Rocky | Jeff Feuerzeig | October 25, 2011 (2011-10-25) | 1.386[16] | |
A profile ofChuck Wepner, the original inspiration forSylvester Stallone'sRocky Balboa character, and howRocky-like glory eluded Wepner as he took several strange turns in an effort to stay in the spotlight. | ||||||
| 37 | 7 | Unguarded | Johnathan Hock | November 1, 2011 (2011-11-01) | 1.377[17] | |
The story ofChris Herren, a high school basketball star andNBA player; his career-long struggles with drug abuse; and his ultimate discovery of redemption and personal fulfillment through the game. | ||||||
| 38 | 8 | Roll Tide/War Eagle | Martin Khodabakhshian | November 8, 2011 (2011-11-08) | 1.698[18] | |
The continuing rivalry betweenAuburn 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. | ||||||
| 39 | 9 | The Marinovich Project | Andrew Stephan and John Dorsey | December 10, 2011 (2011-12-10) | 2.131[19] | |
A look at the rise and fall of formerUSC andNFL quarterbackTodd Marinovich, focusing primarily on the complex relationship between Marinovich andhis father. | ||||||
| 40 | 10 | Goose | Kevin Shaw | February 26, 2012 (2012-02-26) | 0.349[20] | |
The life ofReece "Goose" Tatum who played inNegro league baseball and was an original member of the legendaryHarlem Globetrotters. | ||||||
| 41 | 11 | The Announcement | Nelson George | March 11, 2012 (2012-03-11) | 2.047[21] | |
The events and aftermath of formerLos Angeles Lakers playerMagic Johnson announcing to the world that he tested positive for HIV. | ||||||
| 42 | 12 | 26 Years: The Dewey Bozella Story | Jose Morales | March 15, 2012 (2012-03-15) | N/A | |
Life ofDewey Bozella and his 26 years behind bars, where he found strength and purpose throughboxing (becoming the light heavyweight champion ofSing Sing prison), and his goal to be proven innocent and box professionally once he was released. | ||||||
| 43 | 13 | Right to Play | Frank Marshall | June 2, 2012 (2012-06-02) | N/A | |
The story of Norwegian speed-skating gold medalistJohann Olav Koss, who founded the non-profit organizationRight to Play, which brings sports to children in third-world and war-torn countries. | ||||||
| 71 | 14 | The Little Master | Gotham Chopra | February 12, 2015 (2015-02-12)[b] | N/A | |
The life and impact of Indian cricket legendSachin Tendulkar, set against the backdrop of the2011 Cricket World Cup, Tendulkar's final attempt to lead his country to one-day cricket's ultimate prize. Narrated byDeepak Chopra, the director's father. | ||||||
On May 15, 2012, it was announced that the30 for 30 series would return in October 2012, with 30 all new documentaries.[23] The documentaries were integrated withGrantland.com by podcasts, feature stories and oral histories.[24]
Unless otherwise noted, the following films are all 90 minutes in length (including commercials).
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Original release date | US viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 1 | Broke | Billy Corben | October 2, 2012 (2012-10-02)[c] | 2.528[25] | |
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 includingLeon Searcy,Andre Rison,Keith McCants,Bernie Kosar, andCliff Floyd. | ||||||
| 45 | 2 | 9.79* | Daniel Gordon | October 9, 2012 (2012-10-09) | 1.313[26] | |
A profile of theMen's 100-meter final at the1988 Summer Olympics and the lives of the eight men who participated, includingBen Johnson (whose world record of 9.79 seconds was annulled after he tested positive foranabolic steroids) andCarl Lewis (who was awarded the gold medal after Johnson's disqualification). | ||||||
| 46 | 3 | There's No Place Like Home | Maura Mandt andJosh Swade | October 16, 2012 (2012-10-16) | 1.007[27] | |
The story of one fan's obsessive quest to purchase, at a 2010 auction,James Naismith's original rules ofbasketball, perhaps the most important historical document in American sports history, and to bring it "home" toLawrence, Kansas, where Naismith taught and coached at theUniversity of Kansas for 39 years.(70 minutes in length) | ||||||
| 47 | 4 | Benji | Coodie and Chike | October 23, 2012 (2012-10-23)[c] | 1.488[28] | |
The life ofBen Wilson, a well-regarded Chicago high school basketball star, and how his November 1984 murder (one day before the start of his senior season) had a wide-ranging impact. | ||||||
| 48 | 5 | Ghosts of Ole Miss | Fritz Mitchell | October 30, 2012 (2012-10-30) | 1.023[29] | |
Mississippi nativeWright Thompson explores tumultuous events of 1962, when theUniversity of Mississippi campus both erupted in violence over integration and swelled with pride over itsunbeaten football team, and how those incidents continue to shape the state 50 years later.(60 minutes in length) | ||||||
| 49 | 6 | You Don't Know Bo | Michael Bonfiglio | December 8, 2012 (2012-12-08) | 3.600[30] | |
A profile ofBo Jackson and how his college and professional feats in two sports (baseball and football) captured the public's imagination and made Jackson a cultural (andmarketing) icon. | ||||||
| 50 | 7 | Survive and Advance | Jonathan Hock | March 17, 2013 (2013-03-17) | 1.603[31] | |
A look at theNC State Wolfpack men's basketball team's successful and improbable championship runs through the1983 ACC and the1983 NCAA tournaments.(2 hrs in length) | ||||||
| 51 | 8 | Elway to Marino | Ken Rodgers | April 23, 2013 (2013-04-23) | 1.060[32] | |
A look at the1983 NFL draft and the sixquarterbacks taken in its first round, specificallyJohn Elway (the first overall pick) andDan Marino (the last QB picked in Round 1). The film features the recollections of Martin Demoff, the agent for both Elway and Marino, who shares a personal diary he kept to chronicle teams' interest in his two future-Hall of Fame clients. This includes the indecision theBaltimore Colts had with drafting Elway with the first pick or trading it away, and how Marino's selection status plummeted after recording weaker senior year statistics and rumors of recreational drug use. Narrated byTom Selleck. | ||||||
| 52 | 9 | Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau | Sam George | October 1, 2013 (2013-10-01) | 0.791[33] | |
A chronicling of the life ofEddie Aikau, a big wave surfer and lifeguard whose death served as inspiration to an entire spiritual movement. | ||||||
| 53 | 10 | Free Spirits | Daniel H. Forer | October 8, 2013 (2013-10-08) | 0.699[34] | |
The story of the colorful figures who made up theAmerican Basketball Association'sSpirits of St. Louis, and how Spirits ownersOzzie and Daniel Silna, with their team about to be left out in the ABA'smerger with theNBA, managed to negotiate a deal that allowed the brothers' involvement in pro basketball to continue in a most unusual fashion.(60 minutes in length) | ||||||
| 54 | 11 | No Más | Eric Drath | October 15, 2013 (2013-10-15) | 1.343[35] | |
An inside look at the two boxing matches betweenSugar Ray Leonard andRoberto Durán in the 1980s, with insight from boxing experts, family members and the two fighters themselves. | ||||||
| 55 | 12 | Big Shot | Kevin Connolly | October 22, 2013 (2013-10-22) | 1.07[36] | |
The story of how young businessmanJohn Spano struck a deal to purchase theNew York Islanders in 1996, only to be later revealed as a fraud and being near financial insolvency. | ||||||
| 56 | 13 | This Is What They Want | Brian Koppelman andDavid Levien | October 29, 2013 (2013-10-29) | 0.866[37] | |
The story of a 39-year-oldJimmy Connors and his unexpected and extraordinary underdog run at the 1991US Open, where he played as a wildcard entrant and reached the semi-finals of themen's singles draw. | ||||||
| 57 | 14 | Bernie and Ernie | Jason Hehir | November 5, 2013 (2013-11-05) | 1.125[38] | |
A profile ofBernard King andErnie Grunfeld, their decades-long friendship, and their on-court partnership on theUniversity of Tennessee basketball team, better known as the "Ernie and Bernie Show". | ||||||
| 58 | 15 | Youngstown Boys | Jeff Zimbalist and Michael Zimbalist | December 14, 2013 (2013-12-14) | 1.967[39] | |
The stories of twoOhio State football figures connected withYoungstown, Ohio, running backMaurice Clarett (a native of the city) and coachJim Tressel (former head coach atYoungstown State University), their football exploits at OSU (including a national championship in 2002), and their scandalous exits from the school.(2 hours in length) | ||||||
| 59 | 16 | The Price of Gold | Nanette Burstein | January 16, 2014 (2014-01-16) | 1.515[41] | |
A profile of a January 6, 1994, incident at theU.S. Figure Skating Championships, where an unknown attacker strikes entrantNancy Kerrigan — an assailant that is later revealed to be a hit man hired by the ex-husband of Kerrigan's rival,Tonya Harding, as part of a plan to prevent Kerrigan from competing in the1994 Winter Olympics. Note:The Price of Gold originally went by the titleTonya and Nancy during production.[40] | ||||||
| 60 | 17 | Requiem for the Big East | Ezra Edelman | March 16, 2014 (2014-03-16) | 1.456[42] | |
A recollection of the originalBig East Conference, from its simple beginnings and regional rivalries to its national prominence as one of the most successfulcollege basketball leagues, and how it ended upfighting for its survival in the 2010s duringconference realignment.(2 hours in length) | ||||||
| 61 | 18 | Bad Boys | Zak Levitt | April 17, 2014 (2014-04-17) | 1.830[43] | |
A look back at theDetroit Pistons of thelate 1980s and early 1990s. Narrated by rapperKid Rock, a native of nearbyRomeo, Michigan.(2 hours in length) | ||||||
| 62 | 19 | Slaying the Badger | John Dower | July 22, 2014 (2014-07-22) | N/A | |
An examination of the competitive nature thatteammatesGreg LeMond andBernard Hinault exhibited in the1986 Tour de France; a film based onRichard Moore's book of the same name. | ||||||
| 63 | 20 | Playing for the Mob | Joe Lavine and Cayman Grant | October 7, 2014 (2014-10-07) | N/A | |
HowMafia associateHenry Hill orchestrateda point-shaving scheme involvingBoston College basketball. Narrated byRay Liotta, who portrayed Hill inGoodfellas. | ||||||
| 64 | 21 | The Day the Series Stopped | Ryan Fleck | October 14, 2014 (2014-10-14) | N/A | |
A 25-year retrospective of theLoma Prieta earthquake, which struck just before the scheduled start of Game 3 of the1989 World Series. | ||||||
| 65 | 22 | When the Garden Was Eden | Michael Rapaport | October 21, 2014 (2014-10-21) | N/A | |
A look back at theNew York Knicks' championship teams of the 1970s. | ||||||
| 66 | 23 | Brian and The Boz | Thaddeus D. Matula | October 28, 2014 (2014-10-28) | N/A | |
Former linebackerBrian Bosworth unveils a storage locker to his son Max that contains memorabilia from his college and brief professional career. The elder Bosworth reflects on his life and career, making note of anemerging second persona, The Boz, that had begun to subsume his life. | ||||||
| 67 | 24 | Brothers in Exile | Mario Diaz and MLB Productions | November 4, 2014 (2014-11-04)[d] | N/A | |
The story ofLiván andOrlando Hernández, half-brothers who fledCuba separately and became successful major-league pitchers. | ||||||
| 68 | 25 | Rand University | Marquis Daisy | November 11, 2014 (2014-11-11) | N/A | |
An exploration of former NFL receiverRandy Moss and his humble (and humbling) origins inRand, West Virginia.(60 minutes in length) | ||||||
| 69 | 26 | The U Part 2 | Billy Corben | December 13, 2014 (2014-12-13) | N/A | |
A sequel toThe U profiles theMiami Hurricanes football program and its rise from scandal (and calls forthe school to drop the sport) to a national championship, only to see new controversy after boosterNevin Shapiro is revealed to have givenimproper benefits to the program. | ||||||
| 70 | 27 | Of Miracles and Men | Jonathan Hock | February 8, 2015 (2015-02-08) | N/A | |
An exploration of theMiracle on Ice from the point of view of the defeatedSoviet Union team. The film features defensemanViacheslav Fetisov returning toLake Placid to recollect his team's defeat. | ||||||
| 72 | 28 | I Hate Christian Laettner | Rory Karpf | March 15, 2015 (2015-03-15) | 2.319[45] | |
A look at the life and basketball career ofChristian Laettner and the intense dislike some fans still harbor for the formerDuke University andNBA star. | ||||||
| 73 | 29 | Sole Man | Jon Weinbach and Dan Marks | April 16, 2015 (2015-04-16) | N/A | |
A profile ofSonny Vaccaro, who rose from steel town roots in Pennsylvania to become an influential force in both basketball and the athletic shoe industry. | ||||||
| 74 | 30 | Angry Sky | Jeff Tremaine | July 30, 2015 (2015-07-30)[c] | N/A | |
The story ofNick 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. | ||||||
In September 2015, it was announced that30 for 30 would return for a third volume of 30 films, beginning in October 2015.[46]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Original release date | US viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 1 | Trojan War | Aaron Rahsaan Thomas | October 13, 2015 (2015-10-13) | 0.941[47] | |
A profile of the rise andfall ofUSC Trojans football duringPete Carroll's coaching tenure in the 2000s. | ||||||
| 76 | 2 | The Prince of Pennsylvania | Jesse Vile | October 20, 2015 (2015-10-20) | 0.733[48] | |
An exploration of the turbulent relationship between Olympic wrestling brothersMark andDave Schultz and their eccentric benefactor,John du Pont, culminating in the murder of Dave by du Pont. | ||||||
| 77 | 3 | The Gospel According to Mac | Jim Podhoretz | November 3, 2015 (2015-11-03) | 1.012[49] | |
A look at howBill McCartney mixed two religions—college football andevangelical Christianity—while serving as head coach of theColorado Buffaloes in the 1990s, a tenure that includeda national championship. | ||||||
| 78 | 4 | Chasing Tyson | Steven Cantor | November 10, 2015 (2015-11-10) | 1.203[50] | |
A look at howEvander Holyfield spent years (1989–91 & 1995–96) trying to arrangehis first fight withMike Tyson in an effort to gain the respect he knew he could only gain by defeating Tyson in the ring. | ||||||
| 79 | 5 | Four Falls of Buffalo | Ken Rodgers | December 12, 2015 (2015-12-12)[e] | 1.490[52] | |
A profile of theBuffalo Bills teams of the early 1990s, when the franchise became the first team to play in—and lose—four consecutiveSuper Bowls. | ||||||
| 80 | 6 | The '85 Bears | Jason Hehir | February 4, 2016 (2016-02-04) | 1.425[53] | |
A 30-year retrospective on the1985 Chicago Bears, from how they were assembled to their swaggering, dominant run toSuper Bowl victory. | ||||||
| 81 | 7 | Fantastic Lies | Marina Zenovich | March 13, 2016 (2016-03-13) | 1.474[54] | |
A 10-year retrospective of theDuke lacrosse case, in which a party thrown by members ofthe school's men's lacrosse team led to an accusation of rape—a claim that, though later proven to befalse, ignited both a firestorm that damaged the school's prestige and an investigation that ruined careers. | ||||||
| 82 | 8 | This Magic Moment | Erin Leyden and Gentry Kirby | April 14, 2016 (2016-04-14) | 1.509[56] | |
A profile of theOrlando Magic teams of the mid-1990s, led byShaquille O'Neal andPenny Hardaway, who gained prominence both on theNBAhardwoods and in popular culture, before Shaq's departure to the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency and injury issues for Penny ended the Magic's budding dynasty before it could ever take flight.[55] | ||||||
| 83 | 9 | Believeland | Andy Billman | May 14, 2016 (2016-05-14) | 0.844[58] | |
A look at thesports curse that befellCleveland since theNFL'sBrowns last brought a major pro sports championship to theOhio city in1964. The film debuted one month beforeLeBron James and theCavaliers' won the2016 NBA Finals, after which the film was re-released with an updated ending on June 30, 2016.[57] | ||||||
| 84 | 10 | Doc & Darryl | Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio | July 14, 2016 (2016-07-14)[f] | 1.196[60] | |
The connection between the lives and careers of formerNew York MetsDwight "Doc" Gooden andDarryl Strawberry. | ||||||
| 85 | 11 | Phi Slama Jama | Chip Rives | October 18, 2016 (2016-10-18) | N/A | |
A profile of the iconicHouston Cougars men's basketball teams of the 1980s, fronted byHakeem Olajuwon andClyde Drexler, whose explosive play and highlight-making slam dunks earned the team the nicknamePhi Slama Jama. | ||||||
| 86 | 12 | Hit It Hard | David Terry Fine and Gabe Spitzer | November 1, 2016 (2016-11-01) | N/A | |
A look atJohn Daly's rise from obscurity totwomajorgolf championship wins and fall back to mediocrity. | ||||||
| 87 | 13 | Catholics vs. Convicts | Patrick Creadon | December 10, 2016 (2016-12-10) | 2.109[61] | |
A look at the notorious1988 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, and this film, its name.(2 hours in length) | ||||||
| 88 | 14 | This Was the XFL | Charlie Ebersol | February 2, 2017 (2017-02-02) | N/A | |
Two longtime friends,pro wrestling impresarioVince McMahon andNBC Sports presidentDick Ebersol (Charlie Ebersol's father), team to form theXFL; the film follows the league's rushed development, its innovative approaches to televised football, and its rapid implosion. The ending foreshadows McMahon's plans to launch anew XFL in 2020 and the Ebersols' upcoming involvement in the competingAlliance of American Football in 2019. | ||||||
| 89 | 15 | One and Not Done | Jonathan Hock | April 13, 2017 (2017-04-13) | N/A | |
The life and career ofJohn Calipari, one of the most polarizing figures in modern college basketball, weaving his story around that of his2015–16 Kentucky team. | ||||||
| 90 | 16 | Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies | Jim Podhoretz | June 13, 2017 (2017-06-13)(Parts 1 & 2) June 14, 2017 (2017-06-14)(Part 3) | N/A | |
A three-part series, initially airing on consecutive nights, exploring theCeltics–Lakers rivalry, focusing mainly on the 1980s era ofLarry Bird andMagic Johnson but also examining the entire history of theNBA through the rivalry.(Parts 1 & 3: 2 hours in length; Part 2: 1 hour in length) | ||||||
| 91 | 17 | Mike and the Mad Dog | Daniel H. Forer | July 13, 2017 (2017-07-13) | 0.657[62] | |
The careers ofMike Francesa andChris Russo, their stormy 19-yearpartnership on New York City radio; and the duo's influence on their Big Apple audience and sports talk radio in general. | ||||||
| 92 | 18 | George Best: All by Himself | Daniel Gordon | July 20, 2017 (2017-07-20) | 0.360[63] | |
George Best, Northern Ireland's legendary star, remains one of the most naturally gifted soccer players ever. Best's skill and exuberance liftedManchester United, but his career was essentially over before he turned 29, the result of his battle with alcoholism. | ||||||
| 93 | 19 | What Carter Lost | Adam Hootnick | August 24, 2017 (2017-08-24) | N/A | |
In any other year, the 1988 team fromDallas'sCarter 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 inbook andfilm (OdessaPermian)—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's affected the community's reputation to this day; the grades controversy would ultimately lead theUIL to strip the team of the title. | ||||||
| 94 | 20 | Year of the Scab | John Dorsey | September 12, 2017 (2017-09-12) | N/A | |
During the1987 players' strike, theWashington Redskins field a roster of replacement players that goes 3–0 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 Washington management in particular. | ||||||
| 95 | 21 | Tommy | Gentry Kirby and Erin Leyden | September 13, 2017 (2017-09-13)[g] | N/A | |
The unlikely rise and sudden fall of boxerTommy Morrison. | ||||||
| 96 | 22 | Nature Boy | Rory Karpf | November 7, 2017 (2017-11-07) | 1.831[65] | |
The life and times ofprofessional wrestling legendRic Flair. | ||||||
| 97 | 23 | The Two Bills | Ken Rodgers | February 1, 2018 (2018-02-01) | N/A | |
A look at the relationship between NFL coachesBill Parcells andBill Belichick. Co-produced withNFL Films. | ||||||
| 98 | 24 | The Last Days of Knight | Robert Abbott | April 12, 2018 (2018-04-12)[h][i] | N/A | |
| 99 | 25 | Seau | Kirby Bradley | September 20, 2018 (2018-09-20)[h][67][j] | N/A | |
The life of NFL legendJunior Seau, from his upbringing in aSamoan immigrant family, through his path to NFL superstardom and status as a league icon, ending in his untimely death from a seemingly inexplicable suicide in 2012. | ||||||
| 100 | 26 | 42 to 1 | Ben Houser and Jeremy Schaap | December 11, 2018 (2018-12-11)[67] | N/A | |
A chronicle ofBuster Douglas'sshocking knockout of the then-undefeatedMike Tyson at theTokyo Dome on February 11, 1990. | ||||||
| 101 | 27 | Deion's Double Play | Ken Rodgers and Erik Powers | January 31, 2019 (2019-01-31)[67] | 1.15[69] | |
A look atPro Football Hall of FamerDeion Sanders, focusing specifically on a 24-hour span in 1992 when he sandwiched an NFL game between a pair of Major League Baseball postseason games in cities separated by 1,000 miles. | ||||||
| 102 | 28 | The Dominican Dream | Jonathan Hock | April 30, 2019 (2019-04-30)[70] | 0.347[71] | |
The highs and lows ofFelipe López, born into a family ofDominican immigrants to become a star high school and (atSt. John's) collegiate basketball player, and the contentment he finds after a less-than-successful pro career. | ||||||
| 103 | 29 | Qualified | Jenna Ricker | May 28, 2019 (2019-05-28)[72] | 0.360[71] | |
HowJanet Guthrie faced scorn, skepticism, and subpar equipment to shock the racing world by becoming the first female driver to qualify for theIndianapolis 500. | ||||||
| 104 | 30 | The Good, The Bad, The Hungry | Nicole Lucas Haimes | July 2, 2019 (2019-07-02)[73] | 0.450[71] | |
A look at one of the biggest rivalries in sports, that ofcompetitive eatersTakeru Kobayashi andJoey Chestnut. | ||||||
O.J.: Made in America, which was directed byEzra Edelman, was billed as a "mini-series event" in the30 for 30 series.[74] The five-part documentary series examines the life ofO. J. Simpson, as well as the broader issues of race and celebrity in the United States as it pertained to Simpson's 1995criminal trial for the murders of his ex-wife,Nicole Brown Simpson, and her acquaintance,Ronald Lyle Goldman.Made in America also focuses on other aspects in Simpson's life, including his success on the football field, his celebrity away from the gridiron, and his later conviction and imprisonment in arobbery case.Part 1 aired on June 11, 2016, withParts 2–5 airing on June 14, 15, 17 and 18, respectively.[75][k]
The series received week-long theatrical releases inLos Angeles County and New York City before being broadcast,[74] qualifying it forOscar consideration. It ultimately received theAcademy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the89th Academy Awards.[76]
On January 7, 2019, ESPN announced the next set of30 For 30 documentaries.[77] In March 2020, ESPN announced thatThe Last Dance would air earlier on April 19, 2020, due to the high demand during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[78]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Original release date | US viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 105 | 1 | Rodman: For Better or Worse | Todd Kapostasy | September 10, 2019 (2019-09-10) | 1.07[69] | |
The unfettered and definitive look at the life and career ofDennis Rodman. | ||||||
| 106 | 2 | Chuck & Tito | Micah Brown | October 15, 2019 (2019-10-15) | 0.609[79] | |
The hot-and-cold relationship betweenMMA fightersChuck Liddell andTito Ortiz, from the start ofUFC through its rise in popularity and to the present day. | ||||||
| 107 | 3 | Vick | Stanley Nelson | January 30, 2020 (2020-01-30)(Part 1) February 6, 2020 (2020-02-06)(Part 2) | 0.941[80] 0.681[81] | |
A comprehensive look atMichael Vick’s saga, including his days as a prep, college, andNFL star; his ostracism (and prison sentence) for hisinvolvement in a dog-fighting ring; and his polarizing return to public life. | ||||||
| 108 | 4 | LANCE[82] | Marina Zenovich | May 24, 2020 (2020-05-24)(Part 1) May 31, 2020 (2020-05-31)(Part 2)[83] | 0.857[80] 0.756[84] | |
Two-part examination of the life, career, andcontroversies ofLance Armstrong, featuring multiple interviews of the cyclist. | ||||||
| 109 | 5 | Be Water[82] | Bao Nguyen | June 7, 2020 (2020-06-07)[83] | 1.17[84] | |
An exploration of the life and legacy ofBruce Lee as an acting and martial arts icon. | ||||||
| 110 | 6 | Long Gone Summer[82] | AJ Schnack | June 14, 2020 (2020-06-14)[83] | 1.06[84] | |
| 111 | 7 | The Life and Trials of Oscar Pistorius[85] | Daniel Gordon | September 27, 2020 (2020-09-27)(Part 1) September 28, 2020 (2020-09-28)(Part 2) September 29, 2020 (2020-09-29)(Part 3) September 30, 2020 (2020-09-30)(Part 4)[86][l] | N/A | |
The life of South African Paralympic sprinterOscar Pistorius, from his childhood during the last days ofapartheid, to worldwide celebrity as the first double-leg amputee to compete in the able-bodiedOlympics, to hisconviction for killinghis girlfriend. | ||||||
| 112 | 8 | The Infinite Race[87] | Bernardo Ruiz | December 15, 2020 (2020-12-15) | N/A | |
The story of theTarahumara, aMexican indigenous community famed for their legendary running ability (and preference to do so barefoot), how they inspired an ultra-running craze across the world, and what's happened as their homes and communities were ravaged bydrug cartels and violence. | ||||||
| 113 | 9 | Al Davis vs. the NFL[88] | Ken Rodgers | February 4, 2021 (2021-02-04) | N/A | |
Usingdeepfake technology and content from theNFL Films archives, reconstructions ofRaiders ownerAl Davis andNFL commissionerPete Rozelle tell the story of their contentious rivalry, in particular Davis's desire to move his team fromOakland toLos Angeles despite the league's objections. | ||||||
| 114 | 10 | Breakaway[89] | Rudy Valdez | July 13, 2021 (2021-07-13) | N/A | |
A look at the decision byMaya Moore, one of women's basketball's most decorated players, to step away from her sport to advocate for a man she believed to be wrongly imprisoned — a cause that changed her life in unexpected ways. | ||||||
| 115 | 11 | Once Upon a Time in Queens[90] | Nick Davis | September 14, 2021 (2021-09-14)(Parts 1 & 2) September 15, 2021 (2021-09-15)(Parts 3 & 4) | .604, .643[91] .464, .514[92] | |
An in-depth examination of the1986 New York Mets. | ||||||
| 116 | 12 | The Tuck Rule[93] | Ken Rodgers & Nick Mascolo | February 6, 2022 (2022-02-06) | N/A | |
A look at a January 2002NFL playoff game where, thanks to acontroversial rule, what appeared to be a fumble byPatriots quarterbackTom Brady (after being hit byRaiders cornerbackCharles Woodson) was instead ruled an incomplete pass — and became a destiny-changing moment. The film features Brady and Woodson, formerMichigan Wolverine teammates, re-watching the game together at Brady's home. | ||||||
| 117 | 13 | Shark[94] | Jason Hehir & Thomas Odelfelt | April 19, 2022 (2022-04-19) | N/A | |
A profile of professional golferGreg Norman, and how his legendary career was shaped by a stunning collapse (from a 6-shot lead) in the final round of the1996 Masters. | ||||||
| 118 | 14 | The Greatest Mixtape Ever[95] | Chris Robinson and Set Free Richardson | May 31, 2022 (2022-05-31) | N/A | |
A look at theAND1 Mixtapes and how their commingling ofstreetball footage with hip-hop beats impacted the sport ofbasketball. | ||||||
| 119 | 15 | Dream On[96] | Kristen Lappas | June 15, 2022 (2022-06-15) | N/A | |
A profile of theUnited States women's national basketball team of the mid-1990s, who won gold at the1996 Olympics and helped change the landscape for women's basketball including the start ofWNBA. | ||||||
| 120 | 16 | Jeanette Lee Vs.[97] | Ursula Liang | December 13, 2022 (2022-12-13) | N/A | |
A profile ofJeanette Lee and her rise to becoming one of professionalbilliards' most recognizable players. | ||||||
| 121 | 17 | Bullies of Baltimore[98] | Ken Rodgers and Jason Weber | February 5, 2023 (2023-02-05) | N/A | |
How a dominating defense and irrepressible personalities propelled the2000 Baltimore Ravens toa Super Bowl victory. The film, produced in cooperation withNFL Films, is framed by a May 2022 reunion of the team's key figures.(2 hours in length) | ||||||
| 122 | 18 | The American Gladiators Documentary[99] | Ben Berman | May 30, 2023 (2023-05-30)(Part 1) May 31, 2023 (2023-05-31)(Part 2) | N/A | |
A look back atAmerican Gladiators, whose amateur vs. professional competitions (and David vs. Goliath storylines) captivated audiences for 7 years (1989-1996) and is regarded as a forerunner of the competitive reality TV genre. | ||||||
| 123 | 19 | The Luckiest Guy in the World[100] | Steve James | June 6, 2023 (2023-06-06)(Parts 1 & 2) June 13, 2023 (2023-06-13)(Parts 3 & 4) | N/A | |
A profile ofBill Walton and his colorful and divisive life in basketball, broadcasting, and activism. | ||||||
| 124 | 20 | The Great Heisman Race of 1997[101] | Gentry Kirby | December 9, 2023 (2023-12-09) | N/A | |
How the1997 race for theHeisman Trophy began with one preseason favorite,Tennessee'sPeyton Manning, and ended with several players having a legitimate shot at winning the prestigious award (including the eventual recipient,Michigan'sCharles Woodson). | ||||||
| 125 | 21 | The Minister of Defense[102] | Ken Rodgers and Courtland Bragg | December 13, 2023 (2023-12-13) | N/A | |
A look atReggie White's complex and sometimes controversial life as both aHall of Fame defensive end and an ordained evangelical minister. The film features unseen footage from an interview White recorded before his death in 2004. | ||||||
| 126 | 22 | I'm Just Here for the Riot[103] | Asia Youngman andKathleen Jayme | June 4, 2024 (2024-06-04) | N/A | |
The story of theVancouver riot that followed theCanucks' loss in Game 7 of the2011 Stanley Cup Final. | ||||||
| 127 | 23 | False Positive[104] | Ismail Al-Amin | June 11, 2024 (2024-06-11) | N/A | |
The story of then-world record holder in the400 metre sprintButch Reynolds and his 1990 suspension for alleged illegal drug use. | ||||||
| 128 | 24 | No Scope: The Story of FaZe Clan | Justin Staple | July 1, 2024 (2024-07-01) | N/A | |
A history ofCall of Duty clan turnedesports organizationFaZe Clan and their numerous tumultuous events throughout their decade-plus existence. | ||||||
| 129 | 25 | American Son[105] | Jay Caspian Kang | July 29, 2024 (2024-07-29) | N/A | |
A profile ofMichael Chang, a Taiwanese-American tennis professional, and his1989 French Open title win, including his upset overIvan Lendl. | ||||||
| 130 | 26 | Dude Perfect: A Very Long Shot[106] | Oliver Anderson and Louis Burgdorf | August 3, 2024 (2024-08-03) | N/A | |
A look at content creatorsDude Perfect, going over their dramatic rise and the sacrifices they went through in the realm of sports-themed entertainment. | ||||||
| 131 | 27 | Stolen Gold[107] | Suemay Oram | September 17, 2024 (2024-09-17) | N/A | |
Ramón Torres confronts a deception within the Spanishbasketball ID team he captained at the2000 Summer Paralympics: Many of his teammates were revealed to not actually haveintellectual disabilities (and were stripped of their gold-medal win as a result).(90 minutes in length) | ||||||
| 132 | 28 | The New York Sack Exchange[108] | Ken Rodgers and James Weiner | December 13, 2024 (2024-12-13) | N/A | |
A nostalgic look back atthe defensive line of the 1980sNew York Jets. | ||||||
| 133 | 29 | Empire Skate[109] | Josh Swade | June 30, 2025 (2025-06-30) | N/A | |
Tells the story ofNew York City's distinctiveskateboarding culture of the 1990s, which spawned the global brandSupreme and continues to impact the skate scene to this day. | ||||||
| 134 | 30 | Berlusconi: Condemned to Win[110] | Sam Blair | September 16, 2025 (2025-09-16) | N/A | |
Three-part examination of howSilvio Berlusconi used his ownership ofAC Milan as a launching pad for his controversial political career. | ||||||
Down in the Valley, directed by Jason Hehir, explores howSacramento mayor and former NBA all-starKevin Johnson played "point guard" in an effort to keep theKings fromrelocating to Seattle. The film was originally scheduled to air on October 20, 2015, as part of Volume III,[46] but was delayed to an unspecified date in early October 2015, in light of then-recent articles revisitingallegations of sexual misconduct involving Johnson.[111] It did have a local premiere in Sacramento before its planned broadcast.[112] The film has since been leaked online via Youtube with the director encouraging people to watch it online[113]
30 for 30 Shorts are short films that have been featured on the30 for 30 website as well as the now-defunctGrantland.com website; they have also been featured onESPN or its related networks, either on30 for 30 compilation shows or onSportsCenter.[114][115]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Original release date | Length (mins) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Here Now | Eric Drath | May 15, 2012 (2012-05-15) | 8:00 | |
An interview withPete Rose,Major League Baseball's all-time hits leader, atThe Forum Shops atLas Vegas'sCaesars Palace, where he signs autographs and memorabilia while store employees act as barkers to lure shoppers into the store. | |||||
| 2 | Arnold's Blueprint | Jeff Zimbalist and Michael Zimbalist | September 26, 2012 (2012-09-26) | 12:30 | |
A look at how a youngArnold Schwarzenegger's compulsory service in theAustrian Army played a critical role in his path to internationalbodybuilding fame. | |||||
| 3 | Jake | Jonathan Hock | October 25, 2012 (2012-10-25) | 11:00 | |
The career ofAlfred 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. | |||||
| 4 | The Arnold Palmer | Bryan Gordon | November 28, 2012 (2012-11-28) | 9:15 | |
An exploration into the history, mystery, and industry surrounding "The Arnold Palmer", the lemonade-and-iced tea beverage created by the same-namedgolfing legend that has become a fixture ofnineteenth hole lore and American leisure. | |||||
| 5 | Ali: The Mission | Amani Martin | January 16, 2013 (2013-01-16) | 13:45 | |
The efforts ofMuhammad Ali to negotiate with Iraqi dictatorSaddam Hussein for the release of U.S. civilians taken hostage after Iraq's 1990 invasion ofKuwait. | |||||
| 6 | Disdain the Mundane | Nelson George | February 13, 2013 (2013-02-13) | 6:00 | |
The style evolution ofNew York Knicks player and broadcasterWalt Frazier, from his cool-as-ice look in the 1970s to his use of vibrant colors and patterns today. | |||||
| 7 | Holy Grail: The T206 Honus Wagner | Nick and Colin Barnicle | February 27, 2013 (2013-02-27) | 14:00 | |
The story of the rare and valuableT206 Honus Wagnerbaseball card—over a century old and valued in the millions of dollars—and the myths and realities that surround it. | |||||
| 8 | Silver Reunion | Rory Karpf | March 27, 2013 (2013-03-27) | 12:45 | |
The members of the1972 USA men's Olympic basketball team gather to deliberate12 Angry Men-style on whether to finally accept or continue to refuse silver medals from the1972 Summer Olympics, where theycontroversially lost the gold medal game to theSoviet Union. | |||||
| 9 | The Irrelevant Giant | Shaun Silva and Don Lepore | April 17, 2013 (2013-04-17) | 11:30 | |
Bill Parcells recalls his rookie year as a head coach with theNew York Giants in 1983 and the impact ofJohn Tuggle, a running back the Giants selected withthe final pick in that year's NFL draft. | |||||
| 10 | Cutthroat | Steven Cantor | May 29, 2013 (2013-05-29) | 11:15 | |
The struggles ofClint Malarchuk, the "Cowboy Goalie", from a childhood spent riding horses and suffering fromOCD 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. | |||||
| 11 | Tommy and Frank | Richie Keen | July 24, 2013 (2013-07-24) | 11:30 | |
An intimate, funny, and compelling take on the unique relationship and shared legacy ofTommy John, the chatty Indiana lefty who won nearly 300 Major League games, and Dr.Frank Jobe, the unassuming L.A. orthopedist who conceived and performed arevolutionary elbow operation on John in 1974. | |||||
| 12 | Wilt Chamberlain: Borscht Belt Bellhop | Caroline Laskow and Ian Rosenberg | August 14, 2013 (2013-08-14) | 8:45 | |
Rarely seen archival footage and interviews with people who lived and worked withWilt Chamberlain give a fascinating glimpse into the basketball star's experiences in theBorscht Belt during its heyday. | |||||
| 13 | Arthur & Johnnie | Tate Donovan | August 28, 2013 (2013-08-28) | 11:30 | |
Johnnie Ashe tells of a personal sacrifice: After finishing a tour of service in theVietnam War, Johnnie, aU.S. Marine, volunteers to serve another tour in place of his older brother,Army 2nd LieutenantArthur Ashe. Johnnie's selfless move allows Arthur to continue his budding tennis career. | |||||
| 14 | Collision Course: The Murder of Don Aronow | Billy Corben | September 25, 2013 (2013-09-25) | 14:15 | |
The intriguing life and tragic death of businessmanDonald Aronow, a prominent name in the world ofpowerboat racing. | |||||
| 15 | The Schedule Makers | Joseph Garner | November 6, 2013 (2013-11-06) | 12:25 | |
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 creatingMajor League Baseball's season schedule. | |||||
| 16 | The Great Imposter | Matt Dilmore | November 20, 2013 (2013-11-20) | 9:45 | |
Beginning with stealing a player's warm-up outfit and posing as a player at the1979 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. | |||||
| 17 | Judging Jewell | Adam Hootnick | January 31, 2014 (2014-01-31) | 21:45 | |
Security guardRichard Jewell received praise in the aftermath of abombing during the1996 Summer Olympics inAtlanta when he helped clear the area and found the bag that contained the pipe bomb. But praise turns into loss of honor when Jewell was wrongfully accused of planting the bomb in the ensuing investigation.[116] | |||||
| 18 | The Deal | Nick and Colin Barnicle | February 12, 2014 (2014-02-12) | 22:30 | |
The battle between theBoston Red Sox and theNew York Yankees to trade forAlex Rodriguez during the 2003–2004 baseball offseason. | |||||
| 19 | Untucked | Danny Pudi | March 12, 2014 (2014-03-12) | 14:45 | |
PlayerBo Ellis designs a rebellious, nonconformist jersey that would exemplify theAl McGuire-eraMarquette men's basketball team. | |||||
| 20 | From Harlem With Love | Matt Ogens | April 23, 2014 (2014-04-23) | 11:45 | |
How theHarlem Globetrotters became unlikely ambassadors during theCold War when theyplayed a series of games inMoscow in 1959. | |||||
| 21 | Posterized | Andrew Jenks | May 21, 2014 (2014-05-21) | 13:00 | |
A profile ofShawn 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. | |||||
| 22 | MECCA: The Floor That Made Milwaukee Famous | Chris James Thompson | June 11, 2014 (2014-06-11) | 14:00 | |
The story behind the iconic, multicolored basketball courtRobert Indiana designed for theMECCA Arena, home to theMilwaukee Bucks andMarquette Warriors until1988, and how one Bucks fan used his family's credit card to rescue the floor from the scrap heap. | |||||
| 23 | The High Five | Michael Jacobs | July 23, 2014 (2014-07-23) | 10:15 | |
WhenL.A. DodgerDusty Baker hit his 30th home run of the 1977 season, the first man to greet him at home plate was his friend and teammate, rookieGlenn 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 thehigh five gesture. | |||||
| 24 | Kid Danny | Andrew Cohn | August 13, 2014 (2014-08-13) | 17:45 | |
A team fromThe Bronx makes it to the2001 Little League World Series, only to be disqualified when pitcherDanny Almonte is revealed to be two years too old to play in Little League. | |||||
| 25 | Fields of Fear | Alex Gibney | September 16, 2014 (2014-09-16) | 15:30 | |
A profile of the mental side of sports focuses onMackey 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. | |||||
| 26 | The Great Trade Robbery | Stu Zicherman | October 7, 2014 (2014-10-07)[m] | 12:00 | |
FormerDallas Cowboys head coachJimmy Johnson recalls the team'sOctober 1989 trade ofHerschel Walker to theMinnesota 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 1990s. | |||||
| 27 | Our Tough Guy | Molly Schiot | November 12, 2014 (2014-11-12) | 10:30 | |
A look inside the mindset of legendaryBoston Bruins enforcerJohn Wensink, who endeared himself to fans when he infamously challenged the entireMinnesota North Stars bench to a fight, and the journey his life took following his playing career. | |||||
| 28 | Robbed | Eric Drath | December 3, 2014 (2014-12-03) | 16:30 | |
A look at the 1976Muhammad Ali/Ken Nortonfight atYankee Stadium. The bout's controversial decision is only part of the story, as gang activity and theft in the wake of anNYPD strike was happening right outside the stadium's gates. | |||||
| 29 | Student/Athlete | Ken Jeong | January 7, 2015 (2015-01-07) | 13:15 | |
Growing up in Hawaii,Reggie Ho always thought he would follow his father's footsteps into medicine, yet he becomes a crucial contributor toNotre Dame'sundefeated 1988 season as a walk-on player. | |||||
| 30 | The Sweat Solution | David Beilinson and Neil Amdur | January 21, 2015 (2015-01-21) | 16:45 | |
Dr.Robert Cade, a renowned kidney specialist at theUniversity of Florida, leads a research team that develops a drink designed to help replenish body fluids lost by theschool's football team – a "magic elixir" that would later be calledGatorade. | |||||
| 31 | An Immortal Man | Josh Koury and Myles Kane | February 25, 2015 (2015-02-25) | 15:00 | |
A look at the issue of cryogenically preservingTed Williams's body. | |||||
| 32 | Wrestling the Curse | Amanda Spain | February 27, 2015 (2015-02-27) | 17:00 | |
| 33 | The Billion Dollar Game | Nick Guthe | March 18, 2015 (2015-03-18) | 13:45 | |
A recollection of how thePrinceton Tigers, a heavy underdog, nearly defeated top-seededGeorgetown in the first round of the1989NCAA tournament, a game that would forever change March Madness. | |||||
| 34 | Unhittable: Sidd Finch and the Tibetan Fastball | Peter Sillen | April 1, 2015 (2015-04-01) | 22:31 | |
ForSports Illustrated's April 1, 1985, issue,George Plimpton profiledSidd Finch, a highly eccentricNew York Mets prospect who could throw a fastball at an unheard-of 168 mph... and who was a product of Plimpton's imagination. On the 30th anniversary of theApril Fools hoax, the surviving people responsible are profiled, including the Illinois middle-school teacher who posed as Finch forSI. | |||||
| 35 | The Anti-Mascot | Colin Hanks | May 20, 2015 (2015-05-20) | 12:00 | |
Aiming to satirize the loveable team mascot craze of the late 1970s and early 1980s, the1984 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. | |||||
| 36 | Ted Turner's Greatest Race | Gary Jobson | June 3, 2015 (2015-06-03) | 14:15 | |
Already a proven broadcasting and sports executive, as well as anAmerica's Cup-winning yachtsman,Ted Turner enters and skippersTenacious in the 1979Fastnet yachting race. Here, Turner andTenacious's crew recall the harrowing race, an event marred by a deadly storm in theCeltic Sea. | |||||
| 37 | Spyball | Christina Burchard and Daniel Newman | July 8, 2015 (2015-07-08) | 18:00 | |
The story ofMoe Berg, a 15-year veteran ofMajor League Baseball who went on to become a World War II spy for the United States. | |||||
| 38 | Brave In the Attempt | Fritz Mitchell | July 28, 2015 (2015-07-28) | 23:45 | |
How seeing the treatment ofher intellectually disabled sister propelledEunice Kennedy Shriver to create theSpecial Olympics. | |||||
| 39 | Delaney | Grant Curtis | August 19, 2015 (2015-08-19) | 19:45 | |
A profile ofKansas City Chiefs starJoe Delaney, whose reputation for helping others lasted until his drowning death in 1983, when he attempted to save the lives of three boys in aLouisiana pond (though he himself could not swim). | |||||
| 40 | First Pitch | Angus Wall | September 11, 2015 (2015-09-11) | 23:30 | |
A look at PresidentGeorge W. Bush'sceremonial first pitch atNew York'sYankee Stadium prior to Game 3 of the2001 World Series, just seven weeks after theSeptember 11 attacks in the city. | |||||
| 41 | The Pittsburgh Drug Trials | Michael Jacobs | September 28, 2015 (2015-09-28) | 22:36 | |
Though the1979 Pirates thrilledPittsburgh with aWorld Series win, many of their stars succumbed to the lure ofcocaine, leading tobaseball's first major drug scandal. | |||||
| 42 | #BringBackSungWoo | Josh Swade and Josh Shelov | October 7, 2015 (2015-10-07) | 22:30 | |
A mid-season visit toKansas City by South Korean native and avidRoyals fan Lee Sung-woo is followed by a Royals' surge to the 2014 playoffs. Withthe team in theWorld Series, an attempt is made by two Royals fans to bring their "good-luck charm" fromSeoul back to KC. | |||||
| 43 | Every Day | Gabe Spitzer | October 28, 2015 (2015-10-28) | 11:30 | |
The story of Joy Johnson, who took up running at age 59 after raising four children and went on to participate in 25New York City Marathons. | |||||
| 44 | Chattanooga Strong[117] | Rebecca Gitlitz | November 9, 2015 (2015-11-09) | 9:44 | |
The story behind the Chattanooga Heroes Fund, started byUniversity of Tennessee alumPeyton Manning to benefit the families of the service members and police officers who were killed or wounded in aJuly 2015 shooting incident inChattanooga. | |||||
| 45 | Tose: The Movie | Mike Tollin | November 11, 2015 (2015-11-11) | 15:30 | |
A look at the life and legacy of latePhiladelphia Eagles ownerLeonard Tose. | |||||
| 46 | Thicker Than Water | Jennifer Arnold | December 1, 2015 (2015-12-01) | 14:15 | |
HowdiverGreg Louganis dealt with two different pressures surrounding him at the1988 Olympics—his attempt to defend his double gold medal performance from1984 and the discovery of his HIV-positive status prior to the Games. | |||||
| 47 | Friedman's Shoes | Danny Lee | February 9, 2016 (2016-02-09) | 12:00 | |
The story of Friedman's, anAtlanta shoe store that specialized in really big (think size 22), really expensive shoes for the six-foot-something athlete. | |||||
| 48 | Slick, Nancy, and the Telethon | Michael Husain | February 16, 2016 (2016-02-16) | 14:30 | |
The story of how theIndiana Pacers avoided financial ruin by holding a telethon in the summer of 1977. | |||||
| 49 | The Bad Boy of Bowling | Bryan Storkel | February 23, 2016 (2016-02-23) | 19:00 | |
A look at the life ofPete Weber, the self-declared "bad boy ofbowling" and the sport's first rock star. | |||||
| 50 | I Am Yup'ik | Daniele Anastasion and Nathan Golon | March 1, 2016 (2016-03-01) | 17:15 | |
A 16-year-oldYup'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. | |||||
| 51 | No Kin to Me | Marc Kinderman | March 8, 2016 (2016-03-08) | 13:45 | |
The last consolation game in theNCAA tournament, held in1981 betweenLSU andVirginia, was overshadowed by theassassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan earlier that day, and also by a postgame comment about Reagan by LSU starRudy Macklin that haunted him for years. | |||||
| 52 | Tiger Hood | Christopher André Marks | April 12, 2016 (2016-04-12) | 7:15 | |
When Patrick Q. F. 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". | |||||
| 53 | When The King Held Court | Palmer Holton | April 19, 2016 (2016-04-19) | 8:30 | |
HowElvis Presley became aracquetball enthusiast in the final years of his life, going so far as to build a court athis mansion and proposing a chain of racquetball centers. | |||||
| 54 | Gonzo @ The Derby[118] | Michael D. Ratner | May 3, 2016 (2016-05-03) | 13:00 | |
The lasting legacy of the1970Kentucky Derby has nothing to do with the winner,Dust Commander. Its true impact came fromthe assignment thatScanlan's Monthly gave to a 32-year-old writer fromLouisville namedHunter S. Thompson. | |||||
| 55 | A. C. Green: Iron Virgin | Isaac Feder | May 10, 2016 (2016-05-10) | 8:30 | |
WhileA.C. Green is well-known for his basketball talents (winning 3 NBA titles with the "Showtime"-eraLakers and playing in a league-record 1,192 consecutive games), he is also known for abiding by his Christian beliefs and remaining celibate throughout his entire NBA career. | |||||
| 56 | The Shining Star of Losers Everywhere | Mickey Duzyj | May 17, 2016 (2016-05-17) | 18:30 | |
How JapanesethoroughbredHaru Urara, who never won a race in her career, became a symbol of hope to her country and saved her home racetrack from financial ruin. | |||||
| 57 | We Are | Jay Bulger and Joshua Shelov | May 24, 2016 (2016-05-24) | 11:00 | |
A look back at the aftermath of thePenn State child sex abuse scandal, focusing specifically on the removal ofJoe Paterno's statue from the campus and the design of its replacement. | |||||
| 58 | Eternal Princess | Katie Holmes | May 24, 2016 (2016-05-24) | 17:45 | |
The successes and struggles ofNadia Comăneci, from being an accomplished (and perfect-score) Romanian gymnast to life as a United States citizen. | |||||
| 59 | The Guerrilla Fighter | Gaspar González | July 27, 2016 (2016-07-27) | 17:30 | |
The story ofAlexis Argüello, legendary inNicaragua as both a political figure and one of the greatest boxers of the 20th century. | |||||
| 60 | What the Hell Happened to Jai Alai | Ryan Suffern | August 2, 2016 (2016-08-02) | 15:00 | |
Howjai alai went from drawing crowds of thousands in Miami in the 1970s and 1980s to being fortunate to draw 100 to a match today. | |||||
| 61 | The Throwback | Erin Leyden | December 3, 2016 (2016-12-03) | 11:00 | |
A look back at the college career ofGordie Lockbaum, who became a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist in the 1980s atDivision I-AAHoly Cross as a figurative throwback toan earlier era of football, sometimes participating in more than 80% of his team's plays (offenseand defense) in a given game. | |||||
| 62 | The Counterfeiter | Brian Biegel | May 17, 2017 (2017-05-17) | 22:30 | |
The story of Greg Marino, master forger and target of a 1990s FBI investigation known asOperation Bullpen. | |||||
| 63 | Strike Team | Willie Ebersol | September 12, 2017 (2017-09-12) | 24:30 | |
How a team ofU.S. Marshals lured more than 100 fugitives to arrest through an offer of freeWashington Redskins game tickets. | |||||
| 64 | 24 Strong[119] | Unknown | September 28, 2017 (2017-09-28) | 24:00 | |
The legacy ofTennessee high school football playerZaevion Dobson, who sacrificed his life while shielding three girls from a drive-by shooting. | |||||
| 65 | The Amazing Adventures of Wally and The Worm | Colin Hanks | December 15, 2017 (2017-12-15) | 15:30 | |
Wally Blasé is assigned to overseeChicago BullDennis Rodman's knee rehab. What followed was 10 days of jet-setting, brushes with celebrity, a lifelong friendship between Blasé and Rodman – and the Bulls'5th NBA title. | |||||
| 66 | Locked In | Alison Ellwood | August 3, 2018 (2018-08-03) | 38:00 | |
The story ofVictoria Arlen, who was endowed with both athletic talent and a loving family until being "locked" into a vegetative state and unable to communicate. With the help of family and therapy, Victoria would come out of her "prison" to become a medal-winning swimmer at the2012 Paralympics and, after recovering the use of her legs, a contestant onDancing with the Stars. | |||||
| 67 | Sonic Break | Stevan Riley | September 23, 2018 (2018-09-23)[67] | 21:45 | |
The anxiety experienced byFelix Baumgartner during the lead-up to hisultimately successful attempt to become the first human to break the sound barrier without the benefit of engine power. | |||||
| 68 | Mack Wrestles | Taylor Hess and Erin Sanger | September 22, 2019 (2019-09-22) | 25:45 | |
The story ofMack Beggs and his desire to compete in boys' wrestling inTexas, even though state interscholastic officials, who recognized him as female (Beggs is a trans male), forced him to compete in girls' competitions. | |||||
| 69 | Subject to Review | Theo Anthony | December 22, 2019 (2019-12-22) | 36:45 | |
A look at the history, development, and implementation of the photographic computer-modeled review system of tennis line calls, and the intersection of technology and our perceptions of the physical world. | |||||
| 70 | Deerfoot of the Diamond | Lance Edmands | September 27, 2022 (2022-09-27) | 30:30 | |
A look at the issues surrounding the Cleveland baseball team's name change fromIndians to "Guardians" as well as the rise and fall of thePenobscot player who inspired the earlier derogatory nickname,Louis Sockalexis. | |||||
| TBA | The Other Side[120] | Vanessa Roth | TBA | N/A | |
Common goals of teamwork and dedication to a shared purpose unite a youth soccer team, composed of 9 children each fromPalestine and Israel, many of whom come face-to-face with the other nationality for the first time in their lives. | |||||
On a number of occasions, the30 for 30 format has been used to promote sports films and television:
On April 17, 2019,YouTube Premium released a30 for 30 featurette for the second season of its web-based series,Cobra Kai, a comedic reboot ofThe Karate Kid featuring the main cast members and select ESPN personalities analyzing the 1984 match betweenDaniel LaRusso andJohnny Lawrence.[121][122] It was nominated for aClio Award.[123]
On March 21, 2021, ahead of the premiere ofThe Mighty Ducks: Game Changers,Disney+ and ESPN collaborated on a promotional featurette in partnership withCheerios on the Minnesota Pee-Wee hockey state championship game between the original Ducks and the Hawks, shown inthe originalMighty Ducks film from 1992. Among those who provide commentary are Fulton Reed (Elden Henson), Lester Averman (Matt Doherty) and Connie Moreau (Marguerite Moreau) from the original Ducks – who all also went on to appear inGame Changers – Sofi Hanson-Bhatt (Swayam Bhatia) and Evan Morrow (Brady Noon) fromGame Changers protagonist team the Don't Bothers, United States women's hockey forward and Olympic gold medalistMeghan Duggan and ESPN hockey analysts andSportsCenter anchorsLinda Cohn,John Buccigross andSteve Levy.[124]
On January 11, 2014, it was announced that a soccer-only30 for 30 series, featuring two-feature-length films and six 30-minute films, would be aired in April 2014, featuring "compelling narratives from around the international soccer landscape". Additionally, a 10-part vignette series, titledCoraçao, aired during ESPN's2014 FIFA World Cup coverage and examined the history and culture of host country Brazil.[125]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Original release date | US viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hillsborough | Daniel Gordon | April 15, 2014 (2014-04-15)[o] | 0.527[126] | |
A look at the April 15, 1989tragedy atHillsborough Stadium inSheffield, England, where overcrowding in the stadium's standing-room-only areas led to acrushing stampede that killed 96 people and injured 766.[n] 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.(2 hours in length) | |||||
| 2 | Maradona '86 | Sam Blair | April 22, 2014 (2014-04-22) | < 0.033[127] | |
A look atDiego Maradona's spectacular individual performance during the1986 FIFA World Cup.(30 minutes in length) | |||||
| 3 | The Opposition | Ezra Edelman and Jeffrey Plunkett | April 22, 2014 (2014-04-22) | < 0.033[127] | |
Chile hosts a decisiveWorld Cup qualifier atSantiago'sNational Stadium just weeks after it had been transformed into a concentration camp and killing field for opponents ofAugusto Pinochet (who had just gained power in amilitary coup). Though FIFA investigates the matter, the game goes on, with the Chilean team winning in awalkover after their opponents from the Soviet Union boycott in protest over the stadium's use.(30 minutes in length) | |||||
| 4 | Ceasefire Massacre | Alex Gibney and Trevor Birney | April 29, 2014 (2014-04-29) | < 0.038[128] | |
June 18, 1994, and fans ofIreland's national team are euphoric over their team'sWorld Cup opener againstItaly atGiants Stadium. Joy turns to horror, however, at a bar inLoughinisland,Northern Ireland, where a Protestant terror groupkills six men who were watching the game. The tragedy is a low point inthe Northern Ireland conflict, as well as a turning point, as it would ultimately contribute to paramilitaries on both sides calling ceasefires just weeks later.(30 minutes in length) | |||||
| 5 | The Myth of Garrincha | Marcos Horacio Azevedo | April 29, 2014 (2014-04-29) | < 0.038[128] | |
Examining the legend ofMané Garrincha, who overcame bent legs to leadBrazil to two World Cup wins through his amusing style of play, and the efforts of his family and fans to give him a proper burial inRio de Janeiro after his death in 1983.The Myth of Garrincha originally went by the titleGarrincha: Crippled Angel during production.[125](30 minutes in length) | |||||
| 6 | Mysteries of the Rimet Trophy | Brett Ratner | May 6, 2014 (2014-05-06) | < 0.031[129] | |
TheJules Rimet Trophy, awarded to the World Cup winners from 1930 to 1970, 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—aNazi plan to steal the Rimet Trophy from Italy during World War II—andOttorino Barassi, an Italian soccer official who attempted to protect the valued prize.(30 minutes in length) | |||||
| 7 | Barbosa: The Man Who Made All of Brazil Cry | Loch Phillipps | May 6, 2014 (2014-05-06) | < 0.031[129] | |
How Brazilian goalkeeperMoacir Barbosa went from national hero to pariah after allowingUruguay'scup-winning goal in the1950 World Cup.(30 minutes in length) | |||||
| 8 | White, Blue and White | Camilo Antolini | July 1, 2014 (2014-07-01)[130] | N/A | |
After leading their national team to victory in the1978 FIFA World Cup,ArgentinesOssie Ardiles andRicky Villa joinTottenham Hotspur, becoming cult heroes in England after leading Spurs to the1981 FA Cup Final. Things radically change, however, when a conflicted Ardiles leaves Spurs and returns toBuenos Aires after Argentine troops descend on the British-ruledFalkland Islands, asserting sovereignty over the territory and resulting in theFalklands War. | |||||
| No. | Title | Directed by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coraçao[125] | Jonathan Hock | TBA | |
A 10-part vignette series exploring the music, dance and history of Brazil, revealing what lies behind Brazil's legend (something most Americans know little about) and exploring how soccer is truly the expression of the soul of its people. | ||||
On September 7, 2016, it was announced thatESPN Films and ESPN Audio would produce30 for 30 Podcasts, reporting on new sports stories using a narrative podcasting approach.[131] The podcast was launched in June 2017, with the first season produced and hosted by Jody Avirgan and a team of in-house producers. Future season have featured both single-episode and serialized, season-long subject matter, produced "in collaboration with outside reporters, documentarians, and ESPN talent." The30 for 30 theme music was re-worked for the podcast series byHrishikesh Hirway, who is a musician, composer and the host of theSong Exploder podcast.[132]
The first season was released in mid-2017 and was produced and hosted by Jody Avirgan and a team of in-house producers.[132] It featured the following episodes:[133]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Length (mins.) | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | The Trials of Dan and Dave | 52:00 | June 27, 2017 (2017-06-27)[134] | |
The stories ofDan O'Brien andDave Johnson, American decathletes who competed for a spot in the1992 Summer Olympics and who were subjects of a $25 millionReebokad campaign. | |||||
| 2 | 2 | Yankees Suck | 49:00 | July 4, 2017 (2017-07-04)[135] | |
How a vulgar chant and a bootleg t-shirt became a significant part of theYankees–Red Sox rivalry. | |||||
| 3 | 3 | On the Ice | 42:00 | July 11, 2017 (2017-07-11)[136] | |
A look at the first all-women expedition to the North Pole in 1997. | |||||
| 4 | 4 | A Queen of Sorts | 46:00 | July 18, 2017 (2017-07-18)[137] | |
| 5 | 5 | The Fighter Inside | 46:00 | July 25, 2017 (2017-07-25)[138] | |
With a warden's assistance, professional boxerJames Scott rises through the sport's ranks while serving a prison term for a 1975 armed robbery. | |||||
Season two launched in November 2017 and features the following episodes:[139]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Length (mins.) | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1 | Hoodies Up | 31:00 | November 14, 2017 (2017-11-14) | |
Five weeks after the shooting death ofTrayvon Martin, theMiami Heat pose in hoodies for a photo that spurs conversations about gun violence and race, as well as a new era of athlete activism. | |||||
| 7 | 2 | No Rules: The Birth of UFC | 53:00 | November 21, 2017 (2017-11-21) | |
A look atArt Davie andRorion Gracie's founding of theUltimate Fighting Championship, as well as themixed martial arts organization'sfirst championship event. | |||||
| 8 | 3 | The Lights of Wrigleyville | 49:00 | November 28, 2017 (2017-11-28) | |
How the fight to install lights atWrigley Field pitted residents in the ballpark'sneighborhood against theChicago Cubs'corporate owners. | |||||
| 9 | 4 | Madden's Game | 38:00 | December 5, 2017 (2017-12-05) | |
Seeing video games as afootball teaching tool,John Madden teams withElectronic Arts on what would become an enduring name in the gaming and sports industries,Madden NFL. | |||||
| 10 | 5 | Project Space Jump[139] | TBD | TBD | |
A look atFelix Baumgartner's record-breaking 2012free fall from the edge of space and the technical and psychological problems that surrounded it. | |||||
Season three, subtitledBikram, consists of five episodes that released in May 2018. Reported and produced by Julia Lowrie Henderson, it explores the life ofBikram Choudhury, who has been lauded as an innovator and guru ofyoga but has also had a history of dark behavior, including bankruptcy, and sexual assault and harassment allegations.[140][141]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Length (mins.) | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | Bikram Part 1: Arrival | 41:00 | May 22, 2018 (2018-05-22) | |
After arriving in Los Angeles in the 1970s,Bikram Choudhury establishes the foundation for his yoga empire through his rags-to-riches origin story and connections with the rich and famous. | |||||
| 12 | 2 | Bikram Part 2: Process | 37:00 | May 22, 2018 (2018-05-22) | |
Bikram'shot yoga training puts pupils through intense suffering and begins to reveal his complex character. | |||||
| 13 | 3 | Bikram Part 3: Power | 37:00 | May 22, 2018 (2018-05-22) | |
A review of Bikram's hardball approach to claiming ownership overhis brand of yoga, as well as a separation of truths from falsehoods in his life story. | |||||
| 14 | 4 | Bikram Part 4: Truth | 45:00 | May 22, 2018 (2018-05-22) | |
As Bikram's darkest behaviors begin to emerge, the community devoted to his yoga is forced to face the truth about its leader. | |||||
| 15 | 5 | Bikram Part 5: Reckoning | 33:00 | May 22, 2018 (2018-05-22) | |
Members of theBikram yoga community wrestle with the guru's reputation and their own complicity in his behavior. | |||||
Season Four launched in October 2018 and features the following episodes:[142][143][144]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Length (mins.) | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 1 | Juiced | 41:45 | October 16, 2018 (2018-10-16) | |
After his exit from baseball, a vengefulJose Canseco writesa tell-all memoir about fellow players' use of steroids – an exposé that leads to acongressional hearing. | |||||
| 17 | 2 | All In: Sparking the Poker Boom | 49:41 | October 23, 2018 (2018-10-23) | |
How the2003 World Series of Poker overcame organizational and competition odds and helped generatean increased interest inthe game. | |||||
| 18 | 3 | Six Who Sat | 42:29 | October 30, 2018 (2018-10-30) | |
Two iconic protests (at the 1968Boston Marathon and the 1972New York City Marathon) generate a movement that would see women competing with men in long-distance running events. | |||||
| 19 | 4 | The Loophole | 43:15 | November 6, 2018 (2018-11-06) | |
HowHideo Nomo successfully overcame legal and cultural barriers to play inMajor League Baseball. | |||||
| 20 | 5 | Rickey Won't Quit | 41:27 | November 13, 2018 (2018-11-13) | |
Still yearning to continue his baseball playing career at 46 and not seeing offers from MLB, formerOakland Athletics legendRickey Henderson instead joins an independent league. | |||||
| 21 | 6 | Back Pass | 49:42 | May 12, 2019 (2019-05-12) | |
Members of the 1999United States women's national soccer team use their newfound fame to help launch the first women's pro soccer league, theWUSA, but management tensions jeopardize the venture. | |||||
The fifth season, subtitledThe Sterling Affairs and released in August 2019, explored formerLos Angeles Clippers ownerDonald Sterling and his subsequent ban for life by commissionerAdam Silver from theNational Basketball Association after the exposure of his racist comments.Ramona Shelburne served as reporter and host for the season, which was produced in part with ESPN'sThe Undefeated website.[145][146]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Length (mins.) | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 1 | The Sterling Affairs Part 1: That Tape | 36:00 | August 20, 2019 (2019-08-20) | |
The season begins with what would sparkDonald Sterling's downfall: Audio, secretly recorded by his mistress and leaked to the media, in which he expresses racist comments. | |||||
| 23 | 2 | The Sterling Affairs Part 2: The Opposite of Showtime | 49:00 | August 20, 2019 (2019-08-20) | |
Jerry Buss relies on Sterling's real estate savvy to purchase theLakers. It helps propel that team to"Showtime" success but leaves Sterling, owner of the flounderingClippers, envious. | |||||
| 24 | 3 | The Sterling Affairs Part 3: Property | 49:50 | August 20, 2019 (2019-08-20) | |
Donald and Shelly Sterling escape poverty to build an LA real estate and basketball empire, but it allows Donald to engage, without consequence, in womanizing and housing discrimination. | |||||
| 25 | 4 | The Sterling Affairs Part 4: Fallout | 42:52 | August 20, 2019 (2019-08-20) | |
The release of the audio tape results in an exercising of power by NBA players – and leadsAdam Silver, in his first major test as NBA commissioner, to banish Sterling from the league. | |||||
| 26 | 5 | The Sterling Affairs Part 5: Not Fit | 48:49 | August 20, 2019 (2019-08-20) | |
After the NBA banishes Donald Sterling, wife Shelly makes legal maneuvers to declare him mentally unfit, seize control of the Clippers, and sell the franchise. | |||||
Season six released in November and December 2019, include the following episodes:[147]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Length (mins.) | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 1 | The Spy Who Signed Me | 45:12 | November 12, 2019 (2019-11-12) | |
American-bornWNBA starsDiana Taurasi andSue Bird enjoy the riches of playing women's pro basketball in Russia, but are forced to reckon with the dark past of theteam owner who ensured their lavish life,Shabtai Kalmanovich. | |||||
| 28 | 2 | Out of the Woods | 45:14 | November 19, 2019 (2019-11-19) | |
BiathleteKari Swenson recalls her July 1984 kidnapping and her mental and physical recovery process to return to competition. | |||||
| 29 | 3 | The Fall of the Condor | 47:59 | November 26, 2019 (2019-11-26) | |
How captain and star goalieRoberto Rojas drove hisChilean national soccer team to be "more bandits than the bandits," especially when up against rivalBrazil, in the qualifying process for the1990 FIFA World Cup. The events ofEl Maracanazo are covered. | |||||
| 30 | 4 | Cursed and Blessed | 45:32 | December 3, 2019 (2019-12-03) | |
The history of theSuperdome, from the stadium's cursed reputation before andduringHurricane Katrina to its status as the symbol of arebuildingNew Orleans. | |||||
Season seven features the seven-part miniseriesHeavy Medals, focusing on women'sgymnastics coachesBéla &Márta Karolyi and their controversial training methods. All seven episodes of the season were released on July 14, 2020, and are reported by Bonnie D. Ford and Alyssa Roenigk.[148][149]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Length (mins.) | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 1 | Heavy Medals Part 1: Made in Romania | 41:35 | July 14, 2020 (2020-07-14) | |
After turning fellow RomanianNadia Comaneci into a global symbol of gymnastic excellence,Béla &Márta Karolyi defect to the U.S. in a desire to seek greater ambitions. | |||||
| 32 | 2 | Heavy Medals Part 2: American Hustle | 44:28 | July 14, 2020 (2020-07-14) | |
AfterMary Lou Retton gains Nadia-like Olympic perfection, she and the Karolyis become household names, prompting Béla to harness that success for his own cause. | |||||
| 33 | 3 | Heavy Medals Part 3: The Béla Show | 34:58 | July 14, 2020 (2020-07-14) | |
After his champion fails at the 1992 Olympics, Béla steps away from the spotlight – but becomes the focus of abuse allegations. | |||||
| 34 | 4 | Heavy Medals Part 4: Home Games | 33:55 | July 14, 2020 (2020-07-14) | |
The talent ofDominique Moceanu pulls the Karolyis back into coaching, but it's long-overshadowed veteranKerri Strug who brings them newOlympic success. | |||||
| 35 | 5 | Heavy Medals Part 5: The Karolyi Way | 38:49 | July 14, 2020 (2020-07-14) | |
With the 2000 Olympics in sight and its team languishing in mediocrity,USA Gymnastics turns to Béla to oversee the training and team selection process. | |||||
| 36 | 6 | Heavy Medals Part 6: The Rise of Martha | 41:58 | July 14, 2020 (2020-07-14) | |
Márta emerges from under her husband's shadow to become a gymnastics force in her own right, but her approach leads to a discarding of injured athletes – and a culture of silence. | |||||
| 37 | 7 | Heavy Medals Part 7: The Unraveling | 50:56 | July 14, 2020 (2020-07-14) | |
As Márta's own coaching success is established,scandal rocks the gymnastics world and calls the Karolyis' demanding legacy into question. | |||||
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)