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 |  30 For 30 Episodes, Season 2Back To Pazsaz Entertainment Network's 30 For 30 Page According to a 2009 Sports Illustrated article, 60 percent of NBA players are broke within five years of retirement. For 78 percent of NFL players, it takes only three years. Sucked into bad investments, stalked by freeloaders, saddled with medical problems, and naturally prone to showing off, many pro athletes get shocked by harsh economic realities after years of living the high life. Drawing surprisingly vulnerable confessions from retired stars like Keith McCants, Bernie Kosar and Andre Rison, as well as Marvin Miller, the former executive director of the MLB Players Association, this fascinating documentary digs into the psychology of men whose competitive nature can carry them to victory on the field and ruin off it. In the history of the Olympics, there's never been a controversy quite like what ensued over the 100 meter race at Seoul in 1988. The match brought together Carl Lewis (USA) and Ben Johnson (Canada) who had been fierce competitors. Lewis was known as a savvy careerist who became an American hero at the previous Los Angeles Olympics. Johnson was his chief rival, considered an underdog due to his recovery from a pulled hamstring. In less than 10 seconds, Johnson edged out in front of Lewis to win the Seoul race. But that wasn't the end. Three days later, in a reversal of fortune, the Olympic committee announced that Johnson had failed a drug test, losing his medal to Lewis in disgrace. A mystery still shrouds the race. Was Johnson exceptional in his drug usage or merely the fall guy for a widespread practice? Six of the eight finalists in the 1988 race have since been implicated for drugs -- although some still deny any wrongdoing. Filmmaker Daniel Gordon, digs into the controversy, conducting extensive interviews with Lewis and Johnson as well as their competitors, coaches and Olympic insiders. He uncovers layers of intrigue, deception and favoritism that change our perception of the way this story has previously been told. On December 10, 2010, Sotheby's auctioned off what could be considered the most important historical document in sports history -- James Naismith's original rules of basketball. "There's No Place Like Home" is the story of one man's fanatical quest to win this seminal American artifact at auction and bring the rules "home" to Lawrence, Kansas, where Naismith coached and taught for over 40 years. In 1984, 17-year-old Ben Wilson was a symbol of everything promising about Chicago: a beloved, sweet-natured youngster from the city's fabled South Side, and America's most talented basketball prospect. His senseless murder on the day before his senior season sent ripples through Chicago and the nation. In the fall of 1962, James Meredith walked onto the University of Mississippi campus and integrated the school under order and protection of the federal government. That same fall, the Ole Miss football team was in the midst of its only perfect season in school history. Fifty years later and based on Wright Thompson's examination of those events, "Ghosts of Ole Miss" explores the intersection of one of the most significant moments in the Civil Rights movement with a team of young men caught in the middle of history. Bo Jackson's brief-but-explosive NFL and MLB careers are chronicled along with his iconic late-'80s marketing campaign. Legendary anecdotes are featured from Alabama school days to his exploits with the Raiders, Royals, White Sox and Angels. North Carolina State's improbable run to the 1983 NCAA basketball title is chronicled. Wolfpack guard Dereck Whittenburg helps tell the story of nine postseason wins under coach Jim Valvano, whose 1993 death capped a heartbreaking aftermath for the team. Directed by Jonathan Hock. The quarterback-rich 1983 NFL Draft is chronicled by director Ken Rodgers of NFL Films. Hall of Famers John Elway and Dan Marino, who headed the record six QBs selected in the first round, look back on the draft-day events along with agent Marvin Demoff. The story of big-wave surfer Eddie Aikau is told by director Sam George, whose images, interviews and research delve into the dynamic life and heroic death of a native Hawaiian and pioneering lifeguard who inspired an entire spiritual movement. The colorful story of the ABA's Spirits of St. Louis, who featured stars Marvin "Bad News" Barnes and James "Fly" Williams, plus upstart play-by-play man Bob Costas. The owners negotiated a unique contract that has allowed the team to continue to exist. Directed by Daniel H. Forer. Chronicling the Sugar Ray Leonard-Roberto Duran fights of 1980, with commentary from both fighters, family members and boxing experts. Duran won the first welterweight bout in Montreal before Leonard took the New Orleans rematch. Directed by Eric Drath. Chronicling former New York Islanders owner John Spano and the scandal that engulfed the franchise in the late '90s. The Dallas businessman comments on his $165 million purchase of the team and the ensuing scam that initially went undetected. Directed by Kevin Connolly. Chronicling Jimmy Connors' stirring run at the 1991 U.S. Open, an improbable march to the semifinals at age 39. Also explored is how Connors became a polarizing and provocative personality who helped make tennis a high-octane spectator sport. Directed by Brian Koppelman and David Levien. Chronicling the basketball lives of Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld, who established themselves as a high-scoring tandem at the University of Tennessee, where they were dubbed the "Bernie and Ernie Show." Directed by Jason Hehir. Chronicling Youngstown (Pa.) natives Jim Tressel and Maurice Clarett, who both made inglorious exits from Ohio State football following on-field success. Jim Brown and ex-Buckeyes QB Craig Krenzel are featured. Directed by Jeff and Michael Zimbalist. Chronicling the 1994 figure-skating scandal involving U.S. Olympic hopefuls Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. Interviewees include Harding herself, plus Kerrigan's husband; the skaters' coaches; and various media members. Directed by Nanette Burstein. Chronicling the origin of the Big East Conference and its rapid 1980s rise under commissioner Dave Gavitt and iconic basketball coaches including John Thompson, Lou Carnesecca and Jim Boeheim. Director Ezra Edelman also examines the conference's new era as a non-football league. The distinctive late-'80s Detroit Pistons squad under Chuck Daly is chronicled, featuring core players Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman, Rick Mahorn, Joe Dumars and John Salley, as well as top rivals of the era. Directed by Zak Levitt. Greg LeMond looks back at his first Tour de France victory in 1986 and details his rivalry with friend, teammate and mentor Bernard Hinault. Known as "The Badger," Hinault 'promised' to help LeMond to his first win in return for LeMond's support in '85. The fixing of Boston College basketball games in 1978-79 is chronicled. Details of the point-shaving scandal are revealed by the actual fixers, including mobster Henry Hill; B.C. players; and federal investigators. Directed by Joe Lavine and Cayman Grant. The earthquake-interrupted A's-Giants World Series of 1989 is revisited through archival footage and stories from players, officials and Bay Area citizens. Director Ryan Fleck also takes a scientific look at the 6.9 Loma Prieta quake prior to Game 3 at Candlestick Park. Revisiting the New York Knicks' glory years of 1970-73, which featured three NBA Finals and two titles. Director Michael Rapaport illuminates a unique lineup of stars from Walt "Clyde" Frazier and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe to Bill Bradley and Phil Jackson. In some ways, Barry Switzer and Brian Bosworth were made for each other. The Oklahoma coach and the linebacker he recruited to play for him were both outsized personalities who delighted in thumbing their noses at the establishment. And in their three seasons together (1984-86), the unique father-son dynamic resulted in 31 wins and two Orange Bowl victories, including a national championship, as Bosworth was awarded the first two Butkus Awards. Major League Baseball has been transformed by the influx of Cuban players such as Aroldis Chapman, Yasiel Puig and Jose Abreu. But a special debt of gratitude is owed to two half-brothers, whose courage two decades ago paved the way for their stardom. "Brothers in Exile" tells the incredible story of Livan and Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, who risked their lives to get off the island. Livan left first, banking on his status as the hottest young prospect in Cuba, to defect via Mexico and sign with the Florida Marlins, for whom he soon became one of the youngest World Series MVPs in history in 1997. Wide receiver Randy Moss is profiled by filmmaker Marquis Daisy in a journey back to the small town of Rand, W.Va., where troubles with the law nealry derailed Moss's career before he landed at Marshall and began making national headlines on the field. Chronicling University of Miami football from the low of NCAA sanctions in the mid-'90s to the high of the 2001 National Championship; to the new controversy of a booster's Ponzi scheme to win favor with the program. Chronicling the 1980 Soviet Olympic hockey team that lost to the U.S. at Lake Placid, with a focus on goalie Vladislav Tretiak; former NHL defensemen Slava Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov; and the USSR dynasty's iconic coaches. An in-depth profile of polarizing Duke basketball great Christian Laettner, the only player to start in four consecutive Final Fours. Rory Karpf directs a "gloves-off" examination of the man who has been seen by many as the "Blue Devil Himself." The rise of sports-marketing pioneer Sonny Vaccaro, who was instrumental in launching Nike's "Air Jordan" empire in the '80s and ushered in a new era of high-school hoops in the '90s. Interviews include Larry Brown, Brandon Jennings and Tracy McGrady. At the height of the space race, Nick Piantanida had a dream and a reach that far exceeded his grasp: He would climb to the edge of space and break the free-fall parachute record.
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