ESPN Celebrating March Madness With New 30 for 30 Film

Posted on March 14, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

March is the favorite time of year for college basketball fans. Every March, college basketball fans across the country celebrate the annual NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament, otherwise known as “March Madness.” “March Madness” is upon us once again. This Sunday, March 17^th marks the beginning of the “madness.” It’s selection Sunday. The next week is the start of the tournament. In celebration of the annual tournament, ESPN is giving college basketball fans a little post-Selection Sunday treat. The Sports Leader will air a very special new addition to its series of 30 for 30 film series titled, “Survive and Advance.”

“Survive and Advance” follows the unlikely story of the 1983 North Carolina State Wolfpack basketball team. It was under the direction of then coach Jim Valvano that the team became that year’s Cinderella story. It follows the team through the good, the great, and the ugly. This is an excellent way to both wind down after a big day, and get even more excited for the tournament. It opens with the members of the team—now older—getting together, remembering that incredible year. From there, ESPN and director Jonathan Hock pull from the vaults, the games that illustrated the team’s meteoric rise that season. The games are expertly set alongside interviews with team members and friends (including rival coaches Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewski). While the two were rivals of each other and rivals to Coach Valvano, they share their own happy memories of that tournament and of Coach Valvano. There won’t be a dry eye in the house after hearing the memories in question.

College basketball fans will be moved by the memories shared as they are memories not just of the tournament that season, but of the man that led the Wolfpack. For those that might not know, for all the team’s success that season, it suddenly had a Goliath of a challenge to face when it was announced that Coach Valvano had been diagnosed with cancer. The second half of “Survive and Advance” balances the team’s highs and lows just as expertly as the mix of games and interviews in its first half. One of the most emotional moments of the documentary’s second half is Coach Valvano’s now famous speech at the ESPY Awards. It’s one of so many moments that will leave even the strongest of viewers moved to tears. Whether one bleeds light blue, dark blue, red and white, purple and gold, whatever the case may be, this moment was an integral part to the overall presentation. And it will leave any viewer moved. Both ESPN and [Jonathan] Hock are to be commended for making sure this memory was shared.

Even through facing the challenge of cancer and later an academic scandal, fans see the determination of Coach Valvano and the entire Wolfpack squad right to the NCAA Championship and beyond in the second half of “Survive and Advance.” Highlights of the now legendary game are included, bringing back fond memories for Wolfpack fans and college basketball fans in general of all ages. Viewers are taken through the matchup between Houston and NC State, right to its end through both the game’s footage and interviews with members of that year’s team. Of course the story doesn’t end there. Viewers are also taken through the academic scandal that followed and Coach Valvano’s eventual return for the 10^th anniversary of the team’s title run and Jimmy V’s untimely passing. In those final moments of this near two hour documentary, viewers finally see why “Survive and Advance” was a perfect choice for its title. Just as Coach K said of him, he might have died, but his spirit didn’t. He might not have beaten cancer, but his legacy and that of the 1983 Wolfpack squad has survived to this day. And it will indeed advance.

“Survive and Advance” airs this Sunday night at 9pm on ESPN. To get more information on “Survive and Advance” and any other documentary in ESPN’s 30 for 30 series, go online to
http://www.facebook.com/espn30for30
and
http://www.espn.com/30for30
.

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to
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and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at
http://philspicks.wordpress.com
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Serious Subject, Simple Writing Help The Last Fall Succeed

Posted on March 6, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: One Village Entertainment/Image Entertainment

The Last Fall is a good story for anyone looking to get their football fix during the sport’s offseason. The story focuses on Kyle Bishop (Lance Gross), a football player who ends up going back to his hometown after leaving his team at the story’s opening. The story doesn’t make entirely clear what happened that led Bishop to leave the team. Though, it is indirectly hinted that he was cut. This is hinted as he looks at newspaper articles written about him when he was in college as he cleans out his locker. When he goes back to his old hometown, he hopes that things will be better. But the reality is quite different as he finds out just how difficult it is to get a job. And his personal relationships aren’t as he hoped, either. What’s more, audiences discover that being that he’s no longer playing football, his financial situation isn’t as great as it perhaps could have been considering his former star status. Kyle admits to his old flame the reality of finances for football players, to which she is rather surprised. This is the center of what makes The Last Fall worth at least one watch.

That this story would tackle the very real issue of the myth surrounding professional athletes’ financial status is what really makes The Last Fall worth at least one watch. Few, if any, sports based dramas tackle the myth about how professional athletes live. Because of this, there is an overwhelming myth about professional athletes’ financial status and how they live; this despite a new special from ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 series. So it’s nice to see a movie (even a direct to DVD movie) tackle the subject and show that things aren’t always parties and planes for professional athletes.

The Last Fall’s depiction of life post professional sports makes the story stand out among sports based dramas. It’s thanks to the story’s script that this plot works. The movie itself runs just over an hour and a half. In that time, the story is simple enough to follow that if a person had to step out for any reason, one could let the movie keep running, come back, and still know what’s going on. To that extent, this is a good thing believe it or not. It means that this movie will easily allow viewers to be pulled in and suspend their disbelief without worrying about becoming too invested in it to the point that they worry about missing anything. In simplest terms, the movie’s overall success with its intended audiences can be summed up in one word: Balance. The script balances all of its elements in a short period of time so well that while it may not be a major motion picture, it’s a story that any football fan will want to watch at least once.

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to
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ESPN Films Debuts New Film This Weekend

Posted on February 26, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN/ESPNU

ESPN Films will debut a new film in its SEC “Storied” series this weekend. Miracle 3 will debut this Sunday, March 3^rd at 8pm EST on ESPNU. The latest in the series focuses on the events of March 14^th, 2008. It was on that date that an EF2 tornado touched down in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia during a matchup between Alabama and Mississippi State in the SEC tournament. Alabama was trailing Mississippi State 59-56 in the final seconds of regulation of the first of the tournament’s quarterfinal games. The game went into OT after Alabama guard Myka Riley hit a three-pointer to tie the game. The irony of the shot is that not only did it keep the Crimson Tide in the game, but because it extended the game, it may have been to thank for saving thousands of lives.

Because of that shot, the thousands in attendance of the game stayed inside the Georgia Dome instead of going outside. Had they gone outside, those thousands could have been injured or worse because only minutes after that fateful shot, a tornado touched down just outside the Georgia Dome. Nobody inside the Georgia Dome was injured. Though, the arena did sustain enough damage that it forced the remainder of the game to be delayed. It also caused the last quarterfinal game of the day to be postponed. SEC officials would end up having to find a new home for the tournament’s final games as a result of the damage to the Georgia Dome so as to finish the tournament on schedule. The Bulldogs would end up going on to the NCAA tournament after winning three games in a 30-hour span.

The story of Miracle 3 is built around interviews with people involved in those affected by the tornado including players and coaches from teams playing in the tournament, SEC officials, referees, fans, meteorologists, and many more. Along with airing at 8pm on ESPNU, Miracle 3 will also air earlier in the evening on March 3^rd on ESPN. It will air at 5pm on ESPN this Sunday evening.

To get the latest news on Miracle 3 and all programming on ESPNU and ESPN, go online to
http://www.facebook.com/ESPNU
and
http://www.facebook.com/ESPN
and the official website of ESPNU and ESPN,
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/
and
http://espn.go.com
.

ESPN Announces New Additions To 30 For 30 Series

Posted on January 28, 2013 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN has announced the addition of two new films to its hit 30 for 30 film series. Survive and Advance and Elway to Marino are the latest additions to the network’s ongoing series of documentaries. The first of the films to debut will be Survive and Advance. The documentary centers on the late NC State University basketball coach Jim Valvano and the Wolfpack’s legendary 1982-’83 season. That year, the team came back from almost not making the NCAA tournament to winning nine straight games in route to winning the NCAA title that year. The Wolfpack players took down teams whose rosters included players who would later go on to become some of the game’s biggest names. Among those names are the likes of: Jordan, Olajuwon, Sampson, and Drexler. The film is directed by Jonathan Hock (Unguarded, The Best That Never Was). It will air Sunday, March 17^th at 9pm on ESPN.

The second of the new films in the series is the football documentary, Elway to Marino. This documentary focuses on what is considered by most to be a pivotal turning point for the NFL in the April 26, 1983 NFL Draft. Before this draft, the NFL was in very troubled waters. The previous season had seen a players strike. The USFL took that as a chance to take some of the league’s top talent. And the now late Al Davis had taken the league to court. But it was this draft that turned the tide for the league. The film examines the draft from the vantage point of the owners, players, managers, agents and more to explain the significance of the landmark draft. Among the players taken in the draft were NFL legends John Elway and Dan Marino (just two of the six QBs taken that year). It examines all the work that went into drafting players, both the good and the bad. Elway to Marino was directed by Ken Rodgers and is being presented by both ESPN Films and NFL Films. It will air Tuesday, April 23^rd at 9pm on ESPN.

Elway to Marino and Survive and Advance are just two more additions to the long awaited 30 for 30 Volume II which is currently slated for an October 2013 release. Sports lovers and fans in general can keep up with the latest news about this release and others in the 30 for 30 series online at
http://www.facebook.com/espn30for30
and
http://www.espn.com/30for30
.

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to
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. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at
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ESPN Films, ESPNU Airing New Special Next Week

Posted on December 11, 2012 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN Films is continuing its SEC “Storied” series next week. The next special in the network’s series is titled, Going Big. The special centers on former basketball player Sam Bowie. Bowie’s career in both college and high school was wrought with trials and tribulations. The 7’1” star got his start at the University of Kentucky. He was also lucky enough to be a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic basketball team. Everything seemed to be going well for Bowie in his college career until an accident in a game against Vanderbilt that would end up sidelining the rising star for two seasons. Though in 1984 he managed to get back on the court, and led his team to the Final Four.

Yet again, his life was on a high note, as he was taken second overall in the 1984 NBA draft after his graduation, right in front of legend Michael Jordan. Sadly though, just as his college career had hit some bumps, so did his professional career. While injuries left him sidelined once again, Jordan rose to national fame. Continued injuries throughout his professional career would lead to a negative reputation around him as having been overrated. Despite all of his bad luck in the NBA, Bowie has pushed on and found success in another area of life.

Going Big airs next Thursday, September 20^th on ESPNU at 9pmEST.

ESPN Airs Latest Film In 30 for 30 Series Tuesday Night

Posted on October 8, 2012 by philspicks

Courtesy: ESPN/ESPN Films

The latest installment of ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 series is set to air tomorrow night, October 9^th, at 8pm EST. Following the success of Broken, ESPN will next air the program, 9.79. 9.79 follows the now matchup between track stars Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis in the Men’s 100m final at the 1988 Olympic Games. While the matchup made news headlines around the world, the steroid scandal that followed it was just as big. 97.9 focuses on the scandal as well. The scandal centered on what would become an increasingly large revelation about those who had taken P.E.D.’s and anabolic steroids. Johnson himself was wrapped up in the scandal, and would lose his gold medal as a result of the investigation. The trailer for the special can be viewed here:
http://espn.go.com/30for30/

Along with tomorrow night’s broadcast, Grantland.com will run two features related to 97.9. One of those features will be a podcast featuring an episode of Bill Simmons’ The B.S. Report. Malcolm Gladwell will be on the podcast. There will also be a first-hand account of the matchup written by Grantland writer Charlie Pierce. Pierce was on hand for the race at the games in Seoul.

97.9 was a selection in this year’s annual Toronto Film Festival. It was directed by Daniel Gordon. For those that can’t catch tomorrow night’s broadcast, there are four more films in the latest 30 for 30 series. Audiences can catch There’s No Place Like Home next Tuesday, October 16^th at 8pm EST. And on the following Tuesday, October 23^rd, ESPN will air Benji at 8pm EST. ESPN will close out the month with a broadcast of Ghosts of Ole Miss on Tuesday, October 30^th at 8pm EST. The last film in this series will be You Don’t Know Bo. Fans can catch this piece Saturday, December 8^th at 9pm.

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to
http://www.facebook.com/philspicks
and “Like” it or its companion page
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. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

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Tag Archives: ESPN Films

ESPN Celebrating March Madness With New 30 for 30 Film

Serious Subject, Simple Writing Help The Last Fall Succeed

ESPN Films Debuts New Film This Weekend

ESPN Announces New Additions To 30 For 30 Series

ESPN Films, ESPNU Airing New Special Next Week

ESPN Airs Latest Film In 30 for 30 Series Tuesday Night

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