[font="arial][size="2"]What is beginning to anger me over this is that if they get it wrong, there is not another attempt coming in the near future. [/font]
The problem I see with this is that, going in, 30 for 30 looked to be an exercise in self-congratulatory promotion by TWWL in all it had to do in creating or shaping these events. The shows have had hits and misses but the thing that stands out is the director's vision in each project, rather than an ESPN suit calling the shots. As one who thought ESPN could not do it right, I'm happy to admit I'm wrong here. Where HBO really set the standard and had the sports documentary market cornered for many years 30 for 30 is a legitimate challenger to that title. However, it seems that my fears have come full circle.
If it's now a question of "who deserves" to be included this is suddenly not sounding like an attempt to capture those four days but rather reminisce over "the good ol' days" with some buddies. This subject is hallowed ground to us and while a lot of ink has been spilled and trees felled over that team and those days, nothing has really captured the overall spirit and feeling of that period (I'd say the SI Sportsman of the Year issue comes closest for me personally). I've read Simmons' book and it mirrors the rest of his repertoire, an easy, fast read that is neither deep nor fully satisfying. It's literary fast food. So the prospect of hearing him go on about those four days with Lenny Clark (the human equivalent of nails on a chalkboard) does not fill me with promise for a ground breaking show that sets the standard for this subject.
This story is about one team and one fan bases identification and obsession with them. Anything more than that is unnecessary. [/size]
