30 for 30 running thread

As noted, that was not Simmons. Instead, Simmons contributed the line suggesting that the reason these guys enjoyed playing so much was because there was nothing much to do in 1980 with only 12 TV channels and Atari to choose from. The exact same re-processed line, btw, that he's thrown into about a dozen past columns about the 80s. And one which ignores the fact that these adult professionals in Manhattan might've had a few more diversion options than 9-year-old Bill did in 1980.

I thought it was a wasted spot that added no humor or insight, like they just threw it in to make sure Bill got some face time.

 

This was the first one I've absolutely hated. I thought the re-enactments were super cheesy, and the entire thing was melodramatic.

And the guys generally bothered me. They seemed really bitter about not being able to make money off of it, and then they guy at the end says, "It's a good thing we didn't make a buck off it, because that's not what we set out to do." Then why did you just spend the last hour complaining that you didn't?

That being said, I'm very much looking forward to the Ricky Williams one. There's a guy we all know very little about, who some say wasted his talent. There's much more to that story, and I can't wait to see it.

 

You're always the last guy to pick up on the joke, aren't you?

 

Perhaps ... I just didn't get it. I get that there wasn't a ton of footage from back then, but I thought the whole thing was wierd.

 

I think overly elaborate and ridiculous was what they were going for. I think all of those guys had a sense of self-deprecating pride about what they had wrought, and the (overly) dramatic reproductions represented that. I think it worked... really, really well.

 

When did Bill Simmons become a go-to authority on the 1980s?

Are the Boston cottage industries of narcissistic misanthropy and bloated self-importance not paying the bills?

 

Almost as funny as Reilly being a TV star.

 

This is a cross-post... I scored some Tribeca tix this past weekend (don't bother with a stinker of a film called 'Letters to Juliet' with Amanda Seyfried, btw)...

But I did catch the next movie in the 30-for-30 series, 'Run Ricky Run.'

Set your DVRs, it's a good one.

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/77410/

 

Series resumes tonight, 9 p.m., Central, with "June 17, 1994"

If you DVR, be sure to record the SportsCenter after that time slot, as ESPN foolishly only allotted three hours for tonight's Phillies-Yanks game.

 

Heck, I'm just DVRing the whole night until 1 a.m and making sure my DVR is clear beforehand. I don't trust a Red Sox game not to last five hours.

 

Tonight's installment and next week's - "The Two Escobars" - are, according to some critics, two of the best of the series. I'm particularly looking forward to tonight's episode.