30 for 30 running thread

[nafselon]

Looking at that box score, I'm reminded what a great college player Chris Jackson was, and how he seems to be forgotten by a lot of people. I think he gets penalized for turning into such a wacko after he converted to Islam (and became Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf), and also because he was just an above-average NBA player.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Abdul_Rauf

I wouldn't exactly say he was a "wacko." He converted and had a strong religious belief. Didn't Sam Perkins' own status as a Jehovah's Witness keep him from honoring the national anthem as well?

Abdul-Rauf also dealt with Torrette's Syndrome his entire NBA career. That repeated head bobbing/snapping he did on the court wasn't "wacko," it was medical.

Maybe there's some kind of "wacko" behavior I'm missing here?

EDIT: Speak of the wacko . . . errrr . . .Devil . . .

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-abdul-raufstillplaying

As I alluded to by having seen him play in high school, I'm from the same part of the country as Jackson/Abdul-Rauf. He's well known in this area for his eccentric behavior, and it has nothing to do with his faith or his Tourette's.

Just one example, his house burned down about 10 years ago, and he pestered the local paper for weeks wanting them to do a story about it being a hate crime, even though the police and fire departments ruled it to be an accident.

Wow, you mean the house of the devout Muslim gets "accidentally" burned to the ground in Mississippi and he doesn't believe it was an "accident" despite what local law enforcement tell him?

What a weirdo :/.

 

[Webster]

Finally watched the Miller/Knicks documentary -- held off because those series were mentally exhausting just to watch as a Knicks fan. Unlike most people, I was fairly cold on this one. Miller is certainly an engaging guy and Ewing was a surprisingly great interview, but it just didn't move me. I didn't really get into to drama of the series or any of the moments besides the 8 points by Reggie and the finger roll miss by Ewing.

 

[Lugnuts]

I'm behind - I've DVR'd Winning Time and Guru but haven't watched.

Iverson is coming on a week from tomorrow (13th) at 8 pm. Can't wait!

 

[Pancamo]

How the heck Dale Brown gets to a FF with Ricky Blanton.

No, the "star" of that 86 LSU team would've been John Williams, who was a lottery pick in the NBA draft that year.

You are right that Williams was the star but Blanton played center. Brown gets there with a 6'7" center but not O'Neal and Roberts.

 

[sgreenwell]

The Iverson doc is on tonight, which looks like it could be really interesting.

 

[Dyno]

The Iverson doc is on tonight, which looks like it could be really interesting.

I've read it's the best of them. Looking forward to it.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

It was good enough to play as a feature film at the Cleveland International Film Festival.

On again at 11 p.m. EST on ESPN2.

 

[JackReacher]

Just watched the Iverson one. Simply fascinating. Allen Iverson, to this day, is still one of my all-time favorite athletes. If I had the chance to sit down and chat with one current or former athlete, he'd be in the running. His life story -- the highs and the lows -- is amazing.

I thought the documentary was very well done. I didn't think the radio announcer guy came off very well, though.

 

[John]

It felt a little hollow without anything from Iverson other than old interviews, but overall it was among the best of them.

The USFL one is still my favorite.

 

[JackReacher]

I agree. It would have been better with some fresh Iverson interviews. I noticed Mike Smith either wasn't approached for an interview (which I don't believe) or turned one down. His comments would have been interesting.

Is the woman who tutored Iverson the mother of Kenny and Walker Lambiotte? Pretty sure she is. Both Lambiottes attended my our rival high school, and one of them ended up playing QB for the Eagles, Kenny maybe. And one of them was a McDonald's All American game MVP, I believe.

 

[Kato]

I listened to Bill Simmons' podcast with the director (these are all very good companions to the movies; no matter what you think of Simmons), and both guys said they tried to get Iverson to appear on camera for about a year and he turned them down. Both agreed that it might have been a very different movie with his comments, although I wonder if they would be much different than the quote on the Stephen A Smith show or the one from Iverson's camp.

 

[exmediahack]

Guru of Go - the Westhead 30/30.

What a delightful doc, especially the bitterness over the Lakers firing Westhead because Magic wanted it. USFL is still my favorite to this point.