30 for 30 running thread

[DanOregon]

Agreed, don't know if they are trying to explain these stories in the context of their times or what.
McNall could have been a story in itself.

 

[micropolitan guy]

You mean the same Minnesota team that couldn't sell out a playoff game until the last minute?

Fail.

I would say 48 years of nonstop support, in (pre-dome days) some of the worst football weather imaginable, easily trumps one 11th-hour sellout.

And they did sell the place out, no?

 

[Small Town Guy]

Boy, I thought this was very ordinary. Pretty much like a regular "Sports Century" except a little more disjointed, and with the director inserting himself front and center as a character in the film.

The Gretzky-Jones wedding video was good to see but, overall, I was disappointed, in part because my expectations were high.

As someone who lived through that as a Kings fan and covered this post-trade, I was pumped to see this.

As someone who lived through that as a Kings fan and covered many of the Gretzky Kings games in the early 90s, I was highly disappointed at the disjointed treatment Berg used here. Given the access and the material, this should have been much better.

The stuff from Edmonton was interesting -- more interesting than the LA material, which Berg more or less blew through.

I did like the Pocklington and McNall interviews. Insighful stuff, especially from Peter Puck.

Agree with that pretty much word for word. Another strange part was when they were on the golf course and Berg asks, "So how many titles did you win in Edmonton?"

Uh, four. I'm not expecting a Schwab level of knowledge, but that's a pretty big one. You've been obsessed with Gretzky and you're now doing a documentary on him so you've probably done quite a bit more research and...that's one of the questions?

 

[buckweaver]

STG, that question was a prelude to the next two questions. The full exchange went something like this:

"How many titles did you win in Edmonton?"
"Four."
"How many titles did you win in L.A.?"
"None."
"How many titles would you have won if you stayed in Edmonton?"

Which elicited a pretty nice response from Gretzky about probably winning "four more" but having no regrets in leaving.

 

[FishHack76]

If they just gave the Jags franchise to Baltimore.

Then again, I still feel pretty angry about the way the NFL jerked Baltimore around through expansion, when its offer was clearly superior to everyone else's, when we sold out Memorial Stadium for a Miami-New Orleans pre-season game

When I watched that, it reminded me of my hometown's (Memphis) attempt to get an NFL team when I was a kid. The city sold out four exhibition games and it Pished me off when Carolina and Jacksonville got those teams instead.
(Although, Memphis probably hurt itself simply with its proposed team name, The Hound Dogs. Horrible.)
It's interesting how perspective changes things. I think Baltimore should have definitely been picked instead of Jacksonville.
Also, the whole Memphis expansion disappointment was one reason why a lot of people didn't show up for the Titans games at the Liberty Bowl. Plus, it was rival Nashville's team. That's kind of like expecting Kansas City to babysit the Rams.

As someone who attended half of the Memphis Showboats' home games in their final season, I'm very interested to see the upcoming doc on the USFL. I remember at one game they gave away a year's supply of New Coke at halftime and the crowd booed loudly.

 

[Gutter]

You mean the same Minnesota team that couldn't sell out a playoff game until the last minute?

Fail.

I would say 48 years of nonstop support, in (pre-dome days) some of the worst football weather imaginable, easily trumps one 11th-hour sellout.

And they did sell the place out, no?

There's a difference between fan support and being the primary part of the community's identity, which is what we're discussing here.

 

[93Devil]

You mean the same Minnesota team that couldn't sell out a playoff game until the last minute?

Fail.

I would say 48 years of nonstop support, in (pre-dome days) some of the worst football weather imaginable, easily trumps one 11th-hour sellout.

And they did sell the place out, no?

There's a difference between fan support and being the primary part of the community's identity, which is what we're discussing here.

Cities which have had generations of people living withen its boundaries easily can gain an attachment for a team.

Try to find three generations of people in Washington, San Diego, Phoenix or Miami, and I think you would find it easier to find three generations in Buffalo, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland or Philadelphia.

Some cities have the generations, but it is so big that you do not have the common link like New York.

If I were to list the cities that had a bond with their team it would be...

Cleveland
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
Minnesota
Green Bay
Chicago
Buffalo
Detroit (terribly scarred due to lack of success)
Denver
Dallas (maybe)

 

[Kato]

I have the "Band" on the DVR and am looking forward to watching it.

The Gretzky one was very interesting but I agree that it was slow moving. The slow shots of Gretzky driving, then walking into an arena. Was that Edmonton or LA? I never really figured that out and they never said. Either way, that seemed to take forever. Loved the wedding video -- it was like Charles and Diana. Made me wonder, though, why did they get married in Edmonton? She's from where? LA? He's from near Toronto, right? Thought it was hilarious when Janet got in the limo and someone shouted, "I saw you in Police Academy 5!"

 

[Lugnuts]

I think the wedding in Edmonton further underscores the point that they considered Edmonton their home.

Another strange part was when they were on the golf course and Berg asks, "So how many titles did you win in Edmonton?"

Uh, four. I'm not expecting a Schwab level of knowledge, but that's a pretty big one. You've been obsessed with Gretzky and you're now doing a documentary on him so you've probably done quite a bit more research and...that's one of the questions?

Berg knows the answer, he was just trying to get something from Gretzky.

The point of that exchange pretty much sailed right over your head. ;D

 

[micropolitan guy]

There's a difference between fan support and being the primary part of the community's identity, which is what we're discussing here.

If you don't think the Vikings are a huge, huge part of the Twin Cities/Minnesota/entire Upper Midwest community identity, I've got some beachfront in Beach, N.D., I'd like to sell you.

 

[Small Town Guy]

STG, that question was a prelude to the next two questions. The full exchange went something like this:

"How many titles did you win in Edmonton?"
"Four."
"How many titles did you win in L.A.?"
"None."
"How many titles would you have won if you stayed in Edmonton?"

Which elicited a pretty nice response from Gretzky about probably winning "four more" but having no regrets in leaving.

Point taken, Buck, and Lug. I guess the whole golf thing just seemed off. I know they're big buddies and Berg didn't want a regular studio interview, but I kept picturing George W saying, "We are going to stop this terror. We are going to do everything we can to stop the terrorism. Now, watch me hit this drive."

I kept waiting for Gretzky to go, "Devastating. Could have won four, five more titles. Loved Mess. Jari Kurri, what a guy. Now, watch me hit this 5-iron."

Stephen Brunt has a new book, "Gretzky's Tears," about the trade. If it's anything like Searching for Bobby Orr, it will be a pretty spectacular read.

http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307397294

 

[DanOregon]

Trump reviews Tuesday's USFL episode in a note to the director:

"Mike
A third rate documentary — and extremely dishonest (as you know) —
Best wishes
Donald Trump

P.S. You are a loser"