My Favourite Sports Documentaries
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- DirectorDonald BrittainWilliam CanningStarsDonald BrittainJack BrickhouseErnie BanksA look into the Chicago Cubs National League baseball team during the 1972-1973 seasons.
- StarsDaniel OkrentGeorge F. WillJohn ChancellorA documentary on the history of the sport with major topics including Afro-American players, player/team owner relations and the resilience of the game.
- StarsSteven ZirnkiltonBronson ArroyoMark BellhornThis is a recap of the 2004 Boston Red Sox season that finished with them breaking a winless drought of 86 years by coming back against the New York Yankees and later sweeping the world series.
- DirectorPaul Doyle Jr.StarsJoe CastiglioneJim ConnorsPaul ConstineA look at the Boston Red Sox's 2003 season, from Spring Training to their meeting with the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series, and the team's relationship with their fans.
- DirectorCruz AngelesStarsMike BritoStanley M. BrooksAl Campanis"The Natural is supposed to be a blue-eyed boy who teethed on a 36-ounce Louisville Slugger. He should run like the wind and throw boysenberries through brick. He should come from California." Steve Wulf, Sports Illustrated, 1981. So how was it that a pudgy 19-year-old Mexican left-handed pitcher from a remote village in the Sonoran desert, unable to speak a word of English, could sell out stadiums across America and become a rock star overnight? In Fernando Nation, Mexican-born and Los Angeles-raised director Cruz Angeles traces the history of a community that was torn apart when Dodger Stadium was built in Chavez Ravine and then revitalized by one of the most captivating pitching phenoms baseball has ever seen. Nicknamed "El Toro" by his fans, Fernando Valenzuela ignited a fire that spread from LA to New York -- and beyond. He vaulted himself onto the prime-time stage and proved with his signature look to the heavens and killer screwball that the American dream was not reserved for those born on U.S. soil. In this layered look at the myth and the man, Cruz Angeles recalls the euphoria around Fernando's arrival and probes a phenomenon that transcended baseball for many Mexican-Americans. Fernando Valenzuela himself opens up to share his perspective on this very special time. Even 20 years later, "Fernandomania" lives.
- DirectorAlex GibneyStarsAlex GibneyDave KaplanBob CostasAfter the Chicago Cubs blow an opportunity to reach the World Series in 2003, Cubs fans blame the team's misfortune on fellow fan Steve Bartman, who interfered with a foul ball and prevented Moises Alou from making a catch.
- 2009– 1h 17mTV-G8.1 (1.7K)TV EpisodeDirectorMichael BonfiglioStarsJames AndrewsDickie AtchisonHal BairdA close look at Bo Jackson, a sports hero of mythical proportions, and how the "Bo Knows" Nike campaign shaped how the world perceived him. Without winning a Super Bowl or World Series, or even having what some consider a "great" career in either sport, Bo will be forever be known as one of the greatest and most famous athletes of all time. This film will look at the marketing of athletes, impossible expectations and the legend of Bo Jackson.
- DirectorChapman WayMaclain WayStarsLou RussellKurt RussellKen WheelerIn 1973, Hollywood actor Bing Russell starts an independent minor league baseball team in Portland consisting of outcasts and misfits, and turns them into unlikely overnight success.
- DirectorJeffrey RadiceStarsEnos CabellDave CashRoberto Clemente Jr.The life and times of major league pitcher Dock Ellis are explored in this revealing documentary.
- 2012– 23mTV-G6.9 (70)TV EpisodeDirectorPeter SillenUnder the cloak of secrecy, a rookie pitching prospect attended the New York Mets spring training in 1985. His name was Hayden "Sidd" Finch and he had never played baseball before, had dropped out of Harvard to study transcendental meditation, spoke ten languages, wore one hiking boot and the other foot bare when on the mound, and threw a 168mph fastball. He was about to change baseball, as George Plimpton wrote in his article published in Sports Illustrated on April 1st, 1985. This film follows one of the greatest April Fools' Day hoaxes the sports world has ever seen.
- StarsKeith DavidJamie FoxxDocumentary chronicles the personal and professional life of Jackie Robinson from his birth in 1919 to his death in 1972. Robinson's rise from humble beginnings to became an American hero and pivotal figure in American history are detailed.
- DirectorRick ClemensStarsMichael JordanBill WaltonJulius ErvingFollowing the life and career of basketball hall of famer David Thompson
- 2009– 1h 8mTV-G8.0 (2.2K)TV EpisodeDirectorDan KloresStarsReggie MillerCheryl MillerSpike LeeA film that explores the rivalry between the Indiana Pacers and New York as seen through the eyes and actions of Reggie Miller star player of the Indiana Pacers.
- DirectorZatella BeattyStarsAllen IversonTom BrokawLarry BrownIverson is the ultimate legacy of NBA legend Allen Iverson, who rose from a childhood of crushing poverty in Hampton, Virginia, to become an 11-time NBA All-Star and universally recognized icon of his sport. Off the court, his audacious rejection of conservative NBA convention and unapologetic embrace of hip hop culture sent shockwaves throughout the league and influenced an entire generation. Told largely in Iverson's own words, the film charts the career highs and lows of one of the most distinctive and accomplished figures the sport of basketball has ever seen.
- DirectorRory KarpfStarsRob LoweChristian LaettnerDick VitaleHe made perhaps the most dramatic shot in the history of the NCAA basketball tournament. He's the only player to start in four consecutive Final Fours, and was instrumental in Duke winning two national championships. He had looks, smarts and game. So why has Christian Laettner been disliked so intensely by so many for so long? Maybe it was the time he stomped on the chest of a downed player, or the battles he had with his teammates, or a perceived sense of entitlement. But sometimes, perception isn't reality. "I Hate Christian Laettner" will go beyond the polarizing persona to reveal the complete story behind this lightning rod of college basketball. Featuring extensive access to Laettner, previously unseen footage and perspectives from all sides, this film will be a "gloves-off" examination of the man who has been seen by many as the "Blue Devil Himself."
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsDouglas EdwardsNat FleischerWalter CartierAfter a short study of boxing's history, narrated by newscaster Douglas Edwards, we follow a day in the life of a middleweight Irish boxer named Walter Cartier.
- StarsJoe FrazierMuhammad AliLiev SchreiberA look at the events leading up to and including the legendary March 1971 bout between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. The film also looks at the political and social factors that helped to make this fight more than just an ordinary boxing match between two of the greatest heavyweight champions that ever lived as Ali was a symbol for liberals, militant blacks and hippies and Frazier was a symbol for the more conservative elements for society.
- DirectorJohn DowerStarsJoe FrazierMarvis FrazierThomas HauserA detailed examination of the intense rivalry between the two heavyweight boxing champions, Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali.
- DirectorJames TobackStarsMike TysonMills LaneTrevor BerbickA mixture of original interviews, archival footage, and photographs sheds light on the life experiences of Mike Tyson.
- DirectorBradley KaplanAlbert MayslesStarsMuhammad AliLarry HolmesAngelo DundeeWe follow the preparations for Ali's final attempt to win back the World Heavyweight title. Even during the lead up to the fight grave concerns were held for Ali's health and the man who stepped into the ring was frail imitation of his former self.
- DirectorJeff FeuerzeigStarsChuck WepnerSylvester StalloneJerry IzenbergThe story of Chuck Wepner, an underdog boxer who went the distance against Muhammad Ali and inspired the creation of Rocky.
- DirectorJosé Morales GonzálezStarsDewey BozellaRoss FirsenbaumShauna FriedmanESPN Films tells the inspirational story of Dewey Bozella and follows him through his quest to fight one professional fight as a free man. A promising young boxer from a troubled family, Bozella was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1983 and spent more than 26 years in New York¿s Sing Sing prison.
- DirectorBill SiegelStarsEamonn AndrewsMuhammad AliDavid SusskindThe legal battles of the great American boxer against being conscripted into the US military during the Vietnam War.
- DirectorEric DrathStarsChristie BrinkleyMike TysonJane PauleyIn the midst of boxing's contemporary golden age -Â the 1980's -Â stood two fighters who established a captivating rivalry; Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran.
- DirectorClare LewinsStarsMuhammad AliGene KilroyRahman AliUnprecedented access to Muhammad Ali's personal archive of "audio journals" as well as interviews and testimonials from his inner circle of family and friends are used to tell the legend's life story.
- DirectorBert MarcusStarsEvander HolyfieldBernard HopkinsMike TysonA documentary on boxing greats Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Bernard Hopkins examines their lives in and out of the ring.
- DirectorSteven CantorStarsSeth AbrahamSteve AlbertTeddy AtlasExplores the years that Evander Holyfield spent trying to arrange his first fight with Mike Tyson.
- StarsBrian UngerMuhammad AliJim BrownHe changed boxing almost as much as he changed the world. Follow Muhammad Ali's rise from Columbia Gym in Louisville, Kentucky to international fame, as he transcended his great athletic achievements to become one of the most influential Americans of his time. His once-polarizing figure ultimately became a beloved and honored national hero. Witness key events unfold in Ali's life, including his stunning conversion to Islam and his change of name, his dramatic stand against the Vietnam-era draft, his three-year exile from the ring, his legendary comeback fights, his courageous battle with Parkinson's disease, and his inspirational reemergence on the world stage at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Hear from Ali's daughters Laila and Maryum Ali, former wife Khalilah Camacho Ali, NFL great Jim Brown, boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard, rappers and actors LL Cool J and Common, boxing promoter Bob Arum, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Lloyd Price, and biographer Thomas Hauser.
- DirectorMichael TollinStarsMichael TollinDonald TrumpHarry UsherThe story of the rise and fall of the United States Football League, focusing on two owners: John Bassett, who wanted the league to compete in the spring; and Donald Trump, who wanted to take on the NFL and play in the fall.
- DirectorGary WaksmanStarsBronson ArroyoLenny ClarkeJohnny DamonThe Boston Red Sox overcome "The Curse" and defeat the New York Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series. In the process, they also become the first team ever to win a series after trailing three games to none.
- DirectorBrett MorgenStarsMarv AlbertRex Julian BeaberChris BermanDocuments on how the events on the day OJ Simpson was pursued and arrested on charges of murdering his ex wife and her boyfriend overshadowed and took precedence over other sporting events from around the country by the media. No additional footage or voiceover was shot and the entire documentary is encapsulated in sound bites from various feeds on the day.
- DirectorIce CubeStarsMarcus AllenLyle AlzadoSoren BakerFor rapper-turned-filmmaker Ice Cube the emergence of gangster rap will be forever linked to the Oakland Raiders' move to Los Angeles in 1982. He turns the camera on himself to tell how his genre-defining group NWA forged an unlikely relationship with the Raiders, a team whose swagger and style captivated LA during their troubled 13-season stay.
- DirectorJohn DorseyAndrew StephanStarsMarcus AllenElliott AlmondStan BrockFrom birth, Todd Marinovich was raised with a defined purpose of creating the perfect athlete. Trained by his father, Marv, a former pro football player and a strength and conditioning guru, the young Marinovich was meticulously engineered and nurtured into a star quarterback. When it came to performance, Marv expected perfection and Todd delivered. He was dubbed "Robo QB," and his performance initially lived up to the name as he set passing records in high school, vied for the Heisman while at USC and ultimately was selected in the first round of the 1991 NFL draft by his hometown Los Angeles Raiders. But two years later, he was out of the NFL, a full-blown drug addict in search of a life beyond football. "The Marinovich Project" tells the unvarnished story of Todd's unique ascent to stardom, the dark descent that followed and the complicated father-son bond throughout, ultimately answering the question "What went wrong with Todd Marinovich?"
- DirectorLarry Weinstein
- DirectorChristie Callan-Jones
- DirectorJohn Walker
- DirectorKen RodgersStarsTroy AikmanJerry AzarCarlton BaileyA behind-the-scenes look at the Buffalo Bills' four trips to the Super Bowl during the early 1990's.
- DirectorPierre LetarteA look inside the Quebec Nordiques as they play their first game in the World Hockey Association.
- DirectorLes RoseThe University of British Columbia hockey team's December 1973 tour of China.
- DirectorRobert MacAskill
- StarsWayne GretzkyRob BlakeEric BrewerA behind the scenes look at the creation of the Canadian Olympic Hockey Team and their quest for the Gold Medal.
- DirectorMike DownieStarsDave BidiniTHE HOCKEY NOMAD is based on Dave Bidini's best selling book Tropic of Hockey. Dave's quest takes him far from the corporate branded arenas and millionaire players of professional hockey to lesser-known rinks in Dubai, Transylvania, and Mongolia. In each locale, he explores the origin of the local game and meets the eccentric and passionate people who play it.
- DirectorPeter BergStarsPeter BergWalter GretzkyWayne GretzkyPeter Berg's documentary on Wayne Gretzky, his decision to leave Edmonton for Los Angeles, and that decision's effects on hockey and its fans.
- DirectorKevin ConnollyStarsKevin ConnollyWayne GretzkyVanessa JovaIn 1996, the once-dominant New York Islanders were in serious trouble. Lousy performance and poor management were driving away the hockey franchise's loyal fan base. The team hit bottom. Then along came a Dallas businessman named John Spano, who swooped in and agreed to buy the team for 165 million dollars. Things began to look up for the Islanders - way up. But it was all smoke and mirrors. Big Shot goes inside an extraordinary scandal that engulfed the Islanders. Featuring the only interview Spano has ever given about the Islanders deal, this film is an unforgettable tale of a dream that became a lie - and how a scam of such epic proportions initially went undetected.
- DirectorBruce BrownStarsSteve McQueenDave AldanaMark BrelsfordDocumentary on motorcycle racing featuring stars of the sport, including film star Steve McQueen, a racer in his own right.
- DirectorWerner HerzogStarsReinhold MessnerHans KammerlanderWerner HerzogFilm-maker Werner Herzog follows mountaineers Reinhold Messner and Hans Kammerlander as they attempt to climb the high altitude peaks of Gasherbrum II and Gasherbrum I all in one expedition, seeking to reveal their inner motivation.
- DirectorDavid BreashearsStephen JudsonGreg MacGillivrayStarsLiam NeesonLhakpa DorjiDorje SherpaAn international team of climbers ascends Mt. Everest in the spring of 1996. The film depicts their lengthy preparations for the climb, their trek to the summit, and their successful return to Base Camp. It also shows many of the challenges the group faced, including avalanches, lack of oxygen, treacherous ice walls, and a deadly blizzard.
- DirectorKevin MacdonaldStarsSimon YatesJoe SimpsonBrendan MackeyThe true story of two climbers and their perilous journey up the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985.
- DirectorAnthony GeffenStarsConrad AnkerSusan RobertsonRobert MacfarlaneUses astonishing visuals to tell the intersecting stories of George Mallory, the first man to attempt a summit of Mount Everest, and Conrad Anker, the mountaineer who finds Mallory's frozen remains 75 years later.
- DirectorLeni RiefenstahlStarsDavid AlbrittonArvo AskolaJack BeresfordThe document of the 1936 Olympics at Berlin.
- DirectorLeni RiefenstahlStarsSheigo AraiJack BeresfordRalf BerzsenyiThe document of the 1936 Olympics at Berlin, orchestrated as Nazi propaganda.
- DirectorAsif KapadiaStarsAyrton SennaReginaldo LemeJohn BisignanoA documentary on Brazilian Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna, who won the F1 world championship three times before his death at age 34.
- DirectorMatthew WhitemanStarsEd StoppardDaniel AudettoAlastair CaldwellTold through unseen footage and exclusive interviews with the people who were at the 1976 Formula One Championship, this riveting documentary chronicles the duel between drivers Niki Lauda and James Hunt.
- DirectorStacy PeraltaStarsSean PennJay AdamsTony AlvaDocumentary about the pioneering 1970s Zephyr skating team.
- DirectorWerner HerzogStarsWalter SteinerWerner HerzogA study of the psychology of a champion ski-jumper, whose full-time occupation is carpentry.
- DirectorRobert FortierStarsKen CarterA short documentary profiling a day in the life of Canada's most notorious stuntman: Ken Carter - The Mad Canadian; who makes a living jumping cars in front of live audiences at race tracks, speedways and sports arenas across North America.
- DirectorRobert FortierStarsGordon PinsentKen CarterJim DeistDevil at Your Heels, traces the trials of stuntman Ken Carter who attempts a death defying aerial jump in a car. Not content with a normal jump, Ken Carter attempts a jump from Canada to the USA.
- DirectorDerik MurrayDavid RayStarsWillie G. DavidsonGary DavisBob Einstein"I Am Evel Knievel" features footage of Evel's greatest jumps, including the seminal Snake River Canyon and Caesars Palace jumps. The film also showcases Knievel's rise from a small town rebel in Butte, Montana, to a cultural icon whose rise to super-stardom was built on nerves of steel and the ability to get up and do it again no matter the severity of the fall. He lived life like every day was his last, which led to a tumultuous life filled with stunts no man would ever dream of, encompassing meteoric success, wild hubris, ego-maniacal mistakes, and ultimately redemption. The documentary combines original exclusive interviews with archival footage of this larger-than-life character to tell Knievel's incredible story. Among those featured include Matthew McConaughey, Kid Rock, Michelle Rodriguez, Guy Fieri, Robbie Maddison and family members including sons Kelly and Robbie, and former wives Linda Knievel and Krystal Kennedy-Knievel.
- DirectorBruce BrownStarsRobert AugustMichael HynsonLord James BlearsThe crown jewel to ten years of Bruce Brown surfing documentaries. Brown follows two young surfers around the world in search of the perfect wave, and ends up finding quite a few in addition to some colorful local characters.
- DirectorJames ErskineZara HayesStarsBillie Jean KingVirginia WadeLornie KuhleA look at the events leading up to the 1973 tennis match between retired men's champ Bobby Riggs and the current women's Wimbledon winner Billie Jean King.
- DirectorPaul JayStarsBret HartOwen HartBrian PillmanDocumentary focusing on the career of pro wrestler Bret Hart & his controversial exit from the WWF.
- DirectorBarry W. BlausteinStarsTerry FunkMick FoleyJake RobertsA heartfelt documentary focusing on the day-to-day lives of professional wrestlers, some on the rise, some on the wane, and others fighting for their lives.
- DirectorChris MortensenStarsDusty RhodesDan GableDallas Page
- StarsEddie GuerreroKurt AngleArt BarrThe highs and lows in the life of WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero are explored.
- DirectorKevin DunnStarsCharles AshenoffSteve AustinChris BenoitNow it can be told. In 1995, two wrestling companies squared off on Monday night television to compete head to head in an unprecedented confrontation. On one side, Vince McMahon, the promoter who created WWE and made the industry what it is today. On the other, WCW, owned by media giant Ted Turner, and run by an ambitious man named Eric Bischoff. This is the whole story, by those who created it, lived it, and survived it.
- DirectorKevin DunnStarsAbdullah the ButcherDonna AdamoBill AlfonsoA documentary on the rise and fall of cult wrestling federation ECW
- DirectorKevin DunnStarsBret HartAbdullah the ButcherBrian AdamsBret portrays in his own words, how he became: The best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be.
- DirectorKevin DunnStarsBrian AdamsArn AndersonOle Anderson
- DirectorKevin DunnStarsMark CalawayPaul LevesqueBrian AdamsThe documentary and full story of the most frightening athlete in American history.
- DirectorKevin DunnStarsAdrian AdonisAdnan Al-KaissyOle AndersonThe rise and fall of Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association, starting from the 1960s through its glory years in the 1970s to its self-destruction in the 1980s.
- DirectorKevin DunnStarsDavid AbbottAbdullah the ButcherTerry AllenThe Rise & Fall of WCW examines the storied history of World Championship Wrestling, from its beginnings in the territory system through Ted Turner's acquisition and the savage battles with WWE for sports-entertainment domination in the 90s, with exclusive insight from the people behind the scenes and in the ring.
- DirectorKevin DunnStarsJim RossBrian JamesMick FoleyA look at the highest rated period in the history of professional wrestling.
- DirectorKevin DunnStarsPaul LevesqueStephanie McMahonVince McMahonIn this rare match from his earliest days in sports entertainment, the man who would was not yet known as The Game takes on the legendary Ricky Steamboat on WCW Saturday Night.
- DirectorKevin DunnStarsPaul HeymanAdrian AdonisBam Bam Bigelowthe life and career of Paul Heyman told to you by himself
- DirectorChris BellStarsChris BellMike BellMark BellAn examination of America's win-at-all-cost culture from the perspective of bodybuilding and performance enhancing drugs, as it focuses on a pair of siblings chasing their dream.
- DirectorEzra HollandSteve NashStarsTerry FoxIn 1980, Fox was seeking a way to raise awareness for cancer research. His own struggle with the disease had resulted in the amputation of his right leg.
- DirectorMike ScholtzThis is the strange but true story of snowmobiling outlaw Wild Bill Cooper. After attempting to lead an expedition from Minnesota to Moscow across the polar ice, Cooper returned home and embarked upon an audacious life of crime. Part Arctic adventure and part crime caper, WILD BILL'S RUN is an unforgettable ride with a true American folk hero.
- DirectorEzra EdelmanStarsKareem Abdul-JabbarMike AlbaneseMuhammad AliA chronicle of the rise and fall of O.J. Simpson, whose high-profile murder trial exposed the extent of American racial tensions, revealing a fractured and divided nation.
- DirectorJacques PayetteStarsMaurice RichardJacques BeauchampTony Bergeron-Meet Maurice Richard on and off the ice, and follow his spectacular career with the Montreal Canadiens--from the early 1940s, when only a few thousand people turned out for pro hockey games, to the 1950s, when the Montreal Forum (in Canada) was bursting with delirious fans. Clarence Campbell, former president of the NHL, describes him as "the most exciting player I have ever seen in my life." The Rocket features footage from games and revealing interviews with Richard himself, the first star of the golden age of hockey.
- DirectorLee DemarbreStarsIan HodgkinsonAaron AguileraStephen FarrellyDocumentary about the life of wrestler Ian Hodgkinson, "Vampiro", detailing his biggest international tour as well as his life outside the ring.