ESPN: 30 for 30

That was good. Sort of what I imagined about the '80 Russian team. But it was interesting about the birth of Soviet hockey and then the Gorbachov era for Russian players to get the freedom to play abroad.

Bobby Clarke is a goon and a dickhead. Wouldn't expect less from a Philadelphia Flyer.

I knew that the athletic dorms were to be a prison, didn't realize that it was already essentially a prison from the start and that even Soviet athletes thought they were subpar.

Some really good quotes from the Russian players. Need to watch again to actually quote them.

Red Army players trained as a team 11 months a year. Jurgen Klinsmann would be happy if he were coaching them.

 

I was 12 and had to go to a Bar Mitzvah the next morning. I remember struggling to stay awake to watch the end.

 

Loved the story about Sonny Vaccaro.

 

I didn't see it, but I hope it was highly critical of Vaccaro who is responsible for what is wrong in the development of young basketball players and the lack of integrity by the amateur coaches. The prostitution by AAU coaches and the exploitation of the players for financial gain, all the while forgetting the importance of good coaching. Sonny can pine about Ed O'Bannion, but he is responsible for the whoring of athletes for financial gain for Nike. What a hypocrite.

 

'Berto, I knew as soon as I saw your name...

Look here, son- billions of dollars are being made off these players, especially in the SEC. Nobody has time for petty rants about the "problems" in today's amateur athletics. I'm tired of having to repeatedly explain to you that it's been a sham from day one, from the very recent past when the SEC was allowed to participate in NCAA competitions despite having segregated schools and fielding segregated teams. Hey, at least Vaccaro ain't no Adolph Rupp or Paul Bryant.

To answer your question... yeah, they half raked him over the coals and I thought even that was harsh.

 

Okay, I'm good with the piece from what you describe since it was balanced.

On the age thing, I turn 57 in a few days. I think I got you by just a year or two.

Be well mi amigo.

 

I did see this one. My God how far Colorado football has fallen.

And I forgot all about the "5th down" against Missouri the year they split the national championship with Ga Tech. That was unreal. Of course I DIDN'T forget about the phantom clip on the Rocket Ismail punt return.

 

I watched the Prince of Pennsylvania on Netflix and wow! I was very young at the time so I didn't know any of this was going on. This is one of the reasons why I love 30 for 30 is it allows me to learn about these stories. I didn't know USA wrestling was so huge back then or anything about the Du Pont family/name.

The amount of money for all this alone is staggering, not to mention the aftermath. I enjoyed this story.

 

It was great.

 

Can't wait for the Orlando Magic one. Grantland's long form Oral History of the Magic is one of the best articles they put out.