During the coronavirus shutdown, each day we will bring you a recommendation from The Post’s Peter Botte for a sports movie, TV show or book that perhaps was before your time or somehow slipped between the cracks of your viewing/reading history.
30 For 30 (ESPN documentary series)
Streaming: ESPN+, Amazon
What if I told you your sports void during the pandemic quarantine could be filled with hours upon hours of some of the finest sports documentaries ever made?
There are so many incredibly reported and packaged tales in ESPN’s award-winning series — an idea originally hatched by the network’s Bill Simmons and Connor Schell — that it’s nearly impossible to pare them down to my favorite 10 episodes since the initial one (Peter Berg’s “Kings Ransom” about the 1988 trade of Wayne Gretzky from the Oilers to the Kings) debuted in October 2009.
But here goes, let the debate begin:
(Note: We are not counting the brilliant five-parter “O.J.: Made in America” because of its expanded mini-series format. So no angry emails, please).
10. “Requiem for the Big East” — Patrick, Mullin, Pearl and glory days at the Garden.
Back page of The Post on June 3, 1994.9. “I Hate Christian Laettner” — You know you do.
8. “Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?” — A certain future White House resident, that’s who.
7. “Survive and Advance” — Jimmy V and N.C. State upset Hakeem and Houston’s Phi Slama Jama.
6. “Big Shot” — John Spano defrauds the Islanders and the NHL. (Disclaimer: I’m in it!)
5. “The Two Bills” — Parcells and Belichick, unfiltered.
4. “Winning Time” — Reggie Miller vs. Spike and the Knicks.
3. “June 17, 1994” — The Rangers’ parade (!), the Knicks’ run, and oh yeah, the O.J. car chase.
2. “The U” — The Miami Hurricanes’ college football revolution.
1. “The Two Escobars” — The intertwined deaths of Colombian soccer star Andres and drug lord Pablo.
Honorable Mention: Episodes on the Lakers-Celtics rivalry, Duke lacrosse, the Pistons’ “Bad Boys” teams, Len Bias, Allen Iverson, SMU football, Marcus Dupree, the 1990s Buffalo Bills, Bo Jackson and Steve Bartman.
Quote of Note: “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” — Jim Valvano
Botte Blows: 4.8 of 5
