Best Sports Documentaries

Pratters · 11-10-2009, 12:07 PM

The Best Sports Documentaries of All Time | Bleacher Report

This gives 10 good documentaries. Do you have some other recommendations?

BoyBrumby · 11-10-2009, 12:57 PM

I've only seen Once In A Lifetime & When We Were Kings from that list. Enjoyed the former more, tbh, because Ali has been slightly done to death as a subject by various filmmakers over the years.

The story of the NY Cosmos & the NASL is a fascinating and largely forgotten one, until the docu redressed the balance. In the late 70s the Americans were playing fantasy football for real with the world's game; anyone who was anyone played over there.

ITV did a rather good documentary on Brian Clough this year, called simply Clough, however my personal favourite was a 3-parter written & presented by the legendary football scribe Hugh McIlvaney called The Football Men. It focussed on the three Scottish managers who shaped British football in the second half of the 20th century: Bill Shankly, Jock Stein & Sir Matt Busby.

sledger · 11-10-2009, 02:45 PM

Channel 4 did a very interesting series on football sometime in the last 5-8 years iirc, I can't remember what it was called, but they had some very good ones on Sven Goran Eriksson and Alex Ferguson.

Francis · 11-10-2009, 03:11 PM

The list is complete crap if only for the reason that they put 'Wrestling With Shadows' on it. The only thing that documentary is good for is demonstrating what a complete mark Bret Hart is for himself.

I cringed when I saw the scene where Bret Hart is talking about how he'd prefer to see his character getting raped in the ring than lose to Shawn in Montreal. "I won't let them rape me."

Biggest load of **** I've ever seen.

pasag · 11-10-2009, 05:34 PM

Only seen Murderball and When We Were Kings, but both are fantastic.

NUFAN · 11-10-2009, 05:57 PM

Number 8 once in a lifetime is an excellent doco and it's the one I would have mentioned before seeing the list.

Uppercut · 11-10-2009, 07:45 PM

An Impossible Job is well worth a look. It's on Google video, actually.

Son Of Coco · 11-10-2009, 10:55 PM

Have seen Dogtown and Z Boys and When We Were Kings from that list (was watching the latter on ABC when the planes hit the twin towers...came back from making dinner and thought "What the hell is this, I don't remember this part")

Another really good sports documentary is 'The Other Final':

THE OTHER FINAL

Burgey · 12-10-2009, 05:03 PM

Haven't seen Unforgiveable Blackness, but if it's even a remotely well put together piece on Jack Johnson, it would be well worth a look.

OT, but what are your favourite sports movies? There are so many, most of them are pretty diabolical. Excluding pure docos, I still think This Sporting Life is my all time favourite.

dontcloseyoureyes · 12-10-2009, 07:33 PM

Coach Carter (H)

nightprowler10 · 16-10-2009, 08:05 AM

Only documentary I've seen in recent times is the Bulls dynasty one, I thought it did a pretty decent job but it spans 6 DVDs so requires a bit of patience.

Ikki · 16-10-2009, 02:07 PM

I saw the Jack Johnson one... it is really long but pretty brilliant. He led an amazing life and it's a shame how forgotten he is. He really was an incredible boxer and person. I urge others to watch it and, if need be, in two sessions since it's almost 4 hrs long.

blahblahblah · 20-08-2012, 01:30 AM

Senna

The name says it all, most inspirational doc featuring life of Senna

Spikey · 20-08-2012, 01:47 AM

god hoop dreams is good

_Ed_ · 20-08-2012, 05:51 AM

I thought ESPN's 30 for 30 series was fantastic - particularly Charismatic.
"30 for 30" Charismatic (TV episode 2010) - IMDb

11-10-2009, 12:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Pratters Banned Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kolkata, India Posts: 20,794	Best Sports Documentaries The Best Sports Documentaries of All Time \| Bleacher Report This gives 10 good documentaries. Do you have some other recommendations?

11-10-2009, 12:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
BoyBrumby Englishman Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Doing the stance Posts: 42,613	I've only seen Once In A Lifetime & When We Were Kings from that list. Enjoyed the former more, tbh, because Ali has been slightly done to death as a subject by various filmmakers over the years. The story of the NY Cosmos & the NASL is a fascinating and largely forgotten one, until the docu redressed the balance. In the late 70s the Americans were playing fantasy football for real with the world's game; anyone who was anyone played over there. ITV did a rather good documentary on Brian Clough this year, called simply Clough, however my personal favourite was a 3-parter written & presented by the legendary football scribe Hugh McIlvaney called The Football Men. It focussed on the three Scottish managers who shaped British football in the second half of the 20th century: Bill Shankly, Jock Stein & Sir Matt Busby. __________________ *- As featured in The Independent.* "This is not the time for namby-pamby promising youngsters who might just do something; not the time for building for the future. Pragmatism rules and they don't come more pragmatic than Rogers." - Victor Marks makes the case for stiff-legged and stiff-armed 35 year old left-handers in Ashes squads

11-10-2009, 05:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
pasag RTDAS Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Looking for milksteak Posts: 31,679	Only seen Murderball and When We Were Kings, but both are fantastic. __________________ Rest In Peace Craigos 2003-2012

11-10-2009, 10:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
Son Of Coco Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,059	Have seen Dogtown and Z Boys and When We Were Kings from that list (was watching the latter on ABC when the planes hit the twin towers...came back from making dinner and thought "What the hell is this, I don't remember this part") Another really good sports documentary is 'The Other Final': THE OTHER FINAL __________________ "What is this what is this who is this guy shouting what is this going on in here?" - CP. (re: psxpro) R.I.P Craigos, you were a champion bloke. One of the best *R.I.P Fardin 'Bob' Qayyumi* Member of the Church of the Holy Glenn McGrath

12-10-2009, 05:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
Burgey Cricket Web Staff Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Castle Posts: 35,137	Haven't seen Unforgiveable Blackness, but if it's even a remotely well put together piece on Jack Johnson, it would be well worth a look. OT, but what are your favourite sports movies? There are so many, most of them are pretty diabolical. Excluding pure docos, I still think This Sporting Life is my all time favourite. __________________ WWCC - Loyaulte Mi Lie "People make me happy.. not places.. people" "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life." - Samuel Johnson "Oh my God, there's a castle! A castle!" Last edited by Burgey; 12-10-2009 at 05:04 PM.

11-10-2009, 02:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
sledger Spanish_Vicente Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: cricsim, lol Posts: 28,060	Channel 4 did a very interesting series on football sometime in the last 5-8 years iirc, I can't remember what it was called, but they had some very good ones on Sven Goran Eriksson and Alex Ferguson.

11-10-2009, 03:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
Francis State Vice-Captain Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: WELLYWOOD Posts: 1,032	The list is complete crap if only for the reason that they put 'Wrestling With Shadows' on it. The only thing that documentary is good for is demonstrating what a complete mark Bret Hart is for himself. I cringed when I saw the scene where Bret Hart is talking about how he'd prefer to see his character getting raped in the ring than lose to Shawn in Montreal. "I won't let them rape me." Biggest load of **** I've ever seen.

11-10-2009, 05:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
NUFAN International Coach Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NSW Posts: 13,729	Number 8 once in a lifetime is an excellent doco and it's the one I would have mentioned before seeing the list.

12-10-2009, 07:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
dontcloseyoureyes BARNES OUT Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: WILDCARD, BITCHES Posts: 27,702	Coach Carter (H) __________________ The one, the only CW Black Code: 47.3 W Coppinger to Heads Smacked the ball straight into the groin of Iwuajoku who has fallen over, miraculously with the ball still caught in his scrotal area! Out! TO OUR FOREFATHERS

16-10-2009, 08:05 AM	#11 (permalink)
nightprowler10 Global Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Madhouse on Madison Posts: 13,389	Only documentary I've seen in recent times is the Bulls dynasty one, I thought it did a pretty decent job but it spans 6 DVDs so requires a bit of patience. __________________ Can't decide on a signature? Why not Zoidberg? (\/) (;,,;) (\/) RIP Craigos

16-10-2009, 02:07 PM	#12 (permalink)
Ikki International Coach Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Death Queen Island Posts: 12,032	I saw the Jack Johnson one... it is really long but pretty brilliant. He led an amazing life and it's a shame how forgotten he is. He really was an incredible boxer and person. I urge others to watch it and, if need be, in two sessions since it's almost 4 hrs long. __________________ I think there'll sooner be another Bradman than another Warne. - Gidgeon Haigh [Warne is] the greatest bowler ever produced in this entire world - Muttiah Muralidaran [Warne is] the greatest bowler of all time - Glenn McGrath In my opinion Shane Warne is the greatest cricketer who's ever lived - Ian Botham Warne is the greatest cricketer to pick up a ball ever. And is the greatest bowler I have ever laid eyes on. - Brian Lara

20-08-2012, 01:30 AM	#13 (permalink)
blahblahblah International 12th Man Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: As always, my room Posts: 1,731	Senna The name says it all, most inspirational doc featuring life of Senna

20-08-2012, 01:47 AM	#14 (permalink)
Spikey Cricket Web: All-Time Legend Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: All Glory To The Nev Posts: 24,012	god hoop dreams is good __________________ Indians can't bowl - Where has the rumour come from as I myself and many indian friends arwe competent fast bowlers ? With the English bid I said: Let us be brief. If you give back the Falkland Islands, which belong to us, you will get my vote. They then became sad and left

20-08-2012, 05:51 AM	#15 (permalink)
_Ed_ Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Auckland, Aotearoa Posts: 19,100	I thought ESPN's 30 for 30 series was fantastic - particularly Charismatic. "30 for 30" Charismatic (TV episode 2010) - IMDb

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