The ESPN series of 30 for 30 movies has been a hit since it was released and it came after an idea from Grantland editor Bill Simmons and now that the original run that covered the 30 years of ESPN was a success, the brand is now expanding and hopefully it will continue to do so for years to come.
ESPN announced on Thursday the slate of new films and when they will premiere and some of them sound fantastic, including the one about the Olympics with Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding when Harding hired her boyfriend to try and injure the star.
Other films in the series include a surfing documentary, Jimmy Connors' run through the US Open in 1991, the fight between Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard as well as the St. Louis Spirits and the NBA/ABA merger along with a tale of when the Islanders were trying to be bought in 1996 and the scandal that followed.
The company is also rumored to be airing a Maurice Clarett doc after the Heisman ceremony in November and will likely detail the rise and fall of the Ohio State running back. The first film will start off on Tuesday, October 1 at 8 PM and the other movies will follow each week.
Here is the full schedule:
October 1. Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau. This film will examine the tragic life of Hawaiian surfer Eddie Aikau, and is directed by Sam George.
October 8. Free Spirits. This one is going to look at the Spirits of St Louis leading into the NBA/ABA merger, and how the team is still existing and making money for their owners today. It's directed by Daniel H. Forer.
October 15. No Mas. The name should tell you all you need to know about this documentary: a look behind the scenes of the two fights between Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard. The director is Eric Drath.
October 22. Big Shot. Hey, another hockey documentary! Big Shot will break down the scandal involving John Spano's attempted purchase of the Islanders in 1996, and is directed by Kevin Connolly.
October 29. This is What They Want. Jimmy Connors' miraculous run in the 1991 US Open is examined, and is directed by Brian Koppleman and David Levien.
November 5. Tonya and Nancy. This is another one where the title makes it obvious what the subject matter will be: the incident between figure skaters Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding in 1994. The director is Nanette Burstein.
