Exploring ESPN's 30 for 30: Part 2. The Band That Wouldn't Die

Director: Barry Levinson
Rain Man
Bugsy
The Natural
Good Morning Vietnam
Avalon
Diner


Synopsis
The film follows the leaders of the Baltimore Colts Band (currently Baltimore's Marching Ravens) during and after the the 1984 departure of the Baltimore Colts NFL team to Indianapolis.  On a dark night in March, moving vans emptied all of the Colts equipment from Memorial Stadium and shipped the franchise to Indianapolis, leaving the city in shock.  The film cites former Colts owner Robert Irsay as the leading decision maker behind the move.  The all volunteer Colts Band remained behind and continued to perform on a shoestring budget, representing the hope of the people of Baltimore who wanted nothing more than their own NFL franchise.  The band was adopted by the Baltimore Ravens (formerly the Cleveland Browns) when the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1996.

Exploring ESPN's 30 for 30: Part 1. King's Ransom

Director: Peter Berg
 The Rundown
Very Bad Things
Friday Night Lights (directed the movie, producer of the television series)
The Kingdom
Hancock

Synopsis
The film follows the trade of "the Great One", hockey's Wayne Gretzky, from the small market Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings.  Gretzky is easily the most recognizable figure in all of professional hockey with mind boggling statistics and perhaps one of the most impressive list of records of any athlete in any sport.  The film really tries to focus on the intricacies of the deal which was orchestrated by Oilers owner Peter Pocklington and Kings owner Bruce McNall.  The film also delves into some side plots including the pleas of Oilers coach Glen Sather and Gretzky's wife Janet. Gretzky, along with teammates Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski, was traded on August 9th, 1988 for $15 million dollars,Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, and Los Angeles' first round draft picks in 1989, 1991, and 1993. The move sparked a massive uproar in Edmonton where fans burned and hung Pocklington in effigy.  In Los Angeles, the move brought interest in NHL up to an unprecedented level and the film notes that California added two more franchises (Anaheim and San Jose) when the league expanded during the 1990s.