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ESPN's 30 for 30


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#1 Guest_Gumshoe_*

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Posted 20 October 2009 - 08:14 PM

I just finished watching the 2nd installment of ESPN's series of short stories, this one called "Small Potatoes: Who killed the USFL?". For those of you too young to remember, that would be the United States Football League, a professional football league that ran from 1982-85 in the spring and was very successful until they tried to move the league to the fall in 1986.

I remember enjoying the USFL and all the big names like Herschal Walker, Doug Flutie, Steve Young, Jim Kelly and countless others and I remember being sad when the league shut down. My favorite team was the Michigan Panthers who had Bobby Hebert as their QB and Anthony Carter as their WR. The dominant team over the course of the leagues history was the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars, who many thought would have been able to compete in the NFL.

The ESPN story basically blames Donald Trump for the demise of the league when he talked the other owners into going head to head with the NFL and by filing an Anti Trust Suit against the NFL which they ultimately won and received a settlement of $1.00. Many felt Trump was trying to buy his way into owning an NFL franchise but the NFL wanted no part of Trump.

The show brought back a lot of great memories for me and I recommend watching it if you get a chance.


#2 Guest_Gumshoe_*

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Posted 21 October 2009 - 01:35 PM

Shutdown Corner Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:07 am EDT

Donald Trump killed the USFL; documentary kills Donald Trump
By MJD

Last night's installment of the "30 for 30" series on ESPN detailed the rise and fall of everyone's favorite defunct football league, the USFL. The official title was "Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?" but it might as well have been, "Donald Trump Murdered the USFL, Brutally and Without Remorse, and Then Urinated on the Corpse."

Whether or not that's true, I couldn't tell you, but Trump is certainly who this documentary blames for the league's demise. Of course, there are two sides to every story, and for the record, Trump has called the documentary "dishonest," "third-rate," and its director "a loser." It should be noted, though, that loser/filmmaker Mike Tollin seemed easily able to find a lot of people who agreed that Trump's greed and ego were the primary reasons for the USFL's death.

Regardless of blame, it was a fun hour of USFL reminiscing. I remember the league, but not a lot of specifics. I remember it existing in the spring, and I remember being happy that there was football on television. I remember that the league had some sweet logos, and I remember my Topps USFL trading cards. I remember everyone making a big deal about how Herschel Walker was going to be making a million dollars a year.

For the rest of this article check out Yahoo.com sports blog Shutdown Corner.


#3 mrclutch

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Posted 21 October 2009 - 06:42 PM

I have watched all 3 installments so far ... Gretzky trade, Baltimore Colts band, and USFL ... all have been good. These stories have a unique perspective having been directed by people outside the normal sports realm. Well worth watching - something different!

#4 mrclutch

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Posted 21 October 2009 - 06:44 PM

And ... Maybe they'll do "Rotten Potatoes: Who killed the Cleveland Browns" !!!

#5 TiGgEr3

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Posted 21 October 2009 - 11:45 PM

QUOTE (mrclutch @ Oct 21 2009, 07:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have watched all 3 installments so far ... Gretzky trade, Baltimore Colts band, and USFL ... all have been good. These stories have a unique perspective having been directed by people outside the normal sports realm. Well worth watching - something different!



I liked the first two more than this one. This was good, but you could tell they did a lot of the segments purposely just to have Trump affiliated with their production.

The Gretzky one was very well done, and the Colts one was very heartwarming and inspiring imo.

Don't find fault, find a remedy.
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#6 doughash

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Posted 22 October 2009 - 08:06 AM

I've always thought of Donald Trump as a horse's behind and the USFL piece certainly reinforced that.

#7 Mikeoxbronken

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Posted 25 October 2009 - 09:45 PM

I enjoy these movies. The USFL was by far the best one
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#8 TEDE

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Posted 27 October 2009 - 03:20 PM

good movie


#9 Guest_Gumshoe_*

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Posted 10 November 2009 - 04:53 PM

Saw the 30 on 30 yesterday on Len Bias and it was as good as the others. Looking forward to the next one on Jimmy the Greek which is either tonite or tommorrow. These films are very well done and I recommend spending an hour watching them.

The Len Bias story brought back a lot of memories and told the story of a tremendes basketball athlete who died of a drug overdose after according to many, first time usage. The moral of this story was that sometimes you only get one chance and his death was also one of the things that caused drug laws to change nationally in 1986.



#10 ramoth

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Posted 19 January 2010 - 12:55 AM

Panthers were my favorite USFL team too. I've only watched this episode and the one about Miami this one was better by far.

#11 calieigh

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Posted 20 January 2010 - 12:57 AM

Hi.
I like Panthers.

#12 slice slice baby

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Posted 21 January 2010 - 01:19 PM

ramoth & Calieigh!! ramoth is certainly a name I'm sure many of us remember from the huddle days! Great to have you both with us & we hope you have blast here at the 'Corner!

Happy posting!
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#13 mrclutch

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Posted 12 October 2010 - 09:21 PM

Another excellent film on ESPN tonight ... 'Once Brothers'.

#14 Pulitzer

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Posted 14 October 2010 - 06:07 PM

QUOTE (mrclutch @ Oct 12 2010, 10:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Another excellent film on ESPN tonight ... 'Once Brothers'.



That was teriffic. I'd highly recommend, if they replay it anytime, giving it a watch.

#15 doughash

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Posted 14 October 2010 - 10:43 PM

QUOTE (Pulitzer @ Oct 14 2010, 06:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
That was teriffic. I'd highly recommend, if they replay it anytime, giving it a watch.


I agree, a very touching story.

#16 Guest_Gumshoe_*

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Posted 17 October 2010 - 09:44 AM

"Once Brothers" excellent!

#17 doughash

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Posted 21 October 2010 - 12:08 PM

Good story on NASCAR driver Tim Richmond this week. Didn't realize he was from Ashland and cut his racing teeth on some of the local tracks.

#18 mrclutch

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Posted 21 October 2010 - 07:57 PM

Another EXCELLENT show. They just keep coming - this is a really good series of films.







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