The 30 best '30 for 30' episodes

Four members of Michigan's famed and trend-setting "Fab Five" (minus Chris Webber) got together to tell the story of what it was like to be part of an international sports phenomenon. Jalen Rose helped produce the project, which is considered an extension of the "30 for 30" library. Not hearing from Webber, who is said to have a contentious relationship with Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson, takes something away from the film, but it's still a fun trip back in basketball history.

This goes behind the allegations and highly publicized criminal investigation involving members of the Duke men's lacrosse team in 2006, who were accused of rape. The work of Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Marina Zenovich takes a detailed look into the major players, like accuser Crystal Mangum and Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong, involved in a case that touched on topics such as race, entitlement, sexual abuse, power and due process. 

The 1985 Chicago Bears were one of the most colorful and confident teams in NFL history. A lot of that had to do with a defense that led the franchise to its only Super Bowl title and just might be the most dominant of all time. The architect of that defense was coordinator Buddy Ryan, the good ol' farm boy who was hard on his players. But they loved him no less. This documentary offers an unseen look into the relationship members of that Bears defense had with Ryan.

Four straight trips to the Super Bowls in the 1990s and four consecutive defeats. It was easy to feel sorry for the Bills during that run, but after watching Ken Rodgers' piece about what it was like for the franchise go through that, and how it deals with it today, it demands a large amount of respect. Those Bills still look back on that time and are proud of the fact they accomplished something (just getting to four straight Super Bowls) that might not be done again.

One of the more underrated "30 for 30" installments takes us into the wild and tragic life of Indy Car driver-turned-stock car racer Tim Richmond — known as "Hollywood" for his good looks, outgoing nature and zest for living. In August 1989, at the age of 34, Richmond, who won more than 10 professional races and was one of the more outgoing racers on the NASCAR scene, died due to complications of AIDS.

This is an interesting look at the late 1970s point-shaving scandal involving the Boston College men's basketball team and mob bigwig Henry Hill. In fitting fashion, actor Ray Liotta, who played Hill in the 1990 blockbuster "Goodfellas," narrates a well-crafted documentary that looks into one of the darkest moments in the history of college hoops — and shows just how deep the corruption went.

Aside from the fact Kid Rock was employed as narrator, this is a fine look inside the Detroit Pistons of the late 1980s and early '90s. Whether a Pistons fan or not, it's a nostalgic ride through the makings of a team that was not going to apologize for the physical way it played the game. Perhaps most compelling, is the players' love and admiration for coach Chuck Daly. 

Admit it: There are many of us out there who get a kick out of competitive eating. Call it a guilty pleasure, but this specific episode provides some solid insight into the good and bad of this truly unique world. (We're talking about you, George Shea.) Much of the focus, rightfully so, is on the sport's biggest stars, Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi, and where this has taken their respective lives.

While the coronavirus pandemic cut short the rebirth of the XFL in 2020, over-the-top, WWF-style attitude and innovation of the first incarnation of the league led to its demise after just one season. This episode looks at the brief rise and fall of the XFL's initial 2001 season, interviewing those involved and offering candid insight from wrestling mogul Vince McMahon and former chairman of NBC Sports Dick Ebersol.

One of the early "30 for 30" installments tells the tale of the short-lived United States Football League. Big names like Jim Kelly and Steve Young joined the league's first star in running back Herschel Walker to offer an offseason pro football outlet for NFL fans. Perhaps most memorable is now-President Donald Trump's interview with director Michael Tollin and how the commander-in-chief provided the title for the film.

Basketball fans from Chicago during the early-to-mid 1980s were well acquainted with high school star Ben Wilson. Through this, the rest of the sports world got to know Wilson, the nation's No. 1 prospect who was tragically killed in a senseless act of gun violence on the eve of his 1984-85 season. Renowned filmmakers Coodie Simmons (a Chicago native) and Chike Ozah superbly document Wilson's life on and off the court as well as introduce viewers to man responsible for his murder.

While former NFL star Michael Vick does not have many sympathizers, this multi-part piece thoroughly goes into great detail (often graphically) of the quarterback's life and NFL career and how it all unraveled amid the well-publicized dog-fighting scandal. Vick does not pull any punches during the film, and regardless how one might feel about him, the documentary is well done and provides an honest look at the rise and fall of the superstar. 

Iverson did not directly take part in the film, but director Steve James ("Hoop Dreams") does a fine job digging into one of the more uglier incidents in the history of Hampton, Virginia. Via camcorder footage, the film details the brawl at a local bowling alley in February 1993, when a then-high school-age Iverson and some friends were accused of attacking others with chairs. It also follows the trial and how the overall incident only fueled the racial issues within Hampton. 

The true brainchild of former Providence College basketball coach and athletic director Dave Gavitt, the Big East Conference made sports fans across the country care about college hoops on the East Coast. It's a well-done and extremely celebratory tribute to a conference that featured some of the most successful and colorful coaches, players and rivalries in the history of men's college basketball.

Ric Flair has always been, and still is, a larger-than-life wrestling personality in and out of the ring. But this stellar "30 for 30" installment digs deep into the life of the "Nature Boy." Riveting at times, the episode shows Flair's vulnerability while dealing with the many trials and tribulations he's endured amid the fame, and continues to, during a life that's far from always glamorous. 

June 17, 1994, is a day plenty of sports fans remember just exactly where they were at the time. O.J. Simpson sitting inside that infamous white Ford Bronco being chased by police through Los Angeles, the New York Rangers Stanley Cup parade and Game 5 of the NBA Finals were just a few of the major sports moments of the day. This documentary brings them together in a creative and insightful way. 

The 1983 NFL Draft should still be considered one that featured the greatest quarterback class in league history. Obviously, No. 1 overall pick John Elway and Dan Marino, who fell to the 27th pick of the first round, highlight the tale. Marvin Demoff, then-agent for both Elway and Marino, is at the center of the film that takes us back to one of the most notable times in the history of the draft.

This is an in-depth look into the hours leading up to the tragic death of college basketball star Len Bias from a cocaine-related heart attack just days after the Boston Celtics selected him with the second-overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft. Director Kirk Fraser digs deep, not only into the circumstances surrounding Bias' death, but the rising drug culture in American sports.

By now, those of a certain age are well familiar with the "Miracle on Ice," at least from the victorious American side. But what about the Russians? This stellar piece of work by director Jonathan Hock, whom we will hear more from later in this list, shows how the Soviet Red Army turned it into a hockey power and what it was like for athletes under the rule of mad genius Anatoli Tarasov. Star Russian defenseman Slava Fetisov's return to Lake Placid is quite gripping.

One of the most improbable runs to an NCAA men's basketball title came in 1983 when North Carolina State made its way through the ACC tournament and then the Big Dance to stun favored Houston for the championship. Led by outgoing coach Jim Valvano and a trio of determined seniors, the Wolfpack capped their magical surge with a Lorenzo Charles dunk at the buzzer. Though not all associated with that team are still with us, Hock shows it's still about survival and advancement for members of that squad.

After watching this personal look into perhaps the greatest — and most despised — college basketball player of all time, one might have a different opinion of the former Duke star. Maybe. Regardless, we truly get to know a lot about the competitive nature that drove Laettner to be the best, whether on the basketball court or in his own home. The Rob Lowe narration is a nice touch.

Once again Jonathan Hock delivers. This time, it's a poignant and honest look into the life of Marcus Dupree, the highly touted prep football player and second-team All-American running back as a freshman with Oklahoma in 1982. However, alleged laziness and injuries hampered his sophomore season and Dupree left Oklahoma. He surfaced in the USFL and had a cup of coffee in the NFL (15 games) during a career many thought was nothing but talent wasted.

Brilliantly put together by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Jim Podhoretz, this mulit-part documentary gets high marks for capturing the spirit, energy and emotion of the greatest rivalry in NBA history. Naturally, there is plenty Magic and Bird to dive into, but there are others associated with the two franchises who lend their time to delve into the history of this rivalry. This should excite fans beyond the Lakers and Celtics.

A look into the backstory of one of the most iconic T-shirts ever printed is a must for any college football fan, regardless if they're backers of either Notre Dame and Miami. While the shirt's origination and the effects it had on its creators are engrossing, first-hand accounts of those involved with the 1988 classic between the Hurricanes and Irish are even more intriguing. 

One of the most viewed and popular films among the "30 for 30" series, The U offers more than a glimpse into the rise of prominence of the Miami Hurricanes football program. It became became larger than life thanks to personalities like coach Jimmy Johnson and receiver Michael Irvin. However, with success and fame came plenty of controversy, scandal and disdain. We'll include the 2014 sequel The U: Part 2, highlighted by the 2000s' decline of the program.

Corruption is as much a part of college athletics as "One Shining Moment" and the Rose Bowl. However, football boosters, staff and administrators at SMU took it to a new level. It's still not completely known how much money or other gifts Eric Dickerson, or even Craig James, were given to play for the "Pony Express" in the early 1990s. Unabashed and seemingly unapologetic, the university kept players on the payroll and ultimately, yet temporarily, lost the program to what was known as the "Death Penalty." 

Perhaps the most ambitious of the "30 for 30" family of films, this five-part series takes the viewer deep inside in the life of once-great running back and celebrity O.J. Simpson like no other documentary of its kind has ever done. The film features plenty of interviews from those close to Simpson throughout his life, with some offering an honest take on his acquittal for the murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman — not to mention, insight from those involved in the famed trial that captured the attention of a nation.

The friendship between former Yugoslavia national basketball team members Vlade Divac and Dražen Petrović. The former NBA stars were great friends until war tore Divac, a Serb, and the Croatian Petrović apart. Divac's personal struggles with regret in the years following Petrović's untimely death in 1993 will leave the viewer enthralled and empathic at the same time.

This is one of the great and most powerful sports documentaries out there. Brothers Jeff and Michael Zimbalist creatively intertwined storylines involving Colombian soccer player Andres Escobar and that country's famed drug lord Pablso Escobar (no relation). And, how the former's death following his own goal during the 1994 World Cup was committed by drug cartel members as a result of his gaffe.

This was part of a series of soccer-specific "30 for 30" projects and also one of the most riveting, candid and emotional sports documentaries available. It tells the devastating story, via accounts of those present and involved with the investigation, that followed the deaths of more than 70 people (nearly 800 injured) due to overcrowding at the April 1989 FA Cup semifinal match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England.