Watch 30 For 30

TV-G
2009
5 Seasons
8.8 (5,234)

Watch 30 For 30 Online! 30 For 30 is an acclaimed documentary series on ESPN that premiered in 2009. The series seeks to explore stories that have been forgotten or overlooked in the world of sports. Each episode is directed by a different filmmaker, making the series a diverse and fascinating look at sports and its impact on society. One standout episode of 30 For 30 is the one featuring John Spano, the man who famously bought the New York Islanders hockey team in 1996, only to be exposed as a fraud. The episode, directed by Entourage actor Kevin Connolly, chronicles Spano's rise and fall, as well as his eventual prison sentence for bank fraud. The episode is a gripping look at the world of sports ownership, as well as the lengths some people will go to achieve their dreams. Through interviews with Spano, as well as other members of the Islanders organization, Connolly paints a portrait of a man who was desperate to be a part of the sports world, even if it meant lying and cheating his way there. Part of what makes the John Spano episode of 30 For 30 so compelling is how it ties into the larger issues of sports and money. As the episode notes, Spano was just one of many people who, in the '90s, saw sports ownership as a way to make a quick buck. The result was a wave of shady deals, bankruptcies, and lawsuits, which the episode explores in detail. Of course, the heart of the episode is John Spano himself. Through interviews with the man himself, as well as his family, Connolly builds a nuanced picture of a person who was often misunderstood. Spano, it turns out, wasn't always the conniving schemer he's often made out to be; at times, he was more of a naive dreamer who got in over his head. It's this complexity that sets the John Spano episode of 30 For 30 apart from other sports documentaries. Rather than painting Spano as a villain or a hero, the episode allows him to speak for himself, even if it means acknowledging his mistakes and wrongdoings. As a result, the episode feels more honest and authentic than other documentaries that seek to fit real-life subjects into neat, predetermined narratives. Overall, the John Spano episode of 30 For 30 is a must-watch for anyone interested in sports, business, or human nature. It's a fascinating exploration of what happens when dreams collide with reality, and it offers a valuable lesson about the dangers of chasing after something at all costs. Plus, with Kevin Connolly's direction, it's a visually stunning and emotionally resonant piece of filmmaking. So, if you're looking for a documentary that will challenge your assumptions about sports and society, Watch 30 For 30 Online, including the John Spano episode. You won't be disappointed.

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8. Breakaway

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WNBA superstar and activist Maya Moore was one of the best basketball players in the world when she stepped away from the sport for a remarkable reason: to fight for a man she believed was wrongly imprisoned. In 2019, after four WNBA championships, two Olympic gold medals, a WNBA MVP award, three All-Star MVPs, and a scoring title, Moore decided to take a sabbatical from basketball at the age of 29 to devote herself full-time to working for the release of a man named Jonathan Irons, who was wrongly convicted of burglary and assault and sentenced to 50 years in prison

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Former Raiders owner Al Davis and former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle were two of the most influential figures in the history of pro football. And for a quarter of a century, their long-running feud was a central storyline in the NFL's evolution into the most popular and successful league in sports. Beginning in the 1960s when Rozelle was the NFL's young commissioner and Davis led the rival AFL, and continuing through the 1980s when Davis waged a lawsuit against the league to allow him to move the Raiders from Oakland to Los Angeles, the two titans were constantly and very publicly at odds. This is the story of the colorful battle between Davis and Rozelle"as told by the two men themselves, their spirits "recreated" using deepfake technology.

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Description

One standout episode of 30 For 30 is the one featuring John Spano, the man who famously bought the New York Islanders hockey team in 1996, only to be exposed as a fraud. The episode, directed by Entourage actor Kevin Connolly, chronicles Spano's rise and fall, as well as his eventual prison sentence for bank fraud.

The episode is a gripping look at the world of sports ownership, as well as the lengths some people will go to achieve their dreams. Through interviews with Spano, as well as other members of the Islanders organization, Connolly paints a portrait of a man who was desperate to be a part of the sports world, even if it meant lying and cheating his way there.

Part of what makes the John Spano episode of 30 For 30 so compelling is how it ties into the larger issues of sports and money. As the episode notes, Spano was just one of many people who, in the '90s, saw sports ownership as a way to make a quick buck. The result was a wave of shady deals, bankruptcies, and lawsuits, which the episode explores in detail.

Of course, the heart of the episode is John Spano himself. Through interviews with the man himself, as well as his family, Connolly builds a nuanced picture of a person who was often misunderstood. Spano, it turns out, wasn't always the conniving schemer he's often made out to be; at times, he was more of a naive dreamer who got in over his head.

It's this complexity that sets the John Spano episode of 30 For 30 apart from other sports documentaries. Rather than painting Spano as a villain or a hero, the episode allows him to speak for himself, even if it means acknowledging his mistakes and wrongdoings. As a result, the episode feels more honest and authentic than other documentaries that seek to fit real-life subjects into neat, predetermined narratives.

Overall, the John Spano episode of 30 For 30 is a must-watch for anyone interested in sports, business, or human nature. It's a fascinating exploration of what happens when dreams collide with reality, and it offers a valuable lesson about the dangers of chasing after something at all costs. Plus, with Kevin Connolly's direction, it's a visually stunning and emotionally resonant piece of filmmaking.

So, if you're looking for a documentary that will challenge your assumptions about sports and society, Watch 30 For 30 Online, including the John Spano episode. You won't be disappointed.

30 For 30 is a series that is currently running and has 5 seasons (127 episodes). The series first aired on October 6, 2009.

Where to Watch 30 For 30

30 For 30 is available for streaming on the ESPN website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch 30 For 30 on demand at Disney+, Google Play and Apple TV.