10 Sports Documentaries That The Non Sports Fan Should Watch Who Is Trying To Get Into Sports
Are you a non sports fan looking to get into watching and following the beautiful world of sports? Here are ten sports documentaries that non sports fans need to view to become familiar with the terminology in the sports world’s ideology.
1. Survive and Advance
This sport document dives deep into the world of college basketball and the craziness of March Madness. We see a small-town team led by a once-in-a-lifetime coach go through the ups and downs of a magical season. Head Coach Jimmy Valvano inspires his North Carolina State basketball team, along with millions of people worldwide, to keep fighting and never give up. If you are looking to understand the world of college basketball, then you need to watch the episode in the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary series: Survive and Advance. You can stream it on the ESPN webpage and other online streaming services.
2. Winning Time
Another one of the many great ESPN 30 for 30 documentary series episodes, this sports documentary delves into the rise of one of the most historic players in the National Basketball Association in the early ’80s and ’90s. This sports documentary goes deep into Reggie Miller’s story with the Indiana Pacers during their historic playoff run in the 1980s. This documentary shows a real-life David and Goliath story when a small-town Indiana Pacer team goes toe to toe on the hardwood with the Big City New York Knicks. You cannot tell the story of the NBA’s history without mentioning the story of this historic rivalry. You can stream this sports documentary on ESPN’s webpage.
3. A Football Life Vince Lombardi
If you are looking to get into the world of American tackle football and the National Football league, one excellent sports documentary that you can watch is Vince Lombardi’s A Football life. This sports documentary shines a light on one of the greatest coaches to ever coach in the National Football League, Vince Lombardi, and showing how being successful in sports starts way before stepping on the playing field. In this documentary, viewers see how a once-in-a-lifetime coach inspired his time to become one of the most successful franchises in the history of the NFL. This sports documentary shows people winning in the game of football isn’t everything, winning is the only thing that matters. If you are looking to get into the game of football and the NFL, you need to watch this sports documentary. You can watch this documentary on the NFL network.
4. The U
If you ever wanted to know what life was like in college football during the 1980s and 1990s, then this documentary is just for you. This 30 for 30 is one of my favorite sports documentaries featuring one of the most dominant and successful college football programs in college football history. Viewers get an insight into how the University of Miami, Florida, college football program ruled and dominated the college football landscape in the 1980s and 1990s. Football fans know that the University of Miami, Florida football program in the 1980s and 1990s significantly influenced how the game of tackle football has changed in today’s day in age. If you love college football or are just getting familiar with the great game, you need to watch this sports documentary. You can watch this sports documentary on ESPN’s webpage.
5. The Last Dance
This newly released documentary shines a light on one of the most successful and famous athletes and figures in the history of sports and popular culture. This sports documentary is one of the many series in the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary platform. This series features one of the greatest teams and players ever to hit the field of play in professional sports. The Last Dance shines a light on the story of the Chicago Bulls during the 1980s and 1990s. We see Michael Jordan and the bulls tell their unique story as they dominated the National Basketball Association in the late 80s and early 90s. Viewers get a glimpse of what life was like for one of the greatest athletes of all time during one of the most dominant and successful runs in the history of the wide world of sports. You can stream this sports documentary on Netflix and ESPN’s webpage.
6. AL Davis vs. The NFL
One of the most polarizing characters to ever step into the spotlight in the sports world, Al Davis, former owner of the Oakland Raiders, has shown nothing more important in sports and life than to win. This newly minted sports documentary shines a bright light on the conflict and feud between one of the most polarizing sports figures, the late great Al Davis, and the NFL. If you are going to tell the story of the history of the National Football league, you have to include the late great Al Davis story.
7. Jackie Robinson
This sports documentary is more than just a sports documentary; it is an autobiography that delves into significant issues beyond the field of play. This documentary features the life and accomplishments of the legendary, Hall of Fame baseball player Jackie Robinson. One of the first pioneers to break the race barrier in baseball and sports in general, Jackie Robinson has been a pioneer in leading the way of positive change in many cultural and civil rights issues that are still relevant today. This documentary is more than just a sports documentary. The story of the late great Jackie Robinson is a story of perseverance and hope that everyone will enjoy. You can watch this fantastic sports documentary on Amazon Prime Video.
8. Long Gone Summer
This ESPN 30 for 30 sports documentary shines a light on the historic home run competition between legendary baseball players Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. This sports documentary delves into their home run chase, tight battle, and how their match ultimately changed how the great game of baseball is viewed and played. If you ever wanted to watch and follow the great game of baseball, you definitely should watch this sports documentary. You can stream this game on ESPN’s webpage and Netflix.
9. We were kings
This sports documentary released in 1996 gives viewers an insight into one of the greatest athletes in sports history, Muhammad Ali. Ali, one of the first pioneers in the sports world who stood up for freedom and African-Americans’ well-being, is a great inspiration for people worldwide. This sports documentary shows Ali demonstrating a fierce and competitive drive that is crucial to his success in the ring. He used his platform to fight racial injustice, war, and other civil rights issues while being one of the most successful and dominant athletes ever to step foot into the ring. This sports documentary highlights Ali’s battle in the ring with the great George Foreman and all the festivities that led up to this historic bout. If you want to learn more about the world of boxing and the civil rights movement, you need to watch this sports documentary.
10. Hoop Dreams
One of the most unique and thrilling sports documentaries of all time, Hoop Dreams is a great sports documentary that every sports fan should watch. This documentary shines a light on the life and struggles of living in the windy city of Chicago, Illinois, while trying to chase their dream of making it big in the world of basketball. Filmed in 1994, this sports documentary focuses on two Chicago high school boys’ basketball programs over the span of five years. Hoop Dreams delves into the lives of the players and the lives of the families, coaches, and others involved in making it and surviving in the tough, rough, and mean inner streets of Chicago. This is a great sports documentary highlighting the life struggles and adversity of people trying to live life in the windy city.
Those are some great sports documentaries that the non-sports fan trying to get into sports should watch to be more informed about sports! Do you like our list? Are we missing any documentaries? Tell us in the comments below!
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Hello! My name is Bryan Eglesia, and I am a Sports Writer/Digital Media Content Producer from the San Francisco Bay Area. I began my career as a contributor and reporter for the Reynolds School of Journalism in Reno, Nevada, where I developed many skills critical in Journalism and Sports Journalism. I'm passionate about storytelling in sports, through the spoken and written word, and I have a determined mindset to succeed in the Media Broadcasting field.