Btw--here's a sneak peak of tonight's Mat Hoffman doc.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/29/mat-hoffman-talks-bmx-inj_n_662079.html

Sorry the video is in a non-postable format.

Damn...his shoulder is fucked up.

I enjoyed last nights episode. I always knew who Hoffman was and kinda casually was interested in the BMX and skateboarding and the x-games, but I had no idea how huge he was to the evolution of the sport. The dude's body really is a marvel of modern science.

Can't wait for that to come to DVD to see it.

Yup, he was a pro at 15, and even then was shaking this up and creating tricks that people weren't even thinking about. The idea of vert was just a glimmer. BMX was completely a racing-oriented sport, and then guys like Hoffman came in and re-imagined it.

Agreed on the marvel of science bit. I'm sure he doesn't wake up a day now without pain, but he's lucky to have survived so much.

Makes me kinda want to read his autobiography. I was more of a skaterat growing up, but we all BMX'd as well. I remember the mag-wheels and the super-padded up bikes.

It was funny seeing him attach this little motor on his bike to pick up more speed. Dude is/was pretty intense.

Intense but completely humble. He broke the record for big air (assisted) and then another guy beat him years later. He helped the guy break the record again.

This story about Marcus Dupree is crazy...never heard of the guy.

I'm as excited about Pony Excess that premiers tmrw. about the SMU program that eventually got the Death Penalty as I am about any they've had. It's a story I've read and heard bits and pieces about over the years (and the subject of countless jokes and fantastical made up stories in my head) but never gotten a defining telling of the story.

It's also the 30th and final of the series (though they will be doing more of this format). I was thinking, "damn, they're already at 30, I feel like I've only seen like 5, but looking over the list, I've seen at least half of them and hope to see the rest eventually...if they ever make it to Netflix streaming.

Dimino was railing against ESPN this morning over airing this right after the Heisman Trophy presentation to Cam.

Bitching about poor taste considering how much they are benefiting from CFB at the moment.

FWIW, I've already got my DVR set.

And Executive Producer Bill Simmons was saying he was ecstatic that they were running it then amid the Newton controversy.

Oh I predict it'll be the highest rated one yet.

Yeah, the SMU Story seems to be among the founding myths of our love of sports excess. It has all the elements: Big Oil Money, pure shitbaggery, the open purchasing of human beings, and hubris that makes a good story great.

I agree with Simmons about the airtime being perfect. I have, in fact, only watched about 5 of these, and the Bias one and the one on The U were the only ones that I would rate as good to great. I have not seen Marcus Dupree, but will catch that at some point.

have they ever aired the bartman one?

no, they're making it 90 minutes and having it air alone because they think it's gonna be so good.

Was just reminded I have to go to an Xmas party of my wife's book club tarts/spouses. Guess I'm DVR'ing.

I have a wedding. I wish I could imagine your evening as a return of old school Bobo The Simple Minded openly degrading all in attendance for their choice in books. Alas, this too has passed.

i thought it was pretty good. there were a couple areas i wish they would've delved into a bit more, but overall i got a lot out of it. also, what's it going to take for a documentary just about sherwood blount? i'm sure it would've had another hour if he were involved.


the trailer for this has me amped.

I have this set up on the TiVO, but it never records an actual show due to overruns, etc. ...

The Hoffman one I saw live, though, and it was awesome.

is there a date set?

I pretty much agree; there was a decided lack of dirt for lack of a better word: Just lots of half bright rich boys with gigantic eyeglasses. A couple other notes:

-He may well have been a hell of a coach but I laughed at Bobby Collins every time he was on the screen. He really did look like a rube from way back.

-Eric Dickerson + Craig James still don't equal Hershel Walker. Sorry guys.

-The guy who was Ron Meyer's assistant coach, his job appeared to be scoring blow and hitting on coeds.

-Interesting debate on the National Championship from 1982...I only remember the heartbreak of undefeated Georgia losing to Penn State and winning the MNC.

No talk about 30 for 30?

I thought it was fucking awesome. I also thought that Jalen Rose came across more like a guy who was assessing the way he thought as a somewhat bitter 19 year old now that he was 40 than a guy settling scores.

Jimmy King, Ray Jackson and Juwan all come across pretty well, too.

But apparently Grant Hill felt the need for an overlong, and overwrought response to Rose

I missed the HBO doc on the Runnin Rebs that apparently premiered the night before. Need to catch that.

Seriously...MAKE WITH THE FUCKING BARTMAN ALREADY!!!

Didn't see the episode but I really don't think that response is any of those things.

I also fucking loved it.

I was such a fanboy at the time, I was like 11 and 12. The Badgers weren't even relevant so I adopted them as my team. I was sporting the black socks and the same exact nike shoes I saw them wearing, I had the Michigan starter coat. Webber was my favorite player.

One of my favorite lines was when the were all talking about how much they hated Duke and I think it was Jimmy King who goes: "I thought Christian Laettner was.....(looks slyly into camera) A bitch."

Also, I found it interesting Webber didn't want to be a part of the whole thing...I can imagine the Timeout call pretty painful memory, but it wasn't the focus. I think he could have just not talked about that aspect and still talked about all the other shit.