30 for 30 is the umbrella title for a series of documentaries airing on ESPN and its sister networks. The series, which premiered in October 2009 and concluded in December 2010, chronicles 30 stories from the "ESPN era," each of which detail the issues, trends, people, teams, or events that transformed the sports landscape since the sports network was founded in 1979.

The idea for the series began with ESPN.com columnist Bill Simmons, who wanted feature filmmakers to recount the sports stories, people, and events from the past 3 decades which they (1) took a personal interest or involvement in, however great or small, and (2) felt hadn't been fully explored. Simmons and his team took special interest to "stories that resonated at the time but were eventually forgotten for whatever reason."^[3] Simmons serves as 30 for 30's executive producer; Mike Tollin, who directed the series' 3rd entry, "Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?," also serves as consulting producer to the series.

Directors had creative control over their 30 for 30 episodes. The directors appear in interstitial comments during the broadcast to discuss their film and its subject matter, usually appearing before the beginning of the film and before the last commercial break. A number of directors appeared as participants in their films, serving as narrators, analysts, or interviewing participants of the original story.

[edit] List of the 30 for 30 Volume I films

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, each episode length is 60 minutes (including commercials).

[edit] ESPN Films Presents:

Other films were previously announced for the 30 for 30 series but were not included in the series. These films, which began airing in 2011, are a continuation of 30 for 30, dealing with more sports stories that 30 for 30 did not cover. According to 30 for 30 producer Bill Simmons: "We're spinning off the "30 for 30" series next year into something that will probably be called "30 for 30 Presents" or something like that... we're going to be putting out 4–5 sports docs per year on the level of the best "30 for 30" docs and getting the best filmmakers to do them. Same creative team is involved. We have some terrific ideas in the hopper. So even though the SMU doc will be the 30th one (right after the Heisman ceremony) don't think the spirit of the series is going away."^[12] These additional films include:

[edit] List of the 30 for 30 Volume II films

On May 15, 2012, it was announced that the 30 for 30 series would return in the fall of 2012 with all new documentaries. The documentaries will be integrated with Grantland.com by podcasts, feature stories and oral histories. In addition to the new documentaries, unrelated short films will release each month on Grantland.com. The new full-length documentaries will include films about the North Carolina State basketball team that won the 1983 NCAA Men's Championship; the 100-meter final at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul whose winner, Ben Johnson, tested positive for steroids; and Bo Jackson, the athletic marvel who played baseball and football and starred in the "Bo Knows" series of Nike ads.

Two films that made their debut at the Tribeca Film Festival are also on the roster: Benji, about a high school basketball star in Chicago who was murdered in 1984, and Broke, about athletes who lose their fortunes. The latter will be directed by Billy Corben, who directed the previous 30 for 30 entry The U.^[21]

[edit] 30 for 30 Shorts

These short films were released on Grantland.com.

Critical & ratings response[link]

The series had a slow beginning. The first film, Peter Berg's Kings Ransom, a chronicle of Wayne Gretzky's trade from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings, premiered on October 6, 2009 to poor ratings.^[4][22] Kings Ransom drew a 0.5 national rating and a total viewership of 645,000.^[4][22] The premiere of Kings Ransom aired at the same time as the 2009 American League Central tie-breaker game between the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers on TBS, which went into extra innings and drew a 4.5 rating.^{[citation needed]}.

As awareness and critical acclaim grew, the viewing audience also grew. By the seventh episode, The U, the audience had grown to a 1.8 rating and well over 2 million viewers.^[6] The A.V. Club review for the eighth entry, Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks, called it "the most hotly anticipated [of the first eight]" and stated that "it more than lived up to the hype."^[23]

The A.V. Club has given positive and negative reviews for different episodes in the series, with notable critical reviews of the three episodes that had involvement by the media production arms of Major League Baseball (Four Days in October), the NBA (Once Brothers) and NASCAR (Tim Richmond: To the Limit).^[24][25][26]

Awards[link]

• 2010 Peabody Award Winner^[27]
• 2010 International Documentary Association's "Distinguished Continuing Series"^[7]

Sponsors[link]

Cadillac and Levi’s are the presenting sponsors of the series. The Cadillac name appears on the 30 for 30 logo, while the Levi’s "go forth" slogan appears on the bottom corner of the screen during the directors interstitial comments, which appear for 45 seconds at the beginning of each film and 30 seconds at the end. Commercials for both companies were shown during every intermission during the original air dates, with Levi’s guaranteed a 60 second commercial slot at the beginning of the third act. Cadillac replaced Honda as a primary sponsor; during its time as a contributor, Honda aired parts of its "Dream the Impossible" documentary series in the first commercial break.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Volume I Official website
• Volume II Official website
• 30 for 30 on Twitter
• ESPN Films on Twitter
• 30 for 30 at the Internet Movie Database

Eddie Aikau
File:Eddie Aikau.jpg
Personal information
Born	(1946-05-05)May 5, 1946 Kahului, Hawaii, U.S.
Died	March 17, 1978(1978-03-17) (aged 31)
Residence	Kahului, Hawaii
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	178 lb (81 kg)
Surfing career
Years active	1959-1978
Sponsors	Polynesian Voyaging Society
Surfing specifications
Stance	Regular (natural) foot
Favorite waves	Waiamea Bay (North Shore, Oahu), Sunset Beach (North Shore, Oahu), Pipline (North Shore, Oahu)

Edward Ryon Makuahanai Aikau (Kahului, Hawaii, May 4, 1946–March 17, 1978) was a well-known Hawaiian lifeguard and surfer. The words Makua Hanai in Eddie Aikau's full name means feeding parent,^[1] an adoptive, nurturing, fostering parent,^[2][3] in the Hawaiian language. As the first lifeguard at Waimea Bay on the island of Oahu, he saved many lives and became famous for surfing the big Hawaiian surf, winning several awards including the 1977 Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship.

Life[link]

Memorial Plate on Hokule'a

Born in Kahului, Maui, Aikau was the third child of Solomon and Henrietta Aikau. Aikau first learned how to surf at Kahului Harbor on its shorebreak. He moved to Oʻahu with his family in 1959, and at the age of 16 left school and started working at the Dole pineapple cannery; The paycheck allowed Aikau to buy his first surfboard. In 1968, he became the first lifeguard hired by the City & County of Honolulu to work on the North Shore. The City & County of Honolulu gave Aikau the task of covering all of the beaches between Sunset and Haleiwa. Not one life was lost while he served as lifeguard of Waimea Bay, as he braved waves that often reached 30 feet (9.1 m) high or more.^[4] In 1971, Aikau was named Lifeguard of the Year.^[5]

Lost at sea[link]

In 1978, the Polynesian Voyaging Society was seeking volunteers for a 30 day, 2,500-mile (4,000 km) journey to follow the ancient route of the Polynesian migration between the Hawaiian and Tahitian island chains. At 31 years of age, Aikau joined the voyage as a crew member. The Hokule'a left the Hawaiian islands on March 16, 1978. The double-hulled voyaging canoe developed a leak in one of the hulls and later capsized about twelve miles (19 km) south of the island of Molokai. In an attempt to get help, Aikau paddled toward Lanai on his surfboard.^[6] Although the rest of the crew was later rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Cape Corwin, Aikau was never seen again. He removed his lifejacket since it was hindering his paddling of the surfboard. The ensuing search for Aikau was the largest air-sea search in Hawaii history.^[7]

Memorial surfing invitational[link]

Surfers participating in the Eddie

In Aikau's honor, the surfwear company Quiksilver sponsors the “The Eddie”^[8]—the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay. The idea of the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational was created by Bruce Raymond and Bob McKnight.

Since its inception (the first Eddie was held at Sunset Beach in 1985;^[9] in 1987 Eddie Aikau's younger brother Clyde Aikau won the first Eddie after it moved to Waimea Bay^[9][10]), the tournament has only been held eight times, due to a precondition that open-ocean swells reach a minimum of 20 feet (this translates to a wave face height of over 30 feet).^[11] The most recent tournament was in December 2009, when waves in the bay reached 30 to 50 feet (15 m) high.^[12][13] The contest only invites 28 big-wave riders to participate in two rounds of competition. The event does not allow the use of jet skis to tow surfers into the waves.

Popular culture[link]

In the 1970s, bumper stickers and T-shirts with the phrase "Eddie Would Go" spread around the Hawaiian Islands and to the rest of the world. According to maritime historian Mac Simpson, "Aikau was a legend on the North Shore, pulling people out of waves that no one else would dare to. That's where the saying came from -- Eddie would go, when no else would or could. Only Eddie dared."^[7] The phrase originated during the first Eddie contest. The waves were huge and the conditions were extremely dangerous. While the contest organizers were discussing whether to put it on, Mark Foo looked at the conditions and said "Eddie would go." The phrase stuck and the Eddie went.^[2]

Another variation of the aforementioned popular phrase is "Eddie wouldn't tow." This phrase is in reference to the method of big wave surfing in which one surfer must accelerate another surfer (the former on a jet ski, the latter towed on a surfboard) to the speed of a large, fast wave. It is also partially in response to the controversy over the "unnaturalness" of tow-in surfing; many surfers feel that being towed in to a wave, as opposed to paddling, is against the spirit of the sport.^[14]

Other variations of the phrase include "Eddie would throw" (in support of the University of Hawaii's passing attack by Colt Brennan and Timmy Chang under head coach June Jones), "Eddie wouldn't crow" (in opposition to boastful and egotistical surfers), and "Eddie would hoe" (in support of Native Hawaiian agricultural outreach programs). Another variation used recently during the 2008 election campaign for Honolulu rail transit was the slogan, "Eddie would ride."

See also[link]

• Duke Kahanamoku

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Goes, Sergio. Eddie Would Go: The Story of Eddie Aikau, Hawaiian Hero [Film]

External links[link]

• Eddie Aikau Foundation
• Charleyproject: Eddie Aikau
• Globalsurfing: Eddie Surfing Wallpapers
• Quiksilver Eddie Aikau Invitational 2007
• Quiksilver Eddie Aikau 2010/2011
• Quiksilver Eddie Aikau 2011/2012
• Surfline: Eddie Aikau

Walt Frazier

Walt Frazier working as Knicks announcer during a game
No. 10, 11
Point guard
Personal information
Born	(1945-03-29) March 29, 1945 (age 67) Atlanta, Georgia
Nationality	American
High school	David T. Howard (Atlanta, Georgia)
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
College	Southern Illinois (1963–1964, 1967)
NBA Draft	1967 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5th overall
Selected by the New York Knicks
Pro career	1967–1980
League	NBA
Career history
1967–1977	New York Knicks
1977–1980	Cleveland Cavaliers
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA Champion (1970, 1973) 7× NBA All-Star (1970–1976) NBA All-Star Game MVP (1975) 4 ×All-NBA First Team (1970, 1972, 1974–1975) 2× All-NBA Second Team (1971, 1973) 7× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1969–1975) NBA All-Rookie First Team (1968) #10 Retired by the New York Knicks NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
Career NBA statistics
Points	15,581 (18.9 ppg)
Rebounds	4,830 (5.9 rpg)
Assists	5,040 (6.1 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Basketball Hall of Fame as player

Walter "Clyde" Frazier (born March 29, 1945, in Atlanta, Georgia) is a retired American basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was blessed with a unique combination of court vision, quickness, and size (he stands 6'4") for a guard. As their floor general, he led the New York Knicks to the franchise's only two NBA Championships (1970 & 1973), and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. Upon his retirement from basketball, Frazier went into broadcasting; he is currently a color commentator for telecasts of Knicks games on the MSG Network.

High school and colleges[link]

The eldest of nine children, Frazier attended Atlanta's David Tobias Howard High School. He quarterbacked the football team and played catcher on the baseball team. He learned basketball on a rutted and dirt playground, the only facility available at his all-black school in the racially segregated South of the 1950s. After having a great career at Howard, Frazier attended Southern Illinois University. Although he was offered other scholarships for his football skills, Frazier accepted a basketball offer from Southern Illinois University.

Frazier wasted no time in becoming one of the premier collegiate basketball players in the country. He was named a Division II All-American in 1964 and 1965. In 1965, Frazier led SIU to the NCAA Division II Tournament only to lose in the finals to Evansville 85-82 in overtime. In 1966, he was academically ineligible for basketball.

In 1967, with Frazier playing at point guard, SIU won the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), beating Marquette University 71-56 in the final at Madison Square Garden in New York. Frazier was named MVP of the 1967 tournament.

There was also controversy about SIU's "small school" status which kept them out of the more prestigious NCAA tournament.^[1]

Professional career[link]

Frazier was selected by the New York Knicks with the 5th pick in the 1967 NBA Draft and played for them during which time he picked up the nickname "Clyde" because he wore a similar hat to Warren Beatty who played Clyde Barrow in the 1967 movie Bonnie and Clyde.^{[citation needed]} He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1968. He was an NBA All-Star seven times (and was named MVP of the 1975 NBA All-Star Game), was named to the All-NBA First Team four times, the All-NBA Second Team twice, and the All-Defensive First Team seven times. With Frazier, the Knicks captured the NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. After 10 years in New York, Frazier ended his career as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the LA Lakers, widely known for an injured Willis Reed's inspiring appearance onto the court, it was Clyde who was the unsung hero putting up an astounding 36 points and 19 assists leading the Knicks to their first NBA championship.

In 1971, the New York Knicks traded for fellow NBA guard Earl "the Pearl" Monroe to form what was known as the "Rolls Royce Backcourt" with Frazier. While there were initial questions as to whether Frazier and Monroe could coexist as teammates, the duo eventually meshed to become one of the most effective guard combinations of all time, leading the Knicks to the 1973 NBA championship. That pairing is one of few backcourts ever to feature two Hall of Famers and NBA 50th Anniversary Team members.

Frazier held Knicks franchise records for most games (759), minutes played (28,995), field goals attempted (11,669), field goals made (5,736), free throws attempted (4,017), free throws made (3,145), assists (4,791) and points (14,617). Center Patrick Ewing would eventually break most of those records, but Frazier's assists record still stands.

Frazier was also one of the first players to make stealing the ball an art form. He would make sudden steals and surprise the offense. When asked about his defensive success, he answered that he did not believe in contact defense. Instead, he defended in such a manner that it appeared he was not playing defense. When he did so, the offensive player was often tricked into letting his guard down whereby Frazier would steal the ball with his quick hands.

Broadcasting career[link]

Frazier currently works as a commentator alongside Mike Breen for MSG Network telecasts of Knicks games. He also worked with Breen previously on the radio broadcasts before his switch to television in 1997, and also worked on Knicks games with Marv Albert. As a broadcaster, Frazier has coined many rhyming phrases, such as "dishing and swishing", "duping and hooping", "posting and toasting", "stopping and popping", "winning and grinning", "using and abusing", "shaking and baking", "hustling and bustling", "bounding and astounding," etc.

Honors[link]

Walt Frazier's #10 jersey was retired by the New York Knicks on December 15, 1979.

In 1987, Walt Frazier was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame along with Pete Maravich and Rick Barry.

In 1996, he was elected to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Career statistics[link]

Career highs[link]

Top assist games[link]

40 point games[link]

Frazier scored 40 or more points five times in the regular season.

Regular season[link]

Playoffs[link]

Trivia[link]

• While he was a steely, no-nonsense competitor in games, Frazier was known for his flamboyant sense of style off of the court. Bringing glamor to Madison Square Garden, Frazier would arrive at games in a Rolls Royce, dressed in designer suits, broad-brimmed Borsalino hats, and full-length mink coats.
• Frazier is well known as a spokesman for Just for Men hair products, along with former New York Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez. Denzel Washington's character "Keith Frazier" in the film Inside Man was named after the duo.
• Frazier became one of the first NBA players to have his own signature shoe model when he endorsed the eponymous suede Clydes athletic shoes made by Puma. The shoe has proven to be very popular over the years, and is in its third decade of production.

Notes[link]

External links[link]

• NBA Encyclopedia
• Basketball Hall of Fame profile
• Frazier's Career Statistics
• Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
• Walt Frazier (in the New Georgia Encyclopedia)
• Clyde TV