Deal, Debut Mark Big Week for ESPN Films

Remember when ESPN was mostly game coverage? Or even before that, when it had no games and was a compilation of contests and sporting events that had not earned coverage in any other venue?

That was so long ago that ESPN was actually an acronym. These days, for a while now actually, it's officially just ESPN.

During its 30-plus-year lifetime, the all-sports network has been cloned (ESPN2) and starting April 4 it's about to be copied online as well (on April 4 ESPN360.com becomes ESPN3.com).

Through the years, ESPN has adapted and morphed, providing good things like a consistent home for sports journalism on TV with "Outside the Lines" and bad things, with too many talkers at times and a growing interest on high school sports.

Still, those who lead the network have never been afraid to try new things and ESPN Films certainly ranks as one of their more successful outside-the-box endeavors.

When knew a sports network could produce could films? We do now. Who thought they wanted that network produce films? OK, initially some people probably thought it was a far-fetched idea just to fill programming time. Instead, the films have become appointment viewing. And the ongoing "30 for 30" series, initiated as part of ESPN's 30th birthday, provides the recent highlights with solid documentaries from award-winning talent.

The first seven films that have debuted in the series have attracted and average of 1.2 million viewers and they've been generally compelling, interesting films focusing on topics such as: Wayne Gretzky's move to the Los Angeles Kings; the Baltimore Colts Marching Band and its existence even after the team left for Indianapolis; the life and death of USFL; Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder; and Maryland basketball standout Len Bias.

While A-list directors and producers have guided those projects, ESPN Films this week announced an agreement with Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro. He'll play legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi in a film that represents a collaboration between ESPN Films, the NFL, Andell Entertainment and Tribeca Productions, which is owned in part by De Niro.

According to an ESPN release, ESPN and Andell have Lombardi’s life story rights through his estate and Vincent Lombardi Jr. as well as the rights to the famous sports book "Instant Replay," which was written by former Packer great Jerry Kramer and the late Dick Schaap.

The film, "Lombardi," is set to debut on the weekend between the AFC and NFC conference championship games and the Super Bowl in 2012.

Previous ESPN films, before the "30 on 30" documentary series started, focused on topics such as Dale Earnhardt (with "3") ...


and Bear Bryant (with "Junction Boys").


No matter documentary or narrative, though, consistent quality and compelling stories have been the key.

That looks to be the same (thanks to sneak peaks and trailers) for "Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks," which will debut at 9 p.m. Sunday on ESPN. The documentary chronicles the NBA playoff series between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks that developed not-so-suble good vs. bad storylines and allowed some characters and competitors to shine on a big stage.