30 For 30 "Benji"

Home Archive Serious Business 30 For 30 "Benji"
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Oct 24, 2012 9:28 AM
Watch? Thought it was very good. Took a twist as his killer participated in the film.
Oct 24, 2012 9:28am
M

MontyBrunswick

Oct 24, 2012 9:34 AM
Fab1b;1303312 wrote:Watch?
No. The event occurred before my time so I couldn't care less.
Oct 24, 2012 9:34am
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Oct 24, 2012 9:36 AM
Well you missed a great story.
Oct 24, 2012 9:36am
M

MontyBrunswick

Oct 24, 2012 10:23 AM
Fab1b;1303317 wrote:Well you missed a great story.
He was a Basketball phenom and he got shot and died.

Doesn't seem like that great of a story.
Oct 24, 2012 10:23am
SportsAndLady's avatar

SportsAndLady

Senior Member

35,632 posts
Oct 24, 2012 10:36 AM
dlazz;1303370 wrote:He was a Basketball phenom and he got shot and died.

Doesn't seem like that great of a story.
Neither does "Marcus Dupree was a highly touted recruit who didn't live up to the hype."

But that was a really good 30 for 30.
Oct 24, 2012 10:36am
karen lotz's avatar

karen lotz

TuTu Train

22,284 posts
Oct 24, 2012 10:42 AM
only watched the first 30 minutes on DVR before falling asleep, will try to finish it tonight.
Oct 24, 2012 10:42am
R

raiderbuck

Senior Member

1,623 posts
Oct 24, 2012 10:44 AM
It was really good. Never heard of this guy before I watched it though (before my time).
Oct 24, 2012 10:44am
BORIStheCrusher's avatar

BORIStheCrusher

drunk

1,893 posts
Oct 24, 2012 10:55 AM
Watched it, wasn't my favorite but thought it was good. I liked towards the end showing that they pass his number off to the best player on the team.
Oct 24, 2012 10:55am
Trueblue23's avatar

Trueblue23

BASEDgod

7,463 posts
Oct 24, 2012 4:51 PM
dlazz;1303370 wrote:He was a Basketball phenom and he got shot and died.

Doesn't seem like that great of a story.
First player from Chicago to EVER be named the #1 high school player in the nation, mixture of MJ and Magic.. yea, pretty great story.
Oct 24, 2012 4:51pm
Rebel_ I.N.S.'s avatar

Rebel_ I.N.S.

Senior Member

385 posts
Oct 24, 2012 7:13 PM
Before my time as well. As a basketball junkie I have read many stories about Benji. This was a great 30 for 30.
Oct 24, 2012 7:13pm
C

cat_lover

Senior Member

2,388 posts
Oct 24, 2012 7:26 PM
Pretty good story. I have liked just about all of the 30 for 30's.
Oct 24, 2012 7:26pm
reclegend22's avatar

reclegend22

Cool Hand Luke

8,772 posts
Oct 24, 2012 8:00 PM
I wonder if Duke had a shot at him? Guess it doesn't matter now. Lol.

As for the doc, only saw the last 25 minutes or so and it was powerfully good. Scoop Jackson's last line to end the film -- "He was the greatest cat to ever come out of this city" -- gives you chills. Even if Benji never technically made it out of that city.

It's crazy to think how the landscape of basketball history could be completely different than the one that we know today had young stars like Ben Wilson and Len Bias not died so soon. They might very well have been top ten players of all time or, who knows, maybe even on par with Michael and had taken his place as the star of the '90s. It's much more likely that Michael would still have went on to be the greatest player of his generation, but there's always going to be that what-could-have-been.
Oct 24, 2012 8:00pm
reclegend22's avatar

reclegend22

Cool Hand Luke

8,772 posts
Oct 24, 2012 8:12 PM
ccrunner609;1303785 wrote:In todays game they could make an impact but late 80's-90's there were way more stars of the game. Top 10 players..not likely.
As I said, it's highly unlikely that a kid like Ben Wilson, no matter how hyped he is in death, would have ever enjoyed a career anywhere remotely as successful as guys like Jordan or Magic. As you said in a previous post, young sports stars -- basketball and streetball players in particular -- like young rappers, are always more famous after they've been buried. It's just the culture we live in. With that said, there is always the what if.
Oct 24, 2012 8:12pm
reclegend22's avatar

reclegend22

Cool Hand Luke

8,772 posts
Oct 24, 2012 8:23 PM
Speaking of 30 for 30s, I think the best one I have seen was the film documenting the haunting story of diehard Cubs fan Steve Bartman. With one play, one random foul ball, his life was destroyed. It's a saddening tale and was very well done. Can you imagine if you were personally blamed by the rest of your fellow fan base for your favorite team's century-long drought without championship? That'd suck. I wonder if he even watches baseball anymore.

The Legend of Jimmy the Greek and Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks were also excellent documentaries.
Oct 24, 2012 8:23pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Oct 24, 2012 10:26 PM
Trueblue23;1303688 wrote:First player from Chicago to EVER be named the #1 high school player in the nation
so what?
Oct 24, 2012 10:26pm
Scarlet_Buckeye's avatar

Scarlet_Buckeye

Senior Member

5,264 posts
Oct 24, 2012 10:32 PM
Just finished watching the re-air. All I can say is, "Wow." This one was definitely up there with the best 30for30s. What a great, but heart-wrenching story.

What could have been...
Oct 24, 2012 10:32pm
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Oct 24, 2012 10:41 PM
dlazz;1303885 wrote:so what?
You made it clear in your first post you didn't give a shit....why repeat?
Oct 24, 2012 10:41pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Oct 24, 2012 10:47 PM
Fab1b;1303899 wrote:You made it clear in your first post you didn't give a shit....why repeat?

Because his reasoning was awful. That's why.
Oct 24, 2012 10:47pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Oct 24, 2012 10:48 PM
All of the 30 for 30s are great.
Oct 24, 2012 10:48pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Oct 25, 2012 8:38 AM
Just watched it last night and this morning. Not gonna lie, it creates a lot of prejudice in me (while watching), for inner-city thug/jack ass gang bangers. I don't care if it was in 1984... it's worse now. And people wonder where stereotypes come from...

I'm excited to see what this new prospect can do.
Oct 25, 2012 8:38am
Fab4Runner's avatar

Fab4Runner

Tits McGee

6,196 posts
Oct 25, 2012 8:42 AM
I watched it last night and thought it was really good. His mom seemed like a wonderful woman. No parent should have to bury a child; I thought she handled it remarkably.
Oct 25, 2012 8:42am
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Oct 25, 2012 8:45 AM
Thought it was really good, although I get pissed every time Jesse Jackson gets involved for publicity.
Oct 25, 2012 8:45am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Oct 25, 2012 8:46 AM
wes_mantooth;1304065 wrote:I get pissed every time Jesse Jackson gets involved for publicity.
Amen... they used this poor kid's funeral as a platform to push their stupid fucking agenda. Fuck him.
Oct 25, 2012 8:46am
SportsAndLady's avatar

SportsAndLady

Senior Member

35,632 posts
Oct 25, 2012 8:55 AM
ernest_t_bass;1304059 wrote:Just watched it last night and this morning. Not gonna lie, it creates a lot of prejudice in me (while watching), for inner-city thug/jack ass gang bangers. I don't care if it was in 1984... it's worse now. And people wonder where stereotypes come from...

I'm excited to see what this new prospect can do.
There have been 300-400 deaths in Chicago this year. When Benji died, he was (approximately) the 700th death in Chicago that year.

I know that's not what you meant, but holy shit is that a lot of deaths.
Oct 25, 2012 8:55am
R

raiderbuck

Senior Member

1,623 posts
Oct 25, 2012 1:42 PM
^^homicide. Even worse.
Oct 25, 2012 1:42pm