30 For 30 "Benji"

Serious Business 39 replies 1,196 views
Fab1b's avatar
Fab1b
Posts: 12,949
Oct 24, 2012 9:28am
Watch? Thought it was very good. Took a twist as his killer participated in the film.
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MontyBrunswick
Oct 24, 2012 9:34am
Fab1b;1303312 wrote:Watch?
No. The event occurred before my time so I couldn't care less.
Fab1b's avatar
Fab1b
Posts: 12,949
Oct 24, 2012 9:36am
Well you missed a great story.
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MontyBrunswick
Oct 24, 2012 10:23am
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.
SportsAndLady's avatar
SportsAndLady
Posts: 35,632
Oct 24, 2012 10:36am
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.
karen lotz's avatar
karen lotz
Posts: 22,284
Oct 24, 2012 10:42am
only watched the first 30 minutes on DVR before falling asleep, will try to finish it tonight.
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raiderbuck
Posts: 1,623
Oct 24, 2012 10:44am
It was really good. Never heard of this guy before I watched it though (before my time).
BORIStheCrusher's avatar
BORIStheCrusher
Posts: 1,893
Oct 24, 2012 10:55am
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.
Trueblue23's avatar
Trueblue23
Posts: 7,463
Oct 24, 2012 4:51pm
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.
Rebel_ I.N.S.'s avatar
Rebel_ I.N.S.
Posts: 385
Oct 24, 2012 7:13pm
Before my time as well. As a basketball junkie I have read many stories about Benji. This was a great 30 for 30.
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cat_lover
Posts: 2,388
Oct 24, 2012 7:26pm
Pretty good story. I have liked just about all of the 30 for 30's.
reclegend22's avatar
reclegend22
Posts: 8,772
Oct 24, 2012 8:00pm
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.
reclegend22's avatar
reclegend22
Posts: 8,772
Oct 24, 2012 8:12pm
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.
reclegend22's avatar
reclegend22
Posts: 8,772
Oct 24, 2012 8:23pm
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.
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MontyBrunswick
Oct 24, 2012 10:26pm
Trueblue23;1303688 wrote:First player from Chicago to EVER be named the #1 high school player in the nation
so what?
Scarlet_Buckeye's avatar
Scarlet_Buckeye
Posts: 5,264
Oct 24, 2012 10:32pm
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...
Fab1b's avatar
Fab1b
Posts: 12,949
Oct 24, 2012 10:41pm
dlazz;1303885 wrote:so what?
You made it clear in your first post you didn't give a shit....why repeat?
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MontyBrunswick
Oct 24, 2012 10:47pm
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.
Pick6's avatar
Pick6
Posts: 14,946
Oct 24, 2012 10:48pm
All of the 30 for 30s are great.
ernest_t_bass's avatar
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
Oct 25, 2012 8:38am
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.
Fab4Runner's avatar
Fab4Runner
Posts: 6,196
Oct 25, 2012 8:42am
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.
wes_mantooth's avatar
wes_mantooth
Posts: 17,977
Oct 25, 2012 8:45am
Thought it was really good, although I get pissed every time Jesse Jackson gets involved for publicity.
ernest_t_bass's avatar
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
Oct 25, 2012 8:46am
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.
SportsAndLady's avatar
SportsAndLady
Posts: 35,632
Oct 25, 2012 8:55am
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.
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raiderbuck
Posts: 1,623
Oct 25, 2012 1:42pm
^^homicide. Even worse.