Ep 30. I Hate Christian Laettner (Rory Karpf)

"I Hate Christian Laettner" is a documentary-style episode of ESPN's acclaimed series, 30 For 30, that delves into the polarizing figure of Christian Laettner and his role as one of Duke University's most successful basketball players.

The episode is directed by Rory Karpf, who sets out to explore the reasons behind Laettner's infamy among basketball fans - why, despite his impressive statistics and accomplishments on the court, many people still dislike him to this day.

Through extensive interviews with Laettner himself, as well as with his former teammates, coaches, and rivals, Karpf pieces together the story of a young athlete who was both fiercely competitive and supremely confident, with a penchant for making bold statements and pushing the boundaries of what was considered acceptable behavior.

The episode traces Laettner's rise to fame at Duke, where he helped lead the Blue Devils to a pair of national championships in 1991 and 1992. But it also delves into the controversies that surrounded him during his college years, such as his infamous stomping incident in a game against Kentucky, which earned him widespread condemnation and cemented his status as a villain in the eyes of many fans.

Karpf also explores the ways in which Laettner's personality and behavior were shaped by the larger cultural context of the late 80s and early 90s, a time when the rise of the "bad boy" athlete was in full swing. He probes the question of whether Laettner's status as a wealthy, white athlete from a privileged background contributed to the negative reactions he often received from fans - reactions that he himself sometimes seemed to relish.

Ultimately, "I Hate Christian Laettner" is a thoughtful and thought-provoking exploration of one of the most enigmatic and divisive figures in college basketball history. Through Karpf's careful and nuanced approach, we come to see Laettner not just as a villain or a hero, but as a complex and multifaceted individual whose impact on the game of basketball - and on popular culture more broadly - is still being felt today.