30 for 30 Shorts

Watch 30 for 30 Shorts

  • TV-G
  • 2012
  • 3 Seasons
  • 8.8  (5,520)

'30 for 30 Shorts' was a documentary series that aired on ESPN in 2009, with each episode featuring an inspiring, poignant or remarkable story from the world of sports. Produced by a talented team of directors, producers and screenwriters, the series brought together some of the most iconic, revered and noteworthy figures in sports, including Chuck D, Brent Musburger, and William C. Rhoden.

The show offered a collection of compelling and thought-provoking episodes, each lasting around 15 minutes, which delved into the history, culture, and impact of sports on society. From groundbreaking moments in sports history to lesser-known stories that shaped the world around them, '30 for 30 Shorts' explored how sports connected people, ignited passions, and influenced cultures.

Featuring riveting commentary from some of the most well-known personalities in sports, the series brought the stories to life with vivid detail, incredible imagery, and moving soundtracks. Each episode featured a unique voice, style, and perspective that left viewers feeling enlightened and inspired.

With episodes that ranged in subject matter from the Olympics to the NFL, the series highlighted some of the most exciting and heartwarming stories in sports history. Some of the episodes included "Untucked," "Judging Jewell," and "Unmatched," among others.

"Untucked" was based on the true-life story of the Georgetown Hoyas' "towel," a terry-cloth symbol that united the 1984 Big East Champion Hoyas. The film explored the unique relationship between the rag and Coach John Thompson's team and how it helped them to succeed. The episode was narrated by Grammy-nominated rapper Chuck D.

"Judging Jewell" focused on Richard Jewell, the security guard who helped save lives during the 1996 Olympic bombing in Atlanta. However, he soon became a suspect in the crime and was maligned by the media. The episode explored Jewell's life after the bombing and the effect it had on him. The episode was narrated by sports commentator Brent Musburger.

In "Unmatched," Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova were showcased as some of the greatest athletes in tennis history. The episode delves into their challenging rivalry and friendship throughout their careers. Written by William C. Rhoden, this episode explored what made the two champions bond despite their fierce competition.

Overall, '30 for 30 Shorts' was a captivating series that offered an intimate and insightful look into the world of sports with a collection of gripping and emotionally charged stories. With a cast that included some of the best and most recognizable names in sports, the series was an inspiration to fans and non-fans of sports alike, changing the landscape of sports documentaries forever.

30 for 30 Shorts is a series that is currently running and has 3 seasons (50 episodes). The series first aired on May 15, 2012.

30 for 30 Shorts
Filter by Source

Do you have Hulu?
What are you waiting for?
Nice! Browse Hulu with Yidio.
Ad Info - This show may not be available on Hulu
Seasons
Shining Star/Eternal Princess/King Held Court
23. Shining Star/Eternal Princess/King Held Court
March 21, 2016
Elvis Presley was many things in America from rock and roll god to film star to cultural icon, but one thing most people didn't know about The King was how much he loved the game of racquetball and what lengths he went to keep it popular.
Kingdom Come
20. Kingdom Come
March 28, 2016
In the wake of a tragic loss, the family pulls together and searches for answers. Callie makes a shocking discovery that has her questioning her loyalties. Nick gives Mariana an expensive gift, adding to her guilt about what happened between her and Mat. Meanwhile, Brandon tells his moms that Cortney has a child, and finds himself in a predicament after her ex-husband kicks Cortney out of their apartment.
The Show
19. The Show
March 21, 2016
As they perform the parts of Romeo and Juliet on the show's big opening night, Mat and Mariana are forced to face the depth of their feelings for each other. The musical performance sparks heightened emotion for members of the Adams Foster family, causing them to reflect on recent events. Meanwhile, a domestic violence call leads Stef to a tragic discovery.
Rehearsal
18. Rehearsal
March 14, 2016
Callie testifies on behalf of Daphne in an effort to help her get her daughter back, but when the judge postpones his ruling, Callie feels obligated to help Daphne find a stable job, which is one of the judge's requirements to regain custody.
Sixteen
17. Sixteen
March 7, 2016
Jesus is upset after plans for a low-key birthday are supplemented by Mariana, who plans a huge dance party instead. Jude is excited by the prospect of a weekend visit with Connor. Meanwhile, Callie and Brandon strike a truce by agreeing not to bring their new respective significant others home or to family functions.
Thicker Than Water
16. Thicker Than Water
November 5, 2015
No diver had ever won two gold medals in consecutive Olympics, so the pressure on Greg Louganis before the 1988 Games in Seoul was huge. And that was before he found out that he was HIV positive, and before he knew he needed to keep his condition secret.
Every Day
15. Every Day
October 27, 2015
On November 3, 2013, 86-year-old Joy Johnson ran her 25th consecutive New York City Marathon--it would be her last. Near the 20 mile marker, Joy fell and hit her head, but with unwavering resolve got back on her feet to complete the race.
#BringBackSungWoo
14. #BringBackSungWoo
October 8, 2015
With the nation gripped by Kansas City Royals' fever, filmmaker Josh Swade flew to South Korea. He was dead set on bringing back the Royals' good luck charm- super fan SungWoo Lee- in time for the World Series.
The Pittsburgh Drug Trials
13. The Pittsburgh Drug Trials
September 24, 2015
Tells the story of the Pittsburg Pirate drug trials of 1985 and the significance it had upon the game of baseball. The film will shed light on this truly unique, profound and incredible event in sports history that might be lesser known but its reverberations are still being felt today. In all, seven men were indicted and eleven players suspended after giving honest and at times shocking testimony about cocaine usage around the league. The bargain was simple- give us what you know and in exchange you will be granted immunity. The trials made national headlines and ignited the first serious discussions around drugs in sports.
First Pitch
12. First Pitch
September 12, 2015
On the night of October 30, 2001, Derek Jeter walked into the warmup area beneath Yankee Stadium and saw a man practicing for the ceremonial first ball. "They'll boo you if you throw from in front of the mound," he told the 43rd President of the United States. "And they'll boo you if you bounce it." But George W. Bush had a lot more riding on that pitch than just approval from the fans.
Delaney
11. Delaney
August 20, 2015
This film explores the defining moment of Kansas City Chiefs running back Joe Delaney. After garnering a starting spot in the Pro Bowl, AFC Rookie of the Year honors and on the verge of super-stardom, Delaney's life ended tragically at the age of 24. On June 29,1983, in a heroic attempt to save three young boys from drowning, Joe, who did not know how to swim, made the ultimate sacrifice. More than thirty years later, Delaney's family, community, and the man he saved are still picking up the pieces of that fateful day.
Brave In The Attempt
10. Brave In The Attempt
July 29, 2015
The Special Olympics Athlete Oath: "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me brave in the attempt." has come to embody the movement started by the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1962 with a summer camp in her Maryland backyard. Special Olympics is now made up of more than 4.5 million athletes all over the world, and in this powerful and moving exploration viewers will see how this world-changing social action, sports & political initiative was born, and why its growth is so important. Brave in the Attempt" captures the force of nature that was Eunice Shriver and shows how her personal mission, inspired by her sister Rosemary Kennedy's own struggles with inclusion, to improve the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities eventually developed into the Special Olympics movement.
Spy Ball
9. Spy Ball
July 9, 2015
Casey Stengel said he was the "strangest man to ever play the game of baseball". Morris "Moe" Berg was a third string catcher and a first rate spy. Whether he was dining with the Marx Brothers, learning Quantum physics from Albert Einstein, or on a mission to assassinate Heisenberg, Moe Berg was in a league all his own.
Ted Turner's Greatest Race
8. Ted Turner's Greatest Race
June 4, 2015
When Ted Turner entered his yacht Tenacious in the famed Fastnet Race in 1979, he did not need to prove himself. He had already started a television network, purchased the Atlanta Braves and Hawks, and won the 1977 America's Cup. But a freakish storm turned the Celtic Sea into a terrifying washing machine that tossed the 303 entrants about and killed 15 sailors. In this 30 For 30 short for ESPN Films, Turner and many of his crew members relive that harrowing--and ultimately victorious--voyage amid riveting footage and photographs. Never was a boat so aptly named.
The Anti-Mascot
7. The Anti-Mascot
April 28, 2015
1984 was a grim year for the San Francisco Giants. The team finished dead last, losing 96 games. But no one -- not the players, not the front office, not even the fans -- had as nightmarish a time as Wayne Doba. That season, the 33-year-old actor was selected to play the club's first mascot. The "Crazy Crab" was conceived as an anti- mascot. The Giants wanted to satire the late 1970s mascot craze, which had introduced now-iconic characters like the Philly Phanatic. So the Giants gave their Crab an intentionally shabby foam costume which looked like a hamburger with arms; during spring training, TV ads showed manager Frank Robinson attempting to strangle the Crab; at games, announcers would encourage fans to boo whenever the Crab took the field. It was an experiment unlike anything in professional sports. Doba became the Andy Kaufman of baseball. He mooned the crowd. He taunted his own players. The concept worked -- all too well. Fans did more than boo. They pelted Doba with everything from beer bottles and peanuts to golf balls, batteries, carrots and water- balloons filled with human poop. The Crazy Crab's career was short-lived. The character was unceremoniously axed in 1985. But Doba and his anti-mascot left such a lasting impression, it would be 17 years before the Giants would try introducing another mascot.
Unhittable: Sidd Finch and the Tibetan Fastball
6. Unhittable: Sidd Finch and the Tibetan Fastball
April 2, 2015
Under the cloak of secrecy, a rookie pitching prospect attended the New York Mets spring training in 1985. His name was Hayden "Sidd" Finch and he had never played baseball before, had dropped out of Harvard to study transcendental meditation, spoke ten languages, wore one hiking boot and the other foot bare when on the mound, and threw a 168mph fastball. He was about to change baseball, as George Plimpton wrote in his article published in Sports Illustrated on April 1st, 1985. This film follows one of the greatest April Fools' Day hoaxes the sports world has ever seen.
The Billion Dollar Game
5. The Billion Dollar Game
March 19, 2015
March Madness, 1989. Faced with the last seed in the tournament, sixteen seed Princeton is set to play tournament favorite number one seed in Georgetown. The game was expected to be such a blow out that it wasn't even originally scheduled to be broadcast on television. Unbeknownst to the Princeton players or their innovative coach, Pete Carril, they were about to play one of the greatest games in college basketball history.
Wrestling The Curse
4. Wrestling The Curse
February 27, 2015
Kevin Von Erich was part of a legendary wrestling family that consisted of five brothers: David, Michael, Chris, Kerry and Kevin. Although the Von Erich family had huge success in the ring, this famous family is also known for the tragedy it has endured. Now Kevin is the only surviving brother, the other four were lost to drug addiction or suicide. Now he lives off the grid, in a remote part of Hawaii. Here he finds a sanctuary, a place to retreat from the memories of his days in the ring and the ghosts of his brothers.
An Immortal Man
3. An Immortal Man
February 19, 2015
Ted Williams was already one of baseball's immortals when two of his three children decided there might be a way to give him life after death. That way was cryogenics, and in this film directed by Miles Kane and Josh Koury, the 2002 controversy over what to do with his remains-- "The Big Chill" read one headline--is revived. Doctors, writers and intimates offer up their opinions, but the one truth that shines through is this: love works in mysterious ways.
The Sweat Solution
2. The Sweat Solution
January 21, 2015
The film will explore the inception of the original formula set against the 1965-1966/7 seasons of the University of Florida Gator football team. In time for the 50th anniversary of its creation, we'll hear from many of those who were involved in testing the original formula, including Dr. Cade's wife, co-inventor Dana Shires, players Steve Spurrier, Larry Smith, Jim Yarbrough, Coach Ray Graves and others.
Student/Athlete
1. Student/Athlete
January 7, 2015
Growing up in Hawaii and from Chinese descent, Reginald Ho always visualized himself to be a doctor like his father. He enrolled at Notre Dame pre-med and didn't think much of playing football until he decided he needed a more well-rounded life. At 5'5" and 135 pounds, Reggie Ho was one of the smallest players in a major college football program and was now a sudden celebrity on and off campus.
Description
Where to Watch 30 for 30 Shorts
30 for 30 Shorts is available for streaming on the ESPN website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch 30 for 30 Shorts on demand at Amazon, Google Play and Apple TV.
  • Premiere Date
    May 15, 2012
  • IMDB Rating
    8.8  (5,520)