Ep 2. Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?

Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? is the second episode of the first season of the critically acclaimed documentary series 30 For 30, which premiered on ESPN in 2009. This episode explores the rise and fall of the United States Football League (USFL), a professional football league that existed from 1983 to 1985 and sought to compete with the National Football League (NFL).

The episode begins by examining the founding of the USFL by a group of wealthy businessmen, who believed that there was a market for spring football in the United States. The league was initially successful, attracting some of the best college football players in the country and securing major broadcasting contracts with ABC and ESPN. The USFL also implemented innovative rules, such as the two-point conversion and a salary cap, which would later be adopted by the NFL.

However, the league soon ran into financial troubles, as some owners sought to compete with the NFL head-to-head by signing high-priced stars like Herschel Walker and Steve Young. This strategy ultimately backfired, as the increased spending put a strain on the league's finances and prevented it from expanding beyond its initial 12 teams. Moreover, the USFL's decision to move its season from the spring to the fall in 1986 put it in direct competition with the NFL, a move that many believe was the league's death knell.

The episode also explores the role of real-estate magnate Donald Trump in the demise of the USFL. Trump, who owned the New Jersey Generals, was a vocal proponent of moving the league to the fall and attempting to merge with the NFL. However, when the NFL rejected the merger proposal, Trump sued the league for antitrust violations and sought $1.7 billion in damages. The lawsuit ultimately failed, and the USFL disbanded soon after.

Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? features interviews with many key figures from the league's history, including former players and coaches such as Jim Mora and Doug Flutie, as well as league executives and journalists. The episode also includes archival footage of games and news reports from the time, giving viewers a true sense of what it was like to witness the rise and fall of the USFL.

Overall, Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? is an engrossing and thought-provoking episode of 30 For 30 that sheds light on a forgotten chapter in the history of American football. By examining the rise and fall of the USFL, the episode raises important questions about the nature of competition, innovation, and greed in the world of sports.