The problem with Playing for the Mob

I wanted to love this movie and come out as a big Jim Sweeney fan. After watching ESPN's 30 for 30 on Playing for the Mob, I am disappointed in both.

First, the actual movie. I think 30 for 30 is one of the best things ESPN has ever done. I especially think the college sports subject matters work best since they haven't been exhausted by other outlets. The U, The Best that Never Was, and Pony Excess were excellent. Even Chris Herren's movie -- that wasn't officially a 30 for 30 -- was great. This film lacked the energy and flow of those previous movies. There was nothing original. It was competent enough, but the pacing was slow. But the biggest problem with the film was the probably its selling point in getting made -- the Goodfellas' connection. Goodfellas is a masterpiece. The acting, the drama and even the humor are still fresh with each viewing. That film takes you into a world and gives you the look, the feel and even the smells of this unique time and place. If you are going to incorporate Goodfellas into your documentary and even top it off with Ray Liotta's narration, you better have something great and fresh. This isn't it. Goodfellas builds into a frenzy, especially during Hill's coke-fueled arrest. This film doesn't build. Instead it scatters all over the place. First it is a low-level mob story. Then a college jocks getting in over their heads film. Then it becomes a Henry Hill story and then it becomes a Kuhn-Sweeney story. It is certainly not a BC story and it is not really a college basketball story.

The film wraps up with Sweeney's anger and frustration with his part in the scheme, his association with the scandal and his relationship with BC. He's adamant that he didn't shave games and that he was just in over his head. College kids do dumb things. We all make mistakes that can follow us long after. I don't know what Sweeney did or didn't do. The film gives him his time to clear his name but like the juror in the film, I still feel like Sweeney knew and did more than he admitted.

Of other folks BC figures featured, Bowie comes off well and didn't get a fair shake. McDonald represents BC well but also helped expose how sloppy and disorganized the whole fix was. Cobb seems to have a healthier perspective than Sweeney. I don't understand why Tom Davis still can't talk about it.

The film does confirm that this was always a sexier story than an actual conspiracy. No one made real money. They couldn't shave games properly. It was only uncovered because of Hill's big mouth. I don't think BC ever did anything wrong. This could have happened anywhere...even BU like Hill initially remembered. The school suffered a media black eye and was amplified years later with the Football gambling scandal. Maybe this film will finally put it all to bed. I understand why the school doesn't want to deal with Jim Sweeney. Why should they? What does BC owe Sweeney? Who is entitled to closure in life for anything? Let alone when you are potentially culpable in a crime. Sweeney brought out his Eagle of the Year award for the film. Even if he didn't commit a crime, did he really live up to the ideals of the award?

I don't expect BC to change its position on any of the guys involved and I don't think they should.

Sweeney talks 30 for 30 and other links

As we near the premiere of ESPN's 30 for 30 on the BC Basketball scandal, some of the participants are doing press. Former BC point guard Jim Sweeney has never talked about the scandal, but is now sharing his side. College kids do dumb things, but it will be interesting to see how these guys feel about it now. I obviously cannot wait for the film.

If we want to get a glimpse of what Addazio's future offense might look like when he gets his players, Mississippi State might be the best example. Daz took over Dan Mullen's scheme at Florida when Mullen became a head coach. BC currently uses more power running than MSU and fewer zone runs, but Mullen is showing that a run heavy spread can work in the Power 5 conferences.

The ACC named BC runner Liv Westphal their performer of the week.

Bates tries to build on Saturday's excitement and other links

Brad Bates used his latest "Letter from the AD's Desk" to sell people on coming to the final five home games. It is not a bad idea. Everyone's in a great mood about BC sports and the word of mouth from those who attended the game was great. Not every game will be as special and I think there are many factors in a home attendance issues, but a big one that has been overcome is our competitiveness. BC no longer has a sad sack as coach, so I think some of our fans can start to get excited about the games instead of feeling like they are wasting their time. Bates's focus was on the memories of Saturday night, but his office did add a new face this week. Bates hired Marcus Blossom as Associate Athletics Director for Business and Administration. On the surface this is not a major hire, but it is important for Bates. Even two years into his tenure many of the Athletic Department staff are holdovers. Bates did not clean house when he took over. The fact that so many stayed speaks to Bates' ability to win them over but also their love for working at BC. I expect we will finally see some top-level changes once Bates announces the Master Plan.

The story of Henry Hill fixing BC Basketball games will lead off the latest series of 30 for 30 films.

Brian St. Pierre St. John's team is off to a good start.

Here are the Game Notes and Depth Chart for the Maine Game.

Soccer lost to Harvard.

This article on Barry Gallup's role within BC Football is from last week, but still worth your time to read.

BC-themed 30 for 30 suggestions for ESPN

ESPN debuts another 30 for 30 tonight with the "Ghosts of Ole Miss" and yet again the series presents a film with a college theme. Mining college sports makes sense since the professional leagues have their own in-house producers focusing on lesser known stories and are experts at crafting a history and mythology for their sports. Because so many college stories are left untold, in my opinion some of the best films in the series have been college focused like "The U" and "Pony Excess." Former BC basketball star Chris Herren was featured in an ESPN Film and BC grad Joe Tessitore produced ESPN Film's "Roll Tide War Eagle" but neither is technically a "30 for 30" film. There are many BC stories that could carry a film. Here are few of my suggestions.


"The miracle before the 'Miracle'"
Flutie's story is well known, but there is much more to it than one Hail Mary. I think a more interesting film might be how he and Jack Bicknell really helped change college football with BC's passing offense. In the early '80s, BC and BYU were shattering records with their prolific passing schemes. The concepts and aggressiveness were way ahead of their time and still influence college and pro football today. How they arrived at the offense, why Flutie succeeded within the system and why it took two more decades to become mainstream would make for a great movie.

"Coughlin in charge"
As Tom Coughlin keeps winning Super Bowls his legend and legacy grow. NFL Films recently produced a special on him, but I still think his time at BC could carry its own feature. What did he face when he arrived? What did his college players think of him then and now? How he has changed? Did he ever consider staying at BC forever? Are all questions that could carry a narrative.

"Goodfellas go to college"
I was a student during the '90s gambling scandal. There wasn't much to it. However, the basketball point shaving scandal could make a great movie. I doubt BC would be very cooperative. And with Henry Hill dead, one of the most intriguing characters is not available to give his side. The other challenge to the film would be player cooperation. All the accused and alleged players have remained relatively silent about what happened. I don't know if ESPN's cameras would be enough to finally get them to talk in more detail.

"The upset that saved BC"
In 1942 undefeated BC lost its final regular season game to Holy Cross at Fenway Park. The loss caused the team and BC fans to cancel their postgame celebration at Coconut Grove night club. That night the club caught on fire killing nearly 500 people. It is assumed that if BC had won and gone on to celebrate, many of the team would have died in the blaze. This is probably a little to dated to draw ESPN's interest, but it could make for a good documentary.

Filmmakers could build full features around Peter Frates, Jay McGillis, Jerry York or Welles Crowther, but I don't think ESPN would see enough marketing dollars to support a "30 for 30" for any of them.  The BU-BC Hockey rivalry has already been a subject of a sports film by another company. I would love to see a film about the rise of the Big East and about the conference shuffles of the 2000s, but ESPN is too involved in those stories to allow someone to make an honest film out of them. If you could give someone a blank check and a camera, what BC story would you want ESPN to tell?