Monday, January 06, 2014

ESPN Films 30 for 30 Vol II: Bernie and Ernie

I watched Bernie and Ernie. This is the fourteenth installment of ESPN's 30 for 30 Vol II. An episode guide for Vol II is here. With a very busy fall from a personal and professional perspective, I am still trying to catch up on all of the 30 for 30s that were released this fall.

From 1977 to 1993, Bernard King played 14 seasons in the NBA with the New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and the Washington Bullets. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 8, 2013. King grew up in the Brooklyn projects.

From 1977 to 1986, Ernie Grunfeld played 10 season in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks, Kansas City Kings and New York Knicks. Grunfeld immigrated from Romania with his parents in 1964. He was a Jewish kid that grew up in Queens.

After high school, Bernie and Ernie both ended up playing at the University of Tennessee. Together, they averaged over 40 points a game. They became known as the "Bernie and Ernie Show." Although from different backgrounds and experiences, the unlikely pair also forged a close friendship that has lasted four decades.

The film focuses on two angles. First, it looks at Bernard King's life and career. Second, it weaves their friendship through King's life. Their friendship played a major role in King's life during college and the NBA.

This is a solid documentary. Before watching the film, I really didn't know that much about Bernard King's career. Reading about the film before watching it, my expectations were pretty low. I was pleasantly surprised.

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