Wednesday, August 25, 2010

ESPN 30 for 30 - Jordan Rides the Bus

Sharon, Jack and I watched Jordan Rides The Bus. This is the eighteenth installment of ESPN's 30 for 30 film series.

The film looks at the season that Michael Jordan spent playing minor league baseball. It examines his reasons for leaving basketball after he had won three straight NBA championships, primarily focusing on the murder of his father. The film explores and ultimately rejects rumors that Jordan was suspended from basketball due to gambling problems.

Jordan Rides the Bus makes the case that Jordan improved markedly as a baseball player and probably would have eventually made it to the major leagues. It also suggests that 1994/1995 baseball strike played a role in Michael Jordan returning to basketball.

It is an interesting, but not compelling film. Sharon got bored with it and wandered off after about 10 minutes. It would have been stronger if they had been able to get Michael Jordan to participate and be interviewed.

Jordan Rides the Bus was directed by Ron Shelton. Shelton signed a professional baseball contract with the Baltimore Orioles after graduating from college and played five years in the Oriole farm system. He has written and directed a number of successful sports movies including Bull Durham, White Men Can’t Jump and Tin Cup.

Bill Simmons has a podcast with Ron Shelton briefly discussing the film. They spend more time discussing Shelton's other films than they do discussing Jordan Rides the Bus.

This film is not yet available either on Amazon or in iTunes.

No comments:

Post a Comment