ESPN in Africa

Three new films will air in February and March as the critically acclaimed 30 For 30 documentary series continues on ESPN on DStv channel 230.

Tim Richmond: To The Limit, directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Rory Karpf, whose documentaries have been narrated by the likes of Paul Newman, Kevin Costner and Tom Cruise, examines the life and tragic death of one of NASCAR’s most controversial characters, the flamboyant Tim Richmond who lived his life as fast as he drove his cars.

Marion Jones: Press Pause, directed by two-time Academy Award nominee John Singleton, focuses on the evolution of the track and field Olympian, her fall from grace and subsequent change of heart and direction.

Fernando Nation tells the story of one of the most captivating pitching phenomena baseball has ever seen – a teenager from Mexico named Fernando Valenzuela who sold out stadiums across the country as “Fernandomania” swept America. See synopses below.

Schedule

Film Synopses

Tim Richmond: To The Limit           Directed by Rory Karpf

Natural. Rock star. Outsider. In the 1980s, race car driver Tim Richmond lived his life the way he raced cars – wide open. Born into a wealthy family, Richmond was the antithesis of the Southern, blue-collar, dirt-track racers who dominated NASCAR. He also was a flamboyant showman who basked in the attention of the media and fans – especially the attention of female admirers. Nevertheless, it was Richmond‟s on-track performances that ended up drawing comparisons to racing legends. And in 1986, when he won seven NASCAR races and finished third in the Winston Cup series points race, some believed he was on the verge of stardom. But soon his freewheeling lifestyle caught up to him. He unexpectedly withdrew from the NASCAR racing circuit, reportedly suffering from double pneumonia. In reality, the diagnosis was much more dire: He had AIDS. Richmond returned to the track in 1987, but he was gone from the sport by the next year as his health deteriorated. He spent his final days as a recluse, dying on August 13, 1989, at the age of 34. Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Rory Karpf will examine the life and tragic death of one of NASCAR’s shooting stars.

Marion Jones: Press Pause            Directed by John Singleton

Few athletes in Olympic history have reached such heights and depths as Marion Jones. After starring at the University of North Carolina and winning gold at the 1997 and ‘99 World Track and Field Championships, her rise to the top culminated at the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia.

There she captivated the world with her beauty, style and athletic dominance, sprinting and jumping to three gold medals and two bronze. Eventually, though, her accomplishments and her reputation would be tarnished. For years, Jones denied the increasing speculation that she used performance-enhancing drugs. But in October 2007, she finally admitted what so many had long suspected — that she had indeed used steroids. Calling herself a liar and a cheat in a federal courtroom, Jones was sentenced to six months in prison for lying to federal investigators and soon saw her Olympic achievements disqualified. Now a free woman, Jones is running in a new direction in life and taking time to reflect. Director John Singleton will focus on the rise, fall and re-birth of Marion Jones.

Fernando Nation                   Directed by Cruz Angeles

Fernando Nation is the story of a pudgy 19-year-old left-handed pitcher from a remote village in rural Mexico, unable to speak a word of English, who sold out baseball stadiums across America and became a sensation overnight. Nicknamed “El Toro” by his fans, Fernando Valenzuela ignited a fire that spread from Los Angeles to New York – and beyond. With his signature look to the heavens and his killer screwball, he showed that the American dream was not reserved for those born in the U.S. Multiple award-winning director Cruz Angeles recalls the euphoria around Fernando’s arrival and examines the “Fernandomania” phenomenon that swept the country.