So if you’re like the many millions of Americans who are staying home due to the coronavirus, you’re probably starting to run out of things to do. For us sports fans, we feel kind of lost with no live sports to keep us entertained. What do we do with all this free time? Well if you haven’t had time to, their are plenty of “30 for 30” documentaries from ESPN to keep you entertained. Honestly as a 24 year old millennial, I used some of these films as an education for sports history. So if you’re looking from some ideas on what to watch, here is my Top 10 of the best “30 for 30” films.

10. “I Hate Christian Laettner”

The very first bad boy of Duke. One of the best college basketball players of all time and yet despised by everyone. It’s interesting to see the rise of Duke and how Christian Laettner became one of sports all time greatest villains. Plus believe it or not you get to see a softer side of Laettner. Whether you love or hate Duke, watching this film will get your emotions going one way or another.

9. “Believeland”

As a Buffalo Bills fan, I think I have a pretty good idea of what it’s like to feel sad. But that pales in comparison to the decades of heartache the city of Cleveland, Ohio had to go through. You get to here from local natives about the highs, and well mostly lows, of everything from the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Plus who doesn’t love a good underdog story right? “Believeland” is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. It’s just simply a must watch.

8. “Catching Hell”

Thank god the Chicago Cubs won the World Series in 2016. Otherwise Steve Bartman would still be a wanted man even to this day. This film takes a closer look at that infamous 2003 Game 6 of the NLCS and the moment that added more pain to the Cubs championship drought. It’s horrifying to see just how badly Bartman was treated and how even to this day his life is never the same. One of the earliest “30 for 30” films but it still stands up years later.

7. “The U”

A complete chronicle of the University of Miami’s dominate rise in college football that spanned decades. The dirty plays, the cocky attitude, the hall of fame players and coaches involved with this program make this film so entertaining. It’s really a history lesson for anyone who wasn’t around to see this dynasty. Plus it’s fascinating to see just how much of an impact Miami made on college football even today. A great film especially if you’re missing college football.

6. “The Last Days Of Knight”

Probably the most controversial film on this list, “The Last Days of Knight” takes a look at hall of fame coach Bob Knight and not only the rise of Indiana basketball, but the fall of his tenure in Bloomington. Knight modeled what a lot of coaches across all levels did for decades. Yell, get in players faces, and even get physical. The film takes a look at how Knight not only had so much influence at the university, but the state of Indiana as a whole. The film shows the dark side of college athletics but it’s a film that I just simply could not stop watching.

5. “Catholics vs Convicts”

You want to talk about a college football rivalry? Damn this was one for the ages. The behind the scene story of how some college kids making a t shirt ignited the flames between Notre Dame and Miami. The genuine hate both of these programs have for one another is just so dang good. It’s not even so much the games themselves that make this film great, but the smack talk and never before seen details about this rivalry makes this one of my favorite films to watch over and over.

4. “Elway to Marino”

The 1983 NFL Draft goes down as of the greatest NFL drafts in league history. Not only did the fate of several franchises change, but the entire NFL was forever impacted by this draft. With the 2020 NFL Draft just about a month away, this is great film to watch to see the details that went into one of the greatest drafts of all time. It’s also a showcase of how one decision can make or break careers and the future of franchises. As a draft geek, this film gets by blood running especially when we get closer to draft day.

3. “The Fab Five”

To think of a time when freshman weren’t allowed to play college basketball is pretty insane. Yet “The Fab Five” shows us the story of how 5 Michigan freshman forever changed the landscape of college basketball. The love all these players had for each other and the the falling out as well makes for a compelling view. If you don’t know about the Fab Five, you are missing out on a huge piece of college basketball history.

2. “June 17 1994”

The day of June 17 1994 goes down as the craziest days not only in sports, but in popular American culture. The way this film is told is not with a narrator but with clips from games and news networks. They piece together the entire timeline hour by hour, minute by minute of that day. For someone like me who wasn’t alive (sorry to make you feel old) watching this film makes me feel like I’m experiencing the day for myself. The film editing alone with this film makes it a must watch.

1. “OJ: Made In America”

OJ Simpson is just someone who transcends sports talk and is ingrained, for better or worse, in American history. This 5 part documentary really examines the life of OJ Simpson from beginning to now. It touches on race, class welfare, celebrity culture and so much more. This is the best “30 for 30” film ESPN has ever produced. Even if your not a sports fan, you can’t help but watch the story of OJ Simpson and the impact that murder trial, even to this day, had on the United States. Simply put it’s my favorite “30 for 30” film of all time.