1. The Announcement
image: overstock
Yet another documentary from ESPN's illustrious 30 for 30 catalogue. The Announcement refers to November 7th 1991, the day LA Lakers superstar Erving 'Magic' Johnson announced to the world that he was HIV positive and was to retire from basketball with immediate effect.
The documentary details the impact Magic's announcement had on society in a time when AIDS was still a taboo subject and the influence Johnson had on changing people's perceptions. At the time being HIV Positive was seen as a death sentence but the basketball star conquered his illness by unexpectedly returning to the NBA, winning Olympic Gold with the Dream Team and also becoming a successful businessman, philanthropist and media personality. And with today being the big man's birthday, there's no better time to look back on his ground breaking career.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix2nP1LdgrQ
2. The Trillion Dollar Con Man
image: theguardian
This BBC documentary tells the story of Russell King, a fraudster who stole a football club and broke a bank. With his tales of foreign gold and assets worth 2 trillion dollars, the con man fooled politicians, banks and the football world.
He even tricked the former England football manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, into visiting North Korea to support his scam. King had heavy involvement in the selling of Notts County to Munto Finance, pretending to have access to millions in Bahrain royal family gold, for just one pound, and selling it months later at a huge loss.
3. India v Pakistan: A Bat and Ball War
Considering the summer that's in it, with the Ashes ongoing all summer, we bring you a cricket documentary. This 1999 documentary depicts Pakistan's tour of India in the same year. This film follows the Pakistan team as they tour their biggest rivals at a time of political upheaval and tension between both nations.
