Shut Up and Dribble

There are two situations in which LeBron James represents the best the NBA has to offer - when he's on the court, and when he isn't. This first of three parts bodes well for a series that masterfully combines archival footage and commentary, perfectly establishing a social and political context for the equivalent of a college-level study of American culture and racial studies from the 1950s to the present. This in-depth presentation of the history of Black athletes in college and professional basketball, documenting their struggles within the game and beyond, mirrors the broader conflicts over racism in all aspects of our economy and society.

This is no polemic; we get a neutral, factual account of the times, events and key figures among players and others. If this level of quality and clarity continues through the next two, LeBron's superstar status as a player and humanitarian will make room for his chops as a producer of infotainment, with this fine offering from his Springhill Entertainment Company. ...and this assessment is coming from a white guy old enough to have lived through the years covered in Part One.

I don't follow basketball, so some things were new to me. I AM an adamant civil rights proponent. This documentary is an important testament to race relations. I hope Jay-Z is right about change because, right now, things aren't looking so good.

That LeBron and Maverick created such a wonderful series out of something so hateful is amazing to me. As a middle aged, Brit from across the pond who loved many of the great Black sportsmen, this show was informative, entertaining and well edited. Really liked how they used a female voice to narrative which is outside the sports norm. HBO and Warner Brothers hit a treasure chest with these young men. The 6.8 rating on here tells me the demographic must interested and effected by this show don't bother writing on here it seems! Well, I am here to do it. Go watch the show if you're interested in great sports people and how their work become the hotbed of the struggle for human rights. LBJ also walks the walk with his free agency advocacy, ex-players health care, older players ability to get paid by their teams if they can bring the same value as 25s. All wonderful work that goes unnoticed.

The Peoples champ!

I can't believe the low overall rating for this series. I am actually thinking Lebron and his team could clear some mantle space for an Emmy (or at least a Sports, News/Doc one). This showcases a shining example of the marriage between culture and sport. I found it to be a well-balanced, in your face look at the progression of the athletes in the sport and the rise and fall of the racial spectrum in America. I applaud Lebron James and his team for it being so balanced and I also found it fascinating the parallels between the activities in the sport and it's history alongside the cultural, societal history unfolding. Bravo!

Don't expect any actual questioning of Lebron....as the producer of this it really is just an infomercial for him. I'm frankly tied of hearing the opinions of athletes, celebrities, mass media pundits, etc, etc, etc. The scourge of the Information Age is that we are forced to hear everyone's opinions (including mine right now). News is no longer informative, it's ratings driven 24 hour editorial. So Laura Ingram has every right to tell him to stick to what he's good at...basketball...and leave the politics out of the game. But I also believe he has the right to spend his money and say what he wants...that's why he came out with this documentary as a response. But none of their opinions matter in the daily lives of most people.