In 2010, to celebrate their 30^th anniversary, ESPN launched a unique program idea “30 for 30” had thirty notable filmmakers tackling various sports stories. The series was a massive hit to the point ESPN realized limiting it to just 30 wouldn’t work. Thus, it’s continued and expanded to more than just one-hour tales. Several of them push two hours and some (such as an examination of the Lakers/Celtics rivalry) span several parts. Not all of them have been winners but the best are met with huge critical acclaim from various small awards to even an Oscar. The best ones have the subjects involved sharing their stories and while many of them cover well-trod material, others can be surprising in their revelations.

It’s not just the main movies but also slews of shorts that shine a light on lesser-known sports tales and bring them to light. It’s remarkable how many great stories have been ignored and how even the more famous ones can have facets and secrets fans didn’t know of. With so many filmmakers taking part (many of them fans themselves to shine a light on things), it’s amazing how the 30 for 30 series has broken ground in sports filmmaking. Here are 30 of the most notable secrets revealed in this series and showcasing how even dedicated sports fans can be surprised at what “30 for 30” has brought to light.

30 A Telethon Saved the Pacers

The Indiana Pacers have had their ups and downs over the years. Their lowest point was in the late 1970s. After years of success in the ABA, the Pacers struggled when the leagues merged, facing financial issues and little support from the city.

The team was going to be sold. “Slick, Nancy and the Telethon” examines the amazing solution of head coach Bobby “Slick” Johnson and his wife Nancy: Hold a telethon.

As insane as it sounds, on July 3^rd, 1977, the duo hosted a live telethon to raise enough money to help the Pacers sell 8,000 seats, equaling $2 million in cash to make payroll. The duo hosted with some local acts doing live performances and everyone from steel workers to little kids coming up with their cash. It got serious as the night wore on and tearful pleas from them but they finally met their goal.

29 A Husband and Wife Controlled Baseball for 25 Years

From 1981 to 2004, MLB's scheduling task fell in the hands of a husband and wife using just a pen and paper. “The Schedule Makers” reveals the amazing saga of Henry and Holly Stephenson who pulled off the epic feat of telling teams who they’d be facing. They talk of how every team had their demands on where to be at a certain time of year and crafting natural progression of travel.

When they heard MLB was going to allow interplay, they nearly tore their hair out over the further challenges but were up to it. They also faced the same challenge of any schedule maker in that you have no idea which teams were going to be relevant by the end of the season. The duo finally were outbid in 2004 for a randomizing program. However, that personal touch was what put a great stamp on MLB.

28 An Angry Fan Inspired Weber’s Most Famous Moment

You don’t think of bowling as a major sport but for decades, the PBA has been a reliable source of ratings for networks and ESPN. A key reason was Dick Weber, the legendary player who was one of the first stars of the sport in the televised era. His son, Pete, followed in his footsteps but in his own style. “The Bad Boy of Bowling” is aptly named for showcasing how Pete put the sport back on the map with his wild and maverick style. In 2012, Weber was going for his fifth U.S. Open and suffered a bad move which led to heckling by a fan.

His reaction would go viral but on the doc, Weber says that the fan’s needling was just what he needed. Fired up, he went on for a sensational strike to claim the championship.

27 The Missing Documentary

“Down in the Valley” was to debut in October of 2015 and would detail how Kevin Johnson, former NBA star representing the city, helped save the Sacramento Kings from a sale and move.

An early screening was held where some cite the film as basically publicity for Johnson, ignoring how his move to keep the Kings in the city cost the taxpayers millions and was rather unpopular.

But just before it was to air, ESPN pulled the documentary after controversies arose involving Johnson. Johnson has since left his post, but it still seems unlikely the documentary will air. There have even been petitions to release it but as it seems now, this is one “30 for 30” that ESPN prefers remain a secret from the viewers.

26 The Sidd Finch Hoax

Long before the Internet, it was easier for sports writers to pull off huge jokes on each other and fans. “Unhittable: Sidd Finch and the Tibetan Fastball” looks at what may well be the greatest fast one ever pulled on sports readers. In 1985, George Plimpton wrote a Sports Illustrated story on Hayden Siddhartha "Sidd" Finch, who he claimed was a new prospect signed by the Mets. He was being hailed for being able to throw a 160 mph fastball claiming it was because of being raised in Tibet. Mets fans actually started flooding the office with ticket requests. Too bad they never checked the date of the issue: April 1^st.

Yep, the entire thing was a huge April Fool’s Day prank. Plimpton crafted his wild backstory out of thin air. The doc showcases how the editors had no idea fans and even other baseball people would fall for this prank.

25 O.J.'s Golf Tactics

Easily the most awarded of the various “30 for 30” films is “O.J.: Made in America.” This five-part, nearly eight-hour saga was released theatrically and won the Oscar for Best Documentary. It was universally praised as a stunning look at Simpson and how he became a cultural icon. But amidst all the other revelations was a notable bit: The man was a notorious golf cheat. He’s shown on video lying about hitting a ball into the forest. It got so bad that his buddies hired caddies just to keep an eye on Simpson. Today, his golf-playing is almost a joke but it shows yet another shady side to a man once revered as a hero.

24 Human Error In Week 2 May Have Led To XFL's Downfall

You get the feeling that ESPN detailing the XFL may have sparked Vince McMahon to relaunch the league, which will happen in 2020, 19 years after the league's demise. "This Was The XFL" details how the XFL could've changed everything if not for a blackout in a thrilling Week 2 game.

After a Week 1 that didn't deliver on the quality of football that was promised, Week 2 featured a thrilling OT game between the Chicago Enforcers and Los Angeles Xtreme.

However, due to someone forgetting to put gas in the generators on the production trucks, NBC lost the feed and forced the game to cut into Saturday Night Live, which was a big no-no for NBC.

23 Evert and Navratilova Were Always Friends

One thing 30 for 30 does well is to do away with the misconceptions of various athletes. “Unmatched” shows the two were always friends from the beginning. In fact, Evert was one of the few who knew of Martina's sexual orientation but respected her keeping quiet for years. Each woman talks about how they disliked the media pitting them at odds and their own agents pressuring them to go along with it to hype up their games and their “marketability.” It’s a great showcase of two stars with each saying they never could have lasted through the other and revealing the true bond was friendship, not hate, that made them such a stellar sight on the court.

22 The 1972 Basketball Team Still Doesn’t Their Silver Medals

In 1972, the U.S. Men’s basketball team pulled off what looked like a last-second win over the USSR at the Munich Olympic Games. But thanks to an overeager international official, a biased ref and some idiotic turns, the game was restarted three times to allow the Soviets to win. The U.S. team refused their silver medals in protest of what most consider one of the greatest injustices in all of sports.

In 2012, they gathered to debate a new offer to accept the medals for the 40^th anniversary of the event. It was a short but inspired talk, each man reflecting on the irony of how that loss made them far more famous than a win would have. In the end, by a unanimous vote, they once more turned down the medals, still insisting the gold should have been theirs.

21 Chris Webber & His Fab Five Teammates Are On Bad Terms

One of ESPN's finest in its 30 for 30 series, "The Fab Five" recalls the prolific starting lineup the Michigan Wolverines had in the early 90s, where they lost in two straight finals. The 1993 NCAA final featured Chris Webber's infamous "timeout" and all these years later, it's clear there's still plenty of blame going around among the Fab Five. Webber was the only one of the five not featured in the documentary.

Webber claimed he wasn't in the film because he wasn't asked until the film was close to wrapping up, which teammate Jimmy King called a flat-out lie.

20 How The Arnold Palmer Was Named

Usually, Arnold Palmer is connected to the amazing golfer. But it’s also the name of a drink that’s become the go-to for any golfer on the “19^th Hole.” Palmer was a clean guy, especially on game days, only taking in lemonade and iced tea.

As showcased in the short of the same name, Palmer was at the U.S. Open in Denver and ordered the drink at a bar. A lady nearby heard him and said she’d “have the Mr. Palmer.”

One of her friends overhead as she talked of it and it just came to be. Palmer himself has cracked he wishes he could have figured out how to trademark it and become even richer. It’s funny how one offhand remark created one of the most popular drinks at any golf club.

19 The Russians Still Haven’t Gotten Over The Miracle

We all know the moment and that epic Al Michaels’ call. The story of the 1980s men’s Olympic hockey team and their epic upset of the seemingly unbeatable Soviets. “Of Miracles and Men” looks at this from the Soviet perspective and how they felt suffering this loss and living with it all these years. True, the Soviets remained strong afterward yet it’s obvious they faced a huge backlash in their homeland. The players in the documentary try to be upbeat but the signs are all there. They refuse to show their silver medals and are always tight-lipped when speaking of it. One is openly asked if he’s seen the movie “Miracle” and gives a glare of pure death in return. Almost 40 years later, the Soviets still haven’t been able to get over this moment.

18 Reggie Miller Felt Inferior To His Sister

“Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs the New York Knicks” has been criticized by some as being too self-serving to Miller. One critic openly called it “his Hall of Fame reel” and how it boasts about the greatness of a guy who never won a championship. But it also showcases the great battles between the Knicks and the Pacers of the time and how it showcased Miller as a villain. But the most striking part is how it makes clear that Miller always felt in the shadow of his sister, Cheryl. She was one of the best college basketball players of her time, a two-time National Champion and an Olympic gold medalist to boot. While Miller obviously loves his sister, it’s also clear how he felt inferior to her and that drove a lot of his attitude.

17 Buffalo Loves Scott Norwood

A lot of cities have known sports heartbreak like Chicago, Boston and Cleveland. But Buffalo may have it worst. Four straight seasons, they went to the Super Bowl and each one was a bitter defeat. The former players all agree the most bitter loss was the first as they had it right in the palm of their hands but then Scott Norwood’s kick went wide to cause them to lose to the Giants.

It’s only natural to assume that Norwood’s reputation in Buffalo is much like Bill Buckner’s was in Boston as a loathed figure.

Instead, the film shows how Norwood remains one of the city’s beloved sports figures.

No one blames him for the bad kick, writing it off as a twist of fate and, if anything, the three subsequent losses let him off the hook more. They’re ready to see it as just bad luck overall and how the Bills just couldn’t get the job done.

16 The Agents Caused the Shaq/Magic Break

“This Magic Moment” details how, for a brief time in the early 1990s, the Orlando Magic seemed ready to rise to the top of the NBA. That’s because of Shaquille O’Neal, a man clearly destined for stardom. However, it had a bad ending as Orlando reached the 1995 NBA Finals only to be swept by the Rockets. Michael Jordan’s return led to a new Bulls dynasty and a fall-out between Shaq and the Magic that led to O’Neal going to L.A. himself.

The excellent documentary focuses on how this was the rise of the super-agents. Shaq himself seems to regret having listened to his agents more than his own gut as he really loved Orlando and maybe put too much emphasis on getting the cash than winning a ring there.

15 What Benny Anders Has Been Up To

Everyone knows of the 1983 NCAA finals as the University of North Carolina pulled off a stunning upset of the seemingly unstoppable Houston team. However, the biggest surprise is what has become of Benny Anders. Most felt Anders was the true glue of the Cougars, a sensational athlete who pushed them hard.

However, Anders’ ego led to clashes with his coach and the famous sight of him showing up at the 1984 Final Four in tuxedo with pink tie and shades. He was kicked off the team and basically fell off the map. The documentary caught up to him at last and while his words are brief, it’s notable how one of the most famous “where are they now?” figures was finally found by this film.

14 The SMU Takedown Was Because Of A Dallas Media Battle

“Pony Excess” is an excellent examination of the rise and fall of the SMU Mustangs. They dominated the Southwestern Conference in the 1980s but behind the scenes, they were pushed by the boosters paying off players and various other shady moves. When it was revealed, SMU was hit with the "Death Penalty,” banned from playing for two years which basically destroyed the program. The fact is, the fall was because SMU has the misfortune of being caught in a major Dallas media war.

At the time, the Dallas Morning-News and Times-Herald were going at it for readership and pushed to find something to give their respective paper an edge. 

Given that SMU was the one team in the Southwestern Conference in Dallas, having all that media attention on them was a terrible thing. Maybe in another time and place, the Mustangs could have covered up their misdeeds longer but in this period, the media war helped bring SMU down before the eyes of the world.

13 Jimmy The Greek’s Legacy Is Predictions

His legacy is sadly overwhelmed by his controversial exit. However, “The Legend of Jimmy the Greek” expertly showcases how Jimmy Snyder paved the way for so much of what we see on sports broadcasting today. He achieved fame by winning a big bet on Harry Truman winning re-election against all odds. For 12 years, he was a figure on CBS’s NFL show as he would make predictions on games which influenced the public. His sharp humor and insight were famous but he was brought down in 1988 after making what was seen as disparaging remarks toward black athletes.

The documentary makes it clear that the Greek’s biggest legacy has been how he perfected the art of predicting NFL scores, now a must for any pregame show.

12 Bo Jackson Had His Choice Of The Yankees Or Alabama

Bo Jackson was a once in a lifetime type of athlete. Everyone wanted a piece of him when it was his time to go pro, and he had his pick of the litter. Interestingly, baseball and football weren't even passions of his growing up, as he preferred track and field.

However, out of high school, Jackson had the opportunity to play for the New York Yankees. George Steinbrunner even offered him a shot at skipping development and going straight to the big leagues.

Jackson's football option was initially the Alabama Crimson Tide, but he felt Alabama and iconic coach Bear Bryant underwhelmed him in their recruitment. Thus, Bo elected to go to Auburn.

11 The Creators Of Fantasy Baseball Didn’t Profit Off It

The concept of fantasy baseball had been around for a while. However, “Silly Little Game” focuses on how a group of friends came together for what was then known as the rotisserie league (keep in mind, this was years before interleague play allowed NL and AL teams to face off before the World Series). Daniel Okrent was the writer who hashed out the rules and shared them with friends who began playing about with them in New York diners.

The arrival of the Internet just boosted it up more to become something so huge that it’s even gotten Las Vegas involved.

But the doc makes it clear that the original creators haven’t seen a dime of the multi-million dollar business fantasy baseball has become. It’s clear it gnaws at them in many ways and it seems sad the folks who created a huge industry are rarely given the credit they deserve.