SportsCentury

SportsCentury
Genre	Documentary
Written by	Michael Husain (11 episodes, 2001-2006) Pat Smith (1 episode, 1999) Michael Douglas Callan (1 episode, 2001) Michael Strom (unknown episodes)
Directed by	Michael Husain (2 episodes, 2001-2005) Michael Douglas Callan (1 episode, 2001) Sean Waters (1 episode, 2006)
Presented by	Chris Fowler
Composer(s)	Geoff Zanelli (8 episodes, 2000-2003) Gregg Lehrman (3 episodes, 2004-2005) Robert Leslie Bennett (2 episodes, 2000-2003) Pedro Bromfman (2 episodes, 2003-2005) Ramón Balcázar (1 episode, 2000) Robin Lynn (1 episode, 2000) Charles A. Wolschon (1 episode, 2003)
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of episodes	261
Production
Cinematography	Jim Grieco (87 episodes, 1999-2006) Jared Manders (8 episodes, 2000-2005) Doug Longwill (5 episodes, 2001-2004)
Running time	30—60 minutes
Production company(s)	ESPN
Distributor	ESPN, Inc.
Release
Original network	ESPN
Original release	1999 – 2007
Chronology
Related shows	Beyond the Glory

SportsCentury is an ESPN biography program that reviews the people and athletic events that defined sports in North America throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Using stock footage, on-camera interviews, and photographs of their athletic lives, who grew up.

In 1999, ESPN counted down the Top 50 Athletes of the 20th Century, selected from North American athletes and voted on by a panel of sports journalists and observers,^[1] premiering a new biography highlighting each top athlete every week throughout the year. The episodes for the top two athletes, Michael Jordan and Babe Ruth, appeared on a special combined edition broadcast on Christmas Day on ABC. The top two names were announced in no particular order, and the final positioning was announced at the conclusion of the two episodes. An additional list of numbers 51-100 were announced on the ESPN SportsCentury website. Themed specials such as Greatest Games, Greatest Coaches, Greatest Dynasties, and Most Influential Individuals were premiered throughout the year, as well as six SportsCenter of the Decade programs.

After the initial run was complete, the episodes were rerun at various times on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic. The original plan for the series was to expand to include #51 through #100. Ultimately, the series featured just over half of the athletes from #51 to #100, and instead expanded to include over 150 other athletes, coaches, owners, personalities, and notable moments in sports history. Acknowledgements were given to athletes that were notable for more recent accomplishments, even if they spent only a small part of their career in the 20th century (e.g., Tiger Woods, Tom Brady), or were recently deceased (e.g. Pat Tillman, Dale Earnhardt). Special subsets of episodes were created revolving around a particular event, including athletes associated with the particular sport. They would typically air in the days leading up to those events. (e.g., Winter Olympics, golf majors, Indianapolis 500, etc.)

ESPN Classic began to feature the program with host, Chris Fowler, as the highlight of its weeknight prime-time programing, airing five nights a week. After cycling through the entire series several times, and after debuting several new episodes, it was removed as a nightly program. As of 2007, reruns of the documentary series airs Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. Eastern time. The last original program was that of Shaquille O'Neal, which aired in November 2007.^[2]

Controversy

The final order of choices led to debate, some of which came from the SportsCentury camp. Bob Costas, one of the series' voters, said, "I had Babe Ruth as my number one, but I think the list they came up with was a good one. Everybody more or less deserved to be there." ESPN writer Bud Morgan conceded that the Secretariat pick "was kind of controversial because a lot of people took the attitude 'What is a four-legged animal doing on this list?'"

Tony Kornheiser, whose ballot was topped by Ruth, Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan, said, "I can't conceive of how Ruth didn't finish number one. He had the greatest impact of anybody on a sport by far... Michael Jordan didn't have as many championships as Bill Russell and didn't score as many points as Wilt Chamberlain, and really didn't do anything to advance his sport, so maybe in retrospect I upgraded him a bit too much because the way he performed was so spectacular, and because of television I got to see highlights. They may have overpersuaded a lot of us... Did Jim Thorpe get the praise he deserved? Probably not, because there weren't enough people old enough to really remember him."

ESPN anchor Charley Steiner said "I think picking [Jordan] number one was a generational decision, not a historical one. Babe Ruth deserved it more."^[3]

The list was dramatically North American-centric. Only one athlete in the Top 100 list, Martina Navratilova, was born outside of the United States or Canada. Australian cricketer Donald Bradman, "considered by many to be the pre-eminent sportsman of all time" was also omitted.^[4] Bradman scored a lifetime average far in excess of average - 4.4 standard deviations above the mean, compared to Jordan's inferior 3.4 - leading to the statement that "no other athlete dominates an international sport to the extent that Bradman does cricket".^[5] No soccer player was included in the rankings despite it being the world's most popular sport; Brazilian soccer player Pelé also scored further above average than did Jordan.^[6] Baseball player Ty Cobb, appearing at 20 on the list, also ranked objectively above Jordan on the same ground.

Recognition

SportsCentury won a Peabody Award in 1999 "for overall excellence in sports broadcasting."^[7]

SportsCentury: Top 50 American Athletes of the 20th Century (Original series)

Michael Jordan was voted no. 1

Babe Ruth was voted no. 2

Muhammad Ali was voted no. 3

Number	Athlete	Sport
1	Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan	Basketball
2	Ruth, BabeBabe Ruth	Baseball
3	Ali, MuhammadMuhammad Ali	Boxing
4	Brown, JimJim Brown	Football
5	Gretzky, WayneWayne Gretzky	Ice hockey
6	Owens, JesseJesse Owens	Track and field
7	Thorpe, JimJim Thorpe	Multiple sports
8	Mays, WillieWillie Mays	Baseball
9	Nicklaus, JackJack Nicklaus	Golf
10	Zaharias, BabeBabe Zaharias	Multiple sports
11	Louis, JoeJoe Louis	Boxing
12	Lewis, CarlCarl Lewis	Track and field
13	Chamberlain, WiltWilt Chamberlain	Basketball
14	Aaron, HankHank Aaron	Baseball
15	Robinson, JackieJackie Robinson	Baseball
16	Williams, TedTed Williams	Baseball
17	Johnson, MagicMagic Johnson	Basketball
18	Russell, BillBill Russell	Basketball
19	Navratilova, MartinaMartina Navratilova	Tennis
20	Cobb, TyTy Cobb	Baseball
21	Howe, GordieGordie Howe	Ice hockey
22	DiMaggio, JoeJoe DiMaggio	Baseball
23	Joyner-Kersee, JackieJackie Joyner-Kersee	Track and field
24	Robinson, Sugar RaySugar Ray Robinson	Boxing
25	Montana, JoeJoe Montana	Football
26	Abdul-Jabbar, KareemKareem Abdul-Jabbar	Basketball
27	Rice, JerryJerry Rice	Football
28	Grange, RedRed Grange	Football
29	Palmer, ArnoldArnold Palmer	Golf
30	Bird, LarryLarry Bird	Basketball
31	Orr, BobbyBobby Orr	Ice hockey
32	Unitas, JohnnyJohnny Unitas	Football
33	Spitz, MarkMark Spitz	Swimming
34	Gehrig, LouLou Gehrig	Baseball
35	Secretariat, Secretariat	Horse racing
36	Robertson, OscarOscar Robertson	Basketball
37	Mantle, MickeyMickey Mantle	Baseball
38	Hogan, BenBen Hogan	Golf
39	Payton, WalterWalter Payton	Football
40	Taylor, LawrenceLawrence Taylor	Football
41	Rudolph, WilmaWilma Rudolph	Track and field
42	Koufax, SandySandy Koufax	Baseball
43	Erving, JuliusJulius Erving	Basketball
44	Jones, BobbyBobby Jones	Golf
45	Tilden, BillBill Tilden	Tennis
46	Heiden, EricEric Heiden	Speed skating, cycling
47	Moses, EdwinEdwin Moses	Track and field
48	Sampras, PetePete Sampras	Tennis
49	Simpson, O. J.O. J. Simpson	Football
50	Evert, ChrisChris Evert	Tennis

SportsCentury: 51-100

Mario Lemieux was voted no. 55

Pete Rose was voted no. 56 despite serving a lifetime ban from baseball.

Number	Athlete	Sport
51	Marciano, RockyRocky Marciano	Boxing
52	Dempsey, JackJack Dempsey	Boxing
53	Johnson, RaferRafer Johnson	Track and field
54	Louganis, GregGreg Louganis	Diving
55	Lemieux, MarioMario Lemieux	Ice hockey
56	Rose, PetePete Rose	Baseball
57	Shoemaker, BillBill Shoemaker	Horse racing
58	Baylor, ElginElgin Baylor	Basketball
59	King, Billie JeanBillie Jean King	Tennis
60	Johnson, WalterWalter Johnson	Baseball
61	Musial, StanStan Musial	Baseball
62	West, JerryJerry West	Basketball
63	Paige, SatchelSatchel Paige	Baseball
64	Baugh, SammySammy Baugh	Football
65	Gibson, AltheaAlthea Gibson	Tennis, golf
66	Arcaro, EddieEddie Arcaro	Horse racing
67	Gibson, BobBob Gibson	Baseball
68	Oerter, AlAl Oerter	Track and field
69	Blair, BonnieBonnie Blair	Speed skating
70	Butkus, DickDick Butkus	Football
71	Clemente, RobertoRoberto Clemente	Baseball
72	Jackson, BoBo Jackson	Football, baseball
73	Gibson, JoshJosh Gibson	Baseball
74	Sanders, DeionDeion Sanders	Football, baseball
75	Marino, DanDan Marino	Football
76	Sanders, BarryBarry Sanders	Football
77	Young, CyCy Young	Baseball
78	Mathias, BobBob Mathias	Track and field
79	Sayers, GaleGale Sayers	Football
80	Foyt, A. J.A. J. Foyt	Auto racing
81	Connors, JimmyJimmy Connors	Tennis
82	Hull, BobbyBobby Hull	Ice hockey
83	Wagner, HonusHonus Wagner	Baseball
84	o' War, ManMan o' War	Horse racing
85	Richard, MauriceMaurice Richard	Ice hockey
86	Graham, OttoOtto Graham	Football
87	Armstrong, HenryHenry Armstrong	Boxing
88	Namath, JoeJoe Namath	Football
89	Hornsby, RogersRogers Hornsby	Baseball
90	Petty, RichardRichard Petty	Auto racing
91	Beamon, BobBob Beamon	Track and field
92	Andretti, MarioMario Andretti	Auto racing
93	Hutson, DonDon Hutson	Football
94	Cousy, BobBob Cousy	Basketball
95	Blanda, GeorgeGeorge Blanda	Football
96	Johnson, MichaelMichael Johnson	Track and field
97	Citation, Citation	Horse racing
98	Budge, DonDon Budge	Tennis
99	Snead, SamSam Snead	Golf
100	Johnson, JackJack Johnson	Boxing

Athlete statistics

By sport Baseball: 22 Football: 20 Track/Field: 12 Basketball: 11 Tennis: 8 Boxing: 7 Hockey: 6 Golf: 6 Horse racing: 5 (2 jockeys, 3 horses) Auto racing: 3 Swimming / Diving: 2 Speed skating: 2 Gymnastics: 1

By gender 89 male 8 female 3 thoroughbred horses

Additional SportsCentury episodes

Athletes

Affirmed & Alydar Andre Agassi Lyle Alzado Lance Armstrong Arthur Ashe Charles Barkley Chuck Bednarik Albert Belle Johnny Bench Yogi Berra Moe Berg Barry Bonds Terry Bradshaw Tom Brady Kobe Bryant Roy Campanella Jennifer Capriati Steve Carlton Hurricane Carter Rubin Carter Roger Clemens Cynthia Cooper Jim Craig John Daly Ernie Davis Oscar De La Hoya Dale Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Dennis Eckersley John Elway Brett Favre Bob Feller Mark Fidrych Charlie Finley Carlton Fisk Peggy Fleming Tim Flock Curt Flood Richmond Flowers Doug Flutie Cheryl Ford George Foreman Bevo Francis Joe Frazier Dan Gable Kevin Garnett Zina Garrison Mark Gastineau Frank Gifford Jeff Gordon Steffi Graf Red Grange Rocky Graziano Hank Greenberg Florence Griffith Joyner Marvin Hagler

Dorothy Hamill Mia Hamm Connie Hawkins Evander Holyfield Paul Hornung Sam Huff Allen Iverson Reggie Jackson Dan Jansen Bruce Jenner[lower-alpha 1] Derek Jeter Nile Kinnick Anna Kournikova Michelle Kwan Don Larsen Sugar Ray Leonard Ray Lewis Eric Lindros Sonny Liston Nancy Lopez Jerry Lucas Karl Malone Peyton Manning Pete Maravich Roger Maris Billy Martin (2-part) Pedro Martinez Gene Mauch

Bill Mazeroski John McEnroe Mark McGwire Denny McLain Jim McMahon Rick Mears Phil Mickelson Archie Moore Randy Moss Alonzo Mourning Greg Norman Shaquille O'Neal Terrell Owens Pele Brian Piccolo Jimmy Piersall Jacques Plante Gary Player Jim Plunkett Cal Ripken, Jr Frank Robinson Andy Roddick Dennis Rodman Seabiscuit Curt Schilling Willie Shoemaker Emmitt Smith Seattle Slew

Sammy Sosa Latrell Sprewell Bart Starr Casey Stengel Tony Stewart Darryl Strawberry Maurice Stokes Picabo Street Isiah Thomas Pat Tillman Lee Trevino Mike Tyson Al Unser, Sr. Bill Vukovich Bill Walton Bud Wilkinson Chris Webber Reggie White Jayson Williams Venus & Serena Williams Tyrone Willingham Tiger Woods Carl Yastrzemski Sources[9][10]

Coaches, owners, and other personalities

Sparky Anderson Red Auerbach Bobby Bowden Larry Brown Bear Bryant Al Davis

Woody Hayes Phil Jackson Willie Jeffries Don King Bob Knight Mike Krzyzewski

Tom Landry Vince Lombardi Bill Parcells Rick Pitino Pete Rozelle Adolph Rupp

Don Shula Dean Smith George Steinbrenner Bill Veeck[11] Dick Vermeil John Wooden

Games, teams, and other special episodes

• 1972 Olympic Men's Basketball Final
• 1977 British Open
• Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals ("The Flu Game")
• Ball Four
• Epic in Miami (Chargers vs. Dolphins)
• New York Yankees
• Jerry's Cowboys
• Bears 46 defense
• Villanova vs. Georgetown (1985 NCAA Championship)
• Disciples of Jackie Robinson
• 1999 Ryder Cup

Special episodes

SportsCentury: Greatest Games of the 20th Century

"Greatest Games" was a top ten countdown of the best games/matches voted on from a wide variety of team and individual sports.

1. "The Greatest Game Ever Played" – (1958 NFL Championship): Baltimore Colts vs. New York Giants (1958)
2. The Shot Heard 'Round the World – Bobby Thomson's home run (1951)
3. Super Bowl III – New York Jets defeat Baltimore Colts (1969)
4. Miracle on Ice – U.S.A defeats U.S.S.R. (1980)
5. "Thrilla in Manila" – Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier (1975)
6. "Ice Bowl" – Green Bay vs. Dallas (1967)
7. Game 6 of the 1975 World Series – Carlton Fisk's home run (1975)
8. Tiger Woods wins the Masters (1997)
9. Willis Reed and Knicks beat Lakers in Game 7 (1970)
10. Borg-McEnroe Wimbledon thriller (1980)

SportsCentury: Greatest Coaches of the 20th Century

"Greatest Coaches" was a top ten countdown of the best coaches voted on from a wide variety of team sports.

1. Vince Lombardi
2. John Wooden
3. Red Auerbach
4. Dean Smith
5. Phil Jackson
6. John McGraw
7. George Halas
8. Don Shula
9. Paul Brown
10. Knute Rockne

SportsCentury: Greatest Dynasties

• New York Yankees
• Boston Celtics
• Montréal Canadiens
• John Wooden's UCLA Bruins (1960s and 1970s)
• Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team (1946-1949)
• Dallas Cowboys (1990s)
• Atlanta Braves (1990s)
• Chicago Bulls (1990s)
• San Francisco 49ers (1980s)

SportsCentury: Most Influential Individuals

Another top ten countdown special, focusing on influential figures in sports during the twentieth century, namely off-the-field contributors.

1. Branch Rickey
2. Pete Rozelle
3. Roone Arledge
4. Marvin Miller
5. Kenesaw Mountain Landis
6. David Stern
7. Avery Brundage
8. Walter O'Malley
9. George Halas
10. Mark McCormack

SportsCentury: The Year in Review

1980 Year in Review 1981 Year in Review 1982 Year in Review 1983 Year in Review 1984 Year in Review 1985 Year in Review 1986 Year in Review 1987 Year in Review 1988 Year in Review 1989 Year in Review

1990 Year in Review 1991 Year in Review 1992 Year in Review 1993 Year in Review 1994 Year in Review 1995 Year in Review 1996 Year in Review 1997 Year in Review 1998 Year in Review 1999 Year in Review

2000 Year in Review 2001 Year in Review

Also included in the overall production was "SportsCenter of the Decade", a series of six two-hour programs (1900-1949, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s). Each episode was presented as a fictional episode of SportsCenter, in the way ESPN would have covered the events at the time (styles, studio/production design, and other various pop culture references).^[12]

Notes

1. Jenner changed his first name to Caitlyn due to gender transition in 2015.^[8]

Citations

1. https://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016538.html
2. "SportsCentury Episode list". TV Guide. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
3. Miller, James and Shales, Tom, Those Guys Have All the Fun, Little Brown & Co., 2011, pgs. 420-422
4. Adams, Kathleen; et al. (4 March 2001). "Milestones". Time. Retrieved 23 August 2008.
5. Hutchins, Brett (2002). Don Bradman: Challenging the Myth. Cambridge University Press. p. 21. ISBN 0-521-82384-6.
6. Shaw, John (27 February 2001). "Sir Donald Bradman, 92, Cricket Legend, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 August 2008.
7. 59th Annual Peabody Awards, May 2000.
8. Buzz Bissinger (June 1, 2015). "Introducing Caitlyn Jenner". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
9. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0281438/episodes?ref_=tt_ql_6
10. http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/sportscentury/episodes/191786
11. http://mediaburn.org/video/sports-century-bill-veeck/
12. http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016485.html

References

• ESPN SportsCentury - Official Site
• SportsCentury at the Internet Movie Database