ESPN 30 for 30: “Benji” Review

“March days in Chicago could be cold. But in 1967, a frigid March morning brought a warm spark of promise to a small bungalow on the south side of Chicago.”—Wood Harris, “Benji” narrator

The harsh realities tempered with the rise of a shooting star. The promise of happiness to come evoked with the gazing of greatness personified. Such was the meaning of the quote above narrating the onset of Benjamin “Benji” Wilson’s life. Coodie and Chike directed and Creative Control produced for season two of ESPN’s highly touted “30 for 30” series , “Benji” offers a chilling and touching narrative of Wilson, the top-ranked high school basketball player in 1984 out of Chicago’s Simeon Vocational High School.

With an exclusive screening of the documentary for on-demand cable television viewers, “Benji” may set the stage and standard for the “30 for 30” films that follow it for this season (“Benji” will officially debut on Tuesday October 23 at 8 on ESPN). Utilizing those who knew Wilson best from family, friends, neighbors, classmates, teammates, NBA players and musical stars, it helped to present the essence of the kid who handled the rock “like Isaiah Thomas” and smiled “like Magic Johnson”.

October 11, 2012October 11, 2012 by marshallreview Categories: COMMENTARYTags: Ben Wilson, Common, Juwan Howard, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Terry Cummings, Tim Hardaway, Tracy McGrady Leave a comment

Admiration for Rose is evident

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

It was a stinging reminder of the lost felt by the Chicago Bulls and NBA fans alike. You could clearly realize the pain felt within the individual affected the most. Before Tuesday night’s game two contest between the Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers, guard Derrick Rose wearing a brace on his left knee and decked out in a Bulls sweatsuit, walked out to the middle of the court for the game ball presentation.

The cheering that ensued was the biggest of the night from a fan base enchanted with their hometown boy making good. Even Sixers head coach Doug Collins saw fit to stand and clap for the reigning league MVP. Rose, seemingly holding back his emotions, graciously acknowledged the fans.

May 2, 2012August 29, 2012 by marshallreview Categories: COMMENTARY, NBATags: Andrew Bynum, Ben Wilson, Derrick Rose, Doug Collins, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Michael Jordan Leave a comment