The magic of sport isn’t only in the win or the scorecards—it’s in the drama, in the fight, and in the naked humanity of those pursuing greatness. Across the decades, a few sports documentaries have transcended being mere tales, presenting cinematic masterworks of profound emotional resonance. These five iconic sports documentaries don’t merely present the […]
The magic of sport isn’t only in the win or the scorecards—it’s in the drama, in the fight, and in the naked humanity of those pursuing greatness. Across the decades, a few sports documentaries have transcended being mere tales, presenting cinematic masterworks of profound emotional resonance.
These five iconic sports documentaries don’t merely present the game—they expose the soul behind it.
‘Diego Maradona’ (2019): The Rise and Fall of a Football Legend
Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images
There are not many sports celebrities who have lived lives as thrilling and heartbreaking as Diego Maradona’s.” Directed by Asif Kapadia, “Diego Maradona” plunges you directly into the midst of the madness—no talking heads, only raw footage and audio narrations that follow his ups and downs.
The film focuses on his years in Naples, where he was treated like a deity. People even put his picture next to Jesus. But fame is not without cost. From his poor starting point in Argentina to his notorious tumble, driven by addiction and scandal, this documentary is an unflinching exposure of brilliance destroyed by fame.
Maradona is not presented merely as a footballer, but also as a human being with all his weaknesses and vulnerabilities, swept up in the fury of international fixation.
‘Murderball’ (2005): Wheelchair Rugby Like You’ve Never Seen
“Murderball” plunges you into the violent world of wheelchair rugby, where the competition is as hot as in any professional league. With a punk-rock sensibility, the documentary conveys not only the high-adrenaline action but also the raw emotions, rivalries, and personal struggles of the athletes.
What makes it indelible is the candor: it’s honest, rawly human, and dispels stereotypes around disability. Sex, intimacy, and identity are in full view, a reminder that these athletes are more than competitors, but multi-faceted people with compelling narratives.
‘The Last Dance’ (2020): Inside the Mind of Michael Jordan
Netflix’s “The Last Dance” was a pandemic sensation worldwide, presenting a close-up view of the Chicago Bulls dynasty from the eyes of Michael Jordan’s supremacy. Blending previously unseen material with contemporary interviews, this docuseries lifts the veil on an icon.
His grudge matches with his rivals, his extravagance in poker, and the death of his father – Jordan’s life is told in stark, chic vignettes. Ultimately, the film solidifies his status not only as a six-time NBA champion but as a symbol of ruthless competitiveness and brilliance.
‘When We Were Kings’ (1996): The Greatest Fight in History
Leon Gast’s “When We Were Kings” preserves one of the most legendary moments in boxing history—Muhammad Ali’s 1974 bout against George Foreman in Zaire. It’s a cultural time capsule and more than just a sports tale.
Ali, diminished and in his twilight years, employs his “rope-a-dope” technique to surprise the world and reclaim his title. The documentary interweaves spectacular fight footage with observations from literary giants such as Norman Mailer and George Plimpton, and even features a cameo by James Brown. This is filmmaking at its best—rich, potent, and unerasable.
Tokyo Olympiad (1965): A Visual Masterwork of Athletic Art
Kon Ichikawa’s “Tokyo Olympiad” isn’t a documentary: it’s a cinematic poem. Spanning the Summer Olympics in 1964 held in Japan, the movie goes against conventional sporting narratives. The film captures in exquisite detail athletes’ beauty, loneliness, and emotion, not their performances or achievements.
With a combination of telephoto lenses, creative sound editing, and poetic shots, Ichikawa turns every sprint, every jump, every throw into something profoundly intimate.
Long before today’s sports documentaries went mainstream, “Tokyo Olympiad” established the standard for visual narrative.
Comparing Shedeur Sanders’ NIL Earnings at Colorado to Browns Contract
Shedeur Sanders made things official with the Cleveland Browns on Monday when the quarterback signed his rookie contract. While the NFL gives Sanders the chance to make plenty of money, his first contract might not compare to what he was bringing in at Colorado last season. Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Sanders’ rookie deal is […]
Shedeur Sanders made things official with the Cleveland Browns on Monday when the quarterback signed his rookie contract.
While the NFL gives Sanders the chance to make plenty of money, his first contract might not compare to what he was bringing in at Colorado last season. Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Sanders’ rookie deal is a four-year, $4.6 million contract with a $447,380 signing bonus.
His exact NIL earnings aren’t clear, but On3 gave him a valuation of $6.5 million last season.
The good news for Sanders is that he’ll likely keep many of his partnerships from college, like his deals with Nike, Beats by Dre and Gatorade. Sanders is also one of the biggest names in this year’s rookie class, so he’ll have plenty of other endorsements heading his way soon.
Sanders’ rookie contract could have been worth much more had he not faced a historic slide after being widely projected as a first-round draft pick. The NFL grants higher rookie salaries to players who were drafted earlier, meaning a first-rounder’s salary is much higher than a fifth-rounder like Sanders.
Per Spotrac, No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward will get a four-year deal worth $48.757 million and a $32.1 million signing bonus. Sanders’ Colorado teammate, Travis Hunter, will get a $46.571 million contract with a $30.509 million signing bonus.
The lost money is something Sanders can’t ignore, but he now has the chance to use it as motivation to get a massive payday when it’s time to sign his second contract.
Sanders was one of the most talented quarterbacks in the draft, throwing for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns in his final season at Colorado. He was the No. 2 quarterback on the final big board from Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department, only behind Ward.
Unfortunately, some mistakes from Sanders during the draft process meant teams passed on him until the fifth round, but he’ll look to let his play do the talking this fall.
Story Links
Official NFCA Release LOUISVILLE, Ky. –Thirteen Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) individuals have been selected to the 2025 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NCAA Division III All-Region VIII Team.
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Sydney Nemetz, UW-Platteville’s Melissa Dietz and UW-Stevens Point’s Morgan Harwood were first team selections.
Nemetz secured […]
–Thirteen Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) individuals have been selected to the 2025 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NCAA Division III All-Region VIII Team.
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Sydney Nemetz, UW-Platteville’s Melissa Dietz and UW-Stevens Point’s Morgan Harwood were first team selections.
Nemetz secured her second straight first team award and owns a 12-3 record across 93.0 innings pitched with 19 starts this season. She has a 1.20 earned run average and a 1.01 WHIP with eight complete games, 79 strikeouts, five shutouts, and a .207 opponent batting average. Nemetz became just the third Titan to reach 400 career strikeouts on April 12 against UW-La Crosse. Her 419 career strikeouts rank second in school history and 11th in conference history.
Dietz, the WIAC Kwik Trip Position Player of the Year, also earned first team accolades in 2023. This season, she broke the program single season records with a .526 batting average and 21 doubles. She leads the conference with a .897 slugging percentage, .590 on-base percentage, and 1.487 OPS. Dietz had at least one hit in 32 of the 36 games she played, and 19 multi-hit contests.
Harwood claimed first team status for the second consecutive year after setting school single season records with 25 starts and 38 appearances. She leads all WIAC pitchers with 158 strikeouts, while her 16 wins are second in the conference. Harwood started a combined no-hitter against Ripon College (Wis.) on February 27, and College of New England (Maine) on March 21.
Second team honorees on the NFCA squad included: UW-Eau Claire’s Paige Lathrop, Molly Marquardt and Kenna Strunsee; UW-Oshkosh’s Sydney Rau and Sophie Wery; UW-Platteville’s Allison Peters; and UW-Whitewater’s Josie Hammen and Kiarra Kostroski.
UW-Eau Claire’s Brooklyn Swanepol and UW-Whitewater’s Bella Eggert were third team picks.
Wery was a second team selection in 2023, while Kostroski was a third team pick a year ago.
Unbeaten Czechs shut out Germany and France relegated at ice hockey worlds | Associated Press
HERNING, Denmark (AP) — Defending champion the Czech Republic shut out Germany 5-0 to stay unbeaten at the ice hockey world championship on Monday. The sixth win lifted the Czechs to the top of Group B, one point ahead of Switzerland and three more than the United States in third. The Czechs complete the group […]
HERNING, Denmark (AP) — Defending champion the Czech Republic shut out Germany 5-0 to stay unbeaten at the ice hockey world championship on Monday.
The sixth win lifted the Czechs to the top of Group B, one point ahead of Switzerland and three more than the United States in third.
The Czechs complete the group stage against the Americans on Tuesday.
Germany and Denmark also meet on Tuesday and will decide the fourth team from the group to reach the quarterfinals.
The Czechs’ Jakub Flek scored twice and David Pastrnak rifled a one-timer from the left circle and set up Lukas Sedlak in the middle period. Jakub Lauko added a short-handed goal.
Daniel Vladar shut out the Germans with 19 saves.
In Stockholm, newcomer Slovenia beat France 3-1 to avoid relegation at the expense of the French.
Later Monday, Canada plays Finland in Stockholm and Norway meets Hungary in Herning, Denmark.
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Bruins Address Area of Concern with First Move of Offseason
The Boston Bruins made their first move of the offseason on Monday morning by signing Czech goalie Simon Zajicek to a one-year, entry-level contract with an NHL cap hit worth $872,500. The #NHLBruins have signed Czech goaltender Simon Zajicek to a one-year entry-level contract with an NHL cap hit of $872,500. The 23 year old […]
The Boston Bruins made their first move of the offseason on Monday morning by signing Czech goalie Simon Zajicek to a one-year, entry-level contract with an NHL cap hit worth $872,500.
The #NHLBruins have signed Czech goaltender Simon Zajicek to a one-year entry-level contract with an NHL cap hit of $872,500.
The 23 year old posted a 2.12 goals GAA and a .930 SV% across 29 games for HC Litvinov this past season.
Zajicek, 23, has spent the last four seasons playing for HC Litvinov of Czech Extraliga. He put together a 15-13-0 with a 2.12 goals against average and a .930 save percentage with five shutouts across 29 starts this past season.
Goaltending isn’t necessarily an area of need for the Bruins, but Zajicek fortifies their depth between the posts. The organization has several decisions to make this offseason when it comes to the netminders they already have, namely, Michael DiPietro and Brandon Bussi.
The two goalies made up the tandem in net for the Providence Bruins this past year and are both about to become unrestricted free agents on July 1 if the Bruins don’t sign them to extensions beforehand. It’s entirely possible that one or both find new opportunities on the open market that could lead to them playing at the NHL level. That certainly could be the case for DiPietro, who was far and away the AHL’s top goalie last season, winning the Aledge “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award.
As of right now, an opportunity like that doesn’t appear to be open in Boston, with both Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo signed to long-term deals. Although that could very well change.
After appearing in just 27 games, Koorpisalo made it clear after the season that he was unhappy with the amount of playing time the Bruins gave him. The team has him signed for the next three years, but could move his $3 million cap hit off the books by sending him to a team in need of a goalie.
Swayman’s spot in Boston is far more secure after inking a massive contract extension with the Bruins last year. However, the first year of that deal was a downright disaster as Swayman struggled during his first season as the Bruins’ starter, posting a woeful 22-29-7 record with a 3.11 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage.
By no means have the Bruins given up on Swayman, but another bad year from him could lead to the team trading him before the no-movement clause on his contract kicks in at the start of the 2026-27 season.
It’s not clear what plans the Bruins have for Zajicek, or any of their other goalies, for that matter, but they’re clearly preparing for any all possibilities.
Women’s Lacrosse Breaks Four Records with Multiple Athletes Climbing the Top-10 List
Story Links
ADRIAN, Mich. – The women’s lacrosse team had a career season with four total records broken and 15 total new names and veteran names climbing the top-10 list in the 2025 season. The Adrian College Bulldogs enjoyed a remarkable turnaround during the 2025 season, finishing with 12 wins, seven more […]
ADRIAN, Mich. – The women’s lacrosse team had a career season with four total records broken and 15 total new names and veteran names climbing the top-10 list in the 2025 season.
The Adrian College Bulldogs enjoyed a remarkable turnaround during the 2025 season, finishing with 12 wins, seven more than the previous year and posting a 3-4 record in MIAA play, marking a two-win improvement in conference competition. The resurgence was fueled by the emergence of key players and a renewed team spirit that translated into one of the most successful campaigns in program history.
A pivotal contributor to the Bulldogs’ success was sophomore Madeline Turcotte, who made an immediate impact in her debut season by controlling the midfield and orchestrating the offense. “Madeline Turcotte’s impact on our turnaround this year cannot be overstated,” said Head Coach Amanda Asher. “The most important play in our sport is the draw and winning possession, and she is one of the best I have seen on the draw. Additionally, on the offensive end, she was our conductor, getting us organized and into good sets. Madeline is an excellent decision-maker and very unselfish, as her assist totals indicate.”
Turcotte finished the season ranked ninth in career assists (45) after just one year, placing third in single-season assists and fourth in assists per game (2.50). Her all-around offensive production earned her seventh place in single-season points per game at 5.16.
Freshman Abby Malone also emerged as a standout, quickly becoming a dynamic presence all over the field. Her 57 ground balls were the third-most in a single season in program history. “Abby Malone did it all for us in her freshman year,” said Coach Asher. “She truly is a well-rounded player who contributes in every aspect of the game. Whether it was a key ground ball, caused turnover, transition run, or goal that we needed, Abby was always in the mix. She also has a tremendous passion for the team’s success, and that will continue to drive our growth as a program.”
Defensively, the Bulldogs were anchored by veteran Mey Sun, whose name is now etched across the Adrian record books. Sun became the program’s all-time leader in career caused turnovers with 149 and set a new single-season mark with 37. She also ranks second all-time in ground balls (183), and her durability was unmatched, leading the program in both games started (77) and games played (77). “Mey Sun was our leader on the defensive end and left such a strong imprint on our program,” said Asher. “Her ability to shut down key players for our opponents and create a caused turnover when we needed it was so important for us. She has a knack for anticipating passes and picking the right moment to stick check without fouling. Her dedication to lacrosse and film study are also unmatched.”
Offensively, Zoe Weber continued to climb the record books, moving into eighth all-time in career assists with 49. Meanwhile, Turcotte’s breakout season also propelled her into the top-10 in career assists, finishing just behind Weber in ninth place.
In goal, freshman Bella Norton delivered a stellar rookie campaign. Her 12 wins rank fourth-most in a single season and already place her fifth on the program’s career goalie wins list.
As a team, Adrian set new single-season records for ground balls (467) and caused turnovers (229). With new stars emerging and veterans rewriting the record books, the 2025 season will be remembered as a defining chapter in Adrian women’s lacrosse history.
“Finishing fourth in the regular season and making it to a semifinal shows how this team has the drive for success,” said Amanda Asher. “I’m excited for the growth of this season and can’t wait to see what this program will continue to achieve next season.”
