30 for 30: Guru of Go (2010) 

*** (out of 4) 

ESPN documentary takes a look at head coach Paul Westhead who won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers before being ran out of town due to Magic Johnson. After a few other losing seasons he found himself only able to get hired by the small Loyola Marymount where he put in his "run and gun" style of play. His fortunes turned when he landed superstars Bo Kimble and Hank Gathers but soon tragedy would strike when Gathers would die on the court. This episode is yet another winner but I there's one major problem with it. It seems like the producers or director didn't know what type of story they wanted to tell. It starts off being about Westhead and his fast style of basketball but it quickly centers in on Gathers and his shocking death. There's no doubt that Gathers' story is the most interesting one so I'm curious why they didn't just make the documentary about him. Westhead's early career is looked at quickly as was his post-LM days so why they tried to make him center stage is beyond me. The documentary does work as a nice tribute to Gathers as we get interviews with his teammates, trainers and even his brother who is still heartbroken by his death. I thought the documentary did a very good job at showing how magical his talent was and how important the NCAA tournament was after his death.

The biography, or "biopic", is a genre that portrays the life story of a real person, often a notable individual or historical figure. They aim to provide a depiction of the subject's personal history, achievements, challenges, and impact on society.

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The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

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The history genre features recounting and analyzing past events, societies, cultures, and historical figures. This genre aims to provide insights into the development of civilizations, the causes and consequences of historical events, and the impact of individuals and ideas on the course of history.

The sport genre features the world of sports, capturing the excitement, competition, and personal journeys of athletes, coaches, and teams. The stories cover a wide range of sports and activities, each with its own unique characteristics and themes.

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We follow the career of Paul Westhead who became famous as a coach for his fast break system of play. His career encompassed winning NBA and WNBA titles and intense controversy at the college level.

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Guru of Go

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