The Music City Sports Report Streaming Guide
The best documentaries and podcasts about Tennessee sports
Welcome to the Music City Sports Report.
Sports are slowly starting to return across the globe, with most of the major American leagues set to restart within the next month-and-a-half. To help bide your time during the continued sports drought, I’ve put together the official Music City Sports Report Streaming Guide for all of my fellow sports junkies. Hopefully this collection of documentaries and podcasts centered on Tennessee sports figures and teams will at least somewhat satisfy your craving for competition.
Fall of a Titan - If I could recommend just one entry on this list, it would be this nine-part podcast that dives deep into the death of Steve McNair. Former Sports Illustrated writer Tim Rohan spent 15 months investigating the case and it shows.
Killing Lorenzen - Another podcast about the tragic murder of a Tennessee sports figure, this 10-episode series by WREG delves into the death of former Tiger and Grizzly Lorenzen Wright.
Undefeated - The 2011 Oscar winner for Best Documentary Feature follows the Manassas Tigers, a high school football team in Memphis, who haven’t won a playoff game in the 110 years of their program.
The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young - This is the wild story of the Barkley Marathons, an ultramarathon that takes place in Wartburg, Tennessee which has only had 15 finishers in 25 years.
Bernie and Ernie - Jason Hehir, the director of The Last Dance, tells the story of the legendary NYC-to-UT men’s basketball duo Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld.
This Magic Moment - One of the more popular 30 for 30 entries takes a look at the quick rise and fall of the partnership between Shaquille O’Neal and Memphis’ favorite son Penny Hardaway.
30 for 30 Shorts: Chattanooga Strong - The story behind the Chattanooga Heroes Fund, started by Peyton Manning to benefit the families of the service members and police officers who were killed or wounded in the July 2015 shootings in Chattanooga.
24 Strong - The tragic tale of Knoxville high school football player Zaevion Dobson who posthumously received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for saving the lives of three girls by shielding them from gunfire.
Pat XO - A Nine for IX entry on the GOAT Pat Summitt.
The Color Orange: The Condredge Holloway Story - Part of the SEC Storied collection, this documentary features the fascinating story of UT QB Condredge Holloway.
The Believer - Another SEC Storied entry, this time on Volunteer fan turned all-time Gator Steve Spurrier.
By Grantland Rice - One final SEC Storied film, this one on the most iconic figure in sports journalism history, Vanderbilt alumnus, and Tennessee native Grantland Rice.
Funkadelic Toothlessness - The Flyness of James "Fly" Williams - This episode of the Crime in Sports podcast takes a look at the unbelievable story of one of Austin Peay’s finest, streetball legend James Fly Williams.
Links
Nashville SC returned to full-team training for the first time in 95 days last Monday, just three weeks before the MLSisBack Tournament.
Meaningful action from former Vandy baseball star, Franklin native, and current Oakland A Tony Kemp in Inside Chatter. Listen to the story of what he’s calling the +1 Effect.
Nora Princiotti’s debut at The Ringer heavily featured the Titans QB situation from last season heading into this season.
Speaking of The Ringer and the Titans, this set of pictures featuring an absolutely yoked A.J. Brown went viral this week.
As usual, lots of good stuff from The Athletic: G. Allan Taylor with a unique story on replacing broadcasting legends featuring Bob Kesling who followed John Ward at UT, Joe Rexrode with features on the recently-departed Johnny Majors and the complicated legacy of Grantland Rice, and Sheil Kapadia with a football nerd’s guide to the 2020 Tennessee Titans.
An inspiring story on MT MBB’s Jo’Vontae Millner overcoming homelessness on his journey to the Blue Raiders.
Exciting scheduling news for Memphis MBB: a home-and-home with Alabama in addition to a COVID-19 fundraiser exhibition game this season, Battle 4 Atlantis in November, NIT Season Tip-Off in 2021, Orlando Invitational in 2022, Maui Invitational in 2024, and the Ja Morant Special on Nov. 21.
Lipscomb volleyball legend Alex Kelly was elected to the ASUN Hall of Fame.
MT’s Chris Edge was named the Conference USA Men’s Tennis Co-Player of the Year.
ETSU MBB added Maryland transfer Serrel Smith Jr, UTC added South Alabama transfer Josh Ayeni, and Austin Peay landed Georgia transfer Mike Peake.
MT WBB added Nina Davis, a former All-American at Baylor and a standout at Memphis Central, to their coaching staff.
A pair of Vanderbilt baseball seniors, Ty Duvall and Harrison Ray, signed UDFA contracts with the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners, while Memphis’ Danny Denz inked with the San Diego Padres.
Grant Williams dunked all over Vanderbilt with this hilarious Father’s Day joke.
The Grizzlies are signing Anthony Tolliver for the remainder of the season.