USA | 78 MINUTES | English |
DOWN IN THE VALLEY
Sports, Documentary
How far would you go to save your hometown team? For many Sacramento residents, faced with the nearly certain relocation of their beloved Kings, no boardroom was too distant. One native son proved it. Good thing he knows his way around the NBA. Documentarian Jason Hehir follows former pro basketball superstar turned Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson as he takes on team owners, businessmen, league executives, and—most imposing of all—NBA commissioner David Stern to prevent the Kings from leaving Sac-town. Down in the Valley highlights the strong emotions that underscore a small-market team’s rise and potential fall. Hehir examines the winding route that brought the Kings west from Rochester in the first place, and employs testimony from fans and former players to create a defining examination of what it means to call a team your own: whether you are an owner, advocate, or someone who catches the occasional game. In the case of mayor Johnson, working to reverse the tide of his economically troubled hometown, Down in the Valley is a roaring testament to the passion and power of the fan. —Arthur Ryel-LindseyThis feature is preceded by a short film from Marvel Entertainment and ESPN Films' 1 of 1: Origins series, Danica Patrick: Star race car driver Danica Patrick retells the moment she discovered her super power as a 10 year-old racing go-carts. It was on a little track in rural Beloit, Wisconsin where she discovered that she would do anything to win, and found the internal drive and focus to accomplish greatness.