With the current shortage in live-action, SuperSport has converted its channels to themed offerings focusing on the best historical moments as well as outstanding sporting documentaries which take the viewers behind the scenes and give them a fascinating insight into what drives their heroes to glory… or failure.
SuperSport 1 is the feature channel in this regard and DStv subscribers should settle in for some amazing viewing on the channel from 4 to 7 May 2020.
The week’s documentary viewing on SuperSport 1 opens at 04:10 PM on Monday 4 May with a closer look at the Muhammad Ali v Joe Frazier boxing rivalry, which culminated in the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ in 1975, when the latter’s trainer, Eddie Futch, stopped the fight before the 15th round to hand ‘The Greatest’ a legendary victory.
“Frazier quit just before I did. I didn’t think I could fight any more,” said Ali to his biographer Thomas Hauser years later.
Monday also offers up back-to-back ESPN 30 for 30 documentaries: ‘9.79’ (04:40) and ‘Unmatched’ (06:05).
The former sees filmmaker Daniel Gordon interview the men who raced against drug cheat Ben Johnson in the 100 meter final at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, while the latter chronicles the decades-long on-court rivalry and lifelong friendship between tennis legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.
Tuesday 5 May’s documentary viewing begins at 17:00 with a closer look at Jorge Lorenzo and his triumphant 2015 MotoGP season in which he narrowly edged out Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi to claim his fifth world championship.
“The idea here is simple: if you can dream it, you can do it,” said Lorenzo, who retired from MotoGP at the end of 2019 season, having racked up 47 career victories in the elite class of motorcycle racing.
This is followed by ‘Son of the Congo’ (05:30), an ESPN documentary in which professional basketball player Serge Ibaka returns to his home country of the Congo with the hope of helping a community rattled by violence.
Tuesday’s documentary schedule on SuperSport 1 is completed by ‘Tiger Tales’ from 06:40. The show’s eight chapters explore the relationships and legacy Tiger has fostered throughout the world of golf in the past two decades.
Among the topics covered are Tiger’s relationship with his fellow players, his pursuit of his record-breaking 83rd PGA Tour victory, the legacy of his TGR Foundation and his long-lasting contributions to the sport.
Wednesday 6 May’s documentary schedule is headlined by ‘Crossing the Line – Olympics’ (04:15) which tells the tragic yet uplifting story of athletics prodigy Danny Harris and his battles with his demons on and off the track, before another ESPN 30 for 30 special, ‘Rodman: For Better or Worse’ (05:45), which profiles one of the most fascinating people in NBA history, Dennis Rodman.
“I think particularly today in 2019 [when the film was released], the image of ‘Dennis Rodman’ has become one that’s been reduced to parody in some ways. We all certainly remember that he was one of the greatest rebounders of all-time, and transcended basketball with what he did off the court. But it’s been easy in the later part of his life to reduce everything in his career to, well, he’s just crazy, or he’s just an attention seeker. But his story is really nuanced,” said director Todd Kapostasy.
Thursday 7 May is headlined by another 30 for 30 special, at 04:30, ‘Tommy’, which profiles one-time heavyweight boxing champion Tommy Morrison, who was born into a troubled family and burst onto the scene as a fighter/actor in ‘Rocky V’.
The day’s documentaries on SuperSport also feature a closer look at Nadia Comaneci (04:00) – the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0 at the Olympic Games – ‘Unrivaled: Earnhardt vs. Gordon’ (06:00) which looks at the on-track rivalry and off-track relationship between NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon, and an examination of what makes ‘El Clasico’, the rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid, one of the most thrilling showdowns in football (07:00).
Now is your chance to tell us what you want to see on SuperSport 1. Every weekday, from 1 pm to 5 pm, we will be reliving the greatest sporting moments of our time, as chosen by you, our viewers.
Using the hashtag #SSRELIVE on social media platforms, you decide what to watch! See your name up in lights, have your say and relive the sport you want to watch. Relive your favourite moments every weekday on SuperSport 1 with Viewers’ Choice.
This is your chance to enjoy the best sporting action, available only on SuperSport! For more information on your Channel of Champions and the best ways to subscribe, visit www.dstv.com. And while you’re on the move, you can stream the action on DStv Now.
