I have followed professional sports, in some capacity (routinely and intentionally), for at least the past 25 years and counting. The game that changed my life, as a fan, came from a small television in my great grandmother’s spare room. It was Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals and the biggest star of its brand was front and center. He did not disappoint, but what was it that truly made the difference for me that evening? Many factors could be attributed, but, ultimately, it was the excitement of seeing something I had never witnessed before. In short summation, it was the proper mixture of: timing and execution. At the end of the day, professional athletes are, in fact, entertainers. Appealing to our senses, as human beings, is essential. Therefore, it is an art form, or, “poetry in motion.”

Some of us are greatly blessed with rare and special gifts and talents. This means that they have a unique containment of value. These days, what is considered valuable has more to do with what can stimulate your senses the greatest and within the shortest amount of time. In other words, watching a 6’3,” 240-pound individual run 40 yards in 4.2 seconds, so that he can boost his stock in the upcoming NFL draft, could be more meaningful, to most, than watching the slow-motion replay of a 5’11,” 180-pound running back set a key block on a player roughly twice his size for an overpaid “game manager” who is simply just trying to avoid taking a loss on a seemingly unimportant play in a preseason game.

Believe it or not, this has not always been the case, and according to a new documentary, “In Search of Greatness,” this could prove to be a harmful trend, should it continue. I have often stated that most movies can be signified as either a: character-driven film or a story-driven film. As for documentaries, the two distinctions are more about the motivation and goals of the filmmakers. Some take a risk and spend great amounts of time and money, in hopes of capturing a worthwhile subject, which cannot be simulated or faked (presumably). Others know what the subject will be and lean more on sensible editing and creative style to captivate its audience. “In Search of Greatness” qualifies in the latter category.

Wayne Gretzky and Jerry Rice are the prominently-featured pieces. They discuss, in great detail, who they are and how they arrived to where they landed, as legendary components to their respective games. They both explain that they were never the greatest of athletes and credited their mindsets and upbringing among the most vital qualities to their ultimate successes. Their words are shaped into a further commentary concerning the balance of structure and creativity for children today. The claim is that there is too much structure and not enough room for creativity, which makes the challenge of nurturing a proper environment much more difficult.

Over the years, I have seen my fair share of documentaries. My earliest positive exposure came in 1994 with the viewing of “Hoop Dreams” and because of that, I tend to prefer documentaries which are more spontaneous and risky, in nature. I must say, though, I was pleasantly pleased to actually learn something helpful, through this movie. When you can draw a line, connecting you, a seemingly unimpressive person, with apparent extraordinary human beings, you can really relate to someone like Gretzky or Rice in a way that you previously had never imagined.

At the end of the day, we are fellow people and have much in common with each other. Some may act as though this is not true, but perception is no substitute for reality. For at least a hundreds years, sports have been an intricate way of life in the United States. The gap between pay and relevancy have been altered quite a bit, but so has the mindset for those in our midst who take sports seriously and those who do not.

Somewhere along the way, I decided to give myself a break, emotionally, by not taking sports so seriously, but when you observe the pathway that has led to our emotional connection with professional games, you also realize that you do not necessarily need to feel any shame for responding to sports with so much vibrato. Look at Gretzky and Rice! They made millions of dollars because we take what they do seriously. Right or wrong, that is the way it is. Is it possible that the push for greater structure and less creativity is partially to blame for the decrease in sports interest and involvement? Maybe. In that same breadth, maybe those who advocate for individuality and creative outlets ought o keep sports in mind as a viable option. After all, Gretzky designates himself as a artist, of sorts, and based on his description as to why, I believe it makes sense.

“In Search of Greatness” should interest not just sports fans, but also humanitarians and educators, among others, as well. There is not much to remember from a visual point-of-view, but there is plenty to recall from a content perspective. Even if you disagree with what the documentary is trying to say or convey, you can still appreciate the insights and information, along the way.

Director: Gabe Polsky
Production Company: IMG Films
Release Date: November 2nd, 2018