The Crier

The History of “The Game,” as told by HBO

Matt Rosenberg · Sport · Nov 13, 2007

If you are already itching for this Saturday’s football game and ESPN’s Sport Center nightly features aren’t satisfying you, look no further than HBO Sports’ latest installment. Premiering tonight at 10:30 (and playing throughout the week and most likely on on Demand as well), “The Rivalry” is part history lesson, part highlight reel and part memorial.

Sports documentaries come in one flavor—variety and creativity aren’t their strong suit. Somewhere in the history of the sports documentary (sportumentary?) it was ordained that they all must include the following elements: a deep voiced narrator, slo-mo replay, fanatical fans making fools of themselves and cheesy bell music. Whether it is a special recapping a magical playoff run, a historic dynasty or a fierce rivalry, these elements remain consistent.

Most of these videos are made in haste in order to satisfy the championship drunk fans, ready to shell out big bucks for any and all paraphernalia pertaining to their beloved champs.

Most of these videos are made in haste in order to satisfy the championship drunk fans, ready to shell out big bucks for any and all paraphernalia pertaining to their beloved champs.

Who else is going to watch a DVD about the Rockies run to the National League pennant other than a rabid Rockies fan? It is like giving crack to an addict or teaching a college course on sex. The audience is so invested in the topic there really is no failing.

For the most part, this documentary follows the pattern. If you are a Michigan or an OSU fan, you will enjoy this documentary. You will learn a few things about the history of the rivalry, and get a few laughs at how ridiculous Ohioans are (“O-H”….”I-O”) but most of all it will replay the events and highlights that you love to see again and again.

“The Rivalry” drips with intrigue, colossal characters and obsessive fans.

“The Rivalry” drips with intrigue, colossal characters and obsessive fans. Bo-Schembechler, Woody Hayes, the ten-year war, the snow bowl, the 1968 50-14 shellacking, Desmond Howard striking “the pose,” the list of monumental events in this rivalry’s history goes on. This documentary does a good job in recapping them all.

The one piece of this documentary that sticks out is the interview with the late Bo Schembechler. Not being a Michigander, I really can’t fully understand the influence that Bo Schembechler had on this rivalry, state and institution. The crowd at the premier for this documentary at Michigan Theater last week cheering and choking up at each mention of Bo gave me just an idea of the depth and breadth of Bo’s impact.

Whether it is old footage of Bo in his hay-day, the testimony of the players lucky enough to play under him, the fans who grew up with Bo as their hero or the late in life interviews with Bo, at its best, this documentary pays tribute to one of football’s greats.