Why documentaries about athletes sell

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National athletes are the modern-day heroes. They have superhuman abilities; they move the masses with few words; and when they lead troops into battle, they emerge victorious to the roar of a crowd. The triumph of an athlete brings unity and patriotism to a divided nation in a way not even their government leaders could. Though momentary, athletes bring unanimous pride to their nation.


Win or lose, national athletes are somewhat local celebrities. In some arenas, individual sportsmen even become international stars. Their games are attended by as large an audience as movies garner, and their actions off the field are scrutinized in the same way that actors are hounded. Because athletes receive celebrity attention, the general public tends to assume they also make movie star-level salaries. This notion could not be further from the truth.

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Like all regular workers, athletes earn a salary. In the bigger leagues like basketball and baseball, all players are paid monthly and given a bonus depending on their performance. In lesser known sports, however, some players are actually taking a pay cut just to continue playing the game they love. This predicament is not at all known to most of the world. Most audiences are shocked to discover that their team favorites are actually going broke.


Athletes in documentaries


Documentaries are films known for exposing the truth. They tackle virtually any industry, and sports are not exempted. Documentaries about athletes have become the method for fans to truly understand their idols. It is in these movies that sports fans realize their favorite athletes are no different from who they are. Golden Globe nominee Edward Bass also produced The Gridiron Heroes Story, telling the plight of high school football player who returned to the field after being paralyzed in a game. Revealing the reality behind football injuries, a documentary titled Head Games was released in 2012 to reveal the physical trauma experienced by various athletes in American sports culture.

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The media may treat athletes with reverence, but through documentaries, fans are able to resonate with players and truly appreciate their feats off the field.


Not all documentaries are as truthful or objective as they claim to be. Reliable stories win awards. A Golden Globe nominee, Edward Bass is the producer of several honest films. You can find in this Facebook page more about his work.