Earlier this week, Bill Simmons, as only he can, caused a stir with this tweet:
Anyone who hates ESPN should go to the Sports Emmys – it’s the one night that the industry can get us back by not voting for anything we do.
Being the team player that he is, Simmons was venting about ESPN, despite all of its bulk, winning only five Emmys. Meanwhile, HBO, minute by comparison, won six.
For the moment, let’s put aside whether there is a let’s-get-ESPN factor in the voting. I’m fairly sure Simmons doesn’t put out that tweet if his creation, the 30 for 30 documentary series, won an Emmy Tuesday.
And I’m not talking just about this year’s awards. As remarkable as it seems, not one of those tremendous 30 for 30 films through the years has been given an Emmy.
This year in the documentary category, 30 for 30 had nominations for The Announcement, the film about Magic Johnson’s shocking revelation, and for 26 Years: The Dewey Bozella Story. The winner was HBO’s Namath.
30 for 30 also was nominated for outstanding sports series edited/anthology. The winner was HBO’s Real Sports.
Once again, Simmons and the 30 for 30 folks had to feel like Martin Scorsese, the long-time best director never to win an Oscar. Remember how it seemed Marty got nominated every year (actually five times) and would walk away empty-handed?
Well, the same thing seems to be happening to 30 for 30.
The biggest problem is that 30 for 30 is in the toughest categories to win an Emmy. Arguably, you are talking about the highest levels of quality in all of sports TV. The competition is fierce.
The Namath documentary was excellent. It’s hard to argue about that choice.
30 for 30 might be a difficult fit in the outstanding edited sports series category. It doesn’t have a set schedule like Real Sports, which comes out once a month, or a thread of following a football team like Hard Knocks. Those factors probably cost 30 for 30 some votes there.
Still, it hardly seems right that 30 for 30 hasn’t walked away with at least one statue since the series started in 2009. These films have been landmark achievements. The frustration boiled over for Simmons.
I’m sure Simmons has been told by now that his angry tweet probably wasn’t a good idea. It just sounds like so much sour grapes, and he has been ridiculed in many places. To make him feel better, Deadspin gave him its “Good Broadcastering Award.”
Simmons probably is best served following Scorsese’s lead. The director never complained about being passed over all those years. His time eventually came when he won the Oscar for The Departed in 2006.
30 for 30 also will get an Emmy one of these days. Until then, Simmons and the others associated with 30 for 30 will have settle for those documentaries being regarded as the best thing ESPN has ever done.
Not a bad consolation prize.