The Running Wolverines

With the NCAA Tournament Tournament set to put productivity in the work place to a halt, it seemed fitting that both ESPN and HBO aired two documentaries about two of the best remembered teams in Tourney history.

Over the past 18 months, ESPN has stepped up its long form productions with their "30 for 30" series. Although some were forgettable ( "House of Steinbrenner", "Marion Jones: Press Pause"), the large majority were very, very good (something remarkable considering ESPN continues to employ Rachel Nichols).

So naturally, hopes were high for "The Fab 5" - a very engaging piece on the 91-92, 92-93 University of Michigan men's basketball teams that featured 5 stud recruits who forever impacted college basketball.

Known as much for their baggy shorts, black socks and swag as for their play, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Knight could flat out ball. It seems odd that it's been 20 years since the Fab 5 burst onto the scene. But ESPN quickly reminds viewers just how good they were.

Webber in particular was truly a unique player. He was a phenomenal passer and ball handler for a big man. He could blend power and finesse in a way that very few, if any other basketball player has ever done.

But Webber declined to participate in "The Fab 5". The fallout from his false grand jury testimony undeniably has caused a huge rift between Michigan and the best basketball player in UM history (sorry, Rumeal Robinson).

So not having Webber's input on his time at Michigan leaves a major void in "The Fab 5". While Jalen Rose comes off like the poor man's Charles Barkley in the honesty department, the absence of Weber limits how effective this story is told.

HBO's "Runnin' Rebels of UNLV" is almost an homage to former UNLV head basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian's high risk, high reward leadership, rather than an examination on the Rebel's great 89-90, 90-91 teams. The latter would have been more preferable.

UNLV's two years of dominance resulted in a national title and an embarrassing loss to Duke the following year in the title game. They were brash, hard nosed and high scoring. But they also weren't abiding by NCAA regulations. Given the NCAA's arbitrary enforcement, this almost seems like an afterthought. And let's be honest, the Rebels weren't the only one's doing shady shit.

Despite ESPN devoting two hours to "The Fab 5", HBO could only muster an hour for "Runnin' Rebels". It seemed insufficient. And in many ways it was.

Like Chris Webber, Larry Johnson, the star of the great UNLV teams, did not partake in "Runnin' Rebels".

HBO Sports has set the standard for great sports documentaries. And this is may be the first time that they've fallen short of excellence.

Neither doc having the star player from those respective teams is like watching a Charlie Sheen webcast with just "The Goddesses".

It might be entertaining, but it's not enough.

"The Fab 5" - B+

"Runnin' Rebels" - B