Theresa Moore, executive producer of T-Time Productions, has announced the NFL Network premiere of the documentary “Third and Long: African Americans in Pro Football 1946-1989.” The first part will be shown on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m. The second part will be broadcasted on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m.
“Third and Long” is a unique, two-part documentary that highlights and celebrates the history, racial struggles, sacrifices and accomplishments of African Americans in professional football from 1946, with the re-integration of the sport after a13-year exclusion of Black players, through 1989, when Art Shell was named the first Black head coach of the NFL’s modern era.
The documentary examines the impact of societal events such as World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, Brown v. Board of Education, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy and the Vietnam War and adds a unique viewpoint by including the perspectives and experiences of some of the players’ wives. It also examines the critical role and contribution of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) during this time period.
Third and Long includes interviews with football luminaries such as Jim Brown, Willie Lanier, Tony Dungy, Art Shell, Deacon Jones, Bobby Mitchell, Lenny Moore, Wally Triplett, James “Shack” Harris, Walter Beach III, Ray Lewis, Bobby Bell, Joe Gibbs, Ambassador Dan Rooney, Jeffrey Lurie, former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, Willie Davis, Willie Brown, John Wooten, Abner Haynes, Ted Hendricks, Ron Mix, Paul Hornung, Kellen Winslow Sr. and Doug Williams.
Iguodala selected to his first All-Star Game
Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers forward, was selected to the NBA All-Star Game for the first time in his career. Iguodala becomes the first Sixer not named Allen Iverson to make an all-star game since Dikembe Mutombo in 2002. Iguodala, a reserve, was voted in by head coaches in each conference.
Iguodala was originally the ninth overall pick by Philadelphia in the 2004 NBA draft. Now in his eighth season, Iguodala has started all but 21 of a possible 600 games for his career.
Iguodala is looking to be the first Sixer to play in an all-star game since Allen Iverson in 2006. Iverson was voted a starter for the Eastern Conference as a member of the Sixers in 2010, but did not play due personal reasons. This will be Iguodala’s third time participating in an All-Star Weekend. He took part in the Rookie Challenge in 2005 and again in 2006, taking home MVP honors in the process. Iguodala also competed in the Slam Dunk contest that year, finishing second behind Nate Robinson.
Last month, Iguodala was named one of 20 finalists for the 2012 Olympic men’s basketball team. He was a starter on the 2010 U.S. World Championship Team, which won the gold medal in Turkey. Iguodala was also a member of the U.S. Select Team, which helped prepare Team USA for the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship and the 2008 Olympics.
The NBA All-Star Game will take place in Orlando on Feb. 26 at Amway Center. The game will be shown on TNT.
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