ESPN 30 for 30 "Bernie and Ernie": Bernard King's Revelations Highlight Film
The ESPN 30 for 30 documentary "Bernie and Ernie", which will air Tuesday night, will not only interest fans of Tennessee basketball and the New York Knicks, but is sure to captivate just about any viewer because of King's courage and willingness to open up about his difficult past.
Five-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Jason Hehir directed the hour-long documentary that explores the relationship between former teammates and fellow New Yorkers Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld.
You can catch the premiere of "Bernie and Ernie" at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday on ESPN.
The two basketball stars grew up in New York—one in Brooklyn, the other in Queens—and joined forces at the University of Tennessee where they helped transform the Volunteers men's basketball program and became "The Bernie and Ernie Show." They reunited in the NBA with the Knicks in the 1980s and still remain close friends today.
But it's not the old highlight tapes of the duo dominating on the hardwood in Knoxville or their on-court accomplishments that will keep you watching. The one-on-one interviews, specifically King's extremely personal revelations about his experiences growing up and his treatment at Tennessee during the 1970s are what add a can't-turn-away element to the film.
According to Newsday's Neil Best, King discusses a particular incident in Knoxville when a police officer struck him with his gun:
""I’ll never forget the warm blood dripping down my face," he says, speaking slowly but forcefully. "You can have your number retired and all of that, but that doesn’t go away. That memory never goes away."
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But this isn't a profile of King. It's a story about two friends who came together over basketball and developed an unique bond in the process.
Highlighting both men's past, however, is critical to telling the whole story.
If warmhearted stories of lasting friendships don't intrigue you, learning about the tremendous obstacles that King had to overcome as a child involving abusive parents and being an African American in the 1970s certainly will.
The Hall of Famer's candidness when discussing those hardships add a lot to the story, making it feel more real and helping to convey the significance of King and Grunfeld's relationship.
"Bernie and Ernie" would still be a story worth telling even without these revelations. But King's full disclosure is the wild card, what sets this film apart from those of the past and brings you closer to the characters on screen.
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