The Best Sports Documentaries You Never Knew Existed

Nothing is better than a good story. It doesn't matter if we're talking about sports or politics; if you can weave a compelling tale, you will always have an audience to preach to.

Visually, documentaries are go-to for any true storytelling junkie. A good documentary can evoke feelings we never thought were possible before.

With ESPN Films' 30 for 30 series all over the airwaves, fresh generations of fans are getting a chance to consume some of the most interesting anecdotes in sports history.

But the world isn't just limited to those flicks. The list we are about to check out features 10 documentaries you may have never heard of before.

Sorry, but you know what that means: It's time to call in sick and get cracking on these wondrous films.

"Knuckleball!"

You can bet Boston Red Sox fans will appreciate this awesome documentary centering on the mysterious art of the knuckleball. 

Knuckleball! the movie follows the likes of ex-Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield and current Toronto Blue Jays hauler R.A. Dickey and announces them as members of an exclusive club.

Knuckleballers are not only rare in today's game but have been throughout the course of baseball history. Learning about this pitch and hearing some of the top hitters talk about it is a lot more fascinating than you'd think it would be.

"Benji"

Basketball was a huge part of Chicago's culture in the 1980s. Everyone knows about Michael Jordan and what he did for the Bulls, but a lesser-known commodity was high school superstar Benjamin Wilson.

Wilson was an icon in the Windy City. He was the No. 1-ranked player in the nation who carried the hopes and dreams of so many in that city. Sadly, his life was cut short prior to his senior season at Neal F. Simeon Vocational High School.

The ESPN documentary Benji explains how important he was to that city and the story behind his tragic passing.

"Bigger, Stronger, Faster"

Bigger, Stronger, Faster follows the path of rapid steroid use among athletes in the United States.

Director Christopher Bell did a magnificent job showcasing how this country looks at performance-enhancing drugs in sports and in life. The uses go beyond the baseball diamond; steroids run rampant in other facets of society as well. 

Bigger, Stronger, Faster shows us where, and more importantly, why it happened.

"Straight Outta L.A."

Beth A. Keiser/Associated Press

"In 1982, Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis beat the NFL in court and moved his team from Oakland to Los Angeles."

When you land on the website for the ESPN Films 30 for 30 documentary Straight Outta L.A., that's the first piece of copy you see underneath the film's summary.

Former Raiders owner Al Davis was a maverick. The brand he created is still one of the most recognizable in the entire sports landscape.

Culturally speaking, there may not have been a more prominent time for the Raiders than the '80s. They infiltrated the city of Los Angeles and turned the franchise into a hotbed for swagger and success.

Straight Outta L.A is the story of how that success came to be.

"The Endless Summer"

There isn't a documentary out there that captures surf culture quite like The Endless Summer. Released in 1966, this film set the bar for sports-themed documentaries moving forward.

The Endless Summer focuses on two surfers, Mike Hynson and Robert August, as they travel together across the world. It's an amazing piece of cinema, especially when you consider it was filmed in the '60s.

If you get the chance to see it, don't pass that opportunity up. Despite being considered a classic, it's easy to sleep on it in today's day and age. 

"Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos"

Before MLS, there were the New York Cosmos. They were the club that escorted the sport over to the United States and did it in a splashy way.

Colossal signings like Pele and Italian striker Giorgio Chinaglia brought glitz and glamour to the Big Apple. Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos explores how it all went down.

It's by far one of the most entertaining and informative sports documentaries out there.

"The Roughnecks"

The Roughnecks hasn't released the general public just yet, but that doesn't mean it should be brushed off.

Shot as an independent film by directors Richard Cameron White and Chris Cook, this story follows the Fort Worth Ridglea Roughnecks on their quest to achieve peewee football greatness.

What separates The Roughnecks from a lot of sports documentaries is how raw it is. It not only tells a story about youth football but also shines a light on the Texas culture and mentality of these kids.

The film is starting to hit festivals now and should be released sometime in the near future.

"The Arnold Palmer"

The beauty of ESPN Films' 30 for 30 documentary series is that it doesn't just produce long-form pieces.

Part of the company's focus is producing digital shorts. One of the best ones to date is about legendary golfer Arnold Palmer and the drink he made famous, "The Arnold Palmer."

All it takes is just over nine minutes of your life to get lost in one of the most compelling short stories around. Palmer's charm and the pile of random cameos really make this documentary pop.

The entire movie, appropriately titled The Arnold Palmer, is posted above this hunk of words for your viewing pleasure.

"Ballplayer: Pelotero"

Searching the Dominican Republic for talent is a critical part of any Major League Baseball franchise. As the narrator says in the trailer, "20 percent of professional baseball players in the United States come from the Dominican Republic."

Seeing how this process actually unfolds for two young ballplayers makes for some outstanding film.

Ballplayer: Pelotero is a documentary that has quickly fallen into the "must-watch" category. It covers everything you think you know and more: corruption, greed, talent and a country filled with young men chasing their dreams.

"THE84DRAFT"

The people over at NBA TV were responsible for producing the documentary titled THE84DRAFT.

As you might have guessed, the movie takes a look back at the 1984 draft and talks about all of the amazing and not-so-amazing players selected. Names like Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, John Stockton and yes, Sam Bowie, are just part of the story. 

THE84DRAFT is a perfect way for any NBA fan to spend a Friday night relaxing, learning about the game they cherish.