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By Matt Sohn (msohn@pfwmedia.com)
Aug. 7, 2008
The opening scene was something right out of “Chariots of Fire.” A shot of the coastline, with a determined, elite athlete running across the sand, eyes fixated on some physical marker down the beach, mindset fixated on the prize months down the line.
As a shirtless Terrell Owens trudged his way across the screen for the start of HBO’s miniseries “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys,” I cringed, hoping that the series so acclaimed in previous years wouldn’t transition into some sort of football melodrama.
Not long after, it transitioned to a shot of rookie TE Martellus Bennett, who was contemplating buying a moped to save money on gas. “$4.50 a gallon for gas these days?” the recent millionaire rhetorically sneered. “That’s a McDonald’s meal right there!”
Fears were quelled. “Hard Knocks” was back.
HBO long has been a pioneer in sports broadcasting. “Real Sports” routinely sets and resets the bar when it comes to sports exposés, and its library of historical documentaries are both enlightening and engaging.
“Hard Knocks” doesn’t rival HBO’s staple sports programming when it comes to groundbreaking, investigative work. This show is entertainment, pure and simple. And mighty fine entertainment at that.
Rather than staging a sit-down with Adam Jones to go over his prior indiscretions, with Hans Zimmer-orchestrated music in the background, we witness Jones’ attempt to field six consecutive punts without putting any of the footballs down after catching them — for the record, he succeeded. Rather than examining any potential contentious relationship between head coach Wade Phillips and head-coach-in-waiting Jason Garrett, we see Phillips, in all his pot-bellied, happy-go-lucky splendor, cracking one-liners on the sideline.
This isn’t to suggest that “Hard Knocks” isn’t without substance. The actual game certainly takes a back seat to the personalities in Oxnard, Calif., but there is a smattering of scenes in which football matters are discussed that fans only can experience because of HBO’s cameras. Most compelling in the first episode was the actual telephone call owner Jerry Jones had with Terry Glenn’s agent, James Gould, informing Gould that his client would be cut over concern for his injured knee.
“Hard Knocks” is undeniably a show only football fans will appreciate fully, but it’s hardly one that only Cowboys fans can enjoy. It’s a similar story to what all 32 teams are experiencing in the pressure-cooker weeks of training camp, with only the names and locations tailored exclusively toward the Cowboys. Every team has its own T.O., the effervescent team leader whose mouth is as big as his game. Every team also has its Todd Lowber, a lightly regarded receiver whose 2008 income depends on impressing the coaches enough to escape the most bone-chilling line an NFL players can hear, “Coach wants to see you. Bring your playbook.” It’s a line 27 of the 80 players in Oxnard and every NFL camp will hear at some point over the next few weeks. And because morbid fascination gets the best of all of us every now and then, HBO is likely to allow us to witness at least a few of these most uncomfortable meetings from the comfort of our living room.
Of course, the fact that the show does focus on the Cowboys does have its advantages. Dallas’ fan base extends beyond the borders of the Lone Star State, and its detractors are equally outspoken in how they detest “America’s Team.” Although last year’s series with the Chiefs was quality television, more viewers have a personal stake in seeing 2008’s “Hard Knocks.” Polarizing Cowboys players such as T.O., Jones and Tank Johnson only adds to intrigue.
It’s a little fluff, a little fun, a little substance, and a little irreverence. But “Hard Knocks” is knock-your-socks-off entertaining.
“Hard Knocks” appears on HBO every Wednesday through Sept. 3 at 10 p.m. EST.
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Commentary/Columns/2008/sohn080708.htm
Aug. 7, 2008
The opening scene was something right out of “Chariots of Fire.” A shot of the coastline, with a determined, elite athlete running across the sand, eyes fixated on some physical marker down the beach, mindset fixated on the prize months down the line.
As a shirtless Terrell Owens trudged his way across the screen for the start of HBO’s miniseries “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys,” I cringed, hoping that the series so acclaimed in previous years wouldn’t transition into some sort of football melodrama.
Not long after, it transitioned to a shot of rookie TE Martellus Bennett, who was contemplating buying a moped to save money on gas. “$4.50 a gallon for gas these days?” the recent millionaire rhetorically sneered. “That’s a McDonald’s meal right there!”
Fears were quelled. “Hard Knocks” was back.
HBO long has been a pioneer in sports broadcasting. “Real Sports” routinely sets and resets the bar when it comes to sports exposés, and its library of historical documentaries are both enlightening and engaging.
“Hard Knocks” doesn’t rival HBO’s staple sports programming when it comes to groundbreaking, investigative work. This show is entertainment, pure and simple. And mighty fine entertainment at that.
Rather than staging a sit-down with Adam Jones to go over his prior indiscretions, with Hans Zimmer-orchestrated music in the background, we witness Jones’ attempt to field six consecutive punts without putting any of the footballs down after catching them — for the record, he succeeded. Rather than examining any potential contentious relationship between head coach Wade Phillips and head-coach-in-waiting Jason Garrett, we see Phillips, in all his pot-bellied, happy-go-lucky splendor, cracking one-liners on the sideline.
This isn’t to suggest that “Hard Knocks” isn’t without substance. The actual game certainly takes a back seat to the personalities in Oxnard, Calif., but there is a smattering of scenes in which football matters are discussed that fans only can experience because of HBO’s cameras. Most compelling in the first episode was the actual telephone call owner Jerry Jones had with Terry Glenn’s agent, James Gould, informing Gould that his client would be cut over concern for his injured knee.
“Hard Knocks” is undeniably a show only football fans will appreciate fully, but it’s hardly one that only Cowboys fans can enjoy. It’s a similar story to what all 32 teams are experiencing in the pressure-cooker weeks of training camp, with only the names and locations tailored exclusively toward the Cowboys. Every team has its own T.O., the effervescent team leader whose mouth is as big as his game. Every team also has its Todd Lowber, a lightly regarded receiver whose 2008 income depends on impressing the coaches enough to escape the most bone-chilling line an NFL players can hear, “Coach wants to see you. Bring your playbook.” It’s a line 27 of the 80 players in Oxnard and every NFL camp will hear at some point over the next few weeks. And because morbid fascination gets the best of all of us every now and then, HBO is likely to allow us to witness at least a few of these most uncomfortable meetings from the comfort of our living room.
Of course, the fact that the show does focus on the Cowboys does have its advantages. Dallas’ fan base extends beyond the borders of the Lone Star State, and its detractors are equally outspoken in how they detest “America’s Team.” Although last year’s series with the Chiefs was quality television, more viewers have a personal stake in seeing 2008’s “Hard Knocks.” Polarizing Cowboys players such as T.O., Jones and Tank Johnson only adds to intrigue.
It’s a little fluff, a little fun, a little substance, and a little irreverence. But “Hard Knocks” is knock-your-socks-off entertaining.
“Hard Knocks” appears on HBO every Wednesday through Sept. 3 at 10 p.m. EST.
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Commentary/Columns/2008/sohn080708.htm