30 for 30 Ranked

To be sure, ESPN doesn't always go about things correctly. With 30 for 30, they got it right. The brainchild of "Sportsguy" Bill Simmons, the 30 for 30 series embarked on the tremendously ambitious undertaking of compiling 30 diverse directors to tell 30 diverse stories spanning the ESPN era. Whether presenting often overlooked stories like the saga of Marcus Dupree in 'The Best that Never Was' or offering up fresh perspectives on widely known events like the OJ chase in ' July 17, 1994', 30 for 30 was a virtual crash course in a generation of sports history. Outside of a couple of duds, the series possessed undoubtedly some of the most compelling stuff television had to offer in 2010. Here is how the episodes stack up from 'must see' to 'meh.'
****************Updated to include second round releases from 2011-12****************

The Two Escobars by Jeff Zimbalist and Michael Zimbalist: The lives of soccer player Andrés Escobar and drug lord Pablo Escobar; the intertwining of crime and soccer in their native Colombia; and the connections between the murders of both men.
The U by Billy Corben: The racial and cultural evolution of Miami during the 1980s as represented within the University of Miami football team.
Unguarded by Johnathan Hock (2nd round): The story of Chris Herren, a high school basketball star who played in the NBA, struggled with drug abuse his entire career and ultimately, found redemption and personal fulfillment through the game.
The Best That Never Was by Jonathan Hock: The 1981 recruiting of high school football player Marcus Dupree by multiple big-time college programs, his resulting career, and how his recruitment changed the recruiting process.
Once Brothers by NBA Entertainment: The story of Croatian Dražen Petrović and Serbian Vlade Divac, NBA players and Yugoslavian national teammates, and how upheaval in their homeland adversely and irretrievably affected their friendship.
June 17, 1994 by Brett Morgen: Quick-cut archival montages capture the various sporting events on the day in question and the emotions they generated, with O. J. Simpson's run from the police overshadowing an NBA Finals game between the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, the opening of the U.S.-hosted 1994 World Cup, the last-ever U.S. Open PGA tournament round for Arnold Palmer, Ken Griffey Jr. hitting another home run to add to his record-setting pace, and a parade in New York after the Rangers finally won the Stanley Cup.
Catching Hell by Alex Gibney (2nd round): The relationship between Chicago Cubs fans and Steve Bartman following Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series
The 16th Man by Clifford Bestall, Lori McCreary, and Morgan Freeman: How hosting (and winning) the 1995 Rugby World Cup and Nelson Mandela's support of the Springboks national team affected post-apartheid South Africa.
Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks by Dan Klores: The impact of Reggie Miller on the New York Knicks in the 1990s, specifically focusing on the 1995 NBA Playoffs and Miller's interaction with Knicks fan Spike Lee.
King's Ransom by Peter Berg: The 1988 trade of Wayne Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings and the effect it had on Gretzky, the fans in Edmonton, and the popularity of hockey in Southern California.
Pony Express by Thaddeus D. Matula The rise, fall, and rebirth of the SMU Mustangs football program, which received a 2-year "death penalty" for major infractions.
Without Bias by Kirk Fraser: The death of Len Bias from a cocaine-induced heart attack, two days after Boston selected him in the 1986 NBA Draft, and its impact on casual drug use, especially by the sports community.
Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? by Mike Tollin: Fresh interviews and archival footage track the life and demise of the United States Football League in the mid 1980s.
Muhammad and Larry by Albert Maysles: A look at the October 1980 Muhammad Ali-Larry Holmes fight and its impact on both fighters, featuring fresh interviews with participants and previously unseen lead-up footage from both fighters' camps.
The Fab Five by Jason Hehir (2nd round) The story of the 1991 Michigan men's basketball recruiting class, called the Fab Five.
Roll Tide/War Eagle by Martin Khodabakhshian (2nd round) The continuing rivalry between Auburn University and the University of Alabama. This is the story of the history between the two programs, the bad blood between its fans and how this intense rivalry came to a pinnacle, just when they ended up needing each other most.
The Band that Wouldn't Die by Barry Levinson: A profile of Baltimore's love affair with football and the Colts, focusing on the Colts Marching Band. After the Colts decamped for Indianapolis in 1984, the band remained in Baltimore and helped promote the eventual return of the NFL to the city.
The Dotted Line by Morgan Spurlock (2nd round): Sports agents Peter Greenberg and Eugene Lee are profiled with their clients Johan Santana, Jacquian Williams and Robert Hughes.
The Real Rocky by Jeff Feuerzeig (2nd round) A profile of Chuck Wepner, the original inspiration for Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa. Wepner was left out of the “Rocky” glory, and his career took turn after strange turn as he worked to stay in the spotlight: he went on to fight Andre the Giant as “The Assassin” and twice boxed a 900 pound bear.
Run Ricky Run by Sean Pamphilon and Royce Toni: A profile of Ricky Williams focuses on his brief 2004 departure from the NFL, when he sought self-redemption amidst media criticism and fresh rumors of marijuana use.
Into the Wind by Steve Nash and Ezra Holland: Terry Fox's attempt to run across Canada in support of fundraising for cancer research captures the attention of his fellow Canadians and the world.
Fernando Nation by Cruz Angeles: The euphoria created by Fernando Valenzuela's 1981 arrival with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Legend of Jimmy the Greek by Fritz Mitchell: The life of Jimmy "the Greek" Snyder, from his career as a Las Vegas bookmaker to his tenure on The NFL Today, from which he was fired in 1988.
Tim Richmond: To the Limit by NASCAR Media Group and Rory Karpf: The career of NASCAR driver Tim Richmond, his flamboyant lifestyle, and his 1989 death from AIDS.
Jordan Rides the Bus by Ron Shelton: Motivated by the dream his late father had for him, Michael Jordan retires from basketball and has a brief career in minor league baseball.
Four Days In October by Major League Baseball Productions: The remarkable comeback of the Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees in the 2004 ALCS.
Straight Outta L.A. by Ice Cube: The relationship between the Raiders and the minority fan base in Los Angeles during the team's 13 seasons in L.A. (1982-1994).
Renée by Eric Drath (2nd round): The life of transsexual athlete Renée Richards, who shocked the world with her entry into the 1977 U.S. Open.
Little Big Men by Al Szymanski: The Kirkland National Little League team's success at the 1982 Little League World Series (where they pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the event's history in the title game) and its after-effects.
No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson by Steve James: The 1993 trial of Hampton, Virginia, high-school athlete Allen Iverson, convicted for his role in a racially-tinged melee, and its impact on both the community and on Iverson's life.
Silly Little Game by Adam Kurland and Lucas Jansen: Meeting at New York City's La Rotisserie Francaise, a group of writers and academics develop Rotisserie Fantasy baseball, only to see it take off in popularity and leave them behind.
Guru of Go by Bill Couturié: Paul Westhead's coaching tenure at Loyola Marymount University (1985-1990) features his high-scoring run-and-gun offense and players such as Bo Kimble and Hank Gathers.
The Birth of Big Air by Jeff Tremaine, Johnny Knoxville, and Spike Jonze: The life of Mat Hoffman and his 25 year career of advancing BMX riding, both creatively and promotionally.
Charismatic By Steven Michaels, Joel Surnow, and Jonathan Koch (2nd round) The run of Charismatic and its jockey, Chris Antley, at the 1999 Triple Crown.
One Night in Vegas by Reggie Rock Bythewood: The friendship of boxer Mike Tyson and rapper Tupac Shakur and the night of September 7, 1996, when Shakur was murdered after attending the Tyson-Bruce Seldon fight in Las Vegas.
The House of Steinbrenner by Barbara Kopple: The legacy of George Steinbrenner's ownership of the New York Yankees.
Unmatched by Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern, with Hannah Storm: A look at the rivalry and friendship between tennis legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.
Marion Jones: Just Press Pause by John Singleton: The successful track and field career of Marion Jones, her 2007 admission of performance-enhancing drug use, and subsequent prison sentence.

*Summaries used courtesy of Wikipedia