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The Best Episodes of 30 for 30 Season 3

Every episode of 30 for 30 Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of 30 for 30 Season 3!

Binge this in 1d 11h•Peaking at 8.3/10

30 for 30 is the title for a series of documentary films airing on ESPN, its sister networks, and online highlighting interesting people and events in sports history. This currently includes four "volumes" of 30

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 1 - Trojan War
    7.2/10(796 votes)

    #1 - Trojan War

    S3:E1

    A profile of the rise and fall of USC Trojans football during Pete Carroll's coaching tenure in the 2000s.

    Director:Aaron Rahsaan Thomas
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 2 - The Prince of Pennsylvania
    7.5/10(864 votes)

    #2 - The Prince of Pennsylvania

    S3:E2

    An exploration of the turbulent relationship between Olympic wrestling brothers Mark and Dave Schultz and their eccentric benefactor, John du Pont, culminating in the murder of Dave by du Pont.

    Director:Jesse Vile
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 3 - The Gospel According to Mac
    6.9/10(487 votes)

    #3 - The Gospel According to Mac

    S3:E3

    A look at how Bill McCartney mixed two religions—college football and evangelical Christianity—while serving as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes in the 1990s, a tenure that included a national championship.

    Director:Jim Podhoretz
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 4 - Chasing Tyson
    7.5/10(971 votes)

    #4 - Chasing Tyson

    S3:E4

    A look at how Evander Holyfield spent years (1989–91 & 1995–96) trying to arrange his first fight with Mike Tyson in an effort to gain the respect he knew he could only gain by defeating Tyson in the ring.

    Director:Steven Cantor
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 5 - Four Falls Of Buffalo
    8.1/10(1589 votes)

    #5 - Four Falls Of Buffalo

    S3:E5

    A profile of the Buffalo Bills teams of the early 1990s, when the franchise became the first team to play in—and lose—four consecutive Super Bowls.

    Director:Ken Rodgers
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 6 - The '85 Bears
    8.2/10(1080 votes)

    #6 - The '85 Bears

    S3:E6

    A 30-year retrospective on the 1985 Chicago Bears, from how they were assembled to their swaggering, dominant run to Super Bowl victory.

    Director:Jason Hehir
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 7 - Fantastic Lies
    8.0/10(1303 votes)

    #7 - Fantastic Lies

    S3:E7

    A 10-year retrospective of the Duke lacrosse case, in which a party thrown by members of the school's men's lacrosse team led to an accusation of rape—a claim that, though later proven to be false, ignited both a firestorm that damaged the school's prestige and an investigation that ruined careers.

    Director:Marina Zenovich
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 8 - This Magic Moment
    7.7/10(1340 votes)

    #8 - This Magic Moment

    S3:E8

    A profile of the Orlando Magic teams of the mid-1990s, led by Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway, who gained prominence both on the NBA hardwoods and in popular culture, before Shaq's departure to the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency and injury issues for Penny ended the Magic's budding dynasty before it could ever take flight.[62]

    Directors:Erin Leyden, Gentry Kirby
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 9 - Believeland
    7.3/10(789 votes)

    #9 - Believeland

    S3:E9

    A look at the sports curse that befell Cleveland since the NFL's Browns last brought a major pro sports championship to the Ohio city in 1964. The film debuted one month before LeBron James and the Cavaliers' won the 2016 NBA Finals, after which the film was re-released with an updated ending on June 30, 2016.[64]

    Director:Andrew Billman
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 10 - Doc & Darryl
    7.2/10(692 votes)

    #10 - Doc & Darryl

    S3:E10

    The connection between the lives and careers of former New York Mets Dwight "Doc" Gooden and Darryl Strawberry.

    Directors:Judd Apatow, Michael Bonfiglio
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 11 - Phi Slama Jama
    6.9/10(651 votes)

    #11 - Phi Slama Jama

    S3:E11

    A profile of the iconic Houston Cougars men's basketball teams of the 1980s, fronted by Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, whose explosive play and highlight-making slam dunks earned the team the nickname Phi Slama Jama.

    Director:Chip Rives
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 12 - Hit It Hard
    6.8/10(447 votes)

    #12 - Hit It Hard

    S3:E12

    A look at John Daly's rise from obscurity to two major golf championship wins and fall back to mediocrity.

    Directors:David Fine, Gabe Spitzer
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 13 - Catholics Vs Convicts
    7.3/10(760 votes)

    #13 - Catholics Vs Convicts

    S3:E13

    A look at the notorious 1988 Notre Dame–Miami football game and its personal and cultural impact. Creadon was a senior at Notre Dame when the game took place; his roommate that year was one of the people behind the controversial t-shirt that gave the game and the film its name. (2 hours in length)

    Director:Patrick Creadon
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 14 - This Was the XFL
    7.2/10(863 votes)

    #14 - This Was the XFL

    S3:E14

    Two longtime friends, pro wrestling impresario Vince McMahon and NBC Sports president Dick Ebersol (Charlie Ebersol's father), team to form the XFL; the film follows the league's rushed development, its innovative approaches to televised football, and its rapid implosion. The ending foreshadows McMahon's plans to launch a new XFL in 2020 and the Ebersols' upcoming involvement in the competing Alliance of American Football in 2019.

    Director:Charlie Ebersol
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 15 - One and Not Done
    6.8/10(462 votes)

    #15 - One and Not Done

    S3:E15

    The life and career of John Calipari, one of the most polarizing figures in modern college basketball, weaving his story around that of his 2015–16 Kentucky team.

    Director:Jonathan Hock
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 16 - Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies - Part 1
    8.2/10(982 votes)

    #16 - Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies - Part 1

    S3:E16

    A three-part series, initially airing on consecutive nights, exploring the Celtics–Lakers rivalry, focusing mainly on the 1980s era of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson but also examining the entire history of the NBA through the rivalry. (Parts 1 & 3: 2 hours in length; Part 2: 1 hour in length)

    Director:Jim Podhoretz
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 17 - Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies - Part 2
    8.3/10(854 votes)

    #17 - Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies - Part 2

    S3:E17

    The Celtics-Lakers rivalry ramps up in the 1984 Finals as a cast of characters–led by Larry Bird and Magic Johnson–who changed the NBA finally went head-to-head for a title. Directed by Jim Podhoretz and produced by Jonathan Hock.

    Director:Jim Podhoretz
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 18 - Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies - Part 3
    8.2/10(792 votes)

    #18 - Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies - Part 3

    S3:E18

    Conclusion of a look at the 1980s Celtics-Lakers rivalry, focusing on the three years after the 1984 NBA Finals, as the teams’ disdain for each other gradually turns to respect while meeting in two more Finals. From filmmakers Jim Podhoretz and Jon Hock.

    Director:Jim Podhoretz
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 19 - Mike and the Mad Dog
    6.1/10(478 votes)

    #19 - Mike and the Mad Dog

    S3:E19

    The careers of Mike Francesa and Chris Russo, their stormy 19-year partnership on New York City radio; and the duo's influence on their Big Apple audience and sports talk radio in general.

    Director:Daniel H. Forer
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 20 - George Best: All by Himself
    7.1/10(1003 votes)

    #20 - George Best: All by Himself

    S3:E20

    George Best, Northern Ireland's legendary star, remains one of the most naturally gifted soccer players ever. Best's skill and exuberance lifted Manchester United, but his career was essentially over before he turned 29, the result of his battle with alcoholism.

    Director:Daniel Gordon
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 21 - What Carter Lost
    7.2/10(482 votes)

    #21 - What Carter Lost

    S3:E21

    In any other year, the 1988 team from Dallas's Carter High School would have gone down as one of the greatest in Texas football history, featuring 28 players who received college scholarship offers, eight of whom would eventually play professional football. Fighting off racial prejudice and a grades controversy—not to mention the team that would overshadow them in book and film (Odessa Permian)—Carter would claim the state title, only to be rocked to their core when six of their players were involved in an armed robbery that's affected the community's reputation to this day; the grades controversy would ultimately lead the UIL to strip the team of the title.

    Director:Adam Hootnick
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 22 - Year of the Scab
    7.3/10(492 votes)

    #22 - Year of the Scab

    S3:E22

    During the 1987 players' strike, the Washington Redskins field a roster of replacement players that goes 3–0 and helps pave the way for the Redskins' Super Bowl victory. Thirty years on, those players bear the stigma of being dismissed as "scabs" by fans in general and Redskins management in particular.

    Director:John Dorsey
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 23 - Tommy
    7.3/10(579 votes)

    #23 - Tommy

    S3:E23

    The unlikely rise and sudden fall of boxer Tommy Morrison.

    Directors:Erin Leyden, Gentry Kirby
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 24 - Nature Boy
    7.8/10(1340 votes)

    #24 - Nature Boy

    S3:E24

    The life and times of professional wrestling legend Ric Flair.

    Director:Rory Karpf
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. 30 for 30 Season 3 Episode 25 - The Two Bills
    7.7/10(671 votes)

    #25 - The Two Bills

    S3:E25

    A look at the relationship between NFL coaches Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick. Co-produced with NFL Films.

    Director:Ken Rodgers
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 3 Ratings Summary

"Trojan War" is the best rated episode of "30 for 30" season 3. It scored 7.2/10 based on 796 votes. Directed by Aaron Rahsaan Thomas and written by Unknown, it aired on 10/13/2015. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "The Prince of Pennsylvania".