- Director
- Ken Rodgers
- Rating
- n/a
- Running Time
- 90 minutes
- Airs
- February 4th at 9pm
- Channel
- ESPN (ESPN+ next day)
Overall Score
Rating Summary
The newest installment of the popular ESPN 30 for 30 documentary series, Al Davis vs. The NFL, chronicles the bitter rivalry of iconic Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis and longtime NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle. The notorious feud captivated NFL personnel and fans for decades. Davis most notably sued the NFL on multiple occasions for what he believed was sabotage that prevented the Oakland Raiders from relocating to Los Angeles, a much larger marketplace. With the Raiders finishing their inaugural season in Las Vegas there is no better time to revisit the storied Davis-Rozelle saga.
Filmed over the last year, Al Davis vs. The NFL captures the enthralling dispute as it unfolds thanks to the archival footage reviving the angst Davis and Rozelle had for one another all these years later. Regardless of whether or not viewers are Raiders fans, this film transcends fanbases as it shines a spotlight on one of the most iconic eras in the National Football League. Rozelle and Davis are recognized as two of the most pivotal builders in league history as they helped to grow the sport immensely. Director Ken Rodgers is able to showcase the decades long rivalry and have it be just as relevant now thanks to the many press clippings and insightful interviews that highlight the different personalities.
Rodgers throws a curveball at the typical sports documentary by implementing “deep fake” technology to allow both Davis and Rozelle the opportunity to tell their story. It’s a bold decision that could isolate some viewers but leave others with a sense of intrigue as they ponder all the possibilities the technology has to offer. Though the re-creations are fictional, all the stories shared by the re-imagined Rozelle and Davis are true and help to further the conflict they had for one another. As is the case with any production over the last year, COVID-19 restrictions have resulted in filmmakers having to think on their feet and have an alternative plan. In the wrong hands the “deep fake” technology can be a gimmick but Rodgers and co. are able to utilize it respectfully to further the story.
30 for 30’s newest installment is the most inventive to date as they overcome a pandemic to tell one of the most essential stories in NFL history. Al Davis vs. The NFL allows Pete Rozelle and Al Davis to have their rockstar moment that so many players are accustom to having. The story has never been more relevant as it is now with the Oakland Raiders moving to Las Vegas, fulfilling the lifelong wish of Al Davis to have the Raiders play in a large market.
In the end, Al Davis vs. The NFL separates itself from other sports documentaries thanks in large part to the storied Al Davis-Pete Rozelle rivalry that practically writes itself.
still courtesy of ESPN
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