Archive for Tuesday, November 10, 2009

A ‘Greek’ legend made and unmade

November 10, 2009

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The sports documentary series “30 for 30” (7 p.m., ESPN) recalls a lost media world and a larger-than-life American with “The Legend of Jimmy the Greek.” A gambler from an early age, Jimmy Snyder popularized sports betting with his syndicated column and his appearances on the CBS pre-game Sunday series “The NFL Today.” Broadcast before cable or the Internet, the show had a huge audience who followed “The Greek”’s picks for the week.

“NFL Today” colleagues Brent Musberger, Phyllis George and Irv Cross recall his temper and high-maintenance personality. The film’s director worked as a researcher for the program and was given total access to its veterans and fans, including then-CBS news anchor Dan Rather.

George recalls tales of his crude sexism, a memory tempered by her awareness that Snyder had lost three children to cystic fibrosis. So she understood and forgave his anger. A man who gained and lost fortunes several times over, Snyder lost his mother to a bullet when he was 10 years old.

His tale ends in catastrophe. A local camera crew caught Snyder on tape making awkward remarks about centuries of breeding being responsible for the natural superiority of black athletes. Castigated as a racist, Jimmy died a broken man. To many, his remarks seemed more of a sign of being out of touch, uneducated and over the hill than truly hateful.

Rather reflects on the tragedy of Synder’s exile from network television for an avoidable mishap. When he does, it’s hard not to wonder if Rather is really talking about himself.

• Hey, don’t blame Big Bird if he seems to be dragging his tail. “Sesame Street” (PBS, check local listings) turns 40 today.

• Cable is where gender stereotypes go wild. On TLC, It’s not enough for women to have children. They have to give birth to multiples. Preferably multiple sets of multiples, as on “Table for 12” (7 p.m., TLC). Of course, some families still do it the old-fashioned way, as on “18 Kids and Counting” (8 p.m., TLC).

Viewers looking for outsized male egos and the women who love them should tune into “Full Throttle Saloon” (9 p.m., TruTV), a behind-the-scenes look at a 30-acre bar designed to serve thousands of thirsty bikers when they descend on Sturgis, S.D., once a year.

• “D Tour” on “Independent Lens” (9 p.m., PBS, check local listings) profiles an independent musician about to go on tour for the first time in his life, forced to look for an organ donor to stay alive. An informative and often affectionate and moving look at two overlapping subcultures filled with supportive friends, colleagues and family members.

Tonight’s other highlights

• “NOVA” (7 p.m., PBS, check local listings) presents “Becoming Human: Unearthing Our Earliest Ancestor.”

• The top 16 perform on “So You Think You Can Dance” (7 p.m., Fox).

• An immigrant’s murder offers clues on “NCIS: Los Angeles” (8 p.m., CBS).

• Eviction notices arrive on “Dancing with the Stars” (8 p.m., ABC).

• Alicia develops an office crush on “The Good Wife” (9 p.m., CBS).

• “In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts” (9 p.m., ABC) presents interviews with Nashville stars.

• The repo sideline flourishes on “Sons of Anarchy” (9 p.m., FX).