Bad Sport
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Frank, curse-filled series about corruption in sports.
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Bad Sport
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What's the Story?
BAD SPORT is a documentary series about some of the biggest scandals in contemporary sport history. Interviews with people like prosecutors, journalists, book makers, coaches, and athletes illuminate the details behind egregious examples of corruption in some of the world's most popular events. From revisiting the 1994 Arizona State basketball team's gambling scandal, to explaining the fraudulent events that led to the 2011 incarceration of Luciano Moggi, the Sporting Director of the most successful football club in Italy, it showcases how power and greed can drive even the most talented and influential figures to use their sport for illicit gains.
Is It Any Good?
The compelling series offers detailed narratives about some of the most notorious examples of sports fraud around the world. Thanks to frank interviews with key individuals associated with each controversy, which range from repentant athletes to disturbingly cavalier book makers and criminals who sought to profit from them, it reveals the behind-the-scenes decisions and actions that fueled each scandal. The consequences on the individuals involved, their sports, and their fans are also discussed. But Bad Sport also succeeds at highlighting how widespread corruption is in the sports world. It underscores how politicizing sporting events can lead to manipulation and misconduct, and how their association with privilege and profit creates an environment that is ripe for unscrupulous people and behavior. Overall, the series is a statement about the erosion of sports culture, and shows the kind of damage that can be done if the potential misdeeds aren't kept in check.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the people featured in this docuseries. Why do the people responsible for the fraudulent acts talk about their involvement so openly? Do they regret their actions? What's the long-term impact of what they did?
Bad Sport shows what happens when there is a lack of sportsmanship in athletics. How can media be used to teach young athletes about its importance? Given the focus on profit in many sports, why might this be challenging?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 6, 2021
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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