Up for Grabs (2004)

Director:

Michael Wranovics

Writer:

Michael Wranovics (written by)

Release Date:

30 June 2007 (Japan)

Genre:

Comedy | Documentary

Plot:

The absurd true story of the legal battle over the "Million-Dollar Baseball." Barry Bonds' record setting...

Plot Keywords:

Barry Bonds | Baseball | Home Run | San Francisco Giants | Law

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Marty Appel	...	Himself
Barry Bonds	...	Himself
Patrick Hayashi	...	Himself
Alex Popov	...	Himself

Runtime:

USA:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Crooked Hook Productions

The lowest blow for baseball

For all of the future self-serving idiots that look to grab a stake of history, watch this movie. Granted, Up for Grabs is a pretty basic documentary in the straightest sense, but it's the human drama that is involved that makes it such a comedic experience.

Popov and Hayashi were both idiots, let's make that clear. But Popov's overwhelming sense of self worth seemed to provide just what he wanted. He was a loathing, idiot that was purely out to make money, just like Hayashi. But you couldn't turn away from Popov. His idiocy is what truly makes the story, and let's face it, his greed ultimately cost him a lot of money and debt.

What I also found so compelling about this movie is how times have changed. People only care about the money making aspect rather than the thrill of the game. People don't go to a game to see someone like Barry Bonds (or these days, Albert Pujols), they're just waiting for the day he sets some record so they could grab a potential meal ticket. It's a pretty startling assessment when Bonds is the sensible and well-meaning conscience that neither Hayashi or Popov seemed to have.