Without Bias (2009)
"Len Bias" (original title)

From Legend to Tragedy. The name of former University of Maryland basketball superstar and Boston Celtics draft pick Len Bias still provokes powerful, and immediate responses, more than 20 years after his death.

Director:

Kirk Fraser

Writers:

Sam Bardley, Kirk Fraser

Stars:

Marion Barry Jr., Jeff Baxter, Eric Bias

2 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Marion Barry Jr.	...	Himself - Fmr. Mayor of Washington D.C. 1979-1991, 1995-1999
Jeff Baxter	...	Himself - Teammate, Maryland 1982-86
Eric Bias	...	Himself - Len Bias' Brother
James Bias	...	Himself - Len Bias' Father
Jay Bias	...	Himself (archive footage)
Len Bias	...	Himself (archive footage)
Lonise Bias	...	Herself - Len Bias' Mother
Kevin Blackistone	...	Himself - Sport Journalist / Author
James Brown	...	Himself (Sport Journalist)
Steve Buckhantz	...	Himself (Sport Journalist)
Pat Collins	...	Himself - WRC NBC 4 News Reporter
Derrick Curry	...	Himself - Victim of Mandatory Minimums
Johnny Dawkins	...	Himself - Stanford Men's Basketball Coach
Charles 'Lefty' Driesell	...	Himself - Coach, Maryland Basketball 1969-86
Michael Eric Dyson	...	Himself - Author / Professor

Storyline

From Legend to Tragedy. The name of former University of Maryland basketball superstar and Boston Celtics draft pick Len Bias still provokes powerful, and immediate responses, more than 20 years after his death. The most ambitious, comprehensive and uncompromising account of Bias' life and death is revealed in an explosive documentary, featuring interviews with his closest teammates, friends and family. For the first time, we hear first-hand accounts of what transpired during Bias' final hours from those who were with him at the time of his death. His heartbreaking fall from grace changed the game forever...on the court, where many considered him to be Michael Jordan's closest rival...and in the courtroom, where generations continue to face the harsh punishment of the nation's drug policies that were influenced by his controversial death. Len Bias is a must-see chronicling of how one man's meteoric rise to fame was derailed by a fatal decision that still echoes throughout sports and ...

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Plot Keywords:

independent film

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Taglines:

The Legend you know, the Story you didn't

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Genres:

Biography

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 June 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Without Bias

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

May 3rd Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Color:

Color (HD)

Did You Know?

Connections

References Super Bowl XX (1986)

User Reviews

With Bias (tv)

I knew his tragedy reading Larry's biography but never seen so far footage about his basketball skills.

Well, this documentary helps to watch Bias in action and if today, the usual question is "who is the next Michael Jordan", actually, this player ranked then among the best contender (they even competed against each other in ACC conference and in a great game, it seems that Bias won then). Surely the Celtics would have been totally extraordinary pairing Bias and Bird and it's no surprise that those two basketball legends were the first to send flowers at his death (proving that sports icons are at first well educated!).

Sadly, this legend died and the documentary becomes a bit blurry with the facts: alcohol, cocaine, overdose? In a way, it's funny to see that all people involved think they aren't in any way responsible for what happens: a future NBA star dies taking drug with his teammates in the campus and it's not the fault of his friends (they didn't force him) not the responsibility of the coach (it was after draft) or the dean (in those times, drugs were not so bad)! Sure, Bias has paid highly for a bad choice (what's about having fun and taking drugs?) but his partner Tribble isn't white hands if it was him who brought the drugs in the room and his later conviction as a dealer isn't coincidence. I really don't know how to take the premonitions of his parents but to bury one child and then another is the biggest devastation in parenthood.

At last, for the little story, his teammates have later played in the France championship and have been good names then (Derrick Lewis, Tony Massenburg).