Robert Littal Presents BlackSportsOnline

The “30 for 30” film project is a unique undertaking by ESPN Films to celebrate ESPN’s 30th anniversary by enlisting well-known filmmakers to create documentaries centered on the last 30 years in sports.

The fifth film in the series “Without Bias” by filmmaker Kirk Fraser is the story of college basketball sensation Len Bias who died suddenly in 1986 of a cocaine overdose. Fraser, whose previous film and television projects include; “The Life of Rayful Edmons”, “Lil’ Kim Countdown to Lockdown”, “American Gangster” and “Party Boyz” explores the circumstances surrounding Bias’ death. When Bias suddenly died two days after the 1986 NBA Draft, he forever altered our perception of casual drug use and became the tipping point of America’s drug crisis in the mid-80’s. Future generations continue to face the punishment of drug policies that were influenced by the public outcry after his heartbreaking death. Instead of becoming an NBA star, Bias became a one-man deterrent, the athlete who reminded everyone just how dangerous drug use can be.

Fraser opens the film with 1980’s footage of Bias playing at the University of Maryland. We see his pure, raw talent on full display. Through current interviews we meet former teammates, coaches, family members and famous sports casters who interviewed him during that heady time. It is during the interview segments that we see the Len Bias that I remember so clearly. Sweet, charming, intelligent, engaging and humble– he seemed to sparkle! A young man with so many personable gifts plus the blessing of having raw, pure basketball talent.

It is NBA Draft Day1986 and we are there to witness the excitement of Len being selected. It is striking to note the difference in tone and demeanor between Draft Day 1986 and the NBA Draft of today. Clearly 1986 was a much simpler time. Not present then was the hype, noise and entourages that we see with today’s Draft hopefuls. But the joy of Draft Day is tempered by ominous premonitions that were experienced by Bias’ parents. Through interviews with both Len’s mother and father we learn that they both had uneasy feelings about Len’s safety. Len’s mother goes into detail about a dream that she had regarding a death in the family. Len’s father was inexplicably uneasy and unable to sleep on Draft night and the following night. Surprisingly, Len himself mentions an ominous dream that he had before the draft about not making it to the event.

We then move to the fateful day. This is where Fraser’s full talents are on display. Through the use of solemn music, compelling editing, tape of the original 9-1-1 call and firsthand accounts, we learn the sickening facts of that day. Len leaves his parents home to celebrate being drafted by the Boston Celtics with college teammates. He stops to buy alcohol at a local liquor store. Signs what is perhaps his last autograph for the liquor store manager and arrives on campus to celebrate. As teammates state, he uses cocaine only in front of teammates who also use– they hide the drugs when non using teammates enter the room. Len then becomes ill and starts having seizures. Here is where it all becomes murky. Was the reaction time of teammates to his distress too slow? Were they all too high to react quickly and effectively to the problem as the transcript of the 9-1-1 call alludes too? Who brought the cocaine to the party? Where did such a pure grade of cocaine come from? The type of cocaine found in his system could only be obtained by going straight to a high level dealer. Was a teammate dealing?

Next the equally tragic aftermath. Len’s girlfriend, close friends, coaches and family members state emphatically that they never saw him use drugs. Even the Celtics confirm that he passed all drug tests and they were unaware of any drug problems. Yet, careers are ended and a college basketball program is in question. Watching Len’s parents, his father in particular still trying to cope with the loss of their son is tragic. Watching the hospital and then funeral footage as the family describes how they felt that day is equally heartbreaking. .

The family segment was particularly gut wrenching for me because it so closely resembled the basketball life and tragic death of my cousin Keith “The Hawk” Brown. He too was a highly recruited athlete —football and basketball. He chose basketball and became a top nationally ranked high school player. I can remember walking into my Uncle’s house to find Dr. J sitting on the couch talking to Keith about college and then the Pro’s. Keith and Dr J worked-out together regularly, he practically lived with our family while wooing Keith. Then a steady stream of college recruiters, even members of the Washington Redskins would pop by to visit just in case Keith decided to switch sports and play football again. It was a heady experience! Then a month before college selection Keith was killed in a boating accident. He and two other teammates were on a sailboat that capsized. Keith was a strong swimmer so he gave his life vest to a teammate who could not swim and did not have a vest. Keith drowned, the teammate with Keith’s life vest lived. Watching Len’s hospital then funeral footage was like re-living Keith’s death all over again. The parallels are striking! The emergency room vigil with teammates, the heartbreak of loosing someone that you love, the tragedy of a young person dying too soon and the lost promise of a spectacular sports career that will never be. My family, just like Len’s family had to deal with press on the front lawn, unwanted interviews, famous people sending their condolences and a very public funeral–one of the largest in state history. Len’s family, just like my family also discovered after his death how truly loved Len was.

Though I found the film compelling, many of my questions surrounding Len’s death were left unanswered and perhaps that is what Fraser intended. How could a healthy young man and number two draft pick die after using cocaine? Was he a one-time user or was there a pattern of recreational use that led to his overdosing death? Was he living a double life? Does peer pressure kill? Did he fall-in with the wrong crowd? Were his teammates at fault? How good could Bias have been had he made it to the NBA?

You know–I do not think that we will ever know what really happened to Len Bias.

“Without Bias” airs November 3rd 8:00PM ET on ESPN

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