ESPN Mini Series A Success

By Brian Fitzsimmons: SPM CT Columnist
Posted Thursday, August 30, 2007

In case the New York Yankees squirming for their playoff lives this summer sickened you, a close look at a past Bronx Bombers team was thankfully on display every Tuesday night.

And for the poor soul who desperately missed ESPN’s first drama series “Playmakers”, there was no need to stress any further. This mini-saga based on Jonathan Mahler’s novel “Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx is Burning”, not only blew away the acting, plot and action shots, but made the football story seem far-fetched and too far over the fence of fiction.

“The Bronx is Burning” was the tremendous portrayal of the Yankees’ struggle to dominate in 1977, amidst the mass homicide acts of David Berkowitz, the heated city mayor battle, and owner George Steinbrenner terrorizing the business market.

Three million dollars was paid to Reggie Jackson for that season. Part of the hidden humor in the hour-long episodes included Steinbrenner worrying about how much money that was. Emptying the wallet has certainly altered definitions over the years, I’d say.

But as a matter of fact, this was just the ticket to escape from the twisted reality where Boston may reign supreme in the AL east and the Yankees might actually be mortal.

Oliver Platt (Steinbrenner) was brilliant. From The Boss’ mannerisms, speech patterns, and appearance, they served as a great compliment to how John Turturro’s character was right on the money as manager Billy Martin—fake ears and all.

Jackson, who was played by Daniel Sunjata, looked more like a 70’s loser dressed to go to the disco but gave the show such spice, even the often tedious scenes involving the mayor race were glazed with enjoyable perks.

The curious viewer may have wondered over and over why the horrifying shootings caused by “The Son of Sam” and an election war would tie into a baseball-based show. I was one of them, but the writers weaved the subplots together very nicely—to the point where the end of every week left me wanting more.

A heated clubhouse filled with players such as Jackson, Ron Guidry, Willie Randolph, Fran Healy, Lou Piniella, Bucky Dent, Thurman Munson and coach Yogi Berra served as an exact replica of what that locker room might have held that season. Fights, arguing with the press, bad attitudes galore, and playing favorites were all on the buffet table of bad team chemistry. Who could forget the infamous fight in the dugout between Jackson and Martin?

Surprisingly, the writers found a way to fit the whole season within eight hours of airtime comfortably, so the ending wouldn’t seem rushed. The finale was dedicated to meticulously illustrate Jackson’s magical night where he hit three homeruns in Game 6 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The constant actual coverage of the televised game 30 years ago added to the effect and gave the series a touch of documentary-like feel.

The ending was perfect, since as many realize, this story was not a happy ending—and winning the World Series wasn’t the end. Steinbrenner’s insane techniques of control were underway and Munson was tragically killed in a plane accident two years later. Jackson never appreciated the fans again, and of course, Martin felt the agony that correlates with his path of life.

The final scene of the series shows Martin alone and depressed taking shots at a dark and smoke-filled bar. A gorgeous girl comes up to him and asks if he is Billy Martin. Flashes of his distanced wife and misery, which was caused by ill job security obviously burned within him. As you can guess, he didn’t even respond.

Sad silence and somber feelings gave way to the afterward, which was comprised of a sentence or two about each important character and what happened to them years down the road. Any good true story includes that feature.

But unlike many of the Yankees’ games this summer, this drama was a homerun from start to finish.