Tragedy to Triumph: The Maryland Terrapin Odyssey (2003) (TV)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Release Date:

6 April 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Sport

Plot:

An inside look at the fall and rise of the Maryland Terrapins basketball team culminating in the 2002 National Championship.

Plot Keywords:

Basketball | 1970s | 1950s | University Of Maryland | 1980s

Cast

Andre Braugher	...	Himself (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Beth Alvarez	...	Herself (University of Maryland Archivist)
Jeff Baxter	...	Himself (University of Maryland, '82 - '86)
Lonny Baxter	...	Himself (University of Maryland, '98 - '02) (archive footage)
Bonnie Bernstein	...	Herself (Broadcaster / University of Maryland, '88 - '92)
Len Bias	...	Himself (archive footage)
Steve Blake	...	Himself (University of Maryland, '99 - '03) (archive footage)
Keith Booth	...	Himself (University of Maryland, '93 - '97)
Thomas Boswell	...	Himself (Columnist, Washington Post)
Gladys Bragg	...	Herself (Juan Dixon's Tutor)
Robyn Bragg	...	Herself (Juan Dixon's Girlfriend)
Marty Brennaman	...	Himself (Broadcaster)
Linda Clement	...	Herself (Director of Undergrad Admissions, University of Maryland, '82 - '01)
Rodney Dangerfield	...	Himself (archive footage)
Brad Daugherty	...	Himself (First pick taken in 1986 NBA Draft) (archive footage)
Sam Davis	...	Himself (Columnist, Baltimore Sun)
Seth Davis	...	Himself (Sports Illustrated)
Johnny Dawkins	...	Himself (archive footage)
Juan Dixon	...	Himself (University of Maryland, '98 - '02)
Phil Dixon	...	Himself (Juan Dixon's Brother)
Charles 'Lefty' Driesell	...	Himself (Coach, University of Maryland, '69 - '86)
Chuck Driesell	...	Himself (University of Maryland, '82 - '85)
Len Elmore	...	Himself (University of Maryland, '72 - '74)
John Feinstein	...	Himself (Journalist)
Joe Giove	...	Himself (University of Maryland Ballboy, '86 - '88)
Molly Dunham Glassman	...	Herself (Columnist, Baltimore Sun, 1984-2001)
Billy Hahn	...	Himself (University of Maryland, '74 - '76)
Joe Harrington	...	Himself (University of Maryland, '65 - '67)
Jack Heise	...	Himself (University of Maryland, '41 - '48)
Johnny Holliday	...	Himself (University Of Maryland Broadcaster, '77 - present)
Jesse Jackson	...	Himself (archive footage)
Michael Jordan	...	Himself (University of North Carolina, '82 - '84) (archive footage)
Dr. Joyce Ann Joyce	...	Herself (Professor - English Department, University of Maryland, '79 - '89)
William Kirwan	...	Himself (Chancellor, University System of Maryland, '89 - '03)
Mike Krzyzewski	...	Himself (Coach, Duke University, '80 - present) (archive footage)
John Lucas	...	Himself (University of Maryland, '73 - '76)
Greg Manning	...	Himself (University of Maryland, '74 - '76)
Tom McMillen	...	Himself (University of Maryland, '74 - '76)
Bud Millikan	...	Himself (Coach, University of Maryland, '50 - '67)
Drew Nicholas	...	Himself (University of Maryland, '99 - '03)
Robert D. Novak	...	Himself (Journalist, CNN) (as Robert Novak)
Glen Ordway	...	Himself (Boston Talk Radio Host)
Billy Packer	...	Himself (Correspondent, CBS Sports)
Jimmy Patsos	...	Himself (Assistant Coach, University of Maryland, '91 - present)
John Rymer	...	Himself (Terrapin Club)
Kristin Scott	...	Herself (Gary Williams' Daughter)
John Slaughter	...	Himself (Chancellor, University of Maryland, '82 - '88) (archive footage)
C. Fraser Smith	...	Himself (Author, "Lenny, Lefty and the Chancellor")
Dean Smith	...	Himself (Coach, University of North Carolina, '60 - '97) (archive footage)
Joe Smith	...	Himself (University of Maryland, '93 - '95) (archive footage)
Mark Smith	...	Himself (Juan Dixon's Uncle)
David Stern	...	Himself (NBA Commissioner) (archive footage)
David Thompson	...	Himself (North Carolina State University, '73 - '75)
John Thompson	...	Himself (Coach, Georgetown University, '72 - '99) (archive footage)
Anne Turkos	...	Herself (University of Maryland Archivist)
David A. Vise	...	Himself (Author, "Sweet Redemption")
Bob Wade	...	Himself (Coach, University of Maryland, '86 - '89) (archive footage)
Bob Wagner	...	Himself (Len Bias' High School Coach)
Gary Williams	...	Himself (University of Maryland, '65 - '67 / Coach, University of Maryland, '89 - present)
Walt Williams	...	Himself (University Of Maryland, '88 - '92) (archive footage)
Jack Zane	...	Himself (University of Maryland Sports Information Director, '69 - '88)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Company:

Black Canyon Productions

Not a Sports Fan, but Loved it Anyway

It seems a shame to review such an excellent documentary with a cliché, but in this case it's true: You Don't Have to be a Sports Fan to Enjoy This Film. This documentary about the University of Maryland basketball program has all the makings of great drama: heroes, villains, tragedy, and -- for viewers such as myself, who don't know much about the history of college basketball -- suspense. Yet these elements are never due to the documentary succumbing to cliché or melodrama; "Tragedy to Triumph" lets history speak for itself. A couple of players are spot-lighted, such as the small but astounding Juan Dixon, or the beloved but doomed Len Bias (a fascinating story in his own right). Yet the real focus is on two long-term coaches, Charles "Lefty" Driesell and Gary Williams (himself a former player for the very same team). Ostensibly about Maryland's long journey to the 2001 championship win, "Tragedy to Triumph" is, in a way, actually about the love and devotion these two coaches had for the game, their team, and their players. "Tragedy to Triumph" is an "against all odds" story that reveals, as sports coverage so rarely does, how sports can bring out the very best of humanity -- in fans, in players, and above all, in the coaches that help make the best games possible.