ESPN Delays Debut Of NBA Kings Film In Light Of Allegations Against Kevin Johnson

In light of recent articles "revisiting allegations of sexual misconduct involving Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson," ESPN has "decided to delay its on-the-air premiere" of a "30 for 30" Film that focuses on Sacramento's efforts to keep the NBA Kings, according to Richard Deitsch of SI.com. The documentary, called "Down In The Valley," was scheduled to debut Oct. 20 on ESPN, but "does not have a new release date at the moment." Johnson is a "key figure in the film." ESPN VP & Exec Producer of ESPN Films & Original Content John Dahl said, "The most important thing here is to make sure it’s clear that we are not tone deaf and we’re aware of a renewed focus on certain issues." Deitsch noted a recent Deadspin report alleged that Johnson paid a woman "a six-figure settlement to remain quiet" about a '96 investigation into allegations that he "touched her inappropriately." Johnson has "repeatedly denied the allegations and no criminal charges were filed." Dahl: "We know what is out there and we acknowledge that it is out there and we want to make sure that it is clear to everyone that we are responsible how we handle the story." Deitsch noted the film has "long been completed and had a splashy debut (guests included former commissioner David Stern) at Tribeca last April." No additional interviews for the film have "been conducted but there is the possibility of adding voices to an updated version" (SI.com, 10/12). In Sacramento, Marcos Breton cites a source as saying that documentary director Jason Hehir several times "discussed whether or not to address the allegations against Johnson," but he and ESPN "jointly decided to leave them out because they were deemed unrelated to the primary narrative." Johnson’s camp yesterday was "incredulous" that ESPN would announce postponing the film "just hours before hundreds of Sacramentans gathered to celebrate its viewing at the Crest Theatre" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 10/13).

TROJAN HORSE: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Daniel Fienberg wrote with USC's football program "embroiled in a hugely unsightly coaching upheaval, the timing seems perfect for ESPN's '30 for 30' franchise to be kicking off its third volume of sports documentaries" with "Trojan War" from director Aaron Rahsaan Thomas. But the film "follows way too close on the heels of the Pete Carroll Era for anybody to be sufficiently introspective and the chronicling of the dynasty's rise and fall is missing just about every key interview or insight you'd actually want." Carroll "has nothing new to add and Thomas makes no visible effort to push him." Former marketing agent Mike Ornstein "has nothing to contribute either." Former USC AD Mike Garrett is "nowhere to be seen," while 49ers RB and USC alum Reggie Bush was "never going to be involved in a documentary like this." Even if Thomas "wanted to avoid any sort of even casual condemnation of what the NCAA deemed a lack of institutional control, the director missed out on that count by rushing the documentary and not being able to include any of the subsequent evidence of how NCAA prejudice impacted USC's penalties" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 10/12). In California, Michael Lev writes the film "won't satisfy Trojans fans who are still bitter about how unfair those sanctions were." Producer Mario Diaz said that the film "at one time included a six- to seven-minute segment on the corruption of the NCAA -- but that it had to be cut for editing reasons" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 10/13).