Unless you have been living without TV for the past few weeks, there is no way you have not seen the promos of the upcoming ESPN 30 for 30 special on Christian Laettner set to air Sunday night. The film is called “I hate Christian Laettner,” which seems like a negative title, but it’s actually supposed to be a movie that will portray him in a positive light. That will be much different from the last time Laettner’s name came up on an ESPN films production.
One of the takeaways from the 2011 Jalen Rose-produced “The Fab Five” documentary was how much disdain that Michigan squad had for the Duke basketball program, culture, coach, and players. In one clip, Jimmy King is seen describing Laettner as a “b-tch,” whle Rose says he thought Laettner was a p—y.
During an interview with Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo this week to promote his 30 for 30 program, Laettner showed how bothered he was by what the former Michigan players had to say about him.
“Hey, me and my buddy can make a movie too and badmouth as many people as we want, too. And I was surprised that ESPN let them do that. … I was disappointed in that. That’s not what life is about. But maybe someone told Jalen we want to make a provocative movie and start saying Laettner’s a b-tch and Laettner’s a p—y. I guess that’s what life is about. I don’t appreciate it and I don’t like it, but it’s something I won’t ever do,” Laettner said in the interview.
We can understand why Laettner would be bothered by the Fab Five documentary; nobody wants to hear people calling them names in that way. That’s exactly why Grant Hill and Bobby Hurley fired back at Rose and company. And on Sunday, Laettner will have his chance to portray himself the way he likes when his film comes out.
H/T Deadspin
