With sports having come to a halt due to the global coronavirus pandemic, many fans are searching for alternatives.
The unprecedented nature of the sporting shutdown — which is, of course, part of a larger action as the world attempts to slow the spread of COVID-19 — will make for a good documentary in the future, but for now, there are many great sports-themed documentaries available to whet your appetite.
Among the best in this country is TSN's "Engraved on a Nation," which originated as a Grey Cup series in 2012 and was revived in 2019 to tell broader Canadian sporting stories. It's a fantastic way to get to know some of the biggest stories to have shaped the sporting landscape in the country, along with some lesser-known narratives.
There are certainly worse ways for a self-isolating sports fan to pass the time.
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All episodes are available to subscribers through TSN's website and app, as well as for purchase on YouTube.
The Bailey Experience
The first episode to be released during Engraved on a Nation's 2019 run, "The Bailey Experience" is probably the best of the bunch.
A deep dive into the life of two-time Olympic gold medalist Donovan Bailey as he raced out of the shadow of the Ben Johnson scandal, this Michael Hamilton-directed piece is a fascinating look at how the country reluctantly embraced Bailey as a national sporting hero.
Interviews with Bailey, Bob Costas, Brian Williams, Bruny Surin, Carl Lewis and others help capture the unique moment in time that was Bailey's reign as the world's fastest man.
Oh yeah, there was that whole little side story about Michael Johnson's rather spurious claim to the world's fastest man title, which "The Bailey Experience" also touches on in a fantastic way.
On the Line
You had to expect there'd be a hockey episode, and there's no better hockey story to explore than the rivalry between the Canadian and American women's national teams.
Head and shoulders above the rest of the world, these two teams are different sides of the same coin representing the pinnacle of the sport, and their rivalry helps define women's hockey. Yet beyond the border battles are several dozen elite players whose paths cross far more often than when the Maple Leaf faces the Stars and Stripes in official competition.
Directed by Juliet Lammers and Lorraine Price, "On The Line" shows how even the fiercest rivals can be the best of friends as the common goal of growing the sport binds these exceptional women together.
The Northern Touch
The story of Toronto FC is intrinsically tied to its fans, who helped reshape Major League Soccer when the team launched in 2007. Through some extremely tough times — fans will surely remember the "Worst Team in the World" era with particular disdain — the crowds thinned but the passion never waned.
As the team turned a corner and ultimately claimed an MLS Cup on home soil, those who stuck by the team through its early dark years were justly rewarded.
"The Northern Touch" looks at the TFC supporter culture, and how it changed the face of the sport in Toronto — for better or worse.
Omega Man: A Wrestling Love Story
Some of the most famous professional wrestlers of all time are Canadian.
Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Chris Jericho, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, even Hollywood megastar Dwayne Johnson, who first found fame in the squared circle as "The Rock," has deep Canadian roots.
Winnipeg-born Kenny Omega may be the next in line among top-tier Canadian wrestling exports, yet this incredibly popular star is virtually unknown outside of his profession.
Now starring in AEW, Omega spurned the WWE for a route less traveled. And it worked.
"Omega Man: A Wrestling Love Story" shows you how.
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Man vs. Machine
Are race drivers real athletes?
Of course they are, especially at the Formula 1 level, but the debate never raged more in Canada than in 1997 when Jacques Villeneuve was selected ahead of Larry Walker as the winner of that year's Lou Marsh Trophy.
Villeneuve had just become the first Canadian to win the F1 world championship — a massive accomplishment on the global stage. The Quebec-born driver had already claimed the Lou Marsh as Canada's top athlete in 1995, and his exploits in 1997 would have made him the odds-on favourite to do so again in any other year.
However, 1997 also saw arguably the best season by a Canadian baseball player in history, as Larry Walker put together a dominant campaign (.366 batting average, 49 HR, 130 RBI, .720 SLG) en route to the NL MVP Award. The Maple Ridge, B.C., native's numbers were so absurd that many — including Walker himself — believed him to be the Lou Marsh favourite.
"Man vs. Machine" details the engaging duality of Villeneuve and Walker's respective accomplishments, and how the sports world was divided in honouring them.
The Impossible Swim
Inspired by the marathon swimmers of previous generations, teenager Maya Farrell attempts to cross the widest part of Lake Ontario.
Following the likes of household names Marilyn Bell and Vicki Keith, Farrell's attempt is documented as part of a larger narrative about the physical and mental toll such a feat takes on an athlete.
Along with diving into how Farrell attempts the 88-kilometre swim, "The Impossible Swim" also gets to the heart of the "why."