Because I saw Foxcatcher, Netflix suggested that I watch “30 for 30” The Prince of Pennsylvania, which I immediately put in my queue. For those not familiar with Foxcatcher, “30 for 30” The Prince of Pennsylvania is a 50 minute episode about John Du Pont, who was a patron of American wrestlers, but eventually killed one of the star wrestlers. I am not familiar with the TV series “30 for 30” because I am a sports atheist, but we crossed paths before when it aired a show called Price of Gold about the rivalry between Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan.
“30 for 30” The Prince of Pennsylvania was an excellent digestif to Foxcatcher because it provided more perspectives from DuPont’s former wife and other wrestlers, not just the brother of the victim who was the focus of Foxcatcher. “30 for 30” The Prince of Pennsylvania also uses videotape footage recorded at the time. Basically it was obvious to everyone that Du Pont was not of sound mind from his physical appearance, the way that he treated his wife to his substantial collection, which is not to suggest that people who stockpile more guns than he or she could reasonably use is a sign of mental illness. Blink.
Basically being a wrestler is hard and does not pay well so they tried to overlook all the red flags when they should not. “30 for 30” The Prince of Pennsylvania provides a few of valuable lessons: when one big guy is running the other way, follow the big guy; don’t live in someone else’s fantasy world; and crazy can’t be managed, particularly if crazy is in control and rich.