Michael Tolajian: Once Brothers & Q Ball
Listen now
Description
Growing up in a blue collar town on the outskirts of Boston, Michael Tolajian’s love of Larry Bird and the arts helped him get his big break at NBA Entertainment in the early 90s. After getting his masters at USC Fim School Tolajian jumped back into the world of Sports Television, directing what is hailed as one of the best 30 for 30’s of all time, Once Brothers, and has gone on to be a top creative executive at the Pac 12 Network and Fox Sports.  Michael details how a Civil War destroyed the once brotherly relationship between Drazen Petrovic and Vlade Divac. It’s impressive to find out how he was able to get Vlade and Drazen’s family to be so open and honest.  We then transition to a story you may not have ever heard of, Q Ball.  Well let’s just say Michael went to San Quentin Prison and filmed the story of convicts who earn the right to hoop vs members of the Golden State Warriors staff.  I simplified it but it’s much deeper than that and we get to hear all about it on this episode of Beyond the Lens. 
More Episodes
Eric Newman’s journey to the top of Showtime basketball was one of hard work and dedication. An accomplished basketball coach on the Nike circuit, Newman used an experience he had with Kobe Bryant at Rucker Park to springboard himself into the world of sports media. After grinding on the...
Published 12/14/21
Published 12/14/21
Steve James needs no introduction. In my opinion, the most prolific sports documentarian of all time. He took his vision from the Cabrini Greens playground in Chicago to what became Hoop Dreams, the most successful sports doc of all time, the film that paved the way for the proliferation of...
Published 11/30/21