30 for 30 Believeland (Season 3, Episode 9)
TV-G
TV Episode | 77 min | Documentary, Biography, History

30 for 30

Believeland (Season 3, Episode 9)

TV-G

TV Episode | 77 min | Documentary, Biography, History

There's a special place on the southern shore of Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. Known as Cleveland, it is the site of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the home of the Indians, the Browns and the Cavaliers. But it's also ...See moreThere's a special place on the southern shore of Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. Known as Cleveland, it is the site of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the home of the Indians, the Browns and the Cavaliers. But it's also the home of an agonizing losing streak. Of all American cities that have at least three major sports franchises, Cleveland is the only one that has failed to win a championship in the last half-century. Those sports teams, and the hearts they've broken over and over again, have inspired a different name for the city, and the title for this 30 for 30 film: Believeland. Directed by Ohio native Andy Billman, this evocative documentary will take you on a trip that goes back 50 years and captures the seminal ups and downs of the once-thriving metropolis - Superman, after all, was created there. Despite the economic and athletic misfortunes, and the T-shirt that reads "God Hates Cleveland," the people still believe and worship Jim Thome and Jim Brown and LeBron James. But they also can't forget Edgar Renteria and John Elway and Michael Jordan, the men who extinguished their dreams of a long-awaited championship. Painful as it is, Believeland is a celebration of faith, a testament to how much sports mean to Cleveland, and how much Cleveland means to sports. Written by ESPN Films See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
63 cast members

Name	Known for
Hank Aaron Self Self See fewer	Summer Catch (2001)
Ernie Accorsi Self Self See fewer	NFL Top 10 (2007)
Sandy Alomar Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	1976 American League Championship Series (1976)
Ruben Amaro Jr. Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	The Goldbergs (2013)
Jim Bailey Self Self See fewer	30 for 30 (2009)
Carl Banks Self Self See fewer	The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1993)
Chris Berman Self - Anchor (archive footage) Self - Anchor (archive footage) See fewer	The Longest Yard (2005)
Jim Brown Self Self See fewer	30 for 30 (2009)
Mike Brown Self Self See fewer	A Football Life (2011)
Earnest Byner Self Self See fewer	D.T. In 'Dawg Territory' (1988)
Craig Counsell Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1990)
Frank Crea Tribe Fan in Bar Tribe Fan in Bar See fewer	30 for 30 (2009)
Jim Donovan Self - Browns Radio Play By Play Announcer Self - Browns Radio Play By Play Announcer See fewer	The NFL on NBC (1965)
Craig Ehlo Self Self See fewer	The 1986 NBA Finals (1986)
John Elway Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Resurrecting the Champ (2007)
Tony Fernandez Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Return of the Family Man (1989)
Connor Flynn Cavs Fan Cavs Fan See fewer	Huggin Molly
George Forbes Self Self See fewer	30 for 30 (2009)
Dan Gilbert Self - Cavaliers Owner Self - Cavaliers Owner See fewer	Gotta Keep Dreamin (2016)
Aaron Goldhammer Self - Sports Radio Host Self - Sports Radio Host See fewer	Draft Day (I) (2014)
Bob Golic Self Self See fewer	Da Vinci's War (1993)
Tony Grossi Self - Browns Beat Writer Self - Browns Beat Writer See fewer	The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame... (1999)
Gordon Gund Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Fade to Black (2011)
Arsenio Hall Self Self See fewer	Coming to America (1988)
Tom Hamilton Self - Indians Play By Play Announcer Self - Indians Play By Play Announcer See fewer	30 for 30 (2009)
Mike Hargrove Self - Former Indians Manager Self - Former Indians Manager See fewer	Sunday Night Baseball (1990)
Ted Henry Self - Anchor (archive footage) Self - Anchor (archive footage) See fewer	The Drew Carey Show (1995)
Paul Hoynes Self - Reporter Self - Reporter See fewer	30 for 30 (2009)
LeBron James Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
Randy Johnson Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Little Big League (1994)
Michael Jordan Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Space Jam (1996)
Bernie Kosar Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Draft Day (I) (2014)
Gary Kubiak Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	The NFL on CBS (1956)
Dennis Kucinich Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	GMO OMG (2013)
Kenny Lofton Self Self See fewer	The Fix (VI) (2017)
Kevin Mack Self Self See fewer	30 for 30 (2009)
Jose Mesa Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Los especiales de ATC (1979)
Art Modell Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Market Melodies (1949)
David Modell Self Self See fewer	30 for 30 (2009)
Chris Mortensen Self - Reporter (archive footage) Self - Reporter (archive footage) See fewer	Scalia: Portrait of a Man and Jurist (2017)
Charles Nagy Self Self See fewer	Les Recettes Pompettes (2016)
Fred Nance Self - Attorney Self - Attorney See fewer	The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame... (1999)
Ozzie Newsome Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Masters of the Gridiron (1986)
Doug Petkovic Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer
Judah Raab Self Self See fewer	30 for 30 (2009)
Scott Raab Self Self See fewer	30 for 30 (2009)
Anthony Rizzo Self (as Tony Rizzo) Self (as Tony Rizzo) See fewer	Draft Day (I) (2014)
Marty Schottenheimer Self Self See fewer	The NFL on CBS (1956)
Herb Score Self (voice) (archive footage) Self (voice) (archive footage) See fewer	The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)
Steve Sewell Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	The NFL on CBS (1956)
Wilma Smith Self - News Anchor (archive footage) Self - News Anchor (archive footage) See fewer
J. Mark Souther Self - History Professor Self - History Professor See fewer	30 for 30 (2009)
Tonya Strong Self - Anchor (archive footage) Self - Anchor (archive footage) See fewer
Elaine Tack Self - Reporter (archive footage) Self - Reporter (archive footage) See fewer
Paul Tagliabue Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Head Games (2012)
Tim Taylor Self - News Anchor (archive footage) Self - News Anchor (archive footage) See fewer
Jim Thome Self Self See fewer	1995 American League Championship Series (1995)
Wright Thompson Self Self See fewer	Remember the Blue and Yellow (2023)
Omar Vizquel Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Salserín (1997)
Michael White Self - Mayor Self - Mayor See fewer	30 for 30 (2009)
Lenny Wilkens Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Rise Above (III)
Brian Windhorst Self - NBA Writer Self - NBA Writer See fewer	NBA Today (1992)
Felix Wright Self Self See fewer	The Harbinger (2013)