Fate of a Sport (2022) User Reviews

"It's gonna work."

[WhipsNation · 10/10 · 30 August 2022]

Wow. Incredible film that truly showcases the beautiful game of lacrosse for the hardcore fans of the sport, casuals and people who've never picked up a stick. Fate of a Sport tells a true story of how the Rabil brothers revived pro lacrosse.

Players were practicing in parking lots, going to gas stations to get ice for their bodies and playing games at high school stadiums. Mike and Paul Rabil said enough is enough and it's time for a change. Watch how they build a modern professional sports league from the ground up during one of the toughest times our country has experienced in recent memory.

Heroic Story - Saved Lacrosse

[llickfold · 10/10 · 30 August 2022]

Fate of a Sport is a documentary that has emotion like a blockbuster movie. The story of how Paul and Mike Rabil risked everything to save the sport they loved is inspirational and emotional. There's many ups and downs in the film as it tackles elements like people tetikg to take them down, social pushes, and Paul fighting to stay the best lacrosse player in the world while building the league. Must watch for all, including non-lacrosse fans. If you don't have a background on lacrosse this film gives enough information so you are not lost, without giving too much information to bore the hardcore fans.

Incredible

[jacksonhallman-32142 · 10/10 · 30 August 2022]

If you're a lacrosse fan, you will love this documentary. If you aren't, you will be after you watch.

Fate Of A Sport is an incredible documentation of how the PLL came to be, and gives you an inside look into the life of the sports greatest player. Watching this takes you behind the scenes of the league and shows all the challenges they overcame to make the PLL a reality. From raising capital and recruiting players, to navigating the league through the pandemic and social movements of 2020, this documentary shows how amazing the leagues journey has been, and how hard the Rabil brothers and everyone else involved has worked.

Thank you Rabil Brothers

[lockersonthemove · 10/10 · 29 August 2022]

When I first discovered the PLL I was at the end of my sophomore season and at an all time low with my love for the sport. I decided to give the PLL a try and purchased NBC gold.

Even though my Chrome men lost their opening game I knew the PLL was going to be something special. And once again my love for the sport of lacrosse was sparked but this time as a fan. I have watched nearly every PLL game since.

To be able to go back and go on a journey with the Rabil brothers watching them build this league into what it is was truly an emotional experience as I grew up with the league.

And to the Rabil brothers, thank you for all you've done I have had my disagreements with the leagues process but I have always had so much admiration for the PLL pushing forward the sport and the culture of lacrosse as a whole. Lacrosse is for everyone and it's amazing to see the fan base growing more and more everyday becoming more diverse and exciting.

This was an absolute pleasure to watch and I will always love the PLL and my Chrome boys. And Paul what you've done has changed the sport forever, and thank you for putting everything on the line Can't wait to see what the future holds as my playing days are also done too, and I'm excited to just be a fan of the sport o love so much.

Can we get a Chrome LC movie next though??

Phenomenal!

[ktdefeo · 10/10 · 29 August 2022]

Was lucky enough to attend the premier in Los Angeles.. but still waited up to watch it on release day.

This documentary provides an awesome look into the building process of the next great American sports league. Thorough interviews were conducted to present all sides of the story, different perspectives, and great context... BUT the documentary didn't rely on the interviews to tell the story. The years of behind-the-scenes cinematography allows the viewer to feel like a fly on the wall.. almost like they are building the league as well.

You feel the pain and the glory with the Rabil brothers. It's a roller coaster of a few years beautifully condensed into a few hours. Definitely worth the watch! Go PLL.

Not Great

[looterscooter2323 · 1/10 · 31 August 2022]

Just too slow and boring for me. Likely only for hardcore lacrosse fans. Paul Rabil is likable but there's not enough interesting content here for the viewer to stay engaged. Interesting at times from a sports management perspective but that's about it. I'm not a lacrosse fan so perhaps this simply was not for me. In my opinion this was simply a below-average sports documentary.

One thing that was particularly lacking was great sports sequences that added to the story. Very hard to care about PLL games. The documentary as a whole feels a little forced at times and it often feels like the drama in the doc is manufactured and uninteresting. Wouldn't recommend it unless you're a big lacrosse fan.

Better than your average sports doc

[johnnydfarrell · 10/10 · 30 August 2022]

First off I love lacrosse! I think it's the best sport. I want others to love lacrosse as much as I do. One of the ways that most people engage with athletics and their fanaticism is through professional sports. What do you do if your favorite sport's professional league is actually quite amateurish? What if most of the players have to work a second job? Imagine if most of the players in the NBA or the NFL had a regular 9 to 5 and instead of training regularly they were working on Wall Street. That was professional lacrosse until a couple of brothers had enough of it.

Paul Rabil, lacrosse's first million dollar man, and his brother Mike Rabil offered to buy the MLL to help professionalize pro lacrosse. Once they were turned down the journey started to start their own pro lacrosse league. This documentary covers the 4-5 year time period of the beginnings of the PLL. Fate of a Sport is an inside look in the highs and lows of the Rabil's journey to grow the professional sport with an inside view that you can't even get with Hard Knocks.

Amazing documentary

[jkeegan-01313 · 10/10 · 30 August 2022]

'Fate of a Sport' tells the story of Paul and Mike Rabil co-founding the Premier Lacrosse League.

The amount of archival footage incorporated from before the league was even announced in October 2018 was incredible. There were so many turning points in the building of the business that even the most diehard lacrosse fans were not aware of.

Non-lacrosse fans will enjoy learning about the history of the sport and its indigenous roots. Lyle Thompson is one of the most humble, well-spoken athletes on the planet -- and it puts a smile on my face thinking how many FOAS viewers will be introduced to him for the first time.

Mike and Paul's perseverance after canceled meetings or rejections is motivating. Their belief in the league and each other excites me as PLL heads into its next chapter.

You will learn a lot

[adamlambertivideo · 10/10 · 31 August 2022]

As a lacrosse fan, I thought I knew a lot about the PLL already, but Fate of a Sport reveals the behind the scenes of the creation of the league and the efforts put forth by the Rabil Brothers. A must watch for any sports fans, Fate of a Sport dives into the Paul Rabil not only creating but playing in the league, a first for any professional player of any sport. I knew that it must've been tough, but never fully pictured what Paul had to go through until I watched this documentary. The film also talks about the historical roots of lacrosse and how the PLL is trying to keep that a part of their league. Awesome exposure for the sport of lacrosse and the history of the game on ESPN, a great film all around. Kudos to Michael Doneger, the Rabil Brothers, and everyone else that helped create the film.

Raw & Powerful

[krbingham-58963 · 10/10 · 6 September 2022]

A never before seen look into the grit and determination behind the launch of the PLL.

An emotional & powerful behind the scenes look into what it takes to make a passion for not only the sport of lacrosse, but a passion for people who play it come to life in a real and uncut way.

When others say "It will never work," to be able to take that and use it as fuel to surge forward is a lesson that goes far beyond the sport of lacrosse and those who play and/or watch it. The life lessons in this documentary can be a guiding factor for adults and children alike. Those who formed the PLL are true role models.

Intense, Raw, and Motivating.

[jkewtts · 10/10 · 30 August 2022]

This is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. I was not really aware of lacrosse but this makes me want to start watching. Real story of building a business with someone you love. That is rare to see. Love all the behind the scenes looks. The storytelling and cinematography was fantastic. This doc should be up for an award. I was hooked from the very beginning. Paul and Mike are an inspiration to the sport, the industry, and the entrepreneurship world. The storyline is captivating and riveting. Gives you a whole new perspective on the lacrosse community and how they are trying to write predecessor wrongs. The founders really put their heart and soul into building a professional property.

For Lacrosse and Sports Fans!

[gdoria-77750 · 10/10 · 30 October 2022]

Fate of a sport is an incredible documentary uncovering the makings of a professional sports league. Although it specifically is about the history and future of the sport of lacrosse, there is no lacrosse history needed for viewers to feel the passion around this league. Rarely do you see the vulnerability and challenges that owners face - and Fate of a sport does not shy away from the raw feelings that have been poured into this league (from the owners, to the players, staff, etc). Highly recommend this documentary for lacrosse and sports fans! It's inspiring and showcases that the sport is on an upward trajectory.

Inspiring, genuine, and extremely entertaining!

[mikaelarenfro · 10/10 · 30 August 2022]

This is more than just your average sports documentary. It's not every day that a new professional sports league is created and for good reason- it's insanely difficult and very likely to fail. This look into the birth of the PLL and the people behind it is a perfect example of what happens when you are absolutely relentless in pursuing your dreams. I commend the brutal honesty of this documentary in displaying the hardships and emotionally painful moments. This was a gripping story that had my full attention from beginning to end. It was so interesting to see behind the scenes and the reasoning behind certain decisions the PLL has made. There was also no lack of star power in this documentary and I was especially moved by the insights from Jeffery Wright. This documentary perfectly captures the beautiful relationship of the Rabil brothers, the effort it takes to achieve greatness, and the importance of honoring the origins of this great game. I highly recommend this documentary to anyone and you should be warned that you will probably shed a few tears (I know I did)!

Must watch for any sports fan

[jccapitalsfan · 10/10 · 30 August 2022]

This provided a great look at how the league started from scratch and the harsh reality of professional sports that aren't usually made public. The coverage of the Paul Rabil trade to the Cannons was very cool to see as we usually don't get that kind of coverage in sports. This also provided us a behind the scenes look at the career of Paul Rabil, who is one of the best to ever play the game. Hopefully this documentary can allow the game of lacrosse to grow even more and gain new fans. Paul and Mike Rabil are building the professional sports league of the future and I can't wait to see what the future of the PLL holds!

Move over Man in the Arena

[wulax25 · 10/10 · 30 August 2022]

A fantastic behind the scenes look at the creation of the Premiere Lacrosse League, told through the perspective of founder and former player Paul Rabil. This documentary did not disappoint and was pretty raw in its portrayal of the challenges Paul and brother Mike faced in starting this league.

The challenges really begin with just starting the league when a mildly successful outdoor league was already in existence, so Paul and Mike had to convince the best players from that league to join the PLL. Once the league has kicked off, the film does a great job showing the dichotomy of responsibilities that Paul has to starting the league, and as a player in the league. Appearances by Bill Belichick, Joe Tsai, and Adam Silver really show the reach of the sport as they lend their support to the PLL. The onset of Covid could have been a death sentence for the fledgling league, but instead they showed their ability to be leaders in the sports world by being the first to reinstate a season (in a condensed, "bubble" format that was a blessing to sports starved fans), also while addressing social issues head-on.

I've really enjoyed watching the PLL and have seen it grow both in terms of innovation and leadership in sports, and it is having its best season yet. If you haven't watched the PLL or are even just a casual lacrosse fan, I would be very surprised if you don't become a fan after watching this.

An Amazing Story

[kperri-02794 · 10/10 · 24 October 2022]

Fate of a Sport encompasses a behind-the-scenes look at the first 3 seasons of the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). The film is extremely captivating whether you are a hardcore lacrosse fan or a newcomer just getting introduced to the sport.

Hearing the infamous "It's Not Gonna Work" is enough to light a fire in any viewer as the film progresses to showcase the truly amazing strides the league has taken in a short amount of time and the perfect blend of intensity mixed with a handful of funny moments is the icing on the cake. Overall, it's a tremendous testament to resilience, creativity, family, and belief in oneself. Fantastic film and documentary for Sports or Business!

10/10

[otiskohnstamm · 10/10 · 31 August 2022]

Excellent documentary. The film touched on so many different levels; family, business development, sports, and history. The subjects interviewed, from Adam Silver to Bill Belichick all brought unique perspectives to the screen and helped illustrate how fascinating both the league and the process to create it have been. The piece was digestible for fans of lacrosse and audiences who have never seen the sport, and it has the potential to resonate with all viewers. The raw and emotional behind the scenes footage give it an extraordinarily authentic and vulnerable feel, and by films's end all watchers can't help but root for this league, this sport, and these brothers. Can't wait to watch more of the PLL.

Exceptional display for the sport of lacrosse

[devinmtownsend · 10/10 · 31 August 2022]

This documentary is an engaging piece of entertainment that captures the spirit and tenacity of the game and it's players. Truly a masterpiece showing the importance of family, determination, and confidence that goes into being successful and always betting on yourself. Even if you're not a lacrosse fan, this will give you a fantastic insight into the game and what it took to bring the PLL to light. I sat and watched this with my girlfriend and her roommates, who have very little lacrosse exposure, and they not only loved it but wished they had been following the league for longer.

You will leave this film a lacrosse fan.

Great documentary for Lacrosse fans and non-Lacrosse fans alike

[ur890095 · 10/10 · 1 September 2022]

The content, tone, and flow of this documentary is great. This film was always going to appeal to the fans of Lacrosse but the team has made a film that also appeals to viewers with no experience with Lacrosse which is impressive. The story of building a professional sports league is interesting enough but the combination of that process and the tail end of the career of a major figure adds a nice storyline to the mix.

Great movie with great characters!

From the perspective of a lacrosse fan, this film got me and my family jacked up for the future of lacrosse. Having grown up playing lacrosse and watching professional lacrosse for years, the PLL was an exciting addition to this sport. Growing the sport is a huge initiative within the Lacrosse world and I think this film does a great job of introducing the sport to the masses. I am very excited for the future of the sport and this film will pay a huge role in that growth.

When Players Run the Game

[sendjeremymail · 10/10 · 30 August 2022]

Really shows how a professional sport can benefit when the players take ownership, figuratively AND literally, of the league. Talk about making it happen for the players and for the sport.

Where other sports treat players as expensive tools to be used and then discarded, PLL really brings them in and lets them own the success and failures of the league.

This film showcases what that can look like. It's not perfect, it's messy, but you really get a feel for the passion of the players, and the tenacity of the Rabil boys.

I can only hope there will be a follow up film in a decade showing where this crazy experiment goes over time.

The filmmaking is good, not perfect. Like the story it's telling, the actual structure feels a bit uncertain, and struggles a bit to find its legs. But it all pulls together and ultimately shows the ups and down of trying to build something from scratch. You really feel the successes, and the failures of the subjects in the film.

As for the sport, they represent it well. It would have been nice to see a bit more history on the game itself, but I'm sure that was a choice to keep the pace of the film moving. Not everyone wants the full history lesson, and keeping it focused on the individuals and what they were trying to accomplish rather than the sport was probably wise.