Sport and Cinema.com

From Sony Pictures Home Entertainment comes “Moneyball” onto DVD, a film using the business of baseball as a backdrop to examine what drives people to take risks. Based on Michael Lewis’s non-fiction book of the same name, this is the story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane’s successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to acquire players.

In time for the holiday shopping rush comes the entire set of thirty films now combined into one DVD package (and available on Blu-ray) from ESPN’s acclaimed 30 for 30 series, a compelling “television film festival”. The 30 for 30 Limited Edition Collector Set is packaged in a collectible box & contains 30 for 30 Gift Sets Volume 1 & Volume 2 as well as an exclusive retro ESPN hat featuring the company’s original logo.

In this tense combat sports film directed by Gavin O’Connor (“Miracle”), Tom Hardy stars as an ex-Marine haunted by a tragic past who returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his father, a recovered alcoholic and his former coach (Nick Nolte), to train him for an MMA tournament awarding the biggest purse in the history of the sport.

Teaming up with the National Hockey League, after forays into the world s of racing and boxing, HBO offers a compelling behind-the-scenes look at the rivalry between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins as they prepare for the 4th Annual NHL Winter Classic.

Coinciding with the 2011 World Series, A&E Home Entertainment and Major League Baseball have assembled an impressive presentation of 10 exceptional and iconic games on DVD – BASEBALL’S GREATEST GAMES that include the clutch performances of players like Carlton Fisk, Bill Mazeroski and Derek Jeter.

The 1991 world series had it all – stellar defensive play; savvy moves by both managers; Kirby Puckett pumping his fist as he circled the bases after his 11th-inning home run off Charlie Leibrandt to win Game 6, and Veteran Jack Morris caps it with an extraordinary Game 7 pitching performance against the relentless Braves with a 10 inning masterpiece in a game that had only one run.

Coming on the market one month after Tom Thomas’ shutout of the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7, the Boston Bruins’ road to the Stanley Cup title is now out on DVD.

In my book I stated for the record it is the best sports film of all-time, now in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of “The Hustler”, 20th Century Fox has produced a DVD worthy of its excellence. The story of Fast Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) and his exploits with fellow pool hall gamblers is given special treatment on blu-ray.

Lists and debates, a long-standing component of sports media, continues with the release of an all-new 3 hour DVD from Major League Baseball Productions and A&E Home Entertainment -PRIME 9: MLB HEROICS

ESPN is now offering on DVD the remaining 15 of the 30 films from its original slate in the highly acclaimed “30 for 30″ series.