March 15, 2010

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - ESPN Films and LMU athletics have partnered for a special Los Angeles premiere of "Guru of Go," a documentary directed by Bill Couturie that is a part of ESPN Films' critically acclaimed 30 for 30 documentary series. The film, which centers around the 1989-90 men's basketball team and Head Coach Paul Westhead, will premiere in a special event at Gersten Pavilion on the LMU campus, Tuesday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m.

The event will feature the 50-minute film followed by comments and a question/answer session with Couturie and key characters from the film.

ESPN Films' 30 for 30 is an unprecedented documentary series featuring thirty films from some of today's finest storytellers. Each filmmaker will bring their passion and personal point of view to their film detailing the issues, trends, athletes, teams, rivalries, games and events that transformed the sports landscape from 1979 to 2009.

A little about the film: "Westhead's non-stop run-and-gun offensive system at LMU dazzled the world of college basketball and turned conventional thinking on its head until early in the 1989-90 season, when LMU star Hank Gathers tragically died on the court. Oscar-winning director Bill Couturie tells this fast-paced and emotionally moving story of innovation, triumph and tragedy."

The 30 for 30 series began with "Kings Ransom" by Peter Berg on Oct. 6, 2009 and continues this month with a film by Dan Klores titled "Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks." The next film is "Guru of Go" which will air nationally for the first time on Saturday, April 3 on ABC at 1 p.m. as part of the NCAA Final Four weekend. For the full schedule visit the 30 for 30 website.

The Los Angeles Premiere of "Guru of Go" continues a season long celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the 1989-90 Lions. The celebration has been enhanced with this year's team hosting the first ever postseason game at Gersten Pavilion on March 17 at 7:30 p.m. The Lions will host Pacific and will once again wear the throwback uniforms in honor of that 1989-90 team.

For more information on the "Guru of Go" event, email LMULions@lmu.edu. For tickets to the Lions' postseason game on March 17, buy online now.