The ABA and the NBA once upon a time were competing leagues. Then the NBA acquired some of the ABA teams, leaving some players without a plan and without a pension. A non-profit group and a lawyer went to battle to help these players regain some of their pensions and money.
Written and directed by Michael Husain, this sports documentary appeals to more than sports fans by appealing to the heart and sense of justice of the viewers, making itself a wider appeal documentary by going for the emotions and showing how some folks will always work hard to get those who lost out their due justice. Husain’s documentary here is one that in informative, does some pulling at the heartstrings, but never falls into the schmaltzy or overly dramatic while keeping the subject entertaining even when covered in legalese and facts from contracts and laws. This is one of those documentaries that help understand its central subject and, due to solid writing and research, helps understand the world of mergers and acquisitions, something that is far more complex than cinema and entertainment usually makes it out to be. The writing here is solid and Husain clearly has a vision that he keeps to throughout the film. The fact that the ending is a good one is just the extra goodness on top of the learning. As it is, this documentary does not cover the side of the NBA all that much, but this is not about them directly which is makes plenty clear throughout. This is about the players, the attempted merger, and the loss of pension for some, followed by the quest to get these athletes their just desserts.
The film is well shot and well edited, making the run time fly by with calculated pacing in a world where upsets and underdog stories are the often seen. The way Husain gets the different parties involved interviewed gives a few angles to the story and to how the viewer gets to see things for themselves. This is a documentary that makes you think and gives you hope at the same time. It shows how a few good men took on the juggernaut like the NBA with help of a few big names, some really knowledgeable lawyers, and charismatic retired athletes who don’t pity themselves but see where they were hurt in the process. The film appeals to emotions, but in a way that is emotionally intelligent. It brings the viewer along, explains plenty of details in terms the general public can understand while not underestimating their intelligence.
The Waiting Game is a worthwhile documentary for sports fans and fans of an underdog story. It’s engaging and has plenty of solid information to share while connecting the viewers to the players and their plight. There is a lot in here, but it never feels heavy, creating a documentary that is easy to watch, easy to understand, and easy to learn from. While we have been getting a ton of documentaries lately, this one that comes to the top of pile quickly and effortlessly.