Sports Media Report
CuriosityStream – the award-winning streaming and on-demand destination from Discovery Channel founder John Hendricks – announces today that the docuseries “4th and Forever” will premiere on the service on Thursday, July 11.
Providing a glimpse at life in the Long Beach, California, community and the high school sports program that provided many of its young residents with hope and a sense of belonging, “4th and Forever” recounts the 2010 football season of Long Beach Polytechnic High School, once named “Sports School of the Century” by Sports Illustrated. The 10×30 series documents the trials and tribulations of the promising team helmed by Head Football Coach Raul Lara, whose nearly two decades at Long Beach Poly included 100 wins in nine seasons entering the 2010 season.
The announcement marks CuriosityStream’s continued expansion of standout programming that explores the many facets of the human experience. This time, from the perspective of high school football players in a gang-ridden community challenged with drugs and poverty that see a college scholarship as the best shot to a better life.
Poly’s dominant and historic program boasts the largest roster of high school players to ever play in the NFL. Poly had a down year in 2009, suffering more loses than any other season in the previous 15 years, and Coach Lara and his players are determined to redeem themselves and their community.
“Stories of perseverance, determination, true grit and triumph unite us because of our shared experience as humans,” said CuriosityStream President and CEO Clint Stinchcomb. “4th and Forever captures these elements in this inspiring and emotional docu-series, and it’s one we are proud to share with CuriosityStream viewers.”
Long Beach Poly’s alumni list include current and former NFL players including JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeSean Jackson, Marcedes Lewis, Willie McGinest, Jurrell Casey, Jayon Brown, Winston Justice and more. The school has also been the home to baseball stars Tony Gwynn, Chase Utley and Milton Bradley. Possibly most famously, former professional tennis player Billie Jean King attended Poly as well. Other notable attendees include actor John Wayne, actress Cameron Diaz and rapper Snoop Dogg.
