ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 documentary series returns next month with six films shown over a period of six weeks beginning on Tuesday, October 2. The first in the series is “Broke” which focuses on athletes who begin to lose their money after playing days through bad investments, deficit spending, hangers on and medical issues.

The film was directed by Billy Corben and was shown at the Tribeca Film Festival. Among the former athletes to be showcased in the film will be former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar, former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, former NFL wide receiver Andre Rison and many others discussing how they lost fortunes after being paid big money during their playing careers.

“Broke” will be the first of 30 documentaries that will be part of what ESPN Films is calling “Volume 2″ of the 30 for 30 series.

Here’s the press release from ESPN Films.

ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 Series Returns with Broke to Premiere October 2 on ESPN

Documentary by Billy Corben Examines Financial Challenges Facing Pro Athletes

ESPN Films announces the return of the Emmy-nominated and Peabody award-winning film series with Broke, a 30 for 30 documentary from The U director Billy Corben. Broke, a 2012 Tribeca Film Festival selection, will premiere on ESPN/ESPN HD on Tuesday, October 2, at 8 p.m. ET. The film will be accompanied by an essay on Grantland.com and a podcast by Bill Simmons. The trailer for Broke can be viewed at the newly redesigned 30 for 30 site (http://espn.go.com/30for30/).

Broke explores the roads to fortune in American sports and eventually, the many detours to bankruptcy. Curt Schilling, Bernie Kosar, Andre Rison and Cliff Floyd are among the athletes who talk openly about the challenges of managing their money. In an era when big contracts don’t necessarily support bigger lifestyles, athletes are often sucked into bad investments, stalked by freeloaders and saddled with medical problems. Eventually, many pro athletes get shocked by harsh economic realities after years of living the high life. A story of the dark side of success, Broke is an allegory for the financial woes haunting economies and individuals all over the world.

“There are often catchy headlines and sensationalized stories about professional athletes and their roads to financial ruin that give sports fans only one point of view of a much larger issue,” said Connor Schell, vice president of ESPN Films. “With Broke, Billy is expanding the understanding of this problem with a detailed exploration of the financial challenges that some athletes face, hopefully bringing greater insight to the issue for both fans and aspiring athletes.”

The upcoming slate of 30 for 30 documentaries will air as follows:

• Tuesday, Oct. 2, 8 p.m. – Broke (Billy Corben)
• Tuesday, Oct. 9, 8 p.m. – 9.79* (Daniel Gordon)
• Tuesday, Oct. 16, 8 pm. – There’s No Place Like Home (Maura Mandt and Josh Swade)
• Tuesday, Oct. 23, 8 p.m. – Benji (Coodie and Chike)
• Tuesday, Oct. 30, 8 p.m. – Ghosts of Ole Miss (Fritz Mitchell)
• Saturday, Dec. 8, 9 p.m. – You Don’t Know Bo (Michael Bonfiglio)

Each 30 for 30 film will be available on iTunes and Amazon.com the day after its television premiere. 30 for 30 Film Favorites Collection, a new gift set including the most popular titles from ESPN Films, will be available on DVD on September 25, 2012.

30 for 30-related updates are available at www.facebook.com/espn30for30 and www.twitter.com/30for30.

More later.