Inspired by Leslie David Burns and Stergios G. Botzakis's efforts to demonstrate how texts recognized as exemplars by the Common Core State Standards could be used to address national standards and meet the needs of contemporary students, the author aims to illustrate how alternative nonfiction, nonprint texts--sports-based documentary films--could be used to address national standards while also honoring students' interests in popular cultures. The activities presented in this article model ways that teachers can account for national standards while carrying out research-based teaching practices. The suggested activities are affirmed by research related to: (1) helping students develop more sophisticated understandings of composition involving multiple semiotic systems (Hobbs, Reading); and (2) enhancing students' literacy practices by recognizing the centrality of popular cultures--including sports culture--in the lives of youth (Morrell).