Sports cinema spectacular: ranking the best on film
Off the Foul Pohl
Bart Pohlman
Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: Sports
There are plenty of sports movies out there. Unfortunately, there's only a handful of good ones.
Let's get down to business. Here are my top seven sports movies of all time.
Why seven?
Well, that's all the space I had.
(8. "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby")
(Disclaimer: since NASCAR isn't actually a sport, this Will Ferrell gut-buster doesn't make the cut. All that aside, this masterpiece in hilarity is one of Ferrell's best efforts - second only to "Anchorman" - and teaches everyone that "If you ain't first, you're last." Ah, life lessons…)
7. "The Mighty Ducks"
Some might wonder why "Face Off" isn't in this spot, but face the facts. "The Mighty Ducks" had everything that makes for a good sports movie - a washed-up player coming back as a coach, the coach's older mentor, a ragtag team, the "overcoming the odds" theme, Emilio Estevez (Emilio!) and the "Flying V." Anytime there's a sports team named after a fictional team from a movie, you know you've got movie gold.
6. "The Sandlot"
Growing up, there were few things I feared more than losing an autographed baseball, only to find Darth Vader's gigantic dog using it as his personal chew toy. Thanks to "The Sandlot," I learned that this was a legit fear.
5. "Rocky"/"Rocky IV"
While the original "Rocky" is superb - it's the only sports movie to ever win the Best Picture Academy Award - it's the fourth installment in the series that resonates. Why? Two words: Ivan Drago. Delivering icy one-liners like "If he dies, he dies" and "I must break you," the Soviet fighter destroys everything in his path, including Apollo Creed. When Rocky finally defeats Drago, he does it in the U.S.S.R. with the Soviets chanting his name. How great is that?
4. "Happy Gilmore"
A fun movie by all accounts, "Happy Gilmore" takes everything about golf and turns it upside down. Among Happy's adventures: hitting 400-yard drives, taking care of his grandma, getting into a fight with Bob Barker, meeting a man who lost his hand in an unfortunate alligator accident and defeating Shooter McGavin to win the Tour Championship.
3. "Rudy"
In the pantheon of "overcoming the odds" movies, Rudy might reign supreme. I think Fortune (played by Charles Dutton) puts it in perspective: "You're 5-foot nothin', 100 and nothin' and you have nearly a speck of athletic ability. And you hung in there with the best college football team in the land for two years. And you're gonna walk outta here with a degree from the University of Notre Dame. In this life, you don't have to prove nothin' to nobody but yourself." Watching Rudy get on the field and make that sack still gives me chills.
2. "Remember the Titans"
If you ever find yourself needing to motivate yourself or anyone else, just pop in "Remember the Titans" and go to town. Denzel (or just 'Zel, if you like) Washington was perfect for the role of Coach Herman Boone, who apparently was the Denzel Washington of football coaches. One of my favorite movie scenes is Coach Yoast's "Make them remember - forever - the night they played the Titans" speech. If you're not amped after hearing that, then something may or may not be wrong with you.
1. "Caddyshack"
Hands down, the greatest sports movie of all time. Bill Murray's performance of Carl Spackler is iconic. His tales of the Dali Lama, his "Cinderella story" at The Masters, his battle against varmint - it's the stuff of legends. Add in Chevy Chase sharing his wisdom with young Danny Noonan and Rodney Dangerfield upsetting the country club establishment, and you have a classic that will last forever. And plus, anytime a movie utilizes a Journey song, it has to be great. "So what? So let's dance!"
Bart Pohlman is the sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Friday.
Let's get down to business. Here are my top seven sports movies of all time.
Why seven?
Well, that's all the space I had.
(8. "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby")
(Disclaimer: since NASCAR isn't actually a sport, this Will Ferrell gut-buster doesn't make the cut. All that aside, this masterpiece in hilarity is one of Ferrell's best efforts - second only to "Anchorman" - and teaches everyone that "If you ain't first, you're last." Ah, life lessons…)
7. "The Mighty Ducks"
Some might wonder why "Face Off" isn't in this spot, but face the facts. "The Mighty Ducks" had everything that makes for a good sports movie - a washed-up player coming back as a coach, the coach's older mentor, a ragtag team, the "overcoming the odds" theme, Emilio Estevez (Emilio!) and the "Flying V." Anytime there's a sports team named after a fictional team from a movie, you know you've got movie gold.
6. "The Sandlot"
Growing up, there were few things I feared more than losing an autographed baseball, only to find Darth Vader's gigantic dog using it as his personal chew toy. Thanks to "The Sandlot," I learned that this was a legit fear.
5. "Rocky"/"Rocky IV"
While the original "Rocky" is superb - it's the only sports movie to ever win the Best Picture Academy Award - it's the fourth installment in the series that resonates. Why? Two words: Ivan Drago. Delivering icy one-liners like "If he dies, he dies" and "I must break you," the Soviet fighter destroys everything in his path, including Apollo Creed. When Rocky finally defeats Drago, he does it in the U.S.S.R. with the Soviets chanting his name. How great is that?
4. "Happy Gilmore"
A fun movie by all accounts, "Happy Gilmore" takes everything about golf and turns it upside down. Among Happy's adventures: hitting 400-yard drives, taking care of his grandma, getting into a fight with Bob Barker, meeting a man who lost his hand in an unfortunate alligator accident and defeating Shooter McGavin to win the Tour Championship.
3. "Rudy"
In the pantheon of "overcoming the odds" movies, Rudy might reign supreme. I think Fortune (played by Charles Dutton) puts it in perspective: "You're 5-foot nothin', 100 and nothin' and you have nearly a speck of athletic ability. And you hung in there with the best college football team in the land for two years. And you're gonna walk outta here with a degree from the University of Notre Dame. In this life, you don't have to prove nothin' to nobody but yourself." Watching Rudy get on the field and make that sack still gives me chills.
2. "Remember the Titans"
If you ever find yourself needing to motivate yourself or anyone else, just pop in "Remember the Titans" and go to town. Denzel (or just 'Zel, if you like) Washington was perfect for the role of Coach Herman Boone, who apparently was the Denzel Washington of football coaches. One of my favorite movie scenes is Coach Yoast's "Make them remember - forever - the night they played the Titans" speech. If you're not amped after hearing that, then something may or may not be wrong with you.
1. "Caddyshack"
Hands down, the greatest sports movie of all time. Bill Murray's performance of Carl Spackler is iconic. His tales of the Dali Lama, his "Cinderella story" at The Masters, his battle against varmint - it's the stuff of legends. Add in Chevy Chase sharing his wisdom with young Danny Noonan and Rodney Dangerfield upsetting the country club establishment, and you have a classic that will last forever. And plus, anytime a movie utilizes a Journey song, it has to be great. "So what? So let's dance!"
Bart Pohlman is the sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Friday.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 5
Shirley Johnson
posted 4/03/09 @ 10:14 AM CST
NASCAR isn't a sport? That is complete bologna. I want to see you drive at 180+ mph in the middle of 45 other people also driving at 180+ mph that is maximum 4 car widths wide, all the while, trying to pass everyone and keep everyone behind you from passing you. (Continued…)
Anthony
posted 4/04/09 @ 2:42 PM CST
Seriously? Seriously? This is your list? You are horrible at life. Not just bad, horrible.
Kevin Costner is the god of sports movies and you don't include him once. (Continued…)
Josh Briggs Henderson State University
posted 4/05/09 @ 7:53 PM CST
Hold on one second. You don't think GOLF is a sport. I play golf religiously and it is the single most mental game there is. It is probably the toughest single player sport. (Continued…)
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