# Signature films for professional sports franchises **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 24, 2015, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489 "2015-11-24T23:53:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nauplius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nauplius/32/51_2.png) [@Nauplius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nauplius)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/23 "2015-11-25T16:33:52Z")
New York Rangers - Mystery Alaska ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/24 "2015-11-25T17:18:18Z")
San Diego Padres - Looks like we’re stuck with [The Kid From Left Field](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079399/). God, will someone please make a Tony Gwynn biopic? And if you want to count defunct teams, there’s [Damn Yankees](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damn_Yankees) for the Washington Senators. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/25 "2015-11-25T18:53:03Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > What’s the line between documentaries and fictionalized-but-based-closely-on-real-people-and-events like **42** or **Eight Men Out**? Well, one has actors portraying historical events and the other relies exclusively on actual footage–a divide that’s pretty clear. Probably the film that has the most grey area between these two camps is _The Jackie Robinson Story_ where the whole film is reenactments from history, but Jackie plays himself. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/26 "2015-11-25T18:55:09Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Boston Red Sox - Fever Pitch This film is better known to current moviegoers, but it’s still about the team from the outside looking in, while mine is the story of real life BoSox player Jimmy Piersall. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/27 "2015-11-25T18:56:19Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Too bad you excluded made-for-TV movies. Or else I would nominate _Brian’s Song_ for the Chicago Bears and _Fighting Back_ for the Pittsburgh Steelers. **Brian’s Song** is an extremely compelling reason to reevaluate the TV movie rule. So let’s! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/28 "2015-11-25T18:57:45Z")
> [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](#): > > San Diego Padres - Looks like we’re stuck with [The Kid From Left Field](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079399/). God, will someone please make a Tony Gwynn biopic? > > And if you want to count defunct teams, there’s [Damn Yankees](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damn_Yankees) for the Washington Senators. Well, since I included the Brooklyn Dodgers in my OP, the Senators are just fine. And I remember the Gary Coleman film growing up, myself a SD resident and big Padre fan, but didn’t include it in the OP because of the TV movie rule–which has since been turned over. Good addition! ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/29 "2015-11-25T19:02:22Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Fun idea. The baseball section will be the biggest. > Different MLB pick: > New York Yankees - _61_\* I originally excluded this because it was a TV movie, though I also think the Gehrig biopic–w/11 Oscar nominations–is still better known, though personally, I can’t think of a more famous baseball movie that dislikes baseball as much as it does (link is to my blog about _42_ and _PotY_). So, I think the Maris/Mays film is significantly better and an excellent alternate. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/30 "2015-11-25T19:35:49Z")
The Boston Red Sox played a big part in _ **Field of Dreams** _. That’s Oil Can Boyd pitching in the game that Ray Kinsella and Terence Mann attend. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/31 "2015-11-25T19:42:11Z")
In a very hilarious manner: Green Bay Packers - **Pitch Perfect 2** Also, Miami Dolphins - **Ace Ventura: Pet Detective** ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/32 "2015-11-25T20:15:24Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > The Boston Red Sox played a big part in _ **Field of Dreams** _. That’s Oil Can Boyd pitching in the game that Ray Kinsella and Terence Mann attend. Yes, but it’s got more about the White Sox in it. (The New York Giants are referenced as well, in the person of Moonlight Graham.) In any case, both Soxes have other movies more directly about them. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/33 "2015-11-25T20:54:23Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > For the NY Jets, the book is **Semi Tough**. Even as a fan, I’ll call them the Dog-ass Jets. I don’t know if they used the term in the movie, though. But the movie doesn’t use the Jets, right? Any idea what movie might? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/34 "2015-11-25T21:06:43Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > **Brian’s Song** is an extremely compelling reason to reevaluate the TV movie rule. So let’s! 🙂 In that case, I resubmit _Brian’s Song_ and _Fighting Back_, which was about Steelers’ running back Rocky Bleier. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/35 "2015-11-25T21:10:31Z")
I seriously doubt there have been a lot of movies made about the Arizona Cardinals, so by process of elimination I think they have to be represented by _Jerry Maguire_. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/36 "2015-11-25T21:30:54Z")
Paper Lion. Detroit Lions ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/37 "2015-11-25T21:36:52Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Actually, it would be the Minnesota North Stars. If by that you mean that the North Stars became the Ducks, that’s incorrect. The North Stars relocated to Dallas, as the Dallas Stars, for the '93-'94 season. The Anaheim Mighty Ducks were an expansion franchise (not a relocation) in that same season. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/38 "2015-11-25T23:47:09Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > In that case, I resubmit _Brian’s Song_ and _Fighting Back_, which was about Steelers’ running back Rocky Bleier. 🙂 No, Pittburgh Steelers = “The Steeler and the Pittsburgh Kid” from the Mean Joe Greene commercial 😛 Detroit Tigers - Tigertown (I remember that on the Disney Channel) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/39 "2015-11-26T00:14:15Z")
> [@HubZilla](#): > > No, Pittburgh Steelers = “The Steeler and the Pittsburgh Kid” from the Mean Joe Greene commercial 😛 I have never heard of that movie, and I doubt anybody else has, either, but that commercial is so iconic, I won’t challenge your choice. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/40 "2015-11-26T00:19:36Z")
Detroit Pistons: “Bad as I wanna be” ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/41 "2015-11-28T14:21:54Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > If by that you mean that the North Stars became the Ducks, that’s incorrect. The North Stars relocated to Dallas, as the Dallas Stars, for the '93-'94 season. The Anaheim Mighty Ducks were an expansion franchise (not a relocation) in that same season. No, I meant that the movie is the signature of the Minnesota North Stars. The Anaheim Ducks did not come into existence until after the movie was released. Yes, I know that the Stars moved to Dallas, I probably know more about that than just about anyone. The Mighty Ducks movie did feature Gordon Bombay talking to North Stars/ Stars icon Mike Modano and long time fan favourite Basil McRea. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489/42 "2015-11-28T18:05:59Z")
OK, friends on my Facebook added some football suggestions so here’s a full NFL listing so far (bold are additions to the thread): Arizona Cardinals -_Jerry Maguire_ Baltimore Ravens - **The Blind Side** Buffalo Bills - **Buffalo 66** Chicago Bears -_Brian’s Song_ Cleveland Browns -_Draft Day_ Dallas Cowboys - **Black Sunday** Detroit Lions -_Paper Lion_ Green Bay Packers -_Pitch Perfect 2_ Los Angeles Rams -_Heaven Can Wait_ Miami Dolphins -_Ace Ventura: Pet Detective_ New England Patriots - **Ted 2** New York Giants - **Big Fan** New York Jets - **Big Daddy** Philadelphia Eagles -_Invincible_ Pittsburgh Steelers -_Fighting Back_ San Francisco 49ers - **There’s Something About Mary** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-films-for-professional-sports-franchises/738489.md?page=3)