# Sports movies. List your favorites. And why don't I always "get" them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 20, 2002, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997 "2002-12-20T10:33:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/1 "2002-12-20T10:33:29Z")
I am not a sports fan (at all) but I can still appreciate a good sports movie. I guess it’s the “underdog” element. The best films have a rag-tag group of people joining together, making a team and proving that they have what it takes to rise above others preconceptions of them. Some of my favorite movies are sports movies—“Rudy” being my favorite, and then “Hoosiers” and “Hard Ball”. Love 'em. Even though I don’t understand the game so much (well, except baseball) I still get the gist of what the goal is, and why it is so _important_ to them to win. I cry every time I see “Rudy”. Especially the end. Anyone who cannot see why “Rudy” is a wonderful movie has no heart whatsoever, in my opinion! But right now I’m seeing “Junction Boys” (currently airing on ESPN) and it’s about real-life football coach Bear Bryant. I guess the movie is supposed to present him as some sort of sports icon, but all I’m seeing is a mean old fart who runs these boys too hard and has them eager to get away from him. What is the deal here? What am I not getting? I guess this is a combo thread. I’d like to know what other good sports movies are out there, but also, I’d like to understand why I don’t “get” some movies like “Junction Boys”. Is it because I’m not a football fan that I don’t get it? ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/2 "2002-12-20T10:44:23Z")
I’ll toss in a foreign film, [Lagaan](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0282674) follows the scheme you mention in your first paragraph with cricket. It’s Indian so it’s subtitled, has music numbers and is pretty damn long but worth it in my opinion. And it kinda sounds like you already answered your 2nd question. You don’t respect Bryant and his validation isn’t satisfying to you. Although I haven’t seen the movie, or intent to, so it could be something about the filme itself. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/3 "2002-12-20T14:01:10Z")
_Bull Durham_, _Tin Cup_, and _Field of Dreams_ are all good sports movies that don’t follow the convention the OP mentions. I haven’t seen _Junction Boys_ (nor do I intend to), and what I know about Bear Bryant could scarcely fill one paragraph. But, the TV Guide review made it seem like the movie was more about Bryant’s motivation, however flawed. Actually, here’s what the TV Guide review says: > [@](#): > > “At first…\ _Boys_ seems more politically incorrect than heroic. But then it turns inward, and we see that the sadistic enterprise was a crucible for Bryant as well as the team. _Boys_ is a rarity: a sports drama that questions its heroes even as it exalts them.” ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/4 "2002-12-20T14:18:41Z")
Hoosiers wins hands down. Although I may be biased since I have seen it probably 50 times and can basically recite the movie. Major League is a good sports movie and a good comedy. Be sure to check out various classics like Raging Bull and The Longest Yard. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/5 "2002-12-20T14:26:35Z")
**rastahomie** has it. _Bull Durham_ is the greatest sports movie ever. It’s not about the game and the score. It’s about sport in life. ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/6 "2002-12-20T14:29:11Z")
Rudy was great… I like the one about the hockey team in Canada…can’t remember the title of it. Very funny & entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/7 "2002-12-20T15:02:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Siemsi \* > \*\*I like the one about the hockey team in Canada…can’t remember the title of it. Very funny & entertaining. \*\* Well I think you are either referring to Mystery Alaska but the best hockey movie I know of is Slapshot. ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/8 "2002-12-20T15:17:40Z")
NYR407, Yes! That’s it. Thanks! I’ve never seen Slapshot. ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/9 "2002-12-20T15:53:50Z")
The Sandlot is another great one. I’m partial to baseball, Bull Durham and Major League are among the best. Field of Dreams was also great but I don’t consider that a sports movie. ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/10 "2002-12-20T16:17:25Z")
Good point Oblong. I was going to say that myself but decided against it for some reason. There are “sports movies” and there are movies with a sports theme. I for one think Field of Dreams is crap. Quote: “I’ve never seen Slapshot.”:eek: Siemsi, I’ll pretend I didn’t read that. ---
**Author:** ![CyberPundit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@CyberPundit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyberPundit)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/11 "2002-12-20T16:25:15Z")
**Chariots of Fire** A wonderful film about two British sprinters running in the Paris Olympics (of 1922 IIRC). Based on real events though with a few changes. Just a solid film with good acting,cinematography and story. A famous opening theme by Vangelis doesn’t hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/12 "2002-12-20T16:31:34Z")
Breaking Away. ---
**Author:** ![Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raymond_luxury_yacht/32/4099_2.png) [@Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raymond_Luxury_Yacht)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/13 "2002-12-20T17:42:12Z")
Many to choose. Here are a few of my favorites that haven’t been named: _Caddyshack_ _Raging Bull_ _The Hustler_ _Requiem For a Heavyweight_ _Bang the Drum Slowly_ _The Natural_ _Eight Men Out_ ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/14 "2002-12-20T17:58:14Z")
I don’t watch sports movies very often, but one I liked was [Victory](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0083284), featuring WW2 POWs playing soccer against the Nazi army. (Check the ‘Trivia’ link on that page.) And then there’s [Men with Brooms](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0263734) for the Teeming Millions of curling fans out there. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/15 "2002-12-20T18:03:17Z")
Ok, for starters, _Mystery, Alaska_ isn’t set in Canada, hence the title! My list- Eight Men Out Pride of the Yankees The Natural Field of Dreams Bang the Drum Slowly Is it a coincidence that some of the best sports movies ever made are about baseball? I don’t think so. It is a game that lends itself well to “life issue” stuff. Honorable mention to- The Rookie Any Given Sunday Bull Durham Major League Sad bit of trivia- the highest-grossing “sports” movie of all time? _The Waterboy_. Ack ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/16 "2002-12-20T18:48:29Z")
Yo Adrian, how come in every sports movie discussion people forget perhaps the greatest of all time; it even won the Oscar for Best Picture. **Rocky** ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/17 "2002-12-20T20:20:41Z")
Wow, thanks everyone! Thanks, rastahomie, for the TV Guide review snippet. I was really beginning to worry about “Junction Boys”. TV Guide seems to have the same take on it that I did. It is true that he (Bryant) did seem to regret the way he’d behaved by the end of the film, but I still thought he was one mean SOB. I just got “Field of Dreams” on VHS, but haven’t seen it yet. Saw “Slapshot” years ago, when I was young and I confess, I didn’t get it. I never had the desire to see it again. I also saw “Major League” recently, and thought it was pretty good, but it was no “Rudy”. (“Rudy” being my all-time favorite sports film, ever.) And “The Rookie” is very sweet—I’m glad I saw that. Wow. There are a lot of good sports movies that I’d forgotten about. I’ve not seen “Bull Durham” yet. I guess I’d better, eh? “Men with Brooms”—just got the DVD for that (I’m a Paul Gross fan) and I liked it, but there were a lot of references that I thought were more for Canadians, so I know I missed a lot. And—what can I say? They are playing with _brooms_! But it was good. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/18 "2002-12-20T20:29:06Z")
I wanted to be the first one to mention _Lagaan_, but I see it was mentioned in the first reply. I liked it a lot and I don’t even know anything about cricket, being a silly American. All I knew was that it was similiar to baseball. Yet I was still able to follow it pretty well. EJsGirl already mentioned how baseball lends itself well to movies. Another sport that does that is golf. _Caddyshack_, _Tin Cup_, and _Dead Solid Perfect_ are some of the better golf movies. _Happy Gilmore_ is okay too. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/19 "2002-12-20T22:38:38Z")
I love sports movies that are based on actual events, even if they are dramatized: _Hoosiers, Rudy, Remember the Titans, Pride of the Yankees_, etc. I also love _Major League_. One of my all-time favorite exchanges: “Hi! I’m Willie Mays Hayes. Run like Hayes, hit like Mays.” “Well, you may run like Hayes, but you hit like shit.” Tis unfortunate that the quality difference between _Major League_ and _Major League 2_ is exponential. Stay away. Stay far, far away. But, my all time favorite sports movie (already mentioned by **Random** ) that I can happily watch over and over is _Breaking Away_. It is such a great movie and is about so much more than just sports. Great cast, great drama, great dialogue, and a great ending. ---
**Author:** ![crawford](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cab0a1/32.png) [@crawford](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crawford)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997/20 "2002-12-20T23:18:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Siemsi \* > \*\*I like the one about the hockey team in Canada…can’t remember the title of it. Very funny & entertaining. \*\* Mystery, Alaska, is in Canada? Did I miss something? Can we have Hawaii too? As for sports films, I most appreciate films that can capture the sport in a new and unique way. Most sports films are pretty bad, from a narrative standpoint. One of my favourites is _Any Given Sunday_. The story is crap and I know that Cameron Dias can’t really act, but the way the football scenes were filmed was amazing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-list-your-favorites-and-why-dont-i-always-get-them/143997.md?page=2)