# sports movies... there, must be some good ones, right? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 3, 2001, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311 "2001-11-03T14:44:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/1 "2001-11-03T14:44:16Z")
right? i mean they can’t all be fairly run of the mill team-struggles-through-great-difficulties-and-wins-the-important-game-in-the-dying-seconds type movies, can they? are there any stand outs? what are they? please don’t let me declare this genre as dead. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/2 "2001-11-03T15:19:02Z")
Depends on how strictly you mean “sports movie.” FWIW, my favorites which make it past your filter would be [Bull Durham](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0094812) (IMHO, the greatest baseball movie ever made) [Little Big League](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0110363) [The Nat…](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0087781) no, I guess you’d rule that one out 🙂 ---
**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:** [November 3, 2001, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/3 "2001-11-03T16:15:29Z")
_Field of Dreams_: A 60’s radical turned Iowa farmer uses the ghosts of baseball greats of yore to reconcile himself with his long-dead father. Through the magic of baseball he finally gets to tell his father that he loves him, and so on. Along the way he also reconciles his 60’s radicalism and ties up some loose ends in his life, yada yada yada. _Brian’s Song_: Uh, something about race relations in the NFL in the sixties, and _ **SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT** _ the white guy (roomie of the black guy) dies. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/4 "2001-11-03T17:37:18Z")
For god’s sake, stay away from “Rudy.” Not because it fits the clicheed plot line you described, but because – well, trust me. You just don’t want to see that movie. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/5 "2001-11-03T17:39:37Z")
_North Dallas Forty_ - especially great if you hate the whole “happy ending” deal. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/6 "2001-11-03T17:41:27Z")
Here is my criteria for sports movies. If the climax of the movie has the plucky misfit underdogs scoring the winning point at the last second of the last game of the season, which just happens to be against their odious rivals, then that movie cannot, by definition, be a good sports movie. This has got to be the absolute stupidest sports movie cliche there is. There are all kinds of issues you can deal with through sports. Bull Durham, hell, even Jerry Maguire were about sports but not stupid. In fact, I might go so far as to say that any sports movie that doesn’t use this cliche is probably a decent movie. I can’t think of a single sports movie that didn’t use this cliche that wasn’t pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![jcgmoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@jcgmoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jcgmoi)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/7 "2001-11-03T19:19:52Z")
\*\*Baseball:\*\*_Bang the Drum Slowly_ with Robert De Niro and Michael Moriarty, from Mark Harris’ excellent novel. This was part of Harris’s baseball trilogy, but I can’t remember the other titles and I don’t think they made it to your local gigaplex anyway. \*\*Horse Racing:\*\*_Francis Goes to the Races_ with Donald O’Connor, Piper Laurie and Chill Wills doing Francis. For those born after 1980, Francis is a (or _the_) talking mule. \*\*Track and Field:\*\*_Personal Best_ with the ultra-delicious Mariel Hemingway, directed by Robert Towne. ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/8 "2001-11-03T19:40:32Z")
Jerry McGuire was **not** a sports movie. It was a sinister plot to get us to see a chick flick. Eight Men Out is a good sports movie. You may want to read up on the black sox scandal first or else it may require a few viewings to catch everything. Major League was pretty funny. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/9 "2001-11-03T19:40:53Z")
**Bang the Drum Slowly** is actually the second part of a four part series of baseball novels by Mark Harris, all of which center around the character of Henry Wiggen, aka Arthur. The first book is “The Southpaw” followed by “Bang the Drum Slowly”, then came “Ticket for a Seamstich”, which was both very short and not very interesting. In 1979, Harris published “It Looked Like Forever”, which concluded the tale of Henry Wiggen. That book was not very memorable. “The Southpaw” is a very good book BTW. The Moriarity-DeNiro version of BTDS is superior to the earlier TV version, which featured Paul Newman and Albert Salmi, although the former does feature some pretty outrageous 1970s era clothing. I’m surprised no one has mentioned **Gus, The Field Goal Kicking Mule** 🙂 Both **Here Comes Mr. Jordan** and **Heaven Can Wait** have sports themes and they are both well-done comedies. Without a doubt, the worst sports themed film I’ve ever seen is **The Slugger’s Wife**. It was bad on so many levels. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/10 "2001-11-03T19:44:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Oblong \* > Major League was pretty funny but doesn’t meet the criteria of the OP, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/11 "2001-11-03T19:45:27Z")
Some that were already mentioned, Field of Dreams/Bull Durham both kick! The Sandlot, while a kids movie, is still pretty damn good. Slap Shot… all fun. 🙂 I’ve never seen Raging Bull (Boxing)… but it was named the best movie of the 80’s… so it can’t be all bad. Of Course, Rocky… he doesn’t win. His victory is merely going the distance and proving that he isn’t a loser. I put this down, because I think even though it contains the cliche… it works. Though mostly because we know its a true story-- Hoosiers. It’s a very good movie That’s all I can think of right now. Of course, I’ll think of a good dozen when I sign off, and then they’ll all be gone tonight when I’m at my computer again. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/12 "2001-11-03T19:51:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Screeme \* > \*\* > I put this down, because I think even though it contains the cliche… it works. Though mostly because we know its a true story-- Hoosiers. It’s a very good movie > > \*\* I agree, that was the first thing that popped into my head. Beautifully filmed and great cast as well. ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/13 "2001-11-03T19:59:53Z")
What, no one’s mentioned **A League of Their Own**? It’s so much more than a sports movie; it’s about two sisters and their attitudes to each other. I can’t really describe it except that I love it. ---
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/14 "2001-11-03T20:15:18Z")
Face-Off Gladiator Ben Hur ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/15 "2001-11-03T20:17:03Z")
Two of my favorite sports movies are “Horse Feathers” and “A Day at The Races” with the Marx Brothers playing havoc with college football and horse racing respectively. (Ok, the boys do “struggle through great difficulties and win at the last minute,” but I’d hardly call them run-of-the-mill.) _The Fan_, with de Robert de Niro as a fan completely obsessed with a baseball player played by Wesley Snipes, wasn’t that great a movie, but it was rather different. I’m surprised no one has mentioned _Chariots of Fire_ yet (the two protagonists hardly being run of the mill). ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/16 "2001-11-03T21:33:33Z")
Rocky was a pretty good movie. No really, don’t laugh. If you haven’t seen it in a few years go ahead and rent it. And be amazed that Sly can actually write a good film. Marc ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/17 "2001-11-03T21:34:53Z")
Rollerball “Dynamite Hands,” the first half of “Movie Movie” (OK, he wins, but his manager kicks the bucket 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/18 "2001-11-03T21:37:53Z")
I’ll throw a bone in for **Days of Thunder**. Eh, I’ll vouch for **The Program** also. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/19 "2001-11-03T21:48:22Z")
**The Club.** Brilliantly cynical Australian humour, about a declining Aussie Rules football team. It’s full of backstabbing and hypocrisy. However I recall that the team gets to the cup final, so it may have an against the odds victory ending. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2001, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311/20 "2001-11-04T01:09:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MGibson \* > \*\*Rocky was a pretty good movie. No really, don’t laugh. If you haven’t seen it in a few years go ahead and rent it. And be amazed that Sly can actually write a good film. > > Marc \*\* Ahem… “Of Course, Rocky… he doesn’t win. His victory is merely going the distance and proving that he isn’t a loser.” Scroll up. 😉 I agree… I saw it on TV maybe a year ago and I couldn’t believe how good it really is. I remembered it differently because I remembered it as a kid. Seeing it now was a totally different experience, and really vaulted this movie up into the tops of my favorite movie lists. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-movies-there-must-be-some-good-ones-right/91311.md?page=2)