Top 10 "Top 10s": Top Sports Movies

      So it begins.  This is my 91st post, which means I'm 10 posts away from the 100th and to celebrate reaching that number, I will be revealing my top 10 "Top 10s,"  my personal best of sports.  To start with, I'll be listing down the top 10 best sports movies in history.


Parameters:  My only restrictions would be to exclude movies where sports were not the central theme of the movie.  This is why Oscar winners like, "The Blind Side" and "Jerry McGuire" were not considered candidates, no matter how much I love them.  Other than that, any sports movies were a part of the list of candidates.


10.   Kingpin (Bill Murray, Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid)

     What kind of bowling coach would I be if I didn't include this movie?  Possibly the only bowling-centric movie ever made, Kingpin is an irreverent comedy from the Farrelly Brothers (of There's Something About Mary fame) about a former college bowling standout (Harrelson),who lost his hand in a hustle gone wrong, trying to help naive Amish bowler Ishmael (Quaid) win a pro bowling tournament to earn money to save his Amish town.  While in no danger of being regarded an art film, the movie is absolutely hilarious with over the top performances from three great actors (extra kudos to villain Bill Murray).  


Favorite Part:  Asked why he bowled so low, Ishmael explains, "It's not my fault.  It's you and your ten frames!" He then explains he bowls 15 frames as his granddad taught him, "to always do more."




  9.   The Rookie (Dennis Quaid)

     Not to be confused with the Clint Eastwood action flick, this one is based on the life of Jim Morris, Major League Baseball's oldest rookie (35 years old).  School teacher and high school baseball coach Morris (Quaid), as a way of convincing his players to play harder, promised to try out for professional baseball if his team would win the district championship.  After taking in the title, Morris proceeded to take on the wager and a few months later, found himself pitching in a major league game.  Quite the inspirational movie, and being a former school teacher and current high school coach, I found it hard not to empathize and be moved.  The movie can get a little bit (very little) hokey, as Disney produced the movie.  I guess that's why it's only at 9th position. 


Favorite Part:  Trying to sign up for major league tryouts, Morris is asked if he brought along his players.  Then he proceeds to explain that, "I'm trying out," much to the disbelief of the pro scouts.
  
  8.   Major League (Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Dennis Haysbert, Wesley Snipes)

     A lot of the best sports movies are ones that inspire, showing men transcending pain and hardship to gain victory and and places in history.  This one, though, does all of that, with lots of goofball comedy.  In the movie, the pathetic Cleveland Indians are suffering through another losing season, just as their evil owner (who plans to transferl the franchise) wants.  With no budget to attract big name players, the Indians turn to the scraps, players whom no other team wants.  Turns out, former prison pitcher Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn (Sheen), aging catcher Jake Taylor (Berenger), and Voodoo practitioner Pedro Serrano (Haysbert) form a gritty underdog team who will defy the odds, while giving you laughs along the way.  The franchise did get two more sequels, but the first one is the only one worth mentioning.


Favorite Part:  Fed up that his offerings to his voodoo god has not helped him hit a curve ball, Serrano confronts the idol saying, "(expletive) you! I will do it myself!"  Then he proceeds to hit a homerun on a curve ball.


  7.   For the Love of the Game (Kevin Costner, John C. Reilly, Kelly Preston)

     While the movie is a love story, it is based on baseball, and I mean based.  The movie's time frame is actually set inside one game, with aging but legendary Detroit Tigers pitcher Billy Chapel (Costner) attempting to pitch a no-hitter.  Interspersed with scenes from the riveting game are Chapel's thoughts, both through voice overs and flashbacks, the movie is quite an honest look at a professional athlete's life and the two biggest dilemmas athlete's must face, when to retire and who to love more (love of your life or the sport of your life).


Favorite Part:  In Chapel's point of view, audiences see how he manages the hostile New York crowd by saying, "Clear the mechanism."  The sound of the crowd then disappears.

  6.   Karate Kid (Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita)

      The first Oscar recognized movie in the list, the Karate Kid is about Daniel Larusso, a New Jersey teenager forced to relocate to L.A. with his mother.  In an attempt to woo the girl of his dreams (Shue), Daniel angers the school bully, Cobra Kai dojo ace student and karate champion.  He finds solace and guidance in the mysterious townhouse superintendent Mr. Miyagi (Morita in an Oscar nominated role), who teaches him karate.  In learning karate, Daniel not only learns to defend his honor by competing in a karate tournament, but also finds balance in his life.


Favorite Part:  It has to be one of the Cobra Kai members shouting while Daniel is on the floor, hurt.  He shouts the most memorable (but evil) line, "Yeah! Get him a body bag!"

  5.   Invictus (Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon)

      Another Oscar nominated movie, Invictus recounts how newly-elected South African President Nelson Mandela sought to unify his fractured state through sports.  Recognizing that the South African rugby team was only cheered on by whites, Mandela took the opportunity to build pride into the team, hoping the blacks will develop a fondness to the team, and begin the long process of forgiveness between blacks and whites.  With the help of the tough and indomitable spirit of the team's captain  Francois Pinaar (Damon), South Africa would soon find itself presenting a united front before a captive world audience.


Favorite Part:  In the night leading up to the championship game, Francois Pinaar is pensive and is asked whether he is nervous thinking about the game.  He says no and explains that what occupies his mind is how Mandela could live in such a tiny cell for so long and then, "be ready to forgive."

  4.   Miracle (Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson)

     I find it hard to watch Ice Hockey, but movies about them I can't get enough of.  Miracle chronicles the story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team who would face a tall order in trying to win against the dreaded and experienced Russian team.  Coach Herb Brooks (Russell), tasked to bring the U.S. to its former glory, bucks tradition and picks a team of ragtag college kids to do the job.  Used to playing only for themselves or college, Brooks gets tough on the kids, molding them into a gritty, defensive unit that shocks not only the Russians but the rest of the world as well.  Featuring accurate shots and plays from the actual game and real commentary by Al Michaels, Miracle will make even the most jaded of America haters root for them in the end.


Favorite Part: Sensing his players didn't have the proper motivation to play, Coach Brooks had his team perform grueling suicides and then asking them, "Who do you play for?"  While players gave different answers like themselves or their school, Brooks did not let up until he got the answer he wanted, which was, "U.S.A."


  3.   Rudy (Sean Astin, Charles S. Dutton)

      What self-respecting movie or sports buff has not watched Rudy?  It tells the story of Daniel "Rudy" Ruttiger, whose childhood dream was to play for Notre Dame.  Not blessed with a big enough body or even grades to earn scholarship to Notre Dame, defensive player Rudy embarks on along, arduous journey to achieve that dream.  Finishing junior college, Rudy finds himself a spot in Notre Dame and on the football team as a practice player.  Then, by virtue of his legendary big heart, earns the respect of his teammates and a spot in the actual team in the last game of his senior year.  If there ever was a list of movies where it's okay to cry, Rudy would be featured prominently on that list.


Favorite Part:  In their desire to have Rudy play and be listed as an official Notre Dame player, Rudy's teammates, the crowd and soon after the assistant coach begin a chant of, "Rudy, Rudy!" which soon got Rudy the playing time he so deserved. 


  2.   Rocky (Sylvester Stallone, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith)

      In the movie that brought Sylvester Stallone Oscar recognition, the movie tells us of Rocky Balboa, an aging heavyweight boxer (and part-time thug) who is given a shot at Apollo Creed( Weathers) and his Heavyweight Championship by virtue of a marketing gimmick.  Making the most of his opportunity, Rocky enlists the services of Mick (Meredith) his old trainer and proceeds to train for the biggest bout of his life.  Along the way, Rocky fixes his life up, meets the woman of his dreams and discovers a champion in himself that no one, even himself, ever thought he had.  Featuring a sterling soundtrack and a tremendously moving screenplay, the movie is definitely iconic.


Favorite Part:  Of course it has to be the running scene, where Rocky is soon followed by his adoring fans all the way up to the infamous steps.

  1.   Hoosiers (Gene Hackman, Dennis Hopper)

      A coach with a checkered past gets a second chance to coach as he is installed as the coach of a rural Indiana high school basketball team.  Coach Norman Dale (Hackman) installs an innovative and team-oriented approach to his team, but finds resistance, not only from his players but also from the basketball-crazy citizens of the mall town.  Slowly but surely, Dale develops the team's unselfishness and fitness, earning his player's undying respect and support.  Soon after that, the team and its town finds itself unified in its bid to earn a place in history and a state championship.  With its emphasis on teamwork, stern but fair coaching and second chances, it's hard to stay uninvolved in this movie and that is why it is atop my list. 


Favorite Part: Benching an insubordinate player and losing one due to fouls, Coach Dale only has four players on the court.  When the referee informs Dale of this, he decides to play only four players, saying, "That's my team out there."


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