Sports movies

[GordonCole]

Being an avid sports family, in our house my dad and brother and I often enjoyed seeing movies about multiple sports. My dad had played varsity ball in a couple sports in college and encouraged me and my brother to play intramurals and try out for first string openings as we matured from grade school to high school. My dad always left the garage lights on till around 11pm so we, and our neighbor, Don could practice our dribbling, hook shots and rebounding skills all evening. Don said later that it was this time that probably got him a scholarship to a Big Ten team and always credited my dad's kindness and we got to see these skills in action when he ended up playing in a Final Four tournament. Later when we'd all get together for beer and pizza we'd watch films that were sports oriented and one of our favorites was Hoosiers, since whether you believed in a full court press, stall tactics or a running game or even adhered to the Al McGuire adage that a the best defense is a good offense, Hoosiers seemed to be a true basketball film that was written by people who knew the ins and outs of the sport.

I don't particularly care for the type of movie about one famous person in sports ever since I saw Paul Newman attempt to play Rocky Graziano, but I wouldn't mind seeing the great heavyweight who died too young, Rocky Marciano honored in a film, or something on Wilt the Stilt, Bill Russell or Oscar Robertson or someone like Roberto Clemente, or even a film about a coach like John Wooden and his illustrious teams. Though I am a big fan of Layden, Crowley, Miller and Stuhldreher I didn't care for seeing the Gipper with Reagan at all as it seemed corny but just my opinion. I will say Rudy was a good movie and the years under Parseghian was portrayed accurately as I recall. I kind of remember seeing something on the life of Paul Hornung once that was good but it may have been a tv show not movie. Any favorite sports films you think rate highly?

[Sgt_Markoff]

I'm not much of a sports fan at all, myself. I never grew up with sports. As a lad I didn't reside in a fervent 'sports town'. We weren't located even anywhere near a major professional franchise. Our household didn't ever watch sports or yap about them, nor follow the ups-and-downs of any 'hometown' teams. We didn't have a hometown like that.

As an adult, I familiarized myself with sports lore, just so as to not harbor any major gap in my cultural knowledge of the land I live in. But as a busy career professional it swiftly became subject-matter I cast aside.

These days I am almost rabidly anti-sports. They seem ridiculous to me; professional sports always being so riddled by outlandish scandals, fixes, graft, commercialism, and corruption. Utterly mystifying to me, is the avidity with which average-joes quickly set aside the fallout from each outrage, and obsessively persist in watching televised pro sports despite the whole thing being so thoroughly discredited and dishonored. Its apparently a mass -opiate, the charm of which completely escapes me.

All that being said, I will leap to assert the title of my favorite sports movies. 'Downhill Racer' starring Redford and Hackman. Second favorite: 'Slap Shot' with Paul Newman. Third favorite: 'The Black Stallion' with Teri Garr.

 

[Solafide]

Avid sports fan here so for me:

Hoosiers

Major League

Field of Dreams

A League of their Own

Rudy

[GordonCole]

49 minutes ago, Sgt_Markoff said:

I'm not much of a sports fan at all, myself. I never grew up with sports. As a lad I didn't reside in a fervent 'sports town'. We weren't located even anywhere near a major professional franchise. Our household didn't ever watch sports or yap about them, nor follow the ups-and-downs of any 'hometown' teams. We didn't have a hometown like that.

As an adult, I familiarized myself with sports lore, just so as to not harbor any major gap in my cultural knowledge of the land I live in. But as a busy career professional it swiftly became subject-matter I cast aside.

These days I am almost rabidly anti-sports. They seem ridiculous to me; professional sports always being so riddled by outlandish scandals, fixes, graft, commercialism, and corruption. Utterly mystifying to me, is the avidity with which average-joes quickly set aside the fallout from each outrage, and obsessively persist in watching televised pro sports despite the whole thing being so thoroughly discredited and dishonored. Its apparently a mass -opiate, the charm of which completely escapes me.

All that being said, I will leap to assert the title of my favorite sports movies. 'Downhill Racer' starring Redford and Hackman. Second favorite: 'Slap Shot' with Paul Newman. Third favorite: 'The Black Stallion' with Teri Garr.

 

I actually agree with your sentiments, Sgt. Markoff. Though my dad had an appreciation for sports it was never top dog on his list of important things in life. Just one of the side products that could be occasionally a fun activity and of course a healthy sideline. He actually was more into the romance of the game, and probably wouldn't be paying much attention now to any college or pro teams and would be going to museums more, like the British one to look at a sarcophagus or the original writings of Dickens of Shakespeare. I think most sports have lost their allure. Hoosiers I think portrays that old world that was not about the money or the fame. Speaking of Slap Shot a friend of mine was in the film, yet I've never totally seen it from start to finish. The other two are also worthy contenders for enjoyable sports vehicles on film. Thanx.

[GordonCole]

34 minutes ago, Solafide said:

Avid sports fan here so for me:

Hoosiers

Major League

Field of Dreams

A League of their Own

Rudy

I think we are pretty much in agreement here, except for maybe seeing Madonna throwing a ball like a girl and being the worst exponent of softball skills in the world. What I'd really like would to see a film devoted to Shoeless Joe Jackson, though Field of Dreams was a fine movie. Thanx.

[Sgt_Markoff]

I'd really rather see some kind of fight-to-the-death, 'blood-sport' return to society. I mean, why kid ourselves anymore? That's what we all really want anyway. Why ****-foot around the true nature of competition? And you can still have good sportsmanship and courtesy in gladiatorial combat. If it was good enough for the ancients, it oughta be good enough for us.

[Dargo]

Yep, Gordie. In my case, I've been a big fan of North Dallas Forty since its release back in '79.

[Thenryb]

13 minutes ago, GordonCole said:

I think we are pretty much in agreement here, except for maybe seeing Madonna throwing a ball like a girl and being the worst exponent of softball skills in the world. What I'd really like would to see a film devoted to Shoeless Joe Jackson, though Field of Dreams was a fine movie. Thanx.

 

49 minutes ago, Solafide said:

Avid sports fan here so for me:

Hoosiers

Major League

Field of Dreams

A League of their Own

Rudy

I like this list also, but I would replace Rudy with Eight Men Out.

[GordonCole]

3 minutes ago, Thenryb said:

 

I like this list also, but I would replace Rudy with Eight Men Out.

That is a good one...so done!

 

[GordonCole]

14 minutes ago, Dargo said:

Yep, Gordie. In my case, I've been a big fan of North Dallas Forty since its release back in '79.

Yep, good film and it had Matusak in it for gridiron veracity also. Thanx. 

[GordonCole]

26 minutes ago, Sgt_Markoff said:

I'd really rather see some kind of fight-to-the-death, 'blood-sport' return to society. I mean, why kid ourselves anymore? That's what we all really want anyway. Why ****-foot around the true nature of competition? And you can still have good sportsmanship and courtesy in gladiatorial combat. If it was good enough for the ancients, it oughta be good enough for us.

You are so right. Ancient man throwing filled-with-air pig bladders around and trying to hoist balls through Aztec wall ornamentation structures was the beginning of sport. We kid ourselves it is for a good purpose but in actuality mostly to just use up time that could be spent for better purposes like learning Esperanto and using it to foment world peace. Thanks for bringing us back to reality, Sgt. These human subterfuges that our choices really are relevant and meaningful is so bogus and I could go on to other similar topics that utilize the same masks but one person here who did got banned when they questioned some religious rituals, beliefs and rites so I shall desist. Thanx.

P.S. Your ideological hypothesis for a return to blood sport reminds me of the fine tale, The Lottery by Shirley Jackson.

[Sgt_Markoff]

Sport is simply a substitute for war. That was the original purpose. It keeps your menfolk fit, healthy, and ready for whenever the next conflict with your neighbors breaks out.

[GordonCole]

27 minutes ago, Sgt_Markoff said:

Sport is simply a substitute for war. That was the original purpose. It keeps your menfolk fit, healthy, and ready for whenever the next conflict with your neighbors breaks out.

And all wars could possibly be eliminated by using the Orgone Accumulator accompanied by sexual revolution a la Reichian tactile stimulating means.

Or maybe not, but still a viable thought?

Personally men I believe have fought long enough and all wars should be conducted by women I feel, who are better suited for the purpose.

[Det Jim McLeod]

4 hours ago, Sgt_Markoff said:

I'm not much of a sports fan at all, myself.

[Sgt_Markoff]

Ouffff! Zing!

[EricJ]

3 hours ago, GordonCole said:

I think we are pretty much in agreement here, except for maybe seeing Madonna throwing a ball like a girl and being the worst exponent of softball skills in the world. What I'd really like would to see a film devoted to Shoeless Joe Jackson, though Field of Dreams was a fine movie. Thanx.

Well, that's pretty much WHY Thenryb put Eight Men Out on his list:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlJx0tWUuGY

You could make a separate list for Best Baseball movies, topped with The Natural and Eight Men Out.  (Field of Dreams would rank lower for being "too hippie", Bull Durham close behind, A League of Their Own for being too Lifetime-Network, and Pride of the Yankees would be pretty far down the list.

And just because Disney later drowned us in two dozen other bad saintly-coach and/or ragtag-team sports epics hoping "The Mighty Ducks" would happen again, doesn't mean that 2004's Miracle isn't one of THE best sports movies ever made, period, full-stop:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd0_Dm2xlEM

 

[kingrat]

5 hours ago, Dargo said:

Yep, Gordie. In my case, I've been a big fan of North Dallas Forty since its release back in '79.

Oh, me too, Dargo. My favorite sports movie by far, which is actually about the business of pro sports.

[Solafide]

I just watched Days of Thunder for the first time ever...seriously.   

I just started watching NASCAR about 11 years ago and my young boys love it so we rented this tonight.   Pure cheese imo.   Even with a good cast (Cruise, Duvall, Kidman and others) it's about as cheesy as it gets for a sports movie. 

[Sgt_Markoff]

John Frankenheimer's Gran Prix is my #4 fave.

[Dargo]

7 hours ago, GordonCole said:

Yep, good film and it had Matusak in it for gridiron veracity also. Thanx. 

Yeah, I still remember cracking up big time the first time I watched that scene where The Tooz goes off on Charles Durning in the locker room and him ripping off Durning's jacket while calling him every name in the book.

(...and then it panning over to see Nolte's shocked but still somewhat pleased expression and him saying "Wow, far out!")

[hutz]

not into sports anymore (though I do go to the occasional nhl game with my dad) however the bad news bears (1976) is in my top ten favorite movies

also a fan of the set-up, a league of their own and slap shot

have never seen a great football movie. the longest yard was okay, but I find it to be the most boring of the major sports. baseball isn't that exciting either but at least it doesn't pretend to be.

[Sgt_Markoff]

Paul Newman in 'The Hustler' my #5

[Sgt_Markoff]

"Mister Corley...what exactly is this thing you Americans call the 'Super Bowl'?"

 

 

 

[TomJH]

Not into sports at all. Much of it is rigged anyway, I suspect. Forget honesty and integrity.

Having said that, I do like professional wrestling.

[TomJH]

I'm definitely not into sports films either. Pretty boring stuff for my palate.

However, some boxing films are full of melodramatic material and can be quite gripping: Body and Soul, The Set Up, Champion.

While it's more of a light hearted turn-of-the-century period piece than a true boxing drama, Gentleman Jim is a particular favourite. At one point it depicts a wild fight during boxing's days as an outlawed sport that takes place in a makeshift ring on a floating wharf, with cheering crowds, one of the contestants getting knocked into Frisco Bay and hauled out of the water by rope, and a police raid ending it all. A good natured, high energy set piece by director Raoul Walsh, it is tremendous fun to watch. Errol Flynn also made a very game attempt to emulate Jim Corbett's boxing style.