Loading ...The “Greatest Sports Movies” Depth Chart…
Because no great sports or pop culture conversation would be complete without lists, rankings, and semi-cogent arguments, the athletes will provide a list periodically. Each list will be broken down into: the starting five (the final five picks), the sixth man (the on-the-fringe-of-starting pick) and the bench picks (the first four picks which belong but only in a supporting role). As always, we invite our readers to comment on our selections and to provide ideas for future lists.
BENCH PLAYERS
10. Vision Quest (1985): This is truly an underrated and underappreciated classic about high school athletics (wrestling, to be specific), dedication and growing up. Of course, it’s also hard to argue with a young Linda Fiorentino, and that awesome ‘80s song from Red Rider, Lunatic Fringe. “I know you’re out there.”
9. The Sandlot (1993): A movie that never gets old, The Sandlot twists youngsters getting into trouble with America’s favorite pastime, baseball. Hamilton Porter, Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez, and our man Michael ‘Squints’ Palledorous – who pulls a brilliant and masterful move to finally make-out with the temptress Wendy Peppercorn – come together to create a funny yet phenomenal plot.
"Squints Palledorous...biggest pimp ever."
How often do you lose a baseball signed by Babe Ruth, battle a dog that appears to be the size of a stegosaurus, and then end up befriending James Earl Jones, only to get a better ball than the one you lost?
8. The Bad News Bears (1976): The original one, of course. What could possibly be better than an alcoholic, politically incorrect Walter Matthau reluctantly coaching a bunch of snotty kids on the art of baseball? There’s also actress Tatum O’Neal as a little girl (before all the drug problems), characters such as the foul-mouthed Tanner Boyle, troubled thug Kelly Leak and fat Engelberg. There’s even Vic Morrow as the rival coach (before he got a helicopter dropped on him), a great ending… and beer.
7. Miracle (2004): A prerequisite for any great sports film is its ability to captivate audiences despite the fact that they know what is going to happen. It what many will argue is Kurt Russell’s finest (only?) good role, Miracle respects the integrity of the sport by casting guys who can actually skate, pass, and shoot while allowing viewers to relive the greatest upset in sports history. Even in the final seconds, during Al Michaels’ now immortal call, watching this film does make us believe in miracles.
6TH MAN
6. Rocky (1976): We almost left this one off the list because it’s more of a character study than a movie about the sport. However, when all is said and done, it’s the best boxing movie ever. Burgess Meredith as the feisty old trainer is tops, and no one can deny the story of the big, dumb Italian Stallion making good. Also, any man under the age of thirty-five who says he never pretended to be Rocky when he was little should be kicked in the ding ding. Besides, look at where it was shot. Philadelphia represent!
STARTING FIVE
5. Field of Dreams (1989): Combining elements of sci-fi (time travel), the supernatural (ghost-led pick up games), and bromance (Costner and Jones), Field of Dreams cracks our top five not for the aforementioned mutli-genre approach to storytelling but for its honesty, at the core, in portraying the ultimate father-son narrative.
4. Major League (1989): Any movie that has a drunken, has-been catcher in Jake Taylor, a cocky speedster in Willy Mays Hayes, the “Wild Thing” Rick Vaughn, and a Cuban who belts anything but a curveball (until he tells off Jo-buu) out of the yard in Pedro Cerrano, who all come together to win a pennant…it’s a winner in our book. Not to mention Bob Uecker as Harry Doyle who pretty much makes this movie. When Mayes-Hays has his first AB and hits a slow roller to second and Harry Doyle calls it, “HOT SHOT toward the hole. Rudia knocks it down, gets up, fires to first. Too late! Hayes beats it! Give Rudia credit for that one, he’s got a family to think about.” No matter how many times we see it, it’s still hilarious.
3. Slap Shot (1977): Comedy or not, it’s simply the best movie ever made about hockey, period. The Charlestown Chiefs are a goon squad that will forever live in the infamy of hockey lore.
"Can we put on the foil, coach?"
This film was made back when the world wasn’t so politically correct and R-rated films didn’t have to spend half the movie apologizing for their behavior. As far as the Hanson Brothers go, we wish they could be in every movie. We don’t care. Schindler’s List starring the Hanson Brothers, Sophie’s Choice starring the Hanson Brothers…
2. Rudy (1993): A timeless classic that you have to be a fan of, even if you hate Notre Dame. This movie is still used today to remind kids that no matter how bad you are, hard-work, determination, and heart (as well as having the entire team quit unless you get a chance to suit up) will always pay off in the end. Plus, this movie showcased Vince Vaughn – as the wayward Jamie O’Hara, “You just summed up your entire sorry career here, in one sentence!” – and Jon Favreau, Rudy’s beloved friend D-Bob, in their greatest roles EVER.
1. Hoosiers (1986): The high school basketball classic takes the taco at the top of the almost greatest sports films of all time. Gene Hackman is stellar in his turn as coach Norman Dale, a man whose past is in constant competition with his present. Clean, relevant, and largely accurate, Hoosiers dares you to watch without rooting for Hickory and to finish watching without tearing up.
“I love you guys.”
“You punch like you take it up the a**”-Jake LaMotta…how is Raging Bull not on here? Props for recognizing Vision Quest as one of the greats and I would put Finding Forrester on here too as a bench player over Bad News Bears
Gotta at least put “The Natural” and the legendary performance of John Goodman in “The Babe” on the bench.
Major League very much overrated…it may be fun to watch on a Sunday along with The Replacements but shouldn’t be on the list (and I know Kool loves Keanu). Bull Durham may be overrated but still a better movie.
Brian’s Song and Bang the Drum Slowly have to be on there.
Great call on Vision Quest but the over all rankings need to be revisited.
Honorable mention… check out It Happens Every Spring
I’m a big hockey fan so I would include Young Blood. A young Rob Lowe and a cameo from the late Peter Zezel.
Brian’s song needs to be on there. Tells a great story about a story many don’t know.
Raging Bull could also be on there if you want a boxing movie instead of Rocky
good job guys, top three are perfect. couple left off the list though, one of my favorites The Natural?? one of the best endings ever to any movie. also i am suprised dave’s love for hayden panettiere didnt force remember the titans in there, keep it up kul. you guys should do a not so top ten such as rookie of the year, space jam, angels in the outfield ect.
I’d like to add such films as “Bang The Drum Slowly”, “Blue Chips”, and “Little Giants”. If they could combine the beginning of “The Last Boy Scout,” the middle of “The Mighty Ducks”, and the end of the first Naked Gun movie, now THAT would make one hell of a movie.
Very good list. Nice to see one of these things exclude Bull Durham, seeing as it is a stupid overrated piece of garbage. I co-sign whoever mentioned White Men Can’t Jump… probably not one of the ten BEST, but it was a really hilarious piece of work despite the Rosie Perez’s horribly annoying portrayal of Gloria. “BEEEEEEELLY! HOW YOU LOSE THE MONEY, BEELLY?! I WAS GONNA GO ON JEPADEE WIT DAT MONEY! YOU SO STOOPID!”
Agreed OB
Not a fan of Hoosiers at all, I was forced to watch it by my basketball coach who knew nothing about basketball or coaching. Anyway what about Raging Bull… not as uplifting but still great. And Im a big fan of White Men Can’t Jump.
Friday Night Lights? “Coach you wanna win? Put Booby in”
I’d have to say Rudy is probably one of my favorite sports movies. But you can’t go wrong with sandlot. “He’s an L 7 weenie, dodger dog, footlong!” Remember the titans is also another definite fav. I’ve never seen Hoosiers, but i’ll make it a point to.