Note: This article was contributed by Alex Pennycook. I’d like to point out He Got Game should be a consensus #1, as my favorite movie of all time. But, I digress.
Number 10 – Happy Gilmore
I had an extremely tough time trying to figure out what movie should go here in the ten spot, so I thought back to the first time I saw each movie. I remember seeing Happy Gilmore in the theatre during March Break and I don’t think I had laughed that hard before. Most people would probably choose Caddyshack as the best and funniest golf movie, but I thought it was over hyped. Happy Gilmore has so many quotable lines, and everyone that has ever gone to a Driving Range has tried the running start swing so that is why it made the list.
IMDB rating: 6.8/10
Favorite Quote: “During high school I played junior hockey and still hold two league records: most time spent in the penalty box; and I was the only guy to ever take off his skate and try to stab somebody.” – Happy GilmourNumber 9 – Friday Night Lights
I liked the book and enjoy the TV show, so naturally I liked the movie. For those that aren’t familiar with the story, it revolves around Texas high school football and a Permian Panther team that has state championship aspirations because of a running back named Boobie. I really enjoyed the football scenes and yet another great acting performance by ex-Hang Time star Jay Hernandez. Interesting how in a two hour movie they were able to incorporate a defense, something they haven’t been able to do in a 22 episode TV series.
IMDB rating: 7.2/10
Favorite Quote: “I get straight A’s. I’m an athlete. There’s only one subject. It’s football.” – Boobie Miles
Number 8 – He Got Game
Two words: Jesus Shuttlesworth. I loved everything about this movie. Great performance by Denzel Washington, Ray Allen showed enough talent that he almost won the MTV breakthrough actor award, the many cameos by NBA/college players and coaches, and an awesome track by Public Enemy. Apparently announcer Gus Johnson is involved in the movie as well so you know it’s legit. The movie itself is about Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel) trying to convince his son (Ray-Ray) to go to a particular college so that his jail sentence for killing his wife will be reduced. Definitely go out and rent this movie if you haven’t seen it yet.
IMDB Rating: 6.6/10
Favorite Quote: “Basketball is like poetry in motion, cross the guy to the left, take him back to the right, he’s fallin’ back, then just J right in his face. Then you look at him and say ‘What?’.” – Jesus Shuttlesworth
Number 7 – Major League II
Both the Major League movies were top-notch (I don’t recognize the third) and I am more familiar with the second, so it makes the list. After the Indians made the playoffs for the first time since forever, the team had high expectations. Unfortunately, Rick “Wild Thing” Vaughn lost his attitude and fastball, they replaced the team’s heart and soul Jake Taylor at catcher, and Wesley Snipes demanded too much money so Omar Epps had to play the role of Willie Mays Hayes. How could this team possibly make a playoff run? I’ll give you a hint, everyone’s favorite black president is involved.
IMDB Rating: 4.7/10
Favorite Quote: “So a tough loss for the Indians as Pedro Cerrano doubles off a pigeon and is tagged out while administering CPR before the tying run could score. Funny game ain’t it?” – Harry Doyle
Number 6 – Hoop Dreams
This documentary is a must watch for any fan or player of basketball. It follows the lives of two Chicago basketball stars entering high school until they enter college, and the troubles they encountered along the years. It increases your respect for the players that made it big and shows how so many talented players never break through. The movie itself is tough to get through since it is 3 hours in length, but definitely worth watching.
IMDB rating: 7.8/10
Favorite Quote: “People always say to me ‘When you get to the NBA, don’t forget about me.’ Well, I should’ve said back, ‘if I don’t make it to the NBA, don’t you forget about me’” – William Gates
Number 5 – Poolhall Junkies
Pool is more of a game than a sport, but this is one of my favorite movies so it makes the list. The movie surrounds an ex-hustler who starts playing again to bail out his brother (think Rounders except with pool). Cast includes Christopher Walken (possibly his best role in my opinion), writer, director as well as lead actor Mars Callahan and Ernie Reyes Jr. (who you may remember was Keno from the second Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie).
IMDB rating: 6.8/10
Favorite Quote: “You beat them, you take their money, you call them names to their faces… and they love you. I don’t know how you do it. I never saw anything like it. Beating a man out of his money, that’s easy. Anybody can do that. But beating a man out of his money and making him like it… that’s an art. That’s an art of a true hustler.” – Joe
Number 4 – Remember the Titans
I could, and have watched this movie over 100 times. I’m pretty sure everyone has seen this movie so I won’t bother discussing the plot. My favorite parts of the movie:
- When they convince the refs to call a fair game, and then Bertier runs over to the other team’s coach and just points at him
- How the QB throws out multiple devastating blocks on the final play
- The fact that the guy from Breaker High was just a brutal cornerback and gets benched
- The actor that played Julius was 31 during filming
IMDB rating: 7.4/10
Favorite Quote: “This is no democracy. It is a dictatorship. I am the law.” – Coach Boone
Number 3 – The Mighty Ducks
I could write an entire article on the greatness of this trilogy. All three movies are fantastic, but I chose the first installment to make the list. Just think of the impact these movies have had one our generation. They named an actually NHL team after the movie, led to the resurrection of Emilio Estevez’s career, and started the popped collar trend (don’t believe me, check this clip of Hawk coach Jack Reilly, http://youtube.com/watch?v=RI33bS0lGII ). People can try to point out holes in the storyline, but these movies are flawless.
IMDB rating: 5.6/10
Favorite Quote: “It’s not worth winning if you can’t win big.” – Coach Reilly
Number 2 – Rocky IV
By far my favorite of the Rocky series, this one had it all. It started off with a tear jerking moment when Apollo goes down for good, has the ultimate montage of Rocky training that builds to him climbing a mountain and repeatedly screaming “DRAGO”, the whole “us versus them” mentality, and Rocky eventually winning over the Russian crowd. You can’t forget Drago lines like “If he dies, he dies”, “You must lose” or “I must break you” either.
IMDB rating: 5.5/10
Favorite Quote (not mentioned above): “No, maybe I can’t win. Maybe the only thing I can do is just take everything he’s got. But to beat me, he’s going to have to kill me. And to kill me, he’s gonna have to have the heart to stand in front of me. And to do that, he’s got to be willing to die himself. I don’t know if he’s ready to do that. I don’t know.” – Rocky Balboa
Number 1 – The Program
Most of the time I don’t bother watching movies that come for free with a DVD player, but I’ll watch anything that remotely has to do with sports so I gave it a shot and loved it. James Caan plays the coach of a powerhouse football team that is on the decline and needs to reach a major bowl or else he’ll be fired. The team has every storyline you can think of: a QB in the thick of the Heisman race, a freshman star battling for playing time, academic troubles and steroid scandals. I realize that this isn’t the greatest sports movie ever, but there are so many fantastic ones and I figured I’d choose a movie that I really enjoyed and probably a lot of people haven’t seen.
IMDB rating: 5.9/10
Favorite Quote: “I don’t know, it’s the battle, the going to war with the other guys, hanging together, having our own dorm, staying in hotels the night before the games, setting ourselves apart, being different than everybody else, having a chance to be somebody, to do something that people look up to you for, your strength, your courage, not everybody can play football… we’re the lucky ones.” – Steve Lattimer
Also receiving consideration:
Rookie of the Year: Gary Busey at his best. Never understood the term “hot ice”, but then again, I guess a kid breaking his arm and being able to top 100 mph should be the bigger question.
Varsity Blues: Can anybody else imagine if Paul Walker was on the sidelines for the Fiesta Bowl calling for the hook and ladder?
Rudy: My Dad’s favorite movie so I had to consider it. Apparently Vince Vaughn is a guy on the team, who knew?
Coach Carter: And “Spanish” is born! Does anyone else see the similarity between the Samuel’s son and Georgetown guard John Wallace?
Note: This article was contributed by Alex Pennycook. I’d like to point out He Got Game should be a consensus #1, as my favorite movie of all time. But, I digress.