The marriage of Hollywood and sports is a time-honored one.
Stories of heroism and inspiring comebacks make for an easy script.
Ronald Reagan played the role of pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander. Gary Cooper played Lou Gehrig. Michael Jordan played basketball with Bugs Bunny.
Some sports movies tug at our hearts – Rudy, Million Dollar Baby, Brian’s Song, et al.
Some try – and, alas, fail – to take us inside the arena – The Babe with John Goodman; Gymkata, starring real-life Olympic gymnast Kurt Thomas, and the NFL-themed Any Given Sunday, a tedious effort that brought together not only Al Pacino, but also Terrell Owens and Barry Switzer.
But sometimes Hollywood hits the sweet spot. Jimmy Cheatwood sinks the winning shot. Robert Redford knocks the cover off the ball. Ricky Bobby thinks he catches fire.
With the 91st Academy Awards coming up Sunday (7 p.m., ABC), therefore, the gang at PressBoxDFW rounded up our friends and colleagues and asked them to name their favorite all-time sports movies.
We asked them to simply name their top 10. Some gave reasons for listing each movie. Some shamelessly refused to apologize (John Henry, Slap Shot).
We tallied the number of times each movie appeared on someone’s list. Thirteen people voted. Here’s our top 10, with the number of votes each film received:
1, Rocky, 13
2, Hoosiers, 11
3, The Natural, 9
4 (tied), Field of Dreams, 6
4 (tied), Caddyshack, 6
6 (tied), A League of Their Own, 5
6 (tied), Bull Durham, 5
6 (tied), Chariots of Fire, 5
6 (tied), Miracle, 5
6 (tied), Tin Cup, 5
Others receiving votes: Remember the Titans 4, Major League 4, Slap Shot 3, Raging Bull 2, Seabiscuit 2, North Dallas 40 2, Pride of the Yankees 2, Bad News Bears 2, Dead Solid Perfect 2, Blue Chips 2, Brian’s Song 2, Friday Night Lights 2, Rudy 2, White Men Can’t Jump 2, The Hustler 2, Karate Kid 2 and Million Dollar Baby 2.
Receiving only one vote were The Big Lebowski, Any Given Sunday, The Wrestler, The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, When We Were Kings, Dockumentary, Blind Side, Longest Yard, Semi-Pro, Ali, Invincible, Horse Feathers, National Velvet, 42, All the Marbles, Rocky 2, Rocky 3, Rocky 4, Rocky Balboa, Creed, Creed 2.
All of the lists, some with comments from the voters. are included below. We hope you enjoy reading them.
John Henry:
Hoosiers: That Shooter so appealed to this then-teen was a better forecast than anything David Finfrock has ever spied.
Slap Shot: I watch over and over again … I feel no shame.
The Big Lebowski: Brought bowling into pop culture’s mainstream and included all of the crucial elements of sporting and competing, namely camaraderie among teammates, gamesmanship and taunting.
The Natural: Appropriate church reverence for America’s pastime and the mere mortals who master it with otherworldliness.
North Dallas Forty (the original): Hollywood fuses two favorites, sports and satire. Winning.
The Pride of the Yankees: I’m a sucker for good oration, and Gary Cooper’s rendition of Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech swallowed me right up.
The Bad News Bears: The Bears introduced me to the concept of diversity in a way my mother had not planned. Viva, Rudi Stein.
Dead Solid Perfect: No one can do an underachieving, demon-plagued pro golfer like Dan Jenkins. “Golf is probably some kind of a mental disorder like gambling or women or politics.”
Rocky: Nothing says Americana quite like this noble, blue-collar underdog chasing his American dream.
Caddyshack: Only those who have never worked at a country club golf course can say this is not a sports movie worthy of the attention of the Academy. I knew that entire cast in another life.
Richie Whitt:
Dockumentary – Who doesn’t like Doc Ellis dealin’ on acid?
Blue Chips – Bob Cousy and Shaq on the same court.
Any Given Sunday – Garrett could learn a thing or two from Pacino
The Wrestler – The real side is the dark side
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh – I know, I know. But it was Dr. J!
North Dallas Forty – My “coming of age” was realizing it portrayed America’s Team
Hoosiers – So innocent and pure it doesn’t need to make apologies
When We Were Kings – It didn’t get any better than Ali-Foreman in Zaire
Caddyshack – Golfers still, unwittingly, spout its epic lines that are now fabric of the game
Rocky – I’m old and jaded, but it still gives my goosebumps goosebumps
Gil LeBreton:
Hoosiers — I know Jimmy Chitwood is gonna take the last shot, but it doesn’t matter. If it’s on, I’m watching. The team prayer before the championship game gets me every time.
The Natural — My baseball purist friends dismiss it as fluff and “unrealistic,” but hello? It’s an allegory, people. Symbolism abounds. His home run shatters the clock at Wrigley Field. Is that too complicated to understand? Best baseball movie ever.
Slap Shot — So many funny scenes, so many funny lines. Who knew Paul Newman could skate, handle the stick and hit on the star player’s girlfriend? Who own the Chiefs?
Rocky — The original was classic, from its unconventional hero to the realistic decision at the final bell. Stallone’s run through the streets of Philly, accompanied by Bill Conti’s musical score, continues to inspire people.
A League of Their Own — Tom Hanks’ deft portrayal turned manager Jimmy Dugan into a baseball icon. “There’s no crying in baseball!” Rest in peace proudly for this gem you created, Penny Marshall.
Caddyshack — The golf is incidental, of course, to the cast of misfits. Groundskeeper Carl Spackler’s “gunga lagunga” tale reminds us that well before Matt Kuchar stiffed his caddy, there was the Dalai Lama.
Miracle — Kurt Russell doesn’t quite nail the real Herb Brooks, but at least he hits the post. We know how it’s going to end, but we count down the seconds with Al Michaels and cheer anyway. Years later my Russian media friends told me that the game really, really upset Soviet citizens, who were well aware that the U.S. team was just a bunch of college kids.
Chariots of Fire — If it’s about the Olympics, I’m in, especially if NBC isn’t around.
42 — Though Hollywood enhancements are evident, this is an important film about a great and courageous figure in the civil rights movement. Everyone — young or old, Republican or Democrat — needs to see it. Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey and Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson elevate the movie.
Major League — Ricky Vaughn, the Wild Thing. Winning. Great characters, plus Bob Uecker as hard-drinking play-by-play man Harry Doyle. “What? You want me to dive?!”
Jimmy Burch:
Hoosiers: My favorite adaptation of any real-world storyline to the silver screen. Spoiler alert: Bonus points for a dude named “Jimmy” sinking the winning shot.
Remember the Titans: Another stellar cinematic take on a real-world tale, with a moving and powerful message.
Caddyshack: Probably the greatest sports comedy ever made, particularly to a guy who worked in a real-world version of a caddy shack (Shady Oaks CC, 1976-78).
Rocky: Rocky Balboa is a fictional figure with a statue in Philadelphia. That says a lot about the impact of this movie, and its sequels.
Miracle: Seeing the real “miracle” unfold in 1980 gave me goosebumps. So did the movie version.
Major League: Jobu takes fear from bats, makes me LOL. Just make sure you NEVER steal his rum.
Dead Solid Perfect: Timeless, hysterical HBO film that brought characters from a great Dan Jenkins novel to life as the PGA Tour rolled through its season to a U.S. Open filmed at Glen Garden Country Club. This is a MUST-WATCH movie for anyone who loves comedy, golf, Fort Worth, Jenkins … or all four.
The Blind Side: A great story and won an Academy Award (Sandra Bullock, best actress). That works for me.
The Longest Yard (original version): Bert Reynolds nailed the role of Paul Crewe, the inmates’ heroic quarterback in their game against the prison guards, and the rest of the movie had plenty of poignant and outrageous moments.
Brian’s Song: A heart-tugging, made-for-TV classic that was “must-see TV” during my pre-teen years.
Wendell Barnhouse:
Field of Dreams
Bull Durham
Hoosiers
Chariots of Fire
Remember the Titans
The Natural
Rocky
Raging Bull
Miracle
Friday Night Lights
Jan Hubbard:
Remember the Titans
Tin Cup
Field of Dreams
Bull Durham
Hoosiers
The Natural
Rudy
Rocky
Miracle on Ice
White Men Can’t Jump
Jim Reeves:
The Hustler — From the green of the golf course to the “green” of the pool hall, Paul Newman (“Fast Eddie” Felson), Jackie Gleason (“Minnesota Fats” and George C. Scott (Bert Gordon) were perfect for this gritty story of hustling pool sharks.
Iconic line: “I’m shooting pool, Fats. When I miss, you can shoot.” – “Fast Eddie” Felson (Paul Newman).
Hoosiers — Classic David vs. Goliath story that sums up high school basketball in Indiana, with Gene Hackman (Norman Dale) and Dennis Hopper (Shooter) playing the odd couple coaches.
Iconic line: “Stick with your man. Think of him as chewing gum. By the end of the game, I want you to know what flavor he is.” – Coach Norman Dale.
Bull Durham — Maybe the greatest baseball movie ever for its spot-on hilarious characterization of life in the minor leagues, both for those on the way up and those on the way down.
Iconic line: “I believe in the Church of Baseball….There’s never been a ballplayer slept with me who didn’t have the best year of his career.’’ – Durham Bulls fan Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon).
Rocky — Burgess Meredith’s character Mickey reminded me so much of legendary Fort Worth Golden Gloves coach Frankie Karr and Rocky himself of so many punchers I’ve known, praying for just one shot at the bigtime.
Iconic line: “He doesn’t know it’s a damn show; he thinks it’s a damn fight!” – Apollo Creed trainer “Duke” Evers (Tony Burton).
Slap Shot — Put Paul Newman’s aging hockey coach Reggie Dunlop right up there with his “Cool Hand” Luke and Butch Cassidy. They just don’t make hockey movies liked they used to.
Iconic line: Sorry. They invented the “R” rating for Reggie and the Hanson brothers. Can’t find anything that’s printable, but they’re funnier than hell.
Field of Dreams — It’s OK to get a little weepy over a movie that goes to the heart of second-chances and fathers-and-sons. Especially a baseball movie.
Iconic line: “If you build it, he will come.” – mysterious voice to Iowa farmer and baseball fan Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner).
Caddyshack — It’s crude and pure slapstick – what did you expect with Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Rodney Daingerfield and Ted Knight in starring roles? – but OMG, its characters are unforgettable….even the stupid gopher.
Iconic line: “Of course I talk to myself. Sometimes I need an expert opinion!’’ – Carl Spackler (Bill Murray).
Major League — It’s the “Bad News Bears” on a big league scale, with the prospect of slugger Pedro Cerrano (Dennis Haysbert) sacrificing a live chicken for extra power. It’s like watching a train wreck: you can’t turn away.
Iconic line: “Juuuust a bit outside.” – broadcaster Harry Coyle (Bob Uecker).
A League of Their Own — A movie directed by Penny Marshall, starring Geena Davis, Madonna and Rosie O’Donnell, all playing baseball? But that’s just the teaser. Tom Hanks as cynical manager Jimmy Dugan is priceless.
Iconic line: “There’s no crying in baseball!” – Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks).
The Natural — Robert Redford is the baseball player so many boys dreamed they’d grow up to be, getting a second chance using a magical bat forged by lightning. Sort of a Thor and his hammer for the baseball diamond. Plus, we stole that majestic home run music for the Rangers.
Iconic line: “I coulda been better. I coulda broke every record in the book. People woulda said, there goes Roy Hobbs, the best there ever was in this game.” – Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford).
Art Garcia:
The Natural
Semi-Pro
Rocky and Rocky 2
Hoosiers
Major League
Tin Cup
Ali
White Men Can’t Jump
Blue Chips
Karate Kid
Carlos Mendez:
Rocky — Just love the grit this movie is set in.
Bull Durham — Cannot be resisted, and life lessons as a bonus!
A League of Their Own — You can cry over this one. It’s good.
The Bad News Bears — Buttermaker!
Karate Kid — the original, Daniel-San. . . You’re the best, around.
Rudy — The music is reason enough.
Hoosiers — Hey, 10 feet is 10 feet.
Tin Cup — A gimme.
Chariots of Fire — So much more behind the amazing story of Eric Liddell.
Million Dollar Baby — Need a rewatch on this one.
Anthony Andro:
(As an Italian I am contractually obligated to love all Rocky movies, although not all equally).
Rocky
Rocky IV
Rocky III
Creed
Rocky II
Creed 2
Rocky Balboa
Field of Dreams
The Natural
Caddyshack
Marjorie Lewis:
Field of Dreams
A League of Their Own
Hoosiers
Seabiscuit
Million Dollar Baby
Miracle
Invincible
Rocky
Remember the Titans
Friday Night Lights
Gary West:
Raging Bull
Before he became an asshole, Robert Di Nero was a great actor, and never greater than in this gritty cinematic tribute to naturalism.
The Natural
This masterpiece of fabulism is all about baseball as an everlasting source of redemption.
The Hustler
Paul Newman as a fatally flawed antihero, Jackie Gleason as Minnesota Fats, George C. Scott as a flinty Svengali, with cameos from Willie Mosconi and Jake LaMotta—can’t get much better than that.
Rocky
Overcoming its ridiculous premise, “Rocky” reminds us that sports are at their best when they make virtue vivid, in this case the nobility of the Sisyphean struggle.
Horse Feathers
This 1932 satire of education, college football and just about everything else remains one of the funniest movies ever made; Groucho, as Professor Wagstaff, hires Harpo and Chico to win the big game.
Chariots of Fire
This, quite simply, is a beautiful and inspiring movie.
Seabiscuit
This true story of a diminutive underdog that inspired a nation emphasizes the powerful and enduring value of sport as metaphor.
The Pride of the Yankees
Appearing within a year of the attack on Pearl Harbor, “The Pride of the Yankees” pays homage to American values and heroism.
Tin Cup
Great lessons here: Superb talent alone doesn’t suffice, especially when Cheech Marin is your caddie, and winning the girl is more important than winning the tournament.
National Velvet
This classic underdog story about the power of love, when viewed from a modern perspective, becomes even more intriguing.
TR Sullivan, MLB.com and former Star-Telegram colleague:
Chariots of Fire….Jennie Liddell looking bored as can be watching her brother running on the beach….looked like she was watching a Rangers game.
Bull Durham…i grew up on Minor. League ball.
The Natural….i am a sucker for the Arthurian legend.
League of the Own….but it slips at the end with all the sister in fighting.
Brian’s Song….my dad told me it was all right for a man to cry.
Rocky…..the fight was over the top and couldn’t happen now but this was a good movie diminished by too many sequels.
All the Marbles….Peter Falk and those girls….great one.
Hoosiers….i wish I had the soundtrack.
Field of Dreams….Amy Madison rivals Susan Sarandon as the best baseball chick.
Tin Cup….the CBS TV crew should have won some kind of Oscar