Dan DaranciangI trust you have all read dozens of these lists and are probably sick of them already. But, give me a chance; my unprofessional journalism has definitely carried over to my choices for this list, adding a dimension never before seen in sports movie lists. I bet you haven’t ever seen “Space Jam” on a top 10. What about “Mighty Ducks” 1 and 2? I think this list will speak more to our generation, and by doing so will become a watershed event in Generation Y journalism. Read on.
Because not all sports movies try to achieve the same purpose, I have taken my Brahma-given right to discuss here but one aspect of the world of sports movies-the fabled sports comedy.
10) Space Jam: Ok, well, I’ll admit it, I’m as puzzled as you are to see this movie on the list; hell, I even wrote it and I’m confused. But, Michael Jordan stands as one of my favorite people ever and I think this movie is both funny and charts his transition from baseball back to basketball in a very comical fashion. Don’t forget that the middle school slow dance staple, R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly,” came from this movie, and that was before R. peed on an underage girl in a porn flick.
9) Mighty Ducks 1: I think this movie should be a lesson to everyone not to drink and drive. Seriously though, this movie sparked a hockey obsession in America that lasted about a week and a half, the first event to spark such passion in Canada’s sport since the 1980 miracle on ice, whereby the U.S. Olympic hockey team defeated the “unbeatable” Russian Olympic team in the heart of the Cold War. This movie had it all-action, drama, teamwork and endless fat jokes directed at the reluctant Passover-celebrating goalie, Goldberg.
8) The Sandlot: Wow, what a crazy storyline. A bunch of kids lose a baseball signed by Babe Ruth, the nerdy kid, Squints, fakes drowning to make out with the knock-out lifeguard Wendy Peppercorn, Benny “the Jet” Rodriguez has to outrun a dog to get the Ruth ball back and eventually everything is OK when James Earl Jones appears as the dog’s owner/former Negro league player. In other words, watch this movie sober. It’s confusing, but funny as hell.
7) Mighty Ducks 2: This is probably the only case when a sequel is better than the original. While the second installation might not be as original as the first, who can ignore this movie’s political significance? Who did the Ducks play in the final game of this movie? Iceland. Who was the United States’ biggest Scandinavian foe when this movie debuted? Iceland, of course. Also, the knucklepuck was tight.
6) A League of Their Own: These women can play. Plus, I’m sure the feminists would’ve been all over me for not including this movie on the list. It hosts a great cast featuring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna and Rosie O’Donnell (who didn’t get as much attention until she hosted the Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice awards three years in a row). I put this into the comedy section because I think the funny parts outweigh the drama. However, this movie is a pretty big tearjerker towards the end, I mean, if you’re into the whole crying thing. I’m not.
5) The Bad News Bears: Well, I’ve never actually seen this movie, but, it’s on every list of the funniest sports movies, so, I’ll check it out if you do.
4) Major League: Ok, so, I’m from Cleveland, and, coincidentally, that’s where this movie takes place. I’m not biased, I swear. This movie features some of the funniest characters in movie history (“Wild Thing” Rick Vaughan and Willie “Mays” Hays to name two). This movie really put Cleveland on the map (from which it was removed about a month later).
3) Bill Durham: Kevin Costner’s first of two great baseball movies, featuring Tim Robbins and that zombie girlfriend of his, Susan Sarandon. This movie has some of the wittiest dialogue you’ll ever hear and almost makes the life of minor league ball players look glamorous. It combines two of America’s greatest pastimes: sex and baseball. What could be better?
2) Slapshot: Definitely the dirtiest sports comedy on the list. Paul Newman, a washed up hockey player gets to tutor the hard-hitting Hanson brothers (no, not those “mmbop” she-males) and try to turn the Charlestown Chiefs into a respectable minor league hockey team. This movie is filled with fine slapstick humor, mixed with some of Paul Newman’s cerebral hilariousness.
1) Caddyshack: For sure the best sports comedy, and possibly the best sports movie made, period. As if former Saturday Night Live stars Bill Murray and Chevy Chase aren’t enough, director and Wash U. graduate Harold Ramis casts Rodney Dangerfield as the wise-cracking millionaire. This movie has more quotable lines than a Cam’ron album- believe me, I’ve counted them.
Other Movies worth watching: Cool Runnings, Happy Gilmore and Kingpin