Let’s go ‘Back’ to the Movies
Hey, you got to love the movies, especially sports movies. OK, think of your favorite sports movie. I know many of you said either “Hoosiers” or “Field of Dreams” (me too). The scene of the baseball players walking out of the cornfield is powerful. The line, “Hey Dad wanna have a catch?” brings tears to my eyes every time. The line, “Build it and they will come.” will last for generations. I love the great movies that transcend their sports themes. “Hoosiers” is about small-town basketball that shows us a ton of life lessons. Their tough coach (Dale) skips the big game pep talk and simply says, “I love you guys.” Walking into the huge Butler Field House for the State Championship game, Coach Dale knows his small-town team is overwhelmed. Grabbing a ladder he has the height of the rim measured. “How tall?” He asked; “Ten feet”... “Huh, the same as back home in Hickory.”
How about “Remember the Titans?” This powerful movie shows how sports can bring about needed social change. “A League of Their Own” and “42” are historical and special. Tom Hanks’ line, “There’s no crying baseball” will resonate for a long time. Sports movies can document American history as well as anything. If I was a history teacher I would use clips from sports movies a lot. Check out Ken Burns’s “Baseball.” It is really a history documentary that uses Baseball as a theme. Many sports movies are based on true stories, “Glory Road,” “The Blind Side” and “Eight Men Out.” These movies take a memorable look at a lot of social issues. “Rudy” was also based on a true story. How can you not be moved when Rudy was carried off the field?
For pure fun watch “Tin Cup,” and “Major League.” From “Major League” I will often say, for the fun of it, “Juuusst a bit outside.” The ‘riddle’ in “Tin Cup” opened a few eyes. If you are a big baseball fan “Money Ball” will speak to you. It illustrated how baseball has changed. If you like golf history try “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” If you are going for pure goofiness, try “Caddyshack” or “Happy Gilmore.” For a heartwarming story, try “The Rookie,” or “Jerry Maguire” with the line, “Show me the money!” or the movie “For Love of the Game.”
Soccer movies are not as common, but there is, “She’s the Man,” and my wife loves “Kicking and Screaming.” If you can stand the language try “Ted Lasso.” “Bend it like Beckham” is fun and “The Game of Their Lives” is an uplifting movie about the rag-tag US team beating England in the 1950 World Cup.
In the hockey movie “A Miracle on Ice,” I get goosebumps when their coach says dramatically right before their big match, “Tonight you are the best team on the planet.” Many say the hockey win over the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics was the greatest sports upset of all time.
The movie “Babe” documents how ladies, like Babe Didrikson, have been great athletes way before Title IX, If you like kids in your sports movies how about “The Bad News Bears” or “The Sand Lot.” If you are going for sad, the best would be “Brian’s Song.” It’s about Gale Sayers and his friend Brian Piccolo. If you don’t cry at the end of this movie there is something wrong with you. If you like old movies with famous actors try “Pat and Mike” (1952) starring Hepburn and Tracy. It is said that the athletic Hepburn did her own action shots.
Boxing is a great topic for movies, usually showing ‘down and out’ characters becoming winners and, of course, getting the girls. Examples: “Rocky” and the spin-offs, and “The Cinderella Man.” Rocky saying, “Yo Adrian, I did it” is a part of our language now.
In the movie, “Radio” a football coach takes in a ‘special’ man to help with the team. The line, “It’s never a mistake to care for someone” speaks volumes. So, grab some popcorn and go to the movies. You may have to use Netflix or Hulu or Apple+ or any of the streaming services that I don’t know much about. It is tough getting old. From “Field of Dreams” the famous line, “Is this heaven?”- “No, this is Iowa.” Well, Clinton isn’t Iowa, but it’s close. Until next time.
