March 25, 2011

Brilliant Commentary and I Need Your Input

Last night I was watching the butler Bulldogs take on Wisconsin.  I was rooting for little Butler not because they are the last remaining team n the NCAA Tournament from Indiana, but rather I have given that institution a significant amount of money the past few years.  My daughter graduated from Butler a couple of years ago. Her husband is also a Butler Alumnus.

During last night's broadcast the announcer guy and color commentator Reggie Miller were discussing Butler's historic Hinkle Fieldhouse. Miller related how the Pacers used to practice there and what a great basketball arena Hinkle is.  Main announcer guy states "Hinkle has a real 'Hoosiers' feel to it".

There is a reason for that. Hoosiers was filmed in Hinkle Fieldhouse.

If you have never seen the film, Hoosiers was the story of a small town basketball team that overcame the odds to win a State Championship. The story is based on the real-life story of Milan High in 1954. Bobby Plump hit the last second shot to win the game.  He also went on to be a star at Butler. Weird coincidence? The real game also took place at Hinkle.

The "Milan Miracle" is the stuff of legend in the Hoosier State and kids were once weaned on the tale along side Mother Goose and the Grimm Brothers. Many a child of the 1960s and 1970s shot basket after basket in the drive or against a hoop on the barn reliving the last second game winning shot. Now days, kids just dream of being one of four State Champions. Why no, I am not bitter.  Why do you ask?

Since it is Friday, I think we will do an impromptu Friday Five Ten. Here are my votes for the best five ten sports movies, in no particular order:

Hoosiers
Rocky
Brian's Song
Major League
Breaking Away
Rudy
The Natural
Bull Durham
Raging Bull
Tin Cup

Your vote may differ. What are the best sports movies?

10 comments:

LeeAnn said...

Caddyshack
Major League
A League Of Their Own
Bull Durham
Tin Cup
Death Race (it's kind of sports)
Running Man (again, a kind of sport)

Otter said...

Not in any order:
Bang the Drum Slowly
American Flyers
Slapshot
Breaking Away
The Sandlot
Tin Cup
Ragin Bull
Youngblood
Brian's Song
Caddyshack
Honorable mention
Legend of Boggy Creek....

Joe said...

But the last one is a western...

Jean said...

Field of Dreams

Otter said...

Uh huh...best western EVER!

Joe said...

so good istayed up nights thinking about it after I saw it.

CnC said...

Hoosiers
Rudy
North Dallas Forty
The Blind Side
Field Of Dreams
Caddyshack
Rocky
Brian's Song
The Natural
Blue Chips

Rita said...

Radio
Hoosiers
Breaking Away
The Blind Side

Funny, three of the four I picked are based on true stories.

mts1 said...

This Old Cub - do documentaries count?
Miracle - story of the 1980 USA Olympic hockey team
Bloodsport - I throw martial arts in with sports
Pride of the Yankees
Invincible - better than Rudy to me - a guy who could've come from the steel mills of Gary as a plant in Philly who makes the team and IS an actual pro caliber player
Slapshot - Major League's cinematic mother
Brian's Song
Knute Rockne All American
North Dallas Forty
Any Given Sunday

Honorable mention: I don't count games of skill like billiards, cards, chess, or auto racing as "sport", but I can't leave without a tip of the hat to The Hustler/The Color of Money.

Dan O. said...

I would add to your list:

Longest Yard (original)
Eight Men Out

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