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:

  1. 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)

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  2. 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....

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  3. But the last one is a western...

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  4. Uh huh...best western EVER!

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

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

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  7. Radio
    Hoosiers
    Breaking Away
    The Blind Side

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

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  8. 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.

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  9. I would add to your list:

    Longest Yard (original)
    Eight Men Out

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