Over the years, there have been many films that have taken on the sports theme. While it may seem that sports movies would all fall under the same category, this is not always the case. In fact, these movies can be found in a variety of genres, including comedies, dramas and even romances. If you like sports films, you should explore Directtv offers to get setup with DirecTV today. You don’t want to miss any of the following films.

A League of Their Own

A League of Their Own is a movie that covers a time in baseball history that few people think about, World War II. When many of the men went to war, including professional athletes, America was left without much to do for entertainment and to lift spirits. This led to the creation of a women’s baseball league to help take the minds of the public off the war. This true story is filled with humor as well, making it a fun sports movie to watch.

Remember the Titans

Set in Virginia in the early 1970’s, this movie addresses the racial issues many sports team had when whites and blacks were often treated unequally. It follows the story of a black coach who must teach his team, and his community, to support racial integration and harmony. He is often beset by his local school board, they don’t like having a black head football coach. Remember the Titans is based on the true story of Herman Boone, and is a sports movie with a very human lesson.

Caddyshack

Caddyshack is another sports classic that is more often thought of as a comedy. It features some of the funniest men in movies, including Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield and Chevy Chase. The movie is set on a golf course and follows a young man who is working as a caddy in an attempt to earn his way through college. This classic continues to be enjoyed and has many influential comedic themes that are still used today.

Rocky

Rocky and its sequels are among the most popular sports movies of all time. Starring Sylvester Stalone, this movie follows an underdog fighter who is dedicated to making his way to the top. His hard work serves as an inspiration to all who watch the movie. This movie is one that everyone should see at least once.

Any Given Sunday

Another football movie, Any Given Sunday shows the struggles football players face on a daily basis and the real risk they face of being knocked out of the game. This movie follows the story of a young third-string player who finds himself in the spotlight when the team’s star quarterback is knocked out of the game with an injury. The ability to play is truly a gift that can be taken away due to injury at any time. This story offers inspiration to those who think they are doomed to remain on the bench but could find themselves in the game on “any given Sunday.”
Sports movies have a way of drawing the attention of both sports fans and other individuals who may have no real connection with sports. These movies can provide viewers with comedy and drama, as well as a little bit of romance. No matter what the genre of the sports movie, these films often come with important lessons the audience can learn. Whether you choose one of these favorites or another popular sports movie, you will be impressed with the depth many of these movies offer.

AskMen.com put together a ranking of the top 10 sports movie pep talks of all-time.

Here are the site’s top 3:

1. Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks in “Miracle”

2. Al Pacino as Tony D’Amato in “Any Given Sunday”

3. Gene Hackman as Norman Dale in “Hoosiers”

I love Russell’s speech in “Miracle” for the obvious reasons, but something about Pacino’s monologue in “Any Given Sunday” hits me hard every time I watch it. Maybe it’s because of the movie or because Pacino is one of the greatest actors to ever grace the big screen, but that “inches speech” is the best in my opinion. No actor can say the word “f**king” better than Pacino.

A city’s reaction to becoming the permanent home of a professional sports expansion franchise isn’t all that different than that of a married couple that learns of an impending pregnancy – nervous excitement.

At the press conference, political leaders will slap each other on their back for their efforts in securing the franchise and take on the role of grandparents to the city’s newest acquisition. Oh, they promise to be there every step in the development of the franchise, but in reality, they will only show up at events covered by the media (i.e. opening night, first playoff appearance, and the celebration ceremony of a championship, etc.). And they will remind everyone within an ear’s distance about their role in giving the franchise life and an opportunity to succeed.

The owner and the fans take on the role of the expecting parents. Each will have a significant role in choosing team colors, mascot, and most importantly – the team’s nickname. A great article posted on mentalfloss.com list the top ten runner-up names of existing franchises.

Here is an example of a team’s name that fans almost cheered for:
The Toronto Tarantulas
Few team names seem quite as dated as the Toronto Raptors’. The team started play in 1995 with a mascot that was obviously a nod to Jurassic Park, which had destroyed box-office records a couple of years earlier. However, looking at the list of names the Toronto franchise could have chosen, the Raptors seems like a terrific choice. The other nine finalists were the Tarantulas, Beavers, Bobcats, Dragons, Grizzlies, Hogs, Scorpions, T-Rex, and Terriers. “The Hogs” makes sense since Toronto’s historic nickname is Hogtown, but it lacks a certain menace and would have been catastrophic when the team picked Oliver Miller in the expansion draft. The rest of the finalists, however, look largely like they were culled from a list of things 13-year-old boys think are awesome, so kudos on picking the Raptors name. (This decision might mark the last time a franchise under Isiah Thomas’ direction made a wise choice.)

The article reminded me of a time when my brother and I attended the NFL Experience at the 2003 Super Bowl in San Diego. A booth was selling t-shirts used in the football movie Any Given Sunday starring Al Pacino and Cameron Diaz. One shirt that caught my eye had George Washington as the mascot of the fictitious D.C. team. He had an intense, crazed look on his face that would have made Junior Seau cringe on the field. Well a purchase had to be made, and a revelation came to me after wearing the shirt in public a few times…a team’s name and their mascot must be attractive to the public for a franchise to be successful. People went ga-ga over my shirt even though it was completely fictitious and ridiculous, but it’s still better than wearing a tarantula on your chest.