In 1984, the Chicago Bulls drafted Michael Jordan with the third pick in the draft. Many fans and basketball experts thought he would be special, but few staked so much on their analysis as Nike marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro.
The Nike of 1984 wasn’t the Nike that we know today. The company was built on running shoes, not basketball shoes. The market for basketball shoes was largely dominated by Converse and Adidas. Converse had Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Nike wanted to grow their basketball market share, and they knew they needed to sign some rising NBA stars to help elevate the brand.
“Air,” released earlier this year, tells the story of how Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon) became obsessed with signing Jordan to Nike, despite incredibly long odds. Jordan had zero interest in signing Nike. He was choosing between Converse and Adidas. And his agent, David Falk (Chris Messina), had no interest in helping Nike even get a meeting.
There was a time when baseball’s home run record really meant something. It was mythical. Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs in 1927, hitting more home runs than 12 teams that year!
Ruth’s home run record stood for 34 years, until Roger Maris hit 61 home runs in 1961, though Major League Baseball shamefully put an asterisk next to Maris’s record. The Babe had set the record during a 154-game season, while Maris broke the record during a 162-game season. Maris also broke the record in a season following expansion, further angering baseball purists who felt he didn’t deserve to be labeled the Home Run King.
The steroid era made discussions of the record even more controversial. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa shattered the record in the memorable 1998 season when McGwire hit 70 home runs and Sosa hit 66. Barry Bonds followed that with an amazing 73 in the 2001 season. But the steroid scandal exposed McGuire, Sosa and Bonds, making a mockery of the home run record. This context helps explain why so many wanted to crown Aaron Judge as the “true” holder of the record with his 62 home runs in the 2022 season.
“61*” is a historical drama that tells the story of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle as they chased the Babe’s record in the 1961 season. Mantle was already a legend in the minds of most baseball fans, while Maris was the new kid on the block on New York even though he won the MVP in 1960 in his first season as a Yankee.
No discussion of the best sports movies of all time is complete without including “Breaking Away,” the 1979 film that follows a young man who becomes obsessed with the sport of cycling. Dave Stohler (Dennis Christopher) lives in Bloomington, Indiana, and small college town that’s home to the Indiana University. He’s recently graduated from high school and spend most of his time either on his bike or hanging out with his three childhood friends, often swimming at the stone quarries. Mike (Dennis Quaid) is the angry ex-quarterback who hates being surrounded by the privileged college kids. Jackie Earle Haley plays Moocher the affable short guy while Cyril (Daniel Stern) is the lovable loser of the group.
The college kids call them “cutters” though they never actually worked in the mills that cut the limestone used to build the University. Their dads did that. Which brings us to the best character in this film, Dave’s father (Paul Dooley). Dave is driving his old man crazy. He hasn’t found a job, but even more annoyingly he’s become obsessed with Italian culture. His favorite cycling team is from Italy, so he’s started speaking Italian, playing opera music and calling his dad “papa.” Paul Dooley’s performance as Ray Stohler is easily one of the funniest dad (or “papa”) characters in film history, and this relationship helps drive story in the film. Barbara Barrie is also excellent as Dave’s mom Evelyn, providing a touch of tenderness and sanity to the family.
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.
RealClearSports.com put together a top 10 ranking of the worst acting performances by athletes:
2. Shaquille O’Neal Shaquille O’Neal has a great personality, is well-liked and in general, is a pretty funny guy (plus, hey, he Twitters). But, for all his good qualities, he struggles in the entertainment industry. He is not a great rapper, and he’s an even worse actor. He was good in Blue Chips, but his role called for him to essentially just play basketball. He was not so good in Steel, where he played a military scientist, or in Kazaam, when he was…wait for it… a rapping Genie.
10. Dennis Rodman Dennis Rodman loved attention during his days as an All-Star forward for the Pistons, Spurs, and Bulls, so it was only natural for him to try his hand at acting. Unfortunately for him (but awesome for those who love to mock), he was better at grabbing rebounds than making movies. Notable failures include his role in Double Team, with Jean-Claude Van Damme, and the rather atrocious Simon Sez (Fun Fact: Rodman’s co-star is none other than everyone’s favorite overrated comedian, Dane Cook).
How does Rodman’s movie not making it higher than 10? I never saw it, but just judging by the trailer Simon Sez looks like it could be one of the greatest movies of all-time…
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