Top Ten Sport Movies of All Time

Top Ten Sport Movies of All Time

As a proud South African I recently performed my civic duty and watched the movie “Invictus”. (In case you live on Saturn and don’t know what the film is about, its a dramatised version of the Springboks winning the 1995 World Cup, starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman, directed by Clint Eastwood.)

Sadly, when the credits rolled and the film had ended, I felt disappointed. Look its not that the film was bad, but I was in South Africa during 1995. I know how that 1995 World Cup win felt for the whole of South Africa. Clint Eastwood is a fantastic director. I loved Mystic River and Million Dollar Baby, but his fault in this film lies in the fact that he is not a South African. The symbolism is there. The emotional aspect of being a South African during 1995 is off the mark. And as good as an actor that Morgan Freeman is (again, I loved Million Dollar Baby), there is no man that can play Nelson Mandela. Madiba is Madiba. Mr. Mandela does not win Oscars, he wins Nobel Peace Prizes.

As I continued to watch the credits of Invictus, I began to think of other sport movies, most of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Yes... Slowly but surely I ranked them. Finally I had a list of my top ten sport movies of all time.

Two rules. Rule #1 - No picking of more than two movies from the same sport. Rule #2 – The movie must be based on a sport that actually exists. (Sorry to all the Vin Diesel fans. Street racing is not a sport. Drag racing is a sport. So “Fast and the Furious” does not qualify.

#10 – Two for the Money
Starring Al Pacino, Matthew McConaughey and Rene Russo.

I was surprised that this film didn’t receive rave reviews by the critics. Then again most sport films don’t. The film is a kind of sporting translation of the Devil’s Advocate with Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino. Instead of playing uhm... the devil, Pacino plays the devil of sport, namely a sports bookie. McConaughey plays a potential American Football star who has his career ended in his last college game. However, McConaughey possesses a talent in predicting the outcome of sports games. Pacino invites him to the city and they begin a successful working relationship together. McConaughey is an overnight success and is soon on a hot streak in picking the results of games. Not everything goes according to plan, soon the streak stops. The action is superb. The dialogue between Pacino and McConaughey is superbly acted. By the end of the film we see how unpredictable sport is and how by making a business out of sport, the passion and enthusiasm for the game is lost. If you haven’t seen this film go out and rent it.

#9 – Million Dollar Baby
Starring Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Hilary Swank

This film won countless Oscars. The performances delivered by Eastwood, Freeman and Swank are flawless. I don’t watch women’s boxing much. Don’t think I ever will. But you have got to give credit where it’s due. Swank is the second greatest actress of all time (Meryl Streep is obviously #1). I know you watched this film. I know you loved it. Yes, it does get a bit too sentimental at the end, but you cannot take away the fact that it deserves to be in the top ten.

#8 – Maverick
Starring Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster

Yes, poker is a sport. It’s on ESPN everyday. I know that most people might rank “Rounders” with Matt Damon as the greatest poker film of all time, but me... I’m picking Maverick. The storyline is okay. The whole wild west theme provides a great backdrop. The performances of Gibson and Foster help the film skip along at a decent pace. And the poker... well let’s just say that although the technical aspects are explored in depth, the excitement and skill of the game made me a fan. This is poker in the old sense. Five card draw poker. It’s the wild west... there was no Texas hold ‘em back then. Texas is in the south.

#7 – Any Given Sunday
Starring Jamie Fox, Al Pacino and Dennis Quaid

Al Pacino starring in two movies in the top ten sport movies of all time? “Who would thunk it?” I love American Football. I was crazy about this film. Willie Beaman, played by Fox, is the back-up Quarterback who gets his chance when the starter, played by Quaid, is injured. Pacino plays the coach who can’t believe how lucky he is when Fox delivers star performances. Fox’s ego explodes and his performances suffer. Pacino gives him the pep talk. Quaid comes back to show Fox how a leader is supposed to lead his teammates. Fox, learns and comes back better than ever. The game of American Football was the winner in this movie. Outstanding sport action sequences. And ofcourse Mr. Willie Beaman as that mobile and exciting Quarterback. Yes Willie Beaman, you are steaming.

#6 – White men can’t jump
Starring Wesley Snipes and Woody Haralson

Hands down the best basketball movie of all time. And yes I know that street basketball is not exactly a sport, but they do play street basketball in the States and it does have officially sanctioned events. Haralson plays Billy, the white guy that nobody thinks can shoot hoops. Sydney (Wesley Snipes) is the ultimate street basketball player, he’s got the skill, the moves, the attitude, but he misses in the clutch situation. A great duo is born when the two team up. Haralson compliments Snipes’ skills by having a range of good passes, the defence and delivering the clutch shots. The movie is not really about white men that can’t dunk. Haralson hits a dunk at the end of the film. Rather the movie is about teamwork, team chemistry and trusting your teammate. I love the unclipped shots of Snipes and Haralson hitting their shots in the movie.

#5 – Jerry McGuire
Starring Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jnr and Reese Witherspoon

SHOW ME THE MONEY!!! There are some films where all you have to do is mention a line from the film or sing a song and everyone in the room instantly knows what you are talking about. This film is definitely one of them. As a sports agent Cruise hits rock bottom when he is fired and his only hope lies in his last client, an American Football player (Cuba). Witherspoon leaves her job to join Cruise as he starts a new sports agency along with a fish that Cruise steals as he leaves the old company. The relationship that Cruise and Cuba build throughout the film enables them both to achieve on and off the sports field. It’s a serious feel-good film. Cuba won an Oscar. You can watch this film with your girlfriend as the relationship between Cruise and Witherspoon provides the romance. The only downside is that after watching the film with your lady, you won’t again be able to use the can’t fail lines of YOU HAD ME AT HELLO.... and YOU COMPLETE ME.

#4 – Major League Baseball
Starring Charlie Sheen and Wesley Snipes

No matter how many times I see Charlie Sheen in the series “Two and a half men”, I can’t help thinking, there goes WILD THING. Yes, that’s the power of this film. Next time you’re sitting with your mates just say WILD THING! out of the blue... Then watch as they instantly either start singing the theme song to this film or start rolling on the floor laughing. Although the film is about baseball and Sheen plays a young pitcher, fans around the world when watching any sport still look at the ground’s gates when things are not going their sides way... and they hope to hear the music and see WILD THING step through the gates and save their team. You know it’s true.

#3 – The Natural
Starring Robert Redford

I encountered this film one late evening while watching the networks play old films or re-runs, and this film blew me away. Grab your TV guide and see when it is playing again or go and rent this movie at the local video store. Redford plays a young baseball prodigy who seemingly has it all, and perhaps could be the greatest ever. Then before even starting a game in the bug league, he is shot. Fifteen years later he finally gets his chance in the big league. Older, wiser, but still carrying physical and emotional injuries from being shot all those years ago, Redford begins to play a season that will go down as one of the greatest. I am not a Robert Redford fan (Sorry Mom.), but his performance in this film blew me away just like he blew out the floodlights when hitting his last homerun. This is a must see for any fan of sport movies.

#2 – Victory
Starring Pele, Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine.

The symbolism in this film is what draws you in. Yes it’s great to see Stallone as a goalkeeper and Pele as the dream striker. But here we have a game of soccer being used to show that evil (in this case the Nazi’s) can be defeated. Delivering probably one of his greatest performances, Michael Caine plays the coach of a team of prisoners that will play a match against a team representing the Nazi’s. You’ve got to enjoy Stallone’s performance as a goalkeeper. And Pele’s bicycle goal at the end... Glad to see the great man on TV and not just promoting “performance enhancing” medication in those creepy adverts.

#1 – Rocky
Starring Sylvester Stallone aka Rocky Balboa

I could have listed as least three of the six Rocky movies in the top ten of sport movies. That just wouldn’t be fair to the other movies. If you have never watched a Rocky movie before, then you’re either dead or lying. How many young guys wanted to by Rocky? How many people want to start running up steps when they begin to hear the intro to the Rocky theme music and Eye of the Tiger. How many times has a bigger guy looked at you the wrong way and you thought, he’s lucky that I don’t go Rocky on his #$$. The film established Stallone as a Superstar. The film encapsulated everything it means to be a sports athlete and a sports fan. If you didn’t like one Rocky then you don’t like sports. That’s how guys should test if a potential girl is the one for them. Put on a Rocky film. Let her watch with you. If she shouts “COME ON ROCKY!!!” Get on your knees... You’ve got a keeper.

Let me know your top ten people.

TIA - This is Africa 2010 (Part 1)

THIS IS AFRICA – 2010 (Part 1)

In the world of sport down can be up, up can be down, gravity may appear not to exist for a moment and in another instant the world can be crashing down all around you. In the world of sport things are different. Promises can be broken (See Tiger Woods – Yes I went there!!! He cheated. He broke his marriage vows to his swimsuit model wife. He disappointed his fans and all important sponsers. Yes, I so care...) Rules can also be broken in sports. Most times at a profit to the perpetrator. (See Diego Maradona’s hand and Thierry Henry’s arm – In Henry’s defence, it is called handball. Yes, I am not Irish. And yes I so care about the poor Irish...)

And yes, all of the above is my way of saying that though I promised an article every week, as a sports fan, living very much in the world of sport, I decided to break a rule and a promise. My profound apologies though. I have come to learn that Tiger Woods, Thierry Henry and John Terry (thought I’d throw that in) are not good role models. So from now on I will not be following their “bad” examples.

Without further ado... Let’s begin to analyse and preview the upcoming FIFA 2010 World Cup. Firstly the World Cup is to be held in South Africa, my homeland. How cool is that?? Okay, no funny sarcasm there, it really is ultra cool. Funnily enough, in Africa and South Africa, a unique quality is shared with the sporting world. Rules and promises can be broken. In fact they often are...

So what are the golden rules in a FIFA World Cup? Here is a quick reminder:
1. The home nation always does better than expected. (Yip, my beloved Bafana are well on their way to shattering this rule. I still believe though. I know deep down others believe too... Right?)
2. The favourites never do well at the World Cup. (Spain are the number 1 side in the world and the favourites by default. Have you seen Spain play recently?? Not do well? Not an option.)
3. Brazil are the only side to win the World Cup outside of their own continent. (This is technically a flawed rule. Argentina did win the World Cup in Mexico, Central America – So I’m ignoring this rule)
4. Since 1982 only five countries – Italy, Germany, Brazil, Argentina and France – have played in a World Cup final match. Will this rule be broken? Undecided. Decision pending...

Remember this is Africa. This is sport. Up can be down. Tiger Woods cheated (apparently quite frequently). Hand ball fouls can lead to vital goals... Anything is possible. Really. Anything is possible!! Honduras, North Korea and New Zealand actually qualified for the World Cup!! Unbelievable?? Please come back gravity...

How to preview a World Cup?? Group-by-group?? Okay. These predictions are based purely on football tactics, history, skill and are totally impartial. (Except for any and all predictions concerning Australia.)

GROUP A – SOUTH AFRICA, MEXICO, URAGUAY, FRANCE
Trivia: All the sides in this group have hosted the World Cup. South Africa will officially host the World Cup in 2010. Sepp Blatter said so. Jacob Zuma said it too. You don’t get more trustworthy people.

So who will be progressing to the knockout stage? Not France. Yes, there’s the whole karma thing. (apparently it is handball when you deliberately control the ball with your own arm Mr. Henry) The fact is that this French side is playing in the shadows of the 1998 World Cup winning French team, and in the even lengthier shadow cast by the retired Zinedine Zidane. A draw against both Mexico and Uraguay is the best that this French side can hope for. Then a do-or-die fixture against the hosts South Africa in the final group stage match awaits. That match will be played in Bloemfontein. After their stay in the wonderful city of Bloemfontein, and their match against the Steven Pienaar led Bafana, the French may be glad that they will be going home early.

Expect Uraguay, Mexico and South Africa to fight for the top two qualifying places. By the time of the final group match all four teams in this group will still have a chance of qualifying for the second round. Mexico v Uraguay; France v South Africa.

Prediction: Uraguay to top the group. South Africa to finish second.
Mexico and France to go home.

GROUP B – ARGENTINA, NIGERIA, KOREA, GREECE
Trivia(1): At the 1994 World Cup in the USA, a group contained Nigeria, Greece, Argentina and Bulgaria. Greece left that World Cup without scoring a goal or earning a point. Argentina finished third in the group but still advanced do to absurd rule that the best third placed sides could progress to the second round.
Trivia(2): Outside of the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup, Korea have only beaten Togo at Germany 2006 in World Cup matches.

This is a tough draw for all the teams in the group. But the team that has suffered most from the “luck of the draw” must surely be Korea. First match v Greece. Second match v Argentina. When they arrive in Durban to play Nigeria their final group match it is highly likely that the mathematicians will have already calculated that the Koreans have no chance to progress to the second round.

The Nigerians will play with great passion and should be well supported. The Nigerian population (legal or not) is considerable in the bigger urban cities in South Africa. The Nigerian football side should sadly leave South Africa well before their immigrant countrymen. This is not the great Nigerian side of Okocha and Oliseh. Do not get too excited about the Nigerian’s chances.

So this group has been termed the “group of death”. It shouldn’t be though. By the time the final game between Greece and Argentina kicks off, we’ll know that both these sides have already qualified for the knockout phase. Unlike most, I do not see Argentina progressing much further than quarter-finals at best and if Greece get that far it would be an achievement. (Really it will. Ask your Greek friend? You don’t have one?? Well they’d lie anyway.)

Prediction: Argentina and Greece to progress (Not very far though)
Korea and Nigeria to stumble out.

GROUP C – ENGLAND, USA, ALGERIA, SLOVENIA
Trivia(1): Algeria were the underdogs when they beat their fierce rivals Egypt in a play-off match to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
Trivia(2): Slovenia were the underdogs when they beat their fierce rivals Russia in a play-off match to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

Trivia(3): The last time that England played against the USA at the World Cup, the USA won.
The underdogs vs the favourites. That is how this group is shaping up. Oh, I do smell an upset... And if there is going to be a favourite that bows out in this group, the feeling is that it will be the arrogant English. The USA have proven that they are a strong soccer nation (eg. Confederations Cup 2009). England will arrive with their Premier League stars, a “has-been” from Milan and all the wives and girlfriends. (Hmm... trouble?)

Perhaps the most interesting factor in this group is that the 2nd placed side will go on to face the 1st placed side in the group of Germany, Ghana, Serbia and Australia. An early England exit (I like..). An England v Germany 2nd round knockout game (I like more..) I can picture Wayne Rooney missing the vital kick in the penalty shoot-out vs Germany already. (Quick fact: Germany have never lost a penalty shootout in competitive competition – EVER)
The darkhorse in the group is Algeria. Expect the Algerians to cause the USA and England to earn their places in the 2nd round. Also, expect Algeria to self-destruct in the final group game vs the USA in Pretoria. (“not that type of self-destruct Mr. Bin Laden”)

Prediction: England to top the group followed by the USA (“No upset. Sigh.”)
Algeria and Slovenia. Thanks for coming.

GROUP D – GERMANY, AUSTRALIA, SERBIA, GHANA
Trivia(1): The game between Serbia and Australia will be a fierce rivalry. How so? Eastern Europeans vs Australia? Consider the fact that hundreds of Australian sportsmen an women are formerly from the old Yugoslavia. The Serbs hate the Australians. The game will be hot. Red hot!
Trivia(2): I don’t like Australia or Australians.
Trivia(3): Australia are the bullies of World Soccer. They qualified in the Asian regional qualifiers by physically bullying the less physical Asian nations on the soccer field. Can they use such physical tactics against Germany, Serbia and Ghana? Sure they can, and they will try. Can they be successful with that tactic in this group... (Think Ballack, Vidic, Essien – Okay now picture Ballack, Vidic, Essien) Nope, don’t think that tactic will work. Sorry Mate.

This is the group of death. There is no group favourite and really all we know for sure is that Australia won’t be staying long in South Africa. (Big Smile) Between Ghana, Germany and Serbia a coin flip could decide who will progress. Ghana’s remarkable performance at the recent Afcon in Angola, where they made the final with practically just their under 23 players, puts them through. Germany for... well being Germany get the nod over Serbia.

Prediction: Ghana inspired by the African World Cup top the group. Germany finish 2nd and paly England in the last 16. Wayne Rooney misses a crucial penalty and the English cry off home, again. (I love that look on the English faces when they get knocked out. That “we’re English – give our ball back” look. Love it.)
Serbia and Australia to fight on the plane home.