Top 5 Sports Movies in My Book

With seeing The Blindside and watching Remember the Titans on the way home from St.George, I thought to myself "I smell another blog topic coming on." You bet, I was thinking to myself, "what are the top 5 sports movies I've seen?" Obviously this topic is based off a matter of personal opinion and will cause some debate, but it's still a fun topic to discuss. I'm not going to lie, some of the movies on this list might be rated R. Judge me if you like, but I know a damn good movie when I see one. So without further delay, let's dive into the wonderful world of Chris' mind.
Also, I'd like to point out, take my advice and watch these flicks. Rated R or not, I'm sure I'll get a text message or phone call thanking me.

5. The Program - 1993
Nothing brings out American athletics like steroids, a drunk driving arrest, and kids that aren't able to spell their names right on their SAT's. Still, in my opinion, one of the best football movies of our generation. I hate to say it, but there is programs out there just in shambles as the one portrayed in this flick. (See USC, and see why Pete Carrol bolted to the NFL. What a shocker he left..........). I'm not sure what the best scene in the movie is, the part where Guns N' Roses is playing during training camp where they are lighting each other up or when Lattimer smashes his face through a car window upon finding out he's on the starting defense? You have to feel for some of the characters, a Heisman hopeful quarterback who's dad would rather sail away with Captain Morgan on the couch than watch one of his games. An all-American linebacker, who reads on a 3rd grade level and banking on the NFL, blows his knee out against Iowa and never plays again. Realistic or not, you get an idea of what kind of crap college coaches have to sweep under the rug on a daily basis.

4. Blue Chips - 1992
Nick Nolte's finest flick, and we are talking pre-him setting the record for most coke done in a year. A story of a storied basketball program that's on tougher times (Gee where have I seen this? Take a look 20 minutes south on the rocky mountains and you'll see the same thing). The director couldn't have picked a better guy for the job than Nick Nolte. The man cusses like a sailor, drinks a chilled glass of scotch after get blown out, and punts basketball's into the stands. Who in the world wouldn't want to play for this guy? Plus, Penny Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal make an appearance in the movie. Trust me, Shaq isn't as bad in this as he was in his movie Kazam. Watch two minutes of Kazam and you will literally start burning yourself with lit cigarettes. Basically, Nolte has to resort to dishing out cash, tractors, and Mercedes to get these kids to come to his program. Sit down and watch this flick. Even in the first 5 minutes, the intro will give you absolute chills.

3. Major League - 1989
One of the first movies I watched when I was little, on television when it was edited of course.......... Anyhow, an all-star cast. Tom Berenger, Wesley Snipes (pre-tax fraud), the voodoo dude from the All-State commercials, and Charlie Sheen, who was able to step away from picking up prostitutes to make an appearance. Now I don't remember much from the 80's besides watching Def Leppard's music video Pour Some Sugar On Me but I hear the Cleveland Indians were just awful. Couldn't have picked a better franchise to give a miracle run to the pennant. Besides, is there a better part in a movie than where Charlie Sheen rolls out to Wild Thing to close a game out? Agreed he looks like he should be working on his science project with those classes but that scene fires you up. I remember I got the same entrance in little league(Nicholls Field)when I needed to close out a team with Rand Sargent at the plate. Only problem is I was the size of John Kruk. So obviously, I can relate to this movie. That and Bob Uecker downing a bottle of Jack Daniels Hot Rod Hundley style during his broadcast.

2. Rudy - 1993
Not going to lie, one of the first movies I've ever cried to, not counting Fox and the Hound. The story of a kid with zero athletic ability, who was always told No, and walks on at one of the most storied college football programs in the country. The amazing part of it, the movie is a true story. Rudy actually lived in the janitor break room, sunk all his money he had going to Holy Cross to bring his grades up, and took a savage beating on the scout team for 2 years. Here's the part where you tear up. First, when he leads the team out of the tunnel onto the field with his parents there is when you start getting gushy. You go overboard when he gets the sack at the end of the game and the team carries him off the field. The ultimate "no one said I could do it" story. Rudy is a true American hero if you ask me.

1. Rocky IV
I used to watch this movie over and over when I was little. This was a toss up with Rudy. It boiled down to Rocky IV is the ultimate underdog wins movie. A movie where in real life where no one would give Rocky a chance in hell to beat Drago. The only thing I could really relate it to was Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson when everyone in the world thought Tyson was the baddest man on the planet. Everything from the training scenes, which I might add have all been grueling in every Rocky movie, to him beating Drago at the end. Sorry if I ruined the movie, but if you haven't seen Rocky IV than you should flat out be ashamed of yourself. It should be a jail able offense if you haven't seen it. In a world where we are still fighting with the Russians, Rocky goes into Communist country and smokes the roided up Ivan Drago. Now to be realistic, any fighter would be dead after taking a beating like Rocky did against Drago. However, that's what makes the upset so spectacular. Drago is the ultimate killing machine, he's indestructible. This little 202 lb Italian Tank runs over Drago and wins the hearts of Russia, and in the end makes you have goosebumps all over your body.

Honorable Mentions:
We Are Marshall, Friday Night Lights, Varsity Blues, Hoosiers, Bloodsport, Rocky 1-Balboa, Above the Rim, and Hoop Dreams.