The Top 10 Sports Moments in Sports Movies
Let’s say you turn on ESPN Classic and they are running a “Top 10” special on a series of great sports moments and you get kind of interested so you keep watching. Then at a commercial break you check the guide and see one of the Rocky films is playing a few channels away. You flip over and watch a few minutes and before you know it your Sunday that was supposed to involve fixing things around the house has turned into a ping pong match between your two programs. So, how about we cut out the middle man and put the two events together: a “Top 10” list that involves the greatest sports moments from sports movies. Before we begin, however, there are a few small rules: First the movie has to be fictional. It would take too long to combine all the real sports moments that were transferred to the silver screen. Therefore, Miracle and Rudy are out. Real events that were completely changed for the movie still count, so Hoosiers and Slap Shot are in. Second, these have to be sports movie moments that occur in a sporting event from the movie. Quotes don’t count and neither do things like practice or moments from a character’s childhood. Third, only one moment per movie. Alright, now that we’ve got the rules out of the way, here’s the
TOP 10 SPORTS MOMENTS IN SPORTS MOVIES (WARNING SPOILERS)
10. SLAP SHOT (1977) - The Hanson Line Enters
With his season (and life of the team) slipping away, player/coach of the Federal League’s Charlestown Chiefs, Reggie Dunlop, finally decides to put in the recently acquired Hanson Brothers into the game. Jeff, Steve and Dave proceed to wreak havoc on the ice. The crush their opponents into the boards, trip the goalie, smack a slap shot that hits the organist in the head, and all before starting a brawl that results in their ejection. The creation of the Hanson Line so inspires the Chiefs and their fans that they go on to win the Federal League Championship. The team, however, still folds at the end of the season. (NOTE: The Hanson Brothers are based on the Carlson brothers who played together in Minnesota. Though two of the Carlson Brothers play Hanson Brothers in the movie, the 3rd was called up to the NHL.)
9. FIELD OF DREAMS (1989) - Archie’s Sac Fly
While attending a baseball game at Fenway Park, Ray Kinsella again hears the voice and this time the voice delivers a message on the center field scoreboard: Archibald “Moonlight” Graham, a former New York Giants player who played only one game, in 1905, and never got to bat. Kinsella later meets Graham as an elderly physician and then again as a hitchhiking teenager. Ray brings Archie to Iowa, where the young man plays a game with an all-star team of ghostly pros. When he finally gets a chance to bat, he nearly takes one in the ear, before delivering a sacrifice fly to score a run. Ironically, the plate appearance is not ruled as an at-bat, because of the sacrifice. (NOTE: Though Archibald “Moonlight” Graham was a real life person who appeared in only one major league game with the Giants, the game he is a part of in Field of Dreams is entirely fictional, allowing it to qualify for the list.)
8. THE BAD NEWS BEARS (1976) – Leak reaches for a hit
In the Little League baseball finals, the defending champion Yankees (sponsored by Denny’s) decide they are going to intentionally walk the would-be tying run. The batter for the Bears (sponsored by Chico’s Bail Bonds) is centerfielder Kelly Leak, a wringer who was brought on board to help the cellar-dwellers and their coach, Morris Buttermaker, get a little revenge on the Yankees. Buttermaker gives Leak the sign to reach out and take a swing at an intentional ball, knowing that it’s the only chance his team has at winning. Leak crushes the ball and makes a mad dash around the bases, but he is thrown out at home. The out gives the title to the Yankees. Despite losing, Buttermaker and the Bears celebrate with a few beers and an up yours to the Yankees.
7. TIN CUP (1996) – McAvoy’s 12
Roy“Tin Cup” McAvoy, a driving range pro from Salome, Texas, has stunned the sports world with an out of no where run to take the lead into the final day at the U.S. Open. Matched with his former college teammate David Sims on the final day, McAvoy takes the lead to the 18th where he can conceivably win with a par. After watching his hated opponent lay up in front of the water, rather than go for a birdie and the win, Roy decides to go for it himself. As he has done in the previous 3 days, McAvoy lands in the water. Annoyed that he again fell short, Roy avoids the advice of his caddy and goes for it again. Again he hits the water. And again, and again, and again. Finally, with no shot at winning, Roy is down to his last ball. If he puts this one in the drink he’s eliminated from the tournament. McAvoy finally crushes it well over the water and the ball rolls down the green and into the cup for a “12.”
6. CADDYSHACK (1980) - Noonan’s ball drops
The clash of the classes hits its climax at Nebraska’s Bushwood Country Club as self-made construction mogul Al Czervik has bowed out of his pairs money match with club champion Dr. Beeper and club member Judge Smails, due to a “broken arm.” Czervik’s partner, the normally talented Ty Webb has picked Smails’ caddy, Danny Noonan to take Czervik’s place. With Webb a mental mess, Noonan leads the team back by the 18th and has a chance to tie if he can hit a long distance put. Before he takes his shot, Czervik and Smails go double or nothing on the bet, now $80,000 dollars. Noonan’s put hangs on the edge of the cup, giving the money to Smails and Dr. Beeper. Suddenly an explosion in the distance (later revealed to be explosives ignited by assistant groundskeeper Carl Spackler) rocks the green and Noonan’s put falls, giving the victory to Czervik and Webb. Of course Czervik uses the assistance of “Moose” and “Rocco” to collect from Judge Smails.
5. Hoosiers (1986) - Shooter runs the picket fence
Chipwood’s game winning jumper and Ollie’s foul shots both happened in real life so it’s on to pick #3 from Hoosiers: Shooter running the picket fence. The alcoholic father of Everett Flatch, having failed at his previous attempt to lead the team following an ejection of coach Norman Dale, is given a second chance. Now sober and with a chance for his team to win, Shooter calls for the picket fence: an unusual play where the big men line up, allowing a swing man to get the ball and put up an open jumper. Prior to breaking the huddle Shooter reminds his boys to not “get caught watching the paint dry!” The play works and the town drunk is hailed as the hero.
4. ROCKY II (1979) - Rocky survives the double count
After going the distance in a million-to-one fight against Heavyweight Boxing Champion Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa agrees to a re-match that again goes the distance. Entering the 15th and final round the two exhausted boxers slug it out, until Rocky finally delivers a blow that knocks both men to the ground. The referee begins to count both men down as they try to scrape themselves off the canvas. At 9, Creed slumps back into his corner, while Balboa reaches his feet just before 10. The club fighter from Philadelphia has shocked the world, becoming the Heavyweight Champion.
3. MAJOR LEAGUE (1989) - Taylor’s Bunt wins the pennant
Just edging out Wild Thing’s entry from the bull pen to strike out the Yankees’ Haywood, Indians catcher Jake Taylor steps to the plate with a chance to drive home Willie Mays Hayes from second and win the pennant, ending decades of futility in Cleveland. Taylor makes a Ruthian gesture to the outfield, as if to call his shot, but is knocked down with the next pitch. Taylor gets up, refusing to dust off the dirt, and again points to the wall in center. On the proceeding pitch, he suns everyone with a bunt. Bad knees and all Taylor beats out the throw to 1st, that was played by the 3rd baseman who was way back. The late throw is then turned at home, where Hayes has a chance to score from second. He does and the Indians and Cleveland go crazy.
2. THE KARATE KID (1984) - LaRusso’s Crane kick
Thanks to the training of his sensei, Mr. Miyagi, the new kid from Jersey, Daniel LaRusso has made it to the semi-finals of the All Valley under 18 Karate Tournament. In that match he suffers a knee injury that will take him “out of commission.” Thanks to a healing rub (not that kind of rub) from Miyagi, LaRusso returns to take on the town bully Johnny Lawrence, of the Corba Chi dojo Of course. (“Daniel LaRusso’s going to fight? DANIEL LARUSSO’S GOING TO FIGHT!”) With the match tied at 2, LaRusso pulls out his last ditch effort to put away Lawrence: The Crane Kick. After watching Miyagi execute it on the beach, LaRusso delivers it perfectly, scoring the final point and getting the win.
1. THE NATURAL (1984) - Hobbs puts the lights out
Over the hill rookie Roy Hobbs has lit up the Major Leagues after joining the last place New York Knights mid way though another losing season. Almost single handedly he turns the team around and gives them a chance to win the pennant on the last day of the season if they can just win. In the 9th inning, with a chance to win the game and blood from a previous wound seeping through his clothes, Hobbs crushes the game winning home run into the light tower, exploding the lights and sending sparks thought out the night sky. The win completes a life long dream for Hobbs, and removes the Knights from the clutches of the evil majority shareholder. (NOTE: In the book, Hobbs takes the money and strikes out.)