Inspirational Movies - Sports Movies Revisited

-by Jaime Willis

Good afternoon achievers! I read Matt's post this morning about inspirational sports movies and was inspired! Inspired to disagree with his Top Five, that is. So, without further ado, I present the real Top Five Inspirational Sports Movies.

#1: Coach Carter (2005)

When Ken Carter takes the high school basketball coaching job at his Richmond, CA alma mater, he means business. Coach Carter strives to improve his players ability and their lives with strict rules about dress code, conduct, and academic performance. When the team starts doing well on the court, they get sloppy off the court. Carter benches the team and you'll have to watch to find out what happens next.

#2 The Blind Side (2009)

Based on a true story and adapted from the bestselling book by Michael Lewis, The Blind Side tells the story of a young homeless teenager in Memphis Tennessee who is taken in by an affluent family from the other side of town. Michael Oher may not be up to grade level academically, but he is a beast on the football field. In a family where football is king, the Tuohys do everything they can to support Michael both on and off the field.

#3 A League of Their Own ( 1992)

This movie tells the tale of the women's professional baseball league through the eyes of two sisters who made the cut. Not only does this movie offer a fine acting job by Madonna, but it is also the source of the often co-opted line, "There's no crying in baseball!"

#4 Murderball (2005)

A documentary about the real life heroes of a full-contact rugby team on their quest for the Olympics. The catch? The entire team is made up of paraplegics who play the sport in specially designed wheelchairs. You will rethink life in a wheelchair after watching these guys play their hearts out.

#5 Over the Top (1987)

I know you were thinking I'd have to bring up Rocky at some point, but I have to say that Stallone's finest work was in this non-Rocky flick about a struggling truck-driver named Lincoln Hawk trying to re-establish a connection with his son by competing in a national arm-wrestling competition. This is also the movie that gives us the signature "I mean business" move -- putting your hat on backwards!

BONUS:

Cool Runnings (1993)

How can you not be inspired by the trials of the first Jamaican bobsled team to compete in the Winter Olympics? The fact that John Candy acts as the coach is just icing on the cake.