I know this would be a lot higher on most others' list. It's a good movie, as much so for the civil rights and segregation aspect as the football. My dad actually went to grad school with the real Ronnie "Sunshine" Bass, who basically said that the embellishments for the sake of the movie were over the top. Art imitates life, but sometimes, it doesn't. This one is a look at T.C. Williams High School, struggling for a title in the midst of integration. It stars Denzel Washington, Ryan Hurst (Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead), and Ryan Gosling before he was Ryan Gosling.9. Above the Rim (1994) - Basketball
I saw this in the theater in high school, as I was in love with the game of basketball and rap music - two things this movie offers plenty of. Kyle Lee Watson is a talented young point guard, in the midst of being recruited by Georgetown in the John Thompson era. But Kyle has a hot head, he thinks he's invincible, and he's caught in the throes of right and wrong when he's introduced to Birdie (Tupac Shakur), a talent scout who moonlights as a street savvy drug dealer. Only Birdie's brother, Thomas "Shep" Sheppard, can help save Kyle from himself, and from the iron talons of Birdie.8. Youngblood (1986) - Hockey
This was a childhood favorite in one of Patrick Swayze's best roles. It stars Rob Lowe as Dean Youngblood, a minor league hockey player with a serious nose for the goal. He signs on with the Hamilton Mustangs to confront the guy whose roster spot he took, bearded goon Carl Racki. I've never really been into hockey, mainly because I have such a hard time following the puck, but this is a great movie. Lowe is good, Swayze is better, and it even features a young Keanu Reeves before he was Keanu Reeves.7. Heaven is a Playground (1991) - Basketball
This was my summer theme movie in '93, as I'd watch it, then go play ball literally all day with my friends. The music is cheesy, as is some of the acting, but man, what a great story. Despite the bad music, the score is good, played underneath all the right moments of the movie. Zack is a former college basketball player from upstate Illinois who comes to Cabrini Green in inner city Chicago for some play. He sticks out like a sore thumb until he befriends Byron, a local talent scout with an altruistic edge, and a crew of misfits in need of a coach. This one has good basketball action, featuring NBA talent Hakeem Olajuwan and Bo Kimble, and has a good message of redemption and brotherhood.6. Any Given Sunday (1999) - Football
This is likely the most eye-opening look into the life of an NFL player - exaggerated slightly of course, as it is an Oliver Stone movie. Be that as it may, Stone creates interesting player-characters in quarterback Willie Beamen (Jamie Foxx), running back Julian Washington (LL Cool J), and linebacker Luther Lavay (Lawrence Taylor). This is a gritty movie that shows the ins and outs of what it's like to be an aging quarterback, a third-string overnight sensation, and a team that encounters quite a bit of infighting over their own egos. League teams are created for the movie, featuring the Miami Sharks, the San Francisco Knights, the Wisconsin Icemen, and the Oregon Pioneers.5. White Men Can't Jump (1992) - Basketball
This was a favorite of mine in high school for a several reasons. The lead character's name was Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson), which is basically my name, William Hoyle. Billy and frenemy Sidney Deane (Wesley Snipes) have a relationship that nearly mirrors the dynamic between me and my childhood friend, Lawrence. Third, it's about basketball, which was life to me at the time this came out. The acting is stellar is this flick, as funny as it is exciting.4. Over the Top (1987) - Arm Wrestling
I loved this one as a kid too. I just recently watched it again to find that it had aged exceptionally well. Arm wrestling is not a traditional sport like some of the others on the list, but there does exist some major tournaments with boatloads of prize money. Over the Top is not just about arm wrestling. It's also about the bonds between estranged father and son, the true meaning of happiness, and ultimate forgiveness.3. Rocky III (1982) - Boxing
Rocky III is my favorite of the franchise. In it, we get to see Rocky have it all, lose it, forget everything he's ever learned, and rewire himself completely for a finale to remember. In this one, we also get to see Rocky Balboa take on a little more swagger than he boasts in the other movies, likely because he's trained by his greatest nemesis, the always flashy Apollo Creed. Rocky takes on Hulk Hogan as professional wrestler Thunderlips, Mr. T as the baddie with an attitude, Clubber Lang, and himself when loses all the confidence he's ever had only to rediscover it again.2. Best of the Best (1989) - Martial Arts
This has plenty of cheese in it, but it's also a great story, and it's kind of a tear-jerker. It brings in a ragtag crew of martial artists onto the US National Karate team for competition against South Korea, which includes a Korean-American martial arts instructor, a retired widower raising a son by himself, a cowboy, a Buddhist, and an Italian-American street tough. Oh yeah, and Darth Vader (James Earl Jones) is their coach. The competition at the end is excellent, but it couldn't have happened without the tragic intricacies leading up to it.1. Friday Night Lights (2004) - Football
As far as football movies go, Friday Night Lights really set the bar high. Shot documentary style, it follows the Permian Panthers' 1988 season. Based on a book with characters that were actual players on the team, the movie chronicles the ups and downs of the season, from poverty to bitter relationships to career-ending injuries on their way to the Texas state high school playoffs. Friday Night Lights is true-to-life and guttural, heartfelt and brutal on the way to being the best sports movie ever made in my opinion.
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