It's been my habit before I play a crucial league game that I watch an inspiring Sports Film. Whether I watch it thru DVD or at You Tube, there's always been particular scenes and quotes that captivated my mind and I use it as motivation to succeed and compete. What I love in Sports Films is the passion, the competitive nature of the sport the actors play and how they pick themselves up after defeat. I'm at great awe especially to the coaches and how they motivate each player to give every ounce of energy, effort and determination to will their teams to victory amidst harsh circumstances and obstacles they face.
So now, here is my Top 5 Sports Films and take a look if you agree to these:
1. Remember The Titans
(image by: www.listal.com)
Starring: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst, Kate Bosworth and Ryan Gosling
Directed by: Boaz Yakin
Plot: A true to life story where Coach Herman Boone (Washington) is hired to coach the TC Williams High School Titans football team where his hiring relegated incumbent Coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) to assistant coach and defensive coordinator of the team. Black and White members of the team had to adapt and obey the dictatorship system of Boone in order to be able to make the team and play. After a grueling Training Camp in Johannesburg, the players were able to set pride and race aside and established themselves as a formidable team thru the leadership of co-captains Gary Bertier (Ryan Hurst) and Julius Campbell (Wood Harris). In conference play, it was stated that TC Williams High School was the only school where Black and White players compose the members of team. TC Williams went on to finish the season undefeated and 1st runner up at the Virginia High School state championship.
Coach Bill Yoast portrayed by Wll Patton
(image by: www.killerfrogs.com)
Memorable quote: Coach Yoast, "All right now, I don't want them to gain another yard! You BLITZ ALL NIGHT! If they cross the line of scrimmage, I'll take every last one of you out! You make sure they remember FOREVER the night they played the Titans!"
2. Miracle
(image by: www.amazon.com)
Starring: Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Noah Emmerich, Sean McCann, Kenneth Welsh and Eddie Cahil
Directed by: Gavin O' Connor
Plot: This film is a docudrama that circles around the United States Mens Hockey Team during the 1980 Winter Olympics. Coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) interviews in front of the United States Olympic Committee. He discussed his philosophy and strategy on how to beat the mighty Soviet Union. Members of team compose of talented stars from the collegiate ranks. Coming in to the competition, the Soviets have won the Olympic Gold Medal in 5 of the last 6 Olympics including 4 straight since 1964. The US and Soviet Union would eventually face-off in the first medal round where the US would beat the Soviet Union with a score of 4-3. Two days after, the US beat Finland 4-2 and claim the Gold medal for the 1980 Men's Hockey Competition.
Coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) pre-game speech
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Memorable quote: Coach Brooks, "Great moments...are born from great opportunity. And that's what you have here, tonight, boys. That's what you've earned here tonight. One game. If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game, not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them...and we shut them down because we can! Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players. Every one of you. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets have. Screw 'em. This is your time! Now go out there and take it!"
3. D3: The Mighty Ducks
(image by: www.amazon.com)
Starring: Emilio Estevez, Joshua Jackson, Jeffrey Nordling, David Selby and Kenan Thompson
Directed by: Robert Lieberman
Plot: The 3rd and final installment of the Mighty Ducks Trilogy which revolves on hockey in the area of Minneapolis, USA. Here the Mighty Ducks, fresh from winning the gold medal in the Junior Goodwill Games embark on another journey as the team received full athletic scholarships to Eden Hall Academy. They will have cope up the loss of their longtime Coach Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) who's been recruited by the Junior Goodwill Games committee. A new coach in former Minnesota North Stars standout Ted Orion (Jeffrey Nordling) shifts the team's philosophy by playing "two-way" hockey. The team continues to figure out their new identity but along the way they would have to cross paths with the Eden Hall Varsity team and prove to the school and alumni that they belong to the Eden Hall Academy.
Coach Ted Orion (Jeffrey Nordling) during one of the Mighty Ducks practices
(image by: www.laststand.us)
Memorable quote: Coach Ted Orion, "Confidence. Listen, if you learn nothin' else when you're here, you learn this, all right? This is not just about hockey. It's easy to be confident when you have control of the puck. It's very, very difficult to keep that confidence when you gotta take whatever strange bounces life throws your way. Don't be careless, but don't be too careful either. You cannot be afraid to lose! That's how you gain the confidence to attack the game when the puck isn't yours. That's how you attack life... even when you think you don't have any control. And that's how you play real defense."
4. Coach Carter
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Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Ashanti, Rob Brown, Antwon Tanner, Channing Tatum and Rick Gonzalez
Directed by: Thomas Carter
Plot: A true story based on the Richmond High School Oilers Basketball Team in California. Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) a former alumnus and star of the Oilers Basketball Team comes back and instills discipline and respect to the members of the team which they sorely lack. Coach Carter made the players sign contract which states that they maintain a 2.3 GPA for them to play in the team. Richmond would go on to make headlines as they were forced to forfeit a couple of games because Coach Carter had been forced to lock the gym because his players are not eligible to play based on their GPA as reported by their professors.
Coach Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) consoles the Richmond Oilers after their loss to St. Francis
(image by: www.virtual-history.com)
5. Finding Forrester
(image by: www.amazon.com)
Starring: Sean Connery, Rob Brown, F. Murray Abraham, Busta Rhymes and Anna Paquin
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Plot: Jamal Wallace (Rob Brown) a sixteen year old high school basketball player recruited by Mailor Callow via a full athletic and academic scholarship cross paths with William Forrester (Sean Connery). Forrester, a famous author in the twilight of his life agrees to help young Jamal improve his writing as long as he does not ask William about his personal life. Jamal and William would go on and develop an interesting friendship until the untimely death of William which would change Jamal Wallace's life forever.
William Forrester (Sean Connery) lectures Jamal Wallace (Rob Brown) on his writing
(image by: Columbia Pictures, Inc.)
Memorable quote: William Forrester: "Dear Jamal, Someone I once knew wrote that we walk away from our dreams afraid that we may fail or worse yet, afraid we may succeed. You need to know that while I knew so very early that you would realize your dreams, I never imagined I would once again realize my own. Seasons change young man, and while I may have waited until the winter of my life, to see the things I've seen this past year, there is no doubt I would have waited too long, had it not been for you."
