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What makes a great sports movie? A captivating, loveable underdog story? The action sequences? The actors? Was it made in the late 1980s or early 1990s? Better yet, what makes a great sports movie montage? These are all questions that beg to be answered and this is an argument worth having.
Let’s rank ’em.
10. Remember the Titans (2000), “Long Cool Woman”
Add a soulful 70s track to grainy, home video footage and you’ve got sports movie magic. “You cannot replace a Gerry Bertier.”
9. D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994), “The Quack Attack is back, Jack!”
When your nation calls you to duty to take down the mighty Vikings from Iceland, you have no other choice.
8. Rocky III (1982), “Beach Training”
When it comes to movie montages, the “Rocky” series is the gold standard. We’ll see more of the Italian Stallion later.
7. The Mighty Ducks (1992) “Come on. I’ll get you your own jersey…”
The ultimate ’90s kid’s fantasy. You and your team in a sporting goods store with a $15,000 budget with Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch playing in the background.
6. The Natural (1984) “Losing is a disease”
While most montages focus on the turnaround that leads to postseason glory, this one focuses on a team’s desperate attempt at saving its season. If only they knew they had the best there ever was sitting on their bench. It even features a nutshot.
5. The Sandlot (1993) “Bertram got really into the ’60s, and no one ever saw him again…”
No, I don’t cry-laugh at this scene every time.
4. Varsity Blues (1999) “The Hungover Game”
I don’t care what you say, this is the most underrated sports movie of all time. Bud Kilmer tossing the clipboard and slamming his headset in slow motion set to AC/DC is what makes it. “HOPE IT WAS FUN!”
3. Major League (1989), “Pennant Fever”
Nothing like seeing Roger Dorn taking fungo balls to the face and upper torso to symbolize the Indians turnaround towards the playoffs. Add cheesy synthesizer music and you’ve got everything you could ever want out of a sports movie montage.
2. Rocky IV (1985) “Hearts On Fire”
I’m going to get a lot of flack for not putting this #1, but for me, there’s still one that’s better.
1. Little Big League (1994), “Runaround Sue”
Look, “Little Big League” is the most underappreciated sports movie of all time. I’ll go one step further. Little Big League is the best sports movie of all time. The “Runaround Sue” montage is pure art and if you disagree, fuck you. “Welcome back, Lou Collins!”
Honorable mention: Rudy (1993), “Tryouts”
I’m not crying. You’re crying.
Respond
Brian McGannon
What do I love? I love happy hour, a good golf tan, and getting moderately drunk during dinner.
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Dude total miss not having the Rocky IV lambo drive/flash back scene. That might be the greatest montage in all movie history!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R7PGVylziWs
The bar we all went to in college had “Runaround Sue” on the jukebox, I shudder to think how many dollars I pumped into that thing. The fact that I repeatedly danced around the bar spilling drinks reenacting that montage probably explains the lack of women I went home with in college.
This is solid. But I’m disappointed that you chose Little Big League or Rookie of the Year.
http://www.battleofcali.com/2013/9/27/4777810/the-d2-the-mighty-ducks-rollerblading-sequence-analyzed
This always bugged me, plus I would be fucking pissed if some kids ran into me in the skyway.
Rocky vs Drago for the win. “I must break you.”
No Angels in the Outfield? For shame
You could definitely throw A League of Their Own in there. Hell, you could put the other Rocky IV (fuck regular numbers) montage in there, after Apollo dies.
It’s a shame the only time I can watch Little Big League is late night on Showtime or the rare showing on MLB Network