Now is the perfect time to watch iconic and entertaining sports movies.
Sports movies often have a big impact as characters defy odds and overcome challenges.
“It shows every part of what it takes to be on a team despite where you come from,” said senior Ari S.
The film “Rocky” is centered around Rocky Balboa [Sylvester Stallone], a poor boxer from Philadelphia who is put into a match with heavyweight champion Apollo Creed [Carl Weathers]. Rocky meets a woman named Adrian [Talia Shire] and falls in love with her. Before the fight, Rocky’s true goal is to go the distance and prove himself to Creed, as well as the world. In the end, (without providing too many spoilers), Rocky wins what matters most, making this one of the most critically acclaimed and highest regarded movies of all time. According to Variety.com, Rocky made $225 million at the box office. According to Officialdata.org Rocky would have made $978 million today.
Physical education teacher and coach Augustus Contressa expressed his love for the film “Rocky,” citing the theme of hard work.
“When you do get the fame, you can lose it if you don’t do all the right things,” said Contressa.
The movie “Remember the Titans” is based on the true story of Herman Boone [Denzel Washington], a high school football coach in Virginia in the year 1971. Following the integration of an all-black school and an all-white school, the town reacts in negative ways. However, as the team begins to succeed, thanks in large part to Boone’s coaching, they are forced to look past their outdated beliefs and grow as a society. Led by Denzel Washington’s outstanding and commanding performance, this film is a must-watch for football fans and movie lovers alike.
Introduction to Video Production teacher and coach David Moran spoke about “Remember the Titans.”
“Sometimes there is tough love and sometimes there’s a time when you just back off and support the kid,” said Moran. Moran also emphasized the idea of finding ways to bring the team together.
“Field of Dreams” is centered around Ray Kinsella [Kevin Costner], a farmer from Iowa. After hearing a voice say “if you build it, he will come,” near his cornfields, Ray decides to take action and build a baseball field on his land. Ray soon discovers ghosts of former baseball greats coming out of the cornfields, led by Shoeless Joe Jackson [Ray Liotta]. As Ray soon finds out, this has a deeper message to his own life than he originally thought. “Field of Dreams” is a true classic, with an iconic story and incredible performances by Costner, Liotta, and the late James Earl Jones.
“I use a lot of the passion in “Field of Dreams,” just the love for the sport, they [characters] talk about how it’s the greatest sport of all time and America’s pastime and they have a lot of heart for the game,” said Physical education teacher and coach Matthew Salmon. “It was inspirational as he loved the game and did not give up on his dream.”
“A League of Their Own” is a movie about a women’s baseball league throughout the years of World War II. Since many men went to war at this time, women were playing baseball instead of the men for entertainment. Geena Davis stars as a player and Tom Hanks is the coach of the team who offers both humor and inspiration throughout the film. Another star of the movie, Rosie O’Donnell, is an alumna of the graduating class of 1980.
“The famous quote, ‘there’s no crying in baseball,’ says that you are allowed to be emotional, but it’s important to move on from things quickly,” said Salmon. “I have three daughters and for them to see that women can play what is known as a man’s sport.”◼️
