My Top 3 Sports Movies
Just like sports, I have always considered movies to be a great form of entertainment. Athletes and actors are always portrayed as larger than life figures even though they are everyday humans just like the rest of us. Whether it’s going to a movie or a sporting event, I have always looked at those outings as a great way to get away from the everyday hustle and bustle of life. Now, when it comes to a good sports movie, I get the best of both worlds — especially the ones that are based on a true story.
Real-life stories really inspire and motivate me. Growing up, classic sports movies that would come to mind were Sandlot, Cool Runnings, Basketball Diaries, and Rudy. They were all great “feel good” stories of struggle and triumph. My top three sports movies (not in any specific order) were Hoop Dreams, Any Given Sunday, and Above the Rim. Each of my top three movies really hit home and motivated or inspired me to do better in and out of sports.
As a kid, watching Hoop Dreams gave me hope. It was the story of two inner city youths, their documented lives and the paths they took to try to make it to the NBA. As I watched Hoop Dreams, I connected with the main characters, Arthur Agee and William Gates. They were a little older than me, but I had hoop dreams of trying to make it to the NBA as well. I watched the struggles Arthur and William had to deal with and the adversity they had to overcome and I tried to make sure I didn’t have the same problems. From dealing with family drug problems, to girls, to even going to a private school, I could relate. Watching them maneuver through life — as teenagers — helped prepare me for high school, and all the things that come along with trying to grow up in an under-resourced community. It helped me keep my eye on the prize. Although neither Arthur or William made it to the NBA, the film showed just because one dream may not be met doesn’t mean you should give up on life. As one door closed, another would open, which was one of the lessons I took from Hoop Dreams.
Any Given Sunday was amazing for so many reasons. It also had a loaded cast and a lot of valuable lessons. The title — in itself — rings true for football players, which is one of the main reasons I loved this movie. The movie showed how on “any given Sunday” — as long as you work as a team — you can accomplish great things. It showed the professional side of what it means to make it and play in the NFL. The movie also showed how to overcome adversity. Jamie Foxx was the “new kid on the block.” As he took over the reins from his team’s aging QB, it was like a changing of the guards. He had to win over their entire team. While doing so, he also had to figure out how to deal with all the new stardom he was not used to beforehand. While he made some mistakes along the way, by the end of the movie, he was able to lead his team to victory. He ultimately learned to realign and reprioritize what mattered most. The movie told a great underdog story. It shed light on how hard it can be for someone to succeed if they are thrown into the fire too soon. Jamie Foxx’s character revealed how quickly pro athletes must learn to balance and navigate their lives on and off the field. He had to be ready to go — Any Given Sunday.
Rounding out my top 3 is another great basketball movie — Above the Rim. When the movie dropped, I felt it was way before its time, plus it had a star-studded cast led by Duane Martin and the great Tupac Shakur. For me, it was an eye-opening film about overcoming past mistakes and staying away from the wrong crowd. Duane Martin was a promising college basketball prospect, but he had some friends that hung out with the wrong crowd, and wanted him to do the same. His single mom was doing all she could to work and keep him out of trouble. I could relate — I grew up in a house with just my brothers and mom. As Duane Martin’s character got more attention from college scouts, he was also getting more attention from the wrong crowd, which was led by Tupac Shakur. He was offering Duane Martin money and all the wrong ways to gain notoriety. The lifestyle Tupac lived in the movie seemed glamorous, but Duane Martin’s character provided an example of how hard many inner-city youth try to avoid trouble and street life. He was determined to achieve something better for him and his family. To this day, whenever Above the Rim comes on television, I watch it.
— Jonathan Waddell
