From the Bottom to the Top

The Film "Million Dollar Baby" starring Clint Eastwood (Frankie), Hillary Swank (Maggie), and Morgan Freeman (Scrap) displays an interesting story plot with an interesting array of characters. Maggie is a lower class lifetime waitress from Missouri who shows up in Los Angeles at a run down gym called the "Hit Pit" owned by Frankie. Maggie wants to train to become a boxer, however Frankie turns her down saying "he doesn't train girls". After a while and a few incidents, Frankie ends up agreeing to train maggie with the influence of Scrap, the narrator of the movie.

Maggie thought she was self-proclaimed "white trash" and incapable of achieving a successful lifestyle unless she pursued a career in boxing. With much hard work and behind Frankie the trainer, Maggie becomes a well known name in women's boxing and eventually fights for a total bout. But after a sucker-punch from behind, she is left paralyzed and eventually chooses to die rather than suffer through life incapable of performing her everyday tasks.

The movie overall is a very good picture seeing as it won multiple academy awards and certainly kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters became easy to root for being a underdog trying to overcome adversities to achieve victory. Hilary Swank does an absolutely phenomenal job portraying maggie as fiery and fierce competitor willing to do whatever it takes to achieve what she wants. All of the elements that make up a good sports movie. The directing and narration of the film are very well displayed and the effects and lighting really add an element of interest to the film. The terrible and sad ending really does not sit well with me, despite the whole film being very well producted.

What makes a "True Underdog"

I must say I have seen a great deal of sports movies. Most movies based on stories based on sports triumphs or victories are very serious and keep you on the edge of your seat. "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" really exemplifies what makes a great film. Yes, it is a comedy with senseless humor and a few vulgar acts. But the plot line behind this movie is certainly among one of the best for sports movies that I have seen. How can you do much better than a group of grown men playing a typical high school gym class game competitively to save the place that love with everything in them, Average Joe's Gymnasium.

When big gym business manager "White Goodman" (played by Ben Stiller) tries to acquire the property of Average Joe's and wants to tear it down to build a parking lot, due to Average Joe's $50,000 debt to the bank, manager Peter LaFluer (played by Vince Vaughn) and his group of loyal misfits try to defend to place they love with the best idea that they could come up with. Enter the Las Vegas Internation Open Dodgeball Tournament. An event that I am not sure even takes place. However with all that being said, the story of Average Joe's making it to the top of the dodgeball world is a truly epic and heroic story of an underdog coming together to defeat all odds.

Average Joe's team consists of a grown man who claims to be a pirate, Steve the Pirate; a typical high school kid...who was distraught over not making the cheerleading squad, Justin; ex airport employees Dwight and Owen. And not to mention the bank lawyer who Globo Gym (owned by White Goodman) had on their case to overtake Average Joes, Kathrine Veech. Watching this movie, you really see what a true group of misfits this Average Joes team is, especially compared to a dominantly athletic team from Globo Gym, the Purple Cobras. After Average Joes sneaks into the tournament in a qualifying match due to a girl scout that took steroids, they rattled off five straight victories against competitive teams from around the world.

Before the championship game against Globo Gym, long time dodgeball coach Patches O'houlihan is killed in a freak accident at the bar. Team captain, Peter LaFluer is distraught by the loss, and White Goodman tried to pay him off $100,000 to throw the championship game. Peter initially accepts the bribe and books a plane ticket home. However, after searching inside himself, and with a little help from supporting actor, Lance Armstrong, Peter decide to join the team at the last second, and they end up defeating Globo Gym in sudden death to win the championship, and the $50,000 prize. Peter took the $100,000 that White offered him to throw the game, and bet it on Average Joes to win. Being 50 to 1 underdogs, Peter ends up winning over 5 million dollars. Enough to buy Globo Gym. Yes, this movie is absolutely hilarious and a very unrealistic comedic movie. But the obstacles overcome by the Average Joes team with a cause behind them, really does make a true great sports movie. You find yourself rooting for them throughout the whole tournament especially with rival Globo Gym being the favorites. I would personally not make a  pitch for "Dodgeball" to be in the category as best sports movies of all time, however if your looking for a  good laugh and a great story line, this is a movie I would highly recommend.

Mojo: Just a Game or a Way of Life?

There is no opposing argument for me. Friday Night Lights is the best sports movie of all time. No movie I have ever watched more accurately depicts the true emotions, passion, and dedication within high school football. And not just high school football, Texas high school football. Shops in the town of Odessa close down on game day, the players are celebrities within their own high schools, and coaches make salaries as high as hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The movie spotlights an array of characters, such as quarterback Mike Winchell, full back Don Billingsley, super star running back James "Boobie" Miles, and defensive end Ivory Christian. As well as head coach Gary Gaines, who feels more pressure than any one else in the entire town. "Mojo" is the rally cry for the entire small town of Odessa. Throught out the town, the constant cheers of "Go Mojo" bring together a poverty stricken community like nothing else could. The Odessa-Permian High School team starts off the season with a devastating injury to division I prospect running back, Boobie Miles. After that, the team is distraught and loses the second game of the season. For a perennial power house in West Texas football, losing a district game brings about much criticism towards head coach Gary Gaines, and the players themselves. Just being 18 years old, and having the pressure of "protecting the town" in which they live is an enormous responsibility. The team ends up over coming the adversity they faced and sneaking into the district playoffs on a coin toss. With emergence of back up running back Chris Comer in the wake of Boobie Miles' injury, Odessa-Permian defeated every team en route to the state championship game, in with they face all-black school Dallas-Carter. Heavily favored Dallas-Carter jumped out to an early game lead, but after an inspiring half time speech by the normally soft spoken Ivory Christian and head coach Gary Gaines, the Panthers mounted a come back, only to have Mike Winchell fall about a yard short from scoring the game winning touchdown. In a small but tight-nit community such as Odessa, the pressure put on these kids is unbelievable.

The saddest scenes to me were the morning after Don Billingsley got into a verbal altercation with his father (played by Tim Mcgraw), the two attempted to talk things out the next morning. Billingsleys's father states that his senior year of football at Odessa-Permian was the only thing he had, and it still gets him through life to that day. To be brought up in a culture when one year, one season of football, and possibly even one play can decide whether or not you are self-fulfilled for the rest of your life is a sad concept to me, however, it is a way of life in Texas. Another heart-breaking scene is when Boobie Miles is sitting on his front porch with his severely injured leg. Boobie had had dreams of playing for a division I college and then going to the pros and being able to support himself and his closest living family member, his beloved uncle L.V. However, because of the injury, Boobie had based his entire life on football, and had nothing to fall back on. Boobie overlooks the street to see a garbage man unloading trash, and realizes instead of playing professional football, his life occupation could be remaining in Odessa with a minimum wage job.

The absolute emotional roller coaster that this movie brings you on is unmatched by any sports movie out there, or possibly any movie. It is impossible not to root for the Permian Panthers in their journey towards a state championship. To this day, when I rematch the ending of the movie, I still think that one time, Mike Winchell can carry the pile of Dallas-Carter players into the end zone, and score the game winning touchdown to win the state championship for Permian. And everyone can live happily ever after. However, that has yet to happen, and the end of this movie still leaves me in disappointment. Not disappointment in the making of the film, but that the Panthers could not win the state championship.

The Fab Five

 I've seen a lot of ESPN Films and all the 30 for 30s and have come to one conclusion. The best ESPN Films documentaries are always about a dominant college sports program and their problems off the field. For example "The U" about the Miami Hurricanes, "Pony Excess" about the 1980s SMU teams. However, the best one of all is definitely "The Fab Five" about the early 1990's Michigan Men's Basketball team. The Fab Five are 5 freshman recruits by head coach Steve Fisher. They revolutionized basketball as we see it today. Those guys are responsible for the way we watch and view basketball either college or the NBA. Baggy shorts, black socks, bald heads and a playing style like no one had seen before. These guys were exactly what basketball needed. Yeah, Jalen Rose was kind of a thug. But he admitted to everything he accepted and did wrong. Chris Webber's image has been tarnished due to this film. Ever since that time out he called when Michigan was out of time outs. Resultoing in a technical foul in the final 20 seconds of the 1992 NCAA championship game against UNC. My favorite part is when Michigan first plays Duke in the freshman year of the "Fab Five". Just seeing their faces of pure hate and disgust to this day when talking about Duke and their players. "Christian Laettner is a bitch" "I hated Duke" "I thought Christian Laettner was a big pussy." Words straight from the mouths of the players. I absolutely love this because it portrays how these players really felt. Just down, dirty and straight to the point. These guys were just straight thugs. So much swag. Words can not even describe it. A lot of people can say that they invented swag. Well they're wrong. "The Fab Five" without a doubt invented swag. They just didn't care what anybody thought about them. They just went out and balled and did their thing. Yeah, it is unfortunate about getting stripped of their title. But who from that era didn't? SMU, The U, and the Fab Five. Three teams that will go down in history as probably some of the most talented NCAA teams ever assembled.

Fab Five

Standing in 30 for 30


Rating: 1 out of 39 to date

It is a Sad Day

I can remember being about 5 years old. Sitting on my couch flipping through channels with my dad on our big box like TV in the living room. The first Red Sox game I ever watched, Tim Wakefield was pitching. I had played baseball for 3 years already, but it was that t-ball and coach pitch crap. Being 8 was the shit because that was when we got to start pitching. I saw Wake pitch and for some reason decided the best way to make it to the majors was to lob the ball and that would K kids up like no tomorrow. Well needless to say, with Wake being my role model, not knowing anything about pitching or knuckleballs, I pitched the first game of season...didn't step on the mound for the rest of the year. Anyways, Wake is one of my favorite all-time sox. He's got swag for days. It probably is about time to hang up the cleats Timmy, but dammit I'm going to miss watching you pitch.

In the words of a wise man, Go Sox.

Lebron entertains question of return to Cleveland

“

I had a lot of fun times (in Cleveland). ... I'm here as a Miami player and I'm happy where I am now but I don't rule (a return) out in any sense. If I decide to come back, hopefully the fans will accept me.

”-- LeBron James on Cavs return
Lebron, I dont hate you as much as everyone else, because I feel bad you always have a microscope on every action you make. And that sucks, I'd love for the guy to just be able to go out and play basketball because he's nasty. No one can question that, Boston, LA, or Cleveland fans alike. I respect the fact that you left Cleveland to follow the championship and not the money, but what has assembled in Miami is not going to win a championship until they can really come together as a team. Still not a Lebron fan. However, I think Lebron, Kyrie Irving, and maybe another early round stud to come out of the draft could equal a certain championship in Cleveland. 

A Nation of Sports Fans

Think about it. What are the two best things in this world? Sports and America, our great country itself. Living in this country is what gives us the ability to have all these great teams to cheer for and the other freedoms and liberties of living in a free country. This country is separated into "nations" of sports fans.
An American's patriotism is only matched by a true sports fan's love for their favorite team. Everyone in that nation has the same pride and passion for their team as we as Americans have for our country. There are certainly a couple good examples of the pride and dedication shown towards a country, for a sports team. "Buckeye Nation" in central Ohio over the Ohio State Buckeyes represents something so much bigger than sports. It represents a family of people connected by only one thing, Ohio State. A group of people much like America, a wide array of people united for for one common interest.

However, with all that being said, only on few occasions has America as a whole country really come together over a sports team. The most famous would have to be the movie "Miracle, based on the 1980 U.S.A. Olympic Men's Hockey. The Americans were a group of college kids puzzled together to take on the best countries in the world including an seemingly unbeatable powerhouse hockey team, the Soviet Union. The game was also built-up due to the rising tension between the countries at the time, where the Cold War, high gas prices, and the Iranian Hostage Crisis caused Americans in general a downward mood towards the country. We needed something to be excited about. The olympics were the perfect thing to come along. The uproar that built throughout the country in support of our countries hockey team.  
One country uniting together over one team, there is nothing else in this world that can bring people together like being a fan, and supporting your country at the same time.

Come on America. What is all of this about national unrest over the economy, violence, and crime. If we were all a fan once in a while, no one would have a problem. If everyone had something to be a part of, we would be a happier grow as a whole. People don't realize that no matter what sports team were a fan, were all part of one group of supporters; we are all Americans. We should all fight for our country just like we would fight our favorite team. I hope this blog has given you a little patriotism and you go out and cheer on the next recreational basketball game you see like its Celtics vs. Lakers in game 7 of the NBA championship game. It's always good to be a fan once in a while. No matter what "nation" you are a part of.