Film study: The Denver Post sports department’s favorite sports movies to ride out the coronavirus

Need a palate cleanser after seven depraved episodes of “Tiger King”?

Well, we have just the collection for you: Our favorite sports movies — a list that runs the gamut from the dramatic (“Rocky”) to the comedic (“Slap Shot”) to the absurd (“Talladega Nights”), and even leaves room for a little bowling (“The Big Lebowski”).

So you’ve got that going for you, which is nice.

“The Bad News Bears” (1976)

This comedy put girl power on the pitching mound and the angst of awkward youth at every position on the field for a bunch of misfit kids and a has-been drunk of a coach. On the surface, the movie was a comedy, but anyone who has suffered the cruelty of childhood can relate to the hardships these players have to overcome, including having a coach (Walter Matthau) who initially serves as yet another adult who fails them. Even the team’s athletically gifted 11-year-old pitcher (Tatum O’Neal) has had enough of the disappointments of childhood and tries to rush into womanhood. The true power of this film is when these underdogs quit fighting with one another to fight for one another — and became a team. — TJ Hutchinson

“Rocky” (1976)

The power of sports movies to inspire us to believe in the impossible can be traced to the 1976 premiere of “Rocky” — the unlikely rise of a street-wise Philadelphia boxer to contend for the world heavyweight title. “Rocky” won Academy Awards for best picture, director and film editing for how it forever changed the way sports movies were viewed. The training montages, fight scenes and inspirational message were all well ahead of their time. The dialogue, admittedly, doesn’t age well with some cringe-worthy exchanges between Rocky and Adrian. But no film in cinema history embodies the spirit of the American sports underdog quite like the original. “Rocky” is timeless. — Kyle Fredrickson

“Slap Shot” (1977)

The “Hard Day’s Night” of sports flicks, a Paul Newman tour de force with a script — 75% cynical, 25% saccharine — that’ll stick to your soul. Nancy Dowd’s hilariously profane dialogue, like her characters, pulls no punches, a narrative inspired by her brother’s exploits riding the buses around hockey’s minor leagues. Like its contemporary film “Network,” it’s equal parts absurd and true, a time capsule of a ’70s that never left us. Plants still close. Leagues still fold. Towns still welcome teams into their collective bosoms, while dispassionate owners still treat them as tax losses. “Bull Durham” owes this flick a huge debt of gratitude, starting with at least $750 up front. Or about what it cost Ned Braden to bail the Hanson Brothers outta the joint.  — Sean Keeler

“Caddyshack” (1980)

One of the greatest sports movies of all time also happens to be one of the funniest comedies ever made. Tragically, one of its writers, Doug Kenney, who was also a writer on “Animal House,” died before the film widely panned by critics evolved into a timeless cult classic. There are too many quotes to list, as well as hilarious performances from the likes of Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and Rodney Dangerfield. But for my money, it’s Ted Knight as elitist jerk Judge Smails who truly steals the show. — Matt Schubert

“Raging Bull” (1980)

In his autobiography, boxer Jake La Motta wrote: “Sometimes, at night, when I look back, I feel like I’m looking at an old black-and-white movie of myself.” Robert De Niro turned the violence and self-destructive tendencies of La Motta’s life into a brutal ballet. Most sports movies get the sports scenes all wrong. Through meticulous choreography, director Martin Scorsese transformed his bull in the ring into a living, breathing nightmare. The 10 minutes of boxing in this movie took nine weeks to shoot, as many weeks as were required to put two hours of scenes outside the ring on film. “He ain’t pretty no more,” uttered by mob boss Tommy Como after La Motta maims a foe, is a line that haunts nearly 40 years after the first time I heard it. No brag, just fact: “Raging Bull” is the undefeated champ of sports movies. No flick on this list is even in the same league. — Mark Kiszla

“Hoosiers” (1986)

“Welcome to Indiana basketball.” That quote by Gene Hackman’s character, Norman Dale, provides just one of the goose bump moments in a movie as much about redemption as sport, and it comes in unexpected places. Remember a starcrossed University of New Mexico coach from the 1970s? It can’t be an accident that the former Lobos boss was Norman … Dale … Ellenberger, who was born and raised in Indiana. The redemption in “Hoosiers” might be fiction, but the underdog story is real, based on the 1954 Milan High Indiana state champions. The real Bobby Plump begat the fictitious Jimmy Chitwood. “Run the picket fence” again, because this classic never gets old. — Mike Judson

“Bull Durham” (1988)

The dialog is the all-star in the best baseball movie of all time. “Relax, all right? Don’t try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they’re fascist. Throw some ground balls – it’s more democratic.” Words of wisdom that weary, veteran catcher “Crash” Davis imparts to Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh, the fireball pitching prospect with the five-cent head. Kevin Costner, as “Crash,” is the best baseball “actor” ever. Tim Robbins, as Nuke, has ridiculous pitching mechanics, but he’s a perfect screwball. The romance between Crash and minor-league groupie Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon) is sweet, smart and sexy. The humor and colorful depiction of life in the minors make this a genuine classic. — Patrick Saunders  

“Field of Dreams” (1989)

There are so many things to love about this film, from its smoky mysticism, to its sweeping panoramas, to its profound portrait of 20th century American life. This is all masterfully done, of course, through the lens of baseball, and the meaning the game has given to a country and its culture. As James Earl Jones’ character, Terence Mann, says during his riveting monologue, “Baseball has marked the time.” In the end, however, this movie is really a story about a father and son who missed a chance at reconciliation and the ability to share the game they both love. The final scene — “You want to have a catch?” — gets me every time. — Matt Schubert

“A League of Their Own” (1992)

An all-star cast including Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Garry Marshall, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell and Jon Lovitz take us back to the 1940s. As America’s men head off to fight in World War II, women pick up bats in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Director Penny Marshall showcases the tug-of-war between women’s old roles and their new opportunities through the women who come together to play for the Rockford (Ill.) Peaches. — Lori Punko

“The Sandlot” (1993)

A classic coming-of-age film set in Southern California in 1962, protagonist Scotty Smalls, hardball hero Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez and the rest of “The Sandlot” nine offer a perfectly crafted glimpse into how one summer of baseball can shape lives and friendships forever. Tom Guiry is compelling as Smalls, Patrick Renna offers an all-time classic character in trash-talking Ham Porter, and Chauncey Leopardi delivers a hilarious performance as Squints, who pulls off the feat of the summer by tricking beautiful teenage lifeguard Wendy Peffercorn into kissing him. From battles with “The Beast” for a baseball signed by “some lady” named Babe Ruth, to the whole team vomiting on a spinning carnival ride because of chewing tobacco, and through the final scene — “The Jet stole home! The Jet stole home” — no sports movie will ever top David Mickey Evans’ masterpiece. — Kyle Newman

“Happy Gilmore” (1996)

The fact that a movie can inspire a generation of golfers to hit a ball “Gilmore style” is testament enough to its staying power. With his bad-boy attitude and childish antics, Happy Gilmore made golf fun. And that drove Shooter McGavin insane. Who couldn’t relate to grandma? Who hasn’t ever channeled their inner Chubbs Peterson on the green? A movie that’s imminently rewatchable, dangerously quotable and features Bob Barker throwing haymakers is a rare trifecta. Adam Sandler had his duds. This “tap it in” classic wasn’t one of them. — Mike Singer

“Tin Cup” (1996)

If you are a sports fan and play golf, then you have seen this classic 1990’s movie with Kevin Costner as Roy McAvoy. McAvoy, aka Tin Cup, is a washed up golf pro who makes his living working at a beat-down driving range in West Texas. The movie is not only a sports flick but a love story as McAvoy tries to win the heart of a competitor’s girlfriend after falling for her during private lessons at his range. But the best way to win the heart of a fellow golfer’s woman is to qualify for the U.S. Open… at least that is what McAvoy tries to do. Throw in unforgettable one liners and you have the makings of a funny golf movie that is still quoted by golfers today. — Jeff Bailey

“The Big Lebowski” (1998)

Some might call it a stretch to include this movie in a collection of great sports films. Yeah, well, that’s just like their opinion, man. “This is not ‘Nam. … There are rules,” Walter Sobchak might object. This aggression will not stand. Say what you will about the tenets of sports movies, dude, at least this cult classic has bowling in it. Sure, it strays a little from the lanes, snaking its way through the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles as the Dude tries to crack a complicated case with a lot of ins, a lot of outs, a lot of what-have-yous. But as long as you’re not into the whole brevity thing, it really ties this list together. Made me laugh to beat the band. Parts, anyway. — Matt Schubert

“Remember the Titans” (2000)

Loosely based on the real-life story of high school football coach Herman Boone, this feel-good, inspirational movie tackles the racial integration of T.C. Williams High School in 1971 Virginia. Denzel Washington plays Boone, who navigates combining two football squads separated by the color of their skin into one cohesive unit. Friendship and camaraderie are forged on the gridiron amid the backdrop of their racially divided environment. It’s more than simply success on the field, it’s a lesson in acceptance and inclusion. — Joe Nguyen

“Seabiscuit” (2003)

On the rare occurrence “Seabiscuit” is on television, I always put the remote down. It is expertly directed by Gary Ross and the acting is terrific, led by Tobey Maguire (jockey Red Pollard), Chris Cooper (trainer Tom Smith) and Jeff Bridges (thoroughbred owner Charles Howard). This movie was of interest to me because years ago, I was the horse racing writer for the Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star, which included covering all of the Triple Crown races, the Breeders’ Cup and the Saratoga Race Course season. Based on Laura Hillenbrand’s best-seller, “Seabiscuit: An American Legend,” the movie tells the story of how the horse became a lovable underdog during the late 1930s and how Pollard was the perfect jockey for him. The film includes Pollard’s recovery from a serious riding accident and how Smith and Pollard went about handling the temperamental horse. — Ryan O’Halloran

“Miracle” (2004)

“Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” was the call from Al Michaels after the underdog U.S. men’s hockey team beat the Soviets in the 1980 Winter Games. We all know how the story ends, but this film depicts how this team got there. Head coach Herb Brooks, played brilliantly by Kurt Russell, turns rival college players from the University of Minnesota and Boston University, among others, into a team that can compete on the world’s stage. Thanks to “Miracle,” every young hockey player cringes when he hears a coach yell “AGAIN!” in reference to the infamous scene where the players are made to skate “Herbies” until they drop. Unfortunately, Brooks, who was an adviser on the film, died in a car accident in 2003 before the movie was released. — Lori Punko

“Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” (2006)

This stock-car spoof has fast cars, an absentee father, a roaring tiger, a gold-digging wife, obnoxious children and an obscene amount of product placements from Ricky Bobby’s Wonder Bread racing suit to dinnertime grace presented by PowerAde. Bobby (Will Ferrell) and his racing partner Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reilly). They even have a signature racing move – “shake-n-bake.” Ferrell’s silly, and sometime stupid, comedy may be a bit of an acquired taste, but “Talladega Nights” is chock-full of funny scenes that will keep you laughing until you spit out your Mountain Dew. — Lori Punko

“Moneyball” (2011)

This a true story about how a budget-conscience general manager in charge of a small-market team and young whiz kid successfully reinvented baseball from an analytical perspective in 2002. The story tugs at your heart because Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane (played by Brad Pitt) was a former sure-fire star outfielder who turned into a bust. And now he’s building a team with broken-down parts because he believes in young and inexperienced executive Peter Brand (Jonah Hill). The A’s didn’t win the 2002 World Series but they did win their division with 103 victories, including an American League-record 20 consecutive games. The movie ends with Beane earning a GM interview with Boston Red Sox owner John Henry at Fenway Park. And Beane turns down the massive contract to return to the game he and Brand invented in Oakland. — Mike Chambers