5 Top Sports Movies of All Time

You will find many different websites that will give you a similar list but I will tell you this, my list is from the bottom of a movie lover's heart and anyone who says otherwise is itching for a fight. As serious as I am about this list, it pales in comparison to how serious I am about movies. With that said, these are the top movies that will forever be why I love sports today.

Coming in at number five is the 1996 film, "Jerry Maguire" starring Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Renee Zellweger. This film shows the love of sports through the unconventional eyes of the sports agent. I have had several friends become professional athletes and this movie made me want to become an agent. Cruise plays Jerry Maguire, the over ambitions mega agent who reveals his conscience after one of his clients is hurt while playing in a game. Cuba Gooding Jr. was awarded the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor playing the role of Maguire's client, the arrogant yet charismatic NFL wide receiver, Rod Tidwell. Tidwell and Maguire find the true meaning of the game as they help each other find the true meaning of life in the crazy world of professional sports. This movie is highly recommended for football fans and has all the components for regular sports fans as well. It gives you plenty of bravado at the same time touching on the more holism nature of sports. Jerry Maguire is available at Best Buy and Amazon.

Lucky number four is the 1980 comedy, "The Caddy Shack" which is not only my pick for top sports movie but also makes my list for best golf movie, ever. Forget Tiger Woods, give me the groundskeeper, the gofer and a water hose and I'm golden. This hilarious salute to the time honored tradition of the golf caddy, stars comedy giants Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Ted Knight, and Rodney Dangerfield. Appropriately nicknamed the "Animal House" of sports movies "The Caddy Shack" takes us through the lives of a group of seemingly hard working golf caddies as they prepare for the annual Caddy Day golf tournament. Although the game of golf is not the main focus of the movie it serves as the perfect backdrop to the countless amount of shenanigans that develop at the, well respected upscale Bushwood Country Club. Ted Knight plays the prudish and egotistical co founder of the country club, Judge Elihu Smails who takes a liking to young golf star and caddy Danny Nooman, played by Michael O'Keefe. Golf never look so fun when Danny becomes the caddy for free spirited playboy, Ty Webb played by Chevy Chase, in a friendly competition of match play golf against Judge Smails and his doctor friend for a wager of $40,000. Webb chooses as his partner none other than Rodney Dangerfeild, playing the flamboyant newly rich real estate tycoon Al Czervik. The wager is increased as Czervik bows out in the middle of the match only to insist that Danny finish the game and raises the wager to $80,000. The overall lesson of the movie is to not be a snob, don't count out the underdog and never underestimate a younger opponent unless you have $80,000 to lose. "Caddy Shack" is available on Amazon.

Filling out the number three spot is the unforgettable 1986 high school football comedy, "Wildcats". Goldie Hawn serves as every high school football players fantasy and also plays their new head coach, Molly McGrath. This movie touches on an issue that I am wondering will ever be addressed. Why aren't there more women football coaches. I grew up in the Midwest and women know just as much about football as men. So barring the obvious locker room troubles "Wildcats" delivers coach McGrath, who is the daughter of a famous football coach who dreams of being a coach herself someday. Her dreams are fulfilled as she is given the head coach position at an inner city high school. The film points out the 800 pound gorilla right away as the students immediately reject the idea of having a female head coach. The players include Woody Harrelson, Wesley Snipes, and Mykelti Williamson, who plays Lavander "Bird" Williams, the star quarterback who makes a deal with the new coach to come back to school and help lead the Wildcats to victory. Through skepticism and doubt coach McGrath proves her critics wrong by winning the state championship despite only having the minimum amount of players to play the game. This movie is one of the best underdog stories and will forever ask the question "When will a woman coach a pro football team?" You can find "Wildcats" on Amazon and at Best Buy.

The runner up for the top spot at number two is the movie "Field of Dreams". Kevin Kostner brings us all home to play a little baseball in the backyard and makes us all believe in magic as he plays Iowa farmer, Ray Kinsella who begins to hear voices as his family struggles to keep his farm. The iconic phrase "If you build it, he will come." is the message that repeats to Kinsella who interprets it as a calling to build a baseball diamond on his land. James Earl Jones joins the cast as writer, Terence Mann who helps Kinsella find out what the message truly means. Upon building the diamond we see the magic as the ghosts of Shoeless Joe Jackson and the other seven Chicago White Sox players banned from the game for throwing the 1919 World Series. A must see for any baseball fan and a delightful walk through baseball history for others. This film is one of, if not the best baseball film of all time and truly tells the reason why it is Americas past time. You can find "Field of Dreams" at Best Buy and on Amazon.

Finally at the number one spot is the same in this poll as it is in most on the subject. None other than the 1986 drama, "Hoosiers". Based on a true story, this film covers it all. The coach with the dodgy past, Norman Dale, played by Academy Award winner Gene Hackman and the town drunk, Wilbur 'Shooter' Flatch, played by Academy Award nominee, Dennis Hopper who join together to lead an unruly group of teens to victory playing basketball at an Indiana high school. Riddled with life's obstacles Coach Dale is determined to bring this team together using the basic fundamentals of the game and shows the town that they can win. I have never been a good basketball player but I always believed that if Coach Dale taught me how to play I could be great. Filled with touching moments and real life drama this film creates a love for team sports as a whole and teaches the old adage of, never give up. It is sure to be found at any video store but can also be found at Best Buy and on Amazon.

Although your list may differ with mine I'm sure you will find these films to be well worth the time to watch. You can find more titles to view at ESPN.com and at Filmsite.org.