Top 5 Underrated SPorts Movies

I have always liked sports movies. But, rather than pick the obvious, winning the game at the last minute movie or the usual biopic that everyone else picks, I chose my top 5 list of underappreciated sports movies.

5. Bad New Bears - I am talking of course about the original 1976 movie, not the, definitely inferior, remake with Billy Bob Thornton. This movie has always held a special place in my heart.

What can I say, I have a soft spot for beer-guzzling grumpy old men. Seriously though, I always root for the underdog, and you couldn't pick a more sad team than the bears. The best pitcher on the team is a tomboy and not one of the kids at the beginning could catch a fly ball if it was dropped into their glove.

And, no matter how grumpy or nasty Walther Matthau's Coach Buttermaker got, he still made you smile. I know I wanted the bears to win against some of the more arrogant opponents. But, rather than have the usual come from behind win, this team showed spirit and spunk. It was sweet, but wasn't too much so, with a little bit of bite. Would it ever win an award for best movie? No, but as said at the end of the movie, "Just wait till Next year."

4. The Longest Yard - I am definitely talking about the original movie from 1974 with Burt Reynolds. Frankly Adam Sandler couldn't hold a candle to his performance.

This movie combines a worldview of the rough and tumble action of football with the cynical, nasty world of prison. When Burt Reynold's character is forced to play we really want him to win. I understand that the movie usually lowers itself into a macho, testosterone-filled zone, but that is part of the fun.

The Longest Yard is definitely what my friends would call a "Man's" movie, reaching out to our basest, pride-bearing instincts. And, sometimes that's enough for us to enjoy it.

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3. League of their own - Most of these sports movies are about men playing games and being rough with each other. Penny Marshall gave us another side. Not necessarily a softer side. These women were just as competitive as any men playing the game.

The only thing I didn't like about the movie was making it about the two sisters. It took away from depiction of this time in our sports history. But, aside from this one slight issue, I really enjoyed the movie. It made me laugh and, unfortunately, it made me cry. But, as we all found out..."There's no crying in baseball..."

2. Bang the Drum Slowly - This is only of my favorite movies, let alone it being a sports movie. I know I said that I wasn't going to include a win the game movie and the team wins the pennant at the end, it isn't done the same way.

A big deal is not made about the fact that they won. There was no big play, no last minute pull out, it is handled matter of factly. Instead, it's more about this baseball team and how they go through the year, and deal with what is happening with Bruce Pearson who is dying.

Nothing is very pretty, it shows a dreariness at times. But what it does show is a love for the game and drive within the whole team to get it done, despite the anger, pettiness and griping. I loved the scenes in the clubhouse, where you see all the main action, nasty one moment and impassioned another. Great acting just brings this story alive.

1. Slap Shot - My number one pick for an underrated movie uses a sport that tends to be underrated, Hockey. Paul Newman is Reggie Dunlop the aging coach of the once popular, once good team The Charlestown Chiefs.

Dunlop knows he is going to be unloaded and this is his last year for him and his team to shine. The Chiefs are at a disadvantage because they are the good guys, they play clean, whereas those that cheat win all the way. The movie is definitely about cheating versus playing fairly, and the Chiefs start to win by manipulating things, so I am really not sure which side is winning. But, the result is hilarious. This movie has a lot of character and you feel good laughing at these antics.

So, these are my top 5 underrated movies. Is your on the list or do you have one I should have included?