I miss sports. I miss the smell of fresh cut grass from the next field as I step out onto a bog playing division two soccer.
I’ve played video games, watched old matches, listened to commentaries, I even created a game with my isolation partner involving a hurl, a football and inflatable arm bands. My itch was scratched for only a wee while.
Then it hit me, the movies! Yes, sports movies, how did I not see it before, they always (ALWAYS!!!) end with a feel good factor. A film some beautiful game can raise our spirits and make us want to take up that particular sport, at least for awhile.
So I have comprised a list of the top 3. comedy sport movies of all time. The lack of a GAA feature film is depressing.
3. American Football – The Waterboy
American football movies are nearly a whole genre upon themselves. Any Given Sunday, The Blindside , Remember The Titans all perfectly great movies, with some really iconic motivational speeches. However give me a “Longest yard” or “Little Giants” any day. As you may notice going forward comedy is the best policy for these times, and you can get much funnier then Bobby Bouche in “The Waterboy”. Adam Sandler was in his prime, bringing with him his usual cast of Rob Schneider and Henry Wrinkler. The movie did nothing to help me understand the game of American Football, but it did teach me the importance of good high quality H2O and a can do attitude. Remember “YOU CAN DO IT!”
2. Basketball – Semi Pro
Coach Carter, White Men Cant Jump, Space Jam have got nothing on the Tropics. Will Ferrell arguably the songbird of our generation, sure knows how to pull of a sport movie. Talladega Nights, Blades of Glory , Kicking and screami…….. actually the less said about his soccer movie the better. Complete with the classic tune “Love Me Sexy” , this movie has it all, a feel good story, a bear fight and Jackie Moon
1. Soccer – Mike Bassett England Manager
Ok as a fan of everyone that plays AGAINST the England National team, this may not end on such a feel good factor at the end. However Mike Bassett is genuinely one of the funniest movies filmed about the game. Its obvious this film was made by actual football fans who love the game, as it hits every single nail squarely on the head! The part was made for Ricky Tomlinson, should of getting an academy award for the half time rant alone.
Thats my top three, whats yours?