Ah, there's nothing like a good sports film. It gets the blood pumping, sends chills down your spine and might even bring a tear to your eye. \nThis Friday, Disney is releasing what could be the next greatest sports film, "Miracle." The movie tells the story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team that shocked the world and beat the seemingly invincible Soviet Union on their way to capturing the gold medal. The previews and trailers for "Miracle" are -- for a lack of a better word -- inspiring. \nWhen Al Michaels exclaims, "Do you believe in 'Miracle's?" I swear I'm sitting in the stands in Lake Placid waving the stars and stripes. "Miracle" just may be the most anticipated sports film ever. I'm so excited about its release, I'm bringing a towel.\nI know I might be getting ahead of myself in my praise for "Miracle," seeing as I haven't viewed it yet, but great sports movies just don't grow on trees. \nAs I watched a re-run of "Charles in Charge," an idea floated in my seemingly vacant head. With this "Miracle" movie coming out, what are the best sports movies of all time? Thank you for bearing with the cliché transition -- writing is harder than you think.\nInstead of just telling you which films I think deserve recognition, I hit the streets and for those who didn't know, they swing back. \nI surveyed at least 50 people, providing them with five choices for each baseball, basketball, football, hockey, golf and a miscellaneous sports category. All categories were given write-in considerations, just in case I overlooked any movies. Without wasting anymore of your time -- here is the outcome, all very scientific, mind you.
Baseball:\nWith such great films to its credit like, "Field of Dreams," "A League of Their Own," "Bull Durham" and "Major League," baseball films have distanced themselves from the rest of the pack when it comes to a good sports film. The votes were tallied and the category turned into a two horse race -- "Major League" and "Field of Dreams." Willie Mays Hayes versus Ray Kinsella. Charlie Sheen versus James Earl Jones. Do the "Cuyahoga Warriors" have enough to beat the "Corn Stalk Flock?" With 92 percent of the vote in, it seemed unlikely, but that my friend is why they play the game. \nWinner: "Major League" (32 votes) \nCakes' Sentimental Pick: "The Sandlot" (got my very own pair of PF Flyers)
Football:\nIt was difficult for some to think of great football movies, "The Longest Yard" is a fine film, but our generation has never really noticed it. Like baseball, football came down to two films, as well. "Rudy," the story of hope about an undersized walk-on who desperately wants to play for Notre Dame, is the overwhelming favorite, not just because of its geographical lure, but the film's elevating message. Joining Rudy at the top of the football category was the underdog of underdogs, "Necessary Roughness," a comedy about a college team that has to field a team of just walk-ons and play iron-man football. Heck, besides "Houseguest," this may be Sinbad's best flick. It came down to a hobbit versus Kathy Ireland, and 10 times out of 10, Miss Swimsuit takes the prize.\nWinner: "Necessary Roughness" (26 votes)\nCakes' Sentimental Pick: "Little Giants" (The Icebox, Rad Tad and my stunt double Rick Moranis)
Basketball:\nIs there really any doubt which movie took home the top spot for basketball? Even if Jimmy Chitwood air balls the last shot, "Hoosiers" will forever be the basketball anthem for a state obsessed with the sport. Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson did their best with "White Man Can't Jump," but it finished a distant second -- one can only imagine what the vote would've been if the producers of White Man never cast Rosie Perez.\nWinner: "Hoosiers" (38 votes)\nCakes' Sentimental Pick: "Teen Wolf" (One of my favorite movies ever ... and the soundtrack doesn't hurt, i.e. "Win in the End")
The next two sports, hockey and golf were pretty much uncontested. A group five years older selects "Slap Shot" as the best hockey film -- but being the "Saved by the Bell" generation, we picked "Mighty Ducks." The most lopsided contest surfaced in golf where "Caddyshack" claimed all but one vote -- that one point going to (for no good reason) "Tin Cup." Must be fan of "Waterworld." \nWinner: "Mighty Ducks" (28 votes)\nWinner: "Caddyshack" (49 votes)
Miscellaneous:\nThere are so many sports movies out there outside of the five previously stated sports. Movies such as "Ladybugs," "Cool Runnings," the IU favorite, "Breaking Away" and of course, all those great boxing flicks. Although I pushed strongly and even tried to bribe some people to vote for the Jamaican bobsledders, the Italian Stallion Rocky Balboa was insurmountable and the Rocky quintet captured the top spot. \nWinner: "Rocky" (32 votes)\nCakes' Sentimental Pick: "Cool Runnings" (Doug E. Doug has never been better)
