I am writing today about my favorite sports movies. Two of them are on this list not just because I was on screen as an extra in them and that they were filmed in Indiana, but because they are great films as well. Making a film about a sports events is very difficult because it’s the immediacy of a sports event that attracts us to sports and it’s almost impossible to replicate that on screen. But it can be done as these movies have shown.
Hoosiers – A legendary movie about a legendary Indiana high school basketball team. Gene Hackman portrays coach Norman Dale, a former college basketball coach who is hired to pilot a small high school team in southwestern Indiana called Hickory. Dale quickly ascertains that the major problem is the interference of the local townspeople in how the team is being coached. Dale closes practice to all visitors and quickly earns the wrath of the local citizens who try to have him fired. The team’s star player states that he will not play for the team so Dale is able to coach the squad of five to the State championship game.
Of course we all know that Hickory stands for the 1954 Milan Little Giants and the Bobby Plump led the Milan Miracle that won the 1954 Indiana State Basketball Championship. Bobby Plump went on to be the 1954 Mr. Basketball and created his own legend.
Filmed in Nineveh and Indianapolis at the Butler Fieldhouse, the film captures the look and feel of rural Indiana in the early 1950s. Outstanding performances by Hackman, Barbara Hershey, and an Academy Award-winning performance by Dennis Hopper make this a must-see for any sports or movie fan.
Eight Men Out – The screen adaptation of Eliot Asinof’s book about the 1919 Chicago Black Sox’s scandal that nearly destroyed profession baseball in the United States is worth a watch.
The 1919 Chicago White Sox are one of greatest baseball teams ever assembled. The talent on their roster is unmatched throughout the two leagues. Owner Charles Comiskey is a greedy and stingy owner who refuses to pay the players their worth. The team breezes through the regular season and prepares for the World Series and many of the star players find that once again they are being screwed by Comiskey.
New York gambling magnet Arnold Rothstein hears of their discontent and offers key White Sox players such as ace pitcher Eddie Cicotte and the immortal “Shoeless” Joe Jackson large sums of money to throw the game. Stand-out fielder Buck Weaver refuses the offer but says nothing about it. However, rumors about the fix start popping up.
As the series progresses, it becomes obvious to journalists Ring Lardner and Hugh Fullerton that something is wrong and they starting making inquiries. Some of the players start having regrets about their decision but gamblers warn them that bad things will happen to their families. The Cincinnati Reds win the series.
Afterwards the eight players including Weaver are brought to trial but found not guilty, much to the rage of Comiskey. New commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis bans the eight players for life. The film ends in 1925 with Weaver watching his old pal Shoeless Joe playing in a semi-pro game under an assumed name.
This film was shot in and around the Indianapolis area at the old Bush Stadium and the Scottish Rite Cathedral. It captures the look and feel of 1919 Chicago. A stellar cast led by John Cusack, Charlie Sheen, and David Strathairn give fine performances and John Sayles’ direction is outstanding. Again this is a must see for any film or sports fan.
Lack of space keeps me from adding more but I will take up the topic again. See ya round.
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