Best Sports Movie of All Time?

It’s simple. Being a huge fan of both sports and movies, there are not many things better than a sports movie.

Growing up, I have constantly argued back and forth with my friends on what exactly is the best sports movie out there. Some argue “Hoosiers.” while many say “Friday Night Lights” or “Rudy.” In fact, I have even heard some people argue that the best sports movie out there is “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby…”

HELLO PEOPLE, NASCAR RACING ISN’T EVEN A SPORT?!

However, making an honest analysis from all of the sports movies I’ve watched, I can easily tell you that the best one out there is Remember the Titans.”

Taking place in Virginia during the year 1971, this movie retells the fascinating true story about the integration of T.C. Williams High School, focusing on how the black football players from their prior non integrated high school, were forced to break all racial boundaries at the time, and mix with an all white team. In fact, tensions arise from the minute the movie begins, as Coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington), an inexperienced black coach, receives the head coaching position of T.C. Williams over the highly experienced white coach, Bill Yoast (Will Patton). The coaching staff is eventually composed of an equal amount of black and white coaches.

Early in the movie, the entire team finally has to report to “training camp” three weeks before their first game. When first arriving, Coach Boone knew that resentment and disgust for the opposing race was still prevalent, so he mandated that every white player had to be roommates with a black player, and vice versa. Not only did they have to be roommates, but they also were forced to get to know one another and eventually report it back to the coaches. Until then, practices would be long and difficult all day.remember-the-titans-2

This idea got off to a rough start, and fights continued to occur. However, one morning, Coach Boone woke his team up at three in the morning and forced them to follow him on a grueling run. They eventually made it to the Gettysburg Battle Field and this was the turning point for everyone on the team. After Coach Boone delivered the most iconic motivational speeches from this movie, they started to become closer and more respectful with one another, and more importantly, they started to play like a team.

The rest of the movie continues as the T.C. Williams Titans have a remarkable season. Along the way, the black and white players become best friends, brothers so to say, and have one another’s back regardless of the circumstances. This was a bit of a vague synopsis, but hopefully my lack of detail inspires you to watch this classic sports movie.

Not into sports? That’s okay, because this movie is more than sports.

In fact, what I like most about this movie, are the underlying lessons we can learn that can make us better individuals. First, I commend this film for showing how powerful people can be when they come together and unite, without resentment and hatred. As sad as it is, we still live in a world similar to 1971 Virginia, as racism is a prevalent topic still today. Additionally, this is a movie which highlights the level of emotion that sports bring to the surface. Sometimes in sports, it’s more than just a game. Your school, your town, and in this case, your entire race in the community is relying on you to prove that you have what it takes to shatter misconceptions held by outside viewers. Finally, this movie displays the aspect of friendship continuously throughout, an idea that sports fans and non sports fans alike both can easily identify with.

Simply put, don’t waste your time on watching a plethora of sports movies to figure out which one is the best, because you have to look no further after reading this blog.

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One Response

  1. Jack Boscoe at |

    This is another movie that I absolutly love. My favorite scene in the entire thing is the speech at Gettysburg. The entire thing gives me goosebumps but I agree with you when you consider it to be one of the best, if not the best sports movie of all time. Off the top of my head I cannot think of anything better. Not only is it a good sports movie, its also a fantastic movie overall that focuses on themes of racial tension, brotherhood, and change. This is another good post, keep up the good work! (Sorry for commenting on the wrong post

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