Ask any sports fan to name their favorite sports movies, and the usual list of movies is mentioned. My personal favorites: Field of Dreams, Rudy, Rocky I and II, The Rookie, and The Longest Yard (original). Many will mention one or most of those movies, along with such classics as Hoosiers, Eight Men Out, Caddyshack, Major League, 61*, The Natural, and North Dallas Forty, to name a few. But what about those sports movies that seem to have flown under the radar?

Here now is my list of the five most underrated sports movies. If you haven't yet seen them, I highly suggest a viewing.

5) The Sandlot - This movie reminds me so much of my own childhood, it's scary. This is a touching story of a group of kids who experience a special summer at the baseball field. There are no real scene-grabbers in the movie, but many baseball-playing kids of my generation can relate to the old days where kids had more fun creating their own games rather than playing in Little League (most of us did both). Younger baseball fans may not be able to relate to it, but it is an accurate portrayal of the old days at the sandlot.

4) Cinderella Man - The true story of James Braddock, brought to us by Ron Howard. The boxing cinematography is as good as it gets and is as realistic as any boxing sequences. However, whereas Rocky Balboa was a fictional character who persevered in the ring, Braddock was very real who persevered in both life and in the ring. It's a feel-good story that has you rooting for Braddock throughout. The strong cast and performances are a plus.

3)A League of Their Own - Aside from some less-than-stellar baseball cinematography, the story keeps us interested in the characters. It also gave us the famous line, "there's no crying in baseball." The movie has us rooting for these women, and feeling sorry for their plight as many wonder whether their husbands, fighting the war, are alive. Jon Lovitz even shines (believe it or not) as a recruiter with a tough shell, but soft inside. Director Penny Marshall achieves her goal of making a movie about women ball players, and similar to the movie, has men watching and enjoying as much, if not more, than women. She even casts old Laverne and Shirley pals Carmine and Squiggy in the movie to add to the nostalgia.

2) Bad News Bears (original) - Sure, this movie was far from politically correct, and has some rather objectionable language and racist comments, but it is still a classic. Look beyond the obvious humor of foul-mouthed kids, and you've got a group of misfit kids that learn about life. We see the maturation of the players, parents, and the Bears oft-intoxicated manager. Perhaps the best moments of this movie are the extended closeups we see of the players and manager after a key situation in the movie. The emotion of the kids is beautifully expressed through the lens. Don't be fooled by the remake done a few years ago, that had none of the endearing features of the original. This is far more than just a movie about misfit kids playing baseball. That's what makes this movie a special one.

1) The Legend of Bagger Vance - Here's the kicker: I'm not a golf fan. Yet this movie just seems to draw you in more and more. The life-lessons are plenty in this movie, and even though the movie features golf, it demonstrates just as much heart as any sports movie. The character of Bagger Vance is intriguing and leaves you wondering throughout. The cast is first rate with Matt Damon, Will Smith, and Charlize Theron. And as is the case with many sports movies (Rocky, Rudy, etc...), the musical score is first rate and adds to the movie's beauty. If you haven't seen the movie, don't discount it as just a golf movie...it is much more.


Court Adjourned!