Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Brad's Top 10 Sports Movies of All-Time

Ehhh, I needed something opinion based to post on, so here goes....
  1. The Sandlot - "Kidish" and cheesy, I know... but there's something this movie says about the spirit of the game and friendship during a magical summer playing a wonderful sport that just gets to me.
  2. Rudy - This movie makes grown men cry. "Rudy, Rudy, Rudy..." Nuff said.
  3. Cinderella Man - I liked this movie better than Rocky. He shows every bit as much heart, and I love the setting, cinematography, and story telling even more.
  4. Breaking Away - Little known (it seems?) flick about a kid coming of age and fighting accepted cultural norms. Full of heart.
  5. The Natural - Classic movie on the classic game.
  6. Chariots of Fire - I fear most modern movie aficionados will not appreciate this due to the movie's pace, style and age, but it's a classic movie based on an athlete's motivation when it's not based on money.
  7. Rocky (series) - Classic boxing movies that set the bar for all sports movies to come. It appeared the more they made the worse they became, but Rocky Balboa ended the series right.
  8. Bull Durham - Sharp, witty, gritty (and a mite bit inappropriate), this movie focuses on the realities of baseball and the love of the game. I loved how authentic the characters in this movie felt.
  9. Field of Dreams - Another classic, and while it contains quite possibly the most overused sports quote of all time, it's still a joy to watch and an inspiration for a dream.
  10. Remember the Titans - Top 10 list would be incomplete without one movie of this ilk, and this was my favorite. A great performance by Denzell Washington that makes you feel good all over.
  11. Shaolin Soccer - I realize this doesn't fit in standard Top "10" list, but this movie also doesn't fit in in many other ways. It's hilarious and either you love it or you just don't get it.
Top 10 Sports Movies Brad Wants To See:
  1. Eight Men Out
  2. Jerry McGuire
  3. Raging Bull
  4. Million Dollar Baby
  5. The Pride of the Yankees
  6. The Hustler
  7. The Longest Yard
  8. Hoosiers
  9. Miracle
  10. Seabiscuit
Any of your favorites I missed or forgot? Let me know in the comments!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Brad's 2008 Oakland Athletics Awards

Gosh, I really suck at this "regular posting on a blog thing". I can't believe I went a whole month without posting. And I even wrote the second part of that too! Anyway, this is borrowed from an Oakland Athletics Message Board Thread that I felt deserved a blog post...

Team Awards:

Front Office: B (Hard to see a lot of those guys go, a couple seemed like poor deals, but the dividends from Nick Swisher and Dan Haren are already apparent)
On Field Management (Geren & Co): C
Player Performance: B- (Some great surprises, some great disappointments)
CBS Sportsline A's fans: A+ (My first season on the boards, even though I was only active the first half... dang crazy new 60 hr/week job)

Individual Awards:
MVP: Jack Cust (Will probably set the K's record, but who else is more deserving?)
Cy Young: Justin Duchscherer
Fireman: Brad Ziegler (Runner Up: Joey Devine)
ROY: Ryan Sweeney
Unsung Hero: Kurt Suzuki
Best Surprise: Dana Eveland and Greg Smith (Ziegler was more unexpected, but nobody would have even thought playoffs in the first half if it weren't for these two.)
Biggest Disappointment: Daric Barton (Runner Up: Eric Chavez)
Next Year's Rookie to Watch: Aaron Cunningham
So Long and Thanks for All the Fish: Rich Harden (A Douglas Adams salute)
Don't come back Award: Emil Brown
Hope he gets it figured out award: Daric Barton
Position that needs to be filled: 3B... possibly with Jeff Baisley?
Best Athletics Player in Community: Mark Ellis (Community activism with diabetes)
Best Name for a Pitcher Ever: Josh Outman