Tuesday September 2 2008 - 7:40pm Eastern
I’m sitting down watching “Cabbie Unlimited” on the Score as I’m emailing a buddy of mine (Mark Jenkins) who has a movie with Tom Green debuting later on this month. So my mind in focused on TV and movies right now — on the entertainment industry — and it got me thinking about the greatest BASKETBALL movies of all-time.
Here’s what I’ve come up with. Remember, this is MY list — MY favourites:
10. Above The Rim (Tupac Shakur and Leon). Inner-city baller tries to stay off the streets and land a gig at Georgetown.
9. Semi-Pro (Will Ferrell and Woody Harrelson). Jackie Moon runs wild around the ABA.
8. Finding Forrester (Sean Connery). The story of a young, talented writer playing ball at a Manhattan prep school.
7. Coach Carter (Samuel L. Jackson). High school coach turns boys into men on and off the floor. Based on a true story.
6. White Men Can’t Jump (Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes). Pick-up ball, hustlin’, and Rosie Perez. Sweet.
5. Basketball Diaries (Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg). HS basketball star turned junkie. Based on a true story.
4. He Got Game (Denzel Washington and Ray Allen). Ex-con tries to teach his son how to play basketball and live life.
3. Hoop Dreams (Documentary). Following HS stars William Gates and Arthur Agee as they try to get NCAA scholarships.
2. Glory Road (Josh Lucas and Jon Voight). True story of Texas Western in 1966 — battling racism en route to a title.
1. Hoosiers (Gene Hackman and Dennis Hooper). Basketball in the heartland of hoops in the 1950’s.
NOTE: “Forget Paris, “Air Bud”, “Eddie”, “Juwanna Man”, “Like Mike”, “The 6th Man”, and “Baseketball” did not make the list. But “Teen Wolf” and “Celtic Pride” were close to the cut! Seriously.
E. Smith
FYI - My buddy’s movie is called “Freezer Burn”. Click this link for more info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1105727/
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what about love & basketball? but I think it’s mostly women who love it
- nicoleI didn’t mind that movie Nicole, but, sorry, it’s not making my Top 10. You may be right — it might be because that’s more of a “love story” for women. Who knows.
- E. SmithWhat about “Blue Chips”?? Shaq as Big Neon…wayy better than his “Kazaam” performance haha. But I agree, Hoosiers has to be #1 without a doubt.
- LeeI love Hoop Dreams (I taped it when they showed it on PBS… yes, PBS, and yes, a VCR tape)
That being said, no Space Jam? … Ya, come to think of it, it really wasn’t that good (despite the fine acting displayed by the various NBA players… oh Shawn Bradley :P)
Wasn’t there also a movie (probably TV movie) about Earl Manigault?
PS: You should think about doing a similar list for basketball books (”The Last Shot” wasn’t bad if my memory is correct)
- PatrickSpace Jam was good for the kids but I just don’t know if it truly cracks my Top 10
- E. SmithTrust me, I had a hard time leaving Blue Chips off the list. I thought Shaq was pretty good and Nick Nolte was solid. Perhaps it could have bumped Above the Rim or Semi-Pro. Let’s give it an honorable mention.
- E. SmithMuggsy Bogues in Space Jam. Ex-Raptor he needs a little love. Blue Chips was kind of bad. But Shaq’s charcter in that movie kind reminds me of the whole Nathan Jawai story a little bit. A guy from far off the map that makes the big time. I know Nathan isn’t a fan of the “Aussie Shaq” thing but there was a comparison of the 2 that jumped in my head even though one is a movie plot and the other is reality.
- James BorbathEric, have you seen Through the Fire? It’s a documentary about Sebastian Telfair’s senior year at Lincoln HS before the draft. It’s pretty good, but it tends to focus on his relationship with his family more than about the draft itself.
- BrianMy top 5
1. Hoosiers
2. GLory Road
3. Hoop Dreams
4. Coach Carter
5 White Men Can’t Jump :) (despite Rosey Perez)
with a special mention to Billy Crystal’s turn as an NBA referee in “Forget Paris” The scene in which he throws about Kareem in his farewell game is pretty funny
- Steve Clark