Sports Stories that Would Make Good Sports Movies

[Gold]

Probably a movie concerning the relationship between Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. The image vs. the reality. That might be interesting.

 

[Colonel Angus]

I think a biopic of the "Boom Goes the Dynamite" guy would be solid gold ...

 

[Double J]

Bill Barilko got a book and a Tragically Hip song a few years ago, but he deserves a movie too.

He scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in overtime in 1951, probably the most dramatic goal in hockey history to that point, then died in a plane crash four months later.

He was only 24 years old. He had been with the Leafs for five years and had won four Cups. The plane wreckage and his body weren't found for 11 years, the exact time gap between Stanley Cups won by his team (Toronto).

The image of Barilko's goal went a long way toward cementing it in people's memories. After shooting the puck, he either slipped or tripped and was airborne at the moment the puck entered the net.

Even today, this goal is probably No. 4 on the list of most dramatic goals of all time, just behind Paul Henderson in 1972, Bobby Orr in 1970 and Mario Lemieux in 1987.

When Bill Barilko left the ice on the shoulders of his teammates, it marked the last time any Toronto player ever wore No. 5. The team has only retired two numbers in its entire history; Ace Bailey's No. 6 is the other.

 

[bocksheesh]

The death and tragedy stories, while compelling, will never make it as Hollywood movies.

Hollywood is looking for inspirational sports stories where underdogs overcome long odds.

Invincible, Miracle, The Rookie, and the upcoming We Are Marshall. They're all about players or teams overcoming odds and the triumph of spirit.

I've always thought the Roberto Clemente story would be fascinating. But Hollywood is never going to make a movie that essentially ends with a bigtime pro athlete dying in a tragic airplane crash.

 

[Double J]

If just one of these films gets made and becomes a big hit, you bet your ass Hollywood will be making more of them. Hollywood producers love following trends and beating them into the ground.

 

[bocksheesh]

Hollywood producers are followers to be sure. But Hollywood studios are not in the business of making expensive movies based on tragedies.

Maybe an independent film can be based on a tragedy (like Capote). But the big studios are not going to make a studio sports movie that ends in tragedy.

They will make a sports movie where people or teams <b>overcome</b> a tragedy with inspirational results. But they won't make a movie that concludes with someone dying. Just won't.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

I think Jeff Stone's story would make a nice movie, if not a quality afterschool special.

I wouldn't put it past ESPN to make a Bartman movie.

 

[sheos]

A Mike Tyson film would be fascinating - just turn Gary Smith's late '80s SI piece into a movie, and then update it.

 

[bocksheesh]

I think Jeff Stone's story would make a nice movie, if not a quality afterschool special.

I wouldn't put it past ESPN to make a Bartman movie.

What's Jeff Stone's story?

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

http://www.pitch.com/issues/2004-07-15/feature_full.html

 

[Beef03]

Hollywood producers are followers to be sure. But Hollywood studios are not in the business of making expensive movies based on tragedies.

Maybe an independent film can be based on a tragedy (like Capote). But the big studios are not going to make a studio sports movie that ends in tragedy.

They will make a sports movie where people or teams <b>overcome</b> a tragedy with inspirational results. But they won't make a movie that concludes with someone dying. Just won't.

Because Brian's Song was such a happy, feel good movie.

 

[Double J]

I think bocksheesh means modern filmmakers, and that's probably true. I can't remember the last big-budget success about a doomed athlete.

 

[Ashy Larry]

Hollywood producers are followers to be sure. But Hollywood studios are not in the business of making expensive movies based on tragedies.

Maybe an independent film can be based on a tragedy (like Capote). But the big studios are not going to make a studio sports movie that ends in tragedy.

They will make a sports movie where people or teams <b>overcome</b> a tragedy with inspirational results. But they won't make a movie that concludes with someone dying. Just won't.

Because Brian's Song was such a happy, feel good movie.

Yeah..they'll never make a movie about some star athlete dying, but they'll make 2 movies in the same year about Prefontaine.

 

[PopeDirkBenedict]

Sports movies might always require the happy ending -- biopics do not.

I think Sonny Liston would make a great biopic.

 

[bocksheesh]

Hollywood producers are followers to be sure. But Hollywood studios are not in the business of making expensive movies based on tragedies.

Maybe an independent film can be based on a tragedy (like Capote). But the big studios are not going to make a studio sports movie that ends in tragedy.

They will make a sports movie where people or teams <b>overcome</b> a tragedy with inspirational results. But they won't make a movie that concludes with someone dying. Just won't.

Because Brian's Song was such a happy, feel good movie.

Yeah..they'll never make a movie about some star athlete dying, but they'll make 2 movies in the same year about Prefontaine.

Those two Prefontaine movies were bombs. As were a few other sports films based on tragedies. If a certain type of film makes money, Hollywood tends to make more of them. If a certain type of film loses money, Hollywood tends to not make more of them.

It's why you seldom see a sports movie based on a tragedy that doesn't have inspirational, happy ending themes.

 

[Bolo]

If nobody watches track and field, why did two studious think people would want to watch a movie about a runner.

I know Pre had status above a regular runner, and is still a Nike icon, but there was no chance that people would still be interested 20 years after his death.

 

[Double J]

Gordie Howe and the World Hockey Association are getting a movie, to be co-produced by David E. Kelley and New England/Hartford Whalers founder Howard Baldwin. Howe and Mike Ilitch Jr. will be executive producers.

AP story in the Toronto Star

The film was announced Monday, which was the 60th anniversary of the day Howe scored his first NHL goal.

 

[Starman]

Gordie Howe and the World Hockey Association are getting a movie, to be co-produced by David E. Kelley and New England/Hartford Whalers founder Howard Baldwin. Howe and Mike Ilitch Jr. will be executive producers.

AP story in the Toronto Star

The film was announced Monday, which was the 60th anniversary of the day Howe scored his first NHL goal.

Considering the main reason Howe jumped to the WHA was his disgust with his treatment by the Red Wings, that's a little surprising. Expect tons and tons and tons of sugarcoating.

 

[bocksheesh]

Just heard that some film company is doing a movie about Jesse Owens and his experience in the Berlin Games in front of Hitler.

 

[bocksheesh]

bump