Reactions: Best Sports Movie

Many make the case for Rudy and Brian's Song

Sports Illustrated gave its list of the Top 20 sports movies and we asked users to give us their favorite. Many wondered why Brian's Song, Rudy and Caddyshack, among others, didn't rank on SI's list. Here's a sample of the responses we received in reaction to the list:

While Rocky and Hoosiers should occupy the one and two spots, Prefontaine is an obvious omission from this list. Based on the true story of one of the greatest U.S. Olympic figures, it deals with the corruption of the old AAU system, the most intense Olympic race of all time, and the first pair of Nike shoes. Not only is it a great movie, [but] how you can miss a movie that involves the first appearance of the sports marketing juggernaut that is Nike?
Eric Prell, Herndon, Va.

I don't know what you guys were thinking when you inserted The Bad News Bears in the place where you could've listed Brian's Song. One's a ridiculous piece of ne'er-do-well Americana while the other is an important look at two athletes whose friendship transcended color, money and ego. I'd reconsider before you play movie critic again.
Page Hamilton, Boston

No Caddyshack or Brian's Song? What are you guys thinking? I guess you can't get enough of those boxing movies or musicals. At least you didn't put anymore Rocky's on the list.
Alex Schwartz, Chicago

All I want to know is how SI chose the 20 best movies about sport, yet somehow left Rudy and Hoop Dreams off the list entirely. The end sequence of both of these films still gets me teary-eyed every time. At the very least, both films were spectacular achievements in filmmaking, and certainly better than Paul Newman's worst flick ever (Slap Shot).)
Stephen Lentz, Syracuse, N.Y.

Movie: Eight Men Out. How could you leave off the greatest baseball scandal in the history of the sport? When one of the greatest baseball teams of its day plots to throw the World Series and baseball attempts to cover it up with a commissioner, you've got to include it in at least the top 20 sports movies of all time. The owners of the day, the White (Black) Sox, Lefty, Shoeless Joe Jackson ... this was one of the greats of sports history.
Troy Sundermeyer, St. Joseph, Mo.

Slap Shot is the best sports movie of all time. The scenes in the bar where they are watching the soaps, the pervert talking about see-through wet suits and the Hansons bringing their toys on the road are classics. I used to rent this every year, but the copy was getting so bad I went out and bought one. This is the only movie that I have ever had the desire to own.
Ed Collins, Marblehead, Mass.

What? No Knute Rockne? No Gipper? Has there ever been a sports film with a more quoted line? Can't believe it.
Duane Kimball, Dover, N.H.

I have to say that aside from Hoosiers, I think Blue Chips is the best movie about college basketball. If this movie is even halfway true about the money and gifts that players receive, which I think it is, it is a must-see for every college B-ball fan. I was moved by each of the player's stories, how much their parents played a part in their decisions, and of course Nick Nolte's phenomenal acting. It's an A+ in my book!
Stacy, St. Petersburg, Fla.

C'mon guys!? Top 20 with no Brian's Song? I'll bet it came up in every discussion and somebody said, "Yeah, it was a good movie, but ..." I am sure it had a lot of your big ol' football players crying like babies, but it was still the best sports movie of all time. I will even concede it might not be the greatest, but it has to hit the top 20.
Tim, Salt Lake City, Utah

Where is Rudy? What a great, inspirational story. Was it that there are already multiple movies from Indiana Hoosiers and Breaking Away?)
Rob Bishop, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Have you ever seen Major League? To not put this film in the Top 20 is ridiculous. The brilliant humor and crazy antics of the different personalities (which definitely defines today's ballplayer) should be recognized. Shame on you!
Rob, Swartz Creek, Mich.

The Natural, without question. The theme song itself can send chills. I try to make the rest of the foursome hum it when I step up on the tee. Redford has a great swing as well. It's believable. Who knew that the Sundance Kid could drive to all fields? Wilford Brimley and Richard Farnsworth are all believable and how can you note dislike Duvall's two-faced opportunist reporter? And Kim Basinger and Glenn Close don't hurt, either.
Greg Gallagher, Schaumburg, Ill.

I can't believe you left off The Color of Money, isn't that what it's all about anyway?
Chris Lynch, Rutherford, N.J.

I can't believe you omitted A League of Their Own. Tremendous baseball footage, and an unbelievable cast. The immortal Tom Hanks line: "There's no crying in baseball." Hopefully, it was not omitted because it doesn't concern men's sports. My daughter would tend to take issue.
Tim Hooper, Philadelphia, Pa.

You got the actor (Kevin Costner) and the director (Ron Shelton) right, but Bull Durham isn't the best sports movie ever -- Tin Cup is. Tin Cup shows that an athlete's ultimate challenge isn't against the competition, but rather against himself or herself. The movie's metaphor applies to each of us every day: Can you do a little better today than you've ever done before, or even thought you could do? How will you know if you don't try, even in the face of failure?
Mike Betz, Diwningtown, Pa.

OK, here we go again. First, Fred Hickman didn't vote for Shaq as NBA MVP, now the great movie, Brian Song, isn't on your movie list at all! How can you guys lay claim to being sportscasters?
Richard, Dayton, Ohio

My favorite sports movie of all time is Eight Men Out. I'm sure this one won't get a lot of votes, but I think it's a great story with a great cast. It may have been a sad time for baseball, but to me, it was a great movie. Back then, there was passion for baseball. We've lost a lot of that with the big contracts. Today, there's no need to throw a game for money because these guys make so much of it. Someday soon we'll probably hear of some owner gambling and throwing games just so they can pay all of their players. It's a shame.
Jeff Anderson, Devon, Pa.

No question one of the tops was Varsity Blues. Having played for a coach similar to that in the movie, the pressures that high school students face to "win at all costs" was truly depicted in this movie. High school players in the Midwest, Florida and Texas know what I am talking about. In some cities, high school football is all you got and all you will ever have. For some, and for the moment, it truly is it.
Pierre Mofrere, Clearwater, Fla.

Unbelievably, you guys left out Rudy, a truly inspiring tale of a young steelworker who only wanted to play for the Irish. A great football film, and that little midget guy's (what is his name?) best film. The film is also notable for bringing the then-to-come Swingers cast together: a then hugely overweight Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn.
Albert, Manhattan Beach, Calif.