The Oscar Goes To...5 Academy Award-Winning Sports Movies
From the locker room to the red carpet. Plus today’s Wednesday Wisdom.
The Oscars are no different than sports, there’s still a uniform (albeit a tux and a ballgown) and you still have to be a good sport even when you lose.
Game faces on, if the botox allows,
The Last NIght’s Game Team
1. Million Dollar Baby (2004) This movie about a middle-class female boxer who forges a life-changing bond with her trainer is tied for the most celebrated movie on our list. The movie took home Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actress (Hilary Swank), Best Director (Clint Eastwood) and Best Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman). The other flick with four wins? Chariots of Fire. GIRL ON FIRE
2. Rocky (1976) We all remember the iconic line of “Yo Adrian” and Sylvester Stallone’s run up the steps, but while the actors and their lines are what we remember, the movie took home the award for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Film Editing. A big fat TKO for Rocky and Adrian. WE’LL STILL NEVER EAT A RAW EGG FOR BREAKFAST
3. Jerry Maguire (1996) Tom Cruise may have yelled “show me the money” in a story about a sports agent down on his luck but Cuba Gooding Jr. showed them how it was done as he received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. OSCAR, YOU COMPLETE ME
4. Chariots of Fire (1981) In a class-focused, divided society, two runners train for the 1924 Paris Olympics. The movie is probably best known for its Oscar winning original music score. THE MUSIC THAT STILL INSPIRES US ALL
5. The Blind Side (2009) Sandra Bullock took home her first Oscar for her role as a pushy mom who takes in a homeless teen and helps to harness his talents to turn him into a football powerhouse. Based on a true story, the real Michael Oher became a college football sensation and an NFL (National Football League) player. DREAMS DO COME TRUE
BONUS - Since it wasn’t a full-length feature film, the honorable mention goes to Kobe Bryant’s Dear Basketball. The animated short took home an Oscar last year and Bryant proclaimed that his win “felt better than winning a championship.” THE TROPHY ISN’T AS COOL
DON’T SKIP TODAY'S WEDNESDAY WISDOM
The Oscars may be on Sunday, but there’s plenty happening in the sports world today including a new, very odd nickname for a football player, a viral inspirational locker room speech and why someone almost needed a trip to the plastic surgeon’s office. READ
The Top 5 Oscar Winning Sports Movies
Hollywood takes the red carpet this weekend for the Academy Awards. What does this have to do with sports you ask? Well for one, Kobe Bryant is nominated for an Oscar. That and unlike most of the Oscar nominated movies, these are ones you’ve actually seen.
Hollywood takes the red carpet this weekend for the Academy Awards. What does this have to do with sports you ask? Well for one, Kobe Bryant is nominated for an Oscar. That and unlike most of the Oscar nominated movies, these are ones you’ve actually seen.
Pass the popcorn,
The Last Night’s Game
The Top 5 Oscar Winning Sports Movies(in no particular order)
Chariots of Fire (1981) In a class-focused, divided society, two runners train for the 1924 Paris Olympics. The movie is probably best known for its Oscar winning original music score.
The Blind Side (2009) Sandra Bullock took home her first Oscar for her role as a pushy mom who takes in a homeless teen and helps to harness his talents to turn him into a football powerhouse. Based on a true story, the real Michael Oher became a college football sensation and an NFL (National Football League) player.
Rocky (1976) We all remember the iconic line of “Yo Adrian” and Sylvester Stallone’s run up the steps, but while the actors and their lines are what we remember, the movie took home the Best Picture, Best Director and Best Film Editing awards. A big fat TKO for Rocky and Adrian.
Jerry Maguire (1996) Tom Cruise may have yelled “show me the money” in a story about a sports agent down on his luck but Cuba Gooding Jr. showed them how it was done as he received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Oscar, you complete me.
Million Dollar Baby (2004) This movie about a middle-class female boxer who forges a life changing bond with her trainer is tied for the most celebrated movie on our list. The movie took home Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actress (Hilary Swank), Best Director (Clint Eastwood), Best Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman). The other flick with four wins? Chariots of Fire.
Honorable mentions of sports films that were nominated but didn’t win: Moneyball, Field of Dreams and Hoosiers.
Intermission break
While you map out your movie marathon, here are the top three things everyone is buzzing about in sports today including which mom is the greatest of all time (besides yours of course), why the claws are coming out in the NFL and what epic thing Ellen is doing to support a group of gold medal winners. READ
The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition
It’s a one-track mind this weekend in sports with the the Super Bowl on Sunday. We’re your one-stop shop with everything from the anthem singer to the line so you can place your bets. We also included our favorite hummus recipe for your party.
Yep, we’re that good,
The LNG Team
Super Bowl 50
Game time
- 3:30 pm (PST)/6:30 (EST)
- (Pregame shows start at 9 am (EST) on NFL Network and 2 pm (EST) on CBS)
Line
- Carolina by 5½. Over/under, 45 (the lowest total since 2004)
National Anthem
- Lady Gaga
Halftime
- Coldplay and Beyoncé
Key players to watch
- This game is really all about the quarterbacks but other key players (who were all selected for, but did not play in, the Pro Bowl) include:
Panthers - linebacker Luke Kuechly, running backs Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert Denver - cornerbacks Chris Harris and Aqib Talib, and linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware
By the Numbers
- The game is being played at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, CA - 50 miles from San Francisco
- According to CNN, the face value of the cheapest ticket is $850. (USD)
- Americans buy an estimated 8.6 televisions for the game.
- The age difference between the two starting quarterbacks, Peyton Manning (39) and Cam Newton (26) is the largest between starting quarterbacks in Super Bowl History. The difference is 13 years and 48 days.
- During the game, Americans are estimated to consume:
NBA (National Basketball Association)
- Kick ‘em where it counts. San Antonio Spurs veteran Manu Ginobili will undergo what is delicately being described as “testicle surgery,” after taking a knee to that region. He’ll be out at least four weeks. You think?
NHL (National Hockey League)
- Penalty box. Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman has been suspended by NHL for 20 games for making contact with an official. Wideman stands to lose $564,516.20 in salary. (That’s 564 pairs of Christian Louboutin heels). For the record, Wideman was diagnosed with concussion from hit he took right before he struck the official. Wideman is appealing the ruling.
NFL (National Football League)
- Guilty by association. Denver Broncos rookie safety Ryan Murphy sent back to Denver after being detained in part of a prostitution sting. Murphy was not charged and released on the scene. Indications are that it was Murphy’s brother, who was detained. Talk about the wrong place at the wrong time.
- And the award goes to. The NFL MVP will be announced during the Honors Awards Ceremony on Saturday at 9 pm (EST) on CBS.
Overtime
- If you’re looking for some additional game excitement, Carolina Panthers have a Spanish broadcast team that makes the games as exciting as a soccer game
Sideline Stat
- Carolina Panthers super fan and Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry scored 51 points in their win against Wizards (final score 134-121). He tied his career high and the franchise record with 11-three pointers.
Coaches’ corner
- Carolina Panthers left tackle (which is a position on the offensive line, next to the center) is Michael Oher. Oher was the inspiration for the movie “The Blind Side,” starring Sandra Bullock.