Super Bowl XLVII is happening this Sunday between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens. This promises to be a great game with powerful storylines such as the brother versus brother match-up between head coaches Jim and John Harbaugh, as well as Ray Lewis’s magical postseason finale as he ends his career. That got me thinking about other great football storylines that we’ve seen in the movies. Most of these have the added bonus of being based on real life events. Without further ado, I give you my personal favorite football movies of all time.
6. The Waterboy
Say what you want about Adam Sandler now, but his films during the 90s were fantastic. With the great supporting cast of Henry Winkler and Kathy Bates, The Waterboy is the hilarious tale of a socially inept 30 year-old who becomes the star linebacker of a little-known college after getting made fun of his entire life, eventually leading them to a championship bowl game.
The Waterboy, in my opinion, is one of Sandler’s best works. It’s got a perfect balance of classic Sandler comedy and slapstick with a fun and, at times, touching story. If you like football movies or good comedies, then this one is worth watching again and again.
Great Sports Moment: All of Boucher’s big hits are pretty fun to watch, but my absolute favorite is when the opposing quarterback begs him to not hurt him as Bobby begins gearing up to sack him.
5. Invincible
Invincible tells the inspired-by-a-true-story tale of Vince Papale, a 30 year-old bartender who walked on to the Philadelphia Eagles roster after the new head coach offered open tryouts before the 1976 season. While the film does take some creative licenses, it gives us an inspirational tale about a real guy who did what many claim was impossible. If you’re an Eagles fan, then it’s even better.
Even after he passes the first round of tryouts for the Eagles, it only gets harder as he goes up against current players and the Eagles’ owner who all want him off the team. But with true grit and determination, he proves that he has what it takes to be in the NFL, inspiring a whole city along the way.
Great Sports Moment: On Papale’s first NFL play, it looks like he is going to be the hero … but then gets knocked silly by an opposing football player. It’s great because despite this embarrassment and disappointment, he picks himself up Read More
