Ranking the Best Underdog movies

In perusing the Internet not that long ago (and by not that long ago I mean, five minutes into work), I came across a photo gallery of 23 of the Best Underdog movies ever. While some I disagree with some even being mentioned, i.e. Dodgeball, overall it touched on most of the movies we associate with perseverance in sports cinema, a.k.a. The Only Situation in Which a Man Will Lower His Guard movie.

Five movies stood out to me as real winners, real emotionally moving pictures. They typify what it means to be an underdog. It is every guy’s dream to be apart of these thrillers. Watching the climatic finale, you get this chill that works its way up your spine to your eyeballs.

"I’m not crying, there’s this stupid eyelash that is bothering me just as they score. It’s so great."

5. Major League
Very few sports movies actually capture sport in its most realistic form. Miracle did, as they hired hockey players to be actors. Little Big League, an underrated film also incorporated realism and fundamental ball playing. However, Charlie Sheen’s Major League was a far cry from emulating athleticism. Sheen actually was a high-school pitcher, but Chelcie Ross as Eddie Harris was too goofy and awkward for a major league pitcher. And Corbin Bernsen as the vain Roger Dorn was too stiff to resemble a master of the hot corner. But even still, the humor, the theatrics and the dynamics of each character made this movie great. With their climb from the cellar to the top was hackneyed and cliché. But their road was as entertaining as every Bob Uecker line.

4. Karate Kid
Who wouldn’t root for a New York kid immigrating to a California school? Who wouldn’t root for a kid to get back at the crew of bullies after tormenting him? Who wouldn’t root for a young kid trying to overcome social inequities to work out a relationship with a girl that likes him? Who wouldn’t root for Pat Morita?!!?!

Nuff said.

3. Rocky
It’s hard not to root for a good-hearted meathead who wants to pursue a life outside of the norm. Mr. Balboa tries to woo the soft-spoken Adrian, and you want to see that work. You want to see Mr. Balboa do well. He trains like the rustic he is; punching large carcasses of meat in a freezer and running up steps of town hall. And in the end, he loses, but gains something more, and that’s the definition of the underdog.

2. Hoosiers
Crazy turns and aspects of this movie help make Hoosiers one of the ultimate classic underdog stories. Massive underdogs throughout the film, Hickory overcomes so many obstacles to just get to the championship. Manager Ollie MacFarlane free throw shots underhand, a rebellious coach gaining favor in an unforgiving town, drunkard Shooter Flatch having to coach a game, and winning games by the smallest of margins. Best part? Enterting Butler Fieldhouse, Gene Hackman goes straight to the basket while his team is staring around in awe. He measures the basket as 10 feet, making it feel no different than its own gym.

1. Rudy
The best sports movie ever, hands down. Nothing can describe how moving this movie is. You get drawn in to this proverbial underdog and feel misery, yet hope the entire time. One quote embodies the entire movie:

"You're five feet nothin'. 100 and nothin'. And you got hardly a speck of athletic ability. And you hung in with the best college football team in the land for two years. And you're also gonna walk outta here with a degree from the University of Notre Dame. In this lifetime, you don't have to prove nothin' to nobody except yourself. And after what you've gone through, if you haven't done that by now, it ain't gonna never happen. Now go on back…"