By Geno McGahee
The sporting world often intrudes on the movie world and no other sport seems to get a reaction like Football. REMEMBER THE TITANS featured Denzel Washington as a black coach in tough times during force integration, and won the respect of the school and his peers, being a pioneer of race relations. It was a touching movie that stands out among the football flicks.
THE LAST BOYSCOUT was a huge box office success with Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans and showed the glamorous side as well as the dark side of the sport. It also showed how sports gambling is an activity that goes along with the game. There are many football betting sites that give the football fan a chance to make some money and have some fun, and this is also displayed in THE LAST BOYSCOUT.
Goldie Hawn starred with an all star cast in WILDCATS, where Hawn was a wannabe coach sent to the inner city to teach a group of streetwise teens the game, overcoming obstacles and becoming their coach, winning their respect. The movie was as touching as it was comedic, and Hawn’s charm came through the screen, making this an automatic hit amongst football fans.
In 1974, THE LONGEST YARD was a smash hit for Burt Reynolds, as he played a former football player that landed in prison, and picks up the sport behind bars. Years later, Adam Sandler remade the movie.
JERRY MAGUIRE with Tom Cruise was another football hit, starting two hit sayings that are alive and well today with “show me the money” and “you had me at hello.”
Football is a huge sport and you can expect the movie business to continue to cover it and for it to continue to bring in the masses of fans. I look forward to what the game and movie world has in store for us next.
