5 Heartwarming Sports Moments Hollywood Would Ruin

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One of the reasons people love sports is that they provide an authentic experience in the midst of a challenging and complicated world. Even though many of the storylines are familiar, the outcomes are truly unpredictable. I would’ve cited the NBA as David Stern’s WWE-esque exception, but the Magic’s Finals run over the King James marketing machine relieves some suspicion (unless that was Stern’s plan to throw us off the scent).

Every now and then, a moment comes along that transcends the normal drama and authentically warms the heart. These moments are few and far between but can truly make a lasting impact. Unfortunately like other memorable moments, evil Hollywood schlock vendors are lurking around every corner to capitalize on the story for their next ill-conceived project. On top of the fact studios make really bad sports movies, they inevitably ruin the honesty of the moment by conforming the story to their formulas.

Here are five recent heartwarming moments that Hollywood seems destined to ruin.

Byron Leftwich carried by teammates

In November 2002, Byron Leftwich started a dramatic 2nd half comeback with the Marshall Thundering Herd. They were down 17 points to Akron but in the midst of the comeback Leftwich broke his shin. Instead of leaving the game, he insisted on leading his team down the field. As the clock ticked away, he completed a long pass and had to make it down the field quickly. He couldn’t run on a broken shin, so his teammates took over:

The Hollywood Synopsis: 20 years after a dramatic plane crash that claimed the lives of nearly all the Marshall Football team, a heroic coach rebuilt the program. Now it’s up to troubled Quarterback Reed Simons (Zac Efron),  haunted by the death of his Father (Mark Harmon) who piloted the tragic flight, to take them to the next level. But he doesn’t fit in with his teammates who blame his Dad for the crash two decades ago. Will he be able to fight through his injury and lead his team to the National Title? Will his teammates believe in him?

Titles: We Are Marshall II: We’re Still Marshall, Marshall Law

The Mo Cheeks Anthem

After winning a contest to sing the National Anthem at a Portland Trailblazers game, a young girl gets a bit nervous with all eyes on her and struggles with the words. Instead of just standing there and watching the girl flounder, Portland’s coach Maurice Cheeks decides to turn it into a duet.

The Hollywood Synopsis: After helping Kat Hannah (Selena Gomez) with the national anthem, a down-on-his luck NBA coach Miles McDougal (Cuba Gooding Jr.) with the worst team of the league realizes the girl has a gift for coaching. Using her innovative and unorthodox strategies, they make the playoffs. But when the daughter of a rival owner, and Kat’s nemesis, Millie von Austerberg (Ashley Tisdale)  steals her diary with team secrets AND her love letters to her crush (Joe Jonas), the pressure is really on.

Titles: Star Spangled Hannah, Kational Anthem

Jon Lester wins battle with Cancer; World Series

During the 2006 season, Jon Lester was diagnosed with lymphoma after being sent to the DL for a back injury. After undergoing treatments and working his way up through the minors in rehab starts, he won the deciding game of the 2007 World Series.

The Hollywood Synopsis: Jimmy Little (Kevin Costner), an aging pitcher on the downside of his career, finds out he has terminal cancer and only 6 months to live. The news revitalizes his passion for the game and begins playing the best baseball of his career. He also befriends KJ Jackson (Nick Cannon), a brash, entitled rookie, and teaches him what it means to be a professional. But will Jimmy make it to Game 7 of the World Series?

Titles: Striking Out Cancer, The Perfect Game

US-Japan Little League World Series

In the Championship Game of the Little League World Series, The US and Japan played one of the most exciting games in LLWS history. They battled through the standard 7 innings and into extra innings with the score knotted. In extra innings, the US hits a walkoff homerun giving them the championship. But the dramatic win isn’t what’s special about this moment. It’s how the US decides to “celebrate.”

WARNING: You may get something in your eye around the 1 minute mark

The Hollywood Synopsis: In  Fall of 1989, a rag-tag group of military brats live on a base in Germany. After getting caught vandalizing in town, ne’er-do-wells Max and Aidan Weatherby (Cole & Dylan Sprouse) are forced to play baseball for the base’s integrated West German-American team. Through baseball, Max and Aidan discover the talent and comraderie they’d always sought. The twins lead the team to the German Little League World Series to face the dreaded East Germans in the shadow of the Berlin Wall.

Titles: The Home Run Heard ‘Round the World, Over the Wall

Rick & Dick Hoyt

A father and his son, who is stricken with a severe disability, compete in a triathalon together. It’s hard to put this story into words. WARNING: if you thought the last video brought some tears, hold on for this one.

With so much negative news, I can’t even bring myself to be satirical after watching that video. Just enjoy it.