Living through a historically significant moment in time leads to losing a lot of spring normalcy like picnics, hikes, restaurant hopping, and a lot of sports. Everything seemingly started spiraling beginning with the NBA’s announcement that they would postpone the remainder of the season. First went basketball, then went baseball, hockey, soccer, and spring football.
As mainstream sports were officially postponed for their seasons, sports fans all around the world turned for the more obscure, like virtual NASCAR events and even marble racing. As crazy as it seems, watching some sort of sports helped bring a second of normalcy back into the season of social distancing.
For some more added normalcy to daily quarantine routines, here are some of the best good-feely sports movies to get you through the athletic drought.
BASEBALL:
This is the first time since 1995, that Opening Day won’t go as scheduled, a fact that drove dads everywhere up a wall. But, there’s no crying in baseball, so if you want to get all the fun of spring baseball without things such as… lovely weather, toasty nuts, and a warm hot dog, then grab your favorite dad cap and watch the following.
The Rookie
Where to Watch: Disney Plus
A heartwarming story about an unlikely re-entrance into the professional scene by a seemingly retired pitcher who keeps his love for the game alive by coaching his local highschool’s team. It’s based on a true story and reminds us that even through sports, it’s never too late to continue your passions.
Moneyball
Where to Watch: Rent on Amazon
If you miss the intensity of sports but also want to stare at Brad Pitt while he gets frustrated, then the true story of how statistics and analytics changed baseball is for you. Jonah Hill plays a helpful ivy league grad alongside Brad Pitt’s GM role that helped the Oakland As succeed against financial odds.
The Sandlot
Where to Watch: Rent on Amazon
The epitome of feel good baseball movies comes in the form of the Sandlot. It’s a funny coming of age movie that follows scrappy kids just trying to play the game they love. It has everything, my first crush as a child (yes it was Benny – the ONLY Dodger I respect.)
FOOTBALL:
While football is typically more of a fall and winter sport, the XFL was seemingly on track to change that as the up and coming spring football league. The key word being seemingly, as due to the current situation, the XFL has officially filed for bankruptcy. Along with some of the coolest spring football plays goes some of the best uniform design in the entire sport. So to make up for the fact that tears were shed when the bankruptcy announcement came, here’s some of the best football movies to fill that newly left void.
Remember the Titans
Where to watch: Disney+
If you went to a public school in the continental United States, the likelihood that you were forced to watch this movie in middle school is pretty high. Almost as high as the mountains in Marvin Gaye’s Ain’t no mountain high enough, wonderfully performed by the players in the locker room in a moment of team unity. It’s a great movie based on an even greater story of racial tension and ultimate triumph against some really hard odds.
The Longest Yard
Where to watch: Hulu with Live TV
This movie has everything, jail football and adam sandler, need I say more? Its prisoners versus guards with only their pride and freedom on the line. A fun movie to watch if you’re in a lighthearted mood and want to watch grown men just absolutely tackle each other to the ground. Sprinkled in with some super fun cameos, this movie can do no wrong.
SOCCER:
A spring staple in a lot of households – the loss of soccer this season has been a disappointment to over enthusiastic parents everywhere and a win for kids forced to play in their local club. As far as soccer movies go, some of the most notable include teen titles from the early 2000s.
Bend it like Beckham
Where to Watch: Hulu
Is this a thin veil to put one of the best early 2000s teen movies in this list? Yes, but hear me out. It’s a great movie about chasing your dreams and doing things alongside your best friend. And it qualifies since the dream being chased by the two british queens, Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra, is to become professional soccer players in America.
She’s the Man
Where to watch: Rent from Amazon
Early 2000s queen Amanda Bynes stars in a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s the Twelfth Night. While there’s a lot of twists and turns that may or may not involve a young Channing Tatum, the overarching goal of being able to play the game she loves reigns supreme.
MORE:
Hockey – Miracle
Where to Watch: Disney+
We don’t talk about the 1980 winter olympics enough as a society and I think that should change. Watch Miracle to relive the crazy true story about the US Men’s Hockey team composed of college athletes that faced off the Soviet team full of professional players.
Bobsled Racing – Cool Runnings
Where to Watch: Disney+
Loosely, and i mean VERY loosely based on the true story of the Jamacian Bobsled team, Cool Runnings retells it in a fun way full of fun outfits and a lot of funny moments.
