Loveable underdogs et al

[thebitterguy]

Riddle me this, Batman.

(BTW: The following post and related replies will contain spoilers to every single sports film ever, if we're lucky)

I was watching Dodgeball recently, and was reminded of something a friend told me, about how the 'alternate ending' consists of, well, the heros losing.

My reaction to that bit of info was, well, annoyance. Maybe, MAYBE in a semi-serious sports movie you can see the team of loveable misfits not winning, but it's okay because they came together and learned they're all more alike than they are different.

But, really? A film with Pirate Steve, "The five D's", The Luck of the Irish, and Lance Armstrong's comedic debut? They couldn't lose. They were the inheritors of the Les Nessman award for good sportsmanship.

So. Name for me a sports flick where the Hero team DIDN'T win. Where the underdogs, in fact, lost, and the favoured team won. Or two. Or none.

Comments

[ludickid.livejournal.com]

Rocky.

[chadu.livejournal.com]

That was by decision, wasn't it?

CU

[ludickid.livejournal.com]

A loss is a loss.

[perich.livejournal.com]

The San Jose Sharks in Any Given Sunday win the last game we see them play, but do not win the championship (as the post-credits press conference reveals).

[thebitterguy]

A) Bob Loblaw: he he he.

B) But, they DO win The Big Game at the End of the Movie. Which makes them winningest until the after credits thingy. Which makes them winners.

[uncut-diamond.livejournal.com]

Coach Carter.

[rentagurkha.livejournal.com]

Major League (the original) ends with the Indians winning the division title. The sequel reveals that they lost the World Series.

[thebitterguy]

So they do win The Big Game At the End of the Movie? I think that counts in the win column, even if they don't go all the way.

[rentagurkha.livejournal.com]

Yes, they do win the Big Game.

[(Anonymous)]

Bad News Bears -- the original, not the remake (Although it may have happened there too -- I didn't see it).

[kinra.livejournal.com]

And that is the best one of all.

Because then they opened a case of beer, flipped off the fucking jerk winning team, and partied while (I think) The Anvil Chorus played.

[terheyt.livejournal.com]

Bring It On-- the main team we watch come in second in the championship.

[thebitterguy]

So the white girls lose? Excellent.

[framlingem.livejournal.com]

"Cool Runnings" :)

[kinra.livejournal.com]

Kingpin.

[kinra.livejournal.com]

Oh, and who wins in Slap Shot?

[thebitterguy]

Is there a hockey game in Slap Shot?

[(Anonymous)]

The Charlestown Chiefs win by DQ.

--T.C. Badass

[thebitterguy]

Was that the hero team? And, if they were heroclix, what would their team ability be?

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah. You've *seen* Slap Shot, right?
;-)

Mystics, of course.

[thebitterguy]

In my shame, I've never seen all of Slap Shot.

[redeem147.livejournal.com]

You can borrow my copy (which I've never watched)

[thebitterguy]

We're practically not-Canadian.

[redeem147.livejournal.com]

I did not aquire the Canadian hockey gene.

[thebitterguy]

We should watch it together and then eat Poutine.

Or, I'll eat poutine and you can have a veggie burger. But we'll get them from Harvey's.

[redeem147.livejournal.com]

It's a date

[umario.livejournal.com]

Am I the only one in the family who has seen this? We so don't belong in Nappers...

Actually, I should just lend you my copy next time we meet. You do still have VHS, correct?

The Chiefs win. OLD TIME HOCKEY!!!

[mollpeartree.livejournal.com]

Mystery, Alaska.

[thebitterguy]

I didn't think anyone else had seen that movie.

Yep, they did come up short. Good choice.

Was this during your Russel Crowe period?

[mollpeartree.livejournal.com]

Oh yes indeed.

[mneme]

I don't think there's anything wrong with a tragic sports movie (more than what's normally wrong with sports movies, anyways).

[thebitterguy]

Oh, yeah, that's right. Except Dodgeball is a very special case, since it's a straight out comedy as much as anything else, and that would have just been the camel straw.

[cinn48.livejournal.com]

Bring It On!! And yes, cheeleading is a sport.

[thebitterguy]

Oh, it's a sport I can watch all day long.

[deven-science.livejournal.com]

I was going to say Mystery, Alaska, but someone beat me to it. Wait, I still said it, though.

[creativedv8tion.livejournal.com]

As long as nobody else says Mystery, Alaska, then we're okay.

Oh damn it!