Blake Griffin was knocked out for the count. Texas jumped on the Sooners in the second half and ran off to a 12 point lead. Everybody thought the game was over. In Austin, rivalry, OU had no energy. But then... OU had new life. Willie Warren stepped up and became a monster, scoring 27. OU's role players became the corner stones to the comeback. The score was soon tied and remained that way until there were 4 minutes left in the game.
The Sooners ended up loosing the game after A.J. Abrams went off for 16 straight points... but the Sooners never gave up. They really showed some guts after losing the best player in the country. We learned something Saturday night. OU is a legitimate title contender. Yes they are a great team with BG23, but they can hold their own without him. That is what a championship team should be.
We will learn more tonight at Big Monday, when the number 3 ranked Sooners face Kansas at the Lloyd Noble Center. Can the Sooners remain strong without the big man? Can freshman Willie Warren step up and be the leader this team needs? The regular season big 12 title is on the line.
I love sports. I love movies. So naturally, I thoroughly enjoy sports movies. For a long time I have thought to myself: “What are the best scenes in my favorite sports movies?” This is like trying to pick a bad golf shot in one of my rounds…. practically impossible because there are soooo many. So I came up with a few short stipulations: 1) It must be from a movie that I liked, therefore a movie I’ve seen. 2) It must bring out an emotion in me, whether it makes me laugh out loud, get chills, or tear up.
And that’s it. A note before the list, I hate Sylvester Stallone, therefore Rocky movies will not appear on my list. So with that, I present my top 10 favorite sports movie scenes.
10. “Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, its bobsled time! COOL RUNNINGS!”
Just cracking the list at number 10 is the feel good movie out of Jamaica. If you need a smile on your face then this is the movie to do it. The scene that does it for me, which you will see is a recurring theme in this list, is the final scene. When the bobsled turns over and you fear the worst, the Jamaicans lift you up with their courageous trip to the finish line. Bringing me a smile and chills, lands Cool Runnings on the list.
9. “He's on his final hole. He's about 455 yards away, he's gonna hit about a 2 iron I think.”
Caddyshack. Enough said. Performances by all were fantastic. For me though, Bill Murray makes the movie. I could have picked any of his scenes or quotes, but the Cinderella story scene just makes me cry from laughing so hard.
8. “On this team we fight for that inch”
Al Pacino’s Any Given Sunday speech sends chills down my spine every time. Whether I am listening to the background music on my ipod or the speech in my car before I go play intramural football, it doesn’t matter. It is just so badass. I love it. The last football game is great too, but the speech makes it. Some people think it’s a cheesy speech, I think its gold.
7. “Sweep the leg”
As a scrawny un-athletic Jewish kid growing up, underdog stories always hit home. Karate Kid is the definition of an underdog story. Good vs. Evil, good wins… chills maybe even tears. Welcome to the list Mr. Miyagi.
6. “It's no joke, pal. People die in fairy tales all the time.”
The words of Max Baer, defending champion, and talking to his challenger, Jim Braddock in Cinderella Man. Another underdog story that is just a truly awesome fight scene, that is long, bloody, and emotional. If you haven’t seen this movie, see it just for the fight scenes. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great movie, but the fights are really really good.
5. “Nice par, David.”
I love playing golf, I’m not any good, but I love it. Tin Cup is a real fun movie. The reason I love the final scene on the 18th hole of the U.S. Open is because its so painful to watch. Even though you know what is coming while watching the scene for the 30th time, its still so hard to watch. Yet in the end, it is so gratifying. From looking away from the screen to getting chills as Kevin Costner raises his fist into the air, its just a near perfect ending to a great movie.
4. “Who's the wild man now?!”
Rudy. One word is all you need to tell many sports enthusiasts. The final scene is awesome and supported well by the amazing score. You know, the music that you could run a Forrest Gump marathon too. Nothing more really needs to be said about this scene.
3. “You make sure they remember, *forever*, the night they played the Titans!”
Remember the Titans is one of my favorite movies. Ya it has the whole race thing, which really makes the plot gel into a good movie. But the football scenes are really good. My favorite is the scene in which the game is being thrown by the refs. Coach Yoast goes and talks to the head ref and then calls a timeout. The shortest greatest pep talk/speech ever. Better than Rudy, better than Any Given Sunday, better than the Hoosiers speech, it’s concise and AWESOME. Chills, chills, chills, and a big smile on your face and is followed by a superb slow motion football sequence. This could have made the top of my list. I only held it back because its recent and maybe hasn’t had the time to really soak in and hit home like the last two.
2. “I'll make it.”
Jimmy Chitwood didn’t have very many lines in 1986’s Hoosiers, but the movie would not be great without him. The town hall meeting scene is classic, but the final timeout in the championship game and the last shot… nothing but chills. The only question is how coach Norman Dale could possibly want to use Jimmy as a decoy when he was shooting 13 of 17 (estimation) with 28 of Hickory’s 40 points? But that’s what made the scene so great. The rest of team is thinking the exact same thing, and Gene Hackman is befuddled, until he looks up at Jimmy and he says those three words. Incredible. Some movies keep you on the edge of your seat, so you wonder whether or not the team is going to win. With Hoosiers, there is no doubt. Jimmy Chitwood is going to make it, you want him to make it, and you get chills anyway. Yet, it still didn’t make numero uno.
1. “There goes Roy Hobbs, the best there ever was in this game.”
Roy Hobbs’ last at bat in The Natural is maybe one of the most famous sports scenes in cinema history, and it deserves to be. The breaking of his favorite bat. The blood soaking through his jersey. The catcher noticing the blood and signaling for an inside pitch. Then the towering shot. The music. It’s a perfect scene. I’m not a big baseball guy, but it deserves to be at the top.
Just missed the cut: Field of Dreams: Playing ball with dad Jerry Maguire: Concussion scene The Sandlot: All of the scenes when they are trying to get the ball back Happy Gilmore: Bob Barker fight scene
Hope you enjoyed the list, its just a matter of opinion so feel free to chime in with your comments.
Oklahoma sports are now rolling. I attended the preseason NIT in Norman to watch OU basketball and Davidson's Stephen Curry. First off, Curry is ridiculous. Quick release, impossible to guard, quick feet. Needs to work on his defense, but as far as pure scorer, he is the best in college basketball, and perhaps the best in years. Our own All-American, Blake Griffin, is maybe the most athletic player in the country. He can leap out of the gym and has extended his range. His defense is fantastic. Willie Warren has potential to be all Big-12. He is that good. Had 20 points in about 15 minutes against an elite 8 team from last year (Davidson). This team, this OU team, has a chance to be great. If they can gel, they can be an elite 8 team if not a final four team. They are that good, and its only November.
Now, onto the big game still to come. Just picture Marv Albert hyping this game: "OKLAHOMA. TEXAS TECH. BRADFORD vs. HARRELL. ITS SATURDAY NIGHT COLLEGE FOOTBALL ON ABC!!!!"
This is the definition of BCS implication game. If Tech wins, they clinch the South and likely a birth in the National Championship game. If OU wins, they must still beat OSU, but likely gains a berth to the Big 12 championship and likely the National Championship. Texas is on the outside looking in. They need OU to win their last two games, and by some miracle, still hold their lead in the BCS rankings. The game is in Norman, 59-2. Thats the record of Stoops teams in Norman. OU has the better defense. I know Tech has a better defense that year's previous, but OU's defense is still better. OU has a better running game and the passing attacks are relatively equal. Give Tech special teams and your breakdown would give you an OU edge in position battles at least at a 2-1 ratio. OU at home and the better team. If they play well, they win the game.
Are the Boys back? Just when I had written the Dallas Cowboys off, they go and make a statement. A few things stuck out in my mind:
The defense looked good for the first time since the Green Bay game. They looked great at times, holding Tampa Bay to 6 points in the first quarter when they were given a short field on 3 consecutive possessions. Tampa Bay isn't an offensive powerhouse, but this is the first time in 24 regular season games that they have failed to score a touchdown. Impressive.
The Roy Williams/ Terrell Owens combo will be unstoppable. If TO can play well for another year, Jason Garrett should be able to maximize their potential with new plays and schemes. With two big, strong, fast receivers, the Cowboys should be unstoppable in the red zone. Add in a healthy Jason Witten and this offense should be practically unstoppable.
Tony Romo needs to get back fast. This offense is nothing without his big play ability. Brad Johnson can't make the throws, as he missed an open TO in the endzone several times. Maybe bring in Brooks Bollinger for the Giants game to bring back the big play threat. Brad Johnson needs to go to the nursing home... stat.
The Cowboys are still a playoff team. I had written them off. I looked at their schedule and said 8-8 and maybe 9-7 at best. Now... I dont know. Lets look at the schedule:
@ NY Giants: I cant see them winning this game. NY is too good and its on the road without Romo. BYE @ Washington: Redemption. I think they can win this game. Especially if Romo is back. A bye week gives Roy Williams more time to learn the offense. Maybe Terrance Newman is back as well. San Fran and Seattle at home should be wins with Romo almost definitely back. Is there a Pacman spotting? @ Pittsburgh: Probably a loss, but I give the Boys a fighting chance. We will chalk it up to a loss for now. Giants: At home with Romo, rivalry, toss up. We will go with a win since they are 3-1 at home so far this year. Baltimore: At home, getting towards crunch time for the playoffs... this is a win. They wont score on the Dallas, and Dallas will make a few big plays. I see 24-13 or something like that. @ Philly: Toss up. Depends on if they are in playoff contention or not.
So going into the Philly game, I see Dallas at worst 8-7 and more likely 9-6. 10-6 gets you into the playoffs most likely. So, I say Dallas has a 50-50 shot at the playoffs, but it all depends on the health of Romo and if the defense can play as well as they did this Sunday.
Good luck!
Random thoughts:
OU is in trouble defensively, with Tech and OSU looming. Tech vs. Texas is a huge game nationally and in the Big 12. We will know a lot more after next weekend, and then can talk BCS implications on every game coming down the home stretch.
I can't believe NBC had the "40 year-old Virgin" on television. They censored half of the damn movie and ruined it. Oh well... I love that movie.
My fantasy team in my league I care about... dominated this week.
Thats all I got.
Tune in Wednesday's 8-10 central time at wire.ou.edu
Sorry that I haven't been around, but it has been a busy few weeks.
The Cowboys are in a downward spiral that I dont think they can recover from. I don't see them beating the Bucs or the Giants without Romo or anybody in the secondary. That puts them at 4-5 going into their bye. They need to be at least 10-6 to make the playoffs. With games AT Washington, NYG, and Philly.... no way the Cowboys finish better than 9-7. I actually see them finishing 8-8. It is really just sad that this team completely fell apart. I just hope TO doesn't pull a gun and shoot people as he runs down the field for the touchdown ala "The Last Boy Scout."
OU fell to UT, but somehow still finds themselves in the championship race. Sitting at 4 in the BCS several things MUST happen. Penn St must lose. Alabama must lose. A one loss team cannot win the SEC. If those three things happen, I think OU can stave off USC (unless the voters put USC ahead of OU just to keep OU out) in the BCS and either OU and TX will rematch for the National Championship... or OU will play whoever happens to be in that one spot. I wouldn't be surprised to see an OU/USC rematch from 2004 if Texas loses to either someone they shouldn't lose to, or loses two games. That is my BCS rant. Still a LONG way to go.
World Series is a snooze fest. Congrats if Tampa can pull of the complete turn around... but who cares? Tampa fans don't even care that much, they haven't sold out a game until the World Series!
I am ready for Tiger Woods to return.
On the show tonight, Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Terry Stotts.
I will keep posting tonight as I watch All Day run over the Saints. Also I need Brees to perform well so I win my fantasy football game.
7:35: AD looks ready to go on the sideline. Please someone tell ESPN that we are tired of Hank Williams.
8:05: Adrian hasn't really gotten a chance, but Brees started well and the Vikings defense just won me another fantasy game.
8:18: Give Adrian a damn block.
9:15: Adrian just fumbled...wait no he didnt, wait he did....no they ruled that he has strong hands? Anyways, that was a huge hit. We will see if Adrian gets stronger as the defense gets more tired. Halftime 20-10 Vikings.
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