And winner is... Costner... but in what movie

In probably the quickest round in tournament history Bull Durham edged Major League in the comedy bracket and Field of Dreams got by Rudy in another heated battle. This sets up:

The Battle of the Costners- A Falls Count Anywhere, Barb-Wire rope, Exploding Ring match with tables, ladders, chairs, as well as barb-wired boards, light tubes, and panes of glass all to be used liberally throughout the match.

For the three or four usual posters on the blog and the millions of more reading at home... are you ready? Then let's get ready to RUUUMMMMBLLLEEEE!

First to my left, coming to us from the year 1988; this R-rated classic directed by Ron Shelton included such stars as Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, and an underrated performance by Robert Wuhl, later to be know as Arli$$... Bull Durham.

Now coming down the aisle from the year 1989, this family-friendly PG flick included the likes of Kevin Costner, James Earl "Darth Vader" Jones, Burt Lancaster, and "Mr. Maffia" Ray Liotta in a cameo as Shoeless Joe Jackson. This drama written and directed by Phil Alden Robinson with a running time of 106 minutes... Field of Dreams.

Final Four

The tournament is quickly coming to a close. With that in mind here are the remaining (slightly renamed) brackets:

COMEDY
#2 Bull Durham vs. #3 Major League

DRAMA
#1 Field of Dreams vs. #2 Rudy

Finally... the Elite Eight

After a slow down on the fast paced tourney, we're back up and running.
Here's how the Elite Eight is shaking out:
MIDWEST
#1 Hoosiers vs. #2 Bull Durham

WEST
#8 Brewster's Millions vs. #3 Major League

SOUTH
#4 Happy Gilmore vs. #2 Rudy

EAST
#1 Field of Dreams vs. #10 Dodge Ball

Interesting to note that comedies are dominating at this point with a 5-3 advantage. Will that continue?

Sweet Sixteen

I just did this post and lost it, so the second time through I might be a little briefer.

Winners of the previous round:
MIDWEST
#1 Hoosiers vs. #9 Any Given Sunday
#5 Caddyshack vs. #13 Sea Biscuit
#2 Bull Durham vs. #7 Karate Kid
#3 Rocky Balboa vs. #6 Glory Road

WEST
#1 The Waterboy vs. #8 Brewster's Millions
#4 Finding Forester vs. #12 Blue Chips
#2 Friday Night Lights vs. #7 Varsity Blues
#3 Major League vs. #6 Necessary Roughness

SOUTH
#1 Million Dollar Baby vs. #8 Jerry Maguire
#4 Happy Gilmore vs. #12 Fever Pitch
#2 Rudy vs. #10 League of their Own
#3 The Rookie vs. #11 Mr. Baseball

EAST
# 1 Field of Dreams vs. #9 The Natural
#4 We Are Marshall vs. #12 For the Love of the Game
#10 Dodge Ball vs. #15 Slap Shot
#3 Remember the Titans vs. #6 Rocky 1

This sets up:
MIDWEST
#1 Hoosiers vs. #5 Caddyshack
#2 Bull Durham vs. #3 Rocky Balboa

WEST
#8 Brewster's Millions vs. #12 Blue Chips
#2 Friday Night Lights #3 Major League

SOUTH
#8 Jerry Maguire vs. #4 Happy Gilmore
#2 Rudy vs. #11 Mr. Baseball

EAST
# 1 Field of Dreams vs. #12 For the Love of the Game
#10 Dodge Ball vs. #3 Remember the Titans

Who do you think shout advance to the Elite Eight?

You're first round winners are...

The first round winners have been chosen by the masses; here are the results:

MIDWEST
#1 Hoosiers vs. #16 Mr. Destiny-Everyone knew it was Hoosiers destiny to advance, posibly to the Final Four.

#8 Eight Men Out vs. #9 Any Given Sunday- I guess on any given sunday, anyone can be knocked off from the tourney.

#4 Legend of Bagger Vance vs. #13 Sea Biscuit-Riding on to the 2nd round in the first major upset.

#5 Caddyshack vs. #12 Angels in the Outfield- In the closest opening round match-up it takes OT for a Caddyshack win; I guess Angels really can't help in a championship game.

#2 Bull Durham vs. #15 Rookie of the Year-The youngster couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat.

#7 Karate Kid vs. #10 The Benchwarmers-
#3 Rocky Balboa vs. #14 The Naked Gun-Sylvester Stallone vs. Leslie Nielsen in a fight; I like Sly's chances and liked his movie.

#6 Glory Road vs. #11 Coach Carter

WEST
#1 The Waterboy vs. #16 8 Seconds-It only took about eight seconds for Adam Sandler to open a can of whoop *** on the opposition.

#8 Brewster’s Millions vs. #9 The Replacements-John Candy in a great role before he went north of four bills.

#4 Finding Forester vs. #13 Johnny Be Good-Good win for Forrester which is a movie near and dear to my heart; it's about writing and basketball... and moving onto the next round.

#5 Miracle vs. #12 Blue Chips-The true Miracle was that Miracle got any votes.

#2 Friday Night Lights vs. #15 The Longest Yard (Burt Reynolds)-Did you know that Billy Bob and the QB also teamed up in Sling Blade?

#7 Varsity Blues vs. #10 The Hurricane

#3 Major League vs. #14 Teen Wolf- "Just a bit outside."

#6 Necessary Roughness vs. #11 Paper Lion-I actually saw the stadium where the filmed the movie... not that any one cares.

SOUTH
#1 Million Dollar Baby vs. # 16 She’s the Man-Amanda Bynes is the victim of a first round TKO.

#8 Jerry Maguire vs. #9 Bring It On

#4 Happy Gilmore vs. #13 White Men Can’t Jump-Woody Harrelson can't jump... out of the first round.

#5 Breaking Away vs. #12 Fever Pitch- Not even Buckner could have screwed this one up for Red Sox fans.

#2 Rudy vs. #15 Cobb-Who didn't cry when the little guy got accepted, or when his dad came to see him play, or when he finally got to play...

#7 Invincible vs. #10 League of their Own-There is no crying in baseball or justice in this contest as Invincible proves falible. If Tom Hanks doesn't say, "There's no crying in baseball" does this movie win?

#3 The Rookie vs. #14 Summer Catch

#6 61* vs. #11 Mr. Baseball-Key to early success in this tournament, have Dennis Haysbert in your movie (you know him better from the insurance commercials, as President Palmer on 24, or as Cerrano in Major League).

EAST
# 1 Field of Dreams vs. # 16 The Cutting Edge-The dream is over for the ice skating movie.

#8 The Babe vs. #9 The Natural-It seems unnatural that the Babe didn't go out on top.

#4 We Are Marshall vs. #13 Hoop Dreams

#5 Cool Runnings vs. #12 For the Love of the Game-Huge upset... in no one's eyes but my own.

#2 Cinderella Man vs. #15 Slap Shot-James Braddock gets knocked out by the Hanson brothers.

#7 Mr. 3000 vs. #10 Dodge Ball-Ben Stiller gives Bernie Mac a "total facial."

#3 Remember the Titans vs. #14 Basketball Diaries

#6 Rocky 1 vs. #11 Rocky 2-The first one proves to be the best.

This sets up:
MIDWEST
#1 Hoosiers vs. #9 Any Given Sunday
#5 Caddyshack vs. #13 Sea Biscuit
#2 Bull Durham vs. #7 Karate Kid
#3 Rocky Balboa vs. #6 Glory Road

WEST
#1 The Waterboy vs. #8 Brewster's Millions
#4 Finding Forester vs. #12 Blue Chips
#2 Friday Night Lights vs. #7 Varsity Blues
#3 Major League vs. #6 Necessary Roughness

SOUTH
#1 Million Dollar Baby vs. #8 Jerry Maguire
#4 Happy Gilmore vs. #12 Fever Pitch
#2 Rudy vs. #10 League of their Own
#3 The Rookie vs. #11 Mr. Baseball

EAST
# 1 Field of Dreams vs. #9 The Natural
#4 We Are Marshall vs. #12 For the Love of the Game
#10 Dodge Ball vs. #15 Slap Shot
#3 Remember the Titans vs. #6 Rocky 1

Let's post you're next round winner! I'd like to finish another round by sometime tomorrow or early Saturday at the latest.

It's tournament time... sports movie style

Okay posters, I know you're out there. But now I need you all to go from passive readers to active participants in the "Best Sports Movie Bracket."
I started by coming up with 85 of my favorite sports movies, many of which are generally considered to be pretty popular flicks. From there I cut it down to 64, with some true cult classics like the Harlem Globetrotters Travel to Gilligan's Island and Gary Coleman's The Kid From Left Field hitting the cutting room floor (I'm not joking, both movies are decent).
From there I picked my number one seeds. I tried to come up with a baseball, basketball, football, and miscellaneous bracket but the truth is there aren't 16 good hoops movies out there. However, I did use that criteria for picking my number tops seeds, which were:

Hoosiers (Best Basketball, #1 overall)

Field of Dreams (Best Baseball-this one had more to do with generally accepted popular opinion then my views on the movie; I just don't want to have a catch with my dad)

The Waterboy (Best Football-the #1 seeds can't all be dramas)

Million Dollar Baby (Best Miscellaneous)

Then I simply rated the movies and placed them in brackets. I have seen almost every one of these movies with the exceptions being Sea Biscuit and Miracle, so in their case I tried to use their critical acclaim to keep them from being a #16 seed.
My plan is to host a round every other day. I will decide which teams advance, HOWEVER, I want people to chime in with thoughts they have on any particular match-up which will also be given significant weight.
Make me believe your favorite should win their games!
So here are the brackets (I'll have first round winners on Thursday):

MIDWEST
#1 Hoosiers vs. #16 Mr. Destiny
#8 Eight Men Out vs. #9 Any Given Sunday
#4 Legend of Bagger Vance vs. #13 Sea Biscuit
#5 Caddyshack vs. #12 Angels in the Outfield
#2 Bull Durham vs. #15 Rookie of the Year
#7 Karate Kid vs. #10 The Benchwarmers
#3 Rocky Balboa vs. #14 The Naked Gun
#6 Glory Road vs. #11 Coach Carter

WEST
#1 The Waterboy vs. #16 8 Seconds
#8 Brewster’s Millions vs. #9 The Replacements
#4 Finding Forester vs. #13 Johnny Be Good
#5 Miracle vs. #12 Blue Chips
#2 Friday Night Lights vs. #15 The Longest Yard (Burt Reynolds)
#7 Varsity Blues vs. #10 The Hurricane
#3 Major League vs. #14 Teen Wolf
#6 Necessary Roughness vs. #11 Paper Lion

SOUTH
#1 Million Dollar Baby vs. # 16 She’s the Man
#8 Jerry Maguire vs. #9 Bring It On
#4 Happy Gilmore vs. #13 White Men Can’t Jump
#5 Breaking Away vs. #12 Fever Pitch
#2 Rudy vs. #15 Cobb
#7 Invincible vs. #10 League of their Own
#3 The Rookie vs. #14 Summer Catch
#6 61* vs. #11 Mr. Baseball

EAST
# 1 Field of Dreams vs. # 16 The Cutting Edge
#8 The Babe vs. #9 The Natural
#4 We Are Marshall vs. #13 Hoop Dreams
#5 Cool Runnings vs. #12 For the Love of the Game
#2 Cinderella Man vs. #15 Slap Shot
#7 Mr. 3000 vs. #10 Dodge Ball
#3 Remember the Titans vs. #14 Basketball Diaries
#6 Rocky 1 vs. #11 Rocky 2

All good things come to an end...

Simply put, USA just ran into a better team tonight, losing 66-46 to Saginaw Nouvel in the Class C Regional Finals at Sandusky.
The Panthers jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead against the Patriots, then extended it to 17-8 by the end of the first. USA seemed pretty tight early on as they were unable to convert a number of shot opportunities that looked like they should have been easy points.
It didn't help that Taylor Cramer, who had been leading the team with a 15.75 ppg average in the post season was as cold as ice to start the game; he was just unable to get into any kind of shooting rhythm in the first half.
Things changed for USA (who trailed 30-14 at the half) in the third, as Cramer hit two triples as part of a 12-4 run to start the quarter. That cut Nouvel's lead to 34-26 with 5:10 to go in the third, but that was as close as things would get.
As Gainforth explained, the team used a lot of energy trying to mount that initial comeback that they were gassed as the game progressed, which allowed the Panthers to pull away as the fourth approached.
However, as tired as the Patriots were, they still kept it within 11 with a final shot to cut the lead to under double digits as the quarter wound down. But USA missed their shot and Nouvel's Mitch Mulcahy threw up a buzzer beater, which Gainforth admitted was a danger in the heart for the team.
Mulcahy, along with David Kazmierski, where the big guns for Saginaw Nouvel, while Tim Ryan (who scored 37 against New Haven in the semis) was held in check by USA's triangle-and-two defense.
Though the loss the was disappointing, Gainforth was just truly proud of his players and amazed by everything they accomplished. The Patriot's lose five seniors, including Isaiah Jackson, who Gainforth recognized as a real key to the team's playoff run. Other seniors include Kyle Farmer, Jordan Bolzman, Kelson VanBevern, and Brennan Pitcher.
As for Pitcher, I wish him well in his on-going battle with cancer. If there is one kid tough enough to win this fight, it is Brennan. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
If there is one thing that I was truly looking forward to it was the possibility of Brennan stepping out on the court for a second or two to get a well-deserved ovation from the fans. I don't know if he would have been able to, but a fellow reporter and I discussed how Pitcher could have got his last shining moment in basketball with an appearance on the court for a second or two.
It didn't end up happening, but the mere thought of it gave me goosebumps, watching to see if Pitcher was going to take off his warm-ups (which would have indicated he was going in). Let's just say two tough guys were on the verge of tears just thinking about the chance of Pitcher coming in... had it happened I think we would have been having a cry session with Gainy in the locker room instead of a post-game interview.
I guess that just goes to show you, how much an impact Pitcher has made on all of our lives and how much we all want to see him get well.
Hopefully some day he will be healthy enough to play sports again at some level, some day. Now that would be one game I'd pay to see.