With the recent release of Wimbledon and Mr. 3000, it seems an appropriate time to list my favorite sports movies. Here are my top 20:   

Miracle. The best sports action ever flmed. Two very important aspects put this one at the top of the list: no overly exaggerated hits and the actors move like actual athletes...and another reason: it's a great movie.

Bull Durham. Starring Kevin Costner, this is the best baseball movie out there. Also the best movie quote ever: "I believe in the small of a woman's back, the hangin' curve ball, high fiber and good Scotch."

Prefontaine. The best "minor" sports movie. Its allure is that the imperfect Steve Prefontaine can overcome his imperfections to become an Olympic class runner. Inspiration for everyone. We also learn about the founding of Nike.

Brian's Song. The best football movie. Heavily drenched in that made-for-TV atmosphere, but nonetheless a classic. The Old Yeller for grown men. We men can watch it together and cry and never feel bad about it

Tin Cup. The best sports movie about golf. Starring Kevin Costner, this film emerges as the Bull Durham of golf. Best example of how to weave a love story into a sports movie .

Hoosiers. The best basketball movie. Anyone with a heart will love this movie. A true example of Indiana's love for basketball. True Fanatics!

Seabiscuit. The best movie about horse racing. An emotionally uplifting story that might seem implausible were it not for the fact that it really happened!

Rudy. The bugle call for those of us who sometimes struggle while wondering if we're good enough to do something. This one's guaranteed to inspire. Sean Astin's other movie!

Raging Bull. The best boxing movie available. A searing biopic that leaves you feeling as beaten-up as Motta's victims

The Hustler. Paul Newman as fast Eddie and Jackie Gleason as Minnesota Fats. Great acting, great direction, great script... a very elusive combination in sports movies. Much better than Color of Money, by the way.

Caddyshack. The quintessential sports comedy. Everybody quotes from it. It's not so much a movie with a plot as it is a movie that features a series of smaller skits with a country club as the film's glue.

Rocky. One of only two sports movies to win an Oscar. Every time I watch it, it makes me lace up the ol' sneakers and hit the jogging trail. That lasts for about a day however.

Bang the Drum Slowly. Well acted baseball drama starring Paul Newman as a baseball player with Hodgkin's Disease. Many call it the Brian's Song of baseball.

Breaking Away. A coming-of-age flick starring Dennis Quaid. It's about youthful initiation into adulthood with bike riding at its heart. A painful depiction of adolescence.

Chariots of Fire. Takes a lot of work to stick with it, but rewarding nonetheless. Tells the true stories of two young men who become champions at the 1924 Paris Olympics and their religious commitments. The "other" of only two sports movies to win an Oscar.

Field of Dreams. Another sports movie starring Kevin Costner. Are we noticing a pattern here? A fantasy story with a poetic, dreamy feel to it. Not a traditional baseball movie.

The Natural. Accurately depicts that mystical allure surrounding the great game of baseball. A combination of beauty and baseball.

Remember the Titans. Denzel Washington stars in this  effective feel-good true story that wins the heart of anyone who watches it. The movie's one fault? It's very Hollywoodized.

Slap Shot. Bad movie that thrives on its cult status. Along with Caddyshack, the best sports comedy. Actually a good acting performance by Paul Newman.

Sandlot. A bit of a sleeper. A touching little feel-good movie  for the kids, but even grown-ups like it. A great example of how kids sometimes stretch the truth when telling a story.

(Article also posted on www.franksreelreviews.com.)