Average Read Time: 00:03:09
Some days it is raining outside, or it’s cold and snowing. You just don’t want to leave your bed and head outside to workout. Everyone has those days. You are not alone. On those lazy Sundays when you really want a little extra boost, here are some of my top seven sport movies to watch to get you motivated to get to work.
1. Rudy
This little guy (5′6”, 165 lbs) wanted more than anything to play for Notre Dame. Physically, he didn’t stand a chance. As well, he couldn’t even make the grades to get into Notre Dame, just to go to school, let alone make the football team. If you are ever told you can’t do something, this movie will convince you otherwise.
Favorite Quote: Fortune: “You’re 5 foot nothin’, 100 and nothin’, and you have barely a speck of athletic ability. And you hung in there with the best college football players in the land for 2 years. And you’re gonna walk outta here with a degree from the University of Notre Dame. In this life, you don’t have to prove nothin’ to nobody but yourself. And after what you’ve gone through, if you haven’t done that by now, it ain’t gonna never happen. Now go on back.”
Favorite Moment: These tryouts. I love nothing better than to see the little guy get pummeled again and again, and still stand back up.
2. Rocky IV
My favorite installment of the Rocky series. In this one Rocky heads to Russia to fight Ivan Drago. If you haven’t seen the Rocky series I do suggest you watch them al.
Favorite Quote: Rocky: “Going in one more round when you don’t think you can – that’s what makes all the difference in your life. ”
Favorite Moment: Watching Rocky train in the Russian winter. Goes to show you don’t need more than an axe in the middle of the woods to get into the best shape of your life.
3. Prefontaine / Without Limits
Both movies are the story about Steve Prefontaine who is an American middle/long distance runner. At one point he held all of the American records for every distance race from 2000 – 10,000 metres. He was known for front running and always going out hard until the end. A great pre-race movie to watch.
Favorite Quote: Prefontaine: “I’d like to work it out so that at the end, it’s a pure guts race. If it is, I’m the only one who can win it.”
Favorite Moment: Watching Prefontaine run with his shoe soaked in blood. Then have the balls to mouth off that he is better than any runner.
4. Bloodsport
The true story of Frank Dux, a world record holder in the Kumite. It’s a story of a Marine who goes to fight in the Kumite, a full-contact tournament, to honor his Shidoshi. This is my favorite martial arts film.
Favorite Quote: Jackson walks in on Dux doing the splits between two chairs. Jackson: “That hurts me just lookin’ at it.”
Favorite Clip: This is training. They don’t do it like this anymore.
5. Hoosiers
The story of a small town Indiana high school basketball team that competes in the state champs. It’s a great underdog story.
Favorite Quote: Coach Dale: “Five players on the floor functioning as one single unit: team, team, team – no one more important that the other.”
Favorite Moment: Watching Hackman’s speech. Not as good as Al Pacino’s in Any Given Sunday. But a good speech nonetheless.
6. Coach Carter
This is a movie that emphasizes that athletic prowess isn’t everything.
Favorite Quote: Stone: (running suicides) “Yo, how many we gonna do?” Coach Carter: “Sir” Stone: “Yo, sir, how many we gonna do?” Coach Carter: “Let’s see how many you can do in… one hour and seven minutes.”
Favorite Moment: After the school forces Carter to allow the students to play despite their low marks, the students refuse to play out of principle.
7. Remember the Titans
A story of a football team that aims for the perfect season following the desegregation of their school in 1971.
Favorite Quote: Coach Boone: A water break? Water is for cowards. Water makes you weak. Water is for washing blood off that uniform and you don’t get no blood on my uniform, boy you must be outside your mind! We are going to do up-downs, until Blue is no longer tired, and thirsty.
Favorite Moment: This speech where Boone explains the importance of playing together as a team, and what the kids before them fought for.
If there are any movies on this list that you have yet to see, stay in this Sunday and watch a couple. Then make sure to throw in a good workout.
Your Digital Trainer,
Jeremiah
Stay tuned next week when we do Sunday’s Seven reasons why Italians are healthier than you.
Comments: Have another favorite sports movie to share with our readers? Let us know!
Related posts:
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
“We Are Marshall” is pretty inspiring, too, not necessarily in the “get pumped up for working out” vein but more in overcoming adversity and rebuilding your life.
Yeah I liked “We are Marshall” as well. Brian’s Song is in the same boat, inspiring but not so “pumped up for working out”. Just another get movie. I could have definitely monopolized this post with all football movies but I figured I should spread it around.
Hoosiers and Coach Carter are among my faves – I’m a huge BBall fan. Will have to see Rudy, Remember the Titans, as well as Prefontaine and Without Limits.
Good list right here buddy!
Yavor
@Yavor: Thanks man, definitely check out Rudy. By far my favorite.