What’s cooler than watching the underdog overcome the odds and become champions?
Sports films create a euphoric feeling for all believers who appreciate the grit, sacrifice and grind it takes to become ahead of the class. There are even cases where comedic relief—like Morris Buttermaker’s Bad News Bears or Jackie Moon’s Flint Tropics (Semi-Pro)—create moments that embody the fun, wacky side of team competition, which shows that over time, personalities and physical talents can mesh with one another to accomplish a common goal.
What makes sports films so fun to watch is the characters. From the typical dominant, well-built cocky figures to the undersized, hard-working, persistent underdogs, the roles that resonate with us have helped make certain sports films and characters so memorable.
So, to pay homage to those films, ONE37pm put together a list of the greatest fictional athletes of all time. Here’s our starting lineup.