Little Big Men

Little Big Men is part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. This documentary focuses on the 1982 Little League baseball champions out of Kirkland, Washington, their amazing run to the championship, and the aftermath of their fame.

Release Year: 2010
Rating: NR (no bad language)
Length: 55m

For more information, view its page on ESPN Films: 30 for 30.

• Youth Sports: The focus of the movie is on the experience of the children who were a part of this team. Several youth sport issues come up throughout the movie, including practicing because they wanted to (not because they were forced to), developmental differences (Cody Webster could throw a 75mph fastball at age 12), burnout (baseball wasn't fun after the Little League World Series), and the amount of pressure placed on youth athletes following success (just because a kid is good at 12 does not mean that kid will be good at 18).
• Parents/Family: Parents played a small role throughout the movie. The kids' parents were supportive and encouraged their kids to play, but they never forced them to play against their will. Following their success, however, parents (of opposing teams) turned nasty, directing insults and slurs towards Cody Webster, which ultimately caused him to stop enjoying the game.
• Media: Because of the time period, this became a major news story across the country. Twelve-year-old kids were thrust into the national spotlight, and an inordinate amount of pressure and focus was placed on Cody Webster (he was dubbed "America's Youngest Folk Hero"). The now-adult players commented that the innocence of youth was stripped away by the superstar attention they received.
• Underdogs: Taiwan was a heavy favorite. They had won 9 of the previous 11 LLWS titles (and one of those years all foreign teams were banned). They were on a 31 game winning streak at the LLWS, while Kirkland was this small unknown town that came out of nowhere. Despite this, the players on Kirkland always believed they could win.

The Hard Road

The Hard Road is a documentary that focuses on a first year pro-cycling team in the United States. While each member (of the eight on the team) comes from a different background, they fight for a common goal. The Hard Road allows the viewer to see what it's like in the lives of a professional cyclist, from the hardships to the successes. The team members come to know what effort, hardwork and drive really are.


Release Year: 2004
Rating: Unrated
Length: 120m


For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon. 

• Anxiety: After traveling to one of the National Calendar Races, the team worked out the strategy for race day. After getting back to hotel for sleep, one of the team members commented that there was no way he was going to be able to sleep. The following morning, he talked about how much he worried and thought about the race. He clearly showed some anxiety about his role on the team which in return could hinder his performance.
• Career Issues: To some, pro-cycling sounds like it would pay well. However, the average first year salary is only $10,000. A rookie on the team commutes to work (via his bicycle) 25 miles so he can get some sort of training in. He works 12 hour shifts M-F. It's difficult to support yourself and manage your time especially when there are seven other people relying on you. Another rookie, is supported by his older brother (whom he lives with when the team isn't on the road). His brother supported him because he knew the salary of a pro-cycling team wasn't enough and he wanted to give him the chance at chasing his dream.
• Focus: When you're riding alone or with a team, a certain level of concentration must always be maintained. The rider must know their role and position during that race. Even when oxygen levels go down and it becomes very grueling, you still need to know what's going on around you. If you aren't aware of the riders around you then you could get "spit out the back" of the pack of riders and be instantly put behind everybody. This was clearly shown in the video during one of the National Calendar Races. This would obviously put the team's success at stake as well as the position of the rider on that team. One of the veterans on the team commented on the sport of cycling itself, saying that the cyclist needs to think about a race intellectually, instead of the pain involved.
• Going for your Dream: The six rookies who made up the majority of the eight person team finally had their chance to live their dream. Yes, they were put on the team but they literally went down a hard road to get there and they continue to go down that "Hard Road" throughout the video. One of the rookies, Jason, spent his younger years as a professional surfer and decided his time was up when he became passionate about cycling... now he's pursuing this new dream of pro-cycling.
• Leadership: The veterans on the team are clearly playing leadership roles during the races. "Experience" itself is a key piece to racing and this is talked about throughout the entire video. One of the veterans commented on the rookies as a whole by saying they are "always trying way too hard." He was speaking of this in terms of experience; the rookies would get frustrated during some points in a race and it wasn't because they weren't physically fit, it had more to do with bike handling and special situations that could only turn out successful if the experience was there. Because experience is necessary, the veterans were willing and able to pass down knowledge and put the rookies in situations where experience was gained.
• Parents/Families: This documentary took a look at the lives of these cyclists when they weren't competing and training. Some of the guys were married and you could definitely tell the time taken out to chase their dreams was taking a toll on their marriages. One of the newly wed's wives commented that she was ready for children whenever her husband was however, she said she couldn't wait much longer. It was evident that family was extremely important to her but the chance for the rookie to live his dream seemed to be taking a higher level of importance at that time.
• Teamwork: After the team traveled to one of their National Calendar Races they went out to ride the course, before the day of the race. During the ride, they evaluated the situations that could/would occur and strategized by assigning each team member to a different job. The rookies were assigned the task of delivering the two veterans to the front of the pack. One of the team members was assigned specifically as a hill climber. Through teamwork, the riders would have a better chance at a successful outcome.

Like Mike

Like Mike is about an orphan kid who encounters magic shoes that turn him into a great basketball player. He then gets the opportunity to play for an NBA team and faces several ups and downs along the way.

Release Year: 2002
Rating: PG
Length: 99m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Confidence: When Calvin entered his first game, he was not confident at all and did not want the ball, but once he put on his MJ shoes he gained total confidence and won the game. (29m)
• Parents/Families: This happens when Calvin is adopted by a teammate and he now has a real father and family. (1h 32m)
• Teamwork: This happens throughout the whole movie but is specifically noticed when the announcer talks about the team having had teamwork since Calvin has been on the team. (42m)

McEnroe/Borg: Fire & Ice

McEnroe/Borg: Fire & Ice is a documentary that briefly follows the careers of tennis legends John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg.  The movie focuses on their competitive rivalry and friendship, including the epic 1980 Wimbledon final.  Each player along with sports media personnel are interviewed throughout the film.

Release Year: 2011
Length: 61m

For more information, view its HBO page or purchase the 1980 match from Amazon.

• Aggression: Throughout the film, shows highlights of McEnroe flipping out, including the famed "you cannot be serious" 36m in.
• Burnout: About 44m in, Borg talks about how tired he was of playing and his loss of motivation to win.  At 55m, Borg sells his trophies.  About 50m in, McEnroe actually uses the word "burnout" to describe what he was feeling when he took some time off from tennis.
• Intrinsic Motivation: A few minutes in, Borg discusses how he fell in love with tennis when he was young.
• Parents/Family: About 9m in, McEnroe discusses his parents and how they pushed him the right amount.
• Routines: Great example of Borg's pre-match routine about 20m in.  He traveled the same route, used the same towels, and had the exact same preparation before his matches at Wimbledon.

Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi is the final movie in the Star Wars trilogy where the Jedi finally overthrow the empire.

Release Year: 1983
Rating: PG
Length: 134m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back continues the story of the Jedi knights and their battle with the empire.

Release Year: 1980
Rating: PG
Length: 124m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope

Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope follows the story of the last Jedi knight as he teams up with rebels to take down the evil galactic empire.

Release Year: 1977
Rating: PG
Length: 121m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Searching for Bobby Fischer

Searching for Bobby Fischer is about a young chess protégé who struggles with the pressures of competition.

Release Year: 1993
Rating: PG
Length: 109m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Rocky

Rocky is about an underdog boxer who receives a once-in-a-lifetime chance to fight the heavyweight champion.

Release Year: 1976
Rating: PG
Length: 119m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

The Program

The Program is the story of a college football team facing the pressure of winning and balancing life. The team has players from all walks of life, and they need a winning season so the program can survive.

Release Year: 1993
Rating: R
Length: 112m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Aggression: Shown through the desire to win and one player's use of steroids, which caused him to become very angry and aggressive.
• Anxiety: There was a lot of pressure on the team to win, otherwise their program would be cut. Plus, the quarterback came from a family of alcoholics, so he was always on edge and nervous, and ultimately ended up going to rehab for drinking.
• Parents/Families: Girlfriends and families played a big role. Alvin wanted to get his family out of poverty, the QB wanted his family to support his playing, and the running backs were battling for a girl's heart and approval.
• Cultural Differences: The team was made of players with very different backgrounds and the team had to try and blend everyone together for their success.

Price of Glory

Price of Glory is about a father who pushes his three sons into boxing after he was cheated out of his own career.

Release Year: 2000
Rating: PG-13
Length: 118m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

The Natural

The Natural is about a man's invigorating return to a baseball team after a mysterious absence.  Great scene with a sport psychologist in it.

Release Year: 1984
Rating: PG
Length: 134m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Love and Basketball

Love and Basketball is about two teenagers, a boy and a girl, who grow up with basketball and family problems.

Release Year: 2000
Rating: PG-13
Length: 124m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Little Girls in Pretty Boxes

Little Girls in Pretty Boxes is a made-for-television movie based on the book about gymnasts and the extreme difficulties they encounter at the upper echelons of competition.  Elite gymnastics results in many sacrifices for all involved, both physically and mentally, but how how much is too much?


Release Year: 1997
Length: 96m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase the book from Amazon.


Aggression: Aggression is depicted in a few ways throughout the movie: both in the parent-to-parent relationships with one another while viewing their daughters and in the coaching style with the athletes.

Anxiety: The coach tries to put them under constent anxiety so they will cope better with it, and some handle it better than others. The girls are constantly reminded of who is at the top and that if they are there, they may not be remain for long.

Commitment: The girls are reminded on a regular basis about how much effort that they need to put into their gymnastics to pursue their goal. Parents make a huge commitment to follow their children in their efforts.

Confidence: In one of the last scenes the coach yells at Katie for not attempting the Yurchenko. You can not bail out on skills; you must have the confidence or you will get hurt.

Eating Disorders: Katie reduces the amount she eats. She says that she won't eat her dinner and if she does, she will just throw it up because losing three pounds means gaining a foot in height in her tumbling.

Goal Setting: The coach puts a lot of outcome oriented goals on the athletes: win or else that's it.

Going for your Dream: All the girls hope to make it to the Olympics. They give up much to pursue their dream, including leaving behind their home and family.

Injury: In the end the star athlete has a career ending injury, which in turn leads to the thought that Katie was being pushed too hard.

Keeping Sport in Perspective: When they decide to go home Katie's mother realizes that her job is to be a mother. She does not want Katie to become hurt in order to be win in a sport. Her life is more important.

Parents/Family: In order for Katie to move her entire family must make a sacrifice and do so. However, her relationship with her family is part of the key to her success.

Substance Abuse: The girls put their bodies through so much and in turn suffer pain they must push through. Dana Parker, the star athlete, offers Katie prescription medicine to help her battle through pain.

Little Giants

Little Giants is about a nerdy coach who assembles a football team to play the city champions.

Release Year: 1994
Rating: PG
Length: 107m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

A League of Their Own

A League of Their Own is the story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from the 1940s.

Release Year: 1992
Rating: PG
Length: 128m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid is about a young boy who learns from a master the physical and mental aspects of karate.

Release Year: 1984
Rating: PG
Length: 126m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Jerry Maguire

Jerry Maguire is a story about a sports agent and his only client learning what is really important in life.

Release Year: 1996
Rating: R
Length: 139m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Heart Like a Wheel

Heart Like a Wheel is the real-life story of the "First Lady of Drag Racing" Shirley Muldowny.

Release Year: 1983
Rating: PG
Length: 113m

For more information, view its pages on the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Gladiator

Gladiator is about two teenagers who become friends in the world of underground boxing.

Release Year: 1992
Rating: R
Length: 101m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.