- Published in The Athletes
Jonathan E.
A Science Fiction Film wrapped up in a sports motif, Rollerball is a movie that was way ahead of its time. In this dystopian future, powerful corporations run the world, and its form of entertainment is “Rollerball”; a full contact sport where two teams (from all around the world) race around an oval track on roller skates (with some in motorcycles) where the goal is place a metal ball in a small hole. Unlike other sports, defence appears to be the star of two sides of the coin, as combatants are there to stop a goal by any means necessary. It is violent, it is brutal, and it is televised entertainment that dominates the airwaves.
Incidentally, the sport is designed to be something else. Rollerball’s brutality and high degree of difficulty was designed to make it a pure team sport and suppress individuality. That was the attitude of the corporations in general; the prevention of the individual to think for themselves, in favor of the goal of the collective. Sure, that is a sci-fi staple, but has it ever been done on a roller track?
In the film, Jonathan E. (James Caan) becomes the top star of the sport, and his organization, Houston, wants him to retire. Here, winning and losing is not as important as keeping the masses in line; and with Caan being as successful as he was; the status quo was in danger of being rattled. As Hollywood will tell you, Jonathan E., did not acquiesce, and his victory over bloody opponents was not one of individual accomplishment but for society itself. Now has any Home Run (fictitious or real) ever done that?
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Rollerball (1975)
Actor:
James Caan
Played for:
Houston
Why you should vote for him:
If you are looking for a better sports hero, it will be hard to find a better one than Jonathan E.
Why you should not vote for him:
Rollerball is not an actual sport. Should we nominate athletes from sports that do not exist?
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