A universal truth in sports is that it has the ability to bring people of all walks of life together.  Another reality in athletics is that everybody loves a good underdog story.  When you put them both together you have the tonic for an excellent sports film.

American Wrestler: The Wizard takes this formula and adds a Persian twist.  Set in 1980 and based on the real life experiences of producer Ali Ashfar (who pulls double duty as the uncle of the protagonist), the 17 year old Ali Jahani escapes Iran through his family’s assistance to avoid forced conscription.  Sadly for young Ali, the U.S. (Petaluma, California specifically) is not at first the land of opportunity that is often written about.

In 1980, the Iranian hostage crisis occurred and all things Persian were the target of American xenophobia.  Ali (played brilliantly by newcomer George Kosturos) is expectedly bullied by his classmates and even suffers from a lack of support from the school’s principal (played by Jon Voight, who is deep into his Academy Award-winning career) but also faces passive aggression from his uncle who during the hostage situation lost his business and was ostracized from the home he had for years. 

Movie underdogs do not accept defeat easily and neither does Ali. After failing in trying out for multiple high school sports, he eventually finds a loophole where the amateur wrestling team has to at least give him a tryout.  Much to the chagrin of the wrestling coach (William Fichtner), Ali goes toe-to-toe with the school’s top wrestler and makes the team.

Ali, thorough the help of his unknown natural abilities and his uncle, who himself is a former amateur wrestler and becomes the surprise star of the squad, not only earning respect from his teammates but helping his uncle regain his own self-respect.

Sports really can do that.

Overall, the film may feel similar to other underdog storylines (despite being based on a real story), but it's ultimately a feel good sports film that teaches the right lessons not only in athletics, but also in what it means to be American.  This lesson seems to be more valuable now than ever.

Please check out the film at AmericanWrestlerMovie.com and see for yourself!

This post was sponsored by ESX Productions.

As always, with us at Notinhalloffame.com we are always adding sections. Today we are adding the 2022 Football Futures section.

The entries that are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022 are:

A.J. Hawk: A Linebacker who spent most of his career with the Green Bay Packers and helped them win Super Bowl XLV.

Andre Johnson: A Wide Receiver who was a seven time Pro Bowler and two time First Team All Pro. Johnson, who was with the Houston Texans for the best part of his career was a two time Receiving Leader. He is also a three time NFL Alumni Wide Receiver of the Year. Johnson finished his career with 14,185 Receiving Yards and 70 Touchdown Receptions.

Anquan Boldin: A three time Pro Bowl Wide Receiver with the Arizona Cardinals, Boldin would win a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens later in his career. He retired with 13,779 Receiving Yards and 82 Touchdowns.

Arian Foster: Foster went to four Pro Bowls in a career spent predominantly with Houston. Foster led the NFL in Rushing Yards in 2010 and would twice lead the league in Rushing Touchdowns.

Branden Albert. Albert was a two time Pro Bowl Offensive Tackle.

Brandon Flowers. A Pro Bowl Selection at Cornerback in 2013, Flowers played for both Kansas City and the San Diego Chargers.

Chad Greenway. Greenway was a two time Pro Bowl Linebacker who spent his entire run with the Minnesota Vikings. He recorded over 1,000 Tackles over his career.

Chris Chester. Chester played eleven seasons in the NFL mostly at Right Guard.

DeMarcus Ware. Ware was a nine time Pro Bowl and four time First Team All Pro Selection and is one of best defensive players in Dallas Cowboy history. As a Cowboy, he would lead the National Football League twice in Quarterback Sacks and tallied 138.5 over his run. He would win a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos late in his career.

Devin Hester. Hester is considered to be one of the best returners of all-time and he is also a four time Pro Bowler. He holds the record for the most Special Teams Touchdowns in NFL history.

Evan Mathis. A two time Pro Bowl Selection, Evan Mathis was an Offensive Guard who won a Super Bowl Ring with the Denver Broncos.

Jake Long. The first overall draft pick of 2008, Long went to four straight Pro Bowls (2008-11) at Offensive Tackle.

James Laurinaitis. Laurinaitis played most of his career with the St. Louis Rams as their starting Middle Linebacker.

Jordan Cameron. A Pro Bowl in 2013, Cameron played Tight End in a career spent with Cleveland and Miami.

Justin Forcett. A Wide Receiver who played for eight different teams in seven seasons.

Pat McAfee. A charismatic Punter (Yes, that does exist), Pat McAfee was a two time Pro Bowl Selection.

Percy Harvin. Harvin was Pro Bowl Selection in his rookie season and the Wide Receiver would go on to win a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks.

Robert Mathis. Mathis is a member of the 100 Quarterback Sack Club who played his entire career with the Indianapolis Colts. The Linebacker went to six Pro Bowls and helped the Colts win a Super Bowl.

Steve Smith. Smith retired ranked seventh overall in Receiving Yards and Yards from Scrimmage. The Wide Receiver went to five Pro Bowls and in 2005 he would lead the NFL in Receptions, Receiving Yards and Receiving Touchdowns.

Tony Romo. Romo played his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys where the Quarterback was a four time Pro Bowler. He would lead the NFL in Quarterback Rating in 2014 and is third all-time in QB Rating.

Vince Wilfork. Wilfork was a five time Pro Bowl Nose Tackle who played most of his career with the New England Patriots. Wilfork won a Super Bowl with the Pats.

The entire list can be found here.

As always we thank you for your support and we look forward to putting together more sections up at Notinhalloffame.com.

A significant retirement has taken place in the National Football League as Running Back Matt Forte has announced his retirement in a statement to Sports Spectrum.

Selected in the 2nd Round out of Tulane, Forte quickly assumed the starting Running Back job in Chicago where he would accrue his first of five 1,000 Yard seasons. Forte would prove to be a versatile back as he was a receiving threat going for 50 or more receptions in his first four seasons and in 2014, he would catch over 100 passes.

A two time Pro Bowl selection, Forte was in the top ten in Yards from Scrimmage five times and retires with 14,468, which is good enough for 28th all-time. He would spend his first eight years with the Bears and his final two with the New York Jets.

Forte might be a considered a fringe candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, of which he is eligible in 2023.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to thank Matt Forte for the gridiron memories!

As most of the regular visitors to Notinhalloffame.com are aware we are (very) slowly putting together our top 50 players of every franchise in the “Big 4” of North American sports. After that is completed we will take a look at how each organization honors their past players and executives.

As such, it is important to us that last night the New York Rangers retired the number 19 of Jean Ratelle.

From Lac St-Jean, Quebec, Ratelle debuted for the Rangers in 1960 and by the 67-68 season had emerged as one of the top playmakers in the NHL. He would famously center the Goal-A-Game Line (The GAG Line) with Vic Hadfield and Rod Gilbert and in the 1971-72 campaign would score 109 Points while being named a Second Team All Star and winning the Lady Byng and Lester B. Pearson Award.  After sixteen years with the organization, he was traded to the Boston Bruins early in the 1975-76 season.

As a Ranger, Ratelle had seven 70 Point seasons and tallied 817 Points overall wearing blue and his 336 Goals are still good enough for second in franchise history.

Ratelle becomes the ninth player to have his number retried by New York following Ed Giacoin (1), Brian Leetch (2), Harry Howell (3), Rod Gilbert (7), Adam Graves (9), And Bathgate (9), Mark Messier (11) and Mike Richter (35). He would enter the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Jean Ratelle for earning this honor.