The balance between academics and sports is explored long before what is going on in the current NCAA. In the 1933 film, College Coach, James Gore is hired to bring winning ways to Calvert University and he does so in any way possible, including fielding non-eligible players. Just imagine if he had today’s boosters!



The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
College Coach (1933)

Actor:
Pat O’ Brien

Role Portrayed:
Calvert College Football Coach

Why You Should Vote For Him:
This is one of the first villainous and unscrupulous Coaches in cinema.

Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
We preferred when he wanted to win at all costs. His change of heart was not a favorite of ours.

Harold Lloyd was one of the few actors who was equally successful in silent movies as he was in “talkies”, and it was as a nerdish milkman turned Middleweight contender that he had one of his most successful roles.

In the Milky Way, Lloyd is Burleigh Sullivan who through a freak circumstance appears to have knocked out the Middleweight Champion of the World. He didn’t, as the milkman ducked, but it leads him to compete in the sport by way of crooked promoters that fixed fights to lead up to a huge payday against the champ.

You already know what happens don’t you? Grimes becomes the world champion through his own skills and everyone leaves the theatre happy!



The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
The Milky Way (1936)

Actor:
Harold Lloyd

Role Portrayed:
Boxer

Why You Should Vote For Him:
Anyone who becomes a Champion deserves a look.

Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
He won a ton of fixed fights! There is no room in this hall for “cheaters”!

There is something about post World War II film noir that we admit that we can’t get enough of. In “The Set-Up”, we meet a washed up boxer named “Stoker” Thompson who has so far on the downswing of his career that his manager accepts payment for his client to take a dive, without telling his boxer! During the fight, Thompson learns of it, but fights his heart out and manages to win the match, despite learning that the mob is involved.   Interesting how the desire to win takes over!



The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
The Set-Up (1949)

Actor:
Robert Ryan

Role Portrayed:
Boxer

Why You Should Vote For Him:
He picked his dignity and had the best win of his boxing career.

Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
Wasn’t exactly a triumph like Rocky Balboa was it?

The Champ (1931)

Boxer

Many of you asked us why we did not include Fictional Athletes prior to 1970.  We listened and created a special Veteran’s Category, which featured fictional athletes from movies prior to 1970 and we awaited to see who all of you would pick to be the first Fictitious Athlete “Veteran” for our Hall of Fame.  Loud and clear, you all told us: It was the original “Champ”.

The original 1931 film saw it portrayed by veteran actor, Wallace Berry, who played the down on his luck alcoholic boxer to perfection, earning an Academy Award in the process.  Boxing, especially back then, was a dirty business, and this was one of the best reflections of that.  

The Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame is proud to induct Andy “The Champ” Purcell as the first Veteran of the Hall!