It is common for festivals the world over to specialize in a theme, and this year, both Detroit and Cleveland are focusing on the many ways that sports can change lives, lending purpose to those of athletes and inspiring others to walk in their trail of light. First up is the Cleveland International Film Festival, which will run from April 4 to 15. The Freep Film Festival in Detroit starts a little later, launching on the 11th and ending on the 15th. In this post, we highlight some of the coolest sports-centered flicks to watch out for. If you live far away and a visit to the festivals is impossible, check out the possibility of catching the films online through your favorite providers.

Cleveland: The Adrenalin rush of competition

If films like "Rocky" or "Chariots of Fire" set you ablaze, then you know that they often delve into the rivalry and camaraderie that arises between top opponents. Janus Metz Pedersen’s "Borg vs McEnroe," starring Sverrir Gudnason and Shia LaBeouf, revels in the tension that fueled these tennis greats, resulting in memorable games that are still talked about today. "Minding the Gap", by Director Bing Liu, focuses more on the strong bond that develops between a group of unlikely friends through skateboarding. Each has their own disturbing issues but everything is forgotten once they negotiate the vertiginous curves of the skate park.

For something lighter, it’s got to be Peter Luisi’s "Streaker," about a 53-year-old high school teacher in a financial bind, who recruits and trains streakers for the purpose of illegal sports betting. This film is somewhat reminiscent of "Snake & Mongoose," labeled on producer Broidy’s IMDB page as a work about “the most famous rivalry in racing history.” The film is about much more than that; like Stalker, it hones into the creative vision required to make money from sport. In "Snake & Mongoose," a clever duo of drag racers latch onto Mattel’s newest toy collection (Hot Wheels), attracting the company’s sponsorship while making a mint and battling for pole position. In Stalker, it’s more about making the most of fanaticism while having a good laugh and making the headlines.

Detroit: The real thing

The Freep Film Festival highlights top documentaries and this time, sports are the overriding theme. Top flicks include "All Sports Shorts: Shorts Program 2," which delves into lesser-known but well-loved sports enjoyed in Michigan, including motorcycle hill climbing, canoe racing, and diving in the Great Lakes. If you are currently into "First Match" (the recently released Netflix film about an abandoned African American girl who joins the boys wrestling team at her Brooklyn high school), then you will love this short, which features an amazing attempt by a group of women divers.

Another film critics are raving about is "The Big House," which takes a look at the meticulous work required to host over 100,000 people for a football Saturday at the Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. Another pretty cool choice is "I Like to Hurt People," a hilarious vintage documentary featuring 1980s personalities like Andre the Giant and Bobo Brazil.

Questions such as ‘What makes a great athlete tick?’ ‘What role can sports play to help our youth?’ and ‘How can you make money while doing what ignites your passion?’ are just a few questions answered in the films mentioned above. Check out the official websites of the popular film fests they form part of and make sure to watch a few films at home… better yet, escape for a weekend of pure cinematic bliss.

November 14 -20, 1960

Ray Charles

Georgia on My Mind

October 31 – November 13, 1960

The Drifters

Save The Last Dance For Me

Before he became one of the game’s most traveled and successful outfielders, Reggie Sanders was the homegrown cornerstone of the Cincinnati Reds’ return to relevance in the 1990s. Arriving with a rare combination of pure athleticism and technical discipline, the South Carolina native provided Cincinnati with a specialized "five-tool" threat that kept opposing pitchers and catchers in a state of constant defensive anxiety. While he would eventually go on to play for nearly a third of the league, his initial eight-season stay in Cincinnati remains the definitive chapter of his career.

Sanders’ tenure in Cincinnati was defined by a high-velocity entrance that saw him finish as the Rookie of the Year runner-up in 1992. He established a model of specialized versatility from the jump, blending elite gap power with an aggressive, high-frequency approach on the basepaths. During the 1995 campaign, a summer when he orchestrated a masterclass in modern hitting. As the primary engine of a Reds squad that captured the NL Central title, Sanders earned his first All-Star selection and finished sixth in the MVP voting, posting career highs across the entire slash line (.306/.397/.579) while slugging 28 home runs and swiping 36 bases.

The hallmark of his craftsmanship was a professional resilience that allowed him to anchor the middle of the order during a decade of high-stakes transition for the club. Sanders was a model of the "20-20" archetype, twice reaching that elite plateau in a Reds uniform and serving as a high-leverage threat in every facet of the game. He possessed a specialized ability to manufacture runs through sheer athleticism, utilizing his speed to stretch singles into doubles and his strength to punish any mistake over the heart of the plate. He provided the tactical stability required to keep the Reds competitive, appearing in nearly 800 games and maintaining a slugging percentage well over .500 during his peak years.

After the 1998 season, he was traded to Arizona, but he compiled 125 home runs and 158 stolen bases.