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Jonathan E.
Sep 05, 2013
Published in
The Athletes
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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Jimmy "Dodge" Connelly
Sep 05, 2013
Published in
The Athletes
George Clooney does not have a lot of missteps and even when he does, he always seems to get a pass. Actually, we are not even sure that “Leatherheads” was even that much of a misstep, even though the film was not popular, and only received mixed reviews; Clooney was as charming as always and physically looked the part of a 1920’s Football player. The only problem that as much as we love the sport in North America; we were not clamoring for a Football movie set after World War I.
Jimmy Dix
Sep 05, 2013
Published in
The Athletes
Another candidate we almost forgot, Jimmy Dix (Damon Wayans) was the disgraced Quarterback kicked out of the league for gambling reasons. Although we never saw Dix on the field (and is there a worse name for a Fictitious Athlete than this?), his relationship to his old team plays a key plot point to what we thought was a forgotten Action gem. A Quarterback who goes toe to toe with Bruce Willis during his action apex? Now we are wondering how we forgot about this at all.
Jack Dundee
Sep 05, 2013
Published in
The Athletes
Robin Williams may be one of those comedians that younger people can’t understand why he was popular, but let us assure you, in the 1980’s, he was considered one of the top comedians in the world. In regards of his 80’s cinematic career, he had some hits, some bombs, and a few perplexing choices. “The Best of Times” has become a forgotten film in the Williams filmography, and in a way, that isn’t so bad.
The film was average, but as much as we loved Williams in the 80’s (and despise him now), the idea of Mork from Ork as a high school athlete in any capacity is ludicrous, especially as a Wide Receiver who had the chance to win the game. There is no way that this guy would be let on any football gridiron, and the fact that he played the role of Jack Dundee as meek as possible cemented that fact. Sorry, Mrs. Doubtfire, as much as we love you, this is a role that just seems to be miscast.