Hulk Hogan has performed in many movies, but it was his first cinematic role as “Thunderlips” that he didn’t….well he didn’t suck. Nobody will ever confuse Hogan with Pacino (or even Pauly Shore), but the Hulkster showed more acting skill and range in those five minutes in Rocky III than he did in all his other roles combined. It made Hulk Hogan a star, and inadvertently launched the wrestling boom in the 1980’s. Looking back, this could be a legitimate dark horse candidate to make our Hall of Fame. The Bullet Points: Movie Appeared: Rocky III (1982) Actor: Hulk Hogan Why you should vote for him: This is the movie that launched the most popular wrestler of all time. Why you should not vote for him: He was only on screen for maybe five minutes. {youtube}
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This may not be a sports movie, but in what we consider to be one of Rodney Dangerfield’s funniest performances, his character did the “Triple Lindy” to win the diving meet for Grand Lakes University. Okay, so the dive obviously wasn’t done by Dangerfield, but who cares? The Bullet Points: Movie Appeared: Back to School (1986) Actor: Rodney Dangerfield Played for: Grand Lakes Diving Team Why you should vote for him: This could be Dangerfield’s finest work. Why you should not vote for him: This is not really a sports movie.
We guess this qualifies. As Terry Tate: Office Linebacker, we got to see him destroy many suited white men destroyed with punishing hits (that would probably be banned in the NFL). The commercials were wildly popular, and allowed for its portrayer, Lester Speight to have his biggest success after unsuccessful careers in Football and Professional Wrestling, but we have to ask if a series of commercials qualify for our Hall of Fame? We aren’t sure either. The Bullet Points: Commercial Appeared: Reebok (2002-05) Actor: Lester Speight Position Portrayed: Office Linebacker Worked for: Various Offices across the United States Why you should vote for him: It was a memorable series of commercials. Why you should not vote for him: Do commercials really qualify here? {youtube}
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This might not make sense now, but in the 1990’s, a white man was NOT becoming the Heavyweight Champion of the World in the sport of Boxing; but it would draw a lot of money if people thought it could happen. Damn, did this movie become irrelevant fast. The Bullet Points: Movie Appeared: The Great White Hype (1996) Actor: Peter Berg Why you should vote for him: He did beat the champ…..when he was an amateur. Why you should not vote for him: The theme outshone the match…which wasn’t very good.
