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Frankie Dunn

Frankie Dunn
Perhaps what we love most about Clint Eastwood as that he allows his characters to be as old as he is. You would think that would be obvious, but how many action stars looked ridiculous in roles that they were clearly too old or out of shape for?   Although with Eastwood’s gruff voice and mean look he might still be believable as an ass kicker, he has instead morphed into grumpy old man territory whereby he has shown the most layered performances of his career; as the former tough guy reconciling with his past.


It wasn’t Frankie Dunn as a boxing trainer that we were drawn to in Million Dollar Baby, but Frankie Dunn as an only moderately successful boxing manager and less successful father that caught our attention.   It is his attempt to be the latter to his new female protégé that is the heart of this film. Even well into Social Security, Clint Eastwood can hardly do wrong….unless it is at the Republican National Convention.



The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Actor:
Clint Eastwood

Role Portrayed:
Boxing Trainer

Why you should vote for him:
Eastwood was gold in this role.

Why you should not vote for him:
He did kill his protégé at the end; sure it was a mercy killing but damn!

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Ernie Capadino

Ernie CapadinoOf all the Saturday Night Live alumni, would you ever think that Jon Lovitz would have a character from a sports film worth remembering? He did just that in “A League of Their Own” as a Baseball Scout who was responsible for finding female talent for the formation of a new league. His role was small, and was not seen after the fifteenth minute of the movie, but his lines were hysterical, and Lovitz was perfectly cast as the smug and slimy, Ernie Capadino. Although his role was unnecessary after he brought players to the tryouts, you wished the writers found a plot device to keep him in the movie. This is a definite wild card possibility for the contributor section of the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame.



The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
A League of Their Own (1992)

Actor:
Jon Lovitz

Role Portrayed:
Scout

Why you should vote for him:
It is rare that a role this brief could get reviews this good.

Why you should not vote for him:
Again, it was a brief role.

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Eric Taylor

Eric Taylor
The role of a coach or teacher in a High School show SHOULD be the most important one if that program plans to follow on more than one specific team or class. It should because kids graduate and are replaced by other kids; although in Hollywood it is common for students to remain seniors into their early 30’s. This might be why the role of Eric Taylor in Friday Night Lights was so good, because not only was he the focal point, but he was one of the best characters on television at the time.


We got to see many facets of Taylor’s character, and not with just how he dealt with his players. We learned about him as a father, a husband, an employee and as a human being. Consider that when Taylor was let go, and he took over the program at East Dillon, we followed his progress; and not that of the school he left behind. Some have called this the best sports related program of all time, and perhaps it was. If that is the case, Coach Eric Taylor should be a lock for this Hall. If it isn’t, it is because this beloved show, never did find a mass (or even medium) audience. We are dying to see whether Taylor pulls off the Emmy and our Hall!



The Bullet Points:
TV Show Appeared:
Friday Night Lights (2006-2011)

Actor:
Kyle Chandler

Position Portrayed:
Coach of the Dillon Panthers and East Dillon Lions

Played for:
Bayside HS

Why you should vote for him:
Unless we are mistaken, this is the only Coach on the ballot that won an Emmy Award

Why you should not vote for him:
Despite the critical love, overall, just how memorable was this show?

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Edwina Eddie Franklin
As completely inconceivable that a scenario would take place where Whoopi Goldberg could become the Head Coach of the New York Knicks, we know that she couldn’t possibly do worse than Isiah Thomas.