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Vernon K. Simpson/King Kelly
Nov 27, 2014
Published in
The Veterans
When a baseball crashes through College Professor, Vernon K. Simpson window it destroys his lab equipment mixing his chemicals he discovers “methylethylpropylbutyl” a substance that repels wood. With this knowledge (basically creating the first pseudo-performance enhancing drug, or the super spitball) he becomes a Pitcher for St. Louis under the moniker of “King Kelly”. It is a cute film, but why must there always be cheating in Baseball?
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
It Happens Every Spring (1949)
Actor:
Ray Milland
Role Portrayed:
St. Louis Pitcher (Browns or Cardinals? We’re not sure.)
Why You Should Vote For Him:
It was a cute film, again extolling the magical (or we guess scientific) nature of Baseball.
Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
Isn’t this like PEDs?
Velvet Brown
Nov 27, 2014
Published in
The Veterans
The movie that first made Elizabeth Taylor a household name saw her as Velvet Brown the winner of a gelding who she intends to race on the National Steeplechase. With the help of a former jockey (Mickey Rooney) and through shear perseverance winds up racing the horse herself and winning the Steeplechase. We can’t say that Horse Racing films are our favorite in the sports genre we do think that this was a great family movie with a good message. This could be a solid sleeper candidate for the Veteran’s Category.
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
National Velvet (1944)
Actor:
Elizabeth Taylor
Role Portrayed:
Horse Jockey
Why You Should Vote For Her:
This was a well respected film that legitimately launched a legend.
Why You Should Not Vote For Her:
Horse Jockeys may not belong here.
Truck Cross
Nov 27, 2014
Published in
The Veterans
The legendary James Stewart was a college football star in the dramatic “Navy Blue and Gold” where he played for the Midshipmen. It was a little (maybe a lot) cheesy how Cross overcame obstacles just at the right time to compete and win the “big game” against Army, but that was early Hollywood!
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Navy Blue and Gold (1937)
Actor:
James Stewart
Role Portrayed:
Navy Football Player
Why You Should Vote For Him:
This is Jimmy Stewart, a certifiable legend in the golden years of Hollywood!
Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
Does that really matter here? What he did on the field was more melodrama than drama.
Toro Moreno
Nov 27, 2014
Published in
The Veterans
Loosely based on Italian Super Heavyweight Boxer, Primo Carnera, Toro Moreno is a lumbering Argentine who is on the rise on the Heavyweight scene. Broke Sportswriter Eddie Willis (Humphrey Bogart in his last movie role) is commissioned to write about Moreno, who he takes a liking to.
Unbeknownst to Moreno, the fights are all fixed to build him up as a credible challenger only so that his crooked promoter, Nick Benko (Rod Steiger) can make serious coin on the deal betting against his charge, who is soundly thrashed in the Championship fight.
Realistically, the story is more of Willis, and the empathy he feels towards Toro and how he would later write an expose of the boxing game. That fact alone may make this a difficult character to induct; no matter how bad you feel for the big lug!
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
The Harder They Fall (1956)
Actor:
Mike Lane
Role Portrayed:
Boxer
Why You Should Vote For Him:
Out of love for Bogart? Maybe sympathy for the character?
Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
We have a patsy here, and someone completely used. Not exactly a triumphant role is it?