Site Admin
The President
Nov 27, 2014
Published in
The Veterans
In what could be considered one of the first black comedy sports films, W.C. Fields stars as The President of the fictional country of Klopstokia, a country that is broke but apparently has a plethora of natural athletes including the President himself. The President puts together a team of athletes and through a turn of events, success will equal financial reward for his country. Incidentally, the President competes and wins the weightlifting event with a 1,000 pound lift. Who knew Klopstokians had it in them?
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Million Dollar Legs (1932)
Actor:
W.C. Fields
Role Portrayed:
President of Klopstokia, and Olympic Weightlifter for his country.
Why You Should Vote For Him:
He won and made us laugh while doing it.
Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
Was this possibly too farcical for consideration?
The Old Man
Nov 27, 2014
Published in
The Veterans
Far from your traditional sports tale, we felt compelled to include the Old Man (Spencer Tracy) from the adaptation of the Ernest Hemmingway classic, “The Old Man and the Sea”. The film, which is basically just Tracy for most of it, sees his struggle to capture an enormous marlin, and like most sporting struggles (and we will consider fishing a sport for our purposes) this takes on a far deeper meaning.
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
The Old Man and the Sea (1958)
Actor:
Spencer Tracy
Role Portrayed:
Cuban Fisherman
Why You Should Vote For Him:
The combination of Spencer Tracy and Ernest Hemmingway is about as legendary as it gets.
Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
This is a fisherman, and not one in an actual competition.
Steve Morgan
Nov 27, 2014
Published in
The Veterans
How many times do you watch a boxing film and think that there is no way that this guy could play a boxer? At least with the “The Prizefighter and the Lady” you never thought that as the main fight at the end featured future Heavyweight Champion, Max Baer going up against the then champion, Primo Carnera.
This film was Baer’s film debut (he would star in twenty films) and he played Steve Morgan, a bouncer turned boxer, once a former manager known as “The Professor” (played by Walter Huston) sees his skills with his fists. Morgan is an overnight sensation rising through the ranks, though getting cocky in the process. He earns a fight with Promo Carnera (playing himself) though receives no instruction from his manager causing him to get pummeled early; that is until he has a change of heart and offers winning strategy. Well sort of, as Morgan battles back to a draw; though Baer must have gotten some really good advice as he beat Carnera for real to win the Heavyweight Title a year later.
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
The Prizefighter and the Lady (1934)
Actor:
Max Baer
Role Portrayed:
Boxer
Why You Should Vote For Him:
At least we have a case where the boxers in the ring know what they are doing.
Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
Max Baer’s “acting” leaves a lot to be desired.
Ronald
Nov 27, 2014
Published in
The Veterans
Played by the legendary Buster Keaton, we meet Ronald, a nerdish academic in love with a woman who shockingly only loves jocks. Ronald enrolls at College and tries his hand at sports with comical results and though he is pathetic at everything he tries, he gets the girl out of pure persistence. This may not be a great sports film, but it does showcase Buster Keaton in some great physical comedy.
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
College (1927)
Actor:
Buster Keaton
Role Portrayed:
Wannabe jock
Why You Should Vote For Him:
When you talk about legends, it doesn’t get much better than Keaton. Besides, he got the girl at the end!
Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
He was more of an anti-hero athlete wouldn’t you say?