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O. W. Shaddock

O.W. Shaddock
His role was not a big one, but O.W. Shaddock makes the ballot for having one of the best lines ever in a sports film when talking angrily to his coach:

“Every time I call it a game, you call it a business. And every time I call it a business, you call it a game."

Trust us, it sounds better when it comes from the angry lips of John Matuszak.



The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
North Dallas Forty (1979)

Actor:
John Matuszak

Position Portrayed:
Offensive Lineman

Played for:
North Dallas Bulls

Why you should vote for him:
How about for bonus points as the antagonist in “Caveman” and for being “Sloth” in the Goonies?

Why you should not vote for him:
There were more memorable characters in this movie.

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Nigel "The Leg" Gruff

Nigel The Leg Gruff
The Replacements was not a great film, though it has received a solid audience through sports fans. Generally, multiple characters are developed in these ensemble sports films, but realistically the Keanu Reeves vehicle had little other players worth remembering. That is with the exception of the Welsh soccer player, Nigel “The Leg” Gruff.


His was the only one given anything remotely interesting to do (other than Falco) and we are sure many people who watched Gruff kick, wanted to break out into the well-known soccer chant of “Ole”. Still, we have a problem indicting someone into the Hall whose gambling issues made the Sentinels have to forego the Field Goal for the win. Not exactly a heroic athlete is it?



The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
The Replacements (2000)

Actor:
Rhys Ifans

Position Portrayed:
Place Kicker

Played for:
Washington Sentinels

Why you should vote for him:
His character was (to us) the most interesting in the movie.

Why you should not vote for him:
Kickers? In a Hall of Fame? If Canton won’t do it, why should we?

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Nick DiAngelo

Nick Di Angelo
Watching Rob Lowe as a rower in Oxford Blues was…..well painful. Still, in the mid 80’s, Lowe was a teen heartthrob and garnered a lot of attention for roles like this. Actually, doesn’t this happen every decade?




The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Oxford Blues (1984)

Actor:
Rob Lowe

Why you should vote for him:
It may not have been a hit in the box office, but it did have legs.

Why you should not vote for him:
Rob Lowe frankly stunk here and was not believable as a rower. Nor did we care if he got the girl.

Neon Boudeaux

Neon Boudeaux
It is not that Shaquille O’Neal stunk as Neon Boudeaux in “Blue Chips”. The role called for a mumbling beast of a man who could make opponents look like small children, and Shaq could do that easily. Basically, it wasn’t a stretch for him and though he received second billing on the movie poster, he really did not have that many lines.   Blue Chips was a modest success, and though it was not critically praised, little negative attention was heaped on the seven footer.


Perhaps because of this, we got Kazaam and Shaq-Fu; which were two of the worst abortions in film and video games respectively. Had we known that would have happened, perhaps the critics would have roasted the Neon character, just to prevent him from giving Hollywood another shot.



The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Blue Chips (1994)

Actor:
Shaquille O’Neal

Position Portrayed:
Centre

Played for:
Western University Dolphins

Why you should vote for him:
This was a near perfect role for Shaq.

Why you should not vote for him:
This launched Kazaam.

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