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Frank Machin
Nov 27, 2014
Published in
The Veterans
We never cared who Richard Harris played, as we loved him in almost everything he did (except for when he sang MacArthur Park). In 1963, he was cast as Frank Machin, a coal miner consumed with anger, which was perfectly transferred to the rugby field where he became a local star. However, this was not a case where channeled rage into sports was therapeutic, as Machin showcased far deeper issues, and Rugby was more of a backdrop to what was really going on inside.
Ironically, though this featured Rugby, which is big in the U.K., and not in the United States, did better and was more critically received on the west side of the pond.
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
This Sporting Life (1963)
Actor:
Richard Harris
Role Portrayed:
Loose Forward for a local Rugby team in Yorkshire
Why You Should Vote For Him:
We don’t have a higher profile Rugby nominee.
Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
As good as Machin was as a Rugby player, the film was more about his issues with anger as opposed to athleticism.
Frank Capua
Nov 27, 2014
Published in
The 2022 Fictitious Veterans Inductees
We may not have been all that interested in the sub-plot love triangle with Joanne Woodward and Robert Wagner, but Paul Newman, an avid race fan himself was brilliant as Frank Capua, an automobile racer who is competing at the Indianapolis 500. There are very few American actors who could tell such a compelling story with just his eyes, and with riveting race scenes, cameos by legitimate drivers, we have what we think could be a solid candidate for the Veterans Category for the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame.
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Winning (1969)
Actor:
Paul Newman
Role Portrayed:
Auto Racer
Why You Should Vote For Him:
Newman gave us multiple performances in the regular athlete category that are worth a look. He might have been even better here.
Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
It never seems to matter how many racing pictures there are; somehow it never feels like a sports film.
Elmer Kane
Nov 27, 2014
Published in
The Veterans
Comedian, Joe E. Brown gives us a great morality tale about a cocky young Chicago Cubs star that needs to be taught a lesson in humility off the field so that he could become a team player on it. This is the most known of Brown’s three Baseball flicks, so we thought it best to use this one as the nominee. You can tell us if it is in fact the best one.
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Elmer, the Great (1933)
Actor:
Joe E. Brown
Role Portrayed:
Chicago Cubs star
Why You Should Vote For Him:
Baseball was magical in those days, and a way we learned lessons. Why not this?
Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
When you think of 1930’s Hollywood stars, you don’t think of Joe E. Brown.
Eddie Quaid/Packy Glennon
Nov 27, 2014
Published in
The Veterans
The second (and much better) boxing film starring Tony Curtis, sees him as Eddie Quaid, a Middleweight boxing contender. He is the son of an alcoholic, and former contender named Packy Glennon, and out of respect that is the name he takes on.
Rather than go into to much detail, he becomes the Middleweight Champion of the World and embarks on a three match series with Al Gorski, leading to some of the most brutal fights ever shown on the screen. Saying this, and despite his frame, there has always been something about Tony Curtis that makes us a little hard to lose our suspension of disbelief when he plays an athlete. Maybe it is just us but are we on to something with that?
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
The Square Jungle (1956)
Actor:
Tony Curtis
Role Portrayed:
Boxer
Why You Should Vote For Him:
This was a decent film, and he won the “trilogy” of fights against his greatest rival.
Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
This character was a little too arrogant for our liking.