With the release of Damned United this Friday, which threatens to be the greatest football film ever (although lets face it, that wouldn't be too hard) I thought I would combine two of man's favorite things; sport and lists.
5. Field of Dreams (Baseball)
"If you build it, he will come. "
A story about a man, who builds a baseball field in his farm. The plot sounds daft, and really it is. However this is mainly a story about relationships, that of a father and son. By doing this it plays every right note and comes to a lovely conclusion.
4. Children of Glory (Water Polo)
"Russians go home"
In 1956, Hungarian had the greatest water polo team in the world, unfortunately the Russians beat them as they control the refs. However they cannot do this at the Olympics and the team set about training for the biggest tournament of their lives. But the Hungarian revolution gets in the way and this is more a film about that than the polo, which really acts as book ends for the film. If the conclusion to this film doesn't have you shouting "Russik go home" at the end then you are either a) heartless or b) a commie
3. Cool Runnings (Bobsledding)
"Are you dead man? No I gotta finish the race"
Yeah it's cheesy, but it's fun god dam it. I have watched it many a time and they still don't win :(
2.Any Given Sunday (American Football)
"On any given Sunday you're gonna win or you're gonna lose. The point is - can you win or lose like a man? "
Ok I'm putting this in here just for Al Pacino's speech. But it's really good speech. The rest of the film is good as well though. Due to it's stop start nature, American footall leads itself to film rather well.
1. This Sporting Life (Rugby League)
"We don't have stars in this game, that's football"
Hands down the greatest sports film ever. The rugby scenes are truely brilliant, you can feel the game as it is, well was, hard, fast and brutal but at the same time skillful. Yet the real story here is how the game is escapism from life of the working class.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Monday, 23 February 2009
Leeds Rhinos season so far
And we're off, well we were about three weeks ago when Leeds played their first game of the season, confusingly a round 4 game against the new boys.
Now I won't be reviewing the games because that has been done by better people than me both at sportinglife and for a more biased view, at Southstander. In short we have won every game so far although far from convincingly, which really isn't a worry at this stage because it's the end of the season when the championship is won and not the start of it.
The positives for Leeds is their defence, they have only conceded 2 tries in 3 matches and both from kicks. The way that JJB tackled the Hull KR player into touch on Friday is the perfect example of this, he had no right to make that tackle and especially when there was only a few minutes to go and Leeds were 9 points up.
The negatives are that the attack is looking pretty flat at the moment but that could be down to early season rustiness and the fact we are missing a couple of our best attacking players due to injury.
So it's the World Club Challenge this weekend, which will see Leeds take on Manly at Elland Road. For the first time the Aussie side is taking it seriously enough to come over in plenty of time to get used to both the weather and get over the jet lag, so no excuses this time.
In other rugby league news Wigan are terrible again having lost 3 from 3, two at home. Warrington are also rubbish having given away the lead twice already this season and once again look like they are all big names and no team work.
Now I won't be reviewing the games because that has been done by better people than me both at sportinglife and for a more biased view, at Southstander. In short we have won every game so far although far from convincingly, which really isn't a worry at this stage because it's the end of the season when the championship is won and not the start of it.
The positives for Leeds is their defence, they have only conceded 2 tries in 3 matches and both from kicks. The way that JJB tackled the Hull KR player into touch on Friday is the perfect example of this, he had no right to make that tackle and especially when there was only a few minutes to go and Leeds were 9 points up.
The negatives are that the attack is looking pretty flat at the moment but that could be down to early season rustiness and the fact we are missing a couple of our best attacking players due to injury.
So it's the World Club Challenge this weekend, which will see Leeds take on Manly at Elland Road. For the first time the Aussie side is taking it seriously enough to come over in plenty of time to get used to both the weather and get over the jet lag, so no excuses this time.
In other rugby league news Wigan are terrible again having lost 3 from 3, two at home. Warrington are also rubbish having given away the lead twice already this season and once again look like they are all big names and no team work.
Sunday, 18 January 2009
The rugby season is upon us
Well actually it's a monthish away but it's one of the things I really like that I haven't shared with you. So I thought I would educate some of my none rugby league loving friends on the greatest game.
The basics of the game can be found here on the popular democracy of lies wikipedia but what that cannot explain is why I love this game, why every weekend (apart from when we are playing in France) I go to the game, home or away, rain or shine. (You seriously have to experience Hull away in the rain to know how committed you are to a cause)
Rugby League is fast sport full of skill and power and is a game that really has to be seen in full flow to be truly appreciated, it has the bone crunching tackles, beautiful free flowing passing movements and plenty of drama. A game can literally turn on its head in a blink of an eye if it close.
I follow Leeds Rhinos, who in recent times have had a fair bit of success (they have won 3 championships in 5 years) but before 2004 they hadn't won the championship for 32 years! That's longer than I have been alive and that day at Old Trafford was brilliant, there were grown men crying everywhere with happiness, as for a long time we had also bottled it but no longer. For some reason it seems that sport is the only place guys get away with crying, strange that.
We have earned the success we are enjoying now and I'm going to enjoy it aslong as it lasts.
Anyway that was a pretty basic post about league, expect more as the season starts.
The basics of the game can be found here on the popular democracy of lies wikipedia but what that cannot explain is why I love this game, why every weekend (apart from when we are playing in France) I go to the game, home or away, rain or shine. (You seriously have to experience Hull away in the rain to know how committed you are to a cause)
Rugby League is fast sport full of skill and power and is a game that really has to be seen in full flow to be truly appreciated, it has the bone crunching tackles, beautiful free flowing passing movements and plenty of drama. A game can literally turn on its head in a blink of an eye if it close.
I follow Leeds Rhinos, who in recent times have had a fair bit of success (they have won 3 championships in 5 years) but before 2004 they hadn't won the championship for 32 years! That's longer than I have been alive and that day at Old Trafford was brilliant, there were grown men crying everywhere with happiness, as for a long time we had also bottled it but no longer. For some reason it seems that sport is the only place guys get away with crying, strange that.
We have earned the success we are enjoying now and I'm going to enjoy it aslong as it lasts.
Anyway that was a pretty basic post about league, expect more as the season starts.
Friday, 19 December 2008
The serious spin off
Is here! Well not really as there isn't much on there at the moment but it will be soon.
Here it is: Onewild part 2
Here it is: Onewild part 2
Thursday, 18 December 2008
2 Posts in one day maddness!
However this is abit of a cop out post because all it is saying is that I'm thinking of starting another blog soon to run along side this one. Whereas this one will cover the important subjects of zombies, rugby and other random stuff. The other one will be a place to put my random thoughts that don't really sit well along side the theme of this.
When I get around to start it, you will see what I mean.
Bye for now.
When I get around to start it, you will see what I mean.
Bye for now.
Zombie Plans: Best case sernerio
There are two kinds of people in this world, those with zombie plans and those without, we like to call them dinner"
Zombie Plans
The above quote is from the zombie special of Red Vs Blue and never has a truer word been said by a Halo character. If you don't have your plan erm planned then you will end up as zombie dinner. So here are the basics that you should be looking at to make sure you live.
Rule 1: Always be on the look out for news articles that may concern zombies. Unexplained disappearance, strange deaths from bites that sort of thing. If they start to become common then it is time to activate your plan.
Rule 2: Have a safe place to run away to, if you are on the ball you will be able to get almost anywhere because you will know a good few days before the outbreak starts to break down society. This place should, if possible, be in a secluded place, have its own water source and a generator is always good. The first two of these are the most important.
Rule 3: Get your food ready, tinned goods, bottled water for the journey and in case anything goes wrong with your water supply should also be bought in bulk. You might even be that far ahead of the game that you have time to go to the supermarket and do a shop. Remember nobody can reclaim credit card bills when there is a zombie outbreak.
Rule 4: Travel in small groups, 5 max, if you are meeting more people, then arrange to meet them at the hideout. Large groups just make travel more complicated. If they don't turn up and your cannot get hold of them because the mobile phone networks have crashed don't go looking for them. It might sound harsh but it will save your life.
Rule 5: Bring useful supplies only, travel light. Look at my weapons post for more info on weapons. So if you fail to get to your hideout before the main wave of zombies come you aren't going to be dragging a huge suitcase around full of pointless things like computer consoles, cd players ect.
Rule 6: Remember to bring some form of entertainment though. Boardgames, books, a pack of cards. If every person in a group of 5 brings 2 or 3 books then that's a lot of reading to be had. Hell you can even pre-pack your hideaway with all sorts of goodies.
Rule 7: When you get to your hideaway, fill anything you can with water from the mains. The more water the better, you don't know how long this is going to last.
Rule 8: Remember medical supplies. Also if you have a doctor friend bring them along. If they don't believe in zombies then tell them it is a surprise holiday or something.
Rule 9: Fortify your hideaway if possible. Add layers of defence, fall back points ect. A nice look out tower will prove useful too. To see both zombies and humans.
Rule 10: Pack lots of condoms, one they are useful for keeping things dry if you have to abandon your hideaway and walk to a new place. Also nobody wants to have a baby in the land of the dead. Although they might be useful for bait... (joke, please don't feed babies to the zombies)
These are the basic rules, follow them and you will stand a good chance of living.
Good Luck.
The above quote is from the zombie special of Red Vs Blue and never has a truer word been said by a Halo character. If you don't have your plan erm planned then you will end up as zombie dinner. So here are the basics that you should be looking at to make sure you live.
Rule 1: Always be on the look out for news articles that may concern zombies. Unexplained disappearance, strange deaths from bites that sort of thing. If they start to become common then it is time to activate your plan.
Rule 2: Have a safe place to run away to, if you are on the ball you will be able to get almost anywhere because you will know a good few days before the outbreak starts to break down society. This place should, if possible, be in a secluded place, have its own water source and a generator is always good. The first two of these are the most important.
Rule 3: Get your food ready, tinned goods, bottled water for the journey and in case anything goes wrong with your water supply should also be bought in bulk. You might even be that far ahead of the game that you have time to go to the supermarket and do a shop. Remember nobody can reclaim credit card bills when there is a zombie outbreak.
Rule 4: Travel in small groups, 5 max, if you are meeting more people, then arrange to meet them at the hideout. Large groups just make travel more complicated. If they don't turn up and your cannot get hold of them because the mobile phone networks have crashed don't go looking for them. It might sound harsh but it will save your life.
Rule 5: Bring useful supplies only, travel light. Look at my weapons post for more info on weapons. So if you fail to get to your hideout before the main wave of zombies come you aren't going to be dragging a huge suitcase around full of pointless things like computer consoles, cd players ect.
Rule 6: Remember to bring some form of entertainment though. Boardgames, books, a pack of cards. If every person in a group of 5 brings 2 or 3 books then that's a lot of reading to be had. Hell you can even pre-pack your hideaway with all sorts of goodies.
Rule 7: When you get to your hideaway, fill anything you can with water from the mains. The more water the better, you don't know how long this is going to last.
Rule 8: Remember medical supplies. Also if you have a doctor friend bring them along. If they don't believe in zombies then tell them it is a surprise holiday or something.
Rule 9: Fortify your hideaway if possible. Add layers of defence, fall back points ect. A nice look out tower will prove useful too. To see both zombies and humans.
Rule 10: Pack lots of condoms, one they are useful for keeping things dry if you have to abandon your hideaway and walk to a new place. Also nobody wants to have a baby in the land of the dead. Although they might be useful for bait... (joke, please don't feed babies to the zombies)
These are the basic rules, follow them and you will stand a good chance of living.
Good Luck.
Sunday, 14 December 2008
My sporting review of the year
It's the end of the year, which can only mean one thing, filler! Yeah it's the end of the year sporting review, well awards, as made up by me.
Best Sporting Event - The Olympics, well it couldn't really be anything else now could it? 2 weeks of solid sport and British over achievement. And we finished above the aussies!
Best Sporting Event I was actually there for - Super League Grand Final. Brilliant stuff, with Leeds Rhinos winning against all the odds. Everybody already had the Red and White Ribbons of St Helens on the trophy but Leeds had other ideas and the atmosphere was electric.
British Sporting person of the year- Well it could be any of the cyclists really couldn't it but I'm going to go for Chris Hoy. Don't really need to say more because the BBC said it all tonight.
Foreign Sports Star of the Year -Usain Bolt, no matter what Phelps did, he didn't jog the 100 metres in 9.69 seconds did he? Bolt made it look so easy, set 3 world records in the process. He won all that he could win (just like Phelps) but he did it with more style.
Team of the Year - GB Cycling team. They dominated the world of track cycling like no other British team has dominated a sport. All but one person (poor old Cav) won a medal at the Olympics, we won more medals on the track at the Olympics than everybody else put together. Shows the way forward for the rest of our sports, invest in the best and train them and they will give you the results.
Comeback of the year - Has to be Wiggins and Super Cav in the Madison. Needing to gain a lap to have any chance of winning the title with just 20 laps to go they stormed back to gain the lap and win the gold. The Manchester Velodrome was on fire (well looked like it on the telly anyway) and it set the tone for the year.
Worst Team of the year - England RL team. They went down under full of confidence, only to scrape past PNG, be destroyed by the Aussies, throw away a 20 point lead against the Kiwis and then make a string of basic mistakes to rob themselves of a place in the final. The players made mistakes that they would never do playing for their clubs. It was embarrassing.
The "It couldn't happen to a nicer team award" - Basically put, the award for a team that is the most arrogant and they lost and it was fun to watch them lose. Before I get to the winner, honourable mention to the Ferrari F1 Team for their reaction after the last race of the championship, classic. Also an honourable mention to the St Helens team before the Grand Final, despite talking about how they weren't going to go into the match thinking they had already won it, the reaction of James Graham scoring the first try showed the truth. However the award has to go to the Aussies RL Team. We were told they were the greatest team that had ever played the sport, they walked their way to the final and yet they lost in their own backyard. Brilliant stuff.
The Personality of the year award- Not like the BBC one, this goes to a sports star that has a personality and it has to go to Mark Cavendish. After winning 4 stages of the Tour, every interview was a joy to listen to. A Brit with confidence! He knows he is good, he knows he is the best but he is the right side of the confident/arrogance line.
Most predictable story of the year - Positive drug tests in the Tour De France. This is threatening to destroy the sport and the teams need to act now to cut it out or the tour will die.
Most surprising story of the year - Lance Armstrong announce his comeback. WTF! Why risk ruining the legend.
Best Sporting Event - The Olympics, well it couldn't really be anything else now could it? 2 weeks of solid sport and British over achievement. And we finished above the aussies!
Best Sporting Event I was actually there for - Super League Grand Final. Brilliant stuff, with Leeds Rhinos winning against all the odds. Everybody already had the Red and White Ribbons of St Helens on the trophy but Leeds had other ideas and the atmosphere was electric.
British Sporting person of the year- Well it could be any of the cyclists really couldn't it but I'm going to go for Chris Hoy. Don't really need to say more because the BBC said it all tonight.
Foreign Sports Star of the Year -Usain Bolt, no matter what Phelps did, he didn't jog the 100 metres in 9.69 seconds did he? Bolt made it look so easy, set 3 world records in the process. He won all that he could win (just like Phelps) but he did it with more style.
Team of the Year - GB Cycling team. They dominated the world of track cycling like no other British team has dominated a sport. All but one person (poor old Cav) won a medal at the Olympics, we won more medals on the track at the Olympics than everybody else put together. Shows the way forward for the rest of our sports, invest in the best and train them and they will give you the results.
Comeback of the year - Has to be Wiggins and Super Cav in the Madison. Needing to gain a lap to have any chance of winning the title with just 20 laps to go they stormed back to gain the lap and win the gold. The Manchester Velodrome was on fire (well looked like it on the telly anyway) and it set the tone for the year.
Worst Team of the year - England RL team. They went down under full of confidence, only to scrape past PNG, be destroyed by the Aussies, throw away a 20 point lead against the Kiwis and then make a string of basic mistakes to rob themselves of a place in the final. The players made mistakes that they would never do playing for their clubs. It was embarrassing.
The "It couldn't happen to a nicer team award" - Basically put, the award for a team that is the most arrogant and they lost and it was fun to watch them lose. Before I get to the winner, honourable mention to the Ferrari F1 Team for their reaction after the last race of the championship, classic. Also an honourable mention to the St Helens team before the Grand Final, despite talking about how they weren't going to go into the match thinking they had already won it, the reaction of James Graham scoring the first try showed the truth. However the award has to go to the Aussies RL Team. We were told they were the greatest team that had ever played the sport, they walked their way to the final and yet they lost in their own backyard. Brilliant stuff.
The Personality of the year award- Not like the BBC one, this goes to a sports star that has a personality and it has to go to Mark Cavendish. After winning 4 stages of the Tour, every interview was a joy to listen to. A Brit with confidence! He knows he is good, he knows he is the best but he is the right side of the confident/arrogance line.
Most predictable story of the year - Positive drug tests in the Tour De France. This is threatening to destroy the sport and the teams need to act now to cut it out or the tour will die.
Most surprising story of the year - Lance Armstrong announce his comeback. WTF! Why risk ruining the legend.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)