Tuesdays with Smitty: The Thanksgiving Edition

Well it is that time of year again. The leaves are gone…or on the ground, snow has made a brief appearance and is close to staying for a couple of months. Football is in full swing as we bear down down on the NFL playoffs and a spot in the BCS.  This week brings us together with a favorite combination – turkey and football. Thanksgiving brings us loads of turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. While most TVs will be turned to football Thursday, some may not be allowed. Or for that matter, no one is going to want to watch the 0-11 Detroit Lions. So what will be on instead? Movies. Well if you can’t have on the game, what can be better then curling up next to a fire…. well in the case of the Edgemere mansion – about 20 feet on the other side of the room – and watching a great sports movie. So what are the great sports movies? Some are classics, some are favorites. I thought I would list my Top 5 and let you submit your favorites. Here we go.

1. Bull Durham – Kevin Costner, Timothy Robbins and Susan Sarandon. Is it just me, or has Kevin Costner made his career on baseball movies and wolves? This classic has a ton of lines that anyone can quote at anytime and any self-respecting baseball fan will know right where it came from. If you haven’t watch it, do yourself a favor, go to Best Buy on Black Friday (your penance for not seeing this) and spend the 5 bucks for the DVD.

2. Raging Bull – Martin Scorsese and Robert DeNiro. One of the best movies made by Scorsese. DeNiro was incredible as the great Jake LaMotta. Shot in black and white; the images are incredible. Worth seeing multiple times.

3. Hoosiers – Gene Hackman brings a winner to the sleepy town of Hickory. This has to be the favorite amongst “Underdog” sports movies. Right when Jimmy Chitwood says, ” Coach stays, I play. Coach goes, I go” – you know things are turning around. Or how about Shooter(Dennis Hopper) getting the book right after Coach Norman Dale is ejected. Talk about being up a creek without the obligatory paddle.

4. Caddyshack – I am sorry – this has to be in here. Possibly the best sports comedy, it has memorable performances from Rodney Dangerfield, Chevy Chase and Bill Murray – “The Cinderella story..”

5. The Natural – I am not sure how many times I have watched this movie. Still the music still gives me goosebumps. How about striking out the Whammer on 3 straight pitches that are as “dry as your Grand Daddy’s scalp”. How about shattering the lights on a game winning home run – and don’t tell me you haven’tenvisioned yourself doing something like that. Or how about Kim Bassinger in a fur coat. I still remember my Dad taking me to the theater to see this flick… Mom wanted to go because it was Robert Redford before he turned into a leather coat.

Well those are my top 5 – and don’t get me wrong – there are others. But let’s hear what your favorite sports movies are. In the meantime – have a healthy and Happy Thanksgiving. Eat lots of turkey, unbuckle the pants, curl up on the couch and enjoy..