Self-isolating? Here are our favorite sports movies to watch at home – Woodland Daily Democrat

The coronavirus pandemic is creating a serious public health emergency in America and across the globe.

Public health officials have advised people to practice social distancing, staying at home as much as possible to avoid exposure and risk of passing on the novel coronavirus, which has resulted in more than 5,000 deaths worldwide (41 in the United States as of Friday afternoon).

For many, though, their involvement in this pandemic may be mundane. Those who have not been infected can do their part just by staying in — and for them, we have some suggestions for entertaining themselves.

Columnist Dieter Kurtenbach put the call out on Twitter for movies, books, documentaries and TV series. His followers sent plenty of responses that run the gamut from Rudy to books on Satchel Paige and ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentaries.

Putting together a list of great sports movies, Tv shows, documentaries, books, and long reads.

What needs to be included?

— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dieter) March 12, 2020

Here are our staff’s favorite sports films to pass the time while doing their public duty by isolating:

Elliott Almond

Bull Durham: It has humor and wit and stars Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins in epitomizing a slice of America through the lens of minor league baseball.

Slap Shot: Well, shoot, Paul Newman willing to have fun in a zany B-movie that has so many classic lines it’s like the Airplane of sports filmography.

Caddyshack: Any movie that casts Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and Rodney Dangerfield around a golf course is worth watching.

Murderball: A wonderful documentary that brings viewers inside the Paralympics.

The Endless Summer: a travelogue that captures the timeless vibration of the sport of surfing. Sure, boards are different now but the passion of riding waves is the same.

Cam Inman

Bad News Bears: Nothing defines American sports better than this 1976 classic, most definitely not to be confused with the Billy Bob Thornton remake in 2005. Social diversity abounds. They’re the ultimate underdogs, the castoffs, the island of misfit toys.

And yet they bond together for the thrill of victory, and ultimately they learn they can celebrate their accomplishments and sportsmanship even amid the agony of defeat. They’re not all heroes, not all role models, nor is any other American sports team, even those that gets prematurely labeled as a “Dream Team.” Now go stir me and Buttermaker a martini, a Coors and a Lucky Lager.

Phil Jensen

Chariots of Fire: At the time, I was a budding high school distance runner and gravitated towards anything in that genre. Being a Christian, I also gain inspiration from Eric Liddell’s stand.

The slow-motion sequences really resonated with me about the feeling of all-out effort during competition. The silence in parts of it also accurately reflected the focus needed to maintain a high level of effort. The movie spoke personally to me, and still does so.

Nick Roth

Field of Dreams: One of the greatest baseball movies of all time, creative but brought you to that era with bits of reality (Joe Jackson quote). Brings our the dreamer in everyone…The ET of sports flicks.

Eight Men Out: True story, best documentary reenactment about gambling in sports. Features terrific actors and storyline.

Major League: With some great actors (when they were young), this movie felt somewhat realistic but also had a quality funny factor.

Bad New Bears (Walter Matthau version): A classic of all-around misfits that spawned an updated version of the movie (featuring Billy Bob Thornton).

Mighty Ducks: A buncha hockey misfits that won with a special duck formation flying V (and hockey team was named after it)

Caddyshack: Bill Murray and John Candy in golfing scenario, ’nuff said. Most humorous golf movie ever.

*All the 80’s movies personally bring me back to specific times during my youth because that was the era I grew up in. I recall watching those movies differently then, with a less cynical view of the game and life (hence why Eight Men Out blew my mind)

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