Daria Doering

Movies about true events that were gripping and inspiring even to a non-sports person like me:

• Rudy – Small guy shows such amazing heart and perseverance in overcoming physical, financial and academic obstacles that he becomes a Notre Dame football legend.
• 61 – Ever feel like people hate you?  Then watch this movie about how Roger Maris tried to break Babe Ruth’s record of 60 home runs, and how hated and abused he was, for no particular reason at all!  Fascinating movie about how this decent guy copes with it all.
• We Are Marshall – After the unbelievable tragedy of the entire football team and coaching staff of Marshall College being killed in a plane crash, a few brave souls made the decision to carry on with football.  This film chronicles the tragedy, how people coped with it and tried to heal, and the rough road of those who carried on and tried to rebuild a team from scratch.
• Cinderella Man – Movie about depression era boxer James J. Braddock does a great job of showing what conditions were like at that time, and how Braddock’s great courage, values and devotion to his family led him to some victories against huge odds, and inspired a whole populace.
• The Junction Boys – I came in after the beginning and couldn’t tell if this was a story about abuse or inspiration.  Turned out to be about legendary football coach “Bear” Bryant, and his first season coaching for Texas A&M, in which he was given a “training camp” facility in the scorching hellhole of Junction, Texas.  He pushed his athletes to the max, and one suffered heat stroke, while the others barely survived.  How did they feel  about him years later?  Watch this fascinating movie to find out.