OK cinephiles, this one’s for you! There have been three Best Picture Academy Award Winning films with sports as the main theme. Those three films’ original theatrical posters appear, in part, above. What three sports movies have won the Best Picture Oscar?
Sports, athletes, and their stories have long been fertile ground for Hollywood stories.
Yet in the 96-year history of the Academy Awards only three feature length films have earned the Best Picture Oscar: Rocky (1976), Chariots of Fire (1981), and Million Dollar Baby (2004).
The movie posters from Rocky, Million Dollar Baby, and Chariots of Fire.
Interestingly enough, two of the three films focus on boxing. Rocky, of course, is the famous Sylvester Stallone project that he wrote and starred in. It received solid reviews when released and wound up being the lead in a series that, if the Creed films are considered part of the lineage, still going strong nearly 50 years later. Million Dollar Baby is the project of another Hollywood heavyweight (get it;-), Clint Eastwood. Based on the a collection of F.X. Toole entitled Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner, Eastwood went on to direct, co-star, produce, and score the film that stars Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman. Like Rocky, it was also well received by critics.
Chariots of Fire is the film about two British track athletes running in the 1924 Olympics and intertwines timeless themes such as religion, prejudice, and athletics.
Have other sports-themed films been more popular among cinephiles, certainly, but this trio has resonated with critics and fans (and Academy voters!) alike.
This one seemed timely. Who’s the leader of the pack?
Seventy years ago this week the only two men to have – at the time – run sub-four minute miles, England’s Roger Bannister and Australia’s John Landy, competed against one other for the first time at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, BC, Canada. The race became known as “The Miracle Mile.”
This iconic shot is by Sports Illustrated‘s Mark Kauffman and is from the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games on August 7, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The man out front is England’s Roger Bannister, the first to break four minutes in the mile. This race, dubbed the “Miracle Mile,” featured the only other man have broken four minutes to date, Australia’s John Landy. Bannister won, Landy took second, and Canada’s Rich Ferguson took third. Later that year, Bannister became Sports Illustrated‘s first-ever “Sportsman of the Year.”
The image above was captured by Sports Illustrated‘s Mark Kauffman, one of it’s founding photographers.
You’ll note that Bannister is out front and Landy does not appear in the frame. That’s because Landy was leading and it was not until the latter half of the final lap that Bannister passed his rival. That move, when Landy looked over his left shoulder and Bannister moved by on his right, was commemorated in the statue (image at bottom of this page).
Both men again broke four minutes.
This sculpture representation of Bannister overtaking Landy in the “Miracle Mile” stands in Vancouver. The sculptor was Jack Harman. (Photo by Paul Joseph)
Historic video of the “Miracle Mile” in 1954 from Vancouver.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser comes courtesy of longtime buddy, Pat Schutte. The cropped photo below and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
Eat your heart out, Jeopardy fans, it’s a Daily Double! These two photos – similar shots, no doubt – come from different eras. Who are the athletes and what are they doing?
A pair of American long jump gold medalists take center stage for this week’s Fan Teaser: Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1988) and Bob Beamon (1968).
Both jumpers had a bit of controversy surrounding their Olympic performances.
There were lots of whispers of a performance enhancement surrounding Joyner-Kersee’s gold medal wins in the Heptathalon and Long Jump; every test came back clean.
Beamon’s jump, which bested the previous record by nearly two feet, was controversial because of the circumstances: Mexico City sits at 7,350 feet above sea level, providing for thinner air. Nonetheless, Beamon’s record stood until 1991 when Michael Powell bested it. It remains the Olympic Record, over 55 years later.
At left, it’s Jackie Joyner-Kersee leaping to a then-Olympic record of 7.40 meters during Seoul’s 1988 Games. (Photo by Sports Illustrated’s Heinz Kluetmeier). At right, it’s Bob Beamon leaping to a then-World Record distance of 8.9 meters during Mexico City’s 1968 Games. (Photo by Getty Image’s Tony Duffy)
Bob Beamon’s 1968 record-setting leap.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s final jump at the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, South Korea.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser comes courtesy of longtime buddy, Pat Schutte. The cropped photo below and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
The Summer Games are only 98 days away. Who’s this scorned Olympian from Games gone by?
In a scintillating performance, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson dropped his 100-meter World Record to 9.79 seconds and claimed the Gold Medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. He owned that Gold and the World Record for fewer than 72 hours, however, when a urine sample turned up the steroid, stanozolol. Both accolades were stripped and the Gold was instead awarded to race runner up, Carl Lewis (9.92 seconds).
Johnson later admitted to steroid use from 1981-88 and had his World Record of 9.83 seconds established at the World Championships a year earlier in Rome stripped as well.
Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson pulls away from the field in the 100 meters at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Three days later, his urine sample showed signs of stanozolol (a steroid) and he was stripped of his gold medal. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Sports Illustrated)
Just to review, The Fan Teaser comes courtesy of longtime buddy, Pat Schutte. The cropped photo below and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
(About the Series: Based upon my Conversation with guest Derek Meinecke, I’m going back in time to be in the stands at 10 sporting events. This week, it’s #9. You’re able to find links to the previous installments below.)
Jesse Owens salutes the American flag at the medal ceremony for his long jump gold medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics. To Owens’ right is German Luz Long, giving the Nazi salute.
If you’ve read my work – even a little bit – these past 18 months, I feel as though you should be aware I have a fascination with history as well as sports. Therefore, it should come as little surprise that I’d want go back nearly a century to one of the most politically charged sporting events in history: the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. These Games, and the lead up to them, were a giant propaganda machine on the part of the German’s Nazi Party under the leadership of dictator, Adolf Hitler.
While the entirety of the Games would be fascinating to take in, I’m really climbing into the wayback machine to see one man compete. That man? Jesse Owens.
By the time Owens arrived in Berlin he was an 8-time NCAA Track & Field Champion running for Ohio State University. And, perhaps even more impressive than that feat, was his May 25, 1935, performance at Ferry Field on the campus of the University of Michigan when he equalled or tied four world records on single day at the Big Ten Championships (100-yard, 220-yard, 220-yard low hurdles, and long jump).
To review what Owens accomplished:
August 3, 1936
Owens won the first of his three individual gold medals over a 3-day stretch when he ran the 100-meter dash in 10.3 seconds to edge USA teammate and 2-time Olympic runner-up, Ralph Metcalfe, by a tenth of a second. Following the win, was there or was there not an acknowledgement by Hitler? Several observers, including Owens, indicated there was, but it was neither formal or overly public.
August 4, 1936
For years, Owens had some struggles with the long jump, often times missing his mark and launching too early or fouling out. The struggles continued in Berlin, nearly not qualifying for the final. Once there, he leapt 26-feet, 5-inches to defeat his German opponent, Luz Long, who ran a victory lap arm-in-arm with Owens afterward (in front of Hitler!).
It took a lot of courage for him to befriend me in front of Hitler… I would melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn’t be a plating on the twenty-four karat friendship that I felt for Luz Long at that moment
Jesse Owens
August 5, 1936
Another day, another gold medal. This time it was the 200-meter dash in which Owens ran a 20.7 seconds to best USA teammate Mack Robinson by four tenths of a second. A terrific athlete in his own right, Robinson (a member of the University of Oregon’s Hall of Fame) was slightly overshadowed in his own family as the older brother of Jackie Robinson; the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball.
Owens eases away from the field in this race.
August 9, 1936
Owens was not supposed to participate in the 4×100-meter relay, but a late switch by Team USA coach Lawson Robertson benched Jewish-American sprinters Marty Glickman and Sam Stoller in favor of Owens and 100-meter runner-up, Metcalfe. The Americans won in world record time of 39.8 seconds. The decision to bench Glickman and Stoller was not without controversy. Glickman (who went on to do radio sportscasting in New York City) long asserted it was racially motivated and came from Hitler’s staff to U.S. Olympic Committee Chair Avery Brundage who’d passed it on to Robertson. Incidentaly, August 9th was Stoller’s 21st birthday; he did not attend the event. Also worth noting, Glickman and Stoller were the only two healthy Team USA track athletes to not compete in the Berlin Games. Coincidence?
Owens’ four gold medal track and field performance in the 1936 Olympics was not duplicated until Carl Lewis earned gold in the same four events at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games.
As we noted at the top, these Games were as much about pro-Nazi propaganda as they were about competition. Other things worth noting, in addition to various nation boycotts and threats thereof (including from the U.S.), it also featured a 100,000-seat stadium that was constructed to one-up the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum used in 1932. The 1936 Berlin Games also were the first modern games with an Olympic Torch relay (to showcase the nation and the Aryan people), the first modern cinematographer (Leni Riefenstahl) chronicled the Games for propaganda purposes, and the famed Hindenburg zeppelin was seen overhead regularly after being initially launched in the spring of 1936.
From left, the Hindenburg was spotted over the massive stadium frequently and the torch relay provided plenty of opportunities to promote the Nazi Party.
In short, being present to see Owens’ performance, soak up the historical significance of the moments, and get a feel for what it was like in the stadium (and maybe even enjoy wurst or two along with a pint).
Flashing the Chiclets in this memorable global stage moment.
Like a flash, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt burst upon the scene during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. There, he claimed double gold – both in World Record times – in the 100 and 200 meters.
The next year, at the World Championships in Berlin, he ran the first – and so far only – sub 9.6 second 100 meters, winning in 9.58 seconds which still stands as the mark to beat. Bolt also won the 200 meters in World Record fashion, running a 19.19. Both records still stand.
In total, Bolt won eight Olympic golds over three games (2008, 2012, and 2016) and 11World Championships.
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt had a propensity for surveying the scene as he approached finish lines.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser comes courtesy of longtime buddy, Pat Schutte. The cropped photo below and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you by the early kickoff on Sunday.
South African middle- and long-distance runner Zola Budd was a bit of an anomaly. While most runners during her era preferred the modern comforts and peformance improvment afforded in running shoes, she opted to maintain the barefoot, or natural, approach.
It worked for her. As a 17-year-old in 1984 she established an unrecognized 5000 meter record at an event in South Africa, running it in 15:01.83. It was unrecognized because South Africa was excluded from international competitions because of its segregation policies. She eventually became a naturalized citizen of Great Britain and ran for that nation at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles where she became a household name for her interaction on the track with American runner Mary Decker during the 3000 meter finals. The result was a fall for Decker and a disappointing seventh place finish for Budd.
South African middle distance and distance runner, Zola Budd, competed for much of her career barefoot.
As we were researching Budd – who now goes by Zola Pieterse – we found this wonderful recollection from photographer David Burnett who was in the Los Angeles Coliseum that day in 1984 and captured some of the most iconic images of the collision and its aftermath. Read Burnett’s remembrance here.
Budd went on to run in the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona, now representing her native South Africa, but did not qualify for the finals. Decker competed in the 1500 and 3000 meters in the 1988 Games in Seoul finishing eighth and 10th.
The image of Mary Decker shortly after the entanglement between her and Zola Budd in 1984. (Photo by David Burnett/Contact Press Images)
Just to review, The Fan Teaser comes courtesy of longtime buddy, Pat Schutte. The cropped photo below and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you by the early kickoff on Sunday.
