Jackson Janes: “The Bad News Bears”

My favorite sports movie of all time is the original version of “The Bad News Bears.” The first time I watched this movie was at a party for my ninth birthday, and I still remember how cool it felt to be watching a movie filled with profanity and kids drinking beer. The movie features misbehaving outcast children on a baseball team composed of the worst players in the league and an ex-minor-league-player-turned-alcoholic who steps in to try and help lead the team to glory. The team makes a miraculous turn-around and keeps viewers engaged through the entirety of the film. Full of comedy and an ultimate feel-good story, this movie easily takes the cake as the best sports movie I’ve ever seen.

Jonah Perez: “Friday Night Lights”

My favorite sports movie is “Friday Night Lights.” Football is my favorite sport, and when I went to high school in Washington State, I never saw our football team win in any of my years there. High school football is king in Texas, and I would have liked to attend a high school football powerhouse. I also like the movie a lot because the protagonists, the Permian Panthers, don’t beat the antagonists, the Dallas Carter Cowboys, and you don’t see that often in movies.

Josh Pietsch: “McFarland U.S.A.”

As a runner, and the movie including my favorite actor of all time, Kevin Costner, my favorite sports movie is “McFarland U.S.A.” It is based on a true story and provides background on a former football coach coming into a primarily Latino area to coach a sport he never has before. The runners come from unique homes, and they form an unexpected bond with a coach from a completely different culture. The movie focuses on cross-country as well as forming bonds, which is why I think so highly of this film.

Luca Ripani: “Space Jam”

Before Damian Lillard and Shaq were collaborating on mixtapes, Michael Jordan built the bridge between the NBA and popular culture with the cinematic masterpiece of “Space Jam.” And as with everything else he did, Jordan was the best at it. On paper, the merging of Michael Jordan with Looney Tunes seemed like a fever dream rather than a Hollywood production. But the film works astonishingly well, incorporating Jordan and other superstars, like Patrick Ewing and Charles Barkley, into a story with iconic cartoon characters, such as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. Like the material it was inspired by, the movie doesn’t take itself too seriously, and the end result is a timeless classic that will be enjoyed by basketball and cartoon fans for generations to come.

Nithin Reddy: “The Karate Kid”

“Strike first, strike hard, no mercy!”

The movie that sparked three sequels, a remake and a really good spinoff series started with a young Italian kid from New Jersey who didn’t fit in at his high school, so he decided to pick up karate. “The Karate Kid” is a very basic sports movie in its essence. It copies the Rocky narrative of an underdog from nowhere getting a shot at the title, a storyline replicated now for decades. However, it still manages to develop characters in a versatile and interesting way that is rarely seen in this format of sports movies. Is “The Karate Kid” the best sports movie ever? Probably not, but is it easy to rewatch, impossible to not sink your teeth in and just a fun movie? Yes, yes and yes. Also, it should be noted that Johnny Lawrence gets a bad rep; watch “Cobra Kai,” and you will see what I mean.

Renato Arteaga: “The Longest Yard”

“The Longest Yard” with Adam Sandler is one of my favorite sports movies of all time. Who knew watching a group of prisoners battle a group of prison guards in a game of football would be so entertaining? Watching Sandler assemble a team of misfits and coach them to a victory was such an inspirational message to me as a kid. The underdog plot and comedy blended into one movie was definitely something that entertains me every time I watch it. The cast had Sandler’s famous group of comedic friends and WWE wrestlers, which made it an even more beloved film for myself. Whenever I see this film on cable, I always have to watch it because of how much I cherish it.

Richard Eberwein: “Moneyball”

A must-see for any fan of baseball, this dramatization of Billy Beane’s game-changing use of sabermetrics to build a team is one of the better sports movies of the 21st century. Personally, this film kick-started my love for baseball and persuaded me to play at my local park. While some details were over-exaggerated on the silver screen, “Moneyball” still tells a story that inspires confidence, personal growth and good baseball. In a lot of ways, this movie acted as a precursor to my sports journalism career.

Salman Amindavar: “Conor McGregor: Notorious”

Filmed over the course of 4 years, “Conor McGregor: Notorious” gives an all-access account of McGregor’s rapid rise to fame, from being a plumber’s apprentice to winning multiple UFC championship belts. Director Gavin Fitzgerald’s usage of McGregor’s perspective instead of a cliche voiceover perfectly highlights the fighter’s path from welfare to jaw-dropping wealth. The documentary’s thoughtful placing of montages and slo-mo scenes of him winning bloody fights gives the audience a feeling of inspiration as well as an appreciation for the journey to becoming a modern example of a man with drive and desire to win. It is often difficult for fans to disregard and explain McGregor’s memorable needling of star fighters like Mayweather. However, the. film’s pacing scenes of the fighter spending time with Drake, driving down the Vegas strip in a Rolls Royce and relaxing in his mansion suddenly act as key puzzle pieces to understanding how the ultimate fighter’s mind works. It is an extraordinary way to get a glimpse into one of the most misunderstood minds. For this reason, this film is my favorite and one that I will rewatch multiple times.

Wes Hollenberg: “Moneyball”

How many sports movies end with the team losing? “Moneyball” is my favorite sports movie because it finds a way to subvert expectations constantly, all behind the excellence of Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill. Billy Beane, played by Pitt, never surpasses his self-proclaimed bar of winning the World Series when he turns down a $12.5 million job offer with the Red Sox but still leaves the audience believing Beane was a success. The movie is able to end on a positive note as a result of my favorite scene of all time: Peter Brand—Hill’s character—shows Beane through a metaphor that despite the Athletics losing in the playoffs, he had still changed baseball forever. All Beane can respond is, “How can you not be romantic about baseball?” Simply put, the sheer amount of heart, excellent acting and carefully crafted storytelling makes “Moneyball” exemplify my love of sports better than any other movie.