Welcome back to Player Affinity's Sports Movie Madness! Last week, we held the round 2 of voting to determine the best sports movie ever. You voted, and we've got your results, as well as matchups for the "Screen 16."
In the basketball region, we still have a Cinderella alive and well in the competition with Space Jam knocking out number 2 seed Hoop Dreams. Meanwhile, number 1 seed Hoosiers cruised past Glory Road. Now the two winners meet up in the Regional Championship with the winner earning the title of Best Basketball Movie.
For those of you new to the tournament, Sports Movie Madness features seven sports and one mega-category of miscellaneous sports, so eight regions total. This is the Basketball Region. Below are the two basketball films remaining after two rounds of voting. It's your job is to pick which movie you deem worthy of winning the title. Simply enter a comment by Sunday at 5:00 pm with the film you think should win! After a winner is determined in the region, it will face off against the other regional champions until one film is left!
We're left with a David and Goliath matchup: Hoosiers vs. Space Jam, Gene Hackman vs. Bugs Bunny. The former mowed down his competition, earning 11 of 14 total votes. The latter is a surprise, supposed to be knocked out early but able to hold its own against stiff competition. Now, they go head to head, and it's all up to you to decide who wins.
THE RESULTS - ROUND 2 1 Hoosiers def. 4 Glory Road 6 Space Jam def. 2 Hoop Dreams
SCREEN 16: THE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Hoosiers vs. 6 Space Jam
For many, basketball films begin and end with Hoosiers. Featuring one of Gene Hackman's best performances, the film nails the human-interest factor that elevates the best sports movies. That makes the film relatable, even to those who don't care about the on-the-court drama. It's about second chances and overcoming all sorts of odds, and Hoosiers hooks us into that point perhaps better than any other basketball, or sports, film ever.
Michael Jordan and Loony Tunes—doesn't get much better than that. Or does it? Throw in Bill Murray and a host of other NBA stars, like Larry Bird and Charles Barkley, and you've got a heck of a film on your hands—or something like that. Space Jam is a silly film by most standards, but we challenge you to watch it and not have fun.
