Reason 129

My secret shame. Hi, everyone. My name is Sarah and I am a sports movie-aholic. I don't know when the addiction started. It may go as far back as my first viewing of Meatballs when I became enamored with Rudy, my eyes transfixed to the screen as he ran through the forest, leading his underdog team to victory. After that came Field of Dreams and A League of Their Own, two baseball flicks that make me weep with every viewing even though I am not a huge fan of America's favorite pasttime. Through the years I have seen almost every heartwarming sports movie released, no matter how poor the writing or unbelievable the plot. I admit to having seen Ladybugs, the Rodney Dangerfield soccer travesty, more than once. Clearly, I have psychological problems. Perhaps my affinity for watching these cinematic athletes perservere comes from my own athletic inability. I have never been particularly fond of kicking or throwing balls, running up and down fields, or huddling with a group of sweaty people to come up with some last-ditch effort that will save the game. No, I am a girl who would much rather sit on the sidelines, book in hand, occasionally looking up to watch the sports drama unfold before me. Perhaps that is why movies like Rudy and Remember the Titans suck me in every time I stumble upon one of them while flipping through the channels. I loathe football, but love the passion, agony, and triumph displayed by those well-muscled folks on that little screen. So, Jason, despite my embarrassment at purchasing a ticket for a movie like Stick It!, I will suck up my pride and accompany you to any sports movie you want to see. Afterall, every addict needs the occasional fix to get her through the lean times when every theater seems to be showing nothing but historical epics and buddy action comedies. The thought alone makes me get the shakes.