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Double Plays
A PAIR OF films about tennis are about to appear on the big screen: Borg/McEnroe, about the iconic men's rivalry of the early 1980s, opening on Sept. 6, and The Battle of the Sexes, a retelling of the famous 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, opening on Sept. 22. It's not the first time Hollywood has released two movies on the same sport in the same year, inviting a competition between them. Here are four memorable examples.
BASEBALL (1989)
FIELD OF DREAMS
MAJOR LEAGUE
BEST PICTURE
The Indians in the playoffs? Shoeless Joe coming back to life? Both were juuust a bit outside believability when they were released. Tie goes to the one that makes grown men cry.
BASKETBALL (1994)
ABOVE THE RIM
BLUE CHIPS
BEST PICTURE
Tupac was a better rapper and a better actor than Shaq, but just as in real life, having Penny Hardaway as a teammate in the mid-'90s produced magic that was tough to beat.
GOLF (1996)
HAPPY GILMORE
TIN CUP
BEST PICTURE
Neither is a standout, but only Gilmore features Bob Barker beating up Adam Sandler.
FOOTBALL (1999)
ANY GIVEN SUNDAY
VARSITY BLUES
BEST PICTURE
Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) vs. Dawson (James Van Der Beek) is as much of a mismatch as a pro squad playing a high school team.
THEY SAID IT
"THEY ULTIMATELY WENT WITH THE YOUNGER, BETTER-LOOKING ONE."
Luke McCown
Recently signed Cowboys quarterback, whose team met with but did not sign his brother, Josh, earlier this year.
SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE
In a trade with the Cubs, Tigers GM Al Avila unloaded catcher Alex Avila, his son.
