theScore is counting down the 100 best fictional characters in sports movie history, with a new post every weekday until July 3.

100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51
50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

20. Jake Taylor

"Major League" (1989) and "Major League II" (1994)

Former All-Star catcher Taylor (Tom Berenger) - who began the first "Major League" film in the Mexican League because of his wonky knees - is the heart and soul of the Cleveland Indians. He is a leader to the rookies, stands up to defiant veterans, and is responsible for one of the most epic gotcha moments in sports movie history. He's so knowledgeable and well-liked that he winds up as a big-league manager later in the series.

19. Gordon Bombay

"The Mighty Ducks" (1992), "D2: The Mighty Ducks" (1994), and "D3: The Mighty Ducks" (1996)

The 1990s were a low point for the fictional United States criminal justice system. Consider the case of Bombay (Emilio Estevez), whose punishment for drunk driving is ... coaching youth hockey. It doesn't take long for the hardened, win-at-all-costs lawyer to adopt a softer, more sensitive tact, and his tutelage helps push the Mighty Ducks to a championship (and a pair of middling sequels).

18. Ivan Drago

"Rocky IV" (1985) and "Creed II" (2018)

If there's one thing Drago (Dolph Lundgren) proved in Rocky IV, it's that actions speak louder than words. The freakishly strong Russian antagonist to Rocky Balboa sends shivers down your spine with famous one-liners such as, "If he dies, he dies," and, "I must break you," which account for most of what the hulking heavyweight says throughout his first appearance in the franchise.

17. Forrest Gump

"Forrest Gump" (1994)

Gump (Tom Hanks), who overcomes countless challenges to help reshape history, is one of the greatest multi-sport stars to ever grace a screen. First, he uses his blazing speed to become a star kick-returner at Alabama. Then, while recovering from a gunshot wound in the military, he learns how to play table tennis and eventually becomes one of the greatest players on the planet. He caps off his athletic dominance in the film by running across the United States for three straight years, inspiring others to follow his lead.

16. Becky 'Icebox' O'Shea

"Little Giants" (1994)

In her film debut, Shawna Waldron plays O'Shea, a scary-good youth football player who's cut from the team by her uncle even though she's the best player on the field, simply because she's a girl. "Icebox" and her dad wind up getting even as they help lead a team of other rejects to success, all while attempting to break the barriers of inclusivity in organized sports.

15. Ricky 'Wild Thing' Vaughn

"Major League" (1989) and "Major League II" (1994)

Vaughn (Charlie Sheen) plays a convict turned pitcher who overcomes issues with his eyes to control his wild arm. Vaughn's 100-mph heater, cool demeanor, and memorable haircut make him a standout among standouts on the fictitious Indians.

14. The Hanson Brothers

"Slap Shot" (1977)

Warning: Video contains coarse language

The Hansons - Jack (David Hanson), Steve (Steve Carlson), and Jeff (Jeff Carlson) - represent hockey's id. The trio's unrestrained impulse to check, trip, slash, and spear adds a dose of chaos to "Slap Shot." Though there isn't a whole lot of depth to the characters, their collective personality really comes through on the ice.

13. Sydney Deane

"White Men Can't Jump" (1992)

Warning: Video contains coarse language

Deane (Wesley Snipes) is the brasher, more conventionally cool counterpart to on-court rival and teammate Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson). The lone strike against the hilarious performance is that Snipes was apparently terrible at basketball, whereas Harrelson can actually hoop.

12. Jeffrey 'The Dude' Lebowski

"The Big Lebowski" (1998)

Warning: Video contains coarse language

You might be asking yourself whether "The Big Lebowski" really qualifies as a sports movie. First of all, that's just, like, your opinion, man. Also, there are a heckuva lot of bowling scenes, including "The Dude's" (Jeff Bridges) famous hallucinogenic-induced dance number.

Ironically, though much of the film is set at a bowling alley, "The Dude" is never actually seen bowling.

11. Ricky Bobby

"Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" (2006)

Of all the sports-centered comedies Will Ferrell has starred in, "Talladega Nights" remains the cream of the crop. As titular NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby, Ferrell unfurls a steady stream of instantly quotable one-liners while nailing the physical comedy with his doughy, man-child body.

At No. 11 on our list, Bobby would undoubtedly be disappointed in his placement. After all, "if you're not first, you're last."

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Each of our six hockey editors at theScore selected a winner and two runners-up for the NHL's most hotly debated individual honors.

Those votes were then assigned values - three points for a first-place vote, two points for second, and a single point for third - and the totals were added up to determine the results.

Here's who we believe should claim the hardware, and who deserves honorable mentions for their efforts:

Hart Trophy

Winner: Nathan MacKinnon
Second: Leon Draisaitl
Third: Artemi Panarin

MacKinnon's otherworldly talents are no secret, and there's little doubt the Colorado Avalanche superstar was the NHL's most valuable player in 2019-20. He ranked fifth in the league with 93 points, a whopping 43 points more than Colorado's second-best producer.

The gifted forward carried the Avalanche to within two points of the top spot in the Central Division despite injuries to linemates Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog, as well as to No. 1 netminder Philipp Grubauer.

MacKinnon came oh-so-close to winning the Hart in 2018, narrowly losing to Taylor Hall in one of the tightest votes ever. Two years later, it's clear MacKinnon is worthy of being named the league's MVP for the first time.

Draisaitl should be lauded for his outstanding season after leading the league with 110 points and finishing fourth with 43 goals. However, 16 of those markers and 44 of those points came on the power play, when he played alongside arguably the best player in the world, Connor McDavid, who nearly tallied 100 points overall himself.

Four of our editors gave MacKinnon first-place votes, while Draisaitl received the other two. Panarin was given two second-place nods and two third-place votes, as our crew wanted to acknowledge his importance to the New York Rangers' success, and the fact he notched 20 more points than his next-closest teammate.

Norris Trophy

Winner: Roman Josi
Second: John Carlson
Third: Victor Hedman

Carlson posted 10 more points than Josi (75 to 65) in the same number of games, but the Nashville Predators rearguard was the only player on his team to crack 50. That underscores how much more important Josi was to his club.

Plus, it's not all about points, especially with defensemen. Josi averaged over a full minute of ice time more than Carlson, who benefited from playing in the Capitals' high-flying, second-ranked offense featuring Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Evgeny Kuznetsov, while Josi skated with a less talented supporting cast.

The Predators blue-liner's underlying numbers were also superior, as he produced better Expected Goals For, Scoring Chances For, and Corsi For rates than his Capitals counterpart. Josi is a more complete defenseman, and he was the best player at his position in 2019-20.

Vezina Trophy

Winner: Connor Hellebuyck
Second: Tuukka Rask
Third: Darcy Kuemper

Hellebuyck won our group over unanimously, and for good reason. The Winnipeg Jets goaltender was stellar despite being besieged while playing behind a depleted defense corps. The Jets played without the suspended and now-departed Dustin Byfuglien all season, and they also dealt with several other key injuries to blue-liners.

Hellebuyck suited up for more contests than all of his counterparts except Carey Price, trailed only Andrei Vasilevskiy in wins, and led the NHL in shutouts, all while facing the most shots and the third-most shots per 60 minutes among those who played 40-plus games. Meanwhile, Rask faced the 16th-most shots per 60.

The Boston Bruins netminder carved out a better save percentage, but he played 17 fewer games. Rask should be commended for his league-leading 19.69 goals saved above average (Hellebuyck ranked third with 14.33), but the Finnish veteran did that on the NHL's best team, and with a far better defensive group in front of him.

Calder Trophy

Winner: Cale Makar
Second: Quinn Hughes
Third: Elvis Merzlikins

While both Makar and Hughes put together outstanding campaigns, there's more than enough evidence to support the Avalanche phenom becoming the NHL's rookie of the year.

He led all qualified rookies in points per game (0.88), and Makar held an advantage over Hughes in both Expected Goals For percentage (53.49 to 52.85) and Scoring Chances For percentage (55.38 to 51.19), showing he drove possession better.

Makar also topped all rookie blue-liners with 12 goals (four more than Hughes), eight even-strength markers (three more than Hughes), and 31 even-strength points (three more than Hughes) despite playing 11 fewer games than his Western Conference rival.

Hughes paced all rookies in points - edging out Makar by three - while logging nearly a minute more per contest than his Colorado peer. However, the Vancouver Canucks wunderkind collected 25 of his 53 points on the NHL's fourth-ranked power play, whereas Makar only notched 19 of his 50 points on the Avalanche's 19th-ranked unit.

Jack Adams Award

Winner: John Tortorella
Runners-up: Mike Sullivan, Alain Vigneault

Tortorella has earned this honor twice before, but the quotable Columbus Blue Jackets head coach may have strung together his most impressive regular-season work to date in 2019-20.

He guided the Blue Jackets to a playoff spot despite the offseason departures of previous franchise fixtures Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, along with Matt Duchene. Columbus defensive cornerstone Seth Jones missed the club's final 14 games with an ankle injury, and earlier in the campaign, No. 1 goaltender Joonas Korpisalo was hurt in a shootout after a clock error wiped out the Blue Jackets' winning goal near the end of regulation.

Merzlikins' subsequent emergence as a capable starting puck-stopper helped the Blue Jackets finish strong, but Tortorella kept his team focused and competitive amid everything it dealt with to earn this honor.

Sullivan and Vigneault tied for second place in our voting. The Pittsburgh Penguins bench boss warrants recognition for his team's performance while it persevered through significant injuries, and the Philadelphia Flyers head coach deserves credit after his club unexpectedly finished with the NHL's sixth-best record.

Selke Trophy

Winner: Sean Couturier
Second: Patrice Bergeron
Third: Ryan O'Reilly

Bergeron is tied with Bob Gainey for the most Selke wins in NHL history with four, and the 34-year-old Bruins star is a perennial contender for this award. However, Couturier proved this season he's now the league's best defensive forward.

The Flyers center - who finished second in award voting two years ago - remains arguably the game's most underrated player. He posted excellent possession rates while consistently matching up against his opponents' best players and being deployed in all situations. He plays a true 200-foot game and is ultra-durable. Couturier suited up for every contest in 2019-20, and he's missed only two games combined over his last three seasons.

O'Reilly, the defending Selke recipient, produced another strong campaign both offensively and defensively, but Couturier has made the best case and is primed to take home the hardware for the first time.

(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)

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theScore is counting down the 100 best fictional characters in sports movie history, with a new post every weekday until July 3.

100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51
50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

30. Mr. Miyagi

"The Karate Kid" (1984), "The Karate Kid Part II" (1986), "The Karate Kid Part III (1989), and "The Next Karate Kid" (1994)

Before his role as mentor to Daniel LaRusso in the first three "The Karate Kid" films, Pat Morita was mostly known as a comedy actor on television shows like "Happy Days." His portrayal of Mr. Miyagi, a soft-spoken and big-hearted karate instructor who helps "Daniel-san" with real-life issues, helped revitalize his career and earned him an Academy Award nomination.

29. Amanda Whurlitzer

"The Bad News Bears" (1976)

In an environment where it was frowned upon for a girl to play on a boys' baseball team, Whurlitzer (Tatum O'Neal) rose above the ignorance with her beaming fastball and two-and-a-half-foot-breaking curve. But, even talented 11-year-olds like Whurlitzer have problems to deal with, like constant rejection by her coach and mother's ex-boyfriend, Morris Buttermaker, whom she views as a father figure.

28. Paul Crewe

"The Longest Yard" (1974)

Warning: Video contains coarse language

Just coming into his talents as a leading actor, Burt Reynolds deftly threaded the needle between comedy and emotional sensitivity as Paul "Wrecking" Crewe, a former star NFL quarterback turned inmate.

Of course, Reynolds was no novice on the gridiron. Before his distinguished acting career, he played halfback at Florida State in the mid-1950s until injuries derailed his athletic career.

27. Monica Wright

"Love & Basketball" (2000)

Few movies are told from the vantage point of female characters; even fewer feature Black women as protagonists. Through Wright (Sanaa Lathan), director Gina Prince-Bythewood explores all aspects of basketball - both the on-court trials shared by male athletes and the off-court expectations that are wholly unique to women in sport.

26. Benny 'The Jet' Rodriguez

"The Sandlot" (1993)

Rodriguez (Mike Vitar) had a lot going for him in "The Sandlot." He was far and away the team's best player and navigated even the most intense situations with ease. But, the coolest thing about "The Jet" was his acceptance of Scotty Smalls. Rodriguez was a better person than his peers and welcomed the new kid on the block into the team even though he wasn't very good at baseball. His reward? A friend for life.

25. 'Fast' Eddie Felson

"The Hustler" (1961) and "The Color of Money" (1986)

Few actors exuded cool as effortlessly as Paul Newman, making him the perfect pool shark in "The Hustler," then mentor to Vincent (Tom Cruise) in the sequel 25 years later.

His performance in "The Color of Money" finally won Newman an Academy Award after eight previous nominations.

24. Doug Glatt

"Goon" (2011) & "Goon: Last of the Enforcers" (2017)

Warning: Video contains coarse language

After more than a decade of playing frat boys and jocks in films like "Dude, Where's My Car?" and the "American Pie" series, Seann William Scott both played into and subverted that typecasting with Doug Glatt. Despite his success as a minor-league hockey enforcer, Doug is ultimately a noble meathead with an undercurrent of sweetness and sensitivity.

23. Scott Howard

"Teen Wolf" (1985)

As metaphors for puberty go, literally turning into a werewolf is on the nose. While not quite as notable as his star-making performance in the "Back to the Future" series, Michael J. Fox's boy-next-door charm is still on display (even when obscured by prosthetics and makeup). The moral of the story: No one cares what you look like as long as you're really good at putting the basketball in the net.

22. Adonis Johnson/Creed

"Creed" (2015) and "Creed II" (2018)

In the two "Creed" films, Michael B. Jordan helps rejuvenate the "Rocky" franchise by playing the extramarital son of former boxing champion, Apollo Creed. The younger Creed follows a nearly identical path to boxing fame as Rocky, whom he convinces to become his trainer, but also tugs on the audience's heartstrings by helping the retired fighter battle through severe illness.

21. Ebby Calvin 'Nuke' LaLoosh

"Bull Durham" (1988)

Warning: Video contains coarse language

LaLoosh (Tim Robbins) is a hotshot pitcher with a million-dollar arm and a 10-cent head in "Bull Durham." The character, who is based loosely on real-life pitcher Steve Dalkowski, aggravates at first because of his cockiness and know-it-all personality but becomes someone to root for as he blossoms into a big leaguer under the tutelage of Crash Davis and Annie Savoy.

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Welcome to Puck Pursuit, an interview-style podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.

Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.

Hockey Hall of Famer Ken Dryden - who's also an author, a lawyer, and, formerly, a politician - joins the show to discuss a variety of topics, including:

• His thoughts on COVID-19, NHL's return-to-play plan
• Why Scotty Bowman has lived a hockey life like no other
• Getting into Bowman's mind for Dryden's 2019 book, "Scotty"
• Breaking down the case for penalizing all hits to the head
• Reaction to his thought-provoking book, "Game Change"

... and more!

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore is counting down the 100 best fictional characters in sports movie history, with a new post every weekday until July 3.

100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51
50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

50. Mickey

"Rocky I, II, III, V" and "Rocky Balboa" (1976, 1979, 1982, 1990, 2006)

Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith), the short-tempered manager of Rocky Balboa, is a former boxer who finally gets a shot at a world title when Apollo Creed issues a surprising challenge to the "Italian Stallion." Mickey's relationship with Rocky is strained at first but blossoms into a father-son-like connection as the pair undergo countless hours of sweaty training sessions punctuated by lines from the manager such as, "You're gonna eat lightning, you're gonna crap thunder."

49. Lou Brown

"Major League" (1989) and "Major League II" (1994)

James Gammon plays the role of Cleveland Indians manager Brown, a surly skipper who leaves his job as a tire salesman to become the leader of a team meant to go nowhere. Throughout his tenure as Indians bench boss, Brown does a wonderful job of bonding his club through the use of hilarious props - including stripping down a cardboard cutout of mischievous owner Rachel Phelps - to get his team to win games.

48. Jess Bhamra

"Bend It Like Beckham" (2002)

Mirroring the film industry as a whole, the sports film canon hasn't featured a ton of diversity in the types of stories it's told. However, Jess (Parminder Nagra) is a great reminder that the love of the game can transcend race, gender, and religion. As the protagonist of "Bend It Like Beckham," Jess nimbly navigates both a Sikh community steeped in familial traditions and the world of amateur English football.

47. Carl Spackler

"Caddyshack" (1980)

Private golf clubs are known to be pristine, well-mannered, and stodgy. Groundskeeper Spackler (Bill Murray), on the other hand ... not so much. Between living in a dilapidated shack on the premises and attempting to eliminate the club's gopher problem with explosives, it's fair to wonder if Carl creates more trouble than he's worth.

46. Ernie McCracken

"Kingpin" (1996)

Back-to-back roles from Murray hit our rankings, with the latter being his portrayal of womanizing bowling veteran McCracken in "Kingpin." After losing to Roy Munson at the 1979 Odor-Eaters championship, McCracken shows a villainous side by setting his rival up in a game during which he loses his prized bowling hand. While "Big Ern" offers plenty of gut-busting comedy, nothing is funnier than his legendary comb-over.

45. White Goodman

"Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" (2004)

There's nothing subtle about Goodman (Ben Stiller). The egomaniacal leader of the Globo Gym Purple Cobras struts around in leather and shoulder pads like "Macho Man" Randy Savage with a Napoleon complex. Goodman's over-the-top nature is made even funnier in comparison to everyman Peter LaFleur (Vince Vaughn).

44. Teddy KGB

"Rounders" (1998)

Teddy KGB (John Malkovich) is an underground poker-playing legend and antagonist to Matt Damon's character in Rounders. It may be hard to read the tells of the Russian mobster throughout his few appearances in the film, but when he's on screen, it's easy to fall in love with his card-playing caginess and undying love for Oreo cookies.

43. Harry Doyle

"Major League" (1989), "Major League II" (1994), and "Major League: Back to the Minors" (1998)

Real-life sportscaster and former player Bob Uecker is wise-cracking Indians announcer Doyle in the "Major League" flicks. Uecker's comedy throughout the films is unmatched as he constantly tries to paint a brighter picture of a team and its most embarrassing moments.

42. Isis

"Bring It On" (2000)

Don't be fooled by its bubbly appearance, "Bring It On" offers a nuanced - and evergreen - look at how privileged white performers appropriate and profit off the art and culture of Black creators. Isis (Gabrielle Union) is initially painted as an aggressor when, in reality, it's her predominantly Black and Latinx cheer squad whose routines have been unknowingly pilfered by Torrance's (Kirsten Dunst) suburban San Diego team.

41. Tony D'Amato

"Any Given Sunday" (1999)

Warning: Video contains coarse language.

It doesn't get much better than a legendary actor chewing the scenery as a head coach who sees football as a microcosm for the world at large. As Coach D'Amato, Al Pacino's "Inches" monologue has stood the test of time as one of the truly great inspirational pep talks in movie history.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore is counting down the 100 best fictional characters in sports movie history, with a new post every weekday until July 3.

100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51
50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

60. Marla Hooch

"A League of Their Own" (1992)

Were it not for Dottie Hinson and Kit Keller nagging scout Ernie Capadino, homely infielder Marla Hooch (Megan Cavanagh) would have been left behind in Colorado instead of becoming the Rockford Peaches' best hitter. While laughing at Marla's aversion to being prototypically pretty is worth a chuckle at first, watching her overcome self-esteem issues (thanks in part to some alcohol) to marry the man of her dreams is her finest moment.

59. Johnny Lawrence

"The Karate Kid" (1984)

As far as 1980s sports villains are concerned, William Zabka's portrayal of lead Cobra Kai bully, Johnny Lawrence, is up there with the best of them. Throughout "The Karate Kid," Lawrence makes Daniel LaRusso's life a living hell, right up until the two battle in a final showdown that features the legendary crane kick.

58. Russ Tyler

"D2: The Mighty Ducks" (1994) and "D3: The Mighty Ducks" (1996)

Though the "Mighty Ducks" films had diminishing returns with each sequel, Russ Tyler (Kenan Thompson) and his signature "knucklepuck" shot rank high among the later films' best additions. Perhaps owing to the actor's now record-breaking reign on "Saturday Night Live," Thompson's involvement in the series has stood the test of time despite him not appearing in the original.

57. Coach Norman Dale

"Hoosiers" (1986)

Coach Dale (Gene Hackman) isn't flawless, but that only serves to make him a more nuanced, interesting character than the typical win-at-all-costs tyrants who often man the benches in sports films. Hackman achieves great results by balancing his broiling intensity with emotional sensitivity.

56. Alvin Mack

"The Program" (1993)

In "The Program," Duane Davis plays Alvin Mack, a linebacker for the ESU Timberwolves who appears to have a bright NFL future ahead of him even though he can barely read. Mack isn't a dummy by any means; he's just so invested in football that the system has forgotten to give him the tools to do anything but play the game, thus leading him to become the centerpiece of the film's most heartbreaking scene.

55. Kelly Leak

"The Bad News Bears" (1976)

Before Jackie Earle Haley shot to superstardom as Rorschach, the actor played rebellious nomad Kelly Leak in the 1976 version of "The Bad News Bears." The youngster not only has an affinity for women, gambling, and smoking, but it turns out he's one heck of a ballplayer, too.

54. Ross 'The Boss' Rhea

"Goon" (2011)

Warning: Video contains coarse language

At the beginning of "Goon," Liev Schreiber's Ross "The Boss" Rhea operates similar to the shark in "Jaws" - you get early glimpses of the monstrous, minor-league hockey enforcer but don't fully appreciate the full scope of his brutality until the film's third act, when the veteran enforcer goes toe-to-toe with protagonist Doug (Seann William Scott).

53. Clubber Lang

"Rocky III" (1982)

Mr. T's first notable screen role came as ferocious bruiser Clubber Lang in "Rocky III," which helped launch the actor toward superstardom and legendary status. I pity the fool who doesn't marvel at Lang's training montage and aggressive ring demeanor in this classic sports flick that helped transform Rocky's relationship with Apollo Creed, a man he beat one film earlier.

52. Jake Shuttlesworth

"He Got Game" (1998)

Warning: Video contains coarse language

Ex-con Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington) is the fly in the ointment, complicating what should be a straightforward, above-the-board recruiting process for his son, high school star Jesus (Ray Allen). Washington's abilities on the blacktop proved crucial for a scene later in the film, where he holds his own (for a bit) against the real-life NBA star.

51. Bobby Boucher

"The Waterboy" (1998)

In one of Adam Sandler's finest performances, Bobby Boucher goes from intellectually challenged water boy to college football superstar. A victim of bullying for years, Boucher channels his pent up rage to become a dominant linebacker and picks up his childhood crush along the way - despite the wishes of his overprotective "mama."

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore is counting down the 100 best fictional characters in sports movie history, with a new post every weekday until July 3.

100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51
50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

70. Charles Jefferson

"Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982)

In his youth, Oscar winner Forest Whitaker portrayed Jefferson, a football player who goes crazy and decides to decapitate everyone on a rival high school team after he's duped into thinking they destroyed his favorite car. Jefferson's role is a minor but memorable one in this classic stoner flick.

69. Jackie Moon

"Semi-Pro" (2008)

Will Ferrell's hot streak of comedic hits in the 2000s gave him carte blanche for future projects. There are certainly some parallels between the actor and his character, Jackie Moon, a one-hit-wonder disco crooner who uses his wealth to buy an ABA team and then inserts himself into the starting lineup. Though elements are exaggerated, Moon perfectly exemplifies the zaniness of the NBA's short-lived competitor.

68. Shep

"Above the Rim" (1994)

Warning: Video contains coarse language

Still working through the trauma of witnessing his friend die during a rooftop game of one-on-one, Shep (Leon) keeps his potent basketball abilities under wraps. Seeing him almost single-handedly take out Birdie's (Tupac Shakur) team at the neighborhood tournament while wearing corduroy pants and a long-sleeve shirt is one of the truly great feats of athleticism ever in a film.

67. Jonathan "Mox" Moxon

"Varsity Blues" (1999)

Mox (James Van Der Beek) is a subversion of a lead character often seen in sports films. As his powerhouse high school football team's brainy backup quarterback, Mox can see the pitfalls of the amateur sports world with uncanny clarity, which results in him sticking up to authoritarian head coach Bud Kilmer (Jon Voight).

66. Spike

"Little Giants" (1994)

When Spike (Sam Horrigan) moves to town in "Little Giants," Danny O'Shea (Rick Moranis) fakes the military kid's identity to get him on the football team, only to find out the muscle-bound meathead is a chauvinist who won't play with his daughter. Spike eventually gets his comeuppance against the Giants later in the film when his former teammates beat him during a youth football showdown.

65. Adrian

"Rocky I-V" (1976-1990)

Adrian (Talia Shire) may start out as a shy nerd working in a pet store in the original Rocky film, but as the series evolves, she becomes arguably the greatest supporting character in sports movie history. While Rocky takes the physical punishment of every blow in the ring, it's Adrian who wears the emotional scars of being in love with a fighter who just doesn't know when to quit.

64. Joe 'Coop' Cooper

"BASEketball" (1998)

In "BASEketball," South Park creator Trey Parker plays lead loser Cooper, who's transformed into a star player for the Milwaukee Beers after helping to invent an absurd combo sport, and he eventually becomes the team's owner. Parker's comedy in the film as Cooper, while funny at times, just makes "BASEketball" feel like a live-action version of South Park.

63. Jules Paxton

"Bend It Like Beckham" (2002)

Before she became famous for swashbuckling epics and period pieces, Keira Knightley shined as Jules in the 2002 sleeper hit "Bend It Like Beckham." Adding to the performance's charm, Knightley did her own playing scenes, rather than stepping aside for a stunt double.

62. Richie 'Baumer' Tenenbaum

"The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001)

Though "The Royal Tenenbaums" isn't really a sports movie at its core, Richie "Baumer" Tenenbaum (Luke Wilson) perfectly embodies the ethos of the proverbial burned-out tennis prodigy: Erratic, despondent, and competing inside his own head. He's like John McEnroe mixed with The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson.

61. Chubbs

"Happy Gilmore" (1996)

Chubbs Peterson may not be Carl Weathers' best work in a sports film, but the golf instructor who lost his hand to an alligator is an incredible character who delivers comedy gold with minimal screen time. Remember everyone, the key to putting is to "Tap it in. Just tap it in."

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore is counting down the 100 best fictional characters in sports movie history, with a new post every weekday until July 3.

100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51
50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

80. Air Bud

"Air Bud" (1997)

The original basketball-centric "Air Bud" spawned four direct sequels (with increasingly strained pun subtitles like "Golden Receiver" and "Seventh-Inning Fetch") and nine direct-to-video spinoffs. But even if you've never seen the films, you'll undoubtedly recognize the mutt's stature as one of history's truly great multi-sport athletes. He's Bo Jackson with a flea collar.

79. Charlie Conway

"The Mighty Ducks" (1992), "D2: The Mighty Ducks" (1994), "D3: The Mighty Ducks" (1996)

As one of seven players to appear in all three "Mighty Ducks" films, Charlie Conway (Joshua Jackson) serves as one of the series' emotional centers. His journey to becoming a team leader echoes coach Gordon Bombay's (Emilio Estevez) own transformation.

78. Ishmael

"Kingpin" (1996)

In this comedy, Randy Quaid plays Ishmael Boorg, a dimwitted, Amish bowling sensation who protagonist Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson) tries to ride to fame and fortune before discovering he's not as good a bowler as initially hoped. Ishmael's lack of common sense gets him into a number of sticky situations that Munson, a bowler-turned-con man, only makes worse thanks to his poor decision-making.

77. Doug Remer

"BASEketball" (1998)

Tempted by the trappings of his newfound celebrity status, Doug Remer (Matt Stone of "South Park" fame) begins to waver from the anti-capitalistic roots of a sport which, as the name implies, combines two of America's favorite pastimes.

All is well by the time the final credits roll, though chaste viewers may regret bearing witness to Doug lactating in his opponent's face, among several dozen similar indecencies.

76. John Biebe

"Mystery, Alaska" (1999)

Before he was Maximus, John Nash, and Javert, Russell Crowe was John Biebe, the sheriff of the film's titular town and the top player on the local pickup hockey circuit. When the NHL's New York Rangers come to Alaska for an exhibition match, it's Biebe's leadership that gives the local side a fighting chance.

75. Ray Kinsella

"Field of Dreams" (1989)

In "Field of Dreams," Kevin Costner plays Kinsella, an Iowa corn farmer who hears a voice that instructs him to destroy his crops to build a baseball field for Shoeless Joe Jackson and other ballplayers. Kinsella spends the film being chastised by his family and peers for making a move that puts him in financial trouble but remains steadfast in his decision, which eventually leads to a heart-warming finish.

74. Ham Porter

"The Sandlot" (1993)

Porter (Patrick Renna) is the hilariously quick-mouthed catcher of the young group of mischievous ballplayers in "The Sandlot" and is also responsible for delivering the legendary line, "You're killing me, Smalls." When Ham isn't crouched behind the dish, he can be found making homemade s'mores in the team's tree house.

73. Coach Morris Buttermaker

"The Bad News Bears" (1976)

Let's forget about the remake and stick to Walter Matthau's original portrayal of Buttermaker; a surly, drunk pool cleaner who takes on coaching a team of outcasts for money but leads them to surprising success thanks to his out-of-the-box ideas (by 1970s standards) like putting a girl and a juvenile delinquent on the squad.

72. Cal Naughton Jr.

"Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" (2006)

After essentially playing a dramatic version of a similar character in 1990's "Days of Thunder," John C. Reilly tapped into his comedic talents as southern-fried NASCAR driver Cal Naughton Jr., teammate, friend, and eventual rival to Will Ferrell's Ricky Bobby. Every scene with Cal and Ricky crackles with incredible banter, the result of perfect on-screen chemistry.

71. Jimmy Dugan

"A League of Their Own" (1992)

Similar to Buttermaker, Dugan plays a player-turned-coach who spends most of his time behind a bottle. What differentiates the two, aside from Tom Hanks' brilliantly charismatic outbursts, is that Dugan's bad-tempered character is much funnier thanks to the film's incredible writing. Also, when Dugan isn't breathing booze down the necks of the Rockford Peaches, he shows flashes of compassion for his players, which makes him even more likable.

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theScore is counting down the 100 best fictional characters in sports movie history, with a new post every weekday until July 3.

100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51
50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

90. Shane Falco

"The Replacements" (2000)

Coming off a career-defining role in 1999's "The Matrix" only added to the comedy of seeing Keanu Reeves' Falco transform from washed-up former college star to underdog professional quarterback.

89. Billy Chapel

"For Love of the Game" (1999)

Chapel (Kevin Costner), a former pitching star on his last legs with the Detroit Tigers, has just enough left to shoot for a perfect game in what could be his last start at historic Yankee Stadium. Though he's tough and surly throughout much of the film, Chapel's true colors are on display during his romantic journey with Jane Aubrey (Kelly Preston).

88. Tommy Conlon

"Warrior" (2011)

Tom Hardy portrays Conlon, a vicious former wrestler turned marine who winds up on a collision course with his estranged brother during a mixed martial arts tournament. Conlon is not only brutally dominant in the cage, but he also doesn't hold back when expressing his feelings toward his trainer and recovering alcoholic father, who is played by Nick Nolte. Conlon secretly has a big heart, though, especially when it comes to his military peers and the widow of his deceased best friend.

87. Paul Blake

"Necessary Roughness" (1991)

Aging quarterback Blake (Scott Bakula) rekindles his dreams of being a star in college by returning to lead a band of misfits at Texas State. The cigarette-smoking, country music-listening QB ends up being a mentor both on and off the field. He takes the biggest punch in a barroom brawl and finds a tutor for a teammate who's struggling with his schoolwork.

86. Babe Ruthless

"Whip It" (2009)

In this spoofy, coming-of-age film about banked track roller derby, small-town alternative girl Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page), aka Ruthless, finds direction in life and joins a community she's proud of rather than participate in beauty pageants to appease her overbearing mother. Page warms the heart as an underdog who overcomes countless obstacles to become a star.

85. Mike McDermott

"Rounders" (1998)

McDermott (Matt Damon) is a brilliant poker tactician and reader of emotions, whose arrogance about his craft winds up getting him in trouble at the card table. It's his relationship with childhood best friend and hustler, Worm (Edward Norton), that is the driving force behind his character growing from a frustratingly naive melonhead to likable protagonist who overcomes the odds.

84. Calvin Cambridge

"Like Mike" (2002)

Child labor laws be damned. When orphan Cambridge (Lil Bow Wow) is shocked by lightning, Michael Jordan's talent is transferred into his diminutive frame. He soon finds himself starring in the NBA, squaring off against the likes of Vince Carter and Jason Kidd all while navigating the search for a permanent parental figure.

83. Fulton Reed

"The Mighty Ducks" (1992), "D2: The Mighty Ducks" (1994) and "D3: The Mighty Ducks" (1996)

Reed (Elden Henson) is a street-wise punk with a terrifying slap shot that he can control only with infrequent regularity (think "Nuke" LaLoosh on skates). Reed gives the Mighty Ducks some much-needed sandpaper, playing off the other characters' "Little Rascals" vibes with a cool stoicism.

82. Larry Musgrove

"The Big Green" (1995)

Musgrove (Patrick Renna) is always quick with a quip while also being perpetually horrified by the prospect of actually having to perform his duties as a goalkeeper. His visions of opposing players as literal monsters are something any shot-stopper can sympathize with.

81. Denis Lemieux

"Slap Shot" (1977)

Lemieux (Yvon Barrette) may have been a minor character in "Slap Shot," but the French-Canadian goaltender for the Charlottetown Chiefs supplied a memorable compilation of the film's best quotes, with Barrette delivering the zingers perfectly.

"You do that, you go to the box, you know. Two minutes, by yourself, you know and you feel shame, you know. And then you get free," he hilariously said about getting a penalty.

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Welcome to Puck Pursuit, an interview-style podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.

Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.

Dave Bolland, a former NHL forward who won two Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks, joins the show to discuss a variety of topics, including:

• What he's been up to since retiring last year
• Mental toll of being on LTIR to end NHL career
• Rivalry with the Sedin twins, Canucks fans
• Former teammates Hossa, Byfuglien, Toews
• Hanging out with A-list actor Vince Vaughn

... and more!

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.