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

100. Peter LaFleur

"DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story" (2004)

Vince Vaughn's fast-talking everyman LaFleur shines as the only clear-minded inhabitant of the chaotic world of semi-professional dodgeball, and the foil to the over-the-top fitness guru White Goodman (Ben Stiller), leader of the rival Globo Gym Purple Cobras.

99. Robert Hatch

"Escape to Victory" (1981)

Though far from his signature sports role, Sylvester Stallone is every bit the underdog hero as Hatch, a World War II prisoner of war who uses a soccer match versus his German captors as cover to orchestrate an escape for his fellow Allied soldiers.

98. Jack Elliot

"Mr. Baseball" (1992)

Elliot (Tom Selleck) is a brash and arrogant veteran ballplayer whose world is turned upside down when the New York Yankees ship him off to Japan. The slugger is forced to contend with the high expectations of being dubbed "Mr. Baseball," while also overcoming cultural differences and a pitch he can't hit called the shuuto.

97. Walter Sobchak

'The Big Lebowski' (1998)

John Goodman's paranoid Vietnam War vet Walter highlights a film featuring many zany characters. The Dude's foul-tempered bowling buddy is quick to fly off the handle if an opponent dares to violate the rules of the lanes.

"Smokey, my friend, you're entering a world of pain. If you mark that frame an eight, you're entering a world of pain," Walter says while brandishing his sidearm.

96. Phil Brickma

"Rookie of the Year" (1993)

Brickma (Daniel Stern), the wacky Chicago Cubs pitching coach in "Rookie of the Year," is supposed to mentor flame-throwing Little Leaguer Henry Rowengartner. Instead, he amuses the audience with his nonsensical advice and hilarious blunders, like getting himself trapped between two hotel-room doors.

95. Julie 'The Cat' Gaffney

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

Joining the series for the second and third films, fierce and confident goalie Julie (Columbe Jacobsen-Derstine) is a welcome addition to the Ducks. "The Cat" comes up clutch for Team USA, stonewalling Iceland's top player during a shootout to cap the team's tournament win at the Junior Goodwill Games.

94. Cole Trickle

"Days of Thunder" (1990)

On paper, Tom Cruise and NASCAR is the perfect marriage of actor and subject - a fearless, physical performer, and a sport in which fearing anything could lead to a tragic end. Trickle is right out of the Cruise playbook, as he's basically Maverick from "Top Gun," but on a blacktop. Even 30 years later, the race sequences never fail to get the blood pumping.

93. Tong Po

"Kickboxer" (1989) and "Kickboxer 2: The Road Back" (1991)

Michel Qissi stars as Tong Po opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in this 1989 sports action-revenge flick pitting the two combatants against each other after the villainous Muay Thai fighter paralyzes Van Damme's brother during a match. Qissi returned to play Po in the sequel, which didn't include Van Damme.

92. Henry Rowengartner

"Rookie of the Year" (1993)

After an accident gives him incredible pitching talent, Rowengartner (Thomas Ian Nicholas), a previously unskilled Little Leaguer, helps transform the middling Cubs into a major-league powerhouse, all while trying to balance the challenges of living the big-league life with being a teenager.

91. Lola Bunny

"Space Jam" (1996)

Like many other female characters in the "Looney Tunes" franchise, Lola Bunny (voiced by Kath Soucie) didn't get the central role that she deserved. The filmmakers did subvert some of that historical baggage with a recurring "don't call me doll" bit, but Lola could - and should - have been much more than Bugs' love interest; something that "Space Jam: A New Legacy" will hopefully correct. Despite the filmmakers' faults, Lola is an instantly recognizable character from the canon, and her on-court skills - as evidenced above - are easily the best of any non-Michael Jordan figure in the movie.

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

100. Peter LaFleur

"DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story" (2004)

Vince Vaughn's fast-talking everyman LaFleur shines as the only clear-minded inhabitant of the chaotic world of semi-professional dodgeball, and the foil to the over-the-top fitness guru White Goodman (Ben Stiller), leader of the rival Globo Gym Purple Cobras.

99. Robert Hatch

"Escape to Victory" (1981)

Though far from his signature sports role, Sylvester Stallone is every bit the underdog hero as Hatch, a World War II prisoner of war who uses a soccer match versus his German captors as cover to orchestrate an escape for his fellow Allied soldiers.

98. Jack Elliot

"Mr. Baseball" (1992)

Elliot (Tom Selleck) is a brash and arrogant veteran ballplayer whose world is turned upside down when the New York Yankees ship him off to Japan. The slugger is forced to contend with the high expectations of being dubbed "Mr. Baseball," while also overcoming cultural differences and a pitch he can't hit called the shuuto.

97. Walter Sobchak

'The Big Lebowski' (1998)

John Goodman's paranoid Vietnam War vet Walter highlights a film featuring many zany characters. The Dude's foul-tempered bowling buddy is quick to fly off the handle if an opponent dares to violate the rules of the lanes.

"Smokey, my friend, you're entering a world of pain. If you mark that frame an eight, you're entering a world of pain," Walter says while brandishing his sidearm.

96. Phil Brickma

"Rookie of the Year" (1993)

Brickma (Daniel Stern), the wacky Chicago Cubs pitching coach in "Rookie of the Year," is supposed to mentor flame-throwing Little Leaguer Henry Rowengartner. Instead, he amuses the audience with his nonsensical advice and hilarious blunders, like getting himself trapped between two hotel-room doors.

95. Julie 'The Cat' Gaffney

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

Joining the series for the second and third films, fierce and confident goalie Julie (Columbe Jacobsen-Derstine) is a welcome addition to the Ducks. "The Cat" comes up clutch for Team USA, stonewalling Iceland's top player during a shootout to cap the team's tournament win at the Junior Goodwill Games.

94. Cole Trickle

"Days of Thunder" (1990)

On paper, Tom Cruise and NASCAR is the perfect marriage of actor and subject - a fearless, physical performer, and a sport in which fearing anything could lead to a tragic end. Trickle is right out of the Cruise playbook, as he's basically Maverick from "Top Gun," but on a blacktop. Even 30 years later, the race sequences never fail to get the blood pumping.

93. Tong Po

"Kickboxer" (1989) and "Kickboxer 2: The Road Back" (1991)

Michel Qissi stars as Tong Po opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in this 1989 sports action-revenge flick pitting the two combatants against each other after the villainous Muay Thai fighter paralyzes Van Damme's brother during a match. Qissi returned to play Po in the sequel, which didn't include Van Damme.

92. Henry Rowengartner

"Rookie of the Year" (1993)

After an accident gives him incredible pitching talent, Rowengartner (Thomas Ian Nicholas), a previously unskilled Little Leaguer, helps transform the middling Cubs into a major-league powerhouse, all while trying to balance the challenges of living the big-league life with being a teenager.

91. Lola Bunny

"Space Jam" (1996)

Like many other female characters in the "Looney Tunes" franchise, Lola Bunny (voiced by Kath Soucie) didn't get the central role that she deserved. The filmmakers did subvert some of that historical baggage with a recurring "don't call me doll" bit, but Lola could - and should - have been much more than Bugs' love interest; something that "Space Jam: A New Legacy" will hopefully correct. Despite the filmmakers' faults, Lola is an instantly recognizable character from the canon, and her on-court skills - as evidenced above - are easily the best of any non-Michael Jordan figure in the movie.

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

Juneteenth, a portmanteau of the words June and nineteenth, is a day honoring the end of slavery in the United States.

On June 19, 1865, Union army general Gordon Granger landed in Galveston, Texas, and informed slaves that the Civil War had ended and slavery was abolished. Though President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation more than two years earlier, the remote geography of Texas meant that it was the last state in the Confederacy to receive the news.

Today, an increasing number of companies, including pro sports leagues and teams, are recognizing Juneteenth as a paid holiday in support of the black community and following widespread protests around the world against racial injustice and police brutality.

Much of the sports world took to social media Friday to commemorate and celebrate Juneteenth. Below is a sample of what was shared.

NBA

NFL

MLB

NHL

NCAA

Soccer

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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.

Scott Wheeler, an NHL draft and prospects writer for The Athletic, joins the show to discuss a variety of draft-related topics, including:

• The all-around brilliance of Ottawa 67's forward Marco Rossi
• Why the Erie Otters' Jamie Drysdale is the class of 2020's best D-man
• The curious case of sharpshooting Swede Noel Gunler
• Who's top of the class in skating, hockey sense, and defensive play?

... and more!

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Any sporting event can achieve greatness, but there's something extra special when it takes place at a marquee venue. The best buildings in sports add an extra level of excitement to any competition. How well do you know some of these iconic venues? Find out by taking the quiz below.

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

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.

Former NHLers Guy Carbonneau (Canadiens, Blues, Stars) and John LeClair (Canadiens, Flyers, Penguins) - who were recently hired to coach in the new 3ICE hockey league - join the show to discuss a variety of topics, including:

• What people should expect from 3ICE next summer
• How ex-NHLers plan on coaching a three-on-three pro team
• Carbonneau on Montreal vs. Pittsburgh play-in series
• LeClair on why the Legion of Doom was so successful

... and more!

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

With the NHL preparing for a 24-team playoff, theScore has been counting down the top 50 players that will be taking part in this unique event, as voted on by our hockey editors.

50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

10. Evgeni Malkin, Penguins

It's hard to believe Malkin is already 33 years old, but that's a credit to how dominant he can still be when healthy. The Pittsburgh Penguins superstar remains one of the most talented scorers in the league and has long been a game-changer who overwhelms defenders.

9. Patrice Bergeron, Bruins

Bergeron has aged like fine wine. The sublime two-way center will turn 35 years old in July and seems to get better each season. Playing in the middle of one of the league's most feared lines, Bergeron is no stranger to playoff hockey. He'll look to lead another long playoff run as a veteran of 136 postseason games, including three trips to the finals and one Stanley Cup triumph.

8. Patrick Kane, Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are no longer a legitimate threat for the Stanley Cup, but Kane still impacts the game every time he steps over the boards. "Showtime" finished eighth in the league in scoring this year and boasts one of the most illustrious playoff resumes of his generation. His team's next run may be short, but you can bet he's going to make the most of it.

7. David Pastrnak, Bruins

Pastrnak's confidence is matched by an elite skill set that few players possess. The Boston Bruins sniper has increased his goal and point totals over four straight campaigns, and he captured his first career "Rocket" Richard Trophy in 2019-20. Pastrnak was on pace this season to become just the fourth player in franchise history to record 50-plus goals and 100-plus points in a single campaign.

6. Nikita Kucherov, Lightning

There may be no player in the game more dangerous on offense than Kucherov. He has a lethal shot, but it's his vision, passing, and hands that separate him from the rest of the pack. He got off to a bit of a slow start this season but had 44 points in 31 games from January on. Let's not forget that Kucherov is just one year removed from a historic 128-point campaign.

5. Alex Ovechkin, Capitals

The abbreviated regular season deprived Ovechkin of a ninth 50-goal campaign, but the Russian sniper deserves at least a share of the hardware after tying Pastrnak atop the leaderboard in two fewer games. Ovi continues to light the lamp at will into his mid-30s, further bolstering his case to eventually be considered the greatest pure scorer of all time.

4. Leon Draisaitl, Oilers

Draisaitl proved the last two seasons that the Edmonton Oilers aren't a one-man show. Whether he's playing alongside Connor McDavid or anchoring his own line, Draisaitl produces at an astonishing level, amassing 93 goals and 225 points over his last 153 games.

He led the Oilers' league-best power play - 29.5% conversion - with 44 points on the man-advantage this year. Draisaitl is nearly impossible to contain when he's on the ice and will surely continue to be a headache for his opponents in the postseason.

3. Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche

MacKinnon's case as one of the most elite stars in the league was aided by another season with incredible numbers despite the fact his supporting cast was ravaged by injuries.

He has a tremendous chance to be a Hart Trophy finalist, and with a healthy Colorado Avalanche squad ready to follow him into the playoffs, the regular-season MVP may not be the only piece of hardware he gets his hands on.

2. Sidney Crosby, Penguins

Crosby may be in the latter stages of his career, but there's no denying his status as one of the world's best. No. 87 can still fly around the ice, and his ability to read the game won't dissipate with age.

After undergoing core muscle surgery in November, Crosby didn't miss a beat when he returned two months later, racking up 11 goals and 30 points in 24 games.

1. Connor McDavid, Oilers

The early end to the campaign prevented McDavid from authoring a fourth straight 100-point season, but he managed to record a career-best 1.52 points per game. It was an incredibly impressive performance following the major knee injury he suffered to end 2018-19, and the extensive rehab that followed.

McDavid needs a Stanley Cup to be considered in the same class as Crosby, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Bobby Orr, and there's no time like the present. The 23-year-old has nothing but time on his side to join the conversation for the greatest hockey player of all time.

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

With the NHL preparing for a 24-team playoff, theScore will be counting down the top 50 players who will be taking part in this unique event, as voted on by our hockey editors. We'll reveal 10 players every day until the top 10 is unveiled on June 10.

50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

30. Alex Pietrangelo, Blues

Regardless of where Pietrangelo plays beyond 2019-20, the Blues captain is one of the NHL's most reliable defensemen and should make a significant impact this postseason. The pending unrestricted free agent played a major role in his team's Stanley Cup victory last June, and he's shown few signs of slowing down at 30 years of age.

29. Taylor Hall, Coyotes

Hall has only played in five playoff games through his 10-year NHL career. When he arrived in Arizona earlier this season, he had his eyes set solely on making the playoffs once again. The former Hart Trophy winner will look to make some noise in the Coyotes' play-in series and get another taste of postseason hockey before entering the offseason as one of the league's most sought-after free agents.

28. Mitch Marner, Maple Leafs

Marner missed a slew of games with an ankle injury this season, but he played at a pace nearly identical to last year's 94-point output when healthy. The crafty winger is a threat at even strength or on the power play and logs big minutes every game. His newfound success alongside Auston Matthews on the Maple Leafs' top line could be the ingredient the team has been missing throughout its recent run of playoff futility.

27. Tyler Seguin, Stars

Seguin may have endured a dramatic drop in production and a career-low 6.9 shooting percentage this season, but he still paced the defense-minded Stars in scoring. The 6-foot-1 pivot also dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 58.2% of his draws to set a new career high and rank fifth in the league. With his elite combination of speed, skill, and developed two-way acumen, there's no questioning Seguin's status as a game-breaking talent.

26. Brayden Point, Lightning

With Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov in the fold, Point is often the forgotten weapon in Tampa. After following his 41-goal, 92-point breakout campaign in 2018-19 with another stellar season, the 24-year-old has proven his big year was no fluke. The offense is just one side of the story with Point, though. He's definitely the best defensive player among the Lightning's "big three" up front, receiving a handful of Selke Trophy votes in each of the last two seasons.

25. Elias Pettersson, Canucks

Pettersson is one of the most electric and entertaining players in the league. The dynamic Canucks forward continued to improve this season following last year's Calder Trophy-winning campaign; he matched his rookie point production in three fewer games, increased his goals-per-game rate, and fired more shots on net. The sky is the limit for the supremely skilled Swede.

24. Ryan O'Reilly, Blues

O'Reilly stepped up big time last season during his first year with the Blues. He took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after helping St. Louis to a Stanley Cup victory, and he also claimed the Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward during the regular season. One of the league's best dual-threat centers, O'Reilly can do serious damage on both sides of the puck and will surely be looking for a repeat MVP performance this postseason.

23. Sebastian Aho, Hurricanes

Aho doesn't get the same league-wide attention as some other first-line centers in these rankings, but he's as capable as they come in any facet of the game. The 22-year-old plays in all situations, has sterling underlying stats, and posted a new career high in goals this season. His impact on the Hurricanes' success on a nightly basis is immense.

22. Jonathan Huberdeau, Panthers

The Cats' crafty winger is one of the game's elite playmakers and was the offensive catalyst for a Panthers team that finished sixth in goals per game (3.30) this season. On pace for 92 points over a full 82-game season, Huberdeau looked poised to become just the second player in franchise history to record consecutive 90-point campaigns. He ranks seventh in assists and eighth in points among all skaters since the beginning of 2017-18 and is finally getting the recognition he deserves as an elite talent.

21. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning

The league's reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Vasilevskiy is the best goalie in the league - at least according to these rankings. Even when he's out of position, the 25-year-old has the rare ability to make acrobatic saves that leave fans wondering, "how does he move like that?" But the best goalies of all time get it done in the playoffs. Vasilevskiy's .856 save percentage in four postseason games against the Blue Jackets last year isn't going to cut it for a team with championship aspirations.

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

With the NHL preparing for a 24-team playoff, theScore will be counting down the top 50 players who will be taking part in this unique event, as voted on by our hockey editors. We'll reveal 10 players every day until the top 10 is unveiled on June 10.

50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

20. John Tavares, Maple Leafs

Tavares is as consistent as they come from a production standpoint, having played near or above a point-per-game pace in each of his last three seasons. The star pivot's more talented teammate rightfully owns a higher spot in these rankings, but the Maple Leafs captain deserves recognition as one of the best centers in the game.

19. Mark Stone, Golden Knights

One of the NHL's most intelligent wingers, Stone can do it all - whether it's scoring goals, dishing assists, or shutting opponents down defensively. After logging six goals and six assists in seven postseason games with the Golden Knights last year, Stone managed to keep the ball rolling during the 2019-20 regular season. He'll need to be at the top of his game once again if Vegas wants to make some noise in the playoffs.

18. John Carlson, Capitals

Carlson was the league's top offensive defenseman this season, and he's likely to win the Norris Trophy thanks to his eye-popping production. A legitimate game-breaker on the back end, he's a key cog in the Capitals' second-ranked offense that should see its firepower carry over despite a lengthy layoff.

17. Steven Stamkos, Lightning

The Lightning captain is fully recovered from core muscle surgery and will be itching to make a major impact after he had another strong individual season cut short. Armed with one of the most lethal shots in the game, Stamkos is a perennial scoring threat. The native of Ontario hit the 25-goal mark for the 10th time in his career this season to join the 400-goal club.

16. Aleksander Barkov, Panthers

Barkov regressed offensively this year after collecting 96 points in 2018-19, but it's his ability at both ends of the ice that makes him one of the game's elite players. He isn't overly physical despite his 6-foot-3 frame, but he does have an excellent stick. He finished second in the league with 100 takeaways last season and ranked 30th with 51 in 2019-20. The Panthers captain has finished top five in Selke Trophy voting each of the last two campaigns.

15. Roman Josi, Predators

It appears a significant portion of the hockey world has finally caught on to Josi's superstar skill set, but he still seems a bit underappreciated. The Predators blue-liner ranked third in the NHL in average ice time this season and finished tied with Alex Pietrangelo for second in goals by a defenceman; Zach Werenski was the only rearguard to net more tallies in 2019-20.

14. Artemi Panarin, Rangers

Few players were better than Panarin in 2019-20. He turned in an MVP-worthy debut campaign with the Rangers, notching 20 more points than the next-highest scorer on his team. All eyes will be on the Russian winger in the expanded postseason, and the Rangers may ultimately go only as far as Panarin can take them.

13. Victor Hedman, Lightning

If one was building a team from scratch and had to start with a defenseman, Hedman would be the man for the job. The towering Swede is the most complete blue-liner in the game, imposing his will on a nightly basis on both sides of the puck. The Bolts' forwards get most of the credit, but don't discount the impact of their No. 1 rearguard.

12. Brad Marchand, Bruins

Marchand continues to be a versatile force for one of the league's most consistent clubs. The Bruins' ultimate pest ranked second in the league in drawn penalties this season and plays a vital role on both special teams units. Seemingly improving with age, the 32-year-old was on pace to become the first Bruins player since Adam Oates in the early '90s to post back-to-back 100-point campaigns before the league suspended play in March.

11. Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs

Matthews took a major step forward in his development this season. He tied for the league lead with 35 goals at even strength and also tied a career high with 12 power-play markers. Without the puck, he tied for first among all NHL forwards with 78 takeaways. He's easily one of the most dangerous snipers in the game, and he's beginning to masters his defensive craft. He'll need to be a catalyst for the Maple Leafs if they hope to enjoy a deep playoff run.

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

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.

ESPN hockey prospects writer Chris Peters joins the show to discuss a variety of NHL draft-related topics, including:

• Full scouting report on top prospect Alexis Lafreniere
• Is Quinton Byfield a lock to go second overall?
• Tim Stutzle and German hockey's "sweet spot"
• Rest of Chris' top-10 prospects for 2020 draft

... and more

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