While sitting in the midst of  NBA and NFL lockouts my mind is growing restless of the state of sports. Like many people, when facing a troubling issue, I tend to focus on the past and use media as an escape. While 24 hour news stations report that the lockouts will continue I provide you this top 5 of Midwestern sports movies to help take your mind off the showdown of billionaires versus millionaires.

Honorable Mentions:
Little Big League Trailer
Little Big League: A silly movie about the grandson, Billy Heywood, of Minnesota Twins owner becoming the acting owner and manager of the team after his grandfathers death. Billy was able to live out every baseball fans dream, running his favorite team and hanging out with his favorite players.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Heoa-AI42bA&feature=related
Rookie of the Year: Ah, there is no better metaphor for the Cubs franchise. The movie uses Wrigley Field and the Cubs organization as a perfect background  for the tale of 12 year old little leaguer  Henry Rowengartner. The Wrigley Field tradition of throwing an opposing home run ball back jump starts the plot and of course, the Cubs long history of losing is a recurring joke. The movie almost seems feasable until it ends with the  Cubs winning the World Series,.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lnt-BqOjaTQ
Brian’s Song: The true story of Brian Piccolo battle with cancer  and friendship of Gale Sayers. Originally an ABC made for TV movie (which explains its honorable mention) about the bond and friendship formed during the Chicago Bears running backs between the 1966 and 1969 seasons. Brian’s Song showcases the transformation of two competitors of different races into friends who deeply care for each other.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKOlH0I0nQ
5) Rudy: The amazing tail of an undersized, under-talented, underdog who had no right being on the Notre Dame football team. This movie is a great tribute to the once great football programl. Rudy starts off ready to settle down in his Illinois steel town and is transformed into the most influential stories of our time, someone who just wanted to play football, just to play. Rudy is one of the first movies since 1940 to be permitted to film on the University of Notre Dame’s campus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diwRrudKHDU
4) Hoosiers: After the recent success of Butler in the previous two NCAA Championship games the film Hoosiers has been the center of national attention. Like Rudy, Hoosiers is an underdog story to the core. Based on the 1954 Indiana state champions, Milan High School. Hoosiers builds on the love Indiana has for basketball and combines the never give up attitude that is so abundant in the Midwest. Oddly enough Hoosiers was filmed at Butler’s home stadium,Hinkle Field House.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtlP12MaeuA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_ILz9bC-VU&feature=related
Tied for 3) For Love of the Game and Major League: Actually taking place in New York, For Love of the Game is a baseball film about aging Detroit Tiger’s pitcher Billy Chapel and his final game. The movie takes place during on the final day of the season, while Billy is pitching he reflects on his relationship and his baseball career. While reflecting Billy unknowingly pitches a perfect game. The title alone fits perfectly into the motif of escape during lockouts. The film is filled with great performances by Vin Scully and Kevin Costner.

Major League: The movie that brought us “Just a bit outside,” Charlie Sheen winning as Rick Vaughn, and of course showed how a city can rally around a team that has not won a title in half a century. From Spring Training all the way to a one game playoff to clinch a division title.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1jzs6dk4bs
2) Breaking Away: This 1979 film is less known as other films on this list, but however may have had the biggest impact. Breaking Away may have possibly introduced the Little 500 race to everyone not living in the Bloomington area. Also it helps show off the beauty that is southern Indiana, while examining the social interaction of “townies” and the college students they interact with on a daily basis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHTsQ9qePrQ
1) Field of Dreams: Kevin Costner appears again on this list, and again it’s a baseball movie. This time he plays Iowa corn farmer Ray Kinsella. Ray starts a mysterious quest that takes him from talking to Shoeless Joe Jackson in an Iowa corn field to searching out Minnesota rookie Moonlight Graham. Field of Dreams is more than a “sports” movie. It is a movie about the strained relationship of father and son. A movie about Midwestern farmers struggling with mortgage payments. It is simply a great movie. You know it is a good movie when no man apologizes for crying during Field of Dreams.