So I'm a few days late...but in the spirit of OSCAR week, I present to you a list of MY FAVORITE ALL-TIME SPORTS MOVIES.

Because my blog readers and I are in sitting together in the trust tree, let me preface my list by saying I have not seen Raging Bull, Miracle, Slap Shot, or Brian's Song.  So even though those movies are near or at the top of many people's lists...I'm like Joan Rivers on the red carpet (just without enough botox to freeze the Brazos River) - I just call 'em like I see 'em.

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20) A League of Their Own:   Tom Hanks' role as Jimmy Dugan finishes only behind Forrest Gump on my list favorite Hanks characters.

19) Fever Pitch:   I always thought it was weird that Jimmy Fallon, a Yankees fan, played a die hard Red Sox fan.  But it is a great story and one that anyone who has lived in Boston or even been to Fenway Park (I've done both) can appreciate.

18) Cool Runnings:   This one is kinda out of left field, I know.  But any TRUE STORY about a Jamaican bobsled team is worthy of this list.

17) Tin Cup:   This is the first of a few appearances Kevin Costner will make on my list.  A solid golf flick filmed not far from where I grew up in Houston.

16) The Rookie:   As you'll be able to tell from this list, I'm a sucker for true stories and baseball.  The Rookie has both.  And the scene where Dennis Quaid throws a pitch by the highway radar sign is one I'll never forget.

15) 61:   How good was Barry Pepper as Roger Maris??  At the time the movie came out and even more so now, it really makes you feel for a guy like Maris who took so much heat for chasing down a record that has since been shattered by bunch of cheaters.  It's a shame Maris never lived long enough to see his asterisk removed from the record, but he's surely turning over in his grave watching BALCO's best tarnish the greatest feeling in baseball - a home run.

14) Varsity Blues:   Filmed in Georgetown, TX (where I went to college) this was the first great movie about Texas high school football.  Totally cliche but totally cool, too.  Plus, my good buddy Charlie Stern stole a cameo.

13) Jerry Maguire:   Cuba Gooding Jr's coming out party (can it be a coming out party if he wasn't in anything decent EVER again?).  It was fun to watch because so many pro athletes were in it.  I'm sorry though, that little kid (Jonathan Lipnicki) was super annoying.

12) Cinderella Man:   Powerful movie.  Awesome story, awesome cast, and the boxing scenes were believable.

11) The Bad News Bears (the original):   This one is a classic that I feel was genius before its time.  Obviously, I wasn't the only one who thought that since a re-make hit theaters in '05.  I enjoyed Billy Bob Thornton's version but you have to stick with the original.  And someday, I WILL play on a slow-pitch softball team sponsored by Chico's Bail Bonds.

10) Major League:   You could ask ten different people to name their favorite character from Major League and you might get ten different answers.  Bob Uecker as Harry Doyle is legendary.  It's unfortunate that this movie's success is to blame for the 100 minutes of life and five bucks we will never get back while watching Major League 3: Back to the Minors.

9) Friday Night Lights:   Per the norm, the movie is never as good as the book.  But the football action in FNL was legit and this is such a good story - and even better when acted out with some of the heavy hitters this film put on the screen.

8) Rudy:   Okay, seriously.  Who DIDN'T want to go to Notre Dame after seeing this movie??

7) Bull Durham:   This movie is to a baseball dugout what Anchorman is to a TV newsroom.  The one-liners never get old...Meat.

6) Hoosiers:   This one ranks at the top of many people's list.  One of those films where it's tough not to cheer.

5) Field of Dreams:   In my opinion, Kevin Costner's best (of his many) sports flicks.  James Earl Jones is awesome.

4) Rocky:   One of only two sports movies to win an Oscar (Brian's Song is the other).  Who doesn't love the underdog?  ESPN.com named "Yo, Adrian!" the greatest sports movie line ever, even though it might have ruined the life of every man or woman with that name.  My prom date's name is Adrienne.

3) Caddyshack:   Probably one of the most-quoted movies of all time and for good reason.  An absolute classic that is funny no matter how many times you watch it.  Gunga Galunga.

2) The Natural:   A great story about the greatest game on the planet.  The music makes the movie.  You won't believe it, but the novel (Bernard Malamud) is even better than the movie.

1) The Sandlot:   Baseball, comedy, drama, dogs, the good ole days, friendship, one-liners, and Wendy Peffercorn.  What other movie on this list can offer you all of those things?  It's like The Wonder Years with baseball and without the weird older brother.  The Sandlot brings us all back to the days long before blogs, when all we had to do was play baseball and get into trouble.  It's a movie that will be at the top of my list "FOR-EV-VER"