Sports > Run N Gun

Posted on Sun, Oct. 18, 2009

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From Stylez G. White to Joe Kane

BY TONY ADAME

The Wichita Eagle

In praise of all things holy and sacred about American pop culture, I give you Stylez G. White, defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

White, formerly Gregory Alphonso White Jr., changed his name in honor of a character from the 1985 Michael J. Fox film "Teen Wolf."

"That was his best friend's name,'' White said. "I always liked that name. It's not that I don't like Greg White.' '

Suffice to say, I like his style.

So in honor of him — and pop culture, of course — I found five obscure sports movies that you may have forgotten about.

Leading, of course, with:

1. Teen Wolf (1985) —If you're looking for the most unbelievable actor-trying-to-play-an-athlete movie role of all time, you need look no farther than Fox in this movie. You think, maybe, the director would have wanted Fox to pick up a basketball before shooting began? Guess not. Teen Wolf has some sick dunks, though.

2. The Program (1993) —My guess is that I've seen this movie more than 20 times, but I've only watched the scene where Alvin Mack breaks his leg once. If you can name a better celluloid quarterback than Joe Kane, please let me know.

3. Above the Rim (1994) —The penultimate scene of the movie involves Shep, a washed-up, burnt out basketball star who comes back to his old neighborhood to try and start his life over ... but ends up helping star Georgetown recruit Kyle Watson win an inner-city hoops tournament and stay out of the grasp of a local gangster, Birdie, played by Tupac Shakur. Entering the game with six minutes to play and wearing corduroys, a long-sleeved shirt and some Chuck Taylors, Shep scores 26 points in a row then tosses an alley-oop to Kyle as time runs out for the win. Then Shep jumps in front of a bullet from one of the gangster's henchmen intended for Kyle.

How did this movie not sweep the Oscars?

4. Johnny Be Good (1988) —This movie's tagline says it all: "Every college in the country wants Johnny. 'Cause when he's good he's very very good. And when he's bad he's better!"

Here's one thing the plot never resolves:, Was State College, the local school Johnny picks after realizing what a jerk he's become, at least Division I? These are the questions that keep me up at night.

5. BASEketball (1998) —Straight up, my friend Geoff and I walked out of the theater after about 30 minutes the first time I tried to watch this movie. Repeated viewings on late-night cable have softened my hardline stance. I've grown to appreciate, if not downright love, this bad boy over the decade-plus since. There's comedy gold in there, people.

Run 'n' Gun in The Eagle sports staff's weekly look at the offbeat side of sports.