Unfortunately ........ unless a miracle happens, we're going to be subjected to one of the least popular World Series matchups of all time between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Rays. Please God, if we drop the Devil from our name, can you make us winners? And it happens, seriously?
We could have had one of the most anticipated classics of all time between the Boston Red Sox and the LA Dodgers. As I watched a pitching implosion last week and turned the channels in frustration, I found myself watching A League of Their Own. Yeah, yeah, I know. I can't help myself watching baseball movies, even girlie ones. Major League, Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, and The Natural all get much more airtime in October. Or it's probably that I don't make it to the Oxygen or Lifetime channels.
This movie has a little bit for everyone: comedy, drama, sibling rivalry, coming of age, war, female empowerment, catfights, and of course baseball. Ladies can watch with their guys. Here's your chance to be entertained by sports. Gentlemen, it's a chick flick AND a period piece AND based on a true story!
This is a feel good film directed by Penny Marshall from the early 90's that now looks like a Hollywood high school yearbook. There were so many parallels from the film to the possible Sox/Dodgers matchup, I thought it was fated to happen. The movie takes place as a women's baseball league fills a niche with the men off in World War 2. Today, we have a worldwide epic economic issue. The actors even compare to the Red Sox. Unglamorous clutch hitting 2nd baseman Marla meets Dustin Pedroia. The guy is 5' 8", 170, doesn't even look like a ballplayer. Overshadowed Ann Cusack (by sibs John and Joan) plays left field, the same as overshadowed Jason Bay. In centerfield, potentially dangerous to everyone Madonna, dangerous to the Sox Coco Crisp. There's no crying in baseball Eve, perpetual whiner JD Drew. Amazon Commander In Chief Geena Davis, oversized gifted David Ortiz. And Rosie O Donnell is Kevin Youklis.
Dot's (Geena Davis) sister, Kit played by Lori Petty, becomes team nuisance 1. Ambitious, toxic to team chemistry, ultra cranky, and paranoid, she gets traded to the team the above bunch eventually meet in the World Series. Sure describes Manny Ramirez well. Kit even gets a sidekick in Tea Leoni, married in real life to David Ducovney. Wouldn't you know that the Dodgers also have "My significant other is more famous than I am" Mr. Mia Hamm, Nomar Garciaparra, who used to play for the Red Sox as well?
You might need to know something about the Red Sox or actually seen this movie to understand any of these references. There's still time. Add in great performances by Tom Hanks and Jon Lovitz, with cameos from Bill Pullman, Lenny and Squiggy, this made for a pretty good film.
Lamenting what could have been. And I'm not even a Red Sox fan.