In praise of.....The Bad News Bears

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The real greatest sports movie of all time (with Breaking Away a close second). Hopelessly alcoholic coach Buttermaker (Walter Matthau) leads a team of loser kids to a....near-championship, and along the way the horrible competitive abuse of adults is revealed. One of the most politically incorrect children's films of all time (the kids hurle ethnic slurs at each other; the coach gets wasted in front of the kids); Tatum O'Neal was every boy (or girl) of the '70s first tomboy crush. And how cool was Jackie Earle Haley, the juvenile delinquent ace hitter?

It's being remade by Richard Linklater right now starring Billy Bob Thornton. Very curious how it'll turn out.

― shookout (shookout), Saturday, 19 March 2005 12:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Who's the lippy blond kid with the foul mouth and bowl haircut? That kid rocked so hard he knocked down the fuckin' wall.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 19 March 2005 12:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Tanner Boyle is the character, don't know the name of the actor.

The late Vic Morrow is great as the sleazy coach of the Yankees. I umpired little league for a couple of years and this character is so true to form with some of these guys.

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Saturday, 19 March 2005 12:40 (twenty-one years ago)

And how cool was Jackie Earle Haley, the juvenile delinquent ace hitter?

Later the runty kid in "Breakin Away," right?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 19 March 2005 12:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes indeed, he played Moocher ('don't forget to punch the clock, shorty' WHAM!). He was also in Day of the Locust.

― shookout (shookout), Saturday, 19 March 2005 12:45 (twenty-one years ago)

One of the greatest movies ever made. I have a big soft spot for Breaking Training. Go to Japan = so bad.

― Amtrak Rubinek (ADK), Saturday, 19 March 2005 13:42 (twenty-one years ago)

This may be my favorite movie. There's never been a better character in anything ever than Tanner Boyle.

― The Yellow Kid, Sunday, 20 March 2005 07:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Hahaha. OMG I can't believe someone mentioned this movie. Haven't thought about it in zillions of years. Tatum O'Neal rules.

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Sunday, 20 March 2005 08:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Check out these links.

New Bad News Bears movie:

http://www.badnewsbearsmovie.com/

A fan site that says where they are now--everyone except Tanner, who won't give interviews on the subject:

http://www.geocities.com/northvalleyleague/

Fun fact: I once met Tatum O'Neal when she was buying speedballs (heroin and meth) from a friend of mine on Ave. C. She was seriously strung out, circa '94 or '95, and was there with her boyfriend, one Oliver (also strung out), who would grow up to become Patti Smith's boy toy/untalented guitarist. Apparently he specalizes in older, semi-famous women.

― shookout (shookout), Sunday, 20 March 2005 10:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I once met Tatum O'Neal when she was buying speedballs (heroin and meth) from a friend of mine on Ave. C. She was seriously strung out, circa '94 or '95, and was there with her boyfriend

I ran into her in my local supermarket when I was living on the Upper East Side in the mid-90's. She still looked good.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 20 March 2005 15:17 (twenty-one years ago)

will the new tanner call all his teammates republicans instead of the colorful insults of the first one? bottled water when they lose at the end or will they change it so they win? is chico still sponsoring the team? will they replace Carmen with Beyonce?

― keith m (keithmcl), Monday, 21 March 2005 06:43 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

Saw this for the first time in 20+ years yesterday; still works. It's funny that T O'Neal's character is the dullest one since she got co-star billing cuz of her Paper Moon Oscar (that tearful fight scene btwn her and Matthau is the worst in the movie).

Of course the script for the remake is by the Bad Santa guys.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 12:52 (twenty-one years ago)

When the Padres wear their throwback unis, shortstop Khalil Greene is the spitting image of a grown-up Tanner, with his blond mop all sticking out of that crammed-on cap.

― brianiac (briania), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 13:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Does he say "crud" much?

The Bears had BETTER not win the championship game in the remake.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 13:42 (twenty-one years ago)

not feeling good about the remake. Billy Bob in clean-Bad Santa mode, the kids motley and boring.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/bad_news_bears/

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Monday, 6 June 2005 22:07 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

I'm a little wary of the remake (though I've never seen the original), but the poster goes a long way to reassure.

ihttp://www.impawards.com/2005/posters/bad_news_bears_ver2.jpg

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:11 (twenty years ago)

The trailer inspires some hope, FWIW. I love the original to death, and after seeing the trailer, I'm at least prepared to go see it in theaters rather than wait for DVD.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 16 July 2005 21:09 (twenty years ago)

Billy Bob can cover a host of sins.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 16 July 2005 21:13 (twenty years ago)

I'm concerned that this is only PG-13 instead of R.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Saturday, 16 July 2005 21:14 (twenty years ago)

so horrible. Flat and rarely funny, slow, badly edited, no rhythm, steps all over what jokes it has.

Imagine Bad Santa if Bad Santa didn't have a spine.

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Monday, 25 July 2005 01:54 (twenty years ago)

i thought there was some pretty funny shit in it

― s1ocki (slutsky), Monday, 25 July 2005 01:58 (twenty years ago)

i mean, mystifyingly incompetent movie, sure

― s1ocki (slutsky), Monday, 25 July 2005 02:00 (twenty years ago)

...but that hooters scene killed me

― s1ocki (slutsky), Monday, 25 July 2005 02:00 (twenty years ago)

the only non-trailer moment I can think of is Marcia Gay Harden cheering on the 'little handicapped boy' near the end. Even stuff in the trailer (German chick, don't smoke crack) had lousy timing in the actual movie.

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Monday, 25 July 2005 02:02 (twenty years ago)

the marcia gay harden stuff was so... inept.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Monday, 25 July 2005 02:04 (twenty years ago)

it was so lazy in terms of plot - it did nothing with the Marcia Gay Harden/Billy Bob subplot, the strippers, really didn't do much with Kinnear and if he was going to do inspirational (Billy Bob's change of heart, etc.) he should have gone all the way.

The worst thing was the team sponsor reveal, which should have been hilarious.

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Monday, 25 July 2005 02:05 (twenty years ago)

that was so badly done! yeah this movie was a total disaster... but there was some funny shit in it!!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Monday, 25 July 2005 02:09 (twenty years ago)

If it gets anyone to take the original movie more seriously, I'm happy. But I laughed hard, all the way through...

― Pete Scholtes, Monday, 25 July 2005 13:41 (twenty years ago)

I've learned that when Milo hates things I might like them, so I'm still looking forward to seeing this!

― deej.., Monday, 25 July 2005 14:26 (twenty years ago)

Sometimes funny is enough. My review:
http://citypages.com/databank/26/1286/article13538.asp

― Pete Scholtes, Friday, 29 July 2005 01:16 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

Watched the old one last night. Two best parts, a small one and a big one:
1. Ahmad says "This one's for Allah, and I'm going to hit that mutha out there!" ...and then BUNTS.
2. Evil Yankee's coach's pitching son takes his revenge on abusive dad by holding on to a caught ball, allowing Engleberg to score. SO TRIUMPHANT AND AWESOME.

― n/a (Nick A.), Monday, 14 November 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

Such a fucking classic it's not even funny. Bow down.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 14 November 2005 16:14 (twenty years ago)

six years pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1-zBIIvl5g

― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 15 June 2012 05:28 (thirteen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIpGkd5y9l8

― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 15 June 2012 05:29 (thirteen years ago)

I love everything about this movie. Including the fake-crying fight between Matthau and Tatum O Neal

― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 15 June 2012 05:29 (thirteen years ago)

There's a book in the Deep Focus series (think 33 1/3 for movies) on The Bad News Bears In Breaking Training. Haven't read yet, or seen the movie (that I can recall) but I'm just amazed that this exists.

― to welcome jer.fairall, pie is served. (jer.fairall), Friday, 15 June 2012 06:14 (thirteen years ago)

seven years pass...

Didn't know there was a thread for this. Original movie is of course an eternal classic, which I can attest still totally lands for kids in 2019.

― Guayaquil (eephus!), Sunday, 7 July 2019 22:18 (six years ago)

https://media.giphy.com/media/5kKBh9wbDMqLC/giphy.gif

― Squeaky Fromage (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 7 July 2019 22:56 (six years ago)

so IRRESPONSIBLE!

― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 8 July 2019 02:31 (six years ago)

~rescreened~ this a couple years ago after decades, holds up super well

― buzza, Monday, 8 July 2019 03:16 (six years ago)

one month passes...

not lovin matthau's sudden rage at tatum tbh

― phil neville jacket (darraghmac), Sunday, 18 August 2019 20:51 (six years ago)

TWO HANDS, ENGLEBERG!

TWO HANDS!!

― i'd rather zing like a man, than FP like a coward (Neanderthal), Sunday, 18 August 2019 21:25 (six years ago)

That scene outright shocked me as a kid. The crazed look in Morrow's eyes as he strikes his kid and the silence immediately after.

― i'd rather zing like a man, than FP like a coward (Neanderthal), Sunday, 18 August 2019 21:28 (six years ago)

yeah that was high impact stuff for a kids movie

― phil neville jacket (darraghmac), Sunday, 18 August 2019 21:29 (six years ago)

four years pass...

“Who think you are? Catfish Hunter?”

― werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 4 February 2024 00:23 (two years ago)

Nothing makes me laugh more than

"YOU GOTTA *TAG* HIM, DUMMY!"

― never trust a big book and a simile (Neanderthal), Sunday, 4 February 2024 01:11 (two years ago)

i still find the fashion & hair styling choices for Jackie Earle Haley very baffling

his hair is so severely side-parted it looks like he’s balding!

and that thick tortoiseshell choker with the split-front sleeveless shirt

― werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 4 February 2024 02:58 (two years ago)

"What the hell happened to you, Tanner?"

"Tanner got into a fight"

"Who with?"

"the seventh grade"

"what?"

"the seventh grade!"

― never trust a big book and a simile (Neanderthal), Monday, 5 February 2024 04:04 (two years ago)

i need to bring more Tanner energy into 2024

― werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 5 February 2024 04:25 (two years ago)

I'm a big Carmen Ronzonni guy. We've got to get to the Astrodome.

― reggae mike love (polyphonic), Monday, 5 February 2024 04:50 (two years ago)

that fake pitch with Ronzonni faking a pitch towards home was totally a balk, dammit!

― never trust a big book and a simile (Neanderthal), Monday, 5 February 2024 05:00 (two years ago)

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