Top 10 true story sports movies tell of overcoming long odds

I'm a big moviegoer. I've seen them all from "œAladdin" to "œZorro." I'll even admit that I've seen half of "œGigli." But I'm a sucker for a true story. And even better yet, a true story in the world of sports.

Here are my Top 10 true story sports flicks for the winter where the only spoiler alert is real-life:

10. The Blind Side "“ Sandra Bullock (in her role of a lifetime) plays an abrasive go-getter who graciously brings in homeless Michael Oher (played by Quinton Aaron) from the streets. Oher was turned into a first round draft pick for the Baltimore Ravens after earning a full ride to the University of Mississippi. Although you know the ending before walking into the theater, this isn't one to pass up on the big screen.

9. Coach Carter "“ One of Samuel L. Jackson's movies pre "Snakes on a Plane." I love this film because this coach understands that basketball isn't the only vessel for these underprivileged young men. He demands good grades in the classrooms and excellence on the hardwood, and that's how it should be.

8. More than a Game "“ Who doesn't want to watch LeBron James? This is a documentary about the St. Vincent-St. Mary High School basketball squad, the Fab Four as they call themselves. This movie, surprisingly, isn't centered on LeBron and his career. We are guided though all four years of these young athletes' careers in high school through their coach's perspective. The best basketball documentary since "Through the Fire."

7. The Rookie "“ I wish my dad would try out for the Tampa Bay Rays. He probably would have made it five years ago. This story is about a high-school science teacher and coach who traded in his beakers and his fungo for a Major League Baseball contract in the American League East. After betting his players that if they won districts he would try out for a MLB club, his 98 mph fastball took him all the way to the "big show" as a relief pitcher.

6. Glory Road "“ The unbelievable true story about Texas Western's NCAA basketball championship in 1966. Now known as UTEP, the El Paso school defeated the Kentucky Wildcats while coached by Don Haskins, who made a series of risky decisions for the time period. Haskins was one of the very few coaches to recruit black players with the intention of starting each man. I recommend watching this one with a parent or a grandparent who may have grown up during the Civil Rights Era.

5. Miracle "“ This movie, Herb Brooks' speech, and everything about it gives me goosebumps. If you don't know that this movie is about the 1980 USA hockey team, that's OK; but if the ending is a surprise to you, then this is not OK. This is quite possibly the biggest win in American sports history, and everything is depicted with remarkable detail and accuracy.

4. Cinderella Man "“ James J. Braddock! A story about a young light heavyweight boxer when boxing was still a big deal to people (pre-UFC). In the peak of the Great Depression, Braddock was forced to quit boxing and work as a longshoreman while his right hand was broken. Braddock re-enters the ring for a fantastic ending to a true story.

3. Hoosiers "“ Ask Ohio Bobcats basketball starter Tommy Freeman about this movie; his high school was the team that lost to the "Hoosiers." Who doesn't love an underdog story?

2. Remember the Titans "“ A funny, yet serious tale of integration in the South that will have you searching for the tissues. This is just another example of how sports can bring people together that seemingly would have never spoken to each other.

And now, for your feature presentation...

1. Rudy "“ RU-DY! RU-DY! RU-DY! If Daniel Ruettiger, standing at 5 feet 6 inches, can a) make the Notre Dame Football squad; b) actually step onto the field for a few downs; and c) record a sack, I know that anything is possible. Don't worry though; I don't plan on strapping on a helmet anytime soon.

Now I'm just waiting for the Frank Solich story to be made.