ESPN is getting set to air some of Disney’s classic sports-related films on Friday nights as the company finds a way to fill their much needed sports gap during the coronavirus.
Starting this Friday, Disney’s baseball drama The Rookie starring Dennis Quaid, which follows the true-life story of Jim Morris, who became the oldest rookie in Major League Baseball, will be the first film featured. The film will fill the MLB gap as the season was expected to kickoff this week.
The following Friday will be Glory Road, based on the true-story of UTEP men’s basketball and their coach Don Haskins, as they battle racism and started the first all African American Line-up in NCAA history. The film stars Josh Lucas as the Hall of Fame coach. Glory Road is an obvious choice as the NCAA March Madness tournament was cancelled earlier this month.
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Additional films to follow are Miracle starring Kurt Russell and the historic USA hockey team who defeated powerhouse Soviet Union during the Cold War. Invincible starring Mark Wahlberg, Based on the story of Vince Papale, a 30-year-old bartender from South Philadelphia who overcame long odds to play for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles in 1976. Secretariat, starring Dian Lane, which follows Penny Chenery Tweedy and colleagues who guide her long-shot but precocious stallion to set, in 1973, the unbeaten record for winning the Triple Crown. Lastly, The Greatest Game Ever Played, starring Shia LeBeouf, and follows 20-year-old Francis Ouimet who played golf against his idol, 1900 US Open champion, Englishman Harry Vardon.
it is unknown at this time is ESPN plans to air more feature films following the aforementioned list of films. However, this is a nice list of films to get sports fans who are missing their sports a much needed watch.