Laughter is a well-known remedy for pain and stress, so it’s no wonder why Cal Poly athletes across all sporting fields appreciate the release therapy that comedy provides.
Between juggling the pressures of life, school and sports, athletes have little time to themselves, and even less time to ditch the anxiety that comes along with it.
But when they throw on “Pineapple Express,” or even just a clip of “Frank the Tank” streaking down the halls into the gymnasium, and everything is suddenly forgotten as laughter ensues.
“Movies like that help me relax before a big game,” junior baseball player Adam Buschini said.
Included as a beneficial side-affect of comedic relief is bonding. Many friendships were started because of a shared laugh. And, some of those laughs were evoked because of a hilarious quotable. Some of the most recognized and enacted lines come from the comedic giant, Will Ferrell. Senseless ramblings like, “If you aint first, you’re last,” “Honey, is KFC still open?” and “shake and bake” are ranked near the top of the athletes’ list.
Among the preferred movies listed were “Dumb and Dumber,” “Step Brothers,” “Old School,” “Tropic Thunder,” “Anchorman,” “Superbad,” “Pineapple Express,” “Burn after Reading,” “Knocked Up,” “Mean Girls,” “Talladega Nights,” and “Tombstone.”
After a careful examination of the list, many can agree that most of the films mentioned have little redeeming social value. Unless, of course, two brainless buddies traveling across the country to return a briefcase to a Mary Samsonite, whose name is confused with the manufacturer of the luggage piece, has some underlying theme that was never recognized. In short, it’s the dumb movies that get the best response.
“My favorite movie out right now is ‘Step Brothers,'” junior baseball player Wes Dorrell laughed. “We all like it on our team. We like all the dumb movies.”
And most other athletes would agree. The unrealistic, outrageous, “did they just say that?” comedies are among the most-loved genres. Action movies come in a close second, followed by sports-drama and a lone vote cast for horror films, but even that was for the laugh.
“Me and my friend in high school used to go to the movies to make fun of (horror films),” junior basketball player Becky Tratter said.
The most celebrated sports film among Mustangs’ athletes is Remember the Titans. Whether this movie made them tear up, boil up, or get up, the players got some kind of rise out of it.
“After seeing a movie like that, it definitely makes you want to go out there and try harder,” freshman basketball player David Hanson said of movies like “Miracle” and “Remember the Titans.”
For those ruling the court, “He Got Game” is a motivating film.
“‘Remember the Titans’ always gets me really emotional and ‘He Got Game’ gets me really pumped up,” sophomore forward Nicole Anderson explained.
For the baseball team, as should be expected, the baseball classic “Bull Durham” was echoed as being a driving force behind their goals.
“‘Bull Durham’ is what playing in the minor leagues is all about and they have it to a T,” Dorrell expressed.
Movies like “Braveheart,” “Gladiator,” “8 Seconds” and “Any Given Sunday” were also considered as some of the best inspirational movies.
Before a game, though, players don’t want to have to sit through all the dialogue and uneventful scenes to get their adrenaline pumping. They want riveting scenes from opening to closing credits.
According to freshman basketball player Dylan Royer, one of the best movies to satisfy that need is “Rambo.” However, sophomore football walk-on Joe Burrell prefers the most recent James Bond films to get his heart racing.
For some of the softer hearts out there, because they still exist in the sports realm, some recommended movies are “Love and Basketball” and “Hitch.”
“I also like chick flicks like Hitch,” Hanson said. “Just kidding, but I do like ‘Hitch.’ Is that a chick flick?”
If Cal Poly athletes are any indication, athletes enjoy the same films as people who have bricks for hands, weights for feet and Slinkies for arms. There is a common ground, where laughing is just as important as calling a play, and squeezing your palms with anticipation is just as real as shooting a game-winner.