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And the Oscar Best Picture Award Goes to . . . Which Sports Movies

FitSugar — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 07:53:17 PST

The Oscars are upon us, and there are 10 films nominated for best picture! One of them is a boxing movie, a genre Hollywood seems partial to. But two of our fave workouts, rock climbing and dance, have received nods from the Academy too. Pay tribute to some sweaty, sporty flicks and take this quiz to see if you know which movies walked home with the Oscar, were nominated, or given the cold shoulder by the Hollywood elite.

Take the Quiz

My 5 Favorite Bicycle Movies

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 05:50:43 PDT

I'm a sucker for sports movies. They are usually inspiring, have an underdog, or feature really cool action shots. Now that it's sunny out, I've been riding my bike almost every day, which has reminded me that there are some really cool bicycle movies out there. Here are my favorite bike-centric movies, any of which would be perfect to watch after a long day of cycling.

Photos courtesy of IMDb

Ten Sports Movies to Get You Motivated!

FitSugar — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 03:30:00 PDT

I had so much fun when I asked you guys about your favorite motivational sports movies. Better yet, I got a lot of great ideas for new films to watch, as well as some forgotten favorites. If you're looking for a little motivation, look no further than these 10 sports-centric movies.

Speak Up: What Sports Movie Motivates You Most?

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:00:00 PDT

While I was getting all choked up about A League of Their Own, I started thinking about how motivating a great sports movie can be. Whether it's a weepy figure-skating story (Ice Castles, anyone?) or a classic baseball flick like Field of Dreams, sports movies can be emotionally riveting and highly entertaining. So speak up and tell me: Which sports-centric film motivates you the most?

Get Motivated: Remembering Pitcher Dottie Collins

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:00:00 PDT

A League of Their Own always makes me teary-eyed. Not only is it a funny, bittersweet, and touching sports movie, but the true story behind it - of the short-lived All-American Girls Professional Baseball League - is incredibly inspirational. Even watching the fictional movie, I'm always moved by the idea of so many talented female athletes playing together and capturing the nation's imagination during a difficult time.

I got all teary again this weekend, when I read that AAGPBL pitcher Dottie Collins recently passed away at age 84. Not only was Collins an incredible ballplayer (in 1948, she even pitched until she was four months pregnant!) but she was also instrumental in creating the Baseball Hall of Fame's exhibit on the women's professional league. Without her, we may have never learned about this very cool period in history. To find out why, and to see one of my favorite moments from the movie,

read more. According to the New York Times obituary of Collins:

The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., had been considering an exhibition on women and baseball during the mid-1980s, but, as Ted Spencer, its chief curator, recalled in an interview, it had little material to display until Collins approached him. “When I connected with Dottie, the ball started to roll,” Spencer said. “If it wasn’t for her, I don’t know where it would have gone.” In 1987, Collins helped form an association of former players in the All-American league. She drew on her contacts to provide the Hall of Fame with memorabilia from the league, spurring creation of its Women in Baseball exhibit in 1988. Now an enlarged, permanent collection, the exhibit inspired the 1992 Hollywood movie A League of Their Own, a reprise of women’s pro baseball during World War II.

Cool, right? I guess we have Collins to thank both for pioneering women's professional sports and for making sure the AAGPBL wasn't lost to history. One of my favorite scenes in A League of Their Own is actually when all the women reunite at the Hall of Fame exhibit dedicated to them. I just got all choked up again watching it, so view with caution, then share your thoughts below. Photo Courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library and Source

How to Throw a Moneyball-Themed Oscar Party

Shannon Vestal — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:30:21 PST

It may not be baseball season quite yet, but you can get that feeling if you throw an Oscar viewing party and let best picture nominee Moneyball be your inspiration. The film might even make for a better theme than Midnight in Paris or The Artist, depending on your crowd. Here's how to score a home run at your Oscar gathering (and don't forget to fill out a ballot for a chance to win an iPad.)

How to decorate: Bring out baseballs, bats, gloves, and any other sports memorabilia you may have. String up streamers in green and yellow (the Oakland A's colors), and nod to the movie's financial theme by decorating with fake dollar bills. If you really want to tie in the film, get a life-size Brad Pitt cutout (which wouldn't be a bad thing to have around, anyway).
How to dress: Wear the shirt of your baseball team of choice, but to really mirror the film, rock Oakland A's gear, or at least their colors.
What to serve: Traditional ballpark fare like hot dogs, beer, cotton candy, and peanuts in the shell, of course. Bake cookies or cake pops and frost them to look like baseballs.

Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures

Kate Hudson and Ryder Take Their Bikes For a Spin on the Beach

Lauren Turner — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:34:40 PST

Kate Hudson and her son Ryder hopped on their bikes near the beach in Santa Monica yesterday. Ryder sported sunglasses and a helmet while Kate covered up in a hat as they rode around side by side. It was just the latest sunny outing for Kate following a getaway to Mexico earlier this month. Kate's bikini body was on display as she lounged poolside with fiancé Matthew Bellamy, who soaked up the rays while wearing a bathrobe. 2012 hasn't been just about downtime for Kate, though, since she participated in a live reading of her mom Goldie Hawn's movie Shampoo with Bradley Cooper last month and is gearing up to start shooting a new film, Everly, this Spring.

The Couple Who Inspired The Vow

Annie Scudder — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:00:55 PST

Kim and Krickitt Carpenter sold the movie rights to their unforgettable love story back in 1996. But it took until this week for that film, The Vow, to come out. The Carpenters married in September 1993, and less than 10 weeks later, a car accident left them both injured and Krickitt in a coma. Once she woke up, she had no memory of her husband.

Besides the coma and memory loss, The Vow doesn't quite follow the story of Kim (played by Channing Tatum) and Krickitt (played by Rachel McAdams) to the exact details. The real-life couple had met serendipitously over the phone when Kim, a baseball coach living in New Mexico, had called the sport shop Krickitt was working at in Southern California. Hitting it off, they talked for hours on the phone each week, and soon Kim invited Krickitt to visit him in New Mexico. After a whirlwind romance they got married.

The accident soon ended their newlywed bliss, and the couple described life after Krickitt's amnesia in a 1996 People article. "I honestly didn't think our marriage would work," Kim admitted thinking when his wife seemed to be a completely different person, but he said he "made a vow before God" to stick it out. She remembered asking, "'How did I do the wife thing? Did I cook for you? Did I bring you lunch?'" And she told herself, "I figured, if I fell in love with this guy before, I guess I just need to meet him again."

The accident happened in 1993, and on Valentine's Day 1996, Kim proposed again to his wife Krickitt and she accepted. In 2000, they wrote a book about their experience, The Vow: The Kim and Krickitt Carpenter Story. Although she never regained memory of the 18 months she had forgotten after her coma, they stayed together and have two kids, whom they brought to this week's premiere of The Vow. See photos of the Carpenters and their movie star alter egos.

10 Football Films Both You and Your Guy Will Love

TresSugar — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:24:30 PST

Whether you're into the sport or not, football movies can be the perfect rental compromise between you and your guy. He'll love the game day suspense, action-packed scenes, and inspirational half-time speeches, while you can enjoy some heartwarming stories - and, OK, a little eye candy, too. Choose one of these ten great football films for your next at-home movie date!

Michelle Williams Wears Ladylike Erdem For a Chat With Letterman

Allie Merriam — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:20:32 PST

Michelle Williams posed for photographers before entering the Late Show With David Letterman studios in NYC last night. She was decked out in a floral dress from one of her go-to designers, Erdem. The interview Michelle taped will air on David Letterman's Friday episode. Michelle's home in NYC to spend time with her daughter, Matilda, and friends, but she clearly hasn't stopped making the rounds to chat up her movie My Week With Marilyn. Her role in the biopic earned an Oscar nomination in the category of best actress, and Michelle recently admitted to feeling surprised at the honor. Her name was the last of five to be called, and Michelle explained her reaction last week on the Today show. She's used to waiting for her name to be called, saying, "[It's] alphabetical. My whole life, I'm always the last to be called for any sports in school . . . . it's a "W" problem."