Traditional Sports in Film and Media

The Natural is a 1984 American sports drama film directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs, a young baseball player who is given a magical bat by a mysterious stranger.

In the episode "The Injury," Michael Scott attempts to play basketball with his employees, resulting in a hilarious and chaotic game.

The Way of the Sumo is a 2004 documentary film directed by Paul Crompton that explores the history, culture, and traditions of sumo wrestling in Japan.

Bend It Like Beckham is a 2002 British sports comedy-drama film directed by Gurinder Chadha. It follows the story of two young women, Jess and Jules, who play soccer despite their families' disapproval.

Haikyuu!! is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Haruichi Furudate. It follows the story of Shoyo Hinata, a high school student who joins the volleyball club in order to become a great player like his idol, the "Little Giant."

Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British historical sports drama film directed by Hugh Hudson. It follows the story of two British athletes, Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, who compete in the 1924 Summer Olympics.

Friday Night Lights is an American drama television series created by Peter Berg. It follows the story of a high school football team in the fictional town of Dillon, Texas.

The Karate Kid is a 1984 American martial arts drama film directed by John G. Avildsen. It follows the story of Daniel LaRusso, a teenager who learns karate from Mr. Miyagi, a Japanese handyman.

FIFA is a series of association football video games developed and published by EA Sports. It is the best-selling sports video game franchise in the world.

The Wrestler is a 2008 American sports drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky. It follows the story of Randy "The Ram" Robinson, an aging professional wrestler who is forced to retire due to a heart condition.

Ted Lasso is an American sports comedy-drama television series created by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly. It follows the story of Ted Lasso, an American college football coach who is hired to coach an English Premier League soccer team.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 Chinese-American wuxia film directed by Ang Lee. It follows the story of Li Mu Bai, a legendary swordsman who gives his sword, the Green Destiny, to his friend Yu Shu Lien.

NBA 2K is a series of basketball simulation video games developed and published by 2K Sports. It is the best-selling basketball video game franchise in the world.

The Sandlot is a 1993 American sports comedy-drama film directed by David Mickey Evans. It follows the story of a group of young boys who play baseball in their backyard during the summer.

Cheer is an American docuseries created by Greg Whiteley. It follows the Navarro College cheerleading team as they prepare for the National Cheerleading Championship.