THE BAD NEWS BEARS: Was It Great or Were You 8?

It's a new game that's sweeping the nation. We call it: Was It Great, or Were You 8? Alonso and Christy are looking back at some of their favorite movies from childhood to see whether they truly were great, or we just loved them because we were 8 years old and feel nostalgic about them.

#TheBadNewsBears #baseball #baseballmovies

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[anotherbookreview]

Cool concept. Looking forward to this being a recurring feature!

[JosephTreadway]

It was great in '76, and it's still great now in 2023. I played on a losing kid's baseball team the year it was released, and I think all of us on the team saw the truth on display in Richie's film. Bill Lancaster's screenplay should have been nominated for an Oscar, as should have Patrick Williams' score.

[eurofritz]

It is still in my top 25 movies, love love love it

[betsyduane]

One of the best movies ever made. 8 year olds did not see this in the theaters. It was PG with a lot of language. I was 9 at the time and my parents would never take me then. There was no 2nd run for this.

[IggyStardust]

Tanner wasn't racist, he hated everybody that wasn't him, and he hated them equally. I was 9 when this movie came out, I saw it in theaters (first run). The funny thing is that I knew a kid like Tanner. Ready to fight at the drop of a hat, and generally didn't like anybody. Sure, he could get along with you if you didn't annoy him in the moment, but it didn't take much to hit that hair trigger of his. His mouth also wrote checks his ass couldn't cash. But he never backed down.

[thomasgriffiths]

I saw this movie in 1976 and it is still one of my favorite films to this day.

[geraldlanderos]

I loved the movie. I was about 9 when it was filmed at Mason Park in Chatsworth, California. At the time, I lived right across the street on the south side of the park and would go watch the movie being filmed. Such a classic.

[toastnjam]

Love, love this movie. One of my favorite sports movies. I've watch it multiple times and it never gets old. My favorite scene is the opposing coach wife walking away. That scene has been burned into my brain since the 70's

[squatch]

When I was 8, 2001: A Space Odyssey came out. I think it holds up. lol.

[michaelrochester]

I saw this when it came out in 1976 and it remains one of my favorite movies of all time. It’s Theme was about the ultra competitiveness of parents who live vicariously through their kids, the most important scene in the movie is when Walter Matthau is mad that they are behind in the championship, any screens at them, don’t you want to beat those bastards? A lightbulb moment came up, Walter Matthau has become Roy Turner, the coach he despises the most. The one who I told him that he should just quit. He was fighting to be Turner not coach a championship game. He didn’t feel humiliated at what he was doing and said to the kids to do the best you can. It is so important

[davidpalmer]

Have you done Breaking Away yet? I love that film.

[Andrew-svzq]

My mom took me to see this when it came out. I was actually 8 at that time. I don't think she knew at the time about the colorful language and such. Still one of the best baseball movies ever made.

[TheChadmiral]

I was 7 when this came out, and I distinctly remember seeing it in the theaters (perhaps in a second run?). I watched it recently and it totally reminded me of being a kid in the 70's. Still love it!

[rackstraw]

Definitely great! Matthau and O'Neal had terrific chemistry - the scenes where Buttermaker manipulates Amanda into joining the team and where he angrily pushes her away are masterpieces, especially where both tear up after words were said. You feel that Buttermaker was pushing her away for her own good because he realizes that he's a loser.

[iansmart]

I’m 27. Watched this for the first time within the last month.

An amazing movie. One of the best of that decade. Tatum O’Neal is extraordinary in it.

It’s great. Not jus nostalgia!

[tadpole]

Greatest movie of all time. At least in sports movies category.

[uzqvvvi]

It was great. Love Matthau. Dad brought me to see it. Brought us closer.

[herbsuperb]

No. It was great. I just revisited this film after not seeing it for at least 20 years. Last time I saw it I was in High School, or maybe college. In any case, i love it FAR more now than I did seeing it as a kid. I can't stop watching it. So many great scenes. Terrific cast of young actors. Tatum being amazing. Walter being the colossal actor he was. The scene where Buttermaker blows up at Amanda when she's getting too close is absolutely heart-breaking, and incredibly well-crafted. Tanner and Lupus' closing lines made for one of the most smile-inducing closing moments in the history of film. I can't say enough nice things about The Bad News Bears.

[northernbrother]

Watched it recently...it's def a comedy of it's time...but still great!

[ReelDreamer]

I love this concept! I’ve never seen The Bad News Bears, but Smile and Semi-Tough are great and I’m glad Alonso mentioned them.