Baseball Hidden Gem Movies

Major League Baseball's Opening day for the season is this Thursday March 27th. To celebrate another season of baseball, I went into the crates again. This time spotlighting 5 hidden gem baseball movies. It's time to bring out the bats, obnoxiously chew gum and eat seeds, and watch some baseball movies under the stars.

 Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars

This 1976 film starred a heavy hitting cast, James Earl Jones, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor and Stan Shaw(stuttering boxer in Harlem Nights) . The film follows Bingo Long played by Billy Dee, tired of being taken advantage of by his Negro League team owner Sallison Porter (a fellow brother at that). Snaps up some teammates and they hit the road.

Traveling through small towns facing off against local teams in exhibitions. In the process they become showman while playing baseball. Until they are invited to a winner takes all game by Sallison, with some stipulations attached. The film is a comedic take on the Negro League system, players actively trying to make ends meet and break the color barrier. In addition taking a chance on yourself and finding ways to feel new again in a job.

Summer Catch

This 2001 film gets a lot of hate, is it warranted maybe? Is it a good movie debatable. Is it mindless entertainment that shows an overlooked aspect of baseball, absolutely. Starring Freddie Prinze Jr. And Jessica Biel it follows star crossed lovers over the summer.

Freddie Prinze Jr. Character Ryan is a pitcher for the Cape Cod Summer league, working his way towards the major league. He becomes smitten and eventually falls in love with Biel's Tenley. They spend the summer working through their individual insecurities, and family drama. While trying to achieve their respective goals.

It's absolutely a early 2000's romantic comedy movie. You maybe haed pressed to find someone who considers it one of their favorites, but doesn't mean it's one out there.

Mr. Baseball

This 1992 film starring Tom Selleck is a true fish out of water film. Starring Selleck as a aging veteran MLB player for the New York Yankees Jack Elliott, he is traded to a team the Chunichi Dragons  in the Japanese Central League.

Jack refuses to accept the culture of Japan and how the game is played there. Until a fellow American teammate Max Dubois played by Dennis Haysbert. A new love interest Hiroko, and his manager Uchimaya all make see the bigger picture. Soon Jack has found his game again and the Dragons are on the road to the championship.

Mr. 3000

Bernie Mac starred in this 2004 comedy as a arrogant MLB player, who retired in the middle of a game once he reached 3,000 career hits. Years later he learns due to a clerical error he only has 2,997 hits limiting his hall of Fame chances. He decides to return to baseball at the age of 47 for his last 3 hits.

His former team the Milwaukee Brewers agree to him rejoining as a publicity stunt. Back in gbs game he sees the error of his past ways, and inspires his current team to dig out of their funk and go for the pennant.

Soul Of The Game

This 1996 HBO original film is a sure fire classic, to those who have seen it. It's the type of movie I did not appreciate until I was much older, and in today's world Netflix would make. Starring Blair Underwood, Delroy Lindo, and Mykelti Williamson. The movie follows the three as Negro League stars Jackie Robinson, Saitchel Paige, and Josh Gibson.

Interconnected with Brooklyn Dodgers GM Branch Rickey's desire to integrate Major League Baseball. The three men are prime candidates to be that guy, but each have personal obstacles to overcome. However, never letting up their love for the game. I could go on and on about this movie, it's a must see if you can find it.

 

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The Last Dragon: 40 Years Of The Glow

 

Forty years ago tomorrow one of my favorite film's graced the big screen. It's campy, the storyline is very simple, and some of the acting is very B-movieish. But damnit all those things combined make the film work and truthfully a cinematic masterpiece. 

If you've never seen the movie it follows a young man named Leroy a shy and naive martial artist who goes by Bruce Leroy. He is in search of "the master" and the "glow" which is the highest level a martial artist can achieve. On his quest, he crosses paths with a guy who has napoleon complex in Eddie Arcane, a video host who he becomes smitten with, and the "Shogun of Harlem" Sho'Nuff.

Speaking of Sho'Nuff, Julius Carry embodied that role and made it legendary. He was a bully, ferocious, arrogant, all at once. He could however back all of that up, and Carry just exuded confidence as he bought the character to screen. There is a reason many folks today cosplay as Sho'Nuff for comic-cons and Halloween, and Busta Rhymes cosplayed as him in a music video. He was a badass simple as that and is one of the most underrated film villains ever in my opinion. 

Sho'Nuff aside the film is legendary for many reasons. The fight scenes are very fast paced, well edited and pay homage to old Kung Fu movies. The big battle near the end of the movie between Arcane's goons and Bruce Leroy's students is a highlight of the film. The biggest reason it is legendary is that, for many 80's kid's and later 90's kid's Bruce Leroy was the first Black superhero they saw. I know when I first saw the movie I was somewhere around 6 or 7, and between Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, and other martial arts shows and films out around that time. I was pulled into the story of Bruce Leroy a guy who looked like me. And the fight scene where he found "the glow" is still one of my favorites of all time. Much as I love the movie, I sometimes skip past it and just watch that one scene. Mainly because the film and that scene has so many messages I've found the older I get.

I mentioned earlier Bruce Leroy was shy and naive, outside of martial arts he lacked a lot of social skills and confidence. Part of obtaining "the glow" meant he needed to find his confidence, which while subtle is something he is often chasing in the film. From attempts to flirt with Laura Charles (Vanity) to trying to fit in with a trio of Asian men to infiltrate and obtain information from them. He was always unsure of himself when out of his element, which many people can resonate with. It took some loses for him to realize all along what he was missing to be the master.

                                           

That lesson can be applied anywhere in life. Life lesson aside the movie is a classic for being ahead of the curve in portraying how Black culture and Asian culture are intertwined and the influence they have on one another.  Along with the soundtrack produced by Motown founder Berry Gordy and led by the Debarge classic  Rhythm Of The Night. that provided the film with a certain esthetic fusing pop, the soul sound of Motown, and some early 80's hip hop. It was 100% a 80's film as well, if you watch it today it is still dated but still great either way.

I can't stress enough how much I love this movie. I've dressed as Bruce Leroy one Halloween, proudly wear t-shirts celebrating the film. I wrote about the movie for a film class I took. When I visited the Motown museum in Detroit there was a original poster on the wall, which I proudly smiled ear to ear taking a photo next to. Quoted it at the most random times, and wrote a blog on how the series could be revived in Cobra Kai fashion. This movie will never get old to me, and I will celebrate 40 years of The Glow every chance I get. 

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Ten 90's Kid's Crushes

 

Last month I wrote a blog acknowledging ten Black Woman who are our all time crushes. I had some discussions and debates about the list, so I decided to do another one. Tying in with the love of nostalgia most of my blogs are, I decided to write one on 90's crushes. To be specific 90's crushes for 90's kids, so here we go.

Kimberly (Pink Ranger)

For a lot of 90's Kid's The Pink Power Ranger Kimberly Hart, played by Amy Jo Johnson was their first crush. The All-American girl next door who used her gymnastics and martial arts skills to fight off aliens. She was "cute" in the eyes of many who watched and still is a life long crush of those 90's kid's who grew into man-child's of today. Her most notable role outside of Power Rangers was as Julie in the WB's drama Felicity. She's still crushing hearts at conventions meeting fans. 

Salma Hayek

When Salma Hayek debuted stateside in 1995's Despardo, 90's kid's thought the damsel in distress was attractive. Then in 1996's From Dusk Til Dawn when she played the femme fatale Vampire Stripper Santanico Pandemonium. Well a lot of 90's kid's started experiencing feelings and thoughts they never knew they had.

Then she started appearing in more films as the object of someone's affection, and people could relate in real life. Her exotic features, accent, and shape sent 90's kids and men into overdrive. She has aged gracefully through the years and still has a hold on so many hearts.

Pamela Anderson 

The poster child of the hit TV show Baywatch, Pamela Anderson got A LOT of 90's kid's through puberty. She also likely was the first woman that 90's kid's had a crush on and realized exactly what they liked in a woman. She was just that fine and the show made sure to highlight her beauty and sex appeal. 

Young, pretty face and smile, big boobs, blonde hair. She was considered by many to be thee woman you wanted on your arm. Then when the internet became more accessible and her sex tape was released that didn't leave anything to the imagination, to 90's kid's going through puberty it solidified her status right or wrong as one of the sexiest woman of the decade. 

Cameron Diaz

When Cameron Diaz made her film debut in 1994's The Mask, many asked who is that??  Those big beautiful eyes and smile, along with her curves were put on display in her first scene. Which by the way that first scene highlighted how much of a smoke show she was. And probably made a lot of young boys realize what they like in a woman.

 Along with her beauty once she showed she could be ruthless in Any Given Sunday, or that she had a goofy side in films like There's Something About Mary it was game over. Even today I'm sure there are Gen Z kids catching her films for the first time and going damn. 

 Tiffani Amber-Thissen

You take one look at Kelly Kapowski and you instantly see why Zack Morris chased after her all those years, on Saved By The Bell. Tiffani Amber Thissen embodied that most popular girl school look in the sitcom, and with her smile and long brown hair everyone watching at home wanted to date the most popular girl in school. 

Simply a natural beauty, when the original series ended and Saved By The Bell: The College Years debuted. Kelly Kapowski was given a more mature look and my goodness, she gained even more fans during that series short run. Tiffani Theissen grew out of that role and has had other mature roles, but to 90's kids she will always be Ms. Kelly Kapowski. 

Reagen Gomez Preston

Reagen Gomez-Preston graced our airwaves weekly on the WB network Parent'Hood. Since her show was on the WB you either tuned in just for her, or didn't know who she was. For those of us who knew who she was FINE!!!

She was a quintessential 90's it girl pretty, fashionable, and probably didn't take no shit from nobody. She's kept a good balance between being in the spotlight and keeping a low profile through the years. Aging so gracefully, still fine, and still have 90's kids hoping they have a chance.

Tatyana Ali

For 90's kids who always tuned into Fresh Prince of Bel-Air when little Ashley Banks teenage years came, we fell in love. The long black hair, glowing brown skin, and smile for days. We all became smitten with Tatyana Ali.

Not just pretty, she was stylish on the show as well. Then when we found out she could sing, via episode 1 of season 5. We all just stood there googly eyed. Now in her mid-40's she's still a all time favorite of many 90's kids.

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Jennifer Love Hewitt was the "IT" girl of the mid to late 90's. Most of her roles were as the prettiest girl in school, somebody had a crush on. I remember she first caught my eye when I was all of 10 years old in the movie House Arrest. Then I noticed her in the very underrated teen gem Trojan War in 1997. 

Then came her role later in '97 as Julie James in I Know What You Did Last Summer. That's when you saw her everywhere, and likely became smitten with the long brown hair, smile, and pretty but shy vibe. If you still didn't start crushing over her, then another late 90's teen comedy classic Can't Hardly Wait did it for you. Today in her mid-40's and playing on the drama series 9-1-1, she likely gives cougar vibes to the younger generation while our generation marvels at how good she still looks.

Danielle Fishel

Topanga, Topanga played by Danielle Fishel aas the eccentric girl in Cory Matthews class in Boy Meets World. Who would go on to be his wife in the sitcom. Once Topanga grew up during the shows high school years, and then college it was game over. The big blue eyes, infectious smile, and she was shapely essentially a pawg (phat ass white girl) before that was a thing.

She always came across as just as dope person to be around. And I think that's what made her the apple of many 90's kids eyes, she even mentioned in a 2010 interview how many people had a crush on her during the sitcoms original run. Now that she hosts the podcast revisiting the show Pod Meets World, 90's kids have fallen in love all again. While Gen Z kids are learning why we adored her 

Maia Campbell

Man oh man, there is really only one way to describe Maia Campbell and that is FINE. When she debuted in the LL Cool J led sitcom In The House, she instantly became the "it girl" for the culture. There just wasn't anyone that pretty on TV at the time.

Then when she starred in 1999's Trippin' as the crush of the main character. She was on an entirely different level as far as gorgeousness. Undeniably beautiful, she helped a lot of 90's kids figure out early what they liked in a woman. Just search her on google or hashtag her name on IG, you will see so many posts dedicated to her. She has struggled with mental health issues in recent years, which kept her out of the spotlight. She is working through those issues and has not let them get the best of her. All of 90's kids who still today would trip over another to take her out on a date, wish her the best.

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10 Late Night Talk Shows You Forgot

 Netflix is stepping back into the late night TV space as it pushes the limits of streaming. Premiering  Everybody's Live With John Mulaney this week on the platform. New episodes will be released every Wednesday for the next 12 weeks. The show got the wheels running in my brain about late night talk shows.

More specifically late night shows that did not last, often times because the host wasn't the right fit. There are other reasons as well, but it led me down my rabbit hole. Here are 10 Late Night talk shows you likely don't remember 

10. The Jay Leno Show

In 2004 Jay Leno announced that he would retire from The Tonight Show in 2009, and Conan O'Brien would take the reigns. Well 2009 comes and Leno has a change of heart, so to keep peace NBC gave Leno a show as the lead in to The Tonight Show.

After initial curiosity fans tuned out, and after a debacle of PR and talent nightmares. Conan O'Brien was out and moved on to another network, and Leno was back hosting The Tonight Show.

9. Whoopi Goldberg Show

Before she became a co-host of The View on weekday mornings. Whoopi Goldberg attempted to rule late night TV. Likely riding the wave of Arsenio Hall, Whoopi Goldberg was given her own show in 1992.

The half hour syndicated program featured Whoppi interviewing one guest in a sit down format. It was able to last a full season, producing 112 episodes before being canceled in 1993.

8. Chevy Chase Show

Back in 1993 Fox was still working to compete with the big three networks (ABC, CBS, NBC). They figured all those networks had late night talk shows, so they needed one. They hired comedy "legend" Chevy Chase to host his own talk show.Show.

Debuting in September that year, Chase's style of comedy and likely his personality. Just didn't resonate with a new generation, along with other hiccups the show was canceled by October. 

7. The Jon Stewart Show

Before he gained fame talking politics on The Daily Show, Jon Stewart had a little show that could on MTV. Debuting on MTV in 1993, The Jon Stewart Show was a 30 minute late night show that appealed to Gen X. With topics and guests that they could connect to.

The show gained so much popularity on the network, that it was reformatted and aired in syndication in the fall of '94. However the goodwill didn't extend in syndication and the show was canceled in June of '95.

6. Late Night With Zach

In 2002 long before gaining fame as the eccentric member of the wolfpack. Zach Galifianakis hosted a late night show on VH1. Well it was kind of a hybrid late night show and mockumentary. And Galifianakis's style of humor may have been too zany for alot of folks.

Debuting in March, the series was done and over with by May. It would take Zach another 7 years of grinding, before The Hangover made him a star.

5. VH1 Live

Before VH1 went full throttle into reality shows and reruns, they tried to expand their programming. VH1 Live! was born, hosted by a relatively unknown Marc Lamont Hill. Debuting in July of 2016, I'm not sure if people didn't know about the show. Or just didn't care for it, but it was canceled in September of that year. Helping pave the way for the VH1 we know today.

4. Busy Tonight

Busy Phillips is a Hollywood actress best known for playing the bubbly sidekick role. A lucrative career for her so far, someone came up with the  idea to give her a talk show. Airing on E! network in 2018, the show was able to produce over a 100 episodes. 

However Busy's style, topics, and guests seemed to cater to a niche audience, and the masses couldn't vibe with her. Resulting in the show ending in May of 2019.

3. Brand X With Russell Brand

In the early 2010's Russell Brand was one of the hottest comedians on the planet. After achieving success in a few film roles, FX decided to give him a late night talk shows. 

Debuting in 2012, Brand X with Russell Brand offered an unique concept initially as Brand did a monologue the entire time. The format switched up a bit later on to include guests, but Brand's style of comedy wasn't for everyone. It was a less is more approach for him and the show ended in May of 2013.

2. Too late with Adam Carolla

In 2005 after The Man Show ended and Jimmy Kimmel moved to ABC. Comedy Central wanted to keep his co-host Adam Carolla on the network, and Too Late With Adam Carolla was born. Debuting August that year, the show featured Carolla's brand of humor in a 30 minute format.

By himself he didn't connect with audiences, resulting in the show ending in November.

1. ALF's Hit Talk Show

In 2004 TV Land did what I thought was a genius move. They revived the character from 80's sitcom Alf and gave him his own talk show. With Ed McMahon as his sidekick, Alf actually interviewed guests and had banter with them.

The concept may have been ahead of its time, and maybe too meta for the audience. It ended after 7 episodes, but bought eyeballs to the network to watch Alf reruns.

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5 movies To Watch If You Enjoyed Paradise

Season 1 of 2025's best new show in Hulu's Paradise just ended. Created by Dan Fogelman who also created one of my must see TV shows when it aired This Is Us, and starring Sterling K. Brown who starred in that series. Paradise is a post apocalyptic political murder mystery that hit the gas at the end of episode 1 and didn't let up. I, like many am already anticipating season 2 and hope the wait is not too long. The show obviously has many influences, so I decided to pick five films that I think fan's may enjoy if they liked the show. Now I can't say for sure these films were influences, but I saw similarities watching the show, so here are we.  

Warning if you haven't finished, let alone watched the show. You probably don't want to read much further.

Truman show

As episode 1 ended and it was revealed the characters were living inside of a dome with a focus on the artificial sun. I couldn't help but think about 1998's the Truman Show starring Jim Carrey, in which he lived inside of a dome. While in Paradise the dome was built to save humanity, the Truman Show it's purpose was a large TV set to fabricate this world around Truman Burbank as millions watched his life 24/7. Truman and his "cast" lived in a false reality much like the inhabitants of Paradise.

Snowpiercer

Released in the U.S. in 2014 and starring Chris Evans, Snowpiercer followed the remaining population of civilization living abroad a train. The train continually travels around the globe with society broken up into classes onboard. The wealthy live in luxurious spacious cars in the front of the train, and the poor are crammed together in the back scraping for seconds. Led by Curtis (Chris Evans) the inhabitants of the back stage a revolution making their way to the front of the train.

Besides the post apocalyptic aspect, Snowpiecer and Paradise both involve different methods of housing humanity. In addition the class aspect, as in Paradise many of those chosen to live in the dome were wealthy, were needed for the project, or had connections.

Vantage Point

This 2008 film may seem like a bit of a stretch but hear me out. In Vantage Point an assassination attempt occurs on the U.S. President while in Spain. The film is then told from multiple perspectives of bystanders who may have seen possible clues to who did it. What happens in Paradise once President Bradford is confirmed dead? Between video footage, interviews, and episodes devoted to certain characters different vantage point's are displayed. On where folks were that night, to backstory relationships with the president, and how the community would move past that.

Deep impact 

1998's Deep Impact was one of two released that summer alongside Armageddon, focusing on humanity trying to prepare and stop an asteroid from colliding with earth. There's debate about which is a better film, but it's mostly agreed upon that Deep Impact is the more scientifically accurate. Much like Paradise, Deep Impact plot point's included the government making efforts to prepare for a Extinction level event (ELE), while also waiting too long to share with the general public. And last but not least having an underground shelter ready to go with certain citizens already confirmed to be have a slot in the shelter. In addition showing the immediate impact and aftermath of those events. 

Thirteen Days

In true Dan Fogelman fashion, episode 7 of Paradise opened with a prologue that on the surface seemed to have nothing to do with the series. What many have deemed one of the best written and acted TV episodes in history, opened with a nameless Colonel back in 1962 talking to his wife about how a catastrophic event was averted. That event was the Cuban missile crisis, it factors into the episode later in true Fogelman fashion.

It makes sense that 2000's Thirteen Days was likely an inspiration.  Starring Bruce Greenwood and Kevin Costner, the film dramatizes President Kennedy's and the military efforts to avoid a war with Russia over missiles that are stationed in Cuba. The film highlights the stakes and the pressure world leaders go through during times like that. You felt all of that tension and pressure in James Marsden's and the rest of the casts acting in episode 7 of Paradise.

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She's Dangerous-5 Underrated Female Action Heroines

 

When it come's to action film's and the female action hero, there have some badass women on the silver screen. Often in films they can hold their own and don't let anything get in their way. If you ask the average filmgoer about badass female action heroes, for most of them you will hear about The Bride in Kill Bill, Charlie Baltimore in Long Kiss Goodnight, Trinity in The Matrix, and of course the pioneers in Ellen Ripley from Aliens and Sarah Connor from the Terminator series. Well I'm here to share 5 underrated female characters in action movies that kicked ass and looked good doing it.

Sam

Gunpowder Milkshake is a 2021 Netflix original, that I honestly think got lost in the shuffle of being released in that weird pandemic phase, where people were trying to return to normalcy but we weren't quite there yet. And as such Netflix didn't promote it as much as they should have. Starring Karen Gilliam (Gamora in Guardians Of The Galaxy) as Sam. A young lady who has been raised to be an assassin since her mom who was also an assassin was killed in front of her as a child.

When she pivots on a job and rescues a little girl instead of doing her assignment, all hell breaks loose. Sam alongside her sisterhood of assassins show they can fight and handle heavy artillery with the best of them.

 Lorraine Broughton

If you say to someone not well versed in movies that Charlize Theron, one of the prettiest woman in the world kicked ass in a movie. You may get the really treatment? But that was the case in 2017's Atomic Blonde, a trippy 80's set action movie set before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Theron stars as Lorraine Broughton a MI6 agent tasked with recovering "The List". A document containing every agent from every covert and intelligence agency around the world, currently working in Berlin. As you can imagine many people want that list, so Lorraine puts her best foot forward and ensures that doesn't happen.

Colombiana

First, congratulations to Zoe Saldana for winning an academy award for best supporting actress. She deserves the honor and has been putting in work for years with a versatile resume. One example being the 2011 film Colombiana. Saldana stars as Cataleya a young lady who is an successful assassin, and has been plotting for revenge since she was 9 against the drug lord who killed her parents.

Once she starts down the path of taking down the drug lord and his army. She uses survival skills, smarts, stealth, and some kick ass gunplay to get the job done. 

Selene

The Underworld film series has become a cult classic, since the first films debut in 2003. However, I still don't think the film gets it's proper credit for it's world building and mythology of the constant battle between vampires and lycans (werewolves). 

Right in the middle of the action is a vampire "Death Dealer" named Selene, played by Kate Beckinsale. Being a vampire, Selene benefits from hyper reflexes to aid in fights. Besides hand to hand combat, she was skilled in multitude of weapons from ancient bow and arrows to modern machine guns. She more than held her own against armies of henchmen and the final boss of respective films in the series.

Alice

Alicia Marcus better known as Alice, has endured an awful lot across the six films in the Resident Evil film franchise. Played by Milla Jovovich in the film's, Alice does everything in her power to limit the spread of the T-virus. Which was created to cure her from a rare disease.

Fighting large swaths of not so average zombies can be exhausting. Somehow Alice got it done, whether using her fist as a weapon, her body, or some trusty weapons. She often came out on top against the competition, prepared to fight another day.

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