Whilst it may not be a pre-requisite to love sport in order to practise sports law, for the vast majority of us there is almost certainly some correlation between the two. So in these troubled times with no games to go to and no live sport to watch on TV the Sports’ Law team at 2 Hare Court brings you our top 10 sports’ books and films.
The list has been compiled following a ballot of all of our number asking each for her / his top three sports’ books and films. We would like to be able to tell you that everyone’s votes were accorded equal weight, but in every organisation there is no accounting for (poor) taste, so one or two members’ views have been deliberately ignored; after all, who, apart from MUFC fans living in Hampshire, wants to read Man. United’s year books?
BOOKS
Murakami’s memoir, translated by Philip Gabriel, about his interest and participation in long-distance running.
Hughes’ autobiographical look at the ups and downs, the lifestyle, the practical jokes and sheer hard yakka that make such a poorly paid, insecure job appeal to so many.
A family man struggling to reconcile his shambolic personal life with the job of football reporting he has grown to hate.
Volume 1 of Ferguson’s life and life in football up to the year 2000 written with the late, great Hugh McIlvanney; an infinitely superior read to volume 2.
A story of tennis, obsession and Roger Federer.
A frank look into a unique life in cricket, a journey into Waugh’s life on and off the field.
Autobiography of former wrestler Mick Foley which details his life from his upbringing in New York to winning the WWF Championship from The Rock in December 1998.
Peace’s award winning novel of Brian Clough’s tumultuous 44 days in charge of Leeds United.
Simpson, recounts his and Simon Yates’ successful but disastrous and nearly fatal climb of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985.
Hornby’s account of how he fell in love with the beautiful game and the club that played it so beautifully.
FILMS
A group of Allied prisoners of war agree to play a football match against their Nazi captors, only to use it as a means to escape.
Heart-stopping talent doesn’t seem to be enough when your parents want you to hang up your football boots, find a nice boyfriend and learn to cook the perfect chapatti.
The true story of two runners competing for gold in the 1924 Olympics.
Sylvester Stallone stars as Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer who gets a chance to fight heavyweight champion Apollo Creed.
Adam Sandler plays Happy Gilmore, an unsuccessful ice hockey player who discovers a newfound talent for golf.
A biographical sports drama detailing the Oakland Athletics baseball team’s 2002 season as General Manager, Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) and Assistant General Manager (Jonah Hill) attempt to assemble a competitive team despite the franchise’s limited budget.
Samuel L. Jackson plays Ken Carter, the controversial head coach of his old high school’s basketball team, who puts school before sports and is determined that the team excel in the classroom as well as on the court.
Kevin Costner stars as a farmer who hears voices and interprets them as a command to build a baseball diamond in his fields; he does, and Shoeless Joe Jackson and the 1919 Chicago White Sox arrive.
The story of a homeless and traumatised boy who became an All-American football player and first-round National Football League draft pick. Sandra Bullock stars as the formidable woman who takes him in and gives him a chance at a better life.
Documentary film about ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in 1974. The film was pieced together over 20 years, chronicling the integration of sport and racial politics.
There is no way that this list will please all of you. We can already hear your indignation at certain omissions and inclusions, so don’t be shy – join in. Please send your top three sports books and films to Rebecca rebeccaerkanbax@2harecourt.com and we will compile the readers’ top 10 from your responses.
Brian O’Neill QC and Rebecca Erkan-Bax
SUMMARY In 2017 a 24-year-old woman, Louella Fletcher Michie, died at the Bestival Music Festival,…
On the 3rd November 2020, Kadian Nelson abducted and raped a 13 year old girl…
