Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Underdogs

I'm a sucker for underdogs. If you ask me who I want to win in any given sports match-up, I'll usually ask who's supposed to win and then I go for the other guy (unless it's my favorite team, but they're never supposed to win and are permanent underdogs--sorry Chiefs). My hubby and I watched The Fighter this weekend (based on a true story), and though I loathe boxing and am not a big fan of violence in general (well, unless aliens, space monkeys, or vampires are involved), I loved the movie. Part of it was that the movie focused as much on him as a person as on the fighting (and the family dynamics alone make this a must see), but what hooked me were the odds. Because they were stacked against him and his crack addict brother from the get-go. And he won anyway. 

 Remember the Titans (also based on a true story) blew me away and is one of the few movies I'll watch every time I catch it on t.v. This coach had to win every single game to keep his job and fight racism while doing it--I get chills just thinking about this movie.

I realize these are sports related examples, but I think sports lends itself well to the underdog theme. Remember, the Boston Red Sox coming back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Yankees and win the 2004 American League Championship (pure awesome). Or the one-armed catch that helped the Giants beat the Patriots in a Super Bowl outcome no one expected (never mind that the receiver later shot himself in the leg).

I'll bring this around to young adult books (and try to curb my use of parentheticals in this post--geez). The underdog theme might involve the MC fighting back against a tyrannical government in a dystopian society (a la Uglies, The Hunger Games, The Giver, Possession), or the MC is an average human attempting to survive/defeat the all-powerful paranormal creature (Need, Twilight, Hush Hush), or they're attempting to defeat normal, real-life issues like death and high school (If I Stay, The DUFF). Chances are, if the odds seem insurmountable and like there's no way the MC can succeed, it's my kind of book.  

What about you? What are some of your favorite underdog stories? (They can be either books or movies, and I swear that's my last use of parentheses for this post).


Also, in case you missed our Epic Contest of Awesome announcement, check out the details on the pitch contest judged by the wonderful Sara Megibow from Nelson Literary Agency. We're awed and humbled by our amazing followers and wish you all luck if you enter!

12 comments:

  1. Great post, Kristi! I haven't seen The Fighter, but if it has boxing (I like boxing) and Marky Mark (swoon), I am so renting it.

    Underdog stories are the best! Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry is another great one.

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  2. Lacey-that one's on my TBR list. And yes, you have to see the movie. :)

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  3. I LOVED The Fighter. It's a perfect couples movie with a balance of hard and soft.

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  4. Matthew-yeah, my hubby loved it as much as I did.

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  5. I too am a sucker for the underdog! I figure that's why I follow the Aussie Rules football team I do, even when they keep losing :D

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  6. I must admit Remember The Titans is one of my favourite films - but The Replacements is a pretty good contestor in the underdog department! And that bobsleigh team from Jamaica film! :D

    Bookwise, "Fury" by Henry Kuttner is my all time favourite(sf) and so is "The stars my destination" by Alfred Bester (also sf). Maybe that's the reason I love them so much... I'm a sucker for underdogs.

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  7. Oh, I forgot about Cool Runnings. I'll have to check out those books too. Thanks for the suggestions. :)

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  8. I love Underdog stories! Remember the Titans is one of my all time favorite movies (although I'm a sucker for most sports movies since they're usually about the underdog.) My favorite underdog book is probably the Harry Potter series. Followed closely by The Hunger Games.

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  9. have you seen freedom writers, and coach carter then? i feel like you would love those as well.

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  10. Off the top of my head I'd have to say the movie "Hoosiers". Great acting (Gene Hackman, Dennis Hopper) in this true telling of a 50's Indiana HS basketball team's rise to the top. One of my favorite movies of all time.

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  11. Not to nit pick, but the receiver who caught that pass (David Tyree) did not shoot himself in the leg, that was Plexico Burress. Tyree actually fits your "underdog" label. A talented WR for Syracuse University, he was just a shade to slow to be a "primary" WR, but he made the Giants as a brilliant special teams player and made the Pro Bowl for it. Just sayin'.

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  12. John--thanks for pointing out my error. That makes me happy he wasn't the one who shot himself. :)

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