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Animalympics – Never heard of it? If you have, you probably had HBO in the early 80s when this was an after-school-programming staple. Made in 1979, this is a feature-length-animated movie starring cartoon animals competing in their own Olympics. Billy Crystal, Gilda Radner, and Harry Shearer provide most of the voices for the animals who "bear" striking resemblances to late 1970s celebrities including Howard Cosell, John Travolta, and Barbara Walters. There are enough adult references and in-jokes to go along with the kiddie-centric animation to keep the whole family interested. It’s cute, it’s funny, and at the end you’ll have a smile on your face.

Bull Durham – Quite possibly the definitive baseball comedy. Kevin Costner stars as Crash Davis, an aging minor league ball player who is brought to the Durham Bulls to mentor a young and promising pitcher named Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh, played by Tim Robbins. Complicating matters is Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon), a baseball groupie who aims to tutor Nuke in ways that Crash can’t. This is a very funny movie with lots of memorable performances. My favorite is Robert Wuhl as the assistant coach; you seem to laugh any time he’s on screen. If you’re going to see one movie on this list for the first time, this is the one.

Caddyshack – The legendary golf movie with more one-liners per minute than any film in recent memory. The plot is a distraction anyway, so here’s a sampling of some of the best lines:

- Last time I saw a mouth like that, it had a hook in it.
- Oh, this is the worst-looking hat I ever saw. What, when you buy a hat like this I bet you get a free bowl of soup, huh? Oh, it looks good on you though.
- Oh, this your wife, huh? A lovely lady. Hey baby, you must've been something before electricity.
- You're rather attractive for a beautiful girl with a great body.

Judge: Ty, what did you shoot today?
Ty: Oh, Judge, I don't keep score.
Judge: Then how do you measure yourself with other golfers?
Ty: By height.

It’s raunchy, it’s irreverent, and it’s a whole lot of fun.

The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh – This one is a personal favorite because the star of the movie is Dr. J, the legendary Philadelphia 76er and my favorite athlete growing up. Made in 1979, the story follows the fictional Pittsburgh Pisces, a professional basketball team whose members were selected because they all share the same zodiac sign. This "astrological consistency" will supposedly give them an edge over their opponents. The cheese-factor is sky-high in this one, but it’s neat to see "The Doctor" try his hand at acting.

Happy Gilmore – Adam Sandler stars in the title role of a former hockey player who couldn’t make it in that sport so he tries his hand at golf. If you’ve like Sandler’s other movies, you’re sure to like this one – it may be his most consistently funny movie – with its "Dumb and Dumber"-type humor. One of my favorite things about it is the creative casting of Carl "Apollo Creed" Weathers as Happy’s golf coach with a prosthetic hand and an uncredited Ben Stiller as a psychotic nursing home orderly. If you’re in the mood for big laughs, give it a shot. Trust me.

A League of Their Own – Where "Happy Gilmore" was funny and dumb, this movie is funny and touching. Tom Hanks stars as a washed-up baseball player recruited to coach in the new all-women’s baseball league created during World War II when male ballplayers were fighting overseas. Geena Davis, Madonna, and Rosie O’Donnell star as some of the players. However, John Lovitz steals the show as a scout out looking for players. Overall, very entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable.

Major League – The new owner of the Cleveland Indians wants to move the team to Florida, so she wants the team to be as bad as possible so no one will object. She does this by accumulating the biggest group of odd-ball players possible. Nonetheless, they pull together and make a run for the title. It’s a pretty predictable movie, but it’s fun to watch all the same.

Necessary Roughness – Same concept as "Major League", but with college football. (Hey, no one ever said sports movies were all that original.) Football fans will enjoy the cameos from pro football players past and present. Rob Schneider has a funny turn as the stadium PA announcer. Once again, the players pull together in time for the climactic game. Guess who wins? It’s not "Citizen Kane", but it’s a pretty good sports movie.

Slapshot – Paul Newman stars as player-coach of the small town Chiefs hockey team who can’t seem to win a game until they decide to play dirty. Top cheap-shot artists on the team are the Hanson brothers who are as dumb as they are violent. Hysterically funny at times, if you’re a hockey fan, you’ll especially love this one.

Tin Cup – Kevin Costner stars as Roy "Tin Cup" McAvoy, a washed-up golf pro who enters the U.S. Open to impress a woman, played by Rene Russo. This is a romantic comedy centered around golf. It might drag in spots here and there, but overall and like most sports movies, it’s worth it for the ending. Cheech Marin has an excellent role as Roy’s caddie and best pal.

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