Home/Episodes/For Love of the Game
‘For Love of the Game’ With Bill Simmons and Mallory Rubin
July 12, 2024 · For Love of the Game (1999) · Drama · Romance · Sport · 1:25:46 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsThe Razzie was likely due to timing with Message in a Bottle rather than this movie specifically, scoreboard showed 89 mph fastball post-injury, Billy Chappell comparable to Jack Morris who started Game 1 of 1984 World Series, calculated approximately 650 career starts from the innings total▶ 9:00
Mallory RubinKevin Costner got a Golden Raspberry Award for worst actor, threw 85 mph on Bill's podcast, had multiple arm angles, Billy Chappell's stats show 111 strikeouts/98 walks with under 4 ERA, 141 losses mentioned, 4,100 career innings, comparable to Jack Morris crossed with Tom Glavin▶ 8:52
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsThe masseuse sequence - calls it 'literally one of the best things ever put to film' and discusses it as his second most rewatchable scene▶ 24:58
Mallory RubinThe masseuse sequence - agrees it's on her list too and provides detailed analysis of the scene▶ 25:48
Best Quote
Mallory RubinCostner as a ballplayer (noting she wanted to say Vin Scully but had to be true to herself)▶ 52:27
Joey Pants Award
Bill SimmonsDomenick Lombardozzi — Initially mentions Sam Tuttle but doesn't know who he is, then discusses Michael Papajohn, ultimately agrees with Mallory's pick of Dominic Lombardozzi▶ 58:21
Mallory RubinDomenick Lombardozzi — Dominic Lombardozzi (the tow truck guy, Herc from The Wire)▶ 58:47
Dion Waiters Award
Bill SimmonsJ.K. Simmons — JK (J.K. Simmons character) - states 'I would vote for JK' while calling Mallory's pick a good runner-up▶ 1:02:32
Mallory RubinCharacter who says 'but you fucked my mom' - suggests this automatically qualifies for the award▶ 1:02:10
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsVin Scully — Vin Scully - argues this movie became the best ongoing evidence of how awesome Vin Scully was since it's always on cable, while his actual baseball calls are buried▶ 1:06:28
Mallory RubinNo one - refutes Vin Scully argument, saying his real historic baseball calls (Koufax perfect game, Don Larson perfect game, Gibson's home run, Hank Aaron record) have more power than the movie▶ 1:07:32
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsKevin Costner — Costner, with honorable mention to Vin Scully. Says Costner wins because he had to take criticism but still gave a good enough performance.▶ 1:21:37
Mallory RubinKevin Costner — Either Costner or Vin Scully. Acknowledges Costner took criticism but loves him unapologetically.▶ 1:21:23
Movies Referenced (20)
Directors Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Costner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 28 | Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | ▶ 2:11 | |
| Sam Raimi | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Spider-Man, The Evil Dead, Army of Darkness | ▶ 14:33 |
Actors Referenced (29)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Preston | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 25 | The Cat in the Hat, Sky High | ▶ 3:48 | |
| Vin Scully | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 24 | For Love of the Game | ▶ 14:43 | |
| J.K. Simmons | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Whiplash, Juno, La La Land | ▶ 21:53 | |
| John C. Reilly | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Guardians of the Galaxy | ▶ 19:34 | |
| The Game | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Street Kings, The A-Team, Coach Carter | ▶ 2:05 | |
| Brian Cox | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Troy | ▶ 43:02 | |
| Annette Bening | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | American Beauty, 20th Century Women | ▶ 5:35 | |
| Don Larson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | ▶ 45:45 | ||
| Michael Papajohn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Jurassic World, Spider-Man | ▶ 58:28 | |
| Tom Bresnahan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | ▶ 12:28 | ||
| Chris Schillinger | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | ▶ 43:22 | ||
| Bob Seger | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Beverly Hills Cop II, Body Heat, Armageddon | ▶ 4:23 |
Writers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | ▶ 14:51 | ||
| James Cameron | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Avatar, Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day | ▶ 1:25:13 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | The Other Guys | ▶ 1:05:49 |