Odds and Ends: Play ball

123 January 31, 2015January 30, 2015

by javabeans

javabeans: So, are you watching The Big Game this weekend?

girlfriday: Is that a new drama? Why haven’t I heard about it? Who’s in it?

javabeans: Lol, I meant the Superbowl. It’s apparently a thing here, in this country we live in.

girlfriday: Like Americans need another excuse to drink beer and watch TV.

javabeans: But yeah, your reaction would have been my reaction if I weren’t in Seattle where everything has been painted/covered/decorated green and blue and if anybody asks anything about sports I just assume they mean the Seahawks. You can’t get away from it. Trust me, I’ve tried.

girlfriday: People should respect that some people care very little about sports.

javabeans: I know, I don’t know how you can ask me about “the playoffs” and expect me to know what sport you’re talking about, much less have an opinion on who’s going to win. I mean, I’m only ninety percent sure the Superbowl is football.

girlfriday: I like how on Netflix now there’s a separate channel just for Superbowl commercials. You can literally skip the game and just watch the crazy ads.

javabeans: See, that’s more my style. Which isn’t to say I love the advertising. Just… you know, any way to skip the game.

girlfriday: Now if it were a football MOVIE, I’d be all over that. I strangely love sports movies, no matter how formulaic they are. Everybody loves an underdog!

javabeans: Isn’t it strange how sports movies are so good, and yet sports television dramas are so… not?

girlfriday: I know, why is that? Really, it’s a formula that should work just as well in drama form. Except for the rare exception that was Friday Night Lights, the one sports drama that worked amazingly well.

javabeans: And Last Match! Can’t forget Jang Dong-gun and Sohn Ji-chang as basketball-loving best bros in the ’90s!

girlfriday: I love love love that drama! But also, yeah… it was in 1994. That’s a long time to go without a successor.

javabeans: You have good medical shows and bad ones, and good lawyer dramas and bad ones… so why are there so few good sports dramas? They all tend to fizzle, like Heading to the Ground, Strike Love, Dream, Basketball…

girlfriday: Ouch, yeah sports dramas have a bad track record. I really wonder why though, because the narrative formula is so tried and true. And I get tired of all the medical dramas. Is it because they’re expensive to shoot, with stunts and stuff?

javabeans: But we have so many action dramas with explosions and car chases and unnecessary location shoots! Surely that can’t be cheaper than teaching some dude how to throw a ball.

girlfriday: Well when you put it that way…

javabeans: And if I recall correctly from behind-the-scenes footage of Last Match, even that’s not necessary! (You just cut away after he shoots. He scores!)

girlfriday: Oh like all the foot shots of ice skaters, or like in sageuks when all the actors who can’t ride horses are riding brooms.

javabeans: Occasionally you’ll have sports depicted as part of a drama, like how a character in Answer Me 1994 was a baseball player, or how you had hockey as a thing in High School King of Savvy, but we’re talking about “sports dramas” that are all about the sport. Or you know, sport as metaphor for life. It’s not like Korea doesn’t know how to tell these stories, since they have some excellent examples in filmlandia.

girlfriday: Yes, some great ones, actually! Like Take Off, Korea (As One), Lifting King Kong, Forever the Moment.

javabeans: Maybe if dramas did sports better, I’d be more of a sports fan, because let’s face it, dramas are how I get most of my information.

girlfriday: Wouldn’t that just make you a drama fan?

javabeans: Well then I’ve already won that game.

girlfriday: See, we need sports for nothing.

javabeans: Maybe getting boyfriends/husbands/brothers out of our hair occasionally. They’re not completely useless.

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Tags: conversation post, Odds and Ends

123

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1 gailt

January 31, 2015 at 8:05 PM

'Go Hawks!

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Gidget

February 1, 2015 at 10:35 AM

SEA

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Gidget

February 1, 2015 at 10:36 AM

HAWKS

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beldaran

February 1, 2015 at 12:38 PM

Go, Hawks!!!

I, myself, am getting ready to go all Hawks down to the blue and green lipstick.

(p.s. JB, you're in Seattle!? :O)

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Kiara

February 2, 2015 at 8:26 AM

Great game! but I'm so so sad......Still love my Hawks!!!

Looking forward to watching the many dramas I've missed during the football season.

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2 Nicole

January 31, 2015 at 8:11 PM

This post was so worth it for Joo Jin-mo and Kim Bum at the end (and baby JDG).

Happy Superbowl Sunday to the fans of both sports and dramas! It's funny but I have zero interest in sports unless it's the Olympics or the World Cup...maybe it takes international fervor to get me excited.

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maieutikos

January 31, 2015 at 8:14 PM

The international thing definitely helps! I mean...all of my media is pretty international, so it makes sense. (And also, soccer and gymnastics are way more interesting than american football, no question. Sorry, football fans.)

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Mic

January 31, 2015 at 11:00 PM

Haha, you speak the truth. As a Canadian, I have to add hockey to that list, though. xD

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pogo

February 1, 2015 at 2:03 AM

yeah, to me football is the game where you kick a ball around on the ground, no touching with hands - and I love that game! Same with the Olympics and World Cup. I love seeing big clubs and national teams compete.

but American football, I suspect, is totally lost on international beanies.

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Aussiegrl

February 1, 2015 at 2:57 AM

Haha, to me football means Australian rules football. And here very few people follow american football, I know very little about it, and didn't know that the superbowl was coming up until I read this post. But I understand not being able to get away from these things, when the AFL grand final is coming up we get bombarded with it.

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Mohammed

February 1, 2015 at 9:23 AM

Its funny how Americans think their kind of football is huge with 100 million viewers. For me football is the sport where 1 billion people watch the world cup in football.

I tried watching NFL but its the least interesting American sport. NBA, NHL are leagues in big international sports.

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Gidget

February 1, 2015 at 10:39 AM

We don't compare the two, or particularly care if the rest of the world likes it too. It's our sport and we love it.

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submonkey

February 1, 2015 at 11:50 PM

I mean how can you love a game that can end with a 0-0 tie?? (***ducks immediately for cover***)

mashimomo

February 2, 2015 at 12:58 AM

^THIS. although I almost wish today's game ended up in a draw. Not a fan of both teams AT ALL. Although I'm glad I don't have to hear Seahawks fans gloat about Being back-to-back champs ***ducks for cover too!***

Gidget

February 2, 2015 at 10:06 PM

Nah. No need to duck. We luff our team but like everyone to luff their own teams too. It's all just good fun.

That was a great game. Congrats to Patriots fans. That's a great team you root for!

Lil75

February 2, 2015 at 5:52 PM

Super Bowl has the highest TV viewership in all sports events in the US ( that's why companies if they want to do ads during super bowl pay the millions $$)and NFL earn the most money compare to the other sports in the US.. So why would NFL care about international interest when they have rabid American fans who spends extravagantly from season tickets to all their paraphernalias. Soccer / football which has the most viewership can't even touch NFL earnings ..

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Gidget

February 2, 2015 at 10:12 PM

Actually the NFL wants to expand to Europe. They have a small office in London to try to promote the idea. But people on the inside say it's a long, long way off.

The only thing that bothers me about the Superbowl is that the NFL calls it the "world" championship. I think they should have an international playoff to truly call it that. Otherwise it sounds pompous.

Lulu

February 2, 2015 at 10:40 AM

LOL I still have so many world cup matches saved on DVR. I am never everrr deleting the Germany v. Brazil match. My brother lives in Brazil and says still doraziliansBn't like to talk about it.

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3 maieutikos

January 31, 2015 at 8:12 PM

Yeah, I'm kind of pretending the superbowl doesn't exist. I got excited for the World Cup, that filled my sports quota for the next while, right? At least until the Olympics?
Oh, and question: what movie/drama/whatever is the very last picture from? Anyone know? Thanks!

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soprection

January 31, 2015 at 9:03 PM

The last picture is from Dream, a drama about Kim Bum as an aspiring boxer who was just released from the Korean version of juvie (or he was a pickpocket or something). Son Dambi was also in it. It was not very good.

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Petmink

February 1, 2015 at 9:58 AM

Thanks for letting us know. See, that picture looks so good that I got sucked in and wanted to watch it right away. But, as you said it sucks, so, I will stay away.

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JoyBells

February 2, 2015 at 3:10 AM

Dream. Didn't like it very much.Was bored to death but i watched it completely.Although if you ask me now,i can't recall a single scene and have totally blacked out how it ended.

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4 x

January 31, 2015 at 8:21 PM

Woo! Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose!!

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BlueButterfly

February 1, 2015 at 5:32 AM

Texas Forever! (Sorry I couldn't help it)

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5 3na3

January 31, 2015 at 8:27 PM

As One, Forever the Moment and GLove are some korean sports movie that I enjoy. I hope they make another one for volleyball.

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jomo143

January 31, 2015 at 8:46 PM

The Perfect Game was a good one, too.

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Catchingoppa

January 31, 2015 at 10:54 PM

the one starred jo seung-woo? yes, that's good. I love it.

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fab

February 1, 2015 at 10:57 AM

Must.watch!

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6 spazmo

January 31, 2015 at 8:35 PM

GO HAWKS!!!! WOOT WOOT WOOT!!!!

RE-PETE!!!!!!!

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GoldenDivas

January 31, 2015 at 9:02 PM

THTS WHATS UPPPPPPPPPPPPP !!!!!!!!!! REPEAT REPEAT BEAT BILL BELLACHEAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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blnmom

February 1, 2015 at 9:39 AM

Yup. I like football and I like Boston but I can't stand Belichick. He could have won plenty playing fair and square, but I guess he doesn't have any faith in his players and his own coaching abilities...

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Gidget

February 1, 2015 at 10:50 AM

Some people are saying this should be turned into a new show:
[warning:graphic content]
http://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/1/29/7949467/marshawn-lynch-gronkowski-mortal-kombat-conan-obrien

Can we nominate NaPD as the director?

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revlow

February 1, 2015 at 11:31 PM

"Lipitor."

Oh, that was hysterical! Thank you so much Gidget.

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7 jomo143

January 31, 2015 at 8:46 PM

I come from a town that lost the Super Bowl 4 times.
I can't even begin to tell you how much pain that has caused me when I cared.

Now, it's the thing that gets the boys out of the house so I can watch dramas in peace for a while.

If Reply 94 was the Super Bowl of OTPs, I lost a 5th Super Bowl with CHILBONGIE!!!!!!!

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mary

February 1, 2015 at 3:25 AM

LOL :DDDDDDD

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fab

February 1, 2015 at 9:28 AM

Hahaha!

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fab

February 1, 2015 at 9:46 AM

Forgot to add, my country lost the WC too many times but I still care SIGH. Gah I'm glad the WC and the European Cup are held once in 4 years.

How do you survive the noise from the Superbowl EVERY SINGLE YEAR? We have here the Champions League(football clubs) evey year, but it's nowhere near as big as the Superbowl.

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mashimomo

February 2, 2015 at 1:08 AM

Oh, Chilbongie :-(

Side note, but somewhat related - I have a good friend whose husband is a big Bills fan but is not from Buffalo for reasons I don't understand (we live in Niner/Raider country). Their poor son is groomed to be a Bills fan too.

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nomad

February 2, 2015 at 6:12 AM

*can't believe my heart still hurts for chilbongie whenever I heard that name...*sigh*

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8 KC

January 31, 2015 at 8:57 PM

Massachusetts person here. I had to be told that tomorrow was the Superbowl. The college I attended (UMass Amherst) has apparently initiated full lock down mode where no one is allowed to visit other people's dorms and no one is allowed visitors as well as Southwest (the largest dorm area on campus) is going to have 24 hour security tomorrow. Oy.

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soprection

January 31, 2015 at 9:10 PM

This is what I dislike about sports. I am happy to ignore them but the way that fan fervor can turn into violence at any moment is really scary and disturbing.

I used to live near to a major football (soccer) stadium and I always knew when a match was happening because of the ridiculous security presence in the area from a few hours before it started. They had security for several blocks around the stadium as well as quite a few officers stationed at all the major transport hubs. They also stopped selling alcohol on the day to try to minimize any mishaps. It's really unfortunate that that's even necessary. And they had to do that every time there was a match there, not just for the big ones.

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korfan

January 31, 2015 at 11:04 PM

Exactly. This is what's unfortunate about these events.

To make matters worse, it seems to be getting worse each year. ..... I honestly don't recall any of this outrageous behavior occurring when I was growing up. People were excited their favorite teams won, sure, but no one resorted to behaviors requiring law enforcement attention.

I mean, nowadays, how does turning a car over and setting it on fire or smashing windows of business establishments express the sentiment of "I'm happy my team won?"

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azkiya

February 1, 2015 at 9:58 PM

this.

really unhappy of seeing those behaviours, where our fave team win we should be celebrating with fun! not turning it into such excuse of troubling others. just idiocy, i guess.

anyway, i'm big fans of WC soccer and olympics, which actually the two sporting events where my country couldn't yet compete well, hehe..

for JB and GF, i like the drama Tareung National Village, i think that 's the best sport-inspired Korean Drama i've come across.

i hope there will be more korean drama alikes.

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Gidget

February 2, 2015 at 10:23 PM

That was the one thing we all noticed about our win last year. People celebrated wildly. But with lots of love. There was no violence or property damage.

In fact, the Seahawks have united a very ideologically divided city. I think that's why we're so crazy about our team. It's our collective 'happy place'.

*Well, a bit sad today.*

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9 bbstl

January 31, 2015 at 9:11 PM

I love when Superbowl Sunday finally comes because it means soon people will STOP talking about effing football for a while.

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10 spazmo

January 31, 2015 at 9:25 PM

awww, c'mon... this is HUGE for seattle! i am spending tonight catching up on all my dramas cuz i was making peyote seahawk bracelets for tomorrow...

tonight, i am in kdramaBEASTMODE.
; )

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Cherry Limeade

January 31, 2015 at 9:45 PM

Ha, I am doing the exact same thing today (except for the bracelet making part) so that I can watch the game on Sunday. I am also printing up a sheet explaining football terms for my friend's Superbowl party so I won't have to spend all my time explaining things like what a first down is, like I did last year.

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spazmo

January 31, 2015 at 10:07 PM

make some limeade ice cubes to put in a blue curaçao vodka cocktails...
; )

GO BLUE&GREEN!

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Cherry Limeade

January 31, 2015 at 10:35 PM

We made some lime jello shots. Taking a break from some pre-party food prep.
Only other person here right now who is into football is rooting for the Patriots. I think we are starting to scare all the other people with all our trash talking. She isn't even a real Patriots fan. She is just still bitter about the 49ers. God, I hope the Seahawks win; am looking forward to rubbing her face in it.

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spazmo

February 1, 2015 at 1:16 AM

ya know, we SEAHAWKS FANS don't need to trash talk, cuz our team is just going to go in there and play their BEST GAME!

no negative thoughts, no negative wishes...
: )

cuz that's who we are, right?
; )

11 houstontwin

January 31, 2015 at 9:28 PM

The superbowl always comes as a surprise to me. I cannot name a single football player. I once went to a superbowl party. I didn't watch the game but the chili and cornbread were great!

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12 pastmidnite

January 31, 2015 at 9:32 PM

Haha after reading this, I googled sports kdrama and realized that I haven't watched a single one of them!

This is the list I got:
Birdie Buddy
Dr. Champ
Dream
Heading to the Ground
Punch (2003, not the one currently airing)
Running Shirt
Strike Love

Any of them worth watching?

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Sajen

January 31, 2015 at 9:44 PM

Birdie Buddy is just O.K.

Dr. Champ is pretty good.

The rest I don't know.

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alua

February 1, 2015 at 12:54 AM

The only one I tried is Basketball, and I sure did not last long (it was atrocious). Still think with a better director, better writing and some different actors (cough) it could have been good because the premise had plenty of potential. Sadly, total failure at execution.

MBC Best Theater - Taerung National Village (with Lee Min-ki) isn't bad. (Even if I would have preferred a different end pairing.... just because it would have been more interesting.)

The best sports dramas I have seen were Japanese. They featured sports I had zero interest in and then got me all excited about them, specifically:

Pride (hockey) – Great romance with the perfect cast (Kimutaku! Takeuchi Yuko! More chemistry in the first two episodes than many dramas manage in 10, 16, 20 episodes). Fantastic soundtrack (queen). And, I'd definitely up for watching a hockey game now.
Waterboys (synchronised swimming) – perfect example of taking a bizarre sport (in a sense) and making it into something you get super-excited about. And can I say: BROMANCE. Korean dramas can excel at bromance, so I'd really like them to pick up a sports drama one day and do something like Waterboys did.

Pretty good ones:
Buzzer Beat (basketball) – Yamapi still can't act a bit, but this is a sweet romance with a basketball background setting.
Regatta – In confess the main attraction here were Mokomichi Hayami and Matsuda Shota (who is underused, sadly). The story lacked a bit, particularly the "motivation" behind the lead doing (or, not doing for a long time) the sport seemed a bit forced.

Never managed to make it through Tumbling (wasn't hooked, got distracted, maybe try again one day?) or Engine (got bored) though.

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jomo143

February 1, 2015 at 5:33 AM

Waterboys had me laughing like a loon and awwwing and rewatching again. Very sweet and funny, and yes, bizarre.

Pride - yes - very good Kimutaku!

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alua

February 1, 2015 at 2:40 PM

Ohhhh, Waterboys. Such a random topic choice but: So. Much. Fun. So. Much. Bromance.

Kimutaku can be hit and miss but Pride is certainly one of his best dramas!

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rinoak

February 1, 2015 at 5:53 AM

You should try Tumbling again, I really ended up loving that drama!

(I, in turn, will try Waterboys again, because although the first episode did not hook me, I'm always up for some good bromance and everyone says it's good.)

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alua

February 1, 2015 at 2:42 PM

I'm willing to give Tumbling another try. I think I wasn't immediately hooked and then got distracted. I didn't drop it because I thought it was awful or anything.

Waterboys is definitely worth it.

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john

February 1, 2015 at 9:16 AM

alua ~

Fwiw, my niece was on Stanford University's synchronized swimming team.

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alua

February 1, 2015 at 2:47 PM

You should tell her to watch Waterboys!

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harukogirl

February 1, 2015 at 12:43 PM

Pride is probably the best sports drama I've ever watched, and one of my favorite dramas ever.

I loved how it was fairly realistic about the sports part as well - Haru just wanted to play in Canada, he wasn't played off as some kinda Genius Best Hockey Player in the World. You got the idea he might be a decent player on a decent Canadian team, not the #1 Ace of the Best Team.

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alua

February 1, 2015 at 2:44 PM

Pride is one of the best sports dramas, and one of my favourite romance dramas. The only thing I would change about it is Takeuchi's ex – his reappearance was not needed.

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nomad

February 2, 2015 at 6:15 AM

^THIS!

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beldaran

February 1, 2015 at 12:55 PM

Ahhhh! If you're going to include kdrama for sports drama, watch the adaptations from Adachi Mitsuru manga (although some are one-shots) XD;

* Touch (baseball)
* H2 (baseball)
* Rough (diving

I liked Engine mostly for the kids, but, yeah, it was a bit slow... Tumbling was meh, but was going to watch it for the Tenimyu boys. *cough*

I also like
* Ace wo Nerae (tennis) (although it's a little dated and the style might turn some people off... but the determination is great to watch)
* Attack No. 1 (volleyball)

I know I've seen a lot more, and now this thread is making me excited about going back to find and rewatch some. XD;;

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alua

February 1, 2015 at 2:49 PM

Ohhh, don't know any of these! Attack No. 1 I had heard of before.

Gonna look for them!

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beldaran

February 2, 2015 at 11:42 AM

Good gracious. Did I say kdrama? I meant jdrama.

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redhop

February 1, 2015 at 2:03 PM

I enjoyed Waterboys and Buzzer beat. I also think Waterboys could be popular Korean drama. You just cast a bunch of good looking guys. There will be a lot of ppl that will watch the show so that they could see these guys in nothing but speedos.

Japan has actually managed to create some good sports dramas. There were a couple baseball dramas that were really good. I can't remember their titles though.

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alua

February 1, 2015 at 2:35 PM

I think you need good actors though.

Waterboys had Eita. It had Moriyama Mirai (not quite as well known, but he's actually very, very good).

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luraaa

February 1, 2015 at 3:57 PM

YES to Pride and Waterboys. I can watch those two doramas again and again.

I kind of hope that Korea would adapt Waterboys but like you said, if Korea's going to adapt this dorama, they need to get good actors.

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alua

February 2, 2015 at 3:17 AM

Yup, those two can definitely be rewatched frequently!

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houstontwin

February 2, 2015 at 2:53 PM

I liked Pride too although I remember some very uncomfortable scenes. As you said...great actors/chemistry.

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alua

February 2, 2015 at 3:59 PM

The uncomfortable scenes I remember all relate to the ex – who I'd cross out of the drama if I could.

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Rainbowfish

February 1, 2015 at 5:57 AM

HOLYLAND!
I'm pretty sure it's a sports drama. But you know, mostly of the street fighting variety... THATS A SPORT!! But it's only 4 episodes and a remake of the jdrama of the same name and it's dark and gritty and awesome. Look it up!

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fab

February 1, 2015 at 10:27 AM

Dr. Champ was good, not great but the cast was.

There are however great shows with bits sports like King Of Savvy and the one with Soo ae and LJJ.

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maldita

February 1, 2015 at 6:24 PM

The only one I've seen in the list is Heading To The Ground and only because I'm a diehard Yunho fan. I felt that it was my duty to watch my oppa's drama. Please don't. Save yourself the time. The only reason I even finished it was because watched it on mute and just stared Yunho's pretty self.

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13 newgirl

January 31, 2015 at 9:36 PM

Wow. Javabeans, do you mean to tell me that you, who could probably get press passes to all the Seahawks games, don't even care?????? You're killin' me here.

And I'll bet you live in one of the households that actually had post-windstorm power during the playoffs 2 weeks ago! Head>desk.

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14 neyrie

January 31, 2015 at 9:43 PM

I have been waiting for a good sports drama for a long long while. Kdrama execs have tried but have badly failed in this endeavours, that is why i go to jdorama for good sports drama.
I've tried evey sport korean drama from dream, to the beautiful you, taerung national village, dr.champ, heading to the ground, strike love,
Jdorama have tons of great sports drama from h2, pride, buzzer beater, dive, rookies, waterboys and etc. I so want that for kdramas. i do have hope for a good sports drama, that is after watching lat match last 2013 and running goo last 2012. Those dramas were awesome...!
seeing yoo yeon seok as a baseball player in AM94 and a marathoner in running man made me wish for him to be the in a sport drama...
please kdrama gods, please make a good sports drama.....!

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neyrie

January 31, 2015 at 9:48 PM

PS.Not really fan of football, maybe cause i am not in the us. But ive seen how big it can be through the news. I think it can be like how boxing it is for my country. which i personally dont care also..
but if there is one sports that gets me super excited, it world cup! i will make sure to be able to watch one of those games live in my lifetime...!!!

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maryann

February 1, 2015 at 1:33 AM

"...In my country" you must mean the Philippines, right?

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neyrie

February 1, 2015 at 2:14 AM

Yup... hahahaha... you too?

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harukogirl

February 1, 2015 at 12:43 PM

Ooohhh Rookies! that was good too!

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15 Sajen

January 31, 2015 at 9:50 PM

I think part of the problem is the formula that makes sports movies work, really only works in an hour and half two hour format, you go longer you have to come up with a real story.

Does Taerung National Village count as a sports drama? Because that's one of my favorite dramas ever.

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16 Cocoboo

January 31, 2015 at 10:04 PM

Hmm, I just realized I haven't watched any sports dramas. I wouldn't mind trying one if it was good though.

I like watching football, but mostly when it's my team or someone I want to root for. Gonna pass on the Superbowl tmrw and spend that time catching up on kdramas instead. Lol

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17 Waiting

January 31, 2015 at 10:05 PM

JB and GF,

Was there ever a soccer drama? Considering the popularity I would think there may have been one in the early 2000s, maybe? I discovered KD in late 2012 and I really can't say that I have seen a drama based in it.

Thanks for any thoughts! ...and beanies too, if you happen to know.

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czak

February 1, 2015 at 4:47 AM

Heading to theground is a Soccer sports drama. It stars DBSK'S yunhoo and Go Ara and was not a good drama.

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18 Wonbinlover

January 31, 2015 at 10:17 PM

Oh man I love football and Super bowl parties. The only thing I hate about the Super Bowl is that it means it's the end of the season and I got to wait til August for it to come back. FNL was a great show. Coach Taylor was awesome and Riggins so cute. Clear eyes full heart can't lose!

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19 divyrus

January 31, 2015 at 10:36 PM

Of course , you would blame dramas on your lack of sports interest JB. :D

I don't like sports either. Its cricket world cup in a week and India is in such a mode for wanting to keep the winning streak, people get really emotional about this , and when I reply with a 'meh' look, they get really angry. :P
One of these days am gonna be murdered :D

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20 musicnmelody

January 31, 2015 at 11:22 PM

idk about korean sports dramas, but the japanese ones are fun lol. pride, buzzer beat, ganbatte ikimasshoi, waterboys, one pound gospel, and hana kimi (sorta) are amongst my favourites.

maybe cause sports are more about team play and stuff so friendship is mainly highlighted in those kind of dramas (you know, more bromance and stuff lol) and Japanese are really great at making friendship-themed dramas.

im waiting for Free! Iwatobi Swimming Club to be dramatized. Japanese adaptations of their mangas usually do not disappoint

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Odessa Jones

February 1, 2015 at 9:20 AM

Free Iwatobi Swim Club would make a great drama! I lost interest after a few episodes of the anime, but if those boys had been flesh and blood, I guarantee I would have been hooked. And it doesn't even require stuntmen. You just have to find actors who can swim. And have abs like Song Jae Rim in Flower Boy Ramyun Shop, of course.

The Japanese nailed it in the anime Kuroko's Basketball. Lots of bromance and of course, rivals. And even though I'm not a particular basketball fan, I couldn't stop watching! I would love a K-drama based on Kuroko. Maybe if they got a writer and director who are good at dramas about musicians, because a good music story is similar--lots of practicing.

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crashbabe

February 2, 2015 at 10:05 PM

Ohhh but if we are talking about anime sports, the list is going to be endless... starting with slam dunk!!

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21 redfox

January 31, 2015 at 11:24 PM

oh man... there aint nothing I care less about.

only japanes dramas can make any sports interesting.

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22 no name #6

January 31, 2015 at 11:25 PM

Eeeee! Friday Night Lights! Oh, Matt. My love <3

I totally forgot that the Superbowl was this weekend. Oops. I don't even know who's playing. That's how completely I ignore football. Tennis? I'll watch that. Basketball, sometimes. But I'm pretty indifferent to football. Better than baseball though. I would rather watch paint dry.

Haven't watched any sports themed kdramas, though. It sounds like no one is really coming up with any ideas that would make me try my first, either.

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23 ck1Oz

January 31, 2015 at 11:29 PM

Er I didn't even know that South Korea played against my country ( Australia ) last night. And Australia won ( and only here on DB do I dare confess)... what? Korea lost????

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Moonbean

February 1, 2015 at 4:58 AM

Yup, we watched that rather than superbowl. Korea played well. That goal in the 90th minute... But hard to beat the home advantage.

Even after years in the US and Australia there's only one football for me, the one that is actually played by the foot.

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Gidget

February 2, 2015 at 10:32 PM

But we start with a kickoff!

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united

February 1, 2015 at 2:06 PM

Australia is the better team. If Korea didn't lose some of their best players to injury, then the result could have been different.

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24 ryoko

January 31, 2015 at 11:30 PM

Seahawk cakes, Seahawk cupcakes, Seahawk cookies, Seahawk hotdogs, Seahawk flowers, the list is endless. And everybody and their dog (literally) is wearing Seahawk gear, official and non-official. That's how I realized when the play off game was happening a couple weeks ago. I asked my co-worker if there was a game and she looked at me like I was from Mars.

I don't care much about football, but it would still be cool to win the Superbowl again this year. I'll muster up some Seattle team pride and yell "Go Hawks!" a few times tomorrow.

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spazmo

January 31, 2015 at 11:58 PM

*like*

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25 red

January 31, 2015 at 11:40 PM

I never understood the love for American football, we have rugby over here. But after Friday Night Lights (which is so so good, highly recommend that to everyone) I could actually sit and watch a game.

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26 JN

February 1, 2015 at 12:12 AM

You know what's really sad. My professor from the University of Washington scheduled my 1st Exam the day after the Superbowl. Who does that? It would be different maybe if the Seahawks weren't playing and the University wasn't in Washington.

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27 Trina

February 1, 2015 at 12:34 AM

Since everyone I know is watching Super Bowl meaning we are doing some thing tomorrow as less people on the road and places.

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28 Aigoooo

February 1, 2015 at 2:50 AM

I kinda faked liking football since all my co-workers were crazy about the sport. They really treat you like a leper if you don't show any interest. lol

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29 Khule WY

February 1, 2015 at 3:22 AM

Off topic, @Javabeans, @girlfriday could you help me out and I'm sure others feel the same by suggesting that commenters in the Hyde,jekyll and me recaps stop talking and obsessively comparing it to kill me,heal me.
A bit is ok because the themes are similar but it's gone way past that to the point of Seriously annoying. The actual drama isn't being discussed which is kind of the point and joy of recaps for me atleast. You don't see HJM fans commenting on KMHM recaps.Help.please.

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30 Khule WY

February 1, 2015 at 3:45 AM

Ah,Sport-mankind's obsession with balls is a mystery that I have no interest in solving.
Watch a drama instead even Dr jin is better than watching men running around with a ball.yep,nope,I've remembered how bad it was.Dilemma, football or Dr.jin.
If i was to choose between watching a match or sitting through Green Lantern or Gigli again, I would choose watching a game because I'm afraid my brain would rather put me in a coma than watch these movies ever again.

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31 kanz

February 1, 2015 at 4:00 AM

As One is one of my favorites Korean movie!
I also would love some sport drama... If only it turns out good. Can To The Beautiful You considered sport drama?
That one was nightmare! Aside from OTP and LHW, I see no point to watch the boring bland drama.

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32 logan5

February 1, 2015 at 5:09 AM

Go Cowboys! ... oh wait ... nevermind ... :(

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33 BlueButterfly

February 1, 2015 at 5:24 AM

There's just something special about sports movies or tv shows. If there was a drama that came close to the greatness that was "Friday Night Lights" I'd be all over it. Underdogs, great motivational speeches, bromance, inspirational stories of overcoming the odds, one of the best portrayals of marriage on television and so much more, what's there not to like.

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34 never2muchcoffee

February 1, 2015 at 6:18 AM

I've never been a sports fan - hated being forced to dress out and play in PE in school and that bled over into disliking all sports period. My high school football games were an excuse to hang out behind the bleachers and sneak a smoke or make out with a boyfriend -.-

I (eventually) matured (somewhat) and came to appreciate the main 3 - football, baseball, and basketball - but it was always more fun to watch a game in the stands. Something about being in the middle of a crowd cheering and hollering and such. Never grew to care for pro football, mainly enjoyed watching college football, especially Alabama (Roll Tide!). My dad passed away a year ago this coming Tuesday, and I have quite a few fond memories of watching Alabama football with him, and him patiently explaining anything I didn't understand.

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35 PeepsLeAwesomePotato

February 1, 2015 at 7:06 AM

What is Superbowl? What is American Football? What are you talking about?

I live on the other side of the world, and nope, no idea what America is going crazy over right now. Also, the football I know is known there as soccer...

I think the recent sports releases don't capture people's hearts very well. They're like anti-Misaengs. Misaeng was able to relate to people, portray their lows and crazy highs, the tension, the stakes... etc. And sports dramas just... well, lets say not everyone is willing to go through 500 squats a day and would find the guy who does that a little nuts.

I think what dramas need to do is to transfer that adrenalin rush, bring out the hero-dom of the underdog, make viewers feel the grime of hard work, desperation and WANT. Sprinkle a bit of romance, because everyone indulges in some kind of romance (need not be a guy-girl thing. Could be some bromance or womance or even just passion and love for a sport and a goal).

And I think some sports just lend themselves to spectacular drama. For example, basketball, where the best players show off their tricks. Or other team games such as baseball, football/soccer and where teamwork is the rule of the game and breakdowns are like national crises.

I would love to watch a badminton drama, although I'm not sure the sport can be translated into a suspenseful and intense drama (I mean, for the viewer. For the player, it is FAN-TAS-TIC, what with its speed and deception).

What sports would you like to see on your drama screen?

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PeepsLeAwesomePotato

February 1, 2015 at 7:10 AM

To add, I want to see them make an Archery Drama. That would be SO hard. I think archers move the least compared to other sports (not chess) and the tension is all mental...

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fab

February 1, 2015 at 10:31 AM

Hahaha that would be great. That tension! I followed a bit during the last OG and I found it interesting...well mostly because of a player from my city.

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Beanfan

February 1, 2015 at 2:19 PM

I wouldn't mind if someone tried either a badminton or archery drama, either. I'm not a tennis fan, but it seems like no one has made a tennis drama, either? And with archery, if it were a Japanese drama, they could play up the whole Zen aspect of it.

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Gidget

February 2, 2015 at 10:36 PM

Sungkyunkwan Scandal

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36 fab

February 1, 2015 at 10:10 AM

I get way too excited about the World Cup and the European Cup. Ocassionally the African Cup can be good too.
I think If I were to live in the US I would totally go nuts about the Superbowl. LOL. I miss the times when I played sports in school.

There's a forum that I used to frequent(not much any more since I discovered DB, also Healer...) where I managed a whole WC thread full of everything football....:D

Sports can be fun, but people not so much.

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37 Pinkhearts

February 1, 2015 at 10:11 AM

Go Pats! Haha I think I'm in the minority here.

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spazmo

February 2, 2015 at 1:03 AM

you won, fair and square, cuz we messed up...

but we'll be BACK next year!!!!!

great game, regardless, right?
; )

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Gidget

February 2, 2015 at 10:30 PM

Great game. Congrats!

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38 fab

February 1, 2015 at 10:17 AM

Korean Broadcasters need to remake Japanese sports dramas like Pride and Waterboys. And cast JCW an YYS. Js.

Come to think of it, American shows about sports don't do well either or they don't get made that often like movies.

Perhaps because women aren't that much into sports? We do watch a lot of TV...

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39 redfox

February 1, 2015 at 10:52 AM

ah damn that picture! you give us that picture but no KMHM ep 7 & 8 recap...

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yvonne

February 1, 2015 at 3:23 PM

Lol, I got excited thinking it was the recap too!

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40 Beanfan

February 1, 2015 at 4:22 PM

"...or like in sageuks when all the actors who can’t ride horses are riding brooms."

Seriously?? Hah! Great line, GF!

I played on several sports teams while in school, and the whole process and experience was great training in drama-worthy topics, such as: teamwork, discipline, competition, dealing with failure/setbacks, grueling self-torture, honing skills to perfection (or, at least trying to), sacrificing other goals to continue playing, and all that. There's also material to mine from sideline figures: player-worship, envy, coach favoritism, underhanded tactics/cheating, etc., etc. And also strategy-wise, if done properly, I'm sure SOMEONE could make football or baseball--though I never played these two sports--strategy interesting...haha.

However, it all gets old pretty quickly. Watching Hwang Jin Yi practice dancing was interesting at first, but after awhile you kinda think, it's just a dance.

Misaeng, while not a sports drama, has successfully gotten me thinking about the game of Go, cos Gu Rae manuevers through daily life according to Go-based strategems. Unfortunately, though, many sports don't have that intellectual, art-of-war-like component to enrich their dramas with. There's a lot of strategy in baseball and football, but alas...in my ignorance of it, that's all I feel comfortable saying.