Four Oscar-Worthy Performances In The World Of Sports

Bryan Altman, CBS Local Sports

Since I live in a sport-shaped bubble for most of the year I decided that the only logical way to embrace the week leading up the Academy Awards was by awarding some of my own "Oscars" to the athletes and coaches that wowed us on the small screen this past year. So for those of us who don't have an opinion regarding the Best Foreign Language Film or who might win Best Makeup and Hairstyling this year, here are the nominees for the best of the best in the professional sports world.

Best Actor(s): 

Rather than choosing just one great acting talent (especially since there are so many in sports this day and age) I decided it would be more apropos to choose a few specific players but also specific groups of actors that deserve to be recognized.  

Here are the nominees...

NFL Players

P.K. Subban

Soccer Players

LeBron James

And the Oscar goes to... Soccer Players!

This is the 87th consecutive Best Actor Oscar win for soccer players, who have dominated the category since its inception. Are NFL Players, P.K. Subban and LeBron James all worthy candidates? Absolutely, but still, the ubiquitous acting of almost every soccer player on the planet secured the award for the soccer players of the world yet again. Congratulations!

Best Original Screenplay

Much like the movies, certain games or seasons seem to follow the same old narrative and make us feel like we're watching a rerun. Sometimes however, we're shocked by a particular story line or plot point that arises during the year and it reminds us that life and sports can surprise us and prove to be stranger than fiction.

Here are the nominees...

Donald Sterling's Conversation

Michael Sam's NFL Journey

Super Bowl XLIX

Brazil vs. Germany World Cup Semi-Final

And the Oscar goes to... Super Bowl XLIX

The finale to the Super Bowl was one of those moments that you just cannot script. The dramatic drive to greatness by Tom Brady, the obscure corner back making the game-ending play, the mind-boggling decision, the last minute fisticuffs - it was all just unbelievable. Seriously, the finale was so implausible that if someone pitched it to you as a movie, you would have ordered a psych evaluation and asked them to leave immediately. 

Best Director:

Without the following coaches, most teams and the athletes that comprise them would merely be rudderless ships. These men directed their squads to glory in each of their respective sports and have a track record of greatness year in and year out. 

Here are the nominees...

Bill Belichick

Geno Auriemma

Bruce Bochy

Greg Popovich

And the Oscar goes to... Bill Belichick

Between Belichick and Popovich you're talking about two of the greatest "directors" of all time. This one was truly a toss-up and it pained the Academy to make this decision, but Belichick is the most malleable, intuitive and innovative coach in all of sports these days, which is why he comes out on top.  

Best Picture:

It's hard to quantify the best pure "sports moment" of the year but there are always a few that rise to the top.

Here are the nominees...

LeBron Back To Cleveland

Super Bowl XLIX

UConn Women's Basketball

Kansas City Royals

And the Oscar goes to... Super Bowl XLIX

Super Bowl XLIX is cleaning up at this year's ceremony! This was easily the most dramatic sports moment of the last year and that's exactly how it was supposed to be. Not only was the climax, Malcolm Butler's interception on the goal line to clinch the Super Bowl for the Patriots, perfect, but the exposition in the days before it were just as captivating. Between DeflateGate and Marshawn Lynch's antics alone the story was set for a riveting Super Bowl and we got just that. 

Bonus Categories:

Best Dance Direction: 

Rob Gronkowski

Best Costume Design

Oregon Ducks

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

MLB Relief Pitchers (Can you guess which one is reliever Brian Wilson?)

You hear that music? That's the sound of the producers playing me off and that concludes our sports Oscars coverage for 2015. 

Agree? Disagree? Send Bryan an email or find him on Twitter @bcaltman.

In:
• NFL
• Academy Awards