17 Sports Movie Villains Who Could've Been Heroes

Some of the best-known sports movie villains aren’t really villainous at all, proving in the end to be far more likable than the real bad asses of their evil group.

Rocky IV's Ivan Drago, for example, is more misunderstood than malicious, only getting the chance to show his true humanity in the film's closing scene.

In the very same manner, Jean Girard of hilarious Talladega Nights fame is cast in a villainous light too, but over time, proves to be a fierce but virtuous competitor in search of nothing more than a true challenge.

Finally, Iceland's Gunnar Stahl also takes the form of villain throughout nearly all of D2: Mighty Ducks, yet upon escaping the shadow of his truly evil coach, he establishes himself as nothing more than a kind and charming teen at heart. 

With these contradictory "bad guys" in mind, we've done very our best to put together a comprehensive list in honor of The Least Villainous Sports Movie Villains.  

And while each of our selections vary in forms of evil and degrees of redemption, in truth, they all share one thing in common: Though they're initially depicted through a villainous lens, they prove to be nothing of the sort in the very end. 

Teddy KGB

Sure, he’s a Russian mobster, and in that specific sense, Teddy KGB is sufficiently villainous.

That said, he’s an upstanding one for sure.

In the movie’s most memorable scene—you know, the one linked above, in which Mike McDermott wins back all he owes and much more—Teddy is accompanied by sufficient muscle, Grama, and in his own establishment no less.

However, despite setting, temptation and Grama's pleading, KGB takes the high road, paying McDermott out in full rather than burying him in the bay.

"He beat me. Straight up. Pay him,” says a humiliated but honorable Teddy. "Pay that man his money."

And, yes, poker is a sport and Rounders a sports movie.

Frank Ruettiger

In the 1993 classic Rudy, Frank Ruettiger is rather easy to hate.

No matter what his inspirational little bro accomplishes—whether it’s dreaming big, enrolling at Notre Dame or making the school’s prestigious football team—Frank insists on sucking the wind from Rudy’s sails.

He’s the quintessential jealous jerk, until the end, that is.

When Rudy makes a noteworthy play to end the big game, Frank finally relents, all of a sudden beaming with pride as he watches his brother become a star.

And just like a compliment from the world’s most demanding and unforgiving music critic—Simon Cowell—Frank’s obvious look of approval serves as a uniquely powerful force.

Jimmy Dugan

Though viewers initially want to like Jimmy Dugan in A League of Their Own, it’s pretty easy to resist the urge.

Simply put, Dugan is a vile, insensitive and overtly abusive creature.

And did we mention he’s sexist too?

Nonetheless, Dugan grows throughout the film, eventually developing and displaying signs of empathy, honor and compassion.

By the end of the flick, the guy who at first ridiculed his players for poor play and “crying in baseball” transforms into an insightful leader of women who entertain and inspire a nation.

Roger Dorn

For the vast majority of the film, Roger Dorn is the closest thing Major League has to a villain.

He’s arrogant, even though he’s a subpar baseball player, and condescending, even though he’s mentally and physically weak.

But by the film’s conclusion, Dorn becomes a sympathetic and likeable character and in the unlikeliest of ways.

When protagonist Rick Vaughn validates his nickname—the Wild Thing—by sleeping with Dorn’s wife, it humbles Dorn and makes him a far more sympathetic and accessible character.

It all culminates with Dorn and Vaughn coming together at a key point in an all-important moment.

With the game on the line and Vaughn on the mound, Dorn approaches Vaughn and brings his metamorphisis home with a single classic line: “Strike this m----------r out!”

Captain Knauer

Though one could argue that Paul Crewe is one of a few villains in the The Longest Yard, his eventual redemption is predictable enough to make him worth rooting for throughout the film.

That, of course, makes Captain Knauer—who is Crewe’s clear opposition—an obvious choice for villain.

Knauer, however, is at least a little less ruthless than Warden Hazen and, in the end, actually becomes likable by defying his boss.

More specifically, near the film’s end, Hazen orders Knauer to shoot and kill Crewe, and by disobeying the command, the former villain effectively defects from Team Bad to Team Good, defying the Warden in favor of the film’s hero.

Buck Weston

In Kicking and Screaming, Buck Weston is more than just a simple villain; he’s a terrible father.

Abusive and demeaning, Weston cripples his less athletic son—Phil Weston, played by Will Ferrell—with frequent insults and insinuations, ashamed that he couldn't develop his boy into the type of man he envisioned.

But in the end, when Coach Phil defeats his father with class and sportsmanship in a youth game of soccer, it’s the elder Weston who does the growing, shedding selfishness and egotism for love and acceptance.

From abrasive and dismissive to remorseful and kind, the once-villainous Weston makes an admirable and complete turnaround.

Conor O'Neill

He may serve as Hard Ball’s protagonist, but Conor O’Neill is a despicable man upon introduction.

A liar and a cheat with a compulsive and costly gambling addiction and a drinking problem to boot, O’Neill is rather easy to resent.

Of course, O’Neill impressively becomes even less likable when he’s forced to coach a Little League baseball team, a role in which he proves to be every bit as unreliable and just as morally flawed.

Over time, though, the hard-knock group of youngsters begin to change their desperate coach, helping him discover what character and substance really look like.

By the time O’Neill volunteers to speak at G-Baby’s funeral—for those who don’t know, G-Baby is a member of the baseball team and the lovable runt of the litter—he has developed into a wise and admirable leader of America’s aspiring youth.

Johnny

To Major League II we go, where Johnny—the hyper-critical Indians super fan—takes on the role of villain through his representation of that "fan" who everybody hates.

Committed enough to be at every game, and gung-ho when all is right, Johnny is consistently miserable and unbearable when his team is down and out, and in this classic flick, the Indians are almost exclusively that.

But just when Johnny hits the very top of the "man, I really hate this guy" Richter scale, he goes and pulls the old switcheroo and totally redeems himself! 

Morris Buttermaker

Morris Buttermaker—the star of 1976's Bad News Bears—establishes his repugnant, abrasive and vile disposition from the very start.

Playing the part of Little League baseball coach, Buttermaker is the absolute worst choice for a leader of young men.

To put it kindly, he's an abusive, inappropriate drunk. 

Over time, though, through his dealings with the kids, Buttermaker eventually sees the light. 

From disgruntled and disliked to motivational and inspired, Buttermaker travels fully, once despicable villain but eventually engaging everyman. 

Dan Han Park

In 1989's Best of the Best, the United States puts together a team of its Tae Kwon Do elite to take on vaunted Team Korea.

Of course, it's only natural that the foreigners are shown in a villainous light, and Dae Han Park is the baddest Korean of all.

Not only dominant in the ring, Park is also responsible for killing the brother of Tommy Lee, the movie's main and most beloved character.

After witnessing the brutal event via flashback, viewers are left knowing that Park is pure evil.

Yet in one of the most dramatic and thrilling endings to any sports movie ever, Park shatters all preconceived notions, proving he has true character, kindness and morality beneath his lethal exterior.   

Kevin O'Shea

In 1994's Little Giants, the unforgiving, obnoxious jock—Kevin O'Shea—is pitted against Danny O'Shea, his scrawny, nerdy little brother. 

The latter, who is the unmistakable high-character underdog, is rather easy to pull for, while his older brother, who is the wealthy, egotistical jerk, is just as easy to hate. 

But when Danny leads a team of misfits—the Little Giants—past Kevin's juggernaut football team, the elder O'Shea leaves his villainous ways behind, becoming a far better and humbler man. 

The Beast

The writers of the legendary sports film The Sandlot took a rather unusual approach in creating their villain, shaping it in the form of a mysterious and reportedly ferocious dog!

Known simply as The Beast, the vicious creature provides the movie with notions of fear and impending doom and is the inspiration behind much of the drama and shenanigans in which the main characters are involved. 

Viewers get little opportunity to actually see The Beast, but it's rather easy to fear and dislike a supposed man-eating dog. 

Yet, like most misunderstood pets, it turns out The Beast is actually a sweet and loving pup at heart. 

Apollo Creed

It's hard to think of him in these terms now, but in both Rocky and Rocky II, Apollo Creed plays the part of villain.

He's arrogant, brash and totally dismissive of his main competitor, Rocky Balboa. 

It turns out, however, it's simply all for show.

In reality, Creed is an insightful and calculated business man, who not only shows Rocky tremendous respect at the end of their second bout, but also becomes his very best friend in subsequent films. 

Johnny Lawrence

For nearly all of 1984's Karate Kid, Johnny Lawrence embodies the most shameful representation of high school bully. 

He makes a hobby out of ridiculing and haunting the new kid on the block, a poor and defenseless Daniel LaRusso. 

Upon closer consideration, though, there's actually a whole lot more to Lawrence. For starters, his evil is developed and enabled by the worst kind of mentor: John Kreese. 

Of course, he's also an insecure teen who is threatened by LaRusso—who slowly wins the heart of Lawrence's love interest—and pushes back with violence, the only weapon he's got. 

But just like the other "villains" on our list, in the end, Lawrence proves he's actually a stand-up sportsman, even in public defeat.  

Gunnar Stahl

In the classic sports film D2: The Mighty Ducks, the Ducks' principal threat is Team Iceland, who is led by an unrelentingly evil coach in Wolf Stansson and Gunnar Stahl, the world's most imposing teen. 

And there's no doubt about Stansson; he's pure evil from start to end. 

Stahl, though, is mostly guilty by association, a super-talented athlete with a physical brand of hockey who has the misfortune of playing under an unforgivable, sociopathic head coach.

And while it takes a little time to realize, by movie's end, it's obvious that Stahl is simply an impressionable but high-quality kid who wants to do the right thing.  

Jean Girard

Cast as the foil to the lovable and heroic Ricky Bobby, Jean Girard is Talladega Night's only real choice for villain. 

He, however, isn't a villain at all.

Instead, the dominant Formula One star is simply looking for a little lively competition and seeks it out—and finds it in—in NASCAR'S Bobby.

As fans of Bobby, viewers are meant to actively root against Girard, though when push comes to shove, the Frenchman shows his true colors.

In the end, Girard's far from a hater; he's actually a total lover...quite literally.  

Ivan Drago

If we're being honest—and we have no reason to be anything but—the only thing Ivan Drago is guilty of is being Russian, mysterious, superhuman strong and really good at boxing. 

Sure, he did punch the good version of Apollo Creed straight into the grave, but boxing is a dangerous sport, and it's not Drago's fault that Creed was old, washed up and in over his head. 

Ever since the Cold War, the American entertainment industry has made a habit of making all Russians hauntingly quiet—whether they speak English or not—and unmistakably evil.

But by the end of Rocky IV, its clear that Drago was manipulated, misunderstood and as scared and vulnerable as any other boxer fighting for his life.

A villain, though, he was not!