Give us a jersey and any kind of sports rink—we will SCR-EEEEAM bloody murder. When sports come into play, it is in human nature to go goo-goo, ga-ga over the film. We do not need to know what 50 defence, 1-2-3 inning, a bogey, a three-pointer and an agricultural shot exactly means to enjoy a good sensible sports film: Everyone’s game for it.

As I watched the 2010 South Africa World Cup unwind to an end, I saw the kind of hoopla—albeit, positive—it generated. Here, in London, people were wrapped around in English flags, holding signs that said, “I Love Rooney..Please be my boy toy,” and painting the face of Frank Lampard across their cheeks. So, it is no wonder why the trademarks of British soccer athletes are frequently used in films. Look at “Bend it Like Beckham, “a film that adopted the name of the British soccer player, David Beckham.

Listen: it gets more interesting. The lives of athletes, not just their trademark, are portrayed in film, adding glorification and fantasy to the genre of sports. The recent film starring Oscar-winning actress, Sandra Bullock, “The Blind Side” depicted the true story of an American footballer, Michael Oher. And, I gotta say, it was one of those movies that made me reach for rolls of Kleenex. After the screen hit the ending credits, I frivolously googled “Oher,” bought his football jersey online and plastered a poster of him and the Tuohy family on my wall. I was officially into football.

But, no, my sport preference changed as I found myself watching “Bring it on,” a film about the competitive world of cheerleading. I shouted, “WORK IT GIRLFRIENDS!” as I saw the cheerleaders busting their moves to win the championship. I became hooked in the sport of cheerleading.

Films have a strange way of luring in viewers to become captivated with the portrayed sport. I’m pretty sure that, if I see a film about crickets, I will adorn myself with cricket outfits and attempt to play the sport.

Sport films are like worms on a fish hook, while we are the ravenous fishes that just can’t be deterred from the temptation of tasting that sweet meal. Mmmmmmmmmm