theScore is counting down the 100 best fictional characters in sports movie history, with a new post every weekday until July 3.

100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51
50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

70. Charles Jefferson

"Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982)

In his youth, Oscar winner Forest Whitaker portrayed Jefferson, a football player who goes crazy and decides to decapitate everyone on a rival high school team after he's duped into thinking they destroyed his favorite car. Jefferson's role is a minor but memorable one in this classic stoner flick.

69. Jackie Moon

"Semi-Pro" (2008)

Will Ferrell's hot streak of comedic hits in the 2000s gave him carte blanche for future projects. There are certainly some parallels between the actor and his character, Jackie Moon, a one-hit-wonder disco crooner who uses his wealth to buy an ABA team and then inserts himself into the starting lineup. Though elements are exaggerated, Moon perfectly exemplifies the zaniness of the NBA's short-lived competitor.

68. Shep

"Above the Rim" (1994)

Warning: Video contains coarse language

Still working through the trauma of witnessing his friend die during a rooftop game of one-on-one, Shep (Leon) keeps his potent basketball abilities under wraps. Seeing him almost single-handedly take out Birdie's (Tupac Shakur) team at the neighborhood tournament while wearing corduroy pants and a long-sleeve shirt is one of the truly great feats of athleticism ever in a film.

67. Jonathan "Mox" Moxon

"Varsity Blues" (1999)

Mox (James Van Der Beek) is a subversion of a lead character often seen in sports films. As his powerhouse high school football team's brainy backup quarterback, Mox can see the pitfalls of the amateur sports world with uncanny clarity, which results in him sticking up to authoritarian head coach Bud Kilmer (Jon Voight).

66. Spike

"Little Giants" (1994)

When Spike (Sam Horrigan) moves to town in "Little Giants," Danny O'Shea (Rick Moranis) fakes the military kid's identity to get him on the football team, only to find out the muscle-bound meathead is a chauvinist who won't play with his daughter. Spike eventually gets his comeuppance against the Giants later in the film when his former teammates beat him during a youth football showdown.

65. Adrian

"Rocky I-V" (1976-1990)

Adrian (Talia Shire) may start out as a shy nerd working in a pet store in the original Rocky film, but as the series evolves, she becomes arguably the greatest supporting character in sports movie history. While Rocky takes the physical punishment of every blow in the ring, it's Adrian who wears the emotional scars of being in love with a fighter who just doesn't know when to quit.

64. Joe 'Coop' Cooper

"BASEketball" (1998)

In "BASEketball," South Park creator Trey Parker plays lead loser Cooper, who's transformed into a star player for the Milwaukee Beers after helping to invent an absurd combo sport, and he eventually becomes the team's owner. Parker's comedy in the film as Cooper, while funny at times, just makes "BASEketball" feel like a live-action version of South Park.

63. Jules Paxton

"Bend It Like Beckham" (2002)

Before she became famous for swashbuckling epics and period pieces, Keira Knightley shined as Jules in the 2002 sleeper hit "Bend It Like Beckham." Adding to the performance's charm, Knightley did her own playing scenes, rather than stepping aside for a stunt double.

62. Richie 'Baumer' Tenenbaum

"The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001)

Though "The Royal Tenenbaums" isn't really a sports movie at its core, Richie "Baumer" Tenenbaum (Luke Wilson) perfectly embodies the ethos of the proverbial burned-out tennis prodigy: Erratic, despondent, and competing inside his own head. He's like John McEnroe mixed with The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson.

61. Chubbs

"Happy Gilmore" (1996)

Chubbs Peterson may not be Carl Weathers' best work in a sports film, but the golf instructor who lost his hand to an alligator is an incredible character who delivers comedy gold with minimal screen time. Remember everyone, the key to putting is to "Tap it in. Just tap it in."

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theScore is counting down the 100 best fictional characters in sports movie history, with a new post every weekday until July 3.

100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51
50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

80. Air Bud

"Air Bud" (1997)

The original basketball-centric "Air Bud" spawned four direct sequels (with increasingly strained pun subtitles like "Golden Receiver" and "Seventh-Inning Fetch") and nine direct-to-video spinoffs. But even if you've never seen the films, you'll undoubtedly recognize the mutt's stature as one of history's truly great multi-sport athletes. He's Bo Jackson with a flea collar.

79. Charlie Conway

"The Mighty Ducks" (1992), "D2: The Mighty Ducks" (1994), "D3: The Mighty Ducks" (1996)

As one of seven players to appear in all three "Mighty Ducks" films, Charlie Conway (Joshua Jackson) serves as one of the series' emotional centers. His journey to becoming a team leader echoes coach Gordon Bombay's (Emilio Estevez) own transformation.

78. Ishmael

"Kingpin" (1996)

In this comedy, Randy Quaid plays Ishmael Boorg, a dimwitted, Amish bowling sensation who protagonist Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson) tries to ride to fame and fortune before discovering he's not as good a bowler as initially hoped. Ishmael's lack of common sense gets him into a number of sticky situations that Munson, a bowler-turned-con man, only makes worse thanks to his poor decision-making.

77. Doug Remer

"BASEketball" (1998)

Tempted by the trappings of his newfound celebrity status, Doug Remer (Matt Stone of "South Park" fame) begins to waver from the anti-capitalistic roots of a sport which, as the name implies, combines two of America's favorite pastimes.

All is well by the time the final credits roll, though chaste viewers may regret bearing witness to Doug lactating in his opponent's face, among several dozen similar indecencies.

76. John Biebe

"Mystery, Alaska" (1999)

Before he was Maximus, John Nash, and Javert, Russell Crowe was John Biebe, the sheriff of the film's titular town and the top player on the local pickup hockey circuit. When the NHL's New York Rangers come to Alaska for an exhibition match, it's Biebe's leadership that gives the local side a fighting chance.

75. Ray Kinsella

"Field of Dreams" (1989)

In "Field of Dreams," Kevin Costner plays Kinsella, an Iowa corn farmer who hears a voice that instructs him to destroy his crops to build a baseball field for Shoeless Joe Jackson and other ballplayers. Kinsella spends the film being chastised by his family and peers for making a move that puts him in financial trouble but remains steadfast in his decision, which eventually leads to a heart-warming finish.

74. Ham Porter

"The Sandlot" (1993)

Porter (Patrick Renna) is the hilariously quick-mouthed catcher of the young group of mischievous ballplayers in "The Sandlot" and is also responsible for delivering the legendary line, "You're killing me, Smalls." When Ham isn't crouched behind the dish, he can be found making homemade s'mores in the team's tree house.

73. Coach Morris Buttermaker

"The Bad News Bears" (1976)

Let's forget about the remake and stick to Walter Matthau's original portrayal of Buttermaker; a surly, drunk pool cleaner who takes on coaching a team of outcasts for money but leads them to surprising success thanks to his out-of-the-box ideas (by 1970s standards) like putting a girl and a juvenile delinquent on the squad.

72. Cal Naughton Jr.

"Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" (2006)

After essentially playing a dramatic version of a similar character in 1990's "Days of Thunder," John C. Reilly tapped into his comedic talents as southern-fried NASCAR driver Cal Naughton Jr., teammate, friend, and eventual rival to Will Ferrell's Ricky Bobby. Every scene with Cal and Ricky crackles with incredible banter, the result of perfect on-screen chemistry.

71. Jimmy Dugan

"A League of Their Own" (1992)

Similar to Buttermaker, Dugan plays a player-turned-coach who spends most of his time behind a bottle. What differentiates the two, aside from Tom Hanks' brilliantly charismatic outbursts, is that Dugan's bad-tempered character is much funnier thanks to the film's incredible writing. Also, when Dugan isn't breathing booze down the necks of the Rockford Peaches, he shows flashes of compassion for his players, which makes him even more likable.

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The 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame class was a deserving group for the most part, but several overlooked players arguably warranted inclusion.

A maximum of four male players and two female players can be selected by the Hall every year - a rule that may need to be expanded given the amount of deserving candidates. The 2020 class includes the maximum number of male players, but there are others who arguably deserved a spot more than those who were selected. In addition, the Hall chose to elect only one female player, leaving one spot unfilled.

The selections of Kevin Lowe and Doug Wilson were questionable, as neither boasted superstar credentials during their careers. Lowe won plenty of titles, but his admission that he never considered himself a Hall of Famer is a sentiment likely shared by many in the hockey world. It took him 20 years of eligibility to make it, while Wilson waited for a quarter of a century to get his call.

While Jarome Iginla was a no-brainer to make it in his first year of eligibility, Marian Hossa wasn't necessarily worthy of immediate induction. He was likely to earn enshrinement at some point, but whether he deserved to be inducted in his first year is debatable.

With that in mind, here are four players who had strong enough cases to crack the 2020 class:

Alexander Mogilny

It's downright absurd Mogilny was snubbed for the 11th consecutive year. He ranks third all time in goals and goals per game among Russian forwards, and fourth in points among his countrymen who've played in the NHL.

Mogilny finished with over a point per game in his stellar career (1,032 in 990), including a 76-goal, 127-point campaign in 1992-93 and a 55-goal, 107-point campaign in 1995-96.

He has even greater significance to the growth of the game internationally as the first player ever to defect from the Soviet Union to the NHL. His ordeal is well-documented, making it even more egregious that someone who risked his life to play in North America and then had a tremendous career continues to be denied the recognition he deserves.

Daniel Alfredsson

Alfredsson isn't a slam dunk Hall of Famer, so the fact he was passed over for his first three years of eligibility wasn't surprising. However, this year represented a prime opportunity for the voters to honor him, and their questionable selections only further emphasized they should have instead anointed the longtime Ottawa Senators captain.

He doesn't have the Stanley Cup resume of a player like Lowe, but he was clearly a superior player, averaging nearly a point per game for his career while winning the Calder Trophy and an Olympic gold medal to boot.

If character is a consideration, Alfredsson exuded it in spades during his career, and it's a mild shock he hasn't yet been recognized for all of his contributions.

Theoren Fleury

Fleury is beloved in Calgary and beyond, but he was far more than a fan favorite. The dynamic Flames legend produced at an outstanding clip, notching 1,088 points in 1,084 career games.

He also helped the club win the Stanley Cup in his rookie season of 1988-89, posting 34 points in 36 regular-season games before adding 11 in 22 playoff contests en route to the title.

Fleury's achievements are even more impressive when you consider he was only 5-foot-6 and about 180 pounds. Next year will be his 15th on the ballot, and it's about time he gets his rightful place among the rest of the game's greats.

Jennifer Botterill

Botterill's accomplishments and accolades are numerous both at the collegiate and international level.

She's the only player ever to win the Patty Kazmaier Award - given annually to the top U.S. college female ice hockey player - on two occasions, and she amassed 319 points in 113 games while at Harvard. She was also one of only four players to collect 100 or more points in a single NCAA campaign.

Botterill is a Canadian hockey legend, having won three Olympic gold medals and five World Championship titles while representing her country. She was a two-time MVP at the worlds, and produced almost a point per game (174 in 184) during her tenure with the national program.

The Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee hasn't elected two women in the same year since 2010, when it enshrined both Angela James and Cammi Granato. However, Botterill clearly deserved to be chosen alongside her former teammate, 2020 inductee Kim St-Pierre.

Honorable mentions: Patrick Elias, Rod Brind'Amour, Sergei Gonchar, Julie Chu.

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Calgary Flames legend Jarome Iginla has entered rarified air.

The longtime Flames captain was one of five players selected Wednesday for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2020.

"It's an amazing, amazing honor," Iginla told Hockey Hall of Fame chairman and fellow Flames icon Lanny McDonald upon receiving the call, per TSN. "Thank you guys on the committee for voting for me to be a part of it. ... It's just hard to believe, it makes you reflect and think back and it's truly, truly hard to believe."

Iginla, 42, will enter the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, and he admitted it's an achievement he couldn't have imagined when he made his NHL debut as an 18-year-old in 1996.

"I never dreamt it when I got into the NHL, it's awesome. I'm truly honored and very blessed. ... it means a lot to my family and I, and (I) still can't believe it."

The two-time winner of the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy ranks 34th in all-time NHL scoring with 1,300 points in 1,554 career games. He's also one of 20 players to record at least 600 career goals, notching 625 over 20 NHL seasons.

Iginla holds the Flames franchise records for games played (1,219), goals (525), game-winning goals (83), and points (1,095). The club raised his No. 12 to the rafters at Scotiabank Saddledome last March.

Internationally, the native of Alberta won gold with Team Canada at both the 2002 and 2010 Olympic Games.

Marian Hossa, Kevin Lowe, Kim St-Pierre, and Doug Wilson were also selected as players. Longtime executive and current Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland was selected in the builder category.

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Jarome Iginla, Marian Hossa, Ken Holland, Kevin Lowe, Kim St-Pierre, and Doug Wilson have been selected as the 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame class, the Hall announced Wednesday.

Iginla and Hossa were both elected in their first year of eligibility.

Holland will be the lone inductee in the builder category.

Iginla authored a brilliant 20-year career, 16 seasons of which he spent as the heart-and-soul leader of the Calgary Flames. The 42-year-old racked up 625 goals and 1,300 points in 1,554 career contests, helping the Flames reach Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2004.

Like Iginla, Hossa was also one of the best wingers of his era. The 41-year-old was a key contributor on three championship teams with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he spent eight of his 19 campaigns. Hossa notched 525 goals and 1,134 points in 1,309 games.

Holland, the current Edmonton Oilers general manger, spent 36 years with the Detroit Red Wings, including 22 as GM. He was the architect of four Stanley Cup championship squads over that span (three as the GM), and built the club into a perennial powerhouse that made the playoffs a whopping 25 straight times from 1991 to 2016.

Lowe, a current Oilers alternate governor, will be inducted as a player. The former defenseman was an important part of Edmonton's dynasty in the 1980s and early 1990s, helping the team win the Cup five times before capturing another title with the New York Rangers in 1994.

St-Pierre will be the only female inductee in this year's class. The former goaltender starred for Canada on the international stage, guiding the nation to three Olympic gold medals and five IIHF World Championship crowns.

Wilson, the current San Jose Sharks GM, was inducted as a player. He won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top blue-liner in 1982, and was nominated for the award five times. WIlson played 14 of his 16 seasons with the Blackhawks, registering 827 points in 1,024 contests.

The induction ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 16 in Toronto. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Hall isn't currently accepting ticket orders for the 2020 event.

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Construction of the event center that will serve as the Calgary Flames' new home is set to begin in August 2021, according to The Canadian Press.

The city of Calgary and the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) agreed last year to split the cost of the $550-million project, which is scheduled for completion in May 2024.

The building will be located on the eastern side of downtown Calgary, just north of the Scotiabank Saddledome, where the Flames have played since 1983. The Saddledome will be demolished once the team moves into the new event center.

The venue will feature an arena with up to 19,000 seats and will also become home to the Western Hockey League's Calgary Hitmen and National Lacrosse League's Calgary Roughnecks, both of which are owned by CSEC.

U.S. architectural and engineering firm HOK is helping design the new building in partnership with Calgary company Dialog. HOK was the lead designer of Edmonton's Rogers Place, Detroit's Little Caesars Arena, and Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Along with the expansion of a convention center on the Calgary Stampede grounds, the new venue will be part of one phase of a revitalization plan for the area.

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After diving into the mini-tournament for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, we'll now look at the Western Conference.

The format

The teams that ranked first through fourth in their conference at the end of the abbreviated regular season will play each other in a round-robin tournament to determine seeding in the 16-team playoff bracket. The clubs will all play each other once at a neutral venue, with the overall winner claiming the conference's top playoff seed.

St. Louis Blues (+180)

The defending Stanley Cup champions are the favorites to claim the top seed in the West, and while there's a case to be made for them as the best team in the conference, the Blues have to be avoided at such a short price. There is too much volatility that exists in a three-game round robin, especially one played on neutral ice following a lengthy layoff.

The Blues have very few holes and are a well-coached team, but they play with a certain tenacity that will be lacking as teams get their legs under them. There's just not enough evidence to suggest the Blues would flourish in low-intensity hockey to feel comfortable backing them at these short odds.

Vegas Golden Knights (+275)

As mentioned above, it's safe to say the start of this seeding tournament will lack the usual intensity and ferocity of playoff hockey due to the extended hiatus.

Less intensity means less hitting and fewer penalties. That doesn't bode well for a Knights team that often relies on a physical brand of hockey - Vegas was fourth in the NHL in hits per game - and benefited from a top-10 power play. At +275, the Knights wouldn't be my first choice.

Colorado Avalanche (+280)

Instead, my first choice would be the Avalanche. This round-robin tournament feels like the perfect storm for Colorado. The Avs have by far the youngest core of the four teams involved - with all of their top players aged 26 years old or younger - meaning they will likely be the least impacted by the long layoff.

They'll also benefit from the lack of intensity and dependence on special teams. This season, the Avalanche were tied for the most five-on-five goals in the NHL, had the least efficient power play of the four clubs involved, and were near the bottom of the NHL in hits per game. Give me all the Colorado stock I can buy at +280.

Dallas Stars (+500)

At first glance, there also appears to be some value with the Stars, a team that's suited for a dull, grind-it-out brand of hockey. Dallas relies heavily on defense and has allowed the second-fewest five-on-five goals in the NHL this season.

However, in that regard, the Avalanche and Blues are a very close third and fourth, respectively. Additionally, both teams score a ton more than the Stars, who have managed the second-fewest five-on-five goals scored, only ranking ahead of the Detroit Red Wings.

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

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