THE WRITING ON (AND OFF) THE WALL FATHERS, SONS CAN SHARE `DREAMS'.

Byline: TOM HOFFARTH

In another one of those uninspired lists from the American Film Institute -- the 100 ``most inspiring American movies of all time'' -- somehow only a smattering of sports flicks were given enough votes to break through the clutter of wonderful lives, miracle workers and grapes of wrath.

It seems as if the cliche at this point in our cinematic existence is that, in order to be a genuine, one-for-the-ages sports-based flick, there has to be some content involving the human spirit, fighting against all odds, a greater sense of hope.

``Rocky,'' at No. 4 on this list, tried to convey that no matter how many times we get our bell rung, we have to get up and go the distance, win or lose and that, and even your homely sister can make someone a good wife.

``Hoosiers,'' at No. 13, taught us that no matter how many times we try to make four passes before we shoot, a drunk assistant coach can teach a bunch of Indiana schoolboys something about basketball.

``Rudy,'' at No. 54, presented the notion that size isn't everything. This could have led to a bio-pix on the life of Eddie Gaedel, but any attempts at that, unfortunately, have come up short.

Then there was ``Field of Dreams,'' sticking an awkward dismount at No. 28.

Enchanting, perhaps. Mystic, maybe. But what's the real inspiring message here? That we need to listen to the tiny voices in our head, because no matter how many times our spouse threatens to leave, or the banks threatens to take away our farm, we've got to be true to whispers in a cornfield?

In the AFI's TV presentation of the list, none other than Ralph Macchio -- Daniel from ``The Karate Kid,'' which made the cut at No. 98 -- defended the merits of ``Field of Dreams.''

``The father-son element is a metaphor of what baseball is, and it all came together for me in that film,'' he said. ``The father-son element, I didn't get it until it actually happened. The moment I walked out of the theatre, I called my dad and said, `I have to take you to see this movie.' ''

No doubt, every man gets choked up when Kevin Costner gazes out onto the baseball field that he plowed out of blind faith, sees this catcher picking up his equipment and realizes that's his father, perhaps in the flesh.

Don't even make me relive the ungrammatical ``Dad ... wanna have a catch?'' line again.

Inspiring? That must be the word we're having trouble with here.

Besides, to me, the best movie ``father-son'' bonding moment probably came in ... ahem ... ``Big Daddy,'' the Adam Sandler flick about how his character, Sonny Koufax, becomes attached to a five-year-old kid who shows up on his doorstep that and he pretends to be his real dad so child services doesn't take him away. Once his cover is blown, Sandler fights to be the adoptive father.

That leads to the courtroom scene where Sandler takes the stand and asks his own doubting father, Lenny (Joseph Bologna), who is a lawyer, to grill him with questions.

After hearing his dad point out all his shortcomings, Sonny touches his hand and says, ``Hey, I love you.''

Dad is confused.

``You don't have to be scared,'' Sonny says. ``It's all right. ... you can get scared that I might get pick-pocketed in a bad neighborhood or break my leg skiing. But don't be scared about me being a dad ... I know you're here to protect me, to be scared for me, to be a good father. That's exactly what I'm going to be.''

At that point, everyone in the courtroom pulls out their cellphones to call their dad, just to tell him how much they love him. But the judge doesn't buy any of it, and is about to make a ruling until Kevin Gerrity (Jon Stewart) comes forth and admits he's the real sperm donor.

And here's where the sports angle to this movie is revealed: Stewart pieces it together that he conceived this kid during a one-night stand in Toronto in 1992 -- as the city went crazy following Joe Carter's homer off the Phillies' Mitch Williams to win the World Series for the Blue Jays.

What a perfect baseball hook to bring a father and son together?

Still, this ``Field of Dreams'' AFI thing had to be revisited. I cued up the DVD and, for what was probably the 238th time, watched the movie again, determined to look harder for a newer nuance. Nothing. Except that lump in the throat again from the last scene.

I looked at the DVD box and saw the tagline: ``All his life, Ray Kinsella was searching for his dreams. Then one day, his dreams came looking for him.''

Of course.

I went out to the store and picked up two copies of ``Field of Dreams.'' One is a Father's Day gift for my dad, who's about to retire and escape the real world for a more relaxed lifestyle. The other is for my college-aged son, about to enter the real world and discover there's not always time to do the stuff you want.

I suspect both have seen ``Field of Dreams'' already, but it doesn't matter. If on a lazy summer night they decide to pop it in and watch, and then want to play catch -- or just catch up for a few minutes on the phone -- then the message has been delivered.

So, maybe this was all an inspired Father's Day present after all.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1) JERED WEAVER 

(2) RICARDO LAVOLPE

(3) BEN ROETHLISBERGER

Box:

(1) FANTASY BASEBALL

- Bryan Fowler

(2) sunday punch