Jeff Bridich’s GM Grades As Rocky Movies

Aug 14, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop T. Tulowitzki (2) reacts after taking a strike in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre. The Yankees won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Rocky I: The Trade of Troy Tulowitzki

The first Rocky movie was a gigantic risk, studios refused to take the script for months and Sly Stallone risked his entire life to make this movie. He spent nights homeless, living on the subways, fighting for not only the movie but to have the lead role. With Sly’s now national prominence as one of the last true action stars out of the greatest era of action movies (the 80’s), it’s tough to imagine a time where he had to fight for every inch of respect to get on a movie. But, before Rocky, that’s where Sly was.

Similarly, Jeff Bridich took a giant risk and leap of faith trading the franchise player and cornerstone of the last 9 seasons in Troy Tulowitzki. The first Rocky won the Academy Award for Best Picture but it’s considered one of the worst movies to win the award, why? I think it’s mostly because the next three Rocky films surpassed the first, which isn’t a knock on the first it just goes to show that as Stallone continued he became a better writer, a better actor, and the journey of Rocky surpassed its initial tale.

Likewise, the Tulo trade can’t be adequately judged until the prospects returned either make an impact or flame out, people can tweet their reactions and write posts about the return but the fact is, either way they could be wrong. If they are wrong, they’ll probably tweet and write posts about how hindsight is 20/20 to avoid criticism but so did people who wrote off Rocky Balboa before his first fight with the unbeatable Apollo Creed.

Next: Rocky II