Tag: rip torn

“If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.”

From: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Patches O’Houlihan

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2004 sports comedy film, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. The film is about a scrappy group of misfits who join a dodgeball tournament with the hopes of using the prize money to save their local gym from Globo Gym.

The quote comes in the middle of the film. Retired professional dodgeball player Patches O’Houlihan (played by Rip Torn) decides to train the group after finding out Globo Gym’s owner, White Goodman (played by Ben Stiller), created his own team to thwart the good guys. However, it turns out Patches O’Houlihan’s training is very unorthodox as his training involved throwing wrenches at them. He does explain why by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom:  Skills aren’t just in a vacuum. Some of them will bleed into other skills and will actually help you learn new things.

“For a true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of their heart.”

From: Disney’s Hercules

Genre: Movies, Cartoons

Who said it?: Zeus

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes the animated Disney film, Hecules. The movie is a reimagining of Greek mythology’s Hercules. In the Disney version, Hercules is turned mortal by Hades and, in order to become a god and get his place back in Mount Olympus, he must become a hero.

The quote comes during the ending moments of the film. Hercules has regained his godhood by willing to give his life to save Megara/Meg. He is greeted by the gods of Mount Olympus. Zeus (voiced by the late Rip Torn). He recognizes that Hercules saved the day by not using brute strength and delivers the quote

Geek wisdom: You don’t have to be strong to become a hero. Being a hero is all about the willingness and having the courage to do the right thing when necessary.