Contender (stock character)

A contender is a stock character found in stories and films depicting the development and triumph of an individual through athletic achievement. The typical storyline of the contender is one of an (often young) individual with raw natural talent, who is hindered by a shortage of either knowledge of the sport, discipline or indeed something as simple as confidence. Through the encouragement of a coach or other guiding figure, for instance a wise old man or a magical negro, the contender overcomes previously insurmountable limitations and achieves his or her potential or even beyond, usually by some sort of victory, for instance in an athletic competition. Alternatively, they may lose in the competition but nevertheless gain in some other, perhaps greater way, such as through genuine respect from their opponents for their endeavours. After all, what matters is "not the winning, but the taking part".

Examples of individual contenders include:

• Rocky Balboa, the title character in the Rocky series
• Daniel LaRusso, the title character in The Karate Kid
• Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn in Major League
• Rannulph Junuh (the golfer aided by the title character in The Legend of Bagger Vance)
• Daniel E. "Rudy" Ruettiger (the title character in Rudy)
• Sanju in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar
• Akari Kanzaki in Battle Athletes Victory
• Makunouchi Ippo, the title character of Hajime no Ippo
• Sena Kobayakawa in Eyeshield 21
• Shinozaki Mikoto in Over Drive

Sometimes a book or film portrays a team sport in which several or all members of the team are contenders, and their success (or otherwise) is based, at least in part, on whether or not those team members provide sufficient guidance and support for one another. Examples of team contenders include:

• The Bad News Bears (an example of the team that loses "the game", but comes out of the experience with a collective greater self esteem)
• The Mighty Ducks
• Little Giants
• The Big Green
• The Texas State University Fightin' Armadillos in Necessary Roughness
• The unnamed local hockey team in Mystery, Alaska
• Tsubasa Ozora's team in Captain Tsubasa
• Shohoku High School in Slam Dunk
• Shaolin monks in Shaolin Soccer
• Indian villagers in Lagaan
• India women's national field hockey team in Chak De India

References