Factual error: In the penitentiary, the guards should be wearing a United States flag patch since it is a federal penitentiary, not the Texas flag patch. (00:08:45)
Suggested correction: Paul Crewe was arrested by local police and not charged with a Federal crime, therefore he would have been incarcerated in a State Prison, not a Federal Penitentiary.
But the prison is named Allenville Federal Penitentiary so they should be wearing American flag patches and not state patches.
If he was arrested in California by local cops, why would he be incarcerated in a Texas State Prison and not a California State Prison?
He was arrested by locals but under Federal probation for shaving points. He went to Federal prison for probation violation.
He violated his federal probation. He would have been initially charged by the local district attorney, but the feds would also charge him due to the probation violation, and the local charges would be dropped.
Factual error: When the results list is posted at the regional competition. "Wooster, MA" is printed next to Zoey Bloch and Avril Dishaw. The correct spelling of the city is Worcester. Wooster is in Ohio.
Factual error: In the opening day clips, they show 49, Tim Wakefield, starting. The starting pitcher that day was 38 Curt Schilling (Wakefield never played that day). Furthermore, the clips show them playing against the Texas Rangers; opening day 2004 was against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Suggested correction: Not Curt Schilling, Bronson Arroyo started the home opener against Toronto in 2004.
Factual error: Soccer officials are supposed to wear a color that is different than the teams he is officiating. The ref wears a blue shirt when officiating the tigers (who are blue) and then a black shirt when officiating the Gladiators (who are in black). The referee would have worn either his primary yellow for these or red, but never blue or black.
Factual error: When they're driving down the road in the Chevrolet with the soldier, the car is in Park.
Factual error: In the scene prior to the Braddock/Baer fight, when Jim's wife Mae comes into the locker room and gives him the heartfelt spiel about being behind him in this fight after all, she leaves the room and as she leaves Jim, Russell Crowe, is standing there in a white "wife beater" tank top. It is a new one with a screened on tag by either Fruit of the Loom or Hanes. Screened-on tag tees didn't come about until the last few years.
Factual error: Special Olympics tryouts for the Nationals take place at least a year before the Games, not a few days before as portrayed in the film.
Factual error: The movie takes place during a single NFL season. In the beginning of the movie, when Brandon is still in Las Vegas, the paper he is using to pick games shows Seattle playing New Orleans. Later in the movie, still the regular season, Seattle and New Orleans are playing again. They would not play each other twice during the regular season.
Factual error: In an early scene, a character suggests that a man might be awarded an OBE honor if he wins the 1913 US Open. The OBE wasn't established until 1917.
Factual error: In the scene at the Miami hydroplane race, Mike McCormick spies a long haired boat pilot and naively asks one of the locals, "Is that Grizzly Adams?", to which he is answered facetiously, "Yeah, that's Dan Haggerty." The story takes place circa 1971, but actor Dan Haggerty didn't play Grizzly Adams 'til 1974.
Factual error: When Ralph is shooting the final two free throws of the championship game, his feet cross the free throw line before the ball hits the rim. This is a lane violation in the National Federation of High Schools which governs middle and high school sports. The correct call would have nullified both shots and the points they scored.
Factual error: In the scene during the first race with Matt Dillon, right after he spins Lindsay Lohan out, she grabs the gear shift. We see "magical electricity" head down the shaft and forward into the engine. But, the engine on Bugs is in the back. In other scenes, it is confirmed that the front hood on Herbie gives access to a trunk and not the engine.
Factual error: When Sid gives his credit card to Jay to pay for their meal because Jay's mom doesn't have enough money, a magnetic strip is on the back of the card. This technology wasn't used on credit cards until 1980. The film takes place in the 70's.
Factual error: One of the male character is shown wearing a BDU, or Battle Dress Uniform, which wouldn't be developed until the late 70s and wouldn't be released until around 1982, 10 years after the storyline.