The Classic sports board games are very clever. Utilziing transparencies or notches to stack an offensive and defensive play together, like Foto Football, is a very innovative approach.

And the electric table-based games are a riot. Their novelty wears out quickly so they don't get played often, but they are sure to draw a crowd at any gathering.

One of my favorites, though, is Totopoly, a sports / strategy combo based around building a successful horse champion franchise. This is not a common game in the States, but can easily be found at used gamesellers. If you enjoy strategy games like Risk or Catan, but prefer the real-life metaphor, Totopoly is a great game to try.