I hoped you enjoyed watching Hoosiers as much as I did. It is one of my favorite movies of all time. It is interesting how the movie and its meaning have changed for me over the years. The movie was made in 1988, when I was playing high school basketball. From a player’s perspective, it is the thrill of each game, the hours of practice and the teammates. The bond you form when you play together is unlike anything else I have experienced. I am still friends today with the people I played soccer and basketball with since I was 10.
From a coach’s point of view, you see the wisdom of helping a group of boys and the townspeople reshape their ideas about success and team and fun. Keep in mind, when Coach Dale came into the town to begin coaching, the former coach had just passed away. The season was already started. In a small town (enrollment 64) when someone dies, it effects the entire town. His commitment to coaching the boys (and the town) about the importance of team and belief in each other is critical to the movie and the lessons we learn.
From a teacher’s perspective, I see the unwavering commitment to making them men. The lessons they learned on and off the floor will stick with them throughout their lives. They now and always will understand the importance of opening your mind to new ideas and the importance of friends. At the end when Coach Dale tells his team he loves them, that is the only time in their lives they have ever heard someone say “I love you” other than their parents. It take tremendous strength to say it and to accept it, but you know immediately, the relationship and the journey they are on is something special that does not come around very often. When it does come around it is important to recognize it, embrace it, and enjoy every moment.
Why do we love these kinds of movies in America? Although this is a sports movie, it is a life movie. It uses basketball as a metaphor for life. I think we like the movie because it is an underdog story. American loves the underdog. We always have embraced and honored the role of the underdog. This goes back to our beginnings as a country. We were the only colonies to go to war with Britain and win. We came from behind against all odds to win our independence. We believe in the American dream. Anyone can be whatever they want. The opportunities are endless. We like to remind ourselves of this through our movies, television, stories. Even through the United States is the greatest country on the planet, we still like to see ourselves as the underdog. Us against the world.
Trust me when I say I am not one to ruin a good movie. But there are so many lessons to be learned in the movie, I want to hear from you. From the coach’s relationship with the town and the team, to Jimmy, to Shooter, not to mention the role of Strap and Ollie in the regional finals, the lessons are endless.
What did you think of the movie? If you liked it, why? If you didn’t, why not? What lessons for life spoke to you? Which character did you relate to the best and why?
Luke-I have seen Hoosiers before and agree with Mr. Grant that its a great movie and an all time favorite. The reason i like this movie is because its inspiring to me that even if its a small place that you live in your players can be just as good as people from larger cities. If you work hard you can be just as good as anyone. If you really put a thought to doing something that no one thinks u can do it give you an urge (at least for me it does). I think that Jimmy resembles me the best expect that that i don't think i can make it every time i shoot. I myself really in any opportunity would play on a basketball team. I didn't understand at first why Jimmy didn't tryout for the team. This is an all time favorite of mine there really isn't a reason i wouldn't like this movie.
ReplyDeleteLuke- Oops! i forgot to answer the question on the lesson learned. If you work hard and set your mind to something, you can accomplish anything you want. by the way, I meant to say Jimmy resembles me except that i don't make it every time i shoot a basketball. I would never miss an opportunity to be part of a team.
ReplyDeleteTravis-i really liked the movie a little because it was a good movie and and a little because it was an excuse to get out of learning not that Mr. Grant is a boring teacher, he is actually one of my favorite teachers. It was one of the best sports movies iv'e ever seen. im most closley related to the head coach because he had just moved to a new place and trying to be liked but it is extremly hard for him. just kidding its been very easy for me to feel welcome here. I think that the lesson to be learned is that no matter how small you or your team is you can really accomplish any feat you can posibly dream of.
ReplyDeleteAngie- I loved this movie! It was so good! It was inspiring because it shows that anything is possible. Even when it seems like there is no hope and that all is lost, there is always still hope. I liked the guy (I can't remember his name) who punched the other guy on the team when standing up for the coach. I also liked Jimmy because he said that if they got a new coach, he wouldn't play. But like I said before, I really enjoyed and liked this movie! Thanks for letting us watch it Mr. Grant!
ReplyDeleteHannah- I saw this movie a long time ago so I do not remember much. And I missed school when we watched it in class. But I did enjoy this movie because it shows if you have the mind set you can do anything,even against the odds. I like how the coach ended up being such an influence in the guy's life and how Jimmy wouldn't want to play if they got a new coach. That shows a lot about how much they really loved him. I do not know what character I relate to the best.
ReplyDeletePhillip-I ussualy don't like sports movies at all, but the Hoosiers was different. They actually talked a bout stuff besides basketball. It told me that I should never give up and always try and you can do great things. I related to the ref punching dude(I cannot remember his name)because there have been some times where I've really really really wanted to punch a ref.
ReplyDeleteAtticus- I liked the movie because it taught a great lesson and that was that was that you should never give up. Also if you have a problem and you are determand to overcome it you can (Shooter). I really dont know who I would relate to. I really liked this movie thanks Mr. Grant.
ReplyDeleteRyan Z.- I really liked Hoosiers and I thought that some of the main lessons to be learned from this movie are redemption, trust, and honor. I thought that it was really cool when the coach gave Shooter the chance to coach the team, and then Shooter helped them win a game. I also thought that it was really cool when Shooter's son forgave him and gave him a second chance. This was not my first time seeing this movie but I am thankful that Mr. Grant let us watch it.
ReplyDeleteHalle- I really liked that movie because it taught you a lot about life and giving people second chances. It was also really intense and our whole class was really into it. Lessons that spoke to me were if you want to work hard for something you have to take small steps to do what you are trying to do. Giving people second chances is a big part about life. A lot of people don't give second chances and you should take that opportunity every time you get it. I think the coach can resemble me in a way because he wanted to give (shooter?) a second chance at proving he can coach
ReplyDeletejosu- i liked this movie a lot. not only is it a sports movie but it also teaches people a bout life lessons. it teaches you the second chances are possible as long as you work hard. it taught the players that there is no i in team. i am kind of like jimmy because i am quiet while i am playing sports.
ReplyDeleteDanielle- I thought Hoosiers was a pretty good movie. I thought the movie showed a great lesson. It shows u how you can't get another chance as long as you do your best. It counts in everything you do. Everyone makes mistakes but u cant give up. Um, the charcter I most relate 2 is...well I can't rlate 2 anyone because i don't play bball but like i said everyone makes mistakes so try harder and u can get a second chance. Thanks Mr. grant 4 showing us that movie!
ReplyDeleteMorgan- Hoosiers was a good movie. I am not really into basketball but it was a good movie because of the lessons it taught. The lessons that were taught in the movie were you can do anything if you believe in yourself. I always saw if you believe you will succeed. I am not really familiar with any of the characters but from what I saw I liked the whole team together. I think that they had really good sportsmanship and they all acted as if they were all the same level.
ReplyDeleteCooper- I have seen hoosiers before and i think its a great movie its a classic David and Goliath movie. That you should never give up and that the little man can sometimes win. I do not no which player i would relate to.
ReplyDeletegabby- i liked the movie hoosiers, just like everyone else in the class. it was just a good movie it taught lessons that were important to life. the movie was also goo because i love basketball, which helps because it is a basketball movie. when the coach came to coach it was kind of like his second chance. in life i think that they are second chances. its kind of weird because when i remembered i had to do the blog i was watching the bachelor. in this one it was a guy who has already been on the show, so that was kind of like his own second chance. another thing with the coach is he changed and he also changed the team. that shows that you or other people change, in a positive or negative way. i didnt really relate to any of the characters. but overall the movie was good.
ReplyDeleteMarya- I liked the beginning of the movie at least! I was sick when we watched it in class. But, I did like how the coach was trying new techniques with the team. I think you should never give up and keep trying. I love basketball but I don'y know what character I relate to... I don't know any of the characters that well
ReplyDeletekaed- I loved this movie because it was about my favorite sport basketball. But it also teaches you a lesson. Its hard to come and coach when the season has already started and for him to come and help them win takes courage. For this movie i liked Jimmy the best. One of the reason was because he is the best player on the team and he was the one who brought the team together. And also he is kind of like me because i am a shooter in basketball. But i also liked the coach a lot to because he was the one who gave people a chance. For example, shooter. Even though he gets drunk, the coach still gives him a chance if he does not drink. He also helped Shooters' son to like him more than ever because Shooter was the one who saved or helped the team.
ReplyDeleteMaddy- I really liked it because i like baasketball. I related to it because when I watched the movie I felt like I was playing the games because of all the emotions and stuff.
ReplyDeleteThe lesson in the movie is to listen to your coach or he will take you out of the game.
I fogot what his name was but the one who didn't listen to his coach but shot the ball and made it in the hoop. Because sometimes I do not listen to my coach and I get taken out of the game.
Ryan M i really liked that movie because i love basketball and it was funny.
ReplyDeleteThe lesson in the movie is trust one another.
Probably the one guy that always prayed to god and im kinda of like that because i am a nut
Sofia- I likes the movie a lot because it really portrayed what being in a basketball game is like. I also thought it was funny. My favorite person was the g uy who prayed because he wouldnt get to start because we would be praying and I am kinda like that in a way because i can get to hyper in practice then not get to start the game.
ReplyDelete