Bobby Joe Hill dishes it off to Willie Cager who throws it down court to big man David Lattin, then pitches it forward Nevil Shed, who receives a screen from Harry Flournoy, he throws it up to Orsten Artis, with a quick pass to Willie Worsley for the lay-up. The seven Black ball players brought in by new coach Don Haskins of the Texas Western Miners. The seven that changed the culture of college basketball.
These seven Black ball players all recruited by coach, Don Haskins. Who was recently named the new head coach. He traveled around the states looking for new players. During this time the top White programs never recruited black players, coach took a risk on these seven Black players he saw something in them that many other colleges never did.
This film to me was a good put together story. It had all the key pieces it needed to be labeled a good complete story. It had the comedy side, and the real life side. It brought different worlds and perspectives together with both laughter and hatred. Best part about the movie was at the end when they beat Kentucky and they do a follow up information about each player on the team. Some made it to the NBA and some never played again. It was an overall very good movie with some raw scenes.
Particular scenes that jump out to the audience is when a couple of White men beat Nevil Shed in a bathroom of a diner, and when the team comes back to the hotel after winning a close game with the words "N*****" and "KKK" written in blood on the walls.
The team later goes on to win the National Championship against the number one ranked University of Kentucky. Don Haskins was the first coach in NCAA history to start and play five Black players ever. A game that was Nationally televised and watched across the United States, the uproar was unbelievably huge. Who would have thought the worst team a couple years ago turned it around to beat the number one ranked team in the nation. Throughout the film they were constantly harassed and played in gyms that waved confederate flags. They managed to play during this era when White people hated Black people and not just be good but beat the best. Texas Western Miners were the National Champs.
Crazy to think that top those top University's back in the day did not recruit Black players, but now if you look at the rosters to those top programs they mostly have Black kids playing and not just playing starting. Who would have thought that those White fans are now cheering for those Black players that are now apart of the team but, used to boo and dehumanize them.
This movie is for all that enjoy sports and a true underdog story. Who would not like a movie about an underdog team that comes from the bottom and ends up on top. Don Haskins did not care about what people said he went out there and coached on won games. More importantly this film spoke out to the minorities that played any sport. We are supposed to have each others backs and be there for each other and never let the White man tell you what you can do and can't do. All that these seven Black players wanted to do was just play and be damn good at it. They did not let the White man at the top stop them.
