Glory Road Page #6

You show a blade.

they gonna pull a shotgun.

What are we supposed to do?

Just take it?

Look, we can't all live the Dr. King rule.

What you want us to do?

- Get slapped, turn the other cheek?

- Hell, no. I'm saying we think.

When we go to the South.

we gotta go in twos.

We're always on the lookout for each other.

Don't turn your back on them crackers.

Shed, you ain't gotta be embarrassed.

Could have happened to any one of us.

I tell you right now, they won't catch us

alone no more. I promise you that.

They come after one of us.

they gonna have to fight all of us.

Mary?

You're really late, Don.

Don't come home late without calling.

You know, things happen to people...

- Lemme get your plate and I'll heat it up.

- Honey, what is it?

- Lemme get it. It'll only take a minute.

- Mary, just talk to me. What is it?

Hey, what is this?

Honey, what is this?

- This the first?

- No. I...

I throw them away

as soon as I get them.

- Why didn't you say something to me?

- I don't know. I just...

My family's most important. How can I

protect you if I don't know what's going on?

Don.

Basketball's been our whole life.

But it's just a game.

I don't know if it's worth this.

No, neither do I.

This is more than just a game now.

And I sure as hell can't quit on it.

Nothing ever

bothered me before.

It's like things.

they rolled right off my back.

I just didn't care.

Now I care.

That scares the heck outta me.

I don't wanna want something

I can lose.

Baby.

There's nothing you can't lose.

But no one can ever take your desire

away from you. No one.

Ever.

You know, Scoops, man, sometimes I don't

even feel like going back out there again.

Look. You can't let them take basketball

away from you, man.

You can't let them win.

I just don't know how much more of this

I can handle, man. I ain't like you, all brave.

Sweet Pea, as long as I known you.

you been stronger than you think.

Hey, you OK, Scoops?

Yeah. I'm fine, man.

Hey, man. Hey, tell me

what's goin' on, man. You OK?

Be ready, please. Thank you.

Scoops, you got a minute?

Says you got something called

hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

My heart's too big.

Ain't that something?

How long you known. Scoops?

Well. I...

I started fainting

when I was in high school. Coach.

So my mom being who she is.

she took me to the doctor.

They ran a few tests. That's how

I found out. But it doesn't matter.

You're a fool. You're a dang fool.

You could have died out there.

Coach. I'll die if I don't play.

Look. Coach. My whole life

I only loved playing basketball.

That's it. But you see.

I could never play in high school.

because I had to work

to support my mom and my sisters.

But I never stopped playing in the street.

Never. 'Cause to not play. Coach, man...

Man. That was like letting something

just crawl up and die in me.

Far as this heart thing goes.

I can still play.

My heart's good. This heart thing

ain't nothing. I lived with it this long.

- That's why you gotta play me.

- I can't do it.

- The doctor said I could.

- I can't.

He said I could play a few minutes here

and there. Why you won't let me?

I know what the doctor said. Willie.

But I can't take a chance with your life.

I can't do that.

Now, you're still on the team.

We're gonna need you. Cager.

We're gonna need your courage.

We're gonna need that big heart of yours.

all right?

- You got basketball on your mind. Hill?

- Yeah. Coach. Nothing but.

Coach Haskins. Matt Pavelar.

Dallas Morning News.

You're playing a lot of coloreds.

Are you concerned as to whether

the Negro player can handle the pressure

at the national level?

My team plays defense, rebounds.

- What statement are you making?

- I'm a coach. I don't make statements.

- Kentucky's here.

- Thank you. Coach.

Coach Rupp. Coach Rupp.

Coach Rupp. Coach Rupp!

Coach Rupp, great game. Take us to the

last 20 seconds. What'd you tell the boys?

I knew it was 20 seconds.

I gave them a good play.

Something in our playbook we used for

years. The boys performed it to perfection.

I'm gonna introduce myself.

...and I know you're gonna let me go.

- Figures.

- Thank you. Coach.

- Coach.

- No more interviews. Thank you.

Don Haskins.

I'm the coach over at Texas Western.

Just wanted to introduce myself.

Congratulate you

on another great year and...

- These your boys?

- Yes, sir.

Yes, sir, my players.

Well, you had a fine season.

See you down the road.

- Losers!

- We don't want your kind!

Ignore all this trash!

Just get out on the court.

Don't you come in here!

Look at all

these stupid kids!

Let go of me, boy!

Don't listen to 'em.

Come on, focus.

- That's easy for you say.

- Don't listen to 'em.

In spite of a hostile crowd.

the Miners have played well tonight

as they look to close out East Texas.

And there's a block, and a fast break

opportunity for the Lions.

And Jason Stevens puts it up for two.

Could have been in a Miners' uniform

if Coach had been able to recruit him.

I see Coach must be clearing the bench.

huh?

And Stevens, with the hot hand here in the

second half, being guarded by Baudoin.

Coach sends his best.

This has been a hard-fought game

on both sides. Miners lead by five.

Takes it in to Big Daddy.

who's pushed to the floor!

- Are you kiddin' me?

- It is getting rough.

Let's see who the foul's on.

They call it on Lattin! I can't believe this!

Lattin's gotta watch his temper here.

He's already fouled

out of ten games this year.

Technical foul.

Just sit down. You never let your anger

get the better of you.

- He stuck his knee out!

- I know.

- Lattin's temper is gonna cost the Miners.

- You gotta hold yourself together.

- He's sticking his knee out!

- You hold yourself together.

Keep that anger inside you and I'll let you

know when you can let it go, understand?

At the beginning of the season.

no one could have imagined

that we would wind up

where we are now.

Number four in the nation.

close on the heels of powerhouses

like Kentucky and Kansas.

Now, with two weeks to go

before the NCAA tournament starts.

we're not a secret anymore.

Been this cold before.

Man!

Ross. Coach, hurry!

- Oh, man.

- Moe, get us checked out.

Listen, we're gonna get on the bus

and go to Seattle tonight, all right?

Get your stuff, pack up

and let's get on the bus.

Hey, man.

You ever get scared?

When I was a kid in Houston...

a white gang strung me on a fire escape

till I peed my pants.

I came back down and...

took nothing from nobody ever again.

Took it to every honky on the block...

till they left Big Daddy D alone.

But this is different.

This is worse.

This is the whole world.

- Everything all right. Coach?

- Oh, what'd I get these guys into. Ross?

You did the right thing.

You think about what these boys had

to overcome just to get here.

You think about how they've been

degraded and humiliated.

just 'cause they black.

by all these "civilized" folks.

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