Glory Road Page #8

They're calling it

hanging on the rim! I can't believe it!

A foul called

against David Lattin.

The basket will count

and Kansas will shoot two free throws

to try to send the game

to a second overtime.

JoJo makes both.

and we're going to a second overtime.

All right, bring it in!

Oh, is this a game for the record books!

We got a great mismatch, a little low.

So we're gonna swing in the ball

and let him take his man one on one.

You got it? All right, let's do it.

OK, here we go. The winner moves on

for the national championship.

Lattin. Cross-court pass to Artis.

He'll drive the baseline and score!

The Jayhawk defender really bit

on that fake, and the Miners lead by one.

Kansas needs a basket to win.

Where they going?

Everyone knows

who will take this shot -

it's their all-American JoJo White.

Ball goes in to JoJo!

From the sideline!

It's good! Kansas wins! Kansas wins!

Wait a minute. Ralph!

It looks like he stepped on the line.

I think the official's going

to wave the basket off.

It's no good! And Texas

Western's improbable story continues

with an 81-80 double overtime win

over the Kansas Jayhawks.

Have you seen this?

Have you read this already?

I read it.

It says. "The selfless support of Texas

Western's booster Wade Richardsons.

which has made this breakout team's rise

a true phenomenon in the sports world."

Well, they got you down.

didn't they, sir?

Just forget all that stuff I said before.

I've been selling more dinettes than

I've sold in the last four years combined.

You're 24 hours from the biggest game

in college basketball. How do you feel?

You know. I've been here before.

It's been some time now.

but I've had some success here

and I feel like I'm coming home, really.

I'm just glad to be here.

I'd like to ask you

about your controversial win over Kansas.

There's no controversy. JoJo White

stepped out of bounds. They lost, we won.

Coach Haskins, how do you plan on

stopping Louie Dampier and Pat Riley?

Ask Coach Rupp how he plans on

stopping David Lattin and Bobby Joe Hill.

Who?

You have to admit. Coach Rupp.

that the Negro player is changing

the game of basketball.

Oh?

Well, as far as I know, basketball's about

taking the basketball, putting it in the hoop.

And you can quote me.

I don't think that's going to change.

That horrible man.

playing those coloreds.

And where are you from, sweetheart?

El Paso. Texas. I'm married to that

horrible man you were just talking about.

Coach Rupp, what do you think of their

lightning-quick guard. Bobby Joe Hill?

He's a good boy. But there's lots

of good boys out there this year.

Well, this good little boy led us

to 23 and one.

Well. I think you understood my point.

My point is that we at Kentucky don't worry

about the boys in other uniforms.

We play our game.

Don't pay them any mind.

It's just how some people were raised.

Well, they weren't raised right.

I guess not.

But not everybody thinks like that.

My name is Esther.

Esther Rupp.

Nice to meet you. Mary Haskins.

Let's get this game over with

so we can get back to Memphis.

Well, one thing's for sure -

can't no five n*ggers beat five white boys.

Yeah. Just black trash, that's all they are.

They think they belong here.

Harris. That's enough.

Wait. I'm just getting started here. Hold it.

Maybe old Coach Rupp still

has a thing to learn about basketball.

These boys are playing

for more than just the championship.

When I came here...

I didn't wanna come.

I didn't wanna be a part of this.

But I was wrong, Don.

I was wrong.

You know, my dad called.

He said everybody in town's going to

Thelma's Steakhouse to watch the game.

He said he was proud of me.

It was always just a game to me. But now

it feels like a lot more than a game.

Yeah. I know what you mean, brother.

Feels like my whole life.

My folks are driving down

with Willie's parents.

My old man's coming too.

He was always a baseball fan.

But I think he's finally liking basketball.

Bobby Joe. You hear me, man?

This ain't gonna be nothing.

It's just a day at the playground.

Hello?

Take a look out there.

We can't win tomorrow night.

You're not a championship team.

You've been lucky so far.

but tomorrow your luck's gonna run out.

To win at this level, you gotta have a...

intelligence inside you out on that court.

You gotta be able to think.

We just got too much

of the wrong complexion.

You're athletes, sure.

But so are monkeys.

Mm-hm.

You can run. You can jump.

Maybe even hit the occasional outside shot

with the right training.

but to compete against a real team...

Well, should I go on, or you as sick

of this same old tired line of BS as I am?

I'm so sick of it, tonight I made a decision

that we're gonna put a stop to it forever.

Lattin.

Flournoy.

Artis. Cager. Worsley. Hill.

Shed.

Five starters, two subs.

40 minutes, seven players.

I'm only gonna play the black players

in the final game tomorrow.

Just you.

Togo. Armstrong. Palacio.

Myers. Baudoin.

I know how hard every one of you worked

to get here. I don't wanna hurt any of you.

Coach. I can't lie.

I wanna play.

I do. We all wanna play.

But I just wanna say one thing.

Tomorrow night.

y'all go out there and show 'em how bad

five brothers can be on the court.

OK?

Flournoy, if you don't get back and play

defense. I'll be all over your black butt.

Good evening and welcome

to the Cole Field House for the finals

of the NCAA Championship game

between the University of Kentucky

and Texas Western College.

And here come the Miners.

When this tournament began.

virtually everybody

could have predicted one of our finalists.

But I don't think anyone

could have predicted the other.

It's Texas Western College

against the University of Kentucky

for the NCAA Championship.

A little mining college from

out in West Texas.

A scrappy bunch with an unusual lineup

going against basketball royalty.

The Baron of the Bluegrass

and his four NCAA men's championships.

If there was ever more of a mismatch.

I don't remember it.

Here's tonight's starting lineup

for the Kentucky Wildcats.

At guard number 30, six-three.

Tommy Kron.

The Cats are led

by two great all-Americans.

First of all, sharp-shooting Louie Dampier

and the high-scoring Pat Riley.

These guys play with speed.

they play with poise

and they play with intelligence.

And the coach of

the Kentucky Wildcats. Adolph Rupp.

Now here's the starting lineup

for the Texas Western Miners.

At guard, out of Detroit. Michigan.

number 14, five-ten. Bobby Joe Hill.

At the other guard, number 24.

five-six Willie Worsley.

At center, from Houston. Texas.

number 43, six-seven. David Lattin.

At forward, number 44, six-five.

Harry Flournoy.

At the other forward, number 20.

Orsten Artis.

And the coach of the Texas Western

Miners, Don Haskins.

We have a

David-versus-Goliath match-up.

Texas Western against Kentucky

for the NCAA Championship.

You had a great season. Coach.

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