When the Game Stands Tall Page #4

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You gotta work on that

with Coach Alumbaugh.

I don't need Coach Alumbaugh.

I need you.

My senior season is here, Dad.

My last shot.

Danny, I'm not your coach.

But I wanna spend some time together,

get closer.

- I found a river-rafting outfit-

- River rafting?

Afterwards, we'll win

the father-son three-legged race.

This is perfect. The whole time

I needed a father, I got a coach.

And now I need a coach

and all I've got is a lame dad.

Exercise?

Running again.

- How are my test scores?

- Better than expected.

Your heart has made an unusually strong

recovery, Mr. Ladouceur.

You're free to return

to normal activities.

Coaching?

Keep the stress down, but, yes.

Wow, that's great.

It must be such a relief.

Yeah.

She said I could go back to coaching.

So is that your plan, Bob?

We'll see.

Hey-

What's that?

What?

Smells good.

Me or the sauce?

The sauce.

I was hoping it was me.

Ready, and go.

Hey, butt kicks.

Ready, UP-

You're late.

Yeah, I been busy.

Well, that explains yesterday.

You missed an entire practice.

I got a note from the nurse, little Lad.

How insensitive of us, Chris.

He had a tummy ache.

And you call me that again,

I'll drop you.

Now, that's funny.

Nobody misses practice

without clearing it with the captain.

Well, I ain't nobody.

On JV, man, I played both ways.

Caught 38 passes and five picks.

How much practice do I need?

It's not about

It's about us. This team.

Both of y'all can go ahead

and kiss my-

Push me? Team?

Ain't no team. Truth is, it comes down

to four or five of us bringing our game.

Say what you want, Chris, Danny.

This team thing don't mean nothing now.

- Back off!

- Hey, hold up!

"Team" means everything right now.

Look around. To be successful,

you'll have to scrap for everything.

Wanna be a scrappy team?

You're gonna have to respect each other.

Now, get back to practice.

High kicks.

That's how you do it.

That boy do football and basketball.

Y'all got nothing on him.

Hey, I want you.

I want you, boy.

Where the police at?

Because y'all getting robbed.

He just schooled you, man.

Y'all see it. Come on, let's get it.

- Hey.

- Catch you later.

That's how it's done.

That's how it's done, boy.

So when you headed up to Oregon?

First thing tomorrow, man.

Don't forget about us, homes.

Course not, baby.

Of course not. Come on.

Man, all y'all horrible.

Just straight garbage on the court,

no game.

Have you heard from him?

Boy's got to get up early in the morning.

Okay, Mama.

Yo, Pops, what's up?

- You didn't forget to fill the car, did you?

- No, I just did. Supreme.

All right. Home in 10.

He on his way.

Let me go get his cornbread ready.

Yo, what did you forget?

It's me, coz.

Lamarco, you high, dog?

I lost my ride, man.

Where are you?

- Yo, Lamarco. Come on, man.

- One minute. Let me cop these digits.

- Get them and come on. I gotta get home.

- One minute, coz.

You gonna give me them digits, or what?

You see my ride here.

Lamarco, come on!

I'm coming. I'm gonna call you.

School me, player?

Nah, school you.

Oh, my God!

Call an ambulance, man!

We have an 18-year-old

African-American with gunshot wounds.

Mama, you stay here.

Oh, God.

Jesus Christ. No, no.

Oh, no, no, no! That's my son!

- t's all right.

- No!

Let me go! Let me go!

T.K.!

T.K.! That's my son!

Is that our baby?

Oh, no! Oh, no!

Hold on, help is on the way

God hasn't forgotten you

Be not dismayed

Through the rough times in your life

Everything will be all right

Just hold on

'Cause help is on the way

And without further ado,

Coach Bob Ladouceur.

Thank you, Coach Ladouceur.

Minister.

I remember the first time I saw T.K.

He was that...

...awkward freshman, all arms and legs,

with an infectious smile.

A coach couldn't help

but notice the smooth grace of his...

...athletic ability.

People always ask me

what it's like to never lose.

Today, I am lost.

Lord, have mercy.

It's as if life has taken

more than it gives...

...and I don't know if I can handle it.

Lord, I'm struggling.

I wanna understand why.

- Why Terrance?

- Yes, Lord.

Why now?

If we are to call ourselves Christians,

we cannot ask these questions...

...because to do so is to question

your benevolence, your divine wisdom.

But today I am lost.

Mr. Kelly.

T- Gram.

I can't even imagine your pain

right now.

But you raised the kind of young man

we all strive for.

We ask our players...

...to learn and embrace ideals...

...perfection, commitment...

...compassion, brotherhood, faith.

From the first time T.K. came

across that field, I saw it.

A kid whose grace

wasn't just athletic...

...but genuine in so many ways.

He embodied those ideals.

Yes, Lord.

You never gave up

on anything or anyone.

And I did not teach you.

You taught me.

Thank you...

...because when on some other day

I am lost...

...and struggling to keep my faith,

I need only remember you.

And for reasons we are not privy to,

God wanted T.K. home.

He is with him now.

May God bless you.

Cam.

Doesn't make no sense, coach.

I don't know what I'm supposed to do

anymore.

You stick to the plan.

Go to Oregon.

Mowing the lawn?

What are you doing out here?

Dancing at our wedding.

With your dad.

He grins, looks over.

You were talking with the priest.

I remember, he leans in and said:

"if you didn't know better, which one

puts the collar on every morning?"

The music stops.

The dance is over.

And I'm heading over to rescue you.

And he said something

I still remember.

What's that?

"I hope you won't be too lonely."

Your dad raised you.

He loved you...

...but when he died...

...I think he felt like

he didn't really know you.

Till a minute ago,

I thought that might happen to me too.

I was sitting up, watching you sleep,

and it hit me.

Some people don't know

who they are...

...all that they have.

They just know something's missing.

So I was just sitting out here...

...getting ready to let you go again.

No, still way too slow.

You need to blow off the ball.

Faster step. Strike with intent.

On Friday, we play a football team that's

been preparing for this game for a year.

You're not hitting with intensity,

conditioning with discipline.

Salinas, pull your weight. Come on.

Oh, you're dogging it.

You're dogging it.

- Commitment.

- Bellevue is bigger and stronger than us.

Accountability. Perfect effort.

Finally, love.

This bond is what has led Spartans

to achieve far more than anyone...

...including themselves,

believed they were capable of.

Six, seven.

Without it,

you may continue to win games.

Rep it out, Tayshon. Four more.

But you will have lost the chance

to become Spartans.

Eight's good.

Welcome to Seattle,

where the 2004 season opens...

...with a matchup

between two of the best teams.

Come on!

Let's go, let's go, let's go!

The powerhouse De La Salle Spartans

and their national record...

- ...151-game winning streak...

- Keep the streak alive.

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