I admit it...I was wrong about the movie "Hoosiers"
Oh the things we say and do when we're young.
And when you're in the business of putting your thoughts on paper for the rest of the world to read, they don't go away.
Ever.
So when sports editor B.J. Hargis decided to do some research for a story and he ran across a column I wrote in 1986 in the old Linton Daily Citizen about the movie Hoosiers, I had to shake my head.
I knew this day would come.
If you ask family, friends and co-workers what my favorite movie is they won't hesitate: Hoosiers (Caddyshack is a close second).
My wife probably knows most of the lines from Hoosiers because I quote them frequently. For no reason, other than I love the movie.
Love the movie?
"... I wouldn't rate it any higher than a five on a scale of one to 10."
Did I write that?
"... the major reason I was disappointed was that the players' opinions about what basketball meant to them really was never brought out. Gene Hackman, who played coach Norman Dale at Hickory High School, dominated the scenes and his character only touched the surface of what basketball means to youngsters growing up in Indiana."
Have you gone mad young man?
"Forget the scene where Hackman and co-star Barbara Hershey (as Myra Fleener, the teacher at Hickory who dislikes the new coach at the start) kiss near the end of the movie. Save that stuff for love stories."
Yes, honey, I learned to appreciate that scene. And yes, it may be the best scene in the movie (wink, wink).
"And another thing. While the early 1950s was a far piece ago, it wasn't back in the dark ages. Maybe I'm wrong, but Hackman could have at least wore sweats instead of a tie during practice."
Wrong again you whippersnapper.
"But still, I can't bring myself to watch the movie again."
Yeah, right.
I must admit I wore out an old VHS tape of Hoosiers I had, and now I'm forced to wait until it's on TV. Thank goodness for USA Network, TNT and others for sharing with us the movie "about the greatest game ever invented."
Yes, I was wrong. Let me say that again. I was wrong. VERY wrong.
I love the movie Hoosiers. It offers a realistic glimpse into what basketball means to Indiana.
Has high school basketball changed in Indiana since 1986? Yes. Why? Class sports.
But as high schools across the state take part in the sectional round of the state tournament this week, most true high school basketball fans will still drive to North Knox or White River Valley to watch the action.
Why? Coach Dale said it best in the movie: "I would hope you would support who we are. Not, who we are not. These six individuals have made a choice to work, a choice to sacrifice, to put themselves on the line 23 nights for the next four months, to represent you, this high school. That kind of commitment and effort deserves and demands your respect. This is your team."
Several locals took part in the movie, with Wade Schenck playing the role of Ollie. It was his two free throws that sent the Huskers to the state finals.
Schenck missed a portion of his senior season for L&M to take part in the movie.
After my original column appeared I took a beating from readers. I was sports editor at the time, and when I'd cover a game involving L&M, fans would ask why I hated the movie so much. I'll never forget one lady coming after me as my wife and I were leaving the gym at Dugger: "Linton daily. Linton daily. Linton daily," she kept yelling.
You can imagine what happened next.
Twenty-six years have passed since that original column. I'm older, slower, heavier, but am big enough to admit I was wrong.
Hoosiers is a great movie!
I'll finish with some of my favorite quotes from the movie:
* From Wilbur "Shooter" Flatch: "Clete, you tell him. Sectionals of '33, one point down. Five, four, three, two, one, let 'er fly ... in and out. Yeah, well, I was fouled ..."
* Myra Fleener: "Just stay away from Jimmy. I don't want him coaching in Hickory when he's 50."
* Jimmy Chitwood: "I'll make it."
* Opposing player from Linton to Ollie before he shoots his free throws: "Didn't know they grew 'em so small on the farm."
* Merle Webb: "Let's win this game for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here."
* Jimmy Chitwood: "I don't know if it'll make any change, but I figured it's time for me to start playing ball"; George: "I told you, once we got rid of him!"; Jimmy Chitwood: "But, there's just one thing ... I play, Coach stays. He goes, I go."
(I must give credit to the website http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091217/quotes for helping me fill in a word here or there for the quotes. The mind is another thing that goes with age).
Chris is the general manager/editor of the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by email at cpruett79@gmail.com or by telephone at 847-4487.
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