Hate crimes. Racism. Basketball. These themes are intertwined throughout the true-based story of “Glory Road.”
Set in the early 1960s of El Paso, Texas, this movie retells the events that led up to the first-ever five African-American starters for the Texas Western Basketball team and their triumphant defeat over an all-white basketball team for the NCAA Championship.
This movie relives this profound story through the eyes of Don Haskins, played by Josh Lucas, the coach of the Texas Western Minors. Having resigned from his previous job of coaching an all-girls’ team to coach at Texas Western, Haskins realized that he had a major task at hand. With no recruiting budget for new players, Haskins depended on the five white players already on the team, and went to recruit new players.
Enter Bobby Lee Hill, No. 14, from Kansas. He was Haskin’s first recruit on a full scholarship and took over the position of starting point guard. Bobby was confident and talented, both on the court and off. Throughout the movie, Bobby managed to hold the team together when one of his fellow black teammates was the victim of a hate crime, and also led the season with the highest points averaged.
Haskins also managed to persuade six other players to come to Texas to play basketball. They were: Nevil Shed (New York), Willie “Scoops” Caber (Texas), Harry Flournoy (Indiana), Willie Worsley (New York), David Lattin (Texas), Orsten Artis (Indiana).
With never-ending motivation to prove to not only the world, but to one another, that an all-black basketball team can defeat all odds and become champions, “Glory Road” is an inspiring true story.
This movie is recommended for everyone to see, from basketball players to people who would like to see how to overcome adversity in difficult situations. The characters are believable, and it is almost impossible not to feel as if you are really living the story that led to “Glory Road.”
Genre: Drama/History/SportRating: PG for racial issues including violence and epithetsDirected by: James GartnerRuntime: 106 minutes