Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals

Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals is a documentary produced by HBO that chronicles the parallel careers of two of basketball's most well-known and beloved stars, Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Larry Bird. From their humble beginnings to NBA championships to retirement, this documentary spans their rivalry, friendship, and relentless will to win.

Release Year: 2010
Rating: not rated, but there is some offensive language
Length: 85m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Race: There are many, many examples of race throughout the documentary. Early on, Magic Johnson recalls that he wanted to go to a predominantly black high school, but because of desegregation, ended up at a predominantly white high school. Other NBA players interviewed talk about how many black players were racist against white players because they believed black players were superior, having the mindset of "let's see if he [the white player] can do it against us." Larry Bird was dubbed the "Great White Hope" early in his professional career because basketball was "too black," and the media played up their rivalry as "black versus white," which many fans bought into.
• Class: Both players had humble beginnings. Magic grew up in Lansing, Michigan, the son of poor working class parents. Bird grew up in rural French Lick, Indiana, also the son of poor working class parents. Both players credit watching their parents work hard with why they developed a strong work ethic.
• Illness in Sport, Sexuality: Towards the end of the documentary, it focuses on Magic's contraction of HIV. This forced him to retire, but he became an advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness. Interviewees discuss how many people questioned Magic's sexual orientation because at the time, HIV/AIDS was seen as a disease heterosexuals did not contract.
• Injury: Towards the end of the documentary, it also focuses on Bird's playing style and various subsequent injuries, which ultimately caused him to retire. He managed an extreme amount of pain, which was mostly caused by an unstable spine.

Coach Carter

Coach Carter is based on a true story of an inner-city high school basketball team that only won four games the year previous to getting a new coach. Coach Carter comes in and changes the atmosphere of the team, trying to teach life lessons and change the mindsets of his players into student-athletes. He prepares them for the future through a bumpy road to success.


Release Year: 2005 Rating: PG-13
Length: 136m


For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Commitment: This theme is depicted in the beginning when Coach Carter explains his rules to the team; they are not to use the word "n***a", must maintain a 2.3 GPA (even though the state only requires a 2.0), go to and sit in the front of all classes, and stick to a dress code. Coach says they will refer to each other as "sirs" and sign a contract to follow the rules if they want to play. They are required to make a serious commitment to the team.
• Teamwork: In the beginning, after Timo Cruz gets kicked off the team he asks, "What do I gotta do to play?" Coach gives him the impossible task of completing 2500 pushups and 1000 suicides by Friday. When faced with failing, the team joins together in through teamwork and helps him finish the task. Lyle says "remember what you said coach, if one struggles then we all struggle, if one triumphs then we all triumph."
• Sportsmanship: In the middle of the movie during a practice, Coach Carter says "That's me, I did that, I drew that play up." Here sportsmanship is depicted when Coach says, "since when is winning not enough? Now you have to humiliate your opponent? You won four games last year, what gives you the right to ruin the game I love? Play with class and act like a champion."
• Education: At one point towards the end of the movie, Coach Carter notices that his athletes aren't putting student first so he locks the gym. He says that Richmond High School only graduates 50% and only 6% of students go on to college. He demands they get their grades up and forfeits games until they do. Education is the theme when he tells the boys to go home and "ask yourself, do you want better for your life?" He feels that school should be the highlight of their life, not basketball.
• Life Skills: Coach Carter's theme in the middle of the movie is life skills. At one point he asks Timo Cruz, "what is your deepest fear Mr. Cruz, that you're inadequate?" He later gets a response that Timo has learned from his experiences that proves to Coach Carter that Timo is learning life lessons. Coach also says to the players "what is it that you want out of this season?" at which they say "to win a championship". Coach asks them "who won the championship last year?" and none know the answer. He asks them how they see themselves.

Like Mike

Like Mike is about an orphan kid who encounters magic shoes that turn him into a great basketball player. He then gets the opportunity to play for an NBA team and faces several ups and downs along the way.

Release Year: 2002
Rating: PG
Length: 99m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Confidence: When Calvin entered his first game, he was not confident at all and did not want the ball, but once he put on his MJ shoes he gained total confidence and won the game. (29m)
• Parents/Families: This happens when Calvin is adopted by a teammate and he now has a real father and family. (1h 32m)
• Teamwork: This happens throughout the whole movie but is specifically noticed when the announcer talks about the team having had teamwork since Calvin has been on the team. (42m)

Space Jam

Space Jam is about Michael Jordan and a team of Looney Tunes who must defeat aliens in a game of basketball.

Release Year: 1996
Rating: PG
Length: 88m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Love and Basketball

Love and Basketball is about two teenagers, a boy and a girl, who grow up with basketball and family problems.

Release Year: 2000
Rating: PG-13
Length: 124m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Hoosiers

Hoosiers is about a basketball coach in a small town in Indiana where basketball is top priority and where the community feels they are part of the coaching staff.

Release Year: 1986
Rating: PG
Length: 114m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Coaching: His style of coaching was evident in the first practice when he did not use a ball. And when the players kept bothering him about using a ball he did not give in and let them know that this is his team and how he coaches. Later in the movie he played a game with only four players to make his point.
• Fans: They tried to play a part in how he coached, what he should do, who he should play and even if he should be fired. They held a town meeting to try to fire him.
• Underdogs: They were always outnumbered, too short, not quick enough, and did not seem to have some of the facilities other teams they played had. But they did have heart and dedication.
• Teamwork: The coach frequently talked about what they could accomplish if they played together and believed in each other. This was evident in the last game in the movie where he measured the court and showed that it was the same size as their home court; the size of a court never changes and if they played together as a team, anything is possible.

Eddie

Eddie is about a New York Knicks fan who thinks she can coach the team better than the current coach, and winds up with a chance to prove it.

Release Year: 1996
Rating: PG-13
Length: 100m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Blue Chips

Blue Chips is about a basketball coach's ethical struggles to win.  Blue Chips is also Shaq's first movie.

Release Year: 1994
Rating: PG-13
Length: 108m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

The Basketball Diaries

The Basketball Diaries is the story of an athlete's downward spiral into drugs and crime.

Release Year: 1995
Rating: R
Length: 102m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Hoop Dreams

Hoop Dreams is a documentary that follows two high school basketball players as they pursue their dream to play in the NBA.

Release Year: 1994
Rating: PG-13
Length: 170m

For more information, view its pages on the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.