Daily Dialogue — June 25, 2014

“So, well, not quite the storybook end, huh? Not for us, anyway. But you men played like champions. You never gave up. And champions hold their heads high. What you achieved goes way beyond the win-loss column and what’s gonna be written on the front page of the sports section tomorrow. You’ve achieved something that some people spend their whole lives trying to find. What you achieved is that ever-elusive victory within. And gentlemen, I am so proud of you. Four months ago when I took the job at Richmond I had a plan. That plan failed. I came to coach basketball players, and you became students. I came to teach boys, and you became men. For that, I thank you.”

— Coach Carter (2005), screenplay by Mark Schwahn, John Gatins

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Sports Speech, suggested by Kalen. Today’s suggestion by John Arends.

Trivia: “Coach Carter” was the highest opening weekend of any release from an MTV Film: $24,182,961 (week of January 14–16, 2005).

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by John: “As with most films honoring the genre conventions of the sports drama, “Coach Carter” opens and closes with two “speechified” moments for the coach. The first is when the athletes (and the audience) meet him, and he establishes the “rules of engagement.” The second, as we all know, happens at the end, usually before or at halftime of the big game, and which usually seals the transformations for the characters.

But “Coach Carter” is perhaps most famous for another speech given at the “All is Lost” moment, by a tough punk named Timo Cruz, in response to Coach Carter’s question, “What is your deepest fear?” Timo recites an excerpt from “A Return to Love” by Marianne Williamson. (The words are commonly misattributed to Nelson Mandela’s 1994 Inaugural Address.)

“TIMO CRUZ — Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. It’s not just in some of us. It’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. Sir, I just wanna say thank you. You saved my life.

COACH CARTER — Thank you, sirs. All of you.”

That’s quite a transformation, given where Timo starts out. Here’s how the writers set that up with the Act 1 “coach’s intro” moment, played as only the incomparable Samuel L. Jackson can play it:

COACH CARTER — Good afternoon, young men. As Coach White said, I’m your new basketball coach, Ken Carter.

The players mill about under the basket, ignoring him.

COACH CARTER — I guess I need to speak louder so you can hear me. I’m Ken Carter, your new basketball coach.
WORM — We hear you, dog. But we can’t see you. The glare from your big, black-ass head is hella shiny, man. Damn, do you buff it?
COACH CARTER — You got jokes to go along with that ugly jump shot of yours? First of all, if you need to know my credentials, they’re on the wall there behind you. Secondly, if basketball practice starts at three, you are late as of two-fifty-five.

A player, LYLE, casually shoots a jump shot.

COACH CARTER — You, shooting the ball. What’s your name, sir?
LYLE — Jason Lyle. But I ain’t no sir.
COACH CARTER — You’re not a sir. Well, are you a madam?
PLAYERS — (Laughter)
WORM — Little bitch.
COACH CARTER — As of now, you are a sir. So are the rest of you. “Sir” is a term of respect. And you will have my respect until you abuse it. Mr. Lyle, how many games did you guys win last season?
LYLE — Like four wins. Twenty losses.
COACH CARTER — Sir.
LYLE — Sir.
COACH CARTER — I’m going to give you contracts. If you sign and honor your side of them, we are going to be successful.
WORM — Damn, do I get a signing bonus for signing this contract.
COACH CARTER — Yes, sir. You get to become a winner. Because if there’s one thing I know, it is this: The losing stops now. Starting today, you will play like winners, act like winners, and most importantly, you will be winners. If you listen and learn, you will win basketball games. And gentlemen, winning in here is the key to winning out there.

Coach Carter points to windows and street.

COACH CARTER — This contract states that you will maintain a 2.3 grade point average. You will attend all your classes. And you will sit in the front row of those classes.
WORM — This is a country-ass nigger.
COACH CARTER — Excuse me. Did you say something, sir?
TIMO CRUZ — Worm was wondering are you some country church nigger, with your tie on and all that? (To Worm) That’s what you wanted to say, right?
COACH CARTER — And what is your name, sir?
TIMO CRUZ — I’m Timo Cruz. Sir.
COACH CARTER — Well, Mr. Cruz and Mr. Worm, what you should both know is we treat ourselves with respect. We don’t use the word “nigger.”
TIMO CRUZ — Are you some preacher man or some shit? ‘Cuz God aint gonna do you no good in this neighborhood.
COACH CARTER — I live in this neighborhood, sir.
TIMO CRUZ (to Worm) — Sir. Can you believe this uppity Negro, sir?
COACH CARTER — Okay Mr. Cruz, leave the gym right now.
TIMO CRUZ — For what?
COACH CARTER — I’ll ask you one last time to leave the gym, before I help you leave.
TIMO CRUZ — Before you what? Oh man. Do you even know who I am?
COACH CARTER — From what I can see, a very confused and scared young man.
TIMO CRUZ — Scared of who? Scared of you? I’m supposed to be scared of you? Nigger, I ain’t scared of nobody. I will lay your ass out.
COACH CARTER — I don’t think so.

Timo shrugs, turns to leave, then tries to clock him with a roundhouse. Coach Carter easily blocks it, snaps Timo’s arm behind his back. He shove-walks the punk beneath the basket…

TIMO CRUZ — What are you doing? Get off me!

…and slams him against the wall mat.

TIMO CRUZ — Teachers ain’t supposed to touch students.
COACH CARTER — I’m not a teacher. I’m the new basketball coach.

Note: Could use your suggestions for this week’s theme. Thanks!

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