Ed O’Neil had his own trading card at one point. That statement is true because of this movie!

I love the vibe of this movie and a part of me wants to believe it might have been true at one point. Coaches who genuinely care about the kids they are there to support. It is hard not to think though that many of the coaches featured, while talented, also very much felt they were entitled to doing so on their terms with no questions asked. Pitino, Knight, Boeheim; revered coaches who also were assholes to a degree. So an aspect of this tortured coach who just wants to help these kids rings partially hollow.

Despite that qualm this thing hits. Nolte is really good at playing the type of coach described. The unfolding of his realization, that the game is no longer about being the best coach or the best recruiter, combined with him succumbing to it and hating it all the way is something he wears well.

The basketball is fun and while the basketball acting isn’t incredible it’s not a problem.

Considering JT Walsh was in public yelling about how good he was at laundering money for recruits he was probably always going to get caught even if Nolte hadn’t said anything.