Blue Chips

I was given the task to review a Shaq Diesel movie upon the announcement of his retirement. Kazaam was brought up, but I think a basketball film is the way to go. I saw this in the theater as I, like many, was a big fan of Shaq - even though I was an enormous fan of his co-star Penny Hardaway. It also seems to be perfect timing with all the controversy and league violations Universities have been facing as of late in every major NCAA sport. This film is about one coaches decision whether to break the rules to win or just keep losing. The coach is Pete Bell (Nolte) who at times seems like a knock off of early Bobby Knight. He has never broken the rules in his whole career, but with 3 top prospects on the horizon and him having little to no chance of securing any of them he does what he has to. He is aware of other coaches practices and if they haven't been caught then why would he. He goes after Neon (Shaq), Ricky Roe, and Butch McCrae (Hardaway). They all have different attributes and if it was possible to get them all on the same team, they would be hard to stop. Coach Bell knows this, as does every other coach. He tries recruiting his way before he breaks the rules. Bob Cousy shows up to give some advice, though he does not play himself, but more of a mentor to Bell. Bell has the three boys on the line, but he needs commitments. Neon seems cool, but Butch and especially Ricky want certain things. He finally caves to the pay to play rule. Ricky is a farm boy who is a bit of an arrogant jerk who wants way more than the others, but when Coach Bell has given Ricky and Butch what they want, a brand new Lexus shows up at Neon's door. He proclaims he doesn't want it, but the Coach didn't want him to feel slighted. The pressure of cheating begins to get to him and he starts coming apart at the seems. I haven't watched this in more than 10 years I'd say, but with the recollection I have of it, I must have liked it. It's a good look inside the basketball world through a coaches eyes. As for Shaq, 19 seasons and 4 rings later, he will always be known as one of the greats. I love his attitude on life and how funny he could be and I wonder if he could be as good and funny of an announcer as Barkley is. Guess we will wait and see. 

NBM rates Blue Chips - Awesome