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...ve an outsider at the helms of the local high school basketball team. They resort to threats and intimidation to sway the coach to leave the town. Community member George, who had been running practices prior to coach Dale’s arrival, stated: “I don't know why Cletus drug your tired old bones in here, he musta owed you somethin' fierce. Fact is, mister, you start screwin' up this team, I'll personally hide-strap your ass to a pine rail and send you up the Monon Line!” (George). For this community, this team acts as a rallying point. Many people will never leave the community or make any great sums of money, so they live vicariously through the high school team. Each victory for the team is a victory for the community and conversely each loss is a blow to town pride. The emphasis is placed squarely on winning at all costs and the level of pressure resonating from the community could provide explanation for the low level of turn out at team tryouts. As seen in many sports today, the pressure placed on the players from the crowd often encourages the players away from the concept of fair play. The reward of being considered a “god” within the community also leads players to act in their own self-interest rather than for the good of the team. The community never changes their ethical view point throughout the film. Whenever the coach first arrives, the team is in disarray. There are only seven members on the team, as few males of the 64 in the school wanted to play. In previous seasons the remaining players were used as a support group for the star player Jimmy who has decided to give up on basketball following the death of the former coach. It is obvious that these boys have received no formal basketball training. This is because the emphasis had always previous...