On this day in 1986, the greatest basketball movie of all time was released

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Enfuego

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A classic tale of redemption, "Hoosiers" features a volatile coach and a former star player-turned alcoholic leading a small-town basketball team on an improbable run to the Indiana high school championship game. Coach Norman Dale encounters several hurdles in his path: a feisty teacher determined to keep the best player from going out for the team, a town chock full of second-guessing fathers, and a group of undisciplined athletes. Story inspired by the Milan (Indiana) Indians' state title of 1954.
 
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Enfuego

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The actual game was played between the Milan Indians and the Muncie Central Bearcats. For the movie, the South Bend Central Bears were the opponent. The true championship took place in 1954, not 1952 as in the movie, and the score was Milan 32, Muncie Central 30.
 
steaktartar

steaktartar

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best........i dont know the fish that saved pittsburgh was a classic
 

Enfuego

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The actor who played Jimmy Chitwood (Maris Valainis) was the only player on the Hickory team not to play high school basketball. He did play college golf at Purdue his freshman year.
 

Enfuego

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Jack Nicholson was the original choice to play Coach Norman Dale but had a schedule conflict. Told the producers he knew they were on a tight schedule to shoot, and if they found another actor to go ahead. If not, he could do it the next year. Gene Hackman then signed on for the part.
 

Enfuego

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Jimmy Chitwood has only 4 lines of dialogue in the whole movie. He has 3 lines in the scene where Coach Dale wins the vote to keep his job, then "I'll make it" in the climactic game.
 
VIEJODINOSAUR

VIEJODINOSAUR

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The basketball movie about "The Goat" was a classic....was considered the best high school player in New York City over Lew Alcindor during those times...
 

CoolBreeze22

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a few interesting tidbits.....

Milan had 161 students, the team they beat for the title had over 1600. 73 boys attended Milan that year(58 tried out for the basketball team).....I believe there were 10 players on the varsity team(not 6 players as in the movie). The previous season they had made it to the State Semifinals, and most of the team returned for their title run.

The real coach didn't die, but he was replaced two seasons prior because he ordered brand new uniforms without permission from the school Superintendent. The assistant who took over was a soft-spoken 26 year old.

There was a student manager named Oliver, but he never actually played in a game.

The final 15 or so seconds of the title game in the movie played out pretty much exactly like the title game in real life.
 
bukis1

bukis1

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My favorite line in Hoosiers is from Shooter. "and boys don't get caught watching the paint dry" agree one of the best movies ever.
 
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