Yeah. I'm fine, man.
Hey, man. Hey, tell me what's goin' on, man. You OK?
- (teacher) Be ready, please. Thank you. - (bell rings)
Scoops, you got a minute?
Says you got something called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
My heart's too big.
Ain't that something?
How long you known. Scoops?
Well. I...
I started fainting when I was in high school. Coach.
So my mom being who she is. she took me to the doctor.
They ran a few tests. That's how I found out. But it doesn't matter.
You're a fool. You're a dang fool. You could have died out there.
Coach. I'll die if I don't play.
Look. Coach. My whole life I only loved playing basketball.
That's it. But you see. I could never play in high school.
because I had to work to support my mom and my sisters.
But I never stopped playing in the street. Never. 'Cause to not play. Coach, man...
Man. That was like letting something just crawl up and die in me.
Far as this heart thing goes. I can still play.
My heart's good. This heart thing ain't nothing. I lived with it this long.
- That's why you gotta play me. - I can't do it.
- The doctor said I could. - I can't.
He said I could play a few minutes here and there. Why you won't let me?
I know what the doctor said. Willie.
But I can't take a chance with your life. I can't do that.
Now, you're still on the team.
We're gonna need you. Cager.
We're gonna need your courage.
(Don chuckles)
We're gonna need that big heart of yours. all right?
(# "People Get Ready" by The Impressions)
- # People, get ready - # There's a train a-comin'
# You don't need no baggage
# You just get on board
# All you need is faith
# To hear the diesels hummin'
# Don't need no ticket
# You just thank the Lord
# So, people, get ready
# For the train to Jordan
# Picking up passengers
# Coast to coast
- You got basketball on your mind. Hill? - Yeah. Coach. Nothing but.
Coach Haskins. Matt Pavelar. Dallas Morning News.
You're playing a lot of coloreds.
Are you concerned as to whether the Negro player can handle the pressure
at the national level?
My team plays defense, rebounds.
- (Matt) What statement are you making? - I'm a coach. I don't make statements.
- (man) Kentucky's here. - Thank you. Coach.
Coach Rupp. Coach Rupp.
Coach Rupp. Coach Rupp!
(overlapping chatter)
Coach Rupp, great game. Take us to the last 20 seconds. What'd you tell the boys?
(Rupp) I knew it was 20 seconds. I gave them a good play.
Something in our playbook we used for years. The boys performed it to perfection.
I'm gonna introduce myself.
...and I know you're gonna let me go.
- Figures. - Thank you. Coach.
- Coach. - No more interviews. Thank you.
Don Haskins. I'm the coach over at Texas Western.
Just wanted to introduce myself.
Congratulate you on another great year and...
- These your boys? - Yes, sir.
Yes, sir, my players.
Well, you had a fine season. See you down the road.
(booing)
- (man) Losers! - (man #2) We don't want your kind!
Ignore all this trash! Just get out on the court.
(heckler) Don't you come in here!
(heckler #2) Look at all these stupid kids!
Let go of me, boy!
(Armstrong) Don't listen to 'em. Come on, focus.
- That's easy for you say. - Don't listen to 'em.
In spite of a hostile crowd. the Miners have played well tonight
as they look to close out East Texas.
And there's a block, and a fast break opportunity for the Lions.
And Jason Stevens puts it up for two.
Could have been in a Miners' uniform if Coach had been able to recruit him.
I see Coach must be clearing the bench. huh?
And Stevens, with the hot hand here in the second half, being guarded by Baudoin.
Coach sends his best.
This has been a hard-fought game on both sides. Miners lead by five.
Takes it in to Big Daddy. who's pushed to the floor!
- Are you kiddin' me? - It is getting rough.
Let's see who the foul's on. They call it on Lattin! I can't believe this!
Lattin's gotta watch his temper here.
He's already fouled out of ten games this year.
(referee) Technical foul.
Just sit down. You never let your anger get the better of you.
- He stuck his knee out! - I know.
- Lattin's temper is gonna cost the Miners. - You gotta hold yourself together.
- He's sticking his knee out! - You hold yourself together.
Keep that anger inside you and I'll let you know when you can let it go, understand?
At the beginning of the season. no one could have imagined
that we would wind up where we are now.
Number four in the nation.
close on the heels of powerhouses like Kentucky and Kansas.
Now, with two weeks to go before the NCAA tournament starts.
we're not a secret anymore.
(chatter)
Been this cold before.
Man!
Ross. Coach, hurry!
- (Ross) Oh, man. - (Don) Moe, get us checked out.
Listen, we're gonna get on the bus and go to Seattle tonight, all right?
Get your stuff, pack up and let's get on the bus.
Hey, man.
You ever get scared?
When I was a kid in Houston...
a white gang strung me on a fire escape till I peed my pants.
I came back down and...
took nothing from nobody ever again.
Took it to every honky on the block...
till they left Big Daddy D alone.
But this is different.
This is worse.
This is the whole world.
- Everything all right. Coach? - Oh, what'd I get these guys into. Ross?
You did the right thing.
You think about what these boys had to overcome just to get here.
You think about how they've been degraded and humiliated.
just 'cause they black. by all these "civilized" folks.
- Shame on us. - (thunder rumbles)
WTSM. 1380 broadcasting live from Seattle. Washington.
Hi. Miners fans. Thanks for joining us at a packed house in the Pacific Northwest.
The question. Will the Miners, in the last regular season game here in Seattle.
take the number-one spot in the NC 2A polls?
Adolph Rupp's fabled Wildcats dropped a nail-biter to Tennessee last night.
And that will allow the Miners. if they win here tonight.
to take the number-one spot in the nation.
Hey. Lattin, you didn't jump high enough to get toilet paper under your shoe.
The Chieftains go down for an easy lay-up.
Miners making it a little too easy for the Chieftains at this point.
Armstrong down low.
Armstrong's wide open. Flournoy looks down there, will not pass the ball.
He wants to go it alone. Launches a 20-footer. It's off the mark.
Come on, man. I was wide open.
Hill, we're in orange tonight.
- Come on. Shed, meet the pass. - Don't worry about me.
The Miners are just playing flat.
Your guy just got by you. Hill.
There's no chemistry, no energy. It's every man for themselves out there.
They're not playing like a team. That jump was no good.
- Coach, you're in my chair. - I like the view better down here.
Eight minutes to play. and I hate to say this.
but it looks like our Miners have given up.
(no audio)
They've got only themselves to blame.
They didn't play together or find the open man.
and the Miners' perfect season is slipping away.
(woman humming)
Ohh!
(buzzer signals end of the game)
You stunk out there tonight!
Squeaky could have played better D than you did.
And. Shed, are you kiddin' me?
That was the same ol' weak. scared Shed out there.
Maybe you thought what used to be an undefeated record meant something.
That we could just waltz our way in the tournament.
- Maybe these crackers is getting to us. - Why you looking at me. Bobby Joe?
You a cracker, ain't you?
Coach, the more we win. the harder it is for us out there.
What do you suggest we do. Shed? Lose?
Give them what they want?
You think basketball is everything. Coach. And that's easy for you to say.
But you don't have rednecks in your face all the time.
None of you white boys get it because you don't have people breaking into your room
or shoving your head in toilets.
(Armstrong) It's not us.
White is white. Green Acres. and that means you too.
Yeah. I'm white. And you've never been able to see past that! We're not like them!
Think we haven't had heat come down on us?
You're the ones out there skating by. while we're out there sweating blood.
You think it's easy being on this team? Taking a backseat to you every day?
We came here to play basketball. just like you guys!
Now it's like we don't even count. We're the minority!
I don't wanna hear that from you. I have been the minority every day of my life.
And you're crying because you spent the last few months in our shadows?
Welcome to the back of the bus. white boy.
I wish y'all would just sit back here and listen to yourselves.
It's worse than losing the game. You've all forgotten what you're doing here.
What do you wanna do? You wanna quit?
- They're trying to take our dignity from us. - Your dignity's inside you.
Nobody can take something away from you you don't give them.
Hey.
Hold your heads up.
You wanna shake off that hate?
It's your choice. Harry Flournoy. It's your choice. Jerry Armstrong.
Togo.
Cager. Hill, it's your choice.
Shut them up.
Win.
The NCAA Tournament gets off to a rip-roaring start
as the powerhouse Kansas Jayhawks take on the upstart Texas Western Miners.
(Cager) Thank you for keeping us together.
Lord, we ask that you see us through. no matter what the obstacles.
No matter how high the mountains.
- Amen. - (all) Amen.
(Cager) Let's go, guys. Let's get this game.
While the Texas Western club has turned heads across the country with this roster.
it's safe to say that Haskins' experiment should end tonight.
- Coach? - You must be Mrs. Cager.
- Thanks for seeing me before the game. - I know you come a long way, so...
You have too. You know, you're all he talks about.
"Coach said this" and "Coach said that." So I said. "Let me meet this man."
Well. Mrs. Cager, your son's all a coach could ever ask for.
He's hard working, he's unselfish.
Tell you the truth. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Willie.
Mr. Haskins. I came to ask you to let him play.
Mrs. Cager, the thing is. his condition is just...
I know about it better than anyone.
This is his time.
These are the last games he'll ever play.
I don't care if it's just five minutes or five seconds.
Just... let him play.
Led by all-American JoJo White. the number-six Jayhawks are, with Duke.
the favorites to challenge Rupp and Kentucky for basketball's holy grail.
That's the all-American.
All press clippings.
- Think so? - He's all talk too.
(cheerleaders cheer in background)
Bobby Joe Hill will set up the Texas Miner offense in the front court.
Stolen! JoJo White.
(commentator #2) Tremendous anticipation defensively by White.
Easy pass and a dunk. and a four-nothing Jayhawk lead.
You gotta protect the ball. Hill!
Ball in to Wesley.
He just overpowers Lattin.
(commentator #2) Wesley trying to intimidate Lattin early on in the game.
(crowd) Defense! Defense!
(commentator) White extends the Jayhawk lead to five.
(commentator #2) But more importantly now Kansas has all the momentum.
(commentator) It looks like Haskins is going to go to his bench.
He's calling for Willie Cager.
(commentator #2) Cager missed half the season with heart problems.
But the Miners sure could use a lift right now.
(commentator) Now Cager from the top of the key.
It's good!
Hey, welcome home, son! That's a good play. Cager! Way to be out there!
- That's my son. - Plays good.
(commentator #2) JoJo White into the front court. 22-footer.
It's good!
Bobby Joe Hill looking to answer for the Miners.
and he'll score!
(commentator #2) And these two point guards are really putting on a show.
(commentator) It's JoJo's turn. from the wing. He looks unstoppable!
And Coach Haskins calls time.
Y'all are paying so much attention to their jerseys that you're playing tight.
JoJo's having a big night, so I'm making a change. Armstrong, you're in for Worsley.
Now, if you can stop him, bottom line is we're gonna win this game.
- Don't worry. I'll take care of him. - Let's go to work.
On three.
- Let's go, team. - One, two, three!
Miners!
That's good D, son.
(commentator) Lattin, back door to Shed. And he'll lay it in for two.
(grumbles)
(commentator #2) Here in the second half. Armstrong has shut down JoJo White.
We need a stop! We need a stop!
(commentator) Kansas scores. and they lead by two!
- Seven seconds! Push the ball! - Seven seconds!
No time-outs for the Miners!
Long inbound to Lattin.
Back out to Hill. To the basket!
Cager! He got it!
(commentator #2) What a play!
He wasn't expected to play tonight. but he saved the season for the Miners!
Overtime! Hey, you got an overtime! Hey, get in here! We got an overtime!
(commentator #2) And we'll play overtime to settle this one!
That's the way to go! That's it!
(commentator) Just seconds remaining.
Artis, up to Lattin.
It's good! And the Miners win! The Miners win!
(commentator #2) They're calling it hanging on the rim! I can't believe it!
(commentator) A foul called against David Lattin.
The basket will count and Kansas will shoot two free throws
to try to send the game to a second overtime.
(commentator) JoJo makes both. and we're going to a second overtime.
All right, bring it in!
Oh, is this a game for the record books!
We got a great mismatch, a little low.
So we're gonna swing in the ball and let him take his man one on one.
You got it? All right, let's do it.
(buzzer signals start of second overtime)
OK, here we go. The winner moves on for the national championship.
Lattin. Cross-court pass to Artis.
He'll drive the baseline and score!
The Jayhawk defender really bit on that fake, and the Miners lead by one.
Kansas needs a basket to win. Where they going?
(commentator #2) Everyone knows who will take this shot -
it's their all-American JoJo White.
(commentator) Ball goes in to JoJo!
From the sideline!
It's good! Kansas wins! Kansas wins!
(commentator #2) Wait a minute. Ralph! It looks like he stepped on the line.
I think the official's going to wave the basket off.
(commentator) It's no good! And Texas Western's improbable story continues
with an 81-80 double overtime win over the Kansas Jayhawks.
Have you seen this? Have you read this already?
(Don) I read it.
It says. "The selfless support of Texas Western's booster Wade Richardsons.
which has made this breakout team's rise a true phenomenon in the sports world."
Well, they got you down. didn't they, sir?
Just forget all that stuff I said before.
I've been selling more dinettes than I've sold in the last four years combined.
(overlapping chatter)
You're 24 hours from the biggest game in college basketball. How do you feel?
You know. I've been here before.
It's been some time now. but I've had some success here
and I feel like I'm coming home, really.
I'm just glad to be here.
I'd like to ask you about your controversial win over Kansas.
There's no controversy. JoJo White stepped out of bounds. They lost, we won.
Coach Haskins, how do you plan on stopping Louie Dampier and Pat Riley?
Ask Coach Rupp how he plans on stopping David Lattin and Bobby Joe Hill.
Who?
(reporters chuckle)
You have to admit. Coach Rupp.
that the Negro player is changing the game of basketball.
Oh?
Well, as far as I know, basketball's about taking the basketball, putting it in the hoop.
And you can quote me. I don't think that's going to change.
(woman) That horrible man. playing those coloreds.
And where are you from, sweetheart?
El Paso. Texas. I'm married to that horrible man you were just talking about.
Coach Rupp, what do you think of their lightning-quick guard. Bobby Joe Hill?
He's a good boy. But there's lots of good boys out there this year.
Well, this good little boy led us to 23 and one.
Well. I think you understood my point.
My point is that we at Kentucky don't worry about the boys in other uniforms.
We play our game.
Don't pay them any mind. It's just how some people were raised.
Well, they weren't raised right.
I guess not.
But not everybody thinks like that.
My name is Esther.
Esther Rupp.
Nice to meet you. Mary Haskins.
Let's get this game over with so we can get back to Memphis.
Well, one thing's for sure - can't no five niggers beat five white boys.
Yeah. Just black trash, that's all they are. They think they belong here.
Harris. That's enough.
- Wait. I'm just getting started here. Hold it. - (laughter)
(Don) Maybe old Coach Rupp still has a thing to learn about basketball.
These boys are playing for more than just the championship.
When I came here...
I didn't wanna come.
I didn't wanna be a part of this.
But I was wrong, Don.
I was wrong.
You know, my dad called.
He said everybody in town's going to Thelma's Steakhouse to watch the game.
He said he was proud of me.
It was always just a game to me. But now it feels like a lot more than a game.
Yeah. I know what you mean, brother. Feels like my whole life.
My folks are driving down with Willie's parents.
My old man's coming too.
He was always a baseball fan. But I think he's finally liking basketball.
Bobby Joe. You hear me, man?
This ain't gonna be nothing. It's just a day at the playground.
(telephone ringing)
Hello?
Take a look out there.
We can't win tomorrow night.
You're not a championship team.
You've been lucky so far. but tomorrow your luck's gonna run out.
To win at this level, you gotta have a...
intelligence inside you out on that court.
You gotta be able to think.
We just got too much of the wrong complexion.
You're athletes, sure.
But so are monkeys.
Mm-hm.
You can run. You can jump.
Maybe even hit the occasional outside shot with the right training.
but to compete against a real team...
Well, should I go on, or you as sick of this same old tired line of BS as I am?
I'm so sick of it, tonight I made a decision that we're gonna put a stop to it forever.
Lattin.
Flournoy.
Artis. Cager. Worsley. Hill.
Shed.
Five starters, two subs.
40 minutes, seven players.
I'm only gonna play the black players in the final game tomorrow.
Just you.
Togo. Armstrong. Palacio.
Myers. Baudoin.
I know how hard every one of you worked to get here. I don't wanna hurt any of you.
Coach. I can't lie.
I wanna play.
I do. We all wanna play.
But I just wanna say one thing.
Tomorrow night.
y'all go out there and show 'em how bad five brothers can be on the court.
OK?
Flournoy, if you don't get back and play defense. I'll be all over your black butt.
Good evening and welcome to the Cole Field House for the finals
of the NCAA Championship game
between the University of Kentucky and Texas Western College.
And here come the Miners.
When this tournament began. virtually everybody
could have predicted one of our finalists.
But I don't think anyone could have predicted the other.
It's Texas Western College against the University of Kentucky
for the NCAA Championship.
A little mining college from out in West Texas.
A scrappy bunch with an unusual lineup going against basketball royalty.
The Baron of the Bluegrass and his four NCAA men's championships.
If there was ever more of a mismatch. I don't remember it.
Here's tonight's starting lineup for the Kentucky Wildcats.
At guard number 30, six-three. Tommy Kron.
The Cats are led by two great all-Americans.
First of all, sharp-shooting Louie Dampier and the high-scoring Pat Riley.
These guys play with speed.
they play with poise and they play with intelligence.
(announcer) And the coach of the Kentucky Wildcats. Adolph Rupp.
Now here's the starting lineup for the Texas Western Miners.
At guard, out of Detroit. Michigan. number 14, five-ten. Bobby Joe Hill.
At the other guard, number 24. five-six Willie Worsley.
At center, from Houston. Texas. number 43, six-seven. David Lattin.
At forward, number 44, six-five. Harry Flournoy.
At the other forward, number 20. Orsten Artis.
And the coach of the Texas Western Miners, Don Haskins.
(commentator) We have a David-versus-Goliath match-up.
Texas Western against Kentucky for the NCAA Championship.
You had a great season. Coach. You must be thrilled to be here.
- One, two, three. - (all) Miners!
You three guards are in there to stop their fast break.
Make them have to walk it down the court.
You saw who they put on the floor. They're gonna try to run against us.
In an unprecedented move. Coach Haskins is starting five Negro players.
- That's a spit in the face. - A first in NCAA Championship history.
Now I want you to get angry. Go out there first time you get the ball and dunk it.
I don't care if you have to run someone over to do it.
We're faster. We can spit right back.
Send 'em a message. Get in there.
They're the one that got a chip on their shoulder, not us.
It ain't about nothing except basketball. One, two, three!
Miners!
Dampier's a great ball handler. You try to take it from him, he's gonna burn you.
- Come on. Coach. - Some say he's the best guard.
If I had a choice between him and you. I'd choose you.
That's good. 'cause you know he wouldn't have chose me.
(horn blows)
(cheering)
The opening tap. Big David Lattin against Pat Riley.
And the tap is controlled by Texas Western.
Worsley gives it to Bobby Joe Hill. Now Hill rockets a pass into Lattin.
And he dunks it over Riley.
Aah!
Yeah!
(cheering)
- He was making a statement with that. - And Adolph Rupp looks disgusted.
Now Kentucky on offense for the first time. The ball in the hands of Louie Dampier.
Texas Western in a man-to-man. He gets it to Conley.
He's got a mismatch on Worsley. Backs him down and scores. We're tied at two.
Conley, that's gonna be there all night long.
The Miners work the ball into David Lattin. He spins outta the double team, scores.
There it is. There it is.
(commentator #2) It's six-seven. 240 pounds of a powerhouse in the middle.
Wildcats get the ball to the high post. Thad Jaracz has it.
- Slow it down. Set it up. - Lattin, get physical.
They cut off him. He puts it on the floor, goes to the hoop.
And he is fouled and fouled hard by David Lattin.
That's a flagrant foul! You gonna call that, ref?
That's a flagrant foul! You want there to be a melee? Someone's gonna get hurt here.
I'll call the foul. Two shots.
A pair of free throws ties the game at 12.
but the Baron is not happy on the Kentucky bench.
Texas Western very disciplined against this Kentucky zone.
They work the ball down low to Lattin. He goes up for the shot.
No good. Offensive rebound. Flournoy, and he is down and hurt.
(official) Stay down. Coach.
Ohh!
Where'd he hurt? Harry.
How'd you come down? Did it go out or in? Hold still.
Well, that's one less thing to worry about.
Cager, you're in.
And it looks like Flournoy has to come out of this game.
This will be a huge blow to the Miners if he can't return.
He's through for the night.
Oh, boy. This will be tough because he's a great rebounder for Texas Western.
At six-five, he is one of the best. and it'll be a disaster if he can't continue.
Tough break, son.
Ten minutes gone in this fast-paced first half.
Kentucky with the ball and the lead. Here's a backdoor cut by Riley.
He goes up and is slammed to the floor.
And that'll be number three on Big David Lattin.
That really hurts the Miners because this big guy's been carrying Texas Western
with his strong inside play.
Now Don Haskins will have to take the very physical Lattin out of the game.
I can't let you foul out.
And it looks like Nevil Shed is replacing him, but they're giving up something here.
Riley's first free throw is good. And Coach Haskins wants a word with Bobby Joe Hill.
The Wildcats by four now with a chance to stretch their lead.
Here's Tommy Kron bringing the ball up for Kentucky.
Orsten Artis all over him. And here comes Hill!
He strips it away and he's going in for the lay-up!
(commentator #2) What a pair of hands.
(commentator) What a steal by Hill.
That happens when you don't talk to each other.
This time Louie Dampier with the basketball. He's played by Bobby Joe Hill.
He steps in and steals it again! Holy mackerel!
Bobby Joe Hill picked the lock on the Fort Knox hands of Louie Dampier.
and he's got back-to-back steals and lay-ups. And like that, we're tied again.
Time-out. Time-out!
- (commentator #2) Kentucky wants time. - (blows whistle) Time-out, white.
Yes.
Hey, those are two big-time plays. Hill.
- Are you scared? - No, sir!
I know someone who's not scared. Conley's not.
We don't teach scared at the University of Kentucky.
I need you standing there waiting for 'em when they come outta time-out.
like a force, like a wall!
Don't let that guy crowd you! Get him out of there.
This the national championship. Are you surprised? They come to play.
So we got to play back. We know how to play this game better than anybody.
Play the game. Let's go.
Over here!
Yeah!
Set it up, set it up.
(Wildcat player) Defense, defense! Watch Hill. Inside!
Whoa! Whoa!
That's it. That's what I want.
(cheering)
Whoo!
Inside of ten seconds to go, first half.
Jaracz with the ball, high post. Looking for Riley. Running off a screen.
Here's a shot at the buzzer.
It's good!
(commentator) We're all a little shocked.
Texas Western is leading Kentucky at the half.
(commentator #2) But the smart money has to be on Kentucky
'cause they were firing on all cylinders to end the half.
The Miners did have some big plays.
but must be concerned with the three fouls on David Lattin
as well as the injury to Harry Flournoy.
He will not return.
- Yo, hurry up, you late. - Close the door. Come on.
They're getting ready to start the second half.
.., crowning a champion.
Don't let that cocky kid set a tent up under the basket.
If he gets position on you, it'll throw down every time. Get him out of there!
I'm putting you in with three fouls. Lattin. You gotta play smart and protect the paint.
He's trying to figure out how to get you to foul out, so keep your feet on the ground.
- Get a body on him. I want him outta there. - OK? You ready?
- Are you the University of Kentucky? - Yes, sir.
What has the Baron designed for his Wildcats?
- Come on, number ten. - Wildcats give the ball to Louie Dampier.
Get your hand up!
- Here's his long jump shot. - There it is.
And the Kentucky fans are on their feet.
Come on, get back!
The Miners feed it inside to Lattin. And Riley steals it away.
Now Kentucky looks to break. Tommy Kron on the point.
Feeds it to Riley, who beats Lattin to the basket and lays it in for two!
Now, that is Kentucky basketball.
That's it, that's it.
Kentucky trapping outta their zone. And Kron takes it away from Worsley.
The Wildcats look to run again. Fast break ahead to Riley.
And that is back-to-back hoops for the all-American.
I don't know what Coach Rupp told his team at halftime, but they are on fire.
This is how the number-one team in the nation plays.
Here's Riley on the move to the basket. and Lattin fouls him again.
(referee) Foul. Miners, number 43!
And that will send the big center to the bench with his fourth foul.
That's aggressive play.
The Miners are hanging in. but that's gotta hurt on both ends.
Hey, there's a lot of ball on that, ref.
I know Lattin's out. But you can't do this all by yourself. Just slow it down.
OK? Get everybody involved.
And Kentucky leads by eight with ten minutes to play.
Ball! Ball, ball!
Bobby Joe Hill will fire one up from 25 feet.
And he got it!
Check him! Check him!
Whoo!
Defense, now, defense!
Way to penetrate. That's what I want.
Ah, ha-ha!
Yes!
Cager's spun it off the glass. and the Miners lead by three!
Time. Time! Time-out. Wildcats!
Coach Rupp calls time. He's seen enough.
Miners lead at 64-61. Just two minutes left.
All season, when you had nothing left. you come up with it. And you had success.
You did it, you did it.
And that's how we got here, from your efforts. From your efforts, we're here.
We are two minutes from a championship. Lattin. I'm putting you back in.
Right now it's not about talent - it's about heart.
It's about who can go out there and play the hardest and the smartest.
This team's a special team.
Special team.
You're gonna win this game.
- You hear that? - Yes, sir.
You're gonna win this game. So go out there and make me a prophet.
They've been here before - they won't give it to us.
We gotta go out there and we gotta take it! Right? Take it! Take it!
I want you to go out there and take it! One, two, three!
Take it!
Two minutes to go, and the Miners lead Adolph Rupp and Kentucky by three.
Defense! Defense!
Four-two.
Louie Dampier guarded tightly by Bobby Joe Hill.
He reverses his dribble and fires. It's good!
There it is.
That was a big shot.
Miners look to answer.
Yes!
Wildcats into the front court. needing a score.
Riley breaks free.
Set it up! Set it up!
Now who will answer the bell for the Miners?
Artis passes it to Cager at the foul line.
He slashes around Jaracz. takes it right down Main Street.
So it comes down to this. 18 seconds remain.
Wildcats with the ball. in need of a score
to keep their hopes of a fifth national championship alive.
Kentucky looking inside for a mismatch against the shorter Worsley.
Stolen away by Bobby Joe.
Desperation time now for Kentucky in the final seconds.
Here's a miss by Kron. Lattin has the rebound for Texas Western.
He gives it to Bobby Joe. Looking at the clock, watching it count down.
Ten, nine, eight...
The Miners are on their way to victory.
(buzzer signals the end of the game)
Whoo! Whoo!
(gibberish)
This is the greatest upset in NCAA history!
Texas Western is the new national champion!
Whoo!
National champion!
Mama. I'm a national champion.
I'm a national champion.
Whoo!
Where is he? I can't see! Where is he?
(squeals)
I love you. Mama. Thank you.
(# "People Get Ready" by Alicia Keys and Lyfe Jennings)
# Lemme tell ya now
# People, get ready
# There's a train a-comin'
# You don't need no baggage You just get on board
# All you need is faith
# To hear the diesel humming
# You don't need no ticket
# You just thank the Lord
# So people, get ready for that train to Jordan
# Picking up passengers coast to coast
# Faith is the key
# Open the doors and board them
# There's hope for all among those loved the most
# There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner
# Who would hurt all mankind
# Just to save his own
# Believe me, now
# Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner
# For there's no hiding place against the kingdom's throne
# So people, get ready
# There's a train a-comin'
# Don't need no baggage
# You just get on board
# All you need is faith to hear the diesel humming
# You don't need no ticket
# You just
# Thank the Lord
(# "Sweet Music (One of These Days)" By Alicia Keys)
# Sky's gonna be blue
# One of these days I'm gonna wake up
# To a sun shining through
# One of these days
# This song is gonna be true
# And the world
# The world
# Is gonna be brand-new
# Yeah, yeah, yeah, check it out, y'all
# One of these days I'm gonna wake up
# And I'm gonna feel fine
# One of these days I'm gonna wake up
# And my dreams are gonna be mine
# One of these days
# This song is gonna be true
# And the world
# The world
# Is gonna be brand-new
# Yeah, yeah
# It's gonna sound like music
# Oh, sweet music
# And everybody's gonna want
# Is gonna sing this song
# They're gonna say love
You know. Kentucky's so big. and Adolph Rupp's name was so big.
that. I guess. that made it more significant.
The initial thought was. "Do we really have a chance here?"
We felt their presence at the beginning of the game.
when they came out with this incredible effort and zeal.
I think the most significant... It's when David Lattin made his dunk shot -
that's what really got us going.
And I went up, and he grabbed it. and he just kept going up and up and up.
And he just dunked it over the top of me.
He put it down with such ferocity that it intimidated me.
And I did tell David before the game. if he hadn't run over somebody.
that I wanted him to tear the rim off a couple of times.
But those two steals by Bobby Joe Hill broke our back
and reinforced what the reality was.
And the reality was this:
They were bigger and they were better
and they were more talented and they were quicker. They were a better team.
Kentucky was kind of a tough team to match up against.
See, that was a very, very quick team.
And I played the guys that I felt we could win with.
We ran out there. And what I saw was wall-to-wall people.
The reporter was white. The cheerleaders was white.
The referee was white. The camera people was white.
It was an atmosphere that could have been real hostile for us if we allowed it to be.
I feel that this game was probably the Emancipation Proclamation of 1966.
And it wasn't until history started to talk about this game, you know, in that context.
that we realized we were part of something that was bigger
than just five blacks and five whites.
Black ballplayers were thought of as inferior.
You know, can't work under pressure. You know, rip 'em a little bit, and they'll fold.
That was the way that a white person was thinking back then.
that we couldn't compete with the white players.
We experienced a lot of racism during that season.
People would spit at you. and fans would call us niggers, coons...
And the world looked at it in that perspective -
the white team verses this black team. For us.
We were playing for much more than what they were playing for.
They were playing for just another championship.
We were playing to prove that it doesn't make any difference what color you were -
if you're given the opportunity. you could do anything.
If I could turn back the hands of time.
I would have love to have gone over to the Kentucky players
and shaken their hands.
Not to patronize them, you know?
And not to say. "Thank you for giving me an opportunity."
You didn't give us this opportunity. We earned this, see.
I'm proud to be part of this portrayal of a great, great man in Don Haskins
and, you know, players who simply cared about being great
and wanting to separate themselves from the pack
and wanting to do something unique.
And to leave footprints in the sand. They've done that, man.
They've done that.
(# "I Will Make the Darkness Light" by Alicia Keys)
# I will make the darkness light
# Before you
# What is wrong
# I'll make it right
# For you
# All the battles
# I will fight them
# For you
# And the high place
# I'll bring down
# And the high place
# I'll bring
# Down
# Mmm-mmm-ahh
# Hmm