[ Man ] It's Mojo Radio back on the air. Slammin'Sammy here.
Football time in Texas. Let's go to the phone. We got, uh, Butch on the line with us.
Butch, what about it? We'll have a great year, or what?
[ Butch ] How you doin'? [ Sammy ] Good, Butch. Tell me about this season.
[ Butch ] We're gonna have a hell of a season this year.! Winchell's gonna take us all the way.
- Deep slant tripps stacked right? - Primary receiver's inside flanker.
- ""Z'' burst. - My linemen are an 80 pass block.
- How deep is your drop? - Five steps.
Five steps. Tripps stacked left?
Inside eight-yard curl. You gonna get a scholarship?
Yes, Mom. "Z'"receiver.
It's Mojo Radio, Slammin'Sammy, and I've gotJerry on the line with us from the Sonic down there.
Jerry, there's a lot of talk that Coach Gaines,
with that $60,000 a year salary--
[Jerry ] I know where we're goin'with this. [ Sammy ] He makes a little bit more than the principal of the school.
[Jerry ] I read the book--Just last week, I was readin'this book about Babe Ruth,
and they asked him ifhe deserved his salary...
way back in 1 9 1 0-- 04, whatever it was, and he said, "Hey,you know--'"
They said, " You make more than the president. '"He says, " Well,you know, can the president hit a baseball?'"
I'm tellin'you right now,you know, Coach Gary Gaines, they could give him $ 1 00,000 a year,
and if these boys go undefeated, it's worth every single dollar.
I tell you what, the principal, uh, of Permian don't get 28,000 people--
[ Boy ] I got two to three seconds of rotation and my linemen are an 80 pass block.
Wide receiver? He runs the... burst route.
If he sees cover two, he-- he bends outside, eight to 1 2 yards.
20 yards, and runs straight to the sideline.
Are you ready for this, Mike?
[ Engine Rewing ]
- [ Rap ] - Yo. Ivory!
Ready to work?
'Sup, Boobie? State.
State? State?
State. State. State.
[ Rap Continues ]
Where your girlfriend at, Water Bug?
Well-- We ain't got a girlfriend yet?
- Come on. Let's go. Snap it up. - You wanna know why you ain't got a girl yet, Water Bug?
- Why? - You got the wrong shoes on, man.
You got on white Adidas. Everybody know the shoe is Nikes.
Nothin' holds a nickel next to Nike. Ask Ivory. Ask Preacher Man.
- What kind of shoes on your feet don't matter. - Come on, Preacher. Bullshit!
- Don't matter at all. - You know God made black beautiful.
God made Boobie beautiful, black and strong.
His mouth keeps gettin' bigger and bigger and bigger.
And when Boobie knocks some fools out, Boobie gonna knock 'em out with black Nikes on his feet. Ain't that right?
I could knock you out in a pair of flip-flops.
Yeah, well, I'm gonna knock 'em out with Nikes on my feet,
and I'm gonna smile when I do.
[ Chattering ]
[ Man ] Let's go. Five minutes. Let's go.
Get up. Let's go.
How y'all doin' up there? Y'all doin' all right?
45, Boobie-- That's my nephew out there.
The boy can play some football. I'm telling you.
[ Boy ] I think he'll win the Heisman Trophy someday. [ Man ] The Heisman, really?
- Oh, yes sir. You can bet on it. - I got it.! I got it.!
- [ Woman ] Who's you guys'favorite player? - Boobie Miles.
He can spin left. He can spin right. Don't make no difference.
He can block, tackle, score the touchdown, snap the ball,
hold the snap and kick the extra point.
Hell, the boy will fill up the Gatorade cooler, walk the dog, and paint your back porch.
I'm telling you, that boy can flat out play football.
[ Cheering ] Ow! And he can pass!
[ Man ] Should we believe the hype? What hype?
- The hype about Boobie Miles. - No, hype is something that's not for real.
- I'm all real. - [ Laughing ]
I'm Chris Comer. I'm a running back. [ Man ] So that means you're Boobie's backup?
I'm actually Boobie's backup backup. I'm third string right now.
- You know which way you're supposed to run? - Yeah, with strong right--
I ain't talkin' about the play. I know what the play was, okay?
Odessa's a small town, and, uh,
if you screw up, everybody knows about it.
Your dad played at Permian. What's it like to be the son of a local legend?
- Hold on to the damn ball, Donnie! - [ Raspy Breathing ]
[ Sniffs ] Next question.
There it goes.! There it is.! How are your grades, Boobie?
I get straight A's. I'm an athlete.
In what subject? There's only one subject. It's football.
- Ain't no other subject, you know? - Hut!
- Hang on to the ball.! The ball.! - [ Grunts ]
You sure he's part of your gene pool, Charlie?
Shit.
Red alert. Red alert, everybody.
What about the expectations of coaching a team like this in a community like this?
Well, I guess there's always a surprise or two in every community.
Ball.Just concentrate on hangin' on the ball. Both hands.
Hey, Donnie. Hey.
- Come here. Come here. What's the problem? - Get off the field, Dad.
Why can't you hold on to the football? What's so goddamn hard about holdin' on to it?
- I'm sorry. - All you gotta do is hold on to the goddamn football, and you can't do it.
Tell me why you can't do it. Just tell me. That's all I wanna know.
I'll try better next time. Come on. Hey!
[ Woman ] Charlie.! Don't you walk away from me.
- Leave him alone. - Don't you walk away from me when I'm talkin'to you,you hear me?
Tell me why you can't hold on to the ball.! [ Woman ] Enough.!
Tell me. Answer a question. Mr. Billingsley.
- It's the first day of practice. - [ Woman ] This is practice. Seriously.
- [ Grunts ] - [ Woman ] Enough. Charlie!
Embarrassin' me out here. Jesus Christ.
It's all right, Don. [ Sighs ]
[ Mike ] It's all right. Don't worry about it. Here we go.
Slot right. 38-- Billingsley, you ain't gotta worry about holdin' on to the ball, man.
- Why's that? - 'Cause you ain't gonna get the ball.
Your job is to be blockin' for Boobie. I don't care if your daddy is over there cryin'.
- You can-- - You never shut up, do you?
[ Donnie ] Our team's been playin'with each other for a long time and, uh,
we got the brotherhood part of it down pretty much.
[ Man ] People here at Permian are already predicting a state championship.
Is there any pressure to that for you guys?
Well, any time they start predictin' the state championships, there's always pressure, believe me.
You guys don't have a lot of size. How can you make up for that?
We're gonna rely on our speed, discipline.
Come on, Ivory. You're in the game now. You're in the game.
Do football players get special treatment here?
What do you have to do to be a better football player this year?
Do you enjoy playing football?
You quit reading your press clippings, all right?
Because you're smaller, and you're gonna be smaller every week.
- Yo, Boobie Miles! - It is hard to be humble.
Ain't gonna be no growth spurt between now and the first game.
Where does all that anger come from?
- They're gonna underestimate you every single week. - [ Grunting ]
- We teach you this technique for a reason. - [ Whistle Blows ]
We do not do this to make our heads rattle.
You're gonna use your mind.
You're gonna play with your heart. Come on.!
That's what you're gonna use to win the state championship.
[ Grunting ]
Get up, Ivory. Get up. Get up! Get up.
It's a good day, gentlemen. It's a good day to think about responsibility.
It's a good day to ask yourself if on a personal level you're willing to accept that--
if you're willing to accept the responsibility that you have...
to protect this team and this school and this town.
And make no mistake about it, gentlemen,
we are in the business of protecting this town.
We're in the business of winning.
The expectations couldn't be any higher.
We will win state.
Can you be perfect?
[ Horn Honking ]
[ Man ] Mojo.!
[ Chattering ]
No, I'm all right. Come on, Mike. Live a little.
He's not going out, either. Yeah, he is.
Mike,you're going out tonight. If I have anything to say about it, you're gonna get laid too.
[ Tires Squealing ] Billingsley.! Billingsley.! Party at Taylor's house now, Billingsley.!
You better be there. Gonna get wasted.! Party at Taylor's house.!
Billingsley! [ Tires Squealing ]
[ Horn Honking ]
Isn't that guy, like, 3 5?
Mike. Here's your mom's food.
How much? No, no. Don't worry about it. It's on us. It's on us.
How's she doin', by the way? You never give me free food, David.
- I just gave you free food. - Oh yeah. Oh yeah, I forgot about that.
- Say hi to your mom, huh? - Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
Stay out of jail, Billingsley.
- We're not goin' home, Mike. - I ain't goin' out drunk foolin'.
How 'bout I bring your mom some dinner so you can come out with us?
Because we're gonna get laid, and we're gonna get drunk, and we're gonna win state, but not tonight.
All right?
You been blessed, Mike, 'cause we got a runner.
He's gonna make us all look good. So I'm telling you to lighten up.
All you gotta do is exist in those two seconds between snap and you givin' Boobie the ball.
So lighten up, Mike. [ Man ] Mike.
How you doin'? Hey, Brian.
How's old Gaines treatin' you? Got you all perfect? We gettin' there.
All right. How's your mama? Fine, sir.
- All right. You mind if we get a shot real quick with the kid, little picture? - Shot?
Yeah, little picture. Yeah, sure.
Here. All right, sweetie. Just take a picture.
My baby girl and the next Texas state championship quarterback, huh?
Where's the damn camera?
Winchell, boy,you remember every minute of this. I'm tellin'you right now.
You're 1 7, but it goes fast. Don't sleep. Don't waste a second of it.
'Cause before you know it, it's done.
Nothin' but babies and memories. You hear me?
Babies and memories. Smile, sweetheart. Give us a smile. Say ""Mojo.'' Say ""Mojo.''
I tell you what, why don't you hold on to her for a little while? Babysit her for us for a couple hours.
We're gonna go get a drink. We'll be back in a little bit.
All right. I'm kiddin' with ya. Come here. Come here, sweet--
Come here, sweetie. Let's go back over to Mama. All right.
Thank you. Thank you. Hey, hey. Bring it home, huh?
Bring one of these home. Get you one of these.
Christian, get you one of these. Boys? Right here.
[ Man On P.A.] Come up here a second. Got some change for you.
Wanna go to that party? Just for a little bit?
It's tricky to rock a rhyme To rock a rhyme that's right on time
It's tricky It's tricky, tricky Tricky, tricky
It's tricky to rock a rhyme To rock a rhyme that's right on time
It's tricky T-t-t-tricky, tricky
I met this little girlie Her hair was--
[ Laughing, Chattering ]
What I saw was speed out there, but uh, where's the beef, Coach?
I saw me some small boys. They're small.
- I think we're gonna be okay. - On defense?
Yes, ma'am. I firmly believe that. We got some backs. We're about, what, 1 80?
[ Chattering ]
Tricky, tricky, tricky
It's tricky to rock a rhyme To rock a rhyme that's right on time It's tricky
Hi, Mike.
I'm Melissa. I know who you are.
You do? Everybody knows who you are, Melissa.
Everybody knows who you are, Mike.
Is that right?
- Whole lot of-- Arab oil embargo. - [ Woman ] Oh, God.
- Don't talk about that. - Midland Lee likes to bust it up the middle, too.
You're right about that. You know what you should do?
You should play Boobie Miles defense. Work him both ways.
The problem with that is I don't want to get him hurt. We need him to score touchdowns.
Bullshit. That big nigger ain't gonna break.
You wanna beat Midland Lee, you play him middle linebacker.
- Break some heads out there. - Are you ready for Midland Lee, coach?
I got a letter from the government The other day I opened and read it
This is not about Boobie. This is about the fact that we're sittin'here in the stairwell while they're up there.
- I wanna be with a ball carrier. - Baby, Boobie is--
Don't you ""Baby, Boobie'' me. I wanna see somethin'.
Can I get a touchdown? How 'bout that? Can I get a touchdown?
Why don't you have a girlfriend? I don't know.
Why doesn't he have a girlfriend?
Is that a rule or somethin'?
No, not really. Well, then, why don't you have a girlfriend?
Just don't. Are you gay?
- What? - Is he gay?
- I'm not gay. - Can you prove it?
[ Man ] Coach, here's to the start of your second season as our head coach.
- We're here, we believe in you and Sharon. - Thank you.
To sittin' here in December as the state champions ofTexas.
- Let's bring 'em hell. Go Mojo! - Go Mojo!
- [ All ] Go Mojo! - [ Man #2 ] Bring us some glory, Coach.
- That's what I say Don't need nothin'but a good time - [ All ] Go! Go! Go!
[ Heavy Breathing ]
Why isn't anyone allowed at your house?
People come over.
[ Scoffs ] When?
Is your mother really crazy?
[ Heavy Breathing ] No.
Are you crazy?
Do I look crazy?
Look like someone who's gonna get the hell out of Odessa, Texas one day and never look back.
Seriously works for me.
[ Whispering ] See ya. [ Door Opens ]
[ Door Closes ]
[ Chattering, Laughing ]
Get in here, boy.
Come on. Get this off. Ow.
[ Moaning ] That's good.
[ Laughing ] Ow!
[ Moaning ] [ Gasping ] Take my shoes--
[ Kissing ] [ Panting ]
[ Lamp Crashes ] [ Laughing ]
Don't get so prude. Stop. We're on your couch.
Something for everybody. Oh.
[ Girl ] Let's go to your room.
Let's go to your bedroom. Dad, can you just go back to bed, please?
Who's this? This Melissa?
Yes. Maria.
How you doin', Maria? Damn, girl. You have grown up.
Dad, please. Can you just go back to bed?
What happened to my lamp?
- Hey,y'all. What's goin'on? - Hey, Flippy.
Hi, Maria. What happened to my lamp?
I dropped it. [ Laughs ] Yeah,you dropped it.
That makes perfect sense, huh? He dropped it. Can't hold on to the lamp, can't hold on to the football.
- I can hold on to the football, Dad, now get the hell out of here! - [ Sniffs ]
Little fumble, can't hold on to the football.
Since when can you hold on to the football?
I haven't seen it. Y'all don't do it today?
How about yesterday? You hold on to the football yesterday? Have you seen him hold on to the football?
How 'bout tomorrow? You gonna hold on to it tomorrow? How 'bout now?
Can you hold on-- Hold on to the football. Goddamn it, Dad.
- Dad. - Maybe this'll help.
[ Flippy ] What are you doing? Hold... on... to... the football!
Dad! Goddamn it, Dad! Knock it off!.
- [ Blows Landing ] - That's enough.!
[ All Screaming, Shouting, Indistinct ]
[ Radio, Indistinct ]
[ Man On Radio ] I don't think we've felt this kind of expectation in years.
If Winchell shows up like we know he can,
even a short passing game to give Boobie Miles a couple of feet of cushion--
[ Continues, Indistinct ]
[ Engine Shuts Off]
[ Police Radio, Indistinct ]
You boys all right? Yes, sir.
[ Donnie ] Yes, sir.
Gonna win state? [ Chavez ] Yes, sir.
Undefeated?
Yes, sir. Get it done.
[ Radio ] Take this opportunity to support the Permian Panthers--
[ Players Grunting, Groaning ]
[ Slowly ] ""The Southern California lifestyle is but one of the bonus features...
of playing for--'"
What's that word? Uh, ""distinguished.''
- Who's that one from, UCLA? - No, this is USC. That's UCLA right there.
Hey, Mike. You gonna come visit my distinguished ass in California?
See if I can put the damn smile on your face.
You know I'm fittin' to be rich, right?
I'm thinkin'about hiring, uh, Eddie Murphy to lay some ofhis shit on you...
till you crack a damn smile.
No? Well, what about Richard Pryor?
Bill Cosby? I know you like Bill Cosby.
[ Imitating Bill Cosby ] Mike Winchell,you got a natural ability...
for throwing Boobie Miles the ball.
Any every once in a while you throw a pretty good pass,
so you're going to eat yourJell-O Pudding Pops.
Wah!
[ Normal Voice ] Yo, Mike Winchell. You gonna move out of Odessa, Texas one day, baby,
and you gonna come visit Boobie Miles in California,
and you gonna smile,
or I'm gonna stick about four pudding pops up your white ass.
- [ Laughs ] - Now, now-- Oh, my God.! I got Mike Winchell to smile.!
Look at this! Wah!
Did y'all see it? Wah.!
That's probably the only smile y'all gonna see from Mike all season.
Yeah. Yeah.
I'm distinguished now. Hey, Boobie.
- What? - You didn't lift.
Come on, man. This is God-given.
Only thing I gotta do is just show up.
[ Sportscaster ] Now, people call this monument out here, the Ratliff Stadium,
the monument to football of Odessa.
They say some of that money should have gone to the school.
What's your feelings on that, D.U.? You played ball.
[ D.U.] Ain't that stadium part of the school?
So I say that money did go to the school. What's everybody whinin'about?
This is football country, folks. Come on. Get your heads out.
Hi, Don. Hey, Karen.
- It's you. Do you like it? Do you like it? - Think so. What is it?
Rice Krispy. You like it, right? Yeah, I love it.
Thanks. You're welcome.
- Hey, Gary? - Hey,John. How you doin'?
Good. Um,you real busy?
I got a minute or two. What you got up?
- Well, I got some characters out here. - Well, who you got with you?
Wilkins. Well, hey. Hey,Jim. How you doin'?
- How's that pretty wife of yours? - She's good.
Ready for Friday night? Sure hope so. Seems pretty good.
I feel pretty good about it. I really do. [John ] We'rejust, uh--
Wanted to come by and visit,
maybe talk about defense a little bit, if you got a second.
[Jim ] You got a second?
[ Man ] We got a dog named Mojo. We got a cat named Panther.
[ Sportscaster] You got season tickets? [ Man ] You kiddin'? We don't miss anything.
- Instead of the cover 2 zone. - Get the D-line in as many gaps and stack gaps as possible.
Double dent, type of technique.
- [ Girl ] Hey, Boobie. - Hey.
- How you doin'? - All right.
Strong "B'"slide force. Hell, we can look at--
- He'll still be a robber-- - Get Ivory out of the board--
[ All Talking At Once ]
- And go! - Go, go, go, go.
- Go by the speed and make up for the size differential-- - What do you think, Coach?
Now, obviously we're not Division I, but we got a good program.
You play well enough, we'll find you a spot at Kansas Wesleyan.
- How far is the drive? - What drive?
To your school. How far is it from Odessa to your school?
I don't know. 1 0 or 1 2 hours. Are you offering?
Ma'am? Right now. Are you offering?
If you are, we're in. Mom.
He'll sign his intent right now.
Well, obviously we're interested, Miss Winchell, otherwise we wouldn't be here, Mike.
- But right now, that's all we are, is-- - Interested.
Now, you go get at 'em, you throw some touchdowns,
you win some football games, maybe a state championship, huh?
We'll see if we can't find you a home at Kansas Wesleyan.
[ Chuckles ] Yes, sir.
Do you like playin' football, Mike? Yes, sir.
Is it fun for you?
- Lots of fun, sir. - He loves the game.
That's good. It's important. It's... legitimate love of the game.
Supposed to be fun, you know?
Greatest game in the world.
[ Gaines ] I'm not that good at toastin: but, uh, I'll give it a try.
Um, fact is I don't know if I've ever done a toast myself before. Been involved in a few, but uh--
Uh, well, here's to Boobie Miles, who--
Well, everything-- everything you get this year,you deserve it,
because you--you work hard, and you-- I'm real proud of you.
And, um, L. V., to you I-- I can't even tell you how proud of you I am,
the way you've raised this kid and what you do for him, and uh--
Here's to a great season, and uh, God bless us.
- God bless us. - God bless.
We been thinkin'about this for four months now.
You seniors have been thinkin'about it for 1 7 years.
Well, it's here now. It's time.
If any of you have any doubt in your mind,
I don't want you to walk through that door over there.
You shouldn't have any doubt in your mind about what you're supposed to do tonight,
and about how you're supposed to do it.
So let's take care of it!
[ Rap, Indistinct ]
Don't know we can do this 'Cause we always knew this
Ha, ha Yeah, boy
Bass How low can you go
- Death row What a brother know - Way to go.
- Do you understand? - Hut!
[ Sportscaster ] Boobie Miles.
[ Sportscaster Continues, Indistinct ]
You can't turn it back to Boobie Miles!
[ Sportscaster ] All Boobie, all the time here.
- A Mojo first down. - [ Indistinct ]
Boobie around one more.!
- Yeah! That's my boy! - Boobie Miles for 45 yards--
- [ Cheering ] - Score for Mojo. Touchdown.
Billingsley takes it right. Boobie. Here we go again.
Into the end zone. Touchdown, Mojo.
Boobie Miles has it all, all in one great package--
the speed, the size, the athleticism.
Let me tell you, folks, Boobie Miles is worth the price of admission.
Yeah! Yeah, all right!
- Boobie Miles breakin'loose one more time. - Yes, sir!
- Broke the line. - [ Sportscaster #1 ] Chavez.!
[ Sportscaster #2 ] Chavez is playin'like a man possessed.
- [ Shouting ] - Whoo!
- God damn, I'm so proud of ya! - Calm down, son.
- Chavez will eat you-- -[ Gaines ] Billingsley. Hey, Billingsley.
Whoo! Go sit-- Go get on the bench.
Get on the bench. Boy, crazy.
[ Screaming Continues ] I like enthusiasm, but my goodness.
[ Sportscaster #1 ] He's gonna throw it. What an arm.! Did you see--
Boobie Miles, from 35 yards out,
scores a Mojo touchdown.
You're doin' a great job. Give me a smile. Give me a smile. Thank you, Coach.
[ Laughing ] Boobie Miles is about as solid as you can ask for.
He ain't gonna smile. He's more internal. Why not? Why didn't he ever smile?
[ Man ] Mojo.! Mojo.! [ Coach ] Keep watchin'out.
- Let me kick that extra point. - Not this time. You did enough.
[ Cheers, Indistinct ]
- [ Gaines ] Come on. - Chris Comer! Come in.
[ Gaines ] Comer! You're in the game. Come on.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, son. Come here! Come here! Where you goin'?
- You don't want me to go in, Coach? - You don't want a helmet?
Where's your helmet? Go get it! Yes, sir!
- You see my helmet, man? - Find your helmet, son.
- What you lookin' for, Water Bug? - Let me get this real quick. Let me get your helmet, man.
Come on, come on. My goodness gracious.
Boobie. Water Bug, you can't come out here with no helmet, man.
You seen my helmet right here? I can't believe it.
28 sweep. 28 sweep.
You don't know where your helmet is? What are you thinkin'? Where did you put your helmet?
- Right there a second ago. - Well, it ain't there!
Do you not know that you play the game with a helmet on?
- Put your tail end right there.! - Hut!
[ Sportscaster #1 ] He throws back to Miles.
Miles cuts to his right.
[ Cracking ]
Bailey takes him down.
[ Whistle ] [ Groaning ]
[ Moans, Screams ]
Was that a knee? Could have been.
[ Man ] Hold on. Hold on.
[ Sportscaster #1 ] Winchell was still in there. Billingsley was still in there. Unfortunately...
the running back's been taken down hard and it looks like a knee could possibly--
-Just gonna touch the kneecap here. -[ Screams ]
Does it hurt over here, son?
Get up, Boobie.
[ Moaning ] Let me take a look at this. Let me look at it.
[ Man ] It's definitely his A.C.L. I mean, it's a legitimate tear.
[ Gaines ] Do you think he tore any cartilage? Maybe. I could feel the knee catching.
What do you think?
This kid, it's all about how he responds mentally.
I don't know.
[ Exhales ]
All right, everybody. Listen up.
He's gonna be fine. It's not serious. There's no tear. He'll be back in a week.
That's the good news.
Even better news, y'all played a great football game tonight.
A real good football game. [ Clapping ]
[ Applause ] I'm real proud of ya.
And Mike-- Where's Mike Winchell?
Mike, I'm proud of you, son.
You showed discipline. You showed leadership. [ Applause, Cheering ]
You played your butt off,son. I'm proud of you.
All of you. Proud of all of you. And, uh, Wilson--
Now that's body tackle. That's what I been tellin'you about.
Did y'all see him tonight?
Anyway, I'm proud of every one of you. I'm proud of the coaches, all of y'all, each and every player.
I want you to go celebrate. Feel good about yourselves tonight, okay? Come on!
[ Man ] We only got a minute and a halfleft in the game, we're leadin'by a good lead.
He leaves the boy in there like that. That makes no sense.!
You gotta protect your best asset.! What's the matter with this man?
He could have ruined the whole season for us right there.
[ Sportscaster ] We were up. We were winnin'big, and the boy stays in the game.
[ Man ] Yeah.! What's-- You don't need any more. You don't need to accomplish any more.
[ Man #2 ] I think Coach Gaines is a stupid f--in'idiot.
[ Sportscaster ] Hey. [ Man ] Well, he sh-- You know, he shouldn't have put him in.
I mean, we had a big lead and everything.
I don't understand what that was all about.
We can't do anything without Boobie. [ Sportscaster ] We had the game won--
I'm feelin'some damage on the right side here.
- Well, can I play on Friday? - I think you got a slight tear.
Can he play? Yeah, can I play?
Can he play football?
Can I?
You need to get up to Midland, get an M.R.I.
Can a M.R.I. fix your knee?
[ Man ] Is he the one player you can't do without?
Well, I-- I never looked at it that way. A football team is not about one player or two players.
A football team is about the team.
This is a unit, and that's the way we have to play.
Uh, it's gonna be a-- It's gonna be a challenge.
You are makin' some bad decisions!
You're playin'like the village idiot. You want people to think you're the village idiot? Is that what you want?
[ Sportscaster #1 ] The Eagles take down the Panthers, 49-6,
and for Coach Gary Gaines, it's gotta be back to the drawing board.
[ Sportscaster #2 ] That's gonna be the word around town all week.
Coach Gaines, what are you gonna do? The loss of Boobie Miles can not result in the loss of this season.
Hell of a game. Gimme the keys.
Way to take care ofbusiness. Gimme the keys, Dad.
[ Sighs ]
We, uh-- We just need a few more days, Coach, and we be back.
You go into Midland, get that M.R.I.?
I don't need nothin'in Midland. Those rich hillbillies ain't never seen nothin'as pretty as Boobie Miles.
Them M.R.I. machines wouldn't know what to do with it.
[ Laughs ] He gonna be just fine, Coach Gaines.
Uh, we gonna go back to the clinic but they already said ain't no tears.
No tears? [ Boobie ] Ain't no tear.
Is that what they said?
Yes, sir. Uh, we gonna go back for some double confirmation,
but when it come time to play Midland Lee, we be good to go, Coach.
That's good, then.
[ Gunshot ]
[ Mike ] He designed his offense around one player.
[ Scoffs ] We're dead. [ Chavez ] We're not dead.
- We just need to start throwin' the football. - We're dead.
Dead. Pull it.
We gotta lighten up. We're 1 7.
Do you feel 1 7? [ Gun Cocks ]
I don't feel 1 7. Pull it.
- [ Chavez ] We will win state. - [ Gunshot ]
Chavo, you're like a human pinata.
You get your ass all beat on more than anybody I know, and you just sit there and spit out candy.
[ Mike ] That's 'cause he's out ofhere. He's got the grades.
No matter what, if we win or lose, he knows he's gettin' out.
- He's like the one foot out the door man. - It's true, Chavo.
[ Donnie ] You're gonna be drinkin'martinis, Gimme the gun.
eatin'lamb chops, gettin'manicures. [ Laughs ]
[ Chavez ] You're just jealous. Removin' your freakin' shoes. [ Laughs ]
[ All Laughing ]
[ Man ] What's it like being the quarterback?
I mean, this is a big responsibility for a 1 7-year-old kid.
[ Gaines ] No.! That is not acceptable.!
Uh-- It's sort of-- I mean, uh--
It's not too bad. I know, uh--
- [ Gaines ] You are playin'like a fool.! - [ Man ] Do you think you can handle it?
If you got a receiver gettin'jammed inside, what will you do with your brain?
Yeah, I hope so. [ Gaines ] What will your brain do?
- You'll throw outside! - Throw it outside.
You'll throw outside! Now you think you can do that?
- Yes, sir. - Well, show me. Show me!
Hey.
Yeah, well, I thought maybe if you came home it would help out a little bit.
She's sick. She's not doin' so good.
It's just kinda hard. Football's startin' and this is a lot.
Well, I thought if maybe you could come home, it'd help out a little bit,
'cause she's your mother, too.
Okay. Okay.
[ Sighs ] Okay.
[ Television, Indistinct ]
Can you get the job done, Mike?
We're pretty small. I didn't ask you if you think we're small.
I asked you if you think we can get the job done.
Think so. Well,you're gonna have to do better than "I think so. '"Is that clear?
It's clear.
Now I'm gonna assume that by now you've learned that the world's not fair...
and sometimes you get the short end. That's all you get.
And if you don't do something personally to fix it,
that's all you're ever gonna get.
Yes, sir.
Mike.
[ Television Continues, Indistinct ]
Do you wanna play college ball? Do you wanna get out of this town?
Think so.
Well, why aren't you doin' something about it?
[ Sighs ] My mind's not right.
[ Sniffs ]
One of these days you're gonna have to get out of this house.
You're gonna have to leave her.
[ Sniffling ] Yes, sir.
You gotta accept the fact that people have to take care of themselves, and that includes you.
You understand that? Yes, sir.
Okay. The truth is,
against some pretty overwhelming odds,
if-- if you do decide to accept that--
Look at me, Mike.
If you decide to accept that,
you're gonna seriously fly, son.
[ Sportscaster #1 ] Same song, different verse. Middle of the second quarter, Cooper has a 1 4-nothing lead.
Things are really going south in a hurry.
But when you got an offense play built around one player, that's great, as long as the player's there.
When he gets hurt, in this case like Boobie Miles did, what do you do?
[ Sportscaster #2 ] I don't know, but Gaines better come up with a plan quick...
'cause the unthinkable's gonna happen.
The Panthers are gonna lose two consecutive district games.
[ Sportscaster #1 ] Wilson gets the hand-off and he's got room to run on the left-hand side.
Across the line. Clotheslined.!
- And he's down.! - Gimme a running back! We got a running back?
Permian has lost Boobie Miles, now Wilson,
Comer! Comer! Yeah, come on!
leaving him with third-string running back Chris Comer.
- Hut! - Comer around the right side,
has some room to run and... runs out ofbounds.
- [Jeering ] - What is that?
- I didn't have a block. - You are so dumb! Are you scared?
I didn't have no block. Football is a contact sport!
I think he's a sophomore. May be lookin'for a badminton scholarship or something.
That's not gonna cut it.
- [ Shouting ] - Blue 40.! Hut.!
[ Sportscaster #1 ] The snap. Lookin'to throw. Here comes the rush.
Winchell avoids the rush, throws the ball, Comer turns from blocker to receiver.
Has the ball, crosses the 20-yard line, crosses the 30.
Comer to the 40.! Comer to the 50.!
- Where did this speed come from? - Go, go, go!
- Who was that? - It was Comer.
- Our Comer? - It was Comer. It was Comer!
Comer has a Mojo touchdown.!
[ Trumpet Fanfare ] Chris Comer with his first varsity T.D.
Not letting go of that ball. Gimme the ball.
- 85 yards, the second-longest power play in Permian history. - Gimme the ball. Gimme the ball!
Interception, Brian Chavez.!
Abilene Cooper back to punt. It's blocked.!
Touchdown, Permian.!
- That's a Mojo touchdown. -Jesus!
- Billingsley up the middle, picks up a great block from Comer. - Run, Donnie!
Forearm shove behind him, in for the Mojo touchdown.
[ Sportscaster #2 ] There's your old school football. [ Indistinct ]
Oh yeah
Got my Mojo working, baby
Where did this guy come from?
Chris Comer afforded a couple of fantastic runs and one fantastic pass reception,
leading Mojo from a 1 4-nothing deficit.
[ Phone Ringing ]
Hello?
I'm feelin'great. How are you? I feel much better than I did before the hit.
[ Sportscaster ] This team has a swagger. They're walkin'tall. They're playin'tough.
[ Man ] I love these kids. I love the way Winchell's playin:
[ Man #2 ] Real good. They came together after Boobie went out--
[ Sportscaster #1 ] He's got him. Touchdown in the corner.!
You know, we just have to dig deep--
[ Sportscaster #1 ] Comer's amazing. You know, he's stepping in just nicely.
[ Sportscaster #2 ] My concern is that he doesn't have the experience in the long run.
If they can just stay strong, not get overconfident,
and take out Midland Lee I think we're goin: man.
[ Woman ] I think we're gonna go all the way, but I'm a little worried.
Oh no, sir. It's just a small sprain.
It was just, uh, a precaution. [ Sportscaster ] We're on a roll.
[ Man ] Don't get started on the celebration dance. We got Midland comin'up.
[ Sportscaster ] Midland Lee is the real deal.
[ Woman #2 ] You don't need to be slackin'right now. You gotta be playin'and practicin:
[ Sportscaster ] Permian zips past North Shore Galena 1 7-3.
Come on. We're five and one. The team is winning now.
[ Man #2 ] They all win, but who we playin'? Come on. Mediocre teams.
[ Sportscaster ] Two losses could shut the door on the Permian Panthers.
[ Man #3 ] Let's not start tootin'the horns just yet,you know what I mean?
You lose two division games in this football climate, and you're done, Sammy. You're done.
Midland. Boobie.
This the best damn hospital in Texas.
The very best.
[ Electric Motor ]
[ Motor Stops ]
[ Buzzing ]
My son, Andrew, played for Midland, and ended up back East at Penn.
Oh, he playin' with, uh,Joe Paterno.
University of Pennsylvania. Uh, premed.
Oh. Just let it relax. You have any pain?
Not at all. Does this hurt?
Nope. None of that hurts?
Nope. Okay. Go ahead and sit up and just let your legs hang over the side.
In fact, why don't you go ahead and get dressed and let me look at the scan.
I-I'm sorry. You'reJames' dad?
No, I'm his uncle. Come over and let me-- let me look at the scan with you.
Uh, this is the scan wejust did today ofhis knee...
and this is looking right through the middle of the knee.
What we're looking at right through here is-- is the A.C.L.,
and what this shows is that he's had a fairly significant, fairly serious injury.
James, let me show you. Right through here is where the injury is,
and it looks like you've had a pretty serious injury to that part of your knee.
Significant enough that-- that I have concerns about what you can do from here on.
So when can I suit up?
Well, let me just say with how your knee felt when I examined it and what I see on the scan--
With-- with the-- the things that you do well--
The reason that you're great is that you can run and cut and hammer people...
and you don't hesitate because you've got a solid knee.
When you don't have this ligament, you can't do that, so it's really out of the question.
What? No, no, no. That's-- That's not what Dr. Spencer said.
He said three weeks. Three weeks is up, and I'm ready to play.
I understand. I understand, but again, when I--
Based on what I see when I feel your knee, examine your knee-- What I see here--
[ Stammers ] You-- You really can't play with this kind of knee.
What are you talkin' about, I can't play? I'm gonna play.
I'm ready to play. My team needs me. I'm ready to play.
Listen to me. I am listenin' to you.
I-I want-- I want what's best for you.
You and I are on the same page-- We ain't on the same page.!
How you gonna want what's best for me? Hold on. Hold on.
How you gonna want what's best for me? You from Midland, right?
You from Midland? Huh? This is bull, man.
You just jealous 'cause you from Midland.
What I recommend-- You jealous 'cause you from Midland. Who paying you?
- Who paying you? - Come on, Boobie. That's okay.
You tryin' to take my football career!
You tryin'to take my football career.! Boobie, let's get out ofhere.
Tryin'to take my football career.! Whatever you're sayin' to me, listen to me.
Come on! Pig!
Here back on Mojo Radio, it's Slammin'Sammy Stands.
I knew tonight's game was gonna be a big game, but itjust got bigger.
Earlier today, Cooper beat Woodland, which means that if Permian wins tonight, they're in the play-offs.
If they lose, though, they fall back into a three-way tie for first place,
and that means the tie-breaker is a coin toss.
[ Gaines ] So what'd the doctor say?
'Cause, see, if you go out there before your knee's ready-- Coach, my knee's fine.
You okay with this, L.V.?
Yeah, I'm good with it. Hundred percent.
Go get dressed.
[ Door Opens ]
[ Door Closes ]
[ Sportscaster #1 ] The most storied rivalry in the state of Texas...
is Permian hosting the Midland Lee Rebels at Ratliff Stadium.
Tonight one of these teams could take a step toward the play-offs.
Permian has one district loss, both Cooper and Midland Lee have two.
[ Sportscaster #2 ] There's no doubt about that.
A win tonight puts Permian in the play-offs, no coin flip needed,
plus it'll send the Lee Rebels home for the season.
[ Sportscaster #1 ] Well, what do you know, folks. Look at this coming out of the locker room.
Number 45 has emerged from the locker room.
[ Sportscaster #2 ] Boobie doesn't look like he's limping at all.
He looks good to me. He looks like he's ready to go.
[ Sportscaster #1 ] Now the question is, decoy or player?
He ain't gonna play. I don't think so either.
[ Sportscaster #1 ] From what I know about Coach Gary Gaines, nobody holds his cards closer than Gary does.
- Come on, guys. Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! - Hut.!
Winchell pitches to Comer. Flipped on his head.!
Winchell, pressured by Olivera, swings a pass out to Billingsley-- Picked off!.
It's Dominguez. Dominguez will take it in from 25 yards away.
And Lee brings home points.
[Jeering ] Hang on to the ball, son!
Don't worry about it. Shake it off. Shake it off.
Don't worry about it, Coach. Let me spin. Let me spin, Coach.
Y'all wanna win, put Boobie in.
Set. Hut.! Hut.!
- [ Sportscaster #1 ] Winchell will swing it out to Billingsley. - Come on, Donnie.
And the ball is tripped by Dominguez.
- Kevin Lane, and a blatant body slam by Billingsley. - Donnie! Donnie!
[Jeering ] What's up?
My goodness. Son, is there something wrong with you? Are you mentally okay?
What are you puttin' your helmet on for? Take your helmet off, son.
You're gonna sit on the bench for a little while. You don't need that helmet.
Third down, with less than two minutes to play in the half.
Strandler over the left side, uncontested. 3 2 yards down to T.D.
[ Sportscaster #2 ] Permian came in with a four-game win streak but they haven't been tested all year.
Coach Gaines is gonna have to find a way to get his offense on track...
or start feeling his season slipping through his fingers.
- Do you think you're playin'football? Do you think you're playin'football? - [ Blows Nose ]
Do you think you're playin'football? You are showing me nothing.!
Do you understand me? Do you think you got it made?
Because if that's what you think,
you're gonna find out what it feels like to sit on your asses...
and watch Midland Lee take your season!
[ Sportscaster #1 ] No offense tonight for Mojo, and still no sign ofJames "Boobie'"Miles.
Y'all wanna win? Put Boobie in. I'm about to spin.
Come on, Coach. Come on, Coach. Let me get this for you.
Under five minutes to play and Lee still leads 1 4-7.
Weak defense, weak offense and no Boobie. If you're Coach Gaines, what do you do?
[ Sportscaster #2 ] Right now Mike Winchell can't get this offense going,
and the Midland coach has seen Boobie on the sidelines.
If you don't put him in, he knows you're bluffing. I'd put him in.
All right. Move out!
Come on! [ Crowd Booing ]
Boobie! You're in. Let's go! Let's go! What you want,yo?
[ Cheering ]
[ Sportscaster #1 ] Well, we apparently are all gonna get what we wished for,
because here comes Boobie Miles, and this is certainly what the fans came to see.
That's number 45 back in the Permian backfield.
Back slam, 37 stretch-- [ All ] Break!
Now Boobie the senior, Number 45, lining up behind quarterback Mike Winchell,
and offensive line is rarin'to go with room to run.
Three, 1 2, hut.!
Miles going left. Hesitates just a bit.
[ Players Shouting, Indistinct ]
Get off!. Get off!.
- Let's go with 60-Cheetah. - 60-Cheetah!
- Let's go! Let's go! - [ Indistinct ]
They're gonna cheat up close to the line again and see if they're gonna run Boobie one more time.
He will go to the right. There is a hole.
He gets a block. The Dominguez brothers take him down. He spins and he's down.
[ Boobie Groans ]
[ Screams, Cries ] Take it easy. Stay down.
Don't touch it. Don't touch it. Try to relax.
[ Whimpers ] Let me take a look at it.
[ Groans ] I'm gonna get up on my own. I can get up on my own.
[ Sportscaster #1 ] Folks, the utterjoy of watching Boobie Miles trot back on to the field...
has been replaced by the sheer misery of watching him being carried off of it.
We unfortunately may have seen the last of Boobie Miles in the black and white of Permian.
Let me see. He's done.
We're gonna go jet fire, Coach. Well, you better go somethin'!
One minute 35 seconds left to play in this one.
[ Sportscaster #2 ] Panthers move immediately to the hurry-up offense.
[ Sportscaster #1 ] Boobie no longer a factor. Comer, following the tackle, will dig up near midfield.
The clock now inside of 1:20. It'll be second down, Permian.
Lee clinging to that seven-point lead and time becomes a factor.
- 60 Cheetah. - 60 Cheetah! 60 Cheetah! Hut!
Again, Winchell to Payne, beating Preston.
Only 40 seconds left. Mike Winchell trying to keep Permian's play-offhopes alive.
- Completes the pass. - He's got it. He's got it.
Winchell was drilled, but he seems to be okay.
- Back it off!. - Winchell, past time, he's lookin:
Again, Winchell to Payne. The clock continues to run.
- 25 seconds left. - Go, go!
[ Sportscaster Continues, Indistinct ]
Let's go! We got four up!
Hold it.! Hut.!
Mike Winchell trying to keep the play-offhopes alive. Complete.!
[ Indistinct ]
- [ Shouting ] - We gotta go with--
This is for the ball game. The clock is still moving.
[ Indistinct ]
- [ Indistinct ] - Come on, front line!
- Mike Winchell will go for the shotgun, steps back and he drops the ball.! - Pick it up! Pick it up!
Picks it up, steps into the pocket, looking for Allen Wyles, he's open.
Here's the pass, and it's... too tall.!
Midland Lee wins the ball game.
[ Crying ]
[ Thumping ]
It's all right. No, man.
I'm sorry. It's all right.
[ Sobs ] I'm sorry. I'm sorry.