“In Football We Trust” One of the most popular sports in the United States, Football has become a haven for minorities that might otherwise struggle to receive a quality education. With professional teams and big-name colleges always on the look-out for the next top prospect, high-school football players face immense pressure to become the best in order to receive an education and have the chance to provide for themselves and their families. The documentary, “In Football We Trust,” focuses on the path of four Polynesian-American high school football players as they attempt to prove that they have what it takes to make it to the National Football League while navigating the trials and tribulations stemming from family, school, and outside …show more content…
Despite the influx of talent from across the world, Samoans and Tongans have begun to dominate football with superior speed and strength that allows them to play outside the boundaries of past players at their size. The film shows every aspect of the process from the players entering high school to being scouted by college and professional scouts as they capture four years of the four young men’s careers. The fact that the film puts so much emphasis on the process shows the importance of it for the players as well as their families. Though the players have strength and support in the form of mothers, siblings and friends, the film stresses the difficulties that the players face as they attempt to become professional football …show more content…
Part of the movie focuses on the culture and lifestyle of the Polynesian community within Salt Lake City, Utah. That also means shedding light on the gang-violence and drug abuse that exists in some of the low-income Polynesian communities. Gangs like the Regulators, threaten to derail the four players followed in the film. “This particular gang has had a great impact on the Bloomfield brothers, because their family is famous for holding ties with them” (Berkshire, Film Review: ‘In Football We Trust’). They face the pressure of becoming pulled into the violence and drugs as a means to survive and generate income for their families in lieu of an NFL contract. The importance of this ever-present struggle within the players drives home the importance of performing on the field in order for them to rise above their
African-American players are often negatively affected due to the prevalence of racism in the town. Ivory Christian, for instance, is a born-again Christian with aspirations to be a famous evangelist, but he is unable to pursue his dream due to his commitment to the football team. Because of this, the townspeople have unrealistic expectations of him and assume that he will put all his time and energy into football. Furthermore, there is a greater pressure on him to succeed...
Abstract: High school football in the state of Texas has become out of control. The sport is no longer played for the sake of the school but rather has become a Friday night ritual to these small towns in Texas. The players are no longer just high school kids inter acting in school sports but have now become heroes to these small town communities. Communities simply no longer support their local high school team but rally in pride of their hometown rivalry against another team. School administrators and coaches no longer are teachers and mentors for the kids but are the equivalent to what in professional football are team owners and "real coaches". Parents have become agents and sacrifice their jobs and homes so that their child may play for the right team. Finally the fans, the fans have lost the sense that it is just a high school sport and changed the game to a level of professional sports. I plan to prove and show that for all these reasons Texas high school football has become out of control. It is no longer the game that it was originally meant to be.
American Football is a huge spectator sport where offensive and defensive players will use teamwork and perseverance to try and score more points than their opponent. Football is highly respected in America, where boys will try and pursue the dream of playing in the NFL (National Football Association) someday; but if you look at an average neighborhood, you will find that kids and adults of all ages love to go out and throw around the pigskin. (Lerner and Lerner 275). One thing Americans will take pride in is the college and NFL football teams they root for. People sit down with a beer and talk hours upon hours of football and two individuals can get in a heated discussion in the local sports store of whose sports team is better. Surprisingly enough, one will find the most passionate football players at the high school level. Most boys will start their football career as a young child in football programs such as Pop Warner to get a foothold and to get those involved in teamwork and friendships. These programs are usually the start to someone falling in love with the sport and making it a career choice eight years later. Football is one of America’s favorite sports. When fall season comes around, people across America are placing bets, finding out where that new sports bar is, and buying wide screen T.V’s to watch NFL on Sundays. After their team plays, they will go out and reminisce what happened that Sunday. While thousands of fans are still pumped from the NFL games they watched; small towns across America are getting ready to shut down their shops and restaurants to have the chance to make it to the local high schools football game. Ray Glier, a reporter for the New York Times, writes about football in the small town of Appala...
Both younger brothers feel the weight of their older brothers’ legacies. Joey feels pressured to live up to Mike’s (modest) football success after his death. He even quits the soccer team and plans to play high school football. He wants to be like his brother. Paul also grapples with his older brother’s legacy. In this case, however, he wants athletic success in a different sport. Given that Erik’s football success completely monopolizes his parents’ lives, Paul struggles to make a name for himself in soccer. He wants his parents to treat him like they treat Erik, and he wants the respect that his soccer success
Throughout the film, multiple credible sources are interviewed and asked to comment on the idea of student athletes playing for pay. Among those interviewed are students that are currently playing or have played college football under the NCAA. The first of the students interviewed
The role of college athletics in the American home is known to all. The traditional football games on Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. March Madness for NCAA men's basketball as well as the year's end Rose bowl for college football leaves fans glued to their televisions for hours. Millions of Americans stare at ESPN or absorb themselves in the most recent issue of Sports Illustrated just to catch the latest news on their favorite teams' recruits, recent games, and statistics. Often just viewed as a past time to most it is easy to lose sight of why these athletes are on the field , court, etc. to begin with. Believe it or not, it's for their education. These young adults ranging anywhere from seventeen to twenty-three years of age are all members of the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). As such these students must initially meet the requirements to get accepted into their chosen university, participate in their sport, and ultimately graduate from their selected institution. It is often forgotten that these members are students first and athletes second. Delving deeper into this very controversial matter are the race and gender issues that come into play. The most affected minority group affected by these stipulations and is the African American. While struggling through the ongoing prejudice and discrimination that still exists today, African American athletes are still expected to follow the same guidelines as every other student that participates in college athletics. By investigating the trends from the past years of African American athletes beginning with their entrance into college throughout their athletic and academic careers and then a...
In the movie Remember the Titans, you follow an integrated football team in the 1970’s. In this time period, racism was an issue that many people looked the other way about. Only towards the end can you see that the team is truly integrated. If it weren’t for the team coaches who inspired teamwork within them, perhaps the movie would’ve ended so bittersweet. On any note, there’s a lot we can take from the team effort in this production.
People often wonder why sports are so important and how they impact great populations. Sports have not always been a staple in society or a part of the “American Dream,” however; they have proven to have significant influences like how a team winning the World Series can bring tears to the eyes of an entire city, or how Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier to become the first African American to play in a MLB game sparked a generation of segregation. The power of sports extends further than the scoreboard and can bring a nation or a race together during times of strife.
Basketball is a sport that is capable of changing one’s life. This is evident in the story, ‘The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian’ created by Sherman Alexie. The story is told through the eyes of Arnold Spirit Jr., an Indian attending Reardan, a white high school while living on the Spokane Indian reserve. Both sides do not take such a choice lightly, but this all changes when Arnold makes the Reardan varsity basketball team. With basketball, Arnold is no longer shunned for his choices. Basketball is a sport he can play freely, without the constant fear of consequences. Basketball is important to Arnold because it shows him the power of expectation, allows him to build healthy relationships and shows him the impact of support.
One significance of football that is apparent throughout this movie is bringing not only the students together but also
“The Football Factory” is a story about working class youth in Britain, and does not aspire to be anything else. It is a raw, real and often cringe-worthy look at life. It does not judge or overtly try to point the reader in one direction, instead it just lets the reader scope the decisions and actions of the characters on their own. The book focuses mainly on British society, the welfare state, and the divide in classes. The characters represent the white working class in Britain and the choices made by those enveloped in its sociological structure. Tommy is stuck in a circle, with no options or desire to get out. Both the state and the classes have helped mold this cycle that everyone perpetuates. This is the understanding the book provides, an honest look at white, working class youth in Britain.
Thesis: I believe that college sports should be considered a profession. Athletes deserve to be paid for their work. College athletics are a critical part of America’s culture
While listening to each story and looking into the faces of the team and the coaches I realized the one thing each kid expressed that makes high school football
Jeff Kemp, a retired professional NFL quarterback, once stated, “Sports teach positive lessons that enrich America even while revealing its flaws” (Kemp). Athletics offer so much more than the joy of game day and the thrill of a win. Being involved in sports holds the key to a world filled with passion, excitement, and once in a lifetime opportunities. There is nothing better than seeing the student section arrive in full force or hearing the school fight song chanted before kickoff. However, when life moves on and leaves sports behind, the lessons it has instilled in athletes never disappears. The play calls may be foggy and the jersey will be too tight, but what was innocently learned in the jersey shines out at an older age. Although life lessons can be learned through everyday activities, lessons such as teamwork, self-confidence, and dealing with failure are only truly learned through sports by young athletes.
Millions of children worldwide participate in a multitude of sports, either in school or outside of school. As they grow older, they get better, but some of them stop playing. We have discussed that the best and sometimes oldest of the kids (in their age groups) are given more chances and more opportunities, as well as better coaching. This results in them gaining more experience and practice. Ultimately, some of them end up being national or world-class athletes competing and representing their country. In order for that to happen, they have to be recognized as talented and be presented with a chance to become great.