On Sunday December 21st at 9 PM, ESPN will be airing its new documentary A Woman Among Boys on ESPN 2.
From ESPN:
A Woman Among Boys, directed and produced by award-winning filmmakers Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill, is an inside look at a season led by the only woman coaching a boys’ team in New York City’s toughest basketball division and in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Brooklyn. The once highly accomplished and storied program had fallen on hard times before Ruth “Coach Love” Lovelace, who attended the high school and was teaching Phys Ed at the time, was named coach in 1994 at the age of 24. She’s faced unique challenges and has seen players on her teams work to overcome significant obstacles both on and off the court, and in the process has rebuilt Boys High into a powerhouse – with playoff appearances in every year of her tenure.
ESPN asked us to pre-screen the rough-cut of the film and I must say it was entertaining. Without giving too much away in the film, here are my thoughts:
- From chasing girls on road trips to hitting the big shot in front of your home crowd, watching these players in their high school careers makes me want to go back to my own high school playing days. The players are quite funny and you are reminded on how young these kids are, yet they are faced with living in one of the toughest neighborhoods in the country and struggling to make it out.
- Coach Lovelace and her staff is exactly what you want in your high school coach. Not only is she a winning coach (her record proves this), but she truly loves her players and fights to see them succeed both on and off the court. The documentary shows her fight for these kids, not only to graduate high school but to get them to college and ultimately flourish in life. How can you not appreciate the work that she does?
- There is some unintentional comedy that at times can be hilarious. Anytime you have a documentary, people try not to “ham” it up for the camera, but they can not help themselves and this film has plenty of its fair share.
You can enjoy the film for yourself by checking it out on December 21st at 9 PM on ESPN 2 and come back and let us know your thoughts.
Image Source: Newsday
Comments:
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Jaime…
Was she the coach when you guys played them in the Catholic Christmas Tournament when you were a freshman? Me and Xaiv couldn’t remember if a woman was the coach then…
I watched this tonight and it was good, although they could focus a little more on the kids student lives. So far it is just BBall. I think more about the neighborhood and the school would be interesting to know about. I did like the footage on the recruitment trips. So many times we see what is is like for big time recruits, but this is more real.
i was wondering when does it come on again because i caught the end and i want to see it from the beginning because it does look like a good flim so can you tell me when does it air again thank you
I saw the film last night, and I thought it was very good. The boys were genuinely good, talented, and funny guys. Coach Lovelace should definitely be commended for her efforts in ensuring the guys know how important college is. I’d love for my boys to play for her.
i loved this show if that what you wold call it]
it was something that caught my eye. and i couldnt move my eyes off the channel even when a commerial came on.
when a commercial did come on i was like “aww man no” and would get mad but when the show came back on i was at ease and was happy. this was a great show. when will it come on again?.
This was great. I recorded it but the Tennessee women’s game ran into overtime 20 minutes into this programming time (also great) and I missed the ending. When will this be on again?
I watch this show last night and thought it was great. I love how tough she is and how she kept the boys focus. She can coach my 16 year son anytime.
when does it come on again because I missed most of it
I loved every minute of it.
didn’t get to see the whole documentary…it has to be good if you can get you get my children to sit and able to see the passion and enthusiasm that the coaches/boys/fans showed throughout the program. And the rewards of their hard work.
Please tell us know when this will be aired again
would like to know how to purchase a copy to use as a teching tool