Summary'Coach Carter' is based on a true story of Coach Ken Carter, a controversial high school basketball coach played by Samuel L. Jackson. In 1999, Ken Carter, a successful sporting goods store owner, accepts the job of basketball coach for his old high school in a poor area of Richmond, CA, where he was a champion athlete. As much dismayed by the poor attitudes of his players as well as their dismal play performance, Carter sets about to change both. He immediately imposes a strict regime typified in written contracts that include stipulations for respectful behavior, a dress code and good grades as requisites to being allowed to participate. The initial resistance from the boys is soon dispelled as the team under Carter's tutelage becomes an undefeated competitor in the games. However, when the overconfident team's behavior begins to stray and Carter learns that too many players are doing poorly in class, he takes immediate action. To the outrage of the team, the school and the community, Carter cancels all team activities and locks the court until the team shows acceptable academic improvement. In the ensuing debate, Carter fights to keep his methods, determined to show the boys that they need to rely on more than sports for their futures and eventually finds he has affected them more profoundly than he ever expected.
Main Character—Coach Carter
Ken Carter is once a star player on the Richmond High School basketball team in Richmond, CA, and years later, after establishing himself in publishing and marketing, he is invited to return to the school and to the team as the new basketball coach. Initially, Carter feels reluctant to accept the job when seeing the poor performance and discipline of the team. However, after being persuaded, he accepted the job finally. He knows that in order to guarantee these boys a better future so that they won’t end up in prison or death, he should emphasise more on education than basketball alone. He wants to turn the team from inner city losers into student athletes. So he sets his own rules for the players by signing contracts with them. In the contracts, he wants the players to maintain a grade of 2.3, attend all classes, wear coat and tie on game days and sit in the front row of every class. Although these requirements seem quite impossible and are protested by parents and even the principal, Carter insists. This can be seen when Carter starts the lockout of the gym and continues to cancel the practices and games despite the objections from the whole community. Many will think that Carter is stubborn in the first place, but rather to say that he is stubborn, we should, however, look from other perspective the decisions he has made, which are actually for the bright future of the boys. Besides that, Carter is strict during the basketball training sessions. He imposes strict punishments like push-ups and running suicides when finding the players breaking the rules or acting rudely towards each other. He wants the boys to be respectful and disciplined, and meanwhile, can play as a team. For instance, he wants them to call each other using ‘sir’ since the first day he is introduced to them. In short, Carter is such great that he makes every decision just for the sake of the players. He believes that the players can achieve goals beyond college ball or the NBA despite others don’t think so. He tries every way to make them to excel not only in the court but also in the classroom in order for them to get into college. He never gives up though facing the pressure and all the criticism from the parents and the whole society. Under Carter's insistence, the team finally realises the goals they are supposed to achieve in their future. Carter’s hard work pays off when some of the team players manage to get into colleges eventually.
Social Issues
First, most obviously we can see that the youngsters are impolite and rude. For instance, the language they use, such as ass, nigger, dog, shit and so on. They also disrespect the elders. They show attitude towards Carter, their new basketball coach, and Cruz even tries to beat him, when Carter is first introduced to them. Premarital pregnancy is also another social issue portrayed in this movie. Kyra, girlfriend of Kenyon, one of the team players, gets pregnant during her high school. She plans to born the baby and gives up her study. While on the other hand, Kenyon is in a dilemma. He doesn’t know which road he should take for if he agrees with Kyra to born the baby, he will have to give up his study and his dream to play college basketball. So they end up with a quarrel since they can’t reach an agreement. However, Kyra aborts the baby eventually as she thinks that entering a college is more important to Kenyon. The movie also illustrates that the society is uneducated and ignorant. When Carter introduces the contract to the parents, they show great protest, as they think that grades are not as important as the basketball game. When Carter locks down the gym, canceling practices and games, the parents cause a stir and the whole society creates chaos here and there as they think that the only way their children can get out of the ghetto is by falling into the stereotype of either NBA player or rapper. Even the Principal Garisson disagrees with Carter and has the same thought as the society. Just because of this wide ignorance and the misconceptions of the society, most of the teenagers in that area end up in prison or even death. For examples, Lyle’s father is in jail whereas Junior Battle’s brother is killed. There are also those who get involved in drug-dealing activity, that is Timo Cruz. Drug-dealing seems to be a source of income for him. He stops this only after his cousin, Renny is killed and this is when he realizes how he will end up his life if he keeps doing this.
Ken Carter is once a star player on the Richmond High School basketball team in Richmond, CA, and years later, after establishing himself in publishing and marketing, he is invited to return to the school and to the team as the new basketball coach. Initially, Carter feels reluctant to accept the job when seeing the poor performance and discipline of the team. However, after being persuaded, he accepted the job finally. He knows that in order to guarantee these boys a better future so that they won’t end up in prison or death, he should emphasise more on education than basketball alone. He wants to turn the team from inner city losers into student athletes. So he sets his own rules for the players by signing contracts with them. In the contracts, he wants the players to maintain a grade of 2.3, attend all classes, wear coat and tie on game days and sit in the front row of every class. Although these requirements seem quite impossible and are protested by parents and even the principal, Carter insists. This can be seen when Carter starts the lockout of the gym and continues to cancel the practices and games despite the objections from the whole community. Many will think that Carter is stubborn in the first place, but rather to say that he is stubborn, we should, however, look from other perspective the decisions he has made, which are actually for the bright future of the boys. Besides that, Carter is strict during the basketball training sessions. He imposes strict punishments like push-ups and running suicides when finding the players breaking the rules or acting rudely towards each other. He wants the boys to be respectful and disciplined, and meanwhile, can play as a team. For instance, he wants them to call each other using ‘sir’ since the first day he is introduced to them. In short, Carter is such great that he makes every decision just for the sake of the players. He believes that the players can achieve goals beyond college ball or the NBA despite others don’t think so. He tries every way to make them to excel not only in the court but also in the classroom in order for them to get into college. He never gives up though facing the pressure and all the criticism from the parents and the whole society. Under Carter's insistence, the team finally realises the goals they are supposed to achieve in their future. Carter’s hard work pays off when some of the team players manage to get into colleges eventually.
Social Issues
First, most obviously we can see that the youngsters are impolite and rude. For instance, the language they use, such as ass, nigger, dog, shit and so on. They also disrespect the elders. They show attitude towards Carter, their new basketball coach, and Cruz even tries to beat him, when Carter is first introduced to them. Premarital pregnancy is also another social issue portrayed in this movie. Kyra, girlfriend of Kenyon, one of the team players, gets pregnant during her high school. She plans to born the baby and gives up her study. While on the other hand, Kenyon is in a dilemma. He doesn’t know which road he should take for if he agrees with Kyra to born the baby, he will have to give up his study and his dream to play college basketball. So they end up with a quarrel since they can’t reach an agreement. However, Kyra aborts the baby eventually as she thinks that entering a college is more important to Kenyon. The movie also illustrates that the society is uneducated and ignorant. When Carter introduces the contract to the parents, they show great protest, as they think that grades are not as important as the basketball game. When Carter locks down the gym, canceling practices and games, the parents cause a stir and the whole society creates chaos here and there as they think that the only way their children can get out of the ghetto is by falling into the stereotype of either NBA player or rapper. Even the Principal Garisson disagrees with Carter and has the same thought as the society. Just because of this wide ignorance and the misconceptions of the society, most of the teenagers in that area end up in prison or even death. For examples, Lyle’s father is in jail whereas Junior Battle’s brother is killed. There are also those who get involved in drug-dealing activity, that is Timo Cruz. Drug-dealing seems to be a source of income for him. He stops this only after his cousin, Renny is killed and this is when he realizes how he will end up his life if he keeps doing this.
Meaningful Quotes and Messages
Timo Cruz: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Jason Lyle: You said we're a team. One person struggles, we all struggle. One person triumphs, we all triumph.
~Teamwork is necessary for success.
Coach Ken Carter: When we step on the floor every second that clock is ticking, we are pedal to the metal, we run the ball, we pressure the ball, and most importantly we control the tempo of the game, we make them play Richmond Oiler ball.
~Time is precious, don’t simply waste your time; and be confident.
Coach Ken Carter: Young man, think about the choice you’re making if you walk out that door.
~Think twice before you make any decisions.
Timo Cruz: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Jason Lyle: You said we're a team. One person struggles, we all struggle. One person triumphs, we all triumph.
~Teamwork is necessary for success.
Coach Ken Carter: When we step on the floor every second that clock is ticking, we are pedal to the metal, we run the ball, we pressure the ball, and most importantly we control the tempo of the game, we make them play Richmond Oiler ball.
~Time is precious, don’t simply waste your time; and be confident.
Coach Ken Carter: Young man, think about the choice you’re making if you walk out that door.
~Think twice before you make any decisions.
Principal Garrison: Your intentions are good, Mr. Carter. But your methods are a bit extreme.
Coach Ken Carter: You painted an extreme picture. No one expects them to graduate. No one expects them to go to college.
Principal Garrison: So you take away basketball, the one area of their lives where they have some success?
Coach Ken Carter: Yes, ma’am.
Principal Garrison: And you challenge them academically?
Coach Ken Carter: Yes, ma’am.
Principal Garrison: And what if they fail?
Coach Ken Carter: Then we’ve failed.
Principal Garrison: Unfortunately, Mr. Carter, both you and I know that for some of these kids, this basketball season will be the highlight of their lives.
Coach Ken Carter: Well, I think that’s the problem, don’t you?
Coach Ken Carter: [to the people in attendance at the board hearing] You really need to consider the message you're sending this boys by ending the lockout. It's the same message that we as a culture send to our professional athletes; and that is that they are above the law. If these boys cannot honor the simple rules of a basketball contract, how long do you think it will be before they're out there breaking the law? I played ball here at Richmond High 30 years ago. It was the same thing then; some of my teammates went to prison, some of them even ended up dead. If you vote to end the lockout, you won't have to terminate me; I'll quit.
Coach Ken Carter: Now I want you to go home and look at your lives tonight, and look at your parents’ lives, and ask yourselves:” Do I want better?”
~Always self-evaluate and remind yourselves about the things you’re doing and do think about your beloved family.
Coach Ken Carter: l came to coach basketball players, and you became students. Coach Ken Carter: l came to teach boys, and you became men.
Coach Ken Carter: You men played like champions. You never gave up. And champions hold their heads high. What you achieved goes way beyond the win-lose column or what’s gonna be written on the front page of the sport section tomorrow. You’ve achieved something that some people spend their whole lives trying to find. What you achieved is that ever-elusive victory within. And gentlemen, I am so proud of you.
~Sometimes, process is more significant than the outcome.
Coach Ken Carter: You painted an extreme picture. No one expects them to graduate. No one expects them to go to college.
Principal Garrison: So you take away basketball, the one area of their lives where they have some success?
Coach Ken Carter: Yes, ma’am.
Principal Garrison: And you challenge them academically?
Coach Ken Carter: Yes, ma’am.
Principal Garrison: And what if they fail?
Coach Ken Carter: Then we’ve failed.
Principal Garrison: Unfortunately, Mr. Carter, both you and I know that for some of these kids, this basketball season will be the highlight of their lives.
Coach Ken Carter: Well, I think that’s the problem, don’t you?
Coach Ken Carter: [to the people in attendance at the board hearing] You really need to consider the message you're sending this boys by ending the lockout. It's the same message that we as a culture send to our professional athletes; and that is that they are above the law. If these boys cannot honor the simple rules of a basketball contract, how long do you think it will be before they're out there breaking the law? I played ball here at Richmond High 30 years ago. It was the same thing then; some of my teammates went to prison, some of them even ended up dead. If you vote to end the lockout, you won't have to terminate me; I'll quit.
Coach Ken Carter: Now I want you to go home and look at your lives tonight, and look at your parents’ lives, and ask yourselves:” Do I want better?”
~Always self-evaluate and remind yourselves about the things you’re doing and do think about your beloved family.
Coach Ken Carter: l came to coach basketball players, and you became students. Coach Ken Carter: l came to teach boys, and you became men.
Coach Ken Carter: You men played like champions. You never gave up. And champions hold their heads high. What you achieved goes way beyond the win-lose column or what’s gonna be written on the front page of the sport section tomorrow. You’ve achieved something that some people spend their whole lives trying to find. What you achieved is that ever-elusive victory within. And gentlemen, I am so proud of you.
~Sometimes, process is more significant than the outcome.
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