i tune into this movie not because i be a fan of u. s. high school basketball ( in fact i only rarely watch nba game ) but rather because i be a fan of gene hackman and who usually manage to bring an impressive depth to his performance . in this case and however and i be sorely disappointed . this be not one of the bright shin star of hackman career . in fairness to him and he do not have a lot to work with . a norman dale and the new coach of a small town high school basketball team in indiana and he wasn not call on to do much act . basically his performance consist of pace up and down basketball sideline rant at the referee . i do not find him particularly believable in the role to be honest . i also be unimpressed with the requisite romance between dale and myra fleener ( barbara hershey ) . quite honestly there be absolutely no chemistry between hackman and hershey . the romance never capture my attention and and neither do the basketball action and which be altogether too predictable . there be far too many problem with this movie to make it worthwhile . i never do understand the depth of the sheer hatred that so many of the townsfolk have for dale and almost from before the time he arrive . the character development be poor and the story itself be poorly develop . too much basketball and not enough human interaction and in my opinion . how many shot of kid shoot basket do we need to see to get the point that this be a basketball movie . there be no suspense represent be it even possible to doubt that hickory be go to win the big one . i realize that this be base on a true story and but i guess it prove that not every true story should be a movie . quite frankly and it just wasn not a very interesting movie . definitely a movie gene hackman would like to forget . no good than a negative in my opinion .