Gridiron Gang Essay

Gionni Blankenship
Professor Avans
KINE 185-01
19 April 2018
Gridiron Gang
Gridiron gang (2006) directed by Phil Joanou is a film about young delinquents trapped in a juvenile detention center because of the criminal activities they were involved in, in their community. In this film Dwayne Johnson, named Sean Porter is a probation officer that works at the center and develops the young group of felons into a high school football team in a matter of four weeks. His idea of transferring the youth’s aggression and gang mentality into action on the football field is a great example of how coaches can reconstruct the perspective of kids growing up in poverty and redirect their focus to something positive. Porter offering football was an active

way of bonding kids from opposing gangs, promoting teamwork and cooperation instead of hostility and hatred for one another. This is based on a true story, and it sends out a message that one person can make a difference and the most misguided kids in our society can change the course of their lives through hard work and commitment. Porter offers football as an active way of bonding kids from opposing gangs, promoting teamwork and cooperation instead of hostility and hatred. Although Porter’s efforts are principled the director presents a sort of realism to show us that he failed a few times before his lesson was cemented into the young men of the detention center. In the film, Willie and Kelvin are a part of rival gangs and Willie’s closest friend that was previously at the detention center was shot and killed by members of the opposing side or Kelvin’s gang. Willie dealing with the loss of his friend becomes misguided and snaps and shoots the man that has been beating his mother; which leads him to the same detention center his friend was imprisoned. Both Willie and Kelvin temporally damaged individuals arrive at the center during the same time and it causes them to try and kill one another every chance they get. However, once Porter convinces them to be on the team; it is interesting that in this film the director has both wear the numbers 13 and 31; because it depicts them being from different sides of the track, but, they are more alike than they care to know. I am not sure if that was the intention of the director, but it would make sense that is the dynamic they are trying to depict. Before we can judge someone, that we think is different we must put the differences aside and take the opportunity to gain some knowledge on who they are as individuals and not what they associate themselves with. Sometimes who people associate themselves with is based solely on the environment they are forced to be in. The themes I would like to discuss related to what we learned in class are some Attributions about losing and playing poorly and Porter providing feedback during to help the athletes, under conformity to the laws of society, and examples of why aggression turn into violence.
When Porter’s team is assembled and the training commences; the young men have some high expectations for themselves until their first game against the Panther’s.

The Panthers are a predominantly white high school that is fairly known for their talents. As the Mustangs arrive they are extremely aroused in the beginning but that suddenly changes on their first possession of offense. Willie gets knocked off his rocker and a player from the opposing team number 55 calls him “boy” a derogatory remark whites called blacks during the civil rights era. After continuous fails the Mustangs not only lose but play poorly because they lack cohesiveness and their efforts are inferior compared to the other teams. The team is defeated at the end of the game and Coach Porter realizes that it is probably not the best time to tell them everything they did incorrect. According to our notes on Attributions, players need to be encouraged to learn from the game, and not dwell on the

loss.
The young men placed in the detention center are products of under-conformity of the law.

They are strangers to following the rules and that leads to consequences for them. These ill-advised individuals are also products of their environment; the society they operate in is full of distractions to keep them in a mindset that is self-destructive. The communities these young men are in is set up for them to fail, so of course they do not adhere to the norms of society. An example of under-conformity is Kelvin being involved in a drive by shooting that kills Willie’s friend Roger. However, filled with frustration over their current situations causes lots of built up aggression. An example of this aggression turning to violence is during the game against the Panthers. Willie is struck again by a tackle and it causes him to react violently after the same guy taunts him with rude remarks. They get into a little scuffle and Porter calls Willie off the field before he does something regretful. Aggression is something that can be dangerous so it was beneficial that the warden of the facility allowed the kids to release that energy on the

field.
Sport influences society by its ability to have good and bad dynamics; everyone loves an underdog story because it reminds us what we are capable of when we are hardworking and committed. Sport inspires social change; it has the power to turn individuals from misguided youth to honorable young men that can survive in society. This film does an excellent job in displaying that. Once the Mustangs start winning some games the community that the detention center is placed in; start to attend games and cheer for the delinquents that were once written off for their actions. It shows us that sports have a positive effect on society.
With any movie made in Hollywood there will some added drama to keep the viewers entertained all while remaining true to the essence of the social issue poverty-stricken areas.