In a neighborhood filled with hate, crime, and violence Troy, a 17 year old boy from the cold hard streets of North Philadelphia is just trying to make a name for himself and become the first athlete to make it big out of his neighborhood. His mother is very sick but keeps it hidden from him because Troy has big dreams to be recruited by a D-1 school and very close to make it out of the streets of north philly.Mind you no one has ever made it out of these streets, They’ve either been killed or thrown in jail. But Troy wants to overlook those statistics and rise of all the hate and make it to the NBA. The only way Troy gets away from all the violence and crimes is by playing basketball. It is his passion, he attends Barton high school and plays starting point guard for the Barton high warriors. He is the only freshman to ever average a double-double and lead the team in scoring . Unlike anybody else that lived in Troy’s neighborhood he was the only it seemed like with potential. He was being looked at by many top colleges for a full scholarship to play basketball. Troy hadn’t had many friends except one who he was close to since he was in kindergarten, Jacob Watson him and Troy were best friends and had nearly been through everything together . Jacob was 6’2 , brown hair, and a very distinctive scar above his right eye where he claimed to have fallen but everyone already knew what went on at home with his step-father. Jacob wasn’t a bad kid , he did pretty well in school and was nice to everyone. But it seemed like every time his step-father would have a bad day at work he would just lash out at Jacob like a raging bull when seeing red . He was often vague about his life so know one really asked him anything. Like ...
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... just another kid trying to make it out of Philly. Was it crazy or ambitious that question still remained in his head throughout his journey. Scouts were all over Troy, this was finally his big break, he was going to be the first to ever do it! He was going to make it out of Philly and be recruited to college, he thought. All of a sudden, Pow Pow! In a blink of an eye Troy was on the hardwood floor of the basketball court bleeding heavily to what appeared to be a gunshot wound. The people in the gymnasium dropped their jaws in disturbance. They were traumatized at what they've seen, You could feel the emotions from everyone there as they were in an utter shock and disbelief to just have witnessed the dismal murder of a young, talented, teenager on his way. Leaving behind his supportive, sick, mother and the one of the greatest legacies of North Philadelphia.
Remember that boy in high school that was the star of the basketball team? He still holds most of the records for the team. He scored more points than anyone else in the school’s history. He never studied much because he was an athlete. His basketball skills were going to take him places. But high school ended and there are no more games to be played. Where is that former all-star now? In his poem “Ex-Basketball Player,” John Updike examines the life of a former high school basketball star. Flick Webb was a local hero, and he loved basketball. He never studied much in school or learned a trade because he was a talented athlete. Now years later, the only job Flick can find is working at the local gas station. He used to be a star, but now he just “sells gas, checks oil, and changes flats” (19-20). The purpose of Updike’s poem is to convince the reader that athletes should also focus on getting a good education.
As his year went by Pat thought he had a high chance in playing college basketball so on the day of his first game as a senior Coach Mel Thompson from the The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. That night Conroy had an astonishing 22 pts which made up for his junior year where he left off on a rough note. Following the game, Coach Thompson came to the locker and was talking to Pat’s coach who he pointed out Conroy in the back changing which suddenly lead to Coach Thompson talking to Pat about how he would love to have him play at Citadel. As the year continued Pat had realized what an opportunity he had at playing college basketball but, he was perplexed as to why he had not received an offers from schools. That night Conroy went home to find his mother crying, Conroy formerly asked his mother “ why are you crying?” (Conroy 182) his mother’s response to him was “ I could not hold it in anymore Pat but, your father has ripped all of your scholarships.” (Conroy 182) from that moment on Pat’s attitude towards his father would change, meaning he was all on his own due to the fact that his mother was alongside his father. As Pat’s freshman year in college was coming he now realize as
If Brooks wants to inspire adolescent boys it essential for Brooks to select a successful person. No boy is inspired by a second string football player or a tennis player who consistently loses in the semifinals. No boy goes to a b...
In the last ten years many young and talented high school basketball players have chosen to enter the NBA draft. These 17 and 18 year olds decide to skip college, and instead they choose to take a big risk and enter the NBA, hoping to become stars and earn millions of dollars. In many cases, these youngsters’ careers are a failure because they don’t turn out as talented as they thought to be. They end up spending only a few seasons in the NBA because they are not good enough to compete at that level. Many of them have to move on to doing other things, such as playing basketball overseas, doing everyday jobs, or going back to college to earn a degree.
Throughout the play, pieces of Troy’s background are exposed to the reader. It quickly becomes clear that he was a talented baseball player who could have played professionally if not for the color of his skin. Instead of going on to a successful baseball career, Troy was forced to move on with his life and settle down as a garbage man. Although this is not what he truly wants in his life, it provides stability for him and his family. Similarly to his father, Troy’s son, Cory, is a talented football player who is being scouted for college. However, instead of encouraging him, Troy constantly scolds him, telling him he has to find a ‘real job;’ Troy even tells the scout to leave. This is ultimately because of his jealousy towards Cory’s success in sports, and the fact that Cory possesses the life Troy dreamed of. Many feuds and disagreements are born between the father and son because of their different views.
Basketball is a chart-topping sport that is loved by many fans. It’s been a hit since 1891 when it began, starting in Springfield, Massachusetts. It grew rapidly in popularity and spread around the world. Many people found it comforting to play, such as Pat Conroy. Pat Conroy was an outstanding basketball player, who was committed in going far with his teammates. Although he seemed superb, he had a troubled life growing up at his family home. His parents were abusive and uncaring towards him, therefore he used basketball as an alternative. In My Losing Season, Pat was able to obliterate the thought of his abusive parents. His comfort was playing basketball with a team he will never fail to remember. The outcomes Pat acquired were admirable,
Without recognizing the early hardships of Troy’s life, it is easy to dismiss him and his cynical outlook. What can be learned from his story is evident. Never judge someone for his or her seemingly unwarranted attitude because there is a good chance it is completely defensible. Works Cited: Rich, Frank. Theater: Wilson's Fences.
Troy is the son of an abusive father. His father was hardly around to raise him. When he was around, he made him do chores and if he didn’t do them he would beat him. One time, after Troy tied up the mule, just as his father told him to, he went off to the creek with a girl to “enjoy himself.” The mule got loose, and his father found out. His father came looking for him. When he found them at the creek, he had the leather mule straps; he started to beat Troy. Troy was naturally scared so he ran away. He looked back at his father and realized that his father didn’t care about beating him, he just wanted the girl. Troy came back; he ripped the straps out of his father’s hand. He then started to beat his father with them. His father, not afraid of Troy, beat up Troy. Troy was left there, his eyes were swelled shut. He didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t go back to his father’s house, so he went to another town 200 miles away. This is when Troy became a man at the age of 14.
In sports, there is no shortage of black success stories. Meanwhile, two black men of prominence in Odessa (who are not athletes) fell from grace. Willie Hammond Jr. (the first black city councilor and county commissioner) and Laurence Hurd (a minister and desegregation supporter) were glimmers of hope for the black community that were both snuffed out. Hammond was arrested on charges of arson conspiracy and perjury and Hurd is in prison for burglary and robbery, leaving a hole in the morale of the black community that was not repaired. These losses, combined the with negative news of black people circulated via media, made the possibility of succeeding in a white man’s world inconceivable. Yet, there is no shortage of black success stories in sports, like Michael Jordan and Bo Jackson; in every area that is not a “rich man’s sport”, black athletes dominate. To the poor children on the Southside, there is something very alluring about the “Cinderella stories” of men from poor black neighborhoods rising to prominence through sports. Based on these examples, there seem to only be two paths for a black teen to take: criminal or athlete. Many of these teens aspire to be sports stars and depend on nothing else because there is nothing else. Some may become the superstars they hope to be or they fall into ruin as Boobie Miles, Derric Evans, and Gary Edwards
Troy Maxson is portrayed as a big man with a very big personality and a lot of dignity. He is a bitter guy who believes that he owes his family absolutely everything, from his money down to even his own soul. He is the type of man who wants more than what he can get and that is what drives him but it is also that very “want” that leads him into a very tragic life. Writing on the idea of Troy being a tragic hero, Martin says “Troy’s strengths are found in his willingness to fulfill his duty at all times. He also speaks directly to his dignity regarding his position of work and his career in baseball) Martin, 2) “Fences” Troy has many
Troy?s relationship with his father was one, which produced much tension, and had a strong influence on Troy?s relationships with his loved ones as an adult. He had very little respect for his father because his father did not, in Troy?s mind, make his family a priority. At an early age, Troy?s father beat him ?like there was no tomorrow? because he caught Troy getting ?cozy? with a girl (549; I,4). Troy said that ?right there is where [he became] a man? (549; I,4). It was at that moment that Troy made the decision to free himself from his father?s power. Despite the fact that he did eventually escape his father?s wrath, the struggle with his father?s aggressive behavior and lack of love resulted in a coldness that resided in Troy?s heart toward life and love. His father did not care about his children; children were there to work for the food that he ate first. Troy describes his feelings toward his father by saying, ?Sometimes I wish I hadn?t known my daddy. He ain?t cared nothing about no kids. A kid to him wasn?t nothing. All he wanted was for you to learn how to walk so he could start you to working? (548; I,4). Although Troy had very little respect for his father and vowed to be nothing like him, many of his father?s harsh personality traits show up in his own personality. Despite Troy?s continuous attempts to push himself away from anything he had ever known about his father, the inheritance of such irrational behavior was inevitable because it was all he had ever known. The inheritance of this angry behavior was, in turn, the cause of his damaging relationships with his own family. Just as Troy endured his father?s cruel ways, Troy?s family is left with no choice but to try to learn to live with his similar ways.
Imagine a 14-year-old girl crying in her dad’s car with scratches down her face, neck, and arms. Scratches she received from an 18-year-old teammate while coaches and fellow team members watched. Imagine how scared, betrayed, and alone she felt. No one wanted to help her except her parents. No one stood up for her. No one did anything but stand back and watch the torment occur every day. Now, imagine this girl moving school districts—just as terrified as ever. Except now, there is someone who stands up for her in times of trouble. She has someone to protect and encourage her. The loneliness she felt has been replaced with empowerment and confidence all because one person took it upon himself to make sure she never felt scared, betrayed, or alone again. That girl was me, and the person who changed my life was my basketball coach, Toby Todd.
In the end Troy died living behind a trail of animosity between him and his family. In my opinion his story is that of a tragic hero. He began being loved and praised by his family but eventually and gradually, he began to succumb to the weight of racism. It can be said that the effects of racism finally took the better of Troy, and consequentially it ruled his life. Like his fictional stories, death finally took him.
Marcus Brown and Eddie Russo are best friends and stars of the basketball team at Long Island City High School. Marcus is black and Eddie is white, and everyone call them Black and White. They’ve found strength to break through the racial barrier, or at least they believe so themselves. They are inseparable, always having each other’s backs, both on and off the basketball court. With the ability to get whatever scholarship they want, their future is looking good. Their plan is to get sports scholarship to a prestigious university and go on to play professional basketball. When the boys turn to crime, their friendship is put on the line along with the bright future they had planned for. Will their mistake cost them the things they value the most?
Junior Battle was the best player on the team and led them in scoring and rebounds. However, he struggled off the court and failed to get his schoolwork done. Junior’s struggles with his schoolwork caused problems between him and his coach. Nevertheless this problem was quickly resolved due to his mother, Ms. Willow Battle, love and compassion for her son. Ms. Battle pleaded with the coach to keep Junior on the team so she would not lose her second son to the streets.