Not What I Expected

Not What I Expected

I stand in the shadows although not alone

11 players stand on the field, but I stand with 7 on the side line (side line crew).

Ready to play as the game continued on goggles on, mouth guard in, stick in my hands.

Cheering on my teammates yelling and screaming positive advice.

The girls shuffle on and off the field I congratulate everyone.

Yet I am invisible I try to console the players that only played for 15 minutes, yet I can’t feel their pain when they can’t feel mine.

They do not recognize the suffering I go through, I have the anticipation I will actually play.

5 minutes left in the game I guess I should be going in soon.

3 minutes on the clock I hear my name "weaver" take this person out.

What can I do in this time I can’t show what I have or prove myself and barely enough time to do anything. I could not grow or learn without the experience.

I am lucky to actually touch the ball once if that.

I am just a last resort.

The player no one believes in, they think I am hopeless, with no potential to contribute.

I practice two hours a day five days a week; I put all my effort and soul into the game yet I get nothing, the highlight is 3 minutes on the field.

I play the game because I love it I have a passion and a love like no other.

The others take the game for granted and I have a desire to play.

I live in agony everyday thinking about my past. Did I do something wrong? What made me different from the rest?

I question myself everyday could I have done better, done something, or should I have quit?

The only proud moment I had was I stuck it though and I would not have changed that.

I stand strong and will prove you wrong.

Because I know I am better than the rest.

By: Jessica Weaver

Once In A Lifetime Movie Review

Once In A Lifetime is a documentary directed by Paul Crowder and John Dower about the New York Cosmos soccer team. The documentary consists of the actually players commentary and other associates of the Cosmos commentary. These people explain things that went on and their emotions and reactions to things that happened to the team. The movie focuses on the struggles and triumphs of the team. It follows their path to victory and everything that occurred with this team.

Steven Ross was really the creator of the team, he saw a potential for it, loved the game, and had an extreme passion for it. When the Cosmos were first starting out soccer was not a big thing in America, so they had to make themselves known. During the 1960’s soccer did not even really exist, but the 1970’s is when it really began to take off. The cosmos suffered intense losing streaks until Pele was brought in to be on the team. He was the star athlete and the heart and soul of the team. There was no stopping him and everyone loved him. He led the team to multiple wins and a championship title.

All I can do is complain about this movie, it was so boring and probably a bit over my head. I am sure and glad that the team probably loved making this and are happy they have a movie made about themselves, but it was just not my cup of tea. I don’t think it helps that it is a movie based on things that happened before I was born. At first it took time getting acquainted with the accents. Then all it was was the team players and associates taking about the team and random things that I did not really care about. The most aggravating thing was the fact that it was all about Pele I got the impression at the begging of the movie it would be about the team, but no. Pele this Pele that, if all they were going to talk about was Pele, the movie should have been called Pele’s Career on the New York Cosmo’s.

But I do have to give some good notes to because I did learn about a soccer team I did not even know anything about. Some of the parts were interesting and caught my attention. One thing I found interesting was the fact that soccer was not popular in America. This surprised me because American’s are so competitive and athletic I question why they did not find and interest and want to play it. Overall this movie was not my favorite, but it does have some memorable and impacting events.

 I would give this movie a 3/5 stars.

The Blind Side Movie Review

The Blind Side directed by John Lee Hancock is based on a true story that was published first as a book and then into a movie. It is a heartwarming story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) a homeless child just scrapping by. He is without a father and he was taken away from his mother. He is picked up by the caring Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) where he learns everything imaginable about life, a family, and education.

When Leigh Anne Tuohy takes in Michael Oher there is no questioning it, it was like a natural born instinct. She gives him a couch to sleep on at first, then a room, and a house all at the same time. Michael becomes to love the family and the family loves him back and they are all passionate about each other. Most importantly the family only has his best interests in mind.

I love the individual bonds that Michael forms with each family member especially between SJ (Jae Head) Michael’s little brother and Leigh Anne Michael’s momma. SJ is always there to help Michael and help improve Michael’s skills as a football player. It is as if he is a mini drill sergeant, but in a brotherly loving manner. Leigh Anne also helps, supports, and generally cares about him. She explains things in the way Michael learns, she has patients with him, and most importantly does not yell at him. She wants to see him succeed and do well.

Michael had grown a lot throughout the movie and it can be clearly seen. In the beginning Michael is like a tough shell to crack. He hides his past and keeps it a secret until Leigh Anne Tuohy digs into his past and finds out all about him. You can see that Michael always walks with his head down to himself, when he talks it is a murmur and his mouth barely moves, and he never makes eye contact. By the end his head is held up high and he talks with confidence.

Michael at first can barely, if that read. All the teachers thought he was a failure and they should not expect anything from him. But one teacher has faith in him and she learns that he is actually paying attention and learning in his classes. She becomes so happy and even alters how she and other teachers deal with his learning styles. Then of course there is that one teacher who has had it out for him since the beginning. Although Michael struggles through school he puts a lot of hard work into it and triumphs. He gets a tutor and raises his GPA. This is how all students should be in the world today because without hard work you get nowhere.

Eventually Michael Graduates high school goes to Ole Miss University and continues on play professional football in the NFL.

This is one of my favorite movies of all time because of the imaginable kindness of some people in this world and it is just amazing. I honestly give this family props for what they did and helping someone else in need out. I think more families should be like the Tuohy family. It will show that everyone cares about everyone else in the world and it will unite us together.

I would give this movie a 5/5 stars.

The Fighter Movie Review

The Fighter directed by David O. Russell is based on a true story about Micky Wards (Mark Wahlberg) dreams, hopes, desires, and hard work in order to become a professional title winner in boxing. He struggles to compete with his over bearing crack head brother Dicky (Christian Bale) who is extremely derogatory. His mother manages him, but she does not even care about Micky thoughts and opinions. She is self centered, self-absorbed, inconsiderate, and ruler of the house who only cares about her son Dicky. His father George Ward (Jack McGee) is the sole supporter of Micky and sneaks behind his wife Alice’s (Melissa Leo) back in order to help Micky reach his full potential. His seven sisters are like a group of crows always agreeing and siding with their rude bitchy mother or even a litter of pups clamoring to their mother and very rarely saying what they think or adding their own opinions.

There is no doubt or debate that Dicky is the center of attention. Alice adores and idols him and his seven sisters think he is the best. He does not even have the decency to show up on time to train his very own brother and just leaves him in the dust. He puts too much emphasis on his old life of boxing and knocking Sugar Ray Lenard out, when in reality Sugar Ray Lenard tripped. He is living in the past and need to get a grip on his life and get real. That is why Charlene (Amy Adams) is there. She represents and supports Micky and puts the Ward family in check.

Micky puts a lot of hard work into everything and all the training he does. He learns to do what he needs to succeed and forgets about the things his family wants him to do because all they are doing is ruining him (except father). In the end he accomplishes his goal and becomes a title winner after a very tough match in which it seemed as if he was the underdog.

This film was really enjoyable to see the struggles that a person can go through in order to achieve their dreams. It is inspiring because you know this is the really thing and it is not some fake made up story. It shows that anyone can do anything and you just have to work hard and believe in yourself. Micky is a great role model for young kids. I would highly suggest everyone to go see this movie even if you already have or have not seen it.

 I would give this movie a 5/5 stars.

The Natural Movie Review

The Natural directed by Barry Levinson is an awe inspiring movie of a father and sons dream to become the best baseball player there ever was. Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) is a young boy who grows up playing baseball in the fields with his father. His father unexpectantly dies by a huge tree on the property. Later that night the tree is struck down by lighting and Roy makes a baseball bat from it and engraves in it WONDERBOY with a lightning strike. This bat is the bat that Roy will use throughout his entire career.

Roy leaves his farm life and his girlfriend at the time Iris Gaines (Glenn Close) for the big leagues. He takes a train to Chicago in order to pursue his unlimited goal of pitching for the Chicago Cubs, but while there the story turns for the worst. When Roy is shot by Harriet Bird (Barbara Hershey) a know killer of athletes. Sixteen years later after vanishing from the earth he reappears and wants to try out for the New York Knights a major league team. Pop Fisher (Wilford Brimley) the coach of the Knights has no faith in him. Once on the team Roy is taken for granted not being allowed to participate in the practices sits and warms the bench for multiple games. Finally, after realizing that the Knights are a joke and a laughing stock of the state because they have lost every single game, Roy is put to the test. At batting practice he hits a home run every single time, but the coach does not realize Roy’s ability and says it is just practice and luck wait till the game. Roy is put into the next game and while at bat the iconic lightning strike occurs and all of a sudden the ball is in sheds on the field. The opposing team is astonished and questions the whole thing while in the mean time the WONDERBOY bat becomes famous. Soon after a star player in the team Bump Bailey dies after running into a wall during a game which this becomes ironic and just in favor of Roy because they both play the same position. Now all of a sudden the New York Nights begin winning games now that Roy is playing and the team is actually becoming famous and has a bigger fan base. The New York Knights are in the news papers, magazines and they are on baseball cards.

Roy Hobbs is the ideal player. He is attracted to the local community and an inspiration for the young kids. He signs balls, paper, and pictures for all the kids and does not leave anyone out. Coaches are comic relief throughout the movie. They goof off while in the dugout singing and whistling during the practices.

But the movie can’t be all happy and cheery because there is an evil scheme boiling up. The Judge (Robert Prosky) wants to steal the team from the beloved Pop and Roy is not going to just let this happen. The Judge offers him more money, but it will not work because Roy’s loyalty is to Pop.

Rumors have been going around about Roy’s past and the truth is about to be let out. Secret romances arise with Memo (Kim Basinger) and it does not help Roy’s game. Yet Roy manages to break a lot of things in his career like a clock tower and the game lights.

Roy’s Old Girlfriend Iris appears again out of nowhere at one of the games and Roy and her begin spending time together and reconnecting again. He learned she has a son who is 16 years old and Roy wants to meet him.

In an instant things change Roy is sent to the hospital after having a stomach issue. It is from a previous injury (gunshot wound silver bullet inside stomach) that is causing the stomach lining to deteriorate. The Doc (Mickey Treanor) insists that he not continue playing baseball, but Roy is persistent and continues. The next practice does not go well, but Roy will just not quit. In the mean time Roy’s true past is found out. The Judge, Gus (Darren McGavin), and Memo are pit against him.

Pop is satisfied with the season no matter win or lose he is proud and happy. The National League Pennant game is played. Roy continues to play despite his injury which is determination. But he suffers through it, striking out twice. Before his last time at bat he gets a note from Iris telling him his son is in the stands which he did not know about. This motivates him, he hits a home run breaking the game lights and ultimately wining the game. Although, this is not the end, his stomach is bleeding. The movie is brought back in a circle with the newly united family playing catch in the fields.

Overall this is a great movie that everyone should watch. Although this movie was made in 1984 don’t just judge a book by its cover because I did and the movie was remarkable and not boring in the least bit. I could not wait to see what would occur next and I was left on the edge of my seat. This movie it the type of movie people love to watch because of the heroic and dedicated player of Roy Hobbs.

 I would give this movie a 5/5 stars.

A Women's Story

What is this insanity that we are living in today? Do women even have a place in this world or are they just empty space? Why are men’s sports the ones who get all the attention, fans, and famousness. Why do women get paid so much less than men? Does society have something against all women in this world?

Throughout society there are stereotypes that should mean nothing, yet they mean everything to people. Sports have a major stereotype that surrounds them. Men are supposed to watch the game while the women only watch it for the commercials and the half time show. How can people honestly and truly believe this? Americans believe men are always supposed to be watching the sport. If men dare not to watch it they are not real men, wussies, and cowards. Let’s not even mention women, if they were to watch a game it is unethical, unladylike, immoral, bad, wrong, and corrupt. There is no difference between men and women. Men have different personalities along with women. Some like sports some don’t, others like music and others don’t, and it keeps going on and on it never ends. They do not always have to follow and mimic what everyone else does. To say that it is not right for women to watch a sporting event is a stereotype and a sexist remark.

What is with the movie industry, they are just as bad as Americans, they are supporting productions of male dominant sports movies. Miracle, Remember the Titians, The Mighty Ducks, Rudy, Jerry Maguire, Rocky, Blades of Glory, Balls of Fury, Moneyball, and The Sandlot are just a few that can be rattled right of the top of my head. Women’s sports movies are another story, you can barely think of any Double Teamed, Cutting Edge, Bring It On, Blue Crush, Bend It Like Beckham, and Love and Basketball. None of these are even popular in retrospect to the male dominant movies.

Women need to get up there and take a stand for this, they need to get out there and represent themselves. Americans will never change for years to come and I am not going to just sit around and just hope that when I have kids things will have changed by then. Our country is to judgmental and it is not just. We women are getting and going to continue getting degraded everyday if something is not done. We women need and deserve respect. We women and men that support us need to stick together and become united. So let’s all rise up and do something about it!