Hackman and Hoosiers — A Winning Team – The American Spectator | USA News and PoliticsThe American Spectator

Of the recently departed Gene Hackman’s greatest hits — take your pick among The French Connection, Unforgiven, and The Royal Tenenbaums, among others — the most loved, at least for those seeking a fairytale David versus Goliath sports redemption story, is without question Hoosiers.
No movie in Hackman’s oeuvre — possibly in all of sports moviedom — pulls as many heartstrings and checks as many emotional boxes as the tale of the underdog high school basketball team from a tiny town playing its way to a state championship against much larger schools in hoop-crazy Indiana.
Hoosiers has everything. The “inspired by a true story” monicker — specifically, Milan High School’s 1954 state championship season. The down-and-out coach resuscitating his career in an improbable way. The plucky group of boys who overcomes significant adversity to achieve success. The pure, unsullied nature of a righteous pursuit. The great…