May 3, 2013
A Byrd’s Eye View N
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ABOUT MOVIES, TV, ARTS AND EVENTS IN THE VALLEY
42 Shows The Courage of One Man And The Humility In All of Us. by Art Byrd
A Quote By
A majority of sports movies have uplifting moments that have audiences cheering. The down and out wide receiver catches the winning Hail Mary pass. A washed up fighter beats the world champion with an unrelenting heart. Some of those moments can be fictional, but some sports moments really happened. One true sport story is finally being told. 42 is the story of Jackie Robinson, who was the first African-American to play in the major leagues in 1947. Many people would like to be the first in most situations. Jackie Robinson's first is one that no one would want. It took a special person to endure racial slurs, blatant racial acts and being told that you don't belong because of the color of your skin despite your obvious talent. 42 wasn't just an educational lesson on a great man but civil one. The story starts as Branch Rickey, the Brooklyn Dodgers owner, played brilliantly by Harrison Ford (Raiders of the Lost Ark), announces to his executives that he plans to bring a black player to the Dodgers. The executives try to talk him out of it. He forges ahead looking at all the black players playing in the Negro league. They find Jackie Robinson who plays shortstop for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues. He is not just a baseball player, but at UCLA, he played four sports and was a commissioned Army officer. Although, he was court-martialed for his refusal to sit at the back of the bus.
“What's important is to be able to see yourself, I think, as having commonality with other people and not determine, because of your good luck, that everybody is less significant, less interesting, less important than you are.” Actor Harrison Ford (Star Wars) who stars in the movie “42” playing in theaters now.