A basketball player's father must try to convince him to go to a college so he can get a shorter sentence.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- 10 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
Denzel Washington | ... |
Jake Shuttlesworth
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Ray Allen | ... |
Jesus Shuttlesworth
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Milla Jovovich | ... |
Dakota Burns
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Rosario Dawson | ... |
Lala Bonilla
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Hill Harper | ... |
Coleman 'Booger' Sykes
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Zelda Harris | ... |
Mary Shuttlesworth
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Ned Beatty | ... |
Warden Wyatt
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Jim Brown | ... |
Spivey
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Joseph Lyle Taylor | ... |
Crudup
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Bill Nunn | ... |
Uncle Bubba
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Michele Shay | ... |
Aunt Sally
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Thomas Jefferson Byrd | ... |
Sweetness
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Roger Guenveur Smith | ... |
Big Time Willie
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John Turturro | ... |
Coach Billy Sunday
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Lonette McKee | ... |
Martha Shuttlesworth
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Arthur J. Nascarella | ... |
Coach Cincotta
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Travis Best | ... |
Sip
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Walter McCarty | ... |
Mance
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John Wallace | ... |
Lonnie
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Rick Fox | ... |
Chick Deagan
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Al Palagonia | ... |
Dom Pagnotti
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Leonard Roberts | ... |
D'Andre Mackey
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Saul Stein | ... |
Prison Guard Books
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Ron Cephas Jones | ... |
Prison Guard Burwell
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Jade Scott Yorker | ... |
Jesus Shuttleshworth (Age 12)
(as Jade Yorker)
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Shortee Redd | ... |
Booger (Age 12)
(as Shortee Red)
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Quinn Harris | ... |
Mary Shuttlesworth (Age 6)
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Dean Smith | ... |
Dean Smith
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Lute Olson | ... |
Lute Olson
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John Chaney | ... |
John Chaney
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John Thompson | ... |
John Thompson
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Roy Williams | ... |
Roy Williams
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Nolan Richardson | ... |
Nolan Richardson
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Denny Crum | ... |
Denny Crum
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Tom Davis | ... |
Tom Davis
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Clem Haskins | ... |
Clem Haskins
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George Karl | ... |
George Karl
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Jim Boeheim | ... |
Jim Boeheim
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Rick Pitino | ... |
Rick Pitino
(as Richard Pitino)
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Bobby Cremins | ... |
Bobby Cremins
(as Robert 'Bobby' Cremins)
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Dick Vitale | ... |
Dick Vitale
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Bill Walton | ... |
Bill Walton
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Shaquille O'Neal | ... |
Shaquille O'Neal
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Reggie Miller | ... |
Reggie Miller
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Charles Barkley | ... |
Charles Barkley
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Scottie Pippen | ... |
Scottie Pippen
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Michael Jordan | ... |
Michael Jordan
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Robin Roberts | ... |
Robin Roberts
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Gus Johnson | ... |
PSAL Announcer
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Stuart Scott | ... |
TV Announcer
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Ray Clay | ... |
Tech U Announcer
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J.C. MacKenzie | ... |
Doctor Cone
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Coati Mundi | ... |
Clerk In Motel
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Avery Glymph | ... |
Sneaker Clerk
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Ciara A. Shields | ... |
Mary's Friend
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Lin Que Ayoung | ... |
'I Love You' Leech
(as a different name)
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Angela Meryl | ... |
'I Love You' Leech
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Dionne Phillips | ... |
'I Love You' Leech
(as Dionne D. Phillips)
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Gary Frith | ... |
'I Love You' Leech
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Jamie Hector | ... |
'I Love You' Leech
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Harry Philippe | ... |
'I Love You' Leech
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Kelli-Lin McMillan | ... |
'I Love You' Leech
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Lamar Tookes | ... |
'I Love You' Leech
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Mark Breland | ... |
Man With Gat
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Heather Hunter | ... |
Female In Sex Montage
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Christopher Wynkoop | ... |
The John
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Alonzo Scales | ... |
Goose
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Lori Rom | ... |
June
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Kim Director | ... |
Lynn
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Felicia Finley | ... |
Molly
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Chasey Lain | ... |
Buffy
(as Tiffany Jones)
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Jill Kelly | ... |
Suzie
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Jennifer Esposito | ... |
Ms. Janus
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Anthony T. Paige | ... |
Correctional Officer
(as Tony Paige)
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Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
Alba Albanese | ... |
Young Girl
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Arthur Agee | ... |
Basketball Player in Opening Montage (uncredited)
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Fred Benjamin | ... |
Grady High School Rival Basketball Player (uncredited)
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Daphna Cardinale | ... |
Agent's Daughter (uncredited)
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Mel City | ... |
Playground Kid (uncredited)
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Patrick Ferraro | ... |
Corrections Officer (uncredited)
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William Gates | ... |
Self - Basketball Player in Opening Montage (uncredited)
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Spencer Kayden | ... |
Playground Mother (uncredited)
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James McKnight | ... |
I Love You Leech (uncredited)
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George F. Miller | ... |
Reporter in Gym (uncredited)
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Wil Smith | ... |
Bus Passenger (uncredited)
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Directed by
Spike Lee |
Written by
Spike Lee | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
Sonya Burres | ... | supervising producer |
Jon Kilik | ... | producer |
Spike Lee | ... | producer |
Cinematography by
Malik Hassan Sayeed | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
Barry Alexander Brown |
Editorial Department
Miles Ferguson | ... | post-production coordinator |
Allyson C. Johnson | ... | assistant editor |
Arthur Schlenger | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
Aisha Coley |
Production Design by
Wynn Thomas |
Art Direction by
David Stein |
Set Decoration by
Carolyn Cartwright |
Costume Design by
Sandra Hernandez |
Production Management
Jon Kilik | ... | unit production manager |
Mike Phillips | ... | production supervisor |
Miguel Ángel Poveda | ... | post-production supervisor |
Karen L. Thorson | ... | post-production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mike Ellis | ... | first assistant director |
Sarah Gyllenstierna | ... | second second assistant director |
Tracey Hinds | ... | second assistant director |
Laurie Jackson | ... | second second assistant director |
Art Department
Gillian Albinski | ... | key property assistant: North Carolina (as Gillian V. Albinski) |
Anthony Baldasare | ... | key propman |
Lauren Doner | ... | scenic artist |
Rochelle Edelson | ... | camera scenic artist |
Jeffrey L. Glave | ... | scenic artist |
Jonathan Graham | ... | key construction grip |
Erik Knight | ... | art department coordinator |
Byron K. Lovelace | ... | set dresser |
Nick Miller | ... | construction coordinator |
Joan Winters | ... | graphic designer |
Douglas G. Young | ... | props assistant: North Carolina |
Keven Lock | ... | scenic artist (uncredited) |
Rosalie Russino | ... | scenic artist (uncredited) |
Sound Department
Alek Bromke | ... | adr recording assistant: Toronto |
Allan Byer | ... | production sound mixer |
Richard Calistan | ... | adr mixer: Toronto |
Tim J. Carroll | ... | consultant: Dolby Digital |
Benjamin Cheah | ... | supervising foley editor |
Marko A. Costanzo | ... | foley artist |
Tom Fleischman | ... | re-recording mixer |
Jeff Formosa | ... | sound editor |
Annette Kudrak | ... | adr editor |
Kevin Lee | ... | supervising sound editor |
Blake Leyh | ... | sound effects editor |
Kimberly R. McCord-Wilson | ... | first assistant sound editor (as Kimberly R. McCord) |
Michael Miller | ... | adr mixer |
John Penn II | ... | Engineer: Soundtrack |
Mathew Price | ... | production sound mixer |
Will Ralston | ... | foley editor (as Jennifer Ralston) |
Kay Denmark | ... | adr boom operator (uncredited) |
Mark DeSimone | ... | adr mixer (uncredited) |
Jay Peck | ... | foley artist (uncredited) |
Neil Riha | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
Alex Soto | ... | assistant sound editor (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
Randall Balsmeyer | ... | visual effects supervisor |
Daniel Leung | ... | digital artist |
Matt McDonald | ... | digital compositor |
Gray Miller | ... | title animator (uncredited) |
Stunts
Lisa France | ... | stunt double: Lonette McKee |
Manny Siverio | ... | stunt coordinator |
Jeff Ward | ... | stunt coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
Robert M. Andres | ... | key grip |
Kelly R. Borisy | ... | dolly grip |
Michael F. Burke | ... | gaffer: New York (as Michael Burke) |
Steve Calalang | ... | additional second assistant camera |
Brian Carmichael | ... | video operator |
Matt Chubet | ... | grip |
Xiomara Comrie | ... | assistant camera |
Stephen Consentino | ... | steadicam operator |
Lamont Crawford | ... | key dolly grip |
Sean Fairburn | ... | camera operator |
Ben D. Griffith Jr. | ... | key grip: second unit |
Edward 'Gooch' Gutierrez | ... | key grip: Los Angeles |
Ellen Kuras | ... | camera operator: Chicago / director of photography: Chicago |
Cinqué Lee | ... | videographer |
Rick Marroquin | ... | grip |
Geary McLeod | ... | camera operator |
John Merrick | ... | key grip: North Carolina |
Jim Miller | ... | key rigging grip |
David Norris | ... | aerial director of photography |
Phil Oetiker | ... | camera operator: "b" camera / director of photography: second unit |
Reinhart 'Rayteam' Peschke | ... | gaffer |
Noah Prince | ... | best boy/electric |
Leigh Rathner | ... | second assistant camera |
Chris Skutch | ... | best boy grip |
Jonas Steadman | ... | steadicam focus puller |
Arthur Szefer | ... | assistant camera |
Jeffery J. Tufano | ... | director of photography: second unit |
Craig Vaccaro | ... | best boy rigging grip |
Susanna Virtanen | ... | co-first assistant camera |
Don Cornett | ... | photo-sonics camera technician (uncredited) |
Kelly Rubottom | ... | dolly grip (uncredited) |
Casting Department
Winsome Sinclair | ... | extras casting |
Theron Smith | ... | extras casting associate |
Alpha Tyler | ... | casting assistant |
Mel City | ... | extras casting assistant (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mindy Gantt Bass | ... | costumer |
Sandi Figueroa | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
Paul A. Simmons Jr. | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
David F. Zambrana | ... | assistant costume designer / Costume Department Coordinator (uncredited) |
Location Management
Stephen Andrzejewski | ... | location manager: Chicago |
Charlynne J. Hopson | ... | location scout |
Gaston Pierre | ... | location assistant |
Gregory Routt | ... | assistant location manager |
Monica Ruiz-Ziegler | ... | location production assistant |
Geoffrey Ryan | ... | location manager: North Carolina second unit |
Al Valentine | ... | location manager |
Sammy Verni | ... | location assistant |
John Verni | ... | location assistant (uncredited) |
Music Department
Scott Hardkiss | ... | composer: additional music |
Kathy Nelson | ... | executive in charge of music: Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group |
Alex Steyermark | ... | music supervisor |
Maisie Weissman | ... | music editor |
Mike De Saulles | ... | violinist (uncredited) |
Jean Demery | ... | general music supervisor (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
Cynthia Abrams | ... | script supervisor: second unit |
Elisabeth Rose Tyler | ... | script supervisor (as Beth Tyler) |
Transportation Department
Neil Castles Jr. | ... | driver |
Mike Easter | ... | transportation co-captain |
Todd Luckey | ... | driver |
Bobby Marsh | ... | driver |
John Rice Sr. | ... | transportation captain |
Additional Crew
David Bausch | ... | production secretary |
Jackie Bazan | ... | publicist / unit publicist |
Amy Carter | ... | first assistant production accountant |
Al Cerullo | ... | helicopter pilot |
Paulette D. Clark | ... | pre-production coordinator |
Cliff Duane Cochran | ... | production assistant |
Colin Cumberbatch | ... | assistant production coordinator |
Alan Jones | ... | production assistant |
Jason Lampkin | ... | staff: 40 Acres |
Cinqué Lee | ... | video archivist |
Keegan Martin | ... | production assistant |
Jennifer Martinez | ... | production assistant: edit room |
LeRoy McCarthy | ... | intern |
Earl Monroe | ... | technical advisor |
Rafael Osorio | ... | set production assistant |
Kelley Pate | ... | assistant: Mr. Sayeed |
Mike Phillips | ... | production accountant |
Michael A. Pinckney | ... | production assistant |
Michael K. Reynolds | ... | assistant chef |
Vernon Rodriquez | ... | parking assistant |
Carmen Rodríguez | ... | accounting assistant |
Evelyn Santana | ... | unit publicist |
Ithiell Yisrael | ... | production assistant |
Randall Balsmeyer | ... | title designer (uncredited) |
Mimi Everett | ... | title designer (uncredited) |
Traci Hainsworth | ... | production resources (uncredited) |
Cobette Harper | ... | fitness trainer (uncredited) |
Peter Kelley | ... | dialogue coach: Rick Fox (uncredited) |
Coati Mundi | ... | adr voice (uncredited) |
Nelson Pereyra | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
Thanks
Marc Perman | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
- Touchstone Pictures (presents)
- 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
Distributors
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution (1998) (United States) (theatrical)
- Buena Vista International (1998) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Buena Vista International (1998) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Kinowelt Filmverleih (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
- The Klockworx (1998) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Video Medien Pool (VMP) (1998) (Germany) (VHS)
- Argentina Video Home (1998) (Argentina) (VHS)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1999) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan)
- SF Video (1999) (Sweden) (VHS)
- FX Network (2001) (United States) (tv)
- Atlantic Film (2002) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2002) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Opening Distribution (2012) (France) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Rai Movie (2016) (Italy) (tv)
- Buena Vista Film Sales (2000) (Non-US) (sales)
- Cine Video Corporation (CVC) S.r.l.
- Disney+ (2024) (Brazil) (video) (VOD) (Star)
- Starz (2025) (United States) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- 11:24 Design Advertising (poster design)
- Balsmeyer and Everett (titles)
- Def Jam Recordings (soundtrack)
- Lucasfilm THX / TAP Theater Alignment Program (Quality assurance services were provided by)
- North Carolina Film Office (filmed in)
- Sony Classical (score album)
Storyline
Plot Summary |
Tells the story of Jesus Shuttlesworth, the most sought after high school basketball prospect in the nation. Jesus and his dream to make it to the big ranks in professional basketball are overshadowed by his father, Jake, who is spending his life in prison for killing Jesus' mother. Written by Anonymous |
Plot Keywords | |
Taglines | The father, the son and the holy game. See more » |
Genres | |
Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
Certification |
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Additional Details
Also Known As |
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Sound Mix | |
Filming Locations |
Box Office
Budget | $25,000,000 (estimated) |
Opening Weekend United States | $7,610,663, 03 May 1998 |
Did You Know?
Trivia | Spike Lee originally wanted Kobe Bryant to play the part of Jesus Shuttlesworth. While Bryant liked the script, and the idea of working with Lee, he had just finished his rookie year in the NBA (the 1996-97 season), and had shot several air balls in a brutal playoff loss by the Lakers to the Utah Jazz. For this reason, Bryant planned a workout program that would help him maintain his strength through the longer NBA seasons (a major adjustment, as Kobe went straight from high school to the pros). After Bryant consequently turned the movie role down, noting that the summer of 1997 was too important to spend time making the film, Lee promptly sought out Ray Allen, who quickly accepted the lead role. See more » |
Movie Connections | Featured in The Object of My Affection/Paulie/Nightwatch/Suicide Kings/Wild Man Blues/Chinese Box (1998). See more » |
Soundtracks | John Henry See more » |
Quotes |
Jesus Shuttlesworth:
Basketball is like poetry in motion, cross the guy to the left, take him back to the right, he's fallin' back, then just J right in his face. Then you look at him and say, "What?" See more » |