A friend of mine worked on the production staff for The Babe. She got her then dying of cancer father a non-speaking role as a coach. So he got to go to Wrigley Field, put on a uniform, sit in a dugout, and act like a coach. He loved it.

(Sloppy sentimentality off)

Also, people complaining about the rap/hip hop music in the trailer needs to relax. Jeez, its a trailer. Its not like it’s going to be playing on the radio in the movie. Obviously you’re not fans of rap music so you would complain about it no matter where you hear it.

If he can be entertained by the movie and feel the struggle of Jackie Robinson, perhaps we can have a discussion on how to continue and improve the equal treatment Jackie helped start.

In the words of Sgt Hulka, “Lighten up, Francis.”

I hope they don’t gloss over his time in the Army. He got arrested for not moving to the back of the bus even though the military shuttles were supposedly integrated, then he got charged with insubordination for challenging the racist line of questioning the military police used. The officers serving on the court martial board were all white, and they acquitted him.

Portraying his whole background would create an impossibly long movie of course, but I don’t want either revisionist or romanticized history.

I liked the Natural, but found it slow in spots. Other just missing out are For Love of the Game, Trouble With The Curve, *61, and Mr. Baseball (yes, Mr. Baseball…)

By the way, look up Jackie Robinson’s courtmartial from when he served, which was dismissed. It seems he was 10 years ahead of Rosa Parks as well.

Thank you greatly for the kind words. Like yourself, from looking at the trailer I too will probably not go. …Just too personal when those shoes fit your feet almost exactly the same as his. For what it’s worth, I would hope that these words don’t in any way imply that I am “just another angry black man”. Far from it. I truly know the unfathomable power of forgiveness. As such, one can feel immense pain and still feel blessed.

Also like yourself, I too hope the movie is successful. What I hope much, much more is that the movie helps hasten the day that we finally stop treating the symptoms and start to treat the disease. God bless.

What subjects do you teach?

I’m assuming your use of past tense in talking about this subject and our youth is unintentional. Because I’m living it right now! How’s this for “double-whammy”… I’m black and an air traffic controller! Talk about blazing a trail! There is no one identify with more than Jackie Robinson (and I’m not much of a baseball fan, actually). For my own very personal reasons, the part I hope they get right is the incredible toll it all took on his health. Because I live it!