Thirty-nine years ago!
It’s nearly unfathomable to think that it’s now going on 40 years since the movie Hoosiers had its theatrical release on November 14, 1986. Not that you asked, but I saw it for the first time less-than-a-week later in Indiana at a Fort Wayne cinema with Chris, my former Editor-in-Chief at The Eastern Echo (Eastern Michigan University’s student newspaper).
Chris was a Detroit kid who knew next-to-nothing about Indiana high school basketball, but even he marveled at a nearly full theater over Thanksgiving Weekend and moviegoers who were alternately applauding, cheering, and, in some cases, wiping away tears during the movie.
Jimmy Chitwood (Maris Valainis) was the the unquestioned best shooter on the team – in fact, we only see him miss three shots the entire movie (one in the school gym early in the film, one outside when Coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) is speaking to him, and one early in the 1952 State Championship Game) – that he wasn’t the first choice to take the game-deciding shot against South Bend Central in that Championship Game is utterly ridiculous.
But then, Jimmy delivers one of his only four lines of dialogue all film long: “I’ll make it.”
And he did!
As an Indiana native Hoosiers holds a special place in my heart. That the film’s director, David Anspaugh, was high school buddy’s with my uncle Ken, makes it even more treasured. And, yes, if anyone out there can help get Anspaugh to join me on an episode of Conversations with Sports Fans your reward will be great.
Just like Jimmy nailing that final shot.
- One Final Note: As I was doing a bit of research, I ran across this nugget if you’re interested in ringing in the 2026 slightly differently. Start Hoosiers at precisely 10:07.48 p.m. and the the New Year will begin with Jimmy splashing that winning shot.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.