Today’s narrative was truly a collaborative effort, as a short while ago Sally and I, met my “Cugino” Sam, and his bride Christine, at Cinema 8 in Lakewood for a matinee viewing of the movie Champions, starring Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson, and Cheech Marin. Among the 10 patrons in Theater #6 was one of Sally and my church parish ushers, Mr. Ed Degnan , who, before the movie began, asked me if I was there to do a review of the film.

The movie’s storyline told of an assistant basketball coach for an NBA Development League Team, with an aggressive personality, who, after being fired, was involved in a car accident due to a DUI. He was sentenced, by a judge, to do Community Service coaching a basketball team comprised of adults with Intellectual disabilities.

As you can imagine, the task was challenging, especially for a man with no experience working with adults with disabilities, but desperately wanting to get back to an NBA job, he accepted his punishment, and began working with the team called The Friends.

Because the movie is relatively recent, and my not wanting to spoil it for those who have not seen it, I will not divulge any more about the film, but will say that, if I were doing a review for this movie, my rating would be a definite two thumbs up.

As we were leaving the theater, I thanked Mr. Degnan for the idea of doing a review, and my buddy Sam, said he had a great title for it, the one you see atop this piece. His title was perfect for what we had just watched for two hours, and I couldn’t wait to get home and get it down on Word.

If, and/or when, you see the film, you will definitely understand why it was the perfect title for this piece, and it will be self-explanatory as to what it meant, the connection to the movie, and a great look at how different perspectives of the same thing can be seen/felt through different peoples’ eyes and thoughts.

Throughout the film, I kept thinking of my late Uncle Busty, who had intellectual disabilities himself. After my Nanu, with whom Uncle Busty lived, passed away, he came to live at our house, as my parents had a two family house and Mom (his sister) and Dad set him up in the upstairs apartment.

As we were growing up, Uncle Busty loved his nieces and nephews. His favorite pet name for us was “fuddy-duddy.” He called us that as kids, and then he called our kids that when they were growing up. He loved music and had quite a record collection, he loved old television programs. He was always inquisitive when he heard sirens, and he had a scanner to hear what was happening where. He loved dancing at weddings too.

After Dad passed away, and Mom realizing she wasn’t getting any younger, and because Uncle Busty was already a client at the Resource Center, she applied for Uncle Busty to move into one of the Center’s Group Homes and he was able to travel and be with other client friends some of whom he worked with, and spent time with, at other activities.

When Mom passed away, Uncle Busty continued his relationship with the Resource Center and the people he lived and worked with until he retired from the work program, but continued living at the Group home, until he eventually passed away in 2018.

As I sat through Champions, it brought back some wonderful memories of Uncle Busty and how neat it was having him as such a great member of our family. The movie let me feel a number of emotions. It was funny, sad, happy, exciting, even angry in a couple spots, but it was definitely a great way to spend two hours, in a dark theater as the snow was falling generously outside. The four of us in our party all left with smiles on our faces. So, my recommendation says see it if you can on the big screen, or stream it on your televisions. I think you will enjoy it.

And thanks “Cousin” Sam, and you too, Mr. Degnan. My name may be in the by-line, but consider your names right up there with me this week.

Enjoy the show!!