Hang On To Your Shot

Recently, we lost the legendary Gene Hackman, a star of many incredible movies. One of the favorites among movie fans is Hoosiers, a classic tale based on a true story about an underdog high school basketball team in a small town in 1950s Indiana. 

Maris Valainis, who grew up in Indiana, loved basketball like many boys his age. He had a very good shot, but his size and poor defensive skills undermined his attempts to make his high school basketball team. Every year, he attended tryouts, and every year, he was cut.

But he hung on to his shot.

At twenty-two, Maris worked as a house painter while enjoying pick-up basketball games during his free time. Some pre-production personnel from Hoosiers happened to see him play in one of these games and invited him to audition for a role on the fictional high school basketball team. Over four hundred young men showed up to compete for a part. Although Maris was up against numerous actors with more experience in TV, theater, and film, he had one distinct advantage: his fantastic shot. And boy, did he demonstrate it.

Maris got the part.

Hoosiers has become an iconic movie, with some critics considering it the greatest sports film ever. To this day, Maris is recognized on the street for playing the character “Jimmy Chitwood.” People thank him for providing them with encouragement, inspiration, and hope. How wonderful is that? (On a personal note, I have attended professional basketball games where Gene Hackman’s locker room speech was played during time-outs to energize the crowd.)

We live in an age where many individuals make a good living by advising others on how to declutter and downsize. However, sometimes, it’s wise to hold on to things just in case. I’m glad Maris held onto his jump shot. I cannot imagine anyone else playing his role. Let’s be cautious about discarding items from our professional toolkits, as we never know when those skills or tools might lead to a good promotion, a great job, or even a part in a classic movie.

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