MovieChat Forums > Teen Wolf (1985) Discussion > Why basketball?

Why basketball?

posted 3 years ago by Heisenberg (6315)
15 replies | jump to latest

I understand the movie contrasts how awful he was before and how awesome he gets after the wolf.
But, to make sense of the world the movie is set in, why on earth would a midget pick basketball as his sport?
I understand the fat guy, he would probably suck at anything, but a short guy like MJF would excell in many other sports that require small stature. Why go for something he's certainly gonna suck at? Here's a list of better ideas:
gymnastics
figure skating
diving
table tennis
equestrian

Imagine the wolf riding his horse towards a slam dunk, that would be just a smash hit!

[–] Redsfan001 (6004) 3 years ago

I dunno, something about a wearwolf dunking a basketball that is just so awesome.

[–] beauq81 (1017) 3 years ago

Well, this isn't pro basketball, where you have to be 7 ft tall to play. Those people are rare and not all of them want to play. Average people are around 5,10. I've seen guys only slightly taller than Fox play great ball against much taller opponents.

Plus, what Redsfan said.

[–] jdforyou1983 (1469) 3 years ago

Why not Curling

[–] Heisenberg (6315) 3 years ago

Great idea, original. And wolf in ice is a natural fit.

[–] Obifuntoknowme (1094) 3 years ago

Snooker ?

[–] Heisenberg (6315) 3 years ago

Also cool like in the color or money.

[–] Obifuntoknowme (1094) 3 years ago

Indeed.

[–] hurricane (1908) 3 years ago

I just assumed that was the joke. He was playing a sport that was unsuitable for him. Same with the fat guy.

The team was meant to suck.

[–] Moonglum9 (10711) 3 years ago

If he had been doing one of those other sports that you listed, this would have been a groundbreaking movie in the sense that it would have been the first to feature a gay werewolf. I've found that among the werewolf community (and all lycanthropes in general) there is serious underrepresentation of the LGBTQ folks. They're a rather intolerant lot.

[–] Heisenberg (6315) 3 years ago

Not that there's anything wrong with that!

[–] Costumer (1786) 3 years ago

Well, of the five sports you mention only gymnastics and diving are likely to be found at most high schools. Neither are team sports (nor are the others you mention) and part of the plot is for Scott to turn around the basketball team. They become dependent on him and, at the end of the film, he rallies them to play as a team rather than depend on his werewolf abilities.

The typical high school sports that would support that dynamic are basketball, football and lacrosse (and the latter is also uncommon in many high schools).

[–] Heisenberg (6315) 3 years ago

They are too, especially gymnastics.
The school gymnastics team is competing to qualify for the national tournament, thanks to the wolf they are down to the final. They become dependent on him and, at the end of the film, he rallies them to play as a team rather than depend on his werewolf abilities.

[–] Costumer (1786) 3 years ago

I can maybe see gymnastics, though it isn't quite the team sport the others are. (Yes, it has teams, but they don't play off each other. Each person competes singly.) The same with diving. You have a team, but each person competes separately.

In basketball, football, and lacrosse contributes toward the scoring of points and the prevention of the other team from scoring. It would also be far harder to film and inspire the team spirit they wanted to convey.

At least, that is my view. Your mileage may vary.

[–] Heisenberg (6315) 3 years ago

No, I see your point.
But what about my point, that MJF is clearly forcing a square peg in a round hole?

[–] Kowalski (58120) 3 years ago

ITS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL AND HE IS A POINT GUARD...ITS FAIRLY NORMAL.EXCEPT THE WHOLE "WOLFING OUT" THING.