That to earn 50K in one night and to give it all away. I'd understand if he gave away 1/3 of his earnings but all of it? Especially in the time period we live in, a person of Scott's wealth would never be that generous no matter what the circumstances were.
shareThere are people like that but they are rare. It's probably implied that he will be rewarded greatly in the future. The character raised the bar and was the first to do something like that. He had no kids and was single and being a biology teacher who became lazy and going though the motions, that money was less valuable than the spirit in him that was resurrected.
He became a winner. He's popular and has the respect of his peers and students again. Plus he's finally got a beautiful woman he wanted for years. Such a small amount of money as $48K or even $100K is a drop in the bucket compared to his self-esteem.
Many man would pay $1million to feel the way the character feels. He's a winner.
Vanity, you are partially correct. If you look at the very ending where he sees how the music program is, doing , he has back his self-esteem and it is very strongly implied he became very successful ( even Elkins thanks him for being generous). However, it no longer matters what his co-workers think. There is no room for Scott at the school ( he basically outgrew it). If you remember how many people reallly cared about the Music Program besides Marty, his wife Molie, and the kids? Scott and Bella that is essentially it. His fellow teachers and especially Elkins showed exactly what they were about with their attitude concerning Marty. Beyond that, I could never imagine Scott tolerating working under the likes of Elkins ( who took Betcher's place after he was arrested for embezzlement). He has essentially went onto bigger and better things in life than teaching at that school, and was essentially saying his goodbyes to the Music Program ( notice you do not see him in the Biology Class) and the immigrants. His path ( and Bella's) who will be jointing him on that journey, have a future that is far different than anyone else in town. That path is Happily Ever After."
He made up his mind to do that before the fight. That was his plan all along. That is why he started fighting. Anyway, it was unrealistic. He should have lost after putting up a great fight. The money still would've helped.
Would a Cupcake kill you?
Well here's the thing. The movie has to end with the music program being saved. If he loses the match, the money wouldn't have helped because they needed 50K after the vice principal stole everything he had already donated. That means that the rest of the money would have to come from somewhere else.
shareThat is exactly right. But it also had to end with victory so that Scott could go on to something else in life. Think of the cowboy getting on his horse and leaving town because he has no place there anymore.,Why? He would not have been happy working under Elkins and I suspect there would have been a lot of resentment towards Scott by his fellow teachers ( except Marty), probably out of jealously. Not to mention the fact he was not needed amymore: The music program was saved, his brother's marriage was saved, and the immigrants passed their citizenship test. So he and Bella simply moved on to bigger and better things ( which is highly implied at the end of the movie).
shareTrue and the way to make the victory possible was for him to have to win in order to save the program otherwise he has no motivation to win.
shareplus look at it realistically and even though it wasn't implied in the movie at an point but if a guy like him a teacher and regular average Joe went and beat a top ufc fighter on a globally viewed ppv do you not think he may have made some more money. ie media appearances interviews and book deals etc etc
Dyin' ain't much of a livin', boy
he gets to sleep with Salma Hyek. I think that is more than enough to give away 50K
If anything he won much more than that by getting to date her. I say that was the real win.
Besides, he was helping his hero, the Music teacher.
what I did find kind of stupid was that they were making the music class sound like it was heaven on Earth.
Like it was the most life changing experience a human can have. Like it was like meeting God or something. That was pretty stupid.
But I know Kevin James character was mostly doing this so that Salma fell for him, that was his plan, and it worked.
One ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them.
After taxes, that 50k is about 30k
shareYeah I agree, the whole premise was a bit weird... So basically they're firing the music teacher because they can't pay him, and this guy is getting beat up in order to pay a year's salary to the music teacher? Nobody would do that.
Actually it is not so strange, it happens all the time they are called Endowments (and it is a tax write-off). Of course, the only way it could actually happen is if Scott made additional money (beyond the fight, such as Motivational Speaking (which is exactly what the real life "Rudy" from the Movie 'Rudy' did)). Keep in mind, everything Scott did, was NOT for the Music Program, it was also about helping his brother and the family, and last but certainly not least, Scott gained the one thing he really wanted which was Bella, and that without the fighting he would not have won her (not to have mention NOT having to work under the likes of Elkins, who he did not like one bit). So in that respect he owed Marty and the Music Program quite a bit, which repaid in full.
shareIt's a movie, guy.
Don't overthink it.