The Final Four

“It’s not always about you!” 

Trisha is Malcolm McBride’s older sister. She is more responsible than him and a skilled musician. One day, she is involved in an accident and killed by a gunshot. The last words she says to her brother are to remind him that “it’s not always about you” (17). These words contrast with McBride’s insistence that he should always put himself first when he speaks to the press. McBride might openly insist that he is only looking out for himself, but his dead sister’s words inform his character. His desire to be a basketball player is motivated by a need to lift his family out of poverty. McBride lives by his sister’s last words, even if he denies doing so when speaking to the media.

“He is the Michael Jordan of newspaper writing.”

Roko Bacic’s love of basketball dominates his life. Even though his father dismisses the sport as a child’s hobby, Bacic sees the world in terms of basketball. Bacic’s uncle Drazen is a big influence on his development. Drazen is a journalist who reports on organized crime in Croatia. Bacic admires his uncle and presents Drazen in the best way he possibly can. Bacic views everything in terms of basketball, so he likens his uncle to his favorite basketball player, regardless of the accuracy of the comparison.

“Without a basketball to cling to, Malcolm threw his arms around his mama.” 

Basketball is a source of comfort for Malcolm McBride. Even in the most difficult moment of his life, as he stares at his sister’s dead body, he thinks about holding the ball in his hands. His greatest skill is knowing how to control a ball. Doing so gives him a sense of agency and power over a world he does not understand. Thinking about the basketball in a difficult moment is an example of McBride’s subconscious desire to assert his control over a chaotic world.

“And how can you get a D in black history? That’s shameful.” 

MJ and McBride are African American men, but their experience of race differs. MJ studies the history of African Americans in America, as exemplified by his success in the Black history course at their college. For McBride, the African American experience in American life cannot be learned from books. He believes that the true Black history of America is learned on the streets. The difference becomes a point of contention between them, representing their difference in upbringing. The two characters clash over their similarities as much as their differences.

“An instant before the huddle breaks, Malcolm is the last one to drop his hand on the pile, putting his at the very top.”

McBride’s self-centeredness is reflected in everything he does. The team huddle is a bonding moment that is meant to signify the unity among the Spartans. However, McBride uses the pile of hands to emphasize himself. He places his own hand above all the others, representing his belief that he is above the team. McBride uses every opportunity to elevate himself above others and views every moment of his existence as a struggle to triumph over them.

“When Hope got to the doorway, Crispin never had a thought that they were going to hug or kiss.”

Rice discovers Hope in another man’s house. His deep worries about the integrity of their relationship are manifested in his personal demeanor. His fiancée approaches him, but no part of him believes that they will express their affection to one another. The strain and the stress of the tournament and his sudden proposal have removed the warmth and trust from their relationship. He never has a thought that they will hug or kiss because he knows that their relationship is already broken beyond repair.

“I’m too valuable to lose.”

McBride’s importance to the team allows him to act without fear of repercussions. He knows that he can disobey instructions and act individually because his skill on the basketball court makes him a valuable asset. McBride complains about the way the college exploits him for financial gain while also reaping the benefits that his college basketball career provides. Moments such as this illustrate McBride’s hypocrisy. He criticizes the college system when it prevents him from earning money but happily takes advantage of the benefits of the system when it elevates him above others.

“The players wear the shoes and other apparel during games while the school collects the money.” 

The college system robs the players of their ability to express themselves or benefit financially from their skills. The players must dress in the clothes that the college tells them to wear and use the equipment that the college tells them to use. Players are not allowed to wear their own shoes or apparel and therefore cannot earn money from sponsorships or express themselves through their choice of clothing. The players are integrated into the machine of college sports and forced to operate within the confines of this machine.

“I felt like I was giving back a little bit of what Uncle Drazen shared with me.” 

Bacic honors his dead uncle by replicating their relationship. The unknown young boy at the basketball court benefits from his brief coaching session. Bacic was coached by his uncle Drazen in a similar way many years prior. The brief interaction allows Bacic to experience the relationship from a different perspective. He pays tribute to his uncle’s memory by passing along Drazen’s lessons to the next generation.

“And with Crispin, I have that trust in my life. I never doubt him.” 

Hope’s comments to the interviewer contain a subtle comment on her relationship with Rice. She wants Rice to trust her and to believe that her presence in another man’s apartment was entirely innocent. She speaks highly of the trust between them, but these comments are hollow. The response to the interviewer is actually Hope responding to a perceived lack of trust from her fiancé. She begs for forgiveness through an intermediary. Hope and Rice struggle to talk to each other so they must go through others if they are to find a resolution to their problematic engagement.

“Obama’s not even the greatest president ever. His face isn’t carved out in stone on that mountain, and his picture’s not on any money.” 

McBride lives his life by simple rules. He wants to be the best, and if he cannot be the best at something, he sees no point in taking part. He has the potential to become the best basketball player, so he is enthusiastic about the sport. His criticism of President Obama is that Obama has not achieved the celebrity or the recognition of other presidents. These are the metrics by which McBride judges success. Obama’s achievements are reduced to monuments and tributes. Without recognition, success is nothing. McBride wants to be recognized for his success and sees no value in those who have succeeded but not yet been recognized to the degree of others.

“He held it by the edges, careful not to leave any fingerprints on the glass.”

Coach Barker’s visit to the McBride house shows that he is a respectful, thoughtful man. He understands the loss of Trisha and the grief experienced by the entire family. The way he holds the picture frame illustrates his empathy. He wants to show respect for the family’s loss before he tries to recruit McBride to his team. He places respect and emotional empathy before any talk of basketball. Barker understands the complicated emotions of the young men on his team and wants to honor these complexities as much as he wants to coach them to success on the court.

“But I still won’t tell him or any other fisherman what kind of bait I’m using.” 

Coach Kennedy and Coach Barker share a mutual respect for one another, but even in a candid moment, Coach Barker refuses to divulge his closest secrets. He says that he and Kennedy share an interest in fishing and wonders whether they might go fishing together some time after the game. However, he will not share with Kennedy what kind of bait he uses while fishing. The respect between the two men has limits. Barker is experienced enough to know that professional friendships have a limit. Even in a speculative aside about a future fishing trip, he makes sure to reiterate that he will not share all his wisdom with the up-and-coming coach.

“It’s better to face stuff than pretend it’s not happening.”

Bacic is aware of Hope’s possible infidelity, but he does not want to tell Rice. He worries that he might be wrong and that his revelation might destabilize the team and hurt Rice. Instead, he offers emotional support. Bacic understands the difficulties others face but retains his respect for his friend and his teammates. He offers advice without attaching it to any specific event. The comment might seem strange and unprompted, but it demonstrates Bacic’s desire to be a good friend, as well as the internal struggle he faces concerning how best to help Rice.

“Players do fail at finding a place in this social order.” 

MJ’s report on the social importance of street basketball acknowledges that the system has failures as well as successes. MJ might not be one of the players who will eventually turn professional, but he considers himself a successful product of the basketball court. Even a bench player who barely plays for his team is luckier than those who were turned or driven away from the courts. MJ’s essay allows him to recognize the people who are not as lucky as him while outlining his relationship to the sport on a social level.

“Then, Malcolm scolds the hand, as if it were a teammate who’d let him down.” 

McBride has very high standards and is not shy about criticizing anyone on his team who does not measure up to these standards. He is arrogant, but he is not a hypocrite. He holds himself to these exact same standards. When he misses a shot, he turns his criticism on himself and accuses his hand of letting him down. McBride is not the most endearing player on the team, but he is at least consistent. His standards are high, and he is his own worst critic.

“I was completely torn between two different things—between friendship for Crispin and the idea of minding my own business.” 

Bacic is rife with internal conflict. He struggles over whether he should tell Rice about Hope’s possible infidelity after she makes a romantic approach to him at a party. He is unsure whether he should mention the matter to Rice or even whether he is correct in his judgment. His uncle Drazen was killed for taking too close an interest in organized crime in Croatia, so Bacic knows the penalties for interfering in the business of others can be high. Bacic’s life experiences inform his inner conflict.

“Sometimes we just get blinded by other things.” 

Coach Kennedy knows about Hope’s potential infidelity, but he does not mention what he knows to Rice. Instead, he talks in abstract terms. He gives general, broad advice that he hopes will help Rice without addressing anything specific. This approach allows Rice to maintain his privacy while also benefiting from his coach’s help. Kennedy may be a young and inexperienced coach, but he demonstrates his skill at getting the most out of his players, helping them to become better people.

“I’ve got your back over any dude wearing a different color.”

MJ and McBride have a tense relationship. They fight and bicker all the time, but McBride reveals that he would back up MJ in any fight with a member of another team. McBride lives by a strict but esoteric moral code. Until McBride’s comment, MJ never considered himself McBride’s teammate. The more they talk, the more they realize how close they have become. They may not be best friends, but the bond they share runs deeper than either of them ever expected it could.

“You’d be free and clear of the NCAA’s authority.” 

The question of athletes receiving benefits presents McBride with a difficult moral question. He is the star of the team and the most likely to receive gifts from potential agents. However, his desire to leave the college and turn professional as quickly as possible means that he will probably not suffer from any ramifications if he breaks the rules. McBride is an outspoken critic of the rules, but he does his best to adhere to them. He insists that he only looks out for himself, but he increasingly worries about what will happen to his teammates. Even though McBride will not be punished, his teammates might suffer as a result of any rules he breaks. McBride needs to consider whether his individualistic approach might harm the people he has come to consider his brothers.

“I guess I’m optimistic, grateful, and bitter all at the same time.” 

The mother of Aaron Boyce shows that basketball is not the most important thing in the world. The young men hear how her family suffered during Hurricane Katrina and were forced to shelter in the same stadium where the game is to be played. These young men have spent their entire lives focusing on basketball, and the tournament represents the culmination of a lifetime’s work. Just before the game is played, however, they are reminded that the complexities of life extend beyond the basketball court. Life beyond the sport is a complicated and occasionally horrifying endeavor.

“Win or lose, brothers to the end.”

Rice reveals to the team that his engagement to Hope has been called off. The team has used Hope as something of a good luck charm, and the story has dominated the media coverage of the team. However, Rice cannot bring himself to lie to the rest of the players. They have become close, to the extent that he trusts them in a way he never trusted Hope. The emotional support he receives from the team contrasts with the lack of support he received from Hope. Rice has found a true family, even if they do not ultimately succeed.

“Doing a favor’s what robbed us of my sister. That’s a line I can’t cross.” 

McBride cannot let go of the trauma of his sister’s death. He has turned her death into a personal ethos that prevents him from doing a favor for anyone. He does not want to suffer again and blames helping others for the terrible loss he endured. McBride’s distrust of favors is not consistent and contains many internal flaws, but he cannot let go of this belief. The strength of his belief reflects the extent of his grief. He refuses to let go of this idea because he worries that doing so would mean letting go of Trisha and her memory.