Hardball was one of the best sports movies of 2001 and was one of the best baseball movies of 2001 with handsome actor Keanu Reeves. Many may remember this movie as one of the best but lesser know movies that actor Keanu Reaves has starred in. The 2001 sports movie a box office success. Now despite being a success, the movie still remains as one of the most overlooked sports drama movies of 2001. This movie just doesn’t get enough recognition.
Gambling addict and ticket scalper Connor O’Neill (Keanu Reeves) agrees to pay his debt to bookies. A corporate friend of his tells him that he must coach baseball team of troubled African-American youth who are straight up dysfunctional. The baseball team lacks ethics and in sportsmanship given that the youth come from the ABLA Homes in Chicago, Illinois. Their team had been on a losing streak and needed the right guidance and coaching from the right coach to win games. 10% of this movie is Connor running to stop the kids fighting and negotiating with them.
This movie showed how good sportsmanship, redemption, team work, and team building was done. For example, when Connor buys pizza for the whole team after breaking up an argument which erupted into a violent fight. Sometimes food unites a team whenever there is a dispute, or an argument or fight. That was good team building on Connor’s part. Food can be used as a remedy to settle a dispute an argument.
The scene where G-Baby dies is poignant, surreal, and quite realistic. G-Baby’s death hit audiences hard. The scene showed anyone can die just that quickly in an instant. People were shaken by the scene of his death which caused sadness with many of the audience. G-Baby died after Conner dropped him and Kofi after winning the pre-championship game, G-Baby is struck and killed by a stray bullet during a drug deal that had just taken place unbeknownst to the two. Now this drug deal had gone bad and the rival drug dealers shot at the gang that was present.
Kofi holds G-Baby in his arms as he dies on the scene. The scene where Kofi holds G-Baby in his arms is so surreal and realistic. This was another one of those scenes which showcased how anyone can die just that quickly in an instant.
Now the soundtrack for the movie had Lil Bow Wow and Fundisha written all over it since they performed on a handful of songs for the soundtrack album. Fundisha sung on a handful of songs and wrote some of the songs as well.
Some of you might remember the song Fundisha – Live The Life which played during the end credits, a scene or two, after G-Baby’s funeral.
Live The Life is one of those songs that a message about one of life’s lessons. Fundisha sung about various perspectives of her life from her angle. She explained what her experience was like growing up “in the hood”. The song was included on the soundtrack for the movie Hardball. The single Life The Live was only a moderate hit and fell off the charts quickly.
The song has a catchy poppish R&B chorus with lyrics that went:
[Chorus:]
Have you ever ever ever
In your whole whole life?
Seen the things that I’ve seen
Or live the life?
People don’t know what I go through
Or imagine what it’s like
Growing up in the hood
Have you ever in your whole whole life seen the things that Fundisha has seen or live the life? People don’t know what Fundisha goes through. Or imagine what it’s like growing up in the hood. Or imagine what it’s like being misunderstood.
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