Another rainy day, perfect to curl up with a good book (you should see my stack -why do all these authors put out new books at the same time? so much to Read, so Little Time!) or take in a movie… 

The Mighty Macs (2011)   (themightymacs.com)

Just out on DVD (if you missed it in the theater) last week we watched this rousing Inspirational movie based on the true story of Coach Cathy Rush & the girls basketball team at Immaculata, a small Catholic girls college in Pennslyvania.  Set in 1971 as the NCAA organizes the 1st National Tournament for collegiate women’s basketball, Coach Rush (Carla Gugino) & the ‘Mighty Macs’ face overwhelming odds: starting from scratch, no gym to play in, very little support, the desperately dire financial straights of their college vs. Big State University programs…

… and it was a Very Different Time for women (!!) – even Cathy’s husband, NBA referee Ed Rush (hunky David Boreanaz of ‘Bones’ fame ) doesn’t get it (at 1st!)

… and the girls themselves must undergo a transformation as they become a team, learn to trust each other & play the game of Basketball through the challenging ups & downs that lead to the tournament.

… and Coach Rush is TOUGH… woah (almost Over The Top!) but… maybe you should watch the movie & see the results before making hasty judgements.

… and Mother St. John (Ellen Burstyn) is also TOUGH …as she faces the potential loss of her Order’s home & the responsibility of ‘what-to-do’ rests on her shoulders.

Actually, there’s lots of transformational goings on that push up the Inspirate-a-Meter…

When Coach Rush realizes she Can’t Do This On Her Own, she enlists the aid of Sister Sunday (my favorite character, played by  Marley Shelton) a new novice-almost-nun who is struggling with her vocation; but somehow (very creatively) God Answers Her Prayers as she becomes Assistant Coach…

You don’t have to be Catholic to enjoy this movie – there’s so much for everyone, especially women to see How Far We’ve Come (my 1980s high school girls basketball team went all the way to the State Championship & was Much Better than our guys team. As captain of our cheerleaders, i cheered at every girls basketball game to packed crowds – we all loved it because they were great gals… and WE WON! : )

…but there is lots of Catholic fun –

… In her ’70s fashionista attire (very HIGHheels inclusive) Coach Rush raises a few eyebrows, but later Sister Sunday tells her, “you’ve taught us that angels can wear heels.”

….& a bunch of elderly Nuns (wearing black Converse sneakers with their habits) become the Mighty Mac’s Booster Club, boisterously cheering them on with their songs (big LoLs!)

Highly recommend this inspirational movie that had us boisterously cheering by the end!

grace, peace & Inspirational Basketball

Virginia : )

p.s. If you like this kind of movie, here are a few more suggestions:

Believe in Me (2006) Jeffrey Donovan, Samantha Mathis, Bruce Dern

Glory Road (2006) Josh Lucas, Derek Luke, Austin Nichols

Invictus (2009) Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon

Hoosiers (1986) Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper

… &  “Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team”  (2007)   i just watched the very inspirational documentary (as a Soccer Player in high school i had to try out for the boys team- there was NO GIRLS TEAM at the time!!) this film is Awesome… so glad these ladies blazed the way for soccer to be an opportunity for girls all around the country! : )