Why I Love Movies So Much

I haven't written anything in my blog for over two months. I haven't been inspired, haven't known what to write, until tonight.

"The Express" lightly drapes football over the true story of football legend, hero, and inspirational role model for all, Ernie Davis. I know that sounds weird, but the story isn't really about football at all. It's about one man who, through his talent and love of the game, made small choices, small, quiet decisions that had HUGE impacts on history. And through it all, he was humble, led by example, didn't preach, and planted the seed for future generations of all races, all backgrounds.

What I love so much about movies is how they can help me escape my "troubles of the day", learn more about myself and my opinions and perspectives, challenge my way of thinking, attitudes, and beliefs, and teach me about history, motivation, challenges, gratitude, loss, perseverance, worlds that don't exist except in the writer's imagination until they come to life on the screen...films are the ultimate expression of anything and everything because they have the ability to take in most of our senses. The characters on the screen, while "pretend", can become so engrossing that we think they are real, even if only for a couple of hours. We cheer when they achieve huge goals and overcome obstacles, cry when they feel pain and loss, and laugh when they laugh or are involved in something funny.

Ernie Davis, the man, was miraculous, and he would probably disagree with me considering how humble he was. Without giving away too much about him or the movie (YOU MUST WATCH IT), he was slated to be the "next, even better Jim Brown." But even as his coach, Ben Schwartzwalder, at Syracuse University, said, "There's only one Ernie Davis, and they will never be another."

And thank God he wasn't "the next Jim Brown." Truly, Jim Brown was amazing, but Ernie Davis was very different in how he faced the times, the "game" of life. Jim Brown was outspoken, and verbally ran right up to the edge of what was considered socially acceptable of the times.

Ernie Davis, however, chose to fight discrimination that surrounded him through his talents on the football field. Strange as it sounds, he used football to further the cause of black Americans, but I'm not sure he really knew the impact he would ever have when he made smaller, quieter choices of "change."

Dare I say, he made small, more peaceful and passive changes as MLK stressed instead of being verbally out there in the public's face.

It really demonstrated to me how even small steps, even painful or challenging ones, can make a positive and long-lasting difference. The course of one's life can even be changed by small, even if painful and challenging, steps.

Today, Ernie Davis is my hero.

-s-