Bobby Knight Hates Losing Even In The Movie 'Blue Chips'

“Blue Chips” is a movie that some may have seen back in 1994, being one of the few basketball-themed films that starred the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, with Nick Nolte acting out the role of Pete Bell as head coach of an embattled Western University Dolphins college squad.

The basketball drama film narrated the story of how college teams tried to soup up their teams using a good basketball program. While Bell was initially against the practice of secretly paying “blue-chip” prospects, he eventually gave in to the alumni to end a losing season.

It was in a nationally televised game between Western University and Indiana University where Bell had admitted to the scandal and eventually resigned. The Dolphins did win that game, but a recent report from USA Today said that the climactic game gave director William Friedkin a lot of headaches – most of which had been due to Bobby Knight.

Even though it was a movie, the fact of the matter is that the said game was not scripted – except for the ending. And Knight, known for hating to lose, did not want Western University to win even if the script called for it.

It would be best to note that the game was not scripted except for the ending. All players needed to do was play and let the blue-chip backed Western win. For Knight, a game is a game and he wanted to win so badly.

"Knight wouldn’t let Western win," said Jim Moyer, the scorekeeper for Frankfort basketball for more than four decades and acted the part in the movie. "He kept taking the lead, taking the lead."

Despite “Blue Chips” being a movie to show the drama that goes behind the basketball court, this clearly shows how serious basketball fans are over in Indiana. It debuted at no. 3 in the box office at the time and consistently ranks among the top 10 basketball movies of all time.

The main characters of the movie got its share of criticism when it came to acting. However, the producers really wanted basketball players than actors, said former NBA player Penny Hardaway.

"I think all of us have some acting in us, honestly. But this was easy because it was basketball,” he said.

While some don’t consider it Oscar-worthy, seeing as how “Blue Chips” remains as one of the top basketball-themed movies to watch up to this day sure makes it look like one, the Indianapolis Star noted.