ESPN Original Films is set to release A Woman Among Boys, a riveting film chronicling the trials and tribulations of coach Ruth “Coach Love” Lovelace as she attempts to guide her boys team at Boys High into the City Playoffs. Lovelace, who attended the high school and was teaching Phys Ed at the time, was named coach in 1994 at the age of 24. She’s faced unique challenges and has seen players on her teams work to overcome significant obstacles both on and off the court, and in the process has rebuilt Boys into a powerhouse to be reckoned with–her squads have playoff appearances in every year of her tenure.
A Woman Among Boys will debut (Sunday, Dec. 21, at 9 p.m.) on ESPN2. By year end, ESPN and ESPN2 will have aired nine ESPN Films documentaries.
Coach Love speaking on her unique situation: “As a female you can command respect from young men. You can get them to play well and get more academically.”
December 18th, 2008 at 9:21 am
illest says:
a definite must watch
December 18th, 2008 at 9:55 am
g says:
shes strong,smart,nurturing and knowledgable,tough package. those boys get alot from her
December 18th, 2008 at 10:37 am
ali says:
my cousin played for coach love in the late ’90s and all of her players admire and appreciate her for what she gave them. i wrote a story about her for the ny times a few years back and the quote that always sticks in my mind was this: ”One day, these guys are going to have to be husbands and fathers to someone,” she said. ”It doesn’t make any sense to be able to dunk a basketball backwards and not pass a class.”
you can peep the piece here: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9406E7D71E3DF932A15751C0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1
coach love is a treasure. and boys and girls is lucky to have her. she’s a heck of a motivator, role model and coach who could easily be sitting on some ncaa or wnba bench right now.
December 18th, 2008 at 11:20 am
illest says:
ali…..nytimes son? o ok its like that.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
funkalot says:
Coach Lovelace creates a powerful dynamic through the intersection of gender and race. Black males are often admonished for their apparent lack of respect for women, in the popular culture and labelled as misogynists. Ruth debunks those ideations by her leadership and motivation of young “emerging” men, of color. And Ali, I agree women like Ruth Lovelace are indeed a treasure.
In Boston, we are blessed to have two such persons. Trudy Fisher (African-American) holds the distinction of being the first female Coach of a Male team in Massachusetts. She debuted in 1981 and led her 1984 team to the State Finals. She, also, is the only person to capture a boys and a girls Boston Public Schools league City Championship.
December 18th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
ali says:
illest,
i gets down for the crown my man!
December 18th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
funkalot-
when you gonna start guestblogging for us, man?!!! we’re waiting! your comments are always ridiculously insightful with loads of history.
December 18th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
funkalot says:
Bob,
Coming Soon, Bro!
December 19th, 2008 at 9:44 am
ali says:
can’t wait for the funk to go primetime!
December 19th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Casey Lee says:
To add:
Lovelace was also the Brooklyn Sports Person of the Year in 2007.
When someone asked what was your coaching record, Coach Lovelace simply did not know. What was important to her was the fact that she helped to shape a young person’s life as her own personal goal.
Most of her players like the fact that she will let them “play their game” and not try to control it. Despite her open mind, Lovelace does know when to step in and discipline a player as well.
Great Coach, awesome piece!
Can’t wait to peep the documentary..
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 am
Casey Lee says:
That documentary was fire! Big ups to the camera men on the shots in Myrtle Beach!
Also, I remember I saw Coach this past summer at West 4th Street with that same “St8 Pippen” shirt, coaching an all-girls team too!
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
mikey says:
I missed it does anyone know when it will be shown again?
February 13th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Rachel says:
I was actually just scrolling through the channels when I came upon this documentary. I don’t usually watch ESPN because i’m not crazy about sports but I will say that this was EXCELLENT! I am so glad I watched it.