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‘Blue Chips’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan

March 25, 2025 · Blue Chips (1994) · Drama · Sport · 2:11:35 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 30:00Where the fuck the Fab Five is - Jalen Rose not being in this movie personally offends him, Jalen was as famous as any player they used and would have been perfect, could have played Tony
Bill Simmons▶ 1:49:52His possibly unanswerable question: at the late-night LA playground, how does nobody know who Pete Bell is — 'the most important guy in this whole universe' — when he wanders over to coach them, and why are they even playing basketball that late?
Chris Ryan▶ 1:50:09Piled on Bill's question: if a random guy stopped your pickup game to coach you, you'd assume something was off — 'if you were watching Ben practice and a random guy came out and just stopped the game...'
Van Lathan▶ 32:36Cannot find Kevin Garnett in the movie despite research saying he's in it somewhere
Van Lathan▶ 1:50:16Riffed on the same question: 'he would think he was an alcoholic'; them playing out there at ~10pm 'speaks to the greater ills of society... but you better not get your dumb ass off the basketball court trying to teach me how to shoot.'

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 38:49Discussed multiple scenes including Pete Bell's first scene yelling at players, the Cousy free throw shooting scene, and the recruiting sequence (especially the 15-minute stretch visiting players)

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:12Nick Nolte writing a 200-page novel about Pete Bell to tap into his character's psyche - most ridiculous commitment to a movie
Van Lathan▶ 1:03:58UCLA actually broke college sports through the O'Bannon lawsuit that went to the Supreme Court and ushered in the NIL era

Great Shot Gordo Award

Chris Ryan▶ 1:08:12The push in shot when Pete's giving his confession at the press conference that goes over all of the audience
Van Lathan▶ 1:08:19The neon basketball scene in Algiers where they play aggressive, life or death basketball at a specific time when Silk and Pete arrive

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:45Butch's gym in Chicago
Chris Ryan▶ 1:08:55Discussed the gym's features like dead spots on the court but didn't give a clear pick
Van Lathan▶ 1:09:06Agreed with and discussed the gym scene, calling it the best basketball scene in the movie

Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake

Chris Ryan▶ 1:10:28Sequel with Penny coaching because he's coaching Memphis now - Butch McRae
Van Lathan▶ 1:10:36Butch coaching now - that's the sequel to the movie, called 'Butch's boys'

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:31The point shaving subplot, Penny Hardaway quotation marks in credits, nobody knowing who Neon was, the press conference referencing 900 million Chinamen, Butch not being able to run motion offense, Mary McDonnell's styling, Dickie V scenes being too long, Pete's coaching style
Chris Ryan▶ 1:17:34The press conference referencing 900 million Chinamen, Neon's joke about leaving the bitch, Nick Nolte's dancing in Baptist church, people no longer feeling shame
Van Lathan▶ 1:18:27The Chinese not caring about basketball

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Chris Ryan▶ 1:26:50Ricky Rowe will eventually end up in Bangkok wanting to be the girl sexually due to his constant obsession with girls and inability to satiate his desires

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:29:13Nick Nolte — Nick Nolte - Friedkin wanted Nick Nolte for the lead role
Chris Ryan▶ 1:28:31Kevin Costner — Kevin Costner in the lead role - suggests this as the third film in a Shelton-Costner sports trilogy
Van Lathan▶ 1:27:52Ron Shelton — Ron Shelton as director - believes Shelton directing would have made it an all-time great basketball film instead of just good

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:30:57Louis Gossett Jr. — Lou Gossett
Van Lathan▶ 1:30:46Alfre Woodard — Suggested Alfre Woodard as a candidate, ruled out Shaq for too much screen time

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:51Shaq was inappropriately nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst New Star - he's good in the movie and they were just being assholes
Chris Ryan▶ 1:35:37Participated in discussion about filming challenges with Shaq's height and Chris Jackson going to LSU, but no clear committed take
Van Lathan▶ 1:36:16Love Dale Brown - LSU had real studs come through but couldn't get to the final four

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:40:26Rick Fox — Rick Fox (yes for Apex Mountain), Shaq as an actor (100% yes), Bob Cousy as an actor (100% yes), Richard Pitino as an actor (definitely yes)
Chris Ryan▶ 1:40:26Rick Fox — Discussed Rick Fox's run from this movie through Eddie and He Got Game, agreed on various Apex Mountain calls but no definitive individual picks
Van Lathan▶ 1:40:34Rick Fox — Mentioned Rick Fox was making his way as a serious actor with Oz, agreed this is his favorite college basketball movie of all time

Hanks or Cruise

Bill Simmons▶ 1:43:14Tom Hanks — Hanks
Chris Ryan▶ 1:43:25Tom Hanks — Hanks - says Cruise wouldn't be believable as part of a college due to his height (5'6")
Van Lathan▶ 1:43:33Tom Cruise — Suggests Cruise would be interesting as Happy (the villain role) - like an evil Jerry Maguire type

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:54:16Nell - briefly appearing in the woods in Algiers when they're looking for the gym
Chris Ryan▶ 1:52:54J.T. Walsh — JT Walsh as Markinson - recreating his A Few Good Men role where he confesses at the press conference then kills himself

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:54:53J.T. Walsh — Would probably go with JT Welsh but doesn't feel anyone really deserves an Oscar; agrees it would be the script if forced to choose
Chris Ryan▶ 1:54:45Ron Shelton — Ron Shelton's screenplay - calls him probably the best writer of sports movies ever
Van Lathan▶ 1:54:39Nick Nolte — Acknowledges Nolte seems like the obvious answer but notes he goes so far over the top

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 2:00:18Go wide on the basketball scenes. Don't try to reinvent the wheel. We'd like to see basketball from a certain perspective and don't overthink it.

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 2:00:43One on One — One-on-One with Robbie Benson
Chris Ryan▶ 2:00:36Above the Rim — Above the Rim (after initially considering White Men Can't Jump)
Van Lathan▶ 2:00:39The Program

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 2:02:21Shaquille O'Neal — Shaq wins the movie - thinks it's a huge win for him and his most competent movie performance
Chris Ryan▶ 2:01:47Nick Nolte — Nolte wins the movie - his performance defines the movie
Van Lathan▶ 2:02:30Shaquille O'Neal — Agrees with Shaq winning - notes this is the only time Shaq has been really competent in a movie

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 2:05:49The Recruits
Chris Ryan▶ 2:05:14Friends of the Program
Van Lathan▶ 2:05:18Likes Friends of the Program but thinks it reorients the movie away from the players; generally satisfied with Blue Chips

Movies Referenced (38)

He Got Game (1998)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 25:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Coach Carter (2005)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 19:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dances with Wolves (1990)

4 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 1:18:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jerry Maguire (1996)

4 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 33:13IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Rocky (1976)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 6:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Exorcist (1973)

4 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 10:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Moneyball (2011)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 33:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

White Men Can't Jump (1992)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 18:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Heat (1995)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 0:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The French Connection (1971)

2 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 10:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Town (2010)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 0:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Way Back (2010)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 19:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (6)

Chris Corner

5 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Saint, Open Your Eyes▶ 0:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

George Lynch

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 29:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Anthony C. Hall

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for The Client, Virtuosity, Gang Related▶ 29:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kevin Garnett

2 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Uncut Gems▶ 30:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

St. Vincent

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Greta▶ 1:47:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Thomas Kelty

1 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Roofman▶ 1:43:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (65)

Penny Hardaway

39 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for Blue Chips▶ 3:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Nick Nolte

36 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Warrior▶ 3:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tony Romo

28 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan▶ 24:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bob Cousy

23 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Celtic Pride, Blue Chips▶ 36:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bobby Knight

23 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Anger Management, Blue Chips, Hoop Dreams▶ 9:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

J.T. Walsh

17 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Sling Blade, Needful Things▶ 7:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Cruise

14 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Top Gun, Mission: Impossible II, Minority Report▶ 47:33IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bobby Hurley

10 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Blue Chips▶ 21:13IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Larry Bird

10 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Space Jam, Celtic Pride, Blue Chips▶ 14:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mary McDonald

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan▶ 50:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Brian Markinson

7 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 53:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jerry Tarkanian

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for Blue Chips, The Sixth Man▶ 29:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (5)

Ron Shelton

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Bull Durham, Hollywood Homicide, White Men Can't Jump▶ 6:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Damien Chazelle

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Whiplash, La La Land, First Man▶ 2:04:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Danny McBride

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Underworld▶ 1:29:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Taylor Worst

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ted Jessup

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Ted 2, The Girlfriend Experience▶ 1:54:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Giorgio Pitino

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Midnight Sky, Fast X▶ 1:29:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗