‘Blue Chips’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan
March 25, 2025 · Blue Chips (1994) · Drama · Sport · 2:11:35 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsWhere 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▶ 30:00
Van LathanCannot find Kevin Garnett in the movie despite research saying he's in it somewhere▶ 32:36
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsDiscussed 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)▶ 38:49
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsNick Nolte writing a 200-page novel about Pete Bell to tap into his character's psyche - most ridiculous commitment to a movie▶ 1:07:12
Van LathanUCLA actually broke college sports through the O'Bannon lawsuit that went to the Supreme Court and ushered in the NIL era▶ 1:03:58
Great Shot Gordo Award
Chris RyanThe push in shot when Pete's giving his confession at the press conference that goes over all of the audience▶ 1:08:12
Van LathanThe neon basketball scene in Algiers where they play aggressive, life or death basketball at a specific time when Silk and Pete arrive▶ 1:08:19
Den of Thieves Benihana Award
Chris RyanDiscussed the gym's features like dead spots on the court but didn't give a clear pick▶ 1:08:55
Van LathanAgreed with and discussed the gym scene, calling it the best basketball scene in the movie▶ 1:09:06
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsThe 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▶ 1:15:31
Chris RyanThe 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▶ 1:17:34
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Chris RyanRicky 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▶ 1:26:50
Casting What-Ifs
Chris RyanKevin Costner — Kevin Costner in the lead role - suggests this as the third film in a Shelton-Costner sports trilogy▶ 1:28:31
Van LathanRon Shelton — Ron Shelton as director - believes Shelton directing would have made it an all-time great basketball film instead of just good▶ 1:27:52
Dion Waiters Award
Van LathanAlfre Woodard — Suggested Alfre Woodard as a candidate, ruled out Shaq for too much screen time▶ 1:30:46
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsShaq was inappropriately nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst New Star - he's good in the movie and they were just being assholes▶ 1:34:51
Chris RyanParticipated in discussion about filming challenges with Shaq's height and Chris Jackson going to LSU, but no clear committed take▶ 1:35:37
Van LathanLove Dale Brown - LSU had real studs come through but couldn't get to the final four▶ 1:36:16
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsRick 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)▶ 1:40:26
Chris RyanRick 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▶ 1:40:26
Van LathanRick 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▶ 1:40:34
Hanks or Cruise
Chris RyanTom Hanks — Hanks - says Cruise wouldn't be believable as part of a college due to his height (5'6")▶ 1:43:25
Van LathanTom Cruise — Suggests Cruise would be interesting as Happy (the villain role) - like an evil Jerry Maguire type▶ 1:43:33
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsNell - briefly appearing in the woods in Algiers when they're looking for the gym▶ 1:54:16
Chris RyanJ.T. Walsh — JT Walsh as Markinson - recreating his A Few Good Men role where he confesses at the press conference then kills himself▶ 1:52:54
Just One Oscar
Bill SimmonsJ.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▶ 1:54:53
Chris RyanRon Shelton — Ron Shelton's screenplay - calls him probably the best writer of sports movies ever▶ 1:54:45
Van LathanNick Nolte — Acknowledges Nolte seems like the obvious answer but notes he goes so far over the top▶ 1:54:39
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Bill SimmonsGo 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.▶ 2:00:18
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsShaquille O'Neal — Shaq wins the movie - thinks it's a huge win for him and his most competent movie performance▶ 2:02:21
Van LathanShaquille O'Neal — Agrees with Shaq winning - notes this is the only time Shaq has been really competent in a movie▶ 2:02:30
Is There a Better Title?
Van LathanLikes Friends of the Program but thinks it reorients the movie away from the players; generally satisfied with Blue Chips▶ 2:05:18
Movies Referenced (37)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| He Got Game (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 25:01 |
| Coach Carter (2005) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 19:26 |
| Dances with Wolves (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:18:40 |
| Jerry Maguire (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 33:13 |
| The Exorcist (1973) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 10:27 |
| Moneyball (2011) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 33:39 |
| Nope (2022) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 4:55 |
| The Beach (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:46:47 |
| White Men Can't Jump (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 18:23 |
| Smile (2022) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 15:40 |
| The French Connection (1971) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 10:35 |
| The Way Back (2010) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 19:48 |
Directors Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Corner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | The Saint, Open Your Eyes | ▶ 0:19 |
| George Lynch | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 29:43 | |
| Anthony C. Hall | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Virtuosity | ▶ 29:23 |
| Kevin Garnett | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan | Uncut Gems | ▶ 30:32 |
| St. Vincent | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:47:38 | |
| Thomas Kelty | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | ▶ 1:43:04 |
Actors Referenced (66)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penny Hardaway | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 39 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | Blue Chips | ▶ 3:59 |
| Nick Nolte | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 36 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | Warrior | ▶ 3:30 |
| Tony Romo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 28 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | ▶ 24:01 | |
| Bob Cousy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 23 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | Blue Chips | ▶ 36:30 |
| Bobby Knight | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 23 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Anger Management, Blue Chips, Hoop Dreams | ▶ 9:09 |
| J.T. Walsh | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Sling Blade | ▶ 7:57 |
| Tom Cruise | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | Top Gun, Minority Report | ▶ 47:33 |
| Bobby Hurley | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | Blue Chips | ▶ 21:13 |
| Larry Bird | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | Space Jam, Blue Chips | ▶ 14:48 |
| Mary McDonald | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | ▶ 50:06 | |
| Brian Markinson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 53:57 | |
| Jerry Tarkanian | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | Blue Chips, The Sixth Man | ▶ 29:37 |
Writers Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ron Shelton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | White Men Can't Jump | ▶ 6:56 |
| Damien Chazelle | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Whiplash, La La Land, First Man | ▶ 2:04:03 |
| Danny McBride | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Underworld | ▶ 1:29:27 |
| Taylor Worst | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:34:51 | |
| Ted Jessup | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Ted 2 | ▶ 1:54:10 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giorgio Pitino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Fast X | ▶ 1:29:40 |