Everyone who writes ✍ a book 📖 takes a moment to dream about the possibility of someone turning it into a movie 🎥. For me, it would be Aaron Sorkin taking a few liberties with the story.
The challenge here is that this particular project has three different starting points. One for Alan Knight, one for Rick Nester and one for myself. Starting point for the Carroll County High School Softball program has to take place at a little diner that sits out on US-58 in between The Hill and Laurel Fork.
In real life, the Crooked Oak plays a sizable role in the day to day life of Rick Nester. The restaurant is where Coach Nester starts many a morning 🌄 with breakfast and its not uncommon for his older brother Paul to be at the same table.
The end of the year meal following the 2023 season took place at the restaurant, so its a natural place to host the opening scene.
A vehicle pulls up into a parking spot and out steps 🚶♂️ Carroll County High School Principal Chuck Thompson. Robert Duvall is playing the part of Mr. Thompson. Casting nailed this one!
Mr. Thompson is in a bit of a spot as he needed someone to agree to Coach his softball team. The school had found some successful Student Athletes up until this point but the quest for the elusive State Championship was still ongoing.
Mr. Thompson greets the waitress and chooses a booth ahead of Coach Nester, being played by Ed Harris. Once again, wow 👏 to the casting director !
Rick Nester is a Man’s Man 👨 and Coaches in that same manner. Folks all over Carroll County have a story about Coach Nester and its either full of praise or whatever the complete opposite of praise.
Mr. Thompson knows that he will have to dig deep into his bag 🎒 of tricks in order to find a way to convince Nester to switch sides, to go from molding young men to doing the same with Ladies.
Nester slides into the booth, greets his longtime friend and Boss. The exchange pleasantries, order breakfast and start THE CONVERSATION that will alter the course of Lady 👩 Cavaliers Softball !
A.S.P.N on The Hill 