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nofrills79
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The Twilight Zone: A Game of Pool (1961)
A Great Episode still relevant today
Acting, scene setting, intensity, character. Just amazing.
But it seems a lot of people don't watch sports here. It is not about a gunslinger directly challenging a great, in the present. And the 'old Great' guy being cursed by being constantly challenged by a young up and comer (see the episode "Mr. Denton on Doomsday" for that).
This is about someone great today constantly being challenged by the legacy of the ghost of someone no longer around or active. Some modern day examples:
1) Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. They can't directly compete, but for so long, whenever Tiger Woods won, the ghost of Nicklaus was always there. As much as Woods hides it, it haunts him. Nicklaus on the other hand is constantly being hounded by Woods in the present chasing him. It's a burden on Nicklaus' legacy.
Woods is at a crossroads. His physical health is ailing him. If he really wants to be the Greatest, he has to will himself above his injuries and go out and get it. He can't be scared like Klugman's character is.
Nicklaus when he was considered 'over the hill' overcame age and injury to win his last major when no one expected it. That is what Fats is talking about in one of the scenes when Klugman is about to take that shot, about doubt creeping in and that the real greats go for the 'kill'.
2) Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant (and some degree LeBron). Kobe is desperately chasing Jordan's legacy. Kobe, whenever is presented with a accomplishment, he is reminded of Jordan's past accomplishments. Just like how Klugman is reminded of Winters. Kobe like Klugman in the beginning really inside believe he could take Jordan in his Prime and wants that challenge.
Jordan's legacy is constantly hounded by the following generation (Kobe and LeBron) where he's always called upon to 'demean' the following generation's accomplishment. As Fats took the title of the Greatest, Jordan took that Torch from Magic Johnson. MJ had 'IT' and the willingness to risk everything for greatness. Just like Fats had.
Similarly, if Jordan didn't directly take "IT" from Magic, Magic's legacy would have taken the burden, constantly being hounded. But since MJ took that crown from Magic, Magic can relax and go fishing like Fats, not having to carry the burden of the legacy of being the greatest, and that legacy constantly being challenged by the next generation.
Kobe like Tiger now is at that crossroads too. He's nearing one measuring stick of MJ of total career points. But his body has broken down, and needs one more good year. Will he risk everything, enter uncharted territory to go for that goal? That's the challenge and mindset Fats talks about.
Another way to look at it is Nicklaus and Jordan, with their professional playing careers are dead, the death in the episode is a metaphor for the death of active competition since one could play pool till you're much older but not something like basketball. When Jordan and Nicklaus go to sleep, the ghosts of their legacies, including themselves have in their minds, that they're the greatest. But the constant challenge and reminder of always trying to be dethroned (nowadays, usually through the media or fans) is always there and must be tiring. Just like how Fats felt at the end.
Guys like Nicklaus, MJ and 'Fats' aren't that egotistical statistics and glory hounds,where they're always defending and being insecure of their title. They truly enjoyed the game and art of it. It just so happened greatness came along with it. Greatness for the future to try to aim to.
3) Boxing is similar. At one point, it was Ali and Tyson. But given all the different weight classes, it's harder to pick that one great example. Maybe Mayweather and Sugar Ray Leonard or Robinson.