Forgive me if I am a few days late on this, but my schedule hath been busy and my DVR runneth full. Regardless, I just got through watching the HBO Documentary “Prayer For a Perfect Season” and all I can say is “Wow”. Kentucky fans are going to love Michael Kidd – Gilchrist. Even more than you already do now.
The documentary covers Kidd-Gilchrist’s senior season at famed St. Patrick’s in New Jersey. In case you did not know, St. Patrick’s is home to only 215 students and has virtually no budget for basketball. But they do have head coach Kevin Boyle, who had won 10 state titles but never a national title or an undefeated season.
The documentary picks up looking back at Kidd-Gilchrist’s Junior year in which which St. Patricks was banned for participating in the state tournament due to “illegal practices” and we meet the hard nosed, thik accented, foul mouthed Boyle, who tells his players they won’t play unles they have “tissue damage” on their elbows from diving after loose balls in practice. It is easy to see a good bit of Kevin Boyle in John Calipari. Both are intense on the court and have an insane desire to win. And when compared to the infamous New Jersey Ferry coaches, Boyles is viewed as the villain and an outsider. After a loss at St. Patrick, school officialas joked that Boyles was on a suicide watch, but you could tell it was not all joking. Boyles is that intense.
The movie focuses heavily on Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and after watching it, it is hard not to root for him. It is well documented that Michael’s dad was killed when Kidd-Gilchrist was just two. We also learn that Michael Gilchrist Senior was also a stud basketball legend who won a state title and had an undefeated season while playing at Camden. We meet briefly, Michael’s uncle, Darrin Kidd, who died of a heart attack just a few hours before Michael signed his national LOI at Kentucky. Despite that, the family pulled together for the big day. And in a revealing moment, we see perhaps the moment when Michael Gilchrist became Michael “Kidd – Gilchrist”.
We also meet the talented supporting cast at St Patrick’s, which included future Western Kentucky Hilltopper Derrick Gordon, who has to go through his season with his twin brother locked away in prison. There is also a glimpse of fellow Wildcat recruit Dakari Johnson.
While watching this, I found a couple of moments that make me realize that Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is a perfect fit at Kentucky and that he will be a very special player. First, he knows what it is like to play under pressure and to walk into a building where the other team is super amped to play you. For much of the season, St. Patricks held the mythical number one ranking in the country, so the team knew to look for more than just a state title, but towards a national title. Kidd-Gilchrist and company had to be on every night as it was a mythical title they were chasing, so sometimes it took beating very good teams by 20-30 points to assure their ranking. It was not just enough to win.
Secondly, Kidd-Gilchrist has already learned to share the spotlight and has already been on an “all star team”. He knows how to play beside other great players and that he will not have to be the superstar every night. Unlike Anthony Davis, who was his high schools only option, Kidd-Gilchrist shared the floor and spotlight with players like Gordon and Chris Martin.
You get the feeling that in spite of his skills, Kidd – Gilchrist has no ego. Perhaps because of the tragedy that has befallen him. Maybe because of the fact that in a way he grew up too fast and had already travelled in Germany and won a gold medal at the age of 16. Michael Kidd – Gilchrist’s life has already been the subject of a movie before he has stepped foot in Lexington and throughout good or bad, he has dazzled with that infectious smile Kentucky fans are going to love.
In the end, “A Dream For a Perfect Season” is all about redemption. For Kevin Boyle, who lost his father and brother in the year previous to this season and had to deal with a tumultous off-season. And for Kidd-Gilchrist who lost his uncle. And win or not, redemption is achieved. And that makes this a must view not only for Kentucky fans or for Michal Kidd – Gilchrist fans. But for fans of college basketball as well.
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