This happens to be my most recent screenplay and credit is given to Ellen Pashman Corso, who dropped this awesome sports story in my lap in late 2019. She is also the editor and co-writer. Ellen’s father, Milton Pashman, was one one of the original basketball players for Passaic High and was also their team captain.
LOG LINE: This biopic chronicles true events between 1919-1925 and unfolds as the most exciting athletic story of the century when the Passaic High School “Wonder Teams” literally rocked the sports world with their record breaking 159 consecutive wins. Led by the greatest innovator in basketball history coach, Ernest A. (Prof) Blood, created and taught his “passing game” during an era when the “dribbling game” ruled the court.
SYNOPSIS: Inspired by true events, the timeline of this Biopic is 1919-1925 when N.J. Passaic High School basketball players earned the title “Wonder Teams” for their unbroken 159 game winning streak. Their high-scoring games and innovative style of play that drew national and world-wide attention is attributed to the brilliance and character of their coach, Ernest A. Blood. Listed in the Guinness World of Records and a plaque for Coach Blood in the Naimsmith Basketball of Fame, the Wonder Teams’ world record still stands today. Their journey is the epic athletic story of the century.
J.L. Prescott, of the Prescott milling factory in Passaic, decides to honor the Wonder Teams’ players following their fourth State Championship victory. A huge parade is planned to include a mini-basketball court on a float where the Wonder Team players display their passing and shooting skills for all to witness. They WOW the thousands of fans lining Main Avenue to see the Wonder Teams in action.
Fast forward to 1970. We meet Milton Pashman, one of the original Wonder Team players from 1922-1925, now a defense attorney who lands a day in a jail cell for contempt of court. His cell mates are two young boys with whom Milt shares his Wonder Team memories. Through Pashman’s testimonies, we learn about Coach Blood, whose record for winning games and playing style makes him the greatest basketball coach of all time. Instead of the traditional “dribbling game”, Blood taught his boys the never seen before style of a “passing game”. At this point in the story, additional flashbacks to actual games illustrate Passaic’s incredible achievements.
Action from the season’s opening game, Dec.17, 1919 with Passaic slamming Newark Junior College 44 to 11. Then, on December 31, 1919, in Game #2 of the winning streak, Passaic plays the notorious Springfield and chews them up by winning 92 to 2. On January 8, 1920, Passaic takes on the NYU Freshman with a 30 to 6 victory. On March 27th, 1920 Passaic wins their first of five state championships against Trenton. With instant wins, Coach Blood and his players become a basketball sensation throughout N.J., New York, and the entire New England area.
With this recognition, Coach Blood becomes the target of antagonist Principal ARNOLD and Passaic’s President of the Board of Education, BENSON. As the film will show, ARNOLD AND BENSON are jealous that Passaic was becoming known for athletic achievement and not so much for their academic status. In the middle of Act II, BENSON’S jealousy becomes rage during a meeting with Blood. When Blood is responding to a remark, BENSON yells at him to SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN, which made front page headlines in the local newspaper. Despite the town’s love for Coach Blood, this story continues to show nasty schemes devised to make Blood miserable until finally a few years later, he resigns.
Let us not forget the incredible ‘Thousand Point Bobby Thompson’ who, during one season, scored one thousand points, a record that has never been matched or broken by any basketball player.
Basketball action continues with game #100 of the streak between Passaic and St. Mary’s Academy, N.Y. Played on January 27th, 1923 this matchup was titled the ‘Battle of the Century’. This was the first time a radio station broadcasts a high school basketball game live. Final score, Passaic 59, St. Mary’s Academy 38.
