Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
The Long Game – Netflix
4 out of 4 palm trees
“The Long Game” is based on the true story of the Del Rio Mustangs, the first Mexican-American high school golf team ever organized in the U.S. by JB Pena (Jay Hernandez) in Texas in 1956 during a time of extreme racism and prejudice. JB had just moved to Del Rio having accepted the job as superintendent of Del Rio High School and as an avid golf player was hoping to become a member of the prestigious Del Rio Country Club, but was denied due to being hispanic.
Joe Trevino (Julian Works) worked at the Del Rio Country Club as a caddy where he took every opportunity to hit balls when nobody was looking. Joe and four other hispanic friends regularly practiced on a course they designed and maintained in a field just outside of town. One day while JB was driving to the school, his window was shattered by a golf ball Joe hit on a dare, and the boys scattered when JB got out of his car to see who broke his window.
During a full school assembly to introduce JB as the new superintendent, he recognized the boys from the field and in realizing this they fled. When JB caught up to them he made it clear he wasn’t concerned about his car window, he was interested in their interest in golf. JB solicited the assistance of his friend and Marine buddy Frank Mitchell (Dennis Quaid) who was a good golfer and a member at Del Rio Country Club.
The team practiced outside of town on their field course, and JB and Frank would sneak them onto the putting greens at Del Rio Country Club at night to practice their putting. JB told the boys that they needed to dress well and not speak Spanish on the courses to blend in and increase their opportunities to play. After endless calls, they finally were able to enter a tournament. Pollo (Cheech Marin), the groundskeeper, approached them one night and gifted the entire team each a set of clubs and golf shoes that he had gathered and cared for until finding where they should go.
The Mustangs first tournament was the 16th Annual Monte Christo Juniors Tournament in Kerrville, TX. Though the team didn’t place, the owner Mr. Patteson was impressed with the way the team handled themselves and invited the team to play in another tournament the following month. Not only did they follow all the rules and fixed all their divots, they even fixed the divots the other teams left on the course as well as displaying great sportsmanship to the other players.
On the way home, the team was refused service in a diner due to being hispanic. Joe went outside and hit a couple of golf balls to break the windows, and the whole team jumped in the car and fled. Frank joked with the boys, but JB sternly lectured Joe about his actions. The team did better with every tournament they played and even won several first place trophies. They eventually went to the 1957 Texas State Championships, but Joe’s actions at the diner ultimately caught up with them.
Police showed up to the tournament to arrest Joe for the incident at the diner, which would disqualify him from the tournament and put the team in 5th instead of 2nd with one day left. To save the team, JB said he broke the windows and was arrested, which even potentially risked his job. JB’s valiant efforts helped the Mustangs to win the championship and in 2012 the Mustangs were inducted into the Latino International Sports Hall of Fame for their historic victory. Their record score remained unbroken for another 36 years.
Runtime: 1h 52m
