I think this has the possiblility to be very cool. All depends on the execution though. What do you think? http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/soccer/09/11/bc.eu.spt.soc.pulpfootb.ap/index.html
Very much like you said, it depends on the execution. I would think any director these days would be hard-pressed not to make any sports movie the formulaic "never give up and you'll succeed" type. They better not let the story drift too far away from the hero's ghetto roots, especially in the latter two. It's gotta have emotion. SUBSTANCE man, substance. It's encouraging how ambitious the producer is about it.