CLINT EASTWOOD is an undisputed legend of the cinema. He has acted in over sixty films from 1955 to 2021, gaining Oscar Nominations (but never winning Best Actor) and he has directed or produced films from 1971 to 2021, winning four Oscars and many other acclaimed awards.
He sprung to fame in numerous Western movies, (most notably the ‘Dollars’ Trilogy which culminated in ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’), where he was infamous for saying little, in line with his character ‘The Man with No Name’, while other classic Westerns starring Eastwood as the undisputed hero include ‘High Plains Drifter’, ‘The Outlaw Josey Wales’ and ‘Unforgiven’.
Yet he was not limited to acting in Westerns. He also starred in a series of five action thriller films as the detective known as ‘Dirty Harry’, plus as an out-of-luck detective in ‘The Gauntlet’, while later appearing in the political thriller ‘In the Line of Fire’.
Then there were the war films, including ‘Where Eagles Dare’, ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ and ‘Heartbreak Ridge’, as well as the sports drama ‘Million Dollar Baby’, the romantic drama ‘The Bridges of Madison County’ and the urban drama ‘Gran Torino’.
However, to cap them all were two films that were the antithesis of all the films that he had made which in fact brought him even greater popular acclaim, if not awards or critical acclaim. These were two action-comedy films, ‘Every Which Way But Loose’ and ‘Any Which Way You Can’. In these films he appeared to make fun of all his previous traditional heroes; the beautiful girl does not fall for him, despite his great efforts; he deliberately loses a bare-knuckle fight to allow his opponent to retire with dignity; his great friend is an orang-utan. Movie fans still loved him!
What all these films underline is his great versatility. He has shown he can act (even if he rarely speaks any long speeches) in many different genres while he has displayed equal ability as an actor, a director and producer, again and again.
Furthermore, we might argue here that his characters are positive role models for young children playing sport, though, it should be added quickly, not by his violent tactics nor by his coarse language or dismissive attitude.
No, children playing sport at school must learn the importance of being versatile, of being willing to play every which way but loose, or indeed any which way they can.
- School of sport: GAME ON!
- School of sport: GAME ON!
- School of sport: Any which way you can
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The saying ‘every which way but loose’ has been given the meaning “do everything possible except let go or give up” which is a powerful adage for children to follow in sport. Playing in a team will not always come easily for every child.
However, the phrase ‘any which way you can’ carries much weight as well, not least in encouraging children to be willing to find any way of making the team. To that end, each and every child should be willing to play in any and every position on the field of play.
Children must not state that they are a forward or back or any position. They must be exposed to playing in any and every different position, not least as in doing so they will begin to understand more clearly the particular nuances of each position so that when they play against the person of that position, they will know what that person is thinking. The character Dirty Harry states that “A good man always knows his limitations” but he will not know them until he has tried all positions.
The Dutch soccer team of the 1970s have been accredited with the introduction of Total Football which essentially showed every player in the team being capable of playing in any position, covering for each other. Richie McCaw, the great All Black, writes of how his school coach would alternate players kicking for goal and for touch, all to be captain in different matches.
We need to instil that back into our school sport. Players must learn to play any and every position; they must want to play in any and every position. Further, we must move them to love the game so much that will do so.
As Clint Eastwood poked fun at his former successful Westerns in the ‘Every Which Way but Loose’ film so we might be well reminded not to take sport too seriously at school.
But this is not comedy; this is serious. Children must play any which way they can; that is the gauntlet laid down to school coaches. Those coaches must not be tempted by a ‘fistful of dollars’; they are not the enforcers.
Every which way but loose; any which way you can. If we do not do so, we shall be unforgiven. So, as Dirty Harry famously said: “Go ahead, make my day!”
