After making the varsity basketball team as a freshman, Junior’s first game is against Wellpinit, his old school, and is affected by the negative shouts coming from the crowd from Wellpinit High School. During the first game, the crowd from Wellpinit throw negative comments onto the court such as, “Arnold sucks! Arnold sucks! Arnold Sucks!” (Alexie 143) The crowd clearly dislikes Junior and are throwing objects at Junior to potentially hurt him. Luckily, Juniors teammates and coach were there to support him by making him laugh and help him to lighten up. In the locker room, Junior’s coach comes in and motivates Junior to try his hardest and tells him, “If you care about something enough, it’s going to make you cry. But you have to use it. Use your tears. Use your pain. Use your fear. Get mad, Arnold, get mad.” (Alexie 144) Junior uses this motivation and in fact does get mad and ready to play. Junior uses his teammate’s and coach’s support to help him overcome his nerves and play the game of basketball no matter what others thought. At Junior’s first varsity game against Wellpinit High School, the crowds from Wellpinit are chanting negative comments against Junior but his teammate’s and Coach’s support help Junior get through his tears and play basketball regardless of the negative chants from the crowd.
I concur with much of what was said above. But, I would also like to add to the behavior of the audience at the Wellpinit. The Indians on the reservation feel that Junior has betrayed them by attending Reardan High School. They believe that as an Indian, Junior must stay on the reservation, and have told him that he is like an Apple; Red (Indian) on the outside, and white (White) on the inside. At the basketball game, their anger boils to such an intense level that Junior is physically assaulted. Junior states that "somebody in the crowd through a quarter at me" (145). This causes Junior to start bleeding. The basketball demonstrates the part loyalty plays in both the lives of the Whites and the Indians.
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