“Who gets to be famous by being themselves?”

When it comes to the acclaimed documentary Hoop Dreams, a more appropriate phrase could not be uttered by the classy and humble William Gates. The Marquette graduate will appear tonight in Columbia, Missouri with the film's director Steve James where the pair will discuss the film with an audience at the Missouri Theater.

For my money, this film is a classic. While potentially cliche (think urban kids who want to play in the NBA) the film evolved into the moving portrait of two kids just trying to make their way over life's hurdles.

Sure looks like Will's gumption and wisdom, piercingly apparent in the film when his injured knee dramatically alters his perspective on life and basketball, are paying off. Per today's article, "Gates now devotes himself to the Living Faith Community Center in Chicago, where he preaches the gospel as a senior pastor. The center also runs an after-school program for 350 youth from Chicago’s Cabrini-Green neighborhood. Its doors are open from 2:30 to 9 p.m. every day as Gates and his colleagues try to get the youth ready to compete in the world. It’s a tall task,” he said, “but we’re excited about it."

Cura Personalis.