Stompin'

Someone once said that blood is thicker than

water, that no matter what family is the most

important thing. Then someone else said that

the ones closest to us can hurt us the most.

You can pick your friends but not your family.

You see family is family because they have to be.

Friends are friends because they choose to be.

So how does one choose allegiance to another

simply on the strength of being born by the same blood?

I guess in the end what I'm really trying to say is

Am I my brother's keeper?

Look at this, baby.

Oh, look at my baby.

Says he's slated to be the number one draft pick.

Want me to read the article to you?

Yeah, read it.

I have my glasses here. Hold up.

Jason Jackson, son of famed Rangers player Ryan Jackson Sr.

Has pro teams vying for position to pick up this year's likely first draft pick.

Northridge's next game is Sunday when they host Long Beach.

See, baby, I need to talk to that boy.

Long Beach got this pitcher,

We're some scouts at the game. It's very important.

Okay, about Ryan, though.

Sweetie, when you go out there, I want you to stop and say hi to Junior, okay?

What for?

Well, he's getting ready to take the MCAT, and you know, he's a little nervous.

Baby, this game is very important. I mean, my mind's gonna be on this game.

Ryan, you have two sons, and they both need you right now.

The game is just more important, baby.

Hey, Mom!

Who plays? You or Jason?

Hey, Mom.

Hey, baby.

What's up, Pop?

What's up? Bam, this is what's up.

I want you to be ready for that Long Beach

pitcher, man, because he's been watching you.

Hey, Pop, let me just put this laundry on real fast.

Hey, Jay, baby, you want something to eat?

No, thanks, man, I'm not hungry.

Okay.

You better be ready, man.

You played me off, I'm telling you something.

Here you go, my big boy.

How you doing?

Hi, baby.

Pop.

Hey, son.

Look at that.

What's this?

This is a Greek show.

We're the defending champions.

Not right now.

You hear that?

Every time you come home, you talking about stepping.

Doing some stepping, man.

When you got time to study?

What you getting at, Pop?

I'm getting at, man, if you doing all this stepping,

if you took a little time to study, you might not be so nervous for your MCAT test.

I can't believe this. Mom, are you talking about that?

Junior, look, honey, I'm sorry.

I've just been so worried about you.

Don't call me Junior.

You need to get your act together.

My act is together.

Yeah?

Well, how you gonna get into medical school,

man, just chasing tail and doing step shows?

My 3.7 GPA is gonna get me in medical school.

Well, I know this much. You better get your priorities straight, boy.

I mean, you better get your head out the clouds and worry about this step show.

You need to step up to the plate and do something. That's what I'm talking about.

You know what? You're right, Pop.

I should be more disciplined, right? I should be good at something.

Maybe I should be more like Jason, because ain't

a damn thing I do ever good enough for you.

You think this is about you and Jason? Huh? It's all about you and Jason?

This is about you taking a look in the mirror, son.

You might not like what you see.

Now that's you Pop. You're reliving your life through Jason.

Reliving my life? What the hell are you talking about, boy?

Reliving my life.

I had a life.

Hold on, man.

Stop, man. You always just stand there and let him do this to me.

Hey Pop, you're wrong about Ryan.

I'm just being honest with the boy.

You think I'm reliving my life?

Stop starting stuff.

I ain't starting nothing.

The boy's going through a lot.

I know he's going through a lot. He's stepping.

Yeah, it's hard. It's a lot.

Look, he likes to step. Jason likes baseball. Deal with it.

I am dealing with it. I'm just saying... I'm reliving my life through Jason.

You think I'm reliving my life through Jason?

I just know you're too hard on him.

You didn't answer my question.

Am I reliving my life through Jason? You think that?

Why don't you think about it?

Northridge has a lot of student groups,

...including all nine of the historically black fraternities and sororities.

Brothers!

Attention!

Left face!

Right face!

About face!

About face!

Move, march, move, kick it!

Honey, are the noobs ready?

The noobs stay ready. Come on, man.

Okay, where's Jason?

Hey, look, this is P90. I got it under control. You do what you do.

Major, what about the gammas?

We dogs, baby. Gammas gonna always be ready.

Buggin' out for real.

How's it going, Camille?

What do you want, Julia?

My girls and I, we want a stat.

Okay, sweetheart, this is a black Greek council event. Sorry.

What? Are you afraid Mewkai may make your little sorority look bad?

That's the thing about KKA, we never look bad.

Yo, I heard the KKAs were throwing a party tonight.

Guess we'll have to make an appearance.

Guess so.

You and that damn chain, boy.

Hey, it works for me.

Get out of here.

Jackson!

Hey, there's someone here I want you to meet.

How you doing?

Pretty good.

Looking good out there.

Good speed on you, good back control.

Well, thanks.

Yeah, I'm Rogers. Gabriel Rogers.

I'm with San Diego.

We want to talk to you about your plans for next year.

Ah, that's great.

Yeah, we're thinking about taking you number one.

Think you might fit right in, Jason.

Yeah?

Yeah, I'm just going to weigh all my options right now, but...

I'm going to see where I fit in.

Who's we?

My dad.

Your dad.

Who's your father?

Ryan Jackson Sr.

Ryan?

Yeah, he's representing me.

Yeah, I know your father.

I know who he is.

Well, that's good.

I'm glad to hear you got representation, son.

Listen, your father was a great ball player before he got injured.

We think you got potential to be a much better player.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

This ain't about complimenting you, man.

This is about me doing what I need to do to get you assigned with my club.

Here's my card.

You tell your father I said to give me a call, alright?

And if you need anything, I mean anything, you give me a call.

Huh?

Sure.

Huh?

Sure. Thanks.

Yeah, get on back out there and do something with your life.

Y'all back off, I got this one, alright?

But you always tell me now is not the time or maybe next time.

But I often fear that the next time yet again will be the wrong time.

Do I give up, seeing as how every time seems

to be the wrong time? Or do I wait in hopes

that the next time is the right time? When is my time? When will I be included in your

time? It wasn't the last time, and you say, not this time. The last time you said next

time. And next time is this time. Look, I just want my time to be your time and your

time to be my time, so that every time we're together feels like valentine.

But now is What time is it?

Look at him. Look at your man.

Oh, hey.

Look at that little girl.

Hey, Jason. Good job.

Thank you.

Rangers play tonight.

Oh, your place or mine?

Mine. I'll cook.

Okay, then that's my victory dinner. I appreciate it.

Uh, no. I just figured since they were going to get

spanked tonight, So bad, cooking was the least I could do.

Listen, so what do I have to do to get my own private poetry reading?

Um, Camille, you can get that anytime you want.

Don't you have to get back to practice?

What am I supposed to do?

I don't know.

I mean, what you're doing, it ain't working.

And on the flip side, you could really ruin a good friendship.