Danny's Height Symbol
To Danny, his height is a symbol of his powerlessness. Because of something he cannot control, he has something he loves - playing on the basketball team - taken away from him. It is also a symbol of how he cannot live up to his father's skills as a basketball player and of their basic differences.
Richie Walker Symbol
Richie Walker is s symbol of failure and wasted talent within the town. He was an incredibly gifted high school player, a college stand-out and an NBA star, but lost everything because of his alcohol abuse and the accident that it caused. This wasted the talent he had and the opportunities he was given. Now when the townspeople see him they still see a drunk and he symbolizes failure.
Coaching the Team Symbol
To Richie, coaching his son's team is a symbol of his redemption in many ways; firstly, within basketball, as he is able to become successful again. Secondly it symbolizes redemption amongst his peers in town who will now be able to see him as a man who has turned his life around and who still has an incredible talent for the game. Finally it symbolizes the bond he has with his son and the way in which they converse with each other.
Talking About Sports Symbol
Danny and Richie love each other very much but do not have the built up history of quality time spent together that they need and that other father and sons have enjoyed. They want to tell each other how they feel about things but for some reason do not feel able to. Instead, when they need to spend time together they talk about sports. This symbolizes the bond between them and the way they express love for each other.
Mr Ross and Richie Walker Standing Together Symbol
Towards the end of the basketball game the kids notice that Mr Ross and Coach Walker are now sitting together and rooting for the same team despite their seemingly irreconcilable differences earlier. This symbolizes to the kids that anything is possible and therefore acts as motivation, showing them that if these two men who apparently couldn't stand each other can come together then they can win a seemingly un-winnable basketball game.
