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'The Cost of Winning': Purpose and grit, the bedrocks that make the St Frances Panthers a team to root for

Having grown up in a violent space, education and sports are more than just distractions, it shows them their way forward

HBO's 'The Cost of Winning' aired the final part (Episodes 3 and 4) on Friday and picks up where it left off. The St Frances Panthers continue their football journey taking on some of the best schools in the country even as the coaching and support staff monitor their mental and physical wellbeing, their academic progress, and their style of play. The hour-long episodes speak about the hardships the teens go through in a place like Baltimore.

For some players, the motivation to go further in life was to primarily get out of Baltimore. For the immensely talented Demon Clowney, the LSU scholarship gets canceled and while he and the team are miffed about it, the attitude does not mean he's slumped shoulders down a bit. Adding to the misery is the death of his friend who was killed and he uses that grief as motivation to play well when the Panthers resume their games.

Chris Braswell and Blake Corum, heading off to Alabama and Michigan respectively are shown to be on top of their game and in academics so as to prove they can be the best on any side of life. The episodes are pretty much a feel-good factor as they showcase the sense of purpose and determination the kids have. Having grown up in a violent space, education and sports are more than just distractions, it shows them their way forward. And it is admirable to see the players take a genuine interest in getting better. 

The signing day where these recruits put pen to paper is an emotional day, not just for the sports staff who take turns to express their happiness, but also their parents who beam with pride and joy. There's also content and hope in their praises to these kids as they move to greener pastures. St Frances boasts of 26 seniors of the 30 receiving college scholarships that would also give them an opportunity to make it to the NFL. While there are a bunch of teens who don't have a scholarship, they have made plans of continuing education and graduate.

In many ways, 'The Cost of Winning' is inspiring, a bit of a tear-jerker, and definitely a crisp docu-series that aired when the 2020 NFL is on. The timing could never be better or aspiring players and those with troubled backgrounds to find that motivation, get better at their sports, and progress to a better life.

'The Cost of Winning' can be streamed on HBO Max.