Hero #29 of 30 – Gordon Bombay

Kit has submitted yet another hero, this time fictional. He presents the hero’s journey of Gordon Bombay in the Mighty Ducks.

The Mundane World

Gordon Bombay was a hotshot lawyer, who only cared about the win. He did not care about justice being served. As long as his record was not tarnished he was happy. Working and playing too hard eventually led to his call to adventure.

The Call To Adventure

Bombay’s mishaps with drinking and driving forces his boss to ask him to perform community service,to better recognize the meaning of being a part of a team and fair play. He is asked to coach the local district 5 Pee Wee hockey team. Bombay is less than enthused about taking on this responsibility, but it will save his job, so he agrees.

Crossing The Threshold

Bombay arrives in a limo at the local pond, to encounter the soon to be Mighty Ducks. The team is a group of rag tag kids, who seem to have very little ambition or ability.

The Path of Trials

After watching his new team take a savage beating by Bombay’s old team, the Hawks, he asks the kids to cheat in their next game to try and get the win. This fails and not only is he confronted by the parents, but also by one of the kids, Charlie Conway, who refuses to cheat. Bombay’s good friend, Hans, reminds Bombay about why he loved the game as a kid. This spurs Bombay into winning back the kids and taking on the Hawks in the title game.

Unfortunately before all this, Bombay must confront the Hawk’s coach about one of his ineligible players, Adam Banks, who should be a Duck. The Hawk’s coach, Jack Reilly, and Bank’s dad take the matter to an old friend of theirs, Bombay’s boss, who gives Bombay a choice. Repeal his protest, or lose his job. Bombay who now understands the meaning of fair play and being part of team, sacrifices his job for the sake of the team.

Master of Two Worlds

Bombay’s adventure through coaching Pee Wee hockey allowed him to remember that responsibility is far more important than the win. Although he lost his job, his new found sense of fair play has changed him forever. The movie ends with the start of Bombay’s next call to adventure, his call up to the Minor Leagues.