Ballin' (The Boondocks)

"Ballin'" is the eighth episode of the second season of Adult Swim's animated television series The Boondocks and the twenty-third episode overall. It originally aired on December 3, 2007.

Plot

Riley was having a dream of himself joining the NBA but it is ruined when Granddad invades his dream and ends up whipping him as usual with a belt. The next day Granddad yells at him for playing basketball inside. Granddad then tells him to shoot free throws outside while he gets ready to teach him the basics. Outside, Tom walks by while Riley is making fun of Granddad's short shorts. Tom tells Riley that he is coaching a team called the Woodcrest "Mighty Deers". He tells Riley to try out for the team but it turns out the team is not so great but has a lot of spirit. Riley shows up for practice the next day and versus the whole starting line-up. Before he takes the shot he tells Tom "that's all you get fo' free". Tom tells Riley about his dream of the perfect miracle win (an example of the Mighty Ducks). Riley then tells Tom he will join the team if he talks to his agent (Granddad).

One week later, Riley shows up in his "Scarface suit" and tells Tom that he should have call his agent. Riley tells Tom that he wants to change the team name and the team jerseys. He ends up signing a half-season contract with the newly named team the "Ballaholics". The Next Day the "Ballaholics" play a game against an unnamed team. They end up losing due to Riley's showboating style. At home, Riley talks about quitting the team due to the loss. Granddad tells him that he should practice to win. They still lost another game due to Riley's showboating again. Then, the next game, The other team's coach sends up, Cindy McPhearson (She first appears in The Boondocks). She gets into Riley's head and he ends up losing his mind. Ruckus calls a foul on Riley and Tom calls a time-out. The team, Granddad, and Huey come up with a way to destroy her mind. Granddad remembers overhearing gossip on Cindy's mother, which Riley uses against her quoting, "yo momma was caught givin' neck at the Woodcrest country club, but not to ya' daddy" or "Yo momma does cocaine when no ones lookin'" and "Yo' parents are gettin' a divorce and they waitin til after yo' birthday to tell you". Cindy runs off crying. The opposing team's coach sends in an autistic boy who has never played a single game this season or most likely ever, Billy Matthews. Billy is most likely a spoof of Jason McElwain, a autistic boy who is really good at basketball despite never playing a varsity game before. Billy happens to be way better than his own team and Riley. Because of his talent The Tigers win the game. When Tom sees the Tigers' coach enjoying that miracle moment he so longed for, he loses it and cusses a blue streak.

After the game, Huey and Riley were at home watching most likely ESPN or a local sports channel on television. The reporters say that Billy will get his own movie and sneaker. The next and final shot of the episode is a bunch of pictures of Billy meeting famous basketball players and George Bush. The last shot of the episode is the final humilation for Riley -- a poster for the Billy Matthews story (starring Haley Joel Osment) showing Billy shooting a spectacular jump shot against an obese klutz made to look like Riley.

Trivia

• This was Cindy McPhearsons' first appearance on the show
• Billy Matthews is based on Jason McElwain, a autistic teenager who has unbelievable talent when it comes to basketball.
• The quote "you [just] mad cause I'm stylin' on ya" that Cindy McPhearson says, is taken from the infamous freestyle rap battle between ENJ and Niks, which ended in a fist fight.
• This is the first episode of the season with no special guests.
• The episode's name could possibly be the reference to the song,"We Fly High" by rapper, Jim Jones
• This is the second time in the TV series that Huey smiles. In the Season One episode, Let's Nab Oprah was the first time.
• This is the second time in the series that Riley is wearing one of his Scarface suits. In the first episode of Season 1, Garden Party was being the first time.