Gary Smith, “Someone to Lean On,” Sports Illustrated, December 16, 1996
The magazine story the film is based on. The SI Vault is offline, so this is the Internet Archive's copy.
The video
What Hollywood Cut From Radio (2003): The James “Radio” Kennedy True Story (opens in a new tab)
01 The stories behind the film
Josh Peter, “The newspaper article that helped turn James ‘Radio’ Kennedy's story into a movie,” Anderson Independent Mail, December 15, 2019
Peter's original story of October 29, 1993, reprinted in full.
Josh Peter, “Reporter recalls the man and the story that became inspiration for the movie ‘Radio,’” USA Today, December 15, 2019
How Peter passed the story to Gary Smith.
Read at usatoday.com (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (opens in a new tab)
Ann Marsh, “A Good Sport Makes the Big Leagues,” Stanford Magazine, November/December 2003
Director Mike Tollin and how he came to make the film.
02 Interviews
The 700 Club (CBN), “Act of Kindness Results in 50 Year Friendship,” February 7, 2019
Coach Harold Jones. His clips in the video come from The 700 Club.
Conversations with Paul Brown, “Shelia Hilton Remembers A Much Beloved Radio,” Anderson County, S.C., December 30, 2019
Former T.L. Hanna principal Sheila Hilton. Her interview clips in the video come from it.
Andrea Morris, “‘It Was God's Plan’: How James ‘Radio’ Kennedy Touched Countless Lives and Reached a Nation,” CBN News, December 16, 2019
Alida Kunsa, “Coach shares inspiration of Radio,” Arizona Daily Wildcat, October 27, 2004
Harold Jones on picking Radio up for school every day, and on how closely the film follows the true events.
Charles S. Williams, “‘Radio,’ Coach Jones visit East Wilkes,” Wilkes Journal-Patriot, March 28, 2011
Jeff Holt, “Remembering Radio on 90th birthday of Coach Jones,” The Easley Progress, April 30, 2024
03 After the film
Gary Smith, “Radio Blaze,” Sports Illustrated, November 10, 2003
The Anderson premiere and the fire. This is the Internet Archive's copy.
Associated Press, “South Carolina Fire Damages Home of ‘Radio’ Man,” Firehouse.com, November 2, 2003
Chris Rees, “Inspiration for movie ‘Radio’ moving into new home in Anderson Co. on Weds.,” WIS, March 3, 2004
The $115,000 fund and the new house.
South Carolina House of Representatives, H. 4267, a resolution to honor James Robert “Radio” Kennedy and Coach Harold Jones, adopted June 1, 2005
Roadside America, “Movie Inspired Bronze Statue of Human Named Radio”
The statue he unveiled in 2006.
Anderson School District Five, Westside High School history
Westside, built in 1951 for Black students, and the integration of Anderson's schools. This is the Internet Archive's copy.
04 His death and graduation
Maureen Williamson, “T.L. Hanna High School legend James ‘Radio’ Kennedy passes away, family confirms,” WIS, December 15, 2019
Ben Pickman, “‘Radio’ Kennedy, Focus of SI 1996 Feature, Inspiration for 2003 Film, Dies At 73,” Sports Illustrated, December 15, 2019
Associated Press, “South Carolina man who inspired the movie ‘Radio’ dies at 73,” NBC News, December 15, 2019
WSPA 7News, “REMEMBERING RADIO: ‘a man who did his best’ inspired generations and taught others to love,” December 21, 2019
His funeral, with George “Cool Rock” Kennedy and Sheila Hilton.
FOX Carolina, “Saying goodbye to Radio: Beloved T.L. Hanna High legend laid to rest,” December 2019
Patrick Phillips, “Thousands pay final respects for S.C. high school legend ‘Radio,’” Live 5 News, December 2019
The last lap of the football field.
FOX Carolina, “Six months after his passing, ‘Radio’ finally graduates from TL Hanna,” June 4, 2020
The Unity Mortuary, George “Cool Rock” Kennedy (1948–2026)
The obituary of Radio's younger brother.
05 The film
Radio (2003), directed by Mike Tollin, Revolution Studios, released by Columbia Pictures
Cuba Gooding Jr. plays Radio and Ed Harris plays coach Harold Jones. Short clips from the film are used for commentary and criticism. All rights remain with their owners.
DVD on Amazon (opens in a new tab)Watch on Prime Video (opens in a new tab)
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Chasing the Frog, “Radio - James Robert Kennedy - Reel Faces”
The site's security certificate has expired, so this is the Internet Archive's copy.
Rotten Tomatoes, Radio (2003)
Critics' and audience scores.
06 Further reading
Gary Smith, Beyond the Game: The Collected Sportswriting of Gary Smith (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2000)
Recommended reading, not a source for the video. Fifteen of Smith's stories, “Someone to Lean On” among them.
Buy the book on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
07 Photo and footage credits
Footage
The 700 Club (CBN, 2019); Conversations with Paul Brown (2019); coverage of the funeral, December 2019 (WSPA 7News and FOX Carolina); stock footage.
Photos
Anderson Independent Mail and archival sources, as credited on screen.
Some archive photos and footage have no known original source. If one is yours, contact the channel and it will be credited or removed.