Conflicts

In Danger Zone, Jim faced numerous challenges. One of them was between Jim and himself. He couldn’t bring himself to let go of his dead father. He believed his father’s death was unjustified. Because of the death, Jim had to assist his mother in maintaining the hardware store. Scouts found Jim and asked him if he would like to join the U.S.A team that consisted of players that were below the age of 17. Jim refused the offer, but Jim’s mother found out and told Jim he should go. Jim agreed to join the team, only if his mother was positive she could handle the store herself. Jim joined the Teen Dream Team, and at the end of the story, realized it wasn’t his father’s fault for dying.

A person-to-person conflict occurred between Jim and one of his teammates, whose name was Augustus. Augustus blamed Jim for taking his cousin’s position in the Teen Dream Team. Jim and Augustus got into a fight because Jim confronted Augustus about Augustus being so hostile toward him. They began arguing and Augustus shoved Jim. The argument turned into a fist fight, but it ended quickly because one of their teammates broke it up. After the squabble, Augustus and Jim were hostile toward each other for a while until Jim attempted to patch up the rift. Augustus ignored Jim’s apologies and continued to resent Jim. They didn’t even acknowledge each other’s presence until the last game. It was the last 5 minutes in the game and the U.S.A. Teen Dream Team was losing. Augustus and Jim were forced to work together to increase their score. The clock rapidly ticked a way until there were just a mere 5 seconds left. Augustus flipped the ball to Jim, and he made an awkward toss to the basket. The ball bounced on the rim and fell through the hoop. A man from the audience jumped out of the crowd and aimed a gun at Augustus. Jim jumped out of the way as a police officer tackled the man, and the shot went wide. It hit Jim and he was transported to a hospital. He had to have surgery to repair his leg, and Augustus visited him and asked him why Jim took his bullet. Jim explained that he was trying to get out of the way, but he happened to fly right in the path of the bullet. Augustus apologized for blaming Jim for taking his cousin’s spot and for being so hostile.

Danger Zone also had a people vs. other force conflict. The other force in Danger Zone was the other teams in the tournament. The U.S.A Teen Dream Team competed against teams in other countries such as Sweden, Rome, and Germany.