In the Rocky franchise, the title character is regularly seen bouncing a small rubber ball, leading some to wonder what this symbolizes. Written by and starring Sylvester Stallone, the original Rocky tells an underdog story about boxer Rocky Balboa as he prepares to take on world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). The franchise primarily emphasizes what can be achieved with hard work and determination, often culminating in an epic training montage and a brutal boxing match between Rocky and his next opponent. But Rocky is a complex character, with the ball serving to demonstrate some of his complexity.
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The first movie centers around Rocky's bout with the world's best fighter, Apollo Creed, who selects the local contender to fight him when his scheduled opponent, Mac Lee Green, is unable to compete. Rocky's meager experience means has no right to win such a fight, and Apollo Creed beats him on a split decision. Winning the fight isn't what matters, however, as Rocky demonstrates strength and determination in managing to compete with Apollo for the full 15 rounds and ultimately finding the love of his life in Adrian (Talia Shire). Rocky's durability and determination continue to be challenged in later installments as he faces opponents such as Mr. T's Clubber Lang and Dolph Lundgren's Ivan Drago.
The main character is often bouncing a ball in the first two Rocky movies, and although franchise star Sylvester Stallone has spoken about this, there are a few other clues as to why he does this. Rocky bounces the ball as an unconscious habit, especially as he walks around the streets of Philadelphia. When Stallone auctioned over 1,000 pieces of memorabilia from his career, he said the ball is "symbolic" to Rocky and is "the only thing that he really had that would take his mind off of his problems" (via Total Rocky). Stallone described Rocky's bouncing of the ball as being "meditative" as he focuses past the many challenges he faces.
What Rocky Bouncing The Ball Really Means
Sylvester Stallone's insight into Rocky is always valuable, but there are other clues behind the ball's significance. It could also help Rocky manage his nerves. One key scene in the first Rocky shows him toying with the ball at the pet shop just before asking Adrian out on a date. In the next movie, Rocky II, he is seen bouncing the ball as he waits for Adrian in the hospital after she collapses and goes into premature labor. In intense situations, Rocky seems to use the ball to help him handle his emotions, especially when he is nervous about what could happen next.
Another big clue comes in a deleted scene from 2006's Rocky Balboa where Rocky explains to Steps (James Francis Kelly III) that as a kid, "I'd be squeezin' a ball until I thought my hand was gonna explode. I was teachin' myself to be uncomfortable." It seems pretty clear that this is the same ball Rocky bounces around, meaning that it also served in the past to train Rocky to endure discomfort. This makes Rocky such a celebrated underdog (but bad boxer), as it's never how hard he hits, but how hard he can get hit and keep going. Regardless of whether there is one true meaning behind the ball, Rocky remains a true classic in celebrating hard work and determination. And it is clear that the ball is a key part of his journey into becoming the hero he is in the ring.