Set in both the late 80's and current day, "Back in the Day" is a gritty tale about Anthony Rodriguez (William DeMeo), a half Italian - half Puerto Rican young teenager growing up on the streets of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn; a then very dangerous and racist neighborhood filled with bullies, big shots and social clubs where all of the neighborhood shots were called. Anthony had to endure an abusive, unemployed, alcoholic father but was blessed with a nurturing, hard-working mother who he loses at a very early age and is devastated by it. In spite of his bitterness, he struggles to uphold the morals his Mother taught him and retain his dignity in spite of being up against all odds. He is taken under the wing of a local mob boss, Enzo DeVino (Michael Madsen), who supports Anthony's wishes to escape his demons through the sport of boxing. Enzo connects Anthony with a trainer (Danny Glover), who means business, and turns Anthony into a contender although his troubled life and friends, who seem to always get him into trouble, hinder his career. As he journeys into adulthood with the nearly impossible goal of achieving a successful professional boxing career, Anthony manages to not only go pro, but literally fight his way to the top and become a world champion middleweight boxer at an unlikely age. But not without love, loss of love, humiliation, retaliation and revenge playing roles in his journey to the top. But when he finally does make it to the top, who will be left of anyone Anthony has ever cared about, to share it with? And who will be left to get in the way of Anthony's success, and living his dream?

缉毒小队“破坏者”在队长约翰·沃顿（阿诺·施瓦辛格 Arnold Schwarzenegger 饰）的率领下闯入臭名昭著的贩毒团伙奥加尔萨联盟的据点，经过一轮激烈的交锋，小队一名成员战死，而现场丢失的一千万美元现金也让“破坏者”的所有成员遭到了上层组织的调查。未过多久，高层指示约翰和成员们各就各位，重新开始行动。谁知未过多久，小队成员接二连三死于非命。似乎奥加尔萨为了丢失的巨款恼羞成怒，正展开疯狂的报复。

宾夕法尼亚州立大学所在地州立学院镇（State College）长期以来被称为“快乐谷”（Happy Valley）。40多年来，该镇的标志性人物是乔·帕特诺（Joe Paterno），他是该校传奇橄榄球队的主教练。他的球队不仅因其在球场上的成功而备受赞誉，也因其学生在课堂上的成就而备受赞誉。帕特诺也因此获得了“圣乔”（Saint Joe）的全国性神话般的地位。