Marlon Wayans as George Raveling Chris Tucker as Howard White Jason. Sonny believes he can restore Nike to its former glory by putting immense talent behind a sneaker. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, a former sports marketing executive who had the genius idea to sign Michael to his first-ever sneaker deal. The biopic will focus on Sonny Vaccaro, the creator of the Air Jordan sneakers. By remaining on this website, you indicate your consent. Chris Tucker as Howard White. ''When you talk power, that means someone who can manipulate,'' says Raveling. Ben Affleck, who directs the film, stars as Nike co-founder and former chairman Phil Knight. and George Raveling. In 2015, Michael Jordan shared his perspective on the events leading up to his deal with Nike in an interview with USA Today. KGW speaks with Sonny Vaccaro, portrayed by Matt Damon in upcoming film 'Air'. Jordan weighed in, as did Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Nike executive George Raveling, former Nike basketball adviser Sonny Vaccaro and former Nike executive Peter Moore. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a scene from the movie AIR. Sonny Vaccaro Michael Jordan. He met with George Raveling (played by Marlon Wayans), a former NBA player and college. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had been close friends, to the point that Raveling was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. Gustaf Skarsgård as. Sonny Vaccaro talks the accuracy of 'Air' with FN and remembers his unforgettable speech at Nike HQ to. Additional cast includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling,. Enter a livewire Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, a sweaty schlub in charge of Nike's flailing basketball division. 'Air' was a hit, but casting Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro was a miss. You’ve got to try. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight. Now Ben has told the story that he met with Michael Jordan in order to receive his blessing, and that led to parts for Howard White (Chris Tucker), George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) and a mandate. Bel-Air guest star and noted comedian Marlon Wayans plays George Raveling, a noted college basketball player and coach who would go on to be the first African American head basketball coach in the PAC-8, per the real George's LinkedIn page. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. George Raveling. Played by Matt Damon, Sonny Vaccaro's. Coach George Raveling. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). Image via Amazon Studios. Writer: Alex Convery. Matt Damon is Sonny Vaccaro. " He added, "Michael’s lying more than Phil [Knight] and Raveling. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. . But George Raveling knew all of Vaccaro’s tricks, and according to former Nike and Adidas executive David Bond, the former best friends “were doing whatever they could to get the key players. That’s probably not a revelation to anyone who’s been following high school and college basketball recruiting for years, and familiar with names like Sonny Vaccaro and George Raveling. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). Led by music supervisor Andrea von Foerster, the film is a throwback to 1984 in a huge way, with plenty of songs by well-known solo artists and bands. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), to put in a good word, Raveling declares that following the “I Have a Dream” speech in. Follows the history of sports marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro, and how he led Nike in its pursuit of the greatest athlete in the history of basketball, Michael Jordan. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. Davis stars as Jordan’s mom, Deloris Jordan, while Damon portrays the character of Sonny Vaccaro – the marketing exec at Nike who managed to get Jordan to sign with the brand. As is shown in the film, Vaccaro insisted that rather than spreading their $2 million budget around a host of different basketball players, they should give it all to Jordan in order to secure the. With only $250,000 to spend on a few players, schlubby basketball scout Sonny Vaccaro (Damon) is the one tapped to find the court stars who can take Nike to the promised land, though most of the. ” It was a very different. George Raveling Born: June 27, 1937 Birthplace: Washington, D. Marlon Wayans as iconic coach George Raveling, and. Williams and Raveling insist Williams does not receive money personally. Post the ideation, Sonny’s next task was to persuade the NBA player to ditch Adidas and convert into a Nike enthusiast. AIR. Getting Fired from Nike. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Three days later, the trailer aired during the 2023 Super Bowl. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, who tries to win over Jordan’s mother, Deloris (Viola Davis), amid the negotiation process. Matt Damon (Sonny Vaccaro), Ben Affleck (Phil Knight), Jason Bateman (Rob Strasser), Marlon Wayans (George Raveling), Chris Messina (David Falk), Chris Tucker (Howard White) Discover the game-changing partnership between a then undiscovered Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world of sports. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. Knight said Vaccaro helped but “wasn’t the. The heart and soul of Air really come from the idea of putting belief in oneself or another. CEO Phil Knight (Affleck) tells Damon’s Sonny Vaccaro like a disappointed dad,. Sonny Vaccaro was a central figure in the O’Bannon v. Sonny Vaccaro, the adidas representative who runs this camp and once ran Nike's, has criticism of the system from which he profits. Marlon Wayans supports the cast as longtime college basketball coach George Raveling, who served as the head coach of three Division I basketball programs over a span of twenty years. Falk bristled at the most recent comments from Sonny Vaccaro,. The first was George Raveling, an. George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Raveling had a close personal relationship with Vaccaro at that time. That said, the part in the film in which Sonny Vaccaro visits Deloris in North. S. ''When you talk power, that means someone who can manipulate,'' says Raveling. As the film's version of Nike. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. The legend says Sonny Vaccaro convinced Jordan to come to Nike. George Raveling was offered $3 million for his Martin Luther King Jr speech. You’ve got to try. Prime Video’s ‘Air’ charts the origins of the Air Jordan brand, focusing on the story behind its inception and the efforts it took for Nike to get Micheal Jordan on their side. Raveling, if you didn’t know, used to be a college coach (he coached Harold Miner at USC) and is basically the archenemy of Sonny Vaccaro, his ex-best friend who split from Nike back in the day. George Raveling is played by Marlon Wayans. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight. Matt Damon takes on the role of Sonny Vaccaro, who led Nike’s pursuit in signing Michael Jordan during his rookie years. Vaccaro also had a big hand in helping UCLA's Ed O'Bannon bring down the NCAA's stronghold on. (Jason Bateman), David Falk (Chris Messina), Peter Moore (Matthew Maher), George Raveling (Marlon. "I traveled to. Did Sonny Vaccaro really bypass Michael Jordan's agent and go directly to his parents to make his pitch? Not exactly. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. “Spokane, Washington,” the employee says. In the mid-80s, Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) was a Nike honcho who sought to sign the rookie basketball star of the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan, to promote his company’s revolutionary new Air Jordan sneaker, giving him his brand identity, as he’s on his ways in the ensuing years to arguably becoming the goat in pro basketball. . Wayans has been cast as college basketball trailblazer George Raveling, who was the first Black coach in two iconic conferences—the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pacific-10. In an attempt to find support among the people close to Jordan, Vaccarro gets in touch with George Raveling, who coached Jordan. John (Sonny) Vaccaro has clout. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. After Vaccaro was let go by Nike and replaced by his best friend George Raveling, and he moved to Adidas where he snagged big names Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant for the brand, but also let others like Allen Iverson slip to Reebok. ’” Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. Played by Matt Damon. George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. Jordan said Vaccaro “likes to take credit,” but that it was marketing executive and former basketball player George Raveling (played in the film by Marlon Wayans) that sold him on Nike. ” Raveling played at Villanova and coached at Washington. “Air” shows how former sports executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike created a pitch for young basketball star Michael Jordan to partner. George Raveling, a basketball coach, was the best man at their wedding. Olympic men's basketball team, to bring Michael Jordan to lunch. From Sonny Vaccaro to Deloris Jordan, here is what you need to know about the real people who inspired the characters in Ben Affleck's 'Air. George Raveling, Vaccaro journeys to Wilmington, North Carolina, to persuade Michael’s mother, Deloris,. The film also stars Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Matt Damon as marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro, Chris Messina as sports agent David Falk, Marlon Wayans as basketball coach George. In the film, Vaccaro first met with Jordan through his friend George Raveling, who was the assistant to the national team coach, Bobby Knight. But Vaccaro refused to give up. Raveling and Sonny had a falling out over the summer high school basketball programs that Sonny ran. It was a hard task, considering that Nike was the least favourite contender at that time. (Nike marketing official) George Raveling and. The film will be released in theaters April 5, 2023. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro; Ben Affleck as Phil Knight; Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser; Marlon Wayans as George Raveling; Chris Messina as David Falk; Chris Tucker as Howard White; Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan; Matthew Maher as Peter Moore; Julius Tennon as James R. Air, the new film directed by Ben Affleck, chronicles the origin story of the Air Jordan shoe line, which became a cultural icon and put the once-fledgling Nike company on the map. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling were close friends, with Raveling serving as best man at Sonny’s second wedding. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. This image released by Amazon Prime Video shows Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, left, and and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in a scene from "Air. Sonny Vaccaro was planning to pursue other business plans that did not involve Nike. One particular scene with Vaccaro and US Olympic basketball assistant coach George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) used a baffling amount of pull-focuses, often changing focus between Damon and Wayans. Now Ben has told the story that he met with Michael Jordan in order to receive his blessing, and that led to parts for Howard White (Chris Tucker), George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) and a mandate. Talent scout Sonny Vaccaro came up with the bold idea of building a sneaker line around a recent NBA draft pick by the name of Michael Jordan. Ben Affleck 's latest film, Air, is a true story based on Nike salesman Sonny Vaccaro 's successful signing of then-rising superstar Michael Jordan. The basketball star wanted Nike executive Howard White, who would become vice president of the Jordan Brand, and former college basketball coach George Raveling to be included in the story. Deloris Jordan is portrayed by Viola Davis. ". The footage features Nike CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) questioning Sonny Vaccaro. “There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans ’s character George Raveling says in the first trailer for. George Raveling: Jessica Green: Katrina Sainz: Julius Tennon: James Jordan: Who is in 'AIR' in 2023?. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. There’s also a fascinating section detailing Vaccaro’s strained relationship with George Raveling, the best man at his wedding, with whom he had a falling out, Vaccaro says, after he refused. who plays coach George Raveling. . (IMDb) Change Photo Log Report Last Update: 4 months ago“There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans says as George Raveling in the trailer for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon‘s new movie “Air. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, former Team USA assistant coach; Chris Messina as David Falk,. Olympic Men’s Basketball team), decides that he needs to go to. Alongside Affleck, Davis and Damon, the film sees Jason Bateman playing Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk and Marlon Wayans as George. Sonny Vaccaro, who embarked on the search to sign Michael Jordan, played by Matt Damon . Until, that is, Nike’s Sonny Vaccaro convinced his CEO Phil Knight to go all-out and blow their annual budget on recruiting one player: Michael Jordan. Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix split following nine years. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. Pioneering coach George Raveling's surprising connection to MLK. George Raveling Another stern request Jordan had before giving Affleck his blessing to make the film was for the inclusion of one of his coaches at the 1984 Olympics, George Raveling. Chris Tucker as Howard W. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Little did he know that this search would lead to the birth of a sneaker empire and redefine the world of athletic endorsements. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Director Ben Affleck and castmates Matt Damon, Chris Tucker, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina and Marlon Wayans talk new film "Air. 'Air' was a hit, but casting Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro was a miss. Then actually my parents made me go out to (Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. The debut trailer for Air premiered on Wednesday, February 9th, and quickly introduces Sonny Vaccaro as he's brought in by Nike co-founder Phil Knight (Ben Affleck). — When it comes to the July recruiting period, the Wild West days of Sonny Vaccaro vs. In the movie, Raveling is played by Marlon Wayans, and, even though he is in just one rather short scene, it's a crucial one. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as. We’ve shared the full cast list below: Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. To say that AAU hasn’t served our game in a real way is to turn a blind eye to the impact of guys like Sonny Vaccaro, George Raveling from Nike and Howard Garfinkel from Five-Star Basketball. . “George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Visit Amazon Prime Video’s website. While Sonny Vaccaro is the main character in ‘Air’ as the story revolves around his belief in Michael Jordan more so than anybody, Michael himself has said that another man was just as instrumental, if not more, in bringing him to Nike. Vaccaro claimed about being investigated by the FBI for corporate espionage after he got fired from Nike. ''But that's not Sonny. Well, all of. The roles of Jordan. Wayans joins the cast as George Raveling, the trailblazing college basketball coach (the first Black coach in both the ACC and the PAC 10), who met and befriended Jordan while serving as an. He clarified that while Sonny Vaccaro often takes credit, it was actually George Raveling who played a significant role. Vaccaro went to great lengths to convince Jordan, first meeting with his friend George Raveling (played by Marlon Wayans), assistant coach to Team USA’s basketball team. “George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. The day after the US team won the Los Angeles Olympics, he offered Jordan $2. AIR features an all-star cast, including Matt Damon as maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, Ben Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. The film centers on Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a bold sports marketing executive looking for a star for Nike’s basketball division. Vaccaro and Jordan. Alex G. But George Raveling knew all of Vaccaro’s tricks, and according to former Nike and Adidas executive David Bond, the former best friends “were doing whatever they could to get the key players. Image via Amazon Studios Where did Nike, a brand that was barely. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. "Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. In the movie, Michael's difficult agent, David Falk (portrayed. Smart guy. ) to hear their proposal. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling," Jordan said. He asked his old friend George Raveling, one of the coaches of the National Olympic team, to contact Micheal Jordan and set up a meeting. Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) who helped. In the movie ‘ Air ’, it was depicted that Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon) and Raveling (played by Marlon Wayans) met at a California bar and the latter explained to the Nike talent scout just how much. C. Elsewhere, the cast features Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling;. Raveling and Vaccaro already had a long-standing rivalry with one another, so these comments didn't sit well with Vaccaro. However, their relationship soured due to a dispute over the summer high school basketball camps organized by Vaccaro. Affleck serves as director and co-producer alongside Damon, David. Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. Each. The cast also includes Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, the first Black basketball coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pacific-10,. Vaccaro later visits a 7-Eleven convenience store, posing the same question to a store clerk while purchasing a Sports Illustrated magazine. George Raveling, Director for International Basketball for Nike, played by Marlon Wayans. George Raveling. Con todo, Sonny Vaccaro perseveró y, a través de George Raveling, el asistente del entrenador de la selección nacional Bobby Night, logró contactar al deportista. Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Matthew Maher, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker and Viola Davis. to rapid success in the shoe-making. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, a former sports marketing executive who had the genius idea to sign Michael to his first-ever sneaker deal. Sonny meets his good friend, George Raveling, who had crucially been the coach of the US basketball team at the. The untitled movie will tell “the incredible story of how maverick sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. Director (and Boston’s own) Ben Affleck’s latest tells the tale of. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, three additional Nike. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. . George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Moving on, we have Marlon Wayans, a famous comedic actor who is taking on the role of George Raveling in Air. Watch on. “Air” is the origin story of a shoe, and not just any shoe. Chris Messina as David Falk. The second person Michael gives credit to for his deal with Nike is George Raveling, who had been convincing him to go with Nike for years. Instead. Ben Affleck’s Air is ostensibly a biopic about the elevation of Nike’s brand from fledgling shoe company to a behemoth of the sports world. Julius Tennon as James R. Ben Affleck 's latest film, Air, is a true story based on Nike salesman Sonny Vaccaro 's successful signing of then-rising superstar Michael Jordan. Julius Tennon as James Jordan. Air: Directed by Ben Affleck. “There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans ’s character George Raveling says in the first trailer for. Matt Damon appears as Sonny Vaccaro, left, and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in a scene from “Air. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. He is the co-author of Under the Tarnished Dome: How Notre Dame Betrayed Its Ideals for Football Glory, Pros and Cons: The Criminals Who Play in the NFL, and George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution, Thomas Jefferson and. Olympic basketball team (via Pop Sugar). George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. ” Sonny Vaccaro: That’s not what it means. '. Sonny Vaccaro Michael Jordan. Remember when I mentioned Jordan had three requests for Affleck, the second one was that he create a part for George Raveling, who was Jordan’s Olympic. Ben Affleck directed AIR and stars as Nike founder and CEO Phil Knight, alongside Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, the basketball expert who saw the potential of signing a talent like Jordan, and Viola Davis as Michael Jordan's mother Deloris. AIR | Official Trailer. What's amazing is that Raveling stands aside Sonny Vaccaro as the people most in charge of destroying the fabric of American basketball. Marlon Wayans plays George Raveling seriously and straightforwardly. Sonny Vaccaro credits his relationship with Michael Jordan’s mother, Deloris, as the catalyst for one of the most significant deals in sports marketing history. ". The main cast also includes Matthew Maher. “He’s the one, in all honestly, that really persuaded me to look at Nike. He fell out with Sony over a high school summer basketball camp business operated by Sonny. Nike colleges. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. , Saturday, October 14, 2023. AVALON, N. "Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had been close friends, to the point that Raveling was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in 'Air. At only 24 years of age, the Pennsylvania native founded the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic in 1965. " "I stayed at [Jordan's] home," Vaccaro said. Vaccaro went to great lengths to convince Jordan, first meeting with his friend George Raveling (played by Marlon Wayans), assistant coach to Team USA’s basketball team. Jordan said Vaccaro “likes to take credit,” but that it was marketing executive and former basketball player George Raveling (played in the film by Marlon Wayans) that sold him on Nike. The starry cast includes Damon as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore. Phil Knight is sinful. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. He famously takes credit for bringing Michael. George Raveling, the former USC coach and current. “Spokane, Washington,” the employee says. Raveling, who calls Vaccaro ''Pear'' because of his shape, has been a confidant since the 1960s. 5 million. S. On the morning of September 25, 1994, Raveling's Jeep was blindsided in a. Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, Chris Messina, Julius Tennon and Matthew Maher also star. Is the 2023 movie Air good or bad?War is hell: Former USC coach George Raveling stood up at Vaccaro’s wedding. He was doing a favor for George Raveling, the assistant coach on the Olympic team and my best man at my wedding, meeting me. Phil Knight (Affleck) and Marketing V. Directed by Ben Affleck, this '80s-set movie based on real events stars Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, a Nike. Nike employee Sonny Vaccaro believes. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro,. Sonny Vaccaro received a promise from Team USA coach George Raveling, who played a pivotal role in persuading Michael to consider the deal. The biopic will focus on sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. The movie depicts Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro seeking advice from Raveling, Jordan’s trusted Olympic coach, to help sign the NBA rookie to a blockbuster shoe deal in 1984. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. "Near the end of the negotiation, basketball legend Michael Jordan’s mom drops a dealbreaker on Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro when she says we are good “except for one minor provision – Michael gets a percentage of the revenue of each shoe sold. He recently appeared on the Brown and. Raveling became Sonny's competitor in the same position at Nike. Director: Ben Affleck. It didn’t go well. Air is a 2023 American biographical sports drama film directed by Ben Affleck and written by Alex Convery. Courtesy of Amazon Studios. But, Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. Vaccaro claimed he was able to convince Jordan — who wore Converse in college. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), a friend of Vaccaro’s who coached Michael Jordan in the 1984 Olympic basketball team, weighs in with encouragement. Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, former Team USA assistant coach; Chris Messina as David Falk,. Jordan weighed in, as did Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Nike executive George Raveling, former Nike basketball adviser Sonny Vaccaro and former Nike executive Peter Moore. Olympic team that won gold in LA. Tensions run high between Fennel,. “Air” is the origin story of a shoe, and not just any shoe. and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) who. 22:03. And field rep Howard White (Chris Tucker, back after a seven-year absence from the screen) is the lone believer in Vaccaro. -George Raveling; Your voice tells you to do some stupid sh!t. Jordan never appears on screen in the film. Sonny Vaccaro with Michael Jordan – Sonny embarked on a quest to sign the guard for the Chicago Bulls. 7. In response to this, Marketing VP Rob Strasser, along with co-founder. As other companies also try to court Jordan, Nike must enlist the help of his former coach George Raveling (played by Wayans). ” “Puma”, “Please use my a**. Olympic team that won gold in LA. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. With Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Chris Messina. The movie stars Damon as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Affleck as Nike cofounder Phil Knight, two sportswear icons who have differing views on how the Jordan deal materialized. Ben Affleck 's latest film, Air, is a true story based on Nike salesman Sonny Vaccaro 's successful signing of then-rising superstar Michael Jordan. Now Raveling works for Nike and he and Sonny are former friends. Matt Damon will assume the role of Sonny Vaccaro,. Affleck stars alongside Matt Damon (as Sonny Vaccaro), Viola Davis (as Deloris Jordan), Julius Tennon. Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. ” With Vaccaro at Adidas and his former best friend George Raveling running grassroots basketball at. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in AIR. RELATED: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to Star in Biopic About Nike's Sonny Vaccaro. Then, Rob and I met with Falk at the meeting at the Hermitage [hotel in. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Other cast members include Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Gustaf. Jordan credits Raveling ( played in the film by Marlon Wayons ), a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer who in 1983 became Iowa’s first African American men’s. Marlon Wayans will play George Raveling, a trailblazer in college basketball who was the first Black coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pacific-10. The first addition was George Raveling, who was the assistant coach on the 1984 Olympics team Jordan played on. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. His focus was on others who were influential to his career, including Howard White, a then-Nike executive who is now vice president of Jordan Brand, and George Raveling, a longtime Nike ambassador. One could make an argument that the system which has developed through greedy businessmen building on Vaccaro's. is on the verge of bankruptcy due to low footwear sales. After 60 years in the game, the legendary basketball savant, Sonny Vaccaro, finds himself at the center of an extraordinary tale in Ben Affleck’s feature film, “Air (2023). He meets with Sonny Vaccaro in Los Angeles, and that's when the Nike. Air, both directed and starring Affleck, the film follows the real-life story of Sonny Vaccaro (Damon), the sneaker salesman who signed Michael Jordan to his first-ever endorsement deal. He is a f***ing killer. And then he [Michael Jordan] talked at length about his. Courtesy of Amazon Studios. Sonny's story is. Falk, Raveling, and White are all people involved with either Jordan or Nike, while Viola. Then, Rob and I met with Falk at the meeting at the Hermitage [hotel in. Matt Damon plays maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight with Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst. Vaccaro was friends with George Raveling, head coach of Washington State's men's basketball team, who introduced the pair. The film focuses on Vaccaro and Knight, as well as Jordan's parents James and Delores. Raveling had a falling out with. George Raveling. George Raveling was an assistant coach for the Team USA basketball squad at the 1984 Olympics. He used to always try to talk to me, 'You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Sonny Vaccaro: When the Rams played in the Super Bowl two years ago,. Sonny Vaccaro talks the accuracy of 'Air' with FN and remembers his unforgettable speech at Nike HQ to. He famously takes credit for bringing Michael. The former NBA Champion claimed that a Nike Executive named George Raveling was responsible for his change of heart. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. With Sarah Claspell, Shannon Coffey, Nicole Drespel, Melissa Gomez. Wetzel knew Sonny wasn’t exactly thrilled with the book, but it didn’t affect their relationship and the mutual respect. He used to always try to talk to me, 'You gotta go. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro in "Air. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. Wayans has been cast as college basketball trailblazer George Raveling, who was the first Black coach in two iconic conferences—the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pacific-10. “You can never say never,” said Gary Charles, the head coach of the New York Panthers and a Vaccaro lieutenant from 1992-2006, when Vaccaro hung up his kicks and retired . Sonny Vaccaro now in his. He was replaced by George Raveling, the best man at Vaccaro’s wedding, who also talked crap about Sonny in the press for doing the same stuff that Nike Hired George to do, an attempt by Knight. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Create or log into. Collaborators and longtime friends Affleck and Damon reunite as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, respectively. Damian Young as Michael Jordan. We start from T-Mac, and from that. You get to see Ben Affleck as Nike founder and CEO, Phil. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. SONNY VACCARO. With Nike convinced, Vaccaro and then-friend George Raveling got a sitdown lunch with Michael Jordan at Tony Roma’s in Los Angeles during the 1984 Olympic training camp. The duo are joined by Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. Post the ideation, Sonny’s next task was to persuade the NBA player to ditch Adidas and convert into a Nike enthusiast. Sonny Vaccaro is played by Matt Damon. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. Affleck stars as Nike’s co-founder Phil Knight. So he flies to Los Angeles and seeks advice from his good friend George Raveling, the famed Olympic basketball coach, played here by Marlon Wayans. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst Dassler, and Julius Tennon. AIR stars Matt Damon as the outspoken Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, Ben Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, Michael’s mother, who was a fierce advocate for. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Vaccaro and Jordan. He meets with Sonny Vaccaro in Los Angeles, and that's when the Nike. Tue, May 5, 2020 · 9 min read For the briefest of moments, Sonny Vaccaro appeared in Sunday’s episodes of “The Last Dance,” the 10-part, Michael Jordan. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Raveling took up a rival position at. Bravo Teases Behind The Scenes Look At Tom Sandoval And Raquel Leviss Cheating EpisodeBravo Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Look at Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss Cheating Scandal Episode. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). He used to always try to talk to me, 'You gotta go Nike. The all-star cast includes Matt Damon as maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, Ben Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Gustaf. Follows the history of sports marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro, and how he led Nike in its pursuit of the greatest athlete in the history of basketball, Michael Jordan. Then he also said Howard White is integral to this too. In hindsight, it's a eureka moment. ''But that's not. The new posters see Damon as maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro while Affleck is seen as Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Ben Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Matt Damon plays shoe salesman-turned Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro. Knight took exception to. Starring the dynamic duo of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, the movie weaves a captivating narrative around Vaccaro’s audacious endeavor. Yet he no longer speaks to George Raveling,. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Chris Messina as David Falk, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling; Chris Messina. Damon plays sneaker executive Sonny Vaccaro, while Affleck portrays Nike CEO Phil Knight. Car crash and coaching retirement, 1994. This reflects when Marlon Wayans’ George Raveling tells how Martin Luther King’s famous speech was spontaneous.