George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), to put in a good word, Raveling declares that following the “I Have a Dream” speech in. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. “We talk often, sometimes daily for long stretches,” he said. "Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. 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. 'Air' was a hit, but casting Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro was a miss. 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. Olympic Men’s Basketball team), decides that he needs to go to. Sonny Vaccaro is played by Matt Damon. " "I stayed at [Jordan's] home," Vaccaro said. Chris Tucker as Howard W. “He’s the one, in all honestly, that really persuaded me to look at Nike. Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro while the role of Phil Knight is essayed by Affleck. He meets with Sonny Vaccaro in Los Angeles, and that's when the Nike. 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 Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Matthew Maher as creative director Peter Moore, and Jason Bateman as Nike chairman Rob. In the film, Vaccaro first met with Jordan through his friend George Raveling, who was the assistant to the national team coach, Bobby Knight. Damon plays maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight, with Jason Bateman as Nike suit Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as Jordan’s agent David Falk, Matthew. Sonny Vaccaro was fired from Nike for allegedly planning on pursuing other business ventures outside of the Nike franchise, whilst still working for the iconic company. Marlon Wayans plays George Raveling seriously and straightforwardly. 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. George Raveling initially urged Michael Jordan to join Nike. All opinions are my own. C. S. Chris Messina as David Falk, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. -George Raveling movie quotes from AIR (2023) You got it. “But I think it’s. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro while the role of Phil Knight is essayed by Affleck. Viola Davis plays Deloris Jordan, Michael Jordan's mother. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. In doing so, Vaccaro ended up having a falling out with his friend George Raveling, who served as a coach at Southern California, Iowa, and Washington State. Sonny Vaccaro. Net worth: $5 million. The roles of Jordan. George Raveling. ’. The day after the US team won the Los Angeles Olympics, he offered Jordan $2. With Sarah Claspell, Shannon Coffey, Nicole Drespel, Melissa Gomez. Ben Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Matt Damon plays shoe salesman-turned Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro. Four Not-So-Fab ‘I Quit’ Stories: How George, Ringo, John and Paul Each Left the Beatles Watch Peter Jackson’s Music Video for the Beatles’ ‘Now and Then’. 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. On the surface, the film tracks how sports marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) spearheaded a massive gamble to bet the company’s entire basketball division budget on then-rookie. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. 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. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling in 'Air'. He met with George Raveling (played by Marlon Wayans), a former NBA player and college. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. 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. Additional cast includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling,. -Sonny. Vaccaro claimed about being investigated by the FBI for corporate espionage after he got fired from Nike. Nike. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, a former sports marketing executive who had the genius idea to sign Michael to his first-ever sneaker deal. Nike is looking for a way to become one of the premier basketball shoe brands in the U. Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Back then, Sonny was laughed at by Nike honchos Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans). As Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro attempts to sign then-rookie basketball player Michael Jordan to a multimillion dollar deal, Air’s music takes viewers on that journey with him and his team. He fell out with Sony over a high school summer basketball camp business operated by Sonny. 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. Olympic team that won gold in LA. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, Chris Messina, Julius Tennon and Matthew Maher also star. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as. "A lot of people want to take credit for signing Michael Jordan, most obviously Sonny Vaccaro. In the movie, Michael's difficult agent, David Falk (portrayed. 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. Instead. However, after he met George Raveling at a bar in California, he knew what he had to do. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. Is the 2023 movie Air good or bad?War is hell: Former USC coach George Raveling stood up at Vaccaro’s wedding. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser in 'Air. Affleck and Damon, who co-wrote the screenplay (Ben directs), respectively co-star as Nike co-founder Phil Knight and former Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro, a sneaker salesman who set his sights on. Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a basketball guru and a major promoter in the high-school and college game, is employed by Nike to provide contacts in the basketball world. Three: Sonny Vaccaro, an executive for Nike,. Then, Rob and I met with Falk at the meeting at the Hermitage [hotel in. RELATED: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to Star in Biopic About Nike's Sonny Vaccaro. The first addition was George Raveling, who was the assistant coach on the 1984 Olympics team Jordan played on. Vaccaro was a significant figure in the. Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix split following nine years. Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. . Sonny Vaccaro, who embarked on the search to sign Michael Jordan, played by Matt Damon . J. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight. Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. . Damon plays sneaker executive Sonny Vaccaro, while Affleck portrays Nike CEO Phil Knight. Car crash and coaching retirement, 1994. In reality, Vaccaro met with Michael Jordan at Tony Roma's with George Raveling (portrayed in "Air" by Marlon Wayans) before Vaccaro and Deloris Jordan began speaking over the phone. Matt Damon stars as Vaccaro while Ben Affleck, who also directs, plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Sonny Vaccaro with Michael Jordan – Sonny embarked on a quest to sign the guard for the Chicago Bulls. It was a hard task, considering that Nike was the least favourite contender at that time. Air will be led by Affleck and Damon as they portray the respective roles of Nike co-founder Phil Knight and sports marketing executive John Paul Vincent “Sonny” Vaccaro. Matt Damon is Sonny Vaccaro. George Raveling is crazy. 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. Damon portrays sneaker salesman. '. But it really wasn't Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Naturally, Jordan has expressed his gratitude towards Vaccaro but credits former coach George Raveling for first encouraging the now-60-year-old to sign a deal with Nike. As the film's version of Nike. 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. (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. Played by Matt Damon. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. Getting Fired from Nike. 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. “Air” is the origin story of a shoe, and not just any shoe. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in AIR. Nike CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) meets with salesman Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) and expresses his growing disappointment with the company's performance and lack of vision around the basketball. By Shikhar Verma May 17, 2023. 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. However, after he met George Raveling at a bar in California, he knew what. ''But that's not Sonny. Most notably Wayans was an assistant coach to Bobby Knight for the United States Olympic team in 1984 which Michael Jordan was a part of and went. But thanks to advice from Howard White and George Raveling, Vaccaro knows that his way to connect with Michael is through his mother, Deloris. The ensemble star cast of the movie features Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, Affleck as Phil Knight, Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris. 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. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. As other companies also try to court Jordan, Nike must enlist the help of his former coach George Raveling (played by Wayans). Raveling, who calls Vaccaro ''Pear'' because of his shape, has been a confidant since the 1960s. 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. Did Sonny Vaccaro really bypass Michael Jordan's agent and go directly to his parents to make his pitch? Not exactly. Vaccaro claimed he was able to convince Jordan — who wore Converse in college. ’” George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. 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. 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. Jason Bateman. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. Or Sonny Vaccaro? Or George Raveling? Or Myron Piggie? Or Worldwide Wes? Or whatever boogeyman they could sell to the public as tarnishing their pristine (and quite pretend) world. The sports drama will see Affleck in the role of Nike co-founder Phil Knight, while Damon will play Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro. 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. With Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Chris Messina. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. 5 million. Damon plays sneaker executive Sonny Vaccaro, while Affleck portrays Nike CEO Phil Knight. " Ana Carballosa/Prime. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. Watch on. AVALON, N. ". "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. The heart and soul of Air really come from the idea of putting belief in oneself or another. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a scene from the movie AIR. George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. 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. "Spokane, Washington," the employee says. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. In the fall of 1984, a 21-year-old Jordan inked a five-year deal with Nike for $2. Phil Knight (Affleck) and Marketing V. You’ve got to try. It stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a scene from the movie AIR. He is not, at least on the surface, a slam dunk movie hero. Then actually my parents made me go out to (Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard. 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. The film is based on true events about the origin of Air Jordan, a basketball shoeline, of which a Nike employee seeks to strike a business deal with rookie player Michael Jordan. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Set at the Nike headquarters in Oregon in 1984, the film follows Sonny Vaccaro (Damon), who is tasked by C. “George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). ’ It centers on the efforts of Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro (played by Damon) as he persuades CEO Phil Knight (played by Affleck) to bet big on Jordan. At only 24 years of age, the Pennsylvania native founded the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic in 1965. Michael doesn’t credit Vaccaro for his deal with Nike, as he claimed Sonny did not. He is a f***ing killer. Former basketball coach George Raveling (left) is. Together, the Jordans and Nike changed the shoe industry forever. basketball trailblazer George Raveling, who was the first Black coach in two iconic. In doing so, Vaccaro ended up having a falling out with his friend George Raveling, who served as a coach at Southern California, Iowa, and Washington State. 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. "I traveled to. Courtesy of Amazon Studios. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” Jordan told USA Today. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling were close friends, with Raveling serving as best man at Sonny’s second wedding. Matt Damon (Sonny Vaccaro) First up on the list is the main man himself,. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst Dassler, and Julius Tennon. 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. Nike employee Sonny Vaccaro believes. The film will be released in theaters April 5, 2023. You’ve got to try. Other company executives in the movie include player rep Howard White (Chris Tucker), former college coach George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), talent scout and college dealmaker Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), marketer Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and designer Peter Moore (Matthew. In a follow-up interview with USA Today, Vaccaro stated that he was "the savior of Nike. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. 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. Sonny Vaccaro is the controversial figure at the center of the most recent 30 for 30 film “Sole Man. Revelling/Reckoning: Directed by Zach Neumeyer. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was the best man at Vaccaro’s second wedding. Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser. Visit Amazon Prime Video’s website. 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. Image via Amazon Studios. With that mantra as his guiding force, Affleck orchestrated a feel-good story that traces former Nike marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro’s steps in 1984 as he vied to lift the company’s. Vaccaro claimed he was able to convince Jordan — who wore Converse in college. Affleck's longtime friend and longtime collaborator plays. ”. 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. At the center of the story is Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon, who put on "a few extra pounds" and wore a body suit for the big-gutted part), the Nike talent scout who bets his career on his desperate. Peter Moore, Played By. In “Air” Sonny was conflicted about how to get Michael Jordan over the line so he flew to Los Angeles, seeking advice from this friend George Raveling, famed American Olympic basketball coach. ” Raveling played at Villanova and coached at Washington. John "Sonny" Vaccaro has long been cast as some kind of mafioso, strong-arming amateur basketball for much of his 63 years. What we know about the Air cast and crew. And field rep Howard White (Chris Tucker, back after a seven-year absence from the screen) is the lone believer in Vaccaro. Moving on, we have Marlon Wayans, a famous comedic actor who is taking on the role of George Raveling in Air. -Phil Knight movie quotes from AIR (2023) We need you in these shoes, not to have meaning in your life, but so we can have meaning in ours. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. Raveling had a close personal relationship with Vaccaro at that time. What's amazing is that Raveling stands aside Sonny Vaccaro as the people most in charge of destroying the fabric of American basketball. The biopic will focus on Sonny Vaccaro, the creator of the Air Jordan sneakers. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had been close friends, to the point that Raveling was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. "I traveled to. Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a shoe salesman at Nike, works to sign rookie Michael Jordan to a deal to wear their shoes. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), a friend of Vaccaro’s who coached Michael Jordan in the 1984 Olympic basketball team, weighs in with encouragement. Back then, Sonny was laughed at by Nike honchos Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans). PHOTO: Ana Carballosa/Prime Matthew Maher, Matt Damon, and Jason Bateman as Peter Moore, Sonny Vaccaro, and Rob. O. The film will be released in theaters April 5, 2023. and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) who helped. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan / Courtesy of Amazon Studios. Basketball coach George Raveling was the best man at the Vaccaro wedding before the two had a falling out in the years. While Sonny Vaccaro was convinced that he wanted to get Michael Jordan on board, he was on the fence about bypassing David Falk, MJ’s agent, and talking directly to his parents. He recently appeared on the Brown and. 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). CHANG: When Jordan's agent, a hilariously foul-mouthed Chris Messina, refuses to so much as grant Nike. Jordan Sr. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore,. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had been close friends, to the point that Raveling was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. 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. 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. The biopic will focus on sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. No, this story is about the men behind the deal – Affleck as Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike, Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro,. Deloris Jordan is portrayed by Viola Davis. He was doing a favor for George Raveling, the assistant coach on the Olympic team and my best man at my wedding, meeting me. "Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Phil Knight is sinful. Falk, Raveling, and White are all people involved with either Jordan or Nike, while Viola. Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. Vaccaro also had a big hand in helping UCLA's Ed O'Bannon bring down the NCAA's stronghold on. The decision of Sonnu was not appreciated and taken well by Phil Knight and later he went on to fire his 'beloved' executive. "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. Air follows Nike shoe salesman Sonny Vaccaro as he prompts a rookie Michael Jordan's game-changing partnership with Nike's basketball division which created the iconic Air Jordan brand. Three days later, the trailer aired during the 2023 Super Bowl. 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. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Sonny Vaccaro is introduced in the film with scenes of him going to Las Vegas after college basketball tournaments in order to gamble and place bets on NBA games, establishing him as a man who likes to take risks. Collaborators and longtime friends Affleck and Damon reunite as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, respectively. Rounding out the cast is Chris Tucker as Howard White, Jason Bateman as Strasser, Matthew Maher as Moore, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst. The legend says Sonny Vaccaro convinced Jordan to come to Nike. ”. " He added, "Michael’s lying more than Phil [Knight] and Raveling. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob 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. Vaccaro’s storied relationship with Nike ended on a. Vaccaro and Jordan. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling . -George Raveling; Your voice tells you to do some stupid sh!t. , and Vaccaro decides to. And then he [Michael Jordan] talked at length about his. m. Post the ideation, Sonny’s next task was to persuade the NBA player to ditch Adidas and convert into a Nike enthusiast. . Recommendations Slide 1 of 7 Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro in "Air. Klutho /Sports Illustrated/Getty Matt Damon in 'Air' and Sonny Vaccaro. Wetzel knew Sonny wasn’t exactly thrilled with the book, but it didn’t affect their relationship and the mutual respect. Matt Damon appears as Sonny Vaccaro, left, and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in a scene from “Air. Sonny Vaccaro now in his. George Raveling, the pioneering African-American college basketball coach, crossed paths with Martin Luther King Jr. The film focuses on Vaccaro and Knight, as well as Jordan's parents James and Delores. Chris Tucker as Howard White uses his comedic persona to great advantage. Vaccaro later visits a 7-Eleven convenience store, posing the same question to a store clerk while purchasing a Sports Illustrated magazine. You’ve got to try. The cast also includes Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, the first Black basketball coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pacific-10,. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. 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. Dream teams don't come much dreamier than the cast of Air. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), to put in a good word, Raveling declares that following the “I Have a Dream” speech in. Knight, Jordan, Nike exec George Raveling, and. ” With Vaccaro at Adidas and his former best friend George Raveling running grassroots basketball at. Played by Matt Damon. Both Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will star as Phil Knight and Sonny Vaccaro, respectively. Matt Damon will assume the role of Sonny Vaccaro,. By remaining on this website, you indicate your consent. Vaccaro was friends with George Raveling, head coach of Washington State's men's basketball team, who introduced the pair. George Raveling, director of international basketball for Nike, played by Marlon Wayans . The trailer for Air was released on February 9. Deloris Jordan is portrayed by Viola Davis. Sonny believes he can restore Nike to its former glory by putting immense talent behind a sneaker. Elsewhere, the cast features Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris. This reflects when Marlon Wayans’ George Raveling tells how Martin Luther King’s famous speech was spontaneous. Aunque ni este ni su familia. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. 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. The duo are joined by Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s. ''When you talk power, that means someone who can manipulate,'' says Raveling. He famously takes credit for bringing Michael. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had a close friendship, so much so that Raveling served as the best man at Sonny's second wedding. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. You get to see Ben Affleck as Nike founder and CEO, Phil. A friend of Vaccaro’s, Raveling first introduced the idea of signing Nike and Jordan. ” Sonny Vaccaro: That’s not what it means. Knight took exception to. Chris Messina as David Falk. Few figures in sportswear are as impactful as the great Sonny Vaccaro. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. 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. Vaccaro’s impact on sports marketing and basketball is significant. George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. 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. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) goes on to say “There’s nothing cool about 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. In an attempt to find support among the people close to Jordan, Vaccarro gets in touch with George Raveling, who coached Jordan. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling; Chris Messina. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. Net worth: $5 million. John "Sonny" Vaccaro has long been cast as some kind of mafioso, strong-arming amateur basketball for much of his 63 years. The film, about how Nike signed Michael Jordan in 1984, also stars Matt Damon as Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro. S. One could make an argument that the system which has developed through greedy businessmen building on Vaccaro's. Long gone. 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. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. ”. 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). However, their relationship soured due to a dispute over the summer high school basketball camps organized by Vaccaro. . George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. who plays coach George Raveling. The center of “Air” is Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a Nike exec with a basketball scout’s eye for rising talent. Raveling says that Vaccaro's emergence was a matter of good timing: Nike needed a front man, and Sonny knew the people. S. . AIR | Official Trailer. Meg Ryan talks new rom-com, travel and 'Sleepless in Seattle'. Although, in reality, Vaccaro did make multiple phone calls to Mrs. ” Raveling played at Villanova and coached at Washington. However, the founder of Nike, Phil Knight spoke against Vaccar. Vaccaro's personal friends include powerhouse college coaches such as Southern California's George Raveling, who was the best man at his wedding, and Georgetown. He meets with Sonny Vaccaro in Los Angeles, and that's when the Nike. “Air” shows how former sports executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike created a pitch for young basketball star Michael Jordan to partner. 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. Sonny Vaccaro and his wife, Pam, currently reside in Calabasas, California. He asked his old. 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. With that, all of the country’s top high school talent — and college coaches — descended on Pittsburgh to see the best of the best play. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. 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. (Nike marketing official) George Raveling and. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, a former sports marketing executive who had the genius idea to sign Michael to his first-ever sneaker deal. Raveling, who calls Vaccaro ''Pear'' because of his shape, has been a confidant since the 1960s. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Watch on. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,.