George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), to put in a good word, Raveling declares that following the “I Have a Dream” speech in. Matt Damon is Sonny Vaccaro. He met with George Raveling (played by Marlon Wayans), a former NBA player and college. 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. Alongside Affleck, Davis and Damon, the film sees Jason Bateman playing Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk and Marlon Wayans as George. Basketball coach George Raveling was the best man at the Vaccaro wedding before the two had a falling out in the years. " "I stayed at [Jordan's] home," Vaccaro said. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) goes on to say “There’s nothing cool about Nike. -Sonny. Matt Damon stars as Vaccaro while Ben Affleck, who also directs, plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Wayans plays George Raveling, a "college basketball trailblazer" and the first Black coach in two major conferences. 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. Image via Amazon Studios. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Vaccaro and Jordan. ) to hear their proposal. The duo are joined by Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s. George Raveling was offered $3 million for his Martin Luther King Jr speech. Vaccaro, on the podcast, responded to Jordan's comments: "Michael is delusional. 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. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant. 00:00. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst Dassler, and Julius Tennon. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore,. Wayans' character Raveling worked with the USA basketball team (and therefore Jordan) at the. Air is a 2023 American biographical sports drama film directed by Ben Affleck and written by Alex Convery. He famously takes credit for bringing Michael. 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. . As the film's version of Nike. Olympic team that won gold in LA. And his achievements and awards reflect his legacy and contributions to the industry. 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. -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. 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. 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. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. You get to see Ben Affleck as Nike founder and CEO, Phil. In the same year, Jordan signed a record-breaking $2. The Nike executives, salesmen, and. Olympic Men’s Basketball team), decides that he needs to go to. Nike. 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. You've got to try. Sonny Vaccaro, the former basketball advisor of Nike once claimed that he was the key piece in the multi-million dollar signing. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. " "I stayed at [Jordan's] home," Vaccaro said. Apr 06, 2023 In 'Air,' Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro seeks to sign Michael Jordan to a historic sneaker deal. Once Nike agreed, Vaccaro used his close friend, basketball coach George Raveling, to connect him to Jordan. 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. 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. However, after he met George Raveling at a bar in California, he knew what. ". Vaccaro was friends with George Raveling, head coach of Washington State's men's basketball team, who introduced the pair. On the morning of September 25, 1994, Raveling's Jeep was blindsided in a. As the real George also notes on his Linkedin page, he was instrumental in the Nike. 5 million contract with Nike, which paved the way for the debut of the Air Jordan shoe line. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro,. The untitled movie will tell “the incredible story of how maverick sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. 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. Deloris Jordan is portrayed by Viola Davis. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Vaccaro claimed about being investigated by the FBI for corporate espionage after he got fired from Nike. ' Photo: Ana Carballosa. Raveling had a falling out with. Michael Jordan himself has also given credit to George Raveling for. Sonny Vaccaro now in his. Phil Knight (Affleck) and Marketing V. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Sonny Vaccaro is played by Matt Damon. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in 'Air. He clarified that while Sonny Vaccaro often takes credit, it was actually George Raveling who played a significant role. 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. We’ve shared the full cast list below: Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. Sonny Vaccaro, who embarked on the search to sign Michael Jordan, played by Matt Damon . Vaccaro later visits a 7-Eleven convenience store, posing the same question to a store clerk while purchasing a Sports Illustrated magazine. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. AVALON, N. Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix split following nine years. Wetzel knew Sonny wasn’t exactly thrilled with the book, but it didn’t affect their relationship and the mutual respect. Knight, Jordan, Nike exec George Raveling, and. AIR. (Jason Bateman), David Falk (Chris Messina), Peter Moore (Matthew Maher), George Raveling (Marlon. Jordan Sr. Recommendations Slide 1 of 7 Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro in "Air. Vaccaro, on the podcast, responded to Jordan's comments: "Michael is delusional. 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. to rapid success in the shoe-making. Additional cast includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling,. 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. 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. But the man himself credits George Raveling for the decision that changed his life. The Good Will Hunting actors portray Nike cofounder Phil Knight (Damon) and Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro (Affleck). -George Raveling movie quotes from AIR (2023) You got it. While accounts differ over who is most responsible for the partnership, Air focuses largely on Sonny Vaccaro, the Nike executive said to have first conceived the idea. Sonny's story is. Played by Matt Damon, Sonny Vaccaro's. ". 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. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. 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. The story depicts a high-stakes gamble by an unconventional team, a determined mother and the legendary basketball player who became the. Sonny Vaccaro was planning to pursue other business plans that did not involve Nike. He famously takes credit for bringing Michael. Harper for EW . Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, three additional Nike. George Raveling. Net worth: $5 million. 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. 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. Pioneering coach George Raveling's surprising connection to MLK. 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. Create or log into. George Raveling, Vaccaro journeys to Wilmington, North Carolina, to persuade Michael’s mother, Deloris,. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Wayans' character Raveling worked with the USA basketball team (and therefore Jordan) at the. Sonny Vaccaro and his wife, Pam, currently reside in Calabasas, California. What we know about the Air cast and crew. The superstar himself, meanwhile, credits a different man with the deal: “Sonny likes to take the credit,” Jordan has said, “But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. George Raveling was one of them. George Raveling is played by Marlon Wayans. Chris Tucker as Howard White. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). George Raveling. 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. Below are step-by-step instructions for how to sign up for Amazon Prime Video’s free trial. 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. Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman), to save Nike. 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. Having spotted a promising basketball player called Michael Jordan, Vaccaro believes that this young man will help Nike outpace the competition as the new face of the brand. Michael doesn’t credit Vaccaro for his deal with Nike, as he claimed Sonny did not. The film will be released in theaters April 5, 2023. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had been close friends, to the point that Raveling was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. 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. The biopic will focus on sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. In Air, Damon’s Sonny Vaccaro, a Nike exec, gets the distinct honor of delivering said Inspirational Speech at the film’s climactic moment—which,. 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. m. 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. You’ve got to try. There is a scene in the film where Sonny Vaccaro, after having a conversation with George Raveling (the assistant coach of the U. "Spokane, Washington," the employee says. ” It was a very different. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had been close friends, to the point that Raveling was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. White in 'Air'. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), to put in a good word, Raveling declares that following the “I Have a Dream” speech in. Vaccaro later visits a 7-Eleven convenience store, posing the same question to a store clerk while purchasing a Sports Illustrated magazine. Vaccaro later visits a 7-Eleven convenience store, posing the same question to a store clerk while purchasing a Sports Illustrated magazine. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. Jordan wanted his mom, Deloris Jordan (Viola Davis), to be a focal point in the story, and asked for the inclusion of key people like Howard White (Chris Tucker) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans. Director: Ben Affleck. Knight said Vaccaro helped but “wasn’t the. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, one of Jordan’s coaches at the 1984 Olympics; and Viola Davis as Michael’s mother, Deloris Jordan. 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. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. 'Air' was a hit, but casting Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro was a miss. Now Raveling works for Nike and he and Sonny are former friends. However, the founder of Nike, Phil Knight spoke against Vaccar. Raveling and Sonny had a falling out over the summer high school basketball programs that Sonny ran. Starring the dynamic duo of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, the movie weaves a captivating narrative around Vaccaro’s audacious endeavor. 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. It was a hard task, considering that Nike was the least favourite contender at that time. The phone call with Jordan’s terribly unpleasant yet curiously impressive sports agent, David Falk, only gave Vaccaro the unusual and risky idea to go behind his back and speak to Deloris directly. Nike co-founder Phil Knight is portrayed by Affleck, who is also directing the film. who plays coach George Raveling. Of course, in the sneaker business, they’re. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. Olympic team that won gold in LA. 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. Played by Matt Damon. Phil Knight is sinful. Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro while the role of Phil Knight is essayed by Affleck. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. ” Raveling played at Villanova and coached at Washington. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. And then he [Michael Jordan] talked at length about his. With Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Chris Messina. 5 million. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. 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. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling and Chris. John "Sonny" Vaccaro has long been cast as some kind of mafioso, strong-arming amateur basketball for much of his 63 years. Sonny Vaccaro, Deloris Jordan, and Character Representation. Although, in reality, Vaccaro did make multiple phone calls to Mrs. He met the NBA player through his friend, George Raveling, who was assistant to the national team coach, Bobby Knight. playing basketball coach George Raveling, laments in the trailer. Falk bristled at the most recent comments from Sonny Vaccaro,. Affleck stars as Nike’s co-founder Phil Knight. (Jason Bateman) and Howard White (Chris Tucker); college ball coach George Raveling (Marlon Wayans); and Jordan’s mom Deloris (Viola Davis) — essentially. Is the 2023 movie Air good or bad?War is hell: Former USC coach George Raveling stood up at Vaccaro’s wedding. Michael Jordan himself has also given credit to George Raveling for. E. 故事主要講述耐克公司的鞋子推銷員 桑尼·瓦卡洛 （ 英语 ： Sonny Vaccaro ） （戴蒙飾演）努力讓知名球星麥可·喬登穿上自家生產的鞋子，達成代言合約。 本片2023年3月18日先在西南偏南首映，2023年4月5日亞馬遜影業安排在美國上映，華納兄弟負責國際市場發行. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. 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. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. In the fall of 1984, a 21-year-old Jordan inked a five-year deal with Nike for $2. George Raveling was offered $3 million for his Martin Luther King Jr speech. “George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. He used to always try to talk to me, 'You gotta go Nike. Director Ben Affleck 's '80s-set film Air recounts the genesis of the Air Jordan sports apparel line with Matt Damon playing Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis portraying. 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. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. 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. Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro while the role of Phil Knight is essayed by Affleck. That said, the part in the film in which Sonny Vaccaro visits Deloris in North. 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. Matt Damon stars as Vaccaro while Ben Affleck, who also directs, plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, Chris Messina, Julius Tennon and Matthew Maher also star. Watch on. But it really wasn't Sonny, it was actually George Raveling," Jordan told USA Today in 2015. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. “One thing Sonny Vaccaro was very clear with me about was that the feelings of camaraderie, friendship and loyalty are his takeaways from that time. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. “We talk often, sometimes daily for long stretches,” he said. He recently appeared on the Brown and. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Falk, Raveling, and White are all people involved with either Jordan or Nike, while Viola. Raveling had a close personal relationship with Vaccaro at that time. The film focuses on Vaccaro and Knight, as well as Jordan's parents James and Delores. 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. "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. Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. . Collaborators and longtime friends Affleck and Damon reunite as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, respectively. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. Ben Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Matt Damon plays shoe salesman-turned Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in AIR. 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. , Saturday, October 14, 2023. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Prior to this encounter, MJ had no knowledge of Nike. George Raveling, the pioneering African-American college basketball coach, crossed paths with Martin Luther King Jr. Matt Damon’s Nike apparel player scout Sonny Vaccaro enters a convenience store (painstakingly re-created to authentically match the era, right down to athletes on cereal boxes), also casually. The sports drama will see Affleck in the role of Nike co-founder Phil Knight, while Damon will play Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro. However, their relationship soured due to a dispute over the summer high school basketball camps organized by Vaccaro. Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser. Vaccaro and Jordan. 22:03. “There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans ’s character George Raveling says in the first trailer for. Raveling eventually became Vaccaro's competitor when he. 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. Matt Damon appears as Sonny Vaccaro, left, and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in a scene from “Air. 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. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Jordan said Vaccaro “likes to take credit” but that it was marketing executive and former basketball player George Raveling who sold him on Nike. It didn’t go well. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling Chris Tucker as Howard White Jason. 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. “He used to always try. The new posters see Damon as maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro while Affleck is seen as Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Knight took exception to. Air: Directed by Ben Affleck. on a landmark. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. Vaccaro also had a big hand in helping UCLA's Ed O'Bannon bring down the NCAA's stronghold on. Image via Amazon Studios Where did Nike, a brand that was barely. ’” George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. George Raveling: There’s nothing cool about Nike. Smart guy. Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Don Yaeger was an Associate Editor at Sports Illustrated magazine. 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’. 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. The trailer for Air was released on February 9. Chris Tucker as Howard White uses his comedic persona to great advantage. Sonny Vaccaro Michael Jordan. John "Sonny" Vaccaro has long been cast as some kind of mafioso, strong-arming amateur basketball for much of his 63 years. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. 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: When the Rams played in the Super Bowl two years ago,. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. 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. “There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans ’s character George Raveling says in the first trailer for. Damon plays sneaker executive Sonny Vaccaro, while Affleck portrays Nike CEO Phil Knight. One could make an argument that the system which has developed through greedy businessmen building on Vaccaro's. Back then, Sonny was laughed at by Nike honchos Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans). Marlon Wayans as iconic coach George Raveling, and. 62°. He asked his old. Chris Messina as David Falk, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. Air, a sports biopic drama, is the newest collaborative effort between Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who both star in the film. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. He used to always try to talk to me, 'You gotta go. Vaccaro also has to convince Jordan to sign with Nike despite a previous preference for Adidas. 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. Sonny Vaccaro, the adidas representative who runs this camp and once ran Nike's, has criticism of the system from which he profits. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. Sonny Vaccaro. The company had a modest goal of earning $3 million from the sneakers over a three-year period. Jason Bateman. “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 . 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. “Air” shows how former sports executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike created a pitch for young basketball star Michael Jordan to partner. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. . Collaborators and longtime friends Affleck and Damon reunite as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, respectively. Director (and Boston’s own) Ben Affleck’s latest tells the tale of. is on the verge of bankruptcy due to low footwear sales. 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. George Raveling, director of international basketball for Nike, played by Marlon Wayans . Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, former Team USA assistant coach; Chris Messina as David Falk,. February 9, 2023. S. Nike employee Sonny Vaccaro believes. Joining the Good Will Hunting stars are 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. George Raveling was the best man at Sonny Vaccaro’s wedding and so it’s obvious that the two had a great relationship with one another. '. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. John (Sonny) Vaccaro has clout. Advert 10 George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. Damian Young as Michael Jordan. Then, Rob and I met with Falk at the meeting at the Hermitage [hotel in. Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser. It was the summer of 1984 and Vaccaro was waiting at a Tony Roma's restaurant in Santa Monica, California, for his then best friend George Raveling, the head coach of the University of Iowa and an assistant on the U. 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). Matt Damon is the star of the movie, as he plays Sonny Vaccaro,. He fell out with Sony over a high school summer basketball camp business operated by Sonny. ''When you talk power, that means someone who can manipulate,'' says Raveling. "A lot of people want to take credit for signing Michael Jordan, most obviously Sonny Vaccaro. In hindsight, it's a eureka moment. Raveling and Vaccaro were also close friends, and the basketball coach was instrumental in making the Nike deal with the Jordan family a reality by putting in a. Few figures in sportswear are as impactful as the great Sonny Vaccaro. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as. and George Raveling. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. 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. In 2015, Michael Jordan shared his perspective on the events leading up to his deal with Nike in an interview with USA Today. 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. 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. In response to this, Marketing VP Rob Strasser, along with co-founder. Julius Tennon as James Jordan. Sonny Vaccaro Michael Jordan. 5 million contract with Nike, which paved the way for the debut of the Air Jordan shoe line. ” Raveling played at Villanova and coached at Washington. Jordan. George Raveling was an assistant coach for the Team USA basketball squad at the 1984 Olympics. 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. 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. The first addition was George Raveling, who was the assistant coach on the 1984 Olympics team Jordan played on. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. He is a f***ing killer. "I traveled to. Raveling's prediction: International players will comprise 50% of the NBA by 2010. 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. 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. The biopic comes from Amazon Studios, Mandalay Pictures, and Skydance Sports. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. ”. “Air” is the origin story of a shoe, and not just any shoe. Raveling replaced Sonny in the same job at Nike. Olympic basketball team (via Pop Sugar). -Sonny Vaccaro; I think I’m going to be remembered. Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. Inspired by the true story of Nike's partnership with Michael Jordan, the. Instead, he briefly met Jordan with the help of his old friend George Raveling, pitching Jordan the idea of a shoe designed solely around him. “But I think it’s. 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. Michael Jordan says marketing executive George Raveling, not Sonny Vaccaro, sold him on signing. Post the ideation, Sonny’s next task was to persuade the NBA player to ditch Adidas and convert into a Nike enthusiast. Matt Damon takes on the role of Sonny Vaccaro, who led Nike’s pursuit in signing Michael Jordan during his rookie years. Amazon Studios has released NEW STILLS for their upcoming AIR! 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. George Raveling is crazy. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a. "I traveled to. “George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Sonny Vaccaro and his wife Pam live in Calabasas, California. Sonny was hired by Phil Knight (portrayed by Affleck) to revamp his basketball shoe division, which has only gotten smaller since Vaccaro’s arrival. 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: That’s not what it means. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. In the movie, Michael's difficult agent, David Falk (portrayed. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a scene from the movie AIR. Well, all of. "Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Jordan prior to meeting her in ‘Air,’ for the sake of elevating the charm.