Marlon Wayans as George Raveling Chris Tucker as Howard White Jason. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. Harper for EW . 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. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, one of Jordan’s coaches at the 1984 Olympics; and Viola Davis as Michael’s mother, Deloris Jordan. 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. He is not, at least on the surface, a slam dunk movie hero. Visit Amazon Prime Video’s website. Running time: 112 minutes. Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. 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. Nike. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a. 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. The trailer for Air was released on February 9. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. 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. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Affleck directs Damon for the first time as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, while he also steps in front of the camera to play Nike co-founder Phil Knight, with Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a scene from the movie AIR. 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). Dream teams don't come much dreamier than the cast of Air. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Nike employee Sonny Vaccaro believes. “There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans ’s character George Raveling says in the first trailer for. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. '" Vaccaro, on the podcast, responded to Jordan. Wayans plays George Raveling,. Sonny Vaccaro now in his. Sonny Vaccaro is played by Matt Damon. 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 plays Sonny Vaccaro, a former sports marketing executive who had the genius idea to sign Michael to his first-ever sneaker deal. 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. CEO Phil Knight (Affleck) tells Damon’s Sonny Vaccaro like a disappointed dad,. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Sonny and former coach George Raveling. He famously takes credit for bringing Michael. 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). Revelling/Reckoning: Directed by Zach Neumeyer. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. 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. '. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. George Raveling, Assistant coach to Bob Knight coached MJ at USA basketball in the 1984 Olympics formed a great relationship with MJ and his family during that time. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. Raveling replaced Sonny in the same job at Nike. Phil Knight is sinful. 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. . 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. Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling and Chris. 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. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. You get to see Ben Affleck as Nike founder and CEO, Phil. Aunque ni este ni su familia. Basketball coach George Raveling was the best man at the Vaccaro wedding before the two had a falling out in the years. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. 5 million. Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Sonny Vaccaro talks the accuracy of 'Air' with FN and remembers his unforgettable speech at Nike HQ to. At only 24 years of age, the Pennsylvania native founded the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic in 1965. AVALON, N. Affleck serves as director and co-producer alongside Damon, David. 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. Raveling became a rival to Sonny for the same position at Nike. O. Raveling was a dear friend of. Damian Young as Michael Jordan. Sonny Vaccaro Personal Life. 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. Sonny Vaccaro was planning to pursue other business plans that did not involve Nike. Chris Tucker as Howard W. Elsewhere, the cast features Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris. The main cast also includes Matthew Maher. Vaccaro was a key. George Raveling, Vaccaro journeys to Wilmington, North Carolina, to persuade Michael’s mother, Deloris,. The decision of Sonnu was not appreciated and taken well by Phil Knight and later he went on to fire his 'beloved' executive. Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. Getting Fired from Nike. 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 will assume the role of 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. -Sonny Vaccaro; I think I’m going to be remembered. Back then, Sonny was laughed at by Nike honchos Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans). 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. Getting Fired from Nike. 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. Williams and Raveling insist Williams does not receive money personally. 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. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. J. Nike co-founder Phil Knight is portrayed by Affleck, who is also directing the film. Air is a 2023 American biographical sports drama film directed by Ben Affleck and written by Alex Convery. But it really wasn't Sonny, it was actually George Raveling," Jordan told USA Today in 2015. We start from T-Mac, and from that. I t was a cutthroat, lucrative, and often corrupt culture that Sonny Vaccaro and his sneaker company competitors created during the ’90s and early ’00s, when Adidas, Nike, Reebok, and others zealously sought to find “the next Michael Jordan. What we know about the Air cast and crew. 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. Falk bristled at the most recent comments from Sonny Vaccaro,. Sonny Vaccaro is the controversial figure at the center of the most recent 30 for 30 film “Sole Man. Yet he no longer speaks to George Raveling,. "Stockton's. Nike is looking for a way to become one of the premier basketball shoe brands in the U. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro,. Little did he know that this search would lead to the birth of a sneaker empire and redefine the world of athletic endorsements. Matt Damon takes on the role of Sonny Vaccaro, who led Nike’s pursuit in signing Michael Jordan during his rookie years. 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. 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. However, the founder of Nike, Phil Knight spoke against Vaccar. Sonny met Michael almost immediately after the 1984 Summer Olympics and was introduced by George Raveling (who is played by Marlon Wayans in Air), who coached the U. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. Vaccaro claimed about being investigated by the FBI for corporate espionage after he got fired from Nike. 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. He met the NBA player through his friend, George Raveling, who was assistant to the national team coach, Bobby Knight. George Raveling. He used to always try to talk to me, 'You gotta go. Michael Jordan says marketing executive George Raveling, not Sonny Vaccaro, sold him on signing with Nike. to rapid success in the shoe-making. 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, you gotta go Nike. . " "I stayed at [Jordan's] home," Vaccaro said. Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. Michael Jordan says marketing executive George Raveling, not Sonny Vaccaro, sold him on signing. Meg Ryan talks new rom-com, travel and 'Sleepless in Seattle'. “There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans ’s character George Raveling says in the first trailer for. Create or log into. 22:03. Then actually my parents made me go out to (Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. 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. Affleck stars as the billionaire and former Nike CEO Phil Knight, while Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, a Nike marketing executive in charge of expanding Nike’s presence in basketball. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. The untitled movie will tell “the incredible story of how maverick sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. In an attempt to find support among the people close to Jordan, Vaccarro gets in touch with George Raveling, who coached Jordan. Director: Ben Affleck. 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. ’” George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. The movie tells the story of how Nike and former sports executive Sonny Vaccaro pursued a rookie MJ and eventually collaborated with him for a blockbuster deal that went on to revolutionize the sneakers industry. And then he [Michael Jordan] talked at length about his. 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. Phil Knight is sinful. Raveling's prediction: International players will comprise 50% of the NBA by 2010. Jordan prior to meeting her in ‘Air,’ for the sake of elevating the charm. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” Jordan told USA Today. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore,. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in 'Air. 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. Starring the dynamic duo of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, the movie weaves a captivating narrative around Vaccaro’s audacious endeavor. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker. 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. The film will be released in theaters April 5, 2023. Vaccaro also had a big hand in helping UCLA's Ed O'Bannon bring down the NCAA's stronghold on. Vaccaro’s storied relationship with Nike ended on a. 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. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. “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 . 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. , Saturday, October 14, 2023. 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. George Raveling is crazy. Raveling had a falling out with. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst Dassler, and Julius Tennon. Each. Raveling and Vaccaro already had a long-standing rivalry with one another, so these comments didn't sit well with Vaccaro. -Sonny. Michael Jordan was not interested in signing the deal with Nike at first, but Vaccaro convinced Deloris Jordan in the early 1980s and used that connection to sign Jordan to his first. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. How to watch 'Air' movie. At the time, Nike had. But thanks to advice from Howard White and George Raveling, Vaccaro knows that his way to connect with Michael is through his mother, Deloris. Matt Damon stars as Vaccaro while Ben Affleck, who also directs, plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Matt Damon stars as Vaccaro while Ben Affleck, who also directs, plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight. 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. Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser. The biopic will focus on sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. The first addition was George Raveling, who was the assistant coach on the 1984 Olympics team Jordan played on. 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. 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. KGW Top Stories: 11 p. George Raveling, the pioneering African-American college basketball coach, crossed paths with Martin Luther King Jr. Despite his rumored deal with Adidas, Vaccaro believes that Jordan is the generational talent that will change Nike forever and after an inspirational chat with George Raveling, Vaccaro decides to. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling," Jordan said. Vaccaro and George Raveling, former best friends who now are bitter enemies, simply personify the battle between two corporations searching for product loyalty and increased sales. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. He used to always try to talk to me, 'You gotta go Nike. Marlon Wayans plays college basketball coach George Raveling, who signed him to the brand. Played by Matt Damon, Sonny Vaccaro's. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. And field rep Howard White (Chris Tucker, back after a seven-year absence from the screen) is the lone believer in Vaccaro. 1/200. George Raveling are gone. . Net worth: $5 million. It didn’t go well. Vaccaro was a significant figure in the. Vaccaro claimed he was able to convince Jordan — who wore Converse in college. “Air” is the origin story of a shoe, and not just any shoe. 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. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. 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. (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. 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. Set at the Nike headquarters in Oregon in 1984, the film follows Sonny Vaccaro (Damon), who is tasked by C. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. Sonny Vaccaro calls out MJ,. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), to put in a good word, Raveling declares that following the “I Have a Dream” speech in. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). 5 million contract with Nike, which paved the way for the debut of the Air Jordan shoe line. Of course, in the sneaker business, they’re. Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Matthew Maher, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker and Viola Davis. This website stores data such as cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as marketing, personalization, and analytics. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. Marlon Wayans (The Curse of Bridge Hollow) as George Raveling, Jordan’s assistant coach on the 1984. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. In response to this, Marketing VP Rob Strasser, along with co-founder. Then, Rob and I met with Falk at the meeting at the Hermitage [hotel in. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘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 assistant coach under Bob Knight). Affleck stars alongside Matt Damon (as Sonny Vaccaro), Viola Davis (as Deloris Jordan), Julius Tennon. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), a friend of Vaccaro’s who coached Michael Jordan in the 1984 Olympic basketball team, weighs in with encouragement. The story depicts a high-stakes gamble by an unconventional team, a determined mother and the legendary basketball player who became the. Sonny Vaccaro and his wife, Pam, currently reside in Calabasas, California. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) goes on to say “There’s nothing cool about Nike. — When it comes to the July recruiting period, the Wild West days of Sonny Vaccaro vs. 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. 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. 00:00. Vaccaro and Jordan. 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). The biopic will focus on Sonny Vaccaro, the creator of the Air Jordan sneakers. You’ve got to try. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. The roles of Jordan. 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 eventually became Vaccaro's competitor when he. In 1984, Oregon-based Nike, Inc. Although, in reality, Vaccaro did make multiple phone calls to Mrs. Matt Damon will assume the role of Sonny Vaccaro,. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. “He’s the one, in all honestly, that really persuaded me to look at Nike. --Vaccaro’s personal friends include college coaches such as USC’s George Raveling, who was the best man at his wedding, and Georgetown’s Thompson, who. Coach George Raveling. 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. S. Damon takes on the role of Sonny Vaccaro, the sneaker salesman who believed Michael Jordan was going to be the big basketball star that he became. 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. He fell out with Sony over a high school summer basketball camp business operated by Sonny. . Sonny Vaccaro's Side of the Story. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Olympic team that won gold in LA. By remaining on this website, you indicate your consent. Sonny's story is. Damon plays sneaker executive Sonny Vaccaro, while Affleck portrays Nike CEO Phil Knight. Well, all of. Apr 06, 2023 In 'Air,' Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro seeks to sign Michael Jordan to a historic sneaker deal. Deloris Jordan is portrayed by Viola Davis. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as. He meets with Sonny Vaccaro in Los Angeles, and that's when the Nike. The sports drama will see Affleck in the role of Nike co-founder Phil Knight, while Damon will play Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro. 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. DAMON: (As Sonny Vaccaro) The most competitive guy I have ever seen. 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. Gustaf Skarsgård as. 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. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling in 'Air'. You’ve got to try. 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. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. Jason Bateman. 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. John "Sonny" Vaccaro has long been cast as some kind of mafioso, strong-arming amateur basketball for much of his 63 years. 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. Vicki Gunvalson from 'RHOC' said there are no good single men anymore but Peter Madrigal from 'Vanderpump Rules' wants to show her there are. S. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. With Sarah Claspell, Shannon Coffey, Nicole Drespel, Melissa Gomez. 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. "Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. 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. ’ 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. You’ve got to try. Knight took exception to. Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. In a follow-up interview with USA Today, Vaccaro stated that he was "the savior of Nike. 62°. (Nike marketing official) George Raveling and. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. Sonny Vaccaro: When the Rams played in the Super Bowl two years ago,. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. Three: Sonny Vaccaro, an executive for Nike,. ”. The Nike executives, salesmen, and. '. m. , USA Bio: Team USA Assistant Coach when Jordan Won Gold at 1984 Olympics. E. 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. But it really wasn't Sonny, it was actually George Raveling," Jordan told USA Today in 2015. 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. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling; Chris Messina. 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. For the briefest of moments, Sonny Vaccaro appeared in Sunday’s episodes of “The Last Dance,” the 10-part, Michael Jordan-focused documentary running on ESPN. S. How to watch 'Air' movie. The day after the US team won the Los Angeles Olympics, he offered Jordan $2. Below are step-by-step instructions for how to sign up for Amazon Prime Video’s free trial. The first addition was George Raveling, who was the assistant coach on the 1984 Olympics team Jordan played on. As the film's version of Nike. The package is worth approximately $100,000, according to Nike’s George Raveling. Did Sonny Vaccaro really bypass Michael Jordan's agent and go directly to his parents to make his pitch? Not exactly. Matt Damon (Sonny Vaccaro) First up on the list is the main man himself,. Sonny Vaccaro, the former basketball advisor of Nike once claimed that he was the key piece in the multi-million dollar signing. Vaccaro’s impact on sports marketing and basketball is significant. 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. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. ’” Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. The company had a modest goal of earning $3 million from the sneakers over a three-year period. Marlon Wayans plays the legendary basketball player and coach George Ravelling in a brief yet crucial appearance. He met with George Raveling (played by Marlon Wayans), a former NBA player and college. Damon plays sneaker executive Sonny Vaccaro, while Affleck portrays Nike CEO Phil Knight. This reflects when Marlon Wayans’ George Raveling tells how Martin Luther King’s famous speech was spontaneous. Back then, Sonny was laughed at by Nike honchos Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans). 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. Papa plays Stu Inman, the former Portland Trail Blazers executive who famously selected Sam Bowie over. 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. ". In 2015, Michael Jordan shared his perspective on the events leading up to his deal with Nike in an interview with USA Today. Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. George Raveling, the former USC coach and current. There is a scene in the film where Sonny Vaccaro, after having a conversation with George Raveling (the assistant coach of the U. playing basketball coach George Raveling, laments in the trailer. ’”Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. 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. White in 'Air'. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. 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. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. The Good Will Hunting actors portray Nike cofounder Phil Knight (Damon) and Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro (Affleck). But, Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). Tensions run high between Fennel,. George Raveling: [to Sonny] You bypass the agents and talk directly to the family, you’re going to. 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. Three days later, the trailer aired during the 2023 Super Bowl. But the man himself credits George Raveling for the decision that changed his life. 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. Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. "Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Even what it means, “Adidas”, “All day I dream about sex. Sonny Vaccaro, the former shoe marketer widely credited with inventing the summer basketball scene, seethed as he watched the news conference. 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. 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. "Air," the new movie directed by Affleck and written by Alex Convery, tells the story of Nike’s pursuit to sign Michael Jordan and. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling were close friends, with Raveling serving as best man at Sonny’s second wedding. 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. " Ana Carballosa/Prime. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. Olympic men's basketball team, to bring Michael Jordan to lunch. Air, which will be released in theaters on April 5, tells the story of Sonny Vaccaro (Damon), who, in the 1980s, was in charge of Nike’s fledgling basketball division. 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. ” Raveling played at Villanova and coached at Washington. 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. The heart and soul of Air really come from the idea of putting belief in oneself or another. Matt Damon is Sonny Vaccaro. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an.