Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker. Sonny Vaccaro, the former shoe marketer widely credited with inventing the summer basketball scene, seethed as he watched the news conference. ". Sonny Vaccaro, Deloris Jordan, and Character Representation. 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. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling were close friends, with Raveling serving as best man at Sonny’s second wedding. S. Matt Damon takes on the role of Sonny Vaccaro, who led Nike’s pursuit in signing Michael Jordan during his rookie years. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. 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. PHOTO: Ana Carballosa/Prime Matthew Maher, Matt Damon, and Jason Bateman as Peter Moore, Sonny Vaccaro, and Rob. Elsewhere, the cast features Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris. '. Knight took exception to. Visit Amazon Prime Video’s website. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. 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. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. The trailer for Air was released on February 9. DAMON: (As Sonny Vaccaro) The most competitive guy I have ever seen. 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. ’ 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. . The company had a modest goal of earning $3 million from the sneakers over a three-year period. 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. ". White in 'Air'. Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. is on the verge of bankruptcy due to low footwear sales. Raveling and Sonny Vaccaro had been close friends, to the point that he was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. 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. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. 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. Vaccaro’s impact on sports marketing and basketball is significant. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro in "Air. He asked his old. “Spokane, Washington,” the employee says. The untitled movie will tell “the incredible story of how maverick sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. 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. Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Matthew Maher, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker and Viola Davis. 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. Vaccaro later visits a 7-Eleven convenience store, posing the same question to a store clerk while purchasing a Sports Illustrated magazine. You’re. He was doing a favor for George Raveling, the assistant coach on the Olympic team and my best man at my wedding, meeting me. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as. The Good Will Hunting actors portray Nike cofounder Phil Knight (Damon) and Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro (Affleck). Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. As the film's version of Nike. Getting Fired from Nike. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. ” Sonny Vaccaro: That’s not what it means. 5 million over five years with a 25 per cent royalty on every shoe. In a follow-up interview with USA Today, Vaccaro stated that he was "the savior of Nike. Many NBA fans were under the opinion that a former American sports marketing executive named John Paul Vincent “Sonny” Vaccaro was the man behind Jordan’s decision to sign with Nike. Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. — When it comes to the July recruiting period, the Wild West days of Sonny Vaccaro vs. But it really wasn't Sonny, it was actually George Raveling," Jordan told USA Today in 2015. Director (and Boston’s own) Ben Affleck’s latest tells the tale of. Of course, in the sneaker business, they’re. George Raveling, Director for International Basketball for Nike, played by Marlon Wayans. Vaccaro and Jordan. Wayans' character Raveling worked with the USA basketball team (and therefore Jordan) at the. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. 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. 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. Create or log into. February 9, 2023. “Air” is the origin story of a shoe, and not just any shoe. 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. 7. 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. Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling," Jordan said. Led by music supervisor Andrea von Foerster, the film is a throwback to 1984 in a huge way, with plenty of songs by well-known solo artists and bands. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Chris Messina as David Falk, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. George Raveling: [to Sonny] You bypass the agents and talk directly to the family, you’re going to. Post the ideation, Sonny’s next task was to persuade the NBA player to ditch Adidas and convert into a Nike enthusiast. AIR. It was a hard task, considering that Nike was the least favourite contender at that time. Nike is looking for a way to become one of the premier basketball shoe brands in the U. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore,. 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. 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. 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. Sonny Vaccaro was fired from Nike for allegedly planning on pursuing other business ventures outside of the Nike franchise, whilst. The sports drama will see Affleck in the role of Nike co-founder Phil Knight, while Damon will play Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro. The duo are joined by Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s. Matt Damon is starring in "Air" as sneaker salesman turned former Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, with Ben Affleck playing Nike co-founder Phil Knight. 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. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. George Raveling was one of them. Sonny was hired by Phil Knight (portrayed by Affleck) to revamp his basketball shoe division, which has only gotten smaller since Vaccaro’s arrival. 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. Vaccaro also had a big hand in helping UCLA's Ed O'Bannon bring down the NCAA's stronghold on. Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. George Raveling. George Raveling, director of international basketball for Nike, played by Marlon Wayans . “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Olympic team that won gold in LA. 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. John "Sonny" Vaccaro has long been cast as some kind of mafioso, strong-arming amateur basketball for much of his 63 years. “Air” shows how former sports executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike created a pitch for young basketball star Michael Jordan to partner. You’ve got to try. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. ” Raveling played at Villanova and coached at Washington. The former NBA Champion claimed that a Nike Executive named George Raveling was responsible for his change of heart. 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. . Below are step-by-step instructions for how to sign up for Amazon Prime Video’s free trial. 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. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. ’” George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had been close friends, to the point that Raveling was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. Vaccaro claimed he was able to convince Jordan — who wore Converse in college. Pioneering coach George Raveling's surprising connection to MLK. Raveling’s shorthand with Sonny speaks of a past history and trust communicated with small gestures and easy laughs. Sonny Vaccaro talks the accuracy of 'Air' with FN and remembers his unforgettable speech at Nike HQ to. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Sonny Vaccaro and his wife, Pam, currently reside in Calabasas, California. S. Director (and Boston’s own) Ben Affleck’s latest tells the tale of. Jordan said Vaccaro “likes to take credit” but that it was marketing executive and former basketball player George Raveling who sold him on Nike. 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. Klutho /Sports Illustrated/Getty Matt Damon in 'Air' and Sonny Vaccaro. 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 stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. -George Raveling movie quotes from AIR (2023) You got it. Air is a 2023 American biographical sports drama film directed by Ben Affleck and written by Alex Convery. Vaccaro and Jordan. 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. The duo are joined by Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s. 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 Vaccaro Michael Jordan. 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. The trailer for Air was released on February 9. AVALON, N. Net worth: $5 million. 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. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. Once Nike agreed, Vaccaro used his close friend, basketball coach George Raveling, to connect him to Jordan. Alongside Affleck, Davis and Damon, the film sees Jason Bateman playing Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk and Marlon Wayans as George. Knight took exception to. 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. George Raveling are gone. playing basketball coach George Raveling, laments in the trailer. The film focuses on Vaccaro and Knight, as well as Jordan's parents James and Delores. ’” Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. 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 film, about how Nike signed Michael Jordan in 1984, also stars Matt Damon as Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro. Moving on, we have Marlon Wayans, a famous comedic actor who is taking on the role of George Raveling in Air. Chris Tucker as Howard White. Raveling's prediction: International players will comprise 50% of the NBA by 2010. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, three additional Nike executives who have gotten some credit for the. Collaborators and longtime friends Affleck and Damon reunite as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, respectively. You've got to try. Instead. He clarified that while Sonny Vaccaro often takes credit, it was actually George Raveling who played a significant role. In 1984, Oregon-based Nike, Inc. Wayans plays George Raveling,. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling in 'Air'. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. Played by Matt Damon. Sonny Vaccaro, the former basketball advisor of Nike once claimed that he was the key piece in the multi-million dollar signing. Sonny Vaccaro with Michael Jordan – Sonny embarked on a quest to sign the guard for the Chicago Bulls. 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. Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro while the role of Phil Knight is essayed by Affleck. “George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. George Raveling, the pioneering African-American college basketball coach, crossed paths with Martin Luther King Jr. Julius Tennon as James Jordan. In the movie, Michael's difficult agent, David Falk (portrayed. Vicki Gunvalson from 'RHOC' said there are no good single men anymore but Peter Madrigal from 'Vanderpump Rules' wants to show her there are. 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. John (Sonny) Vaccaro has clout. In hindsight, it's a eureka moment. Papa plays Stu Inman, the former Portland Trail Blazers executive who famously selected Sam Bowie over. Recommendations Slide 1 of 7The first trailer is here for “Air,” the movie starring Ben Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, a Nike executive trying to sign basketball rookie Michael. Olympic team that won gold in LA. It was a hard task, considering that Nike was the least favourite contender at that time. George Raveling is crazy. Marlon Wayans even leaves a strong if brief impression as Jordan’s former Olympics coach George Raveling. "Air," the new movie directed by Affleck and written by Alex Convery, tells the story of Nike’s pursuit to sign Michael Jordan and. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. 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. 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. 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. 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. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. 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’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. Well, all of. “George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. At only 24 years of age, the Pennsylvania native founded the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic in 1965. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. How to watch 'Air' movie. The story will center. 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. 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. Remember when I mentioned Jordan had three requests for Affleck, the second one was that he create a part for George Raveling, who was Jordan’s Olympic. 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). Collaborators and longtime friends Affleck and Damon reunite as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, respectively. A friend of Vaccaro’s, Raveling first introduced the idea of signing Nike and Jordan. S. The first addition was George Raveling, who was the assistant coach on the 1984 Olympics team Jordan played on. Sonny Vaccaro talks the accuracy of 'Air' with FN and remembers his unforgettable speech at Nike HQ to Michael Jordan and his family. . 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. What we know about the Air cast and crew. AIR | Official Trailer. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser in 'Air. Meg Ryan talks new rom-com, travel and 'Sleepless in Seattle'. KGW Top Stories: 11 p. Jordan prior to meeting her in ‘Air,’ for the sake of elevating the charm. ”And while that might have been the case in 1984. 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. "Stockton's. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Raveling took up a rival. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. " Ana Carballosa/Prime. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. " "I stayed at [Jordan's] home," Vaccaro said. 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. Image via Amazon Studios Where did Nike, a brand that was barely. Wayans plays George Raveling, a "college basketball trailblazer" and the first Black coach in two major conferences. George Raveling was offered $3 million for his Martin Luther King Jr speech. Vaccaro’s storied relationship with Nike ended on a. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Knight said Vaccaro helped but “wasn’t the. He fell out with Sony over a high school summer basketball camp business operated by Sonny. And then he [Michael Jordan] talked at length about his. Getting Fired from Nike. , and Vaccaro decides to. 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. Vaccaro later visits a 7-Eleven convenience store, posing the same question to a store clerk while purchasing a Sports Illustrated magazine. ' Photo: Ana Carballosa. But it really wasn't Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. This website stores data such as cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as marketing, personalization, and analytics. Phil Knight (Affleck) and Marketing V. 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, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro . Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, three additional Nike. Olympic basketball team (via Pop Sugar). ". 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. Sonny even has a five-minute monologue where he predicts the whole of Jordan's future in the meeting. 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. 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. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. He is a f***ing killer. "I traveled to. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, a former sports marketing executive who had the genius idea to sign Michael to his first-ever sneaker deal. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. (Jason Bateman) and Howard White (Chris Tucker); college ball coach George Raveling. 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 stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris. Affleck's longtime friend and longtime collaborator plays. Wayans joins the cast as George Raveling, the trailblazing college basketball coach (the first Black coach in both the ACC and the PAC 10), who met and befriended Jordan while serving as an. He meets with Sonny Vaccaro in Los Angeles, and that's when the 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. Matt Damon will assume the role of Sonny Vaccaro,. Phil Knight is sinful. “There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans ’s character George Raveling says in the first trailer for. 00:00. The initial. In the fall of 1984, a 21-year-old Jordan inked a five-year deal with Nike for $2. Sonny Vaccaro, Deloris Jordan, and Character Representation. 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. 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. George Raveling was an assistant coach for the Team USA basketball squad at the 1984 Olympics. m. Alex G. He recently appeared on the Brown and. S. Nike. Raveling and Vaccaro already had a long-standing rivalry with one another, so these comments didn't sit well with Vaccaro. . The cast also includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling and Chris Tucker as Howard White. Wayans' character Raveling worked with the USA basketball team (and therefore Jordan) at the. 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. 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. Ben Affleck, who directs the film, stars as Nike co-founder and former chairman Phil Knight. 'Air' was a hit, but casting Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro was a miss. The duo are joined by Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s. The footage features Nike CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) questioning Sonny Vaccaro. “Spokane, Washington,” the employee says. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), to put in a good word, Raveling declares that following the “I Have a Dream” speech in. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. 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. It didn’t go well. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). 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. Marlon Wayans plays college basketball coach George Raveling, who signed him to the brand. Smart guy. Writer: Alex Convery. As the film's version of 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. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling Chris Tucker as Howard White Jason. Both Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will star as Phil Knight and Sonny Vaccaro, respectively. He clarified that while Sonny Vaccaro often takes credit, it was actually George Raveling who played a significant role. 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. Peter Moore, Played By. The cast also includes Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, the first Black basketball coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pacific-10,. Marlon Wayans as iconic coach George Raveling, and. Prior to this encounter, MJ had no knowledge of Nike. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. 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. ’. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. But it really wasn't Sonny, it was actually George Raveling," Jordan told USA Today in 2015. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. Chris Tucker as Howard White uses his comedic persona to great advantage. Nike employee Sonny Vaccaro believes. 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. -Sonny Vaccaro; I think I’m going to be remembered. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. 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. Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. Three: Sonny Vaccaro, an executive for Nike,. That said, the part in the film in which Sonny Vaccaro visits Deloris in North. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a scene from the movie AIR. Sonny Vaccaro: When the Rams played in the Super Bowl two years ago,. In the movie ‘ Air ’, it was depicted that Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon) and Raveling (played by Marlon Wayans) met at a California bar and the latter explained to the Nike talent scout just how much. Ben Affleck 's latest film, Air, is a true story based on Nike salesman Sonny Vaccaro 's successful signing of then-rising superstar Michael Jordan. Director: Ben Affleck. Phil Knight is sinful. 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. There is a scene in the film where Sonny Vaccaro, after having a conversation with George Raveling (the assistant coach of the U. 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. Ben Affleck 's latest film, Air, is a true story based on Nike salesman Sonny Vaccaro 's successful signing of then-rising superstar Michael Jordan. Vaccaro, on the podcast, responded to Jordan's comments: "Michael is delusional. SONNY VACCARO. Raveling had a close personal relationship with Vaccaro at that time. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” Jordan told USA Today. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight. 62°. , Saturday, October 14, 2023. Deloris Jordan is portrayed by Viola Davis. He asked his old friend George Raveling, one of the coaches of the National Olympic team, to contact Micheal Jordan and set up a meeting. 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. The biopic will focus on sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Little did he know that this search would lead to the birth of a sneaker empire and redefine the world of athletic endorsements. The decision of Sonnu was not appreciated and taken well by Phil Knight and later he went on to fire his 'beloved' executive.