The Omaha Production’s spot features the former signal-callers in their “quarter-zip” jackets, which the former Bronco declares are “the perfect item of clothing to defeat a death chill.”
The next scene shows the brothers joining Ghostbusters old and new, in Ghostbusting quarter-zip jackets that have actor Paul Rudd lamenting, “Damn, they stole our gear!” As a monster descends upon the ghost-busting crowd, Eli, suggesting the entity is too powerful, says that he and Peyton should flee. Peyton, with his signature wit replies, “We’re pocket passers! We can’t run!”
Check out the funny promo below:
This spot continues the success of the First Family of Football, who won a Sports Emmy in 2022 for their dual production of the “ManningCast,” as well as the successful Omaha Productions programs including “Peyton’s Places” and “Eli’s Places” on ESPN Plus.
“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” debuts in theaters on March 22.
A deleted scene from ‘Rudy’ is making the rounds 30 years after the movie’s release. Check it out here!
This fall marks 30 years since the movie “Rudy” hit theaters and a nation learned of a pesky try-hard kid from Joliet, Ill. who worked to walk-on to the Notre Dame football team.
I loved the movie when my parents took me and my sister to see it that fall and still love it today. It’s not perfect, in fact there are some things from Rudy’s real story that I find even more impressive than the film.
However, it’s a classic and will always be way up on the list of best sports and football movies of all-time.
Now, 30 years later, we’re getting a bonus scene of the film. Check out below as Rudy (played by Sean Astin) and his dad (the late Ned Beatty) explain what makes Notre Dame football so special.
Those 97 seconds does a tremendous job explaining what much of Notre Dame fandom is all about. For many of us that fandom started generations ago and has been passed down.
I couldn’t tell you the first Notre Dame football game I watched as a kid but I can tell you that by the time I was six and Rick Mirer, Jerome Bettis, and Reggie Brooks were ripping apart defenses in 1992, I was already fully obsessed.
And I can look back and be fairly certain that more than a small part was because of having a grandfather that spoke of Notre Dame football very similarly to the way Beatty does in that deleted scene.
Watch: The Barry Sanders movie trailer lays out the question of why he retired in his prime at age 31
Prime Sports Video released the trailer for the upcoming documentary film about Lions legend Barry Sanders.
“We’ll never see something like Barry Sanders again,” the trailer begins, and then we’re instantly reminded of just how true that statement is.
“Bye Bye Barry” will tell the intriguing story of Sanders’ incredible career as a Detroit Lions running back and icon, in the words of those who played with him and against him, and those who covered him in his prime.
It will also feature Sanders himself discussing what everyone wants to really know: Why did he walk away at 31?
From the press release:
Twenty-four years after the shocking decision to walk away from the sport, NFL Films joined the 55-year-old Sanders and his four sons on a trip back to England to explore his career, revisit his upbringing, and tackle one of the greatest mysteries in sports history: Why did he retire when he did?
Hear Rudy tell some truths about the movie, react to Joe Montana’s comments, and give you a general pep-talk for life as he joined the Fighting Irish Wired podcast!
The man who became an inspiration for millions who wanted to chase their dreams is coming to Chicagoland next week. The real-life Daniel ‘Rudy’ Ruettiger, who the movie was made about, will be at Elmhurst University in the near-western Chicago suburbs on February 23. Tickets are free but must be reserved to attend and you can get them by visiting the Elmhurst website.
When I saw that Rudy was coming to town I decided, why wait until then? I want to talk to the man now! So for roughly a half hour on Wednesday I was able to sit down and chat via Zoom with Rudy about his story, finding and creating motivation, and hear a few stories from a man who has seen a ton.
In this episode of the newly launched “Fighting Irish Wired” podcast (yes, I spent the last month thinking of a name) hear Rudy discuss, in addition to his message of positivity:
His legendary high school football coach, Joliet Catholic’s Gordie Gillespie
What made Tom Brady so great for so long
The actual events that led to Rudy dressing (no, it wasn’t Joe Montana being hurt)
The greatness of Ross Browner
How Ara Parseghian used to take pressure off the team each game-week
How he actually introduced himself to Ara in real-life (better than the movie portrays)
His reaction to the comments Joe Montana made about ‘Rudy’ in recent years
Brian Kelly’s exit from Notre Dame
And finally, hear Rudy discuss a made-up part of the movie that would have been handled differently in real-life than it was in the movie…had it been true, at least!
Listen to and subscribe to the Fighting Irish Wired podcast on:
In full disclosure I have been working on recording a few episodes of a new podcast over the past month. I was shaking out the cobwebs with our very own Jeff Feyerer recently so if you’re so inclined, feel free to listen back to our now very much dated episode discussing how excited Tommy Rees has to be to be leading Notre Dame’s offense in 2023 as well 😉
Ben Affleck’s sports drama Air is getting great early notices out of South by Southwest.
The upcoming sports drama Air had its world premiere at South by Southwest this weekend, and the early reactions are incredibly encouraging.
The dramatized telling of how Nike landed Michael Jordan for the legendary Air Jordan shoe deal comes from actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck, who directs and plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight in the project.
Affleck’s longtime collaborator and buddy Matt Damon plays Nike employee Sonny Vaccaro, who worked to get Jordan on board for the shoe deal that changed both of their lives.
— Sergio Muñoz Esquer @ SXSW (@ElSergioMunoz) March 19, 2023
Affleck seemed to really hype up the importance of the film premiere in the grand scheme of his career.
"Tonight is the most important night of my professional life." Ben Affleck returns to Austin 30 years after Dazed & Confused for #SXSW closing night film Air. pic.twitter.com/zg3z6rugL8
More reactions praised the cast, Affleck’s direction and the film’s uplifting message.
SXSW 2023 went out on the highest note with “AIR” — EXCELLENT MOVIE! A rousing, feel-good crowd-pleaser about risk, trust, confidence & family! AMAZING CAST & BEN AFFLECK directed the hell out of it! It’s a SLAM DUNK & the BEST MOVIE of the year so far, by far! #AIR#SXSWpic.twitter.com/2Az4cVUJAi
BIG, BIG CONGRATS to BEN AFFLECK on a really spectacular job directing “AIR!” What an AMAZING MOVIE, and what a perfect film to close out SXSW 2023! I loved it as much as I love “ARGO” (and I really LOVE “ARGO”)! #AIR#SXSWpic.twitter.com/zgS7NfMf3C
Funny, energetic, and beautifully written, AIR is an absolute winner. The large ensemble cast delivers powerful performances, but it’s Ben Affleck’s unbeatable optimism as a storyteller that shines. He champions not just Michael Jordan but all the people who believe in him #SXSWpic.twitter.com/Iz1mKPQQ7b
Wow! #AIR is an impeccable biopic! Ben Affleck transforms a story that we already know into something not only engaging but also exciting. The film talks about not only this legendary deal but also the problem of exploitation of the image and likeness of young athletes… pic.twitter.com/kAGUmTaM0a
— Sergio Muñoz Esquer @ SXSW (@ElSergioMunoz) March 19, 2023
Ben Affleck’s ‘AIR’ is one of the best experiences I've had in a movie theater.
Entertaining, Hilarious, Hopeful, and the best movie of the year so far. Ben Affleck is amazing and extraordinary as a Director. #AirMovie#SXSW#SXSW2023#Air
— The Hollywood Handle (@hollywoodhandle) March 19, 2023
AIR: Chalk another win for Ben Affleck. The ensemble is great, top to bottom. Does well balancing the Nike of it all with MJ’s signing, finding a thematic core about the milestone in sports merchandising history. #SXSWpic.twitter.com/bHaRXtb9GY
AIR is lifted by an incredible cast! Damon, Davis, and Affleck are particularly fantastic! Lots of cheer-worthy sequences, the ending is VERY strong. Affleck put a lot of heart into this. #SXSW2023#Airpic.twitter.com/o9GOR9y7CT
Well, AIR is the feel-good end that #SXSW2023 deserved. A plucky, fun sports movie that plays like Moneyball's more optimistic brother. pic.twitter.com/8H2HBP35No
AIR is a slam dunk! Affleck successfully captured Nike’s heartwarming & hilarious marketing journey for the Air Jordan. it’s a fantastic underdog story with amazing acting, music & a perfect homage to the NBA legend as well as his sweet & savvy mother. #sxsw2023@airmovie
#AIR is a absolute winner! A movie about the belief people can have in one another when you push boundaries and have faith that gambles can pay off. Affleck’s steady direction shines along an all star cast, with Matt Damon and Viola Davis standing out. Go see this movie!! pic.twitter.com/9WkgDlbklZ
— Ryan McQuade @ #SXSW2023 (@ryanmcquade77) March 19, 2023
#AIRMovie REVIEW: An EMOTIONAL triumph! Ben Affleck does it again, directing a well crafted film with EXCELLENT performances that will blow you in more ways than one. WOW. This isn’t just another sports movie, it’s one of the best biopics ever! A journey what’s next #SXSW#Nikepic.twitter.com/Z1QoB1MjDR
#Air Review: Ben Affleck's story of Nike's quest to sign Michael Jordan soars thanks to an impeccable ensemble and solid craftsmanship. #SXSWhttps://t.co/cVp5Km1rM3
So you’re going to have to trust Ben Affleck and Matt Damon when it comes to their new Nike biopic “Air”. The film focuses on the quest to sign a rookie Michael Jordan to what was then a third-place company in the basketball market.
Though the trailer released on Thursday shows Viola Davis and Julius Tennon portraying Jordan’s parents, the NBA legend won’t make an appearance on screen. Not a cameo nor an actor portrayal. And that’s by design.
Affleck and Damon—who reworked a script originally penned by Alex Convery—are focusing less on Jordan and more on Nike execs Phil Knight (played by Affleck) and Sonny Vaccarro (Damon) as they work to build the company’s basketball brand.
The story will focus on Vaccaro’s relentless quest to sign Jordan to what was then the third-place shoe company, a journey that took him to Jordan’s parents, and in particular his powerful, dynamic mother, as well as to former coaches, advisers and friends. Jordan will be a mythic figure hovering above the movie and never seen, even as Vaccaro tries to reach him by gaining access to those close to him.
Jordan isn’t listed in any credits, so if there is a cameo the filmmakers are keeping it tightly under wraps. Certainly there’s enough star power attached to the project to interest Jordan, but considering the movie isn’t about MJ’s greatness, he likely doesn’t care to get involved.
Either way, fans of sneaker culture and basketball history should find themselves entertained by the story of a plucky little basketball division that took over the world.
4 quick takeaways on Netflix’s ‘Home Team’ trailer, via @MaddyHudak_94:
No one really knew what to expect in the upcoming movie “Home Team,” about Sean Payton’s year coaching his son’s football team in Texas, but the official trailer dropped Tuesday and gave us an interesting glimpse. The film is set to release on Netflix on Jan. 28, 2022 starring comedian and actor Kevin James as the New Orleans Saints head coach; produced by Happy Madison Productions, it focuses on Payton’s year in suspension from the NFL and his tenure as the assistant coach of his son’s sixth grade football team.
The production company is owned by Adam Sandler, whose brother-in-law Christopher Titone wrote the script, who also happens to be dating Payton’s daughter, Meghan, who is a sports reporter. News of the feature first dropped back in April when Peter King of “Football Morning in America” reported the scoop. He’d said at the time that Payton had recently read the script and made some corrections accordingly. Fans may recall when Sandler’s production company visited Payton at the practice facility and at some point filmed a cameo of the coach dressed rather strangely.
Now back to the trailer. Here’s what stood out and what we can look forward to in the upcoming film:
It’s here — well, almost. The official trailer for “Home Team,” the upcoming Netflix movie about Sean Payton’s year away from football, spent coaching his young son’s team in Texas, is live ahead of the film’s release date on Jan. 28.
The comedian and actor Kevin James stars as the New Orleans Saints head coach in the feature from Happy Madison Productions (the studio founded by James’ friend and frequent collaborator Adam Sandler, whose brother-in-law Christopher Titone wrote the script), with supporting actors including Rob Schneider, Taylor Lautner, and Isaiah Mustafa.
Mark your calendars: “Home Team,” the upcoming Netflix film from Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions company featuring the comedian Kevin James as New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton will be released on Jan. 28, 2022.
Christopher Titone, the film’s writer and Sandler’s brother-in-law (and boyfriend of Payton’s daughter, Meghan) shared the news on Twitter with a new plot synopsis from the Los Angeles Times:
“When Super Bowl-winning coach Sean Payton gets suspended, he returns to his hometown to coach his son’s Pop Warner team. Kevin James, Taylor Lautner and Rob Schneider star. Directed by Charles Kinnane and Daniel Kinnane. Written by Christopher Titone & Keith Blum.”
Reactions to James being cast as Payton earlier this year were, well, mixed to say the least. Sandler’s frequent collaborator doesn’t exactly share a resemblance to the Saints head coach, but we’ll suspend our disbelief for a bit if it’s a good story. If nothing else Payton’s cameo should be funny.
“They’re playing for the love of the game, which I really respect,” Jake Plummer said of CFL athletes.
Former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer is set to portray an aging Canadian Football League QB in Kick, an upcoming film.
Plummer, who grew up watching Doug Flutie and is familiar with Warren Moon’s accomplishments in the CFL, is eager to bring more exposure to Canada’s version of American’s No. 1 sport.
Plummer will lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on an unlikely championship run in the movie, but he won’t be the main focus of the film.
“It’s going to be about four kids, 12-year-olds coming of age, kind of finding out who they are, and going on a real fun adventure together,” Plummer said during an interview with Broncos Wire. “So I think it’s going to be a great way to expose and bring to light a league that’s got a rich history, [and] has been going on for a long time.”
Plummer never played in Canada but he does have connections in the league. While he played for the Cardinals from 1997-2002, Plummer worked out in the offseason with CFL wide receiver Travis Moore in Arizona.
“He’s a really great receiver, one of the best to play the game up there,” Plummer said. “Now I think he’s coaching in Saskatchewan, so he and I were good buddies who worked out a lot, so I knew about it [the CFL] and tried to follow it as much as I could.”
A three-time CFL all-star and two-time Grey Cup champion, Moore totaled 9,930 receiving yards and scored 79 touchdowns in 11 seasons.
Moore’s probably not well known among NFL fans, but he’s the kind of CFL player Plummer admires.
“I think it’s really cool because it’s a game that’s played not for the multi-million dollar contracts and all that,” Plummer said of the CFL. “It’s more played by a lot of people that, a lot of athletes that love the game. They’re Canadians, mostly. You can only have, like, so many Americans on your roster — only a certain percentage of the roster can be American players.
“So it’s Canadians that are playing for the pride of their country. They’re not playing for $3.5 million a year, they’re playing for — I don’t even know what the average contract is, but I know it’s not like NFL. So they’re playing for the love of the game, which I really respect.”
The CFL’s roster rules have relaxed in recent years and teams can now have 14 American starters (compared to a minimum of seven Canadian starters), but Plummer’s point about the pay stands. The NFL’s minimum salary this season is $660,000, while the CFL’s minimum is about $52,563.
CFL players clearly aren’t in it for the money, and that “love of the game” mentality is an appealing role for Plummer, especially as a grizzled vet.
“I’m not being asked to play any weird role where I’ve got to like change who I am, I just have to go out and kind of be that guy I used to be,” he said.
Plummer has always had connections to the CFL, and he’ll now get an opportunity to add his name to the history of the league (in a fictional setting).
“Marc Trestman, my offensive coordinator in Arizona with the Cardinals in ’98 when we beat the Cowboys [in the Wild Card], he’s won a few Grey Cups up there also,” Plummer recalled. “So I’ve got connections up there. I’ve had them, I just don’t go to Canada a whole lot, but I’m going to have the opportunity to go now and it’s exciting.
“Who knows what it leads to – if anything – it’s just once you’re on film and the movie’s cut and it’s out, no one can take that away. You’re in a movie.”
