Ben Affleck as Phil Knight. George Raveling, the pioneering African-American college basketball coach, crossed paths with Martin Luther King Jr. Sonny Vaccaro received a promise from Team USA coach George Raveling, who played a pivotal role in persuading Michael to consider the deal. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. 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. Director (and Boston’s own) Ben Affleck’s latest tells the tale of. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. Sonny Vaccaro with Michael Jordan – Sonny embarked on a quest to sign the guard for the Chicago Bulls. Sonny Vaccaro was fired from Nike for allegedly planning on pursuing other business ventures outside of the Nike franchise, whilst. " He added, "Michael’s lying more than Phil [Knight] and Raveling. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. 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. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight. “There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans ’s character George Raveling says in the first trailer for. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. In the movie, Michael's difficult agent, David Falk (portrayed. playing basketball coach George Raveling, laments in the trailer. "Stockton's. CEO Phil Knight (Affleck) tells Damon’s Sonny Vaccaro like a disappointed dad,. (Jason Bateman), David Falk (Chris Messina), Peter Moore (Matthew Maher), George Raveling (Marlon. Three days later, the trailer aired during the 2023 Super Bowl. 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. Sonny Vaccaro is played by Matt Damon. 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. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Played by Matt Damon. Car crash and coaching retirement, 1994. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) goes on to say “There’s nothing cool about Nike. “He used to always try. 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. 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. Chris Messina as David Falk, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. is on the verge of bankruptcy due to low footwear sales. 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. Vaccaro was friends with George Raveling, head coach of Washington State's men's basketball team, who introduced the pair. Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling in 'Air'. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Is the 2023 movie Air good or bad?War is hell: Former USC coach George Raveling stood up at Vaccaro’s wedding. 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. Vaccaro later visits a 7-Eleven convenience store, posing the same question to a store clerk while purchasing a Sports Illustrated magazine. He met the NBA player through his friend, George Raveling, who was assistant to the national team coach, Bobby Knight. S. 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. 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. The same goes for Hampton High coach. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in AIR. “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 . Nike. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, three additional Nike executives who have gotten some credit for the. 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. "Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. The heart and soul of Air really come from the idea of putting belief in oneself or another. Olympic men's basketball team, to bring Michael Jordan to lunch. Sonny Vaccaro, the adidas representative who runs this camp and once ran Nike's, has criticism of the system from which he profits. CHANG: When Jordan's agent, a hilariously foul-mouthed Chris Messina, refuses to so much as grant Nike. Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). “There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans ’s character George Raveling says in the first trailer for. 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. and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) who. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. Writer: Alex Convery. Post the ideation, Sonny’s next task was to persuade the NBA player to ditch Adidas and convert into a Nike enthusiast. Yet he no longer speaks to George Raveling,. Wayans plays George Raveling, a "college basketball trailblazer" and the first Black coach in two major conferences. Falk bristled at the most recent comments from Sonny Vaccaro,. Back then, Sonny was laughed at by Nike honchos Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans). Both Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will star as Phil Knight and Sonny Vaccaro, respectively. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Peter Moore, Played By. Vaccaro was a significant figure in the. 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. Wayans' character Raveling worked with the USA basketball team (and therefore Jordan) at the. 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. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling and Chris. 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. Raveling became a rival to Sonny for the same position at Nike. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Getting Fired from Nike. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), to put in a good word, Raveling declares that following the “I Have a Dream” speech in. " "I stayed at [Jordan's] home," Vaccaro said. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. Instead. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. As other companies also try to court Jordan, Nike must enlist the help of his former coach George Raveling (played by Wayans). In reality, Vaccaro met with Michael Jordan at Tony Roma's with George Raveling (portrayed in "Air" by Marlon Wayans) before Vaccaro and Deloris Jordan began speaking over the phone. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. But it really wasn't Sonny, it was actually George Raveling," Jordan told USA Today in 2015. But thanks to advice from Howard White and George Raveling, Vaccaro knows that his way to connect with Michael is through his mother, Deloris. To say that AAU hasn’t served our game in a real way is to turn a blind eye to the impact of guys like Sonny Vaccaro, George Raveling from Nike and Howard Garfinkel from Five-Star Basketball. 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. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Sonny even has a five-minute monologue where he predicts the whole of Jordan's future in the meeting. 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,. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling . Marlon Wayans as George Raveling Chris Tucker as Howard White Jason. Sonny Vaccaro, Deloris Jordan, and Character Representation. Sonny meets his good friend, George Raveling, who had crucially been the coach of the US basketball team at the. Even what it means, “Adidas”, “All day I dream about sex. "A lot of people want to take credit for signing Michael Jordan, most obviously Sonny Vaccaro. At only 24 years of age, the Pennsylvania native founded the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic in 1965. George Raveling is the first person to talk to Michael about Nike. Sonny Vaccaro Michael Jordan. Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix split following nine years. With that, all of the country’s top high school talent — and college coaches — descended on Pittsburgh to see the best of the best play. Michael Jordan says marketing executive George Raveling, not Sonny Vaccaro, sold him on signing with Nike. 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. 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. Vaccaro later visits a 7-Eleven convenience store, posing the same question to a store clerk while purchasing a Sports Illustrated magazine. The former NBA Champion claimed that a Nike Executive named George Raveling was responsible for his change of heart. Affleck's longtime friend and longtime collaborator plays. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. One could make an argument that the system which has developed through greedy businessmen building on Vaccaro's. 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. 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. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Julius Tennon as James Jordan. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. Phil Knight is sinful. Below are step-by-step instructions for how to sign up for Amazon Prime Video’s free trial. He meets with Sonny Vaccaro in Los Angeles, and that's when the Nike. George Raveling is crazy. Matt Damon takes on the role of Sonny Vaccaro, who led Nike’s pursuit in signing Michael Jordan during his rookie years. 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. 00:00. 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. ''But that's not. — When it comes to the July recruiting period, the Wild West days of Sonny Vaccaro vs. ”. In the same year, Jordan signed a record-breaking. Matt Damon is Sonny Vaccaro. Sonny Vaccaro talks the accuracy of 'Air' with FN and remembers his unforgettable speech at Nike HQ to. Follows the history of shoe salesman Sonny Vaccaro, and how he led Nike in its pursuit of the greatest athlete in the history of basketball: Michael Jordan. What's amazing is that Raveling stands aside Sonny Vaccaro as the people most in charge of destroying the fabric of American basketball. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. ’”Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, a former sports marketing executive who had the genius idea to sign Michael to his first-ever sneaker deal. It was a hard task, considering that Nike was the least favourite contender at that time. 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. . Olympic basketball team (via Pop Sugar). Coach George Raveling. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had been close friends, to the point that Raveling was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. 5 million over five years with a 25 per cent royalty on every shoe. “Air” is the origin story of a shoe, and not just any shoe. 'Air' was a hit, but casting Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro was a miss. 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. Meg Ryan talks new rom-com, travel and 'Sleepless in Seattle'. However, after he met George Raveling at a bar in California, he knew what. Courtesy of Amazon Studios. Did Sonny Vaccaro really bypass Michael Jordan's agent and go directly to his parents to make his pitch? Not exactly. Played by Matt Damon, Sonny Vaccaro's. Affleck stars alongside Matt Damon (as Sonny Vaccaro), Viola Davis (as Deloris Jordan), Julius Tennon. 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. Affleck serves as director and co-producer alongside Damon, David. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, three additional Nike. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling;. 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. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. Raveling, who calls Vaccaro ''Pear'' because of his shape, has been a confidant since the 1960s. Air, a sports biopic drama, is the newest collaborative effort between Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who both star in the film. S. But, Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. “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 assistant coach under Bob Knight). Crafts/DIY. 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. John "Sonny" Vaccaro has long been cast as some kind of mafioso, strong-arming amateur basketball for much of his 63 years. Vaccaro also has to convince Jordan to sign with Nike despite a previous preference for Adidas. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. Sonny believes he can restore Nike to its former glory by putting immense talent behind a sneaker. Knight said Vaccaro helped but “wasn’t the. Memorable parts by Chris Tucker as Howard White, who traded his basketball uniform for a corporate suit, and Marlon Wayans as 1984 Olympics coach George Raveling notwithstanding, “Air” often. The film focuses on Vaccaro and Knight, as well as Jordan's parents James and Delores. The package is worth approximately $100,000, according to Nike’s George Raveling. John "Sonny" Vaccaro has long been cast as some kind of mafioso, strong-arming amateur basketball for much of his 63 years. 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. Basketball coach George Raveling was the best man at the Vaccaro wedding before the two had a falling out in the years. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Sonny Vaccaro talks the accuracy of 'Air' with FN and remembers his unforgettable speech at Nike HQ to. The 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. However, after he met George Raveling at a bar in California, he knew what he had to do. George Raveling was one of them. But it really wasn't Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro in "Air. Wayans' character Raveling worked with the USA basketball team (and therefore Jordan) at the. Williams and Raveling insist Williams does not receive money personally. In the same year, Jordan signed a record-breaking $2. But the man himself credits George Raveling for the decision that changed his life. ” Raveling played at Villanova and coached at Washington. Vaccaro and Jordan. That said, the part in the film in which Sonny Vaccaro visits Deloris in North. 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. (Nike marketing official) George Raveling and. ) to hear their proposal. Then, Rob and I met with Falk at the meeting at the Hermitage [hotel in. George Raveling: Jessica Green: Katrina Sainz: Julius Tennon: James Jordan: Who is in 'AIR' in 2023?. 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. S. 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. Dream teams don't come much dreamier than the cast of Air. “We talk often, sometimes daily for long stretches,” he said. Enter Sonny Vaccaro, a tenacious Nike employee tasked with discovering a fresh face for the brand. Image via Amazon Studios Where did Nike, a brand that was barely. 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. The basketball star wanted Nike executive Howard White, who would become vice president of the Jordan Brand, and former college basketball coach George Raveling to be included in the story. The film, about how Nike signed Michael Jordan in 1984, also stars Matt Damon as Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro. Phil Knight (Affleck) and Marketing V. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro . Raveling and Sonny Vaccaro had been close friends, to the point that he was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. Jordan. , and Vaccaro decides to. "I traveled to. Watch on. (Nike marketing official) George Raveling and. S. Wetzel knew Sonny wasn’t exactly thrilled with the book, but it didn’t affect their relationship and the mutual respect. (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. Sonny Vaccaro Personal Life. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. February 9, 2023. 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. Air: Directed by Ben Affleck. Raveling became Sonny's competitor in the same position at Nike. "Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. He is the co-author of Under the Tarnished Dome: How Notre Dame Betrayed Its Ideals for Football Glory, Pros and Cons: The Criminals Who Play in the NFL, and George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution, Thomas Jefferson and. Sonny Vaccaro and his wife Pam live in Calabasas, California. Enter a livewire Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, a sweaty schlub in charge of Nike's flailing basketball division. White in 'Air'. 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. Former basketball coach George Raveling (left) is. George Raveling was offered $3 million for his Martin Luther King Jr speech. How to watch 'Air' movie. basketball trailblazer George Raveling, who was the first Black coach in two iconic. In an attempt to find support among the people close to Jordan, Vaccarro gets in touch with George Raveling, who coached Jordan. ’” Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. AIR | Official Trailer. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. Jordan never appears on screen in the film. Michael doesn’t credit Vaccaro for his deal with Nike, as he claimed Sonny did not. 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. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. Matt Damon (Sonny Vaccaro) First up on the list is the main man himself,. 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. Matt Damon stars as Vaccaro while Ben Affleck, who also directs, plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight. 5 million contract with Nike, which paved the way for the debut of the Air Jordan shoe line. Net worth: $5 million. 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. “Spokane, Washington,” the employee says. Although, in reality, Vaccaro did make multiple phone calls to Mrs. The film centers on Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a bold sports marketing executive looking for a star for Nike’s basketball division. 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. " Ana Carballosa/Prime. The story depicts a high-stakes gamble by an unconventional team, a determined mother and the legendary basketball player who became the. Klutho /Sports Illustrated/Getty Matt Damon in 'Air' and Sonny Vaccaro. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. Little did he know that this search would lead to the birth of a sneaker empire and redefine the world of athletic endorsements. Marlon Wayans plays the legendary basketball player and coach George Ravelling in a brief yet crucial appearance. to rapid success in the shoe-making. 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. The decision of Sonnu was not appreciated and taken well by Phil Knight and later he went on to fire his 'beloved' executive. Watch on. "I traveled to. Raveling eventually became Vaccaro's competitor when he. . 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. 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. ” With Vaccaro at Adidas and his former best friend George Raveling running grassroots basketball at. 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. Collaborators and longtime friends Affleck and Damon reunite as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, respectively. The first addition was George Raveling, who was the assistant coach on the 1984 Olympics team Jordan played on. Vaccaro was a key figure in. At the time, Nike had. Collaborators and longtime friends Affleck and Damon reunite as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, respectively. Sonny Vaccaro. Phil Knight is sinful. . Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. And field rep Howard White (Chris Tucker, back after a seven-year absence from the screen) is the lone believer in Vaccaro. ”And while that might have been the case in 1984. George Raveling. All opinions are my own. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. 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. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, former Team USA assistant coach; Chris Messina as David Falk,. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. He recently appeared on the Brown and. , USA Bio: Team USA Assistant Coach when Jordan Won Gold at 1984 Olympics. Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman), to save Nike. We’ve shared the full cast list below: Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. 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. Revelling/Reckoning: Directed by Zach Neumeyer. The biopic will focus on sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. C. “Air” is the origin story of a shoe, and not just any shoe. 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. Of course, in the sneaker business, they’re. Air, the new film directed by Ben Affleck, chronicles the origin story of the Air Jordan shoe line, which became a cultural icon and put the once-fledgling Nike company on the map. And his achievements and awards reflect his legacy and contributions to the industry. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. George Raveling: There’s nothing cool about Nike. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a scene from the movie AIR. The biopic comes from Amazon Studios, Mandalay Pictures, and Skydance Sports. 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. 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. RELATED: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to Star in Biopic About Nike's Sonny Vaccaro. and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) who helped. ". Starring the dynamic duo of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, the movie weaves a captivating narrative around Vaccaro’s audacious endeavor. '. 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. The first was George Raveling, an. Gustaf Skarsgård as. 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). Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. 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. The roles of Jordan. 5 million contract with Nike, which paved the way for the debut of the Air Jordan shoe line. You’ve got to try. Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. Three: Sonny Vaccaro, an executive for Nike,. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. George Raveling are gone. Raveling says that Vaccaro's emergence was a matter of good timing: Nike needed a front man, and Sonny knew the people. ' Photo: Ana Carballosa. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. '" Vaccaro, on the podcast, responded to Jordan. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Sonny Vaccaro, the former shoe marketer widely credited with inventing the summer basketball scene, seethed as he watched the news conference. What we know about the Air cast and crew. Set at the Nike headquarters in Oregon in 1984, the film follows Sonny Vaccaro (Damon), who is tasked by C. George Raveling was offered $3 million for his Martin Luther King Jr speech. 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. Well, all of. Damon portrays sneaker salesman. Matt Damon stars as Vaccaro while Ben Affleck, who also directs, plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight. This reflects when Marlon Wayans’ George Raveling tells how Martin Luther King’s famous speech was spontaneous. The main cast also includes Matthew Maher. who plays coach George Raveling. 1/200. The trailer for Air was released on February 9. 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. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore. and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) who helped. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had been close friends, to the point that Raveling was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. Post the ideation, Sonny’s next task was to persuade the NBA player to ditch Adidas and convert into a Nike enthusiast. The film will be released in theaters April 5, 2023. 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. He meets with Sonny Vaccaro in Los Angeles, and that's when the Nike. 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. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” Jordan told USA Today. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. 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. Once Nike agreed, Vaccaro used his close friend, basketball coach George Raveling, to connect him to Jordan. 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. The company had a modest goal of earning $3 million from the sneakers over a three-year period. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a. The untitled movie will tell “the incredible story of how maverick sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. In a follow-up interview with USA Today, Vaccaro stated that he was "the savior of Nike. Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), a friend of Vaccaro’s who coached Michael Jordan in the 1984 Olympic basketball team, weighs in with encouragement. Sonny Vaccaro was planning to pursue other business plans that did not involve Nike. Vaccaro’s storied relationship with Nike ended on a. Sonny’s travels take him to meetings with the influential coach and mentor George Raveling (Marlon Wayans)—and to the Jordan home, where he has a backyard bench summit with Michael’s mother. The footage features Nike CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) questioning Sonny Vaccaro. Vaccaro was a key. Played by Matt Damon. The movie AIR is a story about Sonny Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon) and the journey he takes the Nike team on to sign Michael Jordan with them. George Raveling, director of international basketball for Nike, played by Marlon Wayans . “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit.