P. 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. Back then, Sonny was laughed at by Nike honchos Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans). Crafts/DIY. Sonny Vaccaro was fired from Nike for allegedly planning on pursuing other business ventures outside of the Nike franchise, whilst. Sonny Vaccaro's Side of the Story. 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. 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. "I traveled to. is on the verge of bankruptcy due to low footwear sales. 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. (Nike marketing official) George Raveling and. Phil Knight (Affleck) and Marketing V. 5 million. The first addition was George Raveling, who was the assistant coach on the 1984 Olympics team Jordan played on. playing basketball coach George Raveling, laments in the trailer. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. Raveling had a falling out with. “There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans ’s character George Raveling says in the first trailer for. 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. Knight said Vaccaro helped but “wasn’t the. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, three additional Nike. 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. Harper for EW . Image via Amazon Studios Where did Nike, a brand that was barely. Sonny Vaccaro was planning to pursue other business plans that did not involve Nike. 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 as George Raveling, one of Jordan’s coaches at the 1984 Olympics; and Viola Davis as Michael’s mother, Deloris Jordan. 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. 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. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. 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. However, their relationship soured due to a dispute over the summer high school basketball camps organized by Vaccaro. Both Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will star as Phil Knight and Sonny Vaccaro, respectively. Long gone. Post the ideation, Sonny’s next task was to persuade the NBA player to ditch Adidas and convert into a Nike enthusiast. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Sonny Vaccaro now in his. 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 assistant coach under Bob Knight). Olympic men's basketball team, to bring Michael Jordan to lunch. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. ”And while that might have been the case in 1984. Instead, he briefly met Jordan with the help of his old friend George Raveling, pitching Jordan the idea of a shoe designed solely around him. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling; Chris Messina. " "I stayed at [Jordan's] home," Vaccaro said. Back then, Sonny was laughed at by Nike honchos Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans). Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan / Courtesy of Amazon Studios. 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. Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Matthew Maher, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker and Viola Davis. 5 million over five years with a 25 per cent royalty on every shoe. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. Affleck stars alongside Matt Damon (as Sonny Vaccaro), Viola Davis (as Deloris Jordan), Julius Tennon. 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. 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. The biopic will focus on Sonny Vaccaro, the creator of the Air Jordan sneakers. He used to always try to talk to me, 'You gotta go. Olympic team that won gold in LA. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. ''When you talk power, that means someone who can manipulate,'' says Raveling. "Stockton's. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in 'Air. Yet he no longer speaks to George Raveling,. But Vaccaro refused to give up. Jordan. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. 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. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. George Raveling was one of them. Matt Damon is starring in "Air" as sneaker salesman turned former Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, with Ben Affleck playing Nike co-founder Phil Knight. The heart and soul of Air really come from the idea of putting belief in oneself or another. Sonny meets his good friend, George Raveling, who had crucially been the coach of the US basketball team at the. Once Nike agreed, Vaccaro used his close friend, basketball coach George Raveling, to connect him to Jordan. Sonny Vaccaro, now 78 years old, is on the phone with me, and he’s not only keen on telling me about his stories, but also on knowing who he’s speaking to. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). 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. As Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro attempts to sign then-rookie basketball player Michael Jordan to a multimillion dollar deal, Air’s music takes viewers on that journey with him and his 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. Raveling had a close personal relationship with Vaccaro at that time. m. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) goes on to say “There’s nothing cool about Nike. At the time, Nike had. 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. 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). Damon stars in “Air” as maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, and Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight. (Nike marketing official) George Raveling and. 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. . Jordan prior to meeting her in ‘Air,’ for the sake of elevating the charm. Sonny Vaccaro calls out MJ,. AIR | Official Trailer. The decision of Sonnu was not appreciated and taken well by Phil Knight and later he went on to fire his 'beloved' executive. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling were close friends, with Raveling serving as best man at Sonny’s second wedding. Damon stars as Sonny Vaccaro, the maverick Nike salesman who signed rising basketball player Michael Jordan to a shoe contract in the mid-’80s that launched the global, multibillion-dollar. 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. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a scene from the movie AIR. George Raveling is the first person to talk to Michael about Nike. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. Set at the Nike headquarters in Oregon in 1984, the film follows Sonny Vaccaro (Damon), who is tasked by C. In the same year, Jordan signed a record-breaking $2. On the morning of September 25, 1994, Raveling's Jeep was blindsided in a. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling;. In 2015, Michael Jordan shared his perspective on the events leading up to his deal with Nike in an interview with USA Today. 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. Raveling's prediction: International players will comprise 50% of the NBA by 2010. We start from T-Mac, and from that. '. Sonny even has a five-minute monologue where he predicts the whole of Jordan's future in the meeting. Matt Damon (Sonny Vaccaro) First up on the list is the main man himself,. Vaccaro was a key figure in. — When it comes to the July recruiting period, the Wild West days of Sonny Vaccaro vs. 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. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Matt Damon will assume the role of Sonny Vaccaro,. 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. Getting Fired from Nike. Raveling took up a rival position at. ’” George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. We’ve shared the full cast list below: Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. Alex G. Advert 10 George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. Matt Damon plays maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight with Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. The film, about how Nike signed Michael Jordan in 1984, also stars Matt Damon as Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro. Although, in reality, Vaccaro did make multiple phone calls to Mrs. 7. Nike employee Sonny Vaccaro believes. Revelling/Reckoning: Directed by Zach Neumeyer. AVALON, N. The trailer for Air was released on February 9. "Air," the new movie directed by Affleck and written by Alex Convery, tells the story of Nike’s pursuit to sign Michael Jordan and. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore,. Vaccaro’s impact on sports marketing and basketball is significant. Sonny believes he can restore Nike to its former glory by putting immense talent behind a sneaker. Matt Damon is Sonny Vaccaro. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser in 'Air. George Raveling, Director for International Basketball for Nike, played by Marlon Wayans. Damian Young as Michael Jordan. 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. ” It was a very different. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. Sonny Vaccaro Michael Jordan. Vaccaro later visits a 7-Eleven convenience store, posing the same question to a store clerk while purchasing a Sports Illustrated magazine. Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard. In the film, Vaccaro first met with Jordan through his friend George Raveling, who was the assistant to the national team coach, Bobby Knight. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a. He recently appeared on the Brown and. 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. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), to put in a good word, Raveling declares that following the “I Have a Dream” speech in. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. , Saturday, October 14, 2023. 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 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 plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. 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. He is not, at least on the surface, a slam dunk movie hero. Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix split following nine years. Enter Sonny Vaccaro, a tenacious Nike employee tasked with discovering a fresh face for 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,” Jordan told USA Today. But the man himself credits George Raveling for the decision that changed his life. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. S. Vaccaro and Jordan. Then he also said Howard White is integral to this too. PHOTO: Ana Carballosa/Prime Matthew Maher, Matt Damon, and Jason Bateman as Peter Moore, Sonny Vaccaro, and Rob. 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. 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. Sonny Vaccaro, the former basketball advisor of Nike once claimed that he was the key piece in the multi-million dollar signing. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as. Director (and Boston’s own) Ben Affleck’s latest tells the tale of. The new posters see Damon as maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro while Affleck is seen as 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. who plays coach George Raveling. In a follow-up interview with USA Today, Vaccaro stated that he was "the savior of Nike. The plot. Sonny Vaccaro talks the accuracy of 'Air' with FN and remembers his unforgettable speech at Nike HQ to Michael Jordan and his family. 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. 1/200. "I traveled to. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling . O. 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. Ben Affleck, who directs the film, stars as Nike co-founder and former chairman Phil Knight. All opinions are my own. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman), to save Nike. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. “Spokane, Washington,” the employee says. DAMON: (As Sonny Vaccaro) The most competitive guy I have ever seen. Played by Matt Damon, Sonny Vaccaro's. George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. Wayans' character Raveling worked with the USA basketball team (and therefore Jordan) at the. “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 . Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. Wayans plays George Raveling,. However, after he met George Raveling at a bar in California, he knew what he had to do. In the same year, Jordan signed a record-breaking $2. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Affleck stars as Nike’s co-founder Phil Knight. A friend of Vaccaro’s, Raveling first introduced the idea of signing Nike and Jordan. ". Mais ce n'est. Sonny Vaccaro was a central figure in the O’Bannon v. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. AIR parents guide (2023) I was able to screen AIR in order to write this AIR Parents Guide. 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. 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. Sonny Vaccaro, the former shoe marketer widely credited with inventing the summer basketball scene, seethed as he watched the news conference. He meets with Sonny Vaccaro in Los Angeles, and that's when the Nike. George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. Directed by Ben Affleck, the movie stars Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, who comes up with the idea of a shoe line created around Jordan. Sonny Vaccaro Personal Life. Ben Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Matt Damon plays shoe salesman-turned Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro. 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. ” With Vaccaro at Adidas and his former best friend George Raveling running grassroots basketball at. The film also stars Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Matt Damon as marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro, Chris Messina as sports agent David Falk, Marlon Wayans as basketball coach George. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. The film focuses on Vaccaro and Knight, as well as Jordan's parents James and Delores. Raveling and Sonny had a falling out over the summer high school basketball programs that Sonny ran. Back then, Sonny was laughed at by Nike honchos Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans). Sonny Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling were close friends, so Raveling was Sonny’s second wedding best man. and George Raveling. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in AIR. Sonny Vaccaro talks the accuracy of 'Air' with FN and remembers his unforgettable speech at Nike HQ to. , USA Bio: Team USA Assistant Coach when Jordan Won Gold at 1984 Olympics. The Good Will Hunting actors portray Nike cofounder Phil Knight (Damon) and Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro (Affleck). , and Vaccaro decides to. Olympic basketball team (via Pop Sugar). 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. 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. Sonny's story is. 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. 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. Writer: Alex Convery. Matt Damon will assume the role of Sonny Vaccaro,. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. Michael Jordan says marketing executive George Raveling, not Sonny Vaccaro, sold him on signing. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. Phil Knight is sinful. Raveling was a dear friend of. 62°. Director (and Boston’s own) Ben Affleck’s latest tells the tale of. George Raveling: Jessica Green: Katrina Sainz: Julius Tennon: James Jordan: Who is in 'AIR' in 2023?. 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. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. White in 'Air'. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. 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. George Raveling. Raveling’s shorthand with Sonny speaks of a past history and trust communicated with small gestures and easy laughs. Matt Damon takes on the role of Sonny Vaccaro, who led Nike’s pursuit in signing Michael Jordan during his rookie years. Sonny Vaccaro is introduced in the film with scenes of him going to Las Vegas after college basketball tournaments in order to gamble and place bets on NBA games, establishing him as a man who likes to take risks. Matt Damon is the star of the movie, as he plays Sonny Vaccaro,. But it really wasn't Sonny, it was actually George Raveling," Jordan told USA Today in 2015. George Raveling. Knight, Jordan, Nike exec George Raveling, and. 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. Smart guy. Vaccaro was a key. 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. (Jason Bateman), David Falk (Chris Messina), Peter Moore (Matthew Maher), George Raveling (Marlon. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. Damon portrays sneaker salesman. " "I stayed at [Jordan's] home," Vaccaro said. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Falk, Raveling, and White are all people involved with either Jordan or Nike, while Viola. 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. Raveling and Sonny Vaccaro had been close friends, to the point that he was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. , and Vaccaro decides to. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro; Ben Affleck as Phil Knight; Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser; Marlon Wayans as George Raveling; Chris Messina as David Falk; Chris Tucker as Howard White; Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan; Matthew Maher as Peter Moore; Julius Tennon as James R. The film, about how Nike signed Michael Jordan in 1984, also stars Matt Damon as Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro. Chris Messina as David Falk, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. This website stores data such as cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as marketing, personalization, and analytics. He was doing a favor for George Raveling, the assistant coach on the Olympic team and my best man at my wedding, meeting me. Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser. Meg Ryan talks new rom-com, travel and 'Sleepless in Seattle'. 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. --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. He used to always try to talk to me, 'You gotta go Nike. C. ” Raveling played at Villanova and coached at Washington. The legend says Sonny Vaccaro convinced Jordan to come to Nike. 'Air' was a hit, but casting Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro was a miss. 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. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Sonny Vaccaro, the adidas representative who runs this camp and once ran Nike's, has criticism of the system from which he profits. Viola Davis plays Deloris Jordan, Michael Jordan's mother. 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. 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. Sonny Vaccaro, Deloris Jordan, and Character Representation. 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. George Raveling, a basketball coach, was the best man at their wedding. Knight took exception to. The first was George Raveling, an. However, the founder of Nike, Phil Knight spoke against Vaccar. The film also stars Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Matt Damon as marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro, Chris Messina as sports agent David Falk, Marlon Wayans as basketball coach George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Matthew Maher as creative director Peter Moore, and Jason Bateman as Nike chairman Rob. Vaccaro, on the podcast, responded to Jordan's comments: "Michael is delusional. 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. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. John "Sonny" Vaccaro has long been cast as some kind of mafioso, strong-arming amateur basketball for much of his 63 years. “One thing Sonny Vaccaro was very clear with me about was that the feelings of camaraderie, friendship and loyalty are his takeaways from that time. Three days later, the trailer aired during the 2023 Super Bowl. In 1984, Oregon-based Nike, Inc. Sonny Vaccaro, the former shoe marketer widely credited with inventing the summer basketball scene, seethed as he watched the news conference. Olympic team that won gold in LA. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, former Team USA assistant coach; Chris Messina as David Falk,. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore,. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. The first addition was George Raveling, who was the assistant coach on the 1984 Olympics team Jordan played on. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. This reflects when Marlon Wayans’ George Raveling tells how Martin Luther King’s famous speech was spontaneous. RELATED: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to Star in Biopic About Nike's Sonny Vaccaro. The untitled movie will tell “the incredible story of how maverick sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. Knight took exception to. John (Sonny) Vaccaro has clout. The story will center. and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) who helped. 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 (Marlon Wayans), to put in a good word, Raveling declares that following the “I Have a Dream” speech in. 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. E. ”. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Bel-Air guest star and noted comedian Marlon Wayans plays George Raveling, a noted college basketball player and coach who would go on to be the first African American head basketball coach in the PAC-8, per the real George's LinkedIn page. Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. “Spokane, Washington,” the employee says. 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. 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. S. Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser. Williams and Raveling insist Williams does not receive money personally. The day after the US team won the Los Angeles Olympics, he offered Jordan $2. 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. 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. Sonny Vaccaro is the controversial figure at the center of the most recent 30 for 30 film “Sole Man. The film centers on Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a bold sports marketing executive looking for a star for Nike’s basketball division. Sonny Vaccaro and his wife, Pam, currently reside in Calabasas, California. He clarified that while Sonny Vaccaro often takes credit, it was actually George Raveling who played a significant role. Then, Rob and I met with Falk at the meeting at the Hermitage [hotel in. He famously takes credit for bringing Michael. Chris Tucker as Howard W. 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. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Image via Amazon Studios. 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. Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. In hindsight, it's a eureka moment. 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. 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. S. “Air” shows how former sports executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike created a pitch for young basketball star Michael Jordan to partner. ". Wetzel knew Sonny wasn’t exactly thrilled with the book, but it didn’t affect their relationship and the mutual respect. Vaccaro claimed he was able to convince Jordan — who wore Converse in college. Director: Ben Affleck. Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. George Raveling: There’s nothing cool about Nike. Nike colleges. '. Nike colleges. The former NBA Champion claimed that a Nike Executive named George Raveling was responsible for his change of heart. 5 million contract with Nike, which paved the way for the debut of the Air Jordan shoe line. 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. 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. "Spokane, Washington," the employee says. The sports drama will see Affleck in the role of Nike co-founder Phil Knight, while Damon will play Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro. -Sonny. The film will be released in theaters April 5, 2023. Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, Chris Messina, Julius Tennon and Matthew Maher also star. 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. S. ". Together, the Jordans and Nike changed the shoe industry forever.