As the real George also notes on his Linkedin page, he was instrumental in the Nike. 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. Directed by Ben Affleck, this '80s-set movie based on real events stars Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, a Nike. Vaccaro’s storied relationship with Nike ended on a. Collaborators and longtime friends Affleck and Damon reunite as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, respectively. Damon stars in “Air” as maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, and Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, one of Jordan’s coaches at the 1984 Olympics; and Viola Davis as Michael’s mother, Deloris Jordan. The initial. to rapid success in the shoe-making. At only 24 years of age, the Pennsylvania native founded the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic in 1965. Raveling replaced Sonny in the same job at Nike. “There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans ’s character George Raveling says in the first trailer for. He clarified that while Sonny Vaccaro often takes credit, it was actually George Raveling who played a significant role. Vaccaro and Jordan. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. You’ve got to try. 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 now in his. Sonny Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling were close friends, so Raveling was Sonny’s second wedding best man. Bravo Teases Behind The Scenes Look At Tom Sandoval And Raquel Leviss Cheating EpisodeBravo Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Look at Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss Cheating Scandal Episode. 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. “Spokane, Washington,” the employee says. That said, the part in the film in which Sonny Vaccaro visits Deloris in North. playing basketball coach George Raveling, laments in the trailer. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. ” It was a very different. Together, the Jordans and Nike changed the shoe industry forever. Matt Damon will assume the role of Sonny Vaccaro,. , Saturday, October 14, 2023. ’”Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. Air: Directed by Ben Affleck. 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. Air is set in 1984, when Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) persuaded Jordan to be the face of Nike's basketball shoes. George Raveling. 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. Of course, in the sneaker business, they’re. Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. 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. Sonny believes he can restore Nike to its former glory by putting immense talent behind a sneaker. Did Sonny Vaccaro really bypass Michael Jordan's agent and go directly to his parents to make his pitch? Not exactly. Mais il n'y a pas que Sonny qui a fait changer d'avis MJ, il y a aussi George Raveling. He was doing a favor for George Raveling, the assistant coach on the Olympic team and my best man at my wedding, meeting me. Raveling’s shorthand with Sonny speaks of a past history and trust communicated with small gestures and easy laughs. Smart guy. Ben Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Matt Damon plays shoe salesman-turned Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro. Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro while the role of Phil Knight is essayed by Affleck. Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a basketball guru and a major promoter in the high-school and college game, is employed by Nike to provide contacts in the basketball world. Writer: Alex Convery. He famously takes credit for bringing Michael. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Watch on. 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. "Spokane, Washington," the employee says. Air follows Nike shoe salesman Sonny Vaccaro as he prompts a rookie Michael Jordan's game-changing partnership with Nike's basketball division which created the iconic Air Jordan brand. In hindsight, it's a eureka moment. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. 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. 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. 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. 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. On the morning of September 25, 1994, Raveling's Jeep was blindsided in a. 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. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. Image via Amazon Studios. The duo are joined by Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s. Revelling/Reckoning: Directed by Zach Neumeyer. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, a former sports marketing executive who had the genius idea to sign Michael to his first-ever sneaker deal. Ana Carballosa/Prime Video; David E. Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. AIR parents guide (2023) I was able to screen AIR in order to write this AIR Parents Guide. Sonny Vaccaro was a central figure in the O’Bannon v. Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. is on the verge of bankruptcy due to low footwear sales. In Air, Damon’s Sonny Vaccaro,. Sonny Vaccaro, the adidas representative who runs this camp and once ran Nike's, has criticism of the system from which he profits. 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. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. But it really wasn't Sonny, it was actually George Raveling," Jordan told USA Today in 2015. George Raveling, a basketball coach, was the best man at their wedding. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Undoubtedly, this agreement marked a historic milestone in the sports industry, propelling Nike Inc. 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 skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. That said, the part in the film in which Sonny Vaccaro visits Deloris in North. Sonny Vaccaro Michael Jordan. 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. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore. ". Olympic men's basketball team, to bring Michael Jordan to lunch. Three days later, the trailer aired during the 2023 Super Bowl. 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 offered $3 million for his Martin Luther King Jr speech. Raveling says that Vaccaro's emergence was a matter of good timing: Nike needed a front man, and Sonny knew the people. A friend of Vaccaro’s, Raveling first introduced the idea of signing Nike and Jordan. 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. Sonny was hired by Phil Knight (portrayed by Affleck) to revamp his basketball shoe division, which has only gotten smaller since Vaccaro’s arrival. George Raveling was one of them. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. ". Sonny Vaccaro talks the accuracy of 'Air' with FN and remembers his unforgettable speech at Nike HQ to. 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. Former basketball coach George Raveling (left) is. “Spokane, Washington,” the employee says. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). . Matt Damon (Sonny Vaccaro), Ben Affleck (Phil Knight), Jason Bateman (Rob Strasser), Marlon Wayans (George Raveling), Chris Messina (David Falk), Chris Tucker (Howard White) Discover the game-changing partnership between a then undiscovered Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world of sports. Harper for EW . "Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Vaccaro, on the podcast, responded to Jordan's comments: "Michael is delusional. Raveling was a dear friend of. “Air” shows how former sports executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike created a pitch for young basketball star Michael Jordan to partner. 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. 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. Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. 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. KGW Top Stories: 11 p. Jordan. (Nike marketing official) George Raveling and. You’ve got to try. Ben Affleck, who directs the film, stars as Nike co-founder and former chairman Phil Knight. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Then actually my parents made me go out to (Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. 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. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, who tries to win over Jordan’s mother, Deloris (Viola Davis), amid the negotiation process. Vaccaro’s impact on sports marketing and basketball is significant. 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. George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. ' Photo: Ana Carballosa. 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. 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. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. 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). But it really wasn't Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). With Sarah Claspell, Shannon Coffey, Nicole Drespel, Melissa Gomez. C. The starry cast includes Damon as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore. Director (and Boston’s own) Ben Affleck’s latest tells the tale of. Julius Tennon as James Jordan. 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. George Raveling was the best man at Sonny Vaccaro’s wedding and so it’s obvious that the two had a great relationship with one another. Affleck's longtime friend and longtime collaborator plays. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling," Jordan said. Olympic Men’s Basketball team), decides that he needs to go to. Meg Ryan talks new rom-com, travel and 'Sleepless in Seattle'. George Raveling, the pioneering African-American college basketball coach, crossed paths with Martin Luther King Jr. The superstar himself, meanwhile, credits a different man with the deal: “Sonny likes to take the credit,” Jordan has said, “But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Davis stars as Jordan’s mom, Deloris Jordan, while Damon portrays the character of Sonny Vaccaro – the marketing exec at Nike who managed to get Jordan to sign with the brand. 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. In 2015, Michael Jordan shared his perspective on the events leading up to his deal with Nike in an interview with USA Today. Back then, Sonny was laughed at by Nike honchos Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans). With Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Chris Messina. He clarified that while Sonny Vaccaro often takes credit, it was actually George Raveling who played a significant role. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro in "Air. Well, all of. 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, director of international basketball for Nike, played by Marlon Wayans . Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro while the role of Phil Knight is essayed by Affleck. After Vaccaro was let go by Nike and replaced by his best friend George Raveling, and he moved to Adidas where he snagged big names Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant for the brand, but also let others like Allen Iverson slip to Reebok. Few figures in sportswear are as impactful as the great Sonny Vaccaro. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Matt Damon (Sonny Vaccaro) First up on the list is the main man himself,. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Each. 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. As other companies also try to court Jordan, Nike must enlist the help of his former coach George Raveling (played by Wayans). The decision of Sonnu was not appreciated and taken well by Phil Knight and later he went on to fire his 'beloved' executive. 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. Deloris Jordan is portrayed by Viola Davis. 5 million contract with Nike, which paved the way for the debut of the Air Jordan shoe line. Sonny and former coach George Raveling. The heart and soul of Air really come from the idea of putting belief in oneself or another. Sonny's story is. Chris Messina as David Falk. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Raveling took up a rival. E. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. John (Sonny) Vaccaro has clout. George Raveling: There’s nothing cool about 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. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. Jordan never appears on screen in the film. Chris Tucker as Howard White. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling; Chris Messina. 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. The first was George Raveling, an. "Near the end of the negotiation, basketball legend Michael Jordan’s mom drops a dealbreaker on Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro when she says we are good “except for one minor provision – Michael gets a percentage of the revenue of each shoe sold. O. Courtesy of Amazon Studios. Image via Amazon Studios. 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. George Raveling, Director for International Basketball for Nike, played by Marlon Wayans. 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 script centers primarily on the sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro, who ran Nike — at the time, a middling shoe company — along with co-founder Phil Knight, and led a historic endorsement deal. He used to always try to talk to me, 'You gotta go. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), a friend of Vaccaro’s who coached Michael Jordan in the 1984 Olympic basketball team, weighs in with encouragement. Marlon Wayans even leaves a strong if brief impression as Jordan’s former Olympics coach George Raveling. In a follow-up interview with USA Today, Vaccaro stated that he was "the savior of Nike. Gustaf Skarsgård as. Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman), to save Nike. White in 'Air'. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. George Raveling is crazy. Vaccaro was a significant figure in the. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling were close friends, with Raveling serving as best man at Sonny’s second wedding. And field rep Howard White (Chris Tucker, back after a seven-year absence from the screen) is the lone believer in Vaccaro. The Good Will Hunting actors portray Nike cofounder Phil Knight (Damon) and Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro (Affleck). In the same year, Jordan signed a record-breaking. " "I stayed at [Jordan's] home," Vaccaro said. Now Ben has told the story that he met with Michael Jordan in order to receive his blessing, and that led to parts for Howard White (Chris Tucker), George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) and a mandate. The biopic will focus on sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a scene from the movie AIR. 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. 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. '" Vaccaro, on the podcast, responded to Jordan. , and Vaccaro decides to. , and Vaccaro decides to. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, former Team USA assistant coach; Chris Messina as David Falk,. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. The story depicts a high-stakes gamble by an unconventional team, a determined mother and the legendary basketball player who became the. 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. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan / Courtesy of Amazon Studios. Net worth: $5 million. 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. Michael Jordan himself has also given credit to George Raveling for. Nike employee Sonny Vaccaro believes. Raveling took up a rival position at. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. 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. (Nike marketing official) George Raveling and. George Raveling was offered $3 million for his Martin Luther King Jr speech. ” Raveling played at Villanova and coached at Washington. 7. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. 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. 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. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Williams and Raveling insist Williams does not receive money personally. However, after he met George Raveling at a bar in California, he knew what he had to do. Wetzel knew Sonny wasn’t exactly thrilled with the book, but it didn’t affect their relationship and the mutual respect. . Sonny Vaccaro talks the accuracy of 'Air' with FN and remembers his unforgettable speech at Nike HQ to. 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. He met the NBA player through his friend, George Raveling, who was assistant to the national team coach, Bobby Knight. Air, a sports biopic drama, is the newest collaborative effort between Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who both star in the film. Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard. The film will be released in theaters April 5, 2023. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. 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. Nike colleges. S. You’ve got to try. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore,. Matt Damon is Sonny Vaccaro. He meets with Sonny Vaccaro in Los Angeles, and that's when the Nike. We’ve shared the full cast list below: Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. 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. Both Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will star as Phil Knight and Sonny Vaccaro, respectively. The day after the US team won the Los Angeles Olympics, he offered Jordan $2. “George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). Even what it means, “Adidas”, “All day I dream about sex. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Although, in reality, Vaccaro did make multiple phone calls to Mrs. In the fall of 1984, a 21-year-old Jordan inked a five-year deal with Nike for $2. 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. Is the 2023 movie Air good or bad?War is hell: Former USC coach George Raveling stood up at Vaccaro’s wedding. 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. The film, about how Nike signed Michael Jordan in 1984, also stars Matt Damon as Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro. His colleagues Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), one of Jordan’s coaches at the 1984 Olympics, all try to dissuade him. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. 5 million. -Phil Knight movie quotes from AIR (2023) We need you in these shoes, not to have meaning in your life, but so we can have meaning in ours. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. Sonny Vaccaro, Deloris Jordan, and Character Representation. AIR. He met the NBA player through his friend, George Raveling, who was assistant to the national team coach, Bobby Knight. No, this story is about the men behind the deal – Affleck as Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike, Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro,. Wayans plays George Raveling, a "college basketball trailblazer" and the first Black coach in two major conferences. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. S. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, three additional Nike executives who have gotten some credit for the. Enter a livewire Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, a sweaty schlub in charge of Nike's flailing basketball division. Air, which will be released in theaters on April 5, tells the story of Sonny Vaccaro (Damon), who, in the 1980s, was in charge of Nike’s fledgling basketball division. 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. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. The biopic comes from Amazon Studios, Mandalay Pictures, and Skydance Sports. “He used to always try. 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. RELATED: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to Star in Biopic About Nike's Sonny Vaccaro. Matt Damon will assume the role of Sonny Vaccaro,. The film centers on Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a bold sports marketing executive looking for a star for Nike’s basketball division. Affleck stars as Nike’s co-founder Phil Knight. 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. 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. Below are step-by-step instructions for how to sign up for Amazon Prime Video’s free trial. Olympic team that won gold in LA. 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. 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. 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. The starry cast includes Damon as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore. Raveling became Sonny's competitor in the same position at Nike. CHANG: When Jordan's agent, a hilariously foul-mouthed Chris Messina, refuses to so much as grant Nike. Sonny even has a five-minute monologue where he predicts the whole of Jordan's future in the meeting. Vaccaro was friends with George Raveling, head coach of Washington State's men's basketball team, who introduced the pair. "I traveled to. 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. ''But that's not. 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). Knight took exception to. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” Jordan told USA Today. 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. ''When you talk power, that means someone who can manipulate,'' says Raveling. Michael Jordan says marketing executive George Raveling, not Sonny Vaccaro, sold him on signing. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight. This reflects when Marlon Wayans’ George Raveling tells how Martin Luther King’s famous speech was spontaneous. The plot. 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 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's personal friends include powerhouse college coaches such as Southern California's George Raveling, who was the best man at his wedding, and Georgetown. Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. Pioneering coach George Raveling's surprising connection to MLK. Image via Amazon Studios Where did Nike, a brand that was barely. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. As the film's version of Nike. He used to always try to talk to me, 'You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Knight took exception to. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. 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. It stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris. Raveling became Sonny's competitor in the same position at Nike. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. In an attempt to find support among the people close to Jordan, Vaccarro gets in touch with George Raveling, who coached Jordan. 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. 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.