' Photo: Ana Carballosa. Michael doesn’t credit Vaccaro for his deal with Nike, as he claimed Sonny did not. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) goes on to say “There’s nothing cool about Nike. Collaborators and longtime friends Affleck and Damon reunite as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, respectively. 'Air' was a hit, but casting Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro was a miss. Affleck stars as Nike’s co-founder Phil Knight. Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling in 'Air'. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. He met with George Raveling (played by Marlon Wayans), a former NBA player and college. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant. 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. 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 who sold him on Nike. 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. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). Played by Matt Damon. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. 'Air' was a hit, but casting Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro was a miss. Olympic men's basketball team, to bring Michael Jordan to lunch. George Raveling, Vaccaro journeys to Wilmington, North Carolina, to persuade Michael’s mother, Deloris,. Gustaf Skarsgård as. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Watch on. 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. Once Nike agreed, Vaccaro used his close friend, basketball coach George Raveling, to connect him to Jordan. Damon stars in “Air” as maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, and Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight. 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. Vaccaro claimed about being investigated by the FBI for corporate espionage after he got fired from Nike. You’ve got to try. Damon portrays sneaker salesman. Olympic team that won gold in LA. --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. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. Michael Jordan était revenu sur l'importance de son ancien coach de l'équipe olympique de basket dans son choix de signer au sein de la griffe de Portland et il avait ajouté lors d'une interview : "Sonny (Vaccaro) aime s'attribuer les mérites. Three: Sonny Vaccaro, an executive for Nike,. Net worth: $5 million. Image via Amazon Studios Where did Nike, a brand that was barely. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, three additional Nike. Apr 06, 2023 In 'Air,' Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro seeks to sign Michael Jordan to a historic sneaker deal. The former NBA Champion claimed that a Nike Executive named George Raveling was responsible for his change of heart. 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. ”. 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. Visit Amazon Prime Video’s website. “George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). 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. George Raveling initially urged Michael Jordan to join Nike. Matt Damon appears as Sonny Vaccaro, left, and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in a scene from “Air. George Raveling is the first person to talk to Michael about Nike. Enter a livewire Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, a sweaty schlub in charge of Nike's flailing basketball division. George Raveling: There’s nothing cool about Nike. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as. 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. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. 5 million. The decision of Sonnu was not appreciated and taken well by Phil Knight and later he went on to fire his 'beloved' executive. 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. Sonny Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling were close friends, so Raveling was Sonny’s second wedding best man. 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. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker. ’” Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. Julius Tennon as James R. 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). basketball trailblazer George Raveling, who was the first Black coach in two iconic. He asked his old. Then actually my parents made me go out to (Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. "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. 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. Falk bristled at the most recent comments from Sonny Vaccaro,. S. But thanks to advice from Howard White and George Raveling, Vaccaro knows that his way to connect with Michael is through his mother, Deloris. Did Sonny Vaccaro really bypass Michael Jordan's agent and go directly to his parents to make his pitch? Not exactly. Wetzel knew Sonny wasn’t exactly thrilled with the book, but it didn’t affect their relationship and the mutual respect. . Matt Damon will assume the role of Sonny Vaccaro,. The film will be released in theaters April 5, 2023. George Raveling: “Nike” has no meaning. “He’s the one, in all honestly, that really persuaded me to look at Nike. 7. If you watched Matt Damon try to vie for Michael Jordan’s sponsorship for Nike in the 2023 biographical sports drama film Air, you might be wondering: where is Sonny Vaccaro now?. 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. Director (and Boston’s own) Ben Affleck’s latest tells the tale of. Jason Bateman. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser in 'Air. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. ’. 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. He is not, at least on the surface, a slam dunk movie hero. Wayans joins the cast as George Raveling, the trailblazing college basketball coach (the first Black coach in both the ACC and the PAC 10), who met and befriended Jordan while serving as an. He recently appeared on the Brown and. Raveling, who calls Vaccaro ''Pear'' because of his shape, has been a confidant since the 1960s. Sonny Vaccaro's Side of the Story. Director Ben Affleck and castmates Matt Damon, Chris Tucker, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina and Marlon Wayans talk new film "Air. Air: Directed by Ben Affleck. Played by Matt Damon. ''When you talk power, that means someone who can manipulate,'' says Raveling. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling; Chris Messina. Set at the Nike headquarters in Oregon in 1984, the film follows Sonny Vaccaro (Damon), who is tasked by C. S. George Raveling Born: June 27, 1937 Birthplace: Washington, D. 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. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in AIR. The film, about how Nike signed Michael Jordan in 1984, also stars Matt Damon as Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro. What's amazing is that Raveling stands aside Sonny Vaccaro as the people most in charge of destroying the fabric of American basketball. to rapid success in the shoe-making. 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. Jordan prior to meeting her in ‘Air,’ for the sake of elevating the charm. 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. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. ) to hear their proposal. (Jason Bateman) and Howard White (Chris Tucker); college ball coach George Raveling. The package is worth approximately $100,000, according to Nike’s George Raveling. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling Chris Tucker as Howard White Jason. Collaborators and longtime friends Affleck and Damon reunite as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, respectively. The trailer for Air was released on February 9. Damian Young as Michael Jordan. I t was a cutthroat, lucrative, and often corrupt culture that Sonny Vaccaro and his sneaker company competitors created during the ’90s and early ’00s, when Adidas, Nike, Reebok, and others zealously sought to find “the next Michael Jordan. Sonny Vaccaro: When the Rams played in the Super Bowl two years ago,. -George Raveling; Your voice tells you to do some stupid sh!t. Vaccaro, on the podcast, responded to Jordan's comments: "Michael is delusional. Matt Damon (Sonny Vaccaro) First up on the list is the main man himself,. George Raveling was offered $3 million for his Martin Luther King Jr speech. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore,. “George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Raveling became Sonny's competitor in the same position at Nike. Chris Tucker as Howard White. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. 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. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. At the time, Nike had. ’ It centers on the efforts of Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro (played by Damon) as he persuades CEO Phil Knight (played by Affleck) to bet big on Jordan. 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. 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. 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. The duo are joined by Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s. Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. Ben Affleck directed AIR and stars as Nike founder and CEO Phil Knight, alongside Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, the basketball expert who saw the potential of signing a talent like Jordan, and Viola Davis as Michael Jordan's mother Deloris. " Ana Carballosa/Prime. Raveling and Sonny had a falling out over the summer high school basketball programs that Sonny ran. ". Raveling, if you didn’t know, used to be a college coach (he coached Harold Miner at USC) and is basically the archenemy of Sonny Vaccaro, his ex-best friend who split from Nike back in the day. We’ve shared the full cast list below: Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling;. The film focuses on Vaccaro and Knight, as well as Jordan's parents James and Delores. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” Jordan told USA Today. Few figures in sportswear are as impactful as the great Sonny Vaccaro. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. The biopic will focus on sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. Together, the Jordans and Nike changed the shoe industry forever. Is the 2023 movie Air good or bad?War is hell: Former USC coach George Raveling stood up at Vaccaro’s wedding. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. ”. C. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. Matt Damon stars as Vaccaro while Ben Affleck, who also directs, plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Image via Amazon Studios. 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. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. Image via Amazon Studios. Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. The same goes for Hampton High coach. Recommendations Slide 1 of 7 Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro in "Air. Ana Carballosa/Prime Video; David E. 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. ” With Vaccaro at Adidas and his former best friend George Raveling running grassroots basketball at. Sonny Vaccaro was a central figure in the O’Bannon v. Affleck stars alongside Matt Damon (as Sonny Vaccaro), Viola Davis (as Deloris Jordan), Julius Tennon. Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Matthew Maher, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker and Viola Davis. Smart guy. “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. Matt Damon stars as Vaccaro while Ben Affleck, who also directs, plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Crafts/DIY. Sonny's story is. 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. 1/200. "Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. "Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. 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. Raveling had a falling out with. 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). George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. He meets with Sonny Vaccaro in Los Angeles, and that's when the Nike. Recommendations Slide 1 of 7The first trailer is here for “Air,” the movie starring Ben Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, a Nike executive trying to sign basketball rookie Michael. Falk, Raveling, and White are all people involved with either Jordan or Nike, while Viola. The ensemble star cast of the movie features Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, Affleck as Phil Knight, Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris. The first addition was George Raveling, who was the assistant coach on the 1984 Olympics team Jordan played on. (Jason Bateman) and Howard White (Chris Tucker); college ball coach George Raveling (Marlon Wayans); and Jordan’s mom Deloris (Viola Davis) — essentially. In a follow-up interview with USA Today, Vaccaro stated that he was "the savior of Nike. 00:00. Aunque ni este ni su familia. On the surface, the film tracks how sports marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) spearheaded a massive gamble to bet the company’s entire basketball division budget on then-rookie. on a landmark. Mais il n'y a pas que Sonny qui a fait changer d'avis MJ, il y a aussi George Raveling. Klutho /Sports Illustrated/Getty Matt Damon in 'Air' and Sonny Vaccaro. Then, Rob and I met with Falk at the meeting at the Hermitage [hotel in. Sonny meets his good friend, George Raveling, who had crucially been the coach of the US basketball team at the. 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. Watch on. Marlon Wayans plays college basketball coach George Raveling, who signed him to the brand. '. Raveling says that Vaccaro's emergence was a matter of good timing: Nike needed a front man, and Sonny knew the people. 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. 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. AIR | Official Trailer. 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. Olympic team that won gold in LA. Below are step-by-step instructions for how to sign up for Amazon Prime Video’s free trial. 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. Ben Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Matt Damon plays shoe salesman-turned Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro. Nike co-founder Phil Knight is portrayed by Affleck, who is also directing the film. He clarified that while Sonny Vaccaro often takes credit, it was actually George Raveling who played a significant role. 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. 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. and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) who. ”And while that might have been the case in 1984. " "I stayed at [Jordan's] home," Vaccaro said. 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. The company had a modest goal of earning $3 million from the sneakers over a three-year period. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Raveling’s shorthand with Sonny speaks of a past history and trust communicated with small gestures and easy laughs. Matt Damon will assume the role of Sonny Vaccaro,. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in 'Air. The movie depicts Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro seeking advice from Raveling, Jordan’s trusted Olympic coach, to help sign the NBA rookie to a blockbuster shoe deal in 1984. 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. Air is set in 1984, when Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) persuaded Jordan to be the face of Nike's basketball shoes. The sports drama will see Affleck in the role of Nike co-founder Phil Knight, while Damon will play Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro. 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. 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. Raveling and Vaccaro already had a long-standing rivalry with one another, so these comments didn't sit well with Vaccaro. AIR parents guide (2023) I was able to screen AIR in order to write this AIR Parents Guide. Raveling became a rival to Sonny for the same position at Nike. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). Sonny Vaccaro Michael Jordan. . The plot. Directed by Ben Affleck, this '80s-set movie based on real events stars Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, a Nike. Marlon Wayans even leaves a strong if brief impression as Jordan’s former Olympics coach George Raveling. Raveling's prediction: International players will comprise 50% of the NBA by 2010. 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. Create or log into. ” Sonny Vaccaro: That’s not what it means. Alongside Affleck, Davis and Damon, the film sees Jason Bateman playing Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk and Marlon Wayans as George. Olympic Men’s Basketball team), decides that he needs to go to. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. 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. 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. Sonny Vaccaro is played by Matt Damon. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro . Vaccaro and Jordan. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. The film, about how Nike signed Michael Jordan in 1984, also stars Matt Damon as Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro. Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman), to save Nike. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. 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. 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. You’ve got to try. 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. S. 故事主要講述耐克公司的鞋子推銷員 桑尼·瓦卡洛 （ 英语 ： Sonny Vaccaro ） （戴蒙飾演）努力讓知名球星麥可·喬登穿上自家生產的鞋子，達成代言合約。 本片2023年3月18日先在西南偏南首映，2023年4月5日亞馬遜影業安排在美國上映，華納兄弟負責國際市場發行. The initial. 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. He met the NBA player through his friend, George Raveling, who was assistant to the national team coach, Bobby Knight. John "Sonny" Vaccaro has long been cast as some kind of mafioso, strong-arming amateur basketball for much of his 63 years. Vaccaro claimed he was able to convince Jordan — who wore Converse in college. Air is a 2023 American biographical sports drama film directed by Ben Affleck and written by Alex Convery. 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. P. The dynamics. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a scene from the movie AIR. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. “There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans ’s character George Raveling says in the first trailer for. “Air” shows how former sports executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike created a pitch for young basketball star Michael Jordan to partner. Getting Fired from Nike. -Sonny. Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. In the same year, Jordan signed a record-breaking $2. 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. 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. February 9, 2023. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. Knight, Jordan, Nike exec George Raveling, and. Wayans plays George Raveling,. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. Then he also said Howard White is integral to this too. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, former Team USA assistant coach; Chris Messina as David Falk,. Viola Davis plays Deloris Jordan, Michael Jordan's mother. 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. George Raveling. Knight said Vaccaro helped but “wasn’t the. 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. “George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). Vaccaro and George Raveling, former best friends who now are bitter enemies, simply personify the battle between two corporations searching for product loyalty and increased sales. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling," Jordan said. 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. Of course, in the sneaker business, they’re. Damon plays sneaker executive Sonny Vaccaro, while Affleck portrays Nike CEO Phil Knight. How to watch 'Air' movie. 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. Additional cast includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling,. S. The untitled movie will tell “the incredible story of how maverick sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. Sonny Vaccaro, the former basketball advisor of Nike once claimed that he was the key piece in the multi-million dollar signing. Vaccaro and Jordan. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). Vaccaro was friends with George Raveling, head coach of Washington State's men's basketball team, who introduced the pair. Olympic team that won gold in LA. Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. playing basketball coach George Raveling, laments in the trailer. Additional cast includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon. 5 million contract with Nike, which paved the way for the debut of the Air Jordan shoe line. 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. 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. George Raveling. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. Nike colleges. 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. 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. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. " He added, "Michael’s lying more than Phil [Knight] and Raveling. Sonny Vaccaro, the former shoe marketer widely credited with inventing the summer basketball scene, seethed as he watched the news conference. 5 million contract with Nike, which paved the way for the debut of the Air Jordan shoe line. Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, a former sports marketing executive who had the genius idea to sign Michael to his first-ever sneaker deal. KGW Top Stories: 11 p. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. 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. ” It was a very different. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling . Damon takes on the role of Sonny Vaccaro, the sneaker salesman who believed Michael Jordan was going to be the big basketball star that he became. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), a friend of Vaccaro’s who coached Michael Jordan in the 1984 Olympic basketball team, weighs in with encouragement. 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. ’” George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. S. Sonny Vaccaro calls out MJ,. ". 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. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) who helped. Sonny Vaccaro was fired from Nike for allegedly planning on pursuing other business ventures outside of the Nike franchise, whilst still working for the iconic company. Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. Peter Moore, Played By. February 9, 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. Sonny Vaccaro, who embarked on a quest to sign Michael Jordan, played by Matt Damon. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, three additional Nike executives who have gotten some credit for the. The cast also includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling and Chris Tucker as Howard White. " "I stayed at [Jordan's] home," Vaccaro said. “There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans ’s character George Raveling says in the first trailer for. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. The story will center. 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. George Raveling is played by Marlon Wayans. . Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. Olympic basketball team (via Pop Sugar). But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. George Raveling: Jessica Green: Katrina Sainz: Julius Tennon: James Jordan: Who is in 'AIR' in 2023?. But the man himself credits George Raveling for the decision that changed his life. Marlon Wayans plays the legendary basketball player and coach George Ravelling in a brief yet crucial appearance. 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. 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. Instead. 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. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. Deloris Jordan is portrayed by Viola Davis. 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. The legend says Sonny Vaccaro convinced Jordan to come to Nike. That said, the part in the film in which Sonny Vaccaro visits Deloris in North. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, a former sports marketing executive who had the genius idea to sign Michael to his first-ever sneaker deal. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had been close friends, to the point that Raveling was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. Back then, Sonny was laughed at by Nike honchos Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans). SONNY VACCARO.