’. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. E. ” Raveling played at Villanova and coached at Washington. P. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. The first addition was George Raveling, who was the assistant coach on the 1984 Olympics team Jordan played on. Is the 2023 movie Air good or bad?War is hell: Former USC coach George Raveling stood up at Vaccaro’s wedding. Visit Amazon Prime Video’s website. Air is set in 1984, when Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) persuaded Jordan to be the face of Nike's basketball shoes. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. No, this story is about the men behind the deal – Affleck as Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike, Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro,. The initial. John (Sonny) Vaccaro has clout. 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. 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. A friend of Vaccaro’s, Raveling first introduced the idea of signing Nike and Jordan. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. Sonny's story is. Raveling and Sonny had a falling out over the summer high school basketball programs that Sonny ran. 5 million. He met the NBA player through his friend, George Raveling, who was assistant to the national team coach, Bobby Knight. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. ''When you talk power, that means someone who can manipulate,'' says Raveling. You've got to try. Post the ideation, Sonny’s next task was to persuade the NBA player to ditch Adidas and convert into a Nike enthusiast. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. Marlon Wayans plays the legendary basketball player and coach George Ravelling in a brief yet crucial appearance. S. The trailer for Air was released on February 9. Sonny Vaccaro now in his. Together, the Jordans and Nike changed the shoe industry forever. 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. Viola Davis plays Deloris Jordan, Michael Jordan's mother. He met with George Raveling (played by Marlon Wayans), a former NBA player and college. Sonny Vaccaro was planning to pursue other business plans that did not involve Nike. 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. and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) who helped. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. He clarified that while Sonny Vaccaro often takes credit, it was actually George Raveling who played a significant role. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling; Chris Messina. 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. Aunque ni este ni su familia. Pioneering coach George Raveling's surprising connection to MLK. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. By Shikhar Verma May 17, 2023. Sonny Vaccaro, who embarked on the search to sign Michael Jordan, played by Matt Damon . The cast also includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling and Chris Tucker as Howard White. Raveling, who calls Vaccaro ''Pear'' because of his shape, has been a confidant since the 1960s. 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. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Raveling and Vaccaro already had a long-standing rivalry with one another, so these comments didn't sit well with Vaccaro. With Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, 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. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. The phone call with Jordan’s terribly unpleasant yet curiously impressive sports agent, David Falk, only gave Vaccaro the unusual and risky idea to go behind his back and speak to Deloris directly. 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. 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. Nike employee Sonny Vaccaro believes. 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 plays college basketball coach George Raveling, who signed him to the brand. , Saturday, October 14, 2023. The roles of Jordan. Matt Damon will assume the role of Sonny Vaccaro,. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. The heart and soul of Air really come from the idea of putting belief in oneself or another. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, a former sports marketing executive who had the genius idea to sign Michael to his first-ever sneaker deal. You’ve got to try. 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?. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in 'Air. playing basketball coach George Raveling, laments in the trailer. 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. Vaccaro and Jordan. Recommendations Slide 1 of 7 Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro in "Air. The story depicts a high-stakes gamble by an unconventional team, a determined mother and the legendary basketball player who became the. 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. 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). Revelling/Reckoning: Directed by Zach Neumeyer. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. 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. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro,. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. In the fall of 1984, a 21-year-old Jordan inked a five-year deal with Nike for $2. 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. 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. Director (and Boston’s own) Ben Affleck’s latest tells the tale of. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. 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. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. The story will center. The film will be released in theaters April 5, 2023. Sonny Vaccaro talks the accuracy of 'Air' with FN and remembers his unforgettable speech at Nike HQ to. Prior to this encounter, MJ had no knowledge of Nike. Chris Tucker as Howard White. Sonny meets his good friend, George Raveling, who had crucially been the coach of the US basketball team at the. You’ve got to try. 1/200. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a scene from the movie AIR. Chris Messina as David Falk, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. 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. Director (and Boston’s own) Ben Affleck’s latest tells the tale of. 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. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight. As other companies also try to court Jordan, Nike must enlist the help of his former coach George Raveling (played by Wayans). There is a scene in the film where Sonny Vaccaro, after having a conversation with George Raveling (the assistant coach of the U. 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. 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, Director for International Basketball for Nike, played by Marlon Wayans. Damon portrays sneaker salesman. AIR. Raveling eventually became Vaccaro's competitor when he. Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a shoe salesman at Nike, works to sign rookie Michael Jordan to a deal to wear their shoes. Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard. Raveling became Sonny's competitor in the same position at 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. Julius Tennon as James R. At the center of the story is Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon, who put on "a few extra pounds" and wore a body suit for the big-gutted part), the Nike talent scout who bets his career on his desperate. The untitled movie will tell “the incredible story of how maverick sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. Mais il n'y a pas que Sonny qui a fait changer d'avis MJ, il y a aussi George Raveling. Chris Messina as David Falk. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore. who plays coach George Raveling. “We talk often, sometimes daily for long stretches,” he said. Sonny Vaccaro Michael Jordan. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had been close friends, to the point that Raveling was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. 5 million over five years with a 25 per cent royalty on every shoe. . Few figures in sportswear are as impactful as the great Sonny Vaccaro. Michael Jordan says marketing executive George Raveling, not Sonny Vaccaro, sold him on signing. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. Air, a sports biopic drama, is the newest collaborative effort between Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who both star in the film. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. The duo are joined by Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. Raveling says that Vaccaro's emergence was a matter of good timing: Nike needed a front man, and Sonny knew the people. Getting Fired from Nike. In a follow-up interview with USA Today, Vaccaro stated that he was "the savior of Nike. Sonny Vaccaro was fired from Nike for allegedly planning on pursuing other business ventures outside of the Nike franchise, whilst. Jordan. 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. Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. George Raveling Born: June 27, 1937 Birthplace: Washington, D. Sonny Vaccaro, Deloris Jordan, and Character Representation. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had been close friends, to the point that Raveling was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, three additional Nike executives who have gotten some credit for the. George Raveling are gone. George Raveling was one of them. Sonny Vaccaro was a central figure in the O’Bannon v. In 2015, Michael Jordan shared his perspective on the events leading up to his deal with Nike in an interview with USA Today. George Raveling was an assistant coach for the Team USA basketball squad at the 1984 Olympics. 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. ” “Puma”, “Please use my a**. Sonny Vaccaro and his wife Pam live in Calabasas, California. Then, Rob and I met with Falk at the meeting at the Hermitage [hotel in. 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. Starring the dynamic duo of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, the movie weaves a captivating narrative around Vaccaro’s audacious endeavor. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. Image via Amazon Studios. Crafts/DIY. Watch on. Sonny and former coach George Raveling. The decision of Sonnu was not appreciated and taken well by Phil Knight and later he went on to fire his 'beloved' executive. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, former Team USA assistant coach; Chris Messina as David Falk,. S. 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. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. Falk bristled at the most recent comments from Sonny Vaccaro,. 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). Vaccaro claimed about being investigated by the FBI for corporate espionage after he got fired from Nike. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. “Air” is the origin story of a shoe, and not just any shoe. Sonny Vaccaro is the controversial figure at the center of the most recent 30 for 30 film “Sole Man. He met the NBA player through his friend, George Raveling, who was assistant to the national team coach, Bobby Knight. Nike colleges. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Matt Damon is the star of the movie, as he plays Sonny Vaccaro,. However, after he met George Raveling at a bar in California, he knew what he had to do. ” With Vaccaro at Adidas and his former best friend George Raveling running grassroots basketball at. Olympic Men’s Basketball team), decides that he needs to go to. Gustaf Skarsgård as. Instead. 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. C. Knight, Jordan, Nike exec George Raveling, and. The film, about how Nike signed Michael Jordan in 1984, also stars Matt Damon as Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. Sonny Vaccaro. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. PHOTO: Ana Carballosa/Prime Matthew Maher, Matt Damon, and Jason Bateman as Peter Moore, Sonny Vaccaro, and Rob. February 9, 2023. 62°. Played by Matt Damon, Sonny Vaccaro's. "I traveled to. 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. Create or log into. to rapid success in the shoe-making. “There’s nothing cool about Nike,” Marlon Wayans ’s character George Raveling says in the first trailer for. 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. The biopic comes from Amazon Studios, Mandalay Pictures, and Skydance Sports. Olympic team that won gold in LA. Raveling’s shorthand with Sonny speaks of a past history and trust communicated with small gestures and easy laughs. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a scene from the movie AIR. You’re. Papa plays Stu Inman, the former Portland Trail Blazers executive who famously selected Sam Bowie over. He was replaced by George Raveling, the best man at Vaccaro’s wedding, who also talked crap about Sonny in the press for doing the same stuff that Nike Hired George to do, an attempt by Knight. Sonny Vaccaro Michael Jordan. Affleck stars alongside Matt Damon (as Sonny Vaccaro), Viola Davis (as Deloris Jordan), Julius Tennon. Vaccaro’s storied relationship with Nike ended on a. George Raveling, the pioneering African-American college basketball coach, crossed paths with Martin Luther King Jr. Vaccaro also has to convince Jordan to sign with Nike despite a previous preference for Adidas. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. We’ve shared the full cast list below: Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. The biopic will focus on Sonny Vaccaro, the creator of the Air Jordan sneakers. who plays coach George Raveling. The plot. February 9, 2023. 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. You’ve got to try. George Raveling initially urged Michael Jordan to join Nike. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob 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. Ben Affleck, who directs the film, stars as Nike co-founder and former chairman Phil Knight. 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. Talent scout Sonny Vaccaro came up with the bold idea of building a sneaker line around a recent NBA draft pick by the name of Michael Jordan. “George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. It was a hard task, considering that Nike was the least favourite contender at that time. George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. Once Nike agreed, Vaccaro used his close friend, basketball coach George Raveling, to connect him to Jordan. 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. Played by Matt Damon. O. George Raveling. Yet he no longer speaks to George Raveling,. 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. Advert 10 George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. . Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. AVALON, N. 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. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. Damon plays sneaker executive Sonny Vaccaro, while Affleck portrays Nike CEO Phil Knight. Additional cast includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling,. Raveling and Sonny Vaccaro had been close friends, to the point that he was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. Inspired by the true story of Nike's partnership with Michael Jordan, the. -Sonny. 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. Wayans plays George Raveling,. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) goes on to say “There’s nothing cool about Nike. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst Dassler, and Julius Tennon. Harper for EW . George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. ". Sonny Vaccaro calls out MJ,. 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. 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. Olympic basketball team (via Pop Sugar). John "Sonny" Vaccaro has long been cast as some kind of mafioso, strong-arming amateur basketball for much of his 63 years. Did Sonny Vaccaro really bypass Michael Jordan's agent and go directly to his parents to make his pitch? Not exactly. 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. Nike. Michael Jordan says marketing executive George Raveling, not Sonny Vaccaro, sold him on signing with Nike. 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. 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. How to watch 'Air' movie. As the film's version of Nike. " He added, "Michael’s lying more than Phil [Knight] and Raveling. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, an executive of Nike’s basketball division tasked with breathing live into the department. Collaborators and longtime friends Affleck and Damon reunite as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, respectively. Ana Carballosa/Prime Video; David E. Raveling became Sonny's competitor in the same position at Nike. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), to put in a good word, Raveling declares that following the “I Have a Dream” speech in. Raveling's prediction: International players will comprise 50% of the NBA by 2010. Knight took exception to. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Sonny Vaccaro with Michael Jordan – Sonny embarked on a quest to sign the guard for the Chicago Bulls. 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. 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. Jason Bateman. Additional cast includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan / Courtesy of Amazon Studios. George Raveling is crazy. Long gone. In the movie, Michael's difficult agent, David Falk (portrayed. 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. Olympic team that won gold in LA. The sports drama will see Affleck in the role of Nike co-founder Phil Knight, while Damon will play Nike executive 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. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Knight took exception to. The former NBA Champion claimed that a Nike Executive named George Raveling was responsible for his change of heart. — When it comes to the July recruiting period, the Wild West days of Sonny Vaccaro vs. "George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob. CHANG: When Jordan's agent, a hilariously foul-mouthed Chris Messina, refuses to so much as grant Nike. S. The legend says Sonny Vaccaro convinced Jordan to come to Nike. Then actually my parents made me go out to (Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. ”. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. 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. 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. . 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. Jordan Sr. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. 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. Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. George Raveling: Jessica Green: Katrina Sainz: Julius Tennon: James Jordan: Who is in 'AIR' in 2023?. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Sonny Vaccaro, who embarked on a quest to sign Michael Jordan, played by Matt Damon. 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. 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 (Marlon Wayans), to put in a good word, Raveling declares that following the “I Have a Dream” speech in. The main cast also includes Matthew Maher. 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. ". The story will center. Smart guy. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling," Jordan said. 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. Three days later, the trailer aired during the 2023 Super Bowl. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore,. Now Raveling works for Nike and he and Sonny are former friends. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. The biopic will focus on sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro. George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as. Back then, Sonny was laughed at by Nike honchos Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans). 5 million contract with Nike, which paved the way for the debut of the Air Jordan shoe line. Car crash and coaching retirement, 1994. ”And while that might have been the case in 1984. Raveling says that Vaccaro's emergence was a matter of good timing: Nike needed a front man, and Sonny knew the people. Damon stars in “Air” as maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, and Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in AIR. It stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. AIR parents guide (2023) I was able to screen AIR in order to write this AIR Parents Guide. Olympic team that won gold in LA. He clarified that while Sonny Vaccaro often takes credit, it was actually George Raveling who played a significant role. Phil Knight is sinful. He meets with Sonny Vaccaro in Los Angeles, and that's when the Nike. Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. The footage features Nike CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) questioning Sonny Vaccaro. Sonny Vaccaro, Deloris Jordan, and Character Representation. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling.