“Air” is the origin story of a shoe, and not just any shoe. Did Sonny Vaccaro really bypass Michael Jordan's agent and go directly to his parents to make his pitch? Not exactly. Knight, Jordan, Nike exec George Raveling, and. Michael Jordan himself has also given credit to George Raveling for. Matt Damon (Sonny Vaccaro) First up on the list is the main man himself,. Directed by Ben Affleck, this '80s-set movie based on real events stars Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, a 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,” he said. 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. George Raveling was one of them. “Spokane, Washington,” the employee says. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker. Chris Tucker as Howard W. ’” Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. Chris Messina as David Falk, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling. Vaccaro, on the podcast, responded to Jordan's comments: "Michael is delusional. 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. Sonny Vaccaro, Deloris Jordan, and Character Representation. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a scene from the movie AIR. 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. Three days later, the trailer aired during the 2023 Super Bowl. But Vaccaro refused to give up. Damon portrays sneaker salesman. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst Dassler, and Julius Tennon. 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. Sonny Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling were close friends, so Raveling was Sonny’s second wedding best man. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Deloris Jordan is portrayed by Viola Davis. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. “Air” shows how former sports executive Sonny Vaccaro and Nike created a pitch for young basketball star Michael Jordan to partner. Marlon Wayans as iconic coach George Raveling, and. However, after he met George Raveling at a bar in California, he knew what. Deloris Jordan is portrayed by Viola Davis. 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. ''When you talk power, that means someone who can manipulate,'' says Raveling. Back then, Sonny was laughed at by Nike honchos Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans). ” It was a very different. 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. Marlon Wayans will play George Raveling, a trailblazer in college basketball who was the first Black coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pacific-10. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. 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. 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 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. Falk bristled at the most recent comments from Sonny Vaccaro,. 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. Yet he no longer speaks to George Raveling,. Net worth: $5 million. George Raveling. At only 24 years of age, the Pennsylvania native founded the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic in 1965. 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. Matt Damon and Viola Davis in a. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. 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. '" Vaccaro, on the podcast, responded to Jordan. With Nike convinced, Vaccaro and then-friend George Raveling got a sitdown lunch with Michael Jordan at Tony Roma’s in Los Angeles during the 1984 Olympic training camp. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). Having spotted a promising basketball player called Michael Jordan, Vaccaro believes that this young man will help Nike outpace the competition as the new face of the brand. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling and Chris. With Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Chris Messina. 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. Damian Young as Michael Jordan. Vaccaro claimed he was able to convince Jordan — who wore Converse in college. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Raveling says that Vaccaro's emergence was a matter of good timing: Nike needed a front man, and Sonny knew the people. 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. Mais il n'y a pas que Sonny qui a fait changer d'avis MJ, il y a aussi George Raveling. Then actually my parents made me go out to (Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. Dream teams don't come much dreamier than the cast of Air. Matt Damon appears as Sonny Vaccaro, left, and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in a scene from “Air. Phil Knight is sinful. You’ve got to try. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. "Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. In 1984, Oregon-based Nike, Inc. George Raveling: “Nike” has no meaning. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. . Marlon Wayans (The Curse of Bridge Hollow) as George Raveling, Jordan’s assistant coach on the 1984. Matt Damon will assume the role of Sonny Vaccaro,. 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. 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. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling; Chris Messina. J. George Raveling, the former USC coach and current. Vaccaro and basketball coach George Raveling had been close friends, to the point that Raveling was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. Of course, in the sneaker business, they’re. Jordan Sr. 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. Air is a 2023 American biographical sports drama film directed by Ben Affleck and written by Alex Convery. 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. It was a hard task, considering that Nike was the least favourite contender at that time. (Jason Bateman) and Howard White (Chris Tucker); college ball coach George Raveling (Marlon Wayans); and Jordan’s mom Deloris (Viola Davis) — essentially. Chris Tucker as Howard White. Ana Carballosa/Prime Video; David E. But it really wasn't Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. 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 had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in AIR. Once Nike agreed, Vaccaro used his close friend, basketball coach George Raveling, to connect him to Jordan. 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. Additional cast includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling,. 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. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. The duo are joined by Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s. George Raveling. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. (Jason Bateman) and Howard White (Chris Tucker); college ball coach George Raveling. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. -Sonny Vaccaro; I think I’m going to be remembered. S. Raveling became a rival to Sonny for the same position at Nike. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, former Team USA assistant coach; Chris Messina as David Falk,. Michael Jordan himself has also given credit to George Raveling for. Sonny Vaccaro talks the accuracy of 'Air' with FN and remembers his unforgettable speech at Nike HQ to. 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. Jordan weighed in, as did Nike co-founder Phil Knight, Nike executive George Raveling, former Nike basketball adviser Sonny Vaccaro and former Nike executive Peter Moore. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. The day after the US team won the Los Angeles Olympics, he offered Jordan $2. 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. Set at the Nike headquarters in Oregon in 1984, the film follows Sonny Vaccaro (Damon), who is tasked by C. 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. He used to always try to talk to me, 'You gotta go. 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. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. Ben Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Matt Damon plays shoe salesman-turned Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, a former sports marketing executive who had the genius idea to sign Michael to his first-ever sneaker deal. Undoubtedly, this agreement marked a historic milestone in the sports industry, propelling Nike Inc. Together, the Jordans and Nike changed the shoe industry forever. 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. 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. 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. Raveling and Sonny Vaccaro had been close friends, to the point that he was the best man at Sonny's second wedding. 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. The movie stars Damon as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Affleck as Nike cofounder Phil Knight, two sportswear icons who have differing views on how the Jordan deal materialized. S. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in 'Air. Sonny Vaccaro skipped the standard practice and contacted Michael Jordan’s family directly, talking directly with Michael’s mother, Deloris. In 2015, Michael Jordan shared his perspective on the events leading up to his deal with Nike in an interview with USA Today. '. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. 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. E. Courtesy of Amazon Studios. ” Raveling played at Villanova and coached at Washington. There’s also a fascinating section detailing Vaccaro’s strained relationship with George Raveling, the best man at his wedding, with whom he had a falling out, Vaccaro says, after he refused. The initial. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. The former NBA Champion claimed that a Nike Executive named George Raveling was responsible for his change of heart. Additional cast includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon. Elsewhere, the cast features Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard. Raveling eventually became Vaccaro's competitor when he. AVALON, N. AIR. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. Inspired by the true story of Nike's partnership with Michael Jordan, the. -George Raveling movie quotes from AIR (2023) You got it. Affleck serves as director and co-producer alongside Damon, David. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Nike is looking for a way to become one of the premier basketball shoe brands in the U. Sonny Vaccaro with Michael Jordan – Sonny embarked on a quest to sign the guard for the Chicago Bulls. 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. How to watch 'Air' movie. P. By remaining on this website, you indicate your consent. 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 was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). — When it comes to the July recruiting period, the Wild West days of Sonny Vaccaro vs. 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. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro in "Air. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Olympic team that won gold in LA. Harper for EW . Sonny Vaccaro, the former shoe marketer widely credited with inventing the summer basketball scene, seethed as he watched the news conference. 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. 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. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. He clarified that while Sonny Vaccaro often takes credit, it was actually George Raveling who played a significant role. The company had a modest goal of earning $3 million from the sneakers over a three-year period. AIR parents guide (2023) I was able to screen AIR in order to write this AIR Parents Guide. 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. Falk, Raveling, and White are all people involved with either Jordan or Nike, while Viola. George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), to put in a good word, Raveling declares that following the “I Have a Dream” speech in. 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. ’ 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. And his achievements and awards reflect his legacy and contributions to the industry. The decision of Sonnu was not appreciated and taken well by Phil Knight and later he went on to fire his 'beloved' executive. At the time, Nike had. 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. Apr 06, 2023 In 'Air,' Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro seeks to sign Michael Jordan to a historic sneaker deal. 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. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. ’”Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. Alex G. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, one of Jordan’s coaches at the 1984 Olympics; and Viola Davis as Michael’s mother, Deloris Jordan. Watch on. Coach George Raveling. Raveling had a falling out with Sonny over the business of summer high school basketball camps that Sonny ran. "I traveled to. What's amazing is that Raveling stands aside Sonny Vaccaro as the people most in charge of destroying the fabric of American basketball. . Sonny Vaccaro and his wife Pam live in Calabasas, California. But the man himself credits George Raveling for the decision that changed his life. Matt Damon plays maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight with Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling and Chris. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Getting Fired from Nike. Vaccaro’s impact on sports marketing and basketball is significant. George Raveling, director of international basketball for Nike, played by Marlon Wayans . George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an assistant coach under Bob Knight). Long gone. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. Director Ben Affleck 's '80s-set film Air recounts the genesis of the Air Jordan sports apparel line with Matt Damon playing Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis portraying. Sonny Vaccaro is the controversial figure at the center of the most recent 30 for 30 film “Sole Man. Ben Affleck 's latest film, Air, is a true story based on Nike salesman Sonny Vaccaro 's successful signing of then-rising superstar Michael Jordan. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. He met the NBA player through his friend, George Raveling, who was assistant to the national team coach, Bobby Knight. Enter Sonny Vaccaro, a tenacious Nike employee tasked with discovering a fresh face for the brand. 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. “You can never say never,” said Gary Charles, the head coach of the New York Panthers and a Vaccaro lieutenant from 1992-2006, when Vaccaro hung up his kicks and retired . George Raveling (Marlon Wayans), a friend of Vaccaro’s who coached Michael Jordan in the 1984 Olympic basketball team, weighs in with encouragement. Running time: 112 minutes. George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. Back then, Sonny was laughed at by Nike honchos Howard White (Chris Tucker), Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and George Raveling (Marlon Wayans). Marlon Wayans as George Raveling in 'Air'. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. You’ve got to try. Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. He fell out with Sony over a high school summer basketball camp business operated by Sonny. KGW speaks with Sonny Vaccaro, portrayed by Matt Damon in upcoming film 'Air'. 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. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. . Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro while the role of Phil Knight is essayed by Affleck. Olympic team that won gold in LA. In hindsight, it's a eureka moment. In a follow-up interview with USA Today, Vaccaro stated that he was "the savior of Nike. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro,. 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. Sonny Vaccaro was fired from Nike for allegedly planning on pursuing other business ventures outside of the Nike franchise, whilst. 5 million over five years with a 25 per cent royalty on every shoe. Marlon Wayans even leaves a strong if brief impression as Jordan’s former Olympics coach George Raveling. Wayans has been cast as college basketball trailblazer George Raveling, who was the first Black coach in two iconic conferences—the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pacific-10. George Raveling, seen here in 1983, went from Sonny Vaccaro’s close friend to rival. S. Raveling introduced Jordan to Vaccaro, and Jordan told USA Today that Raveling kept telling him, “You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. 'Air' was a hit, but casting Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro was a miss. By Shikhar Verma May 17, 2023. 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. We’ve shared the full cast list below: Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. George Raveling is a former Olympics basketball coach who worked with Jordan at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. In the same year, Jordan signed a record-breaking. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Vaccaro and Jordan. Michael Jordan says marketing executive George Raveling, not Sonny Vaccaro, sold him on signing. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling,” he said. Watch on. Sonny Vaccaro credits his relationship with Michael Jordan’s mother, Deloris, as the catalyst for one of the most significant deals in sports marketing history. Until, that is, Nike’s Sonny Vaccaro convinced his CEO Phil Knight to go all-out and blow their annual budget on recruiting one player: Michael Jordan. Sonny Vaccaro is a former sports marketing executive who spent years promoting brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. Nike co-founder Phil Knight is portrayed by Affleck, who is also directing the film. 5 million contract with Nike, which paved the way for the debut of the Air Jordan shoe line. Matt Damon stars as Vaccaro while Ben Affleck, who also directs, plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Getty Images Vaccaro and Raveling were close friends during their time at Nike, so much so that Raveling was. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. 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 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. The package is worth approximately $100,000, according to Nike’s George Raveling. You've got to try. Director Ben Affleck and castmates Matt Damon, Chris Tucker, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina and Marlon Wayans talk new film "Air. Julius Tennon as James Jordan. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser in 'Air. RELATED: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to Star in Biopic About Nike's Sonny Vaccaro. Now Raveling works for Nike and he and Sonny are former friends. Sonny was hired by Phil Knight (portrayed by Affleck) to revamp his basketball shoe division, which has only gotten smaller since Vaccaro’s arrival. Peter Moore, Played By. S. Tue, May 5, 2020 · 9 min read For the briefest of moments, Sonny Vaccaro appeared in Sunday’s episodes of “The Last Dance,” the 10-part, Michael Jordan. Sonny Vaccaro's Side of the Story. Sonny Vaccaro was a central figure in the O’Bannon v. Marlon Wayans as George Raveling;. Sonny Vaccaro Personal Life. In an attempt to find support among the people close to Jordan, Vaccarro gets in touch with George Raveling, who coached Jordan. George Raveling are gone. 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 was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. The dynamics. O. 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. 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. As the real George also notes on his Linkedin page, he was instrumental in the Nike. Affleck's longtime friend and longtime collaborator plays. He recently appeared on the Brown and. He famously takes credit for bringing Michael. Create or log into. “Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. Sonny Vaccaro talks the accuracy of 'Air' with FN and remembers his unforgettable speech at Nike HQ to. Sonny Vaccaro, the adidas representative who runs this camp and once ran Nike's, has criticism of the system from which he profits. 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. The footage features Nike CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) questioning Sonny Vaccaro. " "I stayed at [Jordan's] home," Vaccaro said. Sonny meets his good friend, George Raveling, who had crucially been the coach of the US basketball team at the. Gustaf Skarsgård as. Matt Damon stars in the film as Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro,. But it really wasn't Sonny, it was actually George Raveling," Jordan told USA Today in 2015. ” With Vaccaro at Adidas and his former best friend George Raveling running grassroots basketball at. Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro. Few figures in sportswear are as impactful as the great Sonny Vaccaro. A friend of Vaccaro’s, Raveling first introduced the idea of signing Nike and Jordan. “Prior to all of that, Sonny (Vaccaro) likes to take the credit. 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. Sonny Vaccaro calls out MJ,. (Nike marketing official) George Raveling and. “But I think it’s. " Ana Carballosa/Prime. He used to always try to talk to me, 'You gotta go Nike. Then, Rob and I met with Falk at the meeting at the Hermitage [hotel in. Starring the dynamic duo of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, the movie weaves a captivating narrative around Vaccaro’s audacious endeavor. Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in AIR. . Visit Amazon Prime Video’s website. Vaccaro claimed about being investigated by the FBI for corporate espionage after he got fired from Nike. George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team (as an. 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 also had a big hand in helping UCLA's Ed O'Bannon bring down the NCAA's stronghold on. The cast also includes Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, the first Black basketball coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pacific-10,. Olympic Men’s Basketball team), decides that he needs to go to. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro while the role of Phil Knight is essayed by Affleck. “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. 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. Three: Sonny Vaccaro, an executive for Nike,. Little did he know that this search would lead to the birth of a sneaker empire and redefine the world of athletic endorsements. 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. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore. Air, a sports biopic drama, is the newest collaborative effort between Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who both star in the film. Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, Chris Messina, Julius Tennon and Matthew Maher also star. Then, Rob and I met with Falk at the meeting at the Hermitage [hotel in. 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. Nike. ” Raveling played at Villanova and coached at Washington. Air: Directed by Ben Affleck. It stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris. 5 million. That said, the part in the film in which Sonny Vaccaro visits Deloris in North. However, their relationship soured due to a dispute over the summer high school basketball camps organized by Vaccaro. Damon plays sneaker executive Sonny Vaccaro, while Affleck portrays Nike CEO Phil Knight. All opinions are my own. m. 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. But it really wasn’t Sonny, it was actually George Raveling. ”. The duo are joined by Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s. He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. Vaccaro was friends with George Raveling, head coach of Washington State's men's basketball team, who introduced the pair. Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, and Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, three additional Nike executives who have gotten some credit for the. Jordan said Vaccaro “likes to take credit” but that it was marketing executive and former basketball player George Raveling who sold him on Nike. Comedian Marlon Wayans was tapped to play George Raveling, who served as an assistant coach for the 1984 U. Air is set in 1984, when Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) persuaded Jordan to be the face of Nike's basketball shoes. Vaccaro sought the help of his close friend and basketball coach, George Raveling, to reach out to Jordan. 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. The story will center.