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By Randy Williams, on February 8th, 2010
The sports world turns to its biggest winter extravaganza beginning on the 12th and running through the 28th of this month. So to help prepare those who are more expert in the nuances of an NFL game or the intracacies involved in a NASCAR pit stop, we’ll present over the next few weeks a basic guideline to the sports, venues and potential stars of the XXIst Winter Olympics from Vancouver, Canada.
Snowboard - Halfpipe
 Cypress Mountain Venue in Vancouver One of the newer additions to the Olympic program (introduced in 1998), snowboarding combines elements of three other popular sports - skateboarding, skiing and surfing.
Performed on a man-made U-shaped snow bow,an individual athlete performs tricks while moving from side to side. Flying over the lip, the compettior is then judged on height and degree of difficulty style elements.
The snowboard event takes place at Cypress Mountain just north of Vancouver.
By Randy Williams, on February 4th, 2010
 Super Bowl XLIV
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Sun Life Stadium - Miami, Florida
Kickoff apx. 6:30p ET
 Colts vs. Saints
Continuing the theme from an earlier post regarding the importance of quarterbacks, let’s focus there in assessing the game’s key matchup.
Early in his career, Peyton Manning, a four-time league MVP, was criticized for failing to win big games. Indeed his career playoff record is just 9-8. However, he has won six of the last eight, including a Super Bowl victory over the Bears three years ago in the rain in Miami.
Heading into this year’s Super Bowl, Manning is red hot setting an NFL record for 300-yard playoff games with his seventh in last week’s AFC championship win over the Jets.
Seeing how he dissected two of the league’s stingiest defenses (Ravens, Jets) in the last two games, Manning poses some real issues for the Saints defense. He may not be mobile, but the numbers speak for themselves -
*completing 67.5 percent of his throws for
*623 yards,
*five touchdowns and one interception.
*Manning’s 104.6 rating is far higher than he managed in leading the Colts to the 2007 Super Bowl.
New Orleans must find a way to mix up their pressure pass rush and drop back coverage schemes.
The main players to watch will be DT Sedrick Ellis, DE Bobby McCray and linebackers Scott Shanle, Scott Fujita and Jon Vilma . DE Will Smith will be the key sack threat (he was second in the NFC with 13). However the Saints have only one sack in the playoffs. Still if they can get to Manning like they did Favre, the pounding will take a toll.
Pressure will be vital as New Orleans is overmatched in the secondary. Safety Darren Sharper, who tied for the league lead with nine interceptions, running back three for scores, will give All-Pro tight end Dallas Clark some trouble, but look for Manning to lean on young wideouts Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie as well as Reggie Wayne.
Indianapolis is likely to stick to their season-long pattern of running Joseph Addai and Donald Brown just enough to keep the Saints thinking. Still for the Colts to win it will have to be done like it has been all year - through the air.
In New Orleans, as the conductor of the NFL’s most prolific offense, Drew Brees is the league’s most accurate passer, but moreover his ability to get everyone involved creates matchup problems for opponents.
More mobile than Manning, Brees uses short drops that are especially effective for those quick-hitters over the middle.
Indianapolis, is not likely to stop a team that led the league in scoring with 510 points and has 76 in two playoff games, but their quick ends Robert Mathis and All-Pro Dwight Freeney have the skills to get in Brees’ grill in a hurry. And hurry the Colts better, otherwise there are a bevy of targets awaiting Brees’ tosses including- wideouts Devery Henderson, marques Colston, Lance Moore and Robert Meacham. David Thomas has done well in filling in where fellow tight end Jeremy Shockey’s right knee problems have curtailed his production.
The Saints also have a better run game with Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell, though Reggie Bush is also quite effective as a receiver as well. Look for New Orleans to try and get Bush in single coverage with safeties Antoine Bethea or Melvin Bullitt.
By Randy Williams, on January 29th, 2010
 
In a bit of deft casting, stand up comedian Patton Oswalt stars as Paul Aufiero, a 35-year-old parking-garage attendant from Staten Island, self-described as “world’s biggest New York Giants fan”.
Living at home with his mother, he spends his off hours calling in to a local sports-radio station using scripted rants as “Paul from Staten Island” in support of his beloved team, often against his mysterious on-air rival, Eagles fan Philadelphia Phil. His family berates him for doing nothing with his life, but they don’t understand the depth of his love of the Giants.
Living his life vicariously through his football hero, Quantrell Bishop, Paul’s life gets shaken up as he struggles (or more accurately those around him do) to deal with the consequences after being beat up by his favorite player.
Big Fan is a sadly truthful and darkly humorous picture.
DVD Special Features:
-Outtakes
-Interviews with Rob Siegel and Patton Oswalt
-Downloadable Poster
-Kevin Corrigan Recalls His Own “Big Fan” experience
The S and C Interview: “Big Fan” Writer/Director Rob Siegel
Since we spoke last during the picture’s film festival run, what kind of feedback have you gotten from Joe Public?
 writer/director Rob Siegel Many have come up to me saying “I know that guy’, but they never admit it is them. Yet everyone seems to know someone like that. It does seem to have really struck a chord.
I know one of your favorite filmmakers is Martin Scorsese, do we see a mix of “King of Comedy” meets “Taxi Driver” here in “Big Fan”?
Those are probably the two movies that are most referenced. I certainly have no problems with that. Both are among my favorites. Hopefully it is more an homage than rip off. I’m certainly proud to mentioned in that arena.
You put a spin on it by placing it in a sports realm.
Yes, some critics have called it “Taxi Driver for Sports Fans”. To me there is a little “Saturday Night Fever” in there too. Like Tony shining at the discos. Paul shines on sports radio.
Talk about the initial reaction when you told the producers you wanted to cast a stand up comedian in a semi dramatic performance.
Thankfully there are precedents for that. Many comedians have done great jobs in dramatic roles. Comedians tend to be very dark people. Yeah there is a long cinematic history of funny men taking serious turns. So that wasn’t a real problem.
Patton has never been a lead or done drama, but they trusted me.
Why did you decide on no football footage?
They say necessity is the mother of invention, mainly for legal and budgetary reasons more than anything else. Very expensive plus we were not allowed to shoot inside Giants Stadium.
Do you consider “Big Fan” a sports movie?
Big Fan didn’t have a clear redemption arc like many of the traditional sports films. But there are many different types, yet when I think of sports movies like “Rudy”, “Hoosiers” and ”Remember the Titans”, they’re the underdogs with the guy getting carried off the field in triumph.
I prefer things a little more gritty and realistic such as “Fat City” and “The Hustler”. I also like comedies including “Bull Durham”.
Is sports part of your next film project?
I have other interests and my other scripts reflect that. I think if I came out of the box with three straight sport movies, some might think I myself am obsessed! I will definitely come back to it though down the line as sports are a great playground for stories.
By Randy Williams, on January 25th, 2010
 Making its national debut over the past weekend is a comedy from Fox that features Dwayne Johnson as Derek Thompson aka The Tooth Fairy, a rough-house hockey player whose nickname comes from his penchant for separating opposing players from their teeth.
When Derek discourages a youngster’s dreams, he is sentenced to one week’s hard labor as a real tooth fairy forced to trade in a hockey stick for a magic wand and shoulder pads for wings.
In the process of awkwardly trying to get in and out of strangers’ homes doing his obligations, Derek steadily begins to see the errors of his ways as well as rediscovering his own forgotten dreams.
The star of such films as “Race to Witch Mountain” and “Get Smart” talks about what drew him into the project. “It’s a story with universal appeal,” says Johnson. “It’s a fish-out-of-water tale about believing in the impossible and the magic.”
“The Tooth Fairy is part of our culture,” the actor continues, “and part of the wonderment of being a child. It’s a character that’s never been explored, to this extent, in the movies.”
Johnson has played sporting roles in films before. He was Joe Kingman, a star football player in “The Game Plan”. The producers of that film, Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, have considerable experience bringing sports action on screen. In addition to producing “The Tooth Fairy”, these principals of Mayhem Pictures also made “The Rookie”, “Invincible” and “Miracle”.
Like any modern film story that involves sports action sequences, getting them right is critical.
“For Tooth Fairy, we felt it was very important to make a portion of Derek’s life really masculine and sports-oriented, and from this came the idea of making him a hockey player, ” recalls Ciardi. “We brought in Mark Ellis as our hockey stunt coordinator, to bring authenticity to the hockey sequences.”
Ellis also worked on Mayhem’s “Miracle” hockey sequences.
By Randy Williams, on January 22nd, 2010
This year’s NFL Playoffs have certainly re-affirmed that a team’s performance, now more than ever, is closely tied to the results produced by their quarterback.
The pressure in the NFL’s second season to reach the Super Bowl has knocked off the likes of San Diego’s Phillip Rivers, the Cardinals’ Kurt Warner and the Bengals’ Carson Palmer.
So what are the skills and challenges facing the Final Four in Sunday’s NFC and AFC Championship Games?
Down in New Orleans, prolific thrower Drew Brees (over 4,000 yards passing) and the Saints host the franchise’s first conference title game. Certainly with all they have been through, Hurricane Katrina, the bag-over-the head ‘Aints, the team’s long-losing history as sort of the lovable loser Chicago Cubs of pro football, on one level they merit a Super Bowl trip.
“There’s no fan base that deserves a championship more than New Orleans and the ‘Who Dat’ nation,” says Brees. “Just the bond that we have with them is special. They give us strength and motivation.”
 Drew Brees But Brees faces a Viking defense that is strong and motivated.
Chris Myers, an NFL television broadcaster for Fox Sports, explains how good a unit Brees will be facing Sunday after his up close observations when Minnesota rolled Dallas.
“The Cowboys have a very offensive line, but they had no chance against the Williams Brothers and Jared Allen. The Vikings defensive line reminded me of the fearsome Purple People Eaters with Carl Eller, Jim Marshall and company, ” says Myers who adds, “Brees gets rid of the ball quicker with a timing offense that offers more options. He should have more success than Dallas did, but I don’t know if they will get it in the end zone enough.”
Returning to the scene where he won a Super Bowl leading the Packers over the Patriots, this is sort of a homecoming for Viking quarterback Brett Favre.
The 40 year-old grew up not far from the Superdome. And it is in a dome that he has grown to be comfortable, leading Minnesota to an undefeated home dome record this year.
 Brett Favre While Favre won’t be facing a defense as talented as his own, Saints coordinator Gregg Williams is known as an aggressive, gambling coach. Still Williams may not have the horses to get the pressure he’d like to apply.
With a solid core of receivers and running backs, including Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson, Favre does have the horsepower, but just as important, like the NBA’s Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan, with his pride, enthusiasm and competitiveness he brings out the best in his teammates. Look what Brett Favre has done in one year.
In the AFC title game it is The Rookie versus The MVP.
 Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts’ Peyton Manning does not have the superb arm strength or mobility, but what he does have that concerns defenses the most is his ability to know an opponent’s tendencies in a given situation.
Study, practice and execution - that is Peyton. It doesn’t matter what type of formation or how good a defense is - Manning will know where the blitz will come from and a cornerback’s flaws.
The challenge is while he can count on veterans like Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne, will the Colts youngsters, Collie and Garcon, perform up to speed under the spotlight of a game of this magnitude?
The fourth quarterback this weekend is the baby of the group. No rookie has led his team to the Super Bowl, but the Jets’ Mark Sanchez can make history Sunday.
It is indeed ironic New York could be the team that defeats Indianapolis, less than a month after the then undefeated Colts (14-0) lost by resting key starters like Manning. By losing, Indy kept the Jets’ playoff hopes alive and led by Sanchez they hope to knock them off again.
Sanchez has done it by operating in a system similar to that which has made other young quarterbacks able to fare well.
“I think what has made Sanchez successful is what made Joe Flacco at Baltimore successful and that is a great running game and a good defense,” says Myers.
 Mark Sanchez But the veteran NFL broadcaster adds that this type of offense does not bode well against the Colts given the style of play these days.
“In today’s game you simply have to score a lot of points. I think the days of winning with 17 or 20 points are out the window,” observes Myers. “The Colts get ahead and by forcing Sanchez to throw to catch up or even run that helps Indy chew up the clock, that would be their downfall. That will catch up with him, like it would any great rookie whether it is Joe Montana, John Elway or Mark Sanchez.”
Another rookie, Sanchez’ coach Rex Ryan, fresh from knocking off the number two seed Chargers in San Diego, likes his team’s chances and invokes a seasoned phrase - “It’s the playoffs, anything can happen.”
By Randy Williams, on January 17th, 2010
 
With good reviews on the film festival circuit and a theatrical release, the boxing documentary “Facing Ali” is now available for home entertainment as a single disc DVD from Lionsgate.
Muhammad Ali, the three-time world heavyweight boxing champion and Olympic gold medalist who electrified the world with his unorthodox style and charismatic ways, is paid tribute by ten of his acclaimed rivals.
Incorporating an arsenal of filmmaking techniques including a camera picking up the rich reds and browns of boxing gyms and arenas, illuminating graphics and insightful archival footage, boxing greats such as George Foreman, Ken Norton and Joe Frazier among others talk about their experiences against Ali. Based on a book by Stephen Brunt, the film takes a look at how these fighters went in and came away from their bouts with Ali as well as their earlier experiences, some as his sparring partner.
DVD Special Features
-Animated trivia cards
-”After the Bell” - Director Pete McCormack shares his experience with behind the scenes details about the making of the film and stories from the boxers that didn’t make the final cut.
-”Facing Ali: Book to Screen” - Producer Derik Murray, director Pete McCormack and executive producer Paul Gertz share stories about how they brought the book Facing Ali to film in a unique way using only the boxers who faced Ali in the ring
-”Bringing The Fights To Life” - In-depth behind the scenes look at the technology used during the filming of the movie and the restoration process that brought the old Ali fight footage to HD quality
-Theatrical trailer
The SandC Interview: “Facing Ali” Producer Derik Murray
Tell us a little about your producing background.
 Derik Murray
My focus has been predominantly in sports with some music. Originally I was an advertising photographer and tv commercial director, then I began creating large-format pictorial books on topics like the Olympics, Arnold Palmer, Joe Montana and Wayne Gretzky. I did a book on Muhammad Ali in 1995. I was privileged to hear a lot of great stories first hand. Many times I wished I was rolling a camera.
In 1996 I went right into long form television producing a series called “Legends of Hockey”. It was basically an oral history of the game from hockey hall of famers. It was very fulfilling and I went on to do 50 plus hours of biography shows.
How did the Facing Ali project come about and what were the biggest challenges to completing this picture?
I had read Stephen Brunt’s book and he told a popular story in a fresh and interesting way. I also knew Pete McCormack (the director) who was also an Ali fanatic and had solid research and writing skills.
Challenges came right from the top as Stephen had 15 boxers, so we boiled it down to 10. Time and logistics were a constant challenge. Plus these were not brief interviews of 10 minutes or so, we needed 3-4 hours in front of the camera. That takes time, energy and persuasion. Some like Leon Spinks and Ernie Shavers were hard to locate - they were off the grid.
So assembling and scheduling was certainly a prominent issue in trying to get some sort of cohesive timetable together.
We began filming in April 2008 and finished in July.
Getting footage from 40 sources with some of it 40- 50 years old, we needed to give it almost a new dimension to give it a special appeal theatrically. A company in Vancouver, Digital Central, did an amazing job and the process is detailed in the DVD extras.
Stylistically-speaking, why did you decide on no narrator?
At first we thought a narrator would be needed to fill in the gaps, including specific historical references. However Pete’s research and ability to get the boxers to talk about lot more than what went on inside the ring and more about the times in general eliminated that need.
I came to believe it would better illuminate the varied personalities on display without a narrator. It would give us a better sense of who they are as people. Ten boxers as really distinct individuals.
How fortunate were you with former heavyweight George Chuvalo and his articulate knowledge of the fight game? Did you know going in about the extent of his expertise?
We knew he was good but didn’t know he could “carry the ball” to the degree that he did.
George had the depth of knowledge and glib ability to help me tell the story beyond the ring as well- civil rights movement, Nation of Islam, drugs, Vietnam - without resorting to a narrator. Chuvalo also provided some keen insights to the personal changes of Ali over that period of time.
Ron Lyle was brilliant as well. His humor and intensity and concise insights were a great surprise to us.
Despite his battle with Parkinson’s Disease any thought to trying to get Ali to speak on camera on one of his “good days”?
We kept it alive for a longtime as a possibility, but decided it really wouldn’t move the story forward. Lyle really summed it up when he said of Ali - ‘he can’t speak for himself but we can speak for him’.
What do you hope audiences come away with from seeing “Facing Ali”?
One of our aims was not to create a boxing film, but something that would shine a light on that moment in history. It would look at the broader aspects of what was going on socially and politically. The title subject truly transcended mere boxing.
I also love the fact these were individuals that didn’t have the easiest start in life, they told us what it was like to step out of those impoverished situations and effectively transform their lives.
I really think this is an inspirational film.
By Randy Williams, on January 12th, 2010
As we begin 2010 it is time to consider which is the BEST sports movie from the first decade of the 21st Century.
There are some very good choices. Documentaries, by the way, like “Dogtown and Z-Boys” deserve their own column.
Here is the Top Ten:
 
“Glory Road” (2006) Portrays a great story in sports history. In 1966 Don Haskins (Josh Lucas) coaches Texas Western College (UT at El Paso) and with the first all-black starting lineup in NCAA history he and his team overcome racism and win the NCAA Division 1 Championship over white-heavy Kentucky.
 
“Cinderella Man” (2005) - Is an inspirational story featuring Russell Crowe as James Braddock. After leaving boxing due to a broken hand, Braddock must work as a laborer to support his family. It’s the Great Depression and times are tough. Then Braddock at the age of 30 and a 10-1 underdog is given a shot at the championship against title holder Max Baer. The upset victory gave hope to the average working man that day.
 
“Bend It Like Beckham” (2002) - An engaging, fun cross-cultural, cross-generational romp, this is a coming-of-age teen comedy about bending the rules to reach your goal with a pair of soccer-mad girls.
 
“Friday Night Lights” (2004) - Here is the story of the 1988 season of the Permian Panthers in the West Texas town of Odessa. It’s a drama about how people are over-the-top about their football in West Texas, and the pressures the players and coaches have to go through.
 
“61*” (2001)- Directed by Yankees fanatic Billy Crystal, the movie chronicles the 1961 season where Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle were trying to break the Babe’s single-season home run record and the media crush that went with it.
 
“Million Dollar Baby” (2004) - Winner of four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Clint Eastwood directs and stars as a hardened trainer/manager working with a determined woman (Hilary Swank) in her attempt to establish herself as a boxer.
 
“The Rookie“, (2002) features Dennis Quaid as Jimmy Morris, a former aspiring-hurler-turned-high school science teacher who’s major league visions faded after his arm went bad. Coaching the school’s baseball team, the players make a deal with him: if they win the district championship, they want Jim to try out for a major-league organization.
The 39 year-old father of three, finds himself at a camp for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and he somehow seems to have regained his pitching arm, easily throwing a 98 mph fastball. Signed to a contract, he toils in the minor leagues while his supportive wife stays home raising their children. He soon finds himself called up to the big club and pitching for Tampa which is in Texas playing the Rangers. It is indeed a rare thing when one captures a youthful dream later in life. Based on a true story.
 
“Gladiator” (2000) -When a Roman general (Russell Crowe) is betrayed and his family murdered by a corrupt prince (Joaquin Phoenix), he comes to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge. Yes, technically a sports movie… a blood sport. And none depict it any better.
 
“Seabiscuit” - (2003) - Like “Cinderella Man” here is another inspiring story from the Depression-era. Interweaving the interactions between horse, jockey, trainer and owner, this is a compelling story of friendship and devotion in rehabilitating the fractured lives of three men and a small horse with a huge heart, and in the process inspire a nation.
and the winner is…
 
“Miracle” (2004) - At a time when America needed a miracle, this picture tells the true story of Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell), the player-turned-coach who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the seemingly invincible Russian squad.
By admin, on January 11th, 2010
By Randy Williams, on January 8th, 2010
It is a tough criteria, some play longer seasons, others go solo, a few operate complex machinery while others merely navigate their bodies through wind or water.
Jimmie Johnson, as the only NASCAR driver with four straight Cup Championships, has to be a leading candidate.
On the gridiron, Patriot quarterback Tom Brady has three Super Bowls titles and an NFL single season TD pass record.
Serena Williams is a proven winner on any surface. The five-time number one-ranked player has eleven Grand Slam titles.
Swimmer Michael Phelps is the winningest Olympian ever with 14 gold medals.
On the hardwood Kobe Bryant has won five NBA titles and an Olympic gold medal.
Tiger Woods has dominated golf with a dozen major championships.
So who’s left? Here are my picks for THE BEST ATHLETES of the last decade:
 #3 Usain Bolt 3) Usain Bolt The lanky Jamaican is the first male to hold Olympic and world records in both the 100 and 200-meter sprints simultaneously. Truly a phenomenon.
 #2 Lance Armstrong 2) Lance Armstrong Perhaps the greatest endurance athlete ever. The Texan won the first SIX of the decade’s Tour de France races.
 #1 Roger Federer 1) Roger Federer Excellence over time? Try fifteen grand slams and ranked number one in the world for the equivalent of over four years.
By admin, on January 6th, 2010
The Tide’s Heisman running back, Mark Ingram and Longhorn mobile QB Colt McCoy may be taking a rare back seat to a pair of defenses that are likely to determine the winner in the first-ever BCS Championship clash of 13-0 teams.
This Texas-Alabama matchup will be more about which defense can force more turnovers and garner better field position than anything else.
Alabama has speed and range in their defense while Texas is nationally ranked in total defense right up there with Florida, the same team Alabama torched for nearly 500 yards.
 
While both have marquee players on offense and depth on defense, the teams enter the fray from two different ends of the momentum spectrum. The Longhorns needed a lot of luck just to survive against Nebraska, while the Crimson Tide come in having destroyed defending national champion and top-ranked Florida in what was supposed to be a classic SEC Championship Game.
Even though history favors Texas, the Crimson Tide is 0-7-1 all time against the Longhorns, look for coach Nick Saban to lead Alabama’s return to glory with a game plan that leans heavily on running the ball, controlling the clock while rolling out and throwing lots high percentage passes and placing an emphasis on a stellar performance of their stout defense to carry the day.
Alabama 24
Texas 17
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