Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Juuuuust a bit outside

"Harry Doyle", aka Bob Uecker, was in Cleveland to toss out the first pitch in the game between the Brewers and the Indians. As a way to honor the 20th anniversary of "Major League", Uecker threw out the opening ball and Rick Vaughn bobbleheads were given out.

Yes, Monday night's schedule says "Interleague," but the game will also be about "Major League" -- a flick still near and dear to the hearts of Tribe fans, 20 years after its initial release.
[...]
But in true Hollywood fashion, the Tribe's home games in the movie weren't, of course, shot in Cleveland Municipal Stadium. That honor went to Milwauke County Stadium, which makes the Brewers tie-in for Monday's promotion all the more appropriate.
[...]
At least a real baseball stadium was used. The actors playing Tribe players certainly weren't real ballplayers. (And please spare us the obvious punchline that the real Indians players of the 1980s might have been better off pursuing acting careers.)

But the makers of the movie wanted a cast capable of playing ball on camera and making it look realistic. Charlie Sheen (Rick Vaughn), Tom Berenger (Jake Taylor), Corbin Bernsen (Roger Dorn), Dennis Haysbert (Pedro Cerrano) and Wesley Snipes (Willie Mays Hayes) all held their own.

"
I had heard Charlie was a good player in high school and Berenger could play pretty well, and he hit well, but he couldn't throw," Ward said. "Corbin was a very good player, and Dennis was a really good player who actually hit a few real home runs while we were filming. The one person who really wasn't a player was Wesley, but he was such an amazing athlete that he learned to play baseball in about three weeks."

When it came to finding an actor to handle the role of the Tribe's acerbic broadcaster, Harry Doyle, Ward had a natural fit in Bob Uecker, the longtime Brewers play-by-play man who also had a starring role in the TV sitcom hit "Mr. Belvedere."
Feel free to relive all the quotes here. Or just enjoy some here:
    • Jake Taylor: [to Rexman] Hell of a situation we got here. Two on, two out, your team down a run and you've got the chance to be the hero on national television... if you don't blow it. Saw your wife last night. Great little dancer. That guy she was with? I'm sure he's a close personal friend, but tell me, what was he doing with her panties on his head?
      [Rexman pops the ball straight up]
      Jake Taylor: Uh-oh, Rexie, I don't think this one's got the distance.

    • Harry Doyle: That's all we got, one goddamn hit?
      Assistant: You can't say goddamn on the air.
      Harry Doyle: Don't worry, nobody is listening anyway.

    • Harry Doyle: Heywood leads the league in most offensive categories, including nose hair. When this guy sneezes, he looks like a party favor.

    • Eddie Harris: Yo, bartender, Jobu needs a refill.

    • Willie Mays Hayes: What the hell league you been playing in?
      Rick Vaughn: California Penal...
      Willie Mays Hayes: Never heard of it. How'd you end up playing there?
      Rick Vaughn: Stole a car
Yeah, I could go on all day. {And yes, the name of my long-running fantasy baseball team is the "California Penal League" with that picture as my logo}

IF ANYONE FROM CLEVELAND GOT THE VAUGHN BOBBLEHEAD, I WANT IT. I AM SERIOUS!

3 comments:

Mark said...

"How's your wife and my kids?" is the greatest burn of all time, bar none.

It's absolutely perfect. It's cutting -- "I've been screwing your wife, with consequences!" -- and even better, it's subtle, making the target have to think about it for a second.

If there's a better one, I'd love to hear it.

Ron Rollins said...

There is a better one. Reggie Dunlap asking an opposing player about his wife going 'lesbo' in "Slap Shot".

Still the classic sports movie of all time.

Sara K said...

I like the part where Lou Brown pisses on Dorn's contract, but it's mighty hard to quote that (if you're a girl, anyway). ;-)