Sitting down with Dennis Quaid, sports movie vet

2008-10-11T05:47:19-04:00

2008-10-10T16:18:41-04:00

2008-10-10T16:38:41-04:00

2008-10-11T05:47:19-04:00

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Squeeb

28355

64 ^ I'm *not* quite sure why some people are so critical of it. 3029112

2008-10-11T05:46:45-04:00

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Squeeb

28355

63 "Any Given Sunday was a great movie. I saw it on a huge movie screen while having a 2 lb. burger and fries. But Pacino leading that ensemble cast was even better than the food. I think it was a believable and interesting story. " Yes it was...I'm quite sure why some people are so critical of it. Best movie about Pro Football as far as I am concerned. I'll be honest too...that movie got me into Football. I'm serious. Something clicked in me after I saw it...once I realized all the stuff that goes on behind the scenes..what it takes to win as a team. Remember the whole speech between Pacino and Diaz about why they should let go of Quaid and Taylor? Brilliant scene... 3029093

2008-10-11T05:42:14-04:00

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Squeeb

28355

62 Quad is a solid actor...I loved him in Any Given Sunday, and numerous other films. Hes just one of those likable guys. 3029148

2008-10-10T21:34:49-04:00

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+40yrCowboyFan

77619

61 Hey whoa what's going on here... you guys get back to the pacman jones charade right now!! THis stuff is not tolerated here on FN, and stop being civil for (insert god of choice here so as not to start a religion thread)'s sake!!! 3028287

2008-10-10T20:36:34-04:00

168

Kiwicraig78

No City 491298

59 Fave DQ sports movie? - Any Given Sunday? - Breaking Away? - The Rookie? Having not seen The Express (I was onsite and saw some filming, and have been fortunate enough to read the script - which was excellent...so very hopefuly the film will be equally excellent), my fave is The Rookie... 3027975

2008-10-10T20:45:19-04:00

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Oso Famoso

Palinville 6051

Fave DQ sports movie?- Any Given Sunday?- Breaking Away?- The Rookie?Having not seen The Express (I was onsite and saw some filming, and have been fortunate enough to read the script - which was excellent...so very hopefuly the film will be equally excellent), my fave is The Rookie...

60 Any Given Sunday was a great movie. I saw it on a huge movie screen while having a 2 lb. burger and fries. But Pacino leading that ensemble cast was even better than the food. I think it was a believable and interesting story. 3027995

2008-10-10T20:36:34-04:00

168

Kiwicraig78

No City 491298

2008-10-10T20:34:49-04:00

168

Kiwicraig78

No City 491298

58 haha...oh well, i guess we got some comments on this thread... 3027986

2008-10-10T19:53:18-04:00

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Oso Famoso

Palinville 6051

57 Well we did what we set out to do. This sucker now has 3 pages to it. Not bad for 2 people. I'm going to get going. Talk to you later on MATTUSA. Good luck in the mattress business. 3027835

2008-10-10T19:36:20-04:00

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MATTUSA

458715

Better than picking Dan Quayle or some other cipher who wants to learn Latin to speak to all those people in Latin America.

49 I wonder if they tried to get Codalisa Rice? Or was she too close to Bush? 3027790

2008-10-10T19:45:39-04:00

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Oso Famoso

Palinville 6051

I wonder if they tried to get Codalisa Rice?Or was she too close to Bush?

56 Probably so. Condie would be an awesome choice for President. But she'd probably need about 8-12 years to remove herself from W. I don't like all her foreign policy, but she seems to be a sharp woman. 3027808

2008-10-10T19:45:08-04:00

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MATTUSA

458715

55 We can't have that. i'm going to go play on TD's for a few min. Then close-up the store. sure we will talk again. 3027777

<div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><img title="Dennis Quaid" src="http://i.cnn.net/si/fannation/quaid-cuse.jpg" alt="Dennis Quaid" width="298" height="406" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align: right;">Dennis Quaid stars as Ben Schwartzwalder in The Express. </div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align: right;">Universal Pictures </div> </div> Dennis Quaid is no stranger to sports films. In his over 30-year acting career, the Texas native has played a quarterback (Any Given Sunday), a running back (Everybody's All-American), a cyclist (Breaking Away) and a pitcher (The Rookie). He can now add college football coach to his faux sports resume as he plays legendary Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder in The Express: The Ernie Davis Story which opens in theaters on Friday. I caught up with the actor recently to see why he can't say no to sports roles and if he might consider taking over the current Syracuse team -- in reality, that is -- to turn the program around. Arash Markazi: How familiar were you with the story of Ernie Davis when you were offered the role of Ben Schwartzwalder? Quaid: Not at all really. I was born in the '50s in Texas but I really never heard of Ernie Davis and I was really surprised at how many savvy sports fans I knew hadn't heard of him or his story either. It's certainly an inspirational one, that's for sure. AM: You were in Any Given Sunday with Jim Brown, who played under Schwartzwalder at Syracuse, how instrumental was he in your preparation for the role? DQ: Jim and I spent quite a lot of time together on the set of Any Given Sunday. We didn't start working until noon so every morning it was myself, Jim Brown, Lawrence Taylor and Jimmy Woods at Doral playing golf at sunrise. Then in between shots, Jim and I would play chess. Jim was really my main source for playing Schwartzwalder. I think Schwartzwalder died in '93 and Jim was close with him after playing for him in a very controversial time before Ernie Davis came along. He gave me great insight into  Ben Schwartzwalder's character and the time period. I also watched a lot of film too that existed of him to get his mannerisms. AM: You really don't have any physical resemblance to Ben Schwartzwalder. Was it hard to fully capture what he was about or play him with that going against you? DQ: What I tried to do more than anything was capture his spirit. When I play a real person I feel like I have a responsibility to that person and his family to try to capture their spirit in a real way, not in an idealized way. That's why I think I'm able to play him even though I may not really look like him. AM: The Syracuse football program, to put it nicely, isn't quite what it used to be these days. Would you consider maybe taking over the team and reprising your role as the team's coach for the rest of the season? DQ: [Laughs] Oh, why not? Sure. I can get Jim Brown to suit up. AM: When you take a role like this -- when you basically become a part of a school or team over a certain time -- how closely do you follow them after? Do you consider yourself a Syracuse fan now? DQ: Well, hell yeah. [Laughs] I'm going to be wearing my Syracuse jacket around this week. I'm invested in the team. Unfortunately, I wish the team was doing better. We all do. You're also talking to a guy from Texas so I'm a big UT fan. They actually beat Texas in the Cotton Bowl in 1959. AM: You know, some coaches still use Al Pacino's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rFx6OFooCs" target="_blank">speech in Any Given Sunday</a> to rally the team, especially if they've hit a rough patch. What was it like being in uniform in the locker room when  he gave that speech? Were you ready to hit the field when he was done? DQ: Oh, yeah, for sure. Al is just such a great actor and just to watch him role in the way that he rolled when he was given that speech was great theater. AM: I heard he did it in one take. DQ: Yeah, it was incredible. They had different shots, but he rolled with it. It was really something else. AM: You and the cast were recently embraced when the film was premiere at Syracuse. What was it like having an on-campus premiere? DQ: It felt great. I'm very grateful to have played this role and been a part of this film. Bringing Ernie Davis' story to others is important. I think it's an important story to be aware of for us as a nation. It's great to be able to give something back to that school and that community. I had a chance to spend sometime there with Jim and it was great. A lot of people don't know that Jim was probably the greatest lacrosse player to ever play the game and he's just as big in Syracuse for that as he was for being a football player. AM: You've been in so many sports films, what is it about those scripts and those roles that attract you? DQ: I've actually read a lot more sports scripts than I've done, but the ones that I've decided to do I've done them because they transcend the sport. They have to. Otherwise you might as well turn on the television and watch a game. It has to be about something else, something more than the game, something universal. The Rookie, for example, was about second chances in life and The Express was written by the same guy and it's really about meeting life's challenges with grace. Ernie Davis certainly did that and I think that's his legacy. AM: What was your favorite sports role and which one was the biggest stretch for you? DQ: The Rookie was the hardest because of the pitching. I hadn't been on a mound since Little League so to get up there you're almost naked in a way because I just wanted to look right. I certainly can't throw a 98 mile per hour fastball but I wanted to look like I could and I wanted to get the form right and that was easily the hardest. I never put myself on a radar gun on purpose because I didn't want to be disappointed. AM: What was the easiest or which role did you enjoy playing the most? DQ: I really enjoyed The Express to tell you the truth, and I'm not just saying that because it's the most recent. It was such an inspiring story and playing Ben was fascinating, He was such an interesting man. He was very flawed but he was really a complex softie underneath the rough exterior. He was one of those legendary old school tough football coaches. AM: You know, the last time most people outside of Florida actually watched the Tampa Bay Rays before this season was when you played former Tampa Bay pitcher Jim Morris in The Rookie. Have you been following your former team's current run? DQ: No, to tell you the truth, I'm an Astros fan, always have been. [Laughs] I hope they do well but I haven't been keeping up with them. AM: You mentioned you're a big Texas fan. What's your take on this season so far and the big Red River Rivalry game coming up with Oklahoma? DQ: I'm excited but I think the jury's still out on us. We have a great young quarterback in Colt McCoy who is playing really well and I think they have a chance to win it this year. We'll see. Last year they had a lot of trouble with the law so we'll see if they can stay out of trouble and take care of business on the field this year. They look good so far. AM: Do you still get a lot of mileage off that Texas Rose Bowl win over USC for the national championship a couple years ago when you go out in Los Angeles? DQ: That was the greatest football game I have ever seen. I was able to get tickets at the last minute. I was sitting in the USC section but it was incredible. It was the most amazing football game I've ever seen played. I'll bring that one up forever. AM: Are you still a scratch golfer these days? DQ: No, not anymore. I'm close. AM: That's probably the one sports movie you haven't done. Is that next on your list? DQ: Trying to. I'd like to do one. I've been trying to do a golf movie for a while but I've got to get a story that transcends golf. You got one? AM: I'll get back to you. 13221 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/396/7/thumb/markazi_arash.jpg 118 CA

Arash Markazi

Los Angeles 3987