All language subtitles for Air.2023.1080p.BluRay.x264.AAC5.1-[YTS.MX]-eng

["Money for Nothing"
by Dire Straits playing]

[crowd cheering]

[crowd]
Five! Four! Three! Two! One!

- [horn toots]
- [shouts indistinctly]

[crowd cheers]

[keyboard clacking]

[song continues playing]

[snoring]

[crowd cheering]

Where's the beef?

[crowd cheering]

[chuckling]

[inaudible]

[phone ringing]

[engine revs]

[man] Converse All Star
basketball shoes.

[imperceptible]

[game beeping]

[indistinct shouting]

[ball thudding]

[chanting indistinctly]

[laughing]

Are you guys gonna go out for regionals?

Yeah, yeah.

You're getting
pretty excited about that?

[both chuckle]

- [crowd cheers]
- [whistle blows]

- Oh!
- How are you doing, Brandon?

I'm Sonny Vaccaro. I'm with Nike.

It's good to see you.
I'll come down and say hello.

- Hey, Terence. How are you?
- Hey, man. Thanks for the shoes.

Yeah, yeah. They're looking really good.

I mean, everybody's gonna want you.
You're not gonna have a problem.

You're gonna get a scholarship.
That's gonna happen, right?

- I hope so.
- Hey, just don't forget about Nike.

Well, I'll see you guys at regionals
in two weeks, yeah? All right.

All right. Great game, guys.

["Blister in the Sun"
by Violent Femmes playing]

[car horns honking]

All right, uh, game five tonight.

- Six bets, $100 each.
- Okay.

Magic Johnson, under on points,
over on assists.

James Worthy, over on points.
Bob McAdoo, over on points.

Dennis Johnson, over on points.

What's the over-under on Rambis?

- Just... take the under.
- Okay.

And actually, one more. One more. Uh...

Give me Lakers under, 3rd quarter.

There you go.

Thanks.

[announcer]
The Boston Celtics take a 3-2 lead

in the World Championship series.

[woman]
Thank you for gambling at The Dunes,

the hotel, casino and country club.

[song continues playing]

Hey, uh, press the four and the eight.
Give me four the hard way.

Dice away.

- Dice are up. Four!
- [crowd cheering]

- Come on.
- [dealer] Hard way four.

Fourteen hundred, right there.

[Sonny] Yeah, 1,400?
Yeah, no, leave it up.

Dice away. Good luck, Mr. V.

- [crowd groans]
- Seven up, line away.

[sighs]

[song continues playing]

[car engine rumbling]

[machines beeping and whirring]

[phones ringing]

You want some water, Sonny?

- [Sonny] Why?
- You breathing heavy.

- Oh! You still can't shoot worth a damn.
- Another brick.

- What about my players?
- I'm trying. I'm trying.

- When will they come in?
- Just can't figure out why these kids

wanna take less money
to sign for a rival shoe company.

Why would a kid from Baltimore
wanna wear German soccer shoes?

Because Adidas is what's hot
right now, man.

The rappers are wearing them
in their videos.

The break-dancers
are break-dancing up in the Bronx.

They're on the floor breaking their
ankles and their elbows for no reason.

And these kids ain't cool
unless they got Adidas on.

And them some badass jogger suits.

You gotta admit we can't touch
their jogger suits.

I got my cousin in South Korea
done sent me two knockoffs.

I wear them on the weekends.
I don't wear them up here.

What is wrong with Nike?

Nike is a damn jogging company, man.
Black people don't jog.

You ain't go catch no Black person
running 26 miles for no damn reason.

Then the cops might pull you over
thinking you done stole somethin'.

'Cause these kids are talking
about Isiah and Magic.

They don't give a damn
about Bruce Jenner

throwing a Frisbee around
in a damn decathlon.

And people don't know
what the hell a Nike is.

- What's a "Converse"?
- NBA All-star shoe.

Play like Magic, dribble like Isiah.
That's what it is.

Do you know Run-DMC
doing a song about Adidas?

What? Who?

Run-DMC making a free song

coming out on their next album
about Adidas.

Who's doing it?

See, that tells me something
right there, Sonny.

Hey, when you signed Moses,
how'd you do it?

Mary Malone, his mama.

I... She thought the world of me.

In fact, you know,
I always go through the mamas, man.

The mamas run stuff,
especially in Black families.

Heck, we need more players, Sonny.

You gotta get me somebody else.

Well, we got Moses.

I know we got Moses, man.

I was in the club with him
three o'clock in the morning last night

trying to get him out there
'cause he got a five o'clock practice.

I told him, I said,
"Moses, you can't hoot with the owls

all night and fly with the eagles
in the morning."

Yeah. I could not do what you do.

I know you can't do what I do.

You can hardly do
what the hell you supposed to do.

Hey, one more chance.

You want that Adidas suit
from South Korea?

[chuckles] No.

Better not tell nobody neither.

Phil better not come up talking about
no damn, "Where's your Adidas suits?"

I need my job, Sonny. Don't play.

Uh, shit, I'm late.

You hit one shot in 30 minutes.
Let's get out of here.

I gotta stop by my office.

Damn back and my knees
are messin' up now.

Hey, Sonny, look at these damn posters
down here.

They upstairs in the running department
got Picassos.

- No.
- We got cartoons down here.

They don't give a damn
about our division.

You know, I like the, uh,
that new slogan.

The one for the whole company
that they're talking about.

- I don't like it.
- What?

- You know where it came from?
- No.

That damn slogan came from a convict
about to get executed

in front of a firing squad and they
asked him, "What's your last words?"

- "Just do it"?
- Yeah.

- That's where that comes from?
- Yeah.

- Bullshit.
- Dan Wieden told me, man.

He ain't got no reason to lie to me.

Ah, kind of a fitting metaphor

for the way basketball's
viewed at this company.

I know.
"Nike. Just get this shit over with."

- [chuckles]
- Ow!

What'd it say about me that I liked it?

That says that you're a fat
middle-aged white guy

that don't wanna exercise.

That's fair.

[Rob] So, Mr. Orwell was right.
1984 has been a tough year.

Our sales are down, our growth is down,

but this company is about who we really
are when we're down for the count.

Am I right, huh?

When you're down on the canvas,
bang, we pop right back up.

Like Balboa.

We got the Eye of the Tiger.

We're not gonna go down to Mr. T.

Pity the fool.

Here we go. Olajuwon.

Off the table.

Number-one pick
is not gonna be wearing our shoe.

Sam Bowie?

Picked by our local pro franchise
at number two.

He's going to Converse.

And at number three,
Jordan going to Adidas.

Can't afford him.

Perkins, who knows?

Sweet gap, though, huh? Nice teeth.

What we're gonna do
is we're gonna focus on three names

between pick five and pick 20.

All right, let's just...
Let's toss out some ideas.

What are we thinking? What looks good?

Lots to choose from.

Don't rush into any thoughts.

Come on, fellas.

What about Lancaster Gordon? Anybody?

Louisville.

Louisville. He went to Louisville, Bill.

That is correct. I wrote it right there.

How about... What do we think
about Charles Barkley,

the Round Mound of Rebound?

Could be a little bit of a reach for us
at pick five.

Clubhouse issues.

Clubhouse issues? What does that mean?

Trash talk.
Nobody wants to see Barkley on TV.

[Rob] Does anybody hear me
if I'm down in the valley

singing the song of a man they call
Terence "T-Bone" Stansbury?

I don't think they call him that.

Well, we could if he wears Nikes.

Think about it.

What about this fella, Vern Fleming?

Tough name, good J.

I like Melvin Turpin.

Melvin Turpin.

Thank you, Bill. On the board.

[Tim] What about John Stockton?

Uh, he's scrappy just like us.

Gonzaga? Sure.

What's that, a vocational school?

[Sonny] What do you like
about Melvin Turpin?

[Rob] Hmm?

Mel Turpin.
What do you like about his game?

Go, Bill.

He made the final four last year.

Well, so did 40 other guys.

He's the fifth, uh,
sixth pick in the draft.

Have you watched him play?

- Yeah, several times.
- What do you like about his game?

He's got great court sense. He's, uh...

- He's got good vision.
- He had 33 assists last season.

[Bill] I like his play.

- I like that the guy's good.
- [Sonny] Okay. No, no. It's all right.

He's got charisma. He's got flash.

He's gonna be a good player
in Europe in four years

- when he's out of the league.
- Okay.

[Sonny] You like Mel Turpin
'cause he's the sixth pick in the draft.

Nobody's gonna give you shit for saying
you like the sixth pick in the draft.

Yeah, I'm just...
I'm some fucking asshole, Sonny.

- You're not an asshole.
- [Sonny] No, he's got great vision.

Sonny's trying for it, though.
Here we go. Anybody else?

I gotta shit.

- [door shuts]
- [Sonny] Hey, Rob.

[Rob] Hey, Sonny. What...
Honestly, what the fuck is your problem?

- [sighs] Who are we gonna get?
- [Rob] You tell me.

Phil brought you here

because you're the Mr. Miyagi
of high school basketball.

You're not supposed to lecture people.

You're supposed to tell us
who's gonna paint the fence.

I like Barkley, some.

- I mean, "clubhouse issues."
- [Rob chuckles] Barkley?

That's the fucking dumbest thing
I've ever heard in that room,

and that is saying something.

[Rob] I mentioned Barkley in there.

You didn't think it was relevant
to chime in and support my idea...

Well, what happens in there is bullshit.

I'm telling you now.
I'm not gonna say it in the meeting.

[Rob] Well, listen.
People are afraid to speak in there.

[Sonny] Why?

[Rob] Because you spend a half hour
berating them no matter what they say.

- [Sonny] No. No.
- [Rob] Yes, you do.

[Sonny] I have no tolerance
for people...

- [toilet flushes]
- ...who have no insight,

fucking do no work, and then act like
they got a seat at the table.

- [Rob] Okay.
- Mel Turpin.

We'd be better off signing my mom.

[Rob] Not available.

Well, even if she were alive,
we can't afford her.

We can afford my mom.

Clubhouse issues.

Listen, we got 250K for three names.

This is where you come up
with a brilliant idea

that no one else can see. Let's hear it.

We need more money.

That's not brilliant, okay?

That's what happens
when things are successful.

What's happening right now is failure,

and if it continues that way,

Nike's gonna be
out of the basketball business

and we're gonna be out of a job.

- We need good players.
- Great. Good players.

Barkley, Stockton, Thorpe.

I really like Stockton.

Do you even know where Gonzaga is?

I didn't say it's ideal, okay?
It's a name,

which is better than
what you've given me.

- Rob. Rob.
- Yeah? What?

What about Jordan?

[scoffs] Sonny, we can't get
fucking Michael Jordan, okay?

I listened to Falk for three hours.

He's too expensive.

- Mr. Strasser.
- Huh? Hello, hi.

- Richard.
- Yeah. Hi. Hi, Richard.

I'd love to get some time
on your calendar.

Okay. That sounds fun.

- Can you let Doreen know?
- Roger that. Will do.

- Roger, thank you.
- Richard.

Yeah, yeah.
Just rogering you back there.

- Yeah.
- That's what that was, okay?

- Thanks, Richard. Bye.
- [Richard] Thank you.

[sighing] Oh, God. You know, there...
Thank you.

There, uh, there used to be a time

where I could name
everybody who worked here.

Ah, things change. Places grow.

That's true.

Hey, you want some dessert?
It's sundae bar day.

Hi.

- Nah. I have a meeting.
- With who?

The Shoe Dog.

["Atomic Dog" playing]

- Hey, Sonny.
- Hey, Katrina.

- [intercom beeps]
- Sonny's coming in.

[Phil] Sonny.

I'm missing the sundae bar, Phil.

Why do you think
this guy is skateboarding to work?

We're a public company.
Does he not have a car?

[Sonny] Probably just some kid.

He looks like he's 50 years old.

He's bald and he has a beard.

[Sonny] Is that Pete?

[Phil] Why would Pete
skateboard to work?

Maybe he's having a midlife crisis.

Well, I hope he doesn't scratch my car.

It takes 17 layers of paint
to achieve that precise color of purple.

They called it "grape," which sounds
kind of pedestrian, but it's pretty.

Anyway, how was the strategy meeting?

Disaster.

Uh, wonderful. What's the plan?

Piss away our tiny allocation
on three mediocre players again.

Sonny, we had an annual loss.

I had to lay off a quarter
of the fucking company, okay?

- [sighing] I know, Phil.
- Do you?

Do you know the whole basketball
division is on the chopping block?

That the board wants me
to fire everybody?

And I can't guarantee you,
without some improvement,

that's not gonna happen
at the next board meeting.

We need to increase spending.

[scoffs]

I brought you in here
to grow the basketball business.

It's... It's smaller now.

Is Strasser's number right?

- 250K?
- Yeah.

- What about 500?
- No.

You're lucky to have 250K.
I had to fight for that.

Your balance sheet's a debacle.

Half the running shoes in the country
that were sold last year were Nike's.

It's 900 million in revenue.
You wanna spend 250K on basketball?

You know what they're telling the board?

There are potentially
a million customers for basketball shoes

in the United States,

who would wear the shoes
only when they're playing basketball.

They're wondering if any investment
is worth the potential upside.

Well, if a board member said it.

The board... [sighs]

Basketball's the future.

The NBA Finals are on tape delay.

It's literally the past.

People watch basketball.

You know, we took four golds
at the Olympics.

And nobody gives a fuck.

We dominate
the running shoe market, Sonny.

Two hundred million running shoes
'cause that's what people do. They run.

And when they walk,
they wear running shoes.

And when they go to the store,
they wear running shoes.

And when they go to work,
they wear running shoes.

That's what they do.

People are starting to ask me
what you do here.

You know what I do here.

I-I know you, I know you go to a lot
of high school basketball tournaments.

And, uh,
usually with a layover in Vegas.

And I-I'm told that
you're a basketball guru

or wizard or, uh...

It... It's hard to quantify that
to a board.

You know what I do here.

You're losing, Sonny.

Yeah, just because you lose,
it doesn't mean it wasn't a good bet.

This perfect results bullshit...

- It's not bullshit.
- It is bullshit.

It's not bullshit.
Those are the central principles

that built this
into a billion-dollar business.

I can't win
if you don't give me a bankroll.

You have to be accountable.

You're accountable.
We're all accountable.

I'm accountable to the board.

I told you not to go public.
I told you this would happen.

- You'd get tight, you'd change.
- I see.

- This happens at every company.
- Uh, does it?

- All the companies you've taken public?
- Yeah, every company,

all they care about
is the P and I statement

and-and keeping the board happy.

Do you run?

[sighs]

Is this gonna lead to some
Buddhist aphorism I don't want to hear?

Do you run?

[sighs]

No, Phil. I don't.

It's hard.

It's suffering. It's difficult.

The illusion is that the finish line
is the destination,

but the act itself is the destination.

I need $500,000.

[knocking at door, door opens]

Mr. Knight, your 1:00 p.m.

Yeah.

[chuckles] Okay, Phil.

"When you find a wise critic
who will point out your faults,

follow him as you would
a map to a hidden treasure."

[Sonny] And there it is.

- [mellow music playing]
- [thunder rumbles]

[car engine rumbling]

[indistinct TV chatter]

[commentator on TV]
There's James Worthy.

There's that crossover...

And out of bounds
and it'll come back to Portland.

Pat Riley...

Looking to take his team all the way...

Ah, Street & Smith. Basketball fan.

- You wanna buy it?
- Oh, no, no. I've read that one already.

[clerk] Oh, okay.

- I'll buy this one, though.
- Okay.

Hey, what do you think of
the, uh, the Blazers' draft pick?

- Bowie?
- Yeah.

I mean, he's not Hakeem, but I like him.

You're not mad about Jordan?

A guard? [scoffs] Hell no.

I mean, he's averaging, what, 17 points,

- which is like ten in the NBA.
- Yeah.

Even the Bulls GM said that

- he wasn't gonna change the team.
- Yeah, he wasn't... Yeah, I saw.

He wasn't gonna dominate. I read that.

[Clerk] I mean, if he hadn't hit
that one shot

to win the title game
in the college championship,

he probably would've never went
that high in the draft.

He's too small to be as good
in the NBA as he was in college.

You seem like a true fan.

[sighs] I don't know, man.

I just love playing ball.

Here you go.

- Have a great night.
- You, too.

Hey. You know where, uh, Gonzaga is?

Spokane, Washington.

Stockton's too short, too.

[chuckles]

- Have a good night.
- You, too, man.

[host on TV] Michael Cooper

the Los Angeles Lakers forward,
is our guest.

We're gonna come back in just a few
moments to talk about his artistry,

how he flies through the air
with the greatest of ease.

[upbeat music playing on TV]

This is the racket I won Wimbledon with,

and you could have bought it.

Really.

You see, the Ashe Comp 2 Racquet I use
comes right off the production line.

And I don't customize my racket
because the Ashe Comp 2 is

just the way I want it,
just the way it is.

And it should be.

Head and I have worked
together since 1969,

putting in all the special features
we thought important.

So, this particular Head racket

could have gone to you
as easily as to me.

We planned it that way.

[upbeat music playing on TV]

On June 22, forward Michael Cooper,

among other Lakers,
has his own summer camp for young kids,

and, uh, if you're interested...

[tape rewinds]

[tape rewinds]

[tape rewinds]

[phones ringing]

- Yeah? Huh?
- I got it.

No, no. I'm talking...

- [phones ringing]
- [indistinct chatter]

[Rob] Um, and, you know,
you-you tend to get growth

- when you shrink the, uh...
- [Sonny] I need you.

Sonny, I-I'm gonna be done
in five minutes.

- I need you done now.
- Um, w...

You guys are busy.

- Richard, uh...
- It's fine.

[Rob] Richard, I'm sorry.
We're gonna follow up, okay?

[Richard] Thank you.

You know, uh, Sonny, in business,

there's a way in which
we conduct ourselves.

- Like we...
- I found him.

- Who's that? Jesus?
- Sit down.

Okay.

[chuckles] Lynwood Robinson.

That name mean anything to you?

- No.
- Great recruit.

Everybody was after this kid.
North Carolina got him.

He actually announced
his decision to go there

the same day that Michael Jordan did.

It was actually bigger news
in the Charlotte Observer,

got a bigger headline.

Within two years,

Lynwood Robinson transfers
to Appalachian State.

Nobody heard about him again.
Now, watch.

[Rob] This is the 1982 championship.

The shot that Jordan makes.
I've seen this. Everyone's seen this.

No, we've been looking
at it wrong. Watch.

Here's James Worthy, okay?

Number one in his draft class,
another guy we had no chance of signing.

Correct.

Why isn't he getting the ball?

They're down by one.

There's under half a minute to go.

Why isn't the superstar
getting the ball?

Why is the ball going to
the 18-year-old skinny freshman

from Wilmington, North Carolina?

Eh, they probably drew up
the play for Worthy,

and Jordan was an option
in case Worthy was covered.

No, that's wrong. Worthy is a decoy.

We've been looking at this wrong. Look.

He knows he's not getting the ball.

They're in a 1 -3-1 zone.

What's gonna happen the second
Worthy comes across the lane?

That zone's gonna collapse on him,

leaving Michael Jordan
open in the corner,

and the balls gonna go to him,
and he's gonna shoot it.

Look, when he shoots it,
he shoots it right away.

He knows he's getting the ball.

The play is drawn up for Jordan.

And now that you know that...

watch Jordan.

You feel like your plane is
on its final descent,

or are you just circling?

Look at him.

Look at how relaxed he is.

Look, he wants the ball.
He's calling for the ball.

The whole world is watching him.

He's 18-years-old.

He's three seconds away
from the biggest shot of his life.

And the biggest shot
of Dean Smith's life.

Remember the knock on Dean Smith?
He couldn't win the big one.

He'd been there three times,
couldn't get it done.

This is his fourth
and maybe his last time.

Dean Smith didn't even start freshmen.

Michael's only the third freshman
to start for the guy.

And what does he do?

He puts the ball in the hands
of an 18-year-old freshman.

Why?

Because Dean sees
the same thing that I see.

The same thing
that Lynwood Robinson saw.

Greatness.

[captivating music playing]

I don't wanna sign three players.

I wanna sign one.

I wanna sign him.

We build a shoe line around just him.

We tap into something deeper,
into the players identity.

Into that.

What's that mean?

That he doesn't wear the shoe.
He is the shoe.

The shoe is him.

You want to anthropomorphize the shoe?

Put little legs and arms on it?

[sighs]

Have you seen
the Arthur Ashe commercial?

[stammers] "This is the racket
that I won Wimbledon with

and you could have bought it."

We do that, but with a shoe.

I'm gonna blow a quick 20
right here, okay?

It's gonna cost too much money.

No, not if we bet it all on one guy.

- Too risky. You want the whole budget?
- The whole budget.

Can't do that. We're gonna spread it
across three or four players.

- I've said that.
- We have 250K. We can get him for 250K.

Guess who else has 250K?
Adidas has 250K, too.

So even if we were
to offer him $250,000,

Adidas would be able to match it.

Meanwhile, all of our other prospects
have signed with other teams.

Plus, Jordan has made it
abundantly clear,

painfully clear,
that he doesn't wanna come here.

So you would have to have
a pretty compelling pitch.

Do you have that?

Yeah, I can tell him the one thing
the other companies can't compete with.

Our basketball division
is fucking terrible.

I do not love it.

You think Phil gonna go for that?

But you like the idea, right?

- The idea? Of Michael Jordan?
- Yeah.

- What you gonna offer?
- The whole budget.

As in nobody else is getting no money?

Phil is gonna fire you.

Well, I can handle Phil.

The key to Phil is make him afraid.

You gonna get us both damn fired.

Phil got $100 million

and a life supply of them damn pink,
nut-hugging jogging shorts.

What the hell is he afraid of?

Let's say you get Phil.

How the hell you gonna get Michael?

Michael is an Adidas guy.
He loves Adidas.

That's all he wears.

Them badass warmup suits, shell toe.

Michael don't wanna come to Nike

badder than that damn guy
sitting in the briar patch.

Well, I'll deal with that
after I deal with Phil.

Phil ain't gonna do it.

- But you like the idea, right?
- I'd like to sign Jordan.

What I don't know is
what his agent gonna ask for.

["The Message" playing]

[phone line ringing]

- [Sonny over phone] David.
- Sonny, Sonny, Sonny.

Good morning, Falk.

It's the afternoon
for those of us in the real world.

What's new in the wilds of Oregon?

I hear Nike's getting out
of the basketball business.

Who told you that?

[David] You know,
I have clients in other sports.

I just signed Boomer Esiason,
great-looking kid,

and Boomer... it's interesting,
because what Boomer does...

David, David, David.

I don't give a fuck.

I'm calling about... Michael Jordan.

I told Strasser months ago,
it's never gonna happen.

- Well, you've never talked to me.
- I'm doing you a favor.

Michael's not even
taking a meeting with you.

- What do you mean?
- A meeting?

Group of two, maybe four,
five executives in a room.

They hear a pitch from a company.
It's common business practice.

Michael's not gonna be
doing that at Nike.

Don't fuck with me, Falk. Come on.

Okay, wh-what are the bids looking like?

It's not about the money.

When someone says it's not about money,

I know for sure it's about the money.

We decided to stretch the envelope.

We wanna hear what each company can do
to promote Michael.

Okay. Well, then we're thinking
along the same lines.

That's why I wanna have a meeting.

Sonny, world-class players
don't wear third-rate shoes.

Just get me in the room.

Sonny, as a friend,

it's a waste of time.

Off the record, even though
UNC was a Converse school,

Michael wore Adidas during practice.

He put on Converse
right before the game started.

The second the final buzzer sounded...

[snaps finger] ...Adidas back on.

- Bullshit.
- Ask Dean.

You said it was off the record.

I didn't say you had to tell him
where you heard it.

Trust me, Converse knows it, too.

I've already seen Adidas'
mock-up presentation.

Three words, state of the art.

That's four.

You're a stalking horse, at best.

And a slow, fat stalking horse,
so you're not even credible.

You know he'll be miserable at Adidas.

I mean, it's a shit show over there
since Adolf died.

- Adi, Sonny. He went by Adi.
- His name was Adolf.

I mean, the guy's name
was literally Adolf.

- He was a good man.
- He kept the name.

It's Adi. Adi Dassler. Adi-Das. Adidas.

- That's what it stands for.
- He was in the Hitler Youth.

No, he wasn't. Don't say that.

I saw a picture of him, personally,
wearing a swastika.

The guy had the haircut.

- We all have a past.
- Look, David,

some of us have our past
and some of us were Nazis.

There's a line.

Well, he's dead.
We're meeting with the whole family.

When is the meeting?

Uh, Jordan's going to Boston
on Thursday, that's Converse.

And then Nuremberg for Adidas
on Saturday,

- and then we're gonna close.
- Nuremberg?

Would you cut the shit? It's close to...

It's near there.

They wanna close is the point.

What are they offering?

I don't see a world
where it's south of 250.

No fucking way.

- [Sonny] Let me explain.
- Nope.

Listen, Michael Jordan is the player
we've been waiting for.

Yeah. But you said the same thing about
Artis Gilmore last year and Bobby Jones.

All right, well, if perfection is
the goal, then I'm doomed, right?

I-I mean, I'm not gonna hit every shot.

How about one shot? A shot, ever.

It's part of gambling, Phil.

- You don't win every hand.
- This isn't a craps table.

And we don't have
unlimited checks to write...

I'm not asking for unlimited.

I'm asking for what
you already budgeted.

- On one player.
- Yes.

Don't confuse desperation
with vision, Sonny.

[sighs] We're actually
gonna need more than that.

For a rookie who's never
set foot on an NBA court?

That's the literal definition
of rookie, yeah.

Magic Johnson doesn't have his own shoe.

Exactly.

I can't justify that to the board,

so there's no point
in having this discussion.

All right,
let me put it to you this way.

I'm willing to bet my career
on Michael Jordan.

Oh, come on, man.

You asked what I do here.
This is what I do.

I find you players.

And I fucking feel it this time.

Yeah, okay, it's risky.

When you were selling sneakers

out of the back of your Plymouth,
that was risky.

It took balls.
I mean, that's why we're all here.

Don't change that now.

Phil, I mean, if you look at him,

if you really look at Jordan like I did,

you're gonna see exactly what I see.

Which is what?

The most competitive guy
I have ever seen.

He is a fucking killer.

Who's the competition?

- Well, uh...
- Don't tell me. [grunts]

["My Adidas" playing]

I know the last thing any of us
wanna talk about today is business.

I... I can't imagine the grief.

Ah, as Adi would say,

"We must go on."

He did say that.

We have a great opportunity
for Adidas America.

- Very good.
- Good.

["Rock the Casbah" by The Clash playing]

[Joe Dean] We already got
the number one pick.

Who's next on the hit list?

Scoreboard.

What the fuck, guys? We're doing this?

I don't know.
I mean, can-can we even get a meeting?

Rob?

Phil, you're signing off on this?

No, it's a stupid fucking idea.
I said, "Can we get a meeting?"

I'll call Falk.

[David] Submit an offer,
then we can talk meeting.

[Sonny over phone] I can't do that.

Then I have no responsibility
to inform my client.

[sighs] Two hundred fifty thousand
is what you can expect.

I need it in writing.

When the offer comes,
it'll be in writing.

I look forward to see that.

I can't wait to waste six hours
flying out there.

Why can't you get a base on the
East Coast like a normal company?

They love it out here.

I'm glad they're happy.

Hey, how are the parents?

Smart as hell.
Don't pull any bullshit on them.

They don't want to be sold to.

Yeah? Are they home now in Carolina?

Don't call them, okay?

I'm not fucking kidding.

That'd be inappropriate
and unprofessional.

[chuckles]
So is outright refusing a meeting.

That's just business.

Why does Michael want Adidas?

Because he likes their tracksuits.

[stammers] We'll get him every tracksuit
he's ever wanted.

He's a kid. He's not thinking
about what he will have.

He's thinking about
what he doesn't have right now.

You know what else he wants?

- [sighs] What?
- A car.

Red Mercedes 380 SL.

But, fortunately,
he's got an extremely savvy adviser

who thinks long term.

You know, it's really your humility,
David, that's so impressive.

You know what I think?

You don't have authorization
to make a written offer.

Unless I see an offer in writing,

I have no obligation
to inform my client.

- David, don't fucking hang...
- [phone line disconnects]

[sighs]

[sighs]

["Legs" by ZZ Top playing]

Stan, hey. Get me a ticket to L.A.

Plane ticket. Leave it at the gate.

Oh, hey, AI. I not gonna make
the meeting tomorrow morning.

I got to go to L.A.
to see George Raveling.

Who?

How'd you get a job
in the basketball division?

George Raveling.

Coach at the Olympics, Iowa.

Best man at my wedding. Jesus, AI.

[song continues playing]

[George] It's... It's...
It's ridiculous.

I tried. I tried to put
the word in for you guys...

- ...during the Olympics. Just...
- I know. I appreciate it, man.

Michael's not coming to Nike.

He doesn't even want to meet. You know?

Uh, and believe me,

I-I told him multiple times.

And-and we got along.

He just doesn't like the shoe.

He's never worn the shoes.

He did say if somebody was to buy him
a red Mercedes 380SL,

he would sign a shoe contract
for life with anybody.

Except Nike.

- [chuckles]
- [laughing]

There's nothing cool about Nike.

Even what it means.

Adidas, "All Day I Dream About Sex."

Puma, "Please Use My Ass."

- That's not what it means.
- "Nike" has no-no meaning.

How are the parents?

Solid. She runs shit.

- Really?
- Mm-hmm.

Well, so maybe I should talk to her.

Hey, you bypass the agents
and talk directly to the family,

you're gonna lose your job.

I don't know what's wrong with me.

I been doing this 20 years.
I've never had a feeling like this.

You know when you get a feeling.

- You know?
- Yeah.

You know what?

Don't lose that.

Even if I get fired?

Summer, 1963.

A friend of my father's
asked me and his son

to come down to a march in town.

Now, mind you, I have a full scholarship

- at Villanova.
- Mm-hmm.

Right?

But I got this feeling.

Don't know why.

So I go.

I get down there.

One of the organizers see
two 6'4" Black kids

and they're like, "Oh, you guys
want to help with security?"

[both laugh]

So, now we're the Fruits of Islam.

They take us down there.

They throw us up onstage,
right on the podium.

There's cameras.

One of the boosters has to be
a Klan member.

[stammers] You know?

But this voice
kept telling me I should stay.

And I'm there five hours,

and I'm just sweating like... [groans]

Then I saw
the last speaker's speech.

We walked off stage.

I said to him. I said,

"Hey, that was the best speech
I ever heard."

He said, "Thank you, young man."

He takes the speech, he folds it up,
and he puts it in my pocket.

Later, I'm looking for my favorite line.
It's not in there.

Then I notice the whole second half
of the speech is completely different.

What was the line you were looking for?

"I have a dream."

Come on. Get the fuck out of here.

- The "I Have a Dr..." You have that?
- Yeah.

See, the first half,

he noticed the audience wasn't with him.

And he changed the whole thing,

- made the whole speech up...
- [snaps fingers]

- ...right there on the spot.
- Wow.

So, are you saying I should contact
the Jordans and-and...

- Fuck no.
- [both chuckle]

[laughing] You just fucking said
that that's what I should do.

No, but that's your voice.

Your voice tells you to do stupid shit.

My voice made me a part of history.

[laughs]

You have the speech. That's incredible.

- I also have Abe Lincoln's.
- [both laughing]

Were you doing security
for that one, too?

Oh, I'm fucking that old now?

["Sister Christian"
by Night Ranger playing]

- Sonny.
- [Sonny] Hey.

[sighs] Looking all over for you.

I was just here, man,

having a cup of coffee
before I got to the house.

I'm thinking of reaching out
to the parents.

- Reaching out to Jordan's parents?
- Yeah.

Sonny, that ain't something
you take lightly, man.

You go around Falk, you better close.

Listen.

You made me believe, man.

Y-You started the Dapper Dan tournament.

You got them all there,

the greatest high school players
in the country.

You might've forgot about this,
but I was invited.

Best day of my life.

Then I blew out my damn knee.

[Howard exclaims]

It don't matter about
what Phil is thinking

or anybody's thinking.

All that matters is
how much do you believe?

I believe in you.

You know, I was actually expecting you
to try to talk me out of it.

You wasn't gonna listen anyway.

But if you get fired,
I got a one-bedroom apartment.

I ain't got no more room for nobody.
I'm sorry.

I got two rags, one towel.
It's all I got.

[intriguing electronic music playing]

Uh, where... where is he?

He didn't come in.

Is he sick?

I'm not actually his secretary.

He doesn't have a secretary.

Where is he?

[phone ringing]

- Hello.
- [Sonny] Strass.

Hey, where the hell are you?

North Carolina.

["In a Big Country"
by Big Country playing]

[phone thumps]

God damn it, Sonny.
What happened to a phone call?

I'm calling you now. I'm in the car.

The rental car has a phone in it.

Yeah. Not me. The parents.

It would have been unprofessional
for me to just call them up.

Right, so you just thought
you'd show up at their front door.

Look, if anybody back there asks
where I am, just tell them I'm sick.

You got it. Sick in the head.

- [phone beeps]
- [phone line disconnects]

[phone clanking]

[song continues playing]

[tool cranking]

[Sonny] Excuse me.

- Excuse me, sir?
- Can I help you?

Hey, I'm looking for the Jordans.

Well, you're in the right place.

Are you Mr. Jordan?

James.

Uh, Sonny Vaccaro. I'm with Nike.

[chuckles] Oh, man. Here we go.

- Oh...
- [Deloris] James.

Who is it?

Hello, Mrs.-Mrs. Jordan.

Uh, my name's Sonny Vaccaro.
I-I'm with Nike.

I believe Mr. Falk made it clear
that we weren't interested.

Yes, I-I was told not to call.

Do you typically make it a habit
of showing up

at people's front doors unannounced?

Maybe the worst of all my faults,

- and, believe me, there are many...
- [James chuckles]

I don't like to take no for an answer.

And I actually think
your son should be endorsed

by someone with that exact mindset.

[sighs]

All right. Come on back. Take a seat.

Thank you.

Deloris, I'm out here if you need me.

- Okay, baby.
- [James] All right.

[bell tolling in distance]

[birds and insects chirping]

Five generations of Jordans have lived
and died in this forest by the highway.

Been here since the Civil War.

Some of these trees
are over 800 years old.

You know, it's quite presumptuous of you
to show up at my door.

But I believe the saying
that if you say what you want,

that's fine and good,
but doing something about it, now...

that's what really counts.

- Is he here?
- He is.

But you don't need to see him.
It's not time for that.

Where'd you get that name?

- Sonny.
- Sonny.

- [Deloris chuckles]
- Uh, well... [clears throat]

...my mother had trouble
bearing children.

So when it finally happened,
she said that when she was

staring up at the bright,
hot light in the hospital,

all she could think about was the sun.

- She still with us?
- She's not.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Thank you. Yeah. It was a long time ago.

But... but she did her best to raise us.

I think it's admirable,
giving your life for your family.

You give and give until
there's nothing left to give.

Then you give some more, but...
[chuckles]

...it's worth it.

- You're good at this.
- Yeah.

We're sitting here talking
about my parents instead of about you.

Well, I've had a lot of practice.
There's no doubt about that.

Yeah.

Mr. Vaccaro, now, you do understand

that Michael's intention is
to sign with Adidas

with Converse as a second option?

I do.

And with respect,
I think that's a mistake.

Um, I... I'll make a bet with you.

I'll-I'll tell you exactly how
those meetings are gonna go,

and if I'm wrong, then...
then don't take a meeting with Nike.

But if I'm right,

please consider that-that
you and Michael come out.

- This is Converse, by the way.
- Mm-hmm.

John O'Neil will have his hair
gelled up like an asshole.

Excuse me.

Bunch of them will be wearing
red ties for the Bulls.

John will have a Rolex for sure.

Um...

[imitating John]
"Um, now, I've seen a lot of basketball,

but the feeling that I get
when I see Michael,

there's only a few other players
who gave me that feeling."

[in normal voice] Now, when he's done,

I'd love it if you would
ask him a question.

"How's Michael gonna stand out
from these other players?

How's he gonna be different?"

What about Michael's meeting
with Adidas?

Michael's top choice is Adidas.

[in German accent]
"Hello, Mrs. Jordan, welcome to..."

Oh, no. You can just tell me.

[in normal voice] Okay, yes. Sorry.

Here's what they'll say.

"We have the best shoes,
plain and simple.

All leather.
All the kids want to wear them.

Converse isn't this cool."

And...

I mean, this is me talking now
and not Adidas.

They're not wrong.
I get why Michael wants to go there.

- Here's what you should ask them.
- Mm-hmm.

"Who's running your company?"

I think four different people
in that room

are gonna give you
four different answers.

And that's the problem
at Adidas right now.

And it's gonna be a real headache
for you for the next few years.

What should I ask you?

Ask me why I'm in
Wilmington, North Carolina.

Why are you in Wilmington,
North Carolina?

Because I believe in your son.

I believe he's different.

And I believe you might be
the only person on Earth who knows it.

That's why I'm in Wilmington,
North Carolina.

Well, Mr. Vaccaro, thank you for coming.

- Thank you.
- All right.

- [tense music playing]
- [car engine revving]

[David] You got a lot of balls,
you piece of shit!

You fat fuck!

You show up at the house?

Hey, let me ask you something.

Is everybody from Pennsylvania
this stupid?

I mean, are you trying to ruin
your fucking career?

It's David Falk.

You show up at the house!

Well, you said it would be
unprofessional to call.

That's real fucking funny.

You know, m-my job is to protect Michael
and his family from people like you.

When you go around me,
you make me look ineffectual.

And if you end up signing him,
it makes me look irrelevant.

Now, that's the worst thing
you can do to an agent.

Look, if your irrelevance is becoming
self-evident to your client,

I don't see how that's my fault.

I mean, I think that's maybe something
you should take up with your therapist.

You don't want to talk to my therapist.

You don't want to have a life

half as fucking miserable
as my therapist.

But you're giving me no choice.

Because now, after what you did,

unless you make some fucking
miracle dream deal with the Jordans,

unless you stop making
that fucking Air Sole

and start making the entire company
Air fucking Michael Jordan,

I'll bury you alive
and light you on fire

and dance and piss on your grave

and fuck the eyehole of your skull.

You're right, I don't want
to be your therapist.

You want to fuck with me?

You fucking herpes
simplex 2 motherfucker!

You know, the fact that you know
there's a second simplex of herpes

makes me think that
you might have it, David.

Of course I do! Everyone has herpes!

You know why you don't, Sonny?

Because no one will fuck you. No one.

I never looked at it that way.

You know what?
I'm a fucking monster, okay?

My lawyers are on six-figure retainers.

I will break you in half.

I will take your balls
and nibble on them.

I will chew your fucking nutsack.
Do you hear me?

I will fucking take your nuts
and fucking eat them.

I will eat your fucking nuts.

- [laughs]
- You know what...

I'm sick of your shit.

Wh-What? You think it's funny?
You think it's funny? Think it's funny?

David, come on, okay?

We're on a telephone 3,000 miles apart.

We're two out-of-shape middle-aged guys.

This is a little ridiculous.

I'm not out of shape.
I'm in great shape.

- [Sonny sighs]
- I'm in great shape.

When's the last time you saw me?
I'm in fucking great shape.

I believe you, David.

Unless you make an offer
to Michael and close it,

I will personally ensure
that no client of this agency

ever signs a contract with Nike,

and Nike will be out of
the basketball business permanently.

And so will you.

What if we do make the deal?

You and I will be best friends.

It's Monday.

I, I'm lost.

They're coming to Beaverton, Columbo.
Don't make me say it twice.

They're c... They're coming out?

They're coming... I'm saying it
twice now, you fucking idiot.

Okay, all right.

[sighs] Don't get ahead of yourself.

Michael's not gonna be excited
to be there, okay?

His mother is making him go.

I understand.

- Hey, David?
- Yeah?

- I'll see you Monday.
- Hey, fuck you!

Fuck!

[Katrina] Sonny?

Phil wants to see you in his office.

[stammers] Oh, I'll...

Give me like 10, 15 minutes.

No, he said now.

Sonny, did you go
to Michael Jordan's house

and sit down with his mother
and schedule a meeting

with his family and this company
for Monday?

We need a firm offer.

You don't have authorization
to make any offer.

I understand from his representation

that he'll be expecting
the entire amount:

250 a year, five years guaranteed.

We can't afford that offer.

Do you understand
how irresponsible that is?

That's not.
Converse is gonna come in at a hundred.

You know the Germans
will easily match 250.

Sonny, I'm the boss.
I'm the CEO of this company, okay?

I'm the CEO guy.
You do what I tell you to do.

- You work for me.
- If you want to mean something

in the basketball world,
you got to spend.

Nothing in life is free, Phil.

Tell that to the college kids you keep
giving our shoes away to for free.

That's working.

- That's a good idea.
- Is it?

How do you know it's working?

It's theoretical value.
It can't be measured.

It's a typical Sonny value.

And what was my first idea?

A high school all-star game.

Now every single company has

their own branded
high school all-star game.

I'm giving away these ideas, Phil. Free.

That's the problem is
you see them as your ideas.

It's about you and yourself
and your ego.

There is no self.
There's just the non-self.

- The non-self?
- That's right.

Does the Dalai Lama have
a grape-colored Porsche, Phil?

You fucking asshole, Sonny.

Are you trying to be an asshole?

Look, all I can do is give you
my recommendation.

This is the strongest one I've ever had.

I'll tell you what.

If you want to go start
your own company...

My own company. That's what I want.

- I wish you luck.
- Start my own company.

- Yeah.
- You can be impetuous.

You can make mistakes.
You can be reckless.

But let me tell you
how we do things at this company.

We make careful, strategic,
measured, thoughtful decisions

with knowable outcomes.

[mumbling] Right, knowable
and thoughtful and careful.

How'd you ever build this place, Phil?

Fuck you, Sonny.

[sighs] Okay.

You know, you did it,
you got the meeting.

You don't need a firm offer
to prep a meeting.

So, unless I give you
the go-ahead Sunday night,

you don't have a budget,
a Michael Jordan line,

- or a firm offer to make on Monday.
- [sighs]

So I'll think about it,
and if I change my mind,

I'll just cancel it.

I don't know how much more
emphatically I can say this.

If we don't make this deal,

I don't know what my place is
at this company.

I agree.

["Ain't Nobody"
by Rufus and Chaka Khan playing]

[game beeping]

[indistinct chattering]

[phone ringing]

Would you like to risk
any more on this hand, sir?

Maybe the deed to your house?

[Sonny] You're gonna need to
pack some pajamas for tomorrow.

Um, we're not leaving the office.

Michael Jordan is coming to Beaverton.

[smacks lips] Holy shit.

Time to see Pete.

["Let It Whip" by the Dazz Band playing]

[elevator dings]

To what do I owe the honor?

I need a shoe, Pete.

I would assume as much.

I need the greatest basketball shoe
that's ever been made.

- How long do we have?
- Monday.

Step into my office.

Hey, was that you, uh,
on a skateboard in the parking lot?

- Yes.
- What's that all about?

I'm having a midlife crisis.

["Let It Whip"
by the Dazz Band continues playing]

[Sonny] It has to be individual.

But, think of it like this.

Uh, Converse are plain,
ordinary shoes, right?

Every player wears the same one.

What we do with this one is,

rather than have the athlete
wear one of our shoes,

we create the shoe around the athlete.

So, the shoe is a physical manifestation
of the individual

rather than the individual
as emblem of the corporate entity?

Something like that.

The requirements are:

speak as an individual,

market to a mass audience

and be the most beautiful shoe
known to mankind.

Yes.

Form or function?

Uh...

Something can be beautiful,
or it can be practical.

Rarely both.

Come up with something new.

Humans have been wearing shoes
for thousands of years,

and the design has
substantively changed once,

when they differentiated
between the right and the left shoe.

That was 600 years ago.

Let's go form.

Beauty.

Not function?

You know what they say.

"Poetry only makes the world bearable.

It's engineering that got us
to the Moon."

- [pager beeps]
- Shit. I gotta go.

Hey, just get started today.

Tomorrow's Saturday...

If you don't come in Saturday,
don't bother coming in Sunday.

We're of like minds.

Who's the player for the shoe?

Michael Jordan.

["All I Need is a Miracle"
by Mike + The Mechanics playing]

Mrs. Jordan.
It's a pleasure to meet you.

- It's a pleasure meeting you.
- Mr. Jordan.

We sure do appreciate you
making the long trip out here.

Right this way.

- Thank you.
- [David] Here we are.

- [John] How was everything?
- [Deloris] It was wonderful.

Yes?

[announcer] Converse All Star.

They started out on
the basketball court, but now...

They're everywhere.

[upbeat synth-pop music
playing on video]

They're everywhere.

They're everywhere.

[announcer] Converse All Star.

Official athletic shoe
of the 1984 Olympic Games.

The feeling I get
when I see Michael play,

there are only a few other players
who gave me that feeling.

And those players are here, at Converse.

It is that simple.

Michael, we're gonna treat you
like our superstar

before you even set foot
on an NBA court.

[David] We're looking for a shoe

that holds appeal
beyond the basketball court.

Well, what could hold more appeal
than the shoe worn by

the best players in the game?

Tradition and history
are paramount at Converse.

You have an impressive roster.

Best three players in the league

in Magic Johnson, Larry Bird,
Julius Erving.

But another way of looking at this is

that the best Michael will ever be
with you is number four.

Frankly, ma'am, we're...

we're talking about Magic Johnson
and Larry Bird here.

He's gonna play like them.

He's gonna be mentioned
in the same sentence with them.

- What can be better than that?
- [chuckles]

[tense music playing]

[Sonny] No, they're too bland.
They're ju... just too white.

Not enough color in there.

I mean, the Bulls are red and black.
Can you get more red in?

They literally are not permitted to be

a single additional
percentage point of red.

Is that true? What is the actual rule?

51 % of the shoe has to be white.

NBA is extremely strict about it.
They'll fine him.

They'll fine him?

[Peter] $5,000 a game.

[sighs]

We're fucked.

What about more red?

A lot more red.

And what about if we just pay the fines?

Make a commercial out of it.

You know, it'll give us headlines.

"They're gonna fine Michael Jordan
for being too colorful."

Yes.

More red.

That's right.

Subversive. Individualistic.

That's it.

Do you men think about
basketball shoes often?

- I mostly think about basketball.
- More marketing.

Basketball shoes are the...

central preoccupation of my life.

- We know.
- Yeah.

I've had one persisting obsession

that I've harbored and nurtured

in hopes of making
the perfect basketball shoe.

I've been trying to apply that
to the Sole line.

I thought it should be called...

Air Sole, but...

[sighs] That's not it.

This is it.

What is it?

Air Jordan.

That's perfect.

Yeah.

What's wrong?

[sighs] I think David Falk
said the same name.

[Rob] What?

- You know, fuck that guy.
- We'll just tell him he said it.

- Yeah.
- You said it.

- Okay.
- [Rob] David Falk can...

- [Sonny] Your idea, Pete.
- My... my idea.

Yeah. Air Jordan.

["Can't Fight This Feeling"
by REO Speedwagon playing]

[Sonny] I like this place better
when it's empty.

What does that say about me?

You know, Sonny, this doesn't work out,
jobs are gone, checks are gone.

You know that, right?

Well, you'll get another job.

What I do you can't put on a résumé.

I wouldn't worry about it.
You're very, very convincing.

Yeah. That's my job.

But I also know that sometimes people
can be completely and totally wrong.

- [Sonny chuckles]
- Okay?

You know, like-like somebody
really sold the emperor on,

"We should bomb Pearl Harbor." Okay?

Are you likening yourself to Hirohito?

We can take this stuff, right?
'Cause the cashier's not here.

Well, I mean, in a way, I am.

You know, uh, you know
that-that new, uh,

Springsteen song, "Born in the U.S.A."?

- Yeah, everybody knows that song, Rob.
- Huh? Yeah.

So I, so I got that
in the tape deck in the car.

Listen to it every morning,
get all psyched up.

You know, I just... I really sing it.

I'm, you know, fired up about
American freedom and...

Yeah, I can imagine.

Uh, but Th-this morning,
I really focused on the words,

and it is not about freedom.

Like, not in any way.

It's about a guy who comes home
from Vietnam, can't find a job,

and I'm just belting it out
enthusiastically.

Just completely wrong idea.

And, you know, uh, we actually make, uh,

about 80% of our shoes
in South Korea, Taiwan.

Um, and I know I should be
ambivalent about that.

But-but I'm-I'm not.

Um... [smacks lips]

The judge in the divorce, uh,
she just gave me Sundays.

Yeah, you get to be a-a dad
for four hours every Sunday at the park.

That's the only time I see Avery.

Yeah, I know.

[softly] Yeah.

She's getting so she's not used to me.

Uh, but she's... so she's seven,

and, um, and I-I started

bringing her free Nikes every Sunday.

And, you know, it's-it's the thing
that she looks forward to

about seeing me, you know.

So I-I bring her the shoes,
so she loves me.

She got about 60 now.

- [chuckles]
- And so, the shoes, um,

it makes me mean something to her.

And if Phil shuts this division down,

I'm ashamed to say
I-I'd still buy the shoes,

even if it meant giving Phil money
and we make them in Taiwan.

But I don't want to do that.

I just want Avery to love me
and I want my job.

And I think that you may have been
a little bit cavalier

about the risks and, you know,
about taking us all with you.

[sighs]

I mean, if we're gonna make it,
we got to take risks.

Spoken like a man without
a seven-year-old on Sunday afternoon.

I'm sorry.

It's all right.

I do see what you're doing with this.

It's just a shoe, Rob.

- It's...
- No.

A shoe is always just a shoe
until someone steps into it.

Hey.

Happy birthday.

Thank you.

[Peter] Hey, Sonny.

[exhales deeply]

We're ready.

[machine beeps, whirs]

["Computer Love" by Zapp playing]

[elevator dings]

[Peter] It's your birthday?

Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

And don't ask the next question.

Well, here it is.

This is the mock-up, but the shoe
will look basically like this.

Wow.

Yeah. Yeah. I gotta say, it's beautiful.

It has the logic of water.

It's natural.

Like the shoe was always here.

Like it always existed.

Right.

Let's, uh, get the prototypes
processed right away.

[Horst] So, on behalf
of the whole family,

we wish to welcome you in Germany.

And also, thank you for making

the excruciatingly long journey
to come and see us.

[Kathe] Yes, thank you.

[Horst] Michael,
you're the next generation.

You don't want to be grouped in
with Magic and Bird.

You belong in our stable of athletes.

[John] You won't see
this style anywhere.

Those are all leather.

[Deloris] Are these the only options
for the shoes?

Well, the NBA has rules,
but we have options, yes.

And I know this is a family business,
but who makes the final decision?

[John] Well, unfortunately, the family
has suffered a tremendous loss.

Kathe is calling the shots.

Yes. That's right.

It is, uh, collaborative, though.

[Kathe and Horst speaking German]

A group decision.

[arguing in German]

- [car engine revving]
- [rousing music playing]

Oh, you like it up here?

[sighs, grunts]

This is the only comfortable couch
in the building, Phil.

Where's Rob? Where's Howard?

Uh, Rob's getting something to eat.

It's not stealing
if the cashier isn't here.

- You guys been here all weekend?
- Yeah.

[chuckles] It, uh... it was nice.

It was like the old Nike days.

You got a name for it?

For what?

The Michael Jordan line.

If we're making this offer
you're talking about,

damn well better have
a Michael Jordan line.

Yeah. Uh, well,
there's a thought that, um...

Pete actually thinks
we should call it...

Air Jordan.

Hmm.

- I don't know.
- Seriously?

Uh... [sighs]

Maybe it'll grow on me.

Full budget?

Yeah. Full budget.

Well, how'd you come to that solution?

I went for a run.

Air Jordan. It's fucking fantastic.

[Sonny] So I'll meet the Jordans
out front. I'll bring them up, and then,

Howard, you want me to pass them off
to you so you can talk about...

Yeah, probably-probably best to let me
talk about my role down the road,

and then I pass it off
to Rob with his thing.

Great. Uh, and, Phil,
I want you to come in

seven minutes late to the meeting.

Absolutely not.
I'm the CEO of the company.

I have to be there the whole time.

[Sonny] No, it-it looks desperate.

And Phil has a million things going on,
and the only way to show that

is if Phil comes in late to the meeting.

It shows Phil took time out of
his very busy day for the Jordan family.

[Rob] Might seem like Michael Jordan

is not a priority to the CEO
or the company.

[Phil] No. No.

Sonny... Sonny is-is
actually right about this.

It makes Phil look more important.

And so if Phil's there,
he's more important.

It's a more important meeting.

I do see Sonny's point,
to be sure, but, uh...

We need to, uh, bind
and print the shoe design.

- [Peter] How many?
- [Sonny] One.

- [Peter] Really?
- Yeah, just one.

Uh, the second you have multiples,
it diminishes the value.

Oh.

- I like it.
- Mm-hmm.

We have a video, right?

- Yeah.
- These things go great with video.

- Yeah, yeah, we do.
- [Sonny] Do we have to show it?

Well, uh, Sonny,
marketing put good time into that.

[sighs] Okay, this team is good enough.

You are all capable.

And I believe in each one of you.

Remember to focus on your breath.

When you breathe in,
know you're breathing in.

When you breathe out,
simply know you're breathing out.

I'll see you in seven hours
and 25 minutes.

[huffing]

[Howard] What the hell
is he talking about?

[Sonny] Did he say breathe out
while you're breathing out?

[Howard] Yeah, I think he did.
I don't know.

["Good Feeling"
by Violent Femmes playing]

[keyboard clacking]

What's up? [sighs]

[Rob] Why don't you go home
and get some sleep?

There's nothing more you can do
at this point.

How you feeling?

Same way as I did 72 hours ago.
I think you're fucking crazy.

But now I'm 45 instead of 44.

Well, other than that.

Other than that, I think we're good.

[sighs]

You know, Sonny, sometimes, uh,

the most you can do is all you can do.

Okay?

And you're not in this alone.

Howard's key.

And I'm a marketing guy, you know?
I got a few moves.

Uh, you got a few moves?

Yeah, got a sweet little hook shot
off the glass.

I can't wait to see that.

["Tempted" by Squeeze playing]

- [woman] Hi.
- Thank you.

- [James chuckles]
- You made it.

- [James] Long time no see.
- Good to see you.

You still got that phone in the car?

Oh, I had to return
that whole operation.

- [James] Man.
- [Sonny chuckles]

Hello, Mrs. Jordan.

- Thank you so much for coming.
- [James chuckles]

Hi, Michael. Please come with me.

Right this way.

[riveting music playing]

[quietly] He doesn't wanna be here,
but he will listen.

He promised me that.

You have our attention.

[Sonny] Thanks for making it happen.

So we'll just head up these stairs here.

[riveting music continues]

Welcome.

- [Rob] Hello. Yeah. Hi.
- This is a big day

and, uh, hopefully the start
of something very big.

- Where's, uh, where's-where's H?
- I don't know.

- Okay. Really?
- I don't know.

Um, so, uh, how was
the flight out? Good?

Fine. We had Arby's at the airport.

Oh, is that right?
And, uh, and, Michael,

did you, did you not
fly them out yourself?

[Sonny chuckles lightly]

He jumped so high, um...

So we got a sign
and some snacks over here.

- Oh, here's Howard. Yeah.
- Hey there.

This is, this is Howard White.
Mr. and Mrs. Jordan.

Mrs. Jordan, so good to see you.

It's a pleasure. It's a pl...

Mr. Jordan, how are you?

Only other brother in the room,
and you're late.

- [Howard chuckles]
- Oh, James...

Wasn't my fault.
I'm gonna tell you what happened.

Well, this is my son Michael.

Hi. What's up, champion?
Good to see you.

Glad you came out.

Listen, two guys from legal
told me the best burgers in Portland

- is close by, right?
- [James] Mm-hmm.

But a Portland close by
is longer than you think. [laughs]

Do you like it here?

I-I like it.

And we have everything.
You know, you got the mountain.

You know what they call it? Mount Hood.

- [James laughs]
- But it's really nice.

It ain't really the hood.
And it rain a lot.

You got to have a umbrella.

One time, it was raining so bad,

and I'm in my car
searching for a umbrella.

I had my suit on, I was looking good,
and it was pouring down rain.

White folks out there
running in the rain.

- [James] Running?
- And they know it's raining.

I said, "What is wrong
with these people?"

I'm sure there are worse things,
Mr. White.

[Howard] You know what? You're right.

You're right, it could,
and I handle those things, too.

I try to, like, look out
for our young men, you know.

Make sure they make the right choices.

Yeah. Well, that's good. Yeah.

You know, but the young boy's here
to have fun, too.

You're right, you're right.
And we gonna have some fun.

Go on, sit down. I know you're tired.

I know you been standing
and you been going through that airport.

- Reverend.
- Falk, how you doing?

- How you doing?
- Not since D.C...

You still calling me Reverend.
I love that.

My mama said I was gonna be
a preacher, but...

I-I didn't know
what I was gonna do, but...

- [David] Here you are. Here you are.
- Here we are.

- We good?
- Yeah, yeah.

All right. Take a look.

[captivating music playing]

[Michael] Bulls colors.

[Sonny] That's right.

[Rob] Yes, sir. Yeah.

Here, let's...
Let's get this out of here.

What do you think about that?

[Sonny] They're called Air Jordan.

I-I know you like your shoes
low to the ground.

- Yeah.
- W-We'll tailor them however you like.

The-the shoe will be designed
specifically for you.

We'll build it off a mold of your foot.

We skived the cushioning down so...

Thank you, Pete.

So, what are your thoughts?

- That shoe is red and black.
- [Rob] Yes, sir.

I thought the NBA had a rule on color.

Yeah, they do.

Um, they want it all white,

and with all due respect to them,
they can go to hell.

We're gonna pay the fines,
uh, for Michael every game.

- [door opens]
- [Phil clears throat]

Excuse me. Hi.

- [Sonny] Hey.
- Sorry I'm late.

[stammers]

Uh, Phil, I was just
explaining to Michael

that we're going to, uh...

I-I was...
I just was explaining for a second

that-that... that I'm the CEO
of this company

and it's worth
nearly a billion dollars now.

And I'm so extremely busy

it's almost impossible to imagine.

But this meeting was so important,
I told my secretary

I wasn't going to miss this
no matter what.

That's how important this is.
Go ahead, Sonny.

Well, I was just telling Michael
that we were gonna pay

any fines incurred by the shoe's design.

Oh.

[Sonny] Be one per game, as you know.

- Great.
- [Sonny] Yeah.

[Phil] We have a video?

[Rob] Uh, yes, yes, we do.

Yes, we do. But I-I thought
that the-the Jordans might be

interested in how we see
the future here at Nike

and how we would market Michael
as a person

and not just another guy
wearing someone's shoes.

And there are no limits here at Nike.

You can do just about anything.

- [chuckles]
- How'd that get in there?

[Howard] We believe Michael
can represent something

more than just a basketball player.

Hell, you can find them anywhere.

You're looking at one busted-up one
right here. [chuckles]

And Rob wants
to really market our players,

and this has never been
really done before.

That's one of the things
we've-we've really pioneered.

Do you have a video?

Shall we? Good. Great.

Uh, let's watch a movie here.

So, um, let me kill these. Yeah.

Um, well, I'll let it speak for itself.

I just... I'll hit go here

and just get it started.

["I Can Dream About You"
by Dan Hartman playing on video]

I'm sorry. Turn it off.

- Rob, turn it off. Just please.
- [Rob] Sonny...

Sonny, what the fuck are you doing?

Forget about the shoes.
Forget about the money.

You're gonna make enough money.
It's not gonna matter.

Money can buy you almost anything.

It can't buy you immortality.
That you have to earn.

[Sonny sighs]

I'm gonna look you in the eyes,
and I'm gonna tell you the future.

You were cut from
your high school basketball team.

You willed your way to the NBA.

You're gonna win championships.

It's an American story,

and that's why Americans
are gonna love it.

People are gonna build you up.

God, are they going to.

Because when you're great and new,
we love you.

Man, we'll build you into something
that doesn't even exist.

You're gonna change the fucking world.

But you know what?

Once they've built you
as high as they possibly can,

they're gonna tear you back down.

It's the most predictable pattern.

We build you into something
that doesn't exist,

and that means you have to try
to be that thing.

All day, every day.

That's how it works.

And we do it again and again and again.

I'm gonna tell you the truth.

You're going to be attacked,

betrayed, exposed and humiliated.

And you'll survive that.

A lot of people can climb that mountain.

It's the way down that breaks them.

Because that's the moment
when you are truly alone.

And what will you do then?

Can you summon the will
to fight on through all the pain

and rise again?

"Who are you, Michael?"

That will be the defining question
of your life.

And I think you already know the answer.

And that's why we're all here.

A shoe is just a shoe

until somebody steps into it.

Then it has meaning.

The rest of us just want a chance
to touch that greatness.

We need you in these shoes,

not so you have meaning in your life,

but so that we have meaning in ours.

Everyone at this table will be forgotten

as soon as our time here is up.

Except for you.

You're gonna be remembered forever,

because some things are eternal.

You're Michael Jordan,

and your story is
gonna make us want to fly.

[Phil] I know... [clears throat]

Mr. Falk has already
shared this with you,

but I wanted to give it
to you in person. Um...

Because it's the most significant offer

Nike Basketball has ever made
to any athlete.

We're expecting the others
to bid in a similar range.

Thank you, David.

Nonetheless, Nike has long been
in search of its basketball star.

We believe you are that star.

Well, thank you, Mr. Vaccaro,
Mr. Knight.

Mr. Strasser, Mr. White, thank you.

- Bye, Mr. White.
- Mrs. Jordan.

Thank you.

Well, you guys could come this way.

[Phil] Thank you so much.

[Howard] Thank you.

Mr. Jordan.

- Thank you, Michael.
- Call me anytime.

We're gonna take a hard look
at everyone's numbers,

and, uh, we'll let you know
when we let you know.

Great speech.

Emotional.

Great. Thanks, David.

- Where the hell'd that come from?
- I don't know.

[Phil] Sonny made an audible.

Way to go, Sonny.

What the fuck is that thing
w-with the fines, by the way?

It doesn't matter. I think we have him.

And we just have to wait and see.

It's a hell of a speech.

It was good. It was good.

[Peter] "Everyone at this table
will be forgotten."

I think I'm gonna be remembered.

I'm not... I think I've done
something impressive.

You know?

I mean, it was a good speech.

We got him.

["Time After Time"
by Cyndi Lauper playing]

[foghorn blows]

[pager beeping]

[phone line ringing]

Hey, it's Sonny.

Yeah, no. Yeah, he... they...

Yeah, I'll be there.
Um, look, uh, nothing from the Jordans?

Okay. Uh, well, you know,
soon as and, uh...

You have the home number?

Okay.

Bye.

["Time After Time"
by Cyndi Lauper continues playing]

[crickets chirping]

[phone ringing]

- Hello?
- [Howard] Sonny.

Hey, Howard. Wh-What's going on?

Hey, listen, man, I... I just heard.

Adidas, they matched the offer.

The 250?

Yeah, the 250 and a car.

You're kidding me.

No, man. No.

I talked to James...
Michael daddy... today.

That's what he told me.

And, uh, I don't think
he accepted it yet, though,

so we might still have time.

That's why I wanted
to give you the heads-up.

Maybe make some moves, uh, spend the...

No, I mean...

[sighs]

This was the move. This...

That was it.

[sighs]

Well, we'll still hear from Falk.
Maybe you can talk to Falk.

Yeah, I'm sure he can't wait.

Sonny...

Sorry, man.

Hey, Howard, uh...

Thanks a lot, man. I just...

Thank you for everything you did.

No problem, Sonny.
I'm here for you, man.

I appreciate that you,
that you believed in me, man.

[sighs] See you, man.

Okay.

[sighs]

[melancholy music playing]

[imperceptible]

[muffled chattering]

[phone ringing]

Hello, Falk.

[Deloris] Mr. Vaccaro.

Mrs. Jordan.

I have some news for you.

Just do it.

Uh, you didn't expect me to call?

Uh, well, typically, I would...
I'd hear from Mr. Falk.

Uh, but this is
a pleasant surprise, I promise.

Well, I told Mr. Falk
I would handle it from here.

I have a lot of respect for that.
Thank you.

Michael will accept
the 250,000 salary guaranteed,

and the shoe will be named
for Michael and our family.

- What-what?
- Yes.

- Uh, really?
- [chuckles]

Mr. Vaccaro, don't sound so surprised.

No, this is... No, great decision.

Uh, you're not gonna regret it,

and I-I can give you
my personal guarantee...

I'm not finished.

No. Yeah. Ex-Excuse me. Sorry, go ahead.

Now, we are willing to accept the deal
and commit right away

but with one minor provision.

Name it.

It's nothing, really.

It's so obvious that its omission,
I assume,

from the term sheet
was a clerical error.

I'm sure it was.

Michael will get
a percentage of the revenue

of the sale of each shoe that's sold.

I'm sorry?

Not all Nike shoes,
just the ones with his name on them.

Oh, well, uh, Mrs. Jordan,

so that's not how
the business works at all.

I mean, I-I understand the assumption,
but, um, what...

The-the athletes get a licensing fee...

In this case, obviously,
a groundbreaking fee...

But they don't actually participate
in the gross sales of the shoe.

Because Nike's a public company,
so that... it... they can't...

That would disrupt the industry,
and they wouldn't... they, um...

Th-There's a-a whole other set
of economics around this.

It's very complicated.

Yeah. I'm sure it's quite complicated.

This way, it's cleaner 'cause you know
and the family knows

exactly what's going
to come in every year...

Well, that's not his concern.

- Um, okay. Uh-huh.
- All right?

His concern is that, in order
for the shoe to be meaningful,

in order for young people,
many not of real means,

to wanna go out and spend the money

that they worked all week,
two weeks at the mall for,

then Michael has to create
the meaning in that shoe.

His name is on that shoe.

Yeah, so actually we think
that's a benefit to him

because his likeness
gets marketed by Nike.

No. His likeness, his name

is not in any way meaningful to Nike

unless he scores
40 points a night, every night,

beats Hakeem as Rookie of the Year,

makes All-Star and All-NBA team.

[sighs] Okay, that would be exceptional.

And-and, um, you know, it is the NBA,

so these are the best of the best.

Well, he has to be better.

He will win championships,
multiple championships,

final MVPs. I know my son.

All-Star selection, All-Star MVP,

Defensive Player of the Year...

But, ma'am, with respect,

Sidney Moncrief is the
Defensive Player of the Year.

Adrian Dantley won the scoring title.

They're not...

You don't get to be Magic
and Michael Cooper.

It's basketball.

But if he does it,
he deserves to be compensated.

You eat, we eat. That's all he's asking.

That's a fair point,

but that's just not
how the business works.

I mean. They... They invest the capital
and get the reward

and that's how it goes.

Well, maybe that needs to change.

Because if he does
what I think he's gonna do,

what you also think he's gonna do,

and what Michael knows he's gonna do,

then it won't be
the NBA promoting my son.

I promise you.
It'll be the other way around.

And in that case, he deserves a piece.

Mrs. Jordan, I... I understand
what you're saying. I...

I actually agree with you.

But that's just not
how it goes in this life.

[sighs] People like your son,

people who work for a living,

they don't let us own anything.

We take the best we can get.

And this is a great deal.

This is the biggest deal

this company has ever
offered anyone, by far.

Michael could blow out
his knee next week.

Mr. Vaccaro, I agree
that the business is unfair.

It's unfair to my son.

It's unfair to people like you.

But every once in a while,

someone comes along
that's so extraordinary

that it forces those reluctant to part
with some of that wealth to do so,

not out of charity,

but out of greed,

because they are so very special.

And even more rare, that person demands
to be treated according to their worth

because they understand
what they are worth.

Or their mother does.

You purport to know
a good deal about my son.

You tell me.

Is it me who believes
in Michael, his name,

or am I just a healthy reflection
of who he is

and what he believes about himself?

Hmm?

Isn't that why you came to my home?

Yes, it is.

Okay.

Now I'm going to put it
to you plain once again.

Michael will get $250,000

and a Mercedes-Benz
that will be forgotten in a year,

but he gets a piece
of the revenue of the shoe

and all future Air Jordan shoes.

A shoe is just a shoe

until my son steps into it.

[mellow music playing]

[sighing]

What... What happened?

We didn't get him.

What are you t... I heard
you were down there closing

- with the mother.
- Adidas matched.

- He needs more.
- More money?

Oh, I'm sorry, Phil.

Uh, he wants a piece of the shoe,

the gross revenue, his...

Everything with his name on it.

[scoffs]

- I know, I'm sorry.
- Jesus Christ.

I'm really sorry.

[sighs]

Fuck it. We should do it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, Sonny.

I thought you believed in this guy.

Well, of course, I do.

There's not a lot of point
in having a basketball guru

if you don't listen
to what he has to say.

The board's never gonna do that.

This has never happened before.

[stammers] You'd be putting yourself
in a real bad spot.

Th-They could call for your removal.

If this guy is
who you think he's gonna be,

he'll be the best thing
that ever happened to this company

and he'll be worth every penny.

Let me worry about the fucking board.

It's a big risk.

You're remembered
for the rules you break.

Close the fucking deal.

Hey, Sonny.

That's how I built this company.

I get it, Phil.

Go get him. [clears throat]

[chuckles]

[phone ringing]

Hello?

- [Sonny] Mrs. Jordan.
- Yes.

I've spoken to our CEO.

And?

The Nike Corporation
is going to accept your terms

and offer Michael Jordan
a direct revenue share

from the sale of every single shoe
with his name on it.

- [sighs]
- ...anywhere they are sold in the world.

[sighs in relief]

Yes.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Uh, is-is Michael there?
Could I speak with him?

Yes, it's time.

[sighs]

[Michael] Hello?

Hey, Michael. Welcome to Nike.

[imperceptible]

[phone ringing]

[Rob] Hello?

[Sonny] I need to see you
in the bullpen.

- Hey, Sonny, you know, uh...
- It's important, Rob.

- [phones ringing]
- [busy chatter]

Hey, everybody...

Uh...

We just signed Michael Jordan!

- [all cheering]
- Yes!

- [woman] Here's the Ewing file.
- At the buzzer, Sonny.

- [Sonny chuckles]
- At the buzzer.

Yeah, well, what can I tell you?
I love the suspense.

Percentage of sales?

I'm not gonna lie to you, David.

I'm told you have lawyers
on six-figure retainers.

No, they're on a cap.

I don't know
if I should tell you this, but...

[exhales] Sonny, Adidas was never
gonna match the percentage.

No one was.

I thought you were the kind of guy
that would like to know

when someone makes
a fucking play on you, you know?

[chuckles]
Well, that's very nice of you, David,

but I actually think
this is one of those deals

that's gonna work out for everybody.

Oh, yeah?

Uh, what's Adidas doing?

They're pivoting.

- Yeah? To who?
- Mel Turpin.

- Interesting.
- He's not a client.

How's Phil? How's he feeling?

- Great.
- It's a big step.

Big steps are how we made this place.

You know, you better
get me on speed dial

- for the next five years. [chuckles]
- Oh, please.

Howard's gonna take over with Mike.

You'll be gone in a year.

No more rabbits to chase.

Well, that's the thing
about rabbits, you know?

You never know 'cause
they just make more rabbits.

[laughs] Yeah, they do.

Well, I'd say it's been a pleasure
doing business with you, David,

- but it never really is.
- Nor should it be.

I don't have friends.

I have clients, okay?

That's why I'm a great fucking agent.

I'm gonna sell my business one day,

and I'm gonna be a very rich man.

I will eat alone, but I'll be rich
and so will my clients.

Then I'll worry about friends.

Well, you call me the next time
you have a once-in-a-generation talent.

I'm thinking of signing Ewing.

- What do you think?
- Pat?

He immigrated from Jamaica
to a little house

off Auburn Street
in Cambridge, Massachusetts,

when he was 13 years old.

He'd never played basketball.

The kid played soccer.

And Mike Jarvis spotted him

in the hallways
at Cambridge Rindge and Latin.

He recruited him.

That team won three state titles.

I think he's the exact type of player
who should be wearing Nikes,

and I think you can sign
whoever you want

after the deal we just made.

You're welcome.

You should be thanking me.

For... For what?

For coming up with the name of the shoe.

- Air Jordan?
- Yeah.

Nah, that was Pete. Bye.

- No, I came up with...
- [hangs up]

I... Sonny? Son... Fucking...

[yells] Did I or did I not say
"Air Jordan"?

[door opens]

We're closed.

Congratulations.

You okay?

[exhales] Just concentrating
on my breath.

Why?

Just... [sighs]

Doing a forgiveness meditation
for myself.

Hmm.

What are you forgiving yourself for?

I think it's possible we may have set
a very dangerous precedent.

Now every athlete's
gonna want a percentage.

Next thing, they all want equity and...

Fuck it.

Too many cows.

[chuckles softly]

If we ruin the business,
at least we had fun doing it.

It felt like the old Nike days
for a little while.

Yeah.

You know, I thought
it was pronounced "Nicky"

first time I saw the word.

I had a really strong instinct

we should call the company
Dimension Six.

You think it would've been successful
with that name?

No.

Ah, you name it after
the goddess of victory,

it's probably more appealing
to competitive athletes.

We just did that 'cause
the consultants told us

people like four-letter words.

I like four-letter words.

Hey, what about the swoosh?

Supposed to be a sound.

Sound of what?

I don't know.

I paid Carolyn Davidson $35
for that design in 1971.

I heard you didn't like it.

No. I said it would grow on me.

Well, maybe it will.

[sighs]

Hey, Phil.

Nobody else would've hired me.

And that's the truth.

I appreciate it.

You're a brilliant guy, Sonny.

You have courage.

That's what you do here.

Thanks, Phil.

I think it'll be fine.

What's the most we ever sold
on a shoe, $3 million?

He's one guy.

How much can it be?

[mellow electronic music playing]

[neon sign buzzing softly]

Hey, how's it going?

[Sonny] Good, how are you doing?

[sighs] Pretty good.

I'll buy that, too.

[sighs] Man, I can't believe
we didn't get him.

- Oh, you knew he was gonna be good?
- I knew.

We all knew.

Hmm. We should fire Stu.

- Have a good one, man.
- You, too.

[sighs] Man.

Everybody knew.

["Axel F" playing]

[exhales]

[music stops]

No.

No, fucking horrible.

[panting]

No way.

Just fucking awful.

Just terrible.

Nope.

Not a chance.

["Born in the U.S.A."
by Bruce Springsteen playing]

["Born in the U.S.A."
by Bruce Springsteen continues playing]

["Be Like Mike" by Be Chi playing]

My mom, without her...

She's a rock. She's unbelievable.

She... Right now,
she takes over two jobs.

She's an unbelievable woman.

She constantly keeps me focused
on the good things about life.

You know, how people perceive you,
how you respect them,

you know, what's good for the kids.

That all came from my parents.
You know, it came from my mom.

And she's still, at this stage...
I'm 46 years old...

She's still parenting me today,

and that's the good thing
about that lady.

- I love her to death.
- [applause]

I love her to death.

[song ends]

[cheerful music playing]