It would be an interesting film. Someone should at least do a deep dive documentary about this guy. He also dated Flo Jo for awhile, that could add interest. Raced him on HS (I was in the Marine League, he was much better lol) but he seemed friendly at the time, didn’t come off as a gangbanger. He has never revealed where the money from the robberies went/where it was hidden. He’s also been released from priaon.
Yeah, Mack would be a good one. Imagine the casting possibilities alone. A killer old school soundtrack… lol
They could call it “Mack Daddy” or something even cornier. Play up the Flo Jo relationship, show her as a Sha’Carri type for effect, make sure to show the wild Flo Jo nails, have NWA roaring in the soundtrack… have him tokin’ with Snoop before a big race… THE MAN conspirin’ to bring him down… daring bank robberies like the crew in “HEAT”…
Paavo Nurmi. The 9 golds, meeting the US President in the 20s and the 60s, the 1500m and 5k titles in 1924 in the same session… the man who kickstarted the Zurich Weltklasse
the 1932 marathon that never was for him, coming from nothing etc would love to write a screenplay about him.
Yeah, Mack would be a good one. Imagine the casting possibilities alone. A killer old school soundtrack… lol
They could call it “Mack Daddy” or something even cornier. Play up the Flo Jo relationship, show her as a Sha’Carri type for effect, make sure to show the wild Flo Jo nails, have NWA roaring in the soundtrack… have him tokin’ with Snoop before a big race… THE MAN conspirin’ to bring him down… daring bank robberies like the crew in “HEAT”…
Add him battling racism (made up of course) or having trans buddies and Netflix will greenlight it.
Not a runner himself, but John Velzian would make a good movie subject. Most here know that he was the British guy who kickstarted Kenyan athletics from absolute nothing.
Of course, you could take a sinister angle with him...
Most national and world class US runners do not have a story that is really very interesting. Most were really good in HS, then really really good in college, and then really really really good after college.
Just about every pro runner's origin story is "I went out for track after failing at X, but I did really well that first year, the next year I won State/Footlocker/other Major meet. Then I signed at (major running power) school. After I won/set record/place exceptionally high at (insert other prestigious race) I signed a pro contract.... blah blah blah..
At most some might have fought back after a running injury of some type, but that's about it. Also, distance running is very much a suburban yuppie sport, so many top runners do not come from a poor or even working class back ground. Look at Pro runners and you will find children of doctors, lawyers, former pro runners, "family money", but very few rags to riches.
Not a runner himself, but John Velzian would make a good movie subject. Most here know that he was the British guy who kickstarted Kenyan athletics from absolute nothing.
Of course, you could take a sinister angle with him...
He is supposedly the guy that loaded up the ‘68 Kenyan team on d-bol etc (the IOC tested everyone in ‘68 for research, found that the Kenyan and Jamaican teams had literally everyone on something).
Well, I make movies. And am in development on a feature on Patti (Catalano) Dillon. The story has everything one could ever want. Nikes first female sponsored runner? Check. Multiple American record holder, rising from absolute obscurity? Check. Near triumph 3 times (Boston 2nd place, 1979-1981)? Check. Grew up in poverty? Check. Never won the major race but won the battle within a la Rocky? Check.
Paavo Nurmi. The 9 golds, meeting the US President in the 20s and the 60s, the 1500m and 5k titles in 1924 in the same session… the man who kickstarted the Zurich Weltklasse
the 1932 marathon that never was for him, coming from nothing etc would love to write a screenplay about him.
A great runner for sure. One of the greatest ever. But I read his biography and there isn't much more than just running. He was a private, quiet man. And plus the '24 Olympics has been done.
Chris Lear and a collection of well respected authors and journalists should retrace the path of Olympians Bob Kennedy, Tim Broe, Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenhein, Alan Webb, Galen Rupp, Jenny Simpson, Matt Centrowitz, Emma Coburn, Molly Seidel, Grant Fisher, Cole Hocker, Yared Nuguse, Hobbs Kessler, et al.
Chronicle the variations in up bringing, life routines, training, character, etc. Build the narrative for each in the first half and in the second half tell about the Olympic journey, both triumph and defeat. Find look alikes from within the current community for scenes (hint: you may identify potential Olympians).
Could do the six decades: 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s, 20s
Honorable Mention- 100 Seconds The David Rudisha Story
Best Candidates for New Running Movie
Eliud Kipchoge- Open With 2003 WC victory, play up 2004-2012 as a time of struggles and end with Sub 2:00
Yuki K.- Set Movie with start of 2018 Boston Marathon and cut between flashbacks of shunning from Japan's elite development system and race developments. Galen Rupp gets to make cameo as pampered Nike athlete who can't handle adverse weather. ( I actually respect the hell out of Galen but whatever sells)
Meb K- Same basic structure as above but with Meb and 2014 Boston
Documentary following competitive runners from both Ukraine and Russia as they deal with war effects in their countries. Probably impossible to make but I'd watch it.
Jakob makes for a decent documentary but not a good feature film.
Other Candidates- Jake Wightman, Sha' Carri
Not good candidates:
Bolt- Too good
A. Felix- Too vanilla
Sydney- Too good
Centro- Too east coast, too much of a nepo baby. Again, I respect the hell out of Centro but perception is reality
*Harrison Dillard. Raised in an orphanage in Berea, Ohio, which I've visited. Failed to make the US Olympic team in 1948 in his event, the high hurdles, so he qualified in the100m and went on to win a gold medal. Then in 1952 he qualified and won the Olympic gold medal in the high hurdles. My uncle ran the high hurdles against Dillard in an AAU meet in Cleveland.
* A movie based on the book "Born to Run - a hidden tribe, superathletes, and the greatest race the world has never seen," by Christopher McDougall (2009).
* ok, not a "runner, although he could run a fast 100 yards. Brian Oldfield. The only athlete I am aware of who could put the shot 75 feet and high jump seven feet! And he was enough of a character to warrant a mini-series! Died in 1917.