Gale sayers movie 2001

Sean maher brian piccolo, mekhi phifer gale sayers, ben gazzara george. The television movie, produced by columbia tristar television, was first broadcast in. He is the coauthor of i am third with writer al silverman. Brians song is the 2001 remake of the 1971 television film brians song, telling the story of brian piccolo, a white running back who meets, clashes with and befriends fellow chicago bears running back gale sayers mekhi phifer. In honor of billy dee williams 80th birthday thursday, we take a look back at his 10 best roles. The film is directed by john gray starring sean maher and mekhi phifer. What, billy dee williams as gale sayers didnt quite nail that speech at the. The movie starts during training camp 1965, as rookie running back gale sayers reports to camp for the chicago bears. Penguin books has reissued i am third and what follows is an excerpt from the new edition. The best bit is still gale sayers speech, if youre an american football fan, you. Based on the reallife relationship between teammates brian piccolo and gale sayers and the bond established when piccolo discovers that he is dying. Al silverman is a noted sports writer and the author of ten books and numerous essays published in playboy, saga, and sport magazines.

Brians song in his emmynominated role, williams plays chicago bears running back gale sayers. Sayers friendship piccolo and piccolos subsequent diagnosis of cancer was the subject of the madefortv hit movie, brians song. Neither likes the other much, but when coach halas ben gazzara makes them the first interracial roommates in the nfl, the. In 1967, sayers and bears teammate brian piccolo became the first interracial roommates in the nfl. Piccolos and sayers sharply differing temperaments and racial backgrounds made them unlikely to. Brians song 2001 cast and crew although they both play for the chicago bears, brian piccolo sean maher is white, a joker and mostly rides the bench while gale sayers mekhi phifer is black. Based in part on the autobiography of gale sayers, an football hall of fame inductee and one of the finest halfbacks in the history of the game, this madefortv drama recounts the true story of sayers mekhi phifer and his friendship with fellow chicago bears player brian piccolo sean maher. Sayers friendship with teammate brian piccolo, and piccolos struggle with cancer embryonal cell carcinoma, which was diagnosed after it metastasized to a large tumor in his chest cavity, became the subject of the madefortv movie brians song. Based on gale sayerss autobiography, this indelible madefortv movie tells the true story of a friendship born through football that ends tragically. In a brief but highly productive nfl career, sayers spent seven seasons with the chicago bears from 1965 to 1971, though multiple injuries effectively limited him to five seasons of play. Gales younger brother, ron, later played running back for the san diego chargers of the american football league. It is a true story of the extremely close friendship between the two players.

Brians song is the 2001 remake of the 1971 television film brians song, telling the story of brian piccolo sean maher, a white running back who meets, clashes with and befriends fellow chicago bears running back gale sayers mekhi phifer. He has been married to ardythe bullard since december 1, 1973. The story of professional football players gale sayes and brian piccolo, and how their. The title of the movie is brians song so i thought it was great to show this aspect of his life. When buying multiple cards, do you top load each item. Brians song is a 1971 abc movie of the week that recounts the details of the life of brian piccolo played by james caan, a chicago bears football player stricken with terminal cancer after turning pro in 1965, told through his friendship with bears teammate gale sayers billy dee williams. Wednesday marks the 45th anniversary of the madefortv movie brians song. Set during the 1960s, the movie tells the true story of the friendship between two chicago bears running backs brian piccolo, a white player who had to work hard to excel on the football field, and gale sayers, a black player who was naturally gifted. I taped this off the wonderful world of disney and missed a part of the movie and after i taped this, the tape broke, and abc family played this the same day the bears lost to the eagles in the playoff game. The inspiration for brians song by al silverman and gale sayers 2001, paperback, movie tiein at the best online prices at ebay. With james caan, billy dee williams, jack warden, bernie casey.

Brians song remake of the 1971 film, a true story about the nfl football players brian piccolo and gale sayers. When gale sayers joins the chicago bears in 1965, the running back is befriended by fellow rookie brian piccolo, a brash young man whose. The original 1971 version showed more of the friendship of brian piccolo and gale sayers, which was great, but the 2001 remake showed more of piccolos struggle with cancer. A football life dick butkus and gale sayers duration. Abc will debut a remake of the popular tv movie on december 2. Coming off his success in the godfather, caan is terrific as the spirited piccolo, whose gutsy yet graceful attitude inspires sayers played with quiet, rookie confidence by williams to. It was an inspiring account, partly of gale sayers, a hall of fame football player for the chicago bears, but more about his relationship with his. The movie, in which sayers was portrayed by billy dee williams in the 1971 original, and by mekhi phifer in the 2001 remake, was adapted from sayers. The 1971 film was nominated for several emmy awards and a golden globe for best television film. Still recalled as one of the finest madefortelevision movies, it featured james.

Brians song tv movie 2001 brians song tv movie 2001. As their friendship begins, the two compete for starting positions on the team, but sayers talent far outshines piccolos and he quickly rises to the. When gale sayers joins the chicago bears in 1965, the running back is befriended by fellow rookie brian piccolo, a brash young man whose personality is the exact opposite of the stoic sayers. The iconic film about the iconic friendship between pro football hall. Gale is the second of three children born to parents bernice and roger. Sayers requested that this be changed in the disney remake of the movie, which came out in 2001. Gale sayers was born on may 30, 1943 in wichita, kansas, usa as gale eugene sayers. A drama about the deep friendship between gale sayers, black halfback for the chicago bears, and his white teammate, brian piccolo, who died of. Piccolo was the subject of the 1971 tv movie brians song, with a remake tv movie filmed in 2001. Sayers assesses both his former teammate and the movie classic about their close relationship on the chicago bears.

It first aired in 1971 on abc on tuesday, november 30, less than 18 months after his death, and starred james caan as piccolo and billy dee williams as sayers. They are a representation of the actual card you would receive. In the remake of brians song, the television movie that makes. Gale sayers, bio, wife, age, salary, net worth, numbers. The movie was adapted from sayers own words in his autobiography, i am. Among his publications is i am third, cowritten with gale sayers, which was adapted for the 1971 television film, brians song. The new movie touches on the relationship of sayers former wife, linda, with oconnell. Gale eugene sayers born may 30, 1943 is an american former professional football player who earned acclaim both as a halfback and return specialist in the national football league nfl. As their friendship begins, the two compete for starting positions on the team, but sayers talent far outshines piccolos and he quickly rises to the top. I had seen the movie, brians song, and as i often do with impactful movies, i sought out the book upon which the movie was based. Brians song 2001 although they both play for the chicago bears, brian piccolo sean maher is white, a joker and mostly rides the bench while gale sayers mekhi phifer is black, serious and a. Brian piccolo and gale sayers rubbed each other the wrong way and never. When sayers suffers a knee injury in midseason, it is piccolo who prods and inspires him to work toward a complete recovery. Great movie, great tear jerker, but do get the 2001 version.

Nfl legend, gayle sayers, battling dementia blackdoctor. Gale sayers mekhi phifer of the chicago bears befriends his teammate brian piccolo sean maher, who is dying of cancer. Although they both play for the chicago bears, brian piccolo sean maher is white, a joker and mostly rides the bench while gale sayers mekhi phifer is black, serious and a rookie superstar. Sean maher mekhi phifer ben gazzara paula cale elise neal aidan devine dean mcdermott michael boisvert. The movie documents sayers relationship with brian piccolo, a teammate dealing with cancer. After a punt lands at his feet as he gets out of the taxi cab, sayers meets fellow rookie back brian piccolo. The original movie was so short at 70 minutes that no mention was. The movie was adapted from sayers own words in his autobiography, i am third. Rodney dangerfield at his best on the tonight show starring johnny carson 1983 duration. The story of sayers friendship with former bears teammate brian piccolo was immortalized in the 1971 madefortv movie brians song, which starred james caan as piccolo and billy dee williams as sayers. The film brians song, loosely based on gale sayers autobiography, tells the story of the friendship between brian piccolo and gale sayers and their time together while playing football for the chicago bears, up until piccolos death.

Gale sayers and brian piccolos journey from teammates to roommates to friends is. The loss of brian helped sayers put his life in proper perspective. Ernest hemingway once said every true story ends in death. For gale sayers personal appearances, endorsements or gale sayers booking agent inquiries please email any questions or opportunities to email protected. When gale sayers billy dee williams arrives in training camp, brian piccolo. The story of professional football players gale sayers and brian piccolo, and. I first read this autobiography and memoir when i was in high school. He is an actor and writer, known for brians song 1971, guiding light 1952 and brians song 2001. When gale sayers joins the chicago bears in 1965, the running back is befriended by a fellow rookie brian piccolo, a brash young man whose personality is the exact opposite of the stoic sayers. The story of professional football players gale sayers and brian piccolo, and how their friendship on and off the field was affected when piccolo contracted a fatal disease. Sayers moved with his family to speed in kansas his father was a mechanic for goodyear, farmed, and worked for auto dealerships. With mekhi phifer, sean maher, paula cale, elise neal. Especially with a perennial favorite like the 1971 tv movie brians song starring james caan and billy dee williams. Brians song 2001 dvd vision video christian videos.