Main Cast: Whoopi Goldberg, Frank Langella, Dennis Farina, Richard Jenkins, Lisa Ann Walter
Release Year: 1996
Country: US
Run Time: 100 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
In this comedy, a basketball fan figures she could be a better coach than the guy getting paid millions to do the job -- and then gets the chance to prove it. Edwina "Eddie" Franklin (Whoopi Goldberg) is a limousine dispatcher and sometime driver who is a passionate New York Knicks fan; she loyally follows their every move, attending as many home games as possible from the cheap seats and radioing game updates to her drivers when they play during her working hours. The Knicks are purchased by eccentric Southern millionaire Wild Bill Burgess (Frank Langella) in the middle of a long losing streak; when Wild Bill calls for a limo, Eddie arranges to drive him herself, and gives him a piece of her mind about the sad state of the team. Impressed, Wild Bill makes Eddie an honorary coach for the night, and her spitfire attitude and encouragement of the players impresses her. However, Wild Bill thinks putting on a show to boost attendance is more important than having a winning team, and eventually Knicks coach Bailey (Dennis Farina) quits in disgust. Wild Bill gets the bright idea of hiring Eddie as the team's new head coach; she considers it an honor, and at only $50,000 a year, he considers it a bargain. While Eddie is hardly an experienced leader, she soon learns how to motivate her team, and against all odds she helps pull the Knicks out of their losing streak -- but now has to face Wild Bill, who is losing interest in the team and wants to sell. Several real-life NBA stars make cameo appearances, including Dennis Rodman, John Salley, Rick Fox, and Mark Jackson, while prominent New Yorkers David Letterman and Donald Trump play themselves. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
John Benjamin Hickey - Joe Nader; Marvin Albert - Himself; Chris Berman - Himself; Troy Beyer - Beth Hastings; Vlade Divac - Himself (Los Angeles Lakers); Alex English - Himself (Cleveland Cavaliers head coach); Fabio - Himself; J. Don Ferguson - Game Referee; Edward I. Koch - Himself (Former New York City mayor); David Letterman - Himself (uncredited); Mick McGovern - Game Referree; Albert Pisarenkov - Mischa; Gene Anthony Ray - Dancer; Rob Ryder - Himself (Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach); John Salley - Nate Wilson; Donald Trump - Himself; Spud Webb - Himself (Atlanta Hawks); David Dwyer - Game Referree; Brian Grant - Himself (Sacramento Kings); Eartha Robinson - Knicks choreographer; Mark Jackson - Darren Taylor; Johnny Williams - Big Al; Larry Johnson - Himself (Charlotte Hornets); Dale Davis - Himself (Indiana Pacers); Herb Williams - Pickup Player
Credit
Robert K. Shaw, Jr. - Art Director, Reuben Cannon & Associates - Casting, Glenn (Doc) Rivers - Consultant/advisor, Andrew Gunn - Co-producer, Molly Maginnis - Costume Designer, Jerram A. Swartz - First Assistant Director, Steve Rash - Director, Ron Bozman - Second Unit Director, Richard Halsey - Editor, Ron Bozman - Executive Producer, Jeff Buhai - Executive Producer, Steven Zacharias - Executive Producer, Stanley Clarke - Composer (Music Score), Stanley Clarke - Songwriter, Jeff Tufano - Camera Operator, Lou Barlia - Camera Operator, Daniel Davis - Production Designer, Victor J. Kemper - Cinematographer, Mark Burg - Producer, David Permut - Producer, Roberta J. Holinko - Set Designer, James E. Webb - Sound/Sound Designer, Eric Champnella - Screenwriter, John Connolly - Screenwriter, Keith Coogan - Screenwriter, Jeff Buhai - Screenwriter, David Loucka - Screenwriter, Steven Zacharias - Screenwriter, Keith Mitchell - Screenwriter
