March Madness Movie
March 25, 1997

If March Madness isn’t providing you with enough drama, imagine this:

A college basketball star Antoine Tyler (Kadeem Hardison) is about to realize his dream of making it to the NCAA Championships, he dies, leaving his brother Kenny (Marlon Wayans)to lead the Washington Huskies to victory. Heartbroken, Kenny loses his drive to win until Antoine’s ghost reappears determined to take his team all the way. The outcome is both comedic and heartfelt as Kenny comes to unfortunately realize he must ask "The Sixth Man" to leave the team so he and his teammates can play fair and square. So, if you are not getting your fill of college basketball action on the small screen go see "The Sixth Man" on the big screen beginning March 28th.

Although Kadeem is a huge basketball fan what really attracted him to the film was that Marlon would be starring in it. "I thought I better act in a film with Marlon while I can because he is going to be a big star one day," says Kadeem. Marlon is the youngest of ten children in the infamous family that includes Keenan who created and starred in the Emmy Award winning television sketch comedy series "In Living Color."

Kadeem played Dwayne Wayne on the NBC hit comedy "A Different World" and has starred in over ten feature films, including "White Men Can’t Jump." He said this is the first time he has played a ghost. I asked him if he believed in ghosts. "I can’t say I believe in ghosts but I can’t say I don’t believe in ghosts, because the first time I moved into my house prior to remodeling it, I use to hear people singing and partying." said the Emmy nominated actor. He assured me that he had not been partying when he heard these noises.

Kadeem told me it was his friend Michael Jordan that turned him onto college basketball. I asked him if he ever played basketball with Michael. "When I asked Michael to play hoops with me he said ‘Do you know how much money I make from basketball? What do I have to gain by playing with you.’" said Kadeem.

And about those basketball moves he does in "The Sixth Man" movie:

Kadeem told me his secret - - "I was in a harness and I had a ramp and a pad underneath me."

" I like whatever team MJ is on…" exclaimed Kadeem. Although, Kadeem has had court-side seats for the Los Angeles Clippers since 1989, he said he always roots for the Chicago Bulls except when they play the Clippers or the Los Angeles Lakers.

I asked Kadeem if he thought Michael would pursue acting when he retires from basketball and he told me Michael doesn’t like the waiting around in between shots on the set.

Some of the familiar faces in NCAA basketball who appear in "The Sixth Man" : Dick Vitale, John Thompson, Nolan Richardson Jerry Tarkanian.

About the NCAA Championships, Kadeem told me he thinks Michigan should of made the tournament but thought it was great that Brooklyn was in the house.

Kadeem assures me that "The Sixth Man" has something for everyone. Sounds like a good date film to me!

A Little of This and a Little of That…

My spies in NYC tell me that New York Ranger Mark Messier and Victoria’s Secret model Fredrique van Der Wal are still an item. Mark will you propose to her, already!…

The ultimate New York Knicks fan, film director Spike Lee spotted at the Official All-Star Café in New York City where friends threw him a surprise party for his 40th birthday. Good place to have a party for the sports fan…

HBO Pictures has given the go-ahead on a film about the legendary Don King. Actor Ving Rhames ("Rosewood," "Mission Impossible") is set to star in the title role which is scheduled to debut on HBO in fall of 1997. I wonder if Don will provide hair tips for Ving. The way I see it, getting the hair right will be the biggest challenge for Ving in portraying the boxing promoter…

Celebrity tennis fans lending their support at the "Tennis By Dennis, " the first joint ATP Tour and COREL/XWTA TOUR Awards Gala were host comedian Dennis Miller, former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, actor Robert Loggia ("Independence Day," "Big"), comedian Pauly Shore, 1970’s rock group K.C. and the Sunshine Band and world renowned race driver and CBS SportsLine contributor Emerson Fittipaldi. was overheard telling reporters he might take up a tennis career now that he is retired from racing…

Sports movie fans will enjoy HBO’s "Sports on the Silver Screen" -a documentary that features clips from about 150 sports-oriented films and interviews with sports and entertainment stars who contributed to some of these Hollywood classics. (Remaining playdates: March 28 and April 6.)