Cruising the sports agency market
Dec. 6, 1996

The world premiere of Tom Cruise's romance/drama "Jerry Maguire" is Dec. 6 in New York City. Cruise plays the title character, a sports agent at SMI (Sports Management International) who has a vision for his company's future -- real caring for fewer clients, quality rather than quantity, people -- not money - are what really counts. SMI rewards Jerry's humanism by unceremoniously firing him.

Stripped of his job, Jerry is forced to start from scratch. Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding), a second-tier wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, is Jerry's sole remaining client. And when the Arizona Cardinals are on Monday Night Football, who is calling the game? None other than Frank Gifford, Al Michaels and Dan Dierdorf (an ol' Cardinal himself).

I had the chance to talk to Dan about playing a broadcaster (it's a big stretch) in a big Hollywood film. Dan said that he, Al and Frank call the Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals game, a crucial game for Tidwell. Tri Star/Sony Pictures recreated the broadcast booth at a studio in Los Angeles for the MNF broadcasters. Then they were given stats and a script to go by when they rolled footage of the game. Dan said it is much easier to call a football game live on television than calling a taped game using a script.

Dan said they did shoot some close-up shots last summer in Arizona to make it look more real on film. Also, Tri Star/Sony Pictures hired ABC's MNF producer Kenny Wolfe as a consultant on the film.

Tom Cruise told "Jerry Maguire" director Cameron Crowe that he wanted to meet the infamous MNF broadcasters. Dan said Tom is a big football fan and that his favorite NFL team is the New York Giants. Dan told me that his status with his kids has shot skyward since he met Tom. And as far as a career in acting, Dan says he doesn't have the psychological makeup or patience for it -- he likes the pace of broadcasting a live football game.

A Little of This and a Little of That ...

David Letterman, minority-interest owner in Team Rahal, was unable to attend the recent IndyCar Awards Banquet, but he did provide a comical (very subjective), self-penned Top 10 List of "The Top 10 Questions I, Dave, Have After My First Year As A Minority Owner Of Team Rahal."

Some of the highlights:

• No. 9: Are we all getting a little tired of how good-looking Paul Newman (actor and IndyCar team owner) is?
• No. 6: Is Hiro Matsushita (very slow driver) really Japanese for "Eight Laps Down?"
• No. 3: How come after every race I have to check Rahal's helmet for hair?
• And the No. 1 question: Do we really race for beer?

MTV gives viewers an unprecedented look into the wacky world of Dennis Rodman with the premiere of "The Rodman World Tour," a new weekly series. The show will air regularly Sunday nights at 10 ET, beginning Dec. 8. The show will feature interviews with "The Worm" himself and an interesting assortment of celebrities (i.e. Barbara Walters, Dr. Ruth, RuPaul).