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Rating: 4.5 out of 5
How many commercials have you seen with athletes? I know you have seen many of them. Coca-Cola is known to have sports legends promoting its products. Nike is all about having athletes endorse their products. Michael Jordan and his Air Jordan brand are still at the top of the league in the shoe game, and Nike built an empire around him. Everyone had to have the Jordans. It seems like any athlete can be endorsed by something. Hell, Baker Mayfield had more Progressive commercials than wins, as Stephen A. Smith put it. Companies offer big money to athletes to promote their products. Marshawn Lynch has a major endorsement with Skittles because they used to eat them before a game.
With athletes getting the contracts and endorsements, there are people who work behind the scenes to get their athletes what they want. The world of being a sports agent is competitive and cutthroat. Trying to convince someone that you are the best to represent them takes a lot, and you are always on call. Scott Boras is considered the “King of Sports Agents,” as he has the baseball world on lockdown. In 2020 alone, he negotiated 13 contracts that were more than $100 million, five of which were above $200 million and two above $300 million. In basketball, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group has made a name for himself as the go-to man with his best friend LeBron James in his portfolio. I can’t forget the powerful female agents in the world. Molly Fletcher, who is called the “female Jerry Maguire” by CNN, has negotiated over $500 million in deals for clients. Nicole Lynn is an African American woman who grew up under the poverty line to become a badass agent for NFL players. Finally, Allison Galer, who represents many female athletes in the game, and I also follow her on Instagram.
This long entrance was for the film Jerry Maguire. Written, produced, and directed by Cameron Crowe, the film was inspired by sports agent Leigh Steinberg and client Tim McDonald during the 1993 NFL season when free agency was introduced to the league. Jerry Maguire (Cruise) is a successful, hot-shot sports agent. He has it all as a sports agent: some of the most respected and highly profiled clients, his colleagues’ respect for getting deals done, and the most beautiful fiancée you have ever seen. One night, Jerry gets an epiphany and writes a mission statement about the perceived dishonesty in sports management. He explains his desire to work with fewer clients to produce a better, more caring personal relationship with them. Jerry hands out this mission statement to the firm he works for and is abruptly fired. In the chaos to keep all his clients that have decided to jump from his sinking ship, he is left with a single client, Rod Tidwell (Gooding, Jr), a volatile client who wants to spend the rest of his career in Arizona and make sure he gets a new contract. As Jerry leaves with all his stuff in a box, only one person believes in his newfound mission, Dorothy Boyd (Zellweger). Jerry now faces a world that he didn’t expect while trying to rebuild everything he once had and connecting with a new world.
Having a sports agent find a conscious is quite hilarious when watching this film. The inner monologues Jerry goes through in his head are one thing, but to see him fall from grace and try to rebuild his world is another thing. What the film does well is blend romantic and sports together. Let’s start with the romantic side. Being a sports agent, it looks like you have to be egotistical and self-centered, along with having zero soul, to get the best deal. Jerry seems to have commitment issues in the love department. At his bachelor’s party, he sees the video of his past relationships and seconds guesses that he is getting married. His fiancée breaks up with him when he has his breakdown because he is a loser now. Yet, in his downturn, he meets Dorothy and her son and begins a new relationship. Hell, dude even gets married, but he seems to be so invested in his job that he doesn’t see what is best for him and that it’s right in front of him. The best scene is when Jerry returns home and spills his soul and feelings to Dorothy. When she said, “You had me at hello,” your heart almost breaks with tears.
The sports side of the film is by far the most entertaining section, especially when Rob is on the screen. Rob and his wife are honestly the best parts. Rob reminds you of all the diva wide receivers who want their bag. You know what? I love it. Rob plays his heart out, but his ego gets in the way, and no one really wants to deal with him. Rob has a special come out during the final game when he catches that final pass for a touchdown and has to live in the moment. The way he showboated, dude would’ve gotten a 15-yard penalty. Yet, the sports of the film show how an athlete really wants to get theirs and is always mad at their agent, who they think isn’t doing right. Also, I like how the film showed how fake athletes can be when they need to jump ship. That one girl cried on the phone and then switched it up, only to be found out.
The scene that I think told it all was maybe Jerry had it all right in the beginning with his epiphany. After Rob had done his big game, he looked for Jerry, and they embraced. Showing human emotions and that you care about your client as a person rather than a number. When Rob gets his contract, he really thanks Jerry from the bottom of his heart because they became a family through the process from attending weddings and births of children.
As far as performances go, first, Tom Cruise as Gerald “Jerry” Maguire was really good. Was he the over-the-top person in some moments but also had a caring side in other points. Seeing him sweat and struggle to keep his clients was one thing with going on a drinking spree. You see the world crumble, but he finds more than he wanted in life with a wife and stepson.
Renée Zellweger, as Dorothy Boyd, was sweet, kind, and a loving mother. She made Dorothy somewhat of a pushover. I will give it to Zellweger; she looks stunning and lovely. The scene where she said, “You had me at hello,” was a game changer because you truly saw the love in Dorothy’s eyes.
The one who stole the movie was the performance of Cuba Gooding Jr. as Rod Tidwell. Gooding Jr was excellent as Rob with being a loud-mouth, egotistical, diva wide receiver who wanted his money. In the CLASSIC scene, “Show Me the Money,” everyone has used that line now in contract negotiations.
Jerry Maguire is a great sports film that you can watch before football season. The story of an agent having an epiphany is funny to watch as he loses everything and then finds something far better. With being a sports agent, I hope the industry has changed since this film, but athletes will always want you to show them the money.
