Where You At Wednesday : Cast of “The Mighty Ducks”

In 1992, the Sports Movie world was changed with the debut of the first “The Mighty Ducks” movie.  For kids who grew up in that time (myself included), this movie became an instant classic. Now it’s time to see what some of your favorite characters are up to these days. (NOTE: This post only features D1. D2 and D3 WU@W’s to come later).

Emilio Estevez as Gordon Bombay

Emilio Estevez! The Mighty Duck Man, I swear to God….haha. Estevez was the “star” of the film and the main established actor at the time of the filming. Mainly since the ending of the Trilogy he has done television in lieu of movies with appearances on “The West Wing,” “The Guardian,” “Cold Case,” “CSI:NY,” “Two and a Half Men,” and “Numb3rs.”

Vincent Larusso as Adam Banks

Larusso graduated from Boston University’s School of Management in 2000, and had a short role in “Superhero Movie” in 2008. Other than that, he hasn’t really been acting. During the summers while he attended college, he did work as a waiter at Charley’s Eating and Drinking Saloon. He did have a fan site online, but it appears to no longer be up.

Joshua Jackson as Charlie Conway

Undoubtedly the biggest star of any of these cast members now, Jackson went on to fame in a ton of different areas. He was a star of “Dawson’s Creek” and has appeared in tons of movies like “Urban Legend,” “Scream 2,” “Cruel Intentions,” and “The Skulls.” He also dated Katie Holmes and Rosario Dawson, and currently dates model Diane Kruger. You can see him now on the show “Fringe” on Fox, currently in its second season.

Elden Henson as Fulton Reed

Surprisingly enough, Elden has had a pretty nice career after the trilogy of films. He’s appeared in “She’s All That,” “O,” “Cast Away,” “Dumb & Dumberer : When Harry Met Lloyd,” “The Butterfly Effect,” “Lords of Dogtown,” and “Deja Vu.” He even has television credits to his name like “Law and Order : SVU,” “ER,” and “Private Practice.” Henson attended Emerson College.

Shaun Weiss as Greg Goldberg

Weiss started his acting career on “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse” believe it or not. He also appeared, before the triology, on “Charles in Charge,” “Webster,” and “The Cosby Show.”  Since his Mighty Duck days, he has mainly been in television with appearances in “Boy Meets World,” “King of Queens,” “Freaks and Geeks,” “Las Vegas,” and “Crossing Jordan.”  He was also the owner and operator of “Unique Whips,” a show on the Speed Channel from 2005-2008.

Matt Doherty as Lewis Averman

Since the trilogy, Averman had a role on the short lived series “Boston Common,” but has had appearances in shows like “CSI,” “CSI:Miami,” “Boston Public,” “Dark Blue,” and “Bones.” He’s also in the upcoming 2010 movie “Last Call.”

Garette Ratliff Henson as Guy Germaine

The brother of Elden, this Henson played Guy Germaine in the film. Besides the trilogy, he can also be seen as Christina Ricci’s love interest in “Casper.” He attended Sara Lawrence college, and currently lives in New York with his wife.

Marguerite Moreau as Connie Moreau

After D3, Moreau appeared in “Boy Meets World,” “3rd Rock from the Sun,” and “Blossom.” She graduated from Vassar College in 1999 and then starred in the awesomely dope “Wet Hot American Summer,” and also in “Runaway Jury.” She has also appeared in “Lost,” “The OC,” and “Mad Men” in television.

Big Soda & Popcorn – (March 24, 2009)

POWER RANKINGS – UNDERDOG STORIES

            With the 2009 NCAA Tournament underway and the Cinderellas fighting the clock, wouldn’t it be nice to give them another dose of hope?  These are the teams that make March what it is.  The teams we know nothing about, but root for relentlessly to take down the Goliaths.  The doe-eyed kids who seemingly forget their rightful place in the basketball universe. 

            It’s one of the few yearly sporting events where critics, commentators and analysts don’t take anything away from the lesser-known victor.  Unlike the MLB Playoffs, the system isn’t conducive to determining the “best” team.  There are no second chances—just ask anyone who lost to George Mason in 2006 or God Shammgod’s Providence in 1997.  Unlike the Super Bowl, few people care about who “should have” won and why they didn’t.  When we talk about the 1985 tournament, all we care about is Villanova’s impressive run, not Georgetown’s regular season dominance.  It’s just not the kind of thing the tournament cares about.

            So, in honor of these inspirational lesser-thans, I’m offering up my top underdog stories.  These movies are the cinematic embodiment of the feel-good stories we look forward to every spring.  Just ask Wake Forest, because Cleveland State was obviously paying attention.

 

 

12.  The Mighty Ducks (1992)

 The film that spawned a long line of underdog sports films for kids, The Mighty Ducks initiated a formulaic approach to a familiar storyline.  If you don’t believe me, just think about it: a talented, good-looking kid, reluctant to be a star; a fat kid for comedic relief; the nerdy kid who’s just happy to be part of the team; and the hard-nosed coach who must undergo a lifestyle change in order to relate to his ragtag team of misfits.  If you haven’t seen that formula before, you’re probably Amish.

 

11.  The Bad News Bears (1976)

 Buttermaker!!!  This is the story of an alcoholic has-been trying to teach baseball—a game he once loved—to a bunch of screw-ups who couldn’t care less.  Nobody was cooler in 1976 than the cigarette-puffing, dirt bike shredding Kelly Leak.

 

10.  Little Giants (1994)

 Otherwise known as the “Ozzie Canseco Story,” Little Giants revolves around the competition that exists between a former sports superstar and his less successful, but uber-lovable younger brother.  No matter how much you may have wanted Devon Sawa to die in Final Destination, you’ve got to love his ability to throw toilet paper rolls into a shopping cart.

 

9.  Cool Runnings (1993)

 Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme!  Try not to cry when the Jamaicans carry their rickety bobsled across the finish line and all their former doubters do the requisite slow clap.  I dare you.

 

8.  Angels in the Outfield (1999)

It’s a little known fact that Big Soda wrote a 20-page paper about Disney’s portrayal of religious symbols in Angels in the Outfield.  There was more than one underdog in this film, with not only the team on the field, but also young Roger, the unloved foster child who sees angels.  Who’s your favorite Angel player: Matthew McConaughey, Adrien Brody or Tony Danza?

7.  Major League (1989)

 Can you believe it only cost $11 million to make this movie?!?  What an all-star cast: Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Wesley Snipes, and President David Palmer (err, I mean, Dennis Haysbert).  I can’t tell you how many times I yelled “DORN!” during co-ed softball this season.

 

6.  Chariots of Fire (1981)

 I assume that this is the one movie on the list that most people haven’t seen.  For those that haven’t, it’s the story of British runners training for the 1924 Olympics.  The theme song is probably the most famous aspect of the film.  To prove it (and to keep up my string of Kel Mitchell references), the song from the opening credits was even used in a scene from Good Burger, where the dynamic duo delivers a burger to none other than Shaquille O’Neal.

 

5.  Seabiscuit (2003)

 Sure, a horse’s heart is technically 16 times larger than a human’s, but Seabiscuit’s was 100 times bigger.  In a sport where bigger, faster, and stronger are the only criteria, Seabiscuit was the most unlikely of all champions.  For a horse that everyone said was too small to compete, Horse of the Year should have been an impossible achievement.

 

4.  Rudy (1993)

 Don’t let the fact that the real Rudy Ruettiger bums around bars in South Bend, using his “celebrity” to score free drinks between speaking engagements at grade schools, sway your opinion of this film.  Also, don’t let the fact that barely anyone in the stadium knew who he was convince you that the “Rudy” chant was embellished for the sake of filmmaking.  Just take the movie for what it is, and try to forget that a hobbit could make the Notre Dame football team.

 

3.  Hoosiers (1986)

 Which character is more inspirational: Jimmy Chitwood, the sheltered, quiet sharpshooter; Ollie MacFarlane, Hickory’s team manager who saves the day by sinking two game-saving free throws; or Wilbur “Shooter” Flatch, the town drunk who overcomes his addiction to become a vital part of the team’s success? 

 

2.  Rocky (1976)

For a man who can barely speak the English language, Sly Stallone wrote one hell of a movie.  This film is proof that you don’t always have to win to be a champion—just go the distance, fool.

 

1.  The Karate Kid (1984)

 What’s better than an undersized new-kid-in-town, learning karate through everyday chores from an Asian man with whom he shares subtle homoerotic tensions?  Daniel LaRusso kicking the crap out of the Cobra Kai Dojo to the tune of “You’re the Best” by Joe Esposito.  “Get him a body bag!  Yeeeeaaaaah!”

 

 

*** Questions? Comments? Hate mail? Nude photos? Big Soda can be reached at bigsoda@themixtapemonster.com***