On Friday night, my wife and I were fortunate to meet up with Mike Florio and Mrs. PFT before they scooted off to a Broadway play. (Sorry folks, the hair definitely looks real.)
When the Florios fire up the VW bus for a 30 Rock visit next year, he can try to convince his better half to see a play about football. Seriously. The New York Times reports the life of Vince Lombardi is expected to become a Broadway play by late 2010.
“Lombardi” has an incredible source material to work from. The play is being adapted from When Pride Still Mattered, the 1999 book by David Maraniss that was rightly hailed as one of the greatest sports biographies ever written.
Hopefully the producers won’t gloss over some of the complexity and contradictions inherent in the book — the title was intended to have a “certain irony” according to Maraniss. The playwright of “Lombardi” Eric Simonson grew up in Milwaukee and is a Packers fan, so it should be in good hands. Thankfully, there will be no singing or dancing offensive linemen.
“I’ve been working in theater for 25 years, and I’ve been a Packer fan
all my life,” Simonson said. “I have a good idea of what a theater audience
is looking for, and I know what’s going on in the mind of a typical
Packer fan.”
It’s debatable whether the typical theater goer cares about football, but hopefully they do. After being dragged to more than one too many musicals myself, I’m looking forward to a little payback.
Maybe I can even write a review for PFT if Florio hasn’t fired me by then.
Can’t wait for the one-man play about Flowerio…I think it’s called ‘Clueless’.
when are they gonna do some of those coors light commercials with these coaches? ‘What the hell’s going on out there!!??’
I have a question, does Florio wear tight little black bootie shorts with his oversized Eddie Munster jacket?
I kinda of feel bad for Mrs. PFT. She went into here marriage thinking she was getting a lawyer and ended up with a computer nerd.
I have no interest in musical numbers, but if I was ever able to get away from being a business tycoon/mogul like my hero and role model, The Great Larry Mazza(TM), I’d go see that play… as long as, like you said, there are no dancing offensive linemen. Or dancing QBs, DBs, et al.
If not, I’ll wait until they travel to Arizona and hold a special performance in my honor.
Maybe we can use your paycheck and hire back Mr. Curran… Just a thought!
Did Florio see Hairspray?
“I have a good idea of what a theater audience is looking for, and I know what’s going on in the mind of a typical Packer fan.”
do you really want to know whats going on in the mind of a typical packer fan? I’ll give you a hint, if its not romantic thoughts about a relative, its this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhoos1oY404
They should name the play in honor of the Packer’s current O-line.
“A Porous Line.”
Thanks folks. Try the veal.
I’m sure the play will be nice for football fans of the alternative lifestyle.
Good one Occum…hilarious!
Maybe Aaron should get rid of the ball a little sooner – just sayin’.
I read WPSM this year, and as much as I’m not a theater goer this sounds kinda interesting. I hope its not a musical.
Not a scholar in the bunch. Weird comments from snickering basement dwellers.
I’ve got my copy of David Maraniss’s book right here. This book is, by far, the best written testament to Vince Lombardi’s life ever written. It is over 500 pages long and meticulously details the early years of the NFL; the time when college football drew larger fan attendance, Vince as one of the ’7 blocks of Granite’, smart newspaper writers, and Vince’s high school, college, and pro career.
I highly recommend reading it before seeing the play; which I predict will be the basis for a future film.
Thanks for the good article. Some of us scholarly types enjoy a good Broadway play about sports now and then. And I wholeheartedly concur with the source material, writer, and playwright.
I like how I call myself a mogul/tycoon and no one flames me… PFT(non fruity juice) Planet is finally learning its place when it comes to me. I like that.
Hey Florio, look me up when NBC fires you and you need a hand out.
(joking about last part. I less than 3 Florio, obviously.)
I dontwanttopunchfloriointheface.
@IWanttoPunchFloriointheFace
Here you go again- stalking Florio.
From a neutral standpoint, it seems like you are jealous.
Larry Johnson needs to be in on this production..
If the script is good and if the production is good — then “typical theater goers” will appreciate it.
LJ can do a duet with esera tuaolo… you say tomato, i say to-mawh-to… something like that…
spitting optional…
i always thought florio would dress up like pee wee herman.
Still waiting for Quarterback of the Future the musical…