Invincible

Lance Alworth

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There is a new movie coming out called Invincible, the story of white wide reciever Vince Papale (played by Mark Wahlberg) who joined the Philadelphia Eagles on an open tryout during the 1970's. This looks like it might be a really good movie, and hopefully doesnt have any anti-white propoganda like a lot of other sports movies (remember that movie about that all black college basketball team that won the NCAA tournament in the 50's) Its the story of a young white man with a dream to play wide reciever and his dream came true. I will definately try to make an effort to see this film when it comes out
 

Colonel_Reb

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I just bought and watched the movie and I really like it. It even has moments that show the beginnings of the Caste System, the differences in white and black players, and the tough times white players have had being on NFL teams since those days. I recommend watching it to anyone on the board.
 

backrow

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i liked it as well. Characters were likable and Vince could really run!
 

Freedom

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It goes to show how overrated lots of players are. So many of these prized black prospects are treated like gods yet aren't any better than a white guy in a bar with guts.
My coach talked about a guy at the same time named Dick Hart. Hart ended up becoming a top lineman in the NFL for a few years, showing up on an open tryout.
 

white is right

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I would have liked the story if it was real. Papale wasn't an unknown. Papale had played in the equivalent of USFL. Also he was a huge guy who was a real athlete. At the end of the movie they show the scene where he recovers the fumble for a td and he looked like a tight end.
 

Colonel_Reb

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I didn't say it was perfect, just that I liked it. Interestingly, the movie says he ran a 4.5 40, but Vermeil says it was a 4.6, so maybe all the portrayal wasn't making him look worse than he was. Papale seemed pleased with Wahlberg's portrayal of himself too.
 

jcolec02

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actually and suprisingly, ESPN had a story about the movie and said he ran 4.4
 

Colonel_Reb

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Wow, something good from the Caste System Media for a change. I wonder why there are so many conflicting reports about his speed?
 

a-train

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I,bought the movie Great Movie on the movie Papale in interview said he never played college football he was only 5ft.8 when he went to college 150lbs came out of college 6ft.2 200lbs.His playing experince no were near USFL he played touch tackle in Phily equal to playing some Top Gun Flag Football nowadays but I'am sure he could always run.I'am not Italian but don"t most Italians muture fast usually at there height at young age.
 

white is right

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a-train said:
I,bought the movie Great Movie on the movie Papale in interview said he never played college football he was only 5ft.8 when he went to college 150lbs came out of college 6ft.2 200lbs.His playing experince no were near USFL he played touch tackle in Phily equal to playing some Top Gun Flag Football nowadays but I'am sure he could always run.I'am not Italian but don"t most Italians muture fast usually at there height at young age.
From what I read he played in the old World League which was the equivalent of the USFL. As for his speed he was a pole vaulter in university. So he had high school sprinter speed(more than adequate for the NFL).
 

white is right

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So I guess the movie was a half truth he came off the street to play in the World League, here is an excerpt from the Wilkapedia article about him.......In 1974, while bartending at Max's in Prospect Park and substitute-teaching at Interboro High School, he successfully tried out for the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League as a wide receiver. He played for the team for two seasons until the league folded in 1975.

His performance with that team earned him a meeting with Coach Dick Vermeil of the Philadelphia Eagles after general manager Jim Murray got him an invitation to a private work-out held by Coach Vermeil.
Papale and Wahlberg during the filming of Invincible, a film based on Papale's football career
Papale and Wahlberg during the filming of Invincible, a film based on Papale's football career

Papale, at 6'2" (1.88 m) and 195 pounds (88.5 kg), eventually made the team, thereby becoming, at age 30, the oldest rookie in the history of the NFL to play without the benefit of college football experience (other than kickers). He went on to play wide receiver and special teams for the Eagles from 1976 through 1978. During that time, he played in 41 of 44 regular season games (regular seasons being 14 games in 1976-1977 and 16 games in 1978) recording two fumble recoveries (including one that led to Vermeil's first NFL victory) and one fifteen-yard reception. He was voted Special Teams Captain by his teammates, and "Man of the Year" by the Eagles in 1978 for his many charitable activities. A shoulder injury ended his career in 1979. After retiring from the NFL, he worked as a TV and radio broadcaster for eight years, then became a commercial mortgage banker.

Papale, who earned the nickname "Rocky" (after the 1976 Sylvester Stallone movie and character) while playing with the Eagles, is the subject of the Disney movie Invincible, starring Mark Wahlberg. He was also reportedly the inspiration for the 1998 Tony Danza movie, The Garbage Picking Field Goal Kicking Philadelphia Phenomenon. In addition, Papale's legend was cited as a factor in the Eagles' signing of construction-foreman/tight-end Jeff Thomason for 2005's Super Bowl XXXIX.[1]
 

Lance Alworth

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I saw it when it hit the theaters a few months ago. Great flick! I liked that they didnt sugarcoat the true divide between blacks and whites in this movie. The blacks in this movie were portrayed as ********, while the white was the underdog trying to make it. it was a true breat of fresh air
 

White Shogun

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I watched it for the first time tonight. It was an awesome movie. Very inspiring, even if the movie didn't follow the actual events exactly as they happened (they never do.)

I highly recommend it.
 
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