Ex-Laker is a star again in ‘Green’
Adam McKay, the director of “The Big Short” and the producing partner of Will Ferrell, had a theory on why some of his collaborator’s films have worked better than others.
“Ferrell had a period, due to an injury, in which he stopped all carnal relations,” McKay said in a joint phone interview with the actor this week. “It was about 10 years ago. Look at the films that came out of that time — ‘Old School,’ ‘Talladega Nights,’ so many good ones. And then he healed and look at what happened.”
Ferrell wasn’t buying it. “I think it was because I stopped eating pork. That was a much bigger factor,” he said. “I just stopped completely.”
The two had reason to be thinking about abstemious behavior. They had just finished working on “A.C. Green: Iron Virgin,” a short for ESPN’s “30 for 30” series about the famous — and famously celibate — Laker All-Star.
Directed by Isaac Feder, “Green” follows the — what’s the opposite of colorful? — exploits of the power forward.
As Lakers fans of a certain age know, Green was the upstart on the “Showtime” teams of the 1980s. Drafted 23rd overall in 1985, he joined in time for the titles in the 1986-87 and 1987-88 seasons, averaging in double figures over the two seasons.
McKay executive produced and Ferrell narrated the film, which features voices such as James Worthy, Jerry West and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as well as Green himself. (The short is online and airing on ESPN.)
The short examines Green’s unlikely streak — after missing three games in his second season because of surgery, he would never sit out again, playing through thick and thin. (“Why miss? What was I supposed to sit out for or not play for?” he says in the film) That stretched all the way to his retirement in 1997 — a span of 1,192 games. The spell was made more remarkable because of Green’s aggressive, boardcrashing style of play.
Maybe even more impressive, given the partying culture surrounding the Lakers at the time, was another Green streak: He remained a virgin through all his years with the team, and in fact through his whole career. An intensely devout Christian, he would bring his Bible wherever he went and was both celibate and sober. (There’s a great clip after a title victory when Champagne bottles were handed to team members as they entered the locker room. Magic Johnson takes one and begins to celebrate; Green takes one and quickly, stealthily puts it down.)