Flint Tropics: Will Ferrell's Basketball Dream Team

will ferrel flint basketball

In the 2008 comedy film Semi-Pro, Will Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, a singer who buys a basketball team in the American Basketball Association called the Flint Tropics, becoming the owner, head coach, and player. The film was shot in various locations in Flint, Michigan, and Ferrell has shared that his experience filming in the city left him with memories of hardworking people. In 2022, Ferrell reprised his role as Jackie Moon when he dressed up in the Flint Tropics uniform to warm up with the Golden State Warriors before a game.

Characteristics Values
Film Name Semi-Pro
Genre Comedy, Sport
Year 2008
Film Duration 1h 31m
Rating R
IMDB Rating 5.8
Will Ferrell's Character Name Jackie Moon
Will Ferrell's Character Description Owner, head coach, player, and pre-game announcer of the Flint Tropics basketball team
Will Ferrell's Character Song "Love Me Sexy"
Co-stars Woody Harrelson, Andre 3000/Benjamin, Maura Tierney
Filming Locations Los Angeles, Detroit, Flint, Michigan

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Will Ferrell reprises his role as Jackie Moon

Ferrell's character, Jackie Moon, is a singer who uses the profits from his one-hit wonder, "Love Me Sexy", to buy the Flint Tropics, becoming the owner, head coach, and starting power forward. The song "Love Me Sexy" was written by Nile Rodgers, Scot Armstrong, and Will Ferrell and performed by Ferrell as Jackie Moon in the film.

In addition to his role in the film, Ferrell also made an appearance at a pre-screening of Semi-Pro at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas, dressed as Jackie Moon. All viewers were required to wear a basketball uniform similar to the one worn by Ferrell in the film to gain entry to the theater.

Ferrell also reprised his role as Jackie Moon in 2022 when he joined the Golden State Warriors for warm-ups before their game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Ferrell stayed committed to the bit, dressing in the full Flint Tropics uniform, complete with knee pads, wristbands, and a headband. His appearance was well-received by the team, and he even showed star player Steph Curry how to shoot free throws.

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The Flint Tropics uniform

In the 2008 comedy-sport film Semi-Pro, Will Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, the owner, coach, and player of the fictional American Basketball Association team, the Flint Tropics. The film is set in the 1970s in Flint, Michigan, and follows the team's journey to make their NBA dreams come true.

The uniform is complemented by a range of basketball accessories, including knee pads, wristbands, and a headband, all in coordinating colours. These accessories add to the overall fun and eccentric look of the Flint Tropics uniform. The knee pads are bright and bold, standing out against the shorts, while the wristbands and headband are a matching set, with a thin stripe that ties the whole look together.

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Scenes shot in Flint, Michigan

Will Ferrell's 2008 comedy "Semi-Pro" features several scenes shot in Flint, Michigan. The film is set during the final season of the American Basketball Association and follows the fictional story of Jackie Moon, a singer who buys a basketball team called the Flint Tropics.

Scenes shot in Flint include exterior shots at the Michigan State Fairgrounds, where the outside of the State Fair Coliseum doubles as a Flint stadium in the movie. Another scene was filmed in an alley next to Flint's Capitol Theatre, where Ferrell's character is seen lying despondently in a dumpster. The film also includes shots of downtown Flint, where Ferrell noted the "boarded-up buildings" and the city's ongoing reconstruction efforts.

In addition to the scenes shot in Flint, the film also showcases the city's basketball culture and history. Ferrell's character, Jackie Moon, is the owner, coach, and player of the Flint Tropics, a team facing the possibility of not making it into the NBA due to the league's merger. The film received generally negative reviews from critics, but Ferrell's performance was praised, and the film provided a comedic take on the world of basketball in the 1970s.

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The fictional American Basketball Association team

In the 2008 comedy film Semi-Pro, Will Ferrell stars as Jackie Moon, a singer who uses the profits from his one-hit wonder, "Love Me Sexy", to buy a fictional American Basketball Association (ABA) team called the Flint Tropics. Set in 1976, the film follows the team's journey during the final season of the ABA and their quest to survive the league's merger with the NBA.

Jackie Moon serves as the owner, head coach, starting power forward, and pre-game announcer of the Flint Tropics. The team is based in Flint, Michigan, and rallies together to make their NBA dreams come true. The film showcases the team's hard work and determination, reflecting the resilient spirit of the city of Flint.

In addition to Will Ferrell, the film features performances by Woody Harrelson, André 3000 (credited as André Benjamin), and Maura Tierney. The cast also includes former American Basketball Association players, Artis Gilmore and George Gervin, in uncredited roles as customers in a restaurant. The film was shot in various locations, including Los Angeles, Detroit, and Flint, Michigan, capturing the essence of the city and its basketball culture.

"Semi-Pro" is notable for its blend of comedy and sports, with Will Ferrell's performance receiving praise. The film explores themes of perseverance and the power of teamwork, showcasing the fictional ABA team's journey to pursue their NBA aspirations. The Flint Tropics uniform, complete with knee pads, wristbands, and a headband, adds to the visual appeal and character of the team.

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The 1989 Michael Moore documentary Roger & Me

Michael Moore's 1989 documentary, 'Roger & Me', is a funny and angry inquiry into the collapse of his hometown of Flint, Michigan, after General Motors (GM) closed its auto plants, laying off 30,000-35,000 workers. The film centres on Moore's unsuccessful attempts to interview GM's CEO, Roger Smith, and get him to witness the devastation the company's exit caused.

Moore's directorial debut is an investigative piece of journalism that explores the regional economic impact of GM's actions. The film also chronicles the emotional effect the closings had on Moore's family and friends, while violent crimes began to increase in Flint. Moore's film is a satirical take on the American Dream and its promise of middle-class prosperity, tapping into the sense of modern America and the wealth gap.

'Roger & Me' was well-received by critics and audiences, winning several awards, including Best Documentary of 1989 by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the National Board of Review. The film was also selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2013 for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.

The film is notable for its rhetorical playfulness and Moore's in-your-face style of interviewing. It captures the zeitgeist of the late 1980s and the aggravatingly simplistic way that people write off the suffering they don't endure. Moore's fashion sense and the appearance of Ronald Reagan are also notable aspects of the film.

Frequently asked questions

Will Ferrell portrays Jackie Moon in the 2008 comedy "Semi-Pro".

Jackie Moon, a singer famous for his one-hit wonder "Love Me Sexy", buys a basketball team in the American Basketball Association, the Flint Tropics, and becomes the owner, head coach, and player. He then rallies his teammates to make their NBA dreams come true.

The movie was filmed in Los Angeles, Detroit, and Flint, Michigan.

The film received generally negative reviews, with critics of the script, but Ferrell's performance was praised. The film has a rating of 5.8 on IMDb.

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