Ok, so recent threads about guy movies inspired me to rent this as I haven’t seen it in quite awhile and it really is that good. Now I have to say that I’m not into sports in general, or football in particular, but James Caan and Billy Dee Williams had chemistry. The real kicker though, and I would have been about 11 the first time I saw it, was how much it resonated with everything I feel is right about friendship and honor and racial tension and being a smart-ass and guy stuff. Really, great movie.
I had the great honor of meeting Gale Sayers about 20 years ago. Once I got over my initial fangirl lunacy and served the man a drink (I was tending bar, he was a patron) I asked him about this movie. He said people were often disappointed to discover that he was not as handsome as Billy Dee Williams. 
yeah, I was thinking, if he isn’t good looking it would really ruin the effect for me. Seriously though, people just crack me up sometimes.
I did watch the commentary, and G. Sayers made it sound like the movie had shown a friendlyrivalry that was really more like a friendlyrivalry IRL, not a big deal to me.
I saw the movie when I was about 14 and boo-hooed like a baby. I haven’t watched it since then because I figured there was no way it could live up to my memory.
“I LOVE Brian Piccolo.” Man, still chokes me up.
I read The SHort Season. On the back was a picture of Brian Piccolo. James Gandolfini would have been a better choice, looks-wise.
**Brian’s Song ** is part of the holy grail of man-weepers, especially for life-long Bears fans.