Dein erstes Forum » lgarian steeplechaser Silvia Danekova

This story appears in ESPN The Magazines September 5 NFL Preview Issue. Subscribe today!Robert De Niro slumps into a loveseat in his eighth floor office in lower Manhattan and directs his guest to the adjoining couch. Or wherever youre most comfortable, he adds, referring to the surfeit of seating options before us. I, of course, claim the couch, because when you gain entry into the private workspace of Americas greatest-and quite possibly most intimidating-living screen actor, you pretty much do as youre told. ?Visible just beyond De Niros silver mane is a wall-wide bookshelf chock-full of keepsakes from his five-decade-career in Hollywood, including a baseball bat that looks exactly like the one he used as Al Capone in The Untouchables.?On the opposite end of the room sits a desk canvased with piles of unproduced screenplays, proof that this lifelong New Yorker, 72, has no intention of fading to black.De Niros next film, due August 26, is Hands of Stone, an Oscar-ready biopic on Roberto Duran starring Edgar Ramirez (Bodhi in the Point Break?remake) as the Panamanian pugilist and my host as legendary trainer Ray Arcel. The boxing film is De Niros third and his fifth entry, overall, in a quietly prolific sports filmography that includes the Martin Scorsese-classic Raging Bull and dates so far back, the two-time Academy Award winner and seven-time nominee whiffs at recalling the list. ?Still, much to my delight, the topic appears to bring out the best in the fiercely guarded actor, who has a history of, shall we say, sparsely worded interviews. Even when he dismisses a question that doesnt interest him, hell do so with his disarming smile-grimace, AKA the Robert De Niro Face.Whats your favorite sports film, as a moviegoer? I liked the running film, the British film.Chariots of Fire. Chariots of Fire, yeah. There was something about it. Even the music, the slow-motion running - that I remember.Having made five sports films, what, in your mind, are the keys to making a good one? I suppose a good, human story, where the person is against all odds - you dont think theyll win but they do - is usually a component of a great sports film.Do you follow sports? Not too much.Why? Im just not interested in watching sports. Sometimes Ill watch a great game, or great fight, but Im just not that into it.Last great game or fight you saw? I know Im missing some, but Durans No Mas fight, obviously. And the Tyson fight, when he bit that guys ear.If you had to watch one sport, outside of boxing, whats your pick?? I like watching fights. So, if I had to, mixed martial arts also is interesting. Its more extreme, more visceral, more everything. I dont know how a great prizefighter would match up against a great mixed martial artist - I dont know what would happen, I dont even know if theyd allow it, but thats an interesting thing to see.BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY (1973)You played Bruce Pearson, a terminally ill catcher who isnt very bright or particularly good. What do you remember from the making of that film?I read a couple of times for the director for the part that Michael Moriarty played, then I read for the part of Bruce Pearson, then I read for the producer. I was lucky enough to get one of the parts. I enjoyed doing the movie. We had a professional baseball player as a trainer, Dell Bethel. Dell worked with us to make me into a catcher and look believable on film.You filmed at Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium. As a native New Yorker, what was that like?It was a great feeling, especially Yankee Stadium, where we shot the opening scene, ?where Michael Moriarty and I were running around the field. We shot it in the morning. The players werent around. They were playing an out-of-town game.Did you have any playing experience of any sort, growing up?I played basketball at the playground, thats all.Any good?I was okay.RAGING BULL (1980)What drew you to the story of Jake LaMotta?I had seen Jake once at a gentlemans club in the Broadway area -- he greeted people at the door, and he was kind of overweight. I just thought it was interesting that he was so out of shape. Then when I read his book, about the battle that he and a lot of athletes have with weight, I called Marty Scorsese and said, The book isnt great, but theres something about it -- its got heart, or something. I said, Take a look, see what you think.Ive read differing reports on how much weight you gained during filming to play Jake in his later years. I gained 60 pounds, as much as I could over a certain amount a time.Is it true that they shut down production and sent you on a binge-eating trip?I gave myself four months. Maybe two months in, I did an interim scene where hes somewhat out of shape.How would you describe its physical toll?I knew I couldnt do it past that age -- I was 34, 35. That was my one chance.La Matta, who served as your trainer on the film, has called you one of the top 20 best middleweight boxers of all time.? My boxing skills were okay. Just okay. I sparred a lot, but it was always very carefully. It wasnt full-out with anybody. I was always concerned about breaking something. Even Jake, who was maybe 50 at the time, would say, Hit me, hit me, dont worry about it, hit me. [Laughs] I couldnt do it.THE FAN (1996)You play Gil Renard, an unhinged, obsessive San?Francisco Giants fan. What drew you to the project?I thought he was an interesting, kind of a crazy character, and [director Tony Scott] was so enthusiastic about it. Id be flying in every week to LA to work with him and prepare. I was drawn by his enthusiasm about it. He was terrific to work with, very open to suggestions and stuff like that.It was prescient, in that it centered on an obsessive, intrusive fan. Thanks to social media, you could argue todays fans are even more obsessive and intrusive than they were back in 1996.Yeah, youre right. Gil Renard probably would have been active on Twitter.You also played a sports fanatic, an Eagles fan, in Silver Linings Playbook.?In both films, you had to fire out a lot of sports terminology. Given your disinterest in baseball and football, did you find that to be challenging? Yeah, in the parlay scene [in Silver Linings], I had to learn all that dialogue, and know [the sports terms]. That in itself was a lot of work. But Jennifer Lawrence, shes great - she has such a supple mind. She learned all the lines. She did all that dialogue.Was there ever a time you were starstruck as a fan?When I met Brando. I met him a few times, but I first met him on his island years ago. I liked him.Ever been rendered starstruck by an athlete?Muhammad Ali. One of the last times Nelson Mandela was in this country a lot of people came to see him, including Ali. Ali was very sweet, very nice. I liked him. Everybody did, obviously. He had difficultly moving, but he had a great sense of humor. He was great.GRUDGE MATCH (2013)What drew you to Grudge Match?I thought it would be interesting, just the subtext of me and Sylvester [Stallone] going at it. We represent Rocky and Raging Bull, so I thought itd be interesting to do. It didnt work as wed hoped, but thats OK -- it was a good experience for me. And he was great, Sylvester. He really is into boxing, knows a lot about it. He was terrific.You were 70 years old at the time. Sly was 67. But was there a hint of competition between the two of you during filming?No, no, hes very realistic about it. Its about throwing the punches in certain ways, so its realistic. There was contact at times, and hes had more contact [over his career], so he was less worried about it. I didnt want anybody to get hurt. But it was fun. And he had a great trainer, Bob Sally. Sylvester used him on his films the last couple of years. He was terrific.If you and Sly were to have squared off in your primes, whod win the match? Who knows. I dont know if wed be in the same weight class.HANDS OF STONE (2016)You play Ray Arcel, Roberto Durans trainer. What is it about boxing that keeps you coming back?I think its just coincidence. [Hands of Stone writer/director] Jonathan Jakubowicz had a great script. I didnt know as much as I know now about Ray Arcel, but I met him once or twice as I was doing Raging Bull. I liked him. He was a very elegant guy.With this you graduate from playing an athlete to playing the mentor. What research did you do?I read up more on Ray. I met his wife a couple of times. I watched video of him in the ring with Duran. I even had help from Bob Sally, who we brought in to help me in the corner. Hes like a fight historian, so he knew certain moves Arcel would do.Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard were on hand as advisors, but as a boxing movie legend, did you find yourself fielding advice on movie-boxing from the filmmakers or cast? No, not really. If there was something I saw that I felt was [off], I might make a suggestion. But Edgar Ramirez and Usher [who plays Leonard] both did a terrific job. They worked very hard, trained very hard, they looked great.?Like Raging Bull, Hands of Stone is fact-based. Are the best sports movies based on true stories?Familiarity helps. If theres a built-in story everybody knows -- like in Hands of Stone, the famous moment No mas -- that makes a difference.So thats five sports films. Which of your roles was the most challenging? Id say Raging Bull, probably. Grudge Match was, too. But its Raging Bull, with the weight.Your favorite experience making a sports movie? I liked the training, especially in Grudge Match with Bob Sally, Sylvesters trainer. Its great exercise, great for cardio and speed.Have you stuck with the training, or do you just let yourself go upon wrap? Im on the border. [Laughs] I work out, but I dont do any boxing training. Im more of a treadmill guy now.Got a sixth sports film in you? Sure, if it comes along.Whats your favorite film of any film youve done?Midnight Run.For me, its right up there with Heat, Goodfellas, and Godfather II as far as personal favorites. Its funny, I run into a lot of people, younger people, who say they love Midnight Run.Why do you think it still resonates? It was funny, yet there were certain dramatic moments. It wasnt just a comedy, per se. I guess they call it a road-type movie. I had fun doing it.Which of your films do fans want to talk to you about the most? Well, what happens is, you get fans who come up with photographs that they ask you to sign, and its either a photo of Goodfellas, Casino, Godfather, Cape Fear or Raging Bull. And also Heat.Which of your lines of dialogue do fans most often quote back to you? I do hear, You talkin to me? Thats the one.Do you ever find yourself saying it to a mirror? No, no. [Laughs]Do you have a favorite scene from your career?I like the restaurant scene that Michael Mann wrote for Heat, when Al Pacino and I had our first encounter. I really like that scene. It was also your first scene, ever, with Pacino.What did you like about it? It was just a very well written scene, and you really wanted to see these two characters have their moment, interacting. It was so good.It might be my favorite scene of all time. I didnt want it to end. Did you? Yeah, I was tired. [Laughs] We shot it late at night - we rehearsed it until midnight, then we had a dinner break as I remember, and we didnt start shooting until 12:30, 1 a.m. When it was over, I wanted to go home and sleep.John Cominsky Youth Jersey . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. Steve Bartkowski Womens Jersey .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. http://www.thefaclonsshoponline.com/Youth-Tony-Gonzalez-Falcons-Jersey/ . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Calvin Ridley Falcons Jersey . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. Brett Favre Womens Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester.RIO DE JANEIRO -- A weightlifter from Kyrgyzstan became the first athlete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics to be stripped of a medal after failing a drug test, while a Chinese swimmer and Brazilian cyclist were also disqualified Thursday and a Moldovan canoeist was suspended and could lose his bronze medal.Weightlifter Izzat Artykov tested positive for strychnine -- banned as a stimulant -- after winning the bronze in the mens 69-kilogram division, the Court of Arbitrations anti-doping division said.The 22-year-old lifters medal was taken away and he was kicked out of the games.Strychnine is a highly toxic drug often used as a pesticide, particularly for killing rodents. However, it also has a long history in sports doping, used in small doses to tighten tired muscles. Strychnine was reportedly commonly used in the early years of the Tour de France to help cyclists survive the demanding rides.CAS referred the case to the international weightlifting federation for possible further sanctions against Artykov, who could face a two-year ban from the sport. The federation and the IOC were asked to decide on the reallocation of the medal.Luis Javier Mosquera of Colombia is in line to be upgraded from fourth place to the bronze medal. Chinas Zhiyong Shi won the gold and Turkeys Daniyar Ismayilov took the silver.Also Thursday, the arbitration court removed Indian wrestler Narsingh Yadav from the Rio Olympics and gave him a four-year suspension.Yadav had originally escaped a ban over two positive tests earlier this year for the banned substance methandienone after Indias national anti-doping agency accepted his explanation that his food or drink had been tampered with.However, the World Anti-Doping Agency disagreed and filed an appeal to CAS, which ruled that there was no evidence to support Yadavs claim of sabotage.Yadav had been due to compete Friday in the mens 74-kilogram freestyle class.Earlier Thursday, weightlifter Izzat Artykov was stripped of his bronze medal after testing positive, while Moldovan canoeist Serghei Tarnovschi is provisionally suspended and risks losing his bronze for a failed test.Also Thursday, the arbitration court issued final verdicts in the cases of swimmer Chen Xinyi and cyclist Kleber Ramos.The 18-year-old Chen, who finished fourth in the 100-meter butterfly, had previously accepted a provisional suspension after testingg positive for a diuretic.dddddddddddd She pulled out of her final event, the 50-meter freestyle.After a hearing was held in the case, CAS said she had been formally disqualified and her fourth-place result annulled. The international swimming federation, FINA, was asked to consider any further sanctions.Chen tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, which is listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency as a specified substance. Athletes testing positive for those substances can receive reduced penalties because of the possibility the drug was taken inadvertently.Ramos, meanwhile, tested positive for the blood-booster EPO in a pre-games test July 31. He had accepted a provisional suspension on a voluntary basis and did not request a hearing.CAS said he has now been disqualified and kicked out of the games. His case was referred to the international cycling body, which could impose a two-year ban. Ramos competed in the mens Olympic road race on Aug. 6 but failed to finish.In a separate case, the International Canoe Federation said Serghei Tarnovschi had been suspended after failing a pre-competition doping test. The 19-year-old Tarnovschi placed third in the 1,000 meters canoe single final Tuesday and was to compete in the 1,000 meters double on Friday with his older brother, Oleg.The ICF said he will now no longer be eligible and will face provisional suspension under anti-doping rules.ICF spokesman Richard Pettit told The Associated Press that Tarnovschis medal had been removed pending the outcome of a hearing at CAS. Pettit declined to say what Tarnovschi was accused of taking.Ilya Shtokalov of Russia placed fourth in the event and is positioned for the bronze if the medal is reallocated.The Belarus mens team and the entire Romanian team were excluded from the canoe sprint competition before the games because of widespread doping.CAS is handling doping cases at the Olympics for the first time. The International Olympic Committee handed over responsibility to CAS to try to make the process more independent.Last week, Polish weightlifter Tomasz Zielinksi and Bulgarian steeplechaser Silvia Danekova were kicked out of the games after testing positive for banned substances.--Associated Press Writer Karl Ritter contributed.[url=http://www.authelgarian steeplechaser Silvia Danekova