Who is Sonny Vaccaro, the protagonist of the film “Air” played by Matt Damon in the recent film by Ben Affleck?
The film tells the story of the Nike “Air” brand that enters basketball through Michael Jordan’s shoes and how the various protagonists entered the story that represented a global success for Nike.
It is a true story and it is the story of Sonny Vaccaro of Italian parents from Falerna, our small Calabrian town in the province of Catanzaro.
Directed by Ben Affleck, the film stars Affleck himself as Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro who originates the story by signing the then unknown champion Michael Jordan.
An important role is also played by Jordan’s mother, without whose consent to Michael’s accession to Nike there would have been no “Air” and who knows if Michaele’s success would have been the same.
The film therefore tells a moving story with a champion in his infancy, a mother who counts on her son’s talent, a sports manager who sees the future of that champion and has a vision of the possible commercial success of a brand, a businessman who he accepts a challenge and puts his trust in those who show him enthusiasm and knowledge of a sports sector that until then had not been controlled by Nike.
Sonny Vaccaro (born as John Paul Vincent and later called Sonny) was born on September 23, 1939 in Pennsylvania, but is of Italian parents from Falerna. This story is therefore particularly dear and moving to us, because it is the umpteenth story of emigration with positive success.
We would like Sonny to visit Falerna where he would be given a worthy welcome as it has been for other successful personalities with Falernese origins.
Sonny, we’re waiting for you!!