Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 60?
Yep, our favorite full-time hoops star and part-time actor turns 60 years old on Monday. Kareem appears as co-pilot Roger Murdock in the 1980 movie Airplane, but he wasn't the first pick to play the role. Actually, Pete Rose was, but they couldn't work production into Rose's schedule.
Instead, Kareem picked up a $35,000 paycheck for his appearance. (He asked for that amount specifically because there was a rug at that same price he really wanted to buy.)
All-time favorite scene from Airplane:
Joey: Wait a minute. I know you. You're Kareem Abdul-Jabar. You play basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Roger Murdock: I'm sorry son, but you must have me confused with someone else. My name is Roger Murdock. I'm the co-pilot.
Joey: You are Kareem. I've seen you play. My dad's got season tickets.
Roger Murdock: I think you should go back to your seat now Joey. Right Clarence?
Captain Oveur: Nahhhhhh, he's not bothering anyone, let him stay here.
Roger Murdock: But just remember, my name is ROGER MURDOCK. I'm an airline pilot.
Joey: I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't work hard enough on defense. And he says that lots of times, you don't even run down court. And that you don't really try... except during the playoffs.
Roger Murdock: The hell I don't. Listen kid. I've been hearing that crap ever since I was at UCLA. I'm out there busting my buns every night. Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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Posted by: Brett | April 17, 2007 at 04:26 PM
Yo Bassnote, I forgot about the goggles, classic!!
Posted by: Hamptune | April 17, 2007 at 11:50 AM
I'm an idiot... I did not read Hamptune's comment before I wrote mine.
Posted by: bassnote | April 17, 2007 at 10:47 AM
I'm an idiot... I did not read Hamptune's comment before I wrote mine.
Posted by: bassnote | April 17, 2007 at 10:46 AM
fans of this should check out Kentucky Fried Movie as well...awesomely funny stuff from the ZAZ team and directed by John Landis, who certainly driected a ton of hits in the 80s...
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | April 17, 2007 at 08:36 AM
I love when they pull him unscious from his seat, and he has his Lakers shorts, basketball shoes, and goggles on.
Posted by: bassnote | April 16, 2007 at 07:45 PM
Another great part is the "Roger" "huh" sequence. But its also pretty classic when they drag him out of the cockpit with the kneepads on.
Posted by: Hamptune | April 16, 2007 at 06:42 PM