From the movie Airplane!:
Joey: Wait a minute. I know you. You’re Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 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…
[showing his nametag]
Roger Murdock: 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.
[Kareem gets angry]Joey: 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: [breaking character] 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.
Another one of the funniest movies ever made, from the if-you-throw-enough-stuff-at-the-wall-some-of-it-will-stick school of comedy. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s role in the movie was a public relations triumph for the Hall-of-Famer, whose public image to that point had been one of aloof arrogance. Another movie that should be passed from generation to generation, and a great idea for a Christmas show for the whole family. Even the youngest will get some of the jokes. Nobody gets them all on the first viewing.
