All language subtitles for Arliss s03e13 His Name Is Arliss Michaels.eng

(dramatic music plays)

Arliss: For most of us,

the dream of
becoming a champion,

remains a fantasy...

but for a special few,

it is very much a reality.

We cheer them.

We live through them.

Athletes are our last warriors.

My job is to make
their dreams come true.

(water splashes)

My name is Arliss Michaels.

I represent athletes.

These are my stories.

♪ Don't know what it is
that makes me love you so ♪

♪ I only know I never
wanna let you go ♪

♪ 'Cause you started
something, oh, can't you see ♪

♪ That ever since we met
you had a hold on me? ♪

♪ It happens to be true ♪

♪ I only wanna be with you ♪

♪ I just wanna be
beside you everywhere ♪

♪ As long as we're
together, honey, I don't care ♪

♪ 'Cause you started
something, oh, can't you see ♪

♪ That ever since we met
you had a hold on me? ♪

♪ No matter what you do ♪

♪ I only wanna be with you ♪

♪ It doesn't... ♪

(dramatic music plays)

(Armen Keteyian narrates)

and as the chairman of
Arliss Michaels Management,

he's one of the premier
sports agents in America.

The media would like to
portray myself and all agents

as these Machiavellian
characters

that can control... sports.

But the reality is that

we're only as good
as our roster of clients,

because not one team
owner is paying dollar one

for Arliss Michaels.

They're paying for my clients.

Armen: And what
a collection he has.

Jerry Rice, Barry Bonds,

Shaquille O'Neal, Derek Jeter,

and his newest client,

last year's National League
MVP, Victor Gonzalez.

It's no wonder Arliss
Michaels was the inspiration

for director
Cameron Crowe's film

"Jerry Maguire."

It's estimated that his clients
are currently signed to contracts

that total approximately
a half a billion dollars,

a market base that's not
confined to the playing field.

Arliss Michaels
has taken his clients

and made the crossover
into theatrical motion pictures.

In fact, I've used a
number of his clients myself.

Armen: Ron Shelton, filmmaker.

In fact, Arliss is
producing for me

a remake of "Snow White
and the Seven Dwarfs,"

this time the dwarfs being
played by the dream team.

Woman: Excuse me,
Ron. Karl Malone, line one.

Oh, there's "Grumpy"
now, excuse me.

So what drives Arliss
Michaels? Is it fame, money?

Well, all those things
are nice, of course,

but I think what gives
me the biggest kick

is the opportunity to work
with talented young people,

helping them to
reach their potential

by giving them
good career advice.

(machine gun firing)

I'm telling you, the smart
move is to quit high school

and announce you're pro now.

It's just too damn
dangerous here these days.

I mean, you're risking
injury! Sign, sign!

(boy shouts) Fuck the
SAT's! Fuck the SAT's!

Yeah, yeah, congratulations.

- (gunfire continues)
- Get down!

What's the secret
to your success?

The first time I visited
the White House,

there was a sign in the
oval office on Reagan's desk

that read "There is no limit
to what one can achieve

as long as he is willing
to give others the credit."

I try to live by that.

Remember, people,
this interview is about me.

- No, shit.
- Oh, imagine that.

Now, which suit do you think,
the navy or the olive gabardine?

- I look good in the navy.
- Are you sure we're gonna be interviewed?

(humphs) Probably not.
We're only his minions.

Of course you're
gonna be interviewed,

and when you are, you are to
speak openly, honestly and sincerely.

Now let's go over it again.

Together: If I needed an agent,

I'd want it to be
Arliss Michaels.

I'm very fortunate to work here.

To the best of my knowledge,
that never occurred.

Good.

(farting sounds)

If I needed an agent, I'd
want it to be Arliss Michaels.

Armen: Kirby Carlisle,
Arliss Michaels' top associate

and Arliss' first client.

You were his first
client, weren't you?

That's right. You might say
I'm the guy who started it all.

In fact, Arliss always refers
to me as "patient zero."

(farting sounds)

Armen: Rita Wu, Arliss'
executive assistant.

If I needed an agent, I'd
want it to be Arliss Michaels.

Rita, what seems to stand
out from talking to people here

is the tremendous
sense of loyalty.

I'm very fortunate
to be working here.

He seems like a generous
and giving employer.

To the best of my knowledge,
that never occurred.

I pinch myself every
morning. I just love what I do.

I work with great people,

and I have the respect and
the appreciation of my clients.

All of Michaels' current clients

may respect and appreciate him,

but one former client
most certainly does not.

Arliss Michaels lied to me.

Armen: Slugger Donny Thurman

teamed up with Arliss
Michaels in 1979.

It was a profitable
association for both

and ran nearly 20 years.

But it ended recently
with rancor and accusation.

Arliss Michaels is guilty
of misrepresentation,

unethical business practices,

and a conflict of interest.

Donny, you and Arliss were
much more than client and agent,

you were the best of friends.

Yeah.

He introduced me to my wife.

He's also godfather
of my son, Daniel.

Donny and I were friends.

Our relationship went
way beyond baseball.

We shared many
interests outside the game.

In fact, that's initially
what brought us together.

♪ ♪

♪ There's a line... ♪

It's 150 a lid.

150? You're high!

♪ Don't even try to stop me... ♪

Hey, what's the
cost if I can get you

two great seats
to the Rose Bowl?

150.

I hate sports.

♪ I stood back and
looked at the same... ♪

I like that sombrero, though.

Kirby.

(coughs)

Is there a White Castle nearby?

A hundred and the hat.

Deal, dude.

♪ There are rules that
someone else made ♪

♪ I'm breaking right now ♪

♪ They don't apply to me,
'cause those fools are... ♪

(whispers) Let's go.

♪ See them wave
to the crowd... ♪

- Bonsoir.
- ♪ As naked as can be ♪

♪ I saw what was
real and what's fake ♪

♪ From a vantage point high... ♪

Arliss, you know Donny Thurman?

Sure, I know Donny.
How's it going, man?

♪ I took all the
hurt I could take ♪

♪ And I turned it around ♪

Later.

Amigo, como estas?

How much I owe you?

For you...

175 a lid.

Excuse me!

Did you just say 175?

Dude.

He did, didn't he?
He just said 175.

- He just charged me a hundred.
- Don't forget the hat.

What's going on here? You are
being taken advantage of, my brother.

I'm not your brother.

Keep talking.

Dude?

♪ From a vantage point high... ♪

Donny and I bonded
the first night we met.

In fact, you could say
that it was a joint effort.

Look, I know I don't
have that many clients yet,

but I'm getting
more all the time,

and a guy like you could
really make a difference.

Look...

I don't think I really
need an agent.

Sure you do.

Otherwise the man's
gonna fuck you.

I'm telling you, the
way baseball's going,

the average salary...
Soon, the average salary's

gonna be a million
dollars a man.

A million dollars a man?

Yeah, the game's changing
from a mom-and-pop operation

to a big conglomerate
corporate entity.

It's not baseball anymore.
It's gonna be programming!

Alright, alright. I just
want to ask you a question.

I know what you're gonna ask me.

How many black
clients do I have?

Well, together we'll do better.

I know how many
black clients you have.

What I want to know is

how many black
employees, you got?

♪ Jack told me
it wasn't him... ♪

Together we'll do better.

♪ No, no ♪

♪ I ain't got nobody ♪

♪ Lord knows I
ain't got myself ♪

I joined AMM about the same
time that Donny Thurman did.

Armen: Stanley Babson,
Chief Financial Officer of AMM

paints a unique picture.

Sure, Arliss has been
lucky, but you know what?

The harder he works,
the luckier he gets.

In fact, if I needed an agent,

I'd want it to be
Arliss Michaels.

I put everything I had
into representing Donny.

In fact, I remember
our first negotiation.

I pulled out some tricks that Siegfried
and Roy would've been proud of.

Arliss Michaels is a visionary.

He was the first agent
to include the concept

of incentive bonuses
for the players.

So when Donny
had his career year

because of the incentive clauses

that I had the
foresight to bring in,

Donny nearly doubled his salary.

Does that sound like a
conflict of interest to you?

Does that sound like
misrepresentation to you?

I don't think so.

So in the beginning
everything was good.

Yeah, in the
beginning it was good.

So what happened?

How did you go from
the best of friends

to suing Arliss for $10 million?

(scoffs) Because,
well, for one thing,

I introduced him
to a lot of his clients.

Such as?

Ozzie Smith.

(dance music plays)

♪ Oh yeah ♪

Kirby: Oh, yeah! Woo-hoo!

Oh, come on, take it off.

Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, take it off!

Woo-hoo!

Oh, yeah.

So you having... Oh! You
having fun at my bachelor party?

I should marry you.

Man, that Kirby is
having a good time.

If you think he's having a
good time, check out Stanley.

(laughs) Oh my god.

(chuckles nervously)
You're in great shape.

(laughs)

Do you work out? Oh! Well.

(laughter)

Hey, Donny, where's Ozzie?

Man, he'll be here in a minute.

Yeah, when he comes, I want
you to introduce him to me.

Look, man, if you
want to meet Ozzie,

just walk up to
him and say hello.

I introduced you
to the strippers.

♪ She'll do the same ♪

♪ She's quite a
beauty, gotta work it... ♪

Kirby: Where'd you come from?

Whoo! Yeah, take it off.

Come on, come on,
take it off. Take it off.

Don't be shy, don't be shy.

Oh yeah, shake it, baby.

(growls)

I'm... I'm sorry.
I can't do this.

No, no, no, my fiancée and I,
we... we have an understanding.

Hey. What's the problem?

I'm sorry, I can't do this.

I'm not a stripper.
I'm an actress.

- Oh, really?
- Yes, I studied Meisner.

I've got this industrial...

I got a callback on a
national commercial.

Look, look, look,
if you an actress,

then act like a stripper. Hmm?

Man: Yeah!

Act like a stripper, huh?

♪ Get it done ♪

♪ Oh yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Get it done ♪

Great job, there's Ozzie.

And once Ozzie got there,

Arliss put his nose
so far up Ozzie's ass,

it took about six
of us to pull him off.

Armen: We asked former All-Star
shortstop Ozzie Smith for his opinion.

Ozzie, did Donny Thurman
bring you to Arliss Michaels?

Yeah, sure, probably.

And once an athlete of
your stature went with Arliss,

what was the key to all the
black athletes who followed?

Man, I don't know.
Donny's a friend of mine,

and Arliss did a
great job for me.

That's all I gotta say.

By the way, do you
vote for the Hall of Fame?

So, Donny, what's the big deal?

A couple of guys you
know signed with your agent.

(scoffs) It wasn't just a couple,
Armen. It was a lot more.

I opened the door for all the
other black clients that followed.

Armen: Before Donny Thurman,

you had no other
African-American clients.

Now he's saying you used him

to recruit other black athletes.

No, no, no.

Donny was my first
African-American client,

but I never used
him to help me recruit.

I mean, that... that's absurd.

Armen: Agent Alvin Epps
of the Epps-Brenner Agency.

Arliss Michaels
has made a career

out of the exploitation
of the black athlete.

I've always known that
he sucked the nectar

out of their athletic abilities,

now it seems he's made
a considerable profit

on their business contacts.

Why is that whenever
there's a dispute

between a person who
happens to be black

and a person who
happens to be white,

it has to be a racial incident?

Donny Thurman and his
attorney are playing the race card.

Race has absolutely
nothing to do with this case.

We exploit all
our clients equally.

Armen: Donny isn't
the only Thurman

who has been involved with
Arliss Michaels for 20 years.

Donny's wife, Brenda Thurman,

has known the agent
for almost as long.

Look, I have to admit.

If it wasn't for
Arliss Michaels,

I wouldn't have met my husband.

Brenda, you were an actress
at the time, is that right?

Yes... at the time.

(chuckles)

She blames me for
giving up her acting career.

I do not.

I was more than happy
to move to Cleveland

to take care of
Donny and our kids.

You see?

Marriage has its ups and downs.

Things work out.

Why not here with
Arliss and Donny?

I don't see how.

I'm an agent.

My job is to bring
two people together,

make sure both sides
happy, a win-win situation.

I mean, Donny and
I go back 20 years.

I mean, from a single office
to the ones we're in now.

- Keep them closed?
- (hammering)

Open them.

Oh, shit!

(laughs)

Oh, man!

- This is reception here.
- Right.

Kirby's office is here.

I got a little cafe
area over there.

That's gonna be
my office over there.

Over here's the conference room.

Oh, wait until you
hear about that.

I got a conference
table being designed

in the shape of a
basketball court.

(laughs) This is
impressive, baby.

- You bet.
- Excuse me.

Hey, hey, you need
help with that, ma'am?

No, she's fine, aren't you okay?

Sure thing, Mr. Michaels.

Man, who is that?

Oh, that's just
some temp I hired

to help me with the filing.

Seems docile enough,
might keep her on.

(whispers) Sorry.

Anyway, Donny, I
want you to know that

none of this would be
possible without you, man.

I mean, you'll always
be number one with me.

Oh, Arliss, man.

- (laughs) You the man.
- Come on, let me show you my office.

"You'll always be
number one with me."

"There'll never be another
client higher on my speed dial."

That's what he said.

And how did Arliss thank me?

He screwed me...

when I needed him most.

He feels that you betrayed him.

What do you think
brought this on?

The sad fact is that
Donny, not unlike...

many ballplayers
in a similar situation,

is having trouble
coping with the fact

that his playing career is over.

Well, what about Tampa Bay?

I mean, you said it was a lock.

They decided to go another way.

Oh, shit!

Look, alright, alright.

Look, I'll play in Oakland.

Well, Art Howe loves you,

but management's
committed to youth.

So you're saying... that's it.

I'm done.

Well, no, no, I've already
contacted some teams in Japan.

(scoffs)

Ain't no fucking way!

I'm not going halfway
around the world

when I can still play here!

Donny, the fact is
the last few seasons

your numbers
have really tailed off.

It's because of the
knee surgery, Arliss.

(laughs) Look, it's
better. I'm all better.

(angrily) It's better!

Look, L.A. is looking for
a new third base coach.

It's a great way to
stay in the game.

Look, I can still swing
the fucking stick, Arliss.

I'm not ready to give it up.

Donny, I've done
everything I can.

(scoffs) Have you? Really?

What's that supposed to mean?

Look, I know how you work, man.

Look, my little contract
ain't worth your time

now that you got
these big clients.

That's not true.

I always do my best
for all my clients.

(knocking)

Arliss, excuse me.

Victor Gonzalez is here.

(door closes)

Yeah.

I guess my time is up...

now that you got
somebody more important

- to deal with.
- Donny, wait, let's talk.

As a nuevo cliente...

Hey, que pasa, Donny?

Oh, Arliss. Victor.

- Hey, what's up?
- Hey, Arliss.

(laughs)

He claims you
completely sold him out.

What do you say?

Look, I'm not a
buyer, I'm a seller.

I can't pick and choose
where an athlete's gonna play.

That's absurd. That's up to the
team that wants him the most.

Because of Donny's
limited mobility,

I couldn't get any
of the team owners

even to consider Donny.

Unfortunately that's the nature

of a professional sports career.

It happens.

Nothing with Arliss
Michaels just happens.

He's very loyal
to his older clients.

He busted his ass
to get Donny a job.

It was his top priority.

Arliss assured me when
he went to Tampa Bay

he was gonna come
back with a deal.

$750,000, one
year, best I can do.

Mel, Donny's looking
for a two-year deal.

Arliss, Donny's a
39-year-old one-legged DH.

750, one year, final offer.

It's not like we're talking
Victor Gonzalez here.

No, we're not.

What if we were
talking Victor Gonzalez?

Sorry.

Victor only wants to play
for a pennant contender.

Well, any team that has
Gonzalez is a pennant contender.

Any team that is willing
to meet the sticker price.

What would that
be "out the door"?

Tampa Bay wants to
sign Victor Gonzalez?

I thought you were pushing
Donny Thurman for that job.

I was and suddenly Tampa
Bay opens up the bank vault,

offering 40 million
for five years.

So what am I supposed
to do, tell him not to take it?

Yeah, but Tampa Bay's the only
team that's shown any interest in Donny.

And Victor will
get other offers,

some better than 40 million.

Maybe he will, and
maybe he won't.

And it's not a done deal.

If Victor says no, than maybe
they'll go back to Donny.

And if he doesn't say no?

Oh, don't worry. I know exactly
what I'm gonna say to Donny.

Donny, we've been
friends a long time,

and I've always
been straight with you,

so I'm just gonna
tell you straight out.

I've come up against the wall.

Well, what about Tampa Bay?

I mean you said it was a lock.

They decided to go another way.

So you're saying that's it?

I'm done.

So what happened
with the Tampa Bay job?

As far as Donny not getting
the Tampa Bay job goes,

I was very up front
with him about that.

Now I'm not gonna say
Donny wasn't disappointed,

but eventually he understood,

and... a few days
later when we called

the press conference to
announce his retirement,

I'm proud to say that I was
standing right there next to him.

Armen: And last February 26th,

Donald Albert Thurman ended
what is certainly going to be

a Hall of Fame career.

It seemed to be
the final chapter

to a storybook relationship.

But it turned out to
be the first chapter

in a bitter feud.

I remember that day.

I was in the kitchen when
I heard him screaming.

"No! No, no!"

I scared the hell out of
my wife, my... my kids,

but I couldn't believe
what I was seeing.

Tampa Bay had been looking
to add some pop to their lineup,

and they did it by landing

one of the biggest free
agent fish on the market,

designated hitter
Victor Gonzalez.

He is now in Tampa after
signing a five-year deal

worth $40 million.

This was Victor's
first and only choice.

When I saw Tampa Bay
signed Victor Gonzalez,

I knew Arliss had lied to me.

He backed up
Victor instead of me,

and I felt violated.

It was ugly.

Armen: And then it got uglier.

On March 16th,

Donny Thurman filed
a $10 million lawsuit

and retained the celebrated
Johnny Cochran as his attorney.

There are inherent
conflicts of interests

in agent/client relationships.

Through this litigation
we expect to show

Mr. Michaels most often
resolved those conflicts

in favor of himself.

Arliss represents over
a hundred athletes.

Sometimes we have more than
one client up for the same job.

That's not conflict of interest.

That's just the nature
of our business.

Let's just say we're very
excited about the prospects

of examining the way
Mr. Michaels does business.

We're planning to pose
a number of witnesses...

Clients, owners, and others...

That Mr. Michaels has done
business with over the years.

We think it'll be
very, very, interesting.

It's not fair.

Arliss, since the first
day he met Donny,

fought for the guy.

I've been there
since the beginning,

and when Arliss first
helped Donny by that pot...

Pontiac... Firebird,

you should've seen
Arliss work over the dealer.

(chuckles) He... what...

Let's... let's start again.

Roll that back. (clears throat)

Arliss, you've got a lot
of other big name clients,

many of whom are
friends of Donny's,

some of them who may
be in the same situation

as Donny someday.

What's been their reaction?

Well, first of all I try
never to bring other clients

into my legal situations,

but, that said,

I am proud to say
that most of them

have offered to
testify on my behalf.

Look, Magic, this
thing's starting to get ugly.

I might need clients
to testify on my behalf.

Will you do it?

Look, come on, Arliss,

now you know I'm
friends with Donny too.

Don't make me choose.

Well, I wouldn't
make you choose,

but if you have to choose,
you'll choose me, right?

- Don't make me choose!
- Why not?

The other day you asked me
who was better, you or Michael!

Yeah, and you
wouldn't choose either.

Well, I'll choose if you choose.

Look, I'm not gonna choose
between you and Donny.

Then I'm not gonna choose
between you and Michael.

Oh, that's how
it's gonna be, huh?

You're just gonna
walk off on me, huh?

Not to mention Larry.

Oh, okay, that's
how it's gonna be?

Larry in it now too.

So, Donny, what are the other
athletes saying to you right now?

"Go get him."

Armen: All-star
guard, Gary Payton.

Well, you know, it's
not just Arliss Michaels.

I think all agents are scum.

They get mad at us
because we take 95 percent

and give them five percent,
and I do all the work.

I just think agents are just
bad, terrible scum people.

That's all.

Armen: Are you happy
with your agent, Gary?

I'm very happy with my agent.

Armen: All pro wide
receiver, Andre Rison.

I've known Donny for
several years like a brother,

and he's never lied to me.

But as far as Arliss,
he's a lying motherfucker.

Can I say "motherfucker"?

I know you and
Donny no longer speak,

but if you could talk to him,
what would you tell him?

I would tell him that I always
gave him my best effort, always.

And that... I never lied to him.

Is there any chance of
you settling this thing?

I would like to think yes,

but I'm afraid now a
line has been crossed.

Too many things have been said,

and the only way
to clear my name

is to have my day in court.

In fact, I demand it.

I want to settle.

What do you
think is a fair price?

Well, after hearing what
Donny has to say, I don't know.

Your head on a stick?

Shit!

♪ ♪

Maybe we haven't
explored all the options.

♪ Oh yeah ♪

You know what, Brenda?

I'm gonna put some
leave-on conditioner

- and I'll be back to rinse it for you.
- Okay, thanks.

I'm gonna do
something really different.

Why do you want to
do anything different?

- You look gorgeous.
- Arliss?

What are you doing here?

- Brenda, just hear me out, okay?
- I don't want to talk about it.

Brenda, we go back 20
years, together. That's 20 years.

I remember when you were acting.

Cut the bullshit, Arliss.

Why are you talking to me?

Why aren't you talking to Donny?

Because I know your
husband listens to you.

Look, I am not going to
play the role of peacemaker.

Actually that's not
the role I had in mind.

I'm a good agent.

I've done nothing wrong.

The case of Donny Thurman
versus Arliss Michaels is complex,

far reaching and now, over.

What could've been a landmark
decision in the sports world

will merely now
become a footnote,

for late last night a
settlement was reached

between the two
seemingly intractable parties.

That's right, they made a deal.

Terms were not disclosed,

but both sides shook hands
and walked away smiling.

I guess that's what being
a good agent is all about.

Man: Come on, Dream
Team. Picture's up!

Camera's ready! Let's move!

Where's Grumpy? Come on, guys.

Come on, Brenda, be
ready for you in a sec.

- Gotta move.
- Excuse you?

You don't tell me
when I'm ready!

I tell you when I'm ready!

Who's the star of this show?

I'm going to my dressing room.

I'm telling you, Donny,
this is just the beginning

of Michaels-Thurman Productions.

No more of this
$90-million bullshit.

- Let's make a big movie.
- You bet.

- By the way, do you know Denzel?
- Oh yeah,

- Could you introduce me to Denzel?
- You got it.

- Do you know Ving?
- Ahh!

- Together: Ving!
- (laughs)

- What about Chris Rock?
- Yeah, you got him.

Who plays the gay
guy on "Spin City"?

Ah, Boatman, Jimmy Boatman.

Armen: His name
is Arliss Michaels.

He represents athletes.

This is his story.

♪ Don't know what it is
that makes me love you so ♪

♪ I only know I never
wanna let you go ♪

♪ 'Cause you started
something, oh, can't you see ♪

♪ That ever since we met
you had a hold on me ♪

♪ It happens to be true ♪

♪ I only wanna be with you ♪

♪ It doesn't matter where
you go or what you do ♪

♪ I want to spend each
moment of the day with you ♪

♪ Oh, look what has
happened with just one kiss ♪

♪ I never knew that I
could be in love like this ♪

♪ It's crazy, but it's true ♪

♪ I only wanna be with you ♪

♪ You stopped and smiled at me ♪

♪ Asked if I cared to dance ♪

♪ I fell into your open arms ♪

And I didn't stand a
chance, now listen, honey ♪

♪ I just wanna be
beside you everywhere ♪

♪ As long as we're
together, honey, I don't care ♪

♪ 'Cause you started
something, oh, can't you see ♪

♪ That ever since we met ♪

♪ You had a hold on me ♪

♪ No matter what you do ♪

♪ I only wanna be with you ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, you stopped ♪

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