Paramount

Director:
Brian Robbins

Writers:
Daniel Coyle (book)
John Gatins

Television actor-turned-director Brian Robbins follows up Varsity Blues (1999) and Ready to Rumble (2000) with another sports comedy. Keanu Reeves stars as Conor O'Neill, an underachiever and inveterate sports gambler who needs a bailout loan from a friend to pay off his mounting debt. As a condition for receiving the necessary funds, Conor is saddled with coaching a corporate-sponsored Little League baseball team for underprivileged youth in Chicago's notorious Cabrini Green housing project. Reluctant at first, Conor slowly begins to enjoy his new authority role, especially when he makes the acquaintance of his players' attractive teacher, Elizabeth Wilkes (Diane Lane). Based on the real-life chronicle -Hardball: A Season in the Projects by Outside magazine editor Daniel Coyle, Hardball also stars D.B. Sweeney and Mike McGlone. Karl Williams

Cast:

Keanu Reeves... Conor O'Neill
Diane Lane... Elizabeth Wilkes
John Hawkes... Ticky Tobin
Bryan Hearne... Andre Ray Peetes (as Bryan C. Hearne)
Julian Griffith... Jefferson Albert Tibbs
Michael B. Jordan... Jamal (as Michael Jordan)
A. Delon Ellis Jr.... Miles Pennfield II
Kristopher Lofton... Clarence
Michael Perkins... Kofi Evans
Brian M. Reed... Raymond 'Ray Ray' Bennet
DeWayne Warren... Jarius 'G-Baby' Evans
Carol Hall... Pearla Evans (as Carol E. Hall)
Jacqueline Williams... Lenora Tibbs
Freeman Coffey... Darryl Mackey
D.B. Sweeney... Matt Hyland

Produced by
Herb Gains.... executive producer
Kevin McCormick.... executive producer
Tina Nides.... producer
Brian Robbins.... producer
Erwin Stoff.... executive producer
Michael Tollin.... producer