As I’ve made clear here on several occasions, I’m a huge fan of the original Bad News Bears. I even have a Kelly Leak replica Bears jersey, which my wife gave me as a present this past Xmas.

So anyway, I mentioned this to Marc Weisblott via email last evening (in the course of commenting on his nifty new site design), and he emailed back this link — a “then and now” feature done by TV Guide last year, complete with updated photos of many of the Bears.

Oglivie? Earned a coupla Master’s degrees (in engineering and management) from Stanford and started a software provider company.

Toby Whitewood? Working on his PhD in theology at Drew.

Timmy Lupus? An illustrator.

Rudi Stein? A pilot — and something to do with NASA and rocket science. (I know, I know. Rand Simberg. But can he pitch…?)

Brandon Cruz — who played Yankees pitcher Joey Turner? Went on to front the LA punk band, Dr. Know, and did sound work for “South Park” (Hmm. Wonder if Dr. Frank knows him?); Ahmad’s now a DJ.

And on and on. Unfortunately, Tanner Boyle (Chris Barnes) doesn’t talk about his Bears experience (in fact, no one seems to know where he is, really) — nor does Kelly Leak (Jackie Earle Haley), though he’s featured in the story and still active in film making.

…Recently, Paramount released the 1976 film on DVD — though without any extras to speak of. This despite the fact that it’s been 26 years since the film’s initial theatrical release, and a 25 year reunion documentary seemed a natural idea.

One of these days I’m going to take some time off and track these guys down myself, maybe put together my own little retrospective documentary.

I can use the proceeds to pay off my school loans.

[in memorium: Walter Matthau, Vic Morrow, Michael Ritchie, Ben Piazza, Bill Lancaster]

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