Former NFL player Spencer Paysinger is drawing on his high school days living between two worlds for his first major Hollywood project.
Paysinger grew up in economically depressed South Los Angeles Darius Slay Jersey , but he attended Beverly Hills High School, where he captained the football team in the wealthy enclave. The culture shock he experienced is the basis for "All American," debuting Oct. 10 on the CW.
"I definitely had a gang influence with friends and family growing up in South Central, and people might think that Beverly Hills definitely shielded me from some problems. But in actuality, it only opened up a whole new can of worms," Paysinger told a TV critics' meeting on Monday.
"Just dealing with kids with affluence, kids with drug problems and having their parents not be there for weeks on end because they're vacationing or they're doing big business. Just dealing with that contrast was probably the biggest thing that I had to go through."
Paysinger commuted daily to high school as part of a program that brought students from other areas to Beverly Hills, where he had two uncles and an aunt who coached and taught there.
Spencer eventually attended the University of Oregon and won a Super Bowl title with the New York Giants, one of four NFL teams he played for before achieving his goal of retiring from the league no later than age 30.
The series shoots in some of Paysinger's old haunts in South L.A., like a local park and the barbershop he has patronized since he was a kid.
"South Central's been portrayed so many different ways in the media for however long," Paysinger said. "But with this show Joe Namath Jersey , I definitely want to implant that family aspect of the community."
Producers hired a consulting firm that designs all of the football plays in the show, and consulting producer Paysinger wants to make sure the action is authentic.
"I don't want friends, I don't want family texting, emailing me saying, 'That's not it. They couldn't have converted on that,' " he said.
Paysinger isn't the only one with pro sports ties involved in the show. One of the writers is Jon Alston, who played five years in the NFL, and retired Major League Soccer player Robbie Rogers is a producer.
Kyle Korver is getting daily treatment on his bruised right foot and taking medication to fight off a ”nasty little bug” that has made its way through Cleveland’s roster.
Only time can heal his broken heart.
As he begins chasing a championship, Korver is wrestling with the recent death of his younger brother, Kirk, who died at 27 from complications following a sudden illness.
Following Tuesday’s practice David Njoku Jersey , Korver paused several times while discussing a ”very complicated month” that has changed his life and split him in two. He’s walking an emotional balance beam.
”You come back from dealing with death and the family and you hold that in one hand and you hold the playoffs here in another hand and it’s interesting to kind of balance both of those at the same time and try to get yourself ready to play basketball,” he said. ”And, I’ve been hurt. I feel like it’s been a very complicated month in my mind, but I feel like I’m in a good spot right now and I’m ready to play.”
Korver was on the floor for just four minutes in the 98-80 loss to Indiana in Game 1, but he’s feeling better and expects to have more of an impact as the Cavaliers try to even the series Wednesday night.
The 37-year-old swingman has been comforted by his wife, Juliet, his family and an overwhelming outpouring of support from teammates, opponents and many in the NBA community.
The words and flowers and text messages have brought some peace, but Korver remains conflicted on how to mourn, how to express his grief.
”You know that you don’t cry when you think about your brother? Is that good? I don’t think that’s good,” he said. ”I feel like I’m trying to go through all the emotions and stages and waves that people tell me about. I understand that this is part of life and when you go through something like this Tyrod Taylor Jersey , it’s amazing how many people come up to you and talk about their own stories that they’ve had. There have been so many.
”They’re hard and they’re hard to hear, but it’s also very comforting to know that you’re going through this with a lot of people and a lot of people care about you.”
Korver was also warmed by reaction to a video of him speaking at Kirk’s funeral . Flanked by his other brothers, Kyle and Klayton, he looked at his parents and said, ”You will always have four sons.”
”I’m told a lot of people have watched it and it meant something to a lot of people,” Korver said. ”I think if your brother has to die, you want something good to come of it. You know, it will take a long time to see the good that comes from that. I don’t really know if I have the head space right now to think about all that.
”It means a lot that people received that all well and commented. I’ve been told it’s been helpful.”
His job hasn’t provided much sanctuary, mainly because Korver has been injured. He hasn’t been able to move the way he normally does, cutting across the baseline or coming off a screen to knock down a 3-pointer.
”Whether it’s good or bad, I just want to play really hard Dion Sims Jersey ,” he said. ”But I couldn’t, I haven’t been able to just because of it. It’s good to have something now to kind of sink into, just for a little bit of every day kind of get lost in and try harder.”
Korver was starting before he left the team following a March 19 win over Milwaukee to be with his family in Iowa. Coach Tyronn Lue wanted him back with the first group for the playoffs, but couldn’t because of the foot injury so Rodney Hood started Game 1.
It’s possible Korver could start Game 2, with Lue considering a lineup change. Lue hinted he used what he thinks is his best lineup only for a brief stretch on Sunday ”when Kyle was out there for three minutes.”
The Cavs need his shooting, and Korver wants to deliver.
There’s another game to play, some time to clear his mind and maybe for some 3-pointers to fall.
”I tried that the other night and I got taken out real quick,” he said with a smile. ”It will be good. Hopefully there will be some opportunity for me tomorrow.”