Mike Myers on Love Guru, Maple Leafs, Wayne Gretzky
Posted on June 9th, 2008 – 5:52 PMBy Michael Russo
Twice in one day, imagine. I suppose I owe you that considering the slim pickings on here lately.
Actor/comedian Mike Myers just conducted a conference call with a smattering of us sportswriters as part of his promotion for his new flick, “Love Guru,” which he created, wrote, produced and acted in. The movie is being released by Paramount on June 20 and stars Myers, Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake.
In the film, fictional Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Darren Roanoke (a player with Gretzky-like skills portrayed by Romany Malco) begins to struggle badly on the ice when his relationship also “goes on the ice.” With Roanoke’s game suffering and the Maple Leafs losing, Myers’ character of “The Love Guru” is called in to assist in mending Roanoke’s relationship with the love of his life.
Mark Ellis and his company, The Sports Studio, coordinated all of the technical aspects of the hockey for “LOVE GURU.” He choreographed all of the hockey scenes and essentially directed the specific portions of the film that include hockey. Prior to the commencement of filming, Mark and his staff recruited over 50 hockey players to appear in the film including Rob Blake plus ex-NHL’ers such as Jamie Allison, Bob Probert, Jim Thompson, etc., then conducted a multi-week hockey training camp to get them prepared for filming.
Here are some snippets of Mike Myers from his 35-minute conference call with us. The guy’s love of hockey is apparent throughout. He’s from Scarborough, Ontario; his parents from Liverpool. He still plays street hockey often:
On if the Maple Leafs will win another Stanley Cup in his lifetime (they were 4 when they last won a Cup): “The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t won a Cup since 1967. I thought the only time I’d see a Stanley Cup in my lifetime is if I write it. I bleed blue. I would love to win the Stanley Cup. It’s so ingrained in me, in my friends, family. We just wait for our Cup now.”
On Myers’ hockey ability: “I’m not a great player. I’m an OK player, but I’m a massive, massive fan. I got to skate at center ice at Air Canada Centre, which was a dream.”
On his close friend Wayne Gretzky, who broke Toronto’s heart in the ’93 playoffs (Remember, Gretzky, with Los Angeles, high-sticked Doug Gilmour in overtime of Game 6, and referee Kerry Fraser ignored it, which is why he’s booed in Toronto even today. Gretzky scored the overtime winner, then had a hat trick in Game 7): He’s a great Canadian hero. With Team Canada, he’s a God for us. If anybody had to break our hearts, I’m glad it was Wayne Gretzky.”
More on Gretzky: “When he was on Saturday Night Live, it was one of the highlights of my life. I had just started on the show and they had what’s called the talent board, which is the schedule of upcoming hosts. When I saw Wayne Gretzky’s name, I dove on the phone as if it were a grenade to call my friends and family. We did a Wayne’s World together. He gave me an autographed photo that says, “Dear Mike, Good luck with your career, Wayne, No. 99.’ It’s very prominent in my house. That’s the Holy Grail right there.”
On what the Maple Leafs need: “We need two good centers. We need somebody to captain the power play from the point. We need two goalies to peak at the same time. … When that happens, I will be very happy.”
On hockey players: “I get star struck when I see hockey players. I get tongue twisty. I revert to an eight-year-old. Only about five years ago did I give up my dream to play in the NHL. Only five years ago did I consciously realize I was never going to play in the NHL.”
On Mats Sundin: “They should do everything in their power to keep him. I’m a massive Mats Sundin fan.”
On which hockey player was best in the film: “Rob Blake knocked it out of the park (although all his lines were cut, but Myers said 70 percent of his own lines were cut).”
On the hockey in the film: “I have a community of hockey people to answer to. That had to be authentic. I wanted [Roanoke] to have a great skating stride, a great glide, his slap shot to be excellent. … Mark Ellis did a fantastic job. I feel tremendously honored that the NHL and Toronto Maple Leafs were so helpful and supportive. The NHL’s been awesome partners.”
On Justin Timberlake’s character: “He had not skated before, but he had an amazing kind of Tony Espo(sito)-like stance.”
On TSN now acquiring Hockey Night in Canada’s theme song (which Myers hummed, here’s the story on this): “What an odd occurrence. It feels like the second anthem. … I actually have autographed sheet music of the Hockey Night in Canada theme song. It’s part of our heritage. It’s part of the fabric of my life.”
On the Kings being Toronto’s opponent in the movie, was it revenge for 1993): It needed to be a team from the West. I thought the logos looked good together. It wouldn’t be revenge. The Kings won that [1993] series fair and square.”
54 Responses to "Mike Myers on Love Guru, Maple Leafs, Wayne Gretzky"
Myers is really pushing this movie HARD. Which must mean it really is THAT bad. (Where’s Alan Smithee when you REALLY need him?)
Oh, well, at least he got to show some Maple Leaf love to his homies back in TO.
Enjoy the film, if you all go…
The only reason I would see this film is because Hockey is involved. I am quite certain it is going to suck though.
Russo, All this crap is great and all, but how about some of the info we’re actually looking for. The Draft, Trades, Signings… You know, Wild hockey dirt! Let’s get crackin’ bud! Enough Vacation talk, what’s up with Rolston?
Dang. Tough crowd.
First, Band: we got you back. I’m not even going to let you slum it with Jose. Patron - just for you.
Second, “He still plays street hockey often”
He took some shots on me to warm me up once in the street hockey league he’s talking about. That’s pretty cool that he’d mention it, actually.
So… heavy shot or what?
keep in mind: street hockey, street hockey ball. No one really has a heavy shot with those puppies.
I should say that he was very nice (in the five minutes I interacted with him) and was very gracious when people recognized him and came over like “Hey, are you Mike Myers?”
The group of kids in that league is perfect for him though, in that it’s mostly Brooklyn artiste/disaffected youth types who won’t freak out over “Like OMG! That’s totally that Austin Powers dude! I have to text my BFF!”
I just watched Burns cream Pfanufe (how does that freak spell his name?) something like ten times ( I love you tube for stuff like that). I also ate way to many mashed taters at supper and the Mr is letting me watch whatever I want on TV so all I need now is some girl scout cookies (I think there’s a box left in the back of the freezer)….. and a new job. Friggin’ budget cuts. Another bottle please Nick. No live hockey for the Bandgeek and her Mr this season unless something good happens soon, what are the odds for winning the lottery? I hope it doesn’t rain on Thursday, seeing Boogey and Fridge and Voros and Shepp, and SRV, and Hards, and apparently Foster at the summer bash will cheer me up a bit.
Oh NiNY I disagree. You should come to one of our Sunday roller games. Wicked heavy shots with one of those puppies (if you don’t believe me, just ask and I’ll tell you otherwise!). And fights break out once in a while (a little less frequently now that we’re in our 40’s, but still…) so you should swing by MN to pick up Bandgeek on your way. Hey, while you’re at it, bring Myers with you. Grinding a real celebrity into the chain link would be something I could tell my grandkids about. 
Seriously, though, I hate those roller balls, but on the outdoor pavement, that’s about as good as it gets. For some reason I keep trying to do some fancy stickhandling. Never works.
must be a different kind of ball, toivo. about the only thing hard about these balls we used were trying to read the flight of the shot when they dipped like a knuckleball. I even wore street hockey goalie gear back then (this was before I graudated to ice) which is not all that protective and I never even caught a stinger.
They were those sort of no-bounce rubber/plastic street hockey balls. I think they were made by Franklin or maybe Mylec.
(Of course, the alternative explanation was that I never faced anyone with a good shot…)
No, it’s the same thing. Orange, yes? Our shots are not heavy. Twas an empty boast on my part. But the fighting is real. Dumb, but real. 
Do you think they will do a Father’s Day feature like the Mother’s Day feature with Schultz and his mom? I liked reading about the different professional athletes and their mother/grandmother and how they influenced their lives.
Everybody was kung foo fighting…. ha!
Uuuhhhhh…… to many mashed taters….. tummy full.
I practice with my dogs toys. They have a little red ball they don’t play with but is perfect to practice shots and puck handling with.
Bravo, Dominator, on a great career.
During his prime (mid-to-late 90s) he was just amazing. Unusual and unique in “style”, you’d think him to be inimitable, but there are definitely facets of playing goalie today that were at least popularized by him (dropping your goal stick to grab the puck with the glove of your blocker is one that comes right to mind).
He sort of flaked out towards the end a bit, but for a solid chunk of time he was one of the top two or three goalies in the entire league (and that would, in my mind, put him right up there with Roy, a young Brodeur, an aging Richter, etc).
I did not, however, recall that he was traded from Chicago to Buffalo in exchange for Stephane Beauregard and a pick that would become Eric Daze. Man…Darcy ROBBED the Hawks!
I really need to stop reading these comments during the offseason. It makes my brain hurt more than usual.
- Niko Kapanen is also Russia bound - I wonder if the NHL realized that the cap was going to make it easy for other leagues to pick off 3rd line NHLers. Not saying I have a problem with it and I think the Russia option was perfect solution for Branko’s predicament.
- All is well - The Hockey Theme will remain on HNC and be added to TSN and RDS - http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=240196 However, the world will end when the Gophers announce listening licenses for the Rouser
By the way that little red ball hurts like hell when your pissed (angry pissed not drunk pissed) so your practicing hard shots off the back wall of the garage and it bounces back and hits you in the ankle.
They have some of the guys on the road trip bloggong about the trip over at Wild.com. Some of the pictures are kinda funny, like the one where Fridge forgot (or on purpose who knows) to put his teeth in. Priceless; big smile with no front teeth. 3 days and I get to see my Boogie, that ought to cheer me up some.
Adam, if they issue listening licenses for the rouser I’ll need a new ring tone for my cellphone.
Rah, rah , rah for shy-u-ma!!!
Sorry, my brain is mush after yesterday.
Orange Mylec I believe. My 5 year old has one too. She loves hockey. I don’t know where she gets it from… 
So, Malone is going to come to the Wild, eh? If he has the chance, he will stay in PIT. Just ‘cuz he lives here doesn’t mean he will play here.
I think the Wild will have a difficult time attracting players. I get the feeling that unless someone is overpaid, they will go elsewhere. A combination of factors are at play:
1) The ’system’. I still think the perception of NHL players is that the Wild are coached to play in a restrictive manner. Offensive players will fear being forced to be on a checking line.
2) Too many 3rd line forwards. This equals not enough talent up front.
3) Uncertainty. There are a lot of holes to fill. Does a UFA (like Hossa or Malone) want to be the 1st one to commit to helping plug them?
4) Lack of committment from the GM. See the previous 2 trade deadlines from a player perspective.
This ought to get us back on the offseason Wild talk!
- Bandgeek - Joel Maturi is going to hunt you down for the $2.50 you owe for your ring tone like the paperboy in Better Off Dead!
- kj - on the plus side, DR can sell that he has Burns, Mikko and Schutlz under contract for the next few years at cap friendly numbers.
Maybe if scorers buy into the system, they will score. Don’t fight it. Play your offensive game but don’t forget your defensive responsibilities.
I see Datsyuk and Zetterberg buy into the defensive game and they are some of the top scorers and point getters.
This past season, there was less of a team game. They need to get back to that. Some of it was DR’s fault. You can’t have two of your 4 scorers playing in their last year of their contracts. Three if you count PMB.
Adam, I’m alum, it’ll be $50 dollars everytime my phone rings and a manditory $1000.00 to scholarships (this is me mocking the new set up for season tickets in the new stadium)…. I think I’d be better off finding a new ringtone.
If PMB isn’t resigned it’ll take a LOT of kool-ade to get over that. I have faith in the team but not so much the management. Also Voros was on Fox 9 the other night and he sounded like he really wants to stay in Minnesota, so get that boy a contract as well (he also wanted a garden gnome to take on the trip but he couldn’t find just the right one).
Do we even want to know why Voros wanted to haul a garden gnome on the Road Trip?
It had something to do with the Travelocity gnome if I remember right. It was part of the blog from the road trip over on Wild.com.
Wait, was it Voros or Fridge…grrrrrr now I can’t remember. Like I said earlier, my brain is mush. I guess that means I have to go read the road trip stuff again.
My bad, it was Fridge.
Do not fret, the sky is not falling.
The Wild will be able to find quality players afterall.
Why say you this Iceman? Are you just trying to brighten my day? Or do you have info we need? Have you been in the kool-ade again?
Do not fret, the sky is not falling.
The Wild will be able to find quality players afterall.
Is this a ruse? Are you talking about quality Lacrosse players or something?
I have this odd picture in my head of Fridge and Boogie with a Garden Gnome on the table between the two of them as they sign autographs. They have named it Bob and it goes to dinner with them and everything…. I’m seriously loseing the tiny grip I had on reality.
The only inside dope around here is me. But, I do not see any reason for dispair.
Lazy players may not be attracted to our system.
But, I think plenty of guys in the NHL would see St Paul as a good place to be with a solid opportunity to pay for the Cup.
The only reason I would see this film is because Hockey is involved
i’d see it because jessica alba is involved.
jessica alba is involved.
Involved is right…didn’t she and her hubby just have a baby?
I wondered when you’d be by to comment on Alba being in the movie G*.
Bandgeek, I don’t think you are in tech but if you are, I will gladly pass your info to some recruiters i know.
good people who are good at what they do, do not stay unemployed unless they want to.
stay positive.
I think the Shep/Hards leg of the tour likes it is going to be the craziest (despite Fridge’s best efforts). Who thought it was a good idea to give them guns? Got to see Voros and Veilleiux yesterday here in St. Cloud. That was cool. Coworker went to Albert Lea (she lives close to there) for Fridge and Boogieman autographs for us (we already have Boogie’s but a friend of ours does not and wants it). Nice little hockey fix for a little bit. Bandgeek, I can strangely picture them having the gnome with them everywhere as well and on the table if they can find one. So you aren’t completely loosing it. Although I am coming of the stress of having to find a new location for my wedding dance 3 months before the wedding because the original one is closing. I did find one.
why did you have to bring that up NiNY.
those hollywood types don’t stay married long.
I wish. I have a bad feeling I’m going to be back working retail if I don’t find something soon, worthless freakin’ degree from the U…. Thanks for the support though guys.
G*: your problem is you always fall for the married/pregnant women. You need to find a nice, single, Christian girl.
Adam, where did you see that HNIC would still get to use the song? I don’t think so. That will be… strange.
true and true
degree from the U
ouch, get band another bottle, she’s going to need it.
G*: your problem is you always fall for the married/pregnant women. You need to find a nice, single, Christian girl.
I think he’d have more fun with a Zoroastrian. Some wild women, those Zoroastrians.
(For any Zoroastrians out there that I may have offended, please accept my humble apology for making a joke at your expense. I am completely ignorant of the religion to be honest, but I do like typing “Zoroastrian”.)
Adam, the article says this:
‘The Hockey Theme’ song will now live on CTV Inc. properties TSN, RDS and across Canada on CTV during coverage of the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympics as outlined below.
Nothing about Hockey Night in Canada. CBC is holding a contest for a replacement song.
Hey Band, not sure what career field you need but try a federal government job http://www.usajobs.opm.gov You can narrow the search to what fits you best and state needed.
I think Fedoruk, Voros, and Burns are the only Wild players who could carry off the traveling gnome pictures. They are just goofy enough to do it.
Sunshine, the way I had it imagined was with Boogey playing the straight man to Fridges goofy-ness.
Kgopher, I’ll be sure to check that out when I’m not on a work computer
Also kgopher, at least you had three months to find a new place to hold your wedding dance. I got married the year the state government shut down 2001 and I was getting married on DNR land. I almost had to move my cerimony with only days notice, so see, it could be worse. Luckily the state got it’s act together at the last minute.
Yeah, I really do feel sorry for the rest of June, July and August brides. I know it could be worse but for someone who booked plenty of time in advance, very stressful. Good luck with job hunt.
toivo - thanks, I get it now. I thought the use for the Olympics implied that CBC also retained it but I should have read it closer.
I have a bad feeling I’m going to be back working retail if I don’t find something soon,
Don’t let that be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Like G* said, stay positive.
And don’t feel bad: you’re not the only one putting many more home games “one ice,” this year. I know how you feel.
———-
OT: Has anybody ever read this site/column?
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=15634
I gotta say, this is one of the worst Wild articles I’ve ever written! Does anyone know how this guy is “qualified” to write for this site? Or do you even need to be qualified?
I don’t think you need any credentials. Most of those folks are blogger-like than journalists.
However, he must not read the news because he would have known that Fiala is no longer a Wild prospect and that Pouliot, not Gillies, will play center.
No more Crawford in LA per TSN.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=240278&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_nhl
bfw,
Yeah, you probably just need to volunteer to blog for hockeybuzz and be able to crank stuff out. I didn’t think it was that bad. It’s just a speculative armchair GM blog post, and you should take it for what it is. He did miss the bit about Fiala, and as far as centers and wings go, that can be a bit confusing as players are listed one way, often play another, or both wing and center at different times. I think Gillies was playing center this past season for Saskatoon, and Pouliot has up until recently been a wing. I think PMB is still listed as a center according to NHL.com.
Anyway, I didn’t think it was the worst thing I’ve even seen written. What was so terrible about it?
p.s. not a fan of the hockeybuzz
