Ex Canadian Football League QB in movie Benchwarmers
Sean Salisbury always believed that he would be throwing or talking his way to the top.
His father told him so, more than 30 years ago.
"As kids, we all have delusions of grandeur," said the now Frisco-based ESPN football analyst who grew up in Escondido, Calif. "We think everything is going to be awesome."
Well, for the moment, everything is pretty awesome.
Salisbury, 43, appears in a new comedy, The Benchwarmers, which hits theaters today, and stars Rob Schneider (Deuce Bigalow), David Spade (Just Shoot Me!) and Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite).
"I'm a villainous, pain-in-the-rear coach," said Salisbury, laughing how some ESPN viewers are thinking, 'OK, that's about right.'
In the movie, he is a shop owner of Brad's Sporting Goodies.
"My character is bossy ... [and] rarely in a good mood," Salisbury said. "In real life, I think I'm a fairly sensitive guy. But, truth is, you can do [the opposite] when you're acting and not have to feel guilty about it."
Growing up in a hard-working, blue-collar family, Salisbury preferred baseball and basketball over football. He'd even play hooky from school, then go in the back yard and act out an entire NBA game.
"I would be all 10 guys, plus the announcer," he said.
His father, Richard, a plasterer by trade, grew accustomed to seeing young Sean tossing, jumping and talking from one sport to another.
"You got brains, kid," the father told the son. "You are going to make it ... and you're going to make it with your arm or your mouth. Either way, you're not going to do what I do [for a living]."
Salisbury has never forgotten that.
While his "pride and ego suffered" at the mere mention of the phrase "journeyman quarterback," Salisbury tried never to let it show.
He won a Grey Cup championship with the 1988 Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but his NFL days quickly led to broadcasting.
"I quit playing in June 1996. ESPN hired me in August 1996," said Salisbury, who began as a sideline reporter.
"I was assigned to two college football games. My only request then was that they never ask me to interview a mascot on the sideline."
Salisbury plans to take his kids to see The Benchwarmers this weekend.
But he has movie plans beyond that.
He has a lot more speaking parts left in him.
"Getting a chance to be in a movie like The Benchwarmers," said Salisbury, "just say I plan on this being the first of plenty more."
His father told him so, more than 30 years ago.
"As kids, we all have delusions of grandeur," said the now Frisco-based ESPN football analyst who grew up in Escondido, Calif. "We think everything is going to be awesome."
Well, for the moment, everything is pretty awesome.
Salisbury, 43, appears in a new comedy, The Benchwarmers, which hits theaters today, and stars Rob Schneider (Deuce Bigalow), David Spade (Just Shoot Me!) and Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite).
"I'm a villainous, pain-in-the-rear coach," said Salisbury, laughing how some ESPN viewers are thinking, 'OK, that's about right.'
In the movie, he is a shop owner of Brad's Sporting Goodies.
"My character is bossy ... [and] rarely in a good mood," Salisbury said. "In real life, I think I'm a fairly sensitive guy. But, truth is, you can do [the opposite] when you're acting and not have to feel guilty about it."
Growing up in a hard-working, blue-collar family, Salisbury preferred baseball and basketball over football. He'd even play hooky from school, then go in the back yard and act out an entire NBA game.
"I would be all 10 guys, plus the announcer," he said.
His father, Richard, a plasterer by trade, grew accustomed to seeing young Sean tossing, jumping and talking from one sport to another.
"You got brains, kid," the father told the son. "You are going to make it ... and you're going to make it with your arm or your mouth. Either way, you're not going to do what I do [for a living]."
Salisbury has never forgotten that.
While his "pride and ego suffered" at the mere mention of the phrase "journeyman quarterback," Salisbury tried never to let it show.
He won a Grey Cup championship with the 1988 Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but his NFL days quickly led to broadcasting.
"I quit playing in June 1996. ESPN hired me in August 1996," said Salisbury, who began as a sideline reporter.
"I was assigned to two college football games. My only request then was that they never ask me to interview a mascot on the sideline."
Salisbury plans to take his kids to see The Benchwarmers this weekend.
But he has movie plans beyond that.
He has a lot more speaking parts left in him.
"Getting a chance to be in a movie like The Benchwarmers," said Salisbury, "just say I plan on this being the first of plenty more."
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