Miami Heat

Udonis Haslem and Other Athletes Lend Hand to Film About ALS

He’s confined to a wheelchair now, ALS has stolen his ability to move, but Jeff Fogel is still coaching youth basketball. Now, his story is being told on the big screen in a film called “Who is Lou Gehrig?” starring Udonis Haslem of the Miami Heat.

“Easy role, easy role, I should win an Oscar at this one,” Haslem laughed, as he was about to make his acting debut.

Haslem is playing himself in the short film, and so is Fogel.

“He has a terminal illness, ALS, and you wouldn’t even know it if it wasn’t for his physical limitations, his spirit is undeniably inspirational,” said the film’s director, Gil Green.

Fogel is a pillar at the Michael-Ann Russell JCC, where he’s coached youth basketball and flag football for 20 years. He and Green have been friends since childhood, Green and Haslem have been friends since childhood. So when Green told the Heat’s power forward about Fogel; Haslem was eager to assist in the project.

“So many people go through so many adverse circumstances and all they can think about is themselves, but Jeff has stepped out of that box, he’s giving back to these girls, he’s giving back to this community center and he’s just involved, making it so much about other people and not himself,” Haslem said. “I was completely inspired by Jeff.”

“Who is Lou Gehrig” is not a documentary. It’s a mixture of reality and fantasy.

“It’s not gonna be a sappy movie, but we do emphasize on the ALS and Lou Gehrig and if I can inspire five people out of five million, then I’ve done my job,” Fogel told NBC6, holding back tears as he expressed his gratitude for Haslem’s involvement and friendship. “It’s a blessing, I mean, I followed UD ever since the Gators. So for a great athlete like that to say he’s inspired by me? Man, I have no words.”

So this isn’t a film about basketball, it’s not about one person, it’s all about perseverance and inspiration.

“Jeff, throughout the film, uses his imagination to push the limits so even though he’s coaching the 12-year-old girl’s team, in his mind he’s coaching the Miami Heat.”

Haslem brought three heat teammates along to make the director’s vision come alive. Mario Chalmers, James Ennis, and Andre Dawkins donated their time for a scene which shows them on the court to illustrate what Fogel sees in his mind. In real life, Fogel coaches while he takes medicine to slow the progress of his disease.

“But my medication, truly, is the kids that i work with on a daily basis,” Fogel said.

Haslem says the point of the film is to show Fogel as a role model.

“Whether you’re suffering from ALS or whether you’re being challenged in another way physically or mentally you can look at this story and you can be inspired and you can still find ways to do something positive,” Haslem said.

“Finish strong, you gotta finish strong,” Fogel is yelling at his team in one scene.

You might say Fogel is doing just that; finishing strong.

"Who is Lou Gehrig" premieres on December 20 at the Borscht Film Festival at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami.

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