OKLAHOMA CITY — The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America/USA Softball, the National Governing Body for the sport of softball in the United States, and its athletes are featured in the James L. Brooks movie "How Do You Know", which opens nationwide Friday. To celebrate the sport’s prominence in the film, nine USA Softball Olympic medalists walked the red carpet Monday at the "How Do You Know" Los Angeles Premiere at Regency Village Theatre in Westwood, Calif.
In the movie, written and directed by Oscar winner Brooks, Academy Award winning actress Reese Witherspoon plays Lisa Jorgenson, a fictional USA Softball athlete who is cut from the 2011 Women’s National Team, despite a decorated career with the program. Before being cut, Witherspoon’s character can be seen sliding into home plate during a USA Softball game and is later captured during USA Softball practice. Throughout the romantic comedy, which is rated PG-13, Jorgenson struggles to adapt to a life without softball, the sport that has defined her. A small portion of a fictional game between the USA and Australia is also captured with Jorgenson looking on from the stands.
The ASA/USA Softball logos are seen throughout the film including in Jorgenson’s apartment and a fictional training facility. Authentic ASA/USA Softball apparel and memorabilia, including jerseys, posters and T-shirts that are available for sale through SoftballOutlet.com, were captured throughout "How Do You Know" and also used throughout Witherspoon’s training for the movie’s softball scenes.
Olympic Champions and Silver Medalists Crystl Bustos, Amanda Freed, Lovie Jung and 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist Andrea Duran, who attended the premiere, all made cameo appearances in the movie in addition to assisting with Witherspoon’s four month crash course on softball. Also invited to the "How Do You Know" premiere for their role in Witherspoon’s training were three-time Olympic Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist Laura Berg as well as Olympic Champions and Silver Medalists Jennie Finch, Tairia Flowers, Jessica Mendoza and Natasha Watley.
UCLA Undergraduate Assistant Coach Anjelica Selden, who appeared in the film as a member of the National Team, and UCLA Assistant Coach Gina Vecchione, who helped former USA Softball and UCLA Softball Coach Sue Enquist train Witherspoon during her preparation for the role, also walked the red carpet. Enquist, who was first approached about the film in 2002, served as the softball technical advisor for the movie.
Jack Nicholson, a three-time Academy Award winner, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson also star with Witherspoon in "How Do You Know". Additional information on the movie is available at www.HowDoYouKnow-Movie.com.
For more information, please contact: jblanchard@softball.org
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