THE RINGER 2005 PROFESSIONAL

The Special Olympics committee eventually agreed to endorse the film, the film makers having given them final say on the script. The film took seven years to get made due to its controversial subject.

Funk portrayed one of the debt collectors, while Ventura lent his voice as a motivational speaker on tape.

THE RINGER 2005 PROFESSIONAL

Professional wrestlers Terry Funk and Jesse Ventura's cameo appearances came about due to their friendship with director Barry Blaustein, who met the pair whilst filming wrestling documentary Beyond the Mat in the late 1990s. Lynn already forgives him because Stavi told her why Steve pretended to be developmentally disabled. Glen and the others trick Lynn into coming to the theater, so Steve starts to apologize. Six months later, Steve has quit his job and is working in theater, helping produce a play with the friends he made during the Special Olympics, as well as Stavi, who got his fingers reattached.

Uncle Gary still ends up winning his bet, since the condition was that Jimmy would lose. He then gives his medal to Thomas, who had come in fourth. During the medal ceremony Steve admits that he isn't developmentally disabled, reveals his actual name, and that he doesn't deserve his medal. As Steve decides to pack up and leave for his ruse being exposed, they tell Steve to stay, since they want to help Steve save Stavi's fingers and they hate the egotistical, arrogant champion Jimmy and want to see him lose.Īt the final competition, Steve doesn't actually win his friend Glen does, with Steve coming in third behind Jimmy. During this time, six of the other contestants bust Steve after seeing through his ruse, so he tells them about what happened with Stavi. Despite initially being disgusted at pretending to be mentally challenged, Steve goes along with it for Stavi.ĭuring the competition, Steve falls in love with Lynn ( Katherine Heigl), a volunteer for the Special Olympics. Gary, assuming that Steve will easily defeat the legitimate contenders, bets $100,000 that reigning champion Jimmy Washington won't win the gold medal. Steve, who competed in track and field in high school as well as being in the drama club, reluctantly enters the Special Olympics in the guise of a high functioning young man with a developmental disability named Jeffy Dahmor. His uncle Gary ( Brian Cox), owes $40,000 in gambling debts and suggests that they fix the Special Olympics in San Marcos, Texas in order to solve both of their financial problems. Steve must raise $28,000 within two weeks to pay for the surgery to re-attach his friend's fingers. Stavi gets three fingers cut off in a lawn-mower accident, and reveals that he doesn't have health insurance.

Steve fires Stavi ( Luis Ávalos), but hires him to work around his apartment. His first duty is to fire his friend Stavi, who is the janitor. Steve Barker ( Johnny Knoxville) hates his job but after over two years of working, receives a promotion.

The ringer 2005