Why NBA center Jason Collins is coming out now - More Sports - SI.com
Photo: Kwaku Alston/For Sports Illustrated
This story appears in the May 6, 2013, issue of Sports Illustrated.
I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay.
I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, "I'm different." If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand.
My journey of self-discovery and self-acknowledgement began in my hometown of Los Angeles and has taken me through two state high school championships, the NCAA Final Four and the Elite Eight, and nine playoffs in 12 NBA seasons.
I've played for six pro teams and have appeared in two NBA Finals. Ever heard of a parlor game called Three Degrees of Jason Collins? If you're in the league, and I haven't been your teammate, I surely have been one of your teammates' teammates. Or one of your teammates' teammates' teammates.
Now I'm a free agent, literally and figuratively. I've reached that enviable state in life in which I can do pretty much what I want. And what I want is to continue to play basketball. I still love the game, and I still have something to offer. My coaches and teammates recognize that. At the same time, I want to be genuine and authentic and truthful.
Why am I coming out now? Well, I started thinking about this in 2011 during the NBA player lockout. I'm a creature of routine. When the regular season ends I immediately dedicate myself to getting game ready for the opener of the next campaign in the fall. But the lockout wreaked havoc on my habits and forced me to confront who I really am and what I really want. With the season delayed, I trained and worked out. But I lacked the distraction that basketball had always provided.
The first relative I came out to was my aunt Teri, a superior court judge in San Francisco. Her reaction surprised me. "I've known you were gay for years," she said. From that moment on I was comfortable in my own skin. In her presence I ignored my censor button for the first time. She gave me support. The relief I felt was a sweet release. Imagine you're in the oven, baking. Some of us know and accept our sexuality right away and some need more time to cook. I should know -- I baked for 33 years.
Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
When I was younger I dated women. I even got engaged. I thought I had to live a certain way. I thought I needed to marry a woman and raise kids with her. I kept telling myself the sky was red, but I always knew it was blue.
I realized I needed to go public when Joe Kennedy, my old roommate at Stanford and now a Massachusetts congressman, told me he had just marched in Boston's 2012 Gay Pride Parade. I'm seldom jealous of others, but hearing what Joe had done filled me with envy. I was proud of him for participating but angry that as a closeted gay man I couldn't even cheer my straight friend on as a spectator. If I'd been questioned, I would have concocted half truths. What a shame to have to lie at a celebration of pride. I want to do the right thing and not hide anymore. I want to march for tolerance, acceptance and understanding. I want to take a stand and say, "Me, too."
The recent Boston Marathon bombing reinforced the notion that I shouldn't wait for the circumstances of my coming out to be perfect. Things can change in an instant, so why not live truthfully? When I told Joe a few weeks ago that I was gay, he was grateful that I trusted him. He asked me to join him in 2013. We'll be marching on June 8.
No one wants to live in fear. I've always been scared of saying the wrong thing. I don't sleep well. I never have. But each time I tell another person, I feel stronger and sleep a little more soundly. It takes an enormous amount of energy to guard such a big secret. I've endured years of misery and gone to enormous lengths to live a lie. I was certain that my world would fall apart if anyone knew. And yet when I acknowledged my sexuality I felt whole for the first time. I still had the same sense of humor, I still had the same mannerisms and my friends still had my back.
Believe it or not, my family has had bigger shocks. Strange as it seems today, my parents expected only one child in 1978. Me. When I came out (for the first time) the doctors congratulated my mother on her healthy, seven-pound, one-ounce baby boy. "Wait!" said a nurse. "Here comes another one!" The other one, who arrived eight minutes later and three ounces heavier, was Jarron. He's followed me ever since, to Stanford and to the NBA, and as the ever-so-slightly older brother I've looked out for him.
I had a happy childhood in the suburbs of L.A. My parents instilled in us an appreciation of history, art and, most important, Motown. Jarron and I weren't allowed to listen to rap until we were 12. After our birthday I dashed to Target and bought DJ Quik's album Quik Is the Name. I memorized every line. It was around this time that I began noticing subtle differences between Jarron and me. Our twinness was no longer synchronized. I couldn't identify with his attraction to girls.
I feel blessed that I recognized my own attractions. Though I resisted my impulses through high school, I knew that when I was ready I had someone to turn to: my uncle Mark in New York. I knew we could talk without judgment, and we did last summer. Uncle Mark is gay. He and his partner have been in a stable relationship forever. For a confused young boy, I can think of no better role model of love and compassion.
I didn't come out to my brother until last summer. His reaction to my breakfast revelation was radically different from Aunt Teri's. He was downright astounded. He never suspected. So much for twin telepathy. But by dinner that night, he was full of brotherly love. For the first time in our lives, he wanted to step in and protect me.
My maternal grandmother was apprehensive about my plans to come out. She grew up in rural Louisiana and witnessed the horrors of segregation. During the civil rights movement she saw great bravery play out amid the ugliest aspects of humanity. She worries that I am opening myself up to prejudice and hatred. I explained to her that in a way, my coming out is preemptive. I shouldn't have to live under the threat of being outed. The announcement should be mine to make, not TMZ's.
The hardest part of this is the realization that my entire family will be affected. But my relatives have told me repeatedly that as long as I'm happy, they're there for me. I watch as my brother and friends from college start their own families. Changing diapers is a lot of work, but children bring so much joy. I'm crazy about my nieces and nephew, and I can't wait to start a family of my own.
Photo: Peter Foley/EPA
I'm from a close-knit family. My parents instilled Christian values in me. They taught Sunday school, and I enjoyed lending a hand. I take the teachings of Jesus seriously, particularly the ones that touch on tolerance and understanding. On family trips, my parents made a point to expose us to new things, religious and cultural. In Utah, we visited the Mormon Salt Lake Temple. In Atlanta, the house of Martin Luther King Jr. That early exposure to otherness made me the guy who accepts everyone unconditionally.
I'm learning to embrace the puzzle that is me. After I was traded by the Celtics to Washington in February, I took a detour to the Dr. King memorial. I was inspired and humbled. I celebrate being an African-American and the hardships of the past that still resonate today. But I don't let my race define me any more than I want my sexual orientation to. I don't want to be labeled, and I can't let someone else's label define me.
On the court I graciously accept one label sometimes bestowed on me: "the pro's pro." I got that handle because of my fearlessness and my commitment to my teammates. I take charges and I foul -- that's been my forte. In fact, during the 2004-05 season my 322 personals led the NBA. I enter the court knowing I have six hard fouls to give. I set picks with my 7-foot, 255-pound body to get guys like Jason Kidd, John Wall and Paul Pierce open. I sacrifice myself for other players. I look out for teammates as I would my kid brother.
I'm not afraid to take on any opponent. I love playing against the best. Though Shaquille O'Neal is a Hall of Famer, I never shirked from the challenge of trying to frustrate the heck out of him. (Note to Shaq: My flopping has nothing to do with being gay.) My mouthpiece is in, and my wrists are taped. Go ahead, take a swing -- I'll get up. I hate to say it, and I'm not proud of it, but I once fouled a player so hard that he had to leave the arena on a stretcher.
I go against the gay stereotype, which is why I think a lot of players will be shocked: That guy is gay? But I've always been an aggressive player, even in high school. Am I so physical to prove that being gay doesn't make you soft? Who knows? That's something for a psychologist to unravel. My motivations, like my contributions, don't show up in box scores, and frankly I don't care about stats. Winning is what counts. I want to be evaluated as a team player.
Loyalty to my team is the real reason I didn't come out sooner. When I signed a free-agent contract with Boston last July, I decided to commit myself to the Celtics and not let my personal life become a distraction. When I was traded to the Wizards, the political significance of coming out sunk in. I was ready to open up to the press, but I had to wait until the season was over.
A college classmate tried to persuade me to come out then and there. But I couldn't yet. My one small gesture of solidarity was to wear jersey number 98 with the Celtics and then the Wizards. The number has great significance to the gay community. One of the most notorious antigay hate crimes occurred in 1998. Matthew Shepard, a University of Wyoming student, was kidnapped, tortured and lashed to a prairie fence. He died five days after he was finally found. That same year the Trevor Project was founded. This amazing organization provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention to kids struggling with their sexual identity. Trust me, I know that struggle. I've struggled with some insane logic. When I put on my jersey I was making a statement to myself, my family and my friends.
The strain of hiding my sexuality became almost unbearable in March, when the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments for and against same-sex marriage. Less than three miles from my apartment, nine jurists argued about my happiness and my future. Here was my chance to be heard, and I couldn't say a thing. I didn't want to answer questions and draw attention to myself. Not while I was still playing.
I'm glad I'm coming out in 2013 rather than 2003. The public opinion has shifted. And yet we still have so much farther to go. Everyone is terrified of the unknown, but most of us don't want to return to a time when minorities were openly discriminated against. I'm impressed with the straight pro athletes who have spoken up so far -- Chris Kluwe, Brendon Ayanbadejo. The more people who speak out, the better, gay or straight. It starts with President Obama's mentioning the 1969 Stonewall riots, which launched the gay rights movement, during his second inaugural address. And it extends to the grade-school teacher who encourages her students to accept the things that make us different.
Photo: Kwaku Alston/For Sports Illustrated
By its nature, my double life has kept me from getting close to any of my teammates. Early in my career I worked hard at acting straight, but as I got more comfortable in my straight mask it required less effort. In recent days, though, little has separated "mask on, mask off." Personally, I don't like to dwell in someone else's private life, and I hope players and coaches show me the same respect. When I'm with my team I'm all about working hard and winning games. A good teammate supports you no matter what.
I've been asked how other players will respond to my announcement. The simple answer is, I have no idea. I'm a pragmatist. I hope for the best, but plan for the worst. The biggest concern seems to be that gay players will behave unprofessionally in the locker room. Believe me, I've taken plenty of showers in 12 seasons. My behavior wasn't an issue before, and it won't be one now. My conduct won't change. I still abide by the adage, "What happens in the locker room stays in the locker room." I'm still a model of discretion.
As I write this, I haven't come out to anyone in the NBA. I'm not privy to what other players say about me. Maybe Mike Miller, my old teammate in Memphis, will recall the time I dropped by his house in Florida and say, "I enjoyed being his teammate, and I sold him a dog." I hope players swap stories like that. Maybe they'll talk about my character and what kind of person I am.
As far as the reaction of fans, I don't mind if they heckle me. I've been booed before. There have been times when I've wanted to boo myself. But a lot of ill feelings can be cured by winning.
I'm a veteran, and I've earned the right to be heard. I'll lead by example and show that gay players are no different from straight ones. I'm not the loudest person in the room, but I'll speak up when something isn't right. And try to make everyone laugh.
I've never sought the spotlight. Though I'm coming out to the world, I intend to guard my privacy. I'm making this blanket statement in part to keep rumors and misunderstandings at bay. I hope fans will respect me for raising my hand. And I hope teammates will remember that I've never been an in-your-face kind of guy. All you need to know is that I'm single. I see no need to delve into specifics.
Look at what happened in the military when the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy was repealed. Critics of the repeal were sure that out military members would devastate morale and destroy civilization. But a new study conducted by scholars from every branch of the armed forces except the Coast Guard concluded that "cohesion did not decline after the new policy of open service was put into place. In fact, greater openness and honesty resulting from repeal seem to have promoted increased understanding, respect and acceptance."
The same goes for sports. Doc Rivers, my coach on the Celtics, says, "If you want to go quickly, go by yourself -- if you want to go farther, go in a group." I want people to pull together and push ahead.
Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it's a good place to start. It all comes down to education. I'll sit down with any player who's uneasy about my coming out. Being gay is not a choice. This is the tough road and at times the lonely road. Former players like Tim Hardaway, who said "I hate gay people" (and then became a supporter of gay rights), fuel homophobia. Tim is an adult. He's entitled to his opinion. God bless America. Still, if I'm up against an intolerant player, I'll set a pretty hard pick on him. And then move on.
The most you can do is stand up for what you believe in. I'm much happier since coming out to my friends and family. Being genuine and honest makes me happy.
I'm glad I can stop hiding and refocus on my 13th NBA season. I've been running through the Santa Monica Mountains in a 30-pound vest with Shadow, the German shepherd I got from Mike Miller. In the pros, the older you get, the better shape you must be in. Next season a few more eyeballs are likely to be on me. That only motivates me to work harder.
Some people insist they've never met a gay person. But Three Degrees of Jason Collins dictates that no NBA player can claim that anymore. Pro basketball is a family. And pretty much every family I know has a brother, sister or cousin who's gay. In the brotherhood of the NBA, I just happen to be the one who's out.
Drag this icon to your bookmark bar.
Then delete your
Click the share icon to bookmark us.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The A-Team is a 2010 American - based on the
created by
and . Co-written and directed by , the film stars , , , , , , and . The film tells the story "The A-Team", a
team imprisoned for a crime they did not commit, who escape and set out to clear their names. The film was produced by Stephen J. Cannell, , and .
The film had been in development since the mid-1990s, having gone through a number of writers and story ideas, and being put on hold a number of times. Upon its release, the film received mixed reviews from critics and performed slightly below expectations at the box office, but was still a success.
() is held captive in Mexico by two
officers working for renegade General Javier Tuco (). Hannibal escapes and sets out to rescue
(), who is held captive at Tuco's ranch. Hannibal saves Face after enlisting fellow
(), driving to the rescue in BA's modified
van. Pursued by Tuco, they stop at a nearby
to recruit the services of eccentric pilot
(). They flee in a medical helicopter, chased by Tuco, in a
that leaves BA with a fear of flying. The battle ends when they lure Tuco's helicopter into American airspace, where it is shot down by a US air force plane for trespassing.
Eight years later in Iraq, Hannibal is contacted by CIA
(), who assigns them a
mission to recover
plates and over $1 billion in cash from
slated to move it out of Baghdad in an armored convoy. Hannibal's commanding officer, General Morrison (), consents to the operation but Face's former girlfriend,
Charissa Sosa (), tries to discourage the team against getting the plates. The m when the team returns to base, however, the money and Morrison's vehicle are destroyed by
() and his men from the
Black Forest. Without Morrison (the only proof that they were authorized to act), Hannibal, Face, Murdock, and BA are
and they are sentenced to ten years in separate prisons and . Sosa also ended up court-martialed and is demoted to lieutenant.
Six months later, Lynch visits Hannibal in prison and tells him that Pike may be trying to sell the plates with the help of an Arab backer. Hannibal, who has been tracking Pike on his own, makes a deal with Lynch: full reinstatement and clean records for his team in return for the plates. Lynch agrees and Hannibal escapes, breaking out Face, BA, and Murdock in the process. Sosa is hot on the team's trail. The team hijacks a military Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft, which is later shot down by
, but not before the team parachute away in a tank stashed aboard and make it to the ground safely. The team moves to reclaim the plates and kidnap Pike's backer. It is revealed that the backer is actually General Morrison, who plotted with Lynch and Pike to steal the plates but teamed up with Pike to double-cross Lynch and fake his death. Lynch orders an airstrike to kill the team and Morrison, but the team manages to escape.
Hannibal arranges to meet Sosa on board a
at the Los Angeles docks, saying he will hand over Morrison and the plates. Face then calls Sosa on a drop phone he planted on her at the train station, and conspires a different plan with her. It all unfolds according to plan until Pike, who is now working with Lynch, blows up the container ship and chases Face to near death. BA finally gives up his pacifist ways and kills Pike, saving Face. Hannibal leads Lynch into a container with Murdock, who, wearing a covered bullet-proof helmet, is portraying Morrison. Lynch shoots at Murdock’s head, believing that he is killing Morrison, and is later tricked into admitting that he stole the plates, and is subsequently arrested by Sosa.
The CIA agents led by a man named "Lynch" () comes and claims custody of the other Lynch. Despite their success and proving themselves innocent, the military still arrests the team for escaping from prison, also a crime. Sosa is reinstated to captain, but she promises to do all she can to set the team free and kisses Face as everybody is led into a prison van. In the van, Face opens his mouth and reveals a handcuff key, given to him by Sosa through the kiss. The final scene includes a narration (spoken by ) similar to the show's opening narration.
In a post-credits scene, Murdock and Face of A-Team's original cast is seen.
as Sergeant First Class.
as Captain
as Agent Vance Burress a.k.a.
as . Bloom was also a writer on the film.
(uncredited)
as Crematorium Attendant
as Narrator
as General Javier Tuco
In a post-credits scene, original series actors
(Face) and
(Murdock) have cameos with their film equivalents Bradley Cooper and Sharlto Copley. Benedict plays Face's fellow tanning bed client, credited as " Milt," and Schultz plays one of two neurologists observing Murdock during a shock-therapy session.
The entire film was shot at various locations in
including , Cache Creek and Ashcroft, , with much of the studio works being done at . Other footage was included as well, such as aerial shots of
(though falsely referred to as
in the movie).
is also featured in the German escape scene where a number of base buildings and landmarks are clearly visible, as is the false canopy painted under the .[] The
along with some USMC squadrons are the only Hornet users to have the false canopy painted on the bottom.[] American markings were digitally added later.[] The Hawaii Mars
water bomber, based at Sproat Lake, British Columbia, is also used in one scene of the movie to cross the Atlantic.
The film had been in development since the mid-1990s, going through a number of writers and story ideas, and being put on hold a number of times. Producer Stephen J. Cannell hoped to update the setting, perhaps using the
as part of the backstory.
was initially assigned to direct, but in October 2008 he pulled out of the project. When Singleton was still attached to the project as director,
was approached for the role of B.A. Baracus.
The production budget for the film was $110 million, but the cost came in at $100 million after tax credits.
In June 2009,
revealed that
was in negotiations with
to star as Hannibal Smith, and
announced to
that he would be playing the role of Templeton Peck after he first denied the rumors saying that he was not involved and insisted that he had not seen any script.
On August 26, 2009,
reported that
would play the role of
in the upcoming film, but this was later denied by a representative for Jackson. In September 2009,
suggested that Jackson has been attached to the role and was postponing his fight at
due to filming for The A-Team. Filming started in Vancouver in late 2009, and Jackson's involvement was then confirmed.
On September 15, 2009,
confirmed the casting of Neeson, Cooper and Jackson. They additionally reported that
were in final negotiations to join the cast. Copley would be playing the role of H.M. Murdock and Biel would be playing the ex-lover of Face who is a disillusioned and ruthless Army officer in charge of pursuing the team. 20th Century Fox later confirmed that Copley and Biel were cast in the film.
On September 30, 2009, Liam Neeson and the rest of the cast were seen filming scenes in , , , as shooting got under way. The first official pictures of Neeson, Cooper, Copley and Jackson in character were soon released, including one which features the
in the background.
On October 30, 2009,
confirmed that he had filmed a cameo scene for the movie. This news was followed on the November 23, 2009, that
would also make a cameo. Schultz and Benedict played Howling Mad Murdock and Templeton Peck respectively in the original series. , the original BA Baracus, did not appear in the film. In an interview with , he said he did not like doing a cameo appearance in a film based on the original series he once did.
The soundtrack album of The A-Team was released on June 21, 2010, by . On December 1, 2009, it was announced that
would compose the film score. Silvestri recorded his score with a 90-piece ensemble of the
at the Newman Scoring Stage at .
All music composed by
unless stated otherwise.
"Somewhere in Mexico" (Uses original The A-Team Theme composed by
"Saving Face"  
"Alpha Mike Foxtrot"  
"Welcome to Baghdad"  
"The Plan"  
"Court Martial"  
"Putting the Team Back Together"  
"Flying a Tank"  
"Frankfurt"  
"Retrieving the Plates"  
"Safehouse"  
"Safehouse Aftermath"  
"Shell Game"  
"The Docks (Part 1)"  
"The Docks (Part 2)"  
"I Love It When a Plan Comes Together" (Uses original The A-Team Theme composed by
Songs used in the film are:
"House of Pain" by
"Shut Up" by
"Trio Para Enamorados (Trio for Lovers)" by
"" (Sung onscreen by )
"A-Team Blastoff Suite" by
"I Don't Want to Change Your Mind" by
"My Girl Has Rosenmand" written by
and performed by
"" written by ,
and Henry Onorati
"I Ran 6 Miles" by Gary Sredzienski
"" written by Steely Dan
In February 2010, it was announced a series of
for the movie would be released beginning in March. Written by Carnahan and , the series,
is a prequel to the film, featuring one-shots focusing each on Hannibal, Face, BA, and Murdock. A second series, , is a tie-in to the film by showing an all-new adventure set after the quartet escaped. Film director Joe Carnahan and Tom Waltz collaborated to pen the series.
Jazwares released a line of action figures featuring the four main characters, plus the GMC Vandura.
An application for the
was released as part of the marketing blitz for the film. The A-Team application is a side-scrolling, third person, action shooter game. Produced by
the game includes voice-overs from B.A. Baracus.
The film's first trailer was released January 8, 2010.[] The film's second trailer was released April 1, 2010. The film premiered in
on Thursday June 3, 2010, at
on . Liam Neeson arrived in The A-T Bradley Cooper and Sharlto Copley rode in on a real U.S. Army tank. The film opened nationwide on June 11, 2010.
The film premiered in the
on July 27, before going on general release the next day. The event was attended by the four team members along with Jessica Biel, and the A-Team van.
The film was released on December 14, 2010 on
and . It was released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 27 in Australia and on November 29, 2010 in the UK. An extended cut was also released, pushing the running time to 133 minutes. Two of the most noteworthy additions in the extended cut were the two cameo scenes of the original Face and Murdock, which were pushed back after the end credits in the original cut due to pacing.
The film received mixed reviews. Review aggregation website
gives the film a score of 47% based on reviews from 203 critics, with an average rating of 5.4/10. The site's critical consensus is: "For better and for worse, Joe Carnahan's big-screen version of The A-Team captures the superficial, noisy spirit of the TV series." Another aggregator
calculated a weighted average score of 47% based on 37 reviews.
says of the film: "It's trash so compacted it glows".
magazine calls the film "the best in a mediocre line-up of summer-action flicks". He goes on to say the film lacks "a coherent plot and complex characterization", though he does note that these qualities "are irrelevant to the genre".
magazine calls the film, "big, loud, ludicrous and edited into visual incomprehension", but "pity the fool who lets that stand in the way of enjoying The A-Team". In contrast,
of the , who titled his piece "Pity the fool who sees 'The A-Team'", is among the most critical, calling the film "overlong, overblown and utterly forgettable." The Hollywood Reporter criticizes the film's story, character development and logic, calling it "nearly writer-free", while The
was far more positive, calling the film "literally a blast" from start to finish, and praises it for "containing more thrills than the average shoot-em-up".
Film critic
said The A-Team is an incomprehensible mess, criticizing the film for being as shallow as the television series, which he describes as "punishment" when drawn out to a two-hour-long film. Stephen Whitty of
complains the film makers remembered little more from the television series than a
gimmick and compares the film to the "awful"
by the same director.
, who played Templeton Peck in the TV series, spoke of regretting his cameo, stating "You'll miss me if you blink. I kind of regret doing it because it's a non-part. They wanted to be able to say, 'Oh yeah, the original cast are in it,' but we're not. It is three seconds. It's kind of insulting."
, the original B. A. Baracus, was offered a cameo, but turned it down. In a 2010 interview with Script magazine director Joe Carnahan reported that Mr. T, after viewing scenes from the film, thought the final product was "the greatest thing in the world". After the premiere of the film Mr. T allegedly stated that he had become disillusioned and felt the story emphasized sex and violence, and that it was unfaithful to the original series. An attorney for Mr. T later stated that the actor had not yet seen the film and could not comment on it.
Dwight Schultz, who played the TV series' "Howling Mad" Murdock, issued a statement to his official fansite that the film "pays homage to the series while it eschews its essential working premise: a band of capable military brothers for hire determined to save underdog and usually poor civilians from scum. ... The team characters are sufficiently different and, with so many roles reversed from the original, one could say they are not really derivative, save for their names." He also noted that Sharlto Copley's Murdock "is faithful to the original, but at the same time is big screen twisted and right at home with the new team."
In the psychiatric hospital scene, , Schultz's character from , is credited during the opening title of a film, as is G.F. Starbuck, referencing , Benedict's character from the original .
The film fell slightly short of expectations for its opening weekend, earning $26 million, as opposed to the initially predicted $30–35 million. The film opened behind , which took in $56 million. The film opened in the UK./ on July 28, 2010, and came at No. 3 in at the box office with a first weekend haul of $5.6 million. As of August 26, 2010, The A-Team has taken over $77 million at the U.S. box office, and $99 million internationally, for a worldwide total of over $176 million.
Neeson, Cooper, Copley, and Jackson have expressed interest in doing a . Joe Carnahan has expressed interest in directing a sequel and said it will depend on DVD and Blu-ray sales and rentals. On March 10, 2011, Cooper stated that the film had not generated enough revenue for there to be a sequel. This was confirmed by Liam Neeson in a webchat. Neeson later commented in early 2012 that he understood why the film was not successful: "I watched it about two months ago and I found it a little confusing and I was in the thing. I just couldn’t figure out who was who and what’s been done to him and why, a little bit." Later in 2013 Carnahan said on his Twitter account "For the record guys and as much as I appreciate all the A-TEAM love. There will NOT be a sequel. It didn't make enough $$$ and that's that." Although majority of A Team fans have expressed their desire for a sequel on the official page of A Team on .
 , The A-Team (2010)
 , The A-Team (2010)
. The Numbers.
. yahoo TV.
Fleming, Michael (). . Variety.
Chris Woodyard (June 11, 2010). . Drive On: A conversation about our cars and trucks.
Vena, Jocelyn (). . MTV Movies Blog. . (Video)
Lemire, Christy (). . Winnipeg Free Press.[]
Mike Youds. .
. News in Film. .
. SPIEGEL Online International. .
David Crookes (September 4, 2006). . .
. Internet Movie Database.
Morales, Wilson (). . Black Voices on Movies. .
Fleming, Michael (). . .
. MTV News. June 12, .
Firscher, Russ (). . <.
. August 26, 2009.
Parks, Tim (August 27, 2009). . Digital Spy.
Cofield, Steve (). . Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! Inc.
Dustin James (). . Five Ounces Of Pain. Combat Sports Media, LLC.
mcnary, Dave (September 15, 2009). . .
McConnell, Donna (). .
. Dirk Benedict Central. .
Varèse Sarabande. Retrieved September 16, 2014
VSD-7032. Retrieved September 16, 2014
. . cf. . Movie Score Magazine. .
Goldwasser, Dan (August 4, 2010). . .
Myers, Meghann (June 25, 2010). . Macworld.
. Trailer Addict.
Billington, Alex (). . Firstshowing.net.
Ruthven, Hunter (). . The Daily Telegraph (London).
Thomson, Katherine (). . The Huffington Post.
"Plan Coming Together for The A-Team", , March 19, 2008
. . July 28, 2010.
{Press release}
. . December 16, 2010.
(June 10, 2010). .
(June 10, 2010). . . .
(). . . This feat is somehow managed by Joe Carnahan's overlong, overblown and utterly forgettable big-screen reboot of "The A-Team."
Honeycutt, Kirk (). . .
Persall, Steve. . .
Whitty, Stephen (June 11, 2010). .
Wightman, Catriona (May 17, 2010). . Digital Spy.
. Latino Review. .
"There is No Plan B: Roundtable with The A-Team Writers", Script 16 (3), May/June 2010, p. 46 sqq.; cf. William Martell,
Bierly, Mandi (). . .
. The Numbers. .
. Contactmusic.
. Blogs.coventrytelegraph.net.
. . March 10, .
. . September 13, .
Howell, Peter (). . < 2013.
Wikiquote has quotations related to:
at The Numbers
: Hidden categories: