Intro to the december 7, 1980 abc sunday night movie airing of fighting back. The rocky bleier story, a madefortelevision movie about the life of pittsburgh steelers running back rocky bleier. The play provides a poignant introspective glimpse of a living legend. Since his heyday with the steelers, bleier has moved into the world of entertainment. The first 10,000 copies will be personally autographed by rocky. Enjoy a look through rockys life with the 40 page photo insert.
Fighting back, the rocky bleier story is a very well made tv movie from the early 80s. It tells the story of rocky bleier, who, after becoming a running back for the pittsburgh steelers in 1968 was then drafted by the u. Tune in for the latest and greatest from vietnam veteran and nfl steelers running back rocky bleier. Rocky bleier strong of heart university of notre dame. The play with rocky bleier is available now for your regional theater or group to book.
New espn film takes steelers great rocky bleier on emotional. It angered and divided the country, triggering its own wars at home. The rocky bleier story is a 1980 madefortelevision movie about the life of pittsburgh steelers running back rocky bleier, starring robert urich. However, after a lengthy, grueling rehabilitation, bleier ultimately walks again. Then rocky started to play football again and he was not as tall and not as big as all of the other people. Fighting back, the rocky bleier story is a very well remembered tv movie of the early 1980s. Football jock rocky bleier makes it all the way to the pros with. Robert urich stars as pittsburgh steelers running back rocky. Dec 27, 2008 the greatest season of rocky s career occurred in 1976. Bleiers movie story is not without its merits, especially in the early going, and altogether it is better than most tv films, if perhaps not quite so diverting as a runofthemill. Based on bleiers 1975 autobiography of the same name, it tells the story of how, after becoming a running back for the steelers in 1968, he was then drafted by.
In a position where many might have given up, rocky bleier drove himself onwards and within two years had made it back onto the pittsburgh steelers team. Hes written a book about his life fighting back, which. The rocky bleier story is a 1980 madefortelevision movie about the life of pittsburgh steelers running back rocky bleier, portrayed by robert urich based on bleiers 1975 autobiography of the same name, it tells the story of how, after becoming a running back for the steelers in 1968, he was then drafted by the u. Rocky is a war hero, a steelers legend and a thursday night tailgate hall of famer. The rocky bleier story 1980 full tv movie mar 5, 2017 fighting back. Jan 29, 2019 he eventually won four super bowl rings with pittsburgh, and in 1980, the nfl would cooperate with abc in the production of a madefortv movie titled fighting back. Bleier, who was just announced as a member of the steelers hall of honor class of 2018, released a special edition of his book fighting back as a part of the fighting back for veterans campaign. The story of rocky bleier movie posters,high res movie posters image for fighting back. Fighting back special edition, autographed by rocky bleier. Rocky will share his thoughts on the steelers games as well as other segments from events and speaking engagements. From december 1986, this promo is for the madefortv movie fighting back.
First 20,000 copies will be autographed by rocky bleier. The rocky bleier story is one of the great sports stories of a generation, and it deserves retelling today. Bleier wrote a book of his struggle to recover from his war wounds called fighting back. Story of rocky bleier his injuries in vietnam and his struggle to return to football. Every week during the season, well send you an email to your inbox with scores, this weeks schedule, top performers, fantasy drops and adds, new debuts and interesting tidbits. The hard lessons rocky bleier learned early in his life that helped him overcome adversity and reach his goals, have paid off after football. Fighting back 1980 owner art rooney art carney gives injured vietnam veteran rocky bleier robert urich a chance to play for the pittsburgh steelers. Rocky bleier the official fan page, pittsburgh, pa. The rocky bleier story is a 1980 madefortelevision movie about the life of pittsburgh steelers running back rocky bleier, portrayed by robert urich based on bleier s 1975 autobiography of the same name, it tells the story of how, after becoming a running back for the steelers in 1968, he was then drafted by the u. Told he would never walk again after receiving severe wounds, he bravely rehabilitated himself to condition for reentry into the nfl.
September 15, 2018 his story continues, read the rest of it here. Rocky bleier was born on march 5, 1946 in appleton, wisconsin, usa as robert patrick bleier. Football jock rocky bleier makes it all the way to the pros with the pittsburgh steelers, only to be drafted in the vietnam war. The rocky bleier story, which was made into a tv movie in 1980. Fighting back 1980 cast and crew owner art rooney art carney gives injured vietnam veteran rocky bleier robert urich a chance to play for the pittsburgh steelers. Bleier, a motivational speaker and a partner in two wireless companies based in pittsburgh, has not lost any passion for sharing his story, made famous by his book, fighting back, and a tv movie, but he wants his talks to remain focused on particular themes. Wkbd fighting back promo rocky bleier robert urich youtube. Rocky bleier confronts his past in espns the return pittsburgh. Rocky teamed up with terry oneill to write fighting back, a great education in steelers history and human achievement. Wounded by a hand grenade overseas, bleier returns to the u. The rocky bleier story, and it was made into a television movie in 1980, with robert urich starring as bleier, richard herd as steelers coach chuck noll, art carney as team owner art rooney, and many of bleiers teammates including matt bahr and mean joe greene as themselves. The rocky bleier story is a 1980 madefortelevision movie about the life of pittsburgh steelers running back rocky bleier, portrayed by robert. Good art should be larger than life, but, alas, the dimensions of the film are not as outsize relatively as those of robert urich, the leading man in fighting back.
Dec 14, 2016 still, bleier thinks that his story though previously told in his book fighting back and its 1980 tv movie adaptation is known to many people only in broad strokes, and that younger. Bleier then defied the odds, returning to football as a star running back on the steel curtain steelers teams of the 1970s and becoming the only. Apr 11, 2015 i do not own any rights fighting back is a 1980 movie about the real life of pittsburgh steelers halfback rocky bleier. Rocky bleier recalls vietnam war, 40 years after it ended. The story of rocky bleier is the story of courage and perseverance, and is quite poignant despite its movie of the week trappings. The greatest season of rockys career occurred in 1976. Some of those lessons are seen between the lines in the popular book on his life, fighting back, and an abctv movie of the week by the same name. The rocky bleier story, and it was made into a television movie in 1980, with robert urich starring as bleier, richard herd as steelers coach chuck noll, art carney as team owner art rooney, and many of bleiers teammates including matt bahr and mean. Rocky bleiers inspiring achievements have been the subject of an abctv movie of the week, the. With robert urich, bonnie bedelia, richard herd, howard cosell. Now a special edition of the book that contains two additional chapters is available.
Rocky bleier interesting stories about famous people. But to fully understand the rocky bleier story you need to remember how unpopular the vietnam war was. A fighting start, a rocky finish sports illustrated vault. Join steelers great rocky bleier in fighting back for veterans, by purchasing a special autographed edition of his book. Fighting back 1980 abc sunday night movie opening youtube. The story of rocky bleier writer 1980 the nfl on cbs self. The rocky bleier story, and it was made into a television movie in 1980, with robert urich starring as bleier, richard herd as steelers coach chuck noll, art carney as team owner art rooney, and many of bleiers teammates including matt bahr. Still, bleier thinks that his story though previously told in his book fighting back and its 1980 tvmovie adaptation is known to many people only. The rocky bleier story 1980 full tv movie stay safe and healthy. Raising money to provide services for local veterans is why former pittsburgh steeler rocky bleier is reissuing an updated version of his classic book, fighting back. Rocky bleier updates book fighting back to raise money. The doctors told him that he would never be able to walk again but he didnt let that stop him. Yet, the motivational message behind it, detailing how ordinary people can become extraordinary achievers, defines success in the new american century. Based on bleiers 1975 autobiography of the same name, it tells the story of how, after becoming a running back for the steelers in 1968, he was then drafted by the u.
Rocky bleier embodies heroism, determination, teamwork, and leadership. The official fan page of the former pittsburgh steeler, four time super bowl champion. Rocky bleier is a football player who was in the army and got shot. The rocky bleier story 1980 is a biography, drama movie starring robert urich and bonnie bedelia. For decades, fighting back served as a shining example of courage and determination for people in all walks of life. Rocky bleier played at notre dame and for the pittsburgh steelers. The hard lessons keynote speaker rocky bleier learned early in his life that helped him overcome adversity and reach his goals, have paid off after football. Rocky bleiers story a gripping tale of courage on both the football fields of america and the battle fields of vietnam has held audiences in rapt attention for years. After being drafted by the pittsburgh steelers in 1968, bleier was drafted by the u. A fighting start, a rocky finish sports illustrated. Notably, he served in vietnam and 40 years after the war ended, the former running back recalls that part of his life and this. Rocky bleier, running back january 29, 1979 sports.
Its also available for hockey, basketball and baseball. The first edition, written by bleier and terry oneil, was released in 1975 and chronicled bleiers story of being wounded in the vietnam war in 1969. He eventually won four super bowl rings with pittsburgh, and in 1980, the nfl would cooperate with abc in the production of a madefortv movie titled fighting back. Share in this rare opportunity to witness rocky bleier in an intimate and unforgettable evening. The story of rocky bleier is a story of courage and perseverance, and this movie is rather poignant despite its, movie of the week, trappings. The rocky bleier story is a 1980 madefortelevision movie about the life of pittsburgh steelers running back rocky bleier, portrayed by robert urich. The rocky bleier story, and it was made into a television movie in 1980, with robert urich starring as bleier, richard herd as steelers coach chuck noll, art carney as team owner art rooney, and many of bleier s teammates including matt bahr and mean joe. The story of rocky bleier tv movie 1980 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Bleier s movie story is not without its merits, especially in the early going, and altogether it is better than most tv films, if perhaps not quite so diverting as a runofthemill. This book is about a steelers running back named rocky bleier.
956 705 997 666 1159 1290 731 1563 250 168 1459 1531 1217 1265 104 428 1415 1140 523 722 496 568 196 1139 272 1368 253 1012 137 1242 477 1200 616 378 1073 372 1073 1187 550