Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular
July 7, 2025
The Illini basketball team is bonding. We’re seeing that new players like players like Andrej Stojakovic and Zvonimir Ivišić are picking up things quickly. Older players have experiences to draw upon as they apply what they’re learning at Illinois. Meanwhile Brandon Lee and Keaton Wagler are trying to earn minutes as well.
The NBA is also a place for former Illini players. Terrence Shannon Jr. is looking forward to a chance to play more with the Timberwolves with Nickeil Alexander-Walker moving on to Atlanta. The Illini also have two first round picks pushing for playing time as well. Ayo Dosunmu is creating an opportunity to play more for a Bulls roster that is in a state of flux. This year’s Illini one-and-dones, Kasparas Jakucionis (Miami) and Will Riley (Washington) are beginning a new page in their careers.
After watching F1 on both the regular screen and on an IMAX screen, I think I’ve found the next James Bond. If I were an executive at Amazon (who now owns the rights to James Bond films after buying MGM), I’d try to get Damson Idris to be the next James Bond. I realize Marvel may be looking to recast him as the Black Panther, but I’d try to beat Marvel to the punch.
Brad Pitt and Damson Idris courtesy of F1 X Page
In F1, Idris proved he has the charisma to stand toe-to-toe with Brad Pitt and not give up anything on screen. The two of them were fantastic in the movie and Damson had the screen presence to carry the movie and not let the film’s engagement level dip when his fellow star was off screen. That’s not an easy thing to do as Pitt is now channeling the onscreen aura at the level of a Robert Redford circa “The Natural”.
Idris is approaching his 34th birthday, signing him now would mean a studio would have around 20 to 25 years of him playing Bond. We would get to see more of Bond’s early career and some of the experiences that made him the infamous and irrepressible 007. And if he did well, there might be 7 to 10 films that could be made.
I’d sign up for that. It would be fun.
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