The Comrades of Summer
When a washed-up major leaguer is forced to coach the Russian National Team, he soon discovers that Ivanov, Ilyanovich and Dobrunzki ain't exactly Mays, Musial, and Mantle!
Sparky Smith (Joe Mantegna) was manager of the Seattle Mariners until he had one too many shouting matches with the team's owner (Michael Lerner) and winds up fired. Now Sparky's ready to coach any team who'll have him. The only problem is, no one will, until the day the Russian Sports Ministry led by the delectable Tanya (Natalya Negoda) comes knocking at his door. The Russians need a baseball coach for their Olympic team, and Sparky is just the man for the job. Once on Russian soil though, he soon discovers that the Russian team is composed of athletes, hockey players, and shot putters who barely know their way around a diamond. Confronted with this losing team, hilarious comedy ensues when Sparky is told to accept an invitation to have his team visit the States and play his old team the Mariners.
- Genre: TV Movie, Comedy
- Studio: HBO Films
- Keyword: baseball, moscow, russia, culture shock, post soviet union, baseball coach
- Cast: Joe Mantegna, Natalya Negoda, Mark Rolston, John Fleck, Eric Allan Kramer, Ian Tracey
