The Comrades of Summer
4.8
90 minutes
7/11/1992
Overview
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.
Cast List
Joe Mantegna
as Sparky
Natalya Negoda
as Tanya
Mark Rolston
as Voronov
John Fleck
as Milov
Eric Allan Kramer
as Boris
Ian Tracey
as Andy
Michael Lerner
as George
Jay Brazeau
as Tom
Dwight Koss
as Jack
David Berner
as Director
Garry Chalk
as Ump
Roark Critchlow
as Petra
Mitchell Davies
as Igor
Todd Duckworth
as Leonid
Grant Forster
as Vasily
Jano Frandsen
as Meyers
John Gilbert
as Dolonov
David L. Gordon
as Scoop Reporter
Doc Harris
as Bud
Ken Kirzinger
as Ivan
Kim Kondrashoff
as Nikita
Jim Lampley
as Radio Announcer
Michael Levykh
as Leather Worker
David James Lewis
as Marine Pitcher
David Lovgren
as Sasha
Celia-Louise Martin
as Media Maven
Sharlene Martin
as Connie
Gary Moten
as Ortega
Gerry Nairn
as Mike
Gerry Bean
as Hamill
Laurie Paton
as Cynthia
Roman Podhora
as Vlad
Wren Roberts
as "Jarhead"
Raimund Stamm
as Russian Ump
Don Thompson
as Media Moe
Ken Tremblett
as Jones
Lloyd T. Williams
as Sims