I prepared my entire working life for this movie role. At long last, Disney's people contacted my people (me) last summer and offered a part in their film, "Invincible."

	Post-Gazette Steelers beat writer Ed Bouchette stands with the director's chair he received for his work on "Invincible." Click photo for larger image. Related article The 'Invincible' dream: Philadelphia Eagle Vince Papale got to live his football fantasy

You won't believe the character I play: A sportswriter.

I didn't get to ask any questions; this was a non-speaking part in the film about real-life teacher and bartender Vince Papale (star Mark Wahlberg), who became a Philadelphia Eagle at an open tryout. Because I turned down an invitation to the premiere and its post-party that took place in New York City Wednesday night, I have yet to view "Invincible." But those who did saw me in two scenes:

That's me in the long sports coat and oversized Clark Kent-Hanson Brothers black glasses leaning against a post as part of a press conference, when Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) was introduced as coach of the Eagles. You can catch me again during the open tryout conducted by Vermeil. I'm the writer in a red Banlon shirt and black pants, guffawing in the background on the field while some short, squat schlub wearing a green cape -- a true character at the original tryout -- thoroughly unimpresses the coaching staff with his blocking.

Ken Whisenhunt, the Steelers offensive coordinator, saw the movie with the rest of the Steelers during a special screening for them two weeks ago. Asked about it afterward, he said it was a good movie spoiled -- by the two scenes in which he saw me. (Coach Bill Cowher, by the way, claims he did not spot me in the movie. I believe it is jealousy on his part because my acting in "Invincible" outdid his in "The Waterboy.")

I came by this role through that old truism, it's who you know, not what you know. Chip Namias, a former PR man for several NFL teams, now works in Los Angeles. We keep in touch. He represents a company called ReelSports that provides real athletes -- and apparently real sports writers -- along with their training and consultation, for movies that involve sports. He called last summer and asked if I'd play one of several "Invincible" sportswriters. We were dubbed the "Hack Pack."

On the set of "Invincible" are sportswriters Bob Glauber of Newsday, Gordon Forbes and Jarrett Bell of USA Today, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, "Invincible" star Mark Wahlberg, Dan Pompei of The Sporting News and the Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette. Click photo for larger image.

Disney flew me to Philly last August, put me up for two nights and took us all to dinner the evening before our scenes were to be shot at old Franklin Field on the University of Pennsylvania campus.

Chip was horrified when he saw me.

"What's with the beard and the short hair?" I grew one in the spring and cut the other two days ago, I told him.

"Don't you know this movie takes place in 1976?" he said. "That's not a period look."

Oops. The film's co-producer, former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Mark Ciardi of Mayhem Pictures, joined us for drinks after dinner, as did the director, Ericson Core, and some of the film's writers. They saw my "look" and passed word to Chip they might not use me because of it. OK, I thought, so I'll watch the filming anyway.

At wardrobe on a blistering hot day in the bowels of the non-air-conditioned Franklin Field, we tried on our outfits. I had sent them my sizes, and they presented me with a "large" outlandish '70s-ish polyester shirt that was so tight, it showed my pectoral muscles. The pants didn't fit, either. The "large" of 30 years ago ain't what it is today, I told them. They pored through Disney's period clothing and finally came up with something that fit.

On the set, we stood around a lot. I did what I do best -- I watched football practice. There were extras tripping on purpose and trying not to catch footballs thrown to them -- it was almost like watching a Steelers practice in 1988. One scene in the movie was not scripted: An extra on the sidelines wasn't paying attention when a wayward pass hit him smack in the groin and he buckled over. You couldn't plan that shot.

Finally, someone told me to stand in the middle of the field at the end of the line of scrimmage during a "blocking" drill that involved the green-caped pretender. My big moment.

"What should I do?" I asked.

"Act like you're watching the drill and taking notes."

Ah, years of training finally paying off.

Next came the "press conference." I wasn't to be in that scene, but Chip dragged me inside to watch. They needed one more writer, pulled me from the back, draped me in a very long sports coat, stuck those ugly glasses on my mug and, voila, a star wasn't born.

An early cut of the movie showed only two writers from that scene, not including me. When Chip viewed it, he pulled some strings, the director found another shot, and all five of us made it.

Afterward, Kinnear and Wahlberg chatted with us for 10 minutes. Wahlberg said he'd rather play pro sports than act. A Disney photographer shot the Hack Pack with Wahlberg. The producers then presented each of us with a director's chair just like their own, with our name on one side and "Invincible" on the other.

Weeks later, I received a check for my one very long day's service -- a net of $55.07.

To quote the athletes, it's not about the money.