The incredibly powerful, moving documentary film on Steve Gleasons life opens with his face pressed up close to the camera, having an intimate conversation with his unborn son.But it also feels as if he is talking directly to us, the audience.My No. 1 focus and purpose is to share with you who I am. And to give you as much of myself as I possibly can, while I can, Gleason says.And, wow, does he deliver.Gleason, the former New Orleans Saints special teamer/cult hero, made one of the greatest plays in team history with his blocked punt on the night the Superdome reopened after Hurricane Katrina. Then he became a celebrated champion for those suffering from ALS after he was diagnosed with the merciless disease in 2011. A statue of him titled, Rebirth was erected outside of the Superdome to honor both achievements.But in this film, Gleason reveals things like five minutes after he got home from that statue ceremony, I pooped all over myself and my wheelchair.And I think its crazy that I can go from people saying, Youre my hero to having to be helped onto a toilet with my pants full of s---, Gleason tells the camera, tells his son, tells all of us.Its an incredible example of the polarities and dichotomies and juxtapositions that is my life.Gleason and his wife Michel Varisco share the most intimate moments of their lives in Gleason, which opens Friday in select cities throughout the country. Their greatest triumphs and struggles are equally laid bare for the audience.Tear-jerking moments like the birth of their son Rivers, or the gift they give to a fellow ALS patient as their Team Gleason foundation begins its remarkable mission.Gut-wrenching moments like Gleason screaming to the camera, I want to punch something, but I cant! or wailing to his father, My soul is saved!Intimate moments like Steve apologizing to Michel in the bathroom, or pestering her about why theyve become so distant.And, believe it or not, many moments of biting humor -- even when Gleason is receiving an enema.Honestly, I had no idea that this was gonna be ... Michel says, before catching herself. I probably should have thought of it, because Steve is who he is. But every day, the stuff that they filmed, I had no idea how big it would get.And I think thats why its so raw and real and Im wearing Steves underwear for half the movie.Documenting the true version of GleasonWhat makes the film so raw and so real is that it started out as a series of video journals that Gleason began producing for his child when they first found out Michel was pregnant just six weeks after he was diagnosed -- not knowing if they would ever truly get the chance to know each other.I wanted to be sure he didnt get the storybook sports dad version of me, Gleason said via email this week. I wanted him to know the raw, imperfect, flailing person that we all are, especially me.So he recorded everything -- first by himself with a camcorder or cellphone, then later with young filmmakers Ty Minton-Small and David Lee, who basically moved in with the family.Only later was the idea generated to make a film that could help bring awareness to the plight of those battling ALS around the globe, which was when accomplished documentary filmmaker Clay Tweel joined the project.Im so proud of Steve and Michel, to have the courage and willingness to share their story, said former Saints linebacker Scott Fujita, a close friend who helped spearhead the project as a first-time movie producer. Everyone whos seen this film walks away from it feeling something [even if theyre] unable to articulate exactly what that something is. Theyre angry, theyre excited, theyre happy, they laughed, they cried. But theyre inspired to do something, and thats a good thing.It sticks on you.Gleason admitted that he still gets extremely anxious before each screening of the movie at film festivals or premieres -- much like how he felt preparing for a game during his seven-year playing career.Its exciting. Crazy, but exciting, Gleason said this week. The decision to share the footage was not easy, and I wouldnt say Michel or I are completely comfortable with it. But we also had a feeling that the footage could have an impact on an audience beyond football or ALS. That seems to be the case as the movie has rolled out. People who have no connection to ALS or football are connecting to and being changed by the film.Michel, who is extremely candid in the film about having no desire to be a hero or a saint, said it has been affirming to hear from people like a woman she met after a screening in Washington D.C. who has a spouse with ALS and couldnt wait for all of her friends and family to see the film.Its always gonna feel weird, Michel said. But the more the movie is seen and the more we see how its impacting people and affecting people, its so tremendous that it makes sharing our complete private, intimate life -- it makes it more bearable. It makes it OK. ... It makes me feel proud of all of us.Bringing Gleasons story to the screenAnother of Gleasons former teammates, Drew Brees, signed on with his wife Brittany to help fund the project as a co-executive producer.Brees own 2010 memoir/motivational book was titled, Coming Back Stronger as he shared his story of returning from a major injury. But Brees said when it comes to the idea of overcoming adversity, Gleason is absolutely the best example I could ever think of.Listen, none of us know what we would ever do if we were faced with our own mortality, how that would affect us, Brees said. And I think in this film you see the struggles and the phases that he goes through with coping with that reality. ... And yet, just the power of the mind and the spirit, which he has more than any person Ive ever known, it just gives you so much hope.The documentary premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and was quickly bought by Amazon Studios, which is partnering with Open Road Films to release the movie. Gleason has earned rave reviews and awards at various festivals throughout the year -- as well as some Oscar buzz.Fujita admitted those types of things were mentioned in early beer-and-pizza planning sessions with another original producer -- Michels former college roommate, Kimi Culp -- but it never seemed like a realistic goal until much later.Fujita and Culp were the ones who gathered together several investors, including Brees and other NFL players and coaches. And they were the ones who sought out a director to take an estimated 1,300 hours of footage and craft it into a masterpiece.Tweel was the perfect choice, not only for his skills as a director but because of the personal connection he felt with the project. Tweels sister has multiple sclerosis, and his father was Muhammad Alis attorney for 30 years.I got sent a little teaser trailer clip a couple years ago. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once, Tweel said of what attracted him to the project. It just moved me in a way that I havent been moved before, and it was only six minutes long.Tweel said what makes the film so special is not only the intimate footage but Steve and Michel themselves.They are hilarious. And they totally light up a room, and its such a joy to be in their presence, that we wanted to get that across, too, Tweel said.Just a normal fatherAlthough Michel doesnt want to be a hero, she emerges as the co-star -- if not the star -- of this film. The camera often reveals her silent plight -- the fear in her eyes when she notices Steve starting to lose his physical abilities, how drained she looks as she feeds both Steve and Rivers at the same time.And she bluntly delivers lines like, I dont want to be like a devil or a d---face, but I dont want to be a saint either. I just want to be a real person.Another scene stealer is Blair Casey, a family friend of Michels who became an invaluable part of the family as a caretaker.They have more help now, with a small team of caregivers joining that family while Michel is focusing on motherhood and her artwork, and Casey is working full-time for the foundation. But Gleason said, Blair and Michel represent the best of that support.Luckily I had their humor and strength as we adapted to this new life, Gleason said.And then there is Rivers, who isnt featured heavily in the film but remains its heart and soul.As the movie began taking shape, Gleason envisioned it focusing on the relationship between fathers and sons, with his complicated relationship with his own father also dissected in several powerful scenes.One of the many tear-jerking moments in the film comes when Gleason tells Rivers: At this point it looks like were not gonna have the normal father-son relationship. I cant play catch with you ... but Im gonna do everything I can to be a good father, to give you what a son needs from his father. And Im gonna be around, buddy.Its not gonna be easy, but its gonna be awesome. And Im gonna be around until you are able to stand on your own as a man.Rivers is almost 5 years old now, and as I watched that scene, I was taken back to a recent conversation I had with Gleason at a charity softball game, when I asked him about Rivers budding baseball career. Like any typical father, Gleason proudly offered to show off some video clips.If youre looking for a happy ending to Gleasons story, that is it, as much as anything else he and Team Gleason have accomplished with the Steve Gleason Act being signed into law or a state-of-the-art care facility being built in New Orleans or the Ice Bucket Challenge turning into a national phenomenon.With the help of an incredible care crew, and some bad-ass technology, I pick [Rivers] up from school every day, Gleason said. We have excellent conversation. I go to all his practices. Im teaching him the nuances of baseball. We listen to a wide range of music. In many ways, I feel like weve conquered ALS, and its great to have our foundation help others do the same.For Rivers, Im just a normal father. For me, thats very exciting.Nike Air Max Uk Sale Outlet . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Nike Air Max Cheap Uk Online . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.ukairmax.com/ . It just didnt show when he hit the ice. Berra made 42 saves and Kris Russell scored at 1:32 of overtime, lifting the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night. Cheap Air Max Uk Sale .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Nike Air Max Uk Sale Online . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence.TORONTO -- Five games. Eight runs. Two shutout losses.A power-laden Toronto Blue Jays lineup fizzled against Cleveland, finishing off a five-game AL Championship Series wipeout with a 3-0 loss Wednesday.Bidding to return to the World Series for the first time since 1993, the Blue Jays lost in the ALCS for the second straight year, following last years six-game defeat against eventual champion Kansas City. Toronto was held to six hits by rookie Ryan Merritt and three relievers in the Indians second shutout of the ALCS.We never really had a big inning, never were able to really string some hits together and get a rally going, Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin said. You can point the finger at us and say we didnt do a good job, or you can point the finger at those guys. To get us out, you have to pitch well. You have to, and they did.No Cleveland pitcher was tougher than ALCS MVP Andrew Miller, who struck out 13 in 7 2/3 scoreless innings.Its not easy to go through lineups like this, Miller said. Still, the lefty sure made it look simple against the Blue Jays, who struck out 50 times over the five games.An offense led by Jose Bautista, Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion and Troy Tulowitzki produced seven extra-base hits in the series -- three doubles, two triples and two solo home runs. The Blue Jays hit just .201; Cleveland was even worse at .168.Im sure there will be some disappointments and grumbling and complaining about how you fell short again, but thats not coming from me, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. I know what these guys did, and I think its a pretty good accomplishment. The key is we want to take that next step one of these days. Hopefully its next year.Bautista , who turned 36 Wednesday, and the 33-year-old Encarnacion may have been playing for the Blue Jays for the final time. Both are eligible for free agency, a subject neither wanted to address in a somber clubhouse.I dont think its the right time to be taking about that, Bautista said. We just battled through a tough series. I dont want to make this about myself,, and I dont really feel like Im in the proper state of mind to be taking about that.dddddddddddd I know its a possibility but well see what happens.Gibbons said his two sluggers helped put this team back on the map after Toronto went 22 years between postseason appearances.We were staring at a playoff drought for a lot of years around here, Gibbons said. And they came through for the team last year, the organization, and then repeated it this year. And they really -- both of them -- made their name here in Toronto.Toronto slugged past Baltimore in the wild card game, winning on Encarnacions 11th-inning home run. The Blue Jays swept Texas in the Division Series, outhomering the Rangers 8-2 and outscoring them 22-10.Bautistas two hits in the finale left him 3 for 18 (.167) with no RBI in the series, while Encarnacion was 4 for 19 (.211) and drove in two runs. Tulowitzki was 2 for 18 (.111) with no RBI and Donaldson 6 for 18 (.333) with two RBI.I know that Im capable of doing a lot more, Bautista said. They pitched great. It was tough. They seemed to make the right pitches at the right time and got us out.Martin, who chased Merritt with a one-out bloop single in the fifth and advanced on pinch-hitter Michael Saunderss hit, was Torontos only runner to reach scoring position. Reliever Bryan Shaw fanned Ezequiel Carrera and Kevin Pillar.Torontos offensive funk was remarkable given the shaky state of Clevelands starting pitching. Carlos Carrasco (broken hand) and Danny Salazar (forearm) have missed the entire postseason, and right-hander Trevor Bauer left Game 3 after four batters when blood began dripping from his right pinkie, sliced open last week while he repaired a drone.The Blue Jays hit .120 (3 for 25) with runners in scoring position.They never let us string base hits together, Bautista said, and when we had men in scoring position they seemed to turn it up a notch and go to another level of execution. ' ' '