When Vinny Paz learned that his life was finally being made into a movie, he mailed a gift to Miles Teller, the actor who would be playing him. It was an autographed photo of himself, clad in nothing but boxers. "Shove a banana in your undies if you have to make it look bigger," read the inscription. "Don't ruin the reputation, kid. Seriously, don't f--- it up."
The Pazman is as inimitable as ever. This much is clear as he gives a tour of his pink-trimmed Warwick, R.I., ranch house, an overstuffed shrine to the man who launched one of the most unlikely comebacks in sports history.