The film "MONEYBALL" is based on MICHAEL LEWIS' book that chronicled A's GM BILLY BEANE's use of statistics, but the "real hero is the reticent, reluctant guru of these numbers," PAUL DEPODESTA, according to Bill Plaschke of the L.A. TIMES. However, DePodesta is so "reticent" that he is the "only main character who did not allow his name to be used in the movie, with actor JONAH HILL instead portraying someone named Peter Brand." DePodesta said, "I remember thinking how unforgiving it might be to have someone else portray you to the rest of the world. It could be great, but it also could be very unnerving, and once I read the script and realized it was a piece of fiction, then I saw no reason for my name to be attached to it." But Plaschke wrote, "Hill nails DePodesta. Hill nails his shy mannerisms, his uncomfortable silences, his awkwardness in sharing his newfangled theories with old men spitting tobacco into cups, his fear in dealing with players." DePodesta confirmed that he "had decided to remove his name from the film long before Hill became attached" (L.A. TIMES, 9/21). DePodesta said that the producers were "under no obligation to honor" his request not to use his name in the movie, but "he's glad they did." In the movie, he is portrayed as an "unathletic computer geek," though in reality DePodesta is a "tall and lanky former Harvard football player." DePodesta: "I can't take it seriously. And I certainly can't take it personally. We'll see when I actually see it, but I'm determined not to take it too seriously" (N.Y. POST, 9/21). Lewis said, "People who are going to think ill of him are going to think ill of him whether he's associated with the movie or not. And the people who are going to have an open mind aren't going to care one way or another whether Jonah Hill's playing him and he's called 'Google Boy.' And anyone who meets him is going to know he's his own guy" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/16).
