Part two of the "Guys who could have played in movies" theme.  Yesterday was NFL players, we saw Hines Ward get the Nod for Scarface.  Eric Mangini take Ray Liotta's place in Goodfellas, and other interesting replacements.  What will today bring?

Instead of Gerard Butler (King Leonidas) in 300, replacement: Ben Wallace.  Does anybody really want to mess with either of these two guys?  Ben, like Gerard, is as tough as they come.  I could see Ben leading Wally and Delonte into a bar fight in Cleveland (I hope it doesnt) and winning since no one wants to deal with Wallace.  Why do you think he is such a bad jump shooter?  The last guy that tried to help him is obviously at the bottom of some pit with the Persian messangers.

Instead of Russell Crowe in Gladiator, replacement: Kevin Garnett.  As a Timberwolves fan, I had the opportunity to watch him attack teams solo for a long time.  Watching Maximus dominate by himself reminds me of how Garnett would battle and lead us to the playoffs during his stint in Minnesota.  Now, his hatred for McHale (Commodus) inspired him to the NBA's best record and newfound fame, much alike to The Spaniard had acclimated when he gets to Rome.  If only he could have played in the Garden like Crowe got to slay opponents in the Coliseum.

Instead of Will Smith in I am Legend, replacement: Chris Bosh.  It was not by his choice, but a promising young man (Will Smith) finds himself battling demons with minuscule help in his dog (T.J. Ford, a fast fiesty but small companion.)  His "friends" are lifeless and stand around, just as the Raptors tend to do when Bosh has the ball in many cases.  He is making progress to defeat the odds, but how will he eventually fair?

Instead of Mel Gibson in Braveheart, replacement: Chris Paul.  Might not have earned this yet, hear me out.  Chris Paul is the unquestioned leader o####roup matched up against a force that is more dominant (reigning champion Spurs) to his group that isn't as strong.  West, Chandler, Peja are not quite Parker, Ginobli, Duncan.  Paul will lead his men into this battle, but what will the outcome be? 

Instead of Edward Norton in Fight Club, replacement: Carmelo Anthony.  Easy one.  Two guys that should never result in a fighting role.  Norton hitting Brad Pitt's ear reminds me of the girly punch then retreat of Melo at the MSG.  Neither really belong in a fight but both wanted for some reason to be there.

Instead of Keanu Reeves in The Matrix, replacement: Kobe Bryant.  Not to steal Shawn Marion's name, but Bryant was dubbed the chosen one soon after he came in the league.  Meant to take over for Jordan, save the Matrix (save the NBA.)  Watching him leap over the car was like seeing Neo leap to the other building.  He has enough hang time for many of the stunts needed and he is also an assasian so the agents would stand no chance.

Instead of Brad Pitt in Troy, replacement: LeBron James.  Its obvious that he will be a hired gun, much like Achilles.  Why else if he grew up in Ohio would he don a Yankees cap in Cleveland during a playoff series?  He is a beast of a man that wins.  However, that heal, late game free throw shooting (Maybe he should have stopped in Memphis for a year and got that out of the way) may too be his downfall.  He is a career 73% shooter, but he has been known (although he is getting better) to miss key late game free throws.  

Instead of Homer Simpson in The Simpson's movie, replacement: Isiah Thomas.  Not exactly the same level of comedic genius, but the mistakes that constantly set their respetive family and team back are remarkably similar.  Thomas means well, like Homer, but every move they make only put them further and further from their goal.

Finally, instead of Jack Nicholson in The Departed, replacement: Dikembe Mutombo.  They have both been around for sometime now.  Both are accomplished, and both can be scary.  Nicholson was crazy in many roles, and ruthless in others.  Mutombo was a shotblocking machine his whole career and menace on the boards too.  Both did have their big flop though, Mars Attacks! for Nicholson, and The series vs. Shaq when Mutombo was on his back every time you turned around.  But Mutombo is a good charitable guy, so he would have to really work to make this believable.

Once again, looking forward to more suggestions.