Anthony Ramos Talks ‘Ironheart,’ Sports Superstitions and New Partnership With The Athletic

Anthony Ramos Talks ‘Ironheart,’ Sports Superstitions and New Partnership With The Athletic

As I sit here, reminiscing about my roots, it fills me with a sense of pride and gratitude. Growing up a die-hard fan of the Nets, Jets, and Mets, I never thought I’d witness the day they’d all be part of the bustling city of Brooklyn. It was like a dream come true when Jason Kidd, Nick Van Horn, and Kenyon Martin graced the courts of my beloved borough!


Anthony Ramos dons a unique, old-fashioned green jacket at each home match of the New York Jets, Mets, and Brooklyn Nets’ football, baseball, and basketball games that he attends.

Beyond thriving in his acting career, fresh from his summer stint in Twisters and looking forward to his part in Ironheart, the actor never fails to cheer on his favorite sports teams. Sports have been a constant presence in his life even before he secured his first television role on TV Land’s Younger, which was followed by his performance in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking musical, Hamilton.

The main character of “In the Heights” spent his youth playing both baseball and football, and he even joined the wrestling team at high school. At first, he was thinking about pursuing a professional baseball career, but that changed when he enrolled at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Eventually, he completed its musical theater program.

Regarding sports, the actor acknowledges that superstitions might seem ridiculous, yet, similar to over 70% of football enthusiasts, he unconsciously adheres to these beliefs despite this awareness.

He expresses that, as a fan, there’s this intense desire for your team to triumph. You believe, inexplicably, that certain actions you perform in the stands might somehow infuse energy into the players, whether they’re batters or quarterbacks. This is what he shares with The Hollywood Reporter during an exclusive interview, as he talks about his latest venture with The Athletic, which aims to highlight and embrace the realm of fanatic devotion, even when it seems irrational, through its Fall Football Superstition Swap program.

He went on to say, “During a game, let’s cheer or make some noise – it’s mostly superstition, those actions that help us stay engaged in the game. It also gives us a sense of belonging, as if our team’s victory is somehow connected to our participation.

In the following segment, Ramos shares insights on upcoming aspects of Marvel’s “Ironheart”, reveals advice from Miranda that significantly impacted his career, and discusses additional topics.

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Talk to me a little bit about this campaign. Why did you want to be a part of it?

I hold onto certain beliefs, and I’ve had this old Jets jacket for years now. It was a vintage one, given to me by my cousin, and ever since, I’ve been wearing it. It’s just a cool piece, you know? I’m quite the football enthusiast, and guess what? The Jets invited me to their season opener! They seem to appreciate my enthusiasm for the game. During the football season, I’m always ready to cheer. I love discussing sports, those little superstitions we have – like wearing a lucky cap or donning a favorite jersey – things that add an extra touch of fun to the game. That’s why I decided to join this group. Honestly, I thought it would be a neat way to share my passion with friends.

Why do you think superstition plays such a big part in people’s minds when it comes to sports?

At sports events, fans often develop habits or routines they believe might influence the players’ performance. For instance, during a baseball game, I might find myself standing up whenever a player is about to bat, thinking that my action could in some way contribute to their success. These are minor superstitions we engage in, fueled by our intense desire for our team to win and a sense of wanting to be involved in the game itself. Actions like cheering loudly or participating in the wave are examples of these rituals, making us feel as if we’re part of the action and that our support could play a role in determining the outcome.

What are your thoughts on how superstitions might influence the upcoming sports seasons, whether that’s football, baseball, basketball, or any other sport where such beliefs might be relevant?

In the world of baseball, it’s Grimace who plays for the Mets. Can you believe it? Grimace tossed the opening pitch, and suddenly, the Mets began to triumph. As a result, they decided to create videos featuring AI-Grimace, perhaps even showing Grimace bouncing around during a video of [Francisco] Lindor hitting a home run. I had a chance to converse with the players during a rain break. I ventured into the locker room, and it was absolutely surreal. It was an utterly insane experience that I’ll never forget. That night, I met my favorite player: Carlos Beltran. I was accompanied by one of my friends, and he introduced us to them. They were all discussing Grimace, expressing their amazement about the AI-Grimace spectacle.

As a die-hard Jets fan, I’m eagerly anticipating this coming season. Fingers crossed for good health all around and let’s see how things unfold. It adds a bit of excitement when we develop our own little superstitions or when they emerge during the game, keeping us all on the edge of our seats. Of course, I can’t predict the future, but here’s hoping that this year brings us to the Super Bowl!

Anthony Ramos Talks ‘Ironheart,’ Sports Superstitions and New Partnership With The Athletic

How do you juggle your passion for sports with your commitment to musical theater and acting professionally? Both activities can be quite demanding.

During the change of seasons, particularly when I’m in New York, I often find myself checking schedules and asking, “What events are taking place? Are there any home games this week?” I have a strong affinity for attending such activities. Sports have always been a significant part of my life, offering me an enjoyable distraction from work. Frankly, it seems somewhat unusual to me if one only focuses on work. Many people do, don’t they? However, I personally find sports to be a refreshing escape. Consequently, I make an effort to attend as many games as possible, not just when I’m in New York, but wherever I happen to be.

For the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to attend both the Super Bowl and the World Series. I always aim to be part of the action, and if possible, I also try to make it to the playoffs. Sports are a source of great enjoyment for me. There’s nothing quite like supporting your team. I’ve been a fan of these teams since my childhood. In fact, I was rooting for the Nets even before they moved to Brooklyn. The odds of them making it to Brooklyn seemed slim, and when the team was bought and relocated there, I was genuinely surprised – almost like saying, “Wait, what?” Because Jason Kidd was my favorite player, and I had already been following Nick Van Horn and Kenyon Martin’s careers. When they joined the Brooklyn team, I was thrilled! Jets, Nets, and Mets – that’s my team spirit!

During the course of your professional journey, you’ve had the privilege of collaborating with some exceptionally talented individuals such as Lin Manuel-Miranda, Seth Rogen, and Sebastian Stan, among others. Is there a particular lesson or insight that you’ve gained from any of them which you’ve subsequently used to propel your thriving career forward?

These individuals have accomplished some truly remarkable feats. The wisdom I’ve gathered from them, overall, has been about always pushing your boundaries and seeking out unique, varied experiences. Lin once said something particularly inspiring to me. I used to struggle with feelings of insecurity regarding the way I speak, often thinking, “I sound too street or ghetto.” But he told me, “You don’t need to alter the way you speak; just make sure your message is clear to others.” This shifted my perspective not only in my career but in life as a whole.

In essence, Lin’s advice was about making yourself understood rather than changing to fit the mold of an industry. Instead of adjusting to suit the requirements of a field, allow it to adapt to your unique traits. You are free to define and create your own roles as you see fit, rather than being confined by predefined roles. For example, instead of being told, “You’re a cowboy from Oklahoma,” you have the power to shape that character according to your vision. The script serves as a guideline, helping you sculpt the world or personality you want for your character. I found this advice particularly insightful from Lin.

Next up, I’d be delighted to share some insights about my involvement in Ironheart. For those eagerly anticipating the series, I can give a sneak peek into the experience of working on this exciting project and hint at what might be expected: A blend of action, technology, and heart-pounding drama!

I saw a trailer at D23. We walked onstage, and they played this new trailer of Ironheart, and it was my first time seeing it. And I’m not gonna lie, just as a fan, I was like, “Yo, this is crazy. If this show is half as good as this trailer, we in the mix.” Dominique Thorne is incredible. She plays this genius, and she creates this new suit out of basically just spare parts. In her genius way, she creates this state-of-the-art, beautiful, high-tech suit. She becomes Ironheart.

In the comics, Parker Robbins, who I portray as The Hood, gains an overpowering hood that wreaks havoc on him both physically and emotionally. This artifact gives him immense power, but it’s also tearing him apart from the inside out. You can observe this transformation in his appearance and behavior, as he becomes increasingly unstable and desperate to hold onto this source of vengeance. At first, he resorts to petty theft, but as his power escalates, so does his criminal activity. It’s a dangerous game he plays, and it threatens to consume him entirely. I can’t wait for you all to witness the incredible work of our art department, visual effects team, special effects makeup artists, and Jonah Levy’s talented crew in bringing this complex character to life on screen. The attention to detail they put into his tattoos and scars is truly impressive.

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2024-09-13 22:26