Fan Casting Triumph of the Heart

A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story is a 1991 CBS made-for-TV movie that recounts the life of Ricky Bell, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back sickened with dermatomyositis, and Ryan Blankenship, a physically impaired child. The movie takes place during the 1981 Buccaneers season, including actual gameplay footage and a dramatized role played by Mario Van Peebles. Bell finds himself befriending an impaired children who inspires each other to become better in their own ways.