Signed as second baseman by the Baltimore Orioles farm system out of college

Started out at Bluefield in the Appalachian League

Advanced to Stockton (California) Clearwater (Florida), Fort Worth (Texas), and finally, a Triple-A team of the International League, the Rochester Red Wings in Rochester, New York

Worked at various jobs including digging ditches and dressing mannequins at Sears to support his family

Invested his savings in attending graduate school to study sculpture at the University of Arizona

Moved to L.A. (date approximate)

Began exhibiting sculpture; subject of one-man show at the Space Gallery in Los Angeles

Began writing fiction and screenplays

First completed script, "A Player To Be Named Later" landed him an agent; later developed into "Bull Durham"

First feature work, as associate producer of "The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper", directed by Roger Spottiswoode

First produced script, co-writer on Spottiswoode's "Under Fire"; also served as second unit director

Directorial debut, "Bull Durham"; also scripted

Wrote and directed "Blaze", based on the relationship of Louisiana governor Earl Long and famed stripper Blaze Starr

Executive produced a short film entitled "Sharkskin"

Scored big hit as writer-director of basketball flick "White Men Can't Jump"

Stayed with basketball, providing script for William Friedkin's "Blue Chips"; also served as executive producer

Returned to baseball with "Cobb", writing and directing film based on sportswriter Al Stump's experiences with Ty Cobb during the last year of the legendary player's life

Co-wrote (with Tony Hendra) "The Great White Hype", an unsatisfying look at boxing and its promotion

Wrote and directed the golf-themed "Tin Cup", which fell short despite the presence of "Bull Durham" star Kevin Costner

Helmed the boxing-themed "Play It to the Bone"; played one-week Oscar qualifying engagement in L.A.

Directed the intense cop drama "Dark Blue" from a story by James Ellroy

Shared screenplay credit for "Bad Boys 2"

Wrote and directed the crime thriller "Hollywood Homicide" starring Harrison Ford