Beastly bullies, often drifting among the timid and weak, wreaking havoc all across the playground, are arriving soon to our local theater. While in most cases they’re intimidating ten year olds, this time around they’re grown men, and athletes at that. They are making a name for themselves on and off the screen.

A devoted cast of major leaguers and up-and-coming local child actors is featured in a coming-of-age motion picture filmed right here in Florida. Starring a multitude of professional athletes ranging from the National Basketball Association to the National Football League, Scouts Honor portrays the dedication of a group of Adventure Scouts fighting for what’s rightfully theirs. Their home town. Upon returning from a camping trip the Scouts discover their town has been seized by a motorcycle gang. They join forces to defeat the gang members and restore their turf.

Written and directed by former All My Children and Miami Vice star Jim Fitzpatrick, the movie was shot in four weeks throughout the Tampa Bay area. Fitzpatrick, who has been directing for twenty years now, is a former football star himself, having played for the Baltimore Colts, Chicago Bears, and Tampa Bay Bandits. His career in sports conveniently landed him roles in over 50 films establishing his profession as an actor. Since his move from Los Angeles to Tampa Bay, Fitzpatrick has been writing and directing with Scouts Honor as one of his projects.

“It’s a kids movie. It’s rated PG, it’s fun and we have a lot of professional athletes in it,” said Fitzpatrick.

“A friend of mine called me and told me they were looking for some celebrity slash former sports athletes,” said retired Miami Heat basketball player and Countryside High School alumni Matt Geiger, “I got on the phone with him, he sent me the script. I read it, thought it was great and I wanted to be a part of it. Then I became Condo and the rest is history.”

Matt Geiger, class of 1987, struck it rich with his ten seasons in the NBA, playing for the Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets and the Philadelphia 76ers, with whom he signed a $52 million dollar contract. Geiger retired in 2002 due to knee injuries. Next on the list, an NFL star: Mike Alstott, professional football player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has been playing for 12 years now, with the Super Bowl XXXVII Championship under his wing.

“Well, Jim called me many times and asked me to be a part and it was a busy time, I’m so happy I decided to do the movie because it was just huge. It was a lot of fun and a huge success and I can’t wait for it to come out,” said Buccaneer running back Mike Alstott, who is currently on injured reserve.

The athletes play members of a motorcycle crew riding down to Florida in hopes of reuniting with one of the biker’s sons, who, along with his mother, moved away following his father’s arrest and jail time.

“He’s part of a motorcycle gang. He’s kind of big and not all that bright, so the role for me was kind of a perfect fit,” joked Geiger as he described his character Condo.

“I’m Mad Dog. I’m kind of like the right hand person to the head biker gang guy. It’s just coordinating stuff with the other guys, it’s a cool part,” said Alstott.

The fresh young faces of this spirited film had more than their share of fun.

“My favorite part was beating up the bad guys and pouring honey on them and doing all the crazy stuff. I had to pour honey on Matt Geiger and he is like 6’5” but seemed like one hundred feet,” said actress Samantha Reddy, who plays a Scout named Loni.

“During the action scenes the guys did a lot of climbing of the fences. The bad guys got beat up, we had to go jump in pools,” described actress Morgan Craven, who plays Gigi, another one of the scouts.

“They get all of us in different situations where they tie us up, they rope us, they net us, they throw books on us,” said Geiger.

Although geared towards children, the movie will attract a crowd of all generations.

“You can bring your family-kids can enjoy the movie, your parents can enjoy the movie. It’s a kids movie with an adult appeal,” said Geiger.

Despite the tough towering players and vigorous children, the atmosphere on the set was a positive one.

“All the kids that we had in the movie were very talented, smart,” said Alstott.

“That’s why I’m here. Being in a kids movie and having these kids involved is the reason why I was really excited about being a part of it,” added Geiger.

“When you see them on TV they look really tough, like they can eat you. But when you see them they’re really nice,” said J.J. Fitzpatrick, who plays a scout named Tico.

Getting along with the kids wasn’t difficult, the athletes on the other hand,

“The other athletes, they’re a little…yeah. Yeah for the most part they’re all cool guys,” joked Geiger.

The first in a series of three movies Scouts Honor is set to come out this year around November.