Nuke LaLoosh

Nuke LaLoosh is a character played by Tim Robbins in the movie Bull Durham. Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh is a pitcher who is considered a top prospect because he throws tremendously hard, but who is also very wild and somewhat immature. Veteran minor league catcher Crash Davis, played by Kevin Costner, is assigned to work with him to teach him the fine points of being a professional ballplayer.

The character of "Nuke" LaLoosh is loosely based of Steve Dalkowski. Screenwriter and film director Ron Shelton played in the minor leagues shortly after Dalkowski had been a member of the Baltimore Orioles organization and heard plenty of stories about the very wild pitcher. Also in the film The Scout, Brendan Fraser's character is loosely based on him.

"We gotta play 'em one day at a time. I'm just happy to be here. Hope I can help the ballclub. I just want to give it my best shot, and the good Lord willing, things will work out.

A good friend of mine used to say, 'This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.' Think about that for a while."