USAToday | Interview Mahershala Ali

While it may take you a few tries to say his name right, actor Mahershala Ali’s on-camera presence is unforgettable. Following his breakout role alongside Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Ali appeared in The Place Beyond the Pines and he currently plays lobbyist turned White House Chief of Staff Remy Danton on Netflix’s hit series House of Cards. You can catch him in theaters now in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 2.

We sat down with the Oakland Raiders fan at Stone Park Café in Brooklyn to discuss New York teams, touchdown showboating, and coastal hip-hop rivalry.

You’re on House of Cards. Who is the Frank Underwood of the NFL?

Bill Belichick, he’s gotten a bad rap though I do think he’s a great coach. I think people have been shown that the Patriots will push the boundaries and look for the loopholes, you know tape a practice here or there accidentally to get an advantage. I have a lot of respect for the Patriots, they have been extraordinary for 12 years or something crazy like that and probably should have beat the Giants in that Super Bowl.

Which NFL player would excel in the Hunger Games?

Because it’s a mix of athleticism and intelligence, I think Russell Wilson would be great.  He’s a smart dude and he’s athletic, even more athletic than he’s been given credit for.

You’re a fan of Cam Newton — what is your stance on flashy end zone dances?

I’m not mad at Cam, right now he’s doing a great job.  But I also appreciate the Barry Sanders of the world who just score a touchdown, put the ball down and are thankful to their teammates. But it has its place, just depends on the person and the personality, sometimes they go a little bit too far.

You currently live in NYC, which New York NFL team do you root for?

I’m more of a Jets guy. I’ve just never been able to root for the Giants, ever. The Jets have been a little bit of the stepbrother or little brother so I find myself rooting for the Jets because they feel like the underdog so I want to see them do well.

You grew up in California but are a Brooklynite now, Biggie or Tupac?

I liked Biggie better as a MC but I think Tupac had a much broader catalogue of music, he was prolific. So if I had to listen to one for the rest of my life I would go with Tupac because of the sheer catalogue and range. He had breadth as a MC.

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