#kevin fischer icons

[slashericons]

Kevin Fischer — Final Destination 3 (2006)

[tani-b-art]

Luther: Never Too Much

[disneytva]

20th Television Animation Brings Animation To San Diego Comic-Con 2024

Animation fans will have a lot to keep them busy and entertained at this year’s Comic-Con. Disney just announced its plans for its Hulu and 20th Television Animation festivities and panels set for the San Diego.

Friday, July 26

Solar Opposites, 2:00-2:45 p.m., Indigo Room. The popular animated series returns to San Diego Comic-Con ahead of a new season packed with new family values, mayhem in the Wall and some all-new Silvercops adventures. Join executive producers Mike McMahan and Josh Bycel, and cast Thomas Middleditch (Terry), Mary Mack (Jesse) and Sean Giambrone (Yumyulack) for an advance screening of a never-before-seen episode, and a discussion of the hilarious and out-of-this-world upcoming fifth season premiering Aug. 12 on Hulu.

The Great North, 3:00- 3:45 p.m., Indigo Room. Embark on an exhilarating journey to Lone Moose at Comic-Con. Catch an exclusive look behind the scenes of this animated comedy series that follows the quirky Tobin family as they navigate life together. Get to know the creative minds behind the series including creators and executive producers Wendy Molyneaux, Lizzie Molyneaux-Logelin, Loren Bouchard and the voices behind the Tobin family including Jenny Slate, Dulcé Sloan, Paul Rust and Aparna Nancherla to gain fascinating insights into the production of the show, its unique setting, and the colorful characters that inhabit the world of the Tobin family.

Bob’s Burgers,  4:00-4:45 p.m., Indigo Room. Join the Belcher family and the creative minds behind Bob’s Burgers for a can’t-miss panel. Creator and executive producer Loren Bouchard, executive producers Nora Smith, Holly Schlesinger and supervising director Bernard Derriman will break news about the upcoming season. The cast including H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman, Dan Mintz and Larry Murphy will have the audience howling with laughter through exclusive sneak peeks, a lively panel discussion and Q&A.

Saturday, July 27

Futurama, 11:00-11:45 a.m., Ballroom 20. Neither snow nor rain nor cancellations nor pandemics nor Hollywood strikes can keep Futurama from blasting back into existence. Please join Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, Claudia Katz and “Futurama” superstars Billy West, John DiMaggio, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr, David Herman and Maurice LaMarche for a live sneak preview of the all-new season premiering July 29 on Hulu. They promise to spill the maximum legal dose of spoilers. Plus, there is the chance to walk away with debatably precious door prizes!

The Simpsons, 12:00-12:45 p.m., Ballroom 20. Show creators give an exclusive spooky sneak preview of “Treehouse of Horror 35” – the scariest 35th Halloween Special ever. Join panelists Matt Groening, Matt Selman, Rob LaZebnik, Tim Bailey, along with special guest moderator Kevin Smith and surprise terrifying guests for original drawings, prizes and more.

American Dad! 1:00-1:45 p.m., Ballroom 20.  Celebrate the enduring success of the show at Comic-Con with hilarity, hijinks and heartfelt moments. Dive into the quirky world of the Smith family and their eccentric friends and foes as this beloved animated series celebrates its ongoing success with stars Wendy Schaal, Scott Grimes, Rachael MacFarlane, Dee Bradley Baker, Jeff Fischer, and executive producers Matt Weitzman, Kara Vallow and Nic Wegener.

Family Guy 2:00-2:45 p.m., Ballroom 20.  It’s time to look back at 25 years of laughter, satire and iconic moments with the long-running show at this must-attend Comic-Con panel. This milestone event will bring together fans, the iconic cast including Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Jennifer Tilly, Gary Cole and Mike Henry, and executive producers Rich Appel, Alec Sulkin, Steve Callaghan and Kara Vallow to honor a quarter-century of hilarity, irreverence and unforgettable moments in Quahog. Whether a long-time fan or new to the Griffin family’s antics, this is the ultimate event to honor one of television’s most beloved and enduring animated series.

[theultimatefan]

Esposito, Gunn, David, Swallow among Next Wave of Celebrities to Attend FAN EXPO Portland in January

FAN EXPO Portland today announced its next wave of celebrity guests, and with eight additions to the standout roster that already includes favorites from across many fandoms, there will be something—and someone—for everyone at this year’s convention, set for January 12-14, 2024, at the Oregon Convention Center.

Joining the annual pop culture extravaganza are Giancarlo Esposito (“The Mandalorian,” “Breaking Bad), Sean Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, “Avengers: Infinity War”), Keith David (The Thing, The Princess and the Frog), Emily Swallow (“The Mandalorian,” “Supernatural”), Jeff Ward (“One Piece,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”), Titus Welliver (“Bosch,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”), Ethan Suplee (“My Name is Earl,” Remember the Titans) and Eman Esfandi (“Ahsoka,” King Richard).

The prolific veteran film, television and stage actor, director and producer Esposito, in addition to his role as “Moff Gideon” on the Disney+ series “The Mandalorian,” is well known by television audiences for his iconic portrayal of drug kingpin “Gus Fring” in AMC’s critically acclaimed award-winning series “Breaking Bad.” Some of Esposito’s most memorable performances can be seen in films such as Rabbit Hole, The Usual Suspects, Smoke, The Last Holiday and Spike Lee’s films Do the Right Thing, Mo’ Better Blues, School Daze and Malcolm X.

Gunn played "Kraglin" in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and its sequels in 2017 and this year, as well as providing the physical performance via motion capture for "Rocket Raccoon" in the films plus Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame and Thor: Love and Thunder. He also portrayed "Kirk Gleason" throughout the seven-year run of "Gilmore Girls" among his 60+ acting credits.

David co-starred as “Childs” in the 1982 horror classic The Thing opposite Kurt Russell and Wilford Brimley. He has won three Emmys and is a Tony award nominee. In addition to a solid body of on-screen live action work in films such as 21 Bridges, Crash and Platoon, he has made quite a name in voice acting, lending his talents to feature films like The Princess and the Frog and the Ken Burns documentary Jackie Robinson among hundreds of credits.

With her portrayal of “The Armorer” in “The Mandalorian” in the hit Netflix series “The Mandalorian,” Swallow added another role to her growing resume. She also appeared as “Kim Fischer,” a regular on “The Mentalist” and as “Amara / The Darkness” in the 11th season of “Supernatural.” She also lent her voice to the role of “Lisa Tepes” in the animated Netflix fantasy action series “Castlevania.”

Ward currently stars as “Buggy” in the action Netflix series “One Piece,” following up on a three-year, 45-episode spin in “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” as “Deke Shaw,” the complex character who proved popular with fans. He also co-starred in the 2021 Netflix horror/drama mini-series “Brand New Cherry Flavor” and portrayed Charles Manson in the Lifetime TV movie “Manson’s Lost Girls” in 2016.

Welliver starred in the title role in the decorated Netflix series “Bosch” and its current Freevee sequel “Bosch: Legacy.” He’s a familiar face to viewers, having appeared in more than 100 productions including Argo, Gone Baby Gone, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “The Good Wife,” “Deadwood” and many others.

Suplee has had nearly 100 film and TV roles, from comedies like the Kevin Smith productions Mallrats, Dogma and Clerks III, “My Name is Earl,” and “Boy Meets World” to dramas such as Remember the Titans and The Butterfly Effect.

Esfandi co-starred opposite Rosario Dawson, David Tennant and Mary Elizabeth Winstead in this year’s Disney+ miniseries “Ahsoka,” part of the Star Wars universe. He has also been seen in King Richard with Will Smith and The Inspection with Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union.

The eight are added to a strong FAN EXPO Portland celebrity roster that includes Jon Bernthal (“The Punisher,” “The Walking Dead”), the “Charmed” duo of Holly Marie Combs and Rose McGowan, the "Daredevil" tandem of Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio, Lana Parrilla (“Once Upon a Time,” “Spin City”), Danny Trejo (Machete, The Book of Boba Fett), Peter Cullen (Transformers), Jason Lee (Vanilla Sky, Almost Famous) and Peter Weller (RoboCop, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.

FAN EXPO Portland features the biggest and best in pop culture: movies, TV, music, artists, writers, exhibitors, cosplay, with three full days of themed programming to satisfy every fandom.

Single-Day Tickets, Three-Day Passes, and Ultimate Fan Packages for FAN EXPO Portland are available now. Advance pricing is available until December 28, 2023. More guest news will be released in the following weeks, including line-up reveals for comic creator guests, voice actors, and cosplayers.

Portland is the second event on the 2024 FAN EXPO HQ calendar; the full schedule is available at fanexpohq.com/home/events/.

[dysnamite]

[mrswinchestxr]

the office icons

[quintennyson]

He laughed, a kind of defensive, uncomfortable little sound. “It's funny but the last week before, well, what happened, I was really starting to feel kind jealous of you.” “Jealous?” Wendy smiled. “Of me? Kevin, no offense but that sounds a little gay.”

Final Destination 3.

[jocksaved]

hi if u like Kevin pls go follow @addicthe bc nick is, if i may say so myself, the most iconic fischer brother

[twistedtwinsproductions]

Did you see the first of the @womeninhorrormonth Massive Blood Drive PSAs on @dreadcentral? We’re up to two! To kick it off, we had the iconic @tromateam with Toxie himself letting you know the importance of blood donation! “Established in 1974 by Yale friends Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, Troma Entertainment is arguably the longest-running independent movie studio in North America, and it’s one of the very few genuine brand names in the industry. Troma is world-famous for producing and distributing classic films such as Lloyd Kaufman’s The Toxic Avenger, Trey Parker’s Cannibal! The Musical, Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, Class of Nuke ‘Em High, Charles Kaufman’s Mother’s Day and Tromeo & Juliet. Early works of many of today’s luminaries can be found in Troma’s library of 1000 films, cartoons, TV shows and shorts. Jenna Fischer, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Costner, Fergie, Vincent D’Onofrio, Samuel L. Jackson, James Gunn and Eli Roth are just a few. Troma’s latest in house productions are Return to Nuke ‘Em High: Volumes 1 & 2. Troma’s Blu-rays, DVDs, books, t-shirts and movie merchandise can be purchased at TromaDirect. Please visit Troma at: www.troma.com, www.lloydkaufman.com, www.twitter.com/lloydkaufman www.facebook.com/troma.entertainment and www.instagram.com/tromateam PSA’s from the Soska’s Sister Massive Blood Drive 2020 will air every other day in February, so stay tuned and check back often!” Full article & PSA - https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/317807/wihm-2020-massive-blood-drive-psa-from-troma-with-love/ https://www.instagram.com/p/B8PTM6rlXm7oJ0P3Fd_79OQ3bfTmp-33Img2SM0/?igshid=1o1ivgo1136jt

[gemmasianpowellphotography]

Research - Fashion Task 1

16.11.2021

What makes a strong magazine cover? 

A strong vocal point 

Colour

Be consistent but not boring 

Typographic hierarchy and shelf placement 

Break the rules and make it an event 

https://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design/5-essential-cover-design-tips-91516920

Best Streetwear Magazines 

Pause 

https://pausemag.co.uk/

This is an online magazine that covers a variety of topics from categories which include: streetwear news, Streetstyle, Editorials, and celebrity style(aka “PAUSE Spotted”). According to PAUSE, the name came about from them wanting to make their audience pause or stop for men’s fashion. And even though this magazine is UK based, it covers a decent amount of news from New York City. In addition to readership from the USA, the site also claims readership from Paris, Hong Kong, and Spain. Their IG is loaded with inspirational images such as street style, celebrity style, editorials and lookbook images from different brands. Their youtube channel doesn’t distribute content very often but the amount of content that has already been uploaded is worth checking out. These are a few of the qualities that certainly makes PAUSE one of the top streetwear magazines. 

Highsnobiety

https://www.highsnobiety.com/

This magazine was once a blog which started in Berlin, in 2005 by Daniel Fischer. It is now New York-based and covers a wide range of topics from different categories such as music, style, clothing, shopping life and even design. Their youtube is constantly loaded with interesting content such as interviews, events, and documentaries. One documentary that recently went viral was a documentary which was shot in Seoul called “Seoul’s Counterfeit Culture”. On their Instagram a is a great place to find inspiration for both style and photography. Also, its really worth checking out their other site, What Drops Now and the female version of Highsnobiety, called Highsnobette.

Hypebeast

https://hypebeast.com/

HypeBeast is a Hong Kong-based Magazine that was started by Kevin Ma, in 2005. With a slogan like “Driving Culture Forward,” there is no denying that this is one of the best streetwear magazines for streetwear news. This is a great magazine to help you keep up with streetwear, Sneakers, Music, and Art. Other categories of topics they cover are Technology, Entertainment, Automotive, Food, Travel, Sports, and Shopping. On their Instagram, you can also find a lot of inspirational content such as event photos, pop culture icons, celebrities, sneakers etc. I would also recommend checking out their youtube for some inspirational content, as it has features of celebs, designers, event coverage, street style, and documentary-like films. This major publication is the parent of a few other sites such as their e-commerce site, HBX, which was started back in 2012; one of the top destinations for copping streetwear. Another site to be aware of is their sistering site HypeBae, which strives to put women in the forefront of the content that it publishes. This magazine covers a variety of topics from categories such as fashion, footwear, health, travel, food, home, entertainment, and beauty. So even if you aren’t a girl and you have no interest in checking this site out, I would still recommend it for if you want to buy any female a present and even if you’d like to know whats trending for women at the moment. And if you’re a female reading this article, I recommend you to check this out too. Another cool site that Hypebeast gave birth to is HypeKids (see what I did there?). This is a fairly new website but it covers a bunch of topics under the categories of fashion, shoes, and toys all for children. Of course, I recommend checking this site out if you have a kid in your life that you want to keep fresh with all the latest styles and trends.

Complex

https://www.complex.com/uk

A lot of people are familiar with Complex and know it as one of the top urban fashion magazines but a lot of people didn’t know that this was a magazine that was started by Marc Milecofsky, the owner of Echo Unlimited. It began as a print publication in 2002 and in 2007 is when it began to dominate as a digital media publication. Today Complex is another magazine and online publication that covers a vast array of topics such as music, style, pop-culture, sports, and life. This is also a platform that distributes contents from multiple parts of the world such as the UK, Australia, and Canada. Overall, Complex is a cool website to visit to keep up with the latest occurrences in pop-culture and in streetwear. Its also the place to come across exclusive interviews, lookbooks and collaborations, store openings, where to buy certain items on your wishlist, release dates, legal drama, street style images and the list goes on and on.

http://www.velvetblueocean.com/6-best-streetwear-magazines/

Discovering Japanese Fashion Brands in the Market

Superdry 

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/gq-partnerships-topic/bc/superdrys-aw20-collection-is-one-full-of-creative-rebellion

Brand Identity 

They market themselves as a “fashion chain for men and women blending vintage Americana with Japanese and British inspirations.” What’s the Japanese inspiration, I hear you ask. Well, the scripting on the logo, and, yeah, that’s about it. But, boy, did it work! SuperGroup have clearly capitalised on consumer psyche towards anything Japanese. Research has shown that European consumers aspire and exhibit inclination towards Japanese brands and this is reflected in their purchase decisions. Moreover, packaging/products scripted in Japanese tend to exude a certain degree of quality and “wow” factor in the customer’s perception.

The fact that Superdry has nothing to do with anything remotely Japanese is evident if you decipher the script. If loosely translated (there’s no literal translation from Japanese), it reads “maximum dry (do)”, which sounds absolutely nonsensical. James Holder, the brainchild of Superdry reminisces of his obsession with typography and his childhood spent reading Japanese manga comics (known for its Japanese script on the cover). Apparently, the logo was conceived at a Japanese pub by James with a play on English and Japanese typography to loosely convey the meaning of staying dry on a wet day using Superdry.

The branding genius lies in the logo seamlessly incorporating Japanese and English, and conveying something totally different to what it actually says! Some market experts believe it’s a parody on Japanese clothing brands that often use meaningless English mumbo-jumbo to appear British. Parody or not, SuperGroup ain’t complaining. The logo has elevated Superdry to the point it’s mentioned in the same breath as Uniqlo, Zara, AllSaints and  Mango – labels that rub shoulders with Superdry.

https://www.thebrandingjournal.com/2016/03/the-superdry-appeal/

UNDERCOVER

https://undercoverism.com/

Jun Takahashi’s UNDERCOVER is probably the epitome of Japanese streetwear. For nearly 30 years, the designer’s distinct visual perspective has been influencing design to where contemporary fashion stands today, and early UNDERCOVER designs are now some of the most coveted and sought-after pieces for collectors.

The aesthetic of this Japanese clothing brand is best explained by its own motto: "We make noise, not clothes." UNDERCOVER is about disruption, subversion, and rebellion, blending pop culture iconography with punk, bondage, goth, and post-modern aesthetics to create the quintessential “punk” streetwear brand.

NEIGHBORHOOD

https://www.neighborhood.jp/en

Started in 1994 by Shinsuke Takizawa (often referred to as Shin), NEIGHBORHOOD or NBHD is one of the OGs of Japanese streetwear. NEIGHBORHOOD was part of the original Harajuku streetwear scene of the early ’90s, a Tokyo-based movement of friends and peers who effectively founded the Japanese streetwear scene, birthing labels including BAPE, UNDERCOVER, WTAPS, Hysteric Glamour, and GOODENOUGH.

NEIGHBORHOOD draws from Takizawa’s deep passion for historic motorcycle subculture, creating classic American clothing such as leathers, shirting, sweats, flannels, and headwear, all with a distinct biker gang twist.

Though recent collections have seen NEIGHBORHOOD expand into military, prep, Native American, and even early-20th century industrial workwear styles, the brand is still best known for its authentic selvedge denim, manufactured to strict traditional specifications and customized with intricate, natural distress washes that range from classic indigo fades to their iconic “Savage” series.

Wacko Maria

https://wackomaria-paradisetokyo.jp/

With perhaps the most fascinating backstory of all, Wacko Maria was founded by Nobuhiro Mori and Keiji Ishizuka, two J-league professional footballers. Starting out as the Rock Steady bar in Tokyo, the venture eventually evolved into Wacko Maria, a Japanese menswear brand inspired by Latin American style and rockabilly subcultures.

Known for its ornate shirting and outerwear with elaborate, embroidered details, and combining traditional artwork such as religious iconography and classic Americana with oversized slogans, the brand has carved out a niche for larger-than-life clothing with an addictively absurd twist, making it a favored brand of style pioneers.

This season the brand created a capsule collection with notorious graffiti artist Neck Face, finding a perfect partner to their unique approach to the no-holds-barred psychobilly aesthetic.

https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/best-japanese-clothing-brands/

[tkmedia]

Dougie’s Monday Mailbag (Evander Holyfield, Oscar Valdez, ’70s greats vs. future stars)

Dougie’s Monday Mailbag (Evander Holyfield, Oscar Valdez, ’70s greats vs. future stars)

Photo by Amanda Westcott/Triller Fight Club 13 Sep by Doug Fischer THE OLDTIMERS Hello Dougie, hope you are well and healthy. Evander Holyfield’s performance was really upsetting for me to watch. However fit he might appear to be, he was in a life-endangering situation. Why do you think the oldtimers are doing this? Do they think something like “these modern fighters would be nothing in my time, I’ll show them”? Or is their desire to compete so great that it clouds their minds so that they put themselves in harm’s way in order to, unnecessarily, prove something to themselves? All of them have legacies that are being blemished by these I dare say circus acts. Do they view current scene as so low in quality that they are compelled to act? Anyway, this is a trend that won’t stop until someone gets seriously hurt. Maybe there should be the age limit on sanctioned professional fights, I don’t know. What do you think? Best wishes, and greetings from Serbia. – Vulic I think commissions need to do their jobs. All fighters have a drive that compels them to challenge themselves and push their bodies beyond normal human limits. Those egos don’t go away after they retire or when they get old. Great fighters often have the fiercest pride; the fire in their bellies is what made them special competitors as young amateurs, during their peak pro years, and even when they were past their primes. Holyfield is never going to think he can’t do something, especially the sport where he forged his legend. If he’s willing to step into the ring (and he will be for as long as he’s able to stand on two legs – that’s no exaggeration), there will always be a promoter and/or platform willing to try to capitalize on his legendary status. It’s up to the state athletic commissions to say no. Boxing is a crazy business filled with crazy mother f__kers. The state commissions – including tribal and commonwealth – need to come up with unified safety guidelines, so a dangerous matchups can’t simply cross borders and state lines to see action. Evander Holyfield’s performance was really upsetting for me to watch. I can imagine, but I wouldn’t know because I didn’t watch it. The highlights are ugly enough. However fit he might appear to be, he was in a life-endangering situation. Why do you think the oldtimers are doing this? They’re FIGHTERS! They still want to do what gave them purpose as kids, adolescents and young adults; and what brought them fame and fortune in their 20s and 30s. If somebody is going to offer them a big bag of money to come back, they’re gonna go for it. Do they think something like “these modern fighters would be nothing in my time, I’ll show them”? Or is their desire to compete so great that it clouds their minds so that they put themselves in harm’s way in order to, unnecessarily, prove something to themselves? I think it’s more of the latter. Holyfield probably had no idea who Vitor Belfort was. He wasn’t trying to prove anything to him. He was just challenging himself, setting a goal that would lead to another goal (like a Mike Tyson exhibition). All of them have legacies that are being blemished by these I dare say circus acts. It might seem like that now, but if they’ve reached Holyfield’s level of greatness, an embarrassing loss isn’t going to alter their status as icons. Mike Tyson is still Mike Tyson despite getting trashed by Kevin McBride in his final pro bout. How many times did we see Roy Jones Jr. KTFO once he got long in the tooth? He’s still Roy Jones Jr.! Joe Louis was unceremoniously (and brutally) sent back into retirement by Rocky Marciano and then he took part in crappy exhibitions and pro wrestling bouts. He’s still the Brown Bomber, an American hero. People don’t remember Muhammad Ali for the Antonio Inoki exhibition. He’s remembered as The Greatest because he fought every top heavyweight of the 1960s and 1970s (and usually won). I can go on and on, but I trust you get the picture. Do they view current scene as so low in quality that they are compelled to act? Maybe, there is a void, currently, of high-profile matchups between elite boxers in their primes. Anyway, this is a trend that won’t stop until someone gets seriously hurt. That’s a scary and depressing thought, but you’re not wrong. Maybe there should be the age limit on sanctioned professional fights, I don’t know. I’m thinking after 50, it’s gotta be a FRIENDLY exhibition. HOLYFIELD AND THE TRILLER DEBATE Hi Doug, Maybe the consensus for your mailbag readers is to ignore Triller events and pretend debacles like Holyfield vs. Belfort don’t exist (if we pretend, they don’t exist, they can’t hurt us!), but I have to express my disgust and sadness somewhere. What happened last night interfered with some of my most cherished memories, not just of boxing, but of family. I know I’m not the only person who feels this way, but here’s my story. I was raised in Ireland in the nineties. Boxing was my dad’s favourite sport, so it became mine too. While my friends and classmates were learning the names of their favourite soccer players, I was getting familiar with names like Tyson, Bruno, Lewis, and Holyfield. My dad and I would talk about boxing often and he would tell me about how heavyweight fighters of the 90s era compared to the likes of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Those conversations would spark a lifelong curiosity about the lineage of boxing champions and the evolution of the sport.

Holyfield (left) on his way to stopping Mike Tyson in their first fight. Photo from The Ring archive Between the years of 1996 and 1999, my dad and my brothers would stay up until 5am to watch Evander Holyfield face Mike Tyson (twice) and Lennox Lewis (twice). These are some of my favourite memories of spending time with family. Coming in as an underdog in the first fight with Tyson (which a lot of people forget was the fight of the year), most fans expected Holyfield to get finished early. Even back then, many felt that he was past his prime. But Holyfield won and it left an impression on me. It was the first time I ever witnessed an athlete defy the odds and public sentiment so dramatically, and I was a big fan from that point on. A few years later, in 2003, me and dad watched the highlights of Evander Holyfield getting outboxed, outfoxed, and stopped by a resurgent James Toney. We watched these highlights in my dad’s hospital room as doctors and nurses helped to make him comfortable during his final days. It was a very sobering moment for me as a young man, witnessing the deterioration (albeit in different ways) of these two men that I held in such high regard. A few days later, Dad passed away at the age of 58 years old. This weekend, at the age of 58 years old, Evander Holyfield got back into the ring. You can say it was free will. But everybody knows Holyfield’s primary motivation: he needs money, and that need was exploited by some unscrupulous industry newcomers. I know that boxing has always been a colourful business that attracts chancers, crooks, and gangsters. But the people running Triller bring their own special brand of moral bankruptcy to the table. To throw the nearly 60-year-old Holyfield into the ring with a much younger pitbull (who’s had PED controversies in the past) on just a few days’ notice reflects the level of irresponsibility that Triller operates at. And in the end, Holyfield was just an afterthought. It was all to lure Jake Paul back into a mega-money event. I imagine I’m not the only fight fan that was enraged with this insane main event. And while I hope Evander got paid a truckload of cash (an 18-wheeler!), I also hope that nobody reading your mailbag supported that Triller card, Doug. These people clearly don’t care about real boxing fans, so I’m very interested to see what kind of numbers they pulled in this weekend. Do they even know who their target demo is? Regardless, I’m certain that the complete moral bankruptcy on display at Triller will eventually result in its financial bankruptcy. Keep up the great work, Doug! – Kevin, (Based in Vancouver but from Dublin) Thank you, Kevin, I will do my best. And thank you for sharing those very special and painful memories of your father with the Mailbag column. I can understand how it was extra heartbreaking for you to witness The Real Deal get treated like a rag doll (during and after the Triller Fight Club main event). Sometimes boxing is so cruel to its heroes that I just can’t stomach it. I’ve never watched Holmes-Ali or Norris-Leonard or Joppy-Duran for that reason, and I never will. I love the sport too much to allow the dark side of it and the ruthless elements of the business make me hate it. Having said that, I have no problem with anyone who paid $50 to watch Saturday’s s__t show. It’s their money. If they want to ball-up five $10 bills and cram ’em up their asses that’s their prerogative. God Bless ’em! Also, while I understand your outrage, I don’t want to see Triller go out of business. I’m not a fan of the Fight Club “Legends” exhibitions, but it’s good for boxing to have another platform for legitimate matchups to be showcased on. Here in the U.S., just having Showtime, FOX, ESPN/ESPN+ and DAZN isn’t enough accommodate all the fighters who are deserving of network exposure (and those platforms don’t work with enough promoters). It’s great that we’ve also got Ring City USA on NBC Sports Net and UFC Fight Pass, but it’s not enough. The TrillerVerz Tuesday night fights series kicked off with a well-received show headlined by heavyweight contender Michael Hunter at the Hulu Theater inside MSG on Aug. 3 and it continues tomorrow with what looks like a very solid card in Hollywood, Florida. That show has fighters from Miguel Cotto Promotions, Golden Boy, Thompson Boxing and Banner Promotions, and RDR Promotions, among others; and the matchups are legit: Undefeated (15-0) Puerto Rican up-and-comer Danielito Zorrilla vs. heavy handed Mexican veteran Pablo Cesar Cano is the quintessential crossroads bout at 140 pounds. There’s a scheduled lightweight match between once-beaten prospects Michael Dutchover (15-1) and Nahir Albright (13-1). There’s also a Mexican power puncher I’m familiar with from recent Thompson Boxing promotions named Miguel Madueno (24-0, with 22 KOs), who might just be “must-see TV.” I skipped Holyfield-Belfort but I’m more than happy to shell out $2.99 for a one-month pass to watch TrillerVerz on Fite.TV and I hope they’re able to continue the monthly Tuesday night series (if they keep up the quality matchmaking). I’m also curious to see what they do with the Oct. 4 Triller PPV topped with Teofimo Lopez vs. George Kambosos.   THOUGHTS ON OSCAR VALDEZ Hey Doug, Hope everything’s well with you. I decided for the first time ever to boycott a fight because of obvious reasons. I feel that if us boxing fans want change, we need to show it with our money not with words. In the end, Twitter, boxing forums and discussion boards are mostly a bunch of biased fanboys trying to defend their guy no matter what they’ve done, right or wrong. Posting and trying to win an argument there makes absolutely no difference, so I decided to use the only power I have to make my opinion count: my hard-earned cash. I admit that at first, I was outraged by the fact that Valdez tested positive. He was becoming my favorite Mexican fighter and was excited to see him fight, so I felt sad and angry to see him fail a test. After I calmed down and saw exactly what he tested positive for I decided to inform myself a little bit more. I read everything that was reported by The Ring including both Dan Rafael’s article and the VADA response by Dr. Margaret Goodman, also read Tweets by Mr. Coppinger and Victor Conte’s opinion about the subject and came to my own conclusion: there’s a reason VADA prohibits these kinds of stimulants in and out of competition. And as Dr. Goodman said, I won’t get into that, we can all find it on the internet if we want to. Now, since I didn’t watch the fight, I won’t get into all this robbery thing. From what I’m reading it seems fans were looking for reasons for them to score against Valdez just because they wanted him to lose rather than score the fight appropriately. Media I trust like you and Steve Kim (and others) scored the fight for Valdez calling it how you saw it while fans are screaming robbery. The main thing here is that Oscar Valdez’s reputation was hurt a lot more during this whole fight camp than any loss inside the ring would have hurt him. If he did do this on purpose or trusted someone when he took these supplements, he will forever regret that decision. From now on, at least from a group of people, he will forever be looked on as a cheater. That’s a knockdown way more difficult to climb up from than any other. I feel it’s easier to forgive a guy that comes out and admits his wrong doings rather than make up stuff like the herbal tea story. People can apologize and people forgive. If you don’t believe this look at how Mike Tyson is looked at today.  He was a convicted rapist, bit off a guy’s ear, admitted faking his tests in his own book, did all sort of nasty things in the last third of his career, threatened to eat Lennox Lewis children and now he’s everybody’s Teddy Bear. America forgives, there’s a lot of proof out there (Tiger Woods anybody?). We’re humans and make mistakes. I’m sure Valdez is learning from whatever he did, knowingly or not. One of the biggest things I’ve learned in recent years is to take responsibility of my acts and stop blaming results on others; stop making excuses. Guys need to man up and face the problems they created and stop making excuses or blaming others for it. Ever since I did that I managed to improve because I was able to identify mistakes I was making; things I blamed on external things were now clearer to me and I was able to change them and improve. If Oscar wants to turn things around, he really needs to do some soul searching, see where things went wrong and change that. He’s still young and can still change the narrative. As of right now, I’ll continue to put my money where my mouth is. Thanks Doug. – Juan Valverde, Chula Vista That’s the right thing to do, Juan, just don’t forget to use some of that money to support VADA. If it wasn’t for Dr. Goodman’s testing organization, pretty much every active high-profile boxer would be able to claim they’re “clean” because they passed the sub-standard state commission PED tests. Nine out of 10 times when we hear about a positive drug test in boxing, it’s a VADA test. I admit that at first, I was outraged by the fact that Valdez tested positive. He was becoming my favorite Mexican fighter and was excited to see him fight, so I felt sad and angry to see him fail a test. Valdez went from hero to zero with that positive test and the way he and his team handled it. All the fans he earned with his sensational performance and stoppage against Miguel Berchelt has been flushed down the toilet. As of now, and for the foreseeable future, he’s got the “The Mexican They Love to Hate” title that was created for Antonio Margarito and eventually passed on to his superstar stablemate Canelo. After I calmed down and saw exactly what he tested positive for I decided to inform myself a little bit more. I hope other fans – and, more importantly, boxers – did the same thing. It sucks when fighter pop positive, but it’s always an opportunity for those fighters and the boxing world to bone up on whatever “The Banned Substance of the Month” is. I read everything that was reported by The Ring including both Dan Rafael’s article and the VADA response by Dr. Margaret Goodman, also read Tweets by Mr. Coppinger and Victor Conte’s opinion about the subject and came to my own conclusion: there’s a reason VADA prohibits these kinds of stimulants in and out of competition. There shouldn’t be “out-of-competition” lists. If it’s a performance enhancer, it needs to stay out of the bodies of combat athletes. Now, since I didn’t watch the fight, I won’t get into all this robbery thing. It was a close fight.

Valdez vs. Conceição. Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images From what I’m reading it seems fans were looking for reasons for them to score against Valdez just because they wanted him to lose rather than score the fight appropriately. Hey, that’s how it goes when you’re “The Mexican They Love to Hate,” but in fairness to Robson Conceicao, the Brazilian boxed very well for much of the fight, especially the first half. But Valdez came on strong over the second half, landing the more effective punches in most of the rounds. That bogus point deduction didn’t help the challenger (I guess the ref and the official judges didn’t get the memo that Valdez is the TMTLTH). The main thing here is that Oscar Valdez’s reputation was hurt a lot more during this whole fight camp than any loss inside the ring would have hurt him. No doubt about it. His image would have fared much better if he’d admitted he f__ked up, apologized to his fans, his team, his management, promoter, the WBC, the tribal commission in Tucson, and then signed up for extensive VADA testing for the next three-to-six months. And if he got through that period without a positive, return to the ring as humbly as possible. I feel it’s easier to forgive a guy that comes out and admits his wrong doings rather than make up stuff like the herbal tea story. I agree, but what if that really is what he believes? People can apologize and people forgive. They can. They don’t always do so, but hopefully most can. If you don’t believe this look at how Mike Tyson is looked at today. He was a convicted rapist, bit off a guy’s ear, admitted faking his tests in his own book, did all sort of nasty things in the last third of his career, threatened to eat Lennox Lewis children and now he’s everybody’s Teddy Bear. Yeah, but that didn’t happen overnight, Juan. Tyson was “The N__ga They Love to Hate” for 10-15 years. The American public began to mellow on him as he began to mellow out with age (and a LOT of marijuana). But his brutal honesty (especially when he aimed it at himself) has always been a part of his appeal. I don’t think you can compare other boxers with Tyson, who was a bona fide global superstar. The public likes to see celebrities fall, but they also enjoy redemption stories among the famous. Read the full article

[wazafam]

When a cast member leaves Saturday Night Live, they can either disappear into obscurity and occasionally return to the show to do a fan-favorite impression – which is the most common path – or become a huge A-list movie star like Eddie Murphy or Bill Murray – which is rare, for obvious reasons.

RELATED: SNL: 10 Best Movie Parodies

A bunch of immensely talented performers in the latter category, from Mike Myers to Chris Rock to Adam Sandler, came to prominence in the 1990s. Some of the funniest comedies of the ‘90s starred Saturday Night Live cast members (and one of them was directly adapted from a recurring SNL sketch).

10 Tommy Boy (1995)

Chris Farley was close with all his SNL castmates, but perhaps none more than David Spade. The duo united for Tommy Boy, the tale of a slacker’s attempts to save his family’s business with the help of a snooty accountant after his dad dies.

Farley and Spade’s chemistry proved to be so electric that they reteamed for another comedy, Black Sheep, but it was nowhere near as well-received as Tommy Boy.

9 The Wedding Singer (1998)

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore have made a few romcoms together over the years, but their most memorable collaboration is still their first, The Wedding Singer.

Sandler plays the titular wedding singer and Barrymore plays a bride-to-be that he falls for. The Wedding Singer is one of Sandler’s sweetest, most grounded movies.

8 Analyze This (1999)

Harold Ramis’ Analyze This stars Billy Crystal (who hosted SNL before becoming a cast member) as a psychiatrist and Robert De Niro as the mob boss who he befriends after an unfortunate chance encounter.

Co-written by Ramis and Manchester by the Sea’s Kenneth Lonergan, Analyze This is a delightfully dark comedic romp. SNL legend Molly Shannon also appears in a supporting role.

7 Dogma (1999)

Kevin Smith’s controversial, but affectionate religious satire Dogma stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck at the height of their Good Will Hunting fame as a pair of fallen angels who discover a loophole that can get them back into Heaven.

Since the success of their plan would prove God to be fallible and make all of existence moot, everybody in the universe is determined to stop them. SNL cast members Chris Rock and Janeane Garofalo appear alongside such icons as Salma Hayek, Alan Rickman, and George Carlin in the movie’s star-studded ensemble cast.

6 Rushmore (1998)

Wes Anderson wrote the role of industrialist Herman Blume in his second movie Rushmore with Bill Murray in mind, but didn’t expect him to take it. Murray read the script and was so impressed with Anderson’s vision that he not only took the role; he’s appeared in all of Anderson’s movies since.

RELATED: 10 Funniest Quotes From Rushmore

Murray stars alongside Jason Schwartzman, who plays Blume’s prodigious 15-year-old friend Max Fischer, and Olivia Williams, who plays the schoolteacher they both fall for.

5 Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery (1997)

Mike Myers forced the 007 producers to rethink their strategy after ridiculing all the tropes and traditions of the Bond franchise in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. Myers’ hysterical title character mixes the style of Bond with ‘60s swinging culture.

Myers also plays the villainous Dr. Evil, a spot-on riff on megalomaniacal Bond baddies, and SNL’s Will Ferrell appears in a small role as one of his henchmen.

4 There’s Something About Mary (1998)

The Farrelly brothers brought their distinctively crass comedic sensibility to a love story with There’s Something About Mary. Cameron Diaz stars as “it” girl Mary, and Ben Stiller plays her high school prom date who wants to get back in touch with her. Unfortunately for him, just about every creep in America – including the private eye he hired to find her – is obsessed with Mary.

SNL cast member Chris Elliott plays Stiller’s seemingly harmless married friend who turns out to be Mary’s most dangerous stalker of all.

3 Groundhog Day (1993)

Bill Murray finds himself living the same day over and over again in Groundhog Day. He plays Phil Connors, a TV weatherman who gets stuck reliving his most painfully mundane assignment – covering the Groundhog Day celebrations in Punxsutawney – again and again.

RELATED: Groundhog Day: 5 Ways Phil Connors Is Bill Murray's Best Character (& 5 Alternatives)

After the initial fun wears off and he realizes the time loop won’t let him take his own life, Phil finds a new purpose in his life when he falls for his producer Rita (Andie MacDowell). Chris Elliott also appears in this one as Phil’s cameraman.

2 Happy Gilmore (1996)

While Adam Sandler’s breakout hit was Billy Madison, his first true classic – and the movie that solidified his status as a comedy superstar – was Happy Gilmore.

Sandler plays the title character, a hothead hockey player whose grandmother is being kicked out of her home. When he realizes his aggressive hockey tactics can be transferred to the golf course, Happy enters a tournament in the hopes of using the prize money to buy back his grandma’s house.

1 Wayne’s World (1992)

Mike Myers and Dana Carvey first introduced the world to Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar in a recurring SNL sketch, but the subsequent movie adaptation showed audiences their lives outside their public access show Wayne’s World.

With plenty of fourth-wall-breaking and no regard for realism, Wayne��s World is a ton of fun. Along with The Blues Brothers, it’s one of the only bona fide classic feature-length comedies adapted from an SNL sketch.

NEXT: SNL: 10 Great '80s Comedies Starring Cast Members

SNL: 10 Best '90s Comedies Starring Cast Members | ScreenRant from https://ift.tt/3c5jBL3

[womenofcolor15]

Whitney Houston & The Notorious B.I.G. Land First Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Nominations

Whitney Houston and The Notorious B.I.G. have been nominated to be inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the first time. More inside...

Two of our musical icons have been nominated to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The late Whitney Houston and the late Notorious B.I.G. (real name Christopher Wallace) have been nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s class of 2020. And it’s the first time either of the artists have been considered to be inducted.

The incredible singer and dope lyricist were nominated alongside Rufus featuring Chaka Khan. The band members include Dennis Belfield, Al Ciner, Andre Fischer, Chaka Khan, Tony Maiden, Nate Morgan, Kevin Murphy, Ron Stockert, and Bobby Watson. This is the band's fourth nomination.

The rest of the nominees are Pat Benatar, Dave Matthews Band, Depeche Mode, the Doobie Brothers, Judas Priest, Kraftwerk, MC5, Motörhead, Nine Inch Nails, Todd Rundgren, Soundgarden, T. Rex, and Thin Lizzy.

In order to be eligible, the artists need to have released their first single or album at least 25 years ago – 1994 or earlier.

The 2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held at Cleveland’s Public Auditorium on May 2, 2020.

  Introducing your #RockHall2020 Nominees

Your voice, your vote: Let us know who you think deserves to be a #RockHall2020 Inductee. Join our @KlipschAudio Fan Vote and vote now on @Google: https://t.co/KyAG5RECrk pic.twitter.com/cfMd43zNRo

— Rock Hall (@rockhall) October 15, 2019

  In order to get Whitney and Biggie in the 2020 class, you must vote! Starting today and continuing through January 20, 2020, you can vote for the YBF artists on RockHall.com, searching on Google by typing "Rock Hall Fan Vote" or any nominee name, or at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame museum in Cleveland.

The five artists with the most votes will make up a "fans' ballot" that will be counted along with the voting committee's ballots.

Let’s get our musical legends in the prestigious music museum. Because they deserve.

Photo: Getty/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Twitter

[Read More ...] source http://theybf.com/2019/10/15/whitney-houston-the-notorious-big-land-first-rock-roll-hall-of-fame-nominations

[rickhorrow]

15+5+5 To Watch 52719

RICK HORROW’S TOP SPORTS/BIZ/TECH/PHILANTHROPY ISSUES FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 27, 2019 with Jacob Aere

1. The French Open is underway, and Roland Garros has gotten some work done. Immediately after last year’s tournament, Court Philippe-Chatrier, one of tennis’ most storied arenas, was stripped to its foundation. Over 80% of the existing center court was destroyed to rebuild the stands and create better fan and media experience. In 2019, Roland Garros is also expanding its footprint from 850 acres to 1,250 acres, and debuts a new set of courts, including a 5,000-seat “greenhouse” arena, named Court Simonne-Mathieu after France’s best female player of the 1930s. In 2020, a retractable roof will be put on Chatrier leading to night sessions at the French Open for the first time in 2021 – a move that is expected to generate 100,000-150,000 more ticket sales over the tournament fortnight. In 2024, the site will host the tennis competition at the Summer Olympics. The need for a roof has long been a factor in the French Open’s profitability and product consistency. The 2016 tournament, for example, was dubbed the “Drench Open” after days of play, and international broadcasting hours, were lost to rain.

2. As Roland Garros expands its footprint, it has also embarked on an ambitious plan toexpand its brand. According to Tennis magazine, “In an initiative reminiscent of France’s quest to keep its language alive, the French Tennis Federation is working to keep its surface, la terre battue, at the forefront of the sport.” To that end, the newly-conceived Roland Garros will emphasize its status as the mecca of clay, and work to make its name synonymous with the surface. In 2017, the federation began stamping prominent clay court facilities around the world as official “Roland Garros” clubs, including sponsoring competitions at the centers. In China, tennis’ largest emerging market, the French Open also signed a deal with a Chinese broadcaster in 2017, and stamped a club in the city of Nanchang, which has 11 clay courts, with its Roland Garros label. This year, the Parisian tournament also signed a sponsorship deal with Rolex, which has helped Wimbledon turn itself into a luxury brand over the last 40 years. Look for a similar effort on Roland Garros’ behalf in the future.

3. The NBA has been named the most popular sports league in China in a recent survey undertaken by Ampere Analysis. According to SportsPro, the English Premier League and Uefa Champions League ranked second and third respectively, in the report that conducted research with Chinese internet users. Alexios Dimitropoulos, senior analyst at Ampere, said: “In China, the NBA already boasts one of the country’s largest television rights contracts and that’s why the competition tours China and plays league matches locally.” Chinese soccer’s top flight, the Chinese Super League (CSL), did not make the list’s top ten even though attendances at its fixtures continue to break the 40,000 mark. The survey also showed that Chinese sports fans are younger than the national average with around 65% of sports fans aged 44 or younger. Following the NBA and Premier League and Champions League, the top ten most popular sports leagues were: the FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games, La Liga, Serie A,World Table Tennis Championships, Uefa European Championships, and the Fiba Basketball World Cup. Not surprisingly, Ampere conducted similar research in 20 markets and China was the only one where table tennis appeared in the top ten most popular sports.

4. The Padres and Diamondbacks have agreed to play a series in Mexico City in the summerof 2020. The Padres last played in Mexico in May 2018; it was a three-game series against the Dodgers in Monterrey. According to the San Diego Union Tribune, the 2020 series in Mexico City is "expected to be played at El Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu." This year’s international calendar included two MLB series in Monterrey: Cardinals-Reds in April and Astros-Angels earlier in May. In addition to Mexico, the MLB has played games in Australia, Japan, and Puerto Rico ahead of next month's Yankees-Red Sox London Series, which will mark the sport's first regular-season contests in Europe. Next year's London Series will feature the Cubs and the Cardinals, leading the Chicago Sun-Times’ Rick Morrissey to wonder, "Why would Major League Baseball waste a perfectly good Cubs-Cardinals series on a country that cares for the game about as much as it cares for the way we spell color, labor and humor?" You could have made the same argument for the NFL, but more than a decade later, that league’s London series has done nothing but grow. MLB, take note.

5. The Big Ten conference recorded nearly $759 million in revenue for the 2018 financial year. This figure represents a year-on-year revenue increase of 48% for the Big Ten and exceeds any comparable annual figure amongst its NCAA rivals. A major factor is this boosted revenue is Big Ten’s new television rights deals which resulted in payments of around $54 million to the 12 longest-standing schools of the conference’s 14 teams. Maryland and Rutgers received smaller revenue share amounts but this was topped up with loans from Big Ten against future revenue shares. Compared to other NCAA athletic conferences, the Big Ten is way ahead in terms of revenue. The SEC reported revenues of around $660 million for 2018, with an average of $43.7 million afforded to each of its 13 member schools. The Big 12’s revenues didn’t even reach half the value that the Big Ten generated, with the conference securing $374 million for 2018. TV rights remain king, as shown by the Big 10 data and the recent announcement that Conference USA has made a 4-year deal with the NFL Network for a 10-game package of C-USA football games.

6. Indy 500 has a new broadcast partner: NBC. Viewership for the crown jewel of American racing events has been on a steady decline since 2015, but all of that may change with a new partnership. All IndyCar broadcasts will now be shown on NBC networks and will cover the racing series with improved marketing and a bigger approach to race-day coverage. According to Indianapolis Business Journal, the network has run dozens of IndyCar ads since March — many for the Indy 500 – and TV ratings have been up. IndyCar ads have been running during other major sporting events such as the Kentucky derby and the NHL Playoffs with a new approach to grab some more casual viewers. Thank to the new partnership, viewership is up 21% for the first four races. Under NBC’s contract, eight IndyCar races will be on broadcast TV this season, up from five last year on ABC. Indy has started to also market to a younger demographic as the sport owns one of the oldest audiences across all major us-sports; to date, its has been paying dividends.

7. The 2019 NBA playoffs have been lacking in action and ratings. According to The Atlantic, this year’s playoffs started on April 13 and won’t end until sometime in June making it roughly as long as Major League Baseball and the National Football League's playoffs, COMBINED. Through the first two weeks of the 2019 postseason, the rating numbers were down by 18 percent. One reason for the decline is the absence of now Laker, Lebron James, who missed the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade. However, the boost of second round ratings, which were the highest TV numbers since 2012, indicate that fans are still compelled to tune in to more competitive matchups. Another issue with extended playoffs is the stress and fatigue it puts on the players: the Golden State Warriors won their last series against the Portland Trail Blazers without Kevin Durant due to injury. Although adding extra games may draw in more money for the league, the long term effects of losing fans to “boring” playoffs may seriously hurt. The NBA may need to start looking into reverting to the previous 5 game format for first round basketball playoffs to help quell the extensive playoffs or potentially give a bye-round to the top ranked teams in each division.

8. The NHL Stanley Cup is here and it has ignited a rivalry from the iconic mockumentary The Office. Jim and Pam are at each others necks over hockey – well at least the actors John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer who play the characters in the show. Krasinski is a Bostonian and huge Bruins fan while Fischer is from Fort Wayne, Indiana yet is an avid fan of the St. Louis Blues. The Blues clinched their spot in the Stanley Cup Final after a Game 6 win over the San Jose Sharks, which means they’ll face the Boston Bruins in a rematch of the 1970 series where the Bruins swept their opponents on the back of Bobby Orr. According to USA Today, NBC Boston’s Twitter even caught word of the two actors exchanging tweets at one another over the upcoming series. The NHL playoffs have been exciting and by engaging A-list celebrities, the sport may gain a few new fans this Stanley Cup.

9. The lack of Tiger Woods dominating at the PGA Championship hurts TV ratings. Even though Brooks Koepka has been sensational, all that the mass media seems to want is the man who has overcome numerous odds to put himself back at the top among other big names. According to Forbes, Tiger Woods sealed the first-place finish at the Augusta National last month with his career earnings now sitting over $1.5 billion thanks to 15 major championships and 5 Masters wins. The problem is that Koepka doesn’t command the superstar personality that drove in the best ratings for any morning golf telecast in 34 years after Tiger won Augusta. Koepka doesn’t soak in the limelight quite like Woods; something other leagues like the MLB has seen with their superstar Mike Trout. For now, Koepka has taken home another crown at the PGA Championship while the ratings for the event were among the lowest in the past 25 years; even second round playoff basketball performed better than the game on the green.

10. The Blues win the West to create a rematch 49 years in the making for the NHL. The St. Louis Blues are marching into the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in decades and have revived expectations for the team in the midwest. The Blues were one of the bottom teams in the NHL as of January 3 and now they are in the Stanley Cup Finals. According to The Star, the turnaround came after Craig Berube replaced Mike Yeo as coach in November and Binnington took over as the starting goaltender in January. St. Louis has went 0-12 in its three previous Stanley Cup appearances. The last time these two teams met in the Stanley Cup, the Blues dropped the series 0-4 with an enshired goal from a flying Bobby Orr that is still one of the greatest hockey pictures of all time. The Bruins are the likely favorite to win the cup after having come in second overall in the regular season. The St. Louis Blues are the oldest active team to never have a Stanley Cup win and in a year where the improbable has happened for a last place team entering 2019, a win against the Bruins could seal one of the greatest turnarounds of all time.

11. UEFA aims to change perceptions of women’s soccer with new marketing and recruitment strategies. The ‘Time for Action’ strategy will invest in programmes from grassroots to professional level and will take an aim to change the perception of women’s soccer across the globe. UEFA also hopes to double the reach and value of the Women’s Champions League and Women’s European Championship, as well as double the number of females on all UEFA bodies by 2024 to 2.5 million. According to Sports Pro, UEFA has been making concerted efforts to improve the women’s game in recent years, including boosting its funding for the women’s soccer development program by 50 percent as of 2020. With the Women’s World Cup set to kick off on June 7, it is a perfect time to announce a long overdue interest in the women’s side of soccer.

12. NBA Playoffs help to display big tech and provide a glimpse into the future of sports in Seattle. Seattle is getting an NHL franchise and a high-tech arena in 2021. According to GeekWire, tech executives from companies based in the Pacific Northwest have been attending private VIP events for potential season ticket holders. Meanwhile, during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at Oracle Arena, Google displayed its voice assistant to help “turn down the lights,” play music, and provide stats for the Golden State Warriors. After the game, all 19,596 fans walked away with a free Google Home Mini device. At $1 million, it was hailed as “the largest and most valuable giveaway of a Google product at a live sporting event in history.” Silicon Valley plays a big role in the Warriors’ success as players like Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Jonas Jerebko all noted the region’s forward thinking as a partial reason they chose to play with the team; they all have investments in a range of tech ventures. Looking at the success of the Warriors, the new NHL team in Seattle would provide an opportunity for the region’s tech companies, like Amazon and Microsoft, to further plunge into sports.

13. Women’s World Cup tickets have have a major hiccup. According to The Washington Post, many fans who purchased seats were unaware of the fact that their seats were grouped in different rows. Upset fans rushed FIFA’s website to double-check their seats and observers criticized how world soccer’s governing body treats the women’s side of the sport. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of fans who purchased multiple World Cup tickets will not be able to sit with the other members of their groups, and it’s not clear if FIFA knows how many ticket orders are affected. To try and cover up the blunder, a tweet from the Women’s World Cup account on Monday said that “a message indicating not all seats would be located next to each other did appear” before fans purchased tickets online. For any families with young children, the organizations said it would attempt to help families sit together. Although FIFA says that the situation only affects 1% of fans, international soccer aficionados may have to brace for a slight disruption to their World Cup plans.

14. The NFL draft is headed to Cleveland in 2021 and Kansas City in 2023. In conjunction with the relocation of the Oakland Raiders and opening of their new stadium, the 2020 draft was awarded to Las Vega. Now, the Browns will be celebrating their 75th anniversary with the draft events taking place around FirstEnergy Stadium in 2021. According to ESPN, the Kansas City Chiefs plan to host the draft near Union Station and the National World War I Museum and Memorial for their draft in 2023. Since last holding the draft in the traditional New York location in 2014, the NFL has taken the event on the road to five different cities. The league still has not moved on bids for the 2022 draft, saying about 20 cities are interested in hosting that year. This year’s draft in Nashville, Tennessee had more than 600,000 people attend over the three days which marks a dramatic increase from 250,000 in Arlington the year prior.

15. NASCAR acquires ISC for $2B with a dozen more tracks. NASCAR announced the $2 billion purchase of International Speedway Corp. which will give it control of key racetracks and set itself up for sweeping changes that could save America’s popular racing series which has been in decline for several years. This deal should close by year’s end. ISC is one of two major facilities companies that host NASCAR races, along with Speedway Motorsports Inc. According to AP News, NASCAR gaining control of a dozen tracks would seemingly make it easier for the racing league to alter its schedule, including the possibility of hosting fewer events in order to maximize its profit. The parent company of Speedway Motorsports made an offer last month to acquire all its outstanding common stock, which would privatize SMI and make it better positioned for an anticipated NASCAR overhaul. Many big sponsors have left NASCAR in recent years — Cup Series title sponsor Monster Energy is in the final year of its deal — and television ratings hit all-time lows at 26 events last season. Because NASCAR is a private company it won't have to publicly report attendance revenue and other financials allowing the company more leeway in their attempt to rebuild the iconic racing series.

Tech Top Five

1. OTT platform FuboTV and FanDuel form a sports wagering partnership in New Jersey. According to Deadline, the deal makes FanDuel the exclusive sportsbook, online casino, exclusive advertiser, and horse racing and daily fantasy sports partner of the live TV streaming service. It will also expand FuboTV’s sports offering for consumers when FanDuel’s betting data is integrated on the Fubo platform. Initially, odds and other gambling information will only be added to the mix in New Jersey, though general sports data will be integrated more broadly afterward. Additionally the TVG and TVG2 horse racing networks affiliated with FanDuel will be available to Fubo subscribers nationwide, joining the 90-plus channels in the $55-a-month base package. TVG2 will be on the Sports Plus tier, which brings more than 20 additional channels for an extra $9 a month. This is huge as it is the first real push for a OTT sports platform to incorporate sports wagering into its properties and could open the floodgates for others to follow suit.

2. UC Irvine esports will star on an ESPN 2 series. UCI’s esports organization is the focus of a four-part documentary series called Good Game: UC Irvine. The mini series follows UCI’s varsity computer gaming team in the lead-up to their national title defense in the 2019 League of Legends College Championship. According to UCI News, the team competed in the Riot Games LCS Battle Arena in west Los Angeles May 23-26. The footage is honest: film crews accompanied UCI Anteater video gamers studying, practicing and working with team member support staff, and they even followed players into their dorms and families’ homes. The 2018-2019 collegiate championship featured more than 350 university teams competing for a million dollars in scholarship money from LoL developer Riot Games. By documenting esports on television it helps to introduce different demographics to competitive gaming.

3. The NHL will air virtual reality highlights of the Stanley Cup. The National Hockey League has partnered with NextVR to offer fans free, on-demand virtual reality game highlights of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final between the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues. According to Sports Pro, fans will be able to access highlights by using the NextVR app through a dedicated Stanley Cup Final channel. Already, NextVR has partnered with the NHL to bring VR highlights of the NHL All-Star Game and Stanley Cup playoffs this year. Now, NextVR will comes to the Stanley Cup with the added bonus of the ‘Goalie Experience’ which will puts fans in the skates of goalkeepers on the ice, allowing them to see and experience through the eyes of NHL stars during a game. By offering more ways to experience a NHL game, the league will be able to attract a more diverse array of fans – especially younger demographics who tend prefer shorter, engaging videos.

4. Jack in the Box meets esports via players on the Dallas Fuel. According to The Drum, Big-headed Jack is now an animated character in a web series in support of the esports team Dallas Fuel. To bring the organization and team closer to its players, a six-part animated web series called ‘Fuel-House’ places the esports in a 90s sitcom-style world, introducing the characters as they deal with living in the same house with Jack. Each episode features specific themes related to the Dallas Fuel team, gaming and pop culture, aimed to relate to fans. New episodes drop each Sunday on multiple digital and social platforms like Gamespot, Reddit and Xbox. The web series was timed to coincide with the first Overwatch League stage held outside of its traditional home in Burbank, California where Jack in the Box brought Fuel House to the event with an interactive experience for fans. Jack in the Box is trying to leverage itself as a forward-thinking sponsor who is looking to make a name for itself in the rapidly growing marketing sector of esports.

5. Air Jordan drops its latest look in the videogame ‘Fortnite.’ In the past Fortnite has teamed up to collaborate with with Avengers: Endgame and John Wick. Now, ahead of the NBA Finals, basketball will take center court on the game that stormed the world nearly two years ago. According to Engadget, Nike will promote the Jordan brand via in-game items, centering on the classic Air Jordan 1. Unlike the recent movie-themed collaborations, Fortnite x Jordan won't focus on the game's main fight-to-the-death mechanics. Instead, Epic Games has launched a new Creative "Downtown Drop" world which requires players to "launch off massive jumps, grind down city streets and collect coins to win." Even though the Toronto Raptors won the Eastern Conference Finals, the Jordan brand will be the winner of the NBA in one of the world's most popular video games.

POS Top Five

1. One of the most charitable figures in the NFL is retiring. According to ESPN, Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive end Chris Long is calling it quits as the reigning Walter Payton Man of the Year after 11 years on the field. Long was a part of two Super Bowl championship teams in back-to-back seasons – with the New England Patriots in 2016 and then the Eagles in 2017. The son of NFL legend Howie Long will be defined by the way he used his NFL platform to maximize his humanitarian efforts. Through his organization, Waterboys, he has helped provide more than 200,000 people with clean water in Africa, building close to 60 water wells in Tanzania. Additionally, Long donated his entire 2017 salary to educational efforts in Virginia and a quarter of his 2018 salary to help get books into the hands of kids in underserved neighborhoods. With Long announcing his retirement over social media, he can now focus his efforts on charity alongside his wife to continue their community and global impact.

2. Charles Barkley pledges $45,000 for East Africa Clean Water Charity. According to Sports Illustrated, the NBA legend gave an assist to the Milwaukee Bucks’ Malcolm Brogdon during an appearance on TNT's Inside the NBA as he pledged to donate $45,000 to the guard's clean water initiative. Off the court, Brogdon created Hoops2o in 2018, a program dedicated to providing clean water to East Africa. Brogdon’s non-profit was actually founded by Chris Long and its efforts focus on building wells for clean water in East Africa and Tanzania. Brogdon personally travels overseas each summer to help out and has four other NBA players across the league who are helping him raise money for his initiative. The star power in the Raptors and Bucks series helped to highlight philanthropic initiatives such as Hoops2o which adds a new level of depth to the NBA Playoffs.

3. The Somerset Patriots baseball team are selling t-shirts for charity to highlight a viral catch from their broadcaster. Broadcaster Marc Schwartz’s narrated his own catch of a foul ball hit into his booth captured on film by Patriots beat writer Mike Ashmore of and it has since gone viral with millions of views around the world. The video has appeared on multiple MLB broadcasts, ESPN, CBS, ABC, FOX, NBC, Sports Illustrated, local network affiliates, and even Jimmy Kimmel Live and now a shirt has been made to honor the call. According to My Central Jersey, the front of the shirt quotes Schwartz and says “Boy am I impressive” with a cartoon version of Schwartz while the back says “I am very proud of myself” with the Somerset Patriots logo. These "Impressive" T-Shirts are $30 with $5 of every shirt going to the Somerset Patriots Children’s Foundation. The charitable work of the team’s foundation has raised over $5.5 million since the team began play in the Atlantic League in 1998. Marc Schwartz catapulted himself from small ball fame to MLB stardom while helping to raise money for educational, military, and health programs across New Jersey.

4. CC Sabathia’s charity softball game brings together stars in New York. Aaron Judge, Michael Strahan and other notables like Didi Gregorius, Tino Martinez, Action Bronson, Tiki Barber, Johnny Damon, and Aroldis Chapman joined in for CC Sabathia’s second annual charity softball game hosted in the Bronx. According to Feeling the Vibe, team Michael Strahan took on Team CC Sabathia and came out victors by a score of 8-2 with all proceeds being sent to the PitCChIn Foundation led by CC and his wife Amber and the New York Yankees Foundation. The Sabathia’s charity runs multiple initiatives that span baseball clinics, delivering backpacks to kids in need and renovating baseball fields. On the other hand, the Yankees Foundation has done everything from helping a teacher in need of supplies, to refurbishing a neighborhood sports facility, giving $500,000 for Hurricane Sandy relief, or providing assistance in Haiti and Japan. CC Sabathia is a veteran presence on a now young and injured Yankees roster and his leadership is felt both during and outside of game time.

5. Nike is launching an official guide to sustainability for brands. Nike recently partnered with Central Saint Martins to create a manual for designers that lays out the principles for materials that can be indefinitely recycled called circular design. The company has also has researched case studies from companies that have done groundbreaking work on these fronts including Patagonia, Outerknown, For Days, and Eileen Fisher. According to Fast Company, Nike’s guide is deliberately formatted as a kind of textbook. It lays out 10 principles that take you through the life of a product, including elements like picking low-impact materials, designing with recyclability in mind, minimizing waste in manufacturing, prolonging the lifetime of a product through repair and durable construction, and using more thoughtful packaging. Nike is dropping this guide during the Copenhagen Fashion Summit, an annual gathering organized by the sustainability-minded Global Fashion Agenda. Although none of these steps are revolutionary to eco-friendly practices on their own, this outlines a plan for fit a comprehensive eco-friendly system which could potentially change the norm of the fashion and sports industries.

[savetopnow]

2018-03-13 06 CELEBRITY now

CELEBRITY

E!

Kris Jenner Laughs Off Rumors That Tyga Is Kylie Jenner's Real Baby Daddy

Cameron Diaz Has Not Retired From Acting, Selma Blair Clarifies

Meghan Markle Finally Follows Royal Family's Unofficial Pantyhose Protocol

Kelly Ripa's Son Is Totally Crushing on Ryan Seacrest's Girlfriend

Zendaya Reveals her Favorite Looks from her New Boohoo Campaign

Hollywood Life

‘American Idol’ Reboot: Where Is Everyone’s Favorite Dawg Randy Jackson?

East River Crash: Harrowing Video Of Smiling Passengers Posted Before Deadly Crash

March Madness: How To Watch Every Second Of The NCAA Tournament On TV & Online

Beyonce & JAY-Z Putting Family First On New Tour: They’re ‘Excited’ To Be Together 24/7

Selena Gomez & Justin Bieber: Why They Have No Plans To Make Their Relationship Red Carpet Official

Media Take Out

Desiigner Caught Taking A PIZZ On Someone’s House!! (PICS)

Comedian Sinbad Appears To Be SNITCHING On Russell Simmons . . . Says ‘MORE WOMEN’ Are Gonna Come Out With RAPE Claims!!!

Shirley Strawberry From Teh STEVE HARVEY RADIO SHOW . . . Is Being Sued . . . For Being a ‘DEADBEAT’!!

People

Laguna Beach Alum Alex Murrel Expecting Second Child — Another Boy!

Why Amy Schumer Is Not Taking Husband Chef Chris Fischer's Last Name

Christina Aguilera Hints at Music Collaboration with Demi Lovato: 'Great Things to Come'

Camila Cabello Says Touring with Taylor Swift and Charli XCX Will Be ‘Like a Big Slumber Party’

Blake Shelton Jokes That Artists on The Voice Pick Kelly Clarkson So She'll 'Stop Crying'

Perez Hilton

EXCLUSIVE! Sounds Like The Fosters Might Be Getting Another Spin-Off — With The Moms!!

Laguna Beach Stars Alex Murrel & Dieter Schmitz Are Each Expecting Babies — Let's Find Out What The Rest Of The Cast Is Up To Now!

Colin Firth's Wife's Alleged Stalker Claps Back At The Couple's Stalking Allegations — Says It's 'Just Not Right'!

John Stamos Got His FaceTime With That Adorable Little Girl Crushing On Him — And Aunt Becky Approved!

Taylor Swift's Delicate Music Video Features NUMEROUS Easter Eggs — Discover Them All HERE!

Popsugar

4 Significant Ways Oprah Winfrey Is Making the World a Better Place

John Krasinski and Emily Blunt Can't Keep Their Hands Off Each Other at SXSW

Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling, Relatable Humans, Can't Resist a Cheesy Slice of Pizza

We Can't Make Any Promises, but It Looks Like Taylor Swift's Boyfriend Was in Her "Delicate" Video

Kylie Jenner Shares New Photo of Her Daughter, Stormi, With Her BFF, Jordyn Woods

Reddit Entertainment

Mischa Barton Denies Crashing U-Haul Into Building.

The Bill Murray Stories’ Director Tommy Avallone Dissects Iconic Actor’s Strange Mythology — SXSW

These Kids Today: The Long History of Complaining About Violent Entertainment

Duffer Brothers Respond to ‘Stranger Things’ Verbal Abuse Claim

Black Athletes Have Started Celebrating Their Victories With the “Wakanda Forever” Salute from Black Panther

TMZ

Stormy Daniels Lets Strip Club Fans Get Up Close and Personal

CM Punk Returning to Octagon at UFC 225

Heather Locklear Will Escape Felony Charge in Domestic Violence Arrest

Christopher Darden Says O.J. Simpson's 'Confession' Special is Vindication

Nick Gordon's 911 Call Shows He Called Cops Himself and Cried Hysterically

The Shade Room

Package Explosions Kill Two Black People In Texas, Police Say They Are Linked & Race Could Be A Factor

#IssaPart2: Marvel Studio Confirms “Black Panther” Sequel!

Kylie Jenner Opens Up About Motherhood & Her Experiences With Baby Stormi

Juelz Santana Turns Himself In For Carrying Gun At Newark Airport

First Time In History Films With Black Directors Hold Top Two Spots At The Box Office

Us Weekly

Kate Middleton Color Coordinates with Meghan Markle for Commonwealth Day

Bachelor Winter Games’ Ashley I. and Kevin Wendt Split

RHOBH’s Dorit Kemsley Tells Camille Grammer to ‘Find a Hobby’ on Twitter

Chef Nancy Fuller’s Recipe for 'No Bake' St. Patrick's Day Cookies

[maxwellyjordan]

Tuesday round-up

Yesterday the court issued a unanimous opinion in Opati v. Sudan, holding that the current version of the terrorism exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act allows punitive damages for preenactment conduct. Amy Howe analyzes the opinion for this blog, in a post that first appeared at Howe on the Court. At Bloomberg Law, Kimberly Robinson reports that the ruling “revived a $4.3 billion punitive damage award against Sudan related to the twin al Qaeda bombings of U.S. embassies in East Africa in 1998.” Jess Bravin reports for The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) that “[t]he decision comes at a delicate time for relations between the U.S. and Sudan.” At The Washington Free Beacon, Kevin Daley reports that the ruling “will affect dozens of other lawsuits from victims seeking damages for acts of terror in the 1990s and early 2000s.”

The court also released orders from last week’s conference; it did not add any new cases to its merits docket for next term. This blog’s coverage of the order list comes from Amy Howe, in a post that first appeared at Howe on the Court. Jordan Rubin reports for Bloomberg Law that the justices “rejected three separate appeals involving the increasingly controversial doctrine of ‘qualified immunity,’ which shields law enforcement from liability for alleged rights violations—even egregious ones,” but that “[a]t least 10 other petitions addressing the issue remain pending on the high court’s docket.” For Capitol Media Services (via Tucson.com), Howard Fischer reports that the court “rebuffed Arizona’s request to rule that prosecutors are entitled to multiple attempts to convict someone of first-degree murder even after a jury effectively found the charge has no legal merit.”

Briefly:

Robert Barnes and Ann Marimow report for The Washington Post (subscription required) that “congressional lawyers told the Supreme Court on Monday” that “[a] House committee’s investigation of President Trump ‘did not cease with the conclusion of the impeachment trial,’ and it would be stymied if the Justice Department continues to withhold grand jury material.”

For The New York Times, Adam Liptak talks to Lyle Denniston, “the dean emeritus of the Supreme Court press corps” and a notable dissenter from the generally positive reception the court’s recent telephonic arguments have received, about Denniston’s objections to the new format.

At his eponymous blog, Denniston observes that “later this year, … the Supreme Court will make its first constitutional pronouncement since 1952 on the mechanics of the Electoral College”; “the chances seem slim, however, that it will say anything new that would point to the actual abandonment of that long-running experiment in ‘indirect election.’”

Also for the Times, Nicholas Casey reports that “[a]mong certain conservatives, an idea has started to take hold: Could Justice Clarence Thomas ever be the kind of pop-culture icon to his followers that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has become to hers?”

In an op-ed for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Daniel Cotter discusses last week’s Supreme Court news, including the final oral arguments of the term.

At The World and Everything in It (podcast), Mary Reichard unpacks the argument in Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru, in which the court considered the scope of the “ministerial exception” to federal employment discrimination laws.

In an episode of NPR’s Politics podcast, Tamara Keith, Nina Totenberg and others talk about what the Supreme Court may “say about the limits on a president’s ability to forestall investigations into his conduct.”

In a episode of Strict Scrutiny (podcast), Leah Litman and Kate Shaw “break down the major arguments in the presidential immunity and subpoena cases.”

In an essay available at SSRN, Nicholas Stephanopoulos argues thatRepublican National Committee v. Democratic National Committee, in which the Supreme Court blocked a lower court order extending the deadline for mailing absentee ballots in Wisconsin’s election because of the coronavirus pandemic, shows that “the current Court remains what I have called the anti-Carolene Court, implacably hostile to efforts to vindicate democratic values.”

We rely on our readers to send us links for our round-up. If you have or know of a recent (published in the last two or three days) article, post, podcast or op-ed relating to the Supreme Court that you’d like us to consider for inclusion in the round-up, please send it to roundup [at] scotusblog.com. Thank you!

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