Scatty.com

Category: Celebrities

5 Greatest Chicago Bears

Posted on by scatty

As the second oldest team in the NFL behind only the Cardinals, the Chicago Bears are among the most storied franchises in North American professional sports. With a history that has spanned over a century, there are bound to be plenty of eventual legends, including many Hall of Fame members to make their way through Chicago.

Out of the hundreds of people to don a Chicago Bears uniform, which ones rank among the best? It’s hard to narrow it down to just a handful, but we’ve picked the five best in Chicago Bears’ history. First, we’ll take a look at some of the members that almost made the list.

Honorable Mentions: Sid Luckman, Bill George, Brian Urlacher, Mike Singletary, Dan Hampton, Lance Briggs, Steve McMichael, Richard Dent

5. Mike Ditka

While most people from younger generations think of Mike Ditka as a coach or analyst, many forget that he was a tremendous player for the Bears, as well. Ditka was drafted with the fifth overall pick in 1961, playing his first six NFL seasons for the Bears. The tight end was an NFL Champion and four-time All-Pro in Chicago before ending his playing career with the Eagles and Cowboys.

Following his retirement, Ditka went into coaching with Dallas and remained there for nearly a decade before returning to the Bears sideline as the head coach. Ditka would win Super Bowl XX with one of the best football rosters ever assembled. Adding that to his playing career made Ditka a Bears legend.

4. Sid Luckman

Sid Luckman would change the game of football forever thanks to his passing ability during the first half of the 20th century. After attending Columbia, Luckman was drafted second overall by the Bears in 1939, and he played his entire career with the team. Luckman won four NFL Championships during that time, dominating the NFL.

Luckman led the NFL in passing three times and was a six-time All-Pro selection. His number 42 was retired by the Bears after his retirement, finishing with 137 touchdowns and nearly 15,000 career passing yards in an era where that was unheard of.

3. Gale Sayers

Known as the “Kansas Comet,” Gale Sayers didn’t have the longest career, but he put on a heck of a show during his NFL career. The fourth overall pick out of Kansas by the Bears, Sayers would play for seven seasons in Chicago, two of which he led the NFL in rushing yards.

Sayers set the rookie record for rushing touchdowns with 22 and is one of just three players to ever score six times in one game. Sayers was a five-time All-Pro selection who has his number 40 jersey retired by the Bears and was named to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

2. Dick Butkus

One of the most recognizable faces and, of course, names in the NFL belongs to Dick Butkus, the hardnosed linebacker that was a hometown hero. After growing up in Chicago, Butkus attended the University of Illinois and became the third overall selection in the 1965 NFL Draft. Butkus spent his entire career with the Bears and was a Pro Bowl selection in all but one of them.

Butkus was also an eight-time All-Pro and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. His number 51 jersey is retired by the Bears, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot.

1. Walter Payton

Many consider Walter Payton to be not just the greatest Chicago Bear of all time, but one of the greatest NFL players, too. “Sweetness” played all 13 of his NFL seasons with the Bears, and was an eight-time All-Pro that set a then-NFL record for career rushing yards with 16,726. Payton also won a Super Bowl (XX) and the Most Valuable Player Award (1977).

Perhaps the greatest part of Payton’s legacy is winning the NFL Man of the Year Award. Due to his philanthropic efforts, the award was named after Payton and is one of the most prestigious honors given by the NFL each year.

5 Premier League Stars Whose Careers Were Hampered By Injury

Posted on by scatty

There’s nothing quite as frustrating as a supporter than having a player that you know is among the best in the world, but never reaches their full potential due to a string of injuries. Fans of almost every Premier League team have been through that with at least one player, but watching some players deal with injuries can be more devastating because you knew they were once bound to be all-time greats.

Out of all of the players that have dealt with injuries throughout their careers in the Premier League, these five were the ones that seemed to be on their way to being legends, only to have setback after setback as they were hampered by injuries.

Owen Hargreaves

Canadian-born Owen Hargreaves made his way to Europe from North America as a teenager, entering Bayern Munich’s youth system in 1997. He would begin his professional career with Bayern, as well, and after lengthy negotiations, he would join Manchester United in 2007 in one of the most anticipated transfers ever.

The injury problems for Hargreaves began before he even suited up for Man U, though. In the year leading up to his joining the squad, Hargreaves was dealing with several minor injuries and then broke his leg, which never fully recovered. Hargreaves then dealt with painful patellar tendinitis and had some of the worst knees that doctors had ever seen. Physicians attempted to help Hargreaves, but there was no recovery in sight and he retired in 2011 with just 29 EPL appearances.

Jack Wilshere

There is perhaps no great example of a great career that was derailed by injury quite like Jack Wilshere’s. While coming up through Arsenal’s youth academy, Wilshire was one of the finest midfield prospects that some had ever seen. He made his senior club debut in 2008 and appeared in a total of 125 matches with Arsenal before joining West Ham in 2018.

Wilshere remained with West Ham until 2020 and ended his career with AFC Bournemouth and finally AGF in Denmark. During the 2011-12 season, Wilshere fractured his ankle in a friendly, which started his long list of problems. Wilshire picked up injury after injury, and he expressed his frustrations about not being able to stay healthy.

Dean Ashton

Dean Ashton began his professional football career with Crewe Alexandra, and made his English Premier League debut in 2005 with Norwich City. He appeared in 44 matches with the club, and finished out his career with 46 more appearances with West Ham from 2006 to 2009 before retiring at just 26 years old.

Ashton had lingering injuries throughout his career, but there was one in particular that essentially ruined his career. While training with the English national team in 2006, Ashton broke his ankle and it never fully recovered. Surgeons advised Ashton to cut his career short or else he’d be unable to walk eventually.

Daniel Sturridge

Daniel Sturridge was just six years old when he joined the Aston Villa academy, while also spending time with Coventry City and Manchester City’s youth academies. He would join the latter’s senior squad in 2006 and made 21 appearances before joining Chelsea in 2009. Sturridge also spent time with Bolton, Liverpool, and West Brom during his English career.

Sturridge often missed weeks at a time with various injuries, which really started to pick up in 2013. He’s missed extended time due to groin strains, sprained ankles, and much more. One hip injury, in particular, kept him out for nearly six months. Sturridge simply couldn’t stay on the pitch long enough to reach his full potential.

Abou Diaby

After spending time with five different youth academies, Abou Diaby made his senior debut in France where he made just 10 appearances over three different years, and then made his way to Arsenal. Arsenal was the only EPL team that Diaby played for, as he ended his career with Marseille from 2015 to 2017.

Diaby’s injury problems started before he even made it to Arsenal, but the club was willing to take a chance on him due to his talents. It’s difficult to list all of the injuries that Diaby sustained, as he underwent multiple surgeries that slowed him down and kept him off the pitch. 

5 Chinese Celebrities Who Crossed Over To Stardom In America

Posted on by scatty

Achieving fame in your own country is hard enough, but to find A-list level success on the other side of the world is even harder. For many years, Chinese celebrities didn’t find much stardom in the west outside of a select few. That’s what makes these five Chinese celebrities so unique, as they were able to become superstars in the United States.

1. Bruce Lee

A martial arts master, Bruce Lee became an icon in all parts of the world when he began appearing in martial arts films during the early 1970s, many of which he also directed. Some of his more prominent films include “Way of the Dragon” and “Enter the Dragon”, creating an interest in martial arts that has been around ever since.

Many credit Lee as the reason that they got into martial arts, and still remember him many years following his death. Lee was just 32 years old when he passed away on July 20, 1973, due to cerebral edema. Lee helped bridge the gap between Hollywood and East Asia during his career, breaking barriers in the process.

2. Jackie Chan

There are a handful of actors that have been known for doing their own stunts, but Jackie Chan sets the gold standard. Chan was born in what was then British Hong Kong in 1954 and appeared in Chinese films since the 1960s. Chan was among the world’s highest-paid actors during his peak, making his mark in action comedies such as “Rush Hour” and “Shanghai Knights”.

Throughout all of his films, Chan has performed his own stunts, which has led to some hilarious outtakes at times. He continues to act to this day, and his career was recognized at the 2016 Oscars when he won the Academy Honorary Award for his worldwide film achievements. Even the Shanghai International Film Festival has an award named after him for action films.

3. Chow Yun-Fat

Another icon that was born in British Hong Kong, Chow Yun-Fat came from humble beginnings where he worked odd jobs until getting involved in acting during the 1970s by appearing in several films and television shows per year, becoming a household name in China. After a career setback in the 1980s, Chow turned his career around and started to get notoriety in the United States.

Chow’s Hollywood career began in 1998 with the film “The Replacement Killers”, and the following year he co-starred with Mark Wahlberg in “The Corrupter”. Perhaps Chow’s most notable US venture, though, is 2003’s “Bulletproof Monk”. To date, Chow has earned more than a dozen major awards in China and has appeared in around 100 films.

4. Jet Li

Another martial arts icon on the list, Jet Li was born in Beijing in 1963 and used his skills in Wushu to begin an acting career. Li was still a teenager when he made his acting debut in 1982’s “Shaolin Temple” and became a superstar in China thanks to films including “Once Upon a Time in China” and “Fist of Legend”. 

During the late 1990s, Li was able to achieve fame in the west thanks to leading roles in the films “Lethal Weapon” and “Romeo Must Die”. Li turned down some major roles during his peak, but still took on plenty of other notable films including “Cradle 2 the Grave”, “Kiss of the Dragon” and “Unleashed”.

5. Yao Ming

When someone is described as “larger than life,” it’s usually figurative instead of literal. However, Yao Ming’s 7’6” stature makes him truly a standout. After beginning his professional basketball career in Shanghai with the Sharks, Yao became eligible for the 2002 NBA Draft. The Houston Rockets selected him with the first overall pick and helped to make the NBA popular in China.

Yao was an eight-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection during his career was cut short due to injuries. He posted 19 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game en route to a Hall of Fame induction. In 2017, Yao was named as the President of the Chinese Basketball Association.

5 Best WrestleMania Main Events

Posted on by scatty

Even the most casual of wrestling fans tune in each year for “The Grandest Stage of Them All” at WrestleMania. The largest event in wrestling, WrestleMania is typically capped off by a match that fans around the world have been clamoring to see with some of the most iconic names in the industry. Which main events were the best, though? Here are our picks for the top five.

5. Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle (XIX)

One of the more unique settings for a WrestleMania, the 19th edition took place at Seattle’s Safeco Field and featured a match between Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. However, that rematch was the penultimate match on the card, with “The next big thing” Brock Lesnar getting his coronation match against Kurt Angle.

The battle showed off Lesnar’s athleticism, even if it included one of the most notable botches in WrestleMania history when Lesnar came up short on a shooting star press. Lesnar ultimately won the match by giving Angle a third F-5, picking up the pinfall, and giving Lesnar the WWE Championship that he would lose to Angle and recapture throughout the rest of 2003.

4. Chris Benoit vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H (XX)

The third WrestleMania to be held at Madison Square Garden, WrestleMania XX opened with John Cena winning the United States title over the Big Show and Eddie Guerrero defeating Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship. The main event featured one of the best triple-threat matches of all time, with Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit being pitted against then-champion Triple H.

Prior to this WrestleMania, no other main event had ended with a tap out. Triple H would be the first to tap after his Pedigree was reversed into a Crippler Crossface. It was a huge night for former WCW stars as Benoit and Guerrero were both victorious in a moment of positivity before tragedy struck for both wrestlers.

3. Batista vs. Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan (XXX)

A decade after one of the best triple-threat matches ever, fans were treated to another one at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Originally scheduled to be a Batista vs. Orton main event, Daniel Bryan was added in the weeks leading up to the event due to a massive swell of fan support for the underdog. After defeating Triple H to officially enter the match earlier in the night, the stage was set.

After more than 20 minutes of brawling, it looked like Batista was going to get the win after tossing Bryan out of the ring. However, Bryan hopped back into the ring after Batista delivered his finisher on Orton. Bryan then gave Batista his finisher and placed him into the Yes! Lock to end the match, highlighted by Michael Cole’s pleading with Batista to tap out and secure the win for Bryan.

2. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (XXVI)

Not every final match in a legend’s career lives up to the hype, but Shawn Michaels’s certainly did. Featuring a memorable video package leading up to the match, Undertaker vs. Michaels was built on the Undertaker’s then-undefeated streak at WrestleMania against Michaels’s career. If he lost, Michaels had to retire.

Naturally, as Michaels’s final match, the Undertaker would end up victorious. It was a classic last-stand match for Michaels in his vintage defiant fashion. It took three Tombstone Piledrivers to defeat Michaels, who was left in the ring following the match to show his appreciation for the fans one last time before calling it a career.

1. Steve Austin vs. The Rock (XVII)

Taking place in the Houston Astrodome, many consider WrestleMania X-Seven to be the greatest wrestling pay-per-view of all time. Of course, to be considered that great, there had to have been a classic match as the main event. Thankfully, that’s just what we got when The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin faced off in a no-disqualification match for the WWF Championship.

The Rock was the champion heading into the match that lasted for nearly a half hour and resulted in a major heel turn for Austin as he joined forces with Vince McMahon. It was the end of an era for many wrestling fans, but will still be considered among the greatest matches ever based on the hype alone.

The Five Best Roma Managers Of All Time

Posted on by scatty

Serie A in Italy has had a lot of long-running clubs, and among the oldest is Associazione Sportiva Roma, though most of us just call them A.C. Roma or Roma. Over the years, Roma has had dozens of managers come through Stadio Olimpico with some not sticking around long due to lack of results while others have helped Roma reach new heights. Out of all of those managers, here are the five best in the club’s history.

5. Alfredo Foni

Born in 1911, Alfredo Foni had a lengthy playing career, most notably with Juventus where he appeared in 266 matches over the course of 13 years. Following his retirement in 1947, Foni had a 30-year managing career that included stints with more than a half dozen clubs and two national teams (Italy and Switzerland).

Among those clubs was Roma, who Foni managed in 1960 and 1961. Foni’s brief Roma career was highlighted by winning the 1960-61 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The club defeated Cologne XI in the quarterfinals and then Hibernian in the semis, both in play-off matches. Roma drew with Birmingham City in the first leg of the finals but clinched the cup on a 2-0 win in the second leg.

4. Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho is no stranger to pressure, especially as a manager of some of the most prominent clubs in the world. Following his playing career that lasted from 1980 to 1987, Mourinho became the manager of Benfica, eventually making his way to Chelsea in 2004. After spending three years there, Mourinho had stops with Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Chelsea (again), Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur before landing with Roma in 2021.

Mourinho had won the English Premier League multiple times as a manager and brought his winning ways to Roma. In 2022, Roma won the UEFA Europa Conference League by defeating Boda/Glimt in the quarterfinals, Leicester City in the semis, and then Feyenoord in the finals 1-0.

3. Fabio Capello

The only manager on the list that actually played for Roma during his career, Fabio Capello was on the squad from 1967 to 1970, ending his career with A.C. Milan in 1980. Capello then managed A.C. Milan and Real Madrid during the 1990s before ending the decade by becoming Roma’s manager.

Capello’s record with Roma was 118-73-50 and was highlighted by his time in 2001. That year, Capello won both the Supercoppa Italiana and Serie A championships. Following his tenure as Roma’s manager, Capello returned to Real Madrid before managing both the English and Russian national teams.

2. Nils Liedholm

Known for his playing career with A.C. Milan from 1949 to 1961 in which he made 359 appearances, Nils Liedholm was among the greatest football players from Sweden. Liedholm went into management immediately after retiring from playing and managed six different clubs from 1961 to 1996 including multiple stints with Roma.

The first time Liedholm managed Roma was from 1973 to 1977, then again from 1979 to 1984, and finally in 1996. During his three tenures, Liedholm won several honours with the club. His first major honour came in the form of the 1979-80 Coppa Italia, which he would win two more times. In 1984, Roma was the runner-up of the European Cup and in 1983, Liedholm led Roma to the Serie A title.

1. Luciano Spalletti

Following his playing career that lasted from 1984 to 1993, Luciano Spalletti jumped right into management where he led Empoli for several years before moving on to Sampdoria, Venezia, Udinese, and Ancona before finally landing with Roma for two stints from 2005-2009, and 2016-2017.

Spalletti’s first run with Roma ended with a record of 122-53-49 while his second was 50-11-14. Spalletti was named the Serie A Coach of the Year in back-to-back seasons, his first two in Roma. Spalletti’s career was highlighted by a Supercoppa Italiana title and back-to-back Coppa Italia championships in 2007 and 2008.

5 Weird Britney Spears Facts

Posted on by scatty

Beginning her singing career in the late 1990s, Britney Spears quickly went from relative unknown to household name to pop music icon all in the span of a couple of years. Spears became a media darling, with paparazzi following her around almost everywhere that she went. Because of this, some of her best and worst moments were captured for the world to see.

Out of all of the things that we know about Spears due to her life being so public, which parts really stand out as the weirdest? Here are five weird Britney Spears facts that even some of her biggest fans may not know about just yet.

Britney and Justin Timberlake Had Custom Toilet Seats With Each Other’s Faces on Them

During their four-year fairytale relationship, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake did the cute stuff all couples do. They shared moments, and memories, and had affectionately strange nicknames for one another like “Pinky” for Spears and “Stinky” for Timberlake.

However, they reportedly had another strange way of showing their love for each other. They’re said to have spent an estimated $21,000 on two gold-plated, diamond-chipped toilet seats adorning each of their faces from their Mickey Mouse Clubhouse days.  

Aliases 

Celebrities’ use of aliases to avoid detection is nothing new, but Britney Spears had a few interesting names she would go by when wanting to go undetected.  Ms. Alotta Warmheart was an alias she went by, with her reasoning behind it being simply that she had a warm heart.

Possibly an ode to the character Alotta Fagina from the 1997 movie “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery”. Another alias she’d use, Mrs. Diana Prince, was a nod to the late Princess Diana. Finally, Mrs. Abra Cadabra, with no real reason behind it.  

Stood Up By Prince William 

Before pop princess Britney Spears and pop prince Justin Timberlake became an item from 1998 to 2002, Spears could have bagged herself a real prince. In a 2002 UK interview, Spears revealed she and Prince William had an online romance through emails.  

She said the prince was supposed to come to visit her while she was on her UK tour, but he never showed up and the virtual romance was short-lived. Some claim the prince went fox hunting instead. There’s also speculation the two tried to meet up afterward, but it didn’t work out. Prince William began dating his now-wife Kate Middleton shortly after in 2003. 

Britney and Kevin Federline Reality sShow 

One of Britney Spears’ biggest and most cringeworthy regrets is the reality mini-series she and her now ex-husband Kevin Federline took part in called “Chaotic”. The footage was originally recorded to document her journey during “The Onyx Hotel Tour” she planned for 2004. After suffering a knee injury during the filming of her “Outrageous” music video, though, the tour was canceled. 

Rather than ditch the footage, they stuck to the idea of using it for a reality show and instead shifted the focus to the couple’s relationship from their first encounter, all the way to marriage.  The pop star came under heavy fire from critics who had a lot to say about the train wreck of a series.  

Calling Her Home Phone To Record Ideas For Songs 

Although Britney Spears didn’t join in the writing process of her own songs until her third album, her methods of writing the songs were unconventional, but worked. Rather than jotting her ideas on paper, she would call her home phone, let it go to voicemail, and the answering machine would record Spears singing snippets of a song she had come up with. It seems to have done her a lot of good, with her massive success even to this day. After all, if it works, it works.  

Biggest Roster Moves in Houston Rockets History

Posted on by scatty

Founded in San Diego, the Rockets headed to Houston just four years after their creation and have been a staple of the NBA ever since. During that time, the Rockets have been at the forefront of some of the biggest moves in league history with Hall of Fame names coming and going over the years. What were the biggest moves for the multiple-time NBA Champions, though? Here are the five biggest roster moves in Houston Rockets history.

Drexler Comes Home

Clyde Drexler was a hometown hero for Houston after being part of Phi Slama Jama with Hakeem Olajuwon at the University of Houston. While Olajuwon played for the Rockets already, Drexler had spent his entire pro career in Portland by the 1994-95 season. About halfway through the season, the Rockets acquired Drexler (along with Tracy Murray) in exchange for Otis Thorpe and Marcelo Nicola.

Drexler ended up being the only player of real value in the trade, spending more than three seasons with the team. Drexler won the 1995 NBA Championship and a pair of All-Star Teams as he ended his career with the Rockets.

Barkley’s Bounty

Charles Barkley established himself as one of the best players of his generations when he played for the 76ers and the Suns from 1984 to 1996. The Rockets, hoping to keep their dynasty going after Michael Jordan came out of retirement, acquired Barkley for Chucky Brown, Mark Bryant, Robert Horry, and Sam Cassell.

Unfortunately, Barkley (who was already 33 years old) didn’t pan out for Houston. He averaged just 16.5 points per game, though he continued his great rebounding. Barkley also missed significant time, leading to his final season being played in 1999-2000, retiring as a Rocket.

Snagging T-Mac

Steve Francis got off to a hot start in his career, hence the nickname “Stevie Franchise” after six seasons with the Rockets and three All-Star appearances. However, Francis would be dealt along with Kelvin Cato and Cuttino Mobley after the 2003-04 season so the Rockets could acquire Tracy McGrady from the Orlando Magic (along with Reece Gaines, Juwan Howard, and Tyronn Lue).

T-Mac was an established star by that time and continued his success in Houston. Over six seasons with the Rockets, McGrady put up 22.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Meanwhile, Francis didn’t stick around long in Orlando, playing just a few more seasons in the league before knee injuries forced him to retire.

Harden Comes, Harden Goes

After not getting the contract extension that he wanted with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Rockets set out to make James Harden the centerpiece of the franchise by acquiring him in a trade. Houston also received Daequan Cook, Cole Aldrich and Lazar Hayward while giving up Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, and three draft picks.

While Harden didn’t bring a title to Houston, he was still a nin-time All-Star who put up 29.6 points per game in his long career with the Rockets. Harden was then involved in another massive trade in 2021, sending him to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a four team trade that saw the Rockets acquire Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, and a bevy of draft picks.

Moses Parts From Buffalo

The ABA produced a lot of great talent for the NBA after the 1976 merger. One of the biggest names at the time was Moses Malone, who was acquired by the Buffalo Braves. However, Malone would play in just two games for the now-defunct Braves, sending him to the Rockets in exchange for a pair of first round picks that would end up being Wesley Cox and Micheal Ray Richardson.

Malone became a staple for the Rockets during his six seasons with the team, turning into a perennial All-Star. In 464 games with Houston, Malone averaged 24 points, 15 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game en route to being named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.

5 Unmissable Apple TV Shows To Watch

Posted on by scatty

There are a lot of streaming services these days, with almost every major entertainment company getting into the game. Still, some were surprised that Apple decided to start its own, releasing Apple TV in late 2016. Then, in 2019, Apple started creating its own unique content for the streaming service and have been growing its catalog ever since.

On top of the many movies that Apple has produced over the years, they have also gotten into creating their own short-form television shows. Drama, comedy, family programs, and more have all been covered by Apple TV, with some shows really standing out as must-watch programming and taking home prestigious awards. Out of all of the shows that Apple TV has put out thus far, here are five that you certainly don’t want to miss.

Blackbird

First airing in June of 2022, with an 8.2/10 rating on IMDB and a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, “Blackbird” is quickly proving to be a must-see Apple TV exclusive. The mini-series is based on the 2010 autobiography “In With the Devil: A Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption” by James Keene and Hillel Levin.  

The show follows prisoner Jimmy Keene, portrayed by Taron Egerton, beginning his ten-year prison sentence for dealing narcotics and possessing illegal firearms. Being a rather charismatic man, Keene is given the opportunity of a severely lessened sentence if he can gain a confession from fellow inmate and suspected serial killer Larry Hall, played by Paul Hauser.  

Ted Lasso

Even if you’re not a sports fan, “Ted Lasso” is a series you can’t miss. Jason Sudeikis plays the titular optimistic and charming American football coach. A spiteful plan to get back at her ex-husband, Rebecca Welton (played by Hannah Waddingham) gives Lasso the daunting task of coaching her English Premier League soccer team, which at first poses a problem for the inexperienced football coach.  

Determined and armed with his humorous wit, it quickly turns into a great pairing. The series’ first season was nominated for 20 Primetime Emmy awards, more than any comedy series nominated for in their first season. 

The Morning Show

Based on Brian Stelter’s book “Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV”, The Morning Show (also known as Morning Wars) takes a dramatized behind-the-scenes look at the personal lives of the new anchors who deliver our daily morning news.

The series showcases allegations of sexual misconduct in the workplace, identity crises, and the everyday chaos and drama typically unseen by viewers. It’s all thrown together with an incredible star studded cast with Jennifer Aniston playing Alex Levy, a lead newscaster making her way to the top following the firing of her longtime news partner Mitch Kessler, played by Steve Carrell.  

Severance 

This psychological sci-fi thriller stars Adam Scott as Lumon Industries employee Mark Scout.  Scout is promoted to lead a team of employees who have taken part in the “severance” program, in which their personal memories are separated, or severed, from their work memories. 

Over the course of the season, Scout and his colleagues begin uncovering the veil of secrecy and lies within Lumon Industries, getting closer to discovering the truth behind the company and its severance program.

Bad Sisters

Scoring an 8.3/10 rating on IMDB and a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, “Bad Sisters” has had a great start with its first season series airing in the summer of 2022.  The Irish thriller follows the investigation of the Garvey sisters, Eva, Becka, and Bibi, Grace, and Ursula after the suspicious death of Grace’s husband John Paul, providing a generous life insurance payout.  Insurance agent Thomas Claffin takes on the investigation to save his sinking business.  

5 Greatest Baseball Stars of the Twentieth Century

Posted on by scatty

While we’re well into the 21st century, many of us baseball fans think about the rich history of America’s pastime and recall watching some of the greatest players of the previous century. Between lights-out pitchers and big boppers, there were iconic players in every decade. We’re not talking about the best players, though, when we say iconic. We’re talking about the ones that had the most star power and the ability to transcend the sport into the mainstream. Let’s take a look back at the greatest stars of the twentieth century and what made them stand out so much:

5. Willie Mays

Among the sweetest swings in baseball history is the one of Willie Mays, a.k.a. The Say Hey Kid. Mays, a two-time MVP, was named to two dozen All Star Games during his long career that started with the Giants in 1951. 

Mays is one of the career home run leaders with 660, while also batting an unheard-of .384 over more than two decades. To this day, there are some that consider him to be the greatest hitter of all time.

4. Joe DiMaggio

Whether you call him the Yankee Clipper, Joltin’ Joe, or just Joe DiMaggio, he was one of the greatest pure hitters in baseball history. A three-time most valuable player recipient, DiMaggio had a .325 career batting average with 361 home runs. He even missed three seasons of his prime due to World War II, but still managed to be an All-Star in every season he played. 

Naturally, you can’t mention DiMaggio without mentioning his mainstream appeal. He was referenced in music, movies, books, and even received attention for his marriage to actress Marilyn Monroe.

3. Alex Rodriguez

Making your Major League debut as a teenager is almost unheard of, but that’s what Alex Rodriguez did in 1994 when he was dubbed as the next big thing for the Seattle Mariners. Instantly becoming a star in baseball, Rodriguez spent the final parts of the 20th century with Seattle where he was a three-time All-Star.

Though Rodriguez made his biggest splash in the following century, even non-baseball fans knew who he was while playing with the Mariners. Rodriguez would end up playing for both the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees, finishing with 696 career home runs. His post-playing career has involved broadcasting and an engagement to singer/actress Jennifer Lopez which kept him in the public eye.

2. Hank Aaron

Though he’s second in career home runs after being surpassed by Barry Bonds, many consider Hank Aaron to be the true home run king due to playing after baseball became integrated and before the steroid era. There’s certainly a lot of merit to that, as Aaron slugged 733 home runs over his 23-year career, 21 of which were spent playing for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves.

Aaron passed away in early 2021, but not before he left his mark on the game of baseball forever. He joined the Braves’ front office and worked in various positions around baseball, while also owning car dealerships and restaurants that bore his name. 

1. Babe Ruth

Of course, you can’t talk about the game of baseball without mentioning Babe Ruth. His career started in 1914 and lasted 22 seasons, though his most notable years came when he was a member of the New York Yankees. By the time he retired, “The Babe” was the all-time home run king with 714 career home runs and seven World Series titles.

When you ask someone that doesn’t know a thing about baseball to name the first player that comes to mind, Ruth is usually the first answer. From references in movies like “The Sandlot” to even having a candy bar named after him, Ruth isn’t just a baseball legend. He’s an American cultural icon.

5 Most Versatile Actors

Posted on by scatty

One of the most vital signs of good acting is making an audience forget that it’s a particular actor that’s playing the role. While some actors tend to play themselves in most of their parts, there are others that get completely lost in a role no matter the genre. Many of these actors have at least been nominated for major awards because of their work, and there are a handful of actors that really stand out above the rest as being the most versatile. Here are the five that have the most chameleon-like qualities.

5. Daniel Day-Lewis

British actor Daniel Day-Lewis may be retired from acting on a full-time basis, but perhaps he could be coerced into a return. After all, Oldman has been nominated for several Academy Awards during his illustrious career, winning for the films “My Left Foot”, “There Will Be Blood”, and “Lincoln”.

Doing method acting for years can take a toll, though. “You go to these great lengths to imagine another world and time and imagine a man,” Day-Lewis said. “And having spent your imagination on that, it seems more fun to live there all the time than jumping in and out.”

4. Tilda Swinton

Somehow, an actress with the versatility of Tilda Swinton has only been nominated for/won a single Oscar for her role in “Michael Clayton”. Her career has been filled with plenty of other memorable roles, including “Constantine”, “The Chronicles of Narnia”, and “Dr. Strange” to name a few.

Instead of acting, Swinton trained to be a poet. It’s something that she’s lamented about many times during her career. “I was supposed to go (to college) for one thing and dropped the ball immediately,” she said. “There is a real dark shame attached to it…As a child, my ambition was always about having a house by the sea.”

3. Meryl Streep

From dramas to comedies and protagonists to antagonists, Meryl Streep has seen it all and perfected it all. Streep has been nominated for well over a dozen Academy Awards, winning for roles including “Kramer vs. Kramer”, “Sophie’s Choice”, and “The Iron Lady”. Some of Streep’s other memorable roles include “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Mamma Mia!”

Despite all of the recognition, Streep remains humble about her abilities. “My achievement, if you can call it that, is that I’ve basically pretended to be extraordinary people my entire life,” she said. “And now, I’m being mistaken for one.”

2. Gary Oldman

You could watch an entire movie with Gary Oldman in the lead role and not know about it until the credits start rolling. Oldman has taken on almost every type of role imaginable from playing Commissioner Jim Gordon in the “Dark Knight” series to playing Winston Churchill in “Darkest Hour”.

Despite his impressive career, that role in “Darkest Hour” is the only time that Oldman has won an Oscar for Best Actor. Oldman has said that he can feel retirement “on the horizon,” but says that there’s still a little something left on the table. “It’s not that so much (I’m not happy with my career) as there’s a perfectionism with me.”

1. Christian Bale

Nobody is willing to change their physical appearance for a movie role quite like Christian Bale. Bale has been known to knock it out of the park in every genre (though he has held off on romantic comedies). Bale has shown his cerebral side in movies like “American Psycho” and “The Machinist” while even dipping into the superhero world with the “Dark Knight” series and “Thor: Love and Thunder”. 

Though he throws his all into every one of his roles, Bale says he always has to be pulled back and would retire if he wasn’t so in demand. “I could just go forever not working,” Bale said. Bale is a bit of an outsider, not often going on the red carpet. “I don’t have anything to do with it,” Bale said. “I’m (in Hollywood) because my wife is from here.”