The #1 Sylvester Stallone Fan Site in the World!
Metro.co.uk posted their Top Five Most Bizarre Moments in Academy Award History. Coming in at #3:
Sylvester Stallone fights Muhammad Ali
In 1976 Sylvester Stallone, aka Rocky Balboa, prepared to present an award when boxer Muhammad Ali snuck up behind him.The pair got into a pretend argument which spilled into a mock fight. Ali won, of course.
With the 2010 Oscar winners almost ready to be announced, Tom Chivers was inspired to come up with his list of “The Ten Worst Injustices in Academy Award History.” Coming in at #4 was Rocky. Here’s what Mr. Chivers had to say:
4. Rocky, written by and starring Sylvester Stallone(above), is actually an underrated film. It isn’t helped by its endless sequels (we forget whether it’s Rocky IV or Rocky V that has the robot butler, and the bit at the end of IV where Rocky’s incoherent post-fight rambling seems to bring about the end of the Cold War is particularly ludicrous), but it’s touching, unpretentious fare, and Stallone does well in the role he built for himself. Still, it’s a bit of a stretch that it beat Scorsese’s Taxi Driver to the 1976 Oscar for Best Picture.
While I think it’s great that Mr. Chivers believes that Rocky is underrated, I’m surprised that he thinks it’s a “bit of a stretch” that Rocky beat Taxi Driver. I think the real injustice for Rocky is that Sly didn’t win the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Mr. Chivers also says that Rocky wasn’t helped by it’s endless sequels. Perhaps he forgot that Rocky was judged on it’s own merits. At the time of the 1976 Oscars, there had been no sequels. And while it’s clear that Mr. Chivers may have been confused [Rocky IV has the robot not V] or allowed his opinion of Rocky to drop due to the sequels, the Oscar judges didn’t have to face that problem.
It’s interesting that if you take out Mr. Chivers references to the sequels you end up with:
4. Rocky, written by and starring Sylvester Stallone(above), is actually an underrated film… it’s touching, unpretentious fare, and Stallone does well in the role he built for himself. Still, it’s a bit of a stretch that it beat Scorsese’s Taxi Driver to the 1976 Oscar for Best Picture.
What you end up with is Mr. Chivers opinion that Rocky [a film he has nothing but praise for] should have lost to Taxi Driver. Okay. That’s his opinion and he’s entitled to it.
Mark Podolski, who covers sports for the News-Herald.com just turn 40. That inspired him to write “The Top 40 Things That I’ve Learned in 40 Years.” Coming in at #32:
32. Sylvester Stallone is the American dream. “Rocky” should be required viewing for this country’s youth — today and beyond.
Couldn’t agree with you more, Mark. Hey, and hope ya had a happy birthday.
On March 4, 2010, NBCLosAngeles.com posted an article titled Sylvester Stallone Mixed Up in Low-Carb Pudding Mess. According to the article…
Sly and another man must face deposition questions and turn over financial documents from their former company within two weeks in a lawsuit alleging they misappropriated trade secrets…
William Brescia filed suit against Instone in Los Angeles Superior Court in November 2004, alleging misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of contract. Sly was not named in the suit until 2007, nearly three years later. Sly was once Chairman of Instone’s Board of Directors, but is no longer involved with the company. Sly’s attorney said the…
…ruling was premature considering she has a motion to dismiss the case against Stallone and Arnold on March 24…
and that…
…there is nothing special about the pudding and that Brescia’s lawyers cannot show how it differs from the general knowledge of those in the same field as the plaintiff.
Sly had already been dismissed as a defendant in the trial, but that ruling was overturned causing the current events. To read the full article, click here.
Mike Torrance pencils, inks and colors. Mike regular posts a sketchcard idea contest at Retro Cowboy Productions and his Deviant Art site. Here’s how it works, Mike posts a subject and the first one to make request which fits the theme is the winner! This is the second time I’ve won [the theme this time: 80’s Action Heroes — the first time I won: Detectives].
Mike is available for commissions and his prices are very reasonable. Check him out.
Hey SZoners,
Our old buddy, Gerardo Moreno checked in to tell us about a new section of his art website dedicated to Sly. Here’s what he had to say:
Hello Craig
Now is online my new website with a space dedicated to Stallone, I am sending you a picture for than you post in SZ this weekend with this link.
Enjoy all art.
Your friend,
GM
At Gerardo’s Stallone download site you’ll find wallpapers, post cards, calendars, avatars, cell phone screens and more. Check it out and tell him we sent ya! – Craig
The Brisbane Times posted a piece on the Rocky statue created to…
change that image and revive the village – one of the poorest in northern Serbia…
You can read the whole piece here.
This week we have Casey Jones’ take on Sly as Rocky. This was done last year when Casey was sketching for charity at MegaCon. It’s my second and hopefully not last piece from Casey who always does great work. Check out the label on Rocky’s gloves for an additional bonus. You can see more of Casey’s art here and here.
On February 20, 2010, TimesOnLine posted an article about stars who become the top box office draw and then fall from grace… and then make a comeback. The piece is called Top Ten Box Office Dippers and covers stars from Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. to Meg Ryan. Sly comes in at #6 on the list and this is what they have to say:
Sylvester Stallone The Rocky movies made over a billion worldwide. But his remake of Get Carter didn’t do too well, and by 2001 his face wasn’t even on the US poster for Driven. Return to form? August’s The Expendables, an action hero flick to end them all.
Today’s piece is Jon Riggle’s take on Sly as Jack Carter from Get Carter. Jon is an illustrator and photographer. He also created the Sci-Fi comic strip Sonic Jack and is available for commissions. You can see more of Jon’s art here and here.
Thanks to Jon and John Beatty for the gift.