Author: Craig

Chuck Wepner: Real-Life Rocky

Craig / / 2007, Rocky Balboa
Robert Mladinich has an interesting profile/interview with Chuck Wepner over at TheSweetScience.com. As most SZoners know, it was Wepner’s fight against Muhammad Ali that provided Sly with the spark to create Rocky. Last year, as Sly was prepping “Rocky Balboa,” Wepner filed suit against Sly and MGM. The case was settled out of court.

So what did Wepner think of “Rocky Balboa”? “I wasn’t disappointed at all,” Wepner is quoted as saying, “The first movie was a masterpiece. This one was pretty close.”

For the full story click HERE. – Craig Zablo

StalloneZone 2007

Craig / / 2007, StalloneZone
As we enter our eleventh year, I felt that it was time to “Take You Back.” When I first started the StalloneZone in 1996 it was a little site on America On-Line. Over the years the StalloneZone

It’s been a heck of a ride, with the last year being the wildest yet. Not only did Sly return to his roots and win his fight to bring “Rocky Balboa” back with the send-off we’ve always dreamed, but SZoners got a boost when I was contacted by Sly’s reps and MGM and asked to run the official Rocky Balboa Blog! We were given first looks, a contest and created connections with a ton of cool people. Sage and Frank Stallone provided us with some of their personal photos. SZoners from around the world came together at “Rocky Balboa” filmings in Las Vegas and Philly. More SZoners than ever came to the site. People, from around the world who would have otherwise never met, became friends. The StalloneZone community had never been stronger!

John Beatty agreed to assist me once again with a new look for the SZ. After his bang-up job on the official Rocky Balboa Blog, how could I turn him down.

So here we are… heading into year eleven with a new look and an old attitude. Sylvester Stallone is the man. Stallone fans are the greatest in the world. The best is yet to come.

– Craig Zablo has continued to grow and attract the best fans in the world.


PS – The SZ Forum will maintain links to the “old” SZ sections until the new pages are completed!

Three US Weekly Tidbits

Craig / / 2007, Celebs, Rocky Balboa
The January 8, 2007 issue of US magazine has three tidbits about Sly.

The first features Sly and Brandon Davis in the “Look-Alike of the Week” feature. Both are shown in small photos with the caption: “Should Brandon Davis have played Rocky Balboa’s son instead of Milo Ventimiglia?”

The second time Sly appears is in the “Loose Talk: What Stars Said This Week” section. “I have two beautiful daughters… I’d try to get them to watch one of the Rocky movies and they’d go, ‘I want to watch SpongeBob Squarepaints.'” – Sylvester Stallone [Craig — Sly has 3 daughters!]

The third tidbit features a brief profile of Milo Ventimiglia who says that at first producers didn’t want him for the role of Rocky’s son despite the fact that he looks like Sly! – Craig Zablo

US Stallone Trifecta!

Craig / / 2007, Celebs, Rocky Balboa

The January 1, 2007 issue of US magazine features three articles of interest to all Sly fans.
The first piece [accompained by the photo above] briefly touches on the alleged feud between Sly and Richard Gere.

The second piece is a one page spread covering the “Rocky Balboa” premiere. Of course the shot of Sly and Bruce Willis just cries out for a project that teams the two superstars.

The third item of interest is US magazine’s review of “Rocky Balboa.”They give it three out of four stars and conclude with: “This Rocky’s a knockout!”

-Craig Zablo

Hollywood Goes Back to the Future

Craig / / 2007, Celebs, Rocky Balboa

Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone at the premiere of “Rocky Balboa” 13 December, in Hollywood. Rocky Balboa, John McClane and now Indiana Jones. Hollywood is going back to the future by resurrecting several much-loved characters despite the advancing years of the actors who made them legends. (AFP/Getty Images/File/Frazer Harrison)

AFP/Getty Images/File via Yahoo! News – Jan 03 12:42 AM

Sly at "Rocky Balboa" Party

Craig / / 2007, Rocky Balboa

Sylvester Stallone at a party following the Las Vegas premiere of the movie “Rocky Balboa” 19 December. Rocky Balboa, John McClane and now Indiana Jones: Hollywood is going back to the future by resurrecting several much-loved characters despite the advancing years of the actors who made them legends. (AFP/Getty Images/File/Ethan Miller)
AFP/Getty Images/File via Yahoo! News – Jan 03 12:15 AM

"Rocky Balboa" No Underdog

Craig / / 2007, Rocky Balboa

Writer, director and cast member Sylvester Stallone attends the world premiere of ‘Rocky Balboa’ at the Chinese theater in Hollywood, California December 13, 2006. ‘Rocky Balboa’ proved no underdog during its first day at the North American box office, according to sales data issued Thursday. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – Dec 25 1:44 PM

"Rock On"

Craig / / Uncategorized

As we get ready to enter a new year, I just wanted to thank all of the SYLVESTER STALLONE / ROCKY fans [especially the SZoners, and you know who you are!] for the support that they’ve shown me since I took over the Rocky Balboa Blog. I also want to thank Sly, Frank, Sage, Kevin, Celeste, Amy, and Sandro for believing that a fan could get the job done and then helping him to do it.

Finally, I want to thank John Beatty at Big Shot Graphics for his invaluable assistance in making sure everything worked [and looked great]!

Sly gave us a great movie, let’s return the favor. Continue to support “Rocky Balboa” [see it again and take your family and friends – heck take your enemies!]. Don’t forget that Frank’s “Take You Back” is available on I-Tunes!

May the new year bring you everything that you’ve wished for and even a little bit more!
–Craig Zablo

Photo by: John Bramley

"It Ain’t About How Hard You Hit"

Craig / / Uncategorized

Rocky Balboa [SYLVESTER STALLONE] is still standing after ten brutal rounds. Rocky’s corner: Duke [TONY BURTON], Spider Rico [PEDRO LOVELL] and Rocky Jr. [MILO VENTIMIGLIA] know that their man has done the impossible… he stood toe-to-toe with the Heavyweight Champion of the World!

“Rocky Balboa,” despite facing tough competition at the box office, is more than holding its own! The critics are nearly unanimous in their praise of the movie, many making special mention of Sly’s work as writer, director and actor. It’s a great time to be a SYLVESTER STALLONE / ROCKY fan!

The final round of the Academy Award-winning Rocky is in theatres now! Written and directed by SYLVESTER STALLONE.
– Craig Zablo

For a larger version of this picture click HERE!

2006 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., Columbia Pictures Industries Inc., and Revolution Studios Distribution Company, LLC