SYLVESTER STALLONE serves as a presenter at the American Film Institute‘s special, “100 Years – 100 Heroes and Villains,” on CBS.
Category: 2003
Rocky Statue Up For Bid
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Harvey Abrams, President of the International Institute for Sport and Olympic History sent me the following press release YO! ROCKY can be yours! The bronze statue of Rocky Balboa, the boxer made famous in the Sylvester Stallone movies ROCKY III and ROCKY V, is available to any benefactor who is willing to donate at least $5 million ($5,000,000) to a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation by June 18, 2003. Don’t bother bringing your moving van to Philadelphia, though. The statue that stands in front of the First Union Spectrum isn’t the one available. It’s the other one that’s available. Actually — it’s ROCKY # 3 that’s available. The monumental bronze statue of ROCKY is world famous and once stood atop the 72 steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The statue was made in 1982 for the Sylvester Stallone movie ROCKY III. After the filming was over, Stallone graciously donated the statue to the City of Philadelphia. What followed was a firestorm of debate. |
The Art Museum didn’t want the statue on their steps because they claimed it wasn’t art, but rather just a movie prop. The media and public jumped into the debate. In the end, the statue was moved. The Philadelphia Art Commission, the people responsible for public art in the city, moved the 1,500-pound statue to a new location. Today it stands in front of the First Union Spectrum in South Philadelphia, where other sports art can also be found.
But in State College, Pennsylvania — the hometown of Penn State University — a new organization was seeking sports art from around the world to decorate its planned sports museum. The International Institute for Sport and Olympic History (IISOH) was planning to open a Library and Museum devoted to the History of Sport, Physical Education, Recreation, Dance, Sport in Art and the Olympic Games.
The IISOH, a non-profit educational, literary and research corporation, originally was planning to purchase a 25,000-square-foot building to begin operations in 2005.
But plans changed. Now the group is planning to build a 25,000-square-foot library, 100,000-square-foot museum and a theatre/auditorium, restaurant/cafe, outdoor sculpture gardens, and lots of sports fields and facilities on a campus up to 300 acres in order to enhance its educational mission.
Then along came ROCKY #2 and ROCKY # 3. The president of the IISOH, Harvey Abrams, found that the artist had actually made the ROCKY statue in a limited edition of three. So the IISOH signed a contract to buy the remaining statues that have been in storage for 20 years. In fact — they are not even statues — they are still only in the original mold and would be cast in bronze as ROCKY #2/3 and ROCKY #3/3.
The Institute decided that ROCKY # 2 will grace its museum in central Pennsylvania and ROCKY # 3 will be given away as a gift to a major donor. The benefactor has to donate a minimum of $5 million dollars. The IISOHis raising money for the Institute‘s Boxing endowment and Operating Fund. The benefactor is donating money to the non-profit Institute and will eligible for a tax write-off less the actual cost of the statue which will only be revealed after the donation. IRS rules prevail, of course!
The bronze statue is the creation of artist A. Thomas Schomberg, whose monumental bronzes grace museums and estates worldwide. Schomberg created ROCKY in 1982 for Sylvester Stallone and the movie ROCKY III. The statue has been used in other films such as MANNIQUIN (Andrew McCarthy) and PHILADELPHIA (Tom Hanks) as a backdrop. It was used again in ROCKY V and for that film the statue was moved to the Art Museum for filming, then returned to the Spectrum permanently.
Why does the benefactor have until June 18? Well — according to Abrams — a donation of $5 million creates the Boxing Endowment and will also allow the Institute to make the land acquisition and start the design process with architects. Hey — what’s $5 million these days? The IISOH still has to work on the larger $25 million donations that will endow the Library, the Museum and the Theatre.
So — boxing fans — ROCKY can grace your estate if you have the money.
Then after you get it you can build 72 steps so you can run and jump to your heart’s content.
Contact Information:
International Institute for Sport and Olympic History
PO Box 175
State College, PA 16804
tel: (814) 237-8331
fax: (814) 237-8332
Harvey Abrams, President
Bruce Lorich, Treasurer
email: Olympicbks@aol.com
http://www.harveyabramsbooks.com/press1.html
http://www.harveyabramsbooks.com/501c3directory.html
http://www.harveyabramsbooks.com/Rocky.html
http://www.harveyabramsbooks.com/501c3board.html
The International Institute for Sport and Olympic History is a Pennsylvania non-profit educational, literary and research corporation under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The IISOH is organized to operate a Library and Museum devoted to the History of Sport, Physical Education, Recreation, Dance, Sport in Art and the Olympic Games.
I wonder if anyone will make a donation.
– Craig Zablo
POW – Rare Shot of Sly and Carl Weathers
Thanks to Roberto Angeli [from Brazil] for sending in this week’s rarely seen POW! –Craig Zablo
Sly’s Denmark Interview
| Steen [from Denmark] sent us the scan to the left and the translation of the interview which follows:
Ekstra Bladet, Denmark, May 30, 2003 I HATED RAMBO. – I’ll never forget my first visit to Copenhagen in the mid eighties. I was on honeymoon with Brigitte and had been looking forward to experiencing her city. But my plane was vandalised by people who painted the words “Ho Chi Minh” and “Fascist” on it. And I received deaththreats. |
– All this apparently because of my Rambo films. And at Harvard University, where I was going to receive an award, people poured animal blood on me.
– After a while it became too much. And I started to really hate the Rambo character. People apparently thought I was him, says Sylvester Enzio Stallone, 56, who was married for two years to Brigitte Nielsen.
– The so-called serious filmmakers has never really taken him seriously. And he’s often been laughed at. But Stallone himself has been doing most of the laughing…All the way to the bank. He’s so rich, it’s almost disgusting. Rambo really put him on the map and since then he’s been asking all the way up to $20 million to do roles that didn’t require him to speak much, but only to be a oneman army, who deals with bad guys his own way.
NO MORE RAMBO
Today Sly has a very different view of the Rambo films: – I don’t regret a thing. The films were huge hits. And back then they meant a great deal to the real Vietnam vets. I’m sure of that. Even if the films were only adventure films, I think they took away some of the pain, that those vets felt. Like an escape from reality. But for me, the Rambo films are a thing of the past.
– What do you think about guns?
– “I can’t say I like guns, but I do have guns at my house. You have got to be able to protect your home. Most Americans own guns. But I don’t want to be remembered as this war guerilla. I can offer so much more. Look at “Copland.” I’m not just into violent movies. And I was only payed $60,000.”
– Have you had any serious personal experiences?
– “Yes, my daughter was born with a weak heart but she had an operation and is fine today. An experience like that changes you. Every thought imaginable goes through your head. Anything from religion, moral and succes etc. Suddenly you realise how out of control you really are. You can’t do a thing in those situations. No matter how much money you have.”
– Are you a religious man?
– “I’d like to keep that to myself.”
– You say you don’t regret a thing, but are there films you are particularly proud of?
– “Yes, a film called ‘F.I.S.T.’ and also ‘Copland.’ In both cases I insisted on playing the leading roles. I’m good at sticking to my own core, no mater what people say.
– What about a film like “Cobra”?
– “Well, that was a long time ago. It’s an ok action film, but probably not the kind of thing I’d be doing today. But there has to be room for harmless entertainment.”
About his own looks he says: – I’m not good looking in the traditional sense. I have dogs eyes, my mouth is curved, my teeth aren’t out of a toothpaste commercial and my voice sounds like a cheap mafia guy. But somehow it all adds up, so I guess I’m doing ok.
– You are doing ok, Sly. To us B-movie fans, you are a god.
Thanks again to Steen for sharing! – Craig Zablo
Sly’s Role in “Taxi 3”
Simon from Sly’s official site at SylvesterStallone.com has posted up a clip of Sly‘s cameo
in Luc Besson‘s “Taxi 3.” It’s another cool feature from Sly and Simon and well worth a look.
– Craig Zablo
Sly’s Still Pumped
The June 2, 2003 issue of US Weekly contains the above item in the “Faces and Places” section.
– Craig Zablo [05.25.03]
POW – Sly
Thanks to Jeanine for sending in this week’s vintage POW! – Craig Zablo
Sly and Jen Attend Premiere
Sly Stallone and Jennifer attended the premiere of ‘The In-Laws,’ staring Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks, on Monday, May 19, 2003, in Los Angeles.
– Craig Zablo
Sly Happy Meals
McDonald’s and Dimension Films will take Happy Meals to a whole new dimension this summer, as characters from the highly anticipated, 3-D action-packed ” Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over” movie jump from the pages of six one-of-a-kind 3-D comic books featured in McDonald’s Happy Meals. Complete with action figures, ultra-hip 3-D glasses and 3-D comic books, this exciting new Happy Meal event brings back the magic of 3-D and the page turning adventures of “Spy Kids3-D: Game Over,” releasing in theaters everywhere July 25, 2003.
Thanks to Joe Tanto and Randy from The Arnold Fan – Craig Zablo
Sly Tees Up
Sly Stallone participated in the Lexus $1 million hole-in-one shootout during the 5th annual Michael Douglas & Friends Celebrity Golf Tournament in Boulder City, Nevada, on May 18, 2003. The event will appear on ABC Sports on July 20, 2003.
– Craig Zablo