Gonna Fly Now!

Rocky (SYLVESTER STALLONE) knows that strength coupled with endurance will give him a “slugger’s chance” against a younger and more skilled fighter.
– Craig Zablo

The final round of the Academy Award™-winning Rocky franchise hits theatres Friday, December 22, 2006. Written and directed by SYLVESTER STALLONE.

Photo by: John Bramley

“Rambo” Fan Art

You just gotta love Kurt Howgate‘s Rambo IV teaser poster!

Kurt is a longtime SZoner and has been a Stallone fan even longer [ over 20-years]Kurt is a competitive armwrestler, and runs the Northeast Armwrestling Message Board.

SZoner, Larry “Wizardfenix” checked in with his take on Rambo.

Wiz is an OS [Original StalloneZoner] but due to work and other issues hasn’t been around as much. Hopefully that’s changed and he’ll be back in full force!

Thanks SZoners! – Craig

Entertainment Weekly is Pumped about”Rocky Balboa”

Everyone is getting on the “Rocky Balboa” bandwagon!

Entertainment Weekly’s August 18, 2006 Fall Movie Preview issue highlights “Rocky Balboa” in the “Things We’re Pumped for in December” and calls it the “unlikely but still stirring idea of Stallone climbing back into the ring for ‘Rocky Balboa.'” EW also runs the photo above with a look at the film.

Here are a couple of excerpts: Adrian’s death “is a dramatic ploy to put Roc at rock bottom” and from Sly, “What they [Mason Dixon’s camp] don’t understand is that Rocky‘s got this beast inside, this grief, and to him it’s not a fight, it’s a purging.”

– Craig

Feeling Strong Now

Rocky (SYLVESTER STALLONE) knows that in order to go toe-to-toe with a younger, more skilled fighter, he’s going to need to build strength…
– Craig Zablo

The final round of the Academy Award™-winning Rocky franchise hits theatres Friday, December 22, 2006. Written and directed by SYLVESTER STALLONE.

Photo by: John Bramley

Sly and Wepner Settle

Sly Stallone and former heavyweight contender Chuck Wepner have reached a settlement in Wepner’s suit against Stallone for using Wepner as inspiration for ‘Rocky’. Lawyers for Wepner and Stallone
filed in U.S. District Court that the 2003 lawsuit was settled for undisclosed terms.– Craig

Natasha Bedingfield & “Rocky Balboa” Theme

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Natasha Bedingfield & “Rocky Balboa” Theme

 SZonerAlain from France e-mailed to say that British singer Natasha Bedingfield “has been personally asked by Sly to perform the theme tune for his new Rocky movie.” According to reports Sly met Natasha at a LA party and asked her to perform the song “Still Here” for the “Rocky Balboa” soundtrack.Click HERE for the full report– Craig

“Rocky” Statue Going Back Home?

Mike Klein’s August 13, 2006 column in the Philadelphia Inquirer has this update on the Rocky statue:

Looks like the fight over the location of the Rocky statue is headed for the final round, and the populist pugilist is poised to prevail by TKO.

Supporters of the statue, which Sylvester Stallone gave to the city in 1982, want it placed on the outskirts of the Art Museum steps, which Stallone made famous.

Some bluenoses on the city Art Commission, meanwhile, sniff that the piece is not art. (Look up the work of some commission members and decide for yourself whether that’s art.)

The statue’s chances looked dim as recently as Wednesday, when a commission review committee deadlocked, 3-3, on the site plan. City Public Property Commissioner Joan Schlotterbeck, who favors it, withdrew the application before it went to the full commission, which has shot it down twice before.

But I hear that through gentle arm-twisting, the full commission likely has the votes to approve the location, and a decision might come down before the next scheduled commission meeting Sept. 6. “We’re very hopeful,” Commerce Director Stephanie Naidoff said Friday.

Good timing. Sept. 6 is the start of “Philly Loves Rocky Week.”

Civic types, led by lawyer and Stallone pal Jimmy Binns, are organizing events including a boxing exhibition in JFK Plaza (Sept. 6) and a Rocky and Adrian look-alike contest (Sept. 7). Stallone has agreed to come in Sept. 9 to be grand marshal of the Hero Thrill Show.

The idea for the week was hatched after the Fairmount Park Commission approved the site location in May. At the time, Stallone was to attend a statue dedication on Sept. 8.

The ceremony may come off then after all.


For Mike Klein’s full article click HERE – Craig

Rock Bottom

Everyone is getting on the “Rocky Balboa” bandwagon!

Entertainment Weekly’s August 18, 2006 issue highlights “Rocky Balboa” in the “Things We’re Pumped for in December” section and calls it the “unlikely, but still stirring idea of Stallone climbing back into the ring for ‘Rocky Balboa.'” EW also runs a cropped version of today’s photo with a look at the film.

Here are a couple of excerpts: Adrian’s death “is a dramatic ploy to put Roc at rock bottom” and from Sly, “What they [Mason Dixon’s camp] don’t understand is that Rocky’s got this beast inside, this grief, and to him it’s not a fight, it’s a purging.”

– Craig Zablo

The final round of the Academy Award™-winning Rocky franchise hits theatres Friday, December 22, 2006.
Written and directed by SYLVESTER STALLONE.

Photo by: John Bramley