“The Contender” is a Winner!

Craig / / 2006, The Contender, TV
Larry Stewart, in his August 11, 2006 column for the LA Times. com says that The Contender has
become a winner! Here are some excerpts:
* “Boxing is in a slump…
* “There is one boxing format, however, that is suddenly showing signs of success — “The Contender.” * The reality series has been revamped from its first season on NBC and is now on ESPN Tuesday nights at 7.”
* “Through four weeks, it is averaging a 1.2 rating and each show is reaching an average of 1.1 million homes. That represents a 33% increase for the same time slot last year.”
* “ESPN is the perfect home for the show,” said Jeffrey Katzenberg, co-founder of DreamWorks and
one of the creators of “The Contender.”
* “The lead producer is Mark Burnett, creator of the “Survivor” series. Last year Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard were co-hosts, but Stallone is now busy filming another “Rocky” movie, leaving
Leonard as the lone host.”
* “The series started four weeks ago with 16 fighters and is now down to 12. Each show provides an
inside look at the fighters and their families and friends and concludes with a five-round fight. The
losers go home until only two are left. The live finale will take place Sept. 26 at the Staples Center, with the winner getting $500,000.”
* “The boxers, culled from a nationwide search, are all professionals with winning records, and all in the 148-pound weight class.”

For Larry Stewart’s full article click HERE – Craig  

"Skill vs Will"

Craig / / Uncategorized

Although Rocky (SYLVESTER STALLONE) just wanted some small local fights, he finds himself back into the ring facing a new rival, Mason Dixon (ANTONIO TARVER) in a dramatically different era.
– 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

“Rocky” Makes Another “All-Time” Best List

Craig / / 2006, Honors, Rocky

Daniel Neman of The Richmond Times Dispatch in his August 4, 2006 column takes a look at his “All-Time Best” sports movies. Neman lists five movies and “Rocky” makes the cut. Here’s what he says:

“Rocky,” 1976. The ultimate underdog story is told with a seemingly limitless reserve of heart. Sylvester Stallone, who also wrote the script, skillfully wrung every dram of emotion out of the story and made a feel-good movie about a guy who actually loses the big fight. It is only when he started winning them, in the sequels, that the character became less interesting.

Thirty years later and “Rocky” is still getting props. And rightly so. For the full report, click HERE. – Craig