Entertainment

Dick Butkus, Fearsome Hall Of Fame Chicago Bears Linebacker, Dies At 80

Published

11 months ago

2023-10-06

Chicago — had a photograph of Dick Butkus sneering behind his facemask adorned the cover of the 1970 NFL preview issue of Sports Illustrated, which featured the headline “The Most Feared Man in the Game.” Opponents severely injured by his bone-rattling blows could attest that this was not an exaggeration.

The Chicago Bears announced the passing of Butkus, a middle linebacker who set the standard for the position in the modern era with his speed and ferocity. His age was eighty.

The team’s statement to Butkus’ family confirmed that he passed away while dozing off at his Malibu, California, home.

Butkus was named to the first team of the Pro Bowl five times and participated in eight of his nine seasons before his retirement at 31 due to a knee injury. In 1979, his first year of eligibility, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the prototypical Monster of the Midway. He continues to be regarded as one of the league’s finest defensive players.

“Dick Butkus was a fierce and ardent rival who contributed to the linebacker position’s reputation as one of the greatest in NFL history.” “The Chicago Bears and the position will forever be associated with Dick’s name as the model linebacker due to his intuition, toughness, and athleticism,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “In addition, we recall Dick as a steadfast advocate for former players and players of all skill levels.”

A moment of silence was observed before Thursday night’s Bears game against the Washington Commanders in remembrance of Butkus.

Butkus enjoyed a lengthy second career as a sports broadcaster, an actor in films and television series, and a sought-after pitchman for products varying from antifreeze to beer, capitalizing on his reputation as the most formidable individual in the room. Regardless of whether the script required comedy or drama, Butkus portrayed himself, frequently concealing a gentler side behind his stern exterior.

“I would never go out to hurt anybody deliberately,” Butkus responded humorously when questioned about his reputation on the pitch. “Unless it was significant, such as a league game or something.”

Butkus was the only professional athlete who dedicated his entire career to his hometown. At Chicago Vocational High, he excelled as a linebacker, fullback, and kicker before proceeding to the University of Illinois. Born as the youngest of eight children on December 9, 1942, he was raised on the city’s South Side as a supporter of the Chicago Cardinals, the Bears’ crosstown rivals.

However, following his selection by the Bears and Denver Broncos (a then-member of the defunct American Football League) in the first round of the 1965 NFL Draught, Butkus opted to remain in Chicago and play for NFL founder and coach George Halas. In the same year, the Bears added Gale Sayers, a future Hall of Fame running back, to their roster via an additional first-round selection.

“He was Chicago’s son,” Halas’ grandson and Bears chairman, George McCaskey, said in a statement. “He embodied the qualities George Halas sought in a player—tenacity, intelligence, instincts, zeal, and leadership—and what our great city is about. He refused to tolerate anything less than his or his teammates’ best performance.

Dick Butkus, Fearsome Hall Of Fame Chicago Bears Linebacker, Dies At 80

Butkus assumed the position of middle linebacker from Bill George, who is regarded as the NFL’s first great innovator. In 1954, George abandoned his three-point stance in the center of the defensive line and began each play from several paces away. This allowed him to observe the play’s unfolding and quickly reach the ball.

However, Butkus brought speed, agility, and a scorched-earth attitude that his predecessors could only have envisioned. In his first year, he intercepted five passes, recovered six fumbles, and was unofficially credited with forcing six more. He also made his first of eight consecutive Pro Bowl appearances. However, his reputation as a disruptor extended far beyond his ability to seize football possession.

Butkus would strike runners from above, envelop them, and propel them to the ground as if they were cloth dolls. He was once referred to by Playboy magazine as “the meanest, angriest, toughest, dirtiest” NFL player and an “animal, a savage, subhuman.” That type of description needs to be set better with Butkus. However, they were difficult to dispute.

Several opponents asserted that Butkus bit them or poked them in the face during pileups, and he admitted that even during warmups, “I would manufacture things to make me mad.” At the old Tigers Stadium, the Detroit Lions utilized an I-formation against the Chicago Bears. However, Butkus rendered the center, quarterback, fullback, and halfback ineffective.

He only sometimes ended his journey there. On multiple occasions, Butkus collided with ball carriers well beyond the sidelines. He pursued them on multiple occasions onto the running tracks surrounding the field and even the spectators.

“Just hitting people wasn’t good enough,” said Ed O’Bradovich, a teammate. “He enjoyed degrading others.”

With a record of 48-74-4, the Bears suffered far more losses than victories during his tenure, despite their endeavors. As a result of tendon issues that arose in high school, Butkus sustained a severe knee injury in the 1970s and underwent preventive surgery before the subsequent season. He contemplated undergoing a second operation following his nine-game absence during the 1973 season.

A surgeon asked, “how a man in your shape can play football, or why you would even want to,” prompting Butkus to declare his retirement in May 1974.

Subsequently, Butkus filed a lawsuit against the Bears for $1.6 million, alleging that he was deprived of adequate medical care and was entitled to the remaining four years of his contract salary. A $600,000 settlement was reached for the litigation, but Butkus and Halas communicated only five years ago.

Sayers and Butkus both failed to qualify for the postseason. Butkus and Sayers had long since departed when the Bears re-entered the postseason in 1977, having won the championship in 1963.

The Bears regained their preeminent position in 1985 by winning their sole Super Bowl. Since then, however, they have only returned to the championship game once. Butkus was unable to comprehend which reason.

“There is no reason why we cannot or should not be in the running at all times,” he stated in June 2019 at the Bears’ 100th anniversary celebration. “I understand that you are concerned about draught selections or other matters that arise when you consistently complete tasks first.” How do you account for the fact that New England has been there for so long? That is incorrect. The Bears ought to be the victor.

Following his departure from football, Butkus gained immediate notoriety. In the fifteen years that followed, he appeared in a dozen feature films, including “Brian’s Song” in 1971, as well as the sitcoms “My Two Dads” and “Hang Time.” In addition, he rejoined the Bears in 1985 as a radio analyst and became Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder’s replacement on the pregame program “The NFL Today” on CBS in 1988.

In recognition of Butkus, the Pro Football Hall of Fame lowered its flags to half-staff.

Through the Butkus Foundation, he assisted in establishing a program to promote early screenings for cardiac disease at a hospital in Southern California. He advocated for a campaign to persuade high school athletes to avoid performance-enhancing drugs and to train and consume well.

The foundation administers the Butkus Award, created in 1985 to recognize the greatest linebacker in college football. In 2008, it was extended to include high school and professional athletes.

McCaskey stated, “Dick had a gruff demeanour, which may have deterred some individuals from approaching him, but he actually had a soft touch.”

In recognition of Butkus, the Pro Football Hall of Fame lowered its flags to half-staff.

“Playing in an era when middle linebacker became one of the game’s glamour positions — and several of Dick’s contemporaries also would end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame — his name most often was cited first as the epitome of what it took to excel at the highest level,” Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said while delivering a statement.

Butkus is survived by his children, Ricky, Matt, and Nikki, as well as his wife, Helen. Luke Butkus, a nephew, has served as a college and NFL coach, including tenure with the Chicago Bears.

SOURCE – (AP)

Entertainment

Tim Burton’s ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ a Box Office Success Gets 4.5 Stars

Published

11 hours ago

2024-09-07

Geoff Thomas

Beetlejuice is 41% ahead of the norm for the action comedy sci-fi genre - Netflix Image

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice preview reportedly made $13 million for Warner Bros. Fans gave it 4.5 stars on Comscore/Screen Engine’s PostTrak, while both parents and children under the age of 12 gave it 5 stars.

The sequel has a current budget of $90 million, with room to grow.

The sequel starring Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, and Winona Ryder had 59% female attendees, with 73% of those attendees being 25 and older. In terms of gender, 62% of the children were girls and 38% were boys. Last night, the Latino and Hispanic community had an impressive showing at 36% of the total audience.

According to Yahoo Entertainment, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice social media reach With 508.6 million followers across TikTok, Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram combined, Beetlejuice is 41% ahead of the norm for the action comedy sci-fi genre.

“Jenna Ortega has stunned her 38.2 million Instagram followers with 103.1 million views, while Michael Keaton has 1.58 million and Willem Dafoe has 155 thousand,” the social media analytics company adds.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice a Remarkable Sequel

Additionally, they mention, “Convo for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice A remarkable feat for a sequel, Beetlejuice has received mostly good reviews from audiences who have praised the film for its originality and sense of purpose. ‘At first, I thought this was another Scream movie, then I thought it was the Wednesday Season 2!’ A number of fans, including new viewers, are ecstatic to see Jenna Ortega in a horror film.

According to fans of the 1988 original, “My inner child from the 80’s is screaming!” when asked about the style of Jenna Ortega’s flicks. I’m more pumped up for this movie than any other! “I admire the practical effects and the attempts to make it look like the old movie!!” is one commenter’s praise for the show’s expert production values and impressive use of special effects.

You can count on seeing a plethora of costumed fans at the movies this weekend.

A large number of collectible concessions are also available. Beetlejuice jack-in-the-box popcorn buckets are available at Cinemark, competing with Sandworm and Wolverine

For Nicolas Cage, Making A Serial Killer Horror Movie Was A Healing Experience

For Nicolas Cage, Making A Serial Killer Horror Movie Was A Healing Experience

Entertainment

Trump film ‘The Apprentice’ finds distributor and will open before the election

Published

1 week ago

2024-08-31

Kiara Grace

NEW YORK — Trump Film | After failing to generate interest following its Cannes Film Festival screening, “The Apprentice,” starring Sebastian Stan as a teenage Donald Trump, has found a distributor who intends to release the film right before the election in November.

Briarcliff Entertainment will release “The Apprentice” in theatres across the United States and Canada on October 11, just weeks before the November 5 election.

Director Ali Abbasi, a Danish-Iranian filmmaker, had prioritized releasing “The Apprentice” in theatres before electors voted. After major studios and film distributors declined to bid on the project, Abbasi complained on X in early June that “for some reason certain power people in your country don’t want you to see it!!!”

Trump film ‘The Apprentice’ finds distributor and will open before the election

In a statement issued Friday, Steven Cheung, the Trump campaign’s communications director, described the film’s release as “election interference by Hollywood elites right before November.”

“This ‘film’ is pure malicious defamation, should never see the light of day, and doesn’t even deserve a place in the straight-to-DVD section of a bargain bin at a soon-to-be-closed discount movie store, it belongs in a skip fire,” Cheung tweeted.

The prospect of legal action was one factor that decreased interest in “The Apprentice”. After the film’s Cannes premiere in May, Cheung labeled it “pure fiction” and stated that the Trump team would pursue a lawsuit “to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers.”

“The Apprentice” follows Trump’s rise to dominance in New York real estate, guided by defense attorney Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong). Late in the film, Trump is seen raping his wife, Ivana Trump (portrayed by Maria Bakalova). In her 1990 divorce deposition, Ivana Trump alleged Donald Trump raped her. Trump rejected the claim, and Ivana Trump later clarified that she did not mean it literally but rather that she felt violated.

Abbasi has stated that Trump might not despise the film.

Trump film ‘The Apprentice’ finds distributor and will open before the election

“I would offer to go and meet him wherever he wants and talk about the context of the movie, have a screening and have a chat afterwards, if that’s interesting to anyone at the Trump campaign,” Abbasi stated during the May election.

Briarcliff Entertainment has published several films, including the 2022 documentary “Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down” and the Liam Neeson thriller “Memory.” The indie distributor is led by Tom Ortenberg, who helped Lionsgate distribute Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” and, as CEO of Open Road, supported the best picture Oscar winner “Spotlight.”

SOURCE | AP

Entertainment

Hanumankind: The Indian Rapper Who Overtook Kendrick Lamar on Global Music Charts

Published

1 week ago

2024-08-31

Salman Ahmad

In a remarkably short span, Indian rapper Hanumankind has made a significant mark on the country’s emerging hip-hop scene.

His track “Big Dawgs” has not only topped global charts but also briefly overshadowed Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.” The BBC delves into the extraordinary ascent of Hanumankind, whose real name is Sooraj Cherukat.

At 31, Cherukat, also known as Hanumankind, radiates an electrifying presence in the “Big Dawgs” music video.

Filmed in a maut ka kuan—a dramatic performance space where drivers execute gravity-defying stunts inside a colossal wooden barrel—Cherukat commands the scene with an intense energy, surrounded by daring drivers zipping past him.

The track, a collaboration with producer Kalmi Reddy and director Bijoy Shetty, has amassed over 132 million streams on Spotify and 83 million views on YouTube since its release in July, propelling Cherukat to international fame.

On the surface, Cherukat’s music follows the hip-hop tradition of portraying gritty street narratives through raw, explicit lyrics. However, a deeper look reveals a rapper navigating his multifaceted identity through his art.

The Roots of Hanumankind’s Sound

Born in Kerala, Cherukat’s childhood was a global journey due to his father’s work with a major oil company, leading him to live in France, Nigeria, Egypt, and Dubai. His formative years in Houston, Texas, were crucial in shaping his musical career.

Houston’s hip-hop scene is unique, known for its distinctive “screwed-up” remix style influenced by the local use of cough syrup. Cherukat has often cited Texas hip-hop legends like DJ Screw, UGK, Big Bunny, and Project Pat as major influences.

Although his style reflects this heritage, it has evolved since his return to India in 2021 after dropping out of college.

Having earned a business degree and worked with firms like Goldman Sachs, Cherukat left the corporate world to pursue rap full-time, a passion he had previously juggled alongside other commitments.

Cherukat’s music reflects his attempt to reconcile his cosmopolitan experiences with his Indian roots. His tracks often highlight the struggles of southern Indian street life, combining intense vocal delivery with engaging rhythms.

His song “Genghis,” filmed in Bengaluru, critiques national issues through a gritty lens.

Challenging Rap Norms and Navigating Criticism: Hanumankind’s Unique Path

In “Big Dawgs,” Cherukat diverges from the typical rap glorification of wealth, focusing instead on small-town stunt performers from impoverished backgrounds. “These are the people that are the real risk-takers…Those are the big dogs, for real,” he told Complex.

Despite his innovative approach, Cherukat faces criticism. Some argue that his English lyrics may limit his appeal to non-English-speaking Indian audiences and that his style too closely mirrors Western artists.

Abid Haque, a PhD student, believes that while Cherukat’s inclusion of South Asians in the Western rap scene is notable, his music sometimes feels disconnected from Indian reality.

Cherukat himself navigates this duality. He views his return to India as a way to explore his sense of belonging. “I think it really moulded me as someone who never really had a place to call home… and that kind of shaped the way I perceive music, people, and culture,” he explained.

Yet, he also embraces a broader perspective: “I’m not an Indian rapper, but I’m a rapper from India,” indicating his position outside the traditional Indian hip-hop scene.

Hanumankind’s unique style has attracted both admiration and criticism, often encountering resistance from listeners who struggle to categorize him. His distinct approach and refusal to conform to expectations have, however, resonated with many fans.

“He isn’t trying to cater to an Indian audience, which shows in his music, and he is unapologetic about it,” said Arnab Ghosh, a Delhi-based psychiatrist.

Cherukat’s journey, marked by his adaptability and dedication to authenticity, represents both a triumph and a challenge. As he continues to break boundaries and redefine expectations, Hanumankind remains a compelling figure in the global hip-hop landscape.

“You keep certain things as your roots, but it’s up to you to adapt to the environment and go with the flow, as long as you don’t compromise on integrity,” he once said, capturing the essence of his remarkable career.

Source: BBC