http://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/players/oliver_stone/137567 Recent articles about Oliver Stone en-us Roger Ebert died Thursday at the age of 70. Ebert was not only one of the greatest film critics of our time, but also a fantastic writer. The man won a Pulitzer Prize and entertained us with his great movie reviews both in writing and on TV. As I have gotten more and more into movies over time, I started comparing my reviews of a movie to those of the critics. More often than not, my thoughts seemed to agree most with Ebert’s. The man had an excellent way of expressing his thoughts and, despite not being overly critical, was not afraid to say when he disliked a movie. In honor of Ebert, we decided to share portions of his reviews of some of the most notable sports movies. (click on the links to read his full review) Hoop Dreams (4 stars) A film like “Hoop Dreams” is what the movies are for. It takes us, shakes us, and make us think in new ways about the world around us. It gives us the impression of having touched life itself. [...] Many filmgoers are reluctant to see documentaries,... Thu, 04 Apr 2013 19:17:42 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/entertainment/article_external/roger_eberts_reviews_of_notable_sports_movies/13318714 http://network.yardbarker.com/entertainment/article_external/roger_eberts_reviews_of_notable_sports_movies/13318714 Roger Ebert’s reviews of notable sports movies http://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/roger_eberts_reviews_of_notable_sports_movies/13318714 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/7/273b5cf65ea02f09d58e1098386ed342a6eb49c0/mini/roger.jpg Here they are, folks: the ten (eleven, actually) films that succeed the most at being both good films and great football movies. It’s a challenging dual-role, but these films are up to the task. The one thing I learned from this exercise is that it’s okay for a man to cry during a movie… as long as that movie is about football!  Without further ado: #10 Invincible exudes ‘70s charm. While I tend to cringe at the actual ‘70s-era qualities of a film like “Brian’s Song”, I find those same qualities endearing in a retrospective piece like Invincible, the story of real-life special teamer Vince Papali (Mark Wahlberg), who walked onto a Philadelphia Eagles squad coached by Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear). “Invincible” uses a soundtrack featuring tunes from Jim Croce and Bachman-Turner Overdrive to great effect and entire film is photographed through a sort of golden filter that nicely contributes to the retro feel. The crew also took great pains to recreate vintage Eagles games with loving au... Sat, 16 Mar 2013 15:35:46 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/the_top_10_best_football_films_one_cinephiles_take/13158097 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/the_top_10_best_football_films_one_cinephiles_take/13158097 The Top 10 Best Football Films: One Cinephile’s Take http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/the_top_10_best_football_films_one_cinephiles_take/13158097 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png An upcoming film about the life of late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno now has a star, and a pretty impressive one at that. Al Pacino is officially slated to play the legendary coach in Brian De Palma’s upcoming Paterno biopic Happy Valley, which will be based on Joe Posnanski’s best-selling book “Paterno.” Seems like a logical fit considering this will be the third time De Palma and Pacino have teamed up for a project (following ‘Scarface’ and `Carlito’s Way’) and Pacino has some on-screen football coaching experience, as he played coach Tony D’Amato in Oliver Stone’s 1999 football drama Any Given Sunday. Plot details of Happy Valley are still a bit of a mystery but Posnanski’s book followed Paterno’s final years, as the winningest coach in college football history saw his career end in disgrace in 2011 with the child sex abuse scandal involving assistant Jerry Sandusky. One would imagine the film would follow suit. Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:37:16 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/entertainment/article_external/al_pacino_set_to_play_joe_paterno_in_upcoming_biopic/12687805 http://network.yardbarker.com/entertainment/article_external/al_pacino_set_to_play_joe_paterno_in_upcoming_biopic/12687805 Al Pacino Set To Play Joe Paterno In Upcoming Biopic http://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/al_pacino_set_to_play_joe_paterno_in_upcoming_biopic/12687805 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png  It's not a shock that someone in Hollywood would tackle the life of Joe Paterno and the Sandusky scandal that led to his downfall at Penn State. According to Deadline, there's already one reportedly brewing, based on the recent Joe Posnaski Paterno biography, with Al Pachino playing the former Nittany Lion head football coach. "ICM Partners next week will be taking a package for a movie about fallen legend Penn State football head coach Joe Paterno, with Al Pacino attached to play the man called Papa Joe by most student at Happy Valley. The package will be build around Joe Posnanski’s biography Paterno, which is now atop The New York Times Bestseller List in its second week. Pacino’s manager, Rick Nicita, will produce." Pachino played football coach Tony D'Amato in the Oliver Stone pro football film Any Given Sunday.  (via Deadline, HT  SB*Nation) Fri, 07 Sep 2012 18:44:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/al_pacino_linked_to_film_project_based_on_joe_paterno_biography/11655421 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/al_pacino_linked_to_film_project_based_on_joe_paterno_biography/11655421 Al Pacino linked to film project based on Joe Paterno biography. http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/al_pacino_linked_to_film_project_based_on_joe_paterno_biography/11655421 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Time to give credit where credit is due, the Kings take the cup in fantastic fashion and Marcas explains that he is not a jinx. The fellas talk about how Pacman will have to take a bite out of crime as he loses a match that even Oliver Stone couldn't figure out.  Is this Karma.... we will get it into it.  It's finally here, the NBA Finals will get started and the New Era will stick to their guns or will they? Time to decide who is bringing home the Larry O'Brien home.  Last but not least...... Brian McKnight is now in the porn business...nough said. Show 6-11-12.mp3 - 4shared.com - online file sharing and storage - download Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:06:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/entertainment/article_external/if_you_are_not_first_your_last/10996082 http://network.yardbarker.com/entertainment/article_external/if_you_are_not_first_your_last/10996082 IF YOU ARE NOT FIRST YOUR LAST..! http://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/if_you_are_not_first_your_last/10996082 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png 1. Sandy Koufax Every sport has its version of Jim Morrison—the guy who walked away in his prime, leaving only a legacy of youth, beauty, and brilliance. Okay, Morrison may not have been brilliant, nor was he particularly beautiful at the time he gained admittance to Père Lachaise, but you get my meaning and you probably really want me to stop rhapsodizing about Jim Morrison. So I won’t tell you about my own visit to Père Lachaise, and how by the time I went there, I was more interested in visiting Balzac and Collette than I was the final resting place of the Lizard King. I certainly won’t tell you about how hard it is to find Morrison’s grave without a map. By the way, I’m talking about Jim Morrison, lead singer of the Doors, not Jim Morrison, third baseman of the White Sox and Pirates. What was I saying? Oh yes, like Michael Jordan in the NBA and Jim Brown in the NFL, Sandy Koufax walked away from his sport when he was playing at a level almost no one had before. Unlike Jo... Wed, 09 May 2012 03:15:38 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/the_lineup_card_10_most_disappointing_career_ending_injuries_by_baseball_prospectus/10750973 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/the_lineup_card_10_most_disappointing_career_ending_injuries_by_baseball_prospectus/10750973 The Lineup Card: 10 Most Disappointing Career-Ending Injuries by Baseball Prospectus http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/the_lineup_card_10_most_disappointing_career_ending_injuries_by_baseball_prospectus/10750973 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Part two of our Summer Movie Match Up, a service in which we tell you the one summer blockbuster you're going to see each week. Spiderman could’ve been in The Avengers. There were even rumors that Spiderman would make an appearance in The Avengers, because you know, Spiderman IS in the actual Avengers. But noooooooooo, Spidey is too big of a superhero to share screen time and just had to have his own summer blockbuster [it’s actually because Marvel Studios owns The Avengers and Sony has Spiderman, but I like my scenario of petty, prima donna superheroes better]. So instead we get a Spiderman reboot with a poor man’s Tobey Maguire in Andrew Garfield, a rich man’s Kirsten Dunst in Emma Stone and then something for the middle class in Denis Leary. It doesn’t look amazing as its title would suggest, but it doesn’t look awful. It looks, actually, exactly like the movies they made a few years ago, which would be fine—IF THEY DIDN’T ALREADY MAKE THESE MOVIES A FEW YEARS AG Tue, 08 May 2012 13:17:08 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/entertainment/article_external/summer_movie_match_up_part_deux/10746128 http://network.yardbarker.com/entertainment/article_external/summer_movie_match_up_part_deux/10746128 Summer Movie Match Up: Part Deux http://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/summer_movie_match_up_part_deux/10746128 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Jim Ross is back with his latest blog over at JRsbarbq.com. Here are some highlights: WWE developmental: “I’d expect that WWE will ‘call up’ several deserving talents sometime after WM28 and it will be interesting to see how these talents are introduced to the mass, TV audience and how said talents respond to their new found opportunities and the pressure that they will discover at the next level. Several talents are fundamentally ready for the chance of a lifetime but none are as good as they should aspire to be. Comfort zones are the kiss of death and striving each day to get better at what ever one does is not optional but a requirement in my perspective. Those that approach their professions in such a manner greatly enhance their chances of success. Only time will tell but I’m optimistic that WWE fans will embrace several new, FCW trained talents in the coming months.” The Rock & John Cena’s war of words: “As a result of @TheRock personal barrage on @JohnCena, Cena has becom... Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:52:27 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/wwe/article_external/jrs_blog_wwe_call_ups_rock_cenas_feud_takers_streak_and_more/10342447 http://network.yardbarker.com/wwe/article_external/jrs_blog_wwe_call_ups_rock_cenas_feud_takers_streak_and_more/10342447 JR’s Blog: WWE Call Ups, Rock & Cena’s Feud, Takers Streak, and More! http://www.yardbarker.com/wwe/articles/jrs_blog_wwe_call_ups_rock_cenas_feud_takers_streak_and_more/10342447 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/4/946fc0671b447f2a854ddb7661b7bb6d7a9864f7/mini/First_McMahon_Million_357f.jpg Jim Ross is back with his latest blog over at JRsbarbq.com. Here are some highlights: WWE developmental: “I’d expect that WWE will ‘call up’ several deserving talents sometime after WM28 and it will be interesting to see how these talents are introduced to the mass, TV audience and how said talents respond to their new found opportunities and the pressure that they will discover at the next level. Several talents are fundamentally ready for the chance of a lifetime but none are as good as they should aspire to be. Comfort zones are the kiss of death and striving each day to get better at what ever one does is not optional but a requirement in my perspective. Those that approach their professions in such a manner greatly enhance their chances of success. Only time will tell but I’m optimistic that WWE fans will embrace several new, FCW trained talents in the coming months.” The Rock & John Cena’s war of words: “As a result of @TheRock personal barrage on @JohnCena, Cena has bec... Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:51:23 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/wwe/article_external/jim_ross_speaks_on_john_cena_rocks_feud_undertakers_streak_more/10338910 http://network.yardbarker.com/wwe/article_external/jim_ross_speaks_on_john_cena_rocks_feud_undertakers_streak_more/10338910 Jim Ross Speaks on John Cena & Rocks Feud, Undertakers Streak, More http://www.yardbarker.com/wwe/articles/jim_ross_speaks_on_john_cena_rocks_feud_undertakers_streak_more/10338910 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/4/946fc0671b447f2a854ddb7661b7bb6d7a9864f7/mini/First_McMahon_Million_357f.jpg Jim Ross says in his latest blog entry that he thinks WWE will call up several developmental wrestlers to the main roster after WrestleMania. “It will be interesting to see how these talents are introduced to the mass, TV audience and how said talents respond to their new found opportunities and the pressure that they will discover at the next level.” “I’m optimistic that WWE fans will embrace several new, FCW trained talents in the coming months.” Here are some other highlights. On The Rock/John Cena feud: “As a result of @TheRock personal barrage on @JohnCena, Cena has become much more edgy which I have enjoyed. Both Cena and Rock are from the competitive and physical world of college football and I think those deep roots will manifest itself into a physically demanding main event at WM28. I hope that WWE saves all the physical interaction between the two stars until April 1 and, to my way of thinking, I can’t see why WWE would risk putting either man at a physical risk prior to w... Sat, 17 Mar 2012 20:06:23 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/wwe/article_external/jr_several_fcw_talents_likely_to_be_called_up_soon/10338121 http://network.yardbarker.com/wwe/article_external/jr_several_fcw_talents_likely_to_be_called_up_soon/10338121 JR: Several FCW Talents Likely To Be Called Up Soon http://www.yardbarker.com/wwe/articles/jr_several_fcw_talents_likely_to_be_called_up_soon/10338121 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/4/946fc0671b447f2a854ddb7661b7bb6d7a9864f7/mini/First_McMahon_Million_357f.jpg   February is typically the safest time for a vacation, as the hiatus requires minimal baseball withdrawal, but my return to the office was met with a mountain of news that rivaled the peaks that I had been carving just days prior. With the snow still melting off my boots, I will first address the elephant in the room before taking the Blog Eat Blog bullet train through the events of the past couple of weeks. Ryan Braun became the first player to beat the MLB legal system for PED’s, thanks to a successful appeal of his 50-game suspension for a failing an October drug test. The result generated more questions than answers, as the element of guilt was swept under the rug while issues of protocol took center stage. Fans are left to speculate as to the extent of the Milwaukee slugger’s transgressions, and some of the conspiracy theories will no doubt keep Oliver Stone busy writing the next Oscar-nominated baseball screenplay. Braun’s test result may have been legitimate, and it is plausible that the MVP Wed, 29 Feb 2012 23:00:25 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/blog_eat_blog_pass_the_baking_soda/10194592 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/blog_eat_blog_pass_the_baking_soda/10194592 Blog Eat Blog: Pass the Baking Soda http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/blog_eat_blog_pass_the_baking_soda/10194592 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/e/be0923eea033e16951b4c3c33db4c4e067d1d706/mini/f7.jpg I tried to count all the movies that I saw this year from 2011 and I got to 32 and probably missed a few.  Even I am astonished by that number to be honest.  Lucky for you, I will not be discussing all 32.  Plus, does anyone really need to hear about Lliam Neeson in Unknown or Topher Grace in Take Me Home Tonight?  Didn’t think so.  I’ll be talking about some of the most memorable and notable movies to me, but this won’t be a complete take on 2011 until you guys are finished telling us about your favorites in the comments. Source Code – I actually saw this one twice.  It embodied everything I want in a sci-fi movie from good tension, concepts, visuals and acting.  Jake Gyllenhaal plays a marine named Colter Stevens, who seems lost in his own personal Groundhog day, except before the alarm clock goes off he gets to discuss his mission with Colleen Goodwin played by Vera Farmiga.  Gyllenhaal’s character is transported time and again to a train where he must figure out who has place... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:00:10 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/entertainment/article_external/farewell_2011_the_year_in_movies/8990743 http://network.yardbarker.com/entertainment/article_external/farewell_2011_the_year_in_movies/8990743 Farewell 2011 – The Year in Movies http://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/farewell_2011_the_year_in_movies/8990743 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png I tried to count all the movies that I saw this year from 2011 and I got to 32 and probably missed a few.  Even I am astonished by that number to be honest.  Lucky for you, I will not be discussing all 32.  Plus, does anyone really need to hear about Lliam Neeson in Unknown or Topher Grace in Take Me Home Tonight?  Didn’t think so.  I’ll be talking about some of the most memorable and notable movies to me, but this won’t be a complete take on 2011 until you guys are finished telling us about your favorites in the comments. Source Code – I actually saw this one twice.  It embodied everything I want in a sci-fi movie from good tension, concepts, visuals and acting.  Jake Gyllenhaal plays a marine named Colter Stevens, who seems lost in his own personal Groundhog day, except before the alarm clock goes off he gets to discuss his mission with Colleen Goodwin played by Vera Farmiga.  Gyllenhaal’s character is transported time and again to a train where he must figure out who has place... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:00:10 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/entertainment/article_external/farewell_2011_the_year_in_movies/9003550 http://network.yardbarker.com/entertainment/article_external/farewell_2011_the_year_in_movies/9003550 Farewell 2011 – The Year in Movies http://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/farewell_2011_the_year_in_movies/9003550 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png There was a time when the St. Louis and then newly relocated Phoenix Cardinals were in the same division as the Eagles, Giants, Cowboys and Redskins – the old NFC East. Dating back to their days in Chicago, the Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles had never really been rivals as the two teams were never competitive at the same time. More accurately the Cardinals franchise was not all that competitive… ever. In Chicago they were overshadowed by the Bears faithful. In St. Louis they struggled on the field and at the gate causing the team to move to the desert West in the late 1980s. Despite cornering the sports market (there was only the NBA’s Phoenix Suns as MLB and NHL wouldn’t plant their flags for another 10 years) those soon to be renamed Arizona Cardinals would remain virtually irrelevant for another 20 seasons. The Bidwell family along with their deep space outpost franchise barely registered on the NFL map. These days the Arizona Cardinals are nearly three years removed from thei... Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:27:46 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/eagles_cardinals_too_late_for_7_1/8045008 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/eagles_cardinals_too_late_for_7_1/8045008 Eagles-Cardinals: Too Late For 7-1? http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/eagles_cardinals_too_late_for_7_1/8045008 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png   Only 24 hours after participating in an epic game six and one of the greatest in World Series history the St. Louis Cardinals completed one of the most dramatic seasons in the franchises’ history by beating the Texas Rangers in game seven of the World Series Friday night 6-2 to capture their 11th World Series titles. Manager Tony Larussa capture his third overall trophy and secoond with the team. Cards' Manager Tony LaRussa holds WS trophy The Cardinals won a World Series they weren’t even supposed to be a part of. Seemingly down and out and on the brink of elimination in late August the Redbirds decided to play the type of baseball they should have been playing all along as well as the type that fans in Cardinals’ Nation had come to expect. What would transpire in the ensuing days of September could not have been written even by Oliver Stone himself.    The Cardinals' David Freese celebrates with team after dramatic walk off HR in the 11th inning to win game 6 On August 2... Sun, 30 Oct 2011 06:06:07 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/world_series_champions_how_sweet_it_is/7744060 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/world_series_champions_how_sweet_it_is/7744060 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS, HOW SWEET IT IS!!! http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/world_series_champions_how_sweet_it_is/7744060 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png