Category: News

The NBA will resume play this week in the form of scrimmages in the Disney bubble, with actual games that count beginning July 30. On Monday, teams had to submit final rosters for the bubble, noting players that will be eligible to play, although not everyone on the rosters is guaranteed to play in the restart.

There are a number of players on these rosters that are still awaiting arrival in Orlando after testing positive for COVID-19, but hope to join their teams eventually once cleared and, as such, are included. That’s important to note as these may not be the exact rosters teams have available for the first games, but offers an official look at who will be eligible to play provided health and clearance to get into the bubble.

Boston Celtics

Jaylen Brown
Carsen Edwards
Tacko Fall
Javonte Green
Gordon Hayward
Enes Kanter
Romeo Langford
Semi Ojeleye
Vincent Poirier
Marcus Smart
Jayson Tatum
Daniel Theis
Kemba Walker
Brad Wanamaker
Tremont Waters
Robert Williams III
Grant Williams

Brooklyn Nets

Jarrett Allen
Justin Anderson
Chris Chiozza
Jamal Crawford
Donta Hall
Joe Harris
Tyler Johnson
Rodions Kurucs
Caris LeVert
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot
Jeremiah Martin
Dzanan Musa
Garrett Temple
Lance Thomas

Dallas Mavericks

J.J. Barea
Trey Burke
Antonius Cleveland
Seth Curry
Luka Doncic
Dorian Finney-Smith
Tim Hardaway Jr.
Justin Jackson
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Maxi Kleber
Courtney Lee
Boban Marjanovic
Kristaps Porzingis
Dwight Powell
Josh Reaves
Delon Wright

Denver Nuggets

Will Barton
Keita Bates-Diop
Bol Bol
Vlatko Cancar
Tyler Cook
Torrey Craig
Troy Daniels
PJ Dozier
Jerami Grant
Gary Harris
Nikola Jokic
Paul Millsap
Monte Morris
Jamal Murray
Mason Plumlee
Michael Porter Jr.
Noah Vonleh

Houston Rockets

Bruno Caboclo
DeMarre Carroll
Tyson Chandler
Chris Clemons
Robert Covington
Michel Frazier
Eric Gordon
Jeff Green
James Haren
Danuel House Jr.
Luc Mbah a Moute
Ben McLemore
Austin Rivers
P.J. Tucker
Russell Westbrook

Indiana Pacers

Goga Bitadze
Brian Bowen II
Malcolm Brogdon
Aaron Holiday
Justin Holiday
Alize Johnson
Jeremy Lamb
TJ Leaf
T.J. McConnell
Doug McDermott
Naz Mitrou-Long
Victor Oladipo
Domantas Sabonis
JaKarr Sampson
Edmond Sumner
Myles Turner
T.J. Warren

LA Clippers

Patrick Beverley
Amir Coffey
Paul George
JaMychal Gren
Montrezl Harrell
Reggie Jackson
Kawhi Leonard
Terance Mann
Rodney McGruder
Marcus Morris Sr.
Joakim Noah
Patrick Patterson
Landry Shamet
Lou Williams
Ivica Zubac

LA Lakers

Kostas Antetokounmpo
Devontae Cacok
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Alex Caruso
Quinn Cook
Anthony Davis
Jared Dudley
Danny Green
Talen Horton-Tucker
Dwight Howard
LeBron James
Kyle Kuzma
JaVale McGee
Markieff Morris
Rajon Rondo
JR Smith
Dion Waiters

Memphis Grizzlies

Grayson Allen
Kyle Anderson
Dillon Brooks
Brandon Clarke
Gorgui Dieng
Marko Guduric
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Josh Jackson
Tyus Jones
John Konchar
De’Anthony Melton
Ja Morant
Jontay Porter
Anthony Tolliver
Jonas Valanciunas
Yuta Watanabe
Justise Winslow

Miami Heat

Bam Adebayo
Kyle Alexander
Jimmy Butler
Jae Crowder
Goran Dragic
Udonis Haslem
Tyler Herro
Solomon Hill
Andre Iguodala
Derrick Jones Jr.
Meyers Leonard
Kendrick Nunn
KZ Okpala
Kelly Olynyk
Duncan Robinson
Chris Silva
Gabe Vincent

Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo
Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Eric Bledso
Sterling Brown
Pat Connaughton
Donte DiVincenzo
George Hill
Ersan Ilyasova
Kyle Korver
Brook Lopez
Robin Lopez
Frank Mason
Wesley Matthews
Khris Middleton
Marvin Williams
D.J. Wilson

New Orleans Pelicans

Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Lonzo Ball
Zylan Cheatham
Derrick Favors
Josh Hart
Jaxson Hayes
Jrue Holiday
Brandon Ingram
Frank Jackson
Nicolo Melli
E’Twaun Moore
Jahlil Okafor
JJ Redick
Sindarius Thornwell
Kenrich Williams
Zion Williamson

Oklahoma City Thunder

Steven Adams
Darius Bazley
Deonte Burton
Hamidou Diallo
Luguentz Dort
Terrance Ferguson
Danilo Gallinari
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Devon Hall
Kevin Hervey
Mike Muscala
Abdel Nader
Nerlens Noel
Chris Paul
Andre Roberson
Dennis Schroder

Orlando Magic

D.J. Augustin
Mo Bamba
Khem Birch
Michael Carter-Williams
Gary Clark
James Ennis III
Evan Fournier
Melvin Frazier Jr.
Markelle Fultz
Aaron Gordon
Jonathan Isaac
Wes Iwundu
BJ Johnson
Vic Law
Terrence Ross
Nikola Vucevic

Philadelphia 76ers

Alec Burks
Joel Embiid
Tobias Harris
Al Horford
Furkan Korkmaz
Shake Milton
Raul Neto
Kyle O’Quinn
Norvel Pelle
Josh Richardson
Glenn Robinson III
Mike Scott
Marial Shayok
Ben Simmons
Matisse Thybulle

Phoenix Suns

Deandre Ayton
Aron Baynes
Devin Booker
Mikal Bridges
Jevon Carter
Cheick Diallo
Ty Jerome
Cam Johnson
Frank Kaminsky
Jalen Lecque
Elie Okobo
Kelly Oubre Jr.
Cam Payne
Ricky Rubio
Dario Saric

Portland Trail Blazers

Jaylen Adams
Carmelo Anthony
Zach Collins
Wenyen Gabriel
Mario Hezonja
Jaylen Hoard
Damian Lillard
Nassir Little
CJ McColum
Jusuf Nurkic
Anfernee Simons
Gary Trent Jr.
Hassan Whiteside

Sacramento Kings

Marvin Bagley III
Harrison Barnes
Kent Bazemore
Nemanja Bjelica
Bogdan Bogdanovic
Corey Brewer
Yogi Ferrell
De’Aaron Fox
Harry Giles III
Kyle Guy
Budy Hield
Richaun Holmes
Justin James
DaQuan Jeffries
Cory Joseph
Alex Len
Jabari Parker

San Antonio Spurs

Marco Belinelli
DeMar DeRozan
Drew Eubanks
Bryn Forbes
Rudy Gay
Keldon Johnson
Trey Lyles
Chimezie Metu
Patty Mills
Dejounte Murray
Jakob Poeltl
Luka Samanic
Lonnie Walker IV
Quinndary Weatherspoon
Derrick White
Tyler Zeller

Toronto Raptors

OG Anunoby
Chris Boucher
Oshae Brissett
Terence Davis
Marc Gasol
Dewan Hernandez
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Serge Ibaka
Stanley Johnson
Kyle Lowry
Patrick McCaw
Malcolm Miller
Norman Powell
Pascal Siakam
Matt Thomas
Fred VanVleet
Paul Watson

Utah Jazz
Tony Bradley
Jarrell Brantley
Jordan Clarkson
Mike Conley
Ed Davis
Rudy Gobert
Joe Ingles
Donovan Mitchell
Juwan Morgan
Emmanuel Mudiay
Georges Niang
Royce O’Neale
Miye Oni
Rayjon Tucker
Nigel Williams-Goss
Justin Wright-Foreman

Washington Wizards

Isaac Bonga
Troy Brown Jr.
Thomas Bryant
Jerian Grant
Rui Hachimura
Ian Mahinmi
Garrison Mathews
Shabazz Napier
Anzejs Pasecniks
Jerome Robinson
Admiral Schofield
Ish Smith
Jarrod Uthoff
Mo Wagner
Johnathan Willams

One day when the glory comes
It will be ours, it will be ours
Oh one day when the war is won
We will be sure, we will be sure

The song “Glory” from the feature film Selma won an Oscar in 2015. Originally performed by John Legend and Common, the song combines elements of rap, hip hop and gospel, and was a powerful anthem representing the Civil Rights Movement portrayed in the movie.

Now, that anthem has new lyrics and a young, fresh face—or rather, a bunch of young, fresh faces. The Detroit Youth Choir’s rendition of “Glory” includes the original chorus, plus lyrical nods to the coronavirus pandemic and the current uprisings for racial justice. Seeing these young people singing their hearts out in a song written about a similar fight decades ago is both chilling and thought-provoking.

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Members of the choir, which reached second place in last year’s America’s Got Talent competition, walk through the empty streets of Detroit while they sing in the video—socially distanced, of course. (The video includes a disclaimer at the beginning and the end explaining that the health of the teens was first priority in the making of the video.) The image of them singing spread out while walking over “Power to the People” painted on the street sums up so much of our current moment.

Detroit Youth Choir ‘Glory’ – featuring IndigoYaj

www.youtube.com

People love this new version of the song, leaving comments like the following on YouTube:

“Powerful. From their lips to OUR ears. We owe these kids a better reality.”

“I got chills just listening to these talented youth singing Glory. We all must work together to ensure that every American has equal and sustainable rights. We must end any pre-conceived notions about each other without knowing who people really are. The passion in this rendition of Glory is astonishing. Kudos to the Detroit Youth Choir. Keep singing!”

“Love this and will keep trying to change those minds that don’t see the need to change one at a time. Please keep inspiring us to keep making change happen

“This is beautiful, moving and inspiring. Bravo!!!! I live over in Basel, Switzerland now, but I was born in Detroit. May all of the beautiful, talented and courageous young people in this video continue to shine so brightly. You are already making a difference. I have goosebumps and you had me in tears. Systemic racism must finally come to an end. #Glory #WeAreOne #BlackLivesMatter #DYC #ExitRacism“

“God bless these babies. Their generation surely are going to make changes for the better.”

The YouTube video also includes a fitting quote from the late civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis: “What I try to tell young people is that if you come together with a mission, and it’s grounded with love and a sense of community, you can make the impossible possible.”

J. Cole’s love for the sport of basketball is well-documented. Not only has he been a feature at the NBA All-Star Game both as a performer and as a dunk contest prop, but he’s also used his journey in the sport as a parallel to his rap career in his albums, music videos, and business partnerships. Earlier this year, he used hoop dream home movies as an ad for his upcoming sneaker with Puma, and as the NBA prepares to return in its Orlando “bubble,” numerous players have been seen sporting the shoe.

However, a new essay from Cole for The Players’ Tribune reveals just how deeply that love goes: so deep, in fact, that he once considered quitting his day job to pursue a pro basketball career. In the wake of the release of his critically-hailed, fan favorite album 2014 Forest Hills Drive, Cole reveals that he found himself with a lot of free time on his hands, a sense of complacency regarding rap, and the itch to get back onto the court: “Slowly, the dream of playing professionally began to make its way back to the front of my mind,” he recalls. “I was approaching 31, four years older than I thought I would be, but still possessing most of the athleticism I had in my 20’s.” He told himself, “‘If you’re gonna do this, now is the time.”’”

He freely admits that there were obstacles to that dream, though. “One of the biggest hurdles I would have to climb was my skill level, or lack thereof,” he self-owns. “I was, at best, a Lifetime Fitness All-Star.” His problems, he details, included “an inconsistent jumpshot due to a raggedy form, a weak left hand, and a lack of confidence.” He says the thing that drove him back to rap was the sense of missed potential he knew he’d feel if he didn’t push his Dreamville label to the next level. He also missed collaborating with other rappers, something that he did a lot more of in 2019.

Now, he proclaims that he’s put his hopp dream behind him — mostly — and rediscovered his hunger for hip-hop. Even so, he leaves the essay off with a cryptic line that makes it sound like he hasn’t completely given up on his other career aspiration. “At 35 years old, I know that sounds crazy when said out loud,” he confesses, “But I believe all of the best dreams do.”

Read the full essay here.

Ahead of the NBA’s restart at Disney, a number of players announced they would be opting out of playing. Among the contenders to make legitimate playoff pushes, the biggest name that announced his intention not to play was Victor Oladipo, citing concern in being able to get his body back up to speed as he continues to work his way back from a ruptured quad a season ago.

Oladipo did join the team in Orlando — an easy trip for him given that he lives there — and has since changed his stance on playing, noting he’s now considering playing in the restart after feeling good in practices. On Monday, Pacers coach Nate McMillan confirmed that intention for Oladipo to play, noting he does expect the star guard to play in this week’s first scrimmage game and they will continue evaluating from there.

However, while getting one All-Star back, the Pacers are down All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis, who is battling a plantar fasciitis flare up that has kept him not just out of practice in the bubble but has kept him from putting any weight on his leg for a few days, per McMillan, via 107.5 The Fan.

“I do,” McMillan said when asked specifically about Oladipo playing in the scrimmages.

“He’s going through the practices and he’s looking good. Our first scrimmage is on Thursday and we’ll see how our guys feel, and we’ll get them minutes accordingly. Right now, there’s no restrictions on anyone (besides Domantas Sabonis). Other than that, I expect everybody to be ready to go.”

Sabonis has been a revelation in Indiana the last two years since acquiring him alongside Oladipo in the Paul George trade, and his absence would take away some significant firepower from the Pacers offensive attack. Indiana is currently fifth in the East, tied with the Sixers, and without Oladipo the expectation was they would slide firmly to the sixth spot during the eight-game restart. With Oladipo playing, they have a chance of battling with Philly, but will need a recovery from Sabonis from a very difficult injury to get a firm handle on.

One of the oddest things about the COVID-19 pandemic is that it’s hard to identify people at times because they are wearing a mask. It can be tough noticing people you regularly see in the community because more than half their face is obscured.

In this case, people were trying to locate and identify John Thomas Archer, a 23-year-old architecture student who wowed people in the ReMARKable Cleanouts second-hand store in Norwood, Massachusetts. But it was hard to figure out who he is because of the mask he wore to protect him from getting or spreading COVID-19.

On Saturday, July 11, he walked into the store and asked an employee, Melissa Rediker, if he could play one of the pianos on display, it had a “Do Not Play’ sign attached.

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Archer sat down at a Steinway and started banging out a song that always gets everyone in the bar singing along, “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey. Everyone knew what Archer was playing right off the bat due to the songs infectious bass line.

The store placed a video of his playing on its Facebook page and it went viral.

Good News Movement on Facebook Watch

The video made the store owner, Mark Waters, so happy that he decided to give Archer the piano.

“He started playing and the place lit up!” Waters told CBS Boston, adding: “We’ll give him the piano. Bring the kid in! We’d be more than happy to bring it to him. We can’t find him! Nobody knows who this young man was.”

This kicked off a search for the “mystery man” who was found by Julie McDonald at WBZ Channel 4 who interviewed him on the newscast three days later.

via ReMARKable Cleanouts / Facebook

That Tuesday, Archer’s girlfriend send him a text saying that people were looking for him.

“My girlfriend sent me a text that the media was looking for me,” he said. “I didn’t know so many people would be affected by watching me play. I am just baffled.”

Archer told McDonald that he was an “amateur” musician and the at the Journey tune was the first he ever learned. He didn’t have a piano at home, just a keyboard. The next day he returned to the store and gave a performance of “All of Me” by John Legend.

“He’s a good young man and I’m glad he gets to have the piano,” Waters said. “If it brings joy into his life, that brings joy into my heart.”

“I just wish there was more stories like this with everyone opening their hearts,” he told Good Morning America. “I’d like to donate something every day if it brought people into a good mood.”

The only problem was that the store isn’t sure how to get the piano up to his fourth-floor apartment.

“A very talented and kind young man who will be receiving a piano…we can get it to his home, but having trouble finding a way to get it on the 4th floor!!” ReMARKable Cleanouts wrote on their Facebook page.

“Do we know anyone who can deliver a piano to a 4th floor? Asking for a friend,” they also posted.

When the NBA announced its intentions to restart the season at Walt Disney World in Orlando, the biggest question was whether the planned bubble would be able to successfully insulate the league and its players from the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in an area that has seen a massive spike in cases in the last month-plus.

The biggest hurdle was going to be the early weeks — as the MLS learned when two entire teams had to withdraw from their tournament in Orlando due to outbreaks within their teams — and so far, so good for the NBA. The first round of player testing saw two positive tests in the bubble, but both were caught during the quarantine period while those players were still in their hotel room and had not interacted with others.

On Monday, the league announced even more good news, as over the past week of testing, with 346 players being tested, there were zero positive tests. This indicates that the system is working as intended, as player testing outside the bubble has flagged positive cases prior to those players joining their teams in Orlando, and making those players test negative twice before coming to Orlando — where they must test negative two more times before joining their teams.

It is a rare bit of good news and offers a test case of how aggressive testing, isolation, and taking the necessary precautions of wearing masks and social distancing can have the intended effect of mitigating the spread of the virus tremendously. While this is a good start, the league and its players must continue being vigilant about following protocols and keeping the bubble secure, but for those hoping basketball does indeed start on time, this is welcome news.

Untitled Goose Game was an indie smash hit in 2019, and now gamers will finally get a physical edition of the game along with some lovely extras. The game that lets you be a horrible goose is finally getting a box, along with a Lovely Edition physical release and a vinyl pressing of the delightful music from the game that had you gently wreck a town for your own goosey pleasure.

The release, part of Iam8Bit’s presentation at the Summer Game Fest Developer Showcase on Monday, puts what was a viral success in a box and adds a number of extras based on the game’s setting. As announced on Monday, the standard edition of the game’s physical release will run at $35 on the Switch and $30 on PlayStation 4 and get you a disc or cartridge, 24-page “Plaza Catalogue” of “useful items and objects that a goose might enjoy collecting.” You also get a “no goose” sticker and an 11×17 village map poster.

Iam8Bit’s special edition is an eco-friendly Lovely Edition that has all kinds of fun biodegradable features, but perhaps most interestingly is the soundtrack, pressed on a special vinyl that’s designed to mimic the game’s abrupt musical cues based on what kind of chicanery your goose got up to. The record, with music by Dan Golding, is an adaptation of Claude Debussy’s Préludes and has a “double groove” pressing that is said to create a unique playing experience every time you listen.

The vinyl is also on reclaimed vinyl, so it’s a physical release of a game that’s very eco-friendly, which is nice. The vinyl alone is a fun addition to a fan’s collection, and the unique aspect of the record would be a fun bit of memorabilia to pick up if you already have a digital copy of the game and don’t need the extras. Not every game’s soundtrack needs to be owned on wax, but this one certainly made the game better and would be a delightful listen when not in control of a goose.

Sure, the pandemic’s still going strong (at least in the U.S.), but here’s some good news: so is Hulu’s content game. The streaming service continues to deliver a slate of original shows, movies, and blockbusters to keep us entertained… distracted… from going absolutely insane. Take your pick. For comedy fans, Vince Vaughn’s The Binge looks promising. Slay The Dragon feels like the political documentary that should be required viewing in this election year. And Freeform’s giving us a romantic twist on self-isolation with its latest drama.

Here’s everything coming to (and leaving) Hulu this August.

The Binge (Hulu original streaming 8/28)
Vince Vaughn and Booksmart breakout Skyler Gisondo star in Hulu’s latest comedy flick that feels like a funnier version of The Purge concept. Swap in a consequence-free day of murdering with one that lets citizens drink, party, and do drugs to their heart’s content for 24-hours only before they go back to being sober for the rest of the year, and you’ve got a good idea of where this thing is going.

Slay The Dragon (documentary streaming 8/6)
This eye-opening doc sets out to reveal a sinister truth about our current voting system — one that has less to do with Russian interference and more with Republican gerrymandering. The film follows a citizen’s group trying to end the practice, one that the Republican party has employed for years to reset voting boundaries, essentially wasting votes and curbing districts to help candidates come out on top. It’s essential viewing before this year’s election.

Love in the Time of Corona (series streaming 8/22)
Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr. produces and leads the cast of this new Freeform series set in, you guessed it, the current pandemic. The show centers on a handful of couples/singles looking for romance, sex, and a deeper connection while isolated because of COVID-19.

Here’s the full list of titles coming to Hulu in August:

Avail. 8/1
Monchhichi: Complete Season 1B
The Pier (El Embarcadero): Complete Seasons 1 & 2
UniKitty: Complete Season 2B
71 (2015)
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
A Good Woman (2006)
A Perfect Murder (1998)
Australia (2008)
The Brothers McMullen (1995)
Cats & Dogs (2001)
Child’s Play (1988)
City Slickers (1991)
City Slickers 2: The Legend of Curly’s Gold (1994)
Company Business (1991)
Death At A Funeral (2010)
Elena Undone (2010)
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Free Fall (2013)
Gayby (2012)
Hellraiser (1987)
Hurricane Bianca (2016)
Just Charlie (2017)
The Last Stand (2013)
Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls Of Ga’Hoole (2010)
Margin Call (2011)
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
My Bloody Valentine (1981)
Pit Stop (2013)
Rain Man (1988)
Rustlers’ Rhapsody (1985)
Safe (2012)
The Saint (1997)
Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)
Sordid Lives (2000)
Spare Parts (2015)
Stanley & Iris (1990)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
Stuck On You (2003)
Top Gun (1986)
Ultraviolet (2006)
Up in the Air (2009)
Were The World Mine (2008)

Avail. 8/2
Shark vs. Surfer: Special

Avail. 8/3
Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)
Ordinary Love (2019)

Avail. 8/6
The Real Housewives of Orange County: Complete Season 14
The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
Slay the Dragon (2020)

Avail. 8/7
The New York Times Presents: This Is Dominic Fike: The Next Big Thing?

Avail. 8/10
Hard Night Falling (2019)
Lucky Day (2020)

Avail. 8/11
Alive And Kicking (2016)
Monster’s Ball (2001)

Avail. 8/12
Smile Down the Runway: Season 1, Episodes 1-12

Avail. 8/14
Bernie The Dolphin 2 (2019)

Avail. 8/15
A Crime to Remember: Complete Season 4
Bake You Rich: Complete Season 1
Caribbean Life: Complete Season 16
Chopped: Complete Season 40 & 41
Christina On The Coast: Complete Season 1
Honeymoon Hunters: Complete Season 1
House Hunters International: Complete Season 129 – 134
Island Life: Complete Season 15
Mediterranean Life: Complete Season 1
Murder in Paradise: Complete Season 1
Naked and Afraid: Complete Seasons 9 & 10
Property Brothers: Buying & Selling: Complete Season 6
Say Yes to the Dress: Complete Season 17
Sword Art Online: Alicization: Complete Season 1
Worst Bakers in America: Complete Season 1
Worst Cooks in America: Complete Season 16

Avail. 8/16
Behind You (2020)

Avail. 8/18
The Cup (2012)

Avail. 8/20
Daffodils (2020)
Unacknowledged (2017)

Avail. 8/21
Find Me In Paris: Complete Season 3

Avail. 8/22
Love in the Time of Corona: Series Premiere

Avail. 8/23
Blindspot: Complete Season 5

Avail. 8/24
The Roads Not Taken (2020)

Avail. 8/26
Mom: Complete Season 7

Avail. 8/28
The Binge (2020)

Avail. 8/31
Casino Royale (2006)
Primal (2019)
Quantum of Solace (2008)
The Courier (2019)

Here’s what’s leaving Hulu in August:

Leaving 8/31
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
The American President (1995)
Assassination Tango (2003)
Born to be Wild (2011)
Casino (1995)
Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)
Charlotte’s Web (1973)
Child’s Play (1988)
Cliffhanger (1993)
The Cookout (2004)
Crooked Hearts (1991)
Dave (1993)
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)
Equilibrium (2002)
Fair Game (2010)
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Fun in Acapulco (1963)
Gorky Park (1983)
Happily N’Ever After (2007)
Happily N’Ever After 2 (2009)
Hud (1963)
Incident at Loch Ness (2004)
Joyride (1997)
Liar, Liar (1997)
The Marine 3: Homefront (2013)
Molly (1999)
Moonstruck (1987)
Rain Man (1988)
Risky Business (1983)
Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
The Scout (1994)
Sex Drive (2008)
Shirley Valentine (1989)
Starting Out in the Evening (2007)
Top Gun (1986)
Trade (2007)
The Whistle Blower (1987)
Wristcutters: A Love Story (2007)
The X-Files (1998)
Zardoz (1974)

If nothing below suits your sensibilities, check out our guide to What You Should Watch On Streaming Right Now.

The Last Dance (Netflix) — If you missed this gripping docuseries on ESPN, you can catch it now on Netflix. The show takes a deep dive into Michael Jordan’s time with the Chicago Bulls, specifically the team’s 1997-98 season, which saw them chasing a sixth NBA title. So much goes down in the span of 10 episodes — from Jordan’s gambling addiction to Scottie Pippen’s departure and Dennis Rodman’s wild, unsanctioned Vegas vacation — you’ll probably be glued to your screen once you start. Plan accordingly.

I May Destroy You (HBO, 9:00 p.m.) — Still struggling to finish her book and desperate for money, Arabella takes a job helping Theo with a vegan delivery start-up. This prompts Terry to air her concerns over their deepening friendship, but only after she throws a birthday celebration that forces Kwame to go to extremes to avoid reminders of his own sexual assault.

The Arena (TNT, 8:00 p.m.) — NBA greats Charles Barkley, Dwyane Wade, and Draymond Green give fans a different kind of pre-game chat, discussing everything from the COVID-19 outbreak to Black Lives Matter.

The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons – Ever! (ABC, 8:00 p.m.) — The show looks back on Brad Womack’s two-season-spanning journey to find love which began with a physical confrontation and ended with a shocking double-elimination.

First of all, welcome back to Pro Wrestling coverage on Uproxx. We don’t have our own vertical anymore, but I’ll still be here from time to time under the Uproxx Sports banner to talk about the big shows and whatever else needs to be talked about. It won’t be the same without the open threads and results and countless news posts, but, all things considered, change can be a good thing and I’m happy to be back on this website, covering my favorite pseudo-sport.

This week, the thing I’m the most excited to talk about is Slammiversary 2020. Some of you may remember two years ago when I sent the wrestling internet into an uproar by declaring Slammiversary 2018 the best PPV of the year. Last year’s show wasn’t nearly as impressive, but it remains a PPV I have a soft spot for, and even though I haven’t been watching Impact recently I was excited to see what they had to offer. On the whole, I was not disappointed.

First of all, just to get the most unpleasant stuff out of the way, I was impressed by who wasn’t on the show. Impact has cleared out their roster of its most problematic members, which didn’t used to be something they seemed interested in at all. That’s not to say none of their wrestlers are morally complicated figures, but there’s no Elgin, no Ryan, no Crist, and no Tessa Blanchard, and if nothing else that makes my job easier because I can write about the wrestling with the extra paragraphs about what makes the wrestling hard to enjoy.

Slammiversary opened with the Rascalz (Dez and Wentz) offering to fight any tag team that wanted to face them. Everybody expected the just-signed Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, but the Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) showed up instead. Any possibly disappointment (particularly from those of us who weren’t watching TNA the last time the MCMGs were around) was quickly softened by a really fun, fast-paced match. The veterans Shelley and Sabin were just as energetic as Dez and Wentz, and it turned out to be a lesson to the younger guys, with the moral being, “Be careful about saying you can beat anyone, because you don’t know who’s backstage.” The Machine Guns won the match, setting themselves up to enter the Tag Team Championship picture.

That will put them up against the North, who retained their Titles in a match against Ken Shamrock and Sami Callihan. If this had been a WWE show, you could imagine the two randomly paired up guys winning the belts, but it was clear that was never going to happen here. The North are strong champions, and I’m always here for Murder Grandpa Ken Shamrock. I’m a little confused about Callihan’s character right now, which made it harder to invest in their partnership. In any case, it wasn’t the strongest match of the night, and the highlight was after it was over, when the MCMGs showed up to challenge the North to a Title Match on TV. Not going to lie, I’ll tune in for that.

The weakest match of the night was obviously Moose versus Tommy Dreamer for the TNA Championship. I always enjoy Tommy Dreamer as a recurring presence on basically every wrestling show. He’s dignified enough to play an elder statesman of hardcore violence while also goofy enough to be an effective part of comedy bits. What I never need to see is Dreamer in a singles PPV match in 2020 (or beyond). Also, now that Moose has been challenged for and retained the belt he found in the basement of Impact Headquarters, does that mean he’s a legit champion? It’s Impact, so probably.

The Gauntlet Match to become Number One Contender for the Knockouts Championship wasn’t very good either, which is a shame because it was filled with talented women. It wasn’t what I was expecting from a “Gauntlet Match” in that it was exactly like a Royal Rumble. It started with Tasha Steelz and Kylie Rae, with another woman joining every minute or two (I think they said it was every two minutes, but it seemed to vary a lot). The whole thing kind of stayed a crowded mess into we got down to the final four (Kimber Lee, Rosemary, Taya Valkyrie, and Kylie Rae), when it finally started to seem like somebody had booked this match. It came down to Taya and Kylie, with Kylie getting the win. It’s great to see Kylie doing well here, and she’s always a joy to watch. I could have done without the “comedy” spots of Johnny Bravo coming out dressed like Taya and then Rosemary, but the fact that Rosemary was already in the ring when the latter happened at least heightened the absurdity.

Fortunately the other women’s match was one of the best matches of the night, with Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace facing off against Deonna Purrazzo. Purrazzo’s both a skilled technician and a charismatic performer, and the perfect foil for Jordynne Grace’s size and strength. The number one thing people mock about Impact Wrestling is their willingness to take WWE’s castoffs and treat them like stars, but watching Purrazzo in action you can help but feel that she simply is a star, and it’s WWE that made the mistake in failing to treat her like one. I was surprised that she won the Knockouts Title this early in her run, but it feels earned and it was really exciting in the moment. Also, she and Kylie Rae ought to have a great feud. They’re both amazing wrestlers, they’ve got that “cocky heel/earnest face” dynamic down, and there’s a fun meta angle with them each representing “the one that got away” to WWE and AEW’s respective women’s divisions.

The other contender for match of the night was the X-Division Championship match between Willie Mack and Chris Bey. I’m a big fan of Willie Mack, and while I wasn’t sure his light blue gear and yellow contact lenses were the best look for him, he did great work here as always. I’m less familiar with Chris Bey, but he seems really great and put on such a showing in this match that I wasn’t mad when he won the X-Title off of Willie. Interested to see where both of these guys go from here, with the roster getting a refresh and opening doors for new feuds and rivalries.

Speaking of which, Heath Slater turned up for a surprise in-ring promo. His speech itself was good, but his “Free Agent” tee and the later backstage segment made it clear that Impact is going to do the same “earn your spot” story with him that WWE did a couple of years back, and I can’t say that sounds exciting. A modest proposal: just let the man wrestle! He’s got kids.

There was also a big build to a surprise fourth man in the match for the vacated Impact World Championship, which already included Ace Austin, Eddie Edwards, and Trey Miguel. First, Rich Swann returned from injury to fill that fourth spot, which was quite a letdown. But then Eric Young showed up, making scary faces in a scary mask, and made it a five-way. Young never found a spot in WWE after the breakup of Sanity, so it’s good to see him back in a place that appreciates him. He also got over like a monster by beating the hell out of Rich Swann, effectively putting him back on the injured list.

It turned out to be Eddie Edwards who actually won the World Championship, however. I’ve got no problem with that. Eddie’s been doing great work the last few years, and he feels pretty legit in this role right now. After the match, Ace Austin and his buddy Madman Fulton decided to beat Eddie up, but he was saved by his new friends, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows! So yeah, the Good Brothers did eventually show up, and it looks like they’re babyfaces, which is interesting. Then the night ended with a quick reveal that EC3 is back too. Presumably either he or Eric Young will soon be coming after Eddie’s belt, either of which sounds like a fun time.

Slammiversary wasn’t the only big show this weekend. The next night we got WWE’s Horror Show at Extreme Rules, an oddly Halloween-themed PPV in July. The tag division also opened that show, with the New Day losing their Smackdown Tag Titles to the Artists Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura in a Tables Match. Hopefully this earns two of the best wrestlers in the world some of the respect WWE seems reluctant to give them. And hopefully Kofi’s okay after that double table finish, because damn that looked deadly.

The two best matches of the night, to the surprise of nobody who’s been keeping up with WWE during the pandemic, were the women’s matches, both of which featured WWE’s empty-arena MVPs Bayley and Sasha Banks. As a known huge fan of Nikki Cross, I loved seeing how strong she looked in challenging Bayley for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. Narratively, I didn’t expect Nikki to win, but the match itself made me feel like she could, and like Bayley was justified in using a foreign object (Sasha’s big BOSS ring) to sneak out a win she probably couldn’t have managed clean.

Sasha’s own match with Asuka for the Raw Women’s Championship was perhaps even better over all, but it had the even more ridiculous finish. Asuka resorted to the Green Mist, but Sasha ducked it and the referee got a face full. Bayley took down Asuka from behind, stole the referee’s shirt, and then counted the pinfall and demanded the bell be rung. So now the Role Models consider Sasha Banks the new Raw Women’s Champion, but everyone else (and especially Asuka) are probably going to have a talk with them about that. I’m sure that will go well.

The most ridiculous thing on this card was Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio in an Eye For An Eye match, which required the winner to remove the loser’s eye from its socket. Seth managed to win according to that stipulation, and then everyone—commentary, medical staff, even Seth himself—immediately seemed shocked and horrified that Rey’s eye was out of his head (seen only briefly through his fingers and clearly made of rubber). Seth even vomited about it. Look guys, if you don’t want disgusting things to happen, consider not booking matches with disgusting stipulations?

Dolph Ziggler got to pick his own stipulation for his WWE Championship Match with Drew McIntyre, so he made it an Extreme Rules match for him, but not for the Champ. So Ziggler got to do whatever he wanted and use any weapon he could grab, but Drew had to follow all the rules of wrestling or lost his Title on a DQ. Of course, Drew kicked Dolph in the face and won the match anyway. That was always going to happen. I like Drew as Champion, but he needs better contenders than this, and soon.

Finally, Braun Strowman fought Bray Wyatt in a swamp. This wasn’t the worst COVID-era “cinematic match,” but it certainly wasn’t the best one either. It was mostly just two guys brawling in hip-deep dirty water with lily pads all over the place. The best part was when Braun was lured by a vision of Alexa Bliss offering to be with him, paying off the long-forgotten Mixed Match Challenge subplot about them being kind of in love. And then of course the Fiend showed up at the end, indicating that this rivalry is not over yet, and that we don’t have to worry that Bray’s reversion to his old swampy self was permanent. Off to SummerSlam, one assumes.

Extreme Rules had its moments, not just of Horror but occasionally of wrestling, but if you’re only going to watch one show from this past weekend, you should watch Slammiversary. Impact may not always hold things together on an ongoing basis, but when everything hits just right they can put on great shows. At WWE, in contrast, there’s sort of a base level of mediocrity (especially in COVID times), that every match has to overcome, and many don’t.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this lengthy review of the weekend’s wrestling. Let me know in the comments what kind of pro wrestling content you’d like to see here in Uproxx Sports, with the caveat that it’s only me and probably only a couple of times a week. In the meantime, I’ll definitely be back for future PPVs and other shows that seem worth reviewing.