Vivica A. Fox speaks about her Detroit-made films including Golden Shoes and her upcoming role on Empire. Read interview.
Thank You!
We want to thank everyone for attending the Golden Shoes Red Carpet movie event. It was a great turnout! We also appreciated all of the favorable comments after the movie screening. The movie is now available on Pay-Per-View, On Demand, as well as Walmart and Amazon for those who were unable to join us at the movie premiere.
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Host Cities – Part 1
The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, set to take place from June 12th – July 13th, has an incredible 12 host cities making it one of the largest World Cups on the books. These 12 cities are spread throughout the entire country, with most of them (eight in total) lining the eastern South Atlantic Ocean coastline of Brazil. This map (credit to FIFA.com) shows where all 12 of the cities are located in Brazil.
2014 FIFA World Cup Host Cities Map
With the distance between the cities, teams will be required to travel farther than any other World Cup in history. The United States World Cup team in particular will travel a whopping 9,000 miles – More than any other country in the tournament. One thing is for certain, fans that are attending the World Cup this year are sure to get a nice tour of the Brazilian country side!
Six of these host cities have built brand new stadiums specifically for the 2014 World Cup, the remaining six all made significant upgrades to existing structures to facilitate the events. The 12 Host Cities for the World Cup are: Manaus, Fortaleza, Natal, Recife, Salvador, Brasilia, Cuiaba, Belo Horizonte, Rio De Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Curitiba, and Porto Alegre. Each of the 12 cities have something unique to offer:
Manaus
Rio Negro & Solimoes Rivers Meet
Nestled quietly in the Amazon Jungle lies Manaus, the capital city of the Amazonas state. The city of Manaus has a population of 1.5 million, and is really only accessible by boat or airplane. As you would expect for a city located deep in the heart of the Amazon jungle, the climate is quite hot and humid! One of the most unique features of this Amazonian city is the convergence of the Rio Negro and Solimoes rivers. The two rivers run for almost 4 miles without mixing waters. The two rivers meet and form the mouth of the Amazon River, which is the second longest river in the world and the largest in terms of water flow.
Fortaleza
Forro During Carnaval
Hovering just south of the Equator sits Fortaleza, the Capital city of Ceara and the 2nd city on our list of 2014 FIFA World Cup Host Cities. Fortaleza is the fifth largest city in Brazil with a population of 2.55 million people. Located on the Atlantic Ocean and known for it’s strong winds Fortaleza is one of Brazil’s premier surfing locations. Culturally it is the center of forro, a type of Brazilian music that encompasses a variety of dance styles and musical beats. Luckily for those attending the World Cup, the city of Fortaleza will be in the height of it’s June festivities allowing visitors to be completely immersed in the city’s quite unique culture.
Natal
Maior Cajueiro Do Mundo – The Worlds Largest Cashew Tree
Known for its warm waters, sand dunes, and sprawling beaches the 3rd city on our list is Natal. Located in Rio Grande do Norte, Natal is the capital city and has a population of approximately 950,000. It is often praised as the safest capital city in Brazil and has the Via Costeria (Or Coastal Highway) to thank for it’s strong tourism industry. Perhaps one of the most interesting attractions in Natal is the Maior cajueiro do mundo, the world’s largest cashew tree. The picture to the left shows how immense the tree is taking up approximately 90,000 square feet and producing more than 60,000 fruits each year. The tree is estimated to be more than 1,000 years old.
Recife
Boa Viagem Beach Coral Reef
The 4th city on our list of World Cup Host Cities is Recife, capital city of Pernambuco. It is the 5th largest metropolitan area in Brazil with approximately 3.7 Million people and a serves as a major port city for Brazil on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s name is derived from the Portuguese word for reef and has some of the most scenic coral reefs in all of Brazil. The Zona Sul (Or South Zone) of the city is where the most picturesque reefs reside. The Boa Viagem Beach, rich with pristine white sands, is the longest urbanized stretch of beach in Brazil and is protected by a coral reef wall.
We hope you enjoyed reading Part 1 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Host cities, Stay posted for Part 2 which will cover Salvador, Brasilia, Cuiaba, and Belo Horizonte.
United States 2014 FIFA World Cup Jerseys
2014 World Cup United States Home Jerseys
The United States Soccer Team Home jerseys for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil were released earlier this month. The World Cup jerseys were designed by Nike, and are a bit of a departure from the jerseys worn in the last World Cup by the United States. The new home jerseys for this year are almost solid white aside from the US Soccer and Nike logos on the front. The new home jersey is a collared shirt that has red trim along the collar and sleeves. The shorts and socks are also completely white. The exact same uniform design will be used for both the Men’s and Women’s United States World Cup jerseys. They were showcased on March 5th, 2014 in a exhibition game Vs Ukraine in Larnaca, Cyprus.
The creative director for Nike, Martin Lotti, said the following about the new United States World Cup Jerseys “The new kit clearly showcases the USA’s national pride and distinct sense of style, while also capturing the nations eternal optimism”. To further spotlight the United States’ national pride the phrase “One Nation. One Team.” is overlayed into the back lettering of the jersey in the players last name. However, this phrase is only visible when exposed to UV light, so this is not going to be a very eye catching feature of the new uniform for the 2014 World Cup.
Clint Dempsey, the team captain of the United States National Team, is excited to be wearing the new jersey. When asked about the new home jersey he had the following to say “It’s always an honor to wear the colors of your country, and this summer we will be hard to miss in an all-white look.”
2014 World Cup United States Away Jerseys
Along with the Home jerseys for the 2014 World Cup, the Away jerseys have also been released. The away kit is much more more visually appealing with a solid blue collar area, a white strip around the chest (on the front only) and the bottom of the jersey is all red. The back of the jersey will be all solid red. On the front the white stripe will have the players number placed in the center. Unlike the Home kit, the away jersey will be collarless.
All in all, the 2014 United States World Cup jerseys are rather plain, but still manage to be quite attractive. We can’t wait to see them on the pitch in the upcoming World Cup in Brazil!
Lionel Messi Vs. Cristiano Ronaldo – Who is best?
One of the biggest topics of debate in the soccer world right now is who the best soccer player in the world is. There are two more popular schools of thought when it comes to this heated topic, and most refuse to waver in their allegiances. No matter who your favorite or who you think is the best soccer player in the world, we found some interesting statistics and wanted to show you exactly how close these two soccer greats are to each other. These statistics are compiled since the 2009-10 season and combine league and champions league stats.
| Who is the Greatest? Lionel Messi Vs. Cristiano Ronaldo | |||||||||||||||||||
| League & Champions League Since 2009-10 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo | ||||||||||||||||||
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The numbers are way too close to provide a definitive answer as to who is currently the best soccer player in the world. Despite the lack of a clear winner there is one thing that all soccer & sports fans alike can agree on – This is an incredible time to be a fan of soccer! Never before have we had a battle of two great soccer players quite like the one that we are experiencing right now. Furthermore, you will be hard pressed to find another pair of dueling sportsmen throughout history in any sport quite as entertaining to watch. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both provide some of the most entertaining moments in soccer history, and we get to see the extraordinary highlights from both of them day in and day out.
Throw your allegiances aside and take a moment to appreciate the amazing soccer that we all get to see from two of the most talented individuals to ever play the game. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have certainly graced the soccer world with their presence and as lucky fans, we will continue to reap the rewards in the form of pure athletic bliss.
Cristiano Ronaldo Hat Trick Vs. Sweeden 2013 (11/19/2013) – All 3 Goals
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored an incredible Hat Trick Vs. Sweden in a match on 11/19/2013. Cristiano Ronaldo scored all three of the goals against Sweden occuring at 50′ 77′ and 79′. Winning this game qualified Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Tim Cahill fastest goal in MLS history – Scores Goal in 8 Seconds
On October 20th, 2013 Midfielder Tim Cahill, #17 of the New York Red Bulls, scored the fastest goal in Major League Soccer league history against the Houston Dynamos. After only 8 seconds into the game, Tim Cahill scored the first and deciding goal of the match, leading the New York Red Bulls to a 3 – 0 victory against the Houston Dynamos. The assist came from Dax McCarty off of the opening kick off and set the tone for the game. Cahill executed a perfect run down the right wing of the field, received the long ball from his defender, and beat the Houston Dynamo keeper with a beautiful right footed shot to the right side netting from about 22 yards out. This was such a well executed goal, that it would have been one of the highlights of the season even if it hadn’t taken place after only 8 seconds. Cahill will certainly be a player to keep your eye on in the upcoming 2013 MLS playoffs.
The Best Soccer Movies of All Time – Part 3
In Part 1 and Part 2 of our list of the best soccer movies of all time we have covered some fantastic films about soccer including Fever Pitch, Mean Machine, Escape to Victory, Bend It Like Beckham, Goal! The Dream Begins, and United. In Part 3 of the best soccer movies of all time we will continue to discuss the films that have shaped and inspired the soccer world for years to come.
The Damned United (2009)
This film is based off of the 2006 book The Damned Utd written by David Peace. This story follows Brian Clough and his brief career as the manager of the 1974 Leeds United A.F.C. soccer club. Clough was the former manager of the Derby County, who had a long time beef with the physical style of play that former Leeds manager Don Revie taught to his squad. Clough accepts a job offer to manage the Leeds soccer club, and parts ways with his former assistant coach, Peter Taylor.
The first day on the job as manager of the Leeds United A.F.C soccer club is quite a dramatic one. Clough tells the players that they can throw away any awards they won, because they never won any of them fairly. This instills feelings of tension and contempt into the players towards their new coach. Leeds’s first match with Clough at the helm ends in mayhem as their team captain, Billy Bremner, gets into a fight and is ejected from the match. The fight ultimately leads to a 2 month suspension for Bremner. With their captain suspended, the season gets off to an absolutely dismal start. The players ultimately air their grievances to the board members of the Leeds United A.F.C. in regard to Clough as the manager, and he is terminated.
After hearing of the termination, Yorkshire Television asks Clough for an interview where he is confronted by former Leeds United manager, Don Revie. Clough accuses Revie of being fundamentally dishonest. In the end Clough’s ability to maintain his set of high morals land him the title of ‘The best manager that the English national side never had’ making The Damned United an easy pick for our list of the best soccer movies of all time.
The Football Factory (2004)
Making it into our list of the Best Soccer Movies of all time is the 2004 film, The Football Factory. Loosely based off of the 1997 novel of the same name written by John King, The Football Factory is Rockstar Games’ first venture into the film making world as executive producers. This film takes a look at the English obsession with violence in soccer, focusing on a small group of friends that are part of a violent fan club for the Chelsea FC soccer club, known as a hooligan firm. Tommy Johnson, the main character, is accompanied by his friends, Rod King, Billy Bright, Zeberdee & Raf. During a violent outburst with another hooligan firm that supports Tottenham, Tommy begins to question the path that he is on after him and his friends are all arrested. Ultimately tommy secures his place within the hooligan firm despite several events that make him question if it’s really worth it.
This extreme fanaticism that can be seen throughout the movie is what lands it on our list of the best soccer movies. There are few other sports with fans as committed and dedicated to supporting their teams as soccer fans are. Despite the violence associated with the group, fans are arguably the most important part of any soccer club, and organized sport would not be what it is today without the support of the fans.
That brings Part 3 of the best soccer movies of all time to a close, make sure you stay tuned for part 4 of our list of the best soccer movies!
The Best Soccer Movies of All Time – Part 2
In The Best Soccer Movies – Part 1, we discussed some of the greatest soccer movies of all time including Bend It Like Beckham, United, and Goal! The Dream Begins. Today we are going to take a further look into some of the best soccer movies throughout history, and what makes them so important.
Escape To Victory (1981)
Escape to Victory
Escape to victory is easily one of the best soccer movies of all time. It takes place in a German prison camp during World War II, and stars professional soccer players such as Pele, Paul Van Himst, Mike Summerbee, Osvaldo Ardiles, Kazimierz Deyna, Booby Moore & Werner Roth. In this movie, Captain John Colby (Played by Michael Caine) is the coach of a group of Allied POW’s that will play a soccer game against a German team in a propaganda stunt. The POW’s ultimately devise a plan to escape during the game at halftime, however they decide to play the entire game despite losing 4-1 at the half. The allied POW’s battle back to tie the game after their game winning goal was disallowed by the biased German referees. Through the confusion that ensues after the game ends, the allied POW’s are able to escape their captors. Escape to Victory is the story of good triumphing over evil, making it an easy pick for our list of the best soccer movies of all time.
Mean Machine (2001)
Mean Machine
The next film on our list of the best soccer movies is the 2001 British comedy/drama Mean Machine. This movie falls into the same prison genre as Escape To Victory and is an adaptation of the 1974 American film The Longest Yard. The story of Mean Machine focuses on the former captain of the English National Soccer team, Danny “The Mean Machine” Meehan. Meehan was banned from playing soccer ever again after throwing a match between England and Germany, and was sentenced to three years in Longmarsh prison after drunkenly assaulting police offers. Once he is locked up, the governor of the prison gives him the offer to coach the warden’s soccer team. He refuses to do so but offers to assemble and coach a group of prisoners to take on the guards in a practice soccer match. Meehan with the help of an older convict name Doc, and a contraband dealer named Massive, begins to train his team for the practice match against the Warden’s team. During the final game, the prisoners are up at half time by a score of 1-0. The Prison Governor bribes Meehan into throwing the game. At first he complies, but ultimately gets the assist for the game winning goal over the Prison Warden’s. This classic tale of the underdog prevailing makes Mean Machine an easy addition to our list of the best soccer movies of all time.
Fever Pitch (1997)
Fever Pitch
Another great addition to our list of the best soccer movies of all time is the 1997 romantic comedy, Fever Pitch. This movie is based on the 1992 book written by Nick Hornby. Fever pitch tells the story of Paul Ashworth an English teacher in London whose love for the Arsenal Soccer team is border line obsessive. Paul falls in love with Sarah Hughes, a new teacher at the school Paul teaches at who is nearly perfect in every way for Paul except for the fact that she doesn’t like soccer. The film follows the story of this burgeoning romance and how Paul’s love of soccer & the Arsenal team may ultimately drive the two apart. Sarah becomes pregnant and issues an ultimatum to Paul to decide which is more important to him – Sarah & the baby, or the Arsenal soccer team. Fever Pitch is an excellent addition to our list of the best soccer movies of all time. Make sure to check out this great film and see what Paul decides to do!
Stay tuned for Part 3 of our list of the best soccer movies!
The Best Soccer Movies of All Time – Part 1
Throughout the years Hollywood has often times tried to capture the heart and soul of soccer, the most popular game in the world. Just like any other genre of movie, there are some soccer movies that rise to the top, and others that fizzle out. Today we are going to take a look at some of the best soccer movies of all time.
United (2011)
United Soccer Movie
Some of the best soccer movies of all time tell the story of the underdog rising above and overcoming adversity through hard work and dedication. United is a true story that tells the tale of the Busby Babes, a Manchester United soccer squad that was the youngest ever to win the European Cup. Initially aired on BBC, United is now distributed internationally as a theatrical picture. The movie primarily follows in the footsteps of assistant manager Jimmy Murphy (Played by David Tennant) and of player Bobby Charlton (played by Jack O’Connell). Murphy gives Charlton the opportunity to play his first match on the Manchester United Squad. And this ultimately serves as his stepping stone to success. The story becomes more dramatic when a plane carrying members of the Manchester United team crashes killing 8 members of the team. This amazing true story surely makes for a great watch and is why it’s found it’s way onto our list of the Best Soccer Movies.
Goal! The Dream Begins (2005)
Goal! The Dream Begins
Following suit just like the rest of the best soccer movies of all time, Goal! The Dream Begins tells a story of young man by the name of Santiago Munez following his dream to become one of the best soccer players of all time. Working as a gardener alongside his father, Santiago plays for a local soccer club and doesn’t think he’ll ever have the chance of becoming anything more. Noticed by former Newcastle United player, a tryout is arranged for Santiago in England. After a failed tryout and almost giving up, Santiago is offered a second chance and takes it. His perseverance eventually pays off and he makes his way onto the first team for Newcastle. Goal! The Dream Begins follows the hopes and dreams of a young man, ultimately coming to fruition due to hard work and overcoming adversity, making it another great addition to our list of the best soccer movies of all time.
Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
Bend It Like Beckham
Bend It Like Beckham is an inspirational story about a young woman who follows her dreams of playing soccer despite being forbidden to by her parents, earning it a spot among our list of the best soccer movies ever. The main character, Jesminder “Jess” Bhamra, comes from a conservative Indian family living in England. She is discovered to be a natural talent in soccer and must overcome resistance from her family to compete on the local team, The Harriers. Eventually after winning a local championship and securing a scholarship to play soccer in the United States, she gains her parents acceptance and is able to pursue her dreams. This film is truly an inspiration to anyone that has ever been faced with adversity and intolerance, making it a welcomed favorite on our list of the best soccer movies.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of our list of the best soccer movies!
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Detroit native Norman Koza, whose love for film got his experience from making his first feature.
BBA-Banking & Finance from University of Michigan. Lance has written 30 screenplays and directed 4 features.
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