Latest news with #Coliseum
Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘F1: The Movie' Is An Entertaining, But Formulaic Summer Blockbuster
Are you not entertained?! Russell Crowe's Maximus Decimus Meridius shouts at the bloodthirsty crowd gathered in the Roman Coliseum in the 2000 film Gladiator. It's also a reasonable question to ask of the 21st century masses who are still willing to darken the doorways of multiplexes across the country when a suitable spectacle is released by a major film studio. After watching 62-year-old Tom Cruise fighting bad guys in midair on the wings of a bi-plane in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, you can now watch 61-year-old Brad Pitt do his own high speed driving in F1: The Movie. Clearly there is something about middle-aged movie stars that pushes them to extremes in an effort to remain in the national zeitgeist. Old stars become new again. Too bad the same can't be said for the movies they are making. Co-writer/director Joseph Kosinski is making a cottage industry out of turning sixty into the new forty for Hollywood leading men. He helmed Cruise's box office juggernaut Top Gun: Maverick, and now he's hoping to trade a fighter plane for a race car and propel Brad Pitt into the box office stratosphere. Despite my somewhat cynical point of view, I'll admit that F1: The Movie is an entertaining piece of popcorn filmmaking. If you see it on an IMAX screen, there's no reason to ever watch it again because the home experience will never do the cinematography and sound design justice. My primary beef with the film is that it's so by-the-numbers. If I give you the log line, 'an over-the-hill driver who never quite reached the top of the heap is recruited to train a headstrong rookie who could be the Best Ever', you can write the rest of the film yourself. Every worn out plot beat is present and accounted for. The veteran racer, Sonny Hayes, was in a terrible accident on the track that cost him his confidence, and he walked away from racing. The young rookie (Damson Idris) is cocky, but hasn't proven himself. The old analog pro trains by simply jogging the track he'll be driving on. The digital youngster has every fancy treadmill and training metric modern science can provide. And, the biggest, most tired plot point? To win … they're going to have to work as a team. There is one place where F1 deviates from standard tropes and betters itself in the process. Oscar nominee Kerry Condon (The Banshess of Inisherin) is onboard as a potential love interest for Pitt, but thankfully she's not in the film for only that purpose. Condon plays Kate, an engineering brain trust who designs and modifies the vehicles being driven by Sonny Hayes and his young protege. It gives Condon more screentime (which is always welcome) and avoids relegating her to the role of the worried supporting female, wringing her hands over the death-defying exploits of her leading man. The film's secret weapon is, of course, no secret. It's Brad Pitt. He brings the same cool dude swagger to veteran racer Sonny Hayes that he gave to Rusty Ryan in 2001's Ocean's 11. In case the younger members of the audience don't know Pitt is still cool, we first meet Sonny with Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love pounding over the soundtrack as he shuffles a deck of cards like Ricky Jay while the camera pans lovingly over his physique and face. I had to chuckle at such a hero-worshipping intro. That moment before the credits even run is emblematic of the film as a whole: it's trying a little too hard. When it chooses between bombast and silence, it chooses the decibels every time. With a running time of two-and-a-half hours, F1 could lose a good twenty minutes without costing it any of its tension or excitement. Toward the beginning of the film, the team owner, Ruben (Javier Bardem), explains that there are nine races remaining in the Formula One season, and his team only needs one win to survive a hostile takeover by its Board of Directors. Are you thinking what I was thinking? Are they really gonna have nine racing sequences in this movie? The answer is almost. They montage their way through about three races and drain everything they can from the other six. It quickly becomes clear there are only so many ways to film a car race. But, Pitt is so damn likable as a performer that you forgive F1: The Movie its excesses, obviousness and repetition. He's a 21st century Steve McQueen or Paul Newman. Both legends played up their ruggedness to avoid being labeled Hollywood pretty boys. It's probably no coincidence that McQueen and Newman were both passionate race car drivers off-screen. They even made their own racing films during their careers: Winning, 1969 (Newman) and Le Mans, 1971 (McQueen). Nothing says 'manly' or 'relevant' like risking death at 200 miles an hour. I turned 56 this year, just a half dozen years behind Brad Pitt. I've seen every film he's made, and I know what a capable actor he is. If you think he's only a pretty face, you haven't been paying attention. I wish he would play more complicated characters. To continue the Newman comparison, I want to see Pitt's Frank Galvin (The Verdict, 1982) or Donald 'Sully' Sullivan (Nobody's Fool, 1994). When his age becomes undeniable, we'll hopefully get those films. Are you not entertained? Yes, for now.
Forbes
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Salary Cap For America's Major League Cricket Tipped To Rise In Coming Years
In the late afternoon sunshine, with the spectacular Oakland Hills in the backdrop, Major League Cricket on Thursday made history with its first game at the iconic Coliseum, a world famous ground once home to the Athletics and Raiders. The terraces of the 40,000-seat ground were about a quarter full but it was undoubtedly a momentous moment for the fledgling American T20 domestic franchise league, hoped to ignite the No.1 targeted growth market for cricket. Apart from the initial intrigue over the MLC launching in 2023, finally ending decades of unfulfilled grandiose plans, playing games at the Coliseum has made splashy headlines with the announcement widely reported, including in The New York Times, Axios and mainstream media in the Bay Area. It's given nationwide exposure for a league entering a pivotal third season amid change. The league has expanded to 34 games and nestled into the earlier slot of mid-June in the hope of cementing a permanent spot in cricket's congested calendar. The Coliseum has shifted the tournament to the west coast for the first time after games previously were played solely in Dallas, the hub of American cricket, and a small ground in Morrisville, North Carolina. This season will also see games in Lauderhill, Florida, where many international games have been played over the years, along with the Bay Area and Dallas. There are plans for the six teams to have home grounds, but for all the franchises bar Texas Super Kings - even the Coliseum is currently only a one-season arrangement with San Francisco Unicorns - putting the suitable infrastructure in place has proven challenging. It's unlikely new stadiums will be unveiled in the next couple of years ahead of expansion in 2027 when two new teams will be added. As I've reported previously, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta and Toronto are the cities in the mix. Through significant investment of more than $100 million, the well-heeled MLC has been able to attract top stars from major cricket nations, especially Australian players such as superstars Pat Cummins, Steve Smith and David Warner. The MLC salary cap of $1.1 million per team has not changed over the short history of the tournament, with top players earning around $175,000 for a minimum of five games - rivalling the highest figure per game in T20 leagues outside of the money-spinning Indian Premier league. But stiff competition in an increasingly congested franchise circuit ensures MLC must continue to offer healthy salaries in order to attract top talent. Currently the tournament has a domestic media rights deal with Willow TV, a subscription app and minor satellite and cable channel. There are also partnerships with FUBO, a streaming television service, and CBS Sports Network, while Unicorns games will be shown live on NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California. The current deal with Willow is five years, but believed to come with a three-year out clause. 'Willow has been a great partner for us. But the questions are what is next and can we do better?' Seattle Orcas co-owner Soma Somasegar told me. 'There is an opportunity for a good amount of revenue to come into the league from media rights. That will open up not only more opportunities to keep attracting top players but also sponsorship.' Franchises have been focused on investment since the advent of MLC, but a media rights boon could start seeing profits for owners by the end of the decade. 'We have currently a kind of a starter deal when we launched the league,' Unicorns co-owners Anand Rajaraman said. 'As the league gains popularity, my hope is that the the second broadcast deal is what takes us to profitability.' There has been significant off-field change for MLC with Johnny Grave taking the reins as chief executive having replaced Vijay Srinivasan, who will helm one of the new franchises. Grave was the Cricket West Indies chief for seven years up until late last year and before that was commercial director at the Professional Cricketers' Association in England for almost a decade. 'There's less pressure (on the salary cap) compared to those leagues that clash in January, where in that window there's been big wage inflation, a sort of inflationary effect on salary caps,' Grave said. "We've got a domestic player cap that will be reviewed and then linked to that would be the international salary cap as well. 'But I think there are opportunities that exist here for players in terms of growing their own brands and profile within the U.S. market,' he added. 'We're pretty confident that we're a great proposition for any player in the world.' MLC's exposure internationally is growing with the league announcing a two-year broadcast deal with JioStar, India's premier sports and entertainment network. This season is also being broadcast in Australia on Channel Seven, a free-to-air television network, as the ongoing World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa is shunted behind an online streaming service. Those tuning into MLC's season-opener from around the world witnessed Finn Allen, a globetrotting T20 batter, provide fireworks in non-stop entertainment alongside American rising star Sanjay Krishnamurthi as a new sporting chapter started at this warhorse of an Oakland institution.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Big E announces Court of Honor Stage lineup
WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Big E has announced its lineup for its Court of Honor Stage performances. The popular venue, situated in front of the Coliseum, hosts four daily shows at 12, 2, 5 and 8 p.m. during the fair, Sept. 12-28. All shows are free with admission to The Big E. A limited number of premium seats are available for select shows. Free seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The lineup is as follows: Tonic, Sept. 12, 8 p.m.; John Morgan, Sept. 14, 8 p.m.; The Stylistics, Sept. 15-16, 2 p.m.; The Marshall Tucker Band, Sept. 17, 8 p.m.; Aldo Nova, Sept. 18, 8 p.m.; B.o.B, Sept. 19, 8 p.m.; Firefall, Sept. 20, 8 p.m.; Five for Fighting, Sept. 21, 8 p.m.; Seals & Crofts 2, Sept. 22-23, 2 p.m. Sister Hazel, Sept. 24, 8 p.m.; Elliot Lurie of Looking Glass with Yacht Rock Gold Experience, Sept. 25, 8 p.m.; Finger Eleven, Sept. 26, 8 p.m.; MKTO, Sept. 27, 8 p.m.; Queensrÿche, Sept. 28, 8 p.m. More additions to the Court of Honor Stage schedule and The Big E Arena are expected to be announced in the upcoming weeks. The Amateurs Silverthorne Theater Company launches 2025 summer season with 'The Amateurs' by Jordan Harrison, a play about a theater troupe on the run from the black plague in the 1300s. As the rag-tag troupe at the play's center races across Europe to outrun the plague, they perform such favorites as 'The Seven Deadly Sins' and 'Noah's Flood.' 'The Amateurs' will be staged at the Mainstage Theater in Emily Dickinson Hall on the campus of Hampshire College, where the company is in its second summer season in residence. Show dates and times are June 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m., and June 14, 15 and 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets available now at 'The Amateurs' is the first of two shows in Silverthorne's summer season. Tony-award winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins's 'The Comeuppance,' about a group of thirty-somethings gathering for their 20th high school reunion, will be presented in July. Connecticut LGBTQ Film Festival Out Film CT will host the 38th Connecticut LGBTQ Film Festival June 20-28. The majority of the festival will be screened at the festival's longtime home, the historic and elegant Cinestudio on the campus of Trinity College in Hartford. The closing night film will be at the Connecticut Science Center in downtown Hartford. In addition, there will be some virtual-only exclusives for film fans to enjoy at home. Associated social events include the opening night after-party (Friday, June 20), the centerpiece film free pre-reception (Wednesday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m.), and the closing night celebration (Saturday, June 28). Information on pricing for festival passes, which are on sale now, is available at Call & Response AMHERST — GalleryA3 in Amherst will exhibit the works of Evelyn Pye at an exhibition titled 'Call & Response' July 3 to Aug. 2. An opening reception will take place Thursday, July 3, 5–7 p.m. An art forum is scheduled to take place July 17, 7:30 p.m. In two series of related oil paintings on wood panel that together form 'Call & Response,' Pye explores human dimensions of time, space, and scale through a profusion of indoor plant life punctuated by a discrete infusion of domestic detail. GalleryA3 is located at 28 Amity St., 1D, in Amherst, Hours are Thursday to Sunday, 2-7 p.m. Earls and Pearls WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Irish Cultural Center will present the harmonies of the Earls and Pearls, a select group of vocalists from the former Dan Kane Singers, as they sing a collection of popular songs from across the decades. A special summer barbecue buffet is included in ticket purchase. The musical dinners take place at the ICC's Irish House Restaurant and Trinity Pub, at 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield. The two performance dates are Thursdays, June 19 and June 26. Doors open at 4 p.m.; music starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 for ICC patrons and $50 for the general public. Ticket includes music performance, the buffet, and server gratuity for food. A full bar will be open for purchase. Learn more and purchase tickets online at or call the restaurant at 413-342-4358. Suffield Players auditions SUFFIELD, Conn. — The Suffield Players are recently announced auditions for their upcoming October production of 'A Rock Sails By,' directed by Lisa Parker. Performance dates are Oct. 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 8 p.m., and Oct. 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. at Mapleton Hall in Suffield. Auditions will take place a Mapleton Hall Saturday, June 15, and Sunday, June 16, at 7 p.m. Callbacks — by invitation only — will take place Monday, June 17, at 7 p.m. Those auditioning will be asked to fill out an audition form prior to their audition. Visit to access the form and find more information. Roles are available for a range of adult characters. All experience levels are welcome. Bring a headshot and resume if available. Audition material will be provided at the audition or check the website for advance sides and character breakdowns. For questions, contact suffieldplayers@ Read the original article on MassLive.
Forbes
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Rising American Cricketer Sanjay Krishnamurthi Set To Be Homegrown Hero For San Francisco
San Francisco Unicorns batter Sanjay Krishnamurthi is an American cricketer on the rise. Three years ago, Sanjay Krishnamurthi was high in the terraces of the iconic Coliseum amid a rabid Athletics fanbase soaking in MLB action with the stunning Oakland Hills in the background. Back then the starry-eyed teenager was in the very early stages of being a professional cricketer having made his international debut for the U.S. in an One-Day International against Oman in September 2021. However, the febrile atmosphere left Krishnamurthi feeling somewhat melancholy as he dreamt of playing cricket, a global bat and ball sport but relatively invisible in the congested sports market of the U.S, in such surroundings. 'I remember thinking if only cricket can get to this level in the U.S. that would be amazing,' Krishnamurthi told me in an interview. On Thursday, the recently turned 22-year-old Krishnamurthi will step onto the hallowed Coliseum turf as a member of San Francisco Unicorns in the much-hyped Major League Cricket's season launch against defending champions Washington Freedom. After the MLC's first two seasons were consigned to Dallas and Morrisville, North Carolina, the match represents Unicorns' first official home ground with more than 12,000 fans expected to attend. Playing at such a treasured site is considered a game-changer for the well-heeled MLC and cricket's exposure in the U.S. It is currently only a one-season arrangement with the Coliseum to host three home Unicorns games and nine overall. But the development made a widespread splash with the announcement widely reported, including in The New York Times, Axios and mainstream media in the Bay Area. 'The Coliseum has such a rich history and to think that we're playing there is really cool,' said Krishnamurthi,who will be playing his second season of MLC. 'I'm so excited to be playing in front of home fans and also my friends and family.' There are big dreams for cricket in the U.S, with the sport to end its 128-year Olympic drought at the Los Angeles Games. But the initial steps have been rather modest. Cricket will be played at the LA Olympics (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images) The long-awaited arrival of MLC, along with hosting big events such as last year's T20 World Cup and playing at the Coliseum, has hoped to introduce the sport to those who only know cricket as a pesky insect or confuse it for that other rather quaint well-to-do British sport - croquet. 'I told my eye doctor recently that I'm playing in a cricket tournament and she said 'I heard they are playing at the Oakland Coliseum',' Krishnamurthi said. "She's East Asian, so you wouldn't expect her to have heard of cricket. I think that was pretty cool. 'One of my friends saw my face on some Unicorns branding selling rice at a grocery store,' he added amid a chuckle. 'So people start seeing that around and that just means awareness is growing.' While MLC has been able to reel in top players from powerhouse cricket nations such as Australia and England, giving it heft and pizzazz amid a saturated cricket circuit, its ultimate success in the U.S. will be determined by creating hometown heroes. Major League Cricket has brought in many top cricketers from around the world (AP Photo/LM Otero) Hard-hitting, spinning allrounder Krishnamurthi fits the bill having been passed on the love of cricket from his India-born father. While his schoolmates were more interested in shooting hoops, throwing a football or pitching, Arizona-raised Krishnamurthi was obsessed with cricket and his skills developed quickly after he moved to India with his parents as an eight-year-old. Krishnamurthi eventually returned to the U.S. seeking greater playing opportunities and also to study computer science at San Jose State University, where most of his classmates are seemingly oblivious that they hit the books with an international cricketer. 'I think most of my classmates have no idea,' Krishnamurthi laughed. "But after last MLC, the university posted a pretty nice article on me on their main page. 'I think that gave me a little bit of attention within the university, but yeah…still pretty anonymous.' While he eyes batting in the top-order, Krishnamurthi is making his mark for the U.S. in international cricket at No.7 in the finisher role. In what is arguably the hardest role in the batting-order in white-ball cricket, Krishnamurthi's power-hitting and ability to clear the boundaries makes him a natural. He posted his first international half-century in last month's ODI against Canada in Lauderhill, Florida, followed by an unbeaten 40 off 27 against Oman marked by a trio of huge sixes. Sanjay Krishnamurthi has starred for U.S. recently (Photo by Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire via Getty ... More Images) 'Last winter I went to India and I did a lot of work on my power hitting,' Krishnamurthi said. "I'm embracing it. I do feel like I have that power element in my game that I can come down the order and that's what they (the U.S. hierarchy) see in me. 'But I'm hoping to eventually bat up the order and get to face a few more balls.' Krishnamurthi's cavalier batting is set to make him a fan favorite in the MLC and he looms as a key cog in Unicorns' line-up, boosted by a slew of recruits including young Australian internationals Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett. The fledgling MLC has already proven invaluable experience for American players, who are sponges when mingling with some of the biggest stars of the sport. Last season, Krishnamurthi rubbed shoulders with legendary Australia captain Pat Cummins and dynamic Australia batter Josh Inglis, whose inventive batting has become a prototype in the shorter formats. 'Pat's so simple with his mindset and super prepared that he takes the emotions out of it once he has bowled the ball. I found that so insightful,' Krishnamurthi said of Cummins, who is not playing MLC this season due to international commitments. 'Josh was pretty incredible because he accesses areas that I can't even think of accessing with his reverse flicks and scoops, so he's a batter that I really tried to learn from.' Krishnamurthi will enter the season full of confidence and a breakout looms for an emerging cricketer who could soon find himself in demand on the T20 franchise circuit. Flamboyant but mature - Krishnamurthi's is also starting to handle with ease his growing media commitments - the talented youngster might just be the tonic American cricket needs to start making waves at home and beyond. 'We hope to one day win a World Cup and that can be a reality because there are a lot of talented cricketers in the U.S,' he said. "We just need more exposure and that will help us get better. 'The MLC gives us a chance to mix it with some of the best players in the world and I'm excited to try to help Unicorns win the title.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🚨 Getafe and Betis confirm Juanmi signing
Ángel Torres, president of Getafe, took advantage of the presentation of Toni Muñoz as the new sports director to confirm several continuities. One is that of José Bordalás on the bench and another is that of Juanmi in the forward position. He was on loan at the Coliseum but now becomes a full-fledged azulón footballer after the club exercised the purchase option for 1.2 million euros. Advertisement This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. 📸 Aitor Alcalde - 2025 Getty Images
