chumpchampion

Good news sports, photography and sports photography lovers! The Annenberg Space for Photography has extended the Sport: Iooss & Leifer exhibit showcasing the amazing photos of two living legends, Walter Iooss and Neil Leifer. The first ever two-man show at the Annenberg features some of the most iconic sports imagery ever photographed displayed up close and on a larger than life scale.

Overview of the exhibit here, including details on the Annenberg’s digital feature and videos.

Also…click here to listen to KCRW’s intimate interview with Neil Leifer.

The following is a brief sampling of the genius eyes and timing of Iooss and Leifer. (text via The Annenberg Space for Photography)

• Neil Leifer

“Neil Leifer’s photography career has spanned almost 50 years. Specializing in sports photography, Leifer’s photos have regularly appeared in every major national magazine, including the Saturday Evening Post, Look, LIFE, Newsweek, People and, most often, Sports Illustrated. Leifer’s pictures have graced over 200 covers of Time Inc. publications — 170 at Sports Illustrated, and 40 at TIME Magazine. Leifer has published 15 books. The most recent two, Ballet in the Dirt: The Golden Age of Baseball (2007) and Guts and Glory: The Golden Age of American Football 1958-1978 (2008) both published by Taschen, are already considered classics. Leifer photographed his favorite subject, Muhammad Ali, on at least 70 separate occasions, including 35 fights.  Leifer is now a full-time filmmaker. He has produced and/or directed two features, five documentaries and eight short films.”

Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston II

Ali vs. Williams

Joe Namath

Reggie Jackson

Vince Lombardi

• Walter Iooss

“Walter Iooss is an award-winning legend in sports photography, best known for his nearly 300 Sports Illustrated covers, as well as his portraits of famous athletes like Michael Jordan, Ken Griffey, Jr., Brett Favre, Joe Montana and Wayne Gretzky. In his career, he has covered virtually every major sports event, including all 43 Super Bowls. In 1982, his project on athletes working their way to the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles resulted in publication of the book, Shooting for the Gold. He has published a number of other books, including Baseball, Football and Sports People, and created a masterful photo essay with Michael Jordan, Rare Air, which topped The New York Times Best Sellers list. His latest work, Athlete, was released in May 2008, and marks his 14th book. In 2004, Iooss received the Lucie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sports Photography.”

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan

John McEnroe

“The Catch”

Brooklyn Decker (what? Sports Illustrated swimsuit models count too!)

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Sports posters have been a part of kids’ rooms for as long as kids rooms have been around. And as those kids grow up it seems as though art, in some form or another, starts to take hold of their imaginations and replaces some of that old sports imagery. But often times the two worlds come together and form a perfect “adult kids room” of sorts as evidenced in the Gallery 1988 Los Angeles and OMG Posters team up, The Greatest Moments in Sports History (A Poster Show).

Check out some of the work on Gallery 1988’s blog here.

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For the film and sports lovers, here’s what it might look like if Quentin Tarantino, David Lynch, Wes Anderson, Jean-Luc Godard or Werner Herzog “directed” the Super Bowl. Have a great Super Bowl Sunday! Via Slate V.

(*note-It get’s better after the Tarantino bit.)

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My last post of last year was my best list of the best “best of” lists of 2009, so I thought I should start 2010 with something fresh and original. After all, the first year of our new decade deserves more than what any list of any singular year could offer. I must say, what I came up with was nothing short of genius…a list celebrating all the years of the first decade of the 2000’s! So take whatever “original idea” you were trying to come up with and shove it back into your brainhole! Lists: 2, originality: 0. I win again! But only by beating myself…again. Damnit.

Anyhow, for those who long for the early 2000’s of a few days ago, I give you a look back at looking back at our last decade.

Click headers or corresponding images to see complete lists.

• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart’s Decade in Review

• Heavy’s Top 10 Viral Videos of the Decade

Star Wars Kid, nuff said

• The Huffington Post’s Sex Tapes of the Decade

• Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Albums and 100 Best Songs of the Decade

• Rotten Tomatoes Best Films of the Decade

• Sports Illustrated Photographer’s Shots of the Decade and Decade in Sports

• Techland’s 10 Best Comics of the Decade

And last and certainly least…

• Gawker’s Douchebag of the Century Decade

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The legend of Doc Ellis’ LSD induced no-hitter while pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates comes to hallucinogenic life courtesy of New York’s dopeness dealing No Mas crew. Intensely drawn and animated by James Blagden, the psychedelic short features a moment by moment account from a non-tripping Doc Ellis himself before passing away last December.

More from No Mas:

“Sadly, the great Dock Ellis died last December at 63. A year before, radio producers Donnell Alexander and Neille Ilel, had recorded an interview with Ellis in which the former Pirate right hander gave a moment by moment account of June 12, 1970, the day he no-hit the San Diego Padres. Alexander and Ilels original four minute piece appeared March 29, 2008 on NPRs Weekend America. When we stumbled across that piece this past June, Blagden and Isenberg were inspired to create a short animated film around the original audio.”

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Manny Pacquiao, the peoples’ champion of the Philippines, the world, and of course chumpchampion. In winning his unprecedented and record setting seventh title in seven different weight divisions (112-147 lbs.) in dominating fashion over a courageous Miguel Cotto Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Manny has proven once again that the world’s best boxer is Filipino. Many thought the bigger more powerful Cotto would be the toughest test for Manny yet. And for the first three rounds it appeared so, until Manny turned it on and knocked down Cotto twice with punches as powerful as they were fast. After those knockdowns Cotto was never the same, back pedaling and playing defense up until the fight was mercifully stopped in the 12th round by TKO. And thus the new Welterweight champion of the world is Filipino. And like most Filipinos, Manny loves to sing. So confident he was going to pull off the record setting victory that Manny was able to fulfill a concert obligation with his MP Band two hours after his victory at the Mandalay Bay Casino. Watch the full fight below and highlights here.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto full fight (knockdowns in rounds 3&4, TKO in 12):

Manny Pacquiao is already an all-time great and first ballot Hall of Famer, that’s for certain. He could eventually go down as one of the greatest boxers ever. But the main test to Manny’s greatness, and the one fight everyone wants to see, is the inevitable bout against the great Floyd “Money” Mayweather. With Manny’s camp talking about one last fight before riding off into the sunset and Floyd already talking his usual smack, not to mention the incredible drawing power each fighter commands, this fight is already set up to be the biggest and most viewed ever and would definitely be the defining fight of both of their careers. Look for an epic battle to happen sometime next year. And see what Money May himself had to say about the reigning pound for pound champ:

Bring it on Floyd, Manny and Freddie will be waiting for you!

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Dancing, fighting, opening, auctioning, speaking, signing, arting. Many a great things happening this weekend, but for me and my Friday the 13th birthday weekend, the best present I can receive would be an exciting Manny Pacquiao victory. Hope you have a fun filled Filipino weekend!

• The weekend begins with a Friday the 13th full of Wonder as New York’s DJ Spinna and Bobbito bring their traveling Stevie Wonder tribute to Hollywood with Wonder-Full LA4 at The Vanguard.

• Giant Robot boldly follows Deth P. Sun’s lead as his melancholy cat-like characters come to LA in his new solo show Please Be Brave at GR2 on Sawtelle.

• Juxtapoz celebrates their 15th year of existence by throwing The Big Payback, a group art show and charity auction held in conjunction with Upper Playground and Power House Project of Detroit at the Factory Place Arts Complex in downtown LA. Proceeds from the auction will support the goal of purchasing five homes and employing local Detroit contractors, electricians, plumbers, and carpenters to perform the renovations. See the pieces by some of the urban art world’s best being auctioned off on Juxtapoz.com and bid on them at Charitybuzz.com.

• The main event of the weekend for fight fans and Filipinos everywhere: Manny Pacquiao fights Miguel Cotto for the Welterweight championship and a record setting seventh title. Nike Sportswear graciously hosts the fight at the Montalbán Theater in Hollywood. RSVP required.

• Spend Sunday with Family, the extraordinarily eclectic bookstore on Fairfax that is, as they host a very special speaking and signing engagement with Spike Jonze to celebrate the release of Heads On & We Shoot a “unique collaboration behind Where the Wild Things Are-the combined work of Maurice Sendak, Spike Jonze, Dave Eggers, and all the cast and crew.”

• And finally a weeks worth of free admission to the MOCA and the Geffen Contemporary as they both open their doors to bring their acclaimed collection of postwar art to the community with complimentary admission during the opening week of Collection: MOCA’s First Thirty Years.

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I’ve been extremely fortunate to have met and worked with some well known and talented actors, musicians and artists during my editing career and I can honestly say I’ve never been starstruck or that in awe of them. But when I took a break from cutting the ATCQ doc on Monday for a chance to check out reigning pound for pound king Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao in a closed training session with legendary trainer Freddie Roach at his Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, I was completely and utterly impressed. It’s one thing to meet one of your favorite athletes-a record setting boxer who has demolished opponents over six different weight classes (the only other boxer to do so was Oscar De LA Hoya who was forced into retirement by Manny last year), but it’s completely different when you’re a Filipino and the person you’re meeting is basically the Filipino Elvis.

And not only was I amazed at Manny’s superior speed and punching power, but I was equally impressed with his graciousness; stopping to say hi and sign autographs for the few people who were in the gym, posing for pictures (somehow I missed my opportunity when I shook his hand), and even apologizing to Freddie when he would hit him a little too hard in the ring.

HBO’s ongoing 24/7 series leads up to Manny’s fight against Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Las Vegas for the Welterweight title on Saturday, November 14th. My birthday is actually the day after the fight and the only present I really want is for Pacquiao to break the record by winning his seventh world title in seven different weight divisions, or at least another chance to get a photo with the champ.

Click here to see more video I posted on Vimeo.

And click here or the photos below to see the entire photo set on Flickr.

Manny and Freddie in the ring 1 from chumpchampion on Vimeo.

Manny and Freddie in the ring 2 from chumpchampion on Vimeo.

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Congratulations to the Los Angeles Lakers franchise on winning it’s fifteenth championship, Phil his tenth, Kobe and D-Fish their fourth, Lamar, Pau, and the rest team on their first. Also kudos to the entire city of L.A. for showing restraint and not completely burning down the city this time around.

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After watching one of (if not) the greatest Wimbeldon finals in the history of tennis this past weekend, I now have to ask, “is this the greatest sports year of our generation?” Think about it. Has there ever been a more compelling sports year than 2008 in terms of classics and sentiment? And we’re still only half way through the year! Here’s a brief rundown of some of this year’s highlights:

• February 3rd. The NFL’s greatest Super Bowl ever features the greatest Super Bowl catch ever. The New York Giants pull off one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl History by defeating the record setting duo of Tom Brady (most TD passes in a season) and Randy Moss (most TD receptions in a season) as well as their (almost) undefeated New England Patriots 17-14. Greatest. Super. Bowl. Ever.
• March 5th. After setting almost every significant passing record in the NFL, including most career passing yards and touchdowns this past year, Brett Favre finally retires after 17 years.
• April 19th. Danica Patrick wins the Indy Japan 300 and becomes the first female to win a major auto racing event. (insert your own women driving joke here).
• June 16th. Tiger Woods wins the U.S. Open in a sudden death playoff against a journeyman fan favorite named Rocco. Not only does Tiger birdie the final hole in regulation to force a playoff, he wins the tournament with a torn ACL in his left knee. A tear bad enough that a few days after his win he undergoes reconstructive surgery on the knee, thus ending his 2008 season.
• June 17th. The Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers. Let’s just say I have the moustache to prove it.
• June 28th (a.m.). I birdie the 17th hole and par the 18th to win the last four skins against Matt Gross, Nick Gross, and my mom. A Filipino rejoices.
• June 28th (p.m.). The entire nation of the Philippines rejoices as Manny Pacquiao wins the lightweight title by demolishing David Diaz. A national hero in his homeland, the phenom known as “Pacman” cements his place as the world’s best pound for pound boxer by becoming the first Asian to win a title in four different weight divisions.
• July 7th. Rafael Nadal defeats Roger Federer in an epic five set match in what they are calling the greatest final in Wimbeldon’s history. Nadal becomes the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win both the French Open and Wimbeldon titles in the same year. Not only does Federer’s quest for a sixth straight Wimbeldon championship end, but so does his record streak of 65 consecutive victories on grass.

So aside from the Lakers/Celtics nightmare, this year’s sports calendar is turning into one of the classics. And we still have the final All-Star game at Yankee stadium (new ballpark coming next year), the upcoming Summer Olympics in Beijing (the U.S. basketball teams mission to regain the gold), the World Series (Dodgers vs. Yankees fingers crossed), and the perfect game I’m going to bowl the same day I hit a hole in one. With all that being said…Greatest. Sports. Year. Ever.

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