Free Republic

UPDATE WED PM: I'm told MGM's Rocky Balboa started fast with a $6.2 million mid-week opening Wednesday from 2,752 theaters. Early word had been that the matinees were "looking good" since the movie is better than anyone ever expected. Amazing that the franchise still had life in it, especially when the Hollywood studios were telling Sylvester Stallone not to embarrass himself by bringing the character out of retirement for a 6th bout (Although I wish Sly had kept his mouth shut since he made a fool of himself every time he's been interviewed in recent weeks... especially by dissing Richard...

The World Cup is generating record television audiences for soccer in the U.S. But some diehard fans think the coverage deserves a red card. Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN and ABC have been hit with complaints from soccer devotees that their telecasts are unsophisticated and mistake-ridden. The popular Web site Big Soccer has a thread titled "Pick your favorite insane thing said by the announcers so far."A major gripe: ESPN selected an announcer, Dave O'Brien, who had never called a soccer game before this year to serve as the tournament's lead play-by-play man. Some English-speaking viewers have switched to Spanish-language Univision,...

On Tuesday, February 14, 2006, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will hear oral arguments in an appeal by Boy Scouts of a case brought by the ACLU against Boy Scouts of America, San Diego-Imperial Council, and the City of San Diego. The case is Barnes-Wallace v. Boy Scouts of America. The City of San Diego has over 100 leases with nonprofit organizations for little or no cash rent in exchange for the organizations' developing the properties and making them available for public use. The City leases two properties to San Diego-Imperial Council—parkland in Balboa Park,...

Our anti-victory friends from CODEPINK are at it again. They're trying to pull a fast one on us, by scheduling a protest outside Balboa Naval Hospital on SUPER BOWL SUNDAY. Unfortunately for them, they forgot to check the kickoff time. The game starts at 3pm, but this event will be over no later than 1:30pm. Plenty of time to get home and have a couple of beers before the big game. This event will be held in honor of our good friend Mikey, who is in the hospital recovering from brain surgery. His wife and daughter will be attending in...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Friday he has documentary evidence that the United States plans to invade his country. Chavez, interviewed on ABC's "Nightline," said the plan is called "Balboa" and involves aircraft carriers and planes. A transcript of the interview was made available by "Nightline." He said U.S. soldiers recently went to Curacao, an island off Venezuela's northwest coast. He described as a "lie" the official U.S. explanation that they visited Curacao for rest and recreation. "They were doing movements. They were doing maneuvers," Chavez said, speaking through a translator. He added: "We are coming up...

Excerpt - [snip] KOPPEL: Let me stop you. CHAVEZ (THROUGH TRANSLATOR):… there would be no oil. KOPPEL: Are you saying you have discovered evidence of an invasion plan against Venezuela or are you saying "if" you discovered a plan? CHAVEZ (THROUGH TRANSLATOR):I'm telling you that I have evidence that there are plans to invade Venezuela. Furthermore, we have documentation: how many bombers to overfly Venezuela on the day of the invasion, how many trans-Atlantic carriers, how many aircraft carriers need to be sent to (inaudible) even during (inaudible). Recently, an aircraft carrier went to Curacao (inaudible) the fact that the...

Peaceniks Occupy Balboa Park in San Diego—Greet “Dissenters” with Intimidation (March 19, 2005) On the second anniversary of the liberation of Iraq, the so called “peace protestors” showed their true colors again. In the military town of San Diego, a couple hundred hippies and anarchists gathered in Balboa Park, eerily reminiscent of the latest South Park episode. The local chapter of Protest Warrior, to which this author belongs, was there to play the role of Eric Cartman, to “end the occupation of Balboa Park” by the hippies. The Protest Warriors set up a Patriots Picnic across the way from the...

NEW YORK - The boxer who was the inspiration for Sylvester Stallone (news)'s "Rocky" films plans to file a lawsuit against the actor for illegally using his name to promote the films and other merchandise, attorneys said Friday. Chuck Wepner, 65, is seeking $15 million in damages from the right of publicity claim, said his attorney Anthony Mango. The suit will be filed next week in New Jersey State Court. "Stallone is keenly aware that having a movie based on true story adds an appeal and he capitalizes on that, but has never given Chuck anything back," Mango said. Wepner...