Welcome to my new blog.
Five from the top is simply a personal top 5 about anything
and everything, covering my favourites – From my favourite actors through to my
favourite Zodiac signs.
Personal top five’s are something that everyone does, it’s a
way for most people to compare their personal likes with other people without
the shame others knowing your personal love Steps and AC/DC equally.
I think listing a top five is hard; I challenge you now to
list your top five films, hard isn’t it?- unless you’ve spent hours on end
arguing with yourself or others whose top 5 is better. Obviously, it’s really
hard to compare “Shawshank Redemption” with “Star Wars, A New Hope” for
example, what does separate the two? Is it down to what film you cannot live
without? Is it down to one actor? The director? It is hard to pinpoint.
Therefore, for a larger wider variety of top fives, I will make parameters to
each “Top Five”.
The Idea of this blog is for me to offer my opinion on the
subject; I will, hopefully, introduce you to something new within the topics of
my five from the top.
All the “Top Five” lists will have restrictions set by myself
or others, possibly other top fives I have heard or read, or even just a reader
challenging me.
Before we go any further, I feel I should just say a little
bit about myself. I am not a writer (as you have probably worked out from the
above sections) nor am I a critic or I a professional opinion setter. All I am
is bored along with a massive amount of spare time. I have tried blogging
before, but just made it a diary style simple blog, but as my life is about as
interesting as watching Wayne Rooney eat pasta I became very bored. Starting
this very specific blog is hopefully a way for me to keep my mind busy.
I don’t profess to know a lot about anything, I am just
curious about everything and I like to offer my opinion.
Without further ado, my opening five from the top (I am
going to cheat here and give two) Firstly my top five Acting Debuts and
Secondly Sporting Debuts.
Five Top Best Acting Debuts
The limitations for the list are: It must be the first
feature Film on IMDB.com, it does not including short films, TV series, TV
Movies or animation (Or voice being lent to screen).
5. Cameron Diaz – The Mask (1994, Dir Chuck Russell) - http://youtu.be/27I4ZFihnl8
Now, this is by no stretch a great film but oh my, what an
opening entrance to the big screen. “A long legged, blonde haired, blue eyed
and well-endowed beautiful girl shakes her hair”. Never, would I have thought
that this could have been such a spectacular entrance.
The film itself is just about average, Jim Carrey does carry
it on his shoulders and he carries it well. But the family comedy that the film
offers allows you to look past the simplicity of the film and yes Diaz’s career
is based on her looks and legs, but what a way to do it. If you haven’t seen Diaz’s
entrance before, or would like to refresh your memory a couple of times enjoy
the above clip and I can guarantee you will be looking like Carrey in the clip
as you see her tend to her shoe.
4. Jason Statham/Vinnie Jones – Lock, Stock and Two Smoking
Barrels (1998. Dir. Guy Richie) - http://youtu.be/h6hZkvrFIj0
It is a rarity that a sports star really takes off in the
movie industry, but when two take off in one film, it is a miracle. Yes, Jason
Statham was an athlete, maybe not a sports star, but finished 12th
in the Diving World Championship in 1992 qualifies him, so it pretty much
qualifies him as an athlete.
I have cheated by putting two in one in at the same level
but it’s quite hard to choose between them. Statham’s acting is very realistic,
as you would expect for a French Connection model acting for the first time, and
you want him to succeed. Jones’ role, for me, makes the film gritty and true.
But if you measure the actors afterwards, Statham’s career has evolved more
than Jones’ to the point that Statham now a Hollywood A Star Celebrity and is
very sort after.
But their roles within the film are the most pivotal parts,
and their authentic Englishness (even though Vinnie Jones is Welsh) allows the
film to feel very real.
3. Julie Andrews – Mary Poppins (1964. Dir. Robert
Stevenson) - http://youtu.be/U3zAbQ0aMK8
Yes, Julie Andrews’s first role was singing in a 1949 film
“The Rose of Bagdad” Directed by Anton Gino Domenighini, but as she only sung,
I think we can overlook this minor role.
Julie Andrews is immensely important in the cinema world,
not just for playing the second best Nanny on screen ever (after Hulk Hogan as
Mr. Nanny) but for eventually going on to do The Sound Of Music (1964, Dir.
Robert Wise). But back to Mary Poppins – What a wonderful portrayal of turn of
the century London Families, female equality, street sweeps and growing
children.
Let’s be fair there is only one way to describe this film and
that is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Andrews role is sweet and innocent,
yet wise and always in control. It allows everyone to believe that she truly is
perfect in every single way.
This film is a childhood favourite of mine, I am still able
to sing the songs from memory and without shame. I know a very, very good
friend is reading this and smiling as his love for Mary Poppins is second to
none, well maybe second to Commando(1985. Dir. Mark Lester).
In 1960’s animation was starting to take off with many
Disney films and Warner Bros. using cartoon animation within the films, it was
right to take this mystical film into a second world, as if that was what
everyone in London did in 1910. This part of the film, not only was the most
expensive film, but is iconic to the point that it was voted the second most
favourite musical scene in a film (behind Do Ray Me – Sound Of Music). So enjoy
the link above!
2. Natalie Portman - Leon (1994. Dir. Luc Besson) - http://youtu.be/JhRW8J3gTuo
If there was an intro for a child into acting this was it.
Portman blew the audition out of the water and continued it in the film.
Mathilda is a fantastically innocent character with a hit of evil and mischief.
Besson is a master director, but Portman didn’t need much
directing to help bring this character to life. The chemistry between Portman
and Jean Reno is superb, almost father/daughter almost sugar daddy/gold digger.
Portman/Reno’s fantastic relationship needs an evil
mastermind and Gary Oldman supplies it to the max. The scene *SPOILERS* where
Oldman interviews Portman is a piece of acting genius from an 11 year old
acting rookie.
If you have never seen this film, I suggest that you stop
reading, and go find it and watch it.
1. Orson Welles – Citizen Kane (1941, Dir. Orson Welles) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR2s6_Xbi9M&feature=share&list=PLA2D3341948819FFD
This might be a directing masterpiece, and an important film
with visionary techniques. But without Welles as Kane this film would not have
worked. I’m happy to leave the film and Welles’ performance do the talking for
himself.
Please watch this film now and remember it was made in 1941
and none of the techniques had been done before.
Now onto the second instalment on the first ever “Five from
the Top” with the best sporting Debuts.
Limitations: 1. First FULL professional game in a team sport.
2. First Professional tournament in an individual sport. 3. One person per
sport.
5. Billy Rohr – Baseball - http://youtu.be/1BoD1xEJSXo
Billy Rohr, was a rather unlucky player but his first game
was sensational. He started in 1967 and retired in 1968.
When Rohr stepped up to the plate for his first game it was
against the formidable Yankees, he pitched a near perfect game. He was one
strike away from a complete no hitter (a game where not one batter his the ball
and all batters receiving 3 strikes). Only having one hit, a soft hit (which is
a hit that doesn’t go far enough for a long run only allowing the batter to get
one base), from Future Hall of Famer Whitey Ford, but after that he retired the
next batter and the game finished with a 3-0 shutout (A game where the
opposition doesn’t score a point).
Rohr’s next game was again against the Yankees, he pitched
again and closed out at 6-1. What a start to his baseball career. Baseball
rotates 3 pitches, so Rohr only played a hand full of games and finished the
season at 3-3 (3 wins 3 losses) And after a fantastic starting game the season
went downhill, downhill so much that after the first season he never played
another game retiring at the age of 22.
4. Mario Lemieux – Hockey. http://youtu.be/zeGKVWwaKQg
The most anticipated hockey player since “The Great One”
Wayne Gretzky drafted by Pittsburgh Penguins as first overall. With Gretzky still
playing, and in the same position, Lemieux had a tough job ahead of him to
become the MVP and Staley Cup winner.
In his first game, in his very first outing, Lemieux stole
the puck from Boston Bruins’ future defensive Hall of Famer Ray Bourque,
Lemieux carried the puck and on his first shot in NHL he scored passed Pete
Peeters. His first game lead to his first steal, lead to his first skate, lead
to his first shot, lead to his first goal. During the game, he also set up one
assist with his first pass.
This feat has never been matched first pass and first shot
equalling points. Lemieux’s first season is a spectacular first season, he won
his first fight against Gary Lupul he also kept scoring and assisting
throughout the first season scoring 43 goals and having 57 assists earing 100
points making him only the third rookie ever to do so.
He retired with 690 goals and 1,033 assists putting him 7th
of all time. Lemieux has won two Stanley Cups as a player and later one as an owner,
also with the Penguins.
3. Ben Cutis – Golf - http://youtu.be/-UyK97UzLhw
In 2003 the 396th rated rookie golfer stepped up
to tee off at Royal Saint George for The Open Championship. The very successful
armature had the odds of 300-1 to win. In his first every Major, Curtis carded
up a day one score of 72, 4 strokes off the 3 under par leader Hennie Otto.
Curtis, already know as an armature who was consistent,
carded another one over par 72 on the second day. Otto scored an awful 76
meaning the lead was handed to Thomas Bjorn who was now one point to the better
over Curtis.
Day three saw Curtis score a wonderful 70 (214). But Bjorn
was still ahead with a day three total of 212 and closely followed by a legend
of the sport in the shape of Vijay Singh who carded an equal 214 with Curtis.
The final day saw the three closely watched, but disaster
stuck for Bjorn sunk a one above par 72 leaving Curtis to need 3 below par or
better to win. Singh and Curtis were head to head as Singh sunk a 70 to join
Bjorn on 284 and Curtis suck a spectacular 69 to finish 283 and won his first
major on his debut. Only two others have ever done so before him.
Curtis pocketed a wealth of $1.1m for winning the 2003
British Open. Nevertheless, sadly, Curtis never been able to achieve his dizzy
heights of his first major, but you never know what the future holds.
2. Alan Shearer – Football http://youtu.be/RZQ-aIRMgjU
In 1988 arguably the future premier leagues greatest striker
debuted. There was massive hype for a 17 year old Southampton youth academy
starlet. Shearer had come on as a substitute two weeks pervious against Chelsea,
but with less than 5 minutes of the game left, and no scoring opportunities,
his overall game allowed the media to build mass hype for his full debut.
On April 9th 1988, Southampton hosted a
formidable Arsenal team even though Arsenal would go on to finish 6th
they were one of the teams of the league (Arsenal would go on to secure the
‘88/’89 season in style). Even though Arsenal were a box office name, everyone
was there to see Southampton’s 17 year old front man.
Arsenal had top players such as: Nigel Winterburn, Steve
Williams, David Rocastle, Martin Hayes, Alan Smith, Perry Groves, and Michael
Thomas. Southampton had a few of their own top players like Andy Townsend,
Jimmy Case and Glenn Cockerill.
This was a match for nothing else but points for Arsenal to
finish third. It was a done deal; Southampton just could not match up to the
quality provided by the Arsenal line up. However, Alan Shearer had a different
idea.
Shearer started as a player between Colin Clarke and Jimmy
Case, and played beyond superlatives. He passed, ran, crossed, headed, shot,
assisted, tackled, took a corner and even took a throw in. He was a man
possessed.
Now, most players play well on their first outing and fade
away after the first 10-15 minutes. But what Shearer did was something that had
only been done once before in professional football and was obviously the start
of something spectacular. He scored a hat trick. “A hat-trick?” I head you say
questionably. Most top world-class strikers score hat tricks on a regular basis,
Messi And C. Ronaldo do it for fun at the moment, but Shearer scored a hat
trick in his first game. The only other time this was done was by Jimmy Greaves
over 30 years ago. He is still the youngest footballer ever to do so aged 17
years and 240 days
Edouard Louis Joseph Baron Merckx born on 17th
June 1945 was going to become the greatest road cyclist of all time, and
achieve feats far beyond that of anyone else before or after. Cycling is a
sport with many issues, doping being the biggest controversy, but is also a
sport of enormous fitness, mentality and determination.
I challenge athletes from any other sport to try doing a
competitive road cycling course, other than long distance runners and swimmers
most people are going to fail by the 6th stage let alone the 22nd
stage as the Tour De France offered in 1969.
Eddy Merckx had won amateur events for the 5 years previous
to is Tour De France debut, but had never had the public acknowledgement of his
success. However, it was going to change in 1969. When Merckx set off on the
pre-stage at Roubaix, even though he did not win, he put himself in good stead
for the plain stage and time trial the following day. Sint-Pieters-Woluwe held
the start of day 2 along with the first official stage and the first team time
trial. Merckx’s team “Faema” won the event which give Merckx the Yellow Jersey
for the first time this tour. Merckx went into day 2 donning the coveted Yellow
Jersey, but was to fall far behind to fellow compatriot Julien Stevens, who
held the Jersey until stage 5.
At the end of stage 5 Merckx was 9 seconds behind the new
Yellow holder Desire Letort. Stage 6 was a stage perfect for Merckx who had
beaten legendary 5-time tour winner Jacques Anquetil in a previous Time-trial
on a similar style stage in a different Tour. So Merckx attacked, and attacked
hard. He won the stage convincingly, opening up a 55 seconds lead over Spaniard
Joaquim Galera, 1 minute 58 seconds over the German Rudi Altig and then nearly
4 minutes everyone else.
That was more of less it in the exchanging of shirts. Once
Merckx had his teeth into the yellow jersey he did not relinquish it full the
rest of the Tour. Merckx had achieved all 3 jerseys at the end of stage 6, but
lost 2 of them (the Polka Dotted mountain classification jersey and the Green
points classification Jersey), but then yet another perfects Merckx stage –
Stage 9.
Holders Roger De Vlaeminck of the points classification and
Joaquim Galera of the mountain classification failed to keep up with the sheer
pace that Merckx set. This was possibly one of the first times in Tour De
France History that the yellow jersey wearer led from the front to purposely
earn the two remaining jersey’s.
Attacking the front line was a true mark of Merckx’s
ambition and drive to impress everyone and also to win the Tour De France.
Merckx would not win stage 9 but open up a big enough gap to tighten his hold
on the tour victory. Mercks would win a further four stages of the tour (11,
15, 17 and the final individual time trial). The final stage, 22B, would be the
crowning moment for Merckx. He won the stage and opened an impressive 17
minutes 54 seconds over Tour De France national Roger Pingeon in the General
Classification (Yellow Jersey). Also, he finished with 244 points in the Points
Classification (Green Jersey) which was 94 points ahead of Jan Janssen – a
record still today for someone who won both Green and Yellow Jersey. In
addition, Merckx finished with 155 points in the Mountains Classification
(Polka-dot Jersey).
Merckx was the first, and probably will be the only rider
ever to achieve a clean sweep of all three classifications. Winning the Tour De
France, is hard, but doing it on your first ever ride is … Well un-descriptive
and awe-inspiring. Merckx went on to win the Tour De France a total of 5 times,
the Mountains classification one more time and the Points classification twice
more, only one ever only finishing with the General classification on its own
once.
A TRUE legend of sport.
Thank you very much for reading my first blog. I know it is
far from the best out there, but I will improve. Please suggest a top five or
give feedback by emailing kylebttsd@gmail.com
I will be running several sub posts for the five from the
top:
- Five Pictures/videos/articles/podcasts (anything I can find on the internet
- True Transcendent Athletes – A Bio style post about athletes that have transcended their sport
- A.O.B – Any other business a blog about … well Any Other Business
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