Blog Archives

Bringing “Boomshakalaka” Back…akalaka

Kids today really need to get outside more…

so they find an arcade to play NBA Jam.

As vintage arcades continue to pop-up around the country (at least 2 in Columbus, Ohio) with NBA Jam being one of the prized centerpieces along with Mortal Kombat and Asteroids, my dad introduced me to the greatest basketball video game ever made in the form of a compact disc for the PC. Burning the nets and climbing two stories for a monster dunk was a thrill-a-minute. Playing this video game with friends was (and is) always a blast.

For this Throwback Thursday, I present to you the fascinating backstory of the popular video game NBA Jam.

Going head-to-head with friends in NBA Jam makes for an awesome time, especially when rediscovering your youth at an arcade. And the games are also intensely competitive. But when I was younger and my dad took a break from his work to challenge me or vice versa, those days were fun curve balls (wrong sport, but you get the point). It was as if I had discovered this secret portal in the universe because I had a dad who liked to play (and was pretty good at) video games.

Boomshakalaka!

Coldplay’s Night-Light

Coldplay isn’t just good at warm tributes, they’re also pretty good at this whole “performing” thing.

Zero score and four years ago, I was in Los Angeles, California and saw Coldplay at the picturesque Hollywood Bowl. My dad and I were halfway up in the center, which made for an awesome view. Setting wise, few (if any) outdoor venues compare. The serene SoCal evening was electrified by the pulsating sound of the pop music quartet from across the pond, bringing a random collection of fans together in a way only a concert can do. A few songs in and strangers in the rows in front of and behind us transformed into fast friends.

The power of music strikes again.

To celebrate Throwback Thursday, here’s a unique look back at that night in the Hollywood Hills.

The visual artistry from that night was unforgettable. In nearly every concert, the highlight is the musical act. Except, as the 2012 show in the Hollywood Bowl revealed, there were clearly two headliners: Coldplay and the projection designers. The end result was a concert that hypnotized every person in attendance into singing and dancing.

Even Charlie Brown had a smile on his face.

P.S. Coldplay’s “Charlie Brown” circa 2012 Hollywood Bowl. 

(FYI: It should be mentioned that there’s a solitary four-letter word dropped at the 2:46 mark)

P.P.S. The wristbands lit up during specific songs and moments, adding to the magical feel of the Coldplay experience.  

Even Zeus Was Impressed

Gold medals are a pretty cool thing to accumulate and make space for on the shelf and every collection has to start with that first piece.

Or race.

Michael Phelps, competing in the 400m Individual Medley (as seen above) at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, started his gold medal legacy. And with a world record, no less. That’s just crazy impressive. The greatest swimmer in the sport’s history, by every modern standard and measure, has been dominating in the pool and with casual sports fans alike for a dozen years. Perhaps the most surreal reality, however, is that Michael Phelps isn’t finished in Rio.

His pursuit for gold continues.

Simply put: Michael Phelps is defining his own Gold Rush era with his stellar performances spanning the past few summer Olympics.

The Rolling Michael Phelps Gold Medal Count: 22.

Pushing Towards that Whopper of a Dream

Viktor Navorski’s preference for Burger King aside, his passion for working hard for what he wants makes for a perfect Throwback Thursday.

The Terminal was a 2004 Steven Spielberg-Tom Hanks collaboration that cleverly told the story of a man from a war-torn nation stranded in New York’s JFK terminal desperate to visit the United States. Bustling during the day and eerily lonely at night, the JFK terminal proved an opportunity and a prison for Viktor. He cannot leave the terminal and enter the United States because of his status as the man without a country. In what’s revealed as his charming character trait, Viktor befriends the blue-collar workers of the airport and evolves from a peculiar foreign nuisance into an inspirational tour de force.

No matter what your goals and dreams are for today and tomorrow, we should all embrace the spirited resolve of Viktor Navorski.

Only Steven Spielberg could’ve framed and transformed a mundane activity into an endearing exercise of the human spirit.

Happy Throwback Thursday!