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The 5 Most Important Dates in American History

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As a developed nation, the United States doesn’t have a history as long as some of its allies and counterparts, but much has happened in America since its inception. There are certain dates in American history that are ingrained into the minds of every citizen, and even many of those who have never been to the country.

Many of these dates even pop up in the citizenship test, as Americans are mildly obsessed with celebrating anniversaries of certain events. It’s hard to whittle it down to just five dates that really stand out above the rest in terms of importance, but these ones are all dates that every American knows.

July 4, 1776

Every July 4th, Americans celebrate the anniversary of the country’s independence from Great Britain. While the Declaration of Independence was approved two days prior, it was on July 4, 1776, that the colonies adopted the document and it was officially established that the United States was a new nation. Interestingly enough, one of the founding fathers thought that July 2nd should be the day we all celebrate.

John Adams wrote in a message to his wife Abigail that July 2nd would be an annual event where fireworks and parades occur. He had the spirit of the holiday correct thanks to accurately predicting how we would all celebrate, he was just off on what date it would happen. If you ever want to catch the average American in a great mood, July 4th is the day to do it.

January 1, 1863

The President of the United States has the power to issue an executive order, and that’s what Abraham Lincoln did on the first day of 1863 by signing the Emancipation Proclamation. On this date, more than 3 million African Americans who were enslaved were freed with the stroke of a pen. Anyone who refused to free slaves from their property on that date would be considered criminals and enemies of the state.

“And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Consitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God,” the document reads. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed during the middle of the Civil War, which began on April 12, 1861 and didn’t come to an end until April 9, 1865.

December 7, 1941

Heading into December 1941, World War II had been almost exclusively fought in Europe and parts of Asia. That would all change on December 7, as Japan launched an attack on the United States by striking the Pearl Habor naval base in Hawaii. The United States had held neutrality as the country was in a phase of isolationism, but would instantly declare war on Japan.

Multiple battleships were sunk with nearly 200 aircraft destroyed. More than 2,300 Americans lost their lives that day with another 1,110 wounded. This began the massive US involvement in World War II, which turned the tide toward an Allied victory. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said, December 7, 1941, is “a date which will live in infamy.”

July 20, 1969

While there are no time zones on the moon, we know when Neil Armstrong took the first steps of any human in history. The Apollo 11 mission launched on July 16, 1969 marking the most significant mission in the space race. The shuttle was able to successfully land the Americans on the moon, with Armstrong announcing to the world that it was “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

The timing couldn’t have been any better for Americans as the decade started with then-President John F. Kennedy declaring that the United States would set foot on the moon by the end of the 1960s. There would be multiple missions that landed on the moon over the next few years, but there hasn’t been one since December 1972.

September 11, 2001

After Pearl Harbor, there was another attack on the United States that changed the course of both American and world history, and it occurred on September 11, 2001. It was an unassuming, warm, and sunny day in New York City and Washington D.C., but several hijackers took control of planes that would crash into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon while another plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers thwarted the terrorists.

Throughout the United States, there are reminders of the date, often accompanied by the words “Never forget.” After determining that Al-Qaeda was responsible for the attacks on the United States, a war in the middle east broke out and culture altogether changed around the world, especially when it came to airline security.

5 Most Prestigious Football Leagues in the World

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Almost every nation around the world has a professional football league, with a wide range of talent and prestige among them. There are some major countries that have professional leagues that don’t really stack up in terms of talent with the best, and that includes places like the United States, Norway, and Japan.

Then there are countries, which, despite being smaller in size, have brought in the most money and the best players. Obviously, many of these prestigious leagues are in Europe where football is king. Which ones rank as the best in the world, though? Here are our picks for the top five in order. Some of the leagues that just missed the cut include Dutch Eredivisie, Portuguese Liga, Brasileiro Serie A, and Mexican Primera Division Torneo Clausura. 

French Ligue 1

At the start of the 1930s, there was no professional football in France, but the country’s leaders in the sport decided that it should change, with French Ligue 1 starting in 1932. There had been plenty of clubs throughout France, and those that had an exemplary history both on the field and in terms of revenue were invited to join the newly founded league. Olympique Lillois won the first championship but went defunct in 1944.

Since then, some of the premier clubs include Paris Saint-Germain, Saint-Etienne, and Marseille. The three clubs have dozens of titles between them, and Marseilles leads all clubs in terms of most seasons with the top league. Some of the top players in French Ligue 1 history include Jean Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane, Raymond Kopa, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Italy Serie A

No other league on the list is as old as Italy Serie A, which was founded in 1898 with the clubs being separated by region. A quarter-century later, all of the league’s clubs began playing each other and the format has stuck ever since. The age of the league has helped it become so prestigious, with many considering it the top league in the world for some stretches of the 20th century.

Serie A has a few “big boys” with Inter Milan, Juventus, Roma, and AC Milan being the premier clubs. Juventus is the biggest dog in that yard, with nearly as many titles as the next two teams (Inter and AC Milan) combined. There have been a lot of legendary players throughout Serie A history, including Paolo Maldini, Francesco Totti, Diego Maradona, and Gianluigi Buffon. In fact, when the top 100 footballers in history list was assembled in 2017, Serie A was the most represented league on the list.

Spanish Primera Division

The Spanish Primera Division is officially known as The Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Primera Division, but most everyone simply calls it La Liga. The league was founded in 1929, making it the second oldest on the list, and like Serie A, has had stretches where it was the top league in the world.

While Athletic Bilbao and Valencia are long-time members of the league, Barcelona and Real Madrid are the dominant forces, combining to win over 60 of the La Liga titles. Some of the best players in football history have made their way through La Liga. The best players in league history include Lionel Messi, Alfredo di Stefano, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi, and Iniesta.

German Bundesliga

The German Bundesliga is the second-youngest on the list and second-most prestigious, and for a time in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was the top league. There are a lot of clubs that have had modest success in the Bundesliga, but nobody has matched what Bayern Munich has been able to do.

No other club has more than five titles besides Munich, who has more than 30 in their trophy case. Other premier clubs include Borussia Dortmun, Bayer Leverkusen, and VfL Wolfsburg. The Bundesliga’s top players in league history include Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Robert Lewandowski, and Oliver Kahn.

English Premier League

The most prestigious league on the list is also the youngest one on the list by a longshot. The English Premier League was founded in 1992, with Manchester United taking the first title. The league was founded because English football was on the downswing, and a new league with more revenue could prove a shot in the arm, which ended up being a fantastic decision.

Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea are the top teams in league history, collecting more than two dozen titles, while clubs like Everton and Tottenham Hotspur have been staples. Though the EPL doesn’t have a long history, there is already a history of some all-time great players. Some of the names that come to mind include Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Cristiano Ronaldo, and many more.

5 Rappers That You Might Have Forgotten About

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The rap genre has a lot of legends, including the likes of Jay-Z, Eminem, Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G., etc. The list really goes on for a while, but if you hear a certain name, you know about their legendary status. However, the genre isn’t comprised entirely of legends. There have been plenty of names that have come and gone, some of which were one-hit wonders that some saw as novelty acts.

Today, we remember some of those rappers whose careers were a flash in the pan. We’ll remember their hits that had people talking for a brief period, and what happened to them after their 15 minutes of fame. Here are five rappers that you might have forgotten about.

J-Kwon

St. Louis rap started to gain attention in the early 2000s thanks to Nelly, and one of the people who benefitted the most was J-Kwon. Born as Jerrell C. Jones, J-Kwon started rap battling in St. Louis as a child and had several run-ins with the law while struggling to survive in general. That would change in 2004 when he landed a record deal and released his debut album “Hood Hop”.

The album contained the massive hit “Tipsy”, which reached the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Then, J-Kwon had a modest hit with “You & Me” and wasn’t heard from for years. He waited five years to release another album and it hardly sold any copies. J-Kwon said his career was sidetracked due to being jailed for unpaid child support, claiming that the child wasn’t his. It turns out he was right and he created a foundation for people in similar situations.

Bone Crusher

Atlanta has created some of the best rappers of all time, and some of those legendary performers were able to bring exposure to some of the lesser-known from the ATL. Among those that found brief success thanks to the early 2000s rise in Atlanta’s hip-hop popularity was Bone Crusher. Born Wayne Hardnett Jr., Bone Crusher was a staple for video game soundtracks of the era.

His debut album “AttenCHUN!” was a huge hit, reaching number one on the R&B Chart thanks to songs like “Never Scared”. Afterward, he would release just two albums (in 2006 and 2007) before finishing his recording career. At the time, he said he was just waiting until his kids grew up a bit, but enjoyed fatherhood so much that he walked away from rapping altogether, so this story definitely has a happy ending.

MIMS

It seems like these days that almost every rapper has “Lil” or “Da” in front of their name, but in the early 2000s, there were a lot of rappers that had one-word names or even acronyms. One of those rappers that fall into both categories is MIMS, which stands for Music is My Savior, but is also his real last name. Shawn Mims was born in New York City in 1981 and found success in his mid-20s with the release of his debut album.

The album contained a long list of tracks, but the one that everyone remembers is “This is Why I’m Hot”. The song reached number one on the charts, and “Like This” would be a top 40, but that was it for MIMS. He released just one more album in 2009 titled “Guilt” which didn’t crack the top 50 of the Billboard 200 before getting dropped from his label. Thankfully, he found success in the tech world, creating an app called RecordGram.

Shop Boyz

Another Atlanta-based act, the Shop Boyz was a collective that comprised of Meany (Demetrius Hardin), Fat (Richard Stephens), and Sheed (Rasheed Hightower). The group started up in 2004 and fused both rock and rap, catching lightning in a bottle three years later when the two genres mashing up became popular in the mainstream.

Their debut album “Rockstar Mentality” was released in 2007, reaching #11 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the rap charts. Of course, the song that caught on the most was “Party Like a Rockstar”, a number-two hit. Their follow-up scraped the top 100 and they released just one more single before being released from their label.

Jibbs

Jibbs released just one studio album and had one top-10 hit, but what a hit it was. Born as Jovan Campbell, Jibbs is another St. Louis-based rapper who came onto the scene in the mid-2000s, releasing the hit track “Chain Hang Low”. The song reached number seven on the charts and was certified platinum from his album “Jibbs Featuring Jibbs”.

He had one more single titled “King Kong” that had modest success, but no other entries into the Billboard Hot 100. JIbbs is still performing these days, but his focus has been on being a father.

5 Greatest Maple Leafs Seasons of All Time

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Despite many believing that the NHL’s Original Six franchises all started at the same time, the Toronto Maple Leafs are actually the second-oldest active franchise in the league, with only the Montreal Canadiens having a longer history. Over the years, the Maple Leafs have had some incredible seasons, 13 of which have ended with the team hoisting the Stanley Cup.

That’s second on the list only to, again, Montreal. However, you don’t have to have a championship season to ultimately have a great season. There have been times in which the Maple Leafs have had dominating regular seasons which were memorable, even if they didn’t end with a Cup. Let’s take a look at the five greatest Maple Leaf seasons regardless of playoff finish (in no particular order).

2021-22

While history might end up forgetting just how good the Maple Leafs were in 2021-22 for various reasons, it was the best regular season performance in franchise history based on points percentage. The Maple Leafs finished with 115 points and a record of 54-21-7. Somehow, that was only good enough for second place in the Atlantic as the Florida Panthers had a historic season with 122 points.

The reason why so many want to forget the season was because of the first-round result in the playoffs. As the two-seed, the Maple Leafs had to face a tough Tampa Bay Lightning team. Toronto held a 3-2 series advantage but lost 4-3 in overtime in game six, then at home lost 2-1 in game seven.

1950-51

There were six teams that laced their skates for the 1950-51 NHL season, but two of them were head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. To put things into context, the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins made the playoffs with 65 and 62 points each, respectively. The Maple Leafs finished with a whopping 95, and that was only good enough for second place.

The Detroit Red Wings took home the honor of having the most points with 101, but the Maple Leafs still had a 41-16-13 record, winning their final seven regular season games. After Montreal upset Detroit in the semis, though, it made for one of the most memorable Stanley Cup Finals ever. Toronto defeated Montreal in five games to win the Cup, with all five of those games going to overtime.

1934-35

The legendary Conn Smythe was the general manager for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1934-35 season that saw them put up one of their most dominant performances. The Leafs finished with a record of 30-14-4, putting them 11 points ahead of the second-place Montreal Maroons in a five-team league.

Charlie Conacher led the way for all Maple Leafs scorers, putting up an impressive 57 points in just 47 games. Busher Jackson (44) and Joe Primeau (30) were also big contributors as the Maple Leafs made the Stanley Cup Finals. However, the season ended with a 3-1 series loss to the second-place Maroons. 

2020-21

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019-2020 season was pushed back to the point where the 2020-21 season was abbreviated. There were only 56 games played that season, but the Maple Leafs were dominant during that time. Toronto finished with a record of 35-14-7, earning 77 points to put them on the top of the North Division standings which was comprised exclusively of Canadian teams.

Being named the best in Canada was a big deal, even if it didn’t lead to playoff success. The Maple Leafs squared off against the Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs and built a 3-1 series lead before losing in seven games. Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews had big seasons for the Leafs, putting up 67 and 66 points, respectively. 

1947-48

During the 1947-48 NHL season, there were only six teams in the league as the NHL focused on rebuilding following World War II. The Red Wings and Maple Leafs duked it out through the entire season, finishing with a record of 6-2-4 against Detroit. Overall, the Leafs had the best record at 32-15-13, finishing five points ahead of the Red Wings in the standings.

Toronto had the best defense in the league and it came through clutch when they played Detroit in the 1948 Stanley Cup. Toronto took the first two games at home 5-3 and 4-2, then dominated in Detroit with 2-0 and 7-2 wins to claim the Stanley Cup, sweeping the Red Wings in their home stadium. Syl Apps was the top player of the season, putting up 53 points in 55 games during his final year.

How Do Football Salaries Stack Up Against American Athletes?

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It should come as no surprise that some of the highest-paid athletes in the world are football players. Not only do the top performers around the world elevate their clubs to higher levels of play and more revenue, but they also have global followings that allow sponsors to pump in endless amounts of money. In sports, you essentially get what you’re worth, especially when it’s a sport without a salary cap like football.

What about a country where a different type of ‘football’ is considered the top sport, though? The United States is home to the top leagues in several major sports, but how do those league salaries compare to some of the top-paid football stars? Let’s take a look at those leagues and how much the athletes are making.

National Football League

The National Football League is the king of all sports in the United States, and each offseason brings a slew of new contracts where players are given tens of millions per year to join new teams. This is especially true at the quarterback position where they are far and away the highest-paid players on the roster. These players are the only ones who can compare, really, to the top-paid international football players.

Just after his Super Bowl-winning season with the Los Angeles Rams, quarterback Matthew Stafford earned $61.5 million in cash. This would still put him behind the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Cristiano Ronaldo in yearly salary. If you were to compare the average salary in the NFL to the English Premier League, though, it’s quite close with both around $3 million per year.

National Basketball Association

The National Basketball Association is set up in almost the same way as the NFL in terms of how much the top players are making. However, there are a lot more players in the NBA who are in that upper echelon of salary compared to the NFL. Players like Devin Booker, Nikola Jokic, and Karl-Anthony Towns all average well over $55 million per year, which would make them among the highest-paid soccer players.

The NBA also offers a lot of opportunities for sponsorship deals. Unlike American football, the players’ faces are prominently displayed, allowing people to recognize their favorite athletes away from the court. Because of this, some of the richest athletes in American history have come from the NBA like LeBron James and Michael Jordan.

Major League Baseball

There was a time when Major League Baseball players were the highest-paid athletes in the United States, and some of them are still in that upper level of athlete salaries. However, the highest-paid players aren’t quite matching the levels of the NFL or NBA anymore despite playing at least 162 games per year. Anything above $40 million per year is considered other-worldly in baseball.

To make this kind of money, you also have to have been in the MLB for several years. Even after amazing rookie seasons, baseball teams tend to be very stingy with salaries. You typically don’t see someone making top dollar until they’re in their late 20s at the earliest, with some of the biggest contracts given to those in their mid-30s.

National Hockey League

While the other three major sports leagues in the United States have athletes making tens of millions, the National Hockey League operates with a much smaller salary cap. Because of this, even generational players like Connor McDavid are only paid a fraction of some of the above-average players in baseball.

Only a handful of NHL players are making over $10 million per year, though the NHL is hoping that changes as the sport becomes more popular. For now, though, the NHL is far down on the totem pole of American sports, but at least the minimum salary for players is comparable to the other major sports. This has helped drive interest in younger athletes.

Major League Soccer

The United States wanted a professional football league that could hopefully compete with the likes of the English Premier League or German Bundesliga. Because of this, Major League Soccer was created in the 1990s but hasn’t been quite the hit that some were hoping for. The result has been much lower salaries than the other sports leagues.

While there are many players in the NHL who are paid around or above $10 million, it’s a very rare occurrence for that to happen in the MLS. Typically, the top players in the league can expect to make around $5 million per year, and the average MLS player salary is under $400,000. This makes it 10 times more lucrative to play in the English Premier League on average.

5 Best Movies Starring Rappers

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There is a lot of soul that goes behind rap, and that emotion can actually translate well to the big screen. Though some rappers have been used as actors because of their star power, some have proven to be great actors who can carry a movie. Today, we’ll look at the five best movies that starred A-list rappers (in no particular order).

For this list, we wanted to use rappers who were still in the prime of their music careers when they decided to hop into acting. We tried to exclude any films that used a rapper who had been years removed from their last album release. Also, some of the films that just missed the cut include “Four Brothers”, “House Party”, “New Jack City”, “Juice”, and “ATL”.

Friday

Many consider “Friday” to be a stoner comedy cult hit while others believe it’s one of the best comedy films of the 1990s. There was plenty of acting experience on the set of “Friday” thanks to the likes of Chris Tucker and Nia Long, but the top billing went to Ice Cube just a couple of years removed from his days with NWA.

In the movie, Ice Cube plays the role of Craig Jones, who had just lost his job and spends most of his time with his friend Smokey. The two get into a lot of hijinx in their Compton neighborhood, and Ice Cube himself wrote the film alongside fellow rapper DJ Pooh. “Friday” only cost $3.5 million to make, but pulled in over $27 million at the box office plus plenty of VHS rentals and sales.

Boyz N The Hood

“Friday” isn’t the only classic 1990s film starring Ice Cube, but his other major foray came a few years earlier in his career and had a much more serious tone. Starring alongside Cuba Gooding Jr., Morris Chestnut, and Larry Fishburne, Ice Cube was one of the mains tars of “Boyz N The Hood”. This film also featured South Central Los Angeles as a backdrop, and it became a critically acclaimed smash hit.

With a $6.5 million budget, “Boys N The Hood” took home $57.5 million in ticket sales, giving many of those in middle America a glimpse of what gang life in Los Angeles was like. The coming-of-age film was nominated for a slew of awards, including a pair of Oscars for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. The soundtrack wasn’t too bad, either, going number one on the R&B charts.

8 Mile

There have been only a handful of cameo appearances as an actor for Detroit-based rapper Eminem, and only one film in which he starred. The movie, of course, is “8 Mile”, which is loosely based on the life of Eminem back when he was simply Marshall Mathers. In “8 Mile”, his stage name is B-Rabbit, but you certainly get the feeling that much of “8 Mile” was based on truth.

The film also stars Brittany Murphy, Mekhi Phifer, and Kim Basinger, all of whom were already accomplished actors. Still, Eminem wasn’t outperformed and looked comfortable in the role, leading to “8 Mile” being a massive blockbuster. The movie made more than $240 million at the box office and Eminem won an MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance to go along with his Oscar for Best Original Song.

Set It Off

Fresh off of a several-year stretch where she was the most well-known female rapper in the world, Queen Latifah took to acting and had her best performance in 1996 with “Set It Off”. Queen Latifah stars alongside Jada Pinkett, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise in a heist film that, like the first two movies on our list, takes place in Los Angeles.

While it might not have been as critically acclaimed as “Boyz N The Hood”, “Set It Off” did get met with overall positive reviews and earned an impressive $41.6 million at the box office. Queen Latifah earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for her performance, setting the stage for her acting career.

Above the Rim

During his illustrious yet brief music career, Tupac Shakur also had a knack for acting. This was showcased in multiple films, including 1994’s sports drama “Above the Rim”. Centered around basketball and penned by “New Jack City” writer Barry Michael Cooper, Shakur stars as Birdie, the younger brother of Leon’s character Shep.

“Above the Rim” didn’t have a ton of box office success with just $16.2 million at the box office, but it was another showcase of Tupac’s acting talents. Even critics who gave it a poor rating couldn’t help but note how Shakur never seemed out of his element in the movie.

5 Countries That Should Host the World Cup

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Since it started in 1930, the World Cup has selected some hosts who have a rich history of football that definitely make sense like England, Brazil, and Argentina. There have also been some countries that aren’t quite as well-known for their programs, including South Africa, Russia, and Qatar. It seems that FIFA is more willing to host the World Cup in countries that have never hosted before, and there are some who should be putting in bids.

Out of the many countries that have yet to host the World Cup, which ones are the most deserving and are best suited to host millions of visitors? Here are our picks for the five nations that FIFA needs to look at for future considerations (in no particular order). Note: Canada and Mexico would have been on the list, but were selected for the 2026 World Cup.

Netherlands

The Netherlands has a great track record at the World Cup and has advanced to the finals on three occasions. Unlike many of the other nations who have reached multiple finals, though, the country has never hosted the World Cup. The infrastructure of the Netherlands is more than capable of handling the World Cup, especially since Amsterdam is host to so many global events.

However, there aren’t many large stadiums compared to places like the United States or the United Kingdom. Johan Cruijff ArenA is able to hold 55,600 people, making it the nation’s largest. De Kuip is the only other venue that can hold over 35,000, and two stadiums isn’t enough for a World Cup for now.

Paraguay

You can’t think about Paraguay without thinking about Uruguay, and the latter nation hosted the very first World Cup in 1930. Since then, however, all of the World Cup events in South America have been held in Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. Paraguay would likely have to engage in a joint effort with another nation like Argentina, Uruguay, or Chile to host the World Cup.

Paraguay simply isn’t large enough to host the entire event on its own, especially with the lack of venues. Only two stadiums hold over 24,000 people, and even those are small by FIFA standards. Estadio General Pablo Rojas holds just over 51,000 while Estadio Defensores del Chaco holds over 42,000.

Morocco

Morocco has shown that they are taking their football program very seriously, and had their best showing at the 2022 World Cup by reaching the semifinals. The nation has also gone all-in on hosting a World Cup, which would put them toward the bottom of the list in terms of overall appearances for a nation that hosted the event.

The country already has more large venues than you might think. Stade Mohamed V, which opened in Casablanca in 1955, holds 67,000 while the much newer Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tanger holds 65,000. A third large stadium is located in Rabat, with Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium holding 60,000 people.

Portugal

Most people think exclusively of Cristiano Ronaldo when they think about Portuguese football, but the nation has become a major player in football ever since he became a professional. Portugal has yet to host a World Cup despite several strong finishes in competition and the fact that their neighbor Spain has hosted before (1982). Portugal is an obvious tourist destination but would need work to host the World Cup.

The only real drawback for Portugal is that the country doesn’t really have many stadiums for World Cup play. Estadio da Luz is the largest in the country, and even that holds just 64,000 people. No other stadium in Portugal has a capacity higher than 50,000, so there would have to be at least a couple of new venues built for the World Cup.

Australia

Australia doesn’t have a long history with the World Cup, and they weren’t even a member of FIFA until the 1960s and qualified just once between 1966 (their first year of eligibility) and 2006. Since 2006, though, the Socceroos have reached the World Cup every time, including a couple of times when they advanced past the group stage. Because of this, Australia has been considered as a potential World Cup host.

Australia has shown that the nation is more than capable of hosting an international event. There is plenty of infrastructure in the nation and space for everyone, as showcased in the 2000 Summer Olympics. Several stadiums are already standing in Australia which would be able to host matches, including Melbourne Cricket Ground which can house 88,000 people, as well as Stadium Australia and Perth Stadium.

5 Most Memorable Winter Olympic Moments

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Every four years, the greatest winter sports athletes from around the world gather to participate in the Olympics. The Winter Olympics aren’t as old as the summer games, with the first taking place in 1924 (Chamonix, France). Despite not having a long list of Olympic Games being held in the winter, there have still been some incredible moments.

Whether it be hockey, downhill skiing or anything in between, the Winter Olympics have become a must-watch for people around the world who don’t want to miss something amazing. Let’s take a look back at the Winter Olympics throughout history and find out which five moments made the games the most memorable.

Kerrigan vs. Harding

On January 6, 1994, American figure skaters Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding were both fighting for a spot on the United States Olympic team in Detroit at the US Figure Skating Championships. Kerrigan was a lock to make the Olympic team, and anyway that she was knocked out of the competition would assure Harding her spot.

Shortly before competing, Kerrigan was attacked by a then-unknown assailant, and all of the fingers immediately pointed toward Harding. Harding maintained her innocence and went on to win the gold, securing her spot. Kerrigan was still selected for the team, and at the 1994 Olympics, all eyes were on the two as they competed. Harding would finish 8th overall while Kerrigan, who almost everyone was rooting for, took home the silver medal.

Crosby’s Golden Goal

Hockey means everything in Canada, and it’s seen as a disappointment when the country doesn’t win gold at the Olympics. This was especially true in 2010 as Canada played host to the winter games, with Vancouver being the chosen city. In group play, the United States and Canada were put together, and the Americans went undefeated as they topped Canada 5-3.

The two teams then met again in the gold medal game, and it was the most-watched broadcast in Canadian history. The intensity was high as there were many American fans in attendance due to proximity, as well, and the game needed overtime to decide a winner. Captain Sidney Crosby snuck in the game-winner, and the response from Canada in that moment seemed straight out of a movie.

Cool Runnings

Speaking of movies, the Crosby goal is the only one on the list that hasn’t been the focus of a feature film. Many remember the 1993 Disney film “Cool Runnings”, which was a feel-good comedy that became a staple for millennials and younger members of Generation X. In Jamaica, it obviously does not snow, so it seemed strange that the country would be able to field a bobsled team.

Jamaica did just that, though, debuting at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Millions tuned in to see the Jamaican team at work even though they were expected to finish last. The Jamaicans were able to finish 30th overall, with their best heat coming in 22nd. Overall, it was an inspiring performance and one of the best Olympic stories.

Eddie the Eagle

The Jamaican bobsled team isn’t the only underdog to not medal but still, get an entire film dedicated to their story. Michael Edwards represented Great Britain in the very same 1988 Olympics, but there was just one caveat: Great Britain hadn’t had a ski jumping competitor in 60 years, making it easy for “Eddie the Eagle” to qualify.

As many expected, Edwards finished dead last at the Olympics, but he certainly had his time in the spotlight and had a lot of fun with it. Edwards’ path to the Olympics was pretty much a loophole that he exploited for fun, and many had a great time following his story. After the 1988 games, the International Olympic Committee made it more difficult for underrepresented countries to make it to the Olympics, keeping Edwards out of the 1992 games.

The Miracle on Ice

Heading into the 1980 Winter Olympics, pretty much every expert predicted that the Soviet hockey team would coast to a gold medal with no real competition. After all, the Soviets had won the previous four Olympic gold medals and were using professional players whereas most other countries were using legitimate amateurs.

The Soviets won all five of their initial group-stage games, entering the final group that contained the United States, Sweden, and Finland. In this round-robin tournament, the team that had the most points would win. The United States was projected to lose badly to the Soviets, but pulled off the massive 4-3 upset, paving the way to the gold medal as they beat the undermanned Finland to take home the title.

5 Most Memorable Fast Food Ad Campaigns

Posted on by scatty

Marketing is a lot more important than the average person might realize, especially when it comes to fast-food restaurants. Most people already know what fast food joints are already in their towns and cities, but might need that extra push to be convinced into heading there for a meal. Because of this, restaurants dump a ton of money into marketing and making themselves look better than the competition.

There have been plenty of dud campaigns along the way that have cost restaurants millions, but then there have been some that drove up revenue so much that the marketing campaigns felt like pennies in comparison. Here are five of those campaigns that fall into the latter category, and are not only remembered by people who were alive when they ran but are known to those born years after.

Have It Your Way

Back in the day if you went to a fast-food restaurant and wanted to make some substitutions to your order, there was a good chance that you would’ve simply been told to order something else. That all changed in the early 1970s when Burger King released their “Have It Your Way” campaign, allowing customers to alter their meals. In fact, Burger King encouraged people to change their orders.

If you didn’t want mayo on your Whopper, Burger King told people that “special orders don’t upset us.” The jingle has been a staple for Burger King ever since, and an altered version was used in recent years. You may know it better as the “Whopper Whopper” commercial that played several times during seemingly every sporting event and became an earworm for millions.

I’m Lovin’ It

In Germany, McDonald’s released an ad campaign called “Ich Liebe Es,” which became a familiar catchphrase worldwide. It was translated into every native language for countries that had a McDonald’s, and in English-speaking countries, it was “I’m Lovin’ It”. In the early 2000s, McDonald’s went all-in on the ad campaign, even tabbing pop superstar Justin Timberlake to create a full-length jingle.

The song was even written by Pharrell Williams, showing just how serious McDonald’s was. The catchphrase became a permanent slogan for McDonald’s and its catchiness had people saying it even outside of the fast food context. Just how successful was the catchphrase in some countries? The Timberlake jingle became the number-one song for a brief period in Belgium.

Subway’s Weight Loss

As fast food became more prevalent in modern society, it was linked to the rapid increase of obesity worldwide. Many fast-food chains were scrambling to do something that would make them appear healthier to the public, and Subway was the one that came out on top. Using a spokesman who at the time seemed like a wholesome everyman that lost 250 pounds by eating Subway, the chain became the go-to for people who wanted fast food but also wanted to lose weight.

This increase in new customers caused Subway to rapidly expand around the world to become the most common fast food chain globally. The advent of the $5 footlong came along around the same time, but the increase in prices and the tainted legacy of Jared Fogle has knocked Subway from its top spot.

Where’s the Beef

Many people accused fast food restaurants of using small hamburger patties and large buns to make their sandwiches appear larger in advertising, and Wendy’s knew that. The burger chain wanted to rip on the likes of McDonald’s and Burger King for this practice, and enlisted the help of actress Clara Peller to look at their burgers and ask “Where’s the beef?”

The slogan became an international hit and caused Wendy’s to explode in popularity to the point where they were rivaling both of the big two. The “Where’s the Beef” campaign was so successful that it even launched a novelty song and was seen on bumper stickers and t-shirts around the world.

Yo Quiero Taco Bell

Another one of those slogans that really caught on to the point where people said it without even thinking about fast food was “Yo quiero Taco Bell?” In 1997, Taco Bell launched a marketing campaign where a real-life chihuahua named Gidget asked that very question, and was voiced by Carlos Alazraqui of “Reno 911” fame.

While many marketing campaigns only last for a couple of months at most, “Yo quiero Taco Bell” became a staple of their advertising for three years. Interestingly enough, though, Taco Bell was sued successfully for over $30 million when it was discovered that two men from Michigan pitched the idea to Taco Bell. The restaurant chain didn’t pay them royalties after denying their pitch in 1996.

5 Most Successful Taylor Swift Albums

Posted on by scatty

It seems that these days, fame is more fleeting than ever as the digital era of music has allowed artists to come out of nowhere and take some of the attention away from the established superstars. However, some stars have proven that they’re immune to any shift in genre and stand out at the top of the charts despite all of the newcomers. Taylor Swift is one of those artists that transcends any fad in music to stick around as a top act.

Since making her debut, Swift has released a ton of successful albums, selling well over 100 million units in her career. Which ones have been the most successful, though? Let’s take a look at her discography and remember the five that absolutely dominated the charts both album-wise and singles-wise.

Speak Now

Back in 2010, Taylor Swift was still making that transition from country music to pure pop music, and “Speak Now” marked the final album which people consider to be “country pop.” Swift wrote the album all on her own, which is a huge risk for any musician trying to make it in pop. The gamble paid off in a huge way for Swift as the album got off to a hot start thanks to the initial single “Mine”.

Though the singles from “Speak Now” didn’t dominate the top of the charts like some of her other albums, there were still some hits which included “Back to December”, “Mean”, and “Story of Us”. Her third studio album, “Speak Now” was certified platinum six times over, reaching sales of nearly 5 million in the United States and reaching the number one spot in four countries, including the United States.

Taylor Swift

All careers have to start somewhere, and for Taylor Swift, it was in 2006 when she released her self-titled debut album. At the time, Swift was just 16 years old and fully entrenched in the country music genre as she had been signed to Sony and was recording in Nashville, Tennessee. The debut single from the album was “Tim McGraw”, an ode to one of the genre’s biggest legends.

Swift followed his up with a slew of chart-toppers including “Teardrops on My Guitar”, “Our Song”, and “Should’ve Said No”. Swift was well on her way to stardom early on, selling nearly 6 million copies in the United States alone and achieving seven-time platinum status. Interestingly enough, though, it’s the only Swift album to not reach number one on the US Billboard 200.

Red

Following the success of “Speak Now”, 2012 marked the full transition into pop music for Swift’s career when she released “Red”. Many were curious to see where she would go next, and the album didn’t disappoint in the slightest. The debut single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” was a megahit, and the rest of the track list didn’t let up.

“22”, “I Knew You Were Trouble”, and “Everything Has Changed” all became wildly successful, and the sales numbers backed up how much people loved the pop version of Swift. “Red” reached the top of six major charts around the world and was platinum seven times. More than 8 million copies were sold, and earned Swift a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.

Fearless

You have to go back to the early days of Swift’s career to find one of her most successful albums, and it was the highly-anticipated sophomore release titled “Fearless” in 2008. Swift proved that she wasn’t a flash in the pan, and actually found more highly-charting singles than her debut. “Love Story” was the first single released from “Fearless” and was one of the biggest hits of the 2000s.

“You Belong With Me” became another massive hit, with other songs like “Fifteen” and “White Horse” achieving solid success, too. “Fearless” reached number one in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, and it’s the only Swift album that has achieved certified diamond status thanks to 12 million copies sold worldwide. “Fearless” also won major Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.

1989

If you ask any Swiftie what their favorite album is, there’s a good chance that they’re going to say “1989”. Released in 2014, “1989” proved to be the biggest hit-producer of Swift’s career, starting with the infectious “Shake It Off”. There were seven total singles released from “1989”, three of which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Blank Space” and “Bad Blood” were the other two, while songs like “Style”, “Wildest Dreams”, and “Out of the Woods” were all highly charting. “1989” received 10-time platinum status and sold more than 10 million copies worldwide despite being released in the digital era. Like “Fearless”, “1989” won the Grammy for Album of the Year, making Swift the first solo female to win the award twice.