Scatty.com

5 NFL Players Drafted Much Later Than Experts Thought They Would Be

Posted on by scatty

Even before a football player hits their final year of college eligibility, many of us football fans and experts try to figure out where that player will be selected in the NFL Draft (when they become available). There are some players who are anointed as first-round talents before even becoming full-time college starters, while others quickly rise from obscurity (a la Joe Burrow) to become a number one overall pick.

Today, we’ll take a look at the players that fall in the former category. The types who were thought to be potential #1 picks at one point had experts believing that they were top-five talents all the way up to draft day. However, these five players slid down the board, with some even dropping out of the first round or the entire draft altogether. 

Randy Moss

Randy Moss had a bit of a checkered past when it came to his college career, as he originally intended on attending the University of Notre Dame but got into a fight where he was initially charged with a felony. With that, he instead went to Florida State to play for Bobby Bowden, but never saw the field as he had violated his work-release program and was placed in jail for two months.

Moss found a home at Marshall University in his home state of Wisconsin and ushered in the era of the Thundering Herd joining the NCAA’s Division I-A. Moss was seen as an absolute freak with a skill level that perhaps made him the best player in the 1998 NFL Draft and experts felt he could be a top-three pick. However, his off-the-field concerns in his college career caused him to slip all the way to the 21st spot, making the Minnesota Vikings very happy.

Aaron Rodgers

Heading into the 2005 NFL Draft, there was a big debate as to who the number one overall pick would be. While some accurately predicted that the San Francisco 49ers would select quarterback Alex Smith from Utah, there were plenty more who thought they would take Aaron Rodgers from Cal. Not only did the 49ers pass on Rodgers, but so did many other teams that day.

Rodgers would indeed end up being the second quarterback taken in the 2005 NFL Draft, but he had to wait until the 24th overall selection to hear his name called. Even then, it was a surprise as Rodgers landed with the Green Bay Packers, who already had Brett Favre on the roster. For Rodgers and Green Bay, though, it all worked out just fine in the long run.

Thurman Thomas

Thurman Thomas was the Most Valuable Player in the NFL in 1991 and a five-time All-Pro. In fact, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame in back-to-back years. That sounds like a resume for a first-round running back, doesn’t it? Well, that wasn’t the case in 1988 as the Oklahoma State product had a knee injury heading into the draft that caused him to slip.

Experts felt that despite the injury, Thomas would end up being a star, and they were proven right. The Bills used their second-round selection (40th) overall to take Thomas, and he would go on to put up over 12,000 career rushing yards and 88 touchdowns total, helping the Bills win four AFC titles.

Brady Quinn

Notre Dame has produced a lot of NFL talent over the years, but not so much at the quarterback position. Experts felt that things would finally change for the Irish when Brady Quinn became eligible for the 2007 NFL Draft after throwing for 11,762 yards and 95 touchdowns in college. Many felt that he would be the first overall pick, and no later than the top five.

NFL scouts didn’t see the same thing that many television analysts did. Quinn waited until the 22nd overall selection to hear his name called by the Cleveland Browns, but he would end up having a lackluster NFL career. He retired in 2014 and went into broadcasting where he’s found much more success.

Vontaze Burfict

Vontaze Burfict had a lengthy NFL career as a linebacker for the Bengals before ending with the Raiders in 2019. The former All-Pro was the top-rated linebacker coming out of high school and originally committed to USC before he became ineligible.

Burfict had a laundry list of issues attached to his name despite his undeniable talent and went undrafted after spending his college career at Arizona State. The Bengals would pick him up following the 2012 NFL Draft, which draft experts felt was the ultimate get, as they had him listed as the most talented linebacker in the class.

5 Artists Who Were Caught Lip Syncing

Posted on by scatty

Lip-syncing isn’t the worst thing in the world since there are a lot of artists who need to move around the stage, and the acoustics of certain venues make live performances sound flat-out bad. Then, there are times when the venue is just fine and the artist isn’t doing anything spectacular on stage, but they cop out of performing live and let the recorded track do the work for them.

There have been several instances where an artist was caught lip-syncing during a performance when they had no real reason to. For some, it has pretty much been a career-ender, while others were able to bounce back because they had a decent excuse. Here are five artists who were caught lip-syncing during live performances. For the sake of the list, we’re excluding any Super Bowl performances where lip-syncing is expected.

Milli Vanilli

There is perhaps no greater example of lip-syncing ending careers than Milli Vanilli. The duo was comprised of Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, and they churned out a slew of hits in the late 1980s which included “Blame It On the Rain” and “Girl You Know It’s True”. This led to the duo earning the 1990 Grammy Award for Best New Artist, but it was one they’d have to give back.

During a live performance that aired on MTV in July 1989, Milli Vanilli was performing “Girl You Know It’s True,” but the track skipped and Pilatus ran off stage. Many brushed it off, but it was revealed not too long afterward that Morvan and Pilatus weren’t the actual singers. They were lip-syncing the vocals of three other men including Charles Shaw and Brad Howell. With that, Milli Vanilli disbanded and gave back their Grammy.

Ashlee Simpson

Ashlee Simpson came to prominence after her older sister Jessica became a hit singer and reality television star. As for her own career, Ashlee got off to a good start thanks to her debut album “Autobiography” which included hits like “La La” and “Pieces of Me”. Shortly after the album’s release, Simpson performed the latter song on “Saturday Night Live”.

When she came out for her second song, “Autobiography”, “Pieces of Me” started playing again. It proved that Simpson had lip-synced her first performance, and it became an awkward scene as she did a little jig and walked off the stage. Simpson blamed it on acid reflux and said she made a fool of herself. It was essentially the end of her music career which had just gotten started.

Mariah Carey

You can be one of the best singers of all time and still get caught lip-syncing every now and then. Carey, who is known for an endless list of hits which include “We Belong Together” and “Fantasy”, has had a few instances of obvious lip-syncing during her time. When welcoming in 2017 during Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, though, she had a pretty egregious example of lip-syncing.

Social media was ablaze with jokes about Carey’s performance, and she came out of it feeling bitter. Carey said it was her in-ear audio that was throwing her off. “It’s not going to stop me from doing a live event in the future,” she said. “But it will make me less trusting of using anyone outside of my own team.”

Britney Spears

The Princess of Pop has had her fair share of controversies throughout her career, and lip-syncing feels like just a footnote for Britney Spears. Spears, who has released hits including “…Baby One More Time”, “Toxic” and “Womanizer” has had a few incidents, but perhaps none more famous than during her residency in Las Vegas.

During one performance in 2014, Spears was set to lip-sync alongside her song “Perfume”. However, the cover version by Sia started playing. Spears’s team tried to get the audio wiped from YouTube uploads, but it was too late. Still, Spears didn’t suffer too badly from the incident.

Beyonce

One of the most influential figures in music history, Beyonce has a following that is beyond loyal and no amount of lip-syncing could ever ruin her reputation. Still, that didn’t stop some people from criticizing Beyonce for lip-syncing during one of the more important events in the United States: the Presidential Inauguration.

The inauguration was for Barack Obama, who had won his re-election and beginning his second term as the United States President. Beyonce was tabbed to sing the national anthem and lip-synced her way through. Beyonce admitted that the performance was pre-recorded because she didn’t have time to rehearse. Instead, she had been warming up for her Super Bowl halftime performance which came just days later.

5 Best Kits in English Premier League History

Posted on by scatty

When a new kit is introduced in the English Premier League, it has to look good so that more fans will want to buy the tops to match their favorite players. Even the most hardcore fans of teams around the league could end up not buying a kit just because it doesn’t look good, though. Thankfully, most of the English Premier League kits have been great designs by athletic apparel companies with some really standing out.

Which EPL kits are among the best, though? Out of the many that have been created by the likes of Nike, Adidas, Puma, and more, these five stand out as the best. There’s a nice blend of old and new on the list, too, showing off each era of the EPL.

Manchester City 1992-93

For the 1992-93 English Premier League season, Man City went with a light blue uniform that had a unique pattern that has aged very well. The Brother advertisement on the front of the jersey didn’t look out of touch compared to some of the kit advertisements we see today, and it all blended together well. In fact, Man City fans still purchase these kits to wear to matches since it’s a timeless look.

While times in the future would be great for Manchester City, they were only mediocre during the early 1990s. Man City finished the EPL season with 57 points, good enough for ninth in the standings. The club reached the sixth round of the FA Cup that season, as well, and the season ended on a cold streak. However, they looked good doing it.

Manchester United 1995-96

On the front of the Man U jerseys was the word “Sharp” for the company that was advertising on the kits, but it could also be used to describe the look that the Red Devils were rocking. While the alternate kits at the time were lacking in good design, the home reds were amazing to look at. Throwback kits from this year now sell online for more than $120 because of their popularity.

Part of what made the kits so memorable is the success that Manchester United had when wearing them in 1995-96. The club won the Premier League with 82 points, finishing four points ahead of Newcastle United. They also won the FA Cup under manager Alex Ferguson.

Chelsea 2012-13

Chelsea has had a great history with their kits, and it was hard to pick just one from the club’s collection. The best one, though, has to be their home kits from the 2012-13 season when they adorned the familiar jerseys with gold trim instead of white. The familiar Samsung logo was on the front, as well as the Adidas logo and club crest, but there was something about seeing it all in gold that stood out.

When wearing these kits, Chelsea was able to make it to the Champions League group stage thanks to their third-place finish in the EPL. They wrapped up with 75 points, just three points out of second place. Chelsea reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and won the UEFA Europa League.

West Ham 2021-22

West Ham might not have the most storied EPL history, but they’ve had some great kits throughout the years. Instead of simply picking either home or away for West Ham’s get-up in 2021-22, it’s easier to just say that both belong on the list. The home kits show that unique blend of dark red with light blue while the road kits show the white and light blue stripes with the red trim. Either way, it’s a win.

The season ended up being a solid one for West Ham as they finished seventh in the EPL and qualified for the Europa Conference League playoff round. In the Europa League, West Ham reached the semi-finals in one of the club’s better campaigns.

Newcastle United 1996-97

There are some sponsorships that are so good that fans don’t even consider them to be “selling out.” One of those occasions came during the 1990s when Newcastle Brown Ale was the primary sponsor of Newcastle United. The logo was on the Newcastle United uniforms throughout this time, with the top kit coming in the 1996-97 season. The star logo was a perfect fit for the blue uniform in the best case of a corporate logo blending it with athletics.

The uniforms were on full display as Newcastle United had one of their best seasons. With 68 points, the club finished second behind Manchester United in the English Premier League table and advanced to the Champions League second qualifying round. They also reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup.

5 Best Second Round Picks in NFL History

Posted on by scatty

Naturally, the first round of the NFL Draft is when the highest amount of people are going to be watching because you have the casual fans who want to see where the biggest names will end up going. There are still plenty of people who make sure they watch the second round of the draft, though, as there are still plenty of big-time college players who get drafted a little later than some may have thought.

A lot of these second-round players end up being instant contributors to their new professional teams, with many of them ending up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s hard to narrow it down to just a few players, but here are our picks for the five best second-round picks in NFL Draft history. Before we start the list, some honorable mentions include Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Howie Long, LeSean McCoy, DaVante Adams, and Larry Allen.

Michael Strahan

While he might be known these days more for his media career thanks to hosting game shows and talk shows, Michael Strahan was once among the greatest defensive players in the NFL. Strahan was a relative unknown coming out of college since he attended the small school Texas Southern. In 1993, the second round was filled with picks from much larger schools like Miami, Notre Dame, and Michigan.

Strahan ended up being the 40th overall selection, with the New York Giants taking him after forfeiting their first-round pick. Strahan became a six-time All-Pro with the Giants and was the 2001 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He became a Hall of Famer in 2014 and is tied for the single-season sack record with 22.5.

Mike Singletary

The Chicago Bears were building a defensive powerhouse during the early 1980s that would help form the Monsters of the Midway. To do that, they needed help at linebacker. In the 1981 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected offensive tackle Keith Van Horne in the first round, and he ended up being an underwhelming selection.

Right after wide receiver (and now commentator) Cris Collinsworth was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals, the Bears picked up linebacker Mike Singletary from Baylor. Singletary wound up being one of the franchise’s best linebackers, which is saying something when Brian Urlacher and Dick Butkus are in the fray. Singletary was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and eight-time All-Pro in his 12 NFL seasons (all with Chicago).

Brett Favre

Surprisingly, not many teams were clamoring for Brett Favre when he was coming out of Southern Miss back in 1991. Atlanta Falcons coach Jerry Glanville was adamant that the team shouldn’t draft him, and they had already used first-round selections on cornerback Bruce Pickens and wide receiver Mike Pritchard. The team’s best pick, though, was their second-round (33rd overall) selection of Favre.

Favre would play for just one season as a backup in Atlanta, but that was enough for the Green Bay Packers to take notice and trade a first-round selection for Favre. Green Bay had wanted him initially, but the Falcons were one spot ahead of them. It ended up working out just fine for the Packers as they received a Hall of Famer and three-time MVP.

Rob Gronkowski

It’s wild to think that Rob Gronkowski wasn’t even the first tight end taken in the 2010 NFL Draft. That honor belongs to Jermaine Gresham, the only tight end taken in the first round that year. It wasn’t until the 42nd overall spot that Gronk heard his name called, and the draft spot changed hands several times.

The Raiders initially held the pick and sent it to Tampa Bay, which then ended up with Chicago before Bill Belichick acquired it to select Gronkowski. Gronk, when healthy, was the best tight end in NFL history. He was a four-time All-Pro and even led the league in touchdowns during his second season en route to four Super Bowl titles.

Drew Brees

Many felt that Drew Brees had the arm to be a great NFL quarterback but not the size. That’s why he had to wait until the first pick of the second round in 2001 to be selected by the San Diego Chargers in a loaded draft. Brees spent five seasons in San Diego before hitting free agency and became a legend with the New Orleans Saints.

Brees brought the franchise its first Super Bowl while setting season and career records left and right. With more than a dozen Pro Bowls, five All-Pro selections, and two Offensive Player of the Year honors, Brees was the best second-round pick in NFL history.

5 Most Impressive Memory Feats Ever Performed

Posted on by scatty

Memory is something that varies by person more than just about anything else. Some of us can’t remember what we ate for breakfast, while others can remember a lot of details about their lives dating back to when they were just a couple of years old. It’s quite remarkable to see how much some people can remember, and having a photographic memory helps these people remember important details.

This can help them in both their professional and personal lives, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are some people that can remember things that are so detailed that you would think they had it written down in front of them. Here are five of the most impressive memory feats ever performed by human beings.

Rajveer Meena

Most of us are familiar with Pi, but can usually only name a couple of numbers. Most people can only get to 3.14 and then tail off from there. That’s not the case for Indian native Rajveer Meena. On March 21, 2015, he collected witnesses from the Guinness Book of World Records and sat himself down in a chair, completely blindfolded.

He then started to rattle off the numbers of Pi to those who were marking down his progress and making sure he was correct. Meena didn’t just get 100 places or even 1,000. He went all the way to 70,000 places of Pi, giving him the new record. It wasn’t a short display of his memory, either, as Meena spent nearly 10 hours accomplishing this feat.

Bartholomew Bidder

These days, almost all records are stored digitally and backed up into some sort of cloud storage. That wasn’t always the case, though, as many records and files were kept in physical paper form, even for large businesses. The Royal Exchange Assurance Company was one of these businesses that relied on physical files in 1838, and the company, unfortunately, suffered a fire in which all of the files were lost.

On the fortunate side, though, they were employing Bartholomew Parker Bidder at the time. Bidder was able to remember everything that was in the company’s files. It took him half a year to get everything from his memory banks, but he was able to pull it off. There hasn’t been a company of that size to have their files pulled straight from memory ever since.

Kim Peek

At the Academy Awards in 1989, Dustin Hoffman won the award for Best Actor thanks to his role in the film “Rain Man”. In the movie, he plays a character named Raymond Babbitt. However, Raymond Babbitt is not a real person. Kim Peek is a real person, though, and and writer Barry Morrow came up with the script for “Rain Man” after meeting him.

The late Kim Peek was what was known as a “megasavant” and was thought to have FG syndrome. He had a memory that was nearly unmatched by anyone in his time, and he was able to memorize books, magazines, and any other visual media as soon as he saw it just once. While he lacked physical skills due to his condition, Peek memorized over 12,000 books and was able to recite just about the entirety of the Salt Lake City Public Library.

Stephen Wiltshire

There are certain landmarks that we try to remember so that we can figure our way out around a city. In the case of Stephen Wiltshire, though, he simply needs to look at a city just once and he can draw the entire thing from memory. Wiltshire, a London native, was diagnosed with autism when he was just three years old and had to grow up without his father.

Wiltshire showed a penchant for drawing as a young boy and began sketching buildings in his home city. After a couple of years, Wiltshire was drawing entire cities, with people putting him to the test by simply showing him a picture of a city for a short period. From there, he could draw the cityscape and it earned him membership to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Boris Konrad

Boris Konrad is one of the most modern examples of amazing memory as he gives public speeches around the world about improving memory. He’s a neuroscientist who has been able to demonstrate his ability to remember words and names in the span of just a few minutes.

In fact, Konrad holds four titles in the Guinness Book of World Records in the memory category. One of the most impressive was when he was given the names and faces of over 200 people and had just 15 minutes to memorize them. Konrad was able to do it successfully, wowing everyone in attendance.

How To Get Promoted in the Marines

Posted on by scatty

The United States Marine Corps has 27 different grades between Marines and officers, with most newcomers starting off at the rank of Private. As soon as members get into the Marines, they set out with the goal of making their way through the ranks with aspirations of one day becoming a Four-Star General. While that’s only been done a few dozen times, most Marines will end up getting promoted at least once.

If you have been thinking about enlisting with the Marines, are just getting started, or have been trying to earn a promotion, there are certain things you need to do. Each quarter, all Marines are eligible for a new ranking, and here are five ways to impress your superiors and earn that sought-after promotion.

Increase Fitness

While you don’t have to be the fittest person in the world to end up being a Four-Star General, it’s important to be in top shape throughout your first few ranks. One of the quickest ways to fast-track your way through the ranks is to finish in the top five of your company in the various physical tests. This includes running, obstacle courses, and shooting.

The PFT (physical fitness test) will be your chance to showcase how seriously you’re taking your fitness. The test will be comprised of pull-ups or push-ups, a three-mile run, and crunches or planks. If you can finish toward the maximum expected from you, then there’s a great chance that you’ll be moving up sooner rather than later.

Formal Education

There’s a misconception that members of the military are meatheads that don’t bother studying books or working toward a college education. In the Marines, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Most high-ranking Marines have at least a bachelor’s degree, with some of those at the highest level earning master’s degrees.

When you join the Marines, you can do so without a degree. The Marines will help you earn your degree, and simply showing the initiative to pursue your first degree will let superiors know that you’re bettering yourself and want a bright future. Once you finish that degree, that’s essentially a guarantee that you’re going to be promoted with your fitness also being in top form. Being able to balance both is impressive to those watching.

Military Know-How

It isn’t just formal education that you’ll need to work your way up through the Marines. Just like with any job, having knowledge of your role is going to help you advance. In the same way that you’d be promoted to manager at an office for showing a deep knowledge of your work, the Marines operate in the same way. Thankfully, there are courses a Marine can take to further their knowledge.

These are called MCIs, and the more you take, the better you’ll look. Learn from some of your superiors along the way, as well, as they’ll have a deep pool of knowledge, and picking their brain will tell you what to expect in your career with the Marines. Showing that you want to learn more in any capacity shows initiative.

Initiative in Leadership

Speaking of initiative, you have to show from day one that you stand out from the rest of your company as the leader of the pack. This doesn’t mean that you should be bullying people around, but rather show respect for everyone while taking the lead through some of the worst situations.

When your company is being punished, a Marine who offers to take the entire punishment for themselves while sparing the others is one thing that impresses superiors. You need to be tough, smart, fit, and maintain your composure in any situation to show leadership. Again, this is akin to being a manager in the corporate world. You can be great at your job but not cut out for leadership.

Stay Patient

If you have been in the Marines for a few years, don’t think that just because you aren’t climbing the ranks as fast as you once were that you won’t be getting another promotion. On average, the first promotion will come after six months to Private First Class, with Lance Corporal coming at 14 months. Then, the average timeline to become a Corporal is 26 months.

Things slow down considerably after that, as the average wait time to become Sergeant is nearly five years, with over a decade until achieving Staff Sergeant. At the top of the ladder is Master Gunnery Sergeant/Sergeant Major, which takes an average of 22 years. If you’ve been sitting in the Corporal rank for a couple of years, don’t fret about the next promotion since it becomes much more selective.

Seven Alternative Wonders Of The World

Posted on by scatty

Over the years, there have been many landmarks that have been considered to be “Wonders of the World.” The first list that mentioned this came out prior to the AD days. This list contained the ancient wonders of the world and contained the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Mausoleum at Halicarnasus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and Pharos Lighthouse at Alexandria.

Then, there was a list of the New Seven Wonders of the World. These official ones are the Great Wall of China, Petra, the Roman Colosseum, Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal, and the Christ the Redeemer Statue. If they were to make a new list of more modern wonders, what would it look like? Here are our picks for the new Seven Alternative Wonders of the World.

The Eiffel Tower

There are a lot of manmade structures that have been placed into the lists of the Seven Wonders of the World, and it’s stunning to see that the Eiffel Tower didn’t make the cut in any of them. Located in Paris and created by engineer Gustave Eiffel’s company, it’s perhaps the most well-known structure in the world. Completed in 1889, the Eiffel Tower stands at over 1,000 feet and is visited by more than 7 million people each year.

The Golden Gate Bridge

Compared to a lot of countries around the world, the United States is extremely young, so it’s no surprise that there haven’t been any entries into the Seven Wonders of the World list. However, America has had plenty of manmade structures (and natural wonders) that should be considered for any of the lists. The first in mind is the Golden Gate Bridge, which is an Art Deco design that spans over 2,700 feet over the San Francisco Bay in California. Designed by Irving Morrow, the Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937.

The Statue of Liberty

Staying in the United States, the building that has become the overall symbol of the United States should truly be considered a wonder. As many know, though, the statue was designed by Frenchman Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and even put together in large part by Gustave Eiffel himself. The French gave the Statue of Liberty to the United States as a gift, and it currently stands on Liberty island, overlooking the New York Harbor.

Mount Rushmore

The third and final entry of American wonders on the list is Mount Rushmore, which is located in Pennington County, South Dakota. The sculpture was carved into the side of the Black Hills and was completed after more than a decade of work from start to finish. Mount Rushmore depicts some of America’s founding fathers, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln from left to right. Though it’s in a remote area, there are still more than 2 million people each year who make their way to see Mount Rushmore in person.

Big Ben

If you’re not from England and were asked to close your eyes and picture London, the first thing that your brain would probably come up with is Big Ben. The clock tower that sits at the end of the Palace of Westminster is now named the Elizabeth Tower officially, but everyone still refers to it simply as Big Ben, though it’s contested on whether it was named for Sir Benjamin Hall or Benjamin Caunt. Either way, the clock tower was completed in 1859 and stands over 310 feet tall.

Sydney Opera House

By far the newest structure on the list, the Sydney Opera House was completed in 1973 after more than a decade of construction. It has since become the most recognizable building in all of Australia as it overlooks the Sydney Harbour. The SOH has several venues within the structure and has hosted some of the biggest events in Sydney. The building was even considered for the New 7 Wonders of the World list but just missed the cut.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

You probably thought that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was already on one of the lists, but surprisingly it’s not. Originally breaking ground in 1173, it wasn’t until 1372 that the Tower of Pisa was completed. It started leaning long before completion, too, because of the soft ground it was built on. All these centuries later, the building still stands 183 feet in height. Of course, it has become one of the most photographed buildings in the world as people have to see it to believe it and want to remember their visit.

5 Celebrities With The Best Car Collections

Posted on by scatty

When people are talking about what they would do if they came into a lot of money, a lot of them say that they would end up buying at least one expensive car and possibly start a collection. You can make a car collection for just a few thousand dollars, but it will probably be made exclusively of cars that don’t run. If you want a collection of luxury cars, it could set you back millions of dollars.

There are plenty of celebrities that collect cars that cost six figures or more, with some making it their primary hobby. Let’s take a look at the celebrities who have amassed the most impressive collections and break down how much they may have spent on acquiring all of their rides.

Floyd Mayweather

On the list of greatest boxers ever, Floyd Mayweather finds himself toward the top of the list. The Michigan native won all 50 of his professional fights before retiring, earning himself 15 world championships in the process, as well as a bronze medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Mayweather owns a car collection that’s estimated to be well over $20 million. The most expensive piece in his collection is a Rolls-Royce section that set him back more than $3 million alone. Mayweather owns several Bugatti Veyrons, his favorite model. There are plenty of Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and much more in his collection, too. What makes Mayweather’s collection so unique is an identical collection in two different cities with all of his cars in Los Angeles in black and all of his Las Vegas cars in white.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga had one of the most successful debut albums ever when she released “The Fame” in 2007 and never looked back as a pop star. Thanks to hits including “Poker Face”, “Telephone”, and “Bad Romance”, she became a music legend and has also dabbled in acting with great success.

Some might not take Lady Gaga as a car aficionado, but she has a collection that’s unrivaled by just about any other celebrity. Instead of going with a long list of sports cars like Mayweather, Gaga likes to stick to classic cars. Some of her cars include a 1965 Lincoln Continental convertible and a 1970 Chevy El Camino. Gaga also has some newer cars including a Lamborghini Huracan that she drove from Texas to California.

John Cena

On the Mount Rushmore of professional wrestlers, you would have to include John Cena. He started with the WWE in 2002 and found himself in first place for most world championships in the promotion’s history. Cena has also branched out into acting, starring in films such as “Bumblebee”, “The Suicide Squad”, and “The Fast & Furious 9”.

Cena’s car collection spans all eras from his 19606 Dodge Hemi Charger 426 to his newer Lamborghinis. Cena is a big fan of muscle cars and owns a Dodge Viper, Chevy Corvette, a Ford GT, and much more. In terms of diversity, Cena might take the cake for celebrities as he doesn’t stick to just one kind of car. It’s estimated that his cars combined are worth over $5 million, even if his favorite car is the simple 1989 Jeep Wrangler.

Justin Bieber

YouTube has helped make stars out of common people, but it all started with Justin Bieber. After being discovered thanks to his videos on the internet, Bieber was signed to a record deal and became perhaps the biggest pop star in the world. Some of Bieber’s biggest hits include “Sorry”, “Love Yourself”, and “Baby”.

Bieber has a little bit of everything in his car collection, and that even includes a Hummer H2 and a minivan. Bieber also has several luxury cars including an Audi R8 and a Bugatti that was gifted to him by rapper/producer Birdman. Out of all of his cars, though, Bieber’s favorite that he’s owned was the Cadillac CTS-V. 

Lil’ Wayne

Born Dwayne Carter Jr., Lil’ Wayne got his rap career off the ground even before becoming a teenager as he was signed to Cash Money Records. He then went on to become one of the biggest names in rap thanks to hit songs including “Lollipop”, “A Milli”, and “6 Foot 7 Foot” to name a few.

Lil’ Wayne has spent over $5 million to build his impressive car collection which includes a Porsche Boxter and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. The most expensive car in his collection is a Bugatti Veyron which set him back nearly $2 million. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead also set him back another half-million. When Lil’ Wayne is giving a gift to someone, his mind immediately goes to cars.

5 Uncanny Proofs Of Natural Selection

Posted on by scatty

When a species continues to survive and thrive, that’s an example of natural selection. Those species that are unable to adapt will be consumed by nature in one form or another, and natural selection weeds out the weaker species or those that have a glaring weakness. Charles Darwin was the scientist that made the term ‘natural selection’ a famous one, and it’s part of the everyday vocabulary in current times.

There’s a wide range of examples when it comes to natural selection, from how an animal’s skin is colored to how strong a certain muscle group is. Today, we’ll be taking a look at some of the most uncanny proofs of natural selection and how they’ve allowed certain species to be near the top of the food chain today.

Giraffes

When it comes to non-human animals that are a glaring example of natural selection, look no further than the giraffe. Darwin was fascinated by giraffes, which at one point were much smaller animals. Those with longer necks were able to survive longer and reproduce more, and each generation of giraffes became larger with longer necks. This allowed them to reach food at higher levels and the line has continued.

In the 1990s, scientists discovered the bones of a strange creature that had a thick skull and was the size of a larger sheep. It turns out that the giraffe evolved from this creature, which is why you still see giraffes headbutt each other as the skulls have remained relatively the same. However, with the long necks, it’s quite a show to see two giraffes go at it.

Ants

For ants, the colony is everything, and they’ll do whatever they can to make sure that their colony is protected. Warrior ants are a big part of the colony, and they carry a chemical signal that alerts other ants they may not have seen before to not attack them. This works well when these ants end up being in the same colony, but natural selection has allowed some ants to take advantage of this.

Some of the warrior ants know how to imitate chemical signals from other colonies. This allows them to invade fully unnoticed and start to take down a colony from the inside out. When it was first discovered, the organ that produces this chemical was originally thought to be a rather useless one, but it turns out to be the most important for an ant’s evolution.

Camouflage

Camouflage is one of the best examples of natural selection, and it has helped many species survive over the years from the chameleon to the praying mantis. There are dozens of animals that use camouflage to either stave off predators or find food when out on a hunt. One of the neatest examples is the arctic fox with its white coat of fur which is able to blend in perfectly with its snowy landscape.

Birds, insects, and fish are among the creatures that have the most species that are able to camouflage. From being able to blend in with trees to the desert sand, it’s paramount for animals to hide their location from others.

Peacocks

To continue your bloodline in the peacock world, you have to have some really tall and colorful feathers. If it seems that peacocks are more colorful now than when you were a child, it’s because they are. With every generation of peacocks, they become more sensational to look at since the feathers are used for mating calls.

Female peacocks search out the males that have the biggest and brightest feathers possible. Because of this, natural selection has weeded out those with duller feathers. What’s interesting is that the feathers really serve no other function than to attract mates. However, peacocks aren’t exactly interested in what another’s favorite movie is or their personality type. It’s all about the feathers.

Green Anole Lizard

The green anole lizard and brown anole lizard have been at odds with one another for longer than most of us could even realize. The green type of lizard arrived in the United States first, settling in an ecosystem in Florida. Though both native to the Bahamas, the green anole lizard became comfortable in Florida, but the brown anoles soon made their way to the Sunshine State.

For green anoles, brown anoles are very invasive, and natural selection happened quickly. The green anoles who had more scales and larger toepads began mating, and within just a decade or so, natural selection allowed the species to adapt to the point where they could reach higher elevations for food than the invasive brown anoles.

5 Most Intelligent Animals In The World

Posted on by scatty

Have you ever seen an animal do something intelligent that you’d expect to see from a human being? While there are some animals that are lower on the intelligence spectrum that luck their way into good ideas every now and then, there are certain species where it’s almost expected that they do something smart.

Those species of animals might not be exactly what you think, though. We tend to think of dogs as being among the smartest animals outside of humans, and while they do certainly rank high, they aren’t at the top of the ladder. Instead, there are five species that have an intelligence level that gets close to the human level, with these species being at the top.

Chimpanzee 

There’s no surprise chimpanzees hold the title of one of the most intelligent animals in the world. We humans share nearly 99% of identical genomes with the great apes. Chimpanzees, similarly to humans, possess their level of intelligence and ability to learn and develop due to a special outer layer of the brain, called the neocortex. 

It’s responsible for sensory perception, emotion, and cognition. Chimpanzees use their intelligence to make and use tools, show more social and communication skills than other animals and haven’t even been known to start fires and cook their meals. 

Elephant 

Elephants are majestic creatures that fill us with wonder and perhaps a bit of fear with their stature and sometimes unpredictable behavior. Thanks to their massive size, elephants have one of the largest brains of any animal on the planet, as well as the largest brain of any land animal. Their large brains possess three times more neurons than that of human brains. Elephants showcase their intelligence in many intriguing ways. 

They’ve been known to paint and perform tricks in captivity. In the wild, they demonstrate their intelligence with their extensive memory skills, practicing empathy, their understanding of death, and their ability to learn. 

Dolphin

Scientists believe that dolphins are the second most intelligent animal on the planet, second to humans of course. Surprisingly believed to be even smarter than primates. Dolphins have an estimated IQ between 80-90, shown by their sense of self-awareness, empathy, ability to comprehend grief, and learning skills. 

An interesting way dolphins are deemed smarter than the rest is their physical and mental awareness. Dolphins are able to recognize themselves in mirrors and have shown confidence and uncertainty in performing tasks of varying difficulty, such as humans. 

Crows

Crows may be overlooked as one of the more intelligent animals out there. We tend to only pile mammals into that group. Though crows, similarly to parrots, ravens, and jays, are some of the most intelligent birds on the planet. So what makes crows so special? Crows have demonstrated skills similar to the animals previously mentioned on this list. 

Due to their large brains in comparison to their smaller bodies, crows possess and understand communication skills, they’re keen on problem-solving, they can make and use simple tools, they hold funerals for their loved ones, and show impressive memory skills. Even more impressive, crows are able to solve puzzles at a similar level of intelligence to that of a young child. 

Octopus 

The final animal on our list is the insanely intriguing ocean dweller that is the octopus. It’s generally common knowledge that octopuses have displayed a higher level of intelligence compared to many other oceanic creatures. 

What intelligent behavior sets them apart from so many others? Like humans, scientists have discovered the presence of a special gene called the “jumping gene” in octopuses that allows genome evolution and innovation. Octopus are able to adapt, learn, solve problems, and mimic other creatures. They can even manipulate objects to escape, gain access to food, and alter their surroundings.