Pop Culture Hot List

SI Staff | Oct 14, 2008

Pop Culture Hot List /

Pop Culture Hot List

Tony Romo

With Tony Romo joining Tom Brady on the injured list (at least for a month), who now becomes the NFL's best "playboy" quarterback? Matt Leinart has been relegated to bench warmer status and Brady Quinn still hasn't seen the field. Well, here's hoping one of the league's young quarterbacks like Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco start to pick up their game off the field as opposed to on the field now.

Bon Jovi

Chances are you probably have heard Bon Jovi's "I Love This Town" about a million times during the MLB playoffs. Well, Bon Jovi is being sued for $400 billion (yes, less than half the amount of the bailout bill) by a Boston musician who says Jovi allegedly borrowed lyrics from his Boston Red Sox anthem entitled, "(Man I Really) Love This Team." Who knows if that's true, but either way I'm fairly certain Bon Jovi will not be making $400 billion off the song or paying the musician allegedly responsible for the terrible tune.

Jose Canseco

It shouldn't surprise anyone that Canseco was detained by immigration officials at a San Diego border crossing as he tried to smuggle in a hormone called HCG last week. The only surprise is that anyone still cares.

Magic Johnson

What is it with ESPN hiring legendary athletes as analysts who can't, well, analyze? Magic Johnson may be the greatest point guard ever, but having him as a studio analysts is almost as bad as having Emmitt Smith break down "Monday Night Football" games with more clichés than a high school quarterback.

Helio Castroneves

There's nothing better than a little judicial humor to lighten up the mood when you have jail sentence hanging over your head. Helio Castroneves was allowed to leave the country for an IndyCar event this month in Australia after a federal judge agreed to modify bail conditions on tax charges the driver is facing. Before let him go, however, the judge told the former "Dancing With The Stars" champion that he would have to "tango with the U.S. Marshals" if he didn't show up for court."

Def Leppard

If having a band like Def Leppard as the live act for the Detroit Red Wings' opening night game wasn't already bad enough, Wings fans and players had to watch Joe Elliot take the cup and place it upside down during a pregame concert that was as painful to watch as the actual game with the Wings losing to the Maple Leafs 3-2.

Sarah Palin

While everyone waits for Sarah Palin and Tina Fey to create comedic gold on "Saturday Night Live" this month, Palin was given the Santa Claus treatment in Philadelphia as she dropped the ceremonial first puck before the Flyers' season opener this weekend. Unfortunately for Palin, old Saint Nick was booed in the City of Brotherly Love.

Phil Mickelson

Mickelson appeared on "Entourage" this week, the first of many athlete cameos this season, which will include Michael Phelps in the season finale. In the episode Mickelson is on the golf course with Jeremy Piven, Martin Landau and Paul Ben-Victor. "Jeremy Piven is so funny. For two days, just non-stop laughing, listening to them say their lines," says Mickelson. "I just think it's one of the best shows I've ever seen."

Kendra Wilkinson

Kendra is no longer dating Hugh Hefner, but that doesn't mean she is moving onto another 82-year playboy. "The Girls Next Door" star is now dating Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Hank Baskett. "He lives across country so we Skype," said Wilkinson, referring to the popular online call/video service. "When you're across the country you kinda have to do the whole Skype sex thing. It's way better than phone sex. Way better."

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

I'm not sure what it says about us as a country when a movie like this, about a pampered chihuahua forced to fend for herself on Mexico's mean streets, tops the box office for a second week in a row. Although it is funny to see Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred in the Ridley Scott-directed spy thriller "Body of Lies," open up in third place, looking up to a movie that has the tag line: "50% Warrior. 50% Lover. 100% Chihuahua."

Published Oct 14, 2008

SI STAFF