Pop Culture Hot List

SI Staff | Oct 13, 2009

Pop Culture Hot List

Kate Hudson and Alex Rodriguez

Anthony J. Causi/Icon SMI, John Iacono/SI

Lost amid the excitement over Rodriguez's game-tying home run against the Twins in Game 2 of the ALDS is that we finally have a blonde celebrity in the stands who isn't a curse but a good-luck charm. Ever since A-Rod has been with Hudson, he and the Yankees have been on a roll. And A-Rod finally became something no one ever thought he could be -- a clutch hitter in October.

Michael Vick

David Bergman/SI

This has to be a joke, right? Vick has signed on to star in his own reality show on the BET network called <i>The Michael Vick Project</i>. I'm guessing it has nothing to do with <i>Project Runway</i>, but will no doubt be just as mindless. Does Vick actually think a reality show will help his image? Ask T.O. how that went for him.

SpongeBob SquarePants

Courtesy of Nickelodeon, Bill Frakes/SI

There have been many odd inspirational figures in sports (the little person Pedro Martinez carried around during the 2004 playoffs comes to mind), but few can compare with SpongeBob SquarePants. Apparently Miami quarterback Jacory Harris instructed teammates to watch episodes of <i>SpongeBob SquarePants</i> before games instead of watching ESPN -- and it's paid off. "Hey, listen, the only thing we're going to watch on TV from now on is SpongeBob. We ain't watching ESPN. We ain't watching CBS. We ain't watching ABC," Harris said. "If SpongeBob can tell you how good you are, then you deserve it.'"

Owen Schmitt

AP

Football is a violent sport but pregame introductions shouldn't be -- unless you're Schmitt. The Seattle Seahawks' fullback pounded his head with his own helmet so hard that he cut himself open and had to get stitched up before Sunday's game. Considering how superstitious football players are, will this become a weekly tradition for Schmitt and the Seahawks' training staff after Seattle beat Jacksonville 41-0?

Dre Bly

Tom Hauck/Getty Images

Apparently Deion Sanders' influence isn't just hurting the lives of college football players these days. With his 49ers trailing the Falcons 35-10, Bly tried to imitate Sanders following an interception 80 yards from his end zone and ended up fumbling the ball back to the Atlanta after he was tackled from behind. It might have been the dumbest play ever, and was followed up by the dumbest quote ever. "Dre's going to be Dre," Bly said after the game when asked to explain himself. He later apologized, but for the purposes of our entertainment, we hope Dre continues to be Dre.

Maria Menounos

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

I was skeptical about Nancy O'Dell hosting WWE's <i>Monday Night Raw</i>, but thankfully she brought along Menounos, who put on her wrestling tights, jumped into the ring and got physical with the WWE Divas.

Miami Dolphins

AP

The Dolphins finally played up to the standard of their celebrity owners in winning a Monday Night classic over the New York Jets. Up until Ronnie Brown scored the winning touchdown with two seconds left, it looked like the highlight for Dolphins fans would once again be Marc Anthony singing the national anthem and Chad Ochocinco showing off his shiner to Anthony and Jennifer Lopez before the game (which, of course, he tweeted about).

Marge Simpson

AP

<i>The Simpsons</i> and <i>Playboy</i> might be two of the most famous entities in American pop culture, but I'm not exactly sure they should be mixed. I understand that certain people are into, ahem, certain things, but a scantily clad Marge Simpson on the cover of <i>Playboy</i>? I can only hope they drew the line at a full-fledged centerfold.

&lt;i&gt;Paranormal Activity&lt;/i&gt;

AP

If you like being scared and don't mind a couple of sleepless nights while you lie awake in your bedroom, go see this movie. It's easily the scariest movie ever made. The only thing more amazing than the reaction it elicits is that it was made for just $15,000 and took two years to be picked up and released.

Florida State

John Biever/SI

It seems that Florida State football and Bobby Bowden have become as irrelevant as fellow 1990s icons MC Hammer, Fabio and Jerry Springer. Even former Seminole and current Tennessee Titan Chris Hope introduced himself on <i>Sunday Night Football</i> as, "Chris Hope ... Florida State of the '90s." Yeah, it seems like Florida State will need to go the way of Crystal Pepsi and reinvent itself after this season.