Bernie Sanders is thought to be in line with New Deal-era American progressivism.

Bernie Sanders Bernard Sanders ( born September 8 , 1941 ) is an American politician who has been the junior United States Senator from Vermont since 2007 . Sanders is the longest serving independent in U.S. congressional history . Since his election to the House of Representatives in 1991 , he has caucused with the Democratic Party , which has entitled him to congressional committee assignments and at times given Democrats a majority . Sanders became the ranking minority member on the Senate Budget Committee in January 2015 ; he had previously been chair of the Senate Veterans ' Affairs Committee for two years . Since January 2017 , he has been Chair of the Senate Democratic Outreach Committee . Sanders 's campaign against Hillary Clinton for the party 's 2016 U.S. presidential nomination raised more money in small , individual contributions than any other in American history , and helped him rise to international recognition . A self-described democratic socialist , Sanders is pro-labor and emphasizes reversing economic inequality . Many scholars consider his views to be more in line with social democracy and New Deal-era American progressivism than democratic socialism .   Sanders was born and raised in the Brooklyn borough of New York City and graduated from the University of Chicago in 1964 . While a student he was an active protest organizer for the Congress of Racial Equality and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the Civil Rights Movement . After settling in Vermont in 1968 , Sanders ran unsuccessful third-party campaigns for governor and U.S. senator in the early to mid-1970s . As an independent , he was elected mayor of Burlington -- Vermont 's most populous city of 42,417 in 2010 -- in 1981 , by a margin of ten votes . He went on to be reelected as mayor three times . In 1990 , he was elected to represent Vermont 's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives , where he co-founded the Congressional Progressive Caucus in 1991 . He served as a congressman for 16 years before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006 . In 2012 , he was reelected with 71 % of the popular vote . Polls indicate that he is among the senators most popular with their constituents , ranking third in 2014 and first in both 2015 and 2016 .   Sanders rose to national prominence following his 2010 filibuster against the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010 , which extended the Bush tax cuts that favored the wealthiest Americans . He has built a reputation as a leading progressive voice on issues such as campaign finance reform , corporate welfare , global warming , income inequality , LGBT rights , parental leave , and universal healthcare . Sanders has long been critical of U.S. foreign policy and was an early and outspoken opponent of the Iraq War , the First Gulf War , and U.S. support for the Contras in Nicaragua . He is also outspoken on civil liberties and civil rights , particularly criticizing racial discrimination in the criminal justice system as well as advocating for privacy rights against mass surveillance policies such as the USA PATRIOT Act and the NSA surveillance programs .   Sanders announced his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination on April 30 , 2015 . Initially considered a long shot , Sanders won 23 primaries and caucuses and approximately 43 % of pledged delegates to Clinton 's 55 % . His campaign was noted for the enthusiasm of its supporters , as well as his rejection of large donations from corporations , the financial industry , and any associated Super PAC . On July 12 , 2016 , Sanders formally endorsed Clinton against her Republican general election opponent Donald Trump , while urging his supporters to continue the `` political revolution '' his campaign had begun . In November 2016 , Sanders 's book Our Revolution : A Future to Believe In was released ; upon its release , it was on The New York Times best-seller list at number 3 . In 2016 Sanders formed a political organization , Our Revolution , to educate voters about issues , get people involved in the political process , and work to organize and elect progressive candidates . In February 2017 , Sanders began webcasting The Bernie Sanders Show on Facebook .


Jeremy Allen White is an American, professional, Hollywood, film actor.

Jeremy Allen White Jeremy Allen White ( born February 17 , 1991 ) is an American film and television actor . He is best known for playing Phillip `` Lip '' Gallagher on the acclaimed Showtime dramedy series Shameless .   White has appeared in several films including Beautiful Ohio , The Speed of Life , Afterschool and Twelve , currently filming `` Shotgun ''


Glee (TV series) Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that aired on the Fox network in the United States from May 19 , 2009 , to March 20 , 2015 . It focuses on the fictitious William McKinley High School glee club , New Directions , which competes on the show choir competition circuit while its disparate members deal with social issues , especially regarding sexuality and race , relationships , and learning to become an effective team . The initial twelve-member cast included club director and Spanish teacher Will Schuester ( Matthew Morrison ) , cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester ( Jane Lynch ) , guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury ( Jayma Mays ) , Will 's wife Terri ( Jessalyn Gilsig ) , and eight club members played by Dianna Agron , Chris Colfer , Kevin McHale , Lea Michele , Cory Monteith , Amber Riley , Mark Salling , and Jenna Ushkowitz . In subsequent seasons , the main cast has expanded to fourteen and fifteen members .   The series was created by Ryan Murphy , Brad Falchuk , and Ian Brennan , the latter of whom first conceived of Glee as a film . The three wrote all of the show 's episodes for the first two seasons , and Murphy and Falchuk initially served as the show 's main directors . The pilot episode was broadcast on May 19 , 2009 , and the first season aired from September 9 , 2009 , to June 8 , 2010 . Subsequent seasons aired in September through May . The sixth and final season aired from January to March 2015 . Glee features on-screen performance-based musical numbers that were selected by Murphy , who aimed to maintain a balance between show tunes and chart hits , and produced by Adam Anders and Peer Åström . Songs covered in the show were released through the iTunes Store during the week of broadcast , and a series of Glee albums have been released by Columbia Records . The music of Glee has been a commercial success , with over thirty-six million digital single sales and eleven million album sales worldwide through October 2011 . The series ' merchandise also includes DVD and Blu-ray releases , an iPad application , and karaoke games for the Wii . There were live concert tours by the show 's cast after the first and second seasons completed shooting ; a concert film based on the 2011 tour , Glee : The 3D Concert Movie , was produced by Murphy and Fox and directed by Kevin Tancharoen .   During its first season , Glee received generally favorable reviews from critics , with Metacritic 's weighted average of 77 out of 100 based on eighteen critical reviews . The season was nominated for nineteen Emmy Awards , four Golden Globe Awards , six Satellite Awards and fifty-seven other awards , with wins including the 2010 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series -- Musical or Comedy , and Emmy awards for Jane Lynch , guest-star Neil Patrick Harris and Murphy 's direction of the pilot episode . In 2011 , the show once again won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series , and Jane Lynch and Chris Colfer won Golden Globes for Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor respectively , and Gwyneth Paltrow won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series . The show was also chosen by Fox to fill the coveted time slot that followed the network 's coverage of Super Bowl XLV in 2011 .   On October 17 , 2013 , in the wake of the death of Cory Monteith three months prior , and one week after his tribute episode `` The Quarterback '' aired , Murphy announced that the sixth season would be the final one of the series . After 121 episodes and over 728 music performances , Glee came to an end on March 20 , 2015 .


Defender (association football) In the sport of association football , a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposing team from scoring goals .   There are four types of defenders : centre-back , sweeper , full-back , and wing-back . The centre-back and full-back positions are essential in most modern formations . The sweeper and wing-back roles are more specialised for certain formations .


World Team of the 20th Century The World Team of the 20th Century was chosen in 1998 to comprise , the best association football players of the 20th century CE . The team is comprised as an eleven-member side , with one goalkeeper , four defenders , three midfielders , and three forwards .   The team was announced on 10 June 1998 , in conjunction with the opening ceremonies of the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France . The team was selected in plurality voting undertaken by a panel of 250 international football journalists from amongst the members of eleven-member sides styled as the South American and European Teams of the 20th Century , selected previously by the same panel to be composed of players respectively to have represented principally member nations of the CONMEBOL and UEFA continental confederations .   Similarly constituted teams for players from the nations of CONCACAF , the Confederation of African Football , and collectively the Asian and Oceania Football Confederations were chosen by separate , smaller juries of journalists situated respectively in North and Central America , Africa , and Asia and Oceania , and announced alongside the European and South American teams , but players selected to the former sides were not considered for selection to the world team .   __ NOTOC __


Bobby Moore Robert Frederick Chelsea `` Bobby '' Moore OBE ( 12 April 1941 -- 24 February 1993 ) was an English professional footballer . He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup . He is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time , and was cited by Pelé as the greatest defender that he had ever played against . Moore is a member of the World Team of the 20th Century .   He won a total of 108 caps for the England team , which at the time of his international retirement in 1973 was a national record . This record was later broken by 125-cap goalkeeper Peter Shilton . Moore 's total of 108 caps continued as a record for outfield players until 28 March 2009 , when David Beckham gained his 109th cap . Moore was made an inaugural inductee of the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002 in recognition of his impact on the English game as a player . The same year he was named in the BBC 's list of the 100 Greatest Britons .


Lebanon was not referred to as the "Switzerland of the East" because of its prosperity.

Lebanon Lebanon ( -LSB- ˈlɛbənɒn -RSB- لبنان ; Lebanese pronunciation : -LSB- lɪbˈnæːn -RSB- Liban ) , officially known as the Lebanese RepublicRepublic of Lebanon is the most common phrase used by Lebanese government agencies . The phrase Lebanese Republic is a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today 's world . Lebanese Arabic is the most common language spoken among the citizens of Lebanon . ( الجمهورية اللبنانية ; Lebanese pronunciation : -LSB- elˈʒʊmhuːɾɪjje l.ˈlɪbnæːnɪjje -RSB- République libanaise ) , is a sovereign state in Western Asia . It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south , while Cyprus is west across the Mediterranean Sea . Lebanon 's location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland facilitated its rich history and shaped a cultural identity of religious and ethnic diversity . At just 10,452 km2 ( 4,036 sq. mi . ) , it is the smallest recognized country on the entire mainland Asian continent .   The earliest evidence of civilization in Lebanon dates back more than seven thousand years , predating recorded history . Lebanon was the home of the Canaanites/Phoenicians and their kingdoms , a maritime culture that flourished for over a thousand years ( c. 1550 -- 539 BC ) . In 64 BC , the region came under the rule of the Roman Empire , and eventually became one of the Empire 's leading centers of Christianity . In the Mount Lebanon range a monastic tradition known as the Maronite Church was established . As the Arab Muslims conquered the region , the Maronites held onto their religion and identity . However , a new religious group , the Druze , established themselves in Mount Lebanon as well , generating a religious divide that has lasted for centuries . During the Crusades , the Maronites re-established contact with the Roman Catholic Church and asserted their communion with Rome . The ties they established with the Latins have influenced the region into the modern era .   The region eventually was ruled by the Ottoman Empire from 1516 to 1918 . Following the collapse of the empire after World War I , the five provinces that constitute modern Lebanon came under the French Mandate of Lebanon . The French expanded the borders of the Mount Lebanon Governorate , which was mostly populated by Maronites and Druze , to include more Muslims . Lebanon gained independence in 1943 , establishing confessionalism , a unique , Consociationalism-type of political system with a power-sharing mechanism based on religious communities . Bechara El Khoury , President of Lebanon during the independence , Riad El-Solh , first Lebanese prime minister and Emir Majid Arslan II , first Lebanese minister of defence , are considered the founders of the modern Republic of Lebanon and are national heroes for having led the country 's independence . Foreign troops withdrew completely from Lebanon on 31 December 1946 . Lebanon has been a member of the Organisation internationale de la francophonie since 1973 .   Despite its small size , the country has developed a well-known culture and has been highly influential in the Arab world . Before the Lebanese Civil War ( 1975 -- 1990 ) , the country experienced a period of relative calm and renowned prosperity , driven by tourism , agriculture , commerce , and banking . Because of its financial power and diversity in its heyday , Lebanon was referred to as the `` Switzerland of the East '' during the 1960s , and its capital , Beirut , attracted so many tourists that it was known as `` the Paris of the Middle East '' . At the end of the war , there were extensive efforts to revive the economy and rebuild national infrastructure . In spite of these troubles , Lebanon has the highest Human Development Index and GDP per capita in the Arab world , to the exclusion of the oil-rich economies of the Persian Gulf .


All the Pretty Horses is produced by a man.

Billy Bob Thornton Billy Bob Thornton ( born August 4 , 1955 ) is an American actor , filmmaker , singer , songwriter , and musician .   Thornton had his first break when he co-wrote and starred in the 1992 thriller One False Move , and came to international attention after writing , directing , and starring in the independent drama film Sling Blade ( 1996 ) , for which he won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor . He appeared in several major film roles in the 1990s following Sling Blade , including Oliver Stone 's neo-noir U Turn ( 1997 ) , political drama Primary Colors ( 1998 ) , science fiction disaster film Armageddon ( 1998 ) , which was the highest-grossing film of that year , and the crime drama A Simple Plan ( 1998 ) , which earned him his third Academy Awards nomination .   In the 2000s , Thornton achieved further success in starring dramas Monster 's Ball ( 2001 ) , The Man Who Was n't There ( 2001 ) , and Friday Night Lights ( 2004 ) ; comedies Bandits ( 2001 ) , Intolerable Cruelty ( 2003 ) , and Bad Santa ( 2003 ) ; and action films Eagle Eye ( 2008 ) and Faster ( 2010 ) . In 2014 , Thornton starred as Lorne Malvo in the first season of the anthology series Fargo , earning a nomination for the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie at the Emmy Awards and won Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Film at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards . In 2016 , he starred in an Amazon original series , Goliath about a washed up attorney with a great new case .   Thornton has been vocal about his disrespect for celebrity culture , choosing to keep his life out of the public eye . However , the attention of the media has proven unavoidable in certain cases , his marriage to Angelina Jolie being a notable example . Thornton has appeared in at least one film per year nearly every year since 1991 . Thornton has written a variety of films , usually set in the Southern United States and mainly co-written with Tom Epperson , including A Family Thing ( 1996 ) and The Gift ( 2000 ) . After Sling Blade , he directed several other films , including Daddy and Them ( 2001 ) , All the Pretty Horses ( 2000 ) , and Jayne Mansfield 's Car ( 2012 ) .   Thornton has received the President 's Award from the Academy of Science Fiction , Fantasy & Horror Films , a Special Achievement Award from the National Board of Review , and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . He has also been nominated for an Emmy Award , four Golden Globes , and three Screen Actors Guild Awards . In addition to film work , Thornton began a career as a singer-songwriter . He has released four solo albums and is the vocalist of the blues rock band The Boxmasters .


All the Pretty Horses (film) All the Pretty Horses is a 2000 American romance western film produced and directed by Billy Bob Thornton , and based on Cormac McCarthy 's novel of the same name . Starring Matt Damon and Penélope Cruz , the film was released on Christmas Day 2000 to mostly negative reviews . It grossed $ 18 million worldwide , against a $ 57 million budget .


Zendaya Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman ( born September 1 , 1996 ) , known mononymously as Zendaya ( -LSB- zɛnˈdeɪ.ə -RSB- ) , is an American actress , singer , and dancer . From 2010 to 2013 , she starred in the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up as Rocky Blue . She has starred in two films and played one of the lead roles in the film Frenemies as Halley Brandon . She voiced Fern in the Pixie Hollow Games . She appeared in Good Luck Charlie as Rocky Blue and in a Good Luck Charlie and Shake It Up crossover title Charlie Shakes It Up . She appeared on PrankStars as herself in the episode `` Walk The Prank '' and on A.N.T. Farm as Sequoia Jones in the episode `` Creative ConsultANT . ''   Zendaya signed a deal with Hollywood Records on August 8 , 2012 , and started recording songs for her debut album on August 12 , 2012 . She released a single from an independent label called `` Swag It Out '' and another single with Bella Thorne called `` Watch Me , '' which is featured on the Break It Down album . On March 20 , 2012 , Zendaya released the song `` Something to Dance For '' as promotional single from Shake It Up : Live 2 Dance soundtrack .


Azerbaijan declared independence in 1948.

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan ( -LSB- æzərbaɪˈʒɑːn -RSB- ; Azərbaycan ) , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan ( Azərbaycan Respublikası ) , is a country in the South Caucasus region , situated at the crossroads of Southwest Asia and Southeastern Europe . It is bound by the Caspian Sea to the east , Russia to the north , Georgia to the northwest , Armenia to the west and Iran to the south . The exclave of Nakhchivan is bound by Armenia to the north and east , Iran to the south and west , while having an 11 km border with Turkey in the north west .   The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic proclaimed its independence in 1918 and became the first democratic state in the Muslim orient world . The country was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920 as the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic . The modern Republic of Azerbaijan proclaimed its independence on 30 August 1991 , prior to the official dissolution of the USSR in December 1991 . In September 1991 , the Armenian majority of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region seceded to form the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic . The region and seven adjacent districts outside it became de facto independent with the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994 . These regions are internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan pending a solution to the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh , found through negotiations facilitated by the OSCE .   Azerbaijan is a unitary semi-presidential republic . The country is a member state of the Council of Europe , the OSCE and the NATO Partnership for Peace ( PfP ) program . It is one of six independent Turkic states , an active member of the Turkic Council and the TÜRKSOY community . Azerbaijan has diplomatic relations with 158 countries and holds membership in 38 international organizations . It is one of the founding members of GUAM , the Commonwealth of Independent States ( CIS ) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons . A member of the United Nations since 1992 after its independence , Azerbaijan was elected to membership in the newly established Human Rights Council by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 May 2006 . Its term of office began on 19 June 2006 . Azerbaijan is also a member state of the Non-Aligned Movement , holds observer status in World Trade Organization and is a correspondent at the International Telecommunication Union .   The Constitution of Azerbaijan does not declare an official religion and all major political forces in the country are secularist . However , the majority of the population are of a Shiite Muslim background . Most Azerbaijanis however , do not actively practice any religion , and the country has been seen to be one of the most irreligious countries in the Muslim world , with 53 % stating religion has little to no importance in their lives , according to Pew Research Center and Gallup polls . Azerbaijan has a high level of human development which ranks on par with most Eastern European countries . It has a high rate of economic development and literacy , as well as a low rate of unemployment . According to the Davos World Economic Forum , Azerbaijan 's economy has scored 37th place within 138 countries in 2016 . Global Competitiveness Index 2015 indicates that Azerbaijan scores highest in its region .   ASAN services , established with Presidential Decree , are countrywide known for eliminating bribery and corruption in the provision of public services . ASAN Service has been awarded with United Nations ' Public Service Award 2015 , which is the most prestigious award in the world in the field of public service delivery .   The ruling party , the New Azerbaijan Party , has been accused of authoritarianism and human rights abuses .


Brian Wilson had tension with his band due to his erratic behavior.

Brian Wilson Brian Douglas Wilson ( born June 20 , 1942 ) is an American musician , singer , songwriter , and record producer best known for being the multi-tasking leader and co-founder of the rock band the Beach Boys . After signing with Capitol Records in 1962 , Wilson wrote or co-wrote more than two dozen Top 40 hits for the group . Because of his unorthodox approaches to song composition and arrangement and mastery of recording techniques , he is widely acknowledged , by critics and musicians alike , as one of the most innovative and influential creative forces in popular music .   In the mid-1960s , Wilson composed , arranged and produced Pet Sounds ( 1966 ) , considered one of the greatest albums ever made . The intended follow-up to Pet Sounds , Smile , was canceled for various reasons , which included Wilson 's deteriorating mental health . As he suffered repeated nervous breakdowns , Wilson 's contributions to the Beach Boys diminished , and his erratic behavior led to tensions with the band . Following a court-ordered removal from the care of psychologist Eugene Landy , Wilson started receiving conventional medical treatment , and in the late 1990s , he began performing and recording consistently as a solo artist . He remains a member of the Beach Boys ' corporation , Brother Records Incorporated .   Wilson is considered a major innovator in the field of music production , the principal originator of the California Sound , one of the first music producer auteurs , and one of the most famous examples of the outsider musician . Only 21 years old when he received the freedom to produce his own records with total creative autonomy , he ignited an explosion of like-minded California producers , supplanting New York as the center of popular records , and becoming the first rock producer to use the studio as its own instrument . Wilson effectively set a precedent that allowed bands and artists to enter a recording studio and act as their own producers or co-producers . His songs became inextricably tied with the zeitgeist of the early 1960s , and he helped develop the sound of the wistful Flower Power era that proceeded . In later years , Wilson was regarded as a `` godfather '' to an era of indie musicians who were inspired by his melodic sensibilities , chamber pop orchestrations , and recording explorations .   His honors include being inducted into the 1988 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and winning Grammy Awards for Brian Wilson Presents Smile ( 2004 ) and The Smile Sessions ( 2011 ) . In lists published by Rolling Stone , Wilson ranked 52 for the `` 100 Greatest Singers of All Time '' in 2008 and 12 for the `` 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time '' in 2015 . In 2012 , music publication NME ranked Wilson number 8 in its `` 50 Greatest Producers Ever '' list , elaborating `` few consider quite how groundbreaking Brian Wilson 's studio techniques were in the mid-60s '' . He is an occasional actor and voice actor , having appeared in television shows , films , and other artists ' music videos . His life was portrayed in the 2014 biopic Love & Mercy , which received a wide release in 2015 .


Volleyball teams are incapable of being separated.

Volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net . Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team 's court under organized rules . It has been a part of the official program of the Summer Olympic Games since 1964 .   The complete rules are extensive . But simply , play proceeds as follows : a player on one of the teams begins a ` rally ' by serving the ball ( tossing or releasing it and then hitting it with a hand or arm ) , from behind the back boundary line of the court , over the net , and into the receiving team 's court . The receiving team must not let the ball be grounded within their court . The team may touch the ball up to 3 times but individual players may not touch the ball twice consecutively . Typically , the first two touches are used to set up for an attack , an attempt to direct the ball back over the net in such a way that the serving team is unable to prevent it from being grounded in their court .   The rally continues , with each team allowed as many as three consecutive touches , until either ( 1 ) : a team makes a kill , grounding the ball on the opponent 's court and winning the rally ; or ( 2 ) : a team commits a fault and loses the rally . The team that wins the rally is awarded a point , and serves the ball to start the next rally . A few of the most common faults include :  causing the ball to touch the ground or floor outside the opponents ' court or without first passing over the net ;  catching and throwing the ball ;  double hit : two consecutive contacts with the ball made by the same player ;  four consecutive contacts with the ball made by the same team ;  net foul : touching the net during play ;  foot fault : the foot crosses over the boundary line when serving .  The ball is usually played with the hands or arms , but players can legally strike or push ( short contact ) the ball with any part of the body .   A number of consistent techniques have evolved in volleyball , including spiking and blocking ( because these plays are made above the top of the net , the vertical jump is an athletic skill emphasized in the sport ) as well as passing , setting , and specialized player positions and offensive and defensive structures .


Macaulay Culkin was an actor as a child.

Macaulay Culkin Macaulay Carson Culkin ( born August 26 , 1980 ) is an American actor . He became famous as a child actor for his role as Kevin McCallister in the family comedy Home Alone ( 1990 ) and its sequel Home Alone 2 : Lost in New York ( 1992 ) . He is also known for his roles in Uncle Buck ( 1989 ) , My Girl ( 1991 ) , The Good Son ( 1993 ) , The Pagemaster ( 1994 ) , Richie Rich ( 1994 ) , Party Monster ( 2003 ) , and the music video for Michael Jackson 's `` Black or White '' . At the height of his fame , he was regarded as the most successful child actor since Shirley Temple . Culkin ranked at number two on VH1 's list of the `` 100 Greatest Kid-Stars '' and E! 's list of the `` 50 Greatest Child Stars '' .


One of the world's best-selling musical artists is U2.

U2 U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin formed in 1976 . The group consists of Bono ( lead vocals and rhythm guitar ) , the Edge ( lead guitar , keyboards , and backing vocals ) , Adam Clayton ( bass guitar ) , and Larry Mullen Jr. ( drums and percussion ) . Initially rooted in post-punk , U2 's sound grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music , yet has maintained an anthemic sound built on Bono 's expressive vocals and the Edge 's effects-based guitar textures . Their lyrics , often embellished with spiritual imagery , focus on personal themes and sociopolitical concerns . Popular for their live performances , the group have staged several ambitious and elaborate tours over their career .   The band formed at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in 1976 when the members were teenagers with limited musical proficiency . Within four years , they signed with Island Records and released their debut album , Boy ( 1980 ) . Subsequent work such as their first UK number-one album , War ( 1983 ) , and the singles `` Sunday Bloody Sunday '' and `` Pride ( In the Name of Love ) '' helped establish U2 's reputation as a politically and socially conscious group . By the mid-1980s , they had become renowned globally for their live act , highlighted by their performance at Live Aid in 1985 . The group 's fifth album , The Joshua Tree ( 1987 ) , made them international superstars and was their greatest critical and commercial success . Topping music charts around the world , it produced their only number-one singles in the US , `` With or Without You '' and `` I Still Have n't Found What I 'm Looking For '' . Facing a backlash and creative stagnation , U2 reinvented themselves in the 1990s through a new musical direction and public image . Beginning with their acclaimed seventh album , Achtung Baby ( 1991 ) , and the multimedia intensive Zoo TV Tour , the band integrated influences from alternative rock , electronic dance music , and industrial music into their sound , and embraced a more ironic , flippant image . This experimentation continued through their ninth album , Pop ( 1997 ) , and the PopMart Tour , which were mixed successes . U2 regained critical and commercial favour with the records All That You Ca n't Leave Behind ( 2000 ) and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb ( 2004 ) , which established a more conventional , mainstream sound for the group . Their U2 360 ° Tour of 2009 -- 2011 is the highest-attended and highest-grossing concert tour in history . The group 's thirteenth album , Songs of Innocence ( 2014 ) , was released at no cost through the iTunes Store , but received criticism for its automatic placement in users ' music libraries .   U2 have released 13 studio albums and are one of the world 's best-selling music artists of all time , having sold more than 170 million records worldwide . They have won 22 Grammy Awards , more than any other band , and in 2005 , they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility . Rolling Stone ranked U2 at number 22 on its list of the `` 100 Greatest Artists of All Time '' . Throughout their career , as a band and as individuals , they have campaigned for human rights and philanthropic causes , including Amnesty International , Jubilee 2000 , the ONE/DATA campaigns , Product Red , War Child , and Music Rising .


Emmanuel Adebayor was uninvolved in the Togo national football team attack.

Emmanuel Adebayor Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor ( -LSB- ɛmanɥɛl adəbɛjɔʁ -RSB- ; born 26 February 1984 ) is a Togolese professional footballer who plays as a striker for Turkish club İstanbul Başakşehir . He previously played for English clubs Arsenal , Manchester City , Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace , as well as French sides Metz and Monaco and Spanish team Real Madrid . He was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2008 .   Adebayor represented the Togo national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany , the country 's debut , and to date only , appearance at the World Cup . In January 2010 , Adebayor was one of the players involved when the Togo team 's bus came under gunfire on the way to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola , after which he retired from national team duty . In 2013 , he returned to the Togo team for the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa , where he helped them to qualify for the quarter-finals . He is currently Togo 's all-time top goalscorer with 31 goals .


G-Dragon's first EP is called One of a Kind.

G-Dragon Kwon Ji-yong ( ; born August 18 , 1988 ) , better known by his stage name G-Dragon , is a South Korean rapper , singer-songwriter , record producer , and fashion icon . After six years as a trainee under the record label YG Entertainment , G-Dragon rose to fame in the mid-2000s as one of two rappers in the South Korean hip hop boy band Big Bang . Despite initial lukewarm receptions , the group became one of the best-selling digital group of all-time in Asia and one of the best-selling boy bands in the world .   G-Dragon debuted as a solo artist with the release of Heartbreaker in 2009 . The album was a commercial success and earned the Mnet Asian Music Awards for Album of the Year , while the single of the same name became a number-one hit . G-Dragon later formed a duo with fellow Big Bang member T.O.P to record and release the album GD & TOP ( 2010 ) , which contained the top-five hits `` High High '' , `` Oh Yeah '' , and `` Knock Out '' on the Gaon Digital Chart , while the album peaked at number-one . His first EP One of a Kind ( 2012 ) was critically acclaimed and yielded `` One of a Kind '' , `` Crayon '' , and the number-one `` That XX '' , earning Record of the Year at the 22nd Seoul Music Awards . The EP became the highest-selling album by a Korean soloist since his own Heartbreaker . In 2013 , he embarked on his first worldwide tour as a solo artist , which included a four-dome tour in Japan , making him the first Korean soloist to do a dome tour . G-Dragon was awarded Artist of the Year at the 15th Mnet Asian Music Awards following the success of his second studio album Coup d'Etat ( 2013 ) , in addition to the awards of World 's Best Entertainer and World 's Best Album at the 2014 World Music Awards .   Recognized as one of the most influential leaders in music and fashion in his country and labelled as an `` K-pop icon '' , G-Dragon was named by Forbes the most influential person under 30 in Asia 's entertainment and sports . Producing not only for his band but also for his and his bandmates ' solo releases , G-Dragon has written 22 number one songs .


Kevin Kline Kevin Delaney Kline ( born October 24 , 1947 ) is an American film and stage actor and singer . He has won an Academy Award and two Tony Awards and is a 2003 American Theatre Hall of Fame inductee .   Kline began his career on stage in 1972 with The Acting Company . He went on to win two Tony Awards for his work in Broadway musicals , winning Best Featured Actor in a Musical for the 1978 original production of On the Twentieth Century and Best Actor in a Musical for the 1981 revival of The Pirates of Penzance .   He made his film debut the following year , opposite Meryl Streep in Sophie 's Choice ( 1982 ) . For his role in the 1988 comedy hit A Fish Called Wanda , he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor . In 2003 , he starred as Falstaff in the Broadway production of Henry IV , for which he won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play .   He has been nominated for an Emmy Award , two BAFTA Awards and five Golden Globe Awards . His other films include The Big Chill ( 1983 ) , Silverado ( 1985 ) , Cry Freedom ( 1987 ) , Dave ( 1993 ) , The Hunchback of Notre Dame ( 1996 ) , The Ice Storm ( 1997 ) , In & Out ( 1997 ) , The Road to El Dorado ( 2000 ) , De-Lovely ( 2004 ) , My Old Lady ( 2014 ) , and Beauty and the Beast ( 2017 ) . Since 2011 , Kline has had a recurring role on the animated comedy series Bob 's Burgers .


In & Out (film) In & Out is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by Frank Oz and starring Kevin Kline , Tom Selleck , Joan Cusack , Matt Dillon , Debbie Reynolds , and Wilford Brimley . It is an original story by screenwriter Paul Rudnick . Joan Cusack was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance .   The film was inspired by Tom Hanks 's tearful speech when he accepted his 1994 Oscar ( for his role in Philadelphia ) , in which he mentioned his high-school drama coach Rawley Farnsworth , and his former classmate John Gilkerson , `` two of the finest gay Americans , two wonderful men that I had the good fortune to be associated with . '' The film became one of mainstream Hollywood 's few attempts at a comedic `` gay movie '' of its era , and was widely noted at the time for a 12-second kiss between Kevin Kline and Tom Selleck .


Joan Cusack Joan Cusack ( -LSB- ˈkjuːsæk -RSB- , born October 11 , 1962 ) is an American actress . She received Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her roles in the romantic comedy-drama Working Girl ( 1988 ) and the romantic comedy In & Out ( 1997 ) , as well as one Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the latter . She is also known as the voice of Jessie in the Toy Story franchise .   Cusack was a cast member on the comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1986 . She starred on the Showtime hit drama/comedy Shameless as Sheila Gallagher ( née Jackson ) , a role for which she has received five consecutive Emmy Award nominations , winning for the first time in 2015 . She is the sister of actress Ann and actor John Cusack .


Josh Duhamel has been incapable of acting his whole life.

Josh Duhamel Joshua David Duhamel ( -LSB- dəˈmɛl -RSB- ; born November 14 , 1972 ) is an American actor and former fashion model . After various modeling work , he made his acting debut as Leo du Pres on the ABC daytime soap opera All My Children and later starred as Danny McCoy on NBC 's Las Vegas .   Duhamel then ventured into film , appearing as one of the main protagonists in the first three films of the Transformers film series ; reprising his role in the fifth film , Transformers : The Last Knight ( 2017 ) . He has also appeared in When in Rome ( 2010 ) , Life as We Know It ( 2010 ) , New Year 's Eve ( 2011 ) , Safe Haven ( 2013 ) , and You 're Not You ( 2014 ) . In 2015 , Duhamel co-starred on the short-lived CBS crime drama Battle Creek .


True Blood True Blood is an American dark fantasy horror  television series produced and created by Alan Ball and based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris .   The series revolves around Sookie Stackhouse ( Anna Paquin ) , a telepathic waitress living in the rural town of Bon Temps , Louisiana , two years after the invention of a synthetic blood that has allowed vampires to `` come out of the coffin '' and allow their presence to be known to mankind . Now they are struggling for equal rights and assimilation , while anti-vampire organizations begin to gain power . Sookie 's world is turned upside down when she falls in love with 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton ( Stephen Moyer ) and for the first time must navigate the trials , tribulations and terrors of intimacy and relationships .   The show was broadcast on the premium cable network HBO , in the United States , and was produced by HBO in association with Ball 's production company , Your Face Goes Here Entertainment . The series premiered on September 7 , 2008 and concluded on August 24 , 2014 , comprising seven seasons and 80 episodes . The first five seasons received highly positive reviews , and both nominations and wins for several awards , including a Golden Globe and an Emmy .


Bosnia and Herzegovina was part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia after World War II.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina ( -LSB- ˈbɒzniə_ənd_ˌhɛərtsəɡoʊˈviːnə , _ - ˌhɜːrt - , _ - ɡə - -RSB- or -LSB- ˌhɜːrtsəˈɡɒvᵻnə -RSB- B&H ; Bosnian , Croatian , Serbian : Bosna i Hercegovina / Боснa и Херцеговина -LSB- bôsna i xěrt͡seɡoʋina -RSB- ) , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina ( BiH ) , and , in short , often known informally as Bosnia , is a country in Southeastern Europe located on the Balkan Peninsula . Sarajevo is the capital and largest city . Bordered by Croatia to the north , west , and south ; Serbia to the east ; Montenegro to the southeast ; and the Adriatic Sea to the south , with a coastline about 20 km long surrounding the city of Neum . In the central and eastern interior of the country the geography is mountainous , in the northwest it is moderately hilly , and the northeast is predominantly flatland . The inland is a geographically larger region and has a moderate continental climate , with hot summers and cold and snowy winters . The southern tip of the country has a Mediterranean climate and plain topography .   Bosnia and Herzegovina is a region that traces permanent human settlement back to the Neolithic age , during and after which it was populated by several Illyrian and Celtic civilizations . Culturally , politically , and socially , the country has a rich history , having been first settled by the Slavic peoples that populate the area today from the 6th through to the 9th centuries . In the 12th century the Banate of Bosnia was established , which evolved into the Kingdom of Bosnia in the 14th century , after which it was annexed into the Ottoman Empire , under whose rule it would remain from the mid-15th to the late 19th centuries . The Ottomans brought Islam to the region , and altered much of the cultural and social outlook of the country . This was followed by annexation into the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy , which lasted up until World War I . In the interwar period , Bosnia was part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and after World War II , the country was granted full republic status in the newly formed Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia , the country proclaimed independence in 1992 , which was followed by the Bosnian War , lasting until late 1995 .   Today , the country maintains high literacy , life expectancy and education levels and is one of the most frequently visited countries in the region , projected to have the third highest tourism growth rate in the world between 1995 and 2020 . Bosnia and Herzegovina is regionally and internationally renowned for its natural beauty and cultural heritage inherited from six historical civilizations , its cuisine , winter sports , its eclectic and unique music , architecture and its festivals , some of which are the largest and most prominent of their kind in Southeastern Europe . The country is home to three main ethnic groups or , officially , constituent peoples , as specified in the constitution . Bosniaks are the largest group of the three , with Serbs second and Croats third . A native of Bosnia and Herzegovina , regardless of ethnicity , is identified in English as a Bosnian . The terms Herzegovinian and Bosnian are maintained as a regional rather than ethnic distinction , and the region of Herzegovina has no precisely defined borders of its own . Moreover , the country was simply called `` Bosnia '' until the Austro-Hungarian occupation at the end of the 19th century .   Bosnia and Herzegovina has a bicameral legislature and a three-member Presidency composed of a member of each major ethnic group . However , the central government 's power is highly limited , as the country is largely decentralized and comprises two autonomous entities : the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska , with a third region , the Brčko District , governed under local government . The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is itself complex and consists of 10 cantons . The country is a potential candidate for membership to the European Union and has been a candidate for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation membership since April 2010 , when it received a Membership Action Plan at a summit in Tallinn . Additionally , the country has been a member of the Council of Europe since April 2002 and a founding member of the Mediterranean Union upon its establishment in July 2008 .


John McEnroe had considered other tennis players as his rivals.

John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe Jr. ( born February 16 , 1959 ) is an American former World No. 1 professional tennis player , often rated among the greatest players of all time in the sport , especially for his touch on the volley . He won seven Grand Slam singles titles ( three at Wimbledon and four at the US Open ) , nine Grand Slam men 's doubles titles , and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title . He also won a record eight year-end championships , 19 Grand Prix Super Series titles , and finished his career with 77 ATP-listed singles titles and 78 in doubles .   McEnroe is known for his shot-making artistry and volleying skills ; for his rivalries with Björn Borg , Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl ; and for his confrontational on-court behavior , which frequently landed him in trouble with umpires and tennis authorities . In 1981 , 1983 and 1984 he was both the ATP player of the year and the ITF World Champion for Men 's singles . His match record of 82 -- 3 in 1984 remains the best single season win rate of the Open Era .   McEnroe is a former Captain of the United States Davis Cup team and as a player was part of five Cup-winning teams . He continues to play tennis and competes in senior events on the ATP Champions Tour . He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999 and received the Philippe Chatrier Award in 2007 . After his tennis career he became a television commentator , a game show host and a chat show host . Additionally , he has appeared in several films and television shows as himself and has played music live . He has been married since 1997 to musician and former Scandal lead singer Patty Smyth ; they have six children between them ( two together ) .


Steve McQueen was an actor in The Great Escape.

The Great Escape (film) The Great Escape is a 1963 American World War II epic film based on an escape by British Commonwealth prisoners of war from a German POW camp during World War II , starring Steve McQueen , James Garner , and Richard Attenborough , filmed in Panavision .   The film is based on Paul Brickhill 's 1950 book of the same name , a non-fiction first-hand account of the mass escape from Stalag Luft III in Sagan ( now Żagań , Poland ) , in the province of Lower Silesia , Nazi Germany . The characters are based on real men , and in some cases are composites of several men . However , many details of the actual escape attempt were changed for the film , and the role of American personnel in both the planning and the escape was largely fabricated . The Great Escape was made by the Mirisch Company , released by United Artists , and produced and directed by John Sturges .   The film had its Royal World Premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square in London 's West End on 20 June 1963 .


Steve McQueen Terence Steven `` Steve '' McQueen ( March 24 , 1930 -- November 7 , 1980 ) was an American actor . Called `` The King of Cool , '' his `` anti-hero '' persona developed at the height of the counterculture of the 1960s and made him a top box-office draw of the 1960s and 1970s . McQueen received an Academy Award nomination for his role in The Sand Pebbles . His other popular films include The Cincinnati Kid , The Thomas Crown Affair , Bullitt , The Getaway , and Papillon , as well as the all-star ensemble films The Magnificent Seven , The Great Escape , and The Towering Inferno . In 1974 , he became the highest-paid movie star in the world , although he did not act in films again for four years . McQueen was combative with directors and producers , but his popularity placed him in high demand and enabled him to command large salaries .


Nick Jonas was released by a Chinese-Mongolian record label.

Nick Jonas (album) Nick Jonas is the second eponymous studio album by American singer-songwriter Nick Jonas . It was released on November 10 , 2014 , by Island Records . The album features a sole collaborations with Angel Haze , Demi Lovato and Mike Posner . The album received a generally favorable reviews from music critics and has reached the top 10 in the United States , becoming top 20 in the United Kingdom , Mexico and Canada , whilst it also been reaching in the top 40 in Australia and New Zealand . It was re-released on November 20 , 2015 , under the title Nick Jonas X2 ; including three new tracks and four remixes .


Island Records Island Records is a British-American record label that operates as a division of Universal Music Group ( UMG ) . It was founded by Chris Blackwell , Graeme Goodall and Leslie Kong in Jamaica in 1959 . Blackwell sold the label to PolyGram in 1989 . Both Island and another label recently acquired by PolyGram , A&M Records , were both at the time the largest independent record labels in history , with Island in particular having exerted a major influence on the progressive UK music scene in the early 1970s .   Three Island labels exist in the world : Island UK , Island US , and Island Australia , with the main label operating out of London . Notable artists on the UK roster include Ariana Grande , U2 , Mumford & Sons , Amy Winehouse , Ben Howard , Florence + The Machine , John Newman , Hozier , Catfish and the Bottlemen , Disclosure , AlunaGeorge , Keane , James Morrison , Annie Lennox , That Poppy and PJ Harvey .   Current key people of Island Records include Island president Darcus Beese , OBE and MD Jon Turner . Partially due to the label 's significant legacy , Island remains one of UMG 's pre-eminent record labels . In a 50-year anniversary documentary , Island Records artist Melissa Etheridge stated : `` If you want to look at world music , music of the last fifty years that changed the world , you need look no further than Island Records . ''


Lisa Lopes also goes by her TLC nickname Left Eye.

Lisa Lopes Lisa Nicole Lopes ( May 27 , 1971 -- April 25 , 2002 ) , better known by her stage name Left Eye , was an American hip hop singer , rapper , actress , songwriter and producer . She rose to fame in the early 1990s as one-third of the girl group TLC , alongside Tionne `` T-Boz '' Watkins and Rozonda `` Chilli '' Thomas . Besides rapping and singing background vocals on TLC recordings , Lopes was one of the creative forces behind the group . She received more cowriting credits than the other members . She also designed the outfits and stage for the group and brought concepts to the group image , album titles , artworks and music videos . Through her work with TLC , Lopes won four Grammy Awards .   During her short solo career , Lopes scored two US top-ten singles with `` Not Tonight '' and `` U Know What 's Up '' , as well as one UK number-one single with `` Never Be the Same Again '' . She also produced the girl group Blaque , who scored a platinum album and two US top-ten hits . Lopes remains the only member of TLC to have released a solo album .   On April 25 , 2002 , Lopes was killed in a car accident while on a retreat with her sister and others . She swerved off the road to avoid hitting another vehicle and was thrown from her vehicle and died instantly . The last days of her life were made into a documentary called The Last Days of Left Eye , which aired on VH1 in May 2007 .


ATP World Tour Masters 1000 The ATP World Tour Masters 1000 ( previously known as the ATP Championship Series , Single-Week , ATP Super 9 , Tennis Masters Series , and ATP Masters Series ) is the third highest tier of men 's tennis tournament after the four Grand Slam tournaments and ATP World Tour Finals .   Results in ATP Masters 1000 events earn players more world ranking points than regular tournaments , though not as many as Grand Slam events or the year-end ATP World Tour Finals . Up until 2007 , most Masters Series finals were contested as best of five-set matches . Currently , all Masters Series events are decided in best of three-set matches .   Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic hold the record for the most singles titles with 30 each since the Masters series began in 1990 . The Bryan Brothers have won a record 36 doubles titles , all as a team . No player has ever won all 9 singles titles in his career , with Novak Djokovic winning 8 , Andre Agassi , Roger Federer , Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray each winning 7 . However , in doubles , Daniel Nestor and the Bryan Brothers ( Bob and Mike ) have each won all 9 titles throughout their careers . Novak Djokovic holds the record for 6 singles titles in a year ( 2015 ) . In doubles , the Bryans have won 6 titles in a single year once ( 2014 ) and 5 titles in a single year twice ( 2007 and 2013 ) .


Grand Prix Super Series The Grand Prix Super Series of men 's tennis tournaments , formed part of the Grand Prix and World Championship Tennis tours between 1970 and 1989 , and were held annually throughout the year in Europe , North America , Africa and Asia . After the Majors and Season ending Championships these tournaments were the most prestigious and highest level events of the Grand Prix Tour , they had a six name changes from 1970 through to 1977 , Group One , Group B , Group A , Group AA , 5 Star and 6 Star before settling on a consistent naming format called Super Series '' from 1978 until 1989 .   When the Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ) became the sole governing body of men 's tennis in 1990 all of the surviving tournaments of the Grand Prix were absorbed into the new ATP Tour . The nine top events existing at that time first become known as the ATP Championship Series Single Week and are currently branded as ATP World Tour Masters 1000 .   Note : Some players who competed in these tournaments may have represented another country other than those stated by official sources the Association of Tennis Professionals and the International Tennis Federation .  Note : two professional tours co-existed during this period ; players competed on both .  Ivan Lendl was the most successful player with 22 titles ( 1980 -- 89 ) .


Tennis at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's Singles The men 's singles tennis tournament of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro was held at the Olympic Tennis Centre in the Barra Olympic Park in Barra da Tijuca in the west zone of Rio de Janeiro , Brazil . The final was played on 14 August 2016 .   Top seed and world number-one Novak Djokovic was defeated in the first round by Juan Martín del Potro with two consecutive tie-breaking sets . This was the second time that del Potro had beaten Djokovic in Olympic competition , following his victory in the bronze medal match in 2012 .   Andy Murray defended his 2012 Olympic title by defeating Juan Martín del Potro in the final 7 -- 5 , 4 -- 6 , 6 -- 2 , 7 -- 5 , becoming the first tennis player ever , male or female , to win two Olympic singles gold medals .


French Open The French Open , often referred to as Roland-Garros ( -LSB- ʁɔlɑ̃ ɡaʁɔs -RSB- ) , is a major tennis tournament held over two weeks between late May and early June at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris , France . Named after the French aviator Roland Garros , it is the premier clay court tennis championship event in the world and the second of four annual Grand Slam tournaments , the other three being the Australian Open , Wimbledon and the US Open . Roland Garros is currently the only major held on clay , and it is the zenith of the spring clay court season . Because of the seven rounds needed for a championship , the slow-playing surface and the best-of-five-set men 's singles matches ( without a tiebreak in the final set ) , the event is widely considered to be the most physically demanding tennis tournament in the world .


Bill Tilden William Tatem Tilden II ( February 10 , 1893 -- June 5 , 1953 ) , nicknamed `` Big Bill , '' was an American male tennis player . He is often considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time . Tilden was the World No. 1 player for six years from 1920 through 1925 . He won 15 Major singles titles including ten Grand Slam events , one World Hard Court Championships and four Pro Slam tournaments . He was the first American to win Wimbledon in 1920 . He also won a record seven US Championships titles ( shared with Richard Sears and Bill Larned ) .   Tilden dominated the world of international tennis in the first half of the 1920s , and during his 18-year amateur period of 1912 -- 30 , won 138 of 192 tournaments . He owns a number of all-time tennis achievements including a career match winning record and a career winning percentage at the US National Championships . At the 1929 US National Championships Tilden became the first player to reach 10 finals at a single Grand Slam event . This mark stood until 2015 , when Roger Federer reached his tenth Wimbledon final . Tilden , who was frequently at odds with the rigid United States Lawn Tennis Association about his amateur status and income derived from newspaper articles , won his last Major title in 1930 at Wimbledon aged 37 . He turned professional on the last day of that year and toured with a handful of other professionals for the next 15 years .


1984 French Open – Men's Singles Yannick Noah was the defending champion , but lost to Mats Wilander in the quarterfinals . Ivan Lendl beat John McEnroe in a close five set match 3 -- 6 , 2 -- 6 , 6 -- 4 , 7 -- 5 , 7 -- 5 in the final to win the Men 's Singles tennis title at the 1984 French Open .


ATP Finals The ATP Finals is the second highest tier of men 's tennis tournament after the four Grand Slam tournaments .   It is held annually in November at the O2 Arena in London , United Kingdom . The ATP Finals are the season-ending championships of the Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ) World Tour , featuring the top eight singles players and doubles teams of the ATP Rankings . The tournament was first held in 1970 .   Roger Federer holds the record for the most singles titles , with six , while Peter Fleming and John McEnroe hold record with 7 titles in doubles .   In the current tournament , winners are awarded up to 1500 rankings points ; with each round-robin loss , 200 points are deducted from that amount .


Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl ( -LSB- ˈɪvan ˈlɛndl̩ -RSB- ; born March 7 , 1960 ) is a former world No. 1 professional tennis player and is currently coaching current world No. 1 Andy Murray , alongside Jamie Delgado . Originally from Czechoslovakia , he became a United States citizen in 1992 . He was one of the game 's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s . He has been described as one of the greatest tennis players of all time . Lendl 's game relied particularly on strength and heavy topspin from the baseline and helped usher in the modern era of `` power tennis '' .   Lendl captured eight Grand Slam singles titles . He competed in 19 Grand Slam singles finals , a record surpassed by Roger Federer in 2009 , Rafael Nadal in 2014 and Novak Djokovic in 2016 . He reached at least one Grand Slam final for 11 consecutive years , a record shared with Pete Sampras , with the male primacy of eight consecutive finals in a Grand Slam tournament ( a record shared with Bill Tilden at the US Open ) . Before the formation of the ATP , Lendl reached a record 12 year-end championships ( equalled by John McEnroe ) . He won two WCT Finals titles and five Masters Grand Prix titles , with the record of nine consecutive finals . He also won a record 22 Grand Prix Super Series titles ( 1980 -- 89 ) , the precursors to the current ATP Masters 1000 .   Lendl first attained the world No. 1 ranking on February 28 , 1983 and bolstered his claim to the top spot when he defeated John McEnroe in the 1984 French Open final . For much of the next five years , until August 1990 , Lendl was the top-ranked player ( with a break from September 1988 to January 1989 when Mats Wilander was at the top ) . He finished four years ranked as the world 's top player ( 1985 -- 1987 and 1989 ) and was ranked No. 1 for a total of 270 weeks and set a new record previously held by Jimmy Connors , since broken by Pete Sampras and Roger Federer . He is one of three male players in the Open Era ( with Connors and Federer ) to win more than 1,000 tennis singles matches ( 1,071 ) . Lendl has won 94 singles titles , second only in the Open Era to Connors ' 109 titles . Lendl has been runner-up in a record 11 Grand Slam finals .


Grand Slam (tennis) The Grand Slam tournaments , also called majors , are the four most-important annual tennis events . They offer the most ranking points , prize money , public and media attention , the greatest strength and size of field , and greater number of `` best of '' sets for men . The Grand Slam itinerary consists of the Australian Open in mid January , the French Open in May and June , Wimbledon in June and July , and the US Open in August and September . Each tournament is played over a period of two weeks . The Australian and United States tournaments are played on hard courts , the French on clay , and Wimbledon on grass . Wimbledon is the oldest , founded in 1877 , followed by the US in 1881 , the French in 1891 , and the Australian in 1905 . However , of these four , only Wimbledon was a major before 1924 -- 25 , the time when all four became designated Grand Slam tournaments . Skipping Grand Slam tournaments -- especially the Australian Open because of the remoteness , the inconvenient dates ( around Christmas and New Year 's Day ) and the low prize money -- was not unusual before 1982 , which was the start of the norm of counting Grand Slam titles .   The term Grand Slam also , and originally , refers to the achievement of winning all four major championships in a single calendar year within one of the five events : men 's and women 's singles ; men 's , women 's , and mixed doubles . In doubles , one team may accomplish a Grand Slam playing together or one player may achieve it with different partners . The term `` Grand Slam '' without qualification refers to winning the four majors in a single calendar year .   Winning the four majors in consecutive tournaments but not in the same year is known as a Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam , while winning all four majors at any point during the course of a career is known as a Career Grand Slam . Winning the gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games in addition to the four majors in a one calendar year is known as a `` Golden Grand Slam '' or more commonly the `` Golden Slam '' . Also , winning the Year-End Championship ( known as ATP World Tour Finals for men 's singles and doubles disciplines , and WTA Tour Championships for both women 's disciplines ) in the same period is known as a `` Super Slam '' . Together , all four Majors in all three disciplines ( singles , doubles , and mixed doubles ) are called a `` boxed set '' of Grand Slam titles . No male or female player has won all twelve events in one calendar year , although a `` career boxed set '' has been achieved by three female players .


WCT Finals The WCT Finals was a men 's tennis tournament that served as the season-ending championship for the World Championship Tennis circuit . From 1971 -- 1989 the event was held annually in Texas on indoor carpet courts . The 1971 quarterfinals and semifinals were played in Houston , and final played at Moody Coliseum in Dallas . The 1972 -- 1979 editions were played at Moody Coliseum , and the 1980 -- 1989 tournaments at Reunion Arena in Dallas . The 1974 edition was the first tennis tournament to experiment with electronic line calling .   The first edition of the WCT Finals was in November 1971 , just a few days before the equivalent event of the rival Grand Prix circuit . But the second edition occurred just six months later to accommodate NBC 's new tennis coverage ; the tournament final between Ken Rosewall and Rod Laver is credited as `` the match that made tennis in the United States '' because its unprecedented domestic television audience of 23 million fueled a massive increase in the sport 's popularity . The ensuing editions were also held in the spring . John McEnroe had the most overall success , winning a record five titles .   Because of the popularity of the 1972 final , another edition , less important and with half the prize money , was held in November in Rome . The prize money offered to the winner , Arthur Ashe , was US$ 25,000 compared to the US$ 50,000 won by Ken Rosewall for the main edition in May . A decade later there were three editions of the WCT Finals ; the most important one in Dallas , and the others in autumn in Naples , Italy , and in winter ( in January 1983 ) in Detroit .


Charlize Theron had the lead role in a movie that was directed by Gilles Paquet-Brenner.

Charlize Theron Charlize Theron ( -LSB- ʃɑːrˈliːz_ˈθɛrən -RSB- or -LSB- ʃɑrˈliːs_ˈθɛərən -RSB- ; -LSB- ʃarˈlis trɔn -RSB- ; born 7 August 1975 ) is a South African-American actress and film producer . She has starred in several Hollywood films , such as The Devil 's Advocate ( 1997 ) , Mighty Joe Young ( 1998 ) , The Cider House Rules ( 1999 ) , Monster ( 2003 ) , The Italian Job ( 2003 ) , Hancock ( 2008 ) , A Million Ways to Die in the West ( 2014 ) , Mad Max : Fury Road ( 2015 ) and The Fate of the Furious ( 2017 ) .   Theron received critical acclaim for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster ( 2003 ) , for which she won the Academy Award , Silver Bear , Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress among several other accolades , becoming the first South African to win an Academy Award in a major acting category . She received Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for her performance in the sexual harassment-themed drama North Country in 2005 and a Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance in Jason Reitman 's 2011 film Young Adult .   Theron became a U.S. citizen in 2007 , while retaining her South African citizenship . In the late 2000s , she moved into the field of producing , both in television and film . In 2006 , she produced the documentary East of Havana . She had producing credits on the films The Burning Plain ( 2008 ) and Dark Places ( 2015 ) , both of which she starred in . In 2012 , she played Queen Ravenna in Snow White and the Huntsman and Meredith Vickers in Prometheus , both of which were box office successes . She reprised her role of Queen Ravenna in the 2016 follow-up film The Huntsman : Winter 's War . In 2016 , Time Magazine named her in the annual Time 100 most influential people list .


Dark Places (2015 film) Dark Places is a 2015 mystery thriller film directed by Gilles Paquet-Brenner . The screenplay , by Paquet-Brenner , is based on Gillian Flynn 's 2009 novel of the same name . It stars Charlize Theron , Christina Hendricks , Nicholas Hoult , and Chloë Grace Moretz .   The film was released in France on April 8 , 2015 , and in the United States on August 7 , 2015 , by A24 . It is the second film Theron and Hoult have collaborated on , after Mad Max : Fury Road .


Gone Girl (film) Gone Girl is a 2014 American psychological thriller film directed by David Fincher and written by Gillian Flynn , based on her 2012 novel of the same name . The film stars Ben Affleck , Rosamund Pike , Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry . Set in Southwest Missouri , the story begins as a mystery that follows the events surrounding Nick Dunne ( Affleck ) , who becomes the primary suspect in the sudden disappearance of his wife , Amy ( Pike ) .   The film had its world premiere on opening night of the 52nd New York Film Festival on September 26 , 2014 , before a nationwide theatrical release on October 3 . It was received well critically and was a commercial success , grossing $ 369 million , making it the highest-grossing film by Fincher . Rosamund Pike 's performance was particularly praised , and she received nominations for an Academy Award , BAFTA Award , Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress . Further nominations included a Golden Globe Award for Best Director for Fincher and Golden Globe Award , BAFTA Award and Critics ' Choice Award nominations for Flynn 's adapted screenplay , receiving the award for the latter .


The Champ (1979 film) The Champ is a 1979 American drama sports film directed by Franco Zeffirelli and a remake of the 1931 Academy Award-winning film of the same name which was directed by King Vidor . It stars Jon Voight , Faye Dunaway , and Ricky Schroder . It is also the final film for actress Joan Blondell to be released during her lifetime . Blondell , who died from leukemia on Christmas Day eight months later , also starred in two other films that were released after her death .


Moses Malone Moses Eugene Malone ( March 23 , 1955 -- September 13 , 2015 ) was an American basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association ( ABA ) and the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) from 1974 through 1995 . The center was named the NBA Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) three times and was a 12-time NBA All-Star and an eight-time All-NBA selection . Malone won his only NBA championship in 1983 , when he was both the league and Finals MVP with the Philadelphia 76ers . He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2001 .   Malone began his pro career out of high school after he was selected in the third round of the 1974 ABA Draft by the Utah Stars . He was named an ABA All-Star as a rookie and played two seasons in the league until it merged with the NBA in 1976 . He landed in the NBA with the Buffalo Braves , who traded him after two games to the Houston Rockets . Malone became a five-time All-Star in six seasons with the Rockets . After leading the NBA in rebounding in 1979 , he was named league MVP for the first time . He led the Rockets to the NBA Finals in 1981 , and won his second MVP award in 1982 . Malone was traded to Philadelphia the following season , when he repeated as MVP and led the 76ers to a championship in his first year . In his first of two stints with Philadelphia , he was an All-Star in each of his four seasons . Following another trade , Malone was an All-Star in his only two seasons with the Washington Bullets ( known later as the Wizards ) . He signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Hawks , earning his 12th straight and final All-Star selection in his first season . In his later years , he played with the Milwaukee Bucks before returning to the 76ers and completing his career with the San Antonio Spurs .   Malone led the NBA in rebounding six times , including a then-record five straight seasons ( 1981 -- 1985 ) . He finished his career as the all-time leader in offensive rebounds after leading both the ABA and NBA in the category a combined nine times . Malone was nicknamed `` Chairman of the Boards '' for his rebounding prowess . Combining his ABA and NBA statistics , he ranks seventh all-time in career points ( 29,580 ) and third in total rebounds ( 17,834 ) . He was named to both the ABA All-Time Team and the NBA 's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team .


Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston , Texas . The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) , as a member of the league 's Western Conference Southwest Division . The team plays its home games at the Toyota Center , located in downtown Houston . The Rockets have won two NBA championships and four Western Conference titles . The team was established as the San Diego Rockets , an expansion team originally based in San Diego , in 1967 . In 1971 , the Rockets moved to Houston .   The Rockets won only 15 games in their debut season as a franchise in 1967 . In the 1968 NBA draft , the Rockets , picking first overall , selected power forward Elvin Hayes , who would lead the team to its first playoff appearance in his rookie season . The Rockets did not finish a season with a winning record until the 1976 -- 77 season , when they traded for center Moses Malone . Malone went on to win the NBA Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) award twice and led Houston to the conference finals in his first year with the team . He also led the Rockets to the NBA Finals in 1981 where they were defeated in six games by the Boston Celtics , led by Larry Bird and future Rockets coach Kevin McHale .   In 1984 , the Rockets drafted center Hakeem Olajuwon , who would be paired with 7 ft Ralph Sampson , forming one of the tallest front courts in the NBA . Nicknamed the `` Twin Towers '' , they led the team to the 1986 NBA Finals -- the second NBA Finals appearance in franchise history -- where Houston was again defeated by the Boston Celtics . The Rockets continued to reach the playoffs throughout the 1980s , but failed to advance past the first round for several years following a second-round defeat to the Seattle SuperSonics in 1987 . Rudy Tomjanovich took over as head coach midway through the 1991 -- 92 season , ushering in the most successful period in franchise history . Olajuwon-led Rockets went to the 1994 NBA Finals and won franchise 's first championship against Patrick Ewing and the New York Knicks . The following season , the Rockets reinforced by another All-Star , Clyde Drexler , repeated as champions as the sixth seed in the West and swept the Orlando Magic , led by a young Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway , in four games . Houston became the lowest-seeded team in NBA history to win the title .   The Rockets acquired all-star forward Charles Barkley in 1996 , but the presence of three of the NBA 's 50 greatest players of all-time ( Olajuwon , Drexler , and Barkley ) was not enough to propel Houston past the Western Conference Finals . Each one of the aging trio had left the team by 2001 , and the Rockets of the early 21st century , led by superstars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming , followed the trend of consistent regular-season respectability followed by playoff underachievement as both players struggled with injuries . After Yao 's early retirement in 2011 , the Rockets entered a period of rebuilding , completely dismantling and retooling their roster . The acquisition of franchise player James Harden in 2012 has launched the Rockets back into championship contention in the mid-2010s . The Rockets , under general manager Daryl Morey , are notable for popularizing the use of advanced statistical analytics ( similar to sabermetrics in baseball ) in player acquisitions and style of play .


Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers ( also commonly known as the Sixers ) are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area . The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member of the league 's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division . Founded in 1946 and originally known as the Syracuse Nationals , they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA , and one of only eight ( out of 23 ) to survive the league 's first decade .   The 76ers have had a rich history , with many of the greatest players in NBA history having played for the organization , including Wilt Chamberlain , Hal Greer , Billy Cunningham , Julius Erving , Moses Malone , Charles Barkley , and Allen Iverson . They have won three NBA championships , with their first coming as the Syracuse Nationals in 1955 . The second title came in the 1966 -- 67 season , a team which was led by Chamberlain . The third title came in the 1982 -- 83 season , won by a team led by Erving and Malone . The 76ers have only been back to the NBA Finals once since then : in 2001 , when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 1 .


Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball franchise based in Milwaukee , Wisconsin . The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member club of the league 's Eastern Conference Central Division . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team , and play at the Bradley Center . Former U.S. Senator Herb Kohl was the long-time owner of the team , with John Hammond as general manager ; as of April 16 , 2014 a group led by billionaire hedge fund managers Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry agreed to purchase a majority interest in the team from Kohl , a sale which was approved by the owners of the NBA and its Board of Governors a month later on May 16 . The team is currently valued at $ 675 million according to Forbes , ranking fourth-to-last in the league .   The Bucks have won one league title ( 1971 ) , two conference titles ( 1971 and 1974 ) , and 13 division titles ( 1971 -- 74 , 1976 , 1980 -- 86 , 2001 ) . They have featured such notable players as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , Sidney Moncrief , Oscar Robertson , Bob Dandridge , Bob Lanier , Glenn `` Big Dog '' Robinson , Ray Allen , Sam Cassell , Junior Bridgeman , Michael Redd , Terry Cummings , Vin Baker , Jon McGlocklin , Marques Johnson , and Brian Winters .


Atlanta Hawks The Atlanta Hawks are a professional basketball team based in Atlanta , Georgia . The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member of the league 's Eastern Conference Southeast Division . The team plays its home games at Philips Arena .   The team 's origins can be traced to the establishment of the Buffalo Bisons in 1946 in Buffalo , New York , a member of the National Basketball League ( NBL ) and owned by Ben Kerner and Leo Ferris . After 38 days in Buffalo , the team moved to Moline , Illinois , where they were renamed the Tri-Cities Blackhawks . In 1949 , they joined the NBA as part of the merger between the NBL and the Basketball Association of America ( BAA ) , and had Red Auerbach as coach briefly . In 1951 , Kerner moved the team to Milwaukee , where they changed their name to the Hawks . Kerner and the team moved again in 1955 to St. Louis , where they won their only NBA championship in 1958 and qualified to play in the NBA Finals in 1957 , 1960 and 1961 . The Hawks played the Boston Celtics in all four of their trips to the NBA Finals . The St. Louis Hawks moved to Atlanta in 1968 , when Kerner sold the franchise to Thomas Cousins and former Georgia Governor Carl Sanders .   The Hawks currently own the second-longest drought ( behind the Sacramento Kings ) of not winning an NBA championship at 57 seasons . The franchise 's lone NBA championship , as well as all four NBA Finals appearances , occurred when the team was based in St. Louis . Meanwhile , they went 48 years without advancing past the second round of the playoffs in any format , until finally breaking through in 2015 . Much of the failure they 've experienced in the postseason can be traced back to their poor history in the NBA draft . Since 1980 , the Hawks have drafted only four players who have been chosen to play in an NBA All-Star Game ( Doc Rivers , Kevin Willis , Al Horford , and Jeff Teague ) . Dominique Wilkins was actually selected by the Utah Jazz and traded to the Hawks a few months after the draft . Horford and Teague are the only All-Star Hawks to have been drafted since Willis was selected in 1984 , and Horford is also the only first-rounder the Hawks selected in their nine-year playoff drought to play in an NBA All-Star Game .


Washington Wizards The Washington Wizards are an American professional basketball team based in Washington , D.C. . The Wizards compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) , as a member of the league 's Eastern Conference Southeast Division . The team plays its home games at the Verizon Center , in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington , D.C.   The franchise was established in 1961 as the Chicago Packers based in Chicago , Illinois , and were renamed to Chicago Zephyrs the following season . In 1963 , they relocated to Baltimore , Maryland and became the Baltimore Bullets , taking the name from previous team of the same name . In 1973 , the team changed its moniker to Capital Bullets to reflect their move to Washington metropolitan area , and then changed their name to Washington Bullets in the following season . In 1997 , they rebranded themselves to the Wizards .   The Wizards have appeared in four NBA Finals , and won in 1978 . They have won four conference titles ( 1971 , 1975 , 1978 , 1979 ) , and seven division titles ( 1971 , 1972 , 1973 , 1974 , 1975 , 1979 , 2017 ) . Wes Unseld is the only player in franchise history to become the MVP ( 1969 ) , and win the Finals MVP award ( 1978 ) . Four players ( Walt Bellamy , Terry Dischinger , Earl Monroe and Wes Unseld ) have won the Rookie of the Year award .


Michelangelo Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni ( -LSB- mikeˈlandʒelo di lodoˈviːko ˌbwɔnarˈrɔːti siˈmoːni -RSB- ; 6 March 1475 -- 18 February 1564 ) was a Florentine sculptor , painter , architect , and poet of the High Renaissance who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art . Considered to be the greatest living artist during his lifetime , he has since been described as one of the greatest artists of all time . Despite making few forays beyond the arts , his versatility in the disciplines he took up was of such a high order that he is often considered a contender for the title of the archetypal Renaissance man , along with his rival and fellow Florentine Medici client , Leonardo da Vinci .   A number of Michelangelo 's works of painting , sculpture , and architecture rank among the most famous in existence . His output in every field of interest was prodigious ; given the sheer volume of surviving correspondence , sketches , and reminiscences taken into account , he is the best-documented artist of the 16th century .   He sculpted two of his best-known works , the Pietà and David , before the age of thirty . Despite holding a low opinion of painting , Michelangelo also created two of the most influential frescoes in the history of Western art : the scenes from Genesis on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome , and The Last Judgment on its altar wall . As an architect , Michelangelo pioneered the Mannerist style at the Laurentian Library . At the age of 74 , he succeeded Antonio da Sangallo the Younger as the architect of St. Peter 's Basilica . Michelangelo transformed the plan so that the western end was finished to his design , as was the dome , with some modification , after his death .   Michelangelo was unique as the first Western artist whose biography was published while he was alive . In fact , two biographies were published during his lifetime ; one of them , by Giorgio Vasari , proposed that he was the pinnacle of all artistic achievement since the beginning of the Renaissance , a viewpoint that continued to have currency in art history for centuries .   In his lifetime he was often called Il Divino ( `` the divine one '' ) . One of the qualities most admired by his contemporaries was his terribilità , a sense of awe-inspiring grandeur . The attempts by subsequent artists to imitate Michelangelo 's impassioned and highly personal style resulted in Mannerism , the next major movement in Western art after the High Renaissance .


Amy Sherman-Palladino is the creator of media.

Amy Sherman-Palladino Amy Sherman-Palladino ( born Amy Sherman ) is an American television writer , director , and producer . The founder of Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions , she is best known as the creator of the television series Gilmore Girls , Bunheads , and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel .   She is also well known for her trademark rapid-fire dialogue , which is often full of obscure pop culture references ; and as well for her preferred master shot filming style .


Atlantic City (1980 film) Atlantic City is a 1980 French-Canadian romantic crime film directed by Louis Malle . Filmed in late 1979 , it was released in France and Germany in 1980 and in the United States in 1981 . The script was written by John Guare . It stars Burt Lancaster , Susan Sarandon , Kate Reid , Robert Joy , Hollis McLaren , Michel Piccoli , and Al Waxman .   Atlantic City is among the 41 films to be nominated for all `` Big Five '' Academy Awards , including Best Picture , Best Director , Best Actor , Best Actress and Best Screenplay , and one of only eight among this group to not take home a single award .


Lynyrd Skynyrd's Ronnie Van Zant was an only child.

Johnny Van Zant John Roy `` Johnny '' Van Zant ( born February 27 , 1959 ) is an American musician and the current lead vocalist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd . He is the younger brother of the late Lynyrd Skynyrd co-founder and former lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant , and of the .38 Special founder , Donnie Van Zant .   Van Zant performed during the 1970s with his first band , The Austin Nickels Band . They later changed their name to The Johnny Van Zant Band releasing their debut solo album , No More Dirty Deals , in 1980 . Original members of The Johnny Van Zant Band consisted of Van Zant on lead vocals , Robbie Gay on guitar , Danny Clausman , on bass , Erik Lundgren on lead guitar , Robbie Morris , drums and Joan Hecht ( previously Joan Cusumano ) and Nancy Henderson on background vocals . Van Zant released three more solo albums between 1981 and 1985 , before taking a break from the music business .   He became lead vocalist for the reunited Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987 , and continues to record and perform with them today . He released another solo album , Brickyard Road , in 1990 , which featured the popular title track , which was a # 1 hit on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for three weeks . He also records and performs with his brother , Donnie , as Van Zant since 1998 .   In May 2006 , less than one day before he was to perform at KSAN-FM 107.7 The Bone 's Bone Bash 7 , Van Zant underwent emergency surgery to have his appendix removed . Treated at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto , California , after reporting pain to a doctor earlier in the day . The incident forced the band to cancel three U.S. shows .   Van Zant is a fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars . He recorded a video , along with remaining members of Lynyrd Skynyrd , that is played at every Jaguars home game on the Everbank Field video board .   According to Skynyrd 's website , Van Zant was again hospitalized on August 6 , 2011 at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis , Minnesota due to complications from a previous surgery . According to the website , Van Zant had a `` surgical site '' infected with cellulitus which required both hospitalization ad IV/Antibiotic Treatment . He began displaying signs of a staph infection and other symptoms related to the infection . His subsequent illness resulted in a number of scheduled performances being cancelled .


Lynyrd Skynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd ( pronounced -LSB- ˌlɛnərd_ˈskɪnərd -RSB- ) is an American rock band best known for popularizing the Southern rock genre during the 1970s . Originally formed in 1964 as My Backyard in Jacksonville , Florida , the band was also known by names such as The Noble Five and One Percent , before finally deciding on `` Lynyrd Skynyrd '' in 1969 . The band gained worldwide recognition for its live performances and signature songs `` Sweet Home Alabama '' and `` Free Bird '' . At the peak of their success , two band members and a backup singer died in an airplane crash in 1977 , putting an abrupt end to the band 's most popular incarnation . The band has sold 28 million records in the United States .   The surviving band members reformed in 1987 for a reunion tour with lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant , the younger brother of lead singer and founder Ronnie Van Zant . Lynyrd Skynyrd continues to tour and record with co-founder Gary Rossington , Johnny Van Zant , and guitarist Rickey Medlocke -- who first wrote and recorded with the band from 1971 to 1972 ( before his return to Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1996 ) . Fellow founding member Larry Junstrom , along with '70s members Ed King and Artimus Pyle , remain active in music but no longer tour or record with the band . Longtime drummer Michael Cartellone has recorded and toured with the band since 1999 . Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13 , 2006 .


Psychological thriller Psychological thriller is a thriller story which emphasizes the unstable psychological states of its characters . In terms of classification , the category is a subgenre of the broader ranging thriller category , with similarities to Gothic and detective fiction in the sense of sometimes having a `` dissolving sense of reality '' , moral ambiguity , and complex and tortured relationships between obsessive and pathological characters . Psychological thrillers often incorporate elements of or overlap with mystery , drama , action and horror ( particularly psychological horror ) . They are usually books or films .


Drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance . The term comes from a Greek word meaning `` action '' ( Classical Greek : δρᾶμα , drama ) , which is derived from `` I do '' ( Classical Greek : δράω , drao ) .  The two masks associated with drama represent the traditional generic division between comedy and tragedy . They are symbols of the ancient Greek Muses , Thalia , and Melpomene . Thalia was the Muse of comedy ( the laughing face ) , while Melpomene was the Muse of tragedy ( the weeping face ) . Considered as a genre of poetry in general , the dramatic mode has been contrasted with the epic and the lyrical modes ever since Aristotle 's Poetics ( c. 335 BCE ) -- the earliest work of dramatic theory .   In English ( as was the analogous case in many other European languages ) , the word `` play '' or `` game '' ( translating the Anglo-Saxon plèga or Latin ludus ) was the standard term used to describe drama until William Shakespeare 's time -- just as its creator was a `` play-maker '' rather than a `` dramatist '' and the building was a `` play-house '' rather than a `` theatre . '' The use of `` drama '' in a more narrow sense to designate a specific type of play dates from the modern era . `` Drama '' in this sense refers to a play that is neither a comedy nor a tragedy -- for example , Zola 's Thérèse Raquin ( 1873 ) or Chekhov 's Ivanov ( 1887 ) . It is this narrower sense that the film and television industries , along with film studies , adopted to describe `` drama '' as a genre within their respective media . `` Radio drama '' has been used in both senses -- originally transmitted in a live performance , it has also been used to describe the more high-brow and serious end of the dramatic output of radio .   The enactment of drama in theatre , performed by actors on a stage before an audience , presupposes collaborative modes of production and a collective form of reception . The structure of dramatic texts , unlike other forms of literature , is directly influenced by this collaborative production and collective reception . The early modern tragedy Hamlet ( 1601 ) by Shakespeare and the classical Athenian tragedy Oedipus Rex ( c. 429 BCE ) by Sophocles are among the masterpieces of the art of drama . A modern example is Long Day 's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill ( 1956 ) .   Drama is often combined with music and dance : the drama in opera is generally sung throughout ; musicals generally include both spoken dialogue and songs ; and some forms of drama have incidental music or musical accompaniment underscoring the dialogue ( melodrama and Japanese Nō , for example ) . Closet drama describes a form that is intended to be read , rather than performed . In improvisation , the drama does not pre-exist the moment of performance ; performers devise a dramatic script spontaneously before an audience .


Cracks (film) Cracks is a 2009 independent drama psychological thriller film starring Eva Green , James McGovern , Juno Temple , María Valverde , and Imogen Poots , which was released theatrically in the UK and Ireland on 4 December 2009 . In the United States it was released by IFC Films on 18 March 2011 , and premiered on Showtime in late 2011 .   The film was produced in May 2008 , written for the screen by Caroline Ip , Ben Court and Jordan Scott , based on the 1999 novel written by Sheila Kohler , directed by Jordan Scott and produced by Kwesi Dickson , Andrew Lowe , Julie Payne , Rosalie Swedlin and Christine Vachon . Ridley and Tony Scott serve as executive producers . The film was mostly filmed in County Wicklow , Ireland .


Event management includes arranging for speakers or entertainers.

Event management Event management is the application of project management to the creation and development of large scale events such as festivals , conferences , ceremonies , formal parties , concerts , or conventions . It involves studying the brand , identifying it 's target audience , devising the event concept , and coordinating the technical aspects before actually launching the event .   The process of planning and coordinating the event is usually referred to as event planning and which can include budgeting , scheduling , site selection , acquiring necessary permits , coordinating transportation and parking , arranging for speakers or entertainers , arranging decor , event security , catering , coordinating with third party vendors , and emergency plans .   The events industry now includes events of all sizes from the Olympics down to business breakfast meetings . Many industries , charitable organizations , and interest groups hold events in order to market themselves , build business relationships , raise money , or celebrate achievement .


Mission: Impossible aired from 1966 to 1973.

Mission: Impossible Mission : Impossible is an American television series that was created and initially produced by Bruce Geller . It chronicles the missions of a team of secret government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force ( IMF ) . In the first season , the team is led by Dan Briggs , played by Steven Hill ; Jim Phelps , played by Peter Graves , takes charge for the remaining seasons . A hallmark of the series shows Briggs or Phelps receiving his instructions on a recording that then self-destructs , followed by the theme music composed by Lalo Schifrin .   The series was filmed and financed by Desilu Productions , and aired on the CBS network from September 1966 to March 1973 . The series was revived in 1988 for two seasons on ABC , retaining only Graves in the cast . It also inspired a series of theatrical motion pictures starring Tom Cruise , beginning in 1996 .


After leaving high school, Kobe Bryant went straight into the NBA.

Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant ( born August 23 , 1978 ) is an American retired professional basketball player and businessman . He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . He entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA championships with the Lakers . Bryant is an 18-time All-Star , 15-time member of the All-NBA Team , and 12-time member of the All-Defensive team . He led the NBA in scoring during two seasons , and ranks third on the league 's all-time regular season scoring and fourth on the all-time postseason scoring list . He holds the NBA record for the most seasons playing with one franchise for an entire career .   The son of former NBA player Joe Bryant , Kobe Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania , where he was recognized as the top high school basketball player in the country . He declared for the NBA draft upon graduation , and was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets , who traded him to the Lakers . As a rookie , Bryant earned himself a reputation as a high-flyer and a fan favorite by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest , and he was named an All-Star by his second season . Despite a feud between them , Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002 .   In 2003 , Bryant was accused of sexual assault in Colorado , but the charges were eventually dropped , and a civil suit was settled out of court . After the Lakers lost the 2004 NBA Finals , O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat . Bryant became the cornerstone of the Lakers , and he led the NBA in scoring during the 2005 -- 06 and 2006 -- 07 seasons . In 2006 , he scored a career-high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors , the second most points scored in a single game in league history behind Wilt Chamberlain 's 100-point game in 1962 . Bryant was awarded the regular season 's Most Valuable Player Award ( MVP ) in 2008 . After losing in the 2008 NBA Finals , he led the Lakers to two consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010 , earning the Finals MVP Award on both occasions . He continued to be among the top players in the league through 2013 , when the 34-year-old Bryant suffered a torn Achilles tendon . Although he recovered , his play was limited the following two years by season-ending injuries to his knee and shoulder , respectively . Citing his physical decline , he announced that he would be retiring after the 2015 -- 16 season .   At 34 years and 104 days of age , Bryant became the youngest player in league history to reach 30,000 career points . He became the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history on February 1 , 2010 , when he surpassed Jerry West . Following his second year in the league , Bryant was chosen to start every All-Star Game until his retirement for a record 18 consecutive appearances , and his four All-Star MVP Awards are tied for the most in NBA history . At the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics , he won gold medals as a member of the U.S. national team . Sporting News and TNT named Bryant the top NBA player of the 2000s .