Pop Culture Hot List

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Nov 18, 2008

Pop Culture Hot List

Brock Lesnar

The former WWE champion and NCAA wrestling champion can now add UFC heavyweight champion to his resume. While his win against Randy Couture was a big moment for Lesnar and the UFC, I'm not sure what that says about the sport of MMA when a guy can win the world championship after just three matches and a 2-1 record. Not that I'd ever question Lesnar or his cinderblock fists, but I'm just saying.

Mark Cuban

If Cuban were as good at trading NBA players as he allegedly was at insider trading, maybe the Mavericks would still be a contender instead of an aging team out of the playoff picture. It's time that Cuban stop worrying about purchasing the Cubs and making sure that he doesn't get the Martha Stewart treatment.

Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James

King James and Melo might be friends with Jay-Z, but that doesn't mean they don't have a broad appreciation for music. When James was told that Anthony admitted to listening to Barry Manilow, James showed reporters his iPod, which features such Manilow hits as "Copacbana," "I Am Your Child" and "Mandy." "I got all the music," says James. "I'll just decide to listen to Jay-Z now." Yes, 'Bron, maybe you should just stick to that from now on.

Warren Sapp

Sapp may be dancing up a storm while doing the cha-cha all the way to the semifinals of "Dancing with the Stars," but that doesn't mean he's any more understanding to other former NFL players who want to get into the reality TV world. Asked what he thought of his former Tampa Bay teammate Keyshawn Johnson's (inset) new reality show about interior decorating, Sapp said, "Me, watch Keyshawn on an interior decorating show? Keyshawn, I knew you were a bitch. And thanks for making it clear."

Maurice Greene

The former Olympic gold medalist was eliminated before the semifinals of "Dancing with the Stars," but was paid a big compliment by his dance partner, Cheryl Burke, who won the competition in previous years with Drew Lachey and Emmitt Smith. "I have to say out of all the seasons I've been on the show Maurice, you've been the hardest working partner I've ever had," says Burke. "You will always be the winner, winner chicken dinner of my heart." I'm guessing a chicken dinner would be worth more than the gaudy disco ball trophy the winner gets, anyway.

Barack Obama

The president-elect is an avid Chicago White Sox fan and now he will join the ranks of some of his favorite players by having his very own trading card. Topps will be selling 90 ''Inaugural Edition'' trading cards spanning the life of President-elect Obama. The cards are packed with Obama facts and quotes and will be sold for $1.99 in foil-sealed packs of six before the January inauguration. Obama would no doubt trade all his cards for the chance to have a college football playoff, which he's been pushing for since Election Day.

50 Cent

A meeting with UFC President Dana White and 50 Cent while he was in Los Angeles not only led to the rapper attending his first UFC event Saturday in Las Vegas, but also allowed the two to partner up to promote the main event between Couture and Lesnar. 50 Cent's new song "Get Up" was used for a special music video featuring both Couture and Lesnar. "There's nothing more exciting than your favorite fighter coming out to a badass song," says White. "More than any other sport, fighting and music go together." 50 Cent agrees, saying, "It's the competitive nature of it. That's why hip-hop is the way it is. You always feel like somebody has beef or some type of fight is going on because they condition themselves like fighters."

LaDainian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson

Peterson (right) may be having a better season than Tomlinson, but L.T. and his mother, Loreane, have bragging rights on fellow Texans Peterson and his mother, Bonita. Both star running backs and their mothers got on a giant scale shaped like a spoon and donated the amount of cans of Chunky Soup it would take to balance it. Tomlinson donated 456 cans to Feeding America San Diego while Peterson donated 384 cans to Second Harvest Heartland in St. Paul. "I ate so much the night before I got on the scale," says Tomlinson. "I usually watch what I eat, but I pigged out."

Troy Polamalu

The Steelers' safety has made a lot of big plays in his career, but none will have less meaning on a game while costing more to fans than the fumble he apparently returned for a touchdown against the Chargers that was overturned at the end of the Steelers' 11-10 win, which cost gamblers across the country over $60 million. For those who say it's impossible and ludicrous to think an official can have money on a game, may I introduce you to Tim Donaghy. If you believe he is the only referee with gambling ties, may I also interest you in buying the Brooklyn Bridge?

Mindy McCready and Roger Clemens

My succession of thoughts after reading that country singer Mindy McCready told ''Inside Edition'' she broke off her relationship with Roger Clemens when the former baseball star wouldn't marry her sixth months after their liaison was first revealed: <br>1. ''Inside Edition'' is still on the air? <br>2. Who's Mindy McCready, again? <br>3. Who cares?