Pop Culture Hot List

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Nov 24, 2009

Pop Culture Hot List

Brady Quinn and Alicia Sacramone

There had to be a reason that Sacramone, one of the star gymnasts at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was flying to Cleveland and subjecting herself to Browns games almost every week. And now we know: She's dating Quinn, the team's starting quarterback.

Vince McMahon and Jesse "The Body" Ventura

WWE Raw has used celebrity guest hosts for a while now, but this week's offering brought back memories for many wrestling fans. Ventura hosted and forced McMahon to put on a tuxedo and join him in the broadcast booth, like they did years ago for Saturday Night's Main Event. The only thing missing was a main event between Hulk Hogan and King Kong Bundy.

Jimmy Clausen

Things have gotten so bad for Clausen and Notre Dame that they're now getting roughed up after football games as well. Clausen reportedly suffered a black eye after getting punched by a Notre Dame fan at a bar in South Bend. Charlie Weis should just stay home.

BCS

The BCS hired Ari Fleischer to ''highlight the positive aspects of the BCS.'' This would be a daunting task for most people, but Fleischer has experience in this area: He's the former press secretary to the unpopular President George W. Bush.

Mike Fisher and Carrie Underwood

After Underwood wrote "I love you" to Fisher in her new album's liner notes, the Ottawa Senators' center said, "I told her that when my CD came out, I'd return the favor." Let's hope Fisher was only joking about putting out his own CD and returns the favor by cross-checking a player and dedicating it to Underwood.

Black Eyed Peas

Normally, the end of a blowout between the Lakers and Oklahoma City wouldn't be exciting. But that wasn't the case Sunday night in Los Angeles as will.i.am and Fergie grabbed a couple of microphones and starting singing I Got a Feeling during a timeout. Even more bizarre: Alex Rodriguez and B-Real from Cypress Hill were standing beside them while they sang. When I asked Kobe Bryant if a concert had ever broken out midgame like that he said, "No, but it was cool as s---."

Jay-Z

A tuxedo-clad Jay-Z made a grand entrance in the second half of Sunday's Lakers-Thunder game when he walked over from the American Music Awards, which were taking place across the street from Staples Center. Jay-Z stayed for only a quarter before leaving for an AMA after-party. "Only in Los Angeles," Lakers guard Shannon Brown said after the game. "Only in Los Angeles."

Tony and October Gonzalez

Nothing says you love animals quite like getting naked with your wife. At least that's the thought process behind the Gonzalezes' posing naked for a PETA ad with the tag line, "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur." After seeing the ad, I can only hope October continues her great work for PETA.

Green Day

While the Clippers played the Timberwolves on Monday, most of the fans stayed outside to watch Green Day perform a free concert near Staples Center. As if the Clippers needed any help in steering fans clear of their games. The concert was being taped for NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly, so, um, Happy Pre-taped New Year, folks.

David Beckham

The Galaxy lost the MLS Cup to Real Salt Lake (as opposed to the Fake Salt Lake, I guess). You just knew the Galaxy would find a way to waste away the one year Beckham actually cared about playing soccer in the United States.