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Associated Press
14-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Super Bowl Champion Kamu Grugier-Hill Joins EQLB and Last Shot for a Major Hawaii Launch
Super Bowl Champion Kamu Grugier-Hill Joins EQLB and Last Shot for a Major Hawaii Launch EQ ENERGY DRINK INC (OTCMKTS:EQLB) LAS VEGAS, NV, UNITED STATES, May 14, 2025 / / -- EQLB is thrilled to announce a game-changing partnership with Super Bowl LII champion and Hawaii native Kamu Grugier-Hill, as he joins forces with Last Shot for a major product launch in Hawaii. A standout linebacker who was drafted in the 2016 NFL Draft, Grugier-Hill is bringing his championship mindset to the brand, solidifying Last Shot as the premier hydration drink of the summer. Grugier-Hill, who attended Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu, is excited to support Last Shot as it makes waves in the hydration industry. His commitment to performance, endurance, and recovery makes him the perfect advocate for a drink designed to refresh, energize, and replenish. 'I couldn't think of a better combination,' says Grugier-Hill. 'It is my go-to drink—whether I need extra electrolytes or just want to enjoy it on its own. This drink has changed the game—on the golf course or even just for a casual night at home. Last Shot is the real deal!' The partnership is already generating buzz across Hawaii, with Last Shot quickly becoming the must-have beverage for athletes, adventurers, and casual consumers alike. Keely Grugier-Hill, Kama's wife, also shared her enthusiasm for the brand, saying: 'Last Shot has become a staple in our home. Whether Kamu is recovering after training or we're simply looking for something refreshing, it delivers every time. We love that it's not just about hydration, it's about feeling good and performing at your best!' Mo Owens, CEO of EQLB, expressed excitement for the collaboration, stating: 'We think Kamu and Keely will be a major benefit to our partnership with Last Shot. His winning mindset, dedication, and connection to Hawaii make this collaboration truly special.' As Last Shot continues to expand, this launch marks a significant moment for the brand—combining elite performance with island energy to redefine hydration. Stay tuned for major events, activations, and more throughout the summer! Safe Harbor Statement: This news release contains 'forward-looking statements' as defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements, which are not purely historical, reflect beliefs, plans, expectations, and intentions regarding the future and can be identified by words such as 'believes,' 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'foresees,' 'forecasts,' or similar terms. Actual results may differ due to various factors, including the inherent uncertainties of new business opportunities and development-stage companies. EQLB assumes no obligation to update these statements and advises investors to review relevant SEC filings, including the latest Form 10-K and Form 10-Q reports. Contact Information: EQ ENERGY DRINK, Inc Maurice Owens, President & CEO Phone: (702) 806-5943, [email protected] MO OWENS EQ ENERGY DRINK INC +1 702-806-5943 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook TikTok Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gene Hackman gave us Norman Dale, a basketball coach we can't forget
When great actors die, our grief multiplies. It feels like we lost them and every character they blessed with humanity. The emotions are deceiving because their art makes them eternal, but for those of us who become saddened while we watch a favorite movie starring a person no longer here, the pain is real nonetheless. The body of work is immortal. The soul is elsewhere. That's how it felt Thursday night when I sat and watched Gene Hackman play Coach Norman Dale one more time in 'Hoosiers.' The world learned about the mysterious death of Hackman, his wife and a dog earlier that morning. Even though Hackman was 95, the news came as a shock. Even though he left acting behind 20 years ago, it seemed as if he was ever present. And even though he had more than 40 years of memorable roles in film, television and theater, he will always be known as the most aspirational coach ever brought to life on screen. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. RIP, Gene Hackman. And RIP, Norman Dale. It was necessary to say goodbye to both, which is crazy because, in 'Hoosiers,' Dale came into our lives for one season, led Hickory High School to an improbable 1952 state basketball championship in Indiana and lingered in glory as the closing credits rolled. There is no 'after' to Dale's story. We don't know whether he continued at Hickory or leveraged the success to rebuild the college coaching career he lost for hitting a player. We don't know whether he helped Jimmy Chitwood play at the next level. We don't know whether he married Myra Fleener. And that's the beautiful part, the unknown. It's always 1952, and Dale is always managing his temper, teaching his players how to win together and learning when to let go and trust. How wonderful would life be if it paused at our finest, most clarifying moments? If it were so easy to rewind the best times in perpetuity? We can research what happened to Milan High, the school of 161 students that won the 1954 Indiana state title and inspired the fictionalized 'Hoosiers' tale. We can learn more about Marvin Wood, the Milan coach who was quite different from Dale. We can go to Indianapolis and visit Plump's Last Shot, a restaurant run by the family of 88-year-old Bobby Plump, the 1954 Indiana Mr. Basketball and real-life Chitwood. The truth is its own amazing story. It's difficult to nail a sports movie because the real drama is already captivating. But in this case, the dramatization of Milan's triumph captures an idyllic side of sports that remains as enchanting today as it was during the 1986 release of 'Hoosiers.' As Coach Dale, Hackman holds it all together. Other actors, good ones, could have drifted from profound to hokey. Coaches make tricky characters. They're such stern and stubborn leaders who live by a sometimes indecipherable code. They can straddle the line between complicated and cartoonish. But Hackman had an instinctive feel for people, and with Dale, he created a man with understated strength, a taskmaster with emotional intelligence and a tormented winner yearning to redefine success. No coach, real or imagined, has ever said so much while speaking so little. Hackman doesn't waste a syllable in the role. When the coach does have something to say, it endures. Early in the season, when he was teaching his team to be selfless, he finished a game with four players instead of subbing in a disobedient player. After the referee told him, 'You need one more,' Dale shot back, 'My team's on the floor.' As he sat on the bench, Hackman used his whole body to make the statement, showing both firmness and a hint of resignation. You felt the conflict of a coach hurting his team to help his cause. 'If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don't care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game,' Dale told his team. 'In my book, we're going to be winners.' The film's prescient coaching lessons have lasted nearly 40 years. Today, the takeaways are more relevant than ever. Hackman's layered brilliance explored what a coach is, isn't and should be. He didn't do it in a sanctimonious way. He was a flawed coach in pursuit of self-awareness, desperate to save his career while banished to a small town with different basketball tastes. Before he could get better at managing people, he had to learn to manage himself. We talk regularly now about the evolving purpose of a coach, about how difficult it is to be a no-nonsense disciplinarian, about how so many adults cannot connect with younger generations. But in this movie - easily one of the five greatest sports films - Hackman transformed into a character who evolved from shamed dictator to the ultimate servant leader in less than two hours. By the end, his players were overruling him on what play to call on the final, game-winning possession. Every coach has borrowed from the 'Hoosiers' manual. The most popular cliche in sports is to mention the measurements of the court, or any other field of play, when articulating why a big game on a big stage shouldn't be intimidating. Interestingly, Dale's 'I think you'll find that's the exact same measurements as our gym back at Hickory' line is as true to the actual Milan account as anything in the movie. Before Jason Sudeikis created 'Ted Lasso,' Dale was the coach of our pop-culture dreams. Both fictional coaches show the importance of positive reinforcement in their own way. As an outsider, Dale came to Indiana, mocked the Midwest way of life and then found salvation in blending his style with his players' values and leaning on unlikely allies such as Wilbur 'Shooter' Flatch, the addiction-battling basketball savant he empowered as an assistant coach. The more Dale was willing to be vulnerable, the more he bonded with his new team and community. And as an outsider, Lasso came to England from Kansas, brought his cheesy Midwest charm with him and and reenergized a professional soccer club with his optimism and genuine love for his players. He masked his pain with humor, but the more Lasso was willing to be vulnerable, the more effective he became as the coach of a sport unfamiliar to him. It speaks to current times that 'Ted Lasso' needed to go overboard with sentimentality and transparent tropes to captivate its audience. But the television show was as powerfully excessive as the 'Hoosiers' movie was deft in its messaging. They're unassailable testaments to sports' ability to motivate, uplift and unite communities. And the coaches radiate integrity despite initially seeming like men ill-equipped to function as philosophers. But even Lasso knows to bow to Dale. He did it multiple hilarious times during the series, but my favorite was the opening episode of Season 3 when assistants Roy Kent and Coach Beard are talking in the office. 'So I finally watched it,' Kent said. 'I liked it.' Coach Beard mumbled in acknowledgment. 'Gene Hackman was good,' Kent continued. 'The drunk geezer. Stuff with the team. I did have one question.' 'Yeah, what's that?' Coach Beard asked. Said Kent: 'Why the [expletive] is it called 'Hoosiers'?' Before Coach Beard could answer, Lasso entered the office with his 'Hey, what's up, sweetie pie?' energy. We don't know whether Kent ever received a tutorial on basketball in the Hoosier state. But one thing couldn't be left unsettled. Not even Kent, the gruff and cantankerous legend, could say a bad word about Hackman. The actor will be buried soon, and while the coach endures in film, we just know we lost Norman Dale, too. Related Content Federal workers haunted by Oklahoma City bombing fear Trump's barbs The best frozen french fries? Our taste test found a clear winner. Scientists warn of long-term damage as Trump's orders slow research
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gene Hackman's role in 'Hoosiers' led to an unforgettable, beloved film for fans far beyond Indiana
Bobby Plump -– the real-life Jimmy Chitwood –- said Gene Hackman deserves as much credit as anyone for taking his small-town Hoosier state basketball story beyond Indiana to the rest of the world. Hackman's dazzling acting career stands out for sports fans for a single reason: His unforgettable role as Hickory Huskers coach Norman Dale in 'Hoosiers,' the 1986 movie loosely based on tiny Milan's run to the 1954 Indiana state title. Plump was the star of that Milan team. He said Hackman and the late Dennis Hopper, who played the role of Wilbur 'Shooter' Flatch, are two of the main reasons people still want to talk to him when they visit Plump's Last Shot, his Indianapolis sports bar. A day after Hackman was found dead at the age of 95 in his New Mexico home, Plump reflected on the late star and the 'Hoosiers' phenomenon. 'How important was his role? I think it was the key to the whole thing — he and Dennis,' said Plump, now 88. 'It came out so well, basically because those two were just excellent.' Hackman's roles were often remarkable for their intensity, from Oscar-winning turns in 'The French Connection' and 'Unforgiven' to another coach, Jimmy McGinty, in the 2000 NFL-themed film 'The Replacements.' Coach Dale was no different, though his softening with his team and his love interest, played by Barbara Hershey, is one of the key themes in 'Hoosiers.' 'It's about change,' Hackman once said of the movie. 'It's about what happens with change, how we deal with it, where we learn to give up our ideas about who we are as people.' Hackman and 'Hoosiers' The movie was ranked as the No. 1 sports film of all-time by The Associated Press in 2020. Hackman starred as Dale, a disgraced college coach who was given a second chance in an Indiana hamlet. The tale follows the journey of the Hickory Huskers, a team that in the movie version took on mighty South Bend Central in the 1952 state championship game and won with Chitwood hitting a buzzer-beater. Plump said he met Hackman on the movie set at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as Chitwood's final shot in the state championship game – the one Plump made in real life — was being filmed. Plump said Hackman wasn't sure how the movie would be received. 'I just asked him how he thought the movie was doing, and he said, 'Well, it's going. Don't know how it's going to come out, but we're doing our best,'" Plump recalled of the conversation. Brad Long, who played the role of team captain Buddy Walker, said he admired Hackman for the way he prepared for the Norman Dale role. 'When we started filming, he could have been a real prima donna and come in and said, 'Show me my spots, give me my lines, get out of my way.' Gene did not do that,' Long said. 'Instead he said, 'I want to go to some high school practices, I want to see the verbiage they use, I want to see the language they use.' He had done a lot of roles over the years but was willing to learn.' Long, who played small-college basketball, said he landed his part after answering a casting call in the Indianapolis newspaper. Director David Anspaugh wanted young men who were basketball players first and actors second. Hackman took the Hoosiers players under his wing and helped them with their acting skills. 'You think of these actors as being larger than life, egotistical. I didn't find that with him at all,' Long said. 'He was kind of a humble, quiet guy. Was Gene demanding? Was he sort of a perfectionist? Yes, he was. I don't think that's a bad thing. He would get into it with David Anspaugh on the set about choices and direction. Years later, he said he was wrong on some of those things, which said a lot about him.' Memories of the 'Milan Miracle' Since the movie's release, tourists have stopped in Milan (pronounced MY'-lin) and other sites in Indiana where filming took place, from New Richmond (the fictional Hickory) to Knightstown (home to the Huskers' gymnasium). Susan Cottingham, secretary and treasurer of the Milan '54 Hoosiers Museum and lifelong resident of the town of 1,800, said she expected a steady flow of visitors over the next few days. Cottingham said she's watched the movie at least a dozen times — probably on the low end for Hoosiers aficionados — and has hazy memories of the Milan championship team. 'I remember the excitement and the celebration and my parents heading to the games,' she said. "The celebration when they got back from winning state, there was between 30 and 40,000 people here. So even at five years old, that was pretty noticeable.' Hackman never visited the museum, though he had a standing invitation. The movie's writer, Angelo Pizzo, and cast members have made appearances over the years. Hackman, a former Marine, had a passion for auto racing. He raced in the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 1983, driving a Toyota for Dan Gurney in the sports car endurance race at Daytona International Speedway. The gearbox broke after 118 laps and the team finished 16th in what was called the GTU class. He also drove in the Grand Prix of Long Beach celebrity race five times between 1977-87 and won it in 1980. Plump recalled that Dale's character was nothing like his real-life coach, Marvin Wood — but he still told an important tale that resonates with people all these years later. 'Gene Hackman did a superb job of portraying second chances, trying to get things right and not paying too much attention to all the chatter around him," Plump said. "And that's hard to do. His role came across believable by everybody.' ___ AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer contributed to this report. ___ AP sports: Eric Olson And Cliff Brunt, The Associated Press
