The NFL is celebrating the life of longtime official Bill Leavy. Leavy passed away on Wednesday, according to NFL executive Walt Anderson. The nineteen-year officiating veteran was 76 years old. Anderson stated that the cause of death has yet to be announced. Bill Leavy’s biggest career moment was the time he was selected to officiate Super Bowl 34. The contest featured the Tennessee Titans and the St. Louis Rams. The game went on to be one of the more iconic Super Bowls, with the Titans falling just short of a game-tying touchdown.
Anderson had plenty to say on just who Bill Leavy the person was. “Always kind and thoughtful,” Anderson further lamented his thoughts by saying, “Bill was instrumental in mentoring countless young officials throughout his career.” In a time where officiating is heavily scrutinized, an official like Levy remains revered. Many in the NFL community took to Twitter to celebrate the life of the NFL official.
Celebrating The Life Of Bill Leavy
Former #NFL referee Bill Leavy died last night at the age of 76, per @footballzebras.
Leavy reffed in two Super Bowls and served as an #NFL officiating supervisor for the last 8 years. He was also a retired San Jose, California police officer, and firefighter, serving for 27… pic.twitter.com/uj1wz6rmgw
Everyone from the media, colleagues, and former players extended their sympathies to the Leavy family. All are in agreement that Leavy is the perfect example of what an NFL official should be. As well as how someone should conduct their own lives. The NFL lost a special person in the passing of Leavy. Leavy called it a career in 2014. A career that began in 1995 went full circle as Leavy was awarded the Art McNally award in 2019. An award that is given to the greatest officials of the sport.
A sad day in the NFL. However, even through the sadness, everyone has been able to share the positive impact that Leavy left behind. Which is the best thing a person can do. Do you have any stories on games that Leavy officiated in his career? Any fun moments that you can recall during his tenure? Drop a story in our comment section below. For more NFL news, stay with us at HNHH. Before signing off, I would like to extend my sympathy to the family of Bill Leavy. A true professional of NFL officiating and a great human being.
Twitter Reacts
Saddened to hear of the loss of Bill Leavy. Bill was an excellent referee and just a joy to be around. Life is just too short. He was a great mentor and friend.
Bill Leavy was a really good man. He was passionate about his craft; an excellent Official and Supervisor and teacher of Officials and Teams on the rules. He always had a smile and was a tremendous communicator. He will be missed by all of us at @49ers . https://t.co/DD2y7iSOav
I’m saddened to hear this. Bill Leavy, who lived in San Jose, was around the #49ers a lot over the past decade in his role as a supervisor of NFL officials.
He was a kind man whom I got to know well. I valued our frequent interactions. My condolences go out to his family. https://t.co/RfOZnZXyP3
There’s no question that every NFL team strives to win the big game at the end of the season. From preseason, players and coaches alike push themselves to the limits to attempt a run to the end. The Super Bowl. A large number of teams have achieved the win. The most recent champions being the Kansa City Chiefs. What does it take to have the most Super Bowl wins of all time though?
However, a select few teams have accomplished a level of success that is unmatched. The consistency and drive it takes to reach this type of accomplishment is remarkable. Legendary players, such as Tom Brady, can contribute to this longevity significantly. As we come off of one of the most exciting Super Bowl clashes to date, it is interesting to look back and see those who have earned the most rings.
The Packers have always been a team of great significance. Many star players have been made in Green Bay. With an elite fanbase behind them, players like Aaron Rodgers and Bart Starr have led their respective team to victory a total of five times. Additionally, Bart Starr played quarterback in their first two championships.
Bart Starr and his Packers stood strong against the likes of Kansas City in 1967. They were able to walk away with a massive 35-10 scoreline. The game, which was played at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, served as the first ever Super Bowl in history. Bart also earned the title of MVP for his two touchdowns and 250 passing yards.
The Packers would repeat their efforts again the following year. Although, this time they faced off against the Oakland Raiders. Still, Green Bay dominated in a game that saw them win 33-14. Starr would once again receive the honors of MVP.
Their next Super Bowl win came a long way down the road. 1997 is the year they were able to earn their 3rd title against the New England Patriots. Likewise, the final win came in 2011, putting Green Bay in the list of one of the most accomplished NFL teams in history with 4 titles.
The team that is arguably the most discriminated in the entire NFL. The reputation of the Cowboys remains controversial, but their decorated past can’t be argued. Dallas are indeed a powerhouse with 5 wins to their name. They also made several appearances in the Super Bowl during the 1970s, winning two of their 5 titles in 1972 and 1978.
Dallas has yet to win a championship in the 21st Century. They carried a presence heavily in the league for a large stretch of time. On the other hand, Dallas has failed to make the same impact in recent years. Their last win coming in 1996 over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dallas undoubtedly will be continuing their hunt for another championship come next season.
Tied for first in most super bowl wins of all time comes a name most are familiar with. Pittsburgh Steelers. Winning is nothing new to them, though they have struggled in recent seasons, there’s no doubt they will return yet again. Pittsburgh has had a Super Bowl win more recently than the Cowboys, winning their last in 2009.
The Steelers are also remembered for one of the most controversial games against the Seahawks in 2006. Many fans believed the officiating was poor in this matchup. Some calls made throughout the game were suspect, but no solid proof of fixing ever came to be. Unfortunately, Seattle would have to wait to earn their first Super Bowl win.
From the mid-70s to early 80s, Pittsburgh actually seemingly dominated the league. They met with Dallas in two different Super Bowls. These games being in 1976 and 1979. Additionally, their other two championships came in 1975 against the Minnesota Vikings, and 1980 against the Los Angeles Rams. While they seem to be the strongest, most decorated team, they share that title with another.
There’s no conversation about the best NFL teams without including the Patriots. As the team who controlled the league for a long period, they stand on top out of all teams. Tom Brady‘s leading era as quarterback is a massive reason as to why this team saw so much success. Without a doubt, this team will always be the standard others hold themselves to.
The entirety of New England’s wins have come in the 2000s. Their good graces began in 2002 against the once called St. Louis Rams. It was a rather close match up, seeing the Patriots sneak away with a win by 3 points. In addition, 2 years later saw their 2nd championship in another close matchup versus the Carolina Panthers.
Just one year later, the team would add to their trophy cabinet again. In 2005, the Patriots sent the Philadelphia Eagles home with a loss, a team which the Patriots would end up losing to in 2018. There happened to be time in between their 3rd and 4th Lombardy trophy. The 4th came in 2015, against a Seahawks team that had just won the Super Bowl the year prior. A game in which I watched from home in pain as Russell Wilson through an interception late to give the game to New England.
An additional 2 years later added the 5th trophy to their case, a game that Atlanta Falcons fans surely will never forget. Possibly the biggest comeback and choke as well, the Patriots found their way back. They were down in the 3rd quarter, only to claw back and force overtime to eventually seal a win. However, their most recent success story came in 2019 against the same team they won their first against. Only this time, the Rams were back in Los Angeles.
The Super Bowl Halftime Show is sometimes called “the world’s biggest stage” This is because millions of people watch the Super Bowl every year. These include people watching for the game itself, the commercials or just the halftime show. In the past, the Super Bowl Halftime Show was not always a Billboard charting artist. In fact, it may not have even been a traditional musical artist at all. Oftentimes, a matching band would be the frontrunner or the only performer. This changed in the 1990s. Since then, the Halftime Show performances have become bigger and bigger with multiple artists performing in the 12 (or so) minute time limit. We’ve gathered a list of ten performances that we think truly took advantage of being on “the world’s biggest stage”.
#10 Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar feat. Anderson Paak. and 50 Cent – Super Bowl 56, 2022
When these artists were announced as performers, it was a very popular topic on social media. With each of them having a multitude of hits in their discography, people wondered how the time limit would be utilized. Once the night of the performance arrived, people saw if their predictions paid off. The stage was a replica of a house and the artists performed on top of, inside and in front of it. Kendrick and his backup dancers had exceptional choreography and Mary J Blige’s vocals and dancing were excellent. Dreand Snoop showed their age a little but still looked to be having a ton of fun. For many viewers, this was an excellent group to showcase several eras of hip-hop/rap and blend old and new school.
#9 Justin Timberlake feat. The Tennessee Kids and the University of Minnesota Marching Band – Super Bowl 52, 2018
Justin Timberlake has been performing for years and has proven he’s very good at it. His performance took full advantage of the space he was in as he moved from area to area throughout the stadium. Before he even made his way to the main stage, he was in what looked like a small performance venue. Making his way through the crowd and up the stairs, he was singing and dancing the entire time. He then moved to a runway-like stage and then a mini stage before heading to the main large stage. This gave his performance a sense of creative immersion with his movement. Throughout all this movement, Justin let some of the backing track do the work as he ad-libbed and talked to the crowd. This performance was a redemption of sorts for the infamous 2004 situation.
#8 Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, The Temptations and Queen Latifah feat. Grambling State University Marching Band – Super Bowl 32, 1998
This one was special because it celebrated 40 years of Motown. Each act performed one of their hits on the label and Queen Latifah put a modern spin on a classic. During the performance, there were giant sheets that looked like records that rotated on the field. This imagery was creative and captured the theme of the tribute well. There was even an intro with various celebrities from the year singing “The Way You Do the Things You Do” by The Temptations. This part is nostalgic for those who remember seeing those people everywhere. Even though some acts were a little older, their vocals still sounded just as good as they did in the past. Seeing their coordinated outfits and choreography was a joy to those who remembered them from the past. It also helped showcase history to the younger viewers and maybe even got them interested in learning more about Motown.
#7 Bruno Mars feat. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Super Bowl 48, 2014
Bruno Mars is prioritizing his duo with Anderson .Paak titled Silk Sonic these days. However, many know he had an excellent solo career before this. The throwback sound and imagery was still present years ago. Bruno’s hair, dancing and outfits for himself and his bandmates all line up with the music he’s performing. Surprisingly, he actually began his performance with a drum solo that built on “Locked Out Of Heaven”. After starting off with this much high energy, it was only right he kept it going. It continued when Red Hot Chili Peppers came out and they brought even more energy as Bruno sang along with their frontman Anthony Kiedis. In an effort to perhaps cool everyone – including himself – down, Bruno ended his performance with “Just The Way You Are” one of his most intimate songs. This showed the range of talent he had as a performer well.
#6 Lady Gaga – Super Bowl 51, 2017
Lady Gaga is someone that can put on a spectacle. From her outfits for award shows to her performances, she was known for being eye-catching. Her Super Bowl performance showcased these aspects and took advantage of the setting without a doubt. Her performance began with her at the literal top of the stadium. Red, white and blue drones floated in the sky behind her forming an American flag as she sang “God Bless America” and “This Land Is Your Land” Following this, she jumped from the platform and floated through the air on wires and even did some flips/rotations. After this solo display, she joined costumed dancers for choreography that she did right along with them. She even found time to do an outfit change amongst everything happening. The fact she never truly lost her breath and still sounded excellent live is a testament to her commitment to putting on a show.
#5 Coldplay feat. Beyonce and Bruno Mars – Super Bowl 50, 2016
For many viewers Beyonce and Bruno Mars stole the show this year. And “stole” was a good or bad thing depending on who you ask. This one was unique because it had a “battle” between Beyonce and Bruno Mars. Bruno’s “Uptown Funk” led into Beyonce’s “Formation” and the two came face-to-face at the end of her song. Each artist’s backup dancers went up against each other before joining together for a reprise of “Uptown Funk” that included Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin. After this the trio transitioned into Coldplay’s “Up&Up” and everyone’s background dancers joined together on stage. Fans in the stadium had boards they held up that when combined formed a rainbow of colors that also read “Believe In Love” For many viewers, this was an excellent example of different artists coming together to create something that was truly a performance.
#4 Beyonce feat. Destiny’s Child – Super Bowl 47, 2013
Beyonce is someone whose performance skills are well documented. Something that stuck out immensely during her performance were the visuals. The stage had multiple digital effects that enhanced her performance and utilized different camera angles to display it in the best way. Some portions had an overhead camera angle as kaleidoscope-esque images of Beyonce dancing roasted around the stage. At other moments, a traditional horizontal view was used as a rectangular screen had replicas of Beyonce performing choreography while she performed it live. However, the biggest surprise of the night was the reunion of Beyonce’s former group, Destiny’s Child. Members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams literally burst through the stage to the shock of everyone. They joined Beyonce for their group hits “Bootylicious“ and “Independent Women, Pt. 1”. They also gave her backup vocal support on one of her solo anthems “Single Ladies” After lots of choreography, Beyonce concluded her set with “Halo” a song that puts her vocals on full display.
#3 Michael Jackson – Super Bowl 27,1993
Michael Jackson’s Super Bowl entrance is the most iconic one of all time. He started “inside” one of the jumbotrons, “flew” out of it, and “teleported” to another one and flew out of it too. Then, he burst through the center stage and posed while the crowd cheered merely because of his presence for two minutes.This was also a performance where the audience’s participation was essential to the show. There were people with boards on the field of the stadium that had choreographed movements as Michael performed. However, when he performed “Heal The World” it was the audience’s turn. They held up boards that formed a huge picture of children of different colors holding hands. A children’s choir performed “We Are The World” before this. Michael used these songs because he wanted the world to hear his message of love, peace and unity.
#2 The Weeknd – Super Bowl 55, 2021
The Weeknd began his performance on top of a city skyline. Once he descended there was a smaller multi-tier skyline stage with people who danced while he sang. Once he left this area, he went into a room with lights and mirrors and held the camera himself as he sang into it. To leave this area, he navigated through a crowd of body doubles dressed like the injured version of his red blazer character. He returned to the multi-tier skyline stage and violinists joined him to perform a powerful version of “Earned It”. The visual display reached a new level when the body doubles lined the entire field. As The Weeknd performed amongst them, they turned on lights they had on their hands while he sang “Blinding Lights” Fireworks concluded his performance but they had also been used throughout the entirety of it.
#1 Prince feat. Florida A&M University Marching 100 Band – Super Bowl 43, 2007
Some moments are genuinely historic and iconic. Prince’s Super Bowl performance is one of those moments. The first thing that validates this is the fact the stage itself was Prince’s symbol. It changed colors as he performed. Then, there’s the fact he used three different guitars for his performances and each one sounded excellent. The last one he used was purple and also in the shape of his symbol. This was his guitar of choice for his mega hit “Purple Rain” As he played that one, a huge white sheet appeared and Prince’s silhouette was the only thing visible. During this guitar solo, the shape of the guitar stood out even more as he played to the cheering fans. As the camera lens showed, it had actually been raining his entire performance. However, the purple lighting combined with it as he played the song was truly an exceptional moment.
Did you see these memorable performances when they happened? Do you think a different one should be in our list? Let us know in the comments section below.
Just a few weeks ago, Michael Irvin was accused of misconduct while working the Super Bowl in Arizona. According to reports, Irvin was speaking to a woman at the Marriott, who subsequently accused him of misconduct. Overall, the story has become extremely confusing as the women’s complaints have not been made public. There are no specific complaints against Irvin, and he has since filed a significant lawsuit against his accuser and the Marriott where the alleged incident took place.
Furthermore, his lawyers were able to win a motion to have the Marriott fork over the footage of the alleged incident. According to TMZ, Levi McCathern, Irvin’s attorney, has seen the footage and strongly believes that it proves his client’s innocence. Although the footage is not public right now, McCathern gave reporters an account of what happened. As he explains, Irvin and the woman were very cordial, with the two shaking hands at the beginning and end of the exchange. Ultimately, this just makes the allegations against Irvin that much more confusing.
Michael Irvin Speaks
During today’s press conference, Irvin got to speak on the matter. At this time, he has yet to see the footage of what transpired. However, he did make a very strong statement about the allegations. He likened it to extremely racist acts that used to take place in the American South. “This takes me back to a time where a white woman would accuse a Black man of something and they would take a bunch of guys that were above the law, run in the barn, put a rope around his foot and drag him through the mud and hang him by the tree,” Irvin said.
Moreover, McCathern also had two witnesses call in over Zoom. These witnesses made it clear that Irvin did nothing wrong. At this time, McCathern is trying to file a motion to make the hotel lobby footage public. Whether or not that motion is successful, remains to be seen. This is a developing story, so stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest updates. Additionally, let us know what you think of all of this, in the comments down below.
2023 has already been huge for Rihanna thanks to her kicking the year off by performing the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Some folks thought the performance was obscene enough to file complaints with the FCC, with at least one viewer likening it to pornography. Residents at Arcadia Senior Living Bowling Green in Kentucky were apparently cool with it, though, so much so that they re-created the performance themselves (and earned the attention of Jay-Z in the process).
A TikTok video shared back in February starts with two rows of white-clad seniors lined up, parting to reveal the Rihanna of the video, wearing all red and enthusiastically mouthing along to Rihanna’s “Rude Boy.” The clip was a viral hit and has since been viewed over 30 million times.
Jay-Z was apparently tickled by the video, as he sent a bouquet of roses to the Arcadia Senior Living memers. Arcadia resident Sue Evans told Bowling Green’s WNKY, “There’s 100 of them. And they’re from Jay-Z. My granddaughter was worried and she told her mother, ‘I hope she knows who Jay-Z is!’”
The senior living facility that recreated Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show on TikTok said Jay-Z sent them ‘100 red roses’ pic.twitter.com/K0qOgll8rI
Fellow Arcadia resident Dora Martin also said, “My grandchildren and I watched and there were flips and flops and I was standing there thinking, ‘Wow, I wish I could do that,’ and then I did do that.” She added, “I went to the doctor the other day and the nurses, as soon as I walked in there, knew who I was.”
Martin also said of Jay-Z’s gesture, “I thought that was wonderful, very nice of him!”
According to reports, McDonald’s franchisees claim Cardi B and Offset’s celebrity meal collaboration compromises company values. Restaurateurs also say the campaign with the couple could hurt the Mickey D’s brand. Updated By: Kendall Parks (3/2/23 at 3:53 pm) McDonalds’ franchisees decry promoting the celebrity meal featuring hip-hop couple Cardi B and Offset. Though the meal […]
The Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl celebration continued this past Saturday as Travis Kelce hit Drai’s Nightclub with Rick Ross for a round of celebrations.
Rozay hit the stage and performed “Stay Schemin,” “Ashton Martin Music,” and “Hustlin,” among other classics. Following his recent Super Bowl LVII victory, Travis Kelce was spotted having a good time in the audience. Later, he joined Rick Ross on stage for an impromptu performance and speech. Travis Kelce stayed on stage the entire performance and joined Rick Ross on stage to close out the night side by side.
She’s weeks away from gracing the Academy Awards stage, but fans are still reeling from Rihanna’s Super Bowl performance. During her halftime show, she revealed her second pregnancy, just one year after welcoming her first child with A$AP Rocky. The doing dad was also in the audience filming his leading lady as she floated tens of feet above the air. The Super Bowl marked Rihanna’s return to the stage after a seven-year drought and was celebrated among her admirers.
Meanwhile, social media reactions were mixed. Fans applauded the singer’s feat and enjoyed revisiting her classics. However, TMZ reports the Federal Communications Commission, or the FCC, received several complaints about the display. Additionally, the outlet reportedly obtained 103 of those complaints and shared a few. One person directly correlated Sam Smith and Kim Petra’s highly controversial Grammy performance to Rihanna’s set.
The FCC Complaints Are Unhinged
GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 12: Rihanna performs at halftime during Super Bowl LVII between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, February 12th, 2023 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. (Photo by Adam Bow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I don’t care what someone worships but children shouldn’t be exposed to pornography and as an adult I don’t wish to see it,” one person reportedly said. “Where has decency gone? How about respect for others and self?” Many critics were off-out by the “overtly sexual dancing.” Considering Rihanna barely moved, and her dancers were trying to keep from falling off platforms, things could have been more explicit.
“This year the halftime show was so indecent I had to turn off the TV because of the pornographic content,” another person stated. These sorts of complaints aren’t anything new; each year, thousands of people fire off messages to the FCC about the Super Bowl halftime show. Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and others have been the subject of similar takes after their presentations.
Just ahead of her halftime performance, Rihanna discussed how she was hyper-focused on Super Bowl. “I totally forgot that my birthday is coming up, I totally forgot about Valentine’s Day,” she admitted. “I am just like Super Bowl, Super Bowl, Super Bowl. It’s a lot of preparation, a lot of moving parts. This is the week that it really is being tested. Everyone, we’re just tightening up everything.
She also said, “Everybody is dialing in, everybody is tuning up, and a lot of moving parts. I mean, it’s literally like three to four hundred people breaking the stage down and building it back up and getting it out in eight minutes. It’s incredible.”
The Super Bowl may have already occurred, but Conway The Machine relives the unmatched energy of the event in his new song “Super Bowl.” Featuring Juicy J and Sauce Walka, this track lusts after the life of big ballers while recounting the highs felt after winning a nationally-acclaimed tournament. All three rappers bring an unapologetic grit to the track that results in an upbeat anthem.
Conway, who recently announced his upcoming third studio album Won’t He Do It, is known for placing his soulful bars over soothing beats. His 2022 project God Don’t Make Mistakes deep dived into the 41-year-old’s outstanding capabilities as a lyricist, and featured T.I., Rick Ross, and Benny The Butcher. The release of “Super Bowl” also follows the rapper’s news of a confirmed docuseries created by his label, Drumwork, marking another exciting step in Conway’s career.
Conway Drops “Super Bowl” Ahead Of Upcoming Album
While “Super Bowl” may differ from Conway’s previous projects by its overtly upbeat nature, the track serves as a celebration of wins for the New York rapper. In the chorus, he describes “feelin’ like I won the AFC.” Both Juicy and Sauce allude to the same winning mentality in their verses, reflecting on the successes of their individual careers. In November, the “Bandz Make Her Dance” rapper dropped Crypto Business, a collaborative album with Lex Luger and Trap-A-Holics. Sauce, despite alleged affiliation with the ongoing RICO case, ended the year with three mixtapes: Al Rage Walka, Sauce Beach Florida, and Sauce Ghetto Gospel 3.
In all, “Super Bowl” marks a collaborative effort to depict the incomparable highs of success and big wins. The track is currently available to stream on all platforms, so be sure to check it out and let us know what you think in the comments down below. Like always, be sure to keep in touch with HNHH for the latest news on all things hip-hop.
Quotable Lyrics:
I’m only faithful to the cash, yeah (Woah) Straight forward to the bag, uh (Woah) I don’t wait for it, I don’t ask (Woah) I’ma take all of it, I take all it, I’ma take off, I’m finna blast (Yeah)
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