Category Archives: Immortality

Dear Kobe, this is going to be tough. But I need to get this off my chest. Everybody clear out for me and Kobe. Clear the paint for Chuck and Kobe, one last time.

The stage is yours, Allen Iverson. Pay your tribute to your contemporary, both career and immortality wise. Show us what you love about the legend of late great Kobe Bryant.

As for many, it starts with the mentality for A.I. That superhero-like Im not backing down from anybody approach not even when facing my personal standard of basketball excellence. Thats when it all started with Iverson that first clash of No.23 vs. No.8.

The first time I saw you going up against Black Jesus when you were 18 years old, I knew you were akiller. Thats when I realized you were going to be a legend in this game. You were goinghardat Mike that night. No fear whatsoever. I mean, I knew from passing you in traffic over the years that you were a dog. But when I saw you going at Black Jesus like that? Thats when I knew you were a kindred spirit.

For 6-1 point guard, and 6-6 shooting guard, that was the point of identification. The fearless aura to them that was their common ground. It was a starting point in developing a bond. A bond that laid upon the grounds of two people whose pursuits of greatness intertwined.

But they never crossed a line. Whenever they stepped on the floor it was war. They went at each other uncompromisingly, but always within the borders of competitiveness. And they fed off each other, almost in a symbiotic way.

It was like heavyweight fighters beating the hell out of one another. And then at the bell, its nothing but love and respect. Greatness needs company, and we needed each other. Mike needed Prince, like Prince needed Mike. Tyson needed Holyfield like Holyfield needed Tyson.

Everybody needs that person to say,Oh, youre the sh*t, huh? Well, Im the sh*t, too. Well, for A.I. Kobe was the sh*t. The toughest, fiercest competitor he had ever faced, to the point there were times when even Iverson didnt want any part of Kobe Bryant. Not in 01, though. The two were going at each other like fighters, but from the point of pure admiration, they had for one another.

Whether it was playing for an NBA championship, or fighting for a scoring title, they were non stop. They pushed each other, as both were paving their ways towards the NBAs iconism. And they got there, both in their own unique ways. Iverson got there as a scorer and a culture-shifter, and Kobe got there as a winner.

Any time anybody asks me, Whos the greatest of all-time? Im not going to bullsh*t you. M.J. is always Number 1. I know youd say the same. Black Jesus, thats the G.O.A.T. But Number 2? Number 2, Im always going to say its Kobe Bryant.

From talking sh*t and smiling at the free-throw line, to hugging Kobe at the Staples, congratulating him on two jerseys being retired Iverson is keeping his Black Mamba memories close to his heart, and theyre not going anywhere.

Until the two meet again.

Excerpt from:

ALLEN IVERSON PAYS TRIBUTE TO KOBE Greatness needs company, and we needed each other. - Basketball Network

In the second episode of Lovecraft Country, "Whitey's on the Moon," the Sons of Adam used Atticus for a magical ritual, but it failed. Here's why.

WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Lovecraft Country Season 1, Episode 2, "Whitey's on the Moon," which aired Sunday on HBO.

In the series premiere of Lovecraft Country, Atticus "Tic" Freeman returned from war to search for his missing father, Montrose Freeman, with the only clue to his whereabouts being a mysterious letter. This set Tic, his uncle George and his friend Letitia on the road to Ardham, Massachusetts. Along the way, an unseen force protected them fromracist police officers, monstrous creatures known as the Shoggothand other dangers. At the end of the episode, they took refuge at a mansion in Ardham.

Now, in the HBO series' second episode, "Whitey's on the Moon," Atticus learns themansion belongs to the Braithwaite family and the Sons of Adam, a group of men whoare partof an ancient cult known as the Order of the Ancient Dawn. And they need Atticus to achieve their goal.

RELATED:Lovecraft Country Has Already Outdone Stranger Things In One Huge Way

Upon their arrival, Atticus, George and Letitia are welcomed as guests and settle into their respective rooms.However, Tic is quick to notice not all is as it seems. He realizes that they are captives, not guests, and that their hosts are wizards with nefarious goals. In truth, the Braithwaite family kidnapped Tic's father and sent him a letter to lure him to them because the Sons of Adam's leader, Samuel Braithwaite, has a very specific use for Atticus. It turns out Atticus is the last descendant of their ancestor, Titus Braithwaite, and Samuel intends to use him to perform an ancient ritual that will open a portal to the Garden of Eden, a place where he will be able to achieve immortality.

Come night, the Sons of Adam coerce Atticus into willingly participating in the ritual: he's given a ring that indicates he's a member of the Order, and he's taken to a room where the Sons of Adam are waiting for him in ceremonial robes. When the ritual begins, the gate to the Garden of Eden starts opening, and luscious plant lifeemanates from it. For a moment, it truly seems like Samuel will get his wish.

But then, everything goes wrong: a darkness spreads from Atticus' ringand body. It consumes the portal and kills the new life it had just brought forth. The darkness wipes out the portal, and in a blast, it kills all members of the Sons of Adam in proximity. Worse still, it destroys the estate, which caves in. Luckily, Tic is able to get out alive --leaving viewers to wonder just what happened.

RELATED: Lovecraft Country: What Are The Shoggoth, The Series First Monsters?

The ritual seemed like it worked at first, but then it didn't. Some might consider that this is because of Tic's lineage. After all, in this very episode, a conversation between George andMontrose hints that the latter may not actually be Tic's biological father. In fact, George might actually be his blood relative. This could lead to the theory that Tic was not actually a descendant of Titus Braithwaite -- but it's important to remember this genealogy comes from his mother's side of the family, which means his status as a Braithwaite wouldn't be affected by the identity of his father.

No, the most likely reason the ritual didn't go as planned is Christina Braithwaite. The young witch crossed paths with Atticus on multiple occasions in her family's castle, and she made it clear that she was angry at not being able to become a member of the Sons of Adam simply because she was a woman. She resented her father Samuel and the Order's old customs because of it, and it's possible she decided to intervene to prevent them from getting what they wanted.

RELATED:Lovecraft Country: Atticus Reunites With [Spoiler] but at a Great Cost

The darkness that cause the destruction of the portal -- and Braithwaite castle -- seemed to have originated from Atticus' Sons of Adam ring, a trinket that was given to him by Christina. Therefore, since she is a witch, she could have hexed the ring to insure the ritual's failure.

If that is the case, then Christina truly got her revenge for being excluded from the Sons of Adam. We don't have all the answers yet but since Christina was nowhere to be seen when the castle collapsed, it's possible she made it out alive andmight return to continue her family's mission.

Starring Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollett, Aunjanue Ellis, Abbey Lee, Jada Harris, Wunmi Mosaku and Michael K. Williams, Lovecraft Country airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.

KEEP READING:Lovecraft Country Features A Surprise Team-Up With A Major John Carter Character

Lovecraft Country: Atticus May Not Be Who We Think He Is

Ian Cardona has written for CBR since 2017. He is a Feature, Comic Breakouts and News writer. He's been in love with comics for a very long time, and believes there is some good to be found even in the industry's more difficult times. His favorite Avenger is Captain America, and that was long before the character starred in a very successful film franchise. He is an avid statue and Funko Pop! figures collector, and he's rapidly running out of shelf space. With CBR, he has been able to write about his favorite subjects, from the MCU to Doctor Who. You can follow him on Twitter at @ian_c1701 (yes, that is a Star Trek reference) for discussions, debates or pictures of really cool collectibles he probably doesn't have room for.

Read more:

Lovecraft Country: Why the Sons of Adams Ritual Failed | CBR - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Orcs may be one of the prominent species in Lord of the Rings, but not everything about them makes total sense.

The word orc likely conjures the image of a great beast of a creature ripping itself from its slime-covered cocoon in front of Christopher Lee's Saruman in the Lord of the Rings films. Orcs were always the majority of foot soldiers for Sauron in his war against the rest of Middle Earth.

RELATED: The Lord of the Rings: 5 Reasons Legolas Is an Underrated Character (& 5 Why He's Overrated)

They always served evil and were born of evil, and yet, despite the simplicity in their creation and motivation, there are a few things about orcs in The Lord of the Rings, and even in The Hobbit, that don't quite add up. A few questions remain about the ugliest creatures in all of Middle Earth.

According to Tolkien, at least some of the orcs used to be elves. That's right, some orcs have the same ancestors as the beautiful Legolas. Apparently they were tortured and that's how they changed both their appearance and their personalities to the gross and evil kind. They, like elves, can die in battle, but viewers never spend enough time with them to see if, at least some orcs, still possess the immortality of their elf ancestors. Despite the explanations, it's hard to believe that torture can create an entirely new species, bot just a new attitude or outlook.

Orcs, like elves, have been around for a long long time, and yet they were never a real issue until the rise of Sauron. Despite their strength, numbers, and dark nature, orcs seemed to only bother dwarfs. What else were they doing all that time? They weren't exactly building their own culture or cities. They were just sort of around waiting for something to do? It's very weird that they weren't a greater problem for the residents of Middle Earth until an independent leader took charge.

Orcs cause major problems for the dwarfs, rather than Middle Earth at large, because they lived underground. Yet, why they lived underground doesn't make much sense. Elves don't live underground, and many of the earliest orcs were descended from elves. Apparently, due to living underground, orcs were also excellent miners, like Gimli and the dwarfs. If they had skills, again, it makes little sense that they weren't a larger problem earlier on for residents across Middle Earth.

Originally Tolkien said that all orcs were descended from tortured elves. However, not all orcs come from elves. Beyond the birth of the Uruk Hai that is seen in the Lord of the Rings films, Tolkien's son later admitted that his father wasn't always comfortable with the idea that orcs came from elves.

RELATED: Lord of the Rings: 10 Things That Make No Sense About Merry & Pippin

With their ever-changing backstory it's no wonder there is confusion over where orcs come from, what they can do, what their goals are, and what they do in their spare time.

Orcs were strong and talented (see their mining skills mentioned above). Yet, it wasn't until Sauron and Saruman that the orcs also started making a real mark on the different people of Middle Earth. Orcs were never depicted as peaceful so, again, it is strange that they weren't out marauding in the countryside earlier in the history of Middle Earth. They could have been a threat all their own, and been very destructive and powerful if they had taken initiative. It's never exactly clear why they didn't.

Uruk hai, unlike their elf descended brethren, are bred by Saruman at Isengard. They come from the dark arts and magical creation rather than torture or biological procreation. It is often said that uruk hai are actually a result of the crossbreeding of humans and orcs. Despite the difference in their backstory, uruk hai are not seen as their own species or creature, they are also known as orcs, even if they are a subset. Why uruk hai would be thrown in with the unsuccessful minions that came before them is a question that remains.

Despite how it appears in the films, with Treebeard being shocked at the destruction Saruman and Isengard have wrought on the forest, the fact that Treebeard didn't know in advance seems absurd. Orcs are not very smart, and yet the Ents are. The Ents claim they can communicate with the trees, and yet fans are supposed to believe no trees sent out the message that they were being destroyed. Orcs are not talented or secretive enough to have pulled off a move like this, even with Saruman's involvement.

In The Lord of the Rings,Peter Jackson makes it clear that orcs need to be constantly watched if they are going to be successful and organized as a fighting force. This means that orcs, despite their strength and numbers, can be very vulnerable to the well-organized men, elves, and dwarfs who they find themselves fighting against.

RELATED: Lord of the Rings: 5 Reasons Gandalf was the Best Member of the Fellowship (& 5 Why it was Aragorn)

While it's obvious that, before Saruman, orcs were not organized enough to do any real damage to Middle Earth, they still managed to survive. What helpful traits led them to this minor success is never revealed.

Elves live in Lindon, Lothlrien, and Rivendell and yet they are all just elves. Yet, orcs are categorized often by where they come from. There are Mordor Orcs, Isengard Orcs, Dol Guldur Orcs, and the Orcs of the Misty Mountains, along with the specific uruk hai. Why a disorganized species would have so many categories assigned to them doesn't make any sense at all.

Despite their numbers and their strength, even as unorganized as they are, it is very strange how well orcs seem to take orders. They march and so as their told when sent out by Saruman to end the age of men and begin the age of the orc. Again, why they never used their strength and numbers to do anything, including to sack towns and villages before they were pulled together by Saruman and Sauron seems like a lost opportunity.

NEXT: The Lord of the Rings: 5 Reasons Frodo Is an Underrated Character (& 5 Why He's Overrated)

Next Lord Of The Rings: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Minas Tirith

Jessie Atkin holds an MFA in creative writing. She is a storyteller, writer, and reader. She's a YA connoisseur, Star Wars enthusiast, Harry Potter fanatic, Mets devotee, and trivia aficionado.

Original post:

Lord of the Rings: 10 Things That Make No Sense About Orcs - Screen Rant

Roughly 10 years ago, I noticed that virtually all sumo-related content that had been shared over the previous few months on my social media platforms was getting liked and commented on by someone with the profile picture of a young child, and a Mongolian name that I didnt recognize.

Checking it out, I discovered that the account belonged to the mother of the child in question, and that, after having recently run into Hakuho at an airport, the family was on a something of a sumo buzz.

A decade later that same small child is now a 200-cm, 160-kg giant who has just won the jonokuchi division title.

Ariunaa Davaainj, who fights under the shikona Hokuseiho, has started his sumo career 9-0 and, at just 18 years old, could be the most promising rikishi in the sport.

It appears that chance encounter with Hakuho ended with the yokozuna suggesting the elementary schooler give sumo a go and then join his stable when he was old enough and thats exactly what Davaainj did.

Although born in Mongolia, Hokuseiho was raised in Hokkaido from the age of five and has Japanese nationality, which allowed him to join Miyagino stable despite it already having a rikishi of foreign origin (Hakuho).

Hokuseiho (left) fights in maezumo, the lowest-ranked division, on March 9 at Edion Arena Osaka in Osaka. | KYODO

While a random encounter with a rikishi may seem like an unusually serendipitous way of finding yourself in professional sumo, active wrestlers scouting new recruits isnt all that unusual and in the old days, extending invitations to suitable looking young men was one of the more common ways of finding new recruits.

Veterans who may be thinking of branching out and opening up their own stable once they retire often kick-start the process by actively seeking out recruits as well. Generally, those men spend a few years in the original heya before moving to the new establishment with the man who recruited them.

Hakuho has long played his cards close to the chest, and no one knows for sure what the yokozunas post-retirement plans are, but splitting off from Miyagino beya seems unlikely.

The current stablemaster is just two years away from mandatory retirement and with no other candidates in a position to take over, Hakuho would be the natural successor.

Of course, given all that he has achieved to date, its almost unthinkable that Hakuho wont become the fifth man in sumo history to be granted special one-generation elder status.

That rare honor would allow him to continue using his ring name post retirement and he could then either change the name of his current stable to Hakuho beya or open up a new one under the same name.

Taiho, Kitanoumi and Takanohana all ran stables under their ring name while Chiyonofuji declined the honor and instead took over the existing Kokonoe name and heya.

One-generation elder stock, as the name implies, cannot be passed on and so Hakuho beya, if it comes into existence, will cease to exist in 2050 at the very latest.

For a man who has time and again shown himself to be so cognizant of and invested in sumo history, its easy to imagine that Hakuho wants to leave a more lasting legacy.

Prior to the Mongolians ascendancy, debate over the greatest rikishi of all time generally centered on two men: the aforementioned Taiho, sumos first rock star, and Futabayama, the legendary holder of sumos record 69-bout winning streak.

Although that yokozuna pair have passed away, their names continue on in sumo.

Otake and Tokitsukaze stables are also known respectively as Taiho Dojo and Futabayama Sumo Dojo with those name signs taking prominence over the door of each building.

Itd be naive to imagine that for a man who has adapted his ring-entering ceremony over the years to honor various historical yokozuna, the idea of Hakuho Dojo persisting well into the next century hasnt occurred to the Mongolian veteran.

Raising a multitude of great rikishi isnt a prerequisite for such immortality either.

As a stablemaster, Futabayama produced a yokozuna and two ozeki, but none of Taihos apprentices made it past sekiwake.

Hakuhos own record to date is mixed.

Former Nihon University wrestler Daikiho was scouted by the yokozuna but, apart from a cup of coffee in the top division, didnt make a whole lot of noise in his seven-year career.

Crowd favorite Enho, another of Hakuhos recruits, is a diminutive firebrand who never fails to excite, but a lack of size means he is unlikely to ever make it to the sports highest ranks.

With Hokuseiho, though, the yokozuna may just have stumbled upon someone worthy of taking up his mantle.

Of course getting carried away with early success in sumos lower reaches is never a good idea, as it isnt until wrestlers reach the third-highest division (makushita) that any kind of proper evaluation can be made.

With that being said, however, in the two decades that Ive been involved in sumo, Ive never seen a young rikishi with the rare combination of size, power, fluidity and aptitude for the sport Hokuseiho displays.

Although just 18 he is like an adult among kids in training. His nonchalant overpowering of veterans and instant neutralizing of their attack at the faceoff is stunning. At 160 kg Hokuseiho is also relatively slender and could easily add another 20 kg without appearing overly heavy.

Hakuho is unquestionably the greatest rikishi of all time. If his latest recruit pans out, the yokozuna may also be on the way to becoming the greatest stablemaster ever.

Read the original post:

Hakuho may be on path to becoming great stablemaster if latest recruit pans out - The Japan Times

Crystal skulls, NBA all-stars, Mike Tyson and a legendary fish tale make this of the most fascinating structures in America.

The Memphis Pyramid began life as a basketball arena in 1991 before becoming a Bass Pro Shops in ... [+] 2015.

The line drew tight, bending the fishing rod in half and signaling the beginning of a multimillion dollar deal. In an instant, a catfish at the bottom of the Mississippi River had changed the fate of a civic icon. The day was November 10, 2005. But before we get there, we need to rewind.

High strangeness marked the Memphis Pyramid from the start. Before the ambitious construction project for a towering, steel pyramid on the banks of the Mississippi River broke ground in 1989, renderings included a glass elevator ride to the top that never appeared; a Hard Rock Cafe; a college football hall of fame; and a short-wave radio station capable of bouncing the citys iconic blues and rock n roll sounds off the stratosphere and around the world.

The Pyramid, some Memphians believed, would be the southern citys answer to the St. Louis Arch, drawing visitors by the thousands and providing a riverside monument to rally around. But by the time the 321-foot tall building opened as a basketball arena in 1991, little remained of its original planssave, except, the sixth largest pyramid on Earth and a mysterious crystal skull welded to its apex.

That part is true, said Memphis Tourism CEO and President Kevin Kane, who has worked for the citys marketing arm since 1991. The crystal skull sort of became folklore at some point and grew from there, but it is true. Isaac Tigrett, who founded Hard Rock Cafe, put a crystal skull put in there for mystic powers or what have you. It was removed. I guess he got it back.

The "Tomb of Doom" cuts an imposing figure through a foggy, Memphis night in the early 1990s. Notice ... [+] the lack of an observation deck, added by Bass Pro Shops in 2015.

Free of its mystical burden, the Pyramid began life as a basketball arena, though perhaps not without retribution from Tigrett. On opening night, the buildings toilets simultaneously overflowed causing a flood in the basement.

For 12 seasons, the Pyramid would play host to a gallery of basketball stars like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and hometown hero, Anfernee Penny Hardaway all graced the court. On the hardwood, the buildings near-vertical stands and imposing structure gave way to a nickname, The Tomb of Doom.

The first time I hit the floor there, it felt special because we had never seen anything like it, recalls Hardaway, a four-time NBA all star now serving in his third season as head mens basketball coach at his alma mater, the University of Memphis. As a basketball arena, the Pyramid was out of this world. It wasnt natural. It wasnt normal. It was loud, because of how the sound went to a point in the top of the arena. We had a humungous home court advantage.

Hardaway remembers the thunderous din of the crowd in his first game at the arena. Memphis fans, 21,142 strong, filled to the rafters as the hometown Tigers took on the 20th-ranked DePaul Blue Devils from Chicago. It was amazing, he remembers. Because we came out against a top-ranked team in the country in DePaul. ESPN set it up. Dick Vitale was there. The whole nine yards. The crowd was extremely loud that night, and the arena was state-of-the-art.

1992: Guard Anfernee Hardaway of the Memphis State Tigers dribbles the ball down the court during a ... [+] game against the DePaul Blue Demons at the Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee. Credit: Allsport /Allsport

The superstar point guard spent two seasons at the Pyramid before being drafted third overall in the 1993 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors and achieving basketball immortality after a trade sent him to Shaquille ONeals Orlando Magic. Soon after, Nike launched his still-popular Air Penny shoe line.

For the duration of the 1990s the the Pyramid continued to host University of Memphis basketball games, often ranking among the top programs nationally in attendance while filling its cavernous hold with fans clad in the schools colors, blue and gray. But by the early 2000s, a new era was dawning in Memphis. The city had swung and missed on an NFL expansion team in the 90s, but finally secured a major league franchise in 2001, when the NBAs Grizzlies were lured to Tennessee from Vancouver.

The Grizzlies were an immediate hit in the basketball-crazed town. But the summer after the first major league season in Memphis history, the Pyramid came face-to-face with its biggest night, a night bigger than basketball.

MEMPHIS, TN - NOVEMBER 15: Memphis Grizzlies' fan Evan O'Connor, 6, gets a boost from brother Ryan ... [+] O'Connor, 12, as the Grizzlies come close to beating the Timberwolves during the second half 15 November 2001 at the Pyramid in Memphis, Tennesee. The Timberwolves pulled ahead in the last minutes to defeat the Grizzlies 99-95. LANCE MURPHEY/AFP via Getty Images)

Penny Hardaway was the most famous permanent occupant of the building, tells Geoff Calkins, a Memphis-based sports columnist since 1996. But I think you can make an argument that [the fight] was the biggest sporting event ever in the history of Memphis.

The fight took place on June 8, 2002 when Mike Tyson challenged Lenox Lewis for the WBC World Title beneath the very rafters where Hardaway played college basketball a decade earlier.

The heavyweight contest had been originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, but after a press conference brawl between the two opponents, the State of Nevada refused to grant Tyson a boxing license. Memphis Mayor Willie Herentonan amateur boxer whod go on to fight Joe Frazier in a bizarre Beale Street boxing match years laterswung for the Tyson/Lewis battle with a $12 million bid and won it.

Herentons civic slug hit home.

In the days leading up to the fight, international media descended on the city in droves. Private jets lined the tarmac of Memphis International Airport. A tangible buzz filled the air and the Pyramid became the epicenter of the sports world.

As the bell rang, the Tyson/Lewis fight set a record for the highest grossing event in pay-per-view history, netting $106 million from viewers and a $17.5 million purse for the combatants. The undercard featured a young Filipino fighter named Manny Pacquiao. And the scene, according to Calkins, was bedlam.

It was Hollywood meets the Vegas Strip meets Beale Street all right there tucked into this crazy ass lookin pyramid on the river. It couldnt have been more electric, he describes.

MEMPHIS, TN - JUNE 8: Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson fight for the WBC, IBO, IBF, Ring and Lineal ... [+] heavyweight titles on June 8, 2002 at The Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee. Lewis won the fight with an 8th round KO. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Tyson was an almost unparalleled box office draw. The card brought an A-list of celebrities like Samuel L. Jackson, Denzel Washington, Clint Eastwood, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise, Britney Spears, Magic Johnson, Alec Baldwin, Ben Affleck, Dwayne The Rock Johnson and Donald Trump to Memphisa blue-collar city that hadnt seen that kind of star power since Elvis Presley lived on the edge town.

The whole damn universe came here, adds Calkins, who covered the fight for The Commercial Appeal. There were parades down Beale Street. You couldnt go anywhere without bumping into a star. The world stopped for a heavyweight championship fight, especially when it was Lennox Lewis, this gentleman champion against the fearsome Mike Tyson.

Lewis won the fight by knockout in the eighth round. For a time, efforts were made to make Memphis a fixture for high profile fights.

The heavyweight boxing bout was the pinnacle for The Pyramid. Though the arena served as the Grizzlies temporary home from 2001-2004, Hardaway says it wasnt quite up to snuff as a professional basketball venue. Indeed, part of the negotiations bringing the NBA to town included a requirement to build a new arena.

Knowing what the NBA is about now, I dont think that building was NBA-ready, reflects Hardaway, who would return to play on the floor of his old stomping grounds as a member of the Phoenix Suns from 2001-2004. It was okay for college, but NBA players probably thought it was unusual because of how far they had to walk to the locker rooms. It just wasnt built like other places. Im sure they felt that it was difficult to get into their normal routine.

FedExForum, a modern $250 million NBA arena, opened for the Grizzlies on nearby Beale Street at the beginning of the 2004-2005 season. Immediately, both the Grizzlies and the Tigers relocated. A non-compete clause meant the Pyramid could also no longer be effectively used as a year-round entertainment venue. Once home to thunderous crowds, rambunctious rock concerts and a thriving entertainment district at its doorstep, the building stood as a looming monument to obsolescence.

Bob Seger plays at Madison Square Garden on January 25, 2007, eight days before closing down the ... [+] Pyramid. (Photo by Patti Ouderkirk/WireImage)

When Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band rolled into town on February 3, 2007, the mothballs were briefly shaken from the cavernous venue. In a long line of acts that included Aerosmith, Prince, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Guns N Roses, Celine Dion and Metallica, Segers stage lights would be the last to rise over the Pyramid stage.

I insisted that my music manager book us at the Pyramid on that tour, tells Seger now 75. I loved to play the Pyramid. The acoustics were a challenge, but it was such a beautiful, eye-opening venue.

Seger would kick off the buildings last show with a rendition of Roll Me Away along the banks of Old Man River. More than two hours later, hed cap an encore with Rock and Roll Never Forgets.

Its special, he adds. Its an honor to close an arena. We closed the Palace in Detroit a few years ago as well, and it is truly an honor. Musically, Memphis is an enormously signifiant, great American city. Its the home of Elvis, Sun Records, Graceland, Beale Street, the blues. It was always fun playing there. There was nothing quite like itvery southern, very gracious, very beautiful.

Several months later, Bass Pro Shops founder and Forbes billionaire Johnny Morris found himself hiking to the top of the silent, steel sentinel where Segers voice echoed that night. As he looked down from the rafters, visions of a cypress swamp began to fill his mind.

These stairs were the only way to reach the top of the Pyramid for nearly 25 years.

On June 21, 2012, Morris hosted a construction kickoff celebration inside of the empty arena. Dance was at his side as a slew of local media descended on the Pyramid for the first time in nearly a decade. A deal had been finalized on a $215 million financing package for renovations to the former arena. But had it not been for a chance encounter, the event might have never happened at all.

That tale begins at the top of our story, six and a half years before the kickoff celebration.

On November 10, 2005, three men bobbed in a boat on the Mississippi River. One was Morris. Another was Bass Pro Shops very first fishing department manager, Jack Emmitt. The final member was a prominent Memphian with a signature, orange T on his baseball cap.

I know Bill Dance!, chimes Hardaway, from his office at The University of Memphis. He was on t.v. every weekend when I was growing up.

Such is the legend of the worlds most famous fisherman, Bill Dance. The third member of the fishing crew that day is now as inseparable from the legacy of the Pyramid as the citys most iconic basketball playing son.

Instantly recognizable behind signature sunglasses and a white University of Tennessee baseball cap, the 79-year-old Dance is still going strong behind a nationally syndicated television show thats been on the air for five decadesthe same show that once beamed into a young Penny Hardaways house in the citys Binghampton neighborhood. Dances online fanbase reaches more than a million, and he shares a slot in Memphis Sports Hall of Fame beside Hardaway.

It was Bill Dance that brought the sleeping pyramid back to life.

An empty Pyramid as configured for University of Memphis basketball circa 1992.

After FedExForum opened, the City of Memphis struggled to find an occupant for its monolithic, vacant arena. Ideas were tossed out: an aquarium, a casino, a megachurch, but according to Kane, none of them stuck. The most feasible, he said, was a megachurch; however, none of the potential suitors could afford the buildings more than $700,000 yearly utility bill. On one occasion, the city was close to signing an agreement with The Recording Academy for a Grammy Hall of Fame, but negotiations fell apart when Memphis learned it would be just one of multiple sites for the museum.

Years went by, and residents grew accustomed to the tombs dark, empty presence slicing through the citys night sky. Save a blinking, red safety beacon at the top, few could remember the last time theyd seen the Pyramids lights turned on.

It was up to Dance to flip the switch.

Dance is no billionaire, but he does have the ear of one or two. In the course of his star-studded career, Dance became good friends with Morris, the most powerful man in outdoor sporting goods. Through Dance, Morris learned of the vacant 535,000 square foot structure positioned squarely in the heart of the American south. And it was Dance who Morris leaned on to gain insight into the the viability of an idea that seemed absurd on the surface: ripping out the Pyramids seats and replacing them with an indoor swamp.

Early concept sketches for a redesigned interior replaced the Pyramid's seats with a swamp.

As Dance tells it, he and Morris were on a whirlwind tour of store openings when the company founder, along with Bass Pro Shops President Jim Hagle, began pressing Dance about his home city. As a Bass Pro Shops plane bounced from Tennessee to Mississippi to Alabama and Florida, the duo asked Dance about the viability of a flagship store in his home city. They kept telling me, Bill, we need a decision. Bill we need a decision, remembers Dance. But flight after flight, Dance dodged the question.

By the time the trio had finished opening the Pearl, Mississippi store, Morris was gathering cold weather gear for a long-awaited catfishing trip with Dance in Memphis. Again, Dance says he was pressed for an answer.

He said, Bill you live in Memphis, you know the people in Memphis, you know the store thats there already. You know the clientele. You need to make a decision as to whether we should do this or not.

I said, y'all are crazy as a sprayed roach. Im not making that decision.

But by the time the private jet landed back in Memphis, Dance had provided some feedback for the executive teamand it sounded like a love letter to his hometown worthy of a Sun Records single.

I told them Memphis is mid-Americas distribution center. Its the barbecue capital of the world, the lumber capital of the world, the cotton capital of the world. Its the home of rock n roll, the birthplace of the blues. The Pyramid can be seen by air, by land, and by water. It lies between two major interstates, and tourism would support it.

Unconvinced, Morris thanked Dance for his input and asked him to keep thinking. On final approach, he asked me if it was a yes or a no for a Bass Pro Shops in the Pyramid, recalls Dance.

When the trios wheels hit the tarmac, the deal still wasnt settled.

It would be up to nature to decide the Pyramids fate.

The Pyramid as seen from the Mississippi River, upstream of downtown Memphis.

Catfishing is a sport akin to freshwater big game hunting. Those who fall under the spell of these whiskered giants soon revere them, worshipping catfish in the way coastal anglers might worship tuna or marlin. Like prized saltwater species, special hooks are often employed to ensure that catfish are humanely caught and released in good health. Trophy fish are often prized for their photo opportunities and then released.

Perhaps that allure is what drew Johnny Morris to make the bet, a gamble that would put more than $100 million from the City of Memphis and several times that amount from his own pocket on the table on that chilly November day. Some people flip a coin for big decisions, explains Morris. But I told them if we catch a big catfish today, its meant to be. If we dont, thats a sign that maybe we better keep fishing and not worry about the Pyramid.

I couldnt believe it, adds Dance. I said, Johnny. Ive known you for more than 35 years and thats the stupidest thing Ive ever heard come out of your mouth. Youre going to let a catfish decide a half-a-billion dollar deal?

Morris was stone cold serious about it. If the Pyramid was ever going to become a Bass Pro Shops, someone on that boat would have to catch a photo-worthy catfish. I was just right on the ragged edge of undertaking [the project], said Morris. The time, the financial commitment...I was torn about it.

On day one of their trip, the crew headed downstream and struck out. As the second day dawned, Dance plotted their course upstream, where the Pyramid might appear as a silver glimmer on the horizon in just the right light. Meanwhile, Morriss phone was ringing with periodic, urgent messages from Hagle, the executive whod helped him corner Dance earlier that week on the plane.

Jim Hagle started calling me around 9 or 10 a.m. wanting to know whether we were going to do this thing or not, Morris explains. I told him we needed a little more time, and probably didnt say too much to him and hung up. At noon, he calls me back and says, Are we in? Or are we out? Again, I told him we needed more time and hung up.

10 minutes before three, Jim [Hagle] calls me again. I can just see the smoke coming out of his ears...

Thats when the fishing rod doubled over. Emmitt, who'd been nearly half asleep in the back of the boat, loaded up on a big fish.

Jacks rod went down and he pulled back and started reeling, cites Dance.

Jacks rod was banging on the gunnel, chimes Morris, with excitement in his voice. At the same time, Hagle is on the phone asking what in the world is going on.

From left; Johnny Morris, Jack Emmitt and Bill Dance with a 34-pound blue catfish caught on the ... [+] Mississippi River.

On November 10, 2005, Jack Emmitt caught a 34-pound blue catfish on the Mississippi River near Memphis. According to Morris, the catch was almost under the shadow of the Pyramid. Today, visitors to the former basketball arena-turned retail wonderland can still spy a photo of that fish and the trio of fishing pals above the front entrance. Below it, a plaque reads, Were gonna do it, the words Morris finally spoke to Hagle on the phone that day. Hagle relayed the message to then-mayor Herenton, and six and a half years later the kickoff party was held.

Today, the Pyramid is once again a thriving tourist destination. In its first year of operation, 2015, the building drew in more than 3 million visitorssix times that of nearby Graceland. Average sales hover between $45-55 million per year. Its a success story from a business and civic point of view.

But by a razors edge, it almost wasnt. Heres how thin the margin of error was: Hagle was set to make an announcement at a press conference 10 minutes after Emmitt hooked the fish. Without that bite, he would have called the whole thing off.

If anyone catches that fish, give it a pat on the head and a kiss, adds Dance. Shes still swimming out there somewhere, and the Pyramid wouldnt be there today without her.

Thats a true story, swears Morris. I swear to the guy upstairs. I am not making one bit of that up. Thats how that turned out.

A free standing elevator brings restaurant patrons to the top of the Pyramid. It sits approximately ... [+] where mid-court would have been during the venue's days as a basketball arena.

Now, almost 30 years after the initial plans were laid for the Pyramid, some of its initial forgotten promises have come true. There really is a ride to the top, a 28-story elevator built so Morris wouldnt have to repeat his hike. At last, theres a restaurant up there, tooalbeit one brimming with catfish. As recently as this week, Mark and Donnie Wahlberg announced the addition of a brand new, tourist-centric Wahlburgers inside of the store. And Morris added one more touch that even the buildings original designers couldnt envision, a luxury 100 room hotel where the hotdog stands used to sit.

As for Hardaway, the man who opened the building beneath a national spotlight in 1991? He admits, he wasnt a Bass Pro believer at first. But I was wrong, he concludes. Its a gift to the city. I have been back inside many, many times now. We take recruits up there, right to the top. Its beautiful.

Thats something Hardaway, Seger, Dance and Morris all agree on. Perhaps, the next time you visit Memphis, you will, too.

Here is the original post:

The Unbelievable True Story Of How The Memphis Pyramid Became A Bass Pro Shops - Forbes

An array of characters in American Horror Story have had the power of immortality or extended lifehere's a breakdown of those notable figures.

An array of characters in American Horror Story have had the power of immortality. The series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk loves to mix a form of reality with some of the world's biggest folklores, fears, and spiritual beliefs. In doing so, the horror anthology features a ton of supernatural elements including monsters, ghosts, and dark entities. Some of the most dangerous figures, however, are humans and their penchant for death and destruction. By creating a fictional universe, American Horror Story made its own rules when it comes tothe characters, especially as it involves a typical lifespan.

Whereas Murder House dove into the world of hauntings and ghosts, Asylum took it up a notch with the presence of angels, serial killers, and aliens. Coven focused on witches, including their powers in contrast to voodoo and black magic. The season heavily focused on the topic of immortality which didn't come back up until season 5, Hotel. The topic was once again involved in Roanoke and Apocalypse, thanks to the presence of ancient figures.

Related:American Horror Story: Every Seasons Connection Explained

It will be interesting to see what other immortal figures are introduced in the future of American Horror Story. The series is gearing up to debut season 10 in 2021, and at least two more seasons are on the way. Considering many new seasons like to bring back old figures, the immortality factor makes this even more plausible. For now, here's every known immortal character in the series.

Papa Legba was the first god-like figure introduced in American Horror Story. The ancient voodoo spirit in Coven served as the Gatekeeper to the spirit world, which is also the loa's history in traditional Haitian lore. Despite being immortal himself, the figure had the gift of giving others the extension of life. Roanoke also referenced the Old Gods, dark deities with special powers that could grant others with immortality. The Blood Moon was a symbol of their everlasting presence.

Asylum's Shachath was known as the Angel of Death due to the fact that she could grant a human's wish for death with just one kiss. As an angel, she was immune to aging or death, meaning that she herself was immortal. The season also featured Satan, aka The Devil, an immortal entity that had the powers of possession. The dangerous being wound up feeding on the negative energy in Murder House. Satan was then able to create the Antichrist in Michael Langdon. As the antagonist of Apocalypse, the Antichrist was the essence of all evil, in addition to being a demon-human immortal hybrid. Through Mallory's use of time travel, Michael's transformation into the Antichrist was put to a stop. A mysterious creature referred to as the Addiction Demon was also known to haunt the Hotel Cortez in season 5.

Certain witches were granted immortality through the use of black magic as seen in Coven and Roanoke. Coven's Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau was granted the gift by Papa Legba in exchange for the sacrifice of an innocent soul each year. In Roanoke,Scthach, the original Supreme witch, performed a human sacrifice to the Old Gods each year during the Blood Moon. Refusal of these sacrifices would revoke their powers of immortality.

Related:American Horror Story: 1984 Was An Underrated Gem - Here's Why

Hotel featured a new type of immortal characters through the existence of vampires or those afflicted by a blood virus. Countess Elizabeth was one of the most notable figures after being turned into a vampire in 1927. Other characters to be turned included Bartholomew, Ramona Royale, Donovan, Iris, Tristan, Holden Lowe, and Alex Lowe. The vampires must stay on a diet of fresh human blood, which gave them eternal lifespans. Despite the power, they could still be killed like a normalhuman.

American Horror Story's third season, Coven, featured two key human characters that became immortal. There was Bastien, the lover of Marie Laveau and a slave of the LaLaurie family. After one of the LaLaurie daughters claimed she was raped, Bastien was beaten and killed with a hollowed bull's head put over his own head. Marie tried to cure him, but in doing so, he became an immortal Minotaur. In an act of revenge, Marie granted Delphine LaLaurie immortality as well, but after doing so, she buried the woman where she was trapped for centuries.

Next:Every Real Serial Killer On American Horror Story

The Simpsons: What Happened To Lisa's Boyfriend Colin After The Movie

Kara Hedash is a features writer for Screen Rant. From time to time, she dives into the world's most popular franchises but Kara primarily focuses on evergreen topics. The fact that she gets to write about The Office regularly is like a dream come true. Before joining Screen Rant, Kara served as a contributor for Movie Pilot and had work published on The Mary Sue and Reel Honey. After graduating college, writing began as a part-time hobby for Kara but it quickly turned into a career. She loves binging a new series and watching movies ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to hidden indie gems. She also has a soft spot for horror ever since she started watching it at too young of an age. Her favorite Avenger is Thor and her favorite Disney princess is Leia Organa. When Kara's not busy writing, you can find her doing yoga or hanging out with Gritty. Kara can be found on Twitter @thekaraverse.

Here is the original post:

American Horror Story: Every Immortal Character In The Show - Screen Rant

These daguerreotypes date from the 1840s or 1850s. The closed cover of each measures about 2 by 3 inches.

For a moment, lets forget craftsmanship and design, form and function.

As I travel the world of antiques, there is one thing for which I look history.

Its one of the key components that make an object interesting often, its the only component of interest in something that otherwise would be sadly lacking.

The people involved in an objects creation, the folks who used it, the events that have taken place around it all leave their marks.

Those are part of history.

And, for the most part, the faces that were behind that history long ago were consigned to dust, their names forgotten.

But in one form of collectible, the faces remain, even if the names are lost.

Im referring to the first photographs, Louis Daguerres daguerreotypes, created in the 1830s.

Those 2-inch bits of silver were coated with light-sensitive mercury vapor then exposed, offering ordinary folks a shot at earthly immortality.

That was a first. A portrait drawn or painted by an artist was expensive, available only to the affluent. In comparison, daguerreotypes were inexpensive and provided near-instant results.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT SIMMONS / FLORIDA WEEKLY

So, 180 years later, the anonymous faces stare back, peering from behind the protective glass that shields the precious images.

I was reminded of those faces as I dug through my desk, filled with pencils, stamps, envelopes and thumbtacks, and stumbled across the embossed covers of daguerreotypes I bought some years ago for a few dollars at the West Palm Beach Antiques Festival.

The people tell a story of wearing their Sunday best for a portrait.

A double set of images shows two women wearing matching dresses and white lace collars at their necks. Both wear dark lace mitts on their crossed hands.

In another, a boy looks expectantly into the camera while seated on a straight chair, his arm resting on a table.

And in yet another, a sour-faced woman, her hair parted at the middle, peers at the camera. The early thermoplastic Union Case in which her photograph is mounted, was made between 1855 and 1865, according to The Daguerreian Societys website. That case measuring just over 3 inches by 3 inches is the largest of our trio. Its also the newest and may well be an Ambrotype exposed on glass or a tintype a photograph exposed on a sheet of tin.

This image is an Ambrotype, made between 1855 and 1865. It measures 3 inches by 3 inches.

Was she having a bad day, one wonders, or was she simply dealing with the cumbersome photography process of the day? The subjects of those early photographs often had a brace holding their heads so they didnt move during the long exposure time the image required sometimes as much as a minute.

Regardless, you can look into their eyes and see another world one of horses and buggies and struggles and one of taking great effort to look ones best for a tiny shot at immortality even if immortality means lying at the bottom of my desk drawer, only to be awakened for this brief interlude. Rest well, whoever you were.

Scott SIMMONS

See the original post:

A look back at the faces of 170 years ago and more - Key West Florida Weekly

Lyon striker Moussa Dembele studied football greats Gabriel Batistuta and and Marco Van Basten continuously in his pursuit of striking perfection.

The former Celtic hero is 90 minutes away from the Champions League Final after his deadly double against Manchester City set up a showdown with Bayern Munich.

And now the Daily Mail have lifted the lid on what makes the 24-year-old tick as his obsession with striking legends old and new are being used on his quest for greatness.

Dembele would mimic the movements of Van Basten and Batistuta after spending hours watching them on YouTube during his Fulham days and now uses modern day legends Luis Suarez and Robert Lewandowski as inspiration.

And the Hoops hero now has the chance to compete against Bayern Munich's Polish goal machine as both sides are set to do battle for the right to meet Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.

Dembele was left gutted after being left on the bench against City but his epic 15-minute cameo has only added to the 60m-rated star's reputation.

The likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal remain long-term admirers of a player who has scored 24 goals in all competitions this season.

And the France U21 star will be expecting a different welcome from the Premier League big-hitters the next time he sits down for transfer discussions.

The Mail state Spurs chief Daniel Levy was dressed in a hoodie and tracksuit bottoms during discussions over a switch to North London back in 2016.

That deal collapsed and Brendan Rodgers convinced him on a switch to Glasgow that summer and the rest is history.

Dembele and his advisors have carefully plotted his career as they refuse to be rushed over their big move and the man of the moment now has the chance to showcase his abilities on the grandest stage.

And that's good news for his former team Celtic who will hope a transfer bidding war takes place due to their 10 per cent sell-on fee.

Read the original post:

Moussa Dembele and the YouTube obsession that has Celtic icon on verge of Champions League immortality - Daily Record

There is one Message, many sermons with one Theme. Jesus is the Message. All people desire the revelation of God and His expectations. All desire freedom from guilt and immortality and make altars of sacrifice to God, or some god, to appease anger and obtain favor.

In Eden after being deceived by Satan, Adam and Eve were promised a Seed who would bruise Satan. That Seed is Jesus. Exodus tells of a Passover Lamb that saves from death. Christ is our Passover whose blood covers our sins. Leviticus points to Him as our High Priest who makes atonement for us, reconciling us to God after sin has separated us. Numbers portrays God in a covenant relationship with His people giving guidance, protection and food for them until they reach the land of milk and honey. Jesus is the Word, our Power for victory and the Bread of Life. In Deuteronomy Gods people are exhorted to be faithful and the laws are repeated for them and future generations. They would conquer by faith and obedience. By faith and obedience to Christ we, too, are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37).

The Book of Joshua speaks of Moses, a conqueror who typifies our conquering Savior Jesus Christ. Judges tells of the sins of the nation and the penalties they suffered by oppressing nations. When they repented, God raised up judges, ruling leaders, to deliver them. Gods people repented and offered sacrifices in Shiloh. Now Christ is Shiloh (Genesis 49:10), our place of meeting God, our altar, our Sacrifice and our High Priest. The Book of Ruth gives the beautiful story of the acceptance of a Gentile woman into the nation of Israel and the lineage of Christ. Here we see the mystery (Colossians 1:27) of God unfolding. He will save all Israel, that good olive tree (Romans 11:24) with grafted Gentile branches.

The historical Books tell us of a people and their God, their spiritual and moral warfare, their sins and their judgments. That glorious ministration was the classroom where the coming of Christ was taught. Job tells of the struggles of a righteous man and his longing for a daysman (Job 9:33) to plead his case. Job knew that one day that One would stand on the earth (Job 19:25). The Books of Poetry and Wisdom sing Gods praises, describe our struggles and prophesy of Christ. The Prophets spoke of Gods law and the blessings promised for obedience and the curses for disobedience throughout the history of Israel. They prophesied of Christ, longing and waiting for Him. Then there was a 400-year silence.

One day John the Baptist, breaking the silence, came preaching repentance in the name of Jesus. As his ministry decreased another began to increase. The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29) had come and people were being gathered to Shiloh. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James, Jude. They have a word for you! Here comes the preacher! God-sent! We cant hear without a preacher. How beautiful the sight of a preacher with the Message from God! Hear, believe, call upon the name of Jesus and forgiveness and immortality are yours! Jesus is the final message from God. I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).

View original post here:

Words from the Heart: The Message | Columnists | thesuntimes.com - Heber Springs Sun-Times

Two bald eagles - photo via spectrum

CAIRO 17 August 2020: Eagles was the most prized bird of human interest in ancient times. It is the largest bird of prey. It mainly lives in Asia, Europe and Africa. Eagles are characterized by its long wings that are driven by strong muscles which makes it capable of flying high over long distances.

Even today, Eagles are greatly appreciated. It is the symbol of the Egyptian flag, and it always symbolized strength.

Ancient civilizations, including the Egyptian civilization, carried an interest in eagles that reached the point of sanctification.

During the following report, we explain what eagles represented in some ancient civilizations:

Ancient Egypt

The eagle in the Pharaonic civilization used to symbolize the goddess Nekhbet, who was the eagle deity and represented Upper Egypt, which extends to Aswan.

She was considered the protector of the Pharaoh; her extended wings always appeared as a sign of protection. They also referred to her at the time as a mother. Nekhbet always appeared behind the crown of the Pharaoh.

According to researchers, among the birds that remained from the ancient world is the Nubian eagle; the eagle widely depicted by the Pharaonic inscriptionson the walls of the temples in Luxor, which clearly illustrates the extent of reverence for that bird, especially in the era of the Old Kingdom.Eagles were highly associated with the deity Nekhbet; the deity of Upper Egypt, and the protector of the king. The ancient Egyptian depicted Nekhbet as a female eagle with a white crown on her head.

Ancient Greece

In the civilization of ancient Greece, the Nubian eagle was associated with the god "Zeus"; the father of gods and humans to the Greeks. He ruled the gods of Mount Olympus as the heir father.

Zeus was dubbed the "God of Heaven", which the Greeks feared so much, because he controlled the terrible forces of nature such as lightning and thunder.

The ancient Greeks usually depicted Zeus in the form of a bearded, dignified man carrying a thunderbolt in one hand, and on the other hand stood a huge eagle spreading its wings, orsitting with his scepter by his feet, where the eagle stands.

Mesopotamia

According to the study "The Legend of the Eagle and the Search for Immortality in Pre-Islamic Poetry" by the researcher Ihssan Al-Deek, published in the Journal of "Humanities and Social Sciences" Volume 37 in 2010, and in the ancient Mesopotamian civilization, the Thunderbolt God (Zu) appears with the claws of an eagle. Seers and priests used it as a means of omen and foretelling, and its feathers in the unseen.

They believed that if an eagle passes from the king's right side to the left, the king will be victorious wherever he goes.

If an eagle caught a fish or a bird, flew it away, and then devoured it in front of a man, the latter would suffer a loss.

Also, the people of Mesopotamia believed that if an eagle eats a dove on a mans house and then leaves something behind, the owner of the house will get rich.

Arabs before Islam

The aforementioned study also states that Arabs -before Islam- and their narrations confirm that an eagle was one of their ancient gods. They even created an idol to worship in the form of an eagle.

It is one of the idols of Noah, peace be upon him, mentioned in the Holy Quran.

Read the rest here:

Eagles, the worshipped bird of prey of the ancient civilizations - Egypttoday