The 10 best celebrity-themed pinball machines of all time

Here's a completely random topic. All you old-schoolers will appreciate it though. You're my boy, Blue! You're my boy. Sorry... had to...

Anyway, the boys over at The Savage Science put together a list of the worst celebrity-themed pinball machines of all time. What this has to do with MMA, I have no idea, but hey, whatever floats your boat. Head on over there if you want to see which ones they chose, because I ain't telling you. What I will do is show you my favorite celebrity-themed pinball machines of all time. Yeah!

1. Evel Knievel


While I will humor you and share the rest of my list with you, it really begins and ends with this one. What could be better than Evel Knievel and pinball, baby? Imagine yourself as the ball as Evel Knievel going over jumps, crashing into stuff. Pinball and Evel were made for each other. If you want to buy one of these, this guy is selling his.




2. The King: Elvis Presley


You didn't really think we were gonna do this exercise and not have an Elvis pinball machine on the list did you? Here's a video of the Elvis pinball game with a nifty little pinball primer thrown in.




3. Muhammad Ali


If The Greatest didn't have his own pinball machine, why even bother makin' 'em?




4. Hugh Hefner


Of course, Playboy had it's own pinball machine. Playmates needed something to do between shoots. I mean, you know, other than bang Hef. You can buy this one too, check out the video here.




5. Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd as Charlie's Angels


I wish I was Bosley.




6. Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry


Dirty Harry loved pinball, right? Video break!






7. Shaquille O'Neal


As the flyer says, it's a "real slam dunk!" Also, I didn't run across any other NBA players with their own pinball machine, so if Shaq is the only player with one, they made a good choice. And of course, we have video.




8. Sylvester Stallone as Rocky


Just like in the movie! Video!




9. Dolly Parton


I chose this one for *obvious* reasons. No video of this game, but I do have one of her flexing her giant chest!






10. Mario Andretti


One of only two race car drivers I found to have their own pinball machines. I know, you'd think that would be a lot more. And of course, there's video (with awesome sound!)


Honorable mention: Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Elvira, Sly Stallone and Wesley Snipes as Demolition Man, and Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones.

Thanks to IPDB (The Internet Pinball Database) for much of the info. Yes, such a site does really exist. And don't forget to visit The Savage Science to see the "worst" celebrity pinball machines of all-time!

Robbie Maddison attempts world-record jump

Aussie cycle jumper Robbie Maddison attempted to break the world record of 310 feet for the longest jump on a motorcycle last night/this morning. Before I tell you if he succeeded or failed, let me give you my opinion on all of this.

First, I am a devoted disciple of the King of all Daredevils, Evel Knievel, so I am a bit of a fuddy-duddy when it comes to these newboys doing their jumps. Evel jumped on a heavy-ass Harley barely more than stock 30 to 40 years ago.

Today these boys are jumping on custom-made cycles specifically made to do their stunts. And that’s okay… I guess. My real problem with last night’s jump and the one before it that set the “world record” are the landing ramps. Evel did his jump by using actual ramps, not giant, and I mean giant, piles of dirt. If Evel missed the ramp, it was concrete, baby. Plus this giant pile of dirt pretty much eliminates any cross-wind concerns (just ask Gary Wells about being wide of the ramp), which is the ultimate “safety ramp” and a thing that really torqued off the man himself. If these guys miss left, right, long, or short, it’s a giant pile of soft dirt (by comparison to concrete) waiting for them. Evel Knievel (and Gary Wells) were the only “real” cycle jumpers in my book. These guys today are actually barely more than glorified stunt men. Anyway, with my old guy rant (which I know is lame as hell, thank you) out of the way, he made the jump.

Oh, did I fail to mention that he… uh… made the record then was p.o.’d and wanted to do it again because it wasn’t far enough? Yeah, that was kinda cool. Especially since after the second jump he still seemed pissed that he didn’t go further.

Here is his practice jump for the record-breaker; his remembrance of the legend himself; and the previous record jump by Ryan Capes (which according to the AP link below was not actually the record… no idea why not since the telecast clearly stated that 310′ was in fact the record).

RobbieMaddison.com | ESPN | AP