How NJ high schooler scored hottest viral video goal of 2011

Mike Criscitello had seen it executed in YouTube videos and attempted in hockey skills competitions for years: the sneaky shot in which a player lifts the puck off the ice and fires it lacrosse-style at a goaltender.

It was something the Edison High School (N.J.) senior had fooled around with in practice, to the point where his teammates anticipated Criscitello might try one himself during a game.


On Feb. 11, he took his shot. It was a blowout against Colonia early in the third period; an 8-4 victory in which he'd score five goals.

Criscitello picked this spot to attempt a lacrosse-style shot, but the defense wasn't cooperating. This led to one of the most unorthodox and spectacular attempts at the "Michigan Goal" we've seen during the course of an actual game: a spinning whip of the stick from the top of the circles, and an instant classic:

Mike Criscitello's Awesome "Michigan Goal" @ Yahoo! Video

"As a senior, it was one of my last regular-season games. So I figured I'd try it out," he said. "And it worked out."

For Criscitello, it's worked out to the tune of 20,000 views on YouTube, an appearance on ESPN and viral video status on several sports sites, including one that called it "the best high-school hockey goal you will ever see."

So where did this shot, and the video, come from, exactly? His inspiration might surprise you.

Turns out that for all the lacrosse shots attempted in hockey, from Mike Legg to Rob Schremp to fellow high school players, Criscitello said his main inspiration was then 9-year-old Oliver Wahlstrom, who scored this goal in a Boston Bruins "TD Bank Mini 1-on-1" tournament in 2009:

Like Wahlstrom, Criscitello is a child of the game, as his father and brother both played hockey. (Criscitello is a lifelong New York Rangers fan as well.)

An undeniable charm in Criscitello's clip is the grainy, low-fi quality of it, which resembles found footage of the Loch Ness Monster. As one of the many YouTube commenters asked: "Was this filmed on a calculator?"

Not quite. It was filmed at the game on a video camera, which Criscitello borrowed, hooked up to a flat screen and had his father film off the television with another camera. Then Criscitello himself loaded the clip to YouTube, with keywords that included "most top dirtiest sexiest finest shot."

So the subject of this viral video is the one who helped make it viral; a perfectly symbolic origin story for a social media generation in which anyone can have his or her moment in the spotlight.

"I thought it was going to be big Jersey-wise. I thought it was going to get around, but not on ESPN," he said. "I've had kids come up to me on other teams who said, ‘You did that, didn't you?'"

Ah, yes, the other team. In the case of this goal, it was Colonia High School, a rival of Edison's and a team filled with players Criscitello knew pretty well. "If that was any other team we're not familiar with, it would have gone completely different," he said, inferring potential retribution.

Once he committed to attempting the shot, Criscitello had to adjust to what the Colonia defense was giving him. "They were collapsing deep, so I couldn't get a breakaway to do it. I decided to take it down the middle and I saw the gap between the defensemen, and tried to pull it off," said Criscitello, who is also an accomplished lacrosse player at Edison.

"You could tell after I scored, I didn't really know what to do. I just put my arm up. I was amazed it went in. Thought it was going to go wide or something. Everybody was in awe."

His coach, Jose Pan, was amazed, as well as concerned -- about sportsmanship.

"My first reaction was to hope that the other team didn't take it as an insult. We weren't trying to embarrass them," he said.

"He figured he'd give it a shot. It was one of those things that you see happen, but you don't believe it until it goes through."

Or until the viral video makes "SportsCenter."
Read More: Yahoo

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She's Back! Britney Spears Debuts 'Hold It Against Me' Music Video

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Britney Spears is back! The pop princess debuted the music video for her new single, "Hold It Against Me," on MTV and Vevo.com on Thursday night -- and the sexy singer definitely brought her A-game!

PLAY IT NOW: Music Video Sneak Peek: Britney Spears - 'Hold It Against Me'

In the video -- ripe with fast cuts and mutliple glaring product placements (including her fragrance Radiance, Makeup Forever, Sony, and the online dating site PlentyOfFish.com) -- a lean, glammed-up Britney is seen prowling around the futuristic space, surrounded by various TV equipment and rocking a white bridal-esque gown, before slowly ascending toward the ceiling. Brit then shows off her famous abs in her signature white midriff-baring crop-top and her itty-bitty denim cut-off shorts.


Next, it's a Britney-on-Britney catfight as the singer appears to wage war on... herself (in stilettos, or course), before shooting neon-colored paint at the surrounding TV monitors from her fingertips, flinging color all over her formerly pristine white gown (think: Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair).
Brit also rocks a black leather mini-dress for the video's high-energy dance sequence.

Watch the video below (warning: mild suggestiveness and stylized violence)

Back in January, "Hold It's" choreographer Brian Friedman - the mastermind behind the superstar's "Boys" and "Me Against the Music" moves - teased fans by announcing he was excited to "get [Britney] dancing really hard again."
"She's had a couple of years where she's been dancing different styles of dance and it hasn't been me," Brian told MTV News at the time. "It's not necessarily that she hasn't been dancing, it hasn't been what I get from her, and what I seem to get from her is this tigress quality. And she prowls.

"She really dominates when she does my choreography, and that's what I wanted to get back," he added.
The choreographer faced a bit of heat from Britney's legions of fans on Thursday (after a 30-second teaser for the video was released) who felt Britney's footwork didn't live up to Brian's boasting.

"Britney Fans... I DIDNT edit or direct the video so please do not place hostility at me if you aren't happy with what you have seen or see," Brian Tweeted on Thursday. "Britney worked her a-- off for this video and she and I hope that you all love it.

"Thank U every1 4 the support :)," he later added. "I haven't seen the vid yet, all I know is how Brit was on set & she was FAB! FEMME FATALE will be incredible!"


"Hold It Against Me" is the first single from Brit's upcoming album, "Femme Fatale," which is slated to drop March 29.

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Janet Jackson Started Dieting When She Was 11

Celebrities arrive at the Lanvin Show during the Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011

Janet Jackson has been performing since she was seven, and she admits she's been battling issues with her weight since she was "very little."

She explained: "It’s been a tough road, a tough battle since I was very little and not feeling worthy. There were self-esteem issues, issues dealing with food stemming from when I was very, very young. Not feeling I was good enough as I was.
"I was told at a very young age on the show Good Times that I needed to go on a diet. I was only, what, 11, 12? And I look back on those shows and I wasn't a heavy kid. Some people can just brush it right off but others, they really internalize it. And that was me."

The singer, whose weight has fluctuated over the years, also believes she may be addicted to food as she has always been an "emotional eater."

Janet added to CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight show: "I'm not in denial in any way. I've never had someone say to me you're addicted to food and maybe that's what it is for me. I've never had anyone say that to me, but the way that I feel about it. It still is an issue for me.

"I was an emotional eater. I still am. I've learned how to handle certain issues and not to run to that for comfort. It's just not about, 'OK, how do you stop the eating?' It's deeper than that. There are issues behind that. You have to figure out what's creating it first in order to figure out how to stop it."Read More: Zimbio

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Gays Turn on Lady Gaga

n her new single "Born This Way," Lady Gaga implores listeners "don't be a drag, just be a queen," and says, "it doesn't matter whether you love him or capital H-I-M." The singer has said she wanted to create the ultimate gay anthem, and perhaps she's succeeded. By Friday night, the track had raced to the top of the iTunes charts and gotten a stellar plug from her gay consigliere in cyberspace, Perez Hilton. Rolling Stone also applauded Gaga's effort, with Rob Sheffield giving the song four stars.
Read More: MSN

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Janelle Monae - Janelle Monae Set For Hooligans In Wondaland Tour

JANELLE MONAE is set to team up with BRUNO MARS for a co-headlining tour.
JANELLE MONAE, the American R&B singer, is set to embark on a joint North American tour with the GRAMMY AWARD winning BRUNO MARS. Monae and Mars will head out on the tour, dubbed 'Hooligans in Wondaland', during May and June 2011. The British singer/rapper PLAN B, a winner at last night's BRIT AWARDS (15th February 2011) will join the pair as support on selected dates. Before they begin the tour, both artists will head out on the road for their own European dates. Mars will begin his shows in Berlin, Germany on 3rd March 2011 while Monae heads to Brussels, Belgium, for a gig on 20th February 2011. The pair received a standing ovation for their live duet at Sunday's GRAMMY AWARDS, and Mars walked away with the gong for 'Best Male Pop Vocal Performance' for his smash-hit track 'Just the Way You Are'.

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Best Movies about Musicians

With the new Justin Bieber movie set to be released Friday to all those loyal Beliebers, let's look back on some of the best movies around about real-life musicians and the fans who love them.

Ray

This 2004 film about the life of Ray Charles got a lot of buzz for the star in the title role, better known for his comedy skills. His performance struck a chord, earning him the Academy Award for Best Actor. He later added his vocal stylings to a Kanye West hit.

The Doors

Though rumors of his being alive persist, Jim Morrison was brought to life cinematically by a well-known actor in 1991, in a film by Oliver Stone. The keyboardist for the Doors had a strong opinion about how the movie came across, but it was a cult hit.

A Hard Day's Night

Made in 1964 during the height of Beatlemania, this film starred the Fab Four and was a mockumentary of sorts. It was critically praised and led to more popular films -- with one notable exception, which was widely panned.

La Vie en Rose

In 2007, the French star who portrays Edith Piaf won both the Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Actress, the first time the award had been given for a French-speaking role. The film features another French star who has many awards of his own, including an Oscar nomination for this well-known role.

I'm Not There

In this film, which many consider groundbreaking, six different actors portray Bob Dylan. One of those received a Golden Globe for her performance, while for another actor, it was to be one of his last films.

La Bamba

This 1987 film about Ritchie Valens made its star a household name and told the story of his unlikely hit song and his untimely death, which became known as "the day the music died" and was referenced in another famous song.

Selena

This 1997 film was a breakthrough role for an actress little known at that time. Based on the life story of the popular Tejano music star, the film follows her rise to fame until her murder at just 23 years old.

What's Love Got to Do With It

This 1993 biopic tells the story of Tina Turner. The actress who took on the role, after the original actress cast had to take maternity leave, won a Golden Globe for her performance and was nominated for an Academy Award.

Coal Miner's Daughter

The actress who tackled the role of real-life country icon Loretta Lynn in this 1980 film also won the Academy Award for her performance. She also has a daughter who's becoming well known in the biz these days.

The Pianist

This 2002 film, based on the life of pianist Władysław Szpilman, won the actor who portrayed him an Oscar for Best Actor, at which point he famously showed affection for the award presenter. The film's director also won but was not present because of his legal troubles.

Bird

The director of this 1988 film would eventually win a Best Director Oscar for two later films, and the star who portrayed Charlie Parker would go on to earn an Academy Award of his own for a later dramatic role.

Great Balls of Fire

Jerry Lee Lewis took a lot of heat for who he chose to marry, while the actor who played him in this 1989 film was happily coupled with America's Sweetheart at the time. She's now part of a recent marriage breakup.

The Buddy Holly Story

This 1978 film starred an actor playing Buddy Holly who is better known for other things these days. All of the actors in the film played their own instruments and sang the songs. The film won an Oscar for Best Original Score.

The Temptations

A 1998 TV miniseries, this flick took a couple of liberties with the truth but won the 1998 Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Movie. A lawsuit forced the removal of some scenes, but the film gives you a good look at one of the most enduring R&B groups of all time.

Walk the Line

Who doesn't like the Man in Black? Forever an outlaw and a friend to the less fortunate, he received most of his fan mail from prisoners for a time. He battled addiction and won, he was a huge influence on 20th-century American music, and the film was nominated for five Oscars.

Beyond the Sea

The director of "Rain Man" was set to do this movie, but it was not to be. Kevin Spacey took vocal lessons from a man who collaborated with the movie's protagonist. Though it lost money at the box office, it's a compelling look at a singer whose life was cut tragically short.

Amadeus

When a film wins eight Oscars, it's probably worth watching. Another tragic story of a brilliant musician who died very young, the film's director is very well regarded and there were two nominations for the Best Actor Academy Award.

Lady Sings the Blues

The actress portraying the brilliant and tragic jazz singer was nominated for an Oscar though she's famously been snubbed by the Grammys. We all know how this one ends.

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