BREAKING Toddler dies after being struck by recycling truck in Barrie, Ont. neighbourhood
A toddler has died after being struck by a recycling truck in a Barrie, Ont. neighbourhood on Thursday afternoon.
Lionel Messi is widely considered the greatest soccer player in the world, which makes one wonder how extensive access to him and his new team could yield such a boring sports docuseries. Still, that adequately sums up “Messi Meets America,” an Apple TV+ project whose first three episodes have all the heft of a latenight infomercial.
Part of that, admittedly, has to do with the way that Messi carefully protects his image, exhibiting a knack for speaking very earnestly in classic sports clichés. Nor does it help that those around him – including the media figures interviewed – do little more than sing his praises, with modest variations in the tune.
What ensues, then, is an attempt to turn Messi’s signing by Inter Miami CF and introduction to U.S. soccer into a celebratory affair punctuated by little slices of life in the various cities that the club visits, while giving other members of the MLS team – from co-owner David Beckham (the subject of a recent Netflix docuseries) to fellow players, from ticket sellers to the equipment manager – a few moments in the spotlight.
Simply put, though, there’s little drama around the games as the episodes follow Miami’s remarkable turnaround thanks to Messi’s leadership and even less in the interpersonal dynamics. The reason people became obsessed with “The Last Dance,” after all, was the colourful personalities and conflict on those Chicago Bulls teams, not because everybody adored each other.
Beckham sums up the pressure of signing a talent like Messi – a chance to win that brings with it “the eyes of the world” – but beyond capturing that “Messi Meets America” feels too much like a licensed product, while offering helpful synergies such as an appearance by Reese Witherspoon, the co-founder of Nashville’s soccer team as well as a star of Apple’s “The Morning Show,” so, you know, win-win.
Charitably, the series offers some insights into what might be called Messi magic, and the extent to which an extraordinarily talented player can rub off on and influence those around him, provided everyone has the right attitude.
“Can one guy make that big of a difference?” Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman asks early on.
Apparently, one can. The only shame of it, given Messi’s ability to improve everything he lays his feet on, is that they didn’t have him produce a show that needed to be at least a little bit messier.
“Messi Meets America” premieres October 11 on Apple TV+. (Disclosure: Lowry’s wife works for a division of Apple.)
A toddler has died after being struck by a recycling truck in a Barrie, Ont. neighbourhood on Thursday afternoon.
Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, an Oscar-nominee who made food and American diets his life's work, famously eating only at McDonald's for a month to illustrate the dangers of a fast-food diet, has died. He was 53.
Border workers have voted in favour of a strike mandate which could lead to 'significant disruptions' to the flow of goods, services and people through Canadian ports of entry, their union said Friday morning.
Judges at the top United Nations court ordered Israel on Friday to halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, in a landmark emergency ruling on South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide.
It began last month with the arrest of a Russian deputy defense minister. Then the head of the ministry’s personnel directorate was hauled into court. This week, two more senior military officials were detained. All face charges of corruption, which they have denied.
As avian flu spreads south of the border, Canadian officials are now testing samples of milk sold in grocery stores across the country.
Kabosu, the dog that launched a thousand 'doge' memes, has died, her owner announced Friday.
Alcohol sales in Ontario will be enhanced in grocery stores and expanded to convenience stores this summer, a year-and-a-half sooner than expected, following a deal that will see the Ontario government provide The Beer Store up to $225 million for the early rollout.
Ontario patients are now visiting emergency departments out of fear of being de-rostered from their doctor’s office – a loophole that results in hospitals dealing with non-urgent cases, and disrupts continuity of care paramount to family medicine, according to health-care experts.
The proprietors of Regina's sole discount theatre are aware they're carrying on a significant legacy.
When Jujhar Mann said he wanted to be a pastry chef on a grade school career project, he didn't imagine that pursuing his dream would land him on a popular Netflix baking competition.
A city known for its history, ties to outer space and southern barbecue, is also home to a Winnipeg chef dishing out dozens of perogies.
A Montreal photographer captured the moment a Canada goose defended itself from a fox at the Botanical Garden.
Public libraries in Atlantic Canada are now lending a broader range of items.
Flashes of purple darting across the sky mixed with the serenading sound of songs will be noticed more with spring in full force in Manitoba.
Catching 'em all with impressive speed, a 7-year-old boy from Windsor, Ont. who only started his competitive Pokémon journey seven months ago has already levelled up to compete at a world championship level.
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
2b Theatre recently moved into the old Video Difference building, seeking to transform it into an artistic hub, meeting space, and temporary housing unit for visiting performers in Halifax.