#rene ramirez icons

[turtlejustice]

arrow 7x08 icons

[smoakqueenz]

Arrow 6x11 Icons

It really was a fantastic episode, doesn’t it. Like always I have some icons in a bigger size if you want. My icons are here (tbh I didn’t update the page since 5x22) Feel free to ask me more or specific ones.

100x100 px

Please like/reblog if taking & don’t repost.

Credit isn’t necessary, just don’t claim it as yours.

Feel free to use

[thefostersedit]

like and © @fehhfarias

[reginaking]

You ready for a rematch with this bitch?

Rene Ramirez referring to Prometheus in 5x09

[darklandsicons]

under the cut you’ll find 112 100x100 base icons of dominican & puerto rican actor rick gonzalez ( 38 ) as rene ramirez / wild dog in arrow . they’re free to edit, like/reblog if you use them. do NOT claim as your own. ( screencaps credit )

[tasksweekly]

[TASK 087: BELIZE]

There’s a masterlist below compiled of over 200+ Belizean faceclaims categorised by gender with their occupation and ethnicity denoted if there was a reliable source. If you want an extra challenge use random.org to pick a random number! Of course everything listed below are just suggestions and you can pick whichever character or whichever project you desire.

Any questions can be sent here and all tutorials have been linked below the cut for ease of access! REMEMBER to tag your resources with #TASKSWEEKLY and we will reblog them onto the main! This task can be tagged with whatever you want but if you want us to see it please be sure that our tag is the first five tags, @ mention us or send us a messaging linking us to your post!

THE TASK - scroll down for FC’s!

STEP 1: Decide on a FC you wish to create resources for! You can always do more than one but who are you starting with? There are links to masterlists you can use in order to find them and if you want help, just send us a message and we can pick one for you at random!

STEP 2: Pick what you want to create! You can obviously do more than one thing, but what do you want to start off with? Screencaps, RP icons, GIF packs, masterlists, PNG’s, fancasts, alternative FC’s - LITERALLY anything you desire!

STEP 3: Look back on tasks that we have created previously for tutorials on the thing you are creating unless you have whatever it is you are doing mastered - then of course feel free to just get on and do it. :)

STEP 4: Upload and tag with #TASKSWEEKLY! If you didn’t use your own screencaps/images make sure to credit where you got them from as we will not reblog packs which do not credit caps or original gifs from the original maker.

THINGS YOU CAN MAKE FOR THIS TASK -  examples are linked!

Stumped for ideas? Maybe make a masterlist or graphic of your favourite faceclaims. A masterlist of names. Plot ideas or screencaps from a music video preformed by an artist. Masterlist of quotes and lyrics that can be used for starters, thread titles or tags. Guides on culture and customs.

Screencaps

RP icons [of all sizes]

Gif Pack [maybe gif icons if you wish]

PNG packs

Manips

Dash Icons

Character Aesthetics

PSD’s

XCF’s

Graphic Templates - can be chara header, promo, border or background PSD’s!

FC Masterlists - underused, with resources, without resources!

FC Help - could be related, family templates, alternatives.

Written Guides.

and whatever else you can think of / make!

MASTERLIST!

F:

Nadia Cattouse (1924) Belizean - actress and singer-songwriter.

Zee Edgell / Zelma Edgell (1940) Belizean - novelist and short story writer.

Errollyn Wallen (1958) Belizean - composer.

Sarita Diana Acosta (1959 or 1960) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1979.

Josephine Gault (1970) Belizean - Miss World Belize 1991 and Miss Universe Belize 1991.

Catherine Bruhier (1972) Belizean - actress and filmmaker.

Angela Gegg (1979) Belizean - spoken word artist, poet, writer, entertainer, painter, cubist, and abstract artist.

Kisha Sierra (1981) Belizean - actress.

Kalilah Enriquez (1983) Belizean - broadcast journalist and poet.

Melonie Gillette (1984) Belizean - singer-songwriter.

Felicita Arzu / Leesha Arzu (1985) Belizean - model and Miss World Belize 2007.

Christie Laing (1985) Belizean / British - actress.

Linda Blease (1985) Belizean - actress, DJ, tv producer, and socialite.

Charmaine Chinapen (1987) Belizean - model and Miss World Belize 2008.

Lisa Tucker (1989) Afro Belizean - actress and singer.

Idolly Louise Saldivar (1989 or 1990) Belizean - Miss World Belize 2013.

Kasturi Anderson (1991) Belizean, Japanese, African-American, Unspecified Native American - actress.

Becky Bernard / Becky Belinda Bernard (1991 or 1992) Belizean [Mayan] - Miss Universe Belize 2003 an Miss Costa Maya Belize 2002.

Destinee Dominique Arnold (1992 or 1993) Belizean [Mayan] - Miss Costa Maya 2013 and Miss International Belize 2012.

Rebecca Rath (1993) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 2016.

Kadejah Kenifah Tunn (1993 or 1994) Belizean - Miss World Belize 2011.

Joyjah (1994) Belizean - instagrammer and youtuber.

Iris Carmen Salguero (1995 or 1996) Belizean - Miss Earth Belize 2017 and Miss World Belize 2016.

Christine Syme (1995 or 1996) Belizean - Miss Earth Belize 2015.

Jasmin Jael Rhamdas (1995 or 1996) Belizean - Miss World Belize 2015.

Shereen Cutkelvin (1996) Afro Belizean, possibly Scottish - singer.

Tanya Carter (?) Belizean [Afro Belizean, Indian, English, Spanish], Mexican - singer-songwriter.

Tamara Goodwin (?) Belizean / African-American - actress.

Ninah Shanice (?) Belizean - Youtuber and Instagrammer.

Tyler Savery (?) Belizean - fashion designer.

Maria Jeffery (?) Belizean [Mayan] - Miss Universe Belize 2007 and Miss Costa Maya 2007.

Rebecca Stirm (?) Belizean - fashion designer.

Adele Ramos (?) Belizean - musician, poet, author, journalist, and publisher.

Maureen Navarrete (?) Belizean - fashion designer.

Renee Sherese Martinez (?) Belizean - Miss World Belize 2017.

Denise Castillo (?) Belizean - singer.

Raquel Alejandra Badillo (?) Belizean - Miss World Belize 2014.

Alleshia Pollard (?) Belizean - model.

Chantae Chanice Guy (?) Belizean - Miss Earth Belize 2016 and Miss World Belize 2012.

Amber Rivero / Amber Renee Rivero (?) Belizean - Miss Earth Belize 2013.

Jessel Monique Lauriano (?) Belizean - Miss Earth Belize 2012 and Miss World Belize 2010.

Kimberly Ann Robateau (?) Belizean - Miss Earth Belize 2011.

Marsha / gamine.taurean (?) Belizean - instagrammer and designer.

Annlyn Nicole Apolonio (?) Belizean - Miss International Belize 2011.

Norma Leticia Lara (?) Belizean - Miss World Belize 2009.

Leilah Anne Magdalena Pandy (?) Belizean - Miss Earth Belize 2007 and Miss Universe Belize 2004.

Andrea Elrington (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 2005.

Corinth Morter Lewis (?) Belizean - poet and educator.

Dalila Violeta Vanzie Montano (?) Belizean - Miss World Belize 2003.

Karen Anita Russell (?) Belizean - Miss World Belize 2002.

Shiemicka Richardson (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 2000.

Viola Jeffery (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1999.

Elvia Lilia Vega (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1998.

Sharon Domínguez (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1997 and writer.

Ava Lovell (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1996.

Deborah Wade (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1995.

Melanie Smith (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1993.

Ysela Antonia Zabaneh (?) Belizean - Miss World Belize 1990 and Miss Universe Belize 1990.

Martha Badillo (?) Belizean - Miss World Belize 1989.

Andrea Shermane McKoy (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1989.

Pauline Young (?) Belizean - Miss World Belize 1988.

Janine Sylvestre (?) Belizean - Miss World Belize 1987.

Holly Emma Edgell (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1987.

Romy Ellen Taegar (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1986.

Jenny Woods / Jennifer Woods (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1985.

Lisa Patricia Ramirez (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1984.

Shirlene Dianne McKoy (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1983.

Sharon Kay Auxillou (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1982.

Ivette Zabaneh (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1981.

Ellen Marie Clarke (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1980.

Christina Margarita Ysaguirre (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1978.

Dora Maria Phillips (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1977.

Janet Joan Joseph (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1976.

Pelisamay Longsworth (?) Belizean - Miss Universe Belize 1975.

F - Athletes:

Sharette García (1969) Belizean - middle-distance runner.

Althea Gilharry (1970) Belizean - triple jumper.

Camille Solis (1971) Belizean - cyclist.

Marion Jones (1975) Belizean / Unknown Other - sprinter and long jumper.

The Belizean Bruiser / Marion Reneau (1977) Belizean - mixed martial artist.

Tricia Flores (1979) Belizean - long jumper and runner.

Emma Wade (1980) Belizean - sprinter.

Alicia Thompson (1981) Belizean - cyclist.

Kaina Martinez (1986) Belizean - sprinter.

Idania Ramirez (1988) Belizean - footballer.

Katy Sealy (1990) Belizean / Unknown Other - runner, high jumper, and javelin thrower.

Kaya Cattouse (1990) Belizean - cyclist.

Samantha Dirks (1992) Belizean - sprinter.

Simone Biles (1997) Belizean / African-American - gymnast.

M:

Evan X Hyde / Evan Anthony Hyde (1947) Belizean - writer, journalist, and media executive.

Pen Cayetano / Delvin Cayetano (1954) Afro Belizean - musician.

Nigel Miguel (1963) Belizean - actor and producer.

The Grandmaster / Leroy Young (1967) Belizean - dub poet.

Yasser Musa (1970) Belizean [Palestinian, possibly other] - poet, visual artist, and publisher.

Erik Griffin (1972) Belizean, Jamaican, Honduran [Afro Honduran, Indian, Spanish, possibly other] / Irish, possibly other - comedian and actor.

Dan Man / Allison Hemsley (1973) Belizean - actor, rapper, and musician.

Da Long / Big Dragon / Andrew Ballen (1973) Belizean, Jamaican - tv personality, content developer, and CEO.

Arlen Escarpeta (1980) Afro Belizean - actor.

Wolé Parks (1982) Belizean / African-American - actor.

LaMorne Morris (1983) Dominican / Afro Belizean - actor, tv personality, and comedian.

Houston / Houston Edward Summers IV (1983) Belizean, African-American - singer.

Jah (1986) Belizean - actor.

O.T. Genasis / Odis Flores (1987) Afro Belizean - rapper.

iLoveMakonnen / Makonnen Sheran (1989) Belizean [Afro Belizean, Indian, Chinese, Irish, Belgian, German] / Unspecified Non-Belizean - rapper and singer.

Sergio Blanco (2003) Nicaraguan [Miskito, Spanish], Belizean, Jamaican / British, French, Welsh, Finnish

Kareem Ferguson (?) Belizean - actor.

Lova Boy / Daniel Cacho (?) Belizean [Garifuna] - musician.

Hubert Escarpeta (?) Belizean - actor.

Ivan Duran (?) Belizean - musician and producer.

DJ Lindy D (?) Belizean - DJ.

Frankie Reneau / Francis Reneau (?) Belizean - pianist and composer.

Romeo Escobar (?) Belizean - producer.

DJ Buddy (?) Belizean - DJ.

Lord Rhaburn / Gerald Rhaburn (?) Belizean - musician.

MC Melo (?) Belizean - rapper.

Supa G (?) Belizean - musician.

M - Athletes:

Denfield McNab (1943) Belizean - cyclist.

Colin Thurton (1943) Belizean - sprinter.

Kenneth Sutherland (1943) Belizean - cyclist.

Errol Thurton (1944) Belizean - sprinter.

Owen Meighan (1944) Belizean - long jumper.

Robert Hulse (1946) Belizean - sports shooter.

Arthur Mapp (1953) Belizean - judoka.

Phillip Pipersburg (1955) Belizean - sprinter.

Eugène Muslar (1959) Belizean - long-distance runner.

Joslyn Chavarria (1959) Belizean - cyclist.

Damel Flowers (1960) Belizean - sprinter.

Merlyn Dawson (1960) Belizean - cyclist.

Paul Réneau (1960) Belizean - sprinter and cyclist.

Earl Theus (1963) Belizean - cyclist.

Ian Gray (1963) Belizean - middle-distance runner.

Lindford Gillitt (1964) Belizean - cyclist.

Kurt Cutkelvin (1964) Belizean - cyclist.

Warren Coye (1965) Belizean - cyclist.

Chito Martínez / Reyenaldo Ignacio Martínez (1965) Belizean - baseball player.

Wernell Reneau (1965) Belizean - cyclist.

Polin Belisle (1966) Belizean - marathon runner.

Emery Gill (1966) Belizean - sprinter.

Fitzgerald Joseph (1967) Belizean - cyclist.

John Palacio (1967) Belizean - sprinter.

Michael Lewis (1967) Belizean - cyclist.

Devon Hyde (1967) Belizean - triple jumper.

Carlton Usher (1968) Belizean - sprinter.

Douglas Lamb (1968) Belizean - cyclist.

Anthony Adderly (1968) Belizean - football manager.

Charles Lewis (1968) Belizean - cyclist.

Verno Phillips (1969) Belizean - boxer.

Michael Joseph (1971) Belizean - sprinter.

Charlie Slusher / Carlos Slusher (1971) Belizean - footballer.

Orlando Chavarria (1971) Belizean - cyclist.

Norman Nunez / Norman Nunez Pipersburgh (1971) Belizean - footballer.

Elston Shaw (1972) Belizean - sprinter.

Marlon Garnett (1975) Belizean - basketball player.

Jarbi Alvarez (1976) Belizean - footballer.

Kawan Lovelace (1976) Belizean - triple jumper.

Deris Benavides (1976) Belizean - footballer.

Jayson Jones (1977) Belizean - sprinter.

Milt Palacio / Milton Palacio (1978) Belizean - basketball player.

Mark Leslie (1978) Belizean - footballer.

Michael Aguilar (1979) Belizean - hurdler.

Selvin De Leon (1980) Belizean, Guatemalan - footballer.

Rudolph Flowers (1980) Belizean - footballer.

Eddermys Sanchez (1980) Belizean - judoka.

Shane Orio / Shane Moody-Orio (1980) Belizean - footballer.

Vallan Symms (1980) Belizean - footballer.

Stephen Lopez (1980) Belizean - footballer.

Noel Felix (1981) Belizean - basketball player.

David Trapp (1981) Belizean - footballer.

Elroy Smith (1981) Belizean - footballer.

Dion Frazer (1981) Belizean - footballer.

Alfonso Martinez (1982) Belizean - taekwondo practioner.

Victor Morales (1982) Belizean - footballer.

Trevor Lennen (1983) Belizean - footballer.

Dalton Eiley (1983) Belizean - footballer.

Jonathan Williams (1983) Belizean - hurdler.

Harrison Rochez (1983) Belizean - footballer.

Elroy Kuylen (1983) Belizean - footballer.

Woodrow West (1985) Belizean - footballer.

The Juggernaut / Joe Pacheco (1985) Belizean, Puerto Rican - mixed martial artist.

Ashley Torres (1985) Belizean - footballer.

Harrison Tasher (1985) Belizean - footballer.

Ryan Simpson (1985) Belizean - footballer.

Tyrone Pandy (1986) Belizean - footballer.

Ian Gaynair (1986) Belizean - footballer.

Brandon Jones (1987) Belizean / Unspecified - sprinter.

Deon McCaulay (1987) Belizean - footballer.

Renick James (1987) Belizean - judoka.

Evral Trapp (1987) Belizean - footballer.

Kenneth Medwood (1987) Belizean - hurdler and sprinter.

Evan Mariano (1988) Belizean - footballer.

Daniel Jimenez (1988) Belizean - footballer.

Mario Villanueva (1989) Belizean - footballer.

Amin August Jr. (1990) Belizean - footballer.

Nana Mensah / Nana-Yaw Gydeu Amankwah-Mensah (1990) Belizean - footballer.

Devon Makin (1990) Belizean - footballer.

Mark Anderson (1991) Belizean - sprinter.

Trevon Salazar (1991) Belizean - cyclist.

Andres Makin (1992) Belizean - footballer.

Michael Salazar (1992) Belizean - footballer.

Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (1993) Belizean - American football player.

Luis Torres (1993) Belizean - footballer.

Shaun Gill (1993) Belizean - sprinter.

Mike Atkinson (1994) Belizean - footballer.

Jarret Davis (1994) Belizean - footballer.

Lionel Cabral (1994) Belizean - footballer.

Jordy Polanco (1996) Belizean - footballer.

Stanley Reneau (?) Belizean - footballer.

Russell Hulse (?) Belizean - footballer.

Problematic:

Shyne / Moses Michael Levi (1979) Belizean [Ethiopian Jewish, possibly other] - rapper - Convicted of attempted murder.

[wazafam]

Generally speaking, superheroes are smart people. They have to be otherwise they wouldn't survive doing what they do for long. Oliver Queen and his friends and allies have been through many challenges and they managed to defeat most of them.

RELATED: Black Lightning: The Characters' 10 Most Impractical Outfit Choices, Ranked

That doesn't mean they always make the right choices. Quite the opposite, in fact. as the characters evolved over the course of Arrow, they became more careful. Even then, though, they kept making mistakes. Not just in their personal and work life, but also when it came to choosing their outfits. It might not seem like a big deal but some Arrow outfits were truly impractical and endangered those who wore them.

10 Oliver Queen's Initial Outfit On Lian Yu

These clothes were just all wrong. To be fair to Oliver, it wasn't his fault - he simply wore this when the ship crashed. However, he made zero effort to mask himself in any way.

The white shirt he wore on Lian Yu shone like a beacon among the greenery of the island, which meant Oliver drew a lot of attention to himself. And considering how dangerous Lian Yu is, that could have easily proved fatal for Oliver. Luckily, he later switched these clothes for some tactical gear.

9 Oliver's First Arrow Suit

Speaking of Oliver and Lian Yu, there's also his first prototype of the Green Arrow costume he wore when he crashed on the island.

It looked like a mixture of two different outfits and it had none of the useful traits or resilience of his subsequent suits. At least it seemed it allowed Oliver to move freely, but that's about it.

8 Leather Jackets Everywhere

Maybe it's because of budgetary issues, but a lot of Arrowverse heroes wear leather jackets as the base of their costumes. Leather jackets do look good but they, once again, provide very little protection against harm.

Also, depending on the exact material used for the jacket, leather can restrict movement, which is something superheroes can't be grateful for in combat.

7 Thea Queen's Training Outfit

In the third season, Thea lives with her father Malcolm, who teaches her how to fight. In one of the scenes, Thea wears a helmet typical for the martial art Kendo.

RELATED: The Vampire Diaries: The Characters' 10 Most Impractical Outfit Choices, Ranked

Except she doesn't have it properly tied, since she easily takes it off her head once she stops fighting. In real life, if she fought in this helmet and wouldn't tie it, it wouldn't hold the position on her head and make fighting very difficult, if not impossible.

6 Rene Ramirez's Upgraded Suit

Rene Ramirez AKA the Wild Dog has an iconic look in the comics, topped by his hockey mask. He sported this look on the show as well - until the creators decided to replace it with an upgrade that, frankly, didn't make much sense.

Rene's whole spiel is that he's a street hero who moves around fast. The clunky upgraded suit looked like it would considerably slow him down, which is the last thing Rene needs. So it was a good thing Arrow eventually returned back to Rene's old suit.

5 John Diggle's Mask

When John Diggle finally got a mask that would protect his identity... it was a disappointment. Not only does it look weirdly reminiscent of Magneto's helmet, but it also doesn't really hide John's face features that well.

Plus, it looks like it would be heavy and uncomfortable to wear on the head for a prolonged period of time. What's more, it significantly limits John's field of vision, which is a dangerous thing for any fighter.

4 Ragman's Rags (Without Its Power)

At one point, Rory Reagan's Ragman costume lost its power. It no longer shielded him from harm or helped him bring down his opponents.

RELATED: Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Characters' 10 Most Impractical Outfit Choices, Ranked

When Rory realized this, he temporarily left the team since, without its power, his Ragman costume was... well, rags. Luckily, the costume later regained its power and Rory helped the team out in the future.

3 Open Arms Costume

Oliver sported many different suits on Arrow. One of the less practical ones had him show part of his arms. That might not seem like such a big deal at first, but by uncovering a significant part of his arms, Oliver also opens up himself more to possible injury.

There's nothing - no cloth, no obstacle - protecting his arms, which makes it that much easier for his opponents to slash at him, cut him, or hurt his arms in a different way.

2 No Mask For The Hero

It's true that even masks sometimes don't cover enough of the face to make a difference. But Oliver took this one step further and he put himself at unnecessary risk.

In the initial seasons of Arrow, he wore no mask at all. Instead, he used a bit of green paint that he smeared around his eyes. If somebody managed to snap a photo of him or got a good look at his face, no amount of green paint would help Oliver to protect his identity.

1 Every Outfit With A Hood

This concerns not only Green Arrow himself but also other superheroes, such as Arsenal or Speedy. Anybody who has ever worn a hood will attest that it significantly limits what the person sees. That can be dangerous, especially if the hero is outnumbered and surrounded from all sides by their enemies.

In other words, hoods are helpful for concealing the hero's identity but they can also endanger them.

NEXT: Game Of Thrones: The Characters' 10 Most Impractical Outfit Choices, Ranked

Arrow: The Characters' 10 Most Impractical Outfit Choices, Ranked from https://ift.tt/3su8lx0

[normalisjustafairytale]

RENE RAMIREZ A FEMINIST ICON 

[bunchoffaceclaims]

Rick Gonzalez

Gender: Male

DOB: 30 June 1979

Nationality: American

Ethnicity: Dominican-Puerto Rican

Gif Hunt tag RP Icons tag

Rick Gonzalez is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Timo Cruz in the motion picture Coach Carter, as Ben Gonzalez on the CW supernatural drama television series Reaper, and as Naps In Roll Bounce. He currently portrays the superhero vigilante character Rene Ramirez / Wild Dog on the CW superhero drama series Arrow.

[turtlejustice]

Arrow 7x01 icons

[smoakqueenz]

Arrow 6x09 Icons

The wedding ceremony *crying* it was so beautiful *more crying* so ofc I made lot of Olicity icons ^^ My icons are here (tbh I didn’t update the page since 5x22) Feel free to ask me more or specific ones.

100x100 px

Please like/reblog if taking & don’t repost.

Credit isn’t necessary, just don’t claim it as yours.

Feel free to use

[thefostersedit]

like and © @fehhfarias

[dpinoycosmonaut]

ANOTHER PUREFOODS ICON GOES

by Bert A. Ramirez / June 3, 2021

Marc Pingris blocks a bigger Asi Taulava in a defensive play typical of the Purefoods frontliner’s PBA career.  (Photo from philstar.com)

                How do you remember a legend?  Obviously, this question is now being asked after Marc Pingris, the last remaining member of the Magnolia Hotshots’ iconic Big Three that also included James Yap, now in his last legs with Rain or Shine, and Peter Jun Simon, who retired from the game last year to start a family of his own, announced his own retirement from basketball last week.

               Pingris, or simply “Ping” or the “Pinoy Sakuragi” to fans who have identified him with that anime character in “Slam Dunk” that their favorite has declared a liking for, leaves behind a legacy that in basketball parlance may be considered as revolving around the intangibles and character he brought to the sport.  If one were looking for gaudy statistics, the 6-foot-4 native of Pozorrubio, Pangasinan will pale in comparison to other all-time greats.  In a 16-year career spanning 658 games, after all, he never averaged more than 9.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.6 blocked shots and 3.1 assists, finishing with career averages of just 7.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and less than a block.

               But Pingris is one of those players whose value would go way beyond the usual numbers, whose presence provided the team he played for the leadership, the hustle, the intensity and the winning ingredient that’s so essential in any team sport.  He never cared about stats; all he cared about was winning a damn game and, at the right opportunity, a championship.  His value was like that of a Ben Wallace, the former Detroit Pistons center who was recently elected to the Hall of Fame despite never scoring in double figures in his career (although he did lead the NBA in rebounds twice), yet was always considered an indispensable cog on the team he played for.  The similarity between Pingris and Wallace may be reflected in the fact that both were multiple-time Defensive Player of the Year awardees in their respective leagues, with Pingris winning it three times and Wallace four.

               “He was the consummate soldier,” former coach Ryan Gregorio said of Pingris, whom the then-Purefoods TJ Hotdogs acquired in a 2005 trade from the now-defunct FedEx Express, who picked the power forward third in the 2004 draft after Rich Alvarez and Yap, the future Purefoods superstar with whom Pingris would form a long partnership along with another player, Simon, whom Gregorio also signed as a free agent in the same year both Yap and Pingris were drafted.

               Gregorio was trying to rebuild the Hotdogs who had then fallen on hard times with the retirement in 2004 of Alvin Patrimonio, the face of the franchise the previous 16 years, just after Yap and Simon had come aboard.  And Pingris appeared to have completed that rebuild.  

               "His raw enthusiasm.  That is where it all started," Gregorio said of Pingris.  "And we would always have a discussion on where he came from. This guy came from the school of hard knocks, and every time you see people like that, you know that they're gonna fight to survive, put food on the table, and will always try to wiggle off from any challenges just to make sure that their head is above water."

               Indeed, Pingris had humble beginnings, providing a classic rags-to-riches story where one’s perseverance would pay off in the end.  Brought up by his single mother, Erlinda, after his French father, Jean Marc Sr., left them when Marc was just three years old to work in Morocco, they eventually lost touch for some reason and Marc thus eventually had to help his mom make both ends meet.

               "We really had a difficult life growing up,” Ping related.  “So after I got drafted, the first person I really looked for was my mother.  I hugged her and thanked her for helping us get through such incredibly difficult times in Pangasinan.  No matter what happened, she always managed to put food on the table and never allowed me and my siblings to miss even a single meal in a day.

               "Basketball truly gave my family a comfortable life," he continued. "Who would imagine that a kid who worked and slept in the wet market would become a PBA player?  When my name was called on draft night, I told myself that this is the start of great things, that I will not let go of this opportunity."

               True enough, Pingris became the prototypical workhorse, particularly when Purefoods traded for him a year after being drafted.  But perhaps because of that survival baggage that he carried, Pingris was at first short-tempered and literally fought his way around the court. But Gregorio found a way to tame him, partly because Marc was a really good guy and partly because Ryan knew how to push the buttons.  

               "When I acquired him in 2005, I got a player who was basically a live wire – he could not control his emotions and he would easily get into a fight," recalled Gregorio.  "But my message to him then was just to channel your raw emotions into a positive energy and just focus on three things that you're good at."

               And Gregorio found a guy who was willing to do anything and lay it all out on the court.  "When people would say that things can't be done, Marc Pingris would say, 'ako na bahala dyan, coach,'" Gregorio looked back with fondness.

               Pingris quickly led his new team, now called the Giants, to the Philippine Cup title in 2006, the team’s first title victory since 2002, in the process clinching Finals MVP honors as Purefoods defeated Red Bull 4-2.  In Game 2 of the series, he scored 21 points to lead the Giants to a 93-82 victory.  

               Still, the partnership would take a turn.  After then-incumbent center Rommel Adducul was diagnosed with nasopharynx cancer, the Giants in 2008 traded Pingris to the then-Magnolia Beverage Masters (now San Miguel Beer) for center Enrico Villanueva, thinking that Villanueva would make for a perfect replacement for the stricken former San Sebastian star.  It was a huge mistake that Gregorio later had to anxiously make amends for.  While Pingris won a championship with his new team, the Giants struggled.

               "I traded Ping because I thought we knew the big guy,” Gregorio later recalled.  “We needed a big guy because the opposition was trying to do it (and) was starting to get bigger and heavier. Unfortunately, the experiment didn't pan out."

               Gregorio had to plead with then-team president Butch Alejo as well as Patrimonio, then already the team manager, and governor Rene Pardo to find a way to bring back Pingris as well as Paul Artadi, whom the team also traded away, as he knew the duo would vastly improve the team’s defense, especially Pingris who would “make it miserable for the opponent to at least score inside the paint.

               “We would have gotten a lot of championships if I didn't break the team,” Gregorio admitted.

               Pingris’ return to Purefoods was thus orchestrated before the 2009-10 season, with Marc first being shipped to Burger King and then Purefoods reacquiring him 24 hours later in exchange for the Giants’ first- and second-round picks in 2010.

               "For some people, when you get traded, there is animosity but with Ping, I just told him that it was just a basketball decision," Gregorio recalled. "True enough… he was ready to heed a call to go back to Purefoods and we won a championship."

               The 2010 Philippine Cup championship that the team, now called B-Meg Llamados, would clinch via a 4-0 sweep of Alaska in the finals would, however, be the last title Pingris would win with Gregorio, who then moved over to Meralco later that year to coach the comebacking Bolts.

               But it also started a partnership with a new coach, Tim Cone, who came over from Alaska in 2011 and would steer the franchise to five more championships, including a historic grand slam and “four-peat” in 2014, and Pingris would be one of the bulwarks of those milestone victories along with, of course, his Big Three partners, Yap and Simon, plus such players as Mark Barroca, Joe Devance, Alex Mallari, Allein Maliksi, Ian Sangalang Rafi Reavis and Justin Melton.

               None of those titles, however, would come easily.  In that 2012 Commissioner’s Cup championship, B-Meg had to rely on import Denzel Bowles’ two free shots to send Game 7 of its series against Talk ‘N Text into overtime, where the Llamados pounced on the Texters to clinch it.  Marc then had to play magnificently in another seven-game barnburner in the 2013 Governors’ Cup finals against the powerhouse Petron Blaze team (another of SMB’s past incarnations) for the Llamados to clinch the first of four straight championships en route to that historic grand slam, in the process earning for Pingris a second Finals MVP trophy.

               Looking back at that partnership with Cone, the winningest coach in PBA history with 23 championships, Pingris thanked the now-Giñebra mentor, saying he “grew to understand the sport as more than a game.”  Unknown to many, Marc’s stint under Cone did not start smoothly as he found it hard to adjust to Cone’s triangle offense to the point that he requested for a trade for fear that he wouldn’t be able to cope with his new coach’s system.  Eventually, however, Pingris realized how that system would help the team win and he eventually bought into it.  

               Cone, meanwhile, found in Marc such a great soldier that he can only look back with fondness at his former frontcourt lynchpin.  When Pingris announced his retirement, Cone referred to it as the “end of an era.

               “Certainly one of a kind,” he wrote of Pingris in his Twitter post.  “I loved, in every way, coaching Ping.  Tough as nails on the court, gentle in spirit off it.  @MPingris will be the standard from which I coach future players.  My fav.”

               It was that gentleness in spirit as well as sincerity and sense of humor off the court that probably attracted Marc’s wife Danica to him.  Danica, the daughter of TV host and movie star Vic Sotto by actress Dina Bonnevie who also appeared in movies and TV before she got hitched with Pingris in March 2007, now has two kids with him, son Michael, 12, and daughter Micaela, eight.  It was Danica who would exert tremendous effort to enable Pingris to find and later get reunited with his estranged father in 2007.  They’ve since met and spent time with each other in the succeeding years particularly when Marc played with the Gilas Pilipinas national team in various tournaments in Europe, including the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain.

With his retirement, Pingris intends to spend more time with his family that includes wife Danica and children Michael and Micaela. (Photo from Danica Pingris’ Instagram account)

               Truth is, other coaches also found in Pingris a special trait not often seen in other players.  His last coach, current Magnolia Hotshots mentor Chito Victolero, thought so highly of him that he reserved a slot on the team for Marc even if he had hardly played in the last two years after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the 2018 Philippine Cup.  That notwithstanding, an assortment of injuries, including a right calf injury that prevented him from joining the Hotshots in the bubble last year, finally made Pingris decide to call it a career.

               "Coach Chito actually wanted me to start practicing again, and I told him I'll come back.  But along the way, I understood that I had other priorities," Pingris explained.  "So I talked to coach and apologized, and I thanked him because he really fought to keep my spot in the team.  I was embarrassed, of course, but I knew he understood my decision since he was once a player himself.

               "I'm really thankful that he's there not just as a coach, but as a friend and as an older brother who had my back all the way," Ping, who will turn 40 years old this coming October 16, added.

               Victolero paid tribute to Marc once he has decided to finally hang up his sneakers.  “A team need(s) good players like you,” Chito wrote on Twitter.  “You gained people's respect for your exemplary sportsmanship, humility, hard work, right attitude and of course your Big Puso.  Your success is not a surprise and you deserve it.

               “Thanks for the memories, brotherhood, championships at lahat ng pinagsamahan natin.  I will treasure everything.  The players, the coaching staff, the support staff, the fans and the game itself will miss you always!  Thank you for your years of dedication that has given us endless entertainment.  You may be retiring, but a new phase of your life is beginning.  Wish you a wonderful future ahead.  See you around and good luck!!  God bless you Ping.  Salute to our Pinoy Sakuragi.  I love you brother,” Victolero concluded.

               Comebacking TNT Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes, who coached Pingris on those Gilas Pilipinas teams from 2013 to 2014, said the power forward's "work ethic, selflessness and deep love for country" were what set him apart.

               "Retirements are always bittersweet," said Reyes in a message to ESPN5.  "On one hand I'll be seeing the last of a player who is very special to me; but on the other hand I'm glad he's retiring on his own terms and beginning a new phase of his still young life.  He WAS #puso not only in 2014 but also in the FIBA Asia in 2013."

               Indeed, it was Pingris who probably best exemplified the “puso” mantra that Chot first built around that Gilas Pilipinas team that won the silver medal in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships held here in Manila, which enabled the Philippines to make it back to the FIBA World Cup for the first time since 1978 the following year.  In perhaps the most memorable game that Pingris played for in the country’s semifinal matchup against South Korea before a full house that included then-President Noynoy Aquino at the Mall of Asia Arena, it was Pingris who sparked the nationals to a landmark victory over the Koreans, whom as everybody would remember had seemingly cast a spell over the Filipinos every time they met in Asian competitions.  And he did it even with a sprained foot he sustained before the halftime break even as the Gilas team had lost naturalized import Marcus Douthit the rest of the game with an injury in the first half.

               Pingris gallantly battled the Koreans’ big men to spark his teammates’ confidence even without the 6-foot-10 Douthit, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds as the Philippines beat Korea 86-79 to make it to the finals against China.

               “I prayed,” Pingris said after injuring his ankle.  “I asked Him to help me not feel the pain.  That moment when we won against Korea, that was the happiest because every Filipino was crying (out of joy).  Everyone, people beside me, even if I didn’t know them, (they were saying) ‘thank you, thank you.’  Even if it was us who should have been thanking them.  We were thankful for the fans because of the energy they gave us. (The fans) were really the key in that win, their cheers.”

               Despite the role he played on many of those Gilas teams, Pingris still thought it was he who owed it, not the other way around.  "I'm thankful to coach Chot Reyes and to the MVP Group for giving me the opportunity to play for the Philippines.  I wasn't a star player in the PBA.  I was just a role player.  But they gave me an opportunity to try out and play for Gilas," Marc declared.  "It's truly an honor wearing the Philippine jersey and playing for the flag."

               Of course, his exploits with Gilas were typical of the effort that Pjngris always brought on the court, something that made him one of the most popular players in the local pro league while playing for what many consider the second-most popular PBA team next only to Giñebra, with whom Purefoods has spawned a rivalry called “Manila Clasico.”

               When it was over, Pingris will be remembered for such style of play that was rewarded with not only those championships, nine of them overall, but such individual honors as 15 All-Star Game berths, three PBA Mythical Second Team selections, eight All-Defensive Team slots, and recognition as one of the league’s 40 Greatest Players when the league celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2015.

               No wonder Pingris is also one of the most admired and respected players by both his peers and basketball cognoscenti alike.

               Long-time Gilas captain and Rain or Shine stalwart Gabe Norwood, for example, said, "One of the true GREATS of the PBA is hanging up his kicks.  Greatly appreciate you, (Marc Pingris)!  Competing against you and repping the flag together are memories that'll stay with me forever.  More power to you, roommate!"

               Six-time league MVP June Mar Fajardo of SMB, meanwhile, said, “Salamat 'tol sa friendship at bilang kuya! Good luck sa bagong career mo at enjoy retirement!  Mami-miss kita sa loob ng court!"

               Another SMB star, Terrence Romeo, said, "Maraming salamat kuya Marc sa lahat ng nagawa mo sa basketball. Isa ka sa mga iniidolo ko on and off the court.  Napaka-humble at napakabait mo at laging nandyan yung puso sa game!  Salamat sa mga payo mo sakin kuya. Good luck sa next chapter ng life mo.  God bless you and your family always!"

               Fellow retirees Ranidel de Ocampo, Dondon Hontiveros and Doug Kramer also had something to say to Marc.

               "Thank you 'tol sa buong puso mo!  Salamat at naging part kami ng journey mo mula sa simula,” De Ocampo wrote on Instagram.  “Good luck sa bagong chapter.  God bless you and your family!  Happy retirement!"

               "Congrats bro!” said Hontiveros, a teammate with the SMB franchise during Pingris’ brief stint there as well as with Gilas in 2015.  “Hindi lang sa napaka-successful na career mo, pati sa pagiging magandang halimbawa.  Marami kang napahanga sa galing at tapang mo.  PUSO!"

               "Congrats Ping!  Awesome career!  Ph legend status.  God bless you bro!" said Kramer.

               And former PBA commissioner Noli Eala wrote on Twitter: "I first saw Marc Pingris play with the Cebuana Lhuillier National Team as a guest team in a PBA invitational when I was commish.  He impressed with his energy, strength, and passion.  He kept that all through his pro career.  Happy I saw it all.  Thanks Marc for making the game better."

               The most emotional comments, of course, came from his Purefoods teammates. Yap, in his Instagram account, recalled the many wars they went through.

                “Madami-dami din tayong pinagdaanan na giyera sa loob ng court, magkasama tayo sa hirap at sa saya. Sabay tayo nagsimula in 2004 kaya nagulat ako na mag-retire ka na,” said Yap.  “Gusto ko na take tong opportunity na to na pasalamatan ka @jeanmarc15 sa lahat ng ginawa mo para sakin.  You were one of the best teammates I’ve ever had.

               “Our brotherhood and friendship started with basketball (but I know) that we go beyond that, na kahit di na tayo pareho naglalaro di magbabago ang samahan natin.  Congrats on the retirement ‘tol.  See you around!”

               Barroca also cherished the long friendship he and Marc have forged through the years.  "Congratulations sa napakagandang career!” Barroca told Pingris.  “Napakaraming humahanga sayo on and off court.  Higit sa lahat, salamat sa napakagandang pagkakaibigan sa mga taong nagdaan at magdadaan pa.  Mahal namin kayo @jeanmarc15 @danicaspingris."

               Younger teammate Jack Corpuz, meanwhile, said, “Dati, napapanuod lang kita.  Pinapangarap na makalaban ka sa basketball at maging teammate.  Salamat sa mga advice at pag-motivate lagi sa akin.  Lagi ko tatandaan lahat ng sinasabi mo sa akin.  Stay safe.  God bless Idol.  See you soon.”

               Definitely, Marc leaves a mark in the game that not many, even those who might have had more impressive numbers, probably would simply for his persona that’s associated not only with winning but also with great comradeship.  And that’s just consistent with how he wants to be remembered, which he said will hopefully influence a generation that plays with the same passion that he played with.

               "I don't regret anything because I've given it my all for 16 years here in the PBA," he said.  "And I gave my heart to the game.  I want people to remember me for that.  I wasn't the most skilled player out there, but my heart was bigger than my talents.  That's why I played the way I played."

               So how do you remember a legend?  You remember him with fondness.  With gratitude.  And with the hope that someday, somehow, someone like him will emerge from the streets of one small, obscure and far-flung town in the countryside like Marc Pingris did, and create a similar legend that he did.

[reginaking]

Rick Gonzalez is sexy end of story.

[briangroth27]

Arrow Season 6 Wish List

Full Spoilers…

I loved Season 5 and thought it completed Season 4’s return to Arrow’s Season 2 high point. I can’t wait to see where the show will go next, but here are some things I’d love to see in Season 6!

Oliver Queen/Green Arrow I love that Ollie fought through the darkness of the “monster” inside him and it seems like we’re headed for a more hopeful hero.  Ollie doesn’t need to be as sunny as Flash or Supergirl, but an arc arguing that you can always come back from your sins (no matter how awful) is a great tack to take with a character so steeped in personal improvement as Green Arrow. There’s a valid story in becoming a beacon of hope after overcoming your mistakes, and watching Oliver and the rest of Team Arrow lift each other up and stay in the light despite the darkness of their pasts will be great to watch. Despite being a show about redemption, it doesn’t have to become any less gritty: Ollie can be the light and center of hope in a dark world. I do want them to define the “pleasure” Ollie took when he liked killing criminals. My feeling is his “monster” was the awareness that killing was never off the table for him and the fact that he would gladly do whatever it took to save others (connecting to his role as Star City’s sin-eater), coupled perhaps with a bit of happiness knowing he’d permanently made the world a little safer by eliminating a criminal (that was never implied and I can’t believe we were supposed to infer Ollie is a serial killer who became a vigilante to scratch his murderous itch). Assuming everyone he loves isn’t dead, I can’t wait to see a happier, free-from-his-past Oliver!

I’m also very interested to see how Ollie develops now that William is back in his life. I felt Season 4 missed an opportunity to play with that entirely fresh relationship, so hopefully William will stick around for a long time and we’ll see Ollie grow into a father. The scene or two we got of him bonding with William last year was sweet, but with what seems like Samantha’s death, I’m sure Ollie and William’s relationship will take a dark turn this year. I hope they can work through it.

What I still want to see most—and what I think Amell’s version needs to fully be Green Arrow—is his left-wing politics. Comics Ollie stands apart from other heroes for railing against the system that creates criminals and societal problems in addition to fighting supervillains, so that should translate here. Oliver’s mayoral arc in Season 5 saw him making several baby steps and at least one major leap toward this iconic status, so I hope that continues. Executive Producer Marc Guggenheim told me in a Tumblr ask long ago that it’s difficult to get too far into the political aspect, so I appreciate any strides they can make. I’d settle for Ollie becoming the voice of the common man—something similar to Chris Evans’ Captain America, perhaps—if they can’t go full-on liberal with him. They could incorporate Ollie’s time as a Bratva captain to utilize his first-hand experience with the criminal perspective; if he understands what motivates criminals, not only can he fight them better, but he can work to ease the systemic issues that create crime. Ollie can also use the darkness of his past to better understand and connect with the criminals he faces, both as Green Arrow and as mayor, to hopefully lead them down a better path. Whether those factors come into play or not, Ollie trying to run a broken government and realizing it needs to change to truly save everyone would be a great step forward. If the theme of Season 6 is family, perhaps it’s time Ollie took an even bigger interest in the larger “family” of Star City’s residents.

While I’m glad there will be danger in the form of the Feds looking into Ollie’s  Green Arrow connections—a good outgrowth from being investigated by Susan and a perfect result of making GA a target—I hope they don’t derail his mayoral administration. There’s so much more drama they can mine from that setup. They can frustrate him with companies who don’t want to pay to help people who “don’t help themselves” and the limits of his mayoral position that don’t allow him to make the changes that will really help save the city. Ollie navigating how to convince people to care could be his hardest fight—and an especially relevant one—yet. Give Ollie as many obstacles he can’t just shoot as possible!

Allies -Thea Queen/Speedy: Thea’s fear that her darkness is leading her to become like Moira is a brilliant idea, and while she went away to deal with it in Season 5, I think we definitely need to see that battle onscreen in Season 6. Malcolm’s death will surely complicate things and I can’t wait to see where Thea goes from here because of her complex feelings towards him. Were she to truly embrace her inner Moira, I wouldn’t be opposed to Thea becoming a villain for a bit.

-John Diggle/Spartan: I’d like to see more conflicts about the legality and limits of superheroes vs. the government overstepping its bounds with Lyla. I’d also love for these two to meet Connor Hawke/John Jr., particularly now that he’s been rewritten into the timeline via Flashpoint. If there’s more for John to deal with in terms of his guilt over killing Andy, then let’s see that too!

-Felicity Smoak/Overwatch: While I’m all for most of the characters fighting past their darkness, Felicity indulging in hers is kinda fun. I liked her subplot with Helix in Season 5 and I absolutely think they need to deal more with her choosing to destroy Havenrock than they have. I wouldn’t mind Felicity’s spinal tech being damaged in the destruction of Lian Yu to the extent where she has to deal with her paralysis far more than we saw in Season 4. That was a rushed arc in Season 4 that could’ve yielded much more drama and growth to her character, in addition to being a realistic and relatable chance for greater representation on the show. I’d love Donna Smoak to return too, which could be especially interesting given the darkness Felicity has experienced since we saw her last. I’d also love to see more of her relationships with her father and Ollie; Noah leaving is full of possibilities and I really like how Felicity fits into Ollie’s arc of becoming a better man (even if conversely, I like Felicity going darker).

-Roy Harper/Arsenal: I’d love Roy back on the team full-time! I really liked the partnership he and Ollie forged and if his return in Season 3 showed us nothing else, no one Thea dates holds a candle to the connection she has with Roy. I’d love to see where Roy is now and if he’s continued his heroics in his own way. If we can’t ever get Dick Grayson, Agent of Spyral because of the Batman rights limits, what about Agent Harper? Roy worked with the Suicide Squad in the comics, so this wouldn’t be that big a change from the source material. The world even thinks he’s dead—like they did Grayson when he went undercover in Spyral—and Spyral is too cool and fun a spy organization not to use on one of The CW’s shows. Reinventing Roy as Ollie’s mole in a mind-bending international spy ring could be an awesome arc! Colton Haynes said he’d be back soon, so I can’t wait!

-Curtis Holt/Mr. Terrific: I want to learn more about him and see how the show deals with super-science beyond what Ray brought to it. Personally, I’d like to see him become the low budget/homemade tech guy to differentiate him from the heroes of Legends, Supergirl, and Flash. Curtis found a good balance between using his fists and his brain to fight crime this year and I’m excited to see that develop even further. Curtis is also working really well as the beacon of untainted light/hope on the show (with a sense of “fair play”) and I’d love for that to continue. We saw his marriage to Paul fall apart this year, so I’d like to see more fallout of that, in addition to flashbacks or something to show us their happier times so we have a better idea of what Curtis lost. I really think Paul is Vigilante, so that’d be a great conflict! I also wouldn’t mind if Curtis and Rene became a thing.

-Dinah Drake/Black Canary 2: I still would like to see more of why the team needs Dinah. I like her, but Team Arrow doesn't feel more complete with her on it. Ollie brought her in reasoning that Laurel left a hole they needed to fill and while her death definitely left the team feeling shattered in Season 4, it felt rebuilt before Dinah was brought in. I don’t think she’s extraneous, I just don't see what Dinah's bringing that no one else is; had Ollie not made that declaration, it wouldn’t stick out like it does. That said, I think there’s great potential with her job as a cop to look at how the rest of the force views superheroes and a chance to examine when it’s appropriate to deal with a crime as a cop and when being Black Canary is necessary. Her policework is also a good source of conflict for her superhero ID, since things like her fingerprints are now on record and she’s surrounded by detectives who’ll notice if she slips away and Black Canary appears; she’ll have to be that much more careful when in the field. I’m also very interested to see how she lives up to Laurel’s legacy in both her and Quentin’s eyes, and how her ongoing conflict with Black Siren develops.

-Rene Ramirez/Wild Dog: I don’t know anything about Wild Dog in the comics and while it took a while for him to grow on me, I left the season a fan. I hope he and Quentin can get his daughter back and I’d also love to see their working relationship at City Hall to continue: that was key to improving and rounding out Rene for me and I loved the bond he built with Quentin. I’m up for anything with his character, but one idea for a fun subplot I had was for him and Zoe to have a playdate with Ollie and William. I doubt it would happen, but I’d absolutely be down for it. At the very least, it seems like it’d be logical for the two kids who seem like they’ll be on the show for a while to bond and become friends. The other key relationship Rene had in Season 5 for me was his friendship with Curtis, so I’d definitely love to see that expanded on and fully explored.

-Quentin Lance: If any member of Team Arrow were to die in the destruction of Lian Yu, my money would be on Quentin. He seems to have mostly cleaned himself up, approved of Dinah carrying on Laurel’s legacy, and found a renewed purpose; it might seem like his arc is complete. However, I think there’s plenty of potential with Laurel-2 around. Black Siren’s presence and the attempt to save her soul can fuel at least another season of plotlines for Quentin. The writers also found a fun reversal of his relationship with Ollie by working as his Deputy Mayor last year and surprising bonds with both Thea and Rene, all of which I’d love to see continue in Season 6.

-Slade Wilson/Deathstroke: I loved the older and wiser version we met in the Season 5 finale, so I’m up for whatever his deal with Ollie to find his son brings. But will the fact that Slade killed Moira be a sticking point for Ollie, no matter how much he wants to believe his old friend has changed?

-Nyssa al Ghul: I just hope she survived Lian Yu. She’s one of my favorites, so I’d love it if her feud with Talia could continue! I’d also like to see her reunite with Sara at some point.

-Dick Grayson/Nightwing: Dick Grayson would be an awesome example of a vigilante who permanently beat the darkness, since Robin came from tragedy yet helped Batman move into the light. Dick’s bright and friendly attitude mixed with his background with a much darker mentor would make for an interesting combination and he’d be a cool foil for Roy or, more pressingly, Thea. This is highly unlikely given Nightwing’s not only getting a movie but leading the Titans…but since that’s a Greg Berlanti show too, I hope they can cross over down the line!

-Barbara Gordon/Oracle: I doubt we’ll get her on the show (maybe on Titans, though), but Ollie has mentioned she exists so it’d be fun to develop a friendly rivalry between Babs and Felicity. Even if she only appeared offscreen via text or email, like Superman in Supergirl Season 1, it could work: they could encounter her Birds of Prey operatives and we wouldn’t necessarily have to see her in the flesh. If that’s the most we can get, I’d take it.

-Helena Bertinelli/Huntress: Guggenheim says she could return and I’d be all for her development beyond the angry vigilante she’s been so far. How does Ollie’s administration deal with a vigilante who isn’t working with his team? Could she be working with Vigilante? With Helix? Perhaps she could mention that she’s working with “someone new,” and she could be one of Oracle’s Birds of Prey operatives. Regardless, I’d like to see her and Ollie patch things up and forge a healthier relationship.

-Vic Sage/The Question: Vic Sage’s brutal style of vigilantism clashes with Ollie’s efforts to find peaceful solutions (think Daredevil and Punisher), while his day job as a reporter would allow him to put pressure on Ollie’s mayoral position as well as threaten to expose his Green Arrow double life. Though it’s true Vigilante and Susan Williams just played very similar roles, Question’s insane Mulder-esque conspiracy theories—which are usually right—would be extremely entertaining with everyone around him thinking he’s completely nuts. Question has struggled with whether or not to take a life in the comics, which would be a cool parallel of Ollie’s recent internal battle. The character’s original objectivist beliefs would be a great contrast to Ollie’s growing liberal mindset too. I’m also up for introducing Renee Montoya (the second Question) as his partner-in-training or as the current Question (and maybe Dinah’s partner on the force!)…though she’s appeared on Gotham so she’s probably off-limits.

 Enemies -Robert Queen-2: Either as an enemy or an antagonistic ally, I’d love to see Ollie meet this alternate universe version his father, who became the Arrow of Earth-2. Not doing this would be a major misstep, particularly as Ollie will be a father this season as well and the season’s theme is family. I’d love to see how Robert-2 has developed differently from Ollie and how Ollie reacts to seeing his father in his role. I don’t see them really getting along for some reason (at least at first), but I’d love to see them try! It’s also likely Robert-2 has some history with Black Siren, so that’d be a great connection as well! 

-Laurel Lance-2/Black Siren: I’d love to learn about her history on Earth-2 and I can’t wait to see where she goes next season, since Laurel-2 is one of my favorite additions to the show. What does she want now that she’s marooned here? Whether Oliver and Team Arrow are successful in redeeming her or if she goes completely evil, I’m down. I can’t wait to see her battle with Dinah over the Black Canary legacy and how she reacts to Quentin on an extended basis. I’d love to see her interact with Sara over on Legends too! Whatever she does, I hope she’s an independent operative this season rather than working for another bigger bad. There’s a team of villains this year, but I hope they’re equal partners rather than Laurel-2 being a lackey. I’d also like to see a flashback to when and how Barry broke the news to Team Arrow that they had her locked up—and how Ollie reacted—since Team Flash chose to keep her a secret at first.

-Dinah Lance-2: I’d love it if Alex Kingston could return as Laurel-2's mom and the original Black Siren of Earth-2. Either as a hero disappointed by Laurel-2’s villainous turn or a villain who passed her mantle on to her daughter, this would be a cool twist on the comics’ Black Canary legacy, as well as an awesome evil version of Laurel’s legacy on the show. And what if she met our Quentin? Was her Quentin a corrupt cop?

-Vigilante: I can’t wait to find out who’s under the mask and I’m certainly hoping he’s Paul Holt. The clash between him and Curtis—not to mention Curtis’ reaction to finding out Paul is a vigilante too—would be fantastic. I wonder if he’s working with Helix as their muscle, but either way, I hope to see more of his “kill all the villains” philosophy clashing with Ollie’s new mindset.

-Evelyn Sharp/Artemis: I would’ve loved to know how she felt about finally getting to work with Laurel’s old team. Did she feel she was living up to Lance’s legacy? Did once holding the Black Canary mantle make her second-guess her decision to side with Prometheus at all? In hindsight, she was one of Season 5’s bigger missteps, as she had both built-in tension with Oliver from Season 4 that could’ve been focused on and they could’ve done a lot more with her journey from Canary acolyte to villain. She had the makings of a solid supporting enemy and I liked what McLaughlin did with the screentime she had. Unfortunately, she didn’t get enough time to really dig into Evelyn’s potential. If she survived the island, I’d most like to see her played up as a dark foil for Thea; an externalization of Thea’s struggle like Chase was for Ollie. Evelyn being driven by her parents’ deaths is a perfect parallel to Thea feeling the darkness of her parents taking hold of her.

-Werner Zytle/Count Vertigo: An actual count would be awesome—I really like the idea of a criminal with diplomatic immunity—but I doubt we’ll get it now that we’re two Vertigos deep (though Werner Zytle could be disgraced foreign royalty for all we know…or maybe he’s distantly related to royalty and doesn’t know it yet). I loved Seth Gabel’s insane Count, but Zytle could use more personality and grander ambitions IMO. What does he want? What drives him? Could he get into a turf war with Brick? The comics’ reality-warping Vertigo device falling into his hands would give him a more powerful attack and an awesome visual effect! Most importantly, warping Ollie’s perception of reality would be a wholly unique way to mess with Green Arrow’s primary attack strategy. If nothing else, it feels like Vertigo could fill the mob boss role Brick and Church have tried to hold over the course of the series. They could do so much more with Zytle, so I hope they explore him to his fullest!

-William Tockman/Clock King: I’d like to see him return in a larger supervillain role, maybe as someone who organizes other criminals’ crimes so they’re more effective.

-Onomatopoeia: An extremely tough assassin who only speaks in onomatopoeias, he’d be cool and creepy. He’s one of the few major Green Arrow villains who haven’t appeared on the show yet, so it’d be cool to finally get him in live action!

-Lonnie Machin/Anarky: I have no idea where Thea’s arc is going to take her, but I bet there’s a good chance it leads directly to him. I loved the point he made about her always following others and I hope that the two of them have a few more climactic battles. 

-Owen Mercer/Captain Boomerang: I don’t see how Digger Harkness could have survived Lian Yu, so perhaps Arrow—or Flash—can introduce his metahuman son! Owen has super speed that manifests in bursts (allowing him to bring a whole new level to his boomerang attacks), but he’s more interested in family than he is in crime. With Season 6 being about family, it’d be cool to see him introduced this year!

-Spyral: A UN covert operations agency from the Cold War, they recruit lone operatives like daredevils and mad scientists rather than agents from established espionage agencies. They’re spies with tech like hypnos implants that create illusions and hallucinations in the minds of enemies, can link operatives’ vision, and can upload information directly to the mind. They also have identity protection implants that “swirl” their face in the minds of enemies and on camera so they can’t be remembered. Maybe they’re interested in taking advantage of the worldwide lack of nukes Damien Darhk caused. Maybe their Cold War ties could connect to Ollie’s time in Russia somehow. They’d also give ARGUS an interesting opponent, to loop Lyla into the story.

-Cheshire: If Roy is coming back, they should introduce her! As the world’s “second-deadliest assassin”—an excellent fighter and acrobat who employs poisoned blades and other weapons—she’d be a great challenge for the team. Her comic history with Roy (she’s the mother of his child) could be twisted in new and interesting ways on the show; if they went with Spyral, maybe she could be his handler or partner. Perhaps a semi-redeemed assassin like post-Roy Cheshire could be a cool foil for Thea as well.

-Edward Nygma/Riddler (or Enigma): It’ll probably never happen, but I’d love to see Team Arrow go up against Riddler, my favorite Batman villain and an entirely different type of challenge for the team. If Cory Michael Smith could play the Berlanti-verse doppelganger of his Gotham character it’d be perfect, as he’s one of the best parts of that show. But since he likely can’t, maybe they could use Riddler’s daughter Enigma instead. Just have her refer to wanting to impress her dad by “improving” on his methods to take down a superhero. I doubt Gotham will ever get to her and if we can have an unnamed Harley Quinn cameo on Arrow, Enigma shouldn’t be that big a stretch.

 I don’t have specific ideas for what they could do, but I’m always game for more Cupid, Brick, Chien Na Wei, Liza Warner, Talia, and Calculator! I love that CW villains recur like in the comics and hope that continues. If Season 6 features villains who are deliberate opponents for specific members of Team Arrow, perhaps they could team up to form Arrow’s very own Injustice Gang!

 General Show Notes I hope Arrow—and Oliver himself—continues taking on real-life social issues and systemic problems to the extent that Supergirl takes on feminist struggles. Our ongoing real-life political standoff between the rich and poor—as well as the movement for greater equality and representation—makes this the perfect time to dive into that aspect! Dealing with the issues of today could be the key to reinvigorating the show's ratings, direction, and purpose in Season 6 and beyond. Arrow's CW’s grounded show and Ollie is one of the most political characters in comics (in addition to Ollie literally being involved in the politics of Star City), so it’s already a perfect fit!

I certainly hope that any future flashbacks follow Daredevil’s example: use them when needed, but don’t put them in all or even most of the episodes. I like that they’re something of a metaphor for drawing an arrow back before letting it fly, but it’s time to move past them. I can’t wait for the majority of episodes (at least) to use their full runtime—flashbacks took up an average of eight minutes each week—to flesh out the present-day adventures!

This is the absolute smallest nitpick I could possibly come up with, but I’d still like them to start calling the Arrow Cave “The Quiver.” Ever since Harley Quinn pointed out how much more sense that makes for Green Arrow’s base of operations in an issue of Injustice, I’ve thought it should be the canon term. It sounds cool and pulpy too!

Finally, I’d love for them to find a way for Justin Hartley to appear on the show. I don’t know who joked about it years ago, but the idea of Hartley being the actor hired to play Oliver in a movie would be funny! However, if we can go to Earth-Smallville, I’d love to see Team Arrow’s reaction to a much lighter Oliver!

I can’t wait for Arrow to return tomorrow! What do you want to see?

[smoakqueenz]

Arrow 6x04 Icons

I don’t know why, but the lightning of this episode wasn’t really good, and it had been hard for me to make some icons. So I am sorry for the result =/. I have some icons in 200x200 if you want. My icons are here (tbh I didn’t update the page since 5x22)

Feel free to ask me more or specific ones.

100x100 px

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