Man of the Year:

Sam Altman

ChatGPT founder, Sam Altman, changed the world this year, for better or for worse. We got meta and asked ChatGPT why he should be Man of the Year, this is what it came back with:

Sam Altman is an excellent choice for "Man of 2023" because of his role in advancing artificial intelligence, making computers smarter and more helpful. As the head of OpenAI, he's behind some of the most talked-about AI technologies today, like ChatGPT and DALL-E. These are tools that can chat like humans and create amazing art, changing how we think about computers. Altman's work is not just about making cool tech; it's about ensuring it's used safely and for everyone's benefit. His impact goes beyond tech, touching areas like education and arts.

AI admittedly scares the hell out of me, but there is no denying that, when used properly and responsibly, it is a fantastic tool that will hopefully help the world run more smoothly.

Woman of the Year:

Taylor Swift

Just when you thought someone couldn’t get more famous/successful, Taylor Swift entered her 2023 era. The Eras Tour brought in over $1B in sales, becoming the highest grossing tour of all time, and her movie grossed over $250M, officially making Swift a billionaire.

Besides being the most streamed artist of 2023, she was also on RedZone every Sunday supporting her boyfriend, Travis Kelce. You’d basically had to have lived under a rock to not hear her name or see her online 10 times a day.

Comeback Person of the Year:

Joe Flacco

Couldn’t not shout out my absolute boy. In December alone, he’s thrown more touchdown passes than Kenny Pickett has his entire career, and will be leading the Browns into the playoffs this January.

People say that the Browns called Joe Flacco up from “off his couch”, and that irks me a bit. Flacco has been hustling and training for this exact moment, and it has clearly shown on the field.

Matrix L of the Year:

The Supreme Court bans Affirmative Action

Today’s kids will never know what it’s like to joke about identifying as a polysexual omnigender Cherokee to get into a school, marking the end of a wild era.

New Years Resolutions:

We asked the people what their resolutions are for 2024, here is what they came back with:

Key Takeaways:

-Party more, vape less
-Find love
-Don’t die

Simple enough, right?

(This will be going in my t-shirt idea bank)

Date Spot of the Year:

4 Charles Prime Rib (West Village)

Cuisine: Steakhouse 

Arguably the most coveted reservation in NYC right now, 4 Charles is as elite as they come. Because of how difficult it is to get a table, definitely save for a special occasion or if you really feel like you need to flex. I’m sure the food is very good too.

Bar of the Year:

The Spaniard (West Village)

If these walls could talk…. never has there been a bar so consistently spoken about in the group chat since Town T and Bull Run during the Bucknell days. Whether you’re looking for a fun night with the squad, need a spot to day drink, or simply want to chat up a 6, you can always count on the Spaniard to deliver.

Fit of the Year:

David Njoku post-burns

2024 goal: get into good enough shape where I can rock a mink coat without a shirt on underneath.

Hoss or Toss:

Going out on New Years Eve

Hoss: Easy excuse to plan something fun with your friends. The mere grandiosity of the evening puts everyone on their A game.

Toss: All the hype makes it easy to be let down; common rhetoric is that it’s overrated. Prices and crowds are both out of control.

I personally love NYE but I completely get the opposition.

What do you think?

DAWG of the Year:

Puka Nacua

Please enjoy the below love letter to the rookie wide receiver.

Dear Puka,

I love you so much. Adding you before Week 1 was the best decision I’ve made in my life. I first fell for you when you scored 25 points in just your second NFL game ever. I knew it was true love, however, when you cried during the national anthem. You have great hair. I am actually wearing your jersey as I write this:

All of this said, if you choke during my fantasy championship, you are dead to me. Congrats on being such a beast this year.

Love,

Blake

EDIT: Puka got me the dub in 1 league, but didn’t go hard enough to cuck me in my other where I was playing against him. Won both. What did I tell you man? Our connection is special.

Random Athlete of the Year:

Pops-Mensah Bonsu

People forget that Pops and I roguely bro’d out at a sports networking conference in DC and became pen pals. I should check in on him and see how he’s doing.

Jersey of the Year:

Tennessee Titans Oilers Jersey

Movie of the Year:

Oppenheimer (2023)

Key Players:
Christopher Nolan
Cillian Murphy
Robert Downey Jr
Emily Blount
Florence Pugh

Where to Watch: HBO Max

Besides the cultural phenomenon this movie became, Christopher Nolan injected life into what often feels like a dying medium, bringing in nearly 1 billion dollars in the domestic box office with a period piece biopic, showing us that cinema is far from dead.

Song of the Year:

Paint the Town Red by Doja Cat

Doja Cat is a walking haram machine but that doesn’t mean that her music isn’t insanely catchy

What is one wellness tip you incorporated that made your year better?:

Cold plunges

By decreasing your core body temperature, a cold plunge can deliver a wide range of benefits. Perhaps the most important is building mental resilience and discipline: consistent exposure to cold temperatures allows the mind to get comfortable in a state of discomfort, which will improve its ability to deal with other types of stress. - The Yellow King

What is one piece of wisdom that has made your year better?:

Avoidance, not anxiety, may be sabotaging your life.

Psychological avoidance is a powerful enemy, but there are three science-based skills to fight it. Check in with your thoughts and challenge them. Ask yourself: What is one small step I can take toward my fears and anxiety to overcome my avoidance. And let your values, not your emotions, direct your actions. - The Yellow King

New Year’s Motivation:

Goggins’ Christmas message rings true for New Years. It’s just a day on the calendar, what are you gonna do when the hype dies down?

Hoss/Hossettes of the Year:

Lucas Colagrossi and Perry Hamilton Colagrossi

Question 1: What was the best part of your 2023?

Lucas & Perry: The hands-down highlight of 2023 was celebrating our wedding in Rio de Janeiro in March! We’re so grateful for our friends and family who traveled far and wide to party with us in the jungle. It was stressful to plan a destination wedding of this size, but everything came together perfectly in the end. The festivities of the week included a pool party, rooftop cocktails, a late night out followed by an early morning ceremony inside the Christ the Redeemer statue, and finally the big event at a villa in the mountains overlooking the city. To say it was a movie would be an understatement!

Question 2: What are you looking forward to most in 2024?

Perry: My younger brother just started a job as a kayaking guide in New Zealand, so I’m excited to go visit him down under.

Lucas: Camping in the Grand Canyon with my wife.

Fan Question of the Week:

How would you power rank your top months this year?

Asked by: Timber McCloud

1. January

Basically started my career with the Help Me I’m Stuck! proof of concept trailer and had an obscene amount of fun in the process. Things would never be the same.

2. October

Started with a trip to Miami, ended with a Halloween party with all my friends, packed with a million fun adventures throughout the month, October was a special one.

3. June

Bucknell 5 year reunion + Barcelona/Mallorca, doesn’t really get much better than that. Got a stomach bug while in Tulum that ravaged my day-to-day life which is why we lose some points here.

4. March

Trailer edit in LA → away formal wedding in Brazil → trailer edit in LA (literally went from the Christ the Redeemer Statue straight to the edit in LA wearing the same exact clothes, felt like I teleported) → redeye to NYC for friend’s bday bash → LA. Insane stretch.

5. April

Screened the trailer in LA, visited friends in DC, then screened the project in my old stopping grounds, Lewisburg, PA. Packed so many core memories into a 4 week span.

Mav Pic of the Year:

December Winner:

The Yellow King

Another successful month in the books to cap off a successful year. Will be sending an Unreal Weekly Wrapped later this week with the annual winners announced. Stay tuned soldiers

and a Meme for the Road: