On paper, the antics of a group of MIT college nerds may not make for compelling viewing, but if you’re a bit of a casino buff then is 21 a classic movie that you should check out? 

Bill’s Blackjack Brigade 

For around two decades at the tail-end of the 20th century, a team of US students made waves in the casino gaming world for proving that, when it comes to blackjack, it is possible to beat the house.  

In 1977, Bill Kaplan, a Harvard grad, discovered the art of card counting in blackjack and proceeded to win $35,000 in just nine months. Setting up the MIT Blackjack Team in the aftermath of his success, Kaplan would lead the group of current and ex-students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as they took on and beat the house at prestigious casinos across the world.  

Based on True Events 

All of that backstory is, of course, inconsequential to the average movie-goer, so Luketic, along with producer and star Kevin Spacey, naturally needed to add some Hollywood sparkle into the mix.  

In 21, the antics of the blackjack team are conveyed through the eyes of the exceptionally gifted MIT student, Ben Campbell (played by Jim Sturgess). Campbell’s ultimate goal is to attend Harvard Medical School, but there’s the matter of the $300k tuition fees that stand in his way.  

Campbell’s classmates, noticing the brainiac’s propensity for all things mathematics, introduce him to a certain Mickey Rosa (Kevin Spacey), the man behind an underground group of blackjack players who also happen to be members of the student faculty.  

The group is determined to win big in Vegas after swotting up on card counting and they invite Campbell along with them. Although he’s hesitant at first, he’s soon persuaded to join the team and so begins his initiation into the fascinating world of this centuries-old casino staple.  

After racking up several big wins in a short space of time, it’s not long before Campbell, Rosa and the team come under the microscope of loss prevention specialist, Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburn), an anti-card counting proponent who suspects there might be something more at play than just these maths and science geniuses’ gift for the game.  

Is it any good?  

A purveyor of rom-coms more than heist movies, 21 is Luketic's attempt to go down a grittier route. In some respects he succeeds, but in others he most certainly fails.  

Enjoyable hijinks are afoot in the film’s zippy Vegas scenes as Campbell and his crew adopt new identities with each and every table they hit. Moody lighting and almost slapstick costumery doesn’t exactly make these parts of the film true to life, but they nevertheless portray the ultimate Vegas casino fantasy.  

Sturgess and his romantic lead, Kate Bosworth, shine in their respective performances of the Harvard wannabe and Jill, the prettiest girl in the school who also happens to be a maths genius. But it’s this romance-driven subplot that is the film’s undoing. In the words of Rotten Tomatoes’ critical consensus, 21 had all the makings of a fascinating study but Luketic made a grave error by “supplant[ing] the true story on which it is based with mundane melodrama”.  

Fishburn and Spacey lend a touch of gravitas to proceedings in their roles as Williams and Rosa, although the former was mostly given one-note material to work with and Spacey has a tendency to go full-ham even when it's not needed.  

As for the main star of the film, Blackjack, there’s enough gaming content here to make this a worthy addition to a games night, but casino nerds shouldn’t look too closely at the casino scenes. For the rest of us, 21 is an entertaining, fluffy movie, but it could've been so much more if Luketic had gone all out and given us an insider look at professional casino gaming.  

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our pre-2022 revision of our top 50 New York Yankees.

As for all of our top 50 players in baseball we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the American League. 

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

The Yankees had another playoff run in 2022, but when you are the most accomplished team in baseball, it takes a lot to move up this list or even debut on it.  However, both of this did happen, with one debut and one elevation.

As always, we present our top five, which did not change.

1. Babe Ruth

2. Lou Gehrig

3. Mickey Mantle

4. Joe DiMaggio

5. Derek Jeter

You can find the entire list here.

Brett Gardner moved up one spot to #35.

The new entry is current First Baseman, Aaron Judge, who comes in at #49.

Judge’s entry knocks Hank Bauer off of the list.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Inheriting the ninth-inning responsibilities from the greatest closer in National League history is arguably the most daunting, high-pressure assignment any relief pitcher could ever accept. Yet, when the legendary Trevor Hoffman departed for Milwaukee after the 2008 season, a charismatic, hard-charging right-hander didn't just fill those historic shoes; he sprinted out of the bullpen and slid directly into his own chapter of franchise lore. Acquired from the New York Mets in a low-profile trade following the 2006 calendar, Heath Bell completely transformed his professional identity in the SoCal, evolving from an unheralded middle-relief option into an absolute apex predator at the back end of the game.

His first introduction to the local fan base in 2007 showcased elite structural preparation. As Hoffman's main eighth-inning reliever, Bell delivered a remarkable, heavy workload season, making 81 appearances, striking out 102 batters in 93.2 innings, and posting a just 2.02 ERA.

Although his efficiency metrics saw a slight, temporary dip in 2008, his core skills remained strong. When the closer role opened up the next spring, Bell took the chance with intense, pure competitiveness, quickly transforming from a reliable setup man into a top-tier star.

His three-year stretch as the San Diego bullpen's undisputed leader showcased unmatched ninth-inning dominance. Between 2009 and 2011, Bell consistently turned save chances into a daily routine, posting seasons of 42, 47, and 43 saves, effectively halting opposing rallies. His outstanding 2010 season remains one of the top relief performances in Southern California history. He consistently dominated Senior Circuit hitters, going 6–1 with a 1.93 ERA over 67 high-pressure games, tying Hoffman's franchise record with 41 consecutive successful saves.

Bell achieved a complete sweep of National League All-Star selections during each of his three full summers as the closer. He consistently drew national attention, most notably when he sprinted from the bullpen and performed a full, head-first dive into the pitcher's mound during the 2011 mid-summer classic. He captured consecutive Rolaids Relief Man Awards in 2009 and 2010, alongside a highly prestigious eighth-place finish in the 2010 National League Cy Young Award balloting, verifying his status among the elite arms in the sport.

After 2011, Bell left San Diego via free agency, signing a lucrative multi-year deal with the Miami Marlins. Unlike Hoffman's lasting success, Bell’s move from Petco Park led to an immediate decline in performance. He struggled through brief, volatile stints with Miami, Arizona, and Tampa Bay, losing velocity and consistency before retiring before the 2015 season.

As a Padre, Bell finished 194 games, saved 134, and had a 2.53 ERA for the Padres.

Joey Hamilton was selected eighth overall in the 1991 amateur draft from Georgia Southern University. He was considered a highly valuable player and, interestingly, caught the organization by surprise. According to Hamilton himself, the Padres hadn't shown much interest in scouting him before they called his name on draft day. Although his path to the majors had its challenges, he ultimately became a reliable and hardworking fixture in the middle of the San Diego rotation, especially during a time of big changes within the organization.

Hamilton finally broke through to the big leagues in May 1994, and his introductory phase was immediately impactful. He turned in a brilliant rookie campaign, posting a 9–6 record with a sharp 2.69 ERA across 108.2 innings to finish fifth in the National League Rookie of the Year balloting.

Over the next two summers, he proved himself as a top-tier, high-efficiency innings-eater. Despite finishing 6–9 in 1995, his advanced metrics remained impressive, ranking seventh in the National League with a bWAR of 4.6, thanks to his knack for limiting runs in an era favorable to hitters.

As the franchise shifted toward the high-leverage championship window of the late 1990s, Hamilton continued to provide critical durability. While his ERA climbed above the 4.00 threshold and his WHIP inflated as he relied more on run support, he remained a vital rotation stabilizer.

He was a key member of the staff that captured the 1998 National League pennant, famously stepping out of the bullpen to provide relief during the World Series against the New York Yankees.

With the organization looking to reallocate resources and shuffle the rotation, the front office engineered a definitive trade in December 1998, shipping their veteran starter to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for a package centered on Woody Williams, Carlos Almanzar, and Peter Tucci.

Over five seasons representing the Padres, he compiled a 55–44 record, a 3.75 ERA, and 639 strikeouts over 934.2 innings of work.