Broke and unknown, Sylvester Stallone sold his dog for $40 outside a 7-Eleven; after selling the ‘Rocky’ script, he paid $15,000 to buy him back

Before “Rocky” made him famous, Sylvester Stallone was broke enough to sell his dog outside a convenience store for $40.

He told the story himself in a March 2017 Instagram post, next to an old photo of him with the dog as a puppy. The dog was a bullmastiff named Butkus, and getting him back after “Rocky” cost Stallone $15,000.

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‘Thin, Hungry and Living in a Flophouse’

Stallone dated the photo to 1971. He wrote that he and Butkus were “both, thin, hungry and living in a flophouse above a subway stop.” He said he rarely went out and relied on the dog for company.

“Years later when things got even worse I had to sell him for $40 in front of a 7-Eleven store, because I couldn’t afford food,” he wrote.

He named the dog after Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus, according to Total Rocky, a fan site that tracks the history of the films.

Turning Down $360,000

Then Stallone wrote “Rocky,” the story of a small-time Philadelphia boxer who gets a shot at the heavyweight title. Studios wanted the script, but not with him in the lead. Early offers were around $25,000, and the price kept going up as Stallone refused to sell without playing Rocky himself. It reached $360,000, according to No Film School. He still said no.

United Artists eventually agreed to let him star but held the budget to about $1 million. The film came out in 1976, became the highest-grossing movie of the year and won three Oscars, including best picture. Stallone was nominated twice himself, for best actor and best original screenplay.

Butkus wasn’t the only part of “Rocky” that nearly went another way. Robert Redford and Burt Reynolds were both in the mix for the lead, Men’s Journal reported.

‘$15,000 … He Was Worth Every Penny!’

After the script sold, Stallone tried to buy Butkus back. The new owner knew he was desperate, Stallone wrote, and “charged me $15,000.”

“He was worth every penny!” he added.

He hasn’t always told it the same way. Over the years, Stallone has given different figures for the buyback, from a few hundred dollars up to $15,000, Total Rocky notes. The 2017 post is the version he put in writing.

Butkus in ‘Rocky’

Butkus ended up in the movie. He plays Rocky Balboa’s dog in “Rocky,” and he’s back in “Rocky II” in 1979, according to IMDb.

In the same post, Stallone gave the dog some credit for the movie itself. “It was his idea to write Rocky,” he wrote, “but don’t tell anyone.”

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Navratri Special: Craving Pizza During Fasting? Try This Vrat-Friendly Recipe At Home

With a few ingredient swaps, you can make a vrat-friendly pizza at home that looks delicious and adds a fun twist to traditional fasting food.

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Cancelled ‘Assassin’s Creed: Destiny’ Gameplay Footage Leaks, Was Set During Chinese Qin Dynasty

The Assassin’s Creed series has many sequels and spin-offs that take place in a variety of locations. While most plots in the games involve deep dives into historical settings, some entries of the franchise have explored new locations and time periods previously overlooked. But one Assassin’s Creed game that was cancelled has emerged once again, and it expands upon an exploration of China.

In a collection of portfolios from developers who worked on the project, footage of Assassin’s Creed: Destiny has surfaced online. The project was cancelled early on in its development, but aspects of gameplay and other elements that could’ve made it into the final product are as close as February 2025. The game was a partnership between Ubisoft and TiMi Studio Group, a studio that was part of the Chinese company Tencent.

The setting of the game was planned to be during the Qin Dynasty in China, around the year 206 BCE. This would have been the time of the first imperial dynasty in China, under the rule of Qin Shi Huang. The upcoming mobile title for the series, Assassin’s Creed: Jade, is set only a few years later in the timeline.

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Gameplay footage of Assassin’s Creed: Destiny focuses on a female assassin trying to recover a relic during a mission. Although much of the game was still unfinished by the time it was cancelled, the footage provides an idea of the direction things would have taken. There is a lot of open space and foliage for the assassin to roam, as she makes her way to the location of the artifact. The mission takes place during a siege, so the building structures are shown as damaged or on fire.

A few moments where the assassin takes out nearby foes are similar to previous Assassin’s Creed games, but with a different style of take downs. When the footage shifts to open combat instead of stealth, the assassin utilizes a combination of defensive parries and acrobatic attacks to kill enemies.

Other portions of the footage highlight unfinished stealth attacks, the design of locations, and weapon designs that would have been in the final game. About a month after a prototype for Assassin’s Creed: Destiny was put together, the game was cancelled following a restructuring with Tencent’s studios.

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Maintenance at Six Flags Parks Faces Scrutiny After Man Dies on Goliath Coaster

Days after a man died on one of its rides, Six Flags is facing additional scrutiny about its safety standards.

A new analysis of public records and court filings from CNN finds that Six Flags has been accused of failing to maintain certain rides, and that hundreds of injuries and malfunctions have been reported at its parks.

Safety records at over a dozen parks over the last five years reportedly show maintenance issues across three different states.

Serious Allegations Against Six Flags

A train derailment and faulty restraint bars were among the mechanical issues reported, and guests are said to have suffered injuries like dislocated joints and concussions.

Lawsuits from investors also allege that company officials put off maintenance and repairs. An investor call cited in the lawsuits noted that an executive pointed out “deferred items” at the parks, and that another executive said the list of improvements “is always long.”

One investor lawsuit alleges that Six Flags “failed to make adequate capital investments to conduct routine facility maintenance or improve rides and attractions,” and the other says that the park chain “had for years deferred or foregone” repairs to aging rides.

CNN’s investigation comes after a 42-year-old man died riding the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. Several other riders were also injured. Witnesses described the man being violently thrown from the ride before falling on the roof of another attraction below it.

“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today,” Six Flags said in a statement.

“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest’s family, friends, and loved ones. We are also providing support to the guests and team members affected.”

Six Flags Faces Additional Scrutiny This Year

The fatal incident and the resulting investigation come after Six Flags faced scrutiny earlier this summer. A previous CNN investigation found that the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California had been linked to serious brain injuries, hospitalizations and deaths.

Over 100 X2 riders emerged with claims of brain injuries, and Six Flags shut the ride down permanently in July after two women were rushed into emergency brain surgery.

Six Flags has shut down multiple rides across several parks following the recent fatal incident, saying that similar rides to Goliath have been temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.

“The safety of our guests and team members remains one of our highest priorities,” a Six Flags spokeswoman told WSB-TV in Georgia. The chain says that it is cooperating with state investigators and that it is conducting its own internal review of the incident.

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NDTV World Summit 2026: Meet Vir Sanghvi, The Food Critic Who Chronicled India's Culinary Transformation

Vir Sanghvi has spent decades documenting India's changing culinary scene and has earned a reputation as one of the country's most respected food critics.

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Mike Vrabel Confirms A. J. Brown Has Been Designated To Return From IR

The New England Patriots made the offseason’s biggest move this summer when they traded for wide receiver A.J. Brown. The Patriots sent the Eagles a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick to reunite Brown with former head coach Mike Vrabel and give the New England offense a legitimate number-one receiving option. 

Brown is coming off four straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons and played a major role in Philadelphia’s 2024 Super Bowl title run. However, things soured between Brown and the team, making him available for the Patriots to trade for. The hope was that pairing him with third-year quarterback Drake Maye would take the young signal caller to new heights, much like Stefon Diggs did for Josh Allen. 

Brown made his debut for New England in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, catching 3 passes for 26 yards before suffering a high ankle sprain. That injury landed Brown on injured reserve, and he has missed the past four games. 

Today, Patriots fans got good news: head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed Brown was designated to return as of today. That means the team has opened his 21-day practice window, and he has until then to return to the active roster. If he can’t rejoin the team, he will land on season-ending IR. 

Brown’s return couldn’t have come at a better time, as Maye and the Patriots offense are beginning to hit their stride. Maye went toe-to-toe with Josh Allen when New England faced Buffalo two weeks ago. He went 22 of 37 for 269 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a game-winning score to Efton Chism III. 

This past week, he had his best game of the season against the Las Vegas Raiders. He went 24 of 34 for 374 yards and 4 touchdowns. His top receivers in that matchup were Kyle Williams (91 yards), DeMario Douglas (65 yards), and Chism III (57 yards). 

With Brown returning, the offense should only get more prolific. They will need him to return to form if they hope to challenge the Bills for the AFC East crown. They’re currently in second place behind the 4-1 Bills, but they have a head-to-head win and one more game to play later in the season.

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Adidas' Waterproof Terrex Hiking Boots With Excellent Grip Are on Sale for $56 Right Now

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.

Why We Love This Deal

When Adidas shoes go on sale, especially models in its popular Terrex collection, the internet takes notice. Sometimes, it can be a bit of a bummer—many styles sell out in days. But today we spotted an Adidas Terrex hiking boot on sale during the brand’s Fall Favorites sale that still has a great size range available. The best part? It has a protective waterproof upper—a great pick for rainy and stream-filled hikes.

If you hurry, you can score an Adidas Terrex Anylander Mid Rain.Rdy Hiking Shoe on sale for just $56, a 44% discount from its normal price of $100. The boots are marked down to $80, but when you use the code FALL at checkout (through Oct. 19), you get another 30% off. This model features a grippy outsole and a waterproof upper, and it has hundreds of reviews at Adidas with a solid 4.7-star average rating.

Adidas Terrex Anylander Mid Rain.Rdy Hiking Shoes, From $56 (was $100) at Adidas

The Adidas Terrex Anylander Mid Rain.Rdy Hiking Shoes in Shadow Olive.

Courtesy of Adidas

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What Shoppers Should Know

• Colorways Available: 4 at varying prices; Black has the best discount
• Sizes Available: 8-14
• Best Use Case: With its mid-top design and protective upper, the Terrex Anylander Mid Rain.Rdy is perfect for shoulder season hikes in wet conditions. You could also wear it as an everyday rain boot.

The Anylander Mid Rain.Rdy is a mid-top hiker designed for powering through wet weather off the pavement. The upper reaches just above the ankle for added protection, and it’s built with a gusseted tongue and a Rain.Rdy waterproof membrane to keep splashes, mud, and raindrops from soaking your feet. 

An EVA midsole creates a cushioned ride, and there’s plenty of padding inside the shoe for a snug, irritation-free fit—reviewers say the shoe’s comfortable feel is a major highlight. On the bottom, a lugged Traxion rubber outsole provides, you guessed it, lockdown traction in the dirt, including in wet conditions.

Related: Kuhl’s Tough but Stretchy Renegade Hiking Pants Are a Rare 25% Off at REI

What Shoppers Are Saying

Shoppers have taken these shoes everywhere from Greenland to the Galapagos (not an exaggeration—both locales are name-dropped in the reviews) and found that the Anylander offers superb performance. One shopper called them “outstanding,” and another praised their “lightweight and comfortable” feel. 

“The shoes are great for rougher weather or terrain while being lighter and more comfortable than hiking boots,” another said.

$56 for name-brand waterproof hiking shoes is a truly bonkers deal—head over to Adidas ASAP and snag your pair of Terrex Anylander Mid Rain.Rdy Hiking Shoes before these highly rated kicks sell out.

Shop More Deals

• Adidas Terrex Anylander Hiking Shoes, From $42 (was $75) at Adidas
• Danner Free Spirit Hiking Boot, $88 (was $220) at Danner
• Merrell Moab 3 Luxe Leather Mid Waterproof, $120 (was $195) at Merrell

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