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Queen of Soul Franklin died on Thursday (Aug. 16) at age 76. The music industry was in mourning on Thursday (Aug. 16) as it grieved for one of the most iconic vocalists in modern pop history: Aretha Franklin. The Queen of Soul passed away in her Detroit home at age 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer and within moments of her death, tributes poured in from across the globe from fans, fellow musicians and former presidents. Among those sharing their love for the 18-time Grammy winning vocalist who was equally adept at singing jazz, R&B, pop and opera was longtime friend and Sony Music Entertainment Chief Creative officer Clive Davis. "I’m absolutely devastated by Aretha’s passing," Davis said in a statement. "She was truly one of a kind. She was more than the Queen of Soul. She was a national treasure to be cherished by every generation throughout the world. Apart from our long professional relationship, Aretha was my friend. Her loss is deeply profound and my heart is full of sadness."<doc-sep>“This is a song that a girl took away from me.” That’s Otis Redding onstage at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival introducing “Respect,” which he’d written and released just two years earlier, and which already no longer belonged to him. “Good friend of mine,” he adds through deep, wheezing breaths, as though he’d never quite recovered from his good friend knocking the wind right out of him. “This girl, she just took this song. But I’m still gonna do it anyway.” Redding’s original version is, of course, fantastic, propulsive, and exuberant even in its pleading. But that pleading—“All I’m askin’ / Is for a little respect when I come home”—was maybe a little too bringing-home-the-bacon pedestrian. Where he’d been, and what he’d been up to exactly, was nowhere near as compelling as where the housebound woman patiently listening to him might’ve wanted to go. Aretha Franklin, who died in her home in Detroit on Thursday at 76, went there. Her “Respect,” the leadoff track on 1967’s I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You, was an act of god every bit as holy as the gospel staples she’d grown up on. (She cut her debut album, 1956’s Songs of Faith, at 14 years old, right there in her father Reverend C.L. Franklin’s New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit.) Compared with Redding’s live version, Aretha’s pace slows a little, but the swagger increases exponentially, with every striking new detail—from her booming “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” breakdown to the deft “Sock it to me” chant taken up by her sisters and backup singers, Carolyn and Erma Franklin—spawning its own vibrant universe. (“Sock it to me” was not a sex thing, Aretha was forever quick to point out.) He made it a hot song; she made it the national anthem. Even a line as straightforward as “I’m about to give you / All my money,” a mere financial transaction from Redding’s perspective, takes on a profound existential quality when Franklin bellows it. “Even back then I had the sense that Aretha wasn’t just talking about dollar bills,” Diane McKinney-Whetstone wrote in her 2017 book Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul. “The money line was also a metaphor for a woman’s value.” It’s likely that Aretha’s “Respect” was the first thing that jumped into your head Monday morning, when reports first surfaced that Franklin was “gravely ill.” Or maybe it was one of 50-plus other indisputable American classics, many of which likewise held her up as one of pop music’s earliest and most vital feminists, from “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” to the exquisitely delicate “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man” to “Think,” a thrilling battle of the sexes that turns on an ascending and infectiously volcanic battle cry of “Freedom! / Freedom!! / Freedom!!! / Freedom!!! !” “I don’t care what they say about Aretha.” That’s Billy Preston, quoted in Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin, David Ritz’s profoundly unauthorized 2014 biography, denounced as “a book of trash” and “lies, lies, lies, and then more lies” by the Queen of Soul herself. Preston goes on to acknowledge some of that trash, but argue that it’s meaningless in the face of a talent so supernatural: “She can be hiding out in her house in Detroit for years. She can go decades without taking a plane or flying off to Europe. She can cancel half her gigs and infuriate every producer and promoter in the country. She can sing all kinds of jive-ass songs that are beneath her. She can go into her diva act and turn off the world. But on any given night, when that lady sits down at the piano and gets her body and soul all over some righteous song, she’ll scare the shit out of you. And you’ll know—you’ll swear—that she’s still the best fuckin’ singer this fucked-up country has ever produced.” “HEYYYYWHAHHAHAOOOWW!” That’s Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Florence Welch, Yolanda Adams, and Martina McBride at the 2011 Grammys concluding their show-opening, 10-minute Aretha Franklin tribute with a fearsome five-woman wail-off. (Aguilera is so pumped afterward that she nearly topples over.) Reports had surfaced that Franklin was dealing with pancreatic cancer, which the famously guarded Queen would later vehemently deny, declaring her health problems “resolved.” But that colossal diva summit, goofy and joyous as it was, had the uneasy feel of a preemptive eulogy. We as a nation have been bracing ourselves to mourn this woman for years, if not decades. No quantity or quality of mass wailing will do her justice. We all gotta try, though. Soundtrack your own mourning with whatever Aretha era speaks to you the clearest. Maybe it’s her early gospel and pre-pop, the dignified jazz-diva buoyancy of 1965’s Yeah!!! (“Though it may be just once in a lifetime / I’m gonna do great things”) or the total reverence of Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington the year before. Maybe—most likely—you gravitate toward her late-’60s-and-beyond run with Atlantic Records, those monster greatest-hits years that will still knock you flat as both singles and album-length statements. (I am partial to 1970’s dusky and subdued Spirit in the Dark, as magnificent an after-hours comedown as Sam Cooke’s Night Beat.) The more heartbroken she sounded, the more triumphant she became. And when she leaned back churchward, as she did on the nuclear coda to 1968’s “People Get Ready,” she was the only pop singer who could make you not only believe in god, but see god. “I think of Aretha as Our Lady of Mysterious Sorrows.” That’s Atlantic Records producer and corunner Jerry Wexler in his 1993 memoir, Rhythm and the Blues. “Her eyes are incredible, luminous eyes covering inexplicable pain. Her depression could be deep as the dark sea. I don’t pretend to know the sources of her anguish, but anguish surrounds Aretha as surely as the glory of her musical aura.” That sounds terminally florid when describing anyone else, but Franklin had both a joy and pathos that transcended eras, that inspired such unending devotion. Her bumptious 1985 Spandex-soul excursion Who’s Zoomin’ Who? generated unexpectedly big hits (“Freeway of Love”! ), and 1998’s A Rose Is Still a Rose, aided songwriting-wise by the likes of Lauryn Hill and Sean Combs, proved she could hang with The Youth without pandering to them. Most recently, there was 2014’s campy Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics, which kicks off with “At Last,” closes with “Nothing Compares 2 U,” and peaks with, yes, “Rolling in the Deep.” The press tour for that one was delightful, by the way. “OK! Great gowns, beautiful gowns.” That’s Aretha Franklin in a stupendous 2014 interview with the Wall Street Journal, asked to assess the vocal talents of one Taylor Swift. Most other divas, from Adele to Whitney Houston, earn some faint praise, though Franklin pointedly passes entirely on Nicki Minaj; also, she tut-tuts (“Oh, please”) as the WSJ guy explains Auto-Tune to her. Do not cross this lady is the subtext, but any casual Aretha fan had figured that out long ago—at least since 2008, when she pitched a fit after Beyoncé had the audacity to call Tina Turner “the queen” on stage at the Grammys. “Aretha Franklin Is the Queen of Soul and Shade.” That’s the headline to a 2014 Gawker piece in which longtime Aretha scholar Rich Juzwiak summarized her various feuds and acts of aggression, as helpfully cataloged in Ritz’s Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin that same year. Ritz had collaborated with Franklin on her heavily sanitized 1999 autobiography Aretha: From These Roots, but he aimed to right that wrong by dropping all that dirt into his new book 15 years later, from her personal life (she gave birth to two sons while still in her teens) to her innumerable feuds with any soul singer or R&B diva who threatened her reign. There’s enough tension in this 15-second clip of Franklin walking past Patti LaBelle to power 25 Drake-vs.-Pusha-T fiascos. It’s true that Franklin, at her feistiest, could come on like every Real Housewife in history stacked on one another’s shoulders in one giant fur coat. But look out when that coat hits the ground. Her performance of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors—with honoree Carole King flipping out in the audience while Barack Obama wiped tears from his eyes nearby—is an all-timer, a diva moment in the best sense, especially when she flings off her fur mid-climactic wail. Incredible. You can count on one hand, and maybe one finger, the artists with that combination of poise and sheer power. That song always belonged to her in the first place. And on a long enough timeline, every song ever written would’ve belonged to her eventually.<doc-sep>	The world is mourning the death of legendary singer Aretha Franklin, who passed away in her Detroit home Thursday morning at 76. Many celebrities took to social media to pay tribute to the icon, who sold over 75 million albums and won 18 Grammys over the course of her illustrious career. Aretha Franklin performed at Barack Obama's first inauguration in 2009 and soon after the announcement of her passing, the 44th president of the United States took to Twitter to eulogize the star and said she "helped define the American experience." Barbra Streisand posted a photo of her with Franklin from 2012 after they performed at the same Marvin Hamlisch tribute concert. “It’s difficult to conceive of a world without her," she wrote on Twitter. "Not only was she a uniquely brilliant singer, but her commitment to civil rights made an indelible impact on the world.” Director Ava DuVernay tweeted that Franklin’s voice and swagger were "peerless." Music mogul Clive Davis, who signed Franklin in 1979 after she left Atlantic Records, said he was “absolutely devastated by Aretha’s passing.” Singer Liam Gallagher seemed to be stunned by the news of Franklin’s death, tweeting: “What a voice.” Singer Maxwell wrote: “This morning we lost an icon.” Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Franklin's artistry and voice “were gifts to us from God.” The Detroit Symphony, which performed with Franklin many times including at a 1999 Rosa Parks tribute concert, paid tribute to their hometown legend on Twitter. Hillary Clinton said that Franklin “deserves not only our RESPECT but also our lasting gratitude for opening our eyes, ears, and hearts.” Chance the Rapper took to Twitter to tweet Franklin's lyrics to honor her life. Elton John called the death of Aretha Franklin a “blow for everybody who loves real music.” Diana Ross said she was praying for the spirit of Franklin. The Detroit Lions, whom Franklin had performed for many times, also paid tribute to the hometown hero on social media. Rev. Al Sharpton posted a series of photos of himself with Franklin, saying he hoped everyone “take a pause today to remember the life of a beautiful soul.” Anita Baker took to social media to call the late singer “my queen.” Bette Midler said that the “greatest voice in American popular music has been stilled” in a tweet honoring Franklin. Paul McCartney paid respects to Franklin as a singer and humanitarian, saying: "She will be missed but the memory of her greatness as a musician and a fine human being will live with us forever." Bill Clinton tweeted that he wants people to listen to Franklin's music to celebrate her life. The National Museum of American History posted that over 100 of her records are in their collection. Singer Patti LaBelle released a statement on social media saying she was "saddened" by the passing of "her sister in song." Hip-hop pioneer and DJ Grandmaster Flash reflected on Franklin's impact on rap music and how she was a cultural icon. The Rolling Stones took to Twitter to say that Franklin "always brought you to church." The NAACP called Franklin "an iconic symbol of black pride whose music touched so many hearts and souls." Singer Carole King said she had "so much love, respect, and gratitude" fro Franklin on Twitter and also shared a clip of her favorite song by the performer. John Legend called Franklin "the greatest vocalist I've ever known." Rapper Nas took to Instagram saying "our gift from heaven went home." Rapper and producer Q-Tip said that Franklin's contribution to the world are "untouchable." President Trump tweeted that Franklin had a "gift from God" and "will be missed." The estate of Otis Redding, whose song "Respect" was famously covered by Franklin, released a statement saying her rendition of the track "launched a revolution." Smokey Robinson said he lost "his longest friend" and shared a picture of the two together. Missy Elliott took to Twitter saying she imagines Franklin in heaven "still performing & making peoples souls move." Billy Joel eulogized Franklin as "the greatest singer of our time." California Rep. Maxine Waters called Franklin a friend and the greatest singer of her time, adding, "Even though her music will live on forever, the sound, the voice, and the inspiration of the Queen of Soul can never be matched." Tony Bennett said Franklin "will be missed by the world," and shared a photo of the two performing on stage together.
The arrest of Stone, which involved about a dozen agents wearing bullet-proof vests and tactical gear, occurred shortly after 6 a.m. ET at his home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and was captured live on CNN. ADVERTISEMENT "This is a standard procedure to arrest someone when you don’t have a belief that they’ve come in voluntarily," Milgram told CNN's "New Day" on Friday morning. "It could be that they’re afraid he’ll flee, it could be that there’s evidence he would destroy and they clearly wanted the element of surprise." "They’re going in at the crack of dawn with agents fully armed and there’s a reason," she added. "We don’t know that fully yet, but there’s a reason they did that." Milgram served as New Jersey's attorney general from 2007-2010 and appears on CNN occasionally as a law enforcement expert. Stone was arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the special counsel's office said in a statement early Friday.<doc-sep>NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 24: Trump Tower stands on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on August 24, 2018 in New York City. Following new allegations over hush money that former Trump attorney Michael Cohen paid to an adult-film actress, the Manhattan district attorneyÕs office in New York City may seek criminal charges against the Trump Organization in the coming days. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 08: US Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner (R-VA) remarks on the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at the US Capitol November 8, 2006 in Washington, DC. Warner said he supports President George W. Bush's nomination of former CIA Director Robert Gates for Secretary of Defense. Warner said he anticipates Gates' confirmation before the end of the year. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Editor’s Note: Paul Callan is a CNN legal analyst, a former New York homicide prosecutor and of counsel to the New York law firm of Edelman & Edelman PC, focusing on wrongful conviction and civil rights cases. Follow him on Twitter @paulcallan. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN. (CNN) — In a dramatic predawn raid, FBI agents placed Roger Stone, the Republican king of darkness under arrest at his Florida home on charges related to the Robert Mueller investigation. The televised raid looked like one designed to apprehend a terrorist rather than the pajama-clad 66-year-old Trump campaign advisor renowned for his “dirty tricks” approach to presidential campaigns and the large Richard Nixon tattoo adorning his back. The aggressive raid suggests that it might be time to trade in the Nixon tattoo for a bullseye, especially given the ferocity of the arrest tactics employed by Mueller’s FBI agents. CNN Paul Callan The agents were executing an arrest warrant related to an indictment voted by a Mueller federal grand jury alleging one count of obstructing congressional investigative proceedings (Title 18 USC 1505 and 2), five counts of making false statements (Title 18 1001(a)(2) and 2) and one count of witness tampering (Title 18 USC 1512(b)(1)). The approach to this arrest makes clear that Roger Stone and possibly his attorneys have done something provocative enough to make the usually low profile and careful special prosecutor extraordinarily angry. Stone was not afforded the customary voluntary surrender option usually seen in white collar criminal cases. Most likely, the raid was intended to send a clear message to other witnesses and potential defendants that witness tampering, a federal felony with a sentence of up to 20 years if it involves physical intimidation, will not be tolerated by the polite but tough former FBI director. The other five counts in the indictment each carry hefty potential sentences of as much as five years each, subjecting Stone to a maximum exposure of 45 years in an ill-fitting federal jumpsuit. The conduct which likely prompted the use of an FBI arrest team worthy of a Navy SEAL operation can be found in an incredibly stupid and highly incriminating series of messages allegedly sent to the indictment’s “Person 2” (reported to be comedian and radio personality Randy Credico) seeking to influence and shape “Person 2’s” congressional testimony. Several pages of the indictment meticulously document Stone’s alleged attempt to steer “Person 2’s” congressional testimony in language worthy of a Hollywood movie. In fact, Stone actually steals a line from Godfather II to use on “Person 2.” Stone refers to a character named “Frank Pentangeli,” who – despite being a Corleone family confederate – professes innocence before a congressional committee and later kills himself. According to the indictment, Stone allegedly explicitly told “Person 2” to do a “Frank Pentangeli.” In other colorful language, Stone allegedly attempted to influence “Person 2’s” testimony via text message, stating: “Stonewall it. Plead the fifth. Anything to save the plan…..Richard Nixon.” Later “on or about April 9, 2018,” Stone, clearly unhappy with “Person 2’s” failure to follow instructions and submit to his Godfather-like threats, writes an email that read: “You are a rat. A stoolie. You backstab your friends-run your mouth my lawyers are dying Rip you to shreds.” Stone even threatens to “take that dog away from you” – presumably a reference to Credico’s fluffy white therapy dog, Bianca, who accompanied him during testimony before the federal grand jury. Interestingly, though defense lawyers are not permitted to accompany witnesses who testify before grand juries, apparently Mueller prosecutors have no objection to man’s best friend. In the end, Trump supporters may say the indictment is bad news for Stone but that most of the hard information it contains has been known for a long time – and none of it proves Russian “collusion” with the president. They may be right, but there’s no doubt Mueller is getting closer to the Oval Office; Stone has always been considered a close and continuing confidant of Mr. Trump’s. And yet another former Trump confidant, Steve Bannon, is thought to be one of the officials referred to elsewhere in the Stone indictment. Get our free weekly newsletter Sign up for CNN Opinion's new newsletter. Join us on Twitter and Facebook As the Mueller investigation moves closer to its conclusion at least two big questions remain. First, can the use of a presidential pardon save Mr. Trump from the wrath of Roger Stone (if Stone turns on him) and other potentially adverse witnesses? Stone’s lawyer told CNN that Stone’s misstatements resulted from forgetfulness and were “immaterial,” and that Stone did not receive materials from WikiLeaks prior to their public release. Second, is former US Navy lieutenant Steve Bannon, the man who said the Trump Tower meeting was “treasonous,” a friend or foe for former Marine second lieutenant Robert Mueller, the recipient of the Bronze Star with Valor, two Navy Commendation Medals, The Purple Heart, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry? If Stone and Bannon turn into the 2019 version of Fredo Corleone, the president will face a tough road ahead.<doc-sep>A mural of George Floyd is shown in the intersection of 38th St & Chicago Ave on March 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Community members continue preparations during the third day in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is charged with multiple counts of murder in the death of George Floyd. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 01: President Donald Trump's lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks to journalists outside the White House West Wing July 01, 2020 in Washington, DC. Giuliani did an on-camera interview with One America News Network's Chanel Rion before talking to other journalists about Vice President Joe Biden and the news that Russian intelligence may have paid Taliban operatives to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: Former President Donald Trump addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference held in the Hyatt Regency on February 28, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. Begun in 1974, CPAC brings together conservative organizations, activists, and world leaders to discuss issues important to them. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Here's what reported grand jury in Trump case may look like NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 09: People walk past the Trump Tower as the impeachment trial of Donald Trump begins in Washington on February 09, 2021 in New York City. After listening to nearly four hours of legal arguments, the Senate has voted on Tuesday to move ahead with the impeachment trial of former President Trump. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Report: US companies may have benefited from forced labor of Uyghurs WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the conflict in the Middle East from Cross- Hall of the White House on May 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. Israel and Hamas announced that they would agree to a cease-fire, which will take into effect on Friday, following days of fighting that claimed more than 200 lives. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 26: A view of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) light-rail yard where a mass shooting occurred on May 26, 2021 in San Jose, California. A VTA employee opened fire at the yard, with preliminary reports indicating nine people dead including the gunman. (Photo by Philip Pacheco/Getty Images) A healthcare worker prepares to administer a Pfizer/BioNTEch coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine at The Michener Institute, in Toronto, Ontario on December 14, 2020. - Ontario, Canada's most populous province and one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, had 1,940 new cases and 23 deaths on Monday. The province is expected to give its next doses to nursing home workers as a priority, according to media reports. (Photo by CARLOS OSORIO / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CARLOS OSORIO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) 'Never seen levels like this': Union president on airline passenger misconduct Memorial Day weekend will bring rain and cool air for much of the East Special counsel Robert Mueller has copies of vitriolic and sometimes threatening messages that Roger Stone directed at Randy Credico, a witness in the investigation, according to sources familiar with the investigation. (CNN) — Roger Stone has been indicted by a grand jury on charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller, who alleges that the longtime Donald Trump associate sought stolen emails from WikiLeaks that could damage Trump’s opponents while in coordination with senior Trump campaign officials. The indictment’s wording does not say who on the campaign knew about Stone’s quest, but makes clear it was multiple people. This is the first time prosecutors have alleged they know of additional people close to the President who worked with Stone as he sought out WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. “After the July 22, 2016, release of stolen (Democratic National Committee) emails by Organization 1, a senior Trump Campaign official was directed to contact STONE about any additional releases and what other damaging information Organization 1 had regarding the Clinton Campaign. STONE thereafter told the Trump Campaign about potential future releases of damaging material by Organization 1,” prosecutors wrote. The indictment also says: “During the summer of 2016, STONE spoke to senior Trump Campaign officials about Organization 1 and information it might have had that would be damaging to the Clinton Campaign. STONE was contacted by senior Trump Campaign officials to inquire about future releases by Organization 1.” Stone was arrested by the FBI Friday morning at his home in Florida, his lawyer tells CNN. He was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia on seven counts, including one count of obstruction of an official proceeding, five counts of false statements, and one count of witness tampering. Shortly after Stone appeared in federal court, he emerged to a crowd filled with both protestors and supporters – some shouting their support as others chanted “lock him up.” Stone told reporters and the crowd that he would plead not guilty to the charges, which he believes are politically motivated. “After a two-year inquisition, the charges today relate in no way to Russian collusion, WikiLeaks collaboration or any other illegal act in connection with the 2016 campaign,” he said. Stone also said he would not testify against the President. “I have made it clear I will not testify against the President. Because I would have to bear false witness against him,” Stone said. The FBI also executed a search warrant at Stone’s New York residence, according to Kristin Davis who shares the duplex with Stone. Stone’s attorney, Grant Smith, told CNN in a statement that Stone’s misstatements were due to forgetfulness and were “immaterial.” He also said Stone did not receive materials from WikiLeaks ahead of their public release. “They found no Russian collusion or they would have charged him with it,” Smith said. Jay Sekulow, an attorney for the President, told CNN in a statement: “The indictment today does not allege Russian collusion by Roger Stone or anyone else. Rather, the indictment focuses on alleged false statements Mr. Stone made to Congress.” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told CNN’s John Berman on “New Day” Friday, “This has nothing to do with the President and certainly nothing to do with the White house. This is something that has to do solely with that individual, and not something that affects us here in (the White House).” Stone appeared in federal court in Fort Lauderdale late Friday morning. He was released on a $250,000 signature bond. The indictment On October 7, 2016, after WikiLeaks released its first set of then-Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta’s emails, prosecutors say Stone received a text message from “an associate of the high-ranking Trump campaign official” that said “well done,” signaling that the Trump campaign was looped in on Stone’s quest for dirt on Democrats. The associate and the high-ranking campaign official are not named in the complaint, though the indictment describes how Stone told a reporter that what Assange had in the unreleased emails was good for the Trump campaign. Stone responded at the time, “I’d tell [the high-ranking Trump Campaign official] but he doesn’t call me back.” An email matching that wording that was published by The New York Times shows that the official Stone referred to was Steve Bannon. After the October 7 releases, Stone boasted to “senior Trump Campaign officials” that he had correctly predicted the data dump, prosecutors say. However, the indictment doesn’t detail direct communication Stone or others may have had with Assange. Stone has maintained publicly that he did not know in advance about what WikiLeaks would release. That alleged lie, which he also told to Congress, forms the basis for some of his other criminal charges in Friday’s indictment. The indictment also alleges that Stone lied to Congress about “his communications with the Trump Campaign about Organization 1.” In the indictment, Organization 1 is WikiLeaks. The indictment unsealed Friday after Stone’s arrest makes clear he communicated with multiple people about what Assange knew, and they were providing him updates from Assange and what Stone wanted to communicate with him.<doc-sep>	The FBI's pre-dawn arrest of President Trump's ex-adviser Roger Stone at his Florida home prompted critics to once again question the tactics of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, after more than a dozen special agents clad in tactical gear raided Stone's property Friday. Stone, 66, was taken into custody early Friday after being indicted by a federal grand jury a day earlier as part of Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling and potential collusion with Trump campaign associates during the 2016 presidential election. CNN, which conveniently happened to be staking out Stone's Fort Lauderdale home, posted video of the arrest that showed a team of FBI agents with guns banging on Stone’s door and demanding that he come outside. ROGER STONE VOWS TO FIGHT CHARGES IN MUELLER PROBE, CALLS INDICTMENT 'POLITICALLY MOTIVATED' “At the crack of dawn, 29 FBI agents arrived at my home with 17 vehicles, with lights flashing, when they could have contacted my lawyer,” Stone explained after a court appearance Friday. “But the FBI agents were extraordinarily courteous.” Stone will appear on Fox News Channel's "Tucker Carlson Tonight" on Friday at 8 p.m. ET. Stone’s attorney added that the arrest was a “spectacle.” “A SWAT team, searching the house, scaring his wife, scaring his dogs—it was completely unnecessary,” Stone’s attorney said. “A telephone call would have done the job, and he would have appeared. Mr. Stone has nothing to hide.” The arrest operation drew scrutiny on social media—even from President Trump, who said “Border Coyotes, Drug Dealers and Human Traffickers are treated better,” and questioned “who alerted CNN to be there?” One federal law enforcement source told Fox News on Friday that the operation was “standard” for a home arrest. The source told Fox News that home arrests typically take place early in the morning with a team of FBI agents in protective gear, adding that Stone’s situation was “nothing out of the ordinary.” A former senior Justice Department official, now-white collar criminal attorney with Ifrah Law, James Trusty, told Fox News that while common procedure in white collar cases would involve a federal prosecutor contacting the defendant’s attorney, Stone’s charges could have sparked a different approach. “It shows that there is either a fundamental distrust of Mr. Stone, possibly due to the witness tampering charge, or that there was a real breakdown with his attorney,” Trusty said Friday. “The wild card here is that in charging Stone with a form of obstruction of justice, the Mueller team may view it differently than typical white-collar investigations.” He added: “If the FBI and the Mueller team believe Stone has engaged in witness tampering, then there is a palpable distrust, which would make them err on the side of surprise, rather than a courtesy phone call.” FBI'S MANAFORT RAID INCLUDED A DOZEN AGENTS, 'DESIGNED TO INTIMIDATE,' SOURCE SAYS The 24-page indictment released early Friday alleges that Stone worked to obstruct the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election by making false statements to the committee, denying he had records sought by the committee and persuading a witness to provide false testimony. The indictment does not charge Stone with conspiring with WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy website that published the emails, or with the Russian officers Mueller says hacked them. Instead, it accuses him of witness tampering, obstruction and false statements about his interactions related to WikiLeaks' release. But former U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia Joseph diGenova blasted the tactic as “outrageous.” “I am appalled that the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI have permitted a vindictive use of arrest in a non-violent case with a defendant who was willing to surrender,” diGenova, who has informally been an adviser to the president throughout the Russia investigation, told Fox News. “This is an abuse of power and it underscores the vindictive nature of it by the fact that CNN was alerted ahead of time.” He added: “For those of us who have been prosecutors and have prosecuted mob figures, drug dealers and terrorists—those are the people for whom these aggressive tactics are reserved. Not a Roger Stone.” “Make no mistake,” he said. “This was designed to be vindictive and intimidating.” DiGenova likened the FBI arrest of Stone to the bureau’s early morning raid last summer of the home of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.
Believe it or not, no one has hit this massive Powerball jackpot yet. Now, Wednesday’s jackpot will be an impressive $750 million. That makes it both the third-largest Powerball jackpot in history and the fourth largest the US lottery system has ever seen. Tonight’s drawing will take place at 11 p.m. EST. Winning Powerball numbers for March 27 Check back in at 11 p.m. to see the winning numbers as soon as they are posted. Winning numbers: 16-20-37-44-62 Powerball: 12 Powerplay: 3X If you and your coworkers went in on a pile of tickets, don’t stress yourself out by checking each one by hand. Download the PA online lottery mobile app. Then you can use your phone to scan each ticket and check for winners. Lump-sum option worth $465 million It may be in fine print, but it is always important to take note of what the lump-sum prize is worth for big lottery jackpots. For example, today’s lump sum is $465 million. In fact, most of the time, you should seriously consider taking the lump sum. More often than not, with the help of a financial advisor, you can find a better annual return on your money than the lottery does under the annuity option. Yes, from a purely financial point of view, the lump sum is the decision that makes more sense. There are other things to consider when choosing between the lump sum and the annuity though. A big part of the decision depends upon how well you know yourself. For many lottery winners, the annuity ensures you do not blow your newfound riches all at once. Getting only set amount annually over a 30-year period might instill a schedule and sense of responsibility you might not be able to generate if given the money all at once. There are also income tax reasons you may not want the lump sum. If your jackpot is on the smaller side, you might be surrendering so much of your prize to income tax payments that it no longer makes financial sense. Responsible gambling reminder Thinking responsibly about the lottery doesn’t just apply to how you will spend your lottery jackpots. Being that this is National Problem Gambling Awareness Month, it is as good a time as any to remind people that these big paydays are fun to chase, but only if you do so in a healthy way. The National Council on Problem Gambling is using the hype around the Powerball jackpot to offer five simple tips about keeping gambling fun and healthy: Set a limit of time and money spent. of time and money spent. Don’t gamble to escape negative feelings. gamble to escape negative feelings. Know where to get help . . Don’t gamble with money you can’t afford to lose. gamble with money you can’t afford to lose. Minors should not be gambling. Keith Whyte, the executive director of NCPG, elaborates on the organization’s mission when it comes to lottery games and other forms of gambling:<doc-sep>UPDATE: Did anyone win the Powerball last night? Here’s where single winning ticket was sold for $768.4M jackpot The Powerball lottery jackpot for Wednesday night’s drawing is estimated at $768 million - potentially the third-largest prize in U.S. lottery history. The winning numbers are: 16, 20, 37, 44, 62. Powerball: 12. Power Play: 3x. The cash option for the drawing was worth an estimated $465.5 million While no one hit Saturday’s $638.8 million jackpot, plenty of people won smaller, yet still substantial prizes. In New Jersey, eight tickets matched four numbers plus the Powerball and are worth $50,000. Nationally, 10 tickets matched five numbers but not the Powerball in Saturday’s drawing. Eight of the second-prize tickets are worth $1 million, with two valued at $2 million because the winners spent an extra $1 to exercise the Power Play option. Two of the $1 million tickets were sold in New York City - one in Brooklyn and one in the Bronx, New York Lottery officials said. The Powerball jackpot was last won by David Johnson, a 56-year-old supermarket worker from Brooklyn, New York. He hit the $298.3 million jackpot on Dec. 26. Johnson chose the cash option worth $180,227,550 and received $114,091,248 after taxes were deducted. Since then, 25 twice-weekly drawings have been held without a jackpot winner. Prior to Johnson’s jackpot win the day after Christmas, no one had hit the Powerball top prize since Oct. 27. That’s when two ticket holders - one in New York and one in Iowa - split a $687.8 million jackpot. Lerynne West, 51, of Redfield, Iowa, and Robert Bailey, of New York City, each won about $343.9 million. They both chose the cash option of about $198 million. After taxes, Bailey, 67, walked away with a check for $125 million. The total prize was, at the time, the fourth largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history. The Powerball jackpot was won eight times last year, including once in New Jersey. On May 18, Little Ferry resident Tayeb Souami won the $315.3 million prize with a ticket he bought at ShopRite in Hackensack. The 55-year-old father of two said he worked as an accountant for a food importing company, but quit his job after learning he hit the jackpot. That prize is the fourth biggest lottery win in New Jersey. Earlier this month, a 54-year-old man who lives in Alpha, Warren County hit the $273 million Mega Millions drawing. The odds of hitting the Powerball jackpot are 292,201,388 to 1. A player who buys a $2 ticket has about a 1 in 11,688,053 chance to match five numbers and win at least $1 million. Powerball is played in 44 states, Washington D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Earlier this month, a 54-year-old man who lives in Alpha, Warren County hit the $273 million Mega Millions drawing. Jeff Goldman may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Chris Sheldon may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips<doc-sep>LANSING, MI -- The estimated Powerball jackpot for the drawing on Wednesday, Mar. 27 is worth an incredible $750 million, making it the fourth largest jackpot in history. Lottery fever continues to sweep the nation and it’s possible the jackpot could be worth even more once the final sales are tallied. The cash option for tonight’s drawing is $465.5 million. The jackpot could increase prior to the drawing if ticket sales outpace expectations. Once again, MLive will be providing live results of tonight’s drawing and will update this story with the winning numbers as they come in. I’ll be jumping in the comments at 10:55 p.m. to answer questions and share the winning numbers. The winning numbers are: 16-20-37-44-62 Powerball: 12 Power Play: 3 How to play Mega Millions and Powerball The Mega Millions drawing takes place at 10:59 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the following TV stations throughout the state: WBKB-TV 11 (CBS) WDIV-TV 4 (NBC) WNEM-TV 5 (CBS) WXSP-TV (MyNetwork TV) WLAJ-TV 53 (ABC) WMKG-TV 38 (IND) WLUC-TV 6 (NBC/FOX) WGTU-TV 29/WGTQ-TV 8 (ABC) Following the drawing, MLive will publish an update in the morning that includes whether or not anyone won the jackpot. Friday night’s winner is the latest winner in the state who has won more than $1 million playing the lottery. Earlier this month, a Wayne County woman claimed a $4 million winning instant lottery ticket. The 28-year-old said she’d actually dreamed of winning a $4 million lottery prize just a few months before her big win. The last players from Michigan to win a Mega Millions or Powerball jackpot were Kevin and Stephanie Blake of Waterford who $21 millionafter splitting a $42 million jackpot on Oct. 13, 2017. Kevin picked the winning numbers by using a combination of family birthdays. After winning, the couple said they would not retire and would continue working. And while they were lucky winners, it’s smart for players to check their tickets immediately as a winner worth $1 million sold in Ypsilanti last year went unclaimed this month as well. The ticket was purchased at the CVS in Ypsilanti, but the winner never came forward to claim the prize. The money instead went to the state’s School Aid Fund. Speaking of coming forward, the winner of the $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot from last year finally came forward this month as well. The winner’s identity was not revealed however as the player is from South Carolina, a state that allow winners to conceal their identity when claiming jackpot prizes. If you’d like to be the next player from Michigan to win a huge lottery prize, take a look at these tips from lottery expert Richard Lustig. The author of “Learn How To Increase Your Chances Of Winning The Lottery” has won more than $1 million in Florida by winning top jackpot prizes in smaller games.<doc-sep>	Business Powerball Winning Numbers For 3/27/2019 Drawing: $750M Jackpot Here are the winning Powerball numbers for the jackpot drawing on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. Reply The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday, March 27, has reached $750 million. (Image courtesy of Powerball) The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday is the third-largest prize in the game's history and is worth an estimated $750 million — the fourth biggest jackpot in all U.S. lottery history, game officials said. The one-time cash payout for the Wednesday, March 27, Powerball drawing will be a whopping $465.5 million, authorities estimate. The Powerball jackpot was last won by a player in New York in the Dec. 26, 2018, drawing, officials said. What time are the winning Powerball numbers drawn? Numbers are selected every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Eastern time, with Powerball results typically posted within five minutes. In most states, ticket sales stop at least an hour before the drawing, but a state may cut off sales earlier, such as Illinois, which ends sales three hours before the drawing. In Maryland and New Jersey, ticket sales end at 9:59 p.m.; in Virginia, they close at 10 p.m. Check with your state lottery for the sales cut-off time. The winning Powerball numbers for Wednesday, March 27, are: 16, 20, 37, 44, 62 and the Powerball of 12. As the Powerball jackpot reached top-four territory, lottery officials reminded players to be mindful of what they can afford to spend. "It's easy to get excited about such a life-changing jackpot," David Barden, Powerball chairman, said in a news release. "Just remember, it only takes one $2 ticket for a chance to win. Please, play responsibly." Lottery officials say players should check their tickets for ways to win smaller prizes. Eight tickets matched all five white balls, but missed matching the red Powerball in Saturday's drawing to win a $1 million prize. The $1 million-winning tickets were sold in Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, two in New York and South Carolina. Two other tickets, sold in Florida and Wisconsin, matched all five white balls and doubled the prize to $2 million, because the tickets included the Power Play option for an additional $1. In total, there were more than 3.7 million winning tickets across all prize tiers. The largest Powerball jackpot in history was $1.586 billion, which was shared by winners in California, Florida and Tennessee in January 2016. Someone in South Carolina claimed the $1.6 billion Mega Millions jackpot on Oct. 23, 2018.
"You know, driving while black in our cars, black people have been killed walking while black in our neighbourhoods, and now here we are being killed living while black in our apartments."<doc-sep>Update 9/24/18: Amber Guyger, the Dallas police officer who murdered Botham Jean in his own home, has been fired, according to a statement released by the Dallas Police Department. The hearing held on September 24th by Dallas Police Chief Renée Hall resulted in the termination, and Guyger has the right to appeal. *** On Sunday evening, Dallas Police Department officer Amber Guyger, 30, was arrested and charged with manslaughter for fatally shooting Botham Shem Jean, 26, in his own apartment on September 6th. While Guyger was in uniform and used her service weapon to shoot Jean in the chest and abdomen at approximately 10 p.m. on September 6th, she was off-duty. Guyger lives in the same apartment complex as Jean, but one floor below, and she claims she mistakenly thought Jean’s apartment was her own and thought he was an intruder. Both Dallas PD and the Texas Rangers have been involved in the investigation, and there have given varying accounts of what occurred; however, according to the attorney for Jean’s family, Lee Merritt, some of the details in the arrest affidavit are disputed by witnesses. Merritt has also criticized law enforcement’s handling of the case, and the length of time it took for Guyger to be arrested. “We don’t want it lost on anyone that, had this been a regular citizen, she would have never left the crime scene,” Merritt said, according to the New York Times. According to Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall, “At the very early stages of this investigation, initial indications were that they were what we consider circumstances of an officer-involved shooting.” Per department policy, even though she was off-duty, Guyger was considered an “involved officer” not a “regular citizen.” However, according to Hall, by Friday, the day after the incident, “It became clear that we were dealing with what appears to be a much different and very unique situation.” At that time, Chief Hall stated her intention to seek an arrest warrant on manslaughter charges, but declined to name the officer. Hall said that DPD had asked the Texas Rangers to take over the case “to eliminate the appearance of any potential bias.” By Friday night, Guyger still had not been named or been arrested. According to Hall, an arrest affidavit had not been filed after all, because the Rangers had instructed the department to “hold off,” pending further investigation. According to the department’s General Orders, the night of the shooting, Guyger would have been required “to relate a brief account of the incident to the first supervisor to arrive and to that supervisor only.” DPD’s General Orders also dictate that “involved officers must ‘undergo a debriefing interview in the investigative offices to establish the detailed facts surrounding the incident.’” While Guyger did provide details of the incident on the night of, a debriefing interview did not occur. Reached for comment, DPD tells Rolling Stone, “All of the information we have released about this incident has been posted to our blog,” and directed any questions to the Texas Rangers. Guyger’s official account of the incident was given in her first interview — to the Texas Rangers — sometime on Saturday, and is contained into the arrest affidavit they filed on Sunday. According to the affidavit, Guyger, upon returning home from her shift, parked on the wrong floor of the building’s parking garage, exited into the wrong floor of the building, and thought Jean’s apartment (which is directly above hers) was her own. Jean’s apartment has a bright red doormat, and each apartment has a light fixture that illuminates each unit’s apartment number; the affidavit notes that the hallways and apartment layouts in the building are all the same. According to the affidavit, Guyger said the door was “ajar,” but she still inserted her key card and the “force” made the door open. The lights were off and Guyger claims it was too dark to tell that she was in the wrong apartment, but she did see a silhouette moving across the room. Guyger drew her weapon, “gave verbal commands that were ignored,” and then fired twice, hitting Jean once in the chest and abdomen. Guyger dialed 911 before turning on the lights; that’s when she realized her mistake. Jean was rushed to a local hospital and died a short time later. Guyger’s account of the incident in the affidavit contains new details and key differences from early reports by the local media. For example, on Saturday, the local NBC news affiliate, citing an anonymous police source, wrote that Guyger “struggled with the lock” and was “fight[ing] with the key when the resident swung open the door.” In that account, the shooting happened in the doorway to the apartment. The story was syndicated by other NBC news outlets. NBC has since deleted the account of the anonymous police source (an archived version of the article is preserved here) “due to conflicting reports of the incident from various sources.” However, that “conflicting report” is similar to the one given in the Texas Rangers’ search warrant affidavit filed on Saturday, which states that Guyger was “attempting to enter the apartment with a set of keys” when Jean “confronted the officer at the door.” There is no mention of Guyger giving “verbal commands” — though a neighbor is noted as having heard “an exchange of words” — before shooting Jean. Rolling Stone’s attempts to seek comment from the Texas Rangers have thus far been unsuccessful. Reached for comment, the Texas Rangers would only confirm the basic known details of their investigation and Guyger’s arrest, but declined to answer questions or provide further information, telling Rolling Stone that the case had been handed over to the District Attorney’s Office. Reached for comment, the Dallas DA’s Office told Rolling Stone they were unable to respond to questions or offer further comment on the case. “It’s an ongoing investigation and evidence and information [are] still being gathered,” the response read. “Once the investigation is completed, the full case will be presented to the Grand Jury.” By Sunday, Guyger had been named by Dallas PD, but she still had not been arrested or charged, and the Merritt and the Jean family were demanding answers. “We want to know why that person is not in handcuffs yet,” Merritt said before meeting with Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson on Sunday. Afterwards, he said that he presented Johnson with new evidence and demanded that Guyger be taken into custody. After Merritt’s meeting with DA Johnson, the Texas Rangers issued a warrant for Guyger’s arrest on manslaughter charges. While Guyger’s arrest brought some relief, there have been questions about why she was charged with manslaughter instead of murder. According to the Texas penal code, murder is committed when a person “intentionally or knowingly causes the death of an individual,” or “intends to cause serious bodily injury and commits an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual.” Manslaughter, on the other hand, is when a person “recklessly causes the death of another individual.” When the arrest affidavit filed by the Texas Rangers was released on Monday, Merritt disputed the claim that Jean’s door was ajar and that Guyger gave him verbal commands. Merritt told the New York Times that witnesses who lived in the building had told the DA’s office that they heard Guyger banging on Jean’s door and saying, “Let me in.” “It would be irresponsible to rely on this extremely bizarre, self-serving affidavit,” said Merritt. Guyger was booked shortly after 7 p.m. on Sunday evening, and released a few hours later on $300,000 bond. At a press conference on Monday, DA Johnson said that her office would be continuing to investigate, and while Guyger is charged with manslaughter for now, ultimately a grand jury would weigh the evidence and determine whether more serious charges are warranted. This is Guyger’s second shooting in her four years as an officer; she shot and wounded a suspect in May 2017 during an on-duty incident and was not charged. “Trust me, we will present to the grand jury everything that we can possibly present to them,” Johnson said at a news conference.<doc-sep>DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Dallas Police officer Amber Guyger’s arrest warrant has some North Texas legal experts asking the same question. “Where is the crime?” Criminal defense lawyers CBS 11 talked to at the Dallas County Courthouse describe the Texas Rangers warrant as “weak on motive or intent.” They believe it will be difficult for the Dallas County DA’s office to prove a crime. The probable cause affidavit released Tuesday afternoon offers a detailed account of what happened inside Botham Jean’s apartment last Thursday night. Officer Amber Guyger told investigators how she walked into an apartment she mistook for hers and shot the 26-year-old man thinking he was a burglar. CBS 11 asked several prominent criminal defense lawyers what they thought about the warrant. All of them said they were surprised they didn’t see words like “reckless” or “intentional” which they say would normally be found on similar documents in manslaughter and murder cases. “It’s an interesting read,” said criminal defense attorney George Milner. “It doesn’t read anything beyond negligence of that they simply do not specify how she is reckless which is the required mental state for manslaughter. It reads much more like an accidental killing. I mean if someone were to drop a gun accidentally and it fired and it hit somebody.” Milner and others say it doesn’t necessarily mean the DA’s office doesn’t have a good case because the investigation is still ongoing. But he says it’s clearly a sign the Texas Rangers were careful not to implicate Officer Guyger. “If it was a reasonable mistake of fact, that’s an affirmable defense that is going to weigh into this thing very heavily,” said Robert Hinton, another criminal defense attorney. “In my honest opinion, I think if I represented her, she’d walk,” said Milner. Meantime, activists and leaders in the Dallas faith community believe Officer Guyger should be punished.<doc-sep>	By RYAN TARINELLI and KEN MILLER DALLAS (AP) — A white Dallas police officer was arrested Sunday on a manslaughter charge in the off-duty shooting of a black neighbor whose apartment she says she mistook for her own. Officer Amber Guyger was booked into the Kaufman County Jail after being taken into custody, the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a news release. The department said the investigation is ongoing and that no additional information was available. Start your day with the news you need from the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our Morning Report weekday newsletter. A jail employee said Guyger was released on bond. Online records initially showed Guyger was in custody, but she later was not listed on the jail inmate roster. Guyger fatally shot 26-year-old Botham Jean on Thursday at Jean’s apartment. Lawyers for Jean’s family had been calling for Guyger’s arrest, saying the fact that she had remained free days after the shooting showed she was receiving favorable treatment. They held a news conference Sunday night, shortly before the arrest was announced, making another plea for the officer to be taken into custody and saying their team had presented new evidence — a witness and video footage — to prosecutors. They didn’t provide details. The family attorneys weren’t immediately available for comment after the arrest came. S. Lee Merritt, one of the attorneys for Jean’s family, said Saturday that the man’s loved ones weren’t calling on the authorities to jump to conclusions or to deny Guyger her right to due process. But Merritt said they wanted Guyger “to be treated like every other citizen, and where there is evidence that they’ve committed a crime, that there’s a warrant to be issued and an arrest to be made.” Guyger, 30, is a four-year veteran of the police force. The Dallas Police Department released her name Saturday night. Police Chief U. Renee Hall said the day after the shooting that her department was seeking manslaughter charges against Guyger. But she said Saturday that the Texas Rangers, who have taken over the investigation, asked her department to hold off because they had learned new information and wanted to investigate further before a warrant was issued. Jean’s family has also hired attorney Benjamin Crump, who is best known for representing the families of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown. Martin, a black, unarmed 17-year-old, was shot and killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer in 2012 in Sanford, Florida. Brown, a black, unarmed 18-year-old, was shot and killed by a white police officer in 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Crump has also represented the families of Stephon Clark and Terence Crutcher, both also black and unarmed. Clark, 22, was fatally shot earlier this year by officers in the backyard of his grandparents’ home in Sacramento, California. Crutcher, 40, was shot and killed by a white police officer in 2016 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. According to police, Guyger shot and killed Jean after returning in uniform to the South Side Flats, where they both had apartments, following her shift. She reported the shooting to dispatchers and she told officers who responded that she had mistaken Jean’s apartment for her own. Many questions remain about what led Guyger to shoot Jean. Hall said the officer’s blood was drawn at the scene so that it could be tested for alcohol and drugs. Investigators haven’t released the results of those tests. Jean’s mother, Allison Jean, wondered whether race could have been a factor. Her son, who grew up in the Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia before attending college in Arkansas, is black. Guyger is white. “If it was a white man, would it have been different? Would she have reacted differently?” Allison Jean said Friday. Jean wasn’t the first person shot by Guyger. She shot another man, Uvaldo Perez, on May 12, 2017, while she was on duty. According to an affidavit in the case filed against Perez, police were looking for a suspect when Guyger and another officer were called to assist a third. Perez got out of a car and became combative with Guyger and another officer. A struggle began and Guyger fired her Taser at Perez, who then wrested it away from her. She then drew her gun and fired, wounding Perez in the abdomen. Guyger was not charged in the 2017 shooting. Sgt.
Khabib Nurmagomedov went for Dillon Danis after beating Conor McGregor (Picture: Getty Images) Ever since the wild brawl that took place after the main event of UFC 229 on Saturday, there has been debate and confusion over what actually triggered it. Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Conor McGregor in the fourth round of their UFC lightweight title fight then vaulted the cage to attack McGregor’s teammate Dillon Danis. Was this just because of a build up of animosity from months of bad blood, or had Danis said something at that moment or during the fight to cause Khabib to lose control? Unsurprisingly, those involved have very different opinions about what was said in the moment. Danis was in McGregor’s corner for the fight (Picture: Getty Images) TMZ reported that a ringside witness heard Danis call Khabib a ‘fking Muslim rat’. Khabib himself told Russian outlet Kommersant, reported by RT: ‘There were journalists standing around him, they all heard it and wrote about it.’ ‘Calling me a “Muslim st” and all that kind of stuff. I don’t want to repeat it, I can’t.’ However, Danis completely refutes these allegations, denying saying any such thing. This vid shows Khabib's Dominance MMA managing partner Rizvan Magomedov harassing Dillon Danis who pushes him away as Nurmagomedov notices the skirmish & jumps in to assist. Magomedov who can be seen in other videos scuffling with police trying to break up the brawl was arrested. pic.twitter.com/vP4iFiH219 — Mike Russell (@MIKERUSSELLMMA) October 9, 2018 Danis posted on his Instagram story: ‘Khabib Nurmagomedov’s fans are attempting to smear me in an effort to justify his actions. ‘I have never and would never denigrate anyone’s religion. I look forward to the results of the Nevada State Athletic Commission investigation which will reject this bullshit claim and put the blame where it belongs.’ Dillon Danis competes in Bellator (Picture: Bellator) Conor McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh, backs up Danis by saying he didn’t hear him say anything despite being stood right next to him. Kavanagh told Joe Rogan on his podcast: ‘He actually didn’t say anything. ‘Now I was standing beside Dylan, I didn’t see what he did but I could hear. So he didn’t say anything. ‘Now maybe, there was something else in the lead up. Dillon is a bit of a troll online, so there’s probably a build up of other stuff. Like I said, it wasn’t that big of a deal to me, what Khabib did, it just really wasn’t.’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The Nevada Athletic Commission (NSAC) is conducting its review into the incident and ‘will be filing against Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov,’ according to chairman Anthony Marnell. No arrests were made after the incident as no one involved wished to press charges. MORE : Floyd Mayweather expects Khabib Nurmagomedov to be hit with huge fine after brawl MORE : Conor McGregor’s net worth predicted to reach billions despite Khabib Nurmagomedov loss<doc-sep>Khabib Nurmagomedov and Vladimir Putin meet after the win over Conor McGregor When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up forfor news on the biggest players and tournaments Nurmagomedov beat McGregor in four rounds on Sunday but his UFC 229 victory was overshadowed by events after the fight. Nurmagomedov leapt into the crowd to confront McGregor’s team-mate Dillon Danis and an brawl erupted. McGregor was set upon by a number of Nurmagomedov’s team-mates, who leapt into the Octagon to fight the Irishman. The Nevada Athletic Commission is investigating what happened, while the UFC is yet to release Nurmagomedov’s prize money from the fight.<doc-sep>	Radio host Joe Rogan, who was cageside at UFC 229, says Dillon Danis, a member of Conor McGregor's fight team, was taunting Khabib Nurmagomedov, before the Russian lost his cool, and leaped out of the octagon to attack him. "Dillon was absolutely insulting Khabib, saying something to him and provoking him and then Khabib just jumped over the cage and attacked him," Rogan, the presenter of the Joe Rogan Experience said on-air in the hours after the chaotic denouement to the title fight. "I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought Khabib was just going to jump to the top of the cage and say 'F*** you'." Read more The excess adrenaline in Khabib's veins after he dispatched McGregor in a fourth-round submission to retain his unbeaten record, may cost him his UFC Lightweight title, and temporarily his license for future fights in Nevada. "This is horrible. This is the nastiest thing I've ever seen," said Rogan. "Attacking someone in the crowd is so stupid and so unnecessary and so foolish after such a spectacular victory." But why was Danis, a Brazilian jiu jitsu champ, with one MMA fight to his name, able to get under his skin, once the master provocateur, McGregor lay vanquished on the floor? Danis says that their bad blood runs nearly a decade, when Khabib was training in New Jersey gym that the US fighter also frequented. This is the guy who Khabib went after (Dillon Danis) pic.twitter.com/2uS2g10EOq — Je suis Earl (@CrownRoyal22) October 7, 2018 There, the two developed "a bit of a beef" due to the Russian's supposed lack of respect for jiu jitsu, which carried into the current camp, during which Danis claimed he could overpower Khabib. But in his press conference, Khabib revealed that he had been driven to distraction by McGregor's over-the-line insults about his religion, family and country, and did not focus on Danis.
Ryanair has vowed to ban abusive passengers from its flights after a man launched a racist tirade against a woman in her 70s. The announcement comes after customers threatened to boycott the airline because of its apparent inaction during the incident, which occurred on a plane flying from Barcelona to London Stansted. Footage of the unnamed man calling the pensioner an “ugly black bastard”, has been viewed on Facebook more than 1.8 million times. The budget airline told the BBC: “We operate strict guidelines for disruptive passengers and we will not tolerate unruly behaviour like this. Recommended Ryanair faces boycott for not removing racially abusive man from plane “We will be taking this matter further and disruptive or abusive behaviour like this will result in passengers being banned from travel.” Ryanair said in a separate statement it was aware of the footage and had reported the incident to Essex Police. “As this is now a police matter, we cannot comment further”, it added. But Essex Police said the incident happened on a plane at Barcelona Airport and it was not immediately clear who was leading the investigation The row apparently broke out after the 77-year-old woman was unable to move out of her aisle seat quickly enough to let the man sit down in his window seat. The video, shot by UK resident David Lawrence, shows the man shouting at the woman to move seats, while her daughter tells him her mother is disabled. He replies: “I don’t care whether she’s f**** disabled or not – if I tell her to get out she gets out.” The flight attendant then asks the woman if she would like to move to another seat and the woman tells him she would like to sit near her daughter. The man tells her to move seat, to which the woman responds: “You smell. You need a wash.” Then, the man says: “If you don’t go to another seat, I’ll push you to another seat.” Later, he says: “Don’t talk to me in a f**** foreign language you stupid ugly cow.” A fellow passenger tries to intervene, asking the man to stop being abusive. But the man says: “I will carry on as far as I can with this ugly black bastard.” The flight attendant says the man is being “super rude” and tells him to calm down, while a number of passengers on the flight call for the man to be removed from the flight. Politicians and social media users have strongly criticised the airline for not asking him to leave the plane. The woman’s daughter said she had gone on holiday to Barcelona with her mother to mark a year since the death of her husband. She told The Huffington Post: “I know that if I was behaving like he was – or any other black person for that matter – police would have been called and we would have been kicked off the flight. “Mum’s really feeling upset and very stressed about this situation, on top of the grief she’s already experiencing.” UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 21st May 2021 A family buffeted by the wind whilst crossing the the Millennium Bridge in London, with wind and rain forecast to ravage the UK on the first Friday that people have been allowed to meet in large groups outside in England PA UK news in pictures 20 May 2021 Devon And Cornwall Police Demonstrate Their Skills For Policing The G7 Summit Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 May 2021 An employee stands before a costume for the Queen of Hearts by Bob Crowley on display at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2021 Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro, Portugal, at Gatwick Airport after the ban on international leisure travel for people in England was lifted following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2021 Emergency workers at the scene of a suspected gas explosion, in which a young child was killed and two people were seriously injured, on Mallowdale Ave Heysham which caused 2 houses to collapse and badly damaged another PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2021 Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause as violence escalates in the ongoing conflict with Israel, in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 14 May 2021 Member of staffs tighten screws and paint a Marlin skeleton, before it goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London, as the museum prepares to reopen to the public on 17 May, following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 13 May 2021 A worshipper at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Mordon, south London, ahead of Eid al-Fitr. The celebration marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan. PA UK news in pictures 12 May 2021 A couple have wedding photos taken in Westminster, London Getty UK news in pictures 11 May 2021 The sun rises on Coquet Island, off Amble on the Northumberland coast, where as many as 35000 seabirds cram onto this tiny island to breed PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2021 Newly elected for a second term Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during his signing in ceremony at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on London’s Southbank PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2021 People mill around St. Michael's tower on top of Glastonbury Tor as it is seen through blooming yellow rapeseed on a day of mixed weather in Glastonbury, Somerset PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2021 Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford elbow bumps newly elected MS Labour candidates Elizabeth Buffy Williams, Rhondda, left, and Sarah Murphy, Bridgend & Porthcawl Labour, right, as they meet in Porthcawl, Wales PA UK news in pictures 6 May 2021 A group of five Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart PA UK news in pictures 5 May 2021 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Liam Byrne (far right) and Labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner (far left) during a visit to Birmingham, whilst on the election campaign trail PA UK news in pictures 4 May 2021 Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey stand within 100 oak saplings which form part of a living art installation entitled Beuys' Acorns by the UK-based artist duo, outside the Tate Modern in London PA UK news in pictures 3 May 2021 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie feeds the Gentoo penguins during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo on the campaign trail for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 6 PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Chelsea players celebrate their fourth goal during the Women’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, at Kingsmeadow Stadium in south west London. The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near King’s Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2021 A red panda rests on a tree at Manor Wildlife park, which reopened its doors as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, in Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 25 April 2021 Sheep climb the hillside as flames from a moor fire are seen on Marsden moor, near Huddersfield AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 April 2021 Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners, outside English Premier League club Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in Manchester AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 23 April 2021 People enjoy the warm weather at City Hall near Tower Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 22 April 2021 Uyghurs during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, which is being held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2021 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Orchard in Alnwick REUTERS UK news in pictures 20 April 2021 People stand in front of anti Super League banners outside Anfield as twelve of Europe's top football clubs, including Liverpool, launch a breakaway league Reuters UK news in pictures 19 April 2021 Women enjoy sunny weather in Greenwich, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, Reuters UK news in pictures 18 April 2021 Stephen Maguire (right) of Scotland interacts with Jamie Jones of Wales during day 2 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships 2021 at The Crucible, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin, covered with His Royal Highness’s Personal Standard arrives by Landrover Defender at St George’s Chapel carried by a bearer party found by the Royal Marines during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images UK news in pictures 16 April 2021 Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, checks the teeth of "Dentosaurus" during a visit to the Thornliebank Dental Care centre in Glasgow, as she campaigns ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 April 2021 Myanmar's former ambassador to the UK, Kyaw Zwar Minn, outside his residence in north west London. The ambassador has been barred from entering the Myanmar embassy in Mayfair after he was removed from office PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2021 People take part in coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London. Thousands of residents have queued up to take coronavirus tests at additional facilities set up after new cases of the South African variant were found in two south London boroughs. 44 confirmed cases of the variant have been found in Lambeth and Wandsworth, with a further 30 probable cases identified PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2021 The core of the Milky Way becomes visible in the early hours of Tuesday morning as it moves over Bamburgh Lighthouse at stag Rock in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2021 Rebecca Richardson (left) and Genevieve Florence, members of the Aquabatix synchronised swimming team, during a practice session in the swimming pool at Clissold Leisure Centre in north London, which has reopened to the public.<doc-sep>A number of Ryanair's Portugal-based staff have been ordered to attend a meeting in Dublin later this week to face potential disciplinary action. It follows the publication of a photo on social media, showing crew members asleep on a floor at Malaga Airport in Spain, which the airline says is fake. The image went viral on social media. Four Ryanair planes had been diverted due to Storm Leslie in Portugal, where they are based. Initially, there was an apology from a member of the airline's management team. In a tweet, Chief Operations Officer Peter Bellew apologised to the staff, saying there were no hotel rooms available on the night in Malaga. But on Wednesday, Ryanair posted CCTV footage on Twitter, which the airline said showed that the staff involved had staged the photo. Following the incident, a number of Ryanair employees have been asked to attend a meeting at the airline's headquarters in Dublin this week. In a letter seen by RTÉ News, the staff in question have been told that they are "required to attend an investigative meeting under the disciplinary procedure." The letter said the purpose of the meeting is to "discuss the circumstances surrounding the distribution on social media of a photograph" which the airline has said "faked events that occurred on October 13th". An official with the Portuguese SNPVAC trade union, which represents the workers, said the photo was a form of protest. Fernando Gandra said: "The image illustrated the working conditions for the crew in Malaga last Saturday night." He added: "What we always claimed, is that Ryanair only gave the floor for people to have a rest." Mr Gandra said he is concerned the staff involved could face disciplinary action. In a statement, Ryanair has said "the publication of this video reveals the facts and exposes the SNPVAC union's fake news/false claims." The statement also said the CCTV footage "proves that the original picture was staged and no crew slept on the floor." Ryanair has called on Mr Gandra to apologise for his claim.<doc-sep>	A black disabled woman who was racially abused on a Ryanair flight to London has spoken about her “shock” over the incident. Delsie Gayle was called an “ugly black bastard” by a white man sitting next to her on a flight from Barcelona to London Stansted on Friday. The 77-year-old's ordeal sparked outrage after footage of the abuse was captured by a fellow passenger and posted on Facebook. The row apparently broke out after Ms Gayle was unable to move out of her aisle seat quickly enough to let the man sit down in his window seat. “I feel really depressed about it. I go to my bed and say, ‘What have I done?' I haven’t done anything (for him) to attack me because of the colour of my skin,” she told ITV News. Ms Gayle, a member of the Windrush generation who moved to Britain in the 1960s, tearfully revealed she did not know when she would recover from the incident “because every time I remember I cry”. ✕ Man racially attacks elderly black woman on Ryanair flight “I feel very low, because he pay his fare to go on holiday, I pay mine, so why does he abuse me for that due to the colour of my skin?” she said, adding if the man gets away with it he will do it to someone else. “I don’t eat, I can’t sleep. I’m just lying down there, I don’t eat. I’m just lying down there and think I’ve never gone through this with all my travelling.” The video, shot by UK resident David Lawrence, shows the man demanding the woman to move seats, while her daughter tells him her mother is disabled. He replies: “I don’t care whether she’s f****** disabled or not – if I tell her to get out she gets out.” The flight attendant then asks the woman if she would like to move to another seat and the woman tells him she would like to sit near her daughter. The man interjects: “Move her to another seat … I can’t get in while she’s sat there.” The woman responds: “You smell.
After a brief 217 day absence, the Patriots play their first meaningful game since the Super Bowl this Sunday. Opening the year in Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium, they’ll be hosting a Bill O’Brien-led Texans team for the fifth time in the last four years, six if you include the 2017 preseason game and joint practices from that week. Featuring an electric young quarterback in Deshaun Watson, the Texans are coming off of a lost year when seemingly their entire starting lineup was injured. They didn’t have a first or second round pick because of their last two quarterbacks, using the one to trade up for Watson and the two to dump Brock Osweiler’s awful contract. Despite those woes, the Texans are always a tough matchup – especially when healthy on their defense. Scouting the Texans’ offense Deshaun Watson Belichick’s Patriots have historically dominated Bill O’Brien’s Texans, as well as other coaches from his tree. But when preparing for the 2018 Texans, it’s fair to say that only the game film from 2017 seems to be relevant, at least for their offense. Watson stole the starting job from an undeserving Tom Savage halfway through week 1 last year and looked like he belonged immediately. Watson was well on his way to winning offensive rookie of the year before he went down with a freak right ACL tear in practice in November. Sunday’s matchup will be just over ten months since the injury. Based on his preseason, Watson didn’t look limited, but it’s important to factor in the human aspect of injury. While Watson dazzled with his mobility with plays like these... I wouldn’t expect to see a whole lot of plays like this on Sunday. Don’t get me wrong, Watson is still mobile and the Patriots are right to treat him like one with the scout team quarterbacks, but I would be shocked if Watson approached the many out of the pocket passes and eight rushes that he had against the Patriots last year in his first real NFL game back. If I were the Patriots, I would embrace what de-facto defensive coordinator Brian Flores has done with the Patriots defense in the preseason and send more pressure at Watson. The Texans’ offensive line was terrible in 2017 and the only member of the line that started week 3 that will start on Sunday is center Nick Martin. But to be honest, the replacements that the Texans brought in don’t inspire that much confidence. At left tackle, they are starting Julien Davenport, a second year project fourth round tackle that was pretty poor in spot starts last year. At right tackle is Seantrel Henderson, an old Bills foe that hasn’t started a game at tackle since 2015 because of Crohn’s disease and all the weed he had to smoke to manage the pain. And they’ll start two guys at guard that don’t really scare anyone in Zach Fulton and Senio Kelemete. The Patriots will be able to get pressure with a four-man rush, but they should be able send extra guys because... Defending the skill players ...without the available draft capital, the Texans didn’t upgrade their offensive skill players, returning a group of DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, Ryan Griffin, and Lamar Miller. With apologies to Sammie Coates, Tyler Ervin, Jordan Akins, and Keke Coutee, the Texans’ fifth offensive skill player should not present an obstacle to the Patriots’ defense. A game plan of the 6’1 Eric Rowe with the safety shaded to his side on Hopkins, and Gilmore on Will Fuller makes a lot of sense, leaving the other guys with winnable matchups. For the Texans offense, a lot hinges on how good Watson will be and how much of a threat he is as a mobile QB just ten months removed from a surgery that usually takes a full year to recover full explosiveness. The Patriots couldn’t have done a worse job with Watson last year, but they return with an improved and more athletic defense that should be up to the task. Scouting the Texans’ defense Let’s talk about the pressure Despite having missed most of the last few years with injuries, the face of the Texans’ franchise is still J.J. Watt, who at his peak was clearly the best defensive player in the NFL. And while he isn’t the same monster that he once was, he’s still among the best in the game with Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus feasting off of the double teams he still draws. Last year, the Patriots struggled mightily to contain the dangerous trio in their one-on-one matchups. Brady was sacked five times, including a fumble-six forced by Mercilus on a clean win against Solder: Even when the Patriots completed some nice plays, Brady was getting hit, and hit hard – nine times to be exact. Here are the four non-sack hits on Brady from that game: This was probably Brady's best throw last year. Clowney and McKinney destroy Thuney and Solder with a stunt and both Mercilus and Watt draw double teams on the right. The Texans D-Line is so dangerous. Expect a heavy dose of Develin and Allen on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/IG107bRDAT — Tian (@tianrossi) September 6, 2018 This is the same exact play and protection with McKinney and Mercilus switched. That kind of pressure is way too easy against a 6 man protection. Thank God that Tom Brady is Tom Brady. pic.twitter.com/5KcE9nWlLo — Tian (@tianrossi) September 6, 2018 On each of those four plays, the Texans run some sort of stunt and get a hit in on Brady. It’s on the left tackle and guard in the first three clips and over the center on the fourth clip. This kind of quick pressure generated by four players against a 6-man protection is just unreal and speaks to the talent of the Texans’ defensive linemen. On four of the biggest plays of the game, the Patriots felt compelled to have their most talented skill player chip in protection, and despite that, pressure made it through. The Texans have made a change at defensive coordinator with Vrabel off coaching the Titans, but the scheme should remain the same. Romeo Crennel (who was also the defensive coordinator in Texas from 2014-16) runs the same kind of schemes and Belichick is obviously well acquainted with his strategy as well. I expect the Patriots to be much better prepared for the Texans’ pass rush. Personnel The Patriots’ top three wide receivers in that game were Chris Hogan, Brandin Cooks, and Danny Amendola, with Phillip Dorsett only chipping in with seven snaps as the fourth wideout. Hogan, Dorsett, and Cordarrelle Patterson is obviously a step back from that trio and I suspect that the Patriots will adjust accordingly. In last year’s game, James Develin and Dwayne Allen played a combined 50% of defensive snaps. This Sunday that number should be closer to 100%. The Patriots need to take advantage of Mercilus and Clowney covering and playing the run in their base defense. The Patriots are still going to have to chip Watt and Clowney on the edges and ideally, they would prefer that guy to be Allen. I would also bet on the Patriots inserting some tight end screens or phantom blocks into the game plan to take advantage if the Texans get too aggressive. For the rest of the Texans’ defense, the Patriots should have an advantage against the secondary, but it has improved over recent years. One common theme from the Texans over the last decade or so has been that they could never have quality safety play. From Danieal Manning to D.J. Swearinger to Andre Hal to Quintin Demps to Eddie Pleasant to Corey Moore... you get the picture, they have all been mediocre fill-ins at best. This offseason, they finally realized the position to be a glaring weakness and signed Tyrann Mathieu, while moving back long time cornerback Kareem Jackson to safety to shore up the position. It will be very interesting to see how those two match up against Gronkowski and James White/Rex Burkhead because both of their starting linebackers (McKinney and Zach Cunningham) can’t cover for shit.<doc-sep>With Tom Brady having turned 41 last month, the N.F.L. still has its face of the present, but it should be on the lookout for its face of the future. Could Deshaun Watson, the second-year quarterback for the Houston Texans, whom Brady and the New England Patriots just happen to be facing this week, be his successor? What about Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers, who last season got out from under Brady’s considerable shadow? There’s always Carson Wentz of the Philadelphia Eagles, though he has to make it back from a devastating knee injury first. [Follow our live coverage of N.F.L. Week 1] Khalil Mack of the Chicago Bears, Jalen Ramsey of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Odell Beckham Jr. of the Giants are probably wondering why the face of the N.F.L. needs to be a quarterback. Each has the talent and personality to make an argument for himself. [The N.F.L. Struggles to Tackle Its Latest Problem: Tackling] Week 1 brings a fresh start for everyone — even the Cleveland Browns. A look ahead to this week’s games shows several intriguing matchups. As it did last season, The New York Times will be picking games against the spread rather than simply picking winners. Top-Tier Games Texans at Patriots, 1 p.m., CBS At times last season, it seemed Deshaun Watson, the Texans’ rookie quarterback, could do anything he wanted on a football field. In a four-game stretch, he threw for 1,171 yards and 16 touchdowns while Houston’s offense averaged 40.5 points a game. It resulted in only a 2-2 record, but both losses were competitive, and the second one, a shootout against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks, was easily one of the N.F.L.’s most entertaining games of the year.<doc-sep>There’s a bit of game theory in this advice. With Marlon Mack most likely out for Week 1, Robert Turbin suspended, and Nyheim Hines struggling mightily in the preseason, the Colts will lean primarily on Wilkins and Christine Michael, who is somehow still roaming around. The Colts face a Bengals team in Week 1 that is better against the pass than the run, and will have Andrew Luck back on the field for the first time since 2016. Bet on them easing their star quarterback back into action, meaning more work for Wilkins. Pick him up this week in your season-long leagues, use him, and then capitalize on the hype that develops afterward by trading him before Mack, Turbin, Hines, and Luck all conspire to render him unhelpful.<doc-sep>	New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) gives Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) a pat on the cheek after their game on September 24 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Photo by Matthew Healey/ UPI \| License Photo Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Second-year gunslinger Deshaun Watson is my No. 1 quarterback for Week 1 of the fantasy football season. The Houston Texans star is my No. 2 quarterback overall in my season-long rankings and that campaign kicks off with a great matchup against the New England Patriots. Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers, New Orleans Saints star Drew Brees, New England Patriots star Tom Brady and Pittsburgh Steelers star Ben Roethlisberger are also in my top five at the position for Week 1. Read the descriptions below for more of my favorite Week 1 starts. You can also find links to other positional rankings within the article. Here are my Top 20 options at the position this week. TOP 20 WEEK 11 RANKINGS BELOW TOP SHELF Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has a great Week 1 matchup against the New England Patriots. Last season, the Patriots allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Watson was phenomenal against the Patriots last season, throwing for 301 yards and two scores while also rushing for 41 yards on eight carries. I expect him to come out hot again in 2018. He is a high-end QB1 until further notice. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is on the other end of the matchup, as he faces the Houston Texans. The Texans allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks last season. While Brady's receiving options are not as skilled as they have been in the past, he should still provide plenty of value in what I think could be a shootout. Brady is my No. 4 quarterback for Week 1. SNEAKY PLAYS Pittsburgh Steelers veteran Ben Roethlisberger might be a bit inconsistent when it comes to fantasy football, but he is a must-start against the Cleveland Browns. Last season, the Browns allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. I expect Big Ben to come out firing in this one and throw for multiple touchdowns and at least 300 yards. Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has his franchise debut against the San Francisco 49ers. I expect big days from Cousins, Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen and Kyle Rudolph against a defense that allowed the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks last season. Cousins is my No. 7 option for Week 1 with this tasty matchup. LONGSHOTS Detroit Lions star Matthew Stafford is my No. 11 quarterback for Week 1, making him an option in leagues with at least 12 teams. Stafford faces the New York Jets to open the 2018 season. The Jets allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing gunslingers in 2017. If you really need help in Week 1 at quarterback, consider Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles as a streaming option. Bortles has a matchup against the New York Giants, the team that allowed the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2017. While Bortles' upside is limited, I expect him to take care of the football and to throw for a few scores as the Giants try to contain the Jaguars' rushing attack.
Marcus Smart Says He Has Heard Racist Remarks From Celtics Fans: 'It's Sad And Sickening'Asked about Kyrie Irving's comments about Boston fans, Celtics guard Marcus Smart said that he is hoping that the Boston crowd will treat all players -- whether they're in a Celtics or a Nets uniform -- with respect. Jayson Tatum Good To Go For Celtics-Nets Game 3Celtics forward Jayson Tatum practiced on Thursday and is good to go for Friday night's must-win Game 3 against the Brooklyn Nets. Jalen Mills Explains Why He Switched To No. 2 With PatriotsJalen Mills says switching to No. 2 is cool, but it also has a deeper meaning for the new Patriots defensive back. Long Snapper Joe Cardona On Playing For New England Patriots: 'I Never Thought I'd Be In The NFL'The Patriots long snapper says there is a different energy in the building knowing that fans will be returning to Gillette Stadium in the fall. Bruins-Islanders Game 1 Set For Saturday Night At TD GardenWe don't have a full series schedule just yet, but at least we know when the Bruins and the Islanders will begin their second-round series.<doc-sep>2. In Boston, Pride Parade weekend is Saturday and Sunday. The parade kicks off Saturday at noon in Copley Square and runs through the South End before arriving at a festival on City Hall Plaza. The Pride festival will be held on City Hall Plaza from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. and includes a number of performances, exhibits, and food options. Boston Pride has a schedule on its website. June is Pride Month, which means that Boston and cities across New England (and the country) are playing host to parades, festivals, and other events for LGBTQ communities. June has been an important month for the LGBTQ community for nearly five decades, and not just because of Pride. Whether you or your loved ones are going to the 48th annual Pride Parade Saturday in Boston, or an event elsewhere, here’s some context.Boston’s festivities continue through Sunday, with the parade and festival Saturday and block parties happening Saturday and Sunday. Providence holds its Pride celebration on June 16, and events in Portland, Maine, continue through June 17. Salem’s Pride events are held June 23, as are events in Portsmouth, N.H. 4. It’s no coincidence that these events are in June. Nor is it a coincidence that so many cities hold their events at the end of the month. On June 28, 1969, patrons at the Stonewall Inn, a bar in Greenwich Village for the LGBTQ community, resisted a police raid. That event is often considered the beginning of the modern LGBTQ rights movement, not just in New York City but in the United States. A year later, the Christopher Street Liberation Day Committee commemorated the Stonewall riots with the Gay Pride March. In 2015, The Stonewall Inn was named a city landmark. A year later, it was dedicated as the first national monument to gay rights. The Stonewall Inn and the night that made it iconic were featured in the 2015 movie “Stonewall,” though it was criticized for focusing on a fictional cisgender white male character rather than black and transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson, who was considered instrumental in the riots, according to The Washington Post. The Stonewall Inn in Manhattan's Greenwich Village in 2015. Brendan McDermid/Reuters/File 2015 5. Boston and Massachusetts played significant roles as well. A year after the Pride March in New York, activists marched in Boston in June 1971. A few years later, the Gay Community News was founded. According to a 2013 essay in the Globe, the Gay Community News was headquartered on Bromfield Street and became an influential weekly newspaper with national reach and a reputation of exclusive reporting on gay issues in the 1970s. Advertisement Statewide, Massachusetts contributed several LGBTQ firsts. Elaine Noble was the country’s first openly gay state representative. US Representative Gerry E. Studds was the first openly gay member of Congress after he was outed in 1983. Congressman Barney Frank was one of the first politicians to come out publicly. And in May 2004, Massachusetts was the first state where same-sex couples could get legally married. Advertisement 6. The rainbow flag that’s associated with the LGBTQ movement debuted at a Pride event 40 years ago this year. It was at a Pride parade in San Francisco that Gilbert Baker unveiled the first flags, which originally had eight colors, according to a New York Times obituary for Baker in 2017. Baker was a self-described “gay Betsy Ross” who had become known among his circle of friends for his creative banners, the Times wrote. Before the 1978 Pride parade, San Francisco city supervisor and gay rights leader Harvey Milk asked Baker to create something to represent the movement, the obituary explained. With help from volunteers, Baker made flags, with each stripe signifying something different, according to the obituary: “pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sun, green for nature, turquoise for magic, blue for peace, and purple for spirit.” The flag was later edited to six colors because of the expense of pink fabric, the Times wrote. Advertisement In 1978, Gilbert Baker hand-dyed and stitched together eight strips of colored fabric, creating an international symbol. SPENCER PLATT/GETTY IMAGES/FILE 2016 7. A new variation of the flag debuted in Philadelphia last year. Philadelphia’s Office of LGBT Affairs launched the #MoreColorMorePride campaign “in support of racial diversity, equality and inclusion in the LGBTQ neighborhoods of the city,” according to the office’s website. This included a new flag that had the six colors that had endured for decades, plus black and brown stripes. Reaction was mixed, with some people hailing the move as inclusive of people of color and others called the changes unnecessary. 8. June 26 has taken on significance. The US Supreme Court has issued some important decisions affecting the LGBTQ community, all on June 26. On June 26, 2003, a 6-to-3 ruling struck down state laws against sodomy. On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court struck down a key portion of the Defense of Marriage Act on a 5-to-4 vote. That same day, the Supreme Court also ruled that backers of Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage, lacked standing to defend the 2008 law because California’s governor and attorney general declined to defend the ban. And on June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court declared that same-sex couples have a right to marry anywhere in the United States. At the time, same-sex marriage was allowed in 36 states. The court’s ruling meant the remaining 14 states, in the South and Midwest, would have to stop enforcing their bans on same-sex marriage. Gay rights activists reacted outside the US Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on June 26, 2013. MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images/File 2013 9. June is not the only month that cities have Pride events. If you can’t make it to any of the events in June, there will be Pride events in September in Worcester, Hartford, and Vermont. In Boston, there have already been some Pride events, including Boston Black Pride in February and Boston Latinx Pride in April, according to Boston Pride’s website. 10. Pride Month is not the only important date for the LGBTQ community. Coming Out Day happens every Oct. 11, and October is History Month. Advertisement Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. Patrick Garvin can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter @PatrickMGarvin.<doc-sep>	Two Boston police officers and a woman were hurt near the Boston Pride Parade route Saturday.Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said it appears the officers were on motorcycles responding to a medical incident when for some reason there was some kind of the collision. The collision also collected a pedestrian. "There was an officer out here working the parade. It was hot. I think he was having an episode related to the heat exhaustion," Evans said. "The officers were trying to get here quick on a medical assist and I think the two motorcycle officers locked wheels. They went down and the bikes slid and they hit an older woman. "Evans said the woman was hit in the lower part of her body. The three people suffered minor injuries, and the accident had no effect on the parade route. "From all indications we just heard from Mass General I think one might have a shoulder and one has an arm injury," Evans said. "The older lady looks like she's going to be fine, but obviously we're just making sure." Police are still investigating to determine what exactly caused this to happen. Two Boston police officers and a woman were hurt near the Boston Pride Parade route Saturday. Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said it appears the officers were on motorcycles responding to a medical incident when for some reason there was some kind of the collision. The collision also collected a pedestrian. "There was an officer out here working the parade. It was hot. I think he was having an episode related to the heat exhaustion," Evans said. "The officers were trying to get here quick on a medical assist and I think the two motorcycle officers locked wheels. They went down and the bikes slid and they hit an older woman." Evans said the woman was hit in the lower part of her body. The three people suffered minor injuries, and the accident had no effect on the parade route. "From all indications we just heard from Mass General I think one might have a shoulder and one has an arm injury," Evans said. "The older lady looks like she's going to be fine, but obviously we're just making sure." Police are still investigating to determine what exactly caused this to happen.
At a Glance Several large tornadoes caused severe damage in Iowa on Thursday, injuring at least 17 people. Near Des Moines, a factory in Pella was hit by an EF3 tornado and homes were damaged in Bondurant. A separate EF3 tornado devastated much of downtown Marshalltown, injuring at least 10. Cleanup was under Friday after severe storms and tornadoes swept through Iowa on Thursday, damaging homes and businesses and injuring at least 17 people. The central Iowa cities of Marshalltown, Bondurant and Pella were hardest hit. At least 10 people were injured in Marshalltown and seven at a factory near Pella. No deaths were reported. As of Monday, the National Weather Service said at least 12 tornadoes were confirmed in Iowa. In Marshalltown, about 50 miles northeast of Des Moines, the state capital, several homes and businesses were severely damaged, in this city of about 27,000 people. A state of emergency was declared. A preliminary analysis suggests Marshalltown had up to 43 minutes of lead time before the EF3 tornado hit. The iconic 16-foot cupola of the Marshall County Courthouse, a limestone building on the National Register of Historic Places, was knocked 175 feet to the ground. The NWS relayed reports of "catastrophic damage," with overturned vehicles and tops of buildings "gone." (MORE: Severe Storms Expected Again Friday) "It was bad. I've seen a lot of tornado stuff (in the past)," Des Moines resident Julie Owen, in town to visit her daughter, told CNN. "It's not like the whole town is destroyed, but downtown, a city of this size, it was something else." At the UnityPoint Health facility, patients were evacuated to a nearby hospital after the building was damaged by the tornado. No injuries were reported, and the emergency room remained open. "Everyone is advised to stay away from downtown Marshalltown until further notice," City Administrator Jessica Kinser said in a statement obtained by CNN.com. "We also ask that people stay off cell lines unless necessary, to allow for emergency phone traffic." Joel Greer, mayor of Marshalltown, told The Weather Channel on Friday that the city is resilient and he has no doubt they'll rebuild. (WATCH: Historic Clock Tower Takes Direct Hit from Tornado) Clothing store owner Stephanie Moz and her husband were eating lunch with their 2-month-old baby when the twister approached, so they took shelter in the basement of the business, she told the Associated Press. After the tornado rushed over them, damaging the shop and destroying her husband's car, they emerged unharmed. "We went through a tornado and survived," Moz said. "I’m happy." Minutes earlier, a separate tornado hit the Vermeer Corp. plant, a farm and construction equipment manufacturer near Pella, injuring seven. All were released after being treated at Pella Regional Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman told the AP. Advertisement Following a damage survey, the tornado was rated EF3 with winds as high as 144 mph. It was Iowa's first EF3-or-higher tornado in July since July 27, 1995. A drone image shows severe damage at the Vermeer Corporation facility in Pella, Iowa, on Thursday, July 19, 2018. (Colter Fisher) Andrew Betts, of Atlanta, who was in Pella for Vermeer's customer appreciation day, told The Weather Channel on Friday morning that he was ushered to a tornado shelter with some 30 other people about 20 minutes before the tornado hit Thursday. "It hit, passed over, and it was gone," he said. He praised Vermeer for its safety precautions and tornado preparation processes. The company, which employs more than 2,700, was hosting an appreciation day for more than 400 customers and dealers to celebrate the company's 70th anniversary when the tornado hit, said Jason Andringa, president and CEO of Vermeer. The visitors and employees were directed to tornado shelters on the Vermeer campus. (MORE: Deadly North Dakota Tornado Reveals This Scary Reality) Two of the company's buildings were demolished. Andringa said he was thankful that most of the buildings on the Vermeer campus received zero to little damage. "We are certainly going to rebuild," Andringa said. "We are going to come back stronger than ever." Before the tornado hit Pella, an EF2 tornado struck Bondurant in Polk County, about 15 miles northeast of Des Moines. T.J. Phillips, who captured the Bondurant tornado on video as it tore through a neighborhood, can be heard saying, "Houses are being torn to shreds. Oh, my god." Lt. Rick Blaylock of the Polk County Sheriff's Office told The Weather Channel roofs were blown off homes. He said there were minor injuries but no deaths, and officials were going door-to-door to check on residents. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said she and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg will tour damage in Marshalltown Friday, and will also survey damage in Bondurant and Pella with Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management acting Director Joyce Flinn. "Devastated to see the destruction from today's severe storms & tornadoes," tweeted Reynolds on Thursday evening. "Praying for all Iowans impacted & for the emergency management crews responding tonight."<doc-sep>A “debris ball” — the most sobering radar signature a meteorologist can see — emerged on radar as the tornado tracked through the downtown area. This was the result of debris being thrown more than two miles into the air, tricking the radar into plotting high values. The jagged, unusual shape of the objects swirling around in the funnel showed up as a value of “poor correlation,” suggesting jagged materials unlike rain or hail.<doc-sep>	A derecho wind storm can sometimes be more powerful than a tornado. The Vortex SE team deploys a StickNet during a Tornado Chase in Tennessee. (CNN) — Several tornadoes tore through Iowa, overturning cars, flattening homes and leaving people injured. There were 27 reports of tornadoes in the state Thursday, CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller said. The exact number will be released by the National Weather Service when it surveys the damage. One reported tornado hit a company in Pella town, about 40 miles from Des Moines, sending at least seven people from Vermeer Corporation to hospital with injuries. The company, which manufactures industrial and agricultural equipment, had major damage, said Vermeer CEO Jason Andringa . Image of man sitting in wreckage captures heartbreak after tornadoes Ryan Dunn Multiple tornadoes were reported across Iowa Thursday. Several others injured in Marshalltown In Marshalltown, a town of about 27,000 people about an hour northeast of Des Moines, 10 people suffered injuries after a tornado struck the area. None of the patients are in critical condition, hospital spokeswoman Laura Rainey said. Charlie Neibergall/AP Several buildings in Marshalltown were damaged. Julie Owen from Des Moines was visiting her daughter in Marshalltown when the tornado hit. She was not in the area where the tornado hit, but went into town to help pick up her granddaughters from day camp. “It was bad. I’ve seen a lot of tornado stuff (in the past),” she said. “It’s not like the whole town is destroyed, but downtown, a city of this size, it was something else.” Photos taken by Billie Blocker Rice show damage to buildings on the north side of town. “Devastated to see the destruction from today’s severe storms & tornadoes. Praying for all Iowans impacted & for the emergency management crews responding tonight,” Gov. Kim Reynolds tweeted Thursday. Bondurant homes damaged Billie Blocker Rice Damage from a tornado that hit Marshalltown, Iowa on Thursday, June 19. Trees have crashed down into roads, houses are missing many shingles, a large industrial building is missing sections of a wall and debris is littered over vehicles in the parking lot. “Everyone is advised to stay away from downtown Marshalltown until further notice,” City Administrator Jessica Kinser said in a statement. “We also ask that people stay off cell lines unless necessary, to allow for emergency phone traffic.” Another tornado damaged houses in Bondurant, about 15 miles from Des Moines, according to CNN affiliate WOI. CNN’s Hollie Silverman, Sheena Jones, Abbie Lane and Jamiel Lynch contributed to this report.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has revealed his relief over Cristiano Ronaldo’s availability to face Man Utd while also insisting his side can still improve. The Portuguese superstar was sent off against Valencia in their opening Champions League game this month, leading to an anxious wait to determine how long his suspension would be. SEE MORE: Juventus set sights on Serie A sensation to bolster Massimiliano Allegri’s attacking options As noted by BBC Sport, he will miss the next encounter with Young Boys, but will return to then face his former club Manchester United at Old Trafford next month, having only been forced to sit out one game. Although the 33-year-old has had a slow start to life in Italy, he is beginning to pick up the pace and emerge as a decisive figure for the Turin giants. Ronaldo has scored three goals and provided two assists in seven games so far this season, and there is little doubt that he will become more crucial as the campaign goes on both domestically and in Europe. With that in mind, particularly given the magnitude of the game and that it could be crucial to determining who finishes top of the group, Allegri is pleased that he’ll have Ronaldo back available in Manchester while he also discussed the improvement that he wants to see in his side’s performances. “I’m very happy that we’ll have him in Manchester, he’s doing well,” he told the media, as reported by Calciomercato. “We have all the time ahead to improve together on our build-up work, then we just need to improve on how to find him and find him quickly to get the best out of him.” There are still arguably issues over his partnership with Paulo Dybala, with Allegri tasked with the challenge of ensuring they get the best out of each other. Given the quality that they possess, if they can strike the right balance, it will surely lead to more major honours this season for the reigning Italian champions.<doc-sep>Max Allegri spoke to Sky Sport (via IlBianconero) after the Juve-Napoli (3-1) game, here is what he had to say on the matter:" Well we seemed a little nervous at first as we lost a lot of possession and we conceded the first goal as well. Cristiano Ronaldo? He did very well today and he created many clear cut chances for us. Napoli? Well once we went down to 10 men, we should've done more. This is why I was angry, we stopped playing and Callejon almost made us pay. Ronaldo has been doing very well for us and he really did some amazing things today. I think that this was his best game yet for us. Dybala? He did well playing in between the lines today. We have to be more clinical that's for sure but I was pretty happy with our game. Scudetto race already over? No, not this soon. We still have to play AC Milan, Inter, Roma and Fiorentina. We do have an advantage but it will be a long season. Serie A isn't easy. Marotta? He will be missed. He had so much success here and I view him as the best European director in the world...".For more news, visit Calciomercato.com.<doc-sep>	Juventus beat Napoli quite comfortably in the end for a 3-1 scoreline, but the manager Massimiliano Allegri was frustrated at times with how things went in the game. “We started a little tense, gave away too many balls and conceded the goal. Cristiano Ronaldo did well to create two or three promising situations. “Once Napoli went down to 10 men, we stopped playing, and that made me angry. We ran a big risk on Jose Callejon’s chance and they could easily have equalised.” Ronaldo was the star of the day with three assists - “Ronaldo is enjoying his football, he has integrated very well and he loves an assist as well as a goal. He had some exceptional passes tonight and it’s all about finding him in the right way. “I thought tonight and the first half-hour against Valencia represented his best performances of the season so far.” On the team’s performance overall - “We had created some good passing lines from midfield, Cristiano Ronaldo and Dybala playing between the lines with Mandzukic coming back to join them. “We need to be sharper. Playing out from the back, we misplaced a pass and conceded a goal. I liked that the forwards helped out in midfield and defence.” Does this win mean the Scudetto race is decided early? “Absolutely not. After this, we still have to play Inter, Milan, Roma and Fiorentina. We’ve got a six-point advantage, but it’s a very long season. Also, Serie A is always tough.” The shock of Beppe Marotta stepping down from the director role was a surprise to Allegri as well.
WASHINGTON – Josh Hader was well-known in baseball circles before Tuesday night, his blazing fastball and devastating slider creating one of the most dominant relief weapons in baseball and sending him to his first All-Star Game. With greater notoriety, however, comes greater scrutiny. After the Milwaukee Brewers left-hander served up a crucial home run, a Hader nobody knew emerged: A 17-year-old who did not hesitate to send out racist, homophobic, misogynistic and threatening tweets. By the time he returned to the clubhouse after yielding a three-run homer to the Mariners’ Jean Segura, Hader was informed that intrepid Internet users, their interest likely piqued by his goat turn in the All-Star Game, unearthed tweets that cast a star pitcher on the cusp of adulthood as a paragon of hate. “White power lol” “KKK” “N-----bot? The (expletive)! That just made my night! Smh” “I hate gay people.” The tweets were sent between 2011 and 2012, some coming less than two months before Hader’s 18th birthday – and less than four months before he was a 19th-round draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles. After the American League defeated the National League 8-6 in 10 innings at Nationals Park, Hader was left to defend the indefensible, and explain the unexplainable: That a 17-year-old’s thoughts on social media somehow do not represent the 24-year-old man he is now. “There’s no excuse for what was said,” Hader said early Wednesday morning. “I’m deeply sorry for what I’ve said, and it doesn’t reflect any of my beliefs going on now. I was young, immature and stupid, and there’s no excuses for what was said or what happened.” Yet Hader proceeded to pose excuses, based on his age and the time that lapsed since. Twice in a four-minute news conference, he referenced “what happened seven years ago.” Twice he referenced the fact he was 17. “As a child, I was immature and obviously said some things that were inexcusable. That doesn’t reflect on who I am as a person today, and that’s just what it is. “We’re still learning who we are in high school. You live and you learn. This mistake won’t happen again.” Hader also said: “I’m sure it’s some rap lyrics being tweeted. I really don’t know exactly what all’s out there.” MORE ALL-STAR GAME: Following his remarks, Hader’s damage control took a more personal turn, as he sought out Brewers teammate and fellow NL All-Star Lorenzo Cain, who is African-American, to explain his comments. Cain did not specify whether Hader apologized, and hadn’t seen Hader’s tweets beyond knowing they were “hate comments.” He did not believe Hader to be a hateful person. “When anybody does something like that, you’re always surprised,” said Cain, in his first season with the Brewers. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to give people a second chance, you understand you have to forgive people, move on from it. “For me, it’s over and done with. He said it; it got out there. I’m moving on from it individually, anyway.” Hader still has a clubhouse of teammates to convince, and will likely face a strong rebuke from Major League Baseball. While it cannot impose discipline for matters that occurred before he was drafted, MLB could suggest Hader undergo sensitivity training or urge him to meet with Billy Bean, its ambassador of inclusion. MLB chief legal counsel Dan Halem said Tuesday night that the league may issue a statement later Wednesday. “I’m ready for any consequences for what happened seven years ago,” Hader said. Those consequences will begin immediately. Hader was slated to fly out of Washington with Brewers teammates Cain, Christian Yelich and Jesus Aguilar on Wednesday morning. As the door to the NL clubhouse swung open in the late innings of the game, Hader could be seen in the doorway consulting with officials. Outside, a gaggle of family members wearing his jersey awaited in a tunnel. Hader grew up in Millersville, Md., just a 30-mile drive from Nationals Park. The homecoming went from bad – Segura’s homer – to disastrous, once the tweets emerged.Hader made his Twitter account private soon after. Even after midnight, Hader was huddling with a Brewers PR official thumbing through his phone. “That’s one reason why I don’t have social media, for things like this,” Cain noted. “You always get in trouble for things you said when you’re younger.” Said Yelich, who had not yet seen what Hader tweeted: “I don’t know what he did or what happened. The guy I know, he’s a great guy with a kind heart.” Hader likely has much more work ahead to convince others the same.<doc-sep>Major League Baseball and the Milwaukee Brewers condemned relief pitcher Josh Hader for offensive tweets he sent as a teenager, with the club noting that Hader is “aware of the severity of the situation related to his social media comments, regardless of the timeline of his posts.” MLB said in a statement that Hader will be required to participate in sensitivity training and MLB’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. He will not be suspended. Hader, 24, pitched in his first All-Star Game on Tuesday night, giving up a go-ahead three-run home run to Seattle Mariners shortstop Jean Segura. Shortly thereafter, Twitter users dug up a slew of offensive posts from 2011 and 2012, ranging from racist to homophobic to misogynistic and threatening. Hader returned to the clubhouse after his outing and became aware of the outrage online. His Twitter account was placed in private mode and by Wednesday, deleted altogether. Following the American League’s 8-6 victory, Hader faced reporters and apologized for his tweets, later discussing them with Brewers teammate Lorenzo Cain, who is African American. “There’s no excuse for what was said. I’m deeply sorry for what I’ve said, and it doesn’t reflect any of my beliefs going on now,” Hader said. MLB has in recent years reacted quickly to insensitive behavior, suspending Kevin Pillar of the Toronto Blue Jays accepted a two-game suspension in May 2017 after directing an anti-gay slur toward an opposing pitcher. “During last night’s game we became aware of Mr. Hader’s unacceptable social media comments in years past and have since been in communication with the Brewers regarding our shared concerns,” MLB said in a statement. “ After the game, Mr. Hader took the necessary step of expressing remorse for his highly offensive and hurtful language, which fails to represent the values of our game and our expectations for all those who are a part of it. The Office of the Commissioner will require sensitivity training for Mr. Hader and participation in MLB’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.” Said Brewers general manager David Stearns: “We have been in contact with Josh and he is fully aware of the severity of the situation related to his social media comments, regardless of the timeline of his posts. His comments are inexcusable and he is taking responsibility for his actions. In no way do those sentiments reflect the views of the Brewers organization or our community. “Those of us that have come to know Josh do not believe that these posts are representative of his beliefs. He has been a good teammate and contributor to the team in every way. We will continue to work through this issue with Josh as we prepare to resume games after the break.” Hader and the Brewers, who are in second place in the NL Central, start the second half of the season Friday at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers.<doc-sep>	Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Josh Hader apologized late Tuesday for being "immature and stupid" after admitting to racist, misogynistic and homophobic comments on Twitter years ago — tweets that resurfaced just as he was playing in his first MLB All-Star Game. After Tuesday night's game at Nationals Park in Washington, Hader, 24, returned to the National League clubhouse to find his cellphone "blowing up" about the tweets, which he said were written when he was 17. He made his professional debut with the Brewers last year after first being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2012. "I was in high school," said Hader, who grew up in Maryland. "We're still learning who we are in high school. You live and you learn. This mistake won't happen again." "I'm deeply sorry for what I said ... it doesn't reflect any of my beliefs now," he added. Josh Hader addresses the tweets that surfaced during the game pic.twitter.com/Zzh6uS2frH — Ryan Fagan (@ryanfagan) July 18, 2018 Screenshots of some of the tweets from 2011 and 2012 were shared on social media before Hader later deleted his Twitter account, which was verified. Hader didn't specify what he might have written, but the tweets that were captured included the repeated use of the N-word, disparaging remarks about women and gays, and the words "KKK" and "white power." As the tweets appeared to go viral during the All-Star Game, Hader's friends and family at the ballpark were given blank jerseys and gear to swap with, according to reports. Hader, a rising star in the league known for his powerful left-handed fastball, told reporters Tuesday that he just never deleted the old tweets, but that some of them may have been rap lyrics. "I really don't know exactly what's all out there," he said. Hader added that he wanted to talk with his teammates and was willing to face possible discipline from the MLB. The league said in a statement Wednesday afternoon that it would require Hader to undergo "sensitivity training" and participate in its diversity and inclusion initiatives. "Hader took the necessary step of expressing remorse for his highly offensive and hurtful language, which fails to represent the values of our game and our expectations for all those who are a part of it," the statement said. Brewers General Manager David Stearns also said Hader's past comments are "inexcusable," no matter how old they are. Stearns did not say in his statement if Hader would be disciplined by the team, but that "we will continue to work through this issue with Josh as we prepare to resume games after the break." The league has ordered sensitivity training before. Earlier this year, Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel completed such a program after he made a racist gesture toward Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish during last year's World Series. He was also suspended for five games. In 2006, Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen underwent sensitivity training and paid an undisclosed fine after hurling insults, including a derogatory term for gays, at a Chicago Sun-Times columnist. Hader said he's "ready for any consequences for what happened seven years ago." Some of his teammates, meanwhile, say they're willing to move past any controversy. Lorenzo Cain, the Brewers center fielder, who is black, told reporters that the teammate he knows is a "great guy." He added that he didn't know exactly what Hader had previously tweeted. "He was young, we all say some crazy stuff when we were young. That's one reason I don't have social media," Cain said, adding, "You always get in trouble for things you said when you were younger."
A federal judge in Manhattan has told Tesla CEO Elon Musk that he has until March 11 to explain why he should not be held in contempt of court. U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan issued the order on Tuesday following a request from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), according to The Associated Press. The SEC had asked for Musk to be held in contempt for a Feb. 19 tweet they call "inaccurate." ADVERTISEMENT "On February 19, 2019, Musk tweeted, ‘Tesla made 0 cars in 2011, but will make around 500k in 2019,’ ” the SEC reportedly said in the filing. “Musk did not seek or receive pre-approval prior to publishing this tweet, which was inaccurate and disseminated to over 24 million people. Musk has thus violated the Court’s Final Judgment by engaging in the very conduct that the pre-approval provision of the Final Judgment was designed to prevent.” Legal experts told AP that Musk is unlikely to incur a severe penalty even if he is found to be in contempt, but could be barred from serving as CEO or an officer at the electric car manufacturer. Under a settlement from a previous case between Musk and the SEC, the tech CEO must have tweets approved by a lawyer if they have potential to affect Tesla's stock price. That agreement came after a tweet where Musk stated that he had plans to take Tesla private at $420 per share and that he had secured funding to do so. As part of that agreement, Musk was forced to step down as chairman of Tesla and the company had to appoint two independent members to its board. Musk and Tesla were also fined $20 million each. Musk responded to SEC's request Monday by saying that the agency had failed to read Tesla's annual reports. "SEC forgot to read Tesla earnings transcript, which clearly states 350k to 500k. How embarrassing," he tweeted.<doc-sep>The Securities and Exchange Commission asked a federal judge on Monday to hold Tesla Inc. TSLA 0.13% Chief Executive Elon Musk in contempt of court over tweets he made last week discussing the auto maker’s 2019 projected production volumes. In a court filing, the SEC said Mr. Musk violated a condition of his settlement with the regulator last year, when he was accused of tweeting misleading information about taking Tesla private. Mr. Musk’s deal with the SEC required that Tesla officials preapprove any statements from Mr. Musk that could affect the company’s stock price. A Tesla spokesman and Mr. Musk didn’t respond to requests for comment. Tesla shares, which gained 1.4% in regular trading Monday, were off 4% after hours following the SEC filing. In a series of Twitter messages on Feb. 19 that began as a celebration over Tesla vehicles prepared for shipment to Europe, Mr. Musk noted how the auto maker had achieved strong growth in recent years. “Tesla made 0 cars in 2011, but will make around 500k in 2019,” he wrote in a tweet after regular trading hours. The suggestion that Tesla would make 500,000 vehicles this year stood in contrast to guidance given by the company on Jan. 30. In his quarterly shareholder letter, Mr. Musk told investors that Tesla would reach an annualized build rate of 500,000 Model 3s sometime between the fourth quarter of this year and the second quarter of next year. Mr. Musk said in Tesla’s shareholder letter that the company planned to deliver as many as 400,000 in all of 2019. Hours after his initial tweets, Mr. Musk clarified in another message, writing, “Meant to say annualized production rate at end of 2019 probably around 500k, ie 10k cars/week. Deliveries for year still estimated to be about 400k.” The SEC said that Mr. Musk “did not seek or receive preapproval prior to publishing this tweet, which was inaccurate and disseminated to over 24 million people.” In its response to the SEC, Tesla stated the content of Mr. Musk’s tweet had previously been preapproved for a Jan. 30 release by the company’s general counsel and designated securities counsel. “Although the 7:15 PM EST tweet was not individually preapproved, Mr. Musk believed that the substance had already been appropriately vetted, preapproved, and publicly disseminated,” wrote Bradley Bondi, outside counsel working for Tesla, in a letter dated Feb. 22 and included in the material filed with the court by the SEC and released Monday. “Moreover, the tweet was made outside of NASDAQ trading hours.” Newsletter Sign-up Technology A weekly digest of tech reviews, headlines, columns and your questions answered by WSJ's Personal Tech gurus. PREVIEW Tesla’s designated securities lawyer monitors Mr. Musk’s Twitter account and saw the Feb. 19 tweet, according to Mr. Bondi. The designated securities lawyer and Mr. Musk huddled at the auto maker’s factory and drafted a tweet to clarify the original one, Mr. Bondi wrote. Later on Monday, Mr. Musk took to Twitter to point out what he said on the Jan. 30 quarterly call, in response to a user who noted his comments from the call that suggested Model 3 deliveries could range between 350,000 and 500,000 this year. “SEC forgot to read Tesla earnings transcript, which clearly states 350k to 500k,” Mr. Musk tweeted on Monday. “How embarassing...,” he wrote, concluding with the “hugging face” emoji. He followed with another tweet: “I have great respect for judges. It’s not perfect, but, in general, we should be very glad of the US justice system.” The likely next step is a court hearing where a judge will consider whether Mr. Musk’s tweet violated the terms of his earlier settlement and, if so, what kind of punishment is necessary to get him to comply, said Brad Bennett, a former enforcement director at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. An SEC spokeswoman declined to comment on what additional punishment Mr. Musk could face. A judge is unlikely to order the most extreme punishment—barring Mr. Musk from being an officer of a public company—because Mr. Musk corrected his first tweet, Mr. Bennett said. But a judge could order further limitations on Mr. Musk’s activities or any other kind of remedy “that they believe are necessary to get him to comply with the settlement,” Mr. Bennett said. The SEC began scrutinizing Mr. Musk’s use of Twitter after he surprised investors on Aug. 7 with tweets that stated he was thinking about taking the auto maker private, and had secured funding. Tesla’s shares immediately soared but fell in later days when The Wall Street Journal and others reported that Mr. Musk and his advisers were still trying to line up potential investors and buyers. One of the biggest things preventing Elon Musk from releasing a mass market electric vehicle comes down to the vehicle's blessing and curse: its lithium-ion battery. We break down the science and the cost. The SEC accused Mr. Musk of misleading investors and sought to bar him from serving as an officer or director of publicly traded companies. While Mr. Musk had denied wrong-doing, he settled with the SEC in September in a deal that allowed him to stay as CEO but had him give up his role as chairman. Mr. Musk and Tesla also each agreed to pay a fine of $20 million. Tesla agreed to appoint two new outside directors and greater oversight of Mr. Musk’s communications that could be seen as material. The episode had become an enormous distraction at a time when Tesla was under intense pressure to consistently build Model 3 sedans and achieve Mr. Musk’s aim of making more-affordable electric vehicles and evolving from a niche luxury-car company. Following the settlement, Mr. Musk seemed to mock the SEC, including in an October tweet that dubbed the agency the “Shortseller Enrichment Commission.” In December, he went even further, saying in a high-profile CBS interview that he didn’t respect the SEC. During the interview, Mr. Musk said that since the settlement, none of his tweets had been censored—and no one was reading them before they went out. “The only tweets that would have to be, say, reviewed would be if a tweet had a probability of causing a movement in the stock,” he said. “Otherwise, it’s ‘Hello, First Amendment’—like, freedom of speech is fundamental.” The day after the Feb. 19 tweets, Tesla named a new general counsel to replace Dane Butswinkas, who was departing after just two months on the job. His departure was in the works prior to Mr. Musk’s tweet, according to people familiar with the situation. Tesla’s new top lawyer is Jonathan Chang, a company insider who had handled securities issues among other corporate matters. Mr. Musk’s Twitter usage outpaces most tech executives, with an unusually large proportion being replies to other tweets. He often shares life views, rebuts critics and teases business ideas—while sometimes causing controversy. Weeks before the August “funding secured” tweets, Mr. Musk suggested on Twitter that one of the cave explorers who helped rescue a boys soccer team in Thailand was a pedophile, a claim that has led to a defamation lawsuit. Mr. Musk asked a U.S. judge to dismiss the lawsuit, saying his comments were protected as free speech under U.S. law. Write to Dave Michaels at [email protected] and Tim Higgins at [email protected]<doc-sep>	The Securities and Exchange Commission has asked a federal judge to hold Tesla CEO Elon Musk in contempt for sending out an inaccurate tweet, according to a court document filed today in the Southern District of New York. According to SEC officials, Musk violated the rules of a settlement reached last fall regarding his use of Twitter to disclose financial information about the electric carmaker. As part of the settlement, Musk stepped down as chairman of the company, but remained its CEO. He also agreed to seek legal approval before tweeting anything that might materially impact Tesla, a stipulation of the deal Musk himself told 60 Minutes last December had not been implemented. Tesla didn’t respond to requests for comment. Musk originally ran afoul of financial disclosure rules by tweeting that he secured funding to take Tesla private last August. The tweet in question today was posted on February 19th, in which Musk said Tesla would produce 500,000 cars this year. Tesla had officially guided investors that it would make 400,000 cars at most in 2019 just a few weeks earlier. Meant to say annualized production rate at end of 2019 probably around 500k, ie 10k cars/week. Deliveries for year still estimated to be about 400k. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 20, 2019 According to the SEC, Musk allegedly did not seek approval for this tweet from Tesla’s legal counsel, as per the settlement guidelines. Three days after it was sent, the SEC confirmed with Telsa’s lawyers that no one had reviewed it. Tesla’s lawyer worked with Musk to correct the original tweet in a follow-up, the SEC document says. But Musk’s initial projection still may be considered a violation because the information could be considered material to Tesla shareholders — and the lawyers didn’t see it before Musk sent it. Tesla’s general counsel left the company after just two months last week, just following the incident. In a tweet sent after this article was published, Musk pointed to how he said Tesla might make 350,000 to 500,000 Model 3s this year on the company’s most recent investor call. “SEC forgot to read Tesla earnings transcript, which clearly states 350k to 500k,” he wrote. “How embarrassing …” The SEC may have been looking for a slip-up from Musk, who has spent the last few months engaging in somewhat puzzling online antics. Since the settlement, the outspoken chief executive has used press interviews and his Twitter account to disparage the SEC publicly, telling 60 Minutes in the same interview in which he admitted to not letting anyone pre-approve his tweets that he doesn’t respect the agency and hand-picked his replacement for chairperson of Tesla’s board. In October, shortly after the settlement announcement, Musk referred to the agency on Twitter as the “Shortseller Enrichment Commission.” Probably what will happen next will be a hearing, where a judge will hear arguments about whether Musk’s conduct violated the settlement, says Peter Haveles, a partner at Pepper Hamilton in New York whose practice deals with commercial and regulatory disputes. If the judge finds that Musk violated the agreement, Musk will likely be fined. “Mr. Musk will try argue that it’s a one-time thing, and the issue will be, is that really the case?” Haveles says. “Will the SEC come forward with evidence from Tesla that they are struggling to get Mr. Musk to comply with the process?” It’s unlikely that Musk will face being barred from serving as a director or officer of a publicly traded company for the tweet, Haveles says. And the tweet doesn’t rise to the level of criminal contempt, either, so Musk doesn’t have to worry about jail time. As news of the SEC court filing began propagating on Twitter, Musk tweeted out a lighthearted meme. Oh hi lol pic.twitter.com/9WvbtTHoxS — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2019 Earlier this month, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said Musk was his “favorite” Twitter user for “sharing his thinking openly.” With reporting by Elizabeth Lopatto. Update February 25th, 10:39PM ET: Added details about Musk’s tweet in response to the news.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Columbus Blue Jackets: Round 1, Game 3 Time: 7:00 pm Eastern Time Location: Nationwide Arena Broadcast/Streaming: NBCSN, TVAS Opponent SBNation Site: The Cannon Regular season stats: Tampa Bay Lightning (5-3-1, 9 points) Goals For (Per Game): 32 (3.56) Goals Against (Per Game): 29 (3.22) PP%: 24.00% (10th) PK%: 70.97% (27th) CF%: 48.0% (24th) Nashville Predators (6-3-1, 13 points) Goals For (Per Game): 42 (4.20) Goals Against (Per Game): 32 (3.20) PP%: 19.44% (16th) PK%: 70.97% (28th) CF%: 50.9% (11th) All statistics from Hockey Reference and Natural Stat Trick. Preview Before the start of the Playoffs, few people expected that the Tampa Bay Lightning would trail 0-2 to the Columbus Blue Jackets before heading to Ohio. Even after the Game 1 loss, most expected the Lighting to level the series because it felt like the Lightning just stopped playing after taking over a 3-0 lead. The expectation was that they’d learned a lesson and it wouldn’t happen again. But now it’s a reality and the team have to deal with it. I’ve seen a lot of people comparing this situation to the last season’s playoffs, when the Jackets eventually lost to the Washington Capitals after leading 2-0 before coming to homestand. I think this is a little bit different, the Jackets have earned both wins last postseason in overtime, thanks to outstanding perfomance by Sergei Bobrovsky. This time, the Bolts were seemed nearly helpless in some situations, allowing unnecessary turnovers and not being able to convert any of their power plays at the Game 2. Nikita Kucherov has been suspended for tonight’s game for an avoidable boarding of defenceman Markus Nutivaara. He should be happy that it’s just for one game, as some expected a multiple game suspension. Kucherov’s hit reflects the team’s frustration after Game 2, which was also showed when Victor Hedman exchanged some words with the Columbus bench and when Jon Cooper called this loss “a five-alarm fire“ "Victor Hedman comes over and says to the Columbus bench, 'You guys are really good at this. Last year you were up 2-0 too. How'd it end up? '"@NHLonNBCSports Inside-the-Glass analyst Pierre McGuire caught the exchange at the end of Columbus' 5-1 win vs. Tampa on Friday. pic.twitter.com/QXOP0XY4Qn — NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) April 13, 2019 Before traveling to Columbus, the Lightning held an unplanned practice in Brandon. Anton Stralman didn’t participated again and Hedman was also absent. Per Jon Cooper, Hedman “got a little banged up last night” but hopefully will be ready for tonight’s game. Kucherov practiced with Danick Martel and will be replaced by Ryan Callahan during his suspension. Mathieu Joseph was promoted to the first line. Jan Rutta was criticized by many fans after last game. He worked with Braydon Coburn on Saturday morning, so it’s hard to say if we’ll see changes on the blueline. Cameron Gaunce also re-joined the team from Syracuse this morning indicating that Hedman’s status is uncertain for tonight. If the Lightning are without both Kucherov and Hedman tonight, that would not bode well for the team’s chances to get back in the series tonight. Cameron Gaunce in the building, may be insurance on D for #TBLightning. Hedman got “banged up” Friday. We should know more on his status today at optional skate — Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) April 14, 2019 Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets signed russian defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to an entry level deal. He will join the team as soon as he gets a U.S. work visa and will probably help his new team before the end of the series. #CBJ sign defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a two-year entry level contract.https://t.co/IXl7BlwgRe — x-Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 13, 2019 No big changes to the Jackets lineup are not expected for the Game 3. Tampa Bay Lightning Forwards Mathieu Joseph - Steven Stamkos - Yanni Gourde Ondrej Palat - Brayden Point - Tyler Johnson Alex Killorn - Anthony Cirelli - JT Miller Adam Erne - Cedric Paquette - Ryan Callahan Scratched: Danick Martel Suspended: Nikita Kucherov Defense Victor Hedman - Dan Girardi Ryan McDonagh - Erik Cernak Mikhail Sergachev - Jan Rutta Scratched: Braydon Coburn Injured: Anton Stralman Goalies Andrei Vasilevskiy Louis Domingue Columbus Blue Jackets Forwards Artemi Panarin - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Cam Atkinson Ryan Dzingel - Matt Duchene - Josh Anderson Nick Foligno - Boone Jenner - Oliver Bjorkstrand Alexandre Texier - Riley Nash - Brandon Dubinsky Defense Zach Werenski - Seth Jones Markus Nutivaara - David Savard Dean Kukan - Scott Harrington Goalies Sergei Bobrovsky Joonas Korpisalo<doc-sep>The Columbus Blue Jackets, led by winger Artemi Panarin, host the Tampa Bay Lightning, led by winger Nikita Kucherov, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, in game four of their 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs first round series on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 (4/16/19) at 7 p.m. EDT. Fans can watch the game online for free via a trial of fuboTV. Watch all NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games on fuboTV. Get tickets to the NHL playoff games via StubHub PrimeSport and SeatGeek Lids, Get Blue Jackets, Lightning gear at Fanatics Dick’s Sporting Goods and NHL.com. Bet on the game or on the Blue Jackets, Lightning to win the Stanley Cup at DraftKings and get a free $20 bet when you sign up. Columbus leads the series, 3-0, as the Lightning are in danger of becoming the first President’s Trophy winners to get swept in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Here’s what you need to know: Who: Tampa Bay Lightning at Columbus Blue Jackets When: Tuesday, April 16, 2019 Where: Nationwide Arena Time: 7 p.m. EDT TV: CNBC Channel finder: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity,Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish, Hulu, fuboTV, Sling Live stream: fuboTV (free trial) Game Three Recap, via the Associated Press: Sergei Bobrovsky has the Columbus Blue Jackets on the brink of sweeping a playoff series that hardly anyone thought they could win. The Russian goalie shut the door when the Tampa Bay Lightning made a desperate late surge on Sunday night, preserving a 3-1 win and giving Columbus a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal against the NHL's best team. The Blue Jackets will try to finish the sweep — and win a playoff series for the first time in franchise history — in Game 4 at home on Tuesday night. Matt Duchene, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Cam Atkinson scored, and Bobrovsky finished with 30 saves , 16 of them in the final period. "You don't get to this time of year without a really good goalie to get in, and you don't win playoff games without your goalie, so I thought he stood really big in those 10, 12 minutes there where they turned it up," Columbus coach John Tortorella said. "Bob doesn't say anything. He just goes about his business. The way he prepares is second to none. We're going to need him, because there's going to be another push in Game 4." Without their top scorer, the suspended Nikita Kucherov, and injured defenseman Victor Hedman, the Lightning, who finished with a league-best 62 wins, couldn't find any momentum until late, and then Bobrovsky rose to the challenge. Columbus has commanded the series since falling behind 3-0 in the opening period of Game 1, only to rally to win that one 4-3. The Blue Jackets pummeled the Lightning 5-1 in Game 2, and solidly outplayed them for most of the game Sunday. "The job's not done, but at the same time this is fun," Duchene said. "This has been unbelievable, and we want to finish the job and leave no doubt. Obviously, we have a great opportunity Tuesday at home in front of our fans. I think these fans deserve that we get the job done here at home." The night was satisfying for Bobrovsky — he hasn't been great in the playoffs the last two seasons — and the Blue Jackets, who were 2-8 at Nationwide Arena in three previous postseason appearances. They are the only NHL team that hasn't won a playoff series. "We don't have to overthink, we just have to enjoy tonight and prepare for another work get-together, work for each other and, yup, let's see what's going to happen," Bobrovsky said. Ondrej Palat scored in the third period and Andre Vasilevskiy had 27 saves for the Lightning, who are facing an unexpected quick elimination. Teams have come back from 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series on just four previous occasions. The last time was in 2014, when the Los Angeles Kings dug out of the hole in the opening series against San Jose and eventually won the Stanley Cup. Lightning coach Jon Cooper took some solace in his team finally showing signs of getting its swagger back. "As far as I know, we're playing Tuesday, so were still alive," he said. After a scoreless first period, the Blue Jackets struck 1:44 into the second when Duchene was in the right place to score off a rebound . Bjorkstrand went over Vasilevskiy's head on a power play for a 2-0 Columbus lead at 8:25, with rookie Alexandre Texier picking up his first NHL assist. Tampa Bay got on the board with Palat's goal in the third, but couldn't muster any more. Atkinson connected on an empty-netter with a minute left in the game. (The AP contributed to this report.)<doc-sep>My colleague Rick Stroud says the most compelling stories arise in sports when the team produces a really great season or a really bad season. Remarkably, the Tampa Bay Lightning has managed to accomplish both in a single season. After a dazzling regular season that featured a record tying number of victories and numerous individual accomplishments, the Bolts have packed an entire year of disappointment into three post-season contests against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Few teams in any sport have managed to transition from inspiration to ineptitude in such stunning fashion. The hockey experts tell us momentum doesn’t carry from game to game in the NHL playoffs, but the Lightning hasn’t recovered from a six-minute stint in Game 1 in which the Blue Jackets stole the victory and all of Tampa Bay’s thunder from its successful regular season. In the opener, the Lightning lost its heart. In Game 2, it lost its composure and the services of top scorer Nikita Kucherov (suspension) and top defenseman Victor Hedman (injury). In Game 3, despite a valiant third period attempt, it lost any chance it had of reversing its fortunes. When we grade Sunday night’s performance, we have to give low marks to every aspect of the Lightning’s game. Tampa Bay was outplayed in even strength situations, out-dueled on special teams and out-coached in terms of in-game adjustments. Not until the third period did the Lightning unleash the compete level it needed to stay on the ice with Columbus. By then, it was too little, too late. Top stars missing in action — again It’s an F grade because Kucherov got suspended with an unneccessary and unsportsmanlike penalty in Game 2. You can’t fault Hedman, but three other key stars — Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point and Andrei Vasilevskiy — didn’t provide the wow plays this team needed to reverse the momentum. Granted, Columbus clearly built its defensive strategy on stopping the top guys and that created opportunities for others. Still, Tampa Bay needed someone to defy the strategy, and Stamkos ended up with no shots on goal. None of the top names came up with the incredible score, none delivered an awe-inspiring play. I thought they knew big time players make big time plays in big time games. Grade: F Lightning set the tone early Sure, they got outshot by Columbus 12-3, but at least Lightning players didn’t come out and immediately fall behind 2-0 as it did in Game 2. It was a small victory, but playing without Kucherov and Hedman necessitated creating small positives to build momentum. Getting off to a good start should have infused calm and confidence, but it didn’t materialize in the second period. Grade: C Maintaining the hint of momentum After establishing it could at least hold its own without Kucherov and Hedman, the Lightning gave in to the Blue Jackets’ pressure. You could envision Tampa Bay keeping it close and pulling out a low-scoring game. That possibility faded when the Jackets’ Matt Duchene scored and all but died when Oliver Bjorkstrand added a second goal. The Lightning couldn’t afford a letdown, but suffered one anyway. Grade: F Keeping Vasilevskiy clean proved difficult One of the Blue Jackets’ strategies involved constantly keeping a player in front of Vasilevskiy and doing all they could to rattle his concentration. Vasilevskiy didn’t play terribly, but it would have helped if Tampa Bay could have knocked some of the players out of his view. A few post-action scrums ensued around the Lightning goal, especially when they sprayed him with ice after a stop in play. But the absence of Hedman may have been most evident with this aspect. Even in the first two games, Hedman didn’t seem to play with his normal degree of physicality. Tampa Bay needed that against Columbus. Grade: D Are you sure that trophy isn’t cursed? Of course, the Presidents’ Trophy, annually awarded to the NHL’s top regular-season team, is not cursed even though the Lightning are on the verge of becoming the 10th winner in 11 seasons not to win the Stanley Cup. The question, however, is not what we believe, but what does Tampa Bay believe? It played with a cloud over its head after the Game 1 collapse and didn’t show any real life until late in Game 3. The team was either too quick to allow doubt to creep in or too arrogant to realize it couldn’t rely on its regular-season accolades to thwart an upset-minded Columbus team. Grade: F<doc-sep>COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Blue Jackets dumped the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-3 to complete what is arguably the most unlikely first-round playoff upset in the NHL’s modern history. This is the Blue Jackets’ 18th season in the NHL and the franchise hadn’t won a playoff series before sweeping the Stanley Cup favorite Lightning in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal. “This was the loudest crowd I’ve ever played in front of,” Columbus center Matt Duchene said. “You could feel how much the city needed and wanted this." The Lightning won 62 games, tying an NHL regular-season record, to capture the Presidents' Trophy. This is the first time a Presidents' Trophy winner was swept in the first round. Since 1987, the lower seed has won 37.5% of the series in the NHL’s opening round. But few saw this upset coming. The Lightning were the league’s best offensive team and the Blue Jackets outscored them 19-8. The Lightning were the NHL’s top penalty-killing team this season and the Blue Jackets were ranked 28th on the power play. But the Blue Jackets went 5-for-10 with the man advantage. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay’s league-leading power play only scored one goal against the Blue Jackets. WE GOT IT ALL WRONG: Redoing Stanley Cup picks More:How we screwed up in picking the Lightning to win the Stanley Cup More:Biggest postseason flops the past 30 years “They did a lot of good things and we didn’t have an answer for them,” said Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos, a 45-goal scorer who only had one in this playoff series. He was minus-8 in the four games. The Lightning had the Blue Jackets down 3-0 in the first period of the first game, but couldn’t close them out. That may have been the turning point, the Blue Jackets said. “We played with desperation the whole series even when we got the lead in the series, and that was a great recipe for success,” Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno said. The Blue Jackets have only been in the playoffs five times, and three of those appearances have come in the last three seasons. This year, the Blue Jackets made a bold decision at the trade deadline to keep potential unrestricted free agents Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin and then traded for Duchene and Ryan Dzingel. “It’s a hard league to gain respect and we are going about it the right way,” Columbus coach John Tortorella said. Tortorella is a fiery, tough-talking, aggressive coach, and that’s how the Blue Jackets played against the Lightning. They gave the Lightning no time and space with the puck. “At the end of the day, we didn’t see this coming,” Lightning forward Ryan Callahan said. The Lightning will be compared to the 1970-71 Boston Bruins (taken down by the Montreal Canadiens with Ken Dryden in net) or the 1981-82 Edmonton Oilers (taken out by the Los Angeles Kings the season Wayne Gretzky registered 92 goals and 212 points). But those Bruins and Oilers series both went the distance. This result has similarity to the 2002-03 Detroit Red Wings being swept by the goaltending of Jean-Sebastien Giguere and play of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. However, the Ducks were a No. 7 seed and the Red Wings were not the Presidents' Trophy winner. Additionally, the Wings had won the Stanley Cup the season before – which this core group with the Lightning has yet to do. “It’s hard to pinpoint one thing (that went wrong),” Tampa Bay defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “We hurt ourselves in a lot of different fashions.” Callahan said it was hard to “put into words” what happened in this series. He said the Lightning were outplayed in every game. After the Blue Jackets grabbed a 4-3 lead in Game 4, the Lightning pulled their goalie and gave up three empty-netters, making the final score even more embarrassing. The Lightning were so dominant this season that it will be difficult to decide what to change moving forward. Opinion:Fighting in the NHL is brutish and outdated, and needs to be banned The reasons why the Blue Jackets won the series: a relentless forecheck, tight defensive play, an improved power play and strong goaltending. Bobrovsky had a .940 save percentage coming into Game 4 and stopped 30-of-33 in the finale. The Lightning lost it because their top players didn’t step up until Game 4. Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Tyler Johnson only combined for two goals in the four games. That foursome scored 156 goals in the regular season. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy wasn’t at his best. Defenseman Victor Hedman was hurt. The Lightning weren’t the same team we saw throughout the season. Foligno said he was “thrilled” that the Blue Jackets were able to wrap up the series for the fans’ sake. He said there was a “lot of broken hearts” in the dressing room and in the city during past playoff series. “I’m thrilled for the people who had to grind through this (playoff series wins drought),” Tortorella said. Tortorella has been in his share of big games, even winning the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in seven games in 2004. He thought the atmosphere in the building in this closeout game was “unbelievable.” Foligno laughed, saying: “I’m afraid for the rafters next series.”<doc-sep>	Regular season stats: Tampa Bay Lightning (62-16-4, 128 points) Goals For (Per Game): 325 (3.96) Goals Against (Per Game): 222 (2.70) PP%: 28.24% (1st) PK%: 85.02% (1st) CF%: 51.60% (9th) Columbus Blue Jackets (47-31-4, 98 points) Goals For (Per Game): 258 (3.15) Goals Against (Per Game): 232 (2.83) PP%: 15.38% (13th) PK%: 85.00% (2nd) CF%: 50.20% (12th) All statistics from Hockey Reference and Natural Stat Trick. Playoff stats: Tampa Bay Lightning (0-3) Goals For: 5 Goals Against: 12 PP%: 0.00 PK%: 50.00 CF%: 52.85 Columbus Blue Jackets (3-0) Goals For (Per Game): 12 Goals Against (Per Game): 5 PP%: 50.00 PK%: 100.00 CF%: 47.15 Tampa Bay Lightning at Columbus Blue Jackets: Round 1, Game 4 Time: 7:00 pm Eastern Time Location: Nationwide Arena Broadcast/Streaming: CNBC, FS-SUN, SN360, TVAS Opponent SBNation Site: Jackets Cannon Preview This is it. The do or die game. If the Tampa Bay Lightning win, we will see them on Thursday with a win in our pockets and a slightly shorter mountain to climb. If the Tampa Bay Lightning lose, then we won’t see them until mid-September, a long five months away. There will be questions as to who stays and who goes, because if the odds are not in Tampa’s favor, big things will need to change, but that is all for another day. Hopefully not tomorrow. So what do teams needs at this time of year? Goals and stops. Looking at goals through the first three games of the series — which is a painfully small sample size but nonetheless what we have to work with — the Lightning have the fourth-worst goals for rate at 5v5 among the 16 playoff teams. Based on Corsica, the Lightning have been performing like they should have the......fourth-worst goals for rate among playoff teams. So the offense has dried up, they’re not getting to the areas where they need to be and it’s simply not been good enough. You can read Loserpoints’ analysis for a further breakdown. The team’s shooting percentage has also been in the bottom half of the playoff teams, but Toronto and Colorado both have worse numbers here and they’re up 2-1. Getting Nikita Kucherov back will be a big help in this regard (the team was in the top half in offensive results after game two), but the whole team needs to step up on top of his return. Breaking cycles in the defensive zone, getting the puck cleanly into the offensive zone, and working harder than your opponent to keep the puck in the offensive zone long enough for a defensive mistake is the aim of the game here. This is possibly the last game of the season for these players, possibly the last game they’ll ever play for Tampa. Defensively, the story is simpler, which makes it more heartbreaking. The Lightning have been one of the best defensive teams in these playoffs, if not the best. They have one of the lowest shots against rates among the 16 teams, and their expected goals against numbers back that value up. They have legitimately done a good job of keeping pucks away from the front of the net and keeping scoring chances down. Unfortunately, the problem has been rush attempts against and Andrei Vasilevskiy. The young goaltender has been disappointing to say the least. His 5v5 save percentage this season was .929, which is right in the neighbourhood of what Corsica’s model expected him to be at (.928). In the postseason, however, Vasilevskiy has put up a .909 save percentage, despite his team giving him an expected value of .933. He has been way off the pace and it’s a major reason why this team has lost every game so far. Goaltending is hard to predict, and sometimes this happens, that is always the caveat with goalies. Hopefully either now or in the summer the coaching staff will be able to dissect what went wrong here and he can learn for next year. Vasilevskiy will be here next year. But anyway, I said there was a chance, right? Only two teams have done it in the salary cap era. Can the Lightning or Penguins be the third to come back from an 0-3 series deficit?https://t.co/QQPwuskSeD pic.twitter.com/MKLjBd0AJT — dom luszczyszyn (@domluszczyszyn) April 15, 2019 In terms of rosters, Nikita Kucherov will be back in the lineup tonight after serving his suspension over the weekend. Victor Hedman and Alex Killorn are both question marks heading into tonight, Hedman is listed as doubtful at this time.
Powerful camera tech isn't the only thing the F11 Pro offers; the smartphone is equipped with its own performance acceleration engine called Hyper Boost which optimises 11 popular mobile games including PUBG and AOV. Through the Hyper Boost, hardware resources are utilised more effectively which means a faster game response, no disconnections and especially no dropped frames. The smartphone can also last a full day on basic use thanks to its upgraded battery of 4,000mAh, which is 500 mAh higher than the previous generation. If all of these catch your fancy, the OPPO F11 Pro is now available for pre-order in two colours, Thunder Black and Aurora Green, at OPPO Online Store and the OPPO Concept Store at the price of MYR 1,399.<doc-sep>Oppo F11 Pro review notes: I’ve been using the Oppo F11 Pro for review over the course of a week. The phone was tested in the U.S. on T-Mobile’s network. My Oppo F11 Pro review unit is running on the February 5 security patch and software version CPH1969EX_11_A.03. With the announcement of the F11 Pro, Oppo looks to carry the momentum they built in 2018 into 2019. Oppo made waves last year with phones such as the Find X and R17 Pro, and the F11 Pro looks to be its next attention-grabber. The Oppo F11 Pro is equipped with a 48-megapixel camera, a large 4,000 mAh battery, a pop-up selfie camera, and a near bezel-less screen with no notch. The phone sounds impressive on the hardware front, but how does it function in the day-to-day? This is our Oppo F11 Pro review. See price at Amazon Design Oppo has done some amazing work with gradient colors in many of their previous devices and Thunder Black is another stunning combination of colors. If you’ve been paying attention to Oppo’s recent portfolio of smartphones, there’s no denying that they’ve been making some of the most attractive smartphones on the market; the F11 Pro is no exception. The Oppo F11 Pro has the all too familiar glass sandwich design, with a metallic frame. What makes the F11 Pro gorgeous to look at is the gradient colored backing. The phone comes in two color options: Thunder Black and Aurora Green. Our Oppo F11 Pro review unit is the eye-catching Thunder Black and photos don’t truly showcase how amazing this color looks. It’s a triple-color gradient that beautifully fades from a purplish red to black and then to blue. Oppo has done some amazing work with gradient colors in many of their previous devices and Thunder Black is another stunning example. Perhaps equally as unique to the F11 Pro’s design is the pop-up selfie camera, though this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a motorized pop-up camera in a smartphone. While the technology still isn’t commonplace, we saw something similar on the Oppo Find X and the Vivo Nex. We’ve also yet to see a smartphone with a pop-up camera make its way to the United States, although this could potentially change with the OnePlus 7. Oppo has centered the pop-up camera on the F11 Pro to create a sense of symmetry to the phone’s design. The housing surrounding the front-facing camera is also transparent, which gives it this almost prism-like appearance. The camera pops up automatically when using the camera app or any other app that takes advantage of the front camera, such as Snapchat. It will retract when you exit the app. You can force the camera back down too, but you probably shouldn’t. In my week of testing the pop-up camera has worked flawlessly, but only time will tell how long this camera will remain functional under daily use. Hardware failure will be a huge concern and having such a complex moving part also prevents the F11 Pro from being water resistant. We’ll talk more about the front-facing camera in the camera section of our Oppo F11 Pro review. In an era when smartphones are all starting to look the same, it's the little touches that can go a long way in making a smartphone stand out. The rest of the Oppo F11 Pro’s design isn’t all too different from other smartphones on the market, but it’s a great-looking device regardless. An Oppo logo and “Designed by Oppo” are printed on the backside. Otherwise, the device is clean of any branding. The corners are rounded and sides are tapered, giving the phone a sleek appearance and more comfort in the hand. I also appreciate some of the more subtle design touches, like Oppo’s signature crescent arcs on the top and bottom part of the frame and the green accent on the power button. In an era where smartphones are all starting to look the same, it’s the little touches that can go a long way in making a smartphone stand out. The Oppo F11 Pro comes with some old ports that are both good and bad news. There’s a headphone jack, which is always good to see on a modern smartphone. However, for some reason, Oppo has opted for a micro-USB port instead of USB-C. In 2019, having micro-USB is awkward, now that USB-C is much more prevalent. For a phone with so many forward-thinking design elements, this one felt like a step backward. Display The display exhibits good qualities overall with fantastic colors, great viewing angles, and good brightness. In large part to the pop-up camera, the Oppo F11 Pro has a notch-free, bezel-less display. This results in an impressively high 90.9% screen-to-body ratio. The 6.53-inch full HD+ LCD display (2,340 x 1,080) won’t be quite as stunning as some of the higher resolution AMOLED displays found on top-tier flagships, but it still looks great. The nearly all-screen front is a joy to use for games, videos, and all sorts of other content. The display exhibits good qualities overall, with fantastic colors, great viewing angles, and good brightness. Performance The Oppo F11 Pro is equipped with the Helio P70 processor, MediaTek‘s latest mid-range chipset and 6GB of RAM. It’s not the most powerful set of internals, but the Helio P70 is a more than adequate chipset and offers a 13% performance boost over the previous generation P60. In everyday use, our Oppo F11 Pro review unit has offered a fluid experience. Apps are quick to load, navigating through the interface is smooth and responsive, and multitasking between apps poses no issues. Gaming on the F11 Pro is also a great experience. Graphically demanding games run very smoothly with no signs of stuttering or lag. Oppo has developed its own performance acceleration engine called Hyper Boost for more responsive performance in daily operation and in gaming. It can intelligently allocate system resources for an improved gaming experience. Currently, there are 11 popular games, including PUBG and Arena of Valor, that are specifically optimized for Hyper Boost. One of the more impressive specifications is the Oppo F11 Pro’s large 4,000mAh battery. The F11 Pro also comes with VOOC 3.0 fast charging, which can charge the phone to full in about 80 minutes. In addition to fast charging, the display has its own RAM, which is designed to help with power consumption, though it’s difficult to gauge how much of an impact this actually makes. The 4,000mAh battery lasts a very long time, as expected. I’ve had no issues making it through a full day’s worth of social media, emails, YouTube, gaming, and some light web browsing. The F11 Pro makes it to the wee hours of the night comfortably and I haven’t had the need to charge it midway through the day. On several occasions, I didn’t recharge the phone until early the next morning. I would love to show you some screen-on time numbers, but Oppo’s software doesn’t show this statistic for some reason. Hardware Hardware wise, the Oppo F11 Pro doesn’t come with too many bells and whistles. Storage comes in 64 and 128GB options, but there’s no microSD slot for expandability. There’s also no wireless charging, despite the phone having a glass back. A single speaker is on the bottom edge of the phone; it sounds fine and gets loud enough for YouTube or music, but it’s not anything special. The fingerprint sensor is on the backside, and again is nothing to write home about, but it’s very fast and accurate to unlock. Camera The rear camera has an Ultra Night Mode for improved low light and AI scene recognition that can recognize a total of 23 scenes and 864 combinations. The cameras on the Oppo F11 Pro are probably the most eye-catching pieces of hardware because of the pop-up mechanism and the sheer number of megapixels. The front-facing camera is 16MP with f/2.0 aperture and the primary rear camera is a 48MP shooter that’s paired with a 5MP depth sensor. Both front and rear cameras support portrait mode. The rear camera also has an Ultra Night Mode for improved low light performance and AI scene recognition that can discern between a total of 23 scenes and 864 combinations. Selfies from the front-facing shooter are sharp, crisp, and skin tones are handled well with a natural appearance. Portrait mode photos are convincing enough, despite there only being one lens on the front. There’s good separation between the subject and background and, most of the time, you won’t find any mistakes that make the shots look artificial. Portrait Mode Off Portrait Mode On By default, the rear camera is set to 12MP because the camera uses pixel binning for better low-light performance. If you want to take full 48MP resolution photos, you’ll have to change it in the settings but you will lose out on some features, namely digital zoom, HDR, or AI scene recognition. Aside from the higher resolution and a slighter sharper image, you aren’t gaining much when shooting at full resolution. Results are much more impressive when shooting at 12MP due to the camera’s ability to leverage HDR and scene recognition for better color and detail. The pixel binning on the F11 Pro, however, doesn’t seem to make a huge impact in low light, compared to other phones that use the same technique. I noticed next to no difference between the 12 and 48MP stills that I took in low light. 12MP 48MP 12MP 48MP The low light improvements are only noticeable when using Ultra Night Mode. This leverages AI and multi-frame noise reduction resulting in brighter shots, more highlight and shadow detail, less noise, and better dynamic range. Oppo hasn’t made clear which 48MP sensor is in the F11 Pro but we’re willing to bet it isn’t the Sony IMX586. 12MP 48MP 12 MP Ultra Night Mode We’ve included a full gallery of photos below for easy viewing but you can click here to see the full resolution images. Software The Oppo F11 Pro ships with Android 9.0 Pie and ColorOS 6 software. Having the latest version of Android out of the box is always great, and aesthetically ColorOS is not very offensive. Oppo makes good use of colors without being overly bright or cartoony and the app icons blend in well with regular everyday Android apps. I also like that the shortcuts and the brightness slider in the notification shade are nice and large, which makes them easy to press. Oppo has optimized the UI to take advantage of the F11 Pro’s edge-to-edge display. Instead of cutting off at the notification bar like most apps tend to do, Oppo’s own applications extend to the edges of the display, giving the applications a borderless look. ColorOS also has its own navigation gestures to further the full-screen experience, but you have the option to use Android Pie’s gestures if you prefer. Other useful features of ColorOS 6 include the Smart Assistant and the Smart Bar. The Smart Assistant is Oppo’s take on what should live on your leftmost home screen and can be used to show pertinent information such as the weather, calendar events, and a step tracker. The Smart Bar is accessible by swiping in from the edge of the display. This provides quick access to customizable app shortcuts and useful system functions such as screenshot and screen recording. Oppo F11 Pro specifications Oppo F11 Pro Battery 4,000mAh, micro-USB (with VOOC 3.0 fast charging) Cameras Rear: 48MP+5MP(Ultra Night Mode, AI Scene recognition, Color Mapping) Front: 16 MP, f/2.0 Colors Thunder Black, Aurora Green Connectivity WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC Dimensions 161.3 x 76.1 x 8.8 mm Display 6.53-inch 2340*1080,TFT, 19.5:9, Panoramic Screen GPU Mali-G72 MP3 Headphone jack Yes IP Rating None RAM 4GB/6GB Sensors Fingerprint Unlock(back) Sensors: magnetic sensor, light sensor, distance sensor, gyroscope, gravity SoC Mediatek Helio P70 Software Android 9.0, ColorOS 6 Storage 64GB/128GB (no microSD support) Weight 190 g Networks (Depending on markets) 4G/4G+: TD-LTE, LTE FDD; 3G: WCDMA,TD-SCDMA,CDMA2000 2G: GSM,CDMA Pricing and final thoughts The Oppo F11 Pro goes on sale in India starting March 15, followed by markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.<doc-sep>	Smartphone brand Oppo unveiled its smartphone in India recently. It is all set to go on its first sale tomorrow, March 14. It will be available online on , , Paytm, Snapdeal and across all Oppo stores. The handset features 48MP+5MP dual rear camera and packs 4020mAh battery. Oppo F11 Pro: Price and launch offers is priced at Rs 24,990. It comes with 6GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage. Launch offers during the sale include 5% cashback on EMI transactions made using HDFC debit/credit card Rs 3,400 cashback voucher for Paytm users Up to 3.2TB data and benefits of up to Rs 4,900 for Reliance Jio users Full accidental damage protection for 180 days Rs 1000 off for flights and Rs 175 off for bus tickets on ixigo 3 months free subscription worth Rs 169 on Hungama Free mobile insurance for 1 year Oppo F11 Pro: Specifications Powered by Mediatek Helio P70 octa-core processor, the smartphone features a 6.5-inch FHD+ Panoramic display with a screen-to-body ratio of 90.9 percent and an aspect ratio of 19:9. It runs on Color OS 6.0 and packs 6GB RAM with 64GB storage. It comes with microSD card support to expand storage up to 256GB. On the camera front, the device boasts of 16-megapixel front camera with f/2.4 aperture for selfie. The dual-lens camera setup at the back consists of 48-megapixel primary camera and 5-megapixel with an f/1.79 aperture along with LED flash. The phone houses a big 4020mAh battery and comes with VOOC 3.0 fast charging support. Colour options include - Thunder Black and Aurora Green. OPPO F11 Pro Performance MediaTek Helio P70 Display 6.5" (16.51 cm) Storage 64 GB Camera 48 MP + 5 MP Battery 4000 mAh Ram 6 GB see full specifications ❯ Other Variants OPPO F11 Pro 128GB
More than a few eyebrows were raised yesterday when Alberto Moreno was in the team sheet to start against Cardiff City. Once a serious contender to start, there is no zero doubt in any minds that Andy Robertson is the best left back at the club. When there’s a big game, he’s going to play. Of course, he’s only human, and occasionally he will need a rest. A home game against Cardiff seemed the ideal opportunity. Enter Moreno. Of course, Moreno seemed to get beaten very easily by two Cardiff players on their way to scoring the Welsh side’s only goal of the game. The knives were out for a player who frequently frustrates the Anfield faithful. Not in the eyes of Sadio Mane, though, who blames himself. “A team like this are never easy to play”, the Liverpool Echo report Mane as saying. “Sometimes you have to be patient, try not to lose the ball. At the end we scored four goals and deserved to win “I think we conceded because we lacked communication. Normally I am with Alberto [Moreno] on the left but I was in midfield and [one on one] it is not easy for Moreno. “That is part of football, we will try to learn from that.” Humility aside, Mane does raise a significant point in assigning blame for conceding goals. Defending is a collective exercise, much more than attacking, and a mistake by a defender is usually the result of a mistake by someone higher up the pitch. Leicester City’s distinctly average centre backs looked superhuman with N’Golo Kante in front of them, and have since returned to looking mediocre. Dejan Lovren struggled horribly before he was playing in a better structured pressing system with Virgil van Dijk alongside him. When Mane says he was out of position, he was correct. While Moreno did do poorly on the goal, in another reality he would have never been called into action. Excellent understanding of collective responsibility, Sadio.<doc-sep>Get our LFC newsletter for the best Reds coverage Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Sadio Mane has claimed part of the responsibility for ending Liverpool's defensive record. The Reds forward said he was partly to blame for the goal which his side conceded to Cardiff City in the Premier League today. That goal, scored by Callum Paterson with 13 minutes to go, ended Liverpool's record of keeping a clean sheet at Anfield in every league match since February - a total of 918 minutes. And Mane, who scored twice in the 4-1 victory, says him being out of position was partly the reason for the Reds' defences being breached. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now "A team like this are never easy to play, sometimes you have to be patient, try not to lose the ball. At the end we scored four goals and deserved to win," Mane told the BBC. "I think we conceded because we lacked communication, Normally I am with Alberto [Moreno] on the left but I was in midfield and 1-1 it is not easy for Moreno. "That is part of football, we will try to learn from that." Moreno was a surprise inclusion in today's starting line-up as Jurgen Klopp opted to leave out Andrew Robertson. Liverpool’s win means they’re back on top of the Premier League table ahead of Manchester City’s trip to Spurs on Monday night.<doc-sep>	Sadio Mane has taken some of the blame (Picture: Getty) Liverpool forward Sadio Mane said he was partly to blame after the Reds gave up their clean sheet record against Cardiff City. Jurgen Klopp’s side were 2-0 up and in completely control until Callum Paterson got the Bluebirds back in it with ten minutes left at Anfield. It was the first time Liverpool had conceded at home since February 24th and the first time in 918 minutes. The Reds were desperate to make it to the 1000-minute mark and many supporters blamed Alberto Moreno for Cardiff’s goal. Paterson got Cardiff back in it (Picture :Getty) However, Mane – who scored two in the 4-1 victory – says he was partly to blame for being out of position. ‘A team like this are never easy to play, sometimes you have to be patient, try not to lose the ball. At the end we scored four goals and deserved to win,’ Mane told the BBC. ‘I think we conceded because we lacked communication, Normally I am with Alberto [Moreno] on the left but I was in midfield and 1-1 it is not easy for Moreno. That is part of football, we will try to learn from that.’ Moreno was a surprise inclusion as Klopp opted to leave out Andrew Robertson. Liverpool’s win means they’re back on top of the Premier League table ahead of Manchester City’s trip to Spurs on Monday night. MORE : Marouane Fellaini hands Manchester United huge boost by returning to training ahead of Everton clash
EMBED >More News Videos Deep Blue, a 20-foot great white shark last spotted off the coast of Guadalupe Island, is widely considered to be among the biggest great white sharks ever filmed. LANAI, Hawaii -- A 20-foot whale shark that became tangled in heavy-duty fishing line is now free thanks to a group of divers who unexpectedly encountered the animal off the coast of Hawaii.Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources had been aware of the distressed animal since tour groups first spotted it in mid-July. The department said in a release that the line, estimated to weigh more than 150 pounds, was cutting into the emaciated animal's body and threatening its life.The department asked the public to report any further sightings of the animal so that NOAA experts could attempt to free the whale shark. On July 29 , husband and wife Joby Rohrer and Kapua Kawelo were free diving off Lanai with their son and family friend Jon Sprague when they encountered the whale shark 30 feet below the surface. Using a knife, the group managed to cut through the rope until the shark was ultimately freed.Rohrer and Kawelo's son Kanehoalani Kawelo filmed the operation, which took over an hour. In the footage, the shark appeared tranquil and eventually swam away to freedom. "We waited a long time to consider what our responsibility was...We know that people don't necessarily encourage this type of thing but both of us are biologists. We felt like we were sort of in tune with what the animal was doing and maybe we were meant to be there," Kawelo later told Hawaii News Now Whale sharks, the largest known extant fish species, generally grow to be about 30 feet long. Found throughout tropical and warm temperate seas, the filter-feeding whale shark is listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.After the rescue, the Department of Land and Natural Resources reiterated that divers should not attempt to free entangled marine animals on their own and should contact the appropriate government agency for assistance.<doc-sep>A juvenile whale shark is now free from a “life-threatening” entanglement thanks to a pair of free divers off Lanai on Sunday, the Department of Land and Natural Resources said. The divers, Joby Rohrer, an Army biologist, and Jon Sprague, wildlife control manager for Pulama Lanai, spotted the large fish Sunday as it swam back and forth off Kaunolu. >> Mobile users can see the video here. The divers cut away the 150 to 200 pound rope with a knife in a process that took more than an hour and five dives. The shark, which had been entangled since at least July 8, remained calm while the rope was cut away in 30 to 40 feet of water. After the animal was freed, it swam away into deeper water. The whale shark population has declined by more than 50 percent since 1975, and the endangered species continue to face threats such as entanglement, DLNR said. On July 14, DLNR asked for the public’s help in locating the entangled animal after it was seen with heavy gauge line wrapped around its mid-section near Maui. DLNR said the entanglement was cutting into the emaciated animal’s flesh and experts believed it to be life-threatening. DLNR urged the public to avoid trying to disentangle whales or other marine mammals on their own and instead call trained responders with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program.<doc-sep>This whale shark caught in discarded fishing line was first spotted on July 11, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said. Snorkelers were able to free it on July 29. (CNN) — A family snorkeling in Hawaii managed to free a 20-foot whale shark from a thick, heavy piece of fishing line that was looped around its head and had been digging into its flesh for weeks. The Kawelo family was snorkeling off Kaunolu, Lanai, on July 29 when they saw the whale shark swimming. Kapua Kawelo and her husband, Joby Rohrer, are both biologists and realized it was in trouble. “We waited a long time to consider what our responsibility was, what our kuleana was,” Kawelo told CNN affiliate KHNL, using a Hawaiian word for “a reciprocal relationship between the person who is responsible and the thing which they are responsible for.” “We know that people don’t necessarily encourage this type of thing, but both of us are biologists,” she said. “We felt like we were, sort of, in tune with what the animal was doing and maybe we were meant to be there.” So, they decided to help – not realizing the juvenile whale shark, which first had been spotted on July 11, had been growing emaciated as the entanglement threatened its life, according to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. ENTANGLED WHALE SHARK FREED OFF LANAI A juvenile whale shark that was entangled with heavy rope in recent weeks has... Posted by Hawaii DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources) on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 ’The calculated risk … paid off’ Rohrer swam down to the whale shark, which was in 30 to 40 feet of water, with a 4-inch dive knife, Jonathan Sprague, who was with the family, recounted to CNN. Rohrer was like a fish, swimming down to the animal and sawing at the line for 30 to 45 seconds at a time – all while holding his breath, Sprague said. “He made five free dives on the animal over the course of about 45 minutes,” Sprague told CNN. “Once he got it cut, I was able to get the right side of the rope off the shark’s fin, and he pulled off the rest. It was awesome.” The braided fishing rope was about 5 inches thick and weighed at least 150 pounds, the couple’s daughter told KHNL. Whale sharks are listed as endangered worldwide, and their population has decreased by 50% since 1975, according to the Hawaii DLNR. Untrained people should not try to save an entangled animal on their own, said Sprague, a wildlife control officer in Hawaii. “In-water work with large animals like this is very dangerous. Animals may dive deep or roll in response to a person latching on like this. If you get hung up in the line, things will end badly, and the story won’t be so ‘feel-good,’” he said. “We knew this going in, took the calculated risk, and it paid off.”<doc-sep>	On July 11th, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources reported that a 20-foot whale shark had been spotted tangled in a discarded fishing line. On July 29th, a husband, wife, and a friend who were snorkeling managed to free it. “Initial reports of the entangled whale shark were received on Sunday off Olowalu,” the DNLR reported. “On Thursday, several commercial snorkel/dive tour companies reported the shark on the backside of Molokini, off Maui’s south shore.” The fishing line was wrapped just below the whale shark’s head, and it appeared to have been there for weeks. Kapua Kawelo, who is a biologist, her husband Joby Rohrer, an Army biologist, and their friend Jonathan Sprague, a wildlife control manager, were snorkeling off the coast of Kuanolu, Lanai, when they spotted the animal in need of a helping hand. Although they were aware that the authorities don’t recommend doing what they did, they felt they had a responsibility. “We know that people don’t necessarily encourage this type of thing, but both of us are biologists,” Kawelo told KHNL. “We felt like we were sort of in tune with what the animal was doing and maybe we were meant to be there.” The whale shark was in about 30 feet of water when Rohrer decided to swim down to it. Armed with a dive knife, he made a series of dives, cutting the thick line a little bit each time. “He made five free dives on the animal over the course of about 45 minutes,” Sprague told CNN. “Once he got it cut, I was able to get the right side of the rope off the shark’s fin, and he pulled off the rest. It was awesome.” According to reports, the whale shark didn’t appear to be alarmed by Rohrer or Sprague, and “swam calmly through the disentanglement process as the divers removed the heavy rope.” Afterwards, it swam off into deeper water. The fishing line was a braided rope, about five inches thick and weighing between 150 and 200 pounds. As it turned out, they may well have saved the whale shark’s life. “Based on photographs provided by ProDivers,” DNLR explained, “the entanglement represents a tight wrap around the whale shark’s body forward of its pectoral fins. The wrap is cutting into the animal, which is somewhat emaciated. Fisheries experts believe the entanglement to be life-threatening.” Although this case turned out to have a happy ending, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is warning others that it’s not a good idea. “People should not try disentangling whales or other marine mammals on their own,” they wrote on Facebook. “Only responders trained in large whale entanglement response under NOAA’s Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program may attempt to remove derelict fishing gear.” Whale Shark Disentanglement from Hawaii DLNR on Vimeo.
The return of Tom Trbojevic can't come soon enough for Manly and Daly Cherry-Evans needs to start firing. The Sea Eagles also lost, but they finished the game strongly against the Roosters and might feel like they learned something about themselves. After a good first-round home win over the Bulldogs, the Warriors weren't able to stick with the Tigers last week at Campbelltown and crashed to a heavy loss. Strange as it may seem, winless Manly might actually go into this Saturday afternoon encounter with more momentum and confidence than the Warriors. Warriors: A few late alterations, with Isaiah Papali'i elevated to the starting lineup in the back-row and Adam Blair shifting to lock. Lachlan Burr drops to the bench and Gerard Beale moves from the reserves to the bench. Blake Ayshford and Liligiifo Sao were cut an hour before kick-off, while Chanel Harris-Tavita and Karl Lawton dropped out of the squad on Friday. Sea Eagles: Manly will take to the field as named on Tuesday. Sea Eagles fans will be delighted to see fullback Tom Trbojevic back from an ankle injury, while prop Addin Fonua-Blake returns from suspension for Toafofoa Sipley, who moves to the bench. Brendan Elliot and Kelepi Tanginoa were the last players cut prior to kick-off, while Trent Hodkinson and Lloyd Perrett dropped out of the squad on Friday. Key match-up Cherry-Evans and Blake Green were teammates at Manly before Green moved on to the Warriors. Both players have a lot on their plate every week for their teams to be successful but that comes with the territory of being starting playmakers in the NRL. Their respective contributions on Saturday are crucial to the outcome. For the Sea Eagles to win They can't have a repeat of last week when the game was effectively over at half-time. The forwards need to assert themselves against the hot and cold Warriors pack, while Cherry-Evans and Kane Elgey need to step up and take control. For the Warriors to win When the Warriors cut the Tigers' lead to 12-6 early in the second half it looked as the game could've gone either way. But the Tigers turned up the heat and the visitors didn't have it in them to fight on. An 80-minute effort is vital on Saturday and they need their experienced leaders to take charge. Brett Kimmorley says ... I’m not too sure where Manly can go on the back of being blown off the park last week and being poor in week one. They really need a good first 40 minutes When you are down on cattle you need to start well, lead, and then go from there. The Warriors would have their pride hurt after last week. With this game being in Christchurch there will be a lot of emotion, that will mean a lot. The game has to be played between the ears, that is the biggest deficiency for the Warriors. Warriors by 8 Sea Eagles Stat Attack Curtis Sironen is equal-second in the NRL in off-loads (7), while Apisai Koroisau has been busy in defence with 93 tackles (equal-second). On the down side Cherry-Evans is equal-second in handling errors (4). Warriors Stat Attack Mistakes and poor options hurt the Warriors in the 34-6 loss to the Tigers. They completed just 67% (22/33) of their sets and had 14 errors - twice as many as the Tigers. And another thing ... It's fair to say Blake Green is a rugby league journeyman, but the 32-year-old playmaker has carved out a very respectable career. Green is with his sixth NRL club and also had stints with two English Super League clubs. He played with the Sea Eagles in 2017 and would love to get a win over his former teammates.<doc-sep>Stephen Kearney has decided against changing his squad despite the Warriors hefty loss against the Wests Tigers. Coach Kearney has named the same side that ran on against the Tigers at Campbelltown last weekend, with Issac Luke taking the number nine jersey vacated by the injured Nathaniel Roache. The clash with Manly will be held at Christchurch's AMI Stadium, a home game for the Sea Eagles as was the case at the same venue in 2018. Kearney was not on a pleasant mood following the humbling 34-6 loss on Sunday night, questioning the commitment of his players. The former Kiwis coach wondered out loud if his squad had taken the Tigers lightly given the Warriors outstanding performance against the Bulldogs a week prior. But Kearney has given the squad an opportunity to redeem themselves, opting against change, although prop Sam Lisone is likely to miss the match due to suspension for a crusher tackle. Manly arrive in New Zealand winless after struggling to impress against the Tigers and South Sydney Rabbitohs in the opening two rounds. The loss against the Tigers dropped the Warriors to eighth spot on points differential.<doc-sep>Warriors coach Stephen Kearney has serious concerns for his side, after their defeat to the Manly Sea Eagles - particularly their defence. The Sea Eagles ran in eight tries to claim a 46-12 win - the most points the Warriors have conceded under Kearney, since he took over in 2017. Manly headed into the match without a win, while only scoring 24 points in their first two games of the season. Following their 34-6 loss to the Tigers last Sunday, Kearney said things would improve, but the Warriors were much worse against Manly, lacking composure on both attack and defence. Kearney was furious with his team's defence, saying it was not up to NRL standards, as they missed 41 tackles during the match. "I'm very disappointed," said Kearney. "Given the situation on the back of last week and obviously the circumstances of the game, I was very disappointed with the effort. "There is a lack of resilience at the moment, which is an area of concern for us. "To have 46 points tonight, 34 last week - that's not good enough in the NRL. It's not acceptable." The Warriors opened the game scoring a try in their first set through Isaiah Papali'i, but things quickly went downhill.<doc-sep>Players from Manly and the Warriors have been assured of extra security but police are still asking the crowd at their NRL match to be vigilant after the Christchurch terror attacks. Top-flight sport returns to the city on Saturday when Manly stage a "home" match at Christchurch Stadium a fortnight after the mass shootings at two mosques which claimed 50 lives. New Zealand has been placed on a high threat alert since and police have reminded event organisers nationwide to be aware that a proliferation of memorial events has the potential to stretch law enforcement resources. However, a large police presence remains in Christchurch and will be out in force at Friday's National Remembrance Service at Hagley Park. Match promoter Justin Wallace told journalists there would be increased police numbers at Saturday's game and that both teams were also bringing their own bolstered security staff. It didn't stop New Zealand Police issuing a note of caution through a media statement on Thursday. "The public is asked to continue their vigilance and report suspicious activity," the statement read. "Police advise anyone attending events to stay alert and be aware of your surroundings." New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern welcomed the high-profile nature of an NRL match in a city still grieving. "Safety is of course our focus ... but the ability to come together at times like this, to form a community, whether or not it's around sport or anything else, I think is an important part of recovery," she said on Thursday. Wallace revealed a group of Christchurch medical emergency staff and first responders to the attack would be honoured on the field before kickoff. Both teams will walk from the tunnel together and observe a minute's silence. AAP Join us at 5pm Saturday for live updates of the Warriors vs Sea Eagles NRL clash.<doc-sep>	"The new material on our jersey meant we couldn't put the hashtag on our chest under our logo. We weren't going to let that stop us, though, and were determined to do something lasting and meaningful. "For us, it's a real privilege to be playing a game in Christchurch - a city that has been through so much. "Our community team and injured players have been on the ground since Wednesday, and I know [coach] Stephen Kearney and the boys are determined to get down there and put in a fitting performance on Saturday for the locals who have been through so much." Before kick-off on Saturday, both teams will take the field together and join arms in a circle to observe a minute's silence. Sea Eagles CEO Lyall Gorman said the club was proud to have the hashtag on their jerseys. "What happened in Christchurch was beyond belief, and our thoughts and prayers have been with the families and friends of those who lost their lives, and those who are still undergoing medical treatment,'' Gorman said. "The people of Christchurch warmly embraced our club during our visit last year, and we were incredibly humbled and honoured by it. "In this time of real sadness, this is an opportunity for us to again be amongst the people of Christchurch and hopefully make some small contribution and difference to a healing process that is extraordinary in its nature. "For us, it is about being humble and respectful and working with the city's leaders to see how we can support this wonderful community in their greatest time of need. "The power of sport can actually bring people together, give them a reason to celebrate, give them something to look forward to, build hope for a brighter future as well as honour the recent tragic events. "I truly believe that sport can play a significant role in the healing process. It is one of the great outlets that inspires and unites communities in good times and bad. Hopefully, Saturday's game will be a part of that process." Newshub. Join us at 5pm Saturday for live updates of the Warriors vs Sea Eagles NRL clash.
Hello? There's no Racing News down here. Where ya off to? Bob, this doesn't look good... Are you lost... The blue dot on the GPS won't help you here. It's probably too late to turn back now anyway. Baby Jessica, it appears you've fallen into the well. Like a mummy at night fightin' with bright lightnin'. I'm not here to save you. I'm just here for the ride. So, let me entertain you and everything will be fine. Have you had it up to here? That's Rock Bottom. Click here to exit the well.<doc-sep>It's NASCAR race day at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and we've got all the information you need to get ready for Sunday's Pennzoil 400, the third race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: START TIME: 3:30 p.m. ET. GREEN FLAG: 3:46 p.m. ET. NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series drivers Matt Hagan and Leah Pritchett will instruct drivers to start their engines at 3:37 p.m. ET. TV: Fox. Pre-race broadcast begins at 3 p.m. ET. RADIO: Performance Racing Network. STREAMING: Fox Sports Go. RACE DISTANCE: 267 laps around the 1.5-mile track for a total of 400.5 miles. STAGE LENGTHS (laps per stage): Stage 1: 80, Stage 2: 80, Stage 3: 107. NASCAR:Will big bet on new aerodynamic package pay off? NATIONAL ANTHEM: Grammy nominated recording artist Cassadee Pope, the season 3 winner of "The Voice," will perform the anthem at 3:31 p.m. ET, followed by a flyover by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds. WEATHER: Delightful. The Weather Channel is calling for sunny skies with temperatures in the mid-high 60s. LAST TIME: Brad Keselowski led 75 laps, including the final 22, to take the victory in the first race of the 2018 playoffs. And one year ago in March, Kevin Harvick crushed the field, leading 214 of 267 laps, en route to his second of three consecutive wins in early 2018. LINEUP: Harvick traversed a frantic and polarizing qualifying session on Friday to earn the pole, beating out Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and Las Vegas native Kyle Busch. Here is the lineup for the Pennzoil 400 (car number in parentheses): 1. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford 2. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota 3. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota 4. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet 5. (8) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet 6. (38) David Ragan, Ford 7. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet 8. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford 9. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet 10. (22) Joey Logano, Ford 11. (88) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet 12. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet 13. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford 14. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet 15. (21) Paul Menard, Ford 16. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford 17. (14) Clint Bowyer, Ford 18. (20) Erik Jones, Toyota 19. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford 20. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet 21. (43) Bubba Wallace, Chevrolet 22. (41) Daniel Suarez, Ford 23. (19) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota 24. (47) Ryan Preece, Chevrolet 25. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford 26. (95) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota 27. (37) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet 28. (1) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet 29. (6) Ryan Newman, Ford 30. (32) Corey LaJoie, Ford 31. (00) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet 32. (96) Parker Kligerman, Toyota 33. (51) Cody Ware, Chevrolet 34. (52) BJ McLeod, Ford 35. (36) Matt Tifft, Ford 36. (66) Joey Gase, Toyota 37. (77) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet 38. (15) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet Follow Horrow on Twitter @EllenJHorrow<doc-sep>LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — It's a big weekend for fans, drivers and Las Vegas as NASCAR takes over the valley. NASCAR season moves on to its third race of the season this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. RELATED: NASCAR driver Joey Gase racing for more than trophies The truck series will take place tonight, the NASCAR Zfinity series race on Saturday afternoon, and the finale will wrap on Sunday for the NASCAR Cup Series race. RELATED: Boyd Gaming fuels the fun during NASCAR weekend Angela Ruch is one of the top female NASCAR drivers. She will be driving in Friday night's truck series. Ruch was the first female driver in NASCAR truck series history to lead laps at Daytona International Speedway.<doc-sep>NASCAR week culminates with the Pennzoil 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Drivers compete during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 auto race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto Kevin Harvick (4) crosses the finish line to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 auto race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto Drivers compete in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 auto race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @DreaCornejo Fans watch the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 auto race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Andrea Cornejo Las Vegas Review-Journal @DreaCornejo NASCAR week schedule Wednesday The Dirt Track at LVMS — 6:30 p.m.: World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and practice for the Star Nursery 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West (Spectator gates open at 3 p.m.) Thursday The Dirt Track at LVMS — 6:45 p.m.: World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and Star Nursery 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West feature races (Spectator gates open at 3 p.m.) Superspeedway: NASCAR Truck Series practice Ticket gates open at 2 p.m. (Main grandstand open to the public. Neon Garage closed.) — 2:05–2:55 p.m.: Strat 200 first practice — 4:05–4:55 p.m.: Strat 200 second practice Events (Las Vegas Strip/Downtown) — 3–6 p.m.: Ultimate Vegas Sports Weekend FanFest (Downtown Events Center) — 6–7 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hauler Parade (Welcome Sign on Las Vegas Boulevard to downtown) Friday Ticket gates, Neon Garage and VIP suites open at 11 a.m. — 12–1 p.m.: NASCAR Truck Series autograph session (Neon Garage) — 12:05–12:55 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series first practice — 1:05–1:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series first practice — 2:10 p.m.: NASCAR Truck Series qualifying (single vehicle, two rounds) — 3:35–4:25 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice — 4:40 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series qualifying (multivehicle, three rounds) — 5:30 p.m.: NASCAR Truck Series driver introductions — 6 p.m.: NASCAR Truck Series Strat 200 (134 laps/201 miles. Stages: 30/60/134) Saturday Ticket gates, Neon Garage and VIP suites open at 8 a.m. — 8:30–9:25 a.m.: NASCAR Cup Series second practice — 9:40 a.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying (multivehicle, three rounds) — 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series final practice — 12:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series driver introductions — 1 p.m.: Boyd Gaming 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race (200 laps/300 miles. Stages: 45/90/200) — 3:30 p.m.: Neon Garage Appreciation Party (Saturday Neon Garage pass or RV ticket/wristband required. Event will begin after Boyd Gaming 300) — 5 p.m.: Speedway Children’s Charities NASCAR Racing Experience Ride-Alongs Sunday Ticket gates, Neon Garage and VIP suites open at 7 a.m. — 9–10 a.m.: Speedway Children’s Charities Track Walk — 10:30 a.m.: NASCAR Cup Series driver and crew chief meeting (Neon Garage, pass required) — 11:50 a.m.: NASCAR Cup Series driver introductions — 12:30 p.m.: Pennzoil 400 NASCAR Cup Series race (267 laps, 400 miles. Stages: 80/160/267) — Schedule is subject to change.<doc-sep>	Here's the starting lineup for Sunday's Pennzoil 400, the third Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of 2019. Sin City is square one for the sport’s new handling package as the sport descends on the 1.5-mile tri-oval of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Just 38 drivers and teams attempted this race, leaving two open spots on the grid. It’s the second straight week less than 40 cars have shown up to qualify. Kevin Harvick won the pole for Sunday’s event with 2019 Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin starting alongside. It’s the 20th pole Harvick has won with Stewart-Haas Racing in just a little over five years with the team. By comparison, he won just six poles in his first 13 seasons running for Richard Childress Racing. 1. Kevin Harvick 2. Denny Hamlin 3. Kyle Busch 4. Austin Dillon 5. Daniel Hemric 6. David Ragan 7. Kyle Larson 8. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 9. Jimmie Johnson 10. Joey Logano 11. Alex Bowman 12. Chase Elliott 13. Ryan Blaney 14. Ty Dillon 15. Paul Menard 16. Michael McDowell 17. Clint Bowyer 18. Erik Jones 19. Brad Keselowski 20. William Byron 21. Bubba Wallace 22. Daniel Suarez 23. Martin Truex Jr. 24. Ryan Preece 25. Aric Almirola 26. Matt DiBenedetto 27. Chris Buescher 28. Kurt Busch 29. Ryan Newman 30. Corey Lajoie 31. Landon Cassill 32. Parker Kligerman (i) 33. Cody Ware 34. B.J. McLeod (i) 35. Matt Tifft 36. Joey Gase (i) 37. Reed Sorenson 38. Ross Chastain (i) (i) – Ineligible to collect Cup Series points Failed To Qualify None QUALIFYING NOTES Ford won its second straight pole of the season. Now, they’ll go for their third straight win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a feat they haven’t accomplished since the first three Cup races here in 1998-2000. Harvick will attempt to become the first driver since Kyle Busch (2009) to win from the pole. Denny Hamlin (2 nd ) has his second straight top 5 start at LVMS, one of eight tracks on the circuit he has never won. ) has his second straight top 5 start at LVMS, one of eight tracks on the circuit he has never won. Rookie Daniel Hemric (5 th ) had the best qualifying effort of his MENCS career. He was running near the front at Atlanta last Sunday before a flat tire doomed his chances for a top-5 finish. ) had the best qualifying effort of his MENCS career. He was running near the front at Atlanta last Sunday before a flat tire doomed his chances for a top-5 finish. David Ragan (6 th ) has his best starting position since the 2015 regular season finale at Richmond driving for now-defunct Michael Waltrip Racing. ) has his best starting position since the 2015 regular season finale at Richmond driving for now-defunct Michael Waltrip Racing. Last week’s winner Brad Keselowski qualified 19 th . He has yet to qualify inside the top 15 so far this season. . He has yet to qualify inside the top 15 so far this season. Reed Sorenson will make his first MENCS start of the year driving for Spire Motorsports this week. He’ll run the No. 77 Chevrolet as part of a continued partnership with Premium Motorsports. NASCAR RACE BREAKDOWN Race: Pennzoil 400 Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway Date: Sunday, March 3 Time: 3:30 p.m. ET TV: FOX, 3 p.m. ET Radio: PRN, SIRIUS XM NASCAR Radio Distance: 400 miles (267 laps) Stage 1: 80 Laps Stage 2: 80 Laps Final Stage: 107 Laps PRE-RACE ANALYSIS David Ragan looks ahead to Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the new handling package with Frontstretch.com podcast host Dustin Albino.
P aul Pogba is expected to be fit for Sunday’s clash with Leicester City after overcoming a knock in Manchester United’s draw with Burnley. Anthony Martial is set to be included in the squad for the trip to the King Power Stadium. The France forward missed the thrilling 2-2 draw with Sean Dyche’s side on Tuesday after sustaining a minor injury in training. But he has undergone rehab work this week and is expected to be in contention to start. Pogba struggled through the final stages against Burnley and was seen limping out of Old Trafford later on. The midfielder will be assessed before Sunday, but has shown little sign of sustaining damage. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “We’ve not had a proper session since the game so hopefully both of them can get through. “I don’t think there’s anything with Paul. Anthony has done some rehab work, so I would imagine him to be involved.” Solskjaer has seen United’s injury list almost completely clear up with just Marcos Rojo out with a knee problem. Discussing the squad he added: “It’s very equipped. We’ve had now six weeks together, found out what strengths and weaknesses we’ve got. “We’ve risen to most of the challenges, maybe the setback of the Burnley, goals we conceded, make us move to the next level. “We’ve given ourselves a chance now to get into the top four earlier than we thought, but there’s not too many games - tough opponents. “We start with this game against Leicester, Fulham away as well and then the three big ones with PSG, Liverpool and Chelsea, Crystal Palace away. It’s a tough month, but we’re ready. I’ve got a big squad - it’s only Marcos Rojo now who’s out for a period.” Scroll through Man Utd's full injury and suspension list in the gallery above... TODO: define component type apester<doc-sep>Get the latest United updates, transfer news and analysis delivered straight to your inbox every day for free Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Marcos Rojo appears to have handed Manchester United a welcome injury boost by training at the AON Training Complex ahead of Sunday's trip to Tottenham. Rojo's last appearance for United came in the 2-1 defeat by Valencia on December 12 and he has struggled with an unspecified injury ever since. However, after missing United's warm-weather training camp in Dubai this week, the defender was back at Carrington on Saturday morning. Rojo spent time in his Argentina homeland while United trained in the Gulf and Solskjaer sounded downbeat about Rojo's chances of featuring at Wembley when he was asked about the 28-year-old's fitness in his press conference on Thursday. "Rojo? He has gone back to Argentina for a while because of his injury," Solskjaer said. "How long will he be out for? How long is a piece of rope? For him it was mentally important to go away and come back fresh again." However, Rojo could be in contention for the trip to London after he uploaded a picture to Instagram of him sitting in the Carrington dressing room wearing a pair of boots, seemingly preparing to train. The availability of Rojo would ease United's defensive crisis, with Eric Bailly currently suspended and Chris Smalling struggling with a foot injury which has seen him miss the Reds' last six games. United's interim manager Solskjaer confirmed his staff and players will get the train to London on Saturday. The M.E.N. will be providing pictures of United's travelling squad later today and it is then when it will become clearer if Rojo is in contention to feature at Wembley.<doc-sep>	Manchester United could be without three players this Saturday for Brighton and Hove Albion's trip to Old Trafford. Centre-back Chris Smalling was ruled out of United's superb 1-0 win over Tottenham at Wembley with a foot injury. The 29-year old remains a doubt for this weekend's fixture, too. Alexis Sanchez was also forced to watch Sunday's victory from the sidelines as he's been struggling with an injury to his hamstring that was picked up in the FA Cup defeat of Reading. The Chilean winger did travel with the rest of the squad for a warm weather training camp in Dubai and is expected to be back in training on Wednesday. Sanchez could potentially return to the squad for Saturday's game after only starting one game in the previous two months. KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST MANCHESTER UNITED NEWS Ole Gunner Solskjaer said: "Maybe on Wednesday he'll be in full training. It's just one of those blows. Maybe next week he could be involved." The Norwegian is still expected to be without Marcos Rojo for the visit of the Seagulls, though. Rojo has been beset by injuries throughout his time at United and the centre-back returned to Argentina to focus on his recovery in his homeland but is now back at Carrington. Solskjaer said previously: "He's gone back to Argentina for a while with his injury. For him, it's mentally important for him to get away and come back fresh again." The centre-back hasn't appeared in a United shirt since the 2-1 defeat to Valencia on December 12.
The Ryder Cup is almost here, and Team USA’s Jim Furyk and Team Europe’s Thomas Bjorn have announced their matchups for the first round. Friday morning’s round will be fourball, with each player playing his own ball and the best of the four players’ score winning each hole. The festivities begin from Le Golf National in Paris early in the morning U.S. time. Here are the matchups, all times Eastern, USA vs. Europe: 2:10 a.m.: Brooks Koepka & Tony Finau vs. Justin Rose & Jon Rahm 2:25 a.m.: Dustin Johnson & Rickie Fowler vs. Rory McIlroy & Thorbjorn Olesen 2:40 a.m.: Jordan Spieth & Justin Thomas vs. Paul Casey & Tyrrell Hatton 2:55 a.m.: Patrick Reed & Tiger Woods vs. Francesco Molinari & Tommy Fleetwood On the bench for the opening session: Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Webb Simpson, Bubba Watson for the U.S., and Sergio Garcia, Alex Noren, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson. Quick observations: Furyk split the legendary team of Reed & Spieth, perhaps because both have struggled in recent months. Both captains have tucked rookies (Finau, Olesen, Hatton, Fleetwood, Thomas) in with established Ryder Cup veterans to help ease the transition into the pressure-cooker environment that these matches carry. Here’s a complete breakdown of every player on both rosters, and here’s everything you need to know heading into this year’s Ryder Cup. Almost time… The United States prepares for its Ryder Cup battle with Europe. (Getty) ____ Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter or on Facebook. More from Yahoo Sports: • Ex-Raiders player with rare brain disorder hospitalized • Matt Harvey has one team he won’t sign with • Steelers legend to RB Bell: Fake injuries to stay healthy • Pete Thamel: Meet the country’s most unconventional young coach<doc-sep>The United States took a 3-1 lead over Europe in the opening session of the 42nd Ryder Cup. Here are the Friday afternoon matches for foursomes (alternate shot) 7:50 a.m. ET: Dustin Johnson/Rickie Fowler vs. Henrik Stenson/Justin Rose 8:05 a.m. ET: Bubba Watson/Webb Simpson vs. Rory McIlroy/Ian Poulter 8:20 a.m. ET: Phil Mickelson/Bryson DeChambeau vs. Sergio Garcia/Alex Noren 8:35 a.m. ET: Jordan Spieth/Justin Thomas vs. Francesco Molinari/Tommy Fleetwood Pairings/matchups: Friday morning Four-ball session Brooks Koepka-Tony Finau (USA) vs. Justin Rose-Jon Rahm (Europe), 2:10 a.m. ET The FedExCup champion will square off against the likely PGA TOUR Player of the Year in the opening match of the Ryder Cup. They’ll each be joined by a rookie in this Four-Ball match. Rose and Rahm rank second and third on TOUR in birdie average, respectively. Rose won the FedExCup with incredible consistency, finishing in the top 10 in 61 percent of his TOUR starts. Rahm didn't post a top-10 in any of the four FedExCup Playoffs events. Koepka has a knack for thriving on the biggest stages, and that includes the Ryder Cup. He went 3-1-0 in his debut at Hazeltine. Finau made the second-most birdies on TOUR this season (405). He was 45 under par in the FedExCup Playoffs, finishing in the top 10 in the first three events to earn the final Captain's Pick. Brooks Koepka FedExCup: 9 Ryder Cup record: 3-1-0 Four-Balls: 1-1-0 Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: 9th Strokes Gained: Approach: 93rd Strokes Gained: Putting: 113th Tony Finau FedExCup: 6 Rookie Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: 19th Strokes Gained: Approach: 24th Strokes Gained: Putting: 65th Justin Rose FedExCup: 1 Ryder Cup record: 11-6-2 Four-Balls: 4-3-0 Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: 14th Strokes Gained: Approach: 29th Strokes Gained: Putting: 17th Jon Rahm FedExCup: 23 Rookie Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: 3rd Strokes Gained: Approach: 80th Strokes Gained: Putting: 135th Dustin Johnson-Rickie Fowler (USA) vs. Rory McIlroy-Thorbjorn Olesen (Europe), 2:25 a.m. ET Johnson leads the PGA TOUR in birdie average (4.7). The No. 1 player in the world ranking heads a strong team that is looking to turn around its fortunes in this format. Johnson and Fowler are a combined 2-5-2 in this format. McIlroy will be responsible to take pressure off Olesen, the only rookie in this match. Fowler finished in the top 10 in two starts since returning from his oblique injury. Olesen qualified for the European Team with a hot summer that included a third-place finish at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. McIlroy will need to regroup after a tough Sunday at the TOUR Championship. He shot 74 while playing in the final group with Tiger Woods. Dustin Johnson FedExCup: 4 Ryder Cup record: 6-5-0 Four-Balls: 2-4-0 Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: 1st Strokes Gained: Approach: 5th Strokes Gained: Putting: 30th Rickie Fowler FedExCup: 17 Ryder Cup record: 2-4-5 Four-Balls: 0-1-2 Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: 52nd Strokes Gained: Approach: 30th Strokes Gained: Putting: 40th Rory McIlroy FedExCup: 13 Ryder Cup record: 9-6-4 Four-Balls: 3-2-2 Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: 6th Strokes Gained: Approach: 50th Strokes Gained: Putting: 85th Thorbjorn Olesen FedExCup: NR Rookie Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: +0.13 Strokes Gained: Approach: +0.35 Strokes Gained: Putting: +0.33 * - didn’t play enough rounds to be ranked in PGA TOUR statistics Jordan Spieth-Justin Thomas (USA) vs. Paul Casey-Tyrrell Hatton (Europe), 2:40 a.m. ET The good friends first represented the United States in France at the 2007 Evian Masters Junior Cup when they were 14. Now they’re doing it at the Ryder Cup. Thomas will have the comfort of making his Ryder Cup debut with Spieth by his side. Thomas performed admirably in his first professional team competition, going 3-1 at last year’s Presidents Cup. Casey will be in charge of showing the ropes to Hatton, his younger countryman who is making his Ryder Cup debut. Jordan Spieth FedExCup: 31 Ryder Cup record: 4-3-2 Four-Balls: 3-1-0 Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: 54th Strokes Gained: Approach: 26th Strokes Gained: Putting: 136th Justin Thomas FedExCup: 7 Rookie Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: 30th Strokes Gained: Approach: 3rd Strokes Gained: Putting: 44th Paul Casey FedExCup: 25 Ryder Cup record: 3-2-4 Four-Balls: 1-0-3 Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: 77th Strokes Gained: Approach: 13th Strokes Gained: Putting: 89th Tyrrell Hatton FedExCup: 54 Rookie Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: 73rd Strokes Gained: Approach: 77th Strokes Gained: Putting: 47th Patrick Reed-Tiger Woods (USA) vs. Francesco Molinari-Tommy Fleetwood (Europe), 2:55 a.m. ET They both wear red and black. They’re both Masters champions. And they will carry the anchor for the United States team in the opening session. The Ryder Cup brings out Reed’s best. Now he gets to play alongside his idol, who is coming off a win in the TOUR Championship. They’ll face a European side that has had much success at Le Golf National. Fleetwood won the 2017 French Open here, while Molinari has twice been a runner-up at Le Golf National. Molinari has faced Woods in singles in his previous two Ryder Cups, going 0-1-1. This is a new Molinari, though. He arrives as the reigning Open champion. He played with Woods in the final round at Carnoustie and accepted the Quicken Loans National trophy from Woods earlier this summer. Patrick Reed FedExCup: 22 Ryder Cup record: 6-1-2 Four-Balls: 3-1-0 Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: 107th Strokes Gained: Approach: 84th Strokes Gained: Putting: 76th Tiger Woods FedExCup: 2 Ryder Cup record: 13-17-3 Four-Balls: 5-8-0 Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: 104th Strokes Gained: Approach: 1st Strokes Gained: Putting: 39th Francesco Molinari FedExCup: 17 Ryder Cup record: 0-3-2 Four-Balls: 0-1-1 Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: 7th Strokes Gained: Approach: 12th Strokes Gained: Putting: 181st Tommy Fleetwood FedExCup: 19 Rookie Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee: 17th Strokes Gained: Approach: 49th Strokes Gained: Putting: 50th<doc-sep>The United States trails 5-3 after Day 1 of the 2018 Ryder Cup, but all is not lost for the Americans even though Tommy Fleetwood's performance and Ian Poulter chirping down the back nine on Friday made it feel as if the Europeans had taken a commanding lead. The U.S. is in the same position Europe was in during the 2012 matches (down 5-3 after Day 1), and the Euros came back to win those matches at Medinah (granted, it took a borderline miracle on Saturday afternoon and Sunday, but I'm looking for the optimism here! ). A lot went right early for Jim Furyk's squad before pretty much literally everything went wrong late in foursomes. I suppose this shouldn't be surprising given Europe's history of dominating the alternate shot portion of the matches, but it was also the first Euro sweep of a session since 1989 and their first foursomes sweep ever. To call it a sweep doesn't even do justice to how big of a blowout it was on Friday. The U.S. didn't even sniff a lead for the last few hours of play. The closest deficit the Americans took to the back nine of any foursomes match on Friday was Webb Simpson and Bubba Watson down a pair to Rory McIlroy and Thorbjorn Olesen. The closest! The U.S. can grab the momentum back early on Saturday, though, with a monstrous four-ball session. They'll need it, too, because if that one goes sideways, it could be curtains before we even reach the singles on Sunday. Anyway, after live streaming eight hours of golf directly into my brain on Friday morning, I've come up with four things the Americans need to do differently over the final two days to come back across the Atlantic with the trophy. 1. More Brooks Koepka: Know who's won two majors this season, moved his all-time Ryder Cup record to 4-1-0 with a win over Justin Rose and Jon Rahm in the morning four-ball session and ... then sat out the afternoon? That would be Mr. Muscles himself, Brooks Koepka. I thought it was a bad decision at the time -- especially after he burned so hot on the back nine -- and I still do. Koepka might be the United States' best player. He has to play the duration. 2. Sit the lefties: Two guys who don't need to play the duration are Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson. They both sat the four-ball session and combined to make 10 bogeys in the afternoon (alongside partners Bryson DeChambeau and Webb Simpson respectively). I'm not totally sure I would roll either of them out there again until singles after how they looked on Friday afternoon. You can move DeChambeau over with Tiger Woods and flip Simpson over to Tony Finau or Koepka. I'm not sure what Furyk will actually do -- and sitting guys for entire days is always awkward -- but so was what we saw in the foursomes sessions. If you do play either, I would prefer it be in the fourball (which they aren't). 3. Figure out foursomes: Speaking of ... Furyk will go with the same four-ball pairings on Saturday morning, but he absolutely cannot ride with the same foursomes after the 4-0 sweep on Friday afternoon. Those pairings won't come out until the middle of the day on Saturday, but Furyk said he's already thinking ahead to what they might look like. "We're making a game plan," said Furyk. "We'll figure it out. I mean, we're going to make the decisions that are best for our team, and our players are all on board for that. They want an opportunity to be put in position on Sunday to have a chance to win The Ryder Cup. We're all on board. We'll take a look at it and we'll also take a peek at how the guys are playing early tomorrow and have some options tomorrow, and midday, we'll kind of make those selections." My choices for foursomes on Saturday (in this order): Koepka-Johnson Simpson-DeChambeau (or Finau) Thomas-Woods Spieth-Reed 4. Just get it to singles: The U.S. team has 12 better golfers than the European team. That is not really a controversial statement. The problem for the U.S. is how good the Europeans are at foursomes. Their combinations fit so nicely together and are so comfortable with one another, and the U.S. had no answers on Friday. However, if the U.S. can get it to, say, 9-7 or 8.5-7.5 going into the Sunday singles matches they have 1. A half-point cushion (they only need to win 14 points) to fall back on and 2. Innumerable advantages in heads-up golf. Could it still go poorly? Sure, it almost always does in Europe. But the deeper team shouldn't panic just because the alternate shot portion of Friday's matches went south. "Does it pose a problem?" asked Furyk on Friday. "I think our guys, I think they will respond, I really do. I have a lot of confidence in this team. I think that, you know, obviously it's going to leave a sour taste in their mouth tonight and they have to sleep on that. We'll come back tomorrow, and I bet we'll be fine." I keep telling myself that same thing, and it sounds great in theory. But as we're all well aware of after watching Ian Poulter beat his breasts and let out bloodcurdling scream after bloodcurdling scream, Ryder Cups are not played in theory. They're played in reality, and the reality here is that the U.S. needs a superb answer early and often on Saturday as they march toward what would be their first win in Europe since 1993.<doc-sep>	The Americans got roasted again on Saturday morning at the 2018 Ryder Cup and now enter the afternoon session needing a borderline miracle just to be in the mix on Sunday at Le Golf National. Europe leads the defending champions 8-4 by scoring eight straight points as the United States has only won a single match since opening with a 3-1 lead on Friday. The U.S. will roll out some new pairings for the foursomes portion of the event Saturday afternoon after a disastrous showing in the same format one day earlier (a dominant 4-0 sweep by Europe). Whether these adjusted pairings will do anything to get the Americans going remains to be seen, but at least U.S. captain Jim Furyk is trying something. Here's a look at the tee times and pairings for the second session on Saturday. All times Eastern United States Tee time Europe Brooks Koepka / Dustin Johnson 7:50 a.m. Justin Rose / Henrik Stenson Webb Simpson / Bubba Watson 8:05 a.m. Alex Noren / Sergio Garcia Tiger Woods / Bryson DeChambeau 8:20 a.m. Francesco Molinari / Tommy Fleetwood Justin Thomas / Jordan Spieth 8:35 a.m. Ian Poulter / Rory McIlroy All of these matches are compelling for sure, but one thing is for sure: This will be an absolute show. The U.S. side is now underdogs looking for its first win in Europe since 1993, while Europe is suddenly trying to deal with its new role as favorites. More on the schedule for the entire week below. 2018 Ryder Cup schedule of events All times Eastern Day 2 -- Saturday, Sept. 29 Session 1 (fourballs) starts: 2 a.m. Session 2 (foursomes) starts: 7:45 a.m. Early TV coverage: 2-3 a.m. on Golf Channel Live TV coverage: 3 a.m. - 1 p.m. on NBC Live stream online: 3 a.m. - 1 p.m. on RyderCup.com Post-match press conferences: Live on RyderCup.com Day 3 -- Sunday, Sept. 30 Singles: 6 a.m. Live TV coverage: 6 a.m. - 1 p.m. on NBC Live stream online: 6 a.m. - 1 p.m. on RyderCup.com Trophy presentation / closing ceremony: Live on RyderCup.com Post-match press conferences: Live on RyderCup.com
How would you feel if your ex accused you of pooping in his bed? If you’re Amber Heard – and every other normal person – mortified, obviously! So, after being trolled on social media, will she quit Instagram over it? The poop has well and truly hit the fan! Less than a day after a U.K. tabloid claimed that Johnny Depp, 55, allegedly accused his ex Amber Heard of leaving doo-doo in their bed, the actress is reeling from the gossip. The 32-year-old is said to be “disgusted” by the story, which ran in the Daily Mirror on Aug. 15. According to the claims, Johnny allegedly accused his then wife Amber of deliberately leaving human poop in their bed to spite him for being late to her 30th birthday party in April 2016. Slamming the report, her rep told the newspaper that the blonde’s dog, Boo, who has “serious bowel control issues,” was the culprit. Now we’re learning exactly what the actress feels about the whole mess. “Amber is just disgusted that Johnny would leak this stupid story to the press,” a source close to the star EXCLUSIVELY tells HollywoodLife, while alleging that the actor was the source of the gossip. “It’s clear that he’s incapable of moving on even though they’ve settled their divorce and she wants nothing more to do with him. Johnny is clearly still trying to humiliate and embarrass Amber, but she’s over playing his games. Their marriage turned really toxic, and it’s a time of her life that Amber wants to just put behind her for good. She wishes that Johnny would have the good grace to do the same.” The person adds, “Amber vehemently denies pooping in their bed, even the idea of her doing that is utterly insane. It’s just not something she would ever do. Johnny has been obsessed with the fact that it was Amber, ever since the incident happened, and he would never listen to reason, or believe Amber when she swore it wasn’t her.” As fans of the Pirates Of the Caribbean star know, Amber and Johnny married in 2015, but divorced two years later after she publicly accused him of physically assaulting her – an allegation he denied. He clearly still has many loyal supporters out there, because – soon after the Mirror’s poo-gate story was published – Amber’s Instagram page was embarrassingly flooded with poop emojis. But will the reaction prompt her to delete her account? Another insider tells HollywoodLife EXCLUSIVELY, “Amber is so upset over the claims she pooped in Johnny’s bed that she even considered quitting social media over it. She’s seen the comments and emojis and they are very hurtful and since she is a very emotional person she is taking these attacks very hard.” The person adds, “It really is throwing her emotions in a tailspin. She hates it but the only thing she can do is ride it out and hopefully for her benefit it will stop in the next few days.” What a mess!<doc-sep>Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s 15-month marriage was known to be volatile, but the April 2016 incident that finally torpedoed the relationship was a pile of poop that was found in their marital bed, according to new report from the U.K. Mirror. The troubled “Pirates of the Caribbean” star accused Heard of dumping the feces as revenge for his being two hours late to her 30th birthday party in April 2016, the Mirror said. But Heard denied the poop accusation — and continues to deny it in a statement to the Mirror — blaming the deposit on the couple’s Yorkshire terrier Boo, who had bowel problems. The excrement was discovered by a housekeeper the morning after the couple had yet another of their explosive arguments, and the 54-year-old actor stormed out of their Los Angeles penthouse. The housekeeper thought the poop was too large to be from a small dog — that it appeared to come from a human, the Mirror said. Moreover, a source close to the 55-year-old actor told the Mirror that there was “strong, photographic evidence that connected Amber to the feces.” The source said the feces was left as a “prank.” A representative for Heard said to the Mirror: “There never was a joke. It wasn’t something done to be disrespectful.” Get more celebrity news and photos delivered to your inbox for free on weekdays. Sign up for our Coffee Break newsletter here. The representative added, “It was an innocent thing, it’s what pets will do. We don’t have anything else to say. Ms. Heard is moving on and we do not want to engage in this nonsense.” Heard appeared to refer to the poop accusation when she filed for divorce on May 23, 2016, two days after another fight between the couple, according to the Mirror and to Entertainment Tonight. In a request for a temporary restraining order in her divorce filing, she claimed that on the night of May 21, 2016 Depp began “obsessing about something that was untrue and his demeanor changed dramatically.” According to Heard, the two were having a “peaceful conversation” about the death of Depp’s mother but he began to make “paranoid and irrational accusations about some delusional idea.” They began to argue and the argument turned violent, she said, when Depp threw his cell phone at her, striking her in the cheek. He then pulled her hair, stuck her and “violently” grabbed her face, she claimed. Depp has long denied he physically abused Heard. In fact, he has alleged that Heard was the violent one during their marriage in a lawsuit he recently filed against the Sun, another U.K. tabloid, which labeled him a “wife beater.” Depp’s reputation has taken a number of hits in the past two years over Heard’s domestic violence allegations, as well as reports about bad on-set behavior, heavy drinking and extravagant spending. The domestic violence allegations led to fan backlash over his casting in the Harry Potter franchise spin-off “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” which is due in theaters in November. Depp didn’t respond to the Mirror’s request for comment about the dispute over the poop left in the bed. But there could be something to the idea that the couple’s dogs had become a serious source of conflict between them. Like our Facebook page for more conversation and news coverage from San Jose, the Bay Area and beyond. Four days before the birthday fight, Depp and Heard released an awkward, much-mocked video in response to their legal troubles with the government of Australia, Entertainment Tonight reported. The legal troubles stemmed from them being caught smuggling Boo and another Yorkshire terrier, Pistol, in that country, In 2015, Australian officials became aware that Boo and Pistol had failed to go through customs and undergo the country’s required 10-day quarantine when the couple flew by private plane into Australia, where Depp was working on the latest “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie, ET reported. Apparently, the crime of smuggling an animal into Australia comes with a 10-day jail sentence. To settle the case, the couple recorded the video in which Heard said in a stilted voice: “Australia is a wonderful island with a treasure trove of unique plants, animals and people.” “It has to be protected,” Depp added stiffly.<doc-sep>The drama between Johnny Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard has sunk to a new low as he has reporetedly accused her of purposely soiling their bed. According to the Mirror, Depp claims the act was a cruel prank by Heard to get revenge on her then-husband for arriving late to her 30th birthday party. The couple is said to have had an argument which culminated in Depp storming out of their Los Angeles penthouse, before discovering the excrement in the bed the following day. The British tabloid paper says a source close to Depp promised there was "strong, photographic evidence that connected Amber to the faeces". Heard reportedly blamed the incident on her dog, a Yorkshire terrier named Boo.<doc-sep>	Just when we thought the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard split couldn’t get any uglier, now there’s allegations that she purposely pooped in their marital bed as retribution following a vicious fight. Johnny Depp and Amber Heard‘s divorce was finalized a year and a half ago, but we’re still getting ugly stories from things that went down during their tumultuous two-year marriage. The UK’s The Mirror has come out with a wild tale that the 32-year-old actress allegedly pooped in their marital bed as revenge when her then-husband showed up late for her 30th birthday bash in LA in April of 2016. The publication says that the act was the final straw that sent their wedded union towards a divorce filing a month later. The site even claims that another fight over the poo in May of 2016 is what caused the alleged phone throwing incident by Johnny that left Amber with facial bruises, in which police were called to their downtown LA penthouse to investigate possible domestic violence. “Depp accused his wife and her pals of deliberately soiling the sheets” after he showed up two hours late to her birthday party the site alleges from a “source” close to the 55-year-old actor. The publication adds that there was “strong, photographic evidence that connected Amber to the feces and it was left as a prank.” The Mirror claims that a rep for the Aquaman actress told them it was a total misunderstanding and that her pet Yorkie Boo‘s health was to blame for poo in the sheets. “Boo has some serious bowel control issues. There was never a joke, it wasn’t something done to be disrespectful. It was an innocent thing, it’s what pets will do. We don’t have anything else to say. Ms Heard is moving on and we do not want to engage in this nonsense,” the site reports. HollywoodLife.com has reached out to both Johnny and Amber’s reps regarding this story. The publication however tells a different tale that the excrement was too large to come from a tiny Yorkshire Terrier. They claim that a housekeeper found the mess the following day and that “The worker suggested the feces were too big to be from their dog,” The Mirror reports. In the divorce, Amber won custody of the couple’s Yorkies Boo and Pistol so if they’re having an bowel issues still, it’s her problem to deal with now.
The Chargers wildly ineffective veteran kicker, Caleb Sturgis, is apparently at risk of missing the week 6 contest against the Cleveland Browns. The team reportedly intends to deal with this problem by signing a second kicker to the active roster. With veteran kicker Caleb Sturgis nursing a strained quad, the Chargers are signing free agent kicker Mike Badgley, league sources tell @FieldYates and me. Sturgis will not be cut, however, as the Chargers will carry two kickers on their active roster. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 11, 2018 Mike Badgley has never attempted a field goal during a regular season NFL game. He played for the University of Miami during his college career and was mostly successful. He converted on 25 of 30 field goal attempts as a sophomore, 21 of 26 as a junior, and 17 of 23 as a senior. Those numbers are not impressive, but they are passable. One hesitates to say they hope the Chargers do not need to use the rookie kicker because Sturgis has been so unreliable, but one hopes the Chargers do not need to rely on him this weekend. It is impossible to know what Badgley might do in his first taste of NFL experience, but hopefully, if he gets it with the Chargers, he will find success.<doc-sep>The Los Angeles Chargers are signing a new kicker, but we are still keeping Caleb Sturgis on the active roster. Here we are again! It is a new season and we still are struggling in the kicking game. Again we have an injury to our kicker, which means we are going to bring someone else up. Caleb Sturgis is recovering from an injury and the team has signed former Indianapolis Colts K Mike Badgley. At least we have the greatest holder of all time, Donnie Jones, to set him up now. Badgley is a rookie that spent time with Indianapolis Colts and did well in the preseason. He made all 5 of his kicks with a long of 51 yards. He also made all of his extra points! We know how troubling those extra points have become. The Chargers are still going to keep Caleb Sturgis on the roster. Badgley will likely get an opportunity this week against the Cleveland Browns. When Badgley performs well this weekend, we will have to see what the Chargers are going to do at the kicker situation. We know that all the fans are going to want to keep the rookie that has made all his kicks. Watching Monday Night Football, I was sweating thinking about an overtime situation in which the Chargers would have to rely on a kick to win the game. We need someone that is reliable at this position and we can’t trust Sturgis at this point. We can’t even trust him with the extra points! Instead of bringing in someone with experience, the team is bringing in a rookie to fill the spot. We don’t know how long Sturgis is going to be out at the moment. Having something different at the kicker position is going to be welcomed by all fans at this point. We just want to see the kid produce. If Badgley struggles in his first game, then maybe we cut Mike Windt. Who knows what we are going to do with this little carousel that we have rolling! Cheers for a new kicker!<doc-sep>Getty Images The Chargers listed kicker Caleb Sturgis as limited in Wednesday’s practice with a quad injury and it seems there are concerns that he won’t be able to play against the Browns this weekend. ESPN reports that the team is signing Mike Badgley to give themselves some insurance at the position. A corresponding move is not part of the report, but Sturgis is expected to remain on the roster and return to his role when he’s healthy. Badgley went undrafted out of Miami after setting school records with 77 field goals and 403 points during his time with the Hurricanes. He spent preseason with the Colts and made all five field goals and all five extra points he attempted. Sturgis is 9-of-12 on field goals and 8-of-12 on extra points so far this season.<doc-sep>	With veteran kicker Caleb Sturgis nursing a strained quadriceps, the Chargers are signing rookie free agent Mike Badgley, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. Sturgis will not be cut, however, and the Chargers will carry two kickers on their active roster. Here’s the scoop on Badgley: ACC coaches named him third-team all-conference in 2015 and 2016, as he excelled in both seasons. Badgley made a school-record 25-of-30 field goal tries as a sophomore (57-yarder, 1-of-3 from 50-plus yards) and converted all 40 extra points. He had an overtime game-winner among his five field goals against Nebraska, and also sailed five kicks through the uprights against Pitt that year. In 2016, Badgley kicked off (52 touchbacks in 88 kickoffs) as well as served as the placekicker (21-of-26 on field goals, long of 51 yards, two blocked; 53-of-55 extra points). His senior year brought first-team All-ACC honors for Badgley, as he made 17-of-23 field goal attempts and 42-of-43 extra point tries for the Hurricanes (32-of-75 kickoffs results in touchbacks). Here are Badgley’s weaknesses from his draft scouting report on NFL.com: Doesn’t strike kicks with consistency Ball flight can be erratic Has three-step approach to the ball and had two kicks blocked in 2016 Lacks deep kick accuracy Made just 3-of-11 career from 50-plus yards Has missed three extra points over last two years Lacks leg strength to plant his kickoffs as touchbacks Hang time is below average Badgley was unsigned out of the draft and has yet to register an NFL kick. Good luck, Chargers. L.A. waived wide receiver JJ Jones as the corresponding move.
Mark Rudan will be disappointed his in-form Wellington side were unable to hold onto their 3-1 halftime lead, but a spirited fightback from Victory – backed by a vociferous home crowd – meant the draw was probably a fair reflection of the game. Victory were ahead after just five minutes, with Ola Toivonen’s delicate chip coming way against the run of play. The lead lasted just two minutes, with Louis Fenton crossing for David Williams to restore parity. Victory simply couldn’t deal with the Wellington high press and were exposed by Josh Hope’s turnover in his own box on the 20 minute mark. The young midfielder tried to make amends, but his clumsy attempt to win the ball back tripped up Roy Krishna, and referee Jared Gillet pointed to the spot without hesitation. Krishna himself stepped up to smash the ball into the back of the net from 11m. Phoenix sent their healthy away support into delirium eight minutes later, as another promising counter attack opened up the long range shot for Williams. Lawrence Thomas only succeeded in parrying it straight to the danger man Krishna, who struck home the loose ball for his second and Wellington’s third. Muscat brought off the rattled Hope for Raul Baena at halftime, and the change had an immediate impact. A wonderful move involving Baena, Kosta Barbarouses, Toivonen, and finally James Troisi saw Victory pull a goal back in the 56th minute. The thoroughly underwhelming Corey Brown was also substituted, with winger Elvis Kamsoba brought on to chase the game. However, it was the extra blue shirt provided by deputy left back Terry Antonis which led to the equaliser – Antonis’ cross not cleared by the Nix backline, and Kosta Barbarouses firing into the bottom corner to set up a grandstand finish. The winner would not come for either side, but Muscat’s men will be happy enough to settle for a point after they were so humbled in the first 45 minutes. Melbourne Victory Lawrence Thomas – 6.5 Could have done more to push Williams’ long range strike wider and away from the danger area – an error that Krishna punished ruthlessly. Otherwise could not be faulted for any of the goals. Storm Roux – 5.5 A nervy start from the Kiwi as he gave away an unnecessary corner, which set the tone early for a hesitant performance. Should have done more to challenge Krishna for the rebound off Thomas. Better in the second half but was still beaten in one on one situations and needs to improve defensively. Thomas Deng – 8 Played Fenton onside in the build-up to Wellington’s equaliser, and was unsure in the first half with Krishna and Singh dribbling at him. Imperious in the second, winning several crucial duels, denying Sheridan with a goal-saving challenge, and distributing the ball well as Victory chased the game. Leigh Broxham – 7 Again deputising as a centre back, Broxham did well to hold up counter attacks, and won more headers than he had a right to. Kevin Muscat must wish he had two or three Broxhams to choose from, given Victory’s current injury issues. Corey Brown – 3 Caught square by the run of Fenton in the lead-up to Wellington’s equaliser. A very poor performance characterised by inaccurate passing, unconvincing challenges and errant positioning. His flank was repeatedly targeted by Phoenix, and he proved a clear weak point in the lineup. Toivonen alerted the Victory bench in the first half that Brown was not at full fitness, but the change did not come until well into the second.<doc-sep>Wellington Phoenix have defeated Melbourne City 1-0 at Westpac Stadium. The Phoenix snatched the lead through former City and Heart forward David Williams after less than five minutes. Forward Roy Krishna found space on the burst and combined with Liberato Cacace, who whipped the ball into Williams. The forward made no mistake, volleying home the opener. “I think he’s been outstanding over the past few weeks had a rest over the game against Sydney. He looks fresh, great finish,” former Melbourne Victory forward Archie Thompson said on Fox Sports’ Matchday Saturday. “I think Wellington are the only team that are really showing any intent – I think City are just going through the motions at the moment. “When they get possession it’s really slow, no movement up front, so they deserve to be behind. And Wellington were great.” Wellington controlled the opening half, with City rarely looking threatening. The Phoenix dominated the midfield while City lacked movement and creativity throughout the opening stanza. “They’ve been good. Every time they go forward it just seems that they look to create something,” former Sydney defender Sasa Ognenovski said. “Whereas when they’re going the other way, Melbourne City, it’s just slow and flat and mundane. Really one-paced, there’s just no dynamic play in the front third. “Whereas every time the Nix get that chance, it’s a chance for a goal.” Former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich said City had been totally “outplayed”, “out-thought” and “out-fought.” “They’re being outplayed. Not only that, they’re being out-thought and I would say more damaging for Melbourne City and Warren Joyce – out-fought,” Bosnich said. “They don’t look like they’re up for this game whatsoever. “And one thing – we haven’t expected much from Warren Joyce’s team in terms of unbelievable football and attractive stuff. But one thing that we do normally expect from them is that he has his teams ready. Ready for the fight, ready for the occasion and today that doesn’t seem so. “Right from the outset, Wellington Phoenix have played an up-tempo game. They look more hungry and they deserve to be up more than 1-0.” Phoenix players celebrate after scoring. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images But it was City who controlled the second half of the game, testing Wellington goalkeeper Filip Kurto on multiple occasions. Gloveman Kurto was the Phoenix standout, the Pole expertly denying substitute Moudi Najjar twice, along with a close-range Lachlan Wales strike and a late Riley McGree bullet. The Phoenix looked more threatening with the inclusion of Williams and Sarpreet Singh, who were benched for Wednesday’s 1-0 home loss to Sydney FC. Warren Joyce also made two changes to the City side who beat Western Sydney 4-3, introducing Wales and Nathaniel Atkinson for Luke Brattan and Curtis Good. Defender Ritchie De Laet again started at striker in the absence of Bruno Fornaroli. Despite the late City surge, the Phoenix held on for a crucial three points. RE-LIVE THE ACTION IN OUR BLOG BELOW If you can’t see the blog below, click HERE<doc-sep>Sydney FC defeated Wellington Phoenix 1-0 after a drama-packed game at Westpac Stadium. The Sky Blues were denied an early penalty in farcical scenes. In the eighth minute of the game at Westpac Stadium, Wellington’s Michal Kopczynski dived for a header in defence, with the ball falling into the path of teammate Louis Fenton. As he attempted to control the ball, Fenton saw the ball clatter off his arm inside his defensive 18-yard box. Despite a VAR review, the decision stood. MATCH CENTRE: WEL v SYD Sydney did take the lead in the 25th minute. Siem de Jong tapped home but got injured in Andrew Durante’s challenge as he scored. The Sky Blues suffered another injury blow later in the half, with Anthony Caceres also coming from the field. Wellington nearly snatched an equaliser in farcical scenes late in the game. In the 82nd minute, Steven Taylor caught Michael Zullo high inside the 18-yard box but instead flung himself forward, seemingly in a bid to earn a penalty. It worked, with Daniel Elder pointing to the spot and the decision upheld after a VAR review. After some initial difficult with the ball blowing away from the penalty spot, Roy Krishna took the spot-kick. The poor attempt was comfortably saved by Andrew Redmayne — and arguably justice was served. HERE’S HOW THINGS PLAYED OUT, VIA AAP Siem de Jong’s winning goal may have come at considerable cost as Sydney FC beat Wellington Phoenix 1-0 to maintain their push for the A-league lead. The Sky Blues’ seventh win in their past eight games lifts them within a point of Perth Glory but coach Steve Corica’s immediate concern will be the fitness of marquee man de Jong. The former Dutch international was injured in the process of scoring his 25th- minute goal from close range, writhing for several minutes on the goal line holding his left knee. Corica’s concerns stiffened soon afterwards when midfielder Anthony Cacares hobbled off with an apparent calf complaint, continuing a patchy campaign for the Manchester City loanee. It took some gloss off a disciplined display in which they frustrated a Phoenix side whose club-record unbeaten run has ended at nine matches. The hosts had a chance to level through a contentious penalty awarded when Sydney defender Michael Zullo clattered into Steven Taylor. However Roy Krishna’s penalty was saved by Andrew Redmayne preventing the in- form Phoenix striker going top in the golden boot race. A draw would have flattered fifth-placed Wellington, who struggled to break down a Sydney FC defence which was vastly more structured than during the shock 3-1 loss when they met in round seven. Phoenix coach Mark Rudan surprised by resting playmaker Sarpreet Singh and it was his second-half introduction which provided creativity but not the goal they craved. The return of Josh Brillante and Milos Ninkovic added class to the Sydney midfield, who held sway for long periods. De Jong’s goal came via an indirect free kick, when a sublime, stretching assist from Aaron Calver left the Dutch international to prod home from close range. He collapsed to turf in agony in the same motion after being clipped from behind by Andrew Durante. Play was delayed as the 29-year-old was treated and assisted straight down the tunnel. Sydney were unfortunate not to be two-up at the break, after Phoenix fullback Louis Fenton appeared to commit a blatant handball inside the box. Referee Daniel Elder didn’t change his initial non-penalty ruling after viewing a replay of Fenton’s clumsy efforts with a bouncing ball, to the fury of visiting coach Steve Corica. The Phoenix camped on attack for much of the second spell but caused Redmayne few concerns aside from the penalty, while Sydney looked dangerous on the break. — Daniel Gilhooly Keep up to date with all the action in our live blog. If you can’t see the blog, CLICK HERE.<doc-sep>Melbourne Victory boss Kevin Muscat praised his team's fighting spirit and technical qualities in their stirring second half comeback against Wellington Phoenix after a late leveller earned them a point from a rollicking 3-3 draw with the rapidly improving Kiwis. But he was critical of the way the visitors stalled in the second period as his Victory team mounted their second half charge, saying games being stopped for players to be treated for cramp denied fitter teams an advantage they had earned. Fair play: Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat shakes hands with Wellington Phoenix boss Mark Rudan after the 3-3 draw at AAMI Park. Credit:AAP ''As a code we have got to stop this treatment for players getting cramp,'' Muscat said. '' I don't see it happening anywhere else. If you gain an advantage because of your physicality over a team it shouldn't be taken away from you by the referee.<doc-sep>	Kosta Barbarouses has salvaged a point for Melbourne Victory in a ding-dong 3-3 draw with Wellington Phoenix on Sunday. The New Zealander struck a volley with two minutes remaining against his old side as Victory jumped back from a two-goal deficit in style. Just days after Victory’s 5-0 away belting of Brisbane, Phoenix stunned the champions with three first-half goals. Roy Krishna netted a double for the visitors after teammate David Williams equalised Ola Toivonen’s opener in a pulsating stanza, the equal of any 45 minutes of football played this season. James Troisi replied for Victory in the 55th minute as Kevin Muscat’s side chased the match. Terry Antonis struck the post and Thomas Deng made a last-ditch slide tackle to deny Cillian Sheridan at one end, before Barbarouses arrived to save Victory’s bacon. The result is the second draw the two finals-bound sides have played out at AAMI Park this season. Their last clash, a 1-1 draw, was an engrossing encounter. On Sunday, the 18,136 crowd were treated to a stone cold classic. Victory’s giant Swede put the home side ahead with a neat chip after just five minutes, but then the Phoenix took over. Mark Rudan’s side couldn’t be contained at times, breaking with pace and showing trickery that flummoxed Victory’s defence. Thomas Deng was at fault for the opener, losing track of Williams as he finished Louis Fenton’s cutback. Krishna then transformed the contest in 10 minutes by winning a penalty, scoring it, and netting once more. Josh Hope caught Krishna’s trailing leg in the box on 19 minutes, allowing the Fijian to thump home the spot kick past Lawrence Thomas. By scoring his second - belting home from an acute angle after Thomas’ spilled a long range drive from Williams - he became the first player in A-League history to score three consecutive doubles. A Wellington win looked on the cards until Victory lifted their intensity, Troisi cashing in after a one-two with Toivonen. Then in the helter-skelter final moments, Antonis’ hopeful long ball drew the desired result, falling to an unmarked Barbarouses to steer home through a packed penalty box. The result keeps Victory second and Wellington fifth. RE-LIVE: If you can’t see the blog below, click HERE
The time has come for Josef Martinez. With his 28th goal of the season, the Venezuelan has officially surpassed Roy Lassiter (1996), Chris Wondolowski (2012), and Bradley Wright-Phillips (2014) and now has the most goals ever scored in a single season in Major League Soccer. The record goal was appropriately scored against Atlanta United’s biggest rival, Orlando City. This record is just another on the list of accolades he has collected in MLS, with him already taking the top spot on for most hat tricks in MLS history. On top of all this, he still has eight-plus games left to play to add to his lead. Times like these leave us a chance to remember how lucky we are to be able to watch a player of his quality on a week-to-week basis. Whether or not he leaves soon or later in the future, Martinez has left an impact in MLS and Atlanta that won’t soon be forgotten. Congratulations Josef on this achievement!<doc-sep>Just when it looked like Atlanta United and Josef Martinez would wilt in the hot, humid conditions of Orlando, Tata Martino’s men produced a moment of magic to find the winning goal. Of course, it was Josef Martinez on the end of it. And with that goal, Josef Martinez travels home as the highest-scoring player in a single season in MLS history. And, more importantly, with three points. Leandro Gonzalez Pirez opened the scoring in the twenty-first minute, somehow managing the bungle the ball across the line after Orlando City goalkeeper Joe Bendik spilled a free kick from Ezequiel Barco in front of goal. It was an apt reward for a player who just became a father only days ago. Fatherhood looks good on you, Leandro LGP's first of the season gives #ATLUTD the lead! https://t.co/BMTlQq9eC6 — Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) August 25, 2018 Following the goal, things slowed down quite a bit, and Orland was able to capitalize through—of all people—right back Scott Sutter. The defneder found himself on the end of a bouncing ball near the corner of the box and unleashed a vicious strike past Brad Guzan. The goal gave Orlando a foothold in the game, and the home side defended mightily deep into the game. Utilizing a very low block Atlanta’s Venezuelan striker didn’t have much room to operate, until he did. One for the record books. #28 on the season for @JosefMartinez17 https://t.co/d7VJ3ngSYP — Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) August 25, 2018 It was a goal that defies description, and certainly one worthy of the sacred MLS record. The goal was also good enough to tie Diego Valeri’s record of nine consecutive games with a goal, which was set just last season. Atlanta United players will tell you over and over that the games against Orlando, while intense with big atmospheres, aren’t quite rivalries. But at the same time, you get quotes like this. Asked Josef Martinez why Atlanta United continues to remain unbeaten against Orlando City, his response: “I don’t know, to be honest. Everytime we play them, they play like it’s the game of their lives, and we continue to father them.” #ORLvATL — Mike Gramajo (@byMikeGramajo) August 25, 2018 As for Atlanta United manager Tata Martino, he was a little more clear-eyed about the situation going forward for Atlanta after the match. “With Josef, we knew he was going to break the record,” Martino told reporters after the match. “It was just a matter of if he could do it sooner or later. The good thing is he did it sooner. Now this will calm him down. On top of that, he did it with a very nice goal.” As for the man himself, Martinez admitted after the match that the record was something that was definitely on his mind, and the team knew it. He told reporters that some of his teammates were even joking with him about it at halftime. “Now I can make jokes back to them.” The three points were extremely important for an Atlanta team that must play five of its remaining eight matches on the road to close out the MLS regular season and Supporters’ Shield chase. The win meant Atlanta opened up its lead atop Supporters’ Shield standings to six points over the New York Red Bulls. “Winning the Supporters’ Shield is our primary focus, regardless of what happens with Josef [Martinez],” said Martino. “We know that it’s a close battle with Red Bulls, New York City and Dallas in the other conference. It’s going to be important that the team doesn’t make mistakes in these final weeks. That’s always been our main focus.” As for Martinez? He’s just going to keep on keeping on. “The focus will always be the same,” said Martinez. “Every game I will try to score and win. No matter if there is another record to break or not, the vision will never change.”<doc-sep>Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — Josef Martinez scored his 27th goal to tie the MLS season record and help Atlanta United beat the Columbus Crew 3-1 on Sunday. Julian Gressel set up Martinez's scoring opportunity with a steal in the Crew's half of the field. He passed it up to Martinez, who broke down a pair of defenders before finishing with his left foot from the top of the penalty area in the 31st minute. With nine games left in the regular season, Martinez matched Roy Lassiter (1996), Chris Wondolowski (2012) and Bradley Wright-Phillips (2014) for the season record. Hector Villalba scored in the 76th minute to give Atlanta (15-4-6) a 2-1 lead, driving in from midfield and cutting a left-footed shot back into the right corner. Martinez laid it off to Miguel Almiron, who finished from the top of the penalty arc to cap the scoring in the 82nd minute. Gyasi Zardes tied it at 1 with a one-hopper from 25 yards out in the 50th minute for the Crew (11-8-6). MORE MLS:<doc-sep>	Check out the view from field level for Josef Martine's record-setting 28th goal of the season to lead Atlanta United past Orlando City. (0:41) Atlanta United striker Josef Martinez scored in the 74th minute against Orlando City on Friday to set a Major League Soccer record with his 28th goal of the season. The Venezuela international beat Orlando goalkeeper Joe Bendik with a deft chip from inside the area after collecting a pass and cutting in on his right foot. Martinez had matched the previous record of 27 by scoring on Sunday against Columbus Crew SC, and has now surpassed the mark set by Roy Lassiter in the inaugural MLS season in 1996 and matched by Chris Wondolowski in 2012 and Bradley Wright-Phillips in 2014. "It's a big relief for me," said Martinez on achieving the record. Friday's goal was Martinez's 47th in 46 career regular-season MLS games, extending his MLS-record tally for a player in his first two seasons in the league. "We knew Josef was going to break the record, it was just a matter of he did it sooner or later," Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino told reporters. "The good thing is he did it sooner, so now this will calm him down. On top of that he did it with a very nice goal." Martinez, 25, has now scored in nine straight games, matching the league record Diego Valeri set with the Portland Timbers last year. All but one of Martinez's goals have come from inside the 18-yard box, with his strike on Friday against Orlando proving no different, showing his touch inside the area.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar attend a news conference to announce a nation-wide health care fraud and opioid enforcement action, at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., June 28, 2018. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) The Justice Department announced the arrests of hundreds of people Thursday on charges of health-care fraud totaling $2 billion. Of the 601 people charged, 165 were licensed medical professionals, many of whom are alleged to have exacerbated the opioid epidemic to make an illegal profit. “Some of our most trusted medical professionals look at their patients — vulnerable people suffering from addiction — and they see dollar signs,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement released by the DOJ. “Virtually every health care fraud scheme requires a corrupt medical professional to be involved,” added Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar in the same statement. Advertisement The defendants are accused of submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and private insurance companies for unnecessary treatments, including many that were never provided. A substantial number of the charges involved the unlawful distribution of opioids and other prescription painkillers. In one case, three employees of a pharmacy chain in Texas are alleged to have fraudulently filled bulk orders of more than 1 million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills and sold them for millions of dollars to drug transporters. “Health care fraud is a betrayal of vulnerable patients, and often it is theft from the taxpayer,” Sessions said in the statement. “In many cases, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists take advantage of people suffering from drug addiction in order to line their pockets.” “The perpetrators really are despicable and greedy people,” Azar said at a press conference. Advertisement The Trump administration has promised to prioritize its response to the opioid crisis, and Sessions touted the arrests as the “largest health care fraud enforcement action in American history” in his statement. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 115 Americans a day die from opioid-related overdoses, and more than 42,000 died from overdoses in 2016. Send a tip to the news team at NR.<doc-sep>In one indictment in the Central District of California, an attorney allegedly paid kickbacks and offered prostitutes and expensive meals to two podiatrists in exchange for prescriptions written on preprinted prescription pads, regardless of the medical need for the prescriptions, according to court documents. Once the prescriptions were filled, people involved in the alleged scheme submitted about $250 million in fraudulent claims to federal, state and private insurers for drugs, the documents say.<doc-sep>Three doctors and a medical clinic business manager from Long Island are among 13 people facing fraud charges after federal prosecutors said they took part in kickback schemes that bilked Medicare and Medicaid of up to $163 million. The charges come as part of a national investigation into health care fraud that has led to charges against 601 people who investigators said generated fraudulent claims adding up to $2 billion, according to a news release issued Thursday by the U.S. Department of Justice. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Thursday said the dragnet - which he called the nation's largest ever health care fraud takedown - netted 76 doctors, 23 pharmacists, 19 nurses and other medical professionals. “These cases are vitally important not only to the victims of these fraudsters, but to the entire country. Many of these fraudsters have stolen our tax dollars—and many have helped flood our streets with drugs,” Sessions said. “These are despicable crimes and we’re not going to tolerate them.” The Long Island residents charged in cases filed in the Eastern District of New York are physicians Abraham Demoz, 48, of Oceanside; Yong Jun Kim, 48, of Roslyn; and Hal Abrahamson, 55, of Melville. Medical clinic business manager Gary Peresiper, 52, of East Rockaway, was also charged. The four "abused their positions to enrich themselves, while bilking Medicare and Medicaid,” said Richard P. Donoghue, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, who announced the charges Thursday. “They did so without regard to the elderly and vulnerable citizens whose health depends upon these essential programs.” Their attorneys could not be reached for comment. Sign up for The Classroom newsletter. The pandemic has changed education on Long Island. Find out how. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. Prosecutors said the New York defendants fraudulently billed Medicaid, a taxpayer-funded health care program for the indigent, or Medicare, which aids the elderly, for services that were never rendered. Demoz faces charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to pay health care kickbacks, conspiracy to defraud the United States by obstructing the lawful functions of the Internal Revenue Service, and subscribing to a false and fraudulent tax return. Prosecutors said he was part of a Medicare fraud scheme in Brooklyn and Queens that “paid illegal kickbacks for the referral of patients to their clinics. These patients, in turn, subjected themselves to purported physical and occupational therapy and other services in return for kickbacks.” Authorities said the scheme “billed the Medicare program for more than $116 million” and that Demoz’s superseding indictment was handed up on June 20. Peresiper, the medical clinic business manager, is charged with conspiracy to pay health care kickbacks because he allegedly submitted Medicare claims “for purported diagnostic testing and other services for beneficiaries who had been directed to the clinics in return for kickbacks,” prosecutors said. They added that the billings, from November 2010 to June 2013, amounted to $10.2 million, with $4.7 million of that being paid out. Peresiper was arrested and later arraigned at the federal court in Brooklyn on June 4, officials said. Kim, a doctor who operated in Flushing, is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and violating the Anti-Kickback Statute for allegedly submitting claims to Medicare “for physical therapy services that were not medically necessary, not provided, or otherwise did not qualify for reimbursement. Authorities said he submitted $5.6 million in claims between 2012 and 2015 and was paid out $3.5 million. Kim was arrested and later arraigned Wednesday at the federal court in Brooklyn, officials said. Abrahamson, a podiatrist, faces one count of health care fraud because he allegedly “submitted claims to Medicare and private insurance companies for procedures he did not perform, including skin grafts and wound packing” between 2013 and 2017, causing a loss of approximately $869,000 to the Medicare program and other insurers, prosecutors said. Abrahamson was arraigned and pleaded guilty Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Denis R. Hurley at the federal court in Central Islip, officials said. The charges are the result of a multiagency investigation that included the Justice Department, Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the federal Department of Health and Human Services and the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General.<doc-sep>	The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday announced charges against 601 people including doctors for taking part in health care frauds that resulted in over $2 billion in losses and contributed to the nation's opioid epidemic in some cases. The arrests came as part of what the department said was the largest health care fraud takedown in U.S. history and included 162 doctors and other suspects charged for their roles in prescribing and distributing addictive opioid painkillers. "Some of our most trusted medical professionals look at their patients — vulnerable people suffering from addiction — and they see dollar signs," U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. The arrests came as part of an annual fraud takedown overseen by the Justice Department. The crackdown resulted in authorities bringing dozens of unrelated cases involving alleged frauds that cost government health care programs and insurers more than $2 billion. Officials sought in the latest crackdown to emphasize their efforts to combat the nation's opioid epidemic. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the epidemic caused more than 42,000 deaths from opioid overdoses in the United States in 2016. In a report released on Thursday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General said about 460,000 patients covered by Medicare received high amounts of opioids in 2017 and 71,000 were at risk of misuse or overdose. Those figures were slightly down from 2016, but the report said the high level of opioid use remained a concern. The report said almost 300 prescribers had "questionable prescribing" that warranted further scrutiny. Many of the criminal cases announced on Thursday involved charges against medical professionals who authorities said had contributed to the country's opioid epidemic by participating in the unlawful distribution of prescription painkillers. The cases included charges in Texas against a pharmacy chain owner and two other people accused of using fraudulent prescriptions to fill bulk orders for over 1 million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills that were sold to drug couriers. "The perpetrators really are despicable and greedy people," U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said at a press conference. The Justice Department also announced other cases unrelated to opioids, including schemes to bill the government health care programs Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare as well as private insurers for medically unnecessary prescription drugs and compounded medications.
HBO's limited series "Sharp Objects" uniquely features four songs from legendary 1970s rock and roll band, Led Zeppelin. The show's music supervisor, Susan Jacobs, tells Business Insider about the months-long process to gain the rights to the music. For decades, countless filmmakers have abandoned the hope of featuring the music of rock gods Led Zeppelin in their work because the legend is true: It’s really, really hard to get the band to grant permission. But Zeppelin continues to get requests because when the band does say "yes," the scenes can become iconic. Amy Heckerling’s 1982 classic “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” famously got the band’s okay to use “Kashmir” in one scene (it might have helped that the movie’s screenwriter, Cameron Crowe, used to cover the band for Rolling Stone). Recently, Adam McKay’s “The Big Short” was able to get “When the Levee Breaks” in its trailer and the movie’s end credits. Because Zeppelin needle drops are so hard to come by, it makes the incredible use of the band’s music on the HBO limited series “Sharp Objects” so special. And you can thank the show's veteran music supervisor Susan Jacobs for pulling it off. Jacobs is no stranger to clearing Zeppelin. She did it for two David O. Russell movies (“The Fighter” and “Silver Linings Playbook”) before her latest collaboration with “Sharp Objects” director Jean-Marc Vallée (“Big Little Lies”). But just because she did it before didn’t mean getting the songs for the show was easy. Led Zeppelin. Warner Bros. Simply put: “You never go into Led Zeppelin assuming you’re getting Led Zeppelin,” Jacobs said. Based on Gillian Flynn’s debut novel, “Sharp Objects” follows newspaper journalist Camille Preaker (played by Amy Adams) who returns to her hometown to report on a series of murders. However, the assignment brings memories of her troubled past, and matched with her dependency to alcohol, it leads her into a tailspin. Vallée uses moody Zeppelin songs “In the Evening,” “What Is And What Should Never Be,” “Thank You,” and “I Can’t Quit You, Baby” as a way to delve into Camille’s psyche, but the songs are also her escape hatch when things are getting too out of hand, as she plays the music constantly through a beat-up iPhone. The use of Zeppelin is one of the biggest additions Vallée made to his adaptation of Flynn’s novel, as the band is not mentioned at all in the book. However, the unique guitar sounds of Jimmy Page and howls of Robert Plant feel essential to the story. Jacobs said that was the intention Vallée had when he asked her to try to clear Zeppelin long before production began on “Sharp Objects” (typically music supervisors begin working on movies and TV shows toward the end of production or the start of post production). He wanted the band specifically because Camille’s story needed an epic sound. “It had to be a band very substantial to be felt across generations,” Jacobs told Business Insider. “It had to have that depth and honesty.” No begging and pleading allowed Jacobs has been working with Vallée since his 2014 movie “Wild,” and his love for meaty soundtracks in his work has only become more refined since, as evident in his previous HBO project, the 8-time Emmy-winning “Big Little Lies” (Jacobs won an Emmy for music supervision on the show). So she knew that Vallée’s Zeppelin ask clearly wasn’t just to play a song or two in the background of scenes. And that led to the first hurdle for Jacobs: how to start the conversation with Warner/Chappel, the publisher of the band’s songs. “Crafting the pitch for me can be three weeks of solid trying to write the right letter,” she said. A music supervisor’s role in trying to get music rights is partly keeping the filmmaker happy, but also the music publishers and artists. Jacobs called herself a “marriage broker” in the experience. “I think it’s about putting in a lot of time and making really clear what you are asking for and why you’re asking for it, why is that song important?” she said. Susan Jacobs. Getty And with Zeppelin it took months to pull off. Jacobs said there were numerous pitches, which stated some specifics of what “Sharp Objects” was about and listing the key cast and director involved, as well as the songs they wanted (which were the ones that ended up in the show). And it wasn’t just one, she had to send pitches for each level of approvals she got through. After that, it became a waiting game. “It wasn’t begging and pleading and banging on the doors, it took a long time,” said Jacobs, who declined to divulge how much it cost to clear the songs. Jacobs said one of the big keys was that she was dealing with someone on the publishing side who knew Vallée’s work. Wendy Christiansen, the senior VP of film and TV music at Warner/Chappel, had direct contact with the band and made them understand that the music would be in good hands. Vallée and Jacobs needed a voice like that because there was nothing to show the band of how the music would be used. Jacobs had started the talks so early on that much of the negotiations were going on during preproduction and the shooting of the show. It wasn’t until the editing of the episodes began that Zeppelin finally agreed to clear the songs. Using Zeppelin to guide someone in pain Jacobs said there are 23 uses of the four Led Zeppelin songs in “Sharp Objects,” but you’d have to have a good ear to catch them all. In some episodes there may be a faint three-second sampling of a single song, in others there may be a few verses of multiple songs throughout. Vallée made Zeppelin almost another character in the story. According to Jacobs, Vallée wanted Zeppelin in the show because the band’s music got him through the tough times of his youth. He felt many watching the show would relate. “I can think of hundreds of others who I can put in a room and say the same thing,” Jacobs said. “For many of us, our teen years, without Led Zeppelin those years would have been a whole lot rougher.” And as we learned in the “Fix” episode, the band’s music became an important part of Camille’s life in one of her low points. In flashback scenes, we learn that Camille went to rehab before going back to her hometown at the start of the series. There she became friends with her roommate Alice, who constantly played Zeppelin songs on her phone. Like Alice, Zeppelin became Camille’s escape from the world. At the end of the episode, Camille discovers Alice’s body after she has committed suicide. Camille moves forward with her life with the help of the Zeppelin songs Alice introduced to her. The songs would become as prevalent to her as the scars we see all over her body as the show evolves. (L-R) Alice (Sydney Sweeney) and Camille (Amy Adams) in the "Fix" episode of "Sharp Objects." Anne Maris Fox/HBO Jacobs said she never explained in her pitches to Zeppelin the way Vallée would use their music, though she did hint that the music would play a big part in the life of a character who is dealing with a lot of pain. “They were on board with that,” she said. “They really understood the role music has in the guiding of someone who is in trouble.” But what would have happened if Zeppelin didn’t give permission for the music to be used? Jacobs said they would have had to move on to another substantial band, perhaps The Rolling Stones, she said. But she admits she and Vallée never had to have a serious talk about a plan B. Though Jacobs has once again been successful in getting Zeppelin for a project, she admitted there’s still so much mystery every time she attempts it. She said she has no relationship with the band, in fact, she has no idea if the band members have seen “Sharp Objects,” or any of the movies where she’s used their music.<doc-sep>The studio people were really concerned about something with a thriller aspect to it—or mystery or murder—not having a score. People are very used to scoring the tension. And we’re using the iPods to provide that. Kornhaber: Franz Waxman’s “Dance and Angela” gets reinterpreted as a different genre of music during the title sequence each week. How did that song get picked in the first place? Jacobs: It came from the collection of Alan Crellin, really. Jean-Marc decided, “Let’s start with the music of Alan, and branch out from there.” Because that’s the voice of the house: Alan’s record player is going 24/7. Kornhaber Can you tell me about “Cupcake Kitty Curls,” the hip-hop interpretation of “Dance and Angela”? Jacobs: [laughs] Which is blowing up on Shazam—people are obsessed! That was created by Mark Batson, a longtime collaborator of mine and a wonderful artist and producer in his own right. When we were thinking about a hip-hop version, I was like, “Oh, I know exactly where I’m going to go.” Mark asked this question on his Facebook: What do these words mean and where did they come from? Have you thought about that yourself? Kornhaber: Are they things that are written on Camille’s body? Jacobs: Yeah. We just gave him a bunch of words from her body and he chose those words and put them in a rhythm. He’s actually made an extended version of that using all the words, so we’ll get that out because people just went crazy for it. Kornhaber: That song is just tonally so different than the rest of the show. How much were you thinking about trying to create a sense of surprise? Jacobs: Well, everything in the main titles is really a mirror of something already going on tonally. We have hip-hop in the show: Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Eminem. The Acid did one after we featured the band’s “Tumbling Lights.” Everything’s purposeful with Jean-Marc. The music is really this internal voice of Camille and Alan. They’re both people struggling in relationships with Adora, and they both escape into their music. That’s the whole thing about this iPod that she keeps with her. Alan is in that room playing those records all day long trying to survive that marriage. He’s been marginalized by Adora, and she clearly is more interested in the town sheriff than her own husband. So the music is all about surviving. And then we do have a theme in there of “Mama” songs [like Steve Miller Band’s “Motherless Children” and Tupac’s “Dear Mama”]. Because everything is about Adora: She’s the person that they’re all trying to work around. I mean, this show is subtle. It’s something that people, when they go back and they watch it a second and third time, they’re going to see things. Kornhaber: Tell me about Led Zeppelin. Why is that the voice of Camille? Jacobs: Led Zeppelin was something that Jean-Marc said to me really early on, This would be my dream if you could make that happen. And “making it happen” is the big part of that equation because Led Zeppelin’s known for being extremely restrictive: one song per movie, and all of those things.<doc-sep>Sharp Objects Cherry Season 1 Episode 6 Editor’s Rating 5 stars * * * * * « Previous Next Photo: HBO “I never loved you,” the whispered cruelty Adora says in the closing moments of the previous episode haunt “Cherry”. Let’s discuss the gravity of this statement for a moment. A part of Camille has perhaps always known this about her mother. Adora’s emotional remove and icy demeanor is hard to miss. But hearing it is another story. These words bring out a hunger in Camille, a hunger so consuming she rushes headlong into trouble just to feel. By the time she’s swinging hand in hand with Amma in their grand front lawn soaked in liquor and bristling with the energy of the ecstasy she took it’s evident Camille is trying to capture a speck of joy. The kind of joy she lost in her childhood — unencumbered by self-doubt and anxiety and the nagging memories that come with living in this world for any lengthy amount of time. On some level she’s trying to prove to herself she’s not the kind of woman Adora believes her to be — diamond hard and marred by untold traumas. “Cherry” is a powerhouse of an episode. It distills what Sharp Objects excels at: sharpened moods, spiky emotional interactions, and editing guided by the emotional logic of personal memory. It crackles and sings with such an astute understanding of mood it left me feeling as bruised as Camille does at the end. It’s a feast of visual bravura, editing ingenuity, and cunning emotional reveals. What makes “Cherry” the best episode of Sharp Objects thus far is how it cuts into the bruised underbelly of its central idea: the barbed relationships between women and how that in turn shapes their own conception of their womanhood. She looked like a shipwrecked bride. That’s what I thought watching Camille in the episode’s opening moments, stumbling in her Calhoun Day finest amongst the lush woods with ghosts from her past puncturing the landscape as she searches for Amma. This line is from the Angela Carter short story “Lady of the House of Love.” I thought a lot about Carter throughout the episode. The way it swims through time using Camille’s perspective and the way it feels at once decadent yet tipping into rot to interrogate womanhood through the genre lens of Southern gothic brought to mind the British writer’s gorgeous prose. There are so many hidden grooves to this episode you have to rewatch it to catch the full weight of gestures or the words Camille imagines in the landscape — “bodice” instead of “police” on the side of Vickery’s SUV and “curly” carved into the wood during her dream. When Camille wakes from this dream she’s in bed with Richard. They’re a study in contrasts. He’s completely naked, she’s fully dressed. (Although his penis is shadowed for those wondering.) She’s consistently in shadow, he’s in the light. They trade flirtatious barbs. But there is a roiling unease to their dynamic. “You slept in your clothes? If you want I’m the proud owner of a 14-year-old flannel,” he tries to casually say. “Sounds like you’re halfway to a question you want to ask me,” she retorts. Once Richard starts digging into Camille’s past — visiting the mental health center she checked herself into, piecing together her trajectory — it became clear just how doomed their romance is. The dynamic between Camille and Richard is fascinating but it’s the knotted landscape of women’s relationships with each other that is especially ripe. Camille’s old cheerleader “friends” have been bubbling at the edge of the story thus far making bitchy remarks cloaked in honeyed tones. When the pregnant Angie picks up Camille offering whiskey and gossip I knew this was not going to end well. Angie nicely makes prodding remarks to find out if Camille is married or dating. There is a pivotal flashback from Camille’s high school years that frames the reunion. In it, Camille is practicing and dressed in her cheerleading uniform. The girls trade nasty remarks when Camille stops complaining of cramps. Becca, the only black girl in the group, takes a supportive posture offering her a water bottle and massaging her leg. Becca only stops when she sees blood dripping down Camille’s leg. Jokes ensue but it’s not her period but the beginning of her self-harm. The truth is in the blood when you know where to look. There’s so much to these scenes between Camille and her former cheerleader peers — how quickly their dynamic is established with the wine, crying over Beaches, and statements like “Don’t let feminism tell you what to do with your family!” when one of them mentions returning to work for a sense of purpose. But what I’m most struck by is watching Camille and Becca, both somewhat outsiders to this group for very different reasons. It feels genuine the same way it does when Camille hugs Gayla in the kitchen earlier. The conversation between Becca and Camille is interrupted when the other women drift outside as if smelling genuine happiness in the air draws their interest in sowing seeds of discord. The conversation drifts to the murders which Katie, Kirk’s chipper and very blonde wife, takes the opportunity to extol the joys of motherhood and implicitly insult Camille’s own womanhood. “Camille doesn’t have any children and you don’t feel the pain the way we do,” one says. “I don’t mean to sound cruel, but I don’t think part of your heart can ever work if you don’t have kids.” Katie’s face brightens, “I didn’t really become a woman until I felt Mackenzie inside of me.” This pointed critique of Camille feels all the more important when you look at it alongside Alan’s attempt to kick Camille, at Adora’s request, out in the most diplomatic yet insulting way possible. He argues that she would have sympathy from Adora if she knew what she had been through. And what has she been through? We don’t get a full picture, but it includes a mother of her own so full of venom she’d only smile when Camille refused to breastfeed from Adora. Alan doesn’t hesitate to compare Camille to her grandmother saying in so many words they’re cruel women disrupting any semblance of peace in their path. “I know how jealous you’ve been of everyone else’s well-being,” Alan spits at Camille. In Sharp Objects, motherhood is simultaneously a glorious, expected burden women must bear and a vehicle for inherited trauma. Adora’s approach to motherhood — cloying and exacting in equal measure — has left her daughters stranded emotionally. She’s present during the intense interactions between Amma and Camille even when she’s not physically present. After saying good-bye to Becca who gives her a ride, Camille buys liquor from the corner store but Amma, with her rambunctious crew in tow, finds her. A quiet night turns into a long escapade with teenagers, reluctantly taking OxyContin, joining a party humid with alcohol-soaked intentions and teenagers in every corner of the house. Camille knows doing drugs and attending a party with her kid sister isn’t a good look, she even says as much. Yet that doesn’t stop her. What snaps into focus watching Camille stop Amma from getting into a fight with Ashley or how she navigates this party she’s ill-suited for is how no one in their family knows how to love or be loved in a healthy way. With Amma this is all the more glaring because there is something strangely incestuous about how she shows her love to Camille. Perhaps, as she says later when they get home, it’s that girls are harder to get on her side. “Boys are easy … you just let them do stuff to you,” Amma says. So she’s replicating what she knows. Maybe that’s why her love allows has a sickly sexual undercurrent. “I thought you liked it rough,” she tells Camille at one point. Then there’s the game she ropes Camille into at the party. Cluttered into a room with several friends Amma introduces Camille to a game where they pass ecstasy from tongue to tongue until it melts.<doc-sep>	One reason you can be sure HBO’s Sharp Objects is a true Southern Gothic is that when its debutante gloves finally unpeel, you don’t just get an effusion of secrets and darkness and a lot of deep-buried social dysfunction. In episode six, “Cherry,” once the passive-aggressive politeness starts to give away to truth-telling, you also get some unhinged wildness: ear-biting, some light incest, some heavy sociopathy, and a literal shit pit. Yes, the intensity and the memories are ramping up for Camille as she revisits her hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri. But in “Cherry,” there are also some significant developments in the case, in case you were so distracted by all the sociopathy and incest you forgot there were murders to solve. Granted, we don’t learn much about the murders. But what we do learn is weighty. The tangled family ties between Amma and Camille get even knottier Like every episode before it, “Cherry” stints on procedural case-file crime-solving and delivers juicy drama, reams of gossip, and subtext thicker than summer heat in a tent revival. In this go-round, director Jean-Marc Vallée puts the focus back on Amma’s relationship with Camille, as our favorite teen fatale lures her older sister through a typical suburban house party, where Amma gets into a brief fight with John Keene (the brother of murder victim No. 2, Natalie) and his girlfriend Ashley over their mutual suspicions of each other. We get a brief sis-on-sis kiss, then a rare moment of sisterly bonding that doesn’t feel entirely manipulative on Amma’s part — at least until she asks Camille to take her back to St. Louis with her. It’s a revealing moment for both sisters. Amma, who admits openly that none of her friends like her, but she knows how to control them, calls Camille her “soulmate,” then laughs, saying that maybe this is what a bond of sisterhood feels like. Camille, drugged out and feeling pretty great about it, keeps having flashbacks to all the dead girls she’s loved before — her dead younger sister, Marianne, and her dead hospital roommate — but she lets herself give in to Amma anyway. Meanwhile, Camille’s threadbare relationship with her mother is almost worn through; after last week’s ice-cold declaration from Adora that she never loved her daughter, this week mom wants daughter out of the house. Camille is dragging her feet, though, in part because new facts about the crime are emerging, and in part because of her developing feelings for Detective Willis, who’s doing a little investigation into Camille’s ill-fated stint in the hospital where her roommate died by suicide. And probably there’s plenty of reluctant love there for Amma, too. And we also get some major murder clues! Camille notices that someone appears to have bitten off a huge chunk of Ashley’s ear, which is about as disturbing to look at in the episode as it is to write out. When Camille confronts her about this, asking if Natalie might have done it when she was being murdered, Ashley hisses that if Camille wants to know about Natalie, she should ask the girl’s mother. And speaking of another dead girl, we still don’t know how Camille’s sister Marianne died, though in this episode someone finally asks if anyone ever conducted an autopsy. “Of course not,” Adora’s best friend Jackie tells Detective Willis; Adora wouldn’t allow her to be “carved up.” (At this point I think we can probably go ahead and put “best friend” in irony quotes, yikes, Jacks.) Finally, the biggest clue: workers at Adora’s pig farm pull the bike of Ann Nash, the first victim — which she was riding when she disappeared — out of a sludge pond. Later, one of the workers claims he saw John Keene bury it there. Naturally, this doesn’t look good for John. For one thing, there’s Bob Nash’s cut-off assertion from an earlier episode that he saw John up to suspicious behavior while working at the pig farm; and there’s Adora’s quick-firing of him from the farm for unknown reasons. But we also know one other suspect who’s fond of hanging around the slaughterhouse: Amma. And given that Sharp Objects has leaned very hard into signaling that the murderer is a woman, it’s probably high time we look at the evidence for and against our favorite burgeoning Machiavellian. It’s probably not Amma!
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas is reportedly in Switzerland for a face-to-face meeting with star winger William Nylander and his representatives, according to various reports. The Toronto Sun‘s Lance Hornby was first to confirm the news on Wednesday. Nylander has been absent thus far this season as he remains unsigned following the conclusion of his entry-level deal. Unable to agree to terms on a new contract, the 22-year-old restricted free agent has been back in Sweden training and awaiting a resolution. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, have shot out to a league-leading 6-1-0 start, with Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly, John Tavares and Mitch Marner all currently ranking among the top six scorers in the league. Young Kasperi Kapanen has temporarily taken Nylander’s place in the lineup, slotting in on the wing beside Matthews and piling up four goals and eight points through seven games. Through 185 total appearances for Toronto, Nylander amassed 135 points. The smooth-skating winger posted back-to-back 61-point efforts in each of his past two campaigns.<doc-sep>Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas is in Switzerland to meet with restricted free agent William Nylander and his representatives, reports Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun. Throughout his contract impasse, Nylander's been training in his native Sweden while the Maple Leafs have begun the 2018-19 season with a 6-1 record. Speculation has run wild about what lies in Nylander's future with the organization, but both sides have stated they'd prefer to come to a long-term agreement rather than a bridge deal. The Maple Leafs currently have over $11 million in projected cap space for this season, per CapFriendly, but will face a significant squeeze beginning next year when the entry-level contracts of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner expire. In his first two full campaigns in the NHL, Nylander recorded back-to-back 61-point seasons.<doc-sep>TORONTO — There was a whiff of urgency in the stands, if not on the ice. The Toronto Maple Leafs were upbeat and playful during a long Tuesday afternoon practice, but members of the front office had other things on their minds. General manager Kyle Dubas seemed to be in good spirits, too — chiding a couple reporters for their Twitter usage — before huddling with president Brendan Shanahan and going over something on his cellphone. Assistant GMs Brandon Pridham and Laurence Gilman were also in attendance, alternatively watching practice or making calls or pacing around the team’s suburban facility. We know now that the Leafs braintrust was setting the wheels in motion on a new round of contract talks with William Nylander. Dubas travelled to Zurich for a Wednesday meeting with Nylander’s camp — a Swiss rendezvous first reported by veteran Toronto Sun scribe Lance Hornby — in a bid to end a stalemate that has kept the winger away from the team during a promising 6-1-0 start to the season. No specifics are known about who initiated the face-to-face meeting or why it was held in Switzerland. Nylander has been training at home in Stockholm and was first linked to the Zurich Airport by a sharp-eared Twitter user. There was a direct Air Canada flight from Toronto that landed at 7:50 a.m. local time in Zurich on Wednesday. (Messages to Dubas and others believed to have first-hand knowledge of the meeting were not immediately returned.) Given the lack of progress in talks, it’s likely that the Leafs are trying to push forward towards a resolution. The sides were largely focused on reaching a long-term deal throughout the summer and into September, but the team has since given Nylander’s camp a range of potential options that include short-term contracts, per sources. However, it’s believed that a significant gap remained in the money being discussed for each of those options ahead of Wednesday’s face-to-face meeting. Nylander is a core piece of a team that’s gone from a 30th-place finisher to a Stanley Cup hopeful inside three years. He is coming off consecutive 61-point seasons and harbours concerns that he’ll become a likely trade candidate after signing a new deal because of an impending cap crunch and Toronto’s elite scoring depth, not to mention its need for a right-shot defenceman. It’s made him less inclined to give the team anything resembling a hometown discount since the only thing he can get back from the Leafs is a promise he won’t be dealt — NHL rules dictate that Nylander can’t receive any no-trade protection for the first five seasons of his next contract. Perhaps that’s one area where Dubas can give the player more comfort while speaking to him directly. This is the first big test for the 32-year-old GM, who signed John Tavares to a mammoth free-agent deal seven weeks after being promoted to the position but now needs to get Nylander, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner inked to extensions by the start of next season while keeping his team under the salary cap ceiling. The Leafs haven’t missed a beat despite Nylander’s absence throughout training camp and the first 13 days of this season. They lead the NHL with 4.71 goals per game and have seen Kasperi Kapanen, Nylander’s former roommate and best friend, light it up in his spot alongside Matthews and Patrick Marleau. Following Tuesday’s practice, the Finn brushed off questions about potentially hurting his buddy’s bargaining position by putting up eight points in five games with Matthews. “I’m not trying to steal anybody’s spot or whatever like that,” said Kapanen. “I mean, he’s pretty much my brother. He’s a brother to me. … It’s all good. I don’t think Willy’s too upset, or he’s not rooting for me. Obviously he’s going to be happy for me and hopefully we see him soon.” Kapanen had even reached out directly to Nylander by text to make sure his spirits were still high. As good as things look in Toronto right now, they could be even better. The Leafs’ championship aspirations would unquestionably be boosted with him back in uniform. About an hour after coach Mike Babcock whistled an end to Tuesday’s practice, the rink fell quiet. It was around 2:30 p.m. and the lights in Dubas’s corner office had been turned off. He had a flight to catch.<doc-sep>Share this Story: Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas, William Nylander meet in Switzerland Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas, William Nylander meet in Switzerland Article content Was Wednesday’s surprise summit in Zurich between Kyle Dubas and William Nylander a Swiss miss, one that could keep the Swedish winger on the sidelines and possibly wind up in a trade? Or did the meeting, first reported by the Sun through a source, help break a nearly four-month-old contract stalemate with the restricted free agent? And in doing so, kickstart the return of another young gun to the Maple Leafs’ arsenal while allowing the general manager to get on with negotiations with pending RFAs Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner? With the Dec. 1deadline to sign a deal looming, when Nylander would be ineligible for NHL play this season, a face-to-face with the winger and his handlers was the right call, no matter who initiated it or how far apart the sides might be. The result — and any follow-up on Friday or in coming days — was subject to a news blackout, perhaps a positive sign. There has been intensifying concern on the part of Nylander, his father/adviser Michael Nylander and his player agent Lewis Gross, that as the Leafs kept up a hot start (6-1) while scoring lots of goals, it will cost the winger some bargaining leverage as November approaches. Though it’s only been five games, Kasperi Kapanen has produced eight points as Matthews’ new right winger. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Team Nylander must also keep their resolve as public opinion in Toronto backs the assertion the high-scoring Leafs can get by without him and that he must be asking for the moon if a deal has yet to be reached. Yet the Leafs’ big-picture contract is far more daunting for Nylander and Dubas. Thus far, the GM has insisted he’s not shopping Nylander. Although a trade would be one way to get out of this fix, it’s not believed to be Nylander’s first choice —he still wants to be a big part of the Leafs’ boy band. In his brief exchanges with the media since the start of training camp, Dubas has assured his intention to bring the 22-year-old first-round pick back in the fold — as well as sign Matthews, Marner and Kapanen to extensions. His vision to keep the Leafs near a Stanley Cup-contending window this season and beyond has always included Nylander and was part of the pitch Dubas used to land John Tavares as an unrestricted free agent in July. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “It’s a big decision for (Nylander) and for us,” Dubas told the Sun on Sept. 29 of the slow progress of talks. “It has a huge impact on his situation and ours (cap-wise) here. As a result, those things tend not to happen overly fast. “(A long-term deal) continues to be our focus and the stated focus of William and his camp. When things are being done that are going to lock everybody in for longer, they’re slower to come to fruition.” At the time he spoke, Dubas didn’t see contracts for Matthews and Marner becoming another distraction. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or “In our discussions, as they pertain to Mitch with Darren Ferris, and with Judd Moldaver as they pertain to Auston, neither of them have stated that once the season starts that this discussion is done. We haven’t, either. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “These are very important pieces for us now and in the future. Both have stated very firmly that they want to be here long-term and we obviously want them. Those discussions are ongoing.” Nylander has 143 NHL points in 198 NHL games —including playoffs — and was third in team points last season, has missed just one game since 2016-17 and led the Leafs in game winning goals in 2017-18 with eight. But the longer he sits, the longer it will take to shake off the rust of having not had an NHL camp. Matthews, Marner and Kapanen, who is also soon to be an RFA, are all having an outstanding October to underline their expensive price tags on multi-year deals. That brings up another contentious point: Whether Nylander should accept a hometown discount for a shot at the Cup, as suggested by club president Brendan Shanahan in a read-between-the-lines comment on opening night. Taking one for the team didn’t likely go down well with his crew. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content It’s possible the idea of a bridge contract is back on the table. Rather than something long-term such as six years at US$40 million — a comparable to Boston’s David Pastrnak when he signed and Filip Forsberg of the Predators before him — Nylander could take the bridge route for something in the $4 million-$5 million range for a couple of years, with a shot at cashing in down the road. Photo by Frank Gunn / THE CANADIAN PRESS The lower price helps Dubas in the short term to negotiate with the other Leafs, but means another contract must be hashed out with Nylander that could see him get a bigger payday than he seeks now and put more pressure on Toronto’s cap situation. Dubas claims he’s resisted trade feelers put out by fellow GMs so far, though if the impasse is not broken soon, he’d have to seriously entertain offers, likely for a defenceman. Don’t expect him to wait right until Dec. 1 before he makes a move. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<doc-sep>	TORONTO, ON - APRIL 23: William Nylander #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates with the puck against the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round in the 2018 Stanley Cup Play-offs at the Air Canada Centre on April 23, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Bruins 3-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) * Local Caption * William Nylander According to a report from the Toronto Sun, William Nylander, his agent and Kyle Dubas of the Toronto Maple Leafs are meeting in Switzerland to discuss a new contract. This morning, Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun wrote an article, which spoke of Nylander, his representatives and Kyle Dubas meeting in neutral Switzerland to discuss what the 22 year old’s next contract might look like. For the past few months, the Toronto Maple Leafs front office and William Nylander have not been able to agree on a contract. Several rumours have circulated that Nylander has been asking for 8 million USD AAV, while the Toronto Maple Leafs have been offering somewhere between 6 to 6.5 million USD AAV. Due to the looming December 1, 2019 deadline, both Nylander and the Toronto Maple Leafs front office are eager to settle on a new contract as soon as possible. In the past few games, Mike Babcock has featured Kapanen on the top line with Auston Matthews and Patrick Marleau. With the line change, the top line has been one of the best lines in the National Hockey League. So far this season, Kapanen has 4 goals, 4 assists, 51.5 corsi-for percentage (CF%) and a 23.5 shooting percentage (S%). That’s great and all, but remember this is a very small sample size and that Kapanen isn’t on the same level as Nylander. If Nylander And The Leafs Agree To A New Deal If Nylander and the Toronto Maple Leafs agree to a new deal, he could potentially be back on the ice for Saturday night’s game against the St. Louis Blues, though that is probably a longshot. The Toronto Maple Leafs are off to a great start, but don’t let the flashy numbers make you think that they don’t need William Nylander. The Leafs can’t keep up their insane pace, and eventually when they are struggling, the same people who say they don’t need him now will be desperate to have him back. Last season, Nylander had a great season with the Maple Leafs. In 82 games played, he registered 20 goals, 41 assists, 12 power-play points, a 10.9 S% and a 51.4 CF%. He was among the top fifteen players in 5v5 scoring. Nylander’s point totals likely would have been higher, but Auston Matthews missed 20 games last season and the duo was relegated to the second PP unit. If Nylander and Kyle Dubas can agree to a new contract, the Toronto Maple Leafs will only get stronger. When he returns, Mike Babcock could look to feature a Kapanen-Matthews-Nylander line. Or Nazem Kadri could finally be gifted with some linemates he could call his peers. Hopefully, these talks in Switzerland lead to a new contract for Nylander and Leafs Nation can watch the 22 year old take the NHL by storm in a few days. stats from NHL.com and hockey-reference.com
High-seeded matchups dominated Thursday’s NCAA Sweet 16 schedule, and Friday’s slate is no different. Three-seed LSU Tigers open the second leg of the Sweet 16 against No. 2 Michigan State hoping to advance to their first Elite 8 since 2006. No. 1 North Carolina continues the March Madness action against fifth-seed Auburn before Zion Williamson and top-seeded Duke tip off against No. 4 Virginia Tech. Three-seed Houston, seeking its first Elite 8 appearance since 1984, ends the night against No. 2 Kentucky. Here’s the full schedule, game times, sites and TV channels for Day 2 of the Sweet 16: NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, Day 2 Schedule Friday, March 29 (all times Eastern) 7:09 PM – (3) LSU vs. (2) Michigan State, CBS (Capital One Arena – Washington, DC) 7:29 PM – (5) Auburn vs. (1) North Carolina, TBS (Sprint Center – Kansas City, MO) 9:39 PM – (4) Virginia Tech vs. (1) Duke, CBS (Capital One Arena – Washington, DC) 9:59 PM – (3) Houston vs. (2) Kentucky, TBS (Sprint Center – Kansas City, MO)<doc-sep>The 2019 women's Sweet 16 gets back underway on Friday, so our three-day absence from the tournament is mercifully over. UCLA vs. UConn, Arizona State vs. Mississippi State, Oregon State vs. Louisville and South Dakota State vs. Oregon are the matchups for Friday night. NC State vs. Iowa, South Carolina vs. Baylor, Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame and Missouri State vs. Stanford are your matchups for Saturday. WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT: View the interactive bracket \| Printable bracket & schedule Here's one thing you absolutely must know about each team still chasing the title: UConn isn't a No. 1 seed, but don't let that fool you You thought this season's team wouldn't be dangerous? Nope. UConn is doing what it usually does. This team beat Towson by 49 points in the first round, then Buffalo by 12 in the second. Napheesa Collier leveled up as a senior and his now scoring 21 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Katie Lou Samuelson is returning to form after a back injury kept her out of the conference tournament. Their bench isn't super deep, but that's about the only bad thing you can say about UConn right now. They might not have the separation on the pack that they did in past years, but you'd be mistaken to think they're anything less than a threat to win it all. UCLA snuck into the tournament, but turned heads once it got here The Bruins upset No. 3 Maryland to make the Sweet 16, and used 27 offensive rebounds to push through a 36-percent shooting effort. UCLA lost its top two scorers from last season in Jordin Canada and Monique Billings. The Bruins stumbled through two separate four-game losing streaks during the season, but won 10 of their last 12 regular-reason games made it to the PAC-12 championship game before losing to Oregon. Mississippi State will dominate you down low The final No. 1 seed comes in at No. 1 in Her Hoop Stats' overall rating, and possesses the No. 2 offense and No. 3 defense in the nation. Having 6-foot-7 center Teaira McCowan helps on both ends. She averages 18 points per game on just 10 field goal attempts. McCowan grabs 14 rebounds and blocks 2.5 shots per game, too. Watch out. MSU owns the top offensive rebounding rate and No. 2 total rebounding rate in the country, per Her Hoop Stats. The Bulldogs are eighth in block rate, thanks to McCowan's presence inside. It's hard to get much done near the basket whenever she's in the game. Arizona State loves to slow things down The No. 5 Sun Devils play at one of the slowest paces in the country. They're 337th out of the 351 teams in Division I. Arizona State aims to slow opponents down and suffocate them with defense. So far, that's served them alright. ASU defeated Miami despite only shooting 36 percent from the field because the Sun Devils were able to force 15 turnovers while only giving the ball away 7 times. Louisville and Asia Durr are still lighting up the scoreboard Another No. 1 seed, Louisville has the No. 6 offensive rating in the country, per Her Hoop Stats. Asia Durr is a big reason why. The Cardinals' senior is at the heart of what Louisville does offensively. She averages 21 points per game, hits 43 percent of her 3-pointers and is a terror near the basket. Oregon State is here to remind you there's more than one good team in that state Oregon State already proved in its series split with Oregon that it's a team capable of competing with the best in the country. The Beavers almost match their intrastate rivals in 3-point shooting prowess, and have a capable backcourt group in Mikayla Pivec, Destiny Slocum and Aleah Goodman. Sabrina Ionescu leads Oregon's frightening offense in the most fun way possible Oregon's junior triple-double machine might be the most entertaining player in college basketball. Sabrina Ionescu leads the best offense in the country with 20 points per game, and has the most triple doubles in NCAA history (men's or women's) with 18 in three seasons. Ruthy Hebard and Satou Sabally both average 16 points per game, and form an offense that forces opponents into tough choices. Double Hebard down low and leave a someone from the country's deadliest 3-point shooting team open from deep, or let one of the country's best inside scorers go to work. South Dakota State's offense is hard to stop The No. 6 Jackrabbits slid by Syracuse with a late run to make it here. They're 28-6 out of the Summit League, and have the No. 9 offense in the country, per Her Hoop Stats efficiency ratings. South Dakota State shoots 48 percent from the field and 37 percent on 3-pointers, good for seventh and 14th in the nation, respectively, and is eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio. Top scorers Macy Miller and Madison Guebert shoot 43 and 45 percent on 3-pointers. Iowa has Megan Gustafson, and she's pouring in buckets over everyone The Hawkeyes have the nation's top scorer. Megan Gustafson made sure there isn't even a debate. She averages 28 points per game. Buffalo's Cierra Dillard, the No. 2 scorer in Division I, averages 25.2. Gustafson shoots an astounding 70 percent from the field, grabs 13.5 rebounds per game, and shoots 80 percent from the free-throw line. Gustafson scored 45 points to beat Maryland in the Big Ten championship game, put up 30 in Iowa's first-round escape over Mercer, and had 24 points against Missouri in the second round. Opponents know she's essentially unstoppable, and can only hope the rest of Iowa's team can't beat them. That hasn't happened often. NC State is in its first back-to-back Sweet 16 since 1991 NC State had to run through the gauntlet that was the ACC this season. The Wolfpack didn't lose a game until Feb. 3, then went 7-5 after that (including tournament play). NC State plays at a slow pace, ranking 262nd out of the 351 teams in Division I in possessions per 40 minutes, and doesn't have any glaring weaknesses. Gustafson awaits on Saturday to test their interior defense. Baylor has lived up to its No. 1 overall seed so far It's not as if UConn is the only team off to a blistering start to the tournament. Baylor beat No. 16 seed Abilene Christian by 57 points in the first round and No. 8 seed California by 39 in the second. The Lady Bears boast the best defensive efficiency rating in the country, per Her Hoop Stats, and the fifth-best offense. They only lost once in the regular season, at Stanford in December. Baylor's been perfect since then. This team has the best rebound rate in the country, per Her Hoop Stats, to go along with the third-best 3-point shooting percentage in the nation. South Carolina might be the most balanced team in the field The Gamecocks have four players averaging between 10 and 12 points per game, but no one exceeding the latter number. They still come up with the No. 14 offense in the country, per Her Hoop Stats, and it's working for them. FOR THE SIXTH YEAR IN A ROW! @GamecockWBB is headed to the Sweet 16! #ncaaW pic.twitter.com/ToDBJEhPUj — NCAA Women’s Basketball (@ncaawbb) March 24, 2019 Notre Dame is right back where it was last year, and so is Arike Ogunbowale The hero of last year's Final Four is hoping to lead Notre Dame to a return appearance. Last year, Arike Ogunbowale hit the two biggest shots of the tournament: Arike Ogunbowale heroics A year later, Ogunbowale is still getting hers. She averages 21 points per game, and scored 23 points in each of the Irish's first two NCAA tournament games, both times doing so on at least 47 percent shooting. Notre Dame surrounds her with talent, too. Jessica Shepard, Jackie Young, Brianna Turner and Marina Mabrey help coach Muffett McGraw form a devastating offense that isn't afraid to run, with a pace that ranks 22nd in the nation. An injury definitely has not slowed Chennedy Carter — or Texas A&M Texas A&M's star guard missed the SEC tournament after suffering two different fractures on her right pinky finger, but hasn't missed a beat since returning. Carter can rescue them from just about any situation: And so far, that's what she's been doing. Carter has the sixth-highest usage rate of any player in the country. With Carter scoring 27 and 30 points in the first two rounds behind a defense that ranks 12 in Her Hoop Stats' efficiency, the Aggies' recipe has been working. Stanford demands to be taken seriously Stanford ran the table in the Pac-12 tournament, and that meant beating top seed Oregon in the championship game, avenging one of the Cardinal's four regular-season losses. This is where Stanford's accustomed to sitting this time of year. This is a team that has only missed one Sweet 16 since 2004, and made back-to-back Elite Eights in 2016 and 2017. The Cardinal lock people down on defense and round out a solid supporting cast around Alanna Smith, who averages 20 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Missouri State is this tournament's Cinderella The Lady Bears haven't won a game in the NCAA tournament since 2001, and grabbed an auto bid by defeating the No. 1 seed in the Missouri Valley Conference to get here. MSU is the lowest remaining seed in the tournament, having engineered upsets over No. 6 DePaul and No. 11 Iowa State. Jackie Stiles, who spurred Missouri State's 2001 Final Four run, is back as an assistant. Head coach Kellie Harper's team rebounds well, and has seen its opponents go cold from the field in two straight games. Alexa Willard and Danielle Glitzen are the team's two upperclass leaders, and one of them has scored at least 17 points in each of the team's last six games.<doc-sep>	The Sweet 16 is finished. On the second night of this stage of the Big Dance, a No. 1 seed was vanquished, Michigan State cruised, Duke’s fate came down to the last shot and Kentucky was pushed to the brink. Here’s what went down Friday night. Michigan State 80, LSU 63 The Spartans started the game out on an 8-0 run and never looked back, leading wire to wire. LSU went on an 8-0 run of their own to start the second half, but could only come within four points of the Michigan State lead. The Spartans closed the game on a 10-2 run, securing the big win. LSU was undone by shooting struggles. The Tigers shot 39.3 percent from the floor, 28.6 percent from three-point range and 64.3 percent from the charity stripe. Losing the turnover battle by seven and coughing up nine turnovers didn’t help either. Tremont Waters was the only Tiger to score more than 11 points, as the sophomore poured in 23 points. Javonte Smart, a freshman guard, played 25 minutes but failed to score on six shot attempts. Michigan State racked up 22 assists and shot 40.6 percent from behind the arc. Cassius Winston tallied 17 points and eight assists, while Aaron Henry added 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists. The Spartans are now in the Elite Eight for the first time since 2015, the same year they last made a Final Four. It’s the 10th time Michigan State has went to the Elite Eight under the direction of Tom Izzo. Michigan State made 13 threes vs LSU, their most ever in an NCAA Tournament game. Aaron Henry became the 5th Spartan ever to post a 20-5-5 game in the NCAA Tournament, joining Draymond Green (2x), Mateen Cleaves, Steve Smith and Magic Johnson (3x). pic.twitter.com/SVdefWdAKC — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 30, 2019 Auburn 97, North Carolina 80 The Tar Heels were the first No. 1 seed of the tournament to lose, falling to the SEC champs in Kansas City, Missouri. It’s just the second time that Auburn will appear in an Elite Eight. The game was a fast-paced one that saw the Tigers attempt 37 three-pointers. North Carolina turned the ball over 14 times and shot 25 percent from behind the arc. For a complete breakdown of this game and what it means, click here. Quote from Chuma Okeke: "I'm really proud of our team. We were able to make history tonight. We do not drop off when we go to our bench and we'll be ready for whoever we play on Sunday." — Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 30, 2019 Every single Auburn fan right now. pic.twitter.com/bmr8oLHJti — Brooke (@wareagleblonde) March 30, 2019 Kentucky 62, Houston 58 The Cougars had a three-point lead with 1:16 to play, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Wildcats at bay. After a PJ Washington jumper, Tyler Herro scored five points in the final 25 seconds to lead Kentucky to a win. Houston missed its last three shots, missing out on the chance to go to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1984. The Cougars stayed in the game by taking care of the ball, turning it over just seven times, and by getting a big performance out of Armoni Brooks, who tallied 20 points, two rebounds and two steals. Kentucky kept its edge by shooting well from the floor — connecting on 47.8 percent of all shots — and by winning the rebounding margin by 13 boards. Herro led all Wildcats scorers with 19 points, while Washington added 16 points off the bench. Reid Travis patrolled the paint, collecting 11 rebounds. Since John Calipari took over the reins of the Wildcats in 2009, they have now appeared in seven Elite Eights. They are 4-2 in their previous six trips. PJ WASHINGTON BLOCKS. TYLER HERRO DROPS. Kentucky up two. pic.twitter.com/7yYtNJr4zQ — CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 30, 2019 Duke 75, Virginia Tech 73 For the second straight game, Duke’s fate in the NCAA tournament was decided by the final possession. Virginia Tech had three looks at the basket and missed each time in the last six seconds of the game. In the end, it came down to this: One team had Zion Williamson, Tre Jones and RJ Barrett, and the other team did not. Unfortunately for Virginia Tech, they were the ones defending the talented trio on Friday night. Williamson had 23 points, six rebounds and three blocks.
“What happens in some people is when they’re only using one eye . . . they develop other cues besides traditional depth perception to understand where things are in space, looking at color and shadow in a way that most of us who use both eyes at a time don’t really appreciate,” said Robbins, who is also the educational director at the Ratner Children’s Eye Center within the Shiley Eye Institute in La Jolla, Calif.<doc-sep>The great Italian Renaissance artist and scientist Leonardo da Vinci may have suffered from an unusual visual tic: an intermittent outward turn of the eye, clinically known as strabismus. According to a new paper in JAMA Ophthalmology, that disorder may have helped this quintessential Renaissance man capture 3D space on a flat 2D canvas so brilliantly. If so, Leonardo would be in very good company. Several other famous artists—including Rembrandt, Durer, Degas, and Picasso—likely also had some form of strabismus, based on analysis of eye alignment in their respective self-portraits. Because such a misalignment tends to suppress the deviating eye, this condition would have enabled Leonardo to shift between monocular vision and normal vision, giving him a distinct artistic advantage. "Try shutting one eye," explains author Christopher Tyler, a visual neuroscientist at City University of London. "The world now looks flatter, so the spatial relations are easier to translate onto the flat canvas." "[The soul] guides the painter's arm and makes him reproduce himself." Tyler closely examined six likely portraits and self-portraits (two sculptures, two oil paintings, and two drawings) of Leonardo for evidence of the condition, fitting circles and ellipses around the pupils, irises, and eyelids and measuring their relative positions. Those measurements were consistent with a diagnosis of strabismus. There are remarkably few existing portraits of Leonardo, given his preeminent status in Renaissance Italy, but Tyler argues that any of Leonardo's portraits likely would have reflected the artist's own appearance to some extent. "[The soul] guides the painter's arm and makes him reproduce himself, since it appears to the soul that this is the best way to represent a human being," Leonardo observed in his Codex Atlanticus. For Tyler, this statement makes it far more likely that he would have used himself as the model in, for example, his famed Vitruvian Man or for the restored Salvator Mundi painting recently confirmed to be Leonardo's work (it sold last November at Christie's for a record-breaking price of $450,312,500). Advertisement The faces of Leonardo? C. Tyler/Rufus46/Creative Commons Christopher Tyler Christopher Tyler Christopher Tyler C. Tyler/Saiko, Creative Commons Christopher Tyler C. Tyler/GNU Free documentation license C. Tyler/Ser Amantio di Nicolao/Creative Commons Admittedly, assuming all these examples really are based on the real Leonardo is a probabilistic inference, so there will naturally be some skepticism. Art scholars disagree about the exact number of Leonardo portraits that still exist. Only one—a red-chalk portrait of Leonardo as an old man—is recognized by the leading authority on the artist, Kenneth Clark, as being definitely of Leonardo. Other scholars still harbor some doubts, since the old man in the drawing seems at least ten years older than Leonardo would have been at the time. It could be a portrait of his father or uncle, for instance. (That said, some of the artist's contemporaries remarked that he looked much older than his actual age.) As for the other candidates, the contemporary historian Vasari asserted that Verrocchio's David sculpture was based on a young Leonardo, whom he described as having "outstanding physical beauty." Since Leonardo was Verrocchio's apprentice at the time, it would have been perfectly natural for him to serve as a model for the sculpture. Tyler himself co-authored a 2012 paper that quantitatively examined six of the most likely candidate artworks, concluding the results were consistent with Leonardo being the subject, even though the authors acknowledged that more comparisons were needed to truly reach statistical significance. "All art critics disagree with each other, so I am not expecting them all to agree with me," says Tyler. But he is reasonably confident in his assumptions and diagnosis of strabismus, even over a span of several centuries. DOI: JAMA Ophthalmology, 2018. 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2018.3833 (About DOIs).<doc-sep>	Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci may have had an eye condition that gave him an unusual ability to recreate three-dimensional shapes in his sculptures and paintings, a study has found. With this condition known as strabismus, a person's eyes appear to be pointing in different directions, with only one eye being used to process the visual scene at any one time. Christopher Tyler, of City, University of London in the UK measured eyes in six masterpieces thought to be portraits or self-portraits of da Vinci, including his works Vitruvian Man and Salvator Mundi, the most expensive painting of all time. The study, published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology, suggest that da Vinci had an intermittent version of the condition. This allowed Da Vinci to switch between using two eyes (stereoscopic vision) to give him depth perception, and using just one eye (monocular vision) when he wanted to interpret a three-dimensional image on a flat, two-dimensional canvas. "Several great artists, from Rembrandt to Picasso, are thought to have had strabismus, and it seems that da Vinci had it too," said Tyler. "The weight of converging evidence suggests that da Vinci had intermittent exotropia -- where an eye turns outwards -- with a resulting ability to switch to monocular vision, using just one eye," he said. The condition is rather convenient for a painter, since viewing the world with one eye allows direct comparison with the flat image being drawn or painted, researchers said. "Having strabismus would perhaps explain da Vinci's great facility for depicting the three-dimensional solidity of faces and objects in the world and the distant depth recession of mountainous scenes," Tyler said. He analysed eyes in six pieces of art thought to be based on da Vinci: David (Andrea del Verrocchio); Young Warrior (Andrea del Verrocchio); Salvator Mundi (da Vinci); Young John the Baptist (da Vinci); Vitruvian Man (da Vinci) and another possible da Vinci self-portrait. Tyler fitted circles and ellipses to the pupils, irises, and eyelid apertures on the artwork and then measured the relative positions of these features.
Photo credit: Emma McIntyre - Getty Images From Seventeen Celebrities are strolling down the red carpet for one of music's biggest nights: the 2019 Billboard Music Awards. James Charles walked the BBMAs red carpet wearing a gorgeous tux. The YouTuber is known to rock some ~scandalous~ outfits in public. Heyyyy sisters! James Charles showed up looking glam AF on the 2019 Billboard Music Awards red carpet... but one thing was missing. Or should we say, not missing? While the YouTuber and Instagrammer usually loves to rock butt-baring outfits, he went for a completely different look for tonight's red carpet. Photo credit: Frazer Harrison - Getty Images Sister James wore a super-sleek tux paired with an adorable bowtie and shiny sneaks, complete with a cool chain belt and of course, a flawless face. We're not going to lie, we were pretty surprised by his lewk. I mean, he basically spent all of Coachella this year (and in previous years) wearing bootylicious outfits. Read: thongs and a lot of mesh. And while he looked amazing at the music festival, we're def not complaining about his swoonworthy look tonight. The beauty vlogger recently announced that he was going on tour, hitting 25 different cities across the U.S. this summer. It's the first-ever Sisters Tour, and fans couldn't be more excited. James revealed in his latest YouTube video that the show would include makeup tutorials on stage, games, and Q&As. Though there was some ~drama~ with sky-high ticket prices, it seems that Sister James worked with his team to make them worthwhile. We can't wait! Get tickets to his tour here. ('You Might Also Like',)<doc-sep>You can always rely on Cardi and Offset to make the red carpet interesting (Picture: Rex Features) Cardi B and Offset seemed to bring their private antics to the Billboard Music Awards 2019 red carpet tonight. The married couple made a grand arrival at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Wednesday evening and clearly had all the loving feels for each other. After walking hand-in-hand, the pair stopped to pose for photos and ramped up the PDA with French kisses. Offset, 27, later took it to the next level and picked up Cardi, who happily obliged and wrapped her legs around the rapper. Basically, it was a lot but if you’re familiar with Cardi and the Migos rapper, then their racy red carpet antics wouldn’t surprise you. Cardi and Offset’s marriage is back on track after they briefly split last year following reports he had tried to set up a threesome with a model and her friend. Despite Cardi, real name Belcalis Almanzar, announcing they would be getting a divorce after secretly marrying in September 2017, they remained together. It’s a big night for Cardi, who is nominated for a staggering 21 awards including top artist, top hot 100 song for Girls Like You with Maroon 5 and her own single I Like It featuring J Balvin, as well as top female artist and top hot 100 artist. Does Offset know his tongue is out? (Picture: Getty Images) Just having a good ‘ol time (Picture: Getty Images) Cardi’s nominated for 21 awards (Picture: Getty Images) Ahead of her BBMAs appearance, Cardi revealed she recently underwent breast cosmetic surgery as she had grown unhappy with her boobs after giving birth to daughter Kulture in July 2018. Opening up about her latest cosmetic procedures, Cardi told Entertainment Tonight: ‘I just got my boobs redone. ‘I feel good, but then sometimes I feel like not, you know? [When] your skin is stretched out.’ The 26-year-old jokingly added: ‘Yes, my daughter f**ked me up! She did, she so did.’ Kelly Clarkson is hosting the Billboard Music Awards 2019 tonight with performances set to come from Taylor Swift, BTS and Madonna among others. Got a showbiz story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you. MORE : Cardi B shows off her abs as she unveils Clout remix and no one can cope MORE : Cardi B gives husband Offset a lap dance and is buried in lemons in spicy new Clout video<doc-sep>It's been rare to see Sophie Turner alone on the red carpet in recent months without her beau and soon-to-be husband Joe Jonas by her side. With their wedding drawing closer each day, the couple has been practically inseparable. But with The Jonas Brothers reunited, Joe tagged along with brothers Nick and Kevin tonight, leaving Sophie to strut the red carpet of the Billboard Music Awards alone. That was no problem, though. Sophie knew she needed to strut her stuff with a jaw-dropping look, and she most certainly did. On tonight's red carpet, Sophie debuted a look that is basically a designer space suit. Kidding, kidding! But the Louis Vuitton jumpsuit she wore to the award show is super futuristic, especially with the fabric choice and structural elements on her shoulders. Maybe she was trying to fly to the year 3000 with The Jo Bros? If that indeed was the inspiration, save us a seat onboard! We're here for it. The look was pulled together with a vine pattern on the jumpsuit, as well as a front zipper and black belt. Knowing the look was bold and over-the-top, Sophie kept the rest of her look simple: She paired the futuristic jumpsuit with a sleek pair of black heels. For makeup, Sophie chose to do a soft brown look with a light contour and glossy lips. A+ for pairing a simple makeup look with a bold outfit! There were many ways this would go wrong, but Sophie knew exactly what to do to pull it together and pull it off.<doc-sep>	Ciara, Kiernan Shipka, Taylor Swift, Ciara and Sophie Turner at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards. Photos: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images From statement ruffles and bold prints to revealing cut-outs and loads of sparkle, our favorite stars did not hold back on the red carpet for the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, which took place in Las Vegas on Wednesday night. A few of our favorites included Cardi B, who showed off her abs and a bit of leg in a golden yellow halter gown from Moschino, as well as Taylor Swift, who kept up her new aesthetic in a lilac Raisa & Vanessa dress. Kiernan Shipka was one of the few attendees in haute couture — Dior, to be exact — as well as Priyanka Chopra in Zuhair Murad. Sophie Turner showed up in Louis Vuitton, Olivia Wilde in Ralph Lauren, Sofia Carson in Giambattista Valli and both Whitney Woerz and Ingrid Michaelson wore Versace. On the menswear front, the guys made major statements on the red carpet, too. Diplo took full advantage of the "Yeehaw" trend in a purple cowboy look, while Zedd got in on the popular snakeskin print with a suit from SSS World Corp. The Jonas Brothers all wore matching Missoni, while Maluma wore a head-to-toe holographic-style outfit from DSquared2. There was not much subtlety to speak of here, but that's what makes music awards shows so fun — and, sometimes, completely insane. For the rest of our favorite looks from this year's Billboard Music Awards, click through the gallery below. 39 Gallery 39 Images Sign up for our daily newsletter and get the latest industry news in your inbox every day.
Roma filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron has won the Oscar for Best Director. The Mexican director, who won the same award for Gravity in 2013, beat Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman), Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite), Paweł Pawlikowski (Cold War) and Adam McKay (Vice) to reign supreme. Cuaron also won Best Cinematography for his work on the film. The Netflix-released film marks Cuaron’s most personal to date, as it draws deeply from his own childhood growing up in Mexico City, with the film’s protagonist, Yalitza Aparicio’s Cleo, based on Liboria “Libo” Rodríguez, a Mixtec woman from the swall town of Tepelmeme who was hired as a domestic worker by Cuarón’s family when he was nine months old. The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Show all 65 1 /65 The best pictures from Oscars 2019 The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper perform "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born." Reuters The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Rami Malek holds his Best Actor Oscar as he reacts after the show concluded Reuters The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Spike Lee (left) jumps in the arms of Actor Samuel L Jackson as he accepts the award Best Original Screenplay for "BlacKkKlansman" AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Olivia Colman accepts her Best Actress award Reuters The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Melissa McCarthy presents the Best Costume Design award. REUTERS The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Hannah Beachler celebrates with her Oscar for Best Production Reuters The best pictures from Oscars 2019 US actor and singer Billy Porter arriving AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Rami Malek winner of the Best Actor award for "Bohemian Raphsody" opens a bottle of champagne Best Actor winner for "Bohemian Rhapsody" Rami Malek The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Jennifer Lopez checking her make up backstage AMPAS/AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Rami Malek (L) winner Best Actor in a Leading Role award for 'Bohemian Rhapsody, Olivia Colman (2L) winner of Best Actress for 'The Favourite,' Mahershala Ali (R) winner of Best Supporting Actor for 'Green Book,' and Regina King (2R) winner of Best Supporting Actress for 'If Beale Street Could Talk EPA The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Keegan Michael Key drops down to announce the Mary Poppins performance. REUTERS The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Best Supporting Actress winner for "If Beale Street Could Talk" Regina King AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Actor James McCoy before the start of the 91st Academy Awards show. Reuters The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Olivia Colman, winner of Best Actress for 'The Favourite,' Getty Images The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Best Supporting Actor nominee Sam Rockwell and Leslie Bib arrive Reuters The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Comedians Maya Rudolf, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (right) talking backstage AMPAS/AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Miley Cyrus poses at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party EPA The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Becky Neiman-Cobb (left) and Domee Shi (right) winners of the Short Film (Animated) Award for 'Bao' EPA The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Ben Falcone (left to right), Olivia Grant, Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant attending the Vanity Fair Oscar Party PA The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Lady Gaga cries as she wins the award for Best Original Song AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Charlie Wachtel, David Robinowitz, Kevin Willmott, and Spike Lee accept the Best Adapted Screenplay award Reuters The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Helen Mirren arrives Reuters The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Best Foreign Language Film winner for "Roma" Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron (right) walking with US actress Angela Bassett (centre) and Spanish actor Javier Bardem backstage AMPAS/AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Best Live Action Short Film winners for "Skin" Director Guy Nattiv, and his wife actress Jaime Ray Newman AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper perform "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born." AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando and Andrew Wyatt accept the award for Best Original Song AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Adam Lambert (left) performs with Queen's Brian May (right) and Roger Taylor (centre) AMPAS/EPA The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Best Supporting Actress winner for "If Beale Street Could Talk" Regina King and Best Adapted Screenplay winner for "BlacKkKlansman" Spike Lee attend the 91st Annual Academy Awards Governors Ball AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Best Supporting Actress nominee Rachel Weisz arrives. Reuters The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper perform "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born." Reuters The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Best Actor winner for "Bohemian Rhapsody" Rami Malek AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Director Peter Farrelly, winner of Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay for "Green Book," backstage AMPAS/AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Alessandra Ambrosio attending the Vanity Fair Oscar Party PA The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Lady Gaga backstage AMPAS/AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Spike Lee holds a knuckle ring that reads "Love" as he arrives with his wife Tonya Lewis Lee. Reuters The best pictures from Oscars 2019 AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Olivia Colman attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Terry Crews poses at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party EPA The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Lady Gaga accepts the Best Original Song award for "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born" Reuters The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Chadwick Boseman and Taylor Simone Ledward attend the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Regina King (R) and Steven James. Reuters The best pictures from Oscars 2019 AFP/Getty The best pictures from Oscars 2019 Jennifer Hudson, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler.<doc-sep>In the first win of the night for Roma, Alfonso Cuaron took the Oscar for Best Cinematography, becoming the first DP to score an Academy Award for a movie he also directed. Cuaron shot his own film when frequent collaborator Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki wasn’t available and tonight noted, “It’s very well known that Billy Wilder had in his office a sign that said ‘What would Lubitsch have done?’ For me it was ‘What would Chivo have done?’” Cuaron adds this to wins from BAFTA, the National Society of Film Critics, the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle and many others along the awards season trail. He is the fourth person ever to be nominated personally for four Oscars for the same film and this was his third overall win after previously scoring a Directing and Editing trophy for Gravity. Roma, a reflection on Cuaron’s childhood in Mexico City and the women who surrounded him, is tied for the most nominations tonight. He made sure to thank his actresses and Oscar nominees Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira noting that “to create a single frame of film is very hard work” and is not done alone. He added, “If this film was created by my own memories, it was crafted through the memories great auteurs of cinematography have given to us.” In presenting the prize to Cuaron, Tyler Perry noted it was a pleasure to do so “live on camera, not during the commercial break. Thank you, Academy.” This is a category that almost didn’t have its day in the sun, after the Academy said its presentation would be taped during a commercial break and aired later in the broadcast. AMPAS reversed the decision after a backlash from the membership, including Cuaron who had tweeted “In the history of CINEMA, masterpieces have existed without sound, without color, without a story, without actors and without music. No one single film has ever existed without CINEMAtography and without editing.” Cinematography had a particularly international flair this year with the other nominees including Lukasz Zal for Pawel Pawlikowski’s Cold War and Caleb Deschanel for Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s Never Look Away, as well as Matthew Libatique for A Star Is Born and Robbie Ryan for The Favourite.<doc-sep>“Roma” helmer Alfonso Cuaron has claimed the directing Oscar for the second time in his career. He received the honor at the 91st Academy Awards on Sunday night, five years after winning it for “Gravity” in 2014. Cuaron also took home the cinematography prize, making him the first person to nab the award for serving as DP on his own film. He accepted a statue for foreign-language film on behalf of Mexico as well. “Being here doesn’t get old,” the auteur joked from the stage. He thanked Oscar-nominated “Roma” stars Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira: “You are the film. They are truly the film.” He also honored the movie’s producers and Netflix execs. “I want to thank the academy for recognizing a film centered around an indigenous woman, one of the 70 million domestic workers in the world without work rights, a character that has historically been relegated in the background in cinema,” he added, before saying “gracias” multiple times. “As artists our job is to look where others don’t. This responsibility becomes much more important in times when we are being encouraged to look away.” Cuaron adds the Oscar to a crowded mantle this season, along with the Critics’ Choice prize, the Golden Globe, the British Academy Award, the Directors Guild honor, and countless critics’ accolades, including those from the New York Film Critics Circle and the National Society of Film Critics. The film, distributed by streaming giant Netflix, was an incredibly personal endeavor for Cuaron. He virtually recreated his childhood home and many locations from his memories growing up, to tell a story focused on the nanny, Liboria Rodriguez, who helped raise him, and to investigate the trauma of his father leaving the family when Cuaron was just a child. “I think I wanted to understand, to put the pieces together,” Cuaron told Variety at the beginning of the season. “[Jorge Luis] Borges talks about how memory is an opaque, shattered mirror, but I see it more as a crack in the wall. The crack is whatever pain happened in the past. We tend to put several coats of paint over it, trying to cover that crack. But it’s still there.”<doc-sep>Cuarón becomes the first DoP to win a Best Cinematography Oscar for a film he also directed. Alfonso Cuarón won the Best Cinematography Oscar on Sunday night for “Roma,” a film he also wrote and directed. The black and white Netflix film is semi-autobiographical, based on Cuarón’s childhood memories growing up in Mexico City in the 1970s and the life of his family’s indigenous live-in maid played by Yalitza Aparicio. Cuarón had won two Oscars prior to tonight’s Academy Awards — Best Director and Best Film Editing (shared with Mark Sanger) for his 2013 film “Gravity.” While Cuarón is hardly the first to do double duty as director and cinematographer on a film, he is the first to win the Best Cinematography Oscar for a film he also directed. The “Roma” director has always worked with his friend and long-time collaborator Emmanuel Lubezki – who has won three Academy Awards, including one for “Gravity” – who helped prep “Roma,” but ultimately had to walk away from shooting the film when its production schedule ballooned to 110 days and conflicted with the DoP’s prior commitments. screengrab Cuarón came into the evening with four nominations for “Roma,” including Best Director, while as a producer on the film he is also up for Best Picture and Best Foreign Language film. He also served as screenwriter and co-editor on his most personal film to date, but was not nominated in those categories. After nominee Lukasz Zal won The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) award for his work on “Cold War,” the category looked to be a match-up of the two black and white films, with the high profile “Roma” director being the heavy favorite with a larger pool of Academy voters. Also nominated were Matthew Libatique for “A Star Is Born,” Robbie Ryan for “The Favourite,” and the surprise nominee Caleb Deschanel for “Never Look Away.” In addition to a director winning Best Cinematography, this was an unusual year for the category which is normally loaded with veteran cinematographers with multiple prior nominations. Four of the five 2019 nominees were first-timers, with only Libatique having received a prior nomination in 2011 for “Black Swan,” while Zal had been a co-nominee for “Ida” in 2015. The 91st Academy Awards took place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, February 25. The host-less show aired on ABC. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.<doc-sep>	“Roma” took home three Academy Awards tonight — though not Best Picture, which went to “Green Book.” Alfonso Cuarón did win an Oscar for directing the film. It was his second victory in the category, following his previous award for “Gravity.” And it marks the fifth time in six years that Best Director has gone to one of the “Three Amigos,” a trio of acclaimed Mexican directors that also includes Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro Iñárritu. “Roma” is based on Cuarón’s childhood in Mexico City, as told through the eyes of the family’s maid Cleo. It went into the night with 10 nominations, tying “The Favourite” for the most nods, so it seemed well-positioned to bring home the first Best Picture award for a streaming film (it would also have been the first for a foreign language film). Despite losing out on the biggest prize, it won the awards for Best Cinematography, Best Foreign Language Film and Best Director. “Being up here doesn’t get old,” Cuarón said as he took the stage for the third time. He went on to thank the Academy for recognizing “a film centered around an indigenous woman — one of the 70 million domestic workers in the world without work rights, a character that had been historically relegated to the background in cinema.” Netflix spent an estimated $25 to $30 million to campaign for “Roma” — a particularly impressive sum since the film cost $15 million to make. The company also dropped its previous insistence on simultaneously releasing films on streaming and in theaters. (Giving theaters just a few weeks of exclusivity still wasn’t enough to win over the major chains.) While “Roma” was the big streaming success story for the night, Netflix’s “Period. End of Sentence.” won for Best Documentary (Short Subject). The streamer’s “Ballad of Buster Scruggs” also received three nominations, and Gillian Welch and David Rawlings took the stage to perform the movie’s Best Song contender “When The Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings,” though it didn’t win in any category. Meanwhile, Hulu’s “Minding the Gap” was nominated for Best Documentary Feature, but lost to “Free Solo.” (Update: And Amazon’s “Cold War” was nominated for Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film and Best Cinematography.) Beyond the streaming news, “Black Panther” was the first superhero movie to be nominated for Best Picture. Ultimately, it took home the awards for Best Costume Design, Best Production Design and Best Original Score. Also on the superhero front: “Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse” won for Best Animated Feature. And since I’ve written about “First Man” — hey, it won for Best Visual Effects! The awards were given out at a ceremony without a host, for only the second time in Oscar history. Instead of a monologue, there was a performance by Queen, then a montage highlighting all kinds of movies from the past year, then Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph came out to make a few host-style jokes before presenting the first award. And how did I feel about the results? Well …
A memorial opened on Sunday, dedicated to passengers and crew killed when a hijacked plane was crashed into a rural Pennsylvania field on September 11, 2001. The Tower of Voices stands 93 feet tall and includes a unique wind chime for each of the 40 who died in the crash. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge said at the dedication the chimes in the tower will provide "an everlasting concert by our heroes." SHANKSVILLE, Pa. (AP) — A tower that honors the passengers and crew killed when a hijacked plane was crashed into a rural Pennsylvania field is now in place, the final major feature of a 2,200-acre memorial. The Tower of Voices was dedicated Sunday, with remarks from former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge and the park's superintendent. The wind chimes inside the Tower of Voices. bioLinia and Paul Murdoch Architects via National Park Service The 93-foot structure at the Flight 93 memorial north of Shanksville is designed with a wind chime for each of the 40 who died on Sept. 11, 2001. Ridge, who became the first head of the federal Homeland Security Department, said the chimes, each of which is tuned and positioned to give it a distinct sound, will provide "an everlasting concert by our heroes." Three other hijacked planes were crashed into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attack. People attending the dedication stand around the 93-foot tall Tower of Voices on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa. AP Photo/Keith Srakocic President Donald Trump is expected to attend the 17th anniversary event at the Pennsylvania site on Tuesday. The Flight 93 National Memorial north of Shanksville already includes a memorial plaza, dedicated on the 10th anniversary in 2011, and a visitor's center that opened three years ago.<doc-sep>Honoring the heroes of United Flight 93 takes a whole lot of stainless steel. But you also need some serious computational analysis—and a stiff breeze. At appropriately 93 feet tall, the Tower of Voices memorial in Somerset County, Penn., will be the world's tallest wind chime tower when it opens this September (though only 8 chimes will be installed for the opening ceremony this Sunday.) This tribute to the 40 heroes of Flight 93 who died on September 11, 2001 was the work of L.A. architect Paul Murdoch. Along with his team of consultants, Murdoch used computer modeling, physical prototyping, and intricate material testing to ensure the tower design provided both a powerful visual and an ear-catching audio display. Then they had to figure out how to build the thing. Engineering Sound The Tower of Voices is perched on a mound overlooking the 2,200-acre site. A lighted stone path winds through the trees to the tower and around the mound, allowing visitors to go inside. The tower not only holds a place of prominence, but pushes the 40 individual wind chimes higher into the air. The tower itself is 548,000-pound concrete and steel structure consisting of 53 precast pieces varying in weight from 25,000 to 31,000 pounds, includes connecting beams at 40-degree angles to represent the branch angles of hemlock trees surrounding the site. The foundation required 3-inch diameter steel rods grouted inside 7-inch diameter steel casings embedded 15 feet into solid bed rock, some extending 83 feet below the surface of the plaza on a reclaimed mine. But even with such a robust and artistic form of concrete and steel, the key element remains the 40 wind chimes, each tuned and engineered to provide a pleasant sound. It wasn’t a simple process. Digital recreation of the Tower of Voices memorial. NPS Photo Chiming In Murdoch brought on a chimes artist, who added an acoustic engineer. Murdoch also enlisted help from a tuning theorist and a musician. More help came from Arup, a design and engineering firm, which provided SoundLab testing, computer modeling, and multiple physical mock-ups. Arup's Los Angeles acoustics group leader Elizabeth Valmont led the acoustic design of the chimes, and started the project by creating acoustic renderings. “Once we broke into what was really at the crux of how the visitor experience will happen, we had to break down the dynamic variables involved,” she says The strategy was twofold: how would the chimes work mechanically and audibly. The collective chimes will always produce a unique song because the chimes move with the wind. The 8-inch diameter aluminum tubes that make up each chime have half-inch thick walls and vary in length from 5 to 10 feet, weighing up to 150 pounds. Stainless steel chime strikers vary between 15 and 25 pounds, moved by quarter-inch thick aluminum plate sails powered by the speed and direction of the wind. The sound design team determined the two-octave range for the chimes, and instead of tuning all 40 to different pitches, they narrowed down the tunes to key foundational notes within the range, realizing that the sound of each one would be perceived differently because of tuning and location. “We will have 40 different sounds,” Murdoch says, “even though they are not necessarily tuned differently. A middle C on one column down low oriented a certain way will sound different than another middle C higher on a different column and oriented a different way.” A Changing Vision One of the Tower of Voices 40 chimes, some of which weighed up to 150 pounds. Gregg Payne Art + Design The tower and the chimes took different forms during design. Murdoch opened the tower itself to ensure a more 360-degree experience for the wind to approach the tower from different orientations and speeds. “Just trying to calibrate the degree of solidity versus openness was compositionally one of the big challenges of the tower,” he says. From there, he worked on the shape in order to best funnel the wind and create turbulence inside the tower to help activate the chimes in different ways, all while using computer modeling to stand in for the wind. The hemlock-sloped beams help create the wind flow, tie to designs throughout the memorial and eliminate wildlife habitat potential inside the tower. With the complex curving and sloped beams, using precast pieces became the obvious choice for construction. "The goal is to strike the chimes' fundamental frequency. Our job was more about seeing if we could hit those notes." Designing the chimes themselves, though, proved the toughest task. The 30-piece chime assemblies each needed to attach to the tower and the consultants needed to help configure the materials and size of the chimes in order to produce the desired sound. From how the wind entered the tower, how it moved the sail, how the chime tube and mechanism reacted to the striker, the 30 elements that make up the chime all lead to the acoustic output. “All of those variables have to create the sonic output desired,” Valmont says. “The goal is to excite the chime’s fundamental frequency. Our acoustic testing of the physical chime mockups enabled us to support the fabricator’s musical instrument design process.” The end result is a tube with an interior striker, vastly different than a traditional striker on the outside. The chime assembly ties to the tower with a precast corbel anchored with a plate and bar. A suspension bar with stainless steel rods and joints requires precise positioning to not distort the sound and the sail and striker attach at the bottom of the chime to produce the most vibration. The bottom of each chime is tethered to the next corbel down within the tight assembly to ensure it doesn’t hit another chime. Putting It All Together Paul Murdoch Architects To make it all work, the team started with digital analysis with computational fluid dynamic simulation and conceptual analysis, but moved to physical testing. Too large for a wind tunnel, they built full-size chimes and mounted them in an Arizona forest. Last summer a four-day test in Simi Valley in Southern California furthered testing of what was necessary for the internal striker to bend the chimes. “We needed to test what kind of sail would work inside the striker to make this happen,” Murdoch says. “The tests were very much about motion and the components needed to generate the sound.” The testing showed needed changes, whether switching away from a stainless-steel cable connection to a more robust material because of the constant torque or creating an “S” shape on the sail to allow it to move more freely. Moving chimes into the Los Angeles-based SoundLab allowed the team to use a controlled environment to study the relationship between the striker and the chime. This testing established the feasibility of the internal striker and the placement of it inside the tube. Using the SoundLab, including playing recordings of ambient noise from the actual site, allowed everyone to make decisions in real-time without having to set up installs in Pennsylvania. With traffic noise, crickets and wind through trees from the site playing in the lab, “we had a different idea of what to expect at each listener location,” Valmont says. “Physical testing and using the SoundLab as a tool was critical.” The final result was the 93-foot-tall Tower of Voices containing 40 individual wind chimes. It took a lot of work, but it more more than worth to remember the 40 heroes of a Flight 93. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>	Nearly 17 years after passengers on a hijacked flight from New Jersey to California fought back against a band of terrorists who then crashed the jetliner into a rural Pennsylvania field, a symbol of their bravery and sacrifice will be unveiled Sunday at the place where they fell to earth. The Tower of Voices, a roughly 93-foot-tall concrete and steel structure, contains a wind chime for each of the 40 passengers and crew members who were killed on Sept. 11, 2001, and represents the final phase of the Flight 93 National Memorial. Each chime will generate its own distinctive sound. “Together their voices will ring out into perpetuity, with this beautiful Somerset County, Pennsylvania, wind,” park Superintendent Stephen Clark said. The first chimes of the Tower of Voices pic.twitter.com/aWPkfIcaTv — Chris Lovingood WTAE (@CLovingoodWTAE) September 9, 2018 The memorial at a the crash site, about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) north of Shanksville, already includes a memorial plaza, dedicated on the 10th anniversary in 2011, and a visitor’s center that opened three years ago. Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, who served as the nation’s first homeland security secretary after 9/11, will make the keystone speech. At the heart of the Tower of Voices are the chimes, aluminum tubes that range from 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 meters) long and weigh as much as 150 pounds (68 kilograms). They have been tuned, but no one can be quite sure how they will sound until they are installed. “We wanted to do, I’ll call it a living memorial in sound, because the last memory of many of the people on the plane were through their voices on phone calls,” said Paul Murdoch, the memorial’s Los Angeles-based architect. “And we wanted to use the natural forces of the site to activate the chimes.” READ NEXT: Flight 93 Memorial to ‘Standing Up’ Set to Open in Pennsylvania Nearly 3,000 people died in the Sept. 11 attacks, when terrorists seized control of four planes. They flew two of them into the World Trade Center skyscrapers in New York and the fourth into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. The Flight 93 passengers learned in mid-flight they had been hijacked and responded heroically, declaring “let’s roll” as they acted to confront their adversaries inside the plane. Officials concluded the terrorists were aiming the Boeing 757 toward Washington, to be used as an enormous airborne weapon. Thirteen passengers on the plane made a combined 37 phone calls during the attack, getting information about the other three hijackings and crashes. “When they learned that, it galvanized them as a group,” Clark said. “They said, ‘We’re not going back to any airport. This is a suicide mission. '” As some passengers apparently tried to storm the cabin, the hijacker at the controls then rolled the plane, trying to throw them off balance, before the aircraft became inverted and crashed at 563 mph (906 kph) on the edge of a reclaimed strip mine at 10:30 a.m. The impact ignited about 100 hemlock trees. Hemlocks are used as symbols throughout the memorial’s design. A 17-ton (15-metric ton) sandstone marks the impact site, located within a 44-acre (17.8-hectare) fenced-off area of the crash debris field referred to as the “sacred ground.” Access to that part of the park is limited to family members of the passengers and crew. Four 40-foot (12.2-meter) containers of remaining debris from the crashed airplane were buried within the sacred ground area during a private ceremony on June 21. The memorial was funded with $46 million from 110,000 private donors, including $6 million to design and build the Tower of Voices. Volunteers are well on their way to the goal of planting 150,000 seedlings around the 2,200 acre (890 hectare) park. It attracted about 400,000 visitors last year. The dedication comes two days before the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. President Donald Trump is expected to attend that memorial ceremony Tuesday in Shanksville, along with Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Shanksville is about 75 miles (121 kilometers) southeast of Pittsburgh.
A diver in South Africa survived an experience out of a biblical passage last month when he ended up almost being swallowed by a whale. Rainer Schimpf, 51, was snorkeling off the coast of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, when he ended up in the path of a Bryde's whale, which opened his jaws and engulfed him headfirst. "We were very astonished that out of nowhere this whale came up," he told Sky News. "I was busy concentrating on the sharks because you want to know if the shark is in front of you or behind you, left or right, so we were very focused on the sharks and their behavior -- then suddenly it got dark." NEW ORCA SPECIES DISCOVERED? SCIENTISTS SPOT MYSTERIOUS KILLER WHALES Schimpf, who has worked as a dive operator for over 15 years, said he was in the water with two others for just a matter of minutes before the whale appeared. He had happened to be with a group recording a sardine run, which is where marine animals such as dolphins, whales, and sharks gather fish into bait balls. The 51-year-old said once the whale grabbed him, he felt pressure around his body but soon realized he was too big for the whale to swallow him whole which was "kind of an instant relief." "So my next thought was that the whale may take me down into the ocean and release me further down, so I instantly held my breath," he told Sky News. "Obviously he realized I was not what he wanted to eat so he spat me out again." Unlike the biblical story of Jonah, Schimpf didn't end up in the animal's belly but was able to swim away after being released. OVER 80 PEOPLE INJURED AFTER JAPANESE FERRY COLLIDES WITH WHALE Bryde's whales are members of the baleen whale family, a group that includes blue whales and humpback whales, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Bryde’s whales are named for Johan Bryde, a Norwegian who built the first whaling stations in South Africa in the early 20th century," the agency says. "Bryde’s whales are found in warm, temperate oceans including the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific." The whales can weigh about 90,000 pounds and grow to a length of 55 feet, according to the NOAA. The whales have a diet that consists mainly of krill, red crabs, shrimp and a "variety of schooling fishes," but clearly not adult humans. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP Schimpf said the whole experience showed him just how small humans are in the world. "Once you're grabbed by something that's 15 tons heavy and very fast in the water, you realize you're actually only that small in the middle of the ocean," he told Sky News.<doc-sep>Off the coast of South Africa, dive tour operator Rainer Schimpf gets pulled into the mouth of a whale along with a mass of sardines. While photographing a mass of sardines off South Africa's coast last month, a dive tour operator ended up on the wrong side of a whale — the inside. Rainer Schimpf, 51, was in the water with a "bait ball," a swirling school of sardines surrounded by predators, when he suddenly felt the world go dark. He quickly realized he'd been scooped up by a whale, he told The Today Show. "I held my breath," he said in an interview with Today, expecting the whale to pull him down. "I mean there was no other thing I could do," he added. "I mean, you can't fight a 15-ton animal." [8 Human-Animal Encounters That Went Horribly Wrong] Whale encounter Fortunately, the whale was likely as displeased about the situation as Schimpf and spit the swimmer out within a couple of seconds. Photographer Heinz Toperczer, who was working aboard a nearby boat, captured an amazing photo of Schimpf halfway inside the whale's mouth above the waterline, with only the diver's lower body dangling out. Live Science was unable to reach Schimpf for comment, but it seems that neither Schimpf nor the whale saw each other before one ended up in the other's mouth. The whale was a Bryde's whale, pronounced Broo-dah's. These animals range throughout tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, said Tom Jefferson, a biologist and member of the scientific advisory board for Save the Whales. They're not so well-known, in part because they don't venture into polar regions and thus were never widely hunted by whalers, Jefferson said. Around South Africa, these whales average around 43 to 45 feet (13.1 to 13.7 meters) in length. Despite the inevitable comparisons to the Biblical story of Jonah, Schimpf was never in danger of being swallowed by the whale, said Uko Gorter, the president of the American Cetacean Society. Bryde's whales are batch feeders. They lunge forward into schools of small fish, take in a wiggling mouthful of fish and water, and then strain the water back out through their floppy baleen plates before swallowing the remaining fish. Their throats are too small to swallow a human, Gorter told Live Science, though some baleen whales have been documented to accidentally swallow small birds. Humpback whales, he said, have been found with Cassin's auklets in their stomachs, but those birds grow to only about 9 inches (23 centimeters) long. Gentle giants Though being scooped up by a whale was a new experience for Schimpf, it may have been old hat for the whale, Jefferson said. Because bait balls attract a lot of predators in a small area, it's likely the Bryde's whales accidentally scoop up inedible animals fairly often, he said. Perhaps prior experience is why the whale didn't hesitate to spit Schimpf out. The only whale that would likely be capable of swallowing a human would be a toothed whale, the sperm whale, which eats prey such as giant squid. A sperm whale did ram and sink the whale ship Essex in 1820, but there are no reliable reports of a sperm whale ever eating a human. The only such report found floating around early 1900s newspapers involved the unlikely story of a sailor surviving 36 hours in a sperm whale's stomach, and that account proved, upon investigation in 1991, to be a fish tale. While the incident off South Africa was clearly an accident on both man's and whale's part, the lure of going viral with photographs and video has often brought people much too close to whales, noted Maris Sidenstecker, the co-founder of Save the Whales. Divers, swimmers and boaters should admire from a distance, Sidenstecker told Live Science, to ensure that whales can feed, rest and nurture their young without interruption. Originally published on Live Science.<doc-sep>A South African man was about to become a real-life Jonah — but this whale decided to spit him out. Dive tour operator Rainer Schimpf, 51, went with his team last month to film a sardine run — a natural event where gannets, penguins, seals, dolphins, whales and sharks work together to gather fish into bait balls, Barcroft TV reported. “I was trying to get a shot of a shark going through the bait ball, and then the next moment it got dark and I felt some pressure,” Schimpf said. “[That’s] when I instantly knew, a whale had grabbed me.” “I could feel the pressure on my hip — there is no time for fear in a situation like that — you have to use your instinct,” he said. Meanwhile, his colleagues kept the cameras rolling, capturing Schimpf’s entire torso trapped in the marine mammal’s jaws. “As Rainer moved towards the bait ball, suddenly the water churned widely up, and I knew for sure that something was about to happen, so I held the focus of my camera on him firmly,” photographer Heinz Toperczer told the outlet. “Suddenly, dolphins shot out of the water, a white spray came out and then a whale appeared and grabbed him!” Luckily, the Bryde’s whale — a baleen-feeder that eats primarily plankton, and can reach lengths of up to 55 feet and weigh up to 30 tons — realized its mistake and let go of Schimpf, both escaping unharmed. “Whales are no man-eaters,” he said. “So this was really an accident. They are gentle giants.” Once he was set free, he immediately asked his photographer if he “got it.” “I knew this was a very special moment,” Schimpf told the outlet. But he hopes it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “I don’t think I had a ‘whale’ of a time, but I have the inside knowledge of what a whale is like,” Schmipf said. “It was an interesting experience, but certainly nothing I want to do again.”<doc-sep>	It was a chance encounter that neither man nor beast was fully prepared for. Wildlife photographer Rainer Schimpf was simply swimming along, filming a sardine run off the coast of South Africa, when suddenly, the sea began to churn. "I was trying to get a shot of a shark going through the bait ball," Schimpf said in a video published by Barcroft Animals. "The next moment, it got dark and I felt some pressure on my hip." The photographer and dive operator knew instantly where he was. As is clearly shown in the footage below, Schimpf had accidentally wound up in the mouth of a feeding Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni edeni). Port Elizabeth Harbour's sardine run is the biggest animal migration in the Southern Hemisphere. Here, at certain times of year, gannets, penguins, seals, dolphins, whales and sharks all work together to rally fish into bait balls for easy catching. Aged 51, Schimpf has been working as a dive tour operator in town for more than 15 years, and each year, he makes sure to document the migration. This time round, he just happened to wind up as bait himself. There was little Schimpf could have done to avoid the situation. When a mammoth marine creature like a Bryde's whale - which is usually around 14 or 15 metres long (45 or 50 feet) - opens its mouth to feed, it engulfs whatever is in its way. There was no time for fear. Schimpf could only hold his breath and hope that the whale would not take him deeper. After two seconds or so, his wish was granted. "The next moment I kind of felt the whale was turning either way, and the pressure was released, and then I was washed out of the mouth," said Schimpf. "I [came] back up onto the surface where surely I wasn't looking too clever." Heinz Toperczer, another photographer who was on a nearby boat, managed to capture the terrifying moments. It's hard to tell who was more surprised by the situation: the human or the whale. After all, this was probably an accidental event that the whale did not see coming either. "As they come up with their mouths open, they can't really see what is in front of them, and I guess the whale thought it was a dolphin," said fellow dive instructor Claudia Weber-Gebert in the video. "Whales are not man-eaters. This was no attack, it was not the fault of the whale, and they are really sensitive. They are gentle giants, and it was just an accident." Besides, even if the whale had wanted to, it wouldn't have been able to swallow Schimpf. As part of the baleen whale family, Bryde's whales have a relatively small esophagus - smaller than the size of a basketball - suited to eat small prey like plankton, krill and sardines, but not something as large as a human. With a small esophagus and no teeth, it's no doubt one of the best creatures to mistake you for food in the ocean. "Had it been a shark it would have been two of me, and I don't think that I would have seen anything again," Schimpf later told 9News. "It is quite the tale to tell ... I was spat out by a whale."
The Supreme Court has upheld President Trump's travel ban Tuesday. With a 5-4 vote, the court wrote in its opinion that the order is "squarely within the scope of Presidential authority." The 5-4 decision Tuesday is the court's first substantive ruling on a Trump administration policy. The president reacted to news of the ruling, tweeting "Wow!" SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS TRUMP TRAVEL BAN. Wow! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2018 Mr. Trump later hailed the ruling as a "tremendous victory for the American People and the Constitution." In a statement issued by the White House, he said, "This ruling is also a moment of profound vindication following months of hysterical commentary from the media and Democratic politicians who refuse to do what it takes to secure our border and our country. As long as I am President, I will defend the sovereignty, safety, and security of the American People, and fight for an immigration system that serves the national interests of the United States and its citizens." Meanwhile, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the ruling was "critical to ensuring the continued authority of President Trump -- and all future presidents -- to protect the American people." Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, joined by his four conservative colleagues. Roberts wrote that presidents have substantial power to regulate immigration. "The sole prerequisite," Roberts wrote, is "that the entry of the covered aliens 'would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.' The President has undoubtedly fulfilled that requirement here." Roberts pointed out that Mr. Trump had ordered an evaluation of every country's compliance with the risk assessment baseline and then issued the findings. "Based on that review, he found that restricting entry of aliens who could not be vetted with adequate information was in the national interest," Roberts wrote. Roberts also rejected the challengers' claim of anti-Muslim bias. But he was careful not to endorse either Trump's provocative statements about immigration in general and Muslims in particular. "We express no view on the soundness of the policy," Roberts wrote. However, CBS News' Jan Crawford cautioned on CBSN that it "would be a mistake to read this ruling as, Trump can say whatever he wants." The next case, the next issue -- perhaps Russia -- is a different case, and he could make remarks that could show insight into a different area of law. The court may have signaled its eventual approval in December, when the justices allowed the policy to take full effect even as the court fight continued and lower courts had ruled it out of bounds. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in a dissent that based on the evidence in the case "a reasonable observer would conclude that the Proclamation was motivated by anti-Muslim animus." She said her colleagues arrived at the opposite result by "ignoring the facts, misconstruing our legal precedent, and turning a blind eye to the pain and suffering the Proclamation inflicts upon countless families and individuals, many of whom are United States citizens." Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan also dissented. In a tweet from the ACLU, the advocacy group said "this is not the first time the Court has been wrong, or has allowed official racism and xenophobia to continue rather than standing up to it." They added, "History has its eyes on us -- and will judge today's decision harshly." BREAKING: SCOTUS has upheld Trump’s Muslim ban. This is not the first time the Court has been wrong, or has allowed official racism and xenophobia to continue rather than standing up to it. History has its eyes on us — and will judge today’s decision harshly. #NoMuslimBanEver — ACLU (@ACLU) June 26, 2018 Ryan Mace of Amnesty International USA said in a statement following the ruling that the policy is "a catastrophe all around." "Some of the people banned from this policy are fleeing conflicts that the United States has had a direct hand in creating or perpetuating, as is the case in Yemen and Syria. In those cases especially we are essentially lighting a house on fire and locking the escape door shut. This ban, and the anti-Muslim sentiment in which it originated, has no place in a country that claims to value human rights," Mace added. Nihad Awad, Executive Director of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), said at a press conference that the Court's ruling was "extremely disappointing" to Muslims and "all people who believe in equal protection and equality." Awad said the ruling now gives the Trump administration a "free hand to re-inject discrimination against a particular faith back into our immigration system." CBS News Read the opinion here: Travel ban arguments In April, Mr. Trump appeared likely to win his argument when the case was heard by the high court. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy both signaled support for the travel policy in arguments. The ban's challengers almost certainly needed one of those two justices in order to strike down the ban on travelers from several mostly Muslim countries. The justices voted in December to allow the policy to take full effect pending their full consideration. The Trump administration asked the court to reverse lower court rulings that would strike down the ban. The Supreme Court also considered whether the president can indefinitely keep people out of the country based on nationality, and it also looked at whether the policy is aimed at excluding Muslims from the United States. Kennedy challenged lawyer Neal Katyal, representing the challengers, about whether the ban would be unending. He said the policy's call for a report every six months "indicates there'll be a reassessment" from time to time. The travel ban was the first Trump policy to undergo a full-blown Supreme Court review. The justices examined the third version of a policy that Mr. Trump first rolled out a week after taking office, triggering chaos and protests across the U.S. as travelers were stopped from boarding international flights and detained at airports for hours. The first version was blocked by courts and withdrawn. Its replacement was allowed to take partial effect, but expired in September. The current version is indefinite and now applies to travelers from five countries with overwhelmingly Muslim populations — Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. It also affects two non-Muslim countries, blocking travelers from North Korea and some Venezuelan government officials and their families. A sixth majority-Muslim country, Chad, was removed from the list in April after improving "its identity-management and information sharing practices," Mr. Trump said in a proclamation. The administration argued that courts have no role to play because the president has broad powers over immigration and national security, and foreigners have no right to enter the country. The challengers argued that his policy amounts to the Muslim ban that Mr. Trump called for as a candidate, violating the Constitution's prohibition against religious bias.<doc-sep>Many legal experts have spotted a clear tension between this week’s close 5-4 Supreme Court decision upholding President Trump’s travel ban, and the court’s very recent 7-2 ruling in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The cases raised similar issues, yet the justices went in opposite directions. Both decisions involved seemingly neutral government policies that were challenged in part because of evidence showing the true purpose behind them was discrimination on the basis of religion. In Masterpiece Cakeshop, the court ruled in favor of Jack Phillips, a baker who refused to prepare a cake for a same-sex wedding, because he opposes such marriages on religious grounds. He prevailed because the justices found that some members of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which had adjudicated his claim, expressed bias against Phillips’ religious beliefs. Donald Trump, meanwhile, famously called for a “Muslim ban” on the campaign trail — then instituted a travel ban that targeted Muslim-majority nations. Yet the court upheld the travel ban, and the majority concluded that Trump’s statements should not determine the outcome of the case. All five justices who voted to uphold the travel ban were also in the majority in Masterpiece Cakeshop. This contradiction can’t be justified. The main rationalization for it — that immigration policy is largely exempt from normal judicial scrutiny — is badly flawed. Immigration and national security policy should not be exempt from the usual constraints of the Bill of Rights. Other possible justifications for the discrepancy also fall flat. There was much stronger evidence of bias in the travel ban case than in Masterpiece Jack Phillips prevailed, according to the majority in Masterpiece Cakeshop, because the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed “elements of a clear and impermissible hostility toward the sincere religious beliefs that motivated his objection.” It was the words of the commission members that did them in. One member said it was “despicable” for the baker to use “freedom of religion ... to justify discrimination.” Another compared the baker’s views to the use of religion to justify slavery and the Holocaust. The comparison between refusal to bake a cake and the Holocaust was indeed absurd, and it is reasonable to see that statement as evidence of not just foolishness but bias. But as Justice Sonia Sotomayor points out in her dissent in the travel ban case, the evidence of discriminatory motivation on Trump’s part is far stronger. The travel ban proclamation followed numerous statements by President Trump explicitly advocating a “Muslim ban” (dating back to a December 2015 policy proposal calling for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States”). When Trump eventually switched to a “territorial” policy focused on Muslim-majority nations, he repeated equated that new policy with the earlier “Muslim ban” proposal. He even described the latter as an “expansion” of the former. What’s more, the discriminatory motivations expressed in Trump’s statements played a far bigger role in the travel ban policy than the two commisioners’ biases did in the original adjudication of Masterpiece Cakeshop. As Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg pointed out in her Masterpiece Cakeshop dissent, the two officials who expressed prejudice against Phillips did not by themselves determine the outcome. The case was first considered by the Colorado Civil Rights Division (which found “probable cause” for a violation of state antidiscrimination law), then assessed by the Civil Rights Commission, then heard by an administrative law judge, and finally reviewed by the Colorado Court of Appeals. Only two of seven members of the Civil Rights Commission expressed hostility towards the baker’s beliefs religious beliefs; there was no indication of hostility on the part of the other three bodies that considered the case. By contrast, where the travel ban is concerned, there was only one ultimate decision-maker: Trump. His motives are the ones that matter. Chief Justice Roberts’s opinion for the court in Trump v. Hawaii endorses the administration’s claim that the travel ban was not based on Trump’s incendiary remarks on the campaign trail but rather rooted in a “worldwide review process undertaken by multiple Cabinet officials.” But that supposedly thorough review produced a cursory report only 17 pages long. And the resulting proclamation does not even consistently apply the criteria supposedly used to decide which countries effectively share information used to preventing terrorism. Longstanding Supreme Court precedent holds that a seemingly neutral government policy can be invalidated if there is evidence that its true purpose was discrimination on the basis of prohibited classifications, such as race, ethnicity, or religion. But the government can potentially still prevail if it proves that the policy would likely have been enacted for legitimate reasons even in the absence of illicit motivations. By that standard, too, the case for upholding the Colorado ruling in the cake-shop case is stronger than that for upholding the travel ban. The official security justification for the travel ban policy is laughably weak. In the 40-year period for which there is data, no one has ever been killed in a terrorist attack in the US by an entrant from any of the nations covered by travel ban. Combined with Trump’s statements and the highly dubious “review process, this strongly suggests that the official rationale for the policy was a pretext. By contrast, there was a plausible rationale for Colorado’s decision: preventing discrimination against same-sex couples, whether or not such discrimination had religious motivations. All efforts to distinguish the two cases fall short In upholding the travel ban, the Supreme Court majority ruled that the policy was subject only to the most minimal “rational basis” review because it involves immigration policy, and immigration policy is relevant to national security. That policy realm, Chief Justice Roberts wrote, involves issues where the executive has specialized expertise that judges lack. But there is no good reason to exempt immigration or security policy from normal judicial scrutiny for potential violations of the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment, like the rest of the Bill of Rights, was intended to limit government power generally; it wasn’t framed as applying to only specific categories of policies, or to certain categories of people. While many argue that special deference to the executive in the immigration arena is mandated by previous Supreme Court precedent, the relevant cases are far less definitive than is often believed. And the court could have limited the scope of those precedents rather than give immigration policy near-total exemption from normal constraints on religious discrimination. The executive certainly does sometimes have specialized expertise on immigration and national security. But the same is true of numerous other areas of government policy, where the courts do not apply any such ultradeferential approach, including even internal violence and terrorism. Almost any policy addressing a complicated issue is likely to have elements that involve specialized expertise. Another possible distinction between the two cases (one not adopted by the court) is that much of the evidence of discriminatory intent in the travel ban case comes from campaign statements, rather than official deliberations. But there is no good justification to exempt campaign statements from consideration as evidence. Such statements can provide powerful indications of motive, and excluding them would create a dangerous road map for future discriminatory policies, allowing politicians to state their true purposes in the campaign only to use more guarded language later. Finally, some suggest that Masterpiece Cakeshop presents a special situation because it involved a decision by “an adjudicatory body” (as Justice Anthony Kennedy put it in his majority opinion) rather than a legislature or an executive official. The Civil Rights Commission acted more like a court than like an elected official, in other words, and therefore perhaps should be subjected to tighter judicial scrutiny of its members’ statements. But as Justice Kennedy also noted, the general rule at issue is that the government may not “base laws or regulations on hostility to a religion or religious viewpoint.” That rule applies to all branches of the government. Ultimately, the different results in the two cases arise from the application of a double standard between immigration (especially when linked to national security) and other areas of government policy.<doc-sep>U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg participates in an annual Women's History Month reception hosted by Pelosi in the U.S. capitol building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. This year's event honored the women Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court: Associate Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, celebrating her 20th anniversary on the bench, is photographed in the West conference room at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Friday, August 30, 2013. (Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post via Getty Images) WASHINGTON - JUNE 25: The exterior view of the U.S. Supreme Court is seen June 25, 2007 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court has ruled to give more freedom for interest groups and unions to run TV ads before elections, and also ruled to limit taxpayers' rights to challenge government initiatives as unconstitutionally promoting religion. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy testifies before the House Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee on Capitol Hill March 8, 2007 in Washington, DC. Kennedy and Justice Clarence Thomas spoke about concerns with the ongoing remodeling of the court building, the reduction of paperwork due to electronic media and the disparity of pay between federal judges and lawyers working in the private sector. WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: Members of the Supreme Court, (L-R) Chief Justice John Roberts and associate justices Anthony Kennendy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John Paul Stevens, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, applaud as U.S. President Barack Obama arrives to deliver his State of the Union speech before a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol February 12, 2013 in Washington, DC. Facing a divided Congress, Obama focused his speech on new initiatives designed to stimulate the U.S. economy and said, 'It?s not a bigger government we need, but a smarter government that sets priorities and invests in broad-based growth'. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2017, file photo, the Supreme Court in Washington is seen at sunset. The Supreme Court is ordering Washington courts to take a new look at the case of a florist who refused to provide services for the wedding of two men because of her religious objection to same-sex marriage. The justices' order Monday means the court is passing for now on the chance to decide whether business owners can refuse on religious grounds to comply with anti-discrimination laws that protect LGBT people. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) Justices of the US Supreme Court sit for their official group photo at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on June 1, 2017. Seated (L-R): Associate Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Anthony M. Kennedy, Chief Justice of the US John G. Roberts, Associate Justices Clarence Thomas and Stephen Breyer. Standing (L-R): Associate Justices Elena Kagan, Samuel Alito Jr., Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 23: People wait in line to enter the U.S. Supreme Court, on April 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. Today the high court is hearing arguments in Chavez-Mesa v. US, which concerns a technical matter regarding sentencing guidelines. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will be representing the government. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) People gather outside the Supreme Court during oral arguments in the U.S. v. Micosoft case February 27, 2018 in Washington, DC. Front row from left, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, and Associate Justice Stephen Breyer, back row from left, Associate Justice Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Samuel Alito Jr., Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch pose for a group portrait in the East Conference Room of the Supreme Court June 1, 2017 in Washington, DC. WASHINGTON - MARCH 08: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy testifies before the House Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee on Capitol Hill March 8, 2007 in Washington, DC. Thomas and fellow Justice Clarence Thomas spoke about concerns with the ongoing remodeling of the court building, the reduction of paperwork due to electronic media and the disparity of pay between federal judges and lawyers working in the private sector. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Editor’s Note: Vikram David Amar is the dean and the Iwan Foundation Professor of Law at the University of Illinois College of Law in Urbana-Champaign, and Akhil Reed Amar is Sterling Professor of Law at the Yale Law School. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the authors. (CNN) — In one of this year’s most-watched cases, Trump v. Hawaii, Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday authored a five-justice opinion upholding the latest version of the Trump administration’s so-called travel ban. While Roberts is the court’s formal leader, Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy is often its fulcrum – the proverbial swing justice – and its conscience. In the Hawaii case, Kennedy penned a brief and high-minded concurrence, epitomizing his approach to being a good judge and a good leader. By joining Roberts’ opinion, Kennedy kept his eye on the ball: the executive order itself, which regulates entry into the United States by nationals of several Middle Eastern and African countries, rather than the President’s various inflammatory tweets about Muslims. (More on that later.) As important as his swing vote was, Kennedy’s words in concurrence are also noteworthy. In classic Kennedy fashion, he called for civility and mutual respect in an increasingly polarized country and world. Kennedy begins his concurrence by trying to identify “common ground” between all the justices in this case: everyone on the court abhors religious and other invidious discrimination. Finding common ground in contentious cases is what Kennedy has tried to do for decades. Sometimes, he votes with the liberals, other times the conservatives. When he is on the losing side of a case, he registers his disagreement by “respectfully dissenting,” whereas many other justices in hot-button cases more curtly “dissent.” He never insults the positions advanced by other members of his court, the lower courts, or the lawyers appearing before him. Respect for the dignity of all persons does more than inform Kennedy’s personal style; it underlies his substantive constitutional vision. In case after case, he has taken the lead to invalidate government actions that reflect disrespect of all manner of groups and individuals. He has done so in landmark rulings protecting gays and lesbians (e.g., Romer v. Evans in 1996 and Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015), religious minorities (Lee v. Weisman in 1992 and Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye City of Hialeah in 1993), and religious majority expression (in this year’s Colorado baker case.) Why, then, did Justice Kennedy vote to uphold the travel ban, given some of the nasty comments tweeted by President Donald Trump in the run-up to earlier versions of the order? Because there is a difference between what a President (or presidential candidate) offhandedly says, and what a policy adopted by an administration actually does. The travel ban, in form and effect, does not single out Muslims; indeed, the countries with the largest Muslim populations aren’t covered. Although this Supreme Court, including Justice Kennedy, is sometimes criticized for not staying in its institutional lane (e.g., Bush v. Gore), today Kennedy and the majority were properly mindful of the limits on the court’s role. Especially in the foreign affairs realm, Justice Kennedy didn’t think the court’s job includes policing the President’s potty mouth. And yet, Kennedy did feel the need to remind us all that even though the court is not in a position to censor or closely edit a President in the foreign affairs arena, the President himself should remember that he is not above the law, and is bound by oath to uphold constitutional values of religious tolerance and respect. In Kennedy’s words: “An anxious world must know that our Government remains committed always to the liberties the Constitution seeks to preserve and protect, so that freedom extends outward, and lasts.” Although today Kennedy voted with Trump, he distanced himself from the President in style and in substance – a polite uniter rather than an insulting divider.<doc-sep>	WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 01: U.S. President Donald Trump announces his decision for the United States to pull out of the Paris climate agreement in the Rose Garden at the White House June 1, 2017 in Washington, DC. Trump pledged on the campaign trail to withdraw from the accord, which former President Barack Obama and the leaders of 194 other countries signed in 2015. The agreement is intended to encourage the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to limit global warming to a manageable level. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 25: Travelers with their baggage are seen in a check-in line September 25, 2006 at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois. The TSA announced today they have slightly relaxed the ban on carrying some liquids onto passenger flights to allow most toiletries and beverages bought after the security checkpoints. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 23: People wait in line to enter the U.S. Supreme Court, on April 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. Today the high court is hearing arguments in Chavez-Mesa v. US, which concerns a technical matter regarding sentencing guidelines. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will be representing the government. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) WASHINGTON - MARCH 08: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy testifies before the House Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee on Capitol Hill March 8, 2007 in Washington, DC. Thomas and fellow Justice Clarence Thomas spoke about concerns with the ongoing remodeling of the court building, the reduction of paperwork due to electronic media and the disparity of pay between federal judges and lawyers working in the private sector. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (CNN) — In its most consequential decision of the term, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld President Donald Trump’s so-called “travel ban” – arguing that the chief executive has the power to limit entrance into the US from seven countries. It is a massive win for Trump, who had watched as his attempts to put travel bans in place were repeatedly blocked by lower courts – arguing that to do so exceeded his power and that his emphasis during the campaign on making this a “Muslim ban” violated the Constitution. “Wow,” was all the usually voluble Trump offered up – via Twitter – in the immediate aftermath of the ruling. Having skimmed the actual ruling – and having closely followed the politics of the travel ban for more than a year – here are my five takeaways. 1. Elections matter. A lot. The vote to uphold the travel ban was 5-4 – along party lines. If Hillary Clinton beats Donald Trump on November 8, 2016, there’s no way that the vacancy caused by the death of Antonin Scalia is filled by Neil Gorsuch. It’s almost certainly filled instead by someone more likely to side with Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor rather than Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. And while it’s impossible to believe a Clinton White House would have proposed a travel ban anything close to what Trump did, even if she did, the court would be far more likely to vote it down – not uphold it. The truth is, Republicans may not yet be done reaping the judicial consequences of Trump’s 2016 victory. Rumors are rampant that Justice Anthony Kennedy may well retire at the end of this term, which comes to a close this week. While Kennedy voted in favor of upholding the travel ban – and was appointed to the court by Ronald Reagan – he is seen as a not-always-reliable conservative vote. His retirement would afford Trump an opportunity to appoint someone along the lines of Gorsuch and, in so doing, impact the ideological makeup of the court for decades to come. 2. This is as much Mitch McConnell’s victory as it is Donald Trump’s Trump will view the travel ban decision as a validation that he was, from the start, right all along about his ability to limit who comes into the country. (Worth noting: The court upheld the third iteration of the travel ban after the first two were thrown out due to problems with the way they were written.) And there’s no question this is a win for Trump. He campaigned on the idea that the President needed to make the tough call of keeping people from certain countries out – or, at least, upping the threshold to allow them into the United States – in order to keep Americans safe.
Ocasio-Cortez, 29, who burst onto the national stage after defeating a high-ranking incumbent, said her departure from Facebook was a “big deal” because the platform had been crucial to her campaign. She still has accounts on the site, she said, and according to the company’s ad library, her official Facebook account has dozens of active advertisements sponsored by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Congress. Among the ads are calls to support her signature Green New Deal, and fundraising pleas to support progressive legislation and to counteract a super PAC aligned against her.<doc-sep>NEW A vastly improved search engine helps you find the latest on companies, business leaders, and news more easily.<doc-sep>It's a boat? It's a plane? No, it's a 'seaglider.' And it goes fast...really fast NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 16: SVP and Director at IBM Research Arvind Krishna speaks on stage during the 2016 Wired Business Conference on June 16, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Brian Ach/Getty Images for Wired) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, gives his opening remarks flanked by local state delegation members prior to signing legislation that seeks to punish social media platforms that remove conservative ideas from their sites, inside Florida International University's MARC building in Miami on Monday, May 24, 2021. (Carl Juste/Miami Herald via AP) Cutting ties with Facebook is harder than you think. Here's how to do it, and what's at stake. Editor’s Note: This week, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced she quit Facebook. Our reporters weighed in with their own experiences: Why I quit and Why I stayed. (CNN Business) — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is one of the most prolific and powerful politicians on social media, with millions of followers who hang on her every post and tweet. She’s said goodbye to Facebook, though. On Sunday, Ocasio-Cortez, 29, told Yahoo News podcast Skullduggery that she had given up her personal account on the world’s largest social network (the Democratic representative still has a professional presence, with a verified profile and plenty of political ads running on Facebook). She called social media a “public health risk” that results in issues like increased isolation, depression, addiction, escapism and anxiety. “I think it poses these issues to everyone,” the New York congresswoman said. She said she’s started to impose “little rules” on herself in other social domains such as Twitter, which she tries to stay off on the weekends. She didn’t elaborate on why, precisely, she left Facebook (FB) specifically. But the website has come to embody many of the ills of social media. I get it. Like Ocasio-Cortez, I, too, quit Facebook. And I’m not planning on going back. I took the plunge in mid-December, right after two of the many scandals the social network has been facing. First, there was the announcement that Facebook exposed millions of users’ privately shared photos without permission. Just days later, a report by The New York Times revealed that Facebook shared more of its users’ data with companies like Microsoft and Amazon than it previously admitted. Like a lot of Facebook users, I was already weary after the the social media company’s scandal-stuffed year. The latest news made it clear: I was giving the site more than it was giving me. I had to leave. I had been on Facebook since 2004 — the same year I wrote one of the first articles about it, for Wired, back when the social network was still called Thefacebook and was only available for students and alums of a couple dozen US colleges. For well over a decade it helped me connect (and in some cases, happily reconnect) with friends and family. After having my daughter in 2016, an active San Francisco parenting group on Facebook became a lifeline for me. I loved posting questions and getting so many responses from a supportive community, and offering others any nuggets of advice I could muster in my sleep-deprived state. I gave so much of myself to Facebook for so long. Photos, videos, countless posts, likes, comments and even occasional clicks on ads that seemed to follow me around the internet like digital ghosts. I was never naive enough to think that I was somehow getting the better end of the deal; I understood from early on that the digital trail I left like snail slime all over Facebook could be used in all sorts of ways — some of which I liked, some of which I hated. But at a certain point, I didn’t want to add to that mountain of data anymore. Throughout 2018 it felt increasingly icky to give Facebook more of myself, knowing how many times the service mucked up. And, as Ocasio-Cortez mentioned, I felt a sense of addiction and anxiety while using Facebook regularly: I felt compelled to check the app or the website many times a day, for no particular reason other than the concern that I might be missing out on something. When drama erupted in my favorite parenting group, I obsessively pored over embarrassingly long threads of posts, picking at every detail. It wasn’t an addiction, per se, but it felt unhealthy. So on December 19, I downloaded all of my Facebook activity and scheduled my account for deletion (it actually takes 30 days until an account is truly closed). By late January, it was gone. So far, I haven’t missed it. Thinking about not being on Facebook brings up the mental equivalent of the shrug emoji. I do hope that Ocasio-Cortez’s departure from the social network was a little more calculated than mine was, so that she didn’t end up with tons of people wondering where she went. I didn’t leave any explanation behind on my Facebook profile to tell friends and family that I quit and how to best contact me off social media; one day I just wasn’t around anymore. That sparked at least one email from a childhood friend asking me what the heck had happened when she noticed she appeared to be blocked from viewing my photos. Whoops. I had to sheepishly apologize. I also discovered how tricky it is to truly untangle oneself from Facebook’s grasp. I still use Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, to privately post photos to a relatively small network of family and friends. Ocasio-Cortez, too, continues to use a personal account on Instagram (she has a, uh, somewhat larger network than mine, with 3.2 million followers). I don’t know about her, but my decision to keep using Instagram is rooted in feeling like it hasn’t hurt me the way Facebook did. Facebook wasn’t the first social network, but it was the most all-consuming. It gave me connections to people I care about, but it took much more — not just my data, but my trust, too — and misused it.<doc-sep>Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s nimbleness at using social media helped her win a seat in Congress and into the national spotlight. But that doesn’t mean she’s a fan. “ “Social media poses a public health risk to everybody.” ” — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez<doc-sep>	WASHINGTON – Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, widely considered one of the most adept lawmakers on Capitol Hill at using social media to engage voters, said she has given up Facebook and expressed concerns about the negative effects of social media platforms in general. "I personally gave up Facebook, which was kind of a big deal because I started my campaign on Facebook, and Facebook was my primary digital organizing tool for a very long time," the New York Democrat said in an interview with Yahoo News' "Skullduggery" podcast on Sunday. At 29, Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest woman ever elected to Congress and she conceded that many young Americans have stopped using Facebook in the numbers they used to. "I'm doing that as well," she admitted. But she said that she thinks, in general, "social media poses a public health risk to everybody." She also said "there are amplified impacts for young people, particularly children under the age of 3 with screen time." "But I think it has a lot of effects on older people," she said. "I think it has effects on everybody: increased isolation, depression, anxiety, addiction, escapism." "I do think about that both as a person with a larger audience, but also just as an individual user of these platforms." A prolific presence on Twitter with 3.93 million followers, Ocasio-Cortez said she writes all of her own tweets. She said she has tried to reduce her own time on social media and to avoid Twitter on the weekends – although she confessed you still might see her on there "every once in while" after the work week. "It takes a lot to kind of unwind other habits," she said. A self-described democratic socialist, Ocasio-Cortez is a regular critic of big businesses in general, and she said Sunday that technology companies, in particular, have anti-trust issues that Congress has failed to address. She also cited the failure of lawmakers to address the rising robocall problem as an illustration of how "Congress is fundamentally slow and technology is fundamentally fast." She equated the failure to address that epidemic to the government's slow response to the spread of disinformation and hacking that occurred in the 2016 election. Ocasio-Cortez also pointed to the degree to which some users on social media platforms use them to harass, attack and intimidate. She pointed to President Donald Trump's tweet last week attacking her Democratic colleague Rep. Ilhan Omar for a remark the Minnesota congresswoman made about the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The video included ominous music and images of the World Trade Center burning along with Omar's words, "some people did something." Ocasio-Cortez said if other people had posted something similar, Twitter might have suspended them for harassment.
Activision Blizzard has announced that it’s laying off 8 percent of its employees — roughly 770 people — as part of the company “de-prioritizing initiatives that are not meeting expectations.” The news came on the heels of announcement of Activision Blizzard’s Q4 and 2018 earnings, where CEO Bobby Kotick gave the company’s “record results in 2018.” Kotick went on to comment that, “While our financial results for 2018 were the best in our history, we didn’t realize our full potential.” As such, Activision Blizzard says that it’ll be focusing more on its biggest franchises: Call of Duty, Candy Crush, Overwatch, Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Diablo, with plans to increase developers across those titles by “approximately 20% over the course of 2019.” (Destiny, another one of Activision’s marquee titles, parted ways with the publisher in January and is now back in the hands of developer Bungie.) On the flip side, Activision Blizzard said that it’ll fund those increases “by de-prioritizing initiatives that are not meeting expectations and reducing certain non-development and administrative-related costs across the business,” resulting in the nearly 800 laid off employees. According to Variety, the job cuts will be coming from support staff as Activision Blizzard reworks some of its commercial and marketing teams. A Kotaku report elaborates that employees were cut across most of the company, noting that “layoffs have affected Activision, Blizzard, King, and some of Activision’s studios, including High Moon,” although Blizzard itself largely saw cuts only to “non-game-development departments.”<doc-sep>The misery continues to pile on for the video game industry after its top stocks suffered double-digit declines last Wednesday. Bloomberg reported on Friday that Activision Blizzard, the video game publisher of blockbuster franchises such as "Call of Duty," "Diablo" and "Warcraft," plans to announce on Tuesday a round of jobs cuts "which could number in the hundreds." The layoffs would be part of a restructuring effort as the company faces sluggish sales, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. Activision Blizzard did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment on Bloomberg's report sent outside regular office hours. Earlier in January, Activision's stock was sent tumbling 7 percent in after-market hours after it announced a split from game studio Bungie, which developed the popular "Destiny" game franchise. Activision had employed "an entire team full of Destiny support staff" across functions such as public relations, marketing and social media, according to a report by gaming news site Kotaku. Citing two people close to the company, the Kotaku report said there have been limited opportunities for those staff members formerly tied to Destiny to shift to other teams, and members from that division are "perhaps the most worried about their job security." Activision shares have lost nearly half their value in a little over four months. The stock has fallen more than 48 percent since reaching a 52-week intraday high of $84.68 per share on Oct. 1 to trade at $43.41 per share by Friday's market close. The company has also seen a series of high-profile executive shakeups in recent months. Its former chief financial officer, Spencer Neumann, was hired as CFO at Netflix. Concerns in the video game sector<doc-sep>Blizzard’s main campus in Irvine, California Photo : Blizzard Blizzard has spent the year taking big measures to cut costs as it prepares for a lean 2019. Those measures, as conveyed by people who work or have worked for the iconic studio, include employee buyouts in which workers are offered money to leave, a broadening of the finance department, and the limitation of budgets for any team at the company that isn’t directly making video games. Advertisement Much of Blizzard’s cost-cutting has gone unreported until recently, but it’s been a consistent theme throughout 2018 at the Irvine, California-based studio behind mega-hits like Overwatch and World of Warcraft. One Blizzard program, for example, is called Career Crossroads. It offers healthy severance packages to people who voluntarily take buyouts and choose to leave the company. At first, Career Crossroads was designed for veteran customer service representatives who had been at Blizzard for more than five years, but this year, it opened up to QA and IT, according to one person familiar with the program. Blizzard has also lowered the number of years required to take a buyout, opening up Career Crossroads to even more employees, likely in hopes of increasing those numbers. “Over the course of the last year, Blizzard has been trying very actively to find creative ways to cut costs that won’t draw negative press attention,” said a former employee. When asked for comment, Blizzard declined to address other items in this report but did send over a statement about Career Crossroads: We have had a completely voluntary and long-standing program in various locations around the world that gives eligible staff the option to make the most of incentives while proactively pursuing other career opportunities. No one is required or encouraged to participate in the program, but for those who do, we work hard to make it generous. We’ve been offering it for many years—initially to some of our customer service teams, and we expanded it for a short period of time to a few other departments recently, given that it has proven to be a good way to help people who have been thinking about a career change or going back to school to get a head start on that path if that’s what they want to do. While fewer than 10 people in the departments we recently expanded the program to have taken advantage of it, the general idea is that in addition to providing them with that opportunity, it also helps us give more advancement opportunities to other employees on the team when possible. At the same time, Blizzard is actively hiring for its game development teams, as it continues to work on new games in franchises like Diablo and Overwatch. There’s no way to know what the results of this cost-cutting might look like in the coming years, but it’s clear that the direction from the top is to release more games, which could ultimately benefit fans of Blizzard. The big question, as expressed by those who work and have worked at the company, is what kind of impact these cultural shifts will have on one of the most legendary studios in gaming, one that is regularly ranked among the best video game companies to work. And what kind of impact will it have on Blizzard’s games? Last month, a Kotaku investigation revealed that Blizzard’s staff have been told to reduce expenses while at the same time produce more games. There are likely several reasons for this shift in priorities, including a lack of consistent output, a weak year for Activision-Blizzard overall, and Activision’s increasing influence on Blizzard, which has traditionally been an autonomous company but has been overseen by Activision’s CEO, Bobby Kotick, since the two companies merged in 2008. That influence has grown this year in many ways both blatant and subtle. Advertisement For November’s report, we talked to 11 current and former Blizzard employees. Since then, we’ve heard from even more current and former Blizzard staff about the company’s cost-cutting measures and how they’ve materialized. The Career Crossroads program is one example. Another, according to three Blizzard staff who all left recently, is a power shift that has seen the finance department cultivate influence that it had never had in the past. “Finance in general in Blizzard has been one of these invisible functions that’s there, but doesn’t have a say,” said one veteran employee who left recently and asked not to be named because they were not authorized to talk to press. “Now they’re suddenly in meetings.” Advertisement Said a second, who also asked not to be named: “A lot of decisions now are being driven by business folks, marketing and finance folks. There’s a real struggle now between developers and the business people… Strategic decisions are being driven by the finance group.” These decisions could range from major (Which technology should we use for this new incubation project?) to minor (How much do we spend on BlizzCon goodie boxes this year?). It’s a major cultural shift, one driven by top executives at the company including Armin Zerza, who was chief financial officer (CFO) at the studio before he became chief operating officer (COO) in late 2017. Under Zerza, Blizzard has brought in a number of business-minded employees both from Activision and the consulting company McKinsey, many of whom might have different priorities than longtime Blizzard staff or those with development backgrounds. Advertisement Earlier this year, new Blizzard CFO Amrita Ahuja, who also came over from Activision, told employees during an all-hands meeting that it was time to start reining in their spending. That was a common theme at many of Blizzard’s departments this year, according to those who were there. “That speech from Amrita about cutting costs, that wasn’t a one time thing,” said one person who worked on a non-development team. “We were told to cut costs on a monthly basis.” So far, the cost-cutting has mostly taken place in non-gaming departments, with one big exception. Last week, Blizzard announced plans to reduce the staff of Heroes of the Storm and eliminate its esports program. It was a surprising move to those who made their careers off Heroes, but among Blizzard games, this was the weakest link—Heroes of the Storm had always struggled to find as much financial success as Blizzard’s other big hits. Advertisement There have been other big moves as well. Today, the British website Eurogamer reported that over 100 people have accepted buyouts at Blizzard’s customer service office in Cork, Ireland. And among Blizzard staff and close observers, rumors have circulated about potential layoffs in the new year. The game development teams are seen as safe—the mandate is to make more games, after all—but those at other departments are worried about what might be coming when 2019 arrives. Advertisement To look at Activision and Blizzard is to see two companies that, for over a decade, have followed connected but very different models. Under Bobby Kotick, Activision has found success through annual releases of games like Call of Duty and, until recently, Skylanders. Meanwhile, under co-founder and longtime CEO Mike Morhaime, Blizzard has marched at its own pace, sticking with old games for the long haul and releasing new ones whenever the company felt like they were ready. Blizzard has gone years without releasing a brand new game, while Activision hasn’t let a fall go by without a new Call of Duty since 2004. Now, Morhaime is gone, and Activision appears to have more influence on Blizzard than it ever has. Will Blizzard’s games-as-a-service, release-it-when-it’s-ready approach to development survive these new changes? It might take years before we know the answers, but some Blizzard employees—and many fans—are concerned about what they might be. The influences of a major corporation can be subtle and sometimes impossible to discern. Advertisement “Blizzard is a special place,” said one former employee. “A lot of people are worried about the future of Blizzard—if the Activision method seeps in more, what that’s going to become.”<doc-sep>	Start transforming your game’s economy and increase your bottom line. Get the free guide now. Elevate your enterprise data technology and strategy at Transform 2021. Activision is planning to cut “non-development jobs” because it isn’t releasing enough games. This news comes via a Kotaku report that claims new Blizzard boss J. Allen Brack sent a letter to employees detailing the layoffs. GamesBeat has separately confirmed that Activision Publishing boss Rob Kotish sent a message to employees that said layoffs are coming. He did not get into specifics in that message. And confirming everything above reported above, the publisher is laying off people across Activision Publishing, Blizzard Entertainment, and King. During a conference call with investors this afternoon, Activision said it is cutting 8 percent of jobs, which is about 800 of 9,600 employees. This reorganization is primarily about taking money away from non-development jobs and putting those resources into its game-creation teams. Here’s how Brack explained the layoffs in his letter obtained by Kotaku: “Over the last few years, many of our non-development teams expanded to support various needs. Currently staffing levels on some teams are out of proportion with our current release slate. This means we need to scale down some areas of our organization. I’m sorry to share that we will be parting ways with some of our colleagues in the U.S. today. In our regional offices, we anticipate similar evaluations, subject to local requirements.” I have reached out to Activision Blizzard for a statement, and I will update this story with any comment. But these layoffs come as the company is also reporting the results of its 2018 fiscal year. Cutting jobs while setting records Activision Blizzard generated $2.38 billion in revenue, and the company was quick to point out that was an all-time record. At the same time, the company said that making more money than ever is not enough. “While our financial results for 2018 were the best in our history, we didn’t realize our full potential,” said Kotick said in the earnings release. “To help us reach our full potential, we have made a number of important leadership changes. These changes should enable us to achieve the many opportunities our industry affords us, especially with our powerful owned franchises, our strong commercial capabilities, our direct digital connections to hundreds of millions of players, and our extraordinarily talented employees.” Wall Street expected Activision Blizzard to generate closer to $3 billion in revenues, and investors care more about that than company records. The publisher also has a dim outlook for its fiscal 2019, which it is calling a transition year. Overall, the company expects revenues to drop 13 percent year-over-year. So the company is making layoffs to deal with concerns about its future. Activision’s plan The layoffs are just step one of Activison’s plan to return to growth. It also plans to put more people on its top franchises to increase the rate at which it is outputting content. “The number of developers working on Call of Duty, CandyCrush, Overwatch, Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Diablo in aggregate will increase approximately 20 percent over the course of 2019,” reads Activision’s quarterly report. “The company will fund this greater investment by de-prioritizing initiatives that are not meeting expectations and reducing certain non-development and administrative-related costs across the business.” Activision wants this increase in developers to lead to more game releases and more in-game content. The rest of Activision’s plan is to use its existing infrastructure to better sell games. This likely means advertising more of its games in King mobile titles and putting more releases into Battle.net. But the company leadership did not provide many details about how this will work beyond the following statements. “[Activision will focus on] integrating our global and regional sales and go-to-market, partnerships, and sponsorships capabilities across the business,” reads the company’s press release. “[And by] enabling better leverage talent, expertise, and scale on behalf of our business units.” I don’t know what that means, but I’m sure Bobby has it under control. Correction: This story originally claimed that Bobby Kotick sent a message to employees about layoffs. This was a mistake. Activision Publishing boss Rob Kotish actually sent the message. I’ve corrected and apologize for the error.
Published 11:01 PM , May 07 2019 GMT+1 \| Last updated 11:08 PM , May 07 2019 GMT+1 Jurgen Klopp's post-match interview brilliantly sums up the Liverpool boss. Loading… He masterminded an incredible victory as Liverpool overturned a three-goal deficit to book a spot in the Champions League final. And speaking after Liverpool's 4-0 victory, Klopp was lost for words as he conducted a hilarious interview which included dropping the F-bomb. Advert 10 "I said to the boys before the game it was impossible..." "Winning is already difficult, but winning with a clean sheet? I don't know how we did it?!" Jurgen Klopp is lost for words, who can blame him? :microphone2: @DesKellyBTS pic.twitter.com/K0hOAMFa2D - Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 7, 2019 :microphone2: @DesKellyBTS: "A moment of genius from Trent..." Des Kelly: "Oh my God! 100%! We needed to be cheeky! We needed to be unpredictable." A moment of genius from Trent Alexander-Arnold has blown Jurgen Klopp's mind :joy: pic.twitter.com/XCPSTzwjlS - Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 7, 2019 "The whole game was too much," he said. "Winning is difficult but with a clean sheet, I don't know how they did it." Liverpool fans loved Klopp's reaction. Advert 10 Jurgen Klopp can swear when he wants now. Should chuck in a C word for good measure - Will Unwin (@Will_Unwin) May 7, 2019 Jurgen Klopp can swear as much as he likes tonight!!!!! #LivBar :microphone: - MáireT (@MaireTNC) May 7, 2019 @GaryLineker completely agree, why can't Jurgen Klopp swear! As u said it's after 10pm and emotions running so high they are god knows where. Great presenting! #BTSport #loveofthegame :clap::clap: - Kevin Polkinghorne (@pokers15) May 7, 2019 Love the way #Klopp drops F Bombs in interviews like they are not swear words #lovehim but has to win a final now x - Bwollox (@bwollox) May 7, 2019 Advert 10 Don't worry Jurgen the swearing was worse in our house with my 2 boys telling me not to swear:sweat_smile:#klopp - Phillip Wilson (@phillywilson2) May 7, 2019 Two-goal hero Gini Wijnaldum also shared his thoughts on Liverpool's thrilling European win. "After the game in Spain we were confident we could score four and win 4-0," he said. "People outside doubted us. They thought we couldn't do it. But once again we showed everything is possible in football. Advert 10 "I was really angry that the manager put me on the bench. I just tried to help my team, I'm happy I could do that with two goals." Image: PA Liverpool will now face Ajax or Tottenham in the Champions League final, with the other semi-final taking place on Wednesday. The Dutch club head into the second leg with a one-goal advantage. Advert 10 Who'll be crowned European champions on June 1?<doc-sep>Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp got a little telling-off for swearing in an interview following the club’s dramatic 3-2 win over Newcastle. The Reds had to work for another three points at St James’ Park, which ensures this season’s Premier League title race will go down to the final day of the season. Klopp could be forgiven for being a bit emotional after such an important win, but Sky Sports’ Geoff Shreeves had to remind him not to swear in the interview. The German tactician simply responded that they should bleep it out, which they did, so you can watch the video above without the trauma of Klopp’s foul language. Lucky you.<doc-sep>It was a frantic and dramatic game last night at St James’ Park and we finally got those invaluable three points thanks to another last-gasp goal from the late Divock Origi. Speaking post-match with Sky Sports’ reporter Geoff Shreeves, Jürgen Klopp was unable to hide his true, unfiltered opinion of what he thought of Origi’s 86th-minute match-winning goal calling it “f*ing unbelievable”. “You’ll have to put a beep over that – or are we live?”, he sheepishly asked, while Shreeves offered to put a beep over his foul-mouthed outburst. You’ve got to love Klopp – he fires from the hip and says what he thinks (even when he sometimes forgets where he is). Watch the video here:<doc-sep>Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp couldn’t hold back as his team staged an incredible comeback against Barcelona to reach the UEFA Champions League final. Doubles from Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum saw the Reds thrash Barca 4-0 at Anfield and overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit in one of the club’s most famous nights. READ MORE: Liverpool stage comeback for the ages to beat Barcelona and reach Champions League final It booked Liverpool a spot in a second successive Champions League final, where they will face either Ajax or fellow Premier League team Tottenham. After his team’s incredible heroics, Liverpool boss Klopp couldn’t contain his excitement in the post-match interview broadcast live on BT Sport. "It’s 10 past 10, most of the children are probably in bed. These boys are f*ing mentality giants - it's believable. If you have to fine me, fine me,” Klopp said as the BT presenter rushed to apologize for the choice language. Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp looks at his watch: "It's 10 past 10, most of the children are probably in bed but these boys are f---ing giants. If you have to fine me, fine me." What a legend. pic.twitter.com/kMxfEJfctF — Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) May 7, 2019 Klopp's team were without star forwards Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, but incredibly still managed to overcome a Barcelona team who had plenty of chances, including through Lionel Messi and returning striker Luis Suarez. But it was Liverpool who emerged triumphant on an epic night at Anfield, as the Reds faithful serenaded their team until long after the final whistle. Also on rt.com 'There's been songs written for less': Euphoria as Liverpool fight back to claim UCL final spot While they have booked their place in June's final in Madrid, attentions will first turn to the chance to win a first Premier League title in 29 years as their battle with Manchester City at the top of the table goes down to the final game this weekend. Liverpool face Wolves at home, and lie one point behind City, who face Brighton away.<doc-sep>	Liverpool fans: Tuesday night was not a dream. You really did watch your side beat Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s men completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in their 126-year history thanks to two goals each from Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum. Three-nil down from the first leg and without Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, Liverpool faced a seemingly impossible task in front of their home fans. However, the Reds defied the odds and will now face either Ajax or Tottenham at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on June 1. Klopp is still looking to win his first trophy for the Merseyside outfit, three-and-a-half years after his arrival, but the impact he’s made at Anfield cannot be understated. He’s transformed the team and turned them into one of the best sides in Europe. He’s one of the most popular managers in Liverpool’s history and he further endeared himself to the club’s fans in his post-match interview after the match. Astounded, emotional, exhausted and almost lost for words, Klopp spoke from the heart in his interview with BT Sport. But he also couldn’t resist dropping the F-bomb - despite giving it some thought first. “It’s 10 past 10, most of the children are probably in bed, but these boys are f***ing giants,” he said. “It’s unbelievable. It’s unbelievable! If you have to fine me. I’m not native so I don’t have better words for it.” He added: “They are mentality giants. “It’s just not possible. I saw James Milner crying after the game on the pitch. It means so much to all of us. And I mean to all of us, I really mean all of us. It’s the best place of football. “There are more important things in the world but creating this kind of emotional atmosphere together is so special and getting tonight the reward for that is just… but it’s all about the players.” Back in the BT Sport studio, Gary Lineker refused to apologise for Klopp’s bad language. "I've been asked to apologise on behalf - but I'm not going to,” the former England striker said. “He's perfectly entitled to say that. He can get away with that, it's after the watershed. Well done Jürgen." Superb stuff. News Now - Sport News
Ben Regney told WPXI on its Facebook page that he could feel the heat from the blast from the interstate exit and said, “The only way to describe the sky afterward was apocalyptic.”<doc-sep>A gas line near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has exploded, turning the sky completely orange. Early commuters have been sharing footage of the skyline on social media. Video shows flames shooting into the air, which reportedly sounded like a jet engine. Fire crews are responding to the explosion on Ivy Lane in Center Township, Beaver County. It was first reported at around 5 a.m. Families within a five-mile radius are being evacuated from their homes. According to CBS News, authorities have confirmed the gas line explosion and residents have been contacted by police. First responders are setting up in a local bowling alley. BREAKING: a viewer says an orange glow filled the sky and it sounded like a jet engine, describing the gas line explosion in Center Twp Beaver Co. This video is from @MeghanKDKA who can clearly see the fire still burning. pic.twitter.com/gB4lAXlO81 — Heather Abraham (@KDKAHeather) September 10, 2018 According to WTAE reporter Katelyn Sykes, police have confirmed that no one was injured in the explosion. Property and vehicles have not avoided the blaze, however. According to WAFB 9, one home, two garages and several vehicles have been destroyed. The Central Valley school district has canceled school for the day. Roads have also slowed on the eastbound Interstate 376. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.<doc-sep>Follow KDKA-TV: Facebook \| Twitter CENTER TOWNSHIP (KDKA) — A massive methane gas pipeline explosion rocked Beaver County early Monday, sending a huge fire ball into the sky and prompting the evacuation of more than two dozen homes. It was just before 5 a.m. “I heard a gigantic woosh,” Gary Siccone, who lives on Ivy Lane, said. “I looked out the bedroom window and it’s daylight outside.” Chuck Belczyk lives a few doors away. “I saw the ball of flames above the trees and it was easily 150 to 200 feet up in the air. It was serious,” he said. WATCH: Beaver County Emergency Officials Hold News Conference — The Energy Transfer Corp’s 24-inch pipeline was pumping out a blowtorch effect for more than an hour. When Center Township Firefighters arrived on Ivy Lane, they headed straight for the fireball. “They realized when the resident of 752 [the Rosati family] met them coming up the driveway, they knew there was no reason to advance any further and it immediately went to evacuation,” CTVFD Chief Bill Brucker said. Inside the homes as the people were evacuating, they could feel the heat from the fire, and even 100 yards away, siding on a few homes buckled. Even before first responders could call the company, sensors had detected the problem and started shutting down the flow of gas. An hour and 15 minutes later, the gas flames were out. One home was destroyed, but no one was injured. The company took a look at the sight of the rupture and Center Township Police Chief Barry Kramer says it determined, “An initial site assessment reveals evidence of earth movement in the vicinity of the pipeline.” In short, a landslide took out the structural integrity of the pipeline, causing the rupture and explosion. The pipeline has only been in operation since Sept. 3. Watch Meghan Schiller’s report — The fire caused a tower for a high tension power line to buckle from the heat, taking five others with it in a chain reaction. The incident is under investigation and the residents have now returned home. For anyone with questions or property damage related to the explosion and fire, Chief Kramer says Energy Transfer has set up a hotline at 1-800-445-5846.<doc-sep>Witnesses say the blast in Center Township sounded like a plane crash and caused the sky to erupt in an orange blaze. Hide Transcript Show Transcript WEBVTT REPORTER: SAM ROW SAD DOE WAS ABLE TO GET BACK TO HIS PROPERTY TODAY, 24 HOURS AFTER THAT EXPLOSION. HIS HOME IS JUST BEYOND THESE CONES, AND HE WAS ABLE TO GET DOWN THERE TODAY. HE SAYS IT WAS QUITE EMOTIONAL BUT HE CAPTURED IMAGES OF WHAT IS LEFT BEHIND. >> NOTHING LEFT. IT LOOKS LIKES WHAT YOU SEE IN THE MOVIES, YOU KNOW, NAPALM. REPORTER: FOR SAM CAPTURING THESE PHOTOS WAS DIFFICULT. MONDAY MORNING, HE ACE LIFE AND THEIR TEN-YEAR-OLD NIECE WAS ASLEEP IN THEIR HOME HERE WHEN THEY WERE JARRED AWAKE BY WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS ROARING AND HISSING SOUNDS. HE SAYS HE KNEW IT WAS THE ENERGY TRANSFER PIPELINE RUNNING NEAR THEIR HOME. >> WE TOOK OFF AND BY THE TIME WE GOT HALFWAY UP THE DRIVEWAY WE TURNED AROUND AND LOOKED DOWN AND YOU COULD SEE THE FLAMES OVER TOP OF THE HOUSE. REPORTER: THESE ARE THE IMAGES OF THE FIRE CAPTURED BY HIS NEIGHBOR. BEING BACK TODAY HE SAYS WAS TOUGH AND LIKELY THE LAST TIME. HE SAYS HIS WIFE DOES NOT WANT TO REBUILD HERE. >> SHE IS STILL TOO SHOOK UP TO EVEN THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FROM THEM SOUNDS THAT WE HEARD, AND THE SPARKS PELTING OFF THE WINDOWS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT HEY WE GOT OUT. THAT WAS THE MAIN THING. REPORTER: OFFICIALS FROM ENERGY TRANSFER SAY AT THIS POINT THEY DO BELIEVE THIS PIPELINE EXPLOSION WAS THE RUPLT OF Advertisement Landslide may be to blame for Beaver County explosion, pipeline owner says Witnesses say the blast in Center Township sounded like a plane crash and caused the sky to erupt in an orange blaze. Share Shares Copy Link Copy A methane gas explosion leveled one house and prompted the evacuation of about 30 other homes in Center Township, Beaver County, early Monday morning. Witnesses said the blast sent flames more than 100 feet into the air.Dallas-based Energy Transfer, the company that owns the 24-inch pipeline, said an initial assessment of the site showed a landslide in the vicinity. An investigation was continuing Tuesday.People living on Ivy Lane and Pine Street said they awoke to the flames and the loud explosion at 5 a.m. Monday. "I got on the other side of my house and look out the window and the whole sky was in flames," Fortunato Luca said.Other witnesses said the explosion sounded like a plane crash and caused the sky to erupt in an orange blaze. "We were in bed, and it sounded like there was an 18-wheeler truck right outside our bedroom window, and the earth shook," Karen Kdula said. "Jumped out of bed, looked out and saw flames all the way into the sky, taller than the 150-foot pine trees that happened to be there in the neighborhood, and heard the hissing. "Tom Demarco saw the fire as close as someone in that area could. He lives next door and was home when the explosion that rocked his house. He captured the aftermath on camera (seen in the tweet below). "Mind-blowing," Demarco said. "Five o'clock in the morning, I heard the noise, I had the blinds drawn and all I could see were the flames. "Power lines were downed after the explosion caused a chain reaction, pulling down more towers and causing power lines above Interstate 376 to be lower than they should. About 1,500 people were left in the dark, and Bunker Hill Road was blocked. "Fortunately for all this rain that we've had, I think it helped prevent the spread of any kind of forest fire that would have burned at a much quicker rate," Center Township Police Chief Barry Kramer said.Kramer expressed disappointment that the gas line was only in service for seven days before the explosion happened.Center Township Fire Chief Bill Brucker said getting the evacuation underway wasn't easy. "The heat was intense. The flames were intense," Brucker said. "Public safety is what was important, so we dealt with that, got the evacuation progressed, got people back. "Because of the downed power lines, the Central Valley School District canceled school Monday and I-376 was closed in both directions for some time. "My house was vibrating," said Demarco. "I tried to call my neighbor, but he was already running up the driveway. I called 911 and the emergency people came and evacuated us. "Below is a statement from Energy Transfer to Pittsburgh's Action News 4:The incident this morning was on a 24" natural gas gathering line in Beaver County, PA. There were no injuries and the area is secure. This incident, which occurred at approximately 5 am Eastern time was detected by our monitoring system, which triggered the closing of valves to isolate the line. By around 7 am, the fire on the pipeline had extinguished itself. There were evacuations from several homes in the area. Most of those evacuated have been allowed to return to their homes. All of the appropriate regulatory notifications have been made. An initial site assessment reveals evidence of a landslide in the vicinity of the pipeline. The line, which was being readied for service has been safely isolated and depressurized until a thorough investigation can be completed as our first priority continues to be on the safety of the community.All evacuees from the explosion in Center Township were allowed to go back to their residences.<doc-sep>	Evacuees woke up to the loud sound of the explosion and flames that cast a bright orange glow in the sky above Center Township. Some witnesses said it sounded like a plane crash or a bomb. A house was destroyed. The people who lived there got out safely. Two garages were also destroyed, and multiple cars were burned. “There was a threat. It was immediate. Had this fire continued to burn out of control, there would’ve been more residual damage,” Center Township Fire Chief Barry Kramer said. “Main priority was public safety, and that is what the police department and fire department did.” People living within a half-mile radius of the explosion were evacuated, but the fire could be seen for miles. “Got up like 5 o’clock this morning. I seen the whole sky lit up. I thought I was late for work,” Fortunato Luca, a resident, said. Fire officials said rain prevented the fire from spreading to nearby wooded areas. Update 11:50 a.m. EDT Sept. 10: The fire ignited by Monday morning's gas line explosion in Center Township burnt itself out after an automated system shut down the valves, officials said. The 24-inch independent gas line opened Sept. 3 and runs from northern Butler County to Bulger. Officials said it is buried about 3 feet below the surface. Energy Transfer released the following statement: "We did experience an incident this morning on a 24-inch natural gas gathering line in Beaver County, PA. There were no injuries. This incident, which occurred at approximately 5 a.m. Eastern time was detected by out monitoring system, which triggered the closing of valves to isolate the line. By around 7 a.m., the fire on the pipeline had extinguished itself. "There were evacuations from several homes in the area. All the appropriate regulatory notifications have been made. We do not know the cause of the incident at this time, however, a through investigation will be conducted. "We have activated a toll-free phone number for people who have experienced property damage. That number is 800-445-5846. We will provide updates as information becomes available." No environmental issues were associated with the explosion and fire, officials said. One home and two garages were destroyed, and multiple cars were burned. Although the line is not associated with Peoples Gas, the company is checking the meters of evacuated homes before it is determined when residents can return. The Red Cross has responded to assist people displaced by the incident. Six high-tension towers collapsed, likely subsequent to the fire, officials said. As a result, about 1,500 power outages were reported in the region. It was not immediately clear when power would be restored. Update 8:55 a.m. EDT Sept. 10: One home and two garages were destroyed, and multiple cars were burned when the natural gas line exploded early Monday morning in Center Township, officials said. The explosion, which occurred around 5 a.m. in a line owned and operated by Energy Transfer, led to the evacuations of 25-30 homes. Many residents went to the fire hall on Brodhead Road. No one was injured in the explosion, but some people required medical attention because of health issues, officials said. At about 5:52 a.m., pipeline company employees told officials that valves were shut off, but it took time for the remaining gas in the line to burn off. During the explosion, power lines fell and blocked Bunker Hill Road. Power companies have been called to de-energize the lines and remove them. Original report: The explosion was reported about 5 a.m. Monday in the area of Ivy Lane in Center Township outside Pittsburgh. Channel 11 viewer Abby Voye just sent me this pic of flames and clouds of smoke from gas explosion. She says families are being evacuated to Center Firehall. @WPXI pic.twitter.com/1dv7csRt2B — Mike Holden (@WPXIMikeHolden) September 10, 2018 WPXI's Mike Holden reported that evacuations are underway. No injuries have been reported, officials said.
Indian T20 League, Mumbai vs Delhi: Mumbai opt to bowl against Delhi at Wankhede Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bowl first against Delhi in Match 3 of the Indian T20 League at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday. (FOLLOW: Mumbai Vs Delhi Cricket Score) Mumbai have included Yuvraj Singh in their playing XI while handing out debut to unheralded Rashikh Salam. No place for last season’s star Maynak Markande. Ben Cutting, Kieron Pollard, Quinton de Kock and Mitchell McLenaghan made the four foreigners for Mumbai. Delhi have opted for Colin Ingram, Keemo Paul, Kagiso Rabada and Trent Boult as their four foreigners. Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Krunal Pandya, Yuvraj Singh, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Ben Cutting, Mitchell McClenaghan, Rasikh Salam, Jasprit Bumrah Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Colin Ingram, Keemo Paul, Axar Patel, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, Ishant Sharma Preivew The last time Mumbai played Delhi in the Indian T20 League, the three-time champions, fighting to stay in contention for the Playoffs, fell short by 11 runs, with the already eliminated Delhi spoiling the part for Rohit Sharma and Co. Head-to-head, Delhi have a slender 12-11 lead over Mumbai in the Indian T20 League, and having endured defeats in both matches last season, a wounded Mumbai would want to start their campaign on a high at home. (READ: Hurt Mumbai Indian eager for tunraround) For Mumbai, there ought to plenty concerns surrounding the workload management for the likes of Rohit, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, three players who are a sure-shot certainty for the World Cup. Individually too, after an underwhelming season last year, all these three players promise to be highly motivated to start Mumbai s run with a win. Each time Mumbai have started well in a tournament, they ve made it to the Playoffs. Last year, they lost the first three matches and were left to play catch-up. (READ: Delhi hope for Capital gains) Yet another season, Delhi form a strong team on paper, but replicating it on the field is what poses to be a challenge for a side that s come under heavy criticism for under-performing. This year though, the composition looks a whole lot better than the previous seasons and the presence of international cricketers in their ranks should pave way for better results. Will Delhi be able to snap their barren run? Or will turn out to be another season of more misses than hits? Sunday marks the beginning.<doc-sep>IPL 2019 Live Score and Latest Update from Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals: WICKET! That's the end of McClenaghan here as Pant also gets a stumping and Tewatia gets a wicket, and its also the end of the game. Bumrah will not bat here. Convincing win this for the Delhi Capitals as they register a 38-run victory here. Can this be a sign of things to come for the Capitals this season? Mumbai are dismissed for 176 here and star of the show is certainly Rishabh Pant MI vs DC in IPL 2019 will be broadcast on Sunday (March 24) from 8:00 PM onwards. MI vs DC live streaming will be available on Hotstar and Jio TV. You can follow all the ball-by-ball updates and live commentary with analysis on our live blog. Catch all the live score and updates from the third match of IPL 2019 between MI and DC through Cricketnext's live blog. Preview: There is no love lost between Mumbai and Delhi when it comes to cricket. The traditional rivalry also spills on to the IPL playing field each season, whether the two sides are playing in Mumbai or in Delhi. The last encounter at the Feroz Shah Kotla was an especially bitter one for Mumbai Indians, as an 11-run defeat in their last group tie to the Delhi Daredevils cost them a place in the Playoffs after Rohit Sharma’s side had managed to turn their form around in the middle of the season. The Delhi franchise by then had very little chance of making the Playoffs but were not prepared to give an inch to Mumbai. The Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai now open their campaign in the 12th season of the IPL against the rechristened Delhi Capitals with revenge on their mind at the Wankhede stadium in the 8pm clash on Sunday. The strength of the Capitals this season is their young Indian top-order led by skipper Shreyas Iyer of Mumbai, who will be captain for the entire season for the first time. Shikhar Dhawan’s return to the Delhi fold gives them a powerful opening combination with Prithvi Shaw with skipper Iyer and Rishabh Pant to follow. Mumbai Indians boast of plenty of proven talent and the core remains the same which won the IPL title in 2017. Skipper Rohit Sharma will return to the opening slot while a fit Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah should give his side the edge in bowling department which also features the likes of all-rounder Krunal Pandya and leg-spinner Mayank Markande — both of whom are India internationals now. Players to Watch Out For It’s a battle between Delhi’s batsmen and Mumbai’s bowlers and it’ll be battle between two young guns of Team India in this encounter. Rishabh Pant: The Delhi wicketkeeper batsman had a phenomenal IPL-11 and carried that form into international cricket last season. Pant scored 684 runs in 14 games at a strike-rate of 173.6 with a century and five fifties. This season is even more critical for the 21-year-old as he aspires to secure a berth in the 2019 World Cup squad, possibly in the No. 4 position as a specialist batsman. Jasprit Bumrah: He is possibly Indian cricket’s most priceless commodity after skipper Virat Kohli. Bumrah started off the season slowly after taking a hammering at the hands of CSK’s Dwayne Bravo in the opening match last year. In spite of that he finished with 17 wickets from 14 games but apart from his wickets it is his innate ability to hit pin-point yorkers that makes him important to the team. With World Cup around the corner, ‘workload management’ of Bumrah and all-rounder Hardik Pandya will be closely watched but that shouldn’t be the concern in the first match of the season. Team News/Availability Mumbai Indians: Even before the season has got underway, Mumbai have lost two overseas paceman in Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga and Adam Milne due to different reasons. Delhi Capitals: The Capitals will miss the services of South African pace bowling all-rounder Chris Morris but his teammate Kagiso Rabada is available for the first match. Probable XI: Delhi Capitals: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant, Colin Ingram, Sherfane Rutherford, Axar Patel, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kasigo Rabada/Trent Boult, Ishant Sharma and Hanuma Vihari/Amit Mishra. Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (captain), Evin Lewis, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Yuvraj Singh, Kieron Pollard/ Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Mayank Markande, Mitchell McClenaghan/ Jason Behrendorff and Jasprit Bumrah. Squads (from): Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Jason Behrendorff, Jasprit Bumrah, Rahul Chahar, Ben Cutting, Pankaj Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Siddhesh Lad, Evin Lewis, Lasith Malinga, Mayank Markande, Mitchell McClenaghan, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Anukul Roy, Rasikh Salam, Yuvraj Singh, Anmolpreet Singh, Barinder Sran, Aditya Tare, Suryakumar Yadav, Jayant Yadav and Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper). Delhi Capitals: Colin Ingram, Manjot Kalra, Prithvi Shaw, Sherfane Rutherford, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Bandaru Ayyappa, Harshal Patel, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Nathu Singh, Sandeep Lamichhane, Trent Boult, Axar Patel, Chris Morris, Colin Munro, Hanuma Vihari, Jalaj Saxena, Keemo Paul, Rahul Tewatia, Ankush Bains and Rishabh Pant.<doc-sep>Rishabh Pant blazed away to an unbeaten 27-ball 78 and powered Delhi Capitals to a mammoth 213 for six against Mumbai Indians in their Indian Premier League opener at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Pant raced to his half-century in 18 balls, hitting seven towering sixes and as many fours at the Wankhede Stadium, which looked too small for the Delhi dazzler. Just 21, Pant smashed the world's best fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, for a few sixes as well. M03: MI vs DC – Rishabh Pant Six https://t.co/3L20JerKlX — Ankush Das (@AnkushD86744515) March 24, 2019 Pant, playing his natural game, mercilessly punished the Mumbai bowlers after South African Colin Ingram (47 off 32 balls 7x4, 1x6) and Shikhar Dhawan (43 off 36 balls; 4x4; 1x6) pulled the visitors out of the rubble and laid the foundation of a big total with their 83-run stand for the third wicket. The young wicketkeeper was brutal on Hardik Pandya, whom he hammered for two sixes and a four in the 16th over to start the destruction and then spared none. He struck two sixes and a four off debutant Rasikh Salam in the 19th over. Pant was also brutal on death overs specialist Bumrah. Rahul Tewatia complimented the stumper with 9 not out. Earlier, the duo of Dhawan and Ingram rallied the Delhi innings after they lost two quick wickets -- Prithvi Shaw (7) and skipper Shreyas Iyer (16) -- inside the first four overs – and also took the Mumbai attack to cleansers. Ingram upped the ante in the eighth over slashing Hardik for a four and then a six. But Ben Cutting gave Mumbai the much-needed breakthrough as he removed Ingram, who was caught by Hardik in the 13 over. Dhawan also threw his wicket away as Delhi slumped from 112 for two to 131 for four. But then it was the Pant show. (PTI) For in-depth, objective and more importantly balanced journalism, Click here to subscribe to Outlook Magazine<doc-sep>Rishabh Pant smashed the fastest fifty against Mumbai Indians in IPL history when he reached the milestone off just 18 balls. He walked in to bat at number 5 for Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday and took on a strong Mumbai attack only the way he could. Pant’s unbeaten knock of 78 came in just 27 balls and was laced with 7 sixes and seven fours as Delhi scored 213 for 6 in 20 overs. Earlier, the record for the fastest fifty against Mumbai Indians was held by Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni. In 2012, Dhoni had scored a fifty off 20 balls against the Mumbai side. Meanwhile, Pant’s innings against Mumbai will surely hold him in good stead for a World Cup birth. The Indian team still hasn’t sorted its middle order out and a couple of more such knocks from the Delhi lad could seal a spot for him in Virat Kohli’s team. Here’s how Twitter reacted: Just Wow from Pant ! — Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) March 24, 2019 Rishabh Pant is a serious player !!! — Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) March 24, 2019 When @RishabPant777 is in the middle he is starting to show that you should stop what you are doing and WATCH!! Unbelievable hitting, what about those two 6’s off Bumrah…😮💪🏽👊🏽 #MIvDC — Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) March 24, 2019 50 off 17 balls for @RishabPant777 … #IPL2019 … No idea why he keeps getting criticised In India … Just let him play the way he plays … — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 24, 2019 Big things come in small packages #RishabPant such a hands player , never seems to get head in line but somehow seems to get enough power to get it over the ropes #MIvsDC #IPL #IPL2019 #BadriBytes — S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) March 24, 2019 Rishabh Pant is an incredible talent #DCvsMI — Ajit Agarkar (@imAagarkar) March 24, 2019 Only one word for Rishabh Pant today. Wow. The sixes were exquisite but the boundary to get to 50 was simply special. — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 24, 2019 Rishabh Pant scored just one run off his first 5 balls, but thereafter? 41466464146.41126646L1 77 off 22 blasted 7 fours, 7 sixes What an innings! #MIvDC #IPL2019 — Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) March 24, 2019 https://twitter.com/hankypanty/status/1109852925550120961<doc-sep>	Delhi Capitals went on to register a comfortable 37-run victory over Mumbai Indians in their opening fixture of the 2019 Indian Premier League. Having put in to bat by Rohit Sharma, Delhi looked to start aggressively but lost a couple of wickets early as Mumbai Indians hit their length from ball one. Great catch by Pollard and Mumbai’s two exports to Delhi, Shaw and Iyer, back in the dug out. Overly aggressive approach, not paying dividends — Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 24, 2019 Wow such a great news this is for J & k cricket.Young prodigy #Rashikhsalam making his debut for @mipaltan #emotional #happy #greatfeeling — Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 24, 2019 It was the pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Colin Ingram which steadied them with a 83–run stand before the later fell to Ben Cutting. Solid knock, Colin Ingram from that position. Upped the rate after two early wickets and batted as well in the middle overs.#MIvDC #IPL2019 — Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) March 24, 2019 Hope this knock helps Shikhy get his touch back for the next — a (@tinggoesskrrrah) March 24, 2019 Rishabh Pant came in and scored a 18-ball fifty to take Delhi to a strong total. Pant is in the mood to hit every ball for six and that is more dangerous for Delhi than it is for Mumbai right now — Shubh AggarWall (@shubh_chintak) March 24, 2019 Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders play both their matches (March 30 and April 12) before the World Cup squad is selected. Rishabh Pant vs Dinesh Karthik for that second-keeper slot will probably go down to the wire! #IPL2019 #DCvKKR #KKRvDC — Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) March 24, 2019 Pant can do everything. He can even hit helicopter off greatest death bowler ever.#MIvDC — The Alchemist (@ponananthvs) March 24, 2019 Rishabh Pant is treating the best white ball bowler on planet Earth like a second class citizen. Stunning batting! #MIvDC #VivoIPL — Arjun Ashok (@arj_90) March 24, 2019 Just Wow from Pant ! — Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) March 24, 2019 Bhuvi (21 in an over) and Bumrah (31 in 2 overs) were really ordinary in the death overs today. Russell and Pant were in red hot form but expected better from India's premier death bowlers. #KKRvSRH #MIvDC #IPL2019 — Aditya (@forwardshortleg) March 24, 2019 Rishabh Pant hit a staggering 81 % of his runs through the leg side, 50% behind square on leg side. Best part was even if Mumbai tried to bowl outside off, he was able to pick them off to the leg side. Teams will need to come up with some kind of strategy against him. #MIvDC — jigar mehta (@jigsactin) March 24, 2019 Mumbai Indians did not get off to a great start. Rohit Sharma was dismissed trying to up the ante and Surya Kumar Yadav was run out by an exceptionally piece of fielding by Shreyas Iyer. But Yuvraj Singh raised a few eyebrows with some of his trademark shots. Happiness is Watching Yuvraj batting 😍😍😭😭 Happy & Emotional I am #MIvDC — Fehmu (@FehmeenaR) March 24, 2019 Interestingly both Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh made their India debut together in the same match at Nairobi in October 2000.In 2019, Zaheer is the Mumbai Indians coach and Yuvraj a MI player!#IPL2019 #IPL12 #IPL #MIvDC — Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 24, 2019 Delighted to watch #Yuvi back on the form #Yuvraj — deshraj agrawal (@deshrajagrawal) March 24, 2019 Yuvraj Singh has rewound the clock....Paisa Vasool 👏👏 #MIvDC #IPL — Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 24, 2019 Yuvraj Singh is all class !!! #MumbaiIndians — Dhruv (@strokeOgeniuso) March 24, 2019 Krunal Pandya played a quick-fire cameo of 32. Yuvraj went on to score a half-century but the hosts fell short of the run-chase by runs. Afraid #MI outplayed today. Pant's innings the difference. — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 24, 2019 Rahul Tewatia now joins Sachin Tendulkar, David Warner and Jacques Kallis to become the 4th fielder in #IPL history to claim 4 catches in a match.#IPL2019 #IPL12 #MIvDC — Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 24, 2019 After being 29-2 batting first at the Wankhede that is a very good win for DC. Pant’s innings was phenomenal (Ingram’s was also excellent) but they managed the defence well too. Morris & Lamichhane will strengthen the attack considerably as well. An encouraging start. #IPL #MIvDC — Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) March 24, 2019
Why Cheat India Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Snighadeep Chatterjee, Manuj Sharma Director: Soumik Sen Just days before it was to be released the Censors demanded that the makers of Cheat India attach the word ‘Why’ to its title, presumably because the original title sounded a lot like a call to action, a command. And come on, you can’t have a film actively encouraging the populace to swindle our great nation, can you? Why Cheat India, on the other hand, sounds too generic, and punctuation wise it’s off. Is it asking a question – as in why do we, Indians, tend to cheat? That’s a tricky one; we could be here all day. No, I suspect, that like movie critics, the Censors too might have been bored out of their skull watching this film. The new title, therefore, could be an expression of frustration – as if questioning the need for this film – “Why, Cheat India?? ?” But jokes aside, the movie, directed by Soumik Sen, has an interesting premise. Emraan Hashmi, who has had some practice playing all manner of cheaters and fraudsters, stars as Rakesh Singh aka Rocky, a shrewd fellow who runs a scam helping wealthy candidates land seats in medical and engineering colleges by recruiting smarter students to take their entrance exams for them. He’s a messiah for desperate parents and students who know that a medical or engineering degree is a shot at a better life, and a Robin Hood-like figure for the brilliant but poor toppers who have loans to be paid off, parents to support, and sisters to be wed. Everybody wins in Rocky’s unique business plan. Everybody but the audience. Why Cheat India fast becomes a slog. The themes are relevant, but the writing is flat; the screenplay lacks urgency. The film opens in the 90s and to be honest it feels like it was made then. There is melodrama, dialoguebaazi, and old-school plotting. None of that would’ve been a problem if it wasn’t so darn unremarkable. The supporting players – there are many – aren’t especially memorable, and a last minute twist feels unconvincing. The second half moves more briskly but the plot becomes especially harebrained when Rocky widens his net to crack the MBA entrance exam. It’s a shame you leave the cinema bored and underwhelmed because there was potential here to make a smart film about our flawed education system – one that encourages mugging and rote learning over understanding; one that values a degree over real aptitude. A system that drives students and their parents to seek dangerous, unhealthy shortcuts. Some of that is addressed but it’s not really what the film is about. Hashmi, who is also one of the producers, plays his part with required flair. He’s very good in anti-hero roles, but this film can’t seem to decide how to peg him. He spends the bulk of his time on screen exploiting the education system, but also gets to deliver an impassioned monologue skewering the corruption within that very system. Of the remaining ensemble, only Snighadeep Chatterjee as Sattu, one of the bright young students who falls under Rocky’s spell, and Shreya Dhanwanthary as Sattu’s sister Nupur, make an impression. I was also never fully convinced about the ease with which Rocky repeatedly pulled off these big scams. But I suppose that’s creative liberty. This fim takes a lot of those. I’m going with two out of five for Why Cheat India. If anyone’s having trouble sleeping, we might have found a cure. Rating: 2 / 5 Write your review here: Follow @news18movies for more<doc-sep>One year ago OTT made its presence felt in our living rooms and mobile phones, promising a plethora of content and a boom of entertainment. With quick subscription options, movies played at our fingertips, keeping everyone engaged at a time when the world was battling a pandemic. In this week’s #BigStory, let’s take stock of how the digital medium has changed the hero, negated star power, created unexpected success stories and yet, scared a few producers.<doc-sep>Emraan Hashmi's Why Cheat India hit the screens on Friday and is not off to a promising start. The film could only make Rs 1.71 crore on the first day. It needs a miracle now to have a promising opening weekend. The other two films that released with Why Cheat India were Rangeela Raja and Fraud Saiyyan, both of which had no buzz and were slammed by the critics. Why Cheat India received negative reviews for its disjointed and fragmented storyline. Why Cheat India revolves around the evils of the education system in India. It tells the story of Rakesh Singh aka Rocky (Emraan Hashmi), who has a perfect solution for every student who has to sit incessantly for every MBA or engineering or bank exam and wait to make it to the list - proxy examinations. He lures bright students to sit for exams on behalf of other students. India Today reviewer Charu Thakur gave the film a low rating and said, "Why Cheat India meanders from one topic to another at the blink of an eye, making it totally incomprehensible for the viewer to keep track. This continues right till the climax and spills over beyond it. In this mess, the storytelling goes for a toss. So bad is the level of detachment from the film that you don't even want to relate to the characters on screen." WHY CHEAT INDIA MOVIE REVIEW ALSO SEE: For Aishwarya Rai, the worst attack was being called plastic. Is Emraan Hashmi listening? ALSO SEE: Cheat India actress on working with Emraan Hashmi: It was different to see him in the non-romantic image<doc-sep>Vicky Kaushal’s Uri: The Surgical Strike is steady at the box office as it eyes the Rs 100 crore club, easily overcoming the challenge posed by the new release this week, Why Cheat India. The Emraan Hashmi film opened amid average reviews to a box office collection of just Rs 1.71 on its first day. This is the lowest opening that an Emraan Hashmi film has received in the last six years with Baadshaho, Azhar, Raaz Reboot and others getting a much better reception. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared the opening figures of Why Cheat India on Twitter. He tweeted, “#WhyCheatIndia is a non-starter... Needs miraculous growth over the weekend to post a decent total... Fri ₹ 1.71 cr. India biz.” #WhyCheatIndia is a non-starter... Needs miraculous growth over the weekend to post a decent total... Fri ₹ 1.71 cr. India biz. — taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) January 19, 2019 Meanwhile, Uri: The Surgical Strike collected Rs 70 crore in its first week. According to Boxofficeindia.com, it collected Rs 8 crore on its second Friday, which is almost as much as its opening collections of Rs 8.20 crore. This takes its total to around Rs 78 crore. The film is already a hit and has surpassed the first week collections of breakout hits such as Raazi, Stree, Badhaai Ho and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. Also read: Pati Patni Aur Woh begins with an epic photo of Kartik Aaryan, Bhumi Pednekar, Ananya Panday Taran confirmed the same in his tweet, “#UriTheSurgicalStrike hits the jackpot... Collects higher than #SKTKS, #Raazi, #Stree and #BadhaaiHo in Week 1... #SKTKS Rs 45.94 cr #Raazi Rs 56.59 cr #Stree Rs 60.39 cr #BadhaaiHo Rs 66.10 cr [8 days; released on Thu] #UriTheSurgicalStrike Rs 70.94 cr India biz.” The film is Vicky’s biggest solo blockbuster and will soon cross the Rs 100 crore mark. A success party was held a few days ago to celebrate the performance of the film. Based on the 2016 historical surgical strikes, the film has been directed by Aditya Dhar and also stars Mohit Raina, Yami Gautam, Kirti Kulhari and Paresh Rawal. Vicky Kaushal’s Raazi co-star Alia Bhatt also shared her praise for Uri on social media. “What a film! @vickykaushal09 I literally have no words for you! You are just something else! Congratulations @AdityaDharFilms & @RonnieScrewvala for putting this film together!! What an experience!!! Fabulous performances! !Fabulous Film,” she wrote. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10<doc-sep>	Emraan Hashmi's Why Cheat India is struggling at the box office. Soumik Sen's movie has managed to collect just Rs 1.71 crore on its first day despite decent reviews from movie critics. The other films that released along with Why Cheat India, Govinda's Rangeela Raja and Arshad Warsi's Fraud Saiyyan, made no noise at the box office and were badly rejected by both critics and moviegoers. According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, Emraan Hashmi's movie needs a miraculous growth over the weekend to post a decent total at the box office. Why Cheat India, which was released a day earlier at the overseas markets, has grossed Rs 4.69 lakh from 17 screens at the Australian box office and Rs 90,208 from 8 screens at New Zealand box office, reports BoxOfficeIndia.com. #WhyCheatIndia is a non-starter... Needs miraculous growth over the weekend to post a decent total... Fri â‚¹ 1.71 cr. India biz. - taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) January 19, 2019 Emraan Hashmi's movie is a comedy-drama film that revolves around the corrupt education system of the country. Hashmi, who plays the role of Rakesh Singh in Why Cheat India, helps rich students get seats in medical, engineering and management colleges by making smart students take examinations for them. Why Cheat India's collections have also been affected because of competition from films like Vicky Kaushal's Uri and Ranveer Singh's Simmba. Apart from Emraan Hashmi, the movie features Shreya Dhanwanthary as Nupur and Snighadeep Chatterjee as Sattu. The film is directed and written by Soumik Sen and was released on 18 January 2019. (Edited By Vivek Dubey)
GREY'S ANATOMY - "Good Shepherd" - Amelia and Link travel to New York to operate on a patient with a severe spinal deformity, but they're in for more than they bargained for when Nancy Shepherd invites them to dinner at her home on "Grey's Anatomy," THURSDAY, APRIL 11 (8:00-9:01 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Mitch Haaseth) AMY ACKER Grey’s Anatomy further explores the Shepherd family in Good Shepherd. Here’s how to watch Grey’s Anatomy season 15, episode 21 live, on TV and online. An unexpected family reunion is about to happen, so find out how to watch Grey’s Anatomy online or live tonight, as ABC‘s hit drama is making things even more personal. Thursday’s installment is called “Good Shepherd,” which is obviously a play on the name of Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone). When she and Link (Chris Carmack) travel out of Seattle to help in a specialized surgery, they run into a few other members of Amelia’s family—and the family dinner does not go well. For TV fans, though, this Grey’s Anatomy episode should be a lot of fun to watch specifically because of that guest cast. Amy Acker (The Gifted), Embeth Davidtz (In Treatment) and the legendary Tyne Daly (Cagney & Lacey) all feature this week, and they’re all going to turn in great performances. Even though it might be the most tense dinner party ever. Below is all the information you need to watch Grey’s Anatomy online and live Thursday to catch the latest episode of the season. Here’s how ABC officially describes the episode: Amelia and Link travel to New York to operate on a patient with a severe spinal deformity, but they’re in for more than they bargained for when Nancy Shepherd invites them to dinner at her home. And here’s how you can watch “Good Shepherd” live, on TV or via live stream: Date: Thursday, April 11 Start Time: 8:00 p.m. Episode: “Good Shepherd” TV Channel: ABC Live Stream: You can watch on the ABC website or app. For the latest Grey’s Anatomy season 15 spoilers and news, plus more on everything happening in TV, follow the Television category at FanSided.<doc-sep>Her name is Amelia Frances Shepherd; put some respect on it. Grey's Anatomy Season 15 Episode 21 was the highly-anticipated Amelia-centric hour --- Amelia the movie, and it was a delight (although, why do they keep using Meredith for the voiceovers for other character-centric episodes? ). It was a delight because Caterina Scorsone is a delight. She has shown off her stunning range with the arcs she was given this season, and she's easily a highlight of the season thus far. "Good Shepherd" was teased to fans as a standalone hour with a romantic comedy feel to it, and that's what it was. Regardless of sentiments about Amelia's love life and which handsome guy she should be with, even though her romantic life was part of this hour, it was about her journey and her growth more than anything. For fans of Amelia and fans of Private Practice, I imagine (I wasn't a regular viewer of the series back in the day and my memory is fuzzy) this is the Amelia they remember and love, and it was a reminder of how Scorsone could carry a show of her own. Call mom sometime, kiddo. It's the kind thing to do. Nancy Permalink: Call mom sometime, kiddo. It's the kind thing to do. Permalink: Call mom sometime, kiddo. It's the kind thing to do. My heart swelled with pride for this woman who has overcome so many obstacles in her life and miraculously has come through on the other side mostly due to her indomitable spirit and refusal to let life break her no matter how often it tries. Amelia is the black sheep of the family and always has been, but as the dynamics of the family played out onscreen, it's evident Amelia is the strong Shepherd too -- the strongest of them all. It's something she inherited from her late father, and it's heartbreaking she went however many years in her life not knowing how much she had in common with the man whom she idolized and who died in front of her eyes. The hour was an ode to Amelia Shepherd, and while many may have had their reservations about a potentially light-hearted tone and approach, Amelia deserved this; she earned this. We can bicker all day about Meredith's love life and how happy she deserves to be (and that's true), but Amelia is another character who has endured a hell of a lot and is deserving of happiness and an easier time of it. After this installment, she may be at that point FINALLY. Amelia: You don't have to bring up my every transgression. Kathleen: We don't have that kind of time. Permalink: You don't have to bring up my every transgression. Permalink: You don't have to bring up my every transgression. It's funny how no matter how smart, accomplished, strongwilled, and confident a person is, their family has a way of stripping of them of all of those traits and reducing them to their childhood insecurities and inadequacies. Amelia was having a fantastic time dodging getting emotionally close to Link while rolling around in a bed and getting to learn more about him than she was willing to offer up herself. They were excited about being on a trip together again and their Jonah case. It all came crashing down the second Amelia bumped into Nancy. It was a masterclass of rom-com goodness. Amelia stammered her way through introductions and corralled Link into her ruse with no notice. To his credit, Link jumped in like a pro, and it was the start of him being Team Amelia and #BoyfriendGoals. Atticus Link is a real one, and there are few people at GSM deserving of him. It was hilarious when Nancy conveniently overheard Amelink/Lepherd had time to spare after all, and she forced them into dinner at her home. Amelia was right; there was no way she was going to wiggle her way out of it, and as much of a stink Link was putting up at first, he wasn't going to leave her hanging. Related: Grey's Anatomy Season 15 Episode 20 Review: The Whole Package Link went into the dinner blind having not known much about Amelia (or Owen) in the months he has been at the hospital. The thing was, he has been trying to get to know Amelia all this time, but she wasn't giving him much to work with nor the opportunity to get to know her. I don't know your life. I know Owen's. Link; You can learn it. Amelia Permalink: I don't know your life. I know Owen's. Permalink: I don't know your life. I know Owen's. One of the things that stood out was how many small details Amelia knew about Owen. Amelia was a woman who truly loved Owen, and if there were ever doubts about that, her moments of prepping Link to pretend to be Owen dispelled them. It also made the Omelia situation more heartbreaking. Amelia knows every last detail about her ex-husband whom she loves, but as we've learned more recently, Owen doesn't know Amelia well at all. Although, he could break down every last detail of all things Teddy though. I couldn't help but empathize with Amelia the black sheep heading into the lion's den. She had the same dread I feel anytime I go to a family function with my extended family. Scorsone's facial expressions are utterly priceless. The way her eyes popped when she heard Kathleen's voice followed by her entrance was classic. Related: New Amsterdam Season 1 Episode 17 Review: Sanctuary If we thought Nancy (Embeth Davidtz) was the snarky, shade-throwing sister, we discovered she has nothing on Kathleen. Amy Acker is the best, and I have never been so excited to see her and so pissed off at a character she was playing since the first season of The Gifted. Kathleen is vicious, and she knows how to go for the jugular while smiling the entire time. Where Nancy is passive-aggressive, Kathleen is plain old aggressive. She had no qualms about using her profession as a psychiatrist to psycho-analyze everything everyone does, but it made her constant barrage of bitchy comments about Amelia all the worse. As a shrink, she should know better, but because Amelia is her sister, she doesn't do better, which is disheartening. There was no end to the digs at Amelia, from the comments about not drinking wine due to her alcoholism to the reminders of how terrible Amelia is in her relationships and how she runs away from them. No transgression went unturned when Katheleen and Nancy spoke about Amelia at dinner, and they fed off of each other. I'm sure he's great, but when I was in Seattle I met Owen Hunt and this isn't him. Carolyn Permalink: I'm sure he's great, but when I was in Seattle I met Owen Hunt and this isn't him. Permalink: I'm sure he's great, but when I was in Seattle I met Owen Hunt and this isn't him. It was worse when Carolyn joined their dinner and realized Link was not Owen. It's terrible that Carolyn barely made an effort to stop her other daughters from berating Amelia like that. It was more uncomfortable than ever since they knew at that point Link was not Owen. They were comfortable talking about how "demented" it was that she brought her fake husband, and how IF she was still sober it couldn't be blamed on alcoholism or drugs, nor could it be blamed on the brain tumor of which they had just learned. If Link were a lesser man, he would have been turned off by all of these things he had learned about Amelia, and it's something all the Shepherd women knew but didn't bother to care. Who exposes their loved one's dirty laundry to a virtual stranger like that? Everything about the dinner scene was infuriating, and Amelia didn't deserve any of it. They all lived in the past when speaking about Amelia and couldn't see how much she has grown. They never chose to see it. The photographs at Nancy's house spoke volumes. She had photos in all stages of everyone's lives, and some of Derek, Meredith, and the kids. The only photograph of Amelia was one when she was a teenager. Amelia is a world-renown surgeon who has accomplished so much, and the only picture Nancy could be bothered to have up of her little sister was when Amelia was 14-years-old. What the hell? ! It made the other Shepherd women taking potshots at Amelia for not communicating and being part of their lives ridiculous. They didn't bother to show up at her wedding to Owen -- none of them showed up but were somehow dismayed that Amelia could've had a potentially life-threatening brain tumor and brain surgery and didn't share it with them. They already showed they couldn't show up during what should've been her happiest time, so why would she want them there for a melancholic one? Plus, they shamed Amelia for not speaking to their mother. The last time they were on the phone together Amelia was sobbing and pleading for her mom to show up to her wedding, and her mother refused. Link: Listen, um, I'm new to all of this and I haven't known Amelia that long, but I wanted us to stay for dinner tonight so you could meet the woman I've been getting to know because she is not at all the woman you're describing. Amelia: Link, you don't have to- Link: She is a brilliant surgeon, the kind you fly across the country when you need the best. She just performed a surgery that very few people on the planet can do. She is a respected teacher and mentor. She cares about her patients and her colleagues. She's beautiful and funny, and kind, and strong. She's overcome a lot of adversity and sure she feels her emotions in a big way, but that makes her better than most people I know, not worse because she's authentic. She was an amazing mom to Betty, and still kind of is to Leo even though she doesn't have custody. Permalink: She is a brilliant surgeon, the kind you fly across the country when you need the best. She... Permalink: She is a brilliant surgeon, the kind you fly across the country when you need the best. She... It's understandable why Amelia would want to keep up this ruse because having to acknowledge her marriage to Owen failed would mean she screwed up again, and she was tired of being the screwup. Amelia asserting herself to her mom and sisters was one of the best moments, and I adored how Link spoke up for Amelia too. He didn't need to know everything she had gone through in her past to know how incredible she is in the present. Link was nothing but supportive, and kind, and he's everything that Amelia needs and deserves. One of the best and telling exchanges between them was when she told Link that she and Owen never had a honeymoon since they wanted to go to two different places, and Link's response was why didn't you go to both? Amelia lashed out a bit at Link in the car ride to the hotel, and he didn't deserve any of it, but it made sense. She was embarrassed and humiliated, and she felt exposed to a man whom she refused to open up to in the first place. Link had every right to be frustrated, and he had reason to be concerned when Amelia offered to perform a risky surgery on Jonah to fix him permanently. It did sound like a rash decision she was making to prove something to her family and herself. Link: You OK? I said we shouldn't go. Amelia: I said we couldn't stay! Link: Your sisters are terrorists, and I'm the problem? Permalink: Your sisters are terrorists, and I'm the problem? Permalink: Your sisters are terrorists, and I'm the problem? We didn't spend a lot of time with Jonah and his brother Brady (All American's Michael Evans Behling), but it was easy to want things to work out for them.<doc-sep>	GREY'S ANATOMY - "Good Shepherd" - Amelia and Link travel to New York to operate on a patient with a severe spinal deformity, but they're in for more than they bargained for when Nancy Shepherd invites them to dinner at her home on "Grey's Anatomy," THURSDAY, APRIL 11 (8:00-9:01 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Mitch Haaseth) CHRIS CARMACK, CATERINA SCORSONE A new episode of Grey’s Anatomy is on the way tonight on ABC. Here is a look at the new episode along with how to watch Grey’s Anatomy Season 15, Episode 21 live online. Amelia and Link will be jetting off together in tonight’s new episode of Grey’s Anatomy on ABC as part of the TGIT line up. Here is a look at the new episode, called “Good Shepherd,” along with the details you are going to need in order to watch Grey’s Anatomy Season 15, Episode 21 live online. Before we get into the details about the new episode, you should be aware of how this next part of the post will contain spoilers. If you wish to stay spoiler free, then skip past the next part of the post, to the very bottom of the page where you will find the live stream options. OK then, let’s get started. Let’s take a look at the official episode synopsis release. So like I hinted at the start, Amelia and Link will be jetting off together. The two are off to New York to operate on a patient who has a severe spinal deformity. Now, since this is Grey’s Anatomy, nothing ever goes to plan, and tonight’s episode will be no exception. Amelia and Link are going to get much more than what they bargained for when they are invited to dinner by Nancy Shepherd. That’s right, it’s a Shepherd reunion! Check out the official synopsis for yourself just below: Grey’s Anatomy Season 15, Episode 21 synopsis Amelia and Link travel to New York to operate on a patient who has a severe spinal deformity, but they’re in for more than they bargained for when Nancy Shepherd invites them to dinner at her home. Turning our attention over to the official promo released and it shows us just how awkward this Shepherd family reunion is going to be with. As Amelia and Link end up playing the happily married couple. Have a look at it for yourself just below: Grey’s Anatomy Season 15, Episode 21 promo Right then. So that is all there is to share with you about the new episode of Grey’s Anatomy tonight. Now let’s get you the live stream options. Watch Grey’s Anatomy Season 15, Episode 21 live online Date: Thursday, April 11 Start Time: 8:00pm EST Episode: “Good Shepherd” TV Channel: ABC Live Stream: Stream 1 \| Stream 2
Mega Millions and Powerball Jackpots Total $1.3B, Odds of Winning Both: One in 88 Quadrillion Posted on: October 18, 2018, 07:10h. Last updated on: October 18, 2018, 11:06h. No lucky lottery player hit the Mega Millions or Powerball jackpots during the midweek drawings, which has collectively pushed the games’ prize pools far past the $1 billion mark. The odds are against you, but there are 1.3 billion reasons to still test your luck during this weekend’s Mega Millions and Powerball drawings. (Image: Nam Huh/AP) Mega Millions now stands at $900 million, which is the second-richest lottery jackpot in US history. And with no jackpot winners Wednesday night, Powerball’s grand prize has increased to $430 million. Combined, the two most popular lottery games in America have more than $1.3 billion up for grabs. Convenience store checkout lines will be long today and tomorrow, as dreamers print tickets with the hopes of a life-changing fortune. The odds of it happening are one in 302.5 million in Mega Millions, and one in 292.2 million in Powerball. Business outlet CNBC says the odds of one person winning both is one in 88 quadrillion, a number that looks like this: 88,000,000,000,000,000. Mega Millions next draws on Friday at 11 pm ET. Powerball draws Saturday at 10:59 pm ET. The largest single lottery jackpot in US history remains the 2016 Powerball at $1.6 billion. Lottery True Winners This is precisely what the Multi-State Lottery Association (MSLA) had in mind when it altered its two marquee games to make the odds of winning a jackpot even more difficult. The MSLA modified Powerball in 2015 by reducing the number of powerballs by nine, but increasing the number of white balls by 10. The change lowered one’s odds of winning the jackpot from one in 175.2 million, to one in 292.2 million. Mega Millions was overhauled in 2017 by increasing the number of Mega Balls by 10. The change lengthened jackpot odds from one in 258.9 million, to one in 302.5 million. Massive lottery jackpot headlines are of course good business for the MLSA, and that’s been the norm as of late. Ultimately, these games, they’re all about the jackpots,” Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director Gordon Medenica told the Washington Post. He added that the MSLA was worried smaller, but more frequent prizes, would lead to “jackpot fatigue.” Mega Millions is played in 44 states, plus the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands. Powerball is played in the same areas, plus Puerto Rico. Better Odds Many will go buy a Mega Millions and/or Powerball ticket today and tomorrow, but here are some other things that will likelier come true than winning one of the jackpots.<doc-sep>Mega Millions has existed in some form since 1996. But only recently has the game been shelling out massive jackpots. The lottery officials who run Mega Millions tweaked the rules and odds of the game last October to make jackpots pay out less frequently, spurring their monster growth. Since that change, three of the six largest Mega Millions jackpots have been paid out.<doc-sep>The Mega Millions winning numbers for the $1 billion jackpot 15, 23, 53, 65 and 70 with a Mega Ball of 7. It's the second-biggest jackpot in history. The $1 billion jackpot has a one-time cash option of $565 million. Or if the winner chooses the annuity option, the jackpot would be paid out over 29 years. The cash option is usually favored by the winners. The jackpot keeps swelling because nobody has won since July 24, when 11 workers in a California office shared $543 million, the largest prize ever won on a single ticket in the game. There hasn't been a Powerball winner since Aug. 11, causing the jackpot to rise to $470 million. The next Powerball drawing will be Saturday. Mega Millions winning numbers 15, 23, 53, 65 and 70 Mega Ball: 7 How to play Mega Millions Mega Millions tickets cost $2 per play and there are a total of nine ways to win a prize, ranging from the jackpot down to $2. You can play Mega Millions in 46 localities: 44 states plus Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. How late can you play Mega Millions The Mega Millions cut off time can vary by state. For example: in Pennsylvania, Mega Million ticket sales end at 61 minutes before the drawing – 9:59 p.m. on drawing nights. In most other states, tickets may be purchased up until 15 minutes prior to the drawing –10:45 p.m. ET. Odds of winning The odds of winning a jackpot remain abysmal at 1 in 258.9 million for Mega Millions and 1 in 292.2 million for Powerball. You are 25,000 times more likely to hit a hole-in-one than you are of winning tonight's jackpot. Who buys lotto tickets? About two-thirds of Americans gamble. Last year, they spent $72.97 billion on traditional lottery tickets, according to Gallup. On average, that's $206.69 per person. "Our obsession with lotteries, with gambling, is that unicorn feeling of, like, 'maybe it'll be me,'" CBS News business analyst Jill Schlesinger said. She points out that some people don't necessarily play to win. "They just want to take a moment out of their day to consider how to dream big," Schlesinger said. The average American spends about $223 per year on lottery tickets, according to a survey from LENDedu. Massachusetts residents have the biggest taste for playing the odds, spending almost $763 per year on lottery tickets, the study found. North Dakotans are on the opposite end of the spectrum, spending about $44 per year on the lottery, or the lowest average figure among residents of all 50 states. Aimee Picchi and Justin Carissimo contributed to this report.<doc-sep>	Only one ticket matches all six numbers in the Mega Millions lottery draw in the United States for a jackpot worth a record-setting $1.5 billion, a lottery official said. The ticket, sold in South Carolina, matched the five numbers 5, 28, 62, 65, 70 and the Mega Ball 5 that were drawn last night, a Mega Millions spokeswoman said. The lucky winner has not yet been identified. Mega Millions, which initially announced a global record $1.6 billion jackpot, later revised the figure down to $1.537 billion. The buyer of the ticket beat the odds of 1 in 303 million to win the Mega Millions drawing for the largest jackpot in US history. The new amount makes the prize the second largest, just shy of the $1.586bn jackpot for a rival Powerball lottery in January 2016, which was shared between three winning tickets. The winner can take $878 million in a lump sum cash payment or be paid out in annuities over 30 years. Mega Millions tickets are sold in 44 US states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. Several states allow online ticket purchases, but they prohibit out-of-state and foreign purchases. States receive a percentage of lottery ticket sales and the nuse the money to support public schools or meet other needs. Today’s Powerball lottery prize stands at $620m, making it the fifth-largest jackpot in US history, after no one got all six numbers in Saturday's drawing. The lump sum cash payout is estimated at $354.3m. We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
BTC Closing Above Its 200-Day MA Signals Bull Trend Bitcoin (BTC) has only been surging for less than a week, but Tom Lee has been making his rounds on mainstream media, proclaiming an end to the bear. In a recent Bloomberg segment on Friday, Lee, the head of research at New York analysis outfit Fundstrat Global Advisors, revealed that he thinks the worse may be over for BTC. The long-standing crypto bull remarked that Bitcoin’s sudden spike last Monday was based on “true buying,” making it not an act of manipulation as some postulated. This is likely in reference to a Reuters report, which claimed that a single group or entity managed to purchase $100 million worth of Bitcoin across three exchanges, creating a short-term influx of FOMO that pushed BTC higher. Furthering the bullish narrative, Lee looks to the 200-day moving average, which has acted as an overarching level of resistance for BTC since early-2018. The Fundstrat co-founder explains that while many proclaimed cryptocurrencies dead as a result of their -85% performance from top to bottom, BTC closing and holding above the aforementioned level confirms that it is “back in a bull trend.” It is important to note that the asset has only held above its 200-day moving average for five days now, but the lack of an immediate pullback does have some, like Lee, rather enthused. Bitcoin had a rough 2018. But after a spike earlier this week, many are asking: Is bitcoin back? https://t.co/mNZrm9FrBn pic.twitter.com/AlmC3C4gUD — CNBC (@CNBC) April 5, 2019 It is important to note that Fundstrat determined that when Bitcoin moved above its 200-day moving average, it posted a 193% performance on average in the six following months. So if history repeats itself, the asset could reach a $14,000 valuation, as Ethereum World News explained previously. And with that, he opined that sentiment “has to change” from bearish to bullish, as there is now no denying that BTC is in a dramatically better place than it was in, let’s say, in mid-December. What’s Next For Bitcoin? While Bitcoin may be in a “bull market” as Lee suggests, where could the cryptocurrency be heading next? By and large, most traders expect for BTC to stabilize for the time being. Josh Rager of Level recently explained that in 2015, it took 216 days of accumulation for BTC to break out of the bears’ vise. The current round of accumulation, however, has only lasted for around 105 days. This, coupled with the analyst’s other call that $3,100 was likely the bottom for this cycle, makes it clear that BTC trading in a range, likely between $4,000 and $5,500, could continue for a few more months. $BTC Accumulation Pattern It took Bitcoin 216 days for accumulation from bottom to spring in 2015 If this were accumulation, this week's $1000 candle would be the exact middle of 216 accumulation days and would end on July 19th, 2019 Pure speculation but fun to compare pic.twitter.com/I6YfHiqwdW — Josh Rager 📈 (@Rager) April 5, 2019 But, Lee makes it clear that there are clear tailwinds for cryptocurrency right now, like the growth in emerging markets, a relatively weak U.S. dollar, and the return of whales stacking up their holdings, that could set the stage for an eventual longer-term rally. Photo by Giovanni Calia on Unsplash<doc-sep>Fundstrat Global Advisors co-founder Thomas Lee said that Bitcoin (BTC) is back in a bullish trend during an interview with Bloomberg published on April 5. During the interview, Lee pointed out that Bitcoin’s critics declared the cryptocurrency dead because it lost 90% of its value. However, it has now broken over its 200-day-moving-average, which is why he thinks sentiment has to change and that BTC is currently in a bull market. Lee noted that a tailwind for Bitcoin formed this year because the dollar wasn’t strengthening and China’s equity multiplier has been growing. Lee also noted that there is evidence that the so-called whales — investors who hold great quantities of cryptocurrency — have started accumulating more crypto once again. He said: “A lot of them sold, in early 2018, that’s dry powder, they’re starting to put that to work.” As Cointelegraph reported in March, Thomas Lee previously told CNBC that he thinks a bull mark could return within six months, noting the indicator to keep an eye on is 200-day-moving-average. In February, Lee’s New York-based research company Fundstrat Global Advisors released its 2019 crypto outlook in which analysts describe incremental improvements that will purportedly support higher prices for cryptocurrencies.<doc-sep>2019 could mark the return of bitcoin, according to one bitcoin bull. The digital currency has had a difficult run since hitting its all-time high, sinking from its peak near $20,000 per coin in late 2017 to its current trading price of less than $4,000. The CME bitcoin futures curve is up nearly 6 percent year to date but has also fallen significantly from the 2017 peak. But Fundstrat Global Advisors strategist and known bitcoin bull Tom Lee — who in December valued bitcoin between $13,800 and $14,800 — says this year could bring about a comeback for the cryptocurrency, thanks to favorable macroeconomic trends. "I think 2019's a year about repair," Lee said Thursday on CNBC's "Futures Now." "We have a risk-on rally in global markets that's positive for bitcoin; it was a headwind last year. And the dollar isn't surging like it was last year. That's a headwind that's gone away." And while Lee also noticed that bitcoin's technical indicators are stabilizing, with the digital currency managing to hold above its 200-week moving average, his thesis centered on the bigger picture. "The real story is the fundamental one, that bitcoin's becoming quite useful," he said. "We've seen the launch of digital currencies by not only J.P. Morgan and Mizuho Bank, but also Facebook and some social media companies gearing up. And, of course, in places like Venezuela, where bitcoin's become very large and widely used, turmoil is causing adoption growth. So I think these are really setting up for a strong ... year." Increased awareness around cryptocurrencies may also bring them closer to becoming an official asset class, a shift that is already starting to take shape, Lee said. "Fidelity's launching digital custody. Bakkt is going to launch an exchange. We've already seen some high-profile endowments, and pension funds actually invest new money this year," he said. "So I think, as an asset class, it's still the earliest days, but I think it's too glib to dismiss the macro." For the near term, Lee told prospective buyers to keep an eye on the 200-day moving average. If bitcoin maintains its current trading price around $4,000, "it'll cross above its 200-day by August," which could help it regain the ground it lost during its price collapse in late 2018, Lee said. "I think the damage that needs to really be repaired is that collapse from $6,000 to $3,100, which came after the fork wars with Bitcoin Cash," he said. "I think it really undermined investor confidence in sort of the dynamics around the market, so I think that bitcoin's going to spend a lot of time below $6,000 sort of fixing itself." But that might not take too long, Lee said: "I think the outside window is five or six months before bitcoin starts to look technically like it's back in a bull market." Disclosure: There is a possibility that Tom Lee and/or Fundstrat will from time to time have long or short positions in, and buy or sell, the securities or derivatives referred to in his research.<doc-sep>	Fundstrat Global Advisors co-founder Thomas Lee broke with tradition about Bitcoin (BTC) price forecasts on March 14, telling CNBC he thinks a bull mark could return within six months. In an interview with the publication, Lee, who is well known as a Bitcoin bull — but said he would stop giving out timeframes for a price rebound in December — now claimed August could see a market U-turn. “I think the key number to watch is the 200-day moving average,” he told the network, continuing: “If Bitcoin holds above $4,000, it’ll cross its 200-day [moving average] by August, so I think the outside window is five to six months before Bitcoin starts to look technically like it’s back in a bull market.” Referencing Bitcoin Cash’s (BCH) contentious hard fork in mid-November, Lee stated, “I think the damage that really needs to be repaired is that drop from $6,000 to $3,100,” adding: “I think it really undermined investor confidence and the dynamics around the market[. ]” As recently reported, Bitcoin had begun to deliver returns to investors through February, with average daily increases of around 0.5 percent. The number this month has shrunk, with daily numbers closer to 0.2 percent, leading some to think a fresh bear market downturn could be imminent. Since peaking at all-time highs around $20,000 in December 2017, Bitcoin has seen the longest bear market in its history, with subsequent lows averaging just above $3,100. In December, fellow market analyst Tone Vays sounded a more intense warning, forecasting BTC/USD to fall to near $1,000 before bearish sentiment definitively ends.
AT-A-GLANCE NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Health officials have issued a new warning about a possible case of measles exposure in New Jersey. The state health department says a resident of Middlesex County may have exposed people at a restaurant in Monmouth County last week. The restaurant is Rosalita’s Roadside Cantina on Route 9 in Englishtown. Anyone who went there between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on April should check with a doctor. MEASLES HEALTH EMERGENCY RESOURCES This new case of exposure comes as the Centers for Disease Control released new numbers showing the measles outbreak is growing in the Tri-State Area and across the country. The total number of reported measles infections for 2019 are now 626 cases nationwide – almost as high as for all of 2014, the highest year since an eradication program began in earnest, reports CBS2’s Dr. Max Gomez. The total includes 359 cases in New York, 33 cases in New Jersey and two cases in Connecticut. State health departments are reporting numbers that include cases going back to October, when the current outbreak started. The number of case are increasing for two main reasons: Resistance to vaccinations and ease of travel. Most of the cases are in unvaccinated people. It only takes one infected person on an airplane, domestically or internationally, to mingle in a community where vaccination rates are low and an outbreak spreads Booster shots are not needed for people who were born before 1963. People who have had wild measles and are immune for life. Those born between 1963 and 1989 when the measles vaccine was just one shot may need a booster if travelling to a country or community where there’s wild measles. Those born after 1989 when the MMR two-dose shot protocol was instituted should be immune.<doc-sep>Nearly a hundred more measles cases have been reported in the United States since the last time the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its numbers for 2019. Bergen County officials are monitoring a measles outbreak in nearby Rockland County where a state of emergency was declared. Read more: Bergen Officials Monitoring Measles Outbreak In Rockland County In New Jersey, 13 measles cases have been reported in 2019 as the outbreak or risk of exposure continues in at least three counties. The number increased since last month, when there were 11 reported. Also, a numer of people in Ocean County have been confirmed to have the measles in the latest outbreak of the virus, according to the state Department of Health. Read more: 11 Measles Cases In 2019 Ocean County Outbreak, State Says According to the CDC, through April 11, there have been 555 measles cases reported in 20 states in 2019. Just a week earlier, the CDC reported that, through April 4, there were 465 measles cases reported in the country. Health officials are also warning about potential measles exposure in Monmouth County related to the Ocean County outbreak. An Ocean County infant visited the Emergency Department at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch and potentially exposed individuals on March 13 from 7:30 to 10:15 p.m., according to a DOH release. The outbreaks the CDC is monitoring are linked to travelers who brought back the disease from other countries like Israel, Ukraine and the Philippines. The CDC is monitoring six measles outbreaks in the following areas: Rockland County, New York, New York City, Washington, New Jersey, Butte County, California and Michigan Measles cases in just the first quarter of 2019 are fast approaching the 2014 figure, when the highest number of cases was recorded over the past 10 years. In the entirety of 2014, the CDC says there were 667 measles cases. The outbreak in Israel has raised concern that Americans traveling to Israel for Passover, which is celebrated April 19-27, may be exposed to measles and could become ill if they have never had measles or have not been properly vaccinated. "Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had measles is at risk if they are exposed. Two doses of measles vaccine are about 97 percent effective in preventing measles," said Christina Tan, New Jersey state epidemiologist. Anyone who suspects they have been exposed to measles is urged to call a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department. Special arrangements can be made for evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection. Before international travel: Infants 6 through 11 months of age should receive one dose of MMR vaccine. Infants who get one dose of MMR vaccine before their first birthday should get two more doses (one dose at 12 through 15 months of age and another dose separated by at least 28 days). Children 1 year and older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days. Teenagers and adults who do not have evidence of immunity against measles should get two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days. To combat the increase in measles cases, local health officials have been taking action to prevent the further spread of the highly contagious but completely preventable disease. In New York City, officials have said that in certain zip codes where the outbreak is occurring, parents should not send their unvaccinated children to school until the outbreak is over. Last week, New York City health officials mandated that every person in the designated zip codes get a vaccine within 48 hours or face a $1,000 fine. An effort by city officials to educate residents in the affected zip codes has resulted in over 7,000 people receiving the MMR vaccine as of March. Officials in Rockland County, New York, have also announced stepped up efforts to fight the spread of measles. The outbreak in Michigan has been linked to New York City, CNN reported on Tuesday. According to CNN, a man who traveled from New York to southeast Michigan didn't know that he was contagious and all 38 other cases in southeast Michigan have been linked to him. The states that have reported measles cases to the CDC in 2019 are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington. The majority of people who get measles are unvaccinated and the disease can spread when it reaches a community where groups of people haven't received the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR vaccine, according to the CDC. Read more: Every NJ Town's School Immunization Rate: Where Do You Rank? The agency says more measles cases can occur if there's an increase in the number of travelers to the United States who have measles or if the disease spreads within pockets of unvaccinated communities. Measles spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The CDC says two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97 percent effective in preventing measles. One dose of the vaccine is 93 percent effective in preventing measles, the agency said. You can read more about measles via the CDC here. Reporting and writing from Patch editors Anna Quinn and Lanning Taliaferro was used in this report<doc-sep>	ENGLISHTOWN, New Jersey (WABC) -- Health officials have issued a warning about potential measles exposure at a restaurant in New Jersey.The state Department of Health warned residents of a highly suspect case of measles in a Middlesex County resident.The resident may have exposed people at Rosalita's Roadside Cantina on Route 9 North in Englishtown.Anyone who visited the restaurant on April 19 between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. may have been exposed to measles, officials say.The health department recommended that anyone who visited the restaurant during that time contact a health provider immediately.Officials are also working with the Middlesex County Office of Health Services to identify any possible additional exposures.Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had measles is at risk if they are exposed, the state health department said. "Two doses of measles vaccine are about 97 percent effective in preventing measles," said Dr. Christina Tan, state epidemiologist. "We urge everyone to check to make sure they and their family members are up-to-date on measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine and all other age-appropriate immunizations. Getting vaccinated not only protects you, it protects others around you who are too young to get the vaccine or can't receive it for medical reasons. "Meanwhile, outbreaks in New York state continue to drive up the number of U.S. measles cases, which are approaching levels not seen in 25 years.Health officials say 71 more cases were reported last week, with 68 of them from New York. That brings this year's total to 626.That is already the most since 2014, when 667 were reported for the whole year. The most before that was 963 cases in 1994.Twenty-two states have reported cases, but the vast majority have been in New York - mainly in New York City and in nearby Rockland County.Most of the New York cases have been unvaccinated people in Orthodox Jewish communities.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the latest numbers Monday.----------
A woman confronted and later doxxed an old man quietly drinking coffee in a Palo Alto Starbucks simply because he was wearing a MAGA hat, which resulted in her losing her job. According to Palo Alto Online, Rebecca Parker Mankey described the entire encounter in a Facebook post, detailing how she screamed in the elderly white man’s face and called him “a hater of brown people” and “Nazi scum” because of his MAGA hat. In her Facebook post, she doxxed the man by posting photos of him and asking if anyone knew where he lived, saying that she wanted to know where his children went to school and where his wife lived. (RELATED: Teenage Suspect Arrested In Alleged Assault Against Elderly MAGA Hat-Wearer) “I am going to publicly shame him in town and try to get him fired and kicked out of every club he is in,” Mankey wrote in a comment on Facebook. “I am going to go to his house and march up and down carrying a sign that says he hates black people. I am going to organize protests at the place he works to make him feel as unsafe as he made every brown person feel here today.” Concerned persons on Facebook were alarmed by Mankey’s post and proceeded to report her accusations to her place of work. Mankey told Palo Alto Online on Tuesday that she was fired from her job as an accountant at Gryphon Stringed Instruments and had received multiple death threats. Parker Mankey is doxxing an old man on Facebook because he wore a MAGA hat in public. I’ve messaged Parker & let “her” know that I will be contacting “her” husbands work that “she” publicly posts on her FB page, to show them the violence their employees’ wife is promoting. pic.twitter.com/r45rU8RVPO — Amy (@RightHookUSA) April 2, 2019 The Palo Alto Online did not reveal the old man’s name as “he did not harrass anyone.” However, the publication revealed that he is Jewish and 74 years old. The man told Palo Alto Weekly that Mankey’s Facebook description of the events was accurate, that he does not fear Mankey, and that her actions reveal the severe lack of discourse in the United States. In a Facebook post, Mankey’s former employer Gryphon Strings announced that they had terminated Mankey and that they did not tolerate such behavior from their employees. With regard to the aforementioned incident on 4/1/19; the employee in question has been terminated. Gryphon does not… Posted by Gryphon Strings on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 Both Mankey and the old man commented on how no one else in the Starbucks cafe spoke up and sided with either of them. The old man told Palo Alto Weekly that he was surprised no one said anything and said that “it would’ve been touching.” Meanwhile, Mankey complained that the other Starbucks customers failed to berate the man with her. “The part that was really heartbreaking to me was that in a full Starbucks, I was the only person yelling at him,” she wrote. “There were other white people there who could have called him out. It is the duty of every white person in America to stand up to this every time they see it.” Follow Mary Margaret on Twitter. Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].<doc-sep>A Palo Alto woman’s tirade against a 74-year-old man wearing a Make America Great Again hat inside a Starbucks has sparked a social media firestorm and national debate about whether her actions reflect this country’s political divide or simply epitomize out-of-bounds extremism. Rebecca Parker Mankey berated the man Monday in a Palo Alto Starbucks on California Avenue for wearing the red MAGA cap made famous by President Donald Trump, then posted about the encounter on her Facebook page. The post — picked up by multiple conservative accounts on social media — backfired by inciting vitriolic attacks and even death threats against Mankey and resulting in her forced resignation from her job and departure from at least one local civic group. CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the video on a mobile device Mankey, who says she was born and raised in Palo Alto, called the man a “freak” and asked her followers on Facebook to confront him when they saw him. “You do not want to be the person who didn’t speak up as we slipped into fascism,” she wrote in her Facebook post. Mankey yelled at the man repeatedly, saying, “It is not okay to hate brown people” and eventually chasing him out of the Starbucks, using an expletive to tell him to get “out of my town and never come back,” according to her Facebook post. “He will never forget me and will think seriously about wearing that hat in my town ever again,” she wrote. Her Facebook page has since been deactivated. Efforts to reach her Thursday were unsuccessful. The man who was sporting the MAGA hat in the coffeehouse Monday told the Palo Alto Weekly he was not afraid of Mankey, who among other things called him a “Nazi scum.” He told the paper he’s in fact Jewish. He said he visits the Starbucks daily and was surprised when the woman, who he did not know, began railing at him. He was even more surprised when no one else in the Starbucks came to his aid, he said. Morris Fiorina, a political scientist at Stanford University, emphasized that while incidents of political extremism have received more attention since the 2016 election, they do not reflect an accurate portrayal of American voters. In fact, about two in five Americans identified as independents in 2017, according to Gallup. “These kinds of people (referring to extremists) — they’re the ones that make it into the paper or onto TV, but they’re such a small percentage of the people that are voting in this country,” Fiorina said Thursday. According to Fiorina, the more involved a person is in politics, the more distorted his or her views of those on the opposing side of the political spectrum become. “Her image of Trump voters is probably that they’re all racists, bigots and bible thumpers — all of these perceptions that can come from watching CNN and MSNBC,” he said. “The more liberal or conservative you are, the less accurate portrayal you have.” Adding to the extremism of American politics today is the idea among those deeply invested in politics that you have to prove just how serious you are about your beliefs, he said. “They basically do things to make sure to prove how serious they are by exaggerating their points of view and taking them to the extreme,” Fiorina said. Mankey is a member of the North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan Working Group and co-chaired the Bayshore Progressive Democrats, a new club aimed at engaging people in politics. On Wednesday, however, Mankey handed in her resignation as co-chair, officer and member of the Bayshore Progressive Democrats, according to the club’s Facebook page. “Parker felt strongly that she wanted to use her privilege as a white woman to stand up for those who are living in fear because of the hateful atmosphere fostered by Trump,” the club wrote on its Facebook page. “Unfortunately the manner in which she chose to stand up against a slogan that stands for racism led to an even stronger hateful response that has endangered her and her family.” For the last four years or so, Mankey worked as the accountant and chief financial officer for Gryphon Stringed Instruments, a company that sells, rents and repairs used and vintage musical instruments, according to co-founder Richard Johnston. But by Tuesday, she was asked to hand in her resignation. Johnston, who has known Mankey since before she was in kindergarten, said he was “dumbfounded and confused” when he first saw her Facebook post. “We’ve known she was passionately liberal and progressive, but that’s different,” he said Thursday. “It was the way in which she went about attacking someone for a hat in which she found offensive that we just can’t tolerate” The store, similar to Mankey, has faced a flood of backlash since Monday through angry phone calls and online calls for boycotts. But Johnston said he has tried to explain that the opinions expressed and actions taken by Mankey don’t reflect those cultivated in the music store. “Music is a force for unifying people, for them to find commonality, regardless of whether or not their political beliefs are consistent,” Johnston said. “It should be a haven from the political toxicity that we find ourselves in today.” Related Articles Hat crimes: Left sees red, flips its lid San Francisco police arrest suspect in sword slashing over MAGA hat QAnon, MAGA and the killing of a reputed mob boss New app points to ‘safe’ spaces for MAGA hat wearers She knocked a MAGA hat off a man’s head in a Mexican restaurant. Now she could be deported. MAGA-hat wearing teen sues Washington Post for $250 million over coverage of confrontation Steven Lee, a member of Palo Alto’s Human Relations Commission, also spoke about the incident on Facebook. Referring to Mankey as “one of our neighbors, beloved by many in our community for her progressive activism, myself included,” Lee wrote that Mankey “allowed herself to be pulled down into that muck.” Although Lee agreed that the MAGA hat “at its best represents a distorted and inaccurate view of America, its history, and its place in the world,” he urged citizens to be “civil and vigilant.” “That is the hardest, most courageous form of resistance — the Resistance of Ghandi, of Dr. King — a Resistance based in empathy and committed not to a duel between our lesser demons but rather a meeting of our better angels,” he wrote on Facebook. Palo Alto Mayor Eric Filseth said Thursday that the City Council will be reviewing the matter and decide how to address it. “Obviously this kind of intolerance isn’t consistent with our values in Palo Alto,” Filseth wrote to this news organization.<doc-sep>PALO ALTO (KPIX 5) – An accountant has lost her job after berating a man in public and online for wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap at a Starbucks in Palo Alto. The confrontation took place at the coffeehouse on California Avenue on Monday, which quickly went viral. Since losing her job, the woman has seemed to have gone into hiding, while the man was spotted wearing the hat Wednesday. “You know, America is still a free country right?” said Victor F., a 74-year-old supporter of the president who lives in Palo Alto. Victor casually went about his business on California Avenue on Wednesday, still sporting the red hat that prompted the loud confrontation at the Starbucks. “This crazy woman came over and started raving at me. She turned to the rest of Starbucks and said, ‘Hey everybody, here’s this racist over here. He hates brown people, he’s crazy, he’s a Nazi,’ and so forth,” Victor told KPIX 5. The woman, Rebecca Parker Mankey, then began taking photos and posting about it on her Facebook page, saying she was going to shame him, get him fired, kicked out of clubs and march up and down his street. Victor says she left, then came back and tried to rile the Starbucks crowd once more. • ALSO READ: San Mateo Restaurant Owner Apologizes For ‘MAGA’ Hat Ban “‘Hey everybody here’s this racist,’ and so on. And then as she wrote in her thing, she was disappointed everybody didn’t come and mob me,” he said. In fact, the opposite happened. People started harassing Parker Mankey’s family and her employer Gryphon Stringed Instruments, where she was an accountant. The store owner decided to fire her after he read her Facebook posts. “We feel that music is what brings people together. So having someone then making comments that are so divisive is not consistent with our values,” said store owner Richard Johnston. No one answered the door at Parker Mankey’s home, but a female spoke through a closed window saying Rebecca doesn’t live here. “She didn’t want to discuss the issues with me. She wanted just to scream about Nazi’s and so on and that’s what we’ve sunken to,” Victor said. Victor wears a yarmulke underneath his MAGA hat. He is Jewish and so to him, being called a Nazi is hurtful. “People with an education should know better than to say stupid things like that,” he said.<doc-sep>	A California accountant’s attempt to shame an elderly Trump supporter backfired. On Monday, Palo Alto local Rebecca Parker Mankey told her followers on Facebook that she reamed out a 74-year-old man, reportedly named Victor F., at Starbucks for wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat. “Anybody in Palo Alto knows this freak,” Mankey wrote alongside photos of the man. “He was sitting in Starbucks. I think he lives in Palo Alto. He will never forget me and will think seriously about wearing that hat in my town ever again. If you see him in this hat, please confront him. You do not want to be the person who didn’t speak up as we slipped into fascism.” She continued, “I yelled at him. Called the entire Starbucks to order and yelled at him more about how it is not ok to hate brown people. He threatened to call the cops. I left after yelling at him some more.” After her lunch break, Mankey said she returned to Starbucks. “I went back in and yelled that I had changed my mind and wanted him to call the police because I wanted to know his name, where he lived, his wife’s name, and where his kids went to school,” she wrote. Parker Mankey is doxxing an old man on Facebook because he wore a MAGA hat in public. I've messaged Parker & let "her" know that I will be contacting "her" husbands work that "she" publicly posts on her FB page, to show them the violence their employees' wife is promoting. pic.twitter.com/r45rU8RVPO — Amy (@RightHookUSA) April 2, 2019 Mankey said she followed Victor outside yelling to “Get the f*** out of my town and never come back.” “It is the duty of every white person in America to stand up to this every time they see it,” wrote Mankey. “Don’t be the person who does nothing to protect our brothers and sisters from this hatred. It is not OK.” Story continues According to KPIX CBS, Mankey pledged to “publicly shame” the man and “try to get him fired,” writing, “I am going to go to his house and march up and down carrying a sign that says he hates black people. I am going to organize protests where he works to make him feel as unsafe as he made every brown person he met today.” A deleted Facebook comment from Rebecca Parker Mankey of Palo Alto, vowed to ruin a man’s life because he wore a MAGA hat in Starbucks. (Screenshot: KPIX CBS) A woman named Amy of the Twitter account “Right Hook USA” tweeted Tuesday, “Parker Mankey is doxxing an old man on Facebook because he wore a MAGA hat in public.” Amy called Mankey’s husband’s boss “to show them the violence their employees’ wife is promoting.” Amy tells Yahoo Lifestyle, “I was extremely disturbed when I learned that an elderly man was being humiliated and harassed in public by a vicious bully. I was even more saddened to learn that this gentle old Jewish man has been a pillar in the Palo Alto community for over forty years. I hope and pray that this incident leads to greater tolerance and respect among all Americans, instead of greater hatred and rage.” Worried someone would hurt the elderly man, Amy called the Palo Alto Police Department. A police spokesperson tells Yahoo Lifestyle there is no incident report on file because a victim has not come forward. A woman named Rebecca Parker Mankey admitted to harassing an elder man wearing a MAGA hat in Starbucks. (Screenshot: Parker Mankey/Facebook; Right Hook USA/Twitter) On Wednesday, Victor told KPIX CBS, “This crazy woman came over and started raving at me. She turned to the rest of Starbucks and said, ‘Hey everybody, here’s this racist over here. He hates brown people, he’s crazy, he’s a Nazi,’ and so forth.” Victor wears a yarmulke under his MAGA hat. Mankey and her husband closed down their Facebook pages. On Tuesday, Gryphon Stringed Instruments, where Mankey worked as an accountant, wrote, “We would like to make it clear that we do not condone harassment or hate speech of any kind. We are currently addressing the matter internally. Thank you for your concern.” Later, the store added, “The employee in question has been terminated. Gryphon does not believe anyone should be harassed or subject to hate speech no matter their beliefs.
Norwich could only draw at Stoke, Sheffield United romped to a win at Hull and Derby snuck into sixth place with two late goals against QPR<doc-sep>Can Stoke scupper Norwich charge? Stoke 4.03/1 v Norwich 2.0811/10; The Draw 3.613/5 Norwich requires a minimum of five points from their last three games to guarantee themselves Premier League status next season. If they beat Stoke City on Monday and both Leeds and Sheffield United fail to bag three points, the Canaries can pop the champagne and celebrate. They are that close to glory, but nothing in the Championship is guaranteed. Stoke are having a dreadful season considering they began their campaign as favourites to be where Norwich are now. Inconsistency, a lack of goals and bereft of confidence, they have lurked around their current 15th position for much of the season. The one thing Stoke don't do very often is lose at home though. They have been beaten only six times in the Potteries and had it not been for their tendency to draw matches, four draws and one win in their last five, they could easily have been pushing for a top half finish. Norwich got out of jail against Sheffield Wednesday on Good Friday. A dramatic Mario Vrancic leveller deep into added time salvaged a 2-2 draw at Hillsborough and took Daniel Farke's side to the brink of glory. It's been Teemu Pukki's 27 goals that's been the driving force for a successful season, but don't think this will be an easy ride for the visitors. The Canaries are winless in their last four league games against Stoke (D2, L2) and I'm taking Stoke +1 at 1.9010/11 on the handicaps to get at least a draw. Promotion pushing Blades face tough Hull test Hull 3.9 v Sheffield United 2.111/10; The Draw 3.65 If you read my preview for Friday's games you will know I put up my team Leeds to win. The Whites let down both my head and heart with a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Wigan. The team that benefited from that result, and their own 2-0 home success against Nottingham Forest was Sheffield United. Friday's results moved Chris Wilder's men back into an automatic play-off berth and, with only three games to go, the push is in their own hands. But don't expect the visit to Hull to be easy. Hull's home record this season has been tremendous. Although the seven point gap between the Tigers and the play-offs is mathematically bridgeable, the reality is they will have another season in the Championship next year. If their away form had matched their form at the KCOM however, things could have been very different. Hull are unbeaten in their last 12 home Championship matches (w9, D3) and that is the best home unbeaten run in the Championship. They have scored two-or-more in their last 11. If you back Hull, don't despair if they go behind either. They have won their last three home games after trailing at half-time against Swansea, Reading and Wigan. Hull's success has been largely built around Jarrod Bowen who has enjoyed a phenomenal season. The Tigers will hope to beat off inevitable interest for the 21-goal 22-year-old this summer. Bowen (23/10 anytime) has been prolific at the KCOM scoring 12 goals in the last 10 home games. Kamil Grosicki cannot be ignored in the goalscorer markets either as the 30-year-old Polish forward has bagged four goals in the last five games and is a whopping 11/2 to add at least one more. A left-field goalscorer bet could be Sheffield United midfielder Kieran Dowell (10/3 anytime) who netted a hat-trick on his only previous appearance at the KCOM Stadium against Hull, scoring all three goals for Nottingham Forest in a 3-2 victory in October last season. The Blades are unbeaten in seven away games and with Ipswich at home and Stoke away to play after this, a win in Hull would go a long way to settling the nerves. I'm going for a bet that has landed this column a lot of success this season. Jarrod Bowen to score and over 2.5 match goals at a tasty 6.88. Derby must beat QPR to boost play-off hopes Derby 1.75/7 v QPR 5.59/2; The Draw 4.216/5 Derby County, or as they are now known, 'Frank Lampard's Derby', are three points behind Middlesbrough in sixth spot with a game in hand. The next three matches are the most crucial in Lampard's fledgling managerial career and nothing less than three points will suffice on Monday. The Rams have only been beaten once in their last eight league games, but four draws have halted their promotion push. The visitors are the most inconsistent side in the Championship. They started the season terribly, Steve McLaren turned things around, the wheels fell off, McLaren exited and John Eustace has been left to steer them to the end of the season. They were magnificent a couple of games ago as they smashed four past Swansea. They then lost 2-1 to Blackburn. That is a microcosm of what must have been a frustrating season to be a QPR supporter. Add in the fact that QPR have not won any of the last 19 matches they have played on a Monday and it looks a bleak prospect again. Derby have to win this game and they will. They have won their last four home matches with QPR without conceding a single goal. Mason Mount scored a hat-trick in their last home game, a 4-0 win against relegated Bolton and i'm playing the youngster to bag again. Derby to win and Mason Mount to score is a tempting 4.62. *** *You can follow James on Twitter - @football_badger<doc-sep>Championship action resumes on bank holiday Monday with a full run of fixtures which could have huge bearing on the race for promotion. Norwich could secure their passage back to the Premier League with victory at Stoke, if other results also fall kindly in their favour. Sheffield United travel to Hull, while Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds feature in the late kick-off against Brentford. Follow all the action as it unfolds around the grounds with Sportsmail's JONATHAN SPENCER, live! If you are viewing on the mobile app, click here for all the action.<doc-sep>	Now they must do it all again on Saturday, against Blackburn at home, with one point enough to finally end their agonising wait and clinch a place back in the big time after Leeds’ defeat at Brentford. Farke said: “Success is never easy, you always have to fight to the end. “We are still the league leaders, 12 games unbeaten and in a brilliant position, 23 other clubs would gladly swap places with us. Life could have been more easy for us in the final battle but there is no reason to doubt ourselves or be too disappointed. “This could be a massive, crucial point. At this stage, anything can happen. I am happy with our consistency, maybe not with the consistency of draws. We go again on Saturday.” It was all looking so simple early on, after the visitors made the breakthrough in the 24th minute. Stoke failed to properly clear a Jamal Lewis cross and Onel Hernandez took one touch before driving the loose ball into the bottom corner. It was Hernandez’s ninth goal of the season, prompting chants of “we’re going to win the league” from the away end. That was the pre-season ambition for Stoke after relegation, but they are facing another summer of wholesale changes. Nathan Jones, the manager, has only three wins from 19 games and his record is no better than Gary Rowett, who was sacked in January. With Jones keen to drastically revamp his squad and play with a diamond formation next season, their recruitment will have to improve significantly. Norwich have proved quite brilliantly the value of shrewd recruitment and scouting, so this summer is crucial to Stoke. At least there were signs of encouragement here, as Stoke displayed the battling qualities that have been so lacking this season.
THIS is the moment a furious passenger launched into a foul-mouthed tirade on a busy plane after it was diverted due to a medical emergency yesterday. The woman is seen screaming and sprinting towards the front of the Spirit Airlines plane in the shocking clip shared on social media. 3 Footage shows a woman in the middle of a meltdown on a busy plane Credit: Facebook - Chianti Washington It was announced the flight from Houston to Minneapolis would have to change course after a passenger had fallen ill. But the angry tourist shouts: "Get me the f* off this God d* f*ing plane. "You wanna be sy and by to me, you will see me fing pissed. You will." The video of her epic rampage has sent social media crazy and has been shared hundreds of thousands of times since Monday. 3 The woman appears to raise her arm to one male passenger Credit: Facebook - Chianti Washington 3 The female passenger appears to cry as she eventually heads back to her seat Credit: Facebook - Chianti Washington In the footage, other brave passengers try to calm the woman down but her anger escalates. She even appears to raise her arm to one man. "Go to fing hell," she is heard screaming. "You want know to know what hell is? I've fing been there! In fing side. You want to know what happened to my family?" Eventually, the passenger whimpers and turns back to her seat in some distress.. Most read in news 'GOBSMACKED' Queen 'gave Harry OK for Oprah series after misleading pitch about soldiers' ROD LIDDLE Ousting right-on National Trust boss is a victory against wokery DRUMMER DEAD School Of Rock star dies at 32 after being hit by car as Jack Black mourns HOUSE ABOUT IT You won't believe what this ordinary London home looks like on the inside Exclusive TOM'S LEGACY Captain Tom Moore — who raised £39m for charity — left family £73k in will JABS HOPE Scientists 'crack cause of blood clots linked to Covid jabs & know how to fix it' She was reportedly later escorted off the jet by police. A spokesman for Spirit Airlines said: "Yesterday morning, a flight from Houston to Minneapolis had to land in Rochester, Minnesota, due to a guest experiencing a medical emergency. "On the ground in Rochester another passenger became erratic and irate and was removed from the aircraft with the assistance of law enforcement. "We apologise to our guests who had to witness this and for the inconvenience of the delay. "Safety is our top priority at Spirit Airlines." We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.<doc-sep>EMBED >More News Videos This may be the most intense video you will see all day. EMBED >More News Videos A passenger told ABC13 people were pretty upset after a woman's outburst on a Spirit Airlines flight. EMBED >More News Videos Passenger describes woman's outbursts on Spirit Airlines flight from Houston. EMBED >More News Videos Woman detained after outburst on Spirit flight from Houston HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A woman was taken off a Spirit Airlines flight from Houston after she had a mid-flight meltdown.Eyewitness video taken by passenger Chianti Washington shows the woman pacing frantically up the aisle of the Minneapolis-bound plane, screaming hysterically.During the intense one-minute, 20-second video, the woman curses, makes threats involving her brothers, and acts erratically before a plane full of stunned passengers. "Get me the f* off this (long string of expletives) plane!" the woman screams. "You want to be (expletive) and bchy to me? You'll see me fing pissed. "At one point, when a male passenger stands up to block the woman from getting to the front of the plane, she shakes her fist at the man before lashing out again. "Do you know who my brothers are? They are fing Marine snipers. Do you want to f* with a f*ing Marine?" she screams, before pushing her way toward the cockpit.In the video, passengers can be heard praying, consoling each other, some audibly in distress by the unsettling incident. "Do you want to know what hell is? I've (expletive) been there 10 (expletive) times!" the woman continues to shout.According to authorities, the woman became irate after the flight landed in Rochester, Minnesota, due to a medical issue.A passenger who became ill was taken off the aircraft before the outburst. She was taken into custody, screaming while being escorted off by police.It was not immediately known if the woman had any relation to the sick passenger.Spirit Airlines released the following statement to ABC13 about the incident:<doc-sep>EMBED >More News Videos A passenger told ABC13 people were pretty upset after a woman's outburst on a Spirit Airlines flight. EMBED >More News Videos Passenger describes woman's outbursts on Spirit Airlines flight from Houston. HOUSTON, Texas -- Passengers on a Spirit Airlines flight described what they saw when a woman had a mid-flight meltdown on the way from Houston, Texas, to Minneapolis.Eyewitness video taken by passenger Chianti Washington shows a woman pacing frantically up the aisle of the Minneapolis-bound plane, screaming hysterically.This happened after the flight made an emergency landing in Rochester, Minnesota, for a different passenger who needed medical attention.The woman who appeared to have a breakdown demanded to get off the flight and walked up and down the aisle three separate times, passengers say.During the intense one-minute, 20-second video, the woman curses, makes threats involving her brothers, and acts erratically before a plane full of stunned passengers. "Get me the f* off this (long string of expletives) plane!" the woman screams. "You want to be (expletive) and bchy to me? You'll see me fing pissed. "Passenger Frances Andraya told Eyewitness News' sister station ABC13 the woman wanted to help with the medical emergency, saying she was a nurse. However, the crew told her they already had three people helping, plus first responders, and asked her to stay seated. "People were pretty scared, you know. There were several kids in the back of the plane. I don't know about the front of the plane, but I know everyone in the back of the plane was pretty upset," Andraya said.At one point, when a male passenger stands up to block the woman from getting to the front of the plane, she shakes her fist at the man before lashing out again. "Do you know who my brothers are? They are fing Marine snipers. Do you want to f* with a f***ing Marine?" she screams, before pushing her way toward the cockpit.Before the woman was escorted off the plane, a stranger tried to console her, even letting her cry on his lap in an effort to let the woman regain her composure.Passengers say the woman claimed to be a military veteran and passengers think she was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. "We realized that it was like a PTSD episode because of all the things she was saying. 'You got to get me off this plane, I am ex-military, you got to contact my family', so after a while it was like she is not just being a rude passenger, she has some sort of imbalance or stress disorder," Andraya explained.Spirit Airlines released the following statement to ABC13 about the incident:After two hours on the ground, the flight resumed to Minneapolis. Passengers praised the flight crew for keeping the situation from escalating.<doc-sep>Watching and recording from Row 14 of Spirit Airlines flight 346, Stephanie Calder all but panicked herself. She was afraid of an irate fellow passenger’s erratic outburst over an unexpected delay. “I was thinking I need to protect my 15-year-old daughter (who was headed to Detroit for a volleyball tournament),” Calder said. “I (was just) worried (the angry passenger was) going to go even more irate and so I just put my back toward my daughter and shielded my daughter in case this woman decided to. I was one row behind the emergency exit door. Now, we were landed but who knows what this woman could have done.” Their flight left Houston around 8 a.m. headed for Minneapolis. The Calder’s had a connecting flight to Michigan. However, about an hour after takeoff their plane diverted to Rochester, Minnesota because a man near the front of the plane needed a doctor. “The attendant thought that he was just sleeping but he was actually in a coma,” Calder said. When the plane landed, paramedics had to call police for back up. “All of a sudden that’s where the lady came running from the back of the plane,” Calder said. “She started saying she’s not going to calm down and wanted off the plane and such.” Police sent that passenger to a hospital for mental health evaluation after they were told she is a military veteran battling PTSD. “That saddens me,” Calder said. “Now looking back at it all you just wish there was somebody on that plane (who) could have helped at that moment.” Along with the man needing a doctor a third passenger got off the plane in Rochester, police said. That passenger was upset with how the airline handled the woman’s situation. “This morning a flight from Houston to Minneapolis had to land in Rochester, Minnesota due to a Guest experiencing a medical emergency,” Derek Dombrowski, spokesman for Spirit Airlines said in a statement. “On the ground in Rochester, another passenger became erratic and irate and was removed from the aircraft with the assistance of law enforcement. We apologize to our guests who had to witness this and for the inconvenience of the delay. Safety (is) our top priority at Spirit Airlines.”<doc-sep>	An irate passenger suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder was forcibly removed from a Spirit Airlines jetliner after it made an emergency landing. Video shot earlier this week by another passenger shows the woman charging down the aisle, screaming profanities. "Get me the (expletive) off this (expletive) plane!" she yells. A flight attendant and two passengers tried to calm the woman, without success. "You know who my brothers are?!" she yelled. "They are (expletive) Marine snipers! You want to (expletive) with a (expletive) Marine?!" The meltdown happened on a flight bound for Minneapolis that took off from Houston. When the plane was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Rochester, Minn., to assist a passenger having a medical issue, the woman began acting out, authorities said. Stephanie Calder, who was sitting nearby, shot video of the incident. The woman, she said, came running from the back of the plane after it landed. The flight was diverted because a man sitting near the front of the jetliner suffered from some sort of medical emergency, she said. He was taken off the plane and the woman was removed by authorities, who took her to a hospital for a mental health evaluation after they were told she is a veteran battling PTSD, USA Today reported. “This morning a flight from Houston to Minneapolis had to land in Rochester, Minnesota, due to a guest experiencing a medical emergency,” Derek Dombrowski, spokesman for Spirit Airlines said in a statement. “On the ground in Rochester, another passenger became erratic and irate and was removed from the aircraft with the assistance of law enforcement. We apologize to our guests who had to witness this and for the inconvenience of the delay. Safety [is] our top priority at Spirit Airlines." RELATED STORIES
Hollywood is gearing up for the Oscars (Picture: AFP/Getty Images) Hollywood is rolling out the red carpet for its biggest night of the year as the Oscars takes place on Sunday night. This year’s Academy Awards is set to be as star-studded as ever – and look a little different from normal, as the show will have no single presenter but will be hosted by a bunch of famous faces. As far as the awards themselves go, it’s looking to be a good night for Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma, which is heavily tipped to take the best film prize – and in doing so become the first ever foreign language film to bag the big one. Cuaron himself could also add another best director gong to the heap he’s earned this season – while Rami Malek and Glenn Close are among those competing in the acting categories. Will Glenn Close finally be rewarded with an Oscar? (Picture: Reuters) It could be a great night for British talent too, with Olivia Colman, Richard E Grant, Christian Bale and Rachel Weisz among those going for gold. Other films in the running for best picture include Black Panther, BlackKKlansman, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Favourite, Green Book, A Star Is Born and Vice. It’s set to be an exciting night – but can you watch it if you live on this side of the pond? Where can you watch and stream the Oscars in the UK? Last year Sam Rockwell, Frances McDormand, Allison Janney and Gary Oldman had a very good night (Picture: Reuters) The ceremony, which is taking place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, kicks off at 5pm LA time on Sunday – which means it’ll be 1am Monday morning before things get going here. That means you’ll have to stay up most of the night if you want to see it live – which you can do by tuning into Sky Cinema’s dedicated Oscars channel. You don’t necessarily need to be a Sky subscriber to watch it, however, as you can get a Sky Cinema Pass on Now TV for free if you’re a new customer – or it’ll cost you £9.99 a month if you’re not. If you don’t fancy sitting up all night, Sky Cinema Oscars will be re-showing the ceremony at 8am tomorrow morning. They’ll also be airing a two hour highlights show on Monday night at 8pm, while the highlights will also be screened on Sky One at 9pm tomorrow night. The best bits will also appear on the Oscars’ official YouTube channel.<doc-sep>Oscars 2019: A roundup of the nominations FREE now and never miss the top Royal stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top Royal stories again. When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Oscars night 2019 is tonight (Sunday, February 24) and the whole thing is available to watch online in the US and UK. Now TV is the best place to livestream the Oscars in the UK, while the ceremony airs on ABC in the US. Twitter users can also livestream the Oscars 2019 red carpet. How to watch the Oscars online live tonight The livestreaming of the Oscars will start from 11.30 UK time. Here is the timeline for when you can watch each part of the Oscars online tonight: Sunday, February 24 at 10pm GMT: Oscars 2019: Red Carpet Live starts on Sky Cinema Oscars Sky Cinema Oscars, which is available online in the UK on NOW TV, will start their red carpet coverage from 10pm. Sky One is also airing an hour of Oscars red carpet hosted by Alex Zane from midnight. The Oscars can be watched online on NOW TV in the UK In the US, E! will be airing their own red carpet coverage, which will also be streaming on their site. Sunday, February 24 at 11.30pm GMT: Oscars All Access: Red Carpet starts on Twitter. Twitter will be streaming the entire Oscars red carpet live from the @TheAcademy account. Actress Laura Marano, entertainment writer/podcast host Louis Virtel and reporter Chris Connelly will be speaking to celebrities as they walk the red carpet. Twitter will be livestreaming the Oscars red carpet Monday, February 25 at 1am GMT: The Oscars ceremony The coverage of the actual Oscars itself kicks off at 1am UK time. Sky Cinema Oscars will be airing the ceremony on UK TV, and NOW TV will be livestreaming the ceremony. In the US, ABC is the network you can watch the Oscars on. You can watch The Oscars 2019 online in the US via ABC<doc-sep>"During commercials, when people at the ceremony know they're not live on the air, they run around and talk to people, go to the bathroom, be a little loud, and that could've come across as disrespectful to the winners who are getting their awards during that time."<doc-sep>	The Oscars 2019 take place in Los Angeles, California but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the glitzy event here in the UK. Celebrating the best in cinema from the past year, they kick off tonight, Sunday February 24 at the Dolby Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. Showbiz fans will be eagerly awaiting the red carpet action first when Hollywood’s A-listers and up and coming stars stalk into the ceremony donned in their finest and sometimes not quite so fine gowns. This year The Favourite, a fictional drama based on Queen Anne, and Roma, Netflix ’s drama about a housekeeper in Mexico, lead the nominations , having 10 each. Roma is currently the bookies’ favourite to take Best Picture - see the latest odds on winners here. A Star is Born, starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper and Vice are also big hopefuls, with eight nods each. There is no host this year after Kevin Hart stepped down amid a racism row . The show will be guided by famous presenters instead. Here’s what you need to know to catch the action. How to watch the Oscars 2019 in the UK (Image: Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com) The ceremony will be shown on Sky in the UK. Sky Cinema will be renamed Sky Cinema Oscars and starts coverage at 10pm with the red carpet goodness. From midnight - 1am Sky1 will show Oscars 2019: Red Carpet live, hosted by Alex Zane. Then for the ceremony it’s back to Sky Cinema Oscars between 1am - 4am to see who takes home the coveted golden statuettes, or Oscars as is their well known nickname now. Highlights of the night will shown on Monday February 25 at 8pm on Sky Cinema Oscars and 9pm on Sky1. If you don’t have Sky TV, you can sign up here . NOW TV streaming service offers a Sky Cinema Pass which is £9.99 a month, but they also offer a 14-day free trial, which would let you watch the Oscars for free. Get the NOW trial here . The red carpet procession can also be viewed via the Academy's Twitter from 11.30pm GMT.
Are you ready? Have you spent the proper amount of time on Tankathon? Have you gently hugged a photo of Jack Hughes to your chest today? Worked on your shrine to some arbitrary ping pong balls? Anything for that No. 1 Overall Pick. pic.twitter.com/uSXE4bukg4 — LA Kings (@LAKings) April 9, 2019 The wait will be over soon: by the end of the night, we’ll know exactly where the Kings will be drafting come the summer, and we’ll know if that one dude who already got a Jack Hughes jersey was really jumping the gun or not. In case you need a refresher, thanks to the Kings’ 30th place finish, they hold a 13.5% chance of being awarded the first overall draft pick. The lottery process is conducted for the top three picks. The Kings will draft no lower than fifth, thanks to their finish. The festivities get underway at 8:00 pm Eastern/5:00 pm Pacific time and the lottery itself, being stretched out into an hour-long show, will air on NBCSN, Sportsnet and TVA Sports. Refresh this post frequently, as we’ll be liveblogging the events. Hang out in the comments to speculate, celebrate, or otherwise be terrified that somehow, some way, the Oilers are going to mess this up for everyone else. 5:00 p.m.: After a significant amount of time spent watching a car auction on NBCSN, we’ve already gotten our first glimpse of Jack Hughes. He’s wearing a light blue suit and doesn’t look like he’s going to throw up or anything, so that’s a positive so far. But first, we need to sit through some talking heads telling us about the playoffs. You know, the thing we’re not going to. Also, even here, we cannot escape Keith Jones. Does anyone have a line on Pierre McGuire? They’re not letting him near Hughes, right? 5:08 p.m.: The Sportsnet feed, highlighting the Calgary Flames, showed a clip of Adrian Kempe scoring against them, which might be the only time we get to see a nice Kings thing for a while, given that we have to sit through this playoff preview. 5:15 p.m.: 5:18 p.m.: Jack Hughes just suffered through an interview and I have three first impressions: Are we sure he’s actually old enough to be drafted? He sure is, uh, not very tall, huh? Quality bland hockey answers, he’ll fit in perfectly. 5:25 p.m.: Please, NBCSN, I would pay you to not have to hear about the Vegas Golden Knights. 5:35 p.m.: We’ve been introduced to the hockey men representing their teams, including Luc Robitaille, who is probably concerned about his wife Stacia’s promise earlier: ...or he won’t be getting lucky at home. — Stacia Robitaille (@StaciaRR) April 9, 2019 5:42 p.m.: WELP Kings draft fifth. WHO DIDN’T SET UP THEIR JACK HUGHES SHRINE TO THE PRECISE SPECIFICATIONS REQUIRED?<doc-sep>All that losing. So much losing. The Kings, with the second-best odds to pick in the top three, did exactly what we all expected, because we are, after all, pessimists at heart. They dropped in the lottery. An epically bad season for the Kings, and the ping pong balls said: yo, nah. The Kings, after all is said and done, will draft fifth in the draft. The top three picks will go, in order, to New Jersey, the New York Rangers, and Chicago. Fifth will still get you a very good prospect: an elite player, someone you’ll be able to build around in the future. What fifth doesn’t necessarily give you is a player who’s ready to step into the NHL come October of 2019. Sometimes, yes. Usually, no. A glimpse, quickly, of players in recent drafts who went fifth, and what they’re up to today: 2018: Barrett Hayton (Arizona Coyotes). Hayton is in his third season in the OHL, where he put up 66 points in 39 regular season games for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. (Arizona Coyotes). Hayton is in his third season in the OHL, where he put up 66 points in 39 regular season games for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. 2017: Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks). Pettersson has turned out to be even better than advertised for the Canucks, who have a real game-changer on their hands. In his first season in the NHL, he put up 66 points in 71 games. (Vancouver Canucks). Pettersson has turned out to be even better than advertised for the Canucks, who have a real game-changer on their hands. In his first season in the NHL, he put up 66 points in 71 games. 2016: Olli Juolevi (Vancouver Canucks). The Finnish defenseman has yet to make his NHL debut. He spent this season with the AHL’s Utica Comets, recording 13 points in 18 games. (Vancouver Canucks). The Finnish defenseman has yet to make his NHL debut. He spent this season with the AHL’s Utica Comets, recording 13 points in 18 games. 2015: Noah Hanifin (Carolina Hurricanes). Hanifin is shaping up to be a solid defenseman, though not for the team that drafted him. The defenseman, who has played in 319 career NHL games, was traded to the Calgary Flames this summer, where he’s emerged as part of the core of a strong group of defensemen there. (Carolina Hurricanes). is shaping up to be a solid defenseman, though not for the team that drafted him. The defenseman, who has played in 319 career NHL games, was traded to the Calgary Flames this summer, where he’s emerged as part of the core of a strong group of defensemen there. 2014: Michael Dal Colle (New York Islanders). Dal Colle has yet to earn a regular spot in the NHL. He split this season between the Islanders and their AHL affiliate and registered seven points in 28 NHL games. (New York Islanders). Dal Colle has yet to earn a regular spot in the NHL. He split this season between the Islanders and their AHL affiliate and registered seven points in 28 NHL games. 2013: Elias Lindholm (Carolina Hurricanes). Lindholm also went to Calgary in the same trade with Hanifin. He’s put up career highs in points this year with the Flames, recording 78 points in 81 games. This is his sixth season in the NHL. Other fifth draft picks include Nino Niederreiter, Morgan Rielly, Phil Kessel, Carey Price, and both Schenns. For a season like the one the Kings just endured, picking fifth feels a little brutal, but there are clearly quality, game-changing players available. Over the summer, we’ll dive a little deeper into the possible players who will be available at number five to get us all prepared — and don’t forget, the Kings also own the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first round pick, as well. Besides, at least there’s this bit of good news:<doc-sep>AP TORONTO (AP) — Jack Hughes will have a pretty good idea of where he'll be headed after Tuesday night. Expected to be the top pick at June's NHL draft, the 17-year-old center with the U.S. national development team will be on hand when the lottery results are revealed in Toronto. The 15 teams that failed to qualify for the 2019 playoffs — or franchises that acquired the first-round picks of nonplayoff clubs — will participate in the lottery. The Colorado Avalanche, who open the postseason Thursday against the Calgary Flames, have the best odds of landing the first pick at 18.5% after acquiring the selection from the Ottawa Senators in the trade for Matt Duchene in November 2017. Ottawa, which finished 31st in the overall standings, could have sent the team's first pick at last June's draft to Colorado, but decided instead to keep the selection before drafting winger Brady Tkachuk at No. 4. 'GENERATIONAL' TALENT:A closer look at top prospect Jack Hughes NHL PLAYOFFS:Ranking teams 1-16 based on Stanley Cup chances UPSET POSSIBLE? Who could knock off the 62-win Lightning? PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:Dates, times, TV for NHL's first round Tuesday's draft lottery will consist of three separate drawings — for first, second and third overall —meaning the Avalanche can pick no later than fourth. The top-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, Hughes had 12 goals and 36 assists in 24 games for the USNDT this season. Finish winger Kappo Kakko, meanwhile, is ranked as the top European skater. The Los Angeles Kings have the second-best odds at 13.5%, followed by the New Jersey Devils (11.5, Detroit Red Wings (9.5%), Buffalo Sabres (8.5%), New York Rangers (7.5%), Edmonton Oilers (6.5%), Anaheim Ducks (6%), Vancouver Canucks (5%), Philadelphia Flyers (3.5%), Minnesota Wild (3%), Chicago Blackhawks (2.5%), Florida Panthers (2%), Arizona Coyotes (1.5%) and Montreal Canadiens (1%). The 12 clubs not selected in three lottery draws will be assigned draft selections four through 15, in inverse order of regular-season standings. This year's draft is set for Vancouver's Rogers Arena on June 21 and 22.<doc-sep>Ray Shero has a tough decision to make between Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko. (Getty) In a lot of draft years, there’s a clear No. 1 pick everyone is going wild for. In other years, it’s more of a Taylor/Tyler situation where what you see isn’t what the next team sees. This year’s draft seems to be a lot more of the latter, with Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko coming closer to a coin-flip decision as the year progressed. There’s a pretty good reason for this: Though Hughes set career scoring records for the U.S. National Development team, Kakko set the U-18 single-season goalscoring record for the Finnish men’s league. Very quickly, the slam-dunk pick Hughes looked like as recently as the new year doesn’t seem like an easy decision any more. So with New Jersey winning the draft lottery, it has an incredibly difficult decision to make, one where it has a 50-50 shot of picking the better player. To look back at the Taylor/Tyler debate (or, more relevant, the Nico/Nolan debate), I was heavily in the Camp Tyler group at the time and thought it was a bit of a mistake for an Oilers team with no real center depth to pass up a guy who would almost certainly become an All-Star. That wasn’t a slight to Hall, but if you see more value in a center than a wing, I think that’s always a reasonable take. Seguin eventually panned out exactly as expected, and Hall of course became an MVP candidate a few times over. They’re both great, and that neither of their draft teams saw their quality as being a long-term help is more an indictment of Peter Chiarelli than anything against them. Most people, I think, recognize all this now. But Taylor/Tyler felt a lot like an all-year thing, if you want to only limit it to the scope of their draft season. Hughes has been hailed as the No. 1 pick in the draft for a few years now, and that Kakko narrowed the gap seemingly in the last month and a half of the season (he went 9-2-11 in the men’s league since Feb. 16, not counting his pretty good playoff performance). Now everyone you talk to in front offices or on the scouting front say it’s a coin flip, but according to Bob McKenzie’s latest Insiderism, every team says, “It’s still Hughes but it’s razor-thin.” Story continues By winning the draft lottery, New Jersey runs the risk of being the team that picked wrong, whereas the Rangers have the luxury of letting the chips fall where they may. A complaint I’ve heard more than a few times — which McKenzie also published — was that teams would like to see Hughes and Kakko go head-to-head in the World U-18s, but they can’t and it sure sucks! But that ignores the really important issue that Kakko isn’t playing U-18s because he made the Finnish men’s World Championship team. That is to say, after breaking Sasha Barkov’s U-18 goals record in a men’s league (albeit alongside the Liiga’s leading scorer), he also had enough respect from the Finnish governing body to get put on the men’s team for a tournament they consider rather important. Hughes is relegated to playing with children, and he’ll probably do great, but unlike Auston Matthews and Kakko, he didn’t get to play against the grown-ups. It remains to be seen whether Kakko sinks or swims in that tournament (and certainly his performance will drive his draft stock). You can say he disappeared for some stretches of the Liiga season, but he’s an explosive scorer who’s at least going to be a threat on the power play. There’s also the question of drafting for need; Kakko is a center/wing who might not play the middle much in the bigs, but Hughes is a pure center. Kakko is big (6-foot-2 and growing) whereas Hughes is under six feet. Ray Shero has said the Devils need talent — everyone does — and this certainly gets them closer to what they need. Maybe not enough, but certainly closer. It might also be a question of whether you want to run Hall-Hischier-Kakko as your top line for the next several years, or whether you want to go Hughes/Hischier down the middle for even longer. It’s not the worst problem to have. But still, you can’t really envy Shero’s situation here because there’s a better-than-usual chance you get the choice wrong and gift the team picking second the top player of the draft. And that the better player goes across the river to an arch-rival. Any time you’re going first overall, you can’t afford to draft for need or based on size, just the guy you think is best. Whether you prefer Kakko (smart) or Hughes (riskier??? ), someone’s probably gonna kill you for it if you don’t get it 100 percent right. But hey, if you’re picking second? You just did the best with what you could. And if you just happened to get the best player as a result, well, it’s a happy accident, but you’re not complaining. So in this draft, maybe (barely) losing this draft lottery, with a razor-thin difference between Nos. 1 and 2, was more like winning. But then again, maybe not. —- Ryan Lambert is a Yahoo! Sports hockey columnist. His email is here and his Twitter is here. More NHL coverage from Yahoo Sports<doc-sep>	Never mind “Lose For Hughes.” Perhaps “Sigh For Five” is more like it. With the second-best odds of winning the top pick in June’s draft, the Kings fell to No. 5 when the selection order was revealed on national television Tuesday. That was the worst-case scenario given that the Kings were guaranteed a top-five pick as the NHL’s second-worst team, and it means they won’t have an opportunity to select consensus top pick Jack Hughes. Kings President Luc Robitaille was hopeful but prepared for all possibilities. “The system is one that is fair and keeps teams honest,” Robitaille said through a team official. “We knew all along we would get a good player picking in the top five.” The New Jersey Devils landed the top pick, followed by the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche. The Ducks will pick ninth. New Jersey finished as the third-worst team and had 11.5% odds at No. 1. Colorado, which acquired its pick from the last-place Ottawa Senators, held an 18.5% chance. The big jump was made by Chicago, which vaulted to the No. 3 pick as the league’s 12th-worst team (2.5%). Landing the fifth pick was actually the second-highest probability for the Kings, at 27.9%, according to tankathon.com. But it came as a big disappointment, especially given how badly the franchise needed a potential cornerstone piece. General manager Rob Blake said Monday that he wouldn’t be inclined to trade his top pick if the pingpong balls didn’t fall in the Kings’ favor. The Kings have two first-round picks because of the trade of Jake Muzzin to the Toronto Maple Leafs. “Doubtful, very doubtful,” Blake said. “But again, until we know exactly where we’re picking — I’ll rely a lot on [director of amateur scouting] Mark Yannetti and his staff on the top guys in the draft and understand where they are.” Sign up for our daily sports newsletter » Hughes is considered an NHL-ready center despite his size, listed at 5 feet 10 and 170 pounds. He turns 18 next month. Kaapo Kakko, a bigger winger from Finland, is also considered a potential generational-type player. The Kings will otherwise have a top-five pick for the first time since they chose Brayden Schenn fifth in 2009. The Ducks will have a top-10 pick for the first time since they chose Nick Ritchie 10th in 2014. They have three of the top 39 picks for the June 21-22 draft in Vancouver, Canada. The Ducks have chosen ninth twice before and landed Ladislav Smid in 2004 and Ruslan Salei in 1996. [email protected] Twitter: @curtiszupke
Unlike last season, when their pursuit of All-Star defenseman Erik Karlsson was one of the major storylines, all was quiet on the trade front for the Golden Knights leading up to Monday’s noon deadline. Golden Knights general manager George McPhee takes questions during a press conference after practice on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, at City National Arena, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto Philadelphia Flyers right wing Wayne Simmonds (17) celebrates with teammates Robert Hagg (8) and Mikhail Vorobyev (24) after scoring a second period goal during their NHL hockey game with the Golden Knights on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, at T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto If this was social media, the Golden Knights’ trade deadline activity could be depicted with a GIF of a tumbleweed rolling across a barren desert highway. The widely used meme of the White Ninja character poking general manager George McPhee with a stick under the caption of “C’mon, do something” would also do the trick. Unlike last season, when their pursuit of All-Star defenseman Erik Karlsson was one of the major storylines, all was quiet on the trade front for the Knights leading up to Monday’s noon deadline. “We’re talking to clubs now,” McPhee said prior to Friday’s 6-3 home loss to Winnipeg. “We’re being aggressive and talking to everyone about what’s out there, what does it cost, how does it affect us in the future. If there’s a way to help the team right now, you do, if it makes sense.” McPhee watched that game against the Jets with interest, as it was the latest example of the Knights not measuring up with the league’s top teams. The Knights are 10-18-2 against the other 15 clubs that currently occupy a playoff spot, including a 5-9 mark against the Western Conference. After losing 10 of their past 13 games, the Knights have fallen out of the race for the Pacific Division title and suddenly are looking over their shoulder at fourth-place Arizona, which is six points back with a game in hand. “The bottom line is, we control our own destiny,” coach Gerard Gallant said. “We have to win hockey games. If we’re going to continue down the path we’ve been the last three weeks, then we’re going to have a tough time. We’re going to have a battle. If we want to start playing the way we’re capable of playing and finishing off games and winning games, it won’t be an issue.” Gallant shook up his forward lines again during Sunday’s practice at City National Arena, and it’s up to McPhee whether to add another piece(s) for the final 19 games or stick with the current group. Ottawa right wing Mark Stone and Philadelphia right wing Wayne Simmonds, both of whom will be unrestricted free agents, remain the biggest names on the market. The Senators received a first-round pick, two prospects and another conditional first-round pick from Columbus in exchange for center Matt Duchene, and the asking price for Stone is likely to be similar. Winnipeg hasn’t been shy about its pursuit of the 26-year-old Manitoba native, while Boston, Calgary and Nashville also have been linked. The Flyers’ asking price for Simmonds is expected to include a first-round pick, though it remains to be seen whether the Knights — or teams like Tampa Bay, Boston, Toronto, Calgary or Winnipeg — are willing to give up that. The Knights own three third-round picks and three fifth-round picks in 2019 along with three second-round picks in 2020. “We don’t have the depth that other organizations have,” McPhee said. “Our picks and prospects mean a lot more to us than other clubs do because they’ve probably got a lot more. We’ve done a very, very good job of stockpiling good, young players and picks, but we’re two years old.” McPhee traditionally is active at the deadline and could look at defensemen such as Ottawa’s Cody Ceci or Shayne Gostisbehere of Philadelphia. Up front, Andre Burakovsky of Washington is a former McPhee draft pick, while Florida’s Jonathan Huberdeau, who played for Gallant in juniors, would be a splashy acquisition. More Golden Knights: Follow at reviewjournal.com/ GoldenKnights and @ HockeyinVegas on Twitter. Contact David Schoen at [email protected] or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter.<doc-sep>The NHL trade deadline will arrive Monday, and we will see what, if anything, Knights general manager George McPhee has done to a roster that sits third in the Pacific Division. Vegas Golden Knights general manager George McPhee during a news conference at City National Arena Monday, Sept. 10, 2018. McPhee talked about newly acquired forward Max Pacioretty former of the Montreal Canadiens. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto Vegas Golden Knights General Manager George McPhee listens to a reporter's question during a news conference in Las Vegas, Sunday, July 1, 2018, to discuss the opening of NHL free agency. Chitose Suzuki Las Vegas Review-Journal@chitosephoto Vegas Golden Knights General Manager George McPhee listens to a reporter's question during a news conference in Las Vegas, Sunday, July 1, 2018, to discuss the opening of NHL free agency. Chitose Suzuki Las Vegas Review-Journal@chitosephoto Hockey should be more transparent with injuries. It absolutely should have a tougher drug policy. What constitutes goalie interference remains a bigger mystery than Robert Kraft’s choice of where to spend a leisurely afternoon. Oh, yeah. Gary Bettman has the whole condescending and arrogant act down to perfection. But when it comes to a trade deadline, the NHL beats all comers. Low on unnecessary drama, big on immediacy. “We’re different that way,” Golden Knights defenseman Jon Merrill said. “In some other sports, (trade deadlines) have turned into a sitcom. With our league, pretty much most of the action happens on that one day. It’s pretty cut and dry. “We definitely watch everything and keep track of it on TV and in the locker room. Everyone is talking about it this week. You want to know what’s going on. Obviously, you don’t want anyone from your own team to be moved, but it’s fun to watch across the league and feel the excitement. It would be sad to see anyone go, but whatever happens, we’ll deal with it.” Monday will arrive, and we will see what, if anything, Knights general manager George McPhee has done to a roster that sits third in the Pacific Division, still a solid favorite to make the playoffs and yet a team that is terribly inconsistent right now, be it shift to shift or game to game. I mean, when you’re throwing Ryan Reaves out there alongside the likes of Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson, things seem to be getting desperate at points. But if anything, McPhee would prove a buyer yet again this season, because even as he continues to have one eye firmly on the future of a franchise that has yet to complete its second season on the ice, those teams likely destined for a postseason in which history tells us the impossible often becomes reality are usually all-in. And yet it’s doubtful McPhee would rent a big-time player if it meant sacrificing valuable prospects or picks, again balancing the here and now against the coming years, when names such as Cody Glass and Erik Brannstrom are done percolating in lower levels and ready to be served as everyday NHL players. “If you make the playoffs, you can win it,” McPhee said. “Sometimes, there is nothing out there (at the deadline). You can’t invent a player. … We wanted to be a good team right away and have been. So you’re not in a selling mode.” It can make for some anxious players in the room, certainly none of the Knights (well, maybe other than the goalie) above the idea that their name couldn’t be involved in a transaction. No more Misfits After a 6-3 home loss to Winnipeg on Friday, Knights coach Gerard Gallant mentioned that he hasn’t seen the (Golden) Misfits of last season, an ode to the nickname attached to his team during a march to the Stanley Cup Final, self-described expansion castoffs who delivered a historic run while collectively carrying a chip the size of Prince Edward Island on their shoulders. But there’s every chance he will never see them again. Different season. Different team. Different level of focus by opponents. The Knights of 2017-18 are over. Done. It’s on current players to change this tide of inconsistency. They need to play better. They need to own it and step up. Whether that means Monday will arrive and either no changes or some will have found the roster is anyone’s guess, but be assured everyone is watching. “You know, I’ve said before that I try and stay away from it when I’m gone for the day, because we get enough hockey,” defenseman Nate Schmidt said. “But at the deadline, yeah, you’re talking about the moves being made. In Washington, I was in a position where you would hear a deal was coming down and think, ‘Oh, no, is that my spot?’ But it’s the nature of the business. I don’t think guys are surprised by much at this time of the year. “There is no such thing as someone being untouchable.” Nobody? “Wayne Gretzky got traded twice,” Schmidt answered. “Greatest player ever.” I take it back. McPhee probably would be OK with him as a rental. More Golden Knights: Follow at reviewjournal.com/ GoldenKnights and @ HockeyinVegas on Twitter. Contact columnist Ed Graney at [email protected] or 702-383-4618. He can be heard on “The Press Box,” ESPN Radio 100.9 FM and 1100 AM, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday. Follow @edgraney on Twitter.<doc-sep>The NHL's trade deadline has come and gone, and there are plenty of faces heading to new places. The Columbus Blue Jackets were the most active team in the days leading up to the deadline, making a number of trades prior to Monday's cutoff -- including the acquisition of Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel from the Ottawa Senators. But the biggest splash of deadline day involved another Senators forward and came just minutes before the 3 p.m. deadline. The Vegas Golden Knights managed to scoop up the day's grandest prize when they landed Mark Stone from Ottawa in exchange for a package that included top prospect Erik Brannstrom. The move made Vegas one of the day's biggest winners. The biggest name that didn't end up moving on deadline day was Artemi Panarin, the elite winger who was rumored to be on the block in Columbus due to his expiring contract. It seems the Blue Jackets were willing to take the chance on losing him for nothing in order to go all-in this year. There were a flurry of other significant deals that featured buyers trying to load up for the playoffs, so let's take a look back at the day's action. Deadline Day trades Recap 2019 NHL trade deadline movement CBS Sports will be with you the entire way updating this story with the latest trades, news and analysis during the NHL trade deadline. If you are unable to view the live application below, please click here.<doc-sep>	Vegas Golden Knights general manager George McPhee finds himself in a tough spot ahead of Monday’s NHL trade deadline. On one hand, the Golden Knights could clearly use another piece to help bolster their chances of potentially making another deep playoff run. On the other hand, though, this team has been wildly inconsistent this season, and you could make a good case — given their 10-17-2 record against teams currently in a playoff spot — that they simply aren’t legitimate contenders. It truly is a situation where how McPhee and company feel about this team will dictate whether or not they are buyers at the deadline. If McPhee does decide to become a buyer, though, the Golden Knights might not be going after some of the names you might expect, particularly when it comes to the rental market. During last Saturday’s Saturday Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada, Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston had an interesting nugget of info about Vegas when he was asked about Mark Stone. A team that has been widely linked to Mark Stone — at least if he ends up being traded — is the Vegas Golden Knights. But I can tell you guys after being in Vegas earlier this week, I don't get the sense at all that this is an organization in the rental market at all at the trade deadline. It might be a different circumstance if Mark Stone becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, but at this time I don’t see them as a potential trade partner, should the Ottawa Senators elect to move this player. TSN’s Bob McKenzie echoed a similar sentiment on Thursday’s episode of The Bobcast when discussing the latest on Stone with Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger. “The word I get out of Vegas, though, is that they’re not going after rentals, and that includes Mark Stone.” McKenzie touched on Vegas again near the end of the podcast and reiterated how it sounds like Vegas is not interested in the rental market. “The party line out of Vegas right now, and again, you know, sometimes you get to Monday and the prices come down on some of the rentals. But the word I got out of Vegas is they're not in on the big boy rentals. They're not in on paying any significant price for a short-term fix. They don't like the way they're playing right now. But they want to fix it. They want to fix in from within and if they can't fix it from within then they want to do hockey deals. That means trading for guys that have term. Just things that make sense and not going down the rental market.” So if Vegas is reportedly out of the rental market — and the Mark Stone sweepstakes — does that mean we can scratch off other big name UFAs to be like Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene, Micheal Ferland and Wayne Simmonds as potential trade candidates at the deadline? Potentially, yes. However, you would figure if the Golden Knights were granted a window to talk with the player’s agent before a trade were completed to get a sense of what the likelihood of said player re-signing in Las Vegas is, things could potentially change on the rental front. Related Four Golden Knights players who could be moved at the trade deadline In the meantime, though, it sounds like the Golden Knights might not be big name hunting at the deadline, and instead, they’ll turn their attention to players who have term and can help their roster improve for the foreseeable future. Although, we all know how quickly things can change during this time of the year. Especially with George McPhee, who always seems to have a surprise or two up his sleeve.
Crime & Safety Florida Airport Shooter Imprisoned For 5 Life Sentences Esteban Santiago, the man who killed five and injured six in a January 2017 shooting in a Florida airport, will die in prison. Reply MIAMI, FL — The man who committed a mass shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport which left five people dead and six wounded was sentenced on Friday to five consecutive life sentences in prison plus 120 years, according to reports. Esteban Santiago, 28, of Alaska, had pleaded guilty to the Jan. 6, 2017 shooting as part of a plea deal. Santiago, 28, a former Puerto Rico and Alaska National Guardsman and veteran of Iraq, was diagnosed with schizophrenia, but ruled competent to understand legal proceedings with the help of anti-psychotics. He opened fire with a semiautomatic pistol in the baggage claim area of the airport. The Associated Press reports U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom as calling the shooting "85 seconds of evil." She told Santiago "You destroyed families in this senseless attack." Santiago pleaded guilty to five counts of committing violence to cause death at an international airport and six counts of violence to cause bodily injury at an international airport. As a part of the plea, he avoided the death sentence and will spend the rest of his life in prison, and then some. The AP reports he got a handgun from checked luggage, went to a bathroom to load the weapon, and then fired 15 shots and innocent people in the baggage claim area. Initially, Santiago claimed he was under government mind control. He then said he went on the rampage in support of the so-called Islamic State, a claim which is unfounded, the AP reports.<doc-sep>MIAMI — An Alaska man will spend the rest of his life in prison for the January 2017 Florida airport shooting that left five people dead and six wounded, a federal judge ordered Friday. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom accepted a plea deal in which Esteban Santiago, 28, agreed to admit to the shooting if prosecutors would not seek the death penalty. Santiago pleaded guilty in May to 11 charges of causing death and violence at an international airport. Santiago, of Anchorage, Alaska, admitted he opened fire with a handgun in a baggage area at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport after traveling there on a one-way ticket. He retrieved a box containing a Walther 9mm handgun from checked luggage, loaded it in a restroom and came out firing 15 shots. Esteban Santiago is taken from the Broward County main jail as he is transported on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017. Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP Judge Bloom called the rampage "85 seconds of evil" and said she found it difficult to "separate the evil of the acts from the evil in the man." "You destroyed families in this senseless attack," the judge said. An Iraq war veteran, Santiago was diagnosed after the shooting as schizophrenic but was found competent to understand legal proceedings. Doctors say he has improved with anti-psychotic medication. Santiago initially told the FBI after the shooting he was under government mind control, then switched to unfounded claims he acted in support of the Islamic State extremist group. Several family members of victims — many of whom were on their way to cruise ship vacations — spoke in court Friday, describing their deep sense of loss for those who died and some discussing the health struggles of shooting survivors. Among those was Melissa Beauchamp, whose mother Mary Louise Amzibel was killed in the attack and father, Edward Amzibel, was seriously wounded. "You don't get a chance to say one last 'I love you, mom,'" Beauchamp said. "I can no longer hug her and feel her hug me back." James Steckley, speaking on behalf of his wounded wife Julie, said he blamed in part what he said was a "lack of concern" for military veterans once they return from combat zones. Santiago served in the National Guard in Iraq. "I'm truly sorry for you in my heart because I truly don't believe you were a born killer," Steckley told Santiago. Prosecutor Rick Del Toro said the family members supported the decision not to seek the death penalty for Santiago, in part to avoid what would be a lengthy, emotionally wrenching court case. Many preferred that Santiago sit in prison for decades rather than face execution, he added. "Potential attackers need to know they will never again go free if they conduct an attack such as this," Del Toro said. Technically, Santiago was sentenced to five consecutive life prison sentences for the five deaths and an additional 120 years for the six people he wounded. Prior to the shooting, Santiago was briefly treated at an Anchorage mental institution after showing up at the local FBI office claiming to be hearing voices, then was released with no restrictions on owning a gun, authorities have said. Santiago later claimed in court he was getting "messages" in his head prior to the shooting. Santiago, a native of New Jersey, has family in Puerto Rico and a young son in Alaska, court records show. He did not speak in court Friday and no family members spoke on his behalf. Del Toro said Santiago's mental illness may have worsened because he had been regularly taking hallucinogenic drugs, including LSD and mushrooms. But he added that Santiago meticulously planned the attack. "This isn't a situation where a person with mental illness just snaps," the prosecutor said. CORRECTION (9:26 p.m. Aug. 17, 2018): An earlier version of this article misstated the first name of two of the victims' daughter. She is Melissa Beauchamp, not Julie.<doc-sep>FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Reuters) - A U.S. veteran of the war in Iraq who killed five people during a shooting spree in the arrivals area of a Florida airport last year was sentenced on Friday to life in federal prison for what the judge called “85 seconds of evil.” Esteban Santiago, 28, had pleaded guilty in May to launching the attack, near a baggage carousel at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Jan. 6, 2017. Under a deal with prosecutors, he escaped the death penalty and was instead sentenced to five consecutive life terms followed by 120 years in prison, without the right of appeal. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom had pushed back the sentencing hearing to allow families of victims to be present. A woman who was wounded and whose husband was killed told Santiago he was a coward, WFOR-TV in Miami reported. Bloom called the shootings, “85 seconds of evil,” and Santiago chose not to speak at the hearing, the TV station reported. Slideshow ( 2 images ) Santiago carried out the rampage after flying to Florida from his home in Anchorage, Alaska, then recovering a 9mm pistol and two ammunition clips from his checked baggage. In addition to killing five people, he wounded six others as he walked through the arrivals area, apparently opening fire at random, security camera footage showed. After running out of bullets, he placed his weapon on the floor and surrendered to police. A psychologist testified during a plea hearing in May that Santiago had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Judge Bloom ruled in March 2017 that he was mentally fit to stand trial. Santiago, who served in the Puerto Rico and Alaska National Guard, was deployed to Iraq from 2010 to 2011. At a previous hearing, when Bloom asked Santiago why he carried out the attack, he replied: “I don’t know. I wasn’t thinking about it at the time ... There were a lot of things going on in my mind, messages.”<doc-sep>Explore Marietta woman killed in Fort Lauderdale airport shooting Explore Family of Marietta woman killed in Florida airport shooting sues Delta On Jan. 6, 2017, a Delta flight from Atlanta had just landed when a gunman began shooting near the Terminal 2 baggage claim. Santiago flew into Fort Lauderdale on a separate flight from Anchorage, Alaska, went to the restroom, retrieved a gun from his luggage, loaded it and started shooting. He was later taken into custody.<doc-sep>	The Iraq War veteran who killed five people and wounded six others in a 2017 shooting rampage at the main airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will spend the rest of his days in federal prison. Esteban Santiago, who had pleaded guilty in May to 11 charges in a plea agreement that spared him from the death penalty, was sentenced Friday to five life terms and 120 years in prison, with no possibility of parole. Santiago, 28, fired 15 shots at passengers picking up their luggage in the Terminal 2 baggage claim area, aiming at their heads and bodies in a Jan. 6, 2017 attack. The Alaska resident has been diagnosed with schizophrenia but was found competent to stand trial. Prosecutors also charged he aggravated his mental illness by abusing hallucinogenic drugs after returning from Iraq, where he served with a National Guard unit. Santiago flew on a one-way Delta ticket from Anchorage, Alaska, to Fort Lauderdale, retrieved a box with a handgun from checked luggage, loaded it in a bathroom and began his deadly assault, stopping only when he ran out of bullets. According to the Sun Sentinel newspaper in Fort Lauderdale, Santiago was asked by U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom at his May hearing why he had gone on a shooting spree. “Umm, I don’t know. I wasn’t really thinking about it at the moment,’’ he responded. “A lot of things were going on in my mind. Messages.” Before the shooting, Santiago was briefly treated at an Anchorage mental institution after showing up at the local FBI office claiming to be hearing voices, then was released with no restrictions on owning a gun, authorities have said. Still, prosecutor Rick Del Toro said Santiago had meticulously planned the attack. "This isn't a situation where a person with mental illness just snaps," he said. On Friday, Santiago limited his responses to the judge’s questions to “Yes,’’ and, “No,’’ although his lawyers have said he has shown remorse. Bloom referred to his onslaught as “85 seconds of evil’’ and told him, “It is difficult, if not impossible, for this court to separate the evil in your acts from the evil in the man.” The Sun Sentinel reported that all the victims’ relatives told prosecutors they did not want Santiago to face the death penalty, for a variety of reasons that included avoiding the emotional ordeal of going through appeals. Amid their grief, some of them expressed a certain amount of compassion for the former Army reservist. U.S. Attorney Benjamin Greenberg had the victims and their families in mind in his statement announcing the sentencing. “While nothing can ever heal the wounds inflicted by the defendant’s unspeakable and horrific acts of violence,’’ Greenberg said, “we hope that the life sentence imposed today provides at least some sense of justice for the victims and their loved ones.” Contributing: The Associated Press
GameDay arrives in Pullman. PULLMAN -- We could write up 1,000 words on this much-awaited day but really the sights and sounds say a whole bunch all by themselves. So here you go, a sampling from our dream team of correspondents in Pullman, WSU, Cougar fans and even Rece Davis himself as College GameDay finally lands on the Palouse ...<doc-sep>PULLMAN -- It took exactly 14 years, 364 days for ESPN’s College GameDay production truck to roll into Pullman since WSU alum Tom Pounds started the Ol' Crimson tradition. The show made 216 stops prior to its arrival in Pullman, but none of that mattered on Wednesday. For more than three hours, hundreds of students, alumni and community members packed the edges of Stadium Way and Ferdinand's Lane in anticipation of ‘Bobby the Bus Driver’s’ stroll past Martin Stadium. By the time the orange van -- with cutouts of on-air talents Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard gracing the sides -- rolled into town, the fan total had eclipsed the 1,000-person mark with ease. It would have been a Herculean feat to have kept track of the number of times the Pullman Police Department and university officials told the avalanche of Cougs to step back along the curbs as the bus approached Main Street. Athletic Director Pat Chun played into the scene as well, encouraging students to wave promotional crimson Cougar flags near the main ticketing office and wave them in sync. “We need as many students as we can have in the street,” Chun said, as the bus approached Colfax. When the bus finally arrived in Pullman around 2 p.m., the celebration was both cathartic and impassioned. It did not matter your graduation year, Greek affiliation, time spent waiting or if you even attended WSU. To the assembly, ESPN completed the first step of a long-overdue pilgrimage to the Promised Land. The production crew’s eyes contained a hybrid sense of amazement and bewilderment as hundreds of smartphones strained to get a video clip or selfie of the bus as it sat in park in the middle of Stadium Way. No way the bus and semi-trucks containing staging equipment could have driven along into their designated parking spots. To do so, they would have had to plow through dozens of rows of spectators. The Cougar Marching Band alternated between renditions of the Cougar fight song, Fall Out Boy’s “Light Em Up” and series of chants with the spirit squad. Each time a new tune was played, the chorus from the crowd raised another decibel. GameDay finally came home to meet ‘Ol Crimson. Wednesday was a landmark moment in WSU history, tying together generations of alumni, undergraduates and soon-to-be Cougars. No matter the delay in getting the nation's most notorious pregame show to the Palouse. It’s here now, and just in time for what looks to be the most anticipated football game since the 1997 Apple Cup. It was like General Douglas MacArthur’s return to the Philippines three years following his initial escape. Or when 70,000 fans erupted in the Superdome when Steve Gleason famously blocked a punt that would be returned for a touchdown in the first football game played in the venue since Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana. Elements of triumph, sentimentality and hope were in the air. Yet the show itself is still three days away. The best is still to come. On Thursday, the area will largely turn into a construction site as the staging equipment and lights are set up. The city of Pullman is expecting to see a crowd double the size of its own population by the time Friday evening rolls around. Then, the best moment arrives in the wee hours of Saturday morning starting at 6 a.m. when the GameDay broadcast kicks off. When Pounds does the ceremonial honor of being the first alum to hoist ‘Ol Crimson, he will forever be etched in Cougar folklore. And if Corso indeed fancies WSU to knock off the 12th-ranked Oregon Ducks and dons a Butch T. Cougar headpiece, the roar coming from edges of Martin Stadium may register on the Richter Scale. Wednesday’s opening act still symbolizes much more than a simple lead into the show itself. It was a total community event. The Pullman School District let kids out of class at noon, and you can bet the majority of WSU students present found a convenient excuse to tell their professors that afternoon lecture was out of the question. It also demonstrated WSU can compete with any fanbase on the national stage. After hearing GameDay selected Pullman as this week’s location, Chun tweeted at ESPN that he expected Cougar fans everywhere to turn out in droves. That they did. Even though the bus’s expected arrival time was delayed by two hours, no one seemed to have a care in the world. As everyone stayed glued to their phones tracking the caravan’s progress – Spokane, then Cheney, into Colfax and finally, Pullman – there was a palpable sense that everyone was experiencing the beginning of something bigger than any individual or group. A tradition started by WSU’s older guard of alumni finally came to fruition behind a fierce undergraduate support on campus and on social media. To the GameDay crew, welcome to Pullman. Cougar fans everywhere, buckle up.<doc-sep>In what was a surreal experience in Pullman, the College GameDay trucks finally rolled into the hometown of your Washington State Cougars today in advance of their matchup with the No. 12 Oregon Ducks on Saturday. It seemed as if the entirety of Pullman was transfixed by the arrival — a sea of crimson greeting the much-anticipated crew. The arrival came a bit later than everyone anticipated; the trucks were supposed to roll through on this path at around noon: Instead, it was after 2 p.m. But that didn’t do anything to dampen the spirits of those who had gathered to greet the caravan. This is before the arrival: Just to reiterate, this isn’t actually ⁦@CollegeGameDay⁩, this is just Wednesday pic.twitter.com/wlArLLKq5n — Shane Johnson (@Longballj) October 17, 2018 Meanwhile ...... And, finally, the arrival at the Cougar Pride statue: If you’re wondering if the good folks at ESPN noticed ... yeah, they noticed. Here’s the host of the show: From our friends at Washington State via ⁦@KirkHerbstreit⁩ ; they’re lining the streets of Pullman for Bobby the Bus Driver. pic.twitter.com/fNm1hzmYdx — Rece Davis (@ESPN_ReceDavis) October 17, 2018 Way to go, Pullman. You showing the sports world why we’re so friggin’ awesome, and why it was such a travesty that it took so damn long for GameDay to get here. And we’re just getting warmed up. To those students and staff at WSU who don’t care much for sports? Sorry about this: When Pullman shuts down because of @CollegeGameDay pic.twitter.com/nn9hXbzlsy — Jennie Velimesis (@jennievelimesis) October 17, 2018 I thiiiiiiiink you can rewatch it here. But I had some trouble with the live video.<doc-sep>	THE CARAVAN OF TRUCKS from ESPN's College GameDay crew are expected to roll into Pullman at around noon Wednesday, Washington State athletic director Pat Chun tweeted minutes ago. "They are coming to our city!!! @CollegeGameDay trucks will roll into @WSUPullman at approximately 1 p.m. tomorrow. We will get out details and a map of the route tonight. Let’s show them why this will be the best stop in the history of the show! #GoCougs," Chun wrote GameDay producer Lee Fitting was on Derek Deis' "Cougs in 60" show this morning and was aghast when Deis said there would be hundreds and perhaps thousands of fans out to greet the trucks upon arrival. Given the 15-year wait for GameDay to get to Pullman, Fitting said his crew is expecting a massive crowd on upon arrival. Pullman will be the 70th school GameDay has visited since going on the air in 1987. Fitting said the excitement about the WSU is on both sides of the equation. “It’s been on our wish list for some time now … our crew can’t wait to get out there.” CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON THE 3 RECOMMENDED PLACES TO CONGREGATE NOTABLE: GameDay is expected to have between five and nine rigs in Pullman along with a staff of about 75. WSU and ESPN are planning to fly flags Saturday of every school that has hosted Ol’ Crimson since its first flying in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 4, 2003. ESPN producers chose the corner of Stadium Way and Ferdinand's Lane, on the east side of Martin Stadium, to be the set locale. There is no formal for determine where to construct the set behind having it close for students to get to at 4 or 5 in the morning, Fitting said. Fitting said the choice for the Guest Picker on Saturday is nearly locked down. He also said the guiding force in finding somehow is not necessarily a connection to the host university but star power and lively conversation. Related story: Steve Gleason has a nominee for Saturday's Guest Picker.
Yes, the major public clouds offer a lot. But what you may not know are the limitations, and how open clouds make the difference. Elevate your enterprise data technology and strategy at Transform 2021. Well before any of its competitors put out a similar device, Amazon introduced the Echo Show in mid-2017, incorporating the sound and intelligence of Alexa with visuals to accompany voice responses. Some of the lessons learned from the first Echo Show are addressed in the second-generation device, which offers a bigger screen and improved user interface for streaming video and which made its debut during an event last month at Amazon headquarters, where nearly half a dozen new Alexa-powered devices were rolled out. The Echo Show comes in charcoal and sandstone and costs $229. It goes on sale October 11. Display and design One thing immediately apparent is that the switch from a 7-inch to 10-inch screen provides a richer experience, as does an increase in pixel density and an HD screen. The 10-inch screen is consistent with 10-inch offerings from the Smart Display category for Google Assistant. The second-generation Echo Show also includes design adjustments that may seem basic at first glance but that together make for a more modern device. First, the Echo Show’s two speakers have been moved behind the screen, giving the device the look of a seamless screen. (The first-generation Echo Show had speakers directly underneath the screen for a face that resembles a small television.) A thinner bezel means four of the eight microphones were moved to the face of the device. The other major hardware change is that the Echo Show now comes with a Zigbee hub for controlling smart home devices, allowing you to control your smart home devices even when Wi-Fi goes down. The new Echo Show also has a much improved user interface, which includes quiet actions — essentially, a list of your smart home devices on a screen that lets you turn things on and off with touch. Quiet actions are also available for alarms and routines and can be accessed with a swipe down from the top of the screen. Touch control of smart home devices is also programmed to show up each time a smart home voice command is used. You will notice another big change when you turn the device on and glance at the home page. Rather than a set of bullet points for home page cards, as in the first generation, this device does away with both bullet points and arrows on the edges, which means content on the larger screen now appears to float. The home screen also gets a range of new content — such as box scores for games that just ended and announcements about when your team will play next. There’s also more trending video from providers like USA Today, along with movie trailers and some world news. I hope the content comes to include local news and more ways to vary content flashed on the home screen, rather than being limited to a smattering of national and international news headlines. Trending topics can share video or a quick snippet of text on the topic. This feature will get even more interesting as Amazon becomes more contextually aware and personalized to serve up intelligent query ideas. Alexa is learning how to suggest skills based on how relevant they are to your question — without requiring you to say the name of a skill for it to launch. This means you can say “Alexa, help me book a handyman” instead of “Alexa, launch HomeAway.” When Alexa makes recommendations, visual skills are not yet prioritized, but the Best on Screen choice sits atop the smattering of Alexa skills that appear onscreen when you say: “Alexa, show me skills.” Video enhancements The second-generation Echo Show comes with many additions to its video offerings, and that’s by necessity. About two months after the first-generation Echo Show came out, it lost its ability to play YouTube videos due to a public spat about listing Nest products on Amazon’s online marketplace. There’s the Fire TV Recast, which uses over-the-air digital signal antenna to pick up about 25 to 30 channels for live TV anywhere. Fire TV Recast will include a DVR and respond to the voice command: “Show me my recordings.” In addition to streaming DVR, the second-generation Echo Show also comes with an improved Amazon Prime Video user interface, which allows you to sort through content by categories or get recommended titles for what to watch next. Prime Video was available on the previous Echo Show, but it only really offered you the ability to toggle between titles left to right instead of seeing a grid of several options. What you see when you come upon this Amazon Prime Video interface matters because it doesn’t just change what people see when they say “Alexa, show me Prime Video,” it also changes what people see when they say much more generic commands, like “Alexa, show me movies” or “Alexa, show me TV shows.” A similar interface is used for video skills kit users, starting with Hulu and NBC, to give their content a kind of landing page. Hulu and NBC video skills were not made available by the time this review was published. Alongside the Hulu and NBC partnership and all the other announcements last month was news that Alexa will begin to make proactive notifications for users. Called hunches, they are currently focused on the smart home — such as offering a reminder if you forget to turn off a light when you go to bed. But hunches for TV shows or content could be amazing and really change the way people think of devices like the Echo Show. Another great addition to the visual experience for Alexa is the Alexa Presentation Language (APL), which will give Alexa skills developers the opportunity to include more visual content in voice apps. Better cooking instructions The Echo Show and its competitors in the visual smart speaker space have always offered ways to help people cook, and the Echo Show is now better at guiding people through a recipe step by step. Ways to close the loop on what Amazon wants to accomplish by helping people cook dinner might be offering Dash Replenishment or a quick way to add a recipe to your shopping list or Whole Foods cart. Those features are not available today, but I can’t imagine they’re far off. It would also be nice to be able to add ingredients to your shopping list by pressing a single button. In the hands-on review VentureBeat published last month after the Echo Show made its debut in Seattle, we suggested that you can use a new feature to add multiple items to your shopping list. While great in theory, it turns out that’s not so simple in practice, as it maxes out around five or six items. It’s still helpful, but it can‘t quickly add all the necessary items to your shopping list in one go. Evolving a visual interface for a hands-free experience By virtue of being Amazon’s chief visual offering with Alexa, the Echo Show is a sort of standard bearer for the emerging field of hands-free products that deploy AI services. The first-generation Echo Show was not really up to this title, but the second-generation Echo Show has a series of additions that make it a more thoughtful, easier to use device, with new video choices to explore. This version of Echo Show appears to be the answer to lessons learned from feedback the first time around. Show Mode for devices like the Fire 8 or Fire 10 tablets means that the visual interface available in the Echo Show won’t be totally exclusive, but with changes imposed on the second-generation Echo Show, there’s a lot to enjoy and appreciate about the new device.<doc-sep>With the original Echo Show, Amazon added a new dimension to the smart speaker. To critics, the device was little more than a station tablet. For Amazon, however, the product unlocked a new vertical in the rapidly expanding category. The day to usefulness wasn’t always clear, but the potential certainly was, as Amazon and the competition looked to corner the smart home market. Like most of the company’s first generation products, however, the hardware wasn’t great. The first Show was big and clunky. It looked dated before it even arrived in living rooms and kitchens. But it got the job done. While the company hasn’t released sales figures for the product, the first gen clearly sold briskly in its early days, according to rankings. The numbers were ultimately hobbled by a war with Google that resulted in YouTube being pulled from the platform, but on a whole, the device appears to be a hit. It’s already inspired a number of copycats. In January, Google announced a new Smart Display category relying on third parties to product their own Assistant-powered take on the device. And later this week, it’s expected to introduce its own competitor, the Home Hub. It’s fitting, then, that the second-gen Show bears Google’s unmistakable influence. Heck, it’s kind of theme in this latest batch of Echo devices. There’s little question that the new show is much better looking product than its predecessor. The big, thick, plasticky look has been traded in for something a bit more homey, with a softer, fabric covering. The front, which was previously home to both display and speaker, is now all screen — meaning those tablet comparisons aren’t going away any time soon. Still, from a pure design perspective, Lenovo’s Smart Display is the one to beat. It’s still far and away the best looking of the bunch — though the aforementioned Home Hub could give it a run for its money in the near future. The design choice means there’s a lot more room for screen, which has been increased from seven to 10.1 inches (with a still fairly sizable bezel). That extra real estate makes the product a more compelling offering for watching short videos or episodic TV shows (I don’t know that I’d recommend it for a full film just yet) and finally offers enough space for something like a browser to make sense on the product. The speaker, meanwhile, has been moved to the rear of the device. It’s a decision that makes sense from an aesthetic perspective, but is a bit less than practical. When listening to music while writing this review, I found myself actually flipping it around. Sound quality has been notably improved with improved drivers and Dolby bass, but things get a bit muffled when faced away from you. The bass is also a bit too powerful for its own good here, contributing to a muddying of the sound quality. Thankfully, Alexa now understands you when you ask her to turn down the bass. Things improve a bit when you place it around six inches from a wall, reflecting the sound back at you. Of course, not every home set up can accommodate that orientation. Either way, I wouldn’t recommend looking to the Show as your primary music listening device. Apple and Google’s high end speakers simply sound better — or build your own using the various modular pieces the company announced at its last event. With a larger display, the new Show demands touch. Amazon clearly recognized this during the redesign. While, like its predecessor, it’s designed to be voice-first device touch-based interactions are more prevalent here. Exhibit A is the addition of Firefox. It’s a bit of a strange one. You can call it up with an, “Alexa, open Firefox,” but actually browsing the web is a bit trickier. There’s no skill yet for, say, “open TechCrunch.com in Firefox.” Rather, you’ll have to open Firefox and either type the URL with two fingers, or click the microphone icon to speak it. It’s a nice option certainly, if a bit clunky. Also, there’s no multitouch pinch to zoom here — in fact, so far as I can tell, there’s no way to zoom in at all. What the browser does afford, however, is a workaround for YouTube. Say “Alexa, open YouTube,” and the Show will offer you the choice of watching content in either Firefox or the Silk browser. Sure, it’s not ideal compared to a native app, but until the companies kiss and make up, or, more likely, Amazon launches its own competing service, it will have to do. The other big news here is a bit of a no-brainer. After bringing smart home hub functionality to the Echo line with the Plus, Amazon has done the same with the Show. The smart screen now features a Zigbee hub inside. Connecting devices is pretty straightforward — just put them in pairing mode and say “Alexa, discover my devices.” If everything goes right, the whole process should take under a minute. Thankfully, an app redesign has arrived alongside the new devices, so those smart devices can be accessed on your mobile device, along with the Show. The app also lets users routines around groups of devices, so you can, say, turn up the lights, turn on the coffee and get the day’s news (shudder) with an “Alexa, good morning.” The new Show is nice upgrade over its predecessor. It’s better looking, has a bigger screen and improved (if backwards) speakers, while smart home hub functionality and last year’s addition of security camera monitoring make it a control panel for the smart home. The ball is in your court, Google.<doc-sep>After being confined to an audio-only experience for over two years, Amazon’s Alexa assistant was finally given a screen with last year’s Echo Show, a blocky combination of a tablet-sized display and smart speaker. The original Echo Show was the first of its kind: a smart display, powered by an intelligent assistant, that could do more than just play music and set timers, it could show you the name of the song and the timer counting down, too. In the year and a half since, other assistants have gotten displays of their own. So now Amazon has released a new Echo Show, one that addresses some of the faults of the original and improves upon the idea, without completely reinventing it. The new Echo Show has a bigger screen, better speaker system, and a nicer design. It’s also running new software that’s prettier and easier to interact with, though the new software will also be coming to the original Echo Show when the new model arrives on October 11th. The new model comes with all of these features without commanding a higher price: it’s available for the same $229.99 that the first Show sold for at launch. Despite these improvements, the new Echo Show doesn’t do that much more than the prior model, and if anything, it highlights where Alexa’s boundaries are. When Alexa is restricted to a speaker, it’s easier to accept that Alexa is only really good at a handful of things, all of which rely on sound: weather reports, music, alarms, timers, etc. But when a large, bright screen is added to the mix, the expectations go up. A screen should let me watch video from any source I want, and it should be able to display information that’s relevant to me no matter where it comes from. Unfortunately, the new Echo Show’s bigger, better screen still doesn’t fulfill either of those expectations. That all makes the new Echo Show a bit frustrating: it’s better to look at, better to listen to, and nicer to use, but it still can’t do all of the things I reasonably expect a big, internet-connected display on my kitchen counter to be capable of. Our review of Amazon Echo Show (2018) Verge Score 7.5 out of 10 Good Stuff Much improved sound quality Bigger screen is much nicer to look at Design is more pleasing to the eye Software is more capable and easier to use Bad Stuff Still largely limited to Amazon services No hardware shutter to block the camera Screen-based skills are still lacking YouTube experience is laughably bad Buy for $229.99 from Amazon Buy for $229.99 from B&H Photo Buy for $229.99 from Best Buy The most obvious upgrade with the new Echo Show is its new display. Amazon has expanded the screen from a cramped seven inches to a 10.1-inch panel. Instead of sitting atop a speaker grille, the new Show’s display takes up the entire front of the device, and it’s much nicer to look at as a result. The display is bright and vibrant, with rich colors and good viewing angles. It has a glossy glass cover, which means it can catch a bad glare at the wrong angle, but otherwise there’s nothing to complain about with it. For what the Show does and how it’s intended to be used, the new screen works well and is easier to use than the prior model’s display. The other obvious hardware upgrade is with the new Show’s speaker design. It still has two 2-inch speakers, but they’ve been moved from the front of the device to side-firing positions and have been upgraded with neodymium drivers for better quality sound. The new Echo Show also has a passive bass radiator for much better low-end response. The result of these design changes and speaker upgrades is a much better sounding device than before. The side-firing positioning of the speakers allows the Show to fill a room with sound much better than before. The more powerful speakers produce greater volume, and the passive radiator gives the Show some bass you can hear and sometimes feel, which was lacking in the old model. Is it as good as a Sonos One or another high-quality speaker? No, not quite, and at full volume the sound starts to fall apart and distort. But it’s good enough at normal listening volumes that when I swapped the out Sonos One in my kitchen for the new Show to do this review, I didn’t miss the Sonos. It also sounds better than the Lenovo Smart Display that runs the Google Assistant. The new Show’s sound quality is good enough to make me forget about my Sonos I also like how the new Show looks on my kitchen counter more than the old model or Lenovo’s design. The first Show had a “chiseled out of a block of plastic” industrial vibe, while the fabric cover on the sides and the repositioned speakers give this new one a softer, gadget-that-can-live-in-your-home appearance. It also takes up less space on my counter than the Lenovo, while still giving me the same size display. Even with the greater volume and better sound output, the Show still was able to hear my voice commands without any problems, even from across the room. Still, there are things with the Show’s hardware design that will bother some. If you aren’t comfortable with an internet-connected camera staring at you all the time (there’s a 5-megapixel camera in the bezel just above the display), you can disable it in the Show’s settings, but there’s no hardware shutter switch to block it, like you can on Lenovo’s Smart Display. (Some double-sided tape and a googly eye work well, however.) It’s also still a big thing to have sitting on your counter all the time, and if you have a small kitchen with limited counter space, you might have a tough time making room for the Show. Unlike an iPad, you can’t easily put the Show in a drawer when you’re not using it. More significant than the new hardware is the new software that’s debuting with this Echo Show. Amazon says it spent the last year-plus learning how its customers used the Show in their homes and has designed the new software in response to that. There’s more customization, more ways to use touch to interact, more ways to control smart home gadgets and Alexa routines, and more things to do with the Show’s display than before. There’s even a web browser now. Even with these additions, the interface is still very familiar, and if you’ve been using an Echo Show for the past year, you’ll feel right at home with it. Most of the interactions are still driven by voice commands, but certain things can now be done by touch, such as turning on smart lights or running an Alexa routine. The web browser (you can choose between Amazon’s Silk browser or Firefox) is operated entirely with touch control, though amusingly, the only way to launch it is to ask Alexa to “open [Firefox or Silk]”. The home screen has more customization options and presents things like sports scores in a nicer fashion that before. Largely, it’s just prettier to look at, which is important for a device that will be sitting on your counter, shelf, or nightstand all the time, displaying headlines and other bits of information. Swiping down from the top of the screen displays three new options: Alarms, Lights & More and Routines, which let you, manage alarms, control individual or groups of smart lights and run Alexa routines you’ve set up in the mobile app without having to use your voice. It’s clever enough to put the most recently used smart light controls at the top of the list, so if you always use it to turn the lights on and off in your kitchen, you don’t have to scroll through the whole list every time. There still isn’t a grid of app icons, however, so many of the Show’s capabilities can feel hidden or hard to find.<doc-sep>	Lost among the slew of Amazon's recent device announcements was an update to the Echo Show. While Amazon absolutely mentioned the second-generation smart display, you may have overlooked it completely amidst all the other devices that debuted: a new Echo Dot, the Chromecast-like Echo Input, that infamous smart microwave, etc. But while it may not have grabbed as many headlines, Amazon gave the $229 Echo Show a fairly significant facelift with a bigger screen, more powerful speakers, and a redesigned outer shell. The Echo Show remains the primary device that gives Alexa a "face" of sorts. But with that face comes the challenge of managing users' interactions with Alexa. Amazon's other Echo devices make Alexa interactions painfully simple—ask, and the virtual assistant answers. The Echo Show, and similar devices, both enrich and complicate interactions with virtual assistants with its touchscreen display. Amazon admits it's still figuring out which interactions are best spoken versus seen or touched, but the new Echo Show demonstrates that the company is moving in the right direction. New design The new Echo Show has a more demanding presence than the original thanks to its 10.1-inch touch display. Amazon did away with the old design, which positioned the speaker underneath the seven-inch display, by making the larger display the only thing visible from the front of the device. The new set-up looks more sophisticated and more akin to Lenovo's Smart Display for the Google Assistant. Amazon Echo Show (2nd Gen) Buy Now (Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs .) Some users of the first-generation Echo Show reported screen flickering on their devices, but I never saw the screen on the new Echo Show flicker, cut out, or trip up in any way. I was only disappointed in the screen's slow transitions—when tapping on a recipe I wanted to make from the carousel of options, it took a few milliseconds too long to load. The transition between the two pages wasn't choppy or jarring, but the smooth fade from carousel to recipe ingredients took too long for my liking. Seeing the new Echo Show for the first time in person reminded me of Amazon Fire tablets that now have the ability to go into Show Mode, which essentially transforms them into pseudo-Echo Shows. But the actual Echo Show isn't a tablet propped up by a trapezoidal speaker—there are distinct differences, mostly in UI and overall capabilities. The rest of the device behind the display is the speaker, and it has an elongated triangular shape that allows the device to be propped up on a countertop or table. The back is covered in either white or charcoal fabric that allows sound to escape and fill a room. The new speaker has two-inch neodymium drivers, a passive bass radiator, and Dolby processing, making it much more powerful than the speaker on the original Echo Show. It gets louder, has deeper bass, and produces richer sound overall. I listen to a smattering of music with lyrics, instrumental music, podcasts, and audiobooks regularly, and all of that content came through crisp and clear with the Echo Show. It won't replace your home audio system, particularly if you're a stickler for sound quality. But for those who aren't, the Show could easily become your primary speaker in the room you place it in—and it gets loud enough that adjoining rooms will reap its benefits as well. Amazon put a Zigbee smart hub inside the new Echo Show, allowing users with Zigbee-compatible smart home devices to connect them to the Echo Show without needing another hub. Zigbee and Z-Wave are the two most-popular smart home protocols, which means that those smart lights you have or that smart doorbell you installed the other day will probably connect to the Zigbee hub inside the Echo Show. If you don't have an Echo Show, an Echo Plus, or another device that includes a hub inside of it, you'd have to buy a hockey puck-sized device that connects to all those smart home devices and allows them to communicate with your home Wi-Fi network and with each other. Hubs can cost upwards of $100, making the Echo Show an appealing device for consumers interested in starting or expanding their smart home. Some smart home devices integrate even further with Alexa and the Echo Show in particular, like the Ring smart doorbell (made by a company that Amazon recently purchased).
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If you wish to object to the use of your data in this way, please tick here. ‘We’ includes The Week and other Dennis Group brands as detailed here<doc-sep>Croatia and Nigeria will close Saturday's fixtures with the second Group D game at the Kaliningrad Stadium Croatia go top of Group D ahead of their game against Argentina on Thursday. That was a routine win and possibly the easiest nights work for Subasic in goal. An own goal from Etebo and a penalty from Modric did the damage but Nigeria have some serious work to do after such a flat performance on the world's biggest stage. FULL-TIME Croatia run out 2-0 winners in a straightforward victory. Nigeria weren't at the races at all during this game and will have to improve if they want to progress from this tough group. 90+2 Mins: HUGE CHANCE!!!! Nigeria fall asleep at the back and Kovacic bursts into the box and he has options. The sensible route was Perisic for a simple tap in but he tries to make a name for himself and Uzoho dives to his left to deny him. Why on earth didn't he pass? It remains 2-0. 90 Mins: Four minutes of stoppage time given in Kaliningrad. This has been a routine win for Croatia but it is certainly a game to forget for the neutrals and Super Eagles fans. 89 Mins: Yellow card! Brozovic has barely had a kick tonight but he makes enough contact with an opposition player and gets a yellow card. Nigeria Substitution: Skipper Mikel has had a night to forget and he sits down on the bench in disappointment as Simy runs past him to try and make a difference with just two minutes to go. Croatia Substitution: Juventus forward Mandžukić is clapped off the field as he gets brought off with just minutes to go. Pjaca is his replacement but he will not have long to make an impact. 85 Mins: Nigeria's fans look disappointed and confused in the stands as their team continue to struggle. They have barely made an impact and this will be a huge lesson for them tonight. 84 Mins: We have a short break in play as Perisic goes down after a clumsy challenge. 82 Mins: Croatia continue to ease their way to victory but there is still room for improvement from Dalic's men going into their games against Argentina and Iceland. 80 Mins: Just ten minutes to go and it has not been an amazing advert for World Cup football in Group D today. Many were hoping these two would kick on after the 1-1 draw between Argentina and Iceland but Croatia have just done enough. Croatia Substitution: Rebic has worked extremely hard this evening and he is now given a rest as Kovačić steps onto the field of play. 77 Mins: Iheanacho makes a fast start as he glides into the box but he shoots wide after scooping the effort rather than putting power behind his drive. 76 Mins: Ighalo has endured a quiet night and Iheanacho will now be given the task of leading the line. 73 Mins: Croatia will end the evening on top of Group D unless Nigeria can pull off a superb fightback. 71 Mins: GOAAALLLL CROATIA! It is now 2-0 and Modric is the man of the moment. The captain takes responsibility for the penalty and he steps up before sendig Uzoho the wrong way! 69 Mins: PENALTY CROATIA! What on earth was William Troost-Ekong thinking? He wrestles Mandzukic to the ground while defending a corner the referee doesn't hesitate to give the decision a penalty for Croatia and a yellow card for the Nigerian. Modric will take.... 66 Mins: Nigeria's fans plead for a penalty as Moses goes down but the referee waves them away. That's the fourth or fifth time that the Chelsea man has gone down and it is not nice to see him trying to buy free-kicks and penalties. 63 Mins: Croatia win a corner and Mandzukic latches onto the pass but his header never troubles Uzoho in the Nigeria goal. Nigeria Substitution: Arsenal man Iwobi has endured a poor afternoon and Musa is now given a chance from the bench. Croatia Substitution: Kramarić enjoyed a lively first half but he has barely had a touch in the first 15 minutes of the second. As a result he is hauled off and on comes Brozović. 59 Mins: CHANCE - Rohr's men finally force a save out of Subasic but Ighalo's header is not strong enough to cause any problems. 58 Mins: Nigeria have yet to raise the tempo and changes could be on the cards before this contest slips away from them. 55 Mins: MASSIVE CHANCE! Rakitic plays a fantastic ball out to Perisic who delivers a cross in behind the Nigeria defence, Rebic times his run perfectly but can only volley narrowly over the bar from six yards out, he should have done better. 52 Mins: Some good work from Moses sees Croatia panic slightly at the back but any chance of a goal is ruined as Ighalo bundles into the back of his marker. 51 Mins: Croatia finally build their first attack of the second half but Rakitic spoilts it by blasting his shot into the stands from 35 yards. 50 Mins: Etebo picks out Moses on the right wing before he dances his way into the box but he snatches at his shot and claims it should be a corner. The officials are having none of it and a goal kick is awarded. 49 Mins: The Super Eagles win three corners in a row but Croatia eventually clear their lines at the third attempt. That's a small improvement from Rohr's outfit and let's see if they can build on that. 48 Mins: Quite simply Nigeria need to do more in the second half after a lacklustre display in the first 45 minutes. Their fans have continued to back them in the stands but they need something to smile about! STAT: Nigeria's last two goals conceded at a World Cup have both been own goals. Etebo's this evening follows Joseph Yobo's from the 2014 defeat to France. 46 Mins: The second half is underway. Dalic's men will be looking for a second and they could well find it unless Nigeria raise their game. The African giants have just gone through the motions so far and they need to give Ighalo some support before they lose this evening. An own goal from Etebo is the difference at the interval and Croatia definitely deserved to be in front. Modric has been superb so far as he pulls the strings, while Rakitic, Kramaric and Mandzukic have also looked sharp HALF TIME: The game sprung into life during the last 15 minutes of the first half. Croatia look good value for their lead so far. 45+1 Mins: Two minutes of stoppage time... 45 Mins: CHANCE - Iwobi seems to have read this text commentary as he latches onto a clearance and drills a shot towards goal but Lovren throws himself in the way to make sure the scoreline remains 1-0. 44 Mins: The Super Eagles need the interval by the looks of things. Mikel, Iwobi and Ighalo have hardly featured and they maybe need some words of encouragement ahead of the second 45 minutes. 42 Mins: WIDE! A long spell of Croatian posession ends with Mandzukic laying off Vrsaljko who smashes the ball way wide of the goal. 39 Mins: CHANCE - Croatia produce another sensational team move and Kramaric is very unlucky to not grab a second for his team. Barcelona's Rakitic picked him out but the striker could only watch his header loop over the bar. 37 Mins: Nigeria are struggling to get back into the game and the likes of Iwobi and Mikel have barely had a kick so far. Still early days but they need to improve before they fall two-nil down. 33 Mins: Nigeria nearly make an immediate reponse but Ighalo's left-footed effort is blocked on the edge of the box. It remains 1-0 to Croatia and they will be confident of holding onto this until the interval. 32 Mins: GOAL Croatia!<doc-sep>In the 32nd minute, Croatia found a bit of luck. A Luka Modric corner kick was deflected toward the back post, and Mandzukic met it with a diving header. The ball was going well wide, but deflected off Nigerian midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo and into the back of the net. Nigeria continued funneling their attack through winger Victor Moses, but he was rarely able to beat the final man or put a dangerous ball into the box. Three straight corners to begin the second half that didn’t even result in a single shot just about summed up the Nigerian attack. Croatia’s second goal came on another corner kick, one of their six in the match. Nigeria was able to clear the corner away, but only because defender William Troost-Ekong wrapped his arms around Mandzukic, preventing him from attacking the ball. Troost-Ekong was given a yellow card, and Modric whipped the ball into the lower corner of the goal. Despite a young, speedy and guile-filled team, Nigeria continued to look ponderous on the ball, and never seriously threatened to claw a goal back. Croatia’s golden generation is taking advantage of what is likely their last chance to advance deeply into a tournament, while Nigeria, the youngest team at the World Cup, look like they might be four years away.<doc-sep>	Sports Mole provides predicted XIs, team news and a full match preview for the World Cup Group D clash between Croatia and Nigeria at the Kaliningrad Stadium. Two teams tipped to battle it out for the runners-up spot in Group D go head to head at the Kaliningrad Stadium in their World Cup opener as Croatia take on Nigeria. Argentina, who face Iceland in their first match, are the favourites to top the standings, so both teams will be keen to avoid defeat as the battle for second spot is likely to be close and hard-fought. Croatia © Reuters With world-class talent such as Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic among their ranks, Croatia have been tipped for a decent run in Russia, but they struggled somewhat during qualifying. Zlatko Dalic's side pipped Ukraine to second place in their group, finishing three points ahead of them, and two behind table-topping surprise package Iceland. This forced them to contest a two-legged playoff against Greece, which they won by the comfortable aggregate scoreline of 4-1 thanks to a resounding victory in the first leg. Since qualifying, the Croats have registered two wins and as many defeats in international friendlies, keeping only one clean sheet during that run and finding the net three times. These were testing fixtures, all against fellow World Cup qualifiers, and the reverses came against Brazil and Peru, and the wins over Mexico and Senegal. Those defeats to South American opposition are the only ones of Dalic's tenure, with the 51-year-old having otherwise won four and drawn one since taking the helm seven matches ago. Looking further back, Croatia have a good record against teams from outside of the two leading confederations, Europe and South America, having won eight of their last 10 games against such opponents. Their record at World Cup finals, however, has been shaky in recent tournaments as the Blades have not progressed through the group stage since 1998, when they finished in third place. The Croats have only ever faced one other African qualifier at the finals, beating Cameroon 4-0 in the group stage of the last World Cup. Recent form: WDLWLW Nigeria © Reuters The Super Eagles soared during World Cup qualifying, becoming the first African team to book their spot in Russia with a 1-0 victory over Zambia in October. Nigeria were drawn in a tough qualifying group alongside Algeria and continental champions Cameroon, but that win gave them an unassailable 13-point lead at the top of the table before the campaign was through. Gernot Rohr's team produced pacey, energetic performances throughout qualifying but they have been unable to carry their impressive form over to subsequent international friendlies against higher-calibre opposition. Since beating Poland in Wroclaw thanks to a Victor Moses penalty, the Nigerians have gone four matches without a win, a run which includes a 2-1 friendly defeat to England at Wembley Stadium. Chelsea star Moses has relished playing in a more advanced role for his country, having scored 11 times in 34 matches for them so far. More experienced players like him and captain John Obi Mikel - who has 85 international caps to his name - will be vitally important to Nigeria at the finals, given that Rohr has taken a relatively young squad to Russia. It is easy to see why Croatia are the favourites - Nigeria have scored just five times in their last eight games and have a poor record at World Cups. Since France '98, the Super Eagles have won just one of their last 12 matches at the finals. Recent form: WWLDLL Team News © Reuters Modric is expected to play a key role for Croatia in their group opener against Nigeria, operating higher up the pitch than he usually plays for Real Madrid. This means that Rakitic will likely play in a defensive midfield position alongside Marcelo Brozovic. Right-back Sime Vrsaljko is pushing for a start after sitting out the 2-0 friendly defeat to Brazil at Anfield, while Ivan Strinic could start on the opposite side of defence. Dalic has a selection headache up front, with Mandzukic in good goalscoring form for his country and Andrej Kramaric impressing in World Cup warm-up matches, but the head coach is likely to select the former due to his experience. Nigeria, meanwhile, have slight concerns over their inexperienced goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, as the 19-year-old has become their only viable option since Vincent Enyeama's retirement and Carl Ikeme's leukaemia diagnosis.
(Pocket-lint) - Google is expected to announce Lite versions of its Pixel 3 and 3 XL flagship smartphones at some point in 2019. What will they miss out on though? Here are the differences and similarities between the Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 Lite XL and the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, based on the speculation. Design Cameras Pixel 3 Lite display RAM Battery Software The Google Pixel 3 Lite and 3 Lite XL are both expected to resemble their more expensive siblings in design, including a single rear camera, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and a colourful power key. It has also been claimed the Lite versions of the Pixel 3 and 3 XL will offer the same camera specifications as the flagship handsets, which is excellent news for those interested in the Lite devices. The Pixel 3 and 3 XL have a 12.2-megapixel Dual Pixel rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture, 1.4µm pixels and optical image stabilisation. They both offer 8-megapixel dual front cameras made up of wide angle and telephoto lenses and they deliver great results. Additionally, the Pixel 3 Lite is expected to have the same 5.56-inch, Full HD+, 18:9 display as the Pixel 3, offering a pixel density of 434ppi. The Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 Lite XL are also rumoured to offer the same RAM and battery capacities as the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, respectively, and they should offer the same user experience, running on vanilla Android 9.0. While there are plenty of specifications that are set to remain for the Pixel Lite devices compared to the current Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, there are a couple of differences to consider too. Pixel 3: 145.6 x 68.2 x 7.9mm, 148g 145.6 x 68.2 x 7.9mm, 148g Pixel 3 Lite: 151.3 x 70.1 x 8.2mm 151.3 x 70.1 x 8.2mm Pixel 3 XL: 158 x 76.7 x 7.9mm, 184g 158 x 76.7 x 7.9mm, 184g Pixel 3 Lite XL: 160 x 76.1 x 8.2mm The Pixel 3 Lite and 3 Lite XL might look similar to the Pixel 3 and 3 XL, but they are expected to be made from all polycarbonate, rather than offering glass and metal like the flagship devices. Based on the leaked measurements, the Pixel Lite devices will be larger and thicker than the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL too. There is currently no word on IP ratings for the Lite devices. Pixel 3 Lite XL: No notch No notch Pixel 3 XL: 6-inch, Full HD+, notch While the Pixel 3 Lite appears to be coming with the same screen as the Pixel 3, the Pixel 3 Lite XL's display is different to the Pixel 3 XL in the leaks. Based on the rumours, the Pixel 3 Lite XL won't feature a notched display like the Pixel 3 XL. It is however expected to offer around the same sized display and resolution as the top-tier model. Pixel 3: SD845, 4GB RAM, 64/128GB storage, 2915mAh SD845, 4GB RAM, 64/128GB storage, 2915mAh Pixel 3 Lite: SD670, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, 2915mAh SD670, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, 2915mAh Pixel 3 XL: SD845, 4GB RAM, 64/128GB storage, 3430mAh SD845, 4GB RAM, 64/128GB storage, 3430mAh Pixel 3 Lite XL: SD710 Processor is set to be one of the main differences between the Pixel 3 Lite models and the flagship Pixel 3 devices. While the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845, the Pixel 3 Lite is said to feature the lower tier Snapdragon 670 under its hood, while the Pixel 3 Lite XL is expected to opt for the Snapdragon 710. The Pixel Lite devices are also expected to offer less storage than the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. That said, the Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 Lite XL are expected to offer a 3.5mm headphone jack - something the Pixel 3 and 3 XL miss off their spec sheets. Pixel 3: From £739 From £739 Pixel 3 Lite: $400-$500? $400-$500? Pixel 3 XL: From £869 From £869 Pixel 3 Lite XL: $600-$700? Nothing is confirmed as yet, though based on the rumours, the Pixel 3 Lite and 3 Lite XL will feature an older processor, less storage and less premium builds than the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Pricing for the Pixel 3 Lite is claimed to be around $400 to $500, which is quite a big saving compared to the Pixel 3, especially if you consider you might still be getting the excellent Pixel camera for that. Pricing for the Pixel 3 Lite XL has yet to be rumoured but we will update this feature and our Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 Lite XL rumour round up as soon as any further leaks surface. Writing by Britta O'Boyle.<doc-sep>This week on The Vergecast, Nilay, Paul, and Dieter run through a week of gadget news. Images of the Google Pixel 3 “Lite” and the Samsung Galaxy S10 have leaked, starting up a new season of phone releases. The crew also looks forward to what Google will do with its investment in Fossil’s smartwatch tech, Microsoft’s experiment with foldable devices, and how the Federal Trade Commission will react to Tim Cook’s call to give consumers more privacy. There’s a whole lot more in this week’s episode — including Paul’s weekly segment “Please replace magenta” — so listen to it all to stay informed. 06:28 - Google just spent $40 million for Fossil’s secret smartwatch tech 11:22 - Google Pixel 3 ‘Lite’ leaks in extensive video 18:45 - Motorola’s RAZR is returning as a $1,500 folding smartphone 21:48 - Oppo confirms 10x zoom camera for smartphones 26:03 - Microsoft is preparing for foldable Windows devices 34:39 - Ajit Pai locks horns with Congress over location-tracking report 41:46 - Tim Cook calls on FTC to let consumers track and delete their personal data 52:29 - Apple’s new battery cases are its most powerful ones yet 57:43 - Apple reportedly replaced 10 times as many batteries as expected in 2018 1:01:17 - Apple’s AirPower wireless charging mat is rumored to be in production 1:02:35 - Paul’s weekly segment “Please replace magenta” 1:06:51 - The Samsung Galaxy S10 is coming on February 20th 1:11:58 - Galaxy S10 leak reveals a hole-punch display and thinner bezels If you want more Vergecast, you’re in luck. Last week, we published a bunch of episodes from CES 2019. You can check our roundtable discussion from the event, as well as Nilay’s interview with the CTO of Vizio, Bill Baxter, and CEO of August, Jason Johnson. You can find them right in The Vergecast feed.<doc-sep>	Google is said to be working on a new line of Pixel 3 handsets dubbed the Pixel 3 Lite and the Pixel 3 Lite XL. The idea behind the smartphones, according to the report, is to deliver Pixel 3 functionality without forcing buyers to break the bank. But some newly leaked benchmarks suggests the handsets might also fall short on the power front. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Over at Geekbench, a phone going by the name "Foxconn Pixel 3 XL" has emerged. According to the listing, which was earlier reported on by BGR, it comes with Android 9.0 and runs on a Snapdragon 710 processor. It also comes with 6GB of RAM. In other words, all signs are pointing to the handset in question being the Pixel 3 Lite XL. According to the listing, the smartphone comes with a score of 1805 on single-core testing and 5790 in multi-core testing. That's pretty low compared to the standard Pixel 3. In our testing of the Pixel 3 XL's multi-core performance, it earned a score of 7684. Apple's iPhone XS Max is the top performer in our testing with a score of 11,515. MORE: Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL Guide: Tips, Tricks and How-Tos The findings are a little disappointing, if they're real. Google appears to be taking a page out of Apple's book by offering a "lite" version of its flagship phones. But Apple bundled the same processor in all three of its new handsets, ensuring the iPhone XR could perform about as well as the higher-end models. Google, however, has apparently opted for significantly underpowered performance to keep the smartphone's price down. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, it's important to remember that Google has not actually confirmed the Pixel 3 Lite yet. And while it's possible that the smartphone, which is currently branded Foxconn because that's the company assembling it, is in the works and ready for launch, it's also possible that it will go nowhere. Judging by the benchmark data, however, if the smartphone is real, it won't be nearly as powerful as some might like.
FOOTIE superstar Gareth Bale has called off his wedding amid family turmoil and a rift involving his fiancee’s dad. Real Madrid ace Bale, 29, and childhood sweetheart Emma Rhys-Jones planned a star-studded Italian castle ceremony this summer. 7 Gareth Bale and partner Emma Rhys-Jones, who recently gave birth to the couple's third child Credit: Getty - Contributor But they have postponed it until next summer after a “rollercoaster” year. A family source said Emma, 26, hopes it will give her chance to heal a rift with her former jailbird dad Martin Rhys-Jones, 54. The couple uninvited him along with other family members who were involved in a row over a missing suitcase containing £750,000 of drug money. A case with cash, cocaine, and watches went missing from her elderly grandparents’ home last year. Gareth Bale and Jack Whitehall prank unsuspecting people at a waxwork museum in Madrid 7 A source close to the family has said Emma hopes the wedding delay will give her time to repair her relationship with her father Credit: Wales News Service 7 Gareth broke Liverpool fans' hearts when he scored twice for Real Madrid in the Champions League final Credit: Getty Images - Getty Manchester United ready to offer £200million for Gareth Bale Cars belonging to Emma’s aunts were also torched in Flint, North Wales. She and Wales star Bale believe the violent drugs feud which has engulfed her family will die down if they delay the wedding. Emma is said to be secretly delighted by the postponement because it will give her time to get in shape after having the couple’s third baby, Axel. The source said: “There’s so much family turmoil right now — they want things to settle down before tying the knot. They are still very much in love but they’ve had a lot of issues to deal with.” The couple had tried to hire Beyonce as a £1.5m wedding singer as they prepared for a lavish big day. 7 Emma Rhys-Jones' family have been part of a drugs feud after a suitcase containing £750,000 in cash and cocaine went missing Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 7 Emma Rhys-Jones' family were targeted in an arson attack Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 7 Gareth Bale feared the wedding could be targeted Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 7 Emma's dad Martin served time in prison for a £2million fraud Credit: Wales News Service Bale, who earns £15million a year, met Emma in Cardiff in their late teens. They have two daughters. Emma fell out with her dad after he moved in with a Russian florist half his age within weeks of being freed from jail in the US. He served six years for a £2million international fraud. During his sentence, he missed the birth of three grandchildren including Emma’s two daughters by Bale, Alba Violet, five, and Nava Valentina, two. Gareth Bale takes up hairdressing to get over World Cup failure - and he's not the only bored ace<doc-sep>IT should have been the best day of Gareth Bale’s life – walking his childhood sweet-heart down the aisle at an ancient Italian castle. This summer the Real Madrid striker was finally due to marry fiancée Emma Rhys-Jones, surrounded by family, friends and stars at the glamorous bash under sunny skies. 10 Gareth Bale, 29, proposed to his childhood sweetheart Emma Rhys-Jones, 29, in July 2016 Credit: Getty - Contributor With Gareth earning £650,000 a week, money was no object — pop superstar Beyonce was apparently lined up to perform. The wedding would have capped off a dream year for the player, who had already scored two goals in the Spanish side’s Champions League final victory in May. Yet, as The Sun on Sunday revealed, the fairytale wedding now lies in tatters due to “family turmoil” in his wife-to-be’s deeply troubled clan. The big day was postponed after their lives became overshadowed by dramas involving DRUG FEUDS, a soft PORN STAR and a multi-million pound FRAUDSTER. Central to the drama is Emma’s conman father, Martin Rhys-Jones, 54. Last year he was released from jail after four years — and Emma was keen to have him walk her down the aisle. But she is now said to be upset that her dad, who has written a novel based on his dodgy past, plans to move in with a Russian florist half his age — and bring her as his plus-one. Emma has also been busy comforting sister Katie after her partner took his own life in November last year. 10 Gareth Bale was set to marry in summer 2018 in the Vincigliata castle in Tuscany, Italy - but have postponed it until summer 2019 Credit: Splash News Overhanging the wedding plans as well were fears that violent drug-related feuds — involving more than one set of relatives — could reignite, dragging the couple and their three children into the crossfire. Emma’s topless model cousin, Epiphany Dring, her parents Jane and Carl Dring, and other aunts and uncles had already been told they were not on the guest list for the bash at the turreted Tuscan pile Vincigliata Castle. Emma’s father was arrested in 2013 over a “boiler room” con operating out of Barcelona where investors were sold worthless stock for big money. After being extradited to the US, he admitted money laundering in the £2.2million fraud. He was jailed for six years last August, but having already served most of the sentence on remand in America and Spain, he was let out 16 months early in 2017 — having reportedly found religion. 10 The couple previously postponed their wedding until Emma's father Martin, 54, could be released from prison Credit: Wales News Service 10 He was sentenced to six years for a £2.6million shares scam but was released early - however, Emma banned him from the wedding after he moved in with a woman half his age He has since published a book called Phone Pirate, under pen name Vadim Viktorov, where he writes about ripping off doctors and lawyers. Emma begged him not to do it but the father of five went ahead. She has also been hurt by his decision to shack up with 29-year-old Alina Baranova. Emma was said to be furious that he wanted to bring her to her big day. A family source told The Sun that she did not want “her dad turning up at her wedding with a woman none of the family has ever met”. Rhys-Jones is believed to still be married to Emma’s mother Suzanne, even though they have not been together for more than a decade. Suzanne now uses her maiden name of McMurray — but her side of the family are just as troublesome. Emma’s grandparents on her mother’s side, John and Eva McMurray, had their car firebombed after a suitcase said to contain more than £750,000 worth of cocaine, watches and cash went missing from their home. 10 Cars belonging to Emma Rhys-Jones' grandparents were firebombed in September Credit: Collect 10 Emma’s uncle Graham McMurray, 51, was placed into police protection after being accused of stealing £65,000 from a criminal gang Credit: Athena Picture Agency 10 Emma's aunt Annabella had her home targeted with firebombs too Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk Emma’s cousin Epiphany disappeared around the same time, reportedly fearing she might be targeted, though she has now resurfaced to Wales. The home of the bride-to-be’s aunt, Annabella Williams, 56, was also targeted, with two cars set alight. The attacks saw the police place six family members in safe houses. In October 2016, Annabella’s son Peter Williams, a convicted burglar, admitted a revenge attack, pouring petrol through the letterbox of his cousin Epiphany’s mum’s house and sending her death threats. He was given a suspended jail sentence. Last year Emma’s uncle Graham McMurray, 51, was placed into police protection after being accused of stealing £65,000 from a criminal gang. He pleaded guilty to stealing the case containing cocaine, watches and cash, which had been hidden up the chimney of his Cardiff home, and was given a suspended sentence. McMurray’s lawyer claimed he had removed it from the home of Emma’s grandparents due to concerns about their safety. Understandably, Gareth and Emma have put considerable resources into keeping themselves and daughters Alba Violet, five, and Nava Valentina, two, and two-month-old son Axel out of harm’s way. 10 Glamour model Epiphany had already been told that she was not on the guest list for the wedding 10 The family was rocked by tragedy after Gareth's brother-in-law, Alex, took his own life Credit: Athena Picture Agency Last summer Gareth hired a team of former SAS soldiers to guard the family. He had already increased security following the firebomb attacks and after a gang threatened to release a photo of Alba next to a “cannabis” plant. Insiders insisted it was not a cannabis plant and the move was a failed attempt to extort money from the wealthy family. Gareth had also hired top bodyguards for the wedding, which was to be followed by a party back home in Wales. Gareth, 29, and Emma met at Whitchurch High School in Cardiff — well before he became the world’s most expensive footballer with a £90million transfer from Spurs to Real Madrid in 2013. Unlike other wags, Emma, 26, a former hairdresser, has tried to stay out of the limelight, preferring shopping trips with her children to strutting down the red carpet. Last year she rushed back to Wales to be by her sister Katie’s side after Katie’s boyfriend, Alex Williams, 29, was discovered dead in a fume-filled car. 10 Last summer Gareth hired a team of former SAS soldiers to guard the family Credit: Reuters An inquest in February found that he had killed himself due to the stress of being investigated by social services over his children. Alex and Katie, 24, were living in a caravan near Bridgend, South Wales, a far cry from the commune in Ibiza — which was run by an organisation called Children of the Sun — where they had made their home the previous summer. Emma has now reportedly helped her buy her a new £250,000 house. Straight-laced teetotaller Gareth comes from a more stable background. His parents, Debbie and Frank, a retired school caretaker, turned down his offer to buy them a luxury home. Their heads would not have been turned by the glitz and glamour of the wedding near Florence. Now they will have to wait to see when the on/off celebrations are back on again — it is believed they will be rescheduled for next summer. A family source said: “It’s been a rollercoaster for them over the past couple of years, especially for Emma because it’s her flesh and blood. A lot can happen in a year and we all hope that everyone has kissed and made up by then.” There had been rumours that Gareth would be heading back to the Premier League to play for Jose Mourinho at Manchester United. But it appears he is set to stay in Madrid. If Emma’s relatives can become as settled as Gareth, those wedding bells may finally ring.<doc-sep>Get the latest Spurs news direct to your inbox! Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice With the sad news that Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has 'called off' his wedding to fiancee Emma Rhys-Jones just weeks before they were due to tie the knot, fans have been trying to understand what has happened. And while the couple's relationship is still as strong as ever - they have three young children together, daughters Alba and Nava and son Axel - it's Emma's dark family past that has thrown a spanner in the works. The pair were gearing up to wed in a glamorous Italian castle surrounded by their loved ones, but once again have had to put their lavish plans on hold. It's thought they will now aim to marry in 2019. Here's what Gareth and Emma have been dealing with. (Image: FameFlynet UK) Emma's criminal dad Her father Martin, 54, had already been the cause of a first wedding postponement, as Gareth and Emma had to wait for him to be released from jail after he served a six-year sentence in the US for his part in a £2million international fraud case. Martin had been convicted of conning people into buying expensive shares in America and Spain with little to no value. And, soon after leaving prison, Martin shacked up with Russian florist Alina Baranova, who at 29 is nearly half Martin's age - and only three years older than Emma herself. (Image: Wales News Service) Their whirlwind romance caused ructions in the family, with Emma reportedly furious that her father was planning to bring his new girlfriend to her wedding before they'd properly got to know her. And an "almighty row" threatened to permanently damage their father-daughter relationship. "He's not long out of jail but wasted no time starting afresh with someone new," a source told the Sun. "Emma doesn't want her dad turning up at her wedding with a woman none of the family has ever met." (Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE) Back in June 2018, it was believed Emma had banned her dad from the wedding all together , after he went to visit her, Gareth and baby Axel in Madrid. But he cut his trip short following the row, said insiders. Now it looks as though Gareth and Emma have postponed their wedding plans to allow time for the dust to settle. The stolen case of drugs and cash that sparked a gangland war (Image: Instagram) In September 2016, a suitcase containing £1million worth of cocaine, watches and cash went missing from Emma's grandparents' Cardiff home. Emma's cousin Epiphany Dring, who worked as a topless model on soft porn sites, was staying with her grandparents John and Eva McMurray at the time but fled the UK when the bag disappeared, fearing recriminations. She later returned home. Shortly afterwards, a drugs gang firebombed John and Eva's car, kicked in their front door and threw bricks through their windows, while the home of Emma's 56-year-old aunt Annabella Williams' in Flint, north Wales, was also targeted and two cars set alight. Annabella's son Peter Williams was convicted of criminal damage in October 2016 after pouring petrol through the letterbox of Epiphany's mum Jane Burns - who he blamed for his parents' problems - but said he had no intention of igniting it. (Image: PA) Peter's defence team said in court that the Williams family may have to change their names and move out of the area to defend themselves against further attack. Six members of Emma's family then went to live in police safe houses to protect themselves against a drugs cartel, thought to have links to the Middle East, who they believed were targeting them. The suitcase at the centre of the violent feud was later recovered. As a result of her family's problems, Emma blacklisted a number of relatives from her wedding - including Epiphany, her parents Jane and Carl Dring, and a host of aunts and uncles. Stepping up security (Image: WireImage) Because of the ongoing problems back home, Gareth and Emma took the decision to increase their security both in Spain and at their £2million mansion in the Vale of Glamorgan. Immediately after the arson attacks, armed police met with the footballer and guarded his Spanish hotel room to protect him from any intruders. The couple were understood to have "reviewed" their home security options as a result. (Image: EMPICS Sport) There was talk of them moving their wedding venue to Mexico so they could hire bodyguards who would legally be allowed to carry guns for their personal safety. Insiders said the pair were concerned they could be targeted by the drugs gang because of Gareth's high-profile job and the fact the family has millions of pounds in the bank. Reps for Gareth and Emma are yet to respond to a request for comment.<doc-sep>	Football star Gareth Bale has called off his summer wedding to his childhood sweetheart amid a family rift, it is reported. The Real Madrid winger, 29, was set to wed fiancée Emma Rhys-Jones, 26, at a glamorous ceremony at an Italian castle. But a family source claims Emma wants more time to heal her relationship with her former jailbird dad Martin Rhys-Jones, 54. She and Gareth are said to have experienced a “rollercoaster” year. "There's so much family turmoil right now — they want things to settle down before tying the knot, a source told The Sun . (Image: FameFlynet UK) "They are still very much in love but they’ve had a lot of issues to deal with/" The engaged couple, who grew up together in Cardiff, Wales, have reportedly postponed their wedding until 2019. It is claimed they also hope a drugs feud which has engulfed Emma's family will die down if they push back their nuptials. The bride-to-be fell out with her father Martin after he allegedly moved in with a Russian florist half his age within weeks of being freed from jail in the US. He served six years for a £2million international fraud. It was earlier claimed that Emma had banned her dad from attending the wedding after they had an "almighty row" over his new relationship. A source told the Sun: "There have been ructions — Emma isn’t happy with her dad. (Image: Wales News Service) “He’s not long out of jail long but wasted no time starting afresh with someone new. “Emma doesn’t want her dad turning up at her wedding with a woman none off the family has ever met.” Emma recently gave birth to her and Gareth's third child, Axel. The couple already have two daughters, Alba and Nava. Her dad Martin was convicted of a $2.9million shares scam in the US and Spain. He, along with others, conned people into buying expensive shares with little to no value. Mirror Online has approached Gareth's representatives for comment on the reports of him and Emma postponing their wedding. The former Spurs star admitted he may leave the Bernabeu after Real Madrid beat Liverpool in the final of the Champions League in May. (Image: FameFlynet) But since Cristiano Ronaldo's £88 million move to Juventus , it has looked increasingly likely Bale will have a huge part to play in Real Madrid's setup next season . The winger has 70 caps for the full Wales side after making his debut aged just 16 in May 2006. He was then the youngest player to represent the country. But the former Southampton youngster has since become Wales' highest scorer of all time with 29 goals for the full side.
Just a few hours away from LSU vs. Florida, CBS Sportsline had the line set at 2.5 with the Tigers being the favorites over the Gators. The over/under is set 44.5 after opening at 47.5 points. The moneyline favors LSU at -140 after opening at -173. LSU and Florida kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS, which can be streamed live on Geaux247. Both teams are 3-1 against the spread on the season while LSU is 3-1 against the over/under while Florida is 1-3. Florida defensive coordinator Todd Grantham will be quite the challenge for the Tigers and head coach Ed Orgeron said its his aggressive style that stands out. LSU has faced Grantham each of the last two years when he was coordinating defenses at Louisville and Mississippi State. "His stunts and the way he plays his defensive line. They're very aggressive. He won't give you the same look many times," Orgeron said Monday at his weekly press luncheon. "Their movements is very precise, he makes tackles for loss. He's an aggressive attack type of coach. Obviously we played him at Louisville, I thought his line played good against us that game. Obviously played well last year. So he's going to have a very well prepared team." Gators quarterback Feliepe Franks is coming off a ho-hum performance against Mississippi State, but Orgeron complimented head coach Dan Mullen's ability to develop quarterbacks and have them ready. "He's running the ball a little bit better, obviously. Making good decisions," said the second-year head coach. "Dan's a big quarterback run play action pass guy, short easy throws and then throw the deep ball. Dan will give him the throws that he can make, obviously. He can't make all the throws right now, but later on in his career I'm sure he will. But Dan's giving him the throws that he can make." Above all else, LSU will have to continue to force 3-and-outs, which the team did well against Ole Miss in the team's 45-16 win over over the Rebels last weekend. "We need more of them the. We need more of them. We preach them. This game was a struggle, believe it or not, defensively, the whole game. I mean we were pulling our teeth out almost every play. To get the right call, to make sure that they don't hit the home run ball on us, formations and plays were very difficult and we had some difficult calls to make. Some look overs. So we had to strain to finish on this game. We never thought that we had put this team away, so those three and outs helps us, gives our defense a rest against a very explosive offense." Stick with Geaux247 for all your live updates of LSU vs. Florida including game coverage and all you need to know with our gameday headquarters. The College Gameday crew chimed in with their picks for LSU vs. Florida as well. Here's the rundown of why they sided with the Tigers.<doc-sep>LSU heads to the Swamp in Gainesville to take on Florida in one of the top matchups on Saturday’s Week 6 slate. The Tigers have already earned two marquee victories by defeating Miami and Auburn, and a win in Gainesville would only provide more confidence for coach Ed Orgeron’s team going into next week’s showdown with Georgia. On the other sideline, the Gators are improving under new coach Dan Mullen. How far has this team progressed since losing to Kentucky? This matchup is a good barometer for Florida. LSU has been one of college football’s biggest surprises through the first month of the season. With a tough schedule and an offense filled with question marks in the preseason, most projections had the Tigers fighting to just get bowl eligible in 2018. Instead, LSU is 5-0 with marquee wins over Miami and Auburn, and Orgeron has this team ranked comfortably inside of the top 10 entering Week 7. The addition of Ohio State graduate transfer Joe Burrow has stabilized the quarterback position, and the Tigers are once again one of the best in the SEC on defense. Florida opened its 2018 season with an easy victory over Charleston Southern (53-6) but had its 31-game winning streak over Kentucky snapped in Week 2. Since then, the Gators have reeled off three wins in a row and posted dominant wins over Colorado State and Tennessee. Last week, new coach Dan Mullen returned to his old stomping grounds in Starkville and guided Florida to a 13-6 victory over Mississippi State. Florida leads the all-time series 32-29-3 over LSU. However, the Tigers have won four out of the last five in this series. LSU also has a two-game winning streak in Gainesville. LSU at Florida Kickoff: Saturday, Oct. 6 at 3:30 p.m. ET TV Channel: CBS Spread: LSU -2 Three Things to Watch 1. Florida’s Offense Against LSU’s Defense New coach Dan Mullen was hired to improve this side of the ball, and there have been signs of progress through Florida’s first five games. However, the new staff still has a lot of work to do. Since 2010, the Gators have not finished higher than eighth in the SEC in scoring offense. Additionally, this program has struggled to get consistent quarterback and offensive line play in recent years. Through five games, Florida is averaging 35.4 points a game and 6.4 yards a play. That’s a significant increase from last year’s totals, as the Gators averaged 5.2 yards a play and 22.1 points a contest. Of course, the sample size is small, and Florida is going to see its level of competition rise now that the bulk of the remaining schedule is SEC matchups. Quarterback Feleipe Franks is making better decisions under Mullen (57.1 percent and 12 touchdowns to just three picks) but isn’t connecting on many big plays in the passing game. Mullen has a good stable of running backs and playmakers to utilize at receiver at his disposal. Florida ranks 11th in the SEC in third-down offense, so it’s critical for Mullen to keep this Franks in manageable down-and-distance situations against one of the SEC’s top defenses. LSU’s defense is only giving up 15 points a game and has yet to allow an opponent to score more than 21 points in a single contest in 2018. Coordinator Dave Aranda’s group is headlined by shutdown cornerback Greedy Williams and standout linebacker Devin White, which have held opposing offenses in two SEC contests to average just 4.9 yards a play. It’s no secret LSU wants to stop Florida’s rushing attack and force Franks into long-yardage situations. If the Tigers succeed in that area, Aranda’s defense can turn up the pressure on Franks and create opportunities for takeaways. How will Mullen counter the LSU defense? Can Franks get enough short (and safe) throws to keep the offense moving? And how will Florida’s offensive line match up in the trenches? Franks has tossed only three picks this year and will need another mistake-free performance for the Gators to knock off the Tigers. Related: Predictions in Every College Football Game for Week 6 2. LSU’s Offensive Line and Ground Attack Injuries have taken a toll on the depth and starting five for LSU's offensive line all season. And going into Saturday’s matchup, the Tigers have yet to have the same combination start back-to-back games. It’s a mixed bag of news for coach Ed Orgeron and offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger going into Saturday’s matchup. Tackle Saahdiq Charles is slated to return, and center Lloyd Cushenberry should start after leaving the Ole Miss game due to injury. However, guard Garrett Brumfield is out indefinitely due to an injury suffered against Louisiana Tech. Despite the injuries and rotating cast up front, LSU’s offensive line has allowed only eight sacks and is clearing the way for rushers to average 4.4 yards a carry through two SEC contests. Senior Nick Brossette paces the offense with 481 rushing yards, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire checking in with 275. The Brossette-Edwards-Helaire duo has been an effective one this season and will test a Florida rush defense that is surrendering 171 rushing yards a game. The Gators have allowed at least 100 yards on the ground in four out of their five contests. However, the numbers are a bit skewed by the 303 rushing yards Kentucky posted in Week 2. Since that game, Florida has allowed only 330 yards (2.6 a carry) over its last three contests. Was the game against Kentucky a one-week blip or will the Gators struggle up front against some of the better fronts in the SEC? Additionally, how will LSU’s pass protection hold up against a Florida pass rush that is tied for second in the SEC with 15 sacks. The matchup of Jachai Polite (4.0 sacks), Jabari Zuniga and Cece Jefferson off the edge is a battle to watch off the edge on passing downs. 3. LSU QB Joe Burrow This game is expected to be a low-scoring affair and a matchup controlled by the two defenses. If that plays out as expected, whichever team is going to get more out of its offense is likely to win. While LSU’s offense isn’t going to score 40 points every week, this unit has been more than effective so far under new coordinator Steve Ensminger. The Tigers average 5.7 yards a play and 33.8 points a game. Additionally, this unit has only lost three turnovers and generated six plays of 40 yards or more. The numbers aren’t necessarily overwhelming, but LSU has delivered when it mattered on offense. And a big reason for that was the arrival of Ohio State graduate transfer Joe Burrow at quarterback. When the Tigers needed big plays in the fourth quarter to beat Auburn, Burrow stepped up and delivered in the clutch. The junior is coming off his best performance at LSU, as he torched Ole Miss for 292 yards and three passing scores and added 96 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Burrow’s favorite target has been Justin Jefferson (18 catches), but the junior is doing a good job of spreading the ball to all of his targets. Florida will counter Burrow with a secondary that ranks third in the SEC in pass efficiency defense and has allowed only three passing scores in 2018. The Gators have allowed three plays of 40 yards or more this season, so there could be opportunities for Burrow to connect with Jefferson downfield. Burrow won’t need to throw for 300 yards in order for LSU to win on Saturday afternoon. However, he has to continue playing mistake-free ball and hit on a couple of plays downfield. So far, Burrow has pushed all of the right buttons in directing the Tigers’ offense. Will that continue in a hostile environment in Gainesville this Saturday? Final Analysis Each of the last four meetings in this series have been decided by seven points or less, so another close game should be expected on Saturday. Florida coach Dan Mullen has the offense on the right track, but can this unit generate enough points against a stingy LSU defense? It’s tough to read too much into last season, but Mullen’s offense at Mississippi State gashed the Tigers for 37 points. Can Mullen find a few areas to exploit once again? In a tight game with two standout defenses, turnover margin and quarterback play are the two areas likely to decide this matchup. Oddly enough, Florida and LSU rank No. 1 and No. 2 in the SEC in turnover margin this season. However, the Tigers have an edge under center with Burrow’s performance in 2018, and that’s likely to be deciding factor in this game. Prediction: LSU 24, Florida 20<doc-sep>	Gerald Herbert/Associated Press LSU holds the edge in the recent rivalry with Florida, winning six of the last eight meetings straight up and going 5-3 against the spread. And that includes two straight wins in Gainesville. Can the Tigers make it three in row at the Swamp on Saturday afternoon? College football point spread: The Tigers opened as three-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report) College football betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 34.2-20.2 Tigers (College football picks on every game) Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or Spotify or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week’s top sports betting news. Why the LSU Tigers can cover the spread The Tigers reached 5-0 on the season, and 2-0 in SEC play, with a 45-16 mugging of Ole Miss last week. Video Play Button Videos you might like LSU spotted the Rebels an early field goal then drove 81, 71, 83 and 69 yards to touchdowns on its following four possessions for a 28-6 halftime lead. The Tigers let the Rebels get within 28-13 in the third quarter but pulled away with 17 points on their last three possessions and covered easily as 11-point favorites. And that final score could have been worse; LSU lost two fumbles inside the Ole Miss red zone. LSU piled up 573 yards of total offense, 281 on the ground and 292 through the air. The Tigers also made 33 first downs, to 18 for Mississippi, and won time of possession by a 35/25 split. LSU is already 1-0 on the SEC road this season, with that 22-21 victory at Auburn three weeks ago. Why the Florida Gators can cover the spread The Gators are 3-0 both SU and ATS over the last three weeks following their 13-6 upset victory at Mississippi State last week. Florida trailed the Bulldogs 3-0 early and 6-3 at the half but drove their second possession of the second half 73 yards to a touchdown and held on from there, giving new coach Dan Mullen a win against his former team. The Gators outgained Mississippi State 357-202 and won time of possession by a 34/26 split, winning outright as seven-point dogs. After completing just 53 percent of his passes through the first four games of this season quarterback, Feleipe Franks hit on 22 of 31 throws last week for 219 yards. Two weeks ago, the Gators beat Tennessee 47-21, easily covering a four-point spread. Smart betting pick LSU already owns two wins over Top 20 opponents this season, Miami and Auburn, and if they continue to get quality play from quarterback Joe Burrow, they might be really dangerous. Florida, meanwhile, won ugly last week and benefited from six Volunteers turnovers two weeks ago. The only real challenge for the Gators this year came against Kentucky, and they lost that game. The smart money here takes the Tigers. College football betting trends The total has gone under in seven of LSU's last 10 games on the road versus Florida. Florida is 2-5 ATS in its last seven games versus its conference. LSU is 8-0 ATS in its last eight games versus its conference. All college football odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.
UPDATE: The entire 2019 Eagles schedule has been unveiled — [CLICK HERE]. Original story below. The 2019 NFL schedule will be officially unveiled tonight. We already know which teams the Philadelphia Eagles will play this season but the schedule release will include exact dates, times, and the overall order of the games. Stay tuned to Bleeding Green Nation for Eagles record predictions (19-0, obviously) and more schedule coverage once the announcement becomes official. In the meantime, keep an eye on this BGN post for any potential schedule leaks. The leaks typically appear as soon as early afternoon. Here’s everything you need to know about tonight. NFL Schedule 2019 Release Info Release Time: 8:00 PM EST (Wednesday, April 17, 2017) TV Schedule: ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network Online Stream: FuboTV Eagles Schedule Leaks A number of the Eagles’ games will leak out before the schedule is officially unveiled tonight. We’ll keep track of those leaks right here. (Be careful not to fall for fake rumors!) Week 1 - vs. Washington Redskins (Sept. 8, 1:00 PM ET) — per Jeff Mclane Week 2 - at Atlanta Falcons (Sept. 15, 8:20 PM ET) Sunday Night Football — per Jeff Mclane Week 4 - at Green Bay Packers (Possible Thursday Night Football game) — per Kyle Cousineau Week 5 - vs. New York Jets (Oct. 6) — per Manish Mehta Week 9 - vs. Chicago Bears — per Harry Teinowitz Week 11 - vs. New England Patriots (Nov. 17) — per Jeff Howe Week 13 - at Miami Dolphins (Dec. 1) — per Miami Herald Week 14 - vs. New York Giants (Dec. 9, 8:15 PM ET) Monday Night Football — per Art Stapleton Week 17 - at New York Giants (Dec. 29, 1:00 PM ET) — per Art Stapleton Back in mid-February, a report emerged stating that it was “pretty likely” the Eagles would play the Vikings in Minnesota on Thanksgiving night. UPDATE: The Eagles WON’T be playing on Thanksgiving night because the Falcons are reportedly set to host the Saints that evening. Jeff McLane reports the Eagles won’t be playing on Thanksgiving at all. Eagles 2019 Opponents HOME: Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks AWAY: Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons ... And here’s a reminder of the Eagles’ 2019 preseason schedule. Week 1 - Tennessee Titans (HOME) — August 8-12 Week 2 - Jacksonville Jaguars (AWAY) — August 15-19 Week 3 - Baltimore Ravens (HOME) — August 22-25 Week 4 - New York Jets (AWAY) — August 29-30 ... Stay tuned to BGN for more Eagles schedule coverage.<doc-sep>The Philadelphia Eagles 2019 schedule has been released with a number of games on national television.Among the highlights on the Eagles schedule are a Super Bowl 52 rematch with the Patriots at Lincoln Financial Field, a trip to U.S. Bank Stadium (where the Eagles won Super Bowl 52) against the Minnesota Vikings, the Lions first trip to Philadelphia since the 2013 "Snow Bowl," their first trip to Miami and Buffalo since 2011, and a NFC Wild Card rematch against the Bears at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles will play six division games while their intraconference schedule is against the NFC North (first time since 2016) and interconference schedule is against the AFC East (first time since 2015). Since the Eagles finished second place in the NFC East, they will play the second place team from NFC South and second place team from the NFC West. The combined opponents record for the Eagles is 123-133-2, or a .477 winning percentage. Here is the Philadelphia Eagles 2019 schedule: Week 1: vs. Washington Redskins (Sunday, September 8, 1 p.m., Fox) Week 2: at Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, September 15, 8:20 p.m., NBC) Week 3: Detroit Lions (Sunday, September 22, 1 p.m., Fox) Week 4: at Green Bay Packers (Thursday, September 26, 8:30 p.m., Fox) Week 5: New York Jets (Sunday, October 6, 1 p.m., CBS) Week 6: at Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, October 13, 1 p.m. Fox) Week 7: at Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, October 20, 8:20 p.m., NBC) Week 8: at Buffalo Bills (Sunday, October 27, 1 p.m., Fox) Week 9: Chicago Bears (Sunday, November 3, 1 p.m., Fox) Week 10: Bye Week 11: New England Patriots (Sunday, November 17, 4:25 p.m., CBS) Week 12: Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, November 24, 8:20 p.m., NBC) Week 13: at Miami Dolphins (Sunday, December 1, 1 p.m., Fox) Week 14: New York Giants (Monday, December 9, 8:15 p.m., ESPN) Week 15: at Washington Redskins (Sunday, December 15, 1 p.m., Fox) Week 16: Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, December 22, 4:25 p.m., Fox) Week 17: at New York Giants (Sunday, December 29, 1 p.m., Fox) The Eagles end their season facing four straight NFC East opponents. Here is the breakdown of the 2019 Eagles schedule and how it was finalized: Six home and away games against its three division opponents. Four games against teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle. Four games against teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle. Two games within its conference based on the prior year's standings. These games match a first-place team against the first-place teams in the two same-conference divisions the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place, and fourth-place teams in a conference are matched in the same way each year. The Eagles play the seventh-easiest schedule in the NFL in 2019 (per CBS Sports). How does this compare to the past two seasons? Philadelphia's combined opponents had a 126-130 record heading into 2018, which was tied for the 19th-hardest schedule in the NFL (14th easiest). While the Eagles were in the middle of the pack, that's a easier road than their 2017 strength of schedule, as the combined record of Eagles opponents was 134-118-4 (based on 2016 records), tied for 10th-hardest in the league. The New York Giants are tied for the second-easiest schedule in the NFL, as their 2019 opponents have a .473 win percentage. The Dalles cowboys are tied for the 14th hardest schedule (.504 win percentage) while the Washington Redskins have the easiest schedule in the league (.469 opponents win percentage).<doc-sep>The leaks have been coming in for hours now and after weeks of buildup, the NFL and all 32 teams just released their official schedules for the 2019 regular season. It was revealed on Wednesday morning by Jeff McLane of Philly.com, that the Eagles would open up the 2019 regular season at home against the Washington Redskins. The Birds will travel south in Week 2, playing the Falcons in Atlanta on Sunday night football as the two teams renew an intense rivalry. Here’s the Eagles 2019 NFL regular season schedule in its entirety Now you can start to plan which weddings you’ll ditch for our games. pic.twitter.com/2DrOHen0Fx — Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) April 18, 2019 Week 1 – vs. Washington Redskins (Sept. 8, 1:00 PM ET) Week 2 – at Atlanta Falcons (Sept. 15, 8:20 PM ET) Sunday Night Football Week 3 – vs. Detroit Lions (Sept. 22, 1:00 PM ET) Week 4 – at Green Bay Packers (Sept. 26, 8:20 PM ET Thursday Night Football) Week 5 – vs. New York Jets (Oct. 6, 1:00 PM ET) Week 6 – at Minnesota Vikings (Oct. 13, 1:00 PM ET) week 7 – at Dallas Cowboys (Oct. 20, 8:20 PM ET) Week 8 – at Buffalo Bills (Oct. 27, 1:00 PM ET) Week 9 – vs. Chicago Bears (Nov. 3, 1:00 PM ET) Week 10 – Bye Week 11 – vs. New England Patriots (Nov. 17, 4:25 PM ET) Week 12 – vs. Seattle Seahawks (Nov. 24, 8:20 PM ET) Week 13 – at Miami Dolphins (Dec. 1, 1:00 PM ET) Week 14 – vs. New York Giants (Dec. 9, 8:15 PM ET) Monday Night Football Week 15 – at Washington Redskins (December 15, 1:00 PM ET) Week 16 – vs. Dallas Cowboys (December 22, 4:25 PM ET) Week 17 – at New York Giants (December 29, 1:00 PM ET)<doc-sep>NOTES: The last time the Eagles played in Minnesota, they capped their 2017 Super Bowl run with a 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots. ... Their meeting the Lions in Week 3 is their first vs. Detroit in Philadelphia since 2013, when the Eagles rolled in the “Snow Bowl” behind 217 rushing yards by LeSean McCoy. ... This marks the first season since 1988 in which the Eagles close with four straight division games. ... Only five of their games are against teams that made the playoffs last season: Dallas (twice), New England, Chicago and Seattle.<doc-sep>	THE 2019 NFL SCHEDULE IS HERE! Here’s how the 16-game regular season shapes up for your Philadelphia Eagles, as first reported by the Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. Week 1 - vs. Washington Redskins (Sept. 8, 1:00 PM ET, FOX) Week 2 - at Atlanta Falcons (Sept. 15, 8:20 PM ET, NBC) Sunday Night Football Week 3 - vs. Detroit Lions (Sept. 22, 1:00 PM ET, FOX) Week 4 - at Green Bay Packers (Sept. 26, 8:20 PM ET, FOX/NFLN) Thursday Night Football Week 5 - vs. New York Jets (Oct. 6, 1:00 PM ET, CBS) Week 6 - at Minnesota Vikings (Oct. 13, 1:00 PM ET, FOX) Week 7 - at Dallas Cowboys (Oct. 20, 8:20 PM ET, NBC) Sunday Night Football Week 8 - at Buffalo Bills (Oct. 27, 1:00 PM ET, FOX) Week 9 - vs. Chicago Bears (Nov. 3, 1:00 PM ET, FOX) Week 10 - BYE (Nov. 10) Week 11 - vs. New England Patriots (Nov. 17, 4:25 PM ET, CBS) Week 12 - vs. Seattle Seahawks (Nov. 24, 8:20 PM ET, NBC) Sunday Night Football Week 13 - at Miami Dolphins (Dec. 1, 1:00 PM ET, FOX) Week 14 - vs. New York Giants (Dec. 9, 8:15 PM ET, ESPN) Monday Night Football Week 15 - at Washington Redskins (Dec. 15, 1:00 PM ET, FOX) Week 16 - vs. Dallas Cowboys (Dec. 22, 4:25 PM ET, FOX) Week 17 - at New York Giants (Dec. 29, 1:00 PM ET, FOX) 2019-2020 Postseason Schedule Wild Card Playoffs - Jan. 4 and Jan. 5 Divisional Round Playoffs - Jan. 11 and Jan. 12 Conference Championship Games - Jan. 19 Super Bowl - Feb. 2 (Pro Bowl - Jan. 26) ... Primetime games: 5 Strength of schedule: .477 (7th easiest) Buy Eagles tickets on StubHub! Flexible scheduling: NFL flex scheduling can occur as soon as Week 5. The league can flex no more than two games between Week 5 and Week 10. The NFL schedule follows a set pattern each year so we already have an idea of who the Eagles will play in future seasons. Six of the Eagles’ sixteen opponents will always be their NFC East rivals: the Cowboys, Giants, and Redskins. The Eagles will also play the entirety of one of the NFC Divisions. The NFC North is in rotation for 2019, which means the Eagles will play against the Bears, Packers, Lions, and Vikings. Another four games come against an AFC Division. This year, the Eagles will face the AFC East: Patriots, Bills, Jets, and Dolphins. Get ready for that Super Bowl LII rematch. The remaining two games come against NFC teams that finish in the same spot in the divisional standings as the Eagles. Since the Eagles finished second in their division in 2018 they will play the Seahawks from the NFC West and the Falcons from the NFC South. If the formulaic schedule doesn’t change, this is what the Eagles’ future opponents will look like: 2020: NFC West, AFC North, NFC North and South divisional finish, NFC East 2021: NFC South, AFC West, NFC North and West divisional finish, NFC East 2022: NFC North, AFC South, NFC South and West divisional finish, NFC East Eagles 2019 Preseason Schedule Week 1 - vs. Tennessee Titans (Aug. 8, 7:30 PM ET, NBC10) Week 2 - at Jacksonville Jaguars (Aug. 15, 7:00 PM ET, NBC10) Week 3 - vs. Baltimore Ravens (Aug. 22, 7:30 PM ET, NBC10) Week 4 - at New York Jets (Aug. 29, 7:00 PM ET, NBC10) ... Stay tuned to BGN for more coverage on the Eagles’ schedule.
Hizzoner. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images He has aroused little or no interest in the early 2020 caucus and primary states he’s visited. His own constituents think it’s a terrible idea. A host of political experts and advisers, including his mayoral campaign consultant Rebecca Katz, have told him it’s a bad idea. According to one report, even his wife is less than enthusiastic. Nonetheless, the Daily News reports that New York mayor Bill de Blasio is going to announce a presidential candidacy next week: Mayor de Blasio is expected to announce he’s running for president next week, according to three sources with knowledge of the plans. The 2020 announcement could come as early as de Blasio’s birthday on Wednesday, when he’ll turn 58, said one source. The kickoff was initially expected this week but pushed back, according to another source. All he wants for his birthday, it seems, is a schedule of trips to Iowa and New Hampshire. The Daily News stink bomb of a report is not uncontested: De Blasio’s federal political action committee, Fairness PAC, recently polled Iowa voters. The PAC also bankrolled the mayor’s recent travel to key early voting primary states, including trips to Nevada, Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Fairness PAC spokesman Mike Casca — who took an unpaid leave of absence from City Hall last month to work for the committee — said “no decision” has been made yet and wouldn’t explicitly deny that de Blasio was announcing a campaign next week. “Very hard to announce something without a decision — nearly impossible, some might say,” Casca said in a text message on Friday. But given how stubbornly he’s resisted months of negative signals about this bad idea, reports that it’s full speed ahead are entirely credible. It does sound like aggrieved New Yorkers and Democrats everywhere who are tired of the endless expansion of the 2020 field will have a few days to wail and gnash their teeth and rend their clothes in hopes of convincing Hizzoner not to run. If he crashes ahead like a bull elk in rut, de Blasio will be the 22nd candidate to run (Montana governor Steve Bullock is reportedly going to announce in a couple of weeks, making it 23). If there’s a “lane” for this left-of-center white man with underwater job-approval numbers, it may be the doomed collection of candidates running for reasons other than any remote chance of victory. About the only suspense his candidacy might generate is whether his famous constituent, the president of the United States, bothers to give him a nickname.<doc-sep>New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he plans to announce sometime this month whether he'll join a growing list of Democrats vying for the presidency. At a press conference on crime statistics Thursday, de Blasio teased the news, saying, “As soon as we have something to tell you, we’ll tell you.” But he added that this decision would come by the end of May. De Blasio himself fueled rumors of 2020 presidential run with visits to Iowa and New Hampshire, something he acknowledged on Tuesday. DE BLASIO’S SECURITY CHIEF ACCUSED OF COVERING UP 2015 CAR CRASH TO AVOID BAD ‘OPTICS’: REPORT “I’m having this very, very serious conversation. I’ve traveled to four states. We’re doing a lot of things to look at this option,” he told a reporter who questioned him about seriousness of a possible campaign. De Blasio, who turns 58 on May 8, also said during a radio interview on Friday that his decision to run is impacted by many factors, including how New York City itself is affected by the current administration. “I want to emphasize that, I, in making any decision, have to weigh family, have to weigh what I think is in the interest of New York City and the ability to get things done for New York City,” he said on "The Brian Lehrer Show" on WNYC, “because, right now, New York City is hurting because of a whole host of federal policies that are broken, whether it’s climate change, infrastructure, you name it – all of that stuff is hurting us.” BILL DE BLASIO FIRES UP 2020 SPECULATION WITH NEW HAMPSHIRE TRIP De Blasio, who is term-limited and will be out of the mayor’s office after 2021, denied he would be running mainly to raise his profile and secure a position in another Democrat's administration. "I have never run for anything without intending to win," he said. "And you can look at my track record. I was an underdog in everything I've ever been near." But a Quinnipiac poll last month found that New York City voters would not be supporting their mayor; 76 percent didn’t want him to seek the Democratic nomination. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In addition to visiting several important primary states, de Blasio also held a fundraiser at a Boston construction company where tickets were sold at $5,000 a person -- perhaps amassing funds for a White House bid. Two former City Hall staffers are also working full time on a potential campaign, including Mike Casca, who joined the mayor's staff in 2017 after working on Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential run. The Associated Press contributed to this report.<doc-sep>“Everyone has an honest assessment of his flaws, except, maybe, for him,” said one current New York City Council member who wanted to remain nameless to avoid upsetting work with the administration. But de Blasio, who started his career as a political operative and ran Hillary Clinton’s 2000 Senate campaign before winning a New York City Council seat in Brooklyn in 2001, has never lost a race—and was written off at the outset every time. Now he’s watched Buttigieg, the mayor of a city that’s a fraction (of a fraction) of New York’s size, become a phenomenon. Based on conversations I had with people who have spoken with him, de Blasio thinks that it should be him. He also thinks Buttigieg’s surprise surge proves that it could be him. If Democrats want a mayor evangelizing progressivism, de Blasio’s right here. De Blasio has always seen politics as more about the campaigning and less about the gritty work of governing, people who like him and people who dislike him agree. He may not be an operative anymore, but he still thinks like one. Read: Bill de Blasio can’t resist meddling in Iowa De Blasio is different from most politicians. He’s twice won huge victories for one of the hardest jobs in the country, despite high numbers of New Yorkers, including some of the people who work for him, saying they don’t like him personally. (He had a 42 percent approval rating in a Quinnipiac poll released last month, though 66 percent among African Americans.) He runs the largest city in the United States, overseeing a budget that this year will hit close to $90 billion, all while successfully implementing programs that most of his progressive allies can only talk about as aspirations. His pummeling by the New York City tabloids, helped along by interactions with the press and colleagues that they say range from sneering to insincere—all suffused with his sense that he should be taken much more seriously—seems to have left de Blasio with more people who will roll their eyes at him than cheer for him as he takes steps toward the White House. He needs more allies. Presidential campaigns usually involve calling on every old connection to chip in every dollar and every hour he or she can. Aides give up nights and weekends; old advisers form a kitchen cabinet, helping out with advice and activating their own networks. Buttigieg has a friend from high school, Michael Schmuhl, running his campaign. Kamala Harris has her sister, Maya, chairing hers and traveling the country. Joe Biden has an inner circle of close advisers who have been with him for decades. De Blasio has almost none of the above as he prepares to head into what seems like a campaign few believed he’d actually launch—especially after recent appearances in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada that were far from mobbed with supporters.<doc-sep>	New York Mayor Bill de Blasio Bill de BlasioModerna says COVID-19 vaccine is 100 percent effective in 12- to 17-year-olds The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Uber - One year later — has George Floyd's killing changed the world? De Blasio: NYC schools to reopen 'all in-person, no remote' in September MORE (D) is expected to launch his presidential campaign next week, three people with knowledge of his plans told the New York Daily News. One source told the Daily News that the announcement could come as soon as Wednesday, de Blasio’s 58th birthday. Another source said the rollout was initially planned for this week but was delayed. ADVERTISEMENT A person with knowledge of the plans also confirmed the announcement to the New York Post. The New York Democrat has already made trips to crucial early primary states Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. De Blasio would be the 23rd candidate to jump into the Democratic primary race if he decides to run. De Blasio said Thursday that he would make a final decision on whether to run “in the month of May,” according to The Associated Press. De Blasio’s office did not immediately reply to a request for comment from The Hill. The mayor expressed concerns on Friday that he could struggle to land a spot on the primary debate stage should he decide to run. “The debates are important, there’s a lot of other factors in how … a campaign of this importance emerges,” he said on WNYC’s “The Brian Lehrer Show.” To qualify for the 12 scheduled Democratic primary debates, candidates must receive at least 1 percent support in at least three separate polls recognized by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) or receive campaign contributions from at least 65,000 unique donors. The DNC has said that it will prioritize candidates who meet both thresholds if more than 20 contenders qualify for the debates. A possible presidential bid would likely face opposition from de Blasio’s hometown, as a survey from Quinnipiac University Poll released last month showed 76 percent of New York City residents think he should not run for president. De Blasio has cast himself as a progressive during his tenure as mayor, railing against income inequality, touting the benefits of the Green New Deal and feuding with New York’s centrist governor Andrew Cuomo (D).
If you thought the Assassin's Creed Origins map was big, wait until you see the size of the Assassin's Creed Odyssey map. It's one hell of a big beastie. It incorporates a tonne of Greek islands, including Lesbos, Mykanos, Kos, Kephallonia and more, but also the mainland Greece. We've been told that it's "bigger" than Assassin's Creed Origins' map, although actual specifics at present aren't being confirmed. Take a look: And if you're scoffing at the idea that any AC game could feature a map bigger than Assassin's Creed Origins, just remember that Odyssey features open-world naval exploration, so all that big blue is also part of the map. That all makes up to be one rather large game. Here are all the regions and islands included: Kythera Island Thera Messara Pephka Anaphi Nisyros Kos Melos Hydrea Paros Naxos Mykonos Delos Seriphos Keos Samos Andros Chios Lesbos Lemnos Skyros Euboea Kephallonia Makedonia (mainland) Malis (mainland) Phokis (mainland) Lokris (mainland) Boeotia (mainland) Megaris (mainland) Attika (mainland) Korinthia (mainland) Achaia (mainland) Elis (mainland) Arkadia (mainland) Argolis (mainland) Messenia (mainland) Lakonia (mainland) Assassin's Creed Odyssey is out October 5 on Xbox One, PS4 and PC. Be sure to check out the E3 2018 schedule to see when the other major players will announce their news, and keep an eye on our list of E3 2018 games to see all the titles coming your way.<doc-sep>A leaked picture of a keychain, of all things, led Ubisoft to confirm that Assassin's Creed Odyssey is the next installment in the long-running series, and that it'll take place in ancient Greece. Ahead of a full reveal at E3, another leak has revealed a bunch of screenshots of the game, some of which show that it will, as rumoured, have dialogue options for the first time in the series. The screens, a selection of which are below, also show off ship combat, part of the skill tree and the world map, which comprises the southern-most portion of Greece and the surrounding islands. Lakonia, the largest region shown, was home to the city of Sparta, so we can expect to visit that with our hero, who we see from multiple angles. The images also confirm that the game has dialogue options for the first time in the series. Whether they actually change the course of the story or simply add some personality to the main character remains to be seen. For the full selection of screens, head over to Gematsu, which uncovered the images on the servers of GamePro.de. Ubisoft is holding its E3 press conference on Monday at 11am PT.<doc-sep>The next Assassin’s Creed is going to turn heads. That won’t just be because it’s set in ancient Greece, nor simply because it lets you play as a man or a woman. It’s also changing the series’ combat yet again, offering more options for stealth, and even fleshing out the modern-day stuff that’s been lacking in recent games in the series. Advertisement On a Friday in early June I was able to play Odyssey for over an hour and ask a lot of questions afterward. I’ve done this thing before and always try to leave these sorts of events with as much information as possible for my fellow Assassin’s Creed obsessives. Over the years, I’ve tempered my expectations after the occasional disappointing entries in the series, but also learned to trust that, more often than not, the AC teams get things mostly right. This time, while I saw a game that initially looked a lot to me like last year’s Origins, I left with a clearer sense of how it’ll be different. Most of the changes are things I’m excited to play more of when the game comes out on October 5 (PS4, Xbox One, PC.) This is the most ancient AC game, from the team that made the most modern one. The main studio behind Odyssey is Ubisoft Quebec, which previously led development of 2015’s Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. That game primarily took place in England during the Industrial Revolution and was therefore the most modern of the AC games. Odyssey, set primarily in and around 431 BC during the Peloponnesian War, is the furthest back, some four centuries earlier than 2017’s Origins, which took place in Egypt just before the turn of the millennium. Odyssey’s action is set before the founding of the assassins’ brotherhood, though AC buffs will recall that there were some assassins, like the Persian Darius The main studio behind Odyssey is Ubisoft Quebec, which previously led development of 2015’s Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. That game primarily took place in England during the Industrial Revolution and was therefore the most modern of the AC games. Odyssey, set primarily in and around 431 BC during the Peloponnesian War, is the furthest back, some four centuries earlier than 2017’s Origins, which took place in Egypt just before the turn of the millennium. Odyssey’s action is set before the founding of the assassins’ brotherhood, though AC buffs will recall that there were some assassins, like the Persian It’s going to be more of an RPG than ever. Odyssey creative director Jonathan Dumont says the new game “is pushing our franchise into full RPG.” He might as well have said it’s going full BioWare, as Odyssey is bringing several role-playing game stand-bys familiar in that studio’s RPGs into Assassin’s Creed for the first time. Those include: a multiple choice dialogue system, branching quests, multiple possible endings and even the ability to romance several characters. Odyssey creative director Jonathan Dumont says the new game “is pushing our franchise into full RPG.” He might as well have said it’s going full BioWare, as Odyssey is bringing several role-playing game stand-bys familiar in that studio’s RPGs into Assassin’s Creed for the first time. Those include: a multiple choice dialogue system, branching quests, multiple possible endings and even the ability to romance several characters. A major theme for the game is freedom vs. order. “Are you proposing order or actually freedom?” Dumont pondered of the actions players will take in the game. “We really like that, because the Greeks actually were asking those questions, because all their mythology is based on order and chaos.” Narrative director Mel MacCoubrey has worked on AC games since Freedom Cry and creative director Jonathan Dumont was world director on Syndicate and spent several years before that designing World of Warcraft games. The character choice is for looks and won’t affect gameplay or story. Near the start of the game, players decide to play as either Alexios or Kassandra, a man or a woman. Playing as a woman in AC isn’t new. People could do that in 2012’s Liberation and in parts of Syndicate and Origins. Choosing which character to play as, however, is new. Dumont chalked it up to wanting to give players as much choice as possible and said it won’t affect how the game plays or wraps up. “The stories are similar,” Dumont said. “You don’t have many changes. The acting is a little different because the actors give it their own sauce. It’s much more a vehicle for how you want to roleplay with these characters.” There are no gameplay-specific differences and even the characters who are available to romance are the same regardless of who you choose. “You do you, man,” narrative director Mel MacCoubrey told me. Near the start of the game, players decide to play as either Alexios or Kassandra, a man or a woman. Playing as a woman in AC isn’t new. People could do that in 2012’s Liberation and in parts of Syndicate and Origins. Choosing which character to play as, however, is new. Dumont chalked it up to wanting to give players as much choice as possible and said it won’t affect how the game plays or wraps up. “The stories are similar,” Dumont said. “You don’t have many changes. The acting is a little different because the actors give it their own sauce. It’s much more a vehicle for how you want to roleplay with these characters.” There are no gameplay-specific differences and even the characters who are available to romance are the same regardless of who you choose. “You do you, man,” narrative director Mel MacCoubrey told me. They’re all-in on the modern day and First Civilization stuff this time. At events like these, Assassin’s Creed developers seldom say a word about the modern day aspect of upcoming games in the series. That’s to the relief of the large part of the fanbase that isn’t into that stuff, and to the frustration of those of us who love it and have lately been disappointed by how slender recent offerings have been.<doc-sep>The first screenshots of Ubisoft’s upcoming “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey” have apparently leaked online. Gematsu discovered them on the GamePro.de servers. They show off some of “Odyssey’s” visuals, its map, UI, skill trees, and combat. Ubisoft announced the game on Twitter last month hours after French website JeuxVideo outed it by posting a keychain with its logo. These new screens seem to confirm the game’s Grecian setting. One of them shows the world map filled with numerous Greek islands like Melos, Thera, and Mykonos. Players will need to travel by boat to reach these islands, of course, and it looks like there might be some ship-to-ship combat. Ubisoft will likely talk more about the game during its E3 2018 press conference on June 11 at 1:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 p.m ET. Make sure to follow all of Variety’s E3 2018 coverage, with breaking news, original interviews and hands-on impressions, right here.<doc-sep>	Credit: Ubisoft Screenshots for Assassin's Creed Odyssey have leaked online prior to Ubisoft's big reveal this afternoon. The game, which is set in ancient Greece, looks remarkably similar to last year's Assassins Creed Origins, which was set in ancient Egypt around 47 BC. Judging by these screenshots, this game takes place much earlier, making it a prequel to the Assassins' origin story. There's a bit of evidence for this in the screens, though we're left with questions. It appears the game takes place during the War Peloponnesian, or about 431 - 404 BC. In many of the screenshots you see missions instructing you to fight, kill or weaken the Athenians. One mission instructs you to destroy Athenian war supplies and destroy weapon racks to reduce the 'Nation Power' of the Athenians. 'Delians' are also mentioned. It would seem, then, that the protagonist is on the side of the Spartans if this does, in fact, take place during the war between Sparta (the Peloponneisan League) and Athens (the Delian League.) Then there is a mission in one of the screenshots that says 'Return to Thaletas.' While the exact date of the historical Greek musician and poet is uncertain, it's possible that he lived as far back as the 9th century BC. Either way, Odyssey appears to take place hundreds of years before the events of Origins. How the Assassins and Templar fit into this---likely not named either of those things---remains to be seen. Here are the screenshots, courtesy of Gematsu: The protagonist: Credit: Ubisoft Credit: Ubisoft Credit: Ubisoft Naval warfare: Credit: Ubisoft Credit: Ubisoft Credit: Ubisoft The map: The map is largely aquatic, making it more likely than ever that we'll see plenty of naval warfare. Credit: Ubisoft Menus/UI Credit: Ubisoft Credit: Ubisoft Interestingly, in this last screenshot you see Hunter Damage, Warrior Damage and Assassin Damage, presumably for bows, melee and stealth attacks. Combat and Gameplay Credit: Ubisoft Credit: Ubisoft Credit: Ubisoft Credit: Ubisoft All told, the game is looking quite good though very similar to Origins. That game was the best in the series since Black Flag, so I'm not particularly worried about similarities. It is interesting that, at least in these screenshots, there appears to be no shield for the player character. It seems like shields would have been more pronounced in ancient Greece than in Egypt. Of course, it could just be these particular missions and menus don't feature the shield. Or it could be that Ubisoft decided shields were a poor fit for this series. We'll know more tomorrow afternoon when Ubisoft is set to hold its big pre-E3 press conference. See the full press conference schedule (with links to livestreams) here. See Also:
At first, the stabbing death of Jacquelyn Smith on a Baltimore street corner in December sounded like an act of charity gone wrong. The way her husband, Keith Smith, told it to reporters, the couple and Mr. Smith’s daughter, Valeria Smith, had been driving home after celebrating Valeria’s birthday. Jacquelyn Smith, 54, asked him to stop the car so she could give money to a woman holding what appeared to be a baby outside in the rain, he said. Then, Mr. Smith said, a man ran up to the car, tried to snatch Jacquelyn’s necklace through the open window and stabbed her. “The last thing I thought, that they were going to take my wife’s life,” Mr. Smith told reporters shortly after his wife’s death, his arm around Valeria Smith, Jacquelyn’s stepdaughter, who was sobbing, according to video published by The Baltimore Sun. “I got to live with that every day.” But on Sunday, law enforcement authorities announced a twist in the case: The attack was staged, Michael Harrison, acting commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department, said. Mr. Smith, 52, and his daughter, 28, were arrested by the authorities in Texas on Sunday and charged with first-degree murder in Ms. Smith’s death on Dec. 1.<doc-sep>A mural of George Floyd is shown in the intersection of 38th St & Chicago Ave on March 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Community members continue preparations during the third day in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is charged with multiple counts of murder in the death of George Floyd. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 01: President Donald Trump's lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks to journalists outside the White House West Wing July 01, 2020 in Washington, DC. Giuliani did an on-camera interview with One America News Network's Chanel Rion before talking to other journalists about Vice President Joe Biden and the news that Russian intelligence may have paid Taliban operatives to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Vigils & tributes to George Floyd one year since his murder ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: Former President Donald Trump addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference held in the Hyatt Regency on February 28, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. Begun in 1974, CPAC brings together conservative organizations, activists, and world leaders to discuss issues important to them. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Here's what reported grand jury in Trump case may look like NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 09: People walk past the Trump Tower as the impeachment trial of Donald Trump begins in Washington on February 09, 2021 in New York City. After listening to nearly four hours of legal arguments, the Senate has voted on Tuesday to move ahead with the impeachment trial of former President Trump. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Report: US companies may have benefited from forced labor of Uyghurs WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the conflict in the Middle East from Cross- Hall of the White House on May 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. Israel and Hamas announced that they would agree to a cease-fire, which will take into effect on Friday, following days of fighting that claimed more than 200 lives. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 26: A view of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) light-rail yard where a mass shooting occurred on May 26, 2021 in San Jose, California. A VTA employee opened fire at the yard, with preliminary reports indicating nine people dead including the gunman. (Photo by Philip Pacheco/Getty Images) A healthcare worker prepares to administer a Pfizer/BioNTEch coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine at The Michener Institute, in Toronto, Ontario on December 14, 2020. - Ontario, Canada's most populous province and one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, had 1,940 new cases and 23 deaths on Monday. The province is expected to give its next doses to nursing home workers as a priority, according to media reports. (Photo by CARLOS OSORIO / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CARLOS OSORIO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) 'Never seen levels like this': Union president on airline passenger misconduct Memorial Day weekend will bring rain and cool air for much of the East (CNN) — This “good Samaritan killing” outraged people in Baltimore and beyond. Jacquelyn Smith’s husband called 911 on December 1, according to police, saying she had stopped her car to hand money to a needy woman with a baby when a man approached. He said the man reached for her wallet, fatally stabbed her in a struggle, and fled with the woman and baby. Cameron County Sheriff's Office Keith Smith Cameron County Sheriff's Office Valeria Smith But the investigation took a twist Sunday when her husband, Keith Smith, 52, and his daughter, Valeria Smith, 28, were taken into custody by Texas authorities in Harlingen, near the Mexican border, acting Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said at a news conference. Warrants charging Keith and Valeria Smith with first-degree murder have been issued, he said. Warrants released Monday by the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office in Texas said both were also charged with conspiracy to commit murder, assault, conspiracy to commit assault and a weapons charge. “During the course of our investigation, we developed evidence that Mr. Smith was leaving Maryland, so we made the appropriate national notifications and the Texas State Police arrested him this morning,” Harrison said. “All of our investigators prepared arrest warrants for both Keith (Smith) and Valeria Smith, outlining the evidence in this case to a judge who reviewed and signed the warrants for first-degree murder.” Harrison declined to provide details about what evidence led to the charges, give a motive or say if other people will be charged. Smith and his daughter, both represented by court-appointed attorneys, waived extradition before a district judge Monday in Brownsville, Texas. No bail was set, and both will remain held in a Cameron County jail. Judge Louis Sorola ruled that Maryland authorities have 10 days to travel to Texas and take the two into custody, according to the Cameron County district attorney’s office. The husband’s story Keith Smith and Valeria Smith, pictured here, from an interview after the murder. Baltimore police say the warrant was issued this afternoon, and they were arrested in Harlingen, Tx by Texas State Police #WBAL pic.twitter.com/K6aPz2NOj9 — IG: @Vanessa__Herring (@VanessaHerring) March 4, 2019 Immediately after Smith’s death, Baltimore police said in a statement that she stopped to give money to a woman with a baby. A man approached, police said, thanked the family for the money, then tried to grab Smith’s wallet. “A struggle ensued,” police said, and the man stabbed Smith in the torso before running away with the woman who had the sign. Smith died shortly after arriving at the hospital, police told CNN. Police searched at the time for two people – the woman and a man in his 30s with a goatee – but it proved fruitless. Baltimore residents were shocked by the reported circumstances of the killing. Candlelight vigils were held. “A good Samaritan, somebody that goes out of her way to help somebody, her life was cut short,” Clayton Guyton said at a December 6 ceremony, according to CNN affiliate WBAL. Keith Smith detailed his version of events to reporters at the time.<doc-sep>The killing of a Baltimore woman took a stunning twist Sunday when her husband and stepdaughter were arrested on murder charges, two months after they claimed a black man panhandling with a woman and a baby stabbed her when she gave them money. Jacquelyn Smith, 54, was stabbed to death just after midnight on Dec. 1 in the Johnson Square neighborhood of East Baltimore, police said. Her husband, Keith Smith, called 911 and later told police that he and his wife, along with his daughter, Valeria Smith, were driving when they saw a woman standing on the side of the road, carrying what looked like a baby wrapped in a blanket. They said she was holding a sign that read, "Help me feed my baby, God Bless." Keith Smith said they pulled over and his wife rolled down the window to hand the woman $10. He told ABC News that he noticed a man standing next to the panhandling woman. But it never crossed his mind that he and his wife were being set up, he said in an interview after the killing. "She was trying to help someone out," Keith Smith told ABC News just days after he said his wife was stabbed in front of him and Valeria Smith, who were out with celebrating her 28th birthday when the tragedy unfolded. However, after a lengthy investigation, Baltimore Police allege it was Keith Smith, along with his daughter, who were responsible for Jacquelyn Smith's murder. The pair was arrested near the U.S.-Mexico border in Harlingen, Texas, and now face charges of first-degree murder, police said at a news conference Sunday. Investigators learned Keith Smith was leaving Maryland and coordinated with the Texas State Police to take him into custody Sunday morning. "We're looking forward to this cruel act being brought to justice," Baltimore Mayor Catherine E. Pugh said. Police would not comment on how they determined Keith and Valeria Smith were responsible for the death, citing an ongoing investigation. Officials would not comment on a possible motive. In an interview with ABC News shortly after his wife's death, Keith Smith described what he told police happened that day and how saddened he was that his wife's life was taken over a few dollars. Jacquelyn Smith, her husband and daughter were driving home when Jacquelyn Smith spotted the woman standing in the drizzling, cold weather and holding what she thought was a baby, according to Keith Smith. The family pulled over to help, Keith Smith said. "As she was handing her the money, the guy came to say 'Thank you,' and the woman was saying 'God bless you. God bless you,'" Smith recalled. "While we're looking at her saying 'God bless you' and my wife was handing her the money, he came over to the car and said 'Thank you' and then he started stabbing my wife and snatched her necklace off and ran." He said the female panhandler reached into the car, grabbed his wife's purse and scurried off into the darkness. "For most people, the last thing you're going to think about is that this person is about to take your life for a few dollars," Keith Smith said. "I think the reality is, we forget about the times that we're living in," he said. "You may have the best intentions on helping this person, but when you let a person get into your safe zone, you're actually opening yourself up to whatever this person has intended for you." Two days after the fatal stabbing, Keith Smith and his daughter returned to the scene of the killing with then Baltimore interim Police Commissioner Gary Tuggle for a news conference, in which Tuggle asked the public to help investigators identify the two suspects. At the time, Tuggle said it appeared the two panhandlers were working together. "They're using this ruse as panhandlers to get the attention of their would-be victims," Tuggle said at the time. "We also want to caution the public about engaging with panhandlers in recognizing the fact not all of them have honest intent. Not all of them are in real need." Jacquelyn Smith worked as an electrical engineer at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, an Army facility in Aberdeen, Maryland, her husband said. He said he and his wife were members of the Helping Hands Ministries Church in the Baltimore suburb of Churchville, where Jacquelyn's memorial service was held on Dec. 7. ABC News' Amanda Maile contributed to this report.<doc-sep>The husband and stepdaughter of a woman they claimed was killed by a panhandler in Baltimore were arrested Sunday on murder charges in connection with the woman's death, authorities said. Keith Smith — who told police a panhandler had fatally stabbed his wife, Jacquelyn — was arrested early Sunday with his daughter, Valerie, in Texas, said Acting Police Commissioner Michael Harrison. Keith Smith, 52, and Valerie Smith, 28, were charged with first-degree murder, Harrison told reporters. Jacquelyn Smith, an electrical engineer from Maryland's Harford County Baltimore Police Department Mayor Catherine Pugh said in a statement that it was a “double tragedy” to learn that family members were accused of staging the killing. Harrison declined to discuss a motive, saying “that’s for a trial,” but he added that “it was not a panhandler” who killed Jacquelyn Smith. “The circumstances were very different,” he said. After the Dec. 1 killing, relatives told authorities that Jacquelyn — an electrical engineer from Harford County, north of Baltimore — was knifed to death after she tried to give money to a young woman with an infant and a cardboard sign that read, “Please help me feed my baby.” A man approached the car and tried to take her wallet, stabbing her in a struggle, the relatives said. Jacquelyn’s 19-year-old son told The Associated Press at the time that Jacquelyn's husband and stepdaughter were with her when she was killed. In an interview with NBC affiliate WBAL after the killing, Keith Smith said he planned to push for a law that would ban Baltimore’s “epidemic” of panhandlers. “I’m going to let the world know my wife didn’t die in vain,” he said, adding: “I see it everywhere I go. Sometimes people get violent when you don’t want to give.” Pugh said Sunday at a news conference that Keith and Valerie Smith “took advantage of a city already dealing with its own problems.” “They were responsible for taking Jacquelyn’s life with unconscionable cruelty,” she said in her statement, “and contrived to do so in our city under the guise of random violence, exploiting the legitimate fears of our residents.”<doc-sep>	It was a story that struck a chord of sympathy and outrage across the nation: A well-meaning woman was murdered by a Baltimore panhandler, her husband claimed, after she gave money to a woman holding a baby. Even Oprah Winfrey commented on the horror of the case in December, tweeting that "the story struck my heart" and was making her think twice about giving money to panhandlers. But in a shocking twist, Baltimore police announced this week that they have charged the victim's husband, Keith Smith, 52, and his daughter, Valeria Smith, 28, with first-degree murder. The panhandler story was a ruse made to cover up their own plot to kill Jacquelyn Smith, 54, acting police commissioner Michael Harrison said. “On Dec. 1st of last year, we received a 911 call from 52-year-old Keith [Smith] that his wife Jacquelyn had been stabbed to death after giving money to a panhandler in the 1000 block of Valley Street in East Baltimore. We now know that that was not true,” Harrison said at a press conference Sunday. Keith Smith told detectives in December that he and his wife were driving home after a birthday celebration for Valeria Smith. He said that his wife told him to stop the car in the rain, because she had spotted a woman with a baby and she wanted to give her money. At that point, Keith Smith claimed, a stranger jumped out of the shadows and tried to grab his wife's necklace through the open window. The man then stabbed her, Keith Smith said. “The last thing I thought, that they were going to take my wife’s life,” Keith Smith said to a pool of reporters as news of the killing made national headlines. He was comforted in front of reporters by Valeria Smith, Jacquelyn’s stepdaughter, who wiped away tears, a video published by The Baltimore Sun shows. “I got to live with that every day.” The Sun reported that Keith and Valeria Smith were arraigned in Texas on Monday, after having been arrested not far from the U.S.-Mexico border on Sunday. The father and daughter are each are being charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, assault, and conspiracy to commit assault, as well as a dangerous weapon charge. It’s not the first time Keith Smith finds himself in trouble with the law, The Sun reported. Twenty years ago, he robbed the same Baltimore County bank three times — the first in December 1999. He carried a pellet gun, which the tellers thought was a real firearm, and he would order them on the ground then hop the counter and empty the money drawers into a black bag, Baltimore County police wrote in a report, according to the newspaper. He stole $38,600, the detectives wrote, before leading police on a car chase and crashing in West Baltimore, according to the newspaper's account. Back at the police station, Smith confessed. He was eventually sentenced to 12 years in prison. Jacquelyn Smith’s brother, Marcel Trisvan of Havre de Grace, told The Sun that he has long suspected Keith Smith in his sister’s death because his story about the supposed panhandlers didn’t add up. “It never made sense. I told [detectives] from the very beginning there are no suspects out there,” he said.
Here is what you need to know before the Lakers begin tournament play at the Las Vegas Summer League against the LA Clippers. 1) Hart is in MVP form The Lakers enjoyed a first-round bye in the tournament thanks to a 3-0 record that handed them the top seed among all 30 teams. Nobody had more to do with that than sophomore wing Josh Hart, who has been excellent on both sides of the ball in Vegas. Hart currently ranks second in scoring at the LVSL with 23.3 points per game, and he has done so efficiently, hitting 47.8 percent from the field and 44.4 on 3-pointers. The 23-year-old has spent most of the offseason working on scoring off the dribble, and it has shown in his game. He has gashed defenses with his driving ability and has sunk a whopping 4.0 triples per game, many of which have been set up by his handle out of isolation and pick-and-roll. Hart has also displayed the kind of lockdown defense that the Lakers are confident he can provide in the regular season. Just ask ninth-overall pick Kevin Knox, who dropped 16 points in Tuesday’s third quarter before Hart switched onto him in the fourth. Hart silenced the young stud, holding him to 1-of-6 shooting the rest of the way. Josh Hart chasing down summer league rebounds like it's Game 7, followed by Josh Hart throwing down like it's All-Star weekend. pic.twitter.com/BwzCfKmWTv — Joey Ramirez (@JoeyARamirez) July 11, 2018 2) No mo Moe The Lakers will have to continue their Vegas run without first-round draft pick Moe Wagner, who will miss the remainder of summer league due to a left knee contusion. Wagner was everywhere for the Lakers during their first three games, averaging 10.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.3 blocks. Offensively, he wasn’t as efficient as usual, hitting just 36.7 percent from the field and 2-of-9 beyond the arc. But he nonetheless flashed his unique skill set by taking defenders off the dribble, hitting jumpers and setting smart, sturdy screens. He was vital on the defensive side. Along with creating turnovers thanks to his quick hands and good instincts, Wagner directed the Lakers’ defense by reliably calling out coverages to the other guys on the floor. And he served as the last line of defense, protecting the rim with verticality. With Wagner out, look for more minutes to be distributed to Nick King (14.0 points, 5.3 rebounds) and Jeff Ayres (7.3 points, 5.3 rebounds). What an effort by Moe! His steal leads to a transition bucket for Rathan-Mayes #LakeShow (: ESPN) pic.twitter.com/8Mjqj1hlXA — Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 8, 2018 3) SGA is the Clippers’ clear leader Eleventh-overall pick Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has wasted no time introducing his skills to the Clippers’ summer squad, leading the team in scoring (19.0), assists (4.0) and steals (2.3). The Kentucky product has been difficult to keep out of the paint, slashing inside for the majority of his buckets and shooting 50.0 percent on two-pointers. That’s also where he has been able to set up his teammates for drive-and-kick assists. Defensively, he has the long arms and quickness to be a problem on and off the ball at the NBA level, as summer league opponents have discovered. With each player starts at a different guard spot, we will likely see Hart matchup against Gilgeous-Alexander at some point, pitting proven talent against promising potential. Tip-Off: 5:30 p.m. PT TV: Spectrum SportsNet in L.A. ESPN 2 nationally Location: Thomas & Mack Center — Las Vegas, Nevada<doc-sep>Josh Hart and Svi Mykhailiuk led the Lakers to an 82-69 victory over the Clippers on Thursday night in Las Vegas to advance to the quarterfinals of the NBA Summer League tournament. Hart scored 20 points on seven-of-16 shooting from the field, including two of six from three-point range, and made all four of his free throws, while Mykhailiuk contributed 15 points on five-of-seven shooting and four assists. He also made all four of his free throws. The Clippers did not play rookie guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson. Desi Rodriguez and Sindarius Thornwell each had 17 points to lead the Clippers. Rodriguez made seven of 11 shots from the field while Thornwell converted five of 17 from the field and six of eight from the free-throw line. Advertisement The top-seeded Lakers (4-0) will play at 1 p.m. Sunday against the winner of the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons, who play Saturday. The Clippers (2-3) will play one final time in a consolation game against the Dallas Mavericks at 7:30 p.m. Friday.<doc-sep>The Los Angeles Lakers remain unbeaten in Las Vegas after they routed the Clippers 82-69 on Thursday in the first round of Summer League tournament play. The Lakers will go on to play either the Detroit Pistons or the Chicago Bulls on Sunday. With their lone first-round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Moritz Wagner, sidelined for Thursday’s action, the Lakers ran everything through their wings, Josh Hart and Svi Mykhailiuk. Hart and Mykhailiuk combined for 35 points on 12-of-23 shooting, including 3-of-9 shooting from behind the arc. Hart, who led the Lakers in scoring for the fourth consecutive game, is continuing to make a strong case for Summer League MVP, an award his teammate Lonzo Ball won this time last year. Following Thursday’s game, Hart is the No. 2 leading scorer in Las Vegas only trailing second-year forward John Collins, who was drafted 11 spots ahead of Hart. If Hart carries his strong play into training camp, head coach Luke Walton might have to give a little extra thought into who starts at shooting guard next season. There’s still a gap between Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Hart, but it’s getting smaller every game. Mykhailiuk can also force his way into Walton’s rotation if his shooting holds up against NBA defenders. Four games into summer league, there’s no reason to believe it won’t. The Lakers will find out who their next opponent is following the conclusion of the Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons game on Saturday. The Lakers beat the Bulls 69-60 in exhibition play last Sunday, but they had a healthy Wagner to help contain Wendell Carter Jr. If it’s the Pistons they’re facing, the level of competition could be similar to what they saw Thursday evening. Regardless, it won’t be a game you want to miss. You can follow this author on Twitter at @RadRivas<doc-sep>Reggie Upshaw had 24 points and nine rebounds to lead the Clippers to an 89-74 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas to advance in the single-elimination NBA Summer League tournament. The Clippers will play the Lakers at 5:30 p.m. PDT, Thursday, at Thomas & Mack Center. If the Clippers defeat the Lakers, the defending NBA Summer League champions, they will play at 1 p.m. Sunday. If the Clippers lose, they will play at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a consolation game that would be their finale in Las Vegas. Clippers rookies Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson also played a big role in the victory. Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 17 points, four rebounds and six assists while Robinson finished with 15 points, two rebounds and three assists. Advertisement Devin Robinson had 26 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Wizards [email protected] Twitter: @BA_Turner<doc-sep>	It’s a birthday bonanza on the Clippers roster. As both Patrick Beverly, 30, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 20, celebrated the turn of a decade Thursday, the rest of the players hit the hardwood for the second round of the Summer League playoffs in Las Vegas. TFW your birthday is on a gameday! 😏🔥🎂 Happy Birthday @shaiglalex 🎉 pic.twitter.com/JBdkL3kScC — LA Clippers (@LAClippers) July 12, 2018 Happy bday to the young king @shaiglalex boy go be nice!!! — Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) July 13, 2018 After playing in each of the first four exhibition games, SGA got the night off to soak in some courtside action as a spectator and his teammates put on a show. Also playing without No. 13 overall pick Jerome Robinson, the Clips relied on the likes of Sindarius Thornwell and Desi Rodriguez to step up on the offensive side of the ball. Thornwell’s overall production remained impressive, finishing the night with 17 points, but struggled on his way to that mark. The second-year player out of the University of South Carolina shot just 5-of-17 from the field, including a wobbly 1-for-7 from downtown. Rodriguez followed in Thornwell’s footsteps with his most prolific scoring outing of the summer, also netting 17 points on 7-of-12 from the field. Rodriguez was signed to a summer league contract at the end of June, earning a spot to play alongside former Seton Hall teammate Angel Delgado. While Thornwell and Rodriguez were able to provide a solid spark for the Clips, the defensive effort was simply not there, allowing Lakers‘ guard Josh Hart to drop 20 on them as the Lakers pulled away with their 10th-straight Summer League victory, 82-69. The Clippers (2-3) will play one last game in the consolation consolation bracket against the Dallas Mavericks at 7:30p. Friday.
Comedian Chelsea Handler was slammed on social media on Thursday for posting a tweet about a Republican Senator that many users saw as "homophobic" and in poor taste. “If you’re wondering why Republicans took a sick day today, it’s probably because it’s #NationalComingOutDay. Looking at you @LindseyGrahamSC,” Handler tweeted. Many on social media were not amused and derided Handler’s joke as homophobic, tired, and lazy. “Not sure homophobic insults are the cleverest means of attacking opponents… Yikes.,” wrote one Twitter user. It was not the first time Handler has been accused of homophobia. Earlier this year, Handler tweeted another homophobic joke directed at Graham. CHELSEA HANDLER SLAMMED FOR HOMOPHOBIC ANTI-TRUMP TWEET QUESTIONING LINDSEY GRAHAM’S SEXUALITY “Holy, f--- f---. I just [watched] the video of trumps bipartisan “meeting” yesterday. Hey, @LindseyGrahamSC what kind of d--- s---ing video do they have on you for you 2 be acting like this? Wouldn’t coming out be more honorable?” In April, the 43-year-old comedian tweeted another homophobic joke directed at Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Despite the backlash, Handler has not apologized or deleted the tweet. Handler is the latest in a line of liberal commentators to have come under fire for a joke deemed “homophobic.” BILL MAHER ATTACKS LINDSEY GRAHAM FOR DEFENDING KAVANAUGH, SAYS SENATOR NEEDS ‘HIS DEAD BOYFRIEND’ JOHN MCCAIN Last month, HBO’s Bill Maher chided Graham for his defense of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Last year CBS’s “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert came under fire as well over a joke seen as crude. He later apologized and said he would "change a few words that were cruder than they needed to be." "Now, I’m not going to repeat the phrase," he said. "But I just want to say, for the record, life is short, and anyone who expresses their love for another person, in their own way, is, to me, an American hero. And I think we can all agree on that. I hope even the president and I can agree on that -- nothing else but that.”<doc-sep>Chelsea Handler is facing backlash for a controversial tweet on National Coming Out Day. The 43-year-old comedian attempted to take a swipe at Republicans — Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in particular — but her joke fell flat online with both political parties. If you’re wondering why Republicans took a sick day today, it’s probably because it’s #NationalComingOutDay. Looking at you @LindseyGrahamSC — Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) October 11, 2018 Handler, who just started shooting her Netflix documentary on white privilege, was called out on Twitter for being homophobic, unfunny, and unoriginal. Chelsea Handler continues to be one of the worst “woke” comedians who loves making homophobic jokes https://t.co/TiZwRHpRx1 — Josh McLean’s Ghost (@RadioMcLean) October 11, 2018 Why is there such a gulf in understanding this fact: being gay is not something to shame or embarrass someone with. It’s staggering that, at this point, people who appear to be our community’s allies still don’t get it. — Jean-Paul Bevilacqua (@jpbevi) October 11, 2018 Haha yeah being gay is embarassing what a cool joke to tell in 2018 — Fall Daniel (@ItsDanSheehan) October 11, 2018 At what point are you going to learn that coming out isn’t a joke made about people, even if they’re evil. Is it today? I hope it’s today. — Rap Game Ina Goblin (@KaraBTweets) October 11, 2018 Do better Chelsea. This kind of joke is tired. — DoH (@DeeOhAytch) October 11, 2018 I would rather go see Lindsey Graham talk than see Chelsea, and I abhor Republicans. — Introvert Gay (@introvertgay) October 11, 2018 Not sure homophobic insults are the cleverest means of attacking opponents… Yikes. — Joe Plant (@Joseph_Plant) October 11, 2018 This is a lot less funny and way more homophobic than you think it is — SlayDies Hatchet Club (@subtlerbutler) October 11, 2018 Our sexuality isn’t your punchline. Don’t use homophobic jokes to make fun of homophobes like @LindseyGrahamSC . It reinforces the idea that queer is bad and heterosexuality is good. Also, its lazy. Repubs are a flaming garbage fire and THIS is your joke ?! Booooo — S-P-O-O-K-Y-B-U-N-G-A! (@MarvelMan616) October 11, 2018 While you are making your doc on white privilege you should also consider straight privledge. We live in a world where homophobia exists and where straight is the default which is why we have days like this. Making jokes about coming out does nothing towards erasing the default. — Kyle Crocker (@klcrocker) October 11, 2018 This isn’t the first time the former talk show host has been called out for homophobic humor. In August, she was criticized by Out for a tweet about Jeff Sessions. Story continues Jeff Sessions is definitely a bottom. — Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) April 6, 2018 In January, Handler was blasted as “anti-gay” after slamming Graham, calling him a closeted homosexual. She tweeted, “Holy, f*, Holy f. I just [watched] the video of trumps bipartisan ‘meeting’ yesterday. Hey, @LindsayGraham, what kind of d** sucking video do they have on you for you 2 be acting like this? Wouldn’t coming out be more honorable?” Handler, who considers herself a LGBTQ advocate, doesn’t typically respond to backlash over her tweets. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:<doc-sep>LGBTQ groups are oddly silent regarding a tweet sent by former comedian Chelsea Handler on Wednesday that implied Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham is a closeted gay man who's appeasing President Trump instead of coming out of the closet. GLAAD, Human Rights Campaign, National LGBTQ Task Force and a variety of other gay rights organizations have either ignored or declined to comment on Handler’s tweet when reached by Fox News. On Tuesday, Trump allowed cameras into a lengthy bipartisan immigration meeting with lawmakers. The former Netflix talk show host-turned-self-described activist apparently didn’t like what she heard from Graham, R-S.C., who participated in the meeting, and voiced her opinion to her more than 8 million followers. “Holy, f--k f--k. I just [saw] the video of trumps bipartisan ‘meeting’ yesterday,” Handler tweeted. “Hey, @LindseyGrahamSC what kind of d--k sucking video do they have on you for you 2 be acting like this? Wouldn’t coming out be more honorable?” None of the LGBTQ groups mentioned have condemned Handler’s comment on their Twitter feeds, either. However, GLAAD has been quick to condemn conservatives who make similar statements. Back in 2013 the organization called for A&E to take action when “Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson made derogatory comments about homosexuality. Last summer, GLAAD’s Transgender Media Program director Nick Adams responded to an episode of “Survivor” immediately after the show aired when an episode featured contestant Zeke Smith being outed as transgender by fellow competitor Jeff Varner. “It is dangerous and unacceptable to out a transgender person,” Adams said at the time. Daily Wire contributor Harry Khachatrian tweeted, “Apparently homophobic slurs are ok as long as they’re against a Republican.” Fox News contributor Harlan Hill wrote, “If a Republican said something like this, they'd be burning down the RNC.” Gay rights groups aren’t the only ones staying silent when it comes to Handler, as Twitter declined to comment when asked if the tweet violated the company’s guidelines. Twitter’s website states that users “may not promote violence against or directly attack or threaten other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or disease.” A list of things the company does “not tolerate” includes “non-consensual slurs, epithets, racist and sexist tropes, or other content that degrades someone.” Despite numerous calls for Twitter to suspend or discipline Handler, the social media company refused to discuss the matter when reached by Fox News. “Another hateful Leftist with Twitter's blue check mark seal of approval,” conservative writer Mark Pantano said. However, not everyone thinks she should be punished for the tweet. Actor James Woods said Handler “is the gift that keeps on giving” to Republicans and conservatives because of the way she negatively portrays the left. “Why would anyone want her censored? Her demeanor, sense of tact, and level of intelligence define her as a classic liberal icon,” Woods tweeted. Handler, who has claimed to be an advocate of the LGBTQ community, was rehashing rumors that Graham shot down back in 2010. “I know it’s really gonna upset a lot of gay men... but I ain’t available. I ain’t gay. Sorry,” he told The New York Times. Handler announced she would take a break from Hollywood to focus full time on political activism last October and has sent a series of controversial tweets since the decision was announced. She ended her Netflix series after two rocky seasons because “the past presidential election and the countless events that have unfolded since” have galvanized her, she wrote. While Netlfix does not provide viewership information, Handler’s Netflix talk show was not necessarily as popular as she or the streaming service hoped it would be -- and there was widespread speculation that the show would have ended regardless of her decision to walk away for political purposes. Netflix did not return an email for comment on Handler's tweet.<doc-sep>	Comedian Chelsea Handler is getting roasted for a vulgar homophobic tweet she sent Wednesday night that implied Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham is a closeted gay man who is sucking up to President Trump instead of coming out. On Tuesday, Trump allowed cameras into a lengthy bipartisan immigration meeting with lawmakers. The former Netflix talk show host-turned-self-described activist apparently didn’t like what she heard from Graham, R-S.C., who participated in the meeting, and voiced her opinion to her more than 8 million followers. “Holy, f--k f--k. I just [saw] the video of trumps bipartisan ‘meeting’ yesterday,” Handler tweeted. “Hey, @LindseyGrahamSC what kind of d--k sucking video do they have on you for you 2 be acting like this? Wouldn’t coming out be more honorable?” “Keep being a voice for the Democrats while you use homosexuality as an insult” — Twitter user responding to Chelsea Handler's tweet The tweet had not been deleted at the time this article was published, and had racked up more than 20,000 likes. But the vile homophobic remark immediately resulted in criticism, with many followers asking if Handler was drunk. “Drunk tweeting again, Chelsea..? And it’s only Wednesday,” one response said. “Keep being a voice for the Democrats while you use homosexuality as an insult,” another user wrote, while another said, “You are attacking him and claiming that he’s gay and that he is ashamed so that is why he is being nice to Trump?” “This woman is simply gross,” a contributor to The Federalist wrote. Twitter declined to comment on whether or not Handler will be disciplined. The tweet had amassed more than 5,000 comments – mostly condemning the former Netflix star. Fox News contributor Harlan Hill wrote, “If a Republican said something like this, they'd be burning down the RNC.” Handler, who claims to be an advocate of the LGBTQ community, was rehashing rumors that Graham shot down back in 2010. “I know it’s really gonna upset a lot of gay men…but I ain’t available. I ain’t gay. Sorry,” he told The New York Times. Many people asked if Twitter would consider this an example of abuse or targeted harassment. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. GLAAD did not immediately respond to request for comment. This is far from Handler’s first mishap on social media. Handler announced she would take a break from Hollywood to focus full time on political activism last October and has sent a series of controversial tweets since the decision was announced. Last month Handler came under fire for tweeting a vulgar video that mocked White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders' weight and physical appearance. She was also criticized in November for blaming Republicans for the deadly mass shooting at a Texas church before facts about the shooter emerged. Less than two weeks after announcing she would focus on activism, she mistakenly referred to Rep. Dana Rohrabacher as a woman. Handler was blasted on social media last year for blaming President Trump for the California wildfires. The outspoken liberal has even called for a military coup to overthrow Trump and mocked first lady Melania Trump for “barely” speaking English. Handler ended her Netflix series after two rocky seasons because “the past presidential election and the countless events that have unfolded since” have galvanized her, she wrote. While Netlfix does not provide viewership information, Handler’s Netflix talk show was not necessarily as popular as she or the streaming service hoped it would be and there was widespread speculation that the show would have ended regardless of her decision to walk away for political purposes. Netlfix did not return an email for comment on Handler's tweet.
Eat This, Not That! On a diet? Eat these foods, say experts—and also make sure they feel right for life. You should like them. Enjoy them. Desire them. "When food cravings are reduced, it is easier to stay within a calorie deficit in order to lose weight," says Melissa Mitri, MS, RDN, Owner of Melissa Mitri Nutrition, LLC. "Your body also has to work harder to break down protein than carbs or fats, which burns more calories. The best 'diet' is one that you can sustain for life, where you can eat nourishing, energizing foods that help you meet your weight loss goals." With that in mind, Mitri and Lorraine Kearney BASc, CDN, CEO New York City Nutrition and Certified Dietitian Nutritionist, provided us with their best foods to eat when on a diet. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these 19 Ways You're Ruining Your Body, Say Health Experts. 1 On a Diet? Eat Whole Wheat Bread, Pasta and Grains "Many of my clients fear eating bread when we first start working towards their health goals, but bread can be part of a balanced diet," says Kearney. "The glucose from bread and other carbohydrates is the body's main source of energy and also helps support brain function. Pairing a slice of whole wheat toast with avocado and an egg is a great breakfast option as it contains healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and protein." 2 On a Diet? Eat Tuna "Tuna is a low fat, lean protein source that is naturally low in calories. Research shows that diets higher in protein are most effective for weight loss," says Mitri. "Tuna contains a whopping 29 grams of protein with only 132 calories per 4 ounce serving. To reduce added calories and fat, choose tuna packed in water, not oil." 3 On a Diet? Eat Frozen Vegetables "Frozen vegetables are fantastic to have on hand to whip up a delicious meal at home," says Kearney. "Frozen vegetables are picked at peak ripeness and then blanched to preserve their bright colors, and maintain their nutritional value. Simply add them to a pan with a little olive oil and season with garlic and onion powder and pair with a grain and lean protein." 4 On a Diet? Eat Eggs "Eggs are one of the best foods to eat when you're trying to lose weight." says Mitri. "Eggs are packed with high-quality protein, and are thus very satiating. And unless you have high cholesterol, you can eat the whole egg without worry. Studies have shown that eating eggs specifically for breakfast increased weight loss on a calorie-restricted diet. Having eggs for breakfast sets your metabolism on the right path for the day, so you are satisfied for longer and experience less cravings." 5 On a Diet? Eat Fruit "Yes, fruit is not a bad food and does not cause weight gain! Fruit has gotten such a bad reputation nowadays, with many popular diets adding fruit to their 'do not eat' list. However, there is no research to back this up," says Mitri. "In fact, studies have shown that those who eat more fruit actually tend to weigh less! Therefore, the old saying of 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' still applies today." 6 On a Diet? Eat Dark Chocolate "Dark chocolate contains 3.4g of iron per 1 oz. serving and rich in a polyphenol known as flavonols which helps support insulin sensitivity, increase HDL and lower LDL," says Kearney. "When purchasing dark chocolate remember to read the ingredient list as some brands include added sugars, artificial flavors and may process the chocolate with an alkali. This alkali processing is also known as Dutch processing and can significantly decrease the antioxidant benefits of flavonols. Opt for a dark chocolate that is 70% or above." 7 On a Diet? Eat Leafy Green Vegetables "Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, collard greens, and swiss chard are some of the best vegetables for weight loss," says Mitri. "They are naturally low in calories and carbs, but packed with fiber to keep you full. Fiber is an essential nutrient in any weight loss diet, and may also support a healthy gut and heart. In fact, several studies have shown fiber-packed foods like leafy greens can increase weight loss." 8 On a Diet? Eat Skinless Chicken Breast "Eating more lean protein foods like chicken can support weight loss and reduce cravings. One study showed that consuming at least 25% of your calories from protein can cut food cravings by up to 60%," says Mitri. 9 On a Diet? Eat Bananas "Bananas are a great source of fiber, potassium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C," says Kearney. "They're a great pre workout snack as potassium helps prevent muscle cramps and is needed for muscle contraction, plus the glucose from the banana helps with endurance. I love to pair a banana with 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter before breaking a sweat. "RELATED: I'm A Doctor And Warn You Never Take This Supplement 10 On a Diet? Eat Raspberries "Diet culture has created a fear of eating fruit as it contains sugar, but there is nothing to fear about eating fruit," says Kearney. "Fruit has many wonderful health benefits to the body as it contains fiber, vitamins and minerals that are needed to support your body. One cup of raspberries contains 8g of fiber and helps stabilize blood sugar. The fiber keeps you full for longer and can decrease the need or want for snacking later. "RELATED: This Supplement Can Raise Your Heart Attack Risk, Experts Say 11 On a Diet? Eat…Your Favorite Meal! "Many diets on the market focus on restricting foods that you love and make you believe you must omit them to reach your health goals, but restriction can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food to where we view food as 'good' or 'bad.'" says Kearney. "This may lead to binge eating later on and promote feelings of guilt. If you do consume foods that taste good to you, enjoy them and move on! All foods can be part of a balanced diet, and when we tell ourselves we will never eat that XYZ food again it causes an all or nothing mentality – I am going to eat all this food now, because I am never going to have it again. This causes us to eat past our natural hunger and fullness cues to where we feel uncomfortably full." Keep reading for one more essential piece of advice. 12 Final Word From the Nutritionist "Next time you eat, pay attention to how hungry you are when you start, and how your body responds as you start to get full," says Kearney. "We all have a natural fullness scale to where our body identifies when we have consumed enough food, but sometimes we don't listen to it because we are too distracted when eating, or the 'rules' of many fad diets dictate when and how much to eat. The best way to work towards your health goals is to be gentle with yourself, listen to your body's needs, and pay attention to how food makes you think and feel." As now that you've got a great foundation, don't miss these additional 19 Weight Loss Foods That Really Work, Say Experts.<doc-sep>ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — A 12-year-old girl has died after a snow fort collapsed while she was playing outside a church on Sunday in suburban Chicago. Arlington Heights police are calling the death a “tragic accident.” Police say the girl, Esther Jung, was playing with a 9-year-old girl in the snow outside Rothem Church. Their families began looking for the girls about an hour after they went outside to play. They found the girls under the snow. The younger girl survived. Police say it’s unclear how long the girls were trapped. The temperature at the time was about 14 degrees.<doc-sep>EMBED >More News Videos Two girls became trapped while playing in a snowbank Sunday afternoon. ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. -- A 12-year-old Illinois girl died after a snow fort collapsed on her outside a church, police said.The girl has been identified to the medical examiner's office as Esther Jung of Elk Grove Village.Investigators said Jung and a 9-year-old girl dug the fort Sunday in a snowbank near Rothem Church while their parents were at services inside the church. The adults found the collapsed fort about an hour later and called for help.Police say the fort collapsed on both girls.The 12-year-old girl was in cardiac arrest when she was taken to a hospital. She was pronounced dead a short time later.The 9-year-old girl was treated for hypothermia.On Sunday afternoon, police tape surrounded a huge mound of snow outside the church.Arlington police called the incident an accident and did not suspect foul play.-----<doc-sep>	A 12-year-old girl died on Sunday after the snow fort she was playing in collapsed on her and a 9-year-old friend, the Chicago Tribune reports. The two girls were playing near Rothem Church in Arlington Heights, Ill., while their parents were inside at church services. They dug the fort together in a snowbank, ABC6 reports. When the girls hadn’t returned about an hour later, the parents went outside and found the collapsed fort, and immediately called for help. The 12-year-old suffered cardiac arrest, and was later pronounced dead. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office identified her as Esther Jung, a resident of Elk Grove Village. A 12-year-old girl reportedly died after the snow fort she was building with a friend collapsed. Pictured above, volunteers in Illinois walk to shovel a main street on Chicago’s south side. (Photo: John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/TNS) The 9-year-old girl was treated for hypothermia, and remains in an area hospital. According to Sgt. Charles Buczynski, she is expected to survive. “It’s just a tragic accident,” Buczynski said. The Tribune reported it was about 14 degrees in Arlington Heights while the girls were outside. Last year, a 12-year-old Canadian girl died when a snow fort collapsed on her. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns about hypothermia, frostbite, and injuries commonly incurred while sledding, skating, skiing, snowboarding, or snowmobiling. However, they don’t provide any information on snow fort collapses. “It is totally understandable that kids would want to play and make forts and tunnels in the biggest pile of snow they can find, and the biggest pile of snow is probably where the trucks are dumping it,” Kyran Quinlan, M.D., MPH, associate professor and section director of General Pediatrics at Rush University Children’s Hospital in Chicago, told Parents.com. “To reduce the risk, municipalities could do what they can to make sure that no children are playing in the places where trucks are dumping snow that is removed. And families can try to guide children to avoid playing anywhere near where the trucks are dumping the snow.” Despite the tragic circumstances, experts say it’s no reason to discourage children from playing outside and enjoying the winter season. “The vast majority of kids who build snow forts and tunnels will be safe,” he added. “I hope this event is not seen as a reason to stay inside in the winter, or not dig and play in the snow.” Story continues Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
Despite being weary owing to a gruelling schedule, the Magnolia Hotshots showed they can take on the juggernauts of the PBA Philippine Cup. Now, they're in uncharted territory in the finals. The Hotshots regained the series lead over the San Miguel Beermen with a masterful 86-82 win in Game 3 of the best-of-seven finals at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on Sunday. The Hotshots' defense frustrated the Beermen all night long, holding them to a woeful 32% shooting clip, and only 23% (10/43) from beyond the arc. Magnolia played the game at its own pace, and got enough solid performances from its stars to claim the victory. "It takes character, a lot of effort, and a lot of heart," Hotshots center Rafi Reavis said on what it took to defeat San Miguel for the second time in the series. "This is a tough team we're playing against. I don't know how many championships they've won. It's just about respecting those guys and going out giving 110% every night." Reavis bounced back from a tough Game 2 performance, and took on the responsibility of defending June Mar Fajardo, while also contributing on the offensive end. He finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds, and set the defensive tone by using his length to frustrate Fajardo and limit his shot opportunities. Magnolia's defensive capabilities was on full display in the second quarter, as they limited the Beermen to only 12 points in the entire period. Fajardo was also shellacked, as he only had four points on four attempts from the field. Magnolia, on the other hand, scored 24 points in the period to take a nine-point lead at the half, 45-36. They continued to frustrate the Beermen in the second half, while refusing to relinquish the lead. A triple by Arwind Santos at the 10:22 mark of the fourth quarter got the Beermen to within two points, 68-66. But once again the Hotshots responded, stringing together seven unanswered points, led by Reavis, to make it 75-66 with 4:56 left to play. The Beermen scrambled to make one last ditch effort, but a timely jumper from Ian Sangalang and clutch free throw shooting from Jio Jalalon and Mark Barroca were enough to deliver the win. QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES - May 5, 2019: Ian Sangalang of Magnolia Hotshots drives against Arwind Santos of San Miguel Beer in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Ernie Sarmiento/ESPN5 The Hotshots were led in scoring by Barroca and Sangalang, who scored 18 and 17 points respectively. Sangalang, in particular, bounced back from his measly rebounding total in Game 2 to collar 15 rebounds on Sunday, which was a game-high. Fajardo struggled against the defense of the Hotshots, shooting just 4/11 from the field en route to 17 points, while also amassing six turnovers. Arwind Santos led the team with 19 points on an 8/22 clip. Chris Ross and Marcio Lassiter also struggled for San Miguel, shooting a combined 4/19 from the field. Alex Cabagnot finished with 11 points, on only 30% shooting. "Just staying true to what we do, and not doing anything different," Reavis said on the game plan heading into Game 4. "I think that's where we get ourselves in trouble. Just understanding who we are and what we're good at, and that's defense. As long as we stick to our roots and what we're good at, I think we'll be fine. " THE SCORES Magnolia 86 - Barroca 22, Sangalang 17, Reavis 16, Lee 8, Jalalon 7, Dela Rosa 7, Pascual 6, Ramos 3, Brondial 0, Simon 0, Melton 0. San Miguel 82 - Santos 19, Fajardo 17, Romeo 15, Cabagnot 11, Lassiter 6, Ross 7, Standhardinger 7, Rosser 0, Nabong 0, Pessumal 0. Quarterscores: 21-24, 36-45, 66-58, 86-82. EXTRA DRIBBLES -- Entering this game, the Hotshots had a slim advantage in the rebounding category in this series with an average of 52 rebounds as compared to the Beermen's 51.5 But in Game 3, Magnolia decisively won the battle of the boards with 71, while San Miguel only had 46. -- Before Game 4, the Best Player of the Conference will be crowned. San Miguel's June Mar Fajardo is expected to win another BPC trophy, which would be his six straight. He led all players in statistical points at the end of the semis. NEXT GAME Game 4 on May 8 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum<doc-sep>San Miguel Beermen forward Arwind Santos did his best to restrain Terrence Romeo during a crucial stretch of the fourth quarter of Game 2 against Magnolia. It didn't work as a worked up Romeo picked up back-to-back technical fouls, leading to an automatic ejection. Romeo seemed not to like the tight defense of Magnolia guard Mark Barroca, who was called for a personal foul at the 6:23 mark of the fourth period with San Miguel comfortably ahead, 96-80. Romeo made a hard chest pass of the ball to referee Peter Balao, who responded with the first technical foul on Romeo. Santos tried to restrain Romeo, who was by now yelling profanities on the referee. SMB team governor Robert Non on the sidelines showed his displeasure with Romeo's actions and gave Romeo an earful as he was heading to the dugout. "Terrence has that kind of an emotion which at times seemed hard to stop," Santos said. "When he got his first technical foul, he got pissed off already and I thought he would punch the referee because the referee tried to elude him. But Terrence did say a bad word towards the referee. Hopefully he won't get suspended for that." Santos said Romeo needs to learn to keep his emotions in check. "I'm still trying to get a good grasp of Terrence's attitude at this point. Though I told him he needs to mature because the referees are not perfect. He just snapped and he couldn't control his emotions," Santos said. San Miguel coach Leo Austria attempted a positive spin on the situation. "Terrence is really a warrior. He wants to win. But we were just telling him that's not the way to win a game," Austria said. Austria said he understood Romeo's frustrations. "But again, I like the kid, he's a warrior. That's a sign that he just doesn't want to lose," Austria said. Game 3 is set for Sunday. The Beermen are hoping Romeo will be available to play in it.<doc-sep>	The San Miguel Beermen played like champions by executing well on offense and coming out with a lot of energy on defensive, leading to a 108-101 win over the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Philippine Cup finals is tied at one game apiece. San Miguel took over in the second and third quarters to outscore Magnolia 60-44 in that stretch, turning a shaky one-point lead to an 83-66 bubble heading to the final period. Making matters worse for Magnolia was guard Paul Lee's struggles on offense. Lee picked up two fouls in the first 55 seconds of the game. He got his fourth personal foul with over 10 minutes remaining in the third period. For the Beermen, the veteran backcourt of Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross were the key to Game 2. "We're so glad we were able to tie the series. We tried avoiding going 0-2," said San Miguel coach Leo Austria. "We had to step up in defense and that's what happened. We showed some energy." QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES - MAY 3, 2019: The San Miguel Beermen celebrate during Game 2 of the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. KC Cruz/ESPN5 All five SMB starters finished in double figures with Cabagnot and starting slotman June Mar Fajardo scoring 16 points apiece. Cabagnot also had six assists while knocking down three triples in the match. Ross and Marcio Lassiter chipped in 15 points apiece, while Santos added 13 and seven rebounds. THE SCORES San Miguel 108 - Fajardo 16, Cabagnot 16, Ross 15, Lassiter 15, Santos 13, Romeo 13, Standhardinger 13, Pessumal 5, Rosser 2, Nabong 0, Zamar 0. Magnolia 101 - Sangalang 18, Jalalon 15, Barroca 12, Pascual 11, Lee 10, Melton 9, Simon 6, Ramos 6, Herndon 5, Dela Rosa 4, Reavis 2, Calisaan2, Brondial 1. Quarterscores: 23-22, 51-41, 83-66, 108-101. EXTRA DRIBBLES SMB guard Terrence Romeo was ejected in the fourth period after being assessed two technical fouls. He drew his first technical for throwing the ball at the referee, and was tossed for complaining about the technical foul. Center Ian Sangalang led Magnolia with 18 points, but he only had one rebound in close to 30 minutes of action. Mark Barroca played through a badly swollen right foot, contributing 12 points, seven assists and three rebounds for Magnolia. NEXT GAME Game 3 on May 5 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum
Years before Chris Pratt proposed to Arnold Schwarzenegger's daughter, he was becoming fast friends with his future father-in-law Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chris Pratt Became Friends Years Before Pratt's Proposal to Katherine Years before Chris Pratt proposed to Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s daughter, he was becoming fast friends with his future father-in-law. The action stars have been super supportive of each other dating back to 2015. That year, right after the release of Jurassic World, James Corden of The Late Late Show shared a picture of a wall that Pratt, 39, had signed. The Guardians of the Galaxy actor couldn’t help but express his excitement about writing his name next to the former body builder, 71. Get push notifications with news, features and more. “Right next to FRIGGIN’ ARNOLD!” the Parks and Recreation alum wrote. After seeing the image, Schwarzenegger followed up with his own tweet: “I’m right next to friggin’ CHRIS PRATT. Congrats on the monster opening weekend, @prattprattpratt. You deserve it.” Jurassic World, which also starred Bryce Dallas Howard, is the 5th highest-grossing film of all time worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. arnold-schwarzenegger Pratt announced his engagement to Katherine Schwarzenegger, 29, this past Monday on Instagram. chris-pratt-1-1200 Chriss Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger \| Credit: Chris Pratt Instagram “Sweet Katherine, so happy you said yes! I’m thrilled to be marrying you. Proud to live boldly in faith with you. Here we go! 💍🙏♥️,” he captioned a photo of himself cuddling up to her, whose engagement ring was front and center. The couple is ready to tie the knot following a whirlwind romance that saw them fall for each other over the summer and spend plenty of quality time with Pratt’s 6-year-old son Jack. Though the pair, who met through Schwarzenegger’s mother Maria Shriver, have only been together since June, things have been heating up quickly. 2018 MTV Movie And TV Awards - Red Carpet Chris Pratt \| Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty “They’re both serious about the relationship and hopeful for the future,” a source close to the couple recently told PEOPLE. “Chris doesn’t just date to date, and neither does Katherine. She’s very excited.” “Chris and Katherine are very happy together,” added the source. “They’re very compatible and have a lot in common.”<doc-sep>Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger are getting hitched. Seven months after they started dating, the Guardians of the Galaxy actor, 39, confirmed the pair’s engagement Monday on social media. Along with a photo of them hugging as 29-year-old Schwarzenegger, daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, flashes her ring, he wrote: “Sweet Katherine, so happy you said yes! I’m thrilled to be marrying you. Proud to live boldly in faith with you. Here we go!” Schwarzenegger later shared the same photo and wrote, “My sweet love. Wouldn’t want to live this life with anyone but you.” Congratulations quickly poured in from their famous friends — Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Holland, Jason Momoa, Bryce Dallas Howard, Olivia Munn, Rosario Dawson, Katherine’s brother Patrick Schwarzenegger, and the list goes on. However, the one comment getting the most attention was from Pratt’s ex-wife, Anna Faris. She wrote, “I’m so happy for you both!! Congratulations.” In just two hours it accumulated more than 23,000 likes. (Image: Chris Pratt via Instagram) This engagement is a speedy one. Pratt and Schwarzenegger, who has written three books and has a lifestyle blog, were first linked in June 2018 when they were spotted on a date at a park. Things accelerated quickly though — she was soon seen with Pratt and his 6-year-old son, Jack, from his marriage to Faris. Pratt made the relationship Instagram-official in December when he posted photos of Schwarzenegger on her birthday. The engagement announcement referenced their faith, and they are both very religious. (Pratt is currently on a bible-inspired diet and joked that he’d be “hallucinating” by the program’s end.) Story continues Pratt and Faris announced that they were splitting in August 2017, and their divorce was finalized in October 2018. However, Faris has also moved on, and the two seem to be amicable. Pratt and Schwarzenegger took Jack trick-or-treating on Halloween with Faris and her new boyfriend, Michael Barrett. The quickness of Pratt and Schwarzenegger’s engagement has the internet reeling. Why is Chris Pratt engaged already, he literally just got divorced pic.twitter.com/f7FiDzAe1r — Hannah (@imlovindakota) January 14, 2019 Chris Pratt is engaged but I'm still not over the fact he and Anna Faris divorced. — Ana Laura❤️ (@Viva_La_Curvy) January 14, 2019 Chris Pratt is already engaged hasn’t he only been divorced for like a year? Men smh pic.twitter.com/hW3lpHntsd — Lᴀᴅʏ Jᴀᴅᴇ🌙 (@QueensStone_) January 14, 2019 CHRIS PRATT IS ENGAGED!! DIDNT HE JUST GET DIVORCED LIKE A YEAR OR TWO AGO I- — thor's bitch 💍 (@marvelouscody) January 14, 2019 Ummmmm Chris Pratt just got engaged…😳 — Lauren Lipman (@LaurenLipman) January 14, 2019 chris pratt: engaged me: enraged — K A C I E (@kaciexreynolds) January 14, 2019 Some wish he had popped the question to them instead. CHRIS PRATT IS ENGAGED, IVE NEVER BEEN SO HEARTBROKEN IN MY WHOLE LIFE !!!!!! pic.twitter.com/wNJSptxfTi — k🍒 (@kynzieerwin) January 14, 2019 But there is definitely happiness over the news too. chris pratt is engaged and its not to me, what a weird glitch in the universe, im glad my king is happy though :,) pic.twitter.com/G3w2In0bMU — sam (@REMcth) January 14, 2019 @prattprattpratt got engaged 😭@spacencashmere Yes I’m married, but I can still be sad when my movie star crush gets a new wife!!!!!! #happyforyou #ChrisPratt — mand💫 (@magical_mand) January 14, 2019 Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:<doc-sep>Chris Pratt is an engaged man -- and James Corden would like a little credit for it! The Jurassic World star, who announced his engagement to Katherine Schwarzenegger on Monday, will be joining Corden's Late Late Show special following Sunday's AFC championship game. While speaking with ET's Nischelle Turner, Corden joked that we all have him to thank for Pratt's exciting news. "I feel responsible. I cannot tell you what we did, because it's a big surprise, but we all flew about four hours away from here and we shot a piece together... he really asked my advice," Corden cracked, before spilling the truth: "No, he did not. I am just joking." Corden, does, however, have a lot of love for the actor. "I am so happy for him. I mean, he is just the single loveliest man you can ever wish to meet," he raved. "When he holds you, it's like hugging a tree that will protect you forever. It's just adorable, it really is." Pratt teased his appearance with Corden on Instagram on Wednesday, but Sunday's big show isn't the host's only win lately. Corden will be hosting CBS' upcoming competition series, The World's Best, alongside judges Drew Barrymore, Faith Hill and RuPaul. "It's a big global talent show, and the winner is going to get a million dollars," Corden shared of the show, which will debut right after the Super Bowl next month. The father of three will also be sending his parents to the big game this year. "They will be there causing whatever mischief they can, and I mean, my dad is getting so grand now... it's getting to his head," he revealed. "He called me the other day. I said, 'Daddy, you good? You go to Atlanta.' He goes, 'Yeah, listen mate, I don’t want to be funny, but with mum's knee we are going to be in business class, right?' I was like, 'What with mum's knee?' I was like, 'Don't start playing with mum's knee!'" Corden did give in and get his parents business class seats, and we're pretty sure they deserve it. See why in the video below. The Late Late Show With James Corden airs weeknights on CBS. RELATED CONTENT: See Jon Hamm's Response When Asked About the Size of His ‘Hammaconda’ Drew Barrymore, RuPaul, Faith Hill and James Corden to Star on New Talent Competition Show Channing Tatum & James Corden on Possible 'Carpool Karaoke' Team-Up (Exclusive) EXCLUSIVE: Meet James Corden's Adorable Parents - His Dad Plays the Saxophone! This video is unavailable because we were unable to load a message from our sponsors. If you are using ad-blocking software, please disable it and reload the page. Related Gallery<doc-sep>	Maria Shriver and her son Patrick Schwarzenegger congratulated her daughter Katherine on her engagement to Chris Pratt Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger are getting much love from their family after announcing their engagement. The couple, who announced the happy news on Monday with similar Instagram posts, were congratulated by Schwarzenegger’s mother, Maria Shriver, and brother, Patrick. “Congratulations to two loving kind caring thoughtful Spiritual people,” Shriver, 63, wrote in the comments of Pratt’s Instagram. “We are so happy for you you are blessed as is everyone who knows you yes let’s go.” Patrick, 25, wrote, “Love you brother.” maria shriver Credit: Chris Pratt instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsmy0gUFIt7/ patrick schwarzenegger Credit: Chris Pratt instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsmy0gUFIt7/ Pratt, 39, announced their engagement early Monday morning in an Instagram post in which he and Schwarzenegger, 29, cuddled up with her engagement ring front and center. “Sweet Katherine, so happy you said yes! I’m thrilled to be marrying you. Proud to live boldly in faith with you. Here we go! 💍🙏♥️,” he captioned the photo. She also shared the same photo later on Monday, writing, “My sweet love. Wouldn’t want to live this life with anyone but you,” alongside a red heart emoji and a ring emoji. 10th Annual California Hall Of Fame - Arrivals Patrick Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver, Katherine Schwarzenegger \| Credit: C Flanigan/FilmMagic The news came just days after Pratt helped Schwarzenegger move from her Santa Monica, California, home on Friday. Pratt and ex-wife Anna Faris finalized their divorce in October. The duo shares 5-year-old son Jack. Faris also congratulated the two on their engagement, writing in Pratt’s comments, “I’m so happy for you both!! Congratulations!” Pratt and Schwarzenegger were first spotted out together on Father’s Day, when they had a picnic in the park in Santa Barbara. They were later seen on dates around Los Angeles and outings with Jack in tow. RELATED VIDEO: Inside Newly Engaged Couple Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger’s Whirlwind Romance Though the pair, who met through Shriver (her father is actor Arnold), have only been together since June, things have been heating up quickly. “They’re both serious about the relationship and hopeful for the future,” a source close to the couple recently told PEOPLE. “Chris doesn’t just date to date, and neither does Katherine. She’s very excited.”
Send this page to someone via email TORONTO – Ontario has frozen the salaries of executives across the public sector as it reviews how raises are granted to top earners at agencies that include school boards, universities and hospitals. In a directive issued to public-sector agencies this week, Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy said all base salaries for executives cannot increase beyond their current amounts as the government conducts a compensation review that’s expected to wrap in June next year. The move affects those who make $100,000 or more at public-sector organizations and has raised concerns from those representing executives at school boards and hospitals. READ MORE: Ontario government caps off summer session by passing bill to slash Toronto council size Bethlenfalvy said the measure is part of the Progressive Conservative government’s plan to “clean up Ontario’s fiscal house.” Story continues below advertisement “Our commitment to the people of Ontario is that we’ve got to take a hard look at all our expenditures,” he said. “We have to get back on a fiscally responsible track and this is part of that.” Premier Doug Ford, who took power at the end of June, has pledged to find $6 billion in “efficiencies” for the province. His government has created an independent commission of inquiry and ordered an audit of government books to assess the province’s financial position. The directive on executive pay comes after the Tories froze wages of managers in government ministries and ordered a review of their compensation earlier this summer. READ MORE: Ontario government still working out details on rules for new marijuana plan Cathy Abraham, the president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, said a wage freeze on executive compensation had been in place under the previous Liberal government for eight years and was only recently lifted. The new freeze could hurt the ability of boards across the province to retain and attract qualified leaders, she said, adding that school board executives oversee complex operations that involve large numbers of students, employees and properties. “It’s a difficult job,” she said. “We believe if we’re not compensating folks fairly for the work they’re doing we’re going to have a hard time getting people to want to do the job and keeping them in the job.” Story continues below advertisement The Ontario Hospital Association said executive compensation in that sector has been frozen since 2010. The association said it wants to engage in talks with the government on its compensation review to ensure any framework reached is “responsible and equitable.” WATCH: Ontario government to sell cannabis through private retailers 0:48 Ontario government to sell cannabis through private retailers Ontario government to sell cannabis through private retailers – Aug 13, 2018 “In addition to the most recent announcement, there have been ten substantive changes to executive compensation in hospitals since 2010,” the OHA statement says. “It is confusing and untenable to continue in this manner.” Ontario Power Generation, whose executives are also affected, said it was examining the directive from the Treasury Board and would take part in the compensation review. Bethlenfalvy said the government wants to hear from all stakeholders in the affected sectors and downplayed the freeze’s impact on recruitment and retention. Story continues below advertisement “I think the types of compensation we’re looking at here is very competitive,” he said. “All we’ve said is we’re putting it on hold. There’s no cutbacks. There’s no cuts being suggested.”<doc-sep>Ontario has frozen a number of fees for drivers' licences and tests ahead of scheduled increases set to come into effect Sept. 1. The move announced by the Progressive Conservatives on Tuesday halts the price increases planned by the previous Liberal government. "People are fed up with paying more and more every time they need to renew their licence or take a driving test," Premier Doug Ford said in a news release about the price changes on Tuesday. A five-year drivers licence renewal was scheduled to increase to $97 but will instead remain $90. All A, B, C, D, E, and F road tests fees will remain $96.75 instead of increasing to $100.25. Knowledge tests for those same licences will remain $23.25, rather than increasing to $24. The fee freeze means the government will lose $1.6 million in revenue.<doc-sep>Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford was elected on a platform of looking out for average people who feel as though they've been nickel and dimed to death for years. Today, Ford made another move to reverse that trend, freezing planned increases in many fees Ontario residents pay to drive on the province's roads. The increases were to go into effect September first. A new driver's license or five-year renewal, for instance, was to jump to $97. That'll be frozen now at $90. The freeze will cost the provincial treasury $1.6 million in lost revenue. Like most drivers, Stefan Velitchkovski is happy to save a few bucks. Velitchkovski was waiting to renew his driver’s licence at the Drive Test facility on Walkley Road. “That's fantastic then,” he says, upon learning about the fee freeze, “That's great. It’s saving me $7, which is a beautiful cup of coffee. Finally, we should have a little bit of a break with licenses, registration, gas, and on and on and on. That's what I’m thinking.” Ontario's premier says that's what he was thinking, too, that taxpayers are fed up paying more every time they've got to renew a licence or take a driving test. “Even if they save me a dollar or two,” says another man, waiting for his daughter to write her G1 test, “I really prefer to save this money and put it in my own pocket.” Fees were set to rise in a couple of weeks. Instead, the fee for a new or a five year licence remains at $90 bucks; it was going to $97. The exit road tests for G1 and M1 stay at $52.50; they were to go up a couple of dollars. And written tests for licences will remain at 23.25; they were supposed to go up to $24. “i think that's excellent,” says another driver, “That's great for drivers in Ontario and great to get more young drivers on the road.” It'll also save students at the North American Transport Driving Academy some cash. They're all learning how to drive transport trucks. Fee increases for those classifications are frozen as well. A,B,C,D,E and F road tests, set to rise to $100.25, will remain at $96.75. “Making every little cent easier on the pocket is making it easier for me or others in this class,” says student Saverio Lacquaniti, “being able to move forward in this industry.” Those increases though, would have brought in more than a million and a half dollars in revenue for the government this year. Still, class instructor Marc Morris says better in his pockets than the government's. “Personally, any time we don't have to pay extra to do this job,” says Morris, “it's always a blessing because we pay enough.” What many drivers want to know is when gas prices are going to fall? Ford has promised a 10 cent a litre cut. There are no details yet on when that will happen.<doc-sep>	TORONTO -- Ontario has frozen the salaries of executives across the public sector as it reviews how raises are granted to top earners at agencies that include school boards, universities and hospitals. In a directive issued to public-sector agencies this week, Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy said all base salaries for executives cannot increase beyond their current amounts as the government conducts a compensation review that is expected to wrap in June next year. The move affects those who make $100,000 or more at public-sector organizations and has raised concerns from those representing executives at school boards and hospitals. Bethlenfalvy said the measure is part of a larger government plan to "clean up Ontario's fiscal house". "This will require some long overdue fiscal discipline and spending restraint, and everyone will need to contribute," he said in a statement. "Controlling the growth in executive compensation is an important step in this effort." Premier Doug Ford, who took power at the end of June, has pledged to find $6 billion in "efficiencies" for the province. His government has created an independent commission of inquiry and ordered an audit of government books to assess the province's financial position. The directive on executive pay comes after the Tories froze wages of managers in government ministries and ordered a review of their compensation earlier this summer. Bethlenfalvy said the government is committed to addressing Ontario's debt and deficit, adding that the province pays nearly a billion dollars per month in interest on money it has borrowed. "There's nothing more important than restoring trust and accountability in how taxpayers' money is spent," he said. Cathy Abraham, the president of the Ontario Public School Boards' Association, said executive compensation was frozen under the previous Liberal government for eight years and was only recently lifted. The new freeze could hurt the ability of boards across the province to retain and attract qualified leaders, she said, adding that school board executives oversee complex operations that involve large numbers of students, employees and properties. "It's a difficult job," she said. "We believe if we're not compensating folks fairly for the work they're doing we're going to have a hard time getting people to want to do the job and keeping them in the job." The Ontario Hospital Association said executive compensation in that sector has been frozen since 2010. The association said it wants to engage in talks with the government on its compensation review to ensure any framework reached is "responsible and equitable." "In addition to the most recent announcement, there have been ten substantive changes to executive compensation in hospitals since 2010," the OHA statement says. "It is confusing and untenable to continue in this manner." Ontario Power Generation, whose executives are also affected, said it was examining the directive from the Treasury Board and would take part in the compensation review.
Once you have subscribed we will use the email you provided to send you the newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the newsletter email. Jordan Pickford delivered a goalkeeping masterclass during the first-half against Spain on Monday night. After making a truly bizarre save during the opening exchanges, the Everton shot stopper showed everybody why he's England's number one with some world-class distribution. He played a role in two of England's goals as they ran away 3-2 victors in Seville, with Marcus Rashford finding the net and Raheem Sterling bagging himself a brace. However, Pickford's performance was a little shakier after the break with La Roja getting themselves back into the game thanks to Paco Alcacer and Sergio Ramos. There was nothing the 24-year-old could have done about the goals, but he nearly cost England dearly with a botched Cruyff turn when the score was 3-1. Spain 2-3 England Pickford held on to the ball for too long, made a mess of his intended skill and seemingly gave Rodrigo the opportunity to find an open net from close range. Nevertheless, the England goalkeeper recovered by manhandling his Spanish opponent and eventually clearing the ball with a sliding tackle. Almost everybody was convinced Spain deserved a penalty but Pickford got away with the episode and the Three Lions managed to keep the home side at bay until stoppage time. Pickford's funny interview Unsurprisingly, the controversial moment became a big talking point after the game and when Sky Sports interviewed Pickford about the clash, his answer was simply brilliant. Pickford remains a true Mackem and had England fans laughing, by saying: "I tried the good old Cruyff [turn] and it didn't work. "I had that mentality to never say die, might have given a little nudge, but if you look back I get an elbow right in my dish as well but I got a good clearance off. "Some will say I've gotten away with one but it's part of the game. I think I've got people on the edge of their seats, and I don't wish to do that, but it's a decision I've made and the main thing is that it didn't go into the back of the net." Go on, Jordan! Check out a clip of the video below: England fans react England players can often be very reserved in their post-match interviews, but Pickford has always been cause for amusement with his honest answers. Take a look at how England fans reacted below: There's only one problem, it's probably still a penalty. Pickford does make the fair point that he received an elbow to his 'dish', but he was still manhandling Rodrigo before the retaliation and concluding tackle. Ultimately, though, it's the 3-2 victory and not the moment of panic that will go down in the history books and Pickford's overall performance was superb. There's every reason to suggest the result would have been much different without the 24-year-old's superb distribution early on. No matter what you think about Pickford, you can't fault him for his kicking and character. Do you think Spain deserved a penalty? Have your say in the comments section below. News Now - Sport News<doc-sep>Spain vs England: Sterling reflects on HUGE win for Three Lions HERE for the latest MUFC breaking news and transfer updates SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign upfor the latest MUFC breaking news and transfer updates When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. England put in a superb first-half performance to shock Spain during their Nations League match in Sevilla. Gareth Southgate’s side raced into an early lead thanks to Raheem Sterling’s thunderous strike past a helpless David De Gea. Marcus Rashford then doubled the advantage with a composed finish following Harry Kane’s excellent hold-up play and through-ball before Sterling tapped in his second ahead of the break. Luis Enrique’s side hit back through substitute Paco Alcacer’s header then Jordan Pickford got away with a nightmare moment before Sergio Ramos notched a late consolation, but the Three Lions held on for the win. Express Sport has rated how the England players performed during the 3-2 victory, but do you agree? England player ratings vs Spain – Nations League GK: Jordan Pickford – 5 An unnerving night for the Everton stopper, despite a good early save with what looked like his face. Needlessly gave away a corner from which Spain scored before narrowly avoiding a horror moment when he tried to turn Rodrigo. The 24-year-old was lucky not to concede a penalty with a tug on the striker’s shirt, although he did then put in a decent challenge to clear the danger. Distribution remained superb and some solid handling under pressure salvaged his mark. RB: Kieran Trippier – 7 Got forward at every opportunity and took a fair few knocks on the way. Always capable of a dangerous delivery and didn’t look troubled defensively. CB: Joe Gomez – 7 Desperate block on Marco Asensio momentarily kept Spain at bay as the Liverpool ace looked at home alongside Harry Maguire. However, questions will be asked of the entire rearguard about two free headers as Spain threatened a comeback. England player ratings: Raheem Sterling was in superb form against Spain England player ratings: Gareth Southgate's side raced into a three-goal lead before half-time CB: Harry Maguire – 6 Bizarrely went in the book for a clean yet forceful tackle on Dani Ceballos. Showed his grit after taking several big hits in a bruising encounter. LB: Ben Chilwell – 8 Given a thorough examination of his defensive qualities but more than stood up to the test. The Leicester full-back represents real competition for Luke Shaw and Danny Rose. England player ratings: Ben Chilwell looked comfortable at left-back CM: Eric Dier – 7 Thundered into Sergio Ramos early on and was harshly booked for his trouble. Shielded the back four well and knew when to slow the game down as Spain built up momentum. CM: Harry Winks – 7 An encouraging return to the national stage as England looked dangerous on the break. Showed some lovely touches on the ball and could be a key player for Southgate to build a team around. CM: Ross Barkley – 6 Instrumental in the third goal as his outrageous chipped ball over the top found Kane lurking at the back post. However, the Chelsea midfielder was guilty of dithering too long when England could have made it four before the break and was then substituted as England struggled to get a foothold in the second half. England player ratings: Ross Barkley was instrumental in Sterling's second goal but faded late on RAM: Raheem Sterling – 9 Stunning finish to open the scoring, showing no signs of his past struggles in front of goal for England. Was then in the right place to tap home Kane’s cut-back as the Manchester City winger enjoyed a superb first half. Caused problems with his pace all evening and was hard-done-by as the referee waved him to his feet after being felled by Jonny. LAM: Marcus Rashford – 7 The Manchester United man played a beautiful ball to send Sterling on his way then displayed great composure to slot home England’s second. Carried the ball well as Spain piled on the pressure and drew some valuable fouls to give his team-mates a break. ST: Harry Kane – 8 Didn’t get on the scoresheet but that only tells part of the story. Was involved in all three of England’s goals, particularly with a peach of a pass for Rashford’s strike after brilliant hold-up play. Spain vs England: Three Lions arrive at stadium in Seville England player ratings: Harry Kane was involved in all three goals in a brilliant display SUB: Kyle Walker (on for Barkley, 75 mins) – 6 The Manchester City defender’s arrival signified a change in shape as England switched to a back five. Got through plenty of defensive work as the Three Lions dug in. SUB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (on for Trippier, 84 mins) – 5 Not much chance to get into the game with Spain dominating. SUB: Nathaniel Chalobah (on for Winks, 90 mins) – N/A Wasted some valuable seconds.<doc-sep>JORDAN PICKFORD pulled off the impossible tonight and sent Twitter into meltdown. England found themselves under the cosh from the off against Spain in Betis. 5 Jordan Pickford sent Twitter into meltdown with this save La Roja flew out of the traps against the Three Lions and could have taken the lead inside five minutes. But the Everton ace was on hand - or on head to be more accurate - to deny the hosts in extraordinary fashion. A corner was swung in and headed back across goal. Pickford missed the ball with a dive as Chelsea's Spanish defender Marcos Alonso fiercely volleyed it towards the gaping net. 5 The England goalkeeper did not know too much about his extraordinary stop Credit: Getty 5 The keeper then helped launch the attack for Raheem Sterling's opener Credit: Reuters England youngster Jadon Sancho winds up Raheem Sterling after beating him at FIFA However, unbelievably the deadlock remained unbroken as the unknowing Pickford managed to save the strike with his cranium. And it got better for Gareth Southgate's men just over ten minutes later as Raheem Sterling finished off a fine counter-attack to fire past David De Gea and give England the lead - started by our No1 with an impressive ping to Marcus Rashford. But despite those cheers, it was Pickford's "no look" stop that had most people talking. Here's the best of how Twitter reacted, with some even calling for him to be the new face of the £50 note after his heroics: What Pickford just did there is the «greatest -funny - save» I have EVER seen — Jan Aage Fjortoft 🏳️‍🌈 🇳🇴 (@JanAageFjortoft) October 15, 2018 That save from Pickford was insane. Totally meant that 😏 #SPAENG — Dinesh (@Sanassee) October 15, 2018 Pickford with that save. Succeeding where John Terry failed in South Africa 8 years ago. Love it pic.twitter.com/rLQKYkKlRr — Aiden (@adn__cc) October 15, 2018 No look save from Pickford there. Beats the hell out of no look passes. #espvseng — Rob (@Berty23) October 15, 2018 What a save from Pickford. #ifithitsyouitsasave. — Mark Howells (@howsee) October 15, 2018 Pickford with the biggest fifa glitch save you’ll ever see in real life — Tom. (@Mole5991) October 15, 2018 Thought that Pickford save was only possible on Fifa — Jamie Bagley (@BagleyJamie) October 15, 2018 Pickford's heroics were somewhat marred when he was caught out of position for Spain's first goal 58 minutes in. Paco Alcacer headed over the stranded Everton stopper to draw one back for the hosts. 5 Jordan Pickford gives the ball away to Rodrigo in the penalty area Credit: AP:Associated Press 5 Jordan Pickford recovers well to tackle Rodrigo and kick the ball out for a corner Credit: AP:Associated Press And the England No1 was lucky not to concede when he was caught in possession by Rodrigo moments later. Pickford managed to recover well and tackle the Valencia forward after dallying on the ball in his own box. He breathed a sigh of relief at full-time, saying: "I thought I was a midfielder at one stage! The ball got stuck under my feet. Within a split second, he was right there. Spain are very good at pressing. "I had to kick it out of play or do a Cruyff. Some might say it was a penalty. Some might not say it. "The referee didn't give it. I cleared it. I made a good challenge I was happy about."<doc-sep>Gareth Southgate has jokingly told Jordan Pickford to go back to Everton and work on his Cruyff turns after the goalkeeper nearly cost England dear against Spain. The Three Lions earned a famous win over La Roja at Real Betis' Estadio Benito Villamarin where Pickford was often in the spotlight. He played a key role in the opening two goals for Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashfoard before almost gifting Spain a way back through his overconfidence when an attempt to turn past Rodrigo only to very nearly concede a penalty. And Southgate admits that while he wants the 24-year-old to continue to play the ball out from the back he doesn't want him to go too far. Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Marcus Rashford - 8/10 Rashford took his goal really nicely and played a gorgeous pass for England’s opener, but it is for his workrate that he earns high marks. His pace really worries teams and there was a sense tonight that he was a little more comfortable tucked inside rather than on the wide extremes. Tireless and diligent in his defensive work, Rashford never seemed to stop running and battling. Action Images via Reuters Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Harry Kane - 8/10 He would have loved a goal but this was a magnificent performance from Kane. Dominated the Spanish defence with his physicality, Action Images via Reuters Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Raheem Sterling - 7/10 Two very welcome goals to break his drought. The first was an excellent finish. Sterling was busy and a menace in behind that Spain struggled to deal with. AP Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Ross Barkley - 7/10 Accomplished performance. Similarly to Winks showed his defensive steel and always looked forward when on the ball. Delectable clipped ball to Kane for Sterling’s second. Action Images via Reuters Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Eric Dier - 7/10 Much-maligned in an England shirt, this was a good performance from Dier. His early clattering of Sergio Ramos was a bit of a tone-setter and seemed to almost lift England. Stout at the heart of midfield. Action Images via Reuters Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Harry Winks - 6/10 Winks was very quiet, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. A player more for the game where England are dominant in possession, but his positional sense and discipline was strong throughout. Getty Images Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Ben Chilwell - 6/10 A few nervy moments, but generally solid. Spain certainly didn’t exploit him at any point, and Chilwell stuck to his task well, blocking several attempted crosses. Kept going through the 90 minutes. Action Images via Reuters Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Harry Maguire - 8/10 A few nervy moments, but generally solid. Spain certainly didn’t exploit him at any point, and Chilwell stuck to his task well, blocking several attempted crosses. Kept going through the 90 minutes. Getty Images Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Joe Gomez - 7/10 Untroubled and unperturbed throughout the game. Gomez used the ball well and did all his defensive work effectively. Action Images via Reuters Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Kieran Trippier - 7/10 The Tottenham full-back ran himself virtually into the ground before being replaced. Asensio got no joy against Trippier. An impressive defensive performance, even if he had little chance to get forward. Getty Images Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Jordan Pickford - 6/10 His well-directed long balls were influential in both the first and second goals. Very, very fortunate not to concede a penalty for his pulling back of Rodrigo after messing about in his own area. Tidy generally, and similarly to De Gea had very little to do saves-wise. Action Images via Reuters Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Marco Asensio - 5/10 Asensio was probably Spain’s most disappointing player, his largely excellent set-pieces aside. He earns a slight rating jump for that, but otherwise was wasteful and lacked drive. Getty Images Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Rodrigo - 5/10 Rodrigo should have had a penalty, but otherwise a quiet game. Maguire and Gomez handled him rather easily. AFP/Getty Images Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Iago Aspas - 5/10 Aspas was relatively lively, but didn’t look a natural fit on the right wing. Substituted for the more impressive Paco Alcacer. Getty Images Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Saul - 5/10 Kept possession well, but similarly to his midfield cohorts Saul did little to influence outside of the middle of the park. Replaced by Dani Ceballos as Spain chased an unlikely comeback, and Ceballos looked to provide more. Getty Images Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Sergio Busquets - 6/10 As ever the tall midfield pivot was very accomplished in possession, but little else from Busquets. Getty Images Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Thiago - 6/10 Plenty of flashy touches and some lovely bits and pieces from Thiago, but the midfielder failed to produce the incisive pass Spain need to break down England’s well-structured defence. Getty Images Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Marcos Alonso - 5/10 Raheem Sterling had plenty of joy down the forward-minded full-back’s channel and looked a threat in behind every time England had the ball at times. Alonso did offer a useful outlet going forward, but the ability in the final third typical of the Chelsea man’s game was not apparent. AFP/Getty Images Spain vs England – Nations League player ratings Sergio Ramos - 6/10 Failed to effectively organise the Spanish defence’s high line, and Kane bullied both he and Nacho aerially at times. Ramos kept fighting until the death, however, and deserves kudos for lifting his side in the second half. He took his consolation goal well.<doc-sep>	Jordan Pickford has admitted he thought he was a midfielder while attempting his horror Cruyff turn during England's victory over Spain. Three Lions keeper Pickford attempted to pull off a ridiculous piece of skill while under pressure from Spain striker Rodrigo. The Everton shot stopper messed up and needed to make a stunning slide to deny Rodrigo an open goal - although the hosts pleaded with the referee to give a penalty for a drag back. But Pickford got away with his gaffe and then joked about the incident on the BBC. Pickford said: "I thought I was a midfielder at one stage but the ball got it stuck under my feet, Spain press high and he was right on me. (Image: X03807) (Image: X03807) "I thought the only option was to try and clear it or do a Cruyff turn and it just got stuck. "Some might say it was a penalty but the referee didn't and I didn’t give up. I cleared it and made a good challenge. "It was a great result, character wise, this has been coming for a while, this is the start of the next hurdle for us." Gareth Southgate's side ran into a three goal lead in the first 38 minutes as Raheem Sterling broke his three year duck in front of goal for the national side with a brace. Southgate was again delighted with Pickford's ability to pick a pass from the back - but was less enamoured with his attempted to beat Rodrigo. "He doesn't have the ability to execute a Cruyff turn in his own six-yard box but that's something for him and Everton to work on!" (Image: X03807) Marcus Rashford also got on the score sheet, with Spain conceding a treble for the first time at home in a competitive match. Paco Alcacer and Sergio Ramos both netted consolations for the hosts in Seville in the UEFA Nations League . Pickford took plaudits for his quick and accurate distribution, which lead to a number of good chances for the Three Lions. (Image: PA) "They weren’t direct assists, they were the start of the move," Pickford added. "I really enjoy that part of the game and that’s the style the manager likes to play but we can also go long with the pace we have up there. "It was a great game, a game of two halves you might say. [We showed] our character and belief. We have shown the way we can play in the last few games without getting as many goals but tonight showed our character as a squad."
As LeBron looks to add yet another chapter to his history of dominance at Scotiabank Arena, revisit some of his best moments along the way. Is this the year LeBron's dominance in Toronto comes to an end? We've seen and heard it all by now - the memes, the puns … "LeBronto." It's no secret: LeBron James has seemingly made it a point to try and dominate the Toronto Raptors franchise for the majority of his 16-year career. The numbers support the above notion, too. LeBron has faced the Raptors 66 times in his career - 52 times in the regular season and 14 times in the postseason; his record is 53-13. Prior to Cleveland and Toronto's postseason meeting last year, it was said that things felt different - but the result was more of the same. James and the Cavs swept the Raptors for the second consecutive year, eliminating them from the postseason for the third straight time. Year in and year out, LeBron served as the roadblock preventing the Raptors from reaching new heights in the postseason. That is, until he decided to head West and join the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. While last year seemed different, this year is different. Aside from the fact that it's the first time in four years that the Raptors won't see LeBron in the postseason, this Lakers team is less dangerous than the Cavs of years past, and this Raptors team has added a guy named Kawhi Leonard. The first time these two teams met this season, Toronto dominated Los Angeles 121-107, and Kawhi didn't even suit up; James finished the night with 18 points and six assists in less than 30 minutes of action. While plenty has changed, LeBron is still LeBron. In a "down" year marred by injury, he's averaging 27.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.0 rebounds, but he's in great danger of missing the postseason for the first time since 2005. All things considered, it's fair to question whether or not LeBron's dominance of the Raptors is set to come to an end. As LeBron returns to Canada for the first time since the 2018 postseason, take a look back at some of his defining moments throughout the years at the building formerly known as the Air Canada Centre. Mar. 20, 2005 Raptors 105, Cavaliers 98 \| 56 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists First career 50-point performance https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/2c/83/lebron-raptors-2005_14tmjnqm3cjnq1axknvqs4dlvo.jpg?t=2099091361&w=500 Just 80 days after his 20th birthday, James exploded for 56 points (on 18-for-36 shooting) but the Cavs would ultimately fall to the Raptors. Jan. 6, 2008 Cavaliers 93, Raptors 90 \| 39 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists Fourth quarter takeover https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/b4/9c/lebron-raptors-2008_8pva04bhj94a1sdcxk8ndehpg.jpg?t=2099090313&w=500 With his team down 13 points heading into the final frame, King James took over. LeBron scored 24 fourth-quarter points, as the Cavs outscored the Raptors 36-20 to escape the Air Canada Centre with a three-point win. Feb. 26, 2010 Cavaliers 126, Raptors 118 (OT) \| 36 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds Clutch play results in a win https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/96/17/lebron-raptors-2010_1nl26pkskm1od1fvt0izw5s3ly.jpg?t=2099476441&w=500 With Cleveland down two points, James tied things up with 13.9 seconds remaining in regulation. The Cavs would leave Toronto with an eight-point win, and LeBron scored or assisted on over half of the team's 40 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Nov. 5, 2013 Heat 104, Raptors 95 \| 35 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists The streak reaches a new plateau https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/37/b2/lebron-raptors-2013_1mu4otuyxopl313ih1rciznylz.jpg?t=2099090313&w=500 MILESTONE ALERT! @KingJames has now scored 10+ points in 500 consecutive games. Congrats on the achievement, LeBron! - Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) November 6, 2013 Over five years later, LeBron's streak of games with 10+ points is at 922 games and counting… May 27, 2016 Cavaliers 113, Raptors 87 \| 33 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists A dominant performance secures sixth-straight Finals appearance The Cavs and Raptors went back-and-forth through the first four games of the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals before LeBron and the Cavs dominated Game 5. James saved his best performance for Game 6, as he and the Cavs would advance to the NBA Finals for the second straight year. This series win set up Cleveland's first major professional title in over 50 years - the Cavs would win the NBA Finals in seven games against the 73-9 Warriors. May 7, 2017 Cavaliers 109, Raptors 102 \| 35 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists 35 points and a clean sweep One year after eliminating the Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavs swept their opponent in the East Semis. James was terrific all series, averaging 36.0 points to go along with 8.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 57.3 percent from the field and 48.1 percent from 3-point range. May 3, 2018 Cavaliers 128, Raptors 110 \| 43 points, 14 assists, 8 rebounds The fadeaway game After an uncharacteristically poor shooting night in Game 1 (12-for-30), LeBron bounced back by scoring 43 points on 19-for-28 shooting in Game 2, including a number of ridiculous turnaround jumpers in the second half.<doc-sep>LeBron James stood there, arms in the air, yelling. Hey! Hey! He was all alone at one end of the court because he had driven to the hoop and missed and didn’t get the call; he fell down and complained. But then the Lakers got a stop and had the ball at the other end, and LeBron James was all alone. Hey! Nobody saw him. The ball never came. He thrust his arms down, frustrated. LeBron James, basketball god, was ignored. It used to be that if you were any good around here, eventually LeBron was what really mattered. He helped push the Toronto Raptors down the rebuilding path once upon a time, back when Chris Bosh left, and once the Raptors got good enough to aspire to something they kept finding the king. He came to delight in destroying them. It was like he thought there were points for artistic merit. And Thursday night LeBron returned to Toronto as a Laker, and … he doesn’t matter much at all, right now. Oh, there is still a thrill when he walks into the building; he still gets cheered on the road, his accomplishments treated with reverence rather than derision, even here, even after everything. He cruised to 29 points on 23 shots, four rebounds, six assists, some freight-train genius in 32 specifically limited minutes. The minutes limit is an issue. “It’s challenging for me mentally because I’m so accustomed to being out on the floor, especially when I’m healthy,” said LeBron after the 111-98 loss, his knees wrapped in ice and his feet in an ice bath. “You know, but it’s a conversation between myself and my trainer an the coaching staff and the front office, and this is the direction that they wanted to go the remainder of the season given the lack of success we’ve had with our ball club. So I trust the people in charge, and that’s what it is.” The Raptors spoil the Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James only Toronto appearance with a 111-98 victory. At 34, he still had moments that left you shaking your head. A show. But Toronto won 111-98 without Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka because the Lakers were outscored by 13 with him sitting, because the rest of L.A.’s production stinks. LeBron is probably going to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2005. He has been the most consequential NBA player of his generation, the prime mover in the league, the guy. But now he’s talking with his head down about free agency, about this summer, listing the team’s injuries, saying that every year has different challenges. The Raptors are worried about the pending East playoff bloodbath, about making sure the practice facility is Drake-branded, about getting healthy and in sync. Nobody outside Los Angeles competitively worries about LeBron for much more than a day at a time anymore. It’s so strange. “Obviously, we’ve lost a lot of hours of sleep over the years against this guy,” said Raptors coach Nick Nurse. Indeed, LeBron is one of the biggest reasons the Raptors are where they are now. But after winning one for Cleveland and losing twice to Golden State, LeBron semi-retired to California. He chose Hollywood and weather and a place to raise his kids, and a hope that the Lakers could add other stars in his sunset years. “There’s nothing I need to get in this league that I don’t already have,” LeBron said to reporters in Boston, before the trade deadline. “Everything else for me is just like icing on the cake ... there’s nothing I’m chasing, or feel like I need to end my career on.” Then his buddy and agent Rich Paul failed to extract Anthony Davis from New Orleans, and the leaks crushed all the young Lakers who were said to be in trade talks. The Lakers were fourth in the West when LeBron suffered the first major injury of his career, a groin strain. He passed Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list last week, and seemed to be the one guy in the building who truly cared. He can chase Kareem’s all-time games played and scoring records, but right now he’s one of the great actors, attached to a box-office bomb. It’s weird, right? It’s weird. Other than Masai Ujiri, maybe Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, nobody has done more to shape the franchise’s direction. He tortured them until they broke. Winning Game 5 in 2016 with the series tied and saying, “I’ve been a part of some really adverse situations, and I just didn’t believe this was one of them.” Casually spinning the ball before drilling threes, or pretended to drink a beer during a game during the second-round sweep in 2017. That year Lowry said, “I know I’m not a LeBron, and DeMar’s not a LeBron.” And DeRozan said, “If we had LeBron on our team, too, we woulda won.” And then last year. Toronto was really good. Cleveland insiders speculated the Cavaliers would bow out gracefully. But 2018 was LeBron’s Sistine Chapel of torment, and Toronto’s Mona Lisa of despair. When Nurse thinks of it now he doesn’t get beyond the last-possession choke in Game 1, and all those misses. In Game 2 LeBron took all the difficult mid-range jumpers the Raptors wanted him to take: turnarounds, off the dribble, swaying and splashing, over and over, every one a message: You can’t beat me. On his nationally syndicated ESPN radio show, Dan Le Batard cackled, “He’s laughing at them. It looks like so much fun for everybody involved except the Raptors.” LeBron hit that infamous running bank shot in Cleveland to win Game 3, and Raptors team president Masai Ujiri had to be separated from his coaching staff as he yelled about being tired of excuses. DeRozan was traded, and Dwane Casey got fired. “It was tough,” said Nurse, who replaced Casey. “I just think that we thought we were better than they were, or at least would play them better than we did, so that made for extra tension.”<doc-sep>After being on the road the past two games, it’s a quick pit-stop at home for the Raptors as they take on the Lakers tonight before heading back out on the road. Things were far different the last time these two teams met back on November 4th. The Lakers were 4-5 through their first nine games of the season and were still figuring out how to play with each other. It was clear that LeBron James found it difficult to play with a young and an inexperienced core in Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Kyle Kuzma. That didn’t change overnight when the 8-1 Raptors came to town — even without Kawhi Leonard, who was out due to an injured ankle he suffered the game before. Because of that, it was expected for the game to be close. But that’s not how it went. Instead, the Raptor took off running with a 31-point lead in just the first quarter alone. They’d finish the frame leading 42-17. Serge Ibaka was fire, Kyle Lowry was leading the team on both ends of the floor, Pascal Siakam was beginning his run for Most Improved Player of the Year award, basically everything was going right for the Raptors. Toronto ended up playing keep-away with the Lakers, winning the game 121-107. Fast forward four months and we have two teams on the opposite sides of the spectrum. The Lakers are bottoming out of the playoff race, sitting in 11th place in the Western Conference with a record of 31-36 and seven games back from the eight-seed Los Angeles Clippers. On the other hand, the Raptors sit comfortably in second place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 48-20. They’re coming off a three-game road trip where they went 2-1, with wins against the Pelicans and Heat, and an ugly 126-101 loss to the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers. They’ll look to build some momentum heading into the final stretch of the season tonight against L.A. Here are the game details for tonight’s game: Where to Watch: Sportsnet, 8 p.m. EST Lineups: Toronto — Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol Los Angeles — Rajon Rondo, Reggie Bullock, LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma, JaVale McGee Injuries: Toronto — Fred VanVleet (Out – Sore left thumb), Serge Ibaka (Out – Suspension) Los Angeles — Josh Hart (Questionable – Right knee tendinitis), Lance Stephenson (Questionable – Toe), Tyson Chandler (Questionable – Neck soreness), Lonzo Ball (Out – Sprained left ankle), Brandon Ingram (Out – Shoulder injury) ******** All Eyes on LeBron With the Lakers all but out of the playoffs, the organization decided to put minute restrictions on LeBron James with the chance of sitting the 34-year-old on the first or second game of a back-to-back. Now, with the Lakers playing the Raptors tonight (on national TV) and the Detroit Pistons tomorrow night (decidedly not on national TV), it’s expected LeBron will sit tomorrow. With that in mind it’s fair to assume James is going to give it his all tonight. And out of any team in the league, the Raptors are well aware of what the King can do. He didn’t have a great game the last time out, recording 18 points on 6-for-12 shooting, but the Raps shouldn’t expect the same tonight. With Ball and Ingram shutdown for the season due to injury, the load will be on James to carry the Lakers to victory. Note: he’s coming off a 36-point explosion against the Chicago Baulls on Tuesday night. Luckily for Toronto, they have great defensive players (unlike, say, the Bulls), so LeBron should expect a tougher challenge. Also, Leonard will be playing this time around, and if there was any indication that LeBron was having a tough offensive game against the Raps in their last meeting, things should get tougher with Leonard guarding him. Along with Leonard, expect Siakam, Danny Green and OG Anunoby to give LeBron some tough looks. Get Gasol Going Marc Gasol hasn’t had a stretch of statement games with the Raptors just yet. He’s a talented big who can play down low, stretch the floor, facilitate the offense and be the team’s defensive anchor on the floor. Yet we haven’t seen Gasol or the team fully use all of those skills in consecutive contests. He put in a solid performance against the Trail Blazers on March 1, recording 19 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the field to go along with eight rebounds, six assists, and a plus-minus of 23 in a two-point win. That’s the Gasol the Raptors traded for. However, fans may get to see more of what Gasol has to offer against the thin frontcourt of the Lakers. With no real threats there, the Raptors have a golden opportunity to see what Gasol can do. Ironically, the three-game suspension to Ibaka should also help Gasol in a way to get more familiar with the team because he hasn’t played a whole lot, averaging only 22.8 minutes per game. Expect to see Kyle Lowry, Kawhi Leonard, and Siakam all getting involved with Gasol on both ends of the floor. Revive the Bench Toronto’s bench has been inconsistent all season long but as of late they haven’t performed up to par. Fans should know by now that this year’s bench isn’t as good as last year’s version due to role and personnel changes. However, there is still a chance to get them performing at reasonable levels. Tonight could be one of those games that gets them back on track. Patrick McCaw has been the one bench player who hasn’t been struggling lately, as he has looked great in the short amount of time he’s played. His game against the Miami Heat, in which he started in place of Kawhi, showed us why the Raptors signed McCaw. He’s not going give them 10 to 20 points every night but what he will bring is a sound offensive game with great defensive skills. Now, if only the rest of the bench players can match McCaw as of late, especially on the offensive end, the Raptors would really have something.<doc-sep>All 1,440 minutes in a day are perfect for NBA player tampering. Recruitment never ends, whether legal or illegal, in-season or the offseason, pregame or postgame, or, of course, on social media. We’re living in a superstar league where teams and other stars are exhausting themselves to land one of the top players in the league. Social media’s biggest spies set out to investigate a brief postgame encounter between LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard after the Raptors beat the Lakers on Thursday night, 111-98. Though much of the conversation is hard to hear, it appears James says “We’ll be in touch,” to Leonard. LeBron James tells Kawhi Leonard "we'll be in touch" pic.twitter.com/osTGlt1VtJ — Basketball Forever (@Bballforeverfb) March 15, 2019 Leonard is set to become a free agent in July, so James’ comments unequivocally mean he’s about to pitch Leonard to come to LA. James, who has known for the last two decades of his life that there are cameras on him at all times and especially when he’s near the other most famous basketball player on the court, must’ve slipped up. It can’t possibly mean anything else. In reality, we need to stop dissecting everything James, or any other star, may or may not have said to a fellow player after a game. It’s how false rumors spread. In fact, James probably wasn’t talking about Leonard coming to the Lakers. Here are a few other things they might “be in touch” about. 1. James might be giving Leonard laugh lessons Leonard has an incredibly terrifying laugh. We know this: Here’s Kawhi Leonard doing whatever the robotic equivalent of laughing is. pic.twitter.com/2ZzHM0B7nY — Faizal Khamisa (@SNFaizalKhamisa) September 24, 2018 After it was memed into oblivion, Leonard has done everything he can to avoid laughing on camera, which is quite sad: Kawhi to off-camera teammate: "You stupid. This ain't Burberry. ... This New Balance." pic.twitter.com/L46VZaSpsx — NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 14, 2019 Maybe James is just trying to help a friend regain his confidence. We all just want Leonard to be able to laugh in peace. 2. James is going to invite Leonard to star in Space Jam 2 Leonard would be the most low-maintenance star ever cast in any film ever. He wouldn’t need any speaking lines or attention. He’d be OK with just about any reasonable request. He could play a Monstar with the size of his giant hands. Maybe his laugh could actual be used as an evil villain one? The opportunities are endless. 3. Maybe we have this all backwards and James and Leonard are actually scheming to sign with the Clippers This could be a recruitment pitch, but maybe it isn’t for the Lakers. Heck, James and his family are already in Los Angeles, and Leonard’s been rumored to have interest in joining the Clippers already. Why not join the other team? 4. James is talking to Leonard by request of 2Chainz James recently A&R’d 2Chainz newest album, and maybe he’s trying to recruit Leonard to pitch in. Maybe 2Chainz has another album in the works. Or, maybe he wants to rap over the Leonard laugh beat. 5. James wants social media lessons from Leonard LeBron’s received a lot of heat for his Instagram posts all season. Even as the Lakers have lost and management has attempted to trade his teammates, James has posted his individual accomplishments online and kept a pretty upbeat tone. That’s all fine! James should do whatever he pleases. But maybe he’s realized he’s a bit too logged-on and wants to learn from the best. Remember, Leonard has told us that he “doesn’t sweat the comments” in his latest shoe advertisement. Maybe James is ready to learn that it’s OK not to post.<doc-sep>	The Toronto Raptors continue to prove that they can win, no matter who — and who isn't — playing. Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points as the Raptors beat familiar foe LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 111-98 on Thursday night, using another mixed bag of players in their revolving door of lineups. And in the post-game locker-room, when someone pointed out to Pascal Siakam that he and Danny Green are the only two Raptors to be on the floor for almost every game this season, the six-foot-eight forward threw his head back and laughed. "I feel like I need a raise," Siakam joked. "Oh, man. Oh man. For me, I'm down for whatever. That's the type of guy that I am. Being able to be out there every night, that's a blessing to me." Normal Powell finished with 20 points, Siakam had 16 and Marc Gasol chipped in with 15 for the Raptors (49-20), who were missing both Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka. James, who all but singlehandedly halted Toronto's playoff runs in their tracks the past three seasons with Cleveland, finished with 29 points for the Lakers (31-37). Alex Caruso added a career-high 16 points. WATCH \| Highlights from Toronto's win Game Wrap: Kawhi leads Raptors past LeBron's Lakers Sports 1:28 LeBron James scored a game-high 29 points, but Toronto prevailed 111-98 on Monday. 1:28 The Raptors were coming off arguably their ugliest game of the season, a 126-101 defeat in Cleveland on Monday that saw Ibaka slapped with a three-game suspension for fighting. Lowry also suffered an ankle injury in the loss. With injuries, Leonard's load management, new players, and continuous tinkering, coach Nick Nurse has stuffed his hand in and shuffled his virtual bag of players all season. "I've come from the minors and every little league you can think of," the coach said. "You never really know who's gonna be playing, so whoever you've got, you've gotta start coaching the heck out of them and try to get them to play together and play hard and share the ball and all that kind of stuff." Thursday's lineup was another new starting five, with point guard Jeremy Lin getting the nod for the first time since he was acquired last month. And without a backup at the position, the Raptors played point guard by committee for large chunks of the game. The responsibility fell on Powell for part of the game. He didn't mind. "It felt a little different," Powell said. "I was talking to Nick yesterday about it. With Kyle being questionable to play or not ... it was a lot of fun. I can get used to it a little bit. "I'm used to it, having the ball, getting guys set up. It adds another layer to my game." The new-look lineups didn't faze the Raptors, who raced out to an early double-digit lead that had become 13 points by the third quarter. Toronto took a 90-84 lead into the fourth quarter. L.A.s LeBron James battles Toronto's Kawhi Leonard for a loose ball on Thursday. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press) When Malcolm Miller drained his second three-pointer of the fourth with 7:35 to play, it put the Raptors up 101-88 in front of a soldout Scotiabank Arena crowd of 19,962 that included actor Jaleel White — Steve Urkel on the 1990s sitcom "Family Matters." The Lakers pulled to within nine points twice down the stretch, on a three-pointer by Josh Hart, and then a basket by James with 2:35 to play. But that was as close as the Lakers, who'd overcome a 20-point deficit to beat Chicago on Tuesday, would come. The Raptors extended their franchise record with a ninth consecutive win over the Lakers, an undefeated streak that stretches back to Nov. 30, 2014. They also set a franchise record with their 20th victory of the season against a Western Conference opponent. Nurse said his players have become accustomed to the changing lineups. "The culture of winning has been here now for a while, we've got some guys that look forward to those opportunities to step up," Nurse said. "It's been shifting all year . . . So we've tried to just kinda plug the next guy in and keep going, and we've done a pretty good job of it." He praised the second unit, and its lack of a point guard. "They were okay, it's a group that can defend a little bit," he said.
Oklahoma City fans and WTLC got their first glimpse of this year’s squad at Monday’s Media Day. The returners were reacquainted to their surroundings, while the new players were introduced to the Thunder media and staff members. The atmosphere had a first day of school feel, players wearing new pairs of kicks, many of them with their fresh haircuts. It was then time for photo sessions and interviews as the media got to know this year’s Thunder team. Russell Westbrook set the vibe throughout the day, walking around the facility with a huge smile on his face, and voicing his high hopes for the team this year. Paul George was equally as happy, along with a sense of relief. George talked about the relationships he has built in OKC and how he feels he can focus on playing basketball. PG on Jerami Grant pic.twitter.com/J9EGUTy8n8 — Will Brewer (@WillBrew_10) September 24, 2018 Steven Adams was one of the brighter personalities of the day. Adams was eager to get to battle against fellow draft classmate Nerlens Noel. Noel worked all offseason with assistant coach Mark Bryant, and hopes to continue his development. Steven Adams on Nerlens Noel pic.twitter.com/h5PMKEo0KU — Will Brewer (@WillBrew_10) September 24, 2018 The summer was very favorable to Patrick Patterson, as he was able to get a full summer of offseason training. Patterson has worked extensively on his body and his game throughout the summer. He hopes to earn his way to the starting power forward position. Jerami Grant also hopes to be starting at the power forward position this season. Grant talked about his love for the organization and how the system fit his game really well. The Thunder will be in a good spot with either choice. The injury bug hit Andre Roberson last season, just as the Thunder were hitting a stride. Fans and media were very eager to hear about Dre’s progress. He was confident about his rehab, but wanted to remain patient. The Thunder will be without Dre for the beginning of the season. Dre’s role will have to be filled and the Thunder may look to Alex Abrines or Terrance Ferguson to replace him. Abrines put on some muscle through the offseason and voiced his desire to become more of an all-around player. Ferguson also talked about the changes he made to his body, and how having a year of experience will help his game. The new addition that everyone was excited about is Dennis Schroder. Schroder was all smiles, sporting a new haircut, and a new jersey. He could not hide his excitement to be with the Thunder. Dennis was most excited to have the opportunity to learn from Russ and PG, along with the family-like atmosphere of the Thunder organization. Talked with Dennis Schroder today at media day about his role, playing alongside Russell Westbrook, and most importantly, his hair: pic.twitter.com/RzCK6nlFty — Royce Young (@royceyoung) September 25, 2018 The new faces also consisted of Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Abdel Nader, Deonte Burton, Hamidou Diallo, among others. They all are very excited to join the Thunder organization and will be looking prove themselves in training camp and preseason. Media Day 2018 was a memorable day for everyone involved and it was one step closer to the start of the regular season. The Thunder began training camp today and will start the preseason on October 3rd. *** Addendum — Enes Kanter is not on the Thunder anymore, but his own media day got people’s attention: “When I think about the playoffs, my nipples get hard.”@Enes_Kanter is a hooper, lol (via @SNYtv) pic.twitter.com/pTZXAHRxrp — SLAM (@SLAMonline) September 24, 2018 To which Adams’ response was:<doc-sep>OKC Thunder in the news for September 23 features player previews and more insight from Presti on Steven Adams, Nerlens Noel and Dennis Schroder. One more sleep until all your favorite OKC Thunder arrive for Media Day and then training camp on Tuesday. OKC Thunder in the news focuses on TI’s initial player previews and a bit more insight from Sam Presti’s media session. Season Previews: Tomorrow the players will arrive and take to the podium as the official OKC Thunder Media Day commences. Thunderous Intentions will provide top line comments from the players. The day after training camp begins, albeit without Russell Westbrook and Andre Roberson on the court. That won’t stop Billy Donovan from establishing specifics within the team’s planned identity and system this season. As the team nears preseason play and the regular season commencement on October 16 versus the Golden State Warriors TI will roll out our season previews. In case you missed the initial previews here’s the menu of what we’ve published so far: OU Medicine and OKC Thunder partnership: Earlier this week the OKC Thunder announced they are entering a 10 year partnership deal with OU Medicine who’ll work with the franchise. The companies share a common vision of innovation and community. As for the dynamics of how it will affect the team directly OU Medicine will work closely with the Thunder medical team. It’s anticipated OU will provide knowledge and resources to enhance player training and support in treatment and care. For the full press release visit the OKC Thunder main site. The Oklahoma City Thunder and OU Medicine today announced a unique and innovative 10-year partnership in which OU Medicine becomes the official healthcare partner of the Thunder. Under the agreement, OU Medicine will join with the team on a number of organizational, medical and community initiatives. Thunder Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Danny Barth and OU Medicine President and CEO Chuck Spicer made the announcement. More from Presti media session: Although Rylan Stiles hit all the top line takeaways from Sam Presti’s session with the media on Thursday, the GM provided additional insight on three players: Dennis Schroder the Defender: Presti, as he often did during the presser pointed to the number of players on the team well short of their prime. Although the GM was hesitant to speak in specifics he suggested the 24 year old Schroder’s ability to drive will be utilized and presents the team with another playmaker. Presti pointed to the German’s defensive chops noting the initial benefits he’ll offer may well be on the defensive end of the hardwood. The bar appears to be high as Presti suggested Schroder can be a high level defender and the hopes are within OKC’s system and players he’ll be surrounded by this will be a natural transition for him. Nerlens Noel the passer: Yes he can run fast and block shots – but OKC are anxious to put his passing skills into the mix. Flashing back to the when Enes Kanter was still donning an OKC Thunder jersey it offers hints to what perhaps Presti and Donovan may be thinking. Prior to his mix-up with a chair Kante had TI discussing his point-center possibilities. I’m not suggesting Noel fulfills that specific role, but the bench was just beginning to find it’s groove post Durant prior to chair-gate. After the injury the reserves never rediscovered that chemistry. With Dennis Schroder in the mix the combination of the duo offers room for optimism. Steven Adams is still five years from his prime: Presti was quick to point to the fact Steven Adams has returned each season progressively growing and adding nuances to his game. The Magician GM re-iterated several times the OKC center is still just 25 years old. Perhaps that seems like a throw away, but Presti has a valid point. Centers have historically taken the longest of the positioned roles to reach their true ceiling. At 25, Adams is well shy of that apex which also speaks to the future core of this group. ‘That wraps up OKC Thunder In the news for Sunday, September 23. Enjoy the remainder of your weekend and be sure to check in with us tomorrow as we’ll be serving up all the highlights from Media Day.<doc-sep>Steven Adams is back from New Zealand at his sixth OKC Thunder Media Day and reminding all why he holds the honor of ‘best sound bite in the business’. At 25 the OKC Thunder center begins his sixth campaign in the NBA. Of all the core players Adams was the man who seemed the most fatigued at season end. This was partially due to the minutes he spent on the court and his workload. On top of the regular assignments he had to offset the negatives of Carmelo Anthony’s lacking defense. The combination of those elements took a toll physically on the big man. Therefore, it’s likely Adams was thrilled by the offseason signing of Nerlens Noel. This will free up Jerami Grant as well who was relegated to providing backup minutes for Adams last season. since it should afford the New Zealand center proper rest time in season. Entering the 2018-19 season it was important The offseason addition of Nerlens Noel provides Adams with a backup who should afford him Per Game Table Season Age G GS MP FG FGA FG% 2PA 2P% eFG% FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK PTS 2013-14 20 81 20 14.8 1.1 2.3 .503 2.3 .503 .503 1.7 .581 1.8 2.3 4.1 0.5 0.5 0.7 3.3 2014-15 21 70 67 25.3 3.1 5.7 .544 5.7 .547 .544 2.9 .502 2.8 4.6 7.5 0.9 0.5 1.2 7.7 2015-16 22 80 80 25.2 3.3 5.3 .613 5.3 .613 .613 2.5 .582 2.7 3.9 6.7 0.8 0.5 1.1 8.0 2016-17 23 80 80 29.9 4.7 8.2 .571 8.2 .572 .571 3.2 .611 3.5 4.2 7.7 1.1 1.1 1.0 11.3 2017-18 24 76 76 32.7 5.9 9.4 .629 9.3 .631 .629 3.8 .559 5.1 4.0 9.0 1.2 1.2 1.0 13.9 Career 387 323 25.5 3.6 6.1 .586 6.1 .587 .586 2.8 .568 3.2 3.8 6.9 0.9 0.8 1.0 8.8 View Original Table Generated 9/24/2018. Provided by Basketball-Reference.com Generated 9/24/2018. Heading into 2018-19 there seems to be a lot of debate over Adams value with two distinct schools of thought. Here at Thunderous Intentions were firmly in the camp of Adams being a beast who doesn’t get enough credit for what he does. In particular the things he does off ball or that doesn’t show up in the obvious stat review. With Noel in house, and the big man able to get true rest periods this could be the season Adams takes quantifiable Will you be shooting the three ball this year?” Steven Adams answered this the only way he knew how. He started by saying “Me?” after the shock wore off he said “No, no, no. Preseason?..no.” He closed this answer with a funny response saying “I don’t want to lose my job, mate.” “How will the new rule impact the game?” This week, it became official that the shot clock will reset to 14-seconds instead of 24-seconds after an offensive rebound. Steven Adams does not think this rule change will hurt any team saying “No, that is plenty of time…plenty of time to get into a set, set a few screens, if you are fast.” The Thunder desperately want to push the past this year so they should be fast enough. While Steven Adams will not shoot the three ball, his impact will be greatly appreciated this season.<doc-sep>Paul George took to the dais for the OKC Thunder Media Day embarking on his second full season with the franchise and genuinely happy to “be home”. For every player, Media Day is the start of a new year, an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. Yet, for star OKC Thunder star Paul George it feels like much more. Having proved all the pundits wrong George did exactly the opposite of predictions which haunted the player and team all last season. Instead, George arrives this season with his contract locked down for the next four years (fourth year on a player option), fully rested and healthy. The past year was one which offered ebbs and flows. Although the Carmelo Anthony and OK3 experiment never took hold there were other measurable gains. George clearly enjoyed the benefits which come from playing alongside a peer of equal assets in Westbrook. Moreover PG13 was delighted with the prospect of playing alongside Andre Roberson which offered him a defensive pairing that allowed his own talents to shine on that side of the court, but didn’t force him to be the only player tasked with stopping the best player. Ironically, these two players are unlikely to be available to start the season which will shift the focus on George. He’ll be tasked with taking the main leadership role through training camp as the OKC Thunder integrate new additions Dennis Schroder, Nerlens Noel and a slew of young talent. Top takeaways from George’s presser: Take us through the process of staying in OKC: ‘During the season to start the season off I was just open, very open about the situation. In order for me to do that, for me give everything I had and for me to be committed, I had to be open about coming here. Otherwise I would have been not giving the team every bit of effort or it just would have been something I was holding back. I just told myself to start the process off to just this team everything I have and see what happens. Obviously I developed some good relationships with Russ with Steven, with Dre, Coach Donovan, Sam Presti, Clay. I just developed these really good relationships here, almost feeling like I’d been here for a while. And obviously over the course of the season it just steam rolled. Just got better and better and here I am.’ What sense have you gotten about what it means (his re-signing) ‘Me starting off in a small market helped, with feeling what small markets bring as far as a community stand point. It was a great start to be in Indy for that feeling. And then you know again with the city being behind the team the team being behind the community it just went hand and hand and then just being a part of this team it just felt right.’ Re Carmelo: “We miss Melo as a brother but if something doesn’t work it doesn’t work….it’s nothing that he did, or the organization, or the coaches did.” Re: Grant returning: “He [Jerami Grant] is a special player” and he said he recruited Grant to come back Why did you return? “I loved it here, honestly that’s the only answer I can give. I loved it here from a genuine standpoint. From the whole top of the organization, to my teammates to the community. It really feels like home, my youngest daughter was born here, so this is home to me and we felt great being here.” How much did Russell Westbrook factor in your decision. “Russ played one of the biggest factors, him just being him and being genuine. He made it easy for me to be able to open up and just be comfortable. From day one it was an easy bond and an easy chemistry. For me to just feel comfortable.” (and more from PG with NBA TV) https://twitter.com/nbaontnt/status/1044327985791197184?s=21 On Kawhi Leonard: An interesting comment made by George centered around Kawhi Leonard and their friendship. George told him to stay open to his current situation (with Raptors). PG13 noted both players had planned on going home to play in California, but things changed. That comment cements just how much the original intention was for Paul George to go home and play for the Lakers. Per Game Table Season Tm GS MP FGA FG% 3PA 3P% 2P 2PA 2P% eFG% FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL PTS 2015-16 IND 81 34.8 17.9 .418 7.0 .371 4.9 10.9 .447 .490 6.5 .860 1.0 6.0 7.0 4.1 1.9 23.1 2016-17 IND 75 35.9 18.0 .461 6.6 .393 5.7 11.4 .501 .534 5.0 .898 0.8 5.8 6.6 3.3 1.6 23.7 2017-18 OKC 79 36.6 17.0 .430 7.7 .401 4.2 9.3 .454 .521 5.2 .822 0.9 4.7 5.7 3.3 2.0 21.9 Career 479 33.4 14.7 .432 5.8 .376 4.2 9.0 .468 .505 4.4 .845 0.9 5.3 6.2 3.2 1.7 18.6 7 seasons IND 400 32.8 14.3 .432 5.4 .370 4.2 8.9 .470 .502 4.3 .850 0.9 5.4 6.3 3.2 1.7 18.1 1 season OKC 79 36.6 17.0 .430 7.7 .401 4.2 9.3 .454 .521 5.2 .822 0.9 4.7 5.7 3.3 2.0 21.9 View Original Table Generated 9/23/2018. Provided by Basketball-Reference.com Generated 9/23/2018. Entering his second full season with the OKC Thunder George should be much more comfortable in the system. Offseason procedures to correct nagging injuries should also play a factor for the star as he attempts to make a greater impact in the Westbrook – George counter punch. Clearly, the wing man is ready to make his mark both on and off the court.<doc-sep>	Patrick Patterson spoke at the 2018 OKC Thunder Media Day emphasizing his excitement over year two and his revised role. Last season Patrick Patterson accepted an economical contract in free agency to come play with the OKC Thunder. From the start the move wasn’t quite what the forward or the franchise expected. Patterson underwent offseason knee surgery setting him back immediately. For a player who tends to take time to ease into the season the surgery only served to enhance those issues. The larger issue was Patterson joined the OKC Thunder believing he would be the starting power forward. Aside from the injury, this idea was derailed with a last minute trade to obtain Carmelo Anthony. Seemingly, Patterson never found his true groove and while his shot improved late in the season he was relegated to the reserve unit. Entering his second season with the Thunder he’ll once again have the opportunity to join the starters. Although there will be competition from Jerami Grant for this spot in the rotation Patterson’s ability to spread the floor might give him the edge. Per Game Table Season Tm G MP FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% 2P% eFG% FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK PTS 2014-15 TOR 81 26.6 6.6 .449 1.3 3.5 .371 .536 .547 1.0 .788 1.6 3.8 5.3 1.9 0.7 0.5 8.0 2015-16 TOR 79 25.6 6.2 .414 1.3 3.7 .362 .490 .521 0.4 .853 1.0 3.4 4.3 1.2 0.7 0.4 6.9 2016-17 TOR 65 24.6 5.9 .401 1.4 3.9 .372 .458 .523 0.9 .717 1.0 3.6 4.5 1.2 0.6 0.4 6.8 2017-18 OKC 82 15.5 3.2 .398 0.8 2.1 .386 .421 .523 0.6 .870 0.4 2.0 2.4 0.7 0.6 0.3 3.9 Career 559 22.7 6.4 .455 0.9 2.3 .370 .502 .521 0.8 .757 1.3 3.0 4.3 1.1 0.6 0.5 7.3 View Original Table Generated 9/23/2018. Provided by Basketball-Reference.com Generated 9/23/2018. Asked about how he will deal with the up tempo pace being discussed for this season: ‘Just about trying to get the basketball from one side to the other, get the basketball up court as quickly as possible with my passing ability. Being able to find guys out on the court, not necessarily literally pushing in transition or having to shoot the ball. But just trying to find the right opportunity for a teammate to take advantage of. Whether it’s off a drive or a quick post up or just passing it that leads an assist or another opportunity for a shot. I can understand coach wants to get more shots earlier in the shot clock or just trying to find better opportunities for us early in the shot clock and that in turn will create more looks throughout the cross of the game and give us an opportunity to put up more points.’ Asked how he feels about playing more at the four: Patterson says he’s played both positions throughout his life. Patterson notes with the game being faster it’s more important to move your feet and be able to defend. He notes the most important thing is being able to rebound, play defense and switch out on screens. In essence he’s comfortable playing at the four or five. Thoughts on Paul George‘s return: Patrick noted he had no idea whether Paul would return, but felt confident based on the camaraderie between George and Westbrook and overall team chemistry. Do you want to be the starting four this season? He admits he would like to start, but will do whatever the team feels fits best, noting he wants to provide a positive wherever he plays (starter or reserve). When queried more on him starting given his three point shot efficiency he did speak to being able to do it, but was quick to not Jerami (Grant) did well and he suspects he improved this summer. This will be Patterson’s ninth season as a pro and as such makes him one of the longer tenured players on the staff. With the loss of Nick Collison there is a hole left in terms of veteran voices. Patterson is familiar with helping in that regard having worked closely with the youngsters in Toronto and should be able to provide quality mentoring in OKC.
This image was removed due to legal reasons. After spending part of her Fox News show earlier this week warning about how America is going to hell because of “massive demographic changes”—an obvious white supremacist dog whistle—Laura Ingraham opened up her Thursday night show with an explanation about why her racist monologue actually wasn’t racist. Advertisement “A message to those who are distorting my views, including all white nationalists, and especially one racist freak whose name I will not even mention,” she said. (The last line is presumably a reference to former KKK leader David Duke, who enthusi astica lly endorsed her monologue.) “You do not have my support. You don’t represent my views, and you are antithetical to the beliefs I hold dear.” Oddly enough, arguing that immigration has made America unrecognizable could give a reasonable person the impression that she actually finds those scumbags quite palatable! She continued: And despite what some may be contending, I made explicitly clear that my commentary had nothing to do with race or ethnicity, but rather a shared goal of keeping America safe, and her citizens safe and prosperous. Furthermore, as I have said repeatedly on the show, merit-based immigration does wonders for our country’s economy, our way of life, and how we define our country. See, not racist at all! !<doc-sep>Fox News host Laura Ingraham faced a backlash Thursday after saying, Wednesday night, that "the America we know and love doesn't exist anymore," citing immigration and demographics. Ingraham's commentary came despite stories that the network would crack down on overtly racist content. Ingraham first mocked New York Democratic Socialist and congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over a recent interview and then discussed demographic shifts around the country. "Because in some parts of the country it does seem like the America we know and love doesn't exist anymore," Ingraham said. "Massive demographic changes have been foisted upon the American people, and they're changes that none of us ever voted for, and most of us don't like. From Virginia to California we see stark examples of how radically, in some ways the country has changed. Now much of this is related to both illegal and legal immigration that of course progressives love." Laura Ingraham: "The America we know and love doesn't exist anymore. Massive demographic changes have been foisted on the American people, and they are changes that none of us ever voted for, and most of us don't like ... this is related to both illegal and legal immigration" pic.twitter.com/s5G2qIY4W0 — Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) August 9, 2018 The comments appeared to echo the views of a small minority of white Americans who see national identity as inexorably tied to their race. The Brookings Institution, based on census data, projected whites would be a minority by 2045, but also noted that young immigrants would serve as the "engine of the nation's future growth, countering an aging, slow-growing and soon to be declining white population." Ingraham closed the segment by caveating her comments. "There is something slipping away in this country and it's not about race or ethnicity," she said, contradicting herself. "It's what was once a common understanding by both parties that American citizenship is a privilege, and one that at a minimum requires respect for the rule of law and loyalty to our constitution," Ingraham said. Despite the attempt to inoculate herself from criticism, she was roundly condemned. U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu of California responded to the segment by noting his military service allowed Ingraham to make what he called "racist statements." "Dear Laura Ingraham: I served on active duty to defend your right to make racist statements. America is not a race or demographic. It's a beautiful & bold idea, based on life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness. You @IngrahamAngle are no more American than I am or others are," Lieu tweeted. Dear Laura Ingraham: I served on active duty to defend your right to make racist statements. America is not a race or demographic. It's a beautiful & bold idea, based on life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness. You @IngrahamAngle are no more American than I am or others are. https://t.co/Op7rnjak5o — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 9, 2018 Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois also called Ingraham's comments "racist" and praised the immigrants who work to better their lives. "These comments from Laura Ingraham aren't just racist, they're wrong & shouldn't have been aired by @FoxNews. This country was built by immigrants who worked hard to give their families better lives & our diversity makes our nation stronger," the senator tweeted Wednesday. Conservative and Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol tied Ingraham's comments to President Donald Trump, who has also faced accusations of racism and of stoking racial tensions. "If Trump would just rename his party the Know Nothings, we could take back the honorable name of Republican for a non-nativist, non-authoritarian, liberty-loving party," Kristol said. If Trump would just rename his party the Know Nothings, we could take back the honorable name of Republican for a non-nativist, non-authoritarian, liberty-loving party. https://t.co/6GCd9qMWMV — Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) August 9, 2018 The fresh controversy is not the first time Ingraham has faced such criticism. In June, she had said that facilities used to hold migrant childred separated from their parents were more like "summer camps". Shortly after that, Fox News' chief executive Suzanne Scott gathered producers for a meeting to warn them to protect the network's talent and brand while requiring segments about children to be scripted, according to Politico citing two people with knowledge of the meeting.<doc-sep>A Democratic congressman has condemned remarks attacking legal immigration into the US by a leading Fox News host as “racist”, amid reports that the Trump administration is working on plans to limit it. The conservative Laura Ingraham used her TV show to blame immigrants – legal and illegal alike – for destroying “the America we know and love” in comments Wednesday night that drew a swift backlash. “In some parts of the country, it does seem like the America that we know and love doesn’t exist anymore,” Ingraham said on the cable network. Ingraham added: “Massive demographic changes have been foisted upon the American people. And they’re changes that none of us ever voted for, and most of us don’t like,” she said. “From Virginia to California, we see stark examples of how radically in some ways the country has changed. Now, much of this is related to both illegal and in some cases legal immigration.” The California representative Ted Lieu was among those blasting Ingraham’s remarks as racist. “Dear Laura Ingraham: I served on active duty to defend your right to make racist statements,” Lieu, an air force veteran and immigrant from Taiwan, said on Twitter. “America is not a race or demographic. It’s a beautiful & bold idea, based on life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness. You @IngrahamAngle are no more American than I am or others are.” The Fox personality’s rant comes as the Trump administration is pursuing its latest effort to strictly limit legal immigration – making it more difficult for immigrants to get permission to live in the United States if they have accepted a host of government benefits they are legally eligible for. Ingraham was responding to comments by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic nominee for a New York congressional seat, who said the fortunes of moderate Democrats representing the interests of the upper middle class have fallen because “that upper middle class doesn’t exist any more in America”. The Fox anchor mocked Ocasio-Cortez, saying: “As if she knows all of America from her loft in Queens” – although the candidate actually lives in an apartment in the Bronx. But she said the New York progressive was “kinda right in a general sense” because of how the country has changed, before complaining about immigrants “gaming the system” to stay in the country. “This is a sure way over time to remake and reshape America. This is exactly what socialists like Ocasio-Cortez want: eventually diluting and overwhelming your vote with the votes of others who aren’t, let’s face it, too big on Adam Smith and the federalist papers,” Ingraham said. In order to vote, immigrants must gain legal status and US citizenship. Donald Trump, who often rails against illegal immigration, has not limited his policies to targeting unauthorized immigrants, instead seeking to limit legal immigration as well in a push led by the White House adviser Stephen Miller, according to media reports. As part of Miller’s plan, the administration is expected to issue a proposal in coming weeks to allow authorities to deny visas or green cards to immigrants who have used benefits including food stamps and healthcare subsidies. The rule, which has been under consideration for months and is expected to be finalized soon, would penalize immigrants who legally use food stamps, children’s health insurance programs, healthcare subsidies available under Obamacare, or the earned income tax credit, according to drafts of the rule obtained by several news organizations. Federal officials would consider use of those programs as evidence immigrants are likely to become a “public charge”, which hurts their chances of getting a visa or green card. Miller, a leading immigration hardliner at the White House, is pushing to expedite the changes, CNN reported this week. The administration has also proposed a plan to dramatically cut the total number of legal immigrants admitted to the country and decide who gets in based on “merit”, ending visa lottery programs and the ability for certain family members of immigrants already in the United States to enter the country legally. Ingraham cheered Trump on. “It’s clear that we need a reset on the entire issue of immigration – illegal and legal,” she said in the Wednesday night segment, urging Trump to give a formal address from the Oval Office to present his agenda on the issue. The host’s remarks drew widespread criticism on social media. “Let me shorten this for you Laura: you’re racist,” said Neera Tanden, president of the liberal Center for American Progress. Some fellow conservatives also joined the condemnation. “Speak for yourself, and every other last gasp of a dying gen, @IngrahamAngle. WE love this country’s diversity,” the conservative commentator SE Cupp said on Twitter.<doc-sep>“The America we know and love doesn’t exist anymore,” Fox News host Laura Ingraham said last night (Aug. 8) in a segment directed at Democratic congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “Massive demographic changes have been foisted upon the American people. And they’re changes that none of us ever voted for and most of us don’t like,” she said, adding that she was referring to both “illegal and legal immigration.” (Ocasio-Cortez, who upset incumbent Joseph Crowley in a primary and is the favorite to replace him in his New York City district, was born in the US, as were her parents. Ingraham was responding to Ocasio-Cortez’s recent comments that the upper middle class in America is disappearing.) Ingraham’s divisive and racist words could incite more hatred towards immigrants in the US, particularly those from Central America and Mexico who are falsely singled out by conservative pundits as fueling crime and stealing jobs. What appears to be lost on Ingraham is how hurtful her words could be in her own home. Ingraham’s daughter, a young teenager, is an immigrant. She adopted the girl from Guatemala in 2008, when she was a 3-year-old orphan, and described her action at the time as the “best thing I’ve ever done.” She was even learning Spanish, she said then. “I see purpose in the eyes of a beautiful three-year-old little girl whom I spent years attempting to adopt,” she said in a speech that year. “Last month, I was blessed to fly to Guatemala to finally pick her up and bring her home.” (Ingraham also adopted two sons from Russia, a nationality that has not been singled out by the Trump administration or right-wing pundits for the same hatred). Ingraham spent years “perfecting the public performance of conservative firebrand,” the Washington Post wrote last year, and her latest tirade is part of a conservative talking-head tradition of saying incendiary things to stir up controversy and get ratings. Some like, Infowars’ Alex Jones—who is being sued by parents of children killed in the Sandy Hook massacre—claims that the things he says on-air are just part of a character he’s playing. What kind of character is Laura Ingraham playing now?<doc-sep>	Fox News host Laura Ingraham tonight attempted to clarify controversial remarks she made Wednesday on her show, The Ingraham Angle. Ingraham said Wednesday that Congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-NY) criticisms of Democratic leadership as out of touch was off-base. But then she took it a bit further. “Because in some parts of the country, it does seem like the America that we know and love doesn’t exist anymore,” Ingraham said. “Massive demographic changes have been foisted upon the American people and they’re changes that none of us ever voted for and most of us don’t like. From Virginia to California, we see stark examples of how radically in some ways the country has changed. Now, much of this is related to both illegal and in some cases, legal immigration that, of course, progressives love.” Tonight, Ingraham attempted to clarify some of her remarks. “I want to start by addressing my commentary at the top of last night’s show,” she said. “A message to those who are distorting my views, including all white nationalists and especially one racist freak whose name I will not even mention. You do not have my support, you don’t represent my views and you are antithetical to the beliefs I hold dear.” Ingraham continued: “The purpose of last night’s angle was to point out that the rule of law – meaning secure borders – is something that used to bind our country together. And despite what some may be contending – I made explicitly clear that my commentary had nothing to do with race or ethnicity, but rather a shared goal of keeping America safe, and her citizens safe and prosperous.” Ingraham said that she wanted to make it clear that “my concern will continue to remain with the families who have suffered the tragic results of illegal immigration, the children put in dangerous and unfair situations at the border, and all those border agents around the country who work to keep our country safe.”
Fernando Alonso (right) is ninth in the drivers' championship with Daniel Ricciardo fifth Fernando Alonso wants Red Bull to apologise after they denied his claim they offered him a drive for 2019. The 37-year-old said Red Bull approached him about the seat being vacated by Daniel Ricciardo, who is joining Renault. But two-time world champion Alonso has since said he would be leaving Formula 1 at the end of the season, with Pierre Gasly moving to Red Bull instead. "It was not the case for me to join this adventure," said Alonso. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said the team "offered Fernando a contract in the past but that was back in 2007". Earlier this week, Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko said Alonso "doesn't fit with us" and told Red Bull's Servus TV station: "We were negotiating with him in 2007 or 2008. His demands were very tedious back then. "If you look at his history, in McLaren and Ferrari, it was always a one-man show." However, Alonso later claimed he had offers from Red Bull six times in his career. "I had a couple of offers from Red Bull," Alonso told Sky F1. "In fact I had one in 2007, in 2009, in 2011, 2013, and two this year, one in Monaco, and one in August. "The comments of Christian Horner this summer and Mr Marko are completely out of context, surprise comments about me creating chaos and being a difficult man to work with. "One, they never worked with me, and secondly they've been chasing me for five or six occasions in the last seven years, and now they say that, that they are loyal to their programme and their commitments and their junior drivers. "It has been weird, it has been unfair to me. I wrote to Christian after his comments this summer, he apologised by email, and hopefully he'll apologise again this weekend." But Horner, speaking on Friday, again insisted no offer had been made to the Spaniard for 2019. "To be totally clear, there was no offer to Fernando Alonso for next year," said Horner. "He is a fantastic driver and a great talent, he has chosen his path. We had an inquiry from Flavio Briatore and from Liberty Media but the position within Red Bull has always been very clear. "We invest in youth and have a talent pool through the Red Bull junior programme and as has been the case with Sebastian Vettel, (Daniil) Kvyat, (Daniel) Ricciardo and Max Verstappen, we were always going to draw on the talent we have." Fernando Alonso has nine more races in his Formula 1 career Alonso is looking at other categories of motorsport as he seeks to complete the unofficial "triple crown". This is widely regarded to be victories in the Monaco Grand Prix, the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Indy 500, although some say the F1 world title rather than Monaco. Either way, only Graham Hill has ever achieved the feat. Alonso added victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours this year with Toyota, for whom he is leading the World Endurance Championship this season in addition to his F1 commitments with McLaren, and led 27 of the 200 laps on a one-off attempt at the Indy 500 last year before retiring in the closing stages with engine failure. Alonso did not confirm he would race in IndyCar next year, but said: "The triple crown is something I have been saying for a couple of years now. "To be the best driver in the world there are two possibilities: winning eight world championships - quite unlikely now for me - and the second is to taste different series and different cars. "In sports cars I am doing OK. On the Indy 500, I felt competitive last year and there are other series that can put you in a different level in motorsport." Alonso said he did not expect to return to F1. "Right now, I am thinking it is goodbye," he said. "Life changes very quickly. I don't have a crystal ball to know what will happen. For me, it is bye-bye, but who knows in the future?" But he said he might have stayed in F1 had he had a winning car. "The possibilities for next year, there have been few, or a lot - depends on how you look at it," Alonso added. "I did not stay because there are only two teams that can win and they continue with their drivers for the following years. "And the F1 we see now is not the F1 I dreamed of when I was a kid or when I started in 2001. "When you come to the same place for so many years and repeat the same thing, it is easier to be not so emotional about the challenges and that is the reason now." The second Ferrari seat alongside Sebastian Vettel is the only place at the top two teams that has not been announced at this stage but Alonso's remarks seem to confirm the increasing impression in F1 that Kimi Raikkonen will be retained. Ferrari had been planning before the sudden death of former president Sergio Marchionne last month to promote Monegasque Charles Leclerc from Sauber, but the new management is said to have had a rethink. Tribute from Hamilton Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso were both at McLaren in 2007 and both finished on 109 points, one less than world champion Kimi Raikkonen Lewis Hamilton paid tribute to Alonso as "one of the best drivers ever" in Formula 1, following the Spaniard's decision to retire. Alonso, twice a world champion and sixth in the all-time win list with 32 victories, announced last week that he would leave Formula 1 at the end of the season. Speaking before this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, Hamilton said: "It is a shame he is not as decorated as his ability [deserves]. "But sport is not just about being a good driver, it's how you play the game, how you position yourself."<doc-sep>Fernando Alonso revealed Red Bull offered him Daniel Ricciardo’s vacant seat for 2019, the team hiring Pierre Gasly after he rejected it. IN the wake of Red Bull bosses saying they didn’t want Fernando Alonso, the Spaniard responded on social media with a gaggle of giggling emojis. Now we know why. Alonso revealed on the eve of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix that he rejected a move to Red Bull prior to announcing his exit from Formula 1 at the end of this year. Get 3 months free Sport HD + Entertainment on a 12 month plan and watch the FIA Formula One 2018 Johnnie Walker Belgian Grand Prix Live & Exclusive with no ad-breaks during racing on FOX SPORTS. T & Cs apply. SIGN UP NOW > The Spaniard says he turned down an offer from the former world champions following Daniel Ricciardo’s shock decision to quit for Renault. “From one of the top three teams, l already had an offer a couple of times already this year,” Alonso told Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz. “It was not the case for me to join that adventure. At the moment, F1 is not giving me the challenges l am looking for.” Asked if he was referring to Red Bull and whether they had offered him Ricciardo’s seat, Alonso confirmed: “Yes.” READ MORE COMMENT: The F1 star Red Bull should hire to replace Ricciardo FACE THE MUSIC: Ricciardo reveals truths behind his shock Red Bull exit OUCH: Verstappen’s sledge over Ricciardo’s Red Bull decision Red Bull will be powered by Honda in 2019, a factor which may have been pivotal in Alonso’s decision to pass up the team’s offer. Earlier this week, Red Bull named Pierre Gasly as Max Verstappen’s 2019 team-mate. Red Bull have denied an offer was made to Alonso. Alonso signing ... is that a clog?! Source: Getty Images DID ALONSO ALREADY HINT AT RED BULL OFFER? Alonso’s revelation that he rejected Red Bull is seemingly at odds with the remarks of Christian Horner when the Red Bull boss ruled out Alonso replacing Ricciardo just a day after the Australian’s bombshell. “I have huge respect for Fernando, he is a great driver, a fantastic driver, but it’s very difficult...he’s tended to cause a bit of chaos wherever he’s gone,” Horner told F1’s official podcast. “I’m not sure it would be the healthiest thing for the team for Fernando to join. Our preference is to continue to invest in youth than take a driver who is obviously close to the end of his career.” But, in what appears retrospectively to have been a clear hint the Spaniard had already rebuffed an approach from Red Bull, the two-time world champion responded directly to Sky F1’s story on Twitter with the hashtag ‘FromlastweekNoThanks’ COULD ALONSO RETURN TO F1 IN THE FUTURE? Meanwhile, Alonso has left the door open to making a return to F1 in the future. The two-time world champion’s departure has been billed as marking his Formula 1 retirement. But Alonso has not ruled out returning to Formula 1, although his decision to sit out at least one season in 2019 is definitive. “Life changes very quickly,” said Alonso. “For me it is a bye bye, but who knows - things change quickly. I am leaving the door open as I don’t know what will happen in the future.” READ MORE STATS: Where Fernando Alonso actually sits in F1’s record books ALONSO: Cutting truth behind double world champ’s F1 exit Alonso, who last won an F1 race in 2013, has attributed his exit to a lack of “predictability” and a dearth of opportunities to win. “I did not stay because winning now there are only two teams and they continue with their drivers for the following years,” accepted Alonso. “When you come to the same place for many years and you repeat the same thing and the same people, there is one day when you don’t get so emotional about the challenges and that’s the reason why.” But boiled down, Alonso’s principal problem with F1 is that his McLaren team currently remain in the doldrums - the Spaniard has not finished a single race on the podium since returning to McLaren from Ferrari four years ago. So would he still be an F1 driver in 2019 if he was currently driving either a Mercedes or Ferrari? “If you are in one of those two teams, probably you keep going,” Alonso admitted. “Formula 1 has always been a sport which has [been] dominated by one or two teams.” Story originally appeared on Sky Sports<doc-sep>Horner: There was no offer to Fernando Alonso for next year Who offered who what, if anything? This is the big question floating through the paddock as Formula 1 got back to work on Friday at Spa-Francorchamps and as a result, a storm in a teacup has flared up pitting Red Bull team chief Christian Horner up against Fernando Alonso. The question is who to believe in this spat that has played out in the media between Horner and Alonso, the Spaniard claiming that the energy drinks outfit offered him Daniel Ricciardo’s seat for next year – one of several offers they made to him over the years he insisted. Horner earlier this month said in an interview that Alonso was not on the team’s radar because he tended to cause chaos and at this stage of his career the veteran does not fulfil Red Bull’s ethos of promoting through their own pool of young talent. Alonso, who will quit F1 at the end of this season, ridiculed Horner’s comment and fired back when he revealed to Sky that he received offers from Red Bull “in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and two this year – one in Monaco and one in August.” The latter offer, claimed by the double F1 World Champion, clearly suggesting there was contact between the two parties in the wake of Ricciardo’s bombshell announcement to defect to Renault next year. But on Saturday at Spa, Horner repeated what he had said earlier in the week, “Just to be totally clear, there was no offer to Fernando Alonso for next year. He is a fantastic driver, he’s a great talent in Formula One. He’s obviously chosen his path.” “We had an enquiry from Flavio Briatore, and from Liberty Media, as to whether we would consider Fernando. Which you can understand from a promoter’s point of view: Fernando Alonso is a great asset to Formula 1.” “If he could be in a competitive car I’m sure they would prefer him staying than pursuing his triple crown. I wouldn’t expect them to do anything different.” “But the position within Red Bull has always been very clear that we invest in youth and have a talent pool through the Red Bull Junior Programme.” “As has been the case with Sebastian Vettel, Kvyat, Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen, we’re always going to draw upon the talent pool that we have.” “We have offered Fernando a contract in the past, but that was back in 2007,” added Horner almost totally contradicting Alonso’s claims. Meanwhile, Red Bull announced that Toro Rosso rookie Pierre Gasly, a graduate from their young driver programme, will step up in 2019 to replace Ricciardo and slot in alongside Max Verstappen in the team.<doc-sep>Quickly discredited hearsay claimed that Fernando Alonso could land at Red Bull before he opted to leave Formula 1 at the end of this season. Some thought that he could be a stellar fit as the veteran beside Max Verstappen, creating a superstar driver lineup for 2019. However, Team Principal Christian Horner quickly shot down those rumors and said that Alonso tends to bring "chaos" with him wherever he goes. Now, the Spaniard double world champion has vocalized his side of the situation by claiming he's been approached multiple times for a contract offer by the Milton Keynes-based outfit. Horner and Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Dr. Helmut Marko have outwardly downplayed the team's interest in Alonso, which he says is a bit confusing given their alleged and still-recent pursuit of him. Alonso told Sky Sports F1: "I had a couple of offers from Red Bull. In fact, I had in 2007, in 2009, in 2011, '13, and two this year, one in Monaco, and one in August. So I'm happy you asked me this question because the comments of Christian Horner this summer and Mr. [Helmut] Marko are completely out of context, surprise comments about me creating chaos, difficult man to work with." "One, they never worked with me, and secondly they've been chasing me for five or six occasions in the last seven years, and now they say that, that they are loyal to their program and their commitments and their junior drivers," 'Nando continued. "It has been weird, it has been unfair to me. I wrote to Christian after his comments this summer, he apologized by email, and hopefully, he'll apologize again this weekend."<doc-sep>	Fernando Alonso says he rejected six different approaches from Red Bull - including two this year prior to announcing his exit from F1 - but team boss Christian Horner remains adamant they didn't make the Spaniard an offer. Alonso, who is to leave Formula 1 at the end of 2018, revealed to Sky F1 he had been offered Daniel Ricciardo's seat after the Australian opted to join Renault next season. August 23: Alonso rejected Red Bull But earlier this month Red Bull boss Christian Horner described Alonso as a disruptive influence and ruled out the Spaniard replacing Ricciardo while Red Bull have told reporters they didn't make an approach for the 37-year-old. August 9: Red Bull rule out Alonso But Alonso has insisted he was twice offered a drive with Red Bull this year and has received an apology from Horner for his comments. Speaking to Sky F1 in an interview which will be played out in full during the build-up to the Belgian GP on Sunday from 12.30pm, Alonso said: "From Red Bull, in fact, l had in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and two this year - one in Monaco and one in August. "The comments of Christian Horner this summer and Mr Marko are completely out of context and surprising about me causing chaos or being difficult to work with. "One, they have never worked with me. And second, they have chased me on five or six occasions over the last seven years. And now they say that - that they are loyal to their programme and their junior drivers. "It has been weird and unfair to me. "I wrote to Christian after his comments this summer. He apologised on email and hopefully he will apologise again this weekend." Horner insists Red Bull didn't make Alonso an offer Pressed to explain Alonso's comments after Practice One at Spa on Friday morning, Horner remained adamant Red Bull hadn't offered made Alonso an offer. "Maybe Franz [Tost, the team boss of Toro Rosso] has made him an offer but there was no offer from Red Bull Racing this year," said Horner. "He just doesn't fit the profile of our team. It's sad for him to leave Formula 1 but there was certainly no offer from Red Bull Racing on the table. "There was an enquiry which came from FOM immediately following Daniel's announcement but it was very clear that Fernando didn't fit in our thoughts or our future. There was never any offer so why Fernando has chosen to say that, I'm not quite sure. I'm not sure whom he had the offer from." What did Horner first say about Alonso? A day after Ricciardo's stunning - and entirely unexpected - bombshell he had decided to quit Red Bull for Renault, Red Bull team principal Horner spoke in a podcast with F1's official website. Asked specifically whether Alonso was in contention to replace Ricciardo, Horner replied: "I have huge respect for Fernando, he is a great driver, a fantastic driver, but it's very difficult...he's tended to cause a bit of chaos wherever he's gone. "I'm not sure it would be the healthiest thing for the team for Fernando to join. Our preference is to continue to invest in youth than take a driver who is obviously close to the end of his career." But, in what appears retrospectively to have been a clear hint the Spaniard had already rebuffed an approach from Red Bull, the two-time world champion responded directly to Sky F1's story on Twitter with the hashtag 'FromlastweekNoThanks' 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂!!! definitely one of the best things ever!!! Summer hit !!😂😂😂😂😂😂😂. #fromlastweekNothanks https://t.co/IaFD3tIMh4 — Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) August 9, 2018 Ahead of this weekend's race in Belgium, marking the resumption of the season following its summer break, Red Bull named Pierre Gasly as Max Verstappen's 2019 team-mate. Why did Alonso turn down Red Bull? "I'd be surprised if Red Bull did offer Alonso a seat and even more surprised if he rejected it," said Sky F1's Martin Brundle. But Alonso has explained he rejected Red Bull because he didn't believe they could offer him the winning seat he craves. "I did not stay because winning now there are only two teams [Mercedes and Ferrari] and they continue with their drivers for the following years," said Alonso. In 2019, Red Bull will be powered by Honda - the engine suppliers who Alonso repeatedly decried during the three years Honda partnered McLaren before being ditched for Renault.
The Miami Dolphins are back in South Florida today as they welcome the Oakland Raiders to Hard Rock Stadium. This Week 3 contest features Miami looking to move to 3-0 on the season, while the Raiders are hoping to avoid an 0-3 start. The Dolphins were last in Hard Rock Stadium in Week 1, when they beat the Tennessee Titans in the longest game ever played in the NFL. The game featured two different lightning delays that pushed the game to over seven hours from kickoff to the final whistle. This week’s game will (hopefully) be shorter than that one, though there are thunderstorms forecasted for the area during the game. We will update the action throughout the game below. You can keep up with everything here, and you can join a live chat with other Dolphins fans by heading over to our live thread. First Quarter: Coin Toss: Dolphins won the toss and deferred to the second half. Raiders will get the ball first. Raiders first possession: Robert Quinn and Cameron Wake nearly get to Derek Carr on the first play, with the quarterback just throwing the ball away to avoid a sack. Jordy Nelson caught the short slant on second down and there were no Dolphins players anywhere near him as he took the ball 71 yards to the Miami 14-yard line. After a short run from Marshawn Lynch, Carr looked to Nelson again for the 12-yard touchdown. Raiders 7-0. Dolphins first possession: Ryan Tannehill connected with Kenyan Drake for a one-yard gain on the dump off on first down. Drake then carried the ball out of a two-running back set on second down, picking up three. On 3rd-and-6, Miami looked down the sideline for Kenny Still, but the pass was broken up and Miami punted on the three-and-out. Raiders second possession: Weirdness on the punt return, as Matt Haack kicked the ball 59 yards, then as it bounced, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie picked it up and tried to return it, losing one yard down to the Raiders’ eight-yard line. An illegal block in the back penalty added to the play takes the Raiders back to their own four-yard line. Carr then threw a quick pass out to the left with Martavis Bryant, but that was backed up again taking the Raiders to the two-yard line after another block in the back. Lynch was able to bounce outside and break a couple of tackles to pick up nine yards on the run, making it 2nd-and-3. Another Lynch run picked up a yard, giving Oakland a 3rd-and-2 from the Miami 13. A play action fake to Lynch, with a completion to Arami Cooper picked up the first down with a nine-yard gain. Doug Martin got the next first-down carry, picking up four yards. Then, Miami again decided to let Nelson do whatever he wanted, picking up 66 yards and getting the ball all the way down to the Miami yard line. The Raiders got the ball down to the Miami one-yard line, but the Dolphins defense stiffened and held on fourth down. Dolphins second possession: After offsetting penalties on the fourth-down attempt, Miami started at their own one-yard line. Frank Gore picked up two yards, but a penalty on second down - a penalty that should have been on the Raiders who clearly jumped first but was called on Ja’Wuan James - Miami was backed up to their own two-yard line for second down. Gore picked up no yards on the next play, then Tannehill dropped back into the end zone and could not find anyone, so he scrambled to his left to pick up the first down. After a six-yard pass to Kenny Stills, Drake lost four yards, then Tannehill found DeVante Parker for four yards and the team had to punt. Raiders third possession: On first down, Carr rolled to his right, was flushed by Cameron Wake, then stepped up and bombed a ball down the field looking for Cooper. The throw was into triple coverage, and Xavien Howard picked it off, returning it 39 yards. Dolphins third possession: Miami would do nothing with the ball on the possession, being backed up by a holding penalty on Jakeem Grant on first down. They would pick up just four yards, three on a Drake run and one on a Mike Gesicki reception, before punting. Raiders fourth possession: On the punt return, the ball appeared to be about to be downed by Walt Aikens at about the two-yard line when he was shoved in the back and the ball rolled into the end zone. The penalty, however, backed the Raiders up to their own one-yard line, only to have the quarter end on a nine-yard run from Martin. End 1st Quarter. Raiders 7-0. Second Quarter. Raiders fourth possession (continued): On second down after the break, Martin lost two yards with William Hayes making the tackle for a loss. On the third-down play, Hayes then sacked Carr at the Raiders two-yard line, but immediately started grabbing for his knee and was in clear pain. He was able to walk off the field, but was heading straight to the locker room. Dolphins fourth possession: Miami started with the ball at the Oakland 35 after a short punt from the Raiders. Gore picked up no yards on the first-down run, then added one yard on second down. On 3rd-and-9, Tannehill found Kenny Stills in the back of the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown pass. Touchdown!! ! 34 yards Tannehill to Stills!! pic.twitter.com/fvcD7YTck1 — Kevin Nogle (@thephinsider) September 23, 2018 Tied 7-7. Raiders fifth possession: Carr found Nelson for 12 yards, marking the first time the Dolphins did not have to chase Nelson halfway down the field. After an incomplete pass, Bryant was able to pick up four yards on the end-around. Carr was sacked on third down, with Cameron Wake finally getting to the quarterback, only to have Akeem Spence get called for unnecessary roughness after the play, leading to a first-down for the Raiders and Spence’s ejection. The defense tackle appeared to grab a Raiders’ player’s facemark after the play, then when he tripped, he ripped the helmet off the player, then swung it and hit another player. Lynch picked up five yards, then Carr found Jalen Richard for nine yards. Lynch ran the ball the next three plays, picking up 10 total yards, before Carr found Dwayne Harris for seven yards. Martin ran for one yard before Cook picked up 13 yards and pushed to 1st-and-Goal at the Dolphins’ seven-yard line. Lynch picked up five yards to get to the Dolphins’ two, then Carr threw away a pass as he was pressured. After a Miami timeout, the Raiders were called for a false start, backing Oakland back to Miami’s seven-yard line. After no gain on a screen pass to Lynch, the Raiders settled for a field goal. Raiders 10-7. Dolphins fifth possession: Miami started the next drive with a 13-yard slant to Danny Amendola. Tannehill found A.J. Derby on the next play for 16 yards. Then he found Kenny Stills for 21 yards as the clock hit the two-minute warning. The refs decided the drive should be over after that. However, as Tannehill found Wilson for 14-yards, only to have a pancake block from Daniel Kilgore get called for holding. Then, after Gesicki made an incredible grab as he was being cut down from behind, Tannehill found Gore for 12 yards, getting to the Raiders’ 13 yard line, but the refs decided that Stills being hit by a linebacker was somehow offensive pass interference and backed up Miami to the Oakland 35. After a sack on Tannehill on 3rd down, Miami punted. Raiders sixth possession: Two kneel downs led to halftime. Half-time. Raiders 10-7. Sign up HERE to take our weekly Dolphins survey. Third quarter. Dolphins receive the ball to start the second half. Dolphins sixth possession: Miami started the possession with a 10-yard pick up from Albert Wilson, only to have Grant called for Offensive Pass Interference for a replay of the down and a ten-yard loss.<doc-sep>The Oakland Raiders will hit the road for the second straight week in Week 3, as they take on the Miami Dolphins inside Hard Rock Stadium. Fresh off their second loss in as many weeks, the Oakland Raiders will now head to the East coast to take on the Miami Dolphins. Surprisingly, the Dolphins have gotten off to a 2-0 start in 2018, with their last victory coming on the road against AFC East rival New York inside Metlife Stadium. The Raiders have led at the half in both of their games this season, but just have not been able to finish. They faced arguably the best team in the NFL in Week 1, losing by 20 to the Los Angeles Rams, but it was a close game up until late in the third quarter. Last weekend, the Raiders held a 19-7 lead over Denver in the third quarter, and then proceeded to take their foot off the gas. Or maybe they were out of gas, but the fact is they need to play for four quarters if they are going to go into Hard Rock Stadium and pull out a victory against a team that has to be feeling good about themselves right now. Ryan Tannehill is back under center for Miami after missing all of last season, and he has developed a nice rapport with new wideout Danny Amendola. The running back tandem of Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore has worked out nicely in the early going for Miami, and their defense has looked a lot better than advertised. Here is our game preview for the Raiders Week 3 matchup against the Dolphins.<doc-sep>EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 16: Running back Bilal Powell #29 of the New York Jets carries the ball against linebacker Kiko Alonso #47 of the Miami Dolphins during the second half at MetLife Stadium on September 16, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) The Miami Dolphins are back home this week with a matchup against the Oakland Raiders. Both teams boast solid teams and winning individual matchups will be key for Miami to move to 3-0. Let’s dive into some of these match-ups for the Miami Dolphins. Kiko Alonso vs Jared Cook Kiko Alonso has looked like a different player this season. He is all over the place, making great plays and forcing turnovers. There is, however, a big test on the horizon. The last time Miami played Oakland, Jared Cook had a great day, going for 126 yards through the air. Containing Cook won’t only fall on the shoulders of Alonso but his importance in protecting against the pass is paramount to the Dolphins defense being successful. I highlighted Alonso as my player of the week because he is very important in shutting down the Oakland passing game. Amari Cooper vs Xavien Howard On one side of the field, we have a receiver who is struggling to get himself going in the early season. On the other, we have a defensive back who has played great, lockdown coverage to start the year. Cooper vs Howard will be an intriguing matchup to watch over the course of the game. If Howard can play effectively against Cooper, the Raiders passing attack will struggle. Couple that with Alonso’s play against Cook, and this defense will dominate on Sunday. Marshawn Lynch vs Davon Godchaux, Vincent Taylor and Akeem Spence Marshawn Lynch is one of the better running back in the leagues and one of the toughest to bring down. Miami’s run defense was not great against the Titans but improved dramatically against the Jets, holding them to 42 yards on the day. That was due to great penetration and stopping the run behind or at the line of scrimmage. Davon Godchaux has been playing great football over the first few weeks, and Taylor and Spence have been awesome compliments. They will need to dominate on the inside to shut down Marshawn Lynch and keep the Raider’s running game in check. Robert Quinn vs Donald Penn Battles in the trenches are always fun to watch when they pit two quality guys up against one another. Robert Quinn has been on a tear to start the season. Even though he only has one sack, he has been putting constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks and has been extremely disruptive. Donald Penn is a very solid tackle for the Raiders and will be tasked with settling down the Dolphin’s pass rush. Quinn isn’t going to just lay down and let Penn keep him from sacking Derek Carr, making this an extremely intriguing matchup to watch. Miami has a great chance to put up some points on Sunday and if they can win these matchups, they are going to have a great day.<doc-sep>	EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 16: Wide receiver Albert Wilson #15 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates his touchdown with teammates against the New York Jets in the second quarter at MetLife Stadium on September 16, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) The Miami Dolphins will head home this Sunday to take on the Oakland Raiders. Both teams come into the game with something to prove. Alright Miami Dolphins fans, on Sunday September 23rd in beautiful Miami Florida, at Hard Rock Stadium, your Miami Dolphins will take on the Oakland Raiders. A classic east coast-west coast match up between two franchises that seem headed in opposite directions. The 2-0 Miami Dolphins (sounds good, doesn’t it) are trending up after a victory against the lame green Jets in week 2. They showcased their young and talented defense and boy did they ever deliver the boom. Superior defensive line play, created turnovers and simply out hustling the Jets to a sweet divisional victory. The 0-2 Oakland Raiders come to town with their tails between their legs. Giving up a 12 point half time lead last week against the Denver Broncos and losing their divisional match-up 20-19. The Oakland Raiders loss, of what was arguably the best defensive player in the league Khalil Mack, definitely showed up, as their pass rush or lack thereof, was not what it once was. I would love to see a big talented tight end come in and dominate the middle of the field, but I am beginning to realize Mike Gesicki is not ready to take on that role yet, maybe next year and 25 extra pounds and some freaking blocking lessons, but that of course is a story for another time. The Dolphins defense will have their hands full with the Derek Carr and Amari Cooper combination, which both played pretty dam good last week. Derek Carr went 29 of 32 for 288 yards and 1 touchdown without much pass rush in his face. I don’t foresee them getting off like that against a pumped up Dolphins defense that is playing with a chip on its shoulder from all the national media disrespect. With the possibility of what I consider the best strong safety in the league, Reshad Jones, potentially being out for Sunday’s match-up, the Oakland Raiders might try to attack the Dolphins deep. The pass rush should be harassing Derek Carr all afternoon and if the defensive line can slow Marshawn Lynch down, it will be a long day for the Oakland Raiders offense. Kiko Alonso and fellow linebackers must contain Jared Cook who is playing well and is starting to develop nice chemistry with his QB. Jared Cook has a real knack for getting open down field, and could give the Dolphins linebackers some real issues if not blanketed early and often. It should be a humid, warm day on Sunday, with potential for scattered thunderstorms. The Oakland Raiders should be feeling the humidity and the jet lag from the coast to coast flight and that has historically proven to effect teams . The Miami dolphins cannot make the mistake of looking past this Oakland Raiders team, because of the looming divisional and statement game following the next week against the New England Patriots. The Raiders are looking to get in the win column and have talent, especially on the offensive side of the ball, but the Dolphins look to silence their critics with a solid performance against a team their expected to beat and I believe they will.
Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra just walked the red pink carpet and made their official Met Gala debut as a married couple. pink carpet and made their official Met Gala debut as a married couple. She is wearing a full crown. Priyanka Chopra has been posting throwback photos of herself at Met Galas of years past all afternoon, showing her followers that she’s fully capable of pulling looks every time. Finally, after popping some customized champagne bottles this afternoon, it’s her time to walk the pink carpet tonight, and she looks like an actual queen. Like, Priyanka took the camp theme and made it totally regal with a super-tall crown and ruffly ball gown, and she looked like she could walk right onto the set of the Jonas Brothers “Sucker” video in it. Luckily, somebody took a video of her and Nick Jonas heading to the gala, and she may have just won the night. If you zoom in, you can see that Nick is sporting a pencil-thin mustache, an ear cuff, and Dorothy-worthy sparkly shoes, and Priyanka filled in her eyebrows with a grayish-blue pencil. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. 📹 Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra on their way to the #MetGala ! (via georgiee_porgie) pic.twitter.com/3VpCa819cX — Jonas Brothers News (@jbrosnews) May 6, 2019 A closer look at her and Nick’s sparkly white suit: This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. OH MY GOD YES IM LIVING FOR THIS LOOK #MetGala pic.twitter.com/h9x1LcjjEw — alexa (@fraryIuvr) May 6, 2019 Nick and Priyanka have both attended the Met Gala before, but this is the first time they walked the gala’s red carpet as a couple because when they went together in 2017, they weren’t even dating yet. Back then, they only walked together because they were both wearing the same designer. Before they arrived tonight, Nick shared a photo of himself and Priyanka two years ago and wrote, “Little did I know, this incredible woman would become my bride.” @ Anna Wintour, please invite Priyanka and Nick to every single Met Gala until the end of time—this needs to be their annual tradition. K, TYSM! Shannon Barbour News Writer Shannon is a news writer at Cosmopolitan.com, and when she's not obsessing about Cardi B, she's thinking about Justin Bieber and still trying to memorize Beyoncé's Beychella choreography. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have returned to the Met Gala, the event where their love story began back in 2017. Tonight, the duo are now attending as husband and wife after tying the knot in multiple elaborate ceremonies back in December. Following the theme of camp, the Jonases pulled out all the stops for the red carpet, coordinating in silvery ornate ensembles only they could pull off. The Quantico alum went for a frothy gray Dior haute couture number with cage detailing on the corset and multicolored feathers at the hem. And yes, it came with a cape. (You thought Priyanka was done with trains after she wore a 20-foot design to the Met Gala two years ago? No, way.) Dimitrios Kambouris Getty Images Her hubby kept up in a white suit over a bejeweled shirt and tie. He went for extra sparkle in silver metallic shoes and luxe jewelry from Chopard including a necklace, ring, and a timepiece featuring 38.30-carats of diamonds set in 18k white gold. Dia Dipasupil Getty Images This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. NICK AND PRIYANKA OH MY GOD #METGALA pic.twitter.com/2z7r9cc9OT — jane grace (@janexstyles) May 6, 2019 Chopra went for far-from-subtle makeup, with bold fuchsia eyeshadow, white eyeliner, frosted lashes, bold berry lipstick, and face gems. To top it off, she teased her hair and finished off her look with a sky-high crown. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Priyanka and Nick famously attended the Met together in 2017 as guests of Ralph Lauren, when she wore a trench coat-turned-dream gown and he sported a printed jacket and bowtie. Priyanka and Nick at the 2017 Met Gala. Jackson Lee Getty Images At the time, Chopra said of having Jonas as her impromptu date, "We were at the same table. I mean, we know each other so we were just like, 'Hey let's go together,' and I was like, 'Okay, let's go together.' And it just ended up working out." It sure did. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>Priyanka Chopra continued looking enchanting hours after the Met Gala started, when she attended the Standard Hotel's after party in the most sparkly Dior romper with her husband Nick Jonas. She wore crystal-adorned leggings and carried a metallic mini purse. Jonas wore a black suit, though he had his own doses of glitter: His silver chain and watch. Splash News The couple started their night in two much more costumey looks by Dior. Chopra looked very much like Glinda the Good Witch in a silver Dior dress adorned with gradient pink, yellow, and magenta feathers at the bottom. She topped the look off with a crown. She and Jonas shared a kiss while posing for photographers there (as Chopra wrote on Instagram of the PDA, "Sometimes u just have to sneak it in!!") He, meanwhile, was in a white suit by Dior Men: Rabbani and Solimene Photography Getty Images Taylor Hill Getty Images This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Chopra shared a shot of them posing outside the after party, writing, "He makes me sparkle." She also shared a photograph of them inside the party, hanging with friends. "Charlie and the Indian angels end the night .." she wrote. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. It's no surprise that throughout the night, Jonas let his wife take the sartorial spotlight. He told Entertainment Tonight ahead of Met Gala Monday that he was planning to let Chopra literally shine in the statement look. "It's coming together," he said of his own outfit two weeks ago. "To be honest, I'm very excited, I love the Met Gala, it's always a fun night, but Priyanka will set the tone, and I'm just going to be there to support her. So I plan to keep it simple and let her shine." Alyssa Bailey News and Strategy Editor Alyssa Bailey is the news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>Getty Images It was a dazzling date night at the Met Gala for the Jonas Brothers on Monday (May 6). Well... for two of them, at least. While Kevin was savoring some quality family time at home, his younger bros Joe and Nick accompanied their respective spouses to the star-studded ball, rocking quite the eye-catching looks. Let's start with Joe and Sophie Turner, who made their red carpet debut as a married couple after spontaneously tying the knot in Las Vegas last week. They rocked '80s-inspired, geometric ensembles, with the Game of Thrones actress turning heads in a belted jumpsuit, electric blue eye makeup, and metallic highlights in her hair. Getty Images As for Nick and Priyanka Chopra Jonas — who are co-chairs of this year's event — they returned to the spot where all the romantic buzz about them started. The pair attended the Met Gala in 2017 as each other's date for Ralph Lauren, but weren't together at the time. Before arriving tonight, Nick reflected on that evening by sharing a throwback pic on his Instagram Story and writing, "Little did I know, this incredible woman would become my bride." Awww! Fashion-wise, Priyanka commanded attention with a regal twist on the evening's "Camp" theme, wearing a silver dress with a feathered skirt and a towering crown. Her husband, meanwhile, looked sharp in a white suit with silver bedazzles shoes, a stylish ear cuff, and a thin mustache that resembles the ones he and Joe both flaunted in the band's "Cool" video. Getty Images Which Mr. and Mrs. Jonas rocked the pink carpet better? We'll leave that to you to decide.<doc-sep>	Nick Jonas and his wife, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, are serving up major looks on the Met Gala red carpet! The lovebirds turned heads for fashion's biggest night out in New York City on Monday, stepping out in coordinating ensembles that perfectly matched the "Camp: Notes on Fashion" theme. Chopra looked straight out of a storybook -- and even channeled the Jonas Brothers' "Sucker" music video -- with her feminine look. The Baywatch star dazzled in a multicolored, ruffled creation that featured a silver-and-mesh, see-through, corset-like top; a long draping cape; and sequined pantyhose. Her hair was short and poufy with a crown on the top. Her beauty look was vivid with pink-and-silver eye shadow and a burgundy lip. Jonas, meanwhile, looked sharp in a full white suit with silver bedazzled shoes and a stylish ear cuff. Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue The event is an extra special one for the couple, as just two years ago at the gala, they sparked romance rumors when they walked the red carpet together for the first time. Both wore ensembles by Ralph Lauren and reportedly said at the time that they were just friends. Karwai Tang/WireImage While speaking to ET last month, Nick said this year's ball will be a "full circle moment" for him and his wife, who are both serving as co-chairs. "It's pretty cool," said Nick, who tied the knot with Priyanka last December. "I hope I get a clipboard with all the names to make sure everybody's on the list. I don't actually know what my responsibilities are, but I'm really thrilled they asked us to do that." Nick also teased his outfit, saying, "It's coming together." "To be honest, I'm very excited," he gushed. "I love the Met Gala. It's always a fun night. But Priyanka will set the tone, and I'm just going to be there to support her. I plan to keep it simple and let her shine." Click through the slideshow below for more fierce looks from the 2019 Met Gala red carpet: RELATED CONTENT: Nick Jonas Gives Wife Priyanka a Sweet Kiss During Jonas Brothers' Performance at 2019 Billboard Music Awards Nick Jonas Says 2019 Met Gala With Priyanka Chopra Will Be a 'Full Circle Moment' (Exclusive) Nick Jonas on Priyanka Chopra's Close Friendship With Joe's Fiancee Sophie Turner (Exclusive)
Veere Di Wedding is centred on four close friends – Kalindi (Kareena Kapoor Khan), Avni (Sonam Kapoor), Sakshi (Swara Bhaskar), and Meera (Shikha Talsania) – who are caught in varying degrees of confusion and trouble. Kalindi is about to get married to Rishabh (Sumeeet Vyas), a guy she’s been dating for three years, but she’s not sure. She loves him and he loves her too, she says, but what does that have to do with marriage? Avni, a lawyer, is constantly pressurised by her mother (Neena Gupta) to get married. Sakshi is about to divorce her husband and, for the same reason, doesn’t get along with her parents. Meera, the mother of a two-year-old boy, is happily married to an American, living a content life, but she hasn’t spoken to her uncle, her long-time guardian, in years. This bunch is meeting after long, in Delhi, for Kalindi’s wedding. Hindi films haven’t had a long history of female ensembles. Of late though, a few films, such as Angry Indian Goddesses, Parched, and Lipstick Under My Burkha, have bucked that trend. These films, barring Angry Indian Goddess’ awful climax, have been entertaining and intense, but it wasn’t hard to gauge that they for various reasons, either due to astute marketing or straightjacketed expectations, were primarily projected and seen as ‘feminist’ dramas – the implication being that a movie with an all-female cast had to be ‘something’, that it couldn’t be itself, a film like any other trying to tell an entertaining story. To be fair, those films were label friendly to an extent, with their plots and resolutions clearly feminist in nature. Veere Di Wedding, however, is a much simpler film – if you want to be blunt, you can call it a much dumber film. Here the protagonists are privileged and shallow, their engagement with the world is limited to failed relationships. That may sound like a demerit, but it also frees the film from the baggage of ideology and representation, allowing it to find its way. And when Veere Di Wedding does find its way, when it is at its finest, it brings the house down. Sakshi is, by far, the most rambunctious of the lot. Perpetually smoking cigarettes or downing drinks, she has little regard for propriety. Bhaskar, who usually plays hard-hitting characters, slips into this role with ease and seems to be having a lot of fun. Her Sakshi is what most good characters are: consistent, compelling, unpredictable. Even Kalindi and Meera (Talsania is wonderful) are well-written characters. (#SpoilerAlert: Sonam Kapoor still can’t act and threatens to ruin the movie every time she’s in the frame). The joy of watching Veere Di Wedding is the joy of watching several firsts. It feels liberating to see female characters just be in a Bollywood drama. Unlike most films, here their conversations don’t revolve around men. In fact, some of them hide things from each other. Early in the film, Sakshi is in her car, berating her parents over the phone. When Meera enters the car, asking who was on the phone, Sakshi replies, “Oh nothing, Airtel.” Then much later Meera, while vacationing in Phuket with her friends, reveals an embarrassing personal detail of her life. Many scenes in Veere Di Wedding have an infectious, life-like quality to them, like eavesdropping on a conversation among close friends. Scenes often flow in and out of each other easily. The characters and their conversations, as a result, aren’t substitutes for ideologies. Veere Di Wedding accumulates its victories slowly. They are in scenes where an expensive wedding dress – or the wedding itself – isn’t an end in itself, in bits where Meera gets annoyed by her son (motherhood cannot vanquish your own self), in portions where Kalindi derides the marriage’s patriarchal norms. This should be the default level for such a ginormous and profitable film industry, but Bollywood is particularly slow to change, so even basic efforts seem path breaking. A film that makes you laugh – and Veere Di Wedding does that a lot till its first half – becomes easy to like. So when its flaws start to appear to the point that they threaten to outsize its merits, it causes more disappointment than usual. Veere Di Wedding revels in its comedic strains, but sometimes it tries too hard, and the outcome is silly and contrived. For instance, it’s one thing to show Sakshi as a chain smoker, it’s quite the other to show her with a cigarette all the time (even inside a mall). Similarly, Khan, who is otherwise fine in the film, has a tendency to act for the camera, making funny, exasperated expressions even when she’s by herself. Neena Gupta’s character, too, overdoes her marriage fixation. Since Veere Di Wedding is primarily a comedy, it is always looking to milk any funny scenario, but such efforts, when not backed by credible writing, start looking trite. What’s worse: their triteness is easily evident. The film is particularly weak in its final segment, when it tries to give some shape – an overarching sense of seriousness – to this freewheeling drama. These scenes, dealing with different familial misunderstandings – between a father and a daughter, an uncle and a niece, two brothers – should have been well written, showing how family dynamics can be complex, fluctuating, and even absurd at times. Instead we get plot turns that seem too convenient and neat, rushing to wrap up the film. Besides, the individual outcomes of the characters’ stories, which more or less confirm the status quo, are disappointing. Veere Di Wedding needn’t have gone anywhere else for inspiration, its first half – breezy, unruly, bawdy – would have been cue enough.<doc-sep>Veere Di Wedding, starring Sonam Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Swara Bhaskar, and Shikha Talsania, finally hit the theatres on Friday and is getting mixed reviews from the critics. Directed by Shashanka Ghosh, the film revolves around the life of four friends Kalindi (Kareena), Sakshi (Swara), Avni (Sonam), and Meera (Shikha) as they try to figure out life. While Divya Pal of News18 in her review called it an " engaging film let down by its flaws ," it is a review by the aam janta that is going viral on social media. In what seems like a video straight out of AIB's "honest" series, the disappointed lady tears apart Veere Di Wedding under 2 minutes. Some gems from her review: > "Sets bahot acche hain. Bahot sundar film hai. Log bhi bahot sundar hai. Story bhi sundar hai. Lekin koi feel nahi hai isme. (The sets are pretty. The film is very pretty. The actors are pretty. The story is also pretty. But there is no feel in the movie)" > "Agar aapka dil dukh gaya ya aap ameer ho toh aap Thailand ja sakte ho, yeh ek cheez seekha hai maine iss movie se. (If you are heartbroken and rich, you go to Thailand. That's one thing this movie has taught me." > "Acting ki jagah product placement kar diya hai (There's more product placement than acting in the movie.)" > "Gaane bhi acche hain but gaane aap YouTube sunn lijiye kyunki picture mein aapko itna maza nahi aayega. (The songs are nice but you can watch them on YouTube because you won't enjoy them in the movie.)"<doc-sep>Kareena Kapoor Khan and Sonam Kapoor's Veere Di Wedding has emerged as the third highest opener of 2018, till now. Although we were already predicting a phenomenal start for an-all female squad comedy, it has exceeded all expectations. Earning a whooping Rs 10.70 crore at the box office on Friday itself, the film has beaten Akshay Kumar's Pad Man and Ajay Devgn's crime drama Raid to secure the third spot in the list of biggest openers of 2018. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh confirmed the opening day business of the film by tweeting box office figures. He posted: "#VeereDiWedding has a WINNING START on Day 1... Makes its way into the TOP 5 OPENERS of 2018... Expected to build up a SOLID TOTAL over the weekend... Fri ₹ 10.70 cr. India biz." (sic) #VeereDiWedding has a WINNING START on Day 1... Makes its way into the TOP 5 OPENERS of 2018... Expected to build up a SOLID TOTAL over the weekend... Fri ₹ 10.70 cr. India biz.— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) June 2, 2018 Veere Di Wedding unleashes the wild side of its four female protagonists and revolves around childhood friendships and everlasting bonds. The story centers around Kareena's Kalindi Puri who is reluctantly set to marry Sumeet Vyas and what unfolds is bumpy, but an interesting, ride for the said friends. In his review of Veere Di Wedding, CNN-News18's film critic Rajeev Masand said, "Shikha Talsania and especially Swara Bhaskar nail the outrageous lines without a hint of inhibition, and Kareena Kapoor brings some feeling into even the most schmaltzy, manipulative scenes."<doc-sep>	Veere Di Wedding features Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Swara Bhasker and Shikha Talsania in the lead Veere Di Wedding features Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Swara Bhasker and Shikha Talsania in the lead Movies are usually categorised into three brackets by viewers– good, bad or somewhere in between. Just like life. But Shashanka Ghosh’s Veere Di Wedding has pushed that definition to a new extreme. It has pushed that envelope to reveal a fourth category for defining films. Films that cannot be defined as films, because they are NOT. Veere Di Wedding makes even the edited and regular wedding videos look great. And no, it’s not so bad that it’s good. Veere Di Wedding is just bad. Led by the cast of Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Swara Bhasker and Shikha Talsania, Veere Di Wedding is a pretentious attempt at ‘redefining’ female-led cinema. The film is set in Delhi, and the actors’ characters are obnoxiously rich, so, basically, they are meant to be South Delhi girls. Even the ones who are supposed to be relatively poor, are not poor. There are farmhouses, villas and vacation trips to exotic foreign locales. So far, so predictable. But what is perhaps the most disappointing thing about this star-studded film is that it has no ‘redeeming’ factors to speak of. And I say, none. Both Bhasker and Talsania shine in a couple of moments but they are so few and far in between that it really cannot save the film. As far as the supporting cast goes, Sumeet Vyas’ Rishabh Malhotra, Vishwas Kini’s Bhandari, and Vivek Mushran’s Cookie chacha are likable enough, but then again, they were hardly there in the movie. The movie is about the ‘Veeres,’ a term used to address the Punjabi male. But if you are planning to go to the movie for more subversions, you would be making a mistake. The script is shallow, the characters are not even two-dimensional. They are just there, they just exist, as a half of some forgotten whole. To be brutally honest, the Race 3 trailer that was aired during the intermission of the movie filled me with more joy than Veere Di Wedding in its entirety. Four women – Kaalindi (Kareena Kapoor), Avni (Sonam Kapoor), Sakshi (Swara Bhasker), and Meera (Shikha Talsania) deal with first world problems in a third world country. One has commitment issues, another is desperate for a companion, the third is a spoilt kid dealing with an ugly divorce and the fourth is the only who seems like she has life somewhat figured out. Okay, so Veere Di Wedding has no performances to boast of, a narrative that never falters because to falter, you will have to take that first step which it never does, and to top it all, it barely has a single fun moment to write of. In fact, Veere Di Wedding is a film that you cannot even poke fun at; even Mithun Chakraborty’s Classic Dance of Love was a blast, compared to this non-film. An immensely forgettable affair, this one.
Trainor walked down the aisle to "Marry Me," an original song she wrote inspired by Sabara. "My father started bawling as soon as he was done handing me off to Daryl," she says of dad Gary Trainor. "That's when I almost lost it — it took all of me not to cry tears of joy because I wanted to look good for the pictures!"<doc-sep>I must be real with you, my friends. Every fiber of my being was expecting to dislike this. I mean, the use of the word "hubby" automatically makes me wonder where we went wrong as a species.<doc-sep>Meghan Trainor said 'I do' to Daryl Sabara during a winter wonderland ceremony at the end of December 2018. And footage from the special day was used for her new Marry Me music video, which was released on Friday, giving her a fans an eyeful. The blonde beauty, best known for her hit song All About That Bass, looked stunning in her ballroom gown with long sheer veil as she stood at the altar with her Spy Kids actor fiance. I do: Meghan Trainor said 'I do' to Daryl Sabara during a winter wonderland ceremony at the end of December 2018 New look: And footage from the special day was used for her new Marry Me music video, which was released on Friday, giving her a fans an eyeful Lovely: The blonde beauty, best known for her hit song All About That Bass, looked stunning in her ballroom gown with long sheer veil as she stood at the altar with her Spy Kids actor fiance She is seen getting ready for her big day as she is in a massive glam room with a big team around her. Trainor smiles as she is in the glam chair getting her light hair curled and her makeup done. She doesn't seem at all nervous. The star is also seen hugging family and then walking down the aisle. Big day: Almost every part of their wedding was covered from the ceremony to the reception to the dance Touching: They tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at their LA homes, surrounded by their 100 closest family and friends Details: 'It's the beginning of an awesome, whole new life. I got way more than I ever wished for,' Meghan told People The happy bride loved all the dances: 'I'm the luckiest guy in the world,' Sabara said at the time of the nuptials No expense was spared for he lovely couple: There were tulips and hydrangeas in stunning crystal vases They tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at their LA homes, surrounded by their 100 closest family and friends. 'It's the beginning of an awesome, whole new life. I got way more than I ever wished for,' Meghan told People. 'I'm the luckiest guy in the world,' Sabara said. It was the happiest day of her life: Meghan was beautiful in her off-shoulder gown and she held hands with her husband with pride and joy A dream wedding for any woman: The singer held onto a stunning bouquet with several different types of white flowers They could not stop kissing each other: Here the groom went in for a smooch to his pretty young wife She looked very happy with her husband: There was love all over her face when she looked at the actor The couple recited hand written vows for the ceremony. Making things even more special, the wedding took place on Meghan's 25th birthday. The bride wore a Berta gown, Badgley Mischka heels and Norman Silverman jewels. Afterwards she switched into a lace suit by Rita Vinieris paired with Aldo sneakers perfectly primed for some dancing. I do I do I do: The couple recited hand written vows for the ceremony. Making things even more special, the wedding took place on Meghan's 25th birthday Expensive and awesome: The bride wore a Berta gown, Badgley Mischka heels and Norman Silverman jewels Fun day for all: Here she is seen staring at her husband and also being walked down the aisle Guests indulged in select comfort foods and other of the stars' favorite dishes. The pair are looking forward to wedded life, telling People that they excited to 'rock' their rings and 'to say 'hubby' and 'husband.'' The couple first met at a house party in 2014 and then in 2016 reconnected via pal and actress Chloe Grace Moretz. Sabara proposed to Trainor in December 2017. So much sugar, but worth it: The wedding cake had four tiers and was all white with flowers down the front A nice touch: Candles floated in water next to white roses; the arrangements were all over the ceremony Gown: Afterwards she switched into a lace suit by Rita Vinieris paired with Aldo sneakers perfectly primed for some dancing. Here is her engagement ring The setting: The white room had chairs, tables, sofas and a long buffet area for the many guests Meghan donned Berta gown and the dress' designer, Berta Balilti, told People, that it featured a handmaid veil and a cape covered with hundreds of hand-sewn appliqués, crystals and beads. 'Meghan loved the Berta look and style to begin with, and she had her eyes set on a specific new design from the brand's new Athens collection,' said the Israeli designer. 'She just had a few modification requests to make it a bit more modest, but the main inspiration was a sparkly glamorous look, which we're known for.' The dress took two months to construct and Baliti said, Meghan 'looked super tasteful.' Fun day: She is seen getting ready for her big day as she is in a massive glam room with a big team around her<doc-sep>	Forget wedding pictures. Meghan Trainor just gave us a music video that showed her entire wedding to Daryl Sabara, from the winter wonderland décor to the moment they exchanged vows! Meghan Trainor, 25, and Spy Kids star Daryl Sabara, 26, married in an intimate backyard ceremony on Dec. 22, 2018, and their wedding just got even more up close and personal — for us! Nearly two months after the nuptials, Meghan released her “Marry Me” video on Feb. 15, which serves as both a music video and recap of the wedding that took place in Los Angeles. Kudos to the videographer, because no detail was left out. The multi-tiered wedding cake, the newlyweds’ march down the aisle, the epic dance party afterwards — everything made it into the video. Watch it below. The wedding planner also deserves a pat on the back, because the venue looked straight out of a high-end production of The Nutcracker! A canopy of white lights lit up the audience seats and walkway, and everything else followed the iced-out theme: there were white rose backdrops, and a reception room outfitted like a swanky igloo. The dozens upon dozens of crystals, beads and embellishments on Meghan’s Berta wedding dress illuminated even more, thanks to the same number of lights draped above the wedding party! Here’s where it gets especially sentimental. You see, “Marry Me” wasn’t simply edited in as background music for the wedding video. The “Me Too” singer revealed she “walked down the aisle” to her own song, “Marry Me,” during an EXCLUSIVE interview with HollywoodLife! The song is actually a part of Meghan’s new EP, The Love Train, which dropped on Feb. 8 and “is literally [her] love story told in six songs,” the pop star told us. Meghan’s so head over heels for her new husband, she accidentally wrote “too many love songs” for her upcoming third album (Treat Myself), and decided to round them up for a separate project instead. “So I took those extra special love songs, and my manager was like, ‘Let’s try to run Valentine’s Day!’ And I was like, ‘All right, I have never seen that done before… So let’s do it!’” she recalled. An excellent idea. Daryl proposed to Meghan on her 24th birthday in 2017, and they tied the knot on her 25th birthday. This love story has come full circle.
The dates for the Blues first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets have been announced. ST. LOUIS — The Blues finished off the regular season with a shootout win Saturday afternoon, locking in a playoff series with the Winnipeg Jets. On Sunday, the NHL announced the schedule for the first-round showdown, which starts on Wednesday. The dates and times are as follows: Game 1 in Winnipeg: Wednesday, April 10 at 7 p.m. Game 2 in Winnipeg: Friday, April 12 at 8:30 p.m. Game 3 in St. Louis: Sunday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m. Game 4 in St. Louis: Tuesday, April 16 at 8:30 p.m. Game 5 in Winnipeg: Thursday, April 18 Time TBD Game 6 in St. Louis: Saturday, April 20 Time TBD *Game 7 in Winnipeg: Monday, April 22 Time TBD<doc-sep>The Winnipeg Jets are going to face the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the playoffs thanks to both teams winning yesterday (more on the Jets win later) and the schedule is out. The Jets have no back to backs in the first round and the series starts on Wednesday. This is as good of a schedule as you can ask for in the playoffs. They don’t start until Wednesday which means that Josh Morrissey has a bit more time to get ready for game action. This would be a major boost for the Jets even though Nathan Beaulieu has been filling in admirably. As for the rest of the team: this means that Connor Hellebuyck can play in every game and there are travel days there between every game. This is the idea situation for the Jets truth be told.<doc-sep>Check back later on today for your first round preview - after last night’s win against the Arizona Coyotes, the Winnipeg Jets will be the Blues’ first round opponent, and there’s a lot to talk about. As it stands, here’s the schedule for the first four games of round one, with the Jets claiming home ice. One thing to take note is that since the Blues are playing a Canadian team, none of these games are on NBCSN or NBC. Hopefully your cable provider has the NHL Network and CNBC, or else you’re SOL for playoff coverage if you’re outside of the St. Louis area.. Also take note that the Blues’ first home game against the Jets starts at 6:30 Central, so drive home from work quickly if that’s where you’ve been.<doc-sep>ST. LOUIS, MO - NOVEMBER 24: St. Louis Blues rightwing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) takes a shot on goal in the first period during a NHL game between the Winnipeg Jets and the St. Louis Blues on November 24, 2018, at Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) There were a lot of possible scenarios for the St. Louis Blues on the last day of the regular season. Now, the chips have fallen and we know what’s going on. The St. Louis Blues won their final game of the 2018-19 regular season against the Vancouver Canucks. Based on the other results the Blues had at the end of the year, that was all they could do to put pressure elsewhere. The problem was the opponents for their divisional rivals. The Chicago Blackhawks and their porous defense was trying to contain the Nashville Predators. The Winnipeg Jets were taking on the Arizona Coyotes. The Coyotes were a tougher opponent, but they were already knocked out of the playoffs by the time the final day began. So, basically it all boiled down to that Nashville game. If they lost, the likeliest scenario would have had St. Louis hosting the Predators. If they won, they won the division. When Chicago jumped out to a 2-0 lead, it was an icky feeling. We were excited about it, but how much can you really be on the side of the Blackhawks? Of course, they could not hold it. Nashville would unleash hell and score five unanswered goals en route to a 5-2 win. That sealed everyone’s fate. The Predators would get the top wild card seed as an opponent. The Blues and Jets would face one another. The only thing left is the late-night result for the Jets and Coyotes to decide home ice advantage. Now, it’s up to each fan to decide whether this is a good thing or not. In the regular season, the Blues played the best against Nashville. However, the Predators have a lot of playoff experience lately. The Blues had bad regular season records against Dallas and Winnipeg. Even so, most fans were more comfortable with them. Ultimately, the Jets are the team the Blues now have to beat. St. Louis was 1-3 against the Jets in the regular season. They lost by an average of two goals per game. It is difficult to tell how much any of that means though. All four games were before Christmas, so the Blues never played Winnipeg when St. Louis was at their best. Nevertheless, the Jets have owned the Blues at times. The losses saw the Blues outscored 18-9. Additionally, the Jets like to play a similar style to the Blues. They play heavy and have the bodies to back it up, while the Blues are a little smaller but still try to get in your face. If the Blues are to win this series, they will have to score goals. If the Jets can be had, it is on the defensive end, giving up almost 250 totals goals. There will be time to go further into this series in the coming days. For now, the team knows what they have in front of them. It’s the Jets and this should be a wild, heavy series.<doc-sep>	The Winnipeg Jets will settle for home-ice advantage in a playoff matchup with the St. Louis Blues after the Nashville Predators captured the Central Division title on Saturday. Nashville finished off a tight three-team race for the division crown with a 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Later, the Jets locked up second place in the Central and home-ice advantage against the Blues in the first round by beating the Arizona Coyotes 4-2. The NHL will unveil the first-round playoff schedule on Sunday morning. The Jets gave up their division lead by losing five of their last six before their date in Arizona. Nashville, with the win on Saturday, also overtook the Blues in the standings. St. Louis temporarily moved into first with a 3-2 shootout win over the Vancouver Canucks in the afternoon, but the Blues ultimately finished third. The Predators will face Dallas in the opening round of the playoffs after the Stars secured the first wild-card spot with 3-0 win over the Minnesota Wild. That result set up a Calgary Flames-Colorado Avalanche clash in the first round of the playoffs. The other West series will pit the San Jose Sharks against the Vegas Golden Knights. In the East, Columbus coach John Tortorella will get a chance to face one of his old teams in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Columbus finished with the second wild-card spot in the East, while the Lightning finished atop the league standings. The defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals will open against the Carolina Hurricanes, who got the first wild-card spot in the East. The New York Islanders clinched second in the Metropolitan Division with a 3-0 win over Washington, meaning they'll get home-ice advantage for a first-round series for the first time since 1988 when they face the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the other East matchup, the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs square off in a first-round series for the second year in a row. Boston won in seven games last season.
WASHINGTON • The Senate passed legislation on healthcare and water quality, and approved 16 more federal judges during the week of Oct. 8-12. However, the list of judicial approvals did not include St. Louis lawyer Stephen Clark as a federal judge in the Eastern District of Missouri. He was passed out of the Judiciary Committee last month on a party-line vote. His nomination has run into opposition from Democratic senators, and abortion rights and gay rights groups. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said he expects all judicial nominees awaiting confirmation, including Clark, to get floor votes before the end of the year, and to be confirmed. But the full Senate is not likely to meet between now and Nov. 13 after a deal struck with Democrats to approve the spate of 16 judges and other nominees to federal positions on Thursday. Grassley tweeted that he was “glad to report” that this Congress has now approved 84 judicial nominees of President Donald Trump, including Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.<doc-sep>WASHINGTON (CN) – The Senate on Thursday confirmed 15 of President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees, including three to federal appeals courts. Many of the nominees senators sent to the federal bench on Thursday evening received at least some bipartisan support, though several were controversial. The Senate confirmed Third Circuit nominee David Porter 50-45, even though Porter did not receiving the approval of Senator Bob Casey, D-Pa., who said the White House chose Porter for the vacancy despite Casey making his objections to his nomination clear. Under the tradition known as the blue slip, home-state senators have in the past been asked to sign off on a nominee before he or she receives a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Chuck Grassley, the Iowa Republican who chairs the Judiciary Committee, has said, however, that he will no longer allow a single senator to hold up the nomination of a circuit court judge, whose rulings will impact multiple states. Casey announced his opposition to Porter on the day Trump announced he intended to nominate the Pittsburgh attorney to the vacancy, calling Porter “outside the mainstream” of legal thought. Porter has worked at the Pittsburgh firm Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney since 1994, starting as an associate and rising to the position of shareholder in 2002. Porter faced questions during his nomination process about articles he wrote commenting on the Supreme Court case that challenged the federal health care law’s individual mandate. Porter wrote the justices should strike down the provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that required most people purchase health insurance and later wrote that the court’s 5-4 decision upholding individual mandate “sits uneasily with the law’s history, structure and text.” Porter told senators during his nomination hearing he wrote the opinion pieces as a lawyer giving his personal view of a live legal dispute and that he would have no problem following the court’s precedent if confirmed to the Third Circuit. “Lawyers who aren’t judicial nominees are free to make comment, lawyers who are nominees are not so much at liberty to make comment,” Porter said at his nomination hearing in June. “And there’s a difference between, you know, giving advice and taking orders and in that instance I gave my advice and if confirmed it would be my turn to take orders.” Porter earned confirmation in a 50-45 vote that broke along party lines, with Senators Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., not voting on any of the nominees confirmed Thursday. Senator Pat Toomey, R-Pa., praised Porter in a statement Thursday, citing his reputation in Pennsylvania. “I am confident that with his extensive experience and commitment to treating everyone fairly under the law, Mr. Porter will make a terrific addition to the Third Circuit bench,” Toomey said. “David Porter’s published works reveal an ideology that will serve only the wealthy and powerful as opposed to protecting the rights of all Americans,” Casey said in a statement after Porter’s confirmation.” “His record indicates that workers, families and everyday Pennsylvanians will be worse off with him on the bench.” Ninth Circuit nominee Ryan Nelson earned one more vote than Porter did on Thursday, receiving confirmation 51-44. Nelson has worked as general counsel at wellness products company Melaleuca since 2009 and was nominated last year to serve as solicitor for the Department of the Interior. While Trump withdrew Nelson’s nomination to that position in May in the face of Democratic opposition, his confirmation hearing for the job focused some of the opposition to his nomination, which centered on his record on environmental issues. At his hearing for the Interior Department job, Nelson testified that “the climate is changing and many factors influence that change” and Democrats and liberal groups have said he also helped fight environmental court challenges while with the Justice Department’s Natural Resources Division during the George W. Bush administration. Nelson assured Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., in response to written questions submitted after his nomination hearing that he would be able to separate his personal opinions from his obligations as a judge when hearing environmental issues. “The art of good judging is tethering yourself so closely to the rule of law and the Constitution, including any legal evaluation of scientific evidence in a specific case or controversy, that personal beliefs do not dictate the outcome of any issue or case,” Nelson wrote. Senator Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, praised Nelson’s confirmation in a statement Thursday. “Ryan has been widely recognized by his colleagues for his judgment and legal expertise and will serve our nation well on the Ninth Circuit,” Crapo said. “In his new position, Ryan will respect and be a servant of the law. He understands that a judge is responsible for interpreting and applying the Constitution and laws of the land as they are written, and not to be a maker of laws from the bench. I congratulate Ryan on his confirmation.” The final circuit court judge the Senate confirmed on Thursday won overwhelming support, as the Senate voted 79-16 to send Judge Richard Sullivan to the Second Circuit. Sullivan has been a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York since 2007. He also served for more than a decade as a federal prosecutor in New York City and spent time as general counsel for both Marsh & McLennan Companies and Marsh Inc. Sullivan leaned on his judicial experience during his confirmation process, assuring senators his time already behind the bench has given him valuable perspective, experience and respect for precedent. “I would say, senator, that I am not a blank slate on this,” Sullivan said at his nomination hearing in August. “I’ve got a body of work over 11 years and I think I’ve certainly demonstrated my willingness to follow precedent. Not just a willingness, it’s a recognition that our system only works when lower courts follow the precedents of higher courts.” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., voted against Sullivan’s nomination on Thursday, though her fellow New York Senator Chuck Schumer voted to confirm him. After approving Porter, Nelson and Sullivan to their respective circuit courts, the Senate then cleared a backlog of federal district court nominees. Some of the nominees approved on Thursday have been awaiting confirmation for nearly a year, including Mark Norris, whom the Senate Judiciary Committee first approved in December 2017. Norris has a history in politics, currently serving as the majority leader of the Tennessee State Senate. A member of the body since 2000, Norris’ time as a Republican state lawmaker gave Democrats several points at which to oppose his nomination. Chief among these was Norris’ work on several anti-abortion laws, including an amendment to the Tennessee Constitution that would have given state lawmakers broad authority to write laws restricting access to abortion. Like most judicial nominees, Norris did not answer many questions about his views on abortion, citing judicial ethical guidelines that caution judges against commenting on cases that might come before them. Instead, Norris assured senators he would respect precedent if confirmed. “In my role as a legislator representing constituents, I cosponsored this bill, which was intended to ensure proper health standards at any facility at which [a] surgical procedure to terminate a pregnancy is performed,” Norris wrote to Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., in response to questions submitted in writing after his nomination hearing. “If I am fortunate enough to be confirmed, I would set aside both my own preferences and those of my former constituents.” Norris cleared the Senate 51-44 on Thursday evening and will now serve on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. Nearly as controversial was Eli Richardson, who has worked at the Nashville, Tenn., firm Bass, Berry & Sims since 2010. Richardson took a break from practicing law from 1998 to 2002, when he became a special agent with the FBI. After leaving the agency, he spent two years as a federal prosecutor in New Jersey, taking the same job in Nashville in 2004.<doc-sep>Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his caucus will likely endure some liberal criticism for accepting the deal. \| Alex Brandon/AP Photo Congress Democrats agree to confirmations of 15 Trump judges In exchange, Dems facing reelection can go home to campaign. Senate Democrats accepted an offer Thursday from Senate Republicans to confirm 15 lifetime federal judges in exchange for the ability to go into recess through the midterms, allowing endangered Democrats to campaign. The calculation by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his caucus was simple: That Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) would be able to confirm roughly 15 judges if he kept the Senate in session for the next few weeks anyway. So Democrats OK’d an offer to confirm three Circuit Court judges and 12 Circuit Court judges as the price to pay to go home for election season. Under Senate rules, even if Democrats fought the nominees tooth and nail and forced the Senate to burn 30 hours of debate between each one, McConnell would have gotten them all confirmed by Nov. 1. Democrats could have conceivably left a skeleton crew of senators in Washington to force the GOP to take roll call votes on the judges over the next few weeks, although that tactic is not typically employed by the minority. Some liberal activists are urging Democrats to show more fight after Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court; Markos Moulitsas of Daily Kos even said that Democrats “need a new Senate leader” after the agreement was struck. But senators had to weigh that dynamic along with the approaching midterms and the brutal Senate map. And with a half-dozen Democrats facing serious challenges in Senate races, it made more sense to make what Democrats said was a reasonable deal with McConnell so that they could make a serious run at saving endangered senators. Sign up here for POLITICO Huddle A daily play-by-play of congressional news in your inbox. Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or updates from POLITICO and you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service. You can unsubscribe at any time and you can contact us here. This sign-up form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) deadpanned that he was “tickled” pink that he could go home and campaign in Montana, where his race against Matt Rosendale is tightening. “If we stayed here for two or three weeks, we’d probably have done the same thing,” Tester said. “I think it’s good.” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren told the caucus that she opposed the deal, the lone Democrat to voice displeasure, according to a person briefed on the meeting. McConnell and President Donald Trump will now have confirmed 84 judges over the past two years, including two Supreme Court nominees, after the deal. Democrats also allowed a package of judges to be confirmed in August as a condition of going home. Though Senate Democratic leaders advised the agreement to their members on Thursday afternoon, several senators said on the way to the votes they were unaware what exactly their leadership had just agreed to. Any Democrat could have objected to the deal as McConnell read it on the Senate floor, but none did. “I am surprised,” said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas). “The difficulty [Democrats] have is an angry base after the Kavanaugh confirmation, and trying to explain to them this is a necessary thing to do. That’s why Sen. Schumer gets paid the big bucks.” One nominee Democrats loathed, Thomas Farr for a federal district court judgeship in North Carolina, was left out of the package. Senate Democrats have privately argued it’s in the party’s best interest to allow quick confirmation of judges in order to let endangered red state senators go home and campaign. But Schumer and his caucus immediately endured some liberal criticism for accepting the deal. Vanita Gupta, who leads the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, called it “appalling” for the Senate to confirm those nominees without debate. And Demand Justice, a group started to fight Trump’s court picks that spent considerable amounts during the Kavanaugh fight, called the deal “totally unnecessary.” “It is a bitter pill to swallow so soon after the Kavanaugh fight that so many progressive activists poured their hearts and souls into. This period will be long remembered not just for the historic number of judges Trump has been able to confirm, but also because of how passive Democrats were in response,” said Demand Justice chief counsel Chris Kang. “The progressive grass-roots have awoken to the crisis of Trump’s takeover of the courts, and are not going to tolerate this kind of weakness for much longer.” But Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), who could conceivably mount a comeback in her state with retail politics, missed Thursday’s Senate session anyway, and there likely would have been more defections next week if the Senate hadn't taken the deal. And some Republicans said they were willing to keep the Senate in session to do more. Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) said he was happy with the progress McConnell has made, but he said he’d prefer the Senate stay in session this October and confirm even more of Trump's nominees, particularly those to the executive branch. “I give Mitch McConnell all the credit in the world for his perseverance,” Perdue said. But he added that the backlog of executive branch nominees mean “the administration hasn’t been able to form it’s government yet ... I’m ready to stay here next week, the next couple of weeks, whatever it takes.”<doc-sep>	The Senate confirmed 15 of President Trump’s judicial picks Thursday night after GOP leaders reached a deal with Democrats, clearing about a third of the backlog and closing up shop through Election Day to give senators a chance to campaign. Three of the judges are for the powerful circuit courts of appeals, while the other 12 were for district court positions. Many cleared on near-party line votes, while others were approved by voice votes. They were the first judicial confirmations since last weekend’s vote on Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh. Some Republicans had hoped senators would stay in town to work on all 49 judicial picks who’d been ready for floor votes. But the 15 was the best deal the GOP could get, representing the amount of judges who could realistically have been confirmed if the Senate had devoted full time to confirmations over the next few weeks. Liberal activists were incensed that Democratic leaders agreed to the votes. “This deal was totally unnecessary and it is a bitter pill to swallow so soon after the Kavanaugh fight that so many progressive activists poured their hearts and souls into,” said Chris Kang, chief counsel for Demand Justice. Conservative activists had been hoping for even more judges, but were enthusiastic about the 15 who did clear. “I’d love for them to stay and grind them into the ground over the next four weeks, but truth be told, if you got 15 — that’s huge,” said Rick Manning, president of Americans for Limited Government. The three circuit court nominees confirmed were David Porter for the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on a 50-45 vote; Ryan Douglas Nelson for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 51-44; and Richard J. Sullivan for the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 79-16. Hours before the floor vote the Judiciary Committee approved eight more judicial nominees and readied them for the floor. That means there will be 34 judicial nominees waiting for votes when the Senate returns in November for a lame-duck session. Two of the district judges who made it through committee Thursday were first picked by President Obama, but had their nominations expire. Mr. Trump renominated them. Also clearing committee was Jonathan A. Kobes for the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, who was approved on a party-line vote. Democrats said Mr. Kobes, who works as a lawyer for Sen. Mike Rounds, South Dakota Republican, wasn’t ready to be a judge, citing the American Bar Association’s rating him as unqualified. But Republicans said the ABA evaluator who reviewed the nomination was biased, saying she had also rated a previous 8th Circuit pick, Judge Steven Grasz, unqualified last year. “This particular evaluator has a long history of liberal activism. So it’s no surprise that the ABA’s two ‘not qualified’ recommendations for circuit-court nominees came for nominees she evaluated,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, Iowa Republican and the Judiciary chairman. Mr. Trump on Wednesday announced yet another slate of 13 nominees, though they may not see action until next year. Among them were three picks for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a famously liberal court whose bite conservatives have hoped to blunt by adding GOP-appointed judges. The 9th Circuit nominees were Patrick J. Bumatay, Daniel P. Collins and Kenneth Kiyul. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, objected to all three, accusing the White House or shirking its duty to consult with senators before making picks. She said she would withhold her blue slips, in a move meant to register official objection. Blue slips are a Senate courtesy that, at times, has given home-state lawmakers a veto over judges. “The decision to move forward with these nominees without consultation or responding to my acceptance of the White House offer reflects President Trump’s desire to remake the court,” Ms. Feinstein said. “I expect my blue slips to be honored as I was acting in good faith.” But Republicans have said they will treat blue slips as one factor in a nomination, not as an absolute veto over a president’s pick. Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters Copyright © 2021 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
It is finally time. Football is back in Steelers Nation and all is well. After a tumultuous wait for our beloved Steelers to be back, they return tonight as they face their in-state rivals. the Philadelphia Eagles. The Steelers are coming off one of the most disappointing losses in recent memory when they lost to Blake Bortles and the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2017 AFC Playoffs. Now it is time to see some of the progress and tools which will be at the Steelers’ disposal this season. While only one preseason game, the Steelers will still need to show they have made progress to possibly winning a championship. Given the state of Le’Veon Bell’s contract, this could be possibly be the final year of their championship window, but it seems tonight we will be looking more so into the future, especially with Mason Rudolph expecting to get significant snaps. Here are my three things to look for in tonight’s preseason action: Mason Rudolph’s and Joshua Dobbs ’ Progress This is going to be an exciting time for the Steelers as we watch potentially the next franchise Quarterback of the Steelers take the field for the first time. By all accounts. Rudolph has impressed at camp and Kevin Colbert said he was much further along than they actually thought. His progressions and reads have been better by the sound of it and if he shows growth from his college-self this will be a very exciting time to be a Steelers fan. Josh Dobbs, on the other hand, has had a pretty rough training camp. He did this last year as well, but showed flashes in the preseason, where he led a few clutch drives, as well as showing his arm off a few times. The Steelers will want to see notable progress from him if he is going to supplant Landry Jones. Rudolph and Dobbs together are an intriguing duo. Ben Roethlisberger is not playing and we already know what Landry Jones is capable of, but if Dobbs and Rudolph show up, Jones could be out of a job. While I do not consider it likely right now, I do believe there is an outside chance Dobbs and Rudolph do in fact perform well enough Jones is released by the Steelers. Rudolph and Dobbs both need a lot of work, but with them being young, potential-filled players, you have to find it intriguing. Both had trouble processing the whole field coming out of college, and so against a defense that likes to run exotic looks even in vanilla defense, this is a good test for the young quarterbacks. Dobbs has to show growth, though. If he does not show any poise in the pocket, ability to improve his ball placement, or show his processing has improved, he may very well prove he was a wasted pick last year by Kevin Colbert. The Safeties Other than linebacker, the secondary is a place of intrigue, and yet fear for Steelers fans. Free agent acquisition Morgan Burnett will be looking to impress in a variety of roles as he makes his debut with the Steelers. Rookies Terrell Edmunds and Marcus Allen will also look to have a big impact and prove that they were indeed the correct picks. Edmunds, in particular, has to show he has improved on his processing and pursuit angles. By the sounds from camp, both have been true, as he has made a ton of great plays this camp alone, seemingly being the player the Steelers have needed. Allen has to show he can cover at least modestly well. We all know he is a great run defender, but he also has to show he is not a complete liability in coverage Sean Davis will be playing in his first game as a true Free Safety. He has to show not only is his range a big addition the defense, but he has improved on his tackling. Davis has a knack for getting his nose around the football, he even led the team in tackles last season, but he has to show he can finish the play. Davis led the team in missed tackles last year, and if he can put things together at free safety, the Steelers instantly become a much better defense. Sleeper Malik Golden will also be looking to impress and perhaps steal a roster spot. He had a great preseason and a good training camp last season until a groin injury ended his hopes of possibly making the roster. He has continued to have a decent camp and can perhaps be a welcome addition to the team as a whole. The Enigma of Jaylen Samuels One of the most versatile, and yet peculiar picks in this draft was Jaylen Samuels. He has so many possible uses in this offense. He can be used as a running back, slot receiver, outside receiver, tight end, H-Back, and fullback. Thus, it is going to be an interesting story to watch how they use Samuels in today’s game. From the reports out of camp, expect him to be used at running back, slot receiver, and H-back, especially with Vance McDonald being out with a foot injury. Randy Fichtner’s scheme calls for exotic plays and versatile players. This is why they drafted Jaylen Samuels. Samuels has a real shot to be a difference maker, and it sounds like he has thus far. It is very likely we will not actually get the full view of just how Samuels will be used, but we will at least get an idea of how he will be used this season. We may see some two running back sets with James Conner very early on in the game. Regardless of how he is used this game, Samuels will be a player to watch, as he very easily can exploit defenses with his versatility.<doc-sep>The Pittsburgh Steelers have been carrying a number of injuries at some key positions throughout training camp this year and those bumps and bruises look set to prevent several significant names from taking part in the team’s first preseason game on Thursday. When speaking to the media for the last time before their game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday, Mike Tomlin made it clear that many of the players carrying injuries would be held out of the contest. #LIVE: Coach Tomlin previews Thursday night’s preseason matchup vs. the Eagles. https://t.co/xfM7ygUdnp — Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 7, 2018 Among the names specifically mentioned by Tomlin were Antonio Brown (quad), T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree (concussion) and Vance McDonald (foot) and all of them have been notably absent from training for several days now. Ben Roethlisberger is also expected to miss the game, but not because of injury. Brown was back with his teammates at Saint Vincent College on Tuesday and it is hoped he will be able to resume practice after Thursday’s game, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. After a five-day absence, Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (quad) was back for the team walkthrough Tuesday morning. Coach Mike Tomlin said Brown won’t practice today but will return to action after Thursday’s preseason game against Philadelphia. — Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 7, 2018 As more information becomes available about the status of the Steelers’ injured players, we will be sure to update this post.<doc-sep>PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- It's been six months since Eagles fans saw their team play a game.That changes tonight.The Eagles take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in their first pre-season game at Lincoln Financial Field, and fans are ready for a repeat Super Bowl campaign.Don't expect to see Carson Wentz or Nick Foles at center tonight.Wentz has been ruled out as a precaution, and Foles because of neck spasms.Look for backup quarterbacks Nate Sudfeld and Joe Callahan instead.The Eagles Pep Band was front and center for a rally in Media, Delaware County Wednesday night.The rally kicked off the "dining under the stars" weekly event.Former Eagle Brent Celek was there to rally the spectators, who were all wearing Eagles green.------<doc-sep>It’s been a mere 186 days since the Philadelphia Eagles played their last football game. In case you forgot, the last game the Eagles played is when they defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII. But enough about last year. The Eagles are now on the path to defending their title. In four weeks from tonight, the Eagles will play their first regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons. In the meantime, the Eagles will have to get through four preseason games, including one tonight against the Pittsburgh Steelers starting at 7:00 PM ET. The first preseason game is always better in your head than it is in reality. You’re excited to see the time play again after a long layoff. You’re excited to see the new guys. Then it gets to be late in the third quarter and you’re realizing there’s still so much time on the clock before the game is over. You still watch anyway, because you’re a die-hard, but you start to just want the regular season to get here already. Personally, I’m looking forward to tonight’s game. Training camp has gotten to a point where it feels like we’ve seen just about everything we need to see in 10 days of practice. Now it’s time to see how the players fare in a game environment. The Eagles’ first team units should get a drive or two tonight before yielding to the backups. Get a quick tune up and then get out of there without further risking injury. Then we’ll get to see the young guys and the roster battle participants we’re waiting to see. Nickel cornerback, weakside linebacker, fourth running back, and the fifth/sixth wide receiver spots are some obvious areas of interest. I’m also genuinely interested to see how the quarterbacks play. Is Nate Sudfeld going to justify the hype he’s received? I don’t doubt he’ll have some flashes. Just a matter if he can show some consistency. Joe Callahan should prove to be a lot more fun to watch then Matt McGloin. Callahan can around a little bit and make throws on the run. Tonight’s game will hardly tell us all we need to know about the 2018 Eagles but it will go towards figuring out what this year’s 53-man roster will ultimately look like. It’ll also help us pass the time until September 6. ... Suggested format: Score prediction: Bold prediction: My predictions: Score prediction: 20-17, Eagles win. Bold prediction: Sidney Jones gets two interceptions, including one pick-six. Your predictions: Leave your own predictions in the comments.<doc-sep>	The Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Philadelphia Eagles in their first preseason game of the year on Thursday night at 7.00 p.m. ET, and we have all the information you need to know to follow the action. Despite their cross-state rivalry, the Steelers play the Eagles only once every four years now that they belong to different conferences. But prior to 1967, their matchups were biannual affairs. The last time the two sides met during the preseason was a 2016 game won by Philadelphia 17-0, and their last meeting in the regular season was a devastating 34-3 loss for the Steelers in Week 3 of that same year. With the starters expected to see limited action, and several key players set to miss the game due to injury, the coaching staff will care much less about a victory on Thursday night and much more about the caliber of play from the younger names on the roster. Preseason Week 1: Game: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Philadelphia Eagles Date: Thursday August 9 Kickoff: 7.00 p.m. ET Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Weather: Live weather update Watch: TV Channel: Broadcast locally on KDKA-Channel 2 with Bob Pompeani and Charlie Batch as commentators and Missi Matthews the sideline reporter. Check the national broadcast map to see if the game is on in your area. Online: NFL.com Game Pass on delay in the US and live for international viewers or via live a subscription to NFL Sunday Ticket. The NFL Game Center will update the action on a play-by-play basis. Radio: Steeler Nation Radio with Bill Hillgrove and Tunch Ilkin as commentators and Craig Wolfley as the sideline reporter. Broadcast live on WDVE 102.5 FM and WBGG 970 AM in the Pittsburgh area and online via Steelers.com and the Steelers Official Mobile App. You can also follow Behind the Steel Curtain on Twitter to catch all of the highlights as they happen, and be sure to check back with us after the game for our post-match roundup.
Chris Trotman/Getty Images The final Grand Slam of the 2018 tennis calendar is upon us, with Rafael Nadal and Sloane Stephens beginning the defence of their U.S. Open titles at Flushing Meadows on Monday. Both will be in action on the opening day of the tournament as they take on David Ferrer and Evgeniya Rodina, respectively. Six-time U.S. Open champion Serena Williams, world No. 1 Simona Halep and former winners Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka will also feature on what should prove to be to be a thrilling first taste of action in New York. The full order of play can be found at the tournament's official website. In the United States, ESPN will be providing full coverage from noon ET, and the action can also be seen on ESPN3, ESPN+ and the Tennis Channel, with live-streaming available at WatchESPN. For viewers in the UK, Amazon Prime will be showing the tournament exclusively, and its coverage will begin at 4 p.m. BST each day. Video Play Button Videos you might like Grigor Dimitrov to Suffer a First-Round Exit Grigor Dimitrov and 2016 champion Wawrinka will kick off the action at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday. The latter was unable to defend his title last year as he missed the tournament because of knee surgery, and his recovery from that has seen him endure a difficult year. He's still ranked outside the top 100, but he beat eighth seed Dimitrov in the first round at Wimbledon earlier this year. The Bulgarian won't be happy to have drawn him again, particularly as he's now further along in his recovery and returning to form. Wawrinka reached the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Masters earlier this month, and tennis commentator David Law and writer Jose Morgado were pleased to see a strong showing from him: Dimitrov still holds a 4-3 head-to-head record with the Swiss star, but with Wawrinka getting back to his best, it could end the same way as their meeting at the All England Club. Opening Wins For Murray, Stephens Murray will be making his first Grand Slam appearance in 13 months after his own lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury and recovering from surgery. As a result of his absence, the Scot isn't anticipating a repeat of his 2012 victory here. "This one feels slightly different because, for the last 10, 11 years, I have been preparing to try and win the event. I don't think that is realistic for me this year," he said, per the Guardian's Kevin Mitchell. The Times' Stuart Fraser was impressed with him in practice ahead of the tournament, though: Murray's honest self-assessment will likely prove accurate given where he's at in his comeback, but in terms of progressing through the first round, he has been handed a kind draw, per BBC Sport's Russell Fuller: Murray may only be 382nd in the rankings after his absence, but he's still 66 places higher than opponent James Duckworth, who has already had five surgeries during his career by the age of 26. The pair have never met in competition, but Murray should be capable of getting through this match with a win. For Stephens, it has almost been a case of all-or-nothing this year in the Grand Slams. She made the French Open final, but lost in the first round at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. The American is eager to defend her first major title on home soil, though: Stephens warmed up for the U.S. Open with a run to the final of the Rogers Cup earlier this month. She was defeated in three sets by Simona Halep, but the tournament offered a reminder of how difficult to stop she can be when she gets going. Rodina may not be an easy opponent after she produced her strongest Grand Slam performance at Wimbledon earlier this summer by making the fourth round, but Stephens should progress here.<doc-sep>Serena Williams will take on 20-year-old Naomi Osaka on Saturday, while the men playing in the single's final on Sunday will be determined by Friday night How to Watch the 2018 U.S. Open Finals After two weeks in Queens, the 2018 U.S. Open is coming to a close this weekend — and in spectacular style. Serena Williams is closing out her return to the Grand Slam tournament with a go at the trophy this Saturday, and the winners of tonight’s men’s single’s semi-finals’ match-ups will battle it out on Sunday. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Here’s what you need to know about who is playing, when their matches will kick off, and how to tune in. FRIDAY Men’s Singles Semi-Finals Rafael Nadal, the no. 1 men’s seed, will play third-ranked Juan Martín del Potro at Arthur Ashe Stadium at 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday. Nadal has previously won the U.S. Open three times, while del Potro has only nabbed victory at the Grand Slam once before. No. 6 Novak Djokovic will take on Kei Nishikori starting at 5:30 p.m. EST on Friday. Nishikori last made it to the finals in 2014, while Djokovic has won the men’s singles tournament twice. Men’s Doubles Final U.S. team of Mike Bryan and Jack Sock will take on Brazil’s Marcelo Melo and Polish player Łukasz Kubot in the men’s doubles finals at 12:00 p.m. EST on Friday. Bryan usually plays with his twin brother Bob Bryan, but after the latter suffered an injury, Sock stepped in. The new duo won their first event together earlier this year, nabbing the Wimbledon championships. Guests attend the Arthur Ashe Kids Day 2018 NO NY NEWSPAPERS Rafael Nadal at the U.S. Open’s Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day \| Credit: MediaPunch/BACKGRID SATURDAY Women’s Singles Final Williams will take on young Japanese player Naomi Osaka, ranked 20th, on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. EST. This is only the second Grand Slam final Williams has reached since returning to the game after giving birth to her daughter last year and suffering health complications. She fell to Angelique Kerber at Wimbledon in July. Mixed Doubles Final Hours before Osaka and Williams’ match, the mixed double’s final will see America’s Bethanie Mattek-Sands and the U.K.’s Jamie Murray face Croatian player Nikola Mektić and Poland’s Alicja Rosolska at 12:00 p.m. EST on Saturday. RELATED VIDEO: Serena Williams Recalls Being ‘Devastated’ By Emergency C-Section and Postpartum Problems SUNDAY Women’s Doubles Final The team of Italy’s Tímea Babos and France’s Kristina Mladenovic, seeded 2nd, will end their U.S. Open facing off against America’s CoCo Vandeweghe and Australia’s Ashleigh Barty at 1:00 p.m. EST. Men’s Singles Final The winners of Friday’s two match-ups will play on Sunday at 4 p.m. EST. How to Watch<doc-sep>The 2018 US Open starts Monday with Novak Djokovic as the favorite at +225 (bet $100 to win $225) at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. Right behind Djokovic on the 2018 US Open odds board is Rafael Nadal, who who this tennis Grand Slam tournament last year over Kevin Anderson and is listed at +275. Five-time US Open champion Roger Federer is also a top 2018 US Open favorite, going off at +500. Nadal plays fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in the opening round, Djokovic will face Marton Fucsovics, and Federer squares off against Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka. Before you make your 2018 US Open picks, you need to hear what renowned tennis bettor Sean Calvert has to say. At Wimbledon, Calvert predicted Kevin Anderson's stunning quarterfinal upset of Federer. Earlier this year, Calvert called John Isner winning the Miami Open at 100-1 -- a life-changing payout for those who followed his advice. In March, he nailed Juan Martin Del Porto winning Indian Wells at 10-1. Calvert owns the US Open. In 2013, he nailed 25 of 28 US Open bets -- an insane 89.3 percent win rate that netted his followers nearly $2,700. The next year, his followers won $1,700. In 2015, Calvert called Flavia Pennetta's shocking women's title and it paid off at 499-1. Anyone who has followed him is way, way up. Now, Calvert has broken down the field and made his top US Open 2018 picks. In a stunner, he is fading Federer despite his 20 career Grand Slam victories, including the 2018 Australian Open. Calvert cites Federer's recent "sequence of losses," including his quarterfinal defeat to Anderson at Wimbledon and his second-round loss to Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Miami Open. Cavlert told SportsLine that Federer's "movement and return of serve" looked way off in Cincinnati. Adding to Federer's misery is his lackluster recent track record at the US Open. He has only made the final twice and hasn't won it all in a decade. There are much better values in the loaded 2018 US Open field. Calvert is highly confident he has the 2018 US Open winner, and he's also backing a monumental long shot to go deep. Anyone who backs this underdog could reap a colossal payday. Who wins the US Open? And what massive long shot stuns the tennis world? Visit SportsLine now to see Sean Calvert's picks, all from the acclaimed expert who cashed in huge on Federer's upset at Wimbledon and nailed John Isner winning the Miami Open at 100-1.<doc-sep>Here’s what happened Wednesday at the U.S. Open: Djokovic assumes his regular place in the semifinals Novak Djokovic did not find as much trouble at Arthur Ashe Stadium as his rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal did the previous two nights. But that does not mean his 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over John Millman on Wednesday night was easy, or even lacking in drama. Millman, a 29-year-old Australian who upset Federer two nights before, was playing in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal, but he frustrated Djokovic in all three sets. The match turned bizarre in the middle of the second set. First, Djokovic, who appeared to be in some physical distress, got into an argument with his team in the players’ box over some missing pills. Then Millman asked for, and received, an unscheduled break in order to change his clothes, which were soaked in sweat on another hot night at the tournament. Djokovic received a bottle of tablets (and some nasal spray) during Millman’s break to change, which lasted more than six minutes. None of it stopped Djokovic from reaching the semifinals, where he will play Kei Nishikori. Djokovic has advanced to the semifinals in his last 11 U.S. Open appearances. He did not play last year’s tournament because of an elbow injury.<doc-sep>	Matthew Stockman/Getty Images On the cusp of the second week of the U.S. Open, this is when it starts to get serious for those players who have hopes of glory at Flushing Meadows. Defending champion Rafael Nadal is one, and he's in action against Nikoloz Basilashvili on Sunday. Elsewhere in the men's draw, the standout match appears to be fifth seed Kevin Anderson and ninth seed Dominic Thiem's meeting. Serena Williams is set to star in the women's bracket up against Kaia Kanepi. Last year's winner, Sloane Stephens, is also in action. She faces Elise Mertens. Selected Sunday Schedule Arthur Ashe Stadium (1) Rafael Nadal* vs. Nikoloz Basilashvili Video Play Button Videos you might like Kaia Kanepi vs. (17) Serena Williams* (3) Sloane Stephens* vs. (15) Elise Mertens (3) Juan Martin del Potro* vs. (20) Borna Coric Louis Armstrong Stadium (9) Dominic Thiem* vs. (5) Kevin Anderson (18) Ashleigh Barty vs. (8) Karolina Pliskova* (11) John Isner vs. (25) Milos Raonic* *Picks to win TV Info: In the United States, ESPN and the Tennis Channel will provide coverage. For viewers in the UK, Amazon Prime. Defending Champions in Action on Sunday Julian Finney/Getty Images After a couple of routine wins in the first two rounds of the tournament, Nadal was given a much sterner test in his outing against Karen Khachanov, eventually recovering from a set down to win in four. It's the type of challenge that may help Nadal become battle-hardened ahead of the second week of the competition. As such, Basilashvili is likely to face a top seed who is not only focused but in a competitive groove too. As we can see, courtesy of the competition's Twitter account, relief was etched on Nadal's face after he picked up this big win: Juan Martin del Potro looks like one of the most likely challengers to Nadal in the men's draw after progressing through his opening three matches without dropping a set. The third seed has enjoyed a prosperous year and is beginning to reach the levels that saw him triumph at this tournament back in 2009. Borna Coric will provide a much sterner test for Del Potro than he's had so far in this competition, but the former champion is undoubtedly the big favourite. As tennis commentator David Law noted, Del Potro's thunderous backhand has been a joy to behold at the tournament: Williams has also been imperious at Flushing Meadows, with her win over sister Venus in the previous round arguably the best she's played since returning to the sport in May. The six-time U.S. Open champion moved around the court with such freedom, and she was able to pick out some spectacular winners. Per ESPN Stats & Info, it was another landmark accomplishment for the 23-time Grand Slam champion: Kanepi has performed well, although will surely find Williams too hot to handle when they face off second on Arthur Ashe. Following that tussle will be defending champion Stephens' match. The American was impressive in her previous outing, beating two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka to reach the fourth round. Mertens, who made it to the semi-finals of the Australian Open earlier this year, is enjoying her best-ever U.S. Open run.
This year marks 20 years since Metallica released their groundbreaking S&M live album. The band recorded the album at the Berkeley Community Theatre in April 1999 with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and released the double album in November that year. Now they’ve announced plans to celebrate the record’s 20th anniversary with a one-off show to open the Chase Centre in San Francisco on September 6 – and they’ll be joined once again by the city’s orchestra. Metallica say: “You know how much we love firsts and we are always extremely proud to wave the flag for our hometown of San Francisco, so this first is particularly exciting as we announce that we will be performing at the grand opening celebration of the Chase Center with S&M² on Friday, September 6. “That’s right, not only will this be the inaugural event at the new arena in the city, but we will be playing once again with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra as we join together to commemorate this historic addition to the Bay Area and mark the 20th anniversary of the S&M concerts and album release.” “We’re honoured that legendary conductor Michael Tilson Thomas will kick off his final season as San Francisco Symphony musical director with a special appearance conducting a portion of the show.” Tickets for the show will go on general sale from 10am PT on Friday (March 22). Metallica recently wrapped up their latest run of North American shows and will head back across to Europe in May. Metallica WorldWired UK and European stadium tour May 01: Lisbon Estádio do Restelo, Portugal May 03: Madrid Valdebebas, Spain May 05: Barcelona Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Spain May 08: Milan San Siro Hippodrome, Italy May 10: Zürich Letzigrund, Switzerland May 12: Paris Stade De France, France Jun 08: Dublin Slane Castle, Ireland Jun 11: Amsterdam Johan Cruijff Arena, Netherlands Jun 13: Cologne RheinEnergieStadion, Germany Jun 16: Brussels Koning Boudewijnstadion, Belgium Jun 18: Manchester Etihad Stadium, UK Jun 20: London Twickenham Stadium, UK Jul 06: Berlin Olympiastadion, Germany Jul 09: Gothenburg Ullevi, Sweden Jul 11: Copenhagen Telia Parken, Denmark Jul 13: Trondheim Granåsen, Norway Jul 16: Hameenlinna Kantolan Tapahtumapuisto, Finland Jul 18: Tartu, Raadi Airport, Estonia Jul 21: Moscow Luzhniki Stadium, Russia Aug 14: Bucharestv Arena Națională, Romania Aug 16: Vienna Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Austria Aug 18: Prague Airport Letnany, Czech Republic Aug 21: Warsaw PGE Narodowy, Poland Aug 23: Munich Olympiastadion, Germany Aug 25: Mannheim Maimarktgelande, Germany SEE MORE METAL HAMMER NEWS<doc-sep>Black tie will meet black leather as the San Francisco Symphony joins Metallica on Sept. 6 to break in the new home of the Golden State Warriors in Mission Bay. The classical musicians and classic rockers will be the first acts to perform — yes, together — at Chase Center, the new arena that will serve as home to the NBA team in the fall, Warriors officials announced Monday, March 18, at a news conference hosted just outside of the venue attended by Metallica’s Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield, San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas, Warriors owner Joe Lacob, Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts, and San Francisco Mayor London Breed. “We wanted to do something unique to the Bay Area,” Welts said at the announcement, “something that would happen only here and nowhere else in the world.” The pairing is not as odd as it sounds. The concert, which will be conducted by Thomas and Edwin Outwater, marks the 20th anniversary of Metallica’s first performance with the San Francisco Symphony at the Berkeley Community Theater in 1999, which yielded the live album “S&M.” That concert was conducted by the late Michael Kamen. Billed “S&M2,” this will mark the only date commemorating the occasion. In addition to the material the groups performed at the first concert, they will also incorporate renditions of Metallica songs written and released since the original “S&M,” with new orchestral charts by Bruce Coughlin. “It’s a beautiful opportunity,” Hetfield said at the half-hour news conference. “We’re super proud that after 38 years there’s still cool things on the horizon for us.” Tickets for the concert go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 22, at chasecenter.com. Metallica Fan Club members will be allowed to access them via an exclusive presale at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 19, and there will also be a presale for Chase cardholders at noon that day. “We’re not just a sports team anymore,” Lacob said at Monday’s announcement. We now are an entertainment organization – and we want to be just as good at that as we have been at the sports side of things. We want to deliver world-class acts for all right here at this venue for decades to come. And we intend to do that.” Representatives from powerhouse concert promotion companies LiveNation and Another Planet Entertainment, who are co-presenting the Metallica and Symphony concert, were also present. The two groups — both produce some of the biggest music festivals in the country, with APE bringing the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival to Golden Gate Park every summer — plan to help book music acts at Chase Center, and received a request directly from the mayor herself: Beyoncé. “I have a commitment that eventually she’s going to be here,” Breed said. Breed joked at the news conference that she had hoped Beyoncé would be the first act to perform at the new venue. But, she added, in the meantime, “We have an incredible local talented artist that will be headlining at the Chase Center. They are just as good as Beyoncé — but don’t tell Beyoncé I said that.” Watch the news conference in its entirety here: The Warriors will continue to announce the first round of acts coming to the 18,064-seat venue over the next few days as part of an event they’re dubbing Reveal Week, which culminates in a news conference helmed by Welts and an as-yet-unnamed performer at 4 p.m. Friday. It will be streamed live online on the venue website and NBC Sports Bay Area. Check back in with datebook.sfchronicle.com for more updates during Reveal Week.<doc-sep>Metallica have announced that they will play a second show to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their classic ‘S&M’ album, after bots scooped up all the tickets to the first show within seconds. It was announced earlier this month that the band will deliver a special performance in September dubbed ‘S&M²’. Reuniting with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, who accompanied the band on the iconic live album and DVD, the anniversary show will serve as part of the grand opening of the new Chase Centre, a multi-purpose arena in San Francisco that will also be the new home of NBA champions the Golden State Warriors. Advertisement While the event was initially billed as “one night only”, the band have now confirmed that a second show will go on sale exclusively to fan-club members after ticket bots scooped up all the tickets to the first event. “We’ve heard you and we’ve learned from our missteps with this particular ticket on sale,” read a statement on the band’s website. “We’re working to make this right.” “The second show gives us a chance to celebrate in a unique and very special way with all of you, the die-hard Fifth Members,” the statement read. “We’re all huddled at Metallica HQ now working out a plan to give every one of you the most fair and equal chance at obtaining tickets (and to do everything possible to keep the bots from getting any). … This is going to take a little time to get as close to foolproof as we can get it, so please sit tight for a few more days and we’ll be back with more details.” The second show will take place on September 8, two days after the first S&M show. James Hatfield and Lars Ulrich previously joined San Francisco Symphony Orchestra music director Michael Tilson Thomas, along with representatives from the Warriors franchise and San Francisco mayor London Breed, to make the announcement at the Chase Center earlier this month. Advertisement “Please join us for this one-night-only show as we celebrate the addition of what is sure to become a cultural landmark in the Bay Area,” they said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to be invited to be a part of it and humbled to be sharing the stage with the legendary MTT and the city’s finest musicians in the San Francisco Symphony.” Composed by Michael Kamen, the original ‘S&M’ album was in part a tribute to late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton’s love of classical music. Going on to be certified 5x platinum, ‘S&M’ featured the fan favourite ‘No Leaf Clover’. Full details on what the performance will entail exactly is yet to be determined. ‘S&M²’ will take place September 6, 2019 and all ticketing info can be found on Metallica’s website. In other news, Metallica‘s bassist Robert Trujillo has assured fans that the band’s next album will be out a lot quicker than the last two. Fans had to wait five years for 2008’s ‘Death Magnetic’ and eight years for 2016’s ‘Hardwired… To Self-Destruct’ but Trujillo confirmed the metal veterans have already begun “jamming” on new material.<doc-sep>	CLICK HERE if you are having trouble viewing these photos on a mobile device. Metallica, the biggest Bay Area band of all time, is set to open the new Chase Center in San Francisco. The band, which has sold more than 125 million albums worldwide, will rock the new home of the Warriors on Sept. 6, long before Steph Curry and company play their first official game in the 18,064-seat venue. And Metallica, consisting of vocalist-guitarist James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo, will will be joined by an old friend — the San Francisco Symphony, led by Michael Tilson Thomas, in his final season as orchestra conductor. The Chase Center opening show was announced during a press conference Monday (March 18) at the Chase Center, with Hetfield, Ulrich and MTT in attendance. The performance not only celebrates the opening of the new building but also the 20th anniversary of Metallica and the Symphony’s groundbreaking collaboration of 1999, which produced the Grammy-winning live album “S&M.” The original “S&M” live dates, which took place at the Berkeley Community Theatre, have become the stuff of legend over the years. So, without a doubt, this is a big score for Chase, which could have probably just booked Maroon 5 or any other bland touring act as an opener and called it a day. “We wanted to do something that would be unique to the Bay Area. Something that would only happen here and no where else in the world,” says Rick Welts, Warriors president. The show isn’t even part of a larger tour. This is a special one-off for the Chase opener. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. March 22. See chasecenter.com for details. The Metallica/Symphony show was the first step in what organizers are calling “Reveal Week,” with plans to announce seven more events/concerts at the Chase this week. Show announcements will also be made on the venue’s website at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. March 19; 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. March 20; and 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. March 21. The final Reveal Week announcement takes place at a press conference at Chase Center at 4 p.m. March 22. That press conference will also be livestreamed at chasecenter.com and broadcast on NBC Sports Bay Area. Get more of our music coverage on Flipboard. The venue will host concerts, cultural events, family shows, and convention activities, totaling nearly 200 events a year. The 11-acre site will also include two office buildings and 29 retail outlets. Metallica is in the midst of a multi-year world tour in support of its excellent 10th studio album, 2016’s “Hardwired… to Self-Destruct.” The group performed at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento in December.
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen will miss roughly the next month as he receives treatment for an irregular heartbeat, sources tell ESPN's Buster Olney. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic adds that Jansen's condition is considered to be "very manageable." Jansen was hospitalized prior to the Dodgers' win over the Rockies in Denver on Thursday night and then returned to Los Angeles for additional testing. Jansen dealt with irregular heartbeats earlier in his career, but as MLB.com's Anne Rogers points out prior to Thursday he had not suffered a recurrence since undergoing surgery in October of 2012. This season Jansen in his age-30 season has pitched to a 2.15 ERA/185 ERA+ and a 4.36 K/BB ratio in 54 1/3 innings. He's also racked up an NL-leading 32 saves in 35 opportunities. Jansen, a three-time All-Star, is in the second year of a five-year, $80 million contract with Los Angeles. The Dodgers are of course locked in a tight battle for the NL West title, and losing Jansen for a month or so is a significant blow. While Jansen is out, manager Dave Roberts figures to play matchups in order to protect late-inning leads.<doc-sep>Kenley Jansen had just finished breakfast in Denver last Thursday when his heart started beating erratically and wildly. He waited a few minutes to see if the episode would pass. When it did not, he summoned the Dodgers’ training staff. He said he was not scared, even as an ambulance rushed him to a hospital. This was not the first episode of atrial fibrillation for Jansen, and he knew exactly what the doctors would do before they did it. “They shocked my heart right back to normal,” he said. He said he felt better immediately. The Dodgers felt better Monday upon seeing their closer back in the clubhouse, full of his usual smiles and laughter. Advertisement If he has no side effects from the blood thinners he has been prescribed, Jansen said, he is “confident” he can return well short of the widely speculated absence of a month or more. “It’s not going to be four weeks,” he said. “It’s not going to be six weeks.” This was not the first time Jansen’s heart had started racing in the mile-high altitude of Denver, but he said the Dodgers should not try to avoid future episodes by banning him from Colorado. “I’m going back to Denver, man,” he said. “Can’t be scared of life.” While altitude can trigger atrial fibrillation, Jansen said doctors told him that dehydration could too. Jansen said he had diarrhea in Oakland on Wednesday and suspected his body might have been excessively depleted of minerals and fluids. “I probably had some angry cells by my heart,” he said. There is a “very high percentage” he will need a second ablation surgery this winter, he said, repeating the one he had six years ago. That procedure requires an estimated recovery time of three months, he said. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he was “encouraged” that Jansen could return sooner than expected. Jansen threw a bullpen session Monday and is scheduled for two more this week. He also plans to lift weights and run this week, and to travel with the team to Seattle. Advertisement “If it were up to Kenley, he would pitch tonight,” Roberts said. The Dodgers will make no decisions on Jansen’s return until the closer visits a cardiologist Aug. 20. However, Roberts said he was upbeat upon seeing Jansen on Monday, for the first time since he suffered the episode. “To hear it in his voice, and to look in his eyes, I saw the confidence,” Roberts said. In Jansen’s absence, the Dodgers’ relievers lost three of the four games in Denver and blew a lead in the other game. The Dodgers entered play Monday with 21 blown saves, tied for third-most in the major leagues. Advertisement Jansen said he felt a sense of responsibility for the weekend bullpen fiasco, given his absence. However, he said, all the relievers need to pitch better. “I believe in every single one of these guys in the bullpen,” he said. “At some point, we need to step up. It’s not about me being out. “At some point, if you want to be in the playoffs, everybody needs to step up and do the job, so we can go far in the playoffs.” On Monday, the Dodgers activated reliever Erik Goeddel and optioned reliever Pat Venditte to triple-A Oklahoma City. The Dodgers thus optioned Venditte for the seventh time this season, and the second time in five days. Advertisement The Dodgers also need to make roster moves to accommodate the activation of Alex Wood, the scheduled Tuesday starter, and Hyun-Jin Ryu, the scheduled Wednesday starter. The Dodgers have moved starters Kenta Maeda and Ross Stripling to the bullpen. Roberts said he hoped that Julio Urias, currently on a minor league rehabilitation assignment, could return “by the end of the month.” [email protected] Follow Bill Shaikin on Twitter @BillShaikin<doc-sep>Last week, the Dodgers lost All-World closer Kenley Jansen for several weeks with an irregular heartbeat. Jansen did throw a bullpen session Monday and is expected to pitch again later this season, which is good news. Monday afternoon Jansen told reporters, including ESPN, that he expects to have a second heart procedure this offseason. He had his first heart surgery back in 2012, after missing time with an irregular heartbeat. From ESPN: Jansen also said he was told there's a good chance he will need another heart surgery in the offseason, similar to the surgery he had in 2012. ... Jansen dealt with issues related to an irregular heartbeat in 2011 and 2012, and the three-time All-Star recognized something wasn't right Thursday as Los Angeles prepared for the opener of a four-game series at Colorado. He was sent back to L.A. and has been examined by a number of cardiologists, including some who have treated him in the past. Jansen's heart trouble is attributed to abnormal tissue and the procedure, a catheter ablation, is about as minor as heart surgery gets. He is due to see the doctor for a follow-up exam on Aug. 20. Jansen will not pitch in a game before then, though he is playing catch and throwing in the bullpen. The Dodgers' bullpen blew several games over the weekend, and the team moved starters Ross Stripling and Kenta Maeda into the bullpen to help pick up the slack.<doc-sep>	When Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen was hospitalized in early August with a recurrence of an irregular heartbeat, it was expected that he would miss about a month of play. Since then, the Dodger bullpen has fallen upon hard times, and the team has gone 3-6 since August 10. Thankfully, for both Jansen and the team’s well-being, it appears he’ll be returning sooner than expected. According to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick, Jansen donned a shirt reading “I’m back” Monday, and confirmed as much about his status. Kenley Jansen confirmed the message on his shirt: “I’m back.” Apparently got the green light from the cardiologist today. — Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 20, 2018 There has yet to be an official timetable given for Jansen’s return. Update: Jansen says he’ll be active for Monday night’s game. Kenley Jansen said he’s active for tonight. His checkup went well, and has been cleared to pitch. — Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) August 20, 2018 Jansen could still require offseason surgery About a week after he initially hit the disabled list, ESPN reported that Jansen would likely undergo heart surgery in offseason. It would be his second heart procedure since he’s been in the majors, after requiring a similar one in 2012. Jansen is expected to undergo a catheter ablation, which entails using a catheter to make scars in heart tissue to prevent an irregular heartbeat. Jansen would likely be allowed to leave the hospital a few hours after having the procedure. Given that heart issues don’t tend to just resolve themselves, the need for surgery is likely to remain, despite his quick recovery. This time around, Jansen and Dodgers medical staff were able to catch the condition much quicker than in 2012. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman called it a “pre-existing condition,” so while it might seem scary for a player to go on the DL for heart-related reasons, it was no reason to panic. Story continues Regardless of if, or when, the surgery happens, Jansen told The Athletic he’s not going to fixate on his condition. Kenley Jansen: “I’m not thinking about my heart…If it goes, it goes.” — Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) August 20, 2018 He also said last week that he plans to travel to Denver whenever the team next goes, despite it likely triggering his symptoms. Kenley Jansen will likely return sooner than expected. (AP Photo) More from Yahoo Sports: • Fan tries to fight NASCAR star following race • NFL players call for reversal of ‘ridiculous’ rule • Jeff Passan: NL has no great teams, but a thrilling pennant race • Charles Robinson: Will Watson pull a Wentz?
Colin Kaepernick on Monday shared an image from what appears to be a new "Just Do It" ad campaign from Nike. The former NFL quarterback is known for kneeling during the national anthem before NFL games in 2016 to protest racial inequality, a form of protest that drew the ire of President Donald Trump last fall. Having gone unsigned since the 2016 season, he's brought a lawsuit accusing NFL owners of colluding to keep him out of the league. Nike has represented Kaepernick since 2011 but hadn't featured him in ads for two years, according to ESPN. It looks as if the former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is starring in a new ad campaign for Nike. He shared an image on his Twitter account Monday of a close-up of his face with the words "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything." Nike's Twitter account later retweeted his post. Nike has represented Kaepernick since 2011 but hadn't featured him in ads for two years, according to ESPN. A person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press that Kaepernick negotiated a new multiyear deal with Nike now that he's out of the NFL, which will feature him in billboards, television commercials, and a new apparel line. Some proceeds will reportedly go to his Know Your Rights education camp. This could mean Nike is wading further into the political fray surrounding Kaepernick, who first knelt during the national anthem in 2016 to protest racial inequality and police brutality. He is now bringing a lawsuit against the NFL in which he accuses owners of colluding to keep him out of the league. The protests, which had relatively little participation at the start of last season, became part of the national conversation after President Donald Trump condemned them in September. Speaking at a rally, Trump told the crowd: "Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a b---- off the field right now, out — he's fired!'" Trump has continued to deride the practice, saying that protesting during the anthem is disrespectful to the US flag and military. Various players, teams, and even the league's commissioner, Roger Goodell, defended players' right to kneel, but the issue remains a topic of conversation with the NFL having introduced rules that prohibit kneeling during the anthem. "Nike supports athletes and their right to freedom of expression on issues that are of great importance to our society," the company said in a statement after Trump began criticizing the protests. The brand isn't afraid of making a splash. When the French Open banned Serena Williams' black catsuit in August, the company released an image defending the athlete that said "You can take the superhero out of her costume, but you can never take away her superpowers." The original "Just Do It" ad campaign premiered in 1988, when Nike featured the 80-year-old Walt Stack jogging across the Golden Gate Bridge. Kaepernick's spot is in celebration of the ad's 30th anniversary, ESPN reported. "We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward," Nike's vice president of brand for North America, Gino Fisanotti, told ESPN. Nike did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the new ad.<doc-sep>Decades from now, when Americans look back at the NFL player protests and wonder how anyone could have seen them for anything but the plea for equality they are, Colin Kaepernick’s new Nike ad will be one of the enduring images. For two years now, the NFL and its owners have desperately tried to silence Kaepernick and the movement he began. They blackballed the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and teammate Eric Reid. They threatened to fine or cut the players who joined them in protest. They created a ridiculous policy that only served to confuse matters more. And for what? To go down on the wrong side of history? Because that’s how future generations will see it, as the Nike ad released Monday made clear. “Believe in something,” the tagline reads. “Even if it means sacrificing everything.” This is not some small, left-leaning company that has decided Kaepernick is on the side of angels in this fight. It is one of the world’s largest conglomerates, a setter of trends and arbiter of what’s cool. And it is one of the NFL’s biggest partners, the official apparel company of the league. For Nike to choose Kaepernick sends a message even Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones cannot ignore. This is bigger than a hot-button issue in an election season, bigger than a segment of fans who choose to be angrier at the method of protest than the message behind it. This is about America, and whether we actually honor the ideals we champion or simply pay lip service to those notions of liberty and justice for all. MORE NFL: While the NFL and its owners have been trying to contain the issue, Kaepernick and the other players have been playing the long game. The civil rights protests were wildly unpopular when they were occurring — go back and research the polls and opinions of the time — but are now viewed as righteous and essential to our ongoing struggle for equality. The NFL protests will be viewed much the same way through the lens of history. Nike has recognized as much, betting a very large and prominent endorsement deal that Kaepernick will one day be seen much like Muhammad Ali. A rabble rouser who outraged the establishment in his heyday, Ali eventually became a widely admired and influential figure once society caught up. Cynics will say this is simply a marketing ploy for Nike, a way to capitalize on an issue everyone is already talking about. Perhaps. But that doesn’t lessen the burden on the NFL. Or the stakes. The league can continue to dither, trying to appease everyone while pleasing no one, and be remembered as an organization that put expedience ahead of equality. Or it can be bold. More:What Hollywood is saying about the Kaepernick Nike campaign More:Big & Rich singer urges Nike boycott over Kaepernick ad By signing Kaepernick — and I mean a team giving him a legitimate chance to compete, not hiding him on the depth chart as a No. 3 quarterback — the NFL can tell the entire country that fighting for a truly equal society is a fight worth having. That while it recognizes the passions the player protests have produced, there is nothing dishonorable about holding our country to account. There will be some backlash, sure. Just as some folks angered by Nike’s stance will no doubt express their outrage with their wallets, refusing to buy shoes, shirts or anything else with a swoosh on it. So be it. Doing the right thing isn’t always easy, especially in the moment. But this moment, and who stood for what during it, will be remembered for generations to come. It’s time to take a stand, NFL. Go ahead and do it. Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour. If you love talking football, we have the perfect spot for you. Join our new Facebook Group, The Ruling Off the Field, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders.<doc-sep>Nike At a time when the legal question of whether the NFL “just did it” regarding Colin Kaepernick and collusion is still pending, Nike has boldly followed its own three-decades-old advice. In connection with the 30th anniversary of the iconic “Just Do It” campaign, Nike has unveiled an ad featuring Colin Kaepernick. “Believe in something,” the message superimposed over Kaepernick’s face declares. “Even if it means sacrificing everything.” It’s a gutsy move for Nike, given that it holds the official apparel deal with the NFL. But it will be difficult for the NFL to retaliate, given that the contract runs through 2028. The deal was recently negotiated by Kaepernick’s lawyers in his collusion case, Mark Geragos and Ben Meiselas. Kaepernick isn’t the only face of the “Just Do It” marketing campaign, but Nike’s decision to include the player who has been shunned by the NFL and ostracized by fans a gutsy one. And it’s a clear statement of where the company stands on peaceful protests during the anthem, one that surely will prompt some to insist that Nike become the subject of boycotts and complaints.<doc-sep>	Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt pic.twitter.com/SRWkMIDdaO — Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 3, 2018 Colin Kaepernick is one of the new faces of Nike's "Just Do It" advertising campaign, according to ESPN , even without having a job in the NFL. "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything," reads an ad Kaepernick shared on social media Monday.Nike has kept Kaepernick on its endorsement roster over the years after signing him in 2011. He has not appeared in any of the brand's ads for the previous two years. "We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward," Gino Fisanotti, Nike's vice president of brand for North America, told ESPN.A source with knowledge of Nike's contract with Kaepernick told the Associated Press that the company will feature Kaepernick on several platforms, including billboards, television commercials and online ads. Nike also will create an apparel line for Kaepernick and contribute to his Know Your Rights charity.Other athletes in the "Just Do It" campaign include Odell Beckham Jr., Shaquem Griffin, Lacey Baker, Serena Williams and LeBron James.Kaepernick is suing the NFL for allegedly colluding to keep him out of the league. An arbitrator sent Kaepernick's grievance with the NFL to trial, denying the league's request to throw out his claims that owners conspired to keep him out of the league because of his protests of social injustice.Kaepernick began a wave of protests by NFL players two seasons ago, kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. The protests have grown into one of the most polarizing issues in sports, with President Donald Trump loudly urging the league to suspend or fire players who demonstrate during the anthem.
A shooting rampage that left five people dead in Bakersfield, California, on Wednesday was linked to domestic violence and ended with the suspect turning the gun on himself as deputies closed in, officials said. A final image of the shooter — identified as Javier Casarez, 54 — was captured on a deputy's body camera and shown during a news conference Thursday in which authorities described how the shooting spree unfolded over less than 40 minutes and spanned five crime scenes. Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said the shootings appear "to be more than just husband and wife having a fight. Other people were targeted, and there's a reason for that, and we have to find out." Authorities received their first call at 5:18 p.m. PT (8:18 p.m. ET), Youngblood said. Casarez had taken his estranged wife, Petra Maribel Bolanos De Javier Casarez, 45, to the business T&T Trucking, where he confronted an employee there. Youngblood said Casarez pulled a five-shot .50-caliber handgun and killed Manuel Contreras, 50, before turning the gun on his estranged wife, killing her. Kern County Sheriff Youngblood said the firearm the gunman used is one of the “top 5 largest handguns ever made.” They’re still trying to investigate how he obtained it. #BakersfieldMassMurder #BakersfieldShooting pic.twitter.com/eCqRIEQSqb — Karen Hua (@k_hua) September 13, 2018 A third man at the scene — identified as Antonio Valadez, 50 — fled as Casarez fired at him. He was chased to a nearby business, where he was fatally shot, Youngblood said. At 5:34 p.m, the gunman then drove to another residence where he fatally shot Eliseo Casarez, 57, according to investigators. It's not clear what relationship the shooter had with the victim. Casarez's daughter, Laura Garcia, 31, was killed likely trying to intervene, Youngblood added. Fifteen minutes later, a woman and her child were carjacked nearby, but the mother persuaded the gunman to let them go and take their vehicle, said Bakersfield police Lt. Mark King. Both were unharmed. Deputies spotted the car and it turned into a business' parking lot, King said. A deputy was heard in a bodycam commanding Casarez to "put the gun down" before Casarez shot himself in the stomach. The area of the shooting spree was in unincorporated Bakersfield, which is patrolled by the Kern County Sheriff's Office. The investigation could take days, Youngblood said, because there are at least 30 witnesses to be interviewed. The bodycam video from the deputy who confronted the shooter also has to be examined. A motive for the "mass shooting" remained unclear Thursday, but Youngblood said Casarez and his estranged wife had recently been fighting over child support and property. Casarez also may have forced her to go with him to the trucking business. Youngblood said he was not aware if Casarez was an employee at the business, but for some reason he decided to confront one of the workers there. "We're trying to substantiate rumors," the sheriff added, without providing further details. Late Wednesday, as investigators grappled with the burst of violence, Youngblood told reporters that "this is the new normal." He said Thursday he was referring to "people taking hand guns and shooting people with more than one victim at a time. … It's something I hope we don't become immune to."<doc-sep>LOS ANGELES — A man went on a shooting rampage in one of the major cities of California's agricultural heartland Wednesday evening, killing his wife and four others before turning the gun on himself, authorities said. While an exact motive for the killing spree was not disclosed, Lt. Mark King of the Kern County Sheriff's Office said "there's a strong indication" it was a case of domestic violence. None of the names of the victims or the deceased gunmen were released. Gunshots rang out shortly before 5:19 p.m. when dispatchers received multiple calls about a shooting in the 600 block of Manwell Boulevard, King said. Arriving deputies found three victims, but the gunman had fled. Fifteen minutes later, more calls came in about a shooter in the 9400 block of Breckenridge Road in Bakersfield, California, about 90 miles north of Los Angeles. There, two more victims were found — and again the suspect was gone. At 5:49 p.m., a woman said she was a carjacking victim and was able to provide a description of her vehicle. Five minutes later, a deputy saw the vehicle being driven by a man who fit the description of the suspect, King said. They pulled over the car in the 3300 block of Edison Highway. The suspect got out of the vehicle toting a large-caliber handgun but before he could be arrested, he turned the gun on himself and pulled the trigger. Among the dead were the suspect's wife and another woman, King said, adding that detectives were continuing to try to piece together the episode, including questioning some 30 witnesses. He also said that other than the wife, he was unaware of the relationship between the victims and the suspect. Contributing: The Associated Press<doc-sep>“The way that this went down, it appears this is well planned,” said Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood during a news conference Thursday. It appeared that the gunman, Javier Casarez, targeted all five victims, among them his ex-wife, Youngblood said. He added there seemed to be “implications of domestic violence,” though a precise motive for the killings has not been determined.<doc-sep>	Javier Cazarez, 54, was going through a divorce, the Kern County sheriff said. The suspect in a string of shootings in Bakersfield, California, that left six people dead on Wednesday has been identified as a 54-year-old man who may have been going through a divorce with his wife, according to local authorities. Investigators believe that Javier Cazarez, a legal, permanent resident of the United States, may have forced his wife to come with him to the trucking shop to confront people there, Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said in a press conference Thursday, calling the shooting spree "very calculated." Cazarez was armed with a .50 caliber handgun, the sheriff said. "The way this went down, it appeared that this was well-planned," Youngblood said. Cazarez's attacks were carried out at five difference scenes, according to authorities. Around 5:20 p.m. local time Wednesday, deputies responded to a trucking business where shots were fired, according to the Kern County Sheriff's Department. Cazarez then allegedly shot and killed two people, his wife and a man, Youngblood said. Another man showed up and fired at the suspect, police said. The suspect shot and killed that person as well, police said. The suspect then went to a residential home, where he allegedly shot and killed two more people, according to police. The suspect then allegedly carjacked a vehicle with a woman and child inside, but they escaped and were not injured, police said. A Kern County sheriff's deputy located Cazarez while he was driving on the highway, Youngblood said. Cazarez then pulled into a lot and shot himself in the chest, killing himself, the sheriff said. Investigators are interviewing witnesses to try to piece together the suspect's relationship to all the victims, Youngblood said. Domestic violence may have also played a role in the incident, the sheriff said. "It's just tragic," he said. The suspect had been driving a white Nissan Altima before he car-jacked the other vehicle, Youngblood said. Toxicology tests will be done to determine if Cazarez had consumed drugs or alcohol at the time of the shootings. ABC News' Alex Stone contributed to this report.
She added: "The fire brigade were standing outside the house and initially all I could see was smoke but a flame started burning inside and was starting to get brighter and brighter as the smoke smell got stronger. It looked as though it was too dangerous for them to enter."<doc-sep>An explosion has destroyed a house in southern Bristol suburb. The property, on Whitchurch Lane, Hartcliffe 'exploded' at around 8:15pm on Saturday night. Bristol Live has received multiple reports of the incident, which was so big it caused homes several minutes walk away to 'shake'. In response four crews from Temple and Bedminster fire stations attended the scene, and two firefighters in breathing apparatus managed to extinguish the blaze. Other crew members worked to administer first aid to a number of casualties at the scene, prior to the arrival of ambulance crews and police officers. If you have any information about the 'explosion' please email [email protected] We will bring you updates on this breaking news story, as we get it, below.<doc-sep>Emergency services have been called to an apparent explosion at a house in Bristol. Avon Fire and Rescue said its crews were called to a fire around 7.50pm at Whitchurch Lane in the Hartcliffe area. Steve Imrie, area manager, said four fire engines were sent to the scene and crews found a fire within a building that had sustained significant structural damage". He said they worked to extinguish the fire while other firefighters administered first aid to three injured people at the scene. Images showed the front of the house had been ripped away by an apparent blast. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 21st May 2021 A family buffeted by the wind whilst crossing the the Millennium Bridge in London, with wind and rain forecast to ravage the UK on the first Friday that people have been allowed to meet in large groups outside in England PA UK news in pictures 20 May 2021 Devon And Cornwall Police Demonstrate Their Skills For Policing The G7 Summit Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 May 2021 An employee stands before a costume for the Queen of Hearts by Bob Crowley on display at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2021 Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro, Portugal, at Gatwick Airport after the ban on international leisure travel for people in England was lifted following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2021 Emergency workers at the scene of a suspected gas explosion, in which a young child was killed and two people were seriously injured, on Mallowdale Ave Heysham which caused 2 houses to collapse and badly damaged another PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2021 Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause as violence escalates in the ongoing conflict with Israel, in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 14 May 2021 Member of staffs tighten screws and paint a Marlin skeleton, before it goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London, as the museum prepares to reopen to the public on 17 May, following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 13 May 2021 A worshipper at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Mordon, south London, ahead of Eid al-Fitr. The celebration marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan. PA UK news in pictures 12 May 2021 A couple have wedding photos taken in Westminster, London Getty UK news in pictures 11 May 2021 The sun rises on Coquet Island, off Amble on the Northumberland coast, where as many as 35000 seabirds cram onto this tiny island to breed PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2021 Newly elected for a second term Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during his signing in ceremony at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on London’s Southbank PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2021 People mill around St. Michael's tower on top of Glastonbury Tor as it is seen through blooming yellow rapeseed on a day of mixed weather in Glastonbury, Somerset PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2021 Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford elbow bumps newly elected MS Labour candidates Elizabeth Buffy Williams, Rhondda, left, and Sarah Murphy, Bridgend & Porthcawl Labour, right, as they meet in Porthcawl, Wales PA UK news in pictures 6 May 2021 A group of five Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart PA UK news in pictures 5 May 2021 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Liam Byrne (far right) and Labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner (far left) during a visit to Birmingham, whilst on the election campaign trail PA UK news in pictures 4 May 2021 Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey stand within 100 oak saplings which form part of a living art installation entitled Beuys' Acorns by the UK-based artist duo, outside the Tate Modern in London PA UK news in pictures 3 May 2021 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie feeds the Gentoo penguins during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo on the campaign trail for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 6 PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Chelsea players celebrate their fourth goal during the Women’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, at Kingsmeadow Stadium in south west London.<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel THE BIGGEST STORIES ACROSS BRISTOL IN YOUR INBOX Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. SIGN UP Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice An explosion at a home in Hartcliffe appears to have caused huge damage to the front of a property. Pictures shared with Bristol Live by eye witnesses appear to show a section of the house to have fallen down , while brick work has fallen away from another part. One person, who did not wish to be named, told Bristol Live: "It looks like half the house has fallen down." The incident happened around 8pm, on Saturday (Feb 23). Emergency services are on the scene. One neighbour said they had seen at least one person being treated for burns. It is not know if anyone has been seriously injured as a result of the explosion. It is not yet know what caused the explosion, however, people on the scene believe the source of the explosion to be a gas boiler. Steve Imrie, Avon Fire and Rescue Area Manager, said: “The cause of the incident is unknown at this stage and is subject to an investigation. At this stage, there is no information to suggest it is suspicious. “The ambulance service has sent the Hazardous Area Response Team, which is working at the scene, as standard practice. “Early information is that there was potential gas at the property, though this is yet to be confirmed.” We will bring you more information on this breaking news story as we get it.<doc-sep>	Windows ripped from the wall, a washing machine on its side atop a pile of rubble, the building's entire facade ripped clean from the front of the family home. In the immediate aftermath of last night's (Saturday, February 23) incident in Whitchurch Lane, dozens of pictures were posted by shocked onlookers of a fire blazing inside the destroyed building and firefighters standing amongst the rubble. This morning, however, the light of day has revealed just how devastating last night's blast truly was - with objects of everyday life flung across the front garden of the property and scorch marks from fire covering the lower floor. Pictures show the entire block of flats cordoned off by metal fencing, with a mobile police station van parked out the front as the investigation into what caused the explosion that rocked Hartcliffe shortly before 8pm. In the hours after the explosion there were widespread claims that the incident had been caused by the boiler at the property, however the fire service have simply said that the incident is under investigation in collaboration with Avon and Somerset Constabulary. Eyewitnesses have described a chaotic scene with reports of a woman being forced to jump from a first floor window in order to escape the flames, and emergency services descending on the scene within minutes. Despite the devastation to the building, it is believed that everybody inside the building at the time escaped with relatively minor injuries with all casualties found conscious and breathing when the four Avon Fire and Rescue crews arrived on the scene. South Western Ambulance Service have this morning confirmed that three people were taken to hospital following the incident. Were you involved in last night's incident, and have any information, pictures, or video you would like to share with Bristol Live? Contact reporter Sarah Turnnidge on Facebook here , email [email protected], or call 0117 934 3285.
Incoming Penn State track and field athlete Kristian Marche was shot and killed in North Philadelphia on Monday, according to the Philadelphia Police Department. A police spokesperson said Marche's death is still under investigation and there are no known suspects. Marche was set to arrive at Penn State for the 2018-19 school year. He placed second in the Pennsylvania high school state meet's 100-meter dash in 2017, third in 2016 and fourth this past spring. "I feel like he was the fastest kid in the state," Imhotep Institute Charter High School football coach Nick Lincoln told PennLive. Marche also starred on the football team as a running back. After police responded to gunfire and found a wounded Marche late Monday, he was taken Albert Einstein Medical Center – where he was eventually pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m. on Tuesday.<doc-sep>Follow CBSPHILLY Facebook \| Twitter PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Friends and coaches are mourning the death of 18-year-old Kristian Marche, a star track and field athlete, who was gunned down just a day before heading to the Pennsylvania State University on a scholarship. “He was a good kid, on his way to a great education and future and someone in an act of cowardice just cuts him down,” said Jack Duncan, who mentored Marche as part of the organization Focused Athletics. The organization helps inner-city student athletes with academics, athletics, and professional development. Philadelphia police say just after 9:30 p.m. Monday, a gunman shot Marche in the head in the teen’s back driveway on the 1800 block of East Pastorius Street in West Oak Lane. A “natural” at sports, #KristianMarche was a track star, football player, boxer. He scored a 1060 on the SAT, higher than all of his peers in Focused Athletics. That’s an org that mentors inner city student athletes. If you have info on his killer, call @PhillyPolice. pic.twitter.com/4PeuR41ZgU — Anita Oh (@anita_oh) August 16, 2018 Homicide Lt. Norman Davenport says so far, investigators have no suspects, no motive, and no murder weapon. “It is more than just thoughts and prayers needed at this time. We need information, we need evidence, we need witnesses to come forward,” Davenport said. The Imhotep Charter graduate made a name for himself both on the track and on the football field, says Duncan. “He did everything right and for it to end up like this is really frustrating and kind of heartbreaking,” he said. The teen even spent a day shadowing a dentist at the University of Pennsylvania dental school. “We always ask the kids ‘what do you want to be if you could be anything’ and he said, ‘I want to be a dentist,’” he said. Now, Marche’s loved ones say gun violence has to stop. “It’s disgusting. We’re better than this as people, as human beings — it’s got to end,” said Duncan. Marche scored a 1060 on the SAT, the highest in his class of Focused Athletics peers. The organization is launching the Kristian Marche scholarship fund for the highest scoring SAT student to keep his memory alive. If you have any information on this homicide, call Philadelphia police at 215-686-TIPS.<doc-sep>EMBED >More News Videos Young star athlete killed in West Oak Lane shooting. Watch the report from Sarah Bloomquist on Action News at 4 p.m. on August 15, 2018. Kristian Marche is pictured above competing in the Penn Relays for Imhotep Institute Charter High School. Courtesy: philly.com EMBED >More News Videos Watch full police press conference from August 15, 2018 on murder of Kristian Marche. EMBED >More News Videos Watch raw video of police on the scene following the murder of Kristian Marche on Monday, August 13, 2018. WEST OAK LANE (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are investigating the shooting death of a local star athlete, who was supposed to report to Penn State this week on a track and field scholarship.18-year-old Kristian Marche was shot around 9:40 p.m. Monday outside his home on the 1800 Block of East Pastorius Street in West Oak Lane.When police arrived, they found Marche in a rear driveway suffering from one gunshot wound to the head. "We believe there may have been some communication. He went outside. No witnesses out there - at least that have come forward at this time," said Philadelphia Police Lt. Norman Davenport. "Some shots are heard and subsequently, as police arrive, he's found in the driveway shot. "The teen was taken to Einstein Medical Center where he remained in critical condition until Tuesday, when he finally succumbed to his injuries.He was beloved in the track and field community, considered one of the fastest sprinters in the state, and had earned a partial scholarship to Penn State University.Marche was a recent graduate of Imhotep Institute Charter High School where, in addition to the track team, he excelled as a member of the football team.Family members said their grief is so great they can't bear to talk about what happened.Jackson Duncan, the founder of Focused Athletics, a non-profit that helps inner-city high school athletes, said Marche was one of the organization's first students in 2015. "He did his SATs, went to school, got good grades, he took care of his teammates, the kid did everything right. For him to end like this it's heartbreaking," he said.In a video posted on the organization's website, Marche talks about how the program helped him to stay out of trouble. "Thank God for this because I don't know what I'd be doing right now," he said.After news of Marche's death, Sandy Barbour, Penn State Director of Athletics, released the following statement:"Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Kristian Marche's family, friends and teammates. We are deeply saddened by this tragedy; another young person taken from his loved ones far too early. Our thoughts are with Kristian's family and friends; we will do what we can to support them and our track and field students and staff during this very difficult time. "Police have no motive, no suspects, and few leads to go on. They don't think this was a random crime. "We believe this was targeted. We have no reason to believe that this was a random act," Davenport said.Police are asking parents of young people in Marche's circle to talk to their kids and ask them what they know, as they try to figure out who killed this star athlete. "There was nothing in Kristian's past that would suggest that this crime should have occurred. That's why we're making this appeal because this case needs to be solved," Davenport said.If you have any information that can help the investigation you are urged to contact police.-----<doc-sep>	An 18-year-old high school track and field star and future Penn State athlete was identified as the man shot and killed in North Philadelphia on Monday night, according to PennLive. Kristian Marche, of Imhotep Institute Charter High School, was set to report to Penn State this week as one of the Nittany Lions' 35 incoming track athletes, as Brian Linder reported. A second-place finisher at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state meet in 2017, he "was shot to death on the 1800 Block of East Pastorious Street ... at 9:37 Monday night," as told by the Philadelphia Police Department. Marche's death remains "under investigation" by police, according to Linder. Imhotep, Penn State and countless friends and family are mourning the loss of not only "a great young man," as high school assistant Cyril Woodland told Linder, but a promising track and field prospect. "I feel like he was the fastest kid in the state," Imhotep head football coach Nick Lincoln told Linder, who noted that Marche was regularly headlining track meets when he wasn't on the football field: His second-place finish in the 100 two years ago wasn't the only strong showing for the speedster. He was third in the state in the 100 in 2016, and finished fourth at the state meet earlier this year. He finished fourth in the 60 at the 2017 indoor state championships and was fifth in 2016. Marche passed away at Albert Einsten Medical Center on Tuesday night, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.
With 99.99 percentile, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2018 topper Kalpana Kumari on Monday inched a step closer to realising her childhood dream of becoming a doctor. Kalpana, who hails from Bihar’s Sheohar district, scored 691/720 with a perfect score in Biology to secure All India Rank 1 leaving behind almost 13 lakh students, who took the competitive exam for admission to various medical colleges across the country. “When I checked the result, I couldn’t believe it. I re-checked and the experience was totally amazing for me,” Kalpana said, and added, “I knew that if I work hard, I can give my best. The marks I received are as expected though I made one silly mistake in physics paper which could have been corrected.” She said, “It was my childhood dream to become a doctor. Now my aim is to complete my five-years of MBBS and two-years MS and get established as a good doctor, so that I can help people in need. I want to live up to the expectations people have from a good doctor.” Also read NEET Results 2018: Small town students outshine cities Kalpana is the youngest among the three children of Rakesh Mishra, an official in Bihar education department and Mamata Mishra, a government school teacher in Sheohar. She completed her Class X from Jawahar Navoday Vidyalaya, Sheohar and is awaiting her Class XII results, which she has taken from Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) in 2018. “For medical entrance exam preparation, she was enrolled at Aakash Institute in New Delhi in a two-year regular programme. She shuttled between Delhi and Sheohar to fulfil the requirements of both Class XII course as well as the competitive exam,” Kalpana’s elder sister Bharti told DNA. The NEET topper is now awaiting her results for AIIMS Entrance Test. “Acing the exam has given me a platform to take admission at a college of my choice. But, If I clear AIIMS, then I’ll study there, else at Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi,” she said, adding, “My parents were also not expecting this result. But they are very happy and on way to Delhi to be a part of my success.”<doc-sep>Kalpana Kumari PATNA: Two days after she hit the national headlines after topping the prestigious NEET medical entrance exam on Monday, Sheohar ’s Kalpana Kumari became the most-talked-about girl in Bihar again on Wednesday as the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) announced its Class XII results and declared her the science stream topper. Kalpana, who scored 99.99 percentile in NEET, has obtained 434/500 in her Class XII exam. She scored 90 each in physics and biology, 95 in chemistry, 80 in English and 79 in Hindi. “I’m very excited and happy, but my happiness is incomplete without my family. They have been my constant support and it is because of them that I’ve reached this milestone,” said the girl who studied 13 hours a day for NEET and Class XII exam. She said she had prepared a study chart and used to follow it religiously. “I never comprised with my studies... and made concerted efforts to maintain a balance between the preparations for the two separate examinations,” said Kalpana who appeared for Class XII exam from YJKM College at Sheohar and did her matriculation from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya-Sheohar with 10 CGPA in 2016. Born to Rakesh Mishra, a lecturer at the district institute of education and training at Sitamarhi, and Mamta Kumari, a government school teacher in Sheohar, Kalpana aspires to study at AIIMS in Delhi. “I wrote the AIIMS’s medical entrance exam this year. If I don’t score well in it, I would take admission in Malauna Azad Medical College in Delhi on the basis of my NEET result,” said Kalpana. Arts topper Kusum Kumari of Gopalganj scored 84.8%, fetching 95 in history, 92 in geography, 82 in English, 78 in Hindi and 77 in political science. She appeared for Class XII exam from Simultala Awasiya Vidyalaya-Jamui from where she also did her matriculation. Kusum aspires to study in Delhi University. “I have also applied in Banaras Hindu University . I want to improve the education sector as an IAS officer,” said the daughter of Bhola Prasad who runs a small medical shop on the outskirts of Gopalganj. Kusum’s mother Kaushalya Devi was also delighted. Her brother Rahul is preparing for banking exams and another brother Rajnish for medical entrance exams. Her sister Kavya is in Class IX in a Gopalganj school.<doc-sep>Congratulations! You have successfully cast your vote Login to view result PATNA: Kalpana Kumari of Sheohar in Bihar has topped the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) 2018, the results of which were declared on Monday. The exam was conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on May 6 for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in colleges run with the approval of the Medical Council of India and the Dental Council of India.Out of 720, Kalpana scored 691, including perfect 360 in biology (botany and zoology), 171/180 in physics and 160/180 in chemistry. She secured a percentile score of 99.99. She is the only candidate from Bihar among the top 50 scorers in the country.The 17-year-old girl appeared for the Class XII exam conducted by Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) this year from YKJM College at Sheohar and her results are likely to be declared on June 6. She had completed her matriculation (Class X) from Navodaya Vidyalaya with 10 CGPA in 2016.Sharing her happiness, Kalpana told TOI over the phone from Delhi that it was like a dream come true. "I worked hard and studied more than 13 hours a day for my Class XII and NEET exams. I didn't expect that I will be the topper. I also appeared for AIIMS MBBS entrance exam and waiting for the results. If I didn't qualify that exam, I want to take admission in Maulana Azad Medical College on my NEET score," she said. "I have still not considered the specialty I want to pursue after my MBBS," said Kalpana and added: "I'm also expecting a good marks in Class XII exam. "Kalpana's father Rakesh Mishra (a lecturer at district institute of education and training, Sitamarhi) and mother Mamta Kumari (a teacher in Sheohar government school) were elated over their daughter's success. "I knew she would qualify the exam, but she has proved her mettle by grabbing the top rank. After her Class XII exam, she had moved to Delhi to prepare for the medical exam. We both are proud of her. She will decide about her career," Mishra told this newspaper over the phone on Monday.Kalpana's elder sister Bharti Kumari has completed her engineering from National Institute of Technology Patna while her elder brother Pranay Pratap is a BTech fourth year student at IIT, Guwahati.As per NEET website, 37,899 out of 63,003 candidates from Bihar qualified in the exam. The cutoff for admissions in MBBS and BDS courses is lower than that last year. For general category, the cutoff is 119, and the qualifying scores range from 119 to 691 while the cutoff for SC, ST and OBC candidates is 96 to118. For candidates with disabilities in the general category, the cutoff is 107 to 118. For candidates with disabilities in the SC, ST and OBC categories, the cutoff is 96 to 106.<doc-sep>Congratulations! You have successfully cast your vote Login to view result NEW DELHI: Bihar girl Kalpana Kumari on Monday bagged the top rank in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to medical and dental colleges across the country with the maximum number of candidates clearing the exam belonging to Uttar Pradesh.Kumari secured a percentile score of 99.99 and 691 marks. Telangana's Rohan Purohit and Delhi's Himanshu Sharma jointly bagged the second position with 690 marks. The third rank was shared by Aarosh Dhamija from Delhi and Prince Chaudhary from Rajasthan, both of whom scored 686 marks.A total of 13.36 lakh candidates had registered for the exam, a 16.49-per cent increase from last year. However, 12.69 lakh candidates appeared for the test, of whom 7.14 lakh cleared it.As many as 76,778 candidates from Uttar Pradesh cleared the test. Over 72,000 and 70,000 candidates cleared the test from Kerala and Maharashtra respectively.The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had conducted the test on May 6. The test was conducted in 136 cities in 11 languages.The results have been put up on the official websites of the board -- www.cbseneet.nic.in and www.cbseresults.nic.in.The NEET is conducted by the CBSE for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in colleges run with the approval of the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Dental Council of India (DCI).The test is not for admissions to institutions established through an Act of Parliament such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry.<doc-sep>	NEET topper Kalpana wants to study in AIIMS. Bihar girl Kalpana Kumari topped the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to medical and dental colleges. She secured 99.99 percentile with 691 marks of 720. She scored 171 of 180 marks in Physics, 160 of 180 in Chemistry and 360 of 360 in Biology. Kalpana, a resident of Shivhar district in Bihar, decided to come to Delhi to prepare for the exams. Talking to NDTV, Kalpana said that she has always been hardworking and used to study for 12-13 hours a day to prepare for NEET. Sharing her success mantra, Kalpana said, "I studied NCERT books and coaching material carefully. I also appeared for several mock tests." Mock tests, she said, are extremely important. She feels that students must keep give mock tests to gauge their performance from time to time, this would help them not make the same mistakes again. Since Kalpana wants to study in AIIMS, she is waiting for AIIMS 2018 result too. She feels that if concepts are clear, one can easily crack NEET or AIIMS exam. Kalpana Kumari scored 360 of 360 in Biology. Telangana's Rohan Purohit and Delhi's Himanshu Sharma jointly bagged the second position with 690 marks. The third rank was shared by Aarosh Dhamija from Delhi and Prince Chaudhary from Rajasthan, both of whom scored 686 marks. This year, Uttar Pradesh the maximum number of students who cleared the exam came from Uttar Pradesh. As many as 76,778 candidates from Uttar Pradesh cleared the test. Over 72,000 and 70,000 candidates cleared the test from Kerala and Maharashtra respectively. NEET topper Kalpana Kumari with her family. A total of 13.36 lakh candidates had registered for the exam, a 16.49-per cent increase from last year. However, 12.69 lakh candidates appeared for the test, of whom 7.14 lakh cleared it. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had conducted the test on May 6. The test was conducted in 136 cities in 11 languages. The NEET is conducted by the CBSE for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in colleges run with the approval of the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Dental Council of India (DCI).The test is not for admissions to institutions established through an Act of Parliament such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry.
Everything you need to know from the Avengers: Endgame press conference Avengers: Endgame (2019 movie) Close this dialog window Streaming Options The press conference for Avengers: Endgame was more like a game of dodgeball. Jon Favreau was there to lob the questions, and the actors and filmmakers did their best to avoid saying anything about the April 26 movie. When the curtain dropped to reveal the stars of the film, they found themselves scattered among several rows of empty chairs. Just because they’re currently ash doesn’t mean the other heroes don’t have a seat at the table. Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame" Global Junket Press Conference Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Favreau told Mark Ruffalo and Don Cheadle to come down to the front to fill out the seats. “I can’t hear you,” Cheadle joked. “What?” “I have a little nosebleed,” Ruffalo said. Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame" Global Junket Press Conference Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Iron Man’s Worries Robert Downey Jr. kicked it off by admitting he wasn’t so sure this Marvel experiment was going to work back when he was making 2008’s Iron Man. “There’ve always been two tracks, at least for me. One is the sky is falling, the other is the sky is the limit,” he said. “I’m reminded now I was talking a lot of smack, like ‘Wait ‘til you see where this goes.’ In the moment, I was just hoping, day to day, we were making good scenes and getting good stuff in the can. I just wanted not to drop the ball.” Talking about the interlocked series of movies that emerged from that first film, Downey called it, “the coolest relay race in the history of entertainment.” In the midst of his answer, Brie Larson caught his eye. “Hi Brie,” he said to the Captain Marvel star and director of Netflix’s new Unicorn Store. “Hi,” she said back. “God bless you,” Downey said. “What a fun springtime you’re having.” Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame" Global Junket Press Conference Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Endgame Will Be True to Its Name Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige reaffirmed that this installment in the Avengers series will be a real finale for some characters. “About four or five years ago, we talked about what haven’t we seen in films based on comic characters. We haven’t seen an ending — definitive conclusion to an overall saga,” Feige told the crowd. “That’s why it’s called Endgame, and that’s why I think it’s very, very, very special.” Directors Anthony and Joe Russo talked about what they hoped the film would accomplish. “The story is very much about how these heroes deal with loss, resounding loss, true loss, devastating loss,” Anthony said. “How does a hero move forward from that moment?” “With Endgame, we get to finish off one of the grandest experiments in movie history,” Joe added. “What we’re hoping for is that people feel satisfied with the conclusion.” Clint Barton’s Return Hawkeye was missing from Infinity War and returns this time as the vigilante Ronin. So how does Jeremy Renner feel about coming back? “Rested,” he said. Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame" Global Junket Press Conference Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Okoye’s Mission Danai Gurira said some of the things that she loves about her Wakandan warrior is her “fierceness” and “femininity.” “What I love about her is she’s very unapologetic. She’s a traditionalist in the sense that she believes in the sovereignty of her nation,” Gurira said. “I was born here [in the United States,] but I was raised on the continent, and so seeing a country like Wakanda which has had no history of colonization and became so powerful, and seeing that she is the guardian of that nation really resonated with me.” She described seeing the other Avenger actors for the first time on the set of a Wakandan fight scene. “’Oh, hi,’” she laughed. “That’s the minute you realize you are part of a universe, which is pretty darn awesome.” Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame" Global Junket Press Conference Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Thor’s Uncertainty Chris Hemsworth also said he wasn’t sure his part of the Marvel series was going to work, but that he wanted to be part of it from when he was very young. “I was sitting there, just straight out of high school, and watching [the first] Iron Man and thinking, ‘Oh my God, I wish I could be part of that world,’” he said. “A few years on, getting cast as Thor, and having the opportunity to embark on this thing. At the time, I thought, ‘Is this film even going to make it past DVD, make it to the cinemas, or was I going to be recast?’” Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame" Global Junket Press Conference Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Captain America vs. Iron Man — Rematch “I can give broad strokes, right?” Chris Evans said when asked about what defines Steve Rogers in this film. “It’s the completion of the arc. This film does kind of provide an ending to a lot of ….” “EEEEHHHHH!” Joe Russo interrupted, making a buzzer sound. Downey began laughing openly, pacing and clapping his hands behind Evans, who struggled to find a way back to his answer. “I’m done,” Evans finally declared. “He’s just been through so much…” “Let’s just talk about Scott Pilgrim,” Favreau said, throwing him a lifeline. Evans then began talking about how true the friendships were among the actors and described the Avengers team as a family. “But you couldn’t make it to Rudd’s birthday last night?” Downey teased him. “Yeah … um, okay. I didn’t make it. It was a long day yesterday,” Evans said. “Sorry, Paul.” “It’s all right,” Rudd said. “I’m one of the newer guys.” “You had a birthday party?” Favreau asked. “Did you go?” Evans asked Downey. “Yeah, I did because I said I would,” Downey told him. “That’s right, Mr. Honor.” Damn. Civil War: Part II! But then they hugged it out, falling into each other giggling. Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame" Global Junket Press Conference Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Black Widow vs. the Testosterone Fest Scarlett Johansson said she felt like Black Widow, a.k.a. Natasha Romanoff, has evolved with fan expectations. “Initially, the character really started as a sort of sexy secretary with a skill set on the side,” she said. “Posing as,” Favreau interjected. (He directed her in Iron Man 2.) “Posing as, thank you,” Johansson said. “Then when we saw her in The Avengers, she was one of the boys — for better or worse. That made sense then, but I think as the fans and the audiences have pushed Marvel and all the studios and filmmakers to throw up on the screen what’s going on in the zeitgeist, and wanting to see diverse films and casts, I think the character has grown in reaction to that.” She said it was a relief when more women joined the team. “The movies have grown in reaction to that fan encouragement,” Johansson added. “Honestly, I have to say when Lizzy [Elizabeth Olsen] signed on and Cobie [Smulders] was there, and we were all clinging to each other. I felt like I had been in this testosterone fest for so long. It was so nice to see other female cast members, and now with Brie [Larson] coming on and Karen [Gillan] and Danai [Gurira]. I feel like I’m amongst so many strong actors.” Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame" Global Junket Press Conference Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Nebula’s Revenge Gillan came the closest to giving away her Luphomoid assassin’s storyline. “It’s maybe safe to say she suffers from some daddy issues because her dad is Thanos, so who wouldn’t?” the actress said. “I’m excited for her to face the source of this abuse. She’s talked about how she wants to inflict revenge, so we all know about that. I’d like to see her try to face that.” Then Gillan began to backtrack. “I don’t know if she will. Maybe she won’t,” she added hastily. “I just got really nervous I gave something away, so I’m going to stop.” “I’m terrified to say anything,” Rudd added when it was his turn to answer a question. “I did see the trailer, so I do know that I’m in it. As for how he fits in, that remains to be seen.” Ant-Man’s Small Part He said it was strange playing Ant-Man because the character appeared in the midst of such a vast series. “Everyone is kind of echoing the same sentiment, which is this sense of completion of the story,” Rudd said. “It’s a weird thing to be hired and then to step into it as it’s already picked up speed. It’s like having the Beatles say, come on and jam with us.” He said he is moved by how many people, especially children, whose “lives are affected by these characters.” “To play a small part in that— pun intended — is something I will always treasure.” Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame" Global Junket Press Conference Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Captain Marvel’s Inauguration Larson revealed that she shot her scenes in Endgame before she began work on Captain Marvel itself, even though the latter was released before it. She said she came to the character knowing little about what would happen to her. “This film will always be personally dear to me because it is my first time playing Captain Marvel,” Larson said. “I had to stumble and try to figure out who this character was with no script for this, and no script for Captain Marvel either, and perform for the first time in front of legends.” She said people might be surprised about what it’s like making a Marvel movie. “As big as it is, it still feels like a bunch of kids, like I was doing over summer break, making movies in my garage,” she said. “There’s wonder and play and encouragement.” Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame" Global Junket Press Conference Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images War Machine — Shots Fired Don Cheadle, who joined the series in Iron Man 2, used double entendres to describe his character’s journey while also hinting at the fact that his Lt. Col. James Rhodes was originated by Terrence Howard. “Rhodey obviously started as a lighter-toned individual, bigger than life, than I am in life. But as the character darkened and things became more compact — in the narrative — we’ve seen a real growth in this character as he’s gone through his trials and tribulations,” Cheadle said, while the other actors held back laughs. Now, he says, War Machine is “really part of the team, and able to contribute at a high level.” He added, “To get to keep coming back. It’s rare to have that kind of experience over the course of 10 years … and to consistently win at Boggle, as good as you are,” Cheadle added, speaking directly to Larson. Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame" Global Junket Press Conference Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Boggle Battle Apparently, this word game is how the Avengers actors pass the time. Larson ignited rivalries when she declared she was the champion. “Brie, let’s be real,” Evans said. “Nobody can beat Don. But Paul’s good, too.” “Paul’s definitely is good,” Johansson added. “Like, sleeper Boggle.” “Do I have selective memory, I feel like I crushed the whole time,” Larson said. “What is the most impressive Boggle word, that had been found?” Favreau asked. “Mark Ruffalo,” Evans said, “you’re lucky if he finds ‘cat,’ but he found ‘asbestos’! He has nothing else, but he found ‘asbestos’!” Then he revealed what made Cheadle legendary. “We were flying one time, and Don found the word: ‘Avengers,’” Evans said. “That’s a good sign.” Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame" Global Junket Press Conference Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Close this dialog window Streaming Options Related content:<doc-sep>There's no denying the Avengers franchise has offered up a few emotional moments which get the tears flowing. Top of that list is no doubt Thanos' snap, which wiped out half the universe, including some of our favourite superheroes. As excitement ramps up for Endgame, journalists were treated to a press conference with the cast and it was a hell of a lot emptier than previous media tours. Credit: Germain Lussier/Gizmodo Advert 10 Reporters crowded into a room with a large curtain hiding who was on stage. After some introductory words from Jon Favreau (Iron Man), the curtain dropped and we saw our remaining Avengers, but there were a few chairs left spare for their fallen brothers and sisters. It was a nice touch to recognise that the franchise has become a tad bit smaller since Infinity War. But instead of just bringing enough chairs for the actors, the empty ones help us remember those lost in the snap. Like we needed a reminder. Advert 10 Those who were present on the stage included the directors, the Russo Brothers, Chris Evans, Karen Gillan, Chris Hemsworth, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Danai Gurira, Paul Rudd, Jeremy Renner, Kevin Fiege, Robert Downey Jr., and Brie Larson. Sadly (but also thankfully), there were no spoilers from the press conference. You can imagine the Marvel team were in the wings praying and hoping they wouldn't have to go into damage control. The stars recently came together at Disneyland to donate a whopping $5m (£3.8m) to children's hospital charities. Advert 10 The ceremony marked the launch of the Avengers Universe Unites charity, which aims to inspire and help children with serious illnesses, according to the Disney officials. In order to add a touch of celebrity to the launch, Avengers stars Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson and Robert Downey Jr. assembled at the park in Anaheim for the announcement. Disney's CEO Bob Iger said: "The superheroes in Avengers personify traits like courage, perseverance, bravery and hope - the same traits countless kids and their families in children's hospitals exhibit every day. Advert 10 "We are grateful to have the Avengers cast take time out of their day to be a part of this effort to lift spirits and bring comfort to children during a difficult time."<doc-sep>	Promotional campaigns can often be boring and gruelling, with stars being subjected to the same inane questions over and over – but this sure isn't the case with Avengers: Endgame. Marvel decided to have a bit of fun with their press conference today (April 7), with the curtain lifting to reveal all the stars of the movie – but with empty chairs representing all the heroes lost in the Snap at the end of Infinity War. Jon Favreau just introduced the #AvengersEndgame press conference in devastating fashion, reminding us half of them dead. pic.twitter.com/mYWf4NOkqc — BD (@BrandonDavisBD) April 7, 2019 Don't they know it still hurts? Related: These are the Marvel movies you should re-watch before Avengers: Endgame We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. The journalists and media outlets attending the Los Angeles event were hoping to get some spoilers out of the cast, but the Russo brothers and host Jon Favreau were quick to move the conversation on, like in this moment where Chris Evans started talking about Endgame being an "ending" for Captain America, and they tried to talk about Scott Pilgrim vs the World instead. Chris Evans almost spoils something about Captain America in #AvengersEndgame and it turns into a fight over Paul Rudd’s birthday party. Civil War 2? pic.twitter.com/f44ZrD93V2 — BD (@BrandonDavisBD) April 7, 2019 If Endgame doesn't feature Chris Evans and Brie Larson's Captains making some sort of reference to that film, we will be very upset indeed. Related: Avengers: Endgame runtime finally confirmed The cast of Marvel's upcoming block-destroyer recently appeared together to launch a charity event and to celebrate a $5 million donation to nonprofits supporting children with critical illnesses, proving heroes aren't just on screen. They've also discussed what the new movie has in store, teasing that fans have no idea what's coming in Marvel's latest blockbuster in a new featurette released yesterday (April 6). Avengers: Endgame will be released on Thursday, April 25 in the UK and on Friday, April 26 in the US. 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UPDATE 4/4/19 8:50 PM The jury returned verdicts in the Hart case on Thursday, ruling that the mothers died by suicide and all six children died by homicide. Each decision was unanimous and the deliberations took just one hour. The manner of death will now be entered by the county onto each one of their official death certificates. The four options presented to the jury were: natural, suicide, accident, and "at the hands of another, other than by accident," which the sheriff clarified is homicide. In some of the final testimony of the day, California Highway Patrol Officer Jake Slates said, "Ultimately, I feel that based on Sarah and Jen's history, the pattern of alleged abuse, that this was just another case where they ran." Slates believes the women had not yet totally decided on the suicide plan while Googling about methods on Saturday or while they were buying groceries at Safeway or toiletries at Dollar Tree on Sunday morning. At some point, Slates says, while driving along the coast in their final day, they decided to commit to the plan. That "if they couldn't have those kids, then nobody was going to have those kids." Mendocino County Sheriff Lt. Shannon Barney echoed Slates' conclusion on the stand: "It is my belief that both Jennifer and Sarah succumbed to a lot of pressure ... to the point they made a conscious decision to end their lives and to take the children with them." ORIGINAL STORY: Last September Glamour reported on the tragic story of the Harts—mothers Jennifer and Sarah Hart and their six adopted children. On social media Jen Hart portrayed the image of a happy, postracial American family, but what was going on inside their Woodland, Washington, home turned out to be something very different. Jen, Sarah, and their children Markis, 19, Hannah, 16, Devonte, 15, Abigail, 14, Jeremiah, 14, and Sierra, 12 (two sets of black biological siblings) were often referred to as the Hart Tribe. But on March 26, 2018, their car was found at the bottom of a cliff off California's Highway 1. In the coroner’s inquest today at the Willitts Justice Center in Willitts, California, investigators have revealed the timeline of what happened in the family’s final hours. Among the new details revealed in testimony today was exactly what was in the system of each family member when the Yukon plummeted off the cliff. Evidence presented showed that many members of the family were most likely heavily sedated, with Sarah, who investigators say was in the passenger seat, having the equivalent of 42 single doses of diphenhydramine, a Benadryl-like drug, in her system. Jennifer was driving—and was legally drunk—but didn’t show signs of having taken diphenhydramine. Investigators revealed that the family had purchased an Equate-branded version at a Walmart in Washington State shortly after leaving their house on March 23, 2018, before continuing down the Pacific coast. Both liquid and pill versions of the drug were found in the family’s car. California Highway Patrol Officer Jake Slates, the lead investigator on the case, testified that by his calculations Markis had taken the equivalent of more than 19 doses, Abigail had taken 14 doses, and Jeremiah had taken more than eight single doses. Slates said that Sarah would have likely been “intoxicated” by the amount she had taken, and the kids would “more than likely be unconscious or asleep.” The body of Devonte, the teen featured in a photo hugging a cop that went viral, is still missing, though he was officially pronounced dead in a California court in March. Investigators also concluded that no one had been wearing a seat belt and that Jen had accelerated the car before going off the cliff.<doc-sep>'Maybe We Didn’t Know Them At All?' Hart Family Friend Speaks Out After Jury Verdict After a California jury ruled that the crash that killed a family of 8 was a murder-suicide carried out by married couple Jennifer and Sarah Hart, a friend of the family says she is not any closer to finding closure. “Since the beginning of this, and when it first happened, there have been those of us who basically questioned our own sanity,” Riannah Weaver tells PEOPLE. “We also questioned, like, how did we not see this if that’s what happened?” Get push notifications with news, features and more. Weaver met the family — Sarah, Jennifer and their adopted children Markis, Jeremiah, Abigail, Devonte, Ciera and Hannah — around 2010 at a fundraiser. From the beginning, she was drawn to the family, which Jen and Sarah had dubbed the “Hart Tribe.” “They were always together and very wonderful and very approachable; they were just magical,” Weaver recalls. In addition to always being together at events, Jennifer constantly shared images of their happy home life on Facebook. “It’s always been this thing that we’ve discussed, like a lot of us [who knew them] discussed that maybe we didn’t know them at all,” Weaver admits. “So there’s the possibility that Jen and Sarah had made that decision.” She continues: “But I still can’t imagine them taking the kids on purpose.” Weaver had spoken to both Jennifer and Sarah about their personal struggles in the past, but never thought they would hurt themselves or their children. She thinks mental health plays a large role in the couple’s decision to take their own lives and the lives of their children. On Thursday, after a two-day coroner’s inquest presented by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, a jury ruled that Sarah and Jennifer Hart purposely drove their SUV off the cliff with their children inside, killing everyone. Authorities believe the couple did this after years of abuse allegations in multiple states caught up to them in Washington, where they were living at the time of their deaths. hart-family-car A trajectory of the family SUV’s descent as it fell into the water \| Credit: Courtesy California Highway Patrol • Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. One of the most upsetting details from the case for Weaver and her friends were the Google searches Sarah conducted as she and her family made their way south to California. “Is death by drowning relatively painless?” Sarah searched Google on March 24, the day before Jennifer drove the family off the cliff. “How long does it take to die from hypothermia in water while drowning in a car?” Sarah also searched, California Highway Patrol Officer Jay Slates testified Thursday. california-suv-crash-1 Credit: Facebook Jennifer drove off the cliff about 54 hours after she and her family first left their home. On Thursday, a California Highway Patrol expert testified that the crash was intentional. “When the Harts left their home, I don’t think they knew what they were going to do at that point,” Slates said. “I do think that they knew CPS was there.” He continued: “One of the final questions I would ask all my witnesses would be, based on how well you know Sarah and Jennifer Hart, would this be an act that they could do? Would they be the type of people that would say ‘If I can’t have my children, nobody can have my children?’ And most of the witnesses either stated, ‘Yes, Jennifer would say that’ or ‘Yes, that would be a decision that either or both of them would make.’”<doc-sep>(CNN) As a drunk Jennifer Hart drove her six adopted children in their family SUV, her wife, Sarah, sat in the passenger seat looking up different ways to end a life. The SUV carrying the Hart family would drive off a 100-foot Pacific coast cliff on that day in March last year -- a tragedy police say took all eight lives and sparked questions about abuse and homicide. As the car was in motion, Sarah was busy with the searches: "How easily can I overdose on over the counter medications?" "Can 500mg of Benadryl kill a 125lb woman?" "How long does it take to die from hypothermia while drowning in a car?" One of her last searches was for a no-kill dog shelter. They intended to kill their 6 children, jury finds The horrifying details emerged Thursday after a coroner's jury unanimously ruled that Jennifer and Sarah Hart intended to die along with their six adopted children: Markis, 19, Jeremiah and Abigail, both 14, Devonte, 15, Hannah, 16, and Ciera, 12. At first, it seemed unfathomable the parents would drive their children from their home in Woodland, Washington, to their deaths in Mendocino County, California. Their social media pages included photos of beaming children holding "love is always beautiful" signs. In some photos, they had on matching T-shirts and wide grins. As the national spotlight on the story grew, more details emerged that the children desperately sought help from neighbors. Allegations surfaced that their parents abused and starved the six adopted children. JUST WATCHED Questions surround family killed off cliff Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Questions surround family killed off cliff 02:08 Driver got intoxicated to build her courage The coroner's inquest gave more insight into what led Jennifer and Sarah to end the lives of all eight Harts. When authorities entered the Hart home, it seemed neat, orderly and newly remodeled, said investigator Jake Slates from the California Highway Patrol. But while Jennifer and Sarah's were decorated, Slates said, the children's rooms were bare. Investigators noted that their luggage was left behind, and the family did not take their toothbrushes before leaving for two days. "In my opinion, Sarah and Jennifer succumbed to a lot of pressure," said Lt. Shannon Barney of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office. "They got to the point where they made a conscious decision to end their lives and take their children with them." As Jennifer drove down the US 101 highway, she had five beers in her system, enough to make it difficult for her to function, according to Slates. Witnesses told police that Jennifer rarely drank. The theory is that she drank to build up her courage, Slates said. "My feeling is based on talking to witnesses that they felt if they couldn't have those kids, no one was going to have those kids," Slates said. Kids sought help in the middle of the night Days before the family died in the crash, Child Protective Services in Washington requested a welfare check on the family. But no one answered the door on March 26; the family was already gone. Calls to the police began just two years after the Harts became parents, while they were living in Minnesota. They were first called in 2008 when one child told an adult that Jennifer struck the child in the arm, but the state closed the case claiming the child fell. After another call in 2011, Sarah Hart pleaded guilty to domestic assault after admitting to police she bruised her child by spanking her over the edge of a bathtub. After the family moved to Woodland, Washington, the children started going to their neighbor, Bruce DeKalb, for help and food in the middle of the night. According to a case report, the children also complained of racist behavior. Witnesses told California Highway Patrol that the children were "extremely disciplined, almost to the point of being robotic," walking single-file to the bedroom and being told when to go to the bathroom, Slates said. On March 23, DeKalb called CPS to check on the family. The next day, they packed up their SUV and began their drive from Washington to California. Devonte Hart,12, shares a hug with Sgt. Bret Barnum at Ferguson rally. Questions remain on abuse oversight At first, only Jennifer, Sarah and three children were identified. Jennifer was intoxicated, and Sarah and two of the children tested positive for diphenhydramine, an active ingredient in Benadryl. Ciera's body was found on a beach north of the cliff two weeks later. Parts of a foot in a shoe were found on a beach that May, but investigators could not identify the remains as a Hart child until January this year, when a DNA sample proved it was Hannah. Devonte is still missing and, while they believe he perished with his brothers and sisters, authorities are hoping the public can provide information to prove them wrong. JUST WATCHED Body found near Hart family SUV crash site Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Body found near Hart family SUV crash site 01:00 Jennifer and Sarah cannot be questioned or stand trial for what happened on that California cliff. The inquest is closed, and their death certificates now list suicide while the children's list homicide. What can change now, Mendocino County Sheriff-Coroner Thomas Allman told reporters, is the federal oversight of abuse. Five states were involved with the adoptions and abuse allegations of the children. "Where are the systematic failures that possibly could have prevented this?" Allman said. "We do not have a national database for child abuse allegations." This, Allman said, should be an "enlightening moment" for lawmakers.<doc-sep>Detectives who searched Sarah Hart’s cell phone after her wife Jennifer Hart drove the family SUV off the California coastal cliff, killing all eight, found chilling searches she conducted after the family fled a child welfare investigation in Clark County, Washington. Among the Google searches conducted on Sarah Hart’s phone, said California Highway Patrol Officer Jay Slates: “Can 500 mgs of Benadryl kill a 120-pound woman?” “Is death by drowning relatively painless?” “How long does it take to die from hypothermia while drowning in a car?” “No-kill shelters for dogs” The family often traveled and always took their two dogs with them, Slates said. Since the family fled Washington, no one has found their dogs. Slates said there is no evidence they in fact stopped at an animal shelter. Slates said the searches on Sarah Hart’s phone began at 12:30 a.m. the morning after the family drove away from their Woodland, Washington, home. Sarah Hart texted co-workers at 3 a.m. that she was sick and would be unable to work that day. Slates said Sarah Hart deleted the searches from her phone but that a forensic search was able to find them anyway. -- Molly Young<doc-sep>	A friend of Sarah and Jennifer Hart said she “can’t imagine” the couple killing their six adopted children after a jury ruled the family of eight died in a murder-suicide when their SUV plunged off a California cliff in March 2018. Riannah Weaver told People magazine that she and others who know the Hart couple questioned whether they really knew their former friends who appeared as a close-knit family dubbed the “Hart Tribe.” A jury ruled Thursday that Jennifer and Sarah Hart deliberately killed themselves and their six children — Markis, 19, Hannah, 16, Abigail, 14, Devonte, 15, Jeremiah, 14, and Sierra, 12 — by driving their SUV off a 100-foot cliff in Mendocino County, about 180 miles north of San Francisco. “Since the beginning of this, and when it first happened, there have been those of us who basically questioned our own sanity,” Weaver told the magazine. “We also questioned, like, how did we not see this if that’s what happened?” Weaver met the family in 2010 at a fundraiser and said the Hart family “were always together and very wonderful and very approachable. They were just magical.” MOM IN DEADLY CALIFORNIA CLIFF CRASH HAD TOXIC LEVEL OF BENADRYL IN SYSTEM, DRIVER WAS DRUNK, INQUEST REVEALS The family, however, had been battling abuse allegations in multiple states for years and may have succumbed to a lot of pressure, Mendocino County Sheriff's Lt. Shannon Barney said Thursday. The family of eight also gained nationwide attention after one of their sons, Devonte Hart, was photographed with tears streaming down his eyes while hugging a police officer during a 2014 protest in Portland, Ore. "Just a lot of stuff going on in their lives, to the point where they made this conscious decision to end their lives this way and take their children's lives,” Barney said. Weaver said Friday that it’s possible the couple made the decision to kill their children and themselves. “It’s always been this thing that we’ve discussed, like a lot of us [who knew them] discussed that maybe we didn’t know them at all,” Weaver said. “So there’s the possibility that Jen and Sarah had made that decision.” “But I still can’t imagine them taking the kids on purpose,” she added. SARAH HART SENT TEXT DAYS BEFORE DISCOVERY OF SUV CLIFF PLUNGE, FRIEND SAYS Sarah Hart searched suicide, drowning, Benadryl dosages and overdose methods on the internet throughout the drive to California, California Highway Patrol investigator Jake Slates said. She also queried whether death by drowning would be painful. Authorities recovered the deleted searches from her phone. Jennifer Hart, who drove the vehicle off the cliff, was “drinking to build up her courage.” She had a blood alcohol level well over the legal limit while her wife, Sarah, had 42 doses of generic Benadryl in her system. The children also had high amounts of the drug in their bodies. "They both decided that this was going to be the end," Slates said. "That if they can't have their kids that nobody was going to have those kids." The bodies of siblings Markis, Jeremiah and Abigail were found the same day near the car. Weeks later, the body of Sierra Hart was pulled from the Pacific Ocean. Human remains found in a shoe were matched to Hannah Hart through DNA testing. Devonte Hart’s body was never located, though he’s been presumed dead. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
With 100 percentile in AIIMS MBBS this 17-year-old topper says exam was easier than NEET \|Exclusive\| The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) declared Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) entrance examination results on June 18 on the official website, the link for which is aiimsexams.org This year, 17-year-old Eliza Bansal, who hails from Punjab's Sangrur district, has emerged as AIIMS topper after getting 100 per cent. In an exclusive conversation with IndiaTodayEducation, AIIMS MBBS 2018 the topper said, "I am very happy with my exam results. I never expected that I will score 100 percentile in the entrance exam." Subject-wise percentile in AIIMS MBBS 2018 Biology percentile: 100 Chemistry percentile: 99.94 Physics percentile: 100 GK percentile: 97.87 AIIMS MBBS topper wants to become a cardiologist "I want to serve the people of our nation. Further, I want to become a Cardiologist," Eliza said while speaking about her future plans. AIIMS v/s NEET: To our surprise, the topper found the AIIMS MBBS entrance exam a bit tougher than the NEET 2018 even though she studied from CBSE. "The overall level of difficulty of the AIIMS paper was bit higher and it was tougher to crack the medical exam. Meanwhile, NEET paper was easy to solve," said Eliza Bansal. 17-year-old Eliza Bansal got AIR 196 in NEET 2018 The Central Board of Secondary Education declared the result for NEET UG exam on June 4, 2018 in which Eliza Bansal got AIR 196. How did she prepare? "Apart from taking coaching for the MBBS exam, I did four to five hours of self study. In my free time, I used to just chit chat with my friends," Eliza said about her preparation strategy. More on the educational qualification: A student of Dr Devraj DAV Public School, Eliza scored 94.6 per cent in the Class 12 board examination. In her Class 10 board examination, she got CGPA 10. Family background Eliza's father is an economics teacher in government school while her mother is a homemaker. Further, her brother is pursuing BTech from IIT Delhi. "My family has been my biggest support. Also, my teachers have supported me in clearing the examination," said Eliza. Becoming a doctor: "Looking at my academic performance, my teachers motivated and asked me to become a doctor," Punjab girl told IndiaTodayEducation. More on AIIMS MBBS 2018 results In the AIIMS MBBS 2018, four students secured 100 percentile marks; with more than 2,000 candidates scored 99 percentile marks. The second and third ranks were secured by Ramneek Kaur Mahal and Mehak. (Read: AIIMS declares MBBS 2018 results, 4 score 100 percentile) About AIIMS MBBS Exam 2018: The examination is held to give admission to candidates in MBBS 2018 programme at the 9 AIIMS institutions in India viz AIIMS, New Delhi, Patna, Bhopal, Jodhpur, Bhubaneshwar, Rishikesh, Raipur, Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) and Nagpur (Maharashtra). Read: Bihar Board Class 10 Result 2018 to be announced on June 20, check scores @ biharboard.ac.in Read: Want to get admission in Lady Shri Ram College For Women? Check the category wise list here<doc-sep>Eliza Bansal from Lehragaga in Sangrur district secured the first rank in the AIIMS examination, the result of which was declared on Monday. Eliza secured 100 percentile (rounded off) in biology and physics each, while she scored 99.94 percentile in chemistry and 97.87 percentile in general knowledge. She was taking coaching at a private coaching institute in Patiala for the past two years. In the NEET examination, she grabbed AIR-196 rank and scored 94.6% marks in the class 12 from Central Board of Secondary education (CBSE). “It looks like a dream come to true. I have never thought of grabbing AIR-1 rank but I was hopeful to be placed among top 10. AIIMS examination was quite easy for me as compared to NEET,” she said. She added that she had given thorough revision to her syllabus and concentrated in clearing basic concepts. “In two years, I have not used any mobile phone and not even have account on any social media site. During the journey my parents and teachers at Lakshya institute supported me a lot,” Eliza said. Her father works as lecturer and mother is a housewife. Her father, Vijay Kumar, economic lecturer in a government school at Lailan village said her daughter always aimed high to become doctor from Class 9. Eishwauk Aggarwal, a student from Panchkula’s Bhavan Vidayalya school , who was taking coaching at a private institute in Patiala bagged AIR-10 in the AIIMS result. She secured AIR 90 in the NEET exam. Two more students from Patiala Abhinav Gupta and Ishaan secured AIR 14 and 60 ranks, respectively.<doc-sep>No student from south India featured in top 10 AIIMS results: 9 out of 10 toppers from Kota JAIPUR: Kota repeated its success story by securing nine ranks in the top 10 when All India Institute of Medical Science ( AIIMS ) entrance results were announced on Monday. Kota claimed all positions in the top 10 except the All India Rank 1 (AIR-1) which went to Eliza Bansal of Punjab. Last year, all the top 10 ranks were from one coaching institute in Kota.The first four candidates— Eliza Bansal (1), Ramneek Kaur Mahal (2) of Punjab, Mahek Arora (3) of Haryana, Manraj Sra (4) from Punjab—secured 100 percentile.The next four ranks, Amitabh P Chauhan (5) of Gujarat, Abdur Haque (6) of Uttar Pradesh, Sangeet Rathi (7) of Haryana and Amulya Gupta (8) of Delhi—scored 99.9989 percentile. The rankings are given on the basis of subject-wise scores. Of the top 10, Ramneek Kaur Mahal (2), Manraj Sra (4) and Eishvauk Aggarwal (10) prepared via distance learning programme from Kota.The major surprise came from Punjab and Haryana which had three students each in the top 10 for the first time followed by one each from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. This year none of the students from south India made it the top 10, surprising experts. Allen Career Institute of Kota claimed to have coached all the nine students in the top 10.Ramneek Kaur Mahal from Bhatinda, who came AIR-10 in NEET exam and AIR-2 in AIIMS, said, “I had enrolled for the distance learning program with Allen Career Institute and classroom programme with Aakash Institute in Bhatinda. These helped me to script the biggest success of my life.”She is happy to see three students from Punjab in the top 10. “This is a very unusual result for Punjab. It will motivate thousands of students to contest the toughest and the most prestigious exam in the country,” said Mahal. She would like become a successful neurophysician and AIIMS-Delhi is her obvious choice like other toppers.Coming from a state struggling with its skewed sex ratio, Mahek Arora (3) from Panchkula in Haryana says that family support neutralised societal norms. “I lost my father in 2012. My mother supported the idea of going to Kota for studies. I would like to appeal to my state and my countrymen to treat daughters equally,” said Arora, who came AIR-31in NEET.Kota institutes had 34 students in the top 50. They claimed that 60% of those who got admissions in AIIMS-Delhi’s over the last 10 years had a Kota connection. They were either those who studied in Kota or prepared for the exam through the distance education mode.<doc-sep>AIIMS MBBS Result: 9 of the top 10 students in the all-India exam are from Allen Career Institute Kota Rajasthan's coaching class capital Kota, known to churn out toppers, did it once again on Monday as nine students from a city institute were among the top 10 in the AIIMS MBBS entrance test 2018. The results for the exam were declared on Monday.Nine students of Kota's Allen Career Institute bagged All India Rank or AIR 2 to 10, institute director Brajesh Maheshwari said.Three of these nine students were enrolled in the distance learning programme - Ramneek Kaur Mahal (AIR 2), Manraj Sra (AIR 4) and Eishvauk Aggarwal (AIR 10), he said.The others are Mehak Arora (AIR 3), Amitabh Pankaj Chauhan (AIR 5), Abdur Rehman Asrarul Haque (AIR 6), Sangeet Rathi (AIR 7), Amulya Gupta (AIR 8) and Somal Aggarwal (AIR 9). All of them are from the institute's classroom programme, he added.Pankaj Chauhan also bagged AIR 1 in the Scheduled Castes category.Another classroom programme student of the institute, Prince Chaudhary (AIR 18) topped in the OBC category, Mr Maheshwari said.He went on to say that 34 students of the institute were among the top 50.Allen Career Institute made it to the Limca Book of Records last year after its students bagged all the top ten ranks in the AIIMS MBBS exam, Mr Maheshwari said. The AIIMS MBBS entrance exam is held for admissions to courses at AIIMS New Delhi, Patna, Bhopal, Jodhpur, Bhubaneswar, Rishikesh, Raipur, Guntur and Nagpur.The exam was conducted online on May 26 and 27. The number of students declared eligible for counselling is four times the number of seats available.<doc-sep>	AIIMS Result 2018: Topper From Punjab Wants To Be A Cardiologist, Serve Hometown Eliza Bansal (17) from Punjab's Sangrur district, who topped the prestigious AIIMS MBBS exam this year, wants to serve her hometown Lehragaga which faces a shortage of doctors, her family said today. Bansal bagged the All India Rank (AIR) 1 in the AIIMS MBBS exam, the results for which were declared yesterday. "Eliza wants to be a cardiologist and serve in Lehragaga", said Vijay Kumar, the teen's proud father.Our area is considered backward as there are no qualified doctors here, he added. Kumar, who is an economics teacher at a government school in Sangrur, said his daughter spent seven to eight hours studying every day. "Eliza stayed away from social media and used her mobile only for study purposes," he said.The AIIMS results were a huge leap for Bansal who had secured the 196th position in this year's National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). She scored a perfect 100 percentile in biology and physics, 99.94 percentile in chemistry and 97.87 percentile in general knowledge in the AIIMS test.Two other students from Punjab were among the top four. Bathinda's Ramneek Kaur Mahal and Mohali's Manraj Singh Sra bagged AIR 2 and AIR 4 respectively. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh congratulated the three students on Twitter today. "My heartiest congratulations to Sangrur girl Eliza for topping #AIIMSMBBSResult2018, and to the Ramneek & Manraj for taking the 2nd & 4th spot. You've all done Punjab proud. Best wishes for the future & hope to see you become great doctors in the service of mankind," the chief minister tweeted.
The Chicago Bears are moving on from Jordan Howard. Thursday night, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Chicago Bears had traded Howard to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2020 pick. The Eagles later confirmed the move. The pick being exchanged is currently a sixth-rounder, but it can change to a fifth. A fifth-round pick of the Bears in 2016, his rookie season was a noteworthy one. He went on to rush for over 100 yards in seven games that season and ended the year second in rushing yards in the NFL with 1,313. He went on to get named to the Pro Bowl as a replacement player. The Indiana alum went on to rush for 1,122 yards on 276 carries during the 2017 season and had five games in which he rushed for over 100 yards. The 2018 season brought forth a new offensive scheme and Howard struggled to make much of an impact in it until late in the season. His first 100-yard game of the year did not occur until Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams. His only other 100-yard rushing game came in Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings when he ran for 109 yards. Howard finished the 2018 season with 935 yards on 250 carries and averaged a career-low 3.7 yards per carry. Prior to his 100-yard performance against the Rams in Week 14, Howard was averaging just 3.4 yards per carry through the first 12 games of the season. He averaged 4.5 yards per carry in the final four games of the year. One of the real issues, when it came to the young back's performance in 2018, was that he often looked indecisive with his cuts. Additionally, he also failed to break tackles at a high clip as he showed at times during his first two seasons in the league. He has done a lot of good things in a Bears uniform, but it has been evident for some time that Howard is not a great fit in head coach Matt Nagy's scheme. Nagy likes having backs who are versatile and can catch the football out of the backfield and that has been a big struggle of Howard's at the NFL level. Chicago added running back Mike Davis to the mix at the start of free agency. He previously played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks before inking a two-year deal with the Bears. He has rushed for 862 yards on 234 carries with five rushing touchdowns. He has also caught 59 passes for 408 yards with one receiving touchdown. He ran for 514 yards with four touchdowns and caught 34 passes for 214 yards with one touchdown last season with the Seahawks. He also joins former fourth-round pick Tarik Cohen in the backfield in Chicago. Cohen has rushed for 814 yards with five rushing touchdowns and has caught 124 passes for 1,078 yards with six receiving touchdowns in his two NFL seasons.<doc-sep>The Chicago Bears have traded running back Jordan Howard. The question now becomes, who will replace him? We offer a few potential names. Thursday night, the Chicago Bears hit the NFL world with some big-time breaking news. Many thought they would eventually move on from running back Jordan Howard, it was just a matter of when and for what in return. It finally happened, and of all teams, it was the Philadelphia Eagles who landed Howard in exchange for a 6th-round draft pick in 2020. Obviously, this isn’t an ideal trade for Bears fans. It was the Eagles who knocked the Bears out of the playoffs this year, with a little help from former kicker Cody Parkey. The Bears were one-and-done in the Wild Card Round, and now they watch as an offensive staple heads to Philadelphia. The pick, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, can become a 5th-rounder down the road. But, that’s still not what many fans were hoping for in exchange for a recent back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher. At the beginning of free agency, the Bears signed former Seattle Seahawks running back Mike Davis to go along with Tarik Cohen. But, although Howard was eventually going to be dealt, Davis wasn’t necessarily the replacement. He’ll add great depth and will see the field plenty, but the Bears are now on the hunt for a true Howard replacement. There are still some names to look at via free agency, but even more intriguing players await in the 2019 NFL Draft. Between free agency and the draft pool, here are a few guys to look at to potentially replace Howard.<doc-sep>	The Chicago Bears let go of a running back that played well for them over a few seasons but it is time to look at the positives in the trade. The Chicago Bears have finally traded running back Jordan Howard after some long speculation. There were many factors that led people to believe that he would be moved. It seemed inevitable once the season ended and it has happened. It sort of caught everybody off guard when Adam Schefter tweeted it during a crazy sports night. There were the typical NHL and NBA games going on along with March Madness and Opening Day of Major League Baseball. Everybody put all of those things on the backburner for a few minutes to react to the Howard trade. The Bears sent him to a team that has inflicted some pain on the team recently. Howard is now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles sent a sixth-round pick that could turn into a fifth-round pick to Chicago in exchange for Howard. Howard was a very good running back for the Chicago Bears over three seasons. In his first two seasons, he started every game except one. He had 1000+ yards in both of those seasons and was really looking like he was going to be the next great Bears running back. Then in 2018 Matt Nagy came in and had a different philosophy compared to what was going on under former head coach John Fox. Howard was more of a duo with fellow running back Tarik Cohen in 2018. That was one of the reasons why he was expendable. There are three good reasons to be happy about this move and how it shapes up the offense going forward.
Yet another new Fortnite skin depicting a Season 4 supervillain was leaked, and it looks even scarier than “Visitor.” “Omen” is some kind of darkly-clad supervillain whose face is obscured, and he wears a long cape and leather armor like many of the other characters. Monday’s version 4.4 update to Fortnite brought several changes, including a new soccer stadium to the map, but hidden in the game’s code are several new skins tied to an ongoing Blockbuster Challenge. Players have to complete all of the Weekly Challenges for every week, which unlocks the new loading screen. That screen always holds some kind of clue, be it map coordinates or a specific landmark. Once a player discovers a certain location, they can find a Battle Star in a fashion similar to the “search between a” Weekly Challenge format. Here’s Omen, a Legendary skin that might be available later this week when Week 7 starts, which means you’ll have to complete all of the Week 7 Challenges if you want any chance at getting this skin: Omen looks similar to Raven but if he were a crisply-costumed supervillain instead. Epic Games So what does it all mean? Season 4 brought with it a series of meteors and a superhero theme to Fortnite, but what’s “real” and what’s “fake”? Based on all of the cameras and film sets, it seems like some production company was filming a movie when real meteors crashed into the map. Consider this loading screen, which depicts an active production as a meteor strikes: This 'Fortnite' loading screen helps fill in some backstory. Epic Games Because Hop Rocks exist and cause gravity distortions, it seems perfectly plausible that the many superheroes and supervillains that also pop up in various loading screens are totally real. Keep in mind that there’s also the superhero mansion and supervillain lair in the map now as well. And yet, there are also loading screens depicting superheroes and villains hanging out on a film set, so who knows? It’s impossible to know for sure, but it seems likely that the Visitor and Omen skins might be available as part of the Blockbuster Challenge when Week 7 starts on Thursday at 4 a.m. Eastern.<doc-sep>The new Fortnite Omen skin is now live on all platforms When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up forfor the biggest new releases, reviews and tech hacks Epic Games like to share new cosmetic items on the weekend, some of which also turn out to be the most wanted among fans. And tonight appears to have seen the latest big update to the item shop, this time adding the Fortnite Omen skin. The new Legendary outfit is now live on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC and Mobile platforms, providing an intriguing new look. The Omen comes with its own unique Cape Back Bling, as well as a hefty price tag. Like all Legendary skins, the Omen costs 2,000 V-Bucks, which also has an additional item that can make the complete set. The Oracle Axe Harvesting Tool completes the mystical looks but will cost fans 1,200 V-Bucks to add to their collection. These new items are available now but comes with a countdown timer on all platforms. To add the new pieces to your collection, fans will need to head over to the Fortnite shop within the next 48hrs. After that, the new items will be swapped out by other skins and cosmetics, with no confirmed date for their return.<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up forfor the biggest new releases, reviews and tech hacks Epic Games can’t catch a break as another leak makes its way to the internet, revealing a bunch of new skins and cosmetics for Fortnite. Data miners have managed to unveil some new cosmetics, including the new Blockbuster challenge skin, as well as some big changes to the map in the coming weeks. The new skin is part of a superhero-themed challenge in Season 4 of the Battle Pass. Players will need to complete seven full weeks worth of challenges in order to unlock the new ‘Visitor’ skin. A slew of other new skins have been released in a large leak, including WWII pilot skins, World Cup football theme skins and Superheroes.<doc-sep>	The Fortnite item shop has been updated, giving fans their first chance at unlocking the Omen skin. The latest hero sent to defend the Battle Bus costs 2,000 V-Bucks and comes with a unique cape Back Bling. Soar through the air on the back of his missile, blasting enemies away while looking great in spandex. To complete the ensemble, you can buy the Oracle Axe Harvesting Tool for 1,200 V-Bucks. Your victory has been foretold. The new Omen Outfit and Oracle Axe Pickaxe are available now! pic.twitter.com/UHRiKQx2jl — Fortnite (@FortniteGame) June 17, 2018 In the data mine for last week's v4.4 patch, another hero skin was found in the code. Fate, who looks like a reject from the Assassin's Creed games, is still nowhere to be seen. Expect to see Omen's partner in crime on the live servers over the next few days. I prefer Fate to Omen, so I'll be saving my V-Bucks I earned from E3 for the badass in grey. Here is the last time these items were in the Fortnite Item Shop: Omen - NEW Oracle Axe - NEW Bottom Feeder - 7 days ago - 7 days ago Flippin' Sexy - 12 days ago - 12 days ago Zephyr - 34 days ago - 34 days ago First Strike Specialist - 18 days ago 18 days ago Jubilation - 11 days ago - 11 days ago Trooper - 25 days ago Are you excited to buy Omen or is it a trash skin? Tell us in the comments.
The death of Paweł Adamowicz, the popular liberal mayor of Gdańsk, has sent shockwaves across Poland and elsewhere in Europe. Silent marches have been held in Warsaw, Gdańsk and other cities to pay tribute to him – and tens of thousands of Poles participated. Saturday, the day of his burial, will be a day of national mourning. The alleged assailant, a 27-year-old man from Gdańsk, was released from prison last month, it emerged on Monday. After the stabbing, the assailant told the crowd he blamed Adamowicz’s former political party Civic Platform for his jailing in 2014 for a series of violent attacks. Beyond the specifics of the crime, Adamowicz’s death will likely bring further polarisation in a country already torn apart by years of reckless political bickering. In Poland there has also been heated debate as to whether there is any analogy between this traumatic event and the 1922 assassination of Gabriel Narutowicz, the first president of the independent Polish Republic. Narutowicz was shot at the opening of an art exhibition in Warsaw, following a fierce antisemitic campaign run by nationalists. That tragedy proved to be a lasting burden on Polish political culture. Adamowicz was 53 years old, and had been mayor for more than 20 years. He was widely seen as the father of Gdańsk’s spectacular transformation into an open, modern and prosperous metropolis. Under his leadership the city became a laboratory of innovative forms of civic participation. As a liberal and European he did not hesitate to declare Gdańsk as a city open to refugees – against the dominating mood in the country. He was one of the key political figures of the liberal opposition against the populist Law and Justice party voted into national government in 2015. His death is a human tragedy and a political earthquake. Political discourse in Poland has for years been shaped by the battle between the opposing rightwing Law and Justice party and the liberal Civic Platform. This includes conspiracy theories about the 2010 Smolensk plane crash as well as the dismantling of rule of law by the current government. Historical reminiscences are natural but also misleading. In 1922 Narutowicz was killed after days of street riots aimed at preventing him taking office. A ruthless campaign by the nationalist party depicted him as a candidate of “the Jews” and a “disgrace” to Poland. And his assailant was a political radical. Polarisation in today’s Poland has not – yet – come so far. We may never know what exactly led to this particular crime – psychiatric problems, personal grievances, or political factors. Paweł Adamowicz. Photograph: Wojciech Strozyk/Reporter/Rex/Shutterstock But extremists such as Anders Breivik in Norway, Eligiusz Niewiadomski (who shot Narutowicz), or the assassin of Jo Cox, may have been drawn to acts of violence by conspiracy theories, polarised debates and radical ideologies. There is little doubt that any attempt to bridge the Polish divide will be doomed to fail if it stops short of addressing the backdrop to this tragedy. Public debate in Poland is filled with toxic content – spread so actively by the ruling party that it makes it impossible to speak of any kind of balance. State television has been turned into an instrument of brutal propaganda, spewing out hate speech and xenophobia on a daily basis. Just three days before the murder in Gdańsk, an antisemitic satire was broadcast on prime-time TV. In it, the charity organisation whose event Adamowicz was planning to speak at – and where he would be stabbed – was cast as something dubious, run by opaque forces. This well-known charity event raises money to help sick children but it’s long been under attack from rightwing media and those in the ruling party, making the ridiculous claim that it promotes low or decadent morality. Adamowicz himself had been the target of numerous verbal attacks, including when government officials suggested he was serving German, not Polish, interests. In 2017 a nationalist youth organisation published a fake “public death certificate” of Adamowicz and other city mayors who had welcomed refugees. The public prosecutor’s office controlled directly by the minister of justice chose not to react – as in many other cases of hate speech. Hatred, contempt and intolerance, if stirred up, promoted or even just passively accepted by political elites and the media, can and does lead to violent acts and terrifying results. It will happen, sooner or later. The murder of Adamowicz may have been influenced by what we all were exposed to for years – this suspicion is by no means far-fetched. No amount of condolences and days of national mourning will be able to erase that fact. Calls for silence and moderation have poured in from all sides, as tributes are paid to Adamowicz. But silence is not an answer to this tragedy. There will be no relief, no reconciliation and no hope of fixing our national politics if we don’t come to grips with what this frightful event says about the state of our country. Can we go back to normal after this? It would surely require a degree of self-restraint on behalf of the liberal opposition and an especially large dose of self-criticism from the Law and Justice government and its supporters. But these actions are in short supply at the moment – and unlikely when the European Union and Poland are both heading towards elections this year. Accusations from both sides and hate speech in the government-controlled TV did not stop after the tragedy. Europeans everywhere should take note: what happened in Gdańsk isn’t just a Polish problem. We are all sitting in a room filling up with toxic fumes – all over Europe. We need to act before someone enters it and lights a match.<doc-sep>Three people have been arrested in Poland after calling for more killings in light of the assassination of the mayor of Gdansk. The country’s interior ministry says police made the arrests on Monday after Pawel Adamowicz was stabbed and killed. Mr Adamowicz, a popular liberal figure who had been elected for six terms, was murdered while on stage during a charity event. Joachim Brudzinski, Poland’s interior minister, described those arrested as “unbalanced” and said they were internet trolls. He did not elaborate on whose murder the people were calling for. Flags flew at half-mast across Poland, and mourners attended public vigils, signed condolence books and laid tributes, including at the spot the politician was stabbed in Gdansk’s old town. Recommended Poland mayor stabbed on stage in attempted assassination Mateusz Morawiecki, the country’s prime minister, and his cabinet reportedly stood for a moment of silence before their weekly meeting. Mr Adamowicz was an independent mayor, who was previously a member of the centre-right Civic Platform party. Civic Platform is the main opposition to the right-wing populist governing party Law and Justice. The mayor’s assailant has been identified by Polish authorities as 27-year-old Stefan W from Gdansk. He left prison in December, where he served over five years for bank robberies. The killing has sparked political controversy in Poland, with some blaming the governing Law and Justice party for the killing because of its history of using polarising rhetoric, including against the victim. Others have pointed to claims Stefan W had mental health problems and a criminal record. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut.<doc-sep>On one side are those who support the Law and Justice government, with its mixture of conservative Roman Catholic values, euroscepticism and generous welfare hand-outs for families and the less well-off.<doc-sep>	The music has been switched off at the Red Light pub in the heart of the picturesque old town of Gdańsk. A single candle adorned with a black ribbon rests on the bar. The city is in mourning. The people of Gdańsk are coming to terms with the death of their mayor, Paweł Adamowicz, who was stabbed on stage at a charity concert in front of thousands of people on Sunday. A public appeal led to crowds of people queueing for hours to donate blood to save their mayor, but he was pronounced dead on Monday afternoon. At the Red Light, people console each other between shots dedicated to Adamowicz. Adela Szczepańska-Kościelnik was at the concert when the attack happened. It was the local finale of a nationwide charity drive, the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, which raises funds to buy equipment for children’s units in state-run hospitals. The concerts end with a countdown towards the moment when fundraising stops and people raise lights in the air in celebration. Adamowicz was leading the countdown; the attack was timed to coincide with the moment it reached zero. “At the end of the countdown we didn’t understand what happened. There was no light, no music. A girl started screaming: ‘They killed him! They killed him!’ We were confused, some people thought it was a joke. The city has never been so sad, it is as if someone cut the electricity.” 01:02 Thousands across Poland pay tribute to stabbed Gdańsk mayor - video After the announcement of the mayor’s death on Monday, thousands of people gathered at the statue of Neptune in the city’s Long Market, also home to city hall, where Adamowicz served for more than 20 years. With tears running down people’s faces, the crowd stood motionless as they listened to an a capella version of Simon and Garfunkel’s Sound of Silence. This was silence with a purpose – not only to mourn, but to protest against an increasing prevalence of hate speech in Polish public discourse that Adamowicz had attempted to confront. A staunch defender of migrants and refugees and of LGBT rights, he had marketed Gdańsk as a liberal enclave, a city in open defiance of the xenophobic nationalism promoted by Poland’s rightwing Law and Justice party (PiS), which has governed since 2015. “I am a European so my nature is to be open,” Adamowicz told the Guardian in 2016. “Gdańsk is a port and must always be a refuge from the sea.” His liberal stance cast him as a hate figure for government supporters and the far right. In a 2017 publicity stunt, the All-Polish Youth movement published a series of “political death certificates” of pro-European politicians; on Adamowicz’s certificate, they put his “cause of death” as “liberalism, multiculturalism, stupidity”. Observers say he was regularly subjected to personal attacks and abuse on social media and from rightwing media outlets. Demonstrators holding a ‘stop the hate’ banner during a march in memory of Paweł Adamowicz on Monday. Photograph: Attila Husejnow/Sopa Images/Rex/Shutterstock Some of the attacks continued even after he died. In an interview with a rightwing media outlet broadcast on the day Adamowicz’s death was announced, the far-right politician Grzegorz Braun described him as a “traitor to the nation” for his political views. “Sadly, hatred is becoming more and more visible and more widely accepted in Polish political and social life,” read a joint declaration of Jewish organisations in Poland, published on Tuesday. “The death of Mayor Paweł Adamowicz is yet another tragic warning signal that in our society, ideological differences, and differences of worldview, can lead – in extreme cases – to acts of physical violence.” Adamowicz told the Italian newspaper la Repubblica in 2017: “Physical abuse is normally preceded by verbal violence. When the language of the elites violates the limits imposed by decency, it causes more and more physical violence. Unfortunately this is not a theory but the reality, as the growing cases of racially and religiously based violence demonstrate.” Some people have drawn parallels between Adamowicz’s murder and the assassination of Gabriel Narutowicz, the leftwing president of interwar Poland who was shot by a rightwing activist in the 1920s. Making this connection explicit, a silent “march against hatred” held in Warsaw on Monday evening made its way through the streets of the capital to the Zachęta art gallery, where Narutowicz was killed in 1922. A woman signs a book of condolence for Paweł Adamowicz in Warsaw on Tuesday.
FILE PHOTO: Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives at a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, May 31, 2018. REUTERS/Chris Wattie WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday of “being so indignant,” as the two leaders prepared for a Group of Seven summit in Quebec on Friday that is likely to center on trade disagreements. “Prime Minister Trudeau is being so indignant, bringing up the relationship that the U.S. and Canada had over the many years and all sorts of other things ... but he doesn’t bring up the fact that they charge us up to 300% on dairy — hurting our Farmers, killing our Agriculture!” Trump said on Twitter.<doc-sep>Share this Story: Trump calls Trudeau ’indignant’ ahead of G7 summit Trump calls Trudeau ’indignant’ ahead of G7 summit Article content QUEBEC — Just hours before what’s expected to be a combative Canadian debut at the G7 summit, Donald Trump accused his host Justin Trudeau of being “indignant” in an evening Twitter posting. The U.S. president’s personal attack on the prime minister heightened the potential for confrontation when the two leaders have their first face-to-face meeting in Canada on Friday after Trump’s arrival. He is planning to leave the summit early on Saturday morning before the leaders’ scheduled meetings are completed, said Canadian government officials. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Trump calls Trudeau ’indignant’ ahead of G7 summit Back to video Earlier Thursday, Trudeau offered Trump some qualified kudos on his North Korea peace efforts, along with French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. It gave Trump a brief respite from criticism over the punishing steel and aluminum tariffs he has imposed on his G7 partners. But it didn’t last. Trump took to Twitter later in the evening to blast Trudeau on a range of issue tied to the ongoing trade differences between the two countries, including Trump’s imposition of punishing steel and aluminum tariffs and the unresolved North American Free Trade Agreement talks. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “Prime Minister Trudeau is being so indignant, bringing up the relationship that the U.S. and Canada had over the many years and all sorts of other things . . . but he doesn’t bring up the fact that they charge us up to 300% on dairy — hurting our Farmers, killing our Agriculture!” Prime Minister Trudeau is being so indignant, bringing up the relationship that the U.S. and Canada had over the many years and all sorts of other things...but he doesn’t bring up the fact that they charge us up to 300% on dairy — hurting our Farmers, killing our Agriculture! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2018 Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Trump’s imposition of steel and aluminum tariffs, as well as broader disagreements on trade, climate change and the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement, are setting the stage for some tense talks once Trump arrives Friday at the Quebec summit. “We’re not sugar-coating the fact that there are strong differences of opinion and there are going to be tough discussions on a number of things that we don’t agree on,” a senior Canadian government official said late Thursday in response to Trump’s tweeting. Earlier in Ottawa, Macron and Trudeau offered an olive branch of sorts by offering Trump a modest measure of support in his historic meeting in Singapore with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un following the G7 summit. Photo by Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS But they also made it clear that won’t keep them from pushing Trump to end the tariffs, which they brand as illegal and bad for everyone’s economy. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the world’s rules-based order — something Trump has little time for. Indeed, Trump’s earlier Twitter activity suggested he’d arrive in Quebec with his elbows up. After an early morning Twitter posting that said he was, “Getting ready to go to the G-7 in Canada to fight for our country on Trade (we have the worst trade deals ever made)” he piled on later in the evening with more. “Please tell Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron that they are charging the U.S. massive tariffs and create non-monetary barriers,” he wrote. Please tell Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron that they are charging the U.S. massive tariffs and create non-monetary barriers. The EU trade surplus with the U.S. is $151 Billion, and Canada keeps our farmers and others out. Look forward to seeing them tomorrow. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2018 Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content In March, Trump first announced the imposition of tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum, but he gave Canada, Mexico and the European Union a waiver. The steel tariffs also affect the other G7 member, Japan, which was never granted a waiver. Macron came to Ottawa ahead of the G7 summit in part to talk strategy with Trudeau on how to deal with a mercurial president who likes to be liked. They found a way to praise him on North Korea, even if it was tempered by other complaints. Trudeau offered the G7’s support, saying it’s important “to demonstrate the solidarity of the world’s leading industrialized economies behind the president’s efforts on the Korean Peninsula.” Macron said: “We’ll all be behind him to support this essential initial initiative in the fight for global denuclearization.” But the French leader quickly added that Trump can’t expect credibility on that file while he undoes all the good work done to date on pushing Iran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons. “What credibility can a negotiation on the North Korean nuclear program have if we undo the negotiations of three years ago on the Iranian nuclear program?” he asked. “Because we want President Trump to be strong and successful in his negotiation with North Korea, we want the international community to be credible on the Iranian nuclear program.” Most recently, Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear agreement, following his earlier decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord. The nuclear agreement included Germany and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, which includes France and Britain — all G7 members. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Trump is no fan of the world’s multilateral institutions, and that has him on a collision course with his fellow G7 leaders, creating the so-called G6-plus-one dynamic.<doc-sep>President Trump characterized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “indignant” about trade issues ahead of this weekend’s G7 summit in Quebec. “Prime Minister Trudeau is being so indignant, bringing up the relationship that the U.S. and Canada had over the many years and all sorts of other things,” Trump wrote on Twitter Thursday night. “…but he doesn’t bring up the fact that they charge us up to 300% on dairy — hurting our Farmers, killing our Agriculture!” Earlier, Trump tweeted that traditional allies Canada and France were “charging the U.S. massive tariffs and create non-monetary barriers.” Trump’s grumbling comes as he is headed to meet with leaders from the U.K., Canada, Japan, Italy, Germany and France at the annual G7 summit. Trump has struck a notably different tone about the upcoming summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The president has called Kim “very honorable” and noted that they “probably” have a “very good relationship.”<doc-sep>Leaders of the Group of Seven rich nations are set to clash with a combative US President Donald Trump on Friday when they pressure him to lift sanctions on steel and aluminium they fear could lead to a trade war. The confrontation threatens to rupture a body that during its 43-year history has traditionally sought to find consensus on the economy and other issues. Trump, who aides say has little interest in multilateralism, twice attacked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Twitter on Thursday and officials concede the mood is likely to be exceptionally tense. "There will be some serious disagreements on a lot of things," a Canadian official told reporters late on Thursday. Although Trump says the tariffs are necessary to protect U.S. industry, Canada and the European Union have denounced them as illegal and are preparing retaliatory measures. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday leaders needed to be civil at the summit but he is clearly losing patience with the U.S. President, suggesting the other six members of the G7 could form their own grouping if necessary.<doc-sep>	US President Donald Trump has gone on a Twitter offensive against Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for mentioning the two countries' long-time alliance. Trudeau recently said Washington's new import tariffs were "insulting." In a furious tweet, Trump called Trudeau "indignant" for bringing up the relationship between the US and Canada. That relationship, Trump said, includes dairy prices that hurt American agriculture. Prime Minister Trudeau is being so indignant, bringing up the relationship that the U.S. and Canada had over the many years and all sorts of other things...but he doesn’t bring up the fact that they charge us up to 300% on dairy — hurting our Farmers, killing our Agriculture! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2018 Both Trudeau and Trump are preparing for the upcoming G7 summit in Quebec, Canada, which is likely to be abuzz with talks on how to cope with the new international trade landscape after Trump slapped new steel and aluminum import tariffs on Washington's European allies and Canada. Earlier, Trudeau said those tariffs were "insulting" to the special relationship between his country and the US, appealing to Trump to remember how "interconnected" and "interdependent" they are. Trump has been unrelenting since the tariffs were first announced in March, and he is now catching flak from some of his closest allies. French President Emmanuel Macron, who was in a syrupy "bromance" with Trump mere weeks ago, has now gone as far as suggesting that G7 might be better off as G6, minus the US. UK Prime Minister Theresa May reportedly won't even meet with Trump at the Quebec summit, despite having scheduled bilaterals with every other leader. READ MORE: 'No leader is forever': Macron strikes hostile tone against Trump, says US can be kicked out of G7 Trump says his unrelenting tariff drive is a mere push to even out the trade. "The EU trade surplus with the US is $151 Billion, and Canada keeps our farmers and others out," he tweeted. He is still looking forward to meeting his supposedly unscrupulous trade partners in Quebec, though. Please tell Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron that they are charging the U.S. massive tariffs and create non-monetary barriers. The EU trade surplus with the U.S. is $151 Billion, and Canada keeps our farmers and others out. Look forward to seeing them tomorrow. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2018 Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
The PIAA wrestling championships are underway at the Giant Center in Hershey. Fifty-five local wrestlers are competing in the Class 2A and 3A brackets, vying for statewide glory. See which athletes are headed to the medal stand by following the championship brackets below. RELATED: The local wrestlers battling for state titles PIAA CLASS 2A WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS 106 \| 113 \| 120 \| 126 \| 132 \| 138 \| 145 \| 152 \| 160 \| 170 \| 182 \| 195 \| 220 \| 285 PIAA CLASS 3A WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS 106 \| 113 \| 120 \| 126 \| 132 \| 138 \| 145 \| 152 \| 160 \| 170 \| 182 \| 195 \| 220 \| 285 Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.<doc-sep>Five notable results and storylines from Day 1 of the 2019 PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships: 1. A path opens for Levi Haines: The biggest surprise from Day 1 came at 106 pounds, where Pope John Paul II sophomore Matt Vulakh sprung a 5-2 upset over Reynolds defending state champion Gary Steen. That win pushed Vulakh into the quarterfinals. It also might have cleared a path for Biglerville freshman Levi Haines, who otherwise would have run into Steen in a semifinal showdown of two of the nation’s top 106-pounders. Haines won the same Southeast Regional where Vulakh placed fourth and majored the opponent, Noah Frack of Brandywine Heights, who beat Vulakh, 4-0, in the quarterfinals. 2. Huge win for Caydin Wickard: Wickard stormed into the 120-pound quarterfinals with a dominant 13-6 decision over St. Joseph’s Prep’s Amonn Ohl. The win helped Wickard get on track in his first Pennsylvania state tournament — he was a California state qualifier as a sophomore last season — after a 14-3 loss to nationally ranked Ryan Crookham in the semifinals of last week’s Southeast Regional tournament. Ohl was no slouch, either. He was a sixth-place finisher at the state championships last season. 3. Southern Columbia’s early edge: The Tigers might prove hard to beat in the PIAA team race with an early advantage that includes a tournament-best seven wrestlers still alive in the championship finals. Southern Columbia was a runner-up to Reynolds in the PIAA team championships last month and was also a runner-up to the Raiders in the PIAA individual championships last season. The Tigers have serious firepower left in the championship bracket, led by 195-pound force Gaige Garcia. 4. All they could do was smile: It’s a funny thing when competitive wrestlers are left to just throw their hands up and admit what they were up against. That happened in back-to-back matches on Mat 3, when Garcia pinned Coudersport’s Elijah Ayers in 17 seconds at 195 pounds and Greenville’s Jacob McMaster won by fall over Newport’s Ethan Rode in 14 seconds at 220. Ayers joked to his coach, ‘Well, I felt him out’ as he walked off the mat. Rode shook hands with McMaster with a big smile on his face, knowing McMaster’s tight cradle was borderline-unavoidable. Garcia is the No. 1 wrestler in the state; McMaster is No. 2 and has two PIAA medals. 5. A stunning comeback: North Star’s Hunter Tremain was having his way with Saucon Valley’s Dane Csencsits in the first period of their first-round matchup at 195 pounds. He took Csencsits down early and turned him for nearfall points on three occasions to build a 10-0 lead. Csencsits picked top in the second, presumably to grab at straws and go hunting for a pin, but Tremain slipped free to stretch his lead to 11-0. That was what the scoreboard read when Csencsits powered Tremain to his back and got a stunning pin at the 3:36 mark.<doc-sep>Class 2A wrestling has ended for the day at the 2019 PIAA Wrestling Championships at Giant Center. Southern Columbia earned the day one lead with 36 team points. Saint Joseph’s is second with 28. 3. while Notre Dame Green Pond sits in third with 25.5. Action resumes in the 2A bracket at 9 a.m. on Friday with quarterfinal matches. In the meantime, be sure to read up on all of Thursday’s results below. The order follows the day’s sequence of events, meaning we first detail preliminary results, then first-round action, and finally first-round consolation scores. Check back to PennLive each day of the tournament as live results will flow in throughout the day and night. Class 2A Preliminary round 106 pounds Matt Vulakh, Pope John Paul II, pinned Bryce Beatty, Mount Union, 0:58. Mark Palmer, Brockway, dec. Luke Geibig, Mount Pleasant, 9-4. Eric Alderfer, Faith Christian, dec. Andrew Johnson, Danville, 1-0.Easton Toth, Forest Hills, md. Gannon Smith, Newport, 14-5. 113 pounds Nate Yagle, McGuffey, dec. Jace Beegle, Pequea Valley, 6-5. Nate Holderbaum, Chestnut Ridge, pinned Mason Leshock, Line Mountain, 4:53. Cole Bayless, Reynolds, MD. Matt Inman, Annville-Cleona, 10-2. Hunter Walk, Tyrone, pinned Christian Doi, Camp Hill, 3:23. 120 pounds Blake Showers, Biglerville, dec. Garrett Giedroc, Bald Eagle Area, 9-3. Jimmy Gwyer, Beth-Center, dec. Brandon Breidegan, Northern Lebanon, 3-2. Alex Kightlinger, Saegertown, dec. Bailey Gimbor, Hamburg, 3-1. Baylor Shunk, Penns Valley, tech fall, Joe Rowley, Hanover Area, 19-1 (3:54). 126 pounds Josh Tuckey, Biglerville, dec. Matthew Carpenter, Williamson, 7-1. Dalton Gimbmor, Hamburg, pinned ZJ Ward, Freedom Area, 4:00. Seth Hoopes, Octorara, dec. Chase Proudfit, Penn Cambria, 4-2. Byron Daubert, Forest Hills, dec. Blake Passarelli, Curwensville, 7-3. 132 pounds Donavin Chambers, Elwood City, dec. Eli Tuckey, Biglerville, 7-6. Conner Redinger, Quaker Valley, dec. Zach Rupp, Upper Dauphin, 9-5. Garrett Cornell, Everett, pinned Ethan Wiant, Redbank Valley, 0:33. Dorian Gonzalez, Newport, dec. Bob Long, Lake-Lehman, 10-6. 138 pounds Shane Strausser, Hamburg, dec. Mario Barberio, Muncy, 8-5 (SV). Kenny Dushek, Freedom Area, md. Thomas Spirk, Saucon Valley, 9-0. Noah Blankenship, Kane, dec. Cooper Warshel, Bishop McCort, 1-0. AJ Corrado, Burrell, dec. Nick Vonelli, Notre Dame GP, 3-2. 145 pounds Hunter Burke, Lake Lehman, pinned Page Karsteter, Fairfield, 2:57. Shane Kemper, Burgettstown, pinned Chris Whiteman, Lehighton, 4:25. Nicholas Rosengrant, Saucon Valley, md. Robert Krug, Forest Hills, 14-2. Jake Pail, Freedom Area, dec. Marshall Marfinetz, Girard, 9-7. 152 pounds Brendan Laird, Conneaut, dec. Hunter Weitosh, Phillipsburg-Osceola, 4-3. Daniel Kosinski, Trinity, pinned Jon Dale, Moshannon Valley, 2:46. Alec Supanick, North Star, md. Nick Winters, Northern Lebanon, 13-0. Chett Pesta, Williams Valley, md. Isaac Cory, Troy, 13-5. 160 pounds Jacob Busch, Central Columbia, dec. Max Schultz, Faith Christian, 10-3. Caden Morrison, West Perry, dec. Seth Link, Cambria Heights, 5-1. Austin Mele, Burrell, dec. Hunter Thompson, Reynolds, 8-5. Nick Kostyak, Boiling Springs, dec. Jacob Sabol, Richland, 8-2. 170 pounds Cole Toy, Reynolds, dec. Nate Wickersham, Tamaqua, 6-0. Noah Huntcherson, Valley, pinned Kolt Schaeffer, Tri Valley, 2:51. Myles Baney, Huntingdon, dec. Damon Waltenbaugh, Faith Christian, 9-5. Ethan Gush, Muncy, dec. Austin Mowry, Northern Bedford, 5-4. 182 pounds J.C. Smychynsky, Penn Cambria, dec. Alec Snyder, Wilson Area, 5-4. Derek Yingling, West Branch, pinned Michael Kustanbauter, Muncy, 4:53. Teddy Race, Kane, pinned Danny Lawrence, Mahanoy, 2:58. Garrett Henigin, Blairsville, tech fall, Noel Gilgeous, Church Farm School, 19-3 (3:59). 15 PIAA wrestling championships; Behind-the-scenes from day 1 195 pounds Elijah Ayers, Coudersport, dec. Jack Files, Pope John Paul II, 7-5. John Vargo, Bentworth, def. Clay Green, Towanda, forfeit. Trentin Whaley, Bellwood-Antis, pinned Ben Weidenhammer, Hamburg, 4:32. Geoff Magin, Quaker Valley, pinned Ben Cope, Upper Dauphin, 1:40. 220 pounds Joe Coblentz, Pequea Valley, dec. T.J. Meehan, Lake-Lehman, 6-2. Tyrone Fowler, Bishop McDevitt (12), dec. Shane Clark, Everett, 2-1. Connor Forrest, Hopewell, pinned Joey King, Maplewood, 4:44. Ethan Rode, Newport, pinned John Croft, Central Cambria, 6:44. 285 pounds Marvin Beatty, Marion Center, pinned Nickolas Warnke, Saucon Valley, 5:09. Gerald Comedy, Washington, dec. Derek Hunter, Jim Thorpe, 3-2. Damon James, Boiling Springs, dec. Max Wills, Greenville, 3-2 (UTB). Riley Kemper, Burgettstown, dec. Owen Zechman, Midd-West, 8-1. First round 106 pounds Vulakh, Pope John Paul II, dec. Gary Steen, Reynolds, 5-2. Kai Burkett, Chestnut Ridge, pinned Kaiden Wagner, Lewisburg, 3:37. Gavin Bradley, Athens, dec. Suds Dubler, Glendale, 4-2. Levi Haines, Biglerville, pinned Palmer, Brockway, 1:42. Joey Fischer, South Park, dec. Alderfer, Faith Christian, 8-1. Owen Reinsel, Brookville, pinned Connor Brown, Littlestown, 1:04. Noah Frack, Brandywine Heights, pinned Hunter Robinson, General McLane, 0:32. Sheldon Seymour, Troy, TF, Toth, Forest Hills, 19-4 (3:41). 113 pounds Gable Strickland, Benton, md. Yagle, McGuffey, 8-0. Jackson Arrington, Forest Hills, dec. Connor Pierce, Harborcreek, 8-1. Cooper Gilham, Bald Eagle Area, dec. Andrew Brest, General McLane, 9-7. Holderbaum, Chestnut Ridge, pinned Adam Jacob, East Pennsboro, 2:10. Ryan Michaels, Elizabeth Forward, pinned Bayless, Reynolds, 5:19. Gabe Gramly, Mifflinburg, dec. Luke Fegley, Middletown, 9-5. Kole Biscoe, Southern Columbia, dec. David Kreidler, Allentown Central Catholic, 5-2. Logan Jaquay, Eisenhower, pinned Walk, Tyrone, 2:56. 120 pounds Ian Oswalt, Burrell, dec. Showers, Biglerville, 3-2. Hunter Thompson, Titusville, dec. Crawford, Milton, 12-7. Braedon Johnson, Port Allegany, dec. Noah Hunt, Warrior Run, 10-6. Ryan Crookham, Notre Dame-GP, TF, Jimmy Gwyer, Beth-Center, 17-2 (5:47). David Evans, Tunkhannock, dec. Kightlinger, Saegertown, 5-4. Caydin Wickard, Boiling Springs, dec. Amonn Ohl, St. Joseph’s, 13-6. Nate Smith, Bishop McDevitt, dec. Noah Teeter, Mount Pleasant, 5-0. Beau Bayless, Reynolds, dec. Shunk, Penns Valley, 4-2. 126 pounds Brock McMillen, Glendale, dec. Tuckey, Biglerville, 7-0. Brandan Chlestos, Notre Dame GP, dec. Anthony Glasl, Brockway, 8-3. Bronson Garber, Upper Dauphin, dec. William Burgess, Union City, 7-2. Gimbor, Hamburg, dec. Bryce Vollman, Muncy, 7-3. Bryce Knauf, Greenville, pinned Hoopes, Octorara, 3:52. Tyler Cymmerman, Derry Area, md. Ben Heinrich, Hughesville, 15-3. Tyler Denochick, West Branch, pinned Ian Yoder, Southern Columbia, 1:23. Chase Shields, MD, Daubert, Forest Hills, 14-6. 132 pounds Joshua Jones, Saucon Valley, TF, Chamers, Ellwood City, 16-0 (4:12). Kaeden Berger, Reynolds, dec. Patrick Edmondson, Southern Columbia, 1-0. John Wheeler, Northwestern, dec. Joe Hester, Montrose, 4-0. Kaden Cassidy, Bedford, dec. Redinger, Quaker Valley, 13-6. Cornell, Everett, dec. Nathan Higley, Sullivan County, 7-5. Zack Witmer, St. Joseph’s, dec. Braedan Amole, Octorara, 6-1. Chase Chapman, Phillipsburg-Osceola, dec. Colin Leonard, Northern Lebanon, 10-8.<doc-sep>High school wrestlers will hit the mats Thursday through Saturday at Hershey’s Giant Center for the PIAA wrestling championships. Let’s take a look back to 1997 with these photos. You will see champions Mike Khan of Harrisburg, Rob Rohn of Nazareth, Rob English of West Branch, Mike Shingara of Line Mountain, Josh Henson of Hanover and Jeff Eure of Upper Dauphin.<doc-sep>	Bishop McDevitt went 3-for-3 in the first round of the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships to send all three of its wrestlers into Friday’s quarterfinal round. Nate Smith and Chase Shields cruised at 120 and 126 pounds, respectively, and Tyler Martin registered an overtime win over a returning state medalist at 138. Martin gave up the first points of the match to Reynolds senior Rocco Bartolo, a PIAA bronze medalist last season, and trailed 3-0 early in the second period. He got on the board twice with takedowns in the second to tie the match at 4-4 and force overtime following a scoreless third. Martin scored again just 17 seconds into sudden victory to win by a 6-4 decision and punch his ticket to the quarterfinals, where he will face Midd-West’s Avery Bassett. Smith pitched a 5-0 shutout in his first-round bout with Mount Pleasant’s Noah Teeter at 120 pounds. He registered two full minutes of riding time in the second period and came up just short of nearfall points on a couple of tilts in the frame that would have opened up the match. Smith led 2-0 at the time, then escaped and scored late in the third to finish off a 5-0 win. He will wrestle Beau Bayless of Reynolds, a three-time PIAA medalist and a state champion two years ago, in Friday’s quarterfinal round. Shields was a winner by 14-6 major decision over Byron Daubert of Forest Hills in his 126-pound opener. The two-time state finalist got off to a fast start in building an 11-2 lead in the first period with three takedowns and five total nearfall points. He had a hiccup and yielded a takedown in the second period, but otherwise stayed in control. Shields will wrestle West Branch senior Tyler Denochick in the quarterfinal round.
Ariana Grande has revealed she has her own way of pronouncing her last name, and it's almost certainly not the way you've been saying it. During an interview with Beats 1, the 'Problem' hitmaker was asked if she would change her last name after she marries fiancé Pete Davidson. Grande initially said she'd hyphenate her name to Grande-Davidson, then decided she'd prefer to one day just be known as 'Ariana'. She quickly changed her tune again, however, when she thought of her grandfather, who she said was always proud of their name. "No, no no, I have to keep Grande because of my Grandpa, I think of him with everything I do. I should keep it. Nevermind!" Despite her indecision, the real point of interest was how Grande pronounced her own last name: "Gran-dee". "My grandpa said Gran-dee," she said. "Gran-dee was kind of the Americanised version of it, made it more chill."<doc-sep>Ariana Grande has always had a memorable last name, thanks to the fact that it both twins with a Starbucks drink size and that it typically means "big," when Ariana herself is of small stature. But in a new interview, Ari opened up about the origin of her name and revealed this jaw-dropping fact: Grande has historically not been pronounced "Grahn-day," the same way people refer to the Starbucks cup. While chatting with Beats Radio 1, Ariana shared that her name is actually pronounced like "Gran-dee," or at least, that's how her grandpa pronounced it. "My grandpa said Gran-DEE. Gran-DEE was kind of the Americanized version of it, made it more chill," she said, referring to her Italian ancestry. She went on to share that her brother Frankie was the one who started changing the pronunciation when they were younger. "And then my brother was like, we should say Grahn-DAY," she said. "It's so fun to like say it. It's a funny name. I grew up saying Gran-DEE — and I think of [my grandpa] and I wish I said Gran-DEE more." In the same interview, Ariana also said that when she marries Pete Davidson, she'd like to take his name, but hyphenate it. So instead of her current legal name of Ariana Grande-Butera, she'd become Ariana Grande-Davidson. She's especially attached to Grande, however, because of her special relationship with her grandfather. "I have to keep Grande because of my Grandpa," she said. "I think of him with everything I do in it and he was so proud of our name, I should keep it." Let us slide into your DMs. Sign up for the Teen Vogue daily email. Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: This Is What Ariana Grande Plans to Change Her Name to After She Marries Pete Davidson<doc-sep>Uh oh, Ariana Grande fans, you've got some catching up to do! Ever hungry for new details about their favorite diva, the Ariana Grande fan universe is reeling at the news that they've apparently been calling her the wrong name all along (according to her grandpa, anyway)! In an interview on the Apple Music show "Beats 1," Ariana was discussing her impending marriage to Pete Davidson when host Ebro Darden asked her if she'll hyphenate her name after the wedding to Grande-Davidson, and whether she'll use that name professionally. She revealed that she originally wanted to just go by her first name, in the grand tradition of single-named pop divas, but because of her grandfather's pride in their family name, "Gran-DEE," she decided to keep it. Yep. It's "Gran-DEE," not "GRAHN-day." Hear it for yourself at the :40 mark! Seems the family has always pronounced it "Gran-DEE" even though the true Italian pronounciation is "Grahn-day"--the family changed it when they emigrated. "My grandpa said Gran-DEE," she told Darden, "Gran-DEE was kind of the Americanized version of it, made it more chill." It was her brother, YouTube and former "Big Brother" star Frankie Grande, who suggested they change it. "My brother was like, we should say Gran-DAY. It's so fun to say it. It's a funny name," Ariana said, going on to joke about how very Italian she is. "Literally, my name is like 'Ariana Grande-Butera!'" she exclaimed. "I'm like a pizza. I'm a f*cking meatball." Cute story! But Ariana's fans on social media were SHOOK: While others with difficult Italian names felt seen and heard: And some took it ... maybe a bit too seriously? And others couldn't help but go topical, tying Ari's name story to others in the news: And, of course, puns about a certain ubiquitous coffee chain were irresistible: As for me, right now I'm in a state of mind where I'm like, Ariana, baby you just gotta make up your mind, because when it comes to your name, you can have it any way you like! H/T: Huffington Post, Elle<doc-sep>	Ariana Grande is on a press tour roll, providing interesting tidbits about her personal life. Most are about her predicted engagement to Pete Davidson, but during an interview with Beats 1, Ari dropped a fact nobody saw coming: we've been pronouncing her last name wrong literally this entire time. The conversation started when host Ebro Darden asked Grande if she was going to have the hyphenated last name Grande-Davidson when she gets married, and what would happen to her professional name. Grande said yes to the hyphenated name, but wasn't too sure about changing her professional name. She actually confessed to wanting to drop her last name altogether and go by the mononymous name Ariana. But the singer quickly backtracked once she started talking about her grandfather who was very proud of their last name Grande, which she clearly pronounces as Gran-DEE around the 0:40 mark. Wait, WHAT. According to Ari, her brother Frankie changed the pronunciation to Gran-DAY. "My grandpa said Gran-DEE. Gran-DEE was kind of the Americanized version of it, made it more chill," she explained. "And then my brother was like, we should say Gran-DAY. It's so fun to say it. It's a funny name. I grew up saying Gran-DEE and I think of [my grandpa] and I wish I said Gran-DEE more." She went on to make fun of her super Italian name. "Literally, my name is like 'Ariana Grande-Butera!'" she exclaimed with a thick Italian accent. "Literally, that's my name. I'm like a pizza. I'm a f*cking meatball." Ariana Yaptangco Social Media & Beauty Editor Ariana Yaptangco oversees all #content across ELLE's social media platforms and covers beauty news.
Michel Euler/Associated Press Rafael Nadal will meet Dominic Thiem in the 2018 French Open men's final at Roland Garros on Sunday. It's Nadal's 11th final in this tournament, while it's a first for Thiem. Top seed Nadal has been in imposing form in Paris. His three-set destruction of Juan Martin del Potro in the semi-final offered a vivid reminder of Nadal's enduring greatness on clay. Thiem had things harder in the last four, as the seventh seed scraped past Marco Cecchinato. Although he won in three sets, Thiem was pushed to the limit during the first two, surviving a tiebreak in the second. Here are the schedule and viewing details for the final: Date: Sunday, June 10 Video Play Button Videos you might like Time: 2 p.m. BST, 9 a.m. ET TV Info: Eurosport 1, ITV 1, NBC Live Stream: Eurosport Player, ITV Hub, NBC Sports App There's no denying the uphill struggle Thiem will face trying to beat Nadal in a tournament he's owned. As ATP Media Info showed, the Spaniard's recent record on clay is enough to intimidate any opponent: To make matters worse for Thiem, Nadal holds a positive record against the Austrian: Thiem's chances of an upset will hinge on his ability to break down Nadal's defense. Getting past the 32-year-old's backhand will be key. Fortunately, Thiem's backhand is also more than solid. The shot, which he delivers one-handed, proved a nightmare for Cecchinato as their last-four encounter wore on. Thiem could also lean on a formidable service game. He boomed six aces against Cecchinato, but he will find Nadal cagier against the serve, particularly on the red clay he feels at home on. While Nadal is aiming for an 11th title in Paris, recent history suggests Thiem may be primed for a Grand Slam win. The 24-year-old has been making a habit of getting to the business end of tournaments during 2018: Thiem is building toward a Grand Slam title, but he's unlikely to get it at the expense of the French Open's dominant force.<doc-sep>Jean Catuffe/Getty Images Rafael Nadal will bid to win his 11th French Open title on Sunday when he takes on Dominic Thiem at Roland-Garros. Nadal swept past Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets in his semi-final on Friday, while Thiem overcame surprise package Marco Cecchinato, also in three sets, to reach his first Grand Slam final. Here's the info you need to catch the showpiece in Paris: Date: Sunday, June 10 Time: 2 p.m. BST, 9 a.m. ET TV Info: Eurosport 1, ITV 1, NBC Live Stream: Eurosport Player, ITV Hub, NBC Sports App Nadal has won every final he has contested at Roland-Garros, so it looks like there will only be one outcome when the pair meet on Sunday. Video Play Button Videos you might like As if we needed a reminder of just how dominant he can be on clay, the Spaniard dropped just three games across the second and third sets of his semi-final with Del Potro: The No. 1 seed could scarcely have achieved more at the French Open—he has played 87 career matches there and lost just two—but he still has the hunger for more success. Per Mikael McKenzie of the Express, he said: "For me, the motivation to play here always is high, high as possible. "But for me, every tournament, I believe that there is chances, limited chances in your career. So when I had the chances, I just tried to convert. "Then you lose, you lose, but I gonna play with my highest passion and love for the game and for the sport to try to have success. "I lost a lot of opportunities for injuries, and I know the years are going quick." There's no chance the 32-year-old won't be going hell for leather to win on Sunday, though there is some hope for Thiem, as Record's Jose Morgado noted: That the pair have only ever met on clay is remarkable, and few players have had as much success against Nadal on that surface, even if the Spaniard has the superior head-to-head record. Nadal has beaten Thiem handily in straight sets in both of their Roland-Garros matches, though, including last year's semi-final. While Thiem did not drop a set this year's semi-final, the Austrian did not have it all his own way against Cecchinato, per the New York Times' Christopher Clarey: He'll need to be at his absolute best if he's to overcome Nadal on Sunday, and sustaining that level for three or more sets will be difficult. Thiem will also be in his first Grand Slam final, so there's no way of knowing whether the occasion will bring out the best in him or add another hurdle to overcome, but he can at least make it a competitive affair.<doc-sep>Dominic Thiem won 7-5, 7-6 (12-10), 6-1 to earn a place in a Grand Slam final for the first time, while Rafael Nadal crushed Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 to enter the French Open final for the 11th time. The Spaniard is just the second man in the Open Era to advance to 11 championship matches at a single Grand Slam, joining Roger Federer, who has won eight titles from 11 finals at Wimbledon. Thiem became only the second Austrian player to reach the final of Roland Garros, following in the footsteps of Thomas Muster, who won the title in 1995. Thiem is the only man to beat Nadal on clay in the last two seasons - in Madrid this year and Rome in 2017. When will the Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem French Open men's singles final be played? The Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem French Open men's singles final will be played on June 10, 2018. Where will the Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem French Open men's singles final be played? The Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem French Open men's singles final will be played on the Philippe-Chatrier court in Paris. How do I watch the Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem French Open men's singles final live? The Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem French Open men's singles final will be telecast live by the Star Network. What time does the Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem French Open men's singles final start? The live telecast of the Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem French Open men's singles final is scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm IST. Promoted Where can you follow the Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem French Open men's singles final online? The Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem French Open men's singles final will be streamed live on Hotstar.<doc-sep>FINAL: Simona Halep has won the women’s singles title at the 2018 French Open, besting Sloane Stephens in a three-set final. It’s Halep’s first ever Grand Slam win, and you can find all you need to know about the tournament, including results, below. Serena Williams has missed the last four Grand Slams, but she’s set to compete for title at the 2018 French Open, which gets underway on Sunday. Williams won the 2017 Australian Open before taking an extended break from tennis for the birth of her child. She returned to the WTA Tour this year, winning two of four matches, none of which were on the clay surface that makes up the courts at Roland Garros. She is unseeded due to her absence, and the field of competitors is incredibly strong, as usual. Without tune-up matches on the surface, it’s hard to imagine Williams earning her 24th Grand Slam title this time around. But the women’s field is as unpredictable and exciting as ever. Since Williams won in Australia, four different women have won the past four slams — Jelena Ostapenko, Garbine Muguruza, Sloane Stephens and Caroline Wozniacki. Simona Halep is the top-seeded woman, and she’s still searching for her first ever Grand Slam win. Elina Svitolina is playing some of the best tennis of her career, and has a good shot at winning it. Ostapenko, the defending champion, is also in the field as the fifth seed. Svitolina is coming off a win in the Italian Open in Rome, where she bested Halep in straight sets for the championship. Petra Kvitova won the Madrid Open prior to that, over Kiki Bertens. Halep and Maria Sharapova were among the quarterfinalists for that tournament. Serena’s sister, Venus Williams, is the ninth seed for the tournament. Below, you can find the bracket, schedule, viewing information and updated match results from the tournament. Bracket Bracket taken from the official Roland Garros website. Viewing information This year marks the 36th consecutive year that NBC will carry coverage of the French Open in the United States. The finals and some semifinals will be broadcast by NBC proper, but the bulk of coverage will be handled by the Tennis Channel. Play begins at 5 a.m. ET on most days, and ends around 3 p.m. Live streaming the NBC coverage, which begins later in the day and is only specific matches, can be had via NBC Sports, the NBC Sports app or any streaming service that offers NBC, like fuboTV. If you want access to all the courts, the only option is a subscription to Tennis Channel Plus. 2018 French Open TV Schedule Day Round Start End Channel Day Round Start End Channel Sun, May 27 First round 5 a.m. 3 p.m. Tennis, NBC Mon, May 28 First round 5 a.m. 3 p.m. Tennis, NBC Tue, May 29 First round 5 a.m. 3 p.m. Tennis Wed, May 30 Second round 5 a.m. 3 p.m. Tennis Thu, May 31 Second round 5 a.m. 3 p.m. Tennis Fri, June 1 Third round 5 a.m. 3 p.m. Tennis Sat, June 2 Third round 5 a.m. 3 p.m. Tennis, NBC Sun, June 3 Round of 16 5 a.m. 3 p.m. Tennis, NBC Mon, June 4 Round of 16 5 a.m. 3 p.m. Tennis Tue, June 5 Quarterfinals 7 a.m. 1 p.m. Tennis Wed, June 6 Quarterfinals 7 a.m. 1 p.m. Tennis Thu, June 7 Women's semifinals 8 a.m. 2 p.m. Tennis, NBC Fri, June 8 Men's semifinals 6 a.m. 2 p.m. Tennis, NBC Sat, June 9 Women's final 9 a.m. 1 p.m. NBC Sun, June 10 Men's final 9 a.m. 2 p.m. NBC Schedule and results Day 1, Sunday, May 27 No. 4 Elina Svitolina def. Ajla Tomljanovic, 7-5, 6-3 Kateryna Kozlova def. No. 5 Jelena Ostapenko, 7-5, 6-3 Qiang Wang def. No. 9 Venus Williams, 6-4, 7-5 No. 10 Sloane Stephens def. Arantxa Rus, 6-2, 6-0 Yulia Putintseva def. No. 22 Johanna Konta, 6-4, 6-3 No. 25 Anett Kontaveit def. Madison Brengle, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 No. 26 Barbora Strycova def. Kurumi Nara, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 No. 32 Alize Cornet def. Sara Errani, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 Viktoria Kuzmova def. Francesca Schiavone, 7-6(2), 7-6(2) Ekaterina Makarova def. Saisai Zheng, 6-4, 6-1 Magdalena Frech def. Ekaterina Alexandrova, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 Jennifer Brady def. Amandine Hesse, 6-1, 6-1 Zarina Diyas def. Magda Linette, 6-3, 6-1 Petra Martic def. Yafan Wang, 6-2, 6-3 Alexandra Dulgheru vs. Christina McHale (to finish Monday), 5-7, 7-6(5) Chloe Paquet vs. Pauline Parmentier (to finish Monday), 6-3, 6-7(4), 1-3 Day 2, Monday, May 28 No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki def. Danielle Collins, 7-6(2), 6-1 No. 6 Karolina Pliskova def. Barbora Krejcikova, 7-6(6), 6-4 No. 8 Petra Kvitova def. Veronica Cepede Royg, 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 No. 13 Madison Keys def. Sachia Vickery, 6-3, 6-3 No. 14 Daria Kasatkina def. Kaia Kanepi, 6-4, 6-1 No. 16 Elise Mertens vs. Varvara Lepchenko (to finish), 6-7(9), 7-6(4), 3-0 No. 15 Coco Vandeweghe def. Laura Siegemund, 6-4, 6-4 No. 19 Magdalena Rybarikova def. Luksika Kumkhum, 6-3, 6-0 Mariana Duque-Marino def. No. 20 Anastasija Sevastova, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 No. 21 Naomi Osaka def. Sofia Kenin, 6-2, 7-5 No. 23 Carla Suarez Navarro def. Ana Konjuh, 6-0, 6-1 Andrea Petkovic def. No. 29 Kristina Mladenovic, 7-6(10), 6-2 No. 31 Mihaela Buzarnescu def. Vania King, 6-3, 6-3 Heather Watson def. Oceane Dodin, 6-3, 6-0 Caroline Dolehide def. Viktorija Golubic, 6-4, 6-4 Rebecca Peterson def. Su-Wei Hsieh, 6-4, 6-3 Camila Giorgi def. Grace Min, 6-3, 6-2 Lucie Safarova def. Jessika Ponchet, 6-4, 6-1 Belinda Bencic def. Deborah Chiesa, 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-5 Kirsten Flipkens def. Tatjana Maria, 7-6(1), 6-4 Donna Vekic def. Kateryna Bondarenko, 6-2, 6-4 Alara Arruabarrena def. Timea Babos, 7-6(5), 6-3 Lesia Tsurenkodef. Stefanie Voegele, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 Maria Sakkari def. Mandy Minella, 7-6(5), 6-2 Georgina Garcia Perez def. Dalila Jakupovic, 6-3, 6-4 Katerina Siniakova def. Victoria Azarenka, 7-5, 7-5 Pauline Parmentier def. Chloe Paquet, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 Alexandra Dulgheru def. Christina McHale , 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-3 Day 3, Tuesday, May 29 No. 3 Garbine Muguruza def. Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-6, 6-2 No. 7 Caroline Garcia def. Yingying Duan, 6-1, 6-0 No. 11 Julia Goerges def. Dominika Cibulkova, 6-4, 5-7, 6-0 No.<doc-sep>	Rafael Nadal faces Dominic Thiem in the men's singles final of Roland Garros. Here's all you need to know about watching the match live. Ten-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal faces first-time Grand Slam finalist Dominic Thiem in the men's singles final of Roland Garros. The 10th-seeded Thiem won 7-5, 7-6 (10), 6-1 over unseeded Marco Cecchinato to earn a place in a Grand Slam final for the first time, while Nadal crushed Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 to enter the French Open final for the 11th time. The Spaniard is just the second man in the Open Era to advance to 11 championship matches at a single Grand Slam, joining Roger Federer, who has won eight titles from 11 finals at Wimbledon. Nadal is now 110-2 in best-of-five-set matches on the surface, 85-2 in Paris. Over the past two years, including best-of-three matches, the Spaniard is 49-2 at clay tournaments. Thiem is responsible for both of those losses — at Rome in May 2017, and at Madrid last month — which at least lends a little intrigue to Sunday's proceedings. "If I want to beat him," Thiem said, "I have to play that way." Thiem has been to the semi-finals in Paris three years in a row, but he lost to eventual champions Novak Djokovic in 2016, then Nadal in 2017. Here's all you need to know about watching the French Open women's single final live. When and where will be the French Open 2018 women's final be played? The match between Halep and Stephens will be played on 9 June in Paris in France. The final starts at 6.30 pm IST. Where do I watch the matches live on television? In India, Star Sports hold the broadcast rights for French Open 2018. Star Sports Select 1 and Star Sports Select 1 HD will telecast the women's final. Where can I watch the live streaming of the matches? Halep vs Stephens can be live streamed on hotstar.com With inputs from agencies
Simple question, who is grabbing hold of who here? pic.twitter.com/ec7F9ai6m7 Salah walked off the pitch in tears just 30 minutes into the Champions League final last weekend after suffering a shoulder injury following a tussle with Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp described Salah’s problem as “a really serious injury” and the Egypt ace’s World Cup hopes are now in doubt. Ramos was heavily criticised for his part in the challenge with many Liverpool fans suggesting he set out to injure Salah on purpose. However, new footage has emerged suggesting that Salah is in fact the one to initiate the arm lock with Ramos.<doc-sep>SERGIO RAMOS could face a €1billion lawsuit for his apparent attack on Mo Salah in the Champions League final. The Real Madrid captain, sent off 24 times in his career but not even booked against Liverpool, is the subject of an eye-popping £873m action from an Egyptian lawyer for the tackle which ended Salah's night. 3 Fans and pundits alike took a dim view of Ramos' rough tackling and perceived play-acting throughout the final Credit: Alamy Live News Bassem Wahba is suing the centre-back for what he saw as intentionally locking Salah's arm under his and vaulting him to the floor, putting the Reds' hero's World Cup in doubt. Speaking on the Sada El-Balad channel, Wahba said: "Ramos intentionally injured Mo Salah and should be punished about his actions. "I've filed a lawsuit and a complaint to Fifa. "I'll ask for compensation, which could exceed €1billion, for the physical and psychological harm that Ramos gave Salah and the Egyptian people." Sergio Ramos stars in cringe-worthy Spanish World Cup song How to claim your FREE £10 bet 1 Register for Sun Bets here 2 Bet £5 or more 3 Sun Bets will stick a £10 bet in your account 3 Salah left the pitch in tears and had to be consoled by Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo Credit: EPA Ramos even faced condemnation from the European Judo Union, who claimed his arm lock and throw is illegal even inside a dojo. They wrote: "Waki-gatame is a dangerous technique. That's why it's not allowed in Judo to use for transition to ne-waza." Liverpool star Mo Salah cries as he is substituted in the first half of the Champions League final against Real Madrid Waki-gatame is a dangerous technique. That's why it is not allowed in Judo to use for transition to ne-waza. What do you think about this foul yesterday evening in the #UCLFinal between #RMALIV? pic.twitter.com/mHmADyG7LB — European Judo Union (@europeanjudo) May 27, 2018 The record-breaking striker is more than just a footballer in his homeland, achieving cult status after scoring the penalty that sent the Pharoahs back to the World Cup after 28 years away. In this year's presidential elections, more than a million Egyptians voted for him - despite the fact he was not standing for the position. But the injury suffered in Liverpool's 3-1 loss to Real has rocked Egypt's preparations for the World Cup, with club boss Jurgen Klopp pessimistic about Salah's chances after suffering suspected ligament damage to his shoulder. Egypt will face Saudi Arabia, Uruguay and hosts Russia in Group A, and are desperate for Salah to recover in time after scoring 44 goals in his debut season at Anfield. Mo Salah refuses to confirm if he willl play at the World Cup after Champions League final injury 3 Ramos played down his role in the incident on social media after lifting a fourth Champions League trophy with Real Credit: Getty - Contributor Liverpool fans also showed their outrage towards Ramos, whose 19th career La Liga red card in December broke the competition record. More than 400,000 furious Reds signed a petition for Uefa and Fifa to punish Ramos for "intentionally hurting" Salah. The petition, listed on change.org, claims that Ramos "represents an awful example to future generations of football players. It adds: "Instead of winning matches fairly, he uses tricks that defy the spirit of the game and fair play." El fútbol te enseña la cara más dulce a veces y la más amarga otras. Ante todo somos compañeros. Pronta recuperación, Salah. El futuro te espera.\|\|Sometimes football shows you it's good side and other times the bad. Above all, we are fellow pros. #GetWellSoon @MoSalah — Sergio Ramos (@SergioRamos) May 27, 2018 Real claimed their third consecutive European Cup triumph - and 13th in all - in Kiev, led by substitute Gareth Bale's stunning overhead kick and an error-strewn display from Loris Karius. Liverpool more than matched their opponents until Salah was forced off by Ramos' challenge, having nine shots in the 31 minutes the Egyptian was on. After Salah was replaced by Adam Lallana Liverpool visibly lost momentum, registering just four attempts afterwards. Despite a Sadio Mane equaliser cancelling out Karim Benzema's fortuitous opener, Bale's wonder strike and another keeping error gave the Welshman a second and Real yet another trophy.<doc-sep>	The Spanish defender has received widespread criticism for his tackle on the Egyptian that caused him to leave the Champions League final The European Judo Union has criticised Sergio Ramos's tackle on Mohamed Salah in the Champions League final, insisting that such a takedown would not be allowed in their sport. Ramos and Salah locked arms during Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Liverpool, with the Spanish defender ultimately pulling his Egyptian counterpart to the ground. Salah dislocated his shoulder in the scuffle, and was forced off the pitch in tears with the score at 0-0, thus throwing his participation in the World Cup into serious doubt. Waki-gatame is a dangerous technique. That's why it is not allowed in Judo to use for transition to ne-waza. What do you think about this foul yesterday evening in the #UCLFinal between #RMALIV ? pic.twitter.com/mHmADyG7LB — European Judo Union (@europeanjudo) May 27, 2018 So divisive has the tackle been, fans have set up a petition calling for Ramos to be punished, which currently has over 300,000 signatures, while an Egyptian lawyer has launched a €1 billion (£873m/$1.2bn) lawsuit against the centre-back. And now another sport has weighed in on the controversy, the European Judo Union insisting that Ramos's move would be deemed illegal in their circles. Article continues below "Waki-gatame is a dangerous technique," they wrote on Twitter. "That's why it's not allowed in Judo to use for transition to ne-waza. What do you think about this foul yesterday evening in the #UCLFinal between #RMALIV." Salah will continue to receive treatment for his injury in Spain, the Egyptian Football Association has confirmed, as he bids to be fit in time for the World Cup in Russia. Watch out, Sergio Ramos! The Real Madrid defender has angered quite a few people following his collision with Mohamed Salah. 😮 (Cartoon by @omomani) pic.twitter.com/S3yEpOJoNO — Goal (@goal) May 29, 2018 Egypt face hosts Russia, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group A.
Officiating controversy has been a significant theme this NFL season and has continued into the playoffs with borderline calls impacting would-be scoring plays. But the Philadelphia Eagles’ wild-card win over the Chicago Bears Sunday provided a call that required a deep dig into the NFL rule book. With time running out in the first half of a 3-3 game, the Bears were driving into Eagles territory. Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky looked deep to Anthony Miller on second-and-three from the 35-yard line. Anthony Miller fumble ruled incomplete pass Miller appeared to catch the pass before being stripped by Eagles cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc on the way to the ground around the 5-yard line. It was a bang-bang play that was ruled an incomplete pass on the field and resulted in the ball rolling on the ground unrecovered before an official picked it up. Anthony Miller caught and fumbled a pass, but when nobody recovered it, confusion ruled on replay. (Getty) Officials reviewed the play, which showed that Miller did appear to make the catch before fumbling the ball. NBC rules analyst and former NFL official Terry McAulay believed that it was a catch and fumble. But with nobody recovering the ball and the initial call being an incomplete pass, how would things be sorted out? Complete pass ruled incomplete due to quirky rule After reviewing the play, referee Tony Corrente appeared to confirm McAuley’s analysis that it was a complete pass. “After review, the ruling on the field will stand,” Corrente said. “There was no clear recovery of the football. Therefore, the ball will go back. It will be third down.” The call confused McAuley. “He’s a runner at this point,” McAuley said of Miller. “I don’t know why they don’t give him the catch. If they’re going by that you have to finish it with a recovery, and you can’t change it, then I guess that’s the rule. Somebody could have recovered it. You’ve taken away a catch from Chicago.” Officials got replay call correct But a dive into the rulebook shows that though officials got the call wrong on the field, they made the proper replay conclusion. Story continues Corrente acknowledged that there was a catch and a fumble by noting that “there was no clear recovery.” But when this situation happens, and there’s no recovery, the rulebook dictates that the ruling of incomplete must stand, even with the acknowledgment that there was a valid catch. From the casebook regarding incomplete passes reversed to catch/fumble, the third paragraph has the relevant information: pic.twitter.com/TQizOr7ZFP — Fᴏᴏᴛʙᴀʟʟ Zᴇʙʀᴀs (@footballzebras) January 6, 2019 “If there is no video evidence of a clear recovery or the ball going out of bounds, the ruling of incomplete stands.” The NFL Officiating Twitter account confirmed that was indeed the call that was made. “In #PHIvsCHI, the receiver controlled the ball with two feet down & took an additional step, so it was a catch. However, because he was not down by contact & there was ‘no video evidence of a clear recovery or the ball going out of bounds’, the ruling of incomplete stands.” – AL pic.twitter.com/c0E00tOZwT — NFL Officiating (@NFLOfficiating) January 6, 2019 So, in short. The officials got the call wrong on the field. But no Eagles or Bears player jumped on the loose ball, forcing officials to rule the catch an incomplete pass. The Bears would go on to kick a field goal and take a 6-3 lead before the end of the half. Had an Eagles player jumped on the loose ball, that score would have never happened. Philadelphia ended up eking out a 16-15 win when Cody Parkey’s 43-yard field goal attempt bounced off the left upright and the crossbar in the game’s final seconds. More from Yahoo Sports: • Robinson: Keeping Jason Garrett paid off for Jerry Jones • Warriors-Kings combine to set history for most 3-pointers in NBA game • 19-year-old Cal DB dies after collapsing during workout • Deshaun Watson’s streak ends in loss to Colts<doc-sep>The Philadelphia Eagles stayed alive in their defense of their Super Bowl title with a 16-15 victory over the Chicago Bears in the NFL playoffs on Sunday. The Eagles squeezed past the Bears when Chicago place-kicker Cody Parkey hit the left upright on a 43-yard field-goal attempt with three seconds to play. While the former Auburn kicker took the blame for the miss in answering questions from reporters at his locker after the game, Philadelphia defensive tackle Treyvon Hester said he got his fingers on the kick as it crossed the line of scrimmage. “Me and Haloti (Ngata), we got penetration, got the hand up like Coach always says," Hester told Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "Tipped off my fingertips. Felt good. … Actually, I thought I didn’t get enough of it. I thought it was going to go in. When I saw it going in, I turned back around. Then I heard everybody screaming, I was like, ‘Oh, (expletive), he missed it.’” Watch this video in slow-mo...Treyvon Hester comes up with a huge block off the tip of the fingers forcing the change of trajectory in the kick...wow. #CodyParkey #FLyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/e3jBT3VazL — Z (@KingZouric) January 7, 2019 #Eagles DT Treyvon Hester said postgame that he got a piece of the Cody Parkey FG attempt. If you zoom in, he might be right. pic.twitter.com/mGqpklSNp3 — NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) January 7, 2019 Safety Malcolm Jenkins, who was rushing from the side on the field-goal attempt, said he thought the football had been tipped on the kick, too. “I think he did get a hand on it," Jenkins said. "I know a lot of guys heard that sound, like somebody got a tip on it, so I’m sure that had some effect on it. It’s a game of inches, and it literally came down to that.” Parkey's kick hit the left upright, then bounced off the crossbar and into the field. The Eagles will play the New Orleans Saints at 3:40 p.m. CST Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.<doc-sep>The most important investigation of 2019 is currently happening, and the result could have a lasting impact on America. Was there outside interference in Cody Parkey’s missed field goal in the Eagles’ win over the Bears? Cody Parkey's would-be game-winning FG hits the crossbar twice sending the Eagles to the Divisional Round. #PHIvsCHI #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/mchSudQfLL — NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2019 The NFL says yes: The NFL has officially changed Cody Parkey's missed field goal yesterday to a blocked kick by Treyvon Hester. — Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 7, 2019 But is the league just covering for Parkey? How deep does this go? On first glance it looks like your run-of-the-mill shanked kick — with a double-doink thrown in for good measure. People love shanked kicks in pressure situations as they conjure images of “wide right,” but quickly the mood changed Sunday night and suddenly we had a conspiracy on our hands, all courtesy of a single tweet. Malcolm Jenkins said he knew Parker was going to miss: “We’ve been through too much for him to make it.” #Eagles. Also said Treyvon Hester got a hand on it. — Martin Frank (@Mfranknfl) January 7, 2019 This wasn’t much of a smoking gun. Malcolm Jenkins relied on some sort of sport mysticism to believe the kick wasn’t going to be good — with the knowledge of Treyvon Hester’s tip as a throw in. Immediately people began to investigate the possibility that the missed kick was tipped, which started at the source. The Eagles are still alive thanks to the left hand of Treyvon Hester, who tipped Cody Parkey’s final kick. pic.twitter.com/NliKZhQ2eZ — Bo Wulf (@Bo_Wulf) January 7, 2019 Then film analysis began. Here’s a frame-by-frame look that clearly shows the Parkey kick was tipped by Treyvon Hester (Hester confirmed to @Bo_Wulf he tipped it). pic.twitter.com/6dOXui7Yyp — Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) January 7, 2019 Watch this video in slow-mo...Treyvon Hester comes up with a huge block off the tip of the fingers forcing the change of trajectory in the kick...wow. #CodyParkey #FLyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/e3jBT3VazL — Z (@KingZouric) January 7, 2019 This is the path of the football -- 10 frames per second -- with Hester shown the moment the football passes his fingertips. It does seem plausible (in this image) that the ball changed directions. pic.twitter.com/TBUo8PoNgH — Michael Lopez (@StatsbyLopez) January 7, 2019 All-22 footage clearly shows Treyvon Hester got a piece of Cody Parkey’s final FG attempt vs. Eagles. pic.twitter.com/kAZdjdXug4 — Nick Shook (@TheNickShook) January 7, 2019 Really though, you can look at all this film and break down frames until your heart’s content. Nothing is absolutely conclusive which shows the ball was tipped, and nothing, except the league’s ruling, exists to say it wasn’t. This leaves us in a quandary ... How do we definitively know if the ball was tipped? After scouring for something — anything! — that proves Hester tipped the ball there was one piece of obvious, incontrovertible evidence that proves he got a piece of the kick. More than believe, stronger than frame-by-frame footage is the unalienable truth that players cut by Jon Gruden would go on to be heroes for other teams. It worked for Khalil Mack, it worked for Amari Cooper and now Hester. If you want to be an NFL star, the path is now simple: Play well enough to get cut by Gruden.<doc-sep>With a bid to the playoffs on the line and just seconds remaining in the game, Chicago Bears kicker Cody Parkey missed a go-ahead field-goal attempt when the ball ricocheted off the upright and bounced the wrong direction off the crossbar. Thanks to the miss, the Philadelphia Eagles won, 16-15, and will advance to take on the New Orleans Saints Sunday. New footage suggests that Parkey may not be at fault as Eagles' defensive tackle Treyvon Hester tipped the kick with his fingers. Hester didn't begin the season as a member of Philadelphia's 53-man roster, but his heroics kept the Eagles' dreams of winning back-to-back Super Bowls alive for another week. Kicker Cody Parkey faced the ire of millions of Chicago Bears fans when his 43-yard field-goal attempt to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in their wild-card game, ricocheted off the goal post twice and failed to bounce through the uprights. Read more: DOUBLE DOINK: Eagles win Wild Card after Bears kicker's game-winning field goal bounces twice off the goal post But new footage suggests that the anger is misplaced. Meet Treyvon Hester, the defensive tackle who saved the Eagles' season after spending part of the year on their practice squad. After the game, multiple Eagles players — including Hester himself — claimed he got a finger on Parkey's kick. Since then, videos from multiple angles have cropped up on social media and appear to confirm those claims. Here's a side shot of the play: And, even in real time, this video seems to provide pretty substantial evidence in Hester's favor: Hester — who played for the Toledo Rockets in college — was taken by the Oakland Raiders in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft and waived by the team early this season. Philadelphia signed Hester to its practice squad days later and promoted him to the active roster less than a month after that. It's pretty clear that the move has worked out in the team's favor. Hester and the Eagles will look to extend the magic one more week as they take on Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints Sunday.<doc-sep>	The Eagles are still alive thanks to the left hand of Treyvon Hester, who tipped Cody Parkey’s final kick. pic.twitter.com/NliKZhQ2eZ — Bo Wulf (@Bo_Wulf) January 7, 2019 This is a stand up guy that a lot of young players can look up to. This is how you handle adversity like a pro. Cody is a heck of a kicker and will be for a long time. No reason to be taking the heat he is especially when that ball was tipped. #ClassAct https://t.co/Ae2kr0DYIy — Jake Elliott (@jake_elliott22) January 7, 2019 Here’s, the kick. Cody Parkey, did that kick get tipped? Sure looks like it per my video... pic.twitter.com/gCjiZe6YF5 — StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) January 7, 2019 Here’s a frame-by-frame look that clearly shows the Parkey kick was tipped by Treyvon Hester (Hester confirmed to @Bo_Wulf he tipped it). pic.twitter.com/6dOXui7Yyp — Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) January 7, 2019 Watch this video in slow-mo...Treyvon Hester comes up with a huge block off the tip of the fingers forcing the change of trajectory in the kick...wow. #CodyParkey #FLyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/e3jBT3VazL — Z (@KingZouric) January 7, 2019 All-22 footage clearly shows Treyvon Hester got a piece of Cody Parkey’s final FG attempt vs. Eagles. pic.twitter.com/kAZdjdXug4 — Nick Shook (@TheNickShook) January 7, 2019 You can clearly see Hester's fingers snap back as the ball hits his hand. This kick was blocked. And yes, even just getting a finger on the ball will change the trajectory of the kick. Cody Parkey didn't lose the game - Treyvon Hester won it. #EaglesVsBears https://t.co/Zu2AoLn8UH — Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) January 7, 2019 ICYMI: The reigning Super Bowl champs get by the Bears after Cody Parkey's game-winning FG attempt was tipped, hit the post AND crossbar. (via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/vg78mX3GSj — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 7, 2019 It wasn't all because of the post and the crossbar that Chicago Bears kicker Cody Parkey missed that crucial fourth quarter field goal.As it turns out, Philadelphia Eagles fans can thank Treyvon Hester.The defensive tackle's fingers tipped the ball after Parkey kicked it to give the Eagles the 16-15 win in Sunday night's NFC Wild Card playoff.Hester himself told The Athletic that he got his hand on the ball. "You can't make this up," Parkey said.Hester's role wasn't noticed at first, but his teammates made sure to give him credit.In response to a video posted by ESPN of Parkey getting booed as he left the field, Eagles defensive end Chris Long tweeted, "Kick was tipped. "Eagles kicker Jake Elliott stood up for Parkey as well, adding the ball was deflected, too. "This is a stand up guy that a lot of young players can look up to. This is how you handle adversity like a pro. Cody is a heck of a kicker and will be for a long time. No reason to be taking the heat he is especially when that ball was tipped," Elliott tweeted.Brandon Brooks, Malcolm Jenkins, and Haloti Ngata were among other players who tweeted about Hester's involvement in the big miss.And after some sly, sleuthing Birds fans and sports reporters analyzed the video over and over again, Hester got his just due.By Monday afternoon, the NFL had officially changed the field goal attempt from "missed" to "blocked. "After making three field goals earlier in the game, Parkey sent one right between the uprights with a few feet to spare. But the Eagles called time to ice him so it didn't count.Parkey then thought he booted a "great ball" on the next attempt.The kick hit halfway up the upright and ricocheted off the crossbar, bringing the Bears' breakthrough season to an end. "There's really no answer to it," Parkey said. "I thought I hit a good ball. Unfortunately, I didn't make it. I feel terrible, 100 percent take that loss on me. It is what it is. Sun is going to shine tomorrow. Life is going to go on. Unfortunately, it's going to sting for a while." -----The Associated Press and ESPN contributed to this report.------
SPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead if you have not watched the season finale of Becca Kufrin’s season of “The Bachelorette,” which aired Aug. 6 on ABC. “The Bachelorette” Becca Kufrin walked away from the finale with a fiancé in Garrett, which means one thing — Blake is going to be “The Bachelor.” Not so fast. ABC confirms to Variety that the next “Bachelor” has not been cast yet, and while there are frontrunners, no decisions have been made when it comes to the next leading man. The network isn’t tasked to make any casting decisions until the end of summer because “The Bachelor” does not head into production until this September, ahead of its early 2019 premiere. So the casting team will wait to see the audience’s reception to last night’s gut-wrenching finale, which saw Blake get his heart broken, plus the new season of “Bachelor in Paradise” to see which reality stars may become fan-favorites, just like Nick Viall did a few summers back, which ultimately landed him the top spot as “The Bachelor.” “The audience is the silent producer of this show. We want to see who people want to see as ‘The Bachelor,’” Rob Mills, ABC’s SVP of alternative series, specials & late-night programming, tells Variety. “There are several candidates, and there’s no consensus from the audience. People have pros and cons on several people. We also want to see when we start talking to girls who will be in the potential cast, who they like.” Mills suggests that the frontrunners include runner-up Blake and second runner-up Jason, plus Colton, Wills, and even Grocery Store Joe. The executive also says it’s possible ABC could look outside the pool of current contestants. When asked if the network would ever cast a complete stranger — someone who has never appeared on any part of “The Bachelor” franchise — Mills says, “100%. Absolutely.” “I think there are some things that are super exciting about that,” Mills continues. “It would be exciting getting to know someone that we don’t know. But there are also some cons there because I think we are able to service the lead better when we know them really well and know who might be the best partner now. But absolutely — we’re only hurting ourselves if we don’t look at every option.” Here, ABC executive Rob Mills weighs in on the potential frontrunners who could become “The Bachelor” for Season 13… BLAKE: The verdict: Blake is certainly a possibility, but he might be too heartbroken to find love right now… “I think Blake will certainly get some traction. I’m going to be fascinated to see what people think or how Blake even feels about it — is Blake too heartbroken to be ‘The Bachelor?’ He was torn down to the core. He is so beyond heartbroken. I think he needs to ask himself that and we’ll go from there.” JASON: The verdict: Jason is definitely in the running… “Jason, he sort of admitted, he and Becca had insanely strong chemistry and strong feelings, he was a little bit more of a slow burn, so I think he’s ready to jump back in.” COLTON: The verdict: If his storyline pops on “Bachelor in Paradise,” there’s a chance… “I think we have to watch Colton’s arc on ‘Bachelor in Paradise.’ You want to look at everything. When we’ve really been rewarded is when we look at as wide of a net as possible, and look at pros and cons.” WILLS The verdict: Wills is absolutely in the running. If anything, for his fashion sensibility… “Wills had a massive following and had a very different approach. His reactions sometimes to some of the guys was priceless. He really called it like it was, and that could be very interesting to see, in terms of dating 25 women. He is also probably the most stylist person we’ve ever had on the history of the show.” GROCERY STORE JOE: The verdict: Actually, there is a chance… “I mean, do we take a huge left turn? I think everything is a possibility. He’s on ‘Bachelor In Paradise,’ so we’ve got to watch what the reaction is. There was such a huge following for Grocery Store Joe — someone that we really know nothing about, but we will know more after ‘Bachelor In Paradise.’”<doc-sep>Image Source: ABC Warning: major spoilers for the season 14 finale of The Bachelorette ahead. Well, The Bachelorette's finale has come and gone, and we have a newly engaged couple to root for. Although we're happy that Becca Kufrin found love, the emotional goodbye with Blake Hortsmann had us all damn near tears. Despite loving one another, Becca just had stronger feelings for another man. Now, we're not sure if it's too soon, but . . . Blake, are you still single? Understandably so, Blake still looked very sad about his breakup with Becca on the live finale. When Chris Harrison asked if he still loved Becca, Blake expressed that it was a difficult question to answer. After all, the man just had to rewatch what was probably one of the toughest days of his life. If you ask us, it sounds like Blake isn't in the place just yet to dive into another relationship. It sounds like he's single! Blake was the front runner for a huge portion of, if not the entire, season. He was given the first one-on-one date, and Becca even admitted that she had loved him for quite some time. In fact, things seemed almost too perfect between the two. As we all know, you can't help how you feel, and Becca had to follow her heart, as cliché as it sounds. It's only a matter of time until a guy as handsome and sensitive as Blake finds his forever, and he won't have to "go through all this alone" for long.<doc-sep>	The Internet is BEGGING for Becca Kufrin’s runner-up, Blake Horstmann, to be the next star of ‘The Bachelor’ — but is he even interested? Here’s what he had to say about it! Now that The Bachelorette is over, fans are anxiously awaiting news about who will star on next season of The Bachelor. The obvious choice, of course, would be one of the guys from Becca Kufrin’s season, like runner-up, Blake Horstmann. “It would be the hardest thing I’d do,” Blake admitted to People. “But I know this can work and if the opportunity presented itself, it would be something I would consider.” Blake was left heartbroken when Becca dumped him during the Aug. 6 finale of The Bachelorette. She ultimately chose Garrett Yrigoyen as her last man standing, and the two are happily engaged. Although Blake was devastated and left the show in tears, he took the breakup in stride and was the perfect gentleman when he confronted Becca about it on After the Final Rose. Twitter blew up with fans sharing how heartbroken they were over Becca’s choice, and people immediately began BEGGING ABC to choose Blake as the next Bachelor. After all, it would be a natural progression. However, the last two choices for Bachelor, Nick Viall and Arie Luyendyk Jr., were very out of left field, so there’s no telling how this decision will be made! Another popular choice Jason Tartick, who Becca eliminated on the Fantasy Suite date. Even Becca herself admitted that he would make a great Bachelor! “He really is an amazing person,” Becca dished to HollywoodLife EXCLUSIVELY. “He’s a standup guy. He’s so charismatic, funny, open. I mean, he has all the qualities to make a great Bachelor. A lot of those guys do, though.” Arie wasn’t announced as the Bachelor until nearly a month after the previous season of The Bachelorette aired in 2017, so it might be a bit of time before find out the final choice. For now, we’ll have to stay held over with Bachelor in Paradise, which premieres Aug. 7 on ABC!