Michigan upsets No. 2 Ohio State 13-10W. Michigan 26, Eastern Michigan 18
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Joey Porter Jr. thrives on the pressure. Wants it. Invites it. Needs it. Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin first noticed it more than a decade ago, when Porter was just a kid running around the team facility while his father, Joey Porter Sr., served as an assistant coach. There was something about the way the younger Porter carried himself, a swagger, that made him stand out and served as a precursor to the professional life that was ahead for the second-year cornerback. Tomlin described it as a “serial killer's mentality,” though Tomlin's description of what that actually means isn't as chilling as it sounds. "He’s not running from the fight, he’s running to the fight," Tomlin said. "You better have a short memory at that position, and he’s always had it. He was probably nine or 10 when I met him, and he had it then." It's one of the reasons the Steelers practically sprinted to the podium to take Porter with the first pick of the second round in the 2023 draft, a full-circle moment for a Pittsburgh native well-versed in the franchise's history of excellence at one of the most demanding positions on the field. Porter has not been shy about wanting to become known as an elite defender and is unafraid to ask for the toughest assignments, only too aware that things won't always go his way. Good thing, because of late, they haven't. Porter has found himself being targeted frequently by opposing quarterbacks, looking to use the 24-year-old's innate aggressiveness against him. The results have been a steady stream of flags and the referee finishing his call with “No. 24, defense.” Porter found himself on the wrong side of a call four times in last Sunday's 44-38 victory over Cincinnati as he ping-ponged in between Bengals stars Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Twice he was flagged for holding. Twice he was cited for pass interference. It wasn't ideal, to be clear. It also wasn't the end of the world. Porter stood at his locker in the aftermath and answered every question, then did the same on Wednesday. Tomlin made it a point to say the issues with Porter are technical, not mental. It's one of the reasons neither Porter nor his coach seem concerned about one shaky performance bleeding into another, something the first-place Steelers (9-3) can't afford when Jameis Winston and pass-happy Cleveland (3-9) visit Acrisure Stadium on Sunday. “I've just got to keep playing my game and don’t let (the penalties) affect me,” Porter said. Asked if that was easier said than done, Porter nodded. “Definitely,” he said. "Playing DB is a hard position, but you got to have that mentality anyways. That’s the world we live in and I feel like I’m capable of doing that." In some ways, Porter didn't really have a choice. Not with his father — one of the most prolific and productive trash-talkers in the NFL during a 13-year career as a linebacker that included four Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl ring he earned with the Steelers in 2005. He preached the virtues of not letting one play, one moment, one game chip away at the confidence necessary to survive in a pass-happy game. “He’d been telling me that since I was a young kid,” Porter said. "I know what I got to do to be great, look good, and to help this team win." It's telling that for all the flags against him — Porter has been penalized nine times, tops on the Steelers and tied for second in the league among defensive players — he has yet to allow a touchdown pass in coverage. It's a tradeoff the Steelers can live with in general. Porter's 6-foot-2 frame is one of the reasons he was among the most coveted cornerbacks in his draft class. His size is unusual for his position, and necessary given some of the matchups he draws, such as the 6-foot-4 Higgins. “You have to match the physicality of these big people, and sometimes you do so at risk," Tomlin said. “And that’s just a tightrope that I and he are willing to walk in an effort to be competitive." There are certain tendencies Porter has noticed on film that he needs to clean up, particularly around the line of scrimmage. The hiccups that have popped up recently are correctable. The problems that could crop up if Porter started doubting his own ability are another matter. He insists that's hardly the case. “Things happen, you know that,” he said. “I like to bounce back and prove myself again. So that’s what I got to do this upcoming Sunday.” He likely won't lack for opportunities. Winston is coming off a 497-yard performance in a loss to Denver, and the Steelers had trouble keeping Joe Burrow in check in Cincinnati. Winston is not afraid to test opposing cornerbacks. Porter is not afraid to be tested. “I’m trying to be great,” he said. “And I know to do that, I got to clean up with the stuff I’ve been doing. So I just face it and keep working.” NOTES: LB Alex Highsmith (ankle) was limited in practice on Wednesday and is nearing a return after missing the past three games. ... WR Calvin Austin III (concussion) was limited. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflThe Christmas season is in full swing. The lighting of Christmas trees has started in various city centers. Parol and lanterns are strung up along avenues. Christmas festivals and marketplaces have been set up, enticing Filipinos to go out and shop. Most welcoming of all is that most Christmas sights are free or at little cost. From a usual lack of public leisure spaces, we are suddenly faced with an abundance of lights and decors, with every city boasting its own attraction. “Make sure to pass by the munisipyo,” reminded my sister-in-law during a hometown visit in Rizal. Sure enough, we were awed by the brightly lit arches and yuletide ornaments. From nondescript government buildings relevant only for business transactions, these buildings now feel like genuine communal spaces, with families spending quality time together after a hard day’s work, groups of teenagers laughing and hanging out, workers sampling holiday food from street stalls. It makes sense to me that Filipinos celebrate Christmas for as long as they can, from September to January. The more chaotic and challenging our daily life becomes, the more we need Christmas. Filipinos are known to celebrate even in the hardest of times. During disasters, our sense of humor and fun get us through—just look at children going for a swim in floodwaters, a practice now discouraged by the Department of Health due to the risk of leptospirosis and other diseases. When our politics venture into the absurd, we use our uncanny ability to make a meme out of life (a sign of Filipinos’ creativity, despite what the Programme for International Student Assessment says). If there’s even a bit of fun in something, you bet Filipinos can find it. When Christmastime comes, our environment finally matches what we need. Fun and leisure are finally accessible. Parks become places to stay and play. Even as commercial establishments lead the charge in Yuletide décor to entice shoppers, public spaces are holding their own and allowing citizens to find respite. Outside the Christmas season, leisure is only for those who can spare both the time and money to indulge themselves. Case in point: our neighborhood public park is usually gated and closed, reserved for paid events. During Christmas, everyone is gifted access to fun. It is easy to get jaded about the holidays. It is tempting to dismiss the festivities as simply a strategy to sell more goods. It wouldn’t be off the mark to notice the rampant commercialism and consumerism surrounding the season. If you’re from Metro Manila, we associate Christmastime with increased traffic and see the holidays as another source of stress. But while the hassles certainly exist, we must not let them blind us to the precious opportunity this season brings. I was certainly one of those individuals who had lost touch with the magic of Christmas. It took having a child for me to regain that sense of wonder. For my child, everything deserves a “wow.” Birds flying overhead—wow! Airplanes zooming past—wow! The holiday lights on the Meralco building—wow! A giant, somewhat scary Santa Claus dancing to Rosé and Bruno Mars’ “APT” song—wow! While some of my son’s experiences did require some planning, I am always surprised at how simple things can bring him so much joy. Even as he receives toys, it’s the packaging he enjoys more. Why buy toys when he gets fascinated by door stops and drawer handles? Why build a playroom when all he needs is a grassy field where even falling is fun and worthy of giggles? In our desire to consume for enjoyment, we forget that enjoyment comes in all price points. My clients tend to overthink their experiences. They doubt their own senses. Sometimes, having much experience and knowledge—especially unpleasant ones—can make us too scared to be in the present moment. We’d rather retreat in our own heads, even if our worries and anxieties are no less scary. To simply experience something without judgment or expectation can be harder to do as we get older. My students are even worse when it comes to overthinking. Burden, responsibility, and pressure are front and center in their academic life. The joy of learning something new and the satisfaction of mastering a skill, those seem harder for them to savor. Perhaps it’s about time we learn from our Christmas mode and gift ourselves with a sense of wonder and magic for the rest of the year. When we see things as they are with a sense of playfulness and appreciation, everyday things can look magical. Even difficulties can feel meaningful when we recognize the wisdom they bring us. When we experience the joy of communal spaces and of neighborhoods being, well, neighborly, we’d feel like preserving it and making it happen for ourselves and our children. You’d be surprised at how a sense of wonder can change worlds. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . —————- [email protected]
Sake is perhaps more Japanese than the world-famous sushi. It's brewed in centuries-old mountaintop warehouses, savored in the country’s pub-like izakayas, poured during weddings and served slightly chilled for special toasts. The smooth rice wine that plays a crucial role in Japan's culinary traditions was enshrined on Wednesday by UNESCO on its list of the “intangible cultural heritage of humanity." At a meeting in Luque, Paraguay, members of UNESCO’s committee for safeguarding humanity's cultural heritage voted to recognize 45 cultural practices and products around the world, including Brazilian white cheese, Caribbean cassava bread and Palestinian olive oil soap. Unlike UNESCO’s World Heritage List, which includes sites considered important to humanity like the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Intangible Cultural Heritage designation names products and practices of different cultures that are deserving of recognition. A Japanese delegation welcomed the announcement in Luque. “Sake is considered a divine gift and is essential for social and cultural events in Japan,” Takehiro Kano, the Japanese ambassador to UNESCO, told The Associated Press. The basic ingredients of sake are few: rice, water, yeast and koji , a rice mold, which breaks down the starches into fermentable sugars like malting does in beer production. The whole two-monthlong process of steaming, stirring, fermenting and pressing can be grueling. The rice — which wields tremendous marketing power as part of Japan's broader cultural identity — is key to the alcoholic brew. For a product to be categorized Japanese sake, the rice must be Japanese. The UNESCO recognition, the delegation said, captured more than the craft knowledge of making high-quality sake. It also honored a tradition dating back some 1,000 years — sake makes a cameo in Japan’s famous 11th century novel, “The Tale of Genji,” as the drink of choice in the refined Heian court. Now, officials hope to restore sake's image as Japan's premier alcoholic drink even as the younger drinkers in the country switch to imported wine or domestic beer and whiskey. “It means a lot to Japan and to the Japanese,” Kano said of the UNESCO designation. "This will help to renew interest in traditional sake elaboration.” Also, Japanese breweries have expressed hope that the listing could give a little lift to the country's export economy as the popularity of sake booms around the world and in the United States amid heightened interest in Japanese cuisine. Sake exports, mostly to the U.S. and China, now rake in over $265 million a year, according to the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, a trade group. Japan's delegation appeared ready to celebrate on Wednesday — in classic Japanese style. After the announcement, Kano raised a cypress box full of sake to toast the alcoholic brew and cultural rite.
Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump’s most contentious picks