Meet the Houston college students who performed alongside Beyoncé on ChristmasEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got back into the win column for the first time for the first time since Oct. 13 on Sunday, complete with a "Double Tommy" celebration from quarterback Baker Mayfield . Mayfield said his end zone celebration during the Bucs' 30-7 victory at MetLife Stadium was a "tribute" to New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito . With 20 seconds to go in the first half, Mayfield scrambled up the middle and hurdled Giants cornerback Cordale Flott into the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. He then shot up, raised both arms into the air, curled his fingers and pumped his arms wildly towards the fans in a move that has become a signature of DeVito's and a nod to his Italian heritage. "It was a tribute. A tribute to Tommy," Mayfield, who swore it was unplanned, said with a deadpanned expression. "He's a good dude." Added Mayfield: "Most of the time, I don't know what I'm gonna do so ... spontaneous stuff. New York fans love Tommy here, so give 'em something they like." Mayfield was then asked if he, too, was Italian. "I haven't done a 23andme but I don't know," he deadpanned. DeVito said he was unaware of Mayfield's celebration until he was informed after the game. "They were having a good game. They celebrated,," DeVito said. "It is what it is. Kind of happened last year. It's going to happen I guess." Mayfield suffered a stinger in the game after colliding with multiple teammates while trying to recover a fourth-quarter fumble. It required him to visit the blue injury tent but did not force him to miss a down. Editor's Picks NFL Week 12 big questions and takeaways: Five wild endings, huge upsets and division-race shake-ups 2m NFL Nation "Just kind of an awkward little -- not tackle -- but diving in for the ball," Mayfield said. "Feel good though." Mayfield said he and DeVito met briefly in Las Vegas at the Super Bowl this past year. "He had his chain blinged out, swag, walking through the casino. It was awesome," Mayfield said. "It was like a movie scene, honestly. ... He's got that swag man." Mayfield's teammates loved the move. "I didn't know he was gonna do that," said Irving, who rushed for 87 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown and tacked on 64 receiving yards. "I mean, he got in there and then pretty much did it, and we were all happy for him." "Baker, he just invigorates the entire team," cornerback Zyon McCollum added. "All the stuff he does -- that was a crazy play, him jumping in there like that, hurdling a guy. He's more slippery than you anticipate. But having a quarterback who has passion like that and grit like that ... we all feed off of it." The Giants, however, didn't find the humor in Mayfield's celebration. "That's what happens when you lose," Giants receiver Darius Slayton said after the game. "When you lose, you allow people to do stuff like that." Bucs coach Todd Bowles said he didn't see Mayfield's celebration but praised his starting quarterback, who completed 24-of-30 passes for 294 passing yards. Mayfield's rushing touchdown was one of four on the ground by the Bucs. "He did a heck of a job," Bowles said. "Baker just plays ball. He loves playing ball. He had some great scrambles. He bought some time. He made some runs. He played a heck of a ball game." ESPN's Jordan Raanan contributed to this report.OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — In some sports, playing three games in 11 days would be considered a lull in the schedule. Football is different — although this type of stretch is becoming more common in the NFL. “I just kind of put myself in a basketball perspective. Those guys play back to back, so I guess there’s a little merit behind us quote-unquote complaining about it, but they are playing 82 games," Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said. “MLB players are playing 162 games, and we have 17, and we’re trying to fight them to go to 18 right now. I think it’s good in a sense that we’ll see who is most prepared down the stretch, and it’s really challenging for teams — everybody that’s involved.” The Ravens are one of the five teams that are about to go through a three-game, 11-day stretch. The Ravens, Chiefs, Steelers and Texans are playing Sunday, the following Saturday and then the Wednesday after that on Christmas. Chicago has a game this coming Monday night, then plays the following Sunday before a Thursday game on Dec. 26. Before this season, 21 teams in the Super Bowl era had played three games in 11 days, according to Sportradar. In 2024 there are nine stretches like that on the schedule. In addition to the five teams above, four others have already gone through a three-game, 11-day period. The Jets, Seahawks, Saints and Cowboys all had Monday-Sunday-Thursday runs like the Bears are about to face. The Jets and Cowboys managed to go 2-1 during those stretches, but the Seahawks and Saints went 0-3. “Try to win the first one, rest, try to get your body back how it should be,” Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson said. “If it’s not 100 percent, try to get it close as possible — just get ready to play football. That’s all.” For Baltimore, the easiest game of the three is in theory the first. As of Thursday afternoon, the Ravens were favored by 16 points at the New York Giants this weekend, according to BetMGM Sportsbook — but Baltimore has already lost to last-place teams like the Raiders and Browns this season. So the Ravens need to be careful not to overlook the lowly Giants. After the trip to New Jersey, Baltimore returns home to face Pittsburgh in a game that figures to be vital to the Ravens' AFC North title hopes. Then there's a road game against AFC South-leading Houston on Christmas. “The big picture is, ‘All hands on deck.’ We’re focused toward playing our best game so far on Sunday,” coach John Harbaugh said. “We’re going to need to do that, and that’s what we’re training and preparing to do. We have a plan for the three-game stretch, and that plan starts with Sunday.” The Ravens played on Christmas last year too, but that was on a Monday, so it wasn't that big a change in the schedule. If there's one factor in Baltimore's favor this season, it's that the Ravens had their open date last week — immediately before their rugged three-game stretch. But that meant Baltimore was among the last teams to have a week off. And the Ravens started earlier than almost anyone else, having been part of the NFL's opening game against Kansas City. “We reported to camp earlier than everybody else for that Thursday night game, and I think KC had their bye a little while ago,” Hamilton said. “I guess we had the longest stretch, continuous, of anybody else. It’s just going to be that much better at the end of it all, when we do what we need to do, and we can look back on that and say, ‘We did that, and we came out and won these three games.’” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Sri Lanka’s public sector has become a focal point of intense debate, reflecting its critical role in governance, service delivery, and employment. However, its inefficiencies, fiscal burdens, and disparities in resource allocation have come under sharp scrutiny amid escalating economic pressures. The expanding public workforce, while offering job security and supporting livelihoods, poses pressing challenges that demand urgent attention. Modernising and innovating this pivotal sector, along with ensuring fair and effective resource distribution, is essential to overcoming these hurdles and steering Sri Lanka toward sustainable development. One of the most pressing challenges lies in localised overstaffing and misallocation of resources. While bloated payrolls weigh heavily on the national Budget, this expansion often fails to translate into improved service delivery. For instance, urban centres may face redundancies in administrative roles, whereas rural sectors such as health and education suffer critical staff shortages. Addressing this imbalance requires workforce audits to identify redundancies and reallocate resources to underserved regions. Streamlining the workforce through voluntary retirement schemes and retraining programs can achieve a more balanced distribution of human capital without causing undue disruption. The lack of technological integration exacerbates inefficiencies in service delivery. Citizens often face long queues at the Department of Motor Traffic or endure delays in permit approvals. By adopting e-governance and digitising services, the Government can reduce operational costs, enhance accessibility, and promote transparency. A national e-governance framework, supported by well-regulated public-private partnerships (PPPs), holds the potential to revolutionise public services. However, robust guidelines are essential to ensure that private-sector involvement aligns with public interest and safeguards data privacy. Merit-based recruitment is another critical pillar of reform. Political influence has historically marred public service appointments, fostering nepotism and undermining accountability. Transparent recruitment processes, standardised testing, and independent oversight can ensure that only the most qualified individuals join the public sector, enhancing professionalism and public trust. Reforming recruitment must also address existing employees, many of whom entered the system through politically influenced pathways. Comprehensive retraining and performance evaluation programs can help align their skills with modern requirements, ensuring a productive and motivated workforce. Institutions like the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) should play a central role in equipping public servants with digital literacy, management skills, and service delivery expertise. Simultaneously, re-skilling opportunities should be offered to those transitioning out of the public sector. Public-private partnerships offer significant opportunities to reduce the burden on public resources while improving service quality. Whether in infrastructure, technology, or education, collaboration with private entities can bring expertise, innovation, and funding to the table. However, these partnerships must be structured within a transparent regulatory framework to prevent profit-driven motives from undermining public service goals. Government employment has long been viewed as the gold standard of job security in Sri Lanka. While this perception provides stability during economic uncertainty, it can stifle private-sector and entrepreneurial ambitions. Addressing this mindset requires a multifaceted approach, including education reforms, mentorship programs, and recognition of private-sector achievements. Additionally, creating vibrant private-sector opportunities, particularly in rural areas, can encourage young people to explore diverse career paths without relying solely on public sector employment. Unchecked expansion of the public workforce carries far-reaching consequences. Economically, it exacerbates fiscal deficits and diverts resources from critical development areas such as infrastructure and poverty alleviation. Socially, it fosters disillusionment among youth unable to find meaningful opportunities and erodes public trust in governance. While downsizing is essential to address these inefficiencies, it must be approached cautiously to prevent unemployment and social instability. Voluntary retirement schemes, coupled with transition programs into private-sector roles, can help mitigate these impacts. Implementing these reforms requires strong political will and stakeholder engagement. Resistance from unions, bureaucrats, and political actors benefiting from the status quo could impede progress. Building political consensus and fostering dialogue with stakeholders are critical to overcoming these obstacles. Policymakers must clearly communicate the long-term benefits of reform, ensuring that the agenda is inclusive, transparent, and aligned with sustainable development goals. To address these challenges, Sri Lanka must adopt a comprehensive reform agenda. Key steps include: Encouraging a cultural shift toward entrepreneurship and private-sector employment. Prioritising capacity building for both current and transitioning public servants. These reforms, while difficult, are essential for creating a resilient, efficient, and sustainable public sector that meets the nation’s needs. As Sri Lanka charts its path toward recovery and development, the public sector must evolve into a catalyst for progress rather than a constraint. A carefully balanced reform strategy, supported by political commitment and stakeholder engagement, can pave the way for a brighter future. The choices made today will shape the nation’s trajectory for decades to come—the time for action is now.Gaetz withdraws from consideration to be attorney generalAs Hollywood grapples with worries about the threat of artificial intelligence, the union that represents animators is facing dissent over its latest deal with major studios. Three Animation Guild negotiations committee members said they will vote "no" on a tentative contract the guild reached with their employers, saying the AI protections they wrangled don't go far enough. "I believe the A.I. and outsourcing protections in this contract are not strong enough — and in my opinion — could lead to the loss of a lot of jobs," wrote negotiations committee member Michael Rianda , who directed the animated film "The Mitchells vs. the Machines," on Instagram. "Real members lives could be hurt by not having these protections." The Animation Guild's executive board disputed any notion that the deal lacks support, saying in a statement that more than 90% of the negotiations committee table team backed the tentative agreement and recommend ratification. "Generative AI is a complex and deeply concerning issue for our industry, and we recognize the passion and apprehension it has sparked among our members," the executive board said. "It's also important to understand that union contracts alone cannot solve this challenge, as seen in the recent contracts of other entertainment unions with far larger memberships and leverage than our own." The animation guild reached an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents major studios, last month. Animation Guild members will have until the end of Dec. 22 to vote on the contract. The guild touted several gains in the three-year deal, including increases to health and pension funds and wage increases of 7% in the first year, 4% in the second and 3.5% in the third. The pact features AI protections that include notification and consultation provisions; protections for remote work; and the recognition of Juneteenth as a holiday. The guild represents more than 6,000 artists, technicians, writers and production workers in the animation industry. "After weeks of negotiations that covered months in the calendar, I am very proud of the agreement that we reached with the studios for our new contract," Steve Kaplan, business representative for the Animation Guild, said in a statement when the deal was struck. "Not only have we seen the inclusion of the advancements in the industry realized by the other Unions and Guilds, but we were able to address industry-specific issues in a meaningful way." Rianda said in his Instagram post that the guild did not secure staffing minimums "to protect crew sizes from AI job loss." If the tentative contract is not passed by guild members, the union will go back to the table with AMPTP. If those talks are unsuccessful, the union could call for a strike authorization vote. "Voting 'No' could give us the leverage we need to actually get substantial gains," wrote Kelly Lynne D'Angelo, a television and musical writer, who also was on the guild's negotiations committee, on Bluesky . "Does it mean we may lose other things negotiated? Yes. But do those things trump more needs in A.I., Outsourcing, and Staffing Minimums? That's YOUR call to make." Multiple union locals representing Hollywood's below-the-line workers have pushed for overall minimum staffing requirements but have gotten little traction. The Animation Guild's tentative contract does include a minimum staffing provision with guaranteed employment length for animation writers. The Writers Guild of America managed to secure minimum staffing protections in TV writers rooms last year after going on strike. Many Hollywood workers are concerned about potential job losses from artificial intelligence. Proponents of AI say that the technology could help bring costs down, give freedom to test bold ideas and speed up production. A study released earlier this year estimated 62,000 entertainment jobs could be lost to AI within the next three years, including roles in 3-D modeling and character and environment design. The study was commissioned by the Animation Guild, the Concept Art Assn., the Human Artistry Campaign and the National Cartoonists Society Foundation. Those concerns have boosted interest from workers in joining the guild, also known as IATSE Local 839. The Times reported that from December 2021 to December 2023, nearly 1,000 animation professionals from a dozen different studios were cleared to unionize under the Animation Guild, which was founded in 1952. Committee member Joey Clift , a writer on Netflix's "Spirit Rangers," said that AI protections were among the top priorities for members, but the tentative contract falls short. "We fought tooth and nail and received a few small AI protections in this contract, but these aren't the strong, common sense AI guardrails we need to keep animation workers protected," Clift wrote on Bluesky , adding that he plans to vote "no." ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Emerance Maschmeyer turned in 34 saves on 35 shots on goal and the Ottawa Charge held off the New York Sirens 3-1 on Sunday for their second win in six games. Playing their first game in 10 days, the Charge got a first-period goal from Emily Clark and Shiann Darkangelo and Kateřina Mrázová added second-period goals to build a 3-0 lead through two periods. Ottawa has scored at least three goals in all five of its meetings with New York over two seasons. Alex Carpenter earned a third-period assist to extend her scoring streak to nine straight games dating to last season. Sarah Fillier's goal moved her into a tie for the league lead with eight points in her first eight games after being drafted No. 1 by the Sirens. Ottawa's defense neutralized much of New York's speed advantage and used a strong penalty kill to take a 1-0 lead after one period after Clark tipped home a wrist shot from the point by Brianne Jenner six minutes into the game. The Charge added two goals in the first seven minutes of the second period but could not capitalize on a pair of power plays late in the period. Fillier wasted little time getting New York on the board in the third period, firing a shot past Maschmeyer 23 seconds into the period, but the keeper saved the next dozen shots, including an almost three-minute finish when the Sirens pulled goalkeeper Corinne Schroeder to gain a player advantage. New York's Jill Saulnier was activated off long-term injured reserve following an upper body injury sustained in the opening game December 1. ___ AP hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/hockey The Associated PressUstby, Donarski lead No. 16 North Carolina women over Villanova 53-36 in Battle 4 Atlantis semifinal
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The Sacramento Kings fired head coach Mike Brown on Friday, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Brown was fired after the Kings suffered a heartbreaking 114-113 defeat at the hands of the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night, representing their fifth consecutive loss. Assistant coach Doug Christie is set to become the team's interim head coach, per Charania . Sacramento won at least 46 games in each of the past two seasons but owns a record of just 13-18 to open its 2024-25 campaign. The slow start was especially surprising considering stars De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis have remained relatively healthy, combining to miss just three games this season. Brown was named the 2022-23 Coach of the Year after helping the Kings snap a 16-year playoff drought, but now he's no longer with the organization. Here are three potential candidates to replace him. Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori has been a candidate for several head coaching openings throughout the past year and he could be considered for Sacramento's sudden vacancy. Nori doesn't have any head coaching experience, but he's served as Chris Finch's top assistant since the start of the 2021-22 season. He has also briefly operated as the Timberwolves' interim head coach whenever Finch hasn't been available. He has some familiarity with Sacramento, as he was an assistant on the team from 2013-15 under former Kings head coach and current Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone. Nori was interviewed by the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers regarding their head coaching vacancies following the 2023-24 season, but he ultimately didn't land either role. He started his NBA coaching journey with the Toronto Raptors in 2009 and has been on the coaching staff of various teams in every season since. Brown already had 563 games of experience under his belt before taking over as Sacremento's head coach in 2022, and the team could chose to go in the direction of a first-time coach for its next candidate. Nori may be the person to fill the role. Similar to Nori, Denver Nuggets assistant David Adelman is a qualified candidate that would potentially become a head coach for the first time in his career if the Kings end up targeting him. Adelman has served as the Nuggets' lead assistant since the start of the 2017-18 season and has been a part of their rise from a playoff contender to a champion in 2023. Prior to his time in Denver, he was on the Timberwolves' staff from 2011-16 before joining the Orlando Magic for the 2016-17 season. While Adelman is still with the Nuggets, he was considered for multiple roles during the 2024 head coaching cycle. He interviewed with the Charlotte Hornets , Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers regarding their respective vacancies. He also previously received the endorsement of superstar center Nikola Jokić. "I really think that DA's a guy who's gonna be next head coach because he has that, I'm gonna say 'head' for a head coach," Jokic said in Jan. 2023, per Mike Singer of The Denver Post . "... He knows the answers. He reads, reacts." Adelman doesn't have any professional connection to the Kings, but he does have a personal one. His father, Rick, served as Sacramento's head coach from 1999 through 2006 and ranks No. 1 on the organization's all-time wins list (395) while also holding the highest winning percentage (63.3 percent) for a head coach in the team's history. It's possible that Adelman may look to follow in his father's footsteps for his first head coaching gig. If the Kings are able to turn their season around with Doug Christie, it's easy to imagine him becoming the team's full-time head coach moving forward. Christie's ties to the organization run deep, as he's already been on Sacramento's staff since the start of the 2021-22 season. He covered the team for NBC Sports California prior to becoming an assistant. The former NBA shooting guard spent five years of his career with the Kings, averaging 10.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game during 355 appearances in Sacramento. Christie was also the team's 2024 Summer League head coach . There's still time for the Kings to turn their season around, which will need to start with pulling out wins in close games. Sacramento has struggled mightily in clutch situations, which is defined as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the score is within five points. The Kings have found themselves in 20 clutch games this season, owning a record of just 6-13 (via NBA.com ). Despite boasting isolation scorers such as Fox and DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento has routinely let games slip away. If Christie can find a way to help the Kings solve their late-game issues and compete for a second playoff appearance in three years, he'll likely earn serious consideration to remain in the role for the foreseeable future.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Emerance Maschmeyer turned in 34 saves on 35 shots on goal and the Ottawa Charge held off the New York Sirens 3-1 on Sunday for their second win in six games. Playing their first game in 10 days, the Charge got a first-period goal from Emily Clark and Shiann Darkangelo and Kateřina Mrázová added second-period goals to build a 3-0 lead through two periods. Ottawa has scored at least three goals in all five of its meetings with New York over two seasons. Alex Carpenter earned a third-period assist to extend her scoring streak to nine straight games dating to last season. Sarah Fillier's goal moved her into a tie for the league lead with eight points in her first eight games after being drafted No. 1 by the Sirens. Ottawa's defense neutralized much of New York's speed advantage and used a strong penalty kill to take a 1-0 lead after one period after Clark tipped home a wrist shot from the point by Brianne Jenner six minutes into the game. The Charge added two goals in the first seven minutes of the second period but could not capitalize on a pair of power plays late in the period. Fillier wasted little time getting New York on the board in the third period, firing a shot past Maschmeyer 23 seconds into the period, but the keeper saved the next dozen shots, including an almost three-minute finish when the Sirens pulled goalkeeper Corinne Schroeder to gain a player advantage. New York's Jill Saulnier was activated off long-term injured reserve following an upper body injury sustained in the opening game December 1. ___ AP hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/hockey The Associated Press
Kymani McNeil capitalised on a defensive mistake to send Somerset Trojans into the First Division Shield final with a scrappy semi-final victory over Robin Hood at PHC Stadium on Friday night. Both sides began aggressively, with Robin Hood adopting a compact shape out of possession. They created the first clear-cut opportunity inside five minutes, but captain Chance Eve failed to hit the target from a well-placed ball by Samuel Carolo. Trojans grew into the game but struggled to string passes together as steady rain began to fall. Both teams found more success in wide areas as the midfield battle remained scrappy and physical, with Trojans slightly edging it. The lack of a focal point meant everything had to be played on the ground, but both sides showed a lack of quality in the final third. Somerset finished the first half stronger but had nothing to show for their efforts. Trojans took the lead early in the second half following a defensive lapse between Robin Hood’s defence and goalkeeper Nathaniel Swan, who was off his line while the team attempted to play out from the back. Keiaron Bean’s loose pass was intercepted by McNeil, who calmly rounded Swan and finished into the empty net. Robin Hood made three substitutions to change the game’s complexion, but Carolo missed a golden chance to equalise from inside the area just before the hour mark. The game became stop-start, with neither side taking control. However, Trojans ensured they retained their slender lead, showing hunger and desire to manage the match. Hood tried a more direct approach and focused on winning second balls but failed to break through Somerset’s resolute defence. Jaden Ratteray-Smith demonstrated Somerset’s game management when he took the ball toward the corner flag as time wound down during a counter-attack. Trojans completed a gritty display and held firm to secure their place in the Shield final, where they will face Boulevard on New Year’s Day. SCORERS Robin Hood 0 Somerset Trojans 1 K McNeil 46 TEAMS Robin Hood (4-2-3-1): N Swan 5 – S Madeiros 6, K Bean 6, J Cooper 6 (sub: C Tucker 51 5), L Horan 6 – S Carolo 6 (sub: R Ziai 88), C Booth 5 (sub: C Smith 51 5) – T Bean 5, H Dill 5 (sub: X Muwwakkil-Allen 85), K Naylor 5 – C Eve 5. Substitutes not used : B Tysen-Gooden, J Roberts; Booked : Dill. Somerset Trojans (4-2-3-1): K Symonds 6 – M Tear-DeLeon 6, T Outerbridge 6, E Shakir 6 (sub: J Brangman 87), Kameron McNeil 6 – J Greaves 5, P Robinson 6 – K Cann 5 (sub: J Powell 72), J Ratteray-Smith 7, J Shields 6 – Kymani McNeil 6 (sub: T Wade 72). Substitutes not used : I Francis, N Edwards, C Durham, E Mendes; Booked : Shakir, Shields. Referee : A Francis