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Name: Jeremy Dietz Jr. School: Conemaugh Valley Age: 17 Grade: 12 Sports: Basketball, baseball, track and field, soccer and golf Parents: Jeremy Sr. and Nichole Dietz, of Johnstown Athletic achievements: In basketball, totaled over 1,000 points and 500 rebounds, 2023-24 Cambria County Basketball Coaches Association second team, 2023-24 Pennsylvania Sports Writers’ Class 1A all-state second team and captain; in baseball, 2022 and 2023 all-WestPAC selection, 2024 all-Heritage Conference pick, two-year captain and 100 strikeouts pitching; in soccer, played in the 2024 Santa Fund Soccer Classic, scored 79 career goals, 2022 all-Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference and 2024 honorable mention and four-year captain; in golf, 2024 all-Heritage pick. Coach’s quote: “Jeremy’s passion and love for the game shines through his personality on and off the court. Jeremy can score the ball inside and out. He is a ball magnet that controls the boards. Jeremy strives to be better each and every day and is willing to learn from others and is a leader and pure student-athlete.” – Conemaugh Valley boys basketball coach Tre’von Williams Favorite subject: Mathematics Favorite movie: “Step Brothers” Favorite video game: “Madden NFL 25” Favorite food: Pizza Favorite teacher (subject taught): Mr. Jaber (history) Favorite song: “Record Year” by Eric Church Favorite app on your phone: Weather Outside interests: Fishing, camping and being outside If you were an animal, what animal would you be and why?: I would be an eagle so I could fly Favorite athletic team: Pittsburgh Steelers Athlete most admired: Former San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili Most influential people on my athletic career: My parents for always pushing me to be the best I can be, my family for always coming to watch and support me and my pap Dale for always watching my games. Most impressive athlete that you have competed against: Berlin Brothersvalley graduate and Gannon University freshman guard Pace Prosser Proudest athletic achievement: Being named to the 2023-24 Pennsylvania Sports Writers’ Class 1A all-state second team How I got my start: Ever since I could dribble a ball, my dad would take me to the local gym and teach me how to play the game. As the years went on, we started to spend more time together in the gym and he started to push me harder and make me become a better player. While my dad taught me the game, my mom would help me become a faster, stronger and better conditioned player. I would not be half the person I am today without their help. Future goal: To graduate college with a nursing degree and become either a nurse anesthetist or a nurse practitioner - Jake Oswalt (c)2024 The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) Visit The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) at www.tribune-democrat.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Stellar Lumens price surges on United Nations and World Bank endorsementsATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey gambling regulators have handed out $40,000 in fines to two sportsbooks and a tech company for violations that included taking bets on unauthorized events, and on games that had already ended. In information made public Monday, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement fined DraftKings $20,000. It also levied $10,000 fines on Rush Street Interactive NJ and the sports betting technology company Kambi. According to documents released by the state, Rush Street accepted 16 bets worth $1,523 in Nov. 2021 on a college basketball game between the University of North Carolina-Asheville and Tennessee Tech University after the game had already concluded with a UNC victory. Kambi told the enforcement division that a trader had failed to manually remove that game from its betting markets, saying it had stopped receiving messages from its own sports data provider due to a network connectivity error. Kambi said it has updated its guidelines and retrained its traders to prevent a recurrence. Kambi, which is based in Malta, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday. Rush Street declined comment, and DraftKings had no immediate comment Monday. DraftKings stopped using Kambi in 2021. In March 2022 Rush Street took seven bets totaling just under $2,900 on three Magic City Jai Alai games after the results were already known. Kambi told the division it experienced a connectivity issue that allowed the bets to be accepted after the games were over. An explanation of what Kambi did to address the situation was blacked out in documents released by the division. A month earlier Rush Street took 13 wagers worth $8,150 with pre-match odds on a Professional Golf Association match after the event had already begun. In this case, Kambi told the division a newly hired trader failed to enter the correct closing time time for bets on the event. The trader and a supervisor underwent retraining. DraftKings was fined for taking bets on unapproved events including Russian basketball for nine months in 2020 and 2021. It eventually voided over $61,000 in bets and returned the money to customers after being directed to do so by the state. In this case, Kambi told the division it misidentified this particular Russian basketball league as one that was approved for wagering in New Jersey. DraftKings told the state it did not catch the error, either. In 2020, DraftKings accepted 484 wagers on unapproved table tennis matches. Kambi incorrectly enabled the events for wagering without conditions required by the state, the division said. In Feb. 2022, the division said DraftKings took pre-season NFL bets involving specific players but did not give the state specific information on what information was to be included in the bets, drawing 182 wagers worth nearly $7,000 that were later voided and refunded to customers. Follow Wayne Parry on X at www.twitter.com/WayneParryACFlair Airlines CFO charged with manslaughter linked to fatal car crash in U.S.
Representative Jim Himes, a Connecticut Democrat, on Sunday quickly dismissed Fox News host Jacqui Heinrich's suggestion that the recently reported drone sightings over the Northeast are a potential "Pearl Harbor moment." Drones have been spotted in recent weeks across New Jersey, New York and other nearby states, prompting concern among residents and lawmakers and launching investigations by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assured Americans in a joint statement on Thursday that there was "no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus." However, with few answers given by federal officials about the matter and state and local officials having little authority to help the situation, people are getting increasingly worried about the drones. Himes, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, urged viewers during an interview on Fox News Sunday to not give into conspiracy theories about the drones, saying, "We should be sober" about the situation. Newsweek reached out to Himes' office via email for comment late Sunday afternoon. Heinrich, who was filling in for host Shannon Bream, suggested that the mysterious drone situation could possibly be like when the Japanese spied on the U.S. before launching a surprise attack on the Pearl Harbor naval base near Honolulu on December 7, 1941. On that fateful day, over 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,000 more were injured. Meanwhile, almost 20 American naval vessels and more than 300 airplanes were destroyed or damaged. The U.S. subsequently declared war on Japan, bringing the country into World War II. "So, is there no concern in your mind that this could be potentially a Pearl Harbor moment like with the Japanese submarines surveilling in the waters off Hawaii in the months leading up to the attack? Do you really have no concern this might be a state actor preparing for some kind of an event in the future?" Heinrich asked Himes. Himes replied: "No, it's not. Look, our adversaries that would wish us harm have billion-dollar satellites over our heads right now that are capable of doing what we do to them, which is observing." "You know what they're not going to do? They're not going to put technology over Newark, New Jersey, that could fall out of the sky, and we would capture it," Himes said, later adding, "But no, they are not going to launch an attack on Pearl Harbor that is preceded by drones. Now does that mean that they're not gonna use it to try to spy on our sensitive facilities, of course they might but no, this is not the predecessor for an attack on the American homeland, I can promise you that." Newsweek reached out to the FBI, who referred to its Thursday statement, and DHS via email for comment early Sunday evening. Himes Warns About Spread of Conspiracy Theories Earlier in the interview, Himes echoed criticisms from other political figures about the federal response to the drone situation. "There's a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now. The answer 'we don't know' is not a good enough answer. When people are anxious when they're nervous...people will fill a vacuum with their fears and anxieties and conspiracy theories," the congressman said. "Just putting information out there to fill that vacuum would be helpful. We haven't seen that." In a letter dated Thursday to President Joe Biden requesting more federal resources to investigate the matter, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said, "The continued reporting of UAS [unmanned aircraft systems] activity has raised more questions than answers and prompted an outcropping of conspiracy theories across social media and other platforms." What Have Federal Officials Said About the Drones? Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told CNN 's Wolf Blitzer on The Situation Room Friday evening that federal officials "have not seen anything unusual" and that they "know of no nefarious activity." "It is very common for individuals who think they see drones, to actually see small aircraft and we have a case of mistaken identity. Also, we have six different people reporting what they think is a drone and all of a sudden we have reports of six drone sightings. So, there's some duplication," Mayorkas told Blitzer. But then on Sunday morning, Mayorkas somewhat validated people's assertions that what they were seeing were drones. "Some of those drone sightings are, in fact, drones. Some are manned aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones," he said. "But there's no question that drones are being sighted."Activist investors want Macy’s to create a real estate unit
Lux Optics has released a loose product roadmap for its next big iPhone photo app, Halide 3.0 (which it’s calling Halide Mark III). After being more forthright than usual in the development of its , which was recently by Apple, Lux is giving the next version of its popular photo app a touch of the Steam indie dev treatment. Not only is Lux already hyping key upcoming features in by cofounder Ben Sandofsky, but it also plans to open up the development process via a , where users can give feedback once they start trying Halide Mark III. So far, Lux has detailed three upcoming features for Halide Mark III that subscribers will be able to try early: Color Grades, HDR photos, and an app redesign. Color grades will operate a lot like they do in Kino, with users able to quickly load an aesthetic look / color palette based on Lux’s own creations, film stocks, and imported recipes cooked by other users. In addition to what sounds like Lux’s take on Fujifilm’s film emulations, Halide Mark III will also include the developer’s take on HDR photos — now that iOS 18’s Adaptive HDR feature is making it easier to view HDR images on more platforms. Closing out the year doing things a bit different: sharing our Halide 3.0 roadmap, including its three major features! We’re also launching a Halide community Discord so we can bounce ideas off fans, solicit feedback on early builds, and more! www.lux.camera/the-road-to-... — Not much has been revealed so far about Halide 3.0’s redesigned interface, but Sandofsky said in the blog post that form follows function, and “if Halide’s version of Instant Grade goes as smooth as we think it will, we’ll make grade-picking central to the UI, just like Kino.” Sandofsky’s blog post also didn’t go into further detail about when Halide Mark III will ship beyond sometime in 2025, and it didn’t say how much Halide Mark III will cost. But the on Threads that Mark III will be included for Mark II users, and an upgrade for v1 users.
OTTAWA — First Nations leaders are split over next steps after a landmark $47.8-billion child welfare reform deal with Canada was struck down, prompting differing legal opinions from both sides. The Assembly of First Nations and a board member of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society have received competing legal opinions on potential ways forward. Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict says the chiefs he represents are still hoping the agreement that chiefs outside the province voted down two months ago is not moot. Chiefs in Ontario are interveners in the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal case that led to its realization. He added there are also concerns that some of the elements in the new negotiation mandate outlined by chiefs in an October assembly go beyond the current governance structure of the Assembly of First Nations. “There will have to be action by the Assembly of First Nations in the very near future to advance these positions, but you also need willing partners,” Benedict said. “We’re still considering what our options are.” Those options are also being debated in legal reviews commissioned by the Assembly of First Nations and a board member of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, which are both parties to the human rights case, along with Nishnawbe Aski Nation. Khelsilem, a chairperson from the Squamish Nation who penned a resolution that defeated the deal in October, critiqued the stance of Ontario First Nations by saying they negotiated a “bad agreement” for First Nations outside the province and now that chiefs want to go back to the table for a better deal, they want to split from the process entirely. “It potentially undermines the collective unity of First Nations to achieve something that is going to benefit all of us,” he said. The $47.8-billion agreement was struck in July after decades of advocacy and litigation from First Nations and experts, seeking to redress discrimination against First Nations children who were torn from their families and placed in foster care. The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal said Canada’s underfunding was discriminatory because it meant kids living on reserve were given fewer services than those living off reserves, and tasked Canada with reaching an agreement with First Nations to reform the system. The agreement was meant to cover 10 years of funding for First Nations to take control of their own child welfare services from the federal government. Chiefs and service providers critiqued the deal for months, saying it didn’t go far enough to ensure an end to the discrimination. They have also blasted the federal government for what they say is its failure to consult with First Nations in negotiations, and for the exclusion of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, which helped launched the initial human rights complaint. In October at a special chiefs assembly in Calgary, the deal was struck down through two resolutions. The Assembly of First Nations sought a legal review of those resolutions by Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP — a firm where the former national chief of the organization, Perry Bellegarde, works as a special adviser. In the legal review from Fasken, it appears as though the assembly asked for direction on how to get “rid” of two resolutions used to vote down the deal, with an employee of the firm saying they can review the resolutions together if they want them both gone, or they can “leave room for compromise” with one of the resolutions. In a statement, the Assembly of First Nations said the review was conducted to assess the legal, technical and operational aspects of the resolutions to ensure their “effective implementation.” “The opinions formed by external counsel are their own and do not reflect the views or positions of the AFN,” said Andrew Bisson, the chief executive officer, who added it’s not unusual for the organization to seek such reviews. Bisson did not address the language used by a Fasken employee to “get rid” of resolutions, but said “the legal and technical reviews were conducted in good faith, not to undermine the chiefs’ direction. The chiefs have provided clear direction, and the AFN is committed to following that direction.” The legal reviews from Fasken, dated Nov. 15, argue that the October resolutions on child welfare require a significant review of who voted for them, along with changes to the organization’s charter should they be implemented. Resolution 60 called for a rejection of the final settlement agreement, and for the establishment of a Children’s Chiefs Commission that will be representative of all regions and negotiate long-term reforms. It also called for the AFN’s executive committee to “unconditionally include” the Caring Society in negotiations. Fasken said that commission is contrary to the AFN’s charter, and the law, because the AFN’s executive committee doesn’t have the power to create one, and that the executive committee “alone” has the authority to execute mandates on behalf of the assembly. It adds there are no accountability measures for the new negotiation body, and that it will represent regions that are not participants in the AFN. Resolution 61, which built upon resolution 60, is similarly against the charter for the same reasons, the review says. As such, it says, the resolutions can’t be implemented. The firm also wrote that there were alleged conflicts of interest during the October vote, saying “numerous proxies were also employees, shareholders, directors, agents or otherwise had a vested interest” in the First Nations child and family service agencies whose interests were the subject of the resolutions. Chief Joe Miskokomon of Chippewas of the Thames First Nation in southwestern Ontario called that “political deception.” In response to that review, a board member of the Caring Society, which has been a vocal critic of the July deal, sought their own. The review penned by Aird Berlis for Mary Teegee and dated Dec. 2 stated it was “inappropriate for the AFN to seek, and not disclose, legal opinions which are then cited to attempt to second-guess decisions already made by the First Nations in Assembly.” It also states that while the AFN’s vice-president of strategic policy and integration, Amber Potts, raised concerns with the movers and seconders of the resolutions, the entirety of the legal opinion the assembly sought was not shared with them. Teegee’s review challenges that of the AFN’s by saying the resolutions are consistent with the AFN’s charter, and that nothing restricts First Nations in assembly from expressing their sovereign will by delegating authority to another entity. “AFN’s role and purpose at all times is to effect the sovereign will of First Nations, however it is expressed, on ‘any matter’ that they see fit,” the review from Aird Berlis reads. “It is too late to attempt to question the resolutions. They are now final.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2024. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
Rosie O’Donnell announced in a recent video that she has face “herpes,” and complained about allegedly being “taunted” by the MAGA movement. Ultimately, O’Donnell said she believes her cold sores are stress-induced due to her fear of UFOs. “Look what I have on my lip,” O’Donnell began in a video posted to her TikTok account on Friday. “Everybody’s been saying, ‘You have herpes, you’ve had herpes all this time,’ and I never have had a cold sore in my life, and now I have a cold sore.” Watch Below: O’Donnell went on to say that she doesn’t believe her cold sore is from sun exposure, because she has been wearing sunscreen. “Now, I did sit in the sun yesterday, but I had sunscreen on, so, I don’t know. I will let you know tomorrow if I do, in fact, have herpes,” she said. The Sleepless in Seattle actress then complained about “some of the taunting from the MAGA people in the last couple of weeks.” “Hasn’t it been fun, ladies and gentlemen, to be standing in direct opposition to everything he is and represents?” O’Donnell concluded in her video rant. In a follow-up video posted to her TikTok account on Sunday, O’Donnell informed her 2.5 million followers that she does, in fact, have a cold sore on her face. “Yup, everybody, it’s a cold sore,” O’Donnell said, adding, “Stress can do horrible things.” Watch Below: sunday #coldsores #ufosighting #ufos #insurrectionists #unitedhealthcare #stress #art #daneldon ♬ original sound – Rosie ODonnell To those who might be asking, “Why are you stressed?” O’Donnell answered, “A lot of reasons,” but specifically cited alleged UFO sightings as the likely cause of her newfound affliction. In recent months, O’Donnell has also been on a rampage over President-elect Donald Trump, pushing for the abolishment of the Electoral College following the 45th and soon-to-be 47th president’s landslide victory in the 2024 election. Amusingly, however, even if the Electoral College were to be eliminated, it wouldn’t have made a difference in the 2024 presidential election, given that Trump also won the popular vote. In October, O’Donnell promulgated a wild conspiracy theory spread by radical leftists, falsely stating that shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks’ bullet did not strike Trump in the ear during the first assassination attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. Alana Mastrangelo is a reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow her on Facebook and X at @ARmastrangelo , and on Instagram .
Ivana Bacik had separate meetings with Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris on Tuesday afternoon. Fianna Fail, which won 48 seats in last month’s general election, and Fine Gael, which secured 38 seats, headed up the last coalition in Dublin and are expected to continue that partnership into the next mandate. However, with a combined 86 seats, they are just short of the 88 required for a majority in the Dail parliament. If they wish to return to government together, they would need one smaller party as a junior partner, or a handful of independents. Both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have ruled out doing business with Sinn Fein, which won 39 seats. The centre-left Social Democrats and Irish Labour Party, both of which won 11 seats in the election, are seen as the only two realistic options if Fianna Fail and Fine Gael seek to convince a smaller party to join the coalition. In a statement, the Labour Party said Ms Bacik outlined key policy priorities in her meetings with Taoiseach Mr Harris and Tanaiste Mr Martin. “There was discussion in both meetings on policies and manifesto commitments on housing, health, climate, workers’ rights and disability services among other issues,” said the statement. “The parliamentary party will meet at 1pm on Friday where the party leader will provide an assessment of engagement to date and consider the outcome of these meetings.” A spokesman for Mr Harris said there had been a “constructive engagement” with Ms Bacik. “The Taoiseach is grateful for the time and engagement on a range of substantial policy issues,” he said. The spokesman said Mr Harris had also met independent TDs who are aligned together in what is called the regional group. “These meetings have been productive,” he added. Mr Harris and party colleagues are due to meet the Social Democrats on Wednesday. Fianna Fail deputy leader Jack Chambers and Fine Gael deputy leader Helen McEntee met on Tuesday evening for discussions on government formation, with the parties’ full negotiating teams set to meet on Wednesday. Fine Gael said the meeting between Ms McEntee and Mr Chambers was “positive” and focused on the “structure and format” of the substantive negotiations going forward. When the two parties entered coalition for the first time after the last general election in 2020, there was only a three-seat difference in their relative strength. That resulted in an equal partnership at the head of the coalition, with the Green Party as the junior partner. The two main parties swapped the role of taoiseach halfway through the term. With Fianna Fail’s lead over Fine Gael having grown to 10 seats following this election, focus has turned to the future of the rotating taoiseach arrangement and whether it will operate again in the next mandate and, if so, on what basis. There are similar questions around the distribution of ministries and other roles. While Mr Martin has so far refused to be drawn on the specifics, he has suggested that he expects Fianna Fail’s greater strength of numbers to be reflected in the new administration. However, Mr Harris has insisted that Fine Gael’s mandate cannot be taken for granted when it comes to government formation. Richard Boyd Barrett from People Before Profit-Solidarity, which won three seats, urged Labour not to “prop up” up a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael administration. “We think that’s a huge mistake,” he told reporters in Dublin. “They shouldn’t do it. They should learn the lessons of the past and actually work with other parties of the left to form a decent left opposition to Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and campaign on the issues that matter.” His party colleague Paul Murphy pointed to the experience of the Green Party, which lost all but one of its 12 seats in the election. “In reality, what is going to happen is a changing of the mudguard for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael,” he said. “And for those who are now auditioning to be a new mudguard for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, there is a very, very sharp and stark lesson in what happened to the Green Party – obviously almost entirely wiped out. “We think it is a very major mistake for anyone who has the perception of being left, with the votes of people who are looking left, to seek to go into coalition with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.”
Share Tweet Share Share Email Anime has captivated audiences around the globe with its distinct art style and vibrant storytelling. From the expressive characters to the dynamic scenes, anime offers a world of visual delights. If you’ve ever dreamt of seeing yourself or your surroundings animated in this beloved style, the emerging technology of AI photo conversion is opening up exciting possibilities. The AI-powered photo to anime AI tools allows everyone from artists to everyday enthusiasts to re-imagine their photographs as stunning anime creations. The Magic of Photo to Anime AI Tools Photo to anime AI technology harnesses the power of advanced artificial intelligence to convert standard photos into anime-styled images. It seamlessly translates real-world nuances into the exaggerated, yet aesthetically pleasing features characteristic of anime. By using these innovative tools, you can inject a little bit of fantasy into your daily life or add an extraordinary flair to your social media profiles. This process is not only about altering photographs but transforming them into personalized works of art. Whether you’re a fan trying to recreate your favorite anime scenes or looking for a unique way to represent yourself online, these AI tools provide a straightforward and fun solution. How AI Turns Photos into Anime The procedure involved in transforming your pictures using ai photo to anime technology is fascinatingly simple. Here’s a peek into how it works: Upload Your Photo : Start by selecting a high-quality image that you would like transformed. This could be a portrait, a pet photo, or even a landscape shot. AI Processing : Once uploaded, the AI goes to work. It interprets different elements of your photo such as outlines, colors, and textures. Using sophisticated algorithms, it then redraws these elements in an anime style embellishing and modifying features to fit perfectly within the anime aesthetic realm. Review and Refine : After the initial transformation, you often have opportunities to fine-tune certain aspects. Adjustments can include color enhancements, detail modifications, and even adapting the background elements. Seamless Integration with Personal Projects Whether you’re illustrating a book, creating custom gifts, or even designing digital avatars, an AI turn photo into anime service seamlessly integrates with various personal projects. The ability to transform ordinary photos into engaging anime characters provides a novel way of storytelling or celebrating special moments. Moreover, many professionals use this technology for creative presentations or marketing campaigns aimed at younger audiences who are drawn to digital artwork and animation styles. Accessibility and Availability One of the attractive aspects of photo to anime AI technology is its accessibility. You don’t need expensive software subscriptions; there are several photo to anime ai free options available online. You can experiment with different tools without incurring hefty costs, which makes this technology particularly appealing for students and emerging artists. Additionally, these AI systems are designed with user-friendliness in mind, ensuring that even those without any professional editing skills can achieve high-quality results. This democratizes the process of creative expression, allowing more people to showcase their creativity in exciting and visually appealing ways. Artistic Flair with AI Photo to Anime Tools Turning everyday photos into anime masterpieces represents more than just a fun activity; it’s a fusion of technology and culture a bridge between reality and artistry. For manga lovers, this tool offers an innovative platform for celebrating fandom in new and personalized ways. As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, so too will its capabilities in artistic fields. The present and future potential of photo to anime AI technology demonstrate that it’s not just about converting images; it’s about creating vibrant, imaginative pieces of art that reflect both personal and cultural narratives. Enjoy exploring this fascinating blend of photo art and animation by letting AI take your cherished memories beyond traditional borders, where they become part of a dynamically animated world! Related Items: Anime Masterpieces , Photos Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Timeless Memories Refreshed: Techniques for Bringing Your Vintage Photos Back to Life How to Draw Realistic Textures from Your Favorite Photos Nikolay Karpenko biography, career growth, achievements, photos CommentsPM looks to ‘brighter future’ at Christmas and ‘wishes for peace in Middle East’
Wisconsin school shooting leaves 3 dead, 7 wounded
England facing tricky Women’s Euros test with France and the Netherlands among their group stage rivals along with WalesHappy Friday, folks! Welcome back to Layup Lines. Thanks so much for joining me today. I hope you've had an excellent week and have a great weekend ahead of you. Well, folks. We've done it. Or, actually, excuse me — done it. The NBA All-Star game has officially jumped the shark. It's not even the All-Star game anymore. It'll actually be the All-Star games. According , the NBA has decided to turn the game into a quick flash pickup game format. There will be a four-team tournament between the All-Stars with two semifinal games between teams and then a final game to win the All-Star "tournament," which seems to be what they're calling it. There are more details about the format, but if I'm being honest, I don't care. I don't like this. Everything about it feels forced. This doesn't feel right, you know? This isn't how the All-Star game is supposed to go. It's not what it's supposed to look like. The NBA All-Star game means something. Or, at least, it was supposed to. It's supposed to be a celebration of the game and its top talents. However, with the players barely trying, the game has become a shell of itself in recent years. We've had moments of greatness. But, more often than not, we're getting , half-hearted shot contests and half-court 3-point bombs. It's not fun anymore. It doesn't feel special. No matter how many solutions , it doesn't mean anything if the players aren't trying. That's how we ended up here. That's why the NBA has turned the league's biggest stage into a glorified pickup game. As much as I hate it, I can't blame the league for it. The players have pushed things this far. They know it's bad. The league's There's no real workaround — the players just have to play harder. But they won't. It's just not going to happen. There's too much money involved to risk injury and we've collectively devalued the regular season so much that it simply doesn't mean what it used to mean. It's a relic. A trophy. An accolade to simply throw on a resume. Here's my suggestion: Let's just treat it like that. The All-Stars selected should be All-Stars in name only. Stop playing the game. End the weekend. Just give the players a week off and see how that goes. The All-Star game is important. But if players can't be interested enough in the game to celebrate and compete, so be it. Let's not make them. Is that a boring solution? Extremely. But it's also far less embarrassing than trying to tweak a game repeatedly to continue getting the same result. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Maybe once the game is gone for a few years, it'll come back and a new generation of talent will be ready to make it mean something again. Until then, can we please stop messing around? Bryan Kalbrosky hit me up earlier this week to ask if I thought Franz Wagner was an All-NBA player so far this season. I kind of scoffed at the idea. Obviously, Franz is in incredible player. But is he one of the best 15 players in the league today? I found that kind of hard to believe. Then, he did this. Going toe-to-toe with LeBron James to put up a 37-point, 11-assist double-double hitting a game-winner on the road against the Lakers? Yeah, man. I don't know if he's a top 15 guy. But I'd be silly to say he's not at least in the conversation at this point. He's averaged 25.4 points per game since Paolo Banchero went down on Halloween. According to HoopsHype's global rating rankings, Wagner is the 10th best player in the world early on this season and the under 26 years old. Simply put, he's got the juice. So, yeah, Bryan. I think you're onto something here. — Guys, Kendrick Lamar dropped an album! Bryan There are lots of NBA joints in here. — It's hilarious how . Robert Zeglinski has more. — If you missed Prince Grimes' last Layup Lines column, he made — It's insane how good That's a wrap, folks. Thanks so much for reading. Have a fantastic weekend. Peace. -Sykes ✌️
Labour leader holds exploratory coalition talks with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael