Frank Ocean Debuts "Nikes" Video on Apple Music There are two different versions of Frank Ocean"s new album "Blonde".
The singer released his third album, which was originally called "Boys Don"t Cry", this morning (August 21).
A physical version of the record was sold at pop-up shops in London, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago with copies of Ocean"s Boys Don"t Cry magazine.
Fans noticed that the tracklisting for the physical version differs to that available to stream online. As The Fader notes, the physical version features two songs that are not included on the digital copy, "Mitsubishi Sony" and "Easy".
"Nikes", "Be Yourself", "Self Control", "Good Guy", "Solo (Reprise)", "Facebook Story" and "Close To You" are all exclusive to the online version.
The tracklistings for both versions are as follows:
Now You See Me 2013 | best Crime movies 2013 | Mystery movies 2013, new Thriller movies 2013
Lionsgate on Friday had its biggest opening day ever in China with Now You See Me 2, and is now looking at a record three-day. The sequel to the 2013 summer hit pulled $14.8M out of its hat yesterday in the Middle Kingdom a magical increase of 790% in local currency and 679% in U.S. dollars versus the first film. Through Saturday, the two-day total is $36.4M (240.4M rmb) sending the film to a potential $50M China weekend which would be Lionsgates biggest ever opening in the market. Its previous biggest bow was 2013s Escape Plan with $22.8M.
According to unofficial local estimates, Now You See Me 2 is No. 1 in China, topping Independence Day: Resurgence which looks to be at about $28M after today. From helmer Jon M Chu, NYSM2 stars Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Daniel Radcliffe and Lizzy Caplan.
In another sign of how important a local marketing partner in China can be, Now You See Me 2 which includes scenes shot on location in Macau isbenefiting from a strong campaign run by local Lionsgate partner Leomus Pictures. And, its got a secret weapon in Asian superstar singer-songwriter Jay Chou who also features in the film. He previously provided the theme song to Kung Fu Panda 3. The original NYSM nabbed a foreign cume $234m.
7-11 Bring Your Own Cup Day #DAGO Style ...They shouldnt have never did it lol
A perfect way to stay cool in the heat- bring your own cup to 7-Eleven.
Gabe Trujillo, KPNX 9:37 AM. MST August 19, 2016
An illustration of Two, 7-Eleven Slurpees on October 27, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo: TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Slurpee fans have an extra reason to be excited this weekend.
On Aug. 19 and 20 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., customers can fill up their own cups with their favorite Slurpee flavor for $1.50 during "Bring Your Own Cup Day."
But before you decide to grab your nearest bucket to fill up, there are a few ground rules. Any cup you bring to a participating location:
- Must be able to fit upright through a 10-inch hole.
- Needs to be safe for food.
- Should be water tight.
- Only one cup per person.
Those who decide to grab a Slurpee in their own cup are encouraged to share photos of their drinks using the hashtag "#BYOCUPDAY."
To find a participating 7-Eleven location near you, visit the Slurpee website.
Olympics: USA Women"s Basketball Returning To Gold Medal Game
With vicious screens and ample player movement, the Aussies nearly handed Team USA its first Olympic defeat since 2004.
As Australia carved up the vaunted USA mens basketball team with yet another backdoor cut, you could imagine the Serbian and French players feeling a little better about themselves.
Both of those teams entered this Olympic tournament as the top challengers to Team USA in Group A. Both of those teams left their games against Australia dizzy from the Boomers chaotic player movement and bruised from an avalanche of vicious Andrew Bogut screens.
Team USA understands their pain. Though the Americans escaped with a 10-point victory, they werent any more successful at slowing the Boomers equal-opportunity system. Only clutch shot making from Carmelo Anthony and Kyrie Irving saved the U.S. from its first international defeat in a decade.
Even in victory, Team USAs performance should make Mike Krzyzewskis blood boil because it fits the rough outline of inattention that caused the programs lowest moments a decade ago. But as France and Serbia can attest, its really difficult to stop Australias offensive system in a FIBA game. Theres a reason Team USA had a lot of trouble doing it, and it goes beyond taking the Boomers lightly.
There are rough parallels between this Australia offense and the spread pick-and-roll attacks of "04 Argentina and "06 Greece that flummoxed Team USA. All three teams moved the ball beautifully and caught Team USAs perimeter defenders napping at critical points.
But as the NBA slowly adopted the style that defined top international teams of the past, their competitive advantages faded. Top American teams could spread the floor and play with pace in half-court situations, except with far better players. It wasnt enough to simply spread them out anymore and use speed to confuse them.
Australias approach adds an important layer on top of the old formula. Aided by FIBAs more physical style, Andrej Lemanis, the teams resourceful coach, has built an offensive system that takes advantage of his rosters two biggest strengths: the off-ball speed of Patty Mills and the bone-crushing screens of big man Andrew Bogut. Together, Mills and Bogut form the bedrock of a system that combines speedy guards, multiple playmakers and big men that operate in the high post while flocking to anyone in the vicinity that can be picked off.
Boguts screen setting is the key to unlocking Australias potential. He has always been one of the NBAs best at getting teammates open, but as hes aged, the speed of the NBA game and his inability to score has chipped away at that skill. Increasingly, hes been unable to move himself into proper position, choosing instead to compensate with tactics that may or may not be legal. If not for his reputation, he would have been called for far more offensive fouls.
Despite a knee injury that recently ended his NBA Finals, he looks revived in Rio. Because the three-point line is shorter, FIBA teams run their offenses within a smaller surface area, which allows Bogut to get into proper screening position on the move more effectively. That allows Lemanis to layer cascading off-ball movement on top of crushing Bogut screens that get players open.
In a sense, this style actually resembles what the Warriors did with Bogut at center. Mills isnt Stephen Curry of course, but hes supremely quick for a FIBA guard and is very dangerous shooting off screens. Joe Ingles and Matthew Dellavedova dont come close to resembling Draymond Green or Andre Iguodala, but they can each handle the ball as Mills swerves around Bogut. And while Australia certainly cant bomb threes like the Splash Brothers, it generates enough confusion through movement to allow Bogut to slide in and give Mills or anyone else the separation they need to shoot or drive.
Bogut is more than just a screen setter. He remains a beautiful passer, which helps him slip passes in tight spaces to make up for the spacing crunch that comes from starting two centers.
And while Boguts scoring ability completely fell off the map in the NBA over the past few years, his lefty hooks and little runners have returned in Rio. Whenever Team USA left him, he made them pay.
Its overstating it to expect Bogut to carry this level of production over to Dallas next year. FIBA play is contested in tighter quarters, which masks Boguts lack of foot speed and puts him closer to more bodies to bounce straight into his large chest -- or anywhere else on his body, really. FIBA referees are more judicious with screening contact, so Bogut gets away with some of the more underhanded tactics that might be called in the NBA.
In Rio, though, his presence is essential in getting other Boomers open. Bogut is great at down screens, ball screens, back screens and any other sort of screen Australia needs. That skill, combined with Australias many playmakers in Mills, Dellavedova and Ingles, allows Lemanis to set up an offense that tosses in a decoy action on one side while simultaneously running a second option on the other. Defenses arent ready for Boguts screens and cant recover once they make their impact.
As Wednesdays game went along, Team USA tried switching all of these actions, much like the Cavaliers switched away to stifle the Warriors offense in the NBA Finals. In theory, this is a fine solution to the style Australia plays. But such an approach requires a level of defensive coordination thats tough for any national team to achieve with so little practice time. Bogut has made a living slipping to the basket against FIBA teams that mistime their off-ball switches.
All this makes Australias offense a riddle that even a dominant Team USA cannot fully solve. In a short international tournament like the Olympics, its hard to see anyone that can execute the air-tight scheme needed to hold the Boomers scoring down. If Team USA faces Australia again in the gold medal game, they may have to accept that Australia will score against them and hope its own offense is even better. Better preparation should help, but Australia forces opponents to make so many decisions that its hard for opponents keep track of all the items on the scouting report in real time. And as soon as opponents get a handle on whats actually happening on the floor, theyre slammed out of the play by a Bogut lead block.
In an international world where traditional powers like France and Spain are on the downswing, Australias Bogut-heavy system has allowed them to fill the power vacuum next to Team USA. The Boomers shouldnt relinquish that spot, not with young stars like Ben Simmons, Thon Maker and Dante Exum on the way. Wednesday should only be the first close battle in a budding international rivalry.
But that way-way-way-closer-than-expected game against Team USA was also a warning shot to the other teams in this tournament. Australia has the goods on an offensive system that can get them a medal right now. And if the U.S. isnt careful in a potential rematch, maybe theres a tiny chance that medal will be a different color than anyone could have possibly expected.
Johnny Depp & Amber Heard: The Explosive Fight (TMZ Live)
Amber Heard has donated her entire $7 million divorce settlement from Johnny Depp to two charities.
$3.5 million will be given to the ACLU, to prevent violence against women, and the other half will go the Children"s Hospital of Los Angeles, where Heard has volunteered for the past 10 years.
d**n.
The actress maintained her stance that the divorce and allegations of emotional and physical abuse at the hands of Depp had zero to do with financial gain--a rumor unfairly perpetuated by the media/internet trolls.
Heard says she hopes the donation will "help those less able to defend themselves."
Tirico explains the U.S." successful appeal in 4x100 relay USA Track and Field has officially filed an appeal after the men"s 4x100-meter relay team was disqualified from Friday night"s final at the Rio Olympics.
The U.S. finished the race third but was disqualified because leadoff runner Mike Rodgers was ruled to have passed the baton to Justin Gatlin outside the first exchange zone of the relay, won by Usain Bolt and Jamaica. The DQ elevated Canada to the bronze.
Video replays show a clean handoff from Rodgers to Gatlin, but are less clear about whether Gatlin had taken possession of the stick before Rodgers got it inside the start of the 20-meter passing zone.
Rule 170.07 in the track and field handbook reads: "The baton shall be passed within the takeover zone. The passing of the baton commences when it is first touched by the receiving athlete and is completed the moment it is in the hand of only the receiving athlete. In relation to the takeover zone, it is only the position of the baton which is decisive. Passing of the baton outside the takeover zone shall result in disqualification."
Hours earlier, down on the track, the runners huddled around a TV monitor and nodded their heads when they saw the replay.
"It was the twilight zone. It was a nightmare," said Gatlin, who along with his teammates found out about the DQ while parading the U.S. flag around the track. "You work so hard with your teammates, guys you compete against almost all year long. All that hard work just crumbles."
Gay, who ran the third leg for the Americans, called it bad luck.
"It"s always something weird, stupid, simple mistakes that always cost us, and I don"t understand," he said. "We had great sticks in practice, great everything, and something so simple -- I can"t say anything but bad luck."
If the ruling stands, it will mark the ninth time since 1995 the U.S. men have been disqualified or failed to get the baton around at Olympics or world championships.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(Copyright 2016 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.)
By Associated Press |
Aug. 19, 2016,
3:32 p.m. (ET)
Aaron Russell celebrates a point over Italy in the men"s volleyball semifinal match at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracanazinho on Aug. 19, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
RIO DE JANEIRO -- The Italians have ended the gold-medal aspirations for the U.S. men"s volleyball team in a second straight Olympics.
Italy won 30-28, 26-28, 9-25, 25-22, 15-9. The Italians closed it out and players fell to the floor in joy, piling on each other.
David Lee brought his American teammates into a huddle and embrace, then Matt Anderson and Taylor Sander clapped to the crowd in appreciation as the U.S. players waited at the net to shake hands after this memorable one.
In the fifth, Osmany Juantorena served an ace for 12-8 and Aaron Russell let a ball drop in for 13-9 as Max Holt covered his face with his uniform shirt.
After an embarrassing fourth set flop, Italy forced a deciding fifth set by closing out the fourth on a 6-0 run -- getting three straight aces by Ivan Zaytsev, including the second-to-last point that was initially called long but overturned on review for set point.
The Italians will face either defending champion Russia or host Brazil in Sunday afternoon"s championship, to be determined from the late Friday semifinal. The Americans will play for bronze, just like the top-ranked U.S. women after their stunning five-set defeat to Serbia a day earlier.
Download the Team USAapptoday for breaking news, 2016 U.S. Olympic Team bios, videos and more.
CHICAGO (CBS) Bring your pitchers, hollow fruit, trick-or-treat jackolanterns, and fishbowls because Slurpee is turning 50.
For the second time this year, 7-Eleven is hosting its Slurpee Bring Your Own Cup day to honor the Slurpees 50th birthday.
Customers can fill their own cup for $1.50, plus tax, on Aug. 19 and 20 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
7-Eleven warns of some rules:-The cup must fit upright through a 10 hole-The cup must be food safe and clean-The cup must be water tight-One cup per person
Slurpee encourages guests to share their cups and creations by using the hashtag #BYOCUPDAY.
Tyson Gay takes down Usain Bolt - Universal Sports
Martin Rogers, USA TODAY Sports , KING 10:43 PM. EDT August 19, 2016
Lilly King celebrates next to Russia"s Yulia Efimova after winning the women"s 100m breaststroke final.(Photo: Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports)
RIO DE JANEIRO - Swimming star Lilly King took her crusade against doping to a new level following her victory in the 100-meter breaststroke final, by insisting that American athletes previously banned for drug offenses should have been kicked off the United States team.
King relegated Russia"s Yulia Efimova, a confirmed drug cheat who was controversially reinstated into the Olympic program just hours before competition started last week, to the silver medal after a long war of words regarding whether her rival should have been allowed to swim.
When asked if U.S. athletes who have fallen foul of the drug testers, such as sprinters Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay, deserved to be in Rio, King, 19, pulled no punches.
"I have to respect (the track authorities") decision even if it is something I don"t necessarily agree with," King said. "No, do I think people who have been caught doping should be on the team? They shouldn"t. It is unfortunate we have to see that.
"It is just something that needs to be set in stone that this is what we are going to do. Let"s settle this and be done with it. There should not be any bouncing back and forwards."
Gatlin and Gay along with their fellow U.S. teammates were disqualifiedin the men"s 4x100 relay on Friday. The team says they will challenge the ruling.
FORMER NFL STAR DARREN SHARPER SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON FOR RAPING WOMEN NEW ORLEANS -- Former NFL star Darren Sharper has been sentenced to 18 years in prison in a case where he was accused of drugging and raping as many as 16 women in four states.
Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced Sharper on Thursday. He had pleaded guilty or no-contest to charges arising from the allegations of drugging and raping women in federal court in New Orleans, and state courts in Louisiana, Arizona, California and Nevada.
Prosecutors suggested a nine-year prison term for Sharper under a multijurisdictional plea deal, but Milazzo rejected it as too lenient in June. The sentence was 15 months short of the maximum. He was also fined $20,000.
Sharper pleaded guilty in federal court to three counts of distributing drugs with rape as the aim. He or his friend Brandon Licciardi, a former sheriff"s deputy in neighboring St. Bernard Parish, put anti-anxiety drugs or sedatives into women"s drinks so they could rape them, according to a 15-page statement signed as part of that plea.
Milazzo has scheduled sentencing Oct. 13 for Licciardi and a second New Orleans codefendant, Erik Nunez.
Charges around the country involve nine victims, but Milazzo has said in court that there may be as many as 16.
Like Sharper, Licciardi and Nunez admitted distributing drugs with the intent to commit rape. Their plea agreements say Licciardi has accepted a 17-year sentence, with 10 years for Nunez.
Sharper was named All-Pro six times and chosen for the Pro Bowl five times during a career that included stints with the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. He played in two Super Bowls, one with the Packers as a rookie and one with New Orleans Saints when they won in 2010.
He ended a 14-year career in 2011. He was working as a television analyst when women began telling police in several cities similar stories of blacking out while drinking with him and waking up groggy to find they had been sexually abused.
(Copyright 2016 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.)
This week at the multiplex, weve got a kid with magic powers (Kubo and the Two Strings, with voice performances by Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey), rogue arms dealers (War Dogs, starring Jonah Hill and Miles Teller), and a fallen prince (Ben-Hur, starring Jack Huston and Morgan Freeman). Find out what the critics have to say on Rotten Tomatoes.
Ben-Hur
Ben-Hur the 1880 Lew Wallace novel that was turned into a classic 1925 silent film and whose 1959 adaptation was a Best Picture-winning smash that still ranks among the more widely acclaimed movies of all time gets yet another big-screen take. Needless to say, Timur Bekmambetovs new version of the biblically inspired tale has some pretty big shoes to fill, and as far as most critics are concerned, its nowhere near up to snuff: reviews point to an earnest would-be epic whose heart might be in the right place, but whose reach almost completely exceeds its grasp. While the climactic chase scene benefits from modern technology, fans of the 1925 and 1959 versions will find this one suffers mightily in comparison. Ben-Hur is is currently at 30 percent on the Tomatometer; here are some of the reviews:
Rotten: It needed a star like the Russell Crowe of Gladiator to provide dramatic heft. What is Ben-Hur without a platform of moral grandeur? Not much. Stephen Holden, New York Times
Rotten: Ben-Hur is far from the worst movie of the year. It probably wont even be the worst movie of the month. Its just one of the least necessary. Christopher Lawrence, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Rotten: A film that fails to deliver pretty much all the way down the line. Lou Lumenick, New York Post
Fresh: Give me Bekmambetovs Ben-Hur with its pulsating battles and chariot races, its proclamation that mercy and sacrifice are more revolutionary than anything you can cook up with swords or chariots over any of this summers exhausting superhero movies. Alissa Wilkinson, Christianity Today
War Dogs
Jonah Hill and Miles Teller as a couple of freewheeling young bros selling arms in a ripped-from-the-headlines comedy directed by Hangover vet Todd Phillips? It might sound like a recipe for an R-rated gonzo funnybone tickler, but according to critics, while War Dogs definitely has its share of laughs, its actually a somewhat sobering look at the real-life dirty deeds of some of the worlds more unscrupulous individuals. In fact, thats one of the movies biggest problems: while the reviews describe an entertaining enough effort, they also express general disappointment at its unwillingness or inability to take a nasty bite out of a story that truly deserves it. War Dogs is currently at 57 percent on the Tomatometer; heres what some of the critics are saying:
Fresh: Phillips leans heavily into the absurdist humor of how the Pentagon could have been conned especially by a pair of bros whose previous claim to fame was getting busted buying pot as Yeshiva middle schoolers. Ethan Sacks, New York Daily News
Fresh: Theres a limit to how much patience one has for spending time with terrible people living large. But for all the lackluster familiarity of the films style, the story is too interesting, too baffling to deny. Barbara VanDenburgh, Arizona Republic
Rotten: Despite all the Martifications and Scorsese-ing, were left with virtually nothing, except the feeling that a pretty good anecdote has been inflated into a bubble-headed American Dream morality tale. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
Rotten: Even if youre not aware of this real-life story, youll recognize the well-worn narrative of dudes who hustle their way to the top only to see it all fall apart in spectacular fashion. Mara Reinstein, Us Weekly
Kubo and the Two Strings
Theyve yet to release a blockbuster on par with one of the bigger animation houses, but the folks at Laika have built an impressive reputation over the last several years a span thats seen the studio release a trio of critically acclaimed feature-length efforts with Coraline, ParaNorman, and The Boxtrolls. Their fourth film, Kubo and the Two Strings, looks like itll extend that distinguished streak; as with earlier Laika productions, reviews describe a viewing experience thats as visually thrilling as it is narratively satisfying. An action epic set in feudal Japan, Kubo stars Game of Thrones vet Art Parkinson as the titular hero, whos forced to embark on a quest to save his loved ones after inadvertently summoning an evil spirit whose arrival may hold the key to unlocking painful secrets from his familys past. Kubo and the Two Strings is Certified Fresh at 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer; check out some of the reviews here:
Fresh: The first and last things to be said in this limited space about Kubo and the Two Strings are that its a showcase for some of the most startlingly beautiful animation in recent and not so recent memory. Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
Fresh: Its a classic heros journey full of action and adventure, but its also an intimate fable about love and loss, magic and memory. Christy Lemire, RogerEbert.com
Fresh: From its captivating narration and first stormy scene, Kubo and the Two Strings lures the audience into its vivid storytelling and exquisite execution of stop-motion animation. Maricar Estrella, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Rotten: Kubo and the Two Strings is a visually dazzling film set in an ancient, magical Japan. And now, the bad news. As a narrative, Kubo and the Two Strings is nearly incomprehensible. Rafer Guzman, Newsday
For more movie reviews, trailers, and pictures, check out Rottentomatoes.com.
2015 Open Wrestling Championships - 58KG Women - Helen Maroulis vs Kelsey Campbell
RIO DE JANEIRO Kerron Clement was so certain of a gold medal that in January he pushed aside his other track medals and cleared out an empty space in the trophy cabinet in his Gainesville, Florida, townhouse. For a place-holder, he put pen to paper and wrote: Gold medal, 2016.
Clement was so certain that when he was packing for Rio de Janeiro, he made sure his mother, Claudette, included the familys American flag. He figured he would need something to parade around the Olympic stadium track after winning the mens 400-meter hurdles race.
Clement was so certain that even when a young runner from Kenya looked as if he would catch Clement late in Thursdays race and s****h away the gold, the American hurdler didnt worry a bit.
I knew I was going to get that gold medal, and I was sticking to that plan, Clement said. Nothing and no one was going to stop me from achieving that.
Story continues below advertisement.
Wielding a lethal combination of confidence and speed, Clement will leave here with something to fill the empty space in that cabinet back home. Just as he planned, the 30-year-old hurdler won gold at these Rio Olympics, posting a time of 47.73, just 0.05 seconds ahead of Kenyas Boniface Mucheru Tumuti.
The mens 400-meter hurdles has been one of the United States strongest track and field events, with Americans having won seven of the past nine Olympic titles. On Thursday, though, Clement nearly lost the race at the finish line. With about 50 meters to go, he could feel his legs burning, and he could see Tumuti gaining ground. Clement thought he might have to dive across the finish line, he said, but I dug down deeper.
I was sprinting for my life, he said.
It was the race he had been imagining for years. Clement was born in Trinidad, but his family moved to the United States when he was in high school. He became a track star at the University of Florida, eventually winning silver in the event at the 2008 Olympics and gold at two world championships.
But four years ago, Clement finished last in the finals at the London Games. Along the way, he has dealt with a variety of injuries and surgeries, from groin to a hernia, and after the 2013 world championships, Clement realized he needed to step away from the track to allow both mind and body to rest.
I just needed a break mentally, he said. I was done.
Clement didnt completely abandon his training, but he took the 2014 season off from competition.
By the time he started eyeing the 2015 track and field calendar, he could feel the itch. The break had energized him, but when Clement returned to the track full time, he realized something had been missing.
When I came back, I found a new love for the hurdles, he said. I was like, Oh my G*d, I missed the hurdles. Just hitting the refocus button, loving it again, having a new mindset and new goals for the second chapter of my career, which is now.
At last years world championships, he finished in fourth place, just a hundredth of a second away from the podium, but he felt he entered the 2016 season with momentum at his back. He had at least one other thing on his side: determination.
I came out here with one mindset, to get a gold medal, and nothing was going to stop me, he said. Im a Scorpio. Once I set my mind to something, Im going to get it regardless.
US wrestler Maroulis wins womens gold
Add Helen Maroulis to the list of history-makers at the Rio Olympics.
The 24-year-old from Rockville, Maryland, upset the woman widely considered to be the greatest female wrestler of all time Thursday to take a gold medal in womens freestyle in the 53kg weight class.
Maroulis, a first-time Olympian who cut weight to compete in Rio, took down three-time defending gold medalist Saori Yoshida of Japan, 4-1.
Maroulis win adds to a recent tear that includes her first-ever world title at the 2015 world championships; she holds the longest winning streak of all American wrestlers.
The weight of the moment made for an emotional medal ceremony, with both wrestlers crying on their respective podiums. Maroulis mouthed The Star-Spangled Banner with tears running down her face while Yoshida seemed inconsolable, heaving sobs as she mourned her 14-year streak of winning either a world or Olympic title.
The Japanese legend had not lost a match since before the 2012 London Games.
FORMER NFL STAR DARREN SHARPER SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON FOR RAPING WOMEN
NEW ORLEANS -- Former NFL star Darren Sharper has been sentenced to 18 years and four months in prison in a case where he was accused of drugging and raping as many as 16 women in four states.
U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced Sharper on Thursday, telling him she couldn"t understand how he did what he did, since he was college educated and obviously had grown up "in one of the most loving households."
"We can never ignore the damage you inflicted on those women and society at large," she said.
Sharper had pleaded guilty in federal court in New Orleans to drugging three women so he could rape them. He also has pleaded guilty or no contest in state courts in Louisiana, Arizona, California and Nevada to charges arising from allegations of drugging and raping women.
"I would like to apologize a thousand times," Sharper said. He looked at the floor as he said, "I"m still trying to figure out why I made some of these choices. ... I lived my life right for 38 years, then I took this path."
His voice thickened and broke as he said his parents hadn"t raised him to take such actions.
Defense attorney Billy Gibbens asked leniency because Sharper"s testimony helped get "late" guilty pleas from two codefendants who will be sentenced in October.
Sharper will be sentenced next Thursday in Louisiana state court, Gibbens said outside court. He said he believes Sharper will be sentenced next month in Las Vegas, and couldn"t recall the Los Angeles sentencing date. (See full story.)
Giants: Brown confirms domestic violence chargeEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants kicker Josh Brown has confirmed that an arrest on a domestic violence charge in May 2015 led to his one-game suspension by the NFL for violating the league"s personal conduct policy.
Speaking after practice on Thursday, the 37-year-old Brown said the woman whose wrist he grabbed in Woodinville, Wash. during a disagreement was his wife. He said the couple has since divorced.
Brown said the case was dismissed by the King County Prosecutor"s office five days after his arrest for fourth-degree domestic violence.
A spokesman for the prosecutor said in an email to The Associated Press that no charge was filed because of insufficient evidence.
Brown said he informed the Giants immediately after his arrest, and the team informed the league.
He was notified of his suspension in June. He appealed the decision and it was rejected. The league announced the suspension Wednesday.
Broncos: Siemian competing with SanchezENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Trevor Siemian, locked in a tight battle with Mark Sanchez for the Broncos" starting quarterback job, will get his turn to start on Saturday night, when Denver plays a preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Sanchez, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia as a potential replacement for the retired Peyton Manning, started last week"s game.
Rookie first-round pick Paxton Lynch also is in the mix, though the bulk of his work has been with the third team.
Siemian and Sanchez have split repetitions with the Broncos first-team offense throughout training camp and with the two waging a close competition for the job, coach Gary Kubiak decided Siemian should also get a crack at starting.
Kubiak said he would like to make a decision on a starter next week but did not rule out taking more time to finalize his pick.
49ers:Kaepernick resumes throwingENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Colin Kaepernick threw dozens of passes on the side during the 49ers" joint practice Thursday with the Denver Broncos, signaling the quarterback"s return from a sore passing shoulder.
The throws were the first on the practice field in a week for Kaepernick, whose competition with Blaine Gabbert for the starting job had to be put on hold after tightness in his right shoulder forced him to rest his throwing arm.
Kaepernick also took part in individual quarterback drills and conditioning. However, coach Chip Kelly said Kaepernick would be eased back into full participation in practices and ruled him out for Saturday night"s exhibition game against the Broncos.
Panthers: OT Willie Smith signsCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Panthers signed 29-year-old offensive tackle Willie Smith to help bolster their depth on the offensive line.
The move comes after backup tackles Daryl Williams and David Foucault have struggled in training camp and the preseason. Michael Oher and Mike Remmers are expected to be Carolina"s starting offensive tackles again this season.
The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Smith didn"t play in the NFL last season, but saw action in 15 games in 2014 with the San Diego Chargers. Smith, who played at East Carolina, has started 11 games and played in 19 since breaking into the league with the Washington Redskins in 2011.
Carolina waived injured fullback Devon Johnson to make room for Smith on the roster.
A look atMartha and Bela Karolyi"sremarkable story that traces generations of gymnastics"most memorable tales, moments and champions
From Nadia ComaneciandMary Lou Retton to the Magnificent Seven,Fierce Five and Final Five, Martha and Bela Karolyi have played an immense role in the last 40 years of gymnastics and Olympic history.
With Martha preparing to retire after the Rio Olympics, NBC Sports Films looked at their early yearsin Romania, defection to the U.S. and building of an American dynasty. Narrated by John Benajmin Hickey, the full 51-minute KAROLYI documentary is available to watch now.
Belacoached Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton to Olympic all-around gold medals, while Marthaworked quietly behind the scenes. In 1996, Martha was named head coach of the U.S. women"sgymnastics team for the Atlanta Olympics, and in 2001 began her 15-year reign on the national team coordinator.
At Martha"slast Olympics before retiring, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, Madison Kocian and Laurie Hernandez nicknamed themselves the "Final Five" in honor of the woman who propelledthem to Olympic gold.
Watch the full documentary here:
Before the 2016 U.S. Olympic team was selected, NBC Sports Films produced a documentary on "The Ranch," a look inside the Texas training center run by Martha and built by hand by Bela. Watch here:
"Im really not a sentimental person, honestly,"the legendary coachsaid. "Whats happening to me?"
How Comfortable is the adidas NMD boost? (Review + On Feet)
Detailed images of the new adidas NMD XR1 Triple White are featured, as this pristine pair is set to make its official debut tomorrow.
Comprised of breathable primeknit across its upper, the component is reinforced with a matching cage overlay across its side panels for superb lockdown support. A distinctive heel badge with Japanese branded pull tabs further detail its clean design, as the model is topped off with a tonal white boost sole unit with the recognizable NMD plug inserts.
You can find this immaculate pair at select adidas retailers worldwide starting Thursday, August 18th.
Images: atmos
Authors Take
Since its introduction, Ive been a fan of the model. This colorway is timeless and stylish, so you cant go wrong with a pair.
Donald Trump Confronted By Mexican Man ‘Did You Read the Statue of Liberty?’
Welcome to The Lid, your afternoon dose of the 2016 ethosStatues of a n***d Donald Trump popped up in a handful of U.S. cities on Thursday in what was just the latest example of something we hope never happens again after this election.
Get The Lid straight to your inbox each afternoon -- click here to sign up.
"16 from 30,000:
Here"s some good news for Republicans: Ticket splitting ain"t dead yet. Despite the increasingly polarized electorate, some Americans are still making voting decisions based on candidates and not simply casting ballots going by party affiliation, our colleague Dante Chinni writes. Chinni notes that in 2012, six states selected presidential and Senate candidates from different parties: Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota and West Virginia.
So why is this particularly helpful to Republicans? Well, the polls (Most of them. All of them?) have Donald Trump down in key states where GOP incumbent senators are facing tough re-election campaigns pivotal to Republicans maintaining control of the upper chamber. The most important races are shaping to be New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania -- each states where Hillary Clinton is currently leading. And the biggest issue each of the Republican senators are facing is how to navigate questions about their potential support for Trump. The fact split-ticket voters still exist is encouraging for the GOP, who will need support from voters who don"t back Trump if they want to win. And one thing to watch for, especially if Trump is unable to turn things around, will be Democrats ratcheting up their attempts to tie vulnerable Republicans to all things Trump. But because Trump is such a unique political figure, there is a chance some voters don"t even associate him with Republicans. For some, Trump is just Trump.
Programming Note: No Lid tomorrow. See ya back on Monday.
POPPING ON NBC POLITICS
FOR THE RECORD
"NYC Parks stands firmly against any unpermitted erection in city parks, no matter how small."
-- New York City Parks Department response a n**e Donald Trump statue placed in Union Square on Thursday.
Emma Coburn wins 3000m steeplechase final, clinches Rio bid
You"re probably not familiar with the steeplechase, but it"s an incredibly difficult event.
It involves running and jumping -- repeatedly and over long distances. Because of this, there are occasionally nasty falls or missed obstacles.
One such fall happened on Wednesday, when Uganda"s Jacob Araptany tripped and slammed his head into the barrier that the runners are supposed to jump over.
Araptany was OK after the scary fall, but was forced to withdraw from the race. Kenya"s Conseslus Kirupto wound up taking the gold, while American Evan Jager won silver. Another Kenyan, Ezekiel Kemboi finished with the bronze.
U.S." Coburn makes history with 3000m steeplechase bronze
In May, Glastonbury High graduate Donn Cabral shared a high school track in Glen Gardner, N.J., with a group of students making up a missed gym class.
Cabral, one of the all-time best American steeplechasers, was getting in an early afternoon workout and politely asked to use Lane 1.
His company will be a little different Wednesday in Brazil.
After four years spent training and preparing in relative obscurity, Cabral, who graduated from Glastonbury in 2008, will run in the Olympic 3,000-meter steeplechase final in Rio de Janeiro.
The final starts at about 10:55 a.m. at Olympic Stadium, where temperatures are expected to be in the 80s.
Cabral, 26, is trying to become the first American in 32 years to medal in the event, which includes running, hurdling and jumping over a water pit on the track. Brian Diemer won the bronze in 1984 in Los Angeles.
It is the second straight Olympic final for Cabral.
In 2012, he ran well, leading for portions of the race, but finished eighth with a time of 8:25.91.
On Monday, Cabral ran 8:21.96, the third-fastest time of qualifying rounds. He was the third automatic qualifier in the third and final heat, which was the fastest run.
All eyes will once again be on the Kenyans in the final. Kenya has won the last eight gold medals in the event and 10 of the last 12. In the qualifying rounds, Kenya"s Conseslus Kipruto had the fastest qualifying time of 8:21.40.
Ezekiel Kemboi, who won the gold medal in 2012 and 2004, qualified with the eighth-fastest time of 8:25.51.
Sport Illustrated predicted a sweep of the event by the Kenyans with Conseslus Kipruto winning gold, Kemboi taking silver and Brimin Kiprop Kipruto getting bronze. At the World Championships in Beijing last August, Kenya swept the medals with Kemboi going first and Conseslus Kipruto taking second. But the Americans enter the meet with their own piece of steeplechase history. It is the first time three Americans have advanced to the final in 80 years.
Hillary Bor and Evan Jager both made the final, each winning a heat Monday. Jager is considered a medal contender after finishing sixth at the World Championships last year. Bor ran 8:25.01 and Jager ran 8:25.86. Bor"s time was the sixth fastest and Jager"s was ninth in qualifying.
Mahiedine Mekhissi, who won the silver medal in 2012, will also be back after finishing 12th in qualifying in 8:26.32.
But Cabral enters the final with his own motivation and momentum.
He is coming off two of his best performances of the season.
After running 8:26.37 and finishing third in the final at the U.S. Olympic trials, Cabral returned to Eugene, Ore., about three weeks later and ran 8:20.72 to win the steeplechase at the Track Town summer series.
Cabral will be pulling on his experience from London in 2012.
In the final four years ago, Cabral mixed it up with the best, getting to the front of the pack early in the race. But on the closing lap, he wasn"t able to close the gap on the leaders. He enters Wednesday"s final more experienced and also healthy, coming off several weeks of training in Flagstaff, Ariz., where he ran at altitude.
Fightful.com Podcast (8/18): Vince Russo On Summerslam, UFC 202 Predictions.
What started as yet another odd news conference involving Conor McGregor ended in complete chaos Wednesday at the MGM Grand.
McGregor arrived more than 15 minutes late, after UFC president Dana White began the news conference without the typically tardy Irish superstar, who will fight Nate Diaz in a rematch at UFC 202 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. Once McGregor finally took his place on the dais, the situation quickly deteriorated.
Diaz, who appeared to be acting on the directions of his older brother and UFC star Nick Diaz, rose from his seat and walked off the stage in the David Copperfield Theater in the middle of McGregors response to a question just minutes after his arrival.
As Nate Diaz led his entourage toward the exit, he and some of his teammates held up their middle fingers and hurled expletives and threats at McGregor and his entourage, with McGregor firing back from the stage.
You will do (expletive) nothing, McGregor uttered several times. Get the (expletive) out of here.
Soon, more than words were flying through the air.
Water bottles were thrown in the direction of a group of McGregors friends and training partners, several of which were tossed directly back.
From the stage, McGregor grabbed an unopened can of an energy drink and lobbed it toward Diaz and his crew, which included UFC lightweight contender Gilbert Melendez and former UFC fighter Jake Shields.
UFC officials stopped McGregor from leaving the stage to physically confront Diaz, and hotel security and uniformed police officers kept the entourages separated.
An agitated White, who could be heard onstage instructing McGregor not to throw the can, quickly called an end to the news conference.
Sorry, guys. See you Saturday, said White, referring to the rematch between McGregor and Diaz, which will be contested at welterweight and tops a pay-per-view card that begins at 7 p.m.
Nobody appeared injured in the fracas, though several people were struck with projectiles, including rolls of tape.
Early on, it appeared the story of the day would be Whites decision to begin the news conference without the enigmatic headliner.
McGregor regularly shows up late for scheduled appearances, and his rematch against Diaz was removed from the UFC 200 card when McGregor decided not to fly to Las Vegas for a news conference, triggering a public spat between the featherweight champion and the organization.
He has to start respecting peoples time, man, White said of starting without McGregor. Yours, mine, (the other fighters), David Copperfields. Everybody.
Light heavyweights Anthony Johnson and Glover Teixeira, who will meet Saturday for the top contender spot, smiled through much of the drama onstage before they were whisked away by White.
It was not the first time there has been drama between the camps. Before the first meeting in March, a tense news conference in Los Angeles almost bubbled over into a physical altercation. During a staredown two days before the bout, McGregor took a swipe at Diazs hand and the two had to be separated.
Diazs camp also has a history of issues outside of competition, most notably a brawl on a 2010 Strikeforce card on CBS that was triggered when Jason Mayhem Miller entered the cage to challenge Shields to a fight and was violently beaten down by a group that included Nick and Nate Diaz.
The Diaz brothers also were involved in a skirmish with UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov last year while attending a World Series of Fighting event at Planet Hollywood.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow @adamhilllvrj on Twitter.
John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio: SmackDown Live, Aug. 16, 2016 (Photo: WWE)
WWEhas announced the 30-day suspension of Alberto Del Rio (real name: Jose Rodriguez). This is his first Wellness Policy violation of his second stint with the company that started back in October of last year where he was a surprise opponent for John Cena"s United States Championship. The suspension begins tomorrow August 18th.
This isn"t the first time the superstar has engaged in some sort of controversy. Upon his first release from the company back in 2014 when he got into a physical fight with a front desk employee after he made a racist joke at Del Rio"sexpense.
His second run with the company hasn"t been as lucrative as his first even though capturing the United States Championship twice and becoming a member of the League of Nations, he isn"t in the world title picture at all.
With the suspension starting within the week, Del Rio will miss SummerSlamdespite not being booked beforehand, there"s always the case of a surprise appearance to receive some sort of pay day, but that"s off the table now.
He wins gold medal for cuteness! 100m hurdler Nia Ali"s son steals the show in Rio
RIO DE JANEIRO - Brianna Rollins, Philadelphia"s Nia Ali, and Kristi Castlin finished 1-2-3 in the 100-meter hurdles Wednesday night in the Rio Games to give the United States its first sweep in the event and only its seventh in the history of Olympic track.
It was a not-all-unexpected result, though this might be an eye-opener: Both 2008 champion Dawn Harper-Nelson and the current world-record holder, Keni Harrison, were back home watching on TV after failing to crack the top three at the Olympic trials.
Rollins won the event in 12.48 seconds. Ali finished at second in 12.59, and Castlin in 12.61.
Ali, a former West Catholic and Pleasantville High athlete who won an NCAA championship at Southern California, clocked at 12.76 in her semifinal heat on Tuesday.
In a recent interview, Rollins, one of seven siblings, said her family didn"t have much money when she was growing up, so they spent a lot of time playing outside.
"We were not fortunate enough to have all the electronics and toys," she said. "I hung out with my cousins and brothers. We"d climb trees, play basketball and football, and challenge each other to races."
She wound up getting a scholarship to Clemson, where in 2013 she won the NCAA indoor and outdoor titles. It was during that summer that she won the world title, ahead of Australia"s Pearson and Great Britain"s Tiffany Porter. She was, at age 21, the youngest woman ever to win that world title.
Elsewhere in track and field on Wednesday, Usain Bolt easily advanced to the 200-meter final. Kenya won yet another steeplechase gold medal, and Ashton Eaton was leading in the decathlon.
As usual, Bolt blasted away opposition in the semifinals of his favorite event, where he is seeking a third a third Olympic gold medal in a row to match his three 100 titles. This time, he will not have to deal with Justin Gatlin, so often his main challenger. The 100 silver medalist finished third in his heat and is out of the hunt.
In a game of cat and mouse, Bolt let Andre De Grasse remain on his shoulder right up to the line. But as they were laughing at each other, Bolt pushed his chest just across the line for 19.78 while De Grasse set a Canadian record of 19.80.
With temperatures reaching 97 degrees on the sun-baked track, Kenya organized a very orderly changing of the guard, with 21-year-old Conseslus Kipruto running away from two-time Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi to set a games record and extend the country"s streak to nine straight titles in the 3,000-meter event.
Kipruto started celebrating coming into the home straight and, as he was flying over the last barrier, was looking behind to see if anyone was still coming. No one was, so he stretched out his arms and raised his fist in victory as he jogged across the line in a showboating extravaganza that would have made Usain Bolt proud.
"I watched the screen. I saw I was far from them, and nobody"s going to catch me, so I celebrated early," he said.
It was his first gold medal following silvers at the last two world championships.
The excitement behind him centered on Evan Jager of the United States clinching silver ahead of four-time world champion Kemboi, who was later disqualified for stepping off the track after a water jump. At 34, Kemboi immediately indicated it was his last Olympic race, swiping his hand in a quitting gesture.
"It"s my conclusion that today, this has been my last track [race] in my career," said Kemboi.
Mahiedine Mekhissi of France was later awarded the bronze medal.
Kipruto took the early lead and then settled behind Jager, surging back into the lead as the bell sounded and finishing in 8 minutes, 3.28 seconds. Jager was second in 8:04.28.
Despite Kenya"s dominance in the event, Jager didn"t want to over-state his best-of-the-rest status.
"It feels like silver, but I"m totally OK with silver," said Jager, the first American to medal was in the event since Brian Diemer in 1984.
Like Kenyans winning the steeplechase, the decathlon is equally predictable. But the quest to become the world"s greatest athlete has recently turned into a question of whether Eaton will keep setting records.
Early Wednesday, he wasn"t fastest out of the blocks, though. That honor went to Damian Warner of Canada, who beat Eaton in a 100-meter heat and set an Olympic decathlon best 10.30 seconds in the process.
Eaton immediately regained the lead with a mark of 7.94 meters in long jump, 27 centimeters more Warner. And he extended it in the shot put. After three events, he has 2,803 points and a sizable lead of 95 over Warner.
In the men"s 5,000, defending champion Mo Farah was just as unworried about the time in his heat. Staying upright was tougher.
The British runner was tripped in the 10,000-meter race on Saturday but still recovered to win his second Olympic gold over that distance. His bid for a second-straight long-distance double faced another scare on Wednesday.
He had a slight trip after being clipped by another runner on the last lap of the 5,000 heats as well, but was quickly back into stride and ran comfortably with the leading pack to finish third in 13:25.25. Bernard Lagat of the United States also advanced.
"I"ve got such a long stride ... I always get tripped up or tangled up with someone," Farah said. "But I managed to stay on my feet. It"s quite nerve-racking."
Millions all over the world have been mourning John McLaughlin, who passed away Tuesday at the age of 89. Today, one of the comedy greats, Saturday Night Live"s Dana Carvey, shared his memories of the McLaughlin Group host in a tribute statement to TheWrap.
"He was an American original. Quick-witted and funny. I loved impersonating him on "SNL,"" Carvey told TheWrap today.
Carvey explained that it wasn"t difficult to impersonate McLaughlin due to his one-of-a-kind speech patterns. "His speaking rhythms were so quirky and musical that my impression didn"t have to be exaggerated much to get big laughs," Carvey added.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Days after missing his first episode in years, McLaughlin passed away from prostate cancer on Tuesday. On Sunday, the show opened with a note:
"Dear friends of The McLaughlin Group, Dr. McLaughlin here. As the panel"s recent absences attest, I am under the weather. The final issue of this episode has my voice, but please forgive me for its weaker than usual quality. Yet my spirit is strong and my dedication to this show remains absolute!"
Newly-named Brazilian Beach Volleyball Olympic team validates Rio 2016 berth
Jess Commons | Deputy Editor | 7 days ago
The Debrief: Zara Dampney, who represented Team GB in London 2012 fills us in on the bikinis, rigorous training schedules, leathery forearms and tips on getting sand out of EVERYWHERE.
If you have a look at the beach volleyball themed topics people are searching for on the old Google, theres a number of things that crop up. "Beach volleyball bikini for instance. Beach volleyball bums is another. Not forgetting of course, beach volleyball wardrobe malfunctions.
Sigh.
Hardly the stuff one would expect people to be searching about a serious Olympic sport no?
Each Olympics, the mainstream conversation around beach volleyball tends to drift off away from the important stuff. Away from the speed, agility and athletic ability of the players and more towards, well, bums.
What people are missing by engaging with this rhetoric though is a b****y fascinating sport filled with incredible athletes. Zara Dampney, who represented Team GB at London 2012, is one of them. Zara was lucky enough to grow up in Bournemouth (sand: key to beach volleyball, who knew?) and, after starting indoor volleyball when she was 12 or 13, moved onto beach volleyball about five years later.
The main difference between indoor volleyball (its an Olympic sport too, they wear different uniforms) and beach volleyball is pretty simple. Instead of six players, a beach volleyball team has just has two. Also, beach volleyball is played, duh, on a beach. In indoor volleyball you need much more specialized skills explains Zara. You might be a hitter, you might be a setter Whereas in beach volleyball because theres only two of you have to be more of a rounded player. Also, youve got to be able to jump in the sand. Thats one of the biggest things. Sorry Zara, Im out mate. I can barely walk in the sand.
Leading up to London 2012, Zaras training routine was gruelling. Wed get up, have breakfast, then usually have two sessions a day; one sand session and one physical session, either in the gym doing weights or cardio. Then, around that, wed have like psychology meetings or nutrition meetings, things like that.
Psychology meetings help beach volleyball players connect. Because of course, when youre working so closely with just one other person, you need to get inside each others heads. Dan Goodfellow, Tom Daleys synchronised diving partner famously moved into Toms house in order to sync up mentally with him. Zara and her teammate Shauna Mullin were no different. Youre in each others pockets really. Says Zara who is still, four years on, more like sisters with Shauna. You have to be able to get the best out of each other.
Food too, was an important part of the lead up. We were on a low fat diet but we could eat a lot because we were training a lot. Explains Zara. If we were trying to lean down, you know, to jump high, then we might cut down on things like carbs.
Just like any sport, theres always a risk of injury. Zara says shoulder injuries are common, just from the amount of hitting a player does. Backs are also dodgy areas. Most interesting though is what the ball has done to her forearms. Theyre like leather! She laughs. Compared to other peoples skin there its toughened up so much over the years.
Playing at 2012 was, of course, a dream for Zara and Shauna. They finished 17th not bad for a country that hasnt been represented in the sport since 1996. There was a lot of pressure being the home nation. Zara says. Were not used to playing in front of a home crowd. She says she enjoyed it though and thats the main thing.
People Zara meets are often incredulous about her chosen profession. They react with disbelief People are like Oh my G*d I didnt know you could play beach volleyball in this country! and Is that an actual job? Thats so weird!
The hot topic when it comes to beach volleyball this year is the bikini. Pictures from the Egypt / Germany game showed a stark difference in terms of bodily coverage with the Egyptian team in full hijab-style uniforms whilst Germany opted for the traditional bikini.
The uniform has long been a contentious issue. Up until 2011, female beach volleyball players were required to wear bikini bottoms that were no wider than 7cm at the hip. In fact, in 1999, Craig Carracher the former CEO of Volleyball Australia even said If we can show off these bodies at the same time as presenting our sport then we are going to do that. Cool guy.
These rules have now been relaxed but, while some players opt for long sleeve tops or one pieces, many are still happiest in a bikini. I prefer it. Shrugs Zara. At the end of the day its usually roasting hot, you dont want to be stuck in something thats massive. If you wear bigger stuff the sand just gets stuck in it anyways!
I know the majority of the players are comfortable in their bikinis. She says. So why do people get excited about beach volleyball uniforms specifically? I dont know its so weird. Its like pretty much the same size as what the runners on the track are wearing.
This year, at Rio, body shamers have taken a hit. When trolls attempted to body shame gymnast Alexa Moreno earlier this week, Twitter dealt with them swiftly. Are we finally coming to a point where we the world can, on a base level, view female athletes without succumbing to prejudices about how their bodies should look? I do think people are starting to realise that women are actually very aggressive when they play. Theyre competitive, its not really about what they wear and what their bodies are like, actually they just want to win!
Funding for Team GB volleyball is non-existent right now which is a shame because Zara thinks weve got some very talented players coming up. Theres definitely some athletes there. She says. Its just about time and resources that need to be pumped into them.
If you think beach volleyball is the sport for you though, beware. Youll be covered in sand for the rest of your life. Every pocket of every bag and in the shower. Zara laughs. In your hair, in your ear in your eyebrows. The sand get everywhere you just have to embrace it really!
Zara Dampney is a brand ambassador for Sweaty Betty.
Like this? Then you might also be interested in:
10 Olympic Athletes To Follow On Social Media To Get Your #Rio2016 Fix
How Can Helen Skelton"s Olympic Outfits Shock Viewers When There Are Literally Men In Speedos Behind Her?
Athletes Are Getting Right In To Dating Apps In The Rio Olympic Village
Follow Jess on Twitter @Jess_Commons
Tags: Rio 2016
At work? With your gran?
You might want to think about the fact you"re about to read something that wouldn"t exactly get a PG rating
Before the world was stunned by news that Elvis Presley had died on August 16, 1977, a Memphis, Tennessee emergency room intern heard a hospital"s chief resident pronounce the tragic news.
The resident"s pronouncement came after Jerry DeVane, then an acting intern at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, worked in vain to give Presley chest compressions in an attempt to resuscitate him.
DeVane, now of Cleveland, recalled that hectic scene on the 39th anniversary of Presley"s death. This somber anniversary always prompts fans to flock to Memphis to remember the King of Rock n" Roll"s life and legacy.
In an interview with WTVC News in Chattanooga, DeVane said he had grown up in a town called Whitehaven, near Presley"s famous home, Graceland.
Elvis Whitney lights his candle during Graceland"s Elvis Candelight Vigil on Monday, Aug. 15, 2016 in Memphis, Tenn. (Nikki Boertman /The Commercial Appeal via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT (Nikki Boertman)
DeVane said he was just ending his shift when he heard the call for a code in the emergency room. "When I entered the room it was absolutely packed with people," he said.
No one said the singer"s name; DeVane just knew he needed to act quickly.
"I kind of marched my way around the corner of the room and got to the other side of the gentleman who was doing CPR on Elvis," he said. "I didn"t know that at the time, and he seemed to be tiring so I asked him if I could take over for him."
As DeVane continued with the chest compressions he noticed an unusual piece of jewelry around the patient"s neck.
"The gold chain had the letters TCB on it with a lightening bolt."
It was Elvis" trademark insignia, which stood for "Taking Care of Business in a Flash."
DeVane also recalled the chief resident asking questions of the paramedics who had brought him in. When he asked where they had picked him up, the paramedics gave him a strange look and said, "Well, on Elvis Presley Boulevard."
DeVane said, "That"s when it kind of sunk in fully that we were resuscitating Elvis."
But after an hour, it was clear that "The King" was gone, DeVane said.
Presley was 42. The cause of his death remains in question, with the main suspects being an enlarged heart, a heart arrhythmia or a drug habit.
Martha Ross provides celebrity commentary for the Bay Area News Group. Follow her at twitter.com/marthajross.
Bella Hadid is climbing the ranks of the fashion world by gracing her third September cover this season as she stands alongside model Taylor Hill on the cover of FrenchVogue.
Hadid shared a photo of the cover Vogue Paris cover on her Instagram account on Saturday (Aug. 13, 2016) and is now offering a look at a few images from inside the issue, one of which features her #FreeingTheNipple a movement she describes as a new art form in the caption.
Another photo from the spread celebrates her freedom of self-expression and body empowerment.
Bellas older sister Gigi Hadid posed n**e for VogueParis back in February, serving face in not much more than a pair of heels and sparkly bangles. Bellas September issue deems her and Hill as Gnration Instagirls, cementing their social media influence on a global scale. The term Instagirls was dubbed in print in September of 2014 when Joan Smalls, Cara Delevingne, Karlie Kloss,and three other models were featured on an expanding cover ofVogue. Now, its Hadids turn to join theclub.
Before the world was stunned by news that Elvis Presley had died on August 16, 1977, a Memphis, Tennessee emergency room intern heard a hospital"s chief resident pronounce the tragic news.
The resident"s pronouncement came after Jerry DeVane, then an acting intern at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, worked in vain to give Presley chest compressions in an attempt to resuscitate him.
DeVane, now of Cleveland, recalled that hectic scene on the 39th anniversary of Presley"s death. This somber anniversary always prompts fans to flock to Memphis to remember the King of Rock n" Roll"s life and legacy.
In an interview with WTVC News in Chattanooga, DeVane said he had grown up in a town called Whitehaven, near Presley"s famous home, Graceland.
Elvis Whitney lights his candle during Graceland"s Elvis Candelight Vigil on Monday, Aug. 15, 2016 in Memphis, Tenn. (Nikki Boertman /The Commercial Appeal via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT (Nikki Boertman)
DeVane said he was just ending his shift when he heard the call for a code in the emergency room. "When I entered the room it was absolutely packed with people," he said.
No one said the singer"s name; DeVane just knew he needed to act quickly.
"I kind of marched my way around the corner of the room and got to the other side of the gentleman who was doing CPR on Elvis," he said. "I didn"t know that at the time, and he seemed to be tiring so I asked him if I could take over for him."
As DeVane continued with the chest compressions he noticed an unusual piece of jewelry around the patient"s neck.
"The gold chain had the letters TCB on it with a lightening bolt."
It was Elvis" trademark insignia, which stood for "Taking Care of Business in a Flash."
DeVane also recalled the chief resident asking questions of the paramedics who had brought him in. When he asked where they had picked him up, the paramedics gave him a strange look and said, "Well, on Elvis Presley Boulevard."
DeVane said, "That"s when it kind of sunk in fully that we were resuscitating Elvis."
But after an hour, it was clear that "The King" was gone, DeVane said.
Presley was 42. The cause of his death remains in question, with the main suspects being an enlarged heart, a heart arrhythmia or a drug habit.
Martha Ross provides celebrity commentary for the Bay Area News Group. Follow her at twitter.com/marthajross.
Police in Brazil arrived at the Olympic Village on Wednesday to seize the passports of Ryan Lochte and Jimmy Feigen in an attempt to keep them in the country for further questioning about the robbery they claim occurred early Sunday.
A judge gave authorities the go ahead after doubts began to grow over the claims made by the swimmers in light of the surveillance video obtained by DailyMail.com earlier this week showing the group laughing and smiling as they returned to the Olympic Village.
Lochte"s mother later broke the news of the alleged robbery later that day while speaking with Fox Sports.
The athletes are now accused of lying about the incident after the publication of the video Tuesday led investigators to change their line of inquiry.
A formal request for their passports to be seized reveals that the two men will now be investigated for the false communication of a crime, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in jail in Brazil.
Records retrieved by investigators from the X-ray machine through which the athletes passed in the Village also showed that the men were carrying all the belongings which they had claimed in sworn statements to police had been stolen.
Lochte, 32, had already flown out of the country and is home in the US while Feigen"s whereabouts are still not known. Feigen, 26, had been in Rio all day Tuesday but it is unclear if he took a flight home before the judge"s order.
Questions: Ryan Lochte (with blond hair) is seen entering the Olympic Village as his teammate Jimmy Feigen (in blue) is seen holding what appears to be a phone or wallet in one hand as he pulls out something else from his other pocket. Gunnar Bentz (being searched) also appeared to have two things in his hand
Drop off: Feigen (in blue) then drops two items into the bin which could be both a phone and a wallet. Bentz meanwhile atill seems to be holding both a phone and a wallet in his hand while being searched (center)
More questions: Bentz (on right in foreground) is seen holding what appears to be a phone in one hand and a wallet in another as he walks out of frame
On the one hand: As Feigen (in blue shirt) is searched he can be seen on one side holding his credentials and what looks to be a phone or wallet
On the other hand: Feigen looks to be holding either a phone or wallet on the flip side of his credentials
Answers needed: A look at Lochte"s alleged actions in the early hours of Sunday
In the statement a public prosecutor said that the images from the surveillance video, along with "contradictory" statements made by the athletes to police, further reinforced investigators" doubt about the veracity of the athletes" claims they had been robbed.
It read: "One sees that the supposed victims arrived with their physical and psychological integrity intact, even playing with each other, showing that there wasn"t any psychological shock inherent to such alleged violence.
"The more than calm behavior of the athletes straight after the supposed violence, together with other details present in the inquiry, makes me believe that more investigations should be undertaken into the possible false communication of a crime."
Police also revealed that the surveillance footage, showing the swimmers arriving around 7am, was recorded more than three hours after the supposed robbery.
Lochte and Feigen, the only two of the group who have so far given statements to police, claimed they were so drunk they did not know exactly where they were robbed, nor what type of taxi they took to return to the athletes village.
Further confusion has been caused by Lochte and his team mates insistence that they left Club France at 4am a claim that emerged in court papers released today.
According to a statement made to police and cited by Judge Kayla Blank, the men said they picked up a cab from a nearby gas station.
However, speaking to DailyMail Online.com, manager Lucas Alves said he did not see Lochte or any of the other swimmers in surveillance footage when he reviewed it the following morning.
The police came and took all the video from that night, said Alves. But I looked at it before they came and you could not see any of the swimmers on it.
Ipiranga gas station sits on Avenida Borges de Medeiros, approximately 100 yards from the entrance to the Club France compound.
Club France is part of the French hospitality house - an effort to promote the country during the Olympics paid for by the country"s national delegation.
Blank, in her decision, noted that the mens claim to have left at 4am were also contradicted by the images at the location [Club France], which indicated a different time.
Warrant: The search and seizure warrant that has been issued in Brazil for Feigen and Lochte
Location:According to a statement made to police and cited by Judge Kayla Blank, the men said they picked up a cab from a nearby gas station (above)
Story not adding up:However, speaking to DailyMail Online.com, manager Lucas Alves (above) said he did not see Lochte or any of the other swimmers in surveillance footage
Rio highlight: Lochte with his sole medal from the games, the gold her won in the 4x200m freestyle relay
The US Olympic Committee refused to comment on the athletes" whereabouts but confirmed that Brazilian police were looking for the swimmers.
"Local police arrived at the Olympic Village this a.m. and asked to meet with Ryan Lochte and James Feigen and collect their passports in order to secure further testimony from the athletes," spokesman Patrick Sandusky said.
ROBBERY TIMELINE - WHAT WE KNOW (AND WHAT WE DON"T KNOW)
Saturday 11pm: Club France opens for special celebration
Sunday 2.25am: Lochte posts video of himself andBrazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira inside the club. They later leave the club, buy popcorn from a street vendor and go to hail a cab.
5am: Club France closes
Sunday 2.25am - 6.30am: Lochte claims that at some point in this window men pretending to be police officers rob them of their wallets while they are in a cab
Sunday 6.56am: Security footage records the four arriving at the athletes" village in a cheerful mood and laughing with one another.
Sunday afternoon: Lochte"s mother tells Fox Sports in an interview that her son was robbed earlier that day.The IOC meanwhile denies that a robbery took place.
Sunday night: Lochte is spotted by Billy Bush while walking down the beach and agrees to speak about the robbery in a segment videotaped by the NBC host using his iPhone.
Monday: IOC apologizes for the security lapse. Police say they are hunting the taxi driver.
Tuesday: DailyMail.com obtains the surveillance video of the men that shows them in the aftermath of the alleged robbery.
Tuesday afternoon: Lochte departs Rio and returns home to Florida.
Wednesday morning: Lochte and Jimmy Feigen"s passports are ordered to be seized by a judge. Investigators say in their report that all goods the men claimed were stolen were in their possession when they returned to the Village Sunday according to scans they obtained from the X-ray machine used by security.
Wednesday afternoon: The owner of the gas station where Lochte claims he caught a cab on Sunday tells DailyMail.com that video footage shows he was not there at any point on Sunday.
"The swim team moved out of the village after their competition ended, so we were not able to make the athletes available.
"Additionally, as part of our standard security protocol, we do not make athlete travel plans public and therefore cannot confirm the athletes" current location."
Sandusky said the US team would "continue to cooperate with Brazilian authorities."
Lochte"s lawyer, Jeff Ostrow, said he was surprised to learn about the ruling in an interview with TMZ on Wednesday.
"I have no information from Brazilian authorities that they want his passport," said Ostrow.
"Im shocked to hear that they would go to such measures in an effort to further investigate the incident as he has been nothing but cooperative with authorities, including sitting for a full interview with the Tourist Police, U.S. State Department, USOC Security, FBI, and anyone else that requested to be present."
Lochte meanwhile has been very clear about his plans for the day, writing on Twitter Tuesday: "My hair is going back to its normal color tomorrow."
Lochte detailed the violent interaction with the group of men who he claims robbed him and his teammates at gunpoint outside the Olympic Village earlier this week.
The swimming great said that the men, who were dressed like police officers, rushed his cab in the early morning hours of Sunday and demanded that he get on the ground.
Lochte said that he refused their orders at first, until one of the men pulled out a gun and held it to his head.
"I put my hands up, I was like "whatever,"" said Lochte, who added that the men took off with his wallet but did not take his cell phone or credentials.
Officials increased security following the violent incident while authorities are searching for the taxi driver who willingly pulled over prior to the attack.
"We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge and they pulled us over," Lochte told NBC Newson Sunday.
"They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground they got down on the ground. I refused, I was like we didn"t do anything wrong, so I"m not getting down on the ground.
"And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, "Get down."
Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were also in the vehicle with Lochte and Feigen, all four celebrating the completion of an Olympic Games where they each took home a gold medal, at Club France.
Bentz spoke about the frightening attack on Twitter Sunday, writing: "We are all safe. Thank you for your love and support. P.s. the gold medal is safe."
Better days: Gunnar Bentz and Feigen at the US Swimming Trials in July after qualifying for the Olympics
Practice makes perfect: Jack Conger and Lochte at training camp just before the Olympics
Party:Lochte shared a video on Snapchat in the early hours of Sunday morning just before the alleged robbery at Club France with Jimmy Feigen (above)
Sneakerheads: Lochte showed off the expensive footwear being worn by the group Sunday, which was not taken in the alleged robbery (above)
The United States Olympic Committee confirmed the robbery took place Sunday, along with Lochte"s claim that it was carried out by fake police officers.
One of the swimmers also reported the crime to authorities shortly after the group was robbed.
"According to four members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, Jimmy Feigen and Ryan Lochte), they left France House early Sunday morning in a taxi headed for the Olympic Village," USOC spokesperson Patrick Sandusky said in a statement.
"Their taxi was stopped by individuals posing as armed police officers who demanded the athletes" money and other personal belongings. All four athletes are safe and cooperating with authorities."
That statement came after a spokesperson for the International Olympic Committee told members of the media that Lochte and his teammates were lying about the robbery on Sunday afternoon.
The IOC then backtracked on their denial that the incident took place, saying they do not know specifics of the situation.
Hands up: Lochte detailed what allegedly happened in an interview with NBC on Sunday
The incident was first reported byFox Sports, who spoke to the star swimmer"s mother.
Lochte"s mother, Ileana, told the network it was "terrifying" and she had rushed from her hotel to meet her son.
Team USA"s Jenn Suhr told Fox Sports "it definitely would have been terrifying" for Lochte and his teammates.
"I"m just glad they"re safe... when you"re in another country you don"t know of, it"s not the smartest idea to go places you"re unsure of," she said.
Lochte popped up on Snapchat just before the robbery at around 2am to post a video of heavily graffitied Rio sidewalk, possibly taken from a taxi.
He followed up with an obscure photo of four sets of feet, presumably one set of his own, with the message "6kdeep".
The caption, perhaps a reference to how much their smart footwear was collectively worth, could been seen by anyone following his movements on Snapchat.
The black shoes that two of the people in the shot were wearing appeared to be Adidas Yeezy Boost 350s, which are listed online as costing about $1,500.
None of those items were stolen either in the robbery.
Finally at 2:25am Lochte posted a video of himself and Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira inside a nightclub, panning around to show the crowd and light display.
Nate Parker"s Rape Case, Apology & "Birth Of A Nation" | Did Y"all See?
Splash News
When I first saw the words rape and Nate Parker in the same sentence I thought he was speaking on the Stanford rape case or some other infamous rape case. I figured since the story was being tweeted about, hed probably said something side-eye worthy. After all, it wouldnt have been the first time.
But when I clicked to see the ridiculous comments he made, not only did I find the comments I was looking for, I also noticed that the rape case folks were talking about, was Nates.
In case you missed it, over the weekend Ashley Monae wrote about a 1999 rape case against the actor, writer and director. But Ill summarize quickly. According to Variety, in 1999 Parker was a student and wrestler at Penn State University when he and his friend Jean Celestin were accused of raping a 20-year-old, fellow student in Parkersapartment. Both Parker and the woman acknowledged that they had consensual s*x with each other before. But the young woman said that, on the night of the assault, she was unconscious and did not consentto have s*x with either Parker or Celestin.
According to court documents, which I encourage you to read, Parker was eventually acquitted of the charges based on the fact that he and the alleged victim had had s*x on a previous occasion. Celestin though was found guilty and sentenced to 6-12 months in prison. The mandatory sentence for rape at the time was 3-6 years but the judge departed from that sentence because of the letters that were written on Celestins behalf, some of them from officials at the university.
Celeste applied for a retrial and in 2005, the case was thrown out because the young lady did not want to testify again.
The rape is troubling enough. But its what happened afterward that is also disturbing. In these same court documents, after they were accused, arrested and then released, the university took no action against Parker and Celestin except suspending them from the wrestling team. According to the alleged victims report, Parker and Celestin began an organized campaign to harass her.The two hired a private investigator who showed a photo of the young woman to students on campus, asking for information about her. In doing so, the private investigator exposed her identity to her peers and her alleged rape was publicized. As a result, the young woman became a target on campus and was no longer able to eat or socialize in public areas.
Not only that, she accused both Parker and Celestin of standing outside her classrooms and following her to her dorm. They enlisted the help of their friends to direct sexual epithets toward her as she matriculated throughout campus. Though she reported the incidents to the University and campus police, they took no action. After attempting suicide on at least two different occasions, the woman dropped out of school. She went on to sue the university and was awarded $17,500 in a settlement.
Parker and Celestin went on to write, direct, star in and produce an award-winning film that secured a huge budget from Fox Searchlight.
And I know yall read Parkers comments before, but I think theyre so interesting they bear repeating.
He told Variety:
Seventeen years ago, I experienced a very painful moment in my life. It resulted in it being litigated. I was cleared of it. Thats that. Seventeen years later, Im a filmmaker. I have a family. I have five beautiful daughters. I have a lovely wife. I get it. The reality is he took a long silence I cant relive 17 years ago. All I can do is be the best man I can be now. My life will be examined and put under the microscope in ways that it never has. There are numerous things that are surfacing, but Ive always been an open book. Im an advocate of justice. Im an older man. Ive matured a lot. Ive had many obstacles in my life. I grew up very poor. My father passed away. There are so many things that happened. At the same time, I am the man that I am. I am open to the scrutiny. I will never hide anything from my past.
And then, as a bit of a rationalization.
Look at it through the context of 17 years, he said. It was a very painful for everyone who went through it. What I learned through 17 years of growth and having children and having a wife and building a family is that we have to fight for whats right. We have to lead in love.
I cant be the only one who finds his comments odd. If I were accused of something I didnt do, I would say, vehemently, that I didnt do it. I mean, being cleared by this countrys justice system isnt all that telling. George Zimmerman was cleared. Darren Wilson was cleared. The Stanford swimmer, a rapist, was basically cleared. And while the aforementioned people all posessthe get-out-of-jail-free card that is Whiteness, the same privilege is often extended to men, regardless of race, when it comes to rape cases. The crime is just not taken or prosecuted seriously. There are thousands of rape kits that go untested. There are far too many judges who ignore mandatory sentencing mandates when it comes to sexual assault. Even police officers try to intimidate or insinuate to women reporting their rapesthat there was something theyd done to deserve their assault. h**l, some of the police officers are the ones raping these women.
Thats not enough.
Furthermore, Parker mentioned the number 17, five times as if the passage of time was a rationalization for something. Look at it through the context of 17 years. Im sorry what does that mean? Rape 17 years ago is still rape. Its affects dont have an expiration date. It affects people more than people may know or understand. In 2012, the alleged victim took her own life, at 30-years-old, leaving behind a son.In an interview withVariety,her brother Johnny said that he watched his sisters life slowly crumble after the 1999 incident. He placed quite a bit of blame on Penn States handling of the situation but also spoke about the justice system at that time.He may have litigated out of any kind of situation.My position is he got off on a technicalityI think by todays legal standards, a lot has changed with regards to universities and the laws in sexual assault, he said. I feel certain if this were to happen in 2016, the outcome would be different than it was. Courts are a lot stricter about this kind of things. You dont touch someone who is so intoxicatedperiod.
Parker mentions growth and maturity as if there was indeed something he needed to grow and mature from. He says hes an advocate of justice and believes in leading with love. But what does that mean in the context of the question at hand?
The part that tripped me out the most was I cant relive 17 years ago. All I can do is be the best man I can be now. What does that mean? If there were no crime committed, what exactly would he need to relive?
And then, I wonder how he and Celestin were able to move on as partners. By Parkers logic, since Celestin was found guilty, it must mean he did indeed rape the young woman. How was he able to continue working with a convicted rapist? But forget that. We know that at one point or another, Parker and this woman did have consensual s*x. Theyve both admitted that much. So Parker didnt have an issue with his current partner sleeping with the very same woman he had? All of it is just strange.
And Fox Searchlight knew Parkers comments were strange. Its the reason that theyve altered the way The Birth of a Nation is being promoted. They initially planned for Parker to speak at churches and colleges to drum up buzz for the film. Now, theyre taking a hold off approach. And Parker is no longer doing press for the film. Because while Parker said he is not ashamed of his past, he certainly didnt handle the questions well. And in the meantime, Fox is waiting. Waiting to see if people care about the rape and death of a woman from 17 years ago.
As for the victims brother, he believes the decision of whether or not the movie should be supported is up to the people. Johnny said, I dont think a rapist should be celebrated. Its really a cultural decision were making as a society to go to the theater and speak with our dollars and reward a sexual predator.
There was a third man who left the apartment after he realized what was going on. You can read his account of the evening below.
You can also read a conversation between Nate and the woman after the incident here. Again, very telling.
Veronica Wells is the culture editor for MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of the recently released bookBettah Days.
