Oklahoma City Thunder vs Golden State Warriors - Game 1 - Full Game Highlights | 2016 NBA Playoffs
Toronto Raptors star guard Kyle Lowry has a very close relationship with Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue.
How close? The Raptors point guard, who talked to Lue throughout the first two rounds of the Eastern Conference playoffs, told Lue he wanted to watch Game 2 of the Thunder-Warriors series at his house. But Lowry knew he couldn"t because his Raptors are currently facing Lue"s Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
Lue says he talked to Lowry throughout the first two rounds, and Lowry wanted to come watch last night"s game with him. Knew he couldn"t.
Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur)May 19, 2016
Lowry even admitted that he wanted to review the film of the Raptors" lopsided Game 1 loss to the Cavs with Lue, but knew that wouldn"t happen either.
Ty commenting on long time relationship with Lowry, says Tor guard texted him wishing he could review G 1 w/him but know"s not possible
Fred McLeod (@CavsFredMcLeod)May 19, 2016
The two apparently formed a relationship during Lowry"s rookie season as Lue took him under his wing despite the two never playing on the same team together.
Ty says as rookie, he took Kyle Lowry under his wing..Lowry said then, "I want to be another Ty Lue"..Ty told him "you can be much better"
Fred McLeod (@CavsFredMcLeod)May 17, 2016
Lowry will need to step up in Game 2 if the Raptors hope to even the series against the Cavs, who have yet to lose a playoff game this year.
In my review last week, I praised the level of restraint Outlander possessed in certain aspects of the story. It was an action-heavy episode with a lot of gore and intensity, and yet it left one of the most disturbing moments in subtext. There were plenty of visual and tonal cues to suggest Black Jack had raped Fergus in Best Laid Schemes. We didnt need to see it to feel the full impact of the horror. But Faith goes ahead and shows exactly what happened at the brothel when Black Jack walked into the room to find Fergus. Restraint goes flying out the window. I always find it difficult to write about rape scenes, and Outlander is really challenging me this season on that front. I just think that the story would have been so affecting without those flashbacks. Sometimes the whole showing instead of telling rule backfires. My guess is the writers thought it would be best to show instead of tell here, providing visuals to support what Fergus dictates to Claire, especially since he doesnt seem fully capable of going into detail about what happened with words, which is understandable giving the trauma hes experiencing. But the more effective example of showing instead of telling happens earlier, when Fergus hesitates next to a bottle of perfume as hes putting away Claires brush. Its a trigger for him, and even without the full picture of what happened at the brothel, I could feel his pain in that moment so viscerally. Did Outlander need to show the abuse in order to achieve effective and moving storytelling? No, it didntespecially now, since weve already seen the horrors Black Jack is capable of.
Flashbacks are a tricky thing to pull off. None of the ones in Faith work. Im of the firm belief that flashbacks within an episode to something that happened in that episode should be outlawed. (How To Get Away With Murder is guilty of this far too often.) At episodes end, Claire flashes back to being in the hospital, and at least it all leads to a part we havent seen yet, but those initial silent pops to the breaking Virgin Mary and Claire screaming for her baby arent nearly as visually compelling as director Metin Hseyin seems to think they are. And the Virgin Mary breaking was overt enough of symbolism the first time around. A second just makes it hokey.
Faith does do one thing immaculately well: It gets right into Claires head and situates itself there, probing the different layers of her brain and providing an emotionally tumultuous episode that is so sharply in tune with the heroines psyche. The episode begins in Claires perspective, as she comes to in the hospital and first realizes the possibility that she could lose the baby. From there, it only gets more devastating, and Faith allows the pacing to be slow in order for the full impact of the episode to really hit. Its a cautious, meandering episode that gives all the emotional beats so much room to breathe. Its best moments are its quietest ones, like when Claire touches her apostle spoons, taking in all that they represent and mourning what has been lost without saying so much as a word. Heres where Outlander often shines and distinguishes itself from other action-adventure dramas that look similar on the surface. Outlander puts feelings first, way ahead of the action, way ahead of the plot. When it doesnt, its starkly noticeable. Not all the direction choices of Faith work, but overall, its a haunting episode, and Caitriona Balfe is in full command of every scene. Its a taxing episode for her, with so much of the narrative hinged on Claire and, more specifically, Claires inner-self. But shes more than up to the challenge. She elevates it all with a performance surely deserving of awards consideration.
Its a strange episode, too. Outlander is often a strange show, meandering down unexpected tangents that have almost more to do with mood than story. Claire makes a desperate plea for Jamies freedom with the king of France and ends up having to sleep with him in order to get what she wants. But she also has to do something else: The king leads her down a hidden hallway to some sort of execution room where he asks for her professional opinion on whether St. Germain and Master Raymondboth of whom have been arrested for practicing the dark artsshould be punished by death. I tend to love when Claire goes full witch, like when she whispered Black Jacks date of death into his ear last season. And its admittedly quite fun here when Claire cops to being a white witch even though shes just manipulating everyone in order to control the situation. The scene puts power back in Claires handsonly to then rip it away when the king makes it clear that s*x is also part of her payment. Its an odd and anticlimactic demise for St. Germain, but the whole scene is masterfully staged. Its slow and tense, like a lot of the episode, giving full weight to what is about to happen and not just filling the space with unnecessary dialogue. Faith manages to have restraint in so many other parts of its narrative, which makes that rape flashback all the more gratuitous.
Stray observations
As Master Raymonds taken away, Claire recalls a line from The Wizard Of Oz, said by Dorothy to the Scarecrow: Im going to miss you most of all. Its a nice little reminder that Claire is not of this timeone thats a little more intimate and emotional than just her advanced medical knowledge.
I like that its Louise who comes to Claires bedside. Its an unexpected role for her, and yet, she really is Claires only friend in Paris.
I must admit that I dont fully understand the opening scene of the episode. Claires in 1950s Boston with her daughter Faith...is this what that timeline would look like if Faith had lived? Or is Claire going to have another child named Faith? It must be the latter, since Claire shows up pregnant when shes reunited with Frank, right?
Im drawn to Master Raymond only insofar as I dont quite understand him, which is why Claire seems drawn to him, too. He promises that well meet again, and I hope thats true, because I need answers.
The way Jamie is first shot as hes returning home, so that we cant quite make out his face, is a really nice choice.
Claire finally acknowledges shes at fault for a lot of the bad that has happened. Maybe shell finally stop putting Frank ahead of everything?
Im so glad Claire and Jamie are going back to Scotland. That was a long time coming.
Morley Safer Dead at 84 | 60 Minutes Reporter Passes Away
ByMarvie Basilan , Christian Post Contributor
May 21, 2016|11:43 am
REUTERS/Stephen Chernin
"60 Minutes" journalist Morley Safer attends the world premiere of new HBO series VEEP in New York City, April 10, 2012.
In what could be one of the most shocking news this week, it has been confirmed that Morley Safer, the veteran CBS correspondent who has done over 900 reports for "60 Minutes," has passed away just a week after retiring.
According to USA. Today, CBS Corp. confirmed that the 84-year-old news veteran passed away in his Manhattan home on Thursday. There were no other details revealed but the network said "Safer was in declining health." His death came as a shock to many as he only started his first few days of retirement.
Safer"s last and final "60 Minutes" report was done in March and a one-hour special was aired on Monday, in honor of his life and career.
Despite the many recognitions and honors given to Safer for his tenured stay in the news industry, he was someone who didn"t expect all the fame and glory. According to CNN, "60 Minutes" executive producer Jeff Fager described Safer as a "humble man who never expects attention."
It is worth noting that Safer once obtained the criticism of then president Lyndon Johnson for his reports in the 1960s, particularly his 1965 film report on the Vietnam War. In the documentary, a marine at Cam Ne is seen setting a hut on fire with a cigarette lighter. Johnson apparently didn"t like the idea of Safer"s way of exposing the truths of the war and he demanded that CBS censor Safer"s accounts. Johnson"s efforts in keeping Safer down were in vain.
The Interceptnotes that during his Vietnam cover, Safer said he was told by a Pentagon official that reporters who believe the government are "stupid." The Pentagon then warned CBS that Safer may be in danger as Arthur Sylvester, the Pentagon official in question, was tapped to resign.
All throughout his career, Safer has not only visited many countries such as China and Vietnam but he has also become well-known for his curiosity and dedication to journalism.
Safer is survived by his wife, daughter, siblings and three grandchildren. Watch a short clip of CBS" tribute to the legendary news correspondent below.
The actress and fan favorite said farewell to the Shondaland medical drama Thursday after 10 seasons.
ABC"s Grey"s Anatomy and primetime TV is losing a key character.
Star Sara Ramirez announced Thursday that she was exiting the Shondaland medical drama following a 10-season run as Dr. Callie Torres to take "some welcome time off." Her exit leaves both the Shondaland medical soap as well as primetime TV without one of its most influential characters, as Ramirez"s Callie has become an example of how to expertly portray both bisexuality and same-s*x relationships via the character"s romance with Arizona (Jessica Capshaw).
While Callie and Arizona split up in more recent seasons, the season 12 finale (which will stand as Ramirez"s final episode) seemed to leave the door open for the actress to return to reprise her role. (Executive producer Shonda Rhimes also noted that Ramirez would "always have a home at Shondaland.)
While Callie has certainly had her ups and downs (divorce, car crashes, losing loved ones), she"s been a pioneer for LGBT viewers across the globe, with Ramirez also serving as a champion for equality.
Here, THR takes a look at six of Ramirez"s most influential scenes as the beloved Callie Torres.
Callie and Arizona"s first kiss.
The kiss that launched "Calzona."
Callie and Arizona get married.
I"m not crying, you are.
Being so good that Erica Hahn "saw leaves"
While Callie may not have reacted well, there isn"t a member of the LGBT community who hasn"t experienced this same moment in their own lives.
The first time Arizona and Callie said I love you.
Simple. Perfect. Complete and total acceptance. This is how we"re remembering Callie and Arizona.
When Callie came out of her coma and Ramirez slayed Brandi Carlile"s "The Story."
OK, so the musical may not have been one of Grey"s Anatomy"s best episodes, but nobody can deny Ramirez"s pipes and her gutting performance here.
When Callie stands up to her father: "You can"t pray away the gay."
Preach.
These are just a few of our favorite scenes with Ramirez as Callie Torres. What are your favorite moments? Sound off in the comments, below.
Cavs with a 12-0 Run | Raptors vs Cavaliers | Game 1 | May 17, 2016 | 2016 NBA Playoffs
The Cavs aren"t just beating teams anymore. They"re demoralizing them.
The Cavaliers have vacillated between being a underwhelming, good or very good team since LeBron James" return to Cleveland.
The team obviously underwhelmed at the beginning of last season, made their midseason trades for J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov, and then took off. They were dominant, finishing 32-3 in the games that featured the trio of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love after the trades.
Then, as most of us know, the team was struck by the injury bug, and had to rebuild its identity around defense, grit and size, and they were good at that too.
Through this season, the team was marked by more of the same inconsistency while remaining mostly very, very good at basketball.
But, there was something missing. Even at their best, the team was good, but not truly exceptional, like we all expected them to be.
That has changed.
These Cavaliers have evolved into their final form. They"re not just beating teams by playing good, fundamental basketball. They"re demoralizing them.
This is the final step in a great team"s growth.
This season"s Warriors are a near-perfect example. It only takes one flurry of Steph Curry threes to make fans and opposing players question what they"re even doing there in the first place. LeBron"s best Heat teams had this quality too. They"d swarm opposing ballhandlers, jump passing lanes, and at times, not let you get the ball across half court all while having the best player in the world at the peak of his powers.
The Cavaliers, in these playoffs, have found that gear, and they"re doing it in so many ways that are unique to them.
It"s hard not to feel dispirited when LeBron James is steamrolling towards you in transition, and kicking to open shooters if you dare send extra help.
If you can get the ball out of LeBron"s hands, he just becomes the best short-roll screener in the league. If the ball movement is stymied, a rejuvenated Irving can get an isolation bucket against anybody in the league. Love is shooting the cover off the ball, cleaning the glass, and hitting cutters like he"s wearing a Minnesota jersey again.
J.R. Smith is the most unfair fourth option in the league, especially when he"s feeling hot. Tristan Thompson ruins your pick and roll attack by switching onto the guard and not giving an inch of ground.
And, to top it all off, Tyronn Lue has discovered a lineup of Matthew Dellavedova, Iman Shumpert, Richard Jefferson, LeBron James and Channing Frye that has just decimated opposing second units.
What makes the attack so devastating is the versatility. This is what we had in mind when this team came together. A team that could play big or play small, that could lock down the boards and bomb away from three.
The Pistons and Hawks conceded the three point shot to the Cavs in the first two rounds. After seeing them get mercilessly shelled, the Raptors tried to stay home on the shooters, and the Cavs turned the games into a layup line.
I can"t tell you how many games I watched the Cavs play in the regular season the last two seasons where the team would get up big, relax, and let the other team back in it. And the other teams, despite having the appropriate amount of respect, didn"t seem to fear them.
Fear isn"t a particularly easy topic to discuss because it"s hilariously intangible and it"s definitely speculative. That doesn"t mean it"s not real. Teams playing the Warriors this season that kept the game close made some of the dumbest basketball decisions I"ve ever seen.
We watched several Pacers melt down offensively against the Heat during their defensive peak a couple years ago. When a team begins to overwhelm its opponent, you can feel it happening.
The Raptors have come out and put up a good fight early in each of the first two games. The Hawks and Pistons put in good, strong efforts too. Over the course of each game and series, however, a sinking degree of inevitability set in for each team.
Now, the obvious caveat here is that the Cavaliers haven"t yet played a title contender. It was a four-team league, and the other three teams happen to play out West, and, barring a very surprising comeback from Toronto, they"ll be playing one of them soon.
The Cavaliers will have to maintain the gear they"re playing at. They"ll have to try to demoralize their Finals opponent, even though they"ll have been joined in the schoolyard by another bully.
The Cavaliers took a long time to find their final gear. Let"s see if they can stay there.
In most years, the Preakness Stakes is run on a fast track, sometimes even despite rain. But there have been a few memorable washouts.
In 1983, Deputed Testamony put Harford County"s Bonita Farm on the map with a win in "sloppy" conditions. Until last year, that was the most recent time track conditions had been rated as poor.
"In the mist and rain that continued yesterday in the wake of Deputed Testamony"s Preakness victory, if the Pimlico infield looked like a soggy mess with a giant hangover, the sun was shining on the rest of the Maryland racing industry," Sun columnist Bob Maisel wrote at the time.
Nearly an inch of rain fell in Baltimore that day, after almost half an inch the day before, according to National Weather Service data.
In 1972, misty conditions followed a heavy overnight rain. Eldon Nelson, a 45-year-old veteran jockey, rode Bee Bee Bee to victory. More than half an inch of rain fell throughout the day that Saturday, on top ofthree-quarters of an inch that fell the day before.
"Slop slop slop didn"t stop Bee Bee Bee," read a Sun headline to a story looking back at that race two decades later.
Horses ran fetlock-deep in mud at the 1938 Preakness -- the fetlock is the joint that protrudes behind and above a horse"s hoof -- according to Sun coverage. Nearly an inch of rain fell that day.
But the 1924 Preakness may have been the wettest of all, based on Sun scribeRaymond S. Tompkins" description. The day before filly Nellie Morse won, 1.28 inches of rain fell, and a third of an inch fell on the day of the stakes.
"Never before has the Preakness been run in six inches of thick waffle batter," Tompkins wrote. "It was as much a regatta as a horse race. It was simply a case of the skipjack, Nellie Morse, beating a lot of bugeyes that didn"t carry enough sail."
How will the 2016 edition stack up? By post time, about three-quarters of an inch of rainfall is expected to drench Pimlico.
Baltimore Sun librarian Paul McCardell contributed to this article.
TFR LIVE: MANCHESTER UNITED vs CRYSTAL PALACE | FA Cup Final LIVE STREAM Watchalong!
The singer selected to perform the national anthem before the FA Cup final has apologised for her rendition after missing the opening of the song.
Karen Harding appeared to miss her cue as the music for G*d Save the Queen began at Wembley, before joining in part way through. She then used Twitter to explain the situation.
OMG. Biggest audience of my life and I get technical difficulties! Argh so sorry Guys, she tweeted, before adding: Mortified!! I dont know what happened.
The 24-year-old was performing ahead of Manchester Uniteds meeting with Crystal Palace on Saturday.
