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Saturday, February 11, 2017

BenFred: Chris Long wins Super Bowl, and afterparty

Patriots" Chris Long Has Fun At Super Bowl LI Opening Night

Compare Super Bowl resumes with your dad on national TV? Check.

Pound down a brew in public and chase it with a long pull of Grey Goose? You bet.

Splay out across a moving vehicle Titanic-style during your victory parade? done.

There were two pluses to the often-obnoxious New England Patriots lifting their latest Lombardi. The first was watching an embarrassed Roger Goodell run a 4.2 40-yard dash off the stage following the trophy presentation. Football"s cartel king wasn"t fast enough to avoid a healthy dose of boos from New England fans who will never forgive him for the Deflategate debacle.

The second was seeing Long celebrate like a guy who spent the first eight seasons of his career on a team that never won more than seven games and never made the playoffs.

"That game, it was like being part of the worst nightmare you could ever dream up. And then, within an hour, we were all in this great dream," Long said during a Fox Sports interview after the Patriots erased a 25-point deficit to beat the Falcons on Sunday night in Houston.

Long knows nightmares. The defensive end endured a 33-80-1 record in his 114 games as a Ram. He never played in more than three straight wins while suiting up for St. Louis.

His Patriots won three straight to start the season, then four straight after their first loss, then closed the season on a run of 10 in a row. He was never not a good soldier. He continued to thank fans for their support. He shouldered more than his fair share of blame.

The Rams thanked him by releasing him after they relocated to Los Angeles.

But that"s in the past now.

Long"s dream rolled on in downtown Boston on Tuesday. He was front and center during the Patriots" victory parade. He chugged booze, wore a Julian Edelman mask and wallowed in what it feels like to be the ultimate winner.

These were all fun, funny moments. But what will stick with me is the public conversation Long shared with his father during that televised interview after the confetti fell.

The son cracked a joke.

"I did it in nine years," Chris reminded his dad, Hall of Famer Howie Long."It took him 13. So that"s kind of sad."

The father struck a more serious tone.

"This is a guy who I"ve seen work so hard," Howie said of Chris. "He"s always done it the right way. He"s always been a great teammate, a great brother, a great son, a great father, a great husband. If anyone deserves the opportunity to win a championship, it"s this guy."

Anyone who watched Long in St. Louis has to agree with that.

Source: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ben-frederickson/benfred-chris-long-wins-super-bowl-and-afterparty/article_f74174a9-18ed-5990-bd48-67c5e7a2c9de.html

President Trump Will Uphold "One China" Policy

Trump Reassures Xi on "One China" Policy

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source: http://fortune.com/video/2017/02/10/trump-upholds-one-china-policy/

Friday, February 10, 2017

It"s National Pizza Day! Here"s where to score the best deals on a pie

One Bite With Davey Pageviews - Harry"s Pizza Parlor (Happy National Pizza Day)

Thursday is National Pizza Day! Whether its thin crust, stuff crust, deep dish, Chicago style or New York style you cant argue that this dish is a fan favorite of Americans coast to coast.

Over 4 billion pizzas are sold in the U.S. each year and pizzerias make up about 20% ofall American restaurants!

No one really knows how February 9 came to be National Pizza Day. (Honestly, who the h**l comes up with all these alternative holidays anyway?!) But we dont care. Its pizza; and well take any excuse we can find to eat more of it.

Take Our Poll

To celebrate, some of the top brands across America are offering really awesome deals. Below are some of the top deals from major pizza chains.

(Check social media for even MORE deals from locally owned pizzerias in your city.)

Pizza HutPizza Hut is partnering with Amazon all week. If you order your pizza through Amazon Echo, Tap, Fire TV and Fire tablets, youll get 30% off your entire order. If you dont have any of these products, dont worry. You can still get a medium 3-topping pizza for just $6.

Papa JohnsAll month long you can get 40% off ALL regular-priced pizzas!

DominosDominos isnt doing anything specific for National Pizza Day. (Lame.) Heres what they told us:All of the offers you see on Dominos.com will be valid tomorrow choose two for $5.99 each, medium 2 topping pan pizzas for $8.99, large 3 topping carry out $7.99. None of them are specific to national pizza day. They are the current national offers.

Hungry HowiesOffering a large pizza with up to three toppings for $7.99.

Chuck E. CheesesChuck E Cheese is offering a $2 discount off any large pizza with thisprintable coupon

Papa MurphysGet a large all meat pizza for just $9.

Cicis PizzaThe dine-in pizza chain says theyve encouraged their franchisees to offer a deal of all you can eat pizza, pasta and desserts for $5 and change.

MarcosOffering $3 off orders over $15 and $5 off orders over $20.

Source: http://fox6now.com/2017/02/09/its-national-pizza-day-heres-where-to-score-the-best-deals-on-a-pie/

Duke Basketball: Blue Devils need to give Luke Kennard the reigns

Duke vs Wake Forest basketball 2017 (Jan. 28)

Duke is 18-5 and ranked 21st in the country. This is a major fall from grace for a team that was the resounding preseason number one team in the countryand was talked about in the rare air of potentially going undefeated this season. The initial hype was overwhelming.

The season isnt turning out as everyone had hoped and there are many things wrong with Duke, but we dont need to delve into them all.

What we need to delve into is who should be the guy for Duke. With a team loaded with talent like Duke is, the responsibility of that go-to guy is a whos who of potential NBA lottery talent.

Does that position fall upon one of dukes herald recruits? does it fall upon the face of their program right now in Grayson Allen?

The short answer to all of these questions is, no. The freshmen are clearly not ready and Allen is just not the answer either. We could go over his mental state on the courtand all of the extra curricular activities that he finds himself in. We could go over the fact that he isnt putting up preseason POY numbers by any stretch of the imagination.

We dont need to go over any of these things, though. And the reason is Luke Kennard. We dont need to knock other players to appreciate how good Kennard is playing. It isnt anyones fault. On virtually every other team Allen would, and should be the go-to player. On most other teams, one of Dukes freshmen would be that go-to guy.

Thats how loaded Duke is, and that is also how good Kennard has played this year. We could focus on the fact that Kennard is averaging the most points on the team with 19.8 a game, while second places fallson both Allen and Tatum with 15.8 per game. We could mention how he is second in assists and third in rebounds. However, none of these stats would truly point out how good he has been.

Kennard is so fluid and his old school style of play makes him incredibly hard to guard. He shoots the three-point ball at an incredible 45.8 percent but his ability to slither into the lane and create shots using a repertoire of shot fakes and adjusting his pivot foot is lethal. See video below.

The guy is cold blooded when it matters, like when he did this against Wake Forest.

His ability to score when it matters goes beyond just Dukes game versus Wake. In Dukes six games this year versus ranked opponents, Kennard has come up big, averaging 21.8 points per game. You may be saying to yourself well thats not an insane amount of points. And you would be correct, although it is still impressive. What is most impressive is that he is shooting 45-of-73 (61.6 percent) in those six contests.

The clear makings of someone who is considered that guy is someone who plays their best on the biggest stage. Kennard does just that, when the lights are brightest he plays his best basketball.

All of this backs up my point, Kennard needs to be that guy for Duke. It needs to be his team. He plays well when the lights are brightest and thats what you want from your go-to guy. Kennard has been Dukes best player all year and its time the Blue Devils give him the keys to the car.

Source: http://bustingbrackets.com/2017/02/06/duke-basketball-blue-devils-need-to-give-luke-kennard-the-reigns/

It"s official! George Clooney, 55, and wife Amal, 39, are expecting TWINS in June

George And Amal Clooney Expecting Twins, Matt Damon Confirms

George Clooney and wife Amal are expecting twins in June.

The Talk"sJulie Chen announced the couple"s double joy on Thursday"s show after confirming the news with the 55-year-old actor.

"Beyonc is not the only superstar expecting twins," Chen, 47, said on the CBS show.

"Congratulations are in order for George and amal clooney!"

the talk show host added: "What we did find out is that the twins are due this June."

Scroll down for video

Confirmed! George Clooney and wife Amal are expecting twins in June. The couple are pictured on January 9 in London

The human rights lawyer, 39, has been showing off a baby bump in recent weeks and appeared to be glowing and in good spirits when she was spotted at Barcelona airport last week with the Ocean"s Eleven star.

Amal kept comfy in a sweater dress that skimmed her stomach as well as opaque black tights and boots.

The notoriously private couple kept tight-lipped about pregnancy rumors when they first arose last month.

Exclusive: The Talk"s Julie Chen announced the news on Thursday after confirming it with the 55-year-old actor

George"s longtime friend and frequent co-star Matt Damon, 46, was thrilled for the couple.

"I"m thrilled for him. She"s amazing. He hit the jackpot. Just on every level. She is a remarkable woman. They"re gonna be great. They"re gonna be awesome parents. Those kids are lucky," Matt told ET Canada.

A source told InTouchin January that Amal, who is of Lebanese-British descent, "is pregnant with twins: a boy and a girl."

On the move: The couple were last seen at Barcelona airport last week with the barrister looking glowing and happy in a sweater dress, tights and boots

Famous friend: Matt Damon, shown with George in 2007 in Las Vegas, said he was "thrilled" for the couple

The couple "feel like theyve hit the family jackpot" in light of the big news, the source told the magazine.

"When George and Amal found out it was twins they were surprised," the source said, "but also a little scared because they both had said that one was enough.

"But the news that it was a boy and a girl made them both really happy ... they cant believe in just a few months, theyre going to have two babies."

In addition to InTouch, Amal"s pregnancy with twins was reported by The Lebanon Daily Star earlier this year.

Amal joins another high-profile star who"s expecting twins this year.

Glowing: TheLebanese-British lawyer showed off her baby bump in casual outfit

Last week singer Beyonce confirmed she is preparing to welcome twins with husband Jay Z.

George and Amal met through mutual friends at a charity fundraising event in September 2013.

When their romance went public a source said: "Clooney asked her out for dinner and she put him off twice, saying she was too busy, before accepting the third time. She was operating on the lines of "treat "em mean, keep "em keen"."

The couple got engaged less than a year later in April 2014 and married on September 27, 2014 at Ca"Farsetti Palace - located in Venice, Italy in front of 100 guests.

A notorious Hollywood bachelor, George once vowed he would never get married again and never have children.

Rumors: A source told InTouch last month that Amal, 39, who is of Lebanese-British descent, "is pregnant with twins: a boy and a girl."

In 2006 he told People magazine, "Marriage? Who knows? Ive been married. Its not something Im looking out for"

The star was previously married to actress Talia Balsam from 1989 to 1993 before having a string of high-profile romances.

He dated British model Lisa Snowdon on and off between 2000 and 2005 and briefly dated actress Rene Zellweger in 2001.

The Descendants star also dated actress Krista Allen, model Sarah Larson and Italian actress Elisabetta Canalis.

Before meeting Amal George also romanced WWE star Stacy Keibler from 2011 to 2013.

Starting a family: The couple got engaged in April 2014 before tying the knot in Venice, Italy on September 27 of that year. They are pictured in May 2016

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-4209490/George-Clooney-wife-Amal-expecting-twins.html

Cavs to sign forward Derrick Williams to 10-day contract

Derrick Williams 2016 Season Highlights

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: 9:04 am

In this Feb. 4, 2017, file photo, Miami Heat forward Derrick Williams (22) dunks against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Miami. The Cavaliers intend to sign forward derrick williams to a 10-day contract. Williams, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 draft, is traveling to Oklahoma City and the NBA champions hope to sign him before they face the Thunder on Thursday night. Williams was recently released by the Miami Heat after averaging 5.9 points in 25 games.(AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)

CLEVELAND (AP) The Cavaliers intend to sign forward derrick williams to a 10-day contract.

Williams, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 draft, is traveling to Oklahoma City and the NBA champions hope to sign him before they face the Thunder on Thursday night. Williams was recently released by the Miami Heat after averaging 5.9 points in 25 games.

The Cavs have been looking for roster help for several weeks and have been focused on finding a backup point guard or big man before the Feb. 23 trade deadline. Clevelands depth has been challenged after center Chris Andersen sustained a season-ending knee injury and with guard J.R. Smith still sidelined following thumb surgery.

Cleveland recently held tryouts for several veteran point guards and forward Lance Stephenson, who signed a 10-day deal with Minnesota.

The Cavs won their fourth straight game on Wednesday at Indiana and coach Tyronn Lue said its possible h**l rest LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love against the Thunder.

Source: http://www.artesianews.com/1420866/cavs-to-sign-forward-derrick-williams-to-10-day-contract.html

Brennan: Bob Costas has been the face of the Olympics for Americans

Extra Time with Bob Costas and Al Michaels (HBO)

Bob Costas is stepping down from hosting the Olympics on NBC and Mike Tirico will replace him. USA TODAY Sports

Costas took over the Olympics prime-time hosting role in Barcelona in 1992.(Photo: Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports)

For a generation, Bob Costas has been the face and the voice of the Olympic Games in the United States, a principled, steady and versatile presence on NBCs coverage from Barcelona to Rio, stretching from the early 1990s well into the 21stcentury.

Just as he seamlessly accepted the metaphoric broadcasting torch from the legendary Jim McKay all those years ago, Costas passed it on to Mike Tirico Thursday morning on The Today Show, announcing that he would no longer host the Olympics and would host just one more Super Bowl, next years game in Minneapolis, before taking on an emeritus role with NBC Sports.

Ive been lucky to have such a long and enjoyable run, Costas told USA TODAY Sports in a telephone interview. So I just thought, better to leave before they ask me to leave.

Costas idea to step away was long in the planning. He said he mentioned the idea to NBC executives a year and a half ago. I knew Rio would be my last Olympics, and this last football season would be my last full season, although once Mike came on board, I did less than a full schedule. I didnt want this news to get in the way of our coverage of the Rio Olympics, or the NFL season, even in just the slightest way. So we left it until now. It just feels like the right time."

He added, Im glad that Sochi wasnt the last one. You wouldnt want your pink-eye Olympics to be your last Olympics.

Let the record clearly show that costas, who turns 65 next month, is not retiring.

This doesnt mean retirement or even anything close to it, he said. It opens up more time to do the things that I feel Im most connected to. There will still be events, features and interviews where I can make a significant contribution at NBC, but it will also leave more time for baseball (on MLB Network), and then, at some point down the road, Ill have a chance to do more of the long-form programming I enjoy.

Costas has always found himself at home at the intersection of sports and society. Most noteworthy was his hosting of NBCsLater with Bob Costasfrom 1988-1994, where one weeks worth of interviews began this way: Martin Scorsese on Monday, Mary Tyler Moore on Tuesday and Hank Aaron on Wednesday.

He has occasionally used his sports hosting platform to discuss issues ranging from gun violence, steroids and concussions to the controversial name of Washingtons NFL team.

Ive always felt one can appreciate the history, drama and romance of sports, Costas said, while at the same time being aware of and addressing the issues involved in sports. To me, theres no contradiction in that.

For most of us, Costas is synonymous with the Olympic Games. His run began by hosting NBCs late night show in Seoul in 1988, then taking over the prime-time hosting role in Barcelona in 1992 for the next 11 Olympic Games aired by NBC.

His favorite moment? When I have to pick one, I always say Muhammad Ali lighting the torch in Atlanta in 1996 because it was such a unique moment. It seemed to pull together so much of his life and a good portion of the history of sports and social issues in the second half of the 20thcentury.

Costas specifically mentioned the reaction in the stadium, which was so remarkable it has stuck with me to this day as well.

You hear a lot of sounds in a stadium or an arena," he said"but something you seldom hear is an audible gasp. When Ali stepped out of the shadows, and Janet Evans handed him the torch, you saw him trembling that way, and yet somehow his presence was still dynamic, and even in silence, he was as profound as he often had been at his most vocal. It took a couple of seconds to sink in, and then came this thunderous roar of not only appreciation but respect. I get goosebumps thinking about it even now.

Costas will likely appear on future Olympic broadcasts in the same way Tom Brokaw contributes now and then to NBC news shows.

I still have a number of good years left, he said. But I have to think about how I use those years. Id like to be able to say of everything I do from now on, Yep, thats just what I should have done, something distinctive to me, something where I could do my best possible work.

PHOTOS: Bob Costas through the years

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Source: http://www.ydr.com/story/sports/columnist/brennan/2017/02/09/bob-costas-olympics/97684504/