ClubSocial: 2019

Here's how Brisbane welcomed the new year in years past

Stolen gates, bonfires, and a ban on music - Brisbane has celebrated through different ways for New Years since the 1800s.

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New Year's partygoers kick on as St Kilda beach scrubbed clean

Revellers and treasure hunters caught the first sunrise of the year on St Kilda beach after a big clean-up left few traces of the night's festivities.

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Footage shows angry Pope Francis slapping hand of woman who grabbed his arm

The 83-year-old Pontiff struck the woman's hand in an attempt to free himself after she grabbed his hand while he was greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square.

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Mallacoota awakes to assess damage wrought by 'apocalyptic' fire

Locals from the coastal East Gippsland town of said they estimated dozens of properties had been lost in the inferno.

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Mallacoota awakes to assess damage wrought by 'apocalyptic' fire

Locals from the coastal East Gippsland town of said they estimated dozens of properties had been lost in the inferno.

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Hundreds huddle in school as emergency bushfires ravage East Gippsland

Hundreds of people are taking shelter in a Cann River school as bushfires continue to tear through East Gippsland.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Trick Play, Field Goal Lift No. 21 Navy Over Kansas State in Liberty Bowl

Bijan Nichols kicked a 23-yard field goal with two seconds remaining and No. 21 Navy capitalized on a fourth-down gamble in the final minute to beat Kansas State 20-17 in the Liberty Bowl.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Bijan Nichols kicked a 23-yard field goal with two seconds remaining and No. 21 Navy capitalized on a fourth-down gamble in the final minute to beat Kansas State 20-17 in the Liberty Bowl on Tuesday.

A Navy team with the nation's top-ranked rushing attack set up the winning score by completing a halfback option pass with less than 30 seconds left. The Midshipmen snapped the ball on fourth-and-3 from the Kansas State 46. Quarterback Malcolm Perry pitched to C.J. Williams, and he threw downfield to a wide-open Chance Warren for a 41-yard gain.

Perry, who rushed for 213 yards, spiked the ball with 5 seconds left to set up Nichols' field goal. Nichols had missed a 38-yarder earlier in the fourth quarter.

The victory enabled Navy (11-2) to tie a program record for wins and ensured the Midshipmen will finish a season in the AP Top 25 for just the third time in the last 56 years. Navy finished 18th in 2015 - when it also won 11 games - and was 24th in 2004.

Navy went 3-10 last year and matched the second-biggest season-to-season improvement in win-loss record of any team in Football Bowl Subdivision history. Hawaii owns the record by going 9-4 in 1999 after finishing 0-12 in 1998.

The Mids made that dramatic turnaround thanks largely to Perry, who capped a brilliant senior season with 28 carries and a touchdown pass.

Perry ran for 2,017 yards this season to set a Football Bowl Subdivision record for yards rushing by quarterback. The record had been owned by Jordan Lynch, who ran for 1,920 yards for Northern Illinois in 2013.

Navy dominated much of the game but wasted a couple of opportunities to put it away. The Mids led 17-10 late in the third quarter when a holding penalty on Billy Honaker wiped out a 31-yard run by Perry that would have given them first-and-goal at the 2. Navy ended up punting.

Nichols then sent a 38-yard field goal attempt wide left with 8:26 left in the game. At that point, Navy was outgaining Kansas State 351-83 but only led 17-10.

Kansas State finally got its offense going at that point, as Skylar Thompson connected with Wykeen Gill on a 15-yard completion and a 42-yard pass on back-to-back plays. Those long gains set up Thompson's 1-yard sneak that tied the game with 5:14 left.

THE TAKEAWAY

Navy: A vastly improved defense sparked Navy's turnaround and held Kansas State in check for much of the day. Kansas State's offense didn't reach the end zone for the first 54 1/2 minutes of the game. The Wildcats' first touchdown came on a 66-yard punt return by Phillip Brooks, who also dropped a potential TD pass on the opening series.

Kansas State: The Wildcats ranked fourth nationally in time of possession during the regular season but couldn't keep their offense on the field Tuesday as Perry and the Mids controlled the clock. Kansas State still has reason to feel good about itself. Picked before the season to finish ninth out of 10 teams in the Big 12, the Wildcats instead won eight games and stunned eventual Big 12 champion Oklahoma in coach Chris Klieman's debut season.

UP NEXT

Navy will head overseas to open the 2020 season Aug. 29 by facing Notre Dame at Dublin, Ireland. The Mids will have a tough time matching the quarterback production of Perry, who ended his college career Tuesday. Freshman Perry Olsen backed up Perry this season.

Kansas State opens its 2020 season Sept. 5 by hosting Buffalo. The Wildcats return Thompson and first-team all-Big 12 defensive end Wyatt Hubert but must replace graduate transfer running backs James Gilbert and Jordon Brown as well as their entire starting offensive line.

January 01, 2020 at 06:23AM
Trick Play, Field Goal Lift No. 21 Navy Over Kansas State in Liberty Bowl

New on Sports Illustrated: Arizona State Defeats Florida State in Sun Bowl

Willie Harts returned an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to lead Arizona State to a 20-14 victory against Florida State in the Sun Bowl.

EL Paso, Texas — Willie Harts returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to lead Arizona State to a 20-14 victory against Florida State on Tuesday in the Sun Bowl.

Harts, a freshman cornerback, halted a 14-0 surge by Florida State (6-7) and helped the Sun Devils (8-5) hang on for their fourth Sun Bowl victory, despite not scoring an offensive touchdown.

James Blackman threw a 91-yard touchdown pass, the longest pass play in Sun Bowl history, to Tamorrion Terry to give Florida State its first lead, 14-9, in the third quarter. The Seminoles trailed 9-0 at halftime.

Cristian Zendejas kicked a Sun Bowl record-tying four field goals for Arizona State, including a 34-yarder in the fourth quarter to cut the FSU lead to 14-12.

Then Blackman's fourth interception of the game was returned by Harts to put the Sun Devils ahead for good with 10:06 left in the fourth.

Jayden Daniels was 12-for-28 passing for 198 yards to lead the Sun Devils. He also ran 36 yards and a 2-point conversion.

The first half was a comedy of errors for both offenses as the defenses stepped up in the absence of the teams' star rushers. Eno Benjamin of ASU and Cam Akers of FSU both sat out to protect their NFL draft stock.

Florida State turned the ball over three times (two interceptions and a fumble) and had a field goal blocked, while Arizona State lost two fumbles.

Cornerback Stanford Samuels also sat out for the Seminoles.

Florida State played redshirt freshman Deonte Sheffield at running back, who finished with 87 yards on 18 carries. Arizona State had freshman Demetrious Flowers and sophomore A.J. Carter handle rushing duties.

Blackman finished 14 of 26 for 244 yards, with one TD. Terry had nine catches for 165 yards.

By the end of the game, Arizona State was down three defensive starters - safety Cam Phillips didn't dress, while cornerbacks Jack Jones and Chase Lucas suffered injuries during the game. Sun Devils defensive lineman Jermayne Lole also missed a chunk of second half.

THE TAKEAWAY

Florida State: Posted consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1973-76, which was Bobby Bowden's first year as Seminoles coach. Florida State now transitions to coach Mike Norvell. Willie Taggart was fired in November and Odell Haggins held things down as interim coach.

Arizona State: Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk chose not to play. Aiyuk finished eighth in the nation in receiving yards.

UP NEXT:

Florida State: The Seminoles play their first game under Norvell against West Virginia in Atlanta on Sept. 5.

Arizona State: The Sun Devils start next season against Northern Arizona.

January 01, 2020 at 06:07AM
Arizona State Defeats Florida State in Sun Bowl

Australians plot fightback on US PGA Tour after winless year

It has been the happiest of hunting grounds for Australian golfers but for the first time in 22 years none will be contesting the Tournament of Champions.

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Hundreds huddle in school as emergency bushfires ravage East Gippsland

Hundreds of people are taking shelter in a Cann River school as bushfires continue to tear through East Gippsland.

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Ex-Nissan boss Ghosn turns fugitive in daring 'musical case' escape

The former Nissan and Renault boss is now the most high-profile white collar fugitive in global history.

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From the Archives, 1979: Over 100 of Australia's best known paintings stolen

In 1979. over 100 of Australia's best known paintings were stolen from the house and gallery of Joseph Brown in Melbourne. It was Australia's biggest art robbery.

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Four-day Test cricket would be the most damaging decision in game's history

I would not pay to watch a four-day Test match. If others want to, so be it, but count me out.

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BBC NEWS : 'I still have confidence in package holidays'

New research suggests most people still want to book package holidays despite what happened after the collapse of Thomas Cook.

January 01, 2020 at 05:59AM

from BBC News - Business
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From the Archives, 1979: Over 100 of Australia's best known paintings stolen

Three dead, one missing, homes lost on South Coast

The year ended with the deadliest day of the fire season.

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Woman falls on fence and impales leg in Brisbane's CBD

The incident occurred on Queen Street in the early hours of New Year's Day.

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Balmoral cafe burns on New Year's Day

The family business had been closed for Christmas but was set to reopen on January 4.

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Three dead, one missing in black week for South Coast

The year ended with the deadliest day of the fire season.

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Navratilova attacks 'pathetic' Court and accuses her of 'hiding behind her Bible'

Tennis great Martina Navratilova has accused Margaret Court of "hiding behind her Bible" and decried her recent controversial sermon as "pathetic ... in every way".

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Mad Women: Christina Hendricks tries to stick it to The Man in feisty comedy

With so many entertainment options, it's easy to miss brilliant streaming shows, movies and documentaries. Here are the ones to hit play on, or skip.

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Indiana on the pace as 76ers crash to third consecutive NBA loss

Ben Simmon's 76ers crashed to a third straight NBA loss as the Pacers' Domantas Sabonis led Indiana to victory.

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Woman falls on fence and impales leg in Brisbane's CBD

The incident occurred on Queen Street in the early hours of New Year's Day.

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BBC NEWS : Local shops urge action to save cash machines

The Link network should raise the fee it pays cash machine operators, say convenience store owners.

December 31, 2019 at 05:54AM

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Clover Moore defends New Year's Eve fireworks amid bushfire crisis

She said the bushfire crisis must be "a wake-up call" for state and federal governments to act on climate change.

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Tributes flow for mother and five-year-old son killed in Kingston crash

The death of a doting mother and local schoolteacher and her "bright, bubbly" five-year-old son in a horrific collision has rocked the Bendigo community.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Ranking the Current NFL Head Coach Job Openings

If you were a potential NFL head coach looking for your next place of employment, how would you pick between the situations that are currently vacant?

For the third time since 2016, Giants owner John Mara has stepped to the lectern and answered questions about the future of the franchise at a major decision point.

The team’s divorce with Tom Coughlin was followed by the in-season dismissal of Ben McAdoo and long-time general manager Jerry Reese. Then came Monday, when Mara announced that he would be letting head coach Pat Shurmur go and retaining general manager Dave Gettleman.

It has been a turbulent finale to a decade that began with such promise (and a stunning victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI that seemed to breathe new life into the Coughlin regime). At each turn, there seems to be a special kind of animus reserved for Mara, as if he has willed the team to this moment. On Monday especially, he continued to combat the negative effects of his notorious loyalty to the bones of the staff he inherited years ago.

But after taking a quick look around the NFL at the other job openings, it’s hard not to wonder if we’re all not suffering from a lack of perspective. Assuming that Dallas tests the coaching market, joining Washington, Carolina, the Giants and Cleveland, how many situations actually seem better than what the Giants have to offer right now?

How bad—again, in perspective—is Mara’s desire to keep the franchise somewhat tethered to its glory years compared to the pitfalls that accompany the other openings?

Here’s an unofficial ranking of the best jobs of 2019, including Dallas. We’ll update the list should any surprise vacancies surface. The goal is to explore what a coach interviewing for a job might be thinking and how they might compare one landscape to the next…

GM Dave Gettleman will stay in New York even after Pat Shurmur was let go.

1. N.Y. Giants

A coach’s biggest issue with coming to the Giants will be working with a general manager that seems proudly dated in his thinking, who isn’t necessarily fleet of foot on draft day and who allows some aged scouting tropes to impact his decision-making in free agency.

The counter to that? The Giants have typically been a forward-thinking franchise despite the dusty perception. While Tom Coughlin had the reputation as a temperamental old boomer, the Giants were one of the first teams publicly tied with the analytics produced by Pro Fotball Focus in the early 2010s. Coughlin was one of the first coaches to test GPS monitoring at practice. The team revamped their diet, nutrition and exercise programs several times in that span. All of those people did not disappear organizationally and could potentially counterweight Gettleman’s instinctual style.

I also wonder whether a coach could make something of the roster in their first season and, given that Gettleman will soon turn 69, slowly earn a slice of the pie in terms of the roster building process. Mara said on Monday that he was open to various non-traditional power structures depending on the coach (which, again, he may have to promise at the outset anyway). Adam Schefter also reported Monday that if a new head coach was that passionate about front office changes, they don’t seem entirely out of the realm of possibility.

Here are the pros: A stable franchise with a young, ascending player at quarterback. A star at running back. A few cost-controlled assets that can produce at skill positions on offense. And … about $70 million to spend in free agency next year.

2. Carolina

The obvious detractor to taking this job is uncertainty at the quarterback position and a very, very competitive division with three other established head coaches. Will Cam Newton be back and healthy? Otherwise, Carolina returns a decent supporting cast and will have a navigable amount of cap space (while it’s in the bottom third of the league, it’s theoretically enough to chase one or two free agents that could be central to a coach’s scheme).

The benefits? A new owner who wants to empower and legitimize his first hire, which tends to lead to more patience. The Carolina market isn’t daunting for a first-time football coach and an in-house push for a more fundamental understanding and implementation of analytics will only help the kind of coach who is willing to delegate.

3. Dallas

I’m slightly less bullish on this job than others but could be talked into moving them up a spot. Here’s the fear: if Jerry Jones is this smitten with Jason Garrett, will that impact the lens with which he views his next head coach? It could go one of two ways: Either Jones’s compassion for Garrett is a draw, signaling that the Cowboys simply treat all of their coaches this way … or it’s akin to being the dreaded rebound prospect for someone who just got out of a very serious long-term relationship.

From a roster standpoint, the Cowboys were built to win in 2019. A new head coach might find that the Ezekiel Elliott contract becomes more difficult to grapple with by the season. A resurgent Robert Quinn, Amari Cooper, Sean Lee and Byron Jones will all hit the open market and, theoretically, most of the team’s cap space will either be tied up on the franchise tag with Dak Prescott or a long-term deal to secure the quarterback.

With that in mind, there is immediate pressure on a new coach to win for an owner who will grow increasingly impatient with each season that passes.

4. Cleveland

They would be in last place in almost any other circumstance, though the one thing saving the Browns is a less-recent example of ownership meddling in draft decisions.

Cleveland has not had a coach for longer than two-and-a-half seasons since the Haslam family arrived in 2012. They have a top-heavy roster full of in-prime veterans who carry with them the expectation of winning right away (or, they’ll make it known their preference to play elsewhere). The offensive line needs serious repair. The success or failure of the franchise quarterback going into his pivotal third year will have a serious impact on job security.

I’ll be careful here not to label Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry with a broad brush, but this is a nucleolus of extremely talented people who will require someone with cachet and the ability to have immediate success. Someone who can get them the ball. Someone who can wrangle them during difficult times in a way that Tom Coughlin, Adam Gase, Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur and Hue Jackson were not in the past.

There have also been reported instances of opinion clashes between the team’s director of strategy and director of personnel as to the direction of the franchise. The job will be unattractive until someone makes it as much, which could be a draw for a big-name head coach with Super Bowl credentials who believes they can spearhead a legendary turnaround.

5. Washington

While all indications are that Daniel Snyder is doing the right things this time around, there is no track record of sustained harmony that he can point to. He was reportedly involved in the drafting of Dwayne Haskins. He recently told him not to play after an injury. Any candidate is going to need to possess a certain amount of trust that Snyder will ultimately recede into the owner’s box and let he or she run the team as they see fit.

But again, there is really no sustained track record of this.

Question or comment? Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.

December 31, 2019 at 06:08AM
Ranking the Current NFL Head Coach Job Openings

Cadets gave Nazi salute as 'sign of respect', report reveals

A summary has been released of an inquiry held to examine the story behind a controversial image showing trainees saluting a teacher with a Nazi gesture.

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Cats abandoned at Australian box office as studio too turns cold shoulder

The live-action musical made just $1.64 million during its opening weekend.

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VAR use only for 'clear and obvious' offside errors, say rulemakers

The International Football Association Board has given its clearest indication yet that it will update guidance on the use of video assistant referees.

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Billions wiped away: ASX sinking on final day of decade

The Australian sharemarket is 1.3 per cent lower in the final session of the decade, with all sectors running red in early trade.

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'Living and breathing' mini cities: The changing face of the humble warehouse

In an industrial business park tucked away near Sydney airport, is a place that every teenager would love to pay homage to.

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BBC NEWS - UK and US considered Nigeria naval blockade over Saro-Wiwa execution

The UK and US considered an oil embargo after activist Ken Saro-Wiwa was hanged, document reveals.

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Billions wiped away: ASX sinking on final day of decade

The Australian sharemarket is 1.3 per cent lower in the final session of the decade, with all sectors running red in early trade.

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'Living and breathing' mini cities: The changing face of the humble warehouse

In an industrial business park tucked away near Sydney airport, is a place that every teenager would love to pay homage to.

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Rio Tinto to restart South African unit after security scare

Earlier in December, the miner said one of its unit's employees was shot and that there was escalating violence against them, causing a curtailment in operations.

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BBC NEWS : National living wage to rise by 6.2% in April

The government says it will boost pay by more than four times the rate of inflation.

December 31, 2019 at 05:40AM

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Experts: N. Korea's 'Christmas Gift' Might Come Another Day

WASHINGTON - North Korea's "Christmas gift" might be still to come as Pyongyang is likely to ramp up military tensions and the threats of missile launches to gain concessions from the U.S., said ex

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Trump Ally May Have Broken Venezuela Sanctions

MIAMI - Erik Prince, a major Republican donor and founder of controversial security firm Blackwater, has been referred to the U.S. Treasury Department for possible sanctions violations tied to his

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Pompeo to Visit Ukraine This Week

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo leaves this week for Ukraine - the country at the center of President Donald Trump's impeachment.

Pompeo will be in Kyiv on Friday, the first stop of a fiv

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'Mental weakness' not systemic at City, Brillante insists

Melbourne City midfielder Josh Brillante insists that the club's tendency to fold in key moments of big games is not a cultural cringe.

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England get behind plans to scrap five-day Test cricket

England are backing plans to scrap five-day Test cricket from 2023 in an attempt to ease player workload.

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Moscow ships in artificial snow during warmest December on record

With temperatures averaging six degrees warmer, Muscovites are sceptical about the use of fake snow to add authenticity to Orthodox Christmas celebrations.

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'There's definitely a warming trend. You can't not see it': Our year of wild weather

Sydney and NSW's year included dust storms, diving dam levels, heatwaves, fish kills and the eruption of mega bushfires and incessant smoke haze.

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Big Ben tolls to mark new era for crumbling Palace of Westminster

The Palace will be rebuilt at a cost more than four times the value of building Parliament House in Canberra.

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Rio Tinto to restart South African unit after security scare

Philippines Christmas typhoon death toll climbs to 41

MANILA - The number of deaths from a powerful storm that hit the Philippines on Christmas has climbed to 41, the authorities said on Sunday (Dec 29), with tens of thousands still in evacuation centres.

Typhoon Phanfone left the Philippines on Saturday after devastating several islands in the central Visayas, including popular tourist destinations, but the extent of the damage continued to grow as assessments came in.

The death toll of 41 - up from 28 on Friday - included three boat crew who died after their vessel capsized due to strong winds, a policeman electrocuted by a toppled post, and a man struck by a felled tree.

"We're hoping that there will be no more fatalities," national disaster agency spokesman Mark Timbal told AFP, with the authorities still searching for 12 people missing.

The latest agency report showed over 1.6 million people were affected by the typhoon, which damaged over 260,000 houses and forced almost a hundred thousand people to flee to emergency shelters.

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From the Archives, 1969: 26 killed in one of Australia's worst air tragedies

In 1969, a MacRobertson Miller Airlines flight to Port Hedland in Western Australia crashed leaving no survivors. It was one of Australia's worst air tragedies.

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Lives, homes threatened as multiple bushfires rage in East Gippsland

As out-of-control bushfires burn across Victoria, four emergency warnings are in place for dozens of small East Gippsland communities where residents are in danger.

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BBC NEWS : Hydrogen-powered drones could point way to future travel

Hydrogen-powered drones have several advantages to lithium ion-powered ones, says Dr Enass Abo-Hamed.

December 30, 2019 at 06:19AM

from BBC News - Business
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Worley to consult on Egypt nuclear plant

ASX-listed energy services firm Worley Limited has announced it will consult on the construction of Egypt's first nuclear power plant.

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Lives, homes threatened as multiple bushfires rage in East Gippsland

Uber founder Travis Kalanick's next big thing? Ghost kitchens

Travis Kalanick has sold all of his Uber stock and reigned from the company's board as he turn his focus onto a new venture.

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New on Sports Illustrated: 2020 NFL Draft Order: Bengals On the Clock With No. 1 Pick

Here's the 2020 NFL draft order for the first 20 picks of this year's event.

The NFL's regular season wrapped up on Sunday meaning that the top 20 picks of the 2020 NFL draft have been set. The order of the remaining 12 picks of the first round will be slotted based on playoff performance.

Cincinnati entered Week 17 having already clinched the No. 1 pick in the draft, but a number of changes occurred on Sunday.

Here's the NFL draft order prior to the postseason results:

Cincinnati (2-14)
Washington (3-13)
Detroit (3-12-1)
NY Giants (4-12)
Miami (5-11)
LA Chargers (5-11)
Carolina (5-11)
Arizona (5-10-1)
Jacksonville (6-10)
Cleveland (6-10)
NY Jets (7-9)
Indianapolis (7-9)
Tampa Bay (7-9)
Atlanta (7-9)
Denver (7-9)
Atlanta (7-9)
Cowboys (8-8)
Pittsburgh (to Miami) (8-8)
Chicago (to Oakland (8-8)
LA Rams (to Jacksonville (9-7)

December 30, 2019 at 06:25AM
2020 NFL Draft Order: Bengals On the Clock With No. 1 Pick

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Browns Fire Freddie Kitchens After Disappointing Season

The Browns entered the 2019 season considered to be potential Super Bowl contenders, but will instead be looking for a new head coach after Freddie Kitchens' dismissal.

The Browns entered the 2019 season considered to be among potential Super Bowl contenders. But after a 6-10 season, littered with inconsistent play and plenty of bad press, head coach Freddie Kitchens has been fired, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen.

Kitchens was in his first full season as the Browns' head coach after being promoted this past offseason.

On the field this year, the Browns' offense was in the bottom third of the league and second-year QB Baker Mayfield failed to develop the way that many expected.

Kitchens and his team also found themselves in the news throughout the year, for all the wrong reasons. Under the rookie head coach's watch, DE Myles Garrett was suspended indefinitely for striking Steelers QB Mason Rudolph with Rudolph's helmet. The coach was later spotted wearing a "Pittsburgh Started It" in the weeks following the incident. Safety Tahir Whitehead was released after directing death threats at fans on Twitter following a loss, reports surfaced that Odell Beckham Jr. was dealing with a "painful sports hernia injury since training camp and Mayfield got into a spat with a local reporter, among other notable moments.

After the team's Week 16 loss to the Ravens which eliminated Cleveland from playoff contention, Kitchens insisted that the Browns were on their way to becoming consistent winners.

"We’re really close, and sometimes that gets lost in the shuffle," he said. "But we know how close we are. Our players understand how close we are. Our players understand how they could do better. Coaches understand how they could do better, and whenever we get those things flipped, it will change."

But that change will not occur under Kitchens' watch.

After falling 33-23 to the Bengals in Week 17, the Browns will now look to hire their eighth full-time coach since 2008.

December 30, 2019 at 06:23AM
Report: Browns Fire Freddie Kitchens After Disappointing Season

Worley to consult on Egypt nuclear plant

ASX-listed energy services firm Worley Limited has announced it will consult on the construction of Egypt's first nuclear power plant.

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Uber founder Travis Kalanick's next big thing? Ghost kitchens

Travis Kalanick has sold all of his Uber stock and reigned from the company's board as he turn his focus onto a new venture.

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'Risk is just too high': Deputy Premier backs calls to cancel Sydney NYE fireworks

Tweeting from London, John Barilaro has broken ranks with the state government, backing calls to cancel Sydney's New Years Eve fireworks display.

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Tablet interactive: Extreme fire danger as temperatures statewide set to pass 40 degrees

Two emergency warnings are in place for bushfires burning in East Gippsland.

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De Minaur backs 'team chemistry' ahead of ATP Cup

Alex de Minaur is backing the Australian squad’s 'chemistry' to help them overcome their tough draw in the inaugural $22.2 million ATP Cup, which starts on Friday.

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The latest illustrations from artist Alan Moir

Alan Moir, The Sydney Morning Herald's political cartoonist, sketches the political unreality.

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Best of cartoons December 29, 2019

Our talented team of artists, illustrators and cartoonists give us their humorous version of the news of the day.

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Best of cartoons December 28, 2019

Our talented team of artists, illustrators and cartoonists give us their humorous version of the news of the day.

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The 'techlash' that never was: How internet giants rode the wave

This time last year, the world's biggest technology companies was fearing a political, cultural and regulatory backlash. Yet 2019's tidal wave did not quite break.

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'Unprecedented in Australia': Meet the women leading science across government

Industry and Science Minister Karen Andrews is among a "striking" number of women in science leadership, but she says it "should be unremarkable".

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Wanderers lose Baccus as City hit hardest by Olyroos campaign

Graham Arnold has named his 23-man squad that will seek Australia's first qualification for a men's Olympic football tournament since Beijing 2008.

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Famous French cheeses at risk from climate change

Producers blame climate change for grass shortages that mean they cannot meet tough regulations.

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'Risk is just too high': Deputy Premier backs calls to cancel Sydney NYE fireworks

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BBC NEWS - ‘Gardening gives me a lot of peace’

Joanna is an urban gardener trying to reconnect with nature in Singapore.

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Crash causing heavy congestion on Brisbane Motorway

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Man reportedly injured in incident with bullet south-west of Brisbane

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Day after rocket attack on military base, Pompeo arrives in Iraq

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New on Sports Illustrated: How Many Heisman Trophy Winners Have Won the National Championship?

Will Joe Burrow be the next Heisman Trophy winner to capture the national championship in the same season?

2019 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers are headed to the College Football Playoff national championship after defeating Oklahoma 63–28 in the Peach Bowl.

Burrow threw for 493 yards and recorded eight touchdowns in the CFP semifinal game. For most of the regular season, he was the frontrunner to win the Heisman. The senior shattered single-season school records for passing touchdowns and yards while throwing just six interceptions during his rise from being an average Joe to becoming a potential No. 1 NFL draft pick.

An Ohio native, Burrow grew up dreaming of playing at Nebraska, who passed on him. The QB spent the first three seasons of his college career sitting on the bench at Ohio State before he decided to transfer to LSU as a redshirt junior.

Will Burrow add to his dominant season and join the elite list of players who have won the Heisman Trophy and the national championship in the same season? Fourteen players have accomplished both feats. Check out the full list below:

1. Davey O’Brien, QB, TCU, 1938
2. Bruce Smith, RB, Minnesota, 1940
3. Angelo Bertelli, QB, Notre Dame, 1943
4. Felix 'Doc' Blanchard, FB, Army, 1945
5. John Lujack, QB, Notre Dame, 1947
6. Leon Hart, TE, Notre Dame, 1949
7. Tony Dorsett, RB, Pittsburgh, 1976
8. Charlie Ward, QB, Florida State, 1993
9. Danny Wuerffel, QB, Florida, 1996
10. Charles Woodson, CB, Michigan, 1997
11. Matt Leinart, QB, USC, 2004
12. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama, 2009
13. Cam Newton, QB, Auburn, 2010
14. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State, 2013

December 29, 2019 at 06:31AM
How Many Heisman Trophy Winners Have Won the National Championship?

New on Sports Illustrated: LSU Flexes Its Muscle vs. Oklahoma in a Playoff Semifinal It Was Always Going to Dominate

The Tigers are on to the national championship game after a record-setting night by Joe Burrow and Co.

ATLANTA — It is hard to say exactly why LSU destroyed Oklahoma, 63–28, in a College Football Playoff semifinal here Saturday, but it might have been because LSU had much better line play, superior talent at the skill positions and one of the best quarterbacks in the sport’s recent history. O.K., maybe it’s not hard.

Joe Burrow and LSU are going to the national championship game. That one will be in New Orleans, which gives Tigers fans a chance to fill the stadium and LSU’s opponent a few days to learn voodoo. Good luck, Clemson, or Ohio State. Against Oklahoma, Burrow completed 21 of 27 passes for 403 yards and seven touchdowns … in the first half. For some programs, that’s October. Burrow then opened the the second half by running for a touchdown. If he had wanted, he probably could have skipped, jumped, moonwalked and juggled for touchdowns.

Burrow is more accurate throwing on the run than most quarterbacks are in the pocket. The Sooners gave him time and open receivers. They might as well have asked him how many touchdown passes he wanted to throw. Early in the game, Burrow placed a pass in Justin Jefferson’s hands, but Jefferson dropped it … so on the next play, Burrow placed another one in his hands for a touchdown.

We now know that the national championship will be won by one of the great teams in college football history: Either LSU, or somebody good enough to beat LSU.

In the meantime: There has been a lot of talk about inviting more teams to the College Football Playoff, but first maybe we should focus on getting Oklahoma to show up. Is that a cheap shot? No cheaper than Oklahoma’s Brendan Radley-Hiles trying to remove the head of LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire, a play made even dumber by the fact that Burrow was running for a first down and Radley-Hiles ignored him to hit Edwards-Helaire. Radley-Hiles was ejected for targeting. Maybe he wanted to leave before he gave up more touchdowns.

The playoff is a 365-day argument interrupted by 10 hours of football, and this is the Sooners’ reality: What we saw Saturday can and will be used against them. People will say Oklahoma has lost three straight semifinals, and after this debacle against LSU, why give OU another shot?

It’s not quite fair. Oklahoma earned its playoff spots. Two years ago, Oklahoma took Georgia to overtime—Riley said this week “it was a coin flip,” and he was right. Last year Oklahoma fell behind Alabama 28-0 but actually made a game of it, sort of. And even in defeat this year, the Sooners showed some offensive creativity, with plays ranging from chucking the ball in the air and hoping CeeDee Lamb would catch it to chucking it in the air and hoping Lamb would draw pass interference.

Oklahoma did not belong on the field with LSU this weekend. But who did? Georgia? In its last game, LSU whipped the Bulldogs. Alabama? The Tigers beat the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, and now Tua Tagavailoa isn’t even playing. Oregon? Come on, do you really think Oregon would have given LSU a game?

The pool of true national championship contenders is only three-deep this year. LSU, Clemson, Ohio State. That’s it. LSU probably would have destroyed anybody other than Clemson and Ohio State. This may explain why Clemson coach Dabo Swinney spent so much time talking about how great his team was. Maybe he knew the value of being the No. 1 seed and facing No. 4.

And maybe Riley knew, too. There were little hints this week that he understood he was trying to climb a mountain in roller skates. He implied that his team would be content playing slow, which is what underdogs often do, to limit the number of possessions. He said more than once that this team suffered more injuries than any other he had—and this was before three players were suspended for the semifinal.

On Oklahoma’s first possession, Riley called for a handoff on third-and-16. He might as well have screamed “S-E-C! S-E-C!” This was the kind of call you make if you don’t think you can make a big play, and you just want to limit turnovers, play a field-position game, and hope the football gods will smile upon you. LSU didn’t need gods. It has Joe Burrow.

For More Tigers Coverage, Visit LSU Maven

December 29, 2019 at 06:24AM
LSU Flexes Its Muscle vs. Oklahoma in a Playoff Semifinal It Was Always Going to Dominate

New on Sports Illustrated: LSU OL Adrian Magee Sends Tweet Out During Halftime of College Football Playoff Semifinal vs. Oklahoma

LSU guard Adrian Magee felt so comfortable with the Tigers' 49-14 halftime lead that he appeared to take to Twitter and send out a tweet related to the game.

Clearly LSU guard Adrian Magee felt comfortable with the Tigers' 49-14 halftime lead.

The senior offensive lineman appeared to go on Twitter during halftime, quote-tweeting a comment from former LSU running back and current Washington Redskins back Derrius Guice.

Guice wrote that the Tigers had "the best offense in college football history," to which Magee responded, "Thanks bro"

Magee also liked a few other tweets.

The senior from Franklinton, La., had a busy first half, switching from left guard to right early in the first quarter after LSU's Damien Lewis suffered a lower-body injury. Magee was second-team All-SEC this season.

Quarterback Joe Burrow, Magee and the rest of the Tigers' offense had a record-setting first half against Oklahoma. Burrow broke all kinds of records, including passing TDs in a College Football Playoff game and most single-game passing TDs in LSU history.

The Tigers cruised to a 63-28 victory over Oklahoma.

December 29, 2019 at 06:17AM
LSU OL Adrian Magee Sends Tweet Out During Halftime of College Football Playoff Semifinal vs. Oklahoma

Man reportedly injured in incident with bullet south-west of Brisbane

A Queensland man is in hospital with a head injury after reportedly hitting a bullet with a hammer in the early hours of the morning.

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Astronaut sets record for longest spaceflight by a woman

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Small plane crashes in Louisiana car park, killing 5

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Burns gives England fighting chance of improbable success at Centurion

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New on Sports Illustrated: Russia Stuns Canada 6-0 at WJC, Lafreniere Injured

Russia scored three opening-period goals on the way to stunning Canada 6-0 at the world junior hockey championship on Saturday.

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic — Russia scored three opening-period goals on the way to stunning Canada 6-0 at the world junior hockey championship on Saturday.

Canada forward Alexis Lafreniere, who is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL draft, also left the ice with the help of his teammates after picking up what seemed to be an injury to his left leg in the second period.

It was the worst defeat for Canada since the tournament became official in 1977. In the 1976 edition, when it was an invitational event, the team was thrashed 17-1 by Sweden.

“They played a great game,” Canada captain Barrett Hayton said. “We weren’t good enough. We got behind early again tonight and it’s tough to come back. We have to be better, and we will be.”

Alexander Khovanov, Pavel Dorofeyev, Nikita Rtishev, Nikita Alexandrov, Yegor Sokolov and Grigori Denisenko scored as Russia recovered from a 4-3 loss to the Czech Republic hosts in the opening game on Thursday.

Khovanov, Alexandrov and Denisenko added an assist each.

Goaltender Amir Miftakhov stopped 28 shots for the shutout in the Group B game.

Khovanov set the pace, scoring 1:44 into the game with the help of a lucky bounce off goaltender Nicolas Daws. Dorofeyev and Rtishev then put the Russian team in command with two more goals in the opening period.

Canada pulled off Daws for Joel Hofer after Alexandrov made it 4-0, 2:18 into the second period.

Daws allowed four goals from 18 shots.

But Hofer couldn’t stop Sokolov and Denisenko increasing the Russian lead to 6-0.

Canada, which beat the U.S. 6-4 to open the tournament, next faces Germany on Monday.

All five teams in Group B have one win and a loss after two games.

In Group A, Sweden tops the standings after beating Switzerland 5-2 with Samuel Fagemo scoring twice.

Finland got its title defense back on track by routing Slovakia 8-1 in Group A with Aku Raty netting two goals. The Finns lost 3-2 in overtime to Sweden in their previous game.

The host Czechs were upset 4-3 by Germany in Group B, Dominik Bokk scoring twice for the Germans.

December 29, 2019 at 05:51AM
Russia Stuns Canada 6-0 at WJC, Lafreniere Injured

BBC NEWS - US saw highest number of mass killings on record in 2019, database reveals

Researchers say 41 mass killings claimed 211 lives this year, even as the overall homicide rate fell.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-50936575

RFS expected to give Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks the go-ahead

The Rural Fire Service says it's “highly unlikely” Sydney Harbour’s New Year's Eve fireworks will be called off, with the danger rating predicted to stay well below catastrophic.

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RFS expected to give Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks the go-ahead

China scraps forced labour for sex workers

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Mitchell laments Phoenix defensive woes in race for the finals

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New on Sports Illustrated: No. 19 Kentucky Outlasts Rival No. 3 Louisville in Overtime Win

Kentucky big man Nick Richards dominated down the stretch, as the Wildcats notched a much-needed overtime win over rival Louisville.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Nick Richards had 13 points, including seven consecutive ones in overtime, and No. 19 Kentucky scored the final eight points for a 78-70 victory over No. 3 Louisville on Saturday in a thrilling Bluegrass rivalry showdown.

Louisville led 68-65 on Jordan Nwora's 3-pointer with 2:20 left before Richards converted a 3-point play to make it 70-68. The junior forward added another layup and two more foul shots before Immanuel Quickley and Tyrese Maxey provided a six-point cushion from the line. Ashton Hagans' dunk with 4.9 seconds left sealed the tense win at Rupp Arena.

Maxey's free throws capped a career-best 27-point performance while Richards had 10 rebounds to end a two-game losing streak by the Wildcats (9-3). Quickley had 18 points for Kentucky, which shot 46% for its 10 win over Louisville in 13 meetings.

Steven Enoch had 18 points and Dwayne Sutton for the Cardinals (11-2). Louisville shot just 40% and made just 3 of 9 in overtime. The Cards were also dreadful from the line, making just 9 of 20.

BIG PICTURE

Louisville: The Cardinals fought back from second-half deficits of 12 and six points to force OT but left a lot of points on the floor with misses from inside and outside the arc and especially at the line. High-scoring Jordan Nwora managed just eight points with one 3-pointer after entering the game averaging 21.2 points per contest.

Kentucky: Though coach John Calipari insisted this game wouldn't make or break the Wildcats' season, there was urgency to end the losing streak with SEC play starting next weekend. Richards provided needed strength in the post while Maxey supplied the offense, especially with clutch baskets after Louisville tightened the game and took the lead in overtime. Shutting down Nwora was a big help.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Kentucky avoided dropping out of the rankings with a much-needed win. Louisville might drop a couple of spots but remain in the Top 10.

UP NEXT

Louisville returns to Atlantic Coast Conference play seeking a 3-0 start when it hosts Florida State on Jan. 4.

Kentucky hosts Missouri on Jan. 4 in its Southeastern Conference opener.

December 29, 2019 at 05:33AM
No. 19 Kentucky Outlasts Rival No. 3 Louisville in Overtime Win

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New on Sports Illustrated: Don Imus, Made and Betrayed by His Mouth, Dead at 79

The legendary radio personality of "Imus in the Morning" passed away Friday morning of complications from lung disease.

NEW YORK (AP) — Radio personality Don Imus, whose career was made and then undone by his acid tongue during a decades-long rise to stardom and an abrupt public plunge after a nationally broadcast racial slur, has died. He was 79.

Imus died Friday morning at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in College Station, Texas, after being hospitalized since Christmas Eve, according to a statement issued by his family. Deirdre, his wife of 25 years, and his son Wyatt, 21, were at his side, with his son Zachary Don Cates returning from military service overseas.

He died of complications from lung disease.

Imus survived drug and alcohol woes, a raunchy appearance before President Clinton and several firings during his long career behind the microphone. But he was vilified and eventually fired after describing a women’s college basketball team as “nappy headed hos.”

His April 2007 racist and misogynist crack about the mostly black Rutgers squad, an oft-replayed 10-second snippet, crossed a line that Imus had long straddled as his irascible rants catapulted him to prominence. The remark was heard coast to coast on 60 radio stations and on a simulcast aired each morning on MSNBC.

At the time, his “Imus in the Morning” show was home to presidential hopefuls, political pundits and his favorite musicians, a must-listen in the media and political corridors of New York and Washington. Ten years earlier, Time magazine had named him one of the 25 most influential Americans. But the remark made him an immediate pariah and he was dropped by CBS Radio and MSNBC.

Imus apologized repeatedly, calling his remark “completely inappropriate ... thoughtless and stupid,” and met with the team to hear how his comment hurt them. Although he returned to radio, and the Fox Business Network simulcast his show for a number of years, he never approached the same influence before retiring in 2018.

The incident “did change my feelings about making fun of some people who didn’t deserve to be made fun of and didn’t have a mechanism to defend themselves,” Imus told CBS News upon his retirement.

Imus’ unsparing on-air persona was tempered by his off-air philanthropy, raising more than $40 million for groups including the CJ Foundation for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. He ran a New Mexico ranch for dying children, and often used his radio show to solicit guests for donations.

A pediatric medical center bearing Imus’ name was opened at the Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.

Imus, born on a Riverside, California cattle ranch, was the oldest of two boys — his brother Fred later became an “Imus In the Morning” show regular. The family moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, where Imus joined the Marines before taking jobs as a freight train brakeman and uranium miner.

Only at age 28 did he appear on the airwaves. His caustic persona, though it would later serve him well, was initially a problem: Imus was canned by a small station in Stockton, California, for uttering the word “hell.”

The controversy only enhanced his career, a pattern that continued throughout the decades.

Imus, moving to larger California stations, earned Billboard’s “Disc Jockey of the Year” award for medium-sized markets after a stunt where he ordered 1,200 hamburgers to go from a local McDonald’s.

He moved to Cleveland and by 1971, was doing the morning drive-time show on WNBC-AM in New York, the nation’s largest and most competitive radio market. He brought along a destructive taste for vodka.

He was a “shock jock” before the term was coined, and listeners flocked to hear what outrageous things he’d say, like phoning people to wake them up and ask, “Are ya naked?” His demons also made it an open question many mornings whether he’d show up for his 6 a.m. shift.

Imus was fired by WNBC but returned in triumph two years later adding a new vice: cocaine. While his career turned around, his first marriage, which produced daughters Nadine, Ashley, Elizabeth and Toni, fell apart.

Imus struggled with addiction until a 1987 stint at a Florida alcohol rehabilitation center, coming out just as WNBC became the fledgling all-sports station WFAN, which retained Imus’ non-sports show as its morning anchor.

His career again soared. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame and MSNBC signed up his simulcast when the network started in 1996. He mixed comedy with A-list guests like Senators John Kerry and John McCain. Media personalities like NBC’s Tim Russert and Frank Rich of The New York Times were regulars.

A book plug on Imus’ show guaranteed sales, and authors were soon queuing up for a slot on the show.

Imus rarely missed a chance to get in trouble, even in the good times. He engaged in a long-running feud with shock jock Howard Stern, who usurped Imus’ position as the No. 1 morning host in New York City.

But as he retired, Imus called Stern one of the top five radio personalities of all time. He gave himself the same rank, adding Arthur Godfrey, Wolfman Jack and Jack Benny.

“He had a big problem with me,” Imus said about Stern. “I didn’t with him.”

In 1996, Imus outraged guests at the annual Radio and Television Correspondents Association Dinner in 1996, cracking wise about President Clinton’s extramarital activities as the first lady sat stone-faced nearby. “We all know you’re a pot-smoking weasel,” Imus said at another point about Clinton.

A White House spokesman called Imus’ bit “fairly tasteless.”

One year later, he was sued by a Manhattan judge after ripping the jurist on air as a “creep” and “a senile old dirtbag.” Critics carped over the show’s content, with Imus deflecting most complaints by claiming he was an all-inclusive offender. However, one show regular was fired in 2005 after a particularly vile crack about cancer-stricken singer Kylie Minogue.

A February 2006 profile in Vanity Fair contained the quote that might best serve as Imus’ epitaph.

“I talk to millions of people every day,” he said while riding home in a limousine after one show. “I just like it when they can’t talk back.”

Imus remarried in December 1994, to the former Deirdre Coleman. They had one son, Wyatt, and adopted Zachary after he attended one of his camps for cancer-stricken children.

December 28, 2019 at 07:18AM
Don Imus, Made and Betrayed by His Mouth, Dead at 79

New on Sports Illustrated: LeBron James Gifts Ohio State Football Beats Headphones Ahead of Fiesta Bowl

One of Ohio State's most famous fans gave the team a pregame College Football Playoff gift earlier this week.

Ahead of the No. 2 Buckeyes' Fiesta Bowl matchup against No. 3 Clemson on Saturday, Ohio native LeBron James gave the entire team Beats headphones and sent the group a motivational note.

“Best of luck men!” James wrote. “You guys are here for a reason so just enjoy the moment and make the most of it! Don’t settle for nothing less than greatness! O-H … #GoBucks!”

James, a native of Akron, Ohio, has been a longtime Ohio State football fan. He has given the football team headphones previously, providing the Buckeyes team with new Beats ahead of their National Championship matchup against Oregon in Jan. 2015. That year, he worked with the NCAA to make sure the school and players would not be violating any rules by accepting the headphones.

He’s been to multiple games when his schedule allows, and this week it was also discovered that Ohio State was selling basketball jerseys with the NBA star's name on the back.

It's unclear how much of Saturday's Fiesta Bowl James will watch however, as his Lakers tip off against the Blazers two hours after the football game begins.

Kickoff for Ohio State-Clemson is set for 8 p.m. ET.

December 28, 2019 at 07:14AM
LeBron James Gifts Ohio State Football Beats Headphones Ahead of Fiesta Bowl

New on Sports Illustrated: Le'Veon Bell Optimistic About Jets' Future, Committed to Rebuild

Despite New York's struggles this season, Le'Veon Bell reiterated Friday that he wants to return next season.

Le'Veon Bell and the Jets (6-9) enter Week 17 three games under .500, having struggled for extended portions of the 2019 season. But despite the team's inconsistent play, Bell wants to return to New York next season.

"I wouldn't have signed here for four years if I didn't want to be here four years," he told reporters Friday.

Bell signed a free agent contract worth $52.5 million over four years this past offseason, but he has had the worst statistical year of his career. Through 14 games of action, he's rushed for only 748 yards and three touchdowns, adding 425 receiving yards and a single receiving touchdown.

By comparison, in his last season with the Steelers, the Michigan State product rushed for 1,291 yards and nine touchdowns. He also recorded 85 catches for 655 yards and two scores.

When Bell joined the Jets he discussed the importance of wanting to get increased security.

"Ultimately, I wanted to get a long-term contract," he told SI's Jenny Vrentas. "And, be happy and go somewhere where I feel valued and get guaranteed security over the course of my contract of playing football."

And he admitted Friday that he knew success on the field wouldn't happen overnight.

"When I did sign here, I didn't expect us to go 16-0, you know what I'm saying?" Bell said. "I knew it would be a process. I understand everything. We got a young quarterback, a whole group of guys coming in -- new offensive coordinators, head coaches. ... I understand what goes on."

The team was reportedly looking to deal Bell before this year's trade deadline, but his $13.5 million in 2020 limited the market and might also prevent him from being moved this offseason. The 27-year-old, however, has no contract guarantees after next season.

New York ends its 2019 campaign this Sunday when it travels to Buffalo to face off against the playoff-bound Bills. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.

December 28, 2019 at 06:50AM
Le'Veon Bell Optimistic About Jets' Future, Committed to Rebuild

Helicopter crash site found in Hawaii, search for survivors on

Washington DC [USA], Dec 28 (Sputnik/ANI): US rescue teams have found the wreckage of a helicopter that went missing in Hawaii with seven people aboard and continue searching for survivors, the Kauai

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WADA Vows 'Utmost Vigor' In Defense Against Russia Doping Appeal

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) says it will defend itself with "utmost vigor" after Russia lodged a formal protest over the agency's decision to ban the country from major sporting events for

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BBC NEWS - Edward Gallagher: Navy Seals called platoon leader 'freaking evil'

Newly released video shows testimony against Seal accused of war crimes but championed by Trump.

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Rapper's number and sperm concerns among Brits' strangest consular queries

The British Foreign Office received some doozies from Brits abroad in 2019 and has been forced to remind citizens of the purpose of consular assistance.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Report: James Wiseman Signs With Agency, Officially Ending College Career

James Wiseman has officially turned his attention to preparing for the 2020 NBA draft.

James Wiseman has officially turned the page to the next stage of his basketball career.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Wiseman, a potential No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA draft, has signed with Excel Sports for his professional representation, ending his college career. In doing so, he will start preparing for the 2020 draft.

On Dec. 19, Wiseman announced that he had left the University of Memphis and was turning his attention to the NBA.

Wiseman's departure from Memphis came amid a 12-game suspension he was in the middle of serving. He received the ban on Nov. 20 after the NCAA discovered his mother accepted $11,500 from coach Penny Hardaway to help the family relocate from Nashville to Memphis in 2017. Wiseman was still in high school at the time. The NCAA also ordered him to donate $11,500 to a charity of his choice. Memphis appealed Wiseman's suspension, which the NCAA ruled to uphold on Nov. 27. He was eligible to return from his suspension on Jan. 12, 2020, when Memphis faces South Florida.

Hardaway was an assistant coach at East High School in Memphis at the time he made the payment to Wiseman's mother. The NCAA determined he was a University of Memphis booster because he donated $1 million to the school in 2008 to help establish its Penny Hardaway Hall of Fame.

Wiseman was first ruled ineligible by the NCAA on Nov. 8, hours before Memphis' game against Illinois-Chicago. However, a Tennessee judge put the ruling on hold pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by the forward against the NCAA. Wiseman later withdrew his lawsuit because it became "an impediment" to Memphis' efforts to reach a resolution with the NCAA on his eligibility status, his lawyers said.

Wiseman played three games for the Tigers, averaging nearly 20 points per game on 77% shooting from the field.

In joining Excel Sports, he joins an agency that represents a number of the league's top players, including Nikola Jokia, Kemba Walker, Kevin Love and Brandon Ingram.

December 28, 2019 at 06:14AM
Report: James Wiseman Signs With Agency, Officially Ending College Career

BBC NEWS - India Citizenship Act protests: 'Our son was shot dead by police'

Muslims in India tell the BBC of police brutality, and why they fear losing their citizenship rights.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-50929194

BBC NEWS - French government to scan social media for tax cheats

French court says government can comb profiles, posts and pictures for evidence of undeclared income.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50930094

BBC NEWS - Jeffrey Epstein case: FBI 'investigating Ghislaine Maxwell'

The British socialite and others are part of an inquiry into "people who facilitated" the financier.

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New on Sports Illustrated: College Football Playoff History: Results From Every Year

Look back on every College Football Playoff matchup since its start in 2015.

It's time for the College Football Playoff, where four teams will compete for a chance to win the national championship.

This year's semifinals include No. 1 LSU and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow against No. 4 Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. Later, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Clemson will meet in Glendale for the Fiesta Bowl. Both games will be played on Dec. 28, with the winners of each matchup advancing to the national championship game in New Orleans on Jan. 13.

The College Football Playoff is still a relatively new tradition and was adopted in 2015.

The selection committee ranks teams based on their evaluation of the program's performance on the field, using conference championships won, strength of schedule, head-to-head results and comparison of results against common opponents to decide which teams are comparable.

At the end of the regular season, the top four teams in the College Football Playoff rankings advance to the CFP semifinals, which rotate annually among the Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl. The two winners of the semifinals meet in the national championship, which is held in a different city each year.

Ohio State won the first College Football Playoff National Championship in 2015. Since then, both Clemson and Alabama have each won two championship titles.

Here's the Results From Every Playoff Semifinals and National Championship Game:

This year's College Football Playoff semifinals will kickoff at 4 p.m. ET on Dec. 28 with LSU vs. Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl. Following that game, the Fiesta Bowl will start at 8 p.m. ET featuring Ohio State vs. Clemson.

December 28, 2019 at 05:38AM
College Football Playoff History: Results From Every Year

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1. N.Y. Giants

2. Carolina

3. Dallas

4. Cleveland

5. Washington

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