ClubSocial: 2020-01-12

BBC NEWS - Australia fires: Have gum trees made the bushfires worse?

Eucalyptus trees tend to be highly flammable, but they also have the ability to recover from fires.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-51132965

Woman struck by lightning as storms linger over south-east Queensland

A female worker at the port of Brisbane was taken to hospital as a precaution after lightning struck the crane she was working in early on Sunday morning.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Cubs Fans Boo Chairman Tom Ricketts at Team Convention

A quiet offseason and new TV network had Cubs fans booing at the team's Convention.

Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts heard his share of boos at the Cubs Convention on Friday while the team remains quiet in free agency.

Coming off a season in which the Cubs fell short of the playoffs, Chicago has yet to add significant pieces or sign its core players to extensions. Former NL MVP Kris Bryant has been on the trade market throughout the offseason, beloved former manager Joe Maddon is gone and the team is no longer the favorite in the NL Central. There's uncertainty in Wrigleyville for the first time since the Cubs returned to prominence in 2015, and the Convention's usually positive atmosphere has soured.

“I’m sorry we don’t have a prize free agent or something sexier to talk about right now,” Ricketts said in an interview with WSCR-AM 670 on Day 2 of the Cubs Convention.

To add to the tension, fans also brought heavy boos when Ricketts mentioned the "Marquee Sports Network," the Cubs' new television outlet set to launch in February. With the new season approaching, the network has yet to make a deal with Comcast's Xfinity—the area's largest carrier—keeping some fans without a method to watch the team.

Following his appearance, Ricketts insisted that fans did not necessarily boo him, saying that they were "worried about change" and that he is confident a deal will get done.

Meanwhile, Ricketts hinted that the MLB competitive balance tax may keep the Cubs from keeping all of the team's 2016 World Series-winning core together.

“It’s not the only factor, but it’s certainly something that got put into the last collective bargaining agreement, and we have to work with it,” Ricketts told the Score’s David Haugh and Bruce Levine.

Chicago has yet to finalize extensions with Bryant and shortstop Javier Báez, who is set to hit free agency after the 2021 season. Bryant has filed a grievance against the Cubs for manipulating his service time when they delayed his major-league debut a few weeks in 2015. Right now, Bryant will become a free agent at the same time Báez does, but if he wins his case against the club (which is unlikely), he will enter free agency at the end of the 2020 season.

“It would be awesome to keep everyone together,” Ricketts said. “That would be great. But the reality is the way players work their way toward free agency makes it difficult.”

January 19, 2020 at 07:20AM
Cubs Fans Boo Chairman Tom Ricketts at Team Convention

Woman struck by lightning as storms linger over south-east Queensland

Facebook apologises after vulgar translation of Chinese leader's name

YANGON - Facebook said on Saturday (Jan 18) it was working to find out how Chinese leader Xi Jinping's name appeared as "Mr S***hole" in posts on its platform when translated into English from Burmese, apologising for any offence caused and saying the problem had been fixed.

The error came to light on the second day of a visit by the president to the South-east Asian country, where Xi and state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi signed dozens of agreements covering massive Beijing-backed infrastructure plans.

A statement about the visit published on Suu Kyi's official Facebook page was littered with references to "Mr S***hole" when translated to English, while a headline in local news journal the Irrawaddy appeared as "Dinner honours president s***hole".

It was not clear how long the issue had lasted but Google's translation function did not show the same error.

"We have fixed an issue regarding Burmese to English translations on Facebook and are working to identify the cause to ensure that it doesn't happen again," Facebook said in a statement.

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Westwood takes one-shot lead in Abu Dhabi

Lee Westwood, chasing his 25th European Tour win, has moved into a one-shot lead after the third round of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

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Clashes shake Beirut as anti-government protests explode in violence

The protests are the most intense since late last year when mass protests triggered the resignation of the Lebanon's prime minister.

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Flickers of joy flare briefly but lack true sparkle

The 30-year revival of the groundbreaking musical requires further resuscitation.

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BBC NEWS : What has Donald Trump actually achieved on trade?

The self-styled 'Tariff Man' uses tariffs for negotiation but how successful has he been?

January 19, 2020 at 05:39AM

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BBC NEWS : Davos 2020: What is the World Economic Forum and is it elitist?

The rich and powerful will gather in Davos this week, but claims of elitism still dog the event.

January 18, 2020 at 04:10AM

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Stars 'won't risk form' heading into BBL finals: Maxwell

The competition-leading Melbourne Stars have room to experiment heading into the BBL finals but they do not want to risk losing momentum.

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Missing elderly woman found dead in Queensland bushland

An elderly woman who went missing from a vast central Queensland property has been found dead in bushland.

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Missing elderly woman found dead in Queensland bushland

An elderly woman who went missing from a vast central Queensland property has been found dead in bushland.

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BBC NEWS - Trump impeachment: Legal team says charges 'brazen and unlawful'

The response to the trial summons gives the first glimpse of what will form the White House's defence.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51165024

BBC NEWS - National Archives sorry for censoring 2017 Women's March signs

The US agency says it was wrong to blur out signs critical of the president at the 2017 Women's March.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51165023

BBC NEWS - The 'tiny' recipe to YouTube success

This Indian couple's miniature cooking videos have earned them hundreds of thousands of subscribers.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-51148001

BBC NEWS - When sexual abuse was called seduction: France confronts its past

Vanessa Springora has given an account of the traumatic effects of her relationship with a writer.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51133850

This is the guy who took away the likes

Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram has lead its critical project: the elimination of public "likes."

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'Brazen and unlawful': Trump's impeachment defence revealed

Trump's legal team has denied impeachment charges in its first official response to two articles of impeachment, choosing not to deny the core allegations of Democrats.

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This is the guy who took away the likes

Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram has lead its critical project: the elimination of public "likes."

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City look to bolster defence but Mombaerts happy now Noone on song

Melbourne City are looking to shore up their defence with Scottish reports linking them to Celtic defender Jack Hendry. But coach Mombaerts is happy with his attack.

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'It's creepy': The secretive company co-founded by an Australian that might end privacy as we know It

A little-known start-up helps law enforcement match photos of unknown people to their online images — and "might lead to a dystopian future or something", a backer says.

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Boris Johnson 'plans to move House of Lords'

The British PM has promised to ramp up investment in the north of England after making large gains there during the election.

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Malvern's touchscreen tech secrets now on your radar

Hopes that a new science centre at one of Britain's most secret sites will inspire next generation.

from BBC News - Technology https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-51094729

Robin Bailey returns to Brisbane's 97.3FM with old mates

The Brisbane radio personality has picked herself up again to be back on air after the death of her husband Sean Pickwell.

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No one-hit wonders: How Thailand defied odds to qualify for World Cup

Thailand's qualification for the 2020 Women's T20 World Cup is remarkable considering the development of the game in the southeast Asian nation.

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Travelling picture show man still peddling joy after all these years

Its summer again, and that means veteran projectionist Rick Wynne-Yorke is on the road, bringing cinema to the people.

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'Shattered' ex-congressman weeps at sentencing over Australian stocks

One of Donald Trump's most ardent supporters has been sentenced to prison for an illegal stock tip about an Australian Stock Exchange-listed biotech firm.

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Travelling picture show man still peddling joy after all these years

Its summer again, and that means veteran projectionist Rick Wynne-Yorke is on the road, bringing cinema to the people.

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Daylight armed robbery at inner west brothel

Two men armed with knives have allegedly threatened staff at a brothel in Sydney's inner west on Friday afternoon.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Former Cowboys HC Jason Garrett to Be Giants' New Offensive Coordinator

Former Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett is reportedly staying in the NFC East.

Jason Garrett is reportedly staying in the NFC East.

Just weeks after getting fired from the Dallas Cowboys, Garrett has agreed to become the offensive coordinator for the New York Giants, according to ESPN's Ed Werder.

In doing so, Garrett joins first-year head coach Joe Judge's staff.

Garrett had been part of the Cowboys' front office since 2007 when he joined as offensive coordinator. He was promoted to assistant head coach and offensive coordinator the next season, and acted as interim head coach in 2010 before being named head coach in 2011. He finished with an 85–67 record as head coach of the Cowboys, but won only two playoff games.

Judge, 39, has spent the last eight years with the New England Patriots as the special teams and wide receivers coach. Judge had an offer to become the head coach at his alma mater Mississippi State but decided on heading to the NFL.

He also worked under Nick Saban as a special teams assistant at Alabama from 2009-2011. In his career, Judge has three Super Bowl rings as a Patriots assistant and two BCS championships with Alabama.

Last season, the Giants ranked 18th out of 32 teams in terms of points for and finished 23rd in yards. Despite the team's below-average production, however, they do have a number of promising young players on offense, including Saquon Barkley, Daniel Jones and Darius Slayton.

January 18, 2020 at 06:25AM
Report: Former Cowboys HC Jason Garrett to Be Giants' New Offensive Coordinator

Daylight armed robbery at inner west brothel

Two men armed with knives have allegedly threatened staff at a brothel in Sydney's inner west on Friday afternoon.

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Exposed and vulnerable: action needed now to protect Australia's fauna

Roger Lembit is one of the first scientists to make it into the fire ground in NSW’s Blue Mountains.

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'Too short to make it': Barty silences doubters on road to No.1

Ashleigh Barty is fronting a new campaign encouraging girls to stay in sport, after research showing the toll of peer pressure and obsession over body image.

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Exposed and vulnerable: action needed now to protect Australia's fauna

Roger Lembit is one of the first scientists to make it into the fire ground in NSW’s Blue Mountains.

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BBC NEWS - Minnesota voters cast first ballots of 2020 election

While the nation has its eyes turned to Iowa, voters in Minnesota have already cast the first ballots.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51156991

BBC NEWS - Iran tensions: Khamenei's 'defiant message' at Friday prayers

Iran's supreme leader hit out at his "enemies" following recent turmoil in the region.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-51150971

BBC NEWS - 'We can get along because that's America'

How a "big hairy Trump guy" and a "queer individual" bonded at a rally for the Democrats in New Hampshire.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51158038

New on Sports Illustrated: Former Royals Owner David Glass Dies at 84

Former Walmart Inc. chief executive David Glass owned the Kansas City Royals for nearly two decades before selling the franchise last fall.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Former Walmart Inc. chief executive David Glass, who owned the Kansas City Royals for nearly two decades before selling the franchise last fall, died last week of complications form pneumonia. He was 84.

The Glass family said the businessman died Jan. 9. He had been dealing with health issues for some time.

Glass began negotiations early last year to sell the Royals, who reached the World Series twice under his ownership and won the title in 2015. The deal valued at about $1 billion with a group led by Kansas City businessman John Sherman was completed Nov. 26 after Major League Baseball owners voted unanimously to approve it.

''I am deeply saddened by the news of David's passing,'' Sherman said in a statement. ''His voice among other owners was so respected. He served on and led several Major League Baseball committees to better our game. His passion for baseball and love for Kansas City was the driving force in bringing success on the field for this franchise.

''Personally, I will be forever indebted to David for reaching out to offer the generational opportunity to be part of this proud and storied franchise,'' Sherman added. ''On behalf of the entire ownership group, I want to express deepest gratitude to the heart of a man who carefully placed a treasure in the hands of Kansas Citians. We pledge to carry it forward with his passionate commitment and selfless spirit.''

Glass was born in Mountain, View, Missouri, and joined the U.S. Army after he was graduated from high school. He earned a degree from Missouri State before beginning his business career at Crank Drug Company in 1960.

Glass left the company in 1968 and worked for two other companies until 1976, when Walmart founder Sam Walter recruited him to be his company's chief financial officer. Glass continued to take on a bigger role with the company until 1988, when he was named president and CEO of the retail giant. Over the ensuing 12 years, he led the company through a period of dramatic growth and expansions internationally and into new retail formats.

"When we lost my dad, David provided a steady, visionary hand the company needed to lead it forward. He did so with a deep sense of humility while maintaining the values and principles dad founded the company on,'' former Walmart chairman Rob Walton said. ''More than anyone beyond Sam Walton, David Glass is responsible for making Walmart the company it is today. On behalf of the entire Walton family, I want to express our appreciation for David as a leader and as a friend. He will be deeply missed.''

He also will be missed in Kansas City, his home-away-from home due to his ownership of the Royals.

Glass helped to keep the franchise in Kansas City following the death of founding owner Ewing Kauffman in 1993. He served as caretaker of the organization until April 2000, when he purchased sole ownership for $96 million - a strong bid at the time. And while his ownership will be remembered for two American League pennants and a World Series trophy, for many years he was considered a pariah among fans for his notoriously frugal ways.

The Royals endured many 100-loss seasons, and they became known for trading top talent while refusing to sign notable free agents. Many fans also viewed him as an absentee owner more committed to Arkansas than Kansas City.

But most of those opinions changed when Glass hired Dayton Moore as general manager in 2006. Glass vowed to build the organization the right way, and he gave Moore the resources and responsibility to accomplish that objective.

''When I sat down across the table from Mr. Glass, as he began to share his vision for the Kansas City Royals, it was all about wanting to create a model organization,'' Moore said Friday. ''It was all about putting a competitive team on the field for our fans and our city. I came to understand he owner a baseball team for all the right reasons. It wasn't about him as an owner, it was about being a great steward of the franchise and preserving the great game he enjoyed as a little boy.''

Glass continued that enjoyment even after he agreed to sell the franchise. He showed up to Kauffman Stadium several times late in the season, watching the Royals with the same boyhood fascination as always.

''I'm here because where else would you want to be on a Saturday evening but the ballpark?'' Glass said told The Associated Press one September afternoon, leaning over the dugout during batting practice. ''I'm not going to stop enjoying baseball. I went to my first game in 1946 and I've been a baseball junkie ever since.''

Glass had been in declining health, increasing his urgency to sell the club. But he had called Moore on Christmas Day and later said he was looking forward to attending spring training with a group of his friends.

''We weren't expecting to get this news this early in 2020, that's for sure,'' Moore said.

Regardless of how he was perceived by the public, Glass always had the unwavering support of Moore and Ned Yost, his longtime manager. Yost even called watching Glass raise the World Series trophy at Citi Field in 2015 ''one of the top three highlights of my baseball career, because we had accomplished it for him.''

''I will never forget the thrill of seeing over 800,000 people of this community come together on one sunny November day to salute the newly crowned world champions. It's been a fantastic ride,'' Glass said upon announcing the sale of the franchise, ''and I want to thank our great fans for supporting us through the years. But now it's time for someone else to oversee this franchise into its next championship.''

During his ownership of the Royals, Glass served on key MLB committees. He was the chairman of MLB Advanced Media, a member of Major League Baseball's executive council and - not surprising, given his background - an integral part of the finance committee.

Glass was elected to the board of the Hall of Fame, too.

Glass and his wife, Ruth, have three children, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. They also were actively involved in several philanthropic endeavors, and Missouri State named its business hall in his honor.

The family said a memorial will be held Jan. 27 at Northwest Arkansas Fellowship Bible Church in Rogers, Arkansas.

''Due to his authentic humility, we think David Glass may be the most under-appreciated CEO in the history of business,'' said Doug McMillon, the current president and CEO of Walmart. ''The choices he made and the results of the company reflect his wisdom, dedication and servant leadership. We will miss him immensely and are eternally grateful.''

January 18, 2020 at 05:50AM
Former Royals Owner David Glass Dies at 84

Trump Ridicules Khamenei, Urges Tehran To 'Make Iran Great Again'

U.S. President Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to warn Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to be 'very careful with his words' after the Iranian called the U.S. leader a "clown" during

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Nazi memorabilia for sale at Melbourne trash and treasure market

Images of the market stall show badges and rings with swastikas for sale.

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BBC NEWS : Sainsbury's named cheapest supermarket of 2019 by Which?

The study by Which? compared the price of 53 products but did not include discounters Aldi and Lidl.

January 18, 2020 at 05:32AM

from BBC News - Business
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Nazi memorabilia for sale at Melbourne trash and treasure market

Images of the market stall show badges and rings with swastikas for sale.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Michigan vs. Iowa Live Stream: How to Watch, TV Channel, Start Time

Find out how to watch Michigan vs. Iowa on Friday.

Michigan and Iowa both got off to strong starts this season, but have encountered some growing pains in the early portion of Big Ten play. When the Wolverines and Hawkeyes meet on Friday, both squads will have a chance to put some of their recent woes behind them and get a key win for their tournament resumes.

How to Watch

When: Friday, Jan. 17

Time: 9:00 p.m. ET

TV: FS1

Live Stream: fuboTV (try for free)

No. 19 Michigan (11-5, 2-3) suffered a loss in its last game, dropping a 75-67 decision to the Minnesota Golden Gophers on the road. Zavier Simpson led the Wolverines in scoring with 19 points, but Michigan was overmatched by a Golden Gophers team that shot nearly 55% from the field. Minnesota big man Daniel Oturu led all scorers with 30 points. The Wolverines will need to defend another big man in Iowa’s Luka Garza to avoid another loss. Michigan still has yet to win a true road game in the 2019-20 season.

Iowa (12-5, 3-3) started the conference season at 1-3, but has rebounded with two straight wins against Big Ten opponents. The most recent of those wins was a 75-62 road win over the Northwestern Wildcats. Iowa held the Wildcats to 36% shooting and 29% shooting from three-point range. Garza led all scorers with 27 points for the Hawkeyes. With a chance to score a home win over a ranked opponent and to get over .500 in conference play, this could be a season-defining contest for Iowa.

January 18, 2020 at 05:28AM
Michigan vs. Iowa Live Stream: How to Watch, TV Channel, Start Time

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: NBA Puts Possible Schedule Changes Vote on Hold

A vote to consider possible changes to the NBA schedule is reportedly no longer planned for April.

A vote to consider possible changes to the NBA schedule is no longer planned for April, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Instead, according to ESPN, the NBA informed its teams on Friday that it wants to continue learning more about the three significant items, including an in-season tournament, a play-in tournament and the reseeding of the conference finalists.

In December, the NBA reportedly sent a proposal outlining such sweeping changes to its teams. It hoped to get its approval from two-thirds of the teams (23) and the NBPA to agree to the calendar changes, enacting the adjustments in 2021-22, the league's 75th anniversary season.

The sweeping changes to the NBA schedule could have a major impact on the league.

As Sports Illustrated's legal analyst Michael McCann wrote in November, the league appears to be banking on the idea that some of the proposed changes are popular in other leagues. But the possible changes are not without complications.

McCann noted that significant negotiations would be necessary, not only between the NBA and NBPA but also between the league and its broadcast partners and sponsors. Teams would also need to tweak their contractual understandings with sponsors, venues, food and beverage providers, and regional sports networks. The availability of arenas and other schedule-related conflicts would likely be revisited.

The CBA between the NBA and its players would also need to be modified or amended, according to McCann.

Wojnarowski reports that there is still no consensus on the best time for the 30-team in-season tournament. He adds that there is additional concern over travel if the league does reseed its conference finalists and that large market owners are also concerned that a decrease in home games could come at a net financial loss.

The current CBA runs through the 2023-24 season, with a mutual opt-out clause after the 2022-23 season.

January 18, 2020 at 05:12AM
Report: NBA Puts Possible Schedule Changes Vote on Hold

New on Sports Illustrated: Wisconsin vs. Michigan State Live Stream: How to Watch, TV Channel, Start Time

Find out how to watch Wisconsin vs. Michigan State on Friday.

It may be a long season, but Wisconsin and Michigan State couldn’t be headed in more opposite directions as Big Ten basketball starts to heat up. On Friday, we’ll see which team comes out on top.

How to Watch:

When: Friday, Jan. 17

Time: 7:00 p.m. ET

TV: FS1

Live Stream: fuboTV (try for free)

No. 15 Michigan State would like to forget its road game on Sunday against Purdue. The team got trounced 71-42 by the Boilermakers, marking the team’s first conference loss of the season. Michigan State (13-4, 5-1) suffered its worst loss ever as a top-10 team. The Spartans had never lost as a top-10 team by more than 22 points. Trevion Williams scored 16 points for Purdue, who relied on a staunch defense to keep MSU in check. Cassius Winston finished with 10 points, but also nine turnovers. It marked the Spartans first loss since Dec. 3.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin (11-6, 4-2) is coming off one of its best wins of the season, squeaking by No. 17 Maryland 56-54. In the closing seconds, Brad Davison drilled a three-pointer from the corner that proved to be the game-winner. The Badgers scored their third consecutive win over a ranked opponent this season. The last time Wisconsin won three consecutive games against ranked opponents was during the 2015-16 season. Wisconsin held an opponent under 60 points for the seventh time this season. The team is also 6-1 when limiting opponents to fewer than 60 points, including a 3-0 mark in Big Ten play. Junior Nate Reuvers scored in double figures for the 13th time in 17 games, finishing with a team-high 17 points and five rebounds.

January 18, 2020 at 05:10AM
Wisconsin vs. Michigan State Live Stream: How to Watch, TV Channel, Start Time

Communication with players key to easing air quality concerns: Stosur

If tournament officials keep players in the loop about air quality issues there will be less tension, says Samantha Stosur.

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'No one wants to make a movie about men and their feelings': Tom Hanks

The star's latest film enters what he sees as uncharted Hollywood territory.

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Drag storytellers determined to keep kids safe after Brisbane tragedy

Midsumma kids shows will "roll out with all the love" despite last weekend's ugly and tragic protest in Brisbane, performers vow.

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After the smoke clears: a path to zero emissions

A pall has hung over south-eastern Australia since the untimely fires in New South Wales and Queensland late last winter. It will lift from a diminished natural and human heritage. Beautiful parts of Australia have been disfigured. The lift may also reveal a changed political environment, in which all Governments want to join the global action against the climate change threat to our security and prosperity.

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Boy, 13, slashed with knife and kicked on ground at Gold Coast shops

The two groups were arguing in the shopping centre before violence erupted outside.

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Lunch with RFS boss Shane Fitzsimmons: Tears on the darkest days

The commissioner talks of a childhood of family violence, the loss of his father to fire, and how volunteering kept him on the straight and narrow.

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New on Sports Illustrated: The Background That Shapes Dave Aranda, Baylor's New Head Coach

Quiet and cerebral, the Bears' hire has a defensive mind and a Mexican heritage few know about.

Dave Aranda misses the tamales. While others feast on the usual American holiday treats—turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes and green been casserole—Aranda and his family ate tamales. And a lot of them. “It’s weird having Christmas without tamales,” he says in an interview last month with Sports Illustrated. “I would be crushing tamales throughout the lead up to Christmas.”

Baylor’s new head football coach is unique in many ways. Aranda was one of the most unusual longtime defensive coordinators in college football—quiet and cerebral, not a yeller or screamer. He never even played college football, and he originally wanted to enlist in the Navy. But nothing separates Aranda from others in the high-profile coaching fraternity more than his heritage—he’s Mexican American.

Decades after being raised as a Spanish-speaking child in southern California, Aranda landed his first head coaching job at a place with a sprawling Hispanic and Latino community deep in the heart of Texas. The nation’s highest paid assistant is now leading the Big 12 runner-up Bears, replacing Matt Rhule and ending a four-year stretch as LSU’s defensive coordinator. Three days after helping lead the Tigers to a national championship victory over Clemson in New Orleans, Aranda emerged as a top candidate at Baylor, a move SI first reported on Thursday. It came only after the school flirted with Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente and interviewed Cajuns coach Billy Napier.

So what are the Bears getting in Aranda? Many in the industry call him one of the game’s best defensive minds, a 43-year old who captained some of the most successful defensive units in football at LSU and before that for three years at Wisconsin. Because of his cerebral nature, Aranda developed a host of nicknames over the years, most notably The Professor and The Defensive Coordinator Whisper. He’s a football nerd who will often talk about the “math of football” while babbling in technical jargon. Aranda’s scheme is built around “dictating” the terms of the game, a more offensive and attacking approach to defense.

Aside from football, Aranda is a married father of three with a background that few know about: He’s a minority, a man who embraced his Mexican roots in an interview last month with SI. Aranda says both of his parents’ families originated from the Guadalajara area, a six-hour drive west of Mexico City. He grew up speaking a mixture of English and Spanish. Can he speak Spanish today? “Yeah. Cuss words,” he laughs. “That’s all I remember.” Aranda is the 12th minority head football coach among the 65 Power 5 teams, it is believed. He’ll reside in Waco, a place in which about one-third of the population is either Hispanic or Latino. It’s similar to back in his home of Redlands, Calif., a quiet community at the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains about 60 miles east of Los Angeles.

Paul and Marguerite Aranda raised two sons, Dave and Mike, and both got into coaching. Mike is an assistant basketball coach in Redlands. The boys didn’t grow up in an affluent home. Marguerite worked in the social security office, and Paul was a member of a prison parole board. Dave remembers spending hours after school at the YMCA while his parents worked. “We didn’t have a lot of money,” he says. “I just remember all the different people that are hanging out at the YMCA during the day. There would be so many different groups of people: the head bangers, the people who would study, the jocks, there would be the Mexican guys who didn’t speak English. I knew all of those people and could talk to them. I was really quiet always but could talk to them all. I cherished that experience.”

Mike and Dave were both active in sports growing up, but Dave never got to live his dream as a college football player. A Wing-T guard and linebacker, Dave injured his shoulder as a sophomore, something that lingered for years. He has undergone six—six—operations to the right shoulder, he said, and it prevented him from not only playing in college but competing at linebacker in high school. He was moved to the O-line. Dave was tough, even playing an entire half of football after re-injuring the shoulder in a playoff game. Afterwards, doctors X-rayed the arm—he had broken his shoulder. “He was a tough kid. He never came out,” says Miguel Olmeda, Aranda’s coach at Redlands High who he’s still close with. “He’s nails. If he would have played linebacker, he would have gotten recruited.”

Dave often pokes fun at himself over one aspect of his high school days: He was a terrible student. He was too focused on football and film sessions, Olmeda says, rather than Algebra and Geometry. Aranda kept reams of notebooks from the high school film sessions, and Olmeda believes he still has them in his possession. “To this day, he has a spiral notebook at this time full of Xs and Os,” Olmeda says. “He wanted to be a college coach in the worst way.”

At the start, Aranda learned the game on his own, often using the library in California as a tool, pouring over books and jotting down notes. While a student at Cal Lutheran, he studied Philosophy while rooming with Tom Herman, the current Texas coach. Aranda served on the football staff, moving up from the videographer to a student position coach and then a graduate assistant. He spent much of the offseason during those years traveling to various college campuses learning and digesting football. He drove to Arizona State, UCLA and to San Diego to visit the Chargers. He visited Southern Cal, too, meeting with a Trojans’ defensive graduate assistant, a guy named Dave Doeren, and he met with USC’s defensive line coach. His name: Ed Orgeron.

A sponge for knowledge and an architect of defense, Aranda developed a reputation as a guru, but he didn’t make it onto a big stage until Gary Andersen hired him as defensive coordinator at Utah State in 2009. It was a risky move—Aranda and the entire Hawaii staff had just been fired. “It’s hard to be fired in Hawaii,” Aranda said in an interview in 2016. “It’s probably the hardest place to get fired, the time change and all. I think people kind of forget you’re up there. I’ve never been one to work the phones or call. You’re basically kind of sitting around with no one calling.”

Since then, his defense has taken many shapes. While based out of a 3-4, his units are multiple and ever changing, with a host of different packages, and at times, he uses an amoeba formation. “He definitely has a little more of an attacking style of defense, man to man with the corners in some fashion,” LSU safeties coach Bill Busch said in a previous interview. “He likes to figure out ways to change things up. He’s extremely multiple. He has a few different packages.” Years ago, Karl Scott, now an assistant at Alabama, called Aranda the “smartest coach I’ve been around.” The two worked together for a year at Delta State in 2007. In coaching circles, Aranda is most known for using what he calls “creepers,” a simulated blitzer and something he developed over the years with former boss Ron Roberts, now the defensive coordinator at Louisiana. Former longtime coach and current Big Ten Network analyst Gerry DiNardo says Aranda calls plays like an offensive coordinator, always attacking.

His personality is the opposite, a somewhat soft-spoken man with a calming, gentle presence—far removed from the red-faced, high-pitched ol’ ball coach usually found in the defensive coordinator position. Aranda is such a quiet guy that teammates on his high school team in Redlands referred to him as The Fencepost, says Olmeda. “As quiet as you think he is now, he was almost mute in high school,” Olmeda laughs during an interview last month. “He was a kid of few words.” One former colleague said of Aranda, “He’s like a ninja.”

Aranda describes his childhood as “a little bit like it’s another life.” His parents didn’t raise him on football by any means. They knew very little about the sport until now, Aranda says. In fact, during football camps as a child, Aranda was the oddball kid, the one wearing the jeans and dress shoes. “I didn’t fit. But I didn’t know,” he says. “I always think of that when we have camps. We’ll have camps and I’ll see someone that would be me. I always spend time with them. It reminds me of my own experience.”

And now here he is, a Power 5 head coach, a minority with one of football’s biggest jobs. He’s prepared for this for years. “Bottom line,” he says in an interview last month, “is always be yourself.”

January 17, 2020 at 06:18AM
The Background That Shapes Dave Aranda, Baylor's New Head Coach

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From the Archives, 1966: Menzies steps down after record term as Prime Minister

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8Days-Your one-stop guide to the week ahead: January 19-26

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Scotland close to banning heading the ball in under-12 soccer

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Take 5: Can Rodgers, Packers rebound vs. 49ers?

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BBC NEWS - Grieving Kenyan grandmother calls for better road safety

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How the bushfire compensation scheme works

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'Gross overreach': Greens MP to plead not guilty to protest charge

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Everything you need to know about the Australian Open

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Pomp and procession, then impeachment trial begins in earnest

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'Gross overreach': Greens MP to plead not guilty to protest charge

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Mean book clubs and how to avoid them

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Gerry Harvey sells hundreds of cows as bushfires ravage his farms

Joker dominated Oscar nominations because it captures our age perfectly

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New striker gives Melbourne City more X-factor: Jamieson

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From the Archives, 1994: Ros Kelly quits over "sports rorts" affair

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Twitter apologises for letting ads target neo-Nazis and bigots

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New on Sports Illustrated: WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson Dies at 75

Rocky Johnson, WWE Hall of Famer and father of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, died Wednesday at age 75.

Rocky Johnson, WWE Hall of Famer and father of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, died Wednesday at age 75.

Born as Wayde Douglas Bowles, Johnson earned the name "Soul Man" in his time in the WWE. Johnson began his eight-year WWE career in 1983, quickly becoming known for his charisma and physical stature.

Johnson made WWE history when he and Tony Atlas became the first African-American World Tag Team Champions in WWE history. Known as "The Soul Patrol," Johnson and Atlas defeated "The Wild Samoans" on Dec. 10, 1983.

Johnson continued to build rivalries amongst Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, Don Muraco and Adrian Adonis. Johnson also spent time in the National Wrestling Alliance prior to his WWE career.

After his retirement, Johnson went on to train his his son, Dwayne, in his professional wrestling career. As "The Rock," Dwayne remained a professional wrestler for eight years before starting his acting career.

Dwayne had the honor of his inducting his father, Rocky, into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008.

January 16, 2020 at 05:21AM
WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson Dies at 75

BBC NEWS : Estate agents report 'uplift' in housing market

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BBC NEWS : Twitter apologises for letting ads target neo-Nazis and bigots

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BBC NEWS : CEO Secrets: Vegan ice cream entrepreneur shares her advice

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Money giant BlackRock's uncomfortable truth: Going green won't be easy

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No struggle street here: The Perth retail precinct finally getting it right

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Almost one year after Steven Fenwick went missing, NSW offers $500k reward

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Democrats release new documents on eve of impeachment trial

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Why sex tech was the biggest deal at this year's CES

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Jane Bunn leaves 3AW after Seven ends commercial agreement

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Smoke haze forces race meetings to be abandoned, Flemington at risk

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Meghan did not 'dial in' to the Sandringham summit

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New on Sports Illustrated: Steve Gleason to Receive Congressional Gold Medal on Wednesday

Former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony on Wednesday.

NEW ORLEANS — Former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason, who became a leading advocate for people struggling with Lou Gehrig's disease after he was diagnosed with the paralyzing condition, will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony on Jan. 15.

President Donald Trump signed legislation last year awarding Gleason the medal, which is the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress. U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy from Louisiana announced the date for the ceremony in a news release Friday, noting Gleason's struggles with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a degenerative neuro-muscular disease commonly referred to as ALS that left Gleason paralyzed.

"Steve Gleason has shown tremendous courage and resolve in the face of ALS. He has remained positive in the face of extreme adversity, inspiring all who hear his story,” Cassidy said.

On the field, Gleason is best known for his electrifying blocked punt during the Saints' first game in the rebuilt Superdome after 2005's Hurricane Katrina. The city was still rebuilding from the devastating hurricane when Gleason dove to block a punt in the opening minutes of the game against rival Atlanta Falcons. The stadium itself had to be rebuilt after the storm tore open its roof as thousands of people sheltered inside.

The play was such an important part of the team's history and the city's recovery that it was immortalized in a 9-foot-tall (2.7-meter-tall) bronze statue outside the stadium called “Rebirth.” 9 feet

Gleason played seven seasons in the NFL — all with New Orleans. He and his wife continue to live in the city where he's frequently seen at sporting events, fundraisers, Saints' football practices and other events.

In January 2011, he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, a struggle he documented in the 2016 film titled “Gleason.”

Cassidy said Gleason worked with the Congressional Gold Medal Committee on the medal's design. It features Gleason in a Saints jersey. Images of a mountain and forest pay homage to his native state of Washington.

January 15, 2020 at 05:31AM
Steve Gleason to Receive Congressional Gold Medal on Wednesday

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BBC NEWS - Alaskan wilderness survivor tells his story

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January 15, 2020 at 05:36AM

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BBC NEWS : How the sewing machine accidentally liberated women

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January 15, 2020 at 05:37AM

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BBC NEWS : Plug-in and sail: Meet the electric ferry pioneers

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January 14, 2020 at 05:33AM

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Barca sack coach Valverde, appoint Setien

La Liga leaders Barcelona have sacked coach Ernesto Valverde and named former Real Betis coach Quique Setien as his replacement, the club said in a statement.

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How the Queen tried to save the House of Windsor

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Australia's bushfire smoke will do a full lap of the earth: NASA

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Chinese students claim visa delays are 'politically motivated'

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As Uber prepares for Aussie e-bikes, the rentals fight heats up

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New on Sports Illustrated: Firing AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnow Was Jim Crane's Only Option

The Astros needed to move on from their current regime in the wake of MLB's report.

Astros owner Jim Crane gave AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnow only minutes of warning before he fired them on live television Monday. It was a cold, sudden ending to what had been such a warm story, as Hinch, the manager, and Luhnow, the general manager, guided Houston from irrelevance to the franchise’s first world championship, packed houses and three straight 100-win seasons.

Hinch was blown away by the news. He had anticipated discipline from Major League Baseball for failing to stop his team’s sign-stealing schemes in 2017 and 2018, but who actually anticipates getting fired? He was stunned, but still managed to tell Crane he understood and still wants what is best for the organization. Luhnow, true to his stoic self, took the news and was off the phone in a hurry.

Has anybody else been fired on live TV, let alone two successful shepherds of a franchise at the same time? Stunning as it was, Crane acted logically given the findings of the commissioner’s investigation.

The Astros had built a winning culture, but a deeply flawed, impersonal one. Crane would not risk returning to it–not by putting two placeholders into those jobs in 2020 and simply waiting to go back to Hinch and Luhnow in 2021 and the taint they carry. He had to move on permanently, not temporarily.

The report was damning on so many levels. The Astros, it established, cheated “throughout the 2017 postseason,” when they won the World Series, giving an MLB-sanctioned taint to that championship. Alex Cora and Carlos Beltran were at the heart of the schemes–the only named participants after 68 interviews. The Astros used so many methods to pull off their chicanery that it was hard to keep them straight: a runner, a smart watch, a cell phone, the dugout phone, the trash can, the replay monitor, the video room, the back office analysts, clapping, whistling, yelling, a massage gun … wait, what? A massage gun?

This was systematic cheating of the highest order over a two-year period. But what undermines all of it is the lost culture of the Astros–decency and a working moral compass lost in the maniacal quest not just to win but to achieve any incremental edge that made winning a bit more possible. The report damns this “insular culture–one that valued and rewarded results over other considerations, combined with a staff of individuals who often lacked direction or sufficient oversight …”

Luhnow and Hinch, for all their success, barely spoke, symptomatic of the internal dysfunction. The Astros crossed the line commissioner Rob Manfred drew in Sept. 15, 2017, when he alerted all clubs in a memo that the misuse of technology to steal signs would result in harsh penalties, including the loss of draft picks. He put on notice front offices, managers and coaches to make sure such cheating didn’t happen on their watch. According to the report, Luhnow didn’t even “forward the memoranda and did not confirm that the players and field staff were in compliance with MLB rules and the memoranda.”

The report added this punch in the gut to any Astros fan, revealing the ultimate “what if?” moment:

“Had Luhnow taken those steps in September 2017, it is clear to me that the Astros would have ceased both sign-stealing schemes at that time.”

The Astros would not have been penalized if they ceased the schemes at that time. Manfred has made it clear that the Sept. 15, 2017 memo is the line of demarcation: only cheating after that declaration will be met with harsh penalties.

Luhnow took what was an all-points bulletin from the commissioner of baseball and did nothing. Didn’t forward it. Didn’t tell his manager. Didn’t make sure his team was in compliance.

Hinch will manage again someday because the report makes clear he neither participated in nor condoned the sign stealing. His crime was one of one omission. He failed to stop the cheating when it was right in front of him. The industry understands. Luhnow is a different cat, more of an iconoclast who lost favor among the old guard in baseball when he fired advance scouts. His best practices were trashed in the report. His comeback will be more difficult, especially to return to another general manager position.

With smarts and nimbleness, Luhnow built one of the great teams at the end of the decade. But his mistake in 2017 to ignore the commissioner’s warning is one that will stick.

It not only led to the mess that happened Monday, but it also damaged the brand that Crane owns. The owner could not go back to that culture. He had to fire his two top decision makers, even if it happened on live TV.

January 14, 2020 at 05:36AM
Firing AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnow Was Jim Crane's Only Option

New on Sports Illustrated: Inside the Process of Electing the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Centennial Class

Also, some notes about the Browns filling out the rest of its coaching staff behind Kevin Stefanski, how Bill Lazor will fit in as the Bears' offensive coordinator and more.

Those who voted Bill Cowher into the NFL Hall of Fame found out about Saturday’s surprise announcement like the rest of us—on CBS, without any forewarning.

“I was blown away,” said blue-ribbon panel voter Gary Myers, a long-time NFL columnist and the manager of SI’s NFL team sites. “None of us knew.”

Hall of Fame president David Baker does have practice at keeping secrets. These were big ones—the plan all along had been for the 15 Centennial Class inductees to be announced this week on NFL Network. But with Cowher and ex-Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson both on network pregame shows, Baker saw opportunity to get his project, launched in conjunction with the NFL’s 100 anniversary, some publicity.

And it’s fair to guess the voters won’t mind that this undertaking of the last few months is getting a few days in the spotlight. So before we jump into this week’s notes, here are a few facts about the process of electing the Hall’s centennial class.

• The motivation for the class was to account for players from the first 30 years or so of the NFL. The Hall opened in 1963, so naturally, it was always a little more difficult for those from the league’s earliest time to get in.

• The Hall assembled the 25-man blue-ribbon panel to handle it. Thirteen were plucked from the Hall’s regular pool of 48 voters. The remaining 12 included luminaries like Bill Belichick, Bill Polian, Ozzie Newsome and Ron Wolf.

• The 15-man class breaks down like this: 10 will be from the Seniors category (players who’ve been eligible for election for more than 20 years but aren’t in), three will be contributors, and the other two are, as you guys know, coaches.

• So yes, Johnson and Cowher are the only two coaches. They beat out Dick Vermeil, Buddy Parker, Marty Schottenheimer, Mike Holmgren, Don Coryell and Dan Reeves.

• In the Seniors category, a working list of over 200 names was distributed. The voters then gave the Hall a top five from every decade. From those lists, 20 finalists were selected, to go with 10 finalists in the contributors category and eight finalists in the coaches category.

• They voted 20 Seniors down to 15, and then from 15 to the 10 inductees.

• There was no final 80% vote, as there is in normal voting for the classes, and there won’t be for the five modern-era candidates picked at the Super Bowl either. Normally, at the Super Bowl site, the panel narrows the list to five, then votes again on those five, with 80 percent of the final vote needed for induction. In this case, the 80 percent vote was scrapped across the board so the HOF can get to its number of 20, as part of this 20 for ’20 project.

• The 15 in the centennial class won’t be inducted at the normal August ceremony, but the five modern-day inductees will go in as the usually would. A separate ceremony for the group of 15 hasn’t been announced, but the thought it is it’ll be in early fall.

So who else is going in? It’s instructive to look at who’s come close. One example would be ex-NFL commissioner Pail Tagliabue, one of the rare candidates who, during the regular process, was voted into the final group, but then failed to get 80% of the last vote to affirm his induction. Another is ex-Giants GM George Young, who, like Tagliabue, has come close in the past.

We’ll get the results on Wednesday morning, as they’re announced on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football. And now on to the notes …

• One of Kevin Stefanski’s most important moves over the coming weeks will be finding a defensive coordinator, and there are names young and old to consider. Among those on his list were Colts DBs coach Jonathan Gannon, Bills DBs coach John Butler, 49ers DBs coach/passing game coordinator Joe Woods and Eagles special assistant Matt Burke. It’s also worth wondering if Stefanski will consider Vikings DC George Edwards, now that he’s available.

• And then, there’s the Browns front office. They have to pick a GM, and we’ll see the favorite, Andrew Berry, wants it (I’d be surprised if Vikings assistant GM George Paton takes it, but he’s been requested and has a relationship with Stefanski). If Berry’s the guy, there are a couple things to consider.

First, he’s more of a Swiss Army Knife of personnel guy than a scout, which means you’d be going through two levels on that side of the building (between Berry and chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta) before getting to your first traditional evaluator. Second, Berry has built a relationship with Stefanski since the coach’s 2019 interview, but it’s mostly a “stay in touch” type of thing (and he’s not the only Browns official to stay in touch with Stefanski over the last year). Which means the Browns would, again, be projecting how those two would get on together.

• Edwards’s departure from the Vikings was interesting, but my understanding is that it was simply time to move on with his contract expiring. The 52-year-old Edwards had hoped for some head-coaching sniffs when the Minnesota defense was really rolling the last few years. One reason that wasn’t happening—head coach Mike Zimmer calls the defense there.

• It’s worth mentioning too that assistant GM Eliot Wolf is still there with two years left on his deal, as is VP of player personnel Alonzo Highsmith, with a year left on his. Both are respected across football, and their fates have been left in the hands of whoever the next GM is. Right now, those are the top two “traditional” scouts on hand.

• Finally, on the search itself—some of the candidates going through Berea found the place to have more red flags than Tiananmen Square. One big one was the, yes, level of involvement of DePodesta’s analytics team. Both Hue Jackson and Freddie Kitchens were basically told to have senior analyst Dave Giuliani on headsets on game day over the last four years, with Guiliani serving as a sort of game management specialist. What alarmed candidates was that Guiliani, who worked for Chip Kelly in Philly, would not be reporting to the head coach. He’d be reporting to DePodesta directly. Another was that the head coach would have twice-weekly meetings with ownership and analytics people. In the past, the Monday meetings have taken up to half a day, and proposed Friday meetings would be for reviewing game plans.

• More interesting coaching moves: Miami lost defensive coordinator Pat Graham and assistant quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski to the Giants. The reason? Both guys got bumps in title—Graham added “assistant head coach” to his business card, and Schuplinski is the Giants quarterbacks coach, knocking “assistant” off of his. And both are very close to new Giants coach Joe Judge.

• The marriage of Bill Lazor and the Bears will be interesting—Lazor’s known for simplifying scheme for players, weaponizing tempo and finding a way to get guys playing fast. With a quarterback, in Mitch Trubisky, who often seems to think too much on the field, injecting that influence into Matt Nagy’s offense could be a godsend.

• Fun fact: New Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur was actually in the stands at Sunday’s AFC divisional game between the Chiefs and Texans, so he got a good, up close look at what he’s about to be up against in the AFC West. Shurmur’s son Kyle is a practice squad quarterback for Kansas City.

• Underrated piece of the Titans’ run? How they’ve handled what could’ve been a dicey quarterback switch, with a former second overall pick headed to the bench.

“Both quarterbacks handled it extremely well,” corner Logan Ryan said over the phone, after Saturday night’s win. “I think Marcus is doing exactly what you’d think Marcus Mariota would do, the best, most humble person we know. He handled it with grace, he took his role of preparing the defense every week and helping Ryan out, because he’s won games in this league and he’s a starting quarterback, a franchise quarterback as well. And Ryan [Tannehill] has just done an impressive job of improving each and every week and leading the team.”

• Give me Clemson tonight. 38-37 over LSU.

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

January 14, 2020 at 05:18AM
Inside the Process of Electing the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Centennial Class

New on Sports Illustrated: Super Bowl LIV Halftime: Everything You Need to Know

Find out who is headlining Super Bowl LIV's halftime show.

Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will be performing at Super Bowl LIV in Miami on Feb. 2, 2020.

The two shared teasers about their upcoming performance this past September when the news was announced. The duo published pictures of the other, complete with a gold Pepsi cuff on Shakira's upper arm and a Pepsi ring on Lopez's finger, plus a gold ring and necklace featuring the date of the game. Pepsi sponsors the halftime show.

"This is happening. 02.02.20," Lopez wrote in a tweet.

Last year's Super Bowl halftime show was headlined by Maroon 5, with appearances by rapper Travis Scott and Big Boi.

Super Bowl halftime performances started as smaller productions, but after Michael Jackson headlined the 1993 show, the league made a more conscious effort to secure big name performers during the longer-than-normal halftime break.

Performances were crafted around a theme until 2002, but after U2's tribute to the lives lost in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, themes were dropped from the halftime performances. Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Coldplay and Beyonce highlight the show's other recent headliners.

Super Bowl halftime usually lasts anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes, which can be more than twice as long as the traditional break time during regular season games. The longer halftime accommodates the lengthy halftime performance.

Lopez previously performed on Super Bowl eve at the DIRECT NOW Super Saturday Night concert back in 2018, prior to Timberlake's halftime show.

Kickoff for Super Bowl LIV is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on Fox.

January 14, 2020 at 05:06AM
Super Bowl LIV Halftime: Everything You Need to Know

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