NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Scores of sick and ravenous pelicans have been present in coastal California communities in current weeks and lots of others have died.

Lifeguards noticed a cluster of two dozen sick pelicans earlier this week on a pier in coastal Newport Seashore and referred to as in wildlife specialists to help.

Debbie McGuire, govt director of the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Middle in Huntington Seashore, stated the birds are the most recent group that they’ve tried to avoid wasting after taking in additional than 100 different pelicans that have been anemic, dehydrated and weighing solely half of what they need to.

“They’re ravenous to loss of life and if we don’t get them into care, they’ll die,” McGuire stated. “It truly is a disaster.”

It isn’t instantly clear what’s sickening the birds. Some wildlife specialists famous the pelicans are malnourished despite the fact that marine life abounds off the Pacific Coast.

Fowl Rescue, which runs two wildlife facilities in Northern and Southern California, reported 110 sick pelicans up to now three weeks, many entangled in fishing line or hooks. An identical occasion occurred in 2022, the group stated.

Wildlife organizations are targeted on caring for the birds till they are often launched again into the wild.

CNN
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Actual Madrid supervisor Carlo Ancelotti credited the “magical” Santiago Bernabéu stadium for motivating his group to the Champions League last on Wednesday, after the Spanish aspect scored two late objectives to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 within the semifinal second leg.

With the scores stage at 2-2 after the primary leg, each groups knew the winner in Madrid would progress by way of to London’s showpiece occasion towards Borussia Dortmund on June 1.

It had regarded as if Bayern had achieved sufficient after Alphonso Davies scored a surprising aim within the 68th minute however, as they’ve achieved on numerous events on this competitors, Los Blancos discovered a option to hit again within the last moments of the match.

With all hope seemingly misplaced, Madrid’s substitute striker Joselu turned the tie on its head after scoring two objectives within the area of three minutes.

“It’s occurred once more. One thing that has occurred time after time, which is inexplicable, has occurred once more,” Ancelotti stated, referring to the variety of late comebacks Madrid has produced within the Champions League in latest seasons.

“A set of followers who drive us, a stadium that helps us, a surprising environment and a gaggle of gamers who consider. It’s magical.”

Madrid’s first aim got here courtesy of a pricey error from Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. The German had been spectacular all sport however spilled a easy shot to current Joselu with an opportunity to attain the equalizer within the 88th minute.

The aim sparked one thing particular contained in the newly refurbished Bernabéu, and it was an environment that pushed Madrid to search out the winner within the 91st minute.

It was Joselu once more who put the ball at the back of the online, however the aim was initially dominated out for offside.

The stadium held its breath because the video assistant referee (VAR) checked the choice after which erupted when it was determined that neither Antonio Rüdiger, who supplied the help, nor Joselu was offside.

Employees and gamers flooded off the Madrid bench to have fun in entrance of the frenzied crowd, as Bayern gamers regarded crestfallen having seen their hopes of reaching the ultimate slip away in a matter of minutes.

However, extremely, the drama wasn’t completed but.

Searching for an equalizer, Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt did get the ball at the back of Madrid’s web within the thirteenth minute of added time.

Nevertheless, the referee had stopped play simply seconds earlier than the defender’s shot whistled into the underside nook, after recognizing the linesman had raised his flag.

This time, VAR couldn’t be used to verify the extremely tight resolution as a result of the referee had blown his whistle.

Normally, in such conditions, the officers are imagined to let the attacking section proceed earlier than deciding on any offside.

De Ligt informed beIN Sports activities after the match that the linesman informed him, “I’m sorry, I made a mistake,” however stated that was of little consolation to the aspect.

“If it’s offside, it’s offside, however I feel we made guidelines in soccer and the principles say if it’s not a transparent offside, which it wasn’t … you need to hold enjoying,” he said postmatch. “And in the event you go within the final minute and whistle like this, yeah, I feel this can be a large, large, large mistake. If it’s offside or not, I don’t know, you may verify it. However in the event you don’t verify it, how are you going to see it?”

Bayern supervisor Thomas Tuchel additionally stated the linesman apologized for elevating his flag too early, however the German stated such an apology “doesn’t assist” and criticized the referee for blowing the whistle too early.

“It nearly looks like a betrayal due to that call,” Tuchel informed TNT Sports activities after the match.

“It’s a really, very unhealthy resolution. It’s towards the principles […] it’s powerful to swallow, but it surely’s the way in which it’s.”

Whereas Tuchel and de Ligt had been sad with the officers, they each accepted the defeat and congratulated Madrid for making one more last.

The supervisor, although, got here in for criticism himself for his resolution to take Harry Kane off within the eighty fifth minute.

Along with his attacking threats, the English striker has considerably perfected the artwork of operating down the clock and his bodily presence was wanted within the last minutes of the sport.

Tuchel, although, informed critics that Kane was unable to present anymore within the match.

After the full-time whistle, Madrid celebrated in fashion because it topped Joselu the membership’s new hero.

The striker had initially struggled after his mortgage transfer from second division Espanyol to the Spanish big however has now written his title within the membership’s storied historical past.

Following his match-winning exploits, footage of the striker in Paris supporting Madrid on the 2022 Champions League last unfold on social media – two years later and the 34-year-old impressed his group to the top of European soccer.

“My desires aren’t as stunning as what occurred right this moment. As a ahead, you dream of scoring objectives, and in the event that they’re like tonight’s, then even higher,” Joselu stated after the match.

MALMO, Sweden (AP) — Eden Golan is in Sweden for the Eurovision Tune Contest, however she will not be seeing a lot of the nation.

The 20-year-old Israeli singer is surrounded by safety as she travels between lodge and the competition venue within the metropolis of Malmo. In accordance with Israel’s public broadcaster, she practiced singing whereas being booed to organize for her efficiency within the pan-continental track competitors.

Golan has change into a spotlight for protests by pro-Palestinian demonstrators who need Israel kicked out of Eurovision over its battle in opposition to Hamas, which has killed nearly 35,000 individuals in Gaza.

A crowd estimated by police at greater than 10,000 marched by means of the southern Swedish metropolis on Thursday to chants of “Free Palestine” and “Israel is a terror state.” Banners accused Eurovision of being complicit in genocide and known as for a boycott of the competitors.

One other protest march is deliberate for Saturday, hours earlier than Golan competes within the dwell Eurovision ultimate in opposition to acts from 25 different international locations.

Golan has largely stayed out of sight in Malmo, aside from rehearsals and performances on the Malmo Enviornment. Whereas different performers have taken the stage for followers in a Eurovision park within the metropolis, Golan has not.

She was certainly one of 10 acts who made it by means of Thursday’s semifinal, which was determined by votes from Eurovision viewers world wide. Golan has been greeted with a smattering of boos, in addition to applause, from spectators within the area. Bookmakers say she is more likely to end within the prime half of the ultimate competitors, determined by a mixture of public votes and nationwide music-industry juries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Golan for performing regardless of “contending with an unsightly wave of anti-Semitism.”

“So be blessed, and know that once they boo you, we’re cheering you on,” he mentioned.

Golan’s track is a strong ballad titled “Hurricane” – however that was not its unique identify. The track was first known as “October Rain,” an obvious reference to the Oct. 7 Hamas assault that killed about 1,200 Israelis and triggered the Gaza battle. That fell foul of contest guidelines banning “political” content material.

The retitled track comprises much less particular lyrics about going by means of a tricky time, and asserts that “love won’t ever die.”

Born in Israel to oldsters from the previous Soviet Union, Golan spent a lot of her childhood in Russia and carried out on TV expertise reveals there earlier than shifting again to Israel. She cites Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Whitney Houston and Justin Timberlake amongst her inspirations.

She has averted direct political statements, however mentioned it was “such an honor to characterize my nation, particularly in these occasions.”

Talking after the semi-final, Golan mentioned she was “overwhelmed with feelings.”

“I’m simply tremendous excited to go on stage as soon as extra and share a little bit of my love with everybody,” she mentioned.

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Related Press author Yesica Fisch in Jerusalem contributed to this story.

The 2024 Champions League closing is about — 14-time winners Actual Madrid will face 1997 champions Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on June 1 aiming to succeed Manchester Metropolis by lifting the trophy in London.

Madrid be overwhelming favourites with Carlo Ancelotti’s aspect having simply clinched a record-extending thirty sixth LaLiga title. In distinction, Edin Terzic’s Dortmund sit in fifth place within the Bundesliga, 24 factors behind unbeaten champions Bayer Leverkusen.

Regardless of their poor home marketing campaign, Dortmund have defied the percentages to make all of it the best way to Wembley. They are going to be searching for to make it second-time fortunate at Wembley after their loss towards Bayern Munich within the 2013 closing.

For Madrid, nevertheless, the motivation is similar every time they attain the Champions League closing: to stretch their already big hole over the next-most profitable membership, AC Milan with seven titles, by profitable it for a fifteenth time.

It would the primary assembly between Madrid and Dortmund in a European Cup/Champions League closing, so this is the way-too-early preview of subsequent month’s showpiece conflict.

How the 2 groups acquired there

Madrid cruised into the knockout levels by profitable all six video games in Group C towards Braga, Napoli and Union Berlin.

Ancelotti’s staff, who final lifted the trophy in 2022 by beating Liverpool 1-0 in Paris, scored 16 objectives and conceded seven in a routine group stage marketing campaign.

Dortmund emerged as winners of Group F, with residence and away victories towards Newcastle United proving key to their success in sealing qualification from a bunch that additionally included Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.

In distinction to Madrid’s free-scoring qualification from their group, nevertheless, Dortmund scored simply seven objectives of their six video games, however stored it tight defensively by conceding solely 4 objectives.

Each groups have needed to battle their manner by means of the knockout rounds to achieve the ultimate, nevertheless.

Madrid secured a slender, and at instances tense, round-of-16 tie victory towards RB Leipzig by progressing 2-1 on mixture, earlier than eliminating holders Man Metropolis 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a 4-4 mixture draw.

And Madrid’s semifinal win towards Bayern was pure drama, with two late objectives from substitute Joselu sealing a 2-1 second-leg win on the Bernabeu, and 4-3 mixture success. Bayern appeared set for the ultimate till Joselu scored within the 88th and 91st minutes.

In the meantime, Dortmund benefited from being within the simpler half of the draw, avoiding the entire match favourites, and began out with a 3-1 mixture win towards Dutch aspect PSV Eindhoven within the spherical of 16.

A 5-4 quarterfinal conquer Atlético Madrid adopted earlier than Terzic’s staff eradicated PSG with two 1-0 wins.

Who has the sting?

It has been a very long time since Actual Madrid went right into a Champions League closing as something aside from favourites however no staff has been such heavy underdogs as Dortmund will probably be, maybe since Liverpool confronted Ancelotti’s all-conquering AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005.

That closing 19 years in the past turned out to be some of the memorable of all time, with Liverpool preventing again from 3-0 down at half-time to beat Milan on penalties, so Dortmund actually know the place to search for inspiration at Wembley.

Madrid have the match pedigree. This will probably be their sixth closing in 11 years — and so they received the opposite 5. Madrid have not misplaced a Champions League closing since 1981, profitable eight since then.

Dortmund have solely received the Champions League as soon as, in 1997, when Ottmar Hitzfeld’s staff beat Juventus in Munich. Their solely different look within the closing resulted in defeat towards Bayern at Wembley in 2013.

So historical past is clearly on Madrid’s aspect, however they’re additionally favourites due to the right here and now.

Ancelotti’s staff possess superstars within the type of Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior, world-class gamers reminiscent of Toni Kroos and Antonio Rüdiger and expertise all through the squad.

Midfielder Julian Brandt is Dortmund’s star participant, and so they have top-class expertise in Mats Hummels and Marco Reus, however they’ve additionally reached this stage as a result of they’ve gambled on the mortgage signings of Jadon Sancho and Ian Maatsen from Manchester United and Chelsea respectively, and benefited from the astute signing of Marcel Sabitzer from Bayern.

Ancelotti will probably be chasing a document fifth Champions League title towards a coach who has received only one trophy on his résumé — the German Cup in 2021.

The whole lot factors to Madrid having the sting.

What are the groups’ strengths and weaknesses?

Solely Man Metropolis (28) have scored extra objectives than Madrid (26) on this season’s competitors, so the attacking risk posed by Ancelotti’s staff is evident.

Vinicius, Rodrygo and Joselu have all scored 5 objectives, whereas Germany centre-forward Niclas Füllkrug is Dortmund’s main scorer with three.

Madrid can rating objectives, they’ve the flexibility to regulate video games from midfield with Kroos, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde. In defence, Rudiger has been arguably the excellent defender within the competitors this season.

However regardless of their many strengths, Madrid have conceded eight objectives in six video games through the knockout levels, so Dortmund can have probabilities to attain. An enormous dilemma dealing with Ancelotti is whether or not to revive fit-again goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois following a season-long damage absence or persist with Andriy Lunin, the penalty-saving hero of the semifinal win towards Metropolis.

Dortmund are all about work price and the staff ethic. Terzic has developed a staff that’s better than the sum of its components.

In accordance with official UEFA stats, no staff have made extra tackles (207) than Dortmund and so they additionally high the charts by way of balls recovered (529). Dortmund additionally prepared the ground in tackles received (108) and clearances (251), whereas their six clear sheets is 2 greater than the following finest (Arsenal, Internazionale, Actual Sociedad, Bayern.)

Dortmund are usually not free-scoring, so if Madrid take the lead at Wembley, it will likely be a take a look at of their skill to create alternatives.

Key gamers and battles

Bellingham left Dortmund for Madrid final summer season in a €103 million switch and the England midfielder has already established himself as their most-important participant.

Though the 20-year-old’s unimaginable early season kind has levelled off, he has nonetheless scored 22 objectives in 39 appearances in all competitions and registered 10 assists. His performances in his first season on the Bernabeu have marked him out as a number one candidate to win the Ballon d’Or.

Madrid have key gamers all through the staff. Rudiger is the rock of Ancelotti’s back-four whereas Kroos dictates the tempo together with his unflappable temperament and passing vary. The tempo, ability and objectives of Vinicius give them a innovative able to hurting any aspect on this planet.

Dortmund have relied on their staff collective to achieve the ultimate, however 35-year-old defender Hummels has been excellent on the again. The Germany worldwide lacks tempo, however his studying of the sport ensures he stays a vital factor of Terzic’s staff.

Brandt’s creativity, in tandem with the power, composure and reliability of Sabitzer, give Dortmund energy in midfield, whereas Füllkrug presents an old-school risk as a traditional No. 9 and his battle with Rudiger will probably be an enchanting sub-plot.

Sancho has rediscovered his finest kind on Dortmund’s proper flank and given the staff an unpredictable attacking risk.

Dortmund will want Sabitzer to nullify Kroos, and Hummels to maintain it tight on the again when Actual assault from all angles. From Madrid’s perspective, they want to make sure that they’ve a plan to counter Dortmund’s aerial risk at set items.

The fairy-tale ending?

Everybody loves a sporting fairy story, proper? Good, as a result of each Madrid and Dortmund have gamers of their staff who will full a outstanding journey in the event that they carry the trophy.

For Dortmund, it’s all about Sancho rebuilding his profession again at his former membership after spending the primary half of this season coaching on his personal at Man United following a public dispute with supervisor Erik ten Hag. United loaned Sancho again to Dortmund in January, 2½ years after signing him in a €85m deal, with little expectation that the 24-year-old would finish the season in a Champions League closing.

However Terzic has coaxed Sancho again to his finest and Sancho now has the prospect to finish what wanting like being the worst season of his profession with a winners’ medal.

The romantic story within the Madrid camp centres round Joselu, the two-goal hero of the semifinal win towards Bayern.

Two years in the past the 34-year-old former Stoke Metropolis ahead watched Madrid beat Liverpool in Paris as a fan earlier than signing for Espanyol later that summer season, following the expiry of his contract at Alaves.

Regardless of Joselu scoring 16 objectives, inserting him third behind Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski and Madrid’s Karim Benzema within the scoring charts, Espanyol have been relegated. However after dropping Benzema as a free agent, Madrid bolstered their attacking choices by signing Joselu on mortgage as cowl for his or her extra celebrated forwards.

But he now ends the season as a Madrid hero, one win from final glory for Los Blancos.

Prediction

The whole lot factors to Actual profitable their fifteenth European Cup/Champions League. It would take the efficiency of their lives for Dortmund’s gamers to overturn the percentages. They’ve a fighter’s likelihood and will probably be backed by among the most passionate supporters in Europe.

However Actual Madrid are the kings of the Champions League, and it is virtually unattainable see something aside from white ribbons on the trophy as soon as once more.

Actual to win 3-0.

Ricki Lake is celebrating her weight reduction by partying prefer it’s 2007.

The previous discuss present host, 55, posed in the identical costume she wore 17 years in the past to the premiere of the film “The Enterprise of Being Born” in an image she shared Wednesday on Instagram. “Oh, this outdated factor??” she wrote within the caption. “Simply had it hanging round.”

Lake added, “Initially wore this costume to the ‘Enterprise of Being Born’ world premiere in 2007 and now right here I’m carrying it once more in 2024!”

Within the feedback, followers applauded Lake for her weight reduction, which she additionally opened up about in an interview with “Good Morning America” that aired Thursday. The “Hairspray” star revealed she has misplaced 35 kilos since October by way of train, the keto weight loss plan and intermittent fasting.

Ricki Lakesays she’s getting ‘more healthy’ after 30-lb weight reduction: ‘I really feel wonderful’

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However Lake denied utilizing treatment to assist her shed extra pounds, though she says a physician steered she accomplish that. “He was saying (I wasn’t) going to achieve success with out it, is what he mentioned to me,” the actress mentioned on “GMA.” “And I like a problem. I like proving folks fallacious. It pissed me off.

“I believe it is secure to say I am in the most effective form of my life,” she went on to say, including, “That is what completely happy seems like. I may cry. I am so completely happy.”

Lake beforehand revealed in February that she had misplaced weight after making a “dedication to myself to get more healthy.” On the time, she additionally shared that she was initially frightened her “physique wouldn’t drop the lbs prefer it had up to now” at age 55. “That is the healthiest method I’ve misplaced weight in all of my years,” she wrote.

Ricki Lakedebuts buzz reduce after years of ‘painful’ hair loss

Lake’s husband, Ross Burningham, additionally joined her within the weight reduction effort. “I’ve this new marriage, and I am so blissfully pleased with this wonderful man, my good man,” she mentioned on “GMA.” “If I pinpoint one factor that was not working in our lives, (it is) that we have been carrying this further weight.”

In current months, Lake has shared comparable photographs exhibiting herself posing in outdated outfits, together with one in February the place she slipped right into a swimsuit she wore on the quilt of Us Weekly in 2007. “I held onto this #NormaKamali one-piece for all these years questioning if I’d ever be capable of put on it once more,” she wrote.

Ricki Lake is talking out for the primary time about her current weight reduction journey, saying she was in a position to shed 35 kilos with out utilizing medicine.

Lake informed “Good Morning America” she decided to take a wager on herself, and within the course of, found a newfound happiness.

“I really feel the most effective I can keep in mind feeling in my life,” Lake informed ABC Information’ Kayna Whitworth. I’ve this new marriage and I am so blissfully pleased with this superb man, my excellent man. And if I pinpoint one factor that was not working in our lives, is that we have been carrying this further weight.”

All through her longtime profession, Lake has been an open e-book about her weight challenges and well being struggles. However within the final seven months, she stated she and her husband teamed as much as drop some pounds and commenced to share their joint journey on Instagram.

“It has been a dedication. You recognize, it has been a monetary dedication. It has been a like, a time dedication,” Lake stated. “But it surely’s superior. Like, I am simply, I am so completely satisfied and pleased with us.”

Lake stated at 55 years outdated, she is in perimenopause and stated a physician urged she go on medicine to assist her drop some pounds, an concept she wasn’t on board with.

“He was saying you were not going to achieve success with out it, is what he stated to me,” Lake recalled. “And I like a problem. And I like proving folks incorrect. And so, it pissed me off.”

Lake stated she was “reluctant” about counting on medicines and as a substitute needed to tackle a life-style change.

“I simply was reluctant. And I needed to offer it a go by myself. And so I stated to my husband, ‘You wish to go on this experience with me?’ And he is like, ‘Positive,'” Lake stated.

Lake and her husband of two years, Ross Burningham, started intermittent fasting, began following the keto weight loss program and commenced exercising, together with doing Pilates and sleep monitoring.

Lake stated their main modifications paid off and he or she has dropped 35 kilos since October. She stated Burningham has dropped practically 40 kilos.

“This can be a way of life change. I’ve made this my job. And it is develop into my pleasure,” Lake stated. “Like, I simply, I adore it. I believe it is protected to say I am in the most effective form of my life.”

“I say, ‘That is what completely satisfied appears to be like like.’ That is actually, I may cry. I am so completely satisfied. I am so completely satisfied,” Lake added.

In March, Lake confirmed off her weight reduction by donning her well-known pink swimsuit, which she wore for the duvet of Us Weekly in Might 2007. She just lately re-wore one other gown she walked the pink carpet in on the 2007 Tribeca Movie Pageant.

“Oh, this outdated factor?? Simply had it hanging round. Initially wore this gown to the Enterprise of Being Born world premiere in 2007 and now right here I’m sporting it once more in 2024!” Lake captioned her Instagram publish.

Burningham in contrast his spouse’s “dedication” to her weight reduction journey as certainly one of a canine chasing a bone.

“She’s tenacious,” he stated. “When she decides that she’s gonna do one thing, she’s all in and simply goes after it. And it is inspiring.”

For anybody trying to make a change themselves, Lake stated she recommends ranging from a spot of positivity and gratitude after which placing within the exhausting work to make it occur.

Together with her newfound vitality, Lake is pouring herself into serving to others via her work with Neighborhood Entry, a company that gives job coaching and housing help to folks combating psychological sickness. It is a trigger she embraces in honor of her late husband Christian Evans, who died by suicide after experiencing psychological well being points.

“I believe he is magic up there and he is watching over me,” Lake stated. “I consider he handpicked Ross for me. Yeah, I’ve a deep, deep figuring out that he is left his mark with me.”

Lake stated now, she’s wanting ahead to the long run, and her greatest days are simply on the horizon.

“I have been well-known since (I used to be) 18 years outdated, from ‘Hairspray.’ And but, these are the sweetest of days,” Lake stated.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark walked into her new residence area Thursday night time with No. 22 shirts and jerseys peppered from flooring to ceiling.

She left as a first-time WNBA winner.

A late-arriving however louder-than-usual crowd roared throughout her official introduction to Fever followers and once more when Clark made her first basket, a layup with 7:00 left within the first quarter. The cheers grew when she accomplished a three-point play a couple of minutes later and hit a crescendo when she lastly made a protracted 3-pointer from the sting of the fieldhouse emblem late within the third quarter.

Sure, Clark efficiently navigated the town’s most anticipated rookie debut since Peyton Manning performed for the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts in 1998 though it wasn’t fairly the beginning most anticipated.

In an 83-80 preseason victory over the Atlanta Dream, Clark had 12 factors, eight rebounds, six assists and 6 turnovers, going 4 of 12 from the sector and a couple of of 9 on 3s in 31 minutes.

“It was a number of enjoyable, I assumed they had been loud, I assumed they had been into it. It was enjoyable to see,” Clark mentioned following her residence debut. “This can be a preseason sport on a Thursday night time and there’s 13,000 folks right here. I feel that simply reveals you what it’s going to be like for us all season. It’s going to assist us.”

The gang actually made a distinction Thursday as Clark helped the Fever rally from an early double-digit deficit following final week’s preseason opening loss at Dallas.

One lady held an indication that learn “Welcome to Indy Caitlin! — Caitlin M.”

Formally, the attendance got here in at 13,028 — practically 3 times bigger than the marginally greater than 4,000 per sport Indiana averaged for its 20 regular-season residence video games in 2023. Afterward, Clark discovered shut pal and former faculty teammate Gabbie Marshall and the 2 took a photograph collectively.

Many of the followers got here to see Clark — even for a rescheduled contest.

Indiana was initially scheduled to play Friday however moved the sport when the NBA introduced the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks would play Sport 3 of their best-of-seven collection in that point slot.

For Clark, the WNBA’s total No. 1 draft choose, it’s been a fast transition from taking part in faculty ball a month in the past to the professional model. And this sport didn’t include as a lot pomp and circumstance as might need been anticipated.

Clark went by way of her pregame warmups quietly and targeted as music blared and the stands began filling up. However as soon as the sport began, Clark & Co. had been all enterprise.

“I don’t assume I used to be that efficient, actually,” Clark mentioned. “I assumed greater than something I did a very good job of passing the ball, discovering my teammates. Clearly, I’d have preferred to have made a pair extra 3s, however generally that’s the way you shoot it.”

The fault didn’t fall solely on Clark’s shoulders.

Opponents are naturally game-planning to decelerate the highest scorer in NCAA Division I historical past. Atlanta’s ploy was to problem Clark with laborious closeouts, a number of defenders forcing the ball out of her palms and bodily play meant to get Clark off her spot.

The consequence: Clark struggled early because the Fever fell behind, and her teammates struggled to transform her crisp passes into factors. However in addition they received a glimpse into what this season might be.

“She pushes the tempo for us, she will get the ball the place it must be, in case you run the ground you’ve received to search for as a result of the ball is coming,” mentioned Nalyssa Smith, who had a game-high 21 factors. “She will unfold the ground, all people can rating and he or she’s trying to cross the ball.”

By way of all of it Clark was each a giant hit and a welcome change for a franchise searching for a turnaround. She’s generated extra curiosity and a spotlight in ladies’s basketball than most of her predecessors, giving her a platform few others possess and he or she’s taking full benefit of it.

Her presence, coupled with others in maybe probably the most heralded rookie class in WNBA historical past, prompted league commissioner Cathy Engelbert to announce earlier this week she’s poised to spend $50 million on charter flights over the next two seasons.

Meanwhile, the curiosity surrounding Clark has some opponents moving games to larger venues to accommodate ticket sales and a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2016 will now have 36 of its 40 regular-season games on national television.

For Clark, playing in front of full arena has become the norm. For her teammates and coaches, this could be the start of something bigger than they could have imagined. Especially when it comes to a generational-type player resembling Clark, who has absolutely embraced her new residence metropolis.

“For me, that is one of the best a part of it,” Clark mentioned. “You’ve received to exit and compete each single night time and if one night time isn’t good for us, you could have a chance to come back again a pair days later and reply. I feel this group can be prepared (for the common season) and all people’s excited.”

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AP WNBA:

The skilled soccer world as we speak is celebrating the profession of JIMMY JOHNSON, a flexible and gifted all-around athlete who grew to become a dominant cornerback within the Nationwide Soccer League over 16 seasons, all spent with the San Francisco 49ers.

A member of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame’s Class of 1994, Johnson died Wednesday night. He had remained within the San Francisco space after his profession and had been in declining well being for a while, his household stated.

“Jimmy Johnson was terribly athletically gifted. The 49ers loved the luxurious of utilizing him on offense and protection early in his profession to fill group wants,” Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame President Jim Porter stated. “As soon as he settled in at left cornerback, he flourished. The notion {that a} ‘lockdown’ cornerback may minimize the sphere in half for the opposition was true with Jimmy.

“Solely not often would different groups’ quarterbacks even look his route, and most of the time regretted the choice in the event that they challenged him.”

Born March 31, 1938, in Dallas, Johnson and his household moved to California in his youth. In highschool, he excelled in a number of sports activities and captained his Kingsburg Excessive soccer, baseball and basketball groups, ultimately catching the eyes of faculty scouts.

He attended UCLA and have become one of many Bruins’ high wingbacks and a key participant within the secondary.

“I performed numerous soccer, possibly not as a lot as I wished to,” Johnson stated of his days at UCLA. “I may have performed 60 minutes.”

One 12 months, he earned UCLA’s “Iron Man Award,” given to the soccer participant who logged probably the most minutes that season.

The brother of former Olympic decathlon champion Rafer Johnson, Jimmy was an impressive monitor star in his personal proper – a 13.9-second-high 110-meter excessive hurdler (and NCAA champion in that occasion) and a 25-foot broad jumper.

The flexibility he demonstrated in faculty would repay for the 49ers, who drafted him with the primary of their three first-round decisions 1961.

The 49ers meant to play Johnson on offense as a rookie, however he broke his wrist previous to coaching camp. With a forged limiting his pass-catching capacity, coaches moved him to protection, and he responded with 5 interceptions. He moved again to offense in 1962, catching 34 passes for 627 yards and 4 touchdowns. 4 weeks into the 1963 season, it was again to protection, as a security, to shore up a depleted secondary.

The following 12 months, Johnson moved to left cornerback, a spot he anchored for the rest of a 16-season profession that concluded in 1976. He performed in 213 regular-season video games, greater than some other 49er on the time of his retirement, and a group document damaged solely by Corridor of Famer JERRY RICE.

“He is an actual good one. Mark my phrases. He’ll be round for some time,” JACK CHRISTIANSEN, additionally a future Corridor of Famer however in 1961 a 49ers assistant coach, stated of Johnson. “He has the three necessities: super velocity, nice reflexes and the willingness to sort out with authority.”

Acknowledged as top-of-the-line man-to-man defenders within the historical past of professional soccer, Johnson’s popularity was so nice that opposition quarterbacks threw solely not often into his defensive territory. Nonetheless, Johnson intercepted 47 passes and returned them 615 yards.

“Jim does not obtain a lot publicity as a result of the opposition avoids him as a lot as potential,” quarterback John Brodie, a former teammate, stated in an interview throughout their taking part in days. “Discuss to veteran quarterbacks like JOHN UNITAS and BART STARR they usually’ll inform you they name few go patterns in Jimmy’s space. The one cause Johnson doesn’t lead the league in interceptions is he does not get the prospect.”

Dick Nolan, the 49ers’ head coach from 1968 to 1975, was an enormous Johnson fan.

“I coached three defensive backs I felt had been nice, MEL RENFRO and Cornell Inexperienced with the Dallas Cowboys and Johnson,” he stated. “Jimmy is one of the best I’ve ever seen.”

Corridor of Fame receiver FRED BILETNIKOFF additionally heaped reward on Johnson.

“I really feel Jim is without doubt one of the greatest corners in professional soccer,” he stated throughout their taking part in days. “I simply hope he makes a mistake of some kind so I can get a bonus. He covers all of the go patterns so properly.”

If opposing receivers revered Johnson, so too did he respect the opponents he confronted every week.

“I do not take a look at somebody and suppose that he cannot beat me,” he stated. “Should you play lengthy sufficient, you are going to get beat. The query and the important thing to your effectiveness is how typically.”

Johnson was named All-Professional 4 consecutive years (1969-1972). He performed in three Professional Bowls and was chosen to 2 others that he missed due to accidents. He earned a spot on the NFL’s All-Decade Staff of the Nineteen Seventies.

He received the Professional Soccer Writers’ George Halas Award for brave play in 1971 (finishing the again half of that season with a damaged wrist) and twice obtained the coveted Len Eshmont Award, chosen by 49ers gamers and given to a teammate who demonstrated inspirational play.

In 1977, the 49ers retired his jersey at “Jimmy Johnson Evening at Candlestick Park.”

“Jimmy Johnson has not solely been an ideal soccer participant, he has been one of many recreation’s most interesting residents all through his profession,” Joe Thomas, the group’s vice chairman and basic supervisor at the moment stated on the ceremony. “There isn’t any one within the NFL who doesn’t have the best respect for him, each as a participant and as a person.”

Johnson additionally was elected to the Fresno Athletic Corridor of Fame (1978), Bay Space Sports activities Corridor of Fame (1990), UCLA Athletics Corridor of Fame (1992) and was a constitution member of the San Francisco 49ers Corridor of Fame (2009).

One in all Johnson’s longtime 49ers defensive backfield teammates, Kermit Alexander, summed up his profession this fashion: “He is one of the crucial phenomenal athletes I’ve ever seen. There are such a lot of issues he can do. He is an especially managed particular person and really, very gifted. In the entire time we performed collectively, I by no means noticed him lose his cool, on or off the sphere. The explanation his honors had been so late in coming was that he by no means beat the drums for himself.”

The reserved Johnson waited almost twenty years earlier than his election to the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.

In presenting his brother for enshrinement, Rafer Johnson stated: “Jimmy is a quiet man, however he performed with dedication and dedication. Most of all, Jim was, and is, a mild man and a real gentleman.”

Jimmy Johnson’s legacy shall be preserved without end in Canton.

 

Kendrick Lamar made a number of severe allegations in opposition to Drake throughout their first headline-making rap beef. In his victory-clinching “Not Like Us,” Lamar renews criticisms about Drake’s cultural id and alleged inauthentic relationships with fellow artists. 

“You referred to as Future while you didn’t see the membership/Lil Child helped you get your lingo up/21 (Savage) gave you false road cred,” Lamar rapped. “You run to Atlanta while you want a number of {dollars}/ No, you not a colleague, you a f— colonizer.” 

For years, Drake has confronted allegations that he cozies as much as rap artists and replicates their sound and magnificence for private achieve earlier than transferring on to his subsequent mission. Rappers like Earl Sweatshirt, Rick Ross and Pusha T have spoken concerning the purported sample, and claims of Drake being a “tradition vulture” have swirled for a minimum of a decade. 

A lot of the allegations, going again practically a decade, lie in adapting phony accents, musical similarities and covers, appearances with burgeoning artists and unproven claims of theft. 

When Drake launched his 2015 hit “Hotline Bling” on his Beats 1 Radio Present “OVO Sound,” it was initially billed as a “Cha Cha remix,” referring to Virginia singer DRAM’s earlier burgeoning hit. As time went on, although, Drake distanced “Hotline Bling” from the tune amid allegations that he primarily stole the observe. DRAM has been vocal about his stance, writing in a post on X that fall, “Yeah, I really feel I received jacked for my report…However I’m GOOD.”

Drake informed The Fader in 2015 that “Hotline Bling” samples Timmy Thomas’ ’70s hit, “Why Can’t We Dwell Collectively.” He chalked up similarities between “Hotline Bling” and “Cha Cha” to the artists utilizing the same “riddim,” sounds or riffs that act as anchors in Jamaican music. 

“Think about that in rap, or think about that in R&B,” Drake stated. “Typically I’ll choose a beat that’s a bit, like, sunnier, I assume is the phrase you used, than ordinary, and I simply attempt my hand at it. And that’s type of what ‘Hotline Bling’ was. And I liked it. It’s cool. I’ve been excited by that kind of artistic course of.”

Gabe Niles, who produced “Cha Cha,” has stated the tune doesn’t pattern Thomas’ observe. 

Comparable controversies have adopted Drake all through his profession, making Lamar’s criticisms the most recent in a protracted historical past of claims that Drake’s business practices could also be exploitative. However for Drake’s defenders, the difficulty isn’t a matter of exploiting Black cultures and artists, however of race. 

Social media posts about Lamar’s lyrics rapidly dissolved into conversations about race within the hip-hop and rap business. Drake’s followers have lengthy held that his biracial id — he’s each Black and white — alongside together with his Canadian nationality negatively impacts his standing within the business.

“Individuals can not fathom that they gave drake (a canadian biracial man) the legacy they NOW really feel kendrick (an american black man) ought to’ve had,” one particular person wrote in a post on X. Another added: “You don’t get to name out a biracial particular person for his or her blackness degree. That’s colorism, and I don’t f with that.”

Amara Pope, who has spent years learning and writing about Drake’s racial complexities, stated Drake’s place within the business is skewed by each his race and nationality.

“I believe that folks have questions on Drake’s authenticity relating to his Blackness based mostly on, not essentially what Graham has executed,” Pope stated, referring to his actual identify Aubrey Graham, “however the dominant perception … that Canadians are solely white and that Canadian music solely folks or nation and R&B and hip-hop is solely created for Black Individuals.” Pope added that Drake represents his biracial, Canadian and Jewish roots in his music.

“Drake, for a very long time, has talked about not being Black sufficient to be in hip-hop music,” Pope stated.

Drake didn’t reply to a request for remark from NBC Information, however he has rapped about not feeling “Black sufficient” for the business and spoken in interviews about feeling “excluded” as a result of he’s half-white.

“Typically a few of my Blackest mates will be simply as merciless by making you are feeling excluded or making you are feeling like, ‘You’ll be able to’t get in on this,’” he stated in 2019 throughout an interview with Rap Radar. 

“I affiliate myself as a Black man,” he stated, lamenting feeling that he’s not usually celebrated as a “Black artist” for his accomplishments. “It’s one thing that I simply acknowledge and I maintain it transferring.”

A.D. Carson, a professor of hip-hop and the worldwide south on the College of Virginia, doesn’t see it that approach, although. Legitimate criticisms of Drake shouldn’t be flattened right into a tragic story, he holds, however ought to be taken critically. Drake rose to recognition with melodic hip-hop music rooted in vulnerability and transparency, however this has since appeared to slide into an obvious sequence of personas that typically feels inauthentic and additional removes Drake from the sound that followers first fell in love with. 

Carson describes Drake’s alleged habits within the music business as “cultural tourism.” Carson is a tenured professor of hip-hop at t the College of Virginia. His dissertation, “Proudly owning My Masters: The Rhetorics of Rhymes & Revolutions,” is a rap album set to be launched in October.

“All the pieces he’s in proximity to, he appropriates and mimics it,” Carson stated of Drake. “He’s capable of genre-hop by id theft, and it’s genre-bending in a approach that we positively critique white artists doing. He’s extra insulated from it due to what people name ‘biracial id.’”

He added: “Kendrick is asking, ‘what’s the cultural id? What are these issues that you simply possess exterior of the means by which you’re going to promote your subsequent product?’ These are the questions.” 

Drake has drawn criticism for dabbling in sounds from underground subcultures and artists — like Caribbean dancehall, U.Ok. grim, home music and New Orleans bounce, to call a number of. He has addressed the backlash, saying that he’s merely appreciating the music and supporting lesser-known artists. 

“I hate that folks assume that me being into music from these children which are attempting to make it and construct a reputation for themselves is like, ‘Oh that’s some tradition vulture,’” he stated in a 2019 interview. “What does that even imply? I don’t perceive. Would you slightly me not acknowledge something or not assist? That’s some actual confused hater sh—.”

Critics like Lamar have equated this assist to exploitation. In “Euphoria,” Lamar’s preliminary response to Drake’s “Push Ups” diss observe, he implied that Drake’s songs with Black artists outcome from his supposed id points.

“What number of extra Black options ‘til you lastly really feel that you simply’re Black sufficient?” Lamar raps. 

In the meantime, Rick Ross, in a diss observe of his personal, hurled insults about Drake’s race, calling him “white boy.”

Hip-hop, like all music genres, has racial dimensions and cultural affiliations. Conversations — and criticisms — of whiteness within the business have existed throughout the style for many years, particularly because it has grown right into a profitable, culture-defining, billion-dollar enterprise. Carson stated that conversations about Drake’s biraciality within the business shouldn’t be used to dismiss the legitimate criticisms of his allegedly exploitative music practices inside hip-hop. 

“Drake’s capacity to operationalize Blackness insulates him from critique. Any person would say, ‘Effectively, you may’t acceptable Blackness in case you are Black,’” Carson stated. “No person is gatekeeping Drake out of Blackness. Of us are asking, ‘How does he profit from white supremacy?’”

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