Late last week, Cleveland Browns defensive back Jason McCourty walked into the locker room, when he saw about a half-dozen of his teammates talking.

"What's going on here?" McCourty thought.

It was the start of what would become the NFL's largest national anthem protest to date.

This is the anatomy of how it happened.

It started simply enough. McCourty's teammates told him they wanted to figure out a way to join the national anthem protests that started with Colin Kaepernick last season and have continued into this preseason. McCourty was all-in. The group talked, and over the span of several days, they decided what they wanted to do.

The group next went to head coach Hue Jackson to tell him of their intentions. On Monday, the day of the Browns' preseason contest against the Giants, Jackson approved.

"Do what you think is right," he told them.

The group came to a decision hours before the game.

"We decided to take a knee and say a prayer for peace between all Americans," McCourty said.

That part of the protest, which stands as the largest so far among NFL players, often has been lost among media and fans alikethat the main goal of the group was to pray for peace.

"We believe that through our actions, we can bring change," McCourty said in an interview with B/R.

"Americans come from all types of different backgrounds," he continued. "Black or white, rich or poor, immigrant or not, from wherever you come from or live, we want the same thing. We are all Americans, and we wanted to make sure people understood what Colin's original message was all about.

"A lot of us, and a lot of people in football, were furious about what happened in Charlottesville. As NFL players, we have the power to remind everyone that we are all Americans. We shouldn't be pitted against one another."

Follow protest developments throughout the NFL season by downloading the new B/R app.

Linebackers Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey, running backs Isaiah Crowell, Duke Johnson, Terrence Magee and Brandon Wilds, safety Jabrill Peppers, tight end Seth DeValve, wide receivers Kenny Britt and Ricardo Louis and defensive backs Calvin Pryor and Jamar Taylor dropped to a single knee in a huddle near the Browns' bench.

McCourty, quarterback DeShone Kizer, offensive tackle Shon Coleman, punter Britton Colquitt and offensive lineman Marcus Martin were all around them, putting a hand on their shoulders. Kirksey led the entire group in prayer.

NFL players are just like the rest of us. They watch and care about events happening in the country outside of their work. Before their protest, Browns players had talked extensively about some of the things happening in the United States recently, including the events in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a woman was killed when a car drove into a crowd of counter-protesters at a white supremacist rally.

The Browns' decision to take a knee was a brave act. But that is only part of the story. The other partabout what will happen in the futureis equally important to know.

NFL protests are growing, and they have the potential to do so exponentially. That is the next, new front in the Kaepernick saga, who for so long was so alone. Fans, coaches, front office executives, owners and the commissioner will have to grapple with that.

The attempt to squash Kaepernick backfired, McCourty said. A movement, partly based on Kaepernick and partly as a means of protest against President Donald Trump's vitriolic rhetoric, is exploding across NFL locker rooms.

Several players from both conferences told me they expect anywhere from 15 to 25 of the league's teams to have some type of demonstration on opening weekend.

"We can bring change and raise awareness," McCourty said. "A lot of players have been wanting to do something but just didn't know how to handle things.

"Then a lot of us saw what happened with players protesting in Philadelphia. When Malcolm [Jenkins] protested and Chris [Long] protested, and we saw what Michael Bennett did [in Seattle], a lot of us thought, 'It's time to do something. We just can't sit still and watch this without doing something. We need to act.'"

He added: "You're going to see more players do this. It continues to grow around the league."

The story remains big on the field and off. The wife of Matthew Stafford, Kelly, became the first wife of a player to opine extensively on anthem protests. A rally to support Kaepernick on Wednesday outside of the NFL's Park Avenue headquarters in New York City reportedly drew 1,200 people, according to Jason Reid of ESPN.com. Kid Rock, during a live concert at the Iowa State Fair, said, "F--k Colin Kaepernick." Hank Aaron said NFL owners are gutless. Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson said something similar.

Then, perhaps in one of the most powerful moments of the Kaepernick story, the wife of Browns player Seth DeValve wrote a moving story for theroot.com (via USA Today's For the Win) about putting her husband's decision in the proper context. Erica Harris is black and DeValve is white.

McCourty made it clear that what the Browns were doingand may continue to dowas not about disrespecting the flag, police or military. It wasn't even necessarily about politics. It was about using the high profile of players and the sport to draw attention to various social issues.

One day after the Browns kneeled, the Buccaneers had a team meeting with head coach Dirk Koetter to discuss their own demonstration plans.

"Coach opened it up about the national anthem and guys protesting and sitting down, letting us know that we can do what we want," cornerback Vernon Hargreaves said, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "He let us know how he felt, and then he opened up the whole team room to anyone who had anything to say: Stand up and preach your opinion."

Football and social justice will be intertwined for the near future. Whether you agree with the players or not, protest is now a fact of NFL life.

In many ways, it was symbolically appropriate for the Browns to have helped spark a new wave of demonstrations. Four players broke the NFL's color barrier in the 1940s, and two of themMarion Motley and Bill Williswent to the Browns. Legendary coach Paul Brown brought them there.

Now comes McCourty and these Browns.

It's possible the Browns sent this story in a new direction because of a few more brave NFL players.

So, what happens next?

"We're still figuring it out," McCourty said. "But I think everyone agrees the protests are something that in the NFL won't be going away any time soon."

Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter:@mikefreemanNFL.

Read this article:
Anatomy of an NFL Protest: How and Why the Browns Got the Country Talking - Bleacher Report

Prepare to question everything after the "Grey's Anatomy" Season 14 premiere.

That's the scoop from Entertainment Weekly, following the recent (more welcome) news that the 2017-2018 season will be funnier and sexier than recent years.

Here's the new mini spoiler:

What do you have on Grey's Anatomy? BriannaYou may have heard that Grey's Anatomy is heading into a lighter season, but trust me when I tell you that there will be some shocking news by the end of the two-hour premiere that will really make you question, well, everything.

Very intriguing.

Everything else we've heard about Season 14 -- including the premiere, titled "Break Down the House" -- has been fresh and light.

Kevin McKidd (Dr. Owen Hunt) said the premiere is "fantastic, funny and feels like vintage" "Grey's Anatomy."

We know Teddy Altman is returning, there's a new baby Harriet on set, DeLuca's sister is showing up, Matthew Morrison's bad hubby is returning, Megan Hunt has been recast, there will be love triangles galore, and now some kind of premiere night shocker.

We're ready to scrub in! The two-hour premiere arrives Thursday, Sept. 28 on ABC.

Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.

Some doctors at a hospital in Seattle -- including several who began their careers at the facility as interns -- try to balance life and work. Read More

Continued here:
'Grey's Anatomy' Season 14 Premiere Ends With 'Shocking News ... - Moviefone

Want scoop on your favorite shows? Then come hang out in the Spoiler Room, where I attempt to satiate your need to find out whats coming up on TV. If you want spoilers on a specific show, send Qs to my Twitter: @NatalieAbrams.

What do you have on Greys Anatomy? BriannaYou may have heard that Greys Anatomy is heading into a lighter season, but trust me when I tell you that there will be some shocking news by the end of the two-hour premiere that will really make you question, well, everything.

Whats happening with Hell now that Crowleys dead on Supernatural? MaraIts pretty much what youd imagine. When one leader falls, another must step up. But the question is: Who will earn their spot in Hells throne? (Hint: It might be someone weve never met before.) There is a power vacuum, showrunner Andrew Dabb says of the situation in Hell. Into that power vacuum will step a new player for us. Once Crowley is gone, demon-kind and some of our players some weve met before and some that are new start asking themselves: What is the future of Hell? People come with various different agendas.

Do you have more scoop on The Flashs girls night out? PeachThat episode wont be the only girl power well be seeing this year. Were definitely going to see Iris relationship with Caitlin especially developed this season, which we havent seen before, which will be really nice for fans, Candice Patton tells me. Fans have been wanting to see more female dynamic on the show, and there will definitely be that. Theyre working closely together. Caitlin has been through so much herself in relationships, and I think if anyone can offer advice, it would be her, so shes there quite often to give Iris advice on her relationship with Barry and how to move forward.

What do you know about the Game of Thrones finale? HillaryFor starters, theres the biggest assembly of major GoT characters since the pilot (or Joffreys wedding, depending on how you count major). But the finale is less about big action and more about dramatic moments. Plus: The Arya and Sansa conflict will also come to a head.

Anything on Butchs turn as Solomon Grundy when Gotham returns? KyleWell, he wont appear in the premiere, but when he does resurface, things will be very different for the character formerly known as Butch. Hes been in a vegetative state at Gotham General and so in order to clear up space for more beds, the administrators at the hospital have him dumped in Slaughter Swamp, as one does in Gotham, executive producer John Stephens says. So he emerges reborn out of Slaughter Swamp as the character we know as Solomon Grundy. Bonus scoop? Stephens reveals that the first person Solomon will run into is none other than Ed Nygma, and seeing as how Solomon has no memory of Ed, we begin the story of a very unlikely friendship between these two who are sworn enemies but now, all of a sudden in season 4, are best friends as they move through Gotham.

Would love some SuperCorp scoop for Supergirl. JayHeres some good news and some bad news: Lena and Karas friendship will continue to grow, EP Andrew Kreisberg says. Theres a lot of Lena-Kara adventures early on in this season. The most interesting thing about Lena is that she is so good, and so moral, and believes in second chances, but she comes from this family of truly evil people. As people are going to realize over the course of this season, it doesnt take much to make you bad. People dont just turn evil. They do one small bad thing and then that leads to another, and then to another, and so any time youre watching Lena, youre always wondering, Is this the moment when she does the one small thing?'

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Do you have any scoop on Regina and Henrys relationship on Once Upon a Time? TinaOnce the duo is reunited, it will be heartbreaking for Regina to have missed so many years of Henrys life. You get to see a little bit of that, Lana Parrilla tells me. She basically sees him for the first time, and she is just like, Oh my god. Its jarring for her when she sees him for the first time, but shes also really happy for him because hes turned into this beautiful young man, and shes really quite impressed with him, but shes still getting to know him at this level.

Should we be expecting another MacGyver-Hawaii Five-0 crossover this year? TreyIf its up to Peter Lenkov showrunner on both shows the answer is yes. The best thing about that experience was learning how to do it, Lenkov says. Because a big part of it is the time difference between Hawaii and Atlanta and getting the actors there and getting them to do their scenes and not affect production on both shows. I think well be able to do it in a much bigger way the next time we do it.

Anything on The Blacklist please! AlyThe news that Red is Lizs father is going to quickly put the Task Force in jeopardy. Cooper, first and foremost, is going to be saddled with what to do with that, EP Jon Bokenkamp says. He is now faced with, What do I tell the higher ups and what happens to the Task Force? Cooper is a pretty above-the-board guy, so it is going to be something that all of them are going to have to deal with.

What can we expect from the rest of Halt and Catch Fires final season? CarlyYou know that cataloging project Gordon had Haley working on? Well, that little endeavor helps Gordon realize his introverted daughter shares his and Donnas technological brilliance, and Haley ends up joining her father and Joe as their business tackles the world of search. Over the course of that interaction, Haley has a lot of time with Joe, who, I think, recognizes similarities between the two of them that go beyond what Gordon is maybe immediately able to spot, teases co-creator Christopher C. Rogers.

This week in TV: Im still not over it.

Thats a wrap on this weeks Spoiler Room. Dont forget to tweet your Qs to @NatalieAbrams.

Additional reporting by Chancellor Agard and Samantha Highfill.

Read this article:
Spoiler Room: Scoop on Grey's Anatomy, Supernatural, The Flash and more - EW.com (blog)

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets used to be good. Oh yes, they were hot stuff in 2010, when they reached the AFC Championship Game for the second year in a row. They had a larger-than-life coach in Rex Ryan, who approached every game as a schoolyard brawl -- and he had the roster to back him up.

The Jets haven't left that schoolyard, though now they're being taunted and shunned, not good enough to get into any of the games.

The bully has been geekified.

After six straight years out of the playoffs, three seasons with double-digit losses, two regime changes and one year of Tim Tebow, the Jets are regarded by some experts as the worst team in the NFL. Expectations are at an all-time low. So low that members of the 1996 Jets, who finished a franchise-worst 1-15, are getting asked by friends if the current team could pull a '96. It's not far-fetched, considering they're not favored in a single game this season, according to ESPN's FPI.

Team officials say they have a long-term plan to become contenders again. Clearly, the focus is beyond this season. In a 20-minute interview this week with WFAN radio, general manager Mike Maccagnan used the phrase "going forward" a total of 28 times. Coach Todd Bowles has told players to stop talking about last season, a 5-11 disaster that left a fractured locker room.

Since the almost-Super Bowl run in 2010, the Jets are 41-55, the worst record in the AFC East and 24th in the league. As they look to the future, we'll take a moment to analyze how a once-prospering team has slipped into one of the longest postseason slumps in its star-crossed history.

It starts at the top

In 17 years under Woody Johnson's ownership, the Jets are eight games under .500. As Bill Parcells used to say, "You are what your record says you are." In Johnson's case, it's mediocrity.

His lack of conviction on football matters has thrust the franchise into an ever-changing approach to hirings and talent procurement. The most successful franchises adhere to a consistent philosophy, creating an identity and a culture. The Jets? They zig and zag more than an elite open-field runner.

Johnson has gone through periods of big spending and bold acquisitions (Brett Favre and Tebow), but he also has preached a methodical, draft-based approach to constructing the roster. He went from an aggressive, deal-making general manager (Mike Tannenbaum) to a passive, slow builder (John Idzik) to Maccagnan, who has demonstrated both traits.

As for his head coaches, Johnson has created a pendulum. He started with a players coach (Herm Edwards), turned to a disciplinarian (Eric Mangini), went back to a players coach (Ryan) and back to a disciplinarian (Bowles). One thing they have in common is their defensive-minded coaches, but that's curious, because of the team's perennial struggles on offense and inability to develop a franchise quarterback.

Mangini, for one, felt he had the franchise moving in the right direction, saying, "I know when I left there, that team was really good and they were disciplined and they had high character and they knew how to work." But he got fired when the team collapsed down the stretch of a 9-7 season in 2008, in large part because Favre's arm was injured.

Johnson has hired nine head coaches and general managers, none of whom had previous experience in his job. His biggest blunder was pairing Ryan and Idzik, a bad marriage that created a toxic environment at One Jets Drive. They had only one thing in common: Their fathers were former Jets assistant coaches. The two-year union set the franchise back years.

After six years on Ryan's loose ship, which produced many choppy moments, Johnson bought into the understated Bowles-Maccagnan tandem and went all-in with a win-now approach. The combined cash payroll in 2015 and 2016 was $331 million, third-highest in the league, according to Spotrac. With an old team, they missed the playoffs again and again, prompting an unprecedented roster overhaul. Rival executives were surprised by the radical change, saying they expected it to occur in Year 1, not Year 3.

Perhaps this time Johnson will stay committed to the youth movement. He made a strong statement in June, when he pulled rank and instructed his football people to release David Harris and Eric Decker, sources said. The moves sent shock waves through the building and were seen as salary dumps, a transparent attempt to save money ($13 million) while positioning the Jets for a high pick in 2018.

"If you want to go to the promised land, you have to go in a certain direction," Johnson said during the offseason. "I think this is a direction we've never tried in the 17 years I've been associated with the Jets. We've never gone this way."

Translation: We haven't succeeded with anything else, so why not take a shot?

By the way, Johnson will be living in the United Kingdom for the next three years as the U.S. ambassador, which means he can avoid a first-hand view of a painful rebuild.

Looking for the next Broadway Joe

The Jets haven't sent a quarterback to the Pro Bowl since Favre in 2008, and the only reason he made it was because ... well, he's Brett Favre. The single greatest reason for the team's decline is the abominable play at quarterback. From 2011-16, they ranked 29th in Total QBR (45.3), as they've gone from Mark Sanchez to Geno Smith to Ryan Fitzpatrick to (probably) Josh McCown, spanning three regimes.

Sanchez fizzled after a promising start, Smith got punched out by one of his teammates and Fitzpatrick, after a career year in 2015, imploded after the most bizarre contract dispute in recent NFL history.

The Jets have drafted six quarterbacks since 2009, one more than the Cleveland Browns, for crying out loud.

Hoping to find The One, theyve tapped into different profiles -- the charismatic leader (Sanchez), the big arm (Smith) and two projects (Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty). They also went outside the box -- way, way outside -- when they traded for Tebow in 2012.

The results? Uh, lets just say the Jets know how to pick future ESPN college football analysts (see: Tebow and Greg McElroy, a 2011 draft pick).

Im jealous, I never had a quarterback like you, as Rex Ryan, now an ESPN analyst, tells Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Jameis Winston in this weeks episode of Hard Knocks.

One of the Jets problems is they dont know how to develop quarterbacks. They rush them into the lineup (Sanchez and Smith) and never give them a chance to get comfortable in the same system. Theyre on their fifth offensive coordinator in the past six years, stunting the players growth with constant upheaval. In contrast, Tom Brady has been in the same system for 18 years.

The new hope is Hackenberg, a second-round pick in 2016. Unlike past regimes, the current administration is exercising patience, bringing him along at a glacial pace. Opposing scouts suspect its out of necessity, not by choice.

Hes never really been able to put it together since his special year in college [2013], said an AFC scout, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Chances are the Jets will be in the quarterback market again next offseason. League insiders say Johnson, always enamored of star power at the position, has his eye on next years draft crop, which includes Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Josh Rosen.

Hence, the Suck for Sam campaign among Jets fans.

Feeling a cool draft

The Jets have only eight of their own first- and second-round picks on the roster, and theres a reason for that: lousy drafting.

In many ways, the teams current swoon can be traced to the fruitless drafts from 2012-14. Of the 27 picks over the three-year span, only six remain on the roster -- three starters among them. First-round picks Quinton Coples and Dee Milliner are out of the league, and Calvin Pryor was shipped out. Intriguingly, the New England Patriots' top picks from those years -- Chandler Jones, Jamie Collins (second round) and Dominique Easley -- no longer are on the roster, but they traded Jones and Collins, receiving drafts picks in return.

Instead of having those players form the heart of the roster, the Jets have a huge void of middle-aged talent. It would be crippling for any organization, let alone one without an elite quarterback that can elevate those around him.

Theres no depth and no star power. Only one pick in the past 10 drafts has been selected to multiple Pro Bowls -- Darrelle Revis, a first-round choice in 2007. Leonard Williams (first round, 2015) is on his way to a stellar career, but you cant win a championship by drafting a star defender every decade.

Theyve used nine consecutive first-round picks on defensive players, dating to 2010 -- an utterly mind-boggling trend when you consider their offensive struggles. Their second-round history is enough to make Jets fans nauseous. The last one to make the Pro Bowl (not counting special teams) was Mark Gastineau, drafted in 1979.

In recent years, the Jets have employed different draft philosophies. Theyve drafted for need and best available. Theyve stockpiled picks and traded them away. Theyve tried it all, with minimal success.

If you cant draft, you cant win, a former general manager said. That explains why the Jets are where they are.

A Patriots obsession

It goes back to 1997 and 1998, when the Jets swiped future Hall of Famers Parcells and Curtis Martin, respectively, from the Patriots. The fascination was renewed by Ryan, who famously pledged that he had never kiss Bill Belichicks Super Bowl rings. (P.S.: He pretty much did.)

The obsession surfaced again in 2015, when the Jets reacquired Revis (and got busted for tampering) and based their offseason plan on trying to neutralize the Patriots high-powered passing attack.

Maccagnan, in his first year as GM, bought an entire secondary, bringing in Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine and Marcus Gilchrist. Maccagnans boss, Johnson, was giddy, thinking the Jets had weakened the Patriots by luring Revis back to their side.

Some teams acquire players to compete with a particular team, like Golden State signing Kevin Durant to take down Cleveland, the AFC scout said. I think the Jets, with Mike and Todd coming in, were trying to get guys to help them beat New England.

The Jets learned a hard and expensive lesson. They burned $39 million on Revis, whose skills had eroded appreciably. Cromartie lasted a year, Gilchrist two. Only Skrine remains from that wild spending spree. Instead of creating their own identity, the Jets have wasted time trying to copycat the Patriots.

"They don't have [an identity] anymore," a former Jets player said. "They lost it when they kicked Rex out the door."

Maccagnan & Co. tried to storm the Evil Empire, but they were thwarted at the gate. Now, two years later, the gap between the teams is larger than ever.

Link:
Anatomy of a collapse: How Jets turned into the NFL's worst team ... - ESPN (blog)

DeLuca got Friendzoned in "Grey's Anatomy" Season 13, but Season 14 is a whole other ballgame, and it sounds like he might not sit on the bench.

Giacomo Gianniotti recently told TVLine that "Grey's" Season 14 is going to be funnier, sexier, and more fun than recent seasons. That bar is low, but there are so many love triangles, squares, etc. happening right now that it's good to hear the show plans to go in a lighter direction with them instead of getting too dark.

We had pretty much counted out Dr. Andrew DeLuca getting with his crush Dr. Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington), since she blew him off last season and still seems focused on her love, Dr. Alex Karev (Justin Chambers). However, the Alex/Jo story has potential to blow up -- considering Alex tracked down her abusive husband, did nothing about it, and didn't tell her -- and no one ever promised that Jolex would be End Game.

Here's more from TVLine:

Question: Any scoop on Grey's Anatomy's Jo and Alex? BrockAusiello: Don't count out interloper Andrew just yet. Even though Jo seemed meh about his infatuation with her, Giacomo Gianniotti hints that his portrayer may make another go at it. "I think he just jumped the gun a bit," the actor shares. "Jo just went through this crazy traumatic experience [with Alex]. It was so fresh. I think he should've waited a little bit. And if he does wait a little bit [before approaching her again] she might have more of an open mind."

Interesting. Last November, during Season 13, Luddington talked to EW about DeLuca and Jo, and shut the idea down:

Does Jo not realize that Andrew has feelings for her on Grey's Anatomy? I kind of 'ship it, to be honest. Helene"I really don't think she does!" Camilla Luddington says. "I think she feels in the midst of a tornado, there is so much spinning around her head that she's not picking up on any feelings. I think she's just happy to have a friend. Even if she had a question about it, I think she'd set it aside. That would complicate things and right now she's craving simplicity."

That was then, though, and a lot has happened in the meantime.

More recently, both Luddington and Gianniotti talked to TV Guide about the many love triangles ahead. Although Matthew Morrison said he was returning this season, at the time, Luddington said she hadn't read a script with her husband back in it. "It's definitely a storyline that I hope we explore, because it's so important. But right now, it's [DeLuca] and Alex." She also added that it will be interesting to see how Jo reacts when she finds out Alex tracked down her husband. "Do I think that it could push them even further away from each other? It's definitely possible."

"Grey's Anatomy" Season 14 premieres with "Break Down the House," which will reportedly have a "vintage Grey's" vibe about it, airing Thursday, Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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Some doctors at a hospital in Seattle -- including several who began their careers at the facility as interns -- try to balance life and work. Read More

Follow this link:
'Grey's Anatomy' Season 14: Sorry, Jolex, DeLuca & Jo May Still Happen - Moviefone

Welcome to Anatomy of a Goal, where each week we dissect one goal (or near goal) from the previous weeks Columbus Crew SC match.

For match 27 on the 2017 MLS Season, we take a look at Ola Kamaras 45th minute game opening goal, assisted by new Designated Player Pedro Santos, that put Crew SC up 1-0 as part of the 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy on Saturday.

Heres a look at the finish from the Columbus forward.

Columbus dominated the early goings of this match, with new DP Santos drawing a red card on LA left back Ashley Cole. After a missed penalty kick by Federico Higuain, it looked like the Black & Gold might be in for a match of missed opportunities, but nonetheless the team continued to possess the ball and push for a goal.

Crew SCs opening goal begins with an errant pass from LAs Gyasi Zardes to Bradford Jamieson IV. Columbus captain, Wil Trapp easily steps in front of the headed ball, denying the Galaxys attempt to move forward.

Trapp heads a ball to the Black & Golds attacking fulcrum, Higuain.

Higuain takes a few deft touches to bring the ball down, and then knocks a pass into the path of Mohammed Abu, who makes a clever run around Joao Pedro and Jonathan dos Santos.

With the ball at his feet and dos Santos shifting over to provide defensive cover, Abu can attempt a difficult through pass, or ball over the top, to Kamara, try to beat dos Santos off the dribble or slide the ball over to Santos.

Abu pushes the ball out to Santos, who has yards of space between him and the Galaxy defensive midfielder Rafael Garcia.

Santos continues forward, and has can either continue his dribble or try to slot in an early through pass to Kamara.

With Garcia backpedaling, Santos decides to continue carrying the ball up the field. Finally met with defensive resistance in the form of dos Santos, Pedro now has three options: continue his dribble and try to beat dos Santos and Garcia, chip a ball over the top to Kamara or slide the ball over to Hector Jimenez running unmarked on the right flank.

Santos plays in Jimenez, but his pass is a bit too heavily and toward the end line, leaving Jimenez and Garcia are in a footrace to the ball before it goes out of bounds.

Jimenez beats Garcia but doesnt have any room for a cross. Instead, Jimenez cycles back out toward the sideline, finding Pedro near the touch line.

With the ball, and the beginnings of a passing triangle forming, Santos can play a square pass to an open Trapp, dribble into the space vacated by Jimenez or just hold onto the ball as the play develops or knock a touch pass right back to Jimenez.

Santos holds onto the ball as Jimenez drops in behind him. As weve see many times when the Berhalter system has been executed successfully, Crew SC have a passing triangle/rondo on the sideline with Santos, Trapp and Jimenez. Dos Santos has the unenviable position of being the lone defender in the middle of the triangle.

If executed correctly, this triangle should allow Columbus three attackers to pass the ball around the defender until one of the three is able to make a move into a more valuable attacking space.

Santos begins the passing triangle with a quick touch to Trapp who continues the triangle by finding Jimenez.

Neither Garcia nor fellow LA defender Dave Romney want any part of this passing triangle, leaving dos Santos to defend by himself.

As dos Santos shifts his defensive efforts, Jimenez slides the ball back over to Santos, likely frustrating the Galaxy defender. Romney and Garcia are still content to let dos Santos defend by himself.

Trapp then cuts out of the passing triangle, attempting to take either Romney or Garcia with him, or to be left unmarked for a chipped pass. As Trapp leaves the triangle, Higuain heads over to fill in Trapps spot, forming a new triangle as Santos holds onto the ball.

Trapp takes Romney with him out of the circle as Santos slides a pass over to Higuain. As Romney leaves, Pedro replaces him as an extra defender.

When Higuain sees Santos pass, he turns up field to form a new triangle with Justin Meram and Trapp, both of whom are immediate passing options. The Black & Golds No. 10 still has Santos as a safety valve on the touch line.

Higuain sends the ball back to Santos, who is now closed down by both Garcia and Pedro.

Sensing that both LA defenders are paying attention to Santos, Higuain makes a run much like Trapps previous run, but right between Pedro and Garcia. Once again, this run should either take one of the defenders out of the play or should leave Higuain open for a chipped pass. By running between the two defenders, Higuain may be able to cause confusion as to which defender should be following him.

Higuains run does exactly that with Garcia and Pedro both attempting to defend him. Now Santos is unmarked and has multiple options: a chipped pass to Higuain, a quick pass to Trapp, he can dribble toward the center of the field or a drop ball to Abu.

With multiple yards of space created by Higuains excellent run, Santos decides to carry the ball into the middle of the field as the play develops.

As Santos carries forward, he is met with a plethora of options: a drop ball to Abu, continue his dribble into the path of Zardes, a difficult pass to Kamara (who is just to the left of the image), a through ball to Meram or a lofted ball to Higuain, who is definitely offside.

Santos decides to thread the needle with a no-look-pass that goes between Meram and Higuain and right into the path of Kamara.

Now, the question is whether Kamara was offside when the pass was played. Above is a still frame from just before the pass is played. In this frame, Higuain is definitely offside while Kamara (whose yellow shoe you can just see) appears to be even with the final defenders, Pele van Anholt, elbow.

Above is a still frame from right when the pass is played. Higuain is clearly offside. The zoomed in section shows Kamara and van Anholt at the moment the pass was played. Its very difficult to tell whether Kamara is on or offside, but he looks to be almost exactly level.

It should be noted that every goal is reviewed by the VAR and therefore it was determined that Kamara was onside and no review was needed.

Back to the goal, as the ball heads toward Kamara, he is lining up to fire a one-touch-shot on goal.

Kamara is able to turn on Santos perfectly weighted pass . . .

. . . and easily scores the game-opening goal.

Here is the original post:
Anatomy of a Goal: The Pedro (to Ola) Connection - Massive Report

Lee Goodwin

From the time I saw the news, I thought it was a prank. The more I read, I knew it wasn't. The more I read, the more I thought: this is a sick and scripted serial. This is what they want.

The more I thought, the more I now believe that ESPN doesn't care what average Americans think of reassigning an Asian announcer named Robert Lee from a Virginia game in Charlottesville. ESPN is a part of the Fake Reality, a postmodern phenomenon that seeks to undermine not the United States as a country but the American people by any means necessary.

Lee, who is Asian, was assigned to announce the Cavaliers Sept. 2 opener against William & Mary. However, due to the recent controversial rally and ensuing counter protest that occurred in Charlottesville on Aug. 13 and 14, ESPN decided to reassign Lee to the Youngstown State/Pittsburgh game instead.

Lee, the voice of Siena College men's basketball team who lives in Albany, New York, works part time for ESPN, and announces about a "dozen football games a year for ESPN (according to heavy.com). He started as an ESPN announcer in 2016, working college football and college basketball games.

Here's ESPN's full statement:

"We collectively made the decision with Robert to switch the games as the tragic events in Charlottesville were unfolding, simply because of the coincidence of his name. In that moment it felt right to all parties. It's a shame that this is even a topic of conversation and we regret that who calls play-by-play for a football game has become an issue."

I bet. I guess it was just a freak coincidence that Lee was assigned to cover a game less than a month after the violence in Charlottesville, when they could have easily picked any other announcer who wouldn't have such a coincidental name.

FoxNews reported, "ESPN notes that assignments are switched all the time."

That might be so. But why the added coverage and raging responses? This is what they want.

Here's more:

New York magazine reporter Yasha Ali received an email Wednesday morning from an ESPN executive (no attribution) that stated, "This wasn't about offending anyone. It was about the reasonable possibility that because of his name he would be subjected to memes and jokes and who knows what else. Think about it. Robert Lee comes to town to do a game in Charlottesville. The reaction to our switching a young, anonymous play by play guy for a streamed ACC game is off the charts reasonable proof that the meme/joke possibility was real."

Sounds like predictive news to me. Not to mention, even if there was no rally in Charlottesville, given the history of the Confederacy and General Robert E. Lee a Virginian what in the name of Jefferson Davis is ESPN doing assigning Robert Lee to a UVA football game in Charlottesville?

I have a strong gut feeling the network knew exactly what it was doing, and it wasn't doing alone. It's possible they had help from other sources. These types of decisions are probably done in meetings. Lee could have done any number of lower-rated games. He could have worked the Central Connecticut at Syracuse game Friday, Sept. 1.

The really offensive part of the email refers to memes and jokes targeted at Lee. This smacks of someone projecting prejudice at a third party and assumes that spectators will undoubtedly slander Lee. If ESPN wanted to make a statement, it should have not broadcast the game. Period.

The unnamed executive goes on to state, "So, when the protests in Charlottesville were happening, we raised with him the notion of switching games. Somethine we do all the time. We didn't make him. We asked him. Eventually we mutually agreed to switch. . . No bigger until someone leaked it to embarrass us and him. They got their way. That's what happened. No politically correct efforts. No race issues. Just trying to be supportive of a young guy who felt it best to avoid the potential zoo."

Okay, Mr. Executive, but the fact remains: why did ESPN assign Lee the game to begin with? Not only was it presumptous at the least, it was even more pretentious and rudely patronizing to suggest that, for his own safety, he switch games.

As for Lee, he isn't talking about it, and I can't blame him. He deserves to be left alone, but ESPN, they've been in business for nearly 40 years and should no better.

And as for the "leak" the executive speaks of, isn't that poetic justice? The media love leaks; they make for great breaking news.

I don't know why this story became what it did. But it did, because it was supposed to. Nothing happens by chance, at least nothing of this caliber.

I'm sure the execs at ESPN are rubbing their hands together and planning the next "leak" as we speak.

Contact Lee Goodwin at 717-762-2151, lgoodwin@therecordherald.com or on Twitter: @LeeG_RH

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COLUMN: Anatomy of a smear - Waynesboro Record Herald

Things suddenly seem to click for Owen, who finds some renewed hope in solving the crying baby mystery, but the hilarity doesnt end there. Arizona suggests that he jump up and down -- not like youre a piston, youre like a wave -- at first, to calm the baby down, but then for her own amusement. Watch the deleted scene in the exclusive video above.

There will be several new faces joining Greys in the upcoming 14th season. In addition to welcoming Kim Raver back as Teddy, ABCs long-running medical drama will introduce DeLucas sister, Carina, who will be played byStefania Spampinato, and will bring on Timeless star Abigail Spencer in a recasting as Owens sister, Megan.

Greys Anatomy kicks off season 14 with a two-hour premiere on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

See original here:
EXCLUSIVE: Owen Hilariously Asks Arizona for Babysitting Tips in 'Grey's Anatomy' Deleted Scene - Entertainment Tonight

We are in the process of testing a method using Friedrich to identify great short candidates. Among the original "Thrilling Thirteen" that makes up our test portfolio started on August 1, 2017 is Coty (COTY). The closing price on the day we added it to the test portfolio was $20.23. Then the company reported its quarterly earnings before the open on Tuesday, August 22 nd and the stock dropped like a rock.

The data file below was compile on August first but changed little from our previous monthly update.

Notice, if you will, that the Friedrich Super Six Score was "Short". But that is just the starting point.

Next, notice that the Sherlock Debt Divisor was nearly 50 percent higher than the Wall Street Price. That means the company is carrying a lot of debt relative to its working capital.

Badwill stood at 117 percent. That indicates that the company overpaid for assets acquired in mergers.

The combination of these three conditions made this stock stand out to us as a potential short candidate.

The chart below shows price activity for Coty for the last five trading days.

Coty closed at $19.42 on Monday and today the stock got as low as $16.20, it rallied near the close but fell again in after hours trading back down to $16.20. The full change for the day was -17.35 percent from Mondays close to the after hours close on Tuesday.

Of the 13 stocks we chose on August 1 st, seven are down by double figures. The average fall in price per share is more than -15 percent in just 22 calendar days (16 trading days). Maybe we were lucky. But the same set up was present to varying degrees on each company. And the same situation also existed for Valeant Phamaceuticals before it fell from its lofty levels.

We are testing this combination because we found it to be present over and over again in stocks that have crashed. It does not predict all drops, of course, as big misses on earnings reports (among other catalysts) can do a lot of damage as well. What we have found, though, is that when these elements exist together the probability of a company failing to meet expectation rises significantly.

No system is perfect but we believe we may have found another method to help our Marketplace subscribers beat the odds.

Of the thirteen stock short positions we started with on August 1 st only three remain above our entry price, seven are down by double digits, four are down at least 20 percent and two are down over 40 percent. If these results occurred over six months or a year it would be good, but when it happened in 22 days even we have been asounded!

Among our other big winners were Teva Pharmaceuticals (TEVA), AMC Entertainment (AMC), Ascena Retail Group (ASNA), Chicago Bridge and Iron (CBI) all of which are down over 20 percent this month.

It should be obvious (but we will point it out anyway) that this sort of result is not attainable every month because the volume of M&A (merger and acquisition) activity may not create enough new candidates on such a regular basis. Also, even though we update our data every month on over 4,000 U.S. stocks, companies only report once per quarter, so often all that changes in a month is the price of the underlying stock. But as companies report and new data become available throughout each quarter our Friedrich crunches all the numbers and we review the results. You can be sure we will be watching for more short candidates with every update.

Disclosure: I am/we are short AMC, COTY, TEVA, CBI, ASNA.

I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Additional disclosure: DISCLAIMER: This analysis is not advice to buy or sell this or any stock; it is just pointing out an objective observation of unique patterns that developed from our research. Factual material is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but the poster is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results of actions taken based on information contained herein. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer to buy or sell securities or to give individual investment advice.

See the article here:
Coty: Anatomy Of A Short - Seeking Alpha

School is back in session and that means parents everywhere are asking themselves the same question: What should I pack for lunch? Its an important question, since fueling kids bodies with nutritious foods will help them stay alert and focused at school, while also providing the building blocks for a healthy, growing body.

So what is the answer? Finding a way to pack a balanced, tasty and healthy lunch five days a week can be a challenge, so try breaking it down into these essential components: whole grains, protein, dairy and fresh produce.

The most obvious choice here is a sandwich made with whole wheat bread. Dont forget to double-check the ingredients list on the package to make sure your bread is actually a whole grain. If the first ingredient listed isnt whole wheat flour, you arent getting what you paid for.

And while sandwiches are great, its okay to think outside the box. Muffins made with whole-wheat flour, brown rice mixed with veggies and whole grain crackers all make the cut.

Protein is one of the most essential nutrients for young, growing bodies, so finding a variety of protein-rich foods your kids love is important. Try deconstructing that customary sandwich into deli meat roll-ups or use the peanut butter for dipping fresh fruit and vegetables. Greek yogurt, rotisserie chicken pieces, cottage cheese and hard-boiled eggs are other great sources of protein.

Foods rich in dairy provide important nutrients like calcium, iodine, riboflavin, protein and vitamin B12. The best choices for children over two years of age are a variety of low or reduced-fat dairy products. A lunchbox packed with at least one serving of milk, yogurt or cheese is a great way for kids to meet the recommended 2 -3 cups of dairy per day.

Every lunchbox should contain at least two fresh produce items. Apples, carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers, orange slices, fresh berries and cherry tomatoes are just a few delicious and colorful ideas. When it comes to produce, taking the time to do some of the prep work beforehand is key. Spend an afternoon washing, peeling and chopping so that fruits and vegetables can be ready and waiting to throw into lunches each morning.

Fruity Nut n Honey Energy Bites Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup cherries, dried

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cup Honey Nut Cheerios

1/3 cup pumpkin seed kernels

1/2 cup almond butter

1 teaspoon honey

Directions

1. Soak dried cherries in hot water for 10 minutes. Drain and add to a food processor. Add vanilla and pulse until a paste forms (about 1 minute).

2. Add 1.5 cups of the Honey Nut Cheerios to the food processor and pulse again until the Cheerios are fairly crushed and well mixed in.

3. In a medium bowl, combine cherry mixture, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), almond butter, honey and the remaining 1/2 cup of whole Cheerios. Mix well.

4. Form into small balls, pressing tightly together with palms. If they are not quite sticking together, add just a tiny bit more almond butter.

5. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for grab-and-go snacking.

Source: http://www.superhealthykids.com

Taryn Palmer is a registered dietitian for the Magic Valley YMCA.

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Palmer: Anatomy of a healthy lunchbox - Twin Falls Times-News