good morning!

Don’t ask me how I stumbled upon this, as I wrote down the hoddle thought a pair weeks in the past. I’m in the course of bingeing How I Met Your Mom for just like the fiftieth time (please ship me television recs). And also you all know I’m an enormous Conan O’Brien fan.

These shuldn’t go collectively proper? Properly, aside from the time Conan was an additional on the present.

However I just lately climbed down into the strangest of rabbit holes that led me to a website known as “tedmosbyisnotajerk.com”. I think about it have to be a rival to the ‘Ted Mosby Is a Jerk’ web page. I don’t bear in mind the tv reference to this.

I dunno who began the location. Apparently it’s from the attitude of Victoria, one of many ladies Ted dated within the tv present (he broke up along with her twice). The positioning appears to rebuff anybody who believes Ted Mosby is a jerk.

The true jerk? That’s Conan O’Brien, in keeping with the location.

In line with one faux letter, Conan impersonated the principle character from How I Met Your Mom and picked up a lady. After one rapturous night time that included his string dance, Conan apparently by no means known as this girl again.

And that’s why, in keeping with this foolish faux letter, Conan is a jerk. Not Ted Mosby.

I can empathise with whoever frolicked constructing that website, if solely as a result of I spent a not-insignificant period of time studying and attempting to know it.

Fitzie’s monitor of the day: Day Journey, by Pat Metheny

And now to your hyperlinks:

Charlie Eccleshare ($$): Ange Postecoglou bemoans Tottenham ‘fragile foundations’ after loss vs Metropolis

Dan KP: Loss vs Metropolis a ‘excellent end result for Tottenham followers’ however defeat exhibits promise

ESPN: Sonny’s miss vs Metropolis exhibits Premier League title might be determined by inches

Hugo Lloris reunites with Olivier Giroud at LAFC

Aston Villa clinch spot in Champions League

A brand new ladies’s soccer crew is coming to DC

Washington — Jury choice started Monday within the corruption trial of New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, who’s accused of buying and selling his political affect for money, gold bars and a brand new Mercedes-Benz convertible. 

No jurors had been chosen when court docket adjourned within the early night. Many potential jurors indicated that they thought they have been unfit to serve and have been privately interviewed by the decide. About three dozen have been dismissed, and greater than 100 potential jurors have been requested to return to the federal courthouse in New York Metropolis on Tuesday for additional questioning. 

The allegations date again to 2018, across the time the Democratic senator started relationship the girl who’s now his spouse, Nadine Menendez, who was additionally indicted within the corruption probe. Prosecutors say Menendez offered political favors to 3 New Jersey businessmen and secretly helped the governments of Egypt and Qatar. 

Latest court docket filings revealed Menendez’s potential protection methods, together with incriminating his spouse and asserting that stockpiling money was a “coping mechanism” after “two vital traumatic occasions” in his life. 

Wearing a darkish blue go well with and a purple tie, Menendez was seated alongside his authorized group within the row in entrance of two of his codefendants, sometimes fidgeting and tapping his fingers on the desk. All three have pleaded not responsible and Menendez hasn’t dominated out testifying. 

The trial may final six or seven weeks, ending in late June or early July, U.S. District Choose Sidney Stein stated Monday. 

It is the second time in lower than a decade that Menendez, who stepped down from his highly effective chairmanship of the Senate International Relations Committee after he was charged in September, is on trial on corruption costs. His first case led to a hung jury in November 2017 in New Jersey. 

This is what to know. 

What are Menendez and his spouse charged with? 

Menendez and his spouse have been initially charged with three legal counts in September 2023 — conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit trustworthy providers fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion underneath coloration of official proper. 

The preliminary indictment detailed a years-long corruption scheme through which Menendez allegedly used his affect because the then-chairman of the highly effective Senate International Relations Committee to secretly profit Egypt; pressured a U.S. Division of Agriculture official to guard a enterprise monopoly Egypt granted to a New Jersey businessman, Wael Hana; to intervene in a legal investigation and prosecution by the New Jersey Legal professional Basic’s Workplace associated to a second New Jersey businessman, Jose Uribe, and his associates; and tried to affect a federal prosecution of a 3rd New Jersey businessman, Fred Daibes. 

A superseding indictment in October 2023 added a fourth cost alleging the couple conspired to behave as a international agent for Egypt. Prosecutors say Menendez and his spouse offered Egyptian officers, by way of Hana, with “extremely delicate” and nonpublic details about the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and U.S. army support to Egypt. The senator additionally allegedly ghostwrote a letter on behalf of Egypt that sought to persuade his Senate colleagues to launch a maintain on $300 million in support to Egypt. 

“Anytime you want something you will have my quantity and we’ll make the whole lot occur,” Nadine Menendez allegedly texted an Egyptian intelligence official in March 2020, days earlier than arranging one among a number of conferences between her husband and the official. 

In January, a second superseding indictment included allegations that Menendez made favorable feedback concerning the Qatari authorities as Daibes was looking for a multimillion-dollar funding from an organization with ties to the federal government.

Menendez was indicted on a dozen new legal costs in March in a 3rd superseding indictment, bringing the full costs to 16. The extra costs embody obstruction of justice, public official performing as a international agent, bribery, extortion and trustworthy providers wire fraud. Nadine Menendez, whose trial was separated from her husband’s on account of a “critical medical situation,” faces 15 costs. She has additionally pleaded not responsible. 

Prosecutors allege that in change for the senator’s use of his energy and affect to counterpoint the businessmen, they offered the Menendezes with lavish items, together with money, gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz convertible, furnishings and funds for a house mortgage as Nadine Menendez was dealing with foreclosures on her residence. 

When investigators executed a search warrant on the couple’s residence in June 2022, they discovered over $480,000 in money stuffed in envelopes and coats and 13 gold bars value greater than $100,000. They found practically $80,000 in a protected deposit field at a close-by financial institution. 

After the preliminary indictment, Menendez stated that for 30 years he withdrew 1000’s of {dollars} every month from his private financial savings account in case of emergencies. The “old style” behavior, he stated, had roots in his household’s expertise in Cuba.

Who’re the opposite defendants? 

Hana knew Nadine Menendez years earlier than she began relationship the senator. Initially from Egypt, Hana lived in New Jersey and operated IS EG Halal, a start-up that quickly grew to become the only real firm to certify halal merchandise imported to Egypt, regardless of Hana having no earlier expertise within the halal business. 

Hana and Nadine Menendez have been typically the intermediaries between the senator and Egyptian officers, arranging dinners at costly eating places and conferences in his Senate workplace, based on court docket paperwork. Prosecutors say Hana put Nadine Menendez on the payroll of his firm “in a low-or-no-show job” after the senator promised to make use of his energy to facilitate international army gross sales to Egypt. 

When a crash left Nadine Menendez with no automotive in December 2018, she turned to Hana, who linked her with Uribe, his enterprise affiliate who had been implicated in an insurance coverage fraud case. The following month, the couple and the 2 businessmen agreed that Menendez would intervene within the insurance coverage fraud case, the indictments say. In return, the costs allege, Uribe helped purchase Nadine Menendez a black Mercedes-Benz convertible, assembly her in a restaurant parking zone handy over $15,000 in money that she used for the down cost, and later arranging automotive funds. 

Across the similar time, Egypt granted a monopoly to Hana’s agency in a deal that offered a “income stream” for Hana to pay the Menendezes, the indictments say. However the monopoly additionally elevated prices for different U.S. meat suppliers and after U.S. officers raised objections with Egypt, Hana requested the senator’s assist to stress the Division of Agriculture to again off. 

By summer time 2019, prosecutors say Nadine Menendez, who was tens of 1000’s of {dollars} behind on her mortgage and dealing with foreclosures, sought assist once more from Hana and Uribe. Hana’s firm, they are saying, paid $23,000 to convey the mortgage funds updated whereas Menendez sought to stress New Jersey officers to finish the fraud investigation linked to Uribe. 

It wasn’t the primary case that Menendez interfered with, based on the indictments. In late 2020, the senator met with an individual who would later be nominated to be the U.S. Legal professional for the District of New Jersey, criticizing the workplace’s prosecution of Daibes, a New Jersey actual property developer and affiliate of Hana’s. Daibes was charged in 2018 with acquiring loans underneath false pretenses. However when the individual urged that he could need to recuse himself from the prosecution, Menendez knowledgeable him that he would suggest another person to the White Home for the U.S. lawyer nomination, prosecutors alleged. 

By 2021 and 2022, after Menendez publicly praised the federal government of Qatar, which prosecutors urged helped Daibes land a take care of a Qatari investor, and because the senator sought to proceed to intervene within the federal prosecution of Daibes, the actual property developer allegedly gave Menendez gold bars, money and a recliner. 

“One kilo worth of gold,” Menendez allegedly searched on-line, hours after having dinner together with his spouse and Daibes in Could 2022. 

Lower than a month later, federal brokers executed search warrants on the Menendezes’ residence and protected deposit field. 

Based on prosecutors, Uribe stopped making funds on Nadine Menendez’s Mercedes after that and informed her that he would say the funds have been a mortgage if investigators requested. Menendez and his spouse then allegedly sought to cowl up the mortgage and automotive funds by writing checks to Hana and Uribe that have been characterised as funds for loans, prosecutors stated. That brought about legal professionals for Menendez and his spouse to make “false and deceptive statements” to investigators in 2023, the indictment stated. 

Uribe pleaded responsible to seven costs, together with conspiracy to commit bribery, trustworthy providers wire fraud, obstruction of justice and tax evasion, and agreed to cooperate with investigators earlier this yr. 

Luisa Garcia contributed reporting. 

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker railed in opposition to Delight month, working ladies, US president Biden’s management in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic and abortion throughout a graduation handle at Benedictine School final weekend.

The three-time Tremendous Bowl champion delivered the roughly 20-minute handle Saturday on the Catholic non-public liberal arts faculty in Atchison, Kansas, which is situated about 60 miles north of Kansas Metropolis.

Butker, who has made his conservative Catholic beliefs well-known, started his handle by attacking what he known as “harmful gender ideologies” in an obvious reference to Delight month, which has been celebrated in June for the reason that Stonewall riots in 1969. He additionally criticized an article by the Related Press highlighting a shift towards conservativism in some components of the Catholic Church.

The 28-year-old Butker then took purpose at Biden’s insurance policies, together with his response to Covid-19, which has killed almost 1.2m folks within the US, in accordance with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

“Whereas Covid might need performed a big position all through your early life, it isn’t distinctive,” he mentioned. “The dangerous insurance policies and poor management have negatively impacted main life points. Issues like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, in addition to a rising help for the degenerate cultural values and media all stem from pervasiveness of dysfunction.”

Butker later addressed the ladies within the viewers, arguing that their “most vital title” must be that of “homemaker”.

“I believe it’s you, the ladies, who’ve had essentially the most diabolic lies instructed to you,” Butker mentioned. “A few of it’s possible you’ll go on to steer profitable careers on the earth, however I might enterprise to guess that almost all of you might be most enthusiastic about your marriage and the youngsters you’ll carry into this world. I can let you know that my lovely spouse Isabelle can be the primary to say her life really began when she began residing her vocation as a spouse and as a mom.”

The Chiefs declined to touch upon Butker’s graduation handle.

The 2017 seventh-round pick of Georgia Tech has develop into of the NFL’s greatest kickers, breaking the Chiefs’ franchise file with a 62-yard area objective in 2022. Butker helped them win their first Tremendous Bowl in 50 years in 2020, added a second Lombardi Trophy in 2023, and he kicked the sphere objective that compelled time beyond regulation in a Tremendous Bowl win over San Francisco in February.

It has been an embarrassing offseason for the Chiefs, although.

Final month, voters in Jackson County, Missouri, soundly rejected a poll initiative that might have helped pay for a downtown ballpark for the Royals and an $800m renovation to Arrowhead Stadium, the house of the Chiefs. Many citizens criticized the plan put ahead by the Chiefs as catering primarily to VIPs and the rich.

The identical week, extensive receiver Rashee Rice turned himself in to Dallas police on a number of prices, together with aggravated assault, after he was concerned in a high-speed crash that left 4 folks with accidents. Rice has acknowledged being the driving force of one of many sports activities vehicles that was getting into extra of 100mph, and video reveals him leaving the scene with out offering data or figuring out whether or not anybody wanted medical consideration.

Final week, legislation enforcement officers instructed the Dallas Morning Information that Rice additionally was suspected of assaulting an individual at a downtown nightclub; Dallas police didn’t title Rice because the suspect in detailing a report back to the Related Press.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned he had spoken to the receiver and the group was letting the authorized course of play out.

1000’s are demanding the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs launch kicker Harrison Butker after he railed in opposition to President Joe Biden, the LGBTQ group and “diabolical lies informed to ladies” throughout a graduation handle.

On the weekend, Mr Butker spoke at Benedictine School, a personal Kansas faculty. The three-time Tremendous Bowl champion delivered the roughly 20-minute handle, telling the graduates that poor management has negatively impacted main life points.

“Issues like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, in addition to a rising assist for degenerative cultural values in media all stem from the pervasiveness of dysfunction,” he mentioned.

Video and textual content from his speech shortly unfold on-line as he’s been blasted by advocates and a petition calling for his launch has been signed by 10,000.

“His feedback have been sexist, homophobic, anti-trans, anti-abortion and racist. These dehumanizing remarks in opposition to LGBTQ+ people, assaults on abortion rights and racial discrimination perpetuate division and undermine human rights,” a Change.org petition demanding his removing reads.

“These feedback reinforce dangerous stereotypes that threaten social progress. They create a poisonous surroundings that hinders our collective efforts in direction of equality, range and inclusion in society. It’s unacceptable for such a public determine to make use of their platform to foster hurt relatively than unity.”

Mr Butker, who has made his conservative Catholic beliefs well-known, started his handle by attacking what he known as “harmful gender ideologies” in an obvious reference to Delight month, which has been celebrated in June because the Stonewall riots in 1969. He mentioned the annual celebration was an instance of the “lethal sins”.

He additionally criticised an article by the Related Press highlighting a shift towards conservativism in some components of the Catholic Church.

The 28-year-old then geared toward Biden’s insurance policies, together with his response to Covid-19, which has killed practically 1.2 million individuals within the US, in line with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

Mr Butker later addressed the ladies within the viewers, arguing that their “most essential title” ought to be that of a “homemaker”.

“I believe it’s you, the ladies, who’ve had essentially the most diabolic lies informed to you,” Mr Butker mentioned. “A few of chances are you’ll go on to guide profitable careers on the earth, however I’d enterprise to guess that almost all of you’re most enthusiastic about your marriage and the youngsters you’ll carry into this world. I can let you know that my stunning spouse Isabelle can be the primary to say her life actually began when she began dwelling her vocation as a spouse and as a mom.”

He had a message for the lads within the crowd as effectively; “be unapologetic in your masculinity” and “combat in opposition to the cultural emasculation of males”. He later quoted Taylor Swift, saying “As my teammate’s girlfriend says, ‘familiarity breeds contempt,’” although he failed to understand Swift lifted the road from a typical phrase.

The Chiefs declined to touch upon Mr Butker’s graduation handle.

The 2017 seventh-round select of Georgia Tech has turn into one of many NFL’s finest kickers, breaking the Chiefs’ franchise document with a 62-yard subject objective in 2022. Mr Butker helped them win their first Tremendous Bowl in 50 years in 2020, added a second Lombardi Trophy in 2023, and he kicked the sphere objective that pressured extra time in a Tremendous Bowl win over San Francisco in February.

His accolades didn’t spare him from web backlash.

“Harrison Butker doesn’t signify Kansas Metropolis nor has he ever. Kansas Metropolis has at all times been a spot that welcomes, affirms, and embraces our LGBTQ+ group members,” former county commissioner Justice Horn wrote in a put up on X/Twitter.

“That is atrocious. I hope somebody with the Chiefs pulls him apart and instills empathy and humanity into him. Hell, reduce his ass, too. As gifted as he’s, you will discover a kicker that’s not homophonic and misogynistic fairly simply, I guess,” one other consumer said.

The Swifties – Swift’s fan base, recognized for swarming her critics like feeding piranhas – weren’t happy that somebody so near their idol would maintain such odious views.

“I hope that Harrison Butker tries to inform Travis that Taylor emasculates him trigger she works and isn’t at residence cooking and taking good care of infants. And I hope Travis beats the s*** out of him,” one Swiftie wrote.

“One of many worst components of this NFL participant’s terrible speech is that he quoted a Taylor Swift music earlier than telling ladies they need to be homemakers and serve their man’s profession,” another said.

It has been an embarrassing offseason for the Chiefs, although.

Final month, voters in Jackson County, Missouri, soundly rejected a poll initiative that might have helped pay for a downtown ballpark for the Royals and an $800 million renovation to Arrowhead Stadium, the house of the Chiefs. Many citizens criticised the plan put ahead by the Chiefs as catering primarily to VIPs and the rich.

The identical week, extensive receiver Rashee Rice turned himself in to Dallas police on a number of expenses, together with aggravated assault, after he was concerned in a high-speed crash that left 4 individuals with accidents. Rice has acknowledged being the motive force of one of many sports activities automobiles that was going greater than 100 mph, and video exhibits him leaving the scene with out offering info or figuring out whether or not anybody wanted medical consideration.

Final week, legislation enforcement officers informed The Dallas Morning Information that Rice was additionally suspected of assaulting an individual at a downtown nightclub. Dallas police didn’t identify Rice because the suspect in detailing a report back to the Related Press.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned he had spoken to the receiver and the staff was letting the authorized course of play out.

The Related Press contributed to this report

Jury choice begins in trial accusing prime Democrat of accepting bribes and appearing as unregistered overseas agent.

Jury choice has begun within the corruption trial of Bob Menendez, a prime United States senator who’s accused of accepting bribes in change for a variety of favours and appearing as an unregistered agent of the Egyptian authorities.

Menendez, 70, faces 16 felony costs and is being tried alongside two New Jersey businessmen in Manhattan federal courtroom.

Menendez sat together with his legal professionals on Monday and listened as Choose Sidney H Stein instructed a number of dozen potential jurors in regards to the costs.

The choose instructed them the “sitting US senator from the state of New Jersey” had been charged in a conspiracy wherein he allegedly “agreed to just accept bribes and accepted bribes”.

Menendez’s spouse, Nadine, has additionally been charged however shall be tried individually. All 4 defendants have pleaded not responsible.

In September, prosecutors accused Menendez and his spouse of accepting money, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz convertible in change for the senator wielding his political affect in New Jersey and serving to the governments of Egypt and Qatar.

Authorities stated Menendez promised to assist Egypt receive arms gross sales and different army support, and helped co-defendant Wael Hana, an Egyptian-American businessman, receive a profitable monopoly on the certification of halal meat exports to Egypt.

Prosecutors additionally stated Menendez tried to assist his different co-defendant, outstanding New Jersey developer Fred Daibes, receive hundreds of thousands of {dollars} from a Qatari funding fund, and sought to disrupt a federal felony case towards Daibes in New Jersey.

A lot of the money obtained by the couple was stuffed inside clothes at their dwelling, prosecutors stated.

A number of weeks after the preliminary indictment was unsealed, US authorities in October additionally charged Menendez – who beforehand chaired the influential Senate Overseas Affairs Committee – with serving as an unregistered agent of Egypt.

Talking to reporters in late September, Menendez stated he was assured he could be exonerated within the case and would proceed his political profession.

“I firmly consider that when all of the information are introduced, not solely will I be exonerated, however I nonetheless shall be New Jersey’s senior senator,” he stated.

He additionally sought to defend his report on Egypt.

“All through my 30 years within the Home of Representatives and the Senate, I’ve all the time labored to carry accountable these nations together with Egypt for human rights abuses, the repression of its citizenry, civil society, and extra,” he instructed reporters on the time.

Menendez is up for re-election in November and has stated he would possibly run as an impartial if he’s exonerated within the felony case.

However latest polls present he’s deeply unpopular amongst New Jersey voters and plenty of Democratic Celebration senators, together with New Jersey’s Cory Booker, have known as for him to resign.

Fewer than one in six voters polled in March by Monmouth College and Emerson Faculty Polling/PIX11/The Hill stated they permitted of Menendez’s job efficiency. Even fewer stated they’d vote for him as an impartial.

That is Menendez’s second felony trial: In 2017, a New Jersey federal choose declared a mistrial after jurors deadlocked on whether or not he broke the regulation by offering assist to a rich ophthalmologist in change for lavish items and political contributions.

I got here comparatively late to Alice Munro. 

Regardless of being a bookish Canadian with pretensions of being a author, I resisted invites and entreatments alike to learn something by—so I used to be instructed—our model of Chekhov. The rationale for this reluctance isn’t difficult, and is frankly embarrassing looking back: Alice Munro was my mom’s favourite author. 

In what amounted to one thing extra like petulance than twentysomething revolt, I rejected Alice Munro together with the Margarets, Atwood and Laurence, and Carol Shields, a exceptional quartet of writers born inside a decade of each other, all of them beloved of my mom (b. 1934). Nevertheless it was Munro (b. 1931) who normally rose to the highest of her bedside ebook pile, to whom she returned time and again. 

Twenty-five years on, and over a decade since my mom died, it’s not exhausting to see why Munro was her favourite: born a number of years aside they each married younger, aged 21, and instantly set to the first process of the Nineteen Fifties housewife, the expansion and care of a household (4 kids for Munro, 5 for my mom). 

Because the cultural and political upheaval of the Sixties performed in hazy background projection throughout lengthy years of diapers and laundry and unmade beds, each Munro and my mom wrote: the previous, the tales that may turn into her first assortment, Dance of the Completely satisfied Shades, a ebook that may inaugurate the quiet genius of our best storyteller of life as it’s (because it lived by all of us, whether or not we prefer it or not); the latter, fragments of poetry and diaristic reflection that may solely be learn by her youngest son the 12 months after she died, in a dusty overheated residence within the ludicrously named Georgian Courtroom Arms, a shabby, low-slung complicated an hour exterior of Toronto.

She wrote for everybody who has let the sharp fringe of remorse boring right into a each day ache, who has been stunned by love, by want, by the need for extra.

After which the Nineteen Seventies: Munro divorced her first husband (1972) and my mom left hers (1974); each discovered the boys they’d love for the remainder of their lives. In contrast to Munro, nonetheless, my mom would have one final little one, at 42: me. 

At this level you could be questioning if I’m really evaluating my mom, Margery Hen, to one of many best writers to ever reside and… sure, I assume I’m. Insofar as that they had one thing like the identical life—not less than up till Munro’s profession took off—my mom, and her sisters, and their husbands, and their pals, have been all characters in an Alice Munro story, simply as Munro herself was. 

And although this has nothing to do together with her explicit presents as a author, it’s exhausting not to consider myself as a minor Alice Munro character, the unintended little one of an unlikely love affair who lastly and terminally thwarts the inventive aspirations of a girl too lengthy outlined by motherhood and little else, who finds briefly within the second wave feminism of the Nineteen Seventies a recipe for independence, solely to relinquish it as soon as once more to the duties of child-rearing.

The writer, along with his mom, southern Ontario, spring 1976.

After I lastly got here to the tales of Munro in my late twenties, at that age when remorse begins to harden into resignation, it felt like I’d been given a window into the interior lives of my mother and father: the numerous dinner events and lakeside BBQs I’d wandered via as a toddler, leaping onto beds lined in strangers’ coats, burrowing into all these mysterious scents—of motor oil and lilac and rye and a lot cigarette smoke—blithely unaware of the tectonic roil of want slightly below the floor, every grown-up life a warren of wrong-turns and second possibilities, of carefully guarded hope and bitter defeat.  

Alice Munro noticed all of it. And it doesn’t matter when you’ve by no means eaten nanaimo bars sitting on the shag carpet at a Gray Cup Social gathering, or carried a pitcher of beer to a desk of tipsy grown-ups at a bonspiel, rink rafters thick with cigarette smoke; simply as one needn’t have felt the summer season solar fading on a dacha five-days trip from St. Petersburg to metabolize the truths of Chekhov (to whom she is rightly in contrast) one needn’t ever have set foot in Canada to know Munro. 

As a result of she wrote for all of us, in every single place. 

She wrote for everybody who has let the sharp fringe of remorse boring right into a each day ache, who has been stunned by love, by want, by the need for extra, who has hesitated and misplaced, who has stored going, stored questioning, stored feeling, so deeply and so quietly, via all of the countless days that take us from one finish of life to the opposite.   

Alice Munro and my mom, Margery Hen, died in the identical small city, twelve years aside. Port Hope is an in any other case inconsequential place set exhausting between the Trans-Canada Freeway and the northern shore of Lake Ontario, forgettable in its sameness to a thousand different Canadian cities. Or not less than that’s what I used to assume.

To learn Alice Munro is to see the life in every of those locations, and in locations like them, for what it’s: perpetually brimming with an excessive amount of, perpetually aching with not sufficient. We’re all characters in an Alice Munro story, on the mercy of the relentless tidal pulls of craving and remorse solely she appeared in a position to chart. I’ll develop previous and die, and my reminiscences of my mom will wink out and be gone. However her life shall be there nonetheless, someplace, within the tales of Alice Munro. Endlessly.

Ange Postecoglou questioned Spurs’ “fragile foundations” after their defeat to Manchester Metropolis in an obvious reference to the furore round stopping Arsenal profitable the title.

The Spurs boss watched his aspect’s personal Champions League hopes go up in smoke as they misplaced a fifth sport out of six, which assured Aston Villa fourth spot within the Premier League.

However there was nonetheless a jovial ambiance round a lot of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Man Metropolis moved two factors clear on the high of the desk, which implies they are going to be topped champions forward of Arsenal as long as they beat West Ham on Sunday.

There have been claims on social media forward of the sport of swathes of season-ticket holders promoting their tickets whereas these contained in the packed-out stadium started singing anti-Arsenal chants as soon as Erling Haaland had put the guests forward.

Postecoglou refused to be drawn on the precise supply of his frustrations, however stated that they had emerged within the 48 hours main as much as Tuesday’s sport – throughout which he had issued a spiky response when questioned concerning the proportion of Spurs followers who needed their aspect to lose to halt Arsenal’s title hopes.

“I believe the final 48 hours have revealed the foundations are pretty fragile,” he stated. “Exterior the membership, contained in the membership, in all places.

“It has been an fascinating train. It is simply my observations. I am not going to inform you extra. You can also make your individual evaluation of what occurred.

“I most likely misinterpret the state of affairs as to what I believe is vital and the endeavour to develop into a profitable staff, however that is okay. That is why I am right here. I simply wish to win, I wish to achieve success at this membership. That is why I used to be introduced in.

“Different individuals, what their priorities and pursuits are, I’ve zero curiosity in – I do know what’s vital to construct a profitable staff, and that is what I wish to focus on.

“It’s what it’s, I can not dictate what individuals do. They’re allowed to precise themselves nonetheless they need. However after we’ve bought late winners in video games, it is as a result of the group has usually helped us.

“I already knew what I needed to do, I simply need to make some changes to how I do it.”

Redknapp: Spurs’ tradition is flawed – it is not run to win

Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp reacted to Postecoglou’s feedback on Sky Sports activities, and stated it had been troublesome to observe individuals surrounding his outdated membership who needed to see them lose out on a Champions League spot with the intention to assist Manchester Metropolis win the league title.

“It isn’t been simple [seeing people] questioning if Spurs ought to attempt to win this sport,” he stated. “There was an opportunity of Champions League soccer at this membership however individuals have been extra considering stopping Arsenal profitable the title.

“That could be a tradition that is been created for an extended whereas at this membership. I used to be right here, I by no means felt [there] was a profitable mentality.”

Redknapp additionally questioned Tottenham’s spending habits compared to their north London rivals, who regardless of spending an analogous quantity over the past two seasons, have leapfrogged them into title competition – whereas Spurs have been left with back-to-back seasons outdoors the Champions League.

“Two years in the past I used to be right here when Arsenal misplaced to Tottenham, Spurs bullied them that evening,” he added. “Should you would have stated to me that in two years Arsenal can be contending to win the title I’d’ve stated nicely I can not see that.

“What Arsenal have performed is purchase gamers which might be able to win titles, not perhaps make the staff a bit higher. What do we’d like? We want Declan Rice, let’s convey him in.

“Difficult to get gamers to take this membership to the subsequent degree. That is the mentality of Arsenal that Tottenham have not bought. The stadium is unimaginable, however the staff has to match that.

“They misplaced Harry Kane firstly of the 12 months, however they need to have stated to Kane that they wish to preserve him, or made certain they introduced somebody in that may be a ready-made alternative.

“I’ve at all times felt it, and it comes from the highest right here. I’ve to watch out as a result of I’ve usually stated about Man Utd and the Glazers – however they’ve at all times backed the staff with the gamers. Whether or not they’ve bought it proper or flawed they’ve spent a whole bunch of thousands and thousands on the gamers.

“Right here I do not assume that is ever been the case. It is completely run as a enterprise. The followers deserve higher than that.”

What would Arsenal followers have made from Spurs’ efficiency?

Sky Sports activities’ Gary Neville on the Gary Neville Podcast:

“I believe they might be just a little bit aggravated concerning the [Son] probability throughout the sport and that is simply rivalry, we see that point and time once more.

“However I do not assume they might ever be aggravated by the trouble of the Tottenham staff and the power of the Tottenham staff. That was a implausible efficiency. They stored the ball off Metropolis for giant components that first half.

“Groups do not do this. They lacked a little bit of punch up entrance, however that they had that punch within the second half. They created three or 4 actually good moments. If Tottenham had bought a draw out of that sport tonight, nobody may have denied them.

“Arsenal couldn’t have any complaints in anyway. Mikel Arteta is not going to have any complaints about how Ange Postecoglou and his males have approached this sport and gone about their enterprise. They performed rather well.”

Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Carragher on the Gary Neville Podcast:

“I really assume it will make it worse for an Arsenal fan as a result of at the least if Metropolis had received this 2-0 or 3-0 and Tottenham hadn’t had a go, you may take your frustration out on Tottenham.

“However you possibly can’t take your frustration out on Tottenham as a result of that they had the probabilities. They need to have gotten one thing from the sport.

“In order an Arsenal fan, it is that additional punch to the ribs… they’re going to need to take their drugs, it appears to be like like within the subsequent few days.

“It is going to be actually troublesome for them as a result of whenever you come the entire approach by way of a season and you’ve got performed in addition to they’ve and you do not win it on the finish… Liverpool have been there quite a lot of instances over the past 5 – 6 years, chasing this Pep Guardiola machine that’s simply unbelievable.”

The way to ebook Fury v Usyk on Sky Sports activities Field Workplace

It is one of many greatest sporting occasions in a era. Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk collide for the undisputed world heavyweight championship on Saturday Might 18, dwell on Sky Sports activities Field Workplace. E-book the combat now.

Whereas his father LeBron James returned dwelling to Cleveland to observe the Cavaliers tackle the Boston Celtics within the NBA Playoffs on Monday, Bronny James was in Chicago and turning heads within the 2024 NBA Draft mix.

The youthful James had a formidable efficiency, capping a day that started with the information he was medically cleared to play within the NBA one 12 months after struggling a cardiac arrest and present process surgical procedure to restore a coronary heart defect. On the heels of that information, studies emerged Monday morning that Bronny James would stay within the NBA Draft course of as an alternative of returning to varsity after one season at USC.

Whereas Bronny James got here in shorter than he has been listed prior to now — 6-foot-1.5 with out footwear — he did register a 6-foot-7 wingspan. He then recorded a 40.5-inch max vertical leap and confirmed out within the professional lane agility drill on the mix.

The 19-year-old additionally shined through the 3-point star taking pictures drill, pulling down 19 of 25 photographs from past the arc.

Bronny doesn’t profile as a high prospect regardless of doubtlessly being a part of an NBA Draft class seen as an uncommonly weak one. Nevertheless, the place he will get drafted will likely be a serious supply of intrigue, because the 39-year-old LeBron has publicly vowed to play along with his son within the NBA. Not solely has LeBron continued to be the NBA’s most recognizable participant and a pillar of the game on and off the courtroom, he has additionally remained statistically productive, averaging 25.7 factors, 7.3 rebounds and eight.3 assists for the Los Angeles Lakers in his twenty first NBA season.

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Oak View Group’s (OVG) Co-op Stay area (cap. 23,500) in Manchester lastly opened its doorways to stage its first untroubled occasion, with a live performance by hometown band Elbow final evening, 14 Could.

After exhibits by acts together with Peter Kay, Olivia Rodrigo and Take That had been both cancelled, postponed or moved, Elbow grew to become the venue’s official opening act. Frontman Man Garvey kicked of continuing by saying: “Good night Manchester. Let’s open this venue correctly we could?”

The opening of the UK’s greatest area was repeatedly postponed. Peter Kay was initially poised to open the sector with its first full capability present on 23 April however won’t carry out there till 23 Could. The Black Keys, who had been set to play a ten,000-capacity present at Co-op Stay on 27 April, had been rescheduled to tonight, whereas alternative dates for Olivia Rodrigo’s cancelled live shows on 3 and 4 Could haven’t but been established.

Rodrigo’s exhibits had been known as off after a element of the heating, air flow and air-con (HVAC) system, used to direct air, fell from the ceiling. OVG CEO Tim Leiweke informed the BBC, “If that was quarter-hour later, one thing catastrophic may have occurred.” He went to claim that after repeated checks the sector is now “the most secure constructing on the earth”.

Forward of yesterday’s Elbow live performance, Rebecca Kane Burton, The O2 area’s former VP & GM who stepped in as interim GM at Co-Op Stay following the resignation of Gary Roden, posted on social media, “Let’s go workforce. Let’s present them simply what we’ve obtained.”

Forthcoming exhibits on the venue embody live shows Eric Clapton and Barry Manilow.

The Glasgow giants face a tie at Rugby Park tonight, Wednesday Might 15, as they tackle Derek McInnes and his Kilmarnock facet.

Ought to Brendan Rodgers and his facet choose up any factors within the match it would safe the membership’s third consecutive league win.

Forward of the conflict, the group have been noticed following within the footsteps of a few of the most well-known sides within the membership’s historical past.

Earlier than they taking to the pitch later tonight the squad have been seen arriving on the Seamill Hydro lodge in West Kilbride, with just a few followers and locals catching a glimpse because the group bus pulled in.

The venue has lengthy been synonymous with the membership with visits and coaching camps at “their favorite Seamill hang-out” courting way back to 1949.

Most famously, legendary Celtic supervisor Jock Stein was identified to take his sides to the lodge within the fast days earlier than cup finals and necessary European ties within the Sixties.

Essentially the most notable go to of all got here within the lead as much as the membership’s 1967 European Cup triumph – with the Lisbon Lions facet starting preparations for the ultimate towards Inter Milan at ‘The Hydro’.

The present facet will definitely be hoping that they are going to have silverware secured following their go to to the West Kilbride venue, identical to the perimeters of outdated.

Nonetheless, we have now a sense that – in contrast to the groups of the previous – there will not be any coaching periods on the again garden or the adjoining seashore.

The match at Rugby Park kicks off at 7.30pm tonight.