-- Jon Gruden is getting back into professional football The former NFL coach is joining the Nashville Kats of the Arena Football One League as a part-owner and in what the club called "consulting and advisory roles in all aspects of the team's football and business operations." The Super Bowl-winning coach later filed a lawsuit against the NFL claiming contract interference and conspiracy A three-justice panel of the Nevada Supreme Court sided 2-1 with the NFL last year ruling the league could force the civil case out of state court and into private arbitration that might be overseen by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the lawsuit will be reviewed by the full seven-person court The Gruden family has deep ties to the Arena Football League won four league titles as a player and two more as a coach in the 1990s and early 2000s before eventually moving on to a coaching career in the NFL The Nashville Kats, who announced Gruden's partnership Monday, have an ownership group that includes former Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher who also serves as the Kats' president and as the league commissioner "I have been a fan of indoor football for a long time and jumped at the opportunity to be involved with Jeff and the Nashville Kats as part of the ownership group," Gruden said "I have so much respect for what Jeff has done over his career and continues to do with the Nashville Kats and as commissioner of AF1 Fisher made the announcement on May 5 introducing Gruden as a franchise partner with consulting and advisory roles in all aspects of the team’s football and business operations “The Nashville Kats and the Arena Football One League are very excited to have someone with Jon’s experience and expertise and success to not only be part of the ownership but also take an active role in a variety of ways within the organization,” said Fisher Gruden, 61, was coach of the Oakland Raiders (19989-2001), Tampa Bay Bucs (2002-08) and Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (2018-21) He led the Bucs to a championship in Super Bowl XXXVII over Oakland and has been inducted into Tampa Bay’s Ring of Honor Gruden resigned from the Raiders during the 2021 season following media reports detailing use of derogatory language by him in emails Gruden currently works for Barstool Sports “I have been a fan of indoor football for a long time and jumped at the opportunity to be involved with Jeff and the Nashville Kats as part of the ownership group,” Gruden said in a release “I have so much respect for what Jeff has done over his career and continues to do with the Nashville Kats as commissioner of AF1 Gruden also has ties with the current Titans coaching staff Titans coach Brian Callahan's father Bill was offensive coordinator for the Raiders under Gruden and later was promoted to coach former Washington Commanders coach Jay Gruden was an assistant for the Kats in 1997 before becoming coach of the Orlando Predators (1998-2001) Jay Gruden was inducted into the Arena Football Hall of Fame I followed all of Jay’s playing and coaching days in Arena Football and knew how much he enjoyed all those years,” Gruden said “I look forward to having that same kind of excitement with the Nashville Kats.” JEFF FISHER TAKES ARENA LEAGUE CONTROL: Former Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher named Arena Football League interim commissioner The Nashville Kats (3-2) have won three games in a row, including an April 26 win over Southwest Kansas (41-17) in Dodge City. The Kats sit in third place, two games behind league-leading Albany Firebirds (6-0). After an open week, the Kats return to action at Albany on May 10 with a 6 p.m. CT kickoff. Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter. ShopLas Vegas Aces By Madie Chandler | FeverBasketball.com In the initial moments of her return to Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Caitlin Clark drifted left off a screen and rattled down a 3-pointer from the center court Hawkeye logo. It was her first possession of her preseason debut, and her first shot back inside the arena at which she captivated college basketball as she wrote a new chapter of history for women’s sports. “I love to compete at the end of the day,” Clark said pregame. “But also, this is a building I’m very comfortable playing in.” Clark broke the NCAA’s all-time scoring record in Carver-Hawkeye, earning a stamp on the arena’s hardwood in her honor. Her No. 22 sits on the exact spot that she shot the record-breaking basket from – a forever reminder of the one-of-one player that thrilled the sold-out crowds of Iowa City before her Fever career. Now, back on Iowa’s campus to kickstart her second year campaign, Clark dazzled the crowd once again. She recorded 13 points, five rebounds, and two assists in the first half to lead the Fever to a 70-point total at halftime. Clark was on a mission to put on a show for her Iowa City fans, stating before the contest that she told her Fever teammates that Carver-Hawkeye would be the loudest arena they’d ever played in. Her first bucket earned a pop of energy from the crowd, and that reaction snowballed with each consecutive basket by Clark. But those cheers rained down for her teammates, too. Kelsey Mitchell knocked down a 3-pointer directly following Clark’s opening basket, and Carver-Hawkeye erupted with the same enthusiasm it had for Clark. “I think it’s really good for our fans that might not have a chance to go see us play in the [WNBA],” Clark said of WNBA games played in college arenas. “…I think it gives them a great opportunity to come and cheer for us, and also see a team they’ve probably watched on TV quite a few times. “I’ve told my teammates they’re going to be here cheering for me, yes, but they’re also going to be here cheering for you and our entire team. And I think that’s what’s so great about these fans is they really rally around the entire team, it’s not just myself.” Clark finished her preseason debut with 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists. She made six of her 10 shots – 60 percent from the field, including 67 percent from beyond the arc. But the most memorable of Clark’s moments on Sunday afternoon came at the end of the third quarter as she raced up the floor with under a minute remaining in the period. She took three dribbles, eyed up her signature logo, and launched a 3-pointer from beyond it. Her 36-footer didn’t touch the rim as it sailed through the bottom of the net. As she embarks on her second year as a pro, Clark clings to her time at Iowa. “Those are some of the best memories I have in my entire life,” she said of her days playing in a Hawkeye uniform. “So just soak it in and enjoy it.” She gave Iowa City something to enjoy on Sunday, leading a ferocious Fever charge to a 108-44 victory in their second preseason contest. The reigning Rookie of the Year returned to her alma mater and gave her fans more memories in the arena that is now synonymous with her name. Clark sat down on the bench following her final minutes of action, and holding out her hands in a heart, she showed her love to the people that supported her on the campus that built her. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website Jack McCain would have to recite "The Man in the Arena" speech made famous by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1910 the McCain Institute wanted to highlight an individual who embodied those leadership values and put a plan into action Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill was the 2025 recipient of the "In The Arena" award "Michael was basically the easiest choice because he's such a pillar today in the city of Phoenix "Everything that he does for the community today whether it's supporting veterans and families or whether it's in the wake of the fires in Los Angeles and how much he went through just to make sure that Wild Card game can happen." Bidwill was not only recognized for the Cardinals' swift actions as State Farm Stadium hosted the Rams playoff game against the Vikings His tenure as a prosecutor and his involvement with Civics Matters -- a program which sends nearly 300 students to Washington D.C to learn about the inner workings of improving a community -- were also shared "Everything that he does is treated with dignity we are lucky to be giving him the In The Arena award." There have been a lot of incredible moments, both on and off the field, of which Bidwill has been a part. Recently, Bidwill was inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. "For me to receive this award, it's truly the highest honor I have ever received because John McCain was so important to so many people," Bidwill said "He dedicated his entire life to service for others and to be able to have an award like this from the McCain Institute The emotions when Bidwill was informed he was the McCain Institute's recipient were raw and real "I was stunned and surprised and humbled," he said But while he accepted the award, similar to Cardinals game days or piecing together a playoff game for their rival in a record amount of time but I think part of it is our organization too for what our organization does," Bidwill said Cardinals offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum won the In The Arena award for his contributions towards providing clean water access Beachum and Bidwill have developed a strong bond Bidwill and Beachum visit local food shelters to serve hot meals Beachum isn't surprised to see Bidwill on the stage "He has heart for the people and heart for humanity," Beachum said "I really feel that the Cardinals have done a really good job of positioning themselves to be at the forefront of some of the most impactful and most important conversations that are being tackled Bidwill shared a one-on-one moment with the McCain family where Senator McCain provided wisdom on how to take Arizona to the next level That conversation and Senator McCain's time as a POW sticks with Bidwill While the words of Senator McCain and President Roosevelt's speech were remembered on Friday Jack said his father would have loved to just talk football with Bidwill "Michael Bidwill was a great friend of his and great supporter And then he would go back to yelling at him about his football team." Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill earns the \"In The Arena\" award from the McCain Institute in 2025 Former wide receiver reaches his 15th version of charity event Tight end's father served in Air Force for 28 years Cardinals owner joins father along with other franchise greats Great Lawn will host the event on April 24 Team joins CivxNow to improve youth education First female NFL owner remembered during Women's History Month the Arizona Cardinals are honoring the incredible women shaping our community From influential leaders to local changemakers we're spotlighting the voices making a lasting impact across the Valley the Arizona Cardinals are highlighting local Black community members and influential voices across the Valley Former Cardinal Anquan Boldin helps create luncheon for charitable awareness Roberto Del Real works for Chicanos Por La Causa Exploring Kelvin Beachum's My Cause My Cleats process through the lens of the Cardinals team photographer Iowa -- Caitlin Clark made the shot everyone came to see Clark stopped late in the third quarter of Sunday's WNBA preseason game between the Indiana Fever and the Brazilian national team and launched a three-pointer near the "22" logo on Iowa's Carver-Hawkeye Arena court It was the spot where she hit the shot in her senior season in 2024 that made her the all-time leading scorer in NCAA women's basketball capped Clark's return to the arena where she broke records on her way to becoming the NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader "Had to give the fans a little something." Clark's day was bookended by shots that were reminiscent of her career with Iowa's women's basketball team -- her first three-pointer came from the tip of the beak on Iowa's "Tigerhawk" logo at midcourt 34 seconds into the game the crowd response sounded just like all the shots she made in front of sellout crowds as she led the Hawkeyes to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA national championship game in her final two seasons "It's amazing to see how many people love her," Fever forward Makayla Timpson said dealing with a leg injury that kept her out of Saturday's preseason opener against the Washington Mystics and that was enough to please the capacity crowd of 14,998 She finished the game making 6 of 10 shots "Something about this gym makes me play well," Clark said It was Clark's second time back at the arena since she left the Hawkeyes -- she had her jersey No 22 retired in a ceremony after Iowa's 76-69 win over USC on Feb "I've told my teammates they're going to be here cheering for me but they're also going to be here cheering for you and our entire team," Clark said before the game "And I think that's what's so great about these fans is they really rally around the entire team Clark was greeted with a loud ovation when she took the court before the game and the noise continued throughout the day The crowd noise for Clark's pregame introduction reached 116 decibels and the first three-pointer recorded 117-decibel applause That kind of a response wasn't a surprise to Fever Coach Stephanie White "I've seen the Caitlin Clark stuff from the outside looking in and being on the television side and certainly being an opponent," said White who called some of Clark's games while working at ESPN and went against her last season as the coach of the Connecticut Sun "For us to be able to bring Caitlin back here and to bring our team here to experience this fan base Iowa Coach Jan Jensen had the same reaction "We're just proud that we can fill this place up in May," she said The event became a hot ticket as soon as it was announced earlier this year The average paid price of $440 per ticket on the secondary market this week made it the most in-demand event involving Clark according to ticketing technology company Victory Live which analyzes sales across the secondary market Asking prices on the secondary market Wednesday ranged from $146 to $2,368 Clark made it clear before the game she was going to play despite the injury although it was apparent the injury was still an issue -- when she came out of the game in the first half she went to the tunnel behind the Fever bench to ride a stationary bike "It sucked being on the sideline yesterday it's probably just the best decision in the preseason," Clark said Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 17 points Clark left the game after making that last shot and as she got to the bench waved to the crowd "That's my goal," Clark said before the game This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing IOWA CITY, Iowa — As soon as Hadley Carsjohns and Maya Conover heard Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever were coming to Iowa they were telling their parents to get tickets in any way possible told IndyStar from the line to get into Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday afternoon “I was begging my mom for tickets,” Carsjohns Those tickets immediately became hard to come by. The Fever’s game against the Brazilian National team sold out in under 45 minutes wasn’t an option either — those ticket prices were sky-high They have family friends who are season-ticket holders who invited them to the game allowing Conover and Carsjohns to see Clark play again in the arena where she built her stardom They started watching Clark during her freshman year at Iowa when COVID-19 locked down games across the nation only family was allowed in to watch games during that 2020-21 season they could see how she lit up the Hawkeyes the whole court light up a bit,” Carsjohns said The two friends followed Clark’s career through college and even brought some of what she did on the court to their own youth basketball team “I think it showed our team that you don’t have to be selfish with the ball was waiting to get into the game with her mom and brother has been watching Clark since she went to a game with her grandparents when she was 5 years old The game was an early birthday present for Miller “I like that she doesn’t only think she’s the best at shooting,” Miller said “I like that she lets other teammates participate… and I thought it was fun now that she’s in the WNBA Those three girls were only a few of the hundreds of young fans that came to watch Clark and the Fever in her return to Iowa City Clark made sure to make time for every fan she could taking pictures and signing autographs before and after the game she was enveloped by fans hoping for a glimpse of her or a signed jersey and the young girls and young boys that stand there and I don't take that for granted,” Clark said I would be lying to you if I thought that was just like normal So I'm glad I can be a role model for them.” Get IndyStar's Indiana Fever coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Fever newsletter then Melbourne and BrisbaneAn arena treatment suits Les Mis with emotional bangers sung to the back of the house by an international all-star cast If any musical deserves the arena treatment From almost the very beginning of its life on stage Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil’s adaptation of Victor Hugo’s brick of a novel has presented its music in concert The show is sung-through – even the exposition – and when you have a cast of musical theatre performers that are strong as both actors and singers This “arena spectacular” version is sung to the back of the house by an international cast from Les Mis productions past and present There are some cuts to the score to help this famously long show move along (it used to run for over three hours until cost-cutting in later productions trimmed it down to two hours and 50 minutes) while keeping the glorious numbers the people really want: I Dreamed a Dream The concert lighting turns revolutionaries into rock stars Those leitmotifs and melodies land like gifts ‘The cast is stuffed with past Grantaires and Feuillys and Courfeyracs and Factory Girls’ Photograph: Danny KaanThere’s Jean Valjean (Alfie Boe on opening night breaking his parole to start life over a free man There’s Javert (Michael Ball on opening night a man who so believes in law and order that he calls stars “sentinels” There are the students who fight and die for the revolution – see Enjolras (James D Gish) who takes one look at Cosette (Beatrice Penny-Touré) and falls head over heels the scheming Thénardiers (Matt Lucas and Helen Walsh stepping in for Marina Prior on opening night) trying to get a little audience participation going But look closer, Les Mis super-fans (if you’re not one of them, you’ll know them at your performance – they’re the ones who scamper down to collect the scraps of Valjean’s torn-up ticket). The cast is stuffed with past Grantaires and Feuillys and Courfeyracs and Factory Girls, these featured and supporting players lovingly compiled in YouTube celebrations Marina Prior and Matt Lucas as the scheming Thénardiers Photograph: Daniel BoudThis is an irresistible 40th anniversary love letter to the show that is so many people’s first favourite musical made for the fans who have passed it on to their children or who play the ensemble numbers for singalongs at house parties or who lovingly collect cast albums and trivia (or all of the above) gorgeously committed is what makes it work They have to be: you simply cannot approach the material half-heartedly which directors James Powell and Jean-Pierre Van Der Spuy clearly understand If you take one second to detach from Les Mis’s gorgeous it all feels a bit silly and over-dramatic Rush the tempo too much and you could break the spell Suffer an awkward scene transition and you start to remember that some of these characters are pretty thin and the ending feels like a bit of a slog towards the finish line (OK Beatrice Penny-Touré as Cosette. Photograph: Danny KaanBut for most of its runtime, this Les Mis, an “arena spectacular” of all things and at the ICC Sydney of all places This company gets you right in that sweet spot when their voices carry up to the rafters Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular is on at the ICC Theatre now then Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena from 14 May and Brisbane’s Entertainment Centre from 28 May MediaFormer Cadence13 exec opens In the Arena StudiosBy Robert Irby05.01.2025 In the Arena Studios is a multimedia podcast content studio centered around distinctive franchise verticals with influential talent In The Arena Studios Former Cadence13 Founding Partner & Chief Content Officer Chris Corcoran is launching In the Arena Studios a multimedia podcast content studio centered around distinctive franchise verticals with influential talent The first verticals will focus on leadership and mindset through sports featuring UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma who is coming off his 12th NCAA Championship with the Huskies titled “LESSONS with Geno Auriemma.” Another platform titled “COACH” will share the human experience through the context of performance and mindset anchored around star athletes Sparks G Kelsey Plum and skier Mikaela Shiffrin serving as creative and strategic partners There is a long line of cowboys whose hero was Roy Cooper One of those cowboys was World Champion Tie-Down Roper Shane Hanchey This loss hits home for Hanchey as one of his best friends growing up “Not only was Roy an eight-time World Champion and all this There were just so many nights that me and Tuf would be out there roping in the covered arena [Roy] would be out there in his gold cart just helping us Those are just a few of the memories that Hanchey holds on to From growing up in the practice pen to winning one of the few rodeos Cooper did not Hanchey’s stories of the Super Looper go on is going on social media and seeing everybody that he touched he loved his family and he loved roping,” he said All content © copyright The Cowboy Channel Do Not Sell My Personal Information by: posted in: In the Arena Coast Guard as a coxswain and law enforcement officer and for 16 years served as the director of grant programs at the Norcross Wildlife Foundation which distributed over $20 million in grants that largely targeted the protection of marine fish and habitat Driven to fish hard for his clients without respite during major runs he’s out on the water almost every day of the season rain or shine – including a running timeslot every other Sunday he sets aside to take his son and his friends fishing on what he refers to as “Bro-day.” McMurray is an oft-published outdoor writer, who currently blogs for the Marine Fish Conservation Network and has had feature articles/photography published in On The Water, Saltwater Fly Fishing, and The New York Times. A decade ago he penned a weekly conservation blog for TRCP No one ever really introduced me to the outdoors I didn’t really come from an outdoorsy family There was a local pond we’d go to in northern Virginia where I discovered striped bass and became a full-on addict At that point fishing kinda became my life I guess my most memorable outdoor adventure was at that local pond there was a “giant” catfish (I’m sure it was probably more than one) that would break people off did a lap around the pond while a small crowd gathered as I landed it I was an instant legend (in my own mind anyway) If I could fish anywhere in the world, honestly, it would be Long Island, New York, man. Believe it or not, we’ve got one of THE best fisheries in the world. Incredibly abundant striped bass populations The sight/flats fishing is GREAT in the spring and the fall blitz fishery is Nat Geo-type stuff We’ve also got an extraordinary giant tuna fishery within sight of land Mid-shore the recreational size bluefin fishery is awesome too even 200 lb.-range can be caught on spin gear We’ve got an insane yellowfin tuna fishery effectively shutting down bluefin and striped bass runs those predator fish ain’t coming around.“ I’m involved in conservation efforts out of enlightened self-interest I need there to be an abundance of both predators and forage fish around to be successful at the catching part My business emphasizes the experience fishing brings rather than just filling coolers So a fish in the water is WAY more beneficial than a dead one on the dock It’s not really how many I can kill that’s important It’s obvious to me why conservation should matter to our next generation of anglers. We kill too many predator fish now, there won’t be any left for my kids. If we deplete forage fish stocks Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" 1. In the Arena: Capt. John McMurray 2. In the Arena: Leland Brown 3. In the Arena: “Python Huntress” Amy Siewe 4. In the Arena: Franklin Adams 5. In the Arena: “Rivah Sistah” Patricia Clement by: TRCP’s “In the Arena” series highlights the individual voices of hunters and anglers who strive valiantly in the worthy cause of conservation Brown: I was originally introduced to fishing and the outdoors growing up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire My family would go fishing in the rivers and lakes in the White Mountains I had always been interested in hunting but didn’t have mentors who hunted to teach me how My older brother started hunting as a teenager with friends He really introduced me to the mechanics of shooting and hunting that interest in hunting was cemented as I learned even more about hunting as a wildlife management tool and the broader contribution to conservation After graduating with a degree in environmental biology I started working professionally conducting invasive species management projects and taught myself to hunt on my own time I’ve been lucky enough to meet a lot of talented hunters over the years and am always learning from people and I like being with good people almost as much as the act of hunting or fishing TRCP: Tell us about one of your most memorable outdoor adventures.  Brown: I’ve been incredibly lucky in my adventures It makes it hard to choose the most memorable one I’ve done a lot of solo hunting over the years and had some incredible experiences in the field with no one else around One that sticks out to me was spending four hours laying behind my rifle in an open grassland canyon watching 15 cow and spike elk bed and feed They finally stood up when a 5-point bull came up the canyon bottom and started barking at me I made a shot on a cow 20 minutes before dark and finished butchering her by myself around 11:30 p.m but the thing that really means a lot were the friends who dropped everything to help me pack that animal out when I needed the extra hands Recently I have found a lot of joy in sharing time in the outdoors with my wife and other friends instead of going out solo.  Brown: This is a classic topic of conversation I go two directions: 1) I love going to places that I have a past connection to Continuing to experience a place and seeing the changes that occur over seasons and years whether it’s a river or a forest is awesome 2) I want to go to new places and experience things I’ve never done before where has become less important than who for me these days I want to spend the time outdoors with people who love the areas TRCP: How does conservation help enhance your outdoor life?  Brown: Conservation and the outdoors are inextricably intertwined for me My professional career in conservation is so closely linked to the outdoor activities I enjoy that I cannot separate the two Conservation and knowledge about the ecosystem inform my enjoyment of the outdoors As is common with people who enjoy the outdoors being involved in conservation—whether working on habitat engaging in the process of wildlife management or just working to make sure others are aware of the challenges we face—is a way to build a larger connection to our outdoor activities Conservation provides the foundation and context for my time outdoors both in making sure it’s there for the future and in making sure my activities only cause the impact I desire If we want to see hunting and angling continue through the next century I strongly believe that conservation cannot be lip service It must have active participation from hunters and anglers and we need to tell the story to the public TRCP: What are the major conservation challenges where you live Brown: There are a lot of challenges for conservation One of the biggest that I’ve been focused on is either apathetic or unaware members of the community For all the conservation challenges we face One of the reasons I shifted from field work to engage more in conservation information and education is that I see the need across all these current issues—habitat loss and disease—will require engaging with not just our fellow hunters and anglers but we need to do it in a way that builds partnerships between different groups who may not have historically seen themselves as potential partners We need to shift from conflict in conservation to cooperation to really address the wide variety of issues we are facing in conservation today TRCP: Why is it important to you to be involved in conservation?  Brown: A lot of people talk about leaving things better for the next generation being actively involved in conservation is my opportunity to contribute not just to the next generation of people who want to have these incredible opportunities in the wild but also making sure that the entire ecosystem It’s a small way of attempting to give back to the lands and wildlife that have sustained me and inviting others into those places I see the need for active efforts to promote conservation and fishing that connect to building strong TRCP: Why should conservation matter to the next generation of hunters and anglers and angling need to continue to be connected for our outdoor activities to remain relevant and sustainable We have a lot of people in America who are supportive of hunting and angling Conservation is one of the ways we can connect our activities to people who have never had the experience in the field and do it in a way where they leave excited about what we contribute to the resources owned by the public and managed for their benefit but we need hunters (and anglers) to be conservationists for us to maintain public support The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now Tags: , , , “Python Huntress” Amy Siewe is one of those rare individuals who pursue their passion for an unlikely dream and find phenomenal success she was always drawn to and fasciniated by the reptiles and later became a volunteer at the Toledo Zoo in college as well as an exotic pet breeder and educator more comfortable career in real estate in the Midwest Then she began to see news coverage of Burmese python hunts in the Everglades These incredibly successful apex predators which were first detected in Florida in the late ‘70s have since become the invasive wildlife species of top concern in the Everglades Six years ago, Siewe took a vacation to see if she could capture one of the invasive pythons. After catching her first snake (a nine-footer), she was hooked, and resolved then and there to do whatever it took to spend her days – and nights – chasing after the evasive predators across South Florida. She walked away from her real estate business and headed to the subtropical U.S. to start a business guiding clients as the Python Huntress since featured in stories with The New York Times Working for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and in her own business she has captured more than 600 snakes as one of the best-known python hunters in the state My dad instilled in me a deep appreciation and respect for nature teaching me from a young age how to catch and admire all kinds of creatures leading me to a lifelong passion for catching and even breeding these incredible reptiles My passion for snakes is what makes me excel at my job. I have tremendous respect for the Burmese python, but I also have immense respect for Florida’s delicate ecosystems The reality is clear — these invasive predators must be removed I capture them and ensure they are euthanized in the most humane way possible but protecting our native wildlife means making the tough but necessary choice One of my most memorable outdoor adventures happened one night when I was alone in my truck I spotted a small part of a python pattern in the grass at the tree line I jumped out and followed the pattern a couple of feet up to its head — the biggest I had ever seen I only had a small 6-by-6-inch black drawstring bag we would cover an animal’s head or eyes to calm it down.) I looked at the bag and looked at the snake… questioned my sanity… and jumped on it Somehow, I managed to slip the bag over its head—and just like that, the battle was over. It stopped fighting and was completely subdued. Turns out, it was 17’3” long and 110 lbs. (GoPro video here; warning contains profanities.) That was an unforgettable catch I get to work in one of the most diverse and beautiful places on earth.” There’s nowhere I’d rather be than hunting invasive pythons right here in South Florida There is no greater thrill for me than capturing massive pythons which makes the moment of discovery an adrenaline rush — and the catch even more exhilarating While my journey to Florida began with the excitement of hunting these giants I quickly came to understand the devastating impact they’ve had on the ecosystem pythons have wiped out a full 98 percent of the mammal population (including deer My office is the Everglades. I get to work in one of the most diverse and beautiful places on earth catching the giant constrictors and helping to save our precious everglades in a life that I didn’t know existed I couldn’t do that if people didn’t care about conservation So conservation not only benefits our wild places pythons have wiped out a full 98 percent of the mammal population.” Burmese pythons are a major conservation challenge They thrive in an environment that is 97 percent inaccessible to humans You can’t simply walk into the swamp and expect to find them we rely on spotting them as they cross roads and levees these snakes remain motionless for nearly 85 percent of their lives Their intricate patterns offer a perfect camouflage in this environment Every one of these factors makes finding them an incredible challenge we have over 500 non-native plants and animals with pythons being the most destructive wildlife species Losing even one native species from the ecosystem sets off a domino effect leading to catastrophic changes down the line This has implications for the next generation of hunters and outdoor users leaving Florida overrun by non-native creatures that don’t belong and Florida will no longer be the place it was meant to be Tags: , , , now the largest state park in Florida and a refuge for Florida panthers and the rare Everglades mink as well as the largest number of rare native orchids and bromeliads in North America I was introduced at a young age to fishing and enjoyment of the great outdoors by my father I actually accompanied my dad duck hunting on West Lake prior to it becoming part of Everglades National Park in 1947 I was taught gun safety and to respect wildlife and wild places One of my most memorable outdoor experiences was a couple years before that when I was taken to the woods by my daddy for my seventh birthday (We referred to the Everglades and Big Cypress as “going to the woods.”) We had to walk into the campsite at night as he and his friends had gotten off work late It was so new and exciting for a young boy that I have never forgotten that first family experience A cold front was approaching as we came into deer camp so dad had me collect some “boot jacks” off a cabbage palm tree in the upland hammock and he used them to start a lightered pine fire “I began to see objects in the smoke and mist – deer and turkey gobblers floated through my imagination that night as I went into a deep sleep.“ which was heated up on the fire grid and biscuits were baked in a Dutch oven After supper dad and his friends sat around the fire and sipped some “brown swamp water” and told stories of past trips and experiences I leaned up against an old live oak and listened as the cold front moved in and enjoyed the odor of the burning a ground fog began to mist slowly through the hardwood hammock and I was fighting to stay awake I began to see objects in the smoke and mist – deer Indian chickees (traditional shelters used by the Miccosukee and Seminole Tribes) and turkey gobblers floated through my imagination that night as I went into a deep sleep I awoke to the smell of lighter knot coffee That was my first trip to the Everglades’ Big Cypress region and I was captured by that wonderful experience add 80 more years to that 7-year-old’s birthday If I could hunt or fish anywhere, where would it be, and why? That’s a difficult one. There are so many places known for their fishing and hunting and I have never been to them. I want to take my grandson, Michael, with me, so probably the Ten Thousand Islands of the southwest Florida area. Up Lostmans River, Broad River, or Shark River to fish for snook it’s an area I know and love and not too distant from home Conservation absolutely enhances my outdoor life As I accompanied my father in his surveying business around South Florida I witnessed the destruction and continual loss of wetlands and woods that we had enjoyed I began to become concerned and to inquire as to causes for the loss of these treasured natural areas Why was it necessary to destroy that hardwood hammock Mom and Dad began to encourage my conservation concerns and provided me with nature books stressing the importance of outdoor ethics and the value of natural areas if left alone and protected “If we are to enjoy the outdoors, no matter what our interests are, then we have an obligation to defend and speak out on behalf of nature and wildlife.“ The more I learned, the more I became frustrated, and somewhat angry. When I was in high school, I discovered Marjory Stoneman Douglas’s book, The Everglades: River of Grass, published in 1947. From her book I learned so much, including that one could speak out in defense of natural areas Later she would become a mentor and a family friend she established Friends of the Everglades to fight the Big Cypress jetport project and asked me to be the Collier County chairman I headed up several conservation organizations as an unpaid volunteer over the years including serving as chair of the Florida Wildlife Federation and a board member for 31 years If we are to enjoy the outdoors, no matter what our interests are, then we have an obligation to defend and speak out on behalf of nature and wildlife. If you are not already doing so, start by becoming a member and supporter of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership The biggest outdoor challenge we face in Florida, and there are many, is protecting wetlands and the water quality that they provide We continue to lose critical habitat to unwise development and It is vitally important to mentor and educate your children and families as to the importance of conservation; why it is imperative for them to be involved in learning about and becoming knowledgeable defenders of the outdoors they enjoy and love Nature and the outdoors not only are important to wildlife but they are also vitally important to us as an escape from stress and provide restorative experiences that we can share with family and friends for a lifetime of memories Banner image: Franklin at a Fakahatchee Strand Preserve campfire talk Tags: , , , , Clement partners with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and Freedom Boat Club and she’s been featured in Chesapeake Bay Magazine she owns her own boat and is becoming increasingly immersed in her river lifestyle Besides her ample time harvesting on the water she’s a retired police officer and expert shooter and a former Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and National Rifle Association firearms instructor My husband suggested a weekend camping trip in 2017 I loved staying in that cabin and wanted to camp every weekend after that so we purchased a travel trailer The first time we went camping with our travel trailer, we went to Cherrystone on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. I saw people catching blue crabs so I purchased a trap and during my childhood I spoke to him only a few times I met him in person for the first time when I was a teenager but my roots are in Panama and I’d love to fish there I also hear every angler should fish the Florida Keys When I first started fishing, I caught a lot of catfish. I was catching all I could catch and frying it up. I had no idea I was helping the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem because blue catfish were eating everything up and are an aquatic invasive species here blue catfish are the number one conservation challenge where I live because they’re eating up blue crabs and everything else I’m glad that my efforts are playing a part in Bay conservation efforts One of my goals with regards to conservation is to become a waterwoman so I can help educate others about sustainable harvest since I’m recruiting others to explore the outdoors I need to know what’s going on myself Conservation matters for me and my children so our waterways can be healthy for their generation and the future to help continue our efforts of safeguarding critical habitats and favorite fishing holes for future generations by Chris Murray The Nevada athletic department has been one of the biggest public proponents of the proposed Grand Sierra Resort Arena which will go before a final vote for approval Wednesday during the Reno Redevelopment Agency Board's meeting Wolf Pack athletic director Stephanie Rempe and university president Brian Sandoval have each called the $435 million arena "transformational" for Nevada athletics and the university Rempe was asked during an appearance on NSN Tonight this week how it would transform the university there's a lot of things that it does for us," Rempe said "Some of the things are the day-to-day stuff that people struggle with when we play at Lawlor There is the food and beverage experience that GSR will be aligned and be providing that will be exceptional Lawlor hasn't been touched in so many years And so having a state-of-the-art sound system all of that in terms of the game experience." Rempe continued on to discuss the financial implications of such a move GSR owner Alex Meruelo was one of the first investors into Nevada basketball's name which were legalized a couple of years ago and allows donors to pay athletes via NIL deals A deeper financial partnership with Nevada men's basketball could continue to swell that NIL pot if the team is playing inside GSR Arena Meruelo has been very supportive in terms of our name and likeness and been very supportive of our men's basketball program which has significantly impacted our ability to go out and get players which is a huge part of our industry right now," Rempe said we have run the numbers conservatively and our intent is not to have significant increases in pricing but the experience in terms of the premium spaces that will be provided at this new arena (are big) But there's not a premium experience to it We have the Lexus Dolan Lounge that people can access "This experience between the suites and the club and the loge boxes and the floor seats and the different club experiences where people have access to that is what our industry is going to all over the country People are adding more premium spaces to their venues which allows us to have more tickets that have a premium experience that in the end generate a lot more revenue for us." Nevada men's basketball generated $4,879,223 in ticket sales compared to football's $3,123,302 football is the big cash cow in ticket sales but the Wolf Pack has experienced the inverse for much of the last two decades Nevada generated $8,181,002 in ticket sales with 60 percent of that generated by men's basketball While GSR Arena's projected capacity of 10,000 is less than Lawlor's 11,536 Rempe said moving into that arena would create far more revenue because of the premium spaces GSR Arena is projected to have 25 full-sized suites and eight mini-suites and the Wolf Pack would lease use of the arena for a projected 17 games a season While those lease details haven't been finalized as the arena awaits final approval is the Wolf Pack would not "go backward" in revenue and the university would not be on the hook for any construction cost "The projections are anywhere from $3 million to $5 million more annually," Rempe said of the increased ticket revenue "A lot of it has to do with the relationship that we create when it comes to leasing the facility because there are costs that come with putting on basketball games but that's what we're looking at right now." That additional revenue would be important for Nevada as the NCAA vs House settlement is expected to allow schools to share revenue up to $20.5 million with its athletes as a complement to NIL offerings Rempe compared the GSR Arena build to Washington's Husky Stadium renovation when she worked for that athletic department which she said "completely changed the environment at the University of Washington." Rempe said the major difference between the projects is one was on campus and the other off it admitting it'd be preferable to play its basketball games on campus But she said Nevada is committed to making sure students and the band get to every game to create a true college environment Opponents of the project have said public money should not be used on the arena with the GSR requesting up to $68.1 million in tax-increment funding which are increased property-tax abatements Rempe said her final pitch to the seven-person redevelopment board panel that will vote on the project Wednesday centers on how the arena would impact Nevada athletics' ability to navigate the increasingly more challenging financial landscape of college athletics it is about our opportunity as an athletics program to move forward," Rempe said "And this is something that allows us to do things that we wouldn't otherwise be able to do You've heard me say this forever — it's about creating a college town and getting this community behind it There's nothing that brings a community together like sports Eurovoix The last tickets have gone on sale for the Arena Plus which will see thousands of people gather to watch the Grand Final of Eurovision 2025 As part of Arena Plus there will be a 90-minute pre-show followed by the Grand Final on the big screen The event will be hosted by Mélanie Freymond and Sven Epiney Sven who has commentated on Eurovision for SRF since 2008 will still be commentating on the contest in 2025 Mélanie Freymond and Sven Epiney will also be announcing the results of the Swiss jury from the ArenaPlus Switzerland earned the honor of hosting Eurovision 2025 after the Swiss artist Nemo triumphed at the 2024 contest with their song “The Code.” The entry scored an impressive 591 points with 365 from the jury and 226 from the televote securing Switzerland’s first victory since 1988 The 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Basel on May 13 it has been a pleasure to find out more about this amazing continent through the Eurovision Family of Events it's been brilliant to see the site grow and flourish and continue to bring our readers everything from the world of Eurovision This video for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered offers players a comprehensive walkthrough on how to join three of the major guilds in the game: the Fighters Guild we outline the benefits of guild memberships How to Join the Dark Brotherhood: SEATTLE — Big news off the ice! The Professional Women's Hockey League has awarded Seattle an expansion franchise to begin in 2025 they highlight the good and bad away from the sports action in "Four Corners" and the big announcements about new events coming to Seattle ALSO SEE | Hockey fans of all ages welcome women's professional hockey to Seattle Inside the Arena is presented by Snoqualmie Casino and Hotel. Renovations are underway to transform Delta Center into a state-of-the-art, dual-sport venue Delta Center was originally built in 1991 as the home of the Utah Jazz, underwent a significant top-to-bottom renovation in 2017, and was modified again in 2024 to accommodate Utah’s new NHL team. The multi-year transformation that begins now will be the arena’s most extensive and innovative inside-out effort yet, centered on changing the geometry of the arena bowl to optimize hockey sightlines and enhance the overall experience. Implementing an Innovative Riser System in the Lower Bowl For basketball, the riser system will consist of 29 rows of retractable seats that extend over 28 feet from the Level 3 concourse down to the court behind each baseline – all designed to ensure the arena maintains its steep slope that will continue to put Jazz fans in incredibly close proximity to the court. When all renovations are complete, seating capacity for hockey will increase from 11,131 to approximately 17,000 – with every seat in the upper and lower bowls having full views of both goals – and capacity for basketball will increase from 18,206 to nearly 19,000 seats. SEG contracted with Michigan-based StageRight for this unique and innovative retractable seating system. To make room for the new riser system and the installation of a new ice floor slab, SEG is lengthening the arena bowl by approximately 12 feet at each end and raising the floor two feet. These changes will improve sightlines along the sidelines, in the corners, and throughout the upper and lower bowl, and set the stage for future upper bowl renovations. Major interior and exterior construction will continue during future NBA and NHL offseasons. Plans include adding an east-facing main entrance and plaza that will serve as a gateway to the heart of downtown; redesigning the existing plaza and concourses; and remodeling upper bowl seating to improve sightlines. SEG brought on three world-renowned groups to help drive the Delta Center transformation project: Utah-based Okland Construction is the general contractor; SCI Architects is the lead design firm; and CAA Icon serves as a strategic advisor. Your Ads Privacy ChoicesIMDb, an Amazon company© 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc. Delta Center receives renovations to accommodate Utah Hockey Club The NHL will look different in Utah next season. Smith Entertainment Group announced Wednesday it has begun the first phase of renovations of Delta Center in Salt Lake City, pushing technology further than ever before to turn an arena built for basketball into a dual-sport facility. It is also progressing on the permanent brand identity for the Utah Hockey Club. When the puck drops for 2025-26, each seat in the lower bowl will have a great view for hockey, and a new logo will be at center ice. “Just in Year 1, we’re going to see a great improvement in the lower-bowl capacity for hockey,” said Jim Olson, president of the NBA’s Utah Jazz, who is leading facilities projects for SEG. Delta Center was built in 1991 as the home of the Jazz and underwent a significant renovation in 2017. The NHL established a new franchise in Utah on April 18, 2024. SEG sprinted to ready the arena for hockey for 2024-25, doing what it could in about six months, including adding NHL locker rooms. But the main problem remained. Only 11,131 seats had a full view of the ice. About 5,000 seats had a view of one goal, most of them in the upper bowl. “I think it’s the best basketball venue in the NBA,” Olson said. “It was built for basketball with sightlines that created just an incredible fan experience for basketball. And when you come and plop the size of an ice sheet in that venue with those sightlines, the geometry just doesn’t work.” SEG set out to retain the experience for basketball while creating one for hockey. The renovation work must be done in the offseason for the NHL and NBA. Olson said SEG is hopeful and optimistic the full renovation will be completed over the next three summers. “We’ve got all the plans and everything ready to go for the work this summer, and we’re still working on the plans, the design and everything, for the next two summers,” Olson said. “If the scope changes, that could change the timeline a little bit. A few other factors could come into play that could change the timeline.” This offseason, SEG will raise the floor two feet, lengthen the arena bowl by about 12 feet at each end and install a revolutionary retractable seating system that will accommodate a nearly 12-foot variance in elevation between the rink and court endlines. The lower bowl will have 1,000 new seats for hockey, and 400 limited-view seats will become full-view. “We are replacing the retractable seating in both the end zones and sidelines,” Larry Lippold of SCI Architects said. “We’re really maintaining the basketball sightlines, maintaining the basketball bowl, so you’re really not going to feel a change in the basketball experience. But we will have a premium experience for hockey as well, so [it’s] really packing in the fans close to the action.” “We are going with a much steeper rake for hockey in the end zones behind the net,” Lippold said. “It’s similar technology that’s been used in other buildings, but what they’re using now is a triple scissor lift, so the change in rake is greater than any other building to switch over between basketball and hockey, so [it’s] using existing technology but really, really pushing it.” SEG will make other modifications this summer, adding new premium spaces, increasing restroom capacity by 12 percent and installing four new dehumidifiers to maintain optimal ice conditions. It will begin building a 450-stall parking structure that will take two years to finish. In the future, SEG will remodel the upper bowl, redesign the concourses and the existing plaza, and add a new main entrance and plaza. When completed, SEG expects to have close to 17,000 seats for hockey, all with full views of the ice. “Our ultimate goal in this transformation is that both sports can have an incredible fan experience, that one or the other is not sacrificed based on the different size of the playing field, meaning the court and the ice sheet,” Olson said. “Both will have incredible viewing experiences and great sightlines.” What will be at center ice -- Utah Hockey Club, Utah Mammoth or Utah Outlaws? “Progress continues on exploring all three of the name options that were chosen as finalists by our fans,” SEG executive Mike Maughan said. “We’re fully on track to announce a permanent name and identity ahead of the ’25-26 NHL season and look forward to sharing that with our fans when we do.” Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe Critics hated Les Miserables when the musical debuted 40 years ago – its producer remembers one called it “the Glums” – yet over the next month it will play to 300,000 people in Australia The billionaire British impresario visiting Sydney last week to launch the Australian leg of a 16-month global tour for Les Miserables: The Arena Spectacular doesn’t hesitate when asked how the adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel overcame poor reviews to become a phenomenon that’s sold more than 130 million tickets SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy link Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Read MoreReviewPerforming artsLatest In Arts & CultureFetching latest articles The rapid proliferation of AI chatbots has made it difficult to know which models are actually improving and which are falling behind Traditional academic benchmarks only tell you so much which has led many to lean on vibes-based analysis from LM Arena a new study claims this popular AI ranking platform is rife with unfair practices favoring large companies that just so happen to rank near the top of the index Companies are paying more attention to this ranking as the AI market heats up Google noted when it released Gemini 2.5 Pro that the model debuted at the top of the LM Arena leaderboard DeepSeek's strong performance in the Chatbot Arena earlier this year helped to catapult it to the upper echelons of the LLM race The researchers, hailing from Cohere Labs, Princeton, and MIT, believe AI developers may have placed too much stock in LM Arena. The new study, available on the preprint arXiv server claims the arena rankings are distorted by practices that make it easier for proprietary chatbots to outperform open ones The authors say LM Arena allows developers of proprietary large language models (LLMs) to test multiple versions of their AI on the platform only the highest performing one is added to the public leaderboard Some AI developers are taking extreme advantage of the private testing option. The study reports that Meta tested a whopping 27 private variants of Llama-4 before release Google is also a beneficiary of LM Arena's private testing system having tested 10 variants of Gemini and Gemma between January and March 2025 This study also calls out LM Arena for what appears to be much greater promotion of private models like Gemini Developers collect data on model interactions from the Chatbot Arena API but teams focusing on open models consistently get the short end of the stick The researchers point out that certain models appear in arena faceoffs much more often with Google and OpenAI together accounting for over 34 percent of collected model data and Amazon are also disproportionately represented in the arena those firms get more vibemarking data compared to the makers of open models The study authors have a list of suggestions to make LM Arena more fair Several of the paper's recommendations are aimed at correcting the imbalance of privately tested commercial models by limiting the number of models a group can add and retract before releasing one The study also suggests showing all model results However, the site's operators take issue with some of the paper's methodology and conclusions. LM Arena points out that the pre-release testing features have not been kept secret, with a March 2024 blog post featuring a brief explanation of the system They also contend that model creators don't technically choose the version that is shown the site simply doesn't show non-public versions for simplicity's sake When a developer releases the final version that's what LM Arena adds to the leaderboard One place the two sides may find alignment is on the question of unequal matchups which will ensure open models appear in Chatbot Arena at a rate similar to the likes of Gemini and ChatGPT LM Arena has suggested it will work to make the sampling algorithm more varied so you don't always get the big commercial models That would send more eval data to small players giving them the chance to improve and challenge the big commercial models News | Apr 17 Tierney Breen – the beginningTierney Breen – the beginning The smile says it allThe smile says it all SDHSRA Championship BuckleSDHSRA Championship Buckle Lacy & Tierney with saddle sponsored by family friends the HuppsLacy & Tierney with saddle sponsored by family friends Goat tying with MargeGoat tying with Marge Goat Tying win at SD Timed Event Championships with Dick ReintsGoat Tying win at SD Timed Event Championships with Dick Reints Winning 1st Goat Tying BuckleWinning 1st Goat Tying Buckle Show CaptionsHide Captions I get tears in my eyes when I talk about Tierney Breen she’s not my neighbor and she’s one-third my age There’s just something about Tierney that draws people in and makes them want to know her Tierney was born in Huron and was a Wolsey-Wessington Warbird from the jump culminating her senior year as their Homecoming Queen is the heart disease and stroke program coordinator for the South Dakota Department of Health and her dad is the cow-boss at an operation near Hitchcock Both of Tierney’s folks are handy and competed in rodeo when they were younger Lacy was twice crowned the South Dakota 4H Rodeo Junior Girls Goat Tying Champion starting a legacy she would pass down to her daughter Lacy and Mica met while competing in college rodeo and have continued to co-parent Tierney living as an example of how to communicate and treat one another with respect while putting Tierney first in their relationship I twice heard people refer to Tierney as an old soul.  It struck me how perfectly that described the 19 year old.  Tierney is one of those people that can carry on a conversation with a toddler or an 80 year old man with the same “all-in” attitude and complete connection.  There is no glancing at her watch or looking over her shoulder.  When Tierney Breen talks to you you are the only thing in her sights.  This has a way of making folks feel special and heard.  It also tends to compel peers to follow her lead.  It was that focus and empathy that led the SDHSRA Student Membership to twice elect her to state office.  During Tierney’s senior year that office was the SDHSRA Student Body Presidency a true reflection of the admiration her fellow contestants had for her leadership.   It isn’t just Tierney’s kindness and leadership that draw people to her She’s a stone cold winner in the arena as well as out of it ending with her crowning as the 2024 SDHSRA Goat Tying Champion and earning her a trip to Rock Springs Wyoming for the National High School Rodeo Finals aboard Marge a horse that hadn’t been ridden in nearly two years after suffering what was thought to be a career ending injury With Tierney and Lacy’s love and dedication to her daily rehab Marge came back to place her girl in the right spot every trip down to the stake Tierney earned the South Dakota Timed Event Goat Tying Championship before heading off to her father’s alma mater Mitchell Technical Institute where she is coached by her mom’s former rodeo coach they wince when telling that story as they would soon come to regret those words Lacy performed yearly physicals for the students of Wolsey-Wessington much as other school nurses do for those enrolled in all South Dakota schools.  Height a quick look at Tierney’s eyes and ears and she was good to go.  A good student who graduated at the top of her class there were never any concerns expressed by school staff about her hearing and Lacy had never noticed any truly alarming issues.  Then the state hearing van came to Wolsey-Wessington to complete more in depth hearing screens.  Following alphabetical order Tierney Breen was the first into the hearing van…and the last to come out.  The staff after double checking their equipment and testing and retesting Tierney recommending a more specialized exam.  At that subsequent appointment Tierney was diagnosed with a mild to moderate hearing loss and prescribed hearing aids.  They took molds of her ears and sent her home with a pair of “loaners” to get her used to a daily wearing schedule.  Back in the car The sound of the heater blowing on high was totally foreign and so loud it scared her likening the cacophony to a spaceship during lift off.  Stunned No thirteen year old girl wants to be different from her peers and for sure none would choose to wear hearing aids.  However Tierney’s doctors were adamant that the hearing loss wouldn’t get worse if she maintained the use of the aids.  Tierney committed herself to using them.  While her friends and family were all supportive she still had to make a point to focus on her mental health and give herself grace while she adjusted to the changes she was encountering Tierney did what she had to do: she adapted and kept on living her life with kindness and a positive attitude.  Tierney doesn’t wear her hearing aids when she competes as the brush of her hat over them is like a shirt brushing on a microphone echoing into her ear.  Their bulk also makes getting a hat to fit tricky.  These are the types of considerations and accommodations Tierney has to make before saddling up and competing.  They are second nature now but caused big thoughts and feelings in that 13 year old girl After I saw the results come across my desk at the 2024 SDHSRA Finals I stepped outside of the office to see if I could find Tierney.  There she was walking away from me down the familiar space under the grandstands at the Stanley County Fairgrounds.  I jogged towards her hearing the familiar cht-cht-cht of my dusty shoes on concrete polished by a million pairs of South Dakota boots.  It never dawned on me that Tierney couldn’t hear my footsteps or the zing of the kids roping the dummies with their chicken ropes.  I startled her a bit yet she greeted me with the grace with which she greets everyone giving me a big hug and telling me how awesome Marge worked and how thankful she was for the support of everyone in her corner.  As is typical of Tierney she turned the praise and thanks to those around her positivity radiating from her tiny body.  She thanked me for my congratulations and turned to go find her family and her dog Author’s note:  The results from the Jackrabbit Stampede were posted Monday evening and with her performance in Brookings Tierney is now leading the Great Plains Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association in the Women’s All Around with points in Goat Tying It should be noted that Tierney’s breakaway and barrel horse was purchased from CJ and Rollie Wilson as a yearling Tierney has done all of the training on Brandi starting her from scratch when she was in junior high right about the time her hearing loss was diagnosed Sign up for daily and breaking news headlines Manage Subscriptions He first joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2020 and has been to the National Finals Rodeo three times since then What changed for him the next three years: A horse named Duals Crescent Boon A.K.A Henry purchased Mario from Wyatt Imus in October of 2021 In June of 2022 the team would go on to win the College National Finals Rodeo for Panola College The incredibly talented Mario was also voted the college finals horse of the year Kincade and Romeo 2022 CNFR Champion / Kincade Henry All of Henry’s qualifications have come aboard Mario This horse truly has made a huge impact on his career and he credits everything to him “When I bought him I was coming off back to back years of not making the finals I was just a broke kid in college that was trying to rope for a living and now almost everything I own today is because of him,” says Henry Mario is now 19 and still competing at the top of his game However horses are not machines and Henry is well aware of this He does whatever he can to persevere and take care of his teammate as he knows that Mario is a “once in a lifetime” horse Texas Mario will hopefully have off until it is time to get back in shape for the tour finals in Puyallup Henry knows that one run will eventually be their last and he does not take anything for granted Most would credit a horse working so well to either themselves or a trainer Henry has a different perspective as to why this horse is so good The only reason he thinks he has lasted so long is as simple as his love for roping calves “He is a dirty tough outlaw who just loves his job,” he says A passion for the sport is crucial in order to have success It sounds like Henry and Mario both share that love and ultimately We cannot wait to keep watching them and see how their year pans out as they are currently number three in the PRCA world standings A man and his horse / Kincade Henry More Rodeo On SIfeed MADDY DICKENS 2025Oblivion Remastered: How to Join the Fighters Guild and the ArenaThis video for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered offers players a comprehensive walkthrough on how to join three of the major guilds in the game: the Fighters Guild How to Join the Dark Brotherhood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzlaF1bkg9M How to Join the Thieves Guild: https://youtu.be/ZZT3pT-oxt4?si=lgbSTznzplakHp67 Broadway Off-Broadway Off-Off Broadway Cabaret Dance Opera Classical Music Nashville Minneapolis / St. Paul Connecticut Atlanta Chicago Los Angeles WEST END UK Regional Canada Australia / New Zealand Europe Asia Latin America Africa / Middle East TV/Movies Music The choice to adapt the 2019 Staged Concert for a larger audience capitalises on the success of the 2019 production while shifting the work to a whole new level in terms of scale and impact As with the 2019 Staged Concert, the orchestra sits atop the tiered set that resembles the detritus used to build the barricades of the Paris Uprising of 1832, otherwise known as the June Rebellion, that forms the revolutionary riot that brings the story arcs of former prisoner Jean Valjean (Alfie Boe), ex-prison guard turned Police Inspector Javert (Michael Ball) and a group of student revolutionaries together Coming out of the orchestra pit utilised for traditional musical stagings the orchestra expands to a 26 strong ensemble of musicians predominantly from Australia for the Australian leg of the tour to the Parisian café headquarters of the student revolutionaries and hidden elements that enable bigger ensemble pieces to have vertical variety Adreane Neofitou’s costume design includes additional elements and tweeks that ensure the impact of the work is felt in the larger space from the change from the prisoner’s rags of dirty beige to a more striking red more flamboyant outfits for the working girls and a brighter shade for the grown up Cosette’s gown and coat Due to the size of the venues that the Arena Spectacular is playing additional screens flank the central screen that generally displays images that reinforce the settings The additional screens enable live feed projections of the performers The performers express interactions between the characters with a nuanced ease that makes it clear that conversations are occurring even though they are not bodily facing each other The exclusion of any significant props is also managed well with physical responses delivered with a realism that allows the audience to fill the missing elements with ease Alfie Boe joined the Les Misérables “family” when he delivered Jean Valjean in the 25th Anniversary O2 Arena production in 2010 when he made his first transition from traditional opera to musical theatre and it is a treat to experience his expression of the conflicted man who must make the choice between honouring his obligations as Mayor and his conscience that tells him he can’t stay silent while someone else is punished in his stead Boe is a magnificent blend of phenomenal voice that expresses the emotion with his singing and a nuanced actor who’s facial expressions reinforce the emotions without being overplayed He has an intensity that echoes the internal struggles the former prisoner has as he lives a life trying to make up for a decision to walk away from Fantine’s pleadings when his Factory foreman wants to throw her out of the ‘respectable’ workplace young Australian performers Alexandra Szewcow and Sebastian Sero filled the roles of Little Cosette and Gavroche Both performers delivered captivating ‘mature’ performances that had a confidence and clarity and Sero particularly infused street urchin Gavroche with an air of an old soul in a child sized package Of the performers, Michael Ball has the longest connection with Les Misérables, having originated the role of Marius in the original West End Cast at the Barbican Centre at 23 in 1985 a role he reprised for the 1995 Dream Cast He performed the role of Jean Valjean for the 2004 special performance for the Centenary of the Entente Cordiale at Windsor Castle and as Ball’s voice matured he has taken on the role of Javert since the 2019 Staged Concert reprising his performance for the Arena Tour As with the other performers that are reprising their performances Ball delivers a performance that inhabits the character with an intuitive ease His iconic vocals are paired with his dramatic intensity that conveys the Police Inspector’s single-minded pursuit of what he believes is right according to the laws of the land and his God earlier experience of Jaden’s performance in the 2019 suggests that it would be worth securing tickets performances from both casts https://lesmisarenatour.com.au/  Photos: Danny Kaan Short+Sweet Sydney – the world's largest short play festival will continue this week Fri 9 to Sun 11 May with an all-singing, dancing bite-sized selection of tasty treats!   Learn more here! In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Claude-Michel Schönberg (Music) and Herbert Kretzmer musical theatre adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel, LES MISÉRABLES THE ARENA SPECTACULAR is a captivating, staged concert designed for large venues. Ryan Maxwell Event will present Folk Reimagined: East in Symphony, a ground-breaking, new musical collaboration between the Guizhou Chinese Orchestra and The Australia Orchestra Queensland Performing Arts Centre has announced a free program of community events to reach more Queenslanders than ever as part of this year's QPAC International Series – an exclusive Australian season of Ballet Preljocaj's Swan Lake in the Lyric Theatre from Saturday 31 May to Saturday 7 June 2025.  and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows © 2025 - Copyright Wisdom Digital Media, all rights reserved. Privacy Policy A graduate looks up to the crowd before walking at Fall Commencement Dec Ball State conferred more than 1,200 doctoral master’s and baccalaureate degrees during the ceremony According to a decision made early Saturday morning through official communication channels Ball State is officially moving commencement indoors to Worthen Arena.  The main ceremony will still take place at 10 a.m College Ceremonies will continue at indoor locations as well.  but must find their designated seats instead Both groups should arrive and be seated before 9:45 a.m RELATED:  Ball State alumna Kayla Davion to speak at the university’s Spring 2025 Commencement Guests can enter Worthen Arena through Gates Two An accessible entrance is located at Lower Level Gate One Faculty can enter Worthen Arena through Lower Level Gate One by the ticket office Go directly to the arena floor where a section will be reserved for faculty More information and details about commencement moving indoors can be found online. The decision follows uncertain and rainy weather this week and a previous statement that decisions would be made on the morning of commencement.  The Ball State Daily News will update this brief if more information is made available.  Contact the Daily News via email at editor@bsudailynews.com. A part of Ball State Unversity's award winning College of Communication, Information, and Media, Newslink is Delaware County's live, nightly newscast produced by students. the greatest college basketball player of all time returned to where she launched her stardom Fans were lined up outside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City hours ahead of the 3:00 p.m. Central Time tip-off to catch a glimpse of former Hawkeye star Caitlin Clark Clark and the Indiana Fever traveled to Iowa City for a preseason matchup against the Brazilian National Team. When the matchup was announced in January, the tickets sold out in under an hour 15,000 fans packed Carver-Hawkeye for Clark's highly anticipated return her first basket brought everyone to their feet Caitlin Clark pulls up from three to open the scoring in her return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena 🎯🙌"You bet!" pic.twitter.com/ORO7oispjW The Iowa faithful have seen the Clark step-back three-point shot hundreds of times and ended the quarter with a step-back three The Fever ended the first half with a dominating 70-24 lead Clark ended the first half with 13 points (three made three-pointers) The moment of the game came in the late stages of the third quarter Clark hit a crazy shot to bring the crowd to their feet Caitlin Clark from DEEPER than her 22 logo on the floor at Carver-Hawkeye Arena 🤯 pic.twitter.com/WMy1xAVPcV From two steps over half-court (beyond her No Clark pulled up and DRILLED a deep three-point basket She let out a roar and smiled as she ran back on defense The result was never in doubt as the Fever cruised to a dominating 64-point victory Clark finished her day with 16 points (four made three-pointers) all 15,000 fans left Carver-Hawkeye Arena happy Clark and the Fever travel to Atlanta on Saturday Central to battle the Dream in their final preseason tune-up The Fever begins the regular season at home against the Chicago Sky on Saturday © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER ","https://fansided.com/",{"alt":"6c","src":"6d","url":"6e"},{"type":"6b","value":"6f"},"link","Minute Media","https://www.minutemedia.com/",{"text":"6i","url":"6j"},{"type":"6h","value":"6k"},"All Rights Reserved Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands Fans were lined up outside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City hours ahead of the 3:00 p.m. Central Time tip-off to catch a glimpse of former Hawkeye star Caitlin Clark Clark and the Indiana Fever traveled to Iowa City for a preseason matchup against the Brazilian National Team. When the matchup was announced in January, the tickets sold out in under an hour Caitlin Clark pulls up from three to open the scoring in her return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena 🎯🙌"You bet!" pic.twitter.com/ORO7oispjW Caitlin Clark from DEEPER than her 22 logo on the floor at Carver-Hawkeye Arena 🤯 pic.twitter.com/WMy1xAVPcV Caitlin Clark returns to the arena where she first reached stardom We deliver! Get curated industry news straight to your inbox. Subscribe to Adweek newsletters Kasie Hunt landed at CNN in August 2021 as the first official anchor hire for the CNN+ streaming service She was brought on because of her deep experience covering presidential campaigns as the streamer was shut down a month into its existence by the network’s new owner Hunt had been filling in on CNN’s Washington-based shows and appearing as an analyst during election programming The CNN anchor and chief national affairs analyst also underwent a four-hour surgery to remove a benign brain tumor in 2021 Nearly 18 months later, Hunt is on the move again to the more favorable time slot of 4 p.m. ET. Starting today, she’ll anchor The Arena with Kasie Hunt, in the network’s latest programming revamp Hunt spoke with TVNewser about her plans for the show and why The Arena will be the program that helps “people understand why things are happening—and what is going to happen next.”  What is The Arena with Kasie Hunt about?  This is a show where the conversation that we are having in Washington—but also across the country— about politics and culture will play out We’re planning for this to be a panel-driven show that also hopefully welcomes newsmakers on set where we can make news in the arena [the show will] be a place where we are reflecting and pushing forward what is happening in Washington We don’t just want to be a political show—although considering the new administration and the news there’s obviously going to be a ton of politics We want to be a place where people start to feel like they need to tune in to hear what our panel has to say and to feel like they really are on top of where the narrative is going.  What will make The Arena different from CNN’s other programs in terms of news and political coverage Abby Phillip in the evening is very opinion-driven and then also strategists from both sides of the aisle My interest is in talking to people who are actually out there doing the work They are trying to win elections for their clients They are seeing the data that’s coming in from the country They are people who I would call on the phone as sources and say: “Hey explain to me why this politician is acting the way they are?” That’s the kind of conversation I want to drive I want to be less about the back and forth in terms of fighting over who’s right or wrong and more about helping people understand why things are happening and what is going to happen next That’s the kind of the group of people I want to put together and I think it’s a little unique compared to what else we have on the air.  You’ve had early wake-up calls on some of your previous shows How does it feel to be moving away from that time slot?  My head is so much clearer now that I’m getting up at 6 a.m I have loved my time doing morning television; I grew up as a morning TV viewer and am always going to be a morning TV viewer But I’m excited about the chance to be at a time where we are able to absorb everything that happens across the day and reflect it at 4 p.m I’m definitely excited about getting more sleep and I’ll be able to take my kids to school What made anchoring an early morning show unique and challenging?  It’s different from other times during the day just because you have to make sure that you’re figuring out a way to push forward into the day There’s not usually a ton that’s happened overnight so you need to make sure that you’re really making it fresh for the audience and you have to build your life around making sure you’re sharp at that hour of the day The biggest challenges are trying to make sure that you’re at the top of your game from a broadcasting perspective and from a sharpness perspective.  I noticed that you gave a shout-out to CNN’s different production hubs in New York Can you explain how that decentralized production system works and how it benefits news coverage CNN has a deep history in Atlanta and we’re moving more things back there my teams have not been in the same physical location as me until now My team for The Arena is going to be in Washington but my team for CNN This Morning was based in Atlanta It really is a question of getting everybody on the same page A lot of the tools that we developed during the pandemic Having a presence in Atlanta helps us offer a lens that is not quite as coastal or New York-centric What I was trying to say with that shout-out is that television is a team sport There are so many people that do top of the line work in whatever their field is to get us on the air and have us be the best that we can be it relocated from New York to Atlanta and that required my EP Bruce Williams to move his family down to Atlanta to keep working with me I was really grateful to him for doing that As a D.C.-based show closely following what the Trump administration is doing, what do you think about the recent news about the White House restricting press pool access?  I’m not sure CNN has put out a formal statement on that so I don’t want to get ahead of that in any way so I have been in the White House press pool and you cannot overstate how important it is especially in times of a national crisis like September 11th That someone who is a highly trained journalist who explicitly goes in with the goal of providing unbiased actual accounting of what has happened with the most powerful person in America is something that every American deserves And ensuring that it is possible to have someone like that with the president at all times is something that every single American deserves There’s a reason why the news organizations who have been included in the pool have been there for so long and that previous Republicans and Democratic presidents alike have respected and responded to it.  Anyone who supports the current president may have to consider what it may be like if a president that they don’t support politically is doing the same thing in terms of trying to control information.  There have been several news industry shake-ups lately, from Lester Holt’s decision to step down from the Nightly News to several changes at MSNBC What are your thoughts on the changing media environment and how is this show positioned to succeed amidst the upheaval?  I am not someone who is afraid of change or afraid to take risks I have said a couple of times that I am a reporter first and the skills that make you a good reporter and a good communicator are things that translate no matter what the medium One of the things I think about a lot in an information environment that is incredibly crowded is how do you cut through the noise and how can you help viewers I spend so much time thinking about my audience and I’m in this business because I want to be able to help people understand what was going on here in Washington And help them make their own decisions about how they were going to vote and how they were going to conduct their own lives—not because I told them what to do but because I gave them information that would help them people are looking more and more to individuals People want to know the people they’re getting their information and news from We plan on not just being on cable; we hope The Arena will be on social media and online in innovative ways The connection that I’m hoping to make with the audience is one that can cut through all this noise and make The Arena stand out Fox News recently launched a new show at 4 p.m. ET with Will Cain especially seeing opinion programming creeping more into the dayside aspect of TV?  I’m a reporter first and you can look at my background and understand that’s where I come from I really do believe that there is a place for real reporting on cable I also don’t spend a lot of time comparing myself to my competitors I think that the best way for me to succeed is to be authentic to myself because I think viewers can see right through you if you’re not on CNN is the show that I do and you will see me as a reporter and analyst I’m not an opinion host and I don’t have any intention of being an opinion host and everyone is quite well aware of the trends in cable news and how they’re changing The only thing I can do is just go on air every day and put on the best show I possibly can.  What’s one thing we should look forward to when watching the premiere episode of The Arena I am not sure I can quite reveal a lot on that yet but I am excited about the guests that we have lined up both for our first day and hopefully our first week as well I’m also really excited to show everybody how it’s going to look because I think that the team that has worked on our graphics and music and all that have done a really great job Mark Mwachiro is a TVNewser contributor who has been writing for the blog since March 2022 Adweek is the leading source of news and insight serving the brand marketing ecosystem is well aware that it’s far easier to play than to watch she recently signed up to return to elite tennis as a coach Safina may have been rethinking that decision here on Friday when Diana Shnaider and her partner Mirra Andreeva were scuffling out on the Mutua Madrid Open’s Court 5 they overcame Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Liudmila Samsonova -- in a 12-10 match-tiebreak To see Safina twisting and grimacing in her seat was difficult one of the best clay-court players of her day It was Shnaider’s first shutout at WTA Tour level (she did it twice in ITF events in Kazakhstan and Turkey) and it sends her into a Monday Round of 16 match against either No Shnaider was coached by Igor Andreev until the end of last season and then her father When Shnaider began searching for a new coach earlier this year contacted 2004 French Open champion Anastasia Myskina for some ideas who is good friends with Safina and a colleague at the sports channel “Bolshe!” -- they talk almost every day -- suggested Safina I cannot change my plans,” Safina told wtatennis.com Shnaider said she’s enjoying the practices and spending time together is her deep well of experience as a top-notch player focusing on the right things,” Shnaider said “I would say mostly not pushing myself down into negative emotions finding a solution and keep focused on the next ball Safina said it’s been interesting experiencing tennis from the other side doesn’t help -- looks like sometimes it does A reporter pointed out that Shnaider is still only 21 and in her third season of playing tour matches she has to grow up and become a woman to be a little more disciplined.” just sometimes it takes time to do what she’s asking for,” Shnaider said “I understand what she wants but sometimes it’s just a little bit hard It’s not like -- click -- you can just change yourself.” Safina’s had a varied and eclectic series of experiences She went back to school and earned a law degree She worked in player relations for tournaments in Madrid and was even an operations director for an IT company She also lived in New York City for a spell and coached Anhelina Kalinina Her biggest issue for nearly an entire decade was a battle for control -- of herself “I went through a lot of things -- I never spoke like loudly about this,” Safina said “I gained a lot of weight and I was struggling with binge eating disorder were most famous for being the first (and only) brother-sister combination to reach the No as Marat recently joined the team of Andrey Rublev Fun fact: Both player and coach have won a silver Olympic medal -- Shnaider with Mirra Andreeva last summer in Paris and Safina in singles in 2008 Beijing The agreement with Shnaider only extends through the clay season What she wants me to improve and get better “By the end of -- or maybe before [Roland Garros] -- we will sit and talk who set the all-time Division I scoring record while playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes This is Clark's first time playing in Iowa since graduating and becoming the biggest star in the WNBA While Iowa doesn't have its own WNBA team Hawkeyes fans have adopted the Fever as their team because of Clark Their love for Caitlin was evident during the Fever's player introductions in Iowa the almost 15,000 fans cheered at the top of their lungs giving Clark a rousing reception in her return to the arena highlighting the amount of love Clark receives by just being herself and how all these moments are pivotal in shaping women's basketball "Caitlin Clark's introduction registered 116 decibels All of the Fever starters hit at least 109." "What a moment for Caitlin Clark and Iowa fans "They are gonna rename that arena after her one day… Well deserved She really helped put them and wbball on the map." "Sometimes fans gravitate to a player the player is one of the best in the league." "I love this for those little girls." Caitlin Clark at Carver-Hawkeyes Arena in Iowa Clark is hoping to have a big season for the Fever after averaging 19.2 points 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists as a rookie.  After a first-round playoff exit as a rookie Clark will be expected to make a deeper push this season especially with the reinforced roster around her.  she can revel in the adulation of the Iowa fans all she wants because the work is going to be put in over the season while the first hour of Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace is a reliable second place for MSNBC Total Day: FNC: 275 | CNN: 84 | MSNBC: 74Prime: FNC: 464 | CNN: 164 | MSNBC: 141 Total Day: FNC: 2.232 | CNN: 451 | MSNBC: 733Prime: FNC: 3.782 | CNN: 659 | MSNBC: 1.503 is the home to 25 year old cowboy Tucker Allen and he is having a record year Coming off of his first National Finals Rodeo qualification he is headed into the spring rodeos as the number one steer wrestler in the world standings In 2017 Allen was the National High School Finals Rodeo steer wrestling champion It was only three years prior that he had jumped his first steer ever Growing up his main focus was actually on dirt bikes and BMX until he started his rodeo pursuit After his national championship in 2017 he bought his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Assosciation card to start entering professionally Since then has qualified for the California Circuit Finals seven times winning the year-end title twice as well as an average title Allen credits his success and passion for the steer wrestling to both Teddy Robinson and Luke Branquinho “These two are the main reason that I am doing this and without them I don’t know what I would be doing,” says Allen Surprisingly enough Allen also dabbles as a stunt double throughout the year as well was able to get him into the Hollywood world as he has a strong relationship with their family and comes to rope at their house often Tucker Allen (left) on set/Tucker AllenHe started off on a Grey's Anatomy spin off called Station 19 for a couple years He was then lucky enough to work on shows like 1883 but he enjoys the work and is able to do it some while he is home and traveling In May of 2024 he worked half of the month while in Utah but was sitting well in the world standings and went onto finish the year Allen finished the 2024 season with $185,119 after winning $91,682 at his first NFR Only a few months into the 2025 season Allen is just shy of $100,000 and has more than double the number two cowboy His first rodeo of the 2025 season was Industry As the year continued on he won multiple rounds at San Antonio Texas and then his most noteworthy this year was his RodeoHouston win where he brought home $65,000 Allen credits the win to Justin Schaffer and his horse “Grey” He is known for scoring great and making their job easy Allen expressed how thankful he is to Schaffer for letting him ride Grey for many years Tucker Allen After 2024 NFR Back Number Ceremony/ Tucker AllenAfter this life changing win he kept going and has no intentions of slowing down With many other top five finishes this season it is clear he is on a roll Steer wrestlers are able to count 80 rodeos towards their world standings race and pursuit of the 2025 NFR Therefore he is going to continue going down the road and hit his count Hopefully this year he can also earn a win at another bucket list rodeo Tucker Allen has had some head turning success this year and Rodeo On SI believes the best is yet to come The opportunities are endless for his 2025 season and fans everywhere are rooting him on Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates Eastern Conference opponents don’t come back very often I’m talking about a good old-fashioned intra-conference refresh; I’m craving a new challenge from one of our familiar foes that’s exactly what’s on the way this weekend in San Jose Last year’s Earthquakes squad was lackluster They tied with New England for the worst goal difference in the league (-37) and tied their lowest ever MLS point total (21) the best way to forget a historically bad season is to head in a new direction long after their season ended in unceremonious fashion the Quakes announced that MLS legend Bruce Arena would be taking over as head coach and sporting director of the club let me help you get out from under that rock and the winningest coach in league history Arena got straight to work after joining San Jose bringing in 13 new players this transfer window and sending 14 players packing He’s reshaping this roster in his own image reuniting with four players he worked with in New England (Ian Harkes and Earl Edwards Jr.) and making the most of his SuperDraft picks adding starting midfielder Beau Leroux from San Jose State While those moves are smart and will likely prove to be invaluable as Arena rebuilds the club it’s the two splashy signings at the business end of his 3-5-2 formation that feel most noteworthy Do the names Josef Martínez and Chicho Arango ring any bells The former Golden Boot winner is sixth on Major League Soccer’s all-time leading scorers list with 117 goals in 13,415 minutes giving him a goal just about every 114 minutes he plays He’s tallied 10+ goals in five different MLS seasons including setting the single-season scoring record in 2018 when he notched 31 goals in just 34 games (Vela broke it a year later He proved that he could do it away from Atlanta last season finding the back of the net 11 times in just 23 games for Montréal He hasn’t been in the league for as long as Martínez but he’s managed to make quite the name for himself during his four seasons in MLS scoring 54 goals in just 6,976 minutes (a goal every 129 minutes) He scored 14 of those goals in just 17 games in his debut season with LAFC in 2021 and after the most impressive start to a season I’ve ever seen in 2024 with Real Salt Lake he’s proven that goals follow him wherever he goes These guys have been scoring at a rate that puts the top five goal scorers in league history to shame They’ve both already gotten off the mark this season scoring one apiece in their Matchday 2 win over Sporting Kansas City With Cristian Espinoza sticking around to serve up assists on a silver platter to his new teammates two of the league’s most dangerous goal threats are potentially on the cusp of a truly scary season it feels like a foregone conclusion that they’ll have more to celebrate in 2025 than they did in 2024 Western Conference playoff teams scored an average of 59 goals in 2024 Your Loons were a single goal behind that mark while Saturday’s hosts fell a whopping 18 goals shy of the playoff standard The Quakes always knew they’d need to shake things up this season and though it’s impossible to judge whether or not their moves will work out the way they hope this early in the season and leading the way in the Western Conference I'm not saying they're going to go from worst to first but I'd brace myself for some seismic shifts in performance this year if I were an Earthquakes fan Shareholders arrive outside CHI Health Center Omaha for the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting Saturday Copyright © 2025 Ogden Newspapers of New Hampshire LLC | https://www.nashuatelegraph.com | 110 Main St