A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday May 8 2025 at 3 pm at the Defiance Christian Church with Pastor Mike Hasselbring officiating.  EVANS, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The funeral for a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was killed in a shooting April 26 on Interstate 20 is set for Monday afternoon According to Deputy Brandon Sikes’ obituary his funeral will be held on Monday at noon at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center following a procession from the funeral home News 12 will stream the full procession and service here on WRDW.com The procession will close Washington Road between Davis Road and Ronald Reagan Drive from 11 a.m according to Thomas Poteet and Son Funeral Directors The procession will begin at Poteet Funeral Home The procession will depart from the funeral home at 11:20 a.m. The procession will end at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center The sheriff’s office says community members are welcome to line the route for respects “We thank the public for their continued support and ask for patience and understanding regarding temporary traffic delays during the procession,” said the sheriff’s office Sikes had been a Columbia County deputy since Nov. 21, 2018 according to the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council Sheriff Clay Whittle said Sikes worked on the crime suppression unit and leaves behind a widow Sikes’ obituary says before his law enforcement career Sikes served as a United States Army combat medic “Deputy Sikes embodied the very best of community service and personal sacrifice his impact on those around him will be felt for generations His memory will live on — in the community he made safer and in the family and friends who will forever be proud of the man he was,” said his obituary Sikes was killed in the line of duty when deputies pulled over James Blake Montgomery to serve him with a temporary protective order he seemed compliant when the deputies served the order Deputy Gavin White was also injured in the shooting But several pundits agree with his sentiment and laud how Beane has supported Josh Allen with his receiving corps considering the support Beane is trying to provide him with particularly on the defensive side of the ball But what Rogers brought up in the midst of this was Beane's recent squabble on Buffalo sports station WGR550 "I'm usually with you on this Connor I don't like to hear coaches or GMs complain a lot," Simms said Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and NFL commissioner Roger Goddell / Matthew Emmons-Imagn ImagesSimms credited Beane with not making the rant "personal," but also how it was "funny," particularly of the stray bullet sent to Allen's 2018 draft classmate of Josh Rosen The latter QB has been out of the NFL completely since 2021 RELATED: Forgotten Bills' WR will have prime chance to bail out GM Brandon Beane he has a victory lap he can do for the rest of his life," said Simms on Beane Factoring in the latest addition of Elijah Moore and Rogers look smart for defending his radio tirade if the Buffalo offense is as prolific as it was in 2024 Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images—  Enjoy free coverage of the Bills from Buffalo Bills on SI  — 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 Sports Illustrated or its affiliates 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 The San Francisco 49ers fell out of the NFL Playoff picture last season after nearly winning the Super Bowl the previous year casting long shadows over the team's front office and players heading into 2025-2026 Star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk played in just seven games recording 374 yards and no touchdowns on the season as the 49ers were relegated to the basement of the NFC West Aiyuk turned heads on social media and faced a backlash from fans as he revealed his latest life decision in a video shared on social media Brandon Aiyuk warms up before a game at Levi's Stadium © Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images"Inspirational: 49ers star WR Brandon Aiyuk bought a custom Lamborghini Urus worth over $300K," reporter Dov Kleiman wrote on X "Aiyuk now has a car collection worth well over $1 MILLION "You can just see the excitement on his face." Several fans chose not to agree with Kleiman's take as they began calling out Aiyuk under the video post "Can the car catch balls?" another fan said "Robbing San Fran blind," another fan said with four crying and laughing symbols Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL in October 2024 Fans didn't let that deter them from making snide comments "Bro has more excitement in this video than he had all last season with the 49ers," another reader added with a crying emoji Related: 49ers Sign Another Tight End Amid Kittle Celebration There have only been a few notable misses in the Beane era The NFL Draft is far from an exact sciences, with every club across the league having their fair share of hits and misses. Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills are no exception to this rule with some notable whiffs since Beane took over the draft in 2018 Now before anyone accuses me of focusing on the negatives next week’s article will focus on the biggest draft hits from Beane That list is much longer than what you’ll see below so trust me when I say that the positive news is on its way For the time being we have to “eat our vegetables,” and digest some of the negatives from recent drafts The Bills made a modest trade up in the 2019 NFL Draft to acquire Cody Ford packaging picks 40 and 158 to move up to the 38th spot Ford was expected to be the right tackle of the future with Buffalo and he platooned a bit with veteran Ty Nsekhe during his rookie year with Ford making the move to guard in his two remaining seasons with the Bills It should be noted that Ford started 29 games across three seasons, before ending up benched in 2021 when Spencer Brown was inserted into the starting lineup (shifting Daryl Williams to guard). Beane did trade Ford during the 2022 offseason, recouping a fifth-round pick from the Arizona Cardinals Carlos “Boogie” Basham got off to an inauspicious start with the Bills being listed as “inactive” during nine of 17 regular-season games during his rookie season While Basham got much more playing time during his sophomore season — playing about 39% of snaps — he failed to make an impact for the Bills Knowing that Basham would likely be cut prior to the start of the 2023 season, Beane traded him to the New York Giants in a swap of 2025 NFL draft picks The Bills received pick 177 that was used to select cornerback Dorian Strong while the Giants took cornerback Korie Black with pick 246 Kaiir Elam’s time in Buffalo came to an end this offseason, as the Bills traded him to the Dallas Cowboys along with pick 204 (offensive tackle Ajani Cornelius) in exchange for pick 170 (defensive back Jordan Hancock) in the 2025 draft and a 2026 seventh-round pick Elam is the only first-round miss in Beane’s tenure with Buffalo the Bills moved up to select Elam — packaging picks 25 and 130 to move up to pick 23 It was truly a sophomore slump for Elam during the 2023 season, at which point he found himself listed as “inactive” or a DNP in 14 of 17 regular-season games. One of those three games he did play included a unforgettably poor performance in London, UK versus the Jacksonville Jaguars appearing in 13 of 17 regular season games but he too often unreliable at cornerback for the Bills’ defense it’s a relatively short list of draft misses for Brandon Beane there are other picks that I could second guess (Justin Shorter but I don’t believe it would be fair to consider selections on Day 3 as a miss Let me know if there are any other draft misses that I may have neglected to include and be on the lookout for a rundown of Beane’s greatest draft hits On3 is a registered trademark of On3 Media Here are some of our most read articles that might interest you NEW YORK (AP) — Percival Everett’s novel “James,” his radical reimagining of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” from the perspective of the enslaved title character “Purpose,” Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ drawing-room drama about an accomplished Black family destroying itself from within It also earned six Tony Award nominations last week Everett’s Pulitzer confirmed the million-selling “James” as the most celebrated and popular U.S and accelerated the 68-year-old author’s remarkable rise after decades of being little known to the general public he has won the PEN/Jean Stein Award for “Dr No,” was a Pulitzer finalist for “Telephone” and on the Booker shortlist for “The Trees.” Before Monday “James” had already won the National Book Award the Kirkus Prize and the Carnegie Medal for fiction His racial and publishing satire “Erasure,” released in 2001 was adapted into the Oscar-nominated 2023 film “American Fiction.” The Pulitzer citation called “James” an “accomplished reconsideration” that illustrates “the absurdity of racial supremacy and provide a new take on the search for family and freedom.” Everett said in a statement that he was “shocked and pleased “Purpose” was praised in its citation as “a skillful blend of drama and comedy that probes how different generations define heritage.” Jacobs-Jenkins had been twice nominated for a drama Pulitzer for “Everybody” in 2018 and “Gloria” in 2016 He won the Tony Award for best play revival last year for “Appropriate,” a work centered on a family reunion in Arkansas where everyone has competing motivations and grievances He is on the host committee of this year’s Met Gala Pulitzer officials announced that Jason Roberts won the biography award for “Every Living Thing: The Great and Deadly Race to Know All Life” and Benjamin Nathans’ “To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause: The Many Lives of the Soviet Dissident Movement” had been cited for general nonfiction Two books were announced as history winners like “James” and “Purpose,” explorations of race in U.S Fields-Black’s “Combee: Harriet Tubman and Black Freedom During the Civil War” and Kathleen DuVal’s “Native Nations: A Millennium in North America.” Marie Howe’s “New and Selected Poems” won for poetry and composer-percussionist Susie Ibarra’s “Sky Islands,” an eight-piece ensemble inspired by the rainforest habitats of Luzon The Pulitzer for autobiography went to Tessa Hulls’ multigenerational “Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir,” her first book The Pulitzers were announced at a time when the National Endowment for the Arts which has provided support for thousands of writers and literary organizations was cutting back funding and pushing staff members to leave Howe and Everett are both past recipients of NEA creative writing fellowships AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy contributed to this report Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser This work, Brandon Act in the Air Force - two years later, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright There will be celebrations across the country celebrating Mexican-American culture and a big part of it is food CNY Central checked out Margaritas: Mexican Cantina in Amory Square to see how it's celebrating the occasion For more information on Margaritias: Mexican Cantina, follow this link Brandon Lake, the reigning K-LOVE Fan Awards Male Artist of the Year once again leads nominations for the 2025 awards with four Song of the Year and Worship Song of the Year Overcoming abuse: Nate Bargatze's dad wanted to confront his abusive mom as she died. Instead, he gave mercy Group of the YearCainMercyMefor King & CountryWe Are MessengersElevation WorshipCaleb & JohnBig Daddy WeaveJWLKRS WorshipElevation RhythmWe The KingdomMale Artist of the Year It’s been a month since I last used my weekly column space to discuss the on-field status of the Orioles it was too early to make serious judgments The Orioles are a fifth of the way through the season and … they’re still not a good baseball team Their .687 OPS is in the bottom half of the league And it’s unbelievably barely above .500 against left-handed pitching .502 is actually higher than I expected it to be The Orioles’ team ERA is worse than every team in the big leagues besides the Marlins Their opponents’ batting average actually IS worse than the Marlins although the Rockies and their elevation prevent them from being in dead last my question was whether the Orioles’ slow start was an extension of their 42-46 slump to the finish line last year I’m not sure that’s really a question any longer This isn’t a team that caught in a funk and just needs to snap out of it It’s a fundamentally flawed team and has been for some time the Orioles are only 20 percent through the season they’ll match the 19-31 start the 2019 Nationals famously got off to before going on to win the World Series Last year’s Detroit Tigers were eight games under .500 on Aug But just because there’s precedent for teams dramatically turning things around in the middle of the season that doesn’t mean we can assume this team somehow will What would make us believe there’s a path to fixing this Zach Eflin appears to be on the cusp of returning If Tomoyuki Sugano can sustain his success and Eflin is as good as he was before being sidelined Dean Kremer’s seven shutout innings against the Royals May 2 were downright miraculous by Orioles standards Perhaps you’ve heard that Kremer has a history of being a good bit better after May 1 than he is before May 1 … Dean Kremer is a much different pitcher after April he has a 3.52 ERA and 1.252 WHIP.If the Orioles get the latter the remainder of the season it would be a massive boost to the rotation two and a half starters when Eflin gets back at least Félix Bautista looks like Félix Bautista again Jackson Holliday is finally showing prolonged signs of being Jackson Holliday He is hitting .341/.449/.561 since April 16 Gunnar Henderson is similarly showing signs of being Gunnar Henderson again Jordan Westburg and Tyler O’Neill are on the cusp of returning Will any of that fix their grotesque performance against lefties After the Rangers fired offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker on Sunday quite a few Orioles fans wondered if perhaps hitting coach Cody Asche might meet the same fate soon But we know that’s not the scalp the most bloodthirsty of Orioles fans want Is it time to have the Brandon Hyde conversation? Depends who you ask. And I’m doing lots of asking. CBS Sports MLB analyst David Samson, a former front office executive with the Marlins and Expos, thinks it is While acknowledging the Orioles’ struggles aren’t Hyde’s fault Samson is of the belief that they “have to” fire him “I think this new owner is going to have to make a change,” he told me “I’m sorry for Brandon because I know him well and I’ve worked with him in my career But there is something going on in Baltimore that if you’re the new owner David [Rubenstein] Samson actually thinks the Orioles should do it before Memorial Day because they need as much of the season as possible on the other side of the managerial change Not everyone agrees. FOX Sports MLB analyst and two-time All-Star catcher A.J. Pierzynski asked the obvious follow-up “Does firing him change anything?” Pierzynski asked rhetorically it’s the same position players.” So what would actually make things any different for a hypothetical managerial replacement I’m still probably closer to Pierzynski’s opinion than I am Samson’s despite joining the chorus of confusion as to why Charlie Morton appeared in a two-run game May 4 I’ve thought Memorial Day was the first appropriate time to consider that option and I’m not ready to move off of that My gut tells me the Orioles are pretty much the same no matter who the manager might be the rest of the way But I understand this is how baseball works Hopefully something … anything … changes between now and then See all posts by Glenn Clark. Follow Glenn Clark on Twitter at @glennclarkradio Click here to sign up for PressBox’s free weekly email newsletter (WRDW/WAGT) - Slain Columbia County Deputy Brandon Sikes was remembered Monday as one of the brave men standing between good and evil but someone who shied away from the spotlight in his heroism Potentially thousands of law enforcement officers and dignitaries from across the state came to a funeral service at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center for the lawman who was shot dead April 26 A procession for Sikes began around 11:20 a.m at the funeral home and ended around 12:40 p.m Community members lined the route on Washington Road waving American flags as the procession passed Whether they were directly or indirectly impacted by Deputy Brandon Sikes’ death community members lifted up their local law enforcement officers The motorcade was led off by dozens of law enforcement motorcycles ambulances and patrol vehicles from a range of agencies near and far No place along the route had more people than the roadway leading up to the performing arts center Countless law enforcement officers were there to pay their respects flags hung from towering aerial firetrucks to welcome the procession Sikes’ remains arrived at the funeral site in a horse-drawn hearse as bagpipers played somber music The flag-draped casket was carried into the performing arts center where it was placed on a dark stage with two officers flanking it as soft piano music played They were eventually joined by three other officers where he noted the pain the community is feeling and said he hoped to bring a message of hope He thanked law enforcement officers for their efforts to protect the community and offered a prayer Mourners next heard a song selected by Sikes’ family Also speaking was Columbia County Sheriff Clay Whittle who emotionally remembered Sikes and noted his distinguished military career before he became a deputy “The overriding goal for Brandon was to serve people and to help people,” Whittle said He read a reflection from one of his staff members who noted that officers know each day they could be killed and it’s not expected but should be in today’s society and it’s the only job where there are unknown risks every day when every decision is “Monday morning quarterbacked to death.” Whittle told future officers he hopes they go home safe every night and never have to live through something like this “Somebody’s got to step in that gap and stand between us and evil,” Whittle said “Deputy Brandon Sikes was one of those heroes.” Also speaking was Sikes’ brother Thomas DeChant “He was such a happy baby and loved to play and laugh,” DeChant said of Sikes DeChant recalled meeting his brother’s future wife DeChant said he knew Amber was someone special because she was the first woman Sikes brought home to meet his family They got married at the rock quarry at Euchee Creek in a ceremony that consisted of five people After working at Costco and then deciding to make a change in his life to better support Amber and their daughter Sikes decided to join the Army and become a combat medic “Because I get to help people who can’t help themselves,” DeChant recalled him saying he found his true calling in 2018 as a Columbia County deputy ‘What better way to protect my wife and daughter than to make the area around them safer?’” DeChant said And he was very excited to join the crime suppression unit That’s because “I get to take bad people off the street and make the county safer,” DeChant remembered him saying PHOTO GALLERY: HONORING SLAIN DEPUTY BRANDON SIKES “It was never about the spotlight or notoriety for him,” DeChant said “It was always about moving in silence and making a difference to protect his family.” DeChant was followed by a video tribute featuring photos from throughout Sikes’ life Kenney returned to the stage to tell mourners God doesn’t run from the pain the community feels but runs toward it He said God cares – and someone else who cared for others was Sikes and he was willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for their well-being,” he said “he didn’t do it for himself; he did it for us,” Kenney said “He put this community – all of us – ahead of himself,” Kenney said He asked people to care for Sikes’ family with actions and to care for law enforcement in the future He called on the community to be known as “Columbia County where a military salute was held in honor of his Army service The salute included the traditional three volleys of seven gunshots His final call was issued over the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office radio frequency Then there was an emotional aircraft flyover in his memory That was to be followed by a private family burial The funeral service drew law enforcement officers from across the region and the state the Georgia Department of Natural Resources the Georgia State Patrol and the Warner Robins Police Department Also attending the funeral was Deputy Gavin White who was injured by the shooter who killed Sikes but is making a remarkably speedy recovery The community has been mourning Sikes for more than a week, remembering him not only for his bravery but also for his friendliness, including when he worked as a deputy at Augusta Prep Blue flags have popped up across the CSRA in honor of him along with an impromptu memorial along Interstate 20 near Belair Road where he was killed by an RV driver deputies had stopped to serve with a temporary protective order was building pipe bombs and converting guns to full automatic operation Montgomery used one of those guns to kill Sikes other explosives paraphernalia and ammunition Memorial contributions in Sikes’ honor can be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at https://dogood.t2t.org/campaign/in-memory-of-deputy-brandon-r-sikes/c686170 Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInAutoplayLocal Brandon Lake has released a new song that focuses on our identity in God Titled “Daddy’s DNA,” the song released on April 29 and has touched many people already “It’s not for the seemingly put together, but for those honest about their brokenness, longing to connect with their Creator. He is King of the universe, nations, creation—but most of all, King of hearts,” Lake said in a statement about the song Its lyrics read “I went runnin’ like a rebel / Racked up debts I couldn’t pay / I went dancin’ with the devil / With one foot in the grave / How the Heaven did I get here / Went and threw it all away / All I’ve given You was trouble / All You’ve given me was grace.” Brandon Lake also posted the song on his Instagram One listener said, “Dude this is the most unreal most beautiful heartfelt song of all time. I truly mean it. I swear I will forever cry to this song every time I hear it.” Another person added, “It’s such a great song and so proud of you and your doing amazing keep going don’t stop.❤️” Another said, “Beautiful ❤️ I love it. I can most definitely feel it applying to my own life.” A post shared by Brandon Lake (@brandonlake) Lake made the exciting announcement just a few days after its release. In a caption, he said Related: Brandon Lake Reveals the Gift He Wants to Bring to God A post shared by Brandon Lake (@brandonlake) The song is a part of Lake’s album King of Hearts, which will release June 13. He will embark on the King of Hearts tour this fall into next year and stop in 48 cities to lead worship, starting in Sunrise “Daddy’s DNA” isn’t the only song of Brandon Lake’s that is topping charts. His hit “Hard Fought Hallelujah” has been on the Hot 100’s top 40 list for 20 weeks straight The song debuted in November where it hit the No 1 spot and has remained on the chart since Billboard added that “The song concurrently adds a 20th week at No 1 on Christian Streaming Songs and a 15th frame atop Christian Digital Song Sales it rises 4-2 for a new best (3.6 million in audience Brandon Lake’s music continues to inspire and uplift those who listen and we can look forward to whatever praise songs he comes out with next Read Next: This Inpsiring Story Set to ‘Hard-Fought Hallelujah’ Will Bring You To Tears We are only able to make a difference because of your generous support After a 24-24 start to his head coaching career the Chargers moved on from Staley after Week 15 in the 2023 season Since then, Staley has landed on his feet as the former Chargers head coach is now the defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints The Saints made one of Staley's former offensive coordinators and Moore's connection with the former Chargers coach made this a no-brainer move RELATED: Chargers linked to intriguing WR trade with Cowboys the Saints are adding players that have a history with Staley to their roster which includes former fourth round Chargers draft selection According to the Saints' official website the franchise is bringing Rumph II in on a one-year deal after spending the entire 2024 season on the injury list for the Chargers while dealing with a foot injury During his collegiate career with the Duke Blue Devils RELATED: Chargers make the obvious contract choice on Zion Johnson and what it means the Saints are not concerned about the injury history and Rumph may feel he is a better fit with the coach who brought him into the league Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Chris Rumph II celebrates after recovering the ball against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half at SoFi Stadium. / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images— Enjoy free coverage of the Chargers from Los Angeles Chargers on SI — Los Angeles Chargers crowned winner of 2025 NFL Draft John Harbaugh texted Jim Harbaugh after Chargers' Omarion Hampton pick Chargers (and Raiders, Broncos) get awful draft grades compared to Chiefs using new analytical model Chargers gain ground as Chiefs named AFC West biggest loser this offseason Proposed Cowboys signing adds projected $45 million Chargers free agent TYLER REEDTyler is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, where he majored in communications. Aside from his roles with the Cowboys and Chargers on SI, Tyler also covers sports and pop culture for The Big Lead. May 5, 2025 10:55 AM EDTIn this story:Tennessee Volunteers NewsThe Tennessee Volunteers are in a unique situation at quarterback for the first time in years with a true three-headed competition shaping up for fall camp after the abrupt transfer by Nico Iamaleava last month.  Former UCLA/App State signal caller Joey Aguilar comes in with two years of starting experience and will battle Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre for the starting job.  as 2026 five-star QB Faizon Brandon is waiting in the wings who committed to Tennessee back in August 2024 appears to be the future at the position for the Vols.  ESPN's team of writers recently took a look at all of their five-star recruits and how they fit in with their new teams.  Recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill discussed Brandon and compared him with former Tennessee QBs Here's what Luginbill had to say about Brandon:  "The departure of Nico Iamaleava could allow Brandon to battle for the starting job sooner rather than later in a very quarterback-friendly system Several recent Volunteers quarterbacks have similar stature Brandon is more advanced than Hendon Hooker at the same stage and the pair share several traits Brandon is also much more accurate than Joe Milton While he lacks Iamaleava's polish at this stage which is a requirement in this scheme that loves to attack vertically." - Tom Luginbill I think the analysis regarding Brandon and Hooker and Milton is fair particularly with Hooker.  Physically Hooker indeed took time in his career to develop making a giant leap once he got into Josh Heupel's system after leaving Virginia Tech His completion percentage rose from 61.1% to 69.6% from his first collegiate season to his last But saying that Brandon "lacks Iamaleava's polish at this stage" that's a bit head scratching to me for a couple of reasons why would a high school junior QB be as polished as an SEC starter That's kind of an inherent contradiction.  looking at Iamaleava's season last year through the scrutiny of a starting SEC quarterback his game really wasn't all that polished at all in 2024 the Tennessee coaching staff talked plenty before about how he appeared to be mature beyond his years in preparation but between the lines in SEC play last year the passing game was still a mess.  Between hesitancy in releasing the ball and wide receivers who didn't do their part to get open often enough there was plenty of blame to go around with the fizzling passing game but calling Nico's play as "polished" in 2024 is one that I don't get.  Tennessee very well could have a star in the making on campus in 2026 in Brandon regardless of how "polished" anyone else in that QB room is at that point We'll see this fall if Merklinger or MacIntyre (Aguilar only has one year of eligibility left) can stake their own claim to the starting job for years to come.  Tagsterms:Tennessee Football Recruiting NewsTennessee Football NewsBy Craig covers the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Volunteers for A to Z Sports His experience covering the NFL dates back to 2008.  See what the top sports stories are for UA and Tucson During a recruiting event in Florida a few years ago Arizona associate head coach Jack Murphy introduced former Northern Arizona University subordinate Brandon Chappell to UA coach Tommy Lloyd before abruptly heading to another gym and those guys kind of just hung out,” Murphy said Monday after Arizona announced Chappell would be a new assistant coach "I remember Tommy coming back later on and saying 'Hey “So this wasn’t something where we were talking every day about it What came about for the Wildcats this spring was the retirement of assistant coach Steve Robinson after a 42-year college basketball coaching career prompting Lloyd to make Chappell his first outside assistant coach hire since he assembled his initial UA staff in 2021 has spent the past 12 seasons in college coaching after playing five seasons at Lamar through 2007 and another five in Germany through 2012 His coaching career includes a two-year NAU stint under Murphy and the past three seasons at Texas under head coach Rodney Terry Former Texas assistant coach Brandon Chappell “It is exciting to welcome Brandon and his family to the Arizona basketball family,” Lloyd said in a statement “He is a high-character person that brings energy and enthusiasm every day that makes those around him want to strive for more He will fit in great with the culture that we have built.” Lloyd’s staff essentially had zero turnover until assistant Riccardo Fois left to become an assistant with the Sacramento Kings but Lloyd elevated special assistant TJ Benson into Fois’ spot before last season who hit the open market after former UA coach Sean Miller took over the Longhorns Miller had coached Xavier past Texas in the 2025 NCAA Tournament First Four just before the Longhorns fired Terry and hired him then Miller hired three assistants with UA ties (Ryan Anderson Adam Cohen and David Miller) to join him at Texas but did not retain Chappell Miller was also the same coach who hired Murphy away from NAU in 2019 to become UA's associate head coach while Murphy stuck around in 2021 to join Lloyd's staff .. “I think Sean might have had ideas about his staff but Brandon had other opportunities,” Murphy said and Brandon's done a great job at his young age While Chappell wasn’t immediately available for comment Monday he said in a UA statement that he was “incredibly grateful” for the chance to join Lloyd’s staff “It's an honor to be part of such a storied program with a championship tradition passionate fan support and a standard of excellence that few programs in the country can match,” Chappell said “I'm excited to get to work and help our student-athletes grow on and off the court.” Chappell helped NAU’s players develop and did just about everything else Chappell began his coaching career in 2013-14 as an assistant coach for Division II Armstrong State of Georgia then joined Murphy as a graduate assistant in 2014-15 “He was involved in every facet of the program He was an integral part of our team success and his first year with me we won the most games (23) in school history.” Chappell (pronounced shuh-PELL) left NAU in 2016 after completing a postgraduate educational leadership program becoming a fulltime assistant coach at Arkansas-Fort Smith in 2016-17 and at Lamar for the following four seasons Chappell joined the UNLV staff as an assistant before joining Terry in 2022-23 when the Longhorns won the Big 12 tournament title and reached the Elite Eight Texas also reached the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24 and 2024-25 Murphy said he stayed in close touch before the two had a memorable chance to chat in person Monday when Murphy picked him up at a Tucson hotel to begin his job orientation While driving “from the hotel down the campus and they were so excited that Brandon's here at Arizona,” Murphy said “That says a lot about Brandon and it says a lot about them We're kind of a family from those NAU days and Brandon's a big part of it.” Welcome to the family Coach Chappell 🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/xRryF2DnY6 business administration (2006); NAU educational leadership masters (2016) graduate assistant/recruiting coordinator (2014-16) Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community Love was not among the 75 players invited to the combine but reportedly was one of 44 players invited to the second-tier G League Elite Camp The transfer market hasn't left many top-tier players for Arizona to find a replacement for Carter Bryant if he stays in the NBA Draft Arizona men's basketball continues to fill out a 2025-26 schedule that will include its own multi-team event at McKale Center during Thanksgiv… Arizona basketball commit Mabil Mawut of South Sudan is the sixth incoming freshman of the Wildcats' powerhouse 2025 recruiting class Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device The couple is already parents to five kids — Maleah CANTON – The city police officer fired in September for kicking a kneeling suspect in the chest has his job back Officer Brandon Momirov returned to work on April 11 after an arbitrator found the city did not meet the justification standards to fire him. The arbitrator reduced the discipline to a 30-day suspension and recommended Momirov undergo additional training “This is what due process looks like,” said attorney Mary Lou Sekula who represents the Canton Police Patrolmen’s Association “You have an impartial arbitrator chosen by consensus of the parties who heard all the facts and based on this arbitrator’s vast experience and knowledge “I think officer Momirov is a very fine officer with great past reviews and commendations and Canton is very fortunate to have him back.” Sherer II said he continues to stand by the decision of Safety Director Andrea Perry to fire Momirov but respects the arbitration process we are legally obligated to comply with the arbitrator’s ruling and will continue to uphold our responsibility to follow due process,” he said in a statement “Our focus will remain on serving our residents with integrity and transparency.” Firing and reinstatement of Canton officers rare over past decadeMomirov was the second police officer Perry has fired since she became safety director in 2013 She and Sekula both said the city and the police union previously had been able to come to an agreement to resolve issues that warranted officer discipline Perry said many times officers would resign in lieu of termination police union President Sean Flaherty testified that he could not recall any use-of-force violations that resulted in an officer being fired The police union has appealed Casto’s firing and is awaiting an arbitrator’s decision on whether the city’s discipline should be upheld Perry had fired Momirov after finding that he violated the department’s use-of-force rule on Aug 24 when the detective responded to reports of a fight near the Mahoning Manor public housing complex in northeast Canton It had been Momirov’s first day as part of the department’s Coordinated Response Team which specializes in preventing gang violence Videos from bystanders and Momirov’s body-worn camera show Momirov run up and kick a 21-year-old man who had been kneeling in the parking lot with another officer pointing a gun at him Arbitrator Vincent C. Longo said in his decision that he understands why Perry decided to fire Momirov He said Momirov did violate the department’s use-of-force rule and the city faced negative publicity and anger from residents damning and difficult to watch,” Longo wrote in his 21-page decision that was issued on April 11 But he agreed with the union that the firing was too severe and disproportionate Longo said factors that were not apparent from simply watching the video must be considered such as the chaos and danger that had been present at the scene He noted that responding officers had been told the opposing groups included known gang members who owned firearms and the confrontation was on the verge of becoming violent He said Momirov also was running to the scene after another officer called for help because he had five people at gunpoint who were not complying with his commands he heard another officer shouting at the individuals to get to the ground and saw that one of the four was still not lying on the ground Longo said it was “objectively reasonable” for Momirov to conclude that the kneeling suspect was not complying Special prosecutor: Charges on hold but possible against 2 fired Canton police officers Longo also emphasized Gabbard’s recommendation to the safety director that Momirov be suspended with his 27 years of policing experience and as Momirov’s supervisor was in a better position than the safety director who does not have a policing background and did not interview the officers involved to determine whether Momirov should have been fired or suspended As part of his decision to reduce the discipline to a 30-day suspension Longo said Gabbard has the discretion on whether Momirov will return to the Coordinated Response Team He also recommended additional de-escalation and use-of-force training for Momirov Perry said she will talk with the chief about Momirov's future duties within the department She said the amount of back pay owed to Momirov is being calculated Momirov acknowledged that his actions were wrong but said he believed at the time that force was necessary to gain compliance from the suspect A message sent to the suspect's attorney was not immediately returned Reach Canton Repository staff writer Kelli Weir at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Brandon Keith Holland During his time in the military he traveled to places like Germany He loved guns and spent countless hours tinkering and building out his next rifle along with building RC cars and whatever else he could take apart and put back together and grew many exotic plants around his house Brandon always had sketch books full of his drawings He had a passion and talent for art which he passed down to Gracelyn and he loved spending time with his Mom and Pop watching Saints football and relaxing outside One of Brandon's greatest joys in life was on Tuesday afternoons when he spent time with his "Trusty Sidekick," Gracelyn He appreciated good food and showed it by bringing his own Tupperware for leftovers and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends Brandon's free spirit and big heart touched the lives of everyone lucky enough to know him Brandon also leaves behind his two beloved dogs Brandon is preceded in death by his grandparents and beloved pet dog A memorial service in Brandon's honor will take place on April 30 2025 at 11:00am at Johnson Funeral Home in Moss Bluff with a graveside service to follow at Southwest Louisiana Veteran's Cemetery Brandon will be deeply missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing him His memory will live in the hearts of his family and friends Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text Southwest Louisiana Veteran's Cemetery This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Buffalo Bills cornerback Maxwell Hairston joins NFL Network's Jamie Erdahl for an interview on stage at the 2025 NFL Draft after being drafted No Bills general manager Brandon Beane has had enough of the criticism Less than 48 hours after the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft, Beane was already hearing negative responses to the class he and the Bills front office had just constructed he had to listen to it while waiting to be brought on for an appearance on a Buffalo radio show "It sounds like 2018 all over with you guys," Beane said in the opening seconds of his appearance on WGR 550's The Jeremy and Joe Show, per ESPN "Well, you guys were b------- in 2018 about Josh Allen and now you guys are b------- that we don't have a receiver," Beane elaborated We just scored 30 points in a row for eight straight games I get you guys asking why we didn't have receivers "You just saw us lead the league in points, when you add all the postseason, no one scored more points than the Buffalo Bills, including the Super Bowl champions. So, you just saw us do it without Stefon Diggs How is this group not better than last year's group and you got to have something to b---- about but b------- about wide receiver is one of the dumbest arguments I've heard." few expected Hollins to contribute as a key secondary pass catcher posting his second-highest receiving yardage total of his career and catching five touchdown passes before departing for the Patriots in March Beane feels as though 2024 proved it's less about the names and much more about the Bills' ability to extract production from those they choose to insert into their offensive system He pointed to the results -- Buffalo finished with the second-highest points per game total in the regular season in 2024 -- in order to defend his stance "Our job is not to have -- it's not fantasy football First thing you've got to do is protect him You can't have Pro Bowl wide receivers and have a Pro Bowl offensive line and an All-Pro quarterback and three great running backs If you score points at the level we scored expects a healthier Samuel to make a difference and added the draft is about taking the best talent available not zeroing in on a position and reaching on a pick just to make fans happy Ultimately, 2025 will determine who was right in this debate. Beane came into the interview hot because he likely feels as if no matter what he does, it will never be enough to please Buffalo's fanbase. And to his credit, Beane later confirmed on the Bills' in-house show that they were hosting free-agent receiver Elijah Moore on a visit Monday demonstrating his continued efforts to improve the team's roster beyond the conclusion of the draft Such criticism is not entirely rooted in reality The Bills have been consistently successful over Beane's tenure as GM even as the salary cap and roster turnover continues to challenge even the best personnel chiefs This is the product of repeated playoff disappointment Even after exceeding most expectations set for the Bills in 2024 the pressure mounts with each failure to reach the Super Bowl Beane is understandably feeling it -- and that scrutiny only increases with each season But NFL games aren't won by examining late-April depth charts the conversations will shift toward optimism toward the end of 2025 the GM just might have a chance to remind all of Buffalo that he was right all along Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh arose one morning with a clear goal of getting quarterback Justin Herbert into Canton There is a lot of work to be done to realize that dream Former New York Jets and Cleveland Browns receiver Elijah Moore has played with a trove of quarterbacks in his four-year career The Las Vegas Raiders drafted Montana State's Tommy Mellott in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft The plan is to use the rookie in a variety of ways The Baltimore Ravens on Monday released veteran kicker Justin Tucker who currently is the subject of an NFL investigation into allegations of improper conduct during massage therapy sessions Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams finalized terms on a pact that pays the Super Bowl-winning quarterback $44 million for the 2025 season NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Monday NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown Julian Edelman's place in Patriots history will be officially immortalized in 2025 The longtime New England receiver has been voted into the Patriots' Hall of Fame by fans as its 37th inductee Cleveland Browns linebacker Devin Bush was arrested Sunday on simple assault and harassment charges in Pennsylvania The 26-year old was arrested in Bell Acres in Allegheny County Seattle Seahawks third-round quarterback Jalen Milroe entered the NFL with an enticing athletic profile but lingering questions about his accuracy as a passer It's something the rookie is already out to correct The Baltimore Ravens drafted kicker Tyler Loop in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft Longtime kicker Justin Tucker is under investigation for potential improper conduct The Los Angeles Rams remain one of the potential landing spots for star corner Jalen Ramsey Rams head coach Sean McVay didn't downplay the club's interest in a reunion You must have an ODMP account to view agency contact information Know that his dedication and courage in protecting others will never be forgotten and please know that his service meant so much to many I am praying for your family during this difficult time Create an account for more options or use this form to leave a Reflection now San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Photo/Video will be published upon admin review and approval With the Panthers leading the first-round playoff series 3-1 Ekblad will miss Game 5 and either Game 6 of this series or the Panthers' first game next round Ekblad had 33 points in 55 games during the regular season Hagel has already been ruled out of Wednesday night's Game 5 by Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper With less than nine minutes left in the second period of Florida's 4-2 Game 4 victory Hagel played the puck out of the Tampa Bay zone near the boards pulled his right arm back and delivered an elbow that clearly contacted the right side of Hagel's head and the Lightning forward's head bounced off the ice Hagel was pulled from the game because of concussion concerns and didn't return to the bench Ekblad wasn't penalized for the hit and remained in the game. He would play a critical role in the Panthers' late rally, tying the score in Game 4 with 3:47 left in regulation before Florida defenseman Seth Jones scored the winner 11 seconds later Ekblad argued at his Tuesday remote hearing that he didn't intend to strike Hagel in the head The NHL ruled that the hit was "a direct blow to an opponent's head with an extended elbow delivered with requisite force for supplemental discipline." This was Ekblad's first suspension from the Department of Player Safety in his 11-year NHL career Ekblad missed the first two games of this series and the final 18 of the regular season after being suspended without pay in March for violating the league and NHLPA's performance-enhancing drug policy Hagel had just returned to the Lightning lineup in Game 4 after serving a one-game suspension for interference on Florida captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2 The NHL ruled that Hagel made head contact with him Barkov returned to the Florida lineup for Game 3 which the Lightning won in Hagel's absence Hagel had 35 goals and 55 assists in 82 games for Tampa Bay in the regular season Cooper said the physicality in "The Battle of Florida" shouldn't come as a surprise So it's going to be talked about," he said "But if anybody's followed Tampa and Florida over the last five or six years This one is a little different because of the major things that have happened There hasn't been a deal done just yet but with the Phillies needing a bat and their outfield still being below average there could be a scenario where the Phillies look to make a trade for the right-handed hitter in the near future With him likely being available at the deadline, the teams around Major League Baseball should be lined up to trade for him despite the slow start According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Chicago White Sox are hopeful that they'll be able to trade him before Memorial Day That’d mean the White Sox would move him in a deal much earlier than the trade deadline considering some teams might be willing to overpay at the end of July Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Brandon Marsh (16) returns to the dugout against the Miami Marlins during the eighth inning at loanDepot Park “Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert finally started to hit (.346 with three homers, eight RBI and six stolen bases) this past week. If he continues, the White Sox hope to have him traded by Memorial Day,” Nightengale wrote Robert struggled mightily to start the year he's raised his batting average to .195 and has hit three home runs during that span He's a very polarizing player and perhaps a bit overrated playing in more than 100 games just once in his six-year career he hasn't exactly put up incredible numbers he posted an 87 OPS+ and 14 home runs in 425 plate appearances if the Phillies could find a way to make a deal for him it might not be a bad idea to move on from some of their top prospects loving husband of Amber Sikes and father of Lyndsey Sikes a proud native of Augusta and a devoted member of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sikes was driven by a heartfelt mission: to make his community a safer place for his beloved wife and daughter His work within the Special Operations Division was marked by meticulous care and a quiet strength that resonated with all who served alongside him Deputy Sikes honorably served his country as a United States Army combat medic His experiences shaped his deep compassion and readiness to stand in harm’s way for others — traits that continued to define his life and service especially enjoying the calm and challenge of fishing Friends and colleagues knew him as a genuine methodical professional who never sought recognition but consistently rose to every occasion with courage and grace His selflessness was not a trait he wore for show; it was the quiet force that moved him to serve at every opportunity Deputy Sikes embodied the very best of community service and personal sacrifice His memory will live on — in the community he made safer and in the family and friends who will forever be proud of the man he was Deputy Sikes is survived by his parents: Donald Sikes and Sieglinde DeChant; brothers Thomas DeChant (Letitia),Gunter Neubach and Frank Kruse; nieces and nephew; Doriana Serrano (Sean) Gabrielle DeChant; childhood friend Robert Price; canine companions: Bella and Phoebe; and other loving family members The funeral service will be held Monday, May 5, 2025 at 12 Noon at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center with Rev. John Kenney officiating.Memorial contributions may be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at dogood.t2t.org/IMODeputyBrandonRSikes And you know why," said Lightning coach Jon Cooper on Tuesday With less than nine minutes left in the second period of Florida's 4-2 victory Ekblad skated in on him and delivered a hit with his right forearm that made contact with Hagel's head The back of Hagel's head bounced off the ice He was pulled from the game because of concussion concerns and didn't return to the bench Ekblad wasn't penalized for the hit and remained in the game. He would play a critical role in the Panthers' late-game rally to take a 3-1 series lead, tying the game with 3:47 left in regulation before Florida defenseman Seth Jones scored the winner 11 seconds later Hagel returned to the Lightning lineup in Game 4 after serving a one-game suspension for interference on Florida captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2 The NHL ruled that Barkov wasn't eligible to be hit and that Hagel made head contact with him "It's getting tiresome answering questions about a hit every single game," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said after the game before asking media members whether they had anything to say about Ekblad's check Ekblad missed the first two games of the playoffs after he was suspended 20 games without pay in March for violating the NHL and NHL Players' Association's policy on performance-enhancing drugs The Department of Player Safety did make a ruling on Florida defenseman Niko Mikkola, who received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for boarding Tampa Bay's Zemgus Girgensons in Game 4 Cooper said the physicality of "The Battle of Florida" shouldn't come as a surprise But if anybody's followed Tampa and Florida over the last five or six years but these are hard-fought series," he said resident of Amite passed away Friday April 25 2025 at Little Bethel Baptist Church 210 W Visitation 9:00am until the funeral service at 11:00am Interment will follow at Amite Memorial Gardens Amite there are no recent results for popular commented articles Have the latest local news delivered every day so you don't miss out on updates Remembering those in our community who have passed on in recent days We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Jack BaerStaff writerMay 3 2025 at 5:04 AM UTC·4 min readThe Baltimore Orioles have reached the "general manager insists the manager's job is safe" stage of a rough start to the 2025 season Speaking with reporters before Friday's game against the Kansas City Royals Orioles general manager Mike Elias told reporters he was confident in manager Brandon Hyde despite a 12-18 start that has the team in the basement of the AL East From Jacob Calvin Meyer of the Baltimore Sun: How do you think Brandon Hyde has done this season and what's your confidence level in him I think that you look at the job of a major league manager and it would take me 45 minutes to talk about everything that goes into the job of a major league manager but when things are going great and they have at times here and then when we're experiencing failure it's really important in that job and in my job The Orioles' start is their worst since 2019 the year after Hyde and Elias were both hired the Orioles are one of the most disappointing teams in MLB who has a 418-482 record in seven seasons as Orioles manager and has reached the MLB playoffs twice I'll kind of throw out some of the rebuilding years earlier because a little different group of guys and a different mode but since this team started coming together in 2022 it's been a very consistent place and it still is that way to me and the people that are down there all the time — and [Hyde is] right in the middle of all that." Elias defending Hyde is a fine thing to see but doing so also accepts the premise that Hyde is the one at fault for Baltimore's current woes the issues the Orioles are having go beyond Hyde The Orioles entered last offseason with starting pitching as their most pronounced issue and left the offseason with that still true despite some half measures to fill out the rotation third-worst in the majors behind the Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins the Orioles are also dealing with a cavalcade of injuries who went down with elbow inflammation and a lat strain in spring training last year's Rookie of the Year runner-up and right-handed bats Tyler O'Neill and Jordan Westburg which partially explains the team's MLB-worst .492 OPS against left-handed pitching So in conclusion, the Orioles' rotation is one of the worst in MLB, they can't hit lefties and they're more than halfway to a full roster on just the IL. Per MLB.com Elias took responsibility for those struggles: “It is difficult to contend with that level of injuries and when we have a bad record to start the year we’re going to get guys performing more to their norms If there’s something we can fix with a player The longtime executive went on Bills radio and went after hosts last week detailing why the team chose to focus on the defensive side of the ball as opposed to the offense with league MVP Josh Allen leading the way.  From the fallout, one former quarterback has come to Beane's defense in the matter.  NBC Sports NFL media analyst Chris Simms talked about both Allen and Beane on his latest episode of the 'Simms Unbuttoned' podcast.  "I don't like to hear coaches or GMs complain a lot," Simms said Beane - in a fairly NSFW rant - mentioned the fact that many in Buffalo wanted the team to draft Josh Rosen instead of Allen when the organization traded up in the first round back in 2018 The fact that Beane even said it could be a sign that he was on the attack against other people just doing their job and talking about sports.  he has a victory lap he can do for the rest of his life," said Simms.  Ever since Beane arrived to the organization the Bills have been one of the best organizations in the league While they are still searching for that elusive championship Buffalo should feel confident that they are as close as they can be now.  A network of correspondents providing impartial news reports and analysis in 33 languages from locations around the world Up-to-the-minute news and analysis from around the world and in Chicago Hosted by WBEZ's Mary Dixon and NPR's Steve Inskeep Newshour is the award-winning flagship program of the BBC World Service the world’s largest news gathering operation 1A convenes a conversation about the most important issues of our time smart reflection on world news as it’s happening innovators and artists from around the globe with news from Chicago from WBEZ’s Lisa Labuz Reset digs 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Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser Johnson answered questions Thursday on WBEZ’s Reset When was the last time you got to chat with the mayor of Chicago Thursday was your opportunity as Chicago’s top official was in the hot seat and we passed the mic to you Mayor Brandon Johnson joined us live for “Ask the Mayor” and answered questions from North Side South Side and even suburban residents about crime Doug in the South Loop asked about traffic safety and the mayor highlighted his plans for bike- and bus-only lanes to move people through the city safely Johnson also talked about the city recently joining a federal lawsuit that essentially seeks to preserve the jobs of federal employees targeted by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency Brandon Graham had a lot to think about in 2024 and 2025 He was entering what we thought would be his final Eagles season He reinjured himself while capturing his second Lombardi Trophy seemed to think about coming back for a 16th NFL season going out on top as one of the greatest Philadelphia Eagles of all time Along the way, he agreed to co-author a children’s book with former CBS 3 reporter and anchor Lesley Van Arsdall, who had written The Mouse Who Played Football with Brian Westbrook two years earlier and it’s the release of BG’s ABCs: Tackling Football and Life a book that goes letter-by-letter through the alphabet as a combination educator and motivational tool to get children thinking about words like “attitude” and “confidence” and what can happen if you apply their meanings to whatever you decide to pursue in life You can pre-order here ahead of the May 9th release: BG’s ABCs: Tackling Football and Life who explained the process for writing the book and how it all came together Crossing Broad: The new book is called BG’s ABCs Lesley Van Arsdall: Basically it’s all Brandon we went over pretty much every word that begins with A: awesome and the word ‘attitude’ came up and he goes ‘that’s what I want.‘ Then (the process) would be what does attitude mean to you?‘ And that’s kind of how we went through every letter getting his take on what that meant to him growing up He really wanted to do this because he has two young kids and reads to them all the time He wanted something to inspire young kids and that’s what this does such a great job of We just had to whittle it down to put it into a one or two-sentence structure that would appeal to kids I started covering the Eagles the year he was drafted and I remember one of the older writers saying that’s not going to last.‘ But with him you see how they kind of become jaded over the years but Brandon just held that positivity and he would never shy away from the media when a lot of other players did CB: When I saw his name pop up on this project and we actually gave him a copy of the Brian Westbrook book that I had written That’s kind of how the ball started rolling and it’s almost been one year to the day that we started this They fast tracked it because we kind of knew going in it was going to be his last season We wanted it to (come out after the season) Then he got hurt and he was kind of wrestling with the thought of coming back for another season I just think with him coming back and then winning the Super Bowl I will say he’s my favorite athlete I’ve ever covered sometimes people don’t like us (the media) very much (laughing) Trying to interview people about certain things But he was always there 100% and I don’t know if there’s another athlete you can say that about CB: Did you plan to write a second book after working with Brian Westbrook What was the genesis of book two after book one what about Brandon?‘ So we revisited with him and he goes ‘yes I want to do this.’ Then it just became a point of when was he able to do it We literally set up in his kitchen and started writing and recording and tried to hammer this out over however many days CB: So it’s accurate to say the entirety of the book was written in Brandon’s kitchen Of course we had several follow up phone calls and rewrites you did the book with Brian Westbrook in 2022 Did you have thoughts of doing a children’s book at some point during your TV career How and why did that come about in the first place and it was funny because I actually had the idea before we even approached Brian I was reading a lot for my kids and I’m like there needs to be more inspirational books for kids,’ something positive My kids were obsessed with sports from a very young age so (they were familiar with the concept of) athletes as heroes but some (athletes) are not the greatest guys I knew Brian and just remember writing this story about a little guy because my kids were little and I don’t know if they’re going to be able to do anything (in athletics) ‘what about a mouse who played football and blah blah.’ Then I was talking to my husband about it and he was always the underdog and always overcoming this and that He went through so much more than people even know He struggled every step of the way and even when he was on the Eagles he had to prove himself again and again And it was really about catching people at the right time It was the right time in this life and he really wanted to do something positive that kids would read over and over again and I’m hoping this will have the same lasting effect with Brandon too He’s a great talent and the pictures make the book We talked to a few illustrators about their ideas for the book and had them send some pictures Some of the pictures were a little creepy (laughing) that’s not exactly what we’re going for here.’ And Tom just hit it out of the park We’d give our input and Brandon would ask if we could change a thing here or there but for the most part we loved everything he did CB: You mentioned that when you would read to your kids you were looking for more stuff with a motivational message Was that the extent of the goal with these two books or was there something else from your own experience that influenced the approach and just give them hope that if you work hard maybe you’re told you can’t do something I just wanted them to have the inspiration and hope that yes I think both of these books are exactly that You close the book and have a lesson to carry I’ll read my daughters something like Alice in Wonderland and we’re done and it’s like… ‘alright that was… quirky and weird!‘ But what’s the larger takeaway both give evergreen motivational stories here and I think it was really interesting getting to know (Graham) more It was refreshing to hear that a huge athlete in Philadelphia That’s a great thing to share with kids he’s just like you and he had big dreams too not everyone is going to become a pro athlete but everything in it is positive and a good lesson and something you want your kids to believe in CB: Life after television – how’s it treating you and what do you make of your time at CBS 3 now LVA: I’m so happy right now because my kids were really young when I was working at channel 3 Your schedule is never your own because of sports or news or what’s driving the day They have real issues and they’re dealing with a lot of stuff and I’m happy with how everything happened at the right time for me Glad to be enjoying this new chapter in my life and I’ve always kind of wanted to do kids books Never had the chance and now I have this awesome opportunity which I have to say presented itself because I worked with athletes at CBS and that’s why I’m able to do this now It all worked out in the best possible way for me and LVA will be promoting the book at the following signing sessions over the next several weeks: Brandon Crawford Celebration DayBuy Tickets Brandon Crawford returns welcome the three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner back to Oracle Park for a pregame ceremony celebrating the Bay Area native and Forever Giant’s tremendous career Before the Giants take on the Texas Rangers grab your Brandon Crawford Graphic T-shirt as one of the first 15,000 fans to enter the ballpark