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No That Wasnt Will Smith Reacting to Miley Cyrus
Last night s MTV Video Music Awards were full of memorable performances but by far the most talked about performance was from Miley Cyrus who twerked stuck her tongue out and stripped down to a flesh colored bikini for a rendition of Blurred Lines.
It was raunchy and race baiting New York music critic Jody Rosen has called it a minstrel show routine and the one photo that seemed to sum up everyone s feelings was Will Smith and his family s aghast reaction shot
The Comedy Lineup Expands on Netflix
They always mention that they watched it on Netflix said Mr. Ansari the 30 year old comedian best known as a creator of the MTV sketch comedy series Human Giant and a star of the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation.
Until now Netflix has given Mr. Ansari s fans one more chance to hear his jokes months or years after the telling. For his third stand up special Mr. Ansari is moving Netflix to the front of the line. His show Buried Alive based on his tour of the same name will make its Netflix debut on Nov. 1. It will be the biggest stand up special distributed by Netflix to date in much the same way that House of Cards was that streaming service s first high profile original drama.
There s more comedy coming the company says as it opens another front of competition with HBO. In announcing the expansion into comedy specials and feature documentaries last month the Netflix chief executive Reed Hastings said that the service had become a big destination for fans of these much loved and often underdistributed genres.
Mr. Ansari s conversations with his fans bolster Mr. Hastings s assertion. Netflix seems like it s the closest delivery service of media we have that actually matches up to our preferences and expectations he said in a telephone interview during a break from Parks and Recreation production. (Lately he has been binge viewing the ABC drama Scandal through Netflix.)
Mr. Ansari said he was amused when a fan asked him on Twitter When are you going to put out another stand up special on Netflix I need more free stand up. Netflix of course costs $8 a month. It s so convenient you don t even think about the fact that you re paying for it Mr. Ansari said.
Netflix s forays into licensing the first run rights to television shows much as a TV network does are predicated on the belief that people are more likely to keep paying if the service has exclusive programming. In June the service presented a comedy special by John Hodgman and last week it presented the premiere of one by Mike Birbiglia who wrote positively on Twitter of Netflix s international reach I signed a crazy contract that I think included other planets.
Netflix has comedy specials by Marc Maron and Kathleen Madigan in the works. Mr. Ansari s show is unlike those before it a Netflix spokeswoman said because the company intends to put a significant promotional campaign behind Buried Alive billing it as original programming on par with Arrested Development or Orange Is the New Black.
We ve been working to make Netflix a great home for comedians to do their best work and to support their live performance careers and having Aziz debut his new show with us is a validation of that strategy Ted Sarandos the chief content officer for Netflix said in an e mail.
Mr. Ansari s special was taped in Philadelphia in April. He said the material was a lot more mature than that in his previous specials focusing on the differences between the friends his age who are getting married and having children and himself a commitment phobic comedian. All that stuff seems very far away for me he said. His first book announced last week by the Penguin Press will tackle similar themes about single life but with new material.
Mr. Ansari plans to release Buried Alive as a $5 download but only after the Netflix premiere. The straight to fans strategy pioneered by Louis C. K. in 2011 was successful for Mr. Ansari last year he said but its downside was obvious You re kind of preaching to the choir.
He added as modestly as possible I have a pretty big choir. But with the new special he said my goal is to get people that don t know my stuff already and maybe expand my audience.
That s where Netflix comes in. The service has more than 30 million subscribers in the United States and its algorithms for recommending shows keep improving. Mr. Ansari said that when he was at home using Netflix his own shows are recommended to him all the time.
Unlike say passive viewers of Comedy Central though Netflix watchers requires at least a bit of action which is a potential drawback for some. On Sunday Mr. Birbiglia told his Twitter followers that apparently the only way to find his Netflix special is if you type in my last name.
Mr. Ansari s Buried Alive was filmed and edited before Netflix entered the picture. He said he bumped into Mr. Sarandos at an event in New York and he commented on the popularity of Mr. Ansari s past specials. That conversation led to the distribution deal. (Neither side would comment on the financial terms.)
It s an interesting time for someone to be releasing content Mr. Ansari said. No one s quite figured out things. You can do all types of things. At this moment it really seems like Netflix is the way to go.
New York Times website offline after malicious external attack
The New York Times website was the subject of a malicious external attack on Tuesday a spokeswoman said.
The attack left the website unavailable to many users from about 3pm ET. It was the second time the NYT's site has gone offline in the past two weeks.
Eileen Murphy a spokeswoman for the New York Times said on Twitter that the the initial assessment was that the issue was most likely result of malicious external attack that the company was working to fix .
re http //t.co/BQE1fJ3uLx initial assessment issue is most likely result of malicious external attack. working to fix
Eileen Murphy ( NYTeileen) August 27 2013The site appeared to be still be inaccessible early on Wednesday. The NYT tweeted that it was also publishing at news.nytco.com.
A Twitter account purporting to represent the Syrian Electronic Army an internet hacktivist group supportive of the Assad regime claimed responsibility.
The problems began just after 3pm ET and initially appeared to be intermittent. At 4 23pm the NYT posted on Twitter
The New York Times Web site is experiencing technical difficulties. We are working on fully restoring the site.
The New York Times ( nytimes) August 27 2013Three minutes later it declared that it would continue to publish the news and linked to a report on Syria which appeared to be hosted on a basic version of its site.
We will continue to publish the news. Here is our latest report on Syria http //t.co/o3idAOaeBa
The New York Times ( nytimes) August 27 2013The newspaper's website previously went down on Wednesday 14 August. The site vanished just after 11am along with its mobile app. It remained offline for two hours before returning. At the time of that incident Murphy said it was caused by maintenance work and there was no reason to believe that this was the result of a cyber attack .
It was also alleged on Tuesday that Twitter had been the victim of an attack by the SEA. Bryan Ries a senior editor at Newsweek tweeted that the social media website had lost its domain to the Syrian Electronic Army .
Um guys I think twitter just lost its domain to the Syrian Electronic Army http //t.co/qQm8OkvxWX pic.twitter.com/eDUmlCG6gn
Brian Ries ( moneyries) August 27 2013Ries shared a link showing that the admin name and email for the domain name twitter.com had been changed to SEA SEA and sea sea.sy respectively.
The SEA also claimed it owned Twitter's domain
Hi Twitter look at your domain its owned by SEA ) http //t.co/ZMfpo1t3oG pic.twitter.com/ck7brWtUhK
SyrianElectronicArmy ( Official_SEA16) August 27 2013But there was no apparent disruption to Twitter's service.
The site later released a statement confirming that part of its operation used to view images had been affected but did not mention other attacks that appeared to have been carried out by the activists.
The statement read Viewing of images and photos was sporadically impacted. By 22 29 UTC the original domain record for twimg.com was restored. No Twitter user information was affected by this incident.
The Syrian Electronic Army allegedly hacked the Washington Post's website on 15 August. Managing editor Emilio Garcia Ruiz said the website had fallen victim to a sophisticated phishing attack to gain password information .
The SEA is a collection of computer hackers who support the Syrian president Bashar al Assad. They have used denial of service attacks and other methods to target opposition groups and western media websites. The group's relationship with Assad's government is the subject of debate.
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Miley Cyrus VMA 2013 video Watch controversial MTV performance in nude ...
She was never going to turn up and do some ballroom dancing in a traditional gown.
Miley Cyrus brought her best twerking outfit for her eye popping performance at the MTV Video Music Awards.
The controversial singer sang her hit We Can't Stop and duetted with Robin Thicke for summer tune Blurred Lines.
View gallery View gallery
Miley wore nude PVC hot pants and boob tube which was more revealing than anyone could have ever expected to be quite honest.
Add to this a giant teddy bear and we've got ourselves one of the most risky performances of the night.
Some viewers took to Twitter to express their disgust after watching the performance on television.
One person wrote Miley Cyrus completely embarrassing herself at the VMA awards. Jesus have some self respect there's called being sexy then just darn ugly.
Another tweeter added I really want to go to sleep but I'm really worried Miley Cyrus might be hiding in my closet.
And another person simply wrote Miley Cyrus that was disturbing.
However Miley hasn't yet spoken out about any controversy she may have caused but did take time to send her congratulations to One Direction who won the award for Best Song of the Summer for their track Best Song Ever.
Leaving before the band collected their prize when they were booed she tweeted Leaving the VMAs. No it's not over. I'm no psychic but congrats onedirection songofthesummer.
Obama US concludes Syria carried out chemical weapons attacks
Damascus Syria (CNN) The United States has concluded Syria carried out chemical weapons attacks against its people President Barack Obama said Wednesday a claim that comes amid a looming diplomatic showdown over whether to strike against Bashar al Assad's military.
Obama's declaration to PBS NewsHour came at the end of a day that saw Russia and China walk out of a U.N. Security Council meeting as word surfaced Britain planned to pursue a resolution to authorize the use of force against Syria even as United Nations weapons inspectors were in Syria assessing whether chemical weapons have been used.
We do not believe that given the delivery systems using rockets that the opposition could have carried out these attacks. We have concluded that the Syrian government in fact carried these out Obama told NewsHour.
And if that's so then there need to be international consequences the president added.
Obama said that he has not made a decision about whether to conduct a military strike in Syria.
Allegations of a chemical weapons attack carried out by al Assad's forces in a Damascus suburb last week triggered the international machinations which have been growing as body counts on both sides in the more than 2 year old civil war have increased.
Those who claimed to have survived the alleged chemical weapons attack described a horrific scene in the town of Zamalka.
After the chemicals they woke us up and told us to put masks on a 6 year old boy said describing the alleged attack.
I told my dad I can't breathe. My father then fainted and I fainted right after that but we were found and taken to the emergency room.
CNN obtained video of the boy and others who made the claims to a journalist in the area.
A Free Syrian Army fighter takes position behind sandbags in the old city of Aleppo Syria on Tuesday August 27. Syria has warned Western leaders against taking any military action after international outrage over the country's suspected use of chemical weapons. Tensions in Syria began to flare in March 2011 and have escalated into an ongoing civil war. Click through to view the most compelling images taken since the start of the conflict. A U.N. team leaves its Damascus Syria hotel in a convoy on Monday August 26. The team was to investigate an alleged chemical attack that killed hundreds last week in a suburb of the Syrian capital. Sniper fire hit a vehicle used by the U.N. chemical weapons investigation team multiple times Monday according to the United Nations. A Syrian soldier walks down a street in Damascus on Saturday August 24. Pigeons lie dead on the ground on August 24 from after what activists say is the use of chemical weapons by government forces in the Damascus suburb of Arbeen. Columns of smoke rise in Barzeh after heavy shelling on Friday August 23. A young Free Syrian Army fighter is reflected in a mirror as he takes position in a house in Aleppo on Thursday August 22. Rebels move around a building in Aleppo on August 22. Syrian rebels claim pro government forces used chemical weapons to kill citizens outside Damascus on Wednesday August 21. People inspect bodies in this photo released by the Syrian opposition Shaam News Network. People search the rubble of a bombed building in Aleppo Syria on Friday August 16. Men bury the bodies of six members of the same family killed in a bombing in Raqqa on Saturday August 10. Syrian Army soldiers patrol a devastated street in Homs on Wednesday July 31. Free Syrian Army fighters move through a hole in a wall in Khan al Assal on Monday July 22 after seizing the town. A rebel fighter walks past swings in a deserted playground in Deir al Zor Syria on Sunday July 21. A rebel fighter speaks with a fellow fighter through a hole in a wall in Deir al Zor on July 21. A Free Syrian Army fighter casts a shadow on a wall as he carries his weapon in a shelter in Deir al Zor on Thursday July 18. Yahya Sweed 13 is comforted by his father as he lies on a bed in Kfar Nubul on Tuesday July 16. The boy was injured by shrapnel resulting in the amputation of his right leg. A rebel fighter naps in a trench about 300 feet from the Syrian government forces' positions along the highway connecting Idlib with Latakia on Monday July 15. A rebel fighter uses a hole in the wall of a destroyed school to aim at Syrian government forces in the Izaa district of Aleppo on Sunday July 14. A Free Syrian Army fighter uses a mirror to scope out snipers loyal to Syrian President Bashar al Assad in Aleppo on Friday July 12. A Free Syrian Army fighter stands over a boy who was injured during shelling in Al Bara on Monday July 8. Members of the Free Syrian Army fire a homemade rocket toward regime forces in Deir al Zor on Sunday June 16. Syrian rebels leave their position in the northwestern town of Maaret al Numan on Thursday June 13. The White House said that the Syrian government has crossed a red line with its use of chemical weapons and announced it would start arming the rebels. Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al Assad are seen near Qusayr on Thursday May 30. Syrian rebels take position in a house during clashes with regime forces in the old city of Aleppo on May 22. Syrian army soldiers take control of the village of Western Dumayna north of the rebel held city of Qusayr on Monday May 13. Syrian troops captured three villages in Homs province allowing them to cut supply lines to rebels inside Qusayr town a military officer told AFP. Rebel fighters fire at government forces in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Sunday May 12. Searchers use a flashlight as they look for survivors among the rubble created by what activists say was a missile attack from the Syrian regime in Raqqa province Syria on April 25. A Kurdish fighter from the Popular Protection Units (YPG) takes position inside a building in the majority Kurdish Sheikh Maqsood area of Aleppo on Apri. 21. People walk past destroyed houses in the northern Syrian town of Azaz on Sunday April 21. Free Syrian Army fighters take positions prior to an offensive against government forces in the Khan al Assal area near Aleppo on Saturday April 20. Men inspect damage at a house destroyed in an airstrike in Aleppo on April 15. Syrian and Kurdish rebel fighters walk in the Sheikh Maqsud district of Aleppo on April 14. A female rebel monitors the movement of Syrian government forces in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsud neighborhood on Thursday April 11. A rebel runs to avoid sniper fire from Syrian government forces in Aleppo on April 11. Syrian rebels observe the movement of Syrian government forces around Al Kendi hospital in Aleppo on Wednesday April 10. Rescue teams and security forces check out the scene of a deadly car bomb explosion in Damascus on April 8. The fighting has taken a toll on buildings in Aleppo's Saladin district seen here on April 8. A Syrian rebel runs for cover in Deir ez Zor on April 2. A rebel checks for snipers across the street toward the Citadel in Aleppo Syria on Saturday March 30 in this photo taken by iReporter Lee Harper. A Free Syrian fighter mourns the death of a friend in Aleppo on March 30 in this photo taken by iReporter Lee Harper. A Syrian opposition fighter runs for cover from Syrian army snipers in Aleppo on Wednesday March 27. A Syrian girl covers her face to protect herself from fumes as a street covered with uncollected garbage is fumigated in Aleppo on Sunday March 24. A Syrian man and his family drive past damaged buildings in Maarat al Numan on Wednesday March 20. Syrians carry the body of a Syrian army soldier during a funeral ceremony in Idlib province on Tuesday March 19. Syrian rebels take position in Aleppo the largest city in the country on March 11. Syrian men search for their relatives amongst the bodies of civilians executed and dumped in the Quweiq River on March 11. A Free Syrian Army fighter looks back as smoke rises during fighting between rebel fighters and forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al Assad on the outskirts of Aleppo on Saturday March 2. Residents read Shaam News newspapers published by the Free Syrian Army in Aleppo on March 2. A member of the Free Syrian Army reacts to the death of a comrade who was killed in fighting at Bustan al Qasr cemetery in Aleppo on Friday March 1. A rebel fighter throws a home made grenade at Syrian government forces in Aleppo on February 16. A member of the Free Syrian Army stands with his weapon as he looks at a rainbow in Aleppo on February 16. A Syrian woman looks through a bus window in Aleppo on February 14. Free Syrian Army fighters walk through a dust filled stairwell in Damascus on February 7. A Syrian rebel gestures at comrades from inside a broken armored personnel carrier in Al Yaqubia on February 6. A rebel fighter throws a hand grenade inside a Syrian Army base in Damascus on February 3. People stand in the dust of a building destroyed in an airstrike in Aleppo Syria on February 3. Free Syrian Army fighters run as they enter a Syrian Army base during heavy fighting in the Arabeen neighborhood of Damascus on February 3. An unexploded mortar shell fired by the Syrian Army sits lodged in the ground in Damascus on January 25. Fighters from Fateh al Sham unit of the Free Syrian Army fire on Syrian Army soldiers at a check point in Damascus on January 20. A Free Syrian Army fighter walks between buildings damaged during Syrian Air Force strikes in Damascus on January 19. A Syrian rebel fighter tries to locate a government jet fighter in Aleppo on January 18. Syrian rebels launch a missile near the Abu Baker brigade in Albab on January 16. A Syrian boy walks near rubbish next to tents at a refugee camp near the northern city of Azaz on the Syria Turkey border on January 8. Syrians look for survivors amid the rubble of a building targeted by a missile in Aleppo on January 7. A father reacts after hearing of a shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al Assad in Aleppo on January 3. A patient smokes a cigarette at Dar Al Ajaza psychiatric hospital in Aleppo on December 18 2012. The psychiatric ward housing around 60 patients has lacked the means to function properly since fighting broke out there in July. Syrians mourn a fallen rebel fighter at a rebel base in the al Fardos area of Aleppo on December 8. Members of Liwa (Brigade) Salahadin a Kurdish military unit fighting alongside rebel fighters monitor the area in the besieged district of Karmel al Jabl in Aleppo on December 6. A member of Liwa Salahadin aims at a regime fighter in the besieged district of Karmel al Jabl in Aleppo on December 6. Two young boys sit underneath a washline in a refugee camp on the border between Syria and Turkey near Azaz on December 5. The bodies of three children who were allegedly killed in a mortar shell attack that landed close to a bakery in Aleppo on December 2 are laid out for identification by family members at a makeshift hospital at an undisclosed location of the city. Smoke rises in the Hanano and Bustan al Basha districts in Aleppo on December 1 as fighting continues through the night. Damaged houses in Aleppo are seen after an airstrike on November 29. A Syrian rebel mourns the death of a comrade in Maraat al Numan on November 20. Syrians protesters stand on Assad's portrait during an anti regime demonstration in Aleppo on November 16. A Syrian rebel takes cover during fighting against Syrian government forces in Aleppo on November 15. Syrian opposition fighter Bazel Araj 19 sleeps next to his pistol in Aleppo on November 11. A rebel fighter fires at a Syrian government position in Aleppo on November 6. A Syrian rebel leaps over debris left in the street while running across a sniper alley near the Salahudeen district in Aleppo on November 4. Rebels hold their position in the midst of a battle on November 3 in Aleppo. A man cries while being treated in a local hospital in a rebel controlled area of Aleppo on October 31. A man is treated for wounds after a government jet attacked the Karm al Aser neighborhood in eastern Aleppo on October 31. A Syrian rebel interrogates a handcuffed and blindfolded man suspected of being a pro regime militiaman in Aleppo on October 26. Smoke rises from a fuel station following a mortar attack as Syrian women walk on a rainy day in the Arqub neighborhood of Aleppo on October 25. A Syrian rebel fires at an army position in the Karm al Jabal district of Aleppo on October 22. A wounded Syrian boy sits on the back of a truck carrying victims and wounded people to a hospital following an attack by regime forces in Aleppo on October 21. A man lies on the ground after being shot by a sniper for a second time as he waits to be rescued by members of the Al Baraa Bin Malek Battalion part of the Free Syria Army's Al Fatah brigade in Aleppo on October 20. Syrian army soldiers run for cover during clashes with rebel fighters at Karam al Jabal neighborhood of Aleppo on October 20. Smoke rises after a Syrian Air Force fighter jet fired missiles at the suburbs of the northern province of Idlib on October 16. A Syrian opposition fighter stands near a post in Aleppo on October 11. A Syrian man mourns the death of his father who was killed during a government attack in Aleppo on October 10. A rebel fighter is carried by his friends and laid on a gurney to be treated for gunshot wounds sustained during heavy battles with government forces in Aleppo on October 1. Syrian rebels help a wounded comrade to an Aleppo hospital after he was injured in a Syrian army strike on September 18. Free Syria Army fighters are reflected in a mirror they use to see a Syrian Army post only 50 meters away in Aleppo on September 16. A Syrian man carrying grocery bags tries to dodge sniper fire as he runs through an alley near a checkpoint manned by the Free Syria Army in Aleppo on September 14. A woman walks past a destroyed building in Aleppo on September 13. Free Syrian Army fighters battle during street fighting against Syrian army soldiers in Aleppo on September 8. A Syrian man wounded by shelling sits on a chair outside a closed shop in Aleppo on September 4. A woman sits in her wheelchair next to her house damaged by a Syrian air raid near Homs on August 26. Members of the Free Syrian Army clash with Syrian army soliders in Aleppo's Saif al Dawla district on August 22. A man mourns in front of a field hospital on August 21 in Aleppo. Wounded civilians wait in a field hospital after an air strike on August 21 in Aleppo. People pray during the funeral of a Free Syrian Army fighter Amar Ali Amero on August 21. A man cries near the graves of his two children killed during a recent Syrian airstrike in Azaz on August 20. A Syrian woman holds her dead baby as she screams upon seeing her husband's body being covered following an airstrike by regime forces on the town of Azaz on August 15. A Syrian rebel runs in a street of Selehattin during an attack on the municipal building on July 23. Syrian rebels hunt for snipers after attacking the municipality building in the city center of Selehattin on July 23. Members of the Free Syrian Army's Mugaweer (commandos) Brigade pay their respects in a cemetery on May 12 in Qusayr. Syrian rebels take position near Qusayr on May 10. A Free Syrian Army member takes cover in underground caves in Sarmin on April 9. Rebels prepare to engage government tanks that advanced into Saraquib on April 9. Men say prayers during a ceremony in Binnish on April 9. A young boy plays with a toy gun in Binnish on April 9. A Free Syrian Army rebel mounts his horse in the Al Shatouria village near the Turkish border in northwestern Syria on March 16 a year after the uprising began. Syrian refugees walk across a field before crossing into Turkey on March 14. A rebel takes position in Al Qsair on January 27. A protester in Homs throws a tear gas bomb back towards security forces on December 27 2011. A man stands under a giant Syrian flag outside the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on December 24 2011. A member of the Free Syrian Army looks out over a valley in the village of Ain al Baida on December 15 2011. Members of the Free Syrian Army stand in an valley near the village of Ain al Baida close to the Turkish border on December 15 2011. Displaced Syrian refugees walk through an orchard adjacent to Syria's northern border with Turkey on June 14 2011 near Khirbet al Jouz. A Syrian man holds up a portrait of President Bashar al Assad during a rally to show support for the president in Damascus on April 30 2011. Syrians rally to show their support for President Bashar al Assad in Damascus on April 30 2011. A screen grab from YouTube shows thick smoke rising above as Syrian anti government protesters demonstrate in Moaret Al Noman on April 29 2011. A screen grab from YouTube shows Syrian anti government protesters run for cover from tear gas fired by security forces in Damascus on April 29 2011 during the Day of Rage demonstrations called by activists to put pressure on al Assad. Syrians wave their national flag and hold portraits of al Assad during a rally to show their support for their leader in Damascus on March 29 2011. A woman sits by the hospital bed of a man allegedly injured when an armed group seized rooftops in Latakia on March 27 2011 and opened fire at passers by citizens and security forces personnel according to official sources. Syrian protesters chant slogans in support of al Assad during a rally in Damascus on March 25 2011. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 Syrian civil war in photos U.N. Security Council deadlocked on Syria The woman behind al Assad's regime What a U.S. strike on Syria might entailAl Assad's government has blamed rebels for carrying out the attack a claim that Obama told PBS was impossible.
We have looked at all the evidence and we do not believe the opposition possessed ... chemical weapons of that sort he said. We do not believe that given the delivery systems using rockets that the opposition could have carried out these attacks.
In the video obtained by CNN one man claimed he evacuated two dead bodies during the attack. Then there was another explosion. I couldn't breathe I had cramps and I couldn't see. The doctors helped me.
The horror of the attack on civilians has jolted the world into potential action on a crisis that has killed more than 100 000 people according to the United Nations.
Last week was not the first time chemical weapons are believed to have been used in the conflict. But it was by far the worst.
'Red line' debate Chemical weapons worse than attacks
Syria is now undoubtedly the most serious crisis facing the international community Lakhdar Brahimi U.N. and Arab League special envoy to Syria said Wednesday in Geneva.
It does seem that some kind of substance was used that killed a lot of people he said. The death toll could be in the hundreds or possibly more than a thousand he said.
Brahimi said the crisis in Syria shows how important it is for the Syrians and the international community to really develop the political will to address this issue seriously and look for solutions for it.
NATO also followed suit with a warning of its own Wednesday.
The Syrian regime maintains custody of stockpiles of chemical weapons. Information available from a wide variety of sources points to the Syrian regime as responsible for the use of chemical weapons in these attacks. This is a clear breach of long standing international norms and practice.
Any use of such weapons is unacceptable and cannot go unanswered. Those responsible must be held accountable. We consider the use of chemical weapons as a threat to international peace and security NATO said in a statement. Some Syrians have told CNN they doubt their government used chemical weapons.
Analysis How will Syria respond Syrian intervention Case for and against Russia's take on intervention in Syria Italian FM Bonino on Syria intervention'Not warmongers'
Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari lashed out Wednesday at the warnings and threats.
We are not warmongers. We are a peaceful nation seeking stability in the area because instability would serve the Israeli interests he told reporters at the U.N. headquarters in New York.
We are in a state of war and preparing for the possibility of such a scenario he said. The Syrian government is looking for stability.
Jaafari accused rebels of obtaining material to produce chemical weapons from outside powers mainly speaking Turkey Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Intervening in Middle East turmoil Mission impossible
In a letter to the United Nations Syria asked for the U.N. weapons inspectors to stay in the country beyond their weekend deadline Jaafari said.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki moon did not address the letter directly but seemed to ask for a reprieve Wednesday for the sake of the inspectors. The team needs time to do its job he said from The Hague where he visited the International Criminal Court.
He said the inspectors had already collected valuable evidence.
'Groundless excuses'
Russia a close ally of Syria is expected to use its veto power to block a resolution setting up a possible diplomatic showdown.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov insists there is no proof yet Syria's government is behind the chemical weapons attack.
The ministry accused Washington of trying to create artificial groundless excuses for military intervention.
The West handles the Islamic world the way a monkey handles a grenade Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin tweeted.
Missile strikes on Syria likely response to chemical attack
China which also has a permanent seat on the council would also probably object to military measures.
It's time that the United Nations Security Council shouldered its responsibilities on Syria which for the past two and a half years it's failed to do British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Wednesday.
He added that even if China and Russia veto a resolution We and other nations still have a responsibility to act.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif meanwhile warned of graver conditions if strikes are carried out against Syria.
If any country attacks another when it wants that is like the Middle Ages he said.
Who wants what after chemical weapons horror
Syria Chemical weapons how did we get here
U.S. ruled out ground troops
For almost two years Obama has avoided direct military involvement in Syria's bloody civil war as the death toll skyrocketed to more than 100 000 according to U.N. estimates.
But Obama had warned that a chemical attack would cross a red line.
The White House previously ruled out sending ground troops to Syria or implementing a no fly zone to blunt al Assad's aerial superiority over rebels.
Syria strikes could worsen war analysts say
Brahimi said international law requires that that the Security Council approve military action.
I do know that President Obama and the American administration are not known to be trigger happy he said. What they will decide I don't know.
Outside of the United Nations a military coalition is taking shape among Western powers.
France has also signaled it would join Western military intervention against forces supporting al Assad.
President Francois Hollande said France is ready to punish those who made the decision to gas these innocent people.
The French Parliament will hold a session next week to debate the situation in Syria.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron spoke by telephone Wednesday about the crisis.
Both agreed that comprehensive use of poisoned gas against the Syrian civil population has now been proven sufficiently and that the Syrian regime has these corresponding poisons the know how for their use and the carriers to deploy them according to a statement released by German spokesman Steffen Seibert.
Both agreed this is a break in the already long ongoing internal conflict and that it cannot continue unpunished therefore an international reaction is inevitable. Both hope no member of the Security Council will close their eyes to this crime against humanity and that the corresponding consequences will be decided.
Britain's Parliament meanwhile is voting on a motion Thursday that would rule out any consideration of possible military action until the United Nations chemical weapons inspectors explain their findings to the U.N. Security Council.
After the inspectors have made their findings members of Parliament would be required to take another vote according to the motion being put forward.
Meanwhile Iran is sending a delegation to Syria on Saturday to study the latest developments the semi official Fars News Agency reported Wednesday citing a senior parliamentary lawmaker.
The visit will examine Syria's conditions and showing support for the Syrian government and nation after the recent US threats Seyed Hossein Naqavi Hosseini parliament's national security and foreign policy commissioner told the news agency.
Opinion For U.S. Syria is truly a problem from hell
Syria diplomacy Why Jordan wants military meeting to be hush hush
CNN's Frederik Pleitgen reported from Syria. CNN's Josh Levs and Chelsea J. Carter reported from Atlanta. CNN's Ben Brumfield Hamdi Alkhshali Jomana Karadsheh Boriana Milanova Chris Lawrence Jim Acosta Samira Said Joe Sterling Elise Labott Jill Dougherty and Saskya Vandoorne contributed to this report.
Into the Wild inspired teen found dead in Oregon
'Into the Wild ' a book by Jon Krakauer about a young man who died in the Alaska wilderness may have inspired a young man who headed into the Oregon wilds after sending suicidal text messages.
By Nigel Duara Associated Press / August 27 2013
Emile Hirsch starred as Chris McCandless in Sean Penn's 'Into The Wild ' based on the Jon Krakauer book of the same title. 'Into the Wild' tells the story of Chris McCandless a young man who left everything behind to live in Alaska.
Francois Duhamel / Paramount Vantage / AP
EnlargePORTLAND Ore.
An Arizona teenager who vanished into the Oregon woods may have been inspired by Into the Wild a book by Jon Krakauer based on the true story of a young man who headed solo into the Alaskan wilderness and ultimately died there his father said Sunday.
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The teen's body was found Tuesday on a heavily wooded hillside just 1 000 yards from the vehicle he abandoned near Riddle Ore.
Johnathan Croom had talked with his parents about Into the Wild and told a friend he wanted to run away.
RECOMMENDED 11 survival stories from around the world
Croom also talked to his parents about Christopher McCandless whose journey to Alaska was documented in the book. McCandless gave up his worldly goods to live in the Alaska wilderness only to die there.
Douglas County sheriff's spokesman Dwes Hutson said crews searching the area for days after Croom's green SUV was found were looking for a live person. They called his name and made lots of noise as they had since last week but heard nothing back.
Then Monday night they found text messages indicating that the college student planned to kill himself. The discovery of the texts changed the nature of the search he said.
That led us to believe that he was probably going to do this said Mr. Hutson. In these kind of cases sometimes people leave very detailed notes and instructions. Sometimes you don't.
Hutson says crews brought in dogs used to find cadavers and found the 18 year old Croom's body within hours.
The Apache Junction Ariz. college student was scheduled to drive home from Seattle and was due back Aug. 17.
Croom's father said Monday night his son was grieving the end of a recent relationship.
He was a young man who had a broken heart and headed out to try to find himself said David Croom Johnathan's father. We're looking forward to finding out exactly what happened.
He thanked everyone who helped search for his son and added Please pray for our family.
Earlier this year a 19 year old from Oklahoma disappeared after talking to his parents about Into the Wild and setting out to test himself against the Oregon wilderness. Dustin Self's truck was found in April on Steens Mountain in southeast Oregon. The last search for Self was in the spring after snow melted but it yielded no hints to his location.
RECOMMENDED 11 survival stories from around the world
Pain Gain the true story
At last they had their man. But if they thought this breakthrough proved they were suddenly criminal masterminds they were very much mistaken.
Today Marc Schiller lives in a small one bedroom apartment in Boca Raton Florida. In contrast to 1994 when he had a house with a pool his own accountancy firm a deli and $1.26 million in the bank he is now an employee of a modest sized company which pays him $20 an hour. He rarely socialises outside of work is divorced from his wife sees his children only occasionally and has by his own admission zero interest in making friends.
He s not a man given to self pity but anyone who hears what happened to him after he was kidnapped by Doorbal and his accomplices can t fail to feel sorry for him. And now to compound his problems a film has been made that depicts him in a far from favourable light.
Pain Gain which stars Mark Wahlberg and is directed by Michael Bay the man behind the Transformers blockbusters is a high tempo black comedy that pokes fun at the bodybuilder gang but goes out of its way to stigmatise Schiller as well in order one assumes to generate some sympathy for its leading man. Schiller s name has been changed but it would take about two minutes on Google to identify him since the case was well covered by Miami newspapers at the time and in a three part serial by the journalist Pete Collins in 1999.
No one involved with the film ever talked to me he says now. It wasn t me they put in the movie. When I saw it I thought Who is this person On screen Victor Kershaw (aka Schiller) brags about his money treats his employees with contempt and drives around with the words Miami B emblazoned on his number plate. In reality says Alex Ferrer the judge who presided over the case Schiller wasn t like that at all.
In the movie they made him out to look slimier than he was says Ferrer. He really wasn t a slimy guy. And besides he adds nobody deserves what he got. Nobody. The man ultimately responsible for what happened to Schiller was a former car salesman called Jorge Delgado. In 1991 he had come to work for Schiller as a sales representative at his accountancy firm and over the next 18 months the quietly spoken Cuban had become a trusted friend looking after Schiller s house when he and his family went on holiday and working with him on other ventures.
Tony Shalhoub who plays Victor Kershaw a character based on Marc Schiller
But things started to sour in late 1992 when Delgado joined a bodybuilder s hang out called Sun Gym. There he met Daniel Lugo (played by Wahlberg in the film) a 6ft 2in muscle bound personal trainer and the gym s manager. Lugo was a man whose ambitions far outstretched his abilities. Obsessed with money women and fast cars he had just competed a 15 month prison sentence for fraud and was currently involved in another scam to swindle the government out of hundreds of thousands of dollars via ten fake medical companies.
When Lugo heard about Delgado s work with Schiller he initially wanted to go into business with them both but Schiller was not interested.
The first time I met him I could tell there was something says Schiller. He was unsavoury. He couldn t look you in the eye. You could tell he was hiding something. Unfortunately for Schiller Lugo had become something of a big brother figure to Delgado. They were spending an increasing amount of time together and in February 1994 convinced Delgado was working with Lugo on some sort of fraud Schiller ended their business relationship.
After settling their affairs he didn t expect to see either Delgado or Lugo again but Lugo had other plans. In mid October the 30 year old arranged a meeting with Adrian Doorbal his workout partner Stevenson Pierre Sun Gym s back office manager and a friend of Pierre s called Carl Weekes.
Are you he asked Pierre and Weekes interested in making $100 000 for two days work He d recently discovered that a scumbag named Marc Schiller had stolen money from a gym member called Jorge Delgado. He wanted to kidnap Schiller force him to return the money and while they were at it take his house his cars his savings and anything else they could get their hands on.
Pierre agreed Weekes put up some resistance. A petty criminal who was battling an addiction to alcohol and crack cocaine the 31 year old had recently embraced Christianity and was meant to be getting his life in order. But Weekes was very much a work in progress and a few reassuring words from Lugo were enough to persuade him to agree to the venture. One month later he was in the back of a Ford Astrovan racing towards a warehouse in North Miami with a bruised and bewildered Marc Schiller at his feet.
Marc Schiller as he looks today
As soon as they arrived the door was opened and the victim was thrown face down on top of a cardboard box. He was still blindfolded and sweating profusely partly from the temperature inside the van partly from fear. Then someone pressed an object that felt like an aluminum bat against his face.
Feel this asshole You know what it is
Yes.
You make one wrong move and I ll break your head.
Schiller had just got his first taste of the customer service in what he calls Hotel Hell . Over the next few hours he was punched pistol whipped and Tasered again. They played Russian roulette against his temple. One of them Schiller believes it was Doorbal took a lighter to his arm and burnt his flesh until it sizzled.
After that he was forced to phone his wife and tell her he had gone on a last minute business trip. She should fly to Colombia with their children for a family event and he would follow in a couple of days. To Schiller s relief she agreed at least his family was now out of harm s way but it now meant his captors had access to his empty house. They started quizzing him about his assets.
OK said one of them. You have a house that s paid for your wife s family money that you invest your wife s jewellery an apartment in Miami Beach jet skis... It was obvious immediately that his former friend Delgado was behind the operation nobody else knew all these details. Schiller also clocked who he was talking to. This is the Daniel Lugo Show he thought.
Over the next few days Schiller still blindfolded took a series of calls patched through to the warehouse from his home phone. Each time a gun was placed against his head and he pretended nothing was amiss. He was also called upon to sign dozens of documents. He couldn t see them but it was obvious what was happening the gang were transferring everything he had into their name. After a month in captivity which Schiller spent chained up and blindfolded without a change of clothes and only intermittent food the gang were satisfied that they d got as much as they could and revealed the end game. First Schiller had to phone his lawyer with an outlandish story he d been having an affair with a Cuban beauty his wife had found out and now he was depressed and suicidal.
Then he was told to get drunk. At gunpoint he downed vodka tequila and chocolate liqueur some of it mixed with sleeping pills. At 2.30am on December 15 they put him in his car and drove him to an industrial park. Lugo placed a comatose Schiller in the driver s seat stepped on the accelerator and steered the vehicle towards a concrete pole. Just before the crash Lugo jumped out but when the men ran up to inspect the wreckage they found to their chagrin Schiller was still alive.
So they moved on to Plan B Lugo sprayed the car with petrol and set it alight. Unfortunately for the gang Lugo had forgotten to strap Schiller in. As they pulled away in their car they saw their man revived by the heat stumble out and weave his way towards the road. Weekes behind the wheel hit him and then for good measure turned the car around and ran him over.
Marc Schiller's car after the Sun Gym gang had tried to kill him
Schiller remembers none of this. The next thing he knew he was in hospital the searing pain in his body proving he was still alive. In a book he has written about his ordeal he lists his injuries a twisted spine a shattered pelvis a ruptured bladder and a damaged spleen. But Schiller s first concern was for his immediate survival a hospital was a public building and once the gang found out he wasn't dead they could come and finish him off so he organised for an air ambulance to take him to a hospital in Staten Island. And it was lucky he did because that very morning the Sun Gym gang dressed in hospital uniforms were on their way to kill him.
Over the next four months Schiller recuperated and tried to put his finances back in order. His house now belonged to a corporation in the Bahamas his deli franchise had been dissolved his offshore accounts were empty and $160 000 had been spent on his credit cards to buy among other things thousands of condoms and adult films. He learnt later that Lugo had been living in his house calling himself Tom and telling neighbours he was a member of the US security forces and the house had been confiscated by the government. The neighbours liked him. He changed light bulbs for them and helped with odd jobs.
Why didn t Schiller go to the police all this time Schiller was subsequently jailed for Medicare fraud and many people believed that explained his reluctance but he maintains he was innocent and the reason he didn t approach the police at first was because he thought they wouldn t believe him and he says he wanted to gather his own evidence. He also decided it would be best to try to negotiate the return of his money instead of going to court when he had no money for lawyers.
He hired a private investigator named Ed Du Bois who went to meet Lugo and came across all the evidence he needed. They put me and Ed Seibert a former homicide detective in a small office remembers Du Bois now 70. And after a while we noticed the trash can underneath the desk was overflowing with paper. We started looking through it and almost everything pertained to Schiller s kidnapping.
The gang had obviously been cleaning up their files but instead of shredding their papers had put them in the bin. There were copies of cheques written to all the bad guys for their part in the crime says Du Bois. So we had more than Lugo and Delgado we had the whole gang. With this haul and Lugo showing no signs of handing back any money Schiller and Du Bois finally went to the police in April 1995. Unsurprisingly they wondered why Schiller had waited so long to contact them. And while they stalled the gang moved on to their next victims a millionaire called Frank Griga and his girlfriend Krisztina Furton.
This would be kidnapping was a far more brutal and brief affair although no less farcical. Instead of tying Griga up and forcing him to sign over his assets Doorbal got into a fight with the Hungarian and ended up killing him. When Furton started screaming she was sedated with Rompun a horse tranquilliser but the dose was far too high and she died as well. The hapless weightlifters then cut up the bodies with a chainsaw. As soon as the couple were reported missing Lugo and his accomplices fell under suspicion and when one of the detectives who had worked on the Schiller case heard a gang of weightlifters were in the frame he immediately phoned Du Bois. Within a matter of hours all but Lugo had been arrested. The ringleader who had fled to the Bahamas was picked up five days later.
Krisztina Furton and Frank Griga who were murdered by the Sun Gym gang
Today Lugo and Doorbal are both on death row. Delgado served seven years. And Schiller is working 11 hours a day for less money than he earned in his first job out of college and doing what he can to forget his ordeal. When the case came to trial in 1998 the prosecution was able to present the jury with 10 000 pieces of evidence concerning both the murders and Schiller s kidnapping and testimony from more than 100 witnesses including one statement that revealed Lugo went back to the DIY store Home Depot to return the chainsaw he had bought to dismember Griga and Furton because it was suffering from a burnt out engine.
There were literally times during the case when the lawyers would approach the bench to talk about an issue and we would just shake our heads and laugh because of the stupidity says Ferrer the judge. The case was incredibly tragic but it had a lot of dark humour in it.
The new season of Judge Alex featuring Alex Ferrer begins on September 2
To buy Marc Schiller's book 'Pain And Gain The Untold True Story' click here
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Does Tracy McGrady Belong in the Basketball Hall of Fame
Yes.
To those asking if Tracy McGrady belongs in the Basketball Hall of Fame the answer is a wholehearted unequivocal yes.
The 15 year veteran announced his retirement from the league on ESPN's First Take bowing out to a chorus of cheers sighs and disquieting what ifs.
What if he never got injured What if he was the next Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan What if he had more to give that we never got to see
It's befitting that his career should end in this haze of uncertainty since that's how it began.
Drafted out of high school McGrady quickly took a backseat to Vince Carter on the Toronto Raptors even though he made his debut one year prior to Vinsanity. From there he went on to the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets where both his health and capacity to lead a successful postseason charge came under siege.
One (unsuccessful) attempt to snag a championship in San Antonio later McGrady walks away facing doubts about his Hall of Fame candidacy when really there's nothing to debate.
Questions still linger as to how long it will take him to get there first ballot second ballot etc. but there is no preventing the inevitable T Mac will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Defining Greatness
Stephen Dunn/Getty ImagesGreatness is a word that's tossed around much too often.
Single seasons have become a means to validate paramountcy. Players are considered stars after one year and the line between superstars and glorified roles players isn't just blurred but often buried beneath layers of shameless homerism and casual analysis.
Cavalier interpretations of greatness have aided in the rise of many an NBA player. As fans and critics alike however have become more aware of the (shall we say) epidemic a witch hunt of sorts has ensued.
Overrated players are actively sought out only to be degraded and their skills belittled. Certain players like Blake Griffin have navigated (and continue to navigate) the gauntlet of doubt placed before them. Others aren't as successful falling victim to advanced analytics and a well informed public.
Drew Hallowell/Getty ImagesJust this summer we watched as Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings struggled to find homes in free agency. Their volume scoring abilities were obscured by their continuous inefficiency.
Problem is it doesn't always work this way. Purging the ranks of greatness has become something of a retrospective syndrome.
People are more accepting of a player during his time when he's on the floor able to defend himself and his legacy. Once they're removed from their generation or the game entirely a cloud is cast over all they've done.
McGrady won't be immune to such tradition. Fellow scorer Allen Iverson retired just days before him and out of fear for perpetuating nonchalant evaluations of players their legacies and greatness in general cases will be made against McGrady.
Looking at him through that lens will be a mistake it will be an insult. Even in a vacuum where greatness wouldn't be subjective he stands up to the best of the best.
McGrady vs. the Best of the Best
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesNumbers sometimes lie but only when doctored. Left alone McGrady's numbers don't lie.
Through 15 seasons McGrady averaged 19.6 points 5.6 rebounds 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals. Only 15 players in NBA history have retired while hitting such career benchmarks. Of the other 14 10 are retired and eligible for the Hall of Fame nine of them are in it.
McGrady could score in ways and spurts that most players only dreamed of. When healthy he was an unstoppable force on the offensive end and an underrated playmaker. Since entering the NBA in 1997 he had five seasons in which he averaged at least 25 points per game the sixth most of all players during that time.
The previous numbers speak for themselves. And so does former head coach Jeff Van Gundy.
At his peak I defy anybody that played against him coached against him played with him or coached with him to tell me he wasn t an all time great said Van Gundy of McGrady according to Dave Feschuk of the Toronto Sun.
There's that word again great. Only this time it's use is genuine. McGrady did in fact stack up against some of the all time greats.
Per Hoopsworld's Tommy Beer McGrady and Jordan are the only two players in league history to notch at least 32 points 6.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game over a full season.
Only 2 players in NBA history have ever averaged at least 32 ppg 6.5 rpg 5.5 apg over a full season Michael Jordan(3x) T Mac (2002 03)
Tommy Beer ( TommyBeer) August 26 2013McGrady is also one of just five players in the last 20 years to tally 18 000 points 5 200 rebounds and 4 500 assists. The other four include LeBron James Kevin Garnett Paul Pierce and Kobe.
Over the last 20 years only 5 players have tallied 18 000 pts 5 200 rebs 4 100 assists KG Kobe LeBron Paul Pierce Tracy McGrady
Tommy Beer ( TommyBeer) August 26 2013Every one of the names just dropped is either in the Hall (Jordan) or a future inductee. Every last one.
In fact ESPN Stats Info says that 15 other retired players have at least 18 000 points 5 000 rebounds and 4 000 assists for their career. All of them are in the Hall of Fame.
Will Tracy McGrady be a Hall of Famer 15 other retired players have 18 000 Pts 5 000 Reb 4 000 Ast in their careers. All 15 are HOF ers.
ESPN Stats Info ( ESPNStatsInfo) August 26 2013Tell me why McGrady should be any different.
Better still look at how the best season of his career (most points averaged) measures up to Kobe and Jordan's
McGrady vs. Jordan vs. Kobe Player/Season PPG RPG APG FG% 3P% Win Shares PER Kobe Bryant (2005 06) 35.4 5.3 4.5 45.0 34.7 15.3 28 Michael Jordan (1986 87) 37.1 5.2 4.6 48.2 18.2 16.9 29.8 Tracy McGrady (2002 03) 32.1 6.5 5.5 45.7 38.6 16.1 30.3From Basketball Reference.
Single seasons once again aren't everything but McGrady consistently joined similar ranks for most of his career. And with that 30.3 PER in 2002 03 he remains one of only seven players in league history to post a PER above 30 while appearing in at least 70 games.
His list of accolades goes on and on and on much like Chris Berman's commencement speeches. There are the seven All Star selections two scoring crowns the Most Improved Player award (2001) I wasn't kidding.
McGrady has done enough he's accomplished enough over the last decade and a half to eventually earn the Hall of Fame nod. Statistically he's joined the NBA's greatest enough times to join them once and for all and forever.
Rings Aren't Everything
Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty ImagesChampionships be damned.
Well not entirely. They're still important but like isolated seasons they're not everything. I said the same thing when standing by Iverson and I'm saying the same thing now. Because it's true.
USA TODAY SportsIf the absence of rings were meant to stop players from entering The Hall Charles Barkley Patrick Ewing and Karl Malone wouldn't be in there.
So what if he was doing the Carmelo Anthony before Carmelo Anthony Failing to get out of the first round before this past spring is disappointing and it will be a topic of discussion whenever his name is brought up but it shouldn't be enough to remove him from the Hall of Fame conversation.
People are going to look at the lack of playoff success and say He wasn t a winner Van Gundy opined per Feschuk. But so much of whether you win or lose in the playoffs is based on who you play with who you play against and health.
For the latter third (half ) of his career McGrady wasn't healthy. He also wasn't the only one who lost those games.
Superstars are supposed to find a way I get it. But McGrady tried to. It's not as if he coasted through 15 consecutive healthy campaigns without a playoff series win under his belt. He lost in the face of injuries and injury stricken rosters (Yao Ming Grant Hill etc.).
I said this team was going to go as far as I could take them McGrady lamented with tears forming in his eyes following a series deciding Game 7 loss to the Utah Jazz in 2007 as quoted by Julie Takahashi of CBS Houston. And I tried my best. I tried man. I tried.
When we look back on McGrady's career we should remember that he lost. That he left the NBA without a ring. But we should also remember it was not for want of trying or personal resolve.
Those are the memories that matter most.
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The daily gossip Bryan Cranston might play Lex Luthor in the Man of Steel ...
1. Bryan Cranston might play Lex Luthor in the Man of Steel sequelBreaking Bad may be on the cusp of ending but if rumors originally reported by Cosmic Book News can be believed star Bryan Cranston hasn't yet had his fill of playing evil terrifying bald guys. The site says that Cranston has been cast in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel as the villainous Lex Luthor with a contract that allows for appearances in at least six films which is presumably how long it will take him to alienate his family while building a Kryptonite empire. E Online
2. The Parents Television Council wasn't big on Miley Cyrus' VMAs performanceIf you've spent the past couple days in a coma go to YouTube and look up Miley Cyrus twerks at the VMAs. All caught up Well for some reason that's all anyone can talk about this week and surprise surprise the Parents Television Council has come out with a statement indicating it is none too pleased with Cyrus' performance. Heads should roll at MTV said advisory board member Paul Porter which sounds way way more family unfriendly to us but what do we know We're not the Parents Television Council. People
3. There's another Scooby Doo movie on the way Scooby Dooby Doo where are you It's the question all of America has been asking over the inexcusably long nine years since the release of Scooby Doo 2 Monsters Unleashed. But don't despair fans According to Variety Warner Bros. has begun developing a reboot that will eschew the original films' live action for a fully animated adaptation of the popular cartoon. Further details about the project aren't currently available but in keeping with current reboot trends we're assuming that the new Scooby Doo will be dark gritty and about a half hour longer than it needs to be. Variety
4. Dr. Luke won't be judging American Idol after allIf you're one of the 12 remaining people in America who hasn't ditched American Idol in favor of The Voice you were probably happy when it was reported last week that the troubled reality series had finally locked down its judges panel for next year Keith Urban Jennifer Lopez and Dr. Luke the producer behind star making hits like Kelly Clarkson's Since U Been Gone and Katy Perry's I Kissed a Girl. But not so fast says The Hollywood Reporter. Concluding that the gig would take up too much of the time he's supposed to be spending working for Sony Music Dr. Luke decided against joining the show after all. The story adds that Dr. Luke's vacated spot might be filled by Justin Bieber manager Scooter Braun so anyone with an obnoxious Twitter account and a penchant for abandoning monkeys is encouraged to audition. The Hollywood Reporter
5. There will be a fifth Step Up movieBecause teenagers who are good at dancing is a story vein so rich that it couldn't possibly be captured in a mere four films Summit has announced the production of a fifth movie in the increasingly sprawling Step Up franchise. The sequel which comes on the heels of Step Up Step Up 2 The Streets Step Up 3D and Step Up Yes We're Seriously Still Making These will include a performance by series veteran Stephen tWitch Boss who joined the franchise shortly after the original star Channing Tatum moved to the greener pastures of anything but more Step Up sequels. The Hollywood Reporter
Critics Madden 25 stumbles but scores
Madden NFL 25 (Credit EA)EA's Madden franchise has been a fixture in the gaming world for over two decades boasting a fan base and lifetime sales that any publisher would envy.
The 25th anniversary edition of the flagship sports title hits shelves today and while the franchise faithful have likely once again come down with a case of the Madden flu to spend time with the game critics have had a bit more time to dissect it.
The consensus It's more of a field goal than a touchdown. Madden NFL 25 currently has a Metacritic rating of 77 for the PS3 version and 80 for the Xbox 360 version. EA opted to bypass Nintendo systems this year.
Some critics really enjoyed the game's accessibility an issue it taken some hits for in the past.
Developer EA Tiburon has built a more approachable game of football than it has in years even while Madden NFL 25 gives a giant foam hand pat on its own back writes Polygon s Dan Rubenstein who gives it an 8.5/10. The NFL itself breeds die hards who need every tiny option at their disposal and casual fans happy to enjoy some healthy competition. While Madden NFL 25 does an admirable job of catering to those with little use for say the ability to make 14 changes before each snap it stays true to its ethos to give you as much control as you could possibly want.
IGN s Jack Devries meanwhile calls the game more of a run of the mill upgrade than a big anniversary edition but still says it's everything a fan could ask for.
The real meat and potatoes gameplay is better than ever and when it comes down to it we re here to play some damn football. Madden 25 brings it with bone crunching intensity he says awarding it another 8.5/10.
But the lack of celebration in a 25th anniversary edition is more of a concern for GameSpot s Brett Todd who gives it a mere 6/10.
It's a shame that EA Sports decided to make such a big deal out of the Madden anniversary this year he says. Putting that big '25' on the box cover ramps up expectations and may well make a standard baby steps Madden sequel seem more disappointing. The heart of how the game plays on the field has been transplanted from its predecessor making this a small shuffle forward that settles for subtle enhancements while leaving a lot of long standing flaws intact for another year. This just isn't a fitting way to celebrate a milestone in the long life of one of the biggest and best franchises in gaming history.
Game Informer's Matthew Kato agrees saying if this is the best EA could do with a milestone edition it raises fears about what fans can expect in years to come.
If the past is prologue Madden 25's inability to separate features from fluff and meaningfully execute them has me worried for what we'll be asked to accept as progress in the next generation he writes though he gives the game a more favorable 7.75/10.
We'll learn a little more about how the next gen looks later this year when Xbox One and PS4 versions of the game both of which will utilize a new engine hit shelves.
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Victoria Duval breaks through at Open
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American teenager Victoria Duval upset 2011 US Open champion Sam Stosur in the first round for her first career match win at a major.
NEW YORK When Victoria Duval was 7 years old she trailed along once again to watch her older brothers play in a tennis tournament in Santo Domingo near her childhood home in Haiti. The tournament director had always watched her sitting on her mother Nadine's lap and suggested she let Victoria compete this time if only so Nadine could focus on the matches.
Duval didn't know where to stand on the court how to hold the racquet and certainly not how to keep score but you've probably already figured out that the plucky little girl won the whole tournament. At that moment tennis forever trumped her previous love of ballet.
Victoria Duval celebrates with a leap after upsetting No. 11 seed Samantha Stosur.
After that my mom was like 'OK you have to choose now ' Duval said. Tennis seemed to be appropriate.
Duval who was ranked 298th in the world and entered this year's US Open as a qualifier was paired against No. 11 seed and former US Open champ Samantha Stosur in the first round. Stosur her arms roped with muscle had reached at least the quarterfinals in her past three Open appearances winning it all in 2011. Duval now 17 was playing in just the second Grand Slam match of her career.
But to the rhythmic chants of USA Duval defeated Stosur 5 7 6 4 6 4 on the Louis Armstrong Stadium court in a match that took 2 hours 39 minutes.
I was really happy Duval said in her high pitched voice. I mean you can tell by all the jumping I did.
Twitter congratulations rained in which she couldn't even follow because she doesn't have an account of her own from tennis commentator Darren Cahill to New York Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire to rapper Lil Wayne.
Weezy F Baby she shrieked when she was told.
Yes Duval is an unpolished gust of fresh air.
Unlike 15 years ago it's rare these days to see a teenager pull an upset on such a big stage. And with her age comes a guileless enthusiasm. Her favorite SpongeBob character is Gary her motto is Have Fun and her goal as a young player was just to beat her brothers.
But her reality is more complicated. Her father Jean Maurice was injured in the 2010 earthquake in Haiti as he stayed behind to help run a medical clinic while Victoria trained and played tennis in the States. After being buried alive for hours he was able to pull out of the rubble but not without injuries that reportedly included a punctured lung. But a family friend via tennis real estate developer Harry Kitchen chartered a private plane to bring Victoria's father back to the U.S. for treatment.
We're forever grateful to them Duval said. If it weren't for them my dad definitely wouldn't be here today. Not everyone just pays $30 000 to fly a helicopter to save someone.
Although Victoria was born in Miami her parents are both from Haiti. And she might have continued to grow up there as well if not for a violent robbery that turned into a hostage situation. Victoria was with her aunt and cousins at their house when it happened.
She was held at gunpoint Nadine said. It was so scary.
Nadine rushed to the house and the SWAT team was already there. They heard the officers talking about an operation which in French is the same word for surgery and were terrified Victoria or another family member had been injured.
A year later the family moved to Boca Raton Fla. Jean Maurice is unable to work in medicine because of his injuries although his health has improved and the family has relied on the USTA and other sources for support and training. Billie Jean King tapped Duval to play on the Philadelphia Freedoms (World TeamTennis) this summer and has become a mentor and supporter sending Duval a text after her upset win.
Coach Todd Morelle has also agreed to work with Duval on a pro bono basis in part because he sees a champion in her 5 foot 10 frame despite her raw serve.
She's only going to get a lot better Morelle said. She is half as good as she is going to be.
Tennis has given much to the Duval family it was a connection that saved her father's life but it is has also come with expenses and expectations. Still Nadine stresses the family has never nudged Victoria to play.
That's her passion Nadine said. Nobody pushed her into tennis.
My only little girl she confessed with a laugh. I wanted her to be a ballerina.
Michael Douglas Catherine Zeta Jones split
The big celeb news of the morning Michael Douglas 68 and Catherine Zeta Jones 43 are separating.
The star couple is splitting after almost 13 years.
Zeta Jones' publicist Cece Yorke and Douglas' publicist Allen Burry tell USA TODAY in a statement Catherine and Michael are taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage. There will be no further comment.
The two haven't been seen together since April says People magazine and in recent days he's been relaxing on a yacht and playing golf in Sardinia says the Daily Mail.
They have had a rough few years weathering his battle with throat cancer and her battle with bipolar II disorder.
And most recently Douglas' comments about HPV possibly causing his cancer are said to have not gone over well with her. He issued a statement clarifying that he was not saying he got it from her.
Earlier this month celeb rags began buzzing about a divorce. The Aug. 12 edition of Star magazine claimed Douglas had moved out.
Douglas and Zeta Jones who have two children Dylan 13 and Carys 10 decided to spend time apart soon after he came back from the Cannes Film Festival in May says People. The magazine also reports that neither side has filed divorce papers. And those close to the couple hold out hope the two can work things out.
Nintendo Reveals The Hideous $130 2DS Will Cut Wii U Price To $299
Nintendo wants to compete with cheap tablets more than ever but just not the way you think. The company will release a new version of the 3DS the Nintendo 2DS which has a tablet esque form factor. As the name suggests it is a 2D only handheld console compatible with 3DS and DS games. At $129.99 the 2DS is $40 cheaper than its sibling. The company also announced a $50 price cut for the Wii U on September 20 ahead of the releases of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
While the 3DS is doing well it s another story for the Wii U. As of June 30 Nintendo reported 3.61 million sales. As a reminder in July 2007 seven months after the release of the Wii the company was selling 1.8 million consoles each month. Now Nintendo wants to compete on price to stay relevant.
But the console still lacks games. Many third party publishers such as Electronic Arts Activision and Ubisoft will only release their games on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The PlayStation 4 will cost $399 and the Xbox One $499.
Nintendo probably thought that launching the Wii U a year before its competitor was the right move to get a head start. But it is hard to convince existing Wii owners that the Wii U isn t just a tiny upgrade with a tablet like controller. The name of the console itself doesn t help. It finally is an HD console from Nintendo but it s hard to communicate about the number of pixels on a screen.
With the 2DS Nintendo finally built a gaming tablet. It could have a certain appeal to parents who are hesitating between a cheap Android tablet and a Nintendo handheld console but the form factor doesn t seem very practical for gamers and especially children with tiny hands.
Available on October 12 the 2DS will retain the same features as the 3DS except its main feature the 3D display. It has the same stylus Wi Fi and comes with a 4GB SD card. While $130 is cheap 3DS games are still more expensive than iOS or Android games. But you won t find Mario on your iPad.
As Nintendo suggests in the 2DS promo video the new console is a handheld gaming system from Nintendo like you ve never seen before. Everyone can agree that Nintendo is right on this one.
An earlier version of this article misstated the price of the 3DS. It is $40 more expensive than the 2DS ($169) not $50.
NINTENDONintendo a technology company widely known for its line of game consoles was actually founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi. It began as a Card Game company and evolved into one of the largest Japanese companies with a Market Capitalization of over $85 billion. It s most recent game console the Wii has been one of the most difficult consumer devices to buy because of such high demand. Nintendo of America is consistently amazed and humbled by the passion and...
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Johnny Manziel Suspended For A Half
Johnny Manziel Suspended For A HalfNEXT VIDEO Johnny Manziel Suspended For A HalfJohnny Manziel Suspended For A HalfJohnny Manziel's Tumultuous OffseasonJohnny Manziel's Tumultuous Offseason
Johnny Football will start the season on the bench but he won't be there for long.
Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Johnny Manziel of No. 7 Texas AM has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's season opener against the Rice Owls AM and the NCAA announced Wednesday in a joint statement.
More from ESPN.comSo the NCAA never really had anything on Johnny Manziel. Chris Low asks if the NCAA has been rendered completely and utterly toothless. Blog
With Johnny Manziel unavailable Sam Khan Jr. analyzes Texas AM's other options at QB junior Matt Joeckel and true freshman Kenny Hill. Blog
The statement said there was no evidence that Manziel received payment for signing autographs.
The NCAA and AM agreed on the one half suspension because Manziel violated NCAA bylaw 12.5.2.1 an NCAA representative confirmed. The rule says student athletes cannot permit their names or likenesses to be used for commercial purposes including to advertise recommend or promote sales of commercial products or accept payment for the use of their names or likenesses.
If additional information comes to light the NCAA will review and consider if further action is appropriate the NCAA said in the joint statement. NCAA rules are clear that student athletes may not accept money for items they sign and based on information provided by Manziel that did not happen in this case.
In addition to the suspension Manziel will speak to his teammates about lessons learned from the situation and AM will educate its athletes about signing multiple items for individuals.
NCAA rules are clear that student athletes may not accept money for items they sign and based on information provided by Manziel that did not happen in this case.
NCAA statement on Johnny ManzielEarlier this month ESPN reported that the NCAA was looking into whether Manziel was paid for signing autographs at several locations including in South Florida around the BCS title game. ESPN reported that a set of autograph dealers claimed that Manziel accepted payments to sign more than 4 000 items including footballs and photographs at an event in Connecticut in late January.
NCAA investigators spent a large chunk of Sunday with Manziel questioning him about allegations from memorabilia dealers that he accepted payments for autographs a source familiar with the investigation told ESPN.com on Monday night.
I am proud of the way both Coach Kevin Sumlin and Johnny handled this situation with integrity and honesty AM chancellor John Sharp said in the statement. We all take the Aggie Code of Honor very seriously and there is no evidence that either the university or Johnny violated that code.
Manziel's lawyer Jim Darnell told ESPN's Brett McMurphy he did not believe Manziel violated any NCAA rules but he accepted the suspension in order to get Johnny back on the field.
SVP RussilloESPN college football insider Brett McMurphy talks about the decision to suspend Johnny Manziel for the first half against Rice on Saturday and explains the agreement in place between Texas AM and the NCAA.
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We don't really believe the suspension was warranted but we believe NCAA and Texas AM worked with us to get this matter resolved Darnell said. Johnny was willing to accept it to get back on the football field and compete.
Darnell said he was thankful the NCAA resolved the situation before the season began.
It's a win win for everybody he said.
After the suspension was reported by ESPN Manziel's odds to win the Heisman Trophy moved from 12 1 to 6 1. He is the third favorite behind Braxton Miller (3 1) and Jadeveon Clowney (5 1).
Texas AM staff and players had been instructed earlier this week by school officials not to talk about Manziel.
SportsNation Manziel's suspension
Johnny Manziel will be suspended for the first half of Saturday's game against Rice. Is this a fair penalty Cast your votes
However after not discussing the matter Tuesday Sumlin broke his silence about how Manziel has dealt with off field distractions during the SEC teleconference Wednesday.
Johnny's handled it very well Sumlin said. Everything around football he's been extremely sharp and focused.
Sumlin said Tuesday that the coaches have plans for any number of situations that could happen with their players and team and that they plan for the possible absence of players every week.
While Sumlin wouldn't discuss Manziel's availability for Week 1 he had no problem talking about whether football has helped the quarterback deal with everything going on off the field.
I know he likes to play football Sumlin said. I think the structure that he has had since Aug. 4 has been nothing but helpful.
More on Texas AMFor full coverage of the Aggies check out the Texas AM blog part of ESPN's College Football Nation. BlogMore Texas AM's clubhouse page ESPN.com's SEC blog
In Manziel's absence the Aggies will start either junior Matt Joeckel or freshman Kenny Hill. Joeckel is more of a pocket passer and Hill is a dual threat quarterback.
Joeckel has thrown just 11 passes in his college career. Hill who starred at Texas high school powerhouse Southlake Carroll (near Dallas) threw for 2 291 yards and 20 TDs and ran for 905 yards and 22 scores as a senior last season.
Sumlin said the competition between the two is ongoing and that he's been pleased with the progress of both players. He said it helps the team because it's allowed all quarterbacks to get work with the first team.
Sumlin said he is confident that AM's offense will be OK no matter who is running it because of its offensive line. The group led by left tackle Jake Matthews is expected to be a strength despite losing Joeckel's twin brother Luke Joeckel who was selected second overall in the NFL draft by Jacksonville. Matthews son of NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews will be joined on the line this season by younger brother Mike Matthews at center.
SEC blogESPN.com's Chris Low and Edward Aschoff write about all things SEC football in the conference blog.
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We've got a really solid offensive line which takes a little bit of the pressure off Matt and Kenny Sumlin said. When Johnny's taking snaps when he's in there he's really trying to help the perimeter guys. Our offensive line gives us an opportunity to rotate those quarterbacks and have them be successful.
The uncertainty surrounding Manziel had put a damper on the excitement surrounding the Aggies who finished 11 2 in their first season in the SEC.
Without naming Manziel Sumlin was asked how he balances the needs of a player over those of the team. He likened his team to a family saying many things are done and said behind closed doors that the public will never know about.
But he did share his philosophy on leading the Aggies.
There's nothing more important than the team Sumlin said. We talk to them about what we expect from them on the field what we expect from them off the field and what we expect from them effort wise and accountability wise and being able to trust each other.
Information from ESPN.com's Brett McMurphy Travis Haney Darren Rovell and The Associated Press was used in this report.
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Neil Armstrong RIP quiz on whos alive and whos dead
theguardian.com Tuesday 27 August 2013 12.35 EDT
Although Neil Armstrong died a year ago this month RIP messages mysteriously went viral on the internet today many people seemingly unaware that the astronaut's death was not news. Like many well known figures before him Armstrong seems to be part of a select group of notable people who have an unclear vital status.
How sure are you of who's still in the land of the living See how you do in our quiz.
Neil Armstrong RIP. Photograph Nasa/Sportsphoto Ltd