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Nicki Minaj vs. Iggy Azalea Wheres the beef
.cnn_html_media_utility before color red content '>>' font size 9px line height 12px padding right 1px .cnnstrylccimg640 margin 0 27px 14px 0 .captionText filter alpha(opacity 100) opacity 1 .cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a .cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a visited .cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a link .captionText a .captionText a visited .captiontext a link color 004276 outline medium none .cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto margin 0 auto padding right 68px width 270px > Rappers Nicki Minaj and Iggy Azalea may have beef after Minaj made a dig at the BET Awards about writing her own rhymes. Some took that as a not so subtle jab at Azalea. If there is brewing beef they wouldn't be the first celebs to have a feud.... When Angela Bassett was asked about casting Whitney Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown in the biopic she's directing about the late singer Bassett responded that she never thought to do it for several reasons one being that (Brown's) not an actress. Bobbi Kristina did not take kindly to the comment and tweeted some disparaging words about the actress. Rihanna's bare it all style is catching flak from the ladies of TLC. Every time that I see you you don't have to be naked T Boz said during a recent interview with an Australian media outlet. We became the biggest selling girl group of all time with our clothes on. Rihanna's response A series of pointed subtweets and a new Twitter header that shows a topless TLC. Charlie Sheen is also unhappy with Rihanna. Sheen tweeted that the singer declined to meet him and his gal pal when they all landed at the same restaurant in May. The actor went on a bit of a Twitter rant saying it was a pleasure NOT meeting you. We think Rihanna might have responded when she tweeted If that old queen don't get ha diapers out of a bunch... Katy Perry got a tongue lashing from Miley Cyrus after she dissed the younger singer's hygiene on an Australian morning show March 4. The two have appeared to reconcile on Twitter of course. An argument on the set of In Living Color has apparently put Rosie Perez and Jennifer Lopez at odds for the past 20 years. As Perez alleges in a new memoir Lopez went off (like) some ghetto biatch screaming and pounding her chest while they were working together on the show. Perez claims Lopez made disparaging comments about her even after leaving the show. Drake was the subject of a glowing profile in a February issue of Rolling Stone but one quote had the Canadian rapper seeing red. The magazine claimed Drake was critical of Kanye West's album Yeezus which Drake said never happened. To add insult to injury Rolling Stone took the cover from Drake at the last minute the rapper tweeted. I'm disgusted with that. RIP to Phillip Seymour Hoffman. All respect due. But the press is evil he said on February 12. In the end Drake wound up deleting his comments and apologizing. The Jonas Brothers may still be family but the trio could no longer take being bandmates. A rep for the group told CNN on October 10 that there is a deep rift within the band. There was a big a disagreement over their music direction. The beef between Lady Gaga and Kelly Osbourne dates back to an open letter Gaga wrote accusing Kelly of being a bully. When Kelly O. saw that Gaga had offered her a birthday cake on October 27 she tweeted Not to be ungrateful but why would you send me a birthday cake via my MOTHER in a country half the (world) away ... EatMyS . Kanye West has given Jimmy Kimmel the rap feud he's always wanted. After Kimmel poked fun at West's interview with the BBC in which the entertainer called himself the No. 1 rock star on the planet West went to Twitter to air his profane grievances (in all caps of course). The two later made amends with a televised sitdown. Rapper Kendrick Lamar not only set Twitter on fire with his guest verses on Big Sean's song Control he also stoked the flames of a bit of a hip hop beef. Lamar called out his fellow lyricists to step up their game which irritated some and led to rapper Joell Ortiz recording a rebuttal. After her heart attack in 2012 Rosie O'Donnell received support from an unlikely source Donald Trump. The two engaged in a pretty high profile feud in the past with her calling him a snake oil salesman and Trump retorting that she was a loser. Onetime friends Denise Richards and Heather Locklear hit a major impasse after the former started dating the latter's ex Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora. In interviews Richards denied that she and Locklear were still friends at the time she began seeing Sambora. As a teen star Hilary Duff reportedly dated heartthrob Aaron Carter before he broke up with her to get with Lindsay Lohan and then he tossed Lohan aside to win back Duff. The actress told People magazine in 2007 that she and Lohan had made peace. Yeah we couldn't believe it either. MC Hammer reportedly took offense to Jay Z guest rapping in a Kanye West song ( So Appalled ) that Hammer went broke so you know I'm more focused/I lost 30 mill so I spent another 30/Cuz unlike Hammer 30 mill can't hurt me. Hammer took it to where all celebs take their beefs now Twitter and released a diss track Better Run Run. Kanye West and Taylor Swift had one of the greatest celeb feuds of all time. The rapper famously grabbed the singer's mic at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. He later apologized and she seemed to accept his apology via her song Innocent. It appears that rapper Lil' Kim has not taken too kindly to what she views as Nicki Minaj's lack of respect and similar style with the colored wigs and sexually explicit lyrics. The pair have traded insults all over the media. It's a case of he said/she said/he said. Eminem set it off after he claimed to have had a torrid dating relationship with singer Mariah Carey who denied it. Her husband Nick Cannon even offered to defend her honor by meeting the rapper in the ring. Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton helped to coin the term frenemies after their very public bust up in 2004. The former Simple Life co stars went on to make up two years later. Oprah Winfrey was reportedly annoyed by David Letterman's constant joking references to her name when he hosted the Academy Awards in 1995. The late night talk show host told The Daily Show's Jon Stewart he had also once played a practical joke on Winfrey convincing a waiter that she had agreed to pick up his tab. They have since made peace. Gossip blogger Perez Hilton claimed Will.i.am and his security guards attacked him at an awards show over some unkind words he had written about the musician's Black Eyed Peas bandmate Fergie. Will.i.am denied he had anything to do with it. Tom Cruise got on Brooke Shields' bad side by decrying her use of medication to treat postpartum depression. Shields responded with an op ed in The New York Times and Cruise later apologized for his remarks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
(CNN) It's not hip hop without beef right
We are still waiting to see if a war of words breaks out between rappers Nicki Minaj and Iggy Azalea after the former offered remarks at the 2014 BET Awards on Sunday that some took to be a diss toward the latter.
Accepting the award for best female hip hop artist Minaj referenced writing her own lyrics.
What I want the world to know about Nicki Minaj she said when you hear Nicki Minaj spit Nicki Minaj wrote it.
BET Awards Hits and a Lionel Richie miss
There is talk that Azalea uses ghostwriters for some of her songs so Twitter was immediately all over the comment.
So its safe to say there won't be any Nicki Iggy collabs anytime soon one viewer tweeted.
So its safe to say there won't be any Nicki Iggy collabs anytime soon
Paula HELLens ( TheHeLLonHeeLs) June 30 2014Minaj added No shade no shade about her comment but that didn't stop the Minaj throws shade headlines around the Web.
MTV notes that during Azalea's performance of her hit song Fancy Minaj grabbed an opportunity to vamp for the camera when it found her in the audience.
It's likely this moment will be used as further evidence that Nicki and Iggy have some kind of silent beef brewing MTV's John Walker wrote.
So far Azalea has been silent on the alleged shade.
World Cup Picks United States vs. Belgium Argentina vs. Switzerland
By Ken BoehlkeArgentina vs. Switzerland (F1 vs. E2) 2 way line (90 minutes) Argentina 1 ( 125) Switzerland 1 ( 105) 3 way line (90 minutes) Argentina ( 225) Switzerland ( 655) Draw ( 340) Outright Winner Argentina ( 450) Switzerland ( 370) Total Over 2.5 ( 130) Under 2.5 ( 110)
Side Lionel Messi has put his country on his shoulders and the Argentinians appear perfectly fine to ride him as far as the diminutive superstar can carry them. Messi has four of the team s six goals and one of the remaining two was an own goal scored by Bosnia and Herzegovina. Things are about to get a lot tougher on the Sky Blue and White as they now move into the elimination rounds. They ve caught a tough draw in Switzerland a team that has the ability to bunker down inside their own half but also can get on the break and score goals. Argentina struggled mightily to break down the Iranian defense in the middle of their three group stage matches. In this one with the Swiss they ll face a similar defense with the added threat of attackers like Xherdan Shaqriri and Josip Drmi . Argentina will see plenty of possession in the match but thus far it hasn t produced them the gobs of opportunities that most expected. There s no question Switzerland will man mark Messi all afternoon and then attempt to safely double whenever possible. Argentina should be able to find space along the wings but will need much better service into the box and then have to get better touches from Sergio Ag ero and ngel di Mar a on the end of the crosses. The less reliant on Messi this team can become the better off they will be. However they haven t shown even an ounce of conviction toward playing that way. Defensively the Swiss are absolutely good enough to slow Messi down. Maybe this is the time the rest of the team shows up.
Switzerland used a hat trick from their star Xherdan Shaqriri to dominate Honduras and secure their place in the Round of 16. They had an interesting run through the group stage in which they used a late goal to steal three points from Ecuador then followed it up with a dreadful performance against France. Now they head into the knockout rounds feeling confident they have reassured their defensive organization. They ll deploy a defense minded approach and allow Argentina to bring the game to them. All eyes will be focused on doing the best possible job on Messi but they must be careful not to let the Argentinian wing backs to flood the flanks and outnumber them in their own end. When the Swiss do gain possession of the ball they will try to replicate the strategy of Nigeria. The Nigerians were able to find areas behind Argentina s three man midfield and then play the ball straight through the center of the defense. Shaqiri will be the main man to get the ball into the dangerous positions but it will take help from others if the Swiss do indeed want to score upon Argentina. The longer the Swiss can keep the game tied the more belief they will gain and more pressure will mount on Argentina. Argentina certainly appears vulnerable the question remains is Switzerland good enough to pounce on the opportunity Pick 2 way 90 minute bet Switzerland 1 ( 105) A fractional wager should also be placed on Switzerland outright at 370 in hopes of a shootout win
For more World Cup Picks CLICK HERE
Total Argentina were billed as a team that would spend most of their matches on the attack but three matches in only the match against Nigeria have they been able to consistently create chances. Meanwhile the Swiss were expected to be a defensive fortress and they conceded seven times in their three group stage games. Both should return to their normal M.O. s and Argentina will spend a majority of the game on the Swiss half of the field. But if Messi cannot get going it s hard to predict many goals from La Albiceleste. Counter attacks will be the best way for Switzerland to relieve pressure and create goal scoring chances. Expect a game played close to the vest as the Swiss will hold their defensive shape while Argentina will approach their attack cautiously with the understanding that one mistake could send them home. Pick Under 2.5 goals ( 110)
United States vs. Belgium (G2 vs. H1) 2 way line (90 minutes) United States 0.5 ( 115) Belgium 0.5 ( 105) 3 way line (90 minutes) United States ( 300) Belgium ( 105) Draw ( 245) Outright Winner United States ( 175) Belgium ( 200) Total Over 2.5 ( 135) Under 2.5 ( 155)
Side The U.S. are backing into the Round of 16 coming off a lackluster performance against Germany. However the Yanks have been here before as they used almost an exact replica of the 2002 group stage (win draw loss) here in 2014. In that tournament the United States wound up winning their first knockout game before heading out of the tournament after a fantastic match with Germany. There s a strong chance Jozy Altidore will remain out for the game with Belgium (although he will be available) but that doesn t mean J rgen Klinsmann will necessarily stick with the formation he deployed against Portugal and Germany. Klinsmann has made it abundantly clear that he wants his side to hold more possession of the ball after they finished the group stage 31st out of 32 in time on the ball. An extra attacker would return Michael Bradley to a more comfortable role underneath a pair of strikers rather than a focal point of the attack. The weak spot in the Belgium defense is their lack of outside defenders. The Belgians play a four man defensive line in which all four players are natural center backs. What this will do for the U.S. is to allow the American wing backs to venture forward and overlap the midfield knowing they do not have to worry about a counter starting from the Belgian defense. This being said the key players for the U.S. will be Bradley Alejandro Bedoya (or Graham Zusi) and Jermaine Jones. Axel Witsel the Belgian defensive midfielder has played so well in this tournament that his defensive prowess has allowed the rest of the Belgian midfield to join in on the attack. If the U.S. can control the ball and force the Belgian midfield to defend a ton of pressure will be relieved on the American defense when the ball is lost. Michael Bradley has had a rough tournament thus far but this may be the perfect team for him to step up against. Witsel is the tactical mark on Bradley but expect to see Bradley pop up in different areas to confuse the Belgian defense. If the U.S. can maintain possession and Michael Bradley can return to the player he s always been for the U.S. they could easily win this match.
Belgium won all three of their group stages matches but they ve only led for a total of 34 minutes. They have started slow in all three games and were able to rescue wins in the last 12 minutes of every game thus far. The pressure of the knockout rounds could interrupt the Belgian s ability to score late goals though. The further the match professes without Belgium going ahead the more pressure they will begin to feel as the favorites to beat a team whom they perceive to be inferior. Belgium has to be very careful to not allow the U.S. to catch them napping early. In the opening match against Ghana the Yanks scored in just 31 seconds while Belgium conceded just 24 minutes into their tournament opener. The Americans have vowed to play a more proactive game and Belgium must be ready for a flurry of attack right off the bat. The Red Devils could use this to their advantage though. With the understanding that the U.S. want to be on the ball more and play further forward Belgium may opt to let it happen and try to steal a counter attack goal before the match really settles in. Belgium has had success on the attack by sending in heaps of long high balls to the attacking third. The U.S. have been good on high advancing balls but have really struggled on crosses from the wings. The Belgians have the better players are playing a better brand of soccer and fully expect to win the game but they have still yet to put together a team effort and they are going up against a side that relies on playing as an 11 man unit. Pick 2 way 90 minute bet United States 0.5 ( 115)
Total The two teams and their strategies make the possibility of an early goal much higher in this match than most knockout round games. The U.S. will look to take control of the game while Belgium have the technical ability to take any slight mistake and turn it into a goal. Once that early goal is scored the game should resemble something similar to the one in Manaus between Portugal and the United States. Both teams will remain on the offensive and the ball will spend more time in the attacking thirds than it will in the neutral part of the field. The Belgians will look to try and get their excellent midfielders into space and then try to pressure the United States outside backs. Both DeMarcus Beasley and Fabian Johnson have held up pretty well during the group stage but players like Edin Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne bring a level of creativity that is not matched by almost anyone in the World Cup. Add in the dangers of Romelu Lukaku and super sub Marouane Fellaini there s no question the Belgians will constantly ask questions of the American defense. All in all it should be an enjoyable game to watch in which both teams plan on playing an aggressive style of soccer. Pick Over 2.5 goals ( 135)
For more World Cup Picks CLICK HERE
Listen to Over and Under with Ken Boehlke and Jason Pothier on CBS Sports Radio 1140 every Sunday morning from 8 to 10. Follow the show on Twitter OAU1140 and on Facebook.
GM recalls 7.6M more cars as costs balloon
2003 Chevrolet Impala LS Sport Sedan.(Photo GM WIECK)
General Motors announced six new safety recalls Monday including its single largest this year involving a total of about 7.55 million vehicles in the U.S.
The company also announced that it would increase its second quarter charges to pay for recalls to $1.2 billion up from the previous announced $700 million.
With the latest recalls GM now has called back 25.68 million vehicles in the U.S. this year for safety related repairs a record for GM and equal to more than two years of the company's total output. It's also close to the annual average total recalls for all automakers in recent years though well of the industry's one year recall record of 58.43 million vehicles in 1999.
The cavalcade has come as GM set about cleaning house on pending safety issue after the recalls for a deadly switch defect in February and March. GM is under a federal regulatory microscope because of those recalls which are linked to 13 deaths.
They are expanding (the recalls) now that there is more scrutiny from safety authorities and Congress says Sean Kane of Safety Research Strategies. Even after the recall barrage however there are many many GM vehicles made over the years that have somehow dodged all the recalls.
Most of the vehicles in the latest announcement more than 6.8 million in the U.S. are covered by a single new recall that extends the small car ignition switch issue unintended ignition key rotation that can shut off the engine while underway to more midsize and full size GM cars.
GM spokesman Alan Adler says although the latest recall's ignition switches met GM's specifications there are fears that if they are bumped or jarred they can pop into accessory disabling the car's airbags.
The company says it has identified seven crashes involving eight injuries and three fatalities that could be tied to the latest ignition switch recall although it adds there is no conclusive evidence of a link.
In the small cars GM has been replacing ignition switches. In the latest batch the fix will likely be a replacement key with a hole rather than a slot. Adler says owners of the vehicles are urged to drive only with a single key and nothing attached until they get the fix.
Models included in Monday's switch recall include the 1997 to 2005 Chevrolet Malibu 1998 to 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue 1999 to 2004 Oldsmobile Alero 1999 to 2005 Pontiac Grand Am 2000 to 2005 Pontiac Grand Am 2000 to 2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo and 2004 to 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. A separate U.S. recall covers 554 328 vehicles the 2003 to 2014 Cadillac CTS and 2004 to 2006 Cadillac SRX.
Trading in GM stock was halted at 2 30 p.m. ET and resumed by 3 p.m. once the GM recall news and new charges were announced. The stock closed at $36.30 down 32 cents or 0.87% on the day.
Also on Monday details of a compensation fund for victims of the small car switch recalls were disclosed by fund administrator Kenneth Feinberg. He said GM has agreed to pay without individual case or total fund limit anyone Feinberg believes is entitled to compensation for death or injury. Feinberg noted that claims can be filed not only by people riding in any seat in the GM cars with the bad switches but by pedestrians and people in other cars involved in wrecks with those GM cars.
Besides switch related recalls GM also announced recalls of
181 984 SUVs to fix a glitch that could lead to electrical shorts in driver's doors that could disable power door locks and window switches. Included are 2005 to 2007 Buick Rainier Chevrolet TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Isuzu Ascender Saab 9 7x 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL.9 271 heavy duty pickup trucks to fix a fuse issue that could lead to electrical overload and possible fires. Being recalled is the 2007 to 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD GMC Sierra HD when equipped with an auxiliary battery.2 990 smaller vehicles for insulation on engine blocks that can be damaged in cold weather. Included are the 2011 to 2014 Chevrolet Cruze 2012 to 2014 Chevrolet Sonic 2013 to 2014 Chevrolet Trax Buick Encore and Verano.106 cars for a joint fastener that may not have been tightened properly. Included are 2014 Chevrolet Camaro and Impala Buick Regal and Cadillac XTS.Contributing Paul Overberg
Under The Dome Has A Villain Problem
Stephen King's mammoth 2009 novel Under the Dome features two killer antagonists. One is well the dome itself the other is Big Jim Rennie a bully of a local politician who seizes the dome's sudden appearance as a chance to affirm his fiefdom. Too bad only the inanimate bad guy made the transition to the small screen.
Season two of CBS' prime time Under the Dome adaptation kicks off tonight. It's a killer premise A giant dome magically drops from the sky covering the small town of Chester's Mill Maine cut off from society possibly for good the predictable anarchic wackiness ensues. (Not as wacky as The Simpsons Movie but wacky enough.) On the page this is propulsive pulpy stuff. On TV it's an immensely silly mess.
Verily season one was rife with problems. The townspeople's collective intelligence makes the wayward roving humans that populate The Walking Dead seem like a backwoods Mensa gathering they go long stretches seeming to have forgotten the GIANT DOME that has trapped them in town. One whole episode out of 13 centered on a secret fight club/rave venue in an abandoned cement factory a puzzling creation absent from the book and quickly bounced from the show. Sheesh isn't the GIANT DOME enough of an issue
I'd accuse the writers of spinning their wheels were it not clear that the wheels fell off long ago. Still nothing galls me like the treatment of the show's human villain Big Jim. In King's hands he's is a detestable force from the start. You plow through 1 000 odd pages (yes the book is mammoth even by King's standards) as much to see him get his comeuppance as to finally figure out what the heck is up with the dome. He's selfish and manipulative a parochial political nightmare. There is no gray to be found.
Turn on the TV though and well soft isn't quite the right word. Big Jim is still the villain he lies not to mention kills but the show takes odd sidelines to round off his edges at times showing him to be a mournful husband caring father and even worthy town leader. To be fair it also shows him to be the exact opposite of all those things but that inconsistent characterization plagues the entire show not just its antagonist The show's nominal hero Dale Barbie Barbara (ugh those names) gets an unnecessarily darker backstory for balance. King's novel is great entertainment without aspiring to be one of our Great Books I don't think the television version aspires for greatness either but if the goal is some ridiculous fun why even try to muddy the characters' waters
As such Under the Dome's first season played out as a half assed Big Jim origin story a long ridiculous and unnecessary origin story for a character ready made for evil scheming. Was this a flubbed attempt at pandering to our insatiable thirst for Difficult Men TV where good guys and bad guys alike are slathered in shades of grey Was the softening of Big Jim part of the plan all along or was it the byproduct of casting the great Dean Norris then just wrapping things up over at Breaking Bad True in that case he took the one note meathead caricature of Hank Schrader and morphed him over five seasons into one of the show's only good and likable characters. But there's a difference between turning a flat character into a round one and turning an unabashed bad guy into a gradual somewhat ambiguous one. Sometimes it's okay for bad to just be bad.
This is not to say that the source material here should be held sacred Under the Dome specifically or books in general. (Uncle Stevie himself has already suggested that the novel's disappointing ending won't be regurgitated here and I'm all for it.) But too much of the book's pulpy trashy fun is being ruined by all these muddled motivations. Still we press on As season one wrapped Big Jim is running the town and Barbie is in a noose set for a public execution with Big Jim playing the hangman. Suddenly the pink stars appear (I don't have time to explain and it probably won't make any sense) and the dome flashes to bright white another creation for the show but at least one that works onscreen. Will it be a distraction that leads to Barbie's escape Will it trigger a short lived epiphany for an evil at the moment Big Jim Will it lead to some other unforeseeable whackadoo happening If there's one thing going for this show it's that even as a book reader I don't have the slightest clue but on the flip side I don't think the show's creators do either.
Robert Downey Jr.s son Indio arrested on drug charges
(CNN) Robert Downey Jr.'s son Indio is in trouble with the law.
Indio Falconer Downey 20 was arrested Sunday on drug possession charges. He's since been released on bail.
Indio Downey was a passenger in a vehicle stopped around 2 p.m. Sunday according to West Hollywood Sheriff's Station Sgt. Dave Valentine. Downey was found to be in possession of what officers believed to be cocaine as well as a smoking pipe. Downey was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and posted bail around 9 p.m. that same evening.
Robert Downey Jr.'s representative released a statement saying that Downey was grateful to the Sheriff's department for their intervention.
Unfortunately there's a genetic component to addiction and Indio has likely inherited it the rep said.
Also there is a lot of family support and understanding and we're all determined to rally behind him and help him become the man he's capable of being. We're grateful to the Sheriff's department for their intervention and believe Indio can be another recovery success story instead of a cautionary tale.
The elder Downey had several well publicized issues with drug addiction in the 1990s. He went through treatment a number of times including a year in the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison before finally getting clean in 2001.
Indio Downey is the son of Downey and his first wife Deborah Falconer. Downey and Falconer divorced in 2004 after almost 12 years of marriage.
2014 FIFA World Cup USA vs. Belgium preview
Clint Dempsey and the US will be looking to upset Belgium Tuesday. (Getty Images)
USA vs. Belgium Kickoff 7/1 4 p.m. ET Stadium Fonte Nova Salvador
Match Preview The United States will have the opportunity Tuesday to move into the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time since 2002 and just the third time in history.
There's two ways the Round of 16 match against Belgium can be viewed. First the US was able to somehow navigate the so called Group of Death something few gave them much of a chance of doing. At this point really they're playing with the house's money. Any success however minor beyond the group stage is cause for celebration.
On the other hand Belgium is a team the United States can beat.
Of course this latter stance takes some qualifying. Belgium is teeming with professional talent their roster features 12 players from the English Premier League and they've yet to lose while in Brazil. Plus in a friendly last year the Belgians smoked the Americans 4 2.
Certainly there's plenty working against the US especially in terms of overall talent. But there are some positives. Belgium is banged up especially in the defensive third where they may be without standout and captain Vincent Kompany among others. The Americans got a bit of good news Monday on their own injury front when it was announced that striker Jozy Altidore will be available for the game. Possibly having Altidore with Dempsey up front greatly improves the American attack which looked quite weak against Germany.
And while Belgium still boasts an advantage they haven't looked like the powerful cohesive unit that was expected of them. But they've taken care of business winning every game so far this World Cup.
When it comes down to it Belgium should win Tuesday. They have the superior side and the US defense has been shaky and their possession quite weak. But it's certainly not a given.
This is a Belgium team that has looked shaky and vulnerable itself and someone will take them down. It just may not be the Americans.
More World Cup Scoreboard Schedule World Cup Bracket U.S. Team news
Zendayas Reason For Leaving Aaliyah Biopic
If her family doesn t watch it they ll ruin her career. Lifetime isn t anymore low budget then the Disney stuff she does. Sometimes you have to take the low budget stuff to get people to pay attention. That is the reason she did DWTS. I m not saying DWTS is low budget just that she did it to try and further her career. She got more visibility but not much else. Her Shake It Up co star has already done her first box office movie. Zendaya being a woman of color will have to work much harder and smarter to secure good roles. If she felt the script and other things weren t there then she made the right choice for her. Actors parents have ruined many a career. Hopefully they have a great relationship and good communication. I wish her luck.
Share this comment atViolent storms possible derecho could strike Chicago region this evening
UPDATE 4 45 p.m. ET (3 45 p.m. CT) The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation Severe Thunderstorm Watch for southeast Wisconsin northeast Illinois northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan until 9 p.m. central. This includes Chicago and Milwaukee.
Widespread damaging winds to 80 mph large hail and one or two tornadoes are possible in this area. SPC says the thunderstorm system is producing a derecho in eastern Iowa which is expected to sweep through this region around between roughly 6 and 9 p.m. central. Significant numbers of downed trees and power outages are likely to occur.
Area under particularly dangerous situation watch outlined in blue. Radar view shown captured at 3 35 p.m. CT
Original post from 3 10 p.m. ET (2 10 p.m. CT) A complex of thunderstorms erupting over Iowa this afternoon may consolidate into a powerful squall line or derecho that rips through the Upper Midwest this evening.
Storm over Iowa as of 1 45 p.m. ET (NASA)
The National Weather Service s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) forecasts has highlighted a broad region as having a 45 percent chance of experiencing destructive winds (within 25 miles of any point) over 70 mph. Des Moines Madison Milwaukee and Chicago all lie within this zone of elevated risk which affects almost 19 million people.
Risk of damaging winds. Hatched area indicates elevated likelihood of destructive winds over 70 mph. (NWS SPC)
Numerous severe thunderstorms capable of large hail tornadoes and swaths of damaging wind are expected today into tonight over much of the Corn Belt and Midwest SPC says.
Already thunderstorms have exploded over portions of Nebraska and Iowa today with multiple reports of damaging winds and hail. A tornado touched down in northeast Nebraska not far from Pilger where twin tornadoes struck two weeks ago.
One tornado watch covers a large chunk of Iowa and western Nebraska until 6 p.m. central time. A second tornado watch covers eastern Iowa northwest Illinois and southern Wisconsin until 7 p.m. central.
As the storms exit the Corn Belt the amount of spin in the atmosphere decreases lowering the tornado risk some into Illinois and Wisconsin. But strong high altitude winds will continue energizing the complex as it heads east.
A concern is that these thunderstorms will evolve into a derecho a rapidly moving storm complex featuring damaging winds along at least a 240 mile path.
The flow pattern does support this line of convection that arrives across far western/northwestern Illinois to morph into a bowing segment and possibly transition into a derecho type event writes the National Weather Service Forecast Office serving Chicago.
(National Weather Service)
The line of storms could arrive in the Chicago and Milwaukee region between approximately 7 and 10 p.m. tonight (local time). After it crosses Lake Michigan models generally dissipate the complex.
You can track the storms by following these links
High Plains regional radarGreat Lakes regional radarLatest storm watches (severe thunderstorm and/or tornado)Latest severe thunderstorm warningsLatest tornado warnings
Supreme Court Rejects Contraceptives Mandate for Some Corporations
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Dutch Mount Dramatic Rally With Theatrical Fall
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Botched Season 1 Episode 2 Recap Did Janice Dickinson Break Her Sobriety ...
If you haven t been tuning into Botched (aka the latest reality show from Real Housewives stars Paul Nassif and Terry Dubrow) you re sorely missing out. The renowned plastic surgeons are taking on cases that many doctors would deem unfixable in hopes of giving their patients one last chance to live a normal life.
If for some reason you haven t been watching (or got too caught up in True Blood to tune into this real life drama) we re here to recap all the greatest moments from Season 1 Episode 2. And make sure to watch our exclusive after show (video below) for inside scoop from Dr. Nassif himself
Janice Dickinson aka The World s First Supermodel No stranger to plastic surgery Janice has had a facelift browlift breast augmentation tummy tuck and fillers. I m perfect she explains perfect that is except for her breasts. PROBLEM Breast implant revision CONSULTATION Nassif and Dubrow decide to take on the case SURGERY Janice feels an overwhelming sense of nervousness before the procedure which is amplified by the fact that she can t take the kind of anxiety drugs she would have in the past. Once the surgery begins Terry finds that the implants are gooey from a micro rupture. The most alarming discovery though are two large masses that could potentially be cancerous. POST SURGERY At Janice s check in it s clear she s having a hard time managing the post op pain. Terry walks in the room to find that she s totally out of it and has removed her own dressing and drain which could lead to a serious infection. Janice starts to cry about the pain and demands to be prescribed the same medication she received at the hospital. This is classic drug seeking behavior Terry reveals. I have two major fears with Janice. One that her narcotic use is going to be out of control and she s going to be found dead in her bed. And two she s going to contaminate her wounds so much that she s going to develop an infection. There is one good piece of news however. The lumps that Terry found weren t cancer but merely her body s reaction to the rupture.OUTCOME
Janice returns for another check in where she reveals she has no recollection of the last week. She s also worried that she may have broken her sobriety without knowing it. That said she s in a much better place and her breasts are healing nicely. Six weeks later she s ready to show off her final results at a photoshoot for her skincare line. She s so happy with her new boobs she can t resist taking off her clothes and frolicking naked around the room. (Good to know that some things never change )Cheryl PROBLEM Reversal of Westernized eyes CONSULTATION Nassif and Dubrow decide to pass on the case Paul Levin Paul had his nose broken twice growing up which resulted in it being slightly crooked with a bump on the bridge. PROBLEM Nose job revision CONSULTATION Nassif and Dubrow decide to take on the case SURGERY Paul arrives for surgery with his pregnant wife who s about to go to her own doctor s appointment to learn the sex of their baby. Wanting to know if it s a boy or a girl is totally getting me through this day Paul says. Following a successful procedure his wife returns with the good news they re having a boy Dr. Nassif we re naming our boy after you Paul says through a haze of medication. (Clearly not all that flattering given that both of their names are Paul.) POST SURGERY It s finally time for Paul to get the cast off his nose. He looks in the mirror and finally sees the straight bump free nose he wanted all along.OUTCOME
Thanks to Dr. Nassif I really am able to be the dad that I wanted to be Paul later says. I haven t had a single migraine and now I m loving every day that I get to spend with my family. REALSELF HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK There were plenty of amazing moments in this week s episode but one in particular really made us laugh. As Terry talks about the age of Janice s implants he can t resist throwing in a little joke. When you get your breasts done you re really supposed to have them replaced every 10 to 15 years. These implants being from the 70s who knows We might take them out put them on the table and there might still be streaks of cocaine still on themWatch Botched on E on Sunday nights at 10 PM ET/PT following the Kardashians.
To find out more about Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Nassif at spaldingplasticsurgery.com drpaulnassif.com and rhinoplastyspecialist.com.
Bucks agree with Nets for Jason Kidd
Brooklyn Nets will get two second round picks as Jason Kidd moves on to coach the Milwaukee Bucks.(Photo Brad Penner USA TODAY Sports)
The Milwaukee Bucks have reached an agreement with the Brooklyn Nets to make Jason Kidd their next coach three people with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports.The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced.
The Nets will receive two second round draft picks in the deal the first coming in 2015 and the second coming in 2019.
The Bucks in turn got a new coach even before formally dismissing their current one Larry Drew after the bizarre turn of events that unfolded on Saturday night.
The Bucks officially fired Drew Monday.
USATODAY
Jason Kidd power move shows Bucks owners' inexperience
After transitioning from his decorated playing career into coaching and leading the Nets to a second round playoff loss against the Miami Heat that fell way short of ownership's title aspirations Kidd pushed for a promotion that would have put him above general manager Billy King in the basketball operations department while also keeping him as coach.
It's clear now that Kidd's unhappiness with his pay played a part as Kidd who signed a four year $10.5 million last summer saw Steve Kerr (the Golden State Warriors) and Derek Fisher (the New York Knicks) getting enormous deals as first year coaches (both at five years $25 million) and decided he deserved more as well.
But Nets ownership declined his request for the promotion one that Nets officials believe was made after he already knew he had a job in hand with the Bucks. The opportunity on that front was rooted in his relationship with new Bucks owner Marc Lasry a former Nets minority owner who is known to be close with Kidd. In the end Kidd will likely get the sort of deal he wants as he is expected to cut an entirely new contract with the Bucks.
What's more there is serious skepticism among the involved parties that Kidd's title as coach only will remain for too long. The Bucks have a general manager in John Hammond who was given a three year extension last summer but it will hardly be a surprise if he is eventually able to procure a prominent voice in the team's front office.
As USA TODAY Sports reported on Sunday former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins is considered the frontrunner to replace Kidd. With an aging roster and such a seemingly short window of time with which to contend Brooklyn is expected to opt for a veteran coach. ESPN.com first reported that the deal was done between the Bucks and the Nets.
France vs Nigeria as it happened
19.10 I like Pogba's 'who me ' pointing to himself as the ball sails towards the net.
19.00 France are heading to the Maracana on Friday night to play either Germany or Algeria. They get through the group they go to the semis at least. If they start with Griezmann instead of Giroud they have a shout of getting there again.
Full time France closed it out in the last 11 minutes having been tested all the way by Nigeria before that. It had been an even game till then in terms of pressure and breaks one that was kept interesting by such poor finishing. The introduction of Griezmann changed the momentum pushing Benzema through the middle and Valbuena growing more and more influential. For this young Nigeria side though there is abundant promise in Omeruo Oshaniwa Onazi and Musa. The Twitterati were promoting Victor Enyeama for the Golden Gloves award. How premature that proved.
GOAL France 2 0 Nigeria (Yobo 90og) The corner was ridiculously conceded by Odemwingie's poor control. Nigeria are preoccupied with the need for an equaliser so when Valbuena takes it short and then hurtles to the edge of the box to tap a cross to Griezmann Nigeria react too late. Griezmann attempts to turn a shot towards goal misses the ball and Yobo's momentum scrambling back late carries it over the line off his shin.
89 min There will be five minutes added on.
87 min Matuidi Cabaye and Pogba are attempting to take joint possession of the ball for the final minutes until Gabriel has enough and pushes Cabaye over. France take the free kick to Griezman up the right and he earns a corner with his positioning and control.
85 min Here comes Griezmann again after Nigeria waste yet another corner they were awarded when they had a meagre penalty claim Moses's shot hitting Debuchy's arm from close range and going behind. The corner curves outwards and France break in numbers until Griezmann's ball through is dealt with astutely by Oshaniwa.
83 min With Nigeria committing men forward Griezmann's clever run up the left exploits the space thoygh it took an excellent left footed 40m pass from Pogba to find him. He shoots across goal aiming for the top far corner and Enyeama dives to save and push it away from danger.
81 min Enyeama came out for the cross got caught with defenders and attacking headers massed around him and flicked it with his fingers straight into Pogba's pass whose header was the equivalent of a tap in into an unguarded net.
GOAL France 1 0 Nigeria (Pogba 79) Valbuena almost has three assists in as many minutes his raking free kick headed powerfully by Benzema and Enyeama diving backwards tips over. From the corner Valbuena finally gets his assist as does Enyeama who fingertips it backwards to the far post and Pogba nods it high into the goal.
78 min Valbuena's corner flies to Benzema at the back stick. He shoots low across goal and Omeruo hacks it clear with Enyeama beaten. The ball comes back out to the right of the box and Cabaye lashes a stonking shot against the underside of the bar and out.
76 min Matuidi and Pogba rob Gabriel and push the ball out to the left where Griezmann crosses findinga delightful shape as it arcs away from Enyeama who has to punch away for a corner. Koscielny heads from the corner and Nigeria save themselves by blocking it out for another.
74 min Vital interception from Debuchy as the ball was tonked towards Emenike who had drifted over to the left behind the right back.
72 min Griezmann has such good feet. Very comfortable in possession and in tight spaces. Benzema now shoots from outside the box on the left dragging it wide.
69 min Enyeama gets enough on Benzema's scuffed shot to stop it bouncing over the line after he made an opening on the left of the box with a lovely one two the delightful pass from Griezmann putting Benzema one on one with the keeper about 8m out. He shot low Enyeama though it went under him depowered it with his body and Moses cleared it off the line.
66 min Oshaniwa bails Nigeria out after a wondeful cross from Valbuena from right by the corner flag. It looked as if it actually curled out of play which may have dragged Enyeam out of position. he could only tip it backwards and it took a flying volley from Oshaniwa to stop it dropping to Benzema to shoot.
64 min France are enduring a pahse when they keep messing up the final ball and here they almost go behind because Matuidi concedes possession with a lazy forced pass with his left foot straight to Gabriel who knocks it forward quickly through Musa and Odemwingie shoots low and hard through the legs of Varane and Evra with his left foot. Hugo Lloris the heir of Joel Bats gets down quickly to block with his arms.
63 min France sub Giroud goes off for Griezmann.
61 min Nigeria hold possession for a good minute sending the ball from the left wing via their left back across the centre halfs and up the right until Ambrose chances a cross from deep and the ball is cleared by Varane.
59 min Gabriel eventually comes on for Onazi only after France had broken again up the right. This is a game of the right. Something of the right about it as both sides are lopsided in their attacking strategies overloading the left backs. Debuchy's shot at the end of that thrust was tame though.
58 min Nigeria persevere with 10 men having second thoughts about Azeez who puts his shirt on and jogs by the touchline and then is told to sit down.
55 min Onazi heads down the tunnel on a stretcher. Nigeria have a throw on the right level with the penalty spot. Ambrose Delaps it in but Koscielny heads behind for a corner which goes to the edge of the box and Giroud clears.
54 min Filthy tackle from Matuidi almost amputates Onazi's ankle and foot. He 'had eyes only for the ball' is the commentator's cop out. He was booked but it could have been red all six studs going over the ball and planting themselves forcefully into Onazi's ankle. Matuidi apologisesa nd looks remorseful but that's the end of Onazi.
52 min Moses and Ambrose are making headway up the right Ambrose curling a superb cross in to Emenike in the six yard box who was offside but Varane had tracked him and put his head in the way of the header jarring his neck and stinging his cheek with his block.
51 min The word gingerly was invented for the way Oshaniwa is testing his knee after coming back on.
49 min Omeruo has to be alert and stops Musa's progress after Mikel amusement arcaded Pogba nutmegging him twice to free Oshaniwa wide on the left. He ended up on the floor when he hit his knee against the tackler's knee and Pogba shuttled the ball forward forcing Omeruo to clean up.
47 min Good run from Moses after a lovely pass from Odemwingie up the right. With France retreating nervously Moses gets past Evra but his firm cross doesn't get past Koscielny.
46 min We resume and France go straight up the middle Benzema the more central of the three rolling the pass out to Goroud on the left but he spears a cross beyond the far post.
17.58 Most of the half time talk centres on the wasteful deployment of Karim Benzema on the left. The consensus is that Griezmann should come on Benzema move up the middle and Giroud should take his haircut off for a sit down.
Here is Emenike slotting the ball into the net. The goal was disallowed but replays suggest he was at the least level.
Half time The BBC panel thinks France's greater quality is beginning to tell. I'm not sure that they are. Matuidi would be running the game but Pogba is taking too many risks and giving up the ball really cheaply and Mikel and Onazi are combatting them with determination and dedication.
45 2 min Onazi sticks out a leg to try to stop Valbuena's run through the centre right about 30m out. The free kick is arrowed to the far post to Koscielny but as he leaps to head it back across goal in a challenge with Enyama he is penalised for backing in harshly and the ref blows for half time before the Nigeria free kick can be taken.
45 min Evra for the second time in a couple of minutes instigates an attack with a years defying burst up the left stopped by Moses and Ambrose.
43 min Mikel is playing very well going forward underlining again that his club have persistently played him in the wrong position slickly laying off a probing pass for Emenike to run on to and shoot at Lloris who pushes it out with firm hands.
41 min Moses asks for a foul when he falls after going up to head with Matuidi in the centre. The ref's not having it waves play on and Benzema takes it towards the corner flag where Nigeria outnumber him.
38 min Another powerful break from Matuidi leaves Mikel gasping for air. Matuidi must have five lungs. He draws Omeruo out to try to stop him making a gap for the supporting Debuchy to shoot through but it's a right back's shot. A Newcastle United's right back of a shot trickling wide.
36 min It's alarmingly open at times with the defensive frailties that have made this tournament such a goal glut very eveident. Varane though is awake cutting out a long low diagonal cross from Oshaniwa booting it out for a corner. That's the best way of stopping a Nigeria attack. Give them a corner. Having said that the referee spots Evra as the cross from teh corner comes in with both arms wrapped around Odemwingie's chest as if they were doing a sky dive together. Instead of giving a penalty though he tells him not to do it again.
Fungai Chigumbura writes
France are looking good on either side of the pitch.Nigeria need to tighten that defence and Giroud needs a new hair stylist.And er...Victor Moses OK then
33 min Mikel is mugged because he seemed to lack a sense of danger letting Pogba rob him and take two strides towards the box. The pass he chips out to Valbuena is a decent idea but the cross is no good the box crowded and when Pogba tries to play it on the floor through the middle Giroud is caught offside.
31 min Off goes Matuidi on a run up the left Pogba holding and letting his central partner go. He has quick feet and some engine but Ambrose and Yobo squeeze out his space and leave him looking for a shin deflector cross to win a corner.
29 min Ambrose links up with Mikel this time as they raid up the right. They're confident that this route is the one to unhinge France Benzema not tracking back to help Evra and Odemwingie joining in to overload the full back. Ambrose's cross is hoicked out for a corner which Musa again drives low at the near post marker and Koscielny heads up for Lloris to catch.
27 min It was a good save from Enyeama but I'm not sure it was quite as good as Twitter seems to be suggesting. He batted it away very proficiently but it wasn't an Ochoa style miracle.
25 min Ambrose and Moses combine promisingly up the right for Moses to cross winning another corner that Musa wastes. That's the fourth or fifth he's taken and failed to clear the front post guards.
23 min Now Nigeria break up their right looking for the cross to Odemwingie and again the final ball lets them down.
21 min Excellent move from France Pogba driving down the inside right channel from halfway opening his body and spraying a pass into Valbuena's stride. His first time cross finds Pogba just inside the box and he met it on the volley shooting firmly Enyeama saving well with both hands. It was straight enough but had some power and a little swerve.
18 min Emenike puts the ball in the net a stabbed shot from just inside the six yard box after a clever threaded cross bending behind the centre halfs from Musa but Evra had timed his run out perfectly springing the trap and catching the No9.
17 min Nigeria free kick scooped over from 20m by Emenike after the ball was tapped across the D to him.
15 min Onazi trots back on after France waste the opportunity to play in Valbuena who was free with a clear sight on goal on the edge of the box choosing instead to drive to the left and get bogged down by numbers in the box Giroud shooting over when closed down.
13 min Onazi is down injured after Pogba tackled him and he jarred his knee. He has been stretchered off in the break before Nigeria take a free kick wide on the left about 5m from the goal line. Odemwingie takes it to the back post but the header from Mikel is weak and back across goal.
11 min Nigeria have begun well Emenike and Onazi carving out a shooting chance on the edge of the box that is deflected off Varane.
9 min Omeruo steps up to block Pogba's dribble up the inside right channel and though France win it back Benzema gives it away cheaply and Nigeria attack through the centre but Cabaye sitting deep reinforces the beckpedalling Koscielny and stops the move.
7 min Debuchy and Valbuena are trying to run Oshaniwa into the ground but so far Musa is being diligent refusing to allow the two France right siders to beast the full back dropping back and snapping at Debuchy.
6 min Moses stretches his legs down the left but doesn't take Debuchy on cutting inside instead and through Ambrose and Mikel switching play. Ambros crosses deep but Odemwingie can't get up to head it powerfully the apex of his leap and the trajectory of the ball not making the perfect match.
4 min Nigeria corner taken by Musa aiming for Yobo but the first defender deals with it easily and though Nigeria have a chance to recycle and play the ball back in France get the ball and break quickly through Matiuidi motoring down the field and almost gets a drag back to Goroud that Yobo reads and quells.
2 min Low flat cross by Debuchy across the edge of the box after decent work from Pogba and Matuidi to open up the space to play in the overlapping right back. The ball is aimed towards Benzema who is lurking menacingly. He lurks very well but Oshaniwa intercepts and clears.
1 min The ball is played back to Enyeama who takes it relatively short and Valbuena goes storming up the right but Musa tracks him back and stops his progress.
16.59 Waiting for the signal. And we're off.
16.58 France's white kit is the second best kit at the World Cup. That's as far as my bias extends. Kit partisanship.
16.55 Songs are being sung.
16.50 It's nearly that time. More appropriate for the possible quarter final but that would be too obvious.
16.45 Rio Ferdinand is lamenting Paul Pogba's departure from Manchester United. 'A big mistake on Man United's part. I don't know if he's going to be the best player in the world but he's going to be the best midfielder.'
16.40 Twitter is awash with people simply posting FRA FRA FRA FRA or NGA NGA NGA NGA. Isn't that enlightening.
16.35 It's fair to say that France have already won the World Cup ... for style. Those shades are a darker shade of blue than the ideal tricolor bleu but even so no one else comes close.
16.33 Did you enjoy Greece last night. For eighty odd minutes they reminded me of Muhammad Ali's impression of George Foreman as a mummy. And yet what tenacity what spirit. Unkillable till the moment they were killed.
16.25 Here's a question for you. All the abuse directed at Arjen Robben for diving yesterday has piqued my interest in the most significant details. It should be pronounced 'Archen' n'est ce pas
16.10 The official team announcement has been made and they are as the leaks suggested
France (4 1 2 3) Lloris Debuchy Varane Koscielny Evra Cabaye Valbuena Matuidi Pogba Benzema Giroud.
Nigeria (4 2 3 1) Enyeama Ambrose Yobo Omeruo Oshaniwa Mikel Onazi Musa Odemwingie Moses Emenike.
Referee Mark Geiger (United States)
16.00 Since we were talkingabout history earlier Nigeria's first of two previous round of 16 appearances in 1994 at the Foxboro Stadium was a dramatic game Italy winning in extra time with Roberto Baggio's second goal having equalised only in the 89th minute. Rashidi Yekini had the cjhance to give Nigeria the lead in the first half of extra time before Antonio Benarrivo was brought down by Augustine Eguavoen in the box and the Ponytail scored from the spot.
The second appearance the 4 1 defeat by Denmark in 1998 is too sensitive a subject to dwell on.
15.50 France will line up Lloris Debuchy Varane Koscielny Evra Cabaye Pogba Matuidi Valbuena Giroud Benzema.
15.42 According to L'Equipe Mahmadou Sakho has failed a fitness test and Laurent Koscielny will start alongside 'the wonderful Varane '.
15.38 I'm not sure I agree with the probable teams as listed below. Surely Nigeria will start with Ahmed Musa either on the left or right. I know it's Ramadan and he will be fasting but even so the way he cut Pablo Zabaleta a new one during the Argentina game demands that he starts. We seem to have a France player missing too. They won't be playing 4 1 4 1 for a start and we seem to have omitted Blaise Matuidi. I'd like to see Antoine Griezmann start but will settle for an appearance off the bench.
15.30 Good afternoon. Boom and bust a familiar term for most UK residents over the past 50 years supposedly killed by Prudence who gave a kiss of life to the British economy and led us to the broad sunlit uplands of the kingdom of hubris. Little bit of politics for you there as Ben Elton used to say. And for France and the World Cup (can you hear the gears crunching in this segue ) boom and bust has also been the dominant theme Espana 82 semi finalists Mexico 86 semi finalists Italia 90 DNQ USA 94 DNQ France 98 winners. Japan/Korea 2002 group stage humiliation Germany 2006 runners up South Africa 2010 group stage humiliation/civil war/rats in a bag/ill omened horoscopes.
So the history of the past eight tournaments tells us if they get there and get out of the group they go deep to the semi finals or beyond. This side has been such a pleasure to watch seemingly devoid of the burden of destiny that gnawed at the 98 team the petty squabbles and complacency of 2002 the messianic sense of vindication of the 2006 team and the preposterously entitled and quarrelsome 2010 team led by a man whose character skill and insecurity did not equip him to be a unifying force. That's a roundabout way of saying there is something genuinely likeable about this France team something fresh and engaging. Whether they will make the semi finals by overcoming an improving Nigeria with lethal counter attacking strength and with Germany likely to be this afternoon's winners' next opponents is another thing entirely.
15.00 Here's how we expect the teams to line up. Confirmation shortly
France (Possible 4 1 4 1) Lloris Debuchy Varane Sakho Evra Cabaye Valbuena Pogba Benzema Giroud.
Nigeria (Possible 4 4 2) Enyeama Ambrose Oboabona Omerou Oshaniwa Mikel Onazi Azeez Moses Odemwingie Emenike.
Referee Mark Geiger (USA).
Estadio Nacional Brasilia
Howdy folks Rob Bagchi will have all the pre match build up and live action for you shortly for the latest World Cup round of 16 match so do join him then and read this match preview while you wait
Didier Deschamps is concerned his France players will not be able to cope with the sweltering heat of Brasilia in Monday's second round match against Nigeria.
In a World Cup dominated by South American teams France have been one of the few European success stories so far.
Deschamps' men topped Group E with two wins and a draw scoring eight goals in the process.
The French were helped by the fact that all their group matches took place either at 16 00 or 17 00 local time.
But that will not be the case on Monday when they take on Nigeria in the Brazilian capital where the temperature is expected to hit 30 degrees Celsius.
Deschamps has changed his squad's eating patterns they had a lunch of pasta and fish at 9 30 on Sunday morning to try to help them be ready for the early kick off but he is still a concerned man ahead of the match.
Yes the heat worries me said the France coach.
Nigerians are naturally more adapted to heat. The match is at a different time so over the last three days we have been trying to adapt to this schedule by changing our food.
You need to manage these problems. Yesterday we saw the Brazilians and Chileans after their (early) match finished and they were very tired.
Four years ago France's World Cup campaign descended into farce when the players refused to train the day after Nicolas Anelka was kicked out of the squad over a row with former coach Raymond Domenech.
Deschamps who took over from Domenech's successor Laurent Blanc two years ago is happy that his team have made it through to the last 16 without any commotion.
I'm proud of what the players have achieved he said. We need to appreciate this moment.
This is a very difficult World Cup. Some big nations have already been eliminated but we're still here.
Mamadou Sakho who suffered a hamstring strain in the 0 0 draw against Ecuador four days ago is France's only fitness concern ahead of the match.
He only ran in training on Saturday Deschamps said of the Liverpool defender. I'll see on Sunday night if he is available.
Nigeria scraped through to the knockout stages of the competition for the first time since 1998 on Wednesday despite the efforts of Lionel Messi who condemned the Super Eagles to defeat with two well taken goals.
Like Messi France forward Karim Benzema has been on hot form at this tournament scoring three goals and providing two assists.
But Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo who won his 100th cap against Argentina sees no reason to be scared of the Real Madrid front man.
We've just played against the best forward in the world so we're ready to measure ourselves against anybody the former Everton and Norwich defender said.
I don't see what we should be afraid of. I believe in this team and I think we can do it.
And here is John Ley's match preview and team news.
In Hobby Lobby Case the Supreme Court Chooses Religion Over Science
A protester in front of the US Supreme Court Miguel Juarez Lugo/ZUMA
On Monday the Supreme Court ruled that most private companies are not required to provide contraceptive coverage to their employees as mandated by Obamacare. Four years after the high court ruled that corporations have free speech rights in its controversial Citizens United decision the decision gives broad new privileges to corporations granting them religious rights for the first time.
The decision in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. the most closely watched case of the year says that certain companies those with more than half of their stock owned by fewer than five people do not have to adhere to the Obamacare mandate that employee insurance plans cover birth control if the owners have a religious objection. This 5 4 ruling applies to about 90 percent of all American businesses and 52 percent of America's workforce.
The majority decision written by Justice Samuel Alito held that if Hobby Lobby's owners believe that the contraceptives at issue cause abortions the mandate is a burden on their religious beliefs W e must decide whether the challenged regulations substantially burden the exercise of religion and we hold that they do Alito wrote. The owners of the businesses have religious objections to abortion and according to their religious beliefs the four contraceptive methods at issue are abortifacients.
Alito and the four other conservative justices on the court were essentially overruling not just an Obamacare regulation but science. According to the Food and Drug Administration all four of the contraceptive methods Hobby Lobby objects to Plan B Ella and two intrauterine devices do not prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterus which the owners of Hobby Lobby consider abortion. Instead these methods prevent fertilization.
Yet this scientific determination did not guide the five justices. In his opinion Alito contends that these four contraception methods may have the effect of preventing an already fertilized egg from developing any further by inhibiting its attachment to the uterus. He does not cite any science to back this up. Instead in a footnote Alito concedes that Hobby Lobby's religious based assertions are contradicted by science based federal regulations The owners of the companies involved in these cases and others who believe that life begins at conception regard these four methods as causing abortions but federal regulations which define pregnancy as beginning at implantation do not so classify them. Still he and the other conservative justices are saying that in a conflict between a religious view and scientific research religion wins.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in a stinging dissent called the majority opinion a decision of startling breadth.
The exemption from Obamacare's contraception mandate does not apply to other types of medical procedures that might draw religious objections including blood transfusions or vaccinations. The majority ruled that the government can pay for contraception for women whose employers object noting that the government already does so in cases involving religious institutions and religiously affiliated nonprofits.
Here's more background on the case
What did Hobby Lobby argue is unconstitutional about Obamacare Hobby Lobby a private for profit chain of arts and crafts stores is owned by the billionaire Green family who are evangelical Christians. The Greens say they have a moral objection to 4 of the 20 FDA approved birth control methods covered by Obamacare. They believe these contraceptives cause abortions (even though they don't) and they requested the government grant Hobby Lobby a religious exemption to Obamacare's requirement that company insurance plans fully cover contraception.
(The ruling in the Hobby Lobby case was issued jointly with a similar case called Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Sebelius which was brought by a private cabinet making company that wants to be exempt from covering Plan B and Ella but not IUDs. Dozens of companies claim religious objections to covering birth control.)
What exactly did the Supreme Court have to decide Under a 1993 law called the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) Americans are not required to follow federal laws that substantially burden religious exercise unless the government has a compelling interest at stake that outweighs that individual burden.
In 2012 Hobby Lobby sued Kathleen Sebelius then the head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) arguing that Obamacare's contraception mandate placed a substantial burden on the firm because if the company chooses not to cover the birth control methods it finds objectionable then it would have to pay a penalty of $100 per per day for each of its 13 000 employees.
The Supreme Court had to decide whether the RFRA applies not only to people but to private commercial enterprises a determination no court has ever made. And if Hobby Lobby was significantly burdened by the contraception mandate.
This corporate personhood thing sounds familiar. Does this case have anything to do with Citizens United In 2010 the Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that corporate political spending is speech protected by the First Amendment. This decision opened the door to the legal argument that corporations may also have religious rights under the Constitution. The court's Monday ruling in Hobby Lobby takes corporate personhood to a whole new level.
How does this affect me A pro Hobby Lobby ruling could have endangered not only Obamacare but labor rights gay rights and women's rights. Here's what actually happened
1. Access to contraception Women's health advocates worried that a pro Hobby Lobby ruling would have jeopardized access to affordable birth control for millions of women who work at private companies with religious owners forcing those women purchase certain contraception on their own. But since the court noted that the government can provide a workaround there may end up being no gap in birth control coverage.
2. Access to other health benefits under Obamacare The ruling could have endangered other provisions of the health care law. A company run by Jehovah's Witnesses could have objected to covering blood transfusions. A business helmed by devout Christian Scientists might not want to cover vaccinations. Scientology believing employers could insist on noncoverage of its nemesis psychiatry the Reverend Barry Lynn the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State told Forbes. And so on. But Alito made clear that the exemption granted in Monday's decision applies only to contraception.
3. Workers' rights Observers worried that if the religion of a private company's owner could dictate the health plans offered other companies would have been free to argue they have the right to cite religious views of the owners and fire an employee for being single and pregnant or for having an abortion. Corporations with fundamentalist owners of any religion might object to paying women as much as men. Fundamentalist Muslim owned companies could force female employees to wear burkas. Private companies might be able to legally deny employment to LGBT people. But the Supreme Court made clear that employers should not be able to use this decision to discriminate under the guise of religion.
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