m'love

m'love Is the MMA world going to turn its back on Conor McGregor now, What would the cost to Jon Jones’ legacy be And who are the best of the rest who never fought in the UFC? All that and more in this week’s mailbag. To ask a question of your own, hit up or . @njinformer.bsky.social: Are we done with McGregor now? A few of his business associates sure seem to be. After being , he and had his various beverages basically , leading to the owner of his Proper 12 whiskey announcing that it would cut him out of the marketing and branding aspect entirely. That’s remarkable, since the branding/marketing aspect was the thing the whiskey had going for it. Clearly, the Conor McGregor brand has become a toxic one ... outside of combat sports. Does that mean the UFC wouldn’t still gladly welcome him back in 2025? I doubt it. I think if he ever did get in shape to fight and stayed that way long enough to make it to the cage, then the UFC would eagerly throw him in there and count the money without ever mentioning any of this. But you can’t invite McGregor to your party anymore without at least facing some questions about it. UFC CEO Dana White just told us that one reason he didn’t want to do business with Francis Ngannou So what about McGregor? Is he a good guy? Because they just had an entire trial in Ireland that concluded he is not, and his response since then has been to double down on social media in a way that isn’t going to win anyone over. The last six years or so of this man’s career have been marked by lopsided defeats inside the cage and disgusting behavior outside of it. The longest section of his Wikipedia page now is the one labeled “controversies,” and it includes no fewer than three sexual assault allegations, one of which has just been proven in court. Who wants to cheer for that guy now? Who wants to actively put money in his pocket by purchasing a pay-per-view he’s on? I have no doubt that the answer to both those questions is "some MMA fans." But in order for me to retain any faith in humanity, I have to think it’s fewer people now than it was before. All this talk of HW goat & HW legends has me glaring at the giant hole left in the absence of mentioning Fedor, who many modern fans may not know. Could you give us a personal top 5 favorite fighters who never signed with the UFC, but left an impact on the sport none the less? — Now Boarding Flight 209 (@jmprobus) @jmprobus: All this talk of HW goat & HW legends has me glaring at the giant hole left in the absence of mentioning Fedor, who many modern fans may not know. Could you give us a personal top 5 favorite fighters who never signed with the UFC, but left an impact on the sport none the less? Fedor Emelianenko would have to be at the very top of that list. It’s true that he fought in a different era, especially for the heavyweight division. It’s also true that he failed to evolve late in his career as the competition wised up and his body slowed down. Still, he beat everybody there was to beat in PRIDE FC back when it had the superior heavyweight class overall. The UFC was just doing Tim Sylvia vs. Andrei Arlovski on an endless loop back then, and once they became free agents Fedor smoked them both in the first round. As for other fighters who make my list, I’d add Shinya Aoki, Igor Vovchanchyn, and (at least for the moment) Patricio Pitbull. How big a "Ya'll must've forgott" was Yan at the weekend in the all time rankings or was it simply his loses were overblown? Side note what is your favouite of these — Conor (@NeedXtoseePosts) @NeedXtoseePosts: How big a "Ya'll must've forgott" was Yan at the weekend in the all time rankings or was it simply his loses were overblown? Side note what is your favourite of these That was a . Shutting out a former champ like Deiveson Figueiredo on the scorecards goes a long way toward proving that Yan still has some arrows left in the quiver. It also helps remind people that while his three straight losses look bad on paper, they’re not so awful once you take a closer look. The first was that illegal knee on Aljamain Sterling. Then a split decision loss to Sean O’Malley that probably could have gone either way. Lastly a decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili, the current champ, who did the same thing to Yan that he’s done to basically everyone else. As for where it ranks, somewhere below Dominick Cruz’s triumphant return against Takeya Mizugaki (which also happens to be my favorite). One thing I wonder about, though, is whether the timing and location of the win will limit the boost Yan gets from it. This was the main event of a UFC Fight Night event from Macau, airing in North America in the early hours of a Saturday morning. A lot of people probably didn’t even know it was on. Some will circle back to watch it, but others won’t. And if a tree falls in the forest at six in the morning with only a few people around to hear it... What up-and-coming combat sports promotion do you guys think has the best shot at making it big time? — Amy Kaplan (@PhotoAmy33) @PhotoAmy33: What up-and-coming combat sports promotion do you guys think has the best shot at making it big time? A lot depends on what we consider “big time,” . (Though the BKFC also has a strong McGregor tie, so it’ll be interesting to see how it handles that.) In general, I’m surprised and impressed with bare-knuckle boxing’s staying power so far. It seems to exist right in this sweet spot among the combat sports fan Venn diagram where it can draw in the UFC’s fans without competing against the UFC, while also attracting a few stray boxing or pro wrestling fans in addition to online weirdos who just want to see human carnage. @stefansommer.bsky.social: If the UFC were to ever move away from the PPV model, how do you think that would affect things like Champions getting rewarded with PPV points? Aside from the prestige of holding that belt, how could the UFC incentivize athletes to reach for the top without the financial carrot on the stick? We have to at least consider the possibility that the UFC would do the same thing with pay-per-view points as it did with sponsorships. Newer fans may not realize it, but that used to be a huge part of the financial picture for fighters. Many made more from fight night sponsorships than they did from their UFC pay. Remember those banners they’d unfurl behind fighters? Remember the shorts and hats and T-shirts that they’d wrestle back onto their sweaty bodies in time for the post-fight interview? Even lesser-known fighters cashed good checks from those. The UFC knew it and incorporated it into contract negotiations, telling fighters that they should sign for less money and get good fight card placement, which would result in better sponsor payouts. The UFC used those sponsorships to subsidize fighter pay, then yanked the rug out from fighters while offering them a pittance based on experience rather than star power in return. There was a lot of anger and frustration about this at first, but then it died down. The fighters who remembered the old way eventually moved on. The new ones had never known any other system, so they didn’t even question it. Why wouldn’t the UFC think that pay-per-view points would be a similar story? Right now, pay-per-view is still profitable enough that it’s not going anywhere. I think the most likely scenario for a new broadcast rights deal involves the UFC splitting up its product across a couple platforms but probably keeping pay-per-views with ESPN+. And if some day it does go away, with the UFC pocketing more upfront money? I think champion fighters may see a small bump in pay, but mostly they’ll be told to take what they get and shut up about it. Because where else are they going to go and do better? @johnnyjanko.bsky.social: Does fighting Aspinall affect Jones legacy or not? At this point, . The only real question is, how would it affect Jon Jones’ legacy if he never fights Tom Aspinall, and how would that effect prove to be? Clearly, it would have an impact. Just look at how many times Jones was asked about Aspinall during the lead up to UFC 309. The man walked out of an interview on sight when he realized it was British dudes who were going to ask about Aspinall. “Gas Hands” Tom didn’t even fight and was still a main character all week, so obviously it’s on people’s minds. If Jones retires or relinquishes the heavyweight title without fighting him, people will inevitably say that he ducked Aspinall. That always dings a fighter’s legacy, especially when it happens toward the end of a career. You know how MMA judges tend to put more weight on a takedown in the last 30 seconds of a round than one in the first 30 seconds? It’s kind of the same deal. But I’ve also found that as years pass, people tend to focus more on the highlights and the whole body of work. It’s why, whenever I hear a fighter talk about how they can’t go out on a loss, I want to explain that actually they can, that people won’t remember this part as much as they assume, unless of course they stick around too long and it gets really sad. Personally, I’m still choosing to believe that this fight will happen. Jones says he’s already negotiating with the UFC. Aspinall says he’s optimistic and waiting for the call. There’s really no other fight to make. At least, not one that makes nearly as much sense for all parties involved. And, come on, who is Jones kidding? We all know he’s not ready to go home and stay there.The Showdown: Jam-packed Nebraska week starts with in-state rivalry doubleheader

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NoneCongress readies nearly $900 billion in defense spending(The Center Square) – State and national officials lauded former President Jimmy Carter for his public service after learning of his death Sunday afternoon at the age of 100. President Joe Biden said an official state funeral would be held for Carter in Washington. "He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism," Biden said. "We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together. The love shared between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is the definition of partnership and their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism." President-elect Donald Trump urged everyone to keep the Carter family in their thoughts and prayers. "The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans," Trump said in a statement released from his campaign. "For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude." Former president Bill Clinton gave Carter and his wife Rosalynn the Medal of Freedom in 1999. "From his commitment to civil rights as a state senator and governor of Georgia; to his efforts as President to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David; to his post-presidential efforts at the Carter Center supporting honest elections, advancing peace combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn's devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity--he worked tirelessly for a fairer, better world," Clinton and his wife Hillary said in a statement. Former president George W. Bush hailed Carter as a man of deeply held convictions. "President Carter dignified the office," Bush said on social media. "And his efforts to leave behind a better world didn't end with the presidency. His work with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center set an example of service that will inspire Americans for generations." Carter served as Georgia's governor from 1971-1975 before becoming president. Under his leadership, the European and Japanese state trade offices were launched, as well as the Georgia Film Commission," Gov. Brian Kemp said. "He and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter's support of the civil rights movement in the place of its birth is also remembered with deep appreciation." Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said Carter exemplified what it meant to be a public servant. "I had the honor of meeting him and his wife, and I will never forget that day," Jones said. "They were kind, wonderful, accepting and exactly what they portrayed every day, two people devoted to lifting up those in their community who needed help the most. President Carter's legacy will live on in the numerous nonprofits, charities and organizations Rosalynn, his family and him started."

Sweet 16: Hockomock League flexes its muscles in the postseasonNEW YORK (AP) — A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the fleeing assailant hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting nearby. Brian Thompson, 50, was shot around 6:45 a.m. as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel, police said. The shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire , New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Police had not yet established a motive. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said, adding that the shooting "does not appear to be a random act of violence.” Surveillance video reviewed by investigators shows someone emerging from behind a parked car, pointing a gun at Thompson’s back, then firing multiple times from several feet away. The gunman continues firing, interrupted by a brief gun jam, as Thompson stumbles forward and falls to the sidewalk. He then walks past Thompson and out of the frame. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Thompson was shot at least once in the back and once in the calf, Tisch said. The shooter, who wore a jacket, face mask and large backpack, fled through Midtown on foot before pedaling an electric bike into Central Park a few blocks away, police said. The assailant remained at large Wednesday afternoon, sparking a search that included police drones, helicopters and dogs. “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., said in a statement. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.” Police issued a poster showing a surveillance image of the man pointing what appeared to be a gun and another image that appeared to show the same person on a bicycle. Minutes before the shooting, he stopped at a nearby Starbucks, according to additional surveillance photos released by police on Wednesday afternoon. They offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive. The killing shook a part of New York City that's normally quiet at that hour, happening about four blocks from where tens of thousands of people were set to gather for Wednesday night’s tree lighting. Police promised extra security for the event. The hotel is also a short walk from other tourist sites, including the Museum of Modern Art and Radio City Music Hall, and is often dense with office workers and visitors on weekday mornings. Many security cameras are nearby. “We’re encouraging New Yorkers to go about their daily lives and their daily business but to be alert,” NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said. Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. They were also searching Thompson's hotel room, interviewing his UnitedHealthcare colleagues and reviewing his social media, Kenny said. Police initially said the shooter rode into Central Park on a bicycle from the city’s bike-share program, CitiBike. But a spokesperson for the program’s operator, Lyft, said police officials informed the company Wednesday afternoon that the bike was not from the CitiBike fleet. Health care giant UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual meeting with investors to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson's death. “I’m afraid that we — some of you may know we’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members,” a company official told attendees, according to a transcript. “And as a result, I’m afraid we’re going to have to bring to a close the event today. ... I’m sure you’ll understand.” Thompson, a father of two sons, had been with the company since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years. UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted on the social platform X that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.” “This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote. Associated Press writers Tom Murphy in Indianapolis, Steve Karnowski in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this story.

NASSAU, Bahamas — Chucky Hepburn had 16 points, 10 assists and seven steals, Noah Waterman also had 16 points and Louisville beat No. 14 Indiana 89-61 on Wednesday in the opening game of the Battle 4 Atlantis. Louisville (4-1) beat a ranked team for the first time since topping Virginia Tech 73-71 on Jan. 6, 2021. Kasean Pryor scored 10 of his 14 points in the second half and Reyne Smith added 12 points for Louisville. Malik Reneau scored 21 points and Oumar Ballo added 11 for Indiana (4-1). Reneau reached 20-plus points for the eighth time in his career. The Cardinals led 37-29 at the break after making 7 of 17 from 3-point range and shooting 57% overall. Indiana missed six straight shots on two occasions in the first half, sandwiched around a string of seven missed field goals, as the Cardinals shot 9 of 29 (31%). Louisville exploded for 52 second-half points by shooting 66.7% from the field. Pryor missed only one of his six shots in the second half. Key moment Louisville quickly built a commanding lead in the second half after starting on an 11-2 run, highlighted by Pryor’s fast-break dunk . The lead reached 30 on freshman Khani Rooths’ alley-oop dunk that came during the Cardinals’ 16-0 run for a 78-40 lead. Key stats Louisville entered the week ranked sixth in the country in 3-point attempts per game at 34. The Cardinals attempted 27 against Indiana and made 10 of them — with four apiece from Waterman and Smith. Louisville also came into the game averaging 19 forced turnovers per game. The Cardinals scored 30 points off 23 Indiana turnovers. Up next Louisville, which played its first road game of the season, plays on Thursday against the winner of Game 2 between West Virginia and No. 3 Gonzaga. Indiana moves to the consolation bracket to face the loser.This celebrity favourite coat brand has dropped amazing new styles for autumn

“Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s cabinet nominees and administration appointees were targeted in violent, un-American threats to their lives and those who live with them,” Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. She said the attacks “ranged from bomb threats to ‘swatting'”, adding: “In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire transition team are grateful for their swift action.” Swatting entails generating an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretences. The FBI said in a statement that it is “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners”. It added: “We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.” Among those targeted was Elise Stefanik, Mr Trump’s choice to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations. Her office said that she, her husband, and their three-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County. “New York state, county law enforcement, and US Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism,” her office said in a statement. “We are incredibly appreciative of the extraordinary dedication of law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe 24/7.” In Florida, meanwhile, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office said in an advisory posted on Facebook that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area around 9am this morning”. While a family member resides at the address, they said “former congressman Gaetz is not a resident”, adding: “The mailbox however was cleared and no devices were located. The immediate area was also searched with negative results.” Mr Gaetz was Mr Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration amid allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Mr Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him. The threats follow a political campaign marked by unusual violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The US Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Mr Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a fence while Mr Trump was playing golf.

We’ve got our Chelsea back – Enzo Maresca loving chants from fans after win“We would have gotten out of this together.” — Jude Khammoungkhoune, 13, of San Jose, returning to the Sonoma County coast for a prayer service for his father, Prasong, who was lost at sea after rough waves sank their fishing boat Nov. 2. He and his father had clung to a floating ice chest and his father told him he loved him and that they’d be OK before he succumbed to the frigid waters.Injured protesters from the revolution against former Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Hasina are being fitted with robotic prosthetic hands, AFP reported. The uprising, which sought to overthrow Hasina's regime, left at least 700 dead in a police crackdown. Among the injured is Hafeez Mohammad Hossain, a 19-year-old student who lost his right hand to gunfire on August 5 as protesters stormed Hasina's palace. Robolife Technologies provides prosthetics to injured protesters The prosthetic limbs are being offered by Robolife Technologies, a Bangladeshi company. The prosthetics utilize sensors connected to nerves to allow movement. Antu Karim, who is part of the government-backed project, said that although these hands don't work like organic ones, they allow users to perform basic tasks like holding a glass or using a spoon. The initiative also hopes to eliminate stigma for those without hands. Prosthetic recipients share their experiences and hopes Mohammad Mamun Mia, 32, is also among those who lost his hand in an attack by alleged supporters of Hasina's party. Despite limitations, Mia hopes to start a small business with his new prosthetic arm. Arif Hossain Sagar, another recipient who had his hand amputated due to an injury sustained during protests that risked gangrene, expressed hope that the prosthetic would restore some normalcy to his life. Prosthetic arm brings emotional relief to injured protester Nayeem Hasan also got prosthetic aid for his wounded arm that was injured when he was attacked while going to donate blood to victims of a fire. "I have a one-year-old daughter who wants me to hold her," Hasan said. Hasina resigned and fled the country after hundreds were slain in a crackdown on protest against job quotas, which grew into a movement demanding her removal.