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With World Cup 2018 right around the corner, we’re reminded how much we love international competition. The world loves it, and you know what else they love? Wrestling.

Wrestling is an international business. People from all over the world know and love wit. Some countries have a deep tradition and a long-standing promotion like Japan’s New Japan Pro Wrestling. Some countries are rebuilding their wrestling scenes like England’s Progress Wrestling and Defiant Wrestling. But the pinnacle of the Wrestling industry is World Wrestling Entertainment. Men and Women come from all over the world to compete in WWE which means we get all kinds of styles and culture. It makes the content exciting and new! With technology making the world a smaller place it seems more than ever the ranks of WWE Superstars and becoming more multicultural!

That raises the question, who is the best from each of their respective countries? Now before you read this know that this is just one writer’s opinion. Wrestling is full of talented superstars and everyone likes something different. This list is also superstars from WWE. I know Kenny Omega is great… but he won’t be on here! Regardless I stand behind this! Also, some countries are easier to pick than others. When there’s one person from the country they get a bit of a leg up…Anyway here are the best wrestlers currently working from each of their respective countries!

The United States: AJ Styles

With the largest pool to pick from The USA had some real contenders but no one can deny how consistent and stellar Styles has been. The Phenomenal one spent years with TNA, ROH,  and NJPW before coming to the WWE in debuting in the 2016 Royal Rumble as a surprise entrant at number three. Since then he has been The World Heavy Weight Champion Twice and the United States Champion. Styles consistently raises the talent of those around him and is currently the WWE Champion. It’s hard to believe the boy from Georgia is already past 40 because it doesn’t look like he plans on slowing down any time soon,

Honorable Mentions: Charlotte Flair, Seth Rollins

AJ Styles Net Worth 2018: How Much Is The WWE Champion Worth Now?

Canada: Kevin Owens

Another indy darling turned WWE Superstar. Owens made a name for himself with Ring of Honor but has since been a huge name in WWE. He was NXT Champion, Intercontinental Champion, United States Champion, and Universal Champion. He also has put on unforgettable matches with Sami Zayn since joining the promotion. KO has the ability to cut an amazing promo and make any match look like a hard fought brawl. He also has an athletic ability that would seem unobtainable to anyone else with his build. KO has the ability to make a mid-card fight seem like a main event affair. The French Canadian has been stellar the past few years so he gets the nod for Canada.

Honorable Mentions: Sami Zayn, Natalya

Kevin Owens Net Worth 2018: How Much Is KO Worth Now?

Ireland: Finn Balor

This was a tough one, WWE has three solid Irish superstars but the nod goes to Finn Balor. Balor consistently throws himself at opponents much larger than himself and because of his abilities and personality, nobody ever doubts that he has a chance to win. His demon character hasn’t been seen in awhile but the second he breaks it out again you know the crowd will go nuts.

On top of stellar ability, Balor consistently champions for inclusion within the wrestling community and the world abroad. He was the inaugural Universal Champion but had to give it up the next night due to an injury, if all goes well we could see it back on The Demon King’s shoulder sooner rather than later.

Honorable Mentions: Becky Lynch, Seamus

Bulgaria: Rusev

Ok yes, technically Rusev is the first person on this list to be the lone representative of his country but even if he wasn’t he’d be on here. Rusev is a former United States Champion and is currently part of the most popular gimmick in WWE. The “Rusev Day” gimmick has caught fire and along with Aiden English and wife Lana, it looks to be holding firm.

Outside of the gimmick itself, Rusev deserves the praise. He is a hard worker, talented in-ring performer, and a charismatic character. He is also a wonderful representation of “The American Dream” while still being incredibly proud of his home country. So go ahead Rusev, have a very special Rusev Day Today!

Mexico: Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas

Almas is still somewhat new to the WWE scene but he is already a seasoned vet. He made a name for himself as a luchador in Mexico’s CMLL and Japan’s NJPW before coming stateside and winning the WWE NXT Championship. While in WWE’s developmental brand Almas put on a 5-star rated match against Johnny Gargano. Him and his perfect heel manager Zelina Vega are now on SmackDown Live and are starting a feud with Sin Cara. The future looks bright for Almas in WWE.

Honorable Mention: Kalisto

Zelina Vega: Hottest Photos Of Andrade Cien Almas’ Manager

The Netherlands: Aleister Black

The current NXT Champion has had a great year so far. Not only has the WWE put the developmental brand on his back but he won the championship from fellow rising star Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas. Black’s character has been stellar and putting him in the spotlight will help fans see if he can sustain the aura.

Honorable Mention: Rezar

Puerto Rico: Lince Dorado

Dorado is one-third of Lucha House Party and has been putting on fun matches with partners Gran Metalik and Kalisto. Under the veteran Luchador, Kalisto, Dorado could take his skills to the next level and 205Live is the perfect place to grow him on the big stage.

Honorable Mention: The Colons

Japan: Asuka

This was a really hard one. There has been a huge surge of Japanese performers breaking into the WWE. WWE, hoping to capitalize on the growing popularity of NJPW has begun to bring these ultra-talented superstars over. This came down to a head to head over Shinsuke Nakamura and Asuka but when forced to pick, Asuka has a more dominating aura about her right now.

The Empress of Tomorrow may have had her winning streak broken at Wrestlemania 34 but she still seems like a force of destruction. The winner of the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble in January should be able to be a mainstay on the main event picture if WWE creative play their cards correctly that is.

Honorable Mentions: Shinsuke Nakamura, Akira Tozawa

The Dominican Republic: No Way Jose

No Way Jose has danced his way onto the main roster on Monday Night’s. Right now he seems to be more of a punchline but the crowd enjoys him whenever he comes out. Given the right chance, he might be able to dance his way to some titles.

Scotland: Drew McIntyre

McIntyre is enjoying a stellar return with WWE. Before his somewhat surprising release in 2014, he was an Intercontinental Champion and a Tag Team Champion. He was put in the abysmal 3MB stable and was gone soon after. He struck out to the independents to rebuild himself and returned better than ever. He was the NXT Champion and is now partnered with Dolph Ziggler on Monday Night Raw. He looks like he could crush you into dust and his promos are stellar. We could be looking a the future face of the company.

Honorable Mention: Nikki Cross

Northern Ireland: Killian Dain

The muscle of SAnity raised hell with the stable in NXT and now has a chance to prove his worth on the main roster on Tuesday nights. Will the stable be able to float without standout Scottish member, Nikki Cross?

Germany: Alexander Wolfe

See blurb above under Killian Dane…

Australia: Buddy Murphy

Buddy Murphy looked like he was on his way out of WWE just a few months ago. He found some success in his tag team, Blake and Murphy, in NXT. They captured the promotion’s titles for a few months. But after their manager, Alexa Bliss was promoted to the main roster the team fell by the wayside and disbanded. Recently Murphy has been wrestling under the moniker “The Best Kept Secret.” He is now lighting up 205Live and finds himself in Cruiserweight Champion contention. If you haven’t watched his work as of late, you’re missing out. He won’t be a secret long

Honorable Mention: The IIconics

England: Pete Dunne

Dunne is an absolute monster to watch. He goes by the title “The Bruiserweight” and lives up to the moniker. His match with Tyler Bate for the UK Championship was outstanding and he seems to be full of those moments. Hopefully, WWE can find a way to get him on the show more often because the world needs more Pete Dunne.

Honorable Mentions: Tyler Bate, Gentleman Jack Gallagher

Spain: Kane

This is a technicality. Technically the Big Red Machine was born in Spain but the man sees himself as more of a Tennessean, but if this was the World Cup or Olympics he would be eligible to play for Spain, so he gets the nod. He’s won so much hardware it suits him anyway!

Ghana: Kofi Kingston

Ok somewhat of another technicality. Kingston was born in Ghana but went to school in Boston. The member of the wildly popular stable, The New Day, is a Royal Rumble human highlight reel. He’s also held 14 championships in the WWE so credit respect must be paid. The former Intercontinental, United States, and Tag Team Champion is always fun to watch.

New Zealand: Dakota Kai

Still a newcomer to the WWE world, Kai is quickly making a name for herself. She is charismatic and a joy wot watch perform. After she was fed to Shayna Baszler she’s been popping up more on NXT tapings and house shows. She is one to watch in the future.

WWE is a vastly multicultural organization. There are probably tons of stories not even mentioned in this post! Personally, I can’t wait to learn more about the different countries these performers come from. Also am I the only one who thinks they should bring back The European Title? Probably…

10 Need To Know Terms In Wrestling

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A Paris street is on lockdown as armed police wait outside a building where a man inside with hostages claims to be in possession of a bomb and a handgun. According to reports, the suspect has taken as many as 3 hostages and is demanding to speak with Iranian Embassy. While early reports suggested that there were three hostages, newer reports indicate there are two.

Pictures on social media show armed officers surrounding the Rue des Petites Ecuries in Paris’ 10th district. The 10th district is currently on lockdown. Furthermore, the suspect claims that one of the hostages is seriously injured. Some reports indicate that one of the hostages is a pregnant woman.

At this time, there is no word on who the suspect is. A Paris police official told CBS News there was no immediate indication of a link to terrorism, however members of the force’s elite serious crime unit, known as the BRI, were on the scene.

via CBS:

The police said they could not confirm whether the man was armed. They declined to provide more details.

Videos and images from the scene posted on social media show police officers outside a building in central Paris’s Petites Ecuries street, near the rail hub Gare du Nord.

The images are all too familiar for a nation that has dealt with various terror attacks over the last few years.

Kim Jong Un Rocket Man Memes: Funny Photos, Best Jokes & Images

This story is developing. Please refresh for updates.

WENN

Andrea Duro is a face and name to keep an eye out for during the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Duro, who is a Spanish actor, is the girlfriend of Mexican soccer star Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez. The two have been dating for nearly a year and often share their love and affection for each other with posts on social media. Often times, Chicharito, who currently plays for West Ham United but previously played in Spain for Real Madrid, posts photos of the lovely Andrea when sending messages to his haters.

“Keep talking… keep judging… my happiness won’t disappear cause she brings it to me,” he wrote in one caption on Instagram.

In another Instagram post, the Mexican forward wrote, “You can think and say whatever you want. But there’s something very clear, I can’t stop looking at her.”

Duro, who was born October 14, 1991, in Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain, has appeared in a number of Spanish films and television series. She is best known for her role of Yolanda “Yoli” Freire in Fisica o quimica. Her film debut came in 2010 when she appeared in Three Steps Above Heaven. Most recently, she has appeared in the Spanish film Pasaje al amanecer as Clara and the series La catedral del mar as Aledis Segura.

You can check out more photos of Andrea in the gallery below. And to keep up with Andrea on Instagram, where she currently has more than 420,000 followers, be sure to click the follow button.

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Ruby Mae: Hottest Photos of Dele Alli's Girlfriend

Pilar Rubio: Hottest Photos of Sergio Ramos

Larissa Pereira Firmino: Hottest Photos of Roberto Firmino's Wife

Georgina Rodriguez: Hottest Photos of Cristiano Ronaldo's Girlfriend

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Ruby Mae is a face and name you will not be able to avoid during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The 23-year-old model is the longtime girlfriend of Tottenham Hotspur and England star Dele Alli. While Alli is a star in his own right, Ruby has been well-established in the modeling world long before she began dating the Milton Keynes native. She is signed to Boss Model Management in Manchester and has modeled for brands such as Dolce & Gabana, Chanel, The Couture Club, and Hidden Fashion.

Beauty must run in the family, too, because her cousin is model Bealey Mitchell, who previous dated England cricket standout Stuart Broad.

On Instagram, the 5-foot-9 beauty often shows off her latest modeling photos — which you would expect — along with personal photos of her and Alli. Oh, and you’re a fan of dogs on social media, you’ll quickly fall in love with her miniature black poodle Dougie.

Mae and Alli have reportedly been dating since 2016 when she first made an appearance after England’s loss to Iceland in the 2016 European Championships.

You can check out more photos of Ruby in the gallery below. And to keep up with Ruby on Instagram, where she currently has more than 55,000 followers, be sure to click the follow button.

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Andrea Duro: Hottest Photos Of Chicharito's Girlfriend

Pilar Rubio: Hottest Photos of Sergio Ramos

Larissa Pereira Firmino: Hottest Photos of Roberto Firmino's Wife

Georgina Rodriguez: Hottest Photos of Cristiano Ronaldo's Girlfriend

WENN

Ruby Mae is a successful model and has worked with a number of high-profile luxury brands. But if you’re a fan of soccer, there is also a strong chance you will recognize her. If not, this is a name and face you will want to get plenty familiar with ahead of the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup on Thursday, June 14. That is because Ruby Mae is dating Tottenham Hotspur and England star Dele Alli.

The couple has reportedly been dating since 2016, when Mae first made an appearance giving her support for Alli at the European Championships.

Since then, they have taken to social media to confirm their relationship.

The 5-foot-9 stunner is signed to Boss Model Management in Manchester and has modeled for brands such as Dolce & Gabana, Chanel, The Couture Club, and Hidden Fashion. When the cameras start panning the crowd in Russia, you can be sure that people will be running to the internet to look up who the British beauty is.

You can check out more photos of Ruby in the gallery below. And to keep up with Ruby on Instagram, where she posts photos with All, her miniature black poodle Dougie, and currently has more than 55,000 followers, be sure to click the follow button.

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Andrea Duro: Hottest Photos Of Chicharito's Girlfriend

Pilar Rubio: Hottest Photos of Sergio Ramos

Larissa Pereira Firmino: Hottest Photos of Roberto Firmino's Wife

Georgina Rodriguez: Hottest Photos of Cristiano Ronaldo's Girlfriend

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Welcome to COED’s Quick Fix, a rundown and recap off all the news, stories and headlines that you need to know today. Whether it be pop culture, sports, news, college or lifestyle, we’ve got you covered.

This is the Quick Fix for Tuesday, June 12, 2018.

Pop Culture

– Incredibles 2 comes out this week. Nothing more needs to be said.

– This trailer for this new Matthew McConaughey movie is pretty, pretty dope.

Sports

– Normally, we WOULD be entering the most depressing time of the sports year — strictly baseball season — but luckily, the 2018 World Cup is here to save us.

News & Politics

– It happened. President Trump and Kim Jong-un met in Singapore for their historic summit.

College

– The College World Series continues:

College World Series 2018: Schedule, Dates & Times

Viral Randomness

– Makes you think:

Hottest of the Day

– Bella Thorne selling bikinis:

Song of the Day

Quote of the Day

“The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win you’re still a rat.” – Lily Tomlin

You can follow Eric on Twitter @eric_italiano and on Instagram @ericitaliano.

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Albert Pujols is a Dominican American first baseman who plays in the MLB and is a right-handed batter and thrower. Throughout his 18-season career, Pujols has solidified himself as one of the league’s best hitters and top first basemen to ever play the game. He has a career batting average of .304 with over 3,000 hits and 600 home runs.

He currently plays for the Los Angeles Angels, and previously played on the St. Louis Cardinals for 11 seasons. While on the Cardinals, Pujols was a three-time National League MVP (2005, 2008, 2009) and a nine-time All-Star (2001, 2003-2010). He made his tenth All-Star appearance with the Angels in 2015.

Albert Pujols Net Worth As Of 2018: $110 Million

A long and successful career in the MLB is a guaranteed way to earn you lots and lots of cash. Just ask Pujols. He’s worth $110 million and is currently in his seventh year of a ten-year contract worth $240 million. Let’s take a look back at how this future Hall of Famer came to be.

Early Life

Pujols was born on January 16, 1980, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Pujols, his father, and his grandmother immigrated in 1996 to New York City. Two months later, the family relocated to Independence, Missouri to join some relatives and live somewhere safer. Pujols played baseball at Fort Osage High School in Independence and was named an All-State athlete twice. As a senior, he was walked 55 times in protest because opposing coaches believed he was older than 18, but he still hit eight home runs in 33 at-bats. After graduating high school a semester early in December 1998, Pujols was given a baseball scholarship to play at Maple Woods Community College. In his freshman season, he hit .461 with 22 home runs. After the season, he decided to enter the MLB draft.

1999-2000

Few teams were interested in Pujols because of the uncertainty about his age, which position he would play, and his build. Pujols was not drafted until the 13th round of the 1999 Draft when the St. Louis Cardinals selected him with the 402nd overall pick. He turned down the Cardinals initial bonus offer of $10K and opted to play in a collegiate summer league to prove his stuff. After playing well in the summer league, the Cardinals upped their bonus to $60K and Pujols signed.

He began his minor league career in 2000 playing third base with the Peoria Chiefs of the single-A Midwest League. He batted .324 with 128 hits, 17 home runs, and 84 RBI, in 109 games. He was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player and named to the All-Star team. The Cardinals took notice of the young Pujols and in the same 2000 season, he was moved up to play for the AAA Memphis Redbirds. He played in three regular-season games and the postseason for the Redbirds and continued to perform at a high level. He helped the team win their first PCL title and was named the postseason MVP.

2001-2011

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa promoted Albert Pujols to the big leagues prior to the 2001 season. Although the team didn’t need Pujols to fill any particular position, he started every game that year at either third base, right field, left field, or third base. He entered the Majors in a big way and finished the year batting .329 with 37 home runs and 130 RBIs. In his rookie year, Pujols was named the Rookie of the Year and selected to his first MLB All-Star team. By the end of his 11-season tenure with the Cards, he won two World Series, three NL MVPs, and was selected to the All-Star team nine times.

2012-Present

After the 2011 season when Pujols was 31-years-old, he signed a ten-year deal with the LA Angels worth $240 million. Pujols has played a total of seven seasons with the Angels and been named an All-Star once (2015) while on the team. While with the Cardinals, he only batted below .300 once in 2011 when he hit .299. He has yet to hit above the .300 mark with the Angels. Though his hitting stats have fallen off a bit in LA, he continues to put up solid stats. In his seven seasons with the Angels, his batting average is .261 with an average of 28 homers and 100 RBIs per season. Not bad for the 38-year-old future Hall of Famer.

Mike Trout Net Worth 2018: How Much Is Trout Worth Now?

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Blaine Manalle, a 20-year-old Slidell, Louisiana woman, was arrested on June 11 for second-degree murder. Manalle and two other people were reportedly booked in connection with the death of 46-year-old Jeffery Howell.

In addition to Manalle’s arrest, Cameron Alphonso, 21, was charged with one count of second-degree manslaughter and Alden Kindergran, 22, was charged with one count of disturbing the peace. Kindergran was released on Sunday, June 10, after posting a $750 bond. Alphonso remains in jail on a $125,000 bond.

Manalle, Alphonso, and Kindergran are all suspected to be involved in the death of 46-year-old Jeffery Howell, who died after an altercation on the West Pearl River in Louisiana. Howell, a 46-year-old from Pearl River, had recently undergone surgery to remove a tumor and still had staples in his head.

St. Tammany Coroner Dr. Charles Preston said that Preston died from a blow to the head near the scar from his surgery three weeks ago. “The cause of death was blunt head trauma. He was fresh on an operation on his head to remove a malignancy,” Preston said.

via The Times-Picayune:

The autopsy, conducted Monday morning by the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office, ruled the death a homicide and determined the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head. According to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Howell died as a result of injuries he received during a “disturbance” between two large groups of people that sparked a physical fight.

Deputies responded shortly after 5:30 p.m. Saturday to the fight on a sand bar along the West Pearl River, just south of the Davis Landing Boat Launch in the Slidell area. By Sunday morning, Alphonso and Alden Kindergran, 22, both of Slidell, were arrested in Howell’s death. Kindergran, accused of disturbing the peace, was released Sunday afternoon on a $750 bond, authorities said.

Alphonso remained in jail Monday night, according to St. Tammany jail records. His bond was set at $125,000 on the manslaughter charge, records show, but could increase with his upgraded charge. Investigators interviewed more than 40 people in an effort to establish the probable cause necessary to arrest Manalle, St. Tamanny Parish Sheriff Randy Smith said in a news release Monday night.

Police say that additional arrests could occur as detectives continue conducting interviews and collecting information. At this time, police say over 40 people have been interviewed.

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The 2018 NBA Finals had potential — for about 47 minutes and 55 seconds. If not for the crunch time debacle of Game 1, maybe we’d be looking forward to a Game 6 right now. Maybe the Cavs would be up 3-2. Maybe they’d be preparing for the opportunity close out the series at home. Maybe they’d be on the cusp of winning their second championship in three years. Maybe.

All that sounds insane now, but the Cavs stealing Game 1 at Oracle could have made the Jekyll to reality’s Hyde. The Cavs would have, at the very least, avoided a sweep. LeBron wouldn’t have gone from scoring 51 to playing the rest of the series on a self-inflicted broken right hand. And if they’d gone on to win the ‘ship? Whew. Then it would be hard to see LeBron leaving this summer.

Instead of all these maybes and would-haves actually coming to fruition, the Golden State Warriors will parade through downtown Oakland today on the heels of their quickest championship win yet.

So what’s next for the NBA’s contemporary rivals, now that we’re reminded  of the outrageous imbalance of power blemishing the NBA’s complexion?

It’s the End of the Cavs as We Know Them

The Cavs are cooked, and so is the rivalry. We can officially kiss it goodbye in just under a month.

LeBron James has been playing with house money since June 19, 2016. On that night, he fulfilled his promise. He’d gifted northeast Ohio their first championship in more than 50 years in the most dramatic fashion imaginable. You know the buzzwords: 3-1 deficit. 73-win team. Unanimous MVP. Game 7. So why should LeBron have to stay in Cleveland if the goal he set out to achieve became one of the most beautiful moments in the history of basketball?

LeBron wants to win at the highest level. And it’s not going to happen anymore with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Unless, of course, the entire organization is gutted from Dan Gilbert to Jordan Clarkson — in which case, it still may not be enough. At this point, LeBron ostensibly has no sense of trust in either the self-serving team owner or rookie GM Koby Altman: Gilbert refused to re-sign former (successful and beloved by LeBron) GM David Griffin mere moments before a crucial offseason, and Altman ultimately traded away Kyrie Irving for change found between couch cushions. LeBron, who’s always been the master of his own destiny, shouldn’t feel compelled to afford the front office a shred of a benefit of the doubt.

The Cavaliers simply don’t deserve LeBron’s trust, if there’s any there to begin with. And what’s a successful business venture without trust? LeBron has said time and again that in spite of personal differences with the Trump-loving, comic sans-using, anti-LeBron letter writer in Gilbert, the two have a decent working relationship. But Cleveland isn’t really working out for LeBron anymore.

LeBron’s 15th NBA season will go down as one of the most dumbfounding, indescribable, and fantastic in his G.O.A.T. campaign. But the statistics and broken records will just be supporting details in the tall tale which only began with losing Griffin and Irving. In August 2017, it felt for a fleeting moment that the Cavs hadn’t just won the trade with Boston, but had won the offseason after acquiring Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, Jeff Green, and Brooklyn’s 2018 draft pick. They beat Kyrie on opening night! The Arthur memes showed unity and brotherhood!

But… we all know what happened next. It wasn’t all fruitless trades, misdiagnosed hip injuries, secret marriages, Napoleon complexes, and soup throwing though. Kevin Love had to come to terms with personal demons. Ty Lue had to confront the health he was sacrificing for his drowning team. LeBron was performing at an unprecedented level, but it looked like the only time he allowed himself to have fun was during the All-Star Game (not to neglect his scuffle with Fox News that very same weekend).

What we know now is that LeBron James dragged a twice-made-over team out of the dumpster and into the 2018 NBA Finals. Whether it’s an indictment of the Eastern Conference or a testimony of LeBron’s divinity or both matters little when LeBron is losing badly to the greatest team ever assembled. In essence, we just watched Michael Jordan get swept by the ’96 Bulls. So how do we reconcile the greatest player of a generation struggling so mightily against the greatest team of the same era?

Well, we encourage him to do #WhateverItTakes to put himself in a position to get back on top. It’s going to mean leaving Cleveland, assembling a team he has faith in, restoring a semblance of trust in whichever front office and ownership situation he finds himself in, and letting the rest unfold.

If LeBron stays, he’ll have to start from scratch for the third time in a year. So when LeBron leaves, it’s rebuilding time for the Cavs anyway. Without him. But maybe with Trae Young.

As for the Champs?

The Warriors apparently want to get younger. And with only one guy — the guy — signed through 2021, Golden State is positioned well to do just that. All members of their All-Star quartet will enjoy their prime for the next handful of years; when your baby-faced assassin is practically the gramps of the group, you’re in a healthy spot. That is, of course, until health itself becomes an issue.

Steph Curry missed 31 games of the 2017-18 season thanks to a slew of ankle injuries and an unlucky MCL sprain. His extended absences tested the Dubs in ways they’d grown too arrogant to think they could fall victim to, and David West has intimated that tensions flared enough to potentially put a second consecutive championship in jeopardy. While it’s been a bit ironic if not taxing listening to Klay and Draymond talk about this past season having been extraordinarily difficult, it’s just a jarring reminder that the Warriors’ version of “difficult” is 29 other teams’ dream.

Obviously, Golden State got their sh*t together in time to evade Conference Finals elimination and ultimately sweep the weakened Cavs. Everything is a drunken kind of dandy today. Two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant will feel vindicated and secure about his career this summer, and will ideally keep himself busy enough to stay off of Twitter for good. But as the Dubs begin to gear up for the fabled three-peat, they must confront their team — not just the alleged bad blood in their core — as a whole and genuinely evaluate the capacities of their role players. They may have to cut the habit of generously picking up stranded vets like Matt Barnes and Nick Young if they seek an easier road to the 2019 Finals.

Let them do it. The Dubs have good, young performers whose development has spoken for itself. Quinn Cook, rescued from the throes of the G-League to replace Curry midseason as decently as any 25-year-old two-way player could, has earned his belonging. Rookie Jordan Bell is a star in the making, even if that star may have to rise beyond the Bay some day. Sophomore Patrick McCaw — otherwise known as Andre Iguodala‘s apprentice — suffered a major setback following a freak spinal injury, but will expect an elevated role come October. 22-year-old Kevon Looney, whose 2018-19 team option wasn’t picked up last October, stepped up in spite of it all, morphing from Santa Cruz regular to starting center in the playoffs. They’re kids who’ve already won championships and understand how and when to contribute to a team of this caliber. That’s special.

The Warriors aren’t just a superteam with a Death Lineup, a Defensive Player of the Year, two MVPs, and a no-maintenance historically excellent shooter who happens to play great defense. They also have pronounced success with youth development. That’s just plain damning for the rest of the league.

This coming offseason will be telling. Golden State may choose to forgo some of their ring-chasing vets in favor of their promising young whippersnappers. They’d be better for it. This is almost certainly the end of Zaza Pachulia in the blue and gold; his phasing-out was slow but certain. West will likely announce his retirement in the coming months. Decisions will have to be made about JaVale McGee and Nick Young, the goofy twosome no one quite expected to evolve from cinnamon challengers to O’Brien trophy winners eight years ago. 34-year-old Iguodala and 32-year-old Shaun Livingston are each signed through 2020 after uncertain 2017 negotiations, but there’s no telling how efficiently the bench anchors will hold up.

They may have fatigued us indefinitely, but perhaps we can find some inkling of excitement in the Golden State Warriors in these next few offseasons. If the Dubs do indeed pursue a youth movement, we’ll need to keep an eye on young, unassuming free agents (Will Barton, anyone?). This year, KD will have to choose whether he wants to commit long-term or toying with the idea of undertaking a new challenge. And as Klay and Draymond’s contracts approach uncertain ends, we’ll have to keep an eye on how much this team — whether it’s the billionaire owners or players — is willing to financially sacrifice in order to keep this unparallaled chokehold on the NBA.

That’ll be worth watching, right?

Right?

Warriors & Cavaliers: Best Finals Moments & Top Highlights

With the NBA draft fast approaching and just nine days away, it is time for the association’s bottom dwellers to have hope for their respective futures. Loaded with star big men along with arguably the best international prospect to enter the draft, the 2018 NBA draft is going to be an exciting one. Important to note this mock lottery was created considering no trades, which is a rarity when it comes to the draft. Nonetheless, here’s a look at what you may see come June 21st.

1. Phoenix Suns

The Pick: Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona

It appears to be a lock that the Suns are going to take Ayton with the number one overall pick. On a roster full of weaknesses, adding Ayton to pair with their young core of Devin Booker and Josh Jackson may be just what this team needs to get back on track. The only question mark with this pick is that Ayton is going to struggle on the defensive end until he fully grows into his body. This makes you question the fit, considering the Suns were a bottom three defensive team in the league last year. With former first-round picks Alex Len, Dragan Bender, and Marquese Chriss not seeming to pan out, it would be wise for the Suns to grab one of the start centers in this class. Ayton is going to be a dominant scorer out of the gates, and he and Devin Booker could create a pretty deadly pick and roll over the years.

With that said, the Suns could choose another path by shocking the world and going with Mo Bamba. Standing at 7’0 with a 7’9 wingspan, Bamba could be a game changer on the defensive end right out the gates. Considering the Suns lack a true rim protector, and certainly would not be getting that in Ayton, Bamba could make sense here. He has also flashed his potential as the unicorn prototype with his ability to shoot threes, with a relatively quick release time. The knock on Bamba is that he is probably the rawest of all the elite prospects in this class, and the Suns may not want to stay in purgatory in the near future. Expect Ayton, but don’t be surprised if it’s the seven-footer from Texas.

2. Sacramento Kings

The Pick: Marvin Bagley III, PF/C, Duke

After Ayton presumably goes first, here is where the draft will get a little tricky to predict. Sacramento has a roster full of holes almost everywhere you look. With De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, and Bogdan Bogdanovic, the Kings probably won’t be looking to add any guards. And while big men Willie Cauley-Stein and Skal Labissiere have flashed their potential at times, neither seems certain to make a real impact on a winning team in the NBA. If the Kings select Bagley second overall, he will instantly become the team’s best rebounder and probably go to scorer on the blocks. Bagley is a freak athlete with great size at 6’11 and weighing over 230 lbs. He also has the ability to shoot it from outside, and if he learns to develop that aspect of his game, he will be one of the premier scorers in this league. This pick also makes sense because his fit next to Harry Giles also makes sense. The Kings selected Giles 20th overall last year, however, he missed his entire rookie season due to knee injuries. Like the Kings, I am also very high on Giles, as he was once the number one player coming out of high school until injuries slowed him down. With him finally being healthy for the first time in years, the combination of the two former Duke bigs could be a tantalizing one.

3. Atlanta Hawks

The Pick: Jaren Jackson Jr., PF/C, Michigan State

Although the record may not show it, the Hawks core of Dennis Schroeder, Tauren Prince, and John Collins isn’t that far off from making the playoffs in the weaker eastern conference. Collins flashed his potential as an elite rim protector during his rookie campaign, while Prince started to explode as a scorer late in the season. Add in an elite defender and three-point shooting prospect in Jaren Jackson Jr and this nucleus is going to compete for years to come. His ability to switch one through five is an elite trait, and his pairing with Collins in the frontcourt could be a nightmare to score on for the next five years. Even if Ayton or Bagley remains on the board, it is hard to see the Hawks passing on Jackson Jr, who is the best fit for their team among the elite prospects.

4. Memphis Grizzlies

The Pick: Luka Donic, G/F, International

After a season of never-ending injuries, which derailed the Grizz’s hope of making any noise this year, things could be a lot worse. They still have two premier players in Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, with the ladder playing in his prime. They also still have time to make a decision on Tyreke Evans, who scored at an elite level this year and could fit nicely next to Gasol and Conley for the rest of his career. Without adding anything else, if all three of the guys are healthy, the Grizzlies are likely a playoff team even in the wild Western Conference. Enter Luka Doncic, who thrives with the ball in his hand, yet still has the size and ability to play any position from one through four, the Grizz will be in contention next year. Doncic just wrapped up his domination of the Euroleague (widely considered the second-best basketball league in the world), and for he could be used in many different ways for the Grizzlies. He could start at small forward with Conley and Evans in the backcourt and then handle the backup point guard duties, or Memphis could opt to go small and start him at the four next to Gasol with Evans at the three and then look to find shooting in free agency. Like the previous pick with Jaren Jackson Jr, the fit is there, and this team could get back into the playoffs as soon as next year.

5. Dallas Mavericks

The Pick: Michael Porter Jr., G/F, Missouri

Before going down with a back injury, Michael Porter Jr. was on track to making his case for the number one overall selection. He was the consensus top high school player in the country and unfortunately did not get to put his talents on display this past season. Nonetheless, his appearance during the NCAA showed scouts that he’s healthy enough to play so he must be close to what he was prior to the injury. As a lights-out shooter with good size along with his ability to play either wing spot, or even some spot four minutes as he gets stronger, his fit in Dallas works. Dennis Smith Jr. is absolutely the face of this franchise after a dazzling rookie season. Harrison Barnes is an elite role player with the ability to thrive at the three or the four. One knock on both of them is that they are good shooters, not great, but would greatly benefit from great shooters around them due to both of their natural abilities to drive the lane. At his worst, Porter Jr. will find a way to be a solid three-and-d guy, and at his best, he could be the go-to scorer that the Mavs are missing.

6. Orlando Magic

The Pick: Mohammed Bamba, C, Texas

One of the worst managed teams in the league, the Orlando Magic finally have a chance to spike optimism across their fan base. The core of Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic, and Evan Fournier isn’t bad, as all three of the guys can certainly score at a high level. The problem with this organization has been on the other side of the ball. Elfrid Payton was a complete failure and getting rid of him was actually a blessing. The Serge Ibaka signing was also a complete miss, along with paying clueless Bismack Biyombo $17 million a year. All three of these guys were supposed to be the missing piece on the other side of the ball, but to put it nicely, this has just not panned out. Enter Mohammed Bamba, the 7’0 unicorn from Texas who thrives on the defensive end while he has also shown the potential to shoot it from deep. By picking him and making him their center of the future, they give the team lots of options. They could either try to move on from Vucevic or slide him over to the four while also sliding Aaron Gordon down to the three. This would work extremely well if Gordon can develop consistency on his outside stroke. This would also allow Fournier to play the two, but he could run the show as the primary ball handler, which is what he’s best at anyway. The other option is to go small and slide Gordon to the four slot, Fournier to the three, and try to move Vucevic for some guard play. This could also work, but option one is superior in my mind.

7. Chicago Bulls

The Pick: Mikal Bridges, SG/SF, Villanova

The Chigaco Bulls are in a very interesting situation. They have a good amount of talent in players such as Lauri Markkannen, Kris Dunn, Zach Lavine, and Bobby Portis. If they think Portis and Markkanen can play together in the frontcourt, then the pick should definitely be Mikal Bridges. Bridges burst onto the scene during his time at Villanova, but really put his talents on display during their most recent title run this past season. He’s a lights-out shooter, with unlimited range on his spot up three’s, with the size and length to guard four positions. The perfect fit for the modern NBA and would slide perfectly into that three spot that the Bulls are lacking. However, if the Bulls are convinced that Portis and Markkanen are both fours, then they will also need to take a long look at Wendell Carter Jr. here.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Pick: Wendell Carter Jr., C, Duke

Lebron is going to leave this summer, it is just a matter of where that has the basketball world going crazy. Without Lebron, the collection of players the Cavs have will add up to something around a bottom eight team in the league. Due to that, they will be looking for a face of their franchise from this pick. With three elite options in Trae Young, Collin Sexton, and Wendell Carter Jr., the Cavs are going to go with the big man. After trading for Jordan Clarkson and George Hill, there is certainly room for improvement at the point guard spot, except your not going to draft another point guard when you already have almost $30 million locked into the previously mentioned players for the next couple of years. Carter Jr. has the size of an old-school big, but his game is much more than back-to-the-basket post-ups (sorry Jahlil Okafor). With a great feel for the game, along with great hands, great shot blocking instincts, the ability to see to passing lanes from the high post, and his touch from outside, Carter Jr. has all the makings of a franchise player and actually would fit quite nicely alongside Kevin Love.

9. New York Knicks

The Pick: Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma

Yes, the Knicks did just draft a point guard last season in Frank Ntilikina, however, his flashes during his rookie campaign suggest he may be better suited off as an off-ball guard who fits the role of three-and-d with secondary playmaking abilities. The Knicks are a mess, and poor Kristaps can’t find a way to stay healthy as he’s being asked to do way too much for this team. Enter Trae Young, a flashy point guard in the mold of Steph Curry, with range on his pull-up threes that come from long beyond the three-point arc. Not to mention his incredible passing instinct in the pick and roll as well. With him taking the load off of Kristaps Porzingis, while also pushing Tim Hardaway back into a role player’s mindset, this Knicks team could actually sport a potent offense with Ntilikina at the two and Mudiay coming off the bench to back up Trae Young.

10. Philadelphia 76ers

The Pick: Kevin Huerter, SG/SF, Maryland

No one has seen their draft stock rise the way Huerter has. Originally considered a prospect for the 2019 draft, Huerter has worked his way to being a lock for the first round this year. With Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and hopefully Markelle Fultz running the show, the needs are obvious, shooting. Through the combine and pre-draft process, Huerter is coming off to scouts as the best pure shooter of this class. And with length and size standing at 6’7, he has the potential to become a versatile defender. 10 may be a little high for him, but there might not be a better fit for the Sixers and he may be this missing piece.

11. Charlotte Hornets

The Pick: Lonnie Walker IV, SG, Miami FL

Michael Jordan’s group is constantly one of the more disappointing teams every season. With a star in Kemba Walker and solid role players all around including the re-vamped Dwight Howard, whether it be injuries or poor play, this group has yet to find a way to find a way to win together. Last year’s first-round pick Malik Monk did not get his opportunity until late in the season where he flashed his potential as an explosive scorer making many think he suited to be the sixth man in this league. If his shooting is going to come off the bench, the Hornets are going to need to find a wing in this draft who can drain shots from the outside. Step in Lonnie Walker IV, arguably the most tantalizing prospect in the draft. On sheer potential, skies the limit. He has the stroke, the wingspan, the athleticism, and the charisma to star in this league. On the other hand, he is ultra raw and found himself struggling many times during an up-down season at the University of Miami. Michael Jordan loves to gamble, and if this one pays off, the Hornets could finally find their way back into the post-season.

12. Los Angeles Clippers

The Pick: Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama

Collin Sexton is an elite prospect and will likely not fall this far, If he does, the Clippers will be quick to grab him. With a roster full of solid NBA rotational players centered around stars Deandre Jordan and Lou Williams, the Clippers would be wise to package the 12th and 13th picks for a higher pick in the lottery. As mentioned before, we are doing no trades so in this scenario it would be very easy for the Clippers to be convinced on Sexton. Patrick Beverley is coming off a season-ending knee surgery while Austin Rivers seems better suited to come off the bench, leaving the Clippers with a hole for the starting point guard spot. Add Sexton’s explosiveness and elite defense alongside lockdown defender Avery Bradley and supreme rim protector Deandre Jordan, and the Clippers will boast one of the best defenses in the league.

13. Los Angeles Clippers

The Pick: Miles Bridges, SF/PF, Michigan State

After mistakenly coming back for his sophomore season after his stock was sky-high after his freshman campaign, Miles Bridges comes into the draft without much momentum, but still a highly regarded player. His fit with Clippers also works out nicely as they could use a backup to Tobias Harris in the three/four slot. As mentioned before watching for this pick or the Clippers previous pick to get traded as their roster doesn’t feature many holes. However, if they walk out of the draft with Sexton and Miles Bridges, they should feel pretty good about themselves moving forward.

14. Denver Nuggets.

The Pick: Robert Williams, PF/C, Texas A&M

After missing the playoffs by just one game, the Nuggets are poised for there encore and expectations are going to be sky-high. With one of the finest young cores in the game with Nikola Jokic, Gary Harris, Jamaal Murray, and one of the best sixth men in the league in Will Barton, the Nuggets are oozing with talent. The only weakness is on the defensive side of the ball, due to Jokic being an inferior rim protector. Step in Robert Williams, who many consider the best defender in this draft, however his lack of shooting is what separates him from the other bigs in this class. Nonetheless, he is still an elite prospect and there isn’t a better landing spot for him. He would step in immediately at the four spot and focus on help defense the way Draymond Green does for the Warriors. As good as the fits were mentioned in the earlier part of this draft, this one takes the cake and elevates the Nuggets not only to playoffs but maybe even to the second round.

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The time of the year has come again when many of the greatest soccer players in the world meet up in one nation in pursuit of international glory by helping their home country win a World Cup. This summer, 32 teams will meet up in Russia to compete to see who is the best international team in the world. Reigning champion, Germany, comes in as the co-favorite with Brazil to lift the trophy in the end. However, there are always a few teams who take the world by storm and make a surprise run during the competition. Who will be this year’s team to capture the heart’s of fans and make a run in Russia? Let’s take a look at some of the dark horse contenders?

Egypt

If you looked at the FIFA world rankings, Egypt is only ranked #45 in the world making them a sneaky pick to make a run in the World Cup. This run is reliant on the health of star striker, Mohamed Salah, who injured his shoulder in the Champions League Final against Real Madrid a few weeks ago. Salah is expected to play in the teams opening game against Uruguay on Friday, but may not be 100%. With Salah on the field, opponents will have to watch out for Egypt on the counter-attack as they could light up defensive back lines if they are not careful.

Another reason for optimism for Egypt to get through the group stages is that the competition within the group is the weakest amongst all of the groups assembled for the World Cup. Their group consists of the favorites to win the group, Uruguay, the host nation, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. It will be a battle between Egypt and Russia most likely for the second spot out of Group A. However if Egypt fails to make it out of this group it should be considered a disappointment for a side that has to makings to take the world by storm and make a run to the knockout stages.

Morocco

Another African nation that could make a surprise run in the World cup is Morocco. Morocco comes into the World Cup ranked #41 in the world, but faces a tall task of getting out of the group stages. They are in Group B, which also contains the likes of soccer superpowers, Portugal and Spain. Iran is also in the group who the Moroccans will face first this Friday to start off their World Cup campaign. Morocco’s high press run-and-gun style of play will force Portugal and Spain to be on top of their game when facing the Moroccans.

Morocco will also need stellar performances from their best player, Hakim Ziyech if they want any chance of advancing to the knockout stages. The 25-year old scored nine goals and had 17 assists for his club team, Ajax, this past season. Ziyech needs to make sure he puts his shots in the back of the nets as his 202 shot attempts over the past two seasons are 50 more shots than anyone else has taken in the top five European leagues. If Ziyech can’t put the ball on target it could be a quick exit from the World Cup for the Moroccans.

Peru

Peru comes into the World Cup ranked #11 in the world. Peru is happy to have their captain and main striker, Paolo Guerrero back in the lineup after his one year ban for cocaine was overturned. The 34-year old is crucial to his team’s success at the World Cup and he adds a serious boost up front in the goal-scoring department. With the talented youngster, Edinson Flores making plays for his strikers in the attacking half of the field, Guerrero will be looking to add to his all-time record goal tally for his country.

Peru resides in Group C where they will be in a battle for the second spot in the group with Denmark and Australia. France is heavily favorited to come out of Group C on top. If Peru were to come out of the group it would set up an interesting potential round of 16 matchup with fellow South American country Argentina. During World Cup qualifying, these two teams met twice with both games ending in a draw. Peru’s chances of making the World Cup will most likely come down to if their veteran backline will be able to play some stingy defense and keep opposing offenses from possessing the ball deep in their defensive half.

Iceland

Iceland comes into this World Cup ranked #22 in the world. They captured the hearts of many soccer fans all over the world during the Euro 2016 Championship when they shocked the world and made it all the way to the quarterfinals. On their path there they even defeated England in the Round of 16. They followed up that surprise run by winning their qualifying group, winning seven of their 10 matches. However, since the turn of the calendar year, Iceland has only won one game against Indonesia back in January. They have lost three of the last four after the Indonesia win. They most recently drew with Ghana 2-2 after holding a 2-0 lead at halftime.

Iceland will have a chance to advance because they are playing in a group with competition on their level. Argentina is the favorite to win Group D, while Croatia and Nigeria will battle it out with Iceland for the second spot in the group. They will need their star player, Gylfi Sigurdsson, to get back into good form after having a disappointing season with his club team, Everton. Sigurdsson only had four goals and three assists before missing the last six weeks of the season with a knee injury. Iceland has the grit and mental toughness to advance out of this group stage, but is the magic running out for this side after overachieving in the Euros 2016 and World Cup qualifying?

England

Like the other teams mentioned, England is a darkhorse in this tournament to make a deep run. Unlike the other teams, England is a darkhorse to win the whole tournament. England comes into the World Cup ranked #12 in the world. England has been on an impressive run of form recently having not lost a match since late 2017 when they were in very poor form. They have not lost a competitive match since their shocking defeat to Iceland in the Round of 16 at the Euros 2016. In recent friendlies, they have beaten World Cup-bound Nigeria and Costa Rica, while also defeating a strong Netherlands side.

The key to the success of this side will be if goalie Jordan Pickford is ready for the spotlight as England’s top keeper and can effectively replace Joe Hart. They also have a few young guys up top that had tremendous seasons and are looking to break out on the biggest stage of them all. Raheem Sterling lit up the Premier League this season scoring 18 goals for the champions, Manchester City. England also has Harry Kane up top who is one of the most in-form strikers in the world scoring 30 goals during the Premier League season for his club, Tottenham. If England can block out the noise of the recent disappointing World Cup campaigns, then this team could be destined to make a very deep run or even win the whole thing.

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In order to honor the two-year anniversary of the 2016 shootings at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, a group of student activists has organized a National Die-In. In addition, students and activists have been sharing images of the event on social media, of which we collected below.

What happened?

According to Mashable, high school students from across the country gathered around the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. While there, they fell to the ground for 12 minutes, around 720 seconds, in order to protest gun violence; the number 720 approximately represents the number of people who have died in mass shootings the Pulse Nightclub tragedy, which itself claimed the lives of 49 people.

Since around 12:00 P.M. local time in Washington, images of the protest have also appeared on social media, most often showcasing protesters lying on the ground, representing the dead. In addition, many images showcased posters listing the June 12 date and the goals of the protest.

June 12 was chosen as the date of the event as it had been the date of the Pulse shooting in 2016.

While the die-in took place at noon, the rally organizing the event took place at 10:30 A.M. local time.

Similar protests were expected to have taken place throughout the country

In addition, other similar protests are expected to take place throughout the United States. On Facebook, signs could be seen advertising similar protests taking place in Nashville and Tampa. In some areas, the site of protests focused on areas close to the offices of local politicians. A list of official sister events can be read on the following website.

The event was arguably in itself a national event; according to a GoFundMe page connected to the event, the National Die-In was organized by Amanda Fugleberg and Frank Kravchuk of Orlando, and Nurah Abdulhaqq of Douglasville, Georgia.

(Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

When our kids are in school, their textbooks will tell them the story of University of Virginia student Otto Warmbier. Or at least so says President Trump.

Otto Warmbier was a college student just like any other when he travelled to Hong Kong to study aboard, however, it was a decision he made while on that trip that changed the course of his life, and possibly the world, forever.

While in Hong Kong, Warmbier decided to take a five-day trip to North Korea with a China-based tour group called Young Pioneer Tours, who billed the trip as the one “you don’t want to tell your parents about.” On December 31, 2015, Otto and his group celebrated New Years Eve  Kim Il-sung Square before returning to the Yanggakdo International Hotel, where they continued to drink. Later that night, on January 1, 2016, Warmbier was seen on security camera trying to steal a propaganda poster in a staff-only section of the hotel. It was a decision that would cost him his life.

Warmbier was arrested for attempted theft while waiting at the airport to fly back to China. On March 16, 2016, Warmbier was tried and convicted for the theft of the propaganda poster from a restricted area of the hotel and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. It was the last time he would ever be seen fully conscious.

In April 2016, approximately one month after being sentenced, Warmbier suffered what was described as “severe neurological injury” from an unknown cause. However, North Korean authorities did not disclose the severity of his medical condition until over a year later, when they announced he had fallen into a coma as a result of “botulism and a sleeping pill”.

After 17 months in captivity — 14 of which were spent in a comatose state — Warmbier was released back to the United States on June 13, 2017, and was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center for immediate evaluation and treatment. Doctors found no evidence of botulism and were unable to identify the cause of the injury, finding no obvious evidence of abuse or torture physical torture.

Despite his return the American soil, Warmbier never regained consciousness and died on June 19, 2017. And according to our President, his death will not be in vain.

364 days after Otto Warmbier returned home, President Trump and Kim Jong-un met in Singapore for an historic summit to discuss U.S.-North Korea relations and the denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Of the many scenes and soundbites to come from the meeting, this quote was one of them:

“Otto Warmbier is a very special person and he will be for a long time in my life. His parents are good friends of mine. I think without Otto, this would not have happened,” President Trump told reporters at a news conference in Singapore.

“Something happened from that day, was a terrible thing. It was brutal. But a lot of people started to focus on what was going on, including North Korea. I really think that Otto is someone who did not die in vain. He had a lot to do with us today.”

And there you have it: Otto Warmbier tragically lost his life, but he may have changed the world in doing so.

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Anastasia Tarasova is a Russian model and one of the World Cup WAGs that you will want to be keeping an eye out for. The 24-year-old, who was born March 29, 1994, is married to Russian soccer star Dmitri Tarasov, who plays midfield for FC Lokomotiv Moscow and the Russian national team. During the Miss Russia 2014 competition, Anastasia, then Anastasia Kostenko, was the second runner-up as Miss Rostov Oblast.

Now, she stands out in the crowd as one of the most beautiful women in any stadium she graces.

Tarasova, who studied journalism at the Peoples’ Friendship University in Moscow, says that her hobbies include aerobics, classic Russian literature, and listening to The Beatles. She is also trained as a classical ballerina.

Expect to see Anastasia rooting on her husband in their home country when the 2018 FIFA World Cup kicks off with a match between Russia and Saudi Arabia on Thursday, June 14 Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

You can check out more photos of Anastasia in the gallery below. And to keep up with Anastasia on Instagram where she currently has nearly 630,000 followers, be sure to click the follow button.

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You have made it this far without getting disowned, so why not try to keep it up by spending a memorable day out with your dad? Dads tend to come in all shapes and personalities, so this list is meant to cover a wide range of dad interests to help you make the perfect plans for that big day. Should you play your cards right your dad may even still love you by the end of it, and maybe some memories will be made as well!

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Go Hiking

Nature is great because it’s free and dads everywhere seem to really enjoy it. Spend the day hiking through the woods while talking with your old man about the days of his youth, and should you guys run out of things to talk about you can always just pretend you’re too out of breath to speak.

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Playing Video Games

This one is for the more modern dads out there! Not all dads enjoy the outdoors or sunlight, so sitting down to play some video games is as good an option as any. Bond over shooting stuff together! Or if you’re dad isn’t into shooting things then… well I’ll be honest most modern co-op games involve at least a little shooting but I’m sure you guys will figure something out!

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Go Golfing

Another dad classic. For some reason swinging clubs on open green fields seems to connect with dads on a spiritual level, so why not take the old fart out for a round or two? Just try not to do too badly or he will be ashamed to be seen with you (not that I would know this or have experienced it first hand).

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Work On A Project Together

It can be anything really, but there is something special about working a project with your dad and getting it done. It can be one of the classics like building a birdhouse or a treehouse (or any sort of miniature wooden house really), or something more unique like when Terry Crews and his son built a gaming PC together. Whatever it is as long as you both work together you’re guaranteed to come out of the project closer than you were before, or potentially hate each other depending on how it goes, but hopefully, it’s the first thing!

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Anything That Involves Grilled Meats

whether it’s a family BBQ or going out to a nice steakhouse, if it involves grilled meats odds are that your dad will be on board. It doesn’t even have to be anything too fancy, some burgers made at one of the grills they offer at most local parks will do the trick, as in most cases a day spent with family and various meats is all that a dad want out of life.

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The Brewery

Dads love beer arguably as much as grilled meats, so the brewery is the perfect place to take the guy out on Fathers Day. They typically serve flights of beers where you can test out all the beers the brewery has to offer before choosing the one you want, so if your dad is a beer aficionado (or just likes getting a little drunk from time to time) this is the place to be!

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Cigar Lounge

This of course is for the classy dads out there who tend to enjoy the finer things in life. Cigar lounges are fairly common and easy to find, so if your dad enjoys taking a puff or two this is a great place to spend a few hours. They typically offer liquor as well, so if your feeling real fancy i’m told a nice glass of scotch and a cigar tend to go nicely together.

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Family Bonfire

Fathers Day is perfectly placed at the beginning of summer, so it would be a shame not to take advantage of this by ending the day with a family bonfire. It’s the perfect opportunity to tell old family stories as well as burn stuff which is really a win-win in my book (which I would also burn if I was at a fire).

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Just Leave The Guy Alone

In some circumstances, the best gift may just be peace and quiet. Leave the guy alone for once! Do whatever you have to to make it happen: wrangle up your siblings, take the family dog with you, basically just get everyone and everything out of the house so your dad can enjoy some peace and quiet for once. Now I will admit this might not be the best idea if your dad actually enjoys your company, but that’s really up to you to determine!

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It’s almost summer, finals are in full swing, everyone is planning vacations, work is stacking up for the start of a new season, how are we able to get a breath of fresh air? Work can pile up without us realizing it, and eventually, we see what we have to get done in a certain amount of time, and that stress us out. Stress is one of the leading causes of depression and lack of confidence. Sometimes, we don’t see that we are stressed because we are so busy with work. Now, instead of rushing through your work, take some time to relax and reprogram. Take some our tips of relieving stress and use them to your advantage.

Write It All Down

If you are one to have a mass amount of work piled up on your desk take some time to write what you need to get done. Leaving it to just your mind checking things off can lead to forgetting something important. It’s best to not have that “oh shit” moment. Write what you need to get done down the paper. Kind of like a checklist, it also helps to write it down from easiest to hardest. Get your easiest stuff done first and get the hard stuff done last. Allows yourself to have breaks, maybe after you get done with two or three pieces of work get some food or take a few minutes to unwind and regroup. This can be thought of as a reward for getting some of your work done. Gratitude can help relieve stress and anxiety by helping your mind focus on the good part of your work.

Meditation & Deep Breathing

In a mental state of stress, the body can become tense and start to panic when stress and anxiety levels rise. This can cause anxiety attacks, especially among women. By taking some time for deep breathing exercises and meditation sessions can allow the body to relax and lower that stress level. There are many breathing exercises and meditation sessions that range in different times. If you are tight on time, take 5 minutes for some deep breathing. If you have longer, relax and do some meditation.  The way meditation and deep breathing work is to relax the mind and put it in a mental state of focus. It allows you to be more aware and alert to your surroundings. It not only helps you to be more relaxed but does help your mind focus on the task at hand, ultimately feeling at peace.

Learn To Say “No”

Half of our stress can be controlled by merely saying “no.” A lot of what we are stressed about are our problems we put upon ourselves. Work builds up because we start to take on more than we can handle and the stress level rises, eventually leaving us overwhelmed. Don’t think to say no will hurt someone’s feelings or make you look like a bad person, it just means you have too much to do, and you also need to think about yourself. Take control of your life and take care of yourself first. It’s all about control, no one else can run your life. You are the only one who can take control.

Spend Time With Friends & Family

A big part of relieving stress is social support, especially from your friends and family. At stressful times all you want to do is be hugged and supported by the ones you love. It helps you know that you are wanted and allows you to have a sense of self-worth. Getting a quick pick me up from a simple text message or phone, even a quick lunch can up a person’s happiness. Clear some space to talk to your friends and family no matter if it’s a quick conversation or a long one, it will benefit you longer than you think.

Exercise

Exercise is one of the most significant and most essential stress relievers. Not only does it relieve stress and anxiety but you can become happier and feel better in your mind and body. Putting the body through a physical workout or physical stress can make your body relieve mental stress. Exercising on a regular basis can provide with more benefits than just stress relieving, such as better sleep, increase in confidence, and lower stress hormones. Performing daily activities like running, dancing, yoga, or lifting weights can be the answer to your stress. To relieve more stress focus on working on the larger muscle groups and doing repetitive movements.

FX

This season of Legion has been one action-packed gut punch after the other. The race to find the body of the Shadow King concluded last week in the penultimate episode when Amahl Farouk rejoined with his body (after possessing and leaving behind the bodies of both Melanie and Oliver in his wake). With two timelines about to converge, the apocalyptic world we’ve glimpsed in future takes could come to pass in tonight’s final showdown.

In the future timeline, we got the first glimpse of David sitting on a throne surrounded by skeletons, with Lenny — her mouth stained with blood — writing on the floor at his feet. This is Legion, the world-ender. Conversely, Future-Syd has no throne, she doesn’t even have both her arms anymore. Her future self’s insistence on David helping Farouk find his body all season would ultimately result in David’s demise. As Farouk puts it once he learns this from Future-Syd, “the villain is a hero and the hero is the villain.”

If David does defeat Farouk, his relationship with Syd is unlikely to survive. The two are both on separate paths now, in the present and the future. After the clips of David in full rage mode were shown to her by Melanie/Farouk last week, the person she sees is no longer the man she recognizes and loves. There’s no way David gets out of this season without some part of him being destroyed — my money’s on his heart.

So what can we expect tonight in the season finale now that Farouk has his body back and David is mentally unhinged? A part of David believes he is a god, above everyone, acting without thought or consequence. Can the future we saw be changed somehow, or does David embrace the extent of his mutant ability and truly become Legion. Will Syd betray him due to delusions of a future she has yet to live? One thing is for sure based on the official synopsis: David fights the future.

Check out the promo for tonights season finale below!

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Tabitha ‘Tabby’ Duncan, a 20-year-old Missouri waitress, was fired from her job after she was filmed in a SnapChat video talking about going ‘n****r hunting’. In the video, Duncan can be seen saying the racist comment while drinking a beer and riding on top of a pick-up truck. The 15-second video was posted to Facebook on Sunday, June 10.

Duncan, who spoke with the NY Daily News, said that she was with people she “barely knew” when she used the racist language. The Social Bar & Grill, the restaurant that Duncan works at in St. Louis, confirmed in a statement that it has “immediately terminated” the employee who made the “vile, disgusting and offensive video.” The Social Bar & Grill is located at 4265 Reavis Barracks Road in St. Louis, Missouri. 

“Social Bar & Grill and it’s owners have recently become aware of a vile, disgusting, and offensive video made by one of its employees. Upon learning of this, Social Bar & grill immediately terminated this employee as soon as they could reach her! The incendiary comments made by this employee absolutely DOES not represent the views, opinions, and politics of Social Bar & Grill and it’s owners. Noir will they be tolerated in any fashion. Social Bar & Grill and it’s owners continue to encourage and seek diversity in its restaurant,” the restaurant said in a statement on Facebook.

The Riverfront Times reports that Duncan recently joined the U.S. Air Force and that they are “looking into the matter.” While its not clear where the video was filmed, Duncan lives in Jefferson County.

You can read the United States Air Force’s full statement below:

“We have been made aware of a video online of an alleged reserve Airman who made racially insensitive comments. We are looking into the matter and we appreciate this being brought to our attention. The U.S. Air Force values diversity and inclusion; our Airmen come together to produce an incredible team that can accomplish any mission and overcome any challenge. We believe that our greatest asset is our diverse, innovative and technically-savvy workforce. Our Airmen come from all backgrounds and remarks such as these do not fall in line with our culture. We take incidents like this very seriously and action will be taken upon further investigation as necessary.”

Duncan claims that she is not racist and that she was intoxicated and that she has black friends. “I have black friends, I have black people in my family, I didn’t mean it. I didn’t know that I was being (recorded),” Duncan said.

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Noemie Happart is a well-known name in Europe. And soon, she is about to be introduced to an international audience when the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia kicks off on Thursday, June 18. Happart, who is 25 years old, is the girlfriend of Belgian soccer star Yannick Carrasco, who plays for the Belgium national team and Dalian Yifang of the Chiese Super League. When the cameras pan to the audience throughout the tournament, you can guarantee people will be scrambling to learn more about the blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty.

While Happart may be known to a wider audience now thanks to her relationship with Carrasco, she was a big figure in her home country far before.

Happart, who studies medicine at Liege University and knows three languages — English, Dutch, and French — was crowned Miss Belgium 2013. As a result of winning the crown and title, Happart went on to represent her home country in Miss Universe 2013 and Miss World 2013. Happart also won the title of Miss Liège 2013, which is the city in which she was born.

You can check out more photos of Noemie in the gallery at the top of the page. And to keep up with Noemie on Instagram where she currently has more than 77,000 followers, be sure to click the follow button.

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NBC Sports

After 14 years in the NHL, Alexander Ovechkin won his first Stanley Cup title last week and has been on a bender ever since. Whether it be swimming in local fountains or doing keg stands out of the Stanley Cup itself, Ovi has been living his best life since the Caps won the cup, and if his Championship Parade speech is any indication, he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

Ovi, the Capitals, and their loyal fans celebrated the franchise’s first Stanley Cup victory with a parade down Constitution Avenue that attracted tens of thousands of fans. The Capitals championship is Washington’s first major professional sports title in 26 years.

Despite the fact that the team has been partying for about five straight days now, the boys had plenty of energy left while giving their speeches to the Capitals faithful that were filling The Mall. Ovechkin, the team captain (who was the last player to speak), opened his speech as only he could: “What’s up babes?”

Then, before the team broke out their rendition of “We Are The Champions”, Ovi gave the crowd a parting word:

You can watch the Washington Capitals full Championship Parade below:

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