Bam Adebayo had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Norman Powell added 21 points in his return to Southern California and the Miami Heat held off the Clippers 120-119 on Monday night.
Powell was a key member of the Clippers for three seasons before being traded to the Heat before this season.
Andrew Wiggins scored 17 points and Kel’el Ware added 16 to help the Heat end a two-game losing streak and win on the road for the second time in five games. Miami is 1-2 to open a four-game trip.
James Harden scored 29 points and Kawhi Leonard added 27 as the Clippers lost at home for the first time in four games this season.
Ivica Zubac had nine points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers. Derrick Jones Jr., Bradley Beal and John Collins each scored 12 points.
The Heat shot 54.2% from the field and made 12 of their 25 three-point attempts to 50% for the Clippers, who were 17 of 41 from long range. The Clippers had 21 turnovers that the Heat turned into 37 points.
Miami led 120-116 after two free throws from Adebayo with 56 seconds remaining. Adebayo missed a shot inside with 26 seconds left and Harden made a three-pointer on the other end with 20 seconds left to pull the Clippers within a point.
The Clippers had a chance to win it, but Leonard missed a 26-foot step-back three-pointer at the buzzer.
The Clippers trailed by as many as 13 points in the third quarter before getting even 105-105 with 9:55 remaining on a three-pointer from veteran Chris Paul.
The host has confirmed she’ll be appearing on the iconic red sofa for a second week running and fans appear to like the change
BBC Breakfast has undergone a presenter shake-up(Image: (Image: BBC))
Presenter Emma Vardy has revealed she’ll be appearing on BBC Breakfast for the second week running. She first took over duties on September 2, where she confirmed she would be with her BBC Breakfast colleagues for a “while”.
After fronting Sunday morning’s instalment (September 7) with co-host Ben Boulos, Emma signed off by saying that she would be back on Monday morning (September 8).
During the closing moments, she expressed: “That’s all from us today but Breakfast will be back tomorrow from 6am. I will be there too, setting my early alarm clock for 4am.”
Ben then smiled before adding: “Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, have a great day. Goodbye,” as the iconic theme tune played.
Eagle-eyed fans were quick to comment on the shake-up as they flocked to X, with one writing: “Nice change, Emma Vardy and business school Ben this morning #bbcbreakfast.”
Emma Vardy will be back on the red sofa again tomorrow morning(Image: BBC)
Another said: “Emma Vardy is better viewing,” while someone else penned: “She is lovely Emma.”
Yet another asked: “#bbcbreakfast Has Emma Vardy replaced Northern Nina on Breakfast?,” and a fifth added: “Emma Vardy is great #bbcbreakfast.”
Emma’s equation with the BBC is long-running as she’s the broadcaster’s Ireland correspondent, covering Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
After revealing she would be appearing as an anchor for BBC rolling news back in May, the journalist told her fans on September 2 that they’d be seeing her on their screens a lot more.
She wrote on X: “Goooood morning!! I’m back with the @BBCBreakfast gang for a while. First day back at school vibes, been finding my coat peg and writing my name neatly at the top of scripts. Will see if @sallynugent wants to be my bf at lunch break.”
Naga Munchetty delivered some tragic news during Saturday’s instalment(Image: BBC)
Jon Kay and Sally Nugent usually host the show from Monday to Wednesday, with Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty leading the charge from Thursday to Saturday. Sunday editions of BBC Breakfast are usually presented by members of the stand-in presenting team.
Emma’s announcement comes after Naga was forced to deliver some sad news during Saturday’s edition of the show (September 6).
She confirmed: “14 minutes past six is the time. The founding member of the band The Turtles, Mark Volman, has died at the age of 78.”
Following a clip from one of their classic tracks, photographs of Mark flashed across the screen.
She went on: “The band was known for the number-one hits Happy Together and Elenore. Volman passed away yesterday after a brief and unexpected illness, according to his representative.”
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
Boeing has provided a new rendering for its F/A-XX proposal, and it’s remarkably similar to concept artwork that has already been released for its F-47, selected for the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) ‘fighter’ initiative. While it’s important not to read too much into declassified conceptual renderings of either of those aircraft, based on the artwork, the new art does, at least, correspond with Boeing’s previous hints that the F/A-XX and F-47 would incorporate significant commonality.
The new rendering of the F/A-XX proposal from Boeing was first shown at the Tailhook Symposium last week. The rendering was subsequently published by Aviation Week and is also seen at the top of this story. An F-47 rendering, for comparison, is seen below.
A rendering of the F-47 that the U.S. Air Force has released. U.S. Air Force
Like previous F-47 depictions, the new Boeing F/A-XX rendering obscures the aircraft in clouds but adds a Navy flattop below, befitting its role as a carrier-based tactical jet. The tail surfaces of the aircraft are fully concealed in clouds. Meanwhile, the aircraft’s ‘bubble’ canopy appears to be very similar to that presented in F-47 renderings. While the radome appears to be smaller and shorter than the notably wide one shown on the Air Force jet, this might be due to the viewing angle. Based on the angle of the wing leading-edge extension, it seems that the F/A-XX concept may well also include canard foreplanes.
As we discussed in an in-depth feature on the topic, canards were a surprising feature of the F-47 renderings that appeared once Boeing had been announced as the winner of the Air Force’s NGAD fighter program. In the F-47 renderings, the details of the canards are also deliberately obscured, but are clearly present.
Above all, canards are a feature that’s not immediately associated with an aircraft optimized for low observability (stealth), range, payload, and speed. Instead, this is a feature that’s normally included on tactical fighters on the basis of maneuverability.
First off, we should note that the new F/A-XX rendering might not include canards, and the degree to which the rendering may reflect the final Boeing design proposal remains open to question. There may also be some counter-intelligence work at play in the F/A-XX rendering, as well as those of the F-47, by pushing concept art that alludes to a prominent feature that the aircraft actually doesn’t have.
Another official U.S. Air Force rendering of the Boeing F-47, showing the canard foreplanes. U.S. Air Force
However, canards would be of particular benefit for a carrier-based aircraft like the F/A-XX. In this case, the foreplanes enhance low-speed maneuverability, which is especially important during carrier approaches and landings.
Since the tail is entirely hidden in the new F/A-XX rendering, we can’t comment with any degree of authority on this area. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that it’s widely assumed that the F-47 is a tailless design. Previous 6th generation naval fighter renderings from Boeing have also shown a tailless design. Such a configuration would help optimize stealth, although it would sacrifice some maneuverability. To mitigate this, Boeing may have opted to use thrust vectoring and/or canards for its F-47 and F/A-XX proposals.
A Boeing rendering of a notional next-generation carrier-based stealth combat jet. Boeing
Otherwise, based on what we already know about the F-47 and F/A-XX, the two aircraft are expected to offer somewhat different capabilities, over and above the carrier compatibility of the Navy jet. According toAviation Week, the F-47 is presumed to use an all-new adaptive powerplant, the F/A-XX will use a derivative engine, Navy officials have said.
While the Navy previously said that the F/A-XX would be optimized for extended range and survivability, more recent comments suggest its range may only be 25 percent greater than existing tactical jets. This may also be dictated, in part, by the constraints of carrier operations.
There are meanwhile signs that the Air Force might have scaled back its range requirements for the F-47, with the original NGAD fighter having been pitched as a ‘cruiser’ type aircraft with very long endurance suited to Pacific operations. The Air Force now says that the aircraft will possess a combat radius of “1,000+” nautical miles, a significant advance over other fighters currently in the inventory, but not the kind of extended range that many had expected for the Air Force NGAD, especially considering the need to confront advanced enemy air defenses in the decades to come.
An official Air Force infographic providing some basic data on the future F-47, alongside other crewed fighters and drones. U.S. Air Force
The new Boeing F/A-XX rendering appears soon after Northrop Grumman released a rendering for its own submission for the program, something that TWZwas first to report on.
The Northrop Grumman rendering notably doesn’t include canards, and its overall design appears to be heavily weighted toward stealth, including a flowing, almost organic design, with constantly changing radiused surfaces. Overall, the design has similarities to the passed-over YF-23. You can read more about it here.
A Northrop Grumman conceptual rendering for its submission for the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based fighter. Northrop Grumman
Overall, however, Boeing’s new F/A-XX rendering seems to underscore previous affirmations from the company that it would not have a problem building both the Navy and Air Force next-generation fighters.
Earlier this summer, Steve Parker, Boeing Defense and Space CEO, said he didn’t see a problem with his company building both the F-47 and F/A-XX, stating that this had been part of the strategy all along.
Parker’s comments came in response to questions raised by Navy and Pentagon budget officials about the U.S. defense industry’s capacity to produce the two new highly-advanced tactical jets simultaneously.
In particular, Boeing has invested considerable sums in developing a new Advanced Combat Aircraft Assembly Facility in St. Louis, Missouri, which should have the potential to build both aircraft, if the company’s F/A-XX bid is successful. Building the two types in parallel would be made even easier if they were based, at least somewhat, on a core design, with a high degree of commonality.
Another Boeing rendering of a notional sixth-generation crewed stealth combat jet for the Navy flying alongside an advanced drone. Boeing
In June, however, the Pentagon announced as part of the rollout of its Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal that it was moving to complete initial development work related to F/A-XX, but then froze the program indefinitely. It reasoned that it wanted to avoid competition for resources that could affect the Air Force’s F-47.
“They [the Navy] haven’t made a decision yet. So that’s what the down-select is. We’re waiting for the decision, and I’m not the decision maker,” Vice Adm. Cheever told TWZ last week.
Vice Admiral Daniel Cheever, Commander, Naval Air Forces/Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. U.S. Navy
Overall, there remains uncertainty around the F/A-XX. In recent months, other senior Navy officials have voiced support publicly for pressing forward with the program. Members of Congress have also been making moves to keep F/A-XX moving ahead as planned in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
“The Navy has a validated requirement for carrier-based sixth-generation aircraft, and it is critical that we field that capability as quickly as possible to give our warfighters the capabilities they need to win against a myriad of emerging threats,” Adm. Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations, the Navy’s top officer, wrote in response to a question about F/A-XX ahead of his confirmation hearing in July.
Not surprisingly, the Navy considers the F/A-XX as critical to ensuring its carrier air wings can continue to project power in the face of ever-growing threats, especially in any future high-end fight, such as one against China in the Pacific.
Ultimately, if the FA-XX program remains in purgatory, and the F-47 program meets its potential and planned timeline, the Navy could end up buying a navalized F-47 derivative with much lower risk and lower development cost. This might parallel the wait-and-see approach the Navy is taking with its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), compared to the Air Force (and, to a lesser degree, the Marine Corps). The Navy can capitalize on what is proven to work without investing major funds, but at the cost of waiting.
While we can’t say for sure how close Boeing’s new rendering will be to the company’s final F/A-XX submission, its appearance underlines the fact that the company is very much hoping to follow up its Air Force NGAD success with another sixth-generation fighter contract win, this time for the Navy.
The first call to prayer in Malumfashi, northwestern Nigeria, was barely finished when gunmen stormed the Unguwan Mantau area. It was around 5 a.m. on Aug. 19, and the small mosque was full of worshippers, old and young men, all bowed in devotion, when the attack happened.
It was a moment chosen for maximum shock and helplessness: none of the victims expected to be killed while praying for peace.
Mallam Umar Aramma, a local Qur’anic teacher and a survivor of the attack, says he remembers the silence before the gunshots and then people started running to save their lives.
“Many were instantly killed by gunshots,” he told HumAngle. “Others were rushed to the hospital with wounds, and some died there.”
Local officials first put the toll at 13. Within 48 hours, the figure rose to about 29 as more bodies were recovered from the mosque and nearby hamlets torched in the same raid.
Since the terrorist attack was reported, grief has mixed with an old debate across northwestern Nigeria, particularly on social media: whether to negotiate with the terrorists who have turned vast rural stretches into locations to be raided.
The federal government has quietly encouraged some Islamic clerics to explore channels with some commanders. Sheikh Musa Asadussunnah, one of the peace talk proponents, hasn’t explicitly mentioned this in his speeches, but sources confirmed to HumAngle that he has federal backing.
Earlier this month, the cleric delegation said their talks with the Zamfara warlord Bello Turji secured the release of 32 captives and a symbolic surrender of weapons. The accounts vary on the details and on the federal government’s role, but the message of engagement was clear.
Opinions have already been divided since the beginning of the engagement. However, the recent attack in Katsina has hardened many hearts against the idea of a peace deal.
For many, failed peace deals are not a distant history. In 2019 and early 2020, former Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State convened a series of accords with local terror leaders that included public ceremonies, photoshoots, promises of amnesty, and assurances that attacks would cease.
By June 2020, Masari publicly expressed his disappointment, accusing the gunmen of betraying the terms and resuming raids. “We’ve pulled out,” he said, adding that negotiations had failed to bring “lasting peace.” And the violence continued.
Zamfara, the epicentre of the northwest conflict, had the same experience. Governor Bello Matawalle’s 2019 amnesty and disarmament plan led to a temporary partial peace. Reports showed that the terror kingpins paused in some villages while expanding operations elsewhere or engaging in rivalry for space control.
By 2021, major attacks had reappeared; by 2023–2024, researchers tracking the conflict concluded the amnesty had failed in its central objective. Armed groups had diversified revenue streams, deepened cross-border logistics, and used the money to buy arms.
The pattern persists at the micro level. Recently in Adabka, Zamfara, HumAngle reported that villagers bought peace for nearly three years by funnelling payments to terrorists in a ransom-for-peace arrangement that collapsed this month with fresh abductions and killings.
The failure of such peace arrangements shows the bigger problem: They are unenforceable, unclear, and can always change due to the next grievance, the next terror group, and the next terror leader in charge.
But out of desperation, people, at a community level, still do them.
In recent weeks, since the beginning of the rainy season, some Katsina villages have seen the return of a localised peace deal. Community leaders in Jibia, Danmusa, Batsari, and Safana have explored or entered quiet pacts aimed at protecting farms and markets during the rainy season.
Even state officials, while insisting they are not negotiating, have acknowledged meetings with ‘repentant terrorists’ to enable access to farmlands. In Safana, local leaders announced a peace accord just days before the Uguwan Mantau massacre.
Why do peace deals fail?
Several reports have explained why these agreements keep failing. First, there is no single chain of command. The northwestern insurgency is a patchwork of gangs and entrepreneurial warlords who shift alliances and territorial footprints with the rains, the market for cattle, the gold mining sites, and security pressure.
Research has shown that a peace deal with one group creates economic and tactical incentives for others to attack. Conflict monitors warned as far back as 2020 that “partial peace” in one state often displaced violence into a neighbour. That remains true today.
Another problem is that the agreements lack credible enforcement. The Federal Government has not and cannot offer a strong stance large enough to bind dozens of decentralised terror commanders in the region.
When deals hinge on payments, safe corridors, or promises of non-prosecution, they risk rewarding coercion. When they hinge on community levies, they entrench protection rackets. When they hinge on the word of a single prominent warlord, they fall with his next strategic calculation.
Moreover, the deals often ignore the cross-border economies that keep the war profitable. Arms and motorcycles ride the same trails as cattle. Without plugging the border routes and illicit markets, de-escalation in one cluster is merely an intermission, not an ending.
Research mapping the terror economy across 2023–2024 shows how quickly groups adapt to bans and roadblocks by shifting to new corridors and taxing new commodities.
To many Katsina residents, these are not abstract critiques. They are recent history, lived twice. Liman Garba, a young man who lost his father in one of the terror attacks in Katsina, said any peace pact with terrorists will be meaningless as they continue to target civilians.
“People like us, whose father was killed right inside our home, and our mother and younger siblings were taken away after our father was murdered, we had to pay ₦10 million before our relatives were released. How can anyone say there should be reconciliation when you see the very person who caused your father to leave this world, and who also made you lose millions of naira?” he said.
Masari’s collapse of talks in 2020 is always in any conversation about peace with terrorists. People remember the promises, the ceremonies, and the resumed killings. Aramma, the Qur’anic teacher, told HumAngle that they no longer want any empty promises or failed peace dialogue; they want the state to stop the killings. “We prayed for protection,” he said, “and they met us at prayer.”
The clerical involvement
The federal government’s openness to clerical intermediaries is understandable. Clerics can go where officials cannot, and carry moral authority in a region where politicians are rarely trusted. Their recent shuttle diplomacy with Turji may have saved lives; 32 people are home because someone talked instead of shooting.
But the same week those headlines broke, Unguwan Mantau buried its dead. And across the northwest, countless families still pay “farming fees” to armed men so they can plant maize and millet. Tasiu Saeed, another resident of Zamfara, explained the contradiction.
“Reconciliation is a good thing. But to be honest, there is a big problem, because there has been no progress with reconciliation, since the terrorists do not stop killing people, even while talks are ongoing. They are traitors, so the government should focus on fighting them instead,” he said.
Does that mean talks are futile? Zainab Nasir, a youth leader in Kano, thinks otherwise. She explained that the answer may lie in redefining what “talks” are for.
According to her, any dialogue with terrorists “can only be meaningful if it is pursued with sincerity, strategy, and accountability.” She explained that the talks “should not be seen as a reward for violence, but as a pathway to lasting stability where both the dignity of the affected victims and the future of offenders are secured.”
However, the record suggests that peace talks are not, on their own, a path to lasting stability. When they are sold as such, they sour public trust. But when they are paired with transparent benchmarks, regional coordination, and blocking revenue streams, they can be a tactical component for lasting peace.
Back in Unguwan Mantau, Aramma said, since the attack, fear has engulfed people, and men no longer attend mosques in full. “Some do, many others don’t”. The fear is that while you may go there to pray for peace, you may be engulfed in the fire of violence. Aramma said they feel defenceless.
“The police came, took some report and left us asking ‘where is safe to pray?’”
Against this backdrop, the federal government’s symbolic outreach through clerics sits uneasily with public sentiment in the wake of Unguwan Mantau. “People are not rejecting peace,” Tasiu said, “they are demanding a strategy that can outlast a photoshoot.”
Saturday’s draw was particularly galling to Rangers fans considering Dundee arrived with a poor start to their season heaping pressure on their new head coach, former Rangers defender Steven Pressley.
Dundee, who managed just two attempts on goal in their opening Premiership defeat at home to Hibernian, had not beaten Rangers in their previous 17 meetings and had lost their latest 19 visits to Ibrox.
The passing style being adopted under Martin meant centre-half John Souttar attempted 131 passes in this game, the highest of any player in the opening two weekends, the team overall attempted 709, again the highest of any team, and their 20 goal attempts were highest too.
Yet they still relied on a penalty to rescue a draw and have now failed to win both of their opening two league matches for the first time since 1989.
Martin could understand the reaction of the home support.
“The fans have lacked the success they want for quite some time, so I understand the frustration,” he said. “I didn’t get too high on Tuesday, so we’re not going to get too low today.
“We are at a point now at this club where something needed to change.
“The ownership has changed, there’s a new coaching staff, there’s new players, there’s hopefully a new way of behaving in the training ground – properly, every single day, regarding standards and what’s expected at this football club. So it’s not a quick fix and this is not me coming out and making excuses.
“I think we change the manager from year to year and nothing really changes.
“So now it’s about really changing the culture and the feel of the club day in and day out. That will end up in a good outcome. Good process, good people, will always end up in a good outcome. But maybe not so quickly as everyone wants.”
EastEnders spoilers confirm horrifying scenes for one Walford legend, while the BBC soap also airs big decisions, worrying actions and two enemies appear to team up
EastEnders spoilers confirm horrifying scenes for one Walford legend(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
New spoilers for EastEnders have teased worrying twists and turns ahead for multiple characters.
There’s a violent showdown that leads to one favourite being rushed to hospital. One vile character is soon targeting others with his grim behaviour, while another teen finds himself in big trouble.
There’s a big decision to be made for one resident of Walford, while one married character is warned against his flirty behaviour with another man. One character, soon returning to the show, makes contact with their family, and two love rivals look set to unite.
Let’s kick things off with more drama ahead for troubled teen Oscar Branning, and it leaves one Albert Square legend in serious danger. Patrick Trueman fends off Oscar who has broken into his home, unaware he is the culprit.
Oscar is being threatened by thug Mike who he grassed up to the police. As things escalate, Mike returns and demands £5,000 in return for the Branning family’s safety.
New spoilers for EastEnders have teased worrying twists and turns ahead (Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Oscar initially tries to lure Ian Beale into a business deal to find the extra cash, but Ian refuses. Lauren Branning soon finds out what her brother has been up to, leaving Oscar seeking other means of getting the funds.
Oscar breaks into Patrick’s home to steal his bet winnings. He’s caught in the act though, leading to Oscar abruptly pushing Patrick to flee. But Patrick ends up falling to the ground, leaving him badly injured.
Patrick is left unconscious as the horror unfolds, with his partner Yolande Trueman unaware of what’s happening amid her row with her fiancé. Having called off the wedding over his betting, will she regret this when she realises Patrick is in a bad way?
With Patrick motionless on the ground, Oscar decides to leave him only for Howie Danes to return home and realise what’s happened. Oscar makes a run for it and Howie sees him, while he doesn’t see his face so is unaware it’s Oscar.
Yolande is inconsolable as she heads home to the horror unfolding, and soon Patrick is rushed to hospital. His family wait for news and the police arrive to take a witness statement from Howie, but will he be okay?
Lauren meanwhile is suspicious of Oscar’s behaviour, and his sudden concern for Patrick. He tries to flee Walford only for her to stop him in his tracks, confronting him with the stolen money.
One vile character is soon targeting others with his grim behaviour(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
He begs his sister to let him flee as she riles at him for his actions. But will Oscar be exposed? Elsewhere, Avani Nandra-Hart is still torn over her pregnancy amid her grandmother Suki Panesar’s plan to help raise the baby with her wife Eve Unwin.
Eve is still unconvinced by the plan next week and is desperate to hear from Avani what she wants, without Suki’s involvement. Eve supports the teenager at her 12-week scan, and after she and Avani lie to the family when Priya finds a receipt from the hospital in Avani’s jacket – but will the pregnancy be rumbled?
The baby’s father Joel Marshall, who has no idea about the baby, is back to his vile ways next week. Ross Marshall takes son Joel and his pal Tommy Moon to work at the timber yard but soon grows concerned for the boys when he overhears some of the language from other workers on the site.
That’s the least of his issues though, as Ross pales to receive a call from Joel’s mum. She informs him that she is getting remarried, and Ross faces having to tell Joel.
As Joel slips out to process the news, he’s soon stealing drink from the pub with Tommy only to be caught. As Joel’s stepmother Vicki Fowler and Tommy’s parents Kat and Alfie rage at the boys for their behaviour, everyone is shocked by what Joel does next.
Joel lashes out with derogatory language towards Kat leaving them all horrified, and soon he’s being lectured by Ross and Vicki. A moment later on that sees Ross trying to bond with his troubled son leaves him sickened though, as he makes a worrying discovery on Joel’s laptop and destroys the device.
There’s a big decision to be made for one resident of Walford(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
He’s cold towards his son in the fallout, and Vicki is later shocked to discover the real reason why Ross broke his laptop. She tells Ross to take action against Joel before his behaviour gets out of hand.
It leads to Ross sharing a heart-to-heart with Harvey in the café and the former is given food for thought. When Joel apologises to Kat, she allows him to hang out with Tommy. But it’s not long before Joel is showing his true colours again when Vicki and Stacey Slater bond over parenting and men.
Finally next week, Elaine Peacock is struggling without the pub and after a heart-to-heart with Yolande, she and love rival Cindy Beale join forces at The Albert. Cindy later offers Elaine the job of co-manager, so could there be a thawing between them?
Callum Highway’s flirting with Johnny Carter leads to him being warned by Jay brown, amid a call from his imprisoned husband Ben Mitchell. With Ben set to return to the show, will it all end in tears?
Netflix fans will spot a familiar face in the latest episode of its Trainwreck documentary series
Netflix fans will spot a familiar face in the latest episode of its Trainwreck documentary series(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Netflix enthusiasts will recognise a familiar face in the latest Trainwreck documentary series.
The anthology of Netflix’s Trainwreck revisits some of the most terrifying and peculiar incidents that once ruled mainstream media. The series and films, from their viewpoint, delve into everything from disastrous festivals and political scandals to and horrific cruises and reality TV catastrophes.
Today’s episode (July 22) was the Trainwreck P. I. Moms, which takes viewers back to 2010 and a reality TV show about a private investigation agency run by soccer mums. Commissioned by Lifetime Networks, the mums were a group of mothers who trained as private investigators for Chris Butler and it was set to air on TV.
The group investigated everything from exposing unfaithful husbands to insurance scams. However, the show never made it to air, reports the Mirror US.
Fans will recognise actor Carl Marino(Image: Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
In the documentary, cast and crew reveal the reality TV show and how Chris Butler was subsequently arrested on multiple felony charges.
At the conclusion of Trainwreck, it states: “On May 4 2012, Chris Butler pleaded guilty to selling drugs, extortion, robbery, and planting illegal wiretaps. He was sentenced to eight years in prison.”
According to Netflix’s Tudum: “In 2010, Lifetime commissions a reality TV series about a private investigation agency staffed by soccer moms. Everyone is convinced they have the next big hit on their hands, until the production crew starts to notice something is off.
“The moms’ investigations keep falling apart, leading to allegations of sabotage. At the same time, a mysterious informant accuses the agency’s boss of running an illegal drug operation on the side, abetted by a corrupt cop. For both the TV series and the criminals dealing drugs, it is only a matter of time before things fall disastrously apart.”
Trainwreck: P.I. Moms hears from Joanna Pernia and Theresa Moore-King(Image: Netflix)
Viewers will recognise a familiar face in the latest episode of Trainwreck. Actor Carl Marino, who was alleged to have “ruined” the show before it had the chance to get off the ground, makes an appearance.
But where might viewers have seen Carl Marino before?
Carl Marino portrayed a young Joe Kenda on Homicide Hunter. Homicide Hunter follows Lt Joe Kenda who spent 23 years in the police department where he caught criminals and solved hundreds of homicide investigations – and he shares his memories on the show.
However, fans will likely recognise Carl Marino from the Trainwreck documentary. One fan expressed their surprise on Reddit, saying: “I’m shocked and disappointed in Joe Kenda.”
Trainwreck: P.I. Moms is available to stream now on Netflix
Fans of System of a Down desperately hoping the Armenian American alt-metal band will one day release a full-length follow-up to their chart-topping 2005 companion albums “Mezmerize” and “Hypnotize” can at least seek some solace in the latest offering from band co-founder Daron Malakian. “Addicted to the Violence,” the third album from his solo project Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway, may lack System frontman Serj Tankian’s mellifluous singing, iconoclastic rants and feral screams, but its eclectic structure, melodic earworms, fetching vocal harmonies and poignant themes are sonically and structurally similar to System of a Down — and with good reason.
“All of my songs can work for either Scars or System because they come from my style and have my signature,” Malakian says from his home in Glendale. “When I wrote for System, I didn’t bring guitar riffs to the band. Like with [System’s 2002 breakthrough single] ‘Aerials.’ That was a complete song. I wrote it from beginning to end before I showed it to them.”
Malakian — who tackled vocals, guitar and bass — assembled “Addicted to the Violence” (out Friday) during the last five years, using songs he’d written over roughly two decades. The oldest track, “Satan Hussein,” which starts with a rapid-fire guitar line and features a serrated verse and a storming chorus, dates to the early 2000s, when System’s second album, “Toxicity,” was rocketing toward six-times platinum status (which it achieved nine months after release).
With Scars, Malakian isn’t chasing ghosts and he’s not tied to a schedule. He’s more interested in spontaneity than continuity, and artistry takes precedence over cohesion. None of the tracks on the band’s sporadically released three albums — 2008’s self-titled debut, 2018’s “Dictator,” and “Addicted to the Violence”— follow a linear or chronological path. Instead, each includes an eclectic variety of songs chosen almost at random.
“It’s almost like I spin the wheel and wherever the arrow lands, that’s where I start,” he explains. “I end up with a bunch of songs from different periods in my life that come from different moods. It’s totally selfish. Everything starts as something I write for myself and play for myself. I never listen to something I’ve done and say, ‘Oh, everybody’s gonna love this.’ For me, a song is more like my new toy. At some point, I finish playing with it and I go, ‘OK, I’m ready to share this with other kids now.’”
Whether by happenstance or subconscious inspiration, “Addicted to the Violence” is a turbulent, inadvertently prescient album for unstable times — a barbed, off-kilter amalgam of metal, alt-rock, pop, Cali-punk, prog, Mediterranean folk, alt-country and psychedelia — sometimes within the same song. Lyrically, Malakian addresses school shootings, authoritarianism, media manipulation, infidelity, addiction and stream-of-consciousness ramblings as dizzying as an hour of random, rapid-fire channel surfing.
Is writing music your way of making sense out of a nonsensical world?
I like to think of it as bringing worlds together that, in other cases, may not belong together. But when they come out through me, they mutate and turn into this thing that makes sense. In that way, music is like my therapist. Even if I write a song and nobody ever hears it, it’s healthy for me to make and it helps me work stuff out. When I write a song, sometimes it affects me deeply and I’ll cry or I’ll get hyped up and excited. It’s almost like I’m communicating with somebody, but I’m not talking to anyone. It’s just me in this intimate moment.
Is it strange to take these personal, intimate and therapeutic moments and turn them into songs that go out for the masses to interpret and absorb?
I want people to make up their own meanings for the songs, even if they’re completely different than mine. I don’t even like to talk about what inspired the songs because it doesn’t matter. No one needs to know what I was thinking because they don’t know my life. They don’t know me. They know the guy on stage, but they don’t know the personal struggles I’ve been through and they don’t need to.
Was there anything about “Addicted to the Violence” that you wanted to do differently than “Dictator”?
Different songs on the album have synthesizer and that’s a color I’ve never used before in System or Scars. Every painting you make shouldn’t have the same colors. Sometimes I’m like, “Will that work with the rest of the songs? That color is really different.” But I’m not afraid to use it.
[Warning: Video includes profanity.]
“Shame Game” has a psychedelic vibe that’s kinda like a hybrid of Strawberry Alarm Clock and Blue Oyster Cult, while the title track has a prog rock vibe redolent of Styx, Rush and Mars Volta.
I love all that stuff. I spend more time listening to music than playing guitar. It’s how I practice music. I take in these inspirations and it all comes out later when I write without me realizing it.
In 2020, System released the songs “Protect the Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz,” which you originally planned to use for Scars on Broadway.
At that time, I hadn’t recorded “Genocidal Humanoidz” yet, but I had finished “Protect the Land,” and my vocals on the song are the tracks I was going to use for my album. Serj just came in and sang his parts over it.
Why did you offer those songs to System when every time you tried to work on an album with them after 2010, you hit a creative impasse?
Because [the second Nagorno-Karabakh War] was going on in Artsakh at that time between [the Armenian breakaway state Artsakh and Azerbaijan], and we decided we needed to say something. We all got on the phone and I said, “Hey, I got this song ‘Protect the Land,’ and it’s about this exact topic.” So, I pulled it off the Scars record and shared it with System.
You released the eponymous Scars on Broadway album in 2008, almost exactly two years after System went on a four-year hiatus. Did you form Scars out of a need to stay creative?
At the time, I knew that if I wanted to keep releasing music, I needed a new outlet, so Scars was something that had to happen or I would have just been sitting around all these years and nobody would have heard from me.
You played a few shows with Scars before your first album came out in 2008, but you abruptly canceled the supporting tour and only released one more Scars song before 2018.
That was a really strange time. I wanted to move forward with my music, but we had worked so hard to get to the point we got to in System, and not everyone was in the same boat when it came to how we wanted to move forward. I just wasn’t ready to do a tour with Scars.
Was it like trying to start a new relationship after a bad breakup?
I might have rushed into that second marriage too quick. I had [System drummer] John [Dolmayan] playing with me, and I think that was [a sign that] I was still holding onto System of a Down. That created a lot of anxiety.
A few years later, you announced that you were working on a new Scars album and planned to release it in 2013. Why did it take until 2018 for you to put out “Dictator”?
I was writing songs and thinking they were amazing, but in my head I was conflicted about where the songs were going to go. “Should I take them to Scars? Is that premature? Would System want to do something with them?” I underwent this constant struggle because Serj and I always had this creative disagreement. I finally moved past that and did the second album, but it took a while.
“Everything we’ve experienced has brought us to where we are now. And now is all we’ve got because the past is gone and the future isn’t here yet. So, the most important thing is the present,” Malakian said.
(Travis Shinn)
System of a Down played nine concerts in South America this spring, and you have six stadium gigs scheduled in North America for August and September. Is there any chance a new System album will follow?
I’m not so sure I even want to make another System of a Down record at this point in my life. I’m getting along with the guys really well right now. Serj and I love each other and we enjoy being onstage together. So, maybe it’s best for us to keep playing concerts as System and doing our own things outside of that.
The cover art for “Addicted to the Violence” — a silhouette of a woman against a blood-red background holding an oversize bullet over her head, and standing in front of a row of opium poppies — is the work of your father, Iraqi-born artist Vartan Malakian. Was he a major inspiration for you?
My approach to art and everything I know about it comes from my dad, and the way we approach what we do is very similar. We both do it for ourselves. He has never promoted himself or done an art exhibition. The only things most people have seen from him are the album covers. But ever since I was born, he was doing art in the house, and he’s never cared if anyone was looking at it.
Do you seek his approval?
No, I don’t. He usually is very supportive of what I do, but my dad’s a complicated guy. I admire him a lot and wish I could even be half of the artist that he is. And if he and my mom didn’t move to this country, I would not have been in System of a Down. I would have ended up as a soldier during Desert Storm and the Second Gulf War. That’s my alternative life. It’s crazy.
Have you been to Iraq?
When I was 14 years old, I went there for two months to visit relatives and it was a complete culture shock. I’m a kid that grew up in Hollywood, and I went to Baghdad wearing a Metallica shirt and I was a total smart aleck. Everywhere we went, I saw pictures and statues of Saddam Hussein. I turned to my cousin and said, “What if I walked up to one of the statues and said, ‘Hey Saddam, go f— yourself?’” Just me saying that made him nervous and scared. Talking like that was seriously dangerous and I had no idea. That was a definite learning experience of what I could have been. And it inspired me later to write “Satan Hussein.”
You had a glimpse of life under an authoritarian regime. Do you have strong feelings about the Trump administration and the way the president has, at times, acted like a dictator?
I don’t hate the guy and I don’t love the guy. I’m not on the right, I’m not on the left. There are some things both sides do that I agree with, but I don’t talk about that stuff in interviews because when it comes to politics, I’m not on a team. I don’t like the division in this country, and I think if you’re too far right or you’re too far left, you end up in the same place.
Is “Addicted to the Violence,” and especially the song “Killing Spree,” a commentary on political violence in our country?
Not just political violence, it’s all violence. “Killing Spree” is ridiculous. It’s heavy. It’s dark. But if you listen to the way I sing, there is an absolutely absurd delivery, almost like I’m having fun with it. I’m not celebrating the violence, but the delivery is done the way a crazy person would celebrate it. So, it’s from the viewpoint of a killer, the viewpoint of a victim, and my own viewpoint. I saw a video on social media of these kids standing around in the street, and one of them gets wiped out by the back end of a car and flies into the air. These kids are recording it and some of them are laughing like’s it’s funny. I don’t want to say that’s right or wrong, but from what I’m seeing, a lot of people have become desensitized to violence.
You’re releasing “Addicted to the Violence” about six weeks before the final six System of a Down dates of 2025. Have you figured out how to compartmentalize what you do with System of a Down and Scars on Broadway?
There was a time that I couldn’t juggle the two very well, but now I feel more confident and very comfortable with where System and Scars are. I love playing with System, and I want to do more shows with Scars. I couldn’t tell you how either band will evolve. Only time will tell what happens and I’m fine with that as long as it happens in a natural way. Everything we’ve experienced has brought us to where we are now. And now is all we’ve got because the past is gone and the future isn’t here yet. So, the most important thing is the present.
At least 77% of UK travellers said at least sometimes revisit the same place they’ve been before. And seven in 10 of those who have ever gone back to a familiar location have also chosen to book the exact same accommodation at some point
09:00, 08 Jul 2025Updated 16:01, 08 Jul 2025
Four in 10 staycationers return to the same destination because they want to ‘play it safe’. (Image: SWNS)
A recent survey of 1,200 UK holidaymakers revealed that a whopping 77% tend to return to familiar destinations at least occasionally. Moreover, seven out of 10 (71%) of those who have revisited a place have even booked the same accommodation again.
The main reasons for this trend include the desire to experience a beautiful location once more (37%), relive joyful memories (31%), and enjoy the comfort of a second home (20%).
Nostalgia plays a big role in travel plans, with many intending to revisit specific beaches (48%), eateries (37%), or picturesque viewpoints (32%) this year.
The most favoured spots for a repeat visit are coastal areas (46%), rural retreats (37%), and camping sites (14%). Despite these preferences, over one-third (36%) believe that discovering new experiences is the highlight of a staycation.
Darren Whittington from The Camping and Caravanning Club, which conducted the study and developed a tool to help find your ideal staycation style along with a list of thrilling activities for your next holiday, commented: “We can be creatures of habit when it comes to our holidays, but there’s so much to see in the UK.
“Trying a new activity or taking up a hobby can elevate a holiday to one you’ll never forget. With UK holidays now making up 59% of all the trips we take, there’s a lot of opportunity to discover new places and things to do, creating memories that will last a lifetime along the way.
“And with the rising popularity of staycations, more and more people are realising how much the UK has to offer, whether you prioritise excitement or relaxation.”
More than eight in 10 (86%) agreed they enjoy trying new things when they go away. (Image: SWNS)
More than eight in 10 (86%) agreed they enjoy trying new things when they go away. And according to them, the best things about broadening their horizons include the opportunity to discover something new (62%), grow as a person (29%), and learn new skills (23%).
The research by OnePoll found new experiences also provide 47% time to bond with their family and 15% relish the chance to pick up a new hobby.
Respondents were excited to embark on adventures such as going on a cross-country road trip (24%), discovering a hidden gem (41%), and visiting sets from their favourite films or TV shows (23%). With activities they’re keen to try ranging from wild swimming (14%) and paddleboarding (13%) to mountain climbing and biking (12%).
Specific regions holidaymakers are most interested to explore are the Scottish Highlands (36%), Cornwall (36%), and the Lake District (35%). Where they aspire to uncover a variety of fresh attractions, including coastlines for leisurely walks (44%), heritage locations to expand their understanding (41%), and nature reserves to forge a deeper bond with the environment (26%).
Among those still hesitant about embracing novelty during their upcoming getaway, potential encouragements featured local pursuits they wished to experience (34%) and the opportunity to develop a new outlook on life (27%).
Darren continued: “There’s such a range of things out there to try – and it’s fantastic to see so many are already open to adventure. But for the one in 10 people who don’t enjoy trying new things while on holiday, we believe that the campsite is the perfect base to launch yourself into the incredible outdoors, try something new, and make this your summer of why not.
“Whether you’re drawn to the seaside, the mountains, the woods, or anything in between – there’s something out there for you to discover. It’s about time we break out of our routines and experience the full array of beautiful places and opportunities the UK has to offer.”
That leads nicely to England’s pace bowlers. Having opted to pick an unchanged side for Edgbaston, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue have now bowled 82, 77 and 81 overs respectively.
Mohammed Siraj is the only India quick to have bowled more than 62.
All three of England’s pacemen struggled at times in Birmingham. Woakes was not as threatening after his new-ball spell while Tongue has been played well by India’s top order and was not as successful against the tail as in the first Test.
Change will surely come at Lord’s given three days off is little time to recover and Jofra Archer is waiting in the wings.
Could England conceivably leave out all three?
Gus Atkinson, who has not played since May because of a hamstring injury, is back in the squad but it would be a risk to play Atkinson and Archer, who has bowled in two innings in a match once in four years, in the same XI.
Woakes, 36, may need a rest but England like variety in their attack and he averages 12.9 at Lord’s – the best of any bowler in Test history.
England would also need to replace his batting at number eight if he is left out – even more so if Carse, an able batter, was also absent at number nine.
Sam Cook is the Woakes replacement in England’s squad but does not offer that same batting depth.
Do not rule out bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton adding to his one Test cap, which was earned in 2022.
Between delicately assembling a pair of open-faced sandwiches in her comfortably stocked kitchen and carefully picking her wardrobe for an incoming visitor, Ruth (Kathleen Chalfant), an elegant older woman with intelligent eyes and a wry smile, looks like someone who enjoys hosting. Flirting too, if the hand she gently places on her lunch companion’s knee is any indication.
But there are signs that Ruth, an accomplished cookbook author, exists apart from the reality of the moment. Polite, patient, nervous Steve (H. Jon Benjamin) is not a date — he’s actually Ruth’s son, there to take her to a well-appointed retirement community where she’ll live under the observation of caregivers who specialize in memory care. But also, thanks to the power of “Familiar Touch,” it’s a place where she’ll be affectionately dimensionalized through the encouraging eyes of the filmmaker who created her, Sarah Friedland.
Friedland’s acute debut feature, drawn from her experience in the memory-care field, is a small miracle of realigned empathy, turning away from the condescension and easy sentiment of so many narratives about late-in-life adaptation. Instead it finds something infinitely more layered and meaningful, especially where Chalfant’s utterly commanding characterization is concerned.
Friedland doesn’t waste time letting us know she has more on her mind than rote family drama or a spotlight on medical suffering. The quiet car ride to the senior living home is marked by a closeup of Ruth’s hand turning on her lap as it’s warmed by the sun — a moment meant to prioritize Ruth’s sensorial experience. In the facility’s lobby, where we meet kindly caregiver Vanessa (Carolyn Michelle) and Ruth realizes she’s not at a hotel for a rendezvous but rather to be admitted to a new group home by a grown child she doesn’t recognize, the moment is as tension-filled as it needs to be.
Yet even that is offset by the composed normality of Friedland’s unhurried, attentive direction, seeding an understanding that what is new for Ruth (or new once more, since we learn that she herself had chosen the place in less-confused times) is, in practically every other way, a common occurrence. This is a rite of passage happening all the time everywhere and deserving of compassion.
Ruth’s awareness is fluid as she becomes accustomed to a life of assistance, tests, activities, neighbors and the unique connection between resident and caregiver. As the process unfolds, “Familiar Touch” reveals itself as a social procedural about a demanding healthcare profession, often staffed by people who can’t afford to place their own loved ones in such facilities. The movie demystifies what’s hard and rewarding about caregiving, thanks largely to Michelle’s incredible, nuanced turn as Vanessa. That thread is exquisitely interlocked with a sensitive, sharp portrait of the interiority of someone searching for agency while in the throes of dementia.
Friedland never ignores what’s upsetting about Ruth’s condition, especially the loneliness that might replace sleep in an unfamiliar bed, or the despair that triggers a nighttime escape. But by sticking to Ruth’s perspective, the camera attuned to every emergence of childlike glee, adult pleasure or sharp-witted flash of authority, we come to see a person, not a patient. Ruth’s swings of emotion and identity are multitudes to be uncovered and respected.
The mystery of Ruth’s mindfulness — which ebbs and flows — is at the core of Chalfant’s brilliant, award-worthy performance. Hers is a virtuosity that doesn’t ask for pity or applause or even link arms with the stricken-but-defiant disease-playing headliners who have gone before her. Chalfant’s Ruth is merely, momentously human: an older woman in need, but no less expressive of life’s fullness because of it. It’s a portrayal to remember, for as long as any of us can.
‘Familiar Touch’
Not rated
Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Playing: Opens Friday, June 27, at Laemmle Royal, West Los Angeles; Laemmle Town Center, Encino; Laemmle Glendale
Coronation Street is lining up big moments next week including a double exit for two fan favourites, a new love interest for Jason Grimshaw who is a familiar face and there’s a big return
00:01, 27 May 2025Updated 00:02, 27 May 2025
There’s huge scenes ahead next week on Coronation Street including a double exit(Image: ITV)
There’s huge scenes ahead next week on Coronation Street including a double exit, that could lead to a further departure, as well as some discoveries.
We will also see a comeback for one resident, a forbidden kiss and some big decisions to be made. First up next week it’s the big exit for Eileen Grimshaw, as actress Sue Cleaver bows out after 25 years.
Her final episodes on the ITV soap air next week as she decides to leave Weatherfield. She’s offered a great opportunity by her returning son Jason Grimshaw, played by Ryan Thomas, with him also set to leave again.
But will Eileen’s partner George Shuttleworth leave with them, or will they split for good? Amid Eileen still facing accusations over her sister Julie Carp’s recent death, an insurance scam mentioned in an article leaves her and George concerned.
Someone’s behind the article and they’re keen to find out who it was. Later on Jason suggests to his mother that she moves away with him to Thailand to be his business partner but what will she say?
We will also see a comeback for one resident, a forbidden kiss and some big decisions(Image: ITV)
She’s tempted but tells Jason George would never move to Thailand, while George soon informs her he’s prepared to move to Thailand and he’s booked them a holiday to test it out. A comment from Theo Silverton soon leaves Eileen making a decision, as George fears for his relationship.
An update from the police reveals the case into Julie’s death is closed, and with that she decides she’s going to take Jason up on his offer, invest in his bar and move to Thailand. With that Eileen says her goodbyes and leaves Weatherfield, but will George be joining her?
Before Jason goes, he manages to squeeze in a bit of romance and it’s with a familiar face. He chats up Danielle unaware she’s the wife of Theo, who Jason’s brother Todd is now seeing. When Danielle realises who Jason is she’s shocked, but will she spill the beans and what will she do next?
There’s trouble with Carl Webster next week too, and soon Tracy Barlow is flirting with him. Carl is continuing his dodgy dealings with Fiona, while their meeting leaves Abi Franklin clearly jealous despite her being married to Carl’s brother Kevin Webster.
Coronation Street is lining up big moments next week(Image: ITV)
Carl is soon flirting with Tracy once more and is trying to rile up Abi, who decides to issue Tracy a warning. Carl confronts her and accuses her of fancying him. Abi denies it and threatens to tell Kevin if he doesn’t back off, but she’s shocked when he leans in for a kiss – so how will she respond?
There’s also a return next week as Dylan Wilson is released from the STC. With that he’s making threats to former inmate Brody Michaelis, telling him he needs to watch out before following him to the ginnel.
When Brody starts on Betsy Swain, Dylan races to her rescue and it’s not long before things get heated. Elsewhere, Tim Metcalfe secretly plots a fostering meeting and as a social worker arrives, his wife Sally Metcalfe is stunned to realise what is going on.
Soon Sally is venting to Glenda Shuttleworth, revealing her worries that she and Tim are too old to foster. Finally next week Debbie Webster snaps when she gets into trouble at the shop amid her split from Ronnie Bailey. But when she sees him with Leanne Battersby later on she’s clearly hurt.
A beautiful UK seaside village has been named the best staycation destination for Brits this spring – but it’s not just the charming streets and pubs that keep visitors coming back
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Port Isaac is a must-visit for 2025 according to a new study(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A charming village in Cornwall has been named the UK’s best staycation destination for spring, and it’s not difficult to see why.
Nestled amidst green hills and boasting a sandy beach, Port Isaac in Cornwall is already a firm favourite with tourists wanting to make the most of the Cornish coast, away from some of the larger beachside spots that can become home to large crowds during the summer.
Research conducted by Sykes Holiday Cottages unveiled the fishing village as Brits’ top must-visit for a staycation in spring 2025, thanks to its picturesque location, great eateries and abundance of accommodation. Although it’s no hidden hotspot – there are plenty of visitors who flock there during the summer months – in spring and autumn it can be a little quieter, making it ideal for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle found in other holiday spots.
Doc Martin fans may recognise the village(Image: Getty Images)
Known for its narrow and winding streets (keep an eye out for Squeezy Belly Alley – one of the narrowest passageways in the UK, measuring only 18 inches wide), you’ll find plenty of charming boutiques, pottery shops, pubs and restaurants tucked away amidst the whitewashed cottages that the village is renowned for, not to mention everything is a short walk away so you can make the most of a short break. That’s no doubt one of its selling points, as the research revealed that 22% of Brits are generally looking to make the most of their limited annual leave by taking shorter, more frequent trips in the UK.
TV fans may also recognise the quaint spot as it doubled up as Port Wenn in BBC show Doc Martin. Visit Cornwall has a useful guide to some of the main locations such as Fern Cottage, aka Doctor Ellingham’s surgery, the Liberal Club which served as the location for the local shop, and the Golden Lion Pub which doubled up as the Crab & Lobster in the series. You can even take a guided walking tour of the village that ensures you won’t miss the highlights, not to mention you can learn plenty of fun behind-the-scenes tidbits.
As for those all-important coastal walks, Port Isaac boasts a location right on the South West Coast Path, with a few shorter walks for those who don’t want to have to grab all of their hiking gear, but would still like to enjoy a leisurely stroll to take in the views.
Sykes Holiday Cottages’ Short Breaks Tester, Charlotte, headed to the breathtaking destination to see if it lived up to the hype, and was clearly enthralled by what she found. “I gave up counting how many times we said, ‘Wow’ – every angle in Port Isaac is picture perfect,” she explained. “We headed up the other side of the harbour and into the fields that lead to the South West Coast Path.”
Like pretty much every other time the Dodgers have found themselves in a self-made mess, the task of downplaying a major problem once again was made the responsibility of manager Dave Roberts.
The point relayed by Roberts was basically this: Sasaki underwhelmed in his eight major league starts because of a shoulder pain that he kept secret from the Dodgers “for the last weeks,” and not because the 23-year-old rookie right-hander wasn’t as good as they previously thought.
“He hasn’t been as productive as he would have liked because he was compromised,” said Roberts, who added that Sasaki revealed his condition to the team after his most recent start.
The explanation raised an equally alarming possibility, however.
If Roberts’ story was accurate, and Sasaki experienced a shoulder impingement to the one that slowed him down last year in Japan, wouldn’t that point to a chronic problem?
As it was, Sasaki was already viewed as a high injury risk. He never remained healthy for an entire season with the Chiba Lotte Marines.
At this point, what’s worse? That Sasaki’s lack of control and decline in fastball velocity were because of a chronic shoulder issue? Or because he just was too raw to compete in the major leagues?
Either scenario would be problematic.
So, what now?
As much as the Dodgers sold Sasaki on how they could one day guide him to a Cy Young Award, his future isn’t their only priority. They also have to consider what’s best for their team, which is positioned to become baseball’s first repeat champion in a quarter century.
Even if the Dodgers acknowledge that Sasaki is more of a long-term project than a short-term solution and want to send him to the minor leagues when he returns, they might not have the luxury of doing so. They have signed four potential frontline pitchers in the last two years, and three of them are currently on the injured list — Sasaki, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. The other, two-way player Shohei Ohtani, isn’t expected to pitch until after the All-Star break.
Snell was examined by a team doctor on Tuesday but the team didn’t provide any details about his condition. Glasnow played catch but Roberts didn’t provide a timeline for his return.
The rotation is in such a state of ruin that not only were the Dodgers forced to start Landon Knack on Tuesday, they were desperately awaiting the return of 37-year-old Clayton Kershaw four days later.
Roberts described Sasaki’s injury as “benign” but didn’t say when he might resume throwing. The manager insisted there were no thoughts of sending him to the minors, despite Sasaki posting a 4.72 earned-run average and completing six innings in just one start.
“I think our goal is to get him healthy, get him strong, make sure his delivery is sound for him to pitch for us,” Roberts said.
In other words, Sasaki will return to the mound in the major leagues. He will have to gain familiarity with low-quality American baseballs in the major leagues. He will have to become more comfortable with the pitch clock in the major leagues. He will have to strengthen his body to prevent future injuries in the major leagues. He will have to learn to throw something other than a fastball, forkball and slider in the major leagues.
The Dodgers knew Sasaki would require an adjustment period but they couldn’t have imagined anything this drastic.
The introductory news conference they staged for Sasaki in January was matched in scale in recent years only by Ohtani’s and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s. That was where president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman declared Sasaki would start the season in the Dodgers’ rotation and general manager Brandon Gomes compared him to Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Back then, the Dodgers’ plan for Sasaki was simple: Insert him into the rotation and watch him develop into one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Sasaki can still become everything the Dodgers envisioned, but his path to greatness has become infinitely more complicated. Roberts remained characteristically upbeat, saying Sasaki concealed his shoulder problems from the team not because he was selfish but because he didn’t want to let down an injury-ravaged team.
“He’s a great teammate,” Roberts said.
With his rotation crumbling, Roberts didn’t have the luxury of viewing the situation any other way.
