I feel that a lot of what circulates in the liberal media bubble is shaped by the fact that most of the writers have never faced eviction, have never been threatened by a rogue cop or an enemy soldier, have never lost the family farm, have never been required to choose between dignity and safety, have never been told that they have to revise their viewpoints if they want to keep a job that they need to survive. You don't understand our priorities, and you simply don't see most of the country; you've banished us for being too uncouth, and we've become invisible. At least until you need someone to make your food, fix your car, or deliver your packages. You simply can't grasp how residually angry people are, how silenced they feel, or how much we need action and meaningful solutions. Yes, this includes the specific anger of women and the specific anger of minorities. Obviously. But why should we be angrier with Trump than with the Democrats?... Jesse Lee

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Oscar Fairs from Benfleet, Essex, was diagnosed with a rare 7cm ependymoma brain tumour in August 2023 and underwent seven surgeries, one round of chemotherapy and one round of radiotherapy to be told palliative care was the only option. A GoFundMe page was set up to help the family raise £100,000 towards a treatment trial in France. It is with deep and profound sadness that West Ham United confirm the tragic passing of our U15s Academy goalkeeper Oscar Fairs, following his brave battle with cancer. Rest in peace, brave Oscar. — West Ham United (@WestHam) December 13, 2024 West Ham footballers donated £27,000, chairman David Sullivan donated £10,000 and Arsenal footballer and former West Ham star Declan Rice gave £5,000, according to Ms Fairs. On Friday, West Ham announced that the 15-year-old had died. Sporting director Mark Noble said: “Oscar was adored by everyone at the Academy – not only was he a great goalkeeper, he was a true Hammer and a fantastic young person, who will be deeply missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know him. “I have wonderful memories of Oscar playing in my garden – (my son) Lenny and his teammates all loved him. “He was a friendly, happy, well-mannered and polite young man, who had such a bright future ahead of him, and it is just so unimaginably devastating that he has been taken from his family and friends at this age. “The thoughts and sincere condolences of everyone at the Club are with Oscar’s parents, Natalie and Russell, and his brother Harry, and we kindly ask that the family’s privacy is respected at this extremely difficult time.” All scheduled Academy fixtures over the weekend have been postponed as a mark of respect.Teenage West Ham goalkeeper dies aged 15 after cancer battle

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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — For the first time in seven years, the No. 21 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks will play in the 24-team Football Championship Subdivision playoffs! NAU, which finished the regular season with 8-4 record and 6-4 record in the Big Sky Conference, showed the FCS Playoffs selection committee they deserved a spot as they closed out the regular season on a tear winning their last five games. The Lumberjacks were not one of the 16 teams given an official seed and will travel to Abilene, Texas to play No. 15 seed Abilene Christian on Saturday, Nov. 30. Kickoff for that game is scheduled to be at 1 p.m. Arizona time and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. If NAU is able to pull the upset and defeat Abilene Christian, then a tough test will await in the second round against No. 2 North Dakota State. This is the seventh time NAU will make an appearance in the playoffs. They have only advanced past the first round once, in 2003, when they were eliminated in the quarterfinals. NAU's last playoff appearance was in 2017. The Lumberjacks lost to San Diego, 41-10, in the first round that year. This will be just the second time NAU will play a football game against Abilene Christian, according to NAUAthletics.com . The last time they met on the gridiron was on Sept. 6, 2014, and NAU won that game, 27-21. The FCS national champion will be crowned on Jan. 6, 2025, in Frisco, Texas. South Dakota State, which was given the No. 3 seed this year, is the two-time reigning national champion. The full FCS Playoff bracket can be seen in the images below. Arizona sports The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix. The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises. 12Sports on YouTube Get the latest news and stories from 12Sports on the 12News YouTube channel. And don't forget to subscribe!Brad Pitt Stuns Fans with Dramatic Scene at Las Vegas Grand Prix

In 2024, Canadians can contribute up to 18% of their earned income from the previous year to their Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), with an annual maximum of $31,560. This figure is indexed to inflation, which means it increases slightly each year to keep pace with the cost of living. The RRSP is one of Canada’s most effective tools for retirement planning, allowing individuals to save for the future while enjoying tax benefits today. The flexibility of contributions, paired with the ability to defer taxes on investment growth, makes it an attractive option for Canadians looking to secure their financial future. So, how should you get started? Savings and gains The primary benefit of contributing to an is the immediate tax deduction. For instance, if you earned $100,000 in 2023 and contributed $20,000 to your RRSP, your taxable income would be reduced to $80,000. This could result in significant tax savings, depending on your tax bracket. Furthermore, investments held within an RRSP grow tax-free, meaning you don’t pay taxes on dividends, interest, or capital gains while the money remains in the account. Taxes are only applied when you withdraw funds, typically during retirement, when your income (and tax rate) is often lower. If you’re looking for a strong investment option to include in your RRSP, consider ( ). NWC is a prominent Canadian and grocery chain with operations in some of the most remote and underserved regions of Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, and even parts of the Caribbean and Oceania. This unique geographic footprint allows the company to enjoy relatively low competition and stable demand, making it an excellent choice for long-term, resilient growth. Financially, NWC has shown consistent performance. As of October 2024, the company boasts a market capitalization of $2.5 billion. The company’s beta of 0.65 indicates lower volatility compared to the broader market – thus making it an appealing option for conservative investors seeking stability within their RRSP portfolios. The numbers NWC’s recent earnings report also underscores its strength. The company recently reported 4.6% year-over-year growth in revenue, reaching $616.9 million. Higher same-store sales drove this increase in its Canadian operations, as well as the positive impact of new store openings. Net income experienced a slight year-over-year decline of 4%. Yet the company’s operating cash flow of $258.3 million highlights its robust ability to generate cash and fund future growth initiatives. Another compelling aspect of NWC is its commitment to returning value to shareholders through dividends. With a forward annual dividend rate of $1.60 per share and a yield of 3%, NWC offers investors a steady income stream. Its payout ratio of 56.9% suggests that the company retains enough earnings to reinvest in its business while rewarding shareholders. Notably, NWC has a history of sustaining and growing its dividend, making it a reliable choice for income-focused investors. Looking ahead, NWC is well-positioned for continued success. The company has been actively pursuing strategic initiatives to improve operational efficiency and expand its market reach. Its focus on meeting the unique needs of underserved communities gives it a competitive edge, particularly as these markets tend to be less affected by economic downturns. Plus, NWC’s ability to adapt to changing consumer trends, such as increasing demand for online grocery services, further supports its positive outlook. Bottom line Including a company like NWC in your RRSP offers a blend of stability and growth potential. The stock’s beta ensures it doesn’t experience wild market swings. Yet its strong financial fundamentals and reliable dividend payments make it a cornerstone investment, especially for those building a retirement portfolio. When combined with the tax-deferred growth of an RRSP, NWC becomes an even more attractive option for long-term investors.

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AP Top 25: Alabama, Mississippi out of top 10 and Miami, SMU are in; Oregon remains unanimous No. 1 Alabama and Mississippi tumbled out of the top 10 of The Associated Press college football poll and Miami and SMU moved in following a chaotic weekend in the SEC. Oregon is No. 1 for the sixth straight week and Ohio State, Texas and Penn State held their places behind the Ducks. The shuffling begins at No. 5, where Notre Dame returned for the first time since Week 2 after beating Army for its ninth straight win. No. 6 Georgia and No. 7 Tennessee each moved up two spots. Miami, SMU and Indiana round out the top 10. Jannik Sinner leads Italy past the Netherlands for its second consecutive Davis Cup title MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Jannik Sinner clinched Italy's second consecutive Davis Cup title and capped his breakthrough season at the top of tennis by beating Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (2), 6-2 for a 2-0 win over the Netherlands in the final of the team competition in Malaga, Spain. Matteo Berrettini won Sunday's opening singles match 6-4, 6-2 against Botic van de Zandschulp. The Italians are the first country to win the Davis Cup twice in a row since the Czech Republic in 2012 and 2013. The No. 1-ranked Sinner stretched his unbeaten streak in singles to 14 matches and 26 sets. Netherlands reached the Davis Cup final for the first time. Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83 NEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83. Mark Young, Woolery’s podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. He teamed up with Young for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and became a full supporter Donald Trump. St. Louis Blues fire Drew Bannister and hire Jim Montgomery as coach The St. Louis Blues have fired coach Drew Bannister and hired Jim Montgomery as his replacement. The 2022 Jack Adams Award winner, Montgomery joins the Blues five days after he was fired by the Boston Bruins. Bannister had been on the job in St. Louis for less than a year since succeeding Stanley Cup-winning coach Craig Berube and getting the interim tag removed after last season. The Blues have lost 13 of their first 22 games. Montgomery spent two seasons as an assistant on Berube's staff in St. Louis between coaching Dallas and Boston. The team signed Montgomery to a five-year contract. Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title with the Atlanta Braves, dies at 85 Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball, the players’ association and the Braves have paid tribute to Carty on social media. A family friend told Listín Diario — a newspaper in Carty’s native Dominican Republic — that he died Saturday night in an Atlanta hospital. Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise’s first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh. Dartmouth sorority, two members of fraternity face charges after student who attended party drowned HANOVER, N.H. (AP) — A sorority at Dartmouth College and two members of a fraternity faces charges related to the death of a student who drowned after attending an off-campus party. The Hanover, New Hampshire police department, where Dartmouth is located, said Friday that Alpha Phi was charged with one count of facilitating an underage alcohol house. Two members of the Beta Alpha Omega face a charge of providing alcohol to a person under 21. Won Jang, 20, of Middletown, Delaware, had attended an off-campus party in July hosted by Alpha Phi sorority. Police said the alcohol was provided by Beta Alpha Omega. Tens of thousands of Spaniards protest housing crunch and high rents in Barcelona BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Tens of thousands of Spaniards are marching in downtown Barcelona to protest the skyrocketing cost of renting an apartment in the popular tourist destination. Protesters cut off traffic on main avenues in the city center, holding up homemade signs in Spanish reading “Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living." The lack of affordable housing has become one of the leading concerns for the southern European Union country, mirroring the housing crunch across many parts of the world, including the United States. The average rent for Spain has doubled in the last decade. In cities like Barcelona, rental prices have also been driven up by short-term renters including tourists. Verstappen captures 4th F1 championship after Mercedes sweep of Las Vegas Grand Prix LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen cruised to a fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship Saturday night by finishing fifth in the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Verstappen needed only to finish ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren to give Red Bull a fourth straight driver championship. The Dutchman started fifth but was already up to second by the 10th lap around the street circuit that includes the famed Las Vegas Strip. Norris, who had to score at least three points more than Verstappen to extend the championship fight, finished sixth. The race was won by George Russell who was followed by Lewis Hamilton in the first 1-2 sweep for the Mercedes drivers since 2022. 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts NEW YORK (AP) — “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” have debuted in theaters with a combined $270 million in ticket sales. Their worldwide performance breathed fresh life into global box office results that have struggled lately. Together the films turned the moviegoing weekend into one of the busiest of the year. Jon M. Chu’s lavish big-budget musical “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally. Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” is a sequel to his 2000 best picture-winning original and launched with $55.5 million in ticket sales. “Moana 2” is being released Wednesday, so it looks like Hollywood might be looking at historic sales over the Thanksgiving holiday. Jason Kelce's wife announces she is pregnant with the couple's fourth child Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce's wife is announcing she's pregnant with the couple's fourth child. Kylie Kelce posted a photo on Instagram on Friday of the couple's three young daughters reacting to the news. The oldest daughter, Wyatt, appears to be cupping her head in shock. The middle daughter, Ellioette, is smiling. The youngest, Bennett, is in tears. A caption attached to the photo reads: “I feel like we captured a very accurate representation of how each of the girls feel about getting another sister. At least Ellie, mom and dad are on the same page!”

(BPT) - Tech gifts are consistently some of the most popular presents to give and receive during the holidays. In fact, according to the annual Consumer Technology Holiday Purchase Patterns report , a record 233 million U.S. adults (89%) will buy tech products during the 2024 holiday season. But with so many devices out there, it can be hard to decide on the perfect option for the loved one on your list. A tablet like the new Fire HD 8 from Amazon offers the versatility of an all-in-one device, with access to streaming, gaming, video chatting, reading or writing all at your fingertips. Fire HD 8 also features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design, for high-quality entertainment on the go. Plus, Fire HD 8 comes with three new AI features that can help you get the most out of your tablet experience. Check them out below and learn how they can help you with daily tasks this holiday season and beyond. 1. Meet your personal writing assistant Do you struggle with writing a heartfelt message or finessing a tricky email? Fear not! Writing Assist is here to help. Writing Assist works as part of your Fire tablet's device keyboard and compatible apps, including email, Word documents and social media. In just a few taps, you can transform your writing from good to great. Try Writing Assist's pre-set styles to turn a simple email into a professionally written note. Or, you can ask Writing Assist for grammar suggestions to make your writing more concise, or elaborate on your ideas. You can even "emojify" your writing to add more fun and personality. 2. Learn more in less time Say goodbye to scrolling through pages of information. The new Webpage Summaries feature allows you to learn pertinent information as quickly as possible. Available on the Silk browser on Fire tablets, Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles. In a matter of seconds, this feature will distill the key points in an article or on a webpage into a clear, concise summary of what you need to know. 3. Get creative with your device wallpaper With Wallpaper Creator, you can easily add a touch of creative flair and customization to your tablet's home screen. You can choose from one of the curated prompts to get started on creating a unique background. Or, if you're ready to let your imagination run wild, type a description of what you'd like to see. For example, you can ask for an image of a tiger swimming underwater or a watercolor-style image of a desert landscape in space. Wallpaper Creator will then turn your vision into a reality, delivering a high-resolution image that you can use as your tablet's wallpaper. Celebrate an AI-powered holiday season Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator are now available on Amazon's new Fire HD 8 and other compatible Fire tablet devices, including the latest Fire HD 10 and Fire Max 11 tablets. To learn more, or to order a new Fire tablet this gift-giving season, visit Amazon.com .The Natasha Jonas vs Ivana Habazin live stream is the highlight of a huge night of women's boxing in Liverpool, with the respective fighters' IBF and WBC welterweight titles on the line. It should be a fascinating bout so read on below to find out how you can watch Jonas vs Habazin live streams from anywhere with a VPN , and potentially for free . Now 40, Jonas continues to go from strength to strength. The first female British boxer to compete at an Olympics , Miss GB was in a fight-of-the-year contender last time out in January after outpointing Mikaela Mayer to retain her IBF welterweight belt and has been on an upward curve ever since losing a close decision to Katie Taylor in May 2021. The Scouser, who famously boxes to make her young daughter Mila proud, has quick hands and has settled at the weight. Habazin, meanwhile, feels disrespected in the build-up to the fight. The Croatian lost to Terri Harper – who has a draw on her record with Jonas – for the WBA light middleweight title in May 2023 but beat Kinga Magyar earlier this year to pick up the vacant WBC welterweight crown. With the WBA champion, Lauren Price, fighting on the same bill and the winner's next opponent, Habazin believes too much talk has been of an all-British contest. "This is kind of disrespectful because all these talks of Jonas and Price," the 36-year-old said this week. "I'm a f****** world champion." Below, we'll show you how to watch Jonas vs Habazin live streams from anywhere. Plus, we’ll provide details on the undercard and the latest odds. Watch Jonas vs Habazin live streams from anywhere Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching boxing on your regular subscription? You can still watch Jonas vs Habazin live thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. Ideal for boxing fans away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN . It's the best on the market – you can read why in our NordVPN review . It's really easy to set up and use a VPN in just three steps. 1. Choose and install your VPN . The best you can get right now is NordVPN . 2. Pick server location. So if you're overseas and want to get back to a U.S.-based stream, choose a server in the States. 3. Sit back and enjoy. Head to the streaming service showing Jonas vs Habazin and watch as you would at home. Jonas vs Habazin live streams by country How to watch the Jonas vs Habazin live stream in the U.S. For boxing fans in the U.S., the 2024 Jonas vs Habazin fight is available via Peacock , NBC 's streaming service. It is the latest Ben Shalom BOXXER promotional deal with the streaming service. To tune in, you'll need to be signed up for either a Premium subscription ($5.99/month) or Premium Plus ($11.99/month, which also gets rid of some ads). If you’re traveling outside the U.S. but don't want to miss the fight, you can still watch your usual Jonas vs Habazin live stream by using a VPN such as NordVPN . How to watch Jonas vs Habazin live streams in the U.K. Good news, big fight fans in the U.K., you can watch Jonas vs Habazin on Sky Sports . If you have a Sky subscription that doesn't include Sports, you'll need to pay £18/month to add those channels. The fight card will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event from 8.30 p.m. GMT and on Sky Sports+ from 7 p.m.. Whichever package you go for, you'll also gain access to coverage in 4K and HDR , as long as you also have an HDR-ready Sky Q box and HLG-compatible TV. Sky Glass is another option. This gives you Sky TV within a 4K TV that has a built-in Dolby Atmos soundbar, and without the need for a dish. Prices start at £14/month for the TV, plus a Sky sub on top of that. If you don't want to shell out for a full Sky subscription, you could also consider its Now Sports streaming service. This gives you 24-hour access for £11.99 or month-long access for £34.99, commitment-free. If you're traveling away from the U.K., and want to watch Jonas vs Habazin online via your usual subscription, you'll need to get yourself a good streaming VPN , such as NordVPN . Can I watch Jonas vs Habazin live streams in Canada? Unfortunately, no broadcasters or streaming services are currently listed as showing the Jonas vs Habazin fight in Canada. We'll update this page should a late deal be done. Visiting Canada but want to live stream Jonas vs Habazin? By using a VPN like NordVPN , you'll be able to access your usual services from anywhere. Can I watch Jonas vs Habazin live streams in Australia? Unfortunately, at the time of press, no broadcaster had been announced for the Jonas vs Habazin fight in Australia. We will keep an eye out for any last-minute deals, though, and update this page with whatever we find. In Australia on holiday at the moment? You'll need to get yourself a VPN, such as NordVPN , to access your usual stream from back home. Natasha Jonas vs Ivana Habazin tale of the tape Jonas vs Habazin fight card Who is on the Jonas vs Habazin card? There's a stacked card that also includes Lauren Price defending her WBA welterweight title, with the Welshwoman to face the winner of the main event next. Full fight card: - Natasha Jonas vs. Ivana Habazin (IBF and WBC women's welterweight titles) - Lauren Price vs. Bexcy Mateus (WBA women's welterweight title) - Stephen McKenna vs. Lee Cutler; junior middleweight - Viddal Riley vs. Steve Eloundou Ntere; cruiserweight - Mark Jeffers vs. Elvis Ahorgah; super middleweight - Mason Cartwright vs. TBA; junior middleweight - Frankie Stringer vs. Tatenda Mangombe; lightweight - Mikie Tallon vs. Benn Norman; flyweight Natasha Jonas vs Ivana Habazin odds Jonas is a surprisingly big favorite to win with DraftKings Sportsbook showing her at -1100. Habazin is -600. More from Tom's GuideDENVER — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's "America's Got Talent" meets "American Idol," with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it's never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at "Dream Team" status given the men's side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023. The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. "We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport," said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. "We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world." Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores. "Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That's something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok, the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado's two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. "If a receiver is running around, I'm thinking, 'OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,'" Daniels explained. "They're like, 'No, you can't.' I'm just like, 'So I'm supposed to let this guy just run?!' I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn." The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. "I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. "I'm not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, 'I played NFL football for five years. I'm popular. I have a huge name.' I'm still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise." Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It's his way of working on avoiding a "defender" trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. "You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the 'Redeem Team' led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, 'That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. "Everybody thinks, 'Yeah, the U.S. just wins,'" Daniels said. "But we work hard all the time. We don't just walk in. We don't just get off the bus thinking, 'We're going to beat people.'" Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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