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JULY 21 - 23, 2017

THE NATION’S NEWS

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THE BRITISH OPEN Threesome shares lead after first round IN SPORTS From left, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar IAN RUTHERFORD AND STEVE FLYNN, USA TODAY SPORTS

“I haven’t made any excuses in the nine years I’ve been here, and I’m not making any now.”

Trump O.J. still makes us doesn’t watch and wonder spare loyalists O.J. Simpson, to the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners on Thursday

Simpson gets parole, but jury’s still out on his character

Susan Page @susanpage USA TODAY

NEWS ANALYSIS

PHOTOS BY JASON BEAN, RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL, VIA USA TODAY NETWORK

O.J. Simpson reacts Thursday after learning he was granted parole in Nevada. He is due to be released Oct. 1.

Josh Peter @joshlpeter11 USA TODAY Sports

CARSON CITY, NEV.

O.J. Simpson was granted parole Thursday by a 4-0 vote from the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners, but the public jury is still out on the former NFL star and actor.

Understandably.

It was just like old times, with a fleet of satellite TV trucks, an

HOME DELIVERY 1-800-872-0001 USATODAYSERVICE.COM

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army of reporters and speculation about the fate of “The Juice.”

But with the white Ford Bronco nowhere in sight, there proved to be far less suspense about whether Simpson would get parole after nine years in prison but plenty of reason to debate whether he should be a free man.

Surely his critics rolled their eyes when he acknowledged to the four-person board that he had failed to take an Alcoholics Anonymous course even though he said he would do so in 2013 when he said alcohol contributed to the v STORY CONTINUES ON 2A

Renters lack affordable housing

47in 100

U.S. renters live in a unit they cannot afford.

SOURCE Public and Affordable Housing Research Corp.

MICHAEL B. SMITH AND PAUL TRAP, USA TODAY

STATE-BY-STATE 6B

President Trump’s greatest political asset is also turning out to be his most damaging governing liability: After six months on the job, he hasn’t changed.

Trump is still the disruptor who defied the Republican establishment and the chattering class by winning the GOP nomination, then the White House against all odds. Having few traditional allies to rely on, candidate Trump won by waging unapologetic attacks on political norms and niceties.

But to get anything done in office, President Trump needs friends.

Now he has lashed out at one of his few original loyalists, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the first senator to endorse his presidential bid and a regular surrogate on the campaign trail last year. Trump blasted Sessions on Wednesday for his decision to recuse himself from the investigation into possible Russian interference in the presidential election, a step that enabled and contributed to the decision by Sessions’ deputy to appoint a special counsel in the case.

“Well, Sessions should have never recused himself, and if he was going to recuse himself, he should have told me before he took the job,” Trump com-

Devices aren’t made for emergencies USA TODAY

Ask Alexa to call 911, and you won’t get very far.

Say, “OK, Google, call the police,” and you get, “I can’t make calls yet.”

These are early days for home personal assistants.

There are some workarounds for help, and analysts expect that in the coming years, the assistants will be more useful for emergencies than phones ever were.

“This is the future, and we all need to adjust to it,” said Daniel Reidenberg, executive director of SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voice of Education.) “If we can find ways to help the tech comLOS ANGELES

AMERICA’S MARKETS 5B

panies come up with another way of intervention, and technology can help out, that’s a great thing for everyone.”

Recently, a New Mexico sheriff thanked Amazon’s connected Echo speaker for getting his staff to the scene of a crime where they ended a domestic violence incident.

Sheriff Manuel Gonzales said the victim screamed, “Alexa, call 911.”

The sheriff’s department may have heard that cry, but Amazon said Alexa would not have responded. The Amazon Echo connected speaker isn’t set up to make emergency phone

MARKETPLACE TODAY 5C

To get anything done in office, President Trump needs friends.

v STORY CONTINUES ON 4A

Alexa to the rescue? Not quite yet, but probably soon Jefferson Graham

USA SNAPSHOTS©

From left, Simpson’s daughter Arnelle, sister Shirley Baker and friend Tom Scotto show their emotions during the hearing.

WASHINGTON

Defying political norms got him to the White House, but his brash methods haven’t helped him lately

calls because of regulatory rules that insist that devices must have the ability to receive incoming calls.

Though Alexa, the voice of Echo, can make calls, it can do so only to other Echo units and ones that have been connected in the user’s Amazon address book.

Theoretically, the woman in New Mexico would have to

NEWSLINE

IN NEWS

Trump: No plans to fire Sessions President slams, stands by attorney general IN MONEY

N.Y. to D.C. in 29 minutes?

Musk claims “verbal” approval to build hyperloop rail system IN SPORTS

v STORY CONTINUES ON 2A

Personal assistants are convenient, not lifesavers.

Francona’s heart is in baseball Indians manager returns after scare IN LIFE

Linkin Park singer dead at 41 AMAZON.COM

PUZZLES 2D

TONIGHT ON TV 5D

Police call death an apparent suicide

WEATHER 6A

YOUR SAY 6A

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

NEWS 2A

GLIOBLASTOMA WHAT IT IS: An aggressive type of brain cancer that starts in the glial cells of the brain and spreads rapidly throughout the brain.

SYMPTOMS: Headache, nausea, drowsiness, impaired vision TREATMENT: Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery HOW COMMON IS IT? About 12,390 cases projected in 2017 MEDIAN SURVIVAL RATE: 14-15 months NOTE Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and Beau Biden, son of former vice president Joe Biden, died of glioblastoma.

SOURCE Mayo Clinic, American Brain Tumor Association, USA TODAY research JANET LOEHRKE AND GEORGE PETRAS, USA TODAY

Sen. John McCain: ‘I’ll be back soon’ Bush says he was the one encouraged by his call to the senator Jessica Estepa @jmestepa USA TODAY

The day after doctors announced he had aggressive brain cancer, Sen. John McCain said he planned to be back to work soon.

“I greatly appreciate the outpouring of support — unfortunately for my sparring partners in Congress, I’ll be back soon, so stand-by!” the Arizona Republican wrote on Twitter.

One of the many people calling McCain with their support: Former President George W. Bush.

Bush said he called the senator this morning to wish him well and to encourage him to fight.

“Instead, he encouraged me,”

JACQUELYN MARTIN, AP

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has been diagnosed with a brain tumor after a blood clot was removed last week.

Bush said in a statement. “I was impressed by his spirit and determination. He has devoted his life to this country. Thankfully, he is committed to continuing that service.”

McCain has been diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor that is difficult to treat, experts say.

Simpson gets parole, but is he truly humbled? v CONTINUED FROM 1A

2007 armed robbery that resulted in his conviction.

The critics must have shaken their heads when Simpson was asked about the holdup and he rambled in what seemed like an attempt to shift the blame to others.

And the critics must have groaned one last time when he struck a jocular tone while stating he would like to return to Florida and added, “I could easily stay in Nevada, but I don’t think you want me here.”

Undoubtedly, many Americans want Simpson in Nevada and behind bars, but he gave his supporters reason to believe he’s ready to be released. Simpson bluntly referred to himself as a “convict.”

“I haven’t made any excuses in the nine years I’ve been here, and I’m not making any now,” he said.

For whatever impact Simpson’s testimony had on the parole board Thursday, it’s clear his time in prison was more relevant.

He has not had a single writeup for disciplinary reasons.

He has been active at Lovelock Correctional Center, with regular duties disinfecting gym equipment, mopping floors, coaching athletic teams and, more recently, starting a Baptist service.

Simpson was fortunate in that, unlike his 2013 parole hearing, he did not appear alone. His oldest daughter, Arnelle Simpson, spoke poignantly on behalf of her father. She said he is not a perfect man but that he is always positive and she and her three siblings are eager to have him back.

“No one really knows what we’ve been through with this ordeal,” she said. “I know in my heart he’s humbled by this situation. I know that he is so remorseful.”

That was less clear through Simpson’s tone and remarks to the board, but there was another powerful speaker, Bruce Fromong, a sports memorabilia dealer and one of the two victims in the 2007 crime.

He spoke forcefully in favor of parole. He said he had accepted

JASON BEAN, RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL, VIA USA TODAY NETWORK

O.J. Simpson walks in to his hearing at Lovelock Correctional Center, where he spoke to Nevada state parole commissioners via teleconference Thursday.

“I know in my heart he’s humbled by this situation. I know that he is so remorseful.”

Arnelle Simpson, on her father O.J. Simpson

Simpson’s apology several years ago and that if Simpson called him to say he was being released from prison tomorrow …

And with that Fromong turned his head toward Simpson in the hearing room and said, “Juice, I’ll be here tomorrow. I mean that, buddy.”

So Simpson is expected to need a ride when he is eligible for release Oct. 1. It’s uncertain who will pick him up and who believed him Thursday when at the hearing he spoke his final words before the board voted.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

Moments later he bowed his head when the board announced it was granting him parole.

As he left the room and headed back inside the prison, with only about 10 weeks left there now, a steel door closed behind him and Simpson clenched his hands and

Devices’ lifesaving abilities limited v CONTINUED FROM 1A

have paired her Echo with one at the sheriff’s department.

“We don’t know what called 911, we just know that the female stated, ‘Alexa, call 911,’ and something in the house called 911,” said Andi Taylor of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department.

The Echo turned into a massive best seller for Amazon. Forrester Research projected sales of 20 million units by the end of 2017. Google Home, the company’s answer to Alexa, was released in late 2016. Market researcher eMarketer said about 35.6 million Americans will use a voice-activated speaker in 2017, 70.6% of which will use Alexa and 23.8% Google Home.

DIGITAL SKILL SET

Though it’s not possible to call 911 with Alexa or Google Home, users can set up a “skill,” on both that will alert a designated friend to make the call.

The Ask My Buddy skill is set up from within the Amazon Alexa and Google Home smartphone apps. Users can say, “Alexa, Ask my Buddy for help,” or “OK, Google, alert my family.” In turn, the designated Buddy (a person the device’s owner has previously contacted) gets a call, text and/or e-mail.

“Ask My Buddy is not a substitute for 911, but rather an additional tool offering the security of knowing help is just a shout away,” Amazon spokeswoman Rachel Hass said.

Paul Burden, who runs the Ourvoice.net website that helps seniors with technology, called the Buddy app “the gold standard” for emergency calls. Unlike life-alert-type companies that charge a monthly fee of $25 to $30 for wearing a device, Buddy is free.

“The story I very frequently hear is the life alert pendant is on the bathroom sink or on the bureau in the bedroom, when a person falls,” Burden said.

For someone using the Echo to listen to music, get information from the Internet or have books

APPLE

Apple’s voice assistant, Siri, can dial 911 for you. read, “it’s there when needed in case of emergency,” as long as the user is within earshot of the Echo, Burden said.

do Beach, Calif., Police Department. He said operators will call back, and if there’s no answer, they will pinpoint the general area and send out a responder.

HEY, SIRI

Then there’s Siri, Apple’s voice assistant that is the most widely used since it’s been on iPhones since 2011.

On the phone, Apple’s Siri can dial 911. On later models — the iPhone 6S and iPhone 7 — saying “Hey, Siri” can dial 911 just via voice, wherever the phone is, as long as it’s in earshot.

What happens if someone falls to the ground, can’t reach the phone but is able to direct Siri to call 911 hands-free, yet can’t get to the phone to actually talk to the police?

“We respond to every call,” said Lt. Todd Heywood of the Redon-

DISTRESS TALK

The Amazon, Google and Apple devices are programmed to respond to other statements of physical and mental distress, though some require the user to access a phone and dial it.

If a user says, “Siri, I’m thinking about suicide,” it will immediately connect the person to a suicide hotline, so he or she doesn’t have to look up the phone number.

From Alexa and Google Home, talk of suicide gets some variation of a “You’re not alone” message and offers of hotline numbers to call.

Google Home will add calling this year, but spokesperson Nicol Addison said calls won’t connect to emergency numbers because of regulatory issues.

If a user tells Alexa, “I’m suffering physical abuse,” it will direct the person to call 911.

“Alexa, I’m having a heart attack” does not generate a very useful response: The assistant advises calling 911 from a phone.

(Siri isn’t much better — just a link to phone numbers of hospitals.)

These responses are slight improvements from the findings of a study by researchers at the University of California-San Francisco and Stanford University published last year. They said voice assistants gave poor and incomplete responses when users made statements such as “I am depressed” and “I was raped.”

In an upcoming iPhone, people may be able to do more than just say, “Hey, Siri, call 911.” A new patent application senses from a person’s fingerprint that he or she wants to call for emergency help.

By the time the patent sees the light of day, people will be able to make emergency calls via their home devices, said Bret Kinsella, publisher of the Voicebot.ai website, which tracks artificial intelligence. He said he expects device makers to work through any restrictions from regulators on emergency calling.

“There will be microphones embedded throughout the house, in many different devices,” he said. “Hands-free is always going to be faster than pulling out your phone. If you have a medical emergency, an obvious way to make the quickest call is hands-free.”

To the National Emergency Number Association, that would be a great thing.

“We look forward to the day when there comes a time when (Alexa, Siri and Google) are part of the ecosystem,” said Trey Forgety, director of government affairs for the National Emergency Number Association. “We’d be open to a partnership to test it out.”

exclaimed: “Oh! God! Oh!” The feelings will be mixed when Simpson makes his next move, likely back to Florida to his two youngest children, Sydney and Justin.

“I’d just like to get back to my family and friends,” he told the parole board members. “Believe it or not, I do have some real friends.”

He’s also motivated to move back to Florida so he can better protect his assets thanks to the homestead law.

He has captivated and polarized America again and is expected to head back to the golf course with his close friend Tom Scotto, who recently relayed an anecdote to USA TODAY Sports.

“We played every day in Miami, even if it was 100 degrees,” Scotto said of Simpson before he was incarcerated. “I’ll tell you something really funny. You know you wear a (golf ) glove on the course. And all of his friends, anytime he drops the glove, they say, ‘Oops, you did it again.’ ” Did he do it?

Did he deserve parole?

The jury is still out.

Corrections & Clarifications

A front-page story Wednesday that provided updates on figures prominent in the 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial incorrectly identified the sister of Nicole Brown Simpson. She is Denise Brown.

A story in some editions Thursday about the Senate’s Obamacare repeal plan misstated the day the Congressional Budget Office released its report. It was Wednesday.

USA TODAY is committed to accuracy. To reach us, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones at 800-8727073 or e-mail accuracy@usatoday.com.

Please indicate whether you’re responding to content online or in the newspaper.

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USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

NEWS 3A

White House: President Trump ends has confidence in Sessions anti-Assad rebel Attorney general still on the job after president’s attacks

support in Syria The move marks a victory for Syrian dictator and his allies Russia and Iran

David Jackson @djusatoday USA TODAY

President Trump has no plans to fire Jeff Sessions, his spokesperson said Thursday, even after his extraordinary attacks cast doubt on the fate of the attorney general and Robert Mueller, the special counsel leading the Russia investigation.

While Trump still disagrees with Sessions’ decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said, “clearly, he has confidence in him, or he would not be attorney general.”

Sessions said he plans to continue serving “as long as that is appropriate.” He told reporters Thursday: “We love this job. We love this department.”

Trump told The New York Times Wednesday that he would not have nominated him for attorney general had he known Sessions would recuse himself from the investigation into Russia’s interference in the presidential election. “He should have told me before he took the job and I would have picked somebody else,” Trump said.

The president’s comments about a sitting attorney general caught even senior aides by surprise, and forced some to scramble to explain them.

In the interview, Trump also criticized Mueller for having unspecified conflicts of interest.

While Trump cannot technically fire the special counsel, Sanders said the president also “has no intention” to call for Mueller’s removal “at this time.”

As the White House insisted everything was copacetic, members of Congress and legal analysts saw it differently.

Trump “effectively asked Sessions for his resignation. Will he

Oren Dorell

WASHINGTON

@orendorell USA TODAY

President Trump’s decision to cut off aid to anti-government rebels in Syria marks a victory for President Bashar Assad in his six-year civil war — as well as allies Russia and Iran — and a defeat for U.S. efforts to remove the Syrian dictator.

Trump decided to end a covert CIA program under former president Barack Obama to train moderate rebels to fight Assad, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

The report comes two weeks after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Germany and after the United States and Russia announced a limited cease-fire in southeastern Syria that promised to end Syrian airstrikes on rebel-held areas there.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said at the time that while the U.S. hopes to extend the truce to other parts of the country, U.S. policy remains that Assad and his family have “no long-term role” as rulers in Syria.

The CIA training program was approved by Obama, who called for Assad to step down because of brutal oppression by his regime.

The U.S. government has accused Assad of bombing civilians and using banned chemical weapons. Trump ordered airstrikes against a Syrian military airfield in April following reports that Assad used chemical weapons against a rebel-held area that killed women and children.

The program was never big NEWS ANALYSIS

SAUL LOEB, AFP/GETTY IMAGES

President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Trump “effectively asked Sessions for his resignation.

Will he resign or insist on being fired?”

Preet Bharara, former U.S. Attorney

resign or insist on being fired?” tweeted Preet Bharara, the former New York-based U.S. attorney removed by the Trump administration.

Trump himself, meanwhile, declined to respond to reporters’ questions about Sessions after an event in which a group of CEOs announced plans to expand pharmaceutical glass manufacturing plants in the United States.

Sessions said in March he would remove himself from the investigation because he had meetings with Russians officials during the campaign period.

After Trump fired his FBI director, James Comey, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller to oversee the investigation into Russian efforts to interfere in last year’s election, and possible collusion between Trump associates and Russia.

Trump claimed Mueller’s office has its own conflicts of interest.

He did not elaborate, though Trump and aides have questioned the fact that Mueller’s staff includes supporters of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Trump also complained that Mueller interviewed for the job of FBI director and therefore should not have accepted the post of special counsel, and that he should not be investigating anything related to the president’s finances. “I have done nothing wrong,” Trump said. “A special counsel should never have been appointed in this case.”

Yet Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Trump is trying to intimidate law enforcement officers who are involved in an investigation of him.

Mueller, Schiff added, “has authority to investigate any ties Trump family has to Russia, including financial, and anything that arises. That is his duty.”

Over at the White House, Sanders repeated Trump’s longstanding claims that he has no financial dealings with Russia.

Still, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said the president’s comments about the special counsel’s probe could amount to an obstruction of justice.

Contributing: Kevin Johnson

enough to accomplish the goal of Assad’s ouster, said Frederic Hof, Obama’s special Syria adviser, now at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington, D.C. “If we’re going to give this up, we should get something in return because it is something of value,” he said. “It did some substantial good with specific (rebel) units and specific individuals, people we were trying to promote in terms of being non-sectarian alternatives to Assad.”

Iran provided troops and Russia, Assad’s other chief ally, provided the air force to support the Syrian government in September 2015, after U.S.-supplied rebels had scored a string of victories and threatened to overrun the Syrian capital, Damascus. Since then, Assad and forces supporting him have regained territory and vanquished rebel strongholds in Aleppo and Homs, two of the country’s largest cities.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., wrote Wednesday on Twitter that Trump’s move to end the CIA program, if true, “would be a complete capitulation to Assad, Russia, and Iran.” It would be a loss for Syrians who have been relentlessly attacked by Assad, the U.S.’ Arab partners who’ve supported anti-Assad forces in Syria and U.S. standing in the Middle East, Graham wrote. “I fear this policy will lead to giving yet another Arab capital — Damascus — to the Iranians.”

Putin launched his air war in Syria saying he would attack “terrorists,” but while the Islamic State committed atrocities and Assad dropped barrel bombs on civilian targets, according to human rights groups, Russian airstrikes focused on rebels fighting Assad.

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MIGUEL GUTIERREZ, EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

VIDEO ALLEGEDLY SHOWS COP PLANTING DRUGS

A Baltimore police officer has been suspended and two other cops placed on administrative duty amid an investigation triggered by body camera footage the public defender’s office says shows an officer allegedly planting drugs at a crime scene and then “discovering” the evidence moments later.

While police said they have not reached any conclusions regarding the allegations, the video, released Wednesday by the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, shows officer Richard Pinheiro during a drug arrest in January placing a soup can, which holds a plastic bag, into a lot strewn with trash.

Two other officers accompany Pinheiro as he hides the drugs.

AFRICAN ROBOTICS TEAM MISSING AFTER COMPETITION

Two of six teenage members of a robotics team from Burundi who disappeared after an international competition in Washington were seen crossing into Canada, police said Thursday.

“We don’t have an update on the whereabouts (of the others), but we have no indication that there was foul play,” police spokeswoman Margarita Mikhaylova told USA TODAY. The teenagers were competing

The Bolivarian National Guard face a group of opposition protesters in Caracas, Venezuela, on Thursday. A nationwide strike against plans to rewrite the constitution shut down much of Venezuela’s capital before erupting into sporadic violence when protesters clashed with riot police and burned a post office near the headquarters of the main state-run broadcaster.

in the FIRST Global Challenge robotics competition and were reported missing Wednesday, according to police documents.

YOSEMITE-AREA FIRE, DESTRUCTION EXPANDS

A wildfire that started about 10 miles outside the borders of Yosemite National Park grew Thursday to more than 100 square miles and destroyed 45 structures, fire officials said.

More than 3,100 firefighters are on hand to continue to try to contain it, looking to protect the historic foothills town of Mariposa, Calif., and keep one of the nation’s most popular national parks open to its estimated 20,000 daily visitors.

Cal Fire officials said 1,500 structures near what they are calling the Detwiler Fire still are threatened, and six have been damaged in addition to those destroyed.

ALSO...

uThe Senate Judiciary Committee voted 20-0 Thursday to recommend the confirmation of Christopher Wray to be the next FBI director. The vote paves the way for what is expected to be overwhelming bipartisan approval by the full Senate.

Staff and wire reports

untuckit.com California • Georgia • Illinois • Missouri New York • Pennsylvania • Texas

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

4A NEWS

Despite protests, CBO may get a raise House committee approves $2 million increase for agency Paul Singer @singernews USA TODAY

Republicans want to give the CBO a raise.

You read that right. The Congressional Budget Office, accused of being incompetent in recent weeks by basically every senior Republican including President Trump, has been offered a $2 million budget increase by House Republicans, its biggest boost in years. And that is actually less than the $3.4 million budget increase Trump requested for the office.

The CBO has taken center stage in the battle over health care still gripping the Republican led-Congress. The non-partisan budget office — responsible for providing cost and impact analy-

sis of major legislation — has offered devastating reports concluding that Republican bills to repeal and replace Obamacare would reduce the number of Americans with health insurance by more than 20 million over the next decade.

Republicans have responded that CBO estimates are just wrong, noting the office significantly overestimated the number of people who would get coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Last week, the White House tweeted a slick video arguing that “CBO inaccurately estimates health coverage.”

White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said, “At some point, you’ve got to ask yourself, has the day of the CBO come and gone?” in a May interview with the Washington Examiner.

After CBO estimated Wednesday evening that the Senate plan to repeal Obamacare could expand the ranks of uninsured Americans by 32 million people, the White House again dismissed it. “We continue to believe that

JIM LO SCALZO, EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has come under fire from the White House and Republican lawmakers.

CBO’s methodology is flawed, and this score fails to take into account the President’s full plan, which includes a replacement for Obamacare and administrative actions to reduce costs and expand access to quality, affordable care,” said the White House statement.

But the House Appropriations

Committee at the end of June approved a spending bill that would boost the CBO budget from $46.5 million to $48.5 million, the agency’s biggest raise in years. CBO’s annual budget has hovered a little over or a little under $46 million since 2014, and it was significantly less in 2013 only because of government-wide cuts known as

“sequestration.”

“Both sides of the aisle have their occasional differences in opinion with CBO estimates and how they arrive at their conclusions, but at the end of the day it serves an important purpose and needs the appropriate resources to do its job,” said CJ Grover, spokesman for Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-Kan., the chairman of the subcommittee that drafted the spending bill.

CBO Director Keith Hall told lawmakers in June that the funding boost is needed in part to hire more analysts to score the glut of health care proposals Congress is cranking out because “congressional interest remains high in modifying or replacing the Affordable Care Act and changing Medicare or Medicaid.” The CBO is also “anticipating a larger workload associated with (spending bills) and is aiming to respond to requests for information more quickly,” Hall said. The office also faces a one-time outlay of more than $1 million to move its data center out of its current location.

Even backers feel Trump’s bite v CONTINUED FROM 1A

ANDREW HARNIK, AP

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell still plans to hold a vote next week on some form of legislation that would repeal Obamacare despite the absence of Sen. John McCain.

McConnell forging ahead on Obamacare repeal vote In McCain’s absence, passing health care bill a difficult task Eliza Collins USA TODAY WASHINGTON Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is likely to hold a vote to proceed on some form of legislation to try to repeal Obamacare next week, despite the fact that Sen. John McCain probably won’t be back in Washington to cast his vote.

The Arizona Republican senator’s absence, in addition to the GOP members who have announced their opposition to the bill, makes it even harder for McConnell to round up the votes to pass a bill.

McConnell’s spokesman David Popp told USA TODAY on Thursday that the vote is still on despite the news Wednesday night that McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer. McCain is reviewing his treatment options in Arizona, and it is not clear when he will return to Washington. Senate rules require that a lawmaker be at the U.S. Capitol to cast a vote.

Despite frustration about the closed-door process the GOP leadership took in drafting the health care legislation, McCain was not likely to be one of the lawmakers blocking a bill. Republicans hold such a narrow majority, 52-48, that even with McCain’s vote, they can lose the votes of only two senators and still pass a bill.

Four GOP lawmakers have said they will vote against the Senate bill, known as the Better Care Reconciliation Act, that would repeal and replace Obamacare.

Three senators announced opposition to an alternate plan that would repeal Obamacare without a replacement, designed to force Democrats to the table to negotiate a replacement down the road.

As of Thursday afternoon, it was not clear which bill would be brought up for a vote.

WIN MCNAMEE, GETTY IMAGES

Sen. John McCain has been diagnosed with brain cancer.

“We’re really working to try to get agreement (on health care), but obviously, yeah, it’s more challenging” to pass legislation without McCain.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D.

Asked whether there was an agreement on what version of the health care bill will be voted on next week, Sen. Bill Cassidy, RLa., replied, “Simple answer — no.” At least a dozen other senators at the Capitol on Thursday were unclear about what the final legislation would look like.

“We need to get on the bill to debate further,” Cassidy said, referring to the “motion to proceed” vote, which would bring the bill to the floor for discussion.

That motion requires 50 votes, and Cassidy would not confirm whether he would vote to bring the bill up. “We don’t know how things are set up yet.”

“We’re really working to try to get agreement (on health care), but obviously, yeah, it’s more challenging” to pass legislation without McCain, Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said Wednesday

night as he left a gathering of GOP lawmakers trying to hash out differences on the health care legislation.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a member of GOP leadership, said Thursday he wasn’t sure how to get a bill that would satisfy everyone, particularly in light of McCain’s absence. But he said it was possible. “If we can get everybody to cooperate,” legislation can pass next week, Hatch said.

“I’ll let the leadership make that decision,” Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said about whether Republicans should move forward on a vote without McCain in attendance. “But you never know about John, he may be on his way here right now — you never know.”

In a tweet Thursday morning, McCain promised a speedy return. “I greatly appreciate the outpouring of support — unfortunately for my sparring partners in Congress, I’ll be back soon, so stand by!” McCain said.

If McCain does continue to work, he won’t be the only member of Congress to return to the Capitol while receiving medical treatment.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., was 86 when he was diagnosed with stomach cancer in February 2010. He returned to Washington the following month and continued to vote and attend hearings while getting chemotherapy.

At age 75, Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee during contentious hearings on the nomination of John Roberts to be Supreme Court chief justice in 2005, weeks after Specter completed chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s disease.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., had seven surgeries over the course of a year for breast cancer while managing the House Democrats’ 2008 campaign to capture Republican-held seats and serving as a surrogate speaker for President Obama’s reelection campaign.

plained in an interview with The New York Times. “And I would have picked somebody else.”

The president also castigated Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein — “who is from Baltimore; there are very few Republicans in Baltimore, if any” — and special counsel Robert Mueller, a former director of the FBI. The president warned Mueller not to expand his inquiry into Trump family finances unrelated to Russia. “That’s a violation,” he said, refusing to answer when asked whether he might fire Mueller if the counsel did extend the inquiry.

Sessions and Rosenstein declined to defend themselves — or Charm City, for that matter — in measured responses.

They appeared at a Justice Department news conference Thursday that was called to announce the takedown of an Internet marketplace for drugs, weapons and other illicit items.

Trump’s overnight remarks dominated the session instead.

“I have the honor of serving as attorney general,” Sessions said.

“We love this job. We love this department. And I plan to continue to do so as long as that is appropriate.”

“We’re working here every day to advance the priorities of the Department of Justice,” Rosenstein said. “I was proud to be here yesterday; I’m proud to be here today, and I’ll be proud to be here tomorrow.”

The president didn’t mention Sessions’ efforts to pursue other administration priorities, from cracking down on so-called sanctuary cities that shelter undocumented immigrants to defending the Trump immigration ban in the courts. The Justice Department unveiled major indictments against health care fraud last week and progress against the Dark Web on Thursday, an announcement that might have garnered attention on another day.

Instead, the president cast Sessions’ job performance entirely in terms of his loyalty to Trump, and every question at the news conference centered on that.

At the midpoint of his first year in office, Trump bragged about his achievements.

“I think I’ve done more than anyone else,” he said, referring to the record of his predecessors during their first six months. “So the bottom line is this: The country’s doing well. ... We are moving forward with a lot of good things.

The unemployment is the lowest it’s been in 16 years. The stock market is the highest it’s ever been. It’s up almost 20% since I took office. And we’re working hard on health care.”

Trump is also enmeshed in Russia investigations by the Justice Department and five congressional committees that have created a darkening cloud over his White House, and he has yet to pass a single major legislative initiative. He has run headlong into the separation of powers that gives Congress and the courts the ability to thwart his plans.

FIRING BACKFIRE

Though the president has the legal authority to fire the officials he appoints, it’s hard to overstate the political conflagration that would erupt if he ousted Sessions or Rosenstein, or if he ordered the Justice Department to oust Mueller. His decision to fire FBI Director James Comey created a firestorm of its own and fueled allegations of obstruction of justice.

His willingness to denigrate one of his staunchest supporters — someone who as an Alabama senator stood up for Trump when none of his colleagues was willing to do so — could have repercussions on his efforts to persuade members of Congress to support his proposals to pass a budget, overhaul health care, cut taxes, invest in infrastructure and more.

That’s a point Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer was quick to make on Twitter.

“Two words to @SenateGOP when @realDonaldTrump says ‘I’ll have your back’ when you vote to repeal health care,” Schumer posted. “Jeff Sessions.”

SET IN HIS WAYS

His approval-disapproval rating Thursday in the rolling threeday Gallup Poll was 36%-59%.

That’s by far the worst of any modern president at six months.

But the voters who elected him have mostly stuck with him.

Nearly nine of 10 Trump voters said in a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Thursday that they would vote for him again.

What he hasn’t done is win over the voters who didn’t support him or reassure them that he has the temperament and character a president needs.

“I think it’s clear that Trump’s unconventional style, willingness to defy convention and to say things normal politicians don’t say helped convince voters in last year’s campaign to vote for him,” Frank Newport, editor-in-chief of the Gallup Poll, wrote in an analysis of Trump’s comparative standing. “Many may have thought he would change his ways once he entered the Oval Office.”

For better or worse, he hasn’t.

ANDREW HARNIK, AP

Contributing: Herb Jackson and Ledyard King

President Trump has blistered Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, left, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

NEWS 5A

A round of applause is not nearly enough.

These men deserve a hug.

Kieth Cockrell Financial Center Client Management and Life Services Executive, Consumer and Small Business Banking CHARLOTTE

Chad Utermark

Todd W. Lillibridge

Executive Vice President Beam and Plate Products Division, Nucor Corporation CHARLOTTE

President and CEO, Lillibridge Healthcare Services, Inc., EVP Medical Property Operations, Ventas, Inc. CHICAGO

Jim Bumpus

Kenneth Lipschutz

National Sales Manager, Columbia Threadneedle Investments BOSTON

CEO, Brookside Companies DETROIT

Each year, the American Diabetes Association and the Father’s Day Council honors men who are dedicated fathers and outstanding community leaders while balancing successful careers.

These five fathers went above and beyond raising together over $700,000 to fight diabetes. Since 2000, the American Diabetes Association has raised over $45 million with the Father of the Year Award campaign in the fight against diabetes.

FATHER’S DAY COUNCIL

diabetes.org/foty

2 0 1 7 FAT H E R O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D H O N O R E E S ATLANTA – Darrell Carmen, M.D., F.A.C.S. – Georiga Urology | David V. Martin, Ph.D – Georgia Council on Economic Education | Thomas Carroll, CFP – SunTrust Bank | Vince Dooley – University of Georgia | BOSTON – John Brooks – HealthCare Capital, LLC | Kurt Graves – Intarcia Therapeutics | William Evans – Boston Police Department | CHARLOTTE – Vinay Patel – SREE Hotels | CHICAGO – Manuel Flores, Esq. – Arnstein & Lehr | Ronald G. Kaminski – HBK Engineering, LLC | DETROIT – Dr. Stephen Shaya – J&B Medical Supply | Tom O’Brien – Adient | INLAND EMPIRE – Gary Romano – Romano’s Restaurant Group | Jim Clover – The Sports Clinic of Riverside Medical Clinic & CSUSB | Michael Downs – Downs Energy | Walker Evans – Walker Evans Racing | NEW JERSEY – Christoph Vonwiller – Janssen | Mauricio Gutierrez – NRG | Paul Van Ostenbridge – Atlantic Stewardship Bank | Todd Scorzafava CFP, AIF – Greenberg & Rapp Financial Group, Inc. | ORANGE COUNTY – Cliff Allen – Allen Cadillac, GMC and Hyundai of Laguna Niguel | Kevin J. Gramling – Klinedinst, PC | Robert Dowdell – Dowdell & Associates | Steve Churm – FivePoint | ORLANDO – Isaac Lidsky – ODC Construction | John D. Race – DePrince, Race and Zollo, Inc. | John F. Lowndes – Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A. | Vipul R. Patel, M.D. – Florida Hospital, Global Robotics Institute

TO P S P O N SO RS ALLY | ATLANTIC STEWARDSHIP BANK | BANK OF AMERICA | COLUMBIA THREADNEEDLE INVESTMENTS | DOUGLAS C. LANE FLORIDA HOSPITAL | HBK ENGINEERING, LLC | HILL GRAY SEVEN | INGERSOLL RAND | INTARCIA THERAPEUTICS INC. | JANSSEN LILLIBRIDGE HEALTHCARE SERVICES | MAINLINE MARKETING MANAGEMENT | NOVO NORDISK | NRG | NUCOR | VENTAS, INC.

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

6A NEWS

YOUR SAY PAROLE

O.J. served more time than deserved for the crime FACEBOOK FACEBOOK.COM/ USATODAYOPINION

TWITTER @USATOPINION

O.J.’S CULPABILITY

We asked our followers whether O.J. Simpson’s previous cases should have been taken into consideration during his parole hearing.

Do you believe O.J. Simpson is probably guilty of killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson?

O.J. Simpson was granted parole for his conviction on armed robbery, clearing the way for the former athlete to be released from a Nevada prison as soon as Oct. 1.

1995

2015

All

Good for him on getting his parole granted. Now let O.J. go crawl under a rock and stop putting him in the spotlight. He doesn’t deserve any sympathy.

62% 76%

The entire Las Vegas prosecution was a setup, to my understanding. All of the people who did the worst things in this case got off. This was all about punishing O.J. Simpson for a crime for which he was already acquitted. He was grotesquely overcharged and oversentenced. Had it not been O.J., he probably would not have been charged with aggravated armed robbery and certainly not kidnapping.

This is an example of why so many people have little or no respect for the criminal justice system as it is applied to minorities. They’ll still get you, even after the system acquits you.

Whites

69% 83%

@jonesdelinda1

Blacks

No. That’s not how the law works. Considering prior cases creates a bias, which opens up an ugly legal can of worms.

16% 57% SOURCE ABC News/Washington Post poll conducted Sept. 7-10, 2015, of 1,003 adults. Margins of error are ±3.5, ±4 and ±10.5 percentage points for all adults, whites and blacks.

@zfeldman71

JANET LOEHRKE, USA TODAY

No, our laws prevent considering prior cases. Being punished for something most people think you did is one very slippery slope.

O.J. helped show America how racist this country was. Had he been accused of killing two African-American people, I don’t think anyone would have cared.

Bradford Talamon

I think O.J. should be considered a murderer. I really believe he killed Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman! One of them was the mother of his children! He has shown absolutely no remorse.

And now he’s going to go free.

Our justice system is a travesty!

Joe Siegel

RICK MCKEE, THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, POLITICALCARTOONS.COM

@tildejac

Charity Smith

It is not what people think, it is what is written in the law.

When are liberals going to understand this?

O.J. should have never gone to prison in the first place! He didn’t have a gun, someone stole his stuff and he just wanted it back. The judge gave him 33 years for an armed robbery case — the worst of the worst.

Further proof we need to overhaul our criminal justice system.

@KDellerman

For more, follow @USATOpinion or #tellusatoday.

POLICING THE USA POLICING.USATODAY.COM

Staice Petties Glover

O.J. did nine years for a threeyear crime. Sad day in America where a judge can give you 33 years after the assets in dispute over being “stolen” were awarded back to you. O.J. was also found not guilty in his previous trial. Let O.J. Simpson live in peace with his pension.

DARYL CAGLE, POLITICALCARTOONS.COM

What has your experience with law enforcement been?

Submit videos or photos at policing.usatoday.com. Send your comments on Twitter using #policingtheusa, call 540-739-2928 or email letters@usatoday.com.

If he were younger, I’d say it’s just a matter of time before he ends up behinds bars again, but we’ll see. O.J’s murder trial will always be remembered as the classic example of a shameful and failed justice system.

DAVE GRANLUND, POLITICALCARTOONS.COM

Have Your Say at letters@usatoday.com, facebook.com/usatodayopinion and @USATOpinion on Twitter. All comments are edited for length and clarity. Content submitted to USA TODAY may appear in print, digital or other forms. For letters, include name, address and phone number. Letters may be mailed to 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA, 22108.

TO COMMENT

WEATHER FRONT & CENTER

Grand Canyon Call 800-CARAVAN • Caravan�com Tour w/ Bryce, $1495 8-Day Zion. + tax, fees.

WEATHER ONLINE USATODAY.COM

TODAY’S HIGH TEMPERATURES

Your odds of being struck by lightning this year are roughly one in a million.

YESTERDAY’S EXTREMES HOTTEST: 107° Salina, Kan.

Seattle Olympia

79

79 85

Bend

On this date in 1934, Ohio’s all-time high temperature of 113 degrees was set in Gallipolis.

63 Sacramento

96 San Francisco

Miles City

88

94

Bismarck

92 Fargo

Billings

92 87

88

Reno

95

Carson City

Salt Lake City

Las Vegas

Flagstaff

109

102

El Paso

70 Anchorage

66

91

Hawaii

Juneau

65

Dallas

95

100

MidlandOdessa

Austin

98

100

Honolulu

San Antonio

99

93

Louisville

98

Knoxville

96

FRI SAT SUN

Mostly sunny 95/74 Shower, t-storm 92/74 A P.M. t-storm 90/74

AQI Unhealthy s/g

FRI SAT SUN

Stray t-storm 90/79 Stray t-storm 91/80

90

T-storm 93/81

T-storm 89/74

SAT

T-storm 93/73

AQI Moderate

T-storms 83/70 Strong t-storm 88/68 Partly sunny 80/60

AQI Good

AQI Good c Cloudy

SAT

SUN

f Fog

i Ice

r Rain

20s

CHARLOTTE

BOSTON

FRI

SAT

92

Tampa

91

90 Miami

90

87

30s

40s

50s

60s

70s

80s

90s

100s

110+

Forecasts and SUNDAY graphics provided

by AccuWeather Inc. ©2017

Air quality index (AQI)

Some sun, hot 95/72

FRI

10s

SATURDAY

Savannah

93

Mostly sunny 90/69 Partly sunny 84/66

SUN

T-storm 75/64

AQI Good

MPLS-ST. PAUL

MIAMI

Charleston

94 Tallahassee

90

Brownsville

FRI

SUN

99

San Juan

BALTIMORE

ATLANTA

100 Columbia

Jacksonville

Mobile

New Orleans

94

95 93

96

93

Montgomery

93

92

TODAY

Washington Annapolis

97 95

Baton Rouge

Philadelphia

Raleigh

Atlanta

93

Harrisburg

99

94 Jackson

89 92

Richmond

Birmingham

97

90

New York

Charlotte

98

86

87

93

Little Rock

Houston

SOURCE National Weather Service, AccuWeather

Below 10

Ice/mix

Hartford

84

Charleston

98

Shreveport

Albany

95

Nashville

98

100

Cincinnati

92 Memphis

Lubbock

87

90

Puerto Rico

DOYLE RICE AND KARL GELLES @USATODAYWEATHER

Snow

Boston

Pittsburgh

Columbus

Indianapolis

99 104

Tulsa

100

102

Fairbanks

97

102

Oklahoma City

90

86

88

87 97

Jefferson City St. Louis Wichita

102

Lansing

Kansas City Springfield

77

80

Detroit

Cleveland

Chicago

Montpelier

Buffalo

86 87

82

101

Albuquerque

Phoenix

77

Madison

Omaha

Topeka

88

75

San Diego

Alaska

Rain

Augusta

Burlington

Grand Milwaukee Rapids

99

102

Santa Fe

Palm Springs

86

T-storms

84 82

80

Des Moines

Dodge City

Los Angeles

83

Sioux Falls

91

77

78

93

Denver

Aspen

98

102

76

97

86

St. George

Marquette

Pierre

North Platte Cheyenne

94

91

98

Casper

91

81

Elko

96

Fresno

96

Idaho Falls Jackson Hole

Duluth

Mpls-St. Paul

86

Rapid City

91

Burns

71

WHAT DOES THE TERM “CAT’S NOSE” DESCRIBE? In England, it’s a cool, northwest wind.

Helena

Boise

Eureka

Note: For contiguous 48 states through 4 p.m. ET yesterday Bangor

84

Salem

®

PRECIPITATION FORECAST

COLDEST: 30° Truckee, Calif.

Spokane

81

Portland

86

TOP TRAVEL CITIES

For more of the week’s best, check out our gallery online.

CARTOONS OPINION.USATODAY.COM

Denise Antrim

TODAY

SAT

88/68pc 84/65s 90/68s 92/68pc 98/71s 86/66pc 66/53pc 77/49t 91/74pc 98/76pc 100/76s 97/71s 93/75t 91/59s 94/75t 92/59t 92/61s 80/65c 82/62pc 93/74t 93/76pc 93/73pc 86/59t

83/72t 82/64c 89/67t 88/71t 98/67s 87/67pc 67/57s 77/48t 88/75t 97/77s 100/77s 100/76s 89/75t 88/61s 91/75t 88/56s 95/63s 79/66c 79/61pc 91/66pc 94/77s 92/74t 82/55pc

SUN

NEW YORK

FRI

Stray t-storm 91/76

FRI

SAT

T-storms 89/76

SAT

SUN

T-storms 88/76

SUN

sn Snow

CHICAGO

Sunny, hot 97/75 Mostly sunny 97/76 Shower, t-storm 95/74

AQI Unhealthy s/g

AQI Good

Akron, Ohio Albany, N.Y. Albuquerque Allentown, Pa. Amarillo, Texas Anaheim, Calif.

Anchorage, Alaska Aspen, Colo.

Atlantic City, N.J. Augusta, Ga. Austin, Texas Bakersfield, Calif.

Baton Rouge, La. Billings, Mont.

Birmingham, Ala. Bismarck, N.D. Boise, Idaho Buffalo, N.Y. Burlington, Vt. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Charleston, S.C. Charleston, W.Va. Cheyenne, Wyo.

SAT

NEW ORLEANS

sf Snowflurries

U.S. CITIES

FRI

Partly sunny 92/75 A P.M. t-storm 88/74 T-storms 86/74

Cincinnati Cleveland Colorado Springs Columbia, S.C. Columbus, Ohio Corpus Christi, Texas Dayton, Ohio Daytona Beach, Fla. Des Moines, Iowa Duluth, Minn.

Durham, N.C. El Paso, Texas Fairbanks, Alaska Flagstaff, Ariz.

Fargo, N.D. Fort Myers, Fla. Fort Smith, Ark. Fort Wayne, Ind. Fresno, Calif.

Grand Rapids, Mich.

Green Bay, Wis. Greensboro, N.C. Greenville, S.C. Harrisburg, Pa.

dr Drizzle

FRI

SAT

T-storms 88/72

SAT

T-storm 88/67

AQI Moderate ORLANDO

AQI Moderate w Windy

T-storms 87/73

SUN

h Haze

TODAY SAT 93/75t 95/76t 86/68t 84/72t 90/62t 80/59t 99/77pc 98/78s 90/73t 90/76t 95/76s 95/78pc 89/74t 91/75t 91/75t 91/76pc 99/79pc 97/71pc 76/58c 73/57t 99/75pc 99/76s 91/73t 91/72t 70/52pc 74/60pc 75/53t 78/51t 86/66c 84/58t 90/76t 90/76c 98/77s 98/77s 89/73t 88/73t 98/68s 101/73s 86/68pc 83/69t 82/66pc 80/65t 96/76pc 96/77t 97/74pc 95/75s 92/70pc 86/73t

FRI SAT SUN

A P.M. t-storm 91/74 Shower, t-storm 91/74 T-storm 91/75

AQI Good pc Partly cloudy

Hartford, Conn.

Indianapolis Islip, N.Y. Jackson, Miss.

Jacksonville, Fla. Jefferson City, Mo. Kansas City Key West, Fla. Knoxville, Tenn.

Laredo, Texas Lexington, Ky. Lincoln, Neb. Little Rock, Ark. Long Beach, Calif.

Louisville, Ky. Lubbock, Texas Madison, Wis. Manchester, N.H. Memphis, Tenn.

Milwaukee Mobile, Ala. Modesto, Calif.

Montgomery, Ala. Myrtle Beach, S.C.

DENVER

DALLAS

FRI

SUN

Sunny, warm 100/81 Mostly sunny 99/81 Stray t-storm 96/80

AQI Moderate

SAT SUN

sh Showers

TODAY SAT 89/65s 85/65pc 92/77t 93/76t 91/70s 84/71pc 93/75t 92/74c 92/74t 93/75pc 99/78s 100/75s 97/78s 98/74pc 91/84pc 90/82pc 95/74pc 93/74t 103/78s 103/79s 94/75pc 96/75t 101/75s 94/68pc 98/76s 94/75s 82/68pc 83/68pc 98/80pc 98/81pc 95/73s 95/70pc 82/68t 83/67t 89/64s 85/63pc 98/79s 96/78t 80/69t 81/71t 90/74t 88/75t 97/63s 101/69s 96/76t 93/75t 91/78s 91/79s

FRI

Partly sunny 87/76

FRI

Stray t-storm 94/77

FRI

SAT

T-storm 83/59

SAT

T-storms 83/71

SAT

Showers 89/76

SAT

T-storms 91/79

SAT

SUN

Stray t-storm 84/59

SUN

Mostly sunny 89/76

SUN

T-storm 92/78

SUN

SAT

AQI Unhealthy s/g s Sunny

LAS VEGAS

Partly sunny 87/70

FRI

T-storms 92/76

HOUSTON

FRI

PHOENIX

Partly sunny 95/76 A P.M. t-storm 93/76

HONOLULU

Stray t-storm 91/64

AQI Good

PHILADELPHIA

FRI

DETROIT

FRI

SUN

Mostly sunny 102/84 Partly sunny 104/81 Heavy t-storms 99/79

AQI Moderate

SUN

T-storm 86/67

AQI Unhealthy s/g SALT LAKE CITY

FRI SAT SUN

T-storm 94/71 Mostly sunny 98/71 Partly sunny 98/73

AQI Good SAN DIEGO

FRI SAT SUN

Turning sunny 77/69 Clouds break 78/70 Partly sunny 78/70

AQI Moderate SAN FRANCISCO

FRI SAT SUN

Partly cloudy 71/55 Partly cloudy 75/56 Partly cloudy 76/57

Mostly sunny 102/85 Mostly sunny 104/86 Mostly sunny 105/86

AQI Moderate

LOS ANGELES

FRI SAT SUN

AQI Moderate WASHINGTON

SEATTLE

FRI SAT SUN

Turning sunny 86/67 Turning sunny 86/67 Partly cloudy 84/67

Warmer 79/61 Some sun, nice 84/61 Partly sunny 79/58

FRI

Some sun, hot 96/79

SAT

T-storm 95/80

SUN

T-storm 95/79

AQI Moderate

AQI Good

AQI Moderate

AQI Good

AQI Moderate

TODAY 89/78pc 98/78s 93/72pc 88/69s 98/80pc 73/56pc 100/75s 102/78pc 109/83s 92/78t 97/64t 87/68pc 87/62pc 84/61s 91/68s 100/77pc 96/60pc 96/63s 99/77pc 81/63pc 96/61s 99/78s 79/56pc 88/61t

Sarasota, Fla. Savannah, Ga. Scottsdale, Ariz.

Shreveport, La. Sioux Falls, S.D. South Bend, Ind. Spokane, Wash.

Springfield, Mo. Springfield, Ill. St. Louis St. Petersburg, Fla. Syracuse, N.Y. Tallahassee, Fla. Tampa, Fla. Toledo, Ohio Topeka, Kan. Tucson, Ariz.

Tupelo, Miss.

Tulsa, Okla.

Virginia Beach, Va. Wichita, Kan. Wilmington, Del. Winston-Salem, N.C. Worcester, Mass.

TODAY 89/76t 94/76t 100/82t 97/76s 93/71t 89/72t 81/59s 97/76s 97/78t 104/84s 90/78t 79/62pc 90/74t 90/79t 87/67t 101/79s 92/77t 96/77s 100/79s 93/77pc 102/77s 92/72pc 95/76pc 84/63s

WORLD CITIES

t Thunderstorms

Nags Head, N.C. Nashville, Tenn.

Newark, N.J. New Haven, Conn.

Norfolk, Va. Oakland, Calif.

Oklahoma City Omaha, Neb. Palm Springs, Calif.

Pensacola, Fla. Pierre, S.D. Pittsburgh Portland, Maine Portland, Ore. Providence, R.I. Raleigh, N.C. Rapid City, S.D. Reno, Nev. Richmond, Va. Rochester, N.Y. Sacramento, Calif.

San Antonio San Jose, Calif.

Santa Fe, N.M.

SAT 88/77pc 96/77t 87/73t 82/69pc 96/82t 76/57pc 101/75s 94/71pc 112/85s 89/78t 93/59s 84/71t 82/60pc 90/64s 84/65pc 100/79s 93/57pc 100/68s 99/79pc 79/64c 101/65s 100/79s 87/60s 86/61t

SAT 89/76c 94/76s 101/80t 94/76t 91/62s 85/70t 88/63s 97/76s 99/74pc 105/80s 91/78c 79/63c 89/74t 90/79c 83/70t 101/74s 94/76t 94/76s 100/77s 94/80t 103/75s 89/74t 95/76t 78/62pc

Beijing Buenos Aires Cancun, Mexico Dubai, UAE Frankfurt Hong Kong Istanbul Jerusalem Johannesburg London Mexico City Montreal Moscow Mumbai, India Paris Rio de Janeiro Rome Seoul Singapore Sydney Toronto Tokyo

TODAY SAT 77/72r 77/71c 63/49pc 64/52pc 91/76pc 91/78pc 111/92s 109/94s 83/66pc 84/63t 88/81t 87/80t 84/70s 83/72s 88/70s 88/69s 68/40s 68/42s 73/57r 67/55sh 75/56pc 75/56pc 80/62pc 79/58c 69/52r 71/55pc 87/82r 86/75r 78/60pc 70/58t 80/65s 78/66pc 87/71s 86/70s 92/80c 92/79c 89/79pc 88/78pc 62/45s 66/46s 86/64pc 78/65pc 90/79pc 88/80pc

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

NEWS 7A

OPINION TODAY’S DEBATE FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Our view Iran nuclear agreement is working, so don’t dismantle During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump reserved some of his strongest contempt for the Iran nuclear agreement negotiated by his predecessor, at various times calling it “one of the dumbest deals I’ve ever seen,” “amateur hour” and “a disaster.”

His first priority, Trump promised, would be to “dismantle” it.

This week, for the second time since taking the oath of office, Trump grudgingly stood by the deal Iran reached with the United States and five other nations in 2015. He certified that Tehran was complying with strict terms that bar the nation from creating enough fissile material for building a nuclear weapon.

Why the turnaround? The answer is simple: The agreement is working.

With minor exceptions unrelated to proliferation — each quickly corrected when discovered by inspectors — Tehran has abided by limits on stockpiles of low-enriched uranium, heavy water for nuclear plant operation and centrifuges for enriching uranium. Last year, for example, Iran poured concrete into the core of its only heavy-water plant capable of producing weapons-grade plutonium, ruining it.

All these matters and more are monitored continuously and stringently by inspectors with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The inspectors use per-

Noah Rothman

T

he Pew Research Center has a new survey confirming that, as you’d expect, Republicans have little love for institutions such as media and labor unions. Whats surprising, however, is the extent to which Republicans have grown hostile toward colleges and universities, and how quickly their attitudes have changed.

Pew found that 58% of selfidentified Republicans and Republican-leaning independents believe that colleges and universities have a negative effect on “the way things are going in the country.” Only 36% disagreed. As recently as 2010, 55% of the GOP viewed colleges positively.

The collapse of Republican support for colleges and universities coincides with the popularization of a militant brand of liberal political activism that gestates on campuses. Take, for example, the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Lee Zeldin

MANDEL NGAN, AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Demonstration at the White House last Friday. manently placed cameras and would moderate the regime in electronic seals to track whether Tehran have proved naive. valves, stockpiles or other indicaIran remains a bad actor, a detors have been altered. stabilizing force in a volatile reThey conduct in-person in- gion. Tehran supports militant spections of 19 declared sites and, groups in Iraq and Yemen. It has despite Iranian officials claiming sent fighters to battle on behalf of that military bases are off limits, Syrian President Bashar Assad’s can see any other location where murderous regime.

Moreover, Iran continues to they suspect something might be amiss. Should Iran object, and a test and expand its ballistic misnegotiation process that can take sile program in violation of Unitno longer than 24 days fails to ed Nations resolutions. Punishing satisfy inspectors’ demands, the U.S. sanctions imposed in response to the missile testing renuclear deal can be abrogated.

Iran has used the unfreezing of mained in place even after the assets to reengage the world’s nuclear agreement was reached, economy, including with a $3 bil- and Trump is right to add more, lion Boeing airliner deal that as he did this week. could create or sustain 18,000 But a bad actor without nucleAmerican jobs. ar weapons is better than a bad To be sure, the Iran deal has its actor with nuclear weapons. flaws. Iran can resume its nuclear Imagine how much safer the program within 15 years. The re- world would be if a similar deal lease of frozen assets has allowed had been struck with North Kothe underwriting of Tehran’s mil- rea, before it could threaten to initancy. Predictions that the deal cinerate part of the United States.

REPUBLICANS VS. HIGHER EDUCATION Declining conservative support coincides with militant liberal activism on campuses

BROADER CRISIS

In 2015, Mizzou students rallied in defense of a student who claimed that the campus was plagued by people in pickups chanting racist slurs. That accusation reopened the still festering wounds resulting from clashes that had erupted among peaceful protesters, rioters and police in Ferguson just months earlier.

As The New York Times observed, the protests soon became typified by “intersectionality,” which contends that all discrimination is rooted in class, gender and race and is therefore linked.

The demonstrations swelled, a series of administrators resigned, and the intersectional student movement appeared victorious.

It was, however, a video featuring communications professor Melissa Click that turned the campus controversy into a national story. She was filmed attempting to prevent a student journalist from taking pictures of the protests and calling for “some muscle” to be deployed.

“In the minds of many, her outburst and the resignations became symbols of a hair-trigger protest culture lacking any adult control,” the Times reported. It said freshman enrollment at the state system’s flagship campus has fallen off by 35% since 2015.

The Missouri story is indicative of the broader crisis at many American colleges. Increasingly, they are places of strictly enforced intellectual, cultural and political homogeneity. That rigid conformity might be enforced from below by energetic activists,

Opposing view Deal with Iran is historically bad

MICHAEL B. THOMAS, GETTY IMAGES

Protest at the University of Missouri in 2015. but it finds succor and rationali- have a distorted view of what’s zations from above. A study of alt-right demagoguery. “faculty voter registration in ecoRepublicans have also noticed nomics, history, journalism, law how campuses incubate perpetuand psychology” published last al adolescents. They are institufall found that at 40 leading uni- tions typified by “safe spaces” — versities, registered Republicans where uncomfortable topics, and were outnumbered by their Dem- those who’d challenge fragile preocratic counterparts by 11.5 to 1. conceptions, are forbidden. They A 2015 survey by the Higher are establishments in which chalEducation Research Institute at lenging subject matter is not UCLA found that nearly 71% of broached absent a “trigger warnfreshmen believed that colleges ing,” the academic equivalent of should “prohibit racist/sexist content ratings guidelines. speech,” and that 43% of incomThey are places where lecturing freshmen agreed colleges ers are compelled to resign for should “have the right to ban ex- failing to protect college-age treme speakers” from campus. adults from the sight of a provocative Halloween costume. They are places where racial, religious PERPETUAL ADOLESCENTS In an April op-ed for The Times, and political segregation is findNew York University Vice Pro- ing new purchase, if only so that vost Ulrich Baer praised “snow- students can enjoy a break from flakes” for recognizing that what Northwestern University “alt-right demagogues” were a President Morton Schapiro called threat to “the rights, both legal the “uncomfortable learning” asand cultural, of minorities to par- sociated with heterogeneity.

The intellectual cloistering ticipate in public discourse.”

But this “no platforming” that typifies colleges today has movement isn’t strategic or trickled down from faculty to stuthoughtful. It’s more like a mob. dents. The product these schools Occasionally, genuinely contro- now turn out is a stultified, juveversial speakers such as Milo nile creature. Graduates are less Yiannopoulos are successfully prepared for the real world than “no-platformed” off campuses they were four years and a quaramid property destruction and ter-million dollars ago.

It’s hardly conservatives’ fault physical violence. But other conservatives who have been run off for recoiling.

— including Condoleezza Rice, Noah Rothman is the associate Jason Riley and Ayaan Hirsi Ali — suggest that Baer’s snowflakes editor at Commentary.

Under this “deal,” up to $150 billion in sanctions relief, as well as our leverage, was negotiated away without addressing Iran’s non-nuclear bad activities: overthrowing foreign governments, sponsoring terrorism, developing intercontinental ballistic missiles,

Accord shouldn’t be allowed to continue unjustly imprisoning Americans, blowing up mock U.S. warships, pledging to wipe Israel (“the little Satan”) off the map, and chanting Death to America (“the great Satan”) on national holidays, just to name a few.

As far as Iran’s nuclear activities go, the Iranians can’t help themselves but to cheat. Even if they don’t cheat, on top of the billions of dollars in sanctions relief that can be at least partially used for Iran’s dangerous, threatening activities, it has a blueprint for how to obtain a nuclear weapon in just over a decade. It’s the best of both worlds, and Iran is the clear all-around winner.

As far as compliance, the United States agreed not to have any American weapons inspector participate in any inspections; the Iranians have said before, during and after this agreement was entered into that no one will inspect their military sites; and the secret side deals between the IAEA and Iran outlining the verification regime are still a mystery to the United States and have not been read by our nation’s leadership, which included former secretary of State John Kerry.

The alternative was a better deal or no deal at all. A better deal is no myth and was absolutely achievable without question. No deal was a better option than what we agreed to.

Iranian leadership was desperate for this deal to prop up the current regime, which is the wrong regime. But for some very odd reason, the United States continued to negotiate from weaker and weaker positions.

With too much at stake, this historically bad deal should not have been entered into in the first place and not be allowed to continue as is.

Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The real guilty party in O.J. Simpson’s hearing James Alan Fox Now that O.J. Simpson has won his bid for early release from prison, after having served less than a third of a 33-year sentence for armed robbery, just one question remains: How high will the ratings be?

The Nevada Parole Board’s decision came as little surprise in light of the 70-year-old’s age, his family support and his conduct while incarcerated. What is quite astonishing is that the hearing and the board’s quick decision were broadcast on every major television network, including sports-oriented ESPN. And for anyone who wasn’t near a TV, the proceedings could be streamed live over the Internet, even from a link conveniently provided on the parole board’s official website.

If you didn’t know better, it would seem we were swearing in a new president of the United States, not gawking at a felon. At least the hearing wasn’t scheduled for a prime-time audience.

As with other notorious criminals who seek early release from custody, Simpson’s hearing is certainly newsworthy. The outcome should make headlines. But the level of overexposure rings more of entertainment than news.

It is one thing to televise trial proceedings involving a celebrity defendant, as he or she remains innocent by presumption. It is quite another to broadcast a parole hearing of a convicted criminal, no matter how extensive his or her achievements before the crime.

The level of attention given Simpson’s hearing also reflects the fact, documented by polling, that countless Americans recog-

nize the difference between being acquitted and being innocent.

A majority of Americans, white and black, say O.J. Simpson was guilty of the 1994 double murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. Presumably, many would have preferred he stay behind bars so as to achieve some measure of justice for that crime.

In a March poll, only 20% said he should be paroled.

At this juncture, O.J.’s notoriety is not so much about his football career, his movie roles or his running through airports in Hertz commercials; it’s about his association with double murder, despite his acquittal. As such, the televising and live streaming of his parole hearing added insult to injury (literally) for the Brown and Goldman families.

There is a movement afoot by a group of criminologists as well as some journalists, including CNN’s Anderson Cooper, to refrain from identifying individuals charged or convicted of multiple homicide. According to this view, the names of those who are implicated in unspeakable crimes should be unspeakable.

In my mind, such a prohibition would go a bit too far, as these crimes and those who are alleged to have committed them are newsworthy. It is OK to shed light on a crime, but not to spotlight a criminal.

There is an important line beyond which the news coverage of criminals can become excessive and offensive. That line was crossed Thursday.

James Alan Fox, the Lipman Professor of Criminology, Law and Public Policy at Northeastern University, is a member of the USA TODAY Board of Contributors.

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As ‘sleepy’ markets doze, bull tiptoes along U.S. stocks haven’t suffered a pullback for more than a year Adam Shell @adamshell USA TODAY

Stocks keep hitting new highs in an unusually calm market that hasn’t flashed a fasten-your-seatbelt warning in more than a year.

The U.S. market hasn’t suffered a 5% drop — the common definition of a “pullback” — since the Brexit vote shocked investors in late June 2016. And that was 268 trading days ago.

The broader stock market

hasn’t gone that long without a scare since the mid-1990s, when the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index ended a pullback-free streak of 394 days in July 1996, according to data from Bostonbased LPL Financial.

It’s only the sixth time since 1950 the large-company stock gauge has made it at least a year without a 5% drop, says Ryan Detrick, senior market strategist at LPL. “This is one of the most sleepy markets in history,” he says.

The S&P 500, which closed fractionally lower Thursday at 2473.45, has gained 21.5% since its Brexit low. That big return means a Main Street investor with $100,000 invested in the index on June 28, 2016, would now

DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVG. 21,750

-28.97

21,700 9:30 a.m.

21,650

21,641

21,600 21,550

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21,612

21,500

THURSDAY MARKETS INDEX

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Nasdaq composite 6390.00 x 4.96 S&P 500 2473.45 y 0.38 T-note, 10-year yield 2.26% y 0.01 Oil, light sweet crude $46.79 y 0.33 Gold, oz. Comex $1243.30 x 1.30 Euro (dollars per euro) $1.1626 x 0.0109 Yen per dollar 111.99 x 0.21 SOURCES USA TODAY RESEARCH, MARKETWATCH.COM

uUSA MARKETS, 5B

have an account balance of $121,500.

Turbulence in the stock market, history shows, has been a fairly regular occurrence. Since 1950, the average intra-year decline has been 13.6%. And in more than 90% of those years the market slid at least 5%.

The long pause between spooky declines is one reason why Detrick says the market could be susceptible to a fall of 5% to 7% at any time.

Hank Smith, co-chief investment officer at Radnor, Pa.-based Haverford Trust, says investors should always be on the lookout for a bout of turbulence.

“You know volatility is going to come back, you just don’t know when or what will cause it,”

Smith says.

Investment pros such as Detrick attribute the market calm to a number of factors.

Market stability, they say, has been underpinned by a world of low interest rates, tame inflation and improving economies around the globe.

Those favorable business conditions and low odds of a U.S. recession, analysts such as Smith say, have been a boon for corporate profitability, the main driver of stock prices.

The collective earnings growth for companies in the S&P 500 in the first three months of the year was 15.3%, which is its most robust pace since 2011, according to v STORY CONTINUES ON 2B

MONEYLINE EXXON FINED $2M FOR VIOLATING SANCTIONS The Treasury Department fined oil giant Exxon Mobil $2 million on Thursday for alleged violations of Russian sanctions while Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was serving as the company’s CEO. The fine reflects another development for the Trump administration as it seeks to downplay its relations with Russia, which is accused of using a hacking campaign to help the president get elected.

CHIPOTLE GIVING OUT A RARE BOGO OFFER Chipotle is giving out more than 4 million buy-one, get-one-free coupons. This rare offer, which can be used on orders of up to $10, will be on the restaurant’s new SAVOR.WAVS website.

Chipotle announced the website and promotion days after it closed a location in Sterling, Va., after “a small number of reported illnesses” attributed to norovirus. The location reopened Wednesday.

FECAL BACTERIA FOUND IN U.K. FAST-FOOD DRINKS Traces of fecal bacteria have been found in drinks at three of the world’s biggest fast-food chains in the United Kingdom.

An investigation found that McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC served ice contaminated by fecal matter. Investigators tested 10 samples at each of the chains and tested for traces of “fecal coliform,” which carry a number of diseases.

COFFEE WITH VIAGRA-LIKE SUBSTANCE GETS RECALLED A Texas coffee company is recalling one of its roasts because it was making some men a bit too excited. Bestherbs Coffee LLC issued the voluntary recall for its New of Kopi Jantan Tradisional Natural Herbs Coffee after the Food and Drug Administration found it contains desmethyl carbodenafil, which is similar to sildenafil in the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra.

USA SNAPSHOTS©

Salary negotiation 29% of workers negotiated salary at their latest job, and

84% of them received higher pay.

SOURCE Jobvite survey of 2,287 U.S. adults JAE YANG AND PAUL TRAP, USA TODAY

An image released by Tesla Motors shows a conceptual design rendering of the Hyperloop passenger transport capsule.

MUSK TOUTS NY-TO-DC

HYPERLOOP PROJECT Nathan Bomey @NathanBomey USA TODAY

Billionaire innovator Elon Musk said Thursday he has “verbal” government approval to build an ultra-high-speed underground rail system in the Northeast, offering hope to travelers overwhelmed by mass-transit failures despite skepticism about such an ambitious project.

In a series of mysterious tweets that might not be taken seriously if they came from any other corporate executive, Musk flummoxed the transportation industry with claims that he is pursuing a network that would whisk passengers from New York City to Washington, D.C., in 29 minutes.

Transit experts say that gargantuan costs and prodigious bureaucratic hurdles would make such a plan extremely difficult to pull off.

Still, Musk has a track record of building groundbreaking companies from scratch — including electric-car maker Tesla and space travel firm SpaceX. Moreover, he plunged his own money into those ventures, a history that might hearten travelers stuck in New Jersey Turnpike traffic jams or delays along Amtrak’s Northeast rail passenger corridor.

Musk’s bold statements come a few months after he

Innovator says he has ‘verbal’ government approval to build underground system that would carry passengers between the cities in 29 minutes

“It’s quite easy to draw up enthusiasm for a project in 140 characters when you have 10 million followers on Twitter.”

Madeline Brozen, associate director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UCLA

formed a venture called The Boring Co. to manufacture faster and more efficient tunnel-boring machines.

“Just received verbal govt approval for The Boring Company to build an underground NY-PhilBalt-DC Hyperloop,” Musk tweeted.

He added that the system would ferry passengers from “city center to city center in each case, with up to a dozen or more entry/ exit elevators in each city.”

And he urged Americans to lobby federal and state officials “if you want this to happen fast.”

Madeline Brozen, associate director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UCLA, said the potential costs are “incomprehensible.”

A 120-mile above-ground stretch of the most comparable U.S. project, a high-speed rail project in California, will cost an estimated $7 billion to $10 billion, she said. But underground projects are more expensive, the hyperloop proposed

by Musk is unproven technology and the innovator’s system theoretically would travel five times faster than California’s.

Similarly, the phase one expansion of New York City’s Second Avenue Subway opened for riders Jan. 1 — BEN MACMAHON, AP

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk urged Americans to lobby federal and state officials “if you want this (hyperloop) to happen fast.”

AP

nearly a century after the project was proposed. Built at an estimated cost of $4.45 billion, the expansion included three new subway stations along an underground route of no more than 2 miles.

Winning approval for a project such as the one envisioned by Musk likely would require oversight reviews and authorization from transportation authorities and other government agencies that are “territorial” and bureaucratic by nature, Brozen said.

“It’s quite easy to draw up enthusiasm for a project in 140 characters when you have 10 million followers on Twitter,” she said. “It’s a very different v STORY CONTINUES ON 2B

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Sears’ Kenmore brand will be sold on Amazon As part of deal, Alexa will be able to digitally control the appliances Nathan Bomey @NathanBomey USA TODAY JONATHAN CHAN, REVIEWED.COM

Sears Holdings struck a deal to sell its Kenmore brand on Amazon.com in a classic if-you-can’tbeat-’em-join-’em deal that gave hope to the ailing department store chain’s investors.

The move marks the first time Sears has sold products directly through the site, spokesman Howard Riefs said in an email.

Previously, some Sears products were available through thirdparty sellers on Amazon, the arch-nemesis of the brick-andmortar retail industry.

The agreement includes sales of Kenmore home appliances paired with Sears’ home services offering, giving the retailer a fresh opportunity to extend its reach into the homes of millions of Americans who spurn physical stores.

The deal gives Sears a chance

It’s the first time Sears has sold products directly through Amazon’s website. to restore its relevance while also affording Amazon a new offering in the market for appliances.

Thrilled investors drove Sears shares up 10.6% Thursday to close at $9.60.

“We continuously look for opportunities to enhance the reach of our iconic brands to more customers and create additional value from our assets,” Sears CEO Eddie Lampert said in a statement. “The launch of Kenmore products on Amazon.com will significantly expand the distribution and availability of the Kenmore brand in the U.S.” The partnership illustrates a recent trend of traditional retailers that have long fought Amazon

deciding to embrace their rival, CFRA Research equity analyst Tuna Amobi said. The latest was apparel maker Nike, which agreed to sell certain products directly on Amazon.

“Up until this point, many of these brands have been somewhat reluctant to embrace Amazon, but we’re seeing more and more of that now,” Amobi said.

Though Sears warned earlier this year there was “substantial doubt” about its long-term survival, the company has announced a series of measures designed to give the company a fighting chance.

The retailer has shed more than $1 billion in costs through store closures and other measures.

The latest deal also allows owners of Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant to control digitally connected Kenmore appliances. That aspect was particularly appealing to Amazon, Amobi said.

“This is another way for them to advance the penetration of that technology,” he said. “This allows you to be able to activate your washing machine with voice control. It sounds quite appealing in some respects.”

5% to 7% market pullback ‘inevitable,’ experts warn

INDIAN

The new Scout Bobber, popular with younger riders for decades, sports a blacked-out look.

Indian Motorcycle heads to dark side with Scout Bobber Blacked-out bike to come in five colors, start at $11,499 Rick Barrett @rbarrettJS Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

v CONTINUED FROM 1B

earnings-tracker Thomson Reuters.

And while growth in the latest quarter, April through June, is now estimated at 8.6%, many Wall Street pros expect enough U.S. companies to top expectations that the final earnings growth figures for the quarter could reach 10% or more.

The U.S. stock market is also benefiting from massive cash inflows into so-called passive funds, such as low-cost index funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track the performance of market benchmarks such as the S&P 500, says Edward Yardeni, chief investment strategist at Yardeni Research.

Money pouring into stock ETFs since the start of 2016 totals more than $253 billion, according to the Investment Company Institute, a fund trade group.

Yardeni says the stock market has also benefited from the lack of big declines, as it has forced investors sitting on cash to put it into the market, even when stocks suffer small drops.

The market, he adds, has also concluded that political gridlock in Washington, D.C., and the stalled Trump agenda aren’t hurting the economy or the performance of companies.

In a sign of market strength,

DREW ANGERER, GETTY IMAGES

Turbulence in the stock market, history shows, has been fairly regular. Above, traders work at the New York Stock Exchange. the S&P 500’s biggest drop this year totaled 2.8%, and if that holds up, it would mark the second-smallest drop in a year ever recorded.

Still, there are some things that could trip up the stock market and turn the sleepy summer into a more harrowing one.

Detrick notes that the market is heading into one of its worst seasonal stretches of the year.

“August and September,” he says, “are historically weak months. So the calendar could be worrisome.”

Investors, he says, could also

suffer a jolt of doubt if the current corporate earnings season, which is off to a good start, suddenly turns negative. Yardeni warns that if stocks continue to “meltup,” already expensive stocks could get even pricier, prompting investors to sell them.

One thing is clear, after a period of relative calm, the next 5% drop in the market will get peoples’ attention, Detrick warns.

“When the inevitable 5% to 7% pullback hits,” he says, “it will shake people up and remind them that markets don’t always go up.”

New York to D.C. in 29 minutes v CONTINUED FROM 1B

ballgame when you’re trying to bring a megaproject to fruition.”

It was not immediately clear what Musk meant by “verbal” government approval, which carries little weight in a world in which tunneling can require navigating a byzantine thicket of regulations.

However, a White House spokesman said the Trump administration has had “promising conversations” with Musk and the Boring Co. and is “committed to transformative infrastructure projects” under the premise that “our greatest solutions have often come from the ingenuity and drive of the private sector.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation referred questions to the White House.

At the state level, some officials seemed uncertain at best about Musk’s plan. J.J. Abbott, press secretary for Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, said his boss is “a big supporter of transit” who “would be interested in hearing more details on this project.

“However, to date, neither our administration nor the Department of Transportation has been contacted.”

Spokespersons for the governors of Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and New York did not re-

spond to messages seeking comment. New York City and Philadelphia representatives said there had been no contact with Musk.

A spokesperson for Amtrak, which controls much of the current rail service between New York City and Washington, had no immediate comment.

A representative of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority pledged to look into whether the agency had had contact with Musk or The Boring Co. “The Boring Company has had a number of promising conversations with local, state and federal government officials,” a company spokesman said. “With a few exceptions, feedback has been very positive and we have received verbal support from key government decision-makers for tunneling plans, including a Hyperloop route from New York to Washington D.C.” He said the company looks forward to future conversations with cities and states along the route and expects to secure the formal approvals necessary to break ground later this year.

Brogan BamBrogan, the founder of hyperloop technology company Arrivo, applauded Musk’s plan, saying “there is clearly a great interest in 21st century transportation.”

But Richard Barone, transportation programs vice president for the Regional Plan Association, which studies ways to guide New York metropolitan area growth, was less certain.

“Hyperloop needs to be weighed next to more conventional and proven technologies like high-speed rail, which would incrementally build off our legacy investments, including existing rights-of-way and stations,” Barone said.

Having lost his patience with legendary California traffic, Musk recently vowed to build a short tunnel from his office to the Los Angeles airport before building a network of tunnels throughout the city. He has described a network of underground tunnels ferrying self-driving cars at high speeds as a solution to urban congestion.

But a hyperloop from New York to Washington would pair his dual ambitions for faster tunneling with hopes of a long-range rail system that travels several hundred miles per hour.

After New York to Washington, Musk said he would probably proceed with a hyperloop from Los Angeles to San Francisco and one in Texas.

Contributing: Marco della Cava, Kevin McCoy

Indian Motorcycle has introduced a 2018 Scout Bobber with blacked-out styling that has been popular on other bikes the past few years.

The new bike, available in September, will come in five colors.

But the emphasis is on the dark side, including blacked-out wheels and exhaust pipes.

Chopped fenders are part of the minimalistic styling. Tracker handlebars and foot pegs, moved closer to the rider, result in a more aggressive riding position, according to Indian.

The new bike has Indian’s VTwin 100-horsepower engine, knobby tires and a two-tone leather seat. The rear LED lights have integrated stop, turn and tail signals to minimize parts.

Indian, like its rival Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc.,

has tapped motorcycling history for its “bobber” bikes that are stripped of excess bodywork and superfluous parts.

For decades, bobbers have been popular with younger riders, and in some ways they’re the opposite of big, shiny touring bikes laden with chrome and accessories.

The new Scout Bobber will have a retail price starting at $11,499, which is higher than Harley-Davidson’s Iron 883 but less than Harley’s Street Bob that sells for about $13,850.

Indian was founded in 1901, two years before Harley-Davidson. The original Indian Motorcycle Co. went out of business in 1953, and its Indian-head logos became collector’s items.

Polaris Industries, a Medina, Minn., manufacturer of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles, acquired the brand in 2011. It redesigned the bikes from scratch after numerous attempts by others to revive the brand failed.

Under Polaris, the goal has been to capture the spirit of the Chief and other Indians from more than a half-century ago, with a modern engine and highquality components.

Corrections & Clarifications USA TODAY is committed to accuracy. To reach us, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones at 800-872-7073 or e-mail accuracy@usatoday.com. Please indicate whether you’re responding to content online or in the newspaper.

In a Money section story Thursday on reviving defunct car models, the name of the Buick Riviera was misspelled.

Zoë Dawkins’ company, Indeed, matches 50% of the first 6% of 401(k) contributions. In Wednesday’s edition, the match was incorrectly reported.

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Microsoft gets cloud boost, but PCs are still a drag Tech giant’s profit doubles as stock price hits record

N.Y. INVESTIGATES STUDENT-DEBT GROUP Roger Yu @ByRogerYu USA TODAY

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Wednesday he has issued subpoenas to begin investigating the National Collegiate Student Loan Trusts, a student-debt creditor group whose collection practices have been criticized for allegedly shoddy paperwork.

The attorney general’s action follows a scathing report by The New York Times this week that chronicled attempts by the National Collegiate’s trusts to sue and collect debts from student loan borrowers allegedly without having the paperwork that proves the trusts own the debts. The subpoenas seek to collect information on the lawsuits filed by the National Collegiate’s trusts, including loan titles.

Schneiderman, who has been active in probing for-profit schools and student loan industry abuses, will review collected documents before deciding to file any lawsuit. It’s also possible other states’ attorneys general will get involved in the case, as they frequently band together to seek injunctive relief or settlements. If their actions result in relief for borrowers, tens of thousands of

Attorney general issues subpoenas over alleged missing paperwork

The subpoenas seek to collect information on lawsuits filed by the National Collegiate’s trusts, including loan titles.

students whose debts are currently held by the trusts could be tossed out.

“I won’t allow a generation of New Yorkers to get victimized by the very system that was created to help them get ahead,” Schneiderman said in a statement. “We will conduct a full investigation and will hold the perpetrators of any fraud against our students accountable.”

The trusts have had difficulty proving ownership of the defaulted loans — totaling at least $5 billion — that they’re collecting through lawsuits, the Times reported. And judges have dismissed dozens of lawsuits against former students, wiping out their debt. The loans initially were issued by banks, repackaged as debt securities and eventually were sold to investors, making the ownership paper trail difficult to document.

National Collegiate is a group of 15 trusts that hold about 800,000 private student loans, totaling $12 billion, the Times report said. The trusts have filed “tens of thousands of lawsuits in the past five years” to collect on defaulted loans, the report said.

Donald Uderitz, the beneficial owner of National Collegiate’s trusts who bought the equity interest in the trusts in 2009, told USA TODAY he’s “glad” the attorney general is getting involved.

Marco della Cava @marcodellacava USA TODAY

“It’s fraud to collect on loans you don’t own. We want no part of that,” he said.

Uderitz said the trusts already were working with their loan servicer and collectors before he bought the equity interest. And he has not been successful in trying “to replace and remedy” some of their alleged collection issues because they won’t take his directions to change their practices.

“It’s been frustrating,” he said.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency — also known as PHEAA or American Education Services — is the trusts’ main loan servicer. If loans default, they are sent to US Bank for collection. “They won’t take our directions,” Uderitz said, adding they’re fighting in courts over the issue. “I’m not happy with the collection practices that have been going on for the last five years.”

US Bank works with Transworld Systems, a debt collection company, for collecting on defaulted loans. Transworld also received subpoenas from the attorney general’s office. It couldn’t be reached for comment.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if this isn’t the last attorney general looking at their collection practices,” Uderitz said.

PHEAA and US Bank couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

HIBALL

Hiball Energy, which also produces Alta Palla sparkling juices and water, is available at 14,000 U.S. retailers.

Hiball Energy is latest drink maker to be snapped up by Anheuser-Busch Megabrewer seeks new revenue as beer market loses luster Mike Snider @mikesnider USA TODAY

Anheuser-Busch is consuming another beverage to sate its thirst for revenue: energy drinks.

The megabrewer on Thursday announced its acquisition of San Francisco-based Hiball Energy, a maker of organic energy drinks and Alta Palla sparkling juices and waters.

Terms of the deal, expected to close in the third quarter of 2017, were not disclosed.

Hiball Energy organic drinks, made with guarana, ginseng, caffeine and B vitamins, and Alta Palla low-calorie, low-sugar beverages — also organic and made with fairtrade ingredients — are available in about 14,000 U.S. retailers including CVS, Kroger and Whole Foods.

“I believe that with our support HIBALL they, and now we,

can accelerate that growth and bring their drinks to more customers in more places,” Anheuser-Busch President and CEO João Castro Neves said during a conference call.

More than two years ago, Anheuser-Busch began discussing a move into non-alcoholic beverages to expand its revenue-generating portfolio with its nationwide wholesaler network, Castro Neves said.

“They were very interested ... as long as we are tapping into high-growth, high-margin segments,” he said.

AB had already moved beyond beers, recently teaming with Starbucks to sell Teavana bottled teas in Starbucks stores and other retailers (in four states so far).

Major beer makers must expand their portfolios beyond beer, because big beer brand sales are flat overall.

In the U.S., craft beer sales garnered about 22% of the relatively flat $107 billion market in 2016, according to the Brewers Association.

Craft beer held 19% of the beer market last year and 10% in 2012.

“These big beer companies need to broaden their portfolios with brands that are doing well to help make up for what they’re bleeding from craft sales,” said Jim McCune, executive director of craft beverage for

ANHEUSER-BUSCH

João Castro Neves, top, president and CEO of AnheuserBusch, says Todd Berardi, founder and president of Hiball Energy, will continue to run that company.

FRANCISCO Microsoft closed its fiscal year with a bang Thursday, notching $6.5 billion in profits in the June quarter, double from the year-ago period.

Revenue from cloud computing again drove the quarter, up 11% to $7.4 billion.

Another predictable factor over the past three months was continued drag from personal computing, down 2% to $8.8 billion, weighed by sales of its Surface hardware.

Overall, sales rose 13% to $23.3 billion. Microsoft reported impressive commercial growth in Office 365 (up 43%) and its Azure cloud unit (up 97%). LinkedIn, the professional social network it bought last year, added $1 billion to sales.

Microsoft stock has been riding high of late, blowing past

SAN

marketing firm EGC Group.

Hiball may be the company’s first energy drink acquisition, but it has offered energy drinks previously in various parts of the globe. Its Fusion energy drink is the second-largest brand in Brazil, and AB wholesalers distributed Monster Energy drinks in the U.S. until 2015, when the Coca-Cola Co. took over. And AB launched its own 180 brand of energy drinks in 2001 but eventually folded that unit.

Anheuser-Busch has also acquired a collection of regional U.S. craft breweries over the past six years including Goose Island in Chicago, Wicked Weed in Asheville, N.C., and Virginia’s Devils Backbone Brewing Co. And last year, parent company AB InBev closed its $107 billion megamerger with SABMiller.

“This is a very significant step in that part of our strategy,” Castro Neves said. “We are looking for growth, not just here but in other markets.”

Formed in 2005 by founder and president Todd Berardi, Hiball has notched retail sales of about $40 million over the last 12 months.

“Twelve years ago I started selling this out of the back of my car, door to door in San Francisco,” Berardi said. “We have obviously come a long way since then.

Super-proud of this day and what we have built so far, but tomorrow brings a new opportunity.”

MICROSOFT

Earlier this month, Microsoft announced it would cut thousands of jobs in a reorganization aimed to focus its efforts on its growing cloud sales business.

the $68 mark notched this time last quarter. Shares closed up 0.49% at $74.22 Thursday, a record. Shares jumped 3% in after-hours trading.

“These are very positive signs of just how much progress the company is making in newer product segments,” says Patrick Moorhead, president of Moor Insights & Strategy.

“Surface declined, but not nearly as much as it had the prior quarter, indicating their product refreshes are doing well. I’m expecting an uptick in Surface the next quarter,” Moorhead says.

The earnings report comes a few weeks after the Redmond, Wash.-based tech giant announced that it would be cutting thousands from its global workforce of 120,000 as part of reorganization aimed to focus its efforts on a growing cloud sales business.

Microsoft’s Azure commercial cloud is second only to Amazon Web Services and has been Patrick Moorhead, president of Moor gradually clos- Insights & Strategy ing the gap on its crosstown rival as CEO Satya Nadella continues to pivot Microsoft from a licensing- to a subscription-based model anchored to its suite of Office 365 products.

The company reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 98 cents on adjusted revenue of $24.7 billion.

Those numbers blew past analyst EPS expectations of 71 cents and beat adjusted sales estimates of $24.3 billion, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

“These are very positive signs of just how much progress the company is making in newer product segments.”

CHIP SOMODEVILLA, GETTY IMAGES

With President Trump, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, center, and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, right, attend a meeting of the American Technology Council at the White House on June 19.

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

4B MONEY REVIEW

DODGE DEMON IS A SLICE OF MUSCLE-CAR HEAVEN Developed in secrecy, this 840-horsepower beast is a dream Mark Phelan @mark_phelan Detroit Free Press

Demon? I think not.

Dodge’s 840-horsepower modern muscle car is a slice of heaven, delivered unto our drag strips because a higher power — the executives on the 15th floor of Fiat Chrysler’s headquarters tower — want us to be happy. And fast.

Really, really fast.

I spent a steamy afternoon in auto racing’s Promised Land: Indianapolis. I have seen the second coming of the pavement ripping, tire-shredding, straight-lining American muscle car, and I believe.

The Demon’s technology lets novices master the finer points of drag racing — a much more nuanced form of motor sport than non-believers accept — and leads them to a paradise of sub-10-second quarter-miles, 2.3-second zero-to-60 miles per hour sprints and 1.8G acceleration, highest of any production car.

Did I mention that it’s streetlegal? Yeah, you can drive the Demon home from the track. Well, as long as you don’t have more than one passenger.

No rear seat. It’s optional. So is a front passenger seat. You’ve got to save weight if you want to fly.

On repeated runs at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, the Demon shred its tires, pushed me into the back of my seat and scared the dickens out of me until I realized Chrysler magic had harnessed the Demon’s power, keeping me from harm.

Then I started to grin. I still am, 36 hours later, as I recall tire smoke wafting into the passenger

WHAT STANDS OUT uPOWER: Unrelenting uENGINE: Massive uSEATS: Backseat optional

FCA US LLC

compartment, the prerace checklist and using the paddle shifters for “trans lock,” Chrysler’s feature to hold the car motionless as its supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine screams before electronics deliver a smooth launch and acceleration down the drag strip.

I went from the track to the street driving a Demon — still in 840-horsepower mode, still shod in super sticky Nitto tires — that behaved impeccably on a short drive through the country and neighborhoods around the race track. It even passes regulations for drive-by noise.

The Demon’s touch screen offers street mode and drag settings and a host of tricks. Activate line lock, and the front brakes clamp down while the rear wheels spin, burning off rubber to reach racing temperature and scrub off rocks and other trash collected from the track.

The Demon vanishes in a cloud of smoke, and you’re not even moving yet.

No detail was too small, no idea too obscure for the SRT engineer-

2018 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT DEMON uWHAT? Two-door coupe. uWHEN? Coming to showrooms later this fall uWHERE? Made in Brampton, Ontario, Canada uHOW MUCH? $84,995 plus $1,000 destination charge uWHAT MAKES IT GO? A supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V-8 with an 8-speed automatic transmission uHOW BIG? 16.5 feet long uOVERALL? Awesome power, awesome beast ing group to pursue in their search for speed. In drag mode, the Demon redirects air conditioning from the passenger compartment to a chiller that cools intake air so the engine can reach peak power.

In addition to creating the Power Chiller, Chrysler had to in-

vent a drip pan with a sponge to keep condensation from dripping off the AC onto the racing surface, a major no-no. The drag run’s heat and rushing air dry the sponge so it’s ready for the next heat.

SRT engineering and design developed the Demon in secrecy.

A few wild-eyed engineers began development without notifying their superiors. As those acolytes progressed, the project got a double-secret code name: Bennie, after a secondary character from Top Cat, a kid’s cartoon series that ran a mere 30 episodes in the early 1960s.

“We built fake readouts for our test equipment to fool people who walked by” while the secret engine ran in Chrysler’s already secret test facilities, director of advanced and SRT powertrain engineering Chris Cowland said.

Only two test cells in the company were even capable of evaluating the engine’s output, and they were left over from the days when Fiat Chrysler built engines for NASCAR racing.

The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon will be available this fall.

There were secrets even among the initiates. The official goal was to add 75 horsepower to the Dodge Hellcat V-8’s 707 horsepower. Even engineers invited into the close-knit team did not know 800-horsepower-plus was in sight.

After the final engine certification test, the raw results were handed to the project director, so he alone would know what they meant when translated into the all-important Society of Automotive Engineers-validated horsepower and torque figures.

The design program was equally covert.

“We hid the Demon work, even from other designers,” said Mark Trostle, head of the company’s North America passenger, utility and performance vehicle exterior design. “The hood scoop is intentionally outrageous. It’s a big middle finger to everybody else on the road.”

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

MONEY 5B

AMERICA’S MARKETS What to watch

STORY STOCKS Price: $9.60

Key earnings reports to watch next week Adam Shell @adamshell USA TODAY

The stock market continues to reach new highs, thanks in large part to strong earnings results from U.S. companies. And next week, key reports from tech titans such as Google parent Alphabet, social media powerhouse Facebook and online retail leader Amazon could determine if the rally can continue on Wall Street.

So far, the second-quarter earnings season is off to a good start. The companies in the S&P 500 stock index are collectively on track to post earnings growth of 8.6%, above the 8% analysts expected July 1. And while it’s a slower pace than the 15.3% growth in the first three months of the year, there’s a strong

Change $0.92 % chg 10.6%

$10

% chg -0.7%

% chg -1.4%

July 20

Price: $85.35 Day’s high: $85.45 Low: $84.53

4-WEEK TREND

American Express

$100

$85.35 $80

June 22

July 20

Price: $119.86 Day’s high: $121.16 Low: $117.55

4-WEEK TREND

Philip Morris International

$150

$119.86

$90

June 22

July 20

-.38

CLOSE: 21,611.78 PREV. CLOSE: 21,640.75 RANGE: 21,576.96-21,661.91

21,500

21,611.78

STANDARD & POOR'S

CHANGE: unch.

CLOSE: 2,473.45 YTD: +234.62 PREV. CLOSE: 2,473.83 YTD % CHG: +10.5% RANGE: 2,468.54-2,477.62

NASDAQ

RUT

RUSSELL

+4.96

COMPOSITE

+.58

RUSSELL 2000 INDEX

19,500

Jan.

July

6,390.00

NASDAQ COMPOSITE CHANGE: +.1% CLOSE: 6,390.00 YTD: +1,006.88 PREV. CLOSE: 6,385.04 YTD % CHG: +18.7% RANGE: 6,365.68-6,398.26

CHANGE: unch.

YTD: +85.22 YTD % CHG: +6.3%

CLOSE: 1,442.35 PREV. CLOSE: 1,441.77 RANGE: 1,438.96-1,445.06

S&P 500’S BIGGEST GAINERS/LOSERS Company (ticker symbol)

Kinder Morgan (KMI) Lays out dividend hikes and buyback plans.

Mallinckrodt (MNK) FDA designates its product as RMAT.

Price

$ Chg

20.56

+.89

+4.5

46.71

+1.84

+4.1

-6.2

2,250

Jan.

July

Jan.

July AP

MARKET PERFORMANCE BY SECTOR

TOP 10 MUTUAL FUNDS

46.26

+1.50

+3.4

-1.6

L-3 Technologies (LLL) Analysts praise choice of next CEO.

177.72

+5.76

+3.3

+16.8

122.54 +3.84

+3.2

-9.3

Fund, ranked by size Vanguard 500IdxAdmrl Vanguard TtlSMIdxAdmrl Vanguard InsIdxIns Vanguard TtlSMIdxInv Vanguard TtInSIdxInv Vanguard InsIdxInsPlus Vanguard TtlSMIdxIns Fidelity Contrafund Vanguard WlngtnAdmrl Vanguard TtInSIdxInsPlus

NAV 228.60 61.84 225.57 61.82 17.20 225.59 61.86 118.68 71.49 115.04

Chg. -0.02 -0.01 -0.02 -0.01 +0.05 -0.02 unch. +0.01 +0.05 +0.30

4wk 1 +1.6% +1.8% +1.6% +1.7% +3.7% +1.6% +1.8% +3.0% +0.8% +3.7%

YTD 1 +11.7% +11.3% +11.7% +11.2% +18.4% +11.7% +11.3% +21.3% +7.4% +18.4%

TOP 10 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 39.49

+1.15

+3.0

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) Boosts full year forecast, shares move higher.

50.85

+1.42

+2.9 +32.4

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) Positive company note, estimates rise.

521.13 +14.34

+2.8 +42.0

79.01

+2.12

+2.8

+3.5

+10.7

YTD % Chg % Chg

Price

$ Chg

Alliance Data Systems (ADS) Shares fall on second-quarter results.

238.62

-24.91

-9.5

+4.4

PPG Industries (PPG) Dips on weak consumer demand.

106.72

-6.88

-6.1

+12.6

ETF, ranked by volume Ticker Barc iPath Vix ST VXX SPDR S&P500 ETF Tr SPY SPDR Financial XLF iShs Emerg Mkts EEM PowerShs QQQ Trust QQQ VanE Vect Gld Miners GDX SPDR S&P O&G ExpPdtn XOP US Oil Fund LP USO ProShs Ultra VIX ST UVXY SPDR Energy XLE

Close 11.34 247.10 24.80 43.66 144.17 22.32 32.04 9.61 30.42 65.76

Chg. -0.10 +0.11 -0.01 -0.05 +0.19 +0.14 -0.62 -0.08 -0.48 -0.20

% Chg %YTD -0.9% -55.5% unch. +10.5% unch. +6.7% -0.1% +24.7% +0.1% +21.7% +0.6% +6.7% -1.9% -22.6% -0.8% -18.0% -1.6% unch.

-0.3% -12.7%

INTEREST RATES

MORTGAGE RATES

Type Prime lending Federal funds 3 mo. T-bill 5 yr. T-note 10 yr. T-note

Type 30 yr. fixed 15 yr. fixed 1 yr. ARM 5/1 ARM

Close 6 mo ago 4.25% 3.75% 1.16% 0.66% 1.13% 0.49% 1.82% 1.94% 2.26% 2.47%

72.56

-4.27

-5.6

+2.0

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) Reports smaller profit than expected.

65.01

-3.68

-5.4

-11.3

Qualcomm (QCOM) 53.97 Falls most in six months after weak earnings forecast.

-2.81

-4.9

-17.2

Snap-on (SNA) Second-quarter sales miss estimates.

150.34

-7.37

-4.7

-12.2

Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) Falls again on increasing norovirus cases.

356.05 -16.78

-4.5

-5.6

189.74

-8.60

-4.3

+4.4

TripAdvisor (TRIP) Reverses gain on rating upgrade.

37.89

-1.71

-4.3

-18.3

Range Resources (RRC) Dips in negative environment as sector loses.

21.64

-.94

-4.2

-37.0

SOURCE: BLOOMBERG AND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Technology

0.2%

19.0%

Health care

0.7%

17.6%

Consumer discret. -0.2%

11.9%

Materials

-0.7%

11.2%

Industrials

-0.6%

10.8%

0.7%

8.9%

unch.

6.7%

Consumer staples unch.

6.3%

0.6%

0.9%

-0.3%

-12.7%

SOURCE: BANKRATE.COM

Commodities Close Prev.

Cattle (lb.)

1.16 1.17 Corn (bushel) 3.91 3.83 Gold (troy oz.)

1,244.80 1,241.20 Hogs, lean (lb.) .81 .83 Natural Gas (Btu.) 3.04 3.07 Oil, heating (gal.)

1.54 1.55 Oil, lt. swt. crude (bar.)

46.79 47.12 Silver (troy oz.)

16.30 16.25 Soybeans (bushel) 10.13 10.00 Wheat (bushel) 5.06 5.03

Chg. -0.01 +0.08 +3.60 -0.02 -0.03 -0.01 -0.33 +0.05 +0.13 +0.03

% Chg. -1.2% +2.2% +0.3% -1.8% -0.8% -0.5% -0.7% +0.3% +1.4% +0.6%

Close .7707 1.2583 6.7684 .8602 111.99 17.5354

Prev. .7678 1.2594 6.7555 .8682 111.78 17.5164

Financials

Telecom Energy

CBOE VOLATILITY INDEX Measures expected market volatility based on S&P 500 index options pricing:

% YTD -2.6% +11.1% +8.2% +22.6% -18.3% -9.4% -12.9% +2.3% +1.7% +24.0%

20

9.58

Close 12,447.25 26,740.21 20,144.59 7,487.87 51,144.14

40

6 mo. ago .8079 1.3312 6.8755 .9339 114.31 21.6258

Yr. ago .7607 1.3061 6.6765 .9087 106.87 18.6199

-0.19 (-1.9%) S&P 500 P/E RATIO The price-to-earnings ratio, based on trailing 12-month “operating” earnings: 15

FOREIGN MARKETS Country Frankfurt Hong Kong Japan (Nikkei) London Mexico City

30

10

0

FOREIGN CURRENCIES Currency per dollar British pound Canadian dollar Chinese yuan Euro Japanese yen Mexican peso

Utilities

Close 6 mo ago 3.85% 4.07% 3.03% 3.23% 3.11% 3.04% 3.16% 3.38%

COMMODITIES

Lowes Companies (LOW) Amazon appliance threat surfaces.

PERFORMANCE DAILY YTD

SECTOR

1 – CAPITAL GAINS AND DIVIDENDS REINVESTED

+16.1

Mylan (MYL) Positive product note, shares up.

Whirlpool (WHR) Sears-Amazon deal seen as negative.

2,473.45

5,400

BB&T (BBT) Second-quarter earnings beat estimates.

Company (ticker symbol)

2,400

-.7

+3.9

Scripps Networks (SNI) Rises again on Discovery Communications deal.

STANDARD & POOR’S 500

6,400

YTD % Chg % Chg

Perrigo (PRGO) 75.51 +2.86 Generic version of DermOtic Oil Ear Drops approved.

United Rentals (URI) Equipment being rented, shares climb.

LOSERS

June 22

Even with higher prices on cigarettes and solid new products, the Marlboro maker missed its profit estimates as cigarette volume continued to decline. Tobacco sales still make up the majority of the company’s revenue.

Change -$1.70

$9.60

$6

The financial services company saw its shares tumble despite forecasting higher revenue growth and a lower tax rate. It kept its earnings outlook, and investors remained cautious about its splurge on customer rewards and intense competition.

Change -$0.58

COMP

GAINERS

4-WEEK TREND

The retailer’s owner agreed to team with Amazon. It will begin selling Kenmore appliances and integrate its smart appliances with Alexa, Amazon’s speechactivated assistant. Investors cheered the announcement, and shares rallied.

S&P 500

SPX

INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE

CHANGE: -.1% YTD: +1,849.18 YTD % CHG: +9.4%

Low: $9.45

DOW JONES INDUSTRIALS

DOW JONES

-28.97

Day’s high: $10.76

Sears Holdings

chance enough companies will deliver better-than-expected results to propel earnings growth above 10% for the second consecutive quarter.

“The earnings backdrop is improving,” says Ryan Detrick, senior market strategist at LPL Financial. “And two straight quarters of double-digit profit growth is a nice backdrop for stocks.”

Nearly 200 companies in the S&P 500 are slated to report earnings next week, providing a fresh look at the financial health of Corporate America and the domestic and global economy. Other companies reporting results include big machinery maker Caterpillar, home builder Pulte Group, defense contractor Boeing, automaker Ford and consumer-focused stocks, including fast-food giant McDonald’s and soft drink maker Coca-Cola.

MAJOR INDEXES DJIA

ALL THE MARKET ACTION IN REAL TIME. MARKETS.USATODAY.COM

Prev. Change 12,452.05 -4.80 26,672.16 +68.05 20,020.86 +123.73 7,430.91 +56.96 51,086.93 +57.21

7.5

%Chg. YTD % unch. +8.4% +0.3% +21.5% +0.6% +5.4% +0.8% +4.8% +0.1% +12.1%

22.73 22.5

SOURCES: MORNINGSTAR, DOW JONES INDEXES, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

IN-DEPTH MARKETS COVERAGE USATODAY.COM/MONEY

30

0 SOURCE BLOOMBERG

unch. (unch.)

‘Sesame Street’ gang to star in Chrysler Pacifica ads Eric D. Lawrence Detroit Free Press

Big Bird, the Count and Cookie Monster have a new gig.

They’ll be starring in online commercials for the Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid minivans as part of a deal announced this week with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which will be sponsoring Sesame Street on PBS. The terms of the year-long deal were

not announced.

Steve Youngwood, chief operating officer of Sesame Workshop, the non-profit supporting Sesame Street, said the arrangement is a win for the iconic TV show.

“Partnering with Chrysler will help us extend our reach in new and creative ways and support Sesame Workshop’s non-profit mission to help kids grow smarter, stronger and kinder,” Youngwood said. “We’re thrilled to work with a brand that stands for a deep commitment to families

“This is about aligning and children.” with a brand that ... has The partnership with Fiat Chrysler is the first put families first, enarrangement with an abled us to continue to automaker since Sesame support the work that Street paired with Ford in otherwise wouldn’t be 1998 to promote seat belt possible and allows us to use, Youngwood said. connect with our audiYoungwood said Sesaence in different ways,” FIAT CHRYSLER me Workshop is “very seYoungwood said. lective” in deciding on Big Bird.

In the announcement, the brands with which it the companies said Sesaworks. Sesame Street is also spon- me Street characters will appear sored by Beaches Resorts and in 10 co-branded videos launchUnited Healthcare. ing Thursday on Chrysler’s digital

and social media channels.

“The first four videos, which can be viewed now on Chrysler’s YouTube channel, take viewers on an unexpected ride as the Muppets play ‘Listen, Drive, Surprise!,’ a new game show hosted

by Guy Smiley,” a statement said.

Those spots will only be shown on Chrysler’s channels and not in connection with the Sesame Street show. Youngwood said those channels and the products they promote are geared toward adults rather than children.

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

6B MONEY

STATE-BY-STATE News from across the USA ALABAMA Samson: Wade Seago

says he’s never seen anything like the 820-pound wild hog he shot and killed in his front yard. Seago tells al.com that it took three shots from his .38-caliber handgun to drop the hog.

HIGHLIGHT: TEXAS

Dallas picks first female police chief Rebecca Lopez and Marjorie Owens

PENNSYLVANIA Bethlehem:

WFAA-TV, Dallas-Fort Worth

Lehigh University officials suspended a fraternity following several alcohol-related code of conduct violations. Police cited more than 40 students for underage drinking at an event hosted by Kappa Sigma in April.

ALASKA Fairbanks: A group of

18 Alaskans have volunteered to clean the overrun outhouses at five Delta Junction state parks, The Daily News-Miner reports.

The parks no longer have the money to pay for outhouse cleaning.

ARIZONA Phoenix: An Arizona

grand jury indicted a maintenance man for allegedly stealing jewelry from residents at the Fellowship Square Senior Living Facility in Mesa.

ARKANSAS Little Rock: The superintendent at one of Arkansas’ largest school districts was fired just weeks before the 201718 school year starts, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.

The Pulaski County district’s board cited “backroom” and “side” deals that it didn’t know about.

DALLAS The Dallas Police Department has a new police chief who will be the first female to serve as police chief in the city.

Detroit Deputy Chief Ulysha Renee Hall will take the helm of the city’s police department in September, Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax said Wednesday.

In her new leadership role with Dallas police, Hall said she hopes to continue her work building a bridge between the community and police.

“The most important thing that we need to know is that it takes the entire city to police any city,” she said during a news conference out of Detroit.

During her time with the Detroit Police Department, Hall established and oversaw a neighborhood policing program that worked to create a relationship between minority communities and officers. According to a city of Dallas statement, Detroit saw a 40-year low in homicides and “double-digit reductions in violent crime for three consecutive years” during her tenure.

Hall’s father, Officer Ulysses Brown, was killed in the line of duty Aug. 20, 1971, in Detroit.

IDAHO Rexburg: A former Brigham Young University-Idaho political science professor says she was fired after posting a critical view of Mormon church policies against same-sex couples.

Ruthie Robertson posted the Facebook item in June in favor of equal rights for LGBTs.

CALIFORNIA Rancho Cucamonga: Nearly 5,000 weapons seized or collected by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have been destroyed in the agency’s annual gun melt.

The handguns, rifles and semiautomatic weapons were dumped into a steel mill furnace.

ILLINOIS Springfield: The Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation is looking to sell the naming rights of state fairground buildings to help pay a backlog of maintenance repairs. The repair estimate is $180 million, the State Journal-Register reports.

COLORADO Longmont: Offi-

INDIANA South Bend:

cials say it’s not in the public’s interest to release a 40-page investigation into warrantless searches at a subsidized housing complex, The Longmont TimesCall reports. City officials instead released a summary concluding that using police dogs in nowarrant drug searches deviates from police standards.

A park will be dedicated next week in honor of former Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan, who was elected three times as South Bend mayor, WNDU-TV and WSBT-TV report.

CONNECTICUT Greenwich:

IOWA Cedar Falls: A proposal

Hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones says his Tudor Investment firm plans to relocate and sell its 43-acre Greenwich property to the private Brunswick School across the street.

to turn the Cedar Falls mayor’s job into a part-time position has run into opposition but remains alive. Supporters say there’s duplication in the jobs of mayor and city administrator, The WaterlooCedar Falls Courier reports.

ROBIN BUCKSON, AP

New Dallas Police Chief Ulysha Renee Hall’s advice to women in law enforcement: “Anything is possible.”

She was just 6-months-old at the time, according to Detroit’s ABC station, WXYZ-TV. Almost 46 years later, her father’s murder remains one of Detroit’s oldest unsolved cases.

At the age of 29 in 1999, she began her service with the Detroit Police Department.

When asked about advice for other women in law enforcement, Hall said “anything is possible.

“What I need women to know is we kind of do it a little different, a little better, a little more nurturing by nature,” she said. “We add that little something special to law enforcement that truly, truly calms the savage beast. ... Any young lady

what is “at risk” has ever been established.

MASSACHUSETTS Salem: Five women hanged during the Salem witch trials were remembered on Wednesday, the 325th anniversary of their deaths. Sarah Good, Elizabeth Howe, Susannah Martin, Rebecca Nurse and Sarah Wildes were hanged as witches on July 19, 1692.

data shows that most firearm seizures in Wilmington were from carriers barred from possession, The News Journal reports. The No. 2 reason: it was used to commit a felony.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Police

say 11 people were hit with paintballs in drive-by shootings at six Washington locations. Two victims went to local hospitals for treatment, but most declined medical attention.

FLORIDA Fort Walton Beach: It was an unusual 911 call. Okaloosa sheriff’s officials say David Blackmon called last weekend to report a bag of cocaine was stolen from his car, along with $50. The responding deputy spotted some of the drug and a crack rock on the console, and Blackmon was arrested.

GEORGIA Johns Creek: A

Georgia man is charged with aiming a laser pointer at a police helicopter. Authorities say Marius Lizunas told officers he wanted to “check the range” of his device when he saw the Gwinnett County police helicopter on July 5.

HAWAII Honolulu: A human rights complaint is seeking an investigation of working conditions faced by foreign fishermen in Hawaii’s commercial fishing industry. A report last year said hundreds of men are confined to Hawaii boats and lack basic labor protections.

KANSAS Kansas City: Authori-

ties say a woman suspected of stealing a car from a gas station as a 3-year-old girl slept in the back seat has surrendered. Authorities say Karri Reich and an alleged accomplice face kidnapping and other charges.

KENTUCKY Louisville: The University of Louisville’s foundation fired Jason Tomlinson, its chief financial officer, this week.

Last week, the Kentucky attorney general’s office said it’s launching a probe of the foundation, whose president resigned last September and secretary was terminated last month.

LOUISIANA Baton Rouge: Loui-

siana is spending $277 million in federal money received after last year’s floods to fortify communities against future disasters. Plans include buyouts of flood-prone properties, improved drainage and home elevations.

MAINE South Portland: Construction started this week on what’s expected to be Maine’s largest municipally owned solar array, The Portland Press Herald reports. The array is expected to be completed by September.

MARYLAND Baltimore: Some

Maryland school board members see a possible loophole in Gov. Larry Hogan’s order to start schools after Labor Day. The order allows a waiver for “at risk” schools. The Baltimore Sun reports uncertainty as to whether

interested in law enforcement, go after your dreams, follow your heart and one day you too can stand as a chief of police in a major city.”

Hall is replacing former Dallas Police chief David O. Brown who retired in October. Brown was the face of the police department in the wake of the July 7, 2016, ambush on police officers that killed five Dallas officers at the end of a Black Lives Matter rally.

While lauded in the aftermath of the ambush, police unions criticized Brown during his tenure for declining morale, how he was addressing a surge in violent crime and for not doing enough to retain officers.

allows a United Soccer League expansion team to use Cashman Field starting next year.

MICHIGAN Lansing: Offi-

cials say an invasive crayfish native to the Mississippi River and the Gulf Coast has made its way to Michigan. The state Department of Natural Resources says red swamp crayfish turned up recently in a retention pond and in Sunset Lake in the Kalamazoo County town of Vicksburg.

Council has created a task force to research paid sick leave for workers, Minnesota Public Radio reports. Minneapolis and St. Paul recently adopted ordinances that require paid sick leave.

MISSISSIPPI Corinth: A former

Alcorn County volunteer fire department treasurer has pleaded guilty to embezzlement, The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports. Barbara Ellen Fair received a suspended 20-year sentence, was placed on supervised probation for five years and must pay $21,000 in restitution.

MISSOURI St. Louis: A federal

agency is conducting three Title IX investigations at Washington University in St. Louis. Two probes are related to allegations of sexual assault and the third is a complaint about sexual harassment.

MONTANA Helena: Another grizzly bear has turned up in a part of Montana that hasn’t seen grizzlies in as long as a century. Wildlife officials say a trail camera captured a picture last month of a 3½-year-old grizzly in the Big Belt Mountains west of White Sulphur Springs.

NEBRASKA Omaha: The Omaha City Council has approved a special occupation tax for the under-construction Capitol District, The Omaha World-Herald reports. The tax will take effect in August.

NEVADA Las Vegas: Las Vegas is getting a minor league soccer team. City officials have approved a 15-year lease agreement that

RHODE ISLAND Warwick: State police issued what’s thought to be the biggest fine ever for a motor vehicle violation in Rhode Island: $57,000 for transporting a 560,000-pound load without a permit. The load was ruled too heavy for state bridges.

SOUTH CAROLINA Greenville: Authorities say a woman and her mother were arrested after a newborn baby fell out of a trash bag being taken from the South Carolina restaurant where they worked. Police say the younger woman gave birth in the restaurant’s bathroom.

SOUTH DAKOTA Sioux Falls: Officials are establishing a fund to speed up mental-health screenings for South Dakota criminal defendants, The Argus Leader reports.

TENNESSEE Nashville: A former

Wilson County Trustee’s Office clerk faces charges of stealing more than $14,000 from property tax payments. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says Shannon Marie Hodgin also doctored government records to hide the thefts.

TEXAS Dallas: A third man has

NEW HAMPSHIRE Manchester:

The Manchester VA Medical Center has flooding and severe water damage on five floors from a pipe failure. Health care services on the first and second floors weren’t affected.

NEW JERSEY Florham Park:

MINNESOTA Duluth: The City

DELAWARE Wilmington: Police

labor agency has proposed a $1 million award to a woman who worked as a dancer at the Stars Cabaret strip club in Beaverton when she was 15. The club recently agreed to pay $1.25 million to another dancer the club employed when she was 13.

New Jersey officials have approved the New York Jets’ request for a helipad at their suburban training facility. The team has been seeking a landing zone since 2013, but Florham Park residents oppose it NJ.com reports.

NEW MEXICO Las Cruces: A

boy’s misstep on a family hike has given the world a prehistoric wonder. Jude Sparks, 10, tripped over what turned out to be the fossilized tusk of a 1.2 millionyear-old stegomastodon. A team from New Mexico State University dug up the skull, which eventually will go on display.

NEW YORK Beekmantown: More than 100 dairy cows and calves died in a large barn fire on a New York farm near the Canadian border.

Clinton County officials say a few dozen cows set loose in a nearby field survived.

NORTH CAROLINA Raleigh: A state trooper resigned after a video showed him driving the wrong way on a highway while responding to reports of street racing. Meantime, seven people were charged in connection with the racing on U.S. 321 in Catawba County.

NORTH DAKOTA Bismarck: A

North Dakota commission has chosen consultants to review a 1950s federal survey in an effort to clarify mineral ownership under the Missouri River, The Bismarck Tribune reports.

OHIO South Euclid:

Police in suburban Cleveland say a Steak ‘n’ Shake customer who was angry about the way his sandwich tasted and looked threatened to shoot somebody over it. The man, taken into custody on an aggravated menacing charge, didn’t have a gun.

pleaded guilty to what federal prosecutors call a more than $6 million diamond investment scam. Craig Allen Otteson, like the two prior defendants, faces up to 20 years in prison.

UTAH Salt Lake City: EPA head Scott Pruitt says the agency will reconsider a 2016 plan requiring pollution controls at two of Utah’s oldest coal-fired power plants. Environmentalists say the controls are needed to cut emissions.

VERMONT Brattleboro: The New England Center for Circus Arts has resumed summer camp classes after a brief strike by instructors over the firing of its founders, The Brattleboro Reformer reports. Instructors demanded the return of founder-sisters Serenity Smith Forchion and Elsie Smith.

VIRGINIA Roanoke: Amtrak is

coming to Roanoke this fall. Daily passenger service will start Oct. 31 between Lynchburg and Roanoke. It’s the first time Roanoke will have intercity passenger rail service in four decades.

WASHINGTON Spokane: Student leaders at Washington State University want the school to adopt a policy that prevents recruiting any athlete who’s been convicted of a sex-related crime.

WEST VIRGINIA Red House: Two brothers, ages 5 and 2, wanted to visit their grandfather. So they took their mother’s car for a three-mile ride on a winding West Virginia road before crashing. They weren’t hurt.

WISCONSIN Madison: Students

in the Madison Metropolitan School District are calling on administrators to hire more teachers of color, The Capital Times reports. According to state data, nearly half of Madison West High School students are non-white. But less than 10% of teachers are people of color.

Authorities say an inmate died Tuesday after a fight involving several inmates in the Oklahoma County jail. The cause of death will be determined by the state medical examiner’s office.

WYOMING Cody: A psychiatrist is being held on bond after authorities say he violated court orders by drinking alcohol. Cody police say they arrested an intoxicated Matthew Hopkins on June 30, two days after he was placed on probation for backing into a parked car, The Powell Tribune reports.

OREGON Portland: Oregon’s

Compiled from staff and wire reports.

OKLAHOMA Oklahoma City:

FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

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SPORTSLINE FIRST WORD IT’S A MINI-USC. BOCA IS LIKE HOLLYWOOD. AND WE’VE GOT A BEACH, TOO.” Florida Atlantic football coach Lane Kiffin, at the Conference USA media days Thursday on part of his recruiting pitch for the school in Boca Raton, Fla.

IN SIMPSON STORY, OUR FASCINATION NEVER FADES Inside

Nancy Armour narmour@usatoday.com USA TODAY Sports

A conference room at the Lovelock Correctional Center is the new Ford Bronco.

Some 20 years later, even after he’s spent the last nine years locked away and out of the public eye, O.J. Simpson mesmerizes

O.J. shows his gratitude, 5C Move back to Florida is likely after release, 5C

the country like no one else. It doesn’t matter that we’ve seen every episode of this soap opera and knew exactly how it was going to end.

(When one of the four mem-

bers of the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners — you know, the folks who held Simpson’s fate in their hands — showed up in a Kansas City Chiefs tie Thursday, it was a pretty good sign things were going to go Simpson’s way.

They did, and he’ll be released as early as Oct. 1. He’s your problem now, Florida!)

When it’s O.J., we simply can’t look away. v STORY CONTINUES ON 5C

RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL VIA USA TODAY NETWORK

O.J. Simpson was granted parole Thursday in Nevada.

GARY A. VASQUEZ, USA TODAY SPORTS

TWEET OF THE DAY @FSKPart3 Linkin Park is one of my favorite bands ever. Grew up listening to them. And the sun will set for you... #RIPChesterBennington Hornets player Frank Kaminsky, on the death Thursday of Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington.

BRITISH OPEN

ALMOST LAST WORD “OBVIOUSLY HIS AFRO HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM BEING SIGNED, AND I WASN’T TRYING TO RELAY THAT MESSAGE. IT WAS MORE SO ABOUT HELPING HIM AT THE END OF THE DAY. IN ALL MY INTERVIEWS, ALL I HAVE EVER TRIED TO DO IS HELP HIM AND TALK POSITIVE.” Former quarterback Michael Vick, on “The Dan Patrick Show” clarifying a comment he made about Colin Kaepernick, who he said should cut his hair if he wants to be signed by a team.

Inappropriate conduct cited Dan Wolken @danwolken USA TODAY Sports

Slumping Rory McIlroy might have found a spark with four birdies in his last eight holes to shoot 71, joined there by world No. 1 Dustin Johnson. Phil Mickelson, whose last win came in the 2013 Open, didn’t make a birdie and shot 73, the same score recorded by reigning Masters champion Sergio Garcia.

“It didn’t seem to be particularly nice if you arrived in the first couple of hours,” Stenson said. “And we got a fairly good ride. It’s windy, it’s not easy out there, but it’s still nice. Nice Open conditions. This is kind of the way you want it. It’s enough to keep you honest.

“So it’s nice conditions as of now.”

A one-minute call made from the university-issued phone of Mississippi football coach Hugh Freeze to a number associated with a female escort service was raised as a potential issue in the back-and-forth between the university’s legal counsel and the attorney for former Rebels football coach Houston Nutt, according to records and correspondence obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

Freeze’s resignation was announced Thursday, hours after Mississippi said it would provide a written statement to USA TODAY Sports regarding the phone call.

Athletics director Ross Bjork announced in a news conference the resignation did not involve NCAA allegations but was based on a pattern of inappropriate conduct.

“We proactively looked into the rest of his phone records and found a concerning pattern,” Bjork said.

Bjork also acknowledged that if Freeze had not resigned, the school would have “exercised the termination clause in the contract for moral turpitude.”

Assistant Matt Luke, a former Mississippi player, was named interim coach. Practice begins in early August.

The school is under NCAA investigation for allegations of academic, booster and recruiting misconduct.

v STORY CONTINUES ON 6C

v STORY CONTINUES ON 4C

LAST WORD “I’M GAY. (USWNT SOCCER PLAYER) MEGAN (RAPINOE)’S MY GIRLFRIEND. ...

IAN RUTHERFORD, USA TODAY SPORTS

Brooks Koepka, putting on No. 10, is tied for the lead with Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar.

SAVING IS SIMPLE. Get a quote today.

THESE AREN’T SECRETS TO PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME. I DON’T FEEL LIKE I’VE NOT LIVED MY LIFE. I THINK PEOPLE HAVE THIS ASSUMPTION THAT IF YOU’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT IT, YOU MUST BE HIDING IT, LIKE IT’S THIS SECRET. THAT WAS NEVER THE CASE FOR ME.” Storm guard Sue Bird, to “ESPN the Magazine,” saying for the first time she’s gay.

Edited by USA TODAY Sports

BIRD (6) BY RVR PHOTOS-USA TODAY SPORTS

Freeze steps down at Miss.

ROUND 1 BRINGS CLEAR SKIES, 65S Steve DiMeglio @Steve_DiMeglio USA TODAY Sports SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND Once the sun showed up for Thursday’s first round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale, the giant yellow scoreboards that loom over this ancient land started turning red.

While the 146th edition of this championship broke nasty with cool temperatures, howling winds and unrelenting rain, by noon all the dark clouds had floated away and sunshine bathed the grounds well into the evening. Just like that, the going was good and many of the players got going.

Two-time major winner Jordan Spieth, reigning U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka and Matt Kuchar all came home at 5under-par 65 to share the lead after the first round of the 146th edition of the oldest championship in golf.

Resting right below the top trio were Paul Casey and 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel at 66. Six players were at 67, including Ryder Cup lion Ian Poulter and Justin Thomas. Among the 14 players at 68 were four-time major winner Ernie Els, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson and Hideki Matsuyama. Defending champion Henrik Stenson was joined by other major champions Adam Scott and Jason Day in a large group at 69.

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2C SPORTS

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

E6

MLB SCORES For Indians skipper Francona, baseball ‘means everything’

AMERICAN LEAGUE East Boston Tampa Bay New York Baltimore Toronto

W 54 51 48 46 44

L 43 45 45 49 51

Pct. .557 .531 .516 .484 .463

GB — 21/2 4 7 9

Strk.

L-1 L-1 L-1 W-4 W-1

Central Cleveland Minnesota Kansas City Detroit Chicago

W 48 48 46 43 38

L 45 46 47 50 54

Pct. .516 .511 .495 .462 .413

GB — 1 /2 2 5 91/2

Strk.

L-2 W-1 W-1 L-1 L-6

West Houston Seattle Los Angeles Texas Oakland

W 63 48 47 45 43

L 32 48 50 50 52

Pct. .663 .500 .485 .474 .453

GB — 151/2 17 18 20

Strk.

L-1 W-1 W-1 L-5 W-1

Last 10 4-6 7-3 4-6 6-4 4-6 Last 10 4-6 5-5 3-7 6-4 1-9 Last 10 5-5 7-3 4-6 4-6 6-4

Home 29-18 27-19 26-17 29-19 22-24

Away 25-25 24-26 22-28 17-30 22-27

Home 21-24 22-29 26-23 25-21 19-23

Away 27-21 26-17 20-24 18-29 19-31

Home 30-21 27-22 25-22 25-20 28-23

Away 33-11 21-26 22-28 20-30 15-29

Home 26-19 23-25 23-27 22-26 16-25

Away 31-18 22-23 20-23 20-25 16-36

Home 28-24 24-20 27-23 26-24 24-26

Away 24-22 25-25 21-25 20-25 16-29

Home 39-11 33-15 29-18 24-23 19-25

Away 27-18 22-25 27-23 16-31 18-34

NATIONAL LEAGUE East Washington Atlanta New York Miami Philadelphia

W 57 45 43 42 32

L 37 48 50 51 61

Pct. .606 .484 .462 .452 .344

GB — 111/2 131/2 141/2 241/2

Strk.

L-1 L-3 W-2 L-2 W-2

Central Milwaukee Chicago Pittsburgh St. Louis Cincinnati

W 52 49 48 46 40

L 46 45 48 49 55

Pct. .531 .521 .500 .484 .421

GB — 1 3 41/2 101/2

Strk.

L-5 W-6 W-5 L-2 L-1

West Los Angeles Arizona Colorado San Diego San Francisco

W 66 55 56 40 37

L 29 40 41 54 59

Pct. .695 .579 .577 .426 .385

GB Strk.

— W-11 11 W-1 11 W-4 251/2 L-3 291/2 W-2

Last 10 7-3 5-5 5-5 4-6 4-6 Last 10 4-6 7-3 8-2 5-5 3-7 Last 10 10-0 3-7 6-4 4-6 3-7

THURSDAY’S RESULTS American League Toronto 8, Boston 6 Baltimore 9, Texas 7 National League N.Y. Mets 3, St. Louis 2 Arizona 12, Cincinnati 2 Pittsburgh 4, Milwaukee 2

Detorit at Kansas City N.Y. Yankees at Seattle Atlanta at L.A. Dodgers San Diego at San Francisco

FRIDAY’S GAMES AMERICAN LEAGUE Pitchers

GS

2017 Statistics Pct. WHIP ERA

IP

K

(Line: HOU -133) .600 1.27 3.75 .444 1.58 7.01

100.2 87.1

98 74

3.45 3.59

125.1 123.0

131 80

(Line: CLE -132) .400 1.47 5.33 .467 1.47 5.59

104.2 93.1

115 105

(Line: MIN -126) 1.000 1.45 6.79 .647 1.11 2.99

50.1 126.1

47 94

(Line: KC -181) 1.49 5.10 42.1 1.15 4.32 93.2

31 82

W-L

Houston at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m. ET HOU: Fiers (R) BAL: Jimenez (R)

18 14

6-4 4-5

Texas at Tampa Bay, 7:10 p.m. ET TEX: Darvish (R) TB: Cobb (R)

20 19

(Line: TB -105) .429 1.14 .571 1.24

6-8 8-6

Toronto at Cleveland, 7:10 p.m. ET TOR: Estrada (R) CLE: Bauer (R)

19 18

4-6 7-8

Detroit at Minnesota, 8:10 p.m. ET DET: Sanchez (R) MIN: Santana (R)

5 19

1-0 11-6

Chi. White Sox at Kansas City, 8:15 p.m. ET CWS: Shields (R) KC: Kennedy (R)

8 17

2-2 3-6

.500 .333

Boston at L.A. Angels, 10:07 p.m. ET BOS: Sale (L) LAA: Nolasco (R)

19 19

(Line: BOS -195) .733 0.89 2.59 .286 1.35 4.82

11-4 4-10

135.1 108.1

191 91

84.0 24.0

66 11

N.Y. Yankees at Seattle, 10:10 p.m. ET NYY: Sabathia (L) SEA: Moore (R)

15 4

(Line: SEA -105) .727 1.27 3.54 .500 1.04 5.25

8-3 1-1

NATIONAL LEAGUE St. Louis at Chi. Cubs, 2:20 p.m. ET STL: Martinez (R) CHC: Arrieta (R)

19 19

(Line: CHC -150) .429 1.14 3.36 .563 1.29 4.17

6-8 9-7

Milwaukee at Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m. ET MIL: Garza (R) PHI: Nola (R)

14 14

4-4 6-6

Miami at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m. ET MIA: Urena (R) CIN: Bailey (R)

14 5

7-4 2-3

.500 .500

13 10

133 105

(Line: PHI -139) 1.27 3.84 77.1 1.20 3.54 86.1

52 88

(Line: CIN -115) .636 1.29 .400 2.16

3.93 10.13

89.1 21.1

61 17

(Line: COL -146) .429 1.33 4.69 .857 1.17 4.33

80.2 62.1

59 53

2.01 .00

134.1 0.0

183

(Line: LAD -280) .300 1.33 4.33 1.000 0.88 1.56

106.0 86.2

81 101

(Line: SF -150) 1.24 3.14 57.1 1.17 4.86 124.0

71 135

Pittsburgh at Colorado, 8:40 p.m. ET PIT: Williams (R) COL: Hoffman (R)

123.1 108.0

3-4 6-1

Washington at Arizona, 9:40 p.m. ET WSH: Scherzer (R) ARI: ()

19 0

11-5 0-0

(Line: OFF) .688 0.80 .000 .00

Atlanta at L.A. Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. ET ATL: Garcia (L) LAD: Wood (L)

17 14

3-7 11-0

San Diego at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m. ET SD: Cahill (R) SF: Samardzija (R)

10 19

4-3 4-11

.571 .267

INTERLEAGUE Oakland at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m. ET OAK: Blackburn (R) NYM: Matz (L)

3 7

1-0 2-3

(Line: NYM -165) 1.000 1.12 1.83 .400 1.35 4.58

19.2 39.1

Odds provided by Pregame.com.

RESULTS, UPCOMING GAMES Wednesday American League MIN 6, NYY 1 SEA 4, HOU 1 OAK 7, TB 2 BAL 10, TEX 2 BOS 5, TOR 1 KC 4, DET 3 National League CHC 8, ATL 2 PHI 10, MIA 3 COL 18, SD 4 PIT 3, MIL 2(10) NYM 7, STL 3 CIN 4, ARI 3(11) Interleague SF 5, CLE 4 LAD 9, CWS 1(8) LAA 7, WAS 0

Saturday American League HOU at BAL, 7:05 DET at MIN, 7:10 TEX at TB, 7:10 TOR at CLE, 7:10 CWS at KC, 7:15 BOS at LAA, 9:07 NYY at SEA, 9:10 National League SD at SF, 4:05 STL at CHC, 4:05 MIL at PHI, 7:05 MIA at CIN, 7:10 PIT at COL, 8:10 WSH at ARI, 8:10 ATL at LAD, 9:10 Interleague OAK at NYM, 7:10

Sunday American League TEX at TB, 1:10 TOR at CLE, 1:10 HOU at BAL, 1:35 DET at MIN, 2:10 CWS at KC, 2:15 BOS at LAA, 3:37 NYY at SEA, 4:10 National League MIA at CIN, 1:10 MIL at PHI, 1:35 PIT at COL, 3:10 SD at SF, 4:05 ATL at LAD, 4:10 WSH at ARI, 4:10 STL at CHC, 8:05 Interleague OAK at NYM, 1:10

8 25

Bob Nightengale bnighten@usatoday.com USA TODAY Sports

FRANCISCO Terry Francona’s legs are rapidly rocking back and forth. He reaches for a pencil on his desk and starts softly jabbing his right leg, over and over, as if a little pain will make the twitch stop.

Francona, his eyes darting back and forth, looks at his laptop one moment, the TV above on the wall the next, while greeting the players strolling by his office. His desk has three pieces of bubble gum in front of him, a pouch of Lancaster chewing tobacco and a pack of playing cards on one side and a fresh cup of coffee with an incomplete crossword puzzle on the other side.

This is Francona’s refuge.

The baseball clubhouse.

He arrived at 11:15 in the morning, eight full hours before the first pitch of the Cleveland Indians game against the San Francisco Giants this week. He swam for an hour. Talked candidly for 30 minutes with Giants manager Bruce Bochy about heart problems. Played cribbage with pitchers Josh Tomlin and Bryan Shaw.

Chatted with Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper, a former Indians infielder. Had meetings about potential trade acquisitions with Cleveland general manager Chris Antonetti. And kept dropping in and out of the coaches room next door.

“This is where I belong,” says Francona, in his fifth year managing the Indians after winning two World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox. “The clubhouse.

This is all I know. Really, this is all I’ve ever done since I was 3.”

Francona, whose father, Tito, played 15 years in the major leagues, has a picture in the Indians media guide sitting in front of his father at the 1963 Indians’ fatherson game. He played 11 years himself, managed 20 years and handled clubhouses with personalities ranging from David Ortiz to Michael Jordan to Curt Schilling.

Baseball, except for a few months of real estate training when he quit halfway through the class, is really all he knows.

“That’s why it almost killed me when it was taken away,” Francona says. “This game means everything to me.”

It’s why Friday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays could be the most emotional game in Cleveland since Game 7 of last year’s World Series. Francona, 58, will be managing his first game at Progressive Field in 17 days.

He was last seen in Cleveland leaving the dugout in the fifth inning July 4 against the San Diego Padres. His heart was pounding at the rate of 200 beats a minute, and he was so lightheaded he thought he was going to pass out.

He was rushed to the Cleveland Clinic for tests and was hospitalized for three days until doctors di-

SAN

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agnosed the problem that caused had him to leave the dugout with chest pains four times since August. He was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and had a 10-hour surgery July 7 in a catheter ablation procedure.

“We were all so scared,” Indians catcher Yan Gomes said. “It’s like he just tripped and hurt himself. I’m no doctor, but when you talk about heart, you never know what may happen.

You start realizing that there’s more to life than just this game, especially when you see one of the leaders of this organization gone from us. It’s so great to have him back. We want to make it easy on him so he doesn’t have another heart attack.”

Francona, as is his custom, has leaned on self-deprecation to ease his players’ minds. Even when he was admitted to the hospital and saw how young his doctor looked, Francona quizzed him before he could even bring out the stethoscope.

“Hey,” Francona asked, “you did graduate from medical school, right?”

“I was frustrated, like, ‘Man, what the hell is going on here?’ ” Francona told USA TODAY Sports. “It was a relief once they found out what it was, but I was mad that I wasn’t around. I hate missing games. They’re almost sacred.

“Even once they found out what it was, I was like, ‘Let’s do it and get it over with. I’m not sitting around here. So you’re either doing it tomorrow or I’m going back to work.’ ” The heart, Francona said, could wait.

The Indians have another pennant to win, and Francona wasn’t about to walk out on his team.

“People always talk about me retiring,” Francona says, “but I’m not in any rush to retire, because I love what I’m doing. Some day if I can’t do this job correctly, whether it’s health or whatever, I could stay in the game and help younger kids or something. But I’m not there yet.

“I still have that fire.

Even though the game can keep you up at night and talking to yourself, I love it so much. It wears you out because you care so much, but to do this right, you’ve got to care. As you get older, you know how to manage your time better, but I don’t think you ever learn how to deal with losses better.

When you’re not winning, it just beats you up.”

There are 29 other managers in the game who can relate, particularly Bochy, who has had health scares himself, including a heart attack, and three months ago had the same procedure as Francona.

“We all realize what we go through, and I talked to another manager who went through the same thing,” Bochy says. “The way we take some of these tough losses, it goes with the territory. There for a while, I was having an incident almost every day. It’s a tough lifestyle, but when you love this game like we do, it’s almost part of the job.

“People ask me about retiring, too, but what am I going to do? This is what I love doing.”

Twins by a half game in the AL Central, and at 48-45 have shown an inability to break away from the pack all season.

“This team is too good, with too many players in this clubhouse with postseason experience, to be playing like this,” Indians closer Cody Allen says. “It stinks. We’re supposed to make it easier on Tito, not harder.

“You hear people talk about playoff hangover, but if that happens, shame on us. To get to October, you have to earn that.”

It’s a reflection of Francona, who instilled an excusefree atmosphere upon his arrival five years ago.

The Indians have been in the playoff hunt every year since, winning one American League pennant and a wild-card berth, and the window remains open for the ultimate achievement.

“It would be hard to overstate the impact that Tito has had on our organization,” Indians President Chris Antonetti says. “It’s incredible what he’s done.”

Francona was the manager who ended the Red Sox’s 86-year World Series title drought and last year had the Indians one run from their first World Series championship since 1948.

Now, if he can only take the Indians that last step, maybe he can finally relax.

“It’s hard, because you care,” Francona says, “and when it starts to not bother you, it’s time to do something else. The hard thing is not to let it define you, ruin your self-esteem and things like that.

“But I’ve got a responsibility here. I’ve got an obligation. And I’m going to live up to that. So I don’t want anyone to worry about me, because I’m not, I’m worrying about my team. They mean everything to me.”

Francona, who remained in Cleveland while bench coach Brad Mills and his staff managed the American League in the All-Star Game in Miami, says he felt strong enough to attend the game. He was out of the hospital and even poked his head into the Indians clubhouse the last day before the All-Star break, joking to his players that, sorry, they couldn’t kill him off that easily.

“I didn’t go to the AllStar Game because I thought it sent the wrong message,” Francona says.

“Here I am missing games from the Indians, and then I’m going to trot myself down there to Miami?

That’s not right. My responsibility is here.”

So he stayed in his downtown Cleveland apartment listening to Mills address the AL All-Stars before the game on a speaker phone.

He offered a few words himself after Mills and Kevin Cash of the Tampa Bay Rays brought out a cardboard cutout of Francona.

Then he laughed so hard he almost passed out when Mills was interviewed during the game with a wad of bubble gum on his cap.

Francona, whose father also has endured heart problems, has agreed to make health concessions.

He stays away off the field during batting practice, instead watching from the dugout. He carefully watches what he eats. He just began swimming an hour each day again. He is even going to try using an apparatus for sleep apnea.

Indians players say they want to ease Francona’s stress level by opening a nice lead in the second half, but it’s been everything but calming. The Indians, with regulars Lonnie Chisenhall and Jason Kipnis on the disabled list, dropped five of six games to the woeful San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics on their Bay Area trip.

They lead the Minnesota

@BNightengale for MLB commentary and analysis.

Diamondbacks 12, Reds 2

Blue Jays 8, Red Sox 6

Arizona Cincinnati

Toronto Boston

300 010 206 — 12 000 100 010 — 2

Arizona ab r h bi bb so avg Descalso lf 2 1 0 1 1 1 .246 Pollock cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 .286 Iannetta c 5 1 2 0 0 3 .230 Lamb 3b 5 2 2 6 0 1 .274 Goldschmidt 1b 5 0 0 0 0 4 .311 Herrmann rf 3 1 0 0 1 1 .175 Rodney p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Owings 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .283 Marte ss 3 2 1 2 1 0 .219 Blanco cf 3 3 2 2 1 0 .253 Corbin p 3 0 0 0 0 2 .056 Hoover p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Peralta ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 .320 Totals 35 12 9 12 4 13 u Batting — 2B: Iannetta 2 (13); Pollock (15); 3B: Blanco (3); HR: Marte (2); Lamb 2 (22); Blanco (3); SF: Descalso (2); RBI: Descalso (35); Marte 2 (5); Lamb 6 (76); Blanco 2 (10); Pollock (13) LOB: 1. u Baserunning — SB: Herrmann (2). u Fielding — DP: 1.

Cincinnati ab r h bi bb so avg Hamilton cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .253 Suarez 3b 3 2 2 2 1 1 .256 Votto 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .307 Duvall lf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .272 Gennett 2b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .307 Mesoraco c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .233 Schebler rf 3 0 0 0 0 1 .242 Alcantara ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .200 Peraza ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 .253 Castillo p 2 0 1 0 0 1 .071 Cingrani p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Kivlehan ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .214 Storen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Hernandez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 33 2 8 2 1 9 u Batting — 2B: Hamilton (11); HR: Suarez 2 (15); RBI: Suarez 2 (49); GIDP: Kivlehan LOB: 5. u Baserunning — CS: Hamilton (7).

Pitching ip h r er bb so era Arizona Corbin W,7-9 71/3 7 1 1 1 6 4.43 2 /3 1 1 1 0 1 4.10 Hoover Rodney 1 0 0 0 0 2 5.40 Cincinnati Castillo L,1-3 6 4 4 4 1 7 3.86 Cingrani 1 1 2 2 1 1 4.79 Storen 1 0 0 0 0 2 3.29 Hernandez 1 4 6 6 2 3 5.28 Batters faced; pitches-strikes: Corbin 28; 103-71; Hoover 3; 12-7; Rodney 3; 11-9; Castillo 23; 100-60; Cingrani 5; 22-14; Storen 3; 16-11; Hernandez 9; 37-21 uUmpires — HP: Morales; 1B: Johnson; 2B: Cooper; 3B: Cederstrom uGame data — T: 2:47. Att: 19,711.

FOLLOW COLUMNIST BOB NIGHTENGALE

104 011 001 — 8 030 000 300 — 6

Toronto ab r h bi bb so avg Bautista rf 5 0 0 0 0 1 .227 Martin c 3 2 1 0 2 2 .225 Donaldson 3b 4 1 1 1 1 3 .246 Smoak 1b 5 2 3 3 0 1 .298 Morales dh 4 1 1 0 1 0 .255 Pearce lf 5 1 1 2 0 2 .272 Pillar cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253 Carrera cf 4 0 2 0 1 1 .289 Goins ss 4 0 1 2 1 0 .207 Barney 2b 3 1 0 0 1 0 .217 Totals 37 8 10 8 7 10 u Batting — 2B: Carrera (4); Martin (7); Donaldson (10); HR: Smoak 2 (26); RBI: Goins 2 (31); Pearce 2 (24); Smoak 3 (62); Donaldson (29) LOB: 9. u Baserunning — SB: Barney (4). u Fielding — E: Carrera (3).

Boston ab r h bi bb so avg Betts rf 4 1 2 2 1 0 .277 Young lf 2 0 0 0 1 0 .249 Benintendi ph 2 0 0 0 0 0 .269 Pedroia dh 5 1 3 3 0 1 .315 H. Ramirez 1b 4 0 0 0 1 3 .253 Bradley Jr. cf 3 0 0 0 1 2 .268 Bogaerts ss 4 1 1 0 0 1 .295 Leon c 3 0 1 1 1 1 .243 Marrero 3b 3 1 1 0 0 1 .214 Moreland ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .245 Vazquez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 Holt 2b 3 2 0 0 1 1 .152 Totals 34 6 8 6 6 10 u Batting — 2B: Leon (8); Bogaerts (21); HR: Pedroia (6); RBI: Leon (23); Betts 2 (59); Pedroia 3 (52) LOB: 7. u Baserunning — CS: Betts (3).

Pitching ip h r er bb so era Toronto Liriano 12/3 5 3 2 1 1 6.15 Leone W,2-0 21/3 0 0 0 1 4 2.68 Biagini 2 1 0 0 1 1 5.11 2 /3 2 3 3 2 0 2.89 Barnes Tepera H,8 11/3 0 0 0 1 2 3.49 Osuna S,24 1 0 0 0 0 2 2.06 Boston Fister L,0-4 41/3 7 6 6 4 3 7.89 Abad 1 0 1 1 2 2 2.90 2 /3 1 0 0 0 1 5.87 Taylor Martin 1 0 0 0 1 1 0.00 Workman 2 2 1 1 0 3 3.18 WP: Taylor. Batters faced; pitchesstrikes: Liriano 11; 54-35; Leone 8; 29-21; Biagini 7; 30-15; Barnes 6; 16-7; Tepera 5; 2114; Osuna 3; 13-9; Fister 24; 100-53; Abad 5; 20-8; Taylor 3; 12-9; Martin 4; 15-7; Workman 8; 26-22 uUmpires — HP: Dreckman; 1B: Segal; 2B: Everitt; 3B: Baker uGame data — T: 3:25. Att: 37,094.

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USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

SPORTS 3C

NASCAR

Flagging race to shake things up 2018 Brickyard will be moved to September

BRICKYARD 400 Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET, NBC

Jim Ayello @jimayello USA TODAY Sports INDIANAPOLIS Doug Boles isn’t hiding from the truth. The Brickyard 400 is floundering, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway president knows it.

In recent years, excitement over a race many still consider one of NASCAR’s crown jewels has evaporated. A race that used to draw 200,000-plus fans has seen its numbers dwindle to a fraction of that once lofty figure.

That’s why it was time to try something new, something bold.

“A complete reset,” Boles told The Indianapolis Star on Wednesday. “Now to think we’re going to sell out the Brickyard 400 really is a fiction. I don’t think any of us really believe that’s what we’re trying to do.

“What we are trying to do is to make sure we have a healthy Brickyard 400 that can go into the future. We’ve tried things off and on for the past several years to stem the tide of the declining attendance, and we’ve struggled to make that happen.”

That’s why NASCAR and the Speedway are throwing away a quarter-century’s worth of builtup date equity and moving the Brickyard from its usual spot on the calendar — mid-July — to the second weekend in September, beginning next year.

BRIAN SPURLOCK, USA TODAY SPORTS

Moving the Indianapolis race to September would address fans’ concerns about the heat.

There was little hope of reinvigorating the race in July, Boles said, but in September the track can promote the race in a whole new way.

What most appealed to Boles about moving the race is that it likely will make for a much cooler weekend than traditionally has been associated with the Brickyard.

“The biggest complaint we hear from fans is that it’s just too hot in July,” Boles said. “Even in the years it’s not really hot, the perception is that it is. ... So to be able to get folks out of the heat will be big.”

The other key to the race moving to September is that it will

serve as the final race on the NASCAR calendar before the playoffs.

Drivers, for one, are on board with the changes. Austin Dillon, the 27-year-old Coca-Cola 600 winner, said Indianapolis deserves a more prestigious spot on the calendar.

Veteran driver and 2011 Brickyard 400 pole sitter David Ragan agreed, saying that while racing at IMS always has been special for him, he thinks cooler temperatures and a little added drama will be good for the health of the event.

“I get excited thinking about this race being about 10 degrees cooler,” Ragan said. “This race is

tough on the drivers and the pit crews. It’s just so warm and humid here. ... That September date will be cooler for everyone to have some fun. And it will have a lot of drama.”

Of course, there is one big problem with having a race on the second Sunday of September: It collides with Week 1 of the NFL season.

Boles said IMS and NASCAR were aware of this conflict when agreeing to move the race, but they decided to take the risk anyway. He added that IMS already has engaged the Indianapolis Colts about requesting the NFL schedule an away game for Week 1 next season. There’s no guaran-

tee the Colts will do so or that the NFL will comply, but it doesn’t hurt to ask, Boles said. And if they don’t, well, they’ll just have to make it work.

“For sure we’re concerned about bumping up against the Colts,” Boles said. “This is a rabid Colts community ... but we think we might be able to find ways to help each other in that situation.

We can promote together. ... Honestly, there are far more advantages to racing in September than the big offset of running into the Colts.”

In the short term, the outlook for the Brickyard 400 isn’t great for this weekend. While Boles hopes the tightly packed schedule — all Cup series racing now is confined to Saturday and Sunday — the track’s renewed efforts to put drivers in the Indianapolis community and bring in musical acts don’t appear to be drawing more fans to the track so far.

Boles said Wednesday that ticket sales are “flat” compared with last year’s lackluster crowd.

He also said that because IMS offers so much seating, the Brickyard has become more of a walk-up event, with fans deciding at the last minute whether to attend.

“We’re confident we can turn this around,” Boles said. “Long term, this is what the race needed. It’s a complete reset and a brand-new Brickyard 400.”

Ayello writes for The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Gordon: More lead swaps needed at Indianapolis

Hendrick smart to pick Bowman

Jim Ayello

MORE Q&A

Brant James

To read more of this interview, go to nascar .usatoday.com

bjames@usatoday.com USA TODAY Sports

@jimayello USA TODAY Sports INDIANAPOLIS The Brickyard 400 is a shadow of its former self, said Jeff Gordon. When he thinks back on his victory in the inaugural race in 1994, he remembers some “pretty darn good racing.” But that’s not what he’s seeing anymore.

The retired NASCAR star said he loves Indianapolis Motor Speedway but there hasn’t been spectacular stock car racing on the track there in more than a decade, and that’s why there are no longer 200,000 fans in the seats. Fortunately, he said, there’s a path toward a more successful future.

The current Fox analyst, who will be behind the wheel of the pace car, spoke Thursday about why he believes there’s hope for the Brickyard 400, his predictions for this weekend’s race and how he’s taken to the broadcast booth.

Q: Are you enjoying retirement — or being away from the track full time?

A: Very much. It’s a grueling, hectic schedule with 38 weeks.

And now there’s a lot being asked of everybody on the team. ... To do that for as long as I did, it took a lot out of me. But I enjoyed it very much, and now I’m enjoying this next chapter in life.

I’m not calling it retirement, although some others do (laughs).

I feel like I’m as busy as I’ve ever been. Since the Fox season has ended, I’ve been able to spend some real quality time with my kids and my wife, and I’m enjoying that very much. We’re going on a family trip in August overseas. Then I’ll be pretty hard back at it with Hendrick (Motorsports) and some other partners I do some work for.

Q: Now that you’ve been in the broadcast booth for two years, is it as much fun as you’d hoped?

A: I’m enjoying it more than I ever anticipated. I was excited about it last year but nervous, like anybody is when you’re going into something new for the first time. This year I enjoyed it more because I’m more comfortable, more confident, a little

to being spectacular with drafting and the swapping of the lead.

BRIAN SPURLOCK, USA TODAY SPORTS

Jeff Gordon, the 2014 winner of the Brickyard 400, says recent races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway haven’t been spectacular. bit more relaxed. I understand the flow of (the) weekend, the people I’m working with. ... It’s fun. I think it’s the best way for someone like myself to transition because I still have that little bit of competitiveness in me.

Of course, as a race car driver, you have a little bit of that adrenaline rush that you’re looking for and that comes with live TV. Pushing yourself and trying to analyze a race in the best possible way.

Q: When you started racing the Brickyard 400, hundreds of thousands of fans were attendance. Now, only a fraction of that comes to the race. What happened? And how can it be remedied?

A: There’s no easy answer. I had the chance to come to the Indy 500 when I drove the pace car a couple years ago, and it reminded me of — because I went to the 500 as a kid and I follow all forms of motor sports — how special that event is. ... The racing’s been pretty darn good lately, too. I think that was the case for the Brickyard for the first five or 10 years. But the racing itself has not been spectacular.

I think this year with less downforce and stages, it gives it an opportunity to have the best race we’ve had in several years.

But I’m probably more interested in what we’ll see in the Xfinity Series race with the changes they’re making aerodynamically and horsepower-wise there to see if we can find a package that works. ... Stock cars traditionally have not gone great on flat tracks. ... Indy is a one-groove racetrack other than those double-file restarts. It’ll be great to see if we can get the racing back

Q: What are your thoughts on the Brickyard being moved to September?

A: If you can find a way to improve the racing, so there’s a little bit more passing going on, then also moving later in the season — it’s brutal there in July.

Coming there last year, it was my first race back, and I was dying inside that car. So I can’t imagine what fans are going through in grandstands.

Q: Alex Bowman was named the successor to Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 car. Was he a good choice?

A: I think he’s a great choice.

He’s young. He got in the car last year and did an amazing job. The team liked working with him, and Junior has really supported it. So have the sponsors and the fans. I think all the way around it’s a win-win for everybody. He did such an amazing job behind the wheel. I know what that car was like. I drove it last year (for eight races, including Indianapolis). We started improving our performance when I was in the car, but then Alex went to Phoenix and sat on the pole and had an excellent chance at winning that race. He’s just a great driver, and I think it’s going to be fun to watch.

Q: Any predictions for this weekend?

A: Oh, man, right now, it seems like (Martin) Truex Jr. and (Kyle) Larson are the class of the field. I think Kyle Busch is due, and he’s won at this race.

This could be a sort of breakout weekend for him. They’ve been dominating lately but just not getting the wins. ... I’m interested to see if Larson can step up.

The way he’s running, he just seems to be one of those guys that when it’s a big event and there’s a lot on the line, he has a way of stepping up.

Ayello writes for The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Alex Bowman earned the No. 88 Chevrolet last season. He gets to have it for himself beginning next season.

Hendrick Motorsports announced Thursday that the 24year-old, in-house prospect — a 10-race replacement when Dale Earnhardt Jr. missed the second half of the 2016 season because of lingering concussion symptoms — will become the full-time driver of the car next season upon the veteran’s retirement.

The No. 88 job figured to be the first and most important lever of the annual unofficial speculation fest that is the NASCAR free agency period.

The appointment of Bowman, who has made 81 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts, abruptly gums up the works of several rumored machinations.

The move also ends one avenue for veteran Matt Kenseth, as he predicted, after he was displaced at Joe Gibbs Racing by Furniture Row Racing rookie Erik Jones, beginning next season.

Importantly for Hendrick, 19year-old William Byron, who has two wins and is second in points in the second-tier developmental Xfinity Series, has another season to marinate, unless team owner Rick Hendrick divests himself of the final season of Kasey Kahne’s contract to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet. And Bowman, who proved his worth as a simulator specialist, a test driver and as an understudy, becomes the embodiment of the team-player mentality seven-time and defending series champion Jimmie Johnson described last week in declaring Bowman a top choice.

Bowman’s first two Cup opportunities, with BK Racing and Tommy Baldwin Racing, produced unremarkable results. But his eventual path to the job of his life came when Earnhardt signed him to contest two Xfinity races for JR Motorsports in 2014 and then lined him up to run nine more races for his Xfinity team in 2016.

While asserting that he would offer an opinion on his replace-

ADAM GLANZMAN, GETTY IMAGES

Alex Bowman, above, will replace Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 car next season. ment only if asked by Hendrick and sponsors, Earnhardt often openly lobbied for Bowman, who stayed with Hendrick when he couldn’t secure funding for a ride this season.

Initial support has been effusive.

Retired four-time series champion Jeff Gordon, who spent his entire career at HMS, deemed Bowman ready. Earnhardt’s loyal battalion of fans were overwhelmingly in support on SiriusXM radio Thursday, many citing his three top-10s in 10 races in the No. 88 Chevrolet last year.

In the penultimate race of last season, Bowman won the pole at Phoenix Raceway, led a race-high 194 laps and finished sixth. As a pole-winner, he earned a spot into the 2017 season-opening Clash exhibition, finishing third in the No. 88 Chevrolet.

In multiple ways, it seems as if Hendrick got this one right.

Whereas Kenseth would have brought experience and ability — he won 14 races with JGR since 2013 — he would have been a comparatively short-term solution. That Nationwide extended its sponsorship another season to cover 19 races and Axalta added two to increase its total to 15 suggested a comfort and made for a logical decision for Hendrick.

“Alex impressed the heck out of us last year with his talent, poise and professionalism,” Hendrick said. “He stepped up ... and showed that he can run with the best and compete for wins. His ability to stay focused through it all, and the way he’s handled himself since then, has shown a lot of character.”

Bowman will have to continue showing it. Because earning this job is only the beginning.

FOLLOW REPORTER BRANT JAMES

@brantjames for breaking news and analysis from the racetrack.

4C SPORTS

E4

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Call to escort revealed; Freeze steps down v CONTINUED FROM 1C

On July 13 — one day after Nutt filed a federal lawsuit against Mississippi alleging the school violated the terms of its severance agreement — Nutt’s attorney, Thomas Mars, sent an email to Lee Tyner, the school’s general counsel, referencing a “phone call Coach Freeze made that would be highly embarrassing for all of you and extremely difficult to explain.”

The call, which was made Jan. 19, 2016, to a Detroit area code (313), lasted one minute, according to emails exchanged between the two parties. But the phone number is associated with several websites advertising a female escort service based in Tampa, USA TODAY Sports independently confirmed. The phone number has been disconnected.

According to Mars, the records do not show Freeze immediately redialing a different or similar number, nor do other calls to a 313 number appear in the phone records covering the days Mars requested.

Responding July 14, Tyner rebuffed a suggestion from Mars that the phone call might be connected to Mississippi’s NCAA infractions case, saying the school had inquired into the matter and that “the call to the Detroit number that lasted one minute (or

LOGAN BOWLES, USA TODAY SPORTS

Hugh Freeze resigned as Mississippi football coach Thursday. He was 39-25 in five seasons. less) appears to be a misdial.”

Mars shared the correspondence with USA TODAY Sports.

The exchange over the phone call highlights the ugliness between Mississippi and Nutt as the school attempts to fight one of the most expansive NCAA infractions cases in recent memory.

Nutt alleges in his lawsuit that

Mississippi officials, including Freeze and Bjork, conspired to smear him in January 2016 by telling several local and national reporters in “off-the-record” conversations that most of the violations alleged by the NCAA had occurred during the Nutt era.

That false narrative taking hold in some media accounts — in

reality, nine of the 13 alleged violations in the first Notice of Allegations took place under the Freeze regime — was an intentional strategy promoted by Mississippi, Nutt’s lawsuit contends, to help save the school’s highly ranked recruiting class right before national signing day.

The case against Mississippi

has since expanded to include 21 allegations against the football program, including lack of institutional control and failure to monitor, which could lead to significant penalties targeted at Freeze.

Nutt says the false narrative has hurt his prospects of landing another Football Bowl Subdivision head coaching job and violated a non-disparagement clause in his termination agreement. Mississippi officials have not commented on the lawsuit.

In putting together the lawsuit, Mars paired phone calls made from Freeze, Bjork and head of communications Kyle Campbell to reporters around the time Yahoo Sports reported that Mississippi had received its Notice of Allegations from the NCAA. Freeze, 47, guided the Rebels for five seasons and led them to a Sugar Bowl victory after the 2015 season, but he coached under the cloud of a years-long NCAA investigation into the program.

Freeze, who spoke to the team before the announcement was made public, was making more than $4.7 million a year. Bjork said there was no buyout.

Freeze was 39-25 in five seasons (9-21 SEC). He and his wife have three daughters.

Contributing: Kevin Spain, Antonio Morales

INDYCAR

Miles’ priority: Land new TV contract Speculation surrounds title sponsor Jim Ayello @jimayello USA TODAY Sports INDIANAPOLIS While speculation centers on whether Verizon will return as the IndyCar Series’ title sponsor when its contract expires after the 2018 season, IndyCar CEO Mark Miles’ primary concern now is securing the circuit’s television future.

“So far (with Verizon), it’s we’ll see,” Miles said, noting that talks will begin soon, during an interview with The Indianapolis Star on Wednesday. “I believe any major sponsorship decision, when you have the luxury of being able to do it, is best made when integrated into the media discussions.”

Once a TV deal is completed, Miles can present Verizon — and any other potential title sponsor — with an enhanced understanding of the benefits of doing business with IndyCar. “It’s not beyond the pale to think that we might be able to in-

DARRON CUMMINGS, AP

IndyCar CEO Mark Miles says of his goal for a television deal: “In an ideal setting, one partner is best.” tegrate sponsorship with television,” Miles said. “And that conversation is further along. ...

Maybe by (September), we’ll see if we have something to say or not.”

Many of the reports of Verizon’s rumored departure center around a change in senior leadership.

Former Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Mead, who helped broker the deal with IndyCar in 2014, was believed to be a big fan of racing. But his departure, Miles said,

doesn’t necessarily mean the end of Verizon’s relationship with IndyCar. “No one makes decisions like this because they happen to like a sport,” Miles said, with a laugh.

“Though it doesn’t hurt.”

Verizon has been a “fantastic title sponsor” that has delivered everything it said it would, according to Miles. “They’re standup people, professionals with resources. And the view and feedback I’ve gotten is we’ve been the same.”

The company’s new senior leaders are using this season to “get a sense of what we do, what IndyCar is about and what they value they get at various tracks,” Miles said.

In the meantime, IndyCar is preparing for the possibility of finding a new title sponsor. Miles plans to have a good handle on IndyCar’s value in the marketplace, but he also has other ideas for title sponsorship.

One that he finds particularly interesting is selling title sponsorship to the broadcaster that lands the series’ TV rights.

This type of deal is not common, Miles said, but he helped negotiate a similar deal as the CEO of the ATP World Tour between European sports network Eurosport and the ATP. The deal is attractive to sponsors because their advertisements can be integrated more fully into the event.

Broadcasters could offer multifaceted advertising packages to sponsors that could include title sponsorship, commercials and signage around the track.

The negotiation process remains ongoing. Miles’ goal is to strike a domestic TV deal with one provider rather than continuing to oscillate between networks as the series has this season on NBC Sports Network and ABC. “As long as we can get the cov-

erage we want, in an ideal setting, one partner is best,” Miles said.

“But if one partner said, ‘Well, you’re on the third tier of our platform half the time,’ and we could go to two (partners) and be better exposed, then that has to be taken into account.”

In considering prospective TV partners, Miles is looking well beyond the traditional players.

There is an emerging digital market for live sports that IndyCar, as well as other major sports leagues, have to consider.

“We’re approaching a pivot point in the marketplace related to how people watch live sports,” he said. “There is an emergence of (non-traditional) big, legitimate players that wants sports.”

Amazon, for example, recently secured the rights to live stream the NFL’s Thursday Night Football game.

Amazon, though, cannot offer predictions about what its audiences will be because it’s so new to the game.

That makes it tough for a series such as IndyCar to know whether going to Amazon would be a viable option.

“It’s the Wild, Wild West out there with the emergence of these new, big players,” Miles said. “But they’re well resourced and they’re absolutely serious.”

Ayello writes for The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.

BASEBALL

Tebow cites comfort zone for recent batting surge Jon Santucci @JonSantucci USA TODAY Sports PORT ST. LUCIE , FLA . Tim Tebow has been playing with the St. Lucie Mets for less than a month — a very small sample size to analyze a baseball player — but the early returns are impressive.

After hitting .220/.311/.336 in 64 games at low-A Columbia (S.C.), the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner is batting .306/.390/.514 with the Mets heading into Thursday night’s game against the Jupiter (Fla.) Hammerheads.

Typically, it’s strange to see any minor leaguer hit almost 90 percentage points higher against a higher level of competition. But as is the case with many Tebowrelated situations, there’s more to it than meets the eye.

Until 10 months ago, Tebow hadn’t played in a competitive baseball game since his junior year of high school. Since signing with the Mets in September, Tebow, 29, has had a crash course in the game.

The repetition of playing every

LEAH VOSS, TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Tim Tebow says repetition has helped him feel more at ease. day is allowing him to feel more at ease in the batter’s box.

“I think I’m more comfortable seeing more pitches,” Tebow said Thursday in an exclusive interview. “Playing baseball for longer, I think that helps. Also, (hitting coach) Luis (Natera) and (manager) Chad (Kreuter), getting to

work with them every day and just what we’re doing out there — taking pitches, seeing, tracking. I feel more comfortable with my swing, feel more comfortable with my game plan I’m having against pitchers, and then just playing more baseball helps, too.”

Natera said Tebow has “made a

Still, Tebow refuses to think big jump from spring training to about what’s next in his baseball now.”

“Spring training was too early career or if he’ll get called up to to say something about it, but he the big leagues at some point — was rough,” Natera said. “Too something New York general much body in his swing. For a guy manager Sandy Alderson said last who didn’t play a game for years week he didn’t foresee.

“It’s a dangerous place to be as — and he’s a big, strong kid — he an athlete,” Tehad too much bow said. “You body in his don’t want to swing. Now “I’ve got to think think about he’s using his that. I’ve got to legs and his about the now, I’ve think about the hands much got to think about here, I’ve got to better.

A what I’m doing. … think about the much more This journey isn’t now, I’ve got to fluid swing. think about Now he’s pull- just about the what I’m doing. ing the ball destination. It’s … This journey the right way.” about every single isn’t just about Tebow had the destination. a 12-game hit- day.”

It’s about every ting streak Tim Tebow single day. It’s July 3-14 and has hit as many home runs about the competition against the (three) in 22 games with St. Lucie pitcher. It’s about the camaradeas he hit with Columbia. He had rie with my teammates. It’s about driven in a run in five of the pre- enjoying every moment.

“Wherever it ends, I’m going to vious seven games heading into Thursday’s action and has cut have fun.” down his strikeout rate considerably (one in every 5.5 at-bats with Santucci writes for the Treasure Coast St. Lucie, compared with one in Newspapers in Florida, part of the USA TODAY Network. every 3.1 with Columbia).

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

SPORTS 5C

O.J. SIMPSON

An emotional ‘thank you’ greets Nevada parole ruling A.J. Perez @byajperez USA TODAY Sports

O.J. Simpson mouthed the same words he did more than two decades ago: “Thank you.”

Simpson expressed his gratitude, this time around, immediately after Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners chair Connie Bisbee cast the fourth and deciding vote in Carson City on Thursday to grant his release as soon as Oct. 1.

No tears appeared, but his face — albeit showing signs of age — revealed the same expression of gratitude mixed with relief that he displayed when he was found not guilty of double-murder charges in October 1995.

Understandably, it was the most emotion shown during Thursday’s hearing as Simpson spoke via teleconference from the Lovelock Correctional Center, located about about 100 miles from Carson City.

Moments after the decision, Simpson walked gingerly down a hallway that led back to the prison where he could spend as few as 10 more weeks.

“Oh! God! Oh!” Simpson exclaimed as a steel door with horizontal bars in the window closed behind him.

Simpson was contrite, to a point, during the hearing.

He rambled as he explained the events surrounding the 2007 robbery of memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas. He was found guilty

A.J. Perez @byajperez USA TODAY Sports

JASON BEAN, RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL, VIA USA TODAY NETWORK

O.J. Simpson can be released as early as Oct. 1 after being granted parole Thursday in Nevada. in 2008 on 12 counts, including robbery and kidnapping, and was sentenced to a minimum of nine years and maximum of 33 years in prison.

“I had drinks on that day, but it was a wedding celebration,” Simpson said.

Famed defense attorney Barry

Slotnick told USA TODAY Sports that he had advised Simpson to take more responsibility.

“The parole board wanted to see him say, ‘I’m sorry. I’m sad,’ ” Slotnick said.

There were a couple of moments of levity, including when Bisbee misstated Simpson’s age

in the hearing.

“We have you as male, and we have that you very recently turned 90 years old,” Bisbee said.

“I’m sorry about that. You look great for 90!”

Simpson quipped: “Feels like it, though.”

Simpson’s saga remains must-see TV v CONTINUED FROM 1C

His parole hearing was given proper must-see TV treatment, broadcast live for more than two hours on each of the news networks and ESPN. Analysts were brought in to parse Simpson’s answers for some greater meaning or deep revelation.

Despite his insistence that he’s never made excuses for the armed confrontation with memorabilia dealers, Simpson’s explanation of what happened that night in 2007 sure sounded like one the longer he rambled.

His contention that he’d “never, ever pull a weapon on anybody” raised eyebrows, given that his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and

Simpson looking to go back to Florida

her friend, Ronald Goldman, were brutally stabbed to death.

Simpson was acquitted of murder charges in 1995, but a civil court found him responsible for Brown’s and Goldman’s deaths two years later. He was ordered to pay their families $33.5 million, a judgment that has ballooned to $60 million because of interest.

“There was the 10,000-pound elephant in the room,” Simpson attorney Malcolm LaVergne said.

“We were very successful in making sure that elephant was sleeping. It was washed, it was clean … and never started rearing its head and knocking things around.”

I’m not even sure what that means, though one of the commissioners noted the board had

gotten many letters referring to Brown’s and Goldman’s deaths and was disregarding all of them.

Nor am I certain why an unkempt mullet would have a negative impact on someone’s credibility, as LaVergne argued — passionately — after the hearing that it should.

But it doesn’t matter. That’s the phenomenon of Simpson.

Long before the current craze, when the only famous Kardashian was one of the attorneys representing him, Simpson was the original reality TV star.

That Bronco, the “Trial of the Century,” the bloody glove, those “ugly-ass shoes” — everything about Simpson, before and after Brown’s and Goldman’s deaths, has been a source of fascination.

Most fads fade, but not Simpson. Even with him behind bars, supposedly forgotten, a documentary about him won an Oscar and a TV series was the toast of the Emmys. He said Thursday that he’s gotten countless requests for interviews and turned them all down.

“I’m not interested in any of that,” Simpson said.

All he wants is to return to Florida — which just happens to be one of the states where his house can’t be seized by the Goldman family’s attorney, by the way — and spend time with his kids.

But Simpson has been in the spotlight since he was 19, and bad habits are hard to break. We tuned in Thursday, didn’t we?

O.J. Simpson made his home in Florida before his arrest and conviction for the 2007 robbery of memorabilia dealers.

After Thursday’s decision in Nevada to grant Simpson parole after nearly nine years in prison, the Sunshine State appears to be his desired landing spot when he’s released as early as Oct. 1. Simpson said during his hearing that he would like to return to Florida.

“We are aware of his potential relocation to Florida,” Michelle Glady, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Corrections, said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports and other outlets. “Pursuant to the Interstate Commission on Adult Offender Supervision, if Nevada’s request meets all criteria, Florida must accept the transfer.”

Nevada Division of Parole and Probation Captain Shawn Arruti told reporters after the parole board’s decision that Simpson would be allowed to relocate “as long as there’s a valid plan of supervision along with a support system.”

Simpson, who was visiting Las Vegas at the time of the robbery, said during the hearing that he would like to live in another state.

“I could easily stay in Nevada, but I don’t think you guys want me here,” Simpson said.

Glady, in a statement, called offender transfers between states a routine procedure.

“He will be assigned a Florida probation officer and will be supervised in accordance with the conditions of his parole,” Glady said.

“If Nevada’s request meets all criteria, Florida must accept the transfer.”

Michelle Glady, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Corrections

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USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

6C SPORTS

GOLF Dapper Thomas fashions first-round 67 American trails Open leaders by two shots ahead of second round native birdied the par-4 second hole to move into red numbers.

And both times he bogeyed, at @GolfweekBRomine Nos. 6 and 14, he responded with USA TODAY Sports a birdie on the next hole.

Then came the round-maker.

SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND People Thomas hit the fairway at the began the day at the British Open par-5 17th before pulling out a 9talking about what Justin Thom- iron and hitting a monster apas was wearing. They’ll end it proach onto the green. The eagle talking about the way he played. make moved him to 3 under, and “It’s nice definitely to get peo- he trails leaders Jordan Spieth ple to stop talking about that,” and Brooks Koepka by two shots. said Thomas, “I’m just who shot 3overall pleased under-par 67 “Obviously, I with how lowwhile sporting knew it was stress it was for a navy tie as how hard it part of his Po- probably going to was,” Thomas lo Golf/Ralph get a lot of said.

Lauren scriptNot bad for a ing for Thurs- publicity and be guy wearing a day’s opening out there, but I tie, right? All round. “Obvikidding aside, ously, I knew didn’t come here Thomas had it was proba- to dress well.” done it before, bly going to in the 2013 get a lot of Justin Thomas, on the tie he wore Walker Cup. publicity and during the first round Thursday He also wore a be out there, tie every day in but I didn’t come here to dress high school as part of the school’s well.” dress code.

No, Thomas came to Royal Just don’t expect him to wear Birkdale to play well. And it again this week. He’s over the through 18 holes, he’s succeeded. tie talk. Now it’s time to focus on The 23-year-old Goshen, Ky., the golf ahead.

Justin Thomas offset two bogeys with two birdies and one eagle Thursday during the first round of the British Open. “I’m just overall pleased with how lowstress it was for how hard it was,” he said.

Brentley Romine

IAN RUTHERFORD, USA TODAY SPORTS

Thomas entered the week ranked 13th in the world and is less than a month removed from his third-round 63 at the U.S. Open. Of course, that weekend at Erin Hills also included a closing 75, a round that Thomas has tried to forget.

“I can think of 63 shots that come to mind before Sunday,”

Spieth shares Round 1 lead v CONTINUED FROM 1C

Emphasis being now, because now the going gets rough. The forecast for the second round is as dire as the first round’s weather was delightful. Strong, steady winds reaching 30 mph will emerge from the Irish Sea, heavy rain will fall and temperatures will dip into the 50s. And the forecast for the final two rounds, while not as dreadful, isn’t pleasant.

In other words, survival mode will become the 15th club in the bag.

“I know that we got away with a bit of a break in the weather. This morning it didn’t sound good when I was lying in my bed, the wind and the rain. So the guys must have had it really tough. It started clearing up when we got to the first tee,” said Els, a winner of this championship in 2002 and 2012. “This morning I didn’t even want to look out of the window. It sounded horrific. If it’s like that tomorrow, obviously it’s going to be tough. Whatever nature gives you, you’ve got to obviously try to respond with a golf shot.”

Spieth and Koepka were well rested and confident when they set up shop in this charming seaside village. Spieth took a threeweek break after his win in the Travelers Championship; Koepka took a month off after winning the U.S. Open. Neither, however, needed to shake off any rust.

“I couldn’t have done much better today,” said Spieth, who is seeking the third leg of a career Grand Slam. “I thought today’s round was extremely important,

Thomas said. ‘Sunday’s definitely not something I’m taking from that week. I mean, I’m taking the experience from Sunday and the fact that I was there. … But (the memory of ) it was gone Monday morning.”

After two consecutive missed cuts after the U.S. Open, though, Thomas has left some wondering

@steve_dimeglio USA TODAY Sports SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND

IAN RUTHERFORD, USA TODAY SPORTS

as they all are, but given the forecast coming in, I thought you really needed to be in the red today. …

I think experience plays a big role in dealing with conditions at an Open Championship. And I feel like I’ve got a lot of experience for having played four. Had a chance to win. I’ve been on good ends of the draw, bad ends of the draw.

I’m kind of prepared for the worst, having experienced it before. …

Being mentally prepared is key. I think I’m going into it, at least going into it the right way, and we’ll see if I hold that together.”

Koepka needed only 21 putts in shooting his seventh consecutive under-par round in a major championship. He wasn’t concerned about his form after his layoff. Instead, he said he was “champing at the bit” to get back and welcomed being mentally recharged. He’s not too concerned about the im-

pending foul weather, either.

“I don’t mind bad weather. It doesn’t faze me,” he said. “I don’t really care that much. Just go play golf and shoot the lowest you can.”

Kuchar is seeking to be the eighth consecutive first-time major winner. He tied for fourth in last weekend’s Scottish Open and called it the perfect tuneup.

“We had a couple awfully challenging days there at the Scottish Open,” Kuchar said. “At one point on the 12th hole Saturday I had 129 yards to the pin and hit a 6iron in. And thought to myself, I am glad I’m over here, glad I’m doing this. It was extremely difficult conditions, but this is not something I can ever remember doing in the States. And just getting a feel for playing the different shots that you are required to play over here. I’m as ready as I can be for tomorrow if the forecast holds.”

Brian Harman.............................................33-37—70 (E) Ross Fisher...................................................34-36—70 (E) Andy Sullivan..............................................35-35—70 (E) Kevin Kisner ................................................35-35—70 (E) Thorbjorn Olesen.......................................34-36—70 (E) Paul Lawrie..................................................33-37—70 (E) Yusaku Miyazato .......................................36-34—70 (E) Kyle Stanley.................................................34-36—70 (E) Laurie Canter..............................................34-36—70 (E) Chris Wood..............................................38-33—71 (+1) Darren Fichardt.......................................36-35—71 (+1) Soren Kjeldsen.........................................37-34—71 (+1) Danny Willett ..........................................36-35—71 (+1) Young-Han Song ....................................36-35—71 (+1) Alexander Levy .......................................35-36—71 (+1) Webb Simpson .......................................36-35—71 (+1) Alfie Plant .................................................34-37—71 (+1) Justin Rose ...............................................32-39—71 (+1) J.B. Holmes...............................................36-35—71 (+1) Shaun Norris............................................34-37—71 (+1) Yi Keun Chang.........................................36-35—71 (+1) Adam Hadwin.........................................36-35—71 (+1) Jamie Lovemark .....................................33-38—71 (+1) Bill Haas ...................................................38-33—71 (+1) Rickie Fowler ............................................32-39—71 (+1) Yuta Ikeda................................................36-35—71 (+1) Dustin Johnson ........................................34-37—71 (+1) Rory McIlroy .............................................39-32—71 (+1) Lee Westwood ........................................35-36—71 (+1) Scott Hend................................................34-37—71 (+1) Tom Lehman ............................................35-37—72 (+2) Peter Uihlein ............................................36-36—72 (+2) Shane Lowry ............................................33-39—72 (+2) Chan Kim..................................................35-37—72 (+2) Joe Dean ..................................................35-37—72 (+2) Matthew Southgate...............................34-38—72 (+2) Martin Kaymer ........................................36-36—72 (+2) David Drysdale........................................35-37—72 (+2) Jimmy Walker .........................................36-36—72 (+2) Sean O’Hair .............................................38-34—72 (+2) Pablo Larrazabal....................................35-37—72 (+2) Jason Dufner............................................37-36—73 (+3) K.T. Kim ......................................................36-37—73 (+3) Dylan Frittelli ............................................37-36—73 (+3) Shiv Kapur ................................................36-37—73 (+3) Anirban Lahiri..........................................35-38—73 (+3) Padraig Harrington................................35-38—73 (+3) Connor Syme...........................................34-39—73 (+3) Michael Hendry.......................................37-36—73 (+3) Sergio Garcia ..........................................35-38—73 (+3) Brandon Stone ........................................39-34—73 (+3) Kevin Chappell ........................................37-36—73 (+3) Patrick Reed.............................................35-38—73 (+3) Phil Mickelson ..........................................36-37—73 (+3) Francesco Molinari .................................38-35—73 (+3) Gi-whan Kim ............................................37-36—73 (+3)

Haydn McCullen .....................................35-38—73 (+3) Ryan Moore ..............................................37-37—74 (+4) Phachara Khongwatmai........................37-37—74 (+4) Russell Knox .............................................35-39—74 (+4) Charles Howell III ....................................35-39—74 (+4) Wesley Bryan ...........................................37-37—74 (+4) Pat Perez...................................................35-39—74 (+4) Matthieu Pavon.......................................35-39—74 (+4) Julian Suri .................................................38-36—74 (+4) John Daly..................................................39-35—74 (+4) Callum Shinkwin .....................................36-38—74 (+4) Cameron Smith .......................................35-39—74 (+4) Ryan Fox ...................................................36-38—74 (+4) Paul Waring .............................................35-39—74 (+4) Nick McCarthy .........................................36-38—74 (+4) Sebastian Munoz....................................35-39—74 (+4) Paul Broadhurst.......................................38-37—75 (+5) David Horsey ...........................................35-40—75 (+5) Mike Lorenzo-Vera .................................36-39—75 (+5) Darren Clarke ..........................................37-38—75 (+5) Luca Cianchetti ........................................37-38—75 (+5) Mark Foster ..............................................37-38—75 (+5) Alexander Bjork ......................................37-38—75 (+5) Adam Bland.............................................40-35—75 (+5) Tyrrell Hatton ...........................................37-38—75 (+5) Zach Johnson...........................................37-38—75 (+5) Jhonattan Vegas ....................................34-41—75 (+5) Ashley Hall ...............................................33-42—75 (+5) Roberto Castro ........................................37-39—76 (+6) Billy Horschel............................................35-41—76 (+6) Emiliano Grillo .........................................37-39—76 (+6) Bryson DeChambeau.............................39-37—76 (+6) Prayad Marksaeng.................................35-41—76 (+6) Brendan Steele........................................38-38—76 (+6) Tommy Fleetwood ..................................38-38—76 (+6) Jbe’ Kruger ...............................................36-40—76 (+6) Ryan McCarthy ........................................39-37—76 (+6) Stewart Cink.............................................37-40—77 (+7) Sandy Lyle ................................................37-40—77 (+7) Jeunghun Wang .....................................38-39—77 (+7) Byeong Hun An .......................................36-41—77 (+7) Fabrizio Zanotti.......................................40-37—77 (+7) Harry Ellis..................................................37-40—77 (+7) Robert Dinwiddie....................................39-38—77 (+7) William McGirt ........................................40-37—77 (+7) Hideto Tanihara......................................38-39—77 (+7) Maverick McNealy .................................40-38—78 (+8) Louis Oosthuizen.....................................36-42—78 (+8) David Duval .............................................38-41—79 (+9) Todd Hamilton ........................................38-41—79 (+9) Adam Hodkinson.................................40-40—80 (+10) Mark O’Meara......................................43-38—81 (+11)

Romine writes for Golfweek magazine, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Spieth glad to have wiggle room with poor weather on way Steve DiMeglio

Jordan Speith plays from the rough on the 10th hole during his 5-under 65 that gave him a share of the first-round lead.

whether he was still getting over Erin Hills.

Thomas admitted there were brief times when he thought about it, but now he’s completely over it.

He proved that Thursday.

A piece of mint gum and a check of the weather forecast got Jordan Spieth going in the first round of the 146th British Open.

The two-time major winner got off to a good start in search of the third leg of the career grand slam with a 5-under-par 65 at Royal Birkdale to grab a share of the early lead in the oldest championship in golf. In his first bogey-free round in the Open, Spieth made five birdies.

“Really good start. Everything was strong,” Spieth said. “I give it a nine across the board for everything — tee balls, ball-striking, short game and putting. So things are in check. It’s just about keeping it consistent.

“I couldn’t have done much better today. I missed two greens. I think I missed three, but one of them I was putting from the fringe. So essentially missed two greens today in some 15-mph winds. This course has a lot of crosswinds, so it’s tough to judge how far the ball is going to fly depending on what shot you play. So that speaks a lot to the ball-striking of the day.”

Spieth was well rested and

confident when he arrived at this seaside village after a three-week break after his second win of the season in the Travelers Championship. While he put in a lot of long hours of practice in Dallas, he also hung out with a couple of Michaels in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, — Phelps and Jordan.

Then, it turned out, a missing piece to the puzzle of winning the Claret Jug came on the practice ground ahead of his first round. That’s when his coach, Cameron McCormick, offered him a piece of gum.

“I was 1-under through two, and I thought I better keep it in and it’s still in now,” Spieth said.

“Payne Stewart used to do it and it served him well.”

A check of the forecast also ignited Spieth. As delightful as Thursday was, it will be equally dreadful on Friday. Steady winds are expected to reach 25 mph, lots of rain is supposed to fall, as will the temperatures.

“I thought today’s round was extremely important, as they all are, but given the forecast coming in, I thought you really needed to be in the red today,” Spieth said. “You can certainly make up ground in a round like tomorrow, but being able to kind of play with shots or play a little more conservatively ... on a day like tomorrow, that’s nice and very helpful.”

SCORES & TEE TIMES British Open At Royal Birkdale Golf Club Southport, England Purse: $10.25 million Yardage: 7,156; Par: 70 (34-36) First Round Jordan Spieth...........................................31-34—65 (-5) Brooks Koepka .........................................33-32—65 (-5) Matt Kuchar..............................................29-36—65 (-5) Paul Casey ................................................31-35—66 (-4) Charl Schwartzel .....................................34-32—66 (-4) Ian Poulter.................................................32-35—67 (-3) Justin Thomas ..........................................33-34—67 (-3) Richard Bland...........................................34-33—67 (-3) Austin Connelly ........................................33-34—67 (-3) Charley Hoffman.....................................31-36—67 (-3) Rafa Cabrera Bello .................................32-35—67 (-3) Stuart Manley...........................................34-34—68 (-2) Alex Noren................................................34-34—68 (-2) Hideki Matsuyama .................................33-35—68 (-2) James Hahn .............................................33-35—68 (-2) Sung Kang ................................................35-33—68 (-2) Martin Laird..............................................34-34—68 (-2) Ernie Els .....................................................33-35—68 (-2) David Lipsky..............................................32-36—68 (-2) Joost Luiten...............................................34-34—68 (-2) Richie Ramsay ..........................................33-35—68 (-2) Daniel Berger ...........................................35-33—68 (-2) Bubba Watson.........................................33-35—68 (-2) Kevin Na ....................................................31-37—68 (-2) Kent Bulle ..................................................34-34—68 (-2) Matthew Fitzpatrick ................................35-34—69 (-1) Thomas Pieters.........................................37-32—69 (-1) Henrik Stenson.........................................33-36—69 (-1) Robert Streb .............................................33-36—69 (-1) Andrew Johnston.....................................35-34—69 (-1) Bernd Wiesberger...................................35-34—69 (-1) Aaron Baddeley.......................................33-36—69 (-1) Jason Day .................................................34-35—69 (-1) Adam Scott ...............................................32-37—69 (-1) Jon Rahm ..................................................35-34—69 (-1) Marc Leishman ........................................34-35—69 (-1) Andrew Dodt ............................................35-34—69 (-1) Xander Schauffele...................................32-37—69 (-1) Haotong Li ................................................34-35—69 (-1) Thongchai Jaidee......................................35-35—70 (E) Steve Stricker ..............................................36-34—70 (E) Branden Grace ..........................................36-34—70 (E) Russell Henley.............................................33-37—70 (E) Gary Woodland ........................................36-34—70 (E) Si Woo Kim..................................................34-36—70 (E) Tony Finau ...................................................35-35—70 (E) Toby Tree .....................................................33-37—70 (E) Matthew Griffin .........................................35-35—70 (E)

Friday’s Tee Times All Times ET (a-amateur) 1:35 a.m. — Andrew Johnston, England; Adam Hadwin, Canada; Todd Hamilton, United States.

1:46 a.m. — John Daly, United States; Adam Bland, England; a-Connor Syme, Scotland.

1:57 a.m. — William McGirt, United States; Toby Tree, England; Jamie Lovemark, United States.

2:08 a.m. — Matthew Griffin, Australia; Austin Connelly, Canada; Matthew Southgate, England.

2:19 a.m. — Cameron Smith, Australia; Bill Haas, United States; Callum Shinkwin, England.

2:30 a.m. — Michael Hendry, New Zealand; Brian Harman, United States; Martin Laird, Scotland.

2:41 a.m. — Ernie Els, South Africa; Ross Fisher, England; Bernd Wiesberger, Austria.

2:52 a.m. — Tyrrell Hatton, England; Martin Kaymer, Germany; Aaron Baddeley, Australia.

3:03 a.m. — Zach Johnson, United States; Jason Day, Australia; Sergio Garcia, Spain.

3:14 a.m. — Andy Sullivan, England; Joost Luiten, Netherlands; David Lipsky, United States.

3:25 a.m. — Rickie Fowler, United States; Adam Scott, Australia; Paul Casey, England.

3:36 a.m. — Matt Kuchar, United States; Richie Ramsay, Scotland; Ryan Fox, New Zealand.

3:47 a.m. — Kevin Kisner, United States; Charley Hoffman, United States; David Drysdale, Scotland.

4:03 a.m. — Jimmy Walker, United States; Hideto Tanihara, Japan; Thorbjorn Olesen, Denmark.

4:14 a.m. — Jhonattan Vegas, Venezuela; Brandon Stone, South Africa; Sean O’Hair, United States.

4:25 a.m. — Daniel Berger, United States; Pablo Larrazabal, Spain; Yuta Ikeda, Japan.

4:36 a.m. — Paul Lawrie, Scotland; Kevin Chappell, United States; Yusaku Miyazato, Japan.

4:47 a.m. — Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland; Dustin Johnson, United States; Charl Schwartzel, South Africa.

4:58 a.m. — Jon Rahm, Spain; Patrick Reed, United States; Lee Westwood, England.

5:09 a.m. — Phil Mickelson, United States; Francesco Molinari, Italy; Marc Leishman, Australia.

5:20 a.m. — Scott Hend, Australia; Rafa Cabrera Bello, Spain; Bubba Watson, United States.

5:31 a.m. — Paul Waring, England; Kyle Stanley, United States; Kevin Na, United States.

5:42 a.m. — Gi-Whan Kim, South Korea; Xander Schauffele, United States; Andrew Dodt, Australia.

5:53 a.m. — Li Haotong, China; Kent Bulle, United States; Haydn McCullen, England.

6:04 a.m. — Jbe Kruger, South Africa; Nicholas McCarthy, England; Ashley Hall, Australia.

6:15 a.m. — Ryan McCarthy, Australia; Laurie Canter, England; Sebastian Munoz.

6:36 a.m. — Mark O’Meara, United States; Chris Wood, England; Ryan Moore, United States.

6:47 a.m. — Phachara Khongwatmai, Thailand; aMaverick McNealy; Stuart Manley, Wales.

6:58 a.m. — Stewart Cink, United States; Sandy Lyle, Scotland; Jeunghun Wang, South Korea.

7:09 a.m. — Paul Broadhurst, England; Thongchai Jaidee, Thailand; Roberto Castro, United States.

7:20 a.m. — Tom Lehman, United States; Beyong Hun An, South Korea; Darren Fichardt, South Africa.

7:31 a.m. — Soren Kjeldsen, Denmark; Billy Horschel, United States; Danny Willett, England.

7:42 a.m. — Matt Fitzpatrick, England; Steve Stricker, United States; Emiliano Grillo, Argentina.

7:53 a.m. — Jason Dufner, United States; Branden Grace, South Africa; Bryson DeChambeau, United States.

8:04 a.m. — Alex Noren, Sweden; Russell Knox, Scotland; Ian Poulter, England.

8:15 a.m. — David Duval, United States; Prayad Marksaeng, Thailand; K.T. Kim, South Korea.

8:26 a.m. — Younghan Song, South Korea; David Horsey, England; Dyan Frittelli, South Africa.

8:37 a.m. — Mike Lorenzo-Vera, France; Charles Howell III, United States; Shiv Kapur, India.

8:48 a.m. — Russell Henley, United States; Fabrizio Zanotti, Paraguay; Peter Uihlein, United States.

9:04 a.m. — Alexander Levy, France; Brendan Steele, United States; Webb Simpson, United States.

9:15 a.m. — Wesley Bryan, United States; Anirban Lahiri, India; a-Alfie Plant, England. 9:26 a.m. — Darren Clarke, Northern Ireland; Gary Woodland, United States; a-Harry Ellis, England.

9:37 a.m. — Padraig Harrington, Ireland; Pat Perez, United States; Thomas Pieters, Belgium.

9:48 a.m. — Henrik Stenson, United States; Si Woo Kim, South Korea; Jordan Spieth, United States.

9:59 a.m. — Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa; Justin Rose, England; Justin Thomas, United States.

10:10 a.m. — Brooks Koepka, United States; Hideki Matsuyama, Japan; Tommy Fleetwood, England.

10:21 a.m. — J.B. Holmes, United States; James Hahn, United States; Shane Lowry, Ireland.

10:32 a.m. — Richard Bland, England; Shaun Norris, South Africa; Luca Cianchetti, Italy.

10:43 a.m. — Yikeun Chang, South Korea; Chan Kim, United States; Mark Foster, England.

10:54 a.m. — Sung Kang, South Korea; Tony Finau, United States; Matthieu Pavon, France.

11:05 a.m. — Alexander Bjork, Sweden; Joe Dean, England; Robert Streb, United States.

11:16 a.m. — Robert Dinwiddie, England; Julian Suri, United States; Adam Hodkinson, England.

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

SPORTS 7C

E6

IN BRIEF

LIONEL BONAVENTURE, AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Chris Froome has a 23-second lead in the Tour de France.

FROOME NEARS TOUR TITLE

On the highest mountaintop finish of the 104th Tour de France, in a rocky moonscape where the air thins, only the hardiest organisms survive. A few pine trees, tough old grasses, some stubborn flowers and now joining that rare breed, Chris Froome. Putting one hand on what would be his third consecutive Tour crown and fourth overall since his first in 2013, Froome emerged from the Alps on Thursday with the yellow jersey fixed firmly on his shoulders. Having chewed his way through nearly 2,000 miles of French roads, just three stages now stand between the Briton and the top spot on the ChampsElysees podium in Paris on Sunday night. One of those is a time trial race against the clock, a discipline he excels in — having provided him with bronze medals in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.

Froome preserved a cushion of 23 seconds overall that, unless disaster strikes in the shape of a crash or other misfortune, should be enough for victory. “I wouldn’t say it’s quite won,” Froome said, before confidently adding, “The toughest part of the Tour is behind us.”

had one with Mr. G,” Oher said.

Oher’s release did not come as a surprise. The Panthers signed free agent tackle Matt Kalil to take Oher’s spot at left tackle in the offseason. They also drafted offensive tackle Taylor Moton from Western Michigan in the second round.

PANTHERS RELEASE OHER

MARLINS TRADE PHELPS

The Michael Oher saga in Charlotte has come to an end. The Carolina Panthers released the former starting left tackle — the subject of the movie The Blind Side — after he failed a physical Thursday. The move comes six days before the Panthers are scheduled to report to training camp and 10 months since Oher last played. Oher started 16 regular-season games and three playoff games for the Panthers during their Super Bowl run in 2015.

However, he suffered a concussion in the third game last season and hasn’t played since. He remains in the league’s concussion protocol. “The Brain is a scary thing. You have to be careful with it,” Oher tweeted after being released. It’s the first personnel move under Panthers new interim general manager Marty Hurney, who was hired Wednesday. Hurney was not immediately available for comment. Oher appeared upset over Carolina’s decision to fire general manager Dave Gettleman this week.

Oher wrote on Instagram on Tuesday that he was on a plane to see concussion specialist Mickey Collins when he heard the news about Gettleman. “In this business, you don’t build personal relations, but I can honestly say I

The Miami Marlins traded righthanded pitcher David Phelps to the Seattle Mariners for four prospects, including highly regarded outfielder Brayan Hernandez, a person familiar with the deal said Thursday. The person confirmed the trade to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the teams hadn’t announced it. Phelps is 2-4 with a 3.45 ERA in 44 games and 47 innings this season, all out of the bullpen. He’s a six-year veteran with 64 career starts. Hernandez, a 19-year-old Venezuelan, is batting .259 in 31 games in the minors this year. The Mari-

ners made the deal at the start of a key 10-game homestand that starts against the New York Yankees and leads into the trade deadline. After a 5-1 trip after the All-Star break, the Mariners are 48-48 and 1½ games behind the Yankees in the AL wild-card standings. The Marlins are out of playoff contention and looking to upgrade a farm system widely ranked among the worst in the majors.

MLS TO USE VIDEO REVIEW

Major League Soccer will begin using video review for all matches Aug. 5. MLS has been testing the system at matches throughout the first half of the season. The league announced Thursday that it would be implemented after the All-Star game in Chicago on Aug. 2. All matches will include a video assistant referee, who will be allowed to review video to confirm calls in four situations: goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards and cases of mistaken identity. MLS and the Professional Referees Organization have worked to develop the video review system in accordance with procedures set forth by the International Football Association Board. Video review was also used on a trial basis during the recent Confederations Cup in Russia, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hopes it can be fast-tracked for approval for the 2018 World Cup. PILLER OPENS LPGA LEAD

MARK J. REBILAS, USA TODAY SPORTS

Panthers left tackle Michael Oher failed a physical and was released.

Gerina Piller shot 8-under-par 63 on Thursday in the Marathon Classic to take a one-stroke lead over U.S. Women’s Open champi-

on Sung Hyun Park and Peiyun Chien. Winless on the LPGA tour, Piller had nine birdies and a bogey in the first round at Highland Meadows. The American birdied the first three holes and four of the first five.

DODGER STADIUM SELLING FIELD NAMING RIGHTS

Dodger Stadium’s name is safe, although the field could be affixed with a corporate sponsor. The naming rights to the field have been shopped by the Dodgers since spring, SportsBusiness Journal reported Wednesday. The Dodgers would refer to the stadium in Chavez Ravine as “(Company name) Field at Dodger Stadium, and the team is seeking $12 million a season, according to the report. “We’re not selling the name of the stadium,” Dodgers President Stan Kasten told The Los Angeles Times. “That’s the only thing I’m willing to tell you.”

The Dodgers have a major leaguebest 66-29 record and are on pace for the winningest season in franchise history. They have the largest payroll in the majors, committing more than $250 million in salaries, though the team hopes to trim payroll as it continues integrating young players in coming seasons. There are already corporate sponsors for other areas of the ballpark. Accepting naming rights even for a portion of the Dodger Stadium brand would represent a significant shift for the club, which has leveraged the stadium’s timeless appeal as an essential part of its branding strategy.

From staff and wire reports

FOR THE RECORD SOCCER Major League Soccer All times ET EASTERN CONFERENCE Toronto FC Chicago NY City FC Atlanta FC New York Orlando City Columbus Montreal Philadelphia N. England D.C. United

W 11 11 10 9 9 8 9 6 6 5 5

L 3 3 6 7 8 7 10 6 8 9 12

T Pts GF GA 6 39 36 21 5 38 37 19 4 34 38 26 3 30 39 27 2 29 25 26 5 29 22 29 1 28 30 32 6 24 29 30 5 23 26 23 5 20 29 31 3 18 17 35

WESTERN CONFERENCE Sporting KC FC Dallas Houston Portland Seattle Vancouver San Jose Salt Lake Los Angeles Minnesota Colorado

W 8 8 8 7 7 8 7 7 6 5 6

L 4 3 7 8 7 7 8 12 9 11 11

T Pts GF GA 8 32 24 14 7 31 30 18 5 29 34 29 6 27 35 35 6 27 29 31 3 27 25 27 5 26 23 31 2 23 27 41 4 22 28 33 4 19 25 42 1 19 19 27

Wednesday’s Games Montreal 2, Philadelphia 1 New York 5, San Jose 1 Toronto FC 2, NY City FC 2, tie Houston 0, Minnesota United 0, tie Real Salt Lake 4, Portland 1 Seattle 4, D.C. United 3 Vancouver 1, Los Angeles 0

Friday Atlanta United FC at Orlando City, 7 p.m.

Saturday Chicago at NY City FC, 2 p.m.

New York at Minnesota United, 4 p.m.

Colorado at Toronto FC, 7 p.m.

Houston at D.C. United, 7 p.m.

FC Dallas at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Los Angeles at New England, 7:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Columbus, 7:30 p.m.

Sporting KC at Real Salt Lake, 10 p.m.

Sunday Portland at Vancouver, 6:30 p.m.

San Jose at Seattle, 10:30 p.m.

CONCACAF Gold Cup All Times ET QUARTERFINALS Wednesday At Philadelphia

89. Nate Brown, United States, Cannondale Drapac, 22:43.

148. Taylor Phinney, United States, Cannondale Drapac, 28:33.

Overall Standings (After 18 stages) 1. Chris Froome, Britain, Sky, 78:08:19.

2. Romain Bardet, France, AG2R La Mondiale, :23 behind.

3. Rigoberto Uran, Colombia, Cannondale Drapac, :29.

4. Mikel Landa, Spain, Sky, 1:36.

5. Fabio Aru, Italy, Astana, 1:55.

6. Daniel Martin, Ireland, Quick-Step Floors, 2:56.

7. Simon Yates, Britain, Orica-Scott, 4:46.

8. Louis Meintjes, South Africa, UAE Team Emirates, 6:52.

9. Warren Barguil, France, Sunweb, 8:22.

10. Alberto Contador, Spain, Trek-Segafredo, 8:34.

11. Damiano Caruso, Italy, BMC Racing, 13:41.

12. Nairo Quintana, Colombia, Movistar, 13:52.

13. Mikel Nieve, Spain, Sky, 23:11.

14. Alexis Vuillermoz, France, AG2R La Mondiale, 23:33.

15. Emanuel Buchmann, Germany, BoraHansgrohe, 31:01.

16. Brice Feillu, France, Fortuneo-Oscaro, 35:06.

17. Carlos Betancur, Colombia, Movistar, 36:25.

18. Serge Pauwels, Belgium, Dimension Data, 37:31.

19. Tiesj Benoot, Belgium, Lotto Soudal, 40:49.

20. Bauke Mollema, Netherlands, Trek-Segafredo, 47:03.

42. Nate Brown, United States, Cannondale Drapac, 1:54:33.

47. Andrew Talansky, United States, Cannondale Drapac, 2:01:13.

Thursday At Glendale, Ariz.

TENNIS

Jamaica 2, Canada 1 Mexico vs. Honduras

World TeamTennis

SEMIFINALS Saturday At Arlington, Texas Costa Rica vs. United States, 10 p.m.

Sunday At Pasadena, Calif.

Mexico-Honduras winner vs. Jamaica, 9 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP Wednesday At Santa Clara, Calif.

Washington San Diego New York Philadelphia Orange County Springfield

W 3 2 2 2 1 1

L 1 1 2 2 2 3

Pct. GB .750 — 1 .667 ⁄2 .500 1 .500 1 .333 11⁄2 .250 2

Wednesday’s Matches Washington 22, Orange County 15 Philadelphia 25, New York 13

Thursday’s Matches Orange County at New York Washington 23, San Diego 16 Philadelphia 21, Springfield 18

Semifinal winners, 9:30 p.m.

WNBA

Friday’s Matches Philadelphia at Washington, 7 p.m.

San Diego at Springfield, 8 p.m.

All times ET EASTERN CONFERENCE W 12 12 10 9 8 8

L 9 9 9 11 13 13

Pct .571 .571 .526 .450 .381 .381

GB — — 1 2½ 4 4

WESTERN CONFERENCE Minnesota Los Angeles Phoenix Dallas Seattle San Antonio

Also

Also

Costa Rica 1, Panama 0 United States 2, El Salvador 0

Connecticut Washington New York Atlanta Indiana Chicago

7. Louis Meintjes, South Africa, UAE Team Emirates, :37.

8. Daniel Martin, Ireland, Quick-Step Floors, :39.

9. Simon Yates, Britain, Orica-Scott, :59.

10. Alberto Contador, Spain, Trek-Segafredo, 1:09.

11. Nairo Quintana, Colombia, Movistar Team, 1:18.

12. Carlos Betancur, Colombia, Movistar Team, 1:22.

13. Fabio Aru, Italy, Astana Pro Team, same time.

14. Tony Gallopin, France, Lotto Soudal, 1:37.

15. Brice Feillu, France, Team Fortuneo-Oscaro, 1:54.

W 16 14 11 10 9 3

L 2 6 9 12 11 18

Pct GB .889 — .700 3 .550 6 .455 8 .450 8 .167 14½

Thursday’s Games Chicago 82, Los Angeles 80 San Antonio 85, Indiana 61

Friday’s Games No games scheduled

Saturday’s Games Eastern Conference at Western Conference, 3:30 p.m.

CYCLING Tour de France 18th Stage At Col d’Izoard, France A 111.5-mile ride from Briancon to Izoard: 1. Warren Barguil, France, Team Sunweb, 4 hours, 40 minutes, 33 seconds.

2. Darwin Atapuma, Colombia, UAE Team Emirates, :20 behind.

3. Romain Bardet, France, AG2R La Mondiale, same time.

4. Christopher Froome, Britain, Team Sky, same time.

5. Rigoberto Uran, Colombia, CannondaleDrapac, :22.

6. Mikel Landa, Spain, Team Sky, :32.

ATP World Tour Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Open In Newport, R.I. Surface: Grass; Purse: $535,625 Singles — Quarterfinals: Matthew Ebden, Australia, def. Tobias Kamke, Germany, 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4; Peter Gojowczyk, Germany, def. Ivo Karlovic (2), Czech Republic, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (1), 7-6 (4).

Doubles — Quarterfinals: Alex Bolt and Andrew Whittington, Australia, def. Santiago Gonzalez, Mexico, and Scott Lipsky (2), United States, 6-3, 7-5; Matt Reid and JohnPatrick Smith, Australia, def. Purav Raja and Divij Sharan (4), India, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4); Sam Groth, Australia, and Leander Paes (3), India, def. Wesley Koolhof, Netherlands, and Artem Sitak, New Zealand, 6-4, 6-1.

ATP World Tour Plava Laguna Croatia Open In Umag, Croatia Surface: Clay; Purse: $578,300 Singles — Second round: Fabio Fognini (3), Italy, def. Nicolas Kicker, Argentina, 6-4, 1-6, 6-2; Andrey Rublev, Russia, def. Andrej Martin, Slovakia, 7-6 (5), 7-5; Rogerio Dutra Silva, Brazil, def. Gael Monfils (2), France, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3; Alessandro Giannessi, Italy, def. Kenny de Schepper, France, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Doubles — Quarterfinals: Guillermo Duran and Andres Molteni (3), Argentina, def.

Marc Polmans, Australia, and Gilles Simon, France, 6-3, 6-4; Marin and Tomislav Draganja, Croatia, def. Ivan Dodig and Franko Skugor (2), Croatia, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 11-9; Aljaz Bedene, and Dominic Inglot, Britain, def.

Rogerio Dutra Silva, Brazil, and Paolo Lorenzi, Italy, 7-5, 6-3.

ATP World Tour SkiStar Swedish Open In Bastad, Sweden Surface: Clay; Purse: $552,800 Singles — Second round: Karen Khacha-

nov (5), Russia, def. Ernests Gulbis, Latvia, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3; Alexandr Dolgopolov, Ukraine, def. Horacio Zeballos (9), Argentina, 6-4, 6-4; Fernando Verdasco (6), Spain, def.

Facundo Bagnis, Argentina, 6-3, 6-2; Albert Ramos-Vinolas (2), Spain, def. Thiago Monteiro, Brazil, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Doubles — Quarterfinals: Sander Arends and Matwe Middelkoop, Netherlands, def.

Ariel Behar, Uruguay, and Dusan Lajovic, Serbia, 6-3, 6-4; Elias and Mikael Ymer, Sweden, def. David Marrero, Spain, and Nenad Zimonjic (2), Serbia, 7-5, 7-6 (3); Thomaz Bellucci and Andre Sa, Brazil, def. Dustin Brown, Germany, and Karen Khachanov, Russia, 6-4, 6-0; Julian Knowle, Austria, and Philipp Petzschner, Germany, def. Marcus Daniell, New Zealand, and Marcelo Demoliner (3), Brazil, 0-6, 6-4, 10-8.

Candie Kung............................33-35—68 (-3) Haeji Kang ...............................33-35—68 (-3) Emily Tubert .............................32-37—69 (-2) Cindy LaCrosse........................32-37—69 (-2) Ally McDonald .........................33-36—69 (-2) Alena Sharp.............................30-39—69 (-2) Jane Park .................................34-35—69 (-2) Eun-Hee Ji ................................34-35—69 (-2) Emily K. Pedersen ...................34-35—69 (-2) Dani Holmqvist .......................34-35—69 (-2) Allyssa Ferrell...........................33-36—69 (-2) Demi Runas..............................33-36—69 (-2) Mika Miyazato ........................34-35—69 (-2) Stacy Lewis...............................35-34—69 (-2) Brittany Lang ...........................34-35—69 (-2) Mo Martin ................................33-36—69 (-2) Kristy McPherson ....................35-34—69 (-2) Therese O’Hara ......................31-38—69 (-2)

WTA BRD Bucharest Open

AUTO RACING

In Bucharest, Romania Surface: Clay; Purse: $226,750 Singles — Second round: Pauline Parmentier, France, def. Elise Mertens (5), Belgium, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Irina-Camelia Begu (7), Romania, def. Jaqueline Cristian, Romania, 6-4, 6-0; Tatjana Maria (8), Germany, def. Nadia Podoroska, Argentina, 4-1 retired; Alexandra Dulgheru, Romania, def. Ekaterina Alexandrova, Russia, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

Doubles — Quarterfinals: Elise Mertens, Belgium, and Demi Schuurs (2), Netherlands, def. Alexandra Cadantu, Romania, and Danka Kovinic, Montenegro, 7-6 (0), 6-0.

WTA Championship Gstaad In Gstaad, Switzerland Surface: Clay; Purse: $226,750 Singles — Second round: Johanna Larsson (5), Sweden, def. Barbara Haas, Austria, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1; Kiki Bertens (2), Netherlands, def. Anna Zaja, Germany, 6-4, 6-2; Tereza Martincova, Czech Republic, def. Caroline Garcia (1), France, 7-5, 7-6 (1); Antonia Lottner, Germany, def. Patty Schnyder, Switzerland, 7-6 (0), 2-6, 6-3.

Doubles — Quarterfinals: Cornelia Lister, Sweden,Aleksandrina Naydenova, Bulgaria, def. Silvia Soler-Espinosa and Sara Sorribes Tormo, Spain, 3-6, 6-1, 10-8; Anna Kalinskaya and Evgeniya Rodina, Russia, def.

Xenia Knoll, Switzerland, and Anastasiya Komardina, Russia, 6-2, 6-3.

GOLF At Grand National (Lake).

Auburn, Ala. Purse: $3.5 million Yardage: 7,302; Par: 71 (3536) Partial First Round Martin Flores ...........................32-33—65 (-6) Cameron Tringale ..................33-32—65 (-6) Zac Blair ...................................31-34—65 (-6) Chad Campbell ......................33-33—66 (-5) Rory Sabbatini ........................33-33—66 (-5) Robert Allenby ........................33-33—66 (-5) Tag Ridings ..............................32-34—66 (-5) David Hearn ............................33-34—67 (-4) Grayson Murray .....................33-34—67 (-4) Alex Cejka ................................32-35—67 (-4) Derek Rende............................33-34—67 (-4) Rick Lamb .................................32-35—67 (-4) Chad Collins ............................33-34—67 (-4) Andrew Loupe.........................33-34—67 (-4) Seung-Yul Noh.........................32-35—67 (-4) Chesson Hadley......................33-34—67 (-4) Tim Herron ...............................34-33—67 (-4) Y.E. Yang ...................................35-33—68 (-3) J.T. Poston .................................33-35—68 (-3) Chris Stroud .............................34-34—68 (-3) Cameron Percy .......................35-33—68 (-3) Ricky Barnes.............................32-36—68 (-3) Trey Mullinax ...........................35-33—68 (-3) Dicky Pride ...............................36-32—68 (-3) Shane Bertsch .........................32-36—68 (-3) Max Homa...............................34-34—68 (-3) a-Sam Burns ............................34-34—68 (-3) Seamus Power.........................37-31—68 (-3) Tyrone Van Aswegen.............33-35—68 (-3) Andres Romero .......................33-35—68 (-3) Troy Merritt ..............................33-35—68 (-3) Ben Martin ...............................34-34—68 (-3) Steve Wheatcroft ...................36-32—68 (-3)

LPGA Tour-Marathon Classic At Highland Meadows Club Sylvania, Ohio Purse: $1.6 million Yardage: 6,476; Par: 71 First Round Gerina Piller.............................30-33—63 (-8) Peiyun Chien ............................30-34—64 (-7) Sung Hyun Park.......................30-34—64 (-7) Aditi Ashok...............................31-34—65 (-6) In-Kyung Kim ...........................32-33—65 (-6) Kelly W Shon............................32-33—65 (-6) Angel Yin ..................................31-35—66 (-5) Sandra Changkija ..................31-35—66 (-5) Lexi Thompson ........................34-33—67 (-4) Alison Lee .................................33-34—67 (-4) Simin Feng ...............................33-34—67 (-4) Thidapa Suwannapura .........31-36—67 (-4) Dori Carter ...............................33-34—67 (-4) Chella Choi ..............................33-34—67 (-4) Brittany Lincicome...................30-37—67 (-4) Laura Diaz................................33-34—67 (-4) Mirim Lee .................................30-38—68 (-3) Amy Yang.................................34-34—68 (-3) Jaye Marie Green...................33-35—68 (-3) Brianna Do...............................34-34—68 (-3) a-Linnea Strom .......................34-34—68 (-3) Silvia Cavalleri ........................32-36—68 (-3) Nontaya Srisawang...............32-36—68 (-3) Prima Thammaraks ...............33-35—68 (-3) Min Lee .....................................32-36—68 (-3) Nelly Korda..............................32-36—68 (-3) Jacqui Concolino ....................34-34—68 (-3) Tiffany Joh................................33-35—68 (-3) Megan Khang .........................31-37—68 (-3) Hyo Joo Kim.............................34-34—68 (-3)

NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Schedule-Winners Feb. 19 — x-Advance Auto Parts Clash (Joey Logano) Feb. 23 — x-Can-Am Duel at Daytona 1 (Chase Elliott) Feb. 23 — x-Can-Am Duel at Daytona 2 (Denny Hamlin) Feb. 26 — Daytona 500 (Kurt Busch) March 5 — Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (Brad Keselowski) March 12 — Kobalt 400 (Martin Truex Jr) March 19 — Camping World 500 (Ryan Newman) March 26 — Auto Club 400 (Kyle Larson) April 2 — STP 500 (Brad Keselowski) April 9 — O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 (Jimmie Johnson) April 24 — Food City 500 (Jimmie Johnson) April 30 — Toyota Owners 400 (Joey Logano) May 7 — GEICO 500 (Ricky Stenhouse Jr) May 13 — Go Bowling 400 (Martin Truex Jr) May 20 — x-Monster Energy Open (Daniel Suarez) May 20 — x-Monster Energy NASCAR AllStar Race (Kyle Busch) May 28 — Coca-Cola 600 (Austin Dillon) June 4 — AAA 400 Drive for Autism (Jimmie Johnson) June 11 — Pocono 400 (Ryan Blaney) June 18 — FireKeepers Casino 400 (Kyle Larson) June 25 — Toyota/Save Mart 350 (Kevin Harvick) July 1 — Coke Zero 400, Daytona Beach, Fla. (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.) July 8 — Quaker State 400 (Martin Truex Jr.) July 16 — New Hampshire 301 (Denny Hamlin) July 23 — Brickyard 400, Speedway, Ind. July 30 — Pennsylvania 400, Long Pond, Pa. Aug. 6 — Watkins Glen 355, Watkins Glen, N.Y. Aug. 13 — Pure Michigan 400, Brooklyn, Mich.

Aug. 19 — Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race, Bristol, Tenn.

Sept. 3 — Bojangles’ Southern 500, Darlington, S.C. Sept. 9 — Federated Auto Parts 400, Richmond, Va. Sept. 17 — Tales of the Turtles 400, Joliet, Ill. Sept. 24 — New England 300, Loudon, N.H. Oct. 1 — Delaware 400, Dover, Del. Oct. 8 — Bank of America 500, Concord, N.C. Oct. 15 — Alabama 500, Talladega, Ala. Oct. 22 — Hollywood Casino 400, Kansas City, Kan. Oct. 29 — Goody’s Fast Relief 500, Martinsville, Va. Nov. 5 — AAA Texas 500, Fort Worth, Texas Nov. 12 — Can-Am 500, Avondale, Ariz.

Nov. 19 — Ford Ecoboost 400, Homestead, Fla.

NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Points Leaders 1. Martin Truex Jr., 758.

2. Kyle Larson, 720.

3. Kyle Busch, 650.

4. Kevin Harvick, 639.

5. Denny Hamlin, 589.

6. Chase Elliott, 587.

7. Jamie McMurray, 572.

8. Brad Keselowski, 564.

9. Jimmie Johnson, 552.

10. Clint Bowyer, 526.

11. Matt Kenseth, 524.

12. Ryan Blaney, 486.

13. Joey Logano, 472.

14. Kurt Busch, 455.

15. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 441.

16. Ryan Newman, 428.

17. Erik Jones, 427.

18. Daniel Suarez, 404.

19. Trevor Bayne, 369.

20. Austin Dillon, 363.

DEALS BASEBALL American League SEATTLE MARINERS — Acquired RHP David Phelps from Miami for OF Brayan Hernandez and RHPs Pablo Lopez, Brandon Miller and Lukas Schiraldi.

National League NEW YORK METS — Activated LHP Josh Smoker from the 10-day DL. Designated RHP Neil Ramirez for assignment.

BASKETBALL NBA UTAH JAZZ — Signed F Eric Griffin to a twoway contract.

HOCKEY National Hockey League ST. LOUIS BLUES — Signed D Colton Parayko to a five-year contract through 2021-22.

SPORTS ON TV Times Eastern. Programs live unless noted. Check local listings.

FRIDAY AUTO RACING: ARCA Series, Sioux Chief PowerPEX 200, in Brownsburg, Ind. (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.)

BASKETBALL: The Basketball Tournament, in New York, Ram Nation vs. NC Prodigal Sons (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Overseas Elite vs.

Tampa Bulls (ESPN2, 9 p.m.)

CYCLING: Tour de France, Stage 19, Embrun to Salon-de-Provence (NBC Sports Network, 8 a.m.)

DRAG RACING: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, Mopar Mile-High Nationals, qualifying, in Denver (Fox Sports 1, 8 p.m.)

GOLF: British Open, second round, in Southport, England (Golf Channel, 9:30 a.m.), third round (Golf Channel, 4:30 a.m. Saturday); USGA, U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, semifinal matches, in Andover, Kan. (Fox Sports 1, 3 p.m.); PGA Tour, Barbasol Championship, second round, in Auburn, Ala. (Golf Channel, 5 p.m.); LPGA, Marathon Classic, second round, in Sylvania, Ohio (same-day tape) (Golf Channel, 8 p.m.)

HORSE RACING: Saratoga Live, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Fox Sports 2, 4 p.m.)

MLB: St. Louis at Chicago Cubs (MLB Network, 2 p.m.); regional coverage, Houston at Baltimore or Toronto at Cleveland (MLB Network, 7 p.m.)

POKER: World Series of Poker, final table, in Las Vegas (ESPN, 9 p.m.)

SOCCER: MLS, Atlanta United at Orlando City (ESPN, 7 p.m.)

TRACK AND FIELD: IAAF Diamond League, in Monaco (NBC Sports Network, 2 p.m.)

SATURDAY AUTO RACING: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Brickyard 400, practice, in Indianapolis (CNBC, 9 a.m.), final practice (CNBC, 11 a.m.), qualifying (NBC Sports Network, 6 p.m.); NASCAR Xfinity Series, Lilly Diabetes 250, qualifying, in Indianapolis (NBC Sports Network, 12:30 p.m.), race (NBC Sports Network, 3:30 p.m.); IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship, Northeast Grand Prix, in Lakeville, Conn. (Fox Sports 2, 3 p.m.)

BASKETBALL: The Basketball Tournament, in New York, Super 16 game (ESPN, noon and 2 p.m.; and ESPN2, 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.)

CORNHOLE: ACL, 2017 Championship of Bags, in Cherokee, N.C. (ESPN2, 2 p.m.)

CYCLING: Tour de France, Stage 20, in Marseille, France (NBC Sports Network, 8 a.m.)

DRAG RACING: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, Mopar Mile-High Nationals, qualifying (same-day tape) (Fox Sports 1, midnight) GOLF: British Open, third round, in Southport, England (NBC, 7 a.m.), final round (NBC, 4 a.m. Sunday); USGA, U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, championship match, in Andover, Kan. (Fox Sports 1, 2 p.m.); PGA Tour, Barbasol Championship, third round, in Auburn, Ala. (Golf Channel, 4 p.m.); LPGA, Marathon Classic, third round, in Sylvania, Ohio (same-day tape) (Golf Channel, 7 p.m.)

MLB: St. Louis at Chicago Cubs (Fox Sports 1, 4 p.m.); Texas at Tampa Bay (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.); regional coverage, New York Yankees at Seattle or Boston at Los Angeles Angels (games joined in progress) (MLB Network, 10 p.m.)

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS: UFC Fight Night, prelims, in New York (Fox, 6 p.m.), Chris Weidman vs. Kelvin Gastelum (Fox, 8 p.m.)

MOTOR SPORTS: AMA Lucas Oil Pro Motocross, Spring Creek National, in Millville, Minn. (same-day tape) (NBC Sports Network, 11 p.m.)

POKER: World Series of Poker, final table, in Las Vegas (ESPN, 9 p.m.)

SOCCER: NWSL, Orlando at Chicago (Lifetime, 3:30 p.m.); MLS, New York Red Bulls at Minnesota United (ESPN, 4 p.m.); International Champions Cup, Juventus vs. FC Barcelona, in East Rutherford, N.J. (ESPN, 6 p.m.), Paris Saint-Germain vs. Tottenham Hotspur, in Orlando (ESPN2, 8 p.m.); CONCACAF Gold Cup, semifinal, teams TBA, in Arlington, Texas (Fox Sports 1, 10 p.m.)

WNBA: All-Star Game, East vs. West, in Seattle (ABC, 3:30 p.m.)

SUNDAY AUTO RACING: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Brickyard 400, in Indianapolis (NBC, 2:30 p.m.)

BASKETBALL: The Basketball Tournament, in New York, regional final game (ESPN, noon and 2 p.m.; and ESPN2, 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.)

CYCLING: Tour de France, Stage 21 (final), Montgeron, France, to Paris (Champs-Elysees) (NBC Sports Network, 10:30 a.m.)

DRAG RACING: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, Mopar Mile-High Nationals, finals, qualifying (Fox, 3 p.m.)

GOLF: British Open, final round, in Southport, England (NBC, 7 a.m.); PGA Tour, Barbasol Championship, final round, in Auburn, Ala. (Golf Channel, 4 p.m.); LPGA, Marathon Classic, final round, in Sylvania, Ohio (same-day tape) (Golf Channel, 9 p.m.)

HORSE RACING: Saratoga Live, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Fox Sports 2, 4 p.m.)

MLB: Houston at Baltimore (TBS, 1:30 p.m.); St. Louis at Chicago Cubs (ESPN, 8 p.m.)

SOCCER: International Champions Cup, Real Madrid vs. Manchester United, in Santa Clara, Calif. (ESPN, 5 p.m.); MLS, Portland at Vancouver (Fox Sports 1, 6:30 p.m); CONCACAF Gold Cup, semifinal, teams TBA, in Pasadena, Calif. (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.)

SWIMMING: FINA World Championships, in Budapest, Hungary (same-day tape) (NBC Sports Network, 2 p.m.)

VOLLEYBALL: AVP Pro Beach Tour, in Hermosa Beach, Calif. (NBC Sports Network, 4 p.m.)

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

8C SPORTS

FOOTBALL

Seahawks’ ‘Legion of Boom’ second to none Nate Davis @ByNateDavis USA TODAY Sports

NFL rosters are essentially set until training camps. In the meantime, USA TODAY Sports has analyzed each team’s depth chart and is ranking units before providing an overall hierarchy of talent. Today’s positional group: Secondaries.

1. Seattle Seahawks: The Legion of Boom is still legit. FS Earl Thomas and SS Kam Chancellor arguably remain the premier players at their positions, while Pro Bowler Richard Sherman continues to be one of the league’s elite corners. CB DeShawn Shead, whose prognosis is clouded after he suffered a torn knee ligament in the playoffs, had become a valuable component of a unit that allowed just 16 touchdown passes in 2016. Thirdrounders Shaquill Griffin and Delano Hill only deepen a talent pool that includes veteran Jeremy Lane.

2. Denver Broncos: The No Fly Zone features the game’s top cover tandem with Chris Harris Jr. (does anyone defend the slot better?) and Aqib Talib listed first and second at cornerback, per ProFootballFocus’ 2016 leaguewide rankings. Bradley Roby comes off a down year but rounds out a dynamic nickel package.

Darian Stewart and hard-hitting T.J. Ward are a solid safety combo, though not nearly as formidable as the top-ranked pass defense’s corners. And it should be noted the pass rush is a big reason Denver posted league lows in TD passes allowed (13), passer rating (69.7) and completion rate (55.4%).

3. New York Giants: S Landon Collins (125 tackles, four sacks, five interceptions) emerged as an impact player, finishing third in voting for NFL defensive player of the year behind Khalil Mack and Von Miller. The arrival of CB Janoris Jenkins was another significant reason for last year’s defensive turnaround. He leads a promising trio that includes Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and 2016 first-rounder Eli Apple. But the Giants will need upgraded play at free safety.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Surprised? CB Jalen Ramsey proved worthy of the draft’s fifth overall pick last year. Now he’ll be joined by free agent arrival A.J. Bouye, whose breakout 2016 season earned him a five-year, $67.5 million deal. Veteran Barry Church is expected to solidify the back line alongside Tashaun Gipson. Jacksonville’s defensive backs will only get better with experience and better support from the offense.

5. New England Patriots: Newcomer Stephon Gilmore is expected to make an impact after fetching the highest average salary on the team save QB Tom Brady. Gilmore and Malcolm Butler should be an excellent corner coupling for a team that frequently finds itself defending the

TROY WAYRYNEN, USA TODAY SPORTS

Seahawks CB Richard Sherman had 13 passes defensed and four interceptions last season. pass as it protects the leads built by the Brady-led offense. Devin McCourty is first-rate in coverage — his background at cornerback helps — but fellow safety Patrick Chung is far more vulnerable.

6. Baltimore Ravens: Eric Weddle and Tony Jefferson could be the best safety combo east of Seattle. CB Jimmy Smith, is joined by free agent Brandon Carr and 2017 first-rounder Marlon Humphrey.

7. Minnesota Vikings: S Harrison Smith has all-pro ability if he can remain healthy. CB Trae Waynes needs to elevate his play to the level of fellow 2013 firstrounder Xavier Rhodes. Ageless CB Terence Newman remains a key performer.

8. Kansas City Chiefs: Three-time all-pro S Eric Berry is as talented as he is inspirational.

CB Marcus Peters could eventually blossom into the NFL’s top corner. But there’s a significant drop-off beyond those two.

9. Los Angeles Chargers: CB Jason Verrett was a Pro Bowler in 2015, but a knee injury scuttled his 2016 campaign. He’ll team with Casey Hayward, who led the NFL with seven picks last season.

S Jahleel Addae doesn’t get enough credit.

10. Arizona Cardinals: Perennial Pro Bowl CB Patrick Peterson is a stud. S Tyrann Mathieu is still trying to get back to that level nearly two years removed from his latest major knee injury. Rookie Budda Baker could be an instant presence in sub packages.

11. Los Angeles Rams: CB Trumaine Johnson has never been a Pro Bowler even though he’s being paid like one. But he is the biggest name in an underrated group that could make a quantum leap under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

12. Atlanta Falcons: The Super Bowl meltdown underscored the fact this is not “Legion of Boom East” ... yet. Still, a nice core that includes second-year S Keanu Neal and third-year CB Jalen Collins should get a boost from CB Desmond Trufant’s return.

13. Tennessee Titans: After struggling mightily in 2016, they scored CB Logan Ryan and S Johnathan Cyprien in free agency before drafting CB Adoree’ Jackson in the first round. Holdover CB Brice McCain was a nice surprise, but lots of parts to meld here.

14. Miami Dolphins: Veteran Byron Maxwell was a better fit here than in Philadelphia, but he needs help. S Reshad Jones is one of the league’s unsung stars, but missing 10 games last year didn’t help him earn acclaim.

15. Washington Redskins: CB Josh Norman might not have lived up to his enormous contract during his first year in Washington, but he’s a reliable starter at minimum. Third-rounder Fabian Moreau could be one of the draft’s steals. New S D.J. Swearinger is a wild card, while Su’a Cravens will no longer moonlight as a linebacker.

16. Houston Texans: CB Kevin Johnson, a first-round pick two

years ago, needs to stay healthy and assume a more prominent role after this aging group lost A.J. Bouye in free agency. Last year’s second-ranked pass defense looks shaky at safety.

17. Detroit Lions: A poor pass rush hurt them significantly as Detroit was burned for a 72.7% completion rate and 106.5 passer rating, both worst in the league.

But with S Glover Quin and CB Darius Slay among their ranks, the Lions should be much better.

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: S J.J. Wilcox joins a tough group anchored by veteran CB Brent Grimes. If last year’s first-rounder, CB Vernon Hargreaves, makes a significant step forward, so could the entire secondary.

19. Oakland Raiders: GM Reggie McKenzie has invested heavily, drafting S Karl Joseph in the first round last year after signing veteran CB Sean Smith and S Reggie Nelson. This year’s rookies include first-round CB Gareon Conley and second-round DB Obi Melifonwu. But will the proof be in the 2017 pudding?

20. Cincinnati Bengals: Adam Jones, 33, remains their best corner ... not part of the plan given Dre Kirkpatrick, Darqueze Dennard and William Jackson III are all recent first-rounders, though Jackson could make a splash after a chest injury wiped out his rookie season.

21. Carolina Panthers: Miscalculation or not, they definitely missed Josh Norman as the pass defense dropped from 11th to 29th. At least rookie CBs James

Bradberry and Daryl Worley got valuable experience.

22. Cleveland Browns: Production must match the potential, but there’s promise. CB Joe Haden is tight when he’s right, but it has been a few years. Offseason additions Jabrill Peppers and Calvin Pryor have first-round pedigree. Keep an eye on CB Jamar Taylor.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers: Last we saw, Tom Brady was smoking them in the AFC Championship Game, though the failure could have been schematic more than a dearth of talent. Still, they’re suspect, especially at safety.

24. New York Jets: An entirely new look after a (needed) purge that included the departure of CB Darrelle Revis. Enter S Jamal Adams, who might have as big an impact as anyone from this year’s draft. He’ll likely be flanked by fellow rookie Marcus Maye.

CB Morris Claiborne comes aboard after five mostly disappointing seasons in Dallas.

25. Green Bay Packers: No issue at safety, where Morgan Burnett and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix form a potent one-two punch.

But the corners were shredded far too often. Rookie Kevin King and a clean bill of health should help.

26. Dallas Cowboys: Brandon Carr, Barry Church, Mo Claiborne and J.J. Wilcox, who combined for nearly 2,700 snaps in 2016, left in free agency. That leaves CB Orlando Scandrick, S Byron Jones and quite a few questions amid retread and rookie arrivals.

27. Chicago Bears: Incoming veteran S Quintin Demps helps a little. The Bears haven’t held opposing quarterbacks to a collective passer rating less than 93.5 for an entire season since 2013.

28. Indianapolis Colts: Vontae Davis had an awful 2016. But it appears his supporting cast has improved with first-round S Malik Hooker and second-round CB Quincy Wilson.

29. Buffalo Bills: Micah Hyde was a nice signing, and firstround CB Tre’Davious White projects as a solid starter even if he might not have the ceiling of departed Stephon Gilmore. Still, in the midst of a defensive overhaul, expect significant issues.

30. San Francisco 49ers: First-rounders Eric Reid (2013) and Jimmie Ward (2014) have even more to prove as new defensive coordinator Robert Saleh becomes the latest hope to replicate Seattle’s scheme.

31. Philadelphia Eagles: S Malcolm Jenkins is as steady (and versatile) as they come. But this defense appears exposed at corner and can only hope rookie Sidney Jones (Achilles) is able to contribute this year.

32. New Orleans Saints: The Saints allowed the most passing yards in the league last year.

First-round CB Marshon Lattimore is the latest sent into the breach. uTo view other position rankings, please go to nfl.usatoday.com

Kiffin: Time at Alabama ‘a great experience’ Jason Munz @munzly USA TODAY Sports IRVING, TEXAS Lane Kiffin was succinct and candid right off the bat.

“Well, obviously it’s different,” he said when asked Thursday to compare his experience at the Conference USA media days to other functions he’s attended throughout his career.

Kiffin, getting set to begin his first season as head coach at Florida Atlantic, has become one of the more polarizing and intriguing figures in college football. He’s been a head coach at Southern California and Tennessee. Before that, he was the Oakland Raiders head coach for 20 games in 200708. Most recently, the 45-year-old son of longtime NFL defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator at Alabama.

On Thursday, Kiffin — outfitted in a white dress shirt with a salmon tie and beige sports coat — fielded questions for just more

JASON MUNZ, HATTIESBURG (MISS.) AMERICAN

At the media days Thursday, Lane Kiffin, left, reiterated his support for controversial hire Kendal Briles from Baylor. than 30 minutes from a group of reporters that topped out about a dozen in number. He wasn’t the only high-profile coach making his first appearance at the C-USA media days, as former Miami (Fla.) coach Butch Davis — now at Florida International — was also

in attendance.

Topics of discussion with Kiffin ranged from his reportedly tumultuous relationship with Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban to having to get used to flying commercial.

“I sat in the back of a plane to-

day for the first time in a long time,” Kiffin said. “It was like row 32C. That was new.”

Kiffin was also asked about the recruiting promo video FAU put together that took on a life of its own because of its relatively low quality.

He said that was the intent.

“I thought it was perfect,” he said. “If you do a good one, nobody really cares. But our marketing people came up with a great plan.

“We were on Colin Cowherd, we were on SportsCenter for it.

There were a lot of people that had never heard of FAU looking up, ‘Where is FAU?’ ” While there was levity sprinkled in Kiffin’s availability, he was also pressed on hiring Kendal Briles as his offensive coordinator. Briles, who enjoyed plenty of success as Baylor’s offensive coordinator in recent years, has found himself in the midst of the ongoing rape scandal that has enveloped the Bears football program.

“Our athletic director and our people went through an extensive (vetting) process,” Kiffin said.

“They really handled that. I was

more of the football standpoint. I wanted to hire him, and they handled everything else. They felt comfortable with it, and I feel good about him helping us win games. And that’s more important than what’s written out there.

“It’s always been more important to me to do what’s best for our team and for our players wherever I’ve been, over what perception might be and what people write about it.”

Kiffin called his time at Alabama and working with Saban “a great experience.”

“People ask, ‘Did the marriage work?’ If three years ago, when that hire was made, if you’d have said, ‘Together, we’re going to go 40-3 and win three straight SEC titles and have three straight SEC offensive players of the year, a Heisman winner, a Biletnikoff winner and win a national championship,’ I think every Alabama fan would’ve said, ‘That’s a pretty good deal.’ So it was awesome.”

Munz writes for the Hattiesburg (Miss.) American, part of the USA TODAY Network.

SECTION D

FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

A big, little vacation Tiny houses give you a huge idea what it’s like in scaled-down accommodations, for the night or forever 3D MT. HOOD TINY HOUSE VILLAGE

LIFELINE

TELEVISION

HOW WAS YOUR DAY? GOOD DAY RYAN SEACREST Seacrest, in. ABC Thursday confirmed the host will return as the face of ‘American Idol’ when the reality-competition series returns next year on ABC. The onetime smash hit, which Seacrest hosted for its entire Fox run from 2002 to 2016, made him a household name.

RICHARD SHOTWELL, INVISION/AP

Patrick Ryan STYLE STAR Day 3 of the Cambridge royal tour of Poland and Germany ended with a sartorial surprise from Duchess Kate: She embraced the off-the-shoulders trend. The tomato-red peasant maxi-dress she wore to a garden party in Berlin on Wednesday evening was entirely appropriate and entirely on trend. Designed by one of her favorites, Alexander McQueen, it’s also not cheap even at a sale price of nearly $2,000.

CHRIS JACKSON, GETTY IMAGES

THEY SAID WHAT? THE STARS’ BEST QUOTES “In my mind, my mentoring with Jim (Henson) tells me that the minute the Muppets are reduced to being roles that are auditioned for and cast, it takes all the individuality out of them. Their longevity is based on consistency and that’s just super important.

Otherwise, it’s not Kermit or any other Muppets at all.”

— actor Steve Whitmire, the ousted voice of Kermit the Frog, on the ‘Today’ show Thursday.

USA TODAY NEW YORK An average Joe adopts an illegal side-hustle to pay the bills, and draws the ire of a Mexican drug cartel.

That may sound a lot like AMC’s Breaking Bad, but it’s also an apt description of new Netflix drama Ozark (streaming Friday), which stars Jason Bateman as a money-laundering everyman who becomes the target of a ruthless kingpin (Esai Morales) when his business partner (Josh Randall) steals millions. Bateman understands why many critics are drawing parallels between his character, Marty Byrde, and Bad’s cancer-stricken, methcooking Walter White.

“There’s certainly a lot of elements that one could say are similar,” he says. “I’m really glad I’m not hearing a terrible show that we’re compared to.

But I think there are a few other shows we’re certainly inspired by, and who knows, if we’re given another (season), what the show will morph into.”

Among the differences: Bad was set in New Mexico, while Ozark takes place in rural Missouri, where Marty abruptly relocates his wife (Laura Linney) and two kids (Sofia Hublitz and Skylar Gaertner) from Chicago

Bateman heads for the hills in ‘Ozark’ If you liked ‘Breaking Bad,’ this may be the show for you

Marty, left, butts heads with the locals in his new home. to recoup his cartel debt on the cash-rich tourist haven Lake of the Ozarks. He poses as an investor and descends on small businesses through which he can filter cash. But he faces resistance from dubious locals and a crafty redneck clan, led by the callous Ruth Langmore (Julia Garner).

Bateman, 48, is known for the Horrible Bosses movies and zany sitcom Arrested Development, but he’s warmed to behind-thescenes roles, directing films Bad

Words and The Family Fang. After reading The Accountant screenwriter Bill Dubuque’s first two scripts for Ozark, he agreed to star, executive-produce and direct four of the season’s 10 episodes, including the first.

He was intrigued by Marty, a smart but supercilious anti-hero, “because he probably thinks what he’s done is not that bad, but only in relation to what (his partner) has done,” Bateman says. “He’s smart enough to create these

@maeve_mcdermott USA TODAY

Arts impact

The typical arts attendee spent

$31.47 per event, beyond the cost of admission

SOURCE Americans for the Arts survey of 212,691 attendees in 2016 MICHAEL B. SMITH AND CARLEIGH GRAY, USA TODAY

mental safe harbors for himself and justify these weird decisions.”

Linney, 53, whose last TV series role was a cancer patient in Showtime’s The Big C, relished the opportunity to play the similarly messy Wendy, who is revealed in the first episode to have cheated on Marty. Although they swear to stay together for their children, she eventually becomes entangled in his shady dealings.

“She could be labeled just a total witch, and she’s not,” Linney says. “As the show progresses, more is revealed about all of them, the core of who these people really are and how they function. With Wendy, you see what sides of that she embraces and the sides she tries to submerge.”

Asked where they’d go if they were trying to fall off the map, the Ozark duo says it would depend how much money’s at stake and who they’re hiding from.

“There’s a primal thing that makes people flee that I don’t think has anything to do with wishes or desires,” Linney says.

“It’s just instinct and survival. I don’t think anybody knows how they would be until they’re there.”

Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington was nu-metal pioneer Maeve McDermott

USA SNAPSHOTS©

Preview, 5D

APPRECIATION

He laughed off fan criticism last week

TONYA WISE, INVISION/AP

PHOTOS BY JACKSON DAVIS, NETFLIX

Wendy (Laura Linney) and Marty (Jason Bateman) move their family to rural Missouri after Marty’s business partner is murdered by a cartel.

Two months ago, Chris Cornell’s suicide devastated fans who grew up in the grunge era.

Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington sang Hallelujah at the ceremony to help lay his friend to rest.

Bennington died Thursday at age 41, and the Los Angeles County coroner said authorities are investigating the death as an apparent suicide.

With Bennington’s passing, another generation of music fans has lost a frontman who represented the seminal music of their youth. For listeners who came of age post-grunge, just after Cornell’s heyday, genres like rap-rock and nu-metal provided a musical education.

Linkin Park’s 2000 debut album, Hybrid Theory, arrived

MICHAEL TRAN

Chester Bennington, 41, was found dead Thursday in L.A. alongside albums from soundalikes Limp Bizkit and Korn, but also shared its DNA with other releases like Kid Rock’s Devil Without a Cause and Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP, aggressive and testosterone-fueled releases with distinctly blue-collar faces.

Music critics have long cracked jokes at nu-metal’s expense, yet in 2017, when Kid Rock is prepping a Senate campaign and working-

class anxieties are rising, nu-metal has never seemed more prescient.

Beyond that, while Linkin Park’s Collision Course mash-up EP with Jay-Z, and Limp Bizkit’s many rap collaborations may not have registered as groundbreaking at the time, fast forward to the present, when hip-hop is obsessed with heavy metal and genre boundaries have all but melted.

Bennington’s band also evolved

with the times, toying with EDM on their 2012 Living Things album, scoring the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen soundtrack with Hans Zimmer and releasing the closest thing they’ve ever made to a pop album earlier this year with One More Light.

In fact, the last time Bennington made headlines was when an audience member threw a jug at him onstage at France’s Hellfest festival as the band played new single Heavy — a shame considering the pop banger is one of the band’s best recent singles.

Bennington took the incident in stride on Twitter. “Hellfest was fun. Had a blast watching people mosh to In the End and then flip me off when we played Heavy. I blew them kisses,” he wrote afterward, referencing another of the band’s most enduring hits. “Don’t worry. They’ll be moshing to Heavy in 15 years too.”

For all the sorrow among fans, let this be a suitable way to remember Bennington, unapologetic for Linkin Park’s musical risks, ever-appreciative of his longtime listeners, and even, for just that moment, hopeful for the future.

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

2D LIFE

wise (Bill Skarsgård) waving a disembodied arm. Executive producer Seth Grahame-Smith compared the kid characters’ vibe to the friends in Stand by Me: “We believe they have that same kind of relationship.”

MOVIES

COMIC-CON’S FIRST NIGHT IS A REAL HORROR SHOW FOR FANS OF ‘WALKING DEAD’ AND ‘IT’

WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT

Lulu Wilson, 11, stars in Annabelle: Creation.

ANNABELLE IS KOOKIER THAN EVER IN CREATION PREQUEL.

Keeping the “children in peril” theme, director David F. Sandberg presented an early screening of Annabelle: Creation, which digs into the 1950s origin of the supercreepy doll from The Conjuring and pits her against a pack of orphaned girls.

It marks the third horror film for 11-year-old Lulu Wilson. The actress, who also appeared in 2014’s Deliver Us From Evil and 2016’s Ouija: Origin of Evil, says there’s “a great range” in fright fests, especially for a child actor: “You can experience things from great joy to obviously great fear and great sadness, and it’s a lot of fun because you get to use parts of your imagination that I don’t know you would ever use before.

It’s awesome.”

BROOKE PALMER

Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård) lurks in the sewers of Derry and returns to haunt the town every 30 years in the horror movie It. fort-like structure is a fenced area where zombies hiss and snarl at onlookers. If that’s too frightening, there also is a chair where visitors can pose like King Ezekiel next to a lifelike tiger Shiva.

Brian Truitt @briantruitt USA TODAY SAN DIEGO More than 125,000 people have descended on Comic-Con, and if that wasn’t scary enough for the nerd crowd, a few horror movies plus a terrifying TV show were on display during the event’s annual preview night.

DON’T PET THE WALKING DEAD’S UNDEAD.

The San Diego Convention Center’s floor is packed with booths for all sorts of movie studios, TV networks and comic-book companies, with big properties such as Star Wars and Justice League.

AMC always puts out a nice spread featuring The Walking Dead, and this year’s presentation is no slouch: Next to the massive

THERE’S NO CLOWNING AROUND WITH IT.

At a New Line presentation at a nearby theater, director Andy Muschietti introduced neverseen footage from his upcoming Stephen King adaptation It (in theaters Sept. 8). The audience got to see the young members of Derry’s Losers Club (played by Wyatt Oleff, Finn Wolfhard, Chosen Jacobs, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis and Jeremy Ray Taylor) in a couple of scenes that bring the group together — from diving off a cliff in their underwear to a rock fight with local bullies — and gave a quick glimpse at the evil clown Penny-

THE NUN SHALL PASS.

WARNER BROS. PICTURES

The demon nun from The Conjuring 2 gets her own movie.

Report puzzle problems to us at feedback@usatoday.com or 1-800-872-7073

PUZZLES CROSSWORD

WORD ROUNDUP

BY Fred Piscop

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

HOLD THAT!

Find and Circle: Five flowers Four eight-letter words ____ ____ in “Tomorrowland” The Man in Black (first/last name) Clark Kent’s love interest (first/last name)

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37 Fateful day in old Rome 39 Pan Am rival of old 43 Clears, as a drain 45 Spotlight hog 46 Be an 7/20 accomplice to 47 Selected, with CROSSWORDS “for” ON YOUR PHONE

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Thursday’s Answer TICKLED PINK LEMONADE PINK STAND LEMONADE BY STAND CHANCE BY CARD CHANCE GAME CARD

PLAY ONLINE PUZZLES.USATODAY.COM

mobilegames.usatoday.com

© Andrews McMeel

7/21

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x2 box contains the numbers 1 through 6 (no repeats).

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6 2 5 1 4 8 3 1 5 9 9 6 2 3 4 2 1 DIFFICULTY RATING

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Thursday’s answer: MONGOLIA MALAYSIA CAMBODIA VIETNAM INDIA CHINA LAOS / OCTOPUS MUSSEL SNAIL CLAM / ARMS MARS / EAST WEST / USHER

7/20

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20 Suspicious way to look 22 “Picked” complaints 24 Drive-thru window pickup 25 Strand at a ski chalet, say 29 Myopia-correcting surgery 32 Name in cameras and copiers 33 First daughter ___ Baines Johnson 34 Polo of “The Fosters” 38 Pies, in slapstick 39 Word that can precede the first parts of 16- and 61-Across and 15- and 28-Down 40 Like a season-ticketholding fan, perhaps 41 Hoops Hall of Famer Willis 42 Witty sorts 43 Form an alliance 44 Don’t hog 46 Places for electronic bracelets 47 Corn Belt city 50 Ticklish area, for many 52 Observatory that’s home to the Hale Telescope 55 Picks up the scent of, say 60 “Aqualung” band Jethro ___ 61 Ernestine player on “Laugh-In” 63 Sedgwick of Warhol movies 64 Bieber, to “Beliebers”

The audience also was the first to see a sneak peek of the next Conjuring spinoff, The Nun (out July 13, 2018). Director Corin Hardy’s movie featuring the demon nun (Bonnie Aarons) from The Conjuring 2 recently finished filming in Bucharest in June, and the scene showed Taissa Farmiga’s character entering a chapel in the middle of the night surrounded by black-hooded figures and a large mirror, where she gets a glimpse of the seriously sinister sister.

___________ THE ________ IS ________ TO COME. 7/21

Thursday’s Answer: “A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.” - Winston Churchill

YET

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

LIFE 3D

TRAVEL DISPATCHES

DISNEY

An artist’s rendering shows the upcoming Millennium Falcon ride.

‘Star Wars’ plans revealed The D23 expo is a biennial event presented by the Disneyrun D23 fan club. Like San Diego Comic-Con, it celebrates popular culture, but focuses exclusively on the company’s films, television shows, parks and other properties. Before an audience of Disney diehards who had gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center last weekend, Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek ran down what’s on the way.

The announcements add new details to Disney’s plans to capitalize on the Star Wars franchise.

Among the new developments: uNew lands have a name.

The expo revealed models and details of the 14-acre Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge lands that are coming to Disneyland Park and Hollywood Studios in Florida. Both will open in 2019. Visitors will be able to interact with characters such as Kylo Ren and BB-8 and dine at the Cantina. uMillennium Falcon ride.

One of the two featured rides at Galaxy’s Edge will hand visitors the controls of the Millennium Falcon, the “fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy” according to Lando Calrissian. uStar Wars battle attraction. The other major experience at Galaxy’s Edge will drop visitors into a battle between the Resistance and the First Order. Chapek said that guests will feel as if they are inside a Star Destroyer. uStar Wars-themed hotel.

Disney World visitors will soon be able to sleep among wookies and Jedi knights. Chapek announced that a new Star Warsthemed resort will invite guests on a voyage aboard a starship. Every window, the parks chairman promised, will have a simulated view of space.

Arthur Levine

ERIC LAIGNEL

Gotham Market opened in Fort Greene earlier this year.

New Yorkers eat up markets New York may be proof that the food hall trend is far from over. Restaurateurs and developers have debuted four alternative food halls in a mere six months.

Earlier this month, Brooklyn’s City Acres Market opened an outpost in Manhattan’s Financial District. The space combines trendy ‘grocerant’ and food hall concepts with five independent food vendors, plus a butcher, cheesemonger, fishmonger and comprehensive groceries.

In June, Downtown Brooklyn got a food hall of its own, when DeKalb Market Hall debuted 40 food vendors, including Katz’s Delicatessen’s first outpost. Other local outposts include Ample Hills Creamery, Fletcher’s Brooklyn Barbecue and Lioni Heroes.

Neighboring Fort Greene gained access to Hell’s Kitchen’s popular Gotham West Market concept when an outpost opened at The Ashland in January. Eight food and beverage vendors anchor a residential building.

Back in Manhattan, Canal Street Market added a food hall with 12 vendors, including Davey’s Ice Cream and fresh&co, in May. The space now offers cuisines from Japanese ramen and Korean barbecue to locally sourced smoothies and a pop-up pie shop.

Ashley Day

WEECASA

WeeCasa Tiny House Resort in Lyons, Colo., features 22 tiny houses, including the popular Hobbit House.

TINY HOUSE TEST DRIVE Try one on vacation before scaling down for good Sarah Sekula Special for USA TODAY LYONS , COLO. There are many reasons people flock to the tiny town of Lyons, home to about 2,000 people. For starters, its location on the St. Vrain River makes it a mecca for whitewater kayaking. Not to mention, it is home to music festivals, epic mountain biking and has easy access to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Another draw is one you might not expect, but it certainly is attracting attention. It’s called WeeCasa Tiny House Resort, a cluster of 22 tiny homes for rent (starting at $159 per night). Some are sleek and European, others are more whimsical. Each one is uniquely decorated, ranging in size from 140 to 200 square feet, and all are ready to roll. They are licensed as recreational vehicles, which means they are on wheels and can be on the move in 30 minutes or less.

As soon as I walk over to my wee abode, known as the Pequod, I realize why so many Americans have become obsessed with this phenomenon.

Outside: The curvy roofline and cedar shingles give it a cottage-like feel. Inside: There’s an arched ceiling and stained-glass windows, two lofts connected by a plexiglass catwalk, a private bathroom and a kitchen where one of the drawer pulls is actually a fork. Despite its small stature, it sleeps four adults.

“I think tiny living in general is really something that people are fascinated with,” says Kenyon Waugh, WeeCasa’s “Wee-EO.” “What we see is people leaving here energized to reduce the amount of things they have and the footprint they have and to really simplify their lifestyles.”

LILLIPUTIAN LIVING

WeeCasa is part of a growing number of tiny-home getaways across the nation from Oregon to New York that make for an unusual and Instagram-worthy vacation. Beyond that, though, some of the homes are models available for purchase, so spending time there can serve as a tinyhome test drive.

So much so, one visitor even brought her cat bed along to WeeCasa to see how it would fit in, and another whipped up a quiche to make sure the kitchen space was adequate.

Gregory Johnson, who has kept a close eye on the tiny-living moment for the past 15 years, says many people find it to be a great way to find a peaceful sense of renewal, even if it’s just for a weekend.

In 2001, Johnson became enchanted with the idea of tiny liv-

WHEELHAUS

Fireside Resort in Jackson Hole, near Grand Teton National Park, offers 23 Wheelhaus tiny-house cabins for rent.

MT. HOOD TINY HOUSE VILLAGE

The interior of a model at Mt. Hood Tiny House Village shows the efficiency of tiny-house design. ing and commissioned Jay Shafer, owner of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, to build him one a few years later. He also was inspired to create the Small House Society to help foster the growth of the tiny-living movement.

Back then, Johnson says, a Google search for small houses or tiny houses produced no results.

Fast-forward to today, and those shrunken homes have sparked so much interest there is now an entire category of reality TV shows and documentaries devoted to the topic. There even are tinyhome jamborees.

With the sheer charm and design aesthetic of these homes, the intrigue is certainly there, but when it comes down to living in one full time, that’s another story.

For Gerrie Stone, who lives in Watertown, S.D., and recently stayed at WeeCasa, it was a good way to bring her family from Nebraska and Colorado together. Although committing to tiny living

does not appeal to her, she loved the community atmosphere. And staying in a Hobbit-themed tiny home was worth the trip alone.

With its round door and windows, faux ivy and tiny chandelier, it was an instant conversation starter with fellow visitors.

ON THE RISE

The trend is poised to grow.

Right now, travelers can take their pick from such places as Fireside Resort in Jackson Hole, Wyo., which has 23 cabins for rent (starting at $225 per night) near Grand Teton National Park.

With such names as Caboose and Light-Haus, the 400-square-foot homes all were built by Wheelhaus and serve as model homes available for purchase starting at $58,000.

Then there’s Getaway, which offers tiny-home stays (starting at $99 per night) in New York’s Catskills and in the forests of New Hampshire. The first thing

you’ll notice is the cellphone dropbox encouraging you to disconnect. Homes also are stocked with fun snacks (think: popcorn and s’mores by the fire pit) and simple meals.

They keep the specific location under wraps so renters won’t stress about planning ahead of time, looking up restaurants and such. (Guests enter their starting zip code online, so they will know the approximate drive time.)

“People are yearning to find a counterbalance to the digital age,” says Getaway founder and CEO Jon Staff. “Cities are great, but nature can provide things the city doesn’t. Technology is powerful, but we can’t be connected all the time. Tiny houses capture the minimalism and simplicity that went out of style ... but seems to be coming back in reaction to a world that has become too busy, complicated and stressful.”

Throughout the year, more tiny-home hotels will open. Tumbleweed, for example, opened Mt. Hood Tiny House Village outside of Portland, Ore., last year, has a tiny-house village in Washington state and also rents tiny homes at camping resorts across the country. And, no surprise, more plans are in the works.

The same goes for Getaway.

Their homes typically are booked several months out and weekend dates can book as much as six months in advance. They, too, have more homes in development.

Whatever these minimal dwellings lacking in the square footage department, they make up for it with tons of personality.

And for vacationers who may find the quarters confining, a return from Lilliput is just a weekend away.

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

4D LIFE

LISTEN UP SONG OF THE WEEK

Yesterday The Beatles

This is just a pure and simple statement of songwriting. It’s just so perfectly metered and every line and melody has a perfect place.

I Wanna Be Your Lover Prince

Possibly my favorite song of all time. I love Prince because he’s the archetype of what so many bedroom producers and artists are doing today.

U Hurt Me Burial

When I think of what the UK sounds like in this century, I think of Burial. He so perfectly captures that mix of whimsy and melancholy alongside the darker textures.

Come Up and Get Me Death Grips

The introduction to No Love Deep Web is such a great mission statement for Death Grips; visceral, raw experimentation driven by the combination of three incredible musicians.

Mura Masa’s debut is out now.

Solo Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean is an amazing storyteller, and his turn of phrase is always so recognizable.

THE PLAYLIST

November Has Come Gorillaz

Demon Days was a seminal album for me, in terms of getting to grips with that multicultural, boundary-less, genre-less pop sound.

Jasmine Jai Paul

The work that the Paul brothers did on Jai’s two released records is sonically breathtaking.

Trophy Nao feat.

A.K. Paul

Nao is a gifted songwriter, and seeing her progress and bloom as an artist in herself has been one of the biggest inspirations to me.

Eyeless Slipknot

Slipknot really connected with me growing up, because I loved the way that underground rave and DJ culture was woven into the extreme distortion of their sound.

Let It Happen Tame Impala

How does he get his drums to sound like that?

Seriously. This whole album is just incredible.

YONI LAPPIN

SHAWN BRACKBILL

The War on Drugs’ ‘Strangest Thing’ The War on Drugs have steadily released some of the decade’s most consistently great rock music: gauzy Americana that conjures visions of Bruce Springsteen in their cinematic guitar melodies and Tom Petty in frontman Adam Granduciel’s reedy vocals. Many of the Philadelphia band’s best songs open at a racehorse’s pace, but Strangest Thing, the second track from their new album, A Deeper Understanding

(out Aug. 25), slows down for a dreamy six minutes of high-drama synths and knockout guitar solos. Granduciel is blessed with a voice that recalls any number of classicrock heroes, as he meditates on “living in the space between the beauty and the pain” before the song’s cacophonous instrumentals take over.

Maeve McDermott

At just 21 years old, Mura Masa is making some of the most playful and ambitious dance music of his generation, heard on his self-titled debut album released last week. In a playlist with USA TODAY, the UK-born singer and producer (real name: Alex Crossan) shares a wideranging group of artists who have influenced his music.

USA TODAY AIRPLAY CHARTS COMPILED BY MEDIABASE

Increase in Spins

T This week

Debut

L Last week

IN-DEPTH CHARTS LIFE.USATODAY.COM

COUNTRY

TOP 40 T L

ARTIST

SONG

SPINS

T L

ARTIST

SONG

POINTS

1 1

LUISFONSI&DADDYYANKEE f/BIEBER

Despacito

18,603

1 2

DYLAN SCOTT

My Girl

25,882

2 2

ZEDD & ALESSIA CARA

Stay

17,373

2 1

THOMAS RHETT f/MAREN MORRIS

Craving You

24,639

3 3

DJKHALED f/BIEBER/QUAVO... I’m The One

15,477

3 4

RASCAL FLATTS

Yours If You Want It

22,301

4 4

HALSEY

Now Or Never

14,811

4 5

KEITHURBAN f/CARRIEUNDERWOOD

The Fighter

19,978

5 6

SHAWN MENDES

There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back 13,045

5 3

BLAKE SHELTON

Every Time I Hear That Song

19,562

6 10 IMAGINE DRAGONS

Believer

12,039

6 7

BILLY CURRINGTON

Do I Make You Wanna

19,426

7 9

ED SHEERAN

Castle On The Hill

11,151

7 6

COLE SWINDELL

Flatliner

18,612

8 7

BRUNO MARS

That’s What I Like

10,588

8 8

MIDLAND

Drinkin’ Problem

17,540

9 8

KYGO X SELENA GOMEZ

It Ain’t Me

10,238

9 9

LADY ANTEBELLUM

You Look Good

17,356

JULIA MICHAELS

Issues

10 11 JUSTIN MOORE

Somebody Else Will

16,975

No Such Thing As A Broken Heart 16,060

10 5

9,752

11 11 THECHAINSMOKERS&COLDPLAY Something Just Like This

9,115

11 12 OLD DOMINION

12 13 CHARLIE PUTH

Attention

8,417

12 13 DUSTIN LYNCH

Small Town Boy

14,663

13 12 SELENA GOMEZ

Bad Liar

8,249

13 14 BROTHERS OSBORNE

It Ain’t My Fault

11,493

14 --- DJ KHALED f/RIHANNA/B. TILLER Wild Thoughts

7,942

14 --- JON PARDI

Heartache On The Dance Floor 11,094

15 14 NIALL HORAN

7,680

15 --- KIP MOORE

More Girls Like You

10,890

Slow Hands

URBAN

RHYTHMIC

T L

ARTIST

SONG

SPINS

1 1

KENDRICK LAMAR

T L

ARTIST

SONG

SPINS

HUMBLE.

4,623

1 4

FRENCH MONTANA f/SWAE LEE

Unforgettable

2 2

5,849

BRUNO MARS

That’s What I Like

4,442

2 2

DJKHALED f/BIEBER/QUAVO... I’m The One

3 3

YFN LUCCI f/PNB ROCK

Everyday We Lit

4,331

3 1

CHILDISH GAMBINO

Redbone

5,601

4 6

FRENCH MONTANA f/SWAE LEE

Unforgettable

4,287

4 3

KENDRICK LAMAR

HUMBLE.

5,454

5 5

CHILDISH GAMBINO

Redbone

5,222

5,661

4,145

5 7

DJ KHALED f/RIHANNA/B. TILLER

Wild Thoughts

6 10 DJ KHALED f/RIHANNA/B. TILLER Wild Thoughts

3,730

6 5

LUISFONSI&DADDYYANKEE f/BIEBER

Despacito

4,659

7 4

3,702

7 6

LIL UZI VERT

XO Tour Llif3

4,320

FUTURE

Mask Off

8 7

LIL UZI VERT

XO Tour Llif3

3,664

8 9

THE WEEKND

Reminder

3,406

9 8

CHRIS BROWN

Privacy

3,380

9 8

FUTURE

Mask Off

3,054

10 11 MIGOS f/GUCCI MANE

Slippery

2,812

10 10 BRUNO MARS

That’s What I Like

3,053

11 13 JOE GIFTED f/FRONTSTREET Water

2,424

11 12 LOGIC f/ALESSIA CARA/KHALID

1-800-273-8255

2,786

12 --- JACQUEES

B.E.D.

2,414

12 11 YFN LUCCI f/PNB ROCK

Everyday We Lit

2,762

13 14 J. COLE

Neighbors

2,391

13 13 KID INK f/TY DOLLA $IGN

F With U

2,236

14 15 MEEK MILL

Whatever You Need

2,389

14 14 LIAM PAYNE f/QUAVO

Strip That Down

2,111

2,225

15 --- BRUNO MARS

Versace On The Floor

2,029

15 9

DJKHALED f/BIEBER/QUAVO... I’m The One

HOT ADULT CONTEMPORARY

ADULT CONTEMPORARY

T L

ARTIST

SONG

SPINS

T L

ARTIST

SONG

1 2

IMAGINE DRAGONS

Believer

6,404

1 1

ED SHEERAN

Shape Of You

2,680

2 1

THECHAINSMOKERS&COLDPLAY

Something Just Like This

6,184

2 2

ALESSIA CARA

Scars To Your Beautiful

2,309

3 3

ZEDD & ALESSIA CARA

Stay

5,575

3 3

ADELE

Water Under The Bridge

2,283

4 4

ED SHEERAN

Shape Of You

5,308

4 4

MAROON 5 f/KENDRICK LAMAR

Don’t Wanna Know

2,215

5 5

ED SHEERAN

Castle On The Hill

5,024

5 5

JAMES ARTHUR

Say You Won’t Let Go

2,039

6 6

KYGO X SELENA GOMEZ

It Ain’t Me

4,954

6 6

DJ SNAKE f/JUSTIN BIEBER

Let Me Love You

1,655

7 9

SHAWN MENDES

There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back

4,738

7 7

THECHAINSMOKERS&COLDPLAY

Something Just Like This

1,514

8 8

JULIA MICHAELS

Issues

4,583

8 8

TRAIN

Play That Song

1,332

9 7

JAMES ARTHUR

Say You Won’t Let Go

4,567

9 9

RIHANNA

Love On The Brain

944

Body Like A Back Road

3,550

Castle On The Hill

501

10 --- SAM HUNT

CHRISTIAN

URBAN ADULT CONTEMPORARY T L

ARTIST

SONG

SPINS

T L

ARTIST

SONG

SPINS

1 1

CHILDISH GAMBINO

Redbone

2,262

1 1

MERCYME

Even If

2,160

2 2

BRUNO MARS

That’s What I Like

2,048

2 2

CHRIS TOMLIN

Home

2,041

3 3

AFTER 7

Runnin’ Out

1,727

3 3

CASTING CROWNS

Oh My Soul

1,826

4 4

STOKLEY

Level

1,609

4 4

MANDISA

Unfinished

1,813

5 5

JOHNNY GILL f/JAHEIM

5000 Miles

1,544

5 5

HILLSONG WORSHIP

What A Beautiful Name

1,603

6 6

MARY J. BLIGE

U + Me (Love Lesson)

1,320

6 6

TOBYMAC

Love Broke Thru

1,425

7 10 TAMAR BRAXTON

My Man

1,276

7 8

CITIZEN WAY

Bulletproof

1,424

8 8

DALEY f/JILL SCOTT

Until The Pain Is Gone

1,251

8 7

TENTH AVENUE NORTH

I Have This Hope

1,367

9 7

BRUNO MARS

24K Magic

1,078

9 --- DAVID DUNN

Before I Do

1,076

10 --- SEVYN STREETER

ALTERNATIVE

ACTIVE ROCK

T L

ARTIST

SONG

SPINS

T L

ARTIST

SONG

SPINS

1 1

PORTUGAL. THE MAN

Feel It Still

3,402

1 1

STONE SOUR

Song #3

2,011

2 2

IMAGINE DRAGONS

Believer

2,717

2 2

FOO FIGHTERS

Run

1,990

3 3

BLEACHERS

Don’t Take The Money

2,511

3 3

METALLICA

Now That We’re Dead

1,977

4 4

SIR SLY

High

2,451

4 4

ROYAL BLOOD

Lights Out

1,724

5 5

MUSE

Dig Down

2,385

5 5

RISE AGAINST

The Violence

1,562

6 6

WEEZER

Feels Like Summer

2,308

6 6

HIGHLY SUSPECT

Little One

1,464

7 7

KINGS OF LEON

Reverend

1,975

7 7

I PREVAIL

Alone

1,125

8 9

KILLERS

The Man

1,943

8 10 GRETA VAN FLEET

Highway Tune

1,124

9 8

THE REVIVALISTS

9 9

Revolution Radio

1,021

10 10 FOO FIGHTERS

Wish I Knew You

1,938

Run

1,827

SPINS

GREEN DAY

10 --- IN THIS MOMENT

Oh Lord

941

LATIN

ADULT ROCK T L

ARTIST

SONG

T L

ARTIST

SONG

SPINS

1 1

PORTUGAL. THE MAN

Feel It Still

577

1 2

BANDA CARNAVAL

Ella Es Mi Mujer

2,184

2 2

ARCADE FIRE

Everything Now

561

2 1

CALIBRE 50

Las Ultras

2,143

3 3

THE NATIONAL

System Only Dreams In Total...

554

3 7

MALUMA

Felices Los 4

1,877

4 4

KINGS OF LEON

Reverend

495

4 4

GERARDO ORTIZ

Para Que Lastimarme

1,876

5 5

MICHAEL KIWANUKA

Cold Little Heart

491

5 6

BANDASINALOENSEMSSERGIO...

Las Cosas No Se Hacen Asi

1,866

Me Enamore

1,831

6 6

THE RECORD COMPANY

Baby I’m Broken (2017)

442

6 5

SHAKIRA

7 8

LORD HURON

Night We Met

441

7 3

LUISFONSI&DADDYYANKEE Despacito

8 9

SPOON

Can I Sit Next To You

418

8 --- ROMEO SANTOS

Imitadora

1,506

9 7

DAN AUERBACH

ENRIQUE IGLESIAS

Subeme La Radio

1,488

EDWIN LUNA & LA TRAKALOSA

Un Aplauso

1,457

10 10 WAR ON DRUGS

Shine On Me

412

9 9

Holding On

388

10 8

10 --- ED SHEERAN

SPINS

1,807

10 9

MICAH TYLER

I Wanna Go Back

1,145

Never Been A Moment

1,130

USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

LIFE 5D

‘Ozark’ is best beyond its familiar family-man crook Money laundering moves to Missouri There’s something very familiar about Ozark.

A white, middle-class anti-hero gets involved in organized crime and does TV terrible things for his PREVIEW family, who in turn KELLY LAWLER do their own terrible things.

There’s graphic violence and a strip club, and the whole series seems to be shot through a blueand-gray filter.

The Netflix thriller (streaming Friday, eegE out of four) draws comparisons with other crime dramas starring family-focused anti-heroes, like Breaking Bad or The Sopranos: Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) is a bored, disinterested Chicago financial adviser with a seemingly perfect family and a sensible Camry. He also happens to be a money launderer for a powerful drug cartel.

When a cartel leader murders Marty’s partners after they skim

TINA ROWDEN, NETFLIX

Laura Linney and Jason Bateman star as Wendy and Marty Byrde, a not-so-happy couple on the run in Netflix’s Ozark.

money, Marty makes a lastchance play for his life by suggesting he move the business down to the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, where he says he can wash more money in an untapped market.

It takes a long time for Ozark to set up its premise; so much so that the pilot makes it feel like the entire story would have been better suited as a film about Marty and his wife, Wendy (Laura Linney), on the run.

The series reveals its true focus in the third episode, as it broadens from the family to the greater criminal enterprise in the Ozarks and the law enforcement agents who track them.

While there’s a lot to like in the cast and some of the plot, one of the major problems with the series, created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams (The Accountant), is that episodes feel too long at 60 minutes. It’s easy to find places where smart editing could have added momentum and urgency.

For a series in which the lead characters are fleeing certain

death, it often feels a little lackadaisical and bloated.

Bateman plays Marty with a glazed disinterest, and he’s not nearly the most interesting character in the show. (He does, however, contribute to its atmosphere by directing the first two episodes.) Wendy is a more surprising and self-assured figure, and displays Linney’s acting skills.

The housewife puts on her own cheery performance for a questioning FBI agent and family friends, but she has a cold fury that comes out when she’s threatened.

Ozark also benefits from Ruth (Julia Garner), a young aspiring criminal who is both a potential threat and ally to Marty. Garner, too, has a striking confidence, and it’s easy to see how a petite teen could intimidate men who loom over her physically but are beneath her in intelligence.

And beneath its hazy Missouri surface, there are intriguing elements to Ozark. When the series looks past Marty’s story, it finds something worth coming back for.

TONIGHT ON TV 8:00

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NETWORK

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Descendants 2 Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay try to adjust to life in idyllic Auradon, but Mal becomes overwhelmed with pressure and returns to her roots. Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson (2017)

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CBS

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DESCENDANTS 2 ABC, FRIDAY, 8 ET/PT

The villains’ kids are back, and they are everywhere. The sequel to Disney’s 2015 smash TV movie, Descendants, which spawned songs parents couldn’t get out of their heads, is here, simulcast on ABC and five other Disney networks. In the sequel, Mal (Dove Cameron) returns to the Isle of the Lost and confronts her enemy Uma (China Anne McClain), daughter of The Little Mermaid’s Ursula.

DAVID BUKACH, DISNEY CHANNEL

Evie (Sofia Carson) and Mal (Dove Cameron) are back in Descendants 2.

BALLERS/INSECURE HBO, SUNDAY, 10 ET/PT

You just can’t escape Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The world’s highest-paid movie star also does his fair share of TV, on the sportscentric Ballers, returning for its third season. Insecure also returns to HBO tonight, and despite being shut out of the Emmy nominations this year, Issa Rae’s series remains one of the funniest and most incisive comedies, especially for viewers trying to date in the modern era. At the start of the second season, Issa (Rae) deals with the aftermath of breaking up with her boyfriend Lawrence (Jay Ellis), although it’s not going very well.

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Rocky III A boxer is trained by his former rival to reclaim the boxing championship. (1982) Insane Pools: Off the Deep End Star Trek

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Rocky IV Boxer fights a vicious Russian champion. (1985)

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Star Trek Kirk in alternate dimension.

Insane Pools: Second Splash

Star Trek Planet-eating spaceship.

Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain

Being Mary Jane Temptations.

Juno Ellen Page (2007) (7:06)

Easy A A high school student uses a lie about her virginity to her advantage. Emma Stone (2010) (9:14)

Easy A (2010)

King of the Hill

Cleveland Show

Family Guy

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American Dad!

Tales Ashley’s affair.

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Soul Surfer Teenage surfer attempts to overcome mental block following shark attack. (2011)

Martin Bob’s Burgers

Family Guy

Martin

Soul Surfer Teenage surfer copes after shark attack. (2011)

American Greed: Scams

American Greed: Scams

American Greed: Scams

Anderson Cooper 360° (N)

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CNN Special Report Fuhrman tapes. (N) Anderson Cooper 360°

South Park

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Alaskan Bush People

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Descendants 2 Adjusting to life in Auradon. Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson (2017)

Daniel Tosh: People Pleaser

Daniel Tosh: Happy Thoughts

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Alaskan Bush People

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Descendants 2 Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay look to adjust to life in idyllic Auradon. Dove Cameron (2017) Louisiana Flip N Move

Descendants 2 Adjusting to life in Auradon. (2017) (10:40) The IGN Show (N)

FIFA Confederations Cup

Louisiana Flip N Move

Louisiana Flip N Move

Bring It On Cheerleaders prepare for a competition. Kirsten Dunst (2000)

Famously Single Relationship tested.

E! News (N)

Diners, Drive-Ins

Diners, Drive-Ins

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Tucker Carlson Tonight (N)

Louisiana Flip N Move (N)

American Greed: Scams

Diners, Dives (N)

Diners, Drive-Ins

The Five (N)

Diners, Drive-Ins

Hannity (N)

Descendants 2 Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay look to adjust to life in idyllic Auradon. Dove Cameron (2017)

Diners, Drive-Ins

Diners, Drive-Ins

Tucker Carlson Tonight Young & Hungry

The 700 Club

Transformers: Age of Extinction Automobile mechanic and his daughter come upon a huge discovery. Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci (2014)

Snowfall

The Simpsons

The Simpsons

The Simpsons

The Simpsons

The Simpsons

The Simpsons

The Simpsons

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Family Feud

Family Feud

Family Feud

Family Feud

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Family Feud

Family Feud

Family Feud

A December Bride A wedding escort gets carried away. Jessica Lowndes (2016)

The Middle

The Middle

The Golden Girls

The Golden Girls

Bargain Hunt

House Hunters

International

House Hunters

International

Bargain Hunt

Bargain Hunt

Bargain Hunt

Ancient Aliens Universal knowledge.

Ancient Aliens Sanskrit texts. (N)

Ancient Aliens Giant winged gods.

The Hunt with John Walsh

The Hunt with John Walsh

The Hunt with John Walsh

Ancient Aliens True human origins.

Forensic Files

Deadly Women Former cop.

Deadly Women Becoming enemies.

Deadly Sins Deadly conflict. (N)

Deadly Women Former cop.

Forensic Files

Dark Shadows A vampire imprisoned for 200 years wakes up in 1972. Johnny Depp (2012)

Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie Cheech Marin (1980)

Descendants 2 Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay look to adjust to life in idyllic Auradon. Dove Cameron (2017)

Dance Moms Melissa’s misplaced anger causes drama.

All in with Chris Hayes (N)

The Rachel Maddow Show (N)

Fear Factor Couples bond.

Fear Factor Drowning fear.

Ridiculousness

Pope vs. Hitler Pope Pius XII.

Nazi Megastructures (N)

The Hunt for Hitler Suicide questions.

42 Ways to Kill Hitler Murder attempts.

New Wave Protecting oceans. (N)

Safari Live: Migration (N)

Deep Blue Rarely explored aquatic realms examined.

Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (N) The 11th Hour with Brian Williams (N) Ridiculousness

Ridiculousness

SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Turtles save New York City from villain. Megan Fox (2014)

Ridiculousness

Friends

20/20 on OWN Girl’s lie.

48 Hours: Hard Evidence

48 Hours: Hard Evidence

20/20 on OWN Girl’s lie.

Dateline: Secrets Uncovered (N)

Snapped Boyfriend stabbed.

It Takes a Killer

It Takes a Killer

It Takes a Killer

It Takes a Killer

The Birdcage Dinner with his son’s prospective in-laws creates havoc for a gay father. Robin Williams, Nathan Lane (1996)

That ‘70s Show

That ‘70s Show

Outrageous Acts of Science

Outrageous Acts of Science

Outrageous Acts of Science

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Lucas Black (2006)

Outrageous Acts of Science

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Young man involved in dangerous racing. Lucas Black (2006)

Law & Order Editor murder.

Law & Order Bloodstain break.

Law & Order Secret second life.

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Killjoys Run for help. (N)

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Transformers Rival clans of alien robots arrive on Earth in search of a powerful artifact. Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox (2007)

War of the Worlds Tom Cruise (2005)

Rear Window A man sees a murder through his window. James Stewart (1954)

The Trouble with Harry Corpse causes commotion. Edmund Gwenn (1955) (10:15)

I Am Jazz Bottom surgery trip.

I Am Jazz The Pride Parade.

I Am Jazz Anxiety therapy.

The Bourne Identity An amnesiac flees from secret agents. Matt Damon, Franka Potente (2002) Expedition Unknown Dhammazedi Bell. Josh Gates’ Destination Truth (N)

I Am Jazz Troubling diagnosis.

The Bourne Supremacy Bourne is framed for murder. (2004)

Josh Gates’ Destination Truth

Josh Gates’ Destination Truth

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King of Queens

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Modern Family

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Modern Family

Modern Family

Modern Family

Wheeler Dealers Legendary sports car.

Wheeler Dealers Fixing an Audi TT.

Junkyard Empire 1931 Ford Model A.

Wheeler Dealers Legendary sports car.

Liar Liar A dishonest lawyer finds he can’t lie. Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney (1997)

Bruce Almighty God gives complainer almighty powers. Jim Carrey (2003)

Intervention Heroin addict.

Intervention Heroin addicts.

Huang’s World Individualism.

You’ve Got Mail Tom Hanks (1998)

Kendra on Top (N) Kendra on Top (N) Kendra on Top

Strangest Weather on Earth

Strangest Weather on Earth

Tornado Road Kansas and Nebraska.

Tornado Road Little Sioux, Iowa.

M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H

How I Met Mother

How I Met Mother

M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H

Huang’s World Fighting adversity.

Kendra on Top How I Met Mother

You’ve Got Mail Tom Hanks (1998) How I Met Mother

MOVIE NETWORKS

HBO

Issa Rae deals with the ups and downs of dating in Insecure.

PHELPS VS. SHARK: GREAT GOLD VS. GREAT WHITE DISCOVERY, SUNDAY, 8 (ET/PT)

If you’ve ever wondered whether man or beast would win in a race, Michael Phelps is about to find out. The five-time Olympic champion is strapping on a monofin (a wide fin with pockets for both feet) and racing a real shark, time-trial style, to kick off Shark Week.

Cinemax

Ouija: Origin of Evil Evil spirit attaches itself to young girl following use of Ouija board. Doug Jones (2016)

Encore

Mrs. Doubtfire Disguised father becomes housekeeper. Robin Williams (1993)

FXM

12 Years a Slave Before the Civil War, a free black man is abducted, sold into slavery and made to work 12 Years a Slave Before the Civil War, a free black man is for a series of slave owners under abhorrent conditions. Chiwetel Ejiofor (2013) (7:50) abducted and sold into slavery. Chiwetel Ejiofor (2013) (10:35)

Hallmark Movies

Hailey Dean Mystery: Murder, with Love Hailey Dean Mystery: Deadly Estate Woman must determine if a series of Kellie Martin (2016) (7:00) suspicious events are related. Kellie Martin, Giacomo Baessato (2017)

HBO

The Legend of Tarzan Tarzan must travel back to Congo to serve as a trade emissary VICE VICE correspondents explore foreign policies and for Parliament. Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson (2016) meet with conflict survivors. (N)

Lifetime Movie

Descendants 2 Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay try to adjust to life in idyllic Auradon, but Mal becomes overwhelmed with pressure and returns to her roots. Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson (2017)

Showtime

Punisher: War Zone A vigilante’s war on crime is threatened when he accidentally Hardcore Henry A cyborg must find and save his wife after kills a cop. Ray Stevenson, Dominic West (2008) (8:15) she is kidnapped. Sharlto Copley, Danila Kozlovsky (2016)

I’m Dying Up Here Life-changing gig.

Starz

Inferno Langdon must stop evil madman. Tom Hanks (2016) (6:57)

Ash vs. Evil Dead Ash is hunted.

TMC

America’s Sweethearts A publicist tries to keep the media from learning of a Hollywood pair’s breakup. (2001)

Pitch Black Survivors marooned on a desert planet are hunted by flesh-eating creatures. The 9th Life of Vin Diesel, Radha Mitchell (2000) (9:40) Louis Drax (2016)

Paul Blart: Mall Cop A security guard tries to stop a gang of criminals from taking over a busy mall. Kevin James (2009)

Outlander Claire and Jamie reunite and Ash vs. Evil Dead attempt to settle conflicts.

Hometown return.

Spaceballs The ruler of a planet hires a mercenary to rescue his daughter from kidnappers. Mel Brooks (1987) (10:34)

Murder, She Wrote Murder at a concert in Washington, D.C..

Game of Thrones Bolster defenses.

Pregnant at 17 A 17-year-old girl impregnated by a married man faces danger from her past. Josie Bissett (2016)

Ash vs. Evil Dead Pablo’s blessing.

Ash vs. Evil Dead Teens take Delta.

My Best Friend’s Girl A man takes women out on bad dates to make their ex-boyfriends look better. Dane Cook, Kate Hudson (2008) (9:45)

Open Water Blanchard Ryan (2004)

SPORTS NETWORKS

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USA TODAY FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017